Wednesday, April 3, 2013

4.3.13 - Business and Markets

4.3.13 - Business and Markets



World shares barely move as investors await central bank decisions
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(Blank Headline Received)By Richard Hubbard LONDON (Reuters) - World shares, the euro and German bonds barely moved on Wednesday as investors turned cautious before this week's policy decisions by the Bank of Japan and European Central Bank, followed by U.S. jobs data. However, U.S. stock futures pointed to a firmer open on Wall Street where both the Standard & Poor's 500 Index and the Dow posted record closing highs on Tuesday, while rising oil stockpiles sent crude prices lower. ...

Wall Street opens flat ahead of data
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(Blank Headline Received)NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks opened little changed on Wednesday as investors brushed off weak data on private sector employment and awaited a report on the U.S. services sector. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 16.28 points or 0.11 percent, to 14,678.29, the S&P 500 ained 0.89 points or 0.06 percent, to 1,571.14 and the Nasdaq Composite added 3.5 points or 0.11 percent, to 3,258.36. The S&P 500 remained within striking distance of its record intraday high of 1,576.09 set October 11, 2007. (Reporting by Rodrigo Campos; Editing by Bernadette Baum)

Stocks are held back by weak payroll report
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FILE - In this , March 25, 2013, file photo, Specialist Geoffrey Friedman works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Monday. Wall Street was poised for a steady opening Wednesday April 3, 2013. How U.S. shares actually perform could well hinge on the monthly private payrolls report from ADP. Another increase of about 200,000 is anticipated. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are edging lower shortly after the opening bell on Wall Street following weak surveys on hiring and service businesses.

Wall Street dips, but S&P still near record high
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Specialist trader Michael O'Connor gives a price to traders on the floor at the New York Stock ExchangeBy Ryan Vlastelica NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Wednesday following a pair of weak data points, though the S&P 500 remained within striking distance of an all-time intraday high. Investors expect market movements to be slight ahead of the release Friday of the closely watched nonfarm payrolls report, with few major trading catalysts before then. The S&P has gained about 0.1 percent so far this week. ...

Ex-Goldman trader Taylor turns himself in to authorities -sources
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By Lauren Tara LaCapra and Emily Flitter NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ex-Goldman Sachs Group Inc trader Matthew Marshall Taylor has turned himself in to federal authorities in connection with charges that he defrauded the Wall Street bank out of $118 million in 2007, two sources familiar with the matter said. Taylor surrendered to agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New York around 8:30 a.m. EDT (1230 GMT) on Wednesday morning, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity. ...
Stocks fall after weak reports on hiring, services
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FILE - In this , March 25, 2013, file photo, Specialist Geoffrey Friedman works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Monday. Stocks fell in early trading on Wall Street Wednesday, April 3, 3013, after reports on hiring and growth at service companies dampened optimism about the outlook for the U.S. economy. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks fell in early trading on Wall Street Wednesday after weak reports on hiring and growth at service companies dampened the outlook for the U.S. economy.

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Stocks Pull Back
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Stocks looked set to undo gains from Tuesday's record-setting rally on the heels of disappointing economic data.
   
Cyprus, IMF Reach Bailout Agreement
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Cyprus and the International Monetary Fund reached an agreement for a €1 billion ($1.28 billion) lifeline that will supplement €9 billion in aid the island will get from its euro-zone partners.
Spanish Princess Named Suspect in Case
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A judge named the youngest daughter of Spanish King Juan Carlos as a suspect in a criminal case relating to her husband's alleged influence-peddling and tax evasion.
Ex-Goldman Trader Pleads Guilty in Fraud Probe
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A former Goldman Sachs trader pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud after he was accused last year by securities regulators of concealing a $8.3 billion futures position.
    
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#goldmansachs
Cyprus, IMF Reach Deal
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Cyprus and the International Monetary Fund reached an agreement for a €1 billion ($1.28 billion) lifeline on top of the €9 billion bailout the island will get from its euro-zone peers. Charles Forelle reports.
Russian Ruble Weakens amid Rate-Cut Fears
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The Russian ruble slipped to its lowest levels against the U.S. dollar since November Wednesday amid growing fears that the central bank will give in to growing political pressure to ease monetary policy as an economic slowdown deepens.
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J.P. Morgan Scores a Victory in Mortgage Suit
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A federal judge dismissed a significant portion of Dexia's fraud lawsuit against J.P. Morgan Chase, giving the U.S. bank a victory as it tries to fend off legal headaches tied to mortgage securities that soured during the financial crisis.
   
In 2003, there was only one pitcher who threw at least 25 pitches 100 mph or fas...
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In 2003, there was only one pitcher who threw at least 25 pitches 100 mph or faster. In 2012, there were seven. Pitchers are throwing faster than ever before. Here’s why: http://on.wsj.com/14BH2Us

Polls show 50% or more of Americans believe gay marriage should be legal. Here’s...
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Polls show 50% or more of Americans believe gay marriage should be legal. Here’s a look at 20 years of the same-sex marriage battle: http://on.wsj.com/XhjEt2

Did you see this image all over your Facebook feed this week? 120% more people t...
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Did you see this image all over your Facebook feed this week? 120% more people than usual updated their profile pic on Tuesday, Facebook found, attributing the surge to the gay-marriage campaign gone viral: http://on.wsj.com/ZsTOMR

An I.R.S. Reversal Rescues a Pension Fund
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Former employees of a defunct hospital whose pension was nearly empty will get federal insurance for the plan.

JPMorgan wins dismissal of most Dexia mortgage claims
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(Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co has won the dismissal of nearly all of a lawsuit accusing it of misleading the Belgian-French bank Dexia SA into buying more than $1.6 billion of troubled mortgage debt.
  
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Cyprus faces "very unfavorable" outlook in near term: Sarris
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NICOSIA (Reuters) - Cyprus should brace itself for an extended period of difficulty in the near term after sealing a bailout deal forcing it to forgo much of its banking sector, its former finance minister said.
  
Analysis: Supply crunch to take steam out of home sales
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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A shortage of properties could take some edge off home sales during the spring selling season, but the housing market recovery should remain intact.
  
Obamacare credits could trigger surprise tax bills - Helena Independent Record
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Obamacare credits could trigger surprise tax bills
Helena Independent Record
Millions of people who accept government subsidies to help buy health insurance next year could get stung by surprise tax bills later on. That's if they don't accurately project their income. Starting next year, President Barack Obama's health care law will offer ...

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SEC Embraces Social Media - Wall Street Journal
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New York
 Times

SEC Embraces Social Media 
Wall Street Journal 
Executives with itchy Twitter fingers can rest easier after federal securities regulators blessed the use of social-media sites to broadcast market-moving corporate news. The
 Securities and Exchange Commission cleared Netflix CEO Reed Hastings of any ...
SEC approves use of social media by companiesMarketWatch
SEC clears use of social media for company announcementsBBC News
SEC Approves Social Media Use for Companies' Material DisclosureBloomberg
Washington Post-
 
Los Angeles Times -Forbes
all 82 
news articles »
SEC Clears Social Media for Corporate Releases - New York Times
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New York Times

SEC Clears Social Media for Corporate Releases
New York Times
Companies can use communications outlets like Facebook and Twitter for important announcements, so long as they alert investors to which outlets will be used, the Securities and Exchange Commission said on Tuesday. The decision by the S.E.C. follows ...
SEC Backs Social Media for Disclosing Corporate InformationWall Street Journal
Twitter, Facebook OK to use for news - SECCNNMoney
SEC says corporate information can be spread on Twitter, FacebookLos Angeles Times
Mashable -Detroit Free Press -Bloomberg
all 41 news articles »
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Tuesday movers: Apple closes off of intraday high - MarketWatch
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Newsday

Tuesday movers: Apple closes off of intraday high
MarketWatch
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Apple Inc. came off of its intraday high of $438.14 to close marginally higher on Tuesday as analysts continued to talk down the stock. Top Tickers Trending. $AAPL: Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) initially shrugged off a decision ...
Goldman Takes Apple Stock off 'Preferred' ListABC News
Mixed signals on Apple Inc. from Goldman SachsFortune (blog)
Apple Removed From Goldman Sachs' Conviction Buy ListMotley Fool
BGR -Barron's (blog) -TheStreet.com
all 78 news articles »
Investors still bullish on stocks - CNN
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Malta Independent Online

Investors still bullish on stocks
CNN
U.S. stocks have soared to record highs, and individual investors are bullish, according to a new Fidelity survey. NEW YORK (CNNMoney). U.S. stocks have been on a tear in 2013 and individual investors are still bullish, according to a new survey released ...
Financial crisis upside: We manage money betterMarketWatch
5 years after financial crisis, survey highlights gains in savings and investing ...The Republic

all 4 news articles »
Fed officials are somewhat more upbeat on economic growth - Reuters
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Moneycontrol.com

Fed officials are somewhat more upbeat on economic growth
Reuters 
RICHMOND, Virginia | Tue Apr 2, 2013 9:50pm EDT. RICHMOND, Virginia (Reuters) - Two Federal Reserve officials voiced cautious optimism on Tuesday that the economy was on a lasting upswing, but they offered differing views on what that outlook ought ...

Fed's Lacker, Evans Square Off in Debate Over Mon Pol RisksMNI News 
Evans and Lacker – Hawk vs. Dove: Fed Officials Face OffForexLive (blog)

all 12 news articles »
US home prices rose in February by most in 7 years - The Associated Press
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US home prices rose in February by most in 7 years
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. home prices jumped in February by the largest amount in seven years, evidence that the housing recovery strengthened ahead of the all-important spring-buying season. Home prices rose 10.2 percent in February compared with a ...

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March US auto sales may be highest since 2007 - Businessweek
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March US auto sales may be highest since 2007
Businessweek 
DETROIT (AP) — U.S. car and truck sales are expected to hit their highest level in nearly six years in March, as buyers armed with tax refund checks were lured by flashy new vehicles and low interest rates. Auto companies release U.S. sales figures Tuesday.
Is It Time to Hit the Brakes on Toyota?Motley Fool
Confidence drives auto salesHouston Chronicle
Sales: Accord and Fusion are Up – Camry and Altima are DownTFLcar.com

Washington PostNBCNews.com-al.com 
all 65 news articles »

Automobile Magazine
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US home prices rose in February by most in 7 years - News 12 Hudson Valley
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US home prices rose in February by most in 7 years
News 12 Hudson Valley
(AP) -- U.S. home prices jumped in February by the largest amount in seven years, evidence that the housing recovery strengthened ahead of the all-important spring-buying season. Home prices rose 10.2 percent in February compared with a year earlier, the ...

and more »
Home prices up in February by most in 7 years - USA TODAY
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Home prices up in February by most in 7 years
USA TODAY
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. home prices jumped in February by the largest amount in seven years, evidence that the housing recovery strengthened ahead of the all-important spring-buying season.
Home prices rose 10.2% in February compared with a year ...
Area home prices increased nearly 5 percent in last yearBusiness Record
Home prices continue to rise in LincolnLincoln Journal Star
Norwich/NL February home prices dropped amid national surgeNorwich Bulletin
TheStreet.com-Forbes-The Star-Ledger - NJ.com
all 26 
news articles »

Vancouver Sun
Ex-Goldman trader Taylor pleads guilty to wire fraud - Reuters
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Ex-Goldman trader Taylor pleads guilty to wire fraud
Reuters
By Lauren Tara LaCapra and Nate Raymond. NEW YORK | Wed Apr 3, 2013 2:13pm EDT. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ex-Goldman Sachs Group Inc trader Matthew M. Taylor pleaded guilty on Wednesday to defrauding the Wall Street bank with an unauthorized ...
Ex-Goldman
trader surrenders to FBIFinancial Times 
Former Goldman Sachs trader pleads guilty to wire fraudBBC News
Ex-Goldman Trader Pleads Guilty to Fraud
 Wall Street Journal
 
New York Times-Telegraph.co.uk
 -Bloomberg

all 33 news articles »

Bloomberg
Facebook’s fight to keep its start-up edge
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The more the company swells, the greater the risk of becoming a bureaucracy and suffering from the curse of success, writes Gillian Tett
Financial reform is coming to America
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Many critics hoped that a Republican president would rescue them. But it is no longer in their interest to delay, writes Barney Frank
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Business, labor close on deal for immigration bill
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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Big business and major labor unions appeared ready Friday to end a fight over a new low-skilled worker program that had threatened to upend negotiations on a sweeping immigration bill in the Senate providing a pathway to citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants already in the U.S....

Monday, April 1, 2013

Mike Nova: NYTimes Review - 3:34 PM 4/1/2013

Mike Nova: NYTimes Review - 3:34 PM 4/1/2013: NYTimes Review - 3:34 PM 4/1/2013 NYT > Global Opinion MON APRIL 1 ST , 2013 BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD social security (u...

Mike Nova: Gay News Review, part 3 - 9:56 AM 4/1/2013

Mike Nova: Gay News Review, part 3 - 9:56 AM 4/1/2013: Gay News Review, part 3 - 9:56 AM 4/1/2013 GAY NEWS "Gay News" bundle created by Mike Nova Description:  Gay Life a...

Mike Nova: Gay News Review, part 2 - 9:37 AM 4/1/2013

Mike Nova: Gay News Review, part 2 - 9:37 AM 4/1/2013: GAY NEWS "Gay News" bundle created by Mike Nova Description:  Gay Life and Culture News Review A bundle...

Mike Nova: Gay News Review, part 1 - 9:20 AM 4/1/2013

Mike Nova: Gay News Review, part 1 - 9:20 AM 4/1/2013: WickedGayBlog.com MON APRIL 1 ST , 2013 WICKEDGAYBLOG.COM (NOREPLY@BLOGGER.COM) I FLIP for you guys... SHARED BY  1...

Sunday, March 31, 2013

GAY PUERTO RICO - 12:54 PM 3/31/2013

GAY PUERTO RICO - 12:54 PM 3/31/2013




"Gay Puerto Rico" bundle created by Mike Nova

A bundle is a collection of blogs and websites hand-selected by your friend on a particular topic or interest. You can keep up to date with them all in one place by subscribing in Google Reader.
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via Gay Puerto Rico Links's Facebook Wall by Gay Puerto Rico Links on 3/31/13

via Queerty by Dan Avery on 3/31/13
matt salmonFor every Rob Portman there’s a dozen Republicans that still don’t support marriage equality even though they have gay kids. The latest one to crawl out of the woodwork is Arizona congressman Matt Salmon.
In an interview with Arizona 3TV, the Mormon politician shared that though his youngest son, Matt Jr., is openly gay, he’s not interested in giving him equal rights.
“It doesn’t mean I don’t have respect—it doesn’t mean I don’t sympathize with some of the issues, it means I haven’t evolved to that station Rob Portman apparently has,” said Salmon. “I’m just not there in believing in my heart,” said Salmon “My son is one of the most important people in my life. I love him more than I can say.”
Daddy has an odd way of showing it: Rep. Salmon voted for DOMA in 1996, tried to ban gays and lesbians in D.C. from adopting children, and has pushed numerous other anti-LGBT measures. Even Matt Jr.’s mom, Nancy, helped raise some $50,000 for Proposition 107, which sought to ban same-sex marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships in the Grand Canyon State.
In 2010, the Phoenix New Times reported:
 The Salmons have been so vocally anti-gay over the years that some local politicians, frankly, rejoiced when one of their four kids came out.
matt salmon kent flake“There were a lot of us 10 years ago that prayed one of Matt Salmon’s kids would turn out gay,” says Steve May. “Not because we wanted to cause any problems or pain for anybody, but because we believe that gay children will change the hearts and minds of their parents.”
Wanna bet Rep. Salmon will “evolve” on LGBT equality five minutes after the majority of his constituents do and it becomes politically expedient?But the Salmon family situation is truly fascinating: Not only is Matt Jr. out but he’s the president of the Arizona Log Cabin Republicans—and his partner is Kent Flake, second cousin of right-wing Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake.The Flakes and Salmons (gotta love those names) have chilled toward their gay progeny: Matt Jr’s siblings unfriended him on Facebook when he started posting about his life with Kent. And Kent’s family has no interest in meeting the love of their son’s life: “I’ve asked them many times to meet him, and they don’t want to see him,” Flake says. “My dad’s last comment to me was that he didn’t want him around our family, his kids, or his grandkids.”Republican family values hard at work, folks!
Photos: Jamie Peachey
 

via Queerty by Lester Brathwaite on 3/31/13
lady-bunny-easter
Happy Easter! Don’t call it a comeback, Christ has been here for years. Whether you subscribe to the idea of a Zombie Jesus, or just like having a reason to eat a giant chocolate bunny by your lonesome while wearing a festive bonnet, these three videos will have you hopping with laughter.

It’s Easter in the steam room and somebody’s goin’ a-huntin’.


Get ready for a lot of pedophile jokes. Like, 4 minutes worth. NSFW.


A sequined bolero tie-wearing Charles Phoenix shows Conan the disturbing history of grown men in bunny suits and the even more disturbing lamb-shaped meatloaf.
 

via Queerty by Stacy Lambe on 3/31/13
If you don’t already follow Instabeards then you really should. The site collects all the scruffy guys from Instagram in one woof-y Tumblr. If nothing else, it’s a way to find new guys on Instagram. Check out a few highlights below:
tumblr_mjvxpwRZCv1rq6xvjo1_400(Image)
tumblr_mk9imjiEC61rq6xvjo1_400(Image)
tumblr_mk5wqgyMsn1rq6xvjo1_400(Image)
 

via Queerty by Stacy Lambe on 3/31/13

Looks like there’s going to be plenty of vampire goo, angry Tara and Joe Manganiello’s abs. Oh my! The show premieres June 16th.
 

via Queerty by Dan Avery on 3/31/13
diana freddieBack in the late 1980s, queer singer Freddie Mercury brought Princess Diana to a London gay club in disguise, according to a new book by British actress Cleo Rocos.
In The Power of Positive Drinking, Rocos explains how she and gay comedian Kenny Everett accompanied the rocker and the royal to Royal Vauxhall Tavern, the oldest gay bar in South London, with Diana disguised in an army jacket, cap and dark sunglasses.
Rocos says the princess looked “like a beautiful young man.”
“When we walked in… we felt she was obviously Princess Diana and would be discovered at any minute. But people just seemed to blank her. She sort of disappeared. But she loved it.”
Apparently the presence of the three other celebrities allowed Diana to mingle undetected and even order a round of drinks.
Oh, to be in England!
 


Gay and-pregnant
Jamaica Observer
Wolfe, the station's Sunday Today anchor, whose father grew up in Puerto Rico, said the couple plan to wed and go on "Operation Baby" in December. "My girlfriend, Stephanie Gosk, and I are expecting a baby girl the end of August," she told reporters ...

via Salon.com > LGBT by on 3/31/13
Outsports
For years we've heard about the mythical coming out of the "gay Jackie Robinson": The first publicly out male athlete in one of the big pro leagues. In one fell swoop he's going to change the face of professional sports and open the floodgates for other gay athletes, just like Robinson did for black players.
The problem is, the first out athlete won't be the gay Jackie Robinson. He can't be.
Robinson was a very particular man at a very particular time in history. When we talk about the "gay Jackie Robinson," I'm afraid we diminish both of those pieces. In the process, we set a measuring stick so high we inadvertently push gay pro athletes deeper in the closet.
Robinson first swung a bat in Major League Baseball in 1947. That was eight years before Rosa Parks sat in the "wrong" seat. It was 15 years before the University of Mississippi was forcibly desegregated. The Civil Rights Act wasn't signed until 1964 ... eight years after Robinson retired.
Continue Reading...

via About Gay Life on 3/31/13
Stubborn boyfriends are one thing, but an outright refusal to switch positions in the bedroom? We all have preferences, but how far would you go to get your boyfriend to explore? Read more...
ADVICE: Why Your Boyfriend Refuses To Bottom originally appeared onAbout.com Gay Life on Sunday, March 31st, 2013 at 09:06:58.
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Gay Puerto Rico - 11:58 AM 3/31/2013


Gay Puerto Rico - 11:58 AM 3/31/2013





"Gay Puerto Rico" bundle created by Mike Nova



A bundle is a collection of blogs and websites hand-selected by your friend on a particular topic or interest. You can keep up to date with them all in one place by subscribing in Google Reader.
There are 
 27 feeds
 included in this bundle


Gay and-pregnant
Jamaica Observer
Wolfe, the station's Sunday Today anchor, whose father grew up in Puerto Rico, said the couple plan to wed and go on "Operation Baby" in December. "My girlfriend, Stephanie Gosk, and I are expecting a baby girl the end of August," she told reporters ...

via Salon.com > LGBT by on 3/31/13
Outsports
For years we've heard about the mythical coming out of the "gay Jackie Robinson": The first publicly out male athlete in one of the big pro leagues. In one fell swoop he's going to change the face of professional sports and open the floodgates for other gay athletes, just like Robinson did for black players.
The problem is, the first out athlete won't be the gay Jackie Robinson. He can't be.
Robinson was a very particular man at a very particular time in history. When we talk about the "gay Jackie Robinson," I'm afraid we diminish both of those pieces. In the process, we set a measuring stick so high we inadvertently push gay pro athletes deeper in the closet.
Robinson first swung a bat in Major League Baseball in 1947. That was eight years before Rosa Parks sat in the "wrong" seat. It was 15 years before the University of Mississippi was forcibly desegregated. The Civil Rights Act wasn't signed until 1964 ... eight years after Robinson retired.
Continue Reading...

via About Gay Life on 3/31/13
Stubborn boyfriends are one thing, but an outright refusal to switch positions in the bedroom? We all have preferences, but how far would you go to get your boyfriend to explore? Read more...
ADVICE: Why Your Boyfriend Refuses To Bottom originally appeared onAbout.com Gay Life on Sunday, March 31st, 2013 at 09:06:58.
Permalink | Comment | Email this


ABC News

More Dishonest Coverage From Pro-Homosexual Media
Right Side News
A big news story came out of Tuesday's March for Marriage demonstration in Washington, D.C. But it didn't make Gay flag.svg ... and Asian supporters of traditional marriage, there were some notable Democrats, such as New York State Senator Ruben Díaz ...
DOMA Ruling Could Mean Green Cards for Gay ImmigrantsABC News
Gay Tea Party activist denounces gay marriageSalon
Prop. 8: At West Hollywood bar, all eyes on Supreme CourtLos Angeles Times
World Magazine
all 4,386 news articles »


Bleacher Report

Who Should Mikey Garcia Fight Next: Orlando Cruz or Juan Manuel Lopez?
Bleacher Report
Orlando Cruz is the WBO's No. 1 contender and official mandatory challenger to Garcia's belt. Cruz has a quality amateur pedigree and represented Puerto Rico at the 2000 Olympics. As a pro, he has compiled a ... During his current run he captured the ...

via Queerty by Dan Avery on 3/31/13

There’s not a lot gay about Easter, except for maybe the whole thing with the 33-year-old bachelor in a loincloth. So artist Michael Angelo (yes, that’s his real name) made this Passion play with Madonna’s Baby Daddy, Carlos Leon, cast as as Jesus.
In the spirit of springtime and new beginnings, Michael Angelo’s filmCarlos Christo looks at the period of Jesus’ life between his baptism and his resurrection through a secular and lyrical lens.
Despite being tempted by great fear about a painful destiny, Jesus makes the ultimate sacrifice because of his love for the future of humanity. Angelo’s film is meant to remind us that regardless of our religion or our choice to not practice one, it is through courage and empathy that we will see our world reborn.
See, we’re not perving on Leon—it’s a spiritual thing.
Happy Easter, everyone!
 

via Salon.com > LGBT by on 3/30/13
“Honey, we’re praying for you.”
This is how my mother ends every email she sends me. Typed in italics and peppered with smiling emoticons, Mom’s electronic missives are as precious as she is — as earnest as the Empty Tomb Cake she bakes each spring on Good Friday. An edible replica of the cave where Jesus was buried after dying on the cross for our sins, the Empty Tomb Cake is the standard passion week centerpiece in my childhood home. It is frosted in gray, surrounded by a field of green coconut grass, and finished off with a Hostess Ding-Dong as the stone that was rolled away. On Saturday night, after everyone goes to bed, Mom steals into the kitchen under cover of night and rolls the Hostess Ding-Dong away from the door of the Empty Tomb Cake, then retouches the frosting. On Easter morning Jesus has risen — right there in the middle of the kitchen table.
Continue Reading...

SAN JUANPuerto Rico (AP) — The advance of gay rights across the United States is spreading into Puerto Rico, making the island a relatively gay...

via Queerty by Jeremy Kinser on 3/30/13
yahya-jammeh
Not that you were planning to visit Gambia anytime soon, but go ahead and erase a vacation to the notoriously antigay West African country off your bucket list.
During an address to Gambia’s parliament March 28, president Yahta Jammeh, who previously announced he’d cut off the heads of gay people and that he can cure HIV/AIDS with herbs, , continued his antigay diatribe. Jammeh took the opportunity to send out yet another warning that gays are not welcome in his nation.
“Homosexuality is anti-humanity. I have never seen homosexual chicken, or turkey..,” Jammeh said during the speech. (We guess he hasn’t seen this video.) “If you are convicted of homosexuality in this country, there will be no mercy for offenders. We will put you in the female wing of the prison,” Jammeh continues.
“We want the population to grow. There will be children in this country. Homosexuality is anti-god, anti-human, and anti-civilization. Homosexuals are not welcome in the Gambia. If we catch you, you will regret why you are born [sic]. I have buffalos from South Africa and Brazil and they never date each other. We are ready to eat grass but we will not compromise on this. Allowing homosexuality means allowing satanic rights. We will not allow gays here.”
Yet for someone so virulently opposed to hot man-on-man action, Jammeh apparently loves a Half-Nelson. He curiously issued a mandate that makes wrestling part of Gambia’s educational curriculum.
 

via gay men puerto rico - Google Blog Search by unknown on 3/2/13
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The advance of gay rights across the United States is spreading into Puerto Rico, making the island a relatively gay... ... Man who confessed to molesting two children is sentenced. Released ...

via Gay Voices by Curtis M. Wong on 3/30/13
Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly in for a surprise when he visits Amsterdam next month.
As Pink News and Carbonated.tv are both reporting, the capital city of the Netherlands will fly the rainbow flag when Putin arrives on April 8 in protest of Russia's proposed "gay propaganda" legislation.
“The [Amsterdam] College wishes to express its concern with the rainbow flag and the seven districts will ask to do the same,” a spokesperson for the city’s council is quoted by Carbonated as saying. ”Amsterdam is committed to an open and tolerant city where everyone can be who he is. The flag stands for diversity and gay acceptance.”
Putin's visit, which marks a year of cultural exchange between Russia and the Netherlands, will include visits to the Maritime Museum and the Hermitage Museum,according to Pink News.
The Dutch reports coincide with news that Putin is now calling for a ban on foreign gay couples adopting Russian children, according to Gay Star News. Russian legislation which took effect in January already bans U.S. citizens from adopting children from Russia.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights have been a hot issue in Russia as of late. Shocking footage of a local LGBT rights activist being beaten by an alleged neo-Nazi made the blogosphere rounds earlier this week.
The activist, identified by Gay Star News as Artem Kalinin, was speaking out against the ban of a planned Pride parade, which had been scheduled for March 31 in Syktyvkar, at the time of the attack.
So-called "homosexual propaganda" legislation, which has already been enacted in St. Petersburg as well as a number of other Russian municipalities, is currently being pushed by the Kremlin and the Russian Orthodox Church to be enforced nationwide.
Such laws would would make it illegal nationwide to provide minors with information that is defined as "propaganda of sodomy, lesbianism, bisexuality and transgenderism," according to the Associated Press, and bring a fine of up to $16,000.

via Gay Voices by VICE on 3/30/13
The first week of November 1989, filmmakers and executives from the Walt Disney Company gathered in a crowded room in Disney World in Orlando, Florida, to promote their latest cartoon to a group of pessimistic reporters. The press had reason to be skeptical: after two decades of critical and commercial flops following the death of its founder, Disney was bordering on bankruptcy, and the company's new CEO, Michael Eisner, had threatened to shut down the animation unit unless The Little Mermaid, its fall 1989 release, turned a profit.
As you probably know, they didn’t need to worry. The film was a huge hit, at least partly on the strength of its soundtrack. The New York Times praised the film’s music, and the movie won Oscars and Golden Globes for Best Song (“Under the Sea”) and Best Score. Two decades after the its release, Disney World remodeled Fantasyland to create an entire section devoted to Mermaid. But back then, in the crowded conference room, nobody knew this. The room was grim, and for good reason—if the filmed flopped, their careers might follow.

via Gay Voices by Curtis M. Wong on 3/30/13
Marie Osmond subtly re-affirmed her support of marriage equality in a poignant new interview.
The singer-actress, who is currently promoting her new memoir The Key Is Love: My Mother's Wisdom, A Daughter's Gratitude, spoke frankly about her daughter Jessica, who is openly gay.
"The God that I believe in is a god of love, not fear," Osmond, who is a practicing Mormon, told Diane Sawyer.
As for same-sex marriage, Osmond noted, "I believe in [my daughter's] civil rights, as a mother. I think that my daughter deserves everything that she desires in life. She's a good girl. She's a wonderful child." She then added, "I don't think God made one color flower. I think he made many."
Osmond, 53, has spoken out in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights in previous years, usually citing Jessica's role in that mindset. "I think everybody should have the right to share homes and finances with somebody that they care about," she told KOST 103.5 Los Angeles in 2009. "You know on those types of things I'm very supportive. When it comes to marriage...I think that civil rights need to be for all."
Meanwhile, Osmond's brother Alan reportedly hosted a "pro-family" rally at the Utah State Capitol earlier this week, aimed at "benefitting the protection of marriage" from gay and lesbian Americans, according to Towleroad.

via Gay Voices by Curtis M. Wong on 3/30/13
Quite honestly, there isn't anything about gay dating that hasn't already been said ... until now! Before I proceed, however, I need a commitment. I know, I know ... the dreaded "C" word. Well, boyfriend, if you can't commit, then you can't date — it's that simple! Like it or not, chiseled cheeks, abs and pumped up biceps don't mean the men are just going to drop in your lap like flies. You gotta work at it and go the distance to get beyond sloppy, messy, "Who are you?" mornings!

via Salon.com > LGBT by on 3/30/13
Many conservatives would have you believe that same-sex unions turn the institution of marriage upside-down -- but it's actually rather fitting with tradition. That is, if you consider the historical trajectory of marriage: It's changed tremendously over the decades, from a financial transaction to the romantic one that we know today. It would be naive to think that major changes won't continue in the decades to come.
Given this, and the Supreme Court hearings this week on the Defense of Marriage Act, I started thinking about what the future of marriage might look like. I wondered -- out of liberal glee, rather than conservative terror, mind you -- whether same-sex unions could open up the institution to even bigger changes. Might we someday extend marriage's 1,000-plus legal benefits and protections to people regardless of relationship status? Would we ever institutionally separate monogamy from marriage? What about allowing for polygamy or group parenthood?
I called up Barbara Risman, a senior scholar at the Council on Contemporary Families and sociology professor at University of Illinois at Chicago, to get her predictions. We talked about everything from monogamy to polygamy, utilitarian marriages to romance. One thing became clear: Marriage isn't going anywhere.
Continue Reading...

via Queerty by Jeremy Kinser on 3/30/13

Dustin Lance Black, Chad Griffin, Rob Reiner, and others are featured in a new video released by the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER). The footage offers interviews and a behind-the-scenes look at the heroic team who earlier this week descended upon Washington D.C. where the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments for and against Proposition 8, a California law that bans same-sex marriages, and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a federal law defining marriage as between a man and woman.
“The is exactly what our judicial system is for and this is where we should be on this day,” says Human Rights Campaign president Griffin, who was a founding member of AFER.
“Everything we’re doing is about the next generation so the young people out there who are falling in love for the first time do so without judgment,” adds Black.
Actor Rory O’Malley, who appeared in both the Broadway and Los Angeles productions of 8, Black’s play about the California court case, confesses he can’t wait until June, when a decision is expected to be made. Summer has never seemed so far away.
 

via Queerty by Jeremy Kinser on 3/30/13
SAL-BELLHOP-MAD-MENWith Mad Men returning April 7, the world eagerly awaits to see what’s it store for Don Draper, not to mention how the show’s wardrobe department will handle Jon Hamm’s battle of the bulge as the series moves into the tight-trousered late ’60s. Yet many queer fans are still smarting over the departure of closeted gay Sal Romano during season 3 and, rest assured, series creator Matthew Weiner empathizes with our anguish.
The Sterling Cooper art director, memorably played with just the right amount of swish by Bryan Batt, was a victim of the time. Although married to a female, he still yearned for fulfillment with a man, when he wasn’t busy swooning to Ann-Margret movies. Romano was unceremoniously fired from the ad agency after he rebuffed the advances of a drunken client.
It was a move that surprised and angered many hardcore fans, but Weiner says that while it was a tough decision, it was necessary in the interest of historical accuracy.
“More than with any other character, I’ve had lots of conversations about that,” Weiner tells Wall Street Journal. “I wanted to tell the story of how incredibly unfair it was for Sal, and that’s the sacrifice I made. It’s a gigantic moment in the series.”
As the series heads into its penultimate season, here’s hoping Sal makes a return in time to raise hell at the Stonewall riots.
 

via Gay Puerto Rico Links's Facebook Wall by Gay Puerto Rico Links on 3/30/13

via Queerty by Jeremy Kinser on 3/30/13
Who was the most beautiful couple in cinema history you ask? Sure, there’s support for Brad and Angie, as well as Heath and Jake. Yet, as good gays, we think none can compare to the fabled pairing of movie legends Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift.
The epically hetero Taylor, who would become a tirelessly devoted friend to the gay community during the early years of the AIDS epidemic, and the tragically closeted Clift torridly tangled in three films (A Place in the SunRaintree County, andSuddenly, Last Summer), but was their passion consummated off-screen, as well? Screen legend Debbie Reynolds claims it was.
In her upcoming memoir, Unsinkable (out Tuesday), Carrie Fisher’s unbridled mommy, who would infamously lose hubby Eddie Fisher to Taylor in 1958, remembers an incident at a party at Taylor’s Hollywood Hills mansion that indicates the easy-on-the-eyes duo didn’t save the smolder for the camera.
LizandMontyReynolds recalls her surprise watching as Clift and Taylor, then married to stuff British actor Michael Wilding, “laughed and giggled while making out in the water in front of us all… Even though Monty had boyfriends as well as girlfriends, it was obvious that he and Elizabeth had been intimate. Elizabeth could seduce any man, gay or straight,” Reynolds writes.
Unfortunately, this was the same night that the otherwise gay Clift, who’s many demons included an affair with the bottle, had consumed too much alcohol and crashed his car after leaving the bash, disfiguring  his impossibly beautiful face. It’s become Hollywood lore that upon hearing the news of the accident, Taylor rushed to assist her beloved friend.
“Elizabeth stuck her hand in his mouth, felt the back of his throat where some of his teeth had become lodged after being knocked out, and pulled them to prevent him from choking,” Reynolds says of her fellow icon. “He might have died if she hadn’t come to his aid.” Clift would eventually die at age 45 in 1966 , while Taylor would survive until 2011.
We’ve long admired Taylor’s passion, particularly her slavish devotion to her LGBT friends and tireless commitment to raising awareness for HIV/AIDS, but Reynolds’ anecdote begs a question: Would you have switched teams for Elizabeth Taylor?
 

via Gay Voices by The Huffington Post on 3/30/13
Michigan Republican Dave Agema says he is refusing to resign after promoting an article that said “part of the homosexual agenda is to get the public to affirm their filthy lifestyle."
"They say 'Dave's got to withdraw' or 'he's got to resign,' which I'm not going to do," Agema told WWMT Newschannel 3.
Agema, a former lawmaker who now serves as a Michigan Republican National Committeeman, said he posted the article to promote discussion on gay issues within the GOP.
"Now's the time to discuss it, that's why I brought it up," Agema said. "Say, 'oh, you're dividing the party,' no, I don't think so; we're standing on the principle of the party. If the party doesn't stand on its principle, we'll lose our base."
Agema defended much of what was said in the controversial article, which Agema posted to his personal Facebook page in late March. Newschannel 3 reports:
Agema did distance himself from a comment in the article that claimed the homosexual lifestyle was "filthy.""They quoted as what somebody else said and attributed it to me; I didn't say that," Agema said. "So, do I agree with everything that that guy [said] and the way he said it in the article, no. But he gives a lot of statistics on the results of the health and mental and physical health of the lifestyle and what it causes."
Agema is referring to numbers referenced by the purported author, a writer identifying themselves as Dr. Frank Joseph, which allege that if a person is homosexual, it cuts years off their life.
On Thursday, Agema called calls for his resignation a "joke."
Controversy over Agema's anti-gay beliefs comes just days after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on two cases involving gay couples' rights.
Watch a video of Agema's interview with Newschannel 3 above.

Mike Nova: NYTimes Review - 10:14 AM 3/31/2013

Mike Nova: NYTimes Review - 10:14 AM 3/31/2013: NYTimes Review - 10:14 AM 3/31/2013 Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks The New York Times's Facebook Wall SUN MARCH 31 ST ,...