Gay, Metro, Lil' Applesse
Years ago there used to be this discourse on the difference between being gay and being a homosexual. The conversation was about lifestyle vs sexuality. There were many homosexuals who felt they weren't gay because they didn't participate in was known at the time as Gay Culture.
Then came the time of Metrosexuals, who were straight people, mostly men, that embraced many of the facets of what mainstream considered gay culture. Facets like design awareness, fashion consciousness, personal beauty and fitness and living a life that was different then the "normal" of getting married and having kids.
Now I see the reversal. Where same-sex partners took on the facets of the straight lifestyle. Creating homes, unions that are almost marriage and having kids, letting there gym memberships expire, spending their money on investing, cars, buying those homes and improving them and in the Lil" Apple creating a suburban lifestyle.
Also in Asbury I see a whole accepted culture of straight people living what you might call a gay suburban lifestyle. Partners in living together but not legally married, not interested in having kids, at yard sales collecting, more into decorating their homes than investing in them, at the gym taking care of themselves and striving for personal beauty and reading the NY Times Style section on Sundays.
I love it! And that's why I call our city the Little Apple.
It's great to see the that every year there is an higher acceptance level here of the diversity of lifestyles. Go Lil' Apple.
It seems to me that at least on the local level there is a unforced but effective grassroots change in thinking. Hopefully it will bring about some changes in law that would allow equal civil rights to all our citizens.
I even know many a Republican here who would agree. Now that's great too.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Wow, really?
Damn, I haven't posted since before New year's. Bad Big D, Bad Big D!!!!....Ok Jake, come over and spank me.
Speaking of spanking....and though I should be first in line....I think Big D needs to give his first Big D's Big Spank Award today.
The envelope please......(music)
Big D's First Big Spank Award goes to ......The City of Asbury Park's City Council...tadah!
The award is given in recognition of the continuing advancement of creating the most warped legacy.
I though their legacy for the beginning of the new decade would be about Parking but they have topped that with Trees.
Maybe it's premature to give them this award because of the saying that "all comes in threes" and they could very easily top the last topper.
Good thing I decided my Spank Award isn't an annual thing but issued only when deserved. Like spanking your kids. (Can you still do that legally? I'm not a parent, well, I do want to spank my staff at times and not for any ones pleasure, LOL)
The City council gets this award for acting like kids. Then pretend to listen and care and then just do what they were going to do in the first place. And like a kid who sometimes leaps before they look, the Council gets this stubborn idea in their heads and doesn't look at possible alternatives and consequences.
So here's to the Asbury Park's City Council, et al
Spank, Spank, Spank, Spank, Spank.......and spank for the et als
Congrats!
Speaking of spanking....and though I should be first in line....I think Big D needs to give his first Big D's Big Spank Award today.
The envelope please......(music)
Big D's First Big Spank Award goes to ......The City of Asbury Park's City Council...tadah!
The award is given in recognition of the continuing advancement of creating the most warped legacy.
I though their legacy for the beginning of the new decade would be about Parking but they have topped that with Trees.
Maybe it's premature to give them this award because of the saying that "all comes in threes" and they could very easily top the last topper.
Good thing I decided my Spank Award isn't an annual thing but issued only when deserved. Like spanking your kids. (Can you still do that legally? I'm not a parent, well, I do want to spank my staff at times and not for any ones pleasure, LOL)
The City council gets this award for acting like kids. Then pretend to listen and care and then just do what they were going to do in the first place. And like a kid who sometimes leaps before they look, the Council gets this stubborn idea in their heads and doesn't look at possible alternatives and consequences.
So here's to the Asbury Park's City Council, et al
Spank, Spank, Spank, Spank, Spank.......and spank for the et als
Congrats!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
End of decades....
Cleaning out the clutter needs to be the top of any one's New Year's resolution list. I have begun mine. And Mother Nature did her job today by clearing away the snow that the Little Apple's snow plows barely got to. Thanks MN, only you could get it right!
Now I'll clean up some TCN clutter. Left vs right stuff.
I find it funny that the "progressives" are hitting hard on Obama and the J Right has calmed down a bit. Personally I was a Hillary fan until her concession. I just like smart, pragmatic and progressive thinking politicians. Just because Barack is mixed race and young for a president didn't make min a liberal or as some wacky people have thrown on him a "socialist." Never got that and still don't. The guy has always been a moderate in my eyes. And with his world view as a facilitator, the role of compromiser goes hand and hand with that stature. I think we got what we paid for. We knew with him and Hillary we were going to get out of Iraq and deeper into Afghanistan. We knew that it was going to take a long time to put the economy back in shape along with some deep Wall St. cultural changes. I knew that health care reform was going to be a beginning not and end. Like Social Security and Medicare were in the beginning. I knew the guy wasn't really into same sex stuff and wouldn't do much for awhile. Look at the toll Bill took with that in the beginning of his presidency. Actually I find Barack and Bill closer in moves than Barack and Hillary.
I guess my point is get rid of the rhetorical clutter and push your people whether you voted for them or not to move on the issues you care about. Big D always says there are no miracle answers. There are a lot of micro answers.
This year i have to decide if I am going to switch my residency from the Big Apple to down here. I have lived in the city most of my life but was born and raised down here. Now, that my life in this moment has shifted me back here, it's a dilemma.
When it comes to politics if I start to vote here I got these great battles ahead. Like get rid of the silly guys Kean and Christie. I was an independent most of my voting age life until I became a registered Democrat to be able to get some say in the primaries. Big D is not a two party system kind of guy but I'm pragmatic when it comes to politics. I'd much prefer multiple parties and governing by consensus. For Big D the independent guy for governor here was the best candidate but I was in NYC that day voting to unseat Bloomberg. We almost did it, hehehehe
After or before my resolution of getting rid of clutter, Big D wants to do something really good for the world this year. No, not world peace. I'm too pragmatic for that, it's not in our nature. I want to do something a pushes the world a little further in the direction of tolerance and understanding.
Any suggestions? let me know
Merry, merry and Happy New Decade!
Big D
Now I'll clean up some TCN clutter. Left vs right stuff.
I find it funny that the "progressives" are hitting hard on Obama and the J Right has calmed down a bit. Personally I was a Hillary fan until her concession. I just like smart, pragmatic and progressive thinking politicians. Just because Barack is mixed race and young for a president didn't make min a liberal or as some wacky people have thrown on him a "socialist." Never got that and still don't. The guy has always been a moderate in my eyes. And with his world view as a facilitator, the role of compromiser goes hand and hand with that stature. I think we got what we paid for. We knew with him and Hillary we were going to get out of Iraq and deeper into Afghanistan. We knew that it was going to take a long time to put the economy back in shape along with some deep Wall St. cultural changes. I knew that health care reform was going to be a beginning not and end. Like Social Security and Medicare were in the beginning. I knew the guy wasn't really into same sex stuff and wouldn't do much for awhile. Look at the toll Bill took with that in the beginning of his presidency. Actually I find Barack and Bill closer in moves than Barack and Hillary.
I guess my point is get rid of the rhetorical clutter and push your people whether you voted for them or not to move on the issues you care about. Big D always says there are no miracle answers. There are a lot of micro answers.
This year i have to decide if I am going to switch my residency from the Big Apple to down here. I have lived in the city most of my life but was born and raised down here. Now, that my life in this moment has shifted me back here, it's a dilemma.
When it comes to politics if I start to vote here I got these great battles ahead. Like get rid of the silly guys Kean and Christie. I was an independent most of my voting age life until I became a registered Democrat to be able to get some say in the primaries. Big D is not a two party system kind of guy but I'm pragmatic when it comes to politics. I'd much prefer multiple parties and governing by consensus. For Big D the independent guy for governor here was the best candidate but I was in NYC that day voting to unseat Bloomberg. We almost did it, hehehehe
After or before my resolution of getting rid of clutter, Big D wants to do something really good for the world this year. No, not world peace. I'm too pragmatic for that, it's not in our nature. I want to do something a pushes the world a little further in the direction of tolerance and understanding.
Any suggestions? let me know
Merry, merry and Happy New Decade!
Big D
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
To State Senator, Sean Kean, You know in your heart....
It's the right thing to do. Make jersey proud and throw politics to the wind and throw your support S-1967, the Marriage Equality bill.
remember some very smart and married men wrote this:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal," plain and simple and what this country needs and really is about.
Thank you,
Big D
I sent mine, now send yours to Senator Kean
senskean@njleg.org
remember some very smart and married men wrote this:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal," plain and simple and what this country needs and really is about.
Thank you,
Big D
I sent mine, now send yours to Senator Kean
senskean@njleg.org
Monday, December 7, 2009
Dan the Man
Have to say that Dan Jacobson of the TCN can write a good explanation of what is. Well, unless he's on one of his APP rags. I mean his tirade on Asbury Partners come to mind.
But his recent articles on Sandy Hook and Red Bank's parking were on point and made it all so clear about the whys and wherefores. Loved his strategy of using Republicans to save the day. That's novel in this day and age. Can a Republican actually say yes? That is a good question. Obviously Sarah said yes too many times. LOL
So, Dan no worries about the APP. They'll either die or move on to the resting place of worn out ideas. I.E. the newspaper junk yard.
But his recent articles on Sandy Hook and Red Bank's parking were on point and made it all so clear about the whys and wherefores. Loved his strategy of using Republicans to save the day. That's novel in this day and age. Can a Republican actually say yes? That is a good question. Obviously Sarah said yes too many times. LOL
So, Dan no worries about the APP. They'll either die or move on to the resting place of worn out ideas. I.E. the newspaper junk yard.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Checking in...ma bad
Yeah, ma bad. It's been two months since I wrote anything here. But now I got some things to say.
Just seems there is turn in the air here in the Little Apple, in the state, country and the world. I mean look, The City finally, yes finally, got decisive and suspended metered parking for the holidays. Yahoo! And that's more for the decisiveness of our elected leaders than for the result.
Then there was the collapse of Asbury Partners, another yahoo! If you are going to control large masses of anything you need to be visionary and those guys were surely not. How it will play out only the Guardian Angels of the Little Apple know, or not. I've said it before and hopefully my dream for Asbury will come true that there shouldn't be one big developer but many. Each having their own take and voice on transforming those barren lands taken from the Partners control.
Hopefully the City will see the opportunity to step up to the plate and encourage positive progress rather than letting some investment group have their way. Did you ever look at the book Lost New York? You could cry seeing all the great buildings lost to idiotic thinking. Now think of Lost Asbury Park and all those empty spaces allowed by idiots of days gone by. Don't cry, fight for your city.
Now lets chat about some other things going on. I read today that there is a push to legalize same sex marriage in our state. It lost it's momentum but it's coming back. Personally I believe government should stay out of the marriage business. But like Tom Duane, NYC politician, said on NPR in response to question on why the government needs to be involved. Basically he said to make it fair and right straight people would have to give up their government sponsored marriage to make civil unions equal to all. And I agree with him there is no way that would happen and the only way is to equalize it all by law.
Equal rights is what this country should be about. Don't you get tired of racism and sexism? Even though it's built into our culture we need to stand up and fight for the rightful needed change. With a 53% divorce rate in this country, i think it's only fair that everyone gets their chance to be part of the statistics...lol..Ok, ma bad again. Truth is the more progressive states have a lower divorce rate, what's that about? hmmmmm.....
But for our Little Apple, marriage by all is a great commodity to be resourced here. One weekend I saw three marriages performed on the beach. Just imagine the joy and income it brought to our city. Asbury the marriage capital of the world! Sweet. Lets get it done! Call your people in Trenton today!
On a lighter note. Saw the Mayor at Langosta's anniversary and benefit for the Hispanic Resource Center. He asked me if I could fluff his glass of wine. I said I'm going to put that on my resume....
Big D, Fluffer to the Mayor
Only in the Little Apple Kids
Ma bad, Big D will try to mo better here.....
Oh check this out:
http://ridavio.blogspot.com/2009/11/making-of-aranea.html
Just seems there is turn in the air here in the Little Apple, in the state, country and the world. I mean look, The City finally, yes finally, got decisive and suspended metered parking for the holidays. Yahoo! And that's more for the decisiveness of our elected leaders than for the result.
Then there was the collapse of Asbury Partners, another yahoo! If you are going to control large masses of anything you need to be visionary and those guys were surely not. How it will play out only the Guardian Angels of the Little Apple know, or not. I've said it before and hopefully my dream for Asbury will come true that there shouldn't be one big developer but many. Each having their own take and voice on transforming those barren lands taken from the Partners control.
Hopefully the City will see the opportunity to step up to the plate and encourage positive progress rather than letting some investment group have their way. Did you ever look at the book Lost New York? You could cry seeing all the great buildings lost to idiotic thinking. Now think of Lost Asbury Park and all those empty spaces allowed by idiots of days gone by. Don't cry, fight for your city.
Now lets chat about some other things going on. I read today that there is a push to legalize same sex marriage in our state. It lost it's momentum but it's coming back. Personally I believe government should stay out of the marriage business. But like Tom Duane, NYC politician, said on NPR in response to question on why the government needs to be involved. Basically he said to make it fair and right straight people would have to give up their government sponsored marriage to make civil unions equal to all. And I agree with him there is no way that would happen and the only way is to equalize it all by law.
Equal rights is what this country should be about. Don't you get tired of racism and sexism? Even though it's built into our culture we need to stand up and fight for the rightful needed change. With a 53% divorce rate in this country, i think it's only fair that everyone gets their chance to be part of the statistics...lol..Ok, ma bad again. Truth is the more progressive states have a lower divorce rate, what's that about? hmmmmm.....
But for our Little Apple, marriage by all is a great commodity to be resourced here. One weekend I saw three marriages performed on the beach. Just imagine the joy and income it brought to our city. Asbury the marriage capital of the world! Sweet. Lets get it done! Call your people in Trenton today!
On a lighter note. Saw the Mayor at Langosta's anniversary and benefit for the Hispanic Resource Center. He asked me if I could fluff his glass of wine. I said I'm going to put that on my resume....
Big D, Fluffer to the Mayor
Only in the Little Apple Kids
Ma bad, Big D will try to mo better here.....
Oh check this out:
http://ridavio.blogspot.com/
Sunday, October 4, 2009
4 years of Tricky Manuevers
From where I sit, well, stand actually because I'm always on my feet, I get into the "Asbury Conversation" a lot. It's the one about remembering the past, expectations of the now and the "what I think?" of the future of our Little Apple.
Ok, the past: things I remember- the Albion Hotel (would of made a great south beachesque hotel), the Mayfair and St. James (what were they thinking tearing them down, we would of had the best performing arts center in the state), The Paris Cinema (Red Bank Cinema anyone?) and the obvious- the carousel, the Ferris wheel (yep, I'll keep on nagging about it)...the Savoy ( check my last posts)....the list goes on.
The present: that part of the conversation is tough. Expectations are high. What did we get? A solid reality that the Little Apple is moving (organically) forward and it isn't going backwards (unless we get our own Katrina and acts of god are forgivable). I said last year that you wouldn't see the "New Little Apple" for 5 years and I still believe that we have 4 more years coming. No, it won't be finished but it won't be a desert of empty eminent domain lots either. (For better or worse as the Reverend says).
A Past, present and future moment: The powers that be, The City and the developers. That reputation of corruption and lack of visionary leadership that haunts us here. With the new Mr. Mayor Man there is an expectation, cynical albeit, that there will be change. In my experience there is no change just a progressive, and hopefully, transformation to a better city. It's out job and duty to make that happen not the politicians and developers. We are the check and balance of the city.
Side note: Parking.....ask the powers that be and they can't give you a straight answer. HELLO!!!
Ok, the Future as Big D sees it. The powers that be will slowly get it because of OUR relentless castigation. We will see movie theatres, more businesses, yep, more condos, we'll see that the owners of the Berkeley actually took charge of the mammoth and made it to a interesting hotel, that functions, there will be my Ferris wheel and I'll move here from Ocean Grove and run to be the next Mr.Mayor Man..........
VOTE Big D!!!!
Ok, the past: things I remember- the Albion Hotel (would of made a great south beachesque hotel), the Mayfair and St. James (what were they thinking tearing them down, we would of had the best performing arts center in the state), The Paris Cinema (Red Bank Cinema anyone?) and the obvious- the carousel, the Ferris wheel (yep, I'll keep on nagging about it)...the Savoy ( check my last posts)....the list goes on.
The present: that part of the conversation is tough. Expectations are high. What did we get? A solid reality that the Little Apple is moving (organically) forward and it isn't going backwards (unless we get our own Katrina and acts of god are forgivable). I said last year that you wouldn't see the "New Little Apple" for 5 years and I still believe that we have 4 more years coming. No, it won't be finished but it won't be a desert of empty eminent domain lots either. (For better or worse as the Reverend says).
A Past, present and future moment: The powers that be, The City and the developers. That reputation of corruption and lack of visionary leadership that haunts us here. With the new Mr. Mayor Man there is an expectation, cynical albeit, that there will be change. In my experience there is no change just a progressive, and hopefully, transformation to a better city. It's out job and duty to make that happen not the politicians and developers. We are the check and balance of the city.
Side note: Parking.....ask the powers that be and they can't give you a straight answer. HELLO!!!
Ok, the Future as Big D sees it. The powers that be will slowly get it because of OUR relentless castigation. We will see movie theatres, more businesses, yep, more condos, we'll see that the owners of the Berkeley actually took charge of the mammoth and made it to a interesting hotel, that functions, there will be my Ferris wheel and I'll move here from Ocean Grove and run to be the next Mr.Mayor Man..........
VOTE Big D!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
