Category: Jimmy Kimmel

Beverly Hills Hotel/Sharia Law; Blogger Copyrights; What’s Gluten Free?

Beverly Hills Hotel/Sharia Law

I’ve been posting the story about The Beverly Hills Hotel and how it’s run by a company named Dorchester and a CEO from a country, Brunei, that enforces some of the worst crime laws and corporal punishments in the world with LGBTI people. This is all enacted through Shari Law…Sharia. The matter only continues to grow more controversial, and now there’s a new trade pact with Brunei supported by the President of the United States. I’m linking to responsible sources and it’s all true.

Here’s something basic about Sharia:

Sharia deals with many topics addressed by secular law, including crime, politics, and economics, as well as personal matters such as sexual intercourse, hygiene, diet, prayer, everyday etiquette and fasting. Though interpretations of sharia vary between cultures, in its strictest and most historically coherent definition it is considered the infallible law of God—as opposed to the human interpretation of the laws (fiqh).[5] Historically however, much of Sharia has been implemented in its strictest understanding.

The city of Beverly Hills is applying pressure to the country of Brunei to divest The Beverly Hills Hotel. Many have been boycotting it and canceling prominent events. Jay Leno, along with many other top celebrities, have been highly vocal in offering support.

Brunei, a former British protectorate of about 400,000 run by Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, last week became the first East Asian country to adopt the Islamic criminal law. It will punish offenses like sodomy and adultery with the death penalty, including by stoning.

The laws will be introduced in phases in the energy-rich country nestled between two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo, with the harshest penalties going into effect in two years.

Even more interesting, they have been holding gay weddings at the hotel, which I’m sure is because most people don’t even know about this.

“This is the height of hypocrisy, and we must ensure that profits from LGBT weddings in the U.S. stop going to a regime that could soon start executing its LGBT citizens,” the group’s president Chad Griffin said in a statement.

The reply from Dorchester is arrogant and shows no support for equal rights in general. You can read it here.

The White House has remained silent on the matter…oh, except for this, and even this has been kept top secret. The President has been working on a trade deal with Brunei and on the day Brunei began to enforce Shari law the White House was closing a deal that will now tie the US to Brunei more than ever. But it gets even better: the Islamic Sultanate will now receive special economic privileges thanks to this trade pact. Isn’t that rich?

On his East Asia trip, President Obama became the first U.S. president since Lyndon Johnson to visit Malaysia, which has laws against homosexuality with sentences that could include corporal punishment such as whippings. Obama mentioned nothing of that and only seemed intent on securing deeper economic ties and getting the trade pact finalized throughout the region. Rewarding Brunei, the first East Asian nation to follow in the footsteps of Taliban-era Afghanistan by stoning gays to death, will send a grotesque message to the world.

You can read more about that here. I think this is one of the most fascinating involved pieces I’ve read in a long time.

Here’s another link to a Towerload piece with similar content.

Blogger Copyrights

I think this matters whether you are a large blogger or a small blogger, blogging for profit or not for profit. It’s an insightful piece written by blogger, London Beauty Queen, about how she’s tired of people taking her work for free, and boldly without permission.

She discusses respect…or rather the lack of it…for bloggers, and how many just assume that blogging is less important that other arts, like writing books and photography.

I’ve been on a quest, literally, for a while to see how other bloggers like me get to post photos of good looking men all over their blogs. In some cases some of these small bloggers have been posting photos on a daily basis without links or a hint of origin. And I’m curious as to how they go about this. Do they get permission? Or do they just pilfer the photos and pretend they don’t know any better? I’ve reached a point where I won’t even post photos on social media anymore unless I know it’s safe.

It’s not chance I would be willing to take. I’ve seen some bloggers that put up disclaimers, but I’ve heard those disclaimers mean nothing because the laws are all over the place right now. And I highly suggest that when you, the people reading blogs like this, come across a blog filled with photos of good looking men you question it the same way I do. Each time I have politely questioned a blogger about this photo topic I have never once had a reply one way or the other.

There’s this interesting mind set that the entire Internet is just one big free zone where one thing is linked to another. And even though in some cases that might be true, in many cases bloggers just like everyone else are working hard to get content out and nothing should ever be assumed about what they will and will not share for free. I think most readers don’t even know this is happening. I also think that most bloggers like me would be willing to share if someone were to ask. But at least ask first.

You can read more here about London Beauty Queen. It’s a good web site in general, too.


What’s Gluten Free?

I have always been a little obsessed about what I eat and how much of it I do eat. I’ve always wanted to maintain a 32 inch waist and also try to keep a healthy diet. But the one thing that has always puzzled me is this gluten free thing that’s become so popular. I had a good friend once whose mother had celiac disease and she had to live a gluten free lifestyle otherwise she would have been in tremendous agony. It even gets more complicated for some people with gluten allergies. But frankly, you have to wonder about a lot of these people out there who are now on this gluten free trend, which is exactly what Jimmy Kimmel did in the following link. You be amazed at how many are on a gluten free diet and don’t even know what gluten is.

For what it’s worth, gluten is composed of the gliadin and glutenin proteins and is responsible for the elasticity of dough. Research has found that one of the better-known forms of gluten intolerance, celiac disease, affects 1 in every 141 people in the United States.
You can read more here, with a video clip.

It reminds me of when Howard Stern went around New York during an election year and asked people what they thought about Sarah Palin running as Barack Obama’s Vice-President. At the time, even though it was clear Palin and Obama were running on opposite tickets, most people didn’t seem the mind the Obama-Palin ticket in the least. In fact, they supported them 100%.

Depp-Kimmel Gay Kiss; FREE Gay EXcerpt; Neil Patrick Harris on Letterman

Depp-Kimmel Gay Kiss


There was a kiss between Johnny Depp and Jimmy Kimmel a short time ago that everyone seemed to find amusing, and they repeated the kiss once again this week.

Johnny Depp kissed Jimmy Kimmel on live TV on Monday – the second time in a row that the pair have kissed during an appearance by Depp on the show.

Depp came prepared with a stick of lip balm which he repeatedly applied during the interview to let Kimmel know what was coming.

You can read about it here, and see a clip.

I have to be honest. Normally I would take offense to something like this because even though it’s funny at times it does call attention to the fact that two men kissing is, and always has been, considered taboo (or laughable). There’s also the underlying hint of shame. But in this case I don’t find it offensive because it’s handled well, and because it is bringing something taboo out into the mainstream. As a kid I can still recall when it was considered taboo…or shocking…for people of different races to kiss on TV. It took time to break out of that mold. And I highly doubt that if a white man kissed Oprah Winfrey on TV now anyone would find it the slightest bit amusing. In fact, I would dare them to laugh.  

Now I’d like to see Jimmy Kimmel and Neil Patrick Harris kiss.

Neil Patrick Harris on Letterman

There were rumors going around that openly gay Neil Patrick Harris was a strong contender to replace David Letterman when Letterman retires in about a year. The rumors were put to rest recently when it was announced Stephen Colbert would replace Letterman instead of Harris.

Harris took to Twitter to congratulate the host of The Colbert Report who will take over for Letterman next year.

He tweeted: ‘I’m thrilled for @StephenatHome replacing Dave. He’s a fantastic choice. I’m a huge fan. Colbert is rad.

My first thought when I heard this was WTF? If you ask me, and not because Neil Patrick Harris is gay, I think CBS just handed Jimmy Fallon the title of King of Late Night Television on a silver platter. I would have chosen Johnny Knoxville. It’s time for something different.

In any event, you can read more here.

FREE Gay Excerpt

I have a new book coming out soon in the Bad Boy Billionaire series, Palm Beach Stud. I’ll update with links and more info as I get it, but here’s an excerpt and description. You can find it here at the publisher’s web site.

Description:

The interesting thing about true love is that it never really ends for those who know what it means to love openly and honestly with all their hearts. It’s something that’s hard to define, and yet it’s so deep in the soul it can’t be ignored. And Brady Bradley is no exception to this rule when he finds himself marrying a man he respects and admires, but doesn’t love as much as his first husband. Brady is one of those people who are damaged by love at a young age, and he’s never recovered. All he’s looking for with his second husband is trust, honesty, and a sense of emotional security he never could find with his bad boy first husband. But one week before the wedding, Brady’s ex-husband returns to Palm Beach with his new, younger boyfriend and a business partner who wants to buy Brady’s family home. Although everyone—including Brady’s family—loves his billionaire ex-husband, Brady only sees the man who cheated on him and ruined his entire life. Will Brady be able to move forward with his life and marry the sensible, practical man in a bowtie? Or will he wind up devastated again by the same brand of daydreaming that once left him wrecked?

Here’s the excerpt…raw version, but no much different than the published novel.

 

“Dude, where are you?” Lawrence said. He was shouting in the main hall now. Brady had been amazed at how much Lawrence had changed since Christmas. Lawrence had grown a few inches, his body had filled out, and his voice had taken on a stronger, deeper tone. He was now in the beginning stages of what Brady portended would be a very good looking young man with dark straight hair.
            Brady slumped down on the beige moiré wing chair to avoid being seen. He’d promised Lawrence he’d take him to the beach that afternoon and he’d been prolonging it for as long as he could. He loved his sixteen year old younger brother, but the ten year age difference between them often made Brady feel more like his dad than his brother. And all these wedding plans were starting to make Brady’s right eyelid twitch. He’d wanted a simple wedding, with just family and a few close friends. But when Michele heard he was engaged to be married to Farman, she’d insisted on a large wedding, at the house, where she could walk Brady down the aisle. For Michele it was more of a political statement than an emotional statement. She’d always supported Brady’s lifestyle as a gay man and she wanted all her friends to know this. If Brady had argued against having a large wedding with Farman, he knew this would have hurt his mother’s feelings, and she’d always been so supportive of his lifestyle he just couldn’t do that.
            Lawrence walked into the drawing room and glanced down at the sofa. He kicked the floor with his big sneaker and sighed aloud. When he turned and saw Brady in the wing chair, he frowned and asked, “When are we going to the beach?” Though he was on the verges of manhood, at that moment he still sounded like a little boy.
            “In a few minutes,” Brady said. “I have to choose a thank you note.” They had access to their own private beach, but Lawrence had insisted on going to the beach at The Breakers because there were more people his age…or at least he hoped there would be. He was straight and he’d reached that age where he’d just discovered girls. Farman’s law firm represented The Breakers and Brady now had full access to all their facilities whenever he wanted. So he’d promised to take Lawrence there at least once a week while he was home in Palm Beach.
            “How freaking hard could it be to pick a thank you note?” Lawrence asked. “Seriously, man, it’s getting late now.” He glanced down at the stack of samples and pointed to a pink affair with black letters. “Choose that one. It stands out from the rest.”
            Brady had narrowed it down to two by then. He’d been deciding between the white with gold embossed letters, and the cream with chocolate brown letters. He glanced at the sample Lawrence had just selected and made a face. “Oh, if that doesn’t scream gay wedding I don’t know what does. Maybe I should ask if they have it in bright purple.”
            “But it is a gay wedding,” Lawrence said. “What’s the big deal?” He really didn’t get it. He’d always known Brady was gay and he’d never been aware of the stereotypes Brady had faced all his life.
            “I don’t feel like explaining right now,” Brady said. He decided on the white with gold letters and stood up from the chair. “But there is no way I’m sending out hot pink thank you notes with big black letters, thank you.” Then he left Lawrence standing there with a confused expression and went to look for his mother in the conservatory.
            Lawrence followed him into the conservatory where they found Michele alone near a fountain that mimicked the infamous Manneken Pis in Brussels…the bronze statue of the little boy peeing. She’d recently had her medium length straight blond hair touched up and she was wearing a simple white dress with sensible high heels. When she heard them approach, she turned and said, “I think we’re all set with the florist. He just left and we finalized everything.” She spoke with a slight Boston accent, but nothing too pronounced.
            Brady knew if he didn’t stop her she would continue and go into a detailed explanation of the floral arrangements for the wedding, and since he didn’t really care, and he trusted her completely, he decided to change the subject fast. “I’m taking Lawrence to The Breakers. I promised him we’d use their beach today. Thanks for taking care of all this, mother. You have no idea how much I appreciate it.” Unlike a lot of the people he knew his own age, he’d always called her mother instead of mom. She’d never objected.
            Michele frowned at Lawrence. He was now standing in the doorway the led into the conservatory gaping at his smart phone. “I don’t see why he insists on going over there to use their beach. It’s so pointless when you think about how many people would love to have a private beach all their own like we have right here.”
            “I’m bored,” Lawrence said. “That’s why I want to go there. I have nothing to do, and I don’t have any friends here.”
            “Can’t you just read a book, dear,” Michele said. “When I was your age my teachers gave us a reading list for the summer that kept me more than busy.”
            “It didn’t stop you from eloping and marrying Brady’s dad at sixteen,” Lawrence said. He tended to speak without thinking first.
            Michele sighed.
            Brady said, “That’s a horrible thing to say to your mother.”
            “It’s true,” Lawrence said. “I didn’t mean it in a horrible way.”
            Before Brady could reply, Michele reached for his arm and said, “He’s right. I’m not upset about it. I’ll be the first to admit I haven’t made the best choices in husbands.” She’d been married three times so far, and each time it had ended in divorce. Brady’s father, Rick, had been the first. He’d been a semi-professional race car driver she’d met the summer she’d turned sixteen and she claimed it had been love at first sight. She’d lied about her age and she’d told him she was nineteen instead of sixteen. When her father refused to let her see Rick anymore, she talked Rick into eloping and they were married in Las Vegas. The marriage to Rick lasted about two years…until Michele found him cheating on her with another man. How could she have known? So she divorced him and married a guy named Pierre Framboise. That marriage lasted four years…until he found Michele cheating on him with Lawrence’s father, Morton Johnson. So she divorced Pierre, married Morton, and they remained together for six years…until she found him cheating on her with another woman. The cycle never seemed to end.
            Brady sighed. He put his arm around Michele and kissed her on the cheek. “I don’t have the best track record either,” he said. He rarely even mentioned Kevin’s name aloud. But he wanted his mother to feel less isolated.
            “I have a feeling all that is going to change,” Michele said. “I think Farman is the most perfect man I’ve ever met. And I think you’re going to live happily ever after with him, dear.” She hugged Brady and kissed his cheek this time.
            “Can we just go to the beach?” Lawrence said. “Or are you two going to join hands and start singing We Are the World?”
            Brady laughed and said, “You go out front and wait in the car. I have to go upstairs and change. I’ll be right down.”
            Fifteen minutes later, Brady found Lawrence leaning against his Porsche staring down at his smart phone. On his way to the car, he found his uncle, Jackson, sitting on a bench all hunched over looking at his own phone. Jackson had flown down from Maine to be there for the wedding. He was Michelle’s younger brother, and as openly gay as Brady. On that particular afternoon he wore a pair of navy shorts, a white polo shirt, and white athletic shoes. He’d been having a clandestine love affair for many years with a well-known…closeted…politician in Washington, D.C. and they often communicated through text messages now. Michele had only been eighteen years old when Brady had been born. Jackson was ten years younger, and looked more like Brady’s age.