The Passing Of A Genius

 

 

81....That is the number of years that the one & only Joan
Rivers walked amongst us.  Well truth be told she more stomped!  A wall flower she was not!  Many people just think of the face-lifts or her foul mouth, she could make a drunken sailor blush, but her ability to laugh at herself while also making it ok to laugh at ourselves was her true gift! As Boy About Town I had the gift of seeing her in action up close.  I learned alot in that short time. Making people laugh is hard work.  But as she once said "What we do is a calling....." I thank God she answered that call!

I'm So Ready

 First off Red Carpet Refugees needs to say Congrads to The LA Kings for winning the Stanley Cup! That makes 2 times in 3 years.  So for all of you that say that LA is not a hockey town, well....STANLEY CUP!  #told

 Some of you have shared with me your thoughts on what you see as my continuing to to place a microscope on the Right Wing.  In my own defense would I would like to say that they make it so easy with the double speak, coupled with their double standards.  To me the Tea Party are the Kardashians of the political world!  But today I would like to talk about our next presidential election.  And what better place to start then the great hope for the Democratic Party! 

The former First Lady,  Senator Clinton, Madame Secretary or "the brains behind Bill", whatever it is you call her Hillary Rodham Clinton has claimed a place in American history and refuses to step aside until she is finished.  But is she finished? Will she run? Can she win?   As Mrs Clinton said herself in a recent People Magazine interview "I have a decision to make...." 

But once again Boy About Town wants to go behind the sound bite & talk about what happens when that decision, which I believe has already been made, is announced.  So lets play along that the former Secretary Of State is spending time getting ready to be a Grandma, I believe that.  Enjoying watching TV with Bill, I kinda can go with that.  And is spending time in prayer to figure out if another run for The White House is the right thing to do, sorry girl ya lost me.  At this point there is no other person, of either party, that has the chops, the experience or the balls to lead the USA.  So with President Obama clearly giving his blessing & groups forming such as "I'm Ready For Hillary" could we please stop the peek a boo game and get to building some bridges with the moderates. Now I am sure all this has been happening out of view of the public view but what I am saddened by is the fact that while we will & should debate a candidates worthiness for public office why are we, with this candidate, asking question that would never be asked of a male.  We know Bill cheated with an intern by the name of Monica Lewinsky.  Why would anyone ask Hillary Clinton if she has read Monica's piece in Vanity Fair? Quick side note, amazing piece that I think everyone should read. Why would anyone ask about a concussion from years ago? Paul Ryan, who ran for Vice President,  has said that he has suffered AT LEAST THREE concussions, but I have yet to see anyone asking if his long term health & his ability to serve has been effected.  And the Grandma questions......REALLY?  Questions like "How will becoming a Grandma effect Hillary's decision making process?"  Was Mitt Romney asked that question...I am guessing no.   So is the fact that Hillary is clearly a woman an issue?  The fact that we are talking about it shows it is.  So talk people.  It is not going to change the fact that SHE is a force of nature that will handle this in her own time, in her own way. Hillary has said "we need to break that highest, hardest glass ceiling."  So we wait....sledgehammer in hand.

Stay Fabulous......Boy About Town 

What On Your Bedside Table....Batteries Not Included!

The other day when told someone I was reading a couple of books that I was looking forward to writing up on RedCarpetRefugees.com they looked at me as if I had just punched them.  So yes, Boy About Town can read, I even went to college!  But how often do any of us get a chance to sit down and read a book from cover to cover and really grab every little bit of it? Not that often I am guessing.  So I am gonna start reading some of the books you fine folks have been handing me, sending me & ordering for me and giving my never ending opinion on them. Kinda like Oprah's book club but without all the life lessons between commercial breaks!  The first book on top on the pile, yes there is a pile, is "Quitting Crystal Meth" by Joseph Sharp.  We are jumping right into the deep end of the pool boys & girls.  As we covered here on RedCarpetRefugees.com in a posting dated   September 25th 2013 the Meth epidemic has reached a point that everyone, somewhere knows someone that is battling Meth. Think you don't know someone? You know me, if only through this blog, but trust me there are others in your life.  In talking about the book I am going to refer to Mr Sharp as Joseph because he has opened himself so completely in his writing it would be odd to stand on ceremony, and lets face it, I am not that type of guy anyway.  What Joseph has done is put together a book that walks one through the long, painful and often repeated process of getting clean. This is not a story book,  in the sense he tells his story in a play by play but rather a guide to use along the journey....kinda like "What To Expect When Your Expecting" but for the tweaked set.  

I have to say, in reading "Quitting Crystal Meth" , that I don't believe to many active Meth users will sit down and start the book much less finish it.  I think that Joseph was fully aware that his book would be used by Meth addicts families & friends as a means of what to expect and what the right actions to take as well as not take would be! 

Having said that I also know that many an addict will be handed the book either by friends, rehab staff or even their drug dealers. Don't laugh, I saw that happen! And at a certain point the book is perfect for the addict themselves.  "Quitting Crystal Meth "  is a fabulous step by step, please note the step reference, way to start and manage your recovery.  What I like most was the small, short testimonies  from addicts.  What they had to say in each of their small bits fell right into line with the time frame of where the book was along the  recovery path.  At no point is one made to feel there is a blue print that MUST be followed but rather a path is pointed out and you are given an invite to walk the path and discover your own way while using others experience to aid you.  Joseph has managed to handle an insanely hard topic with a straight forward grace that is at times lacking in other books on the topic as well as in the recovery community at  to Joseph Sharp and to those needing the book I personally send you light & love.....We will surely see each other as we trudge the road of happy destiny.

Stay Fabulous !  Boy About Town

Off Season But On Point

In the mad rush of summer fun and getting fully prepped for LA Pride this weekend Boy About Town spent a week back at his "spiritual home" of Palm Springs which has proved to be just want was needed.  So while many may find the idea of spending time in the California desert right as summer hits it's full stride to be something to run

The Fab, Flagging 4

from I am going to spend a moment paying tribute to this touchstone in my life.....It's my blog and I can if I wanna!  So, we started the night off at David & Steve's favorite eatery, Greek Isle. These 2 hunks are the ones that introduced Boy About Town to the world of flagging which is coming up on a posting soon!  So I am starting my night off with a happily married, long term couple, that are both hella hotties but I am sitting in the spit where they tied the knot.  Bam! You have my attention!  We were joined by Tracy, a new Palm Springs gal that an ex introduced me to & I got in the break up, I totally scored with her in my plus column!  Now, have you ever been to the type of restaurant where the staff knows EVERYTHING about the food, the chef, the wine....Well boys & gals Greek Isle was just that place!  The cute waitstaff,  I judge a place by the whole picture, was on the ball. And as the live music kicked in and the cozy courtyard began to fill the staff did not miss a beat. When hitting Palm Springs stop in Greek Isle 139 E. Andreas Rd.  Now this meeting of the fab, flagging 4 happened on a Thursday night, which in Palm Spring means Village Fest!  Now during the winter months this weekly festival draws so many tourist and snowbirds that it can become to crowded.  In the warm, yet not overly so, summer nights, after the sun sets the locals come out to play at this must visit desert do! The Village Fest brings together local, small business owners that make their own product and sell it without all that middle man rigmarole!  #fabulous! 

Boy About Town & Lady LuLu herself!

It was amazing seeing old friends like the wonderful Lady LuLu.  Now for those of you that have, emailed, tweeted, facebooked, etc about the "cat hat" Boy was wearing non stop this winter, this is the Mother of said hat as well as tons of other fab finds.  Her shop is right off the main drag in downtown Palm Springs but during VillageFest she sets up shop ON the main drag!  For those of you not yet blessed to visit this hidden paradise visit her at www.LadyLulu.com !  There were also new finds like this ditty "Time 4 Corn Hole"....The lady manning the booth went outta her way to let us know that this is a booth that sells games.  Honey, Boy About Town helped invent that game.  

All up & down the strip the booths were selling their local products, live music played and the streets were not so packed that you felt as if you were dating the people you walked with!

Again.....fabulous! 

And no Palm Springs posting would be complete without a shoutout to The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway!  This is a must visit, full stop!  The view from the top of of the mountain is amazing.....and the ride up is worth the ticket price alone!  AND it is about 15 degrees cooler up there making it the perfect day time activity!  So while many may not think off season is the ideal time to visit any number of places I will take the shorter lines, cheap rates and more room to do my thing any day. #told

Stay Fabulous

Boy About Town

Head First...Always!

So much to catch up on that I am skipping the usual blah, blah and diving in head first. And that means dealing with the rumor that yours truly, Mr Boy About Town, had passed away. Or as one Facebook posting called it "lost his battle with the forces of darkness" which somehow makes me sound like a character in Star Wars.  Anywho,  after some research, I have discovered that I am not dead but rather just in a bad mood.  As to those that think I had something to do with the rumor in order to get some free press, I did not,  but only because I didn't think of it first.  So lets recap...Not Dead, yet! 

Now, there has been much in the press about the VA dropping the ball on the handling of health care for our vets & of course now we have the political uproar over the prisoner swap that won the release of U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergda.  But what I have been noticing is that at some point the story stops being about the "news" and starts being about how the  story is being reported, received, retold, tweeted, etc.  So is the story the facts as we understand them at the time or is the story how it plays to the mass market in 70 characters or less? I understand that I play a big part in this. While I never claim to be CNN, BBC or even FoxNews I am aware people turn to me and others like me to take the pulse of the world we live in. And while writing on topics I do a lot of research on that given topic! That comes with a bit a responsibility to your topic, your readers and yourself.  So to report about what others are writing is indeed part of the story, it is not the story it's self.  So yes The White House dropped the ball on the release of Sgt Bowe Bergda. And yes the whole walking away from his post is hinky as hell.  And clearly I too saw he the freed Sgts father was wearing a v dress shirt in the rose garden that while very summer, was not a smart PR move. But those are the news, Yes even the dress shirt. Not what people are saying about the above mentioned on Facebook! 

Now in keeping with this news worthy vain lets "Katch Up The Kardashians”  I try to stay away but I just can't! They are like a STD that just won't quit.  Well first there are a few people that can say NO to the clan, Leo DiCaprio, along with Paris Hilton, refused to be filmed for “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” while partying on Sunday at Los Angeles.  Seems they did not want to damage their brand by appearing on what is becoming Americas slow moving train wreck!  This summer the clan is filming in New York's playground for the uber rich, The Hamptons!  Coming from a New York family myself, my parents met on the NYC subway ......classy huh? I know that the Kardashians hitting the scene there is going to go over like a fart in church! AND... Kourtney Kardashian, the only sister not in a rush to run down the aisle, has announced she is pregnant with her third child. I smell drama, which equals good TV. Okay, I believe we have covered everything worth covering....Kardashians are still a mess, I do a better job then FoxNews but not BBC and again....NOT DEAD....yet!

Stay Fabulous 

Boy About Town

Spinning Deverish

I just left a meeting where we talked about the blog numbers, just okay; My ongong stuggle to stay focused, sober & sane, this changes daily; and my being more visable in the public eye; UMMMM, I am right here.  Leaving that meeting were a table full of people are telling me how to be me & what THEY can do to help has made me it clear to me that I need to vent.  So please allow me to post this & then I am off to have my photo taken at the latest, hottest eatery in LA, owned by some reality TV star...whom I adore by the way.  Lately I seem to be beating myself up over my mistakes.  And since my lapse in judgement are promoted in 35 characters or less I am all to aware not only of dropping the ball, but of each persons thoughts on my epic failures. Christine Logan of Palm Springs seems to be my biggest promoter, running around town telling people to"google him".  Hers, and others, drive to hurt is both amusing and painful to watch.  Most people would take comfort in the success the life has brought them.  But my "winning moments", like my stumbles, are both dramatic & lonely. I know I am a good person. I have a great work ethic. I truly care for my fellow man. I want the best for everyone. I want to be present for the people in my life. But I am also a dark, sketchy, taker of your joy. I care for nothing but my pleasure in the moment....yes Michael, you were right.  I will always turn to that dark, creepy side when I am at a loss as to what to do.  Because in that dark, scared and yes lonely place, I know what to expect of people.  People grow apart.  People lie.  People stop finding me so amusing.  They leave. I will hurt. You Left.  I hurt. I ended up here alone with my racing thoughts. But at least this is known to me, only me.

You see Jesse I did not go out to relapse. I told you, time and again that I could not sit through that hell. You did not listen You sang my praises, as did the witches convent of staff until I said enough, I am a person.  So I exit. You said yourself you couldn't have made it nearly as long. But you judge without all the facts. You said I am bad....you leave. I am alone.

Tom, you rode into my train wreck on a bit of lube with an bit of a chip on your shoulder.  Yet after watching you cry over your penis, and clap with pure joy as you sleep, I feel so safe with you. So what do I do?  Run.  I turn down the little time we have. Time to be safe. Time to just be. I run. I leave. I am alone. I have always loved those spinning guys that wear the long flowing dresses....The Spinning Dervish!

I is unclear what will stop this worldwind dervish from doing what he is born to do...spin. Spinning faster and more violet. Enjoying the crazy ride, because really what other choice is there?  And time moves on. The spin is a bit more erratic and the smile a bit more strained, but still the dervish spins....and you watch.  At a certain point there is no form to the spinning.  Any form of art falls away with a crazy crash. And then the long, pronounced tumble that ends just as everyone knew it would. In tears.  In pain. Alone. How could this have happened? Why oh, why did this happen....

Who is our spinning friend is? Come on now, you all can figure that out! You all watched, encouraged, and feed the spinning.....and part of you, deep down will enjoy the titanic fall.  Which just goes to show you.....you too have a dark side.

Stay Fabulous.....

Boy About Town

Double The Hate...

It is not often that I am standing in the kitchen, watching CNN while reading some of your emails and all of the sudden am struck into a state of total, silent rage.  But that is just what happened earlier yesterday as I watched David Benham, and to a lesser extent, his brother Jason Benham explain to viewers that were not upset at the HGTV network for dropping them like nuclear waste after their far right wing views came to be common knowledge. They instead blamed the "Gay Agenda" (I hate those words, what does that even mean?) for forcing the good folks at this corporation to "part ways" with the twins.  As someone that has "parted ways" with employers a few times, I can tell you those words mean one thing....You Are Fired.

First a little history, this is going to be a Cliff Notes version because it's 3 am and I have been reading about these Bobbsey Twins all night and I am so over them.  I have often spoken of Flip Benham.  He is the leader of Operation Save America, which, among other things, has tried to shutdown every abortion clinic it has even set its sites on.  During Bill Clinton's re election campaign in 1996 your very own Boy About Town volunteered with NOW and was stationed in Little Rock, Arkansas where Flip had set up camp to beat the drum of ending a woman's  right to choose. And during that time I got to see up close how truly hateful that man is.  But this is not his story. It is a story of his twin sons. Children that were raised in a enivorment that allowed or even encouraged calling people names like faggot, or Little Miss Fruit...that was Flip's special name for me (kinda makes ya wonder about him, huh)?! So as these kids grow up they follow Daddies dogma right down the line. They also build a booming real estate business that made them a force to be reckoned with in North Carolina. They built their brand, very well I might add.  They have a natural charm that comes through, maybe one of the twins more so then the other, but whatever.
At the same time as they were working hard to become the Donald Trumps of the South they went right along believing some of Daddies right wing, nut bag jabbering.  And these high profile men, these guys that were working hard to make sure their brand of real estate dealing was going places, well these same men were plain stupid in how they handled themselves in public.  In 2004 the dynamic duo asked the City of Charlotte to deny a permit to the city's annual Gay Pride Event.  With David, of course it was David, stating that the parade’s “filth” and “destructive,” “vile” activity “should not be allowed in our city."
In an interview from August 2012 our favorite alpha twin stated that Islam is a “demonic agenda that wants to come and take America."  There he goes again with this whole agenda talk.
And never one to shy away from the camera, David Benham, both organized & led a  prayer rally in his hometown of Charlotte, right on the steps of the Democratic National Convention in 2012, can anyone say photo op?!  During this PR bonanza Mr David shared with conservative radio host Janet Mefferd what he felt was the need to stop “homosexuality and its agenda that is attacking the nation” and “demonic ideologies tak[ing] our universities and our public school systems”

Ok so you get the point...there are many, many more cases of theses 2 jumping in front of any and every camera, microphone & local paperboy to get some coverage, I for one am not judging that in the least.  But I myself have learned, sometimes painfully is that you can not put your past into a little box and tuck it away from the world. Not in this age of the Internet. Becareful of the fame you seek today because you can not turn it off in the future. And when your "fame" is from such a hate filled place you a truly playing with fire.
Now keeping all that in mind, you would have to be a fool to believe that the folks at HGTV were not aware of the mess they signing to a contract.  Did they really think that somehow this would all be missed by...well by everyone?!  If these pushers of a FAR, FAR right wing agenda, I am starting to like that word angenda, can land a TV deal, start filming, start promotions and BAM the truth comes out, well kids, Boy About Town's talk show is a sure thing. Hello HGTV!!!! Over here! You want my agents number, cause even through I have a ton of baggage I can easily pass your test for TV readiness!
So while our twins sat on cable TV, not their own show but someone else's, they asked the world to believe that the Gay Agenda is to blame for their troubles.  To both of you boys, the strong one that talks a lot and the one that looks like he didn't get enough oxygen at birth, I say....you can only blame your pretty little selves. Boy steps off soap box and walks away into the crowd.......
Stay Fabulous
Boy About Town

The Mis-Education Of America

We have all seen the headlines.  "U.S. Students Slide In Global Ranking On Math, Reading & Science"....."1 0ut Of Every 3 First year Teachers Do Not Return To Classroom"..."Budget Cuts For Local Schools".   The list goes on and on.  And yet for some reason, we as a people, as the worlds greatest superpower continue to allow American children to not only struggle but flat out fail.  This posting will look at our system for teaching our children.  We will see what people are doing on the grassroots level to fix the problem or in some cases what people are doing to build a whole new system. 
I have a good friend named Carrie.  We spent a summer running around Chicago together waiting tables, staying out to late & driving everyone around us totally crazy.  The whole time Carrie was very clear that she was going to take her new diploma and teach the youth of America.  Carrie was going to teach "the child".  Not just ABC's & 123's but to tailor each kid's workload as to where they were in their lives as a whole.  At the end of the summer Carrie packed up & moved to Kansas City.  She was living her dream. By the end of her first day the dream was shattered. The children arrived without basic supplies, pens, paper, erasers. The administration was disconnected between what had to happen to satisfy the school board and the need of its student body.  And in her first day our fearless Carrie was called, by a child...well it's not printable.  But clearly this was not what she had signed up for.  That was 16 years ago and Carrie is still teaching.  Her passion has grown over the years and she has managed to create a place where learning is not only important but fun.  She has an open door policy that allows her students to express themselves and ask questions without fear of being rebuked. That sounds like learning to me.  But for every Carrie there is a new teacher that says NO THANKS.
Many people are unwilling to battle unsafe environments, school boards without a clue & parents that are either to busy to care or just plain can't.  It's said that for every 3 new teachers that enter the classroom one will not return the following year.  That is 33 percent!  AND after that another 25 percent leave within the next 5 years.  So why do we make it so hard on the people we trust our kids with?  Why is it a battle every year for these keepers of our future to ask for a bit more cash?  Can you blame them for giving up and going into the private sector?

That is just what my friend Mandy did.  After teaching for a few years on the grade school level she left to teach English to kids in Asia. When she was teaching American kids in America she made $39,000.  In her first year overseas she made $72,000 PLUS all expense where paid.  She finds the experience both rewarding & frustrating.  The amount of respect she receives as a teacher while out of the country is shown not only in the amount she is paid but in the way she is treated by society.  She has never felt disrespect by any of her students.  As she told me, that would not be tolerated.  But why can she not find the same rewards in her own country?
On a flight I was on not to long ago I was seated next to a well put together woman.  Across the aisle was seated her 3 children.  They all sat quietly typing away on their own ipads. Not once did anyone have to ask them to quiet down.  In talking with Mom, please you know I had to talk to someone, I was to learn that each of them was working on a project for the lessons.  They were home schooled & although they had been traveling they were still expected to learn. Oh my.  It turns out that this family lives right down the street from where Boy About Town grew up.  And in her experience the cookie cutter system of teaching was doing a huge disservice to her children.  Remember this is Littleton, Co.  The place that gave us both Columbine & Arapahoe high schools.  She found that her oldest daughter shut down in groups. When she finished her work well ahead of the other students she was told to sit and wait until all the other were done.  This led to

wasted time and feelings of isolation. While once an outgoing, smart kid she was starting to fall behind in lesson.  Since home schooling began all of her children are reading above their grade level.  They have blossomed into fun loving kids with their own area of interest.  Showing a natural love of music they placed their child in front of a piano.  She can play classical pieces after hearing them just once.  Now this is a gift that very few in any public schools could nurture.  I asked a question that, for me, is very important.  What about the social aspect of school?  Learning how to deal with your peers and how they deal with you is key to growing into the person that will one day enter the world as a working adult.  There have sprung up groups in every city that allows home schooled kids to interact with each other in a setting that fosters learning.  I visited one such group in here the LA area.  The day I joined the group we went to a local museum.  In my time spent with the kids it was clear this was no random outing.  As we walked the galleries any of these home schooled kids took time to help me understand what it was I was looking at.  They all had studied, at home, the pieces where were gazing at.  They all knew, to different degrees, the name of the artists as well as a bit about the time in which they lived.  As an Art History major I was humble to have an 11 year old break down the influence that an artiste's mother had over their work....Thank you very much Hannah!
When I asked the families what could be done to improve the classrooms of America the general feeling was that it is far to gone to be fixed.  These families were focused on doing what they could to help their child.  They simply did not have the time to fight a system that seems dead set on keeping the status quo.
A quarter......25 percent of American High School students drop out.  If we lose those kids in their teens how can we expect to compete on a global level.  The kids in Kazakhstan are out performing our Yankee Doodle Munchies in areas such as Math.  We have thrown money at the problem. President Obama picked Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and gave him $100 billion to spend in an attempt to turn the decline around.  With the belief that a good teacher is the most important tool one can have in the classroom there has been a push to rid the schools of bad teachers.  But how can we be sure we are not throwing the baby out with the bath water? Mr Duncan's steps were fought tooth & nail by many.  And while some improvement has been seen we are dealing with a

crisis and half measures avail is nothing!  I have seen the difference that an enlightened, excited & informed teacher can make both in the schools & outside of it.  But are we doing all we can to encourage them, the teachers?
Teachers are overwhelmed with a large number of students, the funding that does go to schools while never large, does not get put to effective use and there is not always a home environment that encourages hard work at school.  So problem seems to be multi leveled.  And so the solution should be as well.  And that clearly will not be easy.  But what is crystal clear is that if we don't do something soon America will go on turning out a nation of people fully unprepared to meet the demands of the world we live.....
A quick side note.  While in middle school in State College, PA I started to have a very hard time in school.  I knew I was different, my peers knew I was different and things got bad fast.  There was one, just one person that made me feel safe & understood, Mrs Patricia Ann Kelly. She made sure I knew I was going to be ok.  She is the only reason I was able to stumble through French class and then run, truly run, to her office until the coast was clear.  That teacher saved my life.
Stay Fabulous
Boy About Town

Pillow Talk w Boy About Town

Boy's Big News....Look Out Howard Stern!

About Town With Boy....Madison Wisconsin

As many of you know I have always been a fan of travel.  From the time I was a child my parents dragged us all over the globe & exposed us to many different places.  Even as a "little Boy About Town" I knew that each experience was unique. And being me, I knew my opinion was meant to shared.  My poor family.  So when I suddenly found myself booked on a flight to Madison, Wisconsin I figured this would be the perfect chance to kick off a new segment "About Town with Boy"....

First lets cover a few basic facts, Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the Dane County seat. As of July 1, 2012, Madison had an estimated population of 240,323, making it the second largest city in Wisconsin.  Now, I am going to be honest, the thought of visiting this mid-sized, mid-western town in the middle of the winter wasn't on the top of my things to do list.  But as I found out there is no welcome like Madison welcome! The cast of characters I met while there reflect the city it's self.  Lily & Felipe met us at the airport with an arm full of winter coats.  Now let me get one thing outta the way.  Madison in the winter is cold.  There I said  it....cold.  But my little posting here is meant look beyond all that and look into what makes Wisconsin's second largest city tick.  For many of us the words "Madison, Wisconsin" bring up images of over fed, white, cheese loving, mid westerns screaming for some football team to make a goal...or hoop.....or whatever.  But what struck me right off the bat was the young, urban feeling as well as "non white" make up of the area.  The University of Wisconsin which is located right downtown, gives the city a boost of young blood & energy.  This one factor, the

school, brings an estimated 60,000 people from all over the world into close contact with each other. I came to see that this young, exciting crowd adds to the reputation Madison has hung onto over the

years as a liberal, forward thinking city.  The U of W population, made up of the support staff along with those feisty, party animals called students, tend to live close to the University. And in doing so they spend their spare time as well cash in the direct surrounding area.  So of course there is an active bar/party scene, which we like to call State Street. While the crowd tends to be younger and shall we say messier, you get the feeling all are welcome as long as you come to party.  They love to party in "Maddy", that's what I call Madison! They love to party & they do love to eat.  Some of the local favorites, that I was told by many of you, were the fired cheese curd followed by frozen custard. This is not a joke people. And being your Boy About Town I flew off to Wisconsin and got off the plane a headed straight to Michael's Frozen Custard, which also had the a aforementioned cheese curds.  And let me lay it on the line for you folks, I gained 10 lbs in 20 mins but it was worth it.
Just steps from all the chaos....I meant higher education, is the State Capital. I thought "this is going to be some sad attempt at being a classic, decorative show piece."  Ladies & gentlemen.....I stand corrected.  Boy About Town here has been to see the seats of power for many different governments

all over the world AND I've even been kicked out of some, but the Capital of Wisconsin is truly breath taking.  Built between 1907 and 1917 at a cost of $7.25 million, this timeless, working seat of power is well worth a visit.  One thing I couldn't help but to notice on my weekend visit to this historical landmark, was the number of homeless people huddled in the hallways to escape the bitter cold. The irony was not lost on me. How could this clean, brimming city not do more to protect it's own against the coldest winter in 30 years....I'm telling ya I know when to travel. 
In doing a some research I found a bit of struggle going on within the city it's self. On one side is the "old guard." From what I could see, this group tends to be upper middle class, white collar & maybe bit on the older side.  On the other side would be what I am going to call "hipster voters".  This is a mixed bag of young, new to the area urban professional, a booming Latino population & the U of W crowd, amongst others.  Once upon a time Madison was truly a liberal, yet not to liberal town where the Vietnam War was protested and housing discrimination based on sexual orientation was made illegal in 1982, well before Will & Grace.  However, since then there seems to have been a shift. Maybe it is due to the increase in the Hispanic population.  Maybe it's because around 50% of the public school system is now made up "non white" children, a sharp increase over the past few decades. Whatever the cause, the effect has been the same, a divide has sprung up between those that where, and those that are in the mist of becoming. It's called progress baby! I sat down with city council member Shiva Bidar to talk about how the city has been dealings with it's hunt for a new, clear identity.  As soon as I met this outspoken, elected official it was clear she was part of the New Madison. Iranian born and having been raised in Spain, Shiva lived elsewhere in Europe & on the west coast of America before settling in Madison. Although she came to Madison for love she stayed on after the relationship had ended. So here is the face of the other Madison. Born in a land

many American high school kids can't find on a map, living and working hard to carve out a bit of the American Dream mid-western style for themselves.  After working in the community for a number of years getting things done from the outside our Shiva made a run for office, there by making it official,

the charge of guard has begun. The "hipster voters" have a face to which they can relate on the council. As Shiva and others in the Madison community begin to deal with issues such as school lunches, the job market and everyday things that a mid size city deal with, I heard there where rumblings of unhappiness with this new wave of people and their wants & needs. But as I asked for more details, pen & paper ready,   
everyone seemed unwilling to make clear their ideas. I think it was mid western manners that gave them the a sudden case of the shut ups. 
Something that could not be ignored was the fact that Madison, unlike most American cities or even towns seemed to have no neighborhoods in which certain communities claimed as their own. Although there is a large Mexican population, there was no clear "Mexican" area.  I was told repeatedly that was a large Gay population in Madison, yet there was no "Gay District".  As Shiva and I chatted about how this can make it difficult for a group of people to find footing in an area and can, at times, lead to feelings of isolation even in a city the size of Madison.  One person that deals with this on the daily is Patrick Farabaugh. He saw a market for a high quality, publication serving the Gay folks of Madison.  And I have to say that his "Our Lives" is a well put together, glossy mag that truly is well worth a read. Patrick thinks the lack of "ghettoanation" speaks to the fact that Madison does not need to place people into boxes as it where.  That the Gay community, which for decades has been focused around the dance floor of the discos, has grown into a a mature, integrated community which is everywhere and does not need to be pigeon holed into a few blocks.  While that is true in many respects, I truly believe there is something self affirming by living, working and yes partying in a corner of the world that is yours and you know you are safe in. Not to say that small world should be your whole world, but clearly it is key part to saying "I am here. My culture counts and is celebrated." And one of the many things I did notice that while there was a great sense of community in Madison as a whole the pockets of fun, interesting mini worlds seemed to

be lacking in this modern day town. That is not to say that Madison is in anyway lacking in a diverse make up.  By just being still and watching you can learn so much about a place, but lets face it that is just not the way Boy About Town does things. On our last morning in Madison a group of us gathered to share a final meal at "The Original Pancake House".  As I made my way across the room I was greeted by most every table with a warm & genuine "Good Morning".  Now to be fair, I was wearing a large, red hat that some say looks like a fox.  It was warm & stylish! And as we sat down I looked around at the table and saw 5 very different people. They all had walked a different path to get here and at night they rest their heads down in different circumstances, but all of us were brought together there, in Madison.  That breakfast best sums up Madison. With no pretense, no big fuss they greet all of the world with "Good Morning"
Stay Fabulous
Boy About Town

A New Era For The GOP Or Just Death Throes?

We here in America live with a two party system that has for years waged an on going battle that has come to define modern politics. On the one side is the Democrats. They have been in the White House for two terms now with, some would say, mixed results. What they also have is great prospects in the coming years, not least of which is Hillary Clinton. On the other side of the ever flipping coin is the GOP or the Republicans. GOP= Grand Old Party and at one time it truly was a great, solid, united forward thinking party. That can not be said about the present day Republican Party.
In the past few years they have tried time & again to revamp themselves to fit the rapidly

changing voters. With different groups within the GOP fighting for control there has little, if any cohesiveness coming from the Republicans.  The term "staying" on message has no meaning to this group because at this time there is no message on which they can agree! Let's look at some of the groups that are playing a part in this soap opera.
 The Tea Party or Tea Baggers as they are know to everyone else.  The Tea Party movement is an American political movement that is primarily known for advocating a return to "The Founding Fathers" blueprint for America, or at least what they see as the blueprint because NONE of the Tea Baggers were there.  Now lets all keep in mind that the Fathers were all White, rich, male slave owners, but our friendly Tea Baggers, umm Tea Party People,  don't believe we should all return to that.  At least they don't say as much.  But what they do clearly believe in is a more conservative approach to EVERYTHING.  From social issues like gun rights, to abortion to limited government & of course Gay marriage. Theirs is a grassroots movement that started in the mid 90's.  As with most movements the T.P.'ers was started out of frustration with what they thought was an America fast approaching the end.  The number of people that are actual members seems to vary according to who you ask, but one thing that is clear is the most, not all, seem to be older, white people that think that the Republican party was starting to become to liberal. No really, some people actually thought that. So the movement was hailed by many as a saving grace.  At last getting back to core values & fiscal responsibility.  And they found great spokespeople like my good friend Sarah Palin. I wanted to insert a photo of Sarah & Myself here but everytime we have been in the same room she runs in the other direction. And by that I means she literally runs! I guess she was having a bad hair day.  Members of the Tea Party have made themselves a force to be reckoned with. However if you, as a card carrying conservative, step outta line there is a price to pay.  As Sen John McCain learned earlier today. The Arizona Republican Party censured longtime Sen. John McCain for what it called his “long and terrible” record of voting with the liberal, left wing. #told 

One of the other groups that is doing it's damnest to be heard in this never ending fight for a piece of the pulpit is....are you all ready for this?  Socially Liberal Black Republicans. Now I too did a double take on that one! I saw it on a friends facebook page & it sent my wheels a spinning.  Now as many of you may know Ab Lincoln was a proud Republican and also gained world wide fame for The Emancipation Proclamation.  He most likely would have gone on to mess up his reputation if he had not spent that night at the theater.  But, this one amazing event alone can not over shadow the years that followed.  For a long time fiscally conservative blacks have tried, some would say in vain, to return the Republican party to one that is more inclusive. This uphill battle, in my view, has lost a bit of steam with the the election of America's first half black President to The White House....twice. However the question is starting to be raised will the Republicans nominate a socially liberal candidate for the 2016.  Did the Republicans learn their lesson when they pushed hard right wing ideas?  This small yet growing group is is becoming a force to be reckoned with. Only a group taken seriously would be  having a luncheon at The White House next week. And that is just where the Black Republicans will be throwing down. One person that will making a grand entrance, because she always enters a room like that, is Miss Frenchie Davis. As she shares on her fb timeline, and everyone should check that out cause it is H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S, she is a Socially Liberal Black Republican...and Bisexual. Pause for effect.  So as more & more young, Black Americans find their voice in the system is it possible that a younger, smarter, more liberal way of looking at the world will become the prevailing thought from the party?  Will Jay Z be hosting fundraisers for a Black Republican candidatee? And will Boy About Town be invited?

Now I want to close this topic out with a group I yet to be able to wrap my mind around, The Log Cabin Republicans! Let me break this down for you fine folks. The Log Cabin Republicans are a group of Gay Republicans. I know right?!  Now as some of you may know I have had many an interview with different members of the L.C.R. and still don't understand how anyone in their right mind could want to be a part of a group that has made it quite clear they want nothing whatsoever to do with anything Gay.  Point in case, Presidential candidate Bob Dole, remember him, returned money to our Log Cabiner's that they had raised on his behalf.  He wanted nothing to do with a group of Gays...or their money, which really says something!  In a time of changing views on Gay Marriage, polls show that a majority of Americans now support it, why oh why would you throw your time, energy & yes money behind a group that states clearly they stand opposed to your equal rights? But that is just what they are doing? I just can't....
Now there is also the growing Hispanic vote, which at this time has become the largest minority in the USA.  I did not over look them but am saving that hot topic for a coming posting! Now let's catch up on some entertainment gossip!  

It seems that AirFrance has pissed off the one & only Cher!  And as anyone in the free world knows Cher loves to share all her thoughts on twitter, so while looking up Frenchie's fb page make sure to hit @Cher!  It seems Cher's houseguest Heidi arrived but sans her luggage.  As she went on to share AirFrance later found the missing luggage half way across the globe but was making plans to have it brought to LA.  However the bags were not to delivered to Casa de Cher and her highness let lose on the airline, with both barrels! FAB!  Speaking of people that need to be taken down a notch, Phaedra Parks of the Real Housewives of Atlanta will finally get to use her law degree she is SO fond of telling us about.  Her husband, Apollo Nida, has been charged in federal court with identity theft! Now I know a thing or two about the court system, thank you very much, and I know that the feds only bring a case against you if they are sure they can win.  Hey Apollo, if you need any pointers on life behind the fence hit me up! 
Stay Fabulous!
Boy About Town

What Do Putin & A Teen Porn Star Have In Common? Boy's Attention!

First off I gotta say thanks for all the amazing love you guys sent my way after our posting on

Angela Madsen the other day.  It's good to know that a piece written about someone that has taken life on and risen to the occasion with grace still strikes a cord with so many of you. With that said, today's posting is going to have none of that.....Today we are just going to cover stories that, for whatever reason, have grabbed my attention and refused to let go.  So if someone would please help me on to my soapbox....
For some reason The 2014 Olympic Committee thought Sochi, Russia was the perfect place to host the Winter Games.  Now they turned a blind eye to Russian laws cracking down on freedom of the press as well as freedom of speech...Pussy Riot anyone?  Putin has made his distaste for Gays well known and made no apologies for his actions.  He has locked up political opponents for having the gall to give their personal money to those running against Putin. Which, in all fairness, was a waste of a Ruble, the election was fixed.  Anywho, with all this said "The Committee" said that this was the place to bring the world together to celebrate unity & peace. So is it any wonder that this same committee, I am no longer using a big "C" as I am losing respect for them by the second, is downplaying the handwritten messages containing terrorist threats against the athletes themselves.  Now the very same President Putin that was so quick handle all his own problems is taking the offer of the committee to help with security. Knowing that any incident at the games in Sochi would make for a PR disaster, which after an already bruising turn in the media he is anxious to avoid.  One group Putin does not  have to worry about protecting is the French  President Francois Hollande & other officials.  They have decided to pass on the Russian hospitality in light of the non-stop human rights violations.  EVEN the French are taking a stand! Wow!  

Now I was a piece I was not sure about writing about.  This headline would grab anyones attention "Teen Expelled From High School For Doing Gay Porn".  Now let us get one thing clear, this teen is 18 years old.  He did all his film work as a legal adult.  Robert Marucci, of Cocoa Florida, was expelled from his high school after students became aware of his career and of course, passed the images around like wild fire.  Robert was sent home after the school said there were creditability threats in regards to his safety. Remember, we are talking about Florida, not the bedrock of forward thinking! Maybe they could look to Mr Putin for help?  But the school instead thought it could make the situation go away. They thought wrong.  The story blew up on the net and the school seems to have had a change of heart. I am guessing the threats of costly lawsuits & more bad press had something to do with that.  But what really impressed me was Roberts Mom!  Melyssa Lieb came out swinging for her son.  This woman dares anyone to say he did anything wrong. And from watch footage of her I would never disagree with Mom!  She raised a well spoken, smart and yes hot young man, that made a business decision and makes no apology for it! Good for both of them!
Stay Fabulous!
Boy About Town

A Hero Amongst Us.....Angela Madsen

For a while now I have wanted to write about people that I feel have effected the world in which we live but have failed to grab the attention of the mass media.  So every now & then I will be posting under the title "A Hero Amongst Us".  You folks have never been shy about emailing me your thoughts, both good & bad, so if you know of someone that might fit this mold please let me know RCRNewsBlog@gmail.com

At times even Boy About Town gets a tad tired of all this Hollywood fluff.  I mean how many times can you write about some untalented "starlet" getting out of a car sans panties. As many of you know my last blog "Boy's Buzz" was dedicated to just this type of  "news story".  And it made me well known & paid my bills, thank you Lindsay Lohan, Britney, and all ya Kardashian blood suckers. But during that time in my life, through my travels, both cyber & real world, I met some people that truly wowed me. People that, I believe, not only changed their world but changed the world we live in.  I would like you all to meet one such person, Angela Madsen. 
While on duty with the Armed Services of the United States Miss Madsen injured her back.  While the injury was not life threatening it was not a pleasant experience.  So in 1993 our little United Sates vet went in for surgery which while major, still had Angela heading straight home with a clear goal to be back on her beloved surf board within a year.  As you will soon learn Angela is VERY goal orientated.  But the doctors at the VA hospital made a "mistake" while performing this life changing operation on her back. Even I know that a "mistake" in the region of all that important stuff back there is never good.  And what do ya know, Boy About Town was right, please take note, it does happen. Angela was "informed" upon awaking  that she was now a paraplegic & would be requiring a wheelchair. That's it! No preamble, just BAM!   Now let's recap shall we folks?  Serve your country...yippee, hurt your back....ouch, become paraplegic.... WHAT!!
I have never been called lazy & I too have been handed a few curve balls in life but waking up paralyzed....Check Please!
And as many of you know that when something like this happens it seems to open the flood gates.  Your world begins to unravel...quickly!  Angela lost her job.  I mean your employee calls in one day saying "I can't come in today, I can't walk anymore need to deal with that real quick."  So no more income.  And funny thing, no one wanted to hire a middle aged, newly wheelchair bound, woman.  So she lost her house, there by becoming homeless. Speaking from experience I know how dehumanizing that can be. At this point,  many people would have thrown in the towel. But remember I said Angela was goal oriented, so she made some goals. 
At some point she began to look at all this as a gift.  In the coming years Angela seemed to think God was a major factor in what she did with her situation. That sounds good & maybe true too but I have met Mr. & Mrs Madsen.  And I truly believe this Florida couple need their own reality show.  He is a World War II vet that takes no gruff from anyone & she is a lovely lady that always has a quick comeback for every occasion. These two are the type you want to sit next to at a dinner party so you can rip the other guest to pieces together! But they expect you to work hard.  And that i just what Angela did!

As close as this crazy lady is getting Boy to a boat!

Now when I first heard about Angela her girlfriend, oh did I not mention that?  See how the adjectives are adding up? Anyway Deb contacted me and asked me to write about her lovely girlfriend that was a paraplegic, a vet & at the current moment rowing across the Atlantic Ocean in a tiny boat with no sail & no motor!  HOLD THE PHONE!  This woman, who by now is a Grandmother, is in a fibreglass boat of about 30 feet ROWING across the ocean without the use of her legs. One more detail, added Deb. The guy rowing with her is a French amputee with only 1 leg that does not speak any English.  And she speaks no French!  She had my attention.  Angela & her one legged buddy were getting next to NO press coverage!  It was not a sexy story.  Most vets did not like the whole Gay thing. Gay press was looking for a muscle bound sex god in a jockstrap to put on their covers. And mainstream press didn't know what to do with her.  I did a piece in which Boy's Buzz asked why this American Role Model was being over looked.  I was shocked by sheer volume of responses I received. The internet reached out to Angela & her story.  And she reached out to me.  One day shortly after printing the story I answered the phone only to hear Angela announce herself along with her ships present longitude & latitude.  Since that call and after spending 66 days on that boat Angela & Deb have always been in my life.  This amazing team is always doing something or going somewhere.  Angela has started an organization that helps differently abled people learn not only to row but to regain some of their self reliance. She speaks at both schools to kids that need to hear her message of over coming life's hurdles as well as larger venues aimed at fighting for human rights. Gone on to compete in the Paralympics.  Oh, and by the way, after her record setting row across the Atlantic Ocean Madsen has gone on to become one of nine women in the world who has rowed TWO different oceans AND become the only person to have rowed THREE ocean crossings AND row her hot little self around Great Britain.  
 Now Angela's story, like many of our stories, has many twists.  But unlike most, Angela does not allow  the adjectives used to describe her to define her. She looked at what she was handed and said it was simply not good enough. She then went about building a world which not only works for her but in which she excels in!  In her spare time....whatever that means to her....Angela has managed to pen a book "Rowing Against The Wind" which is now available for pre-order on Amazon! So, we have, as a community, over looked this strong, gifted, lady.  But let me say this.....My friend Angela Madsen is truly is a Hero Amongst Us!
Stay Fabulous!
Boy About Town