A Marshmallow World

Was tickled to see some snow actually stuck overnight, so took a stroll through the park after brunch at Friedman's. It's about 25 degrees outside -- and feels like 11 -- but there's nothing more magical than seeing the city covered in a white blanket! More BELOW.

#BornThisDay: Jane Fonda (Dec. 21, 1937)

So many worthwhile blogs have come and gone -- The WoW Report with its fascinating posts by Stephen Rutledge comes to mind. But what I find amusing is that we've all been tricked into thinking they're "dying off" because of lack of interest, or "replaced" with social media, when in fact blogs are just as popular as ever -- they're now just called Substacks and you have to pay to read them.

With that in mind, I encourage you to follow Stephen on Facebook -- free of charge -- where he just posted a terrific piece about the legendary Jane Fonda, who turned 87 today! 

Read BELOW.

Remains of the Day (12/20)

Un-friendly fire: By now you may have heard that "English Teacher" creator/star Brian Jordan Alvarez has been accused of having sexually assaulted a onetime friend-cum-colleague named Jon Ebeling. The incident, which took place nearly a decade ago, was first reported in a poorly written article on New York Mag's Vulture vertical. Although I largely believe that the accuser wasn’t entirely comfortable with everything that transpired, the boundaries between the men were so vague -- and so ever-changing -- that I can see no reason why the public suddenly needed to know about this in 2024 for any other purpose than to try to exact some type of revenge. Jon Ebeling's parents must be so proud of their petty and vindictive son. 

P.S. For what it’s worth, I think “English Teacher” is entertaining but not nearly as great as it’s being made out to be -- and find Brian to be a bit obnoxious -- so certainly wasn’t predisposed to want to side with him. But this whole thing just reeks and is completely irrelevant. 

Variety: Kit Williamson’s new scripted half-hour comedy series, “Unconventional,” has been acquired by LGBT streaming network Revry

The Caftan Chronicles: David Nimmons is developing a model where younger gays live with and care for older gays in exchange for inheriting their property

SCMP: Meet Jaymes Vaughan, the singer married to "Gay King of Xmas" Jonathan Bennett

NBC News: Michigan man admits planning mass shooting of gay people

Saturday 'Stache: He's what we call a "Kenneth special"

Variety: Drag king reality competition show to be hosted by "Somebody Somewhere" standout Murray Hill

Socialite's Life: Meet Instagram hottie Enzo Carini

NYP: Lord & Taylor, America’s oldest department store, to make a comeback after years of devastating financial hardship

Columbus Dispatch: Ohio man who extorted gay men online, including an OSU student, sentenced to prison

Speedo Sunday: Feast your eye on newly out tennis player Joao Lucas Reis Da Silva's sexy boyfriend in a navy square-cut bathing suit HERE.

The Advocate: "The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh" stars Sahana Srinivasan and Nicholas Hamilton on their TV romance and representation

SNT/AP: Gerald Radford, who is accused of killing a gay man at a Tampa dog park, admitted to using gay slurs but denied knowing that they were offensive

PinkNews: Stephen Fry slammed for saying he no longer supports Stonewall charity over "nonsensical" trans policies / See also: Biden administration abandons efforts to protect transgender student-athletes from discrimination

Deadline: Netflix Renews "The Boyfriend" Japanese gay dating show for Season 2

Song of the Day: Susanna Hoffs and Elvis Costello share cover of the Rolling Stones song “Connection” to mark Keith Richards's 81st birthday

Hot Cat of the Day: "Well according to the charts adopting me and participating in regular petting sessions has paid off as your blood pressure has now dropped to a normal level."

RIP: The dedicated life and tragic death of gay publisher Troy Masters

Obituary: Marisa Paredes, icon of Spanish film, dies at 78

Billy’s Birthday

☘️❤️🙏

As we mark another solemn Dec. 20 without my beloved brother Bill, my brother Terence, Bill's widow (Jacqueline) and I are busy picking the winner of the ACES Bill Walsh Editing Scholarship, which you can learn more about HERE.

UPDATE from Bill's widow:

Unexpected WaPo birthday present (and victory) for Bill!

The Big Bing Theory

 

I happened to have some time to kill in my old neighborhood this afternoon, so popped into Best Buy in Chelsea to look at laptops. (Yes, I'm still Team PC.) 

While playing around with an HP Envy, I typed in my blog name in the browser that was up to see what would happen -- I've come to realize that you get completely different results on a computer that isn't the one you regularly use -- and before I could even think, it auto-populated the name plus "meaning," which gave me this result:

Kenneth in the 212 is a cultural phenomenon that captures the essence of New York City's urban landscape. It has evolved from a humble beginning to an influential cultural cornerstone. The name "Kenneth" is a nod to the island of Manhattan.

My first thought was that it was some sort of AI thing -- especially because I'm not aware of any way (besides me!) that Kenneth is related to the island of Manhattan. (Kenneth means "handsome" or "born of fire" and is of Gaelic and Scottish and Gaelic origins.)

But then I began to have doubts because when I google "Kenneth in the 212 meaning" at home, the result specifically says it's an AI overview and is a completely different write-up -- way less flattering! -- before finally realizing I had done the initial search on Bing.*

I would make fun of Microsoft for still trying to make its search engine happen. But if it's going to be this kind, consider me a convert! 

*Bing seems to have used information from something called Chiseled Magazine, which wrote kind things about my blog that I am only seeing now. 

"Visitor interactions have transformed the blog into a buzzing forum where New Yorkers and global observers alike dissect the latest urban trends and stories. This connectedness propels the blog’s content into the realm of collective experience." LOL

P.S. Also weird to see what Bing chooses to break out as subtopics, or whatever you call these headers, when I just type in my site's name.

On the Rag, Vol. 838

Did someone say big 'n' blond?; Mike Ruiz will make you "woof!"; Lukas Gage talks "Companion"; and more in this week's rag 'n' mag roundup BELOW.