Occupy Philly Rocks The Streets

Photo: Entertainment at the Occupy Philadelphia encampment, Nocember 2011 Occupy Philadelphia is alive and kicking! Hundreds of occupiers took to the streets Sunday night in solidarity with occupiers in Oakland who have been brutalized by the police. There were two arrests in Philly last night and one of our medics, Shantay, was roughed up by the cops.

St. Barths FWI Airport Landing

Fond memories of our trip last March to St. Barths. We'll be stopping there again this year on our cruise in late march.

Enjoyable Tour

This week we took a guided tour of the University (of Pennsylvania) Museum with a group sponsored by our senior gay men's "Mornings Out." group. Dan took a photo of me in front of the main entrance to the museum after we had lunch in the museum cafeteria.

Happy Birthday Hubby!

We're celebrating because Dan's birthday is today. Later on Dan and I will be joined by friends for a festive dinner out.

A Place To Rest my Head

Loki Likes Starbucks coffee.

BLOCKED TODAY

Occupy Philadelphia - MLK Birthday Union Solidarity Rally & March

Refuse To Vote For The Lesser Of Two Evils!

Obama has continued Bush's attack on our civil liberties. He is firmly in the pocket of the corporations. He refuses to endorse marriage equality even though several states have passed it into law. Voting for him because the other side will be worse merely plays into the hands of the powerful elite who control both political parties. Vote Green Party or vote for someone who opposes corporate control of government, who stands for the Bill of Rights and for full equality for all citizens.

Washington, DC and Alexandria, VA Sights

The train station at Alexandria, VA., the Washington Masonic Temple, and, of course, the Washington Monumnet...all visible from the train or very nearby druing my trip South on Saturday.

Road Trip South

Yesterday I went to Alexandria, Virginia to attend a toy train seminar. Dan and friends Richard and Mark went to Washington, DC to visit the National Gallery and the Phillips Collection. We all travelled by train, which is relaxing. We had dinner together when we got back to Philadelphia.

A Favorite Luncheon Spot

Cafe IXX on the 19th floor of the Bellevue Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia ofers a three course prix fixe lunch for $20.00...and a great view of the city!

A Rainy Winter Morning

Photo: A scene along the Schuylkill River during January 2011...we had snow then, this morning it's a mild 50 degrees and rainy.

My Vote In 2012 Will Go To...

The Green Party recognizes the equal rights of persons who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, intersex, transsexual, queer, or transgender to housing, jobs, civil marriage, medical benefits, child custody, and in all areas of life including equal tax treatment.

From the Green Party Platform

OccupyPhila Protests Back Door Ban On Abortions

Occupy Philadelphia took to the streets yesterday to protest recent legislation enacted by PA Republicans and signed by PA Republican governor Corbett that could result in the closure of abortion provider clinics statewide. Three OP members were arrested by AMTRAK police Tuesday morning merely for handing out leaflets inside 30th Street Station. Later, OP members rallied outside.

American Totalitarianism

"Most people think of this as an election, where voters go to the polls and select their preferred candidate. But I believe, and an increasing number of viewers believe, that our political system has become an auction in which the highest bidder wins." - Dylan Ratigan.

It's actually worse than that. Our elections are controlled so that the outcome, no matter which of the major party candidates wins, represents no threat to established corporate and political interests that control the country. The population is manipulated into thinking that elections represent true democracy, while in fact they are not democratic at all...they are planned. As political scientist and philosopher Sheldon Wolin has written, what we have is not democracy, it is inverted totalitarianism. Instead of a dictator we have corporations and controlled elections. It's a sad state of affairs.

Wonderful Birthday!

Today is my 63rd birthday, and I am certainly having fun. As you age, it's nice (and more important) to get birthday cards, and I received really nice ones from friends Pete and Carole, Richard and Mark, Dan's brother Bob and his partner Bill, and, of course, from Dan. Richard and Mark took us out to dinner in Collingswood, NJ on Saturday, where we enjoyed a delicios Italian dinner. But my big surprise was this morning when I opened my gifts. In addition to some toy train items for my collection, Dan gave me a lovely painting of Loki our Burmese kitten that he painted secretly last summer and had framed. You really know you are loved when someone does something so nice for you!

Winter Thoughts Of A Warmer Paradise

Even though it hasn't been a particularly cold winter so far, at about this time of year it's nice to remember sunny and warm St. Barths where we spent an enjoyable week last march.

January Last

While it has been cold the last day or so, we're not getting the snow that we had last winter so far.

Santorum Exposed

Will Bunch has a great piece on Rick Santorum in today's Inquirer.

Cold Day

Photo: Fire Island National Seashore... We're finally getting a snap of winter weather with temperatures falling. The mild weather could not hold on forever.

The Beach House In Winter

About this time of year I occasionally think about our beach cottage...cold, dark and unoccupied until we get a thaw in the early Spring.

Philly Mummers Parade

Once a year the straight guys from South Philadelphia get to dress up in drag, or kilts, and parade up Broad Street. The parade goes on all day. I'm watching the string bands now. They are actually pretty good as the quality of the performances has gotten better over the years.

Mild Weather For New Year's Day

Photo: Another scene from the lovely Dickens' Christmas Village at Macys Philadelphia. I don't want the holidays to end. This year has been a bit strange with all of the mild weather. At times it didn't feel like the hoilidays. I celebrate the holidays through my birthday on January 9th. This week we're supposed to get some really cold weather. Thursday is the day 12 of Christmas. There's still time to celebrate.