Facebook

I just signed up for Facebook over a week ago, and already I have made contact with people I have not heard from in 20 years. But today a friend sent me a video that was made in 1981. I was a senior at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan. Back then it was the only magnet school in the city, and attracted talented students from all over Detroit. I was a part of the performing arts department, and I was very active in school theater. In this video on Youtube that my friend Ron sent me, you can see me at the 50 second mark. We were rehearsing a play. I was playing the co-lead (Matthew Harrison Brady), of course, in Inherit the Wind. You can also see me at the end with my arms outstretched. The power of the internet is amazing. I have very few pictures of myself during this time. To think there is video of me when I was fifteen years old is just amazing. The power of the internet is incredible. Thanks, Ron!

Hot!

Photo by LeeStudiosNYC

This week went by quick. The heat is definitely upon us. Not so much heat, but the humidity. It is here. I have finally signed up for Facebook. I am glad that I finally signed up because I have heard from people when I was kid. Who knew? Actually I was tired of getting links to look at photos and what not, but because it was on Facebook I could not see it. While surfing around on some pages there I came across the photos at the top. I remember when they were done, but had not seen them published anywhere. Of course they were on Facebook, but I could not see them. The guy above is a really cool guy, but you would never think he would take great photos. But the camera loves him. Again, who knew?

Having a small cocktail party tomorrow for a really good friend who is visiting. This is a milestone birthday for him. He also won a Tony Award last year, so it has been a great year for him overall. I hope the man with the beautiful eyelashes can come by for a drink. Here's hoping. I hope you had a great week, and have a safe weekend.

Happenings

Republica Dominicana Fashion Week 2010 begins today.

The 13th Annual Book Fair continues until May 9, 2010. Opening on Monday, May 10, 2010.

Model

Last month we had carnaval celebrations in Santo Domingo. I thought that was the end of the carnaval season. It was not. Several of the smaller towns like Bani, Bonao and Cotui had celebrations in the weeks after carnaval was celebrated in Santo Domingo. One Sunday, some friends and I were driving and decided to head somewhere, but nowhere in particular. We pull into a town that was having their local carnaval celebrations. Actually, because next month there will be congressional elections, it was more like a large campaign rally for those seeking office. While watching the parade of humanity we noticed this tall 6 foot 3 gentleman at the top. My Dominican friend was trying to make small talk with him. To no avail. I then decide to shoot the photo of him above to remember him by. Fast forward to yesterday. I have a friend here and he is looking at the photos on my computer and told me he knew him. Fast forward to this morning and these are photos that I took in the vestibule of my building this Sunday morning. Now I will pass him on to Ernest so we can some professional photos. Great, beautiful day thus far.

Hola

Been doing nothing much lately but bullshitting. Being lazy. Yesterday was incredibly hot. The kind of heat that as soon as you open your door you want to go back inside. Not temperature-wise, but the humidity. Today is MUCH better.

Heard about a new gay club that opened last Friday. I have been told different variations on the name, so I will wait until I can confirm its name and location.

Been taking a few trips lately. Most of my little trips lately have been to the interior of the country, and I have been neglecting the coast. I have rectified this as I have been to beach at Guayacanes three times in the last week. Yesterday I went with friends, Bennie and James, to celebrate James' 39th birthday. The beach or the river is where you go on really hot days. I love just being able to get up and go. Or do nothing at all. Mostly, I just love not having a set 9-5 schedule and being spontaneous.

While in Guayacanes the other day I noticed a house that I saw for sale on the internet. While driving by there was a gentleman sitting out front. I decided to ask him if we could see the place. All he could say was no. He was most gracious and kind and took us on a tour of this 'compound.' It is the only way to describe it. You walk in and you have your own private oasis. And it can all be yours for a couple million dollars.

The decor is very dark, with lots of wood and a seemingly masculine aesthetic. It didn't say beach house at all to me. There is a lot of great art throughout. But it screams privacy, wide-open space, Caribbean sea, and did I mention privacy. It has a main house with 4 bedrooms, and a guest house with 4 bedrooms. There is a professional kitchen, game room, security system/cameras, just everything you need to move right in. Everything is for sale, the house and all the furnishings.One can at least dream. I hope to post more this week. Also wanted to say hola to the man with the beautiful eyelashes. I am thinking of you.

JetBlue Spring Sale

JetBlue is having its 10th anniversary spring sale with some great fares.

From New York City (JFK)

• $39/$49* to Pittsburgh, PA (PIT)
• $39/$49* to Boston, MA (BOS)
• $44/$54* to Washington, DC (IAD)
• $59* to Buffalo, NY (BUF)
• $49/$59* to Syracuse, NY (SYR)
• $49/$59* to Portland, ME (PWM)
• $49/$59* to Richmond, VA (RIC)
• $49/$59* to Burlington, VT (BTV)
• $69* to Bermuda (BDA)
• $59/$69* to Rochester, NY (ROC)
• $64/$74* to Charlotte, NC (CLT)
• $69/$79* to Raleigh-Durham, NC (RDU)
• $79/$89* to Jacksonville, FL (JAX)
• $79/$92* to Orlando, FL (MCO)
• $79/$94* to Tampa, FL (TPA)
• $99* to Santo Domingo, DR (SDQ)
• $99* to Nassau, BS (NAS)
• $109* to Kingston, Jamaica (KIN)
• $109* to Puerto Plata, DR (POP)
• $109* to Santiago, DR (STI)
• $129* to Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ)
• $129* to Barbados, Bridgetown
• $139* to Austin, TX (AUS)
• $139* to St. Maarten, AN (SXM)
• $139* to Saint Lucia (UVF)
• $149* to Aruba (AUA)
• $129/$149* to Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
• $129/$149* to Long Beach, CA (LGB)
• $129/$149* to Houston/Hobby, TX (HOU)
• $129/$159* to Salt Lake City (SLC)
• $139/$159* to Portland, OR (PDX)

From Fort Lauderdale (FLL)

• $29* to Nassau, BS (NAS)
• $59* to Santo Domingo, DR (SDQ)
• $68* to Washington, DC (IAD)
• $69* to Raleigh-Durham, NC (RDU)
• $79* to Richmond, VA (RIC)
• $84* to Newark, NJ (EWR)
• $89* to Buffalo, NY (BUF)
• $79/$89* to White Plains, NY (HPN)
• $119/$139* to Long Beach, CA (LGB)
• $119/$139* to San Francisco, CA (SFO)

From San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)

$39* to Santo Domingo, DR (SDQ)

Los Dueños del Circo

There is a television show called Los Duenos del Circo. It is, arguably, one of the most scandalous shows on Dominican television. I cannot think of an American or European counterpart. What comes to mind are Hollywood scandal magazines of the 50's, like Confidential, and Perez Hilton combined with an even more acidic tongue. They talk about EVERYONE. And they are one of the most popular shows on television here locally. They have taken on everyone high and mighty. They have been sued and vilified for some of the things they say and do. But honestly, with shows like this all over the world the people who produce and air the show knew exactly what they were doing. I believe. Controversy means large viewership and large viewership mean revenue.

Another scandal is that they are unequivocally gay. It is not a scandal for me, but it is something that has many people commenting. And not positively. The two male hosts are also not Dominican, they are from Venezuela. Which also has many people unhappy. How dare these 'extranjeros' scandalize Dominican society the way they do. Day before yesterday they got into more trouble than they bargained for. Venya Carolina, a television personality, came on to the show to confront the hosts of Los Dueños del Circo about the negative things it says about her. Then things got out of hand when Venya Carolina gets into a tussle with the hosts and it all goes downhill from there. Look at the video here:

Today it is announced that the three hosts that participated in the melee have been suspended from appearing on television for three to six months. One of the hosts left the country last night. Dominican media has been riveted by the scandal.

Here is another video where they out Dominican media personalities: