The Column of Life

Gay Pride Celebration has become an excuse for young straight people to get drunk and disorderly. What happened in 1969 was a push back against police raids of gay bars for something that was literally illegal. It has beome Mardi Gras belying the gravity of maintaining LGBT rights, especially the right to exist. Dancing in the street had nothing to do with the confrontation at THe Stonewall Inn in 1969. That there is a Pride Celebration at all is a blessing in itself. Police brutality in breaking up the crowd in Philly on Sunday June 7, 2026? Anecdotal evidence, i.e. those who were actually working the crowd say otherwise--that attendees were well behaved during the block party. On the other hand it is absurd to suggest that the police should not be present at all. From a perch in the Gayborhood it can be recounted that many who come down here to party at gay clubs regularly on weekends create a noise challenge. Often the police are not there at all as residents and denizens are subjec...

So, my true happy place is on the front porch of 22nd and New York in North Wildwood either being quiet or listening to my transistor radio with my two dogs, while my parents, aunts, uncles and cousins are in the kitchen or dining room having a great time. It was a background noise that provided comfort. If it was raining, curled up in that couch was the most comforting place to be. The second happy place was being on the beach at night with my dogs. I didn’t tell them I wanted to fly across the ocean. While sitting on the dunes, so many fantasies were served up while the dogs had great fun. Insecurities fade away when you’re in a safe place. I go back to those places with comforting soundtrack provided by happy loved ones or The Atlantic Ocean.

CENTER   CITY Giovanni Vitacolonna Logline: A woman now finds herself in charge of a bustling downtown restaurant with her two sons as she struggles to keep her legacy alive while overcoming the dramas of her past. Tag:  “If secrets be the food of love, there’s a feast in  Center   City . Come hungry.” Anna and her two handsome sons run a successful Italian restaurant on  Rittenhouse Square  in  Philadelphia . This is a passionate world full of warmth, food, music and a lot of history that will start to unravel and reveal the truth. Each character is a vivid piece of the puzzle. We are at a buffet table of emotions, good, bad and everything in between. 
 The pilot was written by Giovanni Vitacolonna and edited by David A Gregory.     THE CHARACTERS: Anna  Fontana  De Marco:  50.  A ttractive ,  Sicilian American restaurant owner of Gaetano's.   Feminine ,  yet f...

 

 

  Nashville ‘98 His voice followed me Across the front yard Pleasing when he tries to impress me Speaking Italian. Even more When I see the smile Following me Bare chest framed by the window A place to rest my head Perhaps. To reciprocate Impossible The greetings chase the country blues away. I wonder how strong He is. Strong enough to break down Barriers? I want to break him Out of his fragile prison.

No reason left for living, still there's a lot to do. New tears to cry, old songs to sing. And feel forever blue. And be forever.... Blue -- Chris Isaak The episode "Forever Blue," featured on the CBS forensic drama, Cold Case picked up some buzz on the internet back in December 2006.  The quote from Chris Isaak's "Forever Blue" in homage to the episode's title and the sadness that envelopes the tale of two policemen who love each other with the love that dared not speak its name. Once again prime time television has spoken its name and placed it before our eyes. AfterElton interviewed Shane Johnson who portrayed one of the lovers: I think it’s a necessity for people to understand that gays and lesbians did–and do–get beaten and murdered just for being gay. (The show went out of its way to ask if things were really that much better for gay cops today.) Besides the aforementioned kiss, the show not only portrayed the two men as being ...

    John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman gave the world what is clearly a  great musical achievement. Here is a critique lifted from Music Direct: John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman  (1963-IMPULSE) " ... Hartman's voice is right there and full-throated; again, I've never heard all the subtleties of his vibrato or all the slight accents in his phrasing. Coltrane's saxophone is in the room. Elvin Jones' drums bang and whisper. (Listen to that brush-wooshing! You get every wisp and sizzle.) Even McCoy Tyner's piano, often hooded in Van Gelder sessions, rings clear. Jimmy Garrison's bass may be a little forward, but it sounds like the pick-up amp, not a recording artifact. This is a gorgeous album, gorgeously mastered and essential." - Fred Kaplan, The Absolute Sound, June/July 2005, Issue 154 The clarinetist Tony Scott, who trod the same musical path as Billie Holiday and Charlie Parker, once called the number “Lush Life” “the Mount Everest of Ja...

  Cassatelle Siciliane (Cassateddi) 500 gr di farina grano duro. zucchero, 50 gr strutto, 40 gr Vino Bianco 250.ml. Buccia di limone (o arancia) Ingredienti per la crema di ricotta: ricotta di pecora ben scolata, 500 gr zucchero a velo o zucchero semolato macinato finemente, 150 gr cannella, 1 pizzico Per decorare:  zucchero Preparazione: 1. Per preparare l’impasto iniziamo a formare una fontana e mettere strutto zucchero e vino. Continuiamo a  lavorare  e formiamo un impasto  mettiamolo in una pellicola trasparente  e lo lasciamo in frigo  x 2 ore. 2. Intanto procediamo con la preparazione della crema mescolando gli ingredienti tutti insieme per riporla poi in frigo. 3.  Prendiamo il nostro impasto dal frigo e formiamo diverse palline da 90 grammi. Stendiamole e farciamole e ricordiamo di chiudere a forma di mezzaluna. 4. A questo punto friggiamole in abbondante olio bollente e appena risulteranno...

As we remember those we lost on 9/11, we also remember the spirit of unity and togetherness that defined the weeks and months after. On this day of service, I’m reflecting on all those still working to embrace that spirit, today and every day. https://t.co/y8x9PVcwDl — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 11, 2019

What the fresh hell. This is REAL. Filmed in 1958- about a conman who grifts a small town of suckers into building a wall. History not subtle enough for you? GUESS THE GRIFTER'S NAME (And watch until the end) pic.twitter.com/6FA3p6KC00 — Alex Hirsch (@_AlexHirsch) January 9, 2019

This Twitter Account is Outing the Men Behind the Violence in Charlottesville: https://t.co/mlWfI4aVN2 pic.twitter.com/CiKrDx2kb9 — Out Magazine (@outmagazine) August 13, 2017

“Sean Spicer crawled to freedom through five hundred yards of shit smelling foulness I can’t even imagine…” pic.twitter.com/RiiMJJc6nx — Full Frontal (@FullFrontalSamB) July 21, 2017

None of us are invincible. Even the mighty need mercy. Watch my Democratic Weekly Address on #Trumpcare here. pic.twitter.com/TAXJB6ncHP — Rep. Joe Kennedy III (@RepJoeKennedy) June 30, 2017

Today is Ferragosto and CoL premiered its first Ferragosto post in 2005. Salve, Diana, Mater Nostra! Perhaps the best thing about being part of the Apostolic tradition is that it at least allows for a simulation of goddess worship if not actually accepting it, which on some levels it is. The last time a Pope used the power ex cathedra , i.e. infallibility was in 1950 to declare the doctrine of The Assumption and this date (August 15th) is observed worldwide by the world’s Roman Catholics as a holy day of obligation. Papa Pacelli [Pius XII] proclaimed 55 years ago: “Hence the revered Mother of God, from all eternity joined in a hidden way with Jesus Christ in one and the same decree of predestination, immaculate in her conception, a most perfect virgin in her divine motherhood, the noble associate of the divine Redeemer who has won a complete triumph over sin and its consequences, finally obtained, as the supreme culmination of her privileges, that she should be preserved free...