Thinking of a gay cruise? Tips to make it fabbuluz.

To very loosely paraphrase 1970s cameo-machine The Love Boat, gay cruising is indeed exciting and new, offering something for everyone who sets a course for adventure. And if your mind’s on a new romance, that can be found there, too. Heck, even Charo’s still a possibility.

While some companies block out a few dozen rooms on cruise lines with nongay itineraries, there are four well-known companies that charter entire ships. Olivia Travel provides cruise, resort, luxury and adventure vacations designed especially for lesbians and women (see sidebar, Page 15). R Family Vacations focuses primarily on LGBT parents and their kids. The passenger logs on RSVP Vacations are mixed, but still slant toward a higher number of men (about 90 percent). And Atlantis Events cruises, where we’ve had the majority of our gay charter experiences, clock in at about 95 percent guys. (See sidebar.)

Many people think that translates to ripped models, skimpy swimsuits, free-flowing booze and hedonism in excess. Which is all there if you want that. But it’s also one of the most unassuming places we’ve found to make new friends of all ages, shapes, sizes and degrees of sass from among thousands of passengers from all over the world, each with the common interest of having the time of their lives in an environment that celebrates their sexuality rather than marginalizes it. Think of it as a really big gay bar where everyone knows your name, and no one gives you that Mean Girls glare.

While we’re not experts on cruising (of any variety), between us we have a decent amount of experience thanks to a total of 10 full-ship gay charters and three hetero-centric voyages where we learned why gay cruises are just so much more fun. So whether you’re embarking on your first gay cruise or planning your 99th, we present 10 easy ways to make it epic.

More at http://www.dallasvoice.com/raiders-sauced-ark-10168232.html .

[font color=green]The most hilarious tip is #7--Sea men everywhere!

I also thought that the final sentence in the fourth paragraph would have been more amusing if it said, "so whether you’re embarking on your first gay cruise or planning your 69th..."[/font]

International Mountain Bicycling Association lose general liability insurance coverage

A Brief History of Texas' Most Powerful Political Office: Lt. Governor

When I moved to Austin in 2002, one of the first things I did to acclimate myself to Texas was visit the Bullock Texas State History Museum.

I remember standing on the second floor, staring at the statue of the man whose name was chiseled onto the side of the building. Then I started to read his history on the plaque at the base of the statue to see just how long he'd been Governor or U.S. Senator.

That's when I discovered Bob Bullock had only been Lieutenant Governor.

"Lieutenant Governor is basically the Vice President of the United States," University of Texas School of Law professor Hugh Brady says.

More at http://kut.org/post/brief-history-texas-most-powerful-political-office-lt-governor .

These Sound Engineers Used One Weird Trick to Bend the Laws of Physics

You know how on cop shows, suspects get interrogated in a cramped room with a mirror on one wall? And on the other side, there's a prosecutor or other cops watching through the glass.

Those mirrors are kind of an illusion done with lighting. But the effect also illustrates perfectly how difficult it can be to break a pretty fundamental law of nature.

A group of engineers at UT has figured out how to bend – if not break – that law when it comes to sound.

http://kut.org/post/these-sound-engineers-used-one-weird-trick-bend-laws-physics

There is a 7 minute audio story with more details at the link.

Harris County Republican Party to rally against “sodomite” marriage, “dictator” judge on Monday

Calling gay people “sodomites” and U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia a “would-be dictator,” the Harris County Republican Party announced it will host a news conference Monday morning in response to Garcia’s ruling Wednesday striking down Texas’ bans on same-sex marriage.

The event at county GOP headquarters seems like a pretty obvious ploy to energize the conservative base in advance of Tuesday’s primary — when, among others, Chair Jared Woodfill faces a challenger from within the party.

According to a release sent out Friday afternoon, party workers and eleted officials will “stand shoulder to shoulder with people of faith to denounce the lawless ruling of a federal court seeking to impose the whims of unelected judges on the people of Texas.”

“President Obama set a precedent of lawlessness by intimating that he would now use his ‘pen’ and ‘phone’ to circumvent the will of the people and their elected representatives. Now every petty would-be dictator this side of the Rio Grande is advancing personal agendas by decree,” said Woodfill, who is referred to as “a staunch advocate of family values.”

More at http://www.lonestarq.com/harris-county-republican-party-rally-sodomite-marriage-dictator-judge-monday/ .

Equality Texas is planning a nonpartisan prayer vigil outside Harris County Republican Party headquarters to counter the GOP’s “Stand for Marriage” rally. Read more here.

Cross-posted in the Texas Group.

Harris County Republican Party to rally against “sodomite” marriage, “dictator” judge on Monday

Calling gay people “sodomites” and U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia a “would-be dictator,” the Harris County Republican Party announced it will host a news conference Monday morning in response to Garcia’s ruling Wednesday striking down Texas’ bans on same-sex marriage.

The event at county GOP headquarters seems like a pretty obvious ploy to energize the conservative base in advance of Tuesday’s primary — when, among others, Chair Jared Woodfill faces a challenger from within the party.

According to a release sent out Friday afternoon, party workers and eleted officials will “stand shoulder to shoulder with people of faith to denounce the lawless ruling of a federal court seeking to impose the whims of unelected judges on the people of Texas.”

“President Obama set a precedent of lawlessness by intimating that he would now use his ‘pen’ and ‘phone’ to circumvent the will of the people and their elected representatives. Now every petty would-be dictator this side of the Rio Grande is advancing personal agendas by decree,” said Woodfill, who is referred to as “a staunch advocate of family values.”

More at http://www.lonestarq.com/harris-county-republican-party-rally-sodomite-marriage-dictator-judge-monday/ .

Equality Texas is planning a nonpartisan prayer vigil outside Harris County Republican Party headquarters to counter the GOP’s “Stand for Marriage” rally. Read more here.

Cross-posted in the LGBT Group.

Love is Love, y'all

From Facebook:

Maxey Scherr Talks John Cornyn, LGBT Rights And David Alameel On MSNBC Interview

Democrat and candidate for U.S. Senate, Maxey Scherr, appeared on MSNBC to share with Texas voters on why she's running to replace U.S. Senator John Cornyn. Scherr, who is endorsed by Burnt Orange Report, seems very passionate about defending and standing up for groups of Texans our two U.S. Senators have adamantly refused to support in the Senate -- including women, the LGBT community, workers, and immigrants.

"I am running because the people of Texas are sick and tired of folks like John Cornyn and Ted Cruz putting corporations and insurance companies first. I am running to fight for people, for workers, for women, for the LGBT community, for children. I am running to fight for immigrants. And those are the categories of people Ted Cruz and John Cornyn have recklessly left behind. We need someone who is going to fight for people," said Scherr.

Scherr recalled the moment that made her want to run against Cornyn -- when Cornyn showed complete disregard for LGBT rights by not only voting against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), but puckering his face and giving the legislation two thumbs down when called to make a vote. Scherr, like the majority of Texans would be also, was disgusted by Cornyn's actions in the chamber.

Scherr also shares her opinion on David Alameel, who is one of her opponents running in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senator. Without disrespecting Wendy Davis' and Leticia Van de Putte's endorsements of Alameel, Scherr simply points out Alameel's past financial donations to multiple Republicans -- including John Cornyn, Rick Perry, and Greg Abbott. Scherr calls Alameel a "wolf in sheep's clothing."

More at http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/14896/maxey-scherr-talks-john-cornyn-lgbt-rights-and-david-alameel-on-msnbc-interview .

Could Adobe Flash Player be added to the list of supported videos on DU?

I'm noticing that a number of Websites use Adobe Flash Player and it seems to be used more frequently than Vimeo.

Thanks!

Democratic AG candidate questions decision to appeal gay marriage ruling; Repuke plays incest card

The Democratic candidate for Texas attorney general says he’s “not convinced” the AG’s office should appeal a federal judge’s ruling from Wednesday striking down the state’s bans on same-sex marriage.

-snip-

Democrat Sam Houston, who’ll face one of three Republicans in the race to replace Abbott in November, questioned Abbott’s decision in a statement Thursday.