WHAT IS THIS BLOG ALL ABOUT?

On this blog you I am going to share my world with you. What can you expect to find here -- First of all lots of sexy men, off all shapes and types, something for everyone, as I can find beauty in most men. You are going to find that I have a special fondness for Vintage Beefcake and Porn of the 60's, 70's, and 80's. Also, I love the average guy, and if you want to see yourself on here, just let me know. Be as daring as you like, as long as you are of age, let me help you share it with the world! Also, you are going to find many of my points of views, on pop culture, politics and our changing world. Look to see posts about pop culture, politics, entertainment, sex, etc. There is not any subject that I find as something I won't discuss or offer my point of view. Most of all, I hope you are going to enjoy what I post. ENJOY!

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Ariana Grande Tweets Emotional Response to Manchester Bombing, Postpones World Tour

From: Cocktails and Cocktalk
 Last night, we were hit with the devastating news that “one of the worst terrorist attacks on the UK” had been committed, when a bomb went off at Ariana Grande’s Manchester leg of her World Tour. The attack is being claimed by member of ISIS as another terrorist attack. Reports have claimed how the bomb detonated in the lobby of the M.E.N Arena, and “nuts and bolts” tore through fans eagerly anticipating the concert.

So far 22 have been confirmed dead, including an 8-year-old girl. And at least 119 have been injured, including 21 other children. Sick supporters of the radicalist group have praised the attack on Twitter, while Ariana and other celebrities have taken to social media to share their condolences.


 Grande, said: ‘From the bottom of my heart, I am so so sorry. I don’t have words.’ In light of the tragic incident, Grande has postponed her world tour.

Mr. Coats told the senate arms committee that the attack had not yet been verified in association with ISIS, as they “claim responsibility” for every attack of this type. Although a cryptic tweet from an unidentified Twitter account, just hours before the attack, is being investigated – although the account has since been deleted.


Our thoughts, prayers and hearts are with anybody affected by the horrific act of violence. And we urge anybody attending events with a high-volume of people, to be extra cautious – and report anything slightly suspicious to the correct authoritative figure.

Two Gay Men Caught Having Sex Face 100 Lashes with a Cane in Indonesia

From: Towleroad
Two men in the Indonesian province of Aceh who were reportedly caught having sex face a punishment of 100 lashes with a cane under Shariah law.

The code was implemented two years ago and the men are the first to be punished under it, according to the Shariah police’s chief investigator.

Deutsche Welle reports:

Residents caught the men having sex on March 28 in a rented room in the provincial capital Banda Aceh, an official at the provincial public order department told the German press agency DPA.
The men – aged 23 and 20 – were reported to the police on March 29, Marzuki said. He added that the men had “confessed” to “being a gay couple.” This was supported, he said, by video footage taken by a resident showing one of the men naked and distressed as he calls for help on his cellphone. The second man is repeatedly pushed by another man who is preventing the couple from leaving the room.
Under the code, sex out of wedlock is punishable by up to 100 strokes of the cane. An earlier version of the code did not regulate punishment for gay sex.

The video referred to in the report, which shows two unclothed men in obvious distress as they take orders and make frantic calls on a cell phone, is disturbing:

Twitter Suspends Hater Who Wished Gays Were Bombed in Manchester Attack

Homophobe Twitter User Suspended
From: Gay Pop Buzz
 Twitter has rightfully taken the step of suspending a man who made vicious, homophobic remarks on the social media outlet. Specifically, he called on the Manchester suicide bomber to attack the gay area of town; Canal Street.

At the time of this post, some 22 people, including children, were violently killed by a suicide terrorist at an Ariana Grande concert in the northern English city last evening.

A further 59 were injured.

“In the worst terror attack to hit the UK since 7/7, the attacker detonated a huge bomb – thought to be packed with nails and bolts – as the gig ended in Manchester Arena.

Shortly after it was declared as a terrorist attack, one Twitter user angered many with his homophobic statement,” reports Gay Star News.


 “Sickening stuff happening at the Manchester Arena,’ Tweeted the user. ‘If you’re going to bomb the place at least get Canal Street.’

When readers who saw the comment shard they would be reporting his account for threatening and blatant homophobia, he responded:


The first tweet was quickly deleted, but shortly afterwards Twitter removed the entire account.

Many relatives of dozens of missing concert-goers circulated their pictures on Twitter and Facebook in a bid to find them. Thousands of people had gone to Manchester for the concert. A missing gay man is still being sought by his brother.

“Theresa May has said police and security staff believe they know the identity of the attacker but will not reveal is now.
A 23-year-old man has since been arrested. Hundreds of people were evacuated from Arndale shopping centre today. Police have not confirmed if it is connected with yesteday’s attack.
Greater Manchester Police chief constable said the lone male attacker, who died in the blast, was carrying an improvised explosive device which he detonated.
‘Families and many young people were out to enjoy a concert at the Manchester Arena and have lost their lives,’ he said in a statement.
‘Our thoughts are with those 22 victims that we now know have died, the 59 people who have been injured and their loved ones. We continue to do all we can to support them. They are being treated at eight hospitals across Greater Manchester.”GSN

Roger Moore, James Bond Star, Dies at 89

From: Variety
Roger Moore, the handsome English actor who appeared in seven films as James Bond — the most of any Bond actor — and as Simon Templar on “The Saint” TV series, has died in Switzerland after a short battle with cancer. He was 89.

His family issued an announcement on Twitter: “It is with the heaviest of hearts, we must share the awful news that our father, Sir Roger Moore, passed away today. We are all devastated.”

Moore appeared in more official Bond pics than his friend Sean Connery over a longer period of time, and while Connery’s fans were fiercely loyal, polls showed that many others favored Moore’s lighter, more humorous take on 007.

In 1972, Moore was asked to join Her Majesty’s Secret Service. He took on the mantle of 007 for 1973’s “Live and Let Die,” which would lead to six more turns as England’s top spy. In addition to reviving the franchise at the B.O. after waning prospects at the end of Connery’s run, the new James Bond relied on more humor in stories that cranked up the camp.

Moore as Bond began to shake off the Connery comparisons and pick up speed after 1977’s “The Spy Who Loved Me” launched the series into super-blockbuster status, raking in $185.4 million worldwide. Next up, the outer space-traveling “Moonraker” (1979) cumed $202 million and 1981’s “For Your Eyes Only” took $194 million.

His next roles were in “Octopussy” (1983) and 1985’s “A View to a Kill,” in which he surrendered his license to kill.

The young actor came to the U.S. in 1953. MGM signed him to a contract and he received supporting work on several pictures. He played a tennis pro in 1954’s “The Last Time I Saw Paris,” with Elizabeth Taylor. The role was one of several in the ’50s that hinged on his tall, athletic good looks. He would often play royalty or military characters.

Moore had his first taste of smallscreen stardom from 1956-58 as the lead, Sir Winfred, in ITV’s “Ivanhoe.” While still drawing film roles, he would continue to star in TV programs, following “Ivanhoe” with short-lived ABC Western “The Alaskans” and replacing James Garner in “Maverick” in 1960-61 (Moore played British cousin Beau Maverick). By the time he arrived on “Maverick,” its popularity was waning, but Moore won over the cast and crew with his good humor and charm, on-set qualities for which the actor would be known throughout his career.

In 1962, Moore began playing one of the roles that would define his celebrity, dashing thief Simon Templar, who would steal from rich villains each week on “The Saint.” The show ran 118 episodes, transitioning from B&W to color and finally wrapping in 1969. The British skein initially ran in syndication in the States but was part of NBC’s primetime schedule from 1967-69.

Stories would feature exotic locales, beautiful women and plenty of action, elements shared with the big screen tales about a certain British spy of the era. Ironically, it was the “Saint” contract that prevented Moore from competing for the role of 007 when Sean Connery was cast in 1962’s “Dr. No.”

Moore returned to the big screen with a pair of forgettable thrillers in ’69 and ’70. Despite having sworn off TV, he was subsequently lured back for “The Persuaders.” The show, which featured Moore and Tony Curtis as millionaire playboy crime-fighters, ran only one season; it was successful in Europe but failed in its run on ABC in the U.S.

During his 13 years as 007, Moore landed feature roles in other action films, but none that would compete with the Bond franchise. Movies from that period include 1978’s “The Wild Geese,” with Richard Burton and Richard Harris, and 1980’s “ffolkes” with James Mason and David Hedison, who played CIA agent Felix Leiter in “Live and Let Die.”

The actor took great fun in skewering his slick image offscreen and on-, including appearances in “Cannonball Run” and TV’s “The Muppet Show,” in which he struck out with Miss Piggy; in the 2002 comedy “Boat Trip,” he played a flamboyant homosexual with some Bond-like elements, and in 2004 he lent his voice to animated short “The Fly Who Loved Me.”

He also occasionally appeared both on the big and small screen. He appeared in the Spice Girls feature “Spice World,” provided a voice for “The Saint” feature in 1997, appeared in an episode of “Alias” in 2003 and had a role in the 2013 telepic version of “The Saint” starring Eliza Dushku.

Moore did quite a bit of voice work in the 2000s in pics including “Here Comes Peter Cottontail,” “Agent Crush,” “Gnomes and Trolls: The Forest Trial,” “De vilde svaner” and 2010’s “Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore,” whose title was an allusion to Bond girl Pussy Galore of “Goldfinger”; his “Cats and Dogs” character was Tab Lazenby.

He became a UNICEF goodwill ambassador in 1991 and had been an active advocate for children’s causes. In 1999, he was honored by the British government with the title Commander of the British Empire.

Moore was born in Stockwell, South London. Despite health problems, Moore excelled at school and took an early interest in art and drawing. His grammar school education was interrupted by the start of WWII; he and his mother spent most of the war in Amersham, 25 miles outside of London.

In 1943, Moore decided to leave school and pursue work in animation at Publicity Pictures Prods., where he was a junior trainee in cartooning. But mishandling of some celluloid brought a swift conclusion to that career path.

Moore began his long acting career during the summer of 1944, when a friend recommended that he seek work as an extra on the film “Caesar and Cleopatra,” which brought Moore a walk-on role and the attention of co-director Brian Desmond Hurst, who was impressed with the looks of the tall, thin young man and secured him extra parts in two subsequent pics. With the support of Hurst, Moore auditioned for and was admitted to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.

In 1945, Moore was called up for national service and, after basic training, was recommended for the Intelligence Corps. “The only reason they commissioned me was I looked good in a uniform,” Moore joked of his military career.

The actor’s autobiography, “My Word Is My Bond,” was published in 2008; his other books include memoir “One Lucky Bastard” and “Bond on Bond.” In recent years he toured with a popular one-man show, “An Evening With Roger Moore.”

Moore was married to skater Doorn Van Steyn, singer Dorothy Squires, Italian actress Luisa Mattioli and finally to Danish-Swedish multimillionaire Kristina “Kiki” Tholstrup. He is survived by Tholstrup; a daughter, actress Deborah Moore; and two sons, Geoffrey Moore, an actor, and Christian Moore, a film producer.

Police Confirm 22 Dead In Explosion At Ariana Grande Concert

"Everyone was in a huge state of panic."
From: NewNowNext
 Police in Manchester, England, are confirming 22  people died after an explosion went off during an Ariana Grande concert in the city’s main arena. Authorities are still investigating the incident, which also led to at least 50 people being injured.

It’s still not clear if the explosion at Manchester Arena was accidental or the result of a terror attack. One concertgoer said they heard a loud blast at the end of Grande’s set, just after her encore.


“We were all exiting the venue when, around 10:40, 10:45pm, a huge bomb-like bang went off that hugely panicked everyone,” Majid Khan, 22, told the Guardian. “And we were all trying to flee the arena. Everyone was in a huge state of panic, calling each other as some had gone to the toilet whilst this had gone off.”

Fans rushed to the exit on Trinity Way, which was blocked, leading to a mad scramble for any way out.

“[I] just heard a huge bang from my bed, came out to the front of my apartments and everyone was running away in big crowds,” Suzy Mitchell, 26, lives across the street from the Arena and told the Press Association. “The bang was so big I heard it from my room which is at the back of the apartment blocks. Currently lots of emergency services going to and from.”

Greater Manchester police warned people to stay away from the area while the investigate. Grande was not harmed in the incident.

Opened in 1995, the Manchester Arena is located immediately north of the city center in Hunts Bank, directly above Manchester Victoria station. With 21,000 seats it has the biggest capacity of any indoor venue in the United Kingdom, and has hosted top music acts and the sporting events, including the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

MELANIA TRUMP’S DIVORCE PAPERS SIGNED, NOT FILED, AND SETTLEMENT REACHED, CLAIMS FORMER WHITE HOUSE STAFFER

From: Inquistr
A post published on Sunday, May 21, by a former White House staffer is getting plenty of attention on Twitter. The tweet claimed that Melania Trump and Donald Trump’s divorce papers were already signed before the presidential election. The viral tweet also claims that Mr. and Mrs. Trump reached a divorce settlement before the election, but Trump winning the presidential election had some kind of bearing on the divorce decision.

Published by Claude Taylor, a Washington Democrat who previously worked in the White House during the Clinton administration, as reported by Newsweek, the tweet is getting lots of attention due to recent stories that the veteran of three presidential campaigns broke. The publication notes that Taylor previously tweeted about a grand jury being convened, and an even direr situation that involved sealed indictments. With whispering about offshore monies and more controversies, Claude’s tweets are being viewed with a healthy grain of salt from those wondering if he has the inside knowledge he’s claiming he has about Melania’s alleged divorce papers.

Claude has made sure to reply to folks asking about Melania and Donald’s divorce papers via the Twitter reply section of the below tweet.

Taylor went on to reply several times to Twitter users to claim that according to what a mainstream media reporter told him, the divorce papers were signed. However, since the alleged signed divorce papers were not filed in any county, they aren’t available to the public.

“That’s all I was told.”
Claude’s tweet continues to go viral on Twitter, with nearly 7,000 likes and nearly 4,000 retweets. Update: The tweet now has more than 8,000 Twitter likes.

Taylor blamed the editorial process of the mainstream media as the reason the articles about the alleged divorce papers have yet to break via mainstream channels.

According to Vanity Fair, even though Melania’s people denied the divorce rumor, the publication claims the divorce buzz occurred after the infamous tapes of Trump speaking with Billy Bush leaked.

“New York’s chattering class has recently been abuzz with gossip that Melania was considering a divorce after the Access Hollywood tape came out.”

The news about the alleged divorce papers comes at the same time a video (seen below) of Melania appearing to slap away President Trump’s hand is going viral.

Melania and President Trump appear in the top photo above signing a guest book as Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and his wife, Nehama, accompanied the Trumps at the President’s House in Jerusalem. However, news about the supposed hand slap and alleged signed divorce papers are usurping other news coming out of Israel on May 22.



The video, titled “Melania Trump swatting Donald’s hand away” on the YouTube channel of Matt Novak gained more than 800,000 views in seven hours.

While Mr. and Mrs. Trump began their visit to Israel, which should last only 28 hours, reactions like those listed below are making their way online.

“Even if not verified, the info is well within the realm of the possible/logical. Not rare to sign divorce papers and hold for a while.”
“I heard different rumor from reliable source 1 degree of Kevin Bacon away from NYC’s high powered divorce lawyers.”

“Rumor (could be from pre-election) was Melania consulting w/every power divorce attorney in NYC to pre-empt Don from hiring them.”
“She’s going to write one hell of a book someday. Rather, someone’s going to ghostwrite one hell of a book for her someday.”
“And that is even what the original tweet said. He did not say filed for divorce, ever anywhere. Gadzooks, people.”
“A lawyer could have them.”
“That could be veeery dangerous. She seems bullied as it is.”

Chaos in House after GOP votes down LGBT measure


From: The Hill
The House floor devolved into chaos and shouting on Thursday as a measure to ensure protections for members of the LGBT community narrowly failed to pass, after Republican leaders urged their members to change their votes.

Initially, it appeared Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney's (D-N.Y.) amendment had passed, as 217 "yes" votes piled up over 206 "no" votes when the clock ran out. The measure needed 213 votes to pass.

But it eventually failed, 212-213, after a number of Republican lawmakers changed their votes from "yes" to "no" after the clock had expired.

GOP leaders held the vote open as they pressured members to change sides. Infuriating Democrats, they let lawmakers switch their votes without walking to the well at the front of the chamber.
"Shame! Shame! Shame!" Democrats chanted as they watched the vote tally go from passage of Maloney's amendment to narrow failure.

Twenty-nine Republicans voted for Maloney's amendment to a spending bill for the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction projects, along with all Democrats in the final roll call.

"This is one of the ugliest episodes I've experienced in my three-plus years as a member of this House," Maloney, who is openly gay, said while offering his amendment.

According to the office of House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), at least seven Republicans changed their votes, including Reps. Jeff Denham (Calif.), Darrell Issa (Calif.), Bruce Poliquin (Maine), David Valadao (Calif.), Greg Walden (Ore.), Mimi Walters (Calif.) and David Young (Iowa).

Denham, Valadao, Poliquin and Young are among the most vulnerable Republicans up for reelection this year. Walden, meanwhile, chairs the House GOP campaign arm.

Poliquin denied opposing the amendment due to pressure from GOP leaders.

"I am outraged that political opponents or members of the press would claim or insinuate that I cast a vote due to pressure or party politics. No one controls my vote," he said in a statement, adding, "I abhor discrimination in any form and at any place."

The failed amendment would have effectively nullified a provision in the defense authorization that the House passed late Wednesday night. The language embedded in the defense bill states that religious corporations, associations and institutions that receive federal contracts can't be discriminated against on the basis of religion.

Democrats warn that such a provision could potentially allow discrimination against the LGBT community in the name of religious freedom. Maloney's amendment specifically would prohibit funds to implement contracts with any company that doesn't comply with President Obama's executive order banning federal contractors from discriminating against LGBT workers.

When asked about the vote-switching, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) denied knowing whether his leadership team pressured Republicans.

"I don't know the answer. I don't even know,” Ryan told reporters.

He defended the provision in the defense bill.

"This is federalism; the states should do this. The federal government shouldn't stick its nose in its business,” he said.

Democrats accused Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) of leading the Republican operation to flip votes.

Maloney said he'd approached McCarthy to urge regular order but was dismissed.

"I said, 'What are you doing? You can let this go; your own members are supporting it,'" Maloney said, recounting the exchange with McCarthy. "And he said, 'Get back on your own side of the aisle.' And I said to him, 'What side of the aisle am I supposed to stand on to support equality?'"

Maloney emphasized that many Republicans held their ground and refused to switch sides. Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.) "was at the head of that list," Maloney said.
"McCarthy went down and talked to him, and [Dent] told [McCarthy] to get lost," Maloney said. "And McCarthy then went around and twisted everybody else's arms, and it was disgraceful.

"I don't think I've ever seen anything that craven and that ugly in my time in Congress," Maloney added.

Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), who like Maloney is a member of the Congressional LGBT Caucus, said he saw Rep. Robert Dold (R-Ill.), who supported the amendment, approach Maloney on the floor and lambast his own GOP leadership team for their handling of the vote.

"This is bulls---,” Dold told Maloney, according to Takano.

Maloney declined to weigh in on that exchange specifically. But he said "easily a dozen" Republicans approached him on the floor "and expressed disgust for what happened today."

"If you look at the people who had the guts to vote yes, you'll get an idea of who that was," he added.

Procedurally, once the clock expires on a vote, the lawmaker holding the gavel usually asks if any members want to change their votes. At that point, the electronic voting machines are switched off, and any vote-changing members are expected to approach the front of the chamber, known as the well, to make their switch in person.

In this case, the Speaker pro tempore never asked that question; GOP leaders simply kept the vote open to allow members to make the switch electronically without revealing themselves.

"No one had the courage to come into the well to change their vote,” Hoyer said.

The two-minute vote was finally gaveled closed after seven minutes and 37 seconds, just after the Republicans had secured the 213 votes to kill Maloney's amendment.

The decision to leave the clock open marks a sharp break under Ryan, who assumed the Speaker's gavel with vows to return to regular order and an insistence on obeying House rules, including the use of the vote clock. It's a dynamic that was not overlooked by Democrats following Thursday's vote.

"This Speaker [has] been a stickler for having timely votes. We all rush to the floor now, because we know that they're going to close the vote now shortly after the clock runs out," Takano said. "This was highly irregular."

Maloney piled on.

"It tells me talk is cheap, and all this happy nonsense about letting the House do its will is just that: nonsense," he said. "They are strong-arming their own members to support discrimination. … This was as black-and-white as you can get."

Democrats took to Twitter to blast Republicans for pressuring their members to change votes to ensure the amendment wouldn't pass. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) tweeted:

Earlier Thursday, the House passed an amendment from Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) that would restrict the display of the Confederate flag in national cemeteries.

Happy birthday, handsome Patrick! 🎂 🐻 😊

From: Real Men Real Life



Happy Birthday today May 23rd

Happy 46th to Eric Nies!
From: Favorite Hunks & Other Things
Bruce Weber's Classic Shot of Nies










Favorite Pic of the Day for May 23rd

From: Favorite Hunks & Other Things
Gareth by Virgin Islands Pictures

Dina Merrill, Elegant Actress and Philanthropist, Dies at 93

From: Variety
Dina Merrill, a beautiful, blonde actress with an aristocratic bearing known as much for her wealthy origins, philanthropy, and marriage to actor Cliff Robertson as for her work in film and television, died on Monday at her home in East Hampton, N.Y. She was 93.

Her son, Stanley H. Rumbough, told the New York Times that Merrill had Lewy Body dementia.

Her parents were Post Cereals heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post, and her second husband, Wall Street’s E.F. Hutton.

In 1983, on the occasion of Merrill’s musical comedy debut in a revival of Rodgers and Hart’s 1936 musical ”On Your Toes,” the New York Times gushed, “Long regarded as the essence of chic, the epitome of class and such a persuasive purveyor of charm and charity that she could have a rightful claim to fame as an eloquent spokesman — and fund-raiser — for a slew of worthy causes, Miss Merrill has evoked instant recognition and elegant associations, more so for her persona than for her stage and screen performances.”

As Merrill hit the feature scene in the late 1950s, she was marketed as a replacement for Grace Kelly and certainly shared that actress’ elan. Merrill played nurse Lt. Duran, the love interest of Tony Curtis’ character, in Blake Edwards’ 1959 popular submarine comedy “Operation Petticoat,” and in 1960’s “Butterfield 8,” in which Elizabeth Taylor’s prostitute character has a relationship with a married man played by Laurence Harvey, Merrill played Harvey’s wife. Reviewing the latter film, the New York Times said that in her role Merrill is “lovely and simple.”

Also in 1960, the actress had a supporting role in Fred Zinnemann’s critically hailed “The Sundowners,” starring Robert Mitchum and Deborah Kerr as a couple trying to make their way in rural Australia.

Merrill had the lead female role opposite Burt Lancaster in John Frankenheimer’s 1961 effort “The Young Savages,” a social-issues film about poverty and crime in which Lancaster plays an assistant district attorney from the streets and Merrill his limousine-liberal wife — who in one (for the time) harrowing scene is threatened by gang members at knife point.

In Vincente Minnelli’s 1963 film “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father,” the actress played an elegant potential mate for Glenn Ford’s widower who is disapproved of by the titular Eddie.

Merrill, who, by the 1960s, was spending more time working in television than on films, also appeared in the 1965 Bob Hope comedy “I’ll Take Sweden”; in starring roles in 1973 Western “Running Wild” opposite Lloyd Bridges and 1974 family film “Throw Out the Anchor!” opposite Richard Egan; and in supporting roles in 1977 Muhammad Ali biopic “The Greatest,” Robert Altman’s 1978 film “A Wedding,” Sidney Lumet’s 1980 film “Just Tell Me What You Want,” and John Cusack-James Spader thriller “True Colors.” She was also among the many celebrities with small roles in Altman’s 1992 Hollywood satire “The Player.”

Merrill made her feature debut in the 1957 Spencer Tracy-Katharine Hepburn office comedy “Desk Set” and her last credited big screen appearance in the 2003 poker-themed film “Shade,” starring Sylvester Stallone.

The actress’s relatively recent TV credits include A&E’s 2002 remake of “The Magnificent Ambersons” and a guest gig as a judge on A&E’s legal drama “100 Centre Street” the same year. In 1984 she had a series regular on the brief thriller series “Hot Pursuit.” She had a role in “Roots: The Next Generations,” among other TV movies and miniseries, and she guested on a wide variety of series beginning with “Four Star Playhouse” in 1955 and “Playhouse 90,” and on through “Dr. Kildare,” “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour,” “Mission: Impossible,” “Night Gallery,” “The Odd Couple,” “The Love Boat” and, of course, “Murder, She Wrote.”

She and husband Cliff Robertson appeared as guest villains on “Batman,” she as Calamity Jan, he as Shame. They also starred together in the 1968 telepic “The Sunshine Patriot,” directed by Joseph Sargent.

In addition to the 1983 appearance in musical “On Your Toes,” Merrill appeared onstage in 1991 among the rotating cast in the Off Broadway staged reading of the play “Wit and Wisdom.”

Nedenia Marjorie Hutton was born in New York City. Her mother, Post Cereals heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post, inherited $250 million in 1914 — $5 billion today — and was at one time the richest woman in the U.S.

She attended Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Conn., the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She made her Broadway debut in 1945 in the play “The Mermaids Singing.”

In 1991 Merrill and third husband Ted Hartley, a former actor she married in 1989, merged their company, Pavilion Communications, with RKO to form RKO Pictures, an entity that owns the copyright to the films of the RKO Radio Pictures movie studio.

She and Hartley created the Hartley Merrill International Screenwriting Prize, for which the couple received a special prize at the Hamptons Film Festival in 1998 for their support of screenwriters in developing nations.

Merrill was presidentially appointed to the board of trustees for Washington, D.C.’s John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She was also a trustee of the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center.

Among her philanthropic pursuits was the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and the New York Mission Society and a director of the Paley Media Center.

Merrill received a lifetime achievement award from her alma mater the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 2005.

The actress was first married to Stanley M. Rumbough Jr., an heir to the Colgate-Palmolive toothpaste fortune, in 1946. They had three children, one of whom, son David Post Rumbough, predeceased her; the couple divorced in 1966. She married Oscar-winning actor Robertson the same year, and they had a daughter, Heather, who predeceased her; the Robertsons divorced in 1989, and Robertson died in 2011.

She is survived by third husband Hartley, as well as a daughter, Nedenia Colgate Rumbough, and a son, Stanley Rumbough III, from her marriage to Rumbough.

Ariana Grande on Manchester Bombing: ‘I am so so sorry. I don’t have words.’

From: Towleroad
Pop singer Ariana Grande says she is “broken” following the Manchester Arena terrorist suicide bombing that has killed 22 people and injured 59 others following her concert there on Tuesday night.

Tweeted Grande: “broken. from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don’t have words.”





Many people are still considered missing.

British PM Theresa May made a statement on Tuesday regarding the attack:

“How To Get Away With Murder” Stars Jack Falahee And Conrad Ricamora Have A Beautiful Bromance

Coliver for life
From: NewNowNext
 The Coliver love is real.

On How To Get Away With Murder Jack Falahee and Conrad Ricamora play fan favorite couple Oliver and Connor—or “Coliver” as the show’s fandom refers to them as. In the Season Three premiere last year Oliver and Conrad called it quits, but in this year’s finale the two reunited and Oliver proposed to Conrad.


 The two actors might not be dating in real life (Falahee is straight, Ricamora is gay) but according to their Instagrams it looks like they are caught up in a bad bromance.

Ricamora is currently in a production of Here Lies Love at the Seattle Repertory Theatre and Falahee came to show support for his onscreen love.





 Not only that but this past weekend Falahee posted a cute pic of Ricamora out to dinner with the caption: “Grateful for Conrad Ricamora in my life.”




 Falahee might be straight in real life, but that has not stopped him from being a vocal ally to the LGBT community—and knows how much his character on HTGAWM is an important representation for viewers.

“I’m still not over how the much of an impact the show has made and a lot of that is Connor’s character and his importance to fans,” the actor said. “It’s emblematic of my straight privilege, but I never thought his character would be so important to the LGBTQ community.


 “The outpouring of love from the fans was so gratifying and humbling for me,” Falahee added. “Receiving messages from fans saying ’Connor and Oliver helped me come out to my parents’ is deeply rewarding, and to be any small part of the courage needed to come out will forever be a blessing to me.”

The actor also spoke with Out magazine in 2015 about how his character can help LGBT youth struggling with suicide:

“I’ve lost friend to suicide, a few of whom were closeted and didn’t have anywhere to turn It pains my heart. Now that I’m in a position where people are curious about what I have to say about things, I would like to help.”


 “I think these are two people who are really good together,” said HTGAWM show runner Pete Nowalk. “I never thought they would see each other again past the pilot, but I just really liked their chemistry! And that’s a credit to Jack and Conrad. For me, I’ve got to believe there’s hope. I’m a fan of Coliver just like everyone else.”

Whether HTGAWM is around for years to come or not, it looks like the love between Falahee and Rimacora is here to stay.



‘Wonderkid’ gives a glimpse into the life of a gay pro soccer player

This short film is unique and powerful
From: OutSports
Wonderkid explores the life of a closeted gay pro soccer player,
 including the mindset of “innocent” team ribbing.
Last year Rhys Chapman wrote, directed and produced a short film that we at Outsports somehow missed. Wonderkid chronicles several days in the life of a young gay professional soccer player who has just gotten moved up to the Premier League and explores various dimensions an athlete — gay, bi or straight — contends with on a daily basis, including fans, teammates and the media.

The lead character is multidimensional, layered with issues of class and sexual orientation while trying to figure out exactly whom he can trust.

“We’ve created an authentic and emotional portrayal of a fictional gay footballer at the top of the game,” Chapman said, “to shine a light on this subject and hopefully create a great deal of compassion towards any gay footballers.”

One of the most powerful messages of the film is the relationship between athlete and agent. Over the course of the piece we understand that the athlete is bursting at the seems to come out and live his life truthfully; It’s his agent, who makes his money by winning contracts for his athlete, who continually pushes him to keep quiet.

What’s ironic is that the first publicly out gay professional soccer player in England will make even more money in endorsement deals, as will his agent. Yet various rumblings we’ve heard over the years have placed much responsibility for the dearth of out athletes at the feet of agents who want to suck every athlete they represent of every drop of blood they can and lack the foresight to see the changing times and potential financial boon for any of the “first” gay pro athletes in their respective sports.

The film has gotten a lot of support — from organizations as big as Sky Sports — because of its raw storytelling and genuine insight into the mindset of a gay pro athlete. The film is far from cookie-cutter and will leave you thinking well after the last frame.

Recently Chapman was in Russia showcasing the film with the Russian LGBT Sport Federation.

Definitely take a look, it’s worth your while.

You can watch the trailer below and the short film Wonderkid by clicking here.

#SAGETable: Intergenerational LGBT People Breaking Bread and Forming Bonds

The collection of communal meals took place on May 18
From; NewNowNext
 Last Thursday, people gathered at different venues all over the country to participate in SAGE Table, an event designed to bridge the gap between generations in the LGBT community.

Participants had the option to host a meal or jump in on someone else’s table in an effort to form intergenerational bonds and let LGBT seniors know that we’re here for them, just as they’ve always been here for us.

Take a look at some photos from SAGE Table celebrations across the U.S., and click here for more information on how to get involved in next year’s festivities.




bevysmith
#SageTable is all about community & connecting across generations!
We had an elder 
#MissPaulette & the baby 


  • youdoyoustudio
  • All gathered for a YDY x #sagetable dinner, 
  • celebrating intergenerational friendships 
  • amongst the LGBTQIA+ community. ✨



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