NEW YORK CITY: Ali Forney Drop-In Center Destroyed By Hurricane Sandy

A terrible message from Carl Siciliano:

Dear Friends,  Yesterday we were finally able to inspect our drop-in center in Chelsea, half a block from the Hudson River. Our worst fears were realized; everything was destroyed and the space is uninhabitable. The water level went four feet high, destroying our phones, computers, refrigerator, food and supplies.

This is a terrible tragedy for the homeless LGBT youth we serve there. This space was dedicated to our most vulnerable kids, the thousands stranded on the streets without shelter, and was a place where they received food, showers, clothing, medical care, HIV testing and treatment, and mental health and substance abuse services. Basically a lifeline for LGBT kids whose lives are in danger.

We are currently scrambling for a plan to provide care to these desperate kids while we prepare to ultimately move into a larger space that will better meet our needs. The NYC LGBT Center has very kindly and generously offered to let us temporarily use some of their space, and we hope to determine the viability of that on Monday.

We have been deluged with kind offers from people who wish to volunteer and donate goods. Unfortunately, we will have to provide our services in the time being in much smaller spaces that won't accommodate volunteers or allow for much storage space. The best way people can reach out to help in this very challenging time is by making monetary donations. Please go to our website.

It is heartbreaking to see this space come to such a sad end. For the past seven years it has been a place of refuge to thousands of kids reeling from being thrown away by their parents for being LGBT. For many of these kids coming to our drop-in center provided their first encounter with a loving and affirming LGBT community. I thank all of you for your care and support in a most difficult time.

NOTE FROM JOE:  Folks, I realize that many (probably most) of you have already made donations of money and/or goods to help the people affected all over the northeast.  But this latest hurricane news is especially heartbreaking as it involves the most vulnerable of our own youth.  Please consider doing what you can in this very desperate situation.

PETA: Veganism Makes Your Dick Bigger

The Latest New Yorker

Cher & Kathy Griffin On Mitt Romney

"This is CHER, bitches! Do what she says!"

Final Maine Marriage Poll

Details.

New Minnesota TV Ad From NOM

Mark Cuban To Donald Trump: I'll Give You $1M To Shave That Thing On Your Head

Dallas Mavericks owner and loudmouth billionaire Mark Cuban says he'll donate $1 million to charity if Donald Trump will shave that rat's nest on his head.

The offer comes in response to Trump's recent public offer to President Obama. In a thoroughly ridiculous announcement last week, Trump pledged to donate $5 million to a charity of President Obama's choice if the president released top-secret mystery documents, like Obama's school transcripts. Trump then bashed President Obama in a new video this week for missing the arbitrary one-week deadline Trump gave him to respond to the $5 million offer. We join Donald Trump in his disbelief that the president didn't drop Hurricane Sandy relief coordination efforts, ditch tours of disaster-areas and bail on the final days of his re-election campaign so he could phone for a list of electives he took in high school and get personal references from his childhood babysitters. We're shocked. Absolutely shocked.

Trump has yet to respond via Twitter, his usual forum for attacks.

The Romney Administration: Day 100

SAN FRANCISCO: Castro Merchants Remove Benches At Harvey Milk Plaza

After two years of complaints about aggressive panhandling and public drunkenness by the homeless, merchants in the Castro District have removed the benches from Harvey Milk Plaza.  The benches, some had claimed, allowed people to violate San Francisco's controversial law against lying or sitting on public sidewalks.

The removal decision was made Monday by the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District, the community group that paid $40,000 to install the benches in 2010 and has been discussing their adverse impact on the plaza for months. The group paid $18,000 more to remove the benches, said Andrea Aiello, executive director of the benefit district. The plaza sits at the heart of the Castro neighborhood, above the Castro Muni Station, which provides panhandlers with a steady flow of passers-by. In the past month, Aiello said, more and more transients had been gathering on the benches. The board's decision was applauded by some walking by Friday morning as the seats were taken out. "It's about time," said Dan Glazer, owner of the nearby bakeshop Hot Cookie. "They pee, they defecate, and they leave their garbage there. They have no respect for the plaza or for Harvey Milk and what he meant to our community."

Harvey Milk Plaza has long been the traditional Castro meeting point for activists and public rallies or demonstrations.  The city's Board of Supervisors recently made it illegal to camp there, but police only enforced that rule when complaints were made.  Preliminary discussions are underway for a complete remodel of the plaza.

Headline Of The Day

Details.

Mitt Romney Vs Hurricane Sandy

ILLINOIS: Feds Fine Man $1.5M For Posting Ten Gay Porn Films Via BitTorrent

A federal court in Illinois has fined a local man $1.5 million for posting ten gay porn films to a popular site for illegally sharing copyrighted materials.

The figure is believed to the biggest awarded in a file-sharing case. The award is thought to be so large because the accused, Kywan Fisher, did not defend himself against claims that he pirated the movies. In court, Flava Works presented evidence which it said demonstrated that Mr Fisher was the person who put copies of its films on a BitTorrent site. In its evidence, Flava revealed that it had embedded unique codes in the copies of its films that customers pay to view. Digital detective work connected the code in the pirated films back to Mr Fisher, who had earlier signed up as a customer of Flava and paid to view the movies. Once shared via BitTorrent the films were downloaded or viewed 3,449 times, said Flava during its court statements.

Reminders

Power Returns To Much Of Downtown NYC

After five days, electricity was restored this evening to parts of downtown Manhattan, almost a full day ahead of yesterday's forecast by Con Edison. According to Miss Twitter, folks were literally dancing in the LIT streets of Chelsea, the Flatiron, the East Village, Chinatown, Soho, and parts of the Lower East Side.  Con Ed tweets this disclaimer: "For all in networks that have been restored who are still out- your building likely has H2O/wind damage that building manager must repair before restoration."  The West Village, where flooding was more severe on the blocks near the Hudson River, remains dark, as do portions of other Manhattan neighborhoods.

Family Research Council: Stop President Obama Because Dan Savage Is Horrible

NYC Marathon Canceled

After an outpouring of criticism from all corners, the New York City Marathon has been canceled for this Sunday. It's not yet been disclosed if the race will be rescheduled.

Lady Gaga For Marriage

Produced by TheFour.

Donald Trump: Obama Wouldn't Take My $5M Which Proves He Was Born In Kenya

“For President Obama not to accept five million dollars (or much more) for his favorite charity can only mean one thing – the records are very bad.  Obviously he wasn’t born in this country or, if he was, he said he wasn’t in order to receive financial aid and in order to have a clear and very easy path into a college or university.  Only a very stupid person would believe otherwise. There can be no other reason that so much money would not be so easily and routinely collected for charity." - Donald Trump, writing on his Facebook page.

AP Looks At Gays Running For Congress

Israel's Top Newspaper Endorses Obama

Israel's most influential daily newspaper, Haaretz, has endorsed President Obama.

Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush, assisted Israel's defense by toppling Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq and deterring, albeit for a limited period, Iran's accelerated progress toward attaining nuclear weapons. Bush contributed to Israel's peace, even if partially, by being the first president to adopt the two-state solution. His support even enabled the evacuation of settlements from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank.

Obama continued this two-way track vis-a-vis Iran and the issue of Palestinian statehood. Under his pressure, Israel suspended for the first time - for a while - construction in the settlements. Relations between the two countries' armed forces have never been so close. Obama's challenge in his second term, if he wins the elections, is to lead the region to a stable arrangement of peace and security. The outcome of the elections will be determined by the voters' decision as to which of the two candidates is good for America. But if any of them are vacillating in their vote over whether Obama has been a good president for Israel, the answer is yes.

(Tipped by JMG reader Jeffrey)

Hail Obama

The hashtag "Hail Obama" began trending on Twitter yesterday after a local Florida Fox reporter claimed that crowds were chanting the phrase at an appearance by the First Lady. Others in attendance say that the crowd was actually chanting "Michelle Obama." And some point out that the sports chant for Brevard Community College, the school where the First Lady appeared, is "Hail Wildcats." But whatever the truth is, that Fox reporter is now web-famous and his initial tweets have appeared across the wingnut-o-sphere.  That Drudge-baiting worked.

The Gays Caused Sandy, CTD

"The hurricanes of the last ten years are four times worse than the hurricanes of the 1990s and twelve times worse of the hurricanes of the 70s and 80s, now this is interesting because I would say that the United States has not been honoring God very much, am I out on a limb here? The United States of America is more pro-abortion than ever before, certainly is funding more abortions than ever before; the United States is far more homosexual than it was in the 1990s, I mean there are hundreds of times more high school homosexual clubs and programs, and you’ve got California bringing all their pro-homosexual indoctrination into public schools. This stuff was not happening in the 1980s and 1990s, it’s happening now, it’s been happening for the last twelve years. America is not doing well in the macro-culture, okay? There is a God in the heavens and in the past, sins like homosexuality and the shedding of innocent blood have really irritated Him." - Pastor Kevin Swanson, quote by Right Wing Watch. 

Swanson also says Christians should be wary of donating to disaster relief agencies because that money could possibly be used to rebuild a Planned Parenthood clinic somewhere.

RELATED: Earlier this year Swanson called for the death penalty for Kermit The Frog after the Muppets pulled out of their partnership agreement with Chick-Fil-A.

Submitted Without Comment

Details.

Archdiocese Of Washington DC Posts Web Ad Against Maryland Marriage

And how gay is Father Kevin?

Great New Maryland Marriage Ad

(Via Good As You)

Joy Behar On GOProud

"I don’t understand the GOProud people either. Why are they voting for someone who’s against gay marriage, gays in the military? The Republican platform wants to roll back into 'don’t ask, don’t tell.' I mean, that is completely retro. It’s not all about your pocketbook, guys. I guess they feel their money will protect them from homophobia. A lot of people felt that way, in like Germany, for example." - Joy Behar, speaking to the Advocate.

GOProud head Jimmy LaSalvia is tweeting The View and Behar with a request to appear on the show.  Maybe he could teach her how to fake an anti-gay hate crime?

Chase Whiteside Talks To Romney Fans

(Tipped by JMG reader Beeblemeyer)

Editorial Of The Day

From the Bangor Daily News:

Permitting gay couples to marry will uphold equal treatment required by the U.S. Constitution, promote family values and protect religious beliefs. The ballot initiative is a matter of fairness and, in the end, care for one another.  It’s a matter of equality. Partners raising their children together should both be able to make medical decisions concerning their children’s welfare. Partners should be able to benefit from the others’ pension. But, most of all, gay couples should have the affirmation that their home state respects their belief in marriage and their commitment to each other. Maine cannot discriminate against gays and lesbians on matters of housing, employment, public accommodation, credit or education. It should not, then, be able to discriminate when it comes to the right of marriage. Some people may understandably oppose gay marriage for religious reasons, but — while the church has played a long and important role in marriage — they should remember that marriage licenses are issued by the state.

Virtually all of Maine's major newspapers have said the same.

Tweet Of The Week - Gov. Chris Christie

UPDATE: Well, crap. It's a parody account.  But still funny!  Speaking of pol parody accounts on Twitter, you might also enjoy El Bloombito, which takes great delight in Mayor Bloomberg's painful attempts at Spanish.

Last Chance To Sign Jesus Pledge

Scamvangelist Bill Keller wants you to know this is your last chance to join the 1.6 million people who have allegedly signed his pledge to write in Jesus on your presidential ballot. From his third-person press release:

In May, Keller began a sister website, www.votingforjesus.com and made the case that because of the fact President Obama is the most pro-death, pro-homosexual, pro-enemy of Israel President in history, he is a true enemy of God. He also states that Republican nominee Mitt Romney is a 5th generation high priest of a cult that worships Satan and leads souls to hell with a false gospel. He calls both men "tools of Satan," and encourages Christians to write in the name of Jesus for President as a way of taking a stand for their faith. As of this release, over 1.6 million have signed up to write in the name of Jesus for President.

Keller adds that on Monday he will launch a live YouTube channel where he and his followers will pray nonstop for 24 hours that Jesus is declared the winner. 

Rabbi Yehuda Levin: Voting For Homo-Friendly Mitt Romney Will Cause God To Send More Hurricanes

"Tens of billions in losses, 50 dead, scientists say that Sandy is the worst N.Y. hurricane in 800 years! Some insurance policies still call this kind of occurrence an ACT OF G-D. But where are our religio-conservative leaders to interpret what's happening? Remember when Dr. Falwell and Dr. Pat Robertson attributed 9/11 to the homosexual agenda and abortion? Guess our leaders have a huge problem doing that now. After all, the dirty secret they don't tell us is that Romney supports homosexual adoption and Boy Scout leaders, homosexualization of the military, 'domestic partnerships'/civil unions, homosexual K-12 mandated school curricula, homosexual youth day proclamations, $50 taxpayer funded abortion in Massachusetts, and the list goes on. (Google Romney Deception and MassResistance.com). Here's a question for Billy and Franklin Graham and all the religio-conservative leadership: Would your grandparents have ever dreamed of voting for Romney, if they had been aware of his atrocious pro-homosexual, pro-abortion record? So has G-d changed? Why aren't you letting your followers know the truth?" - Hate group leader Rabbi Yehuda Levin, in a press release distributed by Christian Newswire. (It should be noted that Levin hates Obama even more than Romney.)

RELATED: In July 2011, Levin claimed that God allowed the murder of an eight-year old boy because New York had just legalized same-sex marriage.

SoPo: Manhattan's Newest Nabe

Now making the rounds on Facebook...

BRITAIN: Gay Rights Group Names Catholic Cardinal "Bigot Of The Year"

The British LGBT rights group Stonewall has named Cardinal Keith O'Brien its 2012 Bigot Of The Year. Joseph McCormick reports at Pink News:

The title was announced at the Stonewall Awards on Thursday evening, which took place at the V&A museum in central London. Upon nominating the cardinal, Stonewall wrote on its website: “Keith O’Brien has been a prominent opponent of marriage equality and made headlines with deeply offensive comments about same-sex couples”. He’s stated that same-sex relationships are “harmful to the physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing” and compared equal marriage to slavery and child abuse. The cardinal was a staunch critic of government plans to introduce equal marriage rights for same-sex couples, describing the measure as “grotesque,” earlier this year. Stonewall added: “Under his leadership the Catholic Church in Scotland has pledged to ‘declare war’ on marriage equality and has committed an additional £100,000 for the fight”. Cardinal O’Brien beat Lord Ken Maginnis, the former Ulster Unionist MP, who referred to same-sex marriage as “unnatural and deviant behaviour”, as well as Simon Lokodo, the anti-gay Ugandan Ethics and Integrity Minister, who presided over a homophobic crackdown of LGBT orginisations in Uganda back in June.

Two major British banks threatened to withdraw their sponsorship of Stonewall earlier this week in protest that the "Bigot" category existed at all.

At DC's High Heels Drag Race

Washington DC's famed High Heels Drag Race took place last night after a several day storm delay. Video by my pal Zack Ford.

Bryan Fischer: There Will Be Blood And Civil Unrest If Romney Wins

Today's New York Post

I can't say I've ever agreed with the Post before.  It does seem surreal that the Marathon is still going to happen on Sunday.

October Jobs Report Released

Despite some claims that the storm-related closure of federal offices would cause its delay, the highly-anticipated final pre-election jobs report was issued on schedule today. One analyst calls the report "solid."

In the final monthly jobs report before Election Day, the government today said the U.S. unemployment rate for October ticked up to 7.9 percent. The Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the U.S. economy added 171,000 jobs, stating that the number of unemployed Americans was essentially unchanged in October at 12.3 million. "We still have a long way to go but this is a step in the right direction," said Stephen Bronars, chief economist of Welch Consulting. Analysts had expected around 125,000 added jobs, according to Bloomberg News. Bronars said October's jobs report was positive despite the unemployment rate increase, because more people resumed looking for work. He called the 171,000 jobs added "solid" and noted there were upward revisions to the reports of the past two months.

No October surprise here, at least.

Central Park Reports On Damage

The Central Park Conservancy reports that hundreds of mature trees were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. Some buildings, benches, and fencing were also damaged or ruined.  The park remains closed until the danger from falling limbs has been dealt with.  (Yesterday my neighbor, who is a park volunteer, was in tears describing the famous Promenade.  I'm afraid to even go look over the wall.)  The Conservancy is expected to welcome the public to assist with the more minor cleanup chores once things become safer. All city parks remain closed for now. (Tipped by Father Tony)

RELATED: The massive NYC Marathon remains scheduled to conclude in Central Park on Sunday, despite great opposition from some local media who say city resources are desperately needed elsewhere.  Many competitors have been unable to even get to the city.

The New York Press Called It

Seven years ago the New York Press made a startlingly accurate prediction of Hurricane Sandy. The piece opens by imagining what kind of storm would most threaten New York City.

A hurricane like this one can usually be counted on to curve eastward and die a harmless death over the Atlantic. But with a large area of high pressure hovering just off the east coast, the computer models at the National Hurricane Center in Miami are largely in agreement: This one is heading north, tracking a direct hit on New Jersey somewhere north of Atlantic City.  Like the legendary “Long Island Express” of 1938, the fastest-moving hurricane ever recorded, it’s moving quickly. While no human or computer can ever be completely sure what a hurricane is going to do, this is looking like a worst-case scenario for New York City, the kind of scenario ”that gives emergency managers serious gastrointestinal distress,” says Lee. Because of its counter-clockwise rotation, the right side of a hurricane is the most powerful part of the storm. The right side of this storm is fixing to land a haymaker on New York Harbor. If it makes landfall during high tide, the devastation will be unprecedented.

Which is pretty much exactly what happened. The story concludes by recounting precisely why New York City is so very vulnerable.

New York City’s biggest vulnerability is the most unyielding geology. The New York bight is the right angle formed by Long Island and New Jersey with the city tucked into its apex. “Hurricanes do not like right angles,” Lee says. “[They allow] water to accumulate and pile up.”  Couple this with the fact that New York resides on a very shallow continental shelf, and as a big storm pushes north, New York Harbor “acts as a funnel.” As storm surge forces its way into the harbor and up the rivers, it has nowhere to go but onto land. New York City, it turns out, has some of the highest storm-surge values in the country.  “When we see a category-3 storm making landfall in Florida, it may only have a 12-, 13-foot storm surge,” Lee says. “For us here, a category-1 storm can give us 12 feet of storm surge.”

Hurricane Sandy came ashore at Category 1 and lower Manhattan got exactly the 12-foot storm surge predicted in 2005 by the New York Press.

TEXAS: Woman Wearing "Vote The Bible" Shirt Turned Away By Election Workers

She eventually covered the shirt with a jacket and voted, but Christian sites and newscasters are outraged. It's against Texas law to wear or carry any such items into polling places.

Con Ed Offers Hope

Last night Con Edison vowed that electricity will return tomorrow for many residents of lower Manhattan.   But some of the people now in their fifth day without power may face another week or more of darkness.

Lower Manhattan will have almost all of its power back tomorrow — but it could take another nine days for electricity to be 100 percent restored, Con Ed officials and sources said yesterday. And the “vast majority” of remaining powerless residents — many in the outer boroughs and Westchester — won’t have electricity until Nov. 10. Lastly, some “stragglers” — mostly customers in places served by overhead lines — won’t be restored until the following week, said John Miksad, Con Ed’s senior vice president for electric operations. Given what we know, given the resources we have now, that’s what it looks like,” Miksad said. “Going without power for one day is a rough thing. Going without power for two weeks is unbearable.”

One dissenting source involved in discussions between the state and the utility said the Saturday projection wasn’t completely accurate. “The Con Ed situation is really bad,” the source said, predicting that power won’t fully be restored to lower Manhattan for another nine days. "They’re working on different strategies” to try to get the bulk of the customers back up, the source added. “But the reality is not everyone is going to be back up by this Saturday. “No way. No how.” An “army” of Con Ed work crews and engineers are working to restore power to lower Manhattan by repairing the East 14th Street substation, which was damaged by floodwaters that Sandy pushed up from the East River, Miksad said. At the same time, the company is checking underground transformers and other equipment in the area.

The "Unskewed" Electoral Map

Above is a final look at what the folks in Teabagistan are betting on.

Free Subway Rides Continue

Here's today service advisory from the MTA:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that enhanced service will be available on Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad and the NYC Subway for this morning's rush hour, providing commuters with additional travel options as the current transportation state of emergency continues. All commuter rail, bus and subway service is fare free until midnight. Access-A-Ride service is also fare free and operating regular service, both advanced reservation and subscription will be delivered, with the exception of areas in Zone A, including the Rockaways, City Island, Lower Manhattan and Staten Island.

Metro-North's Harlem Line is operating full service between Southeast and Grand Central Terminal this morning. Close to regularly scheduled service is also being provided on the Harlem Line between Mount Kisco and Grand Central Terminal, and on the New Haven Line between Stamford and Grand Central Terminal.The added service made possible by continued progress by Metro-North crews to clear tracks of debris, inspect critical infrastructure and repair damaged components.

The Long Island Rail Road is operating limited hourly service for this morning’s rush on the Port Jefferson Branch from Huntington to Penn Station and on the Babylon Branch to Penn Station as work continues around the clock in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. The recovery work by LIRR crews, while taking place throughout the LIRR system, focused on returning service to the LIRR’s four largest branches – Port Washington, Ronkonkoma, Babylon and Huntington.

Limited service also begins today on the 7 and M lines. The L train is only running within Brooklyn. Service on all lines remains indefinitely suspended below 34th Street in Manhattan.

NYT Reacts To Nate Silver's Bet

Two days ago polling prognosticator Nate Silver offered to make a $1000 election bet with MSNBC host Joe Scarborough.  Silver's overlords at the New York Times are taking a dim view. From their Public Editor Journal:

Whatever the motivation behind it, the wager offer is a bad idea – giving ammunition to the critics who want to paint Mr. Silver as a partisan who is trying to sway the outcome. It’s also inappropriate for a Times journalist, which is how Mr. Silver is seen by the public even though he’s not a regular staff member. “I wouldn’t want to see it become newsroom practice,” said the associate managing editor for standards, Philip B. Corbett. He described Mr. Silver’s status as a blogger — something like a columnist — as a mitigating factor. Granted, Mr. Silver isn’t covering the presidential race as a political reporter would. But he is closely associated with The Times and its journalism – in fact, he’s probably (and please know that I use the p-word loosely) its most high-profile writer at this particular moment. When he came to work at The Times, Mr. Silver gained a lot more visibility and the credibility associated with a prominent institution. But he lost something, too: the right to act like a free agent with responsibilities to nobody’s standards but his own.

Montgomery Burns Endorses Romney

Wingnuts are super upset about this. Hurray!

Nate Silver's Electoral Update

I've been posting these every Friday for almost a year. Raise your hand if Nate Silver has kept you sane these last couple of months.

Romney Blows His Fuse About Mormonism

New Yorkers Line Up For Food

The National Guard began handing out meals-ready-to-eat in downtown Manhattan today, where frustrated residents waited over three hours before the promised trucks finally appeared. Gothamist has more on the story and more photos.

Michelangelo Signorile Named To Out 100

Out Magazine is teasing out the names on their 18th annual ranking of the most 100 influential LGBT Americans. In the first batch of names is my pal and SiriusXM host, Michelangelo Signorile. Our congrats to Mike!  Hit the link for more names.

WND Founder Joseph Farah: If Obama Wins He Will Round Up Us Wingnuts

"If Barack Obama is re-elected Nov. 6 for a second term, he will declare a full-scale war on his domestic opposition. There may not be another free and fair election in America. I would expect due process to go the way of the horse and buggy. I think he will move to shut down and destroy all independent media. In fact, I think his biggest critics will be rounded up in the name of national security. If any Republican, conservative, independent journalist, pro-life activist, returning veteran, gun-rights activist, constitutionalist, Bible believer or critic of Obama thinks they will be safe in a second term under this would-be despot, they had better think again – real fast." - World Net Daily founder and three-time Just For Men Olympics gold medal winner Joseph Farah.

Climate Activist Heckles Romney

And the sheeple drown him out with "USA! USA!"

OMM Vs The New Normal (Again!)

"Dear Joe, If there are any Christians who continue to watch The New Normal,  then this past episode would be their last after it insulted any viewers of faith. The program has constantly ridiculed anyone who believes differently than its makers do and even mocks conservative values. It has crossed a line that no one should ever cross, and that is blasphemy of Jesus Christ. The entire previous episode showed disrespect of the Christian faith. For NBC Network to air a Christian bashing program is disgraceful. In the past episode of  The New Normal, the homosexual couple is searching for godparents for their new baby, since they are no longer spiritual themselves. Here are just a few of the direct quotes:

• "Jesus was ripped."
• "God has taken a divine dump on my dream."
• "Twelve dudes sitting around gossiping and drinking wine- you call that the Last Supper- I call that a Tuesday night."
• While looking at a painting of Mary in a cathedral, "Hi Mary. I'm a virgin too. I've also slept in a barn with three Wisemen."
• While looking at a painting of Jesus, "Sorry, I shouldn't be talking smack about your mother, but you know who judges me- your Father."
• "I'm gay. I lay with a man Leviticus style."
• "Do you think the church can change?"
• Priest says, "Contraire to popular opinion being gay isn't a sin. Church is not anti-gay. You must fight for what you believe."
• Nine-year-old girl says, "We don't know what happens (to us) after death."

"This anti-Christian bigotry is an attack on our faith. We must take a stand for our Savior." - Monica Cole, head of One Million Moms, via press release.

Bloomberg Endorses Obama

"When I step into the voting booth, I think about the world I want to leave my two daughters, and the values that are required to guide us there. The two parties’ nominees for president offer different visions of where they want to lead America. One believes a woman’s right to choose should be protected for future generations; one does not. That difference, given the likelihood of Supreme Court vacancies, weighs heavily on my decision.

"One recognizes marriage equality as consistent with America’s march of freedom; one does not. I want our president to be on the right side of history. One sees climate change as an urgent problem that threatens our planet; one does not. I want our president to place scientific evidence and risk management above electoral politics. Of course, neither candidate has specified what hard decisions he will make to get our economy back on track while also balancing the budget. But in the end, what matters most isn’t the shape of any particular proposal; it’s the work that must be done to bring members of Congress together to achieve bipartisan solutions.

"Presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan both found success while their parties were out of power in Congress -- and President Obama can, too. If he listens to people on both sides of the aisle, and builds the trust of moderates, he can fulfill the hope he inspired four years ago and lead our country toward a better future for my children and yours. And that’s why I will be voting for him." - New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. 

Man Sues Church Over Falling Crucifix

An upstate New York man is suing his church after a giant crucifix fell on him, costing him his leg.

David Jimenez put all of his faith in a massive marble crucifix, praying to it every day that his wife would be cured of cancer. And she was. The 45-year-old pizza parlor worker was so grateful, he volunteered to clean the neglected 600-pound statue. But, during his soap-and-water thank you, the massive statue came loose, crushing him so severely that he had to have his right leg amputated. Now Jimenez is putting his faith in someone else: his lawyer. The New York man is suing his former parish, the Church of St. Patrick, for $3 million. “The screw [holding the crucifix] was useless," attorney Kevin Kitson said. "It supported no anchoring system."

God cured his wife's cancer, but for some reason he won't grow that leg back. Mysterious ways.

Crazy Eyes: I'm An Independent!

If the above lie isn't hilarious enough, check out how a Minnesota debate audience reacted this week to another outrageous lie.

NOM Donates $1.6M In Minnesota

NOM is funneling truckloads of jewel-encrusted Vatican money into the Minnesota marriage battle.

The National Organization for Marriage has poured $1.65 million into Minnesota for Marriage, and nearly all of that came this month, new campaign finance records show. The group gave another $225,000 on Wednesday.  All told, Minnesota for Marriage raised more than $3.7 million so far this year, much of it from the Catholic Church, affiliated groups and the National Organization for Marriage. That's still far less than the group's opponents.  John Helmberger, chairman for Minnesota for Marriage, said their side is accustomed to being dramatically outspent in marriage-related measures in other states.  "Those who want to redefine marriage may outspend us, but no matter how much they spend, we are confident that the voters will do as they have done in … other states and vote to protect marriage,” he said.

Just think of how many priests could have been defended in their child molestation suits with all that dough!

From The We Like Women Party

This does not appear to be a parody site.

We Like Women Pride!---> We Like Women, We Are Proud To Like Women, and If They Do Not Like Women, They Are the Enemy! (Vote for straight, heterosexual men that like women!)---->Vote for Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan for president/vice president! We Like Women likes Romney/Ryan and asks that you vote for them for President/Vice President of the United States because we feel that they will both be most likely to help pass our We Like Women Laws--->Laws that will make everyone like women better and laws that will declare that: IF THEY DO NOT LIKE WOMEN, THEY ARE THE ENEMY! Vote Republican every time you vote and always vote for candidates that are women or that are men that like women (Republican men are men that like women so vote for Republican men or Republican women!)

I guess they really like women.

National Adoption Month: One Gay Family's Response To Mitt Romney

Food Trucks Head For NYC [UPDATED]

Food relief is coming to Manhattan and other parts of NYC still without power.  Gothamist has the early details:

Red Cross Communications Officer Michael de Vulpillieres emails us to say that 35 emergency response vehicles "stocked with food, snacks, water and clean up supplies" are headed to the city, and will fan out to serve communities affected by Sandy. "We also are identifying sites for large mobile kitchens to be set up in the city where food will be prepared and distributed," Vulpillieres writes. According to State Senator Daniel Squadron's office, residents remaining in the Smith, Riis, and Baruch Houses will soon have running water from city-provided generators.

I'll update this post when we know where the distribution points will be.

UPDATE:  More news on food relief as we learn that the National Guard and FEMA are airlifting one million meals into the blackout zones.

"After days without powers, the most immediate need for many New Yorkers is food and water and the state is working aggressively to address this need." Cuomo said in the announcement. "The first plane into JFK this morning was from FEMA, carrying supplies and personnel we requested. New York state will continue to deploy all our resources in response to Hurricane Sandy and adjust to the needs and concerns of New Yorkers so that we can ensure a safe and speedy recovery."

According to the governor's office FEMA and the National Guard will work with the city and "major not-for-profit organizations" to establish points of distribution and set up staging stations throughout the most affected areas. "National Guardsman will assist with the delivery of approximately 30 tractor-trailers of the food and water, by going door-to-door to New Yorkers who have been without power and electricity since Hurricane Sandy hit the state. The National Guardsmen and FEMA officials will also check the wellness and needs of individuals in these areas to ensure that residents are safe."

Food and water will be distributed beginning today at these Manhattan locations: 10th Street between Avenues C and D, Catherine Street between Monroe and Cherry Streets (Smith Houses), Pitt and Houston Streets, Grand and Clinton Streets (water only), Bowery and Division Street (Confucius Plaza).

Seen In Hoboken

Hoboken, New Jersey, which is just across the Hudson River from the West Village, remains heavily flooded and 90% of its residents may not see power restored for another week. Last night the National Guard began distributing food and water.

Tempers flared Wednesday at a staging area outside City Hall, where a man screamed at emergency officials about why food and water had not been delivered to residents just a few blocks away. The man, who would not give his name, said he blew up an air mattress to float over to the staging area. City officials defended their response. "The dimension and scope of this situation is enormous," Public Safety Director Jon Tooke said. "You have emergency operations at all levels — from local to federal — spread too thin across the city and the state, but we're working on it." Tooke said the estimated 20,000 people still stranded in their homes were being encouraged to shelter in place, and that high-water vehicles would get supplies to them. He said people with medical and other special needs were being taken out by trucks. Two churches were serving as shelters. Public housing, senior projects and private residences were all affected. Mayor Dawn Zimmer said senior citizens were the most distressed and eager to get more supplies.

John Stossel Slams Federal Flood Bailouts, Will Take That Money Himself

Igor Volsky has the story at Think Progress.

Inspired By Fox News

A Minnesota couple doesn't understand why people are so upset with their noose and chair reference to President Obama. After all, they got the idea from Fox News.

Mulholland said she doesn’t consider the display a form of hate speech and doesn’t hold animosity toward blacks. She said the display isn’t meant as a direct threat to Obama. Perhaps it's not a threat, but it certainly has the impact of a hate-motivated display, said W.C. Jordan, president of the Rochester branch of the NAACP as well as the Minnesota/Dakota Area State Conference president. He heard about it through the city's hate-crime prevention task force. "It's pretty much gone viral," Jordan said of the Mulhollands' display, and he's heard about it from people outside the state.

Quote Of The Day - Bishop Daniel Jenky

"Since the foundation of the American Republic and the adoption of the Bill of Rights, I do not think there has ever been a time more threatening to our religious liberty than the present. Nearly two thousand years ago, after our Savior had been bound, beaten, scourged, mocked, and crowned with thorns, a pagan Roman Procurator displayed Jesus to a hostile crowd by sarcastically declaring: Behold your King. The mob roared back: We have no king but Caesar. Today, Catholic politicians, bureaucrats, and their electoral supporters who callously enable the destruction of innocent human life in the womb also thereby reject Jesus as their Lord. They are objectively guilty of grave sin.

"For those who hope for salvation, no political loyalty can ever take precedence over loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ and to his Gospel of Life. God is not mocked, and as the Bible clearly teaches, after this passing instant of life on earth, God's great mercy in time will give way to God's perfect judgment in eternity. I therefore call upon every practicing Catholic in this Diocese to vote. Be faithful to Christ and to your Catholic Faith. May God guide and protect his Holy Church, and may God bless America." - Peoria Bishop Daniel Jenky, essentially ordering his followers to vote against President Obama.

NOTE: Jenky sent the above message to all of his parishes with this opening line: "By virtue of your vow of obedience to me as your Bishop, I require that this letter be personally read by each celebrating priest at each Weekend Mass, November 3/4."

Tweet Of The Day - Nate Silver

(Via Andrew Belonsky)

New Yorkers Dumpster-Dive For Food

Downtown Manhattan supermarkets are cleaning out their stores of perishable items, placing still-edible items in giant dumpsters for locals to freely pillage.  The New York Daily News reports:

Met Food supermarket workers at the corner of Prince St. and Mulberry St., had to toss scores of garbage bags packed with foodie eats like Pom pomegranate juice, soy chai latte, organic eggs, and Ben and Jerry's ice cream, clearing the shelves in the wake of Sandy's aftermath. Shop owner Paul Fernandez said his store - like most of Manhattan south of 40th St. - has been without power since the storm hit Monday forcing him to trash the entire deli section along with all his meats and dairy products. "I had to throw out all of my perishables. I can't sell it to anybody. It's like $40,000 worth of food." Fernandez said watching hordes of people packing shopping carts and backpacks with his groceries. NYU student Ilana Breen, 20, said she'd been wandering the streets all day looking for a working ATM or an open store in order to buy food. Her apartment on E. 23rd St. is without power with rotting grub in the fridge. "We just saw all these people in the Dumpster. This isn't a trash can. This is a heap of food," Breen said.

Looters Hit Outer Boroughs

Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz has requested additional National Guard troops as looting spreads through the blacked-out areas of Coney Island, south Brooklyn, and Queens.

"Governor Cuomo also acted quickly by activating the National Guard prior to the storm, and I urge him to allocate as many troops as possible to Brooklyn—troops from New York or any other states that can spare them," said Mr Markowitz in a statement. "The devastation is so widespread and overwhelming that it’s in the best interest of all of our residents for a more significant National Guard presence to supplement the great work being done by our brave—but overwhelmed—first responders. In addition to flooding, power outages, lack of utilities, sanitation and water issues, and no transportation in neighborhoods such as Coney Island, Sea Gate, Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Gerritsen Beach, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, DUMBO, Red Hook and others, there have been unfortunate incidents of looting in some locations. All of our resources have been stretched to the limit, but in the name of public safety we need to send more National Guard personnel into Coney Island, Manhattan Beach, Gerritsen Beach, Red Hook and any other locations the governor deems appropriate."

Britain's Daily Mail tabloid reports that some looters are brazenly tweeting evidence of their crimes using the hashtag "SandyLootCrew."  Among the stores hit are Rite Aid, liquor stores, and television rental outlets.  So far the only looting reported in Manhattan comes from the heavily damaged South Street Seaport, where police arrested people who had waded through neck-deep water to steal expensive headphones from Brookstone.

Fire Island Devastated By Sandy

Fire Island, which is arguably the most famous gay vacation destination in the world, was devastated by Hurricane Sandy. The damage is so severe that the spokesman for the National Seashore believes that at least one new permanent inlet between the bay and the ocean has been created, effectively dividing Fire Island into two separate islands. Steve Weinstein has the story at Edge:

The Pines may have experienced at least one extensive breach on its eastern end, with another even more severe breach just east of the Pines, according to Jay Pagano, who heads the local property owners assocation. In an email statement, Pagano said that pools and decks of houses fronting the ocean along a wide swath of the Pines were extensively damaged.  In a later email, he reported that flooding is "quite extensive," with "debris and trees down throughout the community." Many of the boardwalks that are Fire Island’s sidewalks are destroyed, as are all of the Pines’ stairs that lead from the boardwalks to the beach, Pagano reported.

Much more serious is the destruction of the dunes "along the length of the community." The dunes are the front line of protection. The Pines has been involved for several years in expensive dune restoration. [snip] In an telephone interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Karen Boss described the Pines Harbor as "completely submerged." Photos of the harbor show water going well onto land. In addition, there are reports that many of the bulkheads along the bay built have been destroyed. The bulkheads, built on community and privately owned property, serve to protect the island from erosion. But they couldn’t withstand the surging onslaught of water caused by Sandy’s high winds. This is the second year in a row that a mid-fall natural disaster devastated the Pines. Last year, a fire swept through the downtown harbor area. The destruction encompassed much of the commercial property, including the town’s main bar and nightclub.

Many photos of the destruction can be seen here and here.

Romney: I Understand Business

Editorial Of The Day

From the Baltimore Sun:

The case for Question 6, which would affirm Maryland's law authorizing same-sex marriage, is simple. It upholds the principle that the law should treat everyone the same. Marriage is both a religious and a civil institution. Churches, synagogues and mosques have always set their own rules about which marriages they recognize, and this law does not change that fact. What it does is to ensure that no Marylander faces discrimination under the law when it comes to one of the state's fundamental institutions. Opponents of the measure have sought to confuse the issue by warning of unintended consequences of marriage equality. They claim that those who, for religious reasons, oppose same-sex unions will be persecuted. That children will be taught about same-sex marriage in school against their parents' will. That it will somehow rob children of the best possible upbringing. Those are no more than scare tactics.

Read the full editorial, there's much more.

DELAWARE: Anti-Gay GOP Family Values Candidate Busted For Molestation

Delaware GOP state Senate candidate Eric Bodenweiser, who is a member of the Family Policy Council, has been arrested for child molestation.  Lou Chibarrro reports at the Washington Blade:

The indictment includes 113 felony sex charges, including 39 counts of unlawful sexual intercourse — first-degree and 74 counts of unlawful sexual contact — second-degree. Although the indictment doesn’t identify the gender of the victim, the Gape Gazette identified the victim as a boy who allegedly was sexually abused by Bodenweiser between Oct. 1, 1987 and Aug. 31, 1990 when he was between the ages of 10 and 13. Jason Miller, a spokesperson for the Delaware Attorney General’s office, which is prosecuting the case, said the victim, who is now in his 30s, has spoken to the media and revealed details not disclosed in the indictment but which are expected to surface at a trial.

The Family Policy Council has removed Bodenweiser from their voter guide. He was endorsed by Christine O'Donnell. (Tipped by JMG reader Thom)

HRC Files Complaint Over Anti-Gay Texts

The Human Rights Campaign has filed a complaint with the FCC over anti-gay text messages being sent to voters in states where marriage is on the ballot. Chris Geidner reports at Buzzfeed:

Following a series of anti-Obama text messages received on Tuesday night — some of which addressed the president's record on LGBT issues — HRC, the nation's largest LGBT political group, asked the Federal Communications Commission to investigate the company. The company, ccAdvertising, has not admitted to sending the messages. But the dummy sites used to send the messages were registered to company executives. Additionally, one of those executives — Gabe Joseph — is known for using questionable tactics, according to Republican operatives familiar with his past activities. BuzzFeed has reported that the "email-to-text technology" apparently employed by the sender of the messages — which sends emails to cell phones in the form of SMS messages — allowed the firm to deliver unsolicited texts from web domains rather than phone numbers, all the while skirting existing Federal Communications Commission regulations.

HRC vice president Fred Sainz: "It’s unacceptable to launch these types of despicable attacks from dark corners, and it’s incredibly irresponsible to send out unsolicited messages to people who have no desire to receive this type of vitriol."

New From Focus On The Family

Predictable.

RHODE ISLAND: Slim Lead For Openly Gay U.S. Rep. David Cicilline

Details. The Advocate has more on the race.

New From MA Homocon Richard Tisei

Female voice: "Mmmmm, that was nice."

Photo Of The Day

There are still 12,000 pay phones in NYC and those without power are lining up.

With power knocked out in her Sandy-ravaged neighborhood—rendering her cellphone useless—she got a crash course in the low-tech, low-status devices. She returned to her local pay phone Wednesday with more quarters and better knowledge of the pay-phone locations in her area. "You miraculously get resourceful and start seeing them everywhere," she says. Not since the birth of the iPhone has the pay phone experienced such demand, thanks to Sandy. Natural disasters tend to vindicate the public pay phone. With their clunky bodies mounted high and sometimes behind glass stalls, they generally remain serviceable during power outages, even amid flooding. When times get tough, in fact, the biggest challenge is often keeping the devices free of coin overloads.

Free Subway Rides Today

As I noted yesterday, NYC's subway reopens this morning with limited service on the undamaged lines in upper Manhattan and in the other boroughs. Here's today's MTA advisory:

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the MTA's subway, bus and commuter rail services will be free for today and tomorrow, to encourage the use of mass transit as the region slowly recovers from the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy. The free service began just after midnight Thursday and will last until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, and will allow for free rides on the NYC Subway and Bus network, Long Island Rail Road, and Metro-North Railroad. Free travel will also be available on Access-a-Ride. “The gridlock we experienced yesterday shows that the New York metropolitan region is in a transportation emergency,” Governor Cuomo said. “To get people out of their cars and onto mass transit, I immediately authorized the MTA to suspend transit fares through the end of the work week.”

New From Sean Patrick Maloney

Sean Patrick Maloney is the openly gay U.S. House candidate from upstate New York.

HomoQuotable - Greg Quinlan

"The homosexual push for 'equal' marriage," otherwise known as genderless marriage, can only lead to a ban on heterosexual rights. With a President in power who endorses gay causes and readily misuses executive orders, and emboldened by their numerous wins for gay rights at the legislative and judicial level, homosexuals have now moved beyond equal rights to the 'more equal than you' level. As a result, gay organizations are working to ban that practice they fear the most -- heterosexual behavior.

"The culture war is not slowing down; it's just beginning to gain steam as gay organizations turn to anti-heterosexual legislation, mandatory public approval of sodomy, federal funding of gay youth activist organizations and homosexual initiatives, required government training against 'homophobia,' 'heterosexism,' and 'transphobia,' etc., etc. This is more than a culture war; it is a war for our very own freedoms -- a war for the character and future of our nation. Homofascism will soon be, if it is not already, the greatest threat to our individual liberties in this country. So-called equality marriage is just the beginning." - PFOX president and lifetime cocksucker Greg Quinlan, in a press release published by Christian Newswire.

Free Showers At NYSC

Here's some great corporate citizenship from NYSC:

No power or water? New York Sports Club announced today that it’s opening its doors free of charge to anyone who needs to shower, charge their cell phone, or blow off steam with a stress-relieving run on the treadmill. (We recommend all three.) The clubs will be open to the public (local residents 18 and older with photo ID) from today, October 31, until November 14. Use www.mysportsclubs.com to find a location near you.

(Tipped by JMG reader Aaron)

UPDATE: Equinox is not being so generous. From an email sent to all members: "As you know we've done our very best to remain open regular hours in all clubs with power. We are getting unprecedented usage and, in an effort to better serve our members, we can not accommodate guests until the situation stabilizes. Thank you for your understanding during this difficult time. In Good Health, Equinox."

Open Thread Thursday

Has the storm affected you personally?

Emergency Proselytizing Teams Deployed Onto Homeless And Hungry Storm Victims

Oh brother.

Manhattan Blackout Time Lapse

Ellen Degeneres As Sofia Vergara

(Tipped by JMG reader Alana)

NYC Food Relief Info

Occupy Wall Street activists have established several drop-off points for folks wishing to get food into the blackout zones across New York City.  More information is being posted on the Facebook page Occupy Sandy Relief NYC.  Food and money can also be donated to Food Bank NYC, whose warehouse on Hunt's Point was flooded during the storm. Cash donations can be made by texting FBNYC to 50555. The Red Cross is seeking NYC volunteers and donations.  The NYC Public Advocate's office is seeking volunteers to help with the physical cleanup. All of NYC's public parks remain closed, but cleanup crews will be needed there too. I'll add more links to this post as they come in.

Some GOOD Subway News

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that limited service will resume tomorrow on undamaged subway lines in upper Manhattan and the outer boroughs.  Amazing!

Cuomo said 14 of 23 subway lines will have limited service, he said there will be no service in Manhattan below 34th Street because there is no power for that service. He says a "bus bridge" will move passengers from hubs in Brooklyn using the Manhattan and Williamburg bridges. There will be 330 buses. From there, subway lines will terminate at 42nd st. or 34th st. They will not be able to go farther south because of power problems. The MTA says there will be some subways that will run every 10 minutes. The following will have limited service: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, A, D, F, J, L, M, N, R.

You can find a list of lines and stations that will be open on Cuomo's Twitter feed.  (I posted the above tweet because the linked story has the wrong starting time.)

UPDATE: NY1 has a more detailed list.

UPDATE II: The above map is via Gothamist.

Orthodox Rabbi: Hurricane Sandy Was God's Revenge For New York Gay Marriage

Right Wing Watch has the story:

Rabbi Noson Leiter of Torah Jews for Decency is blaming Hurricane Sandy on gays and lesbians, calling it “divine justice” for New York’s new marriage equality law. Torah Jews for Decency campaigned against marriage equality in New York and New Jersey, worked with Liberty Counsel and New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms in an unsuccessful lawsuit to overturn New York’s marriage law, and has joined with various other Religious Right groups on anti-gay campaigns.

RELATED:  Among Rabbi Leiter's allies in working to thwart same-sex marriage was New York Conservative Party chairman Michael Long, who was long known as "the man who is single-handedly blocking gay marriage" in New York state.  Along with Leitner, Long has been working with NOM to "punish renegade Republicans" who supported the ultimately successful 2011 bill.  On Monday night, Michael Long's home burned to the ground along with more than 80 other homes in Breezy Point, Queens.  We presume that Long will not be amused with Rabbi Leitner's claim that God has punished him.