June 27, 2011

Freedom to Marry

Score one for New York! The past weekend the great state of New York became the 6th and most populous state to legalize same sex marriage, that's right MARRIAGE, not civil unions. Congrats to Gov. Cuomo who made it a top priority during his campaign and actually delivered on a political promise. I've said it many a times that same sex marriage is inevitable because an equal right is an equal right. Not only does the ruling bring joy to the tens of thousands of couples residing in New York, it also has New York's tourism department jumping for joy (not to mention event halls, florists, bakers, and struggling musicians). The state is projecting a minimum extra $180M of new revenue from gay weddings to be injected to the state's languishing economy within the next year. I hope other states are watching because gays CAN save the economy.

June 16, 2011

Grinds My Gears: Public Transportation Edition

After living in the city of Philadelphia for the past decade, I've come to develop a love/hate relationship with the public transit system known as SEPTA. Many native Philadelphians share the same sentiment and for good reason; the unions usually strike every year or at least once every three years, there's always mechanical problems, the trains are unkempt, and if there's a Phils or Eagles game you should avoid going south of City Hall.

Over the past year, SEPTA has been desperately trying to make upgrades to its archaic trans pass system. Philly is one of the few major cities that still use tokens, and is the ONLY city to label their weekly and monthly passes with a "m" sticker for Male and "f" sticker for Female (a practice that has come under much scrutiny, and makes no sense in my opinion). What Grinds My Gears about SEPTA, besides the the trains and buses being consistently late, is the fact that you can't get change....ANYWHERE! In March of this year SEPTA decided that their change machines would no longer give quarters, nickels or dimes, but rather the dreaded Sacajawea dollar coins. Why is this such an issue?

1. If you have a Cross County pass, you only need 50 cents to ride the El and Subway lines during the week

2. The booth operators at the stations DO NOT give change

See the dilemma? So as a concerned citizen I wrote to SEPTA and this was the response:

All SEPTA change machines were switched to dollar coins only in March 2011 to reduce/eliminate outside vendors (e.g. newspaper vendors, etc...) from utilizing SEPTA change machines for their own banking business using all of the change in the machines and causing them to go out of service...

Really SEPTA?! Have you EVER gone to a business and gone in and asked for change for a dollar without purchasing something? Or tried to ask for change from a Sacajawea coin?! Shop owners look at you like you're trying to trade Canadian money! The unions strike two years in a row and I can't even get change for a dollar?! I don't understand why the booth operators or the turnstiles can't give me change for a dollar! That other 50 cents is much needed laundry money.

And that's what Grinds My Gears.

June 15, 2011

Set Your Sights

When was the last time you've set your sights on a goal and accomplished it??

June 12, 2011

Quick Blog

What a weekend! Its still not over because I'm headed to Philly Pride. Started in NYC Friday night, woke up early for a community service, now I'm home about to chill with some awesome people. I realized that I need to learn to really enjoy the moments with my friends. This weekend many were had and I don't want to forget them. Pics to come!

June 2, 2011

You're allowed to dream

To all my followers I'd like for you to contemplate these things:

Are you happy? Why or Why not?

What is success to you?

What are you doing to change things?

Welcome to the Xone

Its official, I will be one of the 2 Stroll Deans for Greekster's SILK & SMOOTH Competition this year at La Boom nightclub. Kind of excited to see the show and pass judgment on all the new strollers in the Zone. Can't reveal too many details, but TRUST its a sight you're going to want to see! Did I mention Keith the LUL will be my co-Dean?? See you there!