Our last cruise ship, for my 50th birthday Frank and I are leaving tomorrow afternoon for a whirlwind 9-night Caribbean cruise, with stops in Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Grand Turk and Bermuda. (Fortunately it’s not a Rosie cruise so we won’t be prevented from landing by the infamously homophobic Bermudans, nor will I tour the island in my rainbow cutoffs). The last time we sailed there was no wifi on the ship, but the cruise lines are catching up. Depending on its reliability I’ll be blogging as we sail along. Keep an eye out for regular posts on the cruise. I’m doing my location-travel blogging here these days, in tandem with my most fabulous buddy Rick Rose, a contributing writer. I’m an aging gay cruise and travel guy now so this feels more like home for travel posting. Snarky political commentary, celebrity shit-chat and restaurant takedowns as well as fawn-overs will stay on MadeMark.net. See you on the high seas!]]>

Seniors in Chicago who have enjoyed free transit rides will begin paying half fare in September. The change is expected to raise $30 million annually. From the Chicago Tribune: The vast majority of the 440,000 senior citizens who registered to receive free transit rides over the last three years will lose the privilege on Sept. 1, officials said Wednesday. That’s when current senior free-rides permits on the CTA, Metra and Pace will be deactivated. As a result, the revenue from fareboxes is expected to increase by a total of $30 million annually at the three transit agencies, officials estimated. Only about 25,000 seniors enrolled in the current free-rides program are expected to still qualify for free transportation on mass transit when the changes implementing a financial means test take effect, according to the Regional Transportation Authority, which administers the program.]]>

San Francisco mayoral candidate Bevan Dufty is heading to San Diego for a fundraiser. Dufty believes Harvey Milk would have been San Francisco’s first gay mayor had he not been assassinated along with Mayor George Moscone. Among Dufty’s priorities will be making sure that older LGBT people and seniors are not forced back into the closet if they require housing and care. From San Diego Gay & Lesbian News: SAN DIEGO — Folks in the Castro in San Francisco are buzzing with the possibility of electing their first gay mayor. Former San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty is considered a top candidate and many voters in the city believe November will be an historic election. Dufty served two terms as supervisor in District 8, the same seat held by LGBT hero Harvey Milk, long considered the “Mayor of Castro Street.” Milk and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated in November 1978. “Had it not been for Dan White’s assassination of our great leader,” Dufty recently told supporters, “Harvey Milk would have been our first gay mayor.” Dufty recently received the key endorsement of Stuart Milk, out gay nephew of Harvey Milk. Many supporters believe Dufty’s election as mayor would carry on the dream started by Milk. [SNIP] The father a 4-year-old, Dufty said he believes his election would send a strong message as the fight for LGBT equality is a defining issue for today’s civil rights struggles. “As San Francisco’s mayor, I will stand up to anti-gay bullies whether they are in the halls of Congress or the halls of high school. We need strong LGBT elected officials on the front lines from local, state and federal office. I am ready to lead,” Dufty said. “Being the leader of a great city extends beyond San Francisco as I help set an agenda for urban America,” he said. “Vibrant, inclusive cities, more responsive to our needs, whether it is reducing new HIV infections, helping homeless LGBT youth or ensuring LGBT seniors don’t have to go back into the closet if they require housing and care.”
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I was reading David Webb’s new column, where he begins with his sticker shock at the gas pump, and it reminded me of what a good deal cruising can be. (He goes on to talk about “normalcy bias,” but I’ll stick to ships for this one.) Frank and I are heading off on a 9-night cruise this Saturday. I’d never cruised before I met him, and our first was a simple 4-day out of Brooklyn, just in case I got cabin fever and panicked. That didn’t happen. I loved it, and we went on a long cruise for my 50th birthday (some photos here) with his dad, since deceased, and a family friend. Being completely unfamiliar with cruising, I’d always thought it must be expensive. To the contrary, cruising is one of the most economical vacations you can take. For around $900 apiece we get 9 nights on the ship, plus day excursions to Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Bermuda and a fourth island I don’t recall at the moment. I have a habit of not paying attention to the details until it’s time to go – plus I like to be surprised. Leaving out of Brooklyn also means we don’t have to fly to Florida or anywhere else to set sail. Yes, they nickel and dime you on the ship (be sure to take enough clothes so you don’t have to pay the exorbitant laundry fee), and if you like hanging out at the casino I’d suggest setting a budget for yourself. The last time I ended up spending as much on the ship and the islands as I did for the cruise, but the point is you don’t have to. All the food on a cruise ship is included. The activities are included. You could actually, in theory, take a cruise and not spend anything other than what you paid for the room. That’s not likely, but I am going to see how much more frugal I can be this time. And my own word of advice: do not use credit cards on the islands (and I never use my debit card for anything, anywhere, it’s strictly an emergency measure). They’re great places to visit, but if you end up with fraud on your Visa don’t say I didn’t warn you. I’ll be blogging from the cruise if I’m able – it all depends on the wifi available, its speed, if there’s any cost etc. I use my Droid to connect when we’re at our house in New Jersey (no high-speed landline connection until we move there), but I have a feeling there would be roaming charges that could break the bank. So think about a cruise if you haven’t. For the money we’d spend going to Los Angeles for a few days we can get 9 nights, lots of activities, islands, and endless food (alternated with hours at the ship gym?). Cruising is a great deal for the money, and an excellent getaway.]]>

The senior population is growing at a greater rate than ever before. Beginning this year, 2011, 8,000 people are turning 65 each day. In just another 18 years we’ll have 58 million Americans over 65. From Marketwire:

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL–(Marketwire – May 31, 2011) – Starting in 2011, 8,000 people are turning 65 every single day and this phenomenon will continue for the next 18 years! That means 58 million Americans will be eligible for a senior health plan and will be entering the Medicare system. This is the first time our country will be witnessing such an occurrence of this magnitude but it’s certainly not the first time citizens will be turning 65 and entering into the Medicare system and deciding between Medicare Supplements or a Medicare Advantage plan. What is different is how these seniors will shop and seek information for this transition — it is going online. The insurance salesman who made an appointment with you weeks in advance to stop by your home and pitch a product from the only insurance carrier he represented regardless of the health insurance premiums you would be paying is gone. Seniors are a large and growing segment of internet users and are going online and comparing health plans, speaking to Agents over the phone, and even purchasing the health plans from the comfort of their own homes.

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It’s about time. I’ve had Google AdSense on my personal blog, MadeMark, for several months. We got home from the Memorial Day weekend and much to my surprise was a check! For some reason when I upload the photo it keeps coming up sideways, sorry. I tried rotating it, downsizing it, all that, nothing worked.]]>

I’ll be adding these as I find them. SeniorNet is a great site for people who aren’t necessarily tech savvy but want or need to be. Check it out. From SeniorNet.org: SeniorNet’s mission is to provide older adults education for and access to computer technologies to enhance their lives and enable them to share their knowledge and wisdom. Find out how you can become a part of SeniorNet and start enjoying the benefits of membership today! If you are looking for some help to learn new or enhance existing computer skills, you have found the right place. Welcome. Come on in and make yourself at home. SeniorNet is the nation’s most respected nonprofit organization that specializes in computer and Internet education for older adults. Since 1986, SeniorNet has empowered over one million Boomers and Seniors providing encouragement, lifelong learning opportunities and new worlds to explore via the Internet.]]>

This was sad news for me, and one of those things I read that immediately takes me back to a point in time. 1978. Bloomington, Indiana. I was living there, a very messy life, rooming with a woman in a $95 dollar-a-month apartment. We were about 20 yards from the railroad tracks, and trains would barrel by every fifteen minutes or so, shaking the apartment. Even at that rent we had trouble paying, and every month was a struggle. There in the soundtrack to our lives, among whatever else we were listening to, was Gil Scott-Heron. His album ‘Secrets‘ had come out that year, and we listened to it over and over and over. There was one song on it, ‘Show Bizness,’ that I still recite to myself (for Scott-Heron was an early innovator of the marriage of spoken word and music that came to be called rap and hip-hop; many of his songs were more recited than sung).

Do you really want to be in show bizness
It’s the highly constant come and go bizness
Got you hangin’ out in places you got no bizness
People sell their souls just to be in show bizness
Show bizness, it’s alright with me Gil Scott-Heron was brilliant, a trailblazer, a pioneer, and a very distinct part of the soundtrack to my life. Hats off and hearts out.]]>

Our families travel just like any other, and the Family Equality Council predicts LGBT families will continue their vacations despite the rising costs of fuel and accommodations. LGBT families with children find it important to vacation where they can have a sense of inclusion. For my own part, my family is my partner Frank and we’re headed on a Caribbean cruise June 4. Look for photos and blog posts! From the Windy City Media Group:

Boston, MA – (May 26, 2011) — The Family Equality Council, America’s foremost advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) families, today predicted LGBT families will continue to travel in robust numbers during the summer season despite the rising cost of airfare and gas prices as well as current economic conditions. The traditional summer travel season kicks off this Memorial Day weekend. Brent Wright, Director of Programming for Family Equality Council, said LGBT families see their summer travel experiences as more than just discretionary vacations. “Our families tell us that they place a high value on the opportunity to take their children to destinations they consider life-affirming and culturally enriching as well as fun,” said Wright. “This is the one time of year where some LGBT families feel free to celebrate their diversity and make connections with other parts of their community.” Wright said there are more than 1 million LGBT parents raising 2 million children in the U.S. today. Millions more same-sex couples and individuals without children will choose to travel with parents, grandparents, siblings and extended families. Continue reading
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Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis before it. One archivist in Northampton, Massachusetts, has acquired a vast collection in his home and is looking for a space to house it. From MassLive.com: NORTHAMPTON – A newly formed foundation is hoping to bring information about the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender worlds all the way out of the closet into a dedicated facility that will serve as a resource for the entire East Coast. The Sexual Minorities Educational Foundation Inc. already boasts one of the most extensive archives on gay life, history and art in the country, but since 1979 it has been confined to the Northampton home of Bet Power, the president of the foundation’s board of directors. With the recent establishment of the 12-member board and a pending application for nonprofit status, the foundation is hoping to take the long-awaited next step and set up shop in a new location where the archives can be readily accessible to the public. “It’s always been my intention to have it open to the public,” said Power, who has hosted a steady parade of students and scholars at his home for decades. “I wanted to organize and give it a structure.” Continue reading]]>