Thursday, February 20, 2014

Southern Black Pastor is taken to task by Cary Harrison on whether gay is a choice.

"Is Gay the new Black?" was the topic yesterday on the buzzing blogtalk radio show Hot Topics hosted by Toni Breedlove and things really livened up when Pastor Ray one of the show's co-hosts called in to make a comment.  Political talk show host of the Smart Show and journalist Cary Harrison was not taking any pulpit bullying.

Recording artist LaMont Wheat also responded to pastor Ray's statement that "all blacks should be insulted by the topic" saying that he was indeed, "black and not insulted at all" and that "many are taught to believe a certain way and we are blinded by beliefs when we can not see that our beliefs cause harm and hurt".

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ABOUT the topic:
There are so many opinions and beliefs on whether or not the Civil Rights Movement (1955 – 1968) can be compared to the fight for civil rights of Gay and Lesbian Americans.

Although many of us have our opinions, a great majority of African Americans feel there is no comparison to the fight of Gay Americans, and the fight of African American’s Civil Rights Movement.

Well, on this very controversial and highly charged episode, we’re going to this discuss the comparisons with Special Guests, R&B Artist, LaMont Wheat, and Talk Show Host & Journalist, Cary Harrison.

Check out how it all went down here:  Pastor Ray vs Cary Harrison 



Saturday, October 6, 2012

Finding more than Hepatitis B at a Sex Party?

By Nicholas Delmacy


The one thing that I'm always asked by discreet masculine men I meet is this: "How do I meet people?"

By "people" they always mean "men" and by "men" they always mean "Guys to have sex with, date and/or just be friends with."

This is a very good question. If you're a discreet, masculine, unclockable gay/bisexual man, by definition it’s hard to meet other men like yourself, let alone spot another one in a crowd.

I often use the analogy of a used car when discussing this issue:

Say you have a car that you want to sell. However, you don't want to advertise that it’s for sale or even give strangers the impression that it may possibly be on the market at all. On top of that, there may be great potential buyers out there but you dare not randomly inquire their interest in buying a car nor do they themselves dare give the impression that they are interested in buying a car for fear of being Outed as a car purchaser.

This is the life of a discreet masculine man.

Admittedly, this dilemma is self-imposed. Dating is hard for everyone but if guys like ourselves were more open about our sexuality, we'd attract more people who were also attracted to men, even if for just one night.

Example: Many feminine guys who were "Out" during their high school years have told me that back then they were secretly approached by many guys (often by guys that had publicly harassed them).

These young men wrestling with their sexuality at least knew where to go if they wanted a blow job from another guy: The feminine boy advertising that his car was for sale.

So back to the question, "How do I meet people?"

My answer to these guys is always the same: “It depends on your Level of Gay Comfort.”

What is that exactly? Keep reading to find out...

See the 10 Level Guide to Meeting Masculine Men.
A Level of Gay Comfort is something I came up with to distinguish various types of masculine discreet Gay men. How “comfortable” a man is in doing certain things to meet other guys determines his level of comfort in being a Gay/Bisexual man of color.  I’d say that I’ve been at Level Eight in my Gayness since 2009, which means that I shot from level 3 to 8 in just two years.

Let's begin at the beginning:

Level One: Paranoid Masculine Men

This is the base level. Many discreet masculine men start off here but only a small percentage stays here their whole lives. At this level, there is NO level of comfort with being Gay. Men here are paranoid that anyone will discover their attraction to other men.

It’s a constant fear. They sometimes will act overly-masculine, aggressive and violent in an attempt to deflect suspicion. There are many unhappily married Bisexual men at this Level of Gay Comfort that secretly masturbate to Gay porn instead of meeting other men.

People often say that there were not as many Gay people around 50 years ago but that isn't true. Many of them were in this paranoid state of not wanting anyone to find out about them.
Pros: No one will ever find out you are attracted to men. Your discretion remains intact.

Cons: No one will ever find out you are attracted to men (which defeats the point). Chronic masturbation and antisocial behavior is a side effect to this level.

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Level Two: Telephone Chat Lines

This is one of the most private ways to meet men. It is the modern day Gay equivalent to Blind Dating. It is also one of the most debasing and vulgar ways to meet them. The telephone chat lines are filled with men just looking for quick anonymous no-strings-attached sex. If you’re looking for more than that you have to be patient and weed through the perverts. Personally, I’ve met a few really good datable guys there but it was like catching lightning in a bottle.

One of the top Free chat lines in America is The Blade brought to us by Talkee, available in 16 states. The anonymity in creating a Google Voice number and calling the line is priceless. Many guys will ask you to send them a photo but I never have in the past so don’t feel pressured.

This option can be dangerous as some men have reportedly been lured into meeting for a hookup only to be assaulted and robbed. Always meet in a public place if you choose this option.

Pros: By hearing their voice before you meet, you can better gauge whether or not the other person is masculine or feminine. You don’t have to reveal your phone number or photo.

Cons: Can be potentially dangerous exposing you to potential Sexually Transmitted Infections, robbery attempts, assaults and more.


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Level Three: Online Sex/Dating Sites

This is the most common way to meet men and is typically the introduction most men have into the “Gay Lifestyle.” Most Gay men have had an online profile on a website at some point in their lives. It takes awhile for men to get to this comfort level after elevating from Level One. This is also where many men top off, never going to a higher level than this.

All of the Gay guys that I consider close friends, I’ve met through the Internet. This method allows you to take your time and get a sense of who the person is before you meet them in person. The downside here is that its harder to protect anonymity. Not only do you normally have to post pictures of yourself, your identity can also be (technically) traced through your ISP.

Also, there are still dangers involved with this method. There have been criminal cases of assaults on men responding to online ads though Craigslist and others. Always meet in a public place if you choose this option.

The more popular sites for men of color are Adam4Adam, Men4Now and BGCLlive. People have reported using sites like Facebook, Myspace and Blackplanet for hookups in the past but I never saw how that was possible if they were in fact “discreet.”

Pros: The most popular method means more men to choose from no matter where you’re located. More time to weed through incompatible guys.

Cons: Not as “anonymous” as people would think. Photos of yourself required for better responses. Can be potentially dangerous exposing you to potential Sexually Transmitted Infections, robbery attempts, assaults and more.



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Level Four: Mobile Apps

This is the newest method to meet guys, yet it’s much like the previous level. Like the websites, these apps require you to post “face pics” in order to get a decent amount of quality responses.  Apps like Grindr, Jack'd, Loopt and Knocking Live have made meeting guys as easy as sending a text message.

If you’re comfortable enough in your Gayness to use your traceable cell phone to meet men for casual hookup sex, welcome to Level Four.

Admittedly, I've met two guys through this method and they both were expecting sex the first day even though we agreed that wasn't on the table.

This method is a crap-shoot. I've heard some crazy stories about Grindr. Openly Gay black blogger D. Kareem consistently posts hilarious anecdotes and observations about the App on his blog.

Pros: Convenience.

Cons: The mobile apps offer the same risks as the previous levels.


Level Five: Sex Parties and Bath Houses

Okay. I was hesitant to include this as an actual level but you do have to be somewhat comfortable to go to a sex party or bath house.  Sex Parties (aka Freak Parties) are typically private homes/apartments that charge a small admission fee for you to engage in NSA sex with other men in attendance. Here’s a direct quote from a Sex Party ad: “Anything goes but condoms and lube will be available.”

I have never personally been to anything like this so I can’t speak on it too much (I completely skipped this level). However, I would assume that visiting a sex party carries the same risks as the levels above: Sexually Transmitted Infections from anonymous men and sketchy characters walking amongst you.

In its defense, Gay former friend of mine said that he met a guy at a sex party and they ended up dating for almost a year and a half, so it’s possible to find more than Hepatitis B at one of these functions.

If you’re feeling frisky and want to give this a try, some of the websites listed in Level Three advertise upcoming sex parties in your area.
Pros: Give me a second…Still trying to think of one. Oh yeah, I hear many of these parties somewhat respect anonymity and usually keep the space very dark or dimly lit.

Cons: See above.

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Level Six: Mutual Friends

Now we’re getting into a safer territory. This is also what I consider leaving the Beginner Level of Gayness and entering the Intermediate Level.

Odds are that if a masculine discreet man has Gay friends close enough to him to set him up with other masculine discreet guys, he’s pretty experienced and comfortable.

I have to admit that this way to meet men is very rare, at least from my experience and observations.

Pros: Safer way to meet guys. If a friend recommends someone for you to meet, usually some kind of vetting has taken place.

Cons: Dealing with the friend of a friend can become messy. Especially if said friend is hooking you up with a former fuck buddy.


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Level Seven: Private Parties

This is probably the best option of them all. If you’re lucky enough to be invited to a private party full of fellow discreet masculine men comfortable enough with themselves to be seen in this environment, odds are you won’t leave without a phone number.

You’re in a comfortable environment, drinks and conversation flowing, confidently knowing that every guy you see there is also sexually attracted to men as well.

Granted you will still have to deal with conflicting desires and intentions (some just want sex, some want more), but this option is so much better than any of the Levels listed above.

Unfortunately, the only way to become invited to one of these parties is to go through a period at the Sixth Level of Gay Comfort.

Pros: Comfortable environment to converse with various people. Very little fear of being “exposed” given that all of the men there are either as discreet as you or very understanding of desires to be discreet.

Cons: If you are an anti-social person, you will have a tough time interacting with guys. If you’re a “new face” at these functions, you will be gawked at repeatedly and become the victim of classic Gay Face. On a rare occasion I’ve seen these functions become a bit “messy” with men beefing over other men.


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Level Eight: Gay Clubs/Gay Bars

Once you’ve reached this Level, you’re officially an Advanced Level Gay Man. Even if you go to a gay club wearing sunglasses and a fitted cap, having the courage to enter that parking lot, stand in that line and enter a gay club officially seals the deal.

The advantage to going to Gay clubs/bars is mostly a subliminal one. When I first built up the courage to go to one and saw literally hundreds of men (of various Ages, Shapes and Degrees of Masculinity) the main thing that hit me was: “I’m not alone. All of these guys are pretty much like me.” Once I got a couple cups of “liquid courage”, I confidently made choppy conversation over the loud music.

The problem with these places is that you never know what you’re going to get once you interact with the person outside of the club/bar.

Typically, if you meet someone in these places and you don’t have sex that night, you most likely won’t hear from them again. Also, these places can be very debasing and promote inappropriate sexually motivated behavior (random ass and crotch gropes are common).

If you are not comfortable going to a club/bar in the city you reside in, rent a car and travel to a nearby city/state. The experience will likely change your life in a good way. Even if you are not much of a club goer in general, I’d recommend experiencing a few different clubs at least once to get it out of your system.

Pros: The ability to “be yourself” and approach men you’re attracted to much like heterosexuals do in clubs and bars. The fear of being instantly “Outed” to unsuspecting friends and family by going to these places is more a fantasy than a reality (depending on where you live).

Cons: Many clubs/bars are filled with younger feminine men. To some masculine men, this may not really help your comfort level if this is your first time in a club. Many of the men you meet will mainly be looking for a NSA hookup that night.

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Level Nine: Public Places

This Level of Gay Comfort is for the Jedi-Master Discreet Masculine Gay Men. At this level you have to not only be comfortable approaching unclockable masculine guys in public, you also have to confident that there is a strong possibility that they are Gay themselves. You’ve got to have great “GayDar.”

I myself have never done this in public. The closest I’ve gotten is the ability to slowly flirt with masculine male friends that I wasn’t quite sure were Gay or not (usually they ended up also liking cock, so win for me). But to do this at a gas station, in the gym, the mall, or a supermarket to complete strangers is foreign to me.

But I’ve heard many stories of this being done. I’m told it can start out as simple as a compliment on your shoes or your shirt…Then the infamous question comes “Yo, do you ‘get down?’”…then it ends with you and him smoking a joint after sweaty sex…all within 24 hours!

These men are the Masculine Gay Jedis of our community. It starts with confidence, swag and a Level of Gay Comfort so strong that you don’t care if you get rejected and discovered to “get down” with other men.

Pros: Pretty much everyone is up for grabs if your GayDar is strong.

Cons: You could actually be right about the guy being Gay, but depending on his own level of comfort he may still reject you. When I was still at Levels 1-3 in my Gayness, No matter how sexy the dude was I would have quickly run away from any Level 9 guy approaching me, all why asking myself: “Yo, that dude just hit on me! Oh, shit! Do I give off a Gay-vibe or something?!”


Level Ten: Out and Proud

This is the polar opposite of Level One. At this stage, the discreet masculine Gay man may not be advertising his sexuality with a billboard, but he’s also not going out of his way to hide it either. He’s most likely experienced many of the previous levels in some form or fashion and has probably moved on from participating in them by now as well.

While dating and meeting other men is still difficult, he’s perfectly comfortable going to public Gay events like Pride parades, Miami Sizzle and Gay Film Festivals. He’s also comfortable joining Gay groups like local Gay flag football teams, local Gay basketball teams and volunteering at local Gay Health Awareness Clinics.
Pros: You’re officially telling other masculine Gay men that you are on the market.

Cons: You may face resistance in meeting other masculine men who are not yet at this Level of Gay Comfort for fear of being Outed by association.

Admittedly, this list is very generalized. There are many branches that could be split off to fill 10 more blog posts just like this one. However, for any young or old "Beginner Gays" out there, this could be a good starting point to getting yourself acclimated to the so-called "Gay Lifestyle" and the process of meeting other men.

Also, be sure to reference the Classic Lies Gay Men Tell Each Other list when dealing with these new guys that you meet! I GUARANTEE that you'll hear a few of them spoken or texted to you sooner or later. Happy Hunting!

- Nick D

Friday, October 5, 2012

Thursday, October 4, 2012

URBAN WRITERS LETTING THE TRUTH SET YOU FREE

by LaMont Wheat


Jarid Manos is  the Author of GHETTO PLAINSMAN www.ghettoplainsman.com; Founder/CEO, Great Plains Restoration Council; Vegan Athlete, Youth Worker, Health Advocate and Father.

"Once I survived my own life I realized: What else is there for me to do but give back?"

Manos just recently completed a national "Sharing the Journey" book tour for his first book, Ghetto Plainsman (non-fiction), which can be found at Barn&Nobel.  On the tour he spoke about his evolution of his life and how his connection to nature and spirit resided in all of us and how that connection transformed him from victim to victor.  In an intimate conversation with BBINT Magazine, Manos share details about his personal life and struggles, being homeless,  not fitting in, the impacts of his stunning good looks and coming to terms with his sexuality.  "Through my journey in writing my first book I realized being authentic meant I would have to face my demons and in doing so I got that being same gender loving isn't just a choice i made for my survival, it's who I am."

My second book, Her Blue-Watered Streets and You (a novel), is coming out at the end of 2012. (Provided I can get it done in time!)

"I am a serious urban American writer. If you're interested, you can google me for more TV, radio, print, Internet etc. I'm really just getting started .

I'm also a vegan athlete, youth worker, and founder/CEO of a non profit organization Great Plains Restoration Council www.gprc.org which helps damaged youth and young adults heal themselves through tough outdoor work healing the Earth. The world is being killed, and at the same time there are so many broken & damaged people: Why not help one help the other and vice versa? "

Jarid Manos, author of Ghetto Plainsman, discusses the importance of sharing what you have to share, what's unique about you rather than following a formula. He also shares his thoughts on reconnecting to quality literature.

Manos founded the Great Plains Restoration Council in 1999 in Fort Worth, Texas. He now recruits youth from inner city Fort Worth and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota who are victims of violence and poverty, and puts them to work restoring the prairie. His group has also halted housing developments on a southern tallgrass prairie near Fort Worth and is re-establishing a prairie dog town on a new 12,000-acre reserve in West Texas. Partnering with the Oglala Lakota people, Manos’ group has hatched a long-term project to connect prairie around Badlands National Park into a million-acre public grassland.

Manos is the father of a 14-year-old adopted son. His journey from despair to activism is recounted in his book, Ghetto Plainsman (Temba House, 2008).

10 WAYS TO GET M-FITT FAITHFUL WITH COACH MARC


 by Ken Taylor & LaMont Wheat

BBINT Magazine was thrilled to sit down with Marc Montemerlo, aka COACH MARC, to find out more about him and his highly successful career in fitness training.  Not only is Coach Marc physically fit and hot, but he’s also a Lifestyle and Fitness coach/mentor in Los Angeles.  Coach Marc founded West Hollywood’s M-FITT Fitness Academy, an academy of fitness focusing on both physical fitness AND mental fitness.

Recently, Coach Marc joined Dr. Drew’s daytime TV show “Lifechangers.”  But before that, he was already a “coach to the stars” for such Hollywood notables as Marcia Cross, Reese Witherspoon and Chris O’Donnell.  His approach is much, much more than fitness training.  Sure, he helped them improve their bodies and their physical health.  But Coach Marc goes far beyond the well-known fitness techniques we all practice at our local gym.

Coach Marc’s clients focus equally on exercising their minds.  To quote Coach Marc, “If you want to achieve real, long-lasting results, you need to tackle mental weakness as well.”

Before we got into Coach Marc’s secrets for success, we wanted to find out a bit more about his background.

BBINT:  Tell us about yourself.  How did you get into the business of fitness training?

COACH MARC:  I am a native of South Africa, and I’ve been in the fitness industry for 17 years.  In South Africa, young men are required to give 2 years of military service.  During that time, I really enjoyed the emphasis on physical fitness.  Others I met there inspired me, and I excelled.  Eventually, I became a training officer, and part of my responsibilities was to help prepare and train new recruits for battle.

The military allowed me to develop in many ways.  It was there that I acquired my discipline, my drive and self-empowerment.  I also had an aggressive nature, and developed my motivational skills.  These became the foundation for my life.

After the two years in the military, I joined Reebok South Africa, and as such was required to travel extensively in Europe and America.  I returned to South Africa as a sort of “link” between my homeland and the rest of the world.

BBINT:  With the travel you’ve done, what differences did you notice between the various countries/places that you worked in as it relates to fitness?

COACH MARC:  I’ve travelled extensively in North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Asia, and there are general differences in the approach people take to fitness and well-being.  

In America, people are much more “connected” to their cars.  And there are millions of gym-goers who visit a gym for 1 ½ hours per day, 6 or 7 days a week.

In Europe, fitness is a more seasonal activity.  In Summer, most everyone is on holiday, at the beach or traveling somewhere.  However, in winter people are more into going to the gym regularly.  Perhaps it’s the weather that keeps them inside, but it’s definitely the time when fitness booms!

In Asia, the industry is still catching up with the rest of the world.  For the last 5 years or so, they’ve been changing their attitudes, building new gyms, and creating more health environments.  Before then, it was not part of their culture.  But slowly, Western ideas are getting there and they’re generally headed to a “studio-based” health environment.

In South America, fitness is definitely “movement-based.”  There is a whole lot more dancing involved.  For example, Brazil has a fitness culture of very strong males, and Zumbas (a Latin-inspired dance-fitness program that blends red-hot international music).  All over South America, in big cities, fitness is HUGE industry, and they’re still building large fitness facilities and dance studios.

In North America, we have the best of everything.  Here, fitness is a life style that almost always includes daily routines of Pilates, dancing, swimming, yoga, etc.  Industry leaders are always creating & evolving new ideas in fitness.  I have a strong desire to be a part of that evolution, and it’s why I moved here.

BBINT:  Tell us more about the “bridge” you mentioned between physical fitness and thought or attitude.

Today, when I go to the gym, it’s not just to work out and get a bigger chest or arms or legs.  It IS that, but now it’s a much more inclusive process that I call a holistic approach.  The approach is thought-oriented.  I coach my clients to ask themselves, “What is my goal?” and “How will I achieve my goal?”  In other words, it’s a time to connect to their real complete selves, and not just the image they see in a mirror.

I ask my clients, “You have a beautiful fit body, but are you happy?”   In other words, are they miserable because they’re starving themselves to get a beautiful body?  I encourage them to seek a balance between body and mind.  They need to let go of the things in life that tend to distract them.  A good example is a cell phone.  Using a cell phone makes you look down too much.  I advise them to look UP, so that they can interact with me (and others) with their face, their mind, AND their bodies.

In summary, there are 2 things to do:  1)  disconnect from the things that distract you, and 2)  follow a plan with the help of a coach/mentor.

Here are 10 very practical ideas that Coach Marc lists to help his clients “become among the fitness faithful.”

1. Do a variety of activities you enjoy. Consider joining a running group, group fitness studio or investing in a personal trainer. Remember, there’s no rule that says you need to buy equipment or an expensive gym membership. Try changing your perception of fitness from out of the gym into functional fitness—fitness that will enhance your life.

Having a variety of activities like weightlifting, walking, boot camp classes, running, spinning, tennis, hiking and aerobics classes will ensure that you can succeed in your goal regardless of the weather or time of day.

2. Commit to another person and/or group fitness class. The social aspect of exercise is important for success, because you almost become responsible for your actions if you don’t pitch up. If you have agreed to go for a run with a friend after dinner, you won’t let them down.

If you have a boyfriend or partner, encourage them to keep you on track. Let them become involved with your fitness and goals. Make it a team effort.

3. Make exercise a priority. If you make it non-negotiable, you will succeed.

4. Exercise first thing in the morning. If you plan your workout early in the morning, nothing during the day can sabotage your workout. Too often, clients tell me they had planned a spin class at 6:30 p.m., but then got called into a meeting and had to miss the class. Also, trying to generate motivation at 9 p.m. for a workout is bound to lead to failure. For those who believe they are not morning people, think again. Change your thoughts to succeed!

5. Or exercise immediately after work. If you absolutely cannot do morning workouts, do your workouts before going home. If you go home, you will likely get occupied by other things—or worse, you’re likely to relax, and that’s an exercise killer!

6. If you are tired, use it as motivation for exercising. Make that feeling a notification to yourself that you need to get moving. The amazing thing is, you will actually feel re-energized after exercising.

7. Keep a fitness journal. Write down your workouts, how you felt before the workout and after. Chart your nutrition. Track your heart rate zones while doing cardio. The more you make yourself aware of what you are doing, the closer you will get to achieving the goal.

8. Buy a motivation outfit. Let that bikini swimsuit or favorite pair of jeans be your measure of how you are succeeding. Of course, there are other progress indicators—such as improved sleep, clearer thoughts, increased energy and greater flexibility—but compliments from friends is one of the best indicators, and who doesn’t love being able to show their results off?

9. Keep moving. When you slow down, things slow down in your life. Keep the momentum in your eating plan, train harder, ride your bike further, climb a higher mountain. Keep achieving and pushing your limits.  Keep reassessing your goals. Once you have achieved your initial goal, look for another one. Keep moving, remain inspired and live your best life today.

10. Congratulate yourself and your accomplishments. Life is about the journey and not about the destination. If you experience some setbacks in your fitness, try not to become despondent. Allow the setbacks to make you aware of where you need to make changes in your life and then go for it!

You can find out more about Coach Marc’s Fitness Academy here:

Coach Marc also has a blog at:

Listen to the full interview here: AUDIO

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

AN EASY TO MAKE FALL DESSERT YOU WILL LOVE



Tarte tatin, courtesy of Joe Pastry
When it comes to local and seasonal, the Bible was way ahead of the curve. Every fall Jews around the world mark the New Year ,and specifically its "new fruit," by eating seasonal produce such as pomegranates or apples, the latter often dipped in honey to symbolize the wish for further sweetness in the coming months. Jews also thank the tree that bore this fruit with a customary Hebrew blessing -- and then they chow down. 

To reinforce this honoring of the change of seasons and the beginning of the harvest, apple cake is customarily served -- and in Jewish tradition, "customarily" means "for centuries" -- to finish off the holiday meal. But why not change things up a little? This apple tarte tatin, adapted from Epicurious, both celebrates the season and adds a certain, well, je ne sais quoi to your holiday table. The commercial puff pastry dough this recipe calls for removes an extra step from the process without sacrificing taste or glamor. (The Jewish tradition has enough sacrificing, mais non?) 

Apple Tarte Tatin
1 frozen puff pastry sheet (from a 17 1/4 -ounce package)
¼ cup (half a stick) unsalted butter, softened
½ cup sugar

7-9 apples (Gala, Granny Smith, or your local variety), peeled, quartered lengthwise, and cored
Preheat oven to 425°F. 

Roll pastry sheet into a 101/2-inch square on a floured work surface with a floured rolling pin. Brush off excess flour and cut out a 10-inch round with a sharp knife, using a plate as a guide. Transfer round to a baking sheet and chill. 

Spread butter thickly on bottom and side of skillet and pour sugar evenly over bottom. Arrange as many apples as will fit vertically on sugar, packing them tightly in concentric circles. Apples will stick up above rim of skillet. 

Cook apples over moderately high heat, undisturbed, until juices are deep golden and bubbling, 18 to 25 minutes. (Don't worry if juices color unevenly.)
Put skillet in middle of oven over a piece of foil to catch any drips. Bake 20 minutes (apples will settle slightly), then remove from oven and lay pastry round over apples. Bake tart until pastry is browned, 20 to 25 minutes. 

Using baking mitts, transfer skillet to a rack and cool at least 10 minutes. 

Just before serving, invert a platter with lip over skillet and, using potholders to hold skillet and plate tightly together, invert tart onto platter. Replace any apples that stick to skillet. Brush any excess caramel from skillet over apples. Shake skillet gently to loosen tart before inverting to serve within thirty minutes, or let it stand, uncovered in the pan, for up to 5 hours, then reheat over moderately low heat 1 to 2 minutes to loosen caramel.
Serve with vanilla frozen yogurt or ice cream. 

For more food and reviews follow: BBINT Magazine on twitter and facebook.

Friday, September 7, 2012

OCCUPY OAKLAND PRIDE DISRUPTION AVERTED

Occupy Oakland showed up just behind the main stage at the 2012 Oakland Pride celebration on Sunday as the mic was passed from recording artist LaMont Wheat who'd just finished a performance of his hit song SKIN which represents Unity, Acceptance and love; to headliner CeCe Peniston who's know for the iconic singles "You Got to Show Me Love" and "Finally".  Occupiers showed up wearing all black with an amplifier and with music glaring.  It was unclear what their intentions where other than to be a disruption to the Pride celebration.

The main stage area was packed with celebrating attendees, on lookers and fans as the mob made their approach.  Local law enforcement kept them at bay, and their presence was made know when they breach a portion of the security fencing  at the back of the stage and law enforcement and security scramble to the penetration area to secure the breach.  CeCe kept right on singing her new single "Celebration" and within minutes the mob moved along and the show continued without issue.

LaMont Wheat and CeCe Peniston gave great performances and rocked the crowd and there is speculation of possible collaboration.  Wheat's "SKIN Project" shortly after the event posted a video of the Billboard dance music diva showing support for the SKIN project in a viral video campaign where she states "This is my SKIN."  New  music by LaMont Wheat and CeCe Peniston is available for download on iTunes and you can stay updated by following them on twitter.