Special Pride Section:
It's a Family Affair
I have no idea who this little girl is, but her image remains one of my all-time fave Pride pix. The photo was taken in 2008 at the Pride flag-raising event in St. Catharines. I just love her cool rainbow hat, co-ordinated perfectly with the little Pride flag she is holding. ADORABLE!!
I think what warms my heart the most about this photo is knowing that this little angel is obviously growing up in a non-judgemental environment, learning to accept everyone and appreciate their uniquenesses. Wouldn't it be great if all kids where brought up this way?
THIS JUST IN! one of our readers, Rhonda King, recognized the little sweetheart above. Her name is Olivia and that is one of her two mommies Alisha Booker holding her. Her other mommy is Stephanie Poirier. We won't bother telling you how Rhonda knew this was Alisha and Stephanie's daughter...heeheehee, But let's just say, we've got it on good authority that Rhonda's info is accurate : )
NEW VIDEO CLIP by scribbles:
PROUD MEMORIES
Enjoy this brief clip of past Pride celebrations. This short clip is a good example of just how neurotic I can get when it comes to wanting it to look and feel "just right". Although the video is 1 minute and 22 seconds long, it actually took me 4 hours to put together. Fortunately for you, it takes only mere moments to enjoy!
photo courtesy Katana as featured on Pride in Niagara facebook group
scribbles congratulates:
Charles and Nikita,
this year's reining
Mr and Miss Niagara Pride Winners
My Pussycat's Got Pride
I don't recall exactly what year the photo above of my cat J.R. was taken, but judging by his youthful looks, it was a while ago. Looks like "little" J.R. had a lot of fun playing with my rainbow flag or maybe he was just giving his daddy a big "high-five" in honour of another great Pride celebration.
Showing it's True Colours
I found this funky photo while recently Googling for animal pix. I'm not quite sure what kind of duck this is, but it certainly does look like it's getting into the Pride spirit. Way to go little ducky!
Mayor Ford Snubs Pride Parade for Campground
Well, speaking of showing your true colours, recently elected Toronto mayor Rob Ford was the first mega-city mayor who did not participate in the city's annual Pride parade. Instead, he went camping with his son, "a family tradition", as he has referred to it as. Reaction from the gay community was swift and divided. While some respected his decision, most felt Ford snubbed the annual event, which draws over a million visitors from near and far and generates much-needed revenue to the largest city in Canada.
"He certainly didn't come across as "the people's mayor"when he declined appearing in the Pride parade", said one merchant in the gay village. "This decision will come back to haunt him in the future" he added.
Another man who asked to be referred to as "Patrick", told reporters "I'm glad he didn't go, I don't like him, didn't vote for him and I think he is clearly sending a message on what he truly thinks of Pride and the community at large".
This year's Toronto's Pride parade was Sun. July 3rd.
Lovesick Cowboys
We wrap up our special Pride section with a photo that brings back so many fond memories. Taken in 2007 while celebrating Toronto Pride at Terry and Terry Lyon-Schram's place, this was the first Pride Rob and I spent together. As you can tell by the gleam in our eyes and big beaming smiles, our relationship was still in its infancy, as we had begun dating only a few months prior.
We bought the cowboy hats from a street vendor and they were such a hit we even had complete strangers asking if they could take our picture as we strolled the streets together. As all good cowboys would do, we gladly obliged their requests.
Four years later, we still have the hats and more importantly..we still have that gleam too (although it gets tarnished from time to time...LOL).
Summer Solstice
by Scott Johnson
Niagara Fall, ON
When I discovered this photo on our friend Scott Johnson's facebook page, I knew it just HAD to be included on scribbles. Taken with his new iphone during Port Dalhousie's Summer Solstice celebration, this shot is indeed "picture perfect".
Is the Bubble About to Burst for Soap Operas?
Along came Oprah, The View, Ellen and a bevy of provocative talk shows and soon the ratings for the once might soap opera began to dwindle. And with the decline in viewers, came the demise of some perennial longtime favourites.
First it was The Guiding Light, a show older than TV itself, which first debuted on radio before moving to the boob tube. Last Fall As the World Turns, another pioneer drama got the axe. Earlier this year, ABC announced that All My Children and One Life to Live will leave the air later this year. When these series stop production, only a handful of soaps will remain. General Hospital, Days of Our Lives, The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless, will soon be the last daytime dramas left.
Will these fab four also draw to an end in the near future? The Young and the Restless (cast photo seen here) still draws an average of 3.5 million loyal fans each day and has been the number one soap for 27 years. As impressive as that may sound, in its prime The Young and the Restless was seen daily by over 8.3 million viewers. That's a huge drop and one that has industry insiders wondering how much longer this genre can continue.
Demographically, daytime dramas largest market were women ages 18-49 and recent rating show that is the exact group who are saying goodbye to their once favourite shows. Today's younger women are busy, working mothers with less time to devote to the continuous storyline format of soap operas. In an effort to adapt to this growing trend, networks have made their programs available online, allowing fans to tune in on their own clock anytime they want. Writers for soaps have shortened storyline time frames and added big name stars to their casts.
Will this bring renewed interest to daytime dramas? Can the once might soap opera be brought back from the brink of death, like the absurd story lines they frequently resort to? As we once used to hear so many, many times a day...tune in tomorrow to find out.
