Hump Day Hot Links

Marriage Equality continues to dominate the news today, but I found a couple of other articles you might want to take a look at also.  First up, Rachel Maddow takes a look at the SCOTUS 'October Surprise', she also interviews Edie Windsor.    In other appelate court actions yesterday, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the gay marriage bans in Idaho and Nevada.  Couples have already begun marrying in Nevada, however in Idaho, the AG has filed an emergency request to recall the mandate from the 9th Circuit that would have lifted the ban on same-sex marriage in the state.  Justice Kennedy who handles emergency requests for the Ninth Circuit issued a temporary stay until 5 pm Thursday.  The court will then decide whether to issue a more permanent stay. In the meantime, gay marriages in Idaho will not be able to proceed.  Idaho officials argued that their case is narrower in scope than the other same-sex marriage cases that the Justices on Monday had refused to review.  We will see what happens there on Thursday. 

Meanwhile in Wyoming the NCLR and Wyoming Equality filed a federal lawsuit demanding immediate compliance with the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling.  The Casper Star-Tribune: Laramie County Clerk Debra Lathrop and a legal team representing same-sex couples have jointly asked the Laramie County District Court to immediately rule on when and if Lathrop can begin issuing same-sex marriage licenses.  Wyoming Unites writes: By denying review of Utah and Oklahoma’s marriage cases, SCOTUS allowed the 10th Circuit ruling striking down marriage bans in both states to stand. And because the 10th Circuit also has jurisdiction over Wyoming, we are hopeful that it is only a matter of time until the freedom to marry is law here at home too.

In other news, there was a great article over on Alternet subtitled Five new cannabis-centric studies that warrant major attention.  Medical research is finding many new combinations of cannabinoids that positively affect a number of serious maladies.  One study also showed that inhalation of the whole cannabis leaf (by joint, pipe or bong!) facilitates remission in Crohn's Disease patients.  Other issues affected by the study include Parkinson's Disease, Traumatic Brain Injury, Colo-Rectal Cancer and Opiate Withdrawal, all of which benefit from cannabinoid therapy either in pill form or ingestion by inhalation.  Isn't it about time we legalized Cannabis for medical and recreational use?  I think so, but we have a few more neanderthals to remove as stumbling blocks to progressive legislation in local, state and national offices for this to take place.

One other article I found interesting, in a televised interview with TV station La 7, a third division football player in the UK says he moonlighted as a rent boy to a dozen well known footballers: "A player named only as 'Victory' claims he has been the lover of 12 well-known top flight stars. The third-division player said that he had been paid for sex by players and that the trysts took place at the end of games in hotels and sometimes even in changing rooms....Said Victory: "I am talking about important players. Serie A players even internationals and married players. We are talking about more than just kissing. I charge 1500 euros (£1300) and the players pay up no problem."  I would suggest that there are more Gay Footballers than we are led to believe by the powers that be.  Unfortunately they would rather stay closeted and pay for their pleasure before slipping back into their 'straight persona' for the world to see.  It is a shame that institutional homophobia forces them to feel they have to be that way in order to pursue their career.

Your Midweek Musical Moment features the music of Felix Mendelssohn.  His Concerto for Two Pianos in A-Flat Major is a marvelous work beautifully performed by Love Derwinger & Roland Pöntinen at the Pianos accompanied by The Nieuw Sinfonietta Amsterdam under the baton of Lev Markiz.  You may hear the London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Claudio Abbado as they perform Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture (Fingal's Cave), Op. 26 over on my tumblr.

Finally for today, it is time for another collection of sexy, soaked super-studs in this week's edition of Wet Wednesday which you will find on display below the video.  Additional wonderful wetness can be found in Maikel Castro, Your Hottie of the Day! over on my tumblr.  Thanks for the visit, come again soon.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!