Relationships

Felicia reports on all the replies she's gotten from guys who were not the guy she regrets not getting digits from at a Davis Square restaurant, most notably from a guy who asks her out and says that among his assets is a Lexus with a GPS.

Happy Valentine's Day! Ready to meet some like-minded progressives? Then you'll want to join us for Dating While Progressive, a fun and welcoming singles party!

This Socializing for Justice event is co-hosted by the Boston chapter of the National Organization for Men Against Sexism (NOMAS-Boston), the Boston chapter of the New Leaders Council (NLC Boston), the Bisexual Resource Center, the Boston Queer Polyamorous Women's Group, and New Wave - Young Boston Feminists.

Haven't been to a Socializing for Justice event? It’s time to meet the friendly faces of the group that’s grown to over 2200 members, hosted 145+ events and fostered hundreds of connections since our founding 6+ years ago.

Cost: $5-$20 collected at the door.

(every $10 includes a raffle ticket)

Complimentary appetizers will be provided.

YES, WE MEAN YOU. Anyone who's single and/or available is invited! Attendees are all ages, races, genders, sexual orientations, levels of activism and professions. Some just moved to Boston and others were born here. We hope you see someone like yourself and meet someone you otherwise wouldn't have.

Scott Lively, the founder of Abiding Truth Ministries, goes on trial Monday at 11AM for 'crimes against humanity' in Massachusetts Federal Court.

New York Times:

The lawsuit alleges that beginning in 2002, Mr. Lively conspired with religious and political leaders in Uganda to whip up anti-gay hysteria with warnings that homosexuals would sodomize African children and corrupt their culture. The Ugandan legislature considered a bill in 2009, proposed by one of Mr. Lively’s Ugandan contacts, that would have imposed the death sentence for homosexual behavior. That bill was at first withdrawn after an outcry from the United States and European nations that are among major aid donors to Uganda, but a revised bill was reintroduced last month.

Mr. Lively is being sued by the organization Sexual Minorities Uganda under the alien tort statute, which allows foreigners to sue in American courts in situations alleging the violation of international law. The suit claims that Mr. Lively’s actions resulted in the persecution, arrest, torture and murder of homosexuals in Uganda.

Bob Lawler reports the loud booms heard from Hyde Park to Uphams Corner to South Boston around 9:30 tonight were actually "a not so private fireworks show for a very big wedding" at the Boston Harbor Hotel.

Photos | Video.

Local man seeks advice:

If one were to look for a quiet restaurant at which to break up with a woman whom one has been seeing for a while, and one is married, where might one go? Yes, yes, bad, bad. Back Bay preferred, as is someplace VERY private, quiet, out of the way, yet public enough in case things get "messy."

Via Marc Hurwitz.

Did you make a New Year's Resolution to find a new job? Make new friends? Just get out more often? Are you afraid you'll get stuck in conversations? Not know how to approach people at networking events? Join Socializing for Justice for a fast-paced, fun & interactive Skillshare on the Art of the Schmooze on September 6th, 6:00 - 8:30 PM at the NonProfit Center*, 89 South St, Boston.

Fee: $10-$20 (sliding scale) is split with the trainer.
Limited space - register ahead of time: www.sojust.org
Credit cards accepted online. Cash only at the door (if space available).
Newcomers always welcomed!

SoJust hosts events that draw progressives of all stripes that share common values but may work on different issues. We create social spaces that allow for the possibility of cross-issue connections and run a Skillshare Series, hosted by The NonProfit Center, which builds our individual capacity to make a difference in the world.

SCHEDULE
6:00-6:30 Socializing - bring your own dinner
6:30-8:30 Training and Q&A

SoJust's Co-Founder, Robbie Samuels, who is well known for his schmoozing skills, is this month's facilitator.

Art of the Schmooze

DotRat has video of a guy proposing to his girlfriend right on the floor of the home of the scorpion bowl this past weekend.

Cambridge Day has the video.

Recess for Justice is going down at the Stony Brook court right off Lamartine Street in JP on Saturday, July 28th, from 11:00AM to 2:00PM. (Exit Stony Brook T station on the Orange line, walk directly across the street to the park - we'll be on the field and in the courts right in front of you.) We’re hoping for a sunny summer day!

Bring your favorite outdoor game or check out the assortment of fun we'll have on hand: Frisbees, kickball & chalk (for 4-square!), jump rope, basketball, softball (bring a glove) and whatever other randomness we can think of. If it's hot we can run through the fountain sprinkler to cool off. Check out the photos from previous Recess for Justice events in 2007, 2008, and 2009!

RSVP at www.sojust.org - Newcomers always welcomed!

Fee: $2 cash at the event

The Times reports on today's nuptials, presided over by Gov. Patrick.

Just look in the mulch outside the apartment building.

The Massachusetts Appeals Court today gave a probate judge permission to block a Cape woman from setting up a competitor to her ex-husband's feed and grain business as part of the divorce settlement.

The ruling does not mean the woman will now have to give up the feed and grain she set up - in the same building from which her husband's concern was evicted on her request - only that the judge in the case will have the legal authority to reconsider the husband's request that she be forced to knock it off.

The husband was awarded control of the family feed and grain business in divorce proceedings in 2009. To keep the concern going, he asked the judge to block his soon-to-be ex, a veterinarian, from setting up a competing feed and grain.

The City Council today adopted new rules that will limit new City Clerk Maureen Feeney's ability to pick up some side cash by performing weddings.

City Councilor Matt O'Malley (West Roxbury) said the new rules will bring transparency to a government function and some extra money to city government. At the State House, state Rep. Marty Walz (D-Back Bay) is pushing similar legislation to limit the ability of city and town clerks to make money through weddings during business hours.

Under the new regulation, proposed by City Councilor Mike Ross (Mission Hill), any fees for weddings performed during business hours at City Hall will go into city coffers, rather than Feeney's pocket. Previously, Feeney and her predecessor, Rosaria Salerno, could keep the $15 fee for "solemnizing" a wedding.

In addition, the new regulation limits City Hall Weddings to the hours of 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 2 to 3 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays - although Ross said an "emergency provision" would let would-be spouses apply for a wedding at other times in unspecified emergency situations. But weddings performed by city officials outside City Hall during any business hours are now prohibited, although Ross added that that just means people will now get married "in this beautiful building."

Vaguest Missed Connection ever?

You: green shirt and jeans, brown kinda spiky/messy hair, nice body. Me: green dress, blonde, with a bunch of my girlfriends. I saw you checking me out, and we made eye contact once or twice, but you never came over and talked. Would love to connect! Tell me about you and tell me the name of the bar we were at.

Put the name of your favorite brand of beer in the subject line so I know you're real.

H/t Brian Smith.

Donna Halper asks:

My husband and I are about to celebrate our 25th anniversary. Can you suggest a restaurant with excellent food and romantic atmosphere?

Some answers below (first batch will take a moment to appear):

While standing in line at a local Newbury Comics, DotRat has no choice but to pipe up during the Axe-drenched mating ritual unfolding in front of him. The kids are not amused at his reference to one of the classics.

My shortstop, T. K. Skendarian, brings the romance to fifty different people yesterday.

(I was happy to be his teammate and coach before I saw this. Now I'm proud to be both.)

Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com

Sometimes, only a large sheet of paper will do.

Via Allston Rat City.

The New England Aquarium reports how one of its divers helped a New Jersey man propose to his belle in front of the ocean tank.

The Metro reports on the imminent arrival of a Web site that will let you take pictures of people on the T, then post them for everybody's amusement sober assessments. The founders of Boston T Crush, based on sites they have up in London and New York, promise it will be "complimentary" rather than "creepy" and say Bostonians are getting a special treat - ours will be the first site to devote space to the ladies.

Motion said the idea came to him and several friends during a night of drinking; and as soon as it launched, it soared.

Allison Francis explains her need to punch the stranger after enduring leers and "oooohs" and solicitations on a walk between Comm. Ave. and Brighton with her girlfriend:

I'm not exactly a placid person, but I'd never punched someone before and I believe in the merits of peace over violence. Whatever that guy said wasn't the worst thing that's been said to me by any means. I just snapped. After 23 years as a woman and ~2 years being 'out' in Allston, after having been forced to tolerate my relationships and humanity degraded on a regular basis with no option other than to keep walking, I wasn't going to take it. It's not okay how so many men behave as though they have the right to aggressively address strangers on the street because we're women, and it's not okay that we are expected to take it with a smile.

Via the Phlog.

Specifically, Rabbi Mayshe Schwartz, the matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match, find me a find, catch me a catch of JBoston.com, which instead of a series of algorithms, uses Schwartz's matchmaking skills to match up compatible people of the book. As the Washington Post quotes him:

We believe in Jews meeting Jews and having more Jews.

Despite mostly being run by people associated with the Orthodox Chabad, the J sites feature a splash page with two people who, I should be forgiven for saying so, could pass as goyische.

Happy Valentine's Day! Ready to meet some like-minded progressives? Then you'll want to join us for Dating While Progressive, a fun and welcoming singles party!

This Socializing for Justice event is co-hosted by the Bisexual Resource Center, the Boston chapter of the National Organization for Men Against Sexism (NOMAS-Boston), and the Boston chapter of the New Leaders Council (NLC Boston).

Haven't been to a Socializing for Justice event? It’s time to meet the friendly faces of the group that’s grown to over 1800 members, hosted 110+ events and fostered hundreds of connections since our founding 5+ years ago.

RSVP at http://www.sojust.org - newcomers always welcomed!
Cost: $5-$20 collected at the door.
(every $10 includes a raffle ticket)
Complimentary appetizers will be provided.

YES, WE MEAN YOU. Anyone who's single and/or available is invited! Attendees are all ages, races, genders, sexual orientations, levels of activism and professions. Some just moved to Boston and others were born here. We hope you see someone like yourself and meet someone you otherwise wouldn't have.

As always we'll help you mix and mingle - so no worries if you're new to SoJust, plus we'll have "I'M LOOKING FOR", "ASK ME ABOUT" tags and a flirty bingo ice-breaker.
Join us if you are ready to go BEYOND FRIENDS - movements are built on RELATIONSHIPS!

No, it's not when you miss the last train to Haverhill because the Orange Line was delayed. It's people realizing too late they're looking for love on the T. We eagerly await MBTA Forum, with letters that begin, "Dear MBTA Forum, I never thought I'd be writing something like this, but ..."

Daisy Razor reports on some attempted flirting on the Riverside Line today.