Sunday, December 30, 2007

Out Spotlight VI







The subject of today's Out Spotlight was suggested by LondonTB. I had never heard of Peter Tatchell until she mentioned him. And quite an interesting guy too! He's one of the founding members of OutRage!, a British queer rights, non-violent, direct action group. The group advocates the outing of public figures who hide their homosexuality and has protested the Church of England's policies on homosexuality. Tatchell was arrested for protesting at the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles for carrying a sign that read, "Charles can marry twice! Gays can't marry once!"

Tatchell has done a lot of work in Africa for gay rights. Tatchell claims he was personally responsible for the ANC's decision to give gays and lesbians protection from discrimination in the South African constitution. His in-your-face tactics have earned him some critics, however. Earlier this year, a group of African queer activists wrote him an open letter encouraging him to stay out of African LGBT issues. His group OutRage! has come under fire for their insistence on, and tactics around, outing. Tatchell is also a member of the Green Party and works on environmental and green issues. He opposed the Iraq war and believes beauty pageants oppress women. I would really love to hear from some of our UK folks on how Peter Tatchell is perceived there. He sounds quite controversial!

59 comments:

  1. I'm just about still here so I can tell you Wicked that perceptions accord with your profile exactly! He is a highly controversial figure, but the reason I mentioned him before was because of his extraordinary personal integrity and bravery which, since I am a shocking coward and equivocator myself, impresses me no end - even at the times when his actions can make me shrink a little. Balls of steel.

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  2. It really looks like Jake spent Christmas in NY, without Reese. And now she's trying to parade around with a ring on her finger. I ask you, what newly engaged couple doesn't spend Christmas together, kids or no kids?

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  3. London, Tatchell does seem really interesting. His group uses guerilla tactics to out people and they were accused of contributing to the heart attack of one of the men that his group was outing had!

    Boy, Flynet really does get the Jeese pics, don't they?

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  4. Last night, I just looked at the Reeke pics. *gag* (for the balloons and puppy dog cuteness) but didn't read the copy. Well, his morning I did, and wow...can you say sarcastic? And trust, I know from sarcastic. Every word is just dripping! Snorted so loud I woke my cat. Flynet, the official pap of Reeke, knows full well that it's all for show.

    One more thing, Jake and Reese were there for b'fast, right? Which means from about I'd say, 8 to 10:30 am. Their walking location shows no other living beings, save the dog and I'm assuming there's an owner somewhere around there, too. So, it was probably more on the side of 8ish, since this IS California and there are always people milling about. My question is this, do paps normally haunt the Santa Monica pier at b'fast time because it is known as a hot celebrity hang-out?

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  5. Flynet had the pics of Jeese in the car before their romantic weekend. Did they also have the Napa pics?

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  6. Ok there is only two reasons for this relationship to continue since

    1. Very few believe it.
    2. Very few care.
    3. It is not gonna bring one more person into a movie theatre.

    A. It is real.
    B. There has been a signed contract with money exchanged.

    I cant believe they have that close of a friendship to be doing this so I have eliminated that as a reason.

    I need a little help here is it A or is it B.

    By the way Congrats to the 16-0 pats. Man that Austin look a like QB is hot.

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  7. My question is this, do paps normally haunt the Santa Monica pier at b'fast time because it is known as a hot celebrity hang-out?

    Twasn't SM Pier. Cafe Montana, Montana Avenue, other side of town. The NICE side of Santa Monica. Where a fair amount of celebs from the Westside eat and shop. And yes, where celebs are known to skulk around.

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  8. Flynet pics:

    1) Santa Monica Pier
    2) Napa - before and during
    3) In the Car said to be coming from Reese's house, or the Gyllenhaal's depending on which site
    4) Reese and Deacon on the beach
    5) Trick-or-treating
    6) Posted Rome pics

    With the exception of the SF, LAX and the cellphone one, have there been any others since October?

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  9. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  10. But, at b'fast time do they skulk?

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  11. Researcher at Your Service, thanks! What about that video of them eating? I thought that one might have been x17.

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  12. Baloons! Puppies! Sunshine and bling all on Flynet!!

    C'mon. Even adolescent fans can't be buying this shit.

    I don't think money has exchanged hands or that it is "real" in the way normal people think of reality. It's a business decision but they seem to be enjoying themselves.

    It's interesting that Ryan's day out with the kids and Abbie was also on Flynet. Especially since he had managed to keep that completely quiet for almost a year. I can't figure out which side tipped them off. Did Ryan get to the point that he decided that he needed to let his situation leak or did Reese's team hearing all the backlash about how Ryan was the better parent for not exposing the kids to Abbie decide to let the world know that he actually did have her around the kids?

    Either way it was no accident just like this latest photoshoot.

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  13. Tom, I too am confused why they are continuing to push this given the problems for them that you listed.

    I don't believe for a second that this 'relationship' is real, after everything that we've witnessed there's just no way it can be. If it was real we wouldn't be able to predict when photos are going to appear (well done Wicked!) because they would be spontaneous and not always from the same photo agency and following an 'insider's' sighting on the same gossip website (i.e.perez).

    I guess your option B is a possiblity, but even if there was a contract in place or money exchanged, surely if something wasn't working you'd stop, wouldn't you? Surely you wouldn't want your clients to embarass themselves more than they already have? I don't know.

    The only other reason I can come up with is that they are using the showmance as a diversionary tactic. They know most people don't buy it, but as long as everyone is discussing how fake it is or analysing set up photos they are focusing on Jake and Reese, not on Jake and someone else! Even us TBers spend a lot of time talking about the showmance nowadays (this is not a criticism - it's hard not to talk about something that is shoved down your throats and so ridiculous and laughable). Ted posts a sighting of Jake and Austin in New York, a few days later we have those disgusting Rome photos. This week there was speculation that Jake spent christmas with Austin in New York and it was obvious he didn't spend it with her (just like Thanksgiving) and what should appear but photos of Reeke on a 'romantic' stroll and she's wearing some big ugly ring for people to speculate about!

    Sorry for the long rambling post!

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  14. Good morning! YAY Patriots! Yes,Tom, that Austin look-alike QB Tom Brady was looking especially hot in TV interviews yesterday! Or as Spesh likes to say, the QT QB!

    I agree with H, there's a lack of spontaneity, or something, I just can't put my finger on what it is, about this relationship. Jake seems guarded or like he's holding back in the majority of pics, which isn't like him. But of course I can't know that for sure, I'm just going by what I normally see and read in pics articles, and videos. Now, they really look like good friends who are now starting to relax in pics and enjoy each other's company - going along with the program, if maybe not so comfortable with it initially. Add that to the fact that Austin has just about dropped off the face of the earth until recently. It's sad that a beautiful relationship has to be hidden. So London sistah, I liked your word of "chasm" of unaccounted for time. I expect we'll see this sort of thing every so often. If it's true, then great, I am happy for them, and they do make a cute couple. Who could not be happy for a couple in love? But for now, there are too many things about it that just don't quite add up.

    Great post today; I wasn't familiar with Peter Tatchell and am glad to read of him. Love Amy Winehouse's soulful jazz-clubby voice. :*

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  15. NETB, until putting this song on, I had never heard Amy Winehouse sing. Her notoriety made me completely uninterested in her as a performer. She doesn't sound at all like I thought she would. I'm a bit surprised to like her.

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  16. It's the first time I ever heard her too, and she's great. Wonderful voice. I had read a little bit of all the crap written about her too, and it's unfair. She's exceptionally talented IMO.

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  17. h said

    Ted posts a sighting of Jake and Austin in New York, a few days later we have those disgusting Rome photos. This week there was speculation that Jake spent christmas with Austin in New York and it was obvious he didn't spend it with her (just like Thanksgiving) and what should appear but photos of Reeke on a 'romantic' stroll and she's wearing some big ugly ring for people to speculate about!


    Very true H. Very true. Enough said.

    I am going out to root for my Eagles to finish 8-8. Wow! What a acheivement. Plus you never know but it might be #5's last game with the birds.

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  18. I want to spend some good thoughts and prayers to the people of Pakistan right now. The country is at a virtual standstill since Bhutto's murder. May they find order from chaos and peace in the New Year.

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  19. Yes, let's do that - it's a terrible thing, what's happened there.

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  20. Just dropping by to say hello. I don't have much time to post as I'm getting ready for our new year's day party. I think I'll need another week to recover. ;)

    I'll be back tomorrow or on the 1st with my wishes for 2008.

    Take care everybody!

    P.S. Found Candy and the first season of Brothers & Sisters in my Christmas stocking! :) :) :)

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  21. I really don't have much to add about the new pics apart from the words, "so" and "awkward". Even Reese looks stiff and that's saying something. The only time they seem to loosen up is when they come upon the dog and it's the only time Jake become animated. The man is inherently animated so it's telling when it goes away.

    The shot where Reese appears to be pinning Jake to the window (lol) really caught my eye because I've seen a friend make that exact same uncertain pose as Jake. Something like that isn't choreographed, of course, Reese is simply entering into Jake's personal space without some warning, haha, but it's just interesting to see what his underlying state might be. And I should always say this is just my opinion; I'm into the body language, after all. ;)

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  22. Just drop by to wish everyone a happy new year! And hope you all had a happy christmas!

    Great post today on Peter Tatchell, he's controversial even within the gay community, indeed. A fascinating figure.

    About Reeke pics... i always try to avoid looking at them, but they are on WDW today, so I had a peek... it has a bit of that Jake&Natalie vibe this time, like they are friends and they know they are being photographed.

    I tend to think they continue this not to sell more tickets (because that didn't work), but maybe for negotiating new projects. ie. jake needs to look straight, reese needs to look desirable and has a hot man in arms etc. real professionals.

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  23. flynet added a paparazzi video of Reeke in the same breakfast pictures post.

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  24. Just viewed the pictures. Honestly cant even stand to look at them. I do think they are friends, if not lovers, so I let that console me. See nothing in the pics to make me change my mind about that. Ted said the ex date was February so we have some more time to go. I think the intent was to get through awards season. And yes, there was talk of a cool $lmil for the contract exchanging hands on ent lawyers site.

    I look mainly at Jake's face, and have yet to see the Austin "peace" that descends on it in any of the Reeke pics. I dont think that can be faked, no matter how good the actor.

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  25. I agree, guys, about the pics. I don't see that peace, either, but I do see friendship.

    Max, thanks for the song request. I love it - Amy reminds me of Chrissie Hynde with her beehive hairdo, and this song is jazz- or ska-influenced or something, I just love it. I definitely want to hear more of Amy Winehouse. :)

    Happy New Year wishes, but I'll drop in on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day for wishes as well! :*

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  26. Basking in the glow of 16 and 0.

    Yes Tommy - the QT/QB lead them to victory while still looking good. I must say this, while Tommy is very handsome he can be quite the dork sometimes. It is endearing in a odd way. But the Pats!! Woo Hoo!!!


    Back to pics and video. There is definitely no romantic vibe coming off of them. There is a friendship vibe, kind of like the friend you meet for coffee and catch up with, but not one you hang with all the time.

    You can see Jake basically doing that, kind of explaining, "and then the entire thing boiled over and I had the entire stove to clean".

    E! had predictions on because it was E! Prediction Week, this week. The psychic they asked said Jake was not ready to settle down with Reese. I guess her subscription to Star has expired.

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  27. Watch the video and tell me these two are smoking hot lovers. If they are then so are any two people who ever walked down the street together!

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  28. BLTB, if you are around, I would love your opinion of the video. I'd like to hear from other folks as well.

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  29. Well, it seems to me that Jake doesn't pay much attention to her. He walks away from Reese, she can't catch up with him.

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  30. Reese leans in, Jake moves off. She bumps him, he inches away. It's him that is keeping the distance between the two.

    Also, as they walk out of the store, it's side-by-side, not gentleman putting his lady first. Same when they are crossing the street/parking lot/whatever (there are moving vehichles of some such) There is no move to protect, no move to interject himself between loved one and possible danger. No, he just walks faster.

    Nor is there much eye contact between the two, he looks down, she straight ahead.

    Ya know, this could also have been a great oppotunity to hold hands, both had one free from coffe cup. Where were they (when Jake's wasn't gesticulating, that is) - in their pockets.

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  31. Stephanie just said on the IHJ thread of the pics that Reeke pics always take quite a while to be made available untagged and in HQ.

    Hmmm, you might start thinking that all those outings are done for the various magazines and that the pics are just taken so they can be used in the next "It's Love!" article...

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  32. This just came to me like a bolt from the blue - bear with me because it's kind of out there. What if: J&A know it's a business arrangement, but it still must sting to walk by a newstand or pickup a magazine and see your hot baby linked with someone else and kissing and bein' all lovey-dovey with them, even if you know it's not real. I wonder if J is holding back for that reason? It would be very easy for him to feign interest just a little bit more than he does, don't you think? He's an Academy Award nominated actor! But he never does. Just a thought.

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  33. ^^Ever since Rome, he never does. And even that wasn't all that. ;)

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  34. At one point you could have driven a nice family mid-size car between the two of them.

    There was definitely not a chance for a little digital dance.

    And I spy-- great observations.

    Stubborn, interesting the information about Reeke/Jeese pics.

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  35. I wonder if we will see these pics and video on any of the other major gossip websites.

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  36. Bolt --- ITA agree.

    So so true. How could it not sting. I can imagine that Jake would never want to hurt Austin, and it might be the reason for the minimal amount of PDA now.

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  37. Maybe it's gonna be jewelry rather than PDA from now on?

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  38. Just watched the video and tossing my two cents in - and I'd say it's more Mile Away Club than Mile High Club. In fairness tho, they are very, very aware of pap presence and seem uncomfortable by it, Jake even seems mildly annoyed. In one frame, they are leaving a place and they stop, and before they leave it almost looks like they are thinking "Ready? Here goes." I could imagine that J would not want to hurt A with displays of PDA when they can't do that. :(

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  39. Necklace --

    Wow! Now that actually sounds like married couple.

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  40. Good comments re the video. No love vibes there at all. As a woman I can say that one of the clearest signs that a man loves you is displaying the urge to take care of and protect you, and no sign of that here. Jake doesn't even offer to carry her shopping bag. My hubby always reaches for my shopping bags immediately when we shop together. I have noted from interviews that Jake is extremely respectful. I dont think he would hurt anyone, Austin or Reese. So he will make sure neither is made a fool of during this charade.

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  41. wicked said:

    BLTB, if you are around, I would love your opinion of the video. I'd like to hear from other folks as well.

    Oh, I would love to give my opinion on this video, wicked, thank you for asking...because, wow. Just wow. Could this be any more devoid of substance? This doesn't even communicate "they're friends" to me (though I'm sure they are), it's more like sister and brother where you're together, but there's not a lot of need to be in close with one another. This is how my own brother walks with me, lol. Him striding (he's tall as well) and me scurrying to keep up. Jake's not even striding here as he normally would, his walking is so stunted and self-aware. There's more to that than just slowing down for Reese's sake. And the wild gesticulations, normal for him, look like over-compensation here. To have something to do, to fill the space that's being so closely watched.
    To say nothing of the gaping chasm between them. A couple in love would at least be brushing up against one another or purposely/happily, accidentally bumping. They'd be like magnets, even subconsciously. Straying apart takes effort. I even bump into friends and family members in my being near them.

    If Jeese isn't in keeping with basic human behavior, then that's a major fail. The faux in the fauxmance has never been more obvious to me than it is right now.

    And I totally agree with everything little eye said. :)

    special, your "family, mid-size car" comment had me laughing out loud. Jake stumbles away so far at one point that I think an 18-wheeler would barely graze them.

    I also agree that keeping this distance for A's benefit isn't far-fetched, but I think a lot of it would be subconscious.

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  42. OT

    I just saw on the news that Benazir Bhutto's 19-year old son is going to succeed her - but it's all very complicated. He is just beautiful. I wish them all the best at this terrible time. :'(

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  43. netb said:

    In fairness tho, they are very, very aware of pap presence and seem uncomfortable by it, Jake even seems mildly annoyed.

    I thought of that, too, netb. But hey, that's when Jake should be wrapping an arm around Reese's shoulders or one of them taking the other's hand and speeding into a store or around a corner if it bothers them so much. That'd work nicely for either a true romance or a faux one. ;)

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  44. ^^I know, BLTB! He is just so physically inviting and attractive, I can't imagine why Reese isn't snuggled up against him. I felt the same way as you did about the gesticulations, too. :(

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  45. To say nothing of the gaping chasm between them. A couple in love would at least be brushing up against one another or purposely/happily, accidentally bumping. They'd be like magnets, even subconsciously. Straying apart takes effort.

    You mean like the Lakers Game(s) pics? And the Borders ones, too?

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  46. Has anyone read the comments on the ONTD post about the Reeke pictures? One poster (who I think is a J/A fan) says they have heard that Reeke are fake and another poster says they have also heard this and that they know the Nichols family, who are very private people.

    I'm taking it with a pinch of salt as usual, but it was interesting to read. I've never thought about how Austin's family would feel if J/A were open with their relationship. If what JJ said about phoning Austin's Dad regarding Baby Tile is true (I can't remember when he said he supposedly did this), that could have been a factor in current events!

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  47. little eye said:

    You mean like the Lakers Game(s) pics? And the Borders ones, too?

    Exactly. :) There's no space in the Lakers photos, even when there's physical space (and not much!) Those photos seemed like a case of Jake getting as close as he possibly could, save for that little bit he had to observe :( and Austin not moving away. ;) Jake is so intense in those photos, it's unreal. Like a loved-up puppy in a clear box, lol. (except their legs were in contact alll the way down.

    The Borders photos are a case of being together but not immediately obvious about it, unless you know what to look for. They are close, even in the ones where they are walking, with Austin taking the lead role that Jake wants him to have.

    netb, I know! lol. Jake is just so...tactile. I know I personally wouldn't be able to keep my paws off him, especially in the beginning. Even after that, he just invites touching. I guess you have to consider the personality of whoever he's with. I never understood why Kirsten wasn't more hands-on with him. She had her moments, but it just wasn't her way, I guess. Reese doesn't seem given to a lot of affection either. She even seems rather subdued with her kids, but it's just how some people are. Ultimately, you can't fake it in the long run.

    As for Jake, he obviously has to be feeling it, and he probably likes to know it'll be accepted, too. :)

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  48. I watched the video. It looks totally choreographed, the way they are walking, and talking.

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  49. Jake is actually avoiding bumping into Reese. Anyway like I needed any proof that they are a big fake. Its blindingly obvious what's going on, we just have to put up with this dance until they both realize that keeping up appearances ain't doing them any good, either in their personal lives or in their professional ones.

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  50. Go to Flynet.com and check out the section on the right called "Our Top Posts." The fourth one down is Mini Reese and Abbie Go Shopping.

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  51. The mini Reese and Abbie go shopping photos are terribly sweet and endearing. Speaking of Abbie, I just came back from the movies (where I saw "There Will be Blood") and saw a trailer for "Stop Loss," the film starring Ryan and Abbie. It doesn't look too bad at all and Joseph Gordon Levitt (the guy who looks like Heath) is also in it.

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  52. Joseph Gordon Levitt is the lovechild of Heath and Keanu Reeves!

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  53. I was just browsing Flynet and now let's just all guess who took the infamous pictures of Reese in Martha's Vineyard?

    Yes, none other than Flynet. They also had the pictures of the two cars leaving a building with the arrows saying Jake and Reese on it.

    Looks like they were the agency of choice even back then.

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  54. I didn't infer from the ONTD poster that they knew Austin's family, just that they knew [that] the family, etc.

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  55. I don't think whether the ONTD poster knows Austin's family or knows of the family was really all that relevant. I just thought it was an interesting take on things that we haven't been over loads of times before, but I guess not!

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  56. A couple in love would at least be brushing up against one another or purposely/happily, accidentally bumping.

    Just like in NY in October when JG and AN were said to be deliberately walking too close so they could bump into each other. Pictures of that for contrast would be good.

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  57. You guys are doing an amazing job of coming up with fresh posts for the blog!

    NETB, Special, and others in the Boston area - the Brattle theatre is going to be showing Zodiac. Another chance to see it on the big screen.

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