I'm not quite sure how I missed this in my Internet peregrination last week, nor did a a single one of my friends or contacts mention this to me either: But last weekend was National Go Topless Day. As a strong advocate for gender equality, an issue I have always held closely and passionately to my chest heart, I'm disappointed in myself for not being aware and informed about this event. This particular matter, the right to go topless in public (a right and privilege that men have held since days of yore) is an area where a vast gap still egregiously and outrageously remains in this country. But, this good, kind, and righteous organization is attempting to rectify that, I think, illegal and unjust discrepancy.
While in the civilized city of New York after a brilliant court ruling in 1992, it is in fact legal for NYC women to be topless just like their male counterparts. Nonetheless showing the same spirit that compelled Susan B Anthony, women of New York City gathered last Saturday and marched, topless, around Central Park in protest to show solidarity with their sisters trapped in unenlightened communities around the rest of the country, who lack the basic freedom to enjoy the right to feel the hot summer sun or experience a cool fall breeze against the skin, without the impediment of sweatshop sewn fabric or other shackles of modernity.
As the founder of GoTopless.org, Rael, put it: "as long as men can be topless, constitutionally women should have the same right, or men should also be forced to wear something hiding their chest." Amen, sister.
Amen and hallelujah.
Government should not be legislating our bodies, so long as it does not pose a risk to the greater society. Allowing women to be topless in the same manner that men are permitted is the only decent thing to do.
In all seriousness, it's kind of sad that in the 21st century our society is still so uptight and didactic about this sort of stuff. The human body is not a taboo, people! Come on, just watch a few National Geographic specials, Nova documentaries, or HBO's Real Sex to see what a not big deal all of this is. Okay, maybe not Real Sex. I saw this one episode once and it caused me curl up into a fetal position and made me want to die a little. So, yea, skip that HBO series.
Read more here (Gothamist link, but sorta NSFW).
NOT SAFE FOR WORK (rolling eyes, sheesh) pictures of the protest after the jump.
Ugh! It's so annoying when you just miss the subway train, especially at night when I'm heading out to get my drank and two-step on. And by that I mean, to get my party on.
But, the Party Gods were smiling down upon on me, because only a couple minutes after I had just missed the first train, another one train arrived!
I saw my fellow Bruno, Kevin (with his great wife and her friend) who I haven't seen since graduation.
Stan (hilariously tan from his vacation out West) telling a hysterical [censored] story to Kevin. Hahahah. Stan: You are my inspiration for my new feature length screenplay.
The bartenders on the rooftop is always a classy touch.
Bucket o' beer.
Kevin and Keystone beer!
[I'm sorry, I forgot your name!] is amazed by the novelty of the Natty Light.
Nate (who just returned to NYC from a pretty bad ass cross country motorcycle bike ride) and his gal. As I lifted the camera to take a candid photo of them, she reflexively hit the camera with the-arm-on-the-hip-pose which cracked us up.
Haha. Here's take two.
"Hey Michael! Here, pose with these two girls." "YES."
"That was a GOOD idea."
N triple fisting. No, not that, you perverts. I don't even know what that means. I'm referring to N maintaining a grip of three drinks simultaneously.
Chris, N, and John.
John's favorite pose. Haha.
This girl's top was very...silvery.
Haha, I'm not quite sure what Chris is doing here.
N doing a little dance while a floating hand flips him off.
Bennnn!
Kevin's wifey gives the party a thumbs up.
Michael and Nate and pizza. When I was looking at this photo today I thought, "Damn, there was pizza? I want a slice."
NO PIZZA FOR YOU!
The Pizza Dance!
More Pizza Dance!
Pizza almost all done and nothing but crust left dance!
John tries to rush me. This is the last thing a man sees before John decides to break him in half.
Powerpuff goth cheerleaders.
At Botanica. Natch. 
Broadway and Spring. 
Disputing the Swedish referee's decision during the bronze medal Tae Kwon Do match, Cuban Ángel Matos kicked the ref in the face resulting in a 