samhexum

Meet Eliad Cohen, the hunky model Debra Messing teamed up with to help free Israeli hostages What do Debra Messing and hunky model Eliad Cohen have in common? A passion to help free Israeli hostages, who remain captive in Gaza by the terrorist organization Hamas. Cohen, 35, was one of several Jewish celebrities who Messing, 55, teamed up with last fall in New York City to shed light on the horrific Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks that ravaged Israel, leaving many residents and visitors dead — and nearly 200 kidnapped. “I flew from Miami and I met there Debra for the first time and she was super, super sweet,” the multi-hyphenate tells Page Six in an exclusive interview, recounting his time in the Big Apple with the “Will & Grace” star, plus more notable activists. Cohen and Messing were joined by Israeli actress Noa Tishby, Israeli singer Noa Kirel and “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast host Amanda Hirsch, who took to the streets of Manhattan to hang posters with the faces of men, women and children snatched from their families, friends and homes. Also scary for Cohen is the anti-Semitism he’s seen increase on social media, where his reach is vast as he has more than 1.4 million Instagram followers. Despite any hate directed his way, though, the former Israeli Defense Forces member — also a prominent figure within the LGBTQIA+ community as a proudly out gay man — chooses to lead with love. “I’m Israeli, I’m born in Israel. I’ve been in the army for three years, so I lived this. And then people that have never even been in the Middle East, they have such a strong opinion without knowing what’s really going on,” says the nightlife aficionado. “Now, on my social media, all my campaigning and the focus is on the hostages and about spreading love,” he continues, observing the ongoing divisiveness between those who support Israel and those who support Palestine — where Hamas wields power even if the country’s citizens don’t agree with their governing. “I’m posting that you can love Palestinians without hating Israelis, and you can love Israelis without hating Palestinians.” This theme of unity is reflected in his recently released single, “In Common” — a sparkling melodic house cover of Alicia Keys’ anthemic 2016 hit — on which the newly minted DJ collaborated with pop songstress Nikki Valentine. He notes, however, that the track was recorded before the sociopolitical unrest in the Middle East began unspooling last year. “I worked on it, like, six months ago before all the new reality that we are living in started. But yeah, we have a lot in common. Wherever you are, wherever you live, we have a lot in common,” he explains. “For me, the most important thing is the lyrics and one of the most beautiful things about this song is [its message of] how we are all imperfect, we are all messed up.” https://pagesix.com/2024/02/20/celebrity-news/meet-eliad-cohen-the-model-debra-messing-teamed-up-with-to-free-israeli-hostages/?_gl=1*83ltbu*_ga*MTQ1ODcxMDMxOS4xNjIzMjIzODk2*_ga_0DZ7LHF5PZ*MTcwODQ5MTkyNi4xMjEuMC4xNzA4NDkxOTI2LjAuMC4w&_ga=2.163619642.448283782.1706599527-1458710319.1623223896

In college I knew a Sara Giron from the Bronx.

Kilt-wearing shopper seen stuffing antiques up his butt and then placing them back on shelves Maybe they were 16th century dildoes. Maybe he needed to check the fit, but no dressing room was available.

I love a good pun.

Genetically modified banana resistant to Panama disease given approval for Australian consumption In short: Scientists have used a gene from a wild banana that is almost immune to TR4 and placed it in a Cavendish variety. The genetically modified banana has been developed as an industry back-up in case Panama TR4 breaks out, but will not replace the Cavendish variety. What’s next? Scientists hope to use gene editing to develop other disease-resistant and climate-smart varieties to future-proof the banana industry. A genetically-modified (GM) banana is a step closer to commercial reality as Queensland scientists gain regulatory approval to release a GM variety of Cavendish banana for human consumption. Scientists say the QCAV-4 variety is the world’s first genetically modified banana and will be the first GM fruit approved by the federal government for growing in Australia. But it is unlikely to end up on your toast or in your smoothie any time soon. While scientists say they will be safe to eat, the GM variety will be considered a “back-up option” in the fight against Panama Tropical Race 4 (TR4), as it is nearly immune to the disease. Panama TR4 is a fungal disease that starves banana trees of nutrients, eventually killing the plant. There is currently no treatment or cure and, because the disease lives in soil, infected areas can no longer grow most banana types, including the popular cavendish variety. “We welcome this decision as it’s a very important step towards building a safety net for the world’s Cavendish bananas from TR4, which has impacted many parts of the world already [including Australia] ,” said Professor James Dale, leader of the banana biotechnology program at the Queensland University of Technology. “About 95 per cent of Australia’s bananas are grown in Queensland, and Cavendish banana accounts for 97 per cent of production.” Most bananas are grown in Queensland’s Far North around the Atherton Tablelands, Innisfail and in the Tully Valley. Panama TR4 was first recorded in the Tully Valley in 2015 and, while the movement of the disease has been restricted to eight affected properties, recent floods have raised concerns about the potential for further spread. Are GM bananas safe? Scientists discovered a gene that is nearly immune to Panama TR4 in a banana called Musa acuminata ssp malaccensis, a wild banana that occurs in a number of parts of south-east Asia, and create a variety of Cavendish that included that gene. “We have moved a banana gene from one banana to another,” said Professor Dale. “There’s nothing scary. The gene was already present in Cavendish … it just doesn’t work so we have put in a version that works.” He said Panama disease TR4 was “fairly well under control” in Australia and biosecurity arrangements were “really limiting it’s spread”. “However, that may change so this is really our safety net,” Professor Dale said. “Cavendish bananas are not going to disappear [but] this banana is ready to go though, if TR4 really gets going and starts to really hurt our industry.” What happens next? Following more than seven years of field trials in the Northern Territory, QCAV-4 bananas will now be tested in Queensland paddocks. Professor Dale said his team would also turn its attention to developing a gene-edited version of the QCAV-4 that was resistant to other diseases. “Gene editing provides far less concern, particularly to regulators and to consumers, so that’s the next stage, a gene-edited version,” he said. “The biggest disease other than TR4 in the world is black sigatoka … a leaf-infecting fungus. “In Australia, we’re very lucky. We have a milder version of that. But in some countries, particularly in Central America, they spray up to 60 times a year to try to control this fungus. “So we want to develop not only a TR4 resistant Cavendish by editing, but also sigatoka resistance as well.” Professor Dale said gene editing will help future-proof food like bananas by allowing scientists to create varieties that can handle different threats and conditions. “We’re going to need these sorts of technologies to cut down on pesticides, but also as we’re getting into a much more challenging climate, we’ve got to be able to generate new cultivars that are able to cope with all these new conditions,” he said. “Because of the technologies we have available … we can also add, as we have in in one of our projects in Africa, increased nutrient content, particularly nutritional values. “This will be really important for the fruit industry and the banana industry.” https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-16/australia-approves-first-genetically-modified-banana-panama-tr4/103476986

New dispensary in LIC pays homage to NYC Subway NYC Bud, Long Island City’s first legal adult-use cannabis dispensary, opened its Instagram-worthy store on Friday at 44-45 Vernon Blvd. The store’s design pays homage to the NYC subway, and no attention to detail was spared to create an MTA transit-themed store. A green railing fence leads to the store, complete with “subwayish” signage and lighting globe. Upon entering, customers are greeted by “Tokin” booth 420 -the number pays tribute to “Weed Day” on 4/20. The interior is a throwback to an MTA subway station from yesteryear, complete with graffiti from classic ’80s artists, a vintage subway bench, and a graffiti-covered life-sized subway car with moving doors. The ATMs resemble MTA vending machines, and the pick-up counter is designed like an old-fashioned subway newsstand. And since a subway station wouldn’t be complete without its house resident, the rat, interdisciplinary theatre artist Jonothon Lyons, AKA “Buddy the Rat,” entertained the crowd on opening day, complementing the subway atmosphere without the yuck factor. Co-owner Jonpaul Pezzo told Queens Courier that he and his co-owners are “old school” New York, and the design pays homage to the city they grew up in. “We’re from that era before cell phones, you know when you rode the subways, that was hanging out, you went to the parks, you did the graffiti and did the drinking,” Pezzo said. “I’m stuck in the past. I listen to old-school music, old-school hip-hop, old-school house, so we just went with that vibe. We’re old; touch on the most iconic thing in New York, which is the subway system.” Pezzo explained that they cut up an old bus and refurbished the steel to build the subway car. “We did a lot of research. We went to the Transit Museum, looked at all the old trains; we got it down to the advertising slipping in here for each brand,” Pezzo said. Pezzo admitted it was a long and difficult road because of the lawsuits and injunctions. “We were in a very unique position that our rent wasn’t that high,” Pezzo said. “Our landlord worked with us and gave us a few months to build out. So we were cutting it close to the edge, and we were really down to fumes in the pockets, but we made it here.” The one-of-a-kind dispensary will surely become a destination for content creators and ganja aficionados alike. NYC Bud offers a wide variety of cannabis products ranging from flowers, pre-rolls, and vapes to edibles and tinctures from New York state cannabis growers. Cannabis purveyors Noomi Rana and Zion Voss established their company Zizzle in 2020 and grow their product at their farm in Ithaca. Per Voss, Zizzle’s slogan is “New York’s original Cannabis Company.” The company started with CBD pre-rolls and transitioned to THC pre-rolls and flowers. “We’ve been chasing this dream for many, many years,” the Queens native said. “And we’re making it happen here in the communities of New York City and supplying soft genetics and clean, safe cannabis to all of the consumers. And we’re proud to be doing so.” Voss described NYC Bud’s interior design as revolutionary. The ATM machines resemble MTA vending machines. “I think that [NYC Bud] is one of the most creative dispensaries and innovative ideas,” Voss said. “I think they’re breaking through with customer experience. I think something in terms of even tourism plays a factor when you come into a dispensary like this.” The checkout counter at NYC Bud subway-themed cannabis dispensary resembles a subway newsstand. New cannabis dispensary in Long Island City pays homage to NYC Subway - LIC Post LICPOST.COM NYC Bud, Long Island City's first legal adult-use cannabis dispensary, opened its Instagram-worthy store on Friday at...

Okay, I did a REAL double-take when I saw this headline... Blanche Devereaux's daughter (and teen-aged Darlene Connor's adult friend, whom Roseanne didn't realize was also the woman who'd bought her washer and dryer) had an affair with Rock Hudson?!?!?! I never would've guessed! Vince's ball-busting mom?!?!?!? I never would've guessed! OH~~You mean there were TWO Lee Garlingtons?!?!? Lee Garlington, Whom the Late Rock Hudson Once Called His 'True Love,' Dead at 86: He ‘Was One-of-a-Kind’ Lee Garlington, Whom the Late Rock Hudson Once Called His 'True Love,' Dead at 86: He ‘Was One-of-a-Kind’ WWW.AOL.COM "I would like him to be remembered as the love of many people's lives, but most notably mine and Rock...

Dear Abby: For nearly three years, I have been seeing a man who later asked me to move in with him. He abruptly stopped emailing me four months ago. I waited several weeks and then emailed him, telling him how upset and hurt I was and asking what was going on. I found out — NOT from him — that he has been in a relationship with another woman for the last five years. I am furious! I am at a loss about what I should do. — Shattered in Oregon Dear Shattered MORON: The man may have abruptly stopped communicating with you because the woman he has been involved with found out about the romance he was having with you. Have you heard from him since? (If not, she may have rendered him speechless.) It’s important you find a way to discharge some of your righteous anger. Believe it or not, physical exercise can help. Talking to friends or a therapist may also lessen the urge to explode. Learn whatever lesson there is to learn from this and move on. Do NOT let it rule your life. Everyone makes mistakes, and he was one. MARRY THE MAN, BECAUSE IF YOU’RE SO STUPID YOU HAVE TO WRITE ME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO HERE, YOU DESERVE WHATEVER HAPPENS. .Dear Abby: What’s the best way to deal with an “overgifter”? My friend of 10 years is one, often giving gifts beyond holidays and birthdays. Every time we hang out, she gives me something, either food or small trinkets. I asked her three years ago to tone it down. Two years ago, I sent her a letter saying I value our friendship and, for me, the best gift is quality time. She stopped for a while, but six months ago, she started up again. Abby, I throw away all her gifts. They are usually stale or expired foodstuffs or trinkets I don’t have the space to store. I’m trying to find a way to make my boundaries clear. But I don’t want to hurt her feelings in the process. — Too Much in Washington Dear Too Much: Because your friend may have forgotten, remind her that you do not want her giving these gifts and that the most treasured gift she can give you is time with her. Explain that her continuing to do it is making you UNCOMFORTABLE. Then cross your fingers and hope that this time she gets the message. If she doesn’t, you will have to remind her yet again. ASK YOUR FRIEND IF SHE COULD PLEASE BUY YOU SOME GARBAGE BAGS TO THROW AWAY ALL THE LOVELY GIFTS SHE GIVES YOU. Dear Abby: Without consulting me, my husband gave my father’s U.S. Army uniform to my brother complete with honor patches. My sister-in-law now wears it as a fashion statement, saying that she is a “Sullivan.” This is not sitting well with me. She is only a Sullivan by marriage. I feel it is disgraceful to prance around in something you haven’t earned, and it’s insulting not just to my late father, but to all who have served. Her father also served, but she isn’t wearing his uniform. — Disrespected in the Midwest Dear Disrespected: Your husband should not have given YOUR brother the uniform without first consulting you because it wasn’t his property to give. KILL THE BASTARD! What your SIL is doing with it seems less like a fashion statement and more like an example of “stolen valor,” which may be offensive to many people, particularly those who have served. KILL THE BITCH! It is not a crime by virtue of the fact that she isn’t impersonating a soldier. But it would be in better taste for her to wear her own father’s uniform rather than your dad’s. TELL YOUR BROTHER IF THE BITCH KEEPS WEARING IT, YOU’LL BE WEARING A NEW UNIFORM; A LOVELY ORANGE ONE FOR KILLING HER.

An Olympic equestrian may have jeopardized his spot at the 2024 Paris Games after he wore a Borat-like “mankini” during a recent event. Shane Rose, a three-time Olympic medalist for Australia, has been sidelined by Equestrian Australia for wearing the outfit during a showjumping fancy dress event at the Wallaby Hill Extravaganza last Sunday. Rose, 50, posted a photo of himself in the attire on Instagram along with him in a gorilla suit and a beer costume. He later apologized as he faces a review from Equestrian Australia, the country’s governing body for equestrian, and Sports Integrity Australia. Darren Gocher, chief executive of Equestrian Australia, told the Sydney Morning Herald that complaints were made over Rose’s outfit, along with the fact minors were in attendance. “There were concerns raised about it. Whether it is one [complaint] or 1,000, we have an obligation to review it,” Gocher told the Sydney Morning Herald. “We received a letter with concerns and it was also sent to Sports Integrity Australia and the ASC (Australian Sports Commission) and we have an obligation under our code of conduct to review, if that happens. “He hasn’t been sanctioned, he hasn’t been suspended. He has been stood down from competition while we review and we have committed to getting the review done this week.” Rose captured silver at the 2008 and 2020 Olympics in Beijing and Tokyo, respectively, and bronze at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, all in team eventing. The selections for the Olympic team will be revealed in June. A suspension would seemingly hurt Rose’s chances of competing at another Olympics. Equestrian Australia will begin reviewing the incident Monday, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. “My phone went nuts [after the event] with people laughing and things. But I have been told there was one lady, and I think the words were she showed concern, not a formal complaint,” Rose told the Morning Herald. “With a bit of luck this will all be a bit of a laugh in a few days and we can all move on. I wore a costume which you could see at a theme park or a beach, potentially no one has done it on [a] horse, but there you go. “I think I am a good person and I do a lot for the sport, and for people in different situations. I don’t feel like I have done anything particularly bad. In hindsight, I should have re-thought what I did but at the time I thought it was just a bit of fun. Hopefully in a couple of days we can all move on and it will be behind us.” Rose initially apologized “to anyone that I offended” in a Facebook post that has since been deleted, noting in a different post on Saturday that he removed it because “It is not my intention to have this issue escalated any more.” https://nypost.com/2024/02/18/sports/olympic-equestrian-medalist-shane-rose-sidelined-for-wearing-mankini/ A rose by any other name would smell as sweet...

Free DieHard Car Battery at Advanced Auto Parts "On National Battery Day, Sunday, Feb. 18, Advance will surprise randomly selected customers with a free DieHard® battery, including those getting their current battery tested, at participating stores nationwide. As part of National Battery Day, Advance is partnering with pro football star quarterback Baker Mayfield to encourage motorists to get their car batteries tested."

Mom runs over 7-year-old son with car after forcing him to walk from school as punishment The walking home part? MAYBE acceptable punishment. Running him over? DEFINITELY excessive!

The unluck of the draw. A Powerball player claims he was denied a life-changing jackpot worth $340 million despite his numbers matching the lottery’s website last year, which the company claims was a “mistake.” Now, he’s suing Powerball and the DC Lottery John Cheeks bought a Powerball ticket on Jan. 6, 2023, when the jackpot rose to the $340 million prize, according to a complaint filed last November. Cheeks, who told NBC 4 he purchased the ticket using his family birthdates, missed the live drawing on Jan. 7, but wasn’t in a rush to check his numbers since the odds of winning a Powerball jackpot is about 1 in 292.2 million. He claimed he checked the DC Lottery’s website the following day and saw his winning numbers, believing he had become the year’s first multimillionaire. “I just politely called a friend. I took a picture as he recommended, and that was it. I went to sleep,” Cheeks told the outlet. For three days, the DC Lottery website showed his ticket numbers, according to the complaint. The numbers posted on the website, however, differed from those pulled during the live Powerball broadcast. He tried to redeem the ticket at a licensed retailer on Jan. 10 and discovered none of his numbers matched up to what was drawn live. Cheeks claimed he then went to the DC Office of Lottery and Gaming prize center to check with them, but again, he was told he was not the winner. “’Hey, this ticket is no good. Just throw it in the trash can,’” Cheeks recalled to the outlet. “And I gave him a stern look. I said, ‘In the trash can?’ ‘Oh yeah, just throw it away. You’re not gonna get paid. There’s a trash can right there.’” Cheeks has since placed the ticket in a safety deposit box. Cheek’s attorney, Richard Evans, said his client was eventually informed by a lottery contractor that Taoti Enterprises — a DC-based digital advertising agency that manages the DC Lottery’s website — made a “mistake” and posted the wrong numbers. “They have said that one of their contractors made a mistake,” Evans told NBC 4. “I haven’t seen the evidence to support that yet.” Despite Cheeks not having the correct numbers of the live drawing, Evan feels that something needs to be done for his client. “Even if a mistake was made, the question becomes: What do you do about that?” The jackpot eventually grew to $754.6 million before a ticketholder in Washington claimed the prize on Feb. 6. In Nov. 2023, Iowa lottery officials blamed “human reporting error” for posting the incorrect numbers, which remained on its website for over six hours. Those who were up and cashed their tickets were able to claim their prize, which ranged from $4 to $200, according to Fox 9. He'd have a better claim if he'd quit his job or spent extravagantly in those 3 days.

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Women's league proves it has chance at success In Toronto on Friday, 19,285 fans set all-time attendance record for women’s hockey.

Ah those folksy stories they told as they played chess on balmy summer nights...

2 Queens College School of Music faculty members bring home Grammy awards New interactive street art “Lights Up” downtown Jamaica The Downtown Jamaica Partnership launched three free new interactive street art installations in the heart of downtown Jamaica. The temporary installment dubbed the ‘‘Light Lane ” features colorful lights and music that emits from the three stationary bikes that make up the installments. Interested in taking a ride? The installations can be found at the 165th street mall on Jamaica Avenue and Union Hall street outside of the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, and also at the Parsons Boulevard Plaza located between Jamaica and Archer Avenues. The exhibit runs until Mid-March.

@WilliamM's reaction to this was 'so... what?'