Blaine Lafreniere
Outbreaks Create Isolation
When living in Chicago years ago, I was involved on a philanthropic mission with the historical leper colony at Kalaupapa on the Hawaiian island of Molokai. What started out to be a single mission to support the final 90 leprosy patients in a community that for 150 years had been home to thousands of patients became a 15-year endeavor.
The community is still occupied by a final few residents, even though now there is a cure for the disease and the mandatory quarantine at the isolated location at Kalaupapa was lifted in 1969.
The extensive publicity and exposure of our efforts brought alarming phone calls even death threats. At the time, there was an awful leprosy racism, and after our visits, we were targeted by individuals and groups. Some made a point to avoid me in stores and gatherings because, to them, I was a heathen spreading a disease.
Opinion: It s no joke when stand-up comedy turns nasty
14 Mar, 2021 09:18 PM
4 minutes to read I didn t want to be targeted, as a gay Māori male who has had a lifetime of being mocked and laughed at, writes Aroha Awarau. Photo / Jason Oxenham I didn t want to be targeted, as a gay Māori male who has had a lifetime of being mocked and laughed at, writes Aroha Awarau. Photo / Jason Oxenham
By: Aroha Awarau
OPINION: Twenty years ago, I used to be a stand-up comedian, even appearing in a reality TV competition to find the best new comic. At the time, I was one of the few gay stand-up
Raya and the Last Dragon tops the box office for a second weekend
March 14, 2021 by:
On its second weekend, Disney s animated adventure
RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON was still flying high enough to take the top spot at the box office with an estimated
$5.5 million.
The PG-rated fable set in an Asian-inspired fantasy realm dipped by 35% from its opening last weekend, bringing it to a ten-day domestic total of $15.8 million. The movie is also available (for an extra $30 for Premier Access ) through the Disney+ streaming service.
The Disney release, which features voice work from Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Benedict Wong and Daniel Dae Kim, has also collected a worldwide total of $52.6 million.
Comedian Jeff Norris: New Jersey will be laughing soon
Jeff Norris is one talented funny dude. Jeff has performed his comedy all over the world. He s also a favorite on my variety show. As most of us were hit hard by the pandemic, Jeff experienced his successful comedy performances come to a screeching halt.
Jeff was booked solid on cruise ships all over the world, plus he had a busy schedule at clubs here in New Jersey and the Tri-state area. As the cruise ships remained in dry dock and comedy clubs closed Jeff and his talented wife Renee, who s also in comedy, experienced a major hit to the proverbial wallet.