Friday, December 17, 2004

Wishing every WOOOFy guy a Holly Jolly Holiday season

I really feel extra blessed this year to have met so many wonderful guys who stopped by to read my blog.

I'm hoping that everyone was informed and the subject matter got you to think about issues that face us as gay men everyday.

Our lives are not easy ones. We face discrimination, bigotry and the red voter. We get picked on because of who we are. Well we're not going away, but to the contrary, will continue our battle to win equality with straights.

A lot of us, from the blogs we write, are very pissed off about the inequality of our relationships.
Even if it takes charm and bear hugs on our part, we need to continue to win over public opinion.

I feel that when we can solve our own personal challenges, then we can demonstrate to the world that we are these cool guys, the boys next door, who keep their lawns cut, their houses clean, and contribute, on the local level, to the well being of the neighborhood where we live.
Maybe by starting at the bottom, this grass roots approach, winning converts over to our cause, might, in the long run, be the best path to follow.

Personally, I think we are unstopable. We can continue to channel our energies to make us even better lovers, better tops, better men.

I also know from a reliable source that Daddy Santa is going to be extra generous to all fuzzy guys and their admirers this year. He feels that we've had a rough year, and is going to be extra accomodating to our needs this year. So all of Daddy Santa's helpers, and you know who you are, be ready to assist him in every way you can. Make Christmas morning a very memorable, pleasurable experience for your partner. Giving is always better than receiving.

I'd like to leave you with warm wishings for everything you desire, woofy sex, and above all, big hairy muscle hugs. I love you.


Thursday, December 16, 2004

Air Kisses and Hugs NOT!!! The Village Voice Interview with Larry Kramer

You either love Larry Kramer or you despise him. Either way, he is very controversial.

Mr. Kramer sat down with Alisa Solomon of the Village Voice and fired away.

For the entire interview, check out http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0450/solomon.php

Here are some exerpts summarizing significant parts of that interview.

When asked about the November, 2004 elections and the Human Rights Campaign Fund, Larry replies that he "was appalled when (he) heard the idea dribbling out that we should pull back instead of carrying on or pressing even more". he "neer saw an organization exist so long, raise so much money, and do so little." "Their annual budget is $25 million. . . they get a lot of money from rich people in the heartland." "A good lobbyist is not an ass kisser." "Ther's a great deal of feeling that all they (HRC) do is pay to go to parties in Washington, to be on the circuit, to be seen, as if that amounts to much."

Talking about the gay ballot issues, Larry feels that it was not just gay marriage, but gay issues generally. He strongly supports gay marriage. But that might be the extent of him and HRC agreeing on anything. He blasts HRC's support of this administration's Social Security proposal.

In general, he feels that while so many of us are out of the closet, we're still invisible. "Don't (gay) people know how to speak up?"

There are several questions about ACT-UP the militant group founded by Mr. Kramer in the 1980's to get the US government involved in AIDS research. He feels that one of the great contributions of ACT UP was "articulating demands for universal health coverage." He feels that we , as a movement, should be more proactive. He feels that rich gays, while generous with their money, are safe generous, and "it's time not to play everything so safe."

Larry raises some pertinent issues. HRC is cleaning house and needs new blood to get our message across. But in my opinion, nothing is instant. We need to find openings and take measures that build upon what achievements we've already won. And that takes time. To speed all this up, perhaps some coordination and channeling of resources into a unified message, that appeals to mainstream America about fairness, would achieve success. Where the new HRC is headed, is anyone's guess.




Wednesday, December 15, 2004

"Naked Boys Singing" banned in Atlanta

Whoa, Scarlet. Them's fighting words.

The Atlanta police have shut down the local production fo "Naked Boys Singing" at the Armory bar for putting on adult entertainment without a license.

Three non-uniformed members of the license and permits unit of the Atlanta Police Department, went to the bar, observed the 8 pm show, in a room adjacent to the bar, and then issued the owner with a citation. The police unit thought it was pornographic.

Again the red states take issue with gay subjects. What was correct in a dozen or more cities where "Naked Men Singing" has played, isn't so for Atlanta.

The Atlanta mayor has also come under fire for the closure. So even in large urban areas like Atlanta, gay men are being subject to abuse. And this kind of thing can only continue.

Having a group of hunky guys with singing voices exposing themselves in a purely sensual way is in no way immoral. Nothing provocative is happening. Everyone is having a great time. So what's the big deal? No minors are seeing it. It is entertainment for adults who like guys singing in the buff. But instead, Atlanta authorities see this as a morality issue.

I guess they rather see the audience engaging in unsafe sex someplace else than being entertained by guys in the flesh. I applaud the owner for intending to defy the order and planning on continuing the production. This is a story in progress. Stay tuned for further developments.




Tuesday, December 14, 2004

The Gay Male Porn Industry ain't all the glamour you think it is

It's more about fucking and the money shot. Male porn stars aren't paid any royalties. They get this one time lump sum thousand dollar payment, hoping that the DVD somehow leads them to more lucrative pursuits beyond hustling.

Johny Rahm was one such porn star. They aren't making the big bucks. The Chi Chi La Rue's of the industry are making the big bucks and don't want to share. They pay what is the going rate in the business and leave it at that. So guys with more ambition after their career life in front of the cameras, transition to behind the camera.

Johnny was flat broke though he had dozens of titles featured at video stores and online. But he committed suidcide two weeks ago because he was destitute. More than 10 years in the business, he had been recognized as the Gay Video Guide's "Best Supporting Actor Award" in 1993 for his work in "Body Search". But the fame was short lived and didn't put any food on his table.

But that kind of work gets you stereotyped. It is a short term profession. So if you're smart, you try to capitalize on it with weekend gigs. But most aren't.

So the next time you rent some gay porn, take a moment to reflect on the guys who are providing you the pleasure. They aren't as financially secure as you are. They aren't really as lucky in life as you are. Something to think about.

Monday, December 13, 2004

Musings and Mumblings

"I bet you can squeal like a pig" Something a top daddy says when he's play rough.

"I have nipples, Greg, could you milk me?" A come-on line like I've ever heard. But only good for Gregs.

Baking cookies. You see these elves on TV baking cookies, but it ain't like that. I had this urge to bake cookies on Saturday. So I did. These are really good, melt in your mouth sugar cookies loaded with three sticks of butter, sugar, flour and lots of love. You refrigerate the dough several times, then rolling it out, then using cookier dough cutouts, make the shapes. You refrigerate one more time, then bake about 10 minutes, making sure you don't overbake.
Yummy, Yummy. And getting some spatters of cookie dough on a hairy chest and slowing licking and devouring it, it's something very heavenly. An added benefit.

"I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way." That would be my ideal man. WOOOF.

Decorating the Christmas tree. I had that pleasure this weekend as well. Getting the tree into the house is only half the battle. Putting it into the tree stand, just so, can be challenging. But it is definitely worth the effort. I like to trim lights on the tree first, then decorate it with ornaments. I got several Harley bike ornaments for the tree so naturally, they are placed first.
After another several hundred or so it seems, it's time to top the tree. I especially like that.

Hoping you guys had a great weekend, getting into playful mischief. A start of another work week is upon us. So make it happen. Big hairy muscle hugs to get your engines started. Til then.


Thursday, December 09, 2004

Skuttle Butt

Let it rip!!!

1. A belated cheer to David (Wynona) for winning, "He's a Lady". He was the favorite of almost everyone who suffered through this mess of a reality series. I do hope that a gay male porn reality series is in our future.

2. Speaking of porn, the legendary porn star, Peter Berlin, has just completed a documentary detailing his career in the 70's. Being from that era and living to tell all about it is an achievement in itself. Look for it on the gay film festival circuit this spring. This piece courtesy of Butt magazine and Fleshbot.

3. Morrissey has just released a track paying homage to the first openly gay rock star, Jobriath.
He will cover the song, "I Love a Good Fight". This should be interesting as our sulky crooner jump starts his career. Good move, dude.

4. A new film that is now shooting, "Boy Culture" sounds like a flick to see in 2005. It's about romance intwined set in a gay escort service. I wonder how many money shots will end up on the cutting room floor? At least they could show some sex on the cutting room floor.

That's all I have for now, guys. Have a great day. Big hairy muscle hugs to each of you. WOOF.

Wednesday, December 08, 2004

Joseph Hansen, pioneering Gay mystery author extraordinaire

I was deeply saddened to read the other day that Joseph Hansen had died at the age of 82.

For gay men who like to read fiction, Joseph Hansen set the standards for gay fiction. His character, Dave Brandstetter, was an insurance claims investigator, who was a tough as nails sluth in the Mickey Hammer and Philip Marlowe tradition.

Joseph created the perfect character, who was gay, but it didn't rule his life. Being gay made him a better investigator and a better man. His character, quoting The Times, "was unapologetically gat at a liberation that was really in its infacy in terms of post-Stonewall politics."

I admired Joseph Hansen for not creating a swishy character, but one with a soul and a personal life. He would "dump" on his partner the day's events, and could always fall back on his support during difficult times as he solved a particular case. The dialog was meaningful and robust. He is never annoyed as his partner nags him to retire and give up cigarettes.

He has influenced such gay mystery writers as John Morgan Wilson and Michael Nava. They both picked up on the fact that in Dave Brandstetter, Joseph created a character with a moral backbone who was a professional in the truest sense of the word.

Though the series ended in 1991 with " A Country of Old Men", I have continued to reread his works. The series started with "Fadeout" and "Early Graves" Both "Early Graves" and "A Country of Old Men" dealt with AIDS. Both are moving books and should be read for both their pure who dunnit appeal and as a chronology of AIDS at that time from the viewpoint of a middle aged gay man.

I will miss Joseph Hansen. He was an old, dear friend, though I never had the chance to meet him. I wish him all the best in his new life after death. May his body of work continue to influence new generations of gay men who enjoy reading a good mystery where the hero is an ordinary gay guy like you and me.




Tuesday, December 07, 2004

Kissing many frogs before you find your Prince Charming

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Monday, December 06, 2004

Anatomy of a Bad Gift Giver and other Yule Tide Treats

You know who they are. You probably were stuck with them for a holiday party gift exchange.

They are the ones who are homemade gift givers or worse yet, re-gifters. Some examples include stupid puzzles, clown art (UGHHH), and the sausage sample pack. They can be more pitiful ones including a toilet bowl brush, a bag of stale candy canes, and a really ugly coffee mug.

Other than having them irradicated from society, I don't know how you can combat them. It is wise just to forget about exchanging gifts period. That way, you don't lead them on or do you feel guilty supporting their habit.

On another note, just returned from a Christmas Tree farm. Cut my first live tree. It was a very pleasant experience. This way you are guaranteed a really fresh tree. If you chose to play lumberman for an hour or two, remember to wear your butchest pair of boots. I like loggers myself. Also wearing warm plaid is ok doing this. And remember once you get the "live" tree home, remember to prepare a solution of 20 mule team borax, white vinegar, liquid bleach, Karo clear syrup, hot water and a can of lemon lime soda for starters. Mix the solution and then add a little liquid Woolite. Remember to make a fresh cut before placing the tree in a large bucket. The tree should still be outdoors on a deck or patio. It will drink this solution and have plenty of liquid before you place the tree indoors in its stand. The tree should remain outdoors in this solution for a minimum of 5 days. That will be ample time for the tree to absorb the sugar and other ingredients. And remember once indoors, to water the tree and add lemon lime soda during the time it is decorated.

Daddy Santa loves a live tree when he cums to bring his special treats to good gay boys, muscle bears and muscle cubs. So be ready to give him a warm greeting and I'm sure he will be greatful for your milk and cookies and reward you in the way only Daddy Santa does best. {GRIN}

Saturday, December 04, 2004

Moans and Groans and an occasional Grunt

Moan: The continued saga of Alexander. In the "Need Wood" column, Woody Miller speculates that Alexander the Great was a jackhammering Top who only bottomed for Hephasestion. Continuing the agrument, Woody goes on to write:"No way could Alexander afford to have his "topulinity" questioned." Will have to devote an entire blog entry in the future ot "Topulinity".

Groan: Porn star Mark Dalton is behind bars. Seems that poor Mark has been keeping company with 40 other inmates in the Denton County Texas Law Enforcement Center since November 4. He had his probation revoked for a 2001 convictin for possession of a controled substance. Mark faces a 5 year prison sentence. His ass will have plenty of rides to give in order to keep that pretty face of his intact.

Moan: Reichen continues to steam up the gay press. He's featured on the hot cover of the 10percent.com 2004 holiday cover. WOOOF. Too bad he shaves his chest. He does know how to growl a lot, from what I've seen in the catalog shots.

Groan: Dishing straight wedding cuisine. Seems that caterer waiters are dishing the wedding reception food. Yea, who really likes sugary 4 tier wedding cake that is usually stale. Ugh.

Grunt: Why are bearmen continued to be misunderstood? We come in various shapes and sizes. It REALLY is a state of mind. And this hangup about fat. Sure some bearmen are burly but there are others who are musclebears and musclecubs. GROOWL.

Super sized Groan: A posting has been spreading about gay men intentially getting infected with HIV because only then, they rationalize, that they can get adequate clinical care because HIV as a disability is accepted in the medical and insurance community. God, who would ever believe that HIV positive men are perceived to be living "very healthy" These guys do need medical attention if they believe that AIDS is far less depilitating than emotional instability.

I'm through mouthing off for now. Would rather give each of you big musclebear hugs. Til later.

Friday, December 03, 2004

Tit for Tattler

Item 1. . . A belated congratulations to John Johnson, winner of the $100,000 IMG modeling contract on Manhunt. He had what it takes to win. The nude modeling hissy fit he had was pretty bad acting, but added somewhat to the suspense. Rob was runner-up. Didn't think he would win. He's a cutey pie, but would be an awesome musclecub if he put on 20 more pounds of pec muscle and grew a beard. WOOOF. Still pissed that Pablo was eliminated early on. Kevin Peake was jealous of him.

Item2. . . The creater of Queer Eye feels that Bravo ran his show into the ground by pure overexposure. He is hoping to have more control over his next franchise, "Queer Eye for the Straight Girl". QE began going down the tubes when Kyan no longer wanted to do grooming.
Now he wants to do fitness. So Jai is delegated to do something to look busy. Carson just hogs and hams up the show and it is getting tired.

Item3. . . Will be heading to a Christmas tree farm over the weekend to cut a tree for decorating.
That's always fun. Any suggestions on how to trim the tree will be greatly appreciated.

Item4. . .Remember to feed the birds. They are fun to watch around the feeder, especially when there are squirrels around. I built my own feeding station with various levels, plaza, terrace and rooftop. Doing some small part for nature feels good and has its rewards.

Item5. . .Keep up that pec work. Daddy Santa is looking for a few good men to help him during his appointed rounds. So beef it up and join him this year. Fur trimmed leather jocks and tall fur trimmed boots I hear will be the required uniform, along with a red Santa hat. WOOOF

That's all for now, guys. Keep it hot and safe.

Tit for Tattler

Item 1. . . A belated congratulations to Jon Johnson, winner of the $100,000 IMG modeling contract on Manhunt. He had what it takes to win. The nude modeling hissy fit he had was pretty bad acting, but added somewhat to the suspense. Rob was runner-up. Didn't think he would win. He's a cutey pie, but would be an awesome musclecub if he put on 20 more pounds of pec muscle and grew a beard. WOOOF. Still pissed that Pablo was eliminated early on. Kevin Peake was jealous of him.

Item2. . . The creater of Queer Eye feels that Bravo ran his show into the ground by pure overexposure. He is hoping to have more control over his next franchise, "Queer Eye for the Straight Girl". QE began going down the tubes when Kyan no longer wanted to do grooming.
Now he wants to do fitness. So Jai is delegated to do something to look busy. Carson just hogs and hams up the show and it is getting tired.

Item3. . . Will be heading to a Christmas tree farm over the weekend to cut a tree for decorating.
That's always fun. Any suggestions on how to trim the tree will be greatly appreciated.

Item4. . .Remember to feed the birds. They are fun to watch around the feeder, especially when there are squirrels around. I built my own feeding station with various levels, plaza, terrace and rooftop. Doing some small part for nature feels good and has its rewards.

Item5. . .Keep up that pec work. Daddy Santa is looking for a few good men to help during his appointed rounds. So beef it up and join him this year. Fur trimmed leather jocks and tall fur trimmed boots I hear will be the required uniform, along with a red Santa hat. WOOOF

That's all for now, guys. Keep it hot and safe.

Thursday, December 02, 2004

Practice What You Preach

Yesterday marked yet another somber observance, World AIDS Day. This is one rememberance I would prefer not to happen.

Some of us have lived through more than a decade of AIDS now. I was a pup in my early 20's and just coming out when newspaper articles and TV reports surfaced about the disease.

If only top guys would follow this simple rule, ANAL SEX = CONDOMS, then I wouldn't still be writing about this today.

Why would a top man want a bottom to be exposed to this? To live a life determined by hourly drug dosages isn't a kind of life I would wish on anyone. If we are to be legally recognized in society, we must take the initiative on ourselves to stop the spread of AIDS.

We must show the world as we as gay men, are not rectless, but responsible members of society.

Why is this so hard to accomplish? Guys have been browbeaten, seduced, influenced by the safe sex message for a decade now. But it hasn't worked. Seeing photos of skeletons and AIDS ugly side effects are now history. There is the cocktail. A guy can look buff and still be HIV +. No one but his medicine cabinet need to know his status. This is dead wrong.

So the next time any of you who read this have unprotected sex, do you really want to be part of the positive tribe? If I could pursuade you that the negative tribe is cooler, sexier, and has a lot of benefits, wouldn't you consider it?

I want to see all of you live to evolve into hot muscledaddies, musclebears and musclecubs. But you got to live to 35 to achieve this. Don't go out in a fucked up blaze of destruction. Live healthy, sexy lives. So one day, we can greet each other in hairy muscle embraces, celebrating our lives, not someoneelse's past life.

Wednesday, December 01, 2004

Remembering Leroy Aarons: Pioneering Gay Journalist

Mr Aarons was a founder and former president of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association. The group was founded in 1989 in his Piedmont CA living room. It now has 1200 members with 24 chapters in the US, Canada, and Germany.

Leroy was born to Jewish Latvian inmigrant parents and grew up in a working class neighborhood in the Bronx, NY. After graduating from Columbia University with a degree in journalism, he began his career with the New Haven Journal-Courier and by the age of 27, became the city editor.

He covered Robert Kennedy's 1968 campaign for the Washington Post, and was the reporter that informed Bobby of Dr. Martin Luther King's death. He also covered Kennedy's funeral.

He later left the Washington Post and for the next 7 years, took time off to work with minority journalists and spent some time in Isreal and was a freelance writer for Time magazine.

In 1983 he joined the Oakland Tribune and in his tenure as executive editor and senior vice president for news, the paper won a 1989 Pulitzer Prize for its photo coverage of the Loma Prieta earthquake in the San Francisco Bay area.

He left the Tribune in 1991, pursuing various projects including writing a book, "Prayers for Bobby" about a familing coping with the suicide of a gay son.

But the love of his life was the NLGJA. Young gay journalists looked up to him. He gave them "the courage to come out and also a sense of correctedness to one another that was simply moving".

In 2000, he conducted another survey of gay journalists. Now 91.5 percent of gay journalists were open in their workplace. However it also found that the day-to-day lives of gays and lesbians was still covered inadequately. How true.

I'm glad that Leroy lived to see we as gay men fighting for our right to have our relationships legally recognized. We need more Leroy's in the mass media to carry the torch and make gay issues more mainstream. By education and not scare tactics and scream headlines will our relationships be equally and legally accepted.