Happy New Year!

Last year I was here.

Rio de Janeiro

This year I am here.

NYC

But wherever you may find yourself tonight,

Paris

be careful,

Sydney

drink champagne,

London

and have fun!

Gayz go global

Global Gayz

Go global, boys! I ran across this site, and although not sleek, it is a fun and incredibly detailed resource for gays about gays and gay life worldwide with lots of beautiful pictures (mainly tourist genre) and tons of articles and links.

The cock crows

cockoholick

It's such a small world. In my blog surfing today, I ended up at cockoholick. I hadn't visited it before, but noticed two posts there highlighted from my blog. One was the letter I submitted to the editor of the Los Angeles Times in regards to the article about gay men taking AIDS medications as a foolhardy, preemptive cure-all party drug. What they think they are getting is a carte blanche "get-out-of-jail-free" card to fuck mindlessly without condoms. What they are in fact getting is nada. This does not work. What these thoughtless dumb-asses are doing is creating drug resistant strains of the AIDS virus. My letter to the editor reflected my astonishment and anger over those in my community that are so mindless and selfishly self-centered(yes, that self-centered), that they live to fuck knowing that it's on a trajectory for death - and they don't care who they take with them.
I must admit that my letter was not fleshed out enough and left some gaps that better, more concise writing might have clarified. Case in point - the following comment to that post on cockoholick:

Pete said...

I don´t agree with this analysis at all. I mean, if a straight guy has a lot of sex with different women no one would never ever consider him self-hating. So why should it be so with a gay man? This sounds suspiciously like rationalized envy to me...

A couple of things struck me.

1. He has a point.
2. He missed mine.
   

His points are valid, but I did close the letter by saying that the same position I took on that article (not gays in general, but a specific behavior) could be applied to straights. To clarify, I think that sort of behavior is indicitave of a lack of care for one's whole self, and others. I believe it belies a deep core of fear and self-loathing brought on and exacerbated by, I strongly believe, an entire world that tells us we are not valuable and that we should hate ourselves. I believe that the gay boys out there who are abusing life-saving meds for selfish means to a careless, mindless fuck are criminalizing our sexuality, demoralizing our community, and finally, damning all of us.

So in the end, Pete, unfortunately, missed my point. HOWEVER, Pete, you hit on something that's been stirring around my gray matter since last night when I blogged about Larry Kramer's Cooper Union speech. I read all the comments on Andy's post (he posted Kramer's entire speech) and saw that some people took great offense to Kramer and see him as a histrionic dinosaur. I think they are wrong. Like I said before, AIDS ain't slowing down(40+ million currently infected, almost 5 million new infections and 3+ million deaths worldwide this year), yet the band plays on.
I know how the gay boys in NYC think. I am one of them since 1993 when I moved here and came out. I have done lots of things I shouldn't have (but enjoyed) and have thankfully escaped with my life. When men my age and older get hooked on Tina and fuck themselves to death, there is something wrong with us. Something is missing. No one is flying the plane.
Okay, enough. I hate to start preaching... too much, but come on y'all. It simply defies reason. Rationale has flown out the door and we are paying with our lives.

AND NOW FINALLY:

I wonder if I am, in fact, envious (as Pete said) of all those hedonistic gay boys who fly through life, careening out of control like shooting stars, soon to burn out and then be gone like a vapor. You bet. Who doesn't want to party like a rock star? Anyone who says that unihibited, anonymous, wild and endless sex is not fun is full of shit. It is abso-damn-lutely fun. I've done it. And, thankfully, thus far, survived. I am fortunate, however, to have found love and commitment, but all these things are choices. I choose to love. I choose to commit. Let no one kid you, it is a more difficult choice, but the payoff is worth it. Sometimes it's hard because the jungle always pulses and the sirens always call. But at the end of the day, I remember myself. I know what will bring me ultimate satisfaction. I finally know what is best for me. I just hope some of my gay brothers - older and younger - will remember themselves before it's too late.

Boys-n-Boats

Two of my favorite things - boys and boats - in François Rousseau's beautiful photography.

Young Sea

THE SEA is never still.
It pounds on the shore
Restless as a young heart,
Hunting.
The sea speaks	5
And only the stormy hearts
Know what it says:
It is the face
of a rough mother speaking.
The sea is young.	10
One storm cleans all the hoar
And loosens the age of it.
I hear it laughing, reckless.
They love the sea,
Men who ride on it	15
And know they will die
Under the salt of it
Let only the young come,
Says the sea.
Let them kiss my face	20
And hear me.
I am the last word
And I tell
Where storms and stars come from. - Carl Sandburg, Chicago Poems, 1916

Take 5

Photo: "Manscape" copyright Tom Clark

Okay. After all these heavy posts, take a breather and enjoy what we all enjoy - the male form. There's certainly nothing wrong with that. After all, as I told my boyfriend today as I wiped his cum off of my face, "Baby, I'm a cock whore and I love to worship your cock."

This beautiful sequence reminds me of a photo session I did with my friend, Alison, the Australian filmmaker, several years ago. We were up near Lake Placid, NY during the summer and somehow we ended up in the river with me naked and her with a camera. The photos were exquisite. I had river rocks in my mouth, bank grasses in my ass, and snuggled every boulder in the river. I froze my dick off, though. River water from the mountains is cold year 'round.

Choose Life

A few weeks ago, my recently former roommate and close-as-a-sister friend, sat with her dying brother in a hospital while I was moving into my new loft. Turns out he's been HIV+ for seven years without telling anyone, without treating it, and living like he wasn't. He almost died, but got better on the meds. He's now back in his home in Madrid with his boyfriend. I wonder how they are handling it. He is still in denial and doesn't want to discuss it. He's a fool. I once had a boyfriend for two years before I discovered by accident that he was poz. I escaped without being infected, thank God. I once dated a guy who revealed that he was poz - after we had sex! He said I looked like I knew. I didn't, but did escape infection. I'm pretty safe, but more lucky, I think.
I ran across a responsible poz guy's blog (AcidReflux). He responds to the LA Times article I felt compelled to post about.

Tenofovir

“You want to kill yourself. Go ahead kill yourself. I’m sorry. It takes hard work to behave like an adult. It takes discipline. You want it to be simple. It isn’t simple. Yes it is. Grow Up. Behave responsibly. Fight for your rights. Take care of yourself and each other. These are the answers. It takes courage to live. Are you living? Not that I can see.
No one likes to be told to grow up. It’s insulting. But these are always the answers. They will always be the answers. The only answers. There will never be any other answers. Be proud of yourself. Be proud you are gay.” - Larry Kramer

Put a little more fire under your butt for 2006. READ Larry Kramer's "Cooper Union speech" on Towleroad.

And as I sit here, looking at my beautiful boyfriend sleep like an angel and say out loud, "I love you" and hope he dreams it, I say to you, "Choose Life," and hope you dream it, embrace it, live it.

And a final word from Larry:

"It’s so wonderful being a gay person. I said that before. I’m going to say it again. I love being gay. And I love gay people. I think we’re better than other people. I really do. I think we’re smarter and more talented and more aware and I do, I do, I totally do. And I think we’re more tuned in to what’s happening, tuned into the moment, tuned into our emotions, and other people’s emotions, and we’re better friends. I really do think all of these things. And I try not to forget them."

The KKK opposes gay marriage

"We don't believe they have the right to marry"
"In fact, we don't think they have the right to exist."

READ more.

Finally the Christian-right can feel vindicated in its self-righteousness. With a legit heavy like the KKK on their side, they're officially validated, wouldn't you say? (For my real feelings, READ this past post).

I tremble for my country when I remember that God is just.
-Thomas Jefferson.
If you injure a harmless person, the evil will fall back upon you like light dust thrown against the Wind .
-Buddhist Proverb.

In Depth interview

image: ross watson

To learn more about me, READ an interview with yours truly on BestGayBlogs.

A Year of Living Dangerously

Chris Crain
Exec. Ed. of Washington Blade after a hate crime attack in Amsterdam

As we near the end of 2005, read Chris Crain's blog entry, A year of living dangerously for some perspective on where we are.

Featured blogmate 18+: Todoscurtem

Everybody Enjoys

This guy from Brazil has a simple little blog that has to have a diesel engine to handle all the visitors it gets. It's definitely the little engine that could. There isn't too much to tell you about, other than "todoscurtem" means "everybody enjoys." If a picture is worth a thousand words, then let this one do all the talking.

To the bitch in 5F

Half the time, you don't even SMELL like a girl! You're either sweaty, or you stink of fish! - Nellie Olsen

The bitch in 5F

I got back from my holiday trip tonight and my flight back was uneventful EXCEPT for the gay bitch queen sitting right in front of me. How come in public it's always the gay boy that has to be the bitch?
As soon as we took off, his seat went back as far and as fast as it could go. He pinned my legs together into the back of his seat because my legs were crossed. I said, "wait, wait," but he didn't. I got my legs undone without caring if I bumped and jiggled his seat. He never responded; simply nestled into his seat and leaned back. At this point, I had no idea the guy was a queen bitch. The back of his head looked like any other head. The rest of the flight, I adjusted myself and my legs without regard to the guy in front of me since he had no regard for me. He just sat there with the crown of his head under my nose and his back in my knees. As we approached New York, he sat up - much to my relief - and as we deplaned, I clocked this little bitch. The super neat, yet au courant fashion, pinched nose, bored eyes, finch-like bird movements. Puh-lease. I wanted to slap the little biddy.
So, again, how come it's always got to be the gay boy that has to be the bitch?

He knows we know he knows we know

Ricky Martin spends time at the beach with a friend. Gorgeous.

via ohlala

But don't just sit and stare. LOOK at what good he does.

UPDATE: Sources say it's either his brother, Eric, or a personal trainer.

God is Brazilian

A much better choice than "God is American," don't you think? And, I've got a Brazilian god waiting for me at home. Hallelujah!
I think this will be my summer 2006 look. It reminds me of Rio. Me like. Get BUTCH.

SEE the full collection.

Home Alone

Christmas is traditionally a time for family and fun, but can also rank as a high time of stress. For dating couples, meeting the family of one partner can be nothing short of traumatic (e.g. "Meet the Fockers"), and for married couples, one partner's family issues can dampen the joy of the holidays. But all this being said, it is still a time when couples want to be together and being together can make the time more enjoyable, or bearable. For many gay couples, the holidays can be especially trying. In addition to all of the "normal" stresses that occur, there is the added stress of not being able to be together. Why? I think most everyone knows that for a majority of families, even if they acknowledge and "accept" a gay child, that acceptance comes with conditions. I don't personally know of any gay friends who are freely able to bring home a boyfriend or partner. I, too, am one of those people.
My family situation, since I came out at age 23, can be best described as "don't ask, don't tell." In some ways, I am grateful that I don't have to pretend and lie about girlfriends and am still able to have fun with my family. In other ways, it is still painful because it feels like I came out of the closet and then went back in. I suppose it's not all my family's fault. By this I mean that I have allowed us to remain in this blind waltz. I was always grateful to not be one of those countless gays whose families disowned them. But as I get older and more mature, the disparity between my reality, and the reality of, say, my married sister, is beginning to feel too tight and uncomfortable - like a pair of D&G jeans after a big meal.
It seriously is a problem, though. I am sad to have left my boyfriend behind to fend for himself - and his family is in Brazil. We both feel a bit sad that we cannot be together, and I feel cheated that I cannot bring him with me. For the time being, this will be something we have to deal with - our cross to bear. And I'm not ready, nor do I have the slightest idea of how, to negotiate a readjustment of my family structure - because that is what it will be. The very cornerstone of my parents beliefs would be shaken to the ground if they had to consider accepting me and my partner as a couple. They are of the "love the sinner, hate the sin" ilk. Well, I think they feel that way about the rest of the population, but with me, I think they just prefer to pretend it's not true. My dad has recently started saying that I need to find a good woman. Yep. They definitely have suspended disbelief and are living in a fantasy all their own.
I could drone on and on about the psychology of my familial dynamic, but I'm still left with the question of what to do? Quite frankly, I don't know. I think part of me thinks like many gay men I know. That thought of, "Well, I'll just wait till my parents are dead and remain their good, little, celibate boy in the meantime. Why break their hearts even more?" The other thought I have is to simply extricate myself from family holidays, or more specifically, Christmas, and take a stand by standing by my man. Neither choice is appealing. I must tell you, if you don't have to face this dilemma (some of you are blessed with open families), consider yourself lucky. It is gut wrenching.
Hmmm. Do I cut off my left arm... or my right?
When Kermit the Frog sang, "It ain't easy being green," he had no idea how simply profound his words were going to be. Or maybe he did. Thank you Kermit. And no, it ain't.

Happy Holigays!

photo: 10%

Dear friends,

I wish you all a happy Christmas and wonderful New Year full of peace, health, happiness & success.

Kisses & Hugs - Thomas

Queridos amigos,

Desejos a todos um Feliz Natal e um Próspero Ano Novo repleto de paz, saude, felicidades & muito sucesso para todos em esse Ano que começa.

Beijos & Abraços - Thomas

Queridos amigos,

Le deseo todo el Navidad feliz y un Año Nuevo maravilloso llenos de paz, de salud, de felicidad y de éxito.

Besos Y Abrazos - Thomas

Cari amici,

Vi auguro tutti un natale felice e un nuovo anno meraviglioso pieni di pace, di salute, di felicità & di successo.

Baci i Abbracci - Thomas

Chers amis,

Je vous souhaite tout Noël heureux et une nouvelle année merveilleuse pleins de la paix, de la santé, du bonheur et du succès.

Baisers et Étreintes - Thomas

Kära vänner,

Jag önskar er alla en God Jul och ett Under Bart Nyll ar fyllk au FRED, HÄLSA, LYEKA och FRAMGANG.

Pussar och Kramar - Thomas

Liebe Freunde,

wünsche ich Ihnen allen ein glückliches Weihnachten und ein wundervolles neues Jahr, die vom Frieden, von der Gesundheit, vom Glück u. vom Erfolg voll sind.

Küsse u. Umarmungen - Thomas

貴重な友人, 私はすべてあなたに平和, 健康, 幸福及 び成功の完全な幸せなクリスマス及びすばらしい新年を望む。接 吻と抱擁 - Thomas

귀중한 친구, 나는 모든 너에게 평화, 건강, 행복및 성공의 충분한 행복한 크리스마스및 경이롭 새로운 년을 바란다 . 키스와 포옹 - Thomas

亲爱的朋友, 我祝愿你所有一愉快的圣诞节和美妙的新年 充分和平, 健康, 幸福和成功。亲吻和拥抱 - Thomas

Sevgili Arkadaslar,

Hepinize baris , saglik , mutluluk ve basari dolu , harika bir yeni yil dilerim. Iyi Noeller...

Opucukler & Sevgiler - Thomas

(If you have corrections for any of the above languages, please e-mail me. - ed.)

Sardine Airlines

photo: viamagazine

I flew to my family's home in the Carolina's yesterday. Ugh! Airline travel is like a cattledrive during the holidays. It was all I could do to remain in my skin as people crammed in lines and tiny airplane spaces. I planted myself in my window seat and didn't move the whole flight. I kept my face partly covered by my hoodie to try and deflect the germs spewed by the rolling coughs around me. But, in the end, got here fine. We'll see if I picked up some germs later. Here's a tip my dad discovered this time. Meet your party outside the departing flights drop off instead of arriving/baggage claim. It is noticeably faster. Hope you're all traveling well.

The more you know...

READ a legal history of gay partnerships.

SLAVERY
Did you know that American slaves were not allowed to enter into a legal contract of marriage, in effect, forbiding marriage, although still encouraging informal mating? Yet highly influential modern-day black American pastors are adamantly against same-sex legal unions. The oppressed oppressing the oppressed. READ more.

THE NAZI's
September 15, 1935
Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honor
"Marriages between Jews and subjects of German or kindred blood are forbidden...Extramarital intercourse forbidden between Jews and subjects of German or kindred blood...Jews are forbidden to fly the Reich and national flag and to display Reich colors...They are, on the other hand, allowed to display the Jewish colors...Whoever violates the prohibition...will be punished by penal servitude."

What does it say about societies that withhold and/or limit the marriage rights of consenting adults? Look at the societies, cultures, and groups that have done that. Draw your own conclusions.

Lover's massage

On Monday night, I took my BF to Osaka 46 for an incredible couples "back walking" shiatsu massage. It was so much fun to do it together and sooooo relaxing. We both have strong backs and shoulders and having a little Asian man walk on us is about the best way to break through. We then walked over to a great diner on 9th Avenue for Buffalo chicken wings, Buffalo burger, and Chef's salad - shared, of course. Then we hopped down to my old apartment in Battery Park City to pick up his cellphone (he left it the night before).
We got home around 2:30 a.m., in perfect time just before the strike.
As we neared my building, he said he wanted to run ahead and check on his car. Then he came back with a bag. I asked what was in it and he said an extra coat (it was really cold). Something was fishy, but I let it go and didn't try to look in the bag. When we got inside, he told me to sit down 'cause he had something to tell me. Oh, boy. I was wondering if I did something wrong, or if maybe I was about to hear a big revelation, or if maybe he was gonna rape my mouth (I said that out loud, didn't I?) Anyway, he reminded me of the cards we drew last weekend from a box called "Gestures of Love." He then presented me with a framed list of things he loves about me.
I can tell you, hands down, that was the best present I ever got. He also gave me two new phones for my apartment; and although I really like the phones, it was the list. The list was it. It just turned out to be the most wondeful and intimate day.
I can't yet reveal the card I drew from the deck because I still have to give it to him.
And finally, my dog loves my BF and my BF loves my dog. What else is there, huh? Just another happy family.

X-mas cards on the mantle

Just like my home, and like most everyone I know, Christmas cards go up on display somewhere in the house. I got a great interactive one from my blogmate over at Human Nature, but couldn't put it up. This beautiful card, I can. Ain't it pretty?

Ali & Mehmet

Casual in Istanbul

Bête Noire of the Week

NYC Transit Strike

Our mayor just blasted the Transit Union... again. This time, he won me over. I tend to sympathize with "Davids" as they fight "Goliaths."
This "David" makes more $$$ per year than our Firefighters, Teachers, Police and other city employees. I agree with Mayor Bloomberg. It is selfish to play hard working New Yorkers as pawns in jockeying for better contracts. I'm all for them to get what they want, but at our expense? Shame on you TWU for calling the strike and shame on you MTA for not conceding for immediate temporary reprieve. You're both anathema!

Featured blogmate: Towleroad

This fellow New Yorker is not only a leader among the gay blogging literati, but he even has his own t-shirt that readers buy and photograph around the globe. Awesome!

He writes:
Towleroad began in 2003 as a personal website and has slowly evolved into a blog meant to inform, inspire, guide, and entertain. It's not specifically about one thing or another, but topics that often bubble to the surface are gay culture, pop culture, media, entertainment, photography, fashion, technology, men, music, travel, or whatever else catches my eye.

Get me to the church on time!

OMG! OMG! OMG! Today is the big day! Can you F'in' believe it? Another Royal wedding.

READ more.

By the power vested in me by the internet, I present, Lady Elton John and David Furnish.

photo: Reuters

Axis of Evil

image: explodingdog

Another member of the Axis of Evil - Family Research Council
The penis-in-vagina or "PINA" crusaders are hard at work to keep "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" exclusively for XX/XY couples. SEE here.
Stupid, stupid, people! God is not a shield to hide your fear and loathing!

An entire city takes to the streets

photo: AP

photo: AP

The fat cats at the MTA have a ONE BILLION DOLLAR SURPLUS!
The bottoms of their feet should be caned.
Give the money up, A-holes!
READ more.

My BF & I got in last night about 2:30 a.m.. The strike was called at 3:00 a.m..
Shwoo. Just made it.

Kill! Kill! Kill yourself!

Homosexual Tendencies

LOOK

In a letter to the Editor of the LA Times, I write:

Dear Editor,
As a gay male blogger in NYC, I am keenly interested in, what I call, sociological health issues in the gay community. Your article, "AIDS pill as a party drug?," struck an alarming chord with me. I often find myself incredulous at what the gay community is doing to itself. Yet the band plays on.
I find it is sometimes so hard to love myself when my tribe - my people, my connect to the world - is so intent on living SO recklessly, that it stinks of a death wish. Why are we so seemingly crazed to wantonly be with so many that we'll die to do it? I'll tell you why. We hate ourselves. Just like an alcoholic hates themself, or a drug addict hates themself, so too, a sex addict hates themself. But our specific self-hate comes from systemic societal rejection and negation. When the momentary orgasmic control/escape - or as the French say, la petite morte (little death) - defines and drives one's behavior, then one has forgotten one's self. We must remember ourselves. We are, after all, all we have.
This can also be applied to the straight community, but the playing fields are very different and unfairly balanced. As one knows, the "golden child" (read: straight) is always favored over the "red-headed step child."

NYC MTA Strike looming...

"There's going to be trouuubbbllleee! " - Tootie Ramsey

READ more.

Bess

I just got off the phone with my childhood friend's mother. Bess died in a housefire in Arizona in May (I referenced it briefly in a very early, rambling post entitled Brazil - just before the last paragraph). I dream about her sometimes. She was a talented artist, soul mirror, and unwitting true comic. She had the requisite tortured/self-destructive/wrestling-with-demons artist's life and died at a cruelly ironic time of clarity and peace. She was one year my senior. There are things I say and even voice tones and phrases I use to this day that I got her from her. We had innumerable laughs and sweet times together. I love her work because I recognize so much of her inner struggles and life that I know about. There is one painting she did of me back when we were college kids. I was laying on the loveseat in her bedroom/studio in her parent's home in Alabama. She loved it. I hated it. I thought I looked like a monkey. I wanted a photo-like portrait. I wish I had it today. I think it might have burned in the fire.

Truth Be Told

Unspoken

CCBESS

Bess Coats, a native of Alabama, produces images that tell a story. Each painting is like a page from a personal journal, illustrating private truths. "My process allows the writer to emerge. I draw, or write the initial memory ...then color...establishing a story-line saturated with emotion. The figures are characters, whether the characters evolve depends on how much personal experience is called up. Relationships are layered, paint and charcoal drawings create a plot. When the climax is resolved, the paintings are complete.

"There is a well of knowledge that comes from investigating the mind. Our subconscious is full of pictures, symbols, and answers. The paintings are extensions of my person: my well. Strangely, there seems to be a universal understanding of these images which leads me to believe that anyone who is willing to expose the inner mind is simply drawing water from the well."

See more HERE.

Class of '87

Who really turned out to be the Queen... or King?
NOT reflective of persons in photo - ed.

Party Hardy, rock-n-roll
Drink Bacardi, smoke a bowl
Love is hell, sex is heaven
We're the Class of '87.

And we were, my friends. We were.

What was your unofficial class saying?

Low life/High life/Good life

Men's winterwear has always been my favorite because, I suppose, I like all those great layers and choices, and hiding the winter holiday poundage is a great bonus. This year's fashions seem to harken to an earlier time and, well, quite frankly, jolly old England. I must say, for as much a scenster in the NYC international night life as I might like to pretend I am, nothing warms or tickles my fashion fancy like a good woolen tweed and driving cap. I still like to sport a Kangol "apple" or "newsboy" cap year round. No matter how much I venture into Diesel Style lab and the ilk, I always ground myself in traditional basics. It's just my British Isles bloodline taking the field. The NY Times ran a great piece about these styles saying, in part, that a man used to never go out sans overcoat - say 50 years ago - and was considered a marginal "lowlife" as such. Men used to always wear Fedoras, Derbys, and Bowlers - the act of not, equaling social rebellion.
Today, I tend to associate those hats with players, pimps, hustlers and... old men who take the subway to Wall Street. Be that as it may, these looks are classics and should ground a man's wardrobe - if ya wanna know what I think.

photos: Mark Veltman for The New York Times; photographed at the Paris Café

Running in Rio

photo: Frank Waldecker

Last night, again, was in the teens Fahrenheit (-7 Celsius) and I couldn't help think as I lay bundled up in bed about this time last year. I was in Rio running on the Copacabana & Ipanema beaches in my little black Brazilian sunga. The sun looked just like this picture and I was lost in the pure joy and beauty of the moment. I love to run, especially on a beach sans shoes. If things work out the way I hope, I'll be able to spend my winters there and jog to my hearts content as the sun bathes me in gold. Now back to the ice and cold. Blecht!

KKK + NAZI = AFA

Just what is the AFA? It is the Mississippi based, anti-gay, anti-diversity, anti-American American Family Association. They are the modern day version of the Ku Klux Klan. They are the white-washed, watered down version of the NAZI party. They are the Black Plague of American freedom all dressed up in the mists of God. God has nothing to do with them nor they him.
UPDATE by a reader: They are also anti-Semitic bigots! - Thanks Melissa

Oh. Did I say that out loud?
Well, what I meant to say was that the AFA has been caught in a misrepresentation of the truth when they earlier this month reported another victory by intimidating Ford Motor Company into pulling ads for Jaguar and Land Rover in gay publications. Turns out it wasn't quite true, but rather a twisting and slanting of events. The real story is on GLAAD's website, and reports that Ford has recommited itself to diversity, equality and protection for all its employees and respect for its LGBT consumers.

You'll notice, the ads were for high-end, high price tag luxury cars. Is it possible that the AFA was pissed we gays have such expendable incomes without being burdened by little mouths to feed? Are the families of the AFA jealous of our freedom of movement and of our luxury, and of our style and class, and finally, of our willingness to accept and inclusively love everyone? Probably not. They just simply hate us because we're not like them and don't go to their church. Just like the KKK and the NAZI's, they are small minded, hateful little green people who scare lots of good people into doing bad things. May God bless them and heal their syphillic little rock-hard hearts and minds and bring them into the fold of loving humanity. And if they will not change, may he curse them with a thousand hemorrhoids!

French-Italian-American Underdog

via GCSpotlight

Remember the posts in November about the Italian Rugby Angels calandar (hint: click HERE and HERE)? I don't know if LeeAndrew is still pissed about my posts, but I have received another press release from him.

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE

"Angeli del rugby MMVI" has been included in news coverage around the world oftentimes written in the same context and in some causes brief sentences with the popular Paris Rugby Club's "Dieux du stade." We ourselves apprecite the beautiful homme in the French calendar however there are great differences in both productions. They are not on the same tiers; The Italian version models are professional national Italian firemen. The Italian team does not have multi-million dollar sponsors, contracts nor an official stadium. The Angeli del rugby calendar is limited to 3 000 copies unlike their French counterpart with hundreds of thousands of their product available worldwide. The production crew of the Angeli del rubgy MMVI consisted of 1 photographer and assistant. The budget for the calendar was privately sponsored by the photographer and a friend and not major corporations.

The team is not allowed to promote or endorse the calendar in Italy thus the publicity efforts are preformed entirely by the photographer/producer.
Proceeds from the calendar are earmarked for the USA hurricane Katrina relief efforts in the photographer/producers birth states region.
Calendars price has been reduced http://www.gcspotlightmag.com/blog/index.php?p=320

If persons order it now online direct from printer it will arrive before Christmas! There's also video of the printing and the sexy model 'Gabriel' Mr. December 2006 nude promoting the calendar!

The producer/photographer invested his life savings which he may loose "if" the calendar does not sell at least half of the allotment.

So, you see there are vast differences between this and the French version that have not been reported. Angeli del rugby is an exceptional creation from the heart.
If you are the owner of one than you have shared in a remarkable story: LeeAndrew's Weblog

It seems this guy can't catch a break. In addition to being overshadowed by the French, it seems his calendar is all but illegal in Italy and an Italian co-sponsor recently went to jail! Good god! And all for some Rugby boys showing a little skin. WTF is wrong with Italy? Good luck LeeAndrew!

Clarification on Weblog Awards

To clarify - my post about the flurry of begging for votes on a very few blogs out there is not a criticism of the awards themselves. I may have overstated my case. In fact, my comments are not a criticism of the actual blogs up for awards either, but rather an observation of behavior I feel is unbecoming of some particular nominee's - especially the condoning of ballot stuffing. I just don't think it's a fair representation of the people's choice (because that's what some of the awards are), and then merely becomes hollow and meaningless. That's no fun for anyone. One blog with some very dedicated friends and/or readers can vote once an hour or once a day. The same people voting again and again does not represent anything. It's a charade. Come on. Am I alone on this?
Anyways, like I said, the blogs themselves are great, and many, extremely popular. I just think, all things being fair, one vote from one person - ONCE - should be all that's allowed. Otherwise it does a disservice to the recipient, endower and finally, the public. But, after all that, I am definitely rooting for my blogmates to win any and all awards they may be up for (I've cast my vote) and am very happy for all who are nominated and also for those who may have already won special distinction. Kudos!

A Noble Blacktress

This is all I can show you of this Queen of the Boards. We shared a dressing room together all last year and this is one of hundreds of pics I took. "She" is currently out on the west coast in a holiday spectacular and we just got off the phone. She wanted to know why I haven't posted about her. Here doll. Salud!
ps - I know, I know. But she identifies as creole. So, to keep things kosher, PLEASE say she's black.

Featured blogmate: BoyBox

If boys are your game, BoyBox has your thing. He's quite an enigma, this BoyBox blogger. His profile says his name is Pan... Peter Pan (and he likes his cosmos shaken, not stirred). He is listed on my blogmates list as GayLab, and he also has another music focused blog as well. I don't read or speak Turkish, but for BoyBox, one doesn't need to read. Just look. One pretty boy after another. If you appreciate, enjoy, and otherwise LIVE for the beauty of the male form, BoyBox serves it. The reason BoyBox is the feature, and not GayLab, is because of my original parameter of featuring, first, those blogmates that send over the most visitors to my blog in descending order, and then, once the numbers become nominal, my blogmates in alphabetical order. I don't want to show unfair favoritism because I enjoy and appreciate ALL of my blogmates for their uinique and distinct qualities.
That being said, Mr. Pan is well on his way to creating a very lovely archive of all that is man-pretty. Enjoy.

Blog Awards 2005

"Good morning, Mr. M. Looks like you could use a CUPCAKE!"

In case you've somehow missed the deluge of "Vote for ME!" posts throughout the blogosphere, let me tell you, you ain't missing nothing. There are some blogs out there that have won or been nominated for awards on their own merits and have graciously and gracefully acknowledged it. And then there are the Tracy Flicks. If you haven't seen the film, Election, starring Reese Witherspoon and Matthew Broderick, run and rent it. It is one of my faves.
I think we can draw some great comparisons from the film and apply them to the current fever pitch campaign howling.

I think the loveable Tammy Metzer sums it up best in her campaign speech to the student body:

Who cares about this stupid election? We all know it doesn't matter who gets elected president of Carver. Do you really think it's going to change anything around here; make one single person smarter or happier or nicer? The only person it does matter to is the one who gets elected.

To the critics: Yes, I post awards and accolades about this blog on this blog, but I do not solicit them. And no, I'm not eating sour grapes for not being nominated for any of the current awards being handed out. I am indeed pleased for the nominees and recipients, just put off by some of the distracting vulgarity of the outright campaigning. An award should represent merit, not popularity by ballot stuffing. It reminds me of the highly annoying myspace.com site where I kept a small blog before starting this one. I was quickly perturbed by the frenzied puerile mentality of aquiring as many "friends" as one could possibly collect and left that site post haste.
With that being said, I'll let the characters of "Election" sum it up for us with their pre-election supplications.

Tracy Flick: Dear Lord Jesus, I do not often speak with you and ask for things, but now, I really must insist that you help me win the election tomorrow because I deserve it and Paul Metzler doesn't, as you well know. I realize that it was your divine hand that disqualified Tammy Metzler and now I'm asking that you go that one last mile and make sure to put me in office where I belong so that I may carry out your will on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

Tammy Metzler: Dear God, I know I don't believe in you, but since I'll be starting catholic school soon, I though I should at least practice. Let's see. What do I want? I want Lisa to realize what a bitch she is and feel really bad and apologize for how she hurt me and know how much I still love her. In spite of everything, I still want Paul to win the election tomorrow, not that cunt Tracy. Oh, and I also want a really expensive pair of leather pants and someday, I wanna be really good friends with Madonna. Love, Tammy.

Paul Metzler: Dear God, thank you for all your blessings. You've given me so many things, like good health, nice parents, a nice truck, and what I'm told is a large penis, and I'm very grateful, but I sure am worried about Tammy. In my heart, I still can't believe she tore down my posters, but sometimes, she does get so weird and angry. Please help her be a happier person because she's so smart and sensitive and I love her so much. Also, I'm nervous about the election tomorrow and I guess I want to win and all, but I know that's totally up to you. You'll decide who the best person is and I'll accept it. And forgive me for my sins, whatever they may be. Amen.

It is currently 20 degrees F. in NYC

Here's a little bed warmer for you. Don't forget, these cold winter nights make snuggling up with Mr. Right or Mr. "I-came-now-leave" really nice.

Too Much...

Me thinkest thou dost protest.

I usually find celeb gossip somewhat boring and Lumpenproletariat, but participate in it from time to time. Usually when I can't bear the hype anymore.
Who cares if Robbie Williams is gay. However, his actions are a bit overwrought and, as my title suggests, a tad telling.
I'm rather non-plussed about his recent victories in libel suits in the UK. Hollow celeb bullshit.
Okay, Robbie. You're NOT gay. Say it ten times in the mirror, click your heels three times, spin around and around and then keep sucking that cock. Ya pole smoker! I love ya, doll.

Paradise Lost at Brokeback Mountain

"This slow and stoic movie, hailed as a gay Western, feels neither gay nor especially Western: it is a study of love under siege."
- Anthony Lane for The New Yorker

Read his great review HERE.

Gastronomique Magnifique et Mystere

My gal pal called to invite me to another one of her fabu dinner parties tonight. She is a wonderful cook and loves to whip up simple gourmet delights. Tonight's entree is Cassoulet with Duck Confit.

If you don't have the time, skill or inclination to prepare these specialties, order from my favorite gourmet shop in Paris, Fauchon.

In addition, I've been put on the trail of a hot little mystery by the hostess. She asked me to observe and then give my opinion to her about another one of the guests. Two of tonight's guests are a married couple and my friend believes that the husband is gay, gay, gay. It is something she has queried over for some time, but thinks it's less true the longer she knows them. But she is still curious, isn't she? Well, as anyone knows, one fag knows another, so I'll see what my queer sniffer sniffs on this one tonight. And as we all also know, many a gay boy has married a woman to run from the poof in the mirror. I'll keep you posted.
But for now, I've got to worry about what wine to buy. Geez. What goes with cassoulet? A nice red? I hope so.

Bullish on Rodman

Drawing by Danny Shanahan for The New Yorker

"Okay, call your buddies, man. But I'm telling you. For the last time, I'm not Dennis Rodman. I'm Lawrence and this is my partner, Bruce."
- caption: thomasco

A "fact of life"

"Who wants to be a skinny pencil? I'm happy being a magic marker!" - Natalie Green
Not autobiographical - ed.

Superman

photo: Dugg

Baby I can fly like a bird
When you touch me with your eyes
Flying through the sky
I’ve never felt the same
But I am not a bird
And I am not a plane
I’m superman
When you love me it’s easy
I can do most anything
Watch me turn around
One wing up and one wing down
I never thought I would
Fall in love for good

I’m superman
When you love me it’s easy
My sweet life has just begun
I’m in love each time, I know I’ll have it,
Fell into my life so I grabbed it,
There’s nothing I can do
When I’m with you

I’m superman
Cause I knew it’s easy
My sweet life has just begun
I’m in love each time and I know I’ll have it
Fell into my life so I grabbed it
There’s nothing I can do
Cause I’m with you
I’m superman

"Superman"
- Barbra Streisand

Rosie joins the Thomasco Team!

I love me some Rosie O'Donnell and am pleased to announce her arrival to thomas & co. as a sponsor. She's helping me, so help her and click on her ad to the right in my sponsor's column and visit her wonderful site - and buy something to help kids this holiday season!

HOMECOMING!!!!!

I and my Homecoming Court would like to thank you all for your great e-mails and we are very happy to be back online and in a home we can call our own. I can't go another step without thanking Richard of Proceed at Your Own Risk for his superb editorial skills in my absence. The week has been filled with cleaning, organizing and interior color scheme/interior decorator consulting (I mean, my talented friend Tori is giving me "straight-girl-eye-for-a-gay-guy" ideas ). My new artist's loft apartment in the boogie-down-Bronx is a dream. I love it, love it, love it. Despite having a terrible, no-good, very bad day, I am feeling fine and am loving my newly installed cable internet connection. I am now shopping for a TV (HDTV or high-end regular?). Despite some disappointing personal setbacks today, I feel good (or is it this sultry Spanish red wine?)
I love my boyfriend more each day, and that being said, I want to start revealing some more of my dirty little layers. We are on a slow burn revelation trajectory and I think, not certain, but think, that we can eventually reveal all to great satisfaction and acceptance. It's scary, you know.
With that, Happy Friday! I'm a little drunk on the red. I'm about to eat Chinese delivery and then watch "Silence of the Lambs" - my favorite scary flic of all times.

A lay in a manger

Just when you thought things couldn't get any crazier, Joe Moretti, a 38-year-old man who was arrested last year for trespassing on Martha Stewart's property in Maine, has created a "spectacular" Paris Hilton Christmas shrine on his front lawn in Cranston, Rhode Island.

Not Santa, not Jesus, not Frosty, not Elves, not Rudolph but Tinkerbell and Paris. So what's the connection between Paris Hilton and Christmas? Virgin birth? A second coming? A lay in a manger? Are Frankincense and myrrh ingredients in the new Paris Hilton perfume? Or is just her legs spread open giving nature?

In any case, this should give the Christian fundamentalists something else to barf about.

"Provocative eye-popping bulges..."

Today's New York Times ran a rather ground-breaking review, I suspect a first for the gray lady, of the city's newest and possibly most homoerotic gay sex and dance club.

Some enticing tidbits:

"The four story [club] on Fifth Avenue (fucking great location!) is a sprawling nightclub of a place with muscled young men standing guard at the front entrance, their smiles entreating passers-by....at their backs the front windows are mysteriously shuttered. Inside, the lighting is a moody chiaroscuro, and the music thumps at such high volume you have to shout to be heard. A central staircase with subtly lit frosted glass-block flooring is a dramatic sculptural counterpoint to the darkness....

"...hotties circulate the catwalklike floors, touching up their lip gloss, gossiping with one another...their hair fanning silkily across their shoulders...

"On the wall...a three story mural depicts a kind of adolescent sexual Guernica; young male athletes in all manner of gymnastic contortions, mostly stripped to the waist, their torsos striated with muscle, their pants packed with cartoonishly provocative eye-popping bulges..."

Roxy, Opaline, Splash...so yesterday! You really have to love the New York Times having the balls to run with such borderline soft core gay porn. I got partly aroused just reading this stuff. (Yes, I'm easy.)

"Unfortunately," concludes the Times article, shopping at the new Abercrombie and Fitch flagship store "is among the more unpleasant experiences to be had in usually retail-friendly Manhattan."

Diffident, detached, buff, over groomed boys, drug and low-IQ induced emptiness behind their eyes, treating strangers with indifference and contempt? Hot. I used to have to go out really really late at night to experience that. Now I can just head over to Abercrombie & Fitch on any early afternoon. Life is good.

Oh, and did I mention "provocative eye-popping bulges?"

Queer Eye, Schmeer Eye

The reviews are in and the new season of Queer Eye has fallen out of favor with the critics. MSNBC says the "Fab Five" have morphed from witty and hip to sappy and Oprah-esque. Well, I've hated Queer Eye since the beginning and have often whined about this on my own blog...so now I'm spreading my anti-Queer Eye venom to unsuspecting and innocent poor Thomas' blog. He's not to blame for this rant!

Frankly, I don't think the show has changed, what has changed is that the critics have gotten over their "queer is cool no matter what" affliction. It would have been politically incorrect for a straight critic to bash Queer Eye when it first aired. But we've evolved and it's now OK to hate bad Queer stuff. Straight America was thrilled to see Queers admitting on national television that we are the nelly prancing Queens straight America has always believed us to be.

So, the top ten reasons I hate Queer Eye...it is after all top ten list season...

1. Queer Eye is a relentless barrage of gay and straight stereotypes.
2. While these guys may be experts in certain areas, it has nothing to do with being queer. Of course, I can appreciate the value of gimmick; Gypsy Rose Lee taught us that. Ted may be a good cook and Thom is a very talented and practical decorator but what the fuck has queer got to do with it?
3. Queer Eye makes us look like a bunch of superficial, self-absorbed morons.
4. I guess it really does take a queer to make something pretty?
5. Carson is treacly beyond human endurance.
6. Jai is sexy as hell but what exactly is he doing on that show? Culture maven? Sorry, most straight men in my acquaintance are not neanderthals. Jai belongs on stage entertaining us with his great voice.
7. Queer Eye reinforces the notion that we can be accepted (but not quite equal) by mainstream America as long as we're entertaining and serve "the man."
8. Kyan. OK, I totally want him, but his whoring for overpriced useless "product" is embarrassing.
9. Queer Eye's contribution to television history will end up being the most whorish Infomercial ever produced.
10. Queer Eye will encourage Bravo to produce other awful shows like "Jew Eye for the Financially-Crippled Guy" and "Black Eye for the Rhythmically-Challenged Guy"

SKIRTING THE FRINGES OF LGBT RIGHTS

A Peruvian woman spent a month in a male prison in Argentina after she was mistaken for a man. And, when she was finally discovered and transferred to a woman's jail, she asked to be transferred back.

According to the report in today's Argentinean newspaper Pagina 12, Carla Aguilera was arrested for robbery but told police her name was Manuel Martin Aguilar. The Buenos Aires cops insist that Carla was checked by several policemen but none noticed that she was a woman.

An anonymous phone call alerted the police to Carla's real gender and after a medical examination she was sent to a women's prison.

A police spokesperson said: "She looks and acts exactly like a man, it was impossible to see that she was a woman. She insists she is a man and wants to be transferred back to the male prison."

Apparently, Argentinean police are not smart enough to distinguish between an "innie" and an "outie."

So this is what they mean by the "bonds of holy matrimony?"

via

MISSING THOMAS?

It's a long wait for his return so why don't you sit back and watch a little television? Click here and enjoy.

I AM PENIS, HEAR ME ROAR

A couple of weeks ago, headlines around the world boasted that a California man (not Arnold) had pulled a truck with his penis. Grandmaster Tu Jin-Sheng, best known for his iron crotch, attached himself not once, but twice to a rental moving truck and pulled it several yards across a parking lot. In lace-up leather boots and a black tank top (in case you were wondering what to wear for such an occasion,) the 50-year-old tied a strip of [Viagra] blue fabric around the base of his penis and testicles and tugged to make sure it was on tight. You can find details of this here.

Jin-Seng is the leader of a global pull-and-lift-stuff with your penis cult. Another member, a 70 year old student of Jin-Seng, recently lifted 660 pounds with his penis. Jin-Seng enjoys 60,000 followers world-wide.

I've been skeptical of this story, despite having seen video on the BBC of all places. Apparently the BBC is preparing a 3-part TV series called PENIS ENVY, to air at some point in 2006 in the U.K. Jin-Sheng and his friends will be lifting and pulling with their penises in a variety of venues.

Personally, I've been doing a little practicing around my apartment in hopes of making it into the BBC documentary, but so far the best I've been able to accomplish is a cup of coffee, a Madonna CD, and a throw pillow from Barbie's Dream House.

But hope is on the way! Never never shun Spam. You never know what you might miss.

This morning's stellar offering carries the headline: WITH OUR SOFT CIALIS TABS YOU WILL BE ABLE TO CHOP WOOD WITH YOUR DICK

It then goes on to explain: Hello! My name is erectile dysfunction. I have a lot of friends such as bad sex, awful mood, dissatisfied wife, short erections and spoiled condoms. But I do have one enemy--its name is Soft Cialis Tabs. When they appear, I disappear. For your wife's last birthday, you gave her a vibrator because of your hopeless Erectile Dysfunction. By taking our new Soft Cialis Tabs you are bound to give her the best sex ever instead of miserable "battery dick."

Are you imagining the same TV ads that I'm imagining? Right about now the makers of Viagra, Cialis and Levitra must be engaged in a huge tug of war over who will reel in Iron Crotch as a spokesperon.

EXCLUSIVE TO THOMAS & CO

Another houseguest gift from Richard to Thomas.

AUNTIE MAME CONFESSIONS

Ever since Thomas invited me to guest host his blog for a few days, I've been struggling with house guest etiquette. I was raised to believe that when you're invited into someone's home, you must bring a gift. Otherwise, they'll think you're a gentile.

I considered flowers, wine, a basket of self-indulgent products from L'Occitane, a nice gift pack of assorted Eros flavors, but finally decided on something uniquely "me", a confession. What have I not confessed on my own blog? Thomas supplied the answer in his recent entry about Auntie Mame.

I have teased friends, implied interest and dropped wry hints, but here it is full out and without reservation: I want to do drag and I want to do Mame. When did I first know I was truly different from the other boys? It was 1958 and I was nine years old. My grandmother, a self-styled Mame in her own right, took me to see the opening of the new Rosalind Russell movie at the Paramount on 14th Street (much later to become my favorite gay club.) This was back in the days when Radio City Music Hall was just one of many movie "palaces" with live shows and double bills and cartoons and newsreels. We would dress up, my grandmother in some new creation from Jonas of 14th Street and me in a white shirt and tie looking like Beaver (as in Leave it to, not pussy.)

We had seen The Ten Commandments, The Greatest Show on Earth and Peyton Place in this theatre, but nothing had prepared me for Auntie Mame.

First of all my grandmother was a small scale Auntie Mame. However, I didn't realize just how small scale until Rosalind Russell entered my life. (For those of you who don't read my blog, my grandmother was a femme de joie and ultimately ran one of the most successful "houses" in the East Village.)

My grandmother introduced me to discount fashion, Essex Street Market bootleg caviar, vodka (gin was for goyim) and sarcasm. Rosalind Russell introduced me to marathon designer shopping, redecorating, globe trotting, glamorous hangovers (known in those days as being "hung",) and a world class bohemian lifestyle. I wanted it all, but after sneaking off more times than I can remember to see Auntie Mame, lip syncing the dialogue and studying her every mannerism, I came to realize that I wanted to be her. I imagined myself in her lounge wear, her evening gowns and her furs surrounded by every sort of eccentric and fabulous creature that Manhattan had to offer. I knew about birthday parties, bon voyage parties and funeral parties, but Mame introduced me to fabulous parties.

At the age of nine, I knew that I was supposed to want to be the first Jewish president, Davy Crockett or Wyatt Earp. I would feign interest in my Indian headdress and my coonskin cap, but in the shadowy hallways of my mind, behind closed doors and in the Paramount I was planning to be Mame.

Years later, you would find me, a couple of hits of Ex, relaxing in the balcony of the Paramount daydreaming...Ok...hallucinating....the house pounding at Junior's beck and call...yearning to be Mame. Some will tell you that I did a damned good Mame, but that was as my butch self, Ferre cashmere blazer, black Armani shirt, Cartier Santos...but I never got up the nerve to shave my beard and bribe Patricia Field into ramming my hairy bear hulk into vintage Dior.

But here on Thomas' blog, I am officially confessing and more importantly, officially announcing that for my 60th Birthday Party (waaaaaaaay in the future), I will do a fucking brilliant Mame...maybe a little chunky...but with Lady Bunny's help...who knows...

Featured blogmate: Proceed at Your Own Risk

For his Guidos del Giorno, Daily Dose & Eye Candy, not to mention his keenly interesting and eclectic writings, PAYOR is not only this week's Featured Blogmate, but also my guest blogger for a few days. I will be offline for a while and he has graciously agreed to step in. I can't guarantee anything on what or how he will post, but I can definitely say, it won't be boring.
His one line bio is:
"Gay Jewish New Yorker ready to fight."
He says:
"A word of caution for those of you with weak constitutions or prudish inclinations: I will be open, frank, inappropriate and brutally honest. I will post photographs and illustrations that amuse me, annoy me, intrigue me, but also arouse me."
Well, bring on the fun. Have fun kids. Don't do anything I wouldn't do (that gives you a really long leash). And PAYOR, be nice to 'em. They're a really nice bunch.

T5S holiday sample sale

If you live in NYC, you know all about designer sample sales. Triple 5 Soul is one of my favorites for urban streetwear. Check it out. And they've got a great music track on their site as well.

The loving and sharing time of the year is right around the corner, and triple 5 soul will be having its 2005 Holiday Sample Sale to make things easier for you. So don't be the Grinch this year, share a wonderful gift with your friends and loved ones!.

Sales starts December 8 to December 19 2005
40 East 30th Street (Between Park and Madison Aves)

And put some liquor in it this time!

Jan Handzlik as young Patrick Dennis in Auntie Mame with Rosalind Russell.

Last night I went to a friend's home here in NYC to help her and her girls decorate for Christmas. It was my first time there, so when she told me the address, I asked which apartment. "It's the whole floor, darling." Ah, I see. These are my friends with the private jet, so yes, the whole damn floor. Wow. Anyway, I bustled in, hugging the girls and meeting the dog and cats and trying to take in the layout and the art. Then we all plopped down on the sofa and the 11 year old says, "What would you like to drink?" I said, "Ummm..." (thinking), and then she proceeds to rattle of a long list of spirits and then offered actual drinks and then asked, "wet or dry?" I asked, "What does that mean?" She said, "I don't know. I saw it in Auntie Mame." I think it references a martini, but I'm a lay martini drinker. I love that the child knows the movie and, truthfully, one can see many similarities in the way she is being raised and the way Auntie Mame raised little Patrick.
I settled on Grey Goose and O.J. Sheesh! It was like going in the ring with Tyson. I was almost K.O.'d (okay, actually, it should be K.'d O.), in the first round. I nursed that drink for the two hours I was there. As I was kissing her goodnight as she went off to bed at 11, she said, "I can smell the vodka on your breath." I was like, "Child, you pickled me. Of course you can."
Kids!

No longer P'd. O.

In all fairness, I have to post this reponse to my "shame on you" letter that I posted last week. The music director for APT, Alec, showed class and style in his reply and offered that almost extinct courtesy, an apology. That goes a long way. So in a softening of my opinion, I say, "Kudos Alec." Very good form, my man.

I sincerely apologize for the negative experience you had at APT on Tuesday. The general rule I have tried to have implemented is that anyone who mentions the name of the party or the DJ that's playing that night, isn't hassled at the door. I'm assuming that you mentioned Dancetracks Digital or Theo Parrish upon trying to enrter? If that's the case, I will definitely speak with Joie, who was working the door that night. Should you ever want to patron APT in the future, please feel free to contact me directly and I'll personally take care of you. Again, I can't apologize enough.

Alec R.
Music Director

APT 419 W13th St NY, NY 10014 (P) 212.414.4245 www.aptwebsite.com

Mamae, eu quero mamar!

Hot new French model, Michael Vinant/Click
via: models

Seriously, a pretty face is one thing, but his nipples are definitely the star of the show. My BF loves his nipples sucked and I love to oblige.

Ain't yo holla back grrlll

via fashionweekdaily

French Vogue 12/2005 covers. And they said her career was dead.

Bitches want my money!

Both e-mails received today. F-in' bitches!

Subject: URGENT FROM RUSSIA!!!
From:"larisa larisa"
Date: Mon, Nov 28, 2005 5:53 am
To:

Dear friend

I am Mrs. Larisa Sosnitskaya a personal treasurer to Mikhail Khodorkovsky the Richest man in Russia and owner of the following companies, Chairman CEO: YUKOS OIL (Russian Largest Oil Company) Chairman CEO: Menatep SBP Bank (A well reputable financial institution with it’s Branches all over the world).

SOURCE OF FUNDS:

I have a profiling amount in an excess of US$48.5M, which I seek your Partnership in accommodating for me. You will be rewarded with 10% of The total sum for your partnership. Can you be my partner on this???

INTRODUCTION OF MY SELF:

As a personal consultant to him, authority Was handed over to me in transfer of money of an American oil merchant For his last oil deal with my boss Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Already the funds have left the shore of Russia to an European private Bank where the final crediting is expected to be carried out. While I was on the process, My Boss got arrested for his Involvement in politics by financing the leading And opposing political parties (the Union of Right Forces,led by Boris Nemtsov, and Yabloko, a liberal/social democratic party Led by Gregor Yavlinsky) which poses treat to President Vladimir Putin Second Tenure as Russian
president.

YOUR ROLE:

All I need from you is to stand as the beneficiary of the Above quoted Sum and I will re-profile the funds with your name, which will enable The European bank transfer the sum to you. I have decided to use this Sum to relocate to American continent and never to be connected to any Of
Mikhail Khodorkovsky conglomerates.As Soon as I confirm your readiness to conclude the transaction with me, I Will provide you with the details. Please reach me through this email address larisasosnitskaya1@walla.com for further corresponding.

Thank you very much.

Regards

Mrs Larisa Sosnitskayav

FROM:GRACE JOHNSON
ABIDJAN-COTE D'IVOIRE
WEST AFRICA.
E-MAIL: grace_johnson5@yahoo.fr

DEAR ONE,

GREETINGS IN JESUS NAME!

PERMIT ME TO INFORM YOU OF MY DESIRE OF GOING INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.I WAS GIVEN YOUR CONTACT FROM ONE OF YOUR MEMBER.AND I PRAYED OVER IT AND SELECTED YOUR NAME AMONG OTHER NAMES DUE TO IT'S ESTEEMING NATURE AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS GIVEN TO ME AS A REPUTABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY PERSON I CAN DO SOMETHING WITH AND BY THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS I MUST NOT HESITATE TO CONFIDE IN YOU FOR THIS SIMPLE AND SINCERE BUSINESS.

I AM GRACE JOHNSON, THE ONLY DAUGHTER OF LATE CHIEF AND MRS.PAUL JOHNSON MY FATHER WAS A VERY WEALTHY COCOA MERCHANT BASED IN ABIDJAN, THE ECONOMIC CAPITAL OF IVORY COAST BEFORE HE WAS POISONED TO DEATH BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES ON ONE OF THEIR OUTING TO DISCUSS ON A BUSINESS TRIP. WHEN MY MOTHER DIED ON THE 21ST OCTOBER 1984, MY FATHER TOOK ME SO SPECIAL BECAUSE AM MOTHERLESS. BEFORE THE DEATH OF MY FATHER ON 29TH JUNE 2000 IN A PRIVATE HOSPITAL HERE IN ABIDJAN. HE SECRETLY CALLED ME ON HIS BEDSIDE AND TOLD ME THAT HE HAS A SUM OF US$4.5M(FOUR MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) LEFT IN A SUSPENCE ACCOUNT IN A LOCAL BANK HERE IN ABIDJAN, THAT HE USED MY NAME AS THE NEXT OF KIN IN DEPOSIT OF THE FUND. HE ALSO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF MY WEALTH AND THE BUSINESS WHICH AMOUNT TO US$34.000.000 THEY ARE HAVING AT HAND, THAT HE WAS KILLED BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES, THAT I SHOULD SEEK FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER IN A COUNTRY OF MY CHOICE WHERE I WILL TRANSFER THIS MONEY AND USE IT FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OR REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT.

PLEASE,I AM HONOURABLY SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS.

1) TO HELP ME TO TRANSFER THIS FUND FROM THE BANK HERE TO YOUR ACCOUNT IN YOUR COUNTRY.
2) TO SERVE AS THE GUARDIAN OF THIS FUND SINCE I AM A GIRL OF 21 YEARS
3) TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR ME TO COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY TO FURTHER MY EDUCATION AS I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO PASTORAL SCHOOL.

MOREOVER, I AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU 15% OF THE TOTAL SUM AS COMPENSATION FOR YOUR EFFORT INPUT AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF THIS FUND TO YOUR NORMINATED ACCOUNT OVERSEAS. YOU MADE TO SEE THE SUCCESS OF THIS POSSIBLE TRANSACTION.

FURTHERMORE, YOU CAN INDICATE YOUR OPTION TOWARDS ASSISTING ME AS I BELIEVE THAT THIS TRANSACTION WOULD BE CONCLUDED WITHIN SEVEN ( 7) WORKING DAYS YOU SIGNIFY INTEREST TO ASSIST ME. FOR THE INTEREST OF MY MAIL YOU CAN CONTACT ME THROUGH THE PHONE NUMBER OF A REVEREND FATHER WHO HAVE BEEN ASSISTING ME.HIS NAME IS REV. FATHER MIKE TUTU AT BASSAM CATHOLIC CHURCH ABIDJAN-COTE D'IVOIRE. TELEPHONE:225-07049081

ANTICIPATING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.

THANKS AND GOD BLESS YOU.

BEST REGARDS.

GRACE JOHNSON

We three Queens of Orient are...

Ad for the Frankfurt Gay Mens Choir
photo: flickr
via Ratsoringo

Happy Holi-GAYS!