"What Happened" Stance

A good way to spend some of that extra time you have so much of.
And check the high scores: I'm usually there.

POLITICS
The big news story this week has been Scott (I refuse to call a grown man "Scotty" unless I'm sleeping with him.) McClelland's book about the behind-the-scenes view of the Bush White House. Liberals... oh, excuse me... Progressives are all screaming "I knew it! I knew it!" And the Bushmen are all yelling about how disloyal McClelland is for saying what he says.

It's interesting that most of the criticism focuses on McClelland himself without every saying that his accusations are false. One guy on NPR (Sorry, I'm lousy with names unless I take notes) called this Spin Control 101: Attack the messenger if you don't like the message.

It's been a very hot topic at the so-called FoxNews, and Eyes on Fox can tell you about at least O'Really's take on the story.

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My local ABC affiliate this week talked about almost $9billion that went missing in Iraq. This is pretty good for Disney Corporate News. People who get their news online could have heard about this missing cash more than two years ago! And most of it was actual cash, shipped on shrink-wrapped pallets and carried away from Iraqi airports in duffle bags. A system bad for accountants, but good for money-launderers.

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At Dispatches from the Culture Wars, you can read the story of military personnel in Iraq who are violating military regulations and attempting to convert Iraqi citizens to Christianity. I realize that some Christians feel an obligation to spread their religion, but the men and women in our armed forces are also honour bound to obey their regulations, and the distribution of propaganda and even copies of the Christian Bible in Arabic are not helping our people to earn either the trust or respect of the Iraqi people. Hell, they already have so many reasons to suspect our motives; why give them one more and violate the rules at the same time?

NEW DISCOVERIES
Thanks to Le Gay Blog, I've discovered Garrett Mullen, a model with the B1 Model Management. And now part of me wants to make little statues of him and Vince Azzopardi and use them as really sexy salt and pepper shakers.

Beauty and the Bum yesterday put up images from an 8-page spread called The Top 50 Hottest (shirtless) Guys from OK Magazine. I don't agree with some of their choices, but for sheer volume it is impressive.

and my favourite new blog of the week is Are You There Blog? It's Me, Stephen. A little too heavy on the chicago theatre scene for my life, but it's smart, funny, and charming. Check it out.

Hits as of now: 2379

Black and White #3

Hits as of now: 2302

Broken Hearts Club Sandwich

GAY MAN'S THERAPY
Wes uses his YouTube account to show short tributes to his favourite movies. Here I copied him, with two scenes from The Broken Hearts Club, one inside the other.
3 mins. - SFW

ONE DOWN, TOO MANY TO GO
What happens after one spoiled teenage girl is dead
3 mins. 30 - SFW

And now
A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR

SET PHASERS TO STRUNG OUT
Normally I don't care for Star Trek mash-ups, but this one is well done. And mercifully short.
2 mins. 30 - SFW

MOLLY CIRCUS CLOWN
Finally! The behind-the-scenes video from the Molly Cyrus photoshoot for Vanity Fair. "Think of the Jonas Brothers!"
1 min. 45 - Hmmmmm, I guess this is SFW

Hits as of now: 2187

TGIJensen #28

Black and White 2

Hits as of now: 2117

Live Free Thought

Wes sent me this ad he found in the throw-away newspaper in Dallas -- like the Observer, but with more expensive crap for sale.

He sent it because he knows I can't stand the North Texas Church of Freethought. A few years ago, when I lived in Dallas, I went for a few weeks, mostly because I wanted to meet other atheists and do something to shed the feeling that I was the only one. In Texas, surrounded as I am by people who don't think to deeply about their own beliefs, it's easy to feel isolated.

On the surface, this "Church" seemed to combine all the social aspects of a congregation without the belief in an imaginary friend.

Cool, I thought.

But over a very short period of time, the flaws in their group became really obvious.

It was begun in 1994 by four people -- two married couples -- who donated their own money to start things up. But these same four people were also the only people who occupied any offices. Not elected offices, mind you: these people were self-appointed, and there were no rules I could find about electing replacements. They led the group and made all the decisions. Suggestions that opposed their ideas were gently discouraged at first, after which the founders would just remind whomever that it was their money that had begun the church.

In short, these four people had taken a good idea, a useful concept, and turned it into their own private power trip.

I don't mean to say that it was at all cultish. It wasn't. Meetings were open to the public, members weren't kept in isolation from outside influences, and there was no secrecy about the goings on. It wasn't a cult. Just four people who had put themselves in control of a group and wanted to stay there.

But that's not my problem anymore.

Here in Austin, it's much cooler. The Atheist Community of Austin is a large and diverse group with a lot of activities and a lot more fairness and equality than the North Texas Church of Freethought had.

Hits as of now: 2094

Black and White 1

Hits as of now: 2085

American Idle Worship

"It may be my rather puritanical upbringing
at odds with my inborn laziness that makes me
feel guilty at the end of the day, unless I am able
to point at some achievement." - Ian McKellan

Hits as of now: 2006
Hmmm. From 1989 to 2006 overnight.
Kinda feels like my life passing me by again.

Crocodile Tears for Fears

Tears for Fears and Ernie Kovacs
Sketches of Pain
Cool song by itself, but just sit and watch how adding this comedy bit from 50s television turns it beautifully surreal.
5 mins. - SFW

Hits as of now: 1884

Stars and Bars of Soap

This Memorial Day,
find something you enjoy doing.

Hits as of now: 1747

Totally Hip Huggers

Protecting a Friend from Pickpockets

Hits as of now: 1670

Checkered Flag Corps

I'm very far from being any kind of a gearhead, but this weekend I was at a friend's house and I got roped into watching part of the Monaco Grand Prix. It still seems a lot like watching traffic for fun, but some of these guys are hot.

Here are three of the hottest: England's Lewis Hamilton, Germany's Nico Rosberg, and Brazilian Nelson Piquet, Jr. (These thumbnails are small, but like any healthy, young guy, touch them and they'll grow bigger.)

Jest Station Identification

Not meaning to be another superficial American with a stupid obsession with show business or anything, but now that it's been announced - or let slip by Jack Black, whose best movie is still High Fidelity -- that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are expecting twins, what kind of stupid name do you expect them to saddle the newborns with?

Don't forget that their other kids are named Maddox, Zahara, and Shiloh.

Myself, I'm hoping they'll be called Heckle and Jeckyl, but let's hear your suggestions.

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At the Atheist Experience blog, Martin has a story about a fanatical group of Christians who hate pastors like the annoying Joel Osteen because his version of God isn't hateful enough. Lovely.

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Much has been made of Barack Obama's fiery minister Jeremiah Wright, but finally some of the airtime is going to the men of god in John McCain's life. This week he finally denounced the endorsements of two Bible-slinging bastards, not - I believe - because he disagreed with them, but because so many of the voters did. More attention is given to the brown-shirted John Hagee, but don't forget the hate speech of Rod Parsley.

Donnie at Famous Like Me has a YouTube clip about John McCain where he is shown in clips from his in own interviews and speeches -- in his own fucking words contradicting himself. This clip comes from Robert Greenwald, the creator of the well-intentioned but not (unfortunately) influential films like Outfoxed and Walmart: The High Price of Low Prices.

There's a note at the end of Greenwald's clip telling me to "pass this on to ten people." By mentioning it here, I might reach that many.

I've been heard to say that John McCain wouldn't be so bad as president, but the more I learn, the more he seems like a third-term for Bush the Lesser. Maybe this time they'll cut out the middle man and just let Satan be the running mate. But, on the other hand, Cheney on the ticket might make McCain look youthful, energetic, and human.

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NEW DISCOVERIES
Recently Male and Beautiful showed me the Gay Body Blog, so I pass it on to you. That blog also let me know about the cool Le Gay Blog, which in addition to photos of hot men features the daily speedo, such as the pic to the right.

And on my own I found Suvacos de Machos, a Weblog devoted entirely to guys' armpits. Not my sort of thing, really, but I'm sure this guy is dedicated.

And while searching for photos for a new YouTube clip, I found the Weblog Plays Well with Others. It's fun to read, even if the title brings up unpleasant memories of elementary school.

Oakland Raiders of the Lost Ark

WHA' ABOU' JUST WALKIN' A WEE LINE THEN?
Sober as a Scot, huh? How do you test for that?
30 secs. - SFW

DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME
When home-made porn is not a good idea
30 secs. - SFW

And now
A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR
1 min. - SFW

COMING SOON
The latest film from Joel and Ethan Apatow
2 mins. - SFW

INDY PRODUCTION
How to lose friends and influence police officers into doubting your sanity
1 min. 30 - SFW

TGIJensen #27

O, I do hope there'll be frisking.

Incidentally, in a recent accident with Firefox, all of my bookmarked Websites were erased, including some French fansite that was an enormous source for pics of my boy here. If anyone knows of a good source for many photos, please let me know.

Meanwhile, to add to Jensen Ackles and Chace Crawford, Tommy has sent me this link to another clip he found of another hot boy from Dallas. What the Hell are they feeding them up there? And where can I get some of it?

Book Store House

"Where is human nature so weak
as in the book store."
- Henry Ward Beecher

Pony Boys Town

May 21 and it still feels like spring in Texas. In a normal year, our summer would have begun about four weeks ago. It's like the the global climate is changing or something?!

Anyway, here's a parade of Ponyboys in celebration of springtime.

Yeah, I know that these guys are young enough to mostly fall into the Look-but-don't-touch category. But I can still enjoy looking.

And I bet they wouldn't think of themselves as too young. Especially not Phil, the guy with the over-active tongue.

Moe, Larry, and Curly Blond Hair

His eyes seem to follow me, and I'm okay with that.

Maybe Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow

Stereophonics
Maybe Tomorrow

If my life had a theme song, this could be it.

At least the title fits. My life could very accurately be described as one incredibly long series of procrastinations. I daydream about the big things I'll do "as soon as" this one thing happens, then I wait around for that thing to happen instead of working to make it happen. Meanwhile, I get older and watch opportunities slip away without really realizing it.

Then suddenly the realization hits, and I wonder what the Hell just happened to me.

That's usually followed by a period of depression, overwhelmed by a sense of loss and the feeling that everything is beyond my control. Which is then followed by a long period of blissfully going back to the old ways of doing things while keeping myself so busy or distracted by entertainments that I don't think about the various failures or the passing time.

Realization hit this morning, in the form of a dream from which I awoke at 4am. A very realistic dream, actually. Nothing fading or out, and nothing incongruous like winged giraffes. It was just me at a party for New Years Eve 2008. It had just turned to 2009 when I said "It's 2009 already, and I forgot to have a life." And there I was surrounded by friends I've lost contact with or consciously abandoned, and by successful people who merely tolerate me, and lots of strangers who barely recognize that I exist.

(That last reminds me of a scene from the old Whiny-Something... I mean, 30-Something, where Tim Busfield explained that the worst symptom of aging was to become invisible to teenagers. Okay, he said "teenage girls," but we have different priorities.)

So I came out of that dream very aware that
- I have a mostly enjoyable job that pays me too little to live on,
- that I have thousands of dollars in debt that I haven't paid toward since November,
- that I have two medical conditions going untreated because of money,
- that I'm living in the spare bedroom of friends but this won't last forever, and
- that I'm still doing nothing to manifest my various aspirations and dreams.

And the old question persists: will I change my ways and do something, or go back to entertaining and distracting myself so I can ignore my problems while conditions continue to decline?

The first order of business seems to be to get some control over my financial situation. I see two fundamental necessities here. One is to contact my debtor and make whatever arrangement I can with them to begin paying them off. The second is to secure more income, so that I can move into my own place and take care of various things that need attention.

It always seems to come down to money with me. I'm still rather proud of the fact that I've always been more concerned with things like truth and honourable behaviour than I have with money and ambition. Over the years, I often thought that the friends I had from college were all so greedy and materialistic, and I was sometimes rather ashamed of them. And it's been a bit galling to be repeatedly surpassed by people that I felt myself superior to. But I need to be more realistic. I don't value money, but in this society one needs money to have security and a measure of power over one's own life, and those are things I do value.

(Sorry to be so maudlin on a Tuesday, but I guess that dream really got to me. And, please, no comments about how I should just go back to bed when this happens. I actually like to think about these things. The unexamined life, and all that.... Thinking and analysis are good things, generally. With me, it's just the action that's failing.)

Eating Out Doors

Marco Dapper, in a recent photo
by Orange county photographer Sonny Tong.

(Incidentally, to all of you from whose Websites I've stolen photographs,
I offer this blanket apology if I don't give credit where it is due.
The truth is that I simply haven't kept track of where I took some photo from,
so I can't always mention the source -- at least my source, if not the original.)

While looking around to find links for this posting, I came across this quotation from Marco in some magazine interview: "My roommate says 'You're one of the gayest straight guys I know'." I can relate, because I'm always hearing just the opposite. Gays think I'm straight, and straight women think I'm gay. It's very bad for business, so to speak.

I had Marco on the mind because I spend so much of yesterday watching Eating Out 2. I love the moment when someone says "I'm bisexual," and everyone else -- straight and gay -- yells "There's no such thing!" I can relate to that too.

The movie's only 2 years old, but Marco's body has certainly matured and hardened, but I think I still kinda prefer the younger version. Here are a couple of stills from the movie for comparison's sake.

This is a still from Marco's first scene, where he's just stripped down to nothing to pose for an art class. Only three students in that class have any lines, but they're all drooling enough to ruin anything they'd drawn.

Behind him is the supposedly straight art teacher (played, I think, by Michael Serrato) who makes a point of mentioning his "wife" in practically every utterance so we'll know he's straight. That about as effective as the joke I made on YouTube that Ryan Daharsh "can't be gay. He's from Nebraska."

And this still is from a scene that had Marco stripped to his underwear and posing for erotic photos with Marc (with a C), played by Brett Chukerman. The camera stops, but they keep going.

Of all the guys in this film, I think I'm most jealous of Nicholas James.

Not only is he gorgeous in and out of his wetsuit, but he's appeared in two films so far: one with Marco Dapper, and one with Kevin Gould. That lucky blue-eyed bitch!

Hang Time to Relax

Actually, there wasn't much jumping. (Okay, none.)

But it was pretty good day. Slept an extra three hours (for a total of eight). Sat in the warm sunshine and finished a book. Did some cleaning. Then I finally saw Speed Racer.

Web Crawl on your Belly

The fine people at ReligiousFreaks.com have shown me this sweet 4-minute film by 23-year-old Lena Khan. She won the One Nation, Many Voices contest sponsored by the Muslim-American Website One Nation.

Don't be put off by the fact that I made a still of the only serious shot in the film. It really is sweet.

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I've seen bits and pieces of the 20-year-old Bill O'Reilly tirade and some of the Stephen Colbert parody, but I hadn't seen the entire thing until I found this at The Brad Blog.

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Hurray! I get to remove Get Bolton Buff!, last year's six-month chronicle of an Aussie's quest to add muscle to his body in time for summer. Last winter (my winter = his summer), it went silent for a while, but as of this month he's blogging again. Welcome back, mate.