Strictly Cum Dancing

I've never really watched Strictly Come Dancing because generally I find watching dancing pretty boring. I do however tend to get quite addicted to The X Factor, singing is much more entertaining overall.

Mind you, I don't like the new format of the X Factor auditions, I don't really understand why they changed it and I don't think it works. So I haven't been that bothered about watching it, just caught some of it since it started.

Meanwhile, BBC1 is obviously pinning a lot of hope on Strictly Come Dancing which has already had a great deal of controversy after the female judge Arlene Phillips was replaced with the much younger Alesha Dixon, she of ex-Misteeq and The Boy Does Nothing fame. Fortunately, they have roped in a good selection of interesting guests, including a few reasonably attractive male celebs, for a change! That might persude me to watch it a bit more! Rav Wilding (left) is more my type, though I can see why Hollyoaks' Ricky Whittle (right, with dance partner) has a certain appeal as well.

Apparently in practice, Rav has burst out of his trousers several times, and he's now got reinforced ones because his thighs are so thick! We likey.

I can't remember but I think it might be starting this Saturday, in which case I'll miss it as I'm at a wedding.

Pity poor Natalie Cassidy (better known as Sonia from Eastenders) as the look they've given her for the promo screams "DRAG QUEEN" more than the FIERCE she was no doubt aiming for. Hope for her sake she can get that sorted for the start of the show!

Skinnyist

The other day at work, it was a colleague's birthday, so they brought in the obligatory cakes. (Why is it that when it's your birthday, you bring in cakes - surely other people should be bringing them to you, and generally serving you and being your b*tch?)

Anyway, so there's this girl at work who's very slim, she's pretty and I like her although I don't have much to do with her. She was sort of umming and ahhing about which cake to have, and a few of the other women were making comments like "Go on, get some meat on your bones" and "You're too skinny that'll fatten you up!" etc.

She looked kind of embarrassed and uncomfortable and I felt bad for her! Even though I mock fat people behind their back I wouldn't go up to one and say "Oi fatty, lay off the pies a bit eh?" It's just rude.

So why is it acceptable to rinse someone out for being skinny? I guess it's really jealousy as not being mean, but the people making the comments could have stood to lose a few pounds, and I guess it's their way of justifying having the cake. But it kind of bugged me, it reminded me of when I was skinny and I didn't appreciate being called on it.

Even now, if someone refers to me as skinny it bugs me, even though I know I am pretty solid now and they really just mean that I'm athletic build.

Perhaps next time it's my birthday and I bring in cakes, I should have a fat and a skinny table, and direct people to them accordingly!

Still

I am your joy and your regret.

I am your fury and your elation.

I am your yearning and your sweat.

I am your faithless and your religion.

I see you altering history.
I see you abusing the land.
I see you, your selective amnesia,
And I love you still.

And I love you still.

Men's Health

I've been reading Men's Health magazine for a long time - when I was a teenager I would steal my brother's copy, and then I started getting it for myself. I've always thought it was a good quality lifestyle mag with interesting articles, even though the likes of "Give Her Multiple Orgasms - TONIGHT" and "16 Ways to Turn Her On" weren't really my sort of thing!

The MH Cover Model was always a really good looking guy with a fantastic body - really inspirational/aspirational stuff. You'd see the cover and think "I want to be that guy!" and then buy the magazine hoping to find out how you could get there (which let's face it is kind of unrealistic, but hey).

However I have noticed in recent years a worrying trend towards the cover model becoming leaner and leaner. Much like the trend for Size Zero in women's modelling, is the traditional 'beefcake' male model now on the decline, making room for the lean version?

Each year for the past several, MH have run a reader's cover model competition where the 'average guy' can send in photos and get shortlisted to appear on the cover. In previous years, this comp was won by the likes of Graeme Peacock and Oliver Foster, guys who weren't bodybuilders by any means, but had strong, solid well built bodies. The kind that I want to achieve.



The latest winner however (and indeed the models they've used recently) is not what I'd consider aspirational.



Sure, he's in good shape, but he's just lean basically and not what I'd consider well-built. Perhaps I'm just being a bit harsh, or maybe I'm out of touch with what guys like to look like these days? Am I locked into a muscle mary mentality?

In comparison, MH's rival mag Men's Fitness still seems to be using cover models who have strong, solid and well-built physiques, so perhaps they are aiming more towards the guys who want that kind of physique. Maybe I should switch allegiance?

True Blood

So if anyone hasn't seen True Blood yet, here it is in a nutshell: vampires have gone public, some people like them some don't, a town called Bon Temps in Louisiana is a Very Bad Place to live if you value your life but great if you're into cheap booze, sex and fried foods.

It is one of the best things on TV at the moment, adapted from the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris, by Alan Ball, the guy behind Six Feet Under (which I've never ever seen but I'm assured by many, including the bf, that it is Good TV). Mainly centres around a love affair between a telepathic human waitress (Sookie Stackhouse, played with plenty of punch and fizz by an excellent Anna Paquin) and a vampire, Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer). However, they aren't the only characters, it's very much an ensemble kind of show.

It's funny, clever, sharp, sexy, scary, supernatural, emotional - basically everything that I like in a TV show. I also like how vampirism is used as an allegory for race/homosexuality/other minority group, and how they add more supernatural elements to it as it goes on (shapeshifters, werewolves and maenads so far).

I'm currently up to speed with US audiences too, and there's just the last episode of Season 2 to go now, which I believe should be airing on Sunday night. Looks set to be a belter!

The casting is spot on, in the main. Favourite characters are Lafayette and Tara - they both rock and I think the acting from both is brilliant and very multi-layered. One minute Tara is like a whirlwind of rage, the next delivering heart-breaking vulnerability. Lafayette is just a bad-ass, which for a cross-dressing short-order cook is no mean feat.

If you haven't watched it, you better start from the beginning - I think the DVD box set of Season 1 is out in the UK soon, so pre-order now!

Working Out

For a variety of reasons I haven't been to the gym for a week!

But, today I'm back on it - it's gonna hurt!

Planning on doing:

Dumb-bell bench press 3 x 8 @ 30kg each (will try for sets of 8 but have only just moved up to 30kg so we'll see)

Hammer curls 3 x 8 @ 17.5kg each

Single-arm bent over row 3 x 8 @ 30kg (should be ok with 30s for these)

Decline barbell bench press 3 x 8 @ 50kg (25kg each side plus whatever the bar weighs - 15kg? not sure, I should check that).

Shrugs - 3 x 8 with 25kg plates

Might...big might...do some deadlifts, depending on how energetic I feel. My deadlift weight is woeful because it's not something I have done much before (stupid I know) so I'm probably looking at 20kg each side of the bar, see how I go.

Then whatever machines I feel like - likely 3 x 8 @ 55kg seated chest press, 3 x 8 @ 55kg seated row, 2 x 8 dips and chins @ bodyweight -15kg, seated shoulder press 3 x 8 @ 35kg and possibly lat pull downs.

Will see how I get on - am planning on going again Saturday, when I'll be doing some more squats (don't fancy doing any today as I've been cycling quite a bit this week and still have to tomorrow as well).

Still hoping to build a bit of muscle for holiday but given we're 5 1/2 weeks away now, realistically I won't add much - I'm going to watch my diet a bit more though and really make an effort to eat cleanly, as I would like ideally to be a bit more cut than I am currently - not only to look HOT in my new Aussiebums, but also then I will be able to justify gorging myself on all inclusive food and cocktails :-)

Francois Sagat

Third in a series of I don't know how many, I give you France's finest export, Francois Sagat:

Definitely one of the best porn stars around in my opinion - always looks uber hot and always gives good performances. I haven't really liked his very recent films as I haven't thought much of who he's been paired with (Matthew Rush recently for example, who I do not find at all attractive) but most of his other stuff is great. He has a really unique look (I suppose the tattoo is the main part of that) and although he's a bit odd and arty, that's kind of nice in a way as it shows he's not 1-dimensional.

I quite like the fact he doesn't take himself too seriously. There's something sexy about that.

Oh, and obviously he's pretty damn hot :-)

Shame I can't use any of the 'sexier' pics but I want to keep this blog clean :-)

Holiday Reading

Totally forgot in one of my last posts, I do still have to decide on my holiday reading list!

It's a great opportunity actually to catch up with a couple of the books I've had for a while and not gotten around to reading yet. One of which is:

American Gods by Neil Gaiman. I got this ages ago actually and just haven't started it yet for some reason. I think Gaiman has an amazing imagination and I don't really know much about this book other than it is meant to be good.

I haven't read a full novel from him before but other stuff I have read, I have loved. I think he's almost as good imagination-wise as Clive Barker!

Not 100% what else I want to take yet. Looking around the new releases, there's really not much that grabs me. I want a good mix of holiday reading, some lightweight and some more substantial. I will have a little look over my lunchbreak and see what's around, maybe build up an Amazon wishlist...

Cinema Cardinal Sins

As a pretty major film geek I spend a dispropotionately large amount of time in large dark rooms with total strangers...yes, the cinema! Therefore I have pretty much seen the full range of human (mis)behaviour that goes on in this kind of environment, and I feel compelled to list the top things that REALLY grind my nerves when watching a film, in the vain hope perhaps that someone might read them, recognise their own misdeeds and feel shame, changing their ways and spreading the word so that cinemas all over the land will become havens in this increasingly fucked up world.

This may be a top 10 but it depends how many I can think of... to be honest it might end up being more!

1. People Talking - really no need for this. I'm not above the odd softly-whispered comment to my partner but some stunningly rude individuals think they can sit and talk at regular volume throughout a film. This is NOT cool. If I wanted the Director's Commentary I would be watching the DVD at home in my living room, where you should stay if you can't shut the fuck up.
2. Mobile Phones. Fortunately, most people seem to have got the memo that it's Not Cool to chat away on a mobile during a film. There have been a couple of exceptions to this I can think of - during X2 (X-Men 2, you know, the best one) a guy took a call on his mobile and had a 30 second conversation. 31 seconds and I'd have been grabbing the management to get him chucked out. How'd you like that mutant ability, dickhead? Another occasion I saw an Americanised Indian film called American Desi and several of the predominantly Indian audience were on their phones and receiving loud texts throughout. This seemed to be accepted so I let it fly.
   
   However, the issue now, in this day of iPhones with large bright screens, is people checking messages, texts, e-mails, tweets/twats/toots throughout a film, presumably because they have the attention span of a gnat. This is exceedingly annoying, because in a darkened room a bright light draws the eye and it's very distracting. Multiply that by several people and it's starting to really grind on me. If you are one of these people, keep your phone in your pocket until the film is over, or don't go to the cinema if you are surgically attached and can't leave it alone for 2 hours!
3. Annoying Laughs - enough said really I suppose, but I hate people who have an annoying laugh, or laugh inappropriately, or in a really over-the-top, phony-sounding way. Totally takes me out of the film and I want to kill them.
4. Overpriced Snacks - in terms of drinks, I don't think cinema's are that bad. I mean, a Large Coke is around £3.15 I think, and considering you would pay £2.50 for a pint of it at a pub, and the Large Coke is larger than a pint, I don't have a problem with it. Food at the cinema is a different matter though. It's way overpriced. Fortunately this issue isn't hard to overcome - buy it from Tescos beforehand and smuggle it in! That's right, I'm not too proud.
5. Smelly People - it's bad enough when you are stuck next to a stinker on the Tube, but if you're stuck next to them at the cinema you know you're going to be stuck with their stink for at least 1 1/2 hours. No real way to avoid this, just try and sit on the end and make your partner/friends sit next to you so you are not stuck with someone immediately next to you. If someone is determined to stink though, if they are in front or behind it still might get you. Just fucking wash you skank!
6. Kicking Backs of Seats - this does my head in. I don't know whether people do this accidentally or willfully but it's hugely annoying. Sometimes it's unavoidable if you shift in your seat and accidentally bump the seat in front, but persistent offenders should be removed from the cinema and shot in the face with a pump-action shotgun.
7. Chomping/Rustling - it mystifies me really why popcorn ever became the premier snack for cinema, since it's possibly one of the noisiest snackfoods ever known to man. People scratching around their jumbo bucket only to stuff another huge mouthful of expanded corn kernals into their gaping maw is hugely annoying. Plus most the time they don't even eat all of it and end up spilling most of it over the floor. How come candy floss never became the snack of choice? It's silent.
8. People in Scary Films who are Totally OTT - most people have experienced this, you go to see a scary film and some douche in the audience is totally ruining the whole experience because they are going totally OTT and screaming at everything. If you're that scared then go watch something else.
9. Uncomfortable Chairs - considering you spend the entire time in a cinema seated, you'd think the cinema would have comfortable chairs. Some of them don't even have a decent back to them so you can't sit up straight and are forced to slouch. Ever seen a Lord of the Rings film in a cinema with bad seating? It's hell on Middle Earth.
10. People Clapping - it does my head in when people clap at the end of a film. Like the director/actors/writers/DP/crew/teaboy can even hear you, you fucktacular douche-sticks. This tends to be mostly seen at big geek films, and really, geeks should know better.

I think that's just about got it covered. Despite the fact that going to the cinema can be an experience fraught with frustration and barely contained homicide, I still love going. And with Orange's great 2 for 1 deal which I take advantage of most weeks, there's no excuse. This week I will be mostly watching The Final Destination and hopefully also Funny People.

Bank Holiday Weekend

The last Bank Holiday weekend of the year! If I had my way every weekend would be 3 days long, it makes such a difference. You really feel like you've had a break whereas a normal weekend sometimes goes past so quick you're back to work with a lighter wallet and heavier bags under the eyes before you know it!

Friday was a kick-back after a stress-filled week. I actually felt exhausted after all the travelling for my job interview and then the interview itself. I suppose when you're filled with adrenaline and then the event passes you have a kind of withdrawal effect afterwards and that was definitely the case! Despite getting lost on the way to the interview (ending up following a path through the woods, I do not exaggerate!) I made it in good time and generally felt it went well. Still haven't 100% decided if I'll accept it should they offer it so am weighing up the various pros and cons.

Saturday morning was mainly relaxation. I should probably have gone to the gym as I didn't go Friday (and I knew it was closed for Bank Holiday Monday) but I couldn't muster the motivation. I had a fairly long walk though. Stayed in again in the evening, wanting to conserve a) money and b) energy for the following day, for that was...



Yes it was the 10th Anniversary of Film4's FrightFest, a festival of horror films shown at the Empire, Leicester Square. Budget couldn't stretch to the full festival pass, which I'm actually glad of as I don't think I could handle 4 days of it, 1 full day was enough! Six films in one day, quite a mixed bag of different styles, there was only one I really didn't like, the others I enjoyed to varying degrees. I think on reflection my favourite was the adaptation of Clive Barker's 'Dread' which is a short story from his Books of Blood. I hadn't read that particular story before but have done so since seeing the film and I actually think the film improved on it! Quite unusual as I think Clive Barker is an absolute genius.

It's actually really tiring being in a cinema all day, despite the fact you are sat on your ass. Not to mention getting back really late (I'm not used to really late nights, must be getting old). Next day was mainly just mooching around and chilling out, oh and buying a car (not mine, the bf's). Bit more Mafia drama with C who came round for a drink, I gave my usual sage advice. I do understand why people put up with people they love behaving like twats but there has to come a time when enough is enough, or if you don't see any improvement you have to wonder why you're bothering.

Meanwhile, I still need to get a few items for holiday. I'm being very organised (for me) because I'm conscious of being away 2 weekends in September and I don't want to run out of time for shopping! I'm still planning on getting another pair of trunks, a bit briefer than the other pair for sunbathing purposes:




and then I want a pair of longer boardshort style ones which can be for watersports or just wandering around:



Aside from that, I need a new pair of sunglasses (cheap ones, I don't see the point in spending a lot for something I will no doubt break/lose) and I'd quite like some of those really light floaty kind of linen trousers, whether full length or calf length I dunno yet. I don't think I'll get an other clothes, unless I see the sort of vest I really want - I don't know how to describe the sort of vests I like, but basically block colour but the neck and arm edges are of a contrasting colour. I have no idea what this would be called so I can't even search online for it! Sometimes I see guys wearing them and want to go up and say "Where did you get this vest!?" like I'm a crazy person but I resist. Guess I just have to keep looking around and see if I can find it! Otherwise I've got my Diesel one and a couple of cheap white ones so not a big deal if I can't find it.

Apart from that, suncream! The bargain-hound in me will be sniffing out the reductions here as I reckon Boots etc will be doing half-price now that for most people holiday season is ending. I'm probably going to go for a Factor 25-30 and maybe a 15 for the second week!

Blogs I Like

OK, just a quick run down of the blogs I read regularly and why I read them!

Joe.My.God

I've read this blog for quite a while and it's been going for several years. Written by a 40-odd guy in NY, this originally started off with stories about gay life, love, etc, some of them funny, some of them sad, but all of them real and very well told. Lately the blog has shifted to be more political/news based which is good because I use it to catch up on the latest goings on around the world in terms of gay rights etc. It also includes the odd light-hearted article too and it's very regularly updated. One of the best gay blogs on the net IMO - Joe, you rock.

Am Not Blog

Think I stumbled across this blog from a link on London Preppy (see next). This is a 30-something guy in London who is originally from South Africa and works for the BBC. Again, he writes well and has a wry sense of humour, manages to get into the odd amusing scrape from time to time, and generally comes across as a really nice guy, the sort you'd love to just hang out with chatting all afternoon. I definitely recommend this blog, again it's updated daily and he really is a sweet guy and that's nice to see, especially in London which is full of poisonous vapid queens.

London Preppy

A very popular blog, not sure how long it's been going or how I first came across it, but this guy is (I think) late 20's and London-based, and he basically writes in a very world-weary, Bret-Easton-Ellis kinda style, sort of downbeat and 'over it' which I find very amusing and post-modern and shit. It doesn't hurt that he's rather easy on the eye too. I quite like the fact that he writes sort of 'in character' so you don't know what's fact and what's fiction, it adds a bit of flavour to a blog considering a lot are just basically diaries.

Gay Banker

Is what the title suggests - blog of a gay banker. He's quite a globe-trotter and seems to always have a man (or two...or three) on the go at once. For some reason he's treated as a kind of relationship agony uncle so troubled gay guys often e-mail in asking for advice which he then posts up. I don't always agree with everything he says but he writes well and does have some useful insights.

Belle de Jour

One of the first blogs I ever read, this is the famous blog about a (now ex) prostitute that has spawned a few books and a TV series starring Billie Piper in the titular role. Obviously, when I first started reading it back when she was still 'working' it was interesting because of the situations etc she described, but she's such a good writer and I love her turn of phrase. Not updated very much these days sadly, but check out the archives for some great reading material.

Confessions of a Muscler

Another one I came across from London Preppy I think. The poor Muscler is a rather tragic character, always looking for love but never quite getting there. He comes across as a really sweet and nice guy so although I enjoy reading about his ups and downs, I hope he finds some happiness soon!

Geek Slut

I used to read this a while ago, basically a blog of a guy who despite being a big computer geek, was also a mega slut! He has a very distinctive writing style and was great to read, though his blog has been down for ages now. I hope it will reappear at some point.

Left 4 Dead DLC

Apparently there's some new DLC content coming for the original Left 4 Dead prior to the release of Left 4 Dead 2 - it's called Crash Course, and it's due to hit in September.

The sting is that for PC gamers, this DLC is going to be free...but for Xbox 360, it's going to cost MS points! I'm not sure how much right now, but of course I'm going to pay it...just a bit galling that I'll be paying for something that PC players get for free. I personally think this is a bad move but I read somewhere that Valve had their hands tied by Microsoft and they weren't able to offer it for free...if that's the case and we either have it and pay for it, or don't have it at all, then I'd rather pay!

Crash Course is meant to be a mini-campaign (so probably not the full 5 levels of each of the original campaigns) that fills in the blanks between when the survivors escaped from the rooftop at the end of No Mercy, and the beginning of Death Toll. The assumption is that the 'copter crashed, probably because the pilot turned into a zombie (if you listen to him at the end of No Mercy you can hear he got bit and now he's not feeling too good). Anyway, this is probably going to be the last time we get to play as Francis, Bill, Louis and Zoey and I can't frickin' wait!!

The Society of Others

Just in case you were interested...

The title of this blog "The Society of Others" is unashamedly stolen from the title of the novel by William Nicholson, which I read a few years ago and thought was amazing.

You can buy it here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Society-Others-William-Nicholson/dp/055277202X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251362795&sr=8-1

Here's what a couple of critics say about it:

JACK 'Slick, pacy period piece from one of the UK’s most successful thriller writers.'

The Times 'Very good...Kafka lurks in the background through all this...concerning how to remain human amidst inhumanity.'

I love books that have philosophies weaved into them, and this is a perfect example of that. Not only is it a great read, but it makes you think - really satisfying experience.

In fact, I think I might take it with me on holiday and read it again! Or find some of his other novels and give them a go. Not sure yet what my holiday reading list is going to be but I want a good mix, and probably going to take at least 6 books!

Pedro Andreas/Daniel Carlos

Another porn star (and one that is much more my type than the aforementioned Marco Blaze) that is fairly ubiquitous right now is Pedro Andreas, real name Daniel Carlos. He used to be one half of the power-porn-couple Marvin and Andreas, along with Daniel Marvin - but they split up earlier this year I think. Daniel Marvin is ok but Pedro is definitely the better of the two!

Not only is he good looking, has a great body, and er... nice equipment!!! But when he performs he really puts the effort in and looks like he's into it, which for me is important for it to be horny! I do have a few of his films now and the good thing is that the bf likes him too :-) If I'm being critical I don't really like his lip piercing and he often seems to wear that chunky chain around his neck which I'm not a fan of, but hey, that's nit-picking - plus I prefer when he's got a bit of a hairy chest.

Don't know much about him personally other than he's from Argentina I think... what is it about South America that produces good quality porn stars?? Where's all the UK studs, eh? About the only 'big name' English porn star I can think of is Ross Hurston - surely there's more of them around!

Anyway, enjoy the non-explicit pics of Pedro/Daniel and if you like, feel free to search for the ruder ones! :-)

Long Delay

OK, so after an initial flurry of posts I admit my interest in blogging did wane quite a bit.

Mostly because I have been quite busy with various things! Moving out of my flat, and work.

Now really looking forward to my holiday - 2 weeks on a beautiful beach, nothing but eating, drinking, relaxation and water sports (no, not those kind of water sports!)

Meanwhile, I have a few more weeks of work to get through first, which I'm really not enjoying. I've kind of lost interest recently and find it hard to get motivated. I have an interview coming up for a new job which I'd really like to get, so fingers crossed and wait and see.

Oh, and in the end I went for these trunks:





Which look really good, though not quite as good as on the above guy - still, a few weeks more gym and then a nice tan and I won't be far off :-)