MasculineCurves

life, or something like it...

Wassup fellas?! It's been a while since I've actually blogged about life on here. And despite the fact that my other blog Life of a DesperateArtist is supposedly my personal journal blog (I haven't updated it in months - still not certain if I want to try and do two blogs), I thought I'd catch you all up on life, or something like it... Be forewarned, this post is unedited and off the cuff, so please bare with me on my grammer and spelling.

So I'm driving a new car these days. Okay, so it's not actually new, it's "certified pre-owned" which is a fancy way of saying used. Last month on a cold icy night I found myself colliding into another car. No injuries, but two totalled automobiles. And that was the end of my beloved Honda Accord and now I'm in a Toyota Scion xA. It's quite a bit smaller than what I'm used to, but that's okay with me. It gets great gas mileage and is a rather cute zippy car with a lot of pep. 

What else is going on? Hhhmmm... Well, I am still working a corporate job that I absolutely loathe. That situation isn't changing, nor resolving itself, and it's the bane of my existence. I can honestly say this job is the source of any and all unhappiness I'm experiencing in my life at the moment. I turned 36 last October and this month marked my 12th year working for this company. This means I've literally spent a third of my life at this job. In these twelve years my hair has thined, turned a bit gray and I've gained 50 pounds. To say I'm stuck in a rut is an understatement, but I'm not quite certain how to get myself out of this situation. I could look for another job, but I know that the corporate world is no longer a good fit for me. I guess one could say that I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up. Which is odd, because I've been an adult half my life. I still have this dream of travelling the world and being a photo-blogger. I suppose it's more of a fantasy than a practical reality, but it at least has me thinking about launching a kickstarter campaign to support some iteration of this dream.

Speaking of photography, I've sorta put down my camera for the time being. Part of the reasoning behind that is lack of any free time outside of my miserable job, part of it is finances. Yes, it also takes money to hire guys to step in front of the camera. I don't know if I'll get the opportunity to do much shooting this year, but I do hope to finally publish my long anticipated (only by me) photo book. I don't want to jinx the book by talking too much about it, but it is almost complete. It will be a retrospective of my male nude art series from 2004-2011. It's currently in layout, the narrative is complete, and I am fortunate to have a friend editing it. So look for that to come this year.

All that said, let's end this post on a good note. The most exciting thing that's happening in my life right now is the fact that I've rediscovered yoga. I first got into yoga about four years ago but somehow fell out of practice. I was inspired to start practicing again when a friend of mine invited me to try out a Bikram studio that recently opened here in Cleveland. As it turns out I'm not really a Bikram yoga kind of guy. Although it's very physical there's absolutely nothing meditative or theraputic about it. I did, however, find another studio which is fitting that need, Cleveland Yoga. Here the instructors follow the Baron Baptiste philosophy of power Vinyasa, which is both physical and meditative. I'm two weeks into my practice and I've already dropped about six pounds. Which almost  seems too good to be true, but it is amazing yoga. And although I do love the meditative aspects of yoga, I won't lie I am looking to reap the physical benefits as well. Yoga is the one thing in my day that I actually look forward to. Especially after a long day at my crazy job.

Anyways, that's all for now. I have to go clean my mat and get ready for yoga. And that's life, or something like it...

Any given Sunday...

Photographer McKenzie James, of salacious The Naked Sunday Project tumblr blog fame, answers a reader's question as to whether the photos are actually taken on Sundays. Here's his response. Above, model Jeremiah by McKenzie James.

I want your love (a review of Shame)

Although it’s been in limited release for some time now, Steve McQueen’s highly acclaimed Shame just showed up in indie theaters in Cleveland this week and I finally saw it last night.  In case you haven’t heard the buzz yet, Shame chronicles a few days in the life of sex addict Brandon Sullivan (Michael Fassbender) who is forced to curtail feeding his addiction when his sister (Carrie Mulligan) shows up for an unexpected visit. 

This movie has been on my mind all day. I initially walked away from the theater a little confused on how I felt about the film, but the more it weighs on my mind the more it gives me to think about. Shame is a highly stylized piece with gorgeous cinematography that art-house fans will love. On the other hand it moves at a slow pace and its seemingly intentional lack of a formal plot will frustrate mainstream movie audiences. Don’t get me wrong, the subject is compelling and a great deal of emotional range is explored by Fassbender and Mulligan (Mulligan is worthy of a best-supporting here). The story is about the relationship between these siblings and what they may have experienced in their childhood that lead to them becoming the adults they turned out to be. I think one of the most memorable movie lines ever was born here when Mulligan says “We’re not bad people. We just come from a bad place.” Which in and of itself is as intense and disturbing as their uncomfortable relationship.

Like I mentioned, McQueen’s cinematography is stunning and captures the gritty hues of New York City night life.  But for me, the unexpected element is the lush soundtrack which appropriately evokes all the indulgence of Studio 54 book-ended by somber interludes of an orchestral score by Harry Escott. In fact, Shame’s soundtrack is responsible for re-acquainting me with Chic’s I Want Your Love, my iTunes download for the day.

So is it worth $9.50 to see in theaters? All in all, I would say yes. That is if you have patience for this type of movie. I would best describe it as a simple character study of a complex character who never really evolves or comes to an epiphany. That is, until the very final seen where the look on Brandon’s face says it all (you’ll know what I’m talking about if you see the movie). 

And now the stuff gay people like: 

1. Michael Fassbender naked... like a lot in this film. He has a perfect torso and great ass! As an added bonus we even get a few quick glimpses of the full front.
2. Fassbender’s really awesome wardrobe. I only wish I were as lean as him so I could look just as good in pea coats and scarfs.
3. Carey Mulligan’s wrenching rendition of “New York, New York.”
4. One gay bathhouse scene.

Naked Yoga?

In a quest to find my true self I've taken up yoga, again (I've been out of practice for a few years). I'm currently practicing at a studio on the east side, but I'm aware of a studio on the west side that offers a men's naked yoga class. I have to say, I can barely keep my eyes to myself whenever there's a hot guy doing yoga with clothes, so I don't think I'd be a good fit for naked yoga. Oh well, it's something to think about at least....

the best thing I've seen on the interwebz all day...

 

All I can say is this deserves an award. And it's Parisian too! More here.

Major Dreads

One day, on my way to work, I came across a guy with some major dread locks. I found this look so compelling that I had to capture it.

Joyful Noise, an Unexpected Delight

I have to admit I was a bit skeptical when I first saw the previews for Joyful Noise featuring a Dolly Parton/Queen Latifah collaboration. Granted they’re both unbelievable talents in their own rights, but I was of the opinion that this unlikely pairing seemed to be a desperate Hollywood attempt to get middle America rushing to the box office. Well it worked, because I went right out and saw Joyful Noise opening weekend.

After having seen the film I can say that Joyful Noise is indeed a “delightful sight.” Parton and Latifah work so well on screen that I hope they go on to make Joyful Noise 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. While the plot is nothing new to movie goers, the underdog prepares for the big competition as egos get in the way, this film is loaded with laugh out loud one-liners and touching sentimental moments. There were a few scenes where even I teared up a bit. It uses the “Glee” formula to tell the story through dialogue interwoven with songs showcasing the casts’ talent. I would dare say that youngins Keke Palmer and Jeremy Jordan nearly steal the show but that would be undermining the fact that Parton and Latifah ARE the show. And who would of thought to put Kris Kristofferson in a movie these days? Even if it is for only five minutes of screen time.

So is it worth $9.50 to see it on the big screen? Well, let me just say, you can’t put a price on seeing Dolly Parton cover Chris Brown, can you?

And now the stuff gay people like:

1. Dolly Parton
2. Dolly Parton’s “specially” tailored choir robe (okay, well I guess older straight men might like this too, but it’s fahbulous!)
3. Queen Latifah
4. Queen Latifah’s making snarky remarks about Parton’s plastic surgery
5. Jeremy Jordan has one shirtless scene (we don’t have to feel guilty because despite the fact he’s playing a teenager, the actor himself is in his mid-twenties).

all the world loves a clown...

Clearly I’m not a vocalist, but I imagine Take a Bow can’t be easy to sing given the demanding range the song requires (and Madonna was only able to do it with Babyface backing her up). But Mikey Busto’s cover is probably one of the best vocal covers I’ve heard on YouTube in a long time. His falsetto is amazing. Busto, a former Canadian Idol finalist, is also quite the YouTube commedian. His Filipino Skin Tutorial bit is ROTFLMAO.

a speedo named desire...

(via Tap That Guy) His body is shear perfection... not that I'm objectifying him or anything.

Happy Valley

I’m not religious, but I’m intrigued by the culture of religion in a voyeuristic way. That’s why this kickstarter photography project might be worth getting off the ground.

Blonde Venus Ambition

When I googled images for "Marlene Dietrich" in search of a pic to use for a potential upcoming blog post I came across this publicity still from the 1932 flim Blonde Venus. Upon first glance I knew I had seen this look referenced in popular culture before, but where?...

This is interesting in that Madonna is the pop culture queen and her video for Deeper and Deeper is actually an homage to the father of pop culture, Andy Warhol (this is blantantly obvious to Warhol fans). So now I'm scratching my head trying to figure out the Warhol tie to Dietrich.

For Colored Girls...

Finally, Black Barbie gets a more afro-centric hairstyle. Shame on Mattel for not thinking of this, but luckily a women's group in Columbus, GA did.  Now black moms can learn how to turn Barbie's weave into Foxy Brown's fro and give their daughters (or sons) a more positive image of blackness. 

His Airman, My Marine

"His Airman, My Marine" is the caption for this adorably cute pic featured on this adorably cute tumblr blog chronicling the relationship of this adorably cute military couple.

Did you know Joyce Vincent?

She wasn’t an alcoholic. She didn’t smoke. She didn’t take drugs. So how is it possible that Joyce Vincent lay dead in her apartment for three years before anyone noticed? Especially since everything about her was exotic, beautiful, and immaculate. Dreams of a Life is a docu-drama that paints an imaginary portrait intertwined with interviews of the real-life people who knew Joyce Vincent before she died unnoticed in her London flat. Unfortunately, we won’t get to see Dreams of a Life anytime soon as it is only playing in the UK. Hopefully it will make it to the US by film festival season.

 

 

Back on the 365

I'm hell bent on not doing one of those cliche blogger New Year posts where I refelect on my biggest accomplishments and greatest disappointments of 2011. Though I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge my regret over the fact that I didn't keep up with my iPhoneography project SpinCycle365 last year. I only made it about 210 days before I abandoned the project due to the perceived notion that I had too much going on to be bothered (otherwise known as laziness). Anyways, I'm going to give it another shot for 2011. Above is my first urban landscape of the new year taken on the first day of the year. Check out SpinCycle365 to see what I found in my garage on the second day of the year. It absolutely creeped me out and prompted an erratic call to the landlord.

Mantique: Michael Ontkean

Because I’m a David Lynch fan (Mullholland Drive is still one of my favorite films of all time) I’ve been revisiting his series Twin Peaks on Netflix. Twin Peaks is a show I hardly paid any attention when it was current, but then again I was a chubby teenager more interested in the happenings of a set of twins named Brenda and Brandon who resided in a specific California zip code and hung out at a place called the Peach Pit.

Now that I’ve re-discovered Twin Peaks I’ve also discovered a new mantique crush, Michael Ontkean who plays sheriff Harry S. Truman. After IMDBing Ontkean I was surprised to discover he was already in his mid-40s by the time he made the series despite a boyish face that defies age. 

(Twin Peaks cast L to R: Joan Chen, Michael Ontkean, Kyle MacLachlan, and Piper Laurie)

Upon further internet research I discovered Ontkean also starred in a 1982 film called Making Love,  where he played a doctor married to a beautiful television executive (played by The Kate Jackson) who struggles with his loyalty to his wife and his homosexual tendencies. Making Love also stars a young and yummy Harry Hamlin as Ontkean’s male love interest. So needless to say I’m anxious to see this film.

(Making Love cast: L to R Michael Ontkean, Kate Jackson, and Harry Hamlin)

Ontkean's hay day as a hearththrob seemed to come in the late 70s early 80s given his credits as a leading character during this time. If you're as big of a fan of the 80s as I am then you might recognize him as the hunky chauffer in the 1987 Ally Sheedy film Maid to Order (did I mention I love cheesy 80s movies?)

(Ontkean in still from Made to Order)

Ontkean will turn 66 on January 24th and is still acting today. He can most recently be seen in George Clooney’s The Descendants.  Below is a late-2000s image of Ontkean and it looks as though he still defies the test of time.

Brian Stinger: Lost and Found

One of my most commented posts on this blog was a post titled "whatever happened to Brian Stinger." And now, thanks to comments left by readers I've been able to solve this near decade-old mystery. If you were a fan of Mr. Stinger's (aka Scorpion) then you may recall that he performed in a few Enrique Cruz productions around the start of the century (1999/2000-ish) and then seemingly vanished from the gay adult film industry altogether. I had once read in a magazine (*cough* Black Inches) that he was bipolar and prone to pulling disappearing acts during episodes of mania. Not certain if that was true or just fantastical porn mythology. But as it turns out, Mr. Stinger has spent the better part of the last decade in the Florida state penitentiary. The above pic is the most recent pic I can find on the web. I'm not certain I'm digging the tear drop prison tatts on his face, but I was once an admirer of the scorpion art on his err... umm... endowment. Brian Stinger, or Ronald Lang as he is better known by the law, was charged with robbery with a deadly weapon and incarcerated from October 2002 to July 2010. Source: Florida Department of Corrections http://www.dc.state.fl.us/InmateReleases/detail.asp?Bookmark=1&From=list&SessionID=503858184

Hustling: An Original Web Series

Just caught the pilot webisode of Sebastian La Cause’s Hustling: An Original Web Series and I would describe it as satire at its best. Not to sound cliché, and I mean this in the most flattering way possible, but it’s sorta Desperate Housewives meets Sex and the City meets Weeds, if only those shows were about the extraordinary happenings of an aging male prostitute. So what happens when high-end escort and porn star Ryan Crosby (La Cause) comes to the realization that he’s about to turn 40 and his clients are no longer willing to pay top dollar? ....hhmm, it’s bound to be absolutely titillating. See the pilot episode here. And be sure to check out cast interviews and a full review over at BoyCulture.

the invention of the rock star...

This 1839 portrait of German composer Franz Liszt by Henri Lehmann definitely puts me in the mind of what rock stars must've looked like way before there were rock stars. This and other fun stuff here.

yep, that's Marlon...

(via Tap That Guy) Looks as though some lucky New Yorker spotted my male supermodel crush Marlon Teixeira on the subway.

Oh, and in case you're in need of a reminder of what he looks like in a more, uhm, compromising position.... 

(photo by Terry Richardson)