MasculineCurves

Rejection...

If you're a blogger, then perhaps you understand this feeling, if you're not a blogger then this post will probably come across narcissistic and self-absorbed. I just noticed that one of my blogging colleagues, in which we had exchanged links on each other's blogs a while back, has removed the link to my blog on his page. I can't help but feel rejected. Did I say something wrong? Am I not articulate enough? Am I not creative enough? Is this an oversight? Why did my little space on the web fall off his influential list of notable blogs? Now I will obsess about this... for a few moments, then move on...

I heard it through the grapevine...

It's no secret that the gay blogosphere can be fickle and clique-ish, but I try not to get caught up in all this he-said/he-said stuff. However, recently it's been brought to my attention that another gay blogger has been out there trying to claim ownership of some of my photos, and may quite possibly be posting them to his blog as his own work. When I first heard this I was sorta flattered and found it hilarious that someone would actually try to emulate my amateurish artistic expression. But in the same token I was irked that some lame blogger would have the audacity to visit my blog, right click an image, post it elsewhere and attempt to lay claim to it. Especially since I pour my blood, sweat, and tears into producing my own original vision of the male physique. Not to mention shelling out my hard earned dollars to pay the guys who pose for me. Just lame, I say. And I have a message for this blogger. I know who you are and I'm keeping an eye on your blog. Let me take this opportunity to remind you that copyright infringement is a Federal offense and easy to prove.

Now don't get me wrong, I love it when blogger's use my images for editorial (non-commercial) use on their blogs. It's very flattering and encourages me to continue doing what I do. If you have a blog and would like to use an image you see here for editorial content, I kindly ask that you follow these simple guidelines:

1) Non-commercial use only - This means you may use the image for editorial content, but not as an advertisement or endorsement for a product or service. An example of commercial usage would be using one of my images in a banner to promote and/or brand your blog. (Note: for commercial use you'll need express written consent from me.)

2) Please do not alter the image in any manner. Resizing to fit your blog's specs is okay. But please do not crop, colorize, or use any other technique to alter the feel and tone of the image. As the photographer and post-production artist, the end result is how I intended the image to be seen.

3) If you'd be so courteous as to provide a photo credit and a link back to this blog in your post I'd be oh-so-appreciative.

You know, it's occur ed to me that there are so many bloggers out there who are really good at what they do as far as entertaining and thought leadership on their blogs. But when it comes to image usage there is a lot, and I mean a lot of copyright infringement all over the place. When is it okay to use an image you found on the net? And when could it cost you a lawsuit?  What is the difference between editorial use and commercial use? It can get confusing. As a marketing professional (day job) with a mass-communications background I feel somewhat qualified to cover this topic. So check back soon for a follow-up post on this matter.

Quote of the Week

What are they saying in the (black) LGBT blogosphere? I haven't done a "quote of the week" post on here in some time, but I couldn't resist posting this little nugget:

"...OF COURSE I'm biased. This is MY blog, MY opinions. If you don't like it, I'm sure Jasmyne Cannick will welcome you with open arms."

ka-os theory bogger responds to a commenter on his blog regarding his post on BGC's apparent Apartheid movement. This witty comeback had me ROTFLMAO!

M.A.L.E. It's about us...

Wassup fellas. Today I thought I'd point you all in the direction of a truly hot blog in which I believe is becoming a leading voice in the black gay community, MALE. I'm not giving props to MALE only because I've been asked to contribute to the blog (and I designed the blog's headers), but props are well-deserved to its creater, my blogging buddy, Ian (of Chocolate&Salsa and Weilding the Axe fame). Ian has done a remarkable job pulling together some of the most creative, compelling, and insightful bloggers in the black LGBT blogosphere to collaborate on MALE. So if you're looking for a fresh new voice to add to your "daily reads" MALEis your source. Check it out! Perhaps, once in a while, I'll post my two cents there as well...

Quote of the Week

This week’s quote evoked mixed emotions throughout the blogosphere. It’s the now infamous listing on Pride City Guide promoting a nightclub event in which only HIV negative people are invited to attend. Entertainment blogger Clay Cane was the first to bust the story and bring it to our attention on Tuesday.

"The verbiage of the listing is frightening, especially the last line, 'we must understand that HIV- people are the future' The language is the equivalent to Eugenics and the "master race" dogma." Clay Cane

And if you haven’t seen the listing, here’s the link.

The concept of the event and the word choice used in the ad has drawn quite a critical reaction from bloggers both for and against it. Whether the event was conceived with a holocaustic notion, or the ad was unintentionally scripted in poor taste, the situation has served as a catalyst for a very important discussion. The matter of fact is that unless HIV tests are administered at the door, there is simply no way of knowing a person’s HIV status. If we assume (or led to believe through the association of an event like this) the person we are with is HIV negative, have we actually posed the question before hitting the sheets? That’s why if we choose to be sexual beings we must treat every encounter as if our partner is HIV positive. Even if he says he’s not, there is no 100% guarantee. So protecting ourselves is simple; use a condom each and everytime. If anyone out there is naive enough to think they have never slept with an HIV positive man, then think again.

Here’s what other bloggers had to say on the issue:

"But is this a support group or a dating association? I’m unclear. A gathering of gay men in a bar setting, each assuming they are meeting other HIV-negative men, sounds potentially dangerous to me." J. Brotherlove

"There are many dating support groups out there for poz guys and a similar service for HIV- guys doesn't strike me as inherently wrong. Still, I don't like the wording of this ad, [it] really pisses me off and the title of the event is flat out offensive." Joe. My. God.

Video of the Day: It’s Nick, B!tch!

Here’s an up and coming web-lebrity that I think readers of this blog are going to like (wink). Nick Connell is a student at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and is blazing up YouTube with this melodic cover of Britney Spears’ Gimme More. According to his YouTube page, he claims to be a pop music fanatic and promises to post his very own version of the latest chart toppers each week. In fact, this cutie even invites his fans to email him their requests. Now, I’m sure we can come up with a few requests for Nick. Anyone?

Nick’s official sites:

nicholasconnell.com

YouTube

MySpace
(be sure to check out his hot little cover of Pussycat Dolls’ Buttons)

Quote(s) of The Week

“Like most revolutions it starts with the individual and I am trying my best to do my part in strengthening gay/straight relations in this country. That starts with me not looking at other guys in the locker room.” Adam’s Web Log

It’s been a while since I’ve posted quotes from the blogging community. My day job has been quite intense lately, and it’s all I can do to keep up with my own blog, let alone find time to peruse the blogosphere.

However, today I came across Adam's Web Log and was so impressed that I chose to add it to the MasculineCurves A-List. Adam is a web and graphic designer up in Harlem, NYC, and when I read his bio I discovered we have something in common—a strong dislike for the design disaster of a social networking site called MySpace.

With witty commentary, short stories, and down-to-earth grit, Adam's blog serves up an intelligent and entertaining read that's definitely worthy of a daily visit. Oh, and check out his photo gallery…he’s a sexy brotha too!

Hiatus

August is rolling to an end, and thus concludes our summer blogging season. This desperate blogger is taking a brief hiatus to enjoy the final days of nice weather in Cleveland. The MasculineCurves blog  will return with all new posts on Tuesday, September 4th.

Thanks for stopping by...and see you back here soon!  -Aaron

Quote(s) of The Week

Here's what the blogosphere had to say this week:

In response to:
"UNICEF Can Kiss My Black... Face." says j. brotherlove in response to a distasteful ad campaign by UNICEF Germany which features white kids in black face (seen above).

Profound:
"I believe you can say nearly anything if it's funny..." says Clay Cane in his commentary on radio shock jock Wendy Williams and her ever increasing intolerance for gays.  Here's the full quote: "Now, this wasn't comedy, I believe you can say nearly anything if it's funny, but Wendy's tone was disgust and repulsiveness.

Inspiration:
"All my adult life I admired Victoria's Secret from afar and never allowed myself to entertain the idea that I could fit into anything they had to offer.  Those days are ovah. Yah, hear me, ovah! I was so giddy, I kept the pink paper bag as a souvenir. lol." says LGBT activist Jasmyne Cannick in her weight loss diary.  She's dropped more than 50 pounds in 17 weeks.... you go girl!

It's already a crazy week.

It’s Tuesday evening and I still haven’t found time to post a video of the day or any other content for that matter. My REAL full-time job (the one that pays the bills at least) is kicking my ass this week. Several critical deadlines and a business trip to the West Coast is hacking up all my time.

With all the recent activity on here lately, you might be thinking MasculineCurves.com feels more like a blog than a traditional website. You’re right, that is exactly where we are headed.  Publishing this site has brought me great joy over the past couple years.  I'm pleased with the direction it has taken and the growing support from everyone who visits frequently.

It seems as though people are gah gah over blogging these days.  If you don't have a blog, you're no one.  All of the popular blogging tool vendors claim it’s easier than building a traditional website. You can have you're blog "up and running in minutes." But, an old dog simply can’t learn new tricks.  I’ve spent some time researching several options and have come to realization that it will be a painful process to maintain the integrity of this site’s design while transitioning to a blogging platform. At first, there will be a few compromises to some of the regular features on here, but somewhere down the road I hope to hire a professional blog designer to work out the kinks.  I feel strongly that MasculineCurves.com needs a commenting capability and a manageable archiving system.  I love reading the emails you all send me, but I want this site to be able to commence the dialogue for gay men of all colors. 

In the absence of posting updated content this week, rest assured that I will spend any inkling of free-time I can find working on this transition.  And, of course, it will look great -- for an old dog!