A Triumphant Return And A New Friend

After many months on hiatus, leaving us sad and despondent, Vince has returned to the blogosphere and his rightful place on our sidebar! We here at Bourgeois Nerd (i.e. me) couldn't be more thrilled.

A new addition to our lovely circle of friends is Elizabeth's Life in Moderation. We here at Bourgeois Nerd (i.e. me, again!) love us some Canucks!

Bourgeois Nerd: A Teleological Consideration

I've been blogging for four years in December. It's incredible, in many ways. I've outlasted many other, much more worthwhile blogs written by much better writers, and it got me to thinking: What is this blog about? How has it changed and evolved?

I thought about it for a minute, and what I came up with is 1) gay stuff/sex, 2) books, 3) animals, and 4) random geeky stuff. There is also the occasional off-the-wall miscellaneous thing or personal observation thrown in for seasoning. I think the two biggest differences from when I started are that I've gotten a little racier (with Skimpy Sundays especially), and that I've moved away from writing about academia and the academic life. This is probably because when I started academia's where I thought I'd end up and those were the blogs I read, whereas now I know that's not for me and I don't read as many academic blogs.

I've also tried to be a little less whiny than I think I was in the past. My personal problems are dull anyway, and I've come to realize that pity parties are kind of a waste of time and more than a touch narcissistic. I have a cushy life; my problems are internally motivated, not externally imposed. My fears and neuroses hold me back, not anything else. If I'm not as happy or in-shape or fabulous as I would like, it's due to my own passivity, and blog-wallowing helps nothing.

Finally, of course, I like to think I've become a better writer than I was.

But what I see and what you see could be two totally different things. I ask, then, what do you think this blog is about? Is it about anything? For those of you who've been around for awhile, how has it changed? Do you like the changes? Do you miss some things from bygone days?

The Black Bunny

No, the Black Bunny of Provincetown isn't a strip club or some weird-ass Washington Irving tale, it's a local rabbit celebrity. An escaped pet, he's made his home in the town cemetery and fully integrated *wink, wink, nudge, nudge* with the local rabbit population. (You know what they say: once you go black...)

(Via Towleroad)

New Kids On The Block

Zoo Babies of 2008

Sunday Duckling Blogging

(Via Cute Overload)

Always The Books With Me!

Does anyone else use the word "book" or "booking" to mean "fast"? For instance, I often say stuff like, "I really need to book it!" ("I really need to get moving!") or "That car is really booking!" ("That car is going really fast!"). No dictionary seems to have that as even a slang definition for "book" and I'm wondering if it's just some bizarre lexicographical quirk of mine, a Delaware Valley dialect usage, or whatever.

Skimpy Sundays: Long Weekend Edition

(Via Towleroad; The Sword [NSFW]; Starrfucker; Bill in Exile [NSFW]; Francesco D'Macho [NSFW]; DudeTube [NSFW])

Feeling Blue, Seeing Red

Ever since high school, I've had a crazy wish to dye my hair blue: a really rich, deep, vivid blue. I've never gotten up the energy or gumption to do it, but it's always been one of those things I ponder for a stray minute from time to time.

Apparently, though, I'm not the only gay who's had the same ultramarine urge, so it is not to be, I think, because I've been beaten to the punch by a rogues' gallery of twits. They're not even cool gays, but a designer in the grips of a major midlife crisis, a waaaaaay too desperate to be famous blogger (I read his site and don't revile him like others do, but the smell of desperation wafting from him is kinda gross), and an utterly bland and boring primetime star, plus an apparently straight indie rocker douchebag. Thanks for ruining my dreams of magnificent cerulean coiffure, assholes!

Red Panda Cub! Squee!

Awwww, look everyone, the little red panda is totally playing solider! He or she is marching and everything!

No Words...

...just sadness, and gratitude I don't have to even contemplate such a thing.

(Via Joe.My.God)

Surprise! Or Not...

Your Score: The True Neurotic

You scored 63 anxiety, 90 awkwardness, and 54 neuroticism!

Congratulations, you are The True Neurotic, you nail-biting, conflict-avoiding worrier, you. You're plagued by self-doubt and anxiety, which makes social activity hard--even though you may be well-liked, you feel under a storm of silent criticism. It doesn't help that people give you funny looks for organizing all your pens by color or sharpening your gnawed pencils to a delicate point.

Your high anxiety score implies that you are unable to relax, worry about the future often, and probably are plagued by irrational fears and self-doubt.

Your high awkwardness score implies that you are socially inept, probably stick out from the crowd, and feel uncomfortable in large groups of people, such as at parties.

Your high neuroticism score implies that you exhibit neurotic behaviors--probably organization, fanatic obsessions (can you recite the entire first LOTR movie?), repetitive mantras, constant checking, or orderly rituals.

__________________________________

See the other results!

Well-Adjusted

The Neat Freak

The Dork

The Geek

Phobic

Obsessive-Compulsive

The Subtle Neurotic

The True Neurotic

The Neurotic Test written by littlelostsnail

(Via kinesthesis breakthrough)

Fedora? I Hardly Know Her! (*Groan* Yes, That Was TERRIBLE)

If I actually saw just about anyone actually wearing the iconic Indiana Jones fedora, I'd think they were kinda weird, and possibly a douchebag. But the concept of being able to own one? Totally awesome!

Always Look Out For The Little Ones...

...they pack a big punch!

Skimpy Sundays

(Via Roids and Rants [NSFW]; The Sword [NSFW])