Oscars

I'm neither a movie-buff nor an awards show person (even the Golden Globes - I'm such a bad gay!). Like many, I expect, I watch the Oscars for the Best Acting and Best Picture awards and that's about it. Last night, though, NOTHING else was on, so the Oscars remained on as background while I clicked around on the computer. How deadly dull!!! I like Chris Rock, but the Oscars just ain't his venue. I mean, he can't do his really outrageous stuff due nor does a lot of his humor go over well with befrocked, mainly middle-aged and up, rich white people. That said, I applaud him for not being afraid to dis the actors. I especially enjoyed his intro of Halle Berry; "eagerly anticipated Catwoman 2," indeed! But even that was fairly unoriginal comedy.

I LOVE Cate Blanchett, so I'm glad she won and I cackled with glee when Annette Benning lost to Swank again. I just don't like that woman. (BTW, why is Warren Beatty a "legend"? I can't think of one good film he's been in, at least in my lifetime. Is it just because he's shtupped a bunch of women? Bit whoop!) What was with Natalie Portman and her "you have my applause" thing? I'm sure the highlight of the evening for those lighting directors or whoever they were (I forget what category it was) was your rhetorical applause, Natalie. WTF? Oh, and who's bright idea was it to have Penelope Cruz and Selma Hayek give out an award involving the pronunciation of words that could make an elocution coach start speaking in tongues? Selma Hayek's hot, though. She also did this laugh at the end after Penelope Cruz (who, BTW, is ugly) said something inane, like all "bitch, what the hell are you talking about?" that I got a kick out of.

All in all, a ho-hum "night of stars."

Kilts and Kisses

I won't bore you with all the details of my dream last night (what I remember of it, anyway), but two images really stand out: 1) a bunch of guys on ladders wearing kilts, thus showing off their arses, and 2) my high school straight-boy crush and I kissing on a bed in the middle of a golf course. Trippy, eh? I wonder what it all means.

Literary Recommendations

Two new books with my seal of approval: The Decameron by Boccaccio and The Prince by Machiavelli. The Decameron's a lot of fun; it's an Italian Canterbury Tales (except that it came before CT and Chaucer got a lot of his material from it). Sex, sex, and more sex! It's a blast. The Prince is a very interesting and well-written manual for rulers, though it can be (and has been) applied to other areas. Machiavelli is so misunderstood; he isn't the totally amoral villain he's painted to be. He just describes politics as it IS, not how it SHOULD be, and people don't like that. Who needs honesty when illusion is so much better?

Stamps

Here's something for the Jane Eyre lover. Not a huge Bronte fan, personally, but it's still kinda cool. They got Pilot (the dog in the first stamp) wrong, though; he's supposed to be more of a Newfoundland, not a Rottweiler.

(Link via Bookslut)

On a lighter note...

from my increasingly erratic book-buying behavior, Hunter James has some pretty new pictures. This one is my personal favorite. His blog is also getting even wider notice, with mentions on Gay Porn Blog and Gay.Fleshbot. I can't say I "knew him when," 'cause I can't claim to really know him now, but it's nice to see a good blog get some attention. Not that I'm at all bitter. No, not at all. (No, actually, I'm not: he's a lot more attractive and creative than I am, and he has a better blog than mine.)

Monday

Really weird day today, but, unfortunately, weird in a way I can't really express through language (either written or verbal). Not very exciting for a blog, then. The weirdness did have symptoms, though. One, I went to four bookstores, none of them at all near one another, and got absolutely nothing. Two, I came home and a strange madness came over me. People, I just spent $250 on books! And they're just duplicates of books I already have!!! I'm getting a little concerned about myself. This just ain't healthy.

Here's another of my new pics. Am I smoldering with intensity or what? 

Something to chew on...

"...a sin that's hidden is half forgiven."

The Decameron

Giovanni Boccaccio

I Will NOT Put a Pun Here!

I simply adore Alan Cumming. That Scottish brogue, that cheeky glint in his eye, the unconventional handsomeness, it just does it for me. (And he wears kilts a lot, which always gets me hot and bothered! *hehehe*) That said, half of the movies he makes I wouldn't be caught dead seeing. Son of the Mask? With Jamie Kennedy? Alan, that had better be a big check you're getting, because if you did it on artistic merits, I think I'll have to hurt you.

If you see any interviews with him this week or so (to promote Son of the Mask), they'll inevitably mention that he has a new fragrance out called, what else?, "Cumming." How wonderful is that? As he said to Jon Stewart, "After forty years of having my name made fun of, I have my revenge!"

Another Nerdy Addiction

As if I haven't already confirmed my frrrrrrrrreak credentials, I have another confession: I'm addicted to distance learning courses. I don't know how it works in other places, but the Philly PBS affiliate (WHYY - an acronym they use to its punny potential) broadcasts these telecourses late at night.

There are three, in particular, that I'm obsessed with:

An English composition course that is one of the newer programs they have. It's just what it sounds like: a class about writing essays, proofreading, etc. I like to think it keeps my writing skills sharp. Plus, there's this really hot English professor they interview; his name is Dr. Thomas Fox and he teaches at one of the CSU campuses. He's dreamy in that hottie-nerd way.

The Western Tradition is what got me into the whole late-night learning thing. It's an overview of Western history and it's hosted by this fabulous professor at UCLA named Eugen Weber. He has the most interesting, almost hypnotic, accent. He's also funny in a very dry, academic, European way. Plus, there are lots of pretty pictures from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Over a period of about ten years, I think I've seen the whole course about a million times, but just keep coming back for more.

Literary Visions is an introduction to literature. It's narrated by this woman named Fran Dorn, another example of a great voice. They have actors that dramatize works and interviews with writers. It's often quite corny, but I'm an English major, so even though I know just about everything they're talking about, I just enjoy it.

Have I convinced you of my insanity yet?

There's just something about gold that gets a gal excited.

From the marvelous Hunter James: a glorious, golden Roman god.

Where is my mind?!?!?

Sorry, people, I was so caught up in a book bings I forgot to wish everyone Happy Valentine's Day!!! For those of you who had a Valentine, I hope they gave you lots of lovin'; for those of you (such as moi) who didn't have a Valentine (well, I had my mother, but that totally doesn't count), I hope you bought yourself lots of chocolate to pig out on. I had some nice ice cream.

Addiction

I just went on a book buying binge on Amazon. Only problem is I have no money and it's all on my parents' card. I think I can finagle it, but it might be dicey. I think I may be some sort of addict. How sad is that: a book addict!!!

Weekends

I don't know what it means that I seem to hardly ever write a blog entry during the weekend. I guess my brain just goes cold for two days and I can't think of anything witty to say (Yeah, yeah, I know, when exactly do I say anything witty? Smartass...). Well, the work week approacheth. Whoo!

Here's one of those pics I've been promising. A lot of them didn't turn out well, but I like this one. Makes me look all thoughtful and whatnot. I have deep, deep thoughts, people!!! 

Penguin Update

Remember that story about the German zoo trying to straighten up their gay penguins? Well, the whole thing's been declared a failure. Those crazy gay penguins and their monogamy! I guess an aversion to vagina is just universal among us queer vertebrates. They're going to try the scheme again soon, though, because the species is so endangered.

I can understand the desire to preserve the species, but can't they tell the guys just ain't into the girls? Is there no such thing as Penguin artificial insemination? Plus, maybe the girls are lesbians!!!

(Thanks again to towleroad for the link.)

Reader Appreciation

Someone actually read my blog and posted a comment (it was on the porn shop post)! Thank you, Vince Firpo!!! I really like your blog. We seem like kindred spirits.

Miscellany

Happy Belated Chinese New Year! And a late Merry Ash Wednesday, too!

This picture of a lama and a Tibetan Spaniel (scroll down a bit on the page) just tickles me for some reason.

Via towleroad: German zoo officials are trying to straighten out some of their male penguins. It's an endangered species, though, so I won't get outraged. Those crazy male penguin couples: always queering it up! Who said only lesbians nest?

Again, via towleroad: This should go oh so well! "Honey, I know just what our relationship needs: a cruise ship and 24/7 camera attention!"

Via the incomparable Hunter James: Somehow, I think Laclos would be rather pleased, actually.

Fantasy

For some reason, I've been having this fantasy lately about the next time I have sex (if I ever have sex again). We'd have dinner, a date, all that garbage, and I'd be my usual witty, shy self. Then we'd move into the hanky-panky and I'd transform into a demanding, filthy-mouthed powerbottom. He'd get this hilarious, "What the fuck?!?" look on his face and I'd come all over the place from the feeling of power and domination. We'd never meet again, but I'd become this horror story he relates to his friends. And that would make me very happy.

I really need help...

I Was Jonesin', Man!!!

With school and snow and things I haven't been able to do much personal reading the past few weeks. Being the bookaholic that I am, I was getting a little antsy. Thankfully, I went out Saturday and bought a few books. I just finished the last one (I'm a fast reader), despite the fact that I really should be reading school stuff. I don't care, though; I just needed my fix!!!

New Love

I've become enamored of late by the Tibetan Spaniel. It's a small breed that looks like a slightly taller and much less furry Pekingese (indeed, it's believed to be one of the breeds used to create the Pekingese). As its name suggests, it's a native of Tibet, where it was used as a companion/watchdog in the monasteries. These pictures of Tibetan Spaniel puppies should give you an idea of why I've become so fond of the breed.

BTW, it's really strange how many breeds are from Tibet: the Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu, Tibetan Spaniel, Tibetan Terrier, and Tibetan Mastiff, just to name the ones that are common in the West. I got to thinking about why the monks bother to breed so many different types. I think it might partially be geography: the isolation of the monasteries, and the country in general, lends itself to a relatively closed gene pool that makes it easy for discrete breeds to come into existence. Plus, the monks needed guard and watchdogs to help protect them. And, in the end, they probably just appreciated the company.

Super Bowl

Well, the Super Bowl is over and the Eagles lost. Not terribly shocking, but I feel bad for the fans. They really wanted this. Good news is that the Super Bowl hype is over; bad news is there will be crying and bellyaching over the loss until the start of the next season. *sigh*

I really don't get the whole "let's watch the Super Bowl for the commercials!" mindset. Admittedly, I didn't watch the whole thing, but none of the commercials I saw were anything revelatory or anything. And it's not like you're not going to see them a million times after tonight. And then there will be all the "what commercials were the best?" polls and the watercooler conversation about them, like we're not inundated with advertisements every second of our lives as it is. Strange...

A Trip to the Porn Shop

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Underwear

Is it wrong that I find these both adorable and strangely hot? I feel a bit squicky about it.

There is only a little more than a month until St. Patrick's Day!

I don't think it's the "heart" that this underwear appeals to.

Somehow, I don't think underwear and Piet Mondrian go all that well together.

Commercial

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know Disney's evil and all, but that new commercial with the two dogs doing the whole Lady and the Tramp thing is frickin' adorable! And the two puppies!!! It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. (If you haven't figured it out by now, I'm a bit of an animal lover. Put anything cute and furry in front of me and I just melt!)

Sports

While no longer allergic to sports, as I was when I was younger, I'm hardly what you'd call a fan. But that doesn't mean I can't lust after sportsMEN! The new Nike Pro Apparel commercials (the ones with the masks and the crazy, yet oddly wonderful, music) show some prime specimens of manhood. I don't know who any of them are, but they're HOT!

Also in the world of sports...

As I'm sure everyone is aware, the Super Bowl is this Sunday. I don't really care. I don't watch it, even for the commercials or possible "wardrobe malfunctions" (unless guaranteed that it'd be of the male variety). I am, however, a native of South Jersey, deep in Philadelphia Eagles territory; there is no getting away from it around here. E-A-G-L-E-S chants abound. There's so much green, you'd think St. Patrick had come back to life and was holding court at Lincoln Financial Field. It's really sickening. Philly fans deserve a championship (it's been twenty years and the football team hasn't won any, except for like back in the sixties before there was a Super Bowl), but it's all just a bit... much.