summer time

Dmitry Zhilinsky, Bathing soldiers (The builders of a bridge), 1959

Normally Washingtonians, I'm told, have a cooler air about them, to match the temperateness of the Northwest. But come summer everyone warms up a bit - matching the rising barometer. People who would normally hunker in with their coffee are now eager to make invitations to get outside together.

It's not just about getting out in nature, it's also about being more social.

I grew up in various South American nations where the warmth of the climate was definitely reflected in the cultural warmth. Interesting parallels.

compassion course

Several months ago I noticed that some of my co-workers seemed afraid of me. Or at least unsure of how to deal with me.

I didn't know how to deal with my anger. My best attempts seemed frustrating for both parties at best. I see that this is a common theme for many young men, men in general, and even society in general.

I stumbled across this compassion course online and signed up for it. It's provided me several new understandings and skills already to begin this journey.

"The lessons explain and demonstrate ways of thinking, speaking and acting that allow us to get through conflict without hurting or hating."

"In the same way that we humans have developed other technologies, the technology of compassion has developed too. The course provides clear ideas and practices to help us experience more compassion, connection and fun. That said, it is challenging and calls on our perseverance, practice, focus and dedication."

You have until July 2 to sign up for this year's round of this online course. I don't have any financial interest in this group, just think its a priceless gift.

ass

Not much is taught to us about our ass. Many of us gay men - and straight men - use our ass for an interesting array of activities - or not.

I wish there was more know-how, conversation, and thus skill around this.

I'm going to do my usual thing and push boundaries a bit, in a hopefully stay-a-little-bit-classy sort of way. Here's a few images that convey some of the variety of energies and activities:

a horny guy fingers himself

Some guys feel more pleasure, others more pain. Some of us learn techniques that increase the possibilities for pleasurable sex. Part of it has to do with simple anatomy. One has to:

• get past the rectal sphincter muscles - allowing them to relax,
• get past inner bends (of varying lengths in varying men),
• conform the flexibility of the rectum/intestines with the flexibility of the erect penis,
• not to mention timing for cleanliness (depending on tolerances)

Fortunately there's also lube, dildos, toys, and clipped nails (lol).

 

1466 inspection of male urethra

Ultimately I think most of us guys that have sex with men look for ways to increase the pleasure and diminish the pain. A little gentleness and perseverance can sure pay off!


wordless

 

pre photo shoot - body fat

these images come from nerd fitness,
where there's an excellent fuller article

Where are you on the body fat spectrum?

There are several things a person can do to look a bit better before a photo shoot. Most of the gains are made with food alterations.

• Eat less carbs.
• Avoid salt (retains water).
• Drink less water.
• Eat significantly smaller portions.
• Reps to bulk muscles.

These are all things done for the short-term, and obviously not healthy for the long-term (most of them).

The flip side is that your energy will also feel down, but you'll look better in the pictures!... look better at that naked beach, sex club, for that event or group... The above tips work especially for someone who is already in shape and is just improving that last shade.

Certainly most of the photo shoots that I've done are just friends on a nude hike taking pictures as we go along. A handful of times I've experimented with nude photography alone or with a friend. I've actually never done an actual dedicated nude photo shoot with a professional photographer.

Each type of photo experience has it's emphasis: the catch-the-fun-and-natural-beauty emphasis, the I'm-learning-all-the-cool-things-my-camera-can-do, the artistic-experiments, and the exposition-of-the-body-hopefully-beautifully.

Professional body-builders do more in-depth preparations, like the one explained by Brad Gouthro on his website and video.

artsy edges

I browse for images for my posts, and sometimes find some beautiful images. Like these.

Sometimes art grabs our eyes, precisely because it dares go where it's "not supposed to."

The forbidden vs. the desired. All themes that have been playing for centuries.

Artists often push the edge. Sometimes that's exactly what society needs, to loosen the grips of something that no longer needs to be gripping us. (Fear, prejudice, shame, censorship, undue seriousness.)

It helps us see beauty in more places.

What do all of these images have in common? Besides artistry.

Intimacy.

The drive for intimacy is strong. Connection with others. We partly don't even understand it, just try to do it gracefully.

plowing

canadian guytop on dudes nude, with permission

There's something innately hot about plowing, or topping someone. They are giving up one of the most vulnerable parts of them to you. You are experiencing them at their very center.

Aaargghh! A picture like this gets me going. It's grainy character only adds to the curiosity, giving it a pseudo-clandestine-activity feeling. Thanks for posting. Woof!

wedding ideas

The man of my dreams just returned from a male-male wedding in New Mexico. We'll be attending another ceremony of two good friends shortly, which has me thinking about weddings.

How would I do the details? This article from MSN got me thinking about some specifics.

Among my highlights:

• personalize the I do's
• cool location - preferably outside with a great view
• plan the music precisely - from live classical to dance for everyone
• gift something for our guests - personalized

• seats in a circle - surrounded by love
• pot a tree together in the ceremony
• toast to each other
• parade-style procession with band to altar - with everyone
• inner ceremony, then outer ceremony

One day soon I want to marry my man. It's legal now in Washington!

new york naked blogger

This sexy nude new yorker has a fun blog of some of his adventures. He’s pretty daring and okay with showing himself and his activities. That is what I admire about his blog. I’m not necessarily into all of his activities, but they sure are hot!

there's something great about being outside

cute!

pretty daring :)

suppression of sexuality

“In his lectures to young communists in Germany during the rise of Hitler and the Nazis, psychologist Wilhelm Reich theorized that the suppression of sexuality was essential to an authoritarian government. Without the imposition of anti-sexual morality, he believed,
people would be free from shame and would trust their own sense of right and wrong.

They would be unlikely to march to war against their wishes, or to operate death camps. Perhaps if we were raised without shame and guilt about our desires, we might be a freer people in more ways than simply the sexual.”


from Dossie and Janet's book Ethical Sluts

solosexual?

Hairy sensual friendly yogi came over socially. I enjoyed meeting him for several reasons. Frankly he's quite unique - as many people are, and I liked finding out a bit about his life journey.

First off it intrigued me that he considered himself a solosexual at some point. The urban dictionary online defines this as someone who likes to masturbate a lot, but has no desire to have sex with others. It's interesting that many of us experience sexuality across a spectrum. Our sexual tastes often change with time.

It seems that this was the case with our yogi solosexual. Now he's interested in some play with other guys. Despite his intense sexual presence and experience with himself, he's had limited mutual experience with others.

So I felt it quite a privilege to be a part of this unfolding. I enjoyed how he lightly kissed, his hairy legs and tummy, his perpetual hard cock, kind words, and him cumming repeatedly. Masturbating mutually. I'd love to see him again, whether sensually or not.

We also talked about a possible future HUMP video. Hump is a local amateur porn festival. I've attended the last two years and been amused by the wide variety and creativity of the selected participating short clips.



from an solo masturbator blog
called masturbation and cum denial,
another variation
- on excitement and non-ejaculation

beautiful pics

I saw this picture long before I knew who Adam Levine is. Then I heard him sing. Wow. Though he's straight and dates women, you can look up on youtube and find him speaking in support of gay kids in the "It get's better" campaign. I just had to post this picture, just because. This picture is a bit of a social break-through because a handsome confident heterosexual man is being okay with his body, and by example, showing others how to be okay with their body too.

Another random picture I had to post. I think it breaks the stereotype of men who love men not being masculine, or streets-smart. There's a certain sweetness in hardness (as long as it's not posturing).

gay prom

Adorable prom picture in New York City 2013.

 

From the blog Scottblog, who saw this on Humans of New York.

define me - video

The powerful video shows Ryan Amador and Jo Lampert stripping down to their underwear to reveal gay slurs and negative stereotypes written across their bodies - then washing them off - singing beautifully.

Another cool picture of Ryan Amador:

 

What gets me in the video, besides the gorgeous voices, is the washing off of the slurs on their bodies. Like an ancient primitive ritual - archetypal in the depth of its reach. 

maori love song

Want to cry a bit?
New Zealand lawmakers burst into song as they legalize gay marriage. Click here to see the article and video link.

Watch initially as those who voted 'yes' stand, and those who voted 'no' stay seated. Then at 1:15 minutes in the crowd spontaneously sings. Man! Chills up my spine. I have hope for the human family.

new zealand parliament gay speech

New Zealand recently passed gay marriage! Here's a speech by one of the parliament members - with several funnies. The fact that he has to clarify some of these things in a way still makes me mad, but someone's got to address them, since much of the world still holds on to these thoughts.

call of the wild

can you tell what I'm thinking of?
aching to get out into the wild



most of these images from ieatgrafiks

there's something about the scale of nature that puts us in our place

and this one from mousetrip

slave girl sex lesson

A slave girl teaches a newlywed Daenerys, wife of savage warrior Khal Drogo, how to make most of what gods bestowed upon her. (taken from episode 2 of Game of Thrones - the series) click here or on the image below

This is one of the more influential sex scenes I've seen. It encapsulates several beautiful and important ideas. What do you learn from it? 

Initially, like is the lot of many women and humans in the world, Daenerys is more raped than anything else by her new powerful husband. He is larger. The law and culture is on his side.

With the fortunate teaching of a slave girl, she learns to use sex, one of her realms where she is partner to Khal Drogo, to her advantage and increased equality and power, like some women and lovers were able to do. (This in no way condones rape.) Sex is one of the most coveted realms of most humans. It can go many levels, from simply carnal transforming to a whole other dimension. 

She eventually wins his heart, and vice-versa. The ensuing union is one of greater equality. In my opinion, she, as many humans have throughout history, won this place largely in the other-worldly realm of sexual union. Conscioulsy.

 

It pleases me that a human being's position and condition can be increased. She becomes, through many of her own efforts, his "moon of my life."