Bear Bones

 I blog; therefore I am . . .

You know you've arrived when you have your own blogging community. Well bears, we are here and we blog. Everything from naughty bear pics to recipes to social commentary to surviving the trials and tribulations of day to day bear life.

Some of our favorites include -

• Planet Bears - The Husky Side of the Net
• Joe. My God. - Gay culture, short stories, politics, and fabulous disco trivia.
• Got Fur? - The Ultime Bear Resource
• A Bear's Den - Bear Ramblins
  

Want to know the latest and greatest in the bear community? Read the blogs. Need a fabulous recipe for your next bear pot luck? Read the blogs. Need a few naughty pics to warm those cold nights? Read the blogs.

Oh no they didn't . . .

Bear Blogs and more 

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El viernes pasado, 23 de marzo, sucedió algo sumamente histórico y conmovedor en la Ciudad de México: la unión de dos parejas lesbianas en la delegación de Iztacalco. Este acontecimiento es uno de muchos que se empiezan a realizar en el DF después de cinco años de organización, luchas políticas y manifestaciones por parte de la comunidad lésbica-gay quien consiguió la aprobación de la “Ley de Sociedades de Convivencias” por la legislatura capitalina en noviembre del 2006. Esta ley reconoce la unión de dos personas, tanto bugas como de ambiente, y les otorga algunos derechos y obligaciones semejantes a los que gozan los matrimonios, pero no todos. Los derechos de esta unión incluyen la herencia y/o transferencia de propiedad y pensiones, el acceso a seguros médicos de las parejas, la participación en decisiones de cuestiones medicas entre parejas, etc.

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When I was little, my mother brought me a sombrero from Mexico. She was trying to keep me from self-combusting - like they do in the vampire movies when sunlight strikes. You see, I was a little, pasty Irish kid living in NYC. After her trip to Mexico, I was a little, pasty Irish kid wearing a sombrero. "Well, you just don't see that everyday!" As I grew older, the sombrero and I parted ways.

When the Sombrero failed, my mother tried to get me to put on zinc oxide. "Like the lifeguards," she would tell me. Remember zinc oxide? That white gooey stuff that had a slightly fishy smell to it and attracted sand into every pore. Great stuff! Thanks, Mom!

Some things we never learn. The other day I left the house to go to a BBQ without sunscreen. I figured it was slightly overcast, how bad could it be? (Apparently, I slept through 9th grade earth science and the fact that clouds don't protect you from UV rays). It was a fun BBQ, and a few beers later I am as pink as a lobster. You could roast marshmallows off my face. Ugh, I never learn.

If I had a nickel for every sun burn that I've had over the years, I'd have enough to buy sunscreen!! Take it from me, put on some sunscreen. Today, it's light weight, non-greasy and should be a part of your daily routine. Yes, I am channeling my mother.

When buying sunscreens look for a label with an SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, of 15 or greater. The SPF acts like a multiplying factor. If you would normally be OK in the sun for 10 minutes and you apply an SPF 10 sunscreen, you will be OK in the sun for 100 minutes. Remember, to apply the sunscreen 30 or so minutes in advance in order for the sunscreen to work, and bring some extra along in case you need to reapply.

All of us at The Complete Bear wish the best of summers. Wear a hat, put on some sunscreen and go outside and play!! OMG - I do sound like my mother!!

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As marketers promote "Super Sizing" and "All You Can Eat" as value eating, typical portion sizes have continued to grow. How many times have you scanned the nutritional info on the side of a box to realize you just ate six of the recommended servings?

Anyone eating on the run or at restaurants has probably noticed that food portions have gotten larger. Some portions are called "super size," while others have simply grown in size and provide enough food for at least two people. With this growth have come increases in waistlines and body weight. Take this short quiz to see if you know how today portions compare to the portions available 20 years ago.

You may be surprised . . .

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A furry welcome to greet your guests

There is something comforting about a warm, fuzzy face greeting your guests. And if your warm fuzzy face is busy in the kitchen, then this little guy works hard to make everyone feel welcome.

Made of rustic cast iron, this bear will will be a keepsake for years to come. Even the grumpiest of bears at your door, will have to smile at this furry friend.

He measures 13.5"H x 8.5"L x 4.5"W and weighs 10 lbs. He is a soft chocolate brown and very friendly.

Bear Welcome Sign

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The Complete Bear remembers an age when masculine style was cultivated in all aspects of life. A time when a shave included a hot towel and warm shaving cream. A time when a man could smoke a quality cigar and enjoy an aged scotch. A time when a merchant knew your name and your neck size.

We remember that time. We hope to offer helpful tips and guidelines to enhance your rugged style.

10 Yard Penalty -

Unless you actively engage in a sporting activity, you can’t wear the uniform.  And unless you are Pussy from the Soprano’s - track suits are a no-no.  . . "

The Interview -

You're about to head off to that big interview and one of your collar tabs is curled and sticking out.  Collar stays?  Where the &%#@ are they?  Relax, grab a paper clip.  It makes a great collar stay.  Now the interview?  That one you have to handle on your own!!

Got a tip?  Send it to Rugged Style. 

If we use it - we'll send you a t-shirt.

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Yes - like every good gay man on the planet, I went to see 300.

SF Movie Bears  went to see 300 on IMAX.  First of all, you gotta love it when a whole bunch of bears invade any public space.  WOOF!!  “OMG – Honey, I got cruised at the movies . . .” And in the food court, and at the ATM, and . . . well, you get the point. 

So the audience was an interesting mix.  A combination Harry Potter meets Lord of the Rings meets comic book gamer, with a little Star Wars thrown in.  But most of the bears were there for the leather Speedos.  And they weren’t disappointed.

If you went expecting cinematic brilliance, I imagine you were disappointed.  If you went for beefcake, well there was eye candy for days.  However, I do have to admit about half way through I began wondering if the Spartans might be better served  with a little body armor – but then again that would have hid there pecs.   It’s like the guy that goes to the bar in his muscle shirt in January.  “Yeah, its friggin’ cold, but I worked my ass off to get these biceps dammit and you will appreciate them.”

So what’s not to love about mostly naked brawny men in leather (and a few harnesses and chainmail for variety)?  Oh, that annoying spurting blood thing?  It doesn’t seem to lessen the glisten on the hero’s mighty abs.   And the hero has come a long way.  Let’s not forget this is the same guy that played Phantom.  Yep, look it up.  Show tunes and abs, is there anything this man can’t do?

I guess as a bear, I only have 2 complaints - 300 glistening chests with six pack abs, but not a single hair.  When in the world did they find time to wax?  “The enemy is approaching?  Damn, I haven’t finished shaving.”    And, why was Xerxes - you know the bad guy threatening to destroy the Spartans and make their women and children slaves - a 12 foot tall drag queen?

It's raining 300 men

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Recently, I had the chance to chat with Kevin Bowe about his film A Bear's Story.

A Bear's Story is a short subject film about the bear community. It was the first piece to address the growing bear movement. The film was shot over a weekend and included 80 or so of Kevin's friends and members of Bears LA as extras and volunteers. Kevin also has the starring role of Robert, who stumbles across into the bear community when he thinks he is attending a fund raiser to save polar bears. "The Bears are having a fundraiser, do you want to come?"

Our review - A Bear's Story

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It's not always easy being a bear. . .

What the hell is a versatile bottom anyway? Does this bondage wear make me look fat? How long do I have to wait to call him?

Everyday practical advice from two poppa bears who have seen it, done it and still have the t-shirts to prove it. . .

And while they may not solve your problems, I guarantee they will have an opinion.

Send your emails to Hot & Heavy

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 "Yes, Bears make music, and Bear music isnt so much about a genre as it is about a shared point of view. I first became aware of it when I heard Martin Swinger's album "Bear Naked". It was 2002, and being new to the Bear community at the time, I wanted to celebrate the pride of being a Bear not just through celebrating our sexuality, but by showcasing and celebrating the totality of who we are, INCLUDING our sexuality. Being a musician, I thought the perfect way to do that was through a concert of bear identified musicians, giving Bears not only a look, but a voice, so I started Bearapalooza, a Bear music festival, that has now been in NYC, Philly, Seattle and it's current homebase of Nashville. Since then we have seen the rise of Bear Internet Radio, A Bear Record Label, and Bear performers performing at Bear Runs all over the world."  Freddy Freeman

Learn more about bear music and artists 

Woobie Bear Music

Greg Hudson started this little label with Bear Tracks 1 in 2003 and has since released 4 compilations and is branching out into distributing individual artists, like Kendall and Freddy Freeman, as well as a  G CD, which features LGBT music from around the world.

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   We are pleased to offer Les Wright's Bear Books. 

Explore the world of the bear subculture!  

Read the reviews . . . 

I really like this Les Wright book which is real bearguys talking about bearness. It is authentic.

 I'm a big bear myself, so I'm interested in this book. In it a diverse group of writers and experts go on about the glories of being a gay male bear

Take another fascinating journey into the bear's den with the latest offering from Les Wright, author of The Bear Book.

Have you read it?  Send us your review

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 Hmmm, cute cub and pastry recipes?  OMG - I think I'm in love - LOL

One of our favorite blog discoveries is Blog Hungry - Urban food and drink from a smalltown gay boy living in West Hollywood.  If the old adage is true - A way to a man's heart is through his stomach - then I'm smitten. 

And let's not forget the cupcake blog.   

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OK, apparently part of "Coming Out" is discovering beats per minute. And the rest - as they say - is history!!

Can't find your favorite beats? iTunes breaking the bank? Psst - check out this hunky bear from Chicago - Chunk House offers free beefy tunes for your iPod. Yes, we said free.

9 podcasts full of big, chunky, meaty house tunes for those cold woofy nights!!

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A hit on the film festival circuit, BEAR CUB (CACHORRO) explores the "bear" gay subculture focusing more on lasting friendships and realistic body images than the stereotypical Will & Grace version of gaydom. 

In Bear Cub, we are introduced to Pedro (José Luis García-Pérez) a gay man living a sexually active lifestyle in Madrid with his bear friends. Pedro's older sister Violeta is venturing off to India with her new boyfriend and asks Pedro to watch his 9 year-old nephew Bernardo (David Castillo) for two weeks. Initially, neither the boy nor Pedro is thrilled with the new arrangement, but both concede it’s only for two weeks, so they agree to make the best of it.

The child's mother, (Elvira Lindo), becomes detained on her trip and Pedro unofficially takes on the role as the boy’s guardian. With Violetta detained, the boy’s estranged paternal grandmother, Dona Teresa (Empar Ferrer), seizes the opportunity to reclaim “the only family she has left.”

Pedro is not about to give up his sister’s child to a woman the boy hardly knows and fears. Thus begins the battle for custody of the child. Dona Teresa believes that the upbringing of a child should not be left in the hands of a homosexual.

I was genuinely moved by this film. Sometimes life just drops in your lap, and you have figure a way to make do. Sometimes, this is the best thing that could ever have happened to you.

The main characters in the movie are bears. They make no excuses for there size, there are not fat jokes. Actually, just the opposite, these men are admired and sought after for their rugged handsome selves. These are proud big men. Bear Cub explores many of the issues confronting the gay community today -- HIV, homophobia, parenting . . .

This movie is in Spanish with English subtitles. The uncut version contains some explicit gay sex scenes, frontal nudity and drug use.

Cachorro (Bear Cub), dir. Miguel Albaladejo, Spain, 2004

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Score a Touch Down With back issues of A Bear's Life Magazine.

Don't miss a single issue!

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