GOVERNMENT STIMULUS
by Buzzed Beef
May 14, 2008
May 12, 2008
It's Leather Season
It's Leather Season
As the leather season kicks into high gear - This belt buckle is the perfect accent to your leather wardrobe.
3.5 inches x 3 inches Hand Cuff Pewter Buckle
Over the next few weeks look for us at IML and Bear Pride in Chicago, and of course Dore Alley in San Francisco. Come up and say hello - you can also pay respects to the Mistress.
3.5 inches x 3 inches Hand Cuff Pewter Buckle
Over the next few weeks look for us at IML and Bear Pride in Chicago, and of course Dore Alley in San Francisco. Come up and say hello - you can also pay respects to the Mistress.
May 10, 2008
Up in smoke
Cigar tips from our readers
- Before clipping the end of a cigar, prior to smoking it - place it in your mouth and moisten it first then cut it. The end being clipped don't seem to crumble as much.
- Use the cutter to just lightly cut off the rounded tip instead of taking a chunk out of it. Then slightly squeeze it to open of the air draw.
- If you are just starting out - For the majority of men, I usually had them start with Dominican cigars. If they didn't smoke at all, I would have them try Macanudo as one of the first. It has a tight draw / low smoke output, to not overwhelm them.
- If you find that you've purchased more cigars than your humidor can handle, store them in your freezer in a plastic bag or container with a lid. Two to three days before the planned smoke move them to your refrigerator's crisper bin.
- To insure your cigars are kept fresh...keep a corner of a sponge moist with distilled water in the bag with the cigars, but not touching the cigars.
May 08, 2008
Where do you fit in?
Our readers respond. . .
Do you identify with main stream gay society? Are you more at home in the bear brotherhood without all the trappings of the muscle boys and A listers? Or are you a square peg trying to find a hole?
Here's what you told us -
"A square peg trying to find a hole" - classic. While not desperately seeking that hole, this square peg has been so distant from mainstream society (gay and otherwise) that I wouldn't know Will or Grace if either asked me to dance (yes, I know referencing W&G is five years ago, but I am at a loss for what is mainstream today).
Don't want ot be a peg (round or square) in anyones preconceived hole (although I love to be in a hole as much as possible). Enjoy the closeness of Bears in general, but not necessarily the organized Bear scene. Like it one on one, or with a smaller group of trusted friends where fraternity and a nonjudgmental attitude prevail. Give me a couple of good friends I can be myself with, sunshine on my naked skin, and a big cigar to smoke and I'm a happy camper.
I am definitely more at home with the Bear Brotherhood, or at least the ideal of the Bear Brotherhood, which fortunately, is what I have experienced for the last few years being in a gay/bear/social atmosphere for the first time in my life. However, I hate seeing how the mainstream Bear community in some ways has become just another way to exclude others who dont fit yet another ideal look or attitude or amount of masculinity. In my mind, the Bear community IS and SHOULD BE about men existing as they naturally are, because, lets face it...the majority of gay men ARE just 'regular guys', not skinny beautiful hairless young men. I thought the Bear community was started for men who didn't fit into the gay mainstream...I think it should be that and IS that... not who has the perfect beard, chest hair, muscles and/or husky-ness, or amount of masculinity.
I am not a hairy man, but I feel at home with the Bears. Everyone I have met and spent anytime with seems normal and happy. The "Bear Brotherhood" is accepting, not spending time trying to make you look or be a certain image. Too, I enjoy the whole concept of just being men. We sweat, we have hair, we stink etc.... Thats what men are and do. So, lets all get naked and do what men do with some gusto and no apologizing for sweating and stinking while we do it.
Do you identify with main stream gay society? Are you more at home in the bear brotherhood without all the trappings of the muscle boys and A listers? Or are you a square peg trying to find a hole? Here's what you told us -
"A square peg trying to find a hole" - classic. While not desperately seeking that hole, this square peg has been so distant from mainstream society (gay and otherwise) that I wouldn't know Will or Grace if either asked me to dance (yes, I know referencing W&G is five years ago, but I am at a loss for what is mainstream today).
Don't want ot be a peg (round or square) in anyones preconceived hole (although I love to be in a hole as much as possible). Enjoy the closeness of Bears in general, but not necessarily the organized Bear scene. Like it one on one, or with a smaller group of trusted friends where fraternity and a nonjudgmental attitude prevail. Give me a couple of good friends I can be myself with, sunshine on my naked skin, and a big cigar to smoke and I'm a happy camper.
I am definitely more at home with the Bear Brotherhood, or at least the ideal of the Bear Brotherhood, which fortunately, is what I have experienced for the last few years being in a gay/bear/social atmosphere for the first time in my life. However, I hate seeing how the mainstream Bear community in some ways has become just another way to exclude others who dont fit yet another ideal look or attitude or amount of masculinity. In my mind, the Bear community IS and SHOULD BE about men existing as they naturally are, because, lets face it...the majority of gay men ARE just 'regular guys', not skinny beautiful hairless young men. I thought the Bear community was started for men who didn't fit into the gay mainstream...I think it should be that and IS that... not who has the perfect beard, chest hair, muscles and/or husky-ness, or amount of masculinity.
I am not a hairy man, but I feel at home with the Bears. Everyone I have met and spent anytime with seems normal and happy. The "Bear Brotherhood" is accepting, not spending time trying to make you look or be a certain image. Too, I enjoy the whole concept of just being men. We sweat, we have hair, we stink etc.... Thats what men are and do. So, lets all get naked and do what men do with some gusto and no apologizing for sweating and stinking while we do it.
May 06, 2008
Happy No Diet Day
International No Diet Day (INDD) is an annual celebration of body acceptance and diversity. It is observed on May 6 each year.
Dieting represents a huge money maker to the industry, despite is high failure rate. Only 5 to 10 percent of us succeed, but we all contribute to the staggering $40 billion in revenue amassed by the weight-loss industry annually. By the year 2006, revenues are estimated to top $48 billion.
According to Bankrate’s “10 things the Diet Companies Don’t Want You to Know”: All three of the largest national weight loss chains -- Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig and LA Weight Loss -- continue to make millions in revenue. In 2003, Weight Watchers' revenue was approximately $943 million, while Jenny Craig saw $280 million and LA Weight Loss climbed from revenues of $105 million in 2001 to $250 million and counting in 2003.
According to the Marketdata's John LaRosa, costs of these programs vary regionally (franchises have latitude in what they charge) and individually. On average, joining Jenny Craig will set you back between $199 and $299 initially, plus $70 per week to buy its meals. Weight Watchers charges $29 to join and between $8 and $12 per week for meetings. LA Weight Loss sells a year's program in advance and averages $575 for a full year's service. Costs could go higher, depending on how many of the company's bars and supplements you buy. Marketdata Enterprises, Inc., is an independent Tampa-based market research firm.
There is big money in making you feel bad about yourself. Advertisers have a vested interest in selling you an unobtainable ideal. Since, you can never actually reach you goal, you keep buying. Beyond the financial costs are dieting are the true costs to your health and self-esteem. One of every 11 commercials has a direct message about beauty (this isn't counting the indirect ones).
So, today get off the diet roller coaster. Stop doing that to your body. Restrictive diets deprive the body of much needed nutrients and the weight tends to come back once you resume normal eating habits.
Instead of dieting, why not vow (and what better day than “No Diet Day” to do so) to eat healthier. Most of our diets could be a little healthier (Ok, mine could be a lot healthier). Eat more green things (and I’m not talking about the moldy donut you found rolling around the backseat), drink more water, and get out there and move.
If you’re not exercising, think about a walk in the park at lunch. Take the dog to the beach or the woods – whatever is nearby (he’ll thank you, too!). Go out and buy yourself a nice pair of walking shoes, and treat yourself to a little fresh air.
Finally, most diet ads are about making us feel bad because we are not supermodels. C’mon, you’re not really buying that are you? Appreciate your body – it has done a lot of wonderful things for you. It is you – uniquely you – embrace it. Find time to pamper it. Be nice to it. Don’t deprive it!! The cliché is that it’s what’s on the insides that counts, well – I can promise you until you start to feel good about you, it won’t matter what shape you’re in.
Stop, think about all you’ve accomplished. What have you done today to make yourself proud? We’ll deal with tomorrow, tomorrow.
Dieting represents a huge money maker to the industry, despite is high failure rate. Only 5 to 10 percent of us succeed, but we all contribute to the staggering $40 billion in revenue amassed by the weight-loss industry annually. By the year 2006, revenues are estimated to top $48 billion.
According to Bankrate’s “10 things the Diet Companies Don’t Want You to Know”: All three of the largest national weight loss chains -- Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig and LA Weight Loss -- continue to make millions in revenue. In 2003, Weight Watchers' revenue was approximately $943 million, while Jenny Craig saw $280 million and LA Weight Loss climbed from revenues of $105 million in 2001 to $250 million and counting in 2003.
According to the Marketdata's John LaRosa, costs of these programs vary regionally (franchises have latitude in what they charge) and individually. On average, joining Jenny Craig will set you back between $199 and $299 initially, plus $70 per week to buy its meals. Weight Watchers charges $29 to join and between $8 and $12 per week for meetings. LA Weight Loss sells a year's program in advance and averages $575 for a full year's service. Costs could go higher, depending on how many of the company's bars and supplements you buy. Marketdata Enterprises, Inc., is an independent Tampa-based market research firm.
There is big money in making you feel bad about yourself. Advertisers have a vested interest in selling you an unobtainable ideal. Since, you can never actually reach you goal, you keep buying. Beyond the financial costs are dieting are the true costs to your health and self-esteem. One of every 11 commercials has a direct message about beauty (this isn't counting the indirect ones).
So, today get off the diet roller coaster. Stop doing that to your body. Restrictive diets deprive the body of much needed nutrients and the weight tends to come back once you resume normal eating habits.
Instead of dieting, why not vow (and what better day than “No Diet Day” to do so) to eat healthier. Most of our diets could be a little healthier (Ok, mine could be a lot healthier). Eat more green things (and I’m not talking about the moldy donut you found rolling around the backseat), drink more water, and get out there and move.
If you’re not exercising, think about a walk in the park at lunch. Take the dog to the beach or the woods – whatever is nearby (he’ll thank you, too!). Go out and buy yourself a nice pair of walking shoes, and treat yourself to a little fresh air.
Finally, most diet ads are about making us feel bad because we are not supermodels. C’mon, you’re not really buying that are you? Appreciate your body – it has done a lot of wonderful things for you. It is you – uniquely you – embrace it. Find time to pamper it. Be nice to it. Don’t deprive it!! The cliché is that it’s what’s on the insides that counts, well – I can promise you until you start to feel good about you, it won’t matter what shape you’re in.
Stop, think about all you’ve accomplished. What have you done today to make yourself proud? We’ll deal with tomorrow, tomorrow.
