is hello kitty for me{n}?

Can "Hello Kitty" products be targeted to young men? The cute cuddly white cat, usually seen on toys and jewelry for young females, will soon don T-shirts, bags, watches and other products targeting young men. 

Gay Men should be progressive in the understanding the dynamics of masculinity and femininity. Why can't men rock the the "kitty"? The feline for-men products will go on sale in Japan next month, and will be sold soon in the U.S. and other Asian nations. Are you ready to say "hello" to the new line?

merry christmas!

My Friends and I went to go see Jay on Christmas Day. I was really excited because they said that his surgery was a success and he was able to talk again. Once we got there, they told us that they was changing him and getting some blood work done, so we had to wait. I know it's a waiting room, but come on! So I snuck out and tried to find his room. Thank goodness he was done. I smiled when I saw him. 

All I was thinking in my head was what I shouldn't talk about. Don't ask him "How you feeling?" or "What have you been up to?" or even "Are you enjoying Christmas?" Either way, he probably would have had a smart remark back at me anyway! I told him what was going on with me. He told me how when he was in a coma it just felt like he just sleep for one night, even though a week passed by. He  also said he was really weak and it takes a lot of energy for him to talk so we had to keep it short. Fuzzy had a Christmas Party and I videotaped it so that he could see it. We all left personal messages to him wishing him a speedy recovery. I opted to not show him since he wasn't feeling to good. I can just wait until he gets better. Love you Jay!

Fuzzy's Christmas party was so much fun! The food was amazing, the turnout of people was really good. I got tipsy again... and started dancing in the middle of the floor. Why can't I just sit down and laugh like everyone else when I'm feeling it? After spinning around like a lunatic, I took a nap upstairs and felt much better when I got up. I was able to get some of my friends gifts, we all exchanged them there. That was nice, and funny to say the least. We played games, it was very family oriented... nothing like last year's Christmas party! While I love strippers and whip cream like the next gay man, it felt good that we could still have a good time without all the sexual antics.

Christmas Eve, a couple of my friends went out for dinner. We had so much fun just talking, laughing and getting to know each other better. Then we went back to my house to watch Noah's Arc on DVD. As soon as the clock struck 12, why did everyone go into a tickling frenzy? LOL! Poor Omar. Everybody spent the night, and we all had breakfast Christmas Morning! Pancakes, Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Grits, hash browns... all while watching A Christmas Story! This was honestly one of my Best Christmas'. God gave me exactly what I wanted... to spend time with "family."

Of course I still saw my actual family, but honestly, over the years it just doesn't feel the same. I love my Grandmother, Mom and sister a great deal, but as with the rest of the family, everybody is always so distant. I found out my cousin is having a girl soon, which is nice. I mean somebody has to keep the family going, lol. I still enjoyed myself. After that, we went over another one of our friend's house and watched Dream Girls and headed back home.

Sucks that I am at work now. (while everyone gets to lounge in my household, lol.)

Last week was a fun-filled and creative week for me at work. Did I just say that? Over the past couple of months I have been bored out of my mind! Yet last week a client came and he wants us to come up with his entire marketing and design projects for his Wine Distribution Company. He imports wine from Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and the photography is so amazing! I designed the hell out of these business cards, brochures and media kits! It's elegant, cultural, creative and simple. Just what the client wanted... and what I needed! If I did another lame project, I would have died! I haven't been excited about designing in awhile so I'm glad it turned out good. Hopefully the client likes, heck, I know he will! I'm just that good!

I have also been doing a lot of freelance work, which allocated me with some extra cash! Man it feels good to get payed for your talent! I used some of the money to do some Christmas Shopping. Let me tell you guys about the back story to this. (without going into to much detail and calling any of my friends out)

My group of friends was suppose to do a "Secret Santa." There is close to 12 of us. It just made sense since everyone would get a gift and we didn't have to pay a lot of money. So at first we was going to pull the names at my Holiday Kickoff, but everyone wasn't there. Then we was going to use a website to do it, then it became complicated...

Man I want to use the "No Sugar" rule, but instead I will just say this:

1) I believe that Christmas should be a joyous occasion that includes everyone.

2) The spirit of giving should not just be for people you know, but people you don't know.

3) Lack of money and lack of ambition to find a gift should not hold you back from giving anything you can.

So I called off the "Secret Santa." People were pissed. People were confused. I knew that some how I had to find a way to bring the Christmas spirit back! So I decided to bring "Mr. Santa" into the mix. I told everyone in a text that nobody had to get anyone a gift and that Mr. Santa" would get EVERYONE on the list a GIFT. Merry Christmas!

So now this brings me back to "Mr Santa's" Christmas shopping. Who knew one could get everything in two mall days? "Santa" was determined! As for me, I have already bought gifts for my family and the people that are closest to me. I love getting gifts because, even if I am just spending less money, It will always have meaning and personality in it. It shouldn't be about how much money you spend on somebody, but the thought behind it. So I'm happy and I hope that my friends are happy to... especially since "Santa didn't have to get you shit!"

:)

Sadly though, the week before Christmas I had to move out of my house.

My mother told me that she had good news and bad news. I hate these kind of conversations. The good news was that I was going to be getting new windows for my apartment! I was so happy about that because new windows mean I can keep the cold out and the warmth in. The bad news was, I have to pack all my stuff by Monday and find a place to stay for an entire week. So I spent one day packing my personal belongings that I didn't want stolen. I packed a bag of clothes for work. I MOVED furniture out of the way so that they can work. When I got back I had to put everything back in its place! I changed it up a little, and it looks pretty fly now!

I didn't really know what I wanted for Christmas but was appreciative of the gifts I did receive. I remember years ago that if I didn't get what I wanted I would get into this whole fit, but as I get older I have learned to curb that feeling. It is hard when we live in a commercial society, but if I want to be a person who wants to loving and giving, then I shouldn't get mad if I don't get anything in return or get a gift I don't like. I mean they didn't have to give me shit, lol.

What's funny is I did post a Christmas list down on this blog but took it down. Only person that saw it was Jay.

Enough about me. Why did one of my co worker's friends jump out of a car and into a river this last week? I am so feeling Janet's new song. I think I'm going to be taking dance lessons next year. I bought 2 Fitteds for 22 bucks the other day. I bought some sneakers and one of them was the wrong size. I need another haircut, but I'm trying not to get all crazy about it this time! Omar makes the best Corn cornbread. I'm not upset over Tyson anymore, and putting it in God's hands. I am annoyed that there are two many secrets and not enough communication. I am glad my exercising is coming along well. I kinda like having Junior around. Why was I so horny the other day that I became dizzy? Why did the bus break down twice in the past two days? I hate paying bills. Why don't more people comment on my videos? I love Craig David, but his newest album sucks. Yet he does look better though! I don't really need a sidekick LX. I am mad I didn't get to see Dirty Laundry, then they pull it out of New York! Bow Wow and Omarion are so gay, and I love it! What is this about Raz B getting molested? Me and my mother tried to get a new dog before Christmas...

that didn't happen! I miss TJ. sigh. Let me get back to work... 

Buzz!: The Mega Quiz for PS2

This is a game that I bought for my Holiday Kickoff so that me and my friends would have something cool to play with. We just recently played it at Fuzzy's Christmas Party on Saturday, and had so much fun! I totally recommend you guys get this for the holidays!

Buzz! is a series of video games developed by UK software house Relentless Software and published by Sony for the PlayStation 2 console. They are quiz games that sees the players answering trivia questions whilst competing in the fictional show Buzz. Created specifically with multi-player party gaming in mind, the series launched in October 2005 and to date is comprised of six games. The series will make the transition to the Playstation 3 in 2008.
As with most TV quiz shows the winner of the game is the player with the most points. The show uses a multi-round format with most games in the series featuring eight individual rounds. The exact rounds vary from game-to-game and more information about the rounds can be found in the individual articles. Each game is hosted by the titular Buzz (voiced by Jason Donovan in the English versions)

The games are played with buzzers - a set of four simple controllers that consist of four coloured answer buttons and a red buzzer. These are intended to replicate the buzzers often seen on TV quiz shows. The buzzers plug into a USB port and the game allows use of either one or two sets of buzzers allowing up to eight players in certain games. The games are usually marketed in two versions, a pack containing both game and buzzers for new purchasers or a game only version for players who already own a set of buzzers.

the outcast

Being Gay, or simply put, being myself has always been hard for me as a teenager. I remember a moment in my life that really reaffirmed me and my position that being who I was is totally OK. When I was a teenager, my mother and I would watch Star Trek as one of our "Mother/Son" activities. One night, we didn't see an episode together. In a sense, I'm glad wedidn't. It was as if, this moment was only meant for me.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

(I will try and explain this as simple as possible so you guys won't get to confused...)

The Commander (William Riker) of the starship, Enterprise, falls in love with Soren. Soren is an alien. An advanced human like race called the J'naii.

The J'naii are an androgynous species that views the expression of any sort of male or female gender, and especially sexual liaisons, as a sexual perversion. They believe that they have evolved beyond gender and thus viewed the idea of male/female sexuality as primitive.

If any of the members of the J'naii choose to be male or female and have romantic or sexual feelings for ANYONE, they are ridiculed and turned into outcast. (Sounds Familiar Right?) But get this? If anyone in there society finds out, they are considered "sick" and are forced to undergo "psychotectic therapy" so that they can be accepted back into their society.

In this video that I am about to show you, Soren has been caught and must explain and confess to her government the wrong doings of her sexual perversion... yet the Commander comes in to stop Soren and save the one he loves.

This moment is very powerful, and brings me to tears every time I see it. The Star Trek Creators wrote the episode to deal with the issues we have about homosexuality and how we are not accepted for who we are and who we love. Really listen to the words expressed here, and feel the emotion this outcast is expressing, it truly is very much a cry for help.

What did you think about the video? 

Have you ever felt like an outcast? 

Would you take or receive 

a cure for homosexuality?

Have you ever made a stand

 to let someone or everyone

 know you are who you are?

sidekick

If I don't post this, I won't be able to concentrate, SO...

As I check my sidekick for messages from my friends, I sign on to my AOL instant messenger. I hardly use the program anymore, but since Jay is on it, I keep it on mostly to talk to him. I look at his screen name and see that there is a bubble wit a Z next to it. It means that he is idle. He has been idle for over 40 something hours now.

I know why.

Yesterday I saw my friend hooked up to machines and tubes as he lied there in that hospital bed "idle." He has been sick for two weeks and was finally getting better. He came to my house last weekend just to get out the house. We talked, but he mostly slept. He never sleeps at my house, but there he was knocked out. A week later here he is.

He has a hereditary heart condition, and he needs to have corrective surgery, so we are waiting until his body is ready to handle the surgery. As I was heading the the hospital I was thinking of all the things I wanted to say to him to cheer him up. He was sedated, and I wasn't able to tell him anything.

This is new for me... I never had anyone close to me... die before. I didn't want to think of him leaving me though. He is only 27, he will pull through. I want him to pull through. Jay is the longest friend I have that I still hang out with. He would be the FIRST one there anytime I was going through something. 

I always wanted a sidekick because he had one. I was so excited when I got mine so that way we could text and talk to each other on our exclusive devices. In a sense, he is my sidekick.

I miss him, and I am "sending positive energy" to him...

minny golf ::summer 2007

My friend Calvin finally gave me these photos the other day, so I was like, I might as well post them now even though it was in the summer time. Oh well, enjoy...

O4PREZ

Just a graphic I created... LOL.

missin you :: the video

Missin You Video Interview:

So what made you perform Trey Songz?
I love Trey Songz! His music to me is so real. Very melodic and he has amazing lyrics. His voice has a lot of soul in it, not to mention he is very sexy! Actually, he is an artist as well, and I own one of his sketchbooks that came with the album. I have to support people who are artist like myself.

What made you pick the "Missin You" song?
After I broke up with my boyfriend, I would listen to a lot of songs to get through it. When I heard this song off his album it felt like "I" was singing it. Every single word in that song I felt. I was really missing him. There is a lot of frustration conveyed in the song that I felt as well. Even though it is an upbeat song I felt emotional performing it. This has to be the most personal performance I have done so far.

How did you come up with the concept for the video?
The song has this whole robotic voice throughout the song. The beat is very futuristic so I wanted to play on that. I listen to the song on my ipod all the time. Then I was thinking? What would happen if my ipod came to life and took over my body and just released all these emotions of the song through me? What would it look like? How would I dance? What would the words look like? How would I sing the song? I hope that came across to everybody...

How long did it take you to do the video?
It usually takes me weeks to remember the lyrics to the song. An hour to film the video. And around 8 hours to edit it. Actually this is the second edit version of the song. At first I wasn't feeling it, I left it alone for like 2 weeks, and came back and made it happen! Even though I am being silly in these videos, I still want to have a certain level of quality to it. Video Editing is my new hobby now! Doing these videos are like a dream come true for me.

What is up with the "Umbrella Dances" in the video?
LOL. I don't know! I know I am not the best dancer, so I try and dance and make it humurous as well. It is all about entertaining. I saw it on the floor, and ran with it. Besides, seems like umbrellas have its own meaning now, so I think it goes with the song. I'm missing you baby, so come under my umbrella ella ella eh eh eh, LOL!

If you have any questions or comments about the video, let me know!

art at its greatest...

The Guennol Lioness, a 5,000-year-old Elamite figure created ca. 3000-2800 B.C., was listed as belonging to the Brooklyn Museum of Art until it was auctioned off to an English collector. Its historical significance is that it was created at about the same time when the first known use of the wheel, the development of cuneiform writing, and the emergence of the first cities were recorded. Depicting a well-muscled anthropomorphic lioness, it sold for $57.2 million at Sotheby's auction house on December 5, 2007.

dirty laundry movie

DIRTY LAUNDRY IT THEATERS IN OPENS: 

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2007

LOS ANGELES Mann Beverly Center Cinemas (Inside Beverly Center) 8522 Beverly Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90038

NEW YORK Clearview Chelsea Theater West 23rd Street (b/t 7th & 8th) New York, NY 10011

BUY TICKETS & SPREAD THE WORD

I will be at the New York Showing!

______________________________

Want to know the Controversy 

behind the movie?

Check Out Darian's Blog for More...

i want to be happy your happy

I want to be happy your happy

because you found a love so true

I want to be happy your happy

because if anyone deserves it, it would be you

I want to be happy your happy

even though you decided to never call

I want to be happy your happy

even if you don't hang out with me anymore

I want to be happy your happy

because with him you spend your days

I want to be happy your happy

praying and wishing this is all a phase

I want to be happy your happy

yet when I try, it is all pretend

I want to be happy your happy

even though I feel like I lost a great friend

parental lessons

If you guys don't already know, my friends and myself have taken in a 17 year old homeless gay teenager who was kicked out of his home by his father. You can get the back stories by reading:

Omar's Blog: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner...FOR GOOD?!

Blaq's Blog: Lift as we Climb

I'm really impressed by the giving and nurturing spirit that my friends have expressed towards someone we just met over a week ago. It saddens me that a father would kick out his son because of his sexual orientation... but this is all to common. I am blessed that my mother, even though she feels uncomfortable talking about it, never expressed that she didn't love me and would kick me out. I never knew that some of my friends really related to this same situation.

Being a Parent over night is NOT easy. Trying to draw the line of what a 17 year old should be exposed to is a very fine line. I think our main goal is to make sure he has a safe and non judgemental environment to eat, sleep, and be able to grow as a person. Over the weekend we attended a house party where there was music, card playing, and drinking.

He wanted to drink, yet he is underage. Yet, like some parents I know, they give there teenage children liquor before 21, so that way they know how to drink responsible. He was in a house, we had at least 5 people watching him, give him a Smirnoff. lol. It's light, and has very little liquor in it.  As the night moves on, everyone is having a good time, people are getting tipsy and drunk by the hour... somebody decided to sneak a drink. We caught him with a full cup, and reduced it to half. Yet somehow he was able to play a game and receive shots! He was slick, he knew what he was doing, and you could tell that he was drunk.

"I'm not drunk, I'm just tired."

Yeah right... 5 minutes later, he is sitting on the steps with some friends crying about everything he has gone through. Jay always used to tell me that drinking doesn't solve your problems, it just enhances what your feeling. Then the dramatics came! He went into this whole "Thank You" speech!

Thank You for my Big Brother X for taking me to that party...

If it wasn't for that PARTY I wouldn't have met you all...

Thank You Shawn for that party Lord...

Thank You GOD, you all will be rewarded...

Thank You Omar for taking me into your home...

Thank You for taking me to Church...

I needed to go to Church Lord...

Thank You Fuzzy for helping...

You make the best Hamburger Helper...

You all will be rewarded...

That went on for about an hour, in someones bedroom, on the floor, while everybody was balling! I have never seen Reg or X cry as much as they did. I guess they both felt that they could have been out on the street just like him if they told there loved ones. Both of them live very closeted lives with homophobic parents, and I really feel bad for them. Hopefully they can use that energy to help out another, and inspire themselves to getting out of there own situations.

Parental Lesson #1: No more drinks for him! LOL. I'm glad he got it all out, but that was just too much drama in somebody else's house.

There is so much more, we all have to think about. What is a proper curfew? What should he do about a job? Hobbies? Getting to and from school? (Thanks to X, he now has a Train and Bus Card) Chores & Home Responsibilities? Boyfriends & Sex? His protection from his family? Exposing him to positive experiences?

It is a lot. Omar knows that my house is always open to anyone, and will help in anyway. Even still when he moves in with Blaq, so we shall see how this goes...