The Column of Life

While he may not be a Celt in a Kilt. Mr Turner is nothing if not a head turner. His mighty fine looks which call to mind black Irish men at their utmost will suffice. While All My Children is keeping him relatively busy, it might be best if he was put to work in something that grown-ups can enjoy. You Tube is helping the cause by posting this great video of the actor's days working with the lovely Ms Minshew. More, please, of Aiden Turner.

'Tis Spring and that time of year when a young man's fancy turns to: "Beltane is a cross-quarter day, marking the midpoint in the Sun's progress between the vernal equinox and summer solstice. Since the Celtic year was based on both lunar and solar cycles, it is possible that the holiday was celebrated on the full moon nearest the midpoint between the vernal equinox and the summer solstice. The astronomical date for this midpoint is closer to May 5 or May 7, but this can vary from year to year." (Wikipedia) In honour of the Celtic origins of May Day, which, if one follows the full moon observance, is actually this coming Wednesday, here are some kilt wearing young men. Although universally this observance is not necessarily about celts in kilts nor is it necessarily about young men -- but who's counting? It's a celebration of Spring and the fertile earth. Soon there will be pansies everywhere -- such sturdy little flowers.

Well baby come and let me take you out tonight Where the music is a pumping and the lights are bright When the whistle blows and the workdays' done We gonna get the party started and have some fun I'll meet you after midnight baby don't be late Down around the corner at the Empire State The kids are getting down up in the Bronx tonight Times Square is lit up like it's broad daylight They're kickin' out the jams down in ol' Bay Ridge The joint is really jumpin' on the Brooklyn Bridge All the hippies hangin' down on Avenue A Put your red dress on yeah we're on our way New York New York is rockin' New York New York is rockin' tonight Well Sinatra's singing 'bout those little town blues Baryshnikov is putting on his blue suede shoes Bird is boppin' down on Fifty-Second Street The Ramones at CBGB's got 'em on their feet Pavarotti's playing up at Carnegie Hall Yeah everybody's swingin' and havin' a ball They ...

How boring would the world be, especially the culinary world, without tomatoes. The juiciest aren't necessarily the best -- in fact, to utilize a tomato at its best one needs to get the excess out of there. Cut off the top and turn it upside down and squeeze it to do so. The meaty tomatoes are the best: firm and ripe, important qualities in so many aspects of life. Here in honour of firm, ripe tomatoes are two recipes, one of which from a mighty fine tomato in his own right, Mr. Dave Lieberman. The first is a Sicilian recipe and there's a lot to say about Sicilians and their firmness and ripeness. Pomidoro alla Siciliana Tomatoes, one kilo Sea Salt Virgin Olive Oil Onions, finely chopped about a quarter cup Garlic, finley chopped two cloves Bread crumbs from two slices of Italian or French bread Anchovy filets, four, rinsed, dried and finely chopped Tuna Fish, in olive oil about 250 grams chopped Basil, about three tablespoons, chopped Capers, washed and dried, about two tables...

If Thomas Dekker's management is all fired up about the public perceiving their client as gay -- the reason they had the writers change the sexual orientation of his character on Heroes according to Televisionista and AfterElton-- perhaps they should do something about suppressing these pictures on IMDB. The phrases "Gay As the Yellow Brick Road" and "As Gay As A Picnic Basket" come to mind. "Not that there's anything wrong with that." Okay, stolen from the excellent Web Log, Televisionista: Bryan Fuller, an openly gay writer on NBC's hit series Heroes has spoken about the show to popgurls.com and finally confirmed what we had suspected since the Thomas Dekker incident occurred last year in December - NBC was forced to convert the actor's character into a heterosexual by his management. Dekker who is repped by TalentWorks and Untitled Entertainment was playing Zach, a gay character on the show, who was a friend of Claire, Hayden Panettier...

“People talk about Al Gore being a presidential candidate a lot more serious than they joke about me. This guy could be a presidential candidate. He certainly has experience. I’ve always been in favor of the public having more choice. I hope Al Gore enters the race; I think it would be good for the country.” -- Michael Bloomberg, Republican (allegedly) Mayor of New York Anyway, here are the Gores and the DeNiros at the Tribeca Film Festival. It is hoped that Bobby makes him an offer he can't refuse, if Michael Bloomberg hasn't done so already.

Two years ago [almost] in the month of June, this Web Log, as an adjunct to the web site "Column of Life" (www.cloumn-of-life.com), was initiated, if nothing else, as a way to make sure that there was a daily message, i.e. that there was something new added every day without having to give grief to Pookie, our webmaster. In reflection, without contemplating the so-called navel,so to speak, a lot has been posted -- the best foot has put forward. It is hoped that y'all have had a good time or two. This is what we said two years ago when we started this: Me? I believe I’m a caterpillar buried deep down under the ground. The entire earth is above me, crushing me and I begin to bore through the soil, making a passage to the surface so that I can penetrate the crust and issue into the light. It’s hard work boring through the entire earth, but I am able to be patient because I have a strong premonition that as soon as I do issue into the light I shall become a butterfly. -- Nik...

He was quite keen as Eddie and his wonderfully dark turn on Pasadena was riveting. He brightened an angle or two on ER and Once and Again . All of the above came and went much too briefly. Boston Legal put him front and center often enough and Rupert Everett got to have him as a boyfriend in an otherwise uneventful movie with Madonna. Well, he's off on another television adventure and it is fervently hoped that it won't be a quick trip. Business Class is in pre-production with a producing team that has The O.C. and The Bourne Identity in its pedigree. OK, you guys, the favourite men around here are preferred de-briefed. Bring it on. The world is ready for a de-briefed Mark Valley. Besides anyone who is a fan of Jon Stewart's needs a lot of exposure.

Felicity Huffmann has all the luck on Desperate Housewives . She gets to have two grand leading men. First she gets to play Lynette Scavo to Doug Savant's Tom Scavo and then she gets to flirt with Jason Gedrick's Rick Colletti -- well, the viewers are being teased with the idea that there will be more between them. Well, perhaps it would be more interesting if Tom got to experience what Savant's gay character, Matt, on Melrose Place never got around to doing, i.e. enjoying a fine man. Why should Lynette have all the fun? Well, that's not likely to happen -- still, it's an interesting vision in the mind's eye. There has been noticeable improvement in the last two episodes, perhaps because there is a less hurried aspect to the show in wrapping up the plots and subplots. Jason's is a welcomed character -- the man sure can cook, although at least one of the dishes he mentioned last night -- Pasta alla Carbonara -- is not one that can be brought in from home an...

Ilene Kristen's " Flesh and Blood " The ways of the world we don't understand Everywhere leads us to why Hold on to the earth with your own two hands And never say goodbye Following Ilene's participation in POZ magazine's AIDS Walk fundraiser at Prohibition last May, a staff member remarked that she is a "force of nature." Coining a phrase from Brokeback Mountain's advertising campaign nothwithstanding, it is an accurate although hyberpolic description of a woman whose heart is unique and universal at one and the same time. One gets the sense that she's an old soul that will go on forever holding on to the earth with her own two hands. Her performances -- last year at Prohibition and subsequent gigs at The Triad -- showed all who were there that she is indeed worthy of all that. This week she brings her acting talent to the Upper West End speaking out on war: Flashback is a theatrical event that gives a voice to six woman who survived a war t...

Glazed Chicken Chickens, two cut into pieces Apricot Preserves, 12 ounce jar White Vinegar, one tablespoon Dried Plums, 12-15 pitted medium sized Sea Salt, a few pinches Ground Black Pepper, 20 grinds Garlic, 10 peeled cloves Sage, 20-30 leaves Oven, 400F 1. Trim any fat from the chicken and place in large roasting pan. 2. Mix the preserves and the vinegar and spread all over the chicken. 3. Add the rest of the ingredients and toss all of it until the chicken pieces are thoroughly covered. 4. Rearrange the chicken in the pan with the skin side up, pacing them evenly apart. 5. Roast until the tops of the chicken are browned. 35-40 minutes. Once again it is appropriate to thank DNA magazine for the side dishes accompnaying the recipe, which is once again from Dave Lieberman's Young and Hungry . There is no need to take the logical progression from the title of Dave's book in order to acknowledge what it is that is done here on a weekly basis. Dave's recipes tend to be rathe...

It's been posted here before that New York's Prohibition at 84th & Columbus is the home of the good guys. Often it seems like a rather safe place to be when the world manifests its worst. There are a number of ways there to enhance the good experience. Besides and in addition to enjoying the company of the good people that work there, there are the Vegetarian Dumplings or the Goat Cheese Ravioli in Marsala Sauce or the exceptional Tuna Tacos. Comfort. One of the good guys who go there is Mr. Aiden Turner it's been said and he is the latest addition to "Love Out Loud" POZ magazine's fundraiser and meet 'n' greet for AIDS Walk New York. As if being well traveled, well educated and well versed in the culinary arts weren’t enough, Aiden Turner is also blessed with divine physical attributes. All My Children itself has been blessed with his character Aidan Devane for the last five years. The native of Hertfordshire, England has a well deserved loyal ...

From his glory days in South Beach

He was quite memorable in his gay turn on The Book of Daniel playing opposite favourite and All My Children alumnus Christian Campbell. Guiding Light has picked up the slack and given John Driscoll some time over the air waves. His Anglican good looks were put to good use on both shows -- but there need be more, which was what the de-briefing feature in this Web Log is all about: encouraging the powers that be to let us see more. It's lauded here that he had no compunction in guest starring in Daniel , a show which was much too brief and seemed to be earnest in its production values and in what it had to say. It was almost a Prime Time version of All My Children with three cast members having passed through its hallowed studios. Do not let that digression distract the powers that be -- let's see much more of John Driscoll. Ya know what we mean.

"We believe that the Lover [in the archetypal sense] by whatever name is the primal energy pattern of what we could call vividness, aliveness, and passion. It lives through the great primal hungers of our species for sex, food, well-being, reproduction, creative adaptation to life's hardships, and ultimately a sense of meaning, without which human beings cannot go on with their lives. The Lover 's drive is to satisfy those hungers." Some may call him Zach.

"The Wisdom Of Time" (W. Robinson, P. Moffett, C. Burston) Baby crawls before he walks He coos and mumbles before he talks As the world turns we live and learn with the wisdom of time As the world turns we live and learn with the wisdom of time Growing up through years of wonder While some grow older and some go under Life seems a strain But it stands to gain with the wisdom of the time Yesterday we've been separated Today our thoughts should be integrated Divided we'll fall or together stand tall with the wisdom of time Yeah, Divided we'll fall or together stand tall with the wisdom of time Time the healer of wounds The sealer of fate With the greatest power to educate Through your wisdom teach us not into hate Before it's not too late Narrow minds keep us locked up tight, but Broader minds are the key to what's right So let's keep hopin' For minds to get open with the wisdom of time Baby crawls before he walks He coos and mumbles before he talks ...

Salmon with Ginger Salsa (Agapita Beninati) Mangos, 2 diced Tomato, 1 large diced Scallions, 4 chopped Cilantro, 2 teaspoons chopped Ginger, fresh, two teaspoons finely minced Lemon or Lime Juice, from one lemon or two limes Salmon Steaks, four about six ounces each Vegetable oil spray 1. Mix the first six ingredients to make a salsa 2. Heat up the grill and spray it with the vegetable spray 3. Sprinkle the salmon with the juice. 4. Grill the salmon on each side for 5/6 minutes 5. Remove and top with the salsa. The aroma of ginger is often used in love spells and potions because of its power as an aphrodisiac. Using it in cooking with the right kind of motivation can bring about the same effects. Its taste and power to enhance a repast is also a good reason to use it. It's all about the spice of life. Sensuality and love is just that. With all of that in mind not only do you find here three young men who just might be the object of the affections of some folks, but a spicy recipe ...