The Column of Life

There probably won't be any bog deal made of homosexuals tying the knot until the general election when same sex lovers will once again be demonized. In the meantime, we've had Al Gore's endorsement and now this to keep the homefires burning: 30th January 2008 13:10 Gemma Pritchard Actor Colin Farrell is to be best man at his brother's civil partnership ceremony. Eamon Farrell, 35, is planning to marry his 23-year-old boyfriend Steven Mannion after a proposing to him in New York last year. According to the Mirror: "Eamon proposed before Christmas. The pair share a love of art and this is what brought them together. "Eamon is a respected dance teacher who set up the National Performing Arts School in Dublin more than 10 years ago. "And Steven is a really talented artist who has been welcomed into the Farrell family." The younger Farrell brother is best-known for his versatile performances in a string of hit films such as Phone Booth and Alexander. It...

There is a very thin veneer. Some people after the veneer wears off start to wear thin themselves. Main Entry: pre·tense Variant(s): or pre·tence Listen to the pronunciation of pretence Listen to the pronunciation of pretence \ˈprē-ˌten(t)s, pri-ˈ\ Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, probably modification of Medieval Latin pretensio, irregular from Latin praetendere Date: 15th century 1: a claim made or implied; especially : one not supported by fact2 a: mere ostentation : pretentiousness b: a pretentious act or assertion3: an inadequate or insincere attempt to attain a certain condition or quality4: professed rather than real intention or purpose : pretext 5: make-believe fiction6: false show : simulation

Florida is in many senses the land of beauty contests. Anyone who has spent any time in South Beach knows that. Hillary Clinton, of all people, won one this very evening. On the other hand, what went on from the Republican side of things had nothing to do with beauty. John McCain who puts a smiley face on war mongering among other atrocities won a narrow victory on the prettiest of the candidates of the Republican ilk. It says a lot about him that he actually respects the likes of Rudy Giuliani ... Let's not reflect on the ugliness of Florida politics. Al Gore could very well tell us there's no satisfaction in that. The most disconcerting part of all of this is that over achiever Chris Matthews will get increasingly shriller as the cycle goes on. Will someone please call his AA sponsor? The real beauty of it all is that Jon Stewart will sharpen his wit and Mr. Colbert will sprint in an even more lively manner while waving the banner of parody. In the meantime, we post here som...

Two of Pentacles From www.learntarot.com: In readings, the Two of Pentacles lets you know that you can juggle all demands made upon you. In fact, you will relish the excitement of every hurdle. If you do not feel this level of confidence right now, this card asks you to believe in yourself. You have all you need to meet your every goal and more. Embrace the challenge. The Two of Pentacles also reminds you to be flexible. Lancelot could not have navigated the swords walking in a straight line. He had to move freely and lightly in all directions as needed. You too must be supple if you want to prevail. Don't force your way through or you will be cut down. Now is not the time to be rigid. Know that sometimes a side step, or even a back step is the surest way forward. The Two of Pentacles is also a symbol of fun, laughter and good times. It is definitely a high-energy card. If you are feeling tired or depressed, this card may be a sign that greater vitality will be yours. If you are fe...

It wasn't all that long ago that Heath Ledger made a lasting impression, if on no one else, on many a gay man who very much understood what went on in his creation of Ennis. There isn't much that one can impart if what he captured then and there was not absorbed by the observer. Still it is universal in that what this young man who was all of twenty-five at the time was able to express. So we'll re-post Brian's heartfelt reflection on Brokeback Mountain as a way to bid farewell to Mr. Ledger. He was more than Ennis Del Mar, but it was his creation of Ennis that brought many of us into his ambit. It is difficult to let him go, but we must as all things must pass. Hence, the songs you hear this week. I consider myself a logical, analytical person. I approach life in a reasoned manner, assuming that, no matter what happens, I can separate the wheat from the chaff, separate what's real from what my emotions want me to believe is real. But as it happens logic sometimes...

Something to accompany the cognac.

One can only wonder if most people eat three per day. In the US, often it seems like many are partaking in more than that. Well, if there are three meals to be had, it is suggested that the three pictured here be on the menu. Breakfast and lunch for most, it would seem, is make shift and quick. It's usually the evening meal that gets all the focus. If the beefcake below is too much for you ... ... try this: Almond Chicken Chicken Breasts, three, cut into bite sized pieces Soy Sauce, three tablespoons Chicken Broth, one cup Coarse Salt, one tablespoon Cornstarch, one and a half tablespoon Mushrooms, sliced, one and a half cups Onion, one medium, sliced Bell Pepper, one cup, diced Snow Pea Pods, one package Green Onion, chopped, half cup Almonds, sliced (8 oz package) Olive Oil, two tablespoons 1. Marinate the chicken in the soy sauce for twenty minutes. 2. Brown the chicken in the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the broth and let simmer. 3. Mix the cornstarch and salt in water in ...

It wasn't until the third posting of this feature that a recipe started to accompany the beefcake. It was, of course, a recipe for: Spiced Beefcake Spiced beefcake is a traditional meat loaf recipe using minced beef. Lean Beef, 400 grams (about a pound) fairly finely minced Bacon, 225 grams(about a half pound) minced Onion, one medium-sized, minced Mushrooms 75 grams(about a cup)minced Mace, Cloves, Cayenne, Allspice, Black Pepper, powdered and all mixed together, about a handful Sea Salt to taste Red Wine, 750 ml Egg whites of two eggs for binding Preheated Oven 325F/160C 1. Mix all the ingredients together except the egg whites and let the mixture marinate an hour or two. Then mix in the whites. 2. Pack the mixture into a baking dish of any shape. Bake it, uncovered, in a bain-marie for two hours. (This definition from busycooks.about.com -- "A bain marie is a utensil and a cooking technique. One container with food to be cooked is placed in another, larger pan containing w...

Revolution: The T-Dance For POZ Men January 27, 2008 (Revolution's One Year Birthday Party) San Francisco, CA Doors open at 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM and the cost is $5. Club Eight 1151 Folsom Street @ 7th Revolution has been going every month for almost a year now. It's the only advertised tea dance in the Bay Area for HIV+ gay, bi, and trans men to meet each other socially and without stigma. It's held at Club Eight in the South of Market area and has been growing each month. One of the cooler aspects about the event is that it has been a great way to reach out to poz men in the Bay Area who are not service seekers and who are generally younger.

All that fuss over a play! Perhaps it is best to enjoy the stories and mythological truths of older religions. For example, Zeus' (Jupiter's) love for Ganymede. "Ganymede is the young, beautiful boy that became one of Zeus' lovers. One source of the myth says that Zeus fell in love with Ganymede when he spotted him herding his flock on Mount Ida. Zeus then came down in the form of an eagle or sent an eagle to carry Ganymede to Mount Olympus where Ganymede became cup bearer to the gods." "Upon hearing that Ganymede was to be cup bearer as well as Zeus' lover, the infinitely jealous Hera was outraged. Therefore Zeus set Ganymede's image among the stars as the constellation Aquarius, the water carrier." "All of Zeus' scandalous liaisons have allegorical meanings. Some sources say that Zeus' affair with Ganymede was a (religious) justification for homosexuality within the Greek culture, yet others state that this is merely a reflection o...

SYDNEY (Reuters) - A controversial play that depicts Jesus being seduced by Judas and conducting a gay marriage for two apostles has been condemned by church leaders ahead of its opening in Sydney. The Anglican Bishop of South Sydney, Robert Forsyth, expressed his outrage at the plot of Corpus Christi on Sunday, calling the play "historical nonsense." "It is deliberately, not innocently, offensive and they're obviously having a laugh about it," he told the Sun-Herald newspaper. "I wouldn't want to go and see it. Life's too short." Set to open on February 7 as part of Sydney's annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival, Corpus Christi depicts Jesus and his followers as gay, and ends with Jesus being crucified. Despite critical acclaim, the play provoked protests and bomb threats when it was performed in the United States. Playwright Terrence McNally received a death edict, or fatwa, from a UK-based Islamic group, which declared it blasphem...

John Travolta: "My Tears for Heath" Thursday, January 24, 2008 In a revealing interview ( Woman's Day ), Hollywood superstar John Travolta opens up about his devastation over the death of his friend Heath Ledger. WD: Did you know Heath? How has his death affected you? JT: I did know Heath and I adored him. I am pretty devastated over this. He was my favourite actor and my favourite talent. It's like losing James Dean. I would give back all my awards and all my nominations just to have him back — I think he is a real loss as a persona and as a talent. And this whole evening is very hard for me. We are celebrating Australia week in the USA — and it's killing me. You know that he's both of us. He's Australian and from the United States, and he means a whole lot. It's bad situation. WD: How did you meet him? JT: I wanted to meet him because I was very impressed with him from the very beginning. His agent introduced me to him at a party, and I just fell — I...

By Hank Stuever Washington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, January 23, 2008 A young movie star dies and the mind automatically cues up the clip reel and FFs through the footage, even before it occurs to you to simply turn on the television and just watch the actual, endless loop: Here is Heath Ledger -- fresh and hunky and unknown -- singing "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" and dancing on the school stadium bleachers in a teen flick adaptation of Shakespeare ( 10 Things I Hate About You , a reworking of The Taming of the Shrew ). Here is Heath Ledger caressing that empty, soiled cowboy shirt kept by his dead lover in "Brokeback Mountain." And Heath Ledger as one of the Bob Dylans in I'm Not There , in sunglasses and a dour expression, one of the Bob Dylans who were impossible to be around. A sneak peek of Heath Ledger from this summer's upcoming Batman movie as the Joker, fully unhinged, erasing in a few seconds any ownership Jack Nicholson may have claimed to ...

He was a friend of mine He was a friend of mine Every time I think about him now Lord I just can't keep from cryin' 'Cause he was a friend of mine He died on the road He died on the road He just kept on movin' Never reaped what he could sow And he was a friend of mine I stole away and cried I stole away and cried 'Cause I never had too much money And I never been quite satisfied And he was a friend of mine He never done no wrong He never done no wrong A thousand miles from home And he never harmed no one And he was a friend of mine He was a friend of mine He was a friend of mine Every time I hear his name Lord I just can't keep from cryin' 'Cause he was a friend of mine. Copyright © 1962; renewed 1990 MCA

Three cards were drawn here on the eve of the full moon in Leo. The first of which was major arcane, The Tower. The Jungian interpretation involves the paternal figure of The Emperor (Jupiter, Zeus, Thor) whose task it is "to sweep away institutions that have become useless in our lives." On one hand there is utter destruction but on the other "peace and conciliation." It also says that the card has been called: "'The House of God,' to imply that spiritual learning involves the absolute destruction of old concepts and of old ways of life." Not an easy task. The subsequent draws were (1) the four of pentacles: "Success in an executive career, or in anything involving management of large amounts of money, and of large numbers of people, is assured. Everything seems to work perfectly, achievement and prosperity flow in. Apart from wealth per se ... (interpreted as Jupiter in Capricorn) may suggest an unorthodox approach to religion." and (2)...

Doctor King left us before he completed his fourth decade. Imagine if he were still here imparting wisdom as he approached his eighth decade. There was a cover on one of the weekly news magazines prior to that horrendous spring of 1968 that touted Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King as the dream ticket. Who knows what that might set in motion. That year both were cut down. Some thought, "That's what we get for dreaming." A dream indeed that peace, freedom and equality might be the rule of the day. The more things change the more they stay the same. The Dream nevertheless lives on. That election year segregationist George Wallace stole the Deep South from Richard Nixon's electoral count almost costing him the election. It was maintaining race as a pivotal issue in presidential politics. After the assassination attempt on Wallace in 1972, the South has remained firmly ensconced in the bosom of the Republican Party. Al Gore, who is sorely missed this election cycle, on...

There are many tags and names for temporary liaisons: tryst, one night stand, trick, and, of course, oh-christ-was-I-drunk-last-night. In Italian it is an avventura , an adventure. The less evolved experience is nothing more than glorified masturbation. The best experiences are truly adventures in creative love making. This post is in praise of that kind of promiscuity. Part of the liberation that came about on the threshold of the 70s and well into that decade meant for many gay men that it was time to openly participate in finding the love of life, even if it meant only temporarily. While that may sound offhand, it is very true. There's something to be said for the sweet and sad emotional recollection of a memorable hour, afternoon or night spent with someone. This speaks to a different kind of morality--one which reminds us to celebrate humanity in all of its expressions. It is possible to love someone temporarily. The 80s crashed with the reality of safe sex. Still safe sex doe...

In spite of Column of Life's plush surroundings, there are no in house photographers. Today's recipes are in house recipes and photography, as in the previous two beefcakes are not forthcoming. So, we are serving up photos of some other dishes gathered from the Internet. This first course has evolved over the years and its current version is a big hit. Every Italo-Americano household has experienced maccheroni with tuna. It is one of the staples of the Friday evening meal. It's simple and to the point. Reinventing it is very satisfying. Pasta al Tonno alla Giano Garlic, two cloves, chopped Onion, one small red, chopped Extra Virgin Olive Oil Tuna, about a cup (imported Italian tonno in olive oil is good, or a portion of a grilled steak) Anchovy Paste, one tablespoon Grappa Grape Tomatoes, cut in half, one cup Roasted Peppers, chopped, one cup Tomato Puree (or even a hearty tomato soup), half cup Roasted Pepper puree, half cup Thyme Basil Whole Grain Pasta, 500 grams or one ...

And fund raising at Prohibition The staff of Smart + Strong, publishers of POZ , Tu Salud & Real Health invite you to an AIDS Walk New York fundraiser on May 14, 2008 from 5:45 to 9 pm to be held at Prohibition. 503 Columbus Avenue (at 84th). New York City. Rich and Ian of Prohibition have once again generously set aside valuable time to support this important effort. There will be a $25.00 donation at the door and a two drink minimum. Table reservations are gladly accepted for those who are dining. The soiree will include entertainment from John Kouri and Tremors with special guest Ilene Kristen of One Life to Live . Thorsten Kaye from All My Children will be on hand to meet and greet the fans who come out. Stay tuned for further celebrity additions. RSVP: 212.938.2045 (or through this web site) This effort continues to be a labour of love and the POZ team would like nothing more than to continue contributing to New York’s most significant fund raising event. For over a quarter ...