The Column of Life

Jacob who became the father of Israel by virtue of a bowl of lentils, which he'd been preparing, and used to buy his elder brother's birthright (and, by the way, went on to wrestle an angel) filtered that patriarchal event through many centuries so that the food became an Italian New Year's tradition: a required item on the New Year's menu -- Eve or Day, their shape brings to mind tiny coins and people eat them in the hope that they won't want for anything for the coming year. Lentils are very versatile, and, not to mention, nutritious. Therefore, two recipes are offered -- one more traditional than the other along with young gentlemen who seem to be quite versatile themselves. While it wouldn't be right to refer to them as nutritious, it seems they may know a thing or two about nutrition and wrestling angels Zuppa di Lenticchie (Lentil Soup) 2 tablespoons fruity Olive Oil 2 large garlic cloves, minced 1 medium onion, diced 1 small fennel bulb, diced 4 cups c...

Something a little different. Still mostly vintage, but not couples.

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...

One can only hazard a guess regarding Anthony Catanzaro's Italian origins. Sicily may quite possibly be part of it. There's no doubt that many would like to call one thigh "Xmas" and the other "New Year's" and would love to come visit between the holidays. This time of year as we all know is rife with all sorts of sweets. Here is a recipe for something sweet other than a testosterone laden one that comes from the Meditrerranean. It is unique and it does the trick. Something Sicilian: Cucidati / Cucurreddi Pasta Frolla: 4 cups all-purpose flour 2/3 cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 16 tablespoons (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 16 pieces 4 large eggs Fig Filling: 12 ounces (about 2 cups) dried Calimyrna figs 1/2 cup raisins 1/3 cup candied orange peel, diced 1/3 cup whole almonds or pine nuts, chopped and lightly toasted 3 ounces semisweet chocolate, cut into 1/4-inch pieces 1/3 cup apricot preserves 3 tablespoons dark rum 1 tea...

Et Verbum Caro Factum Est et Habitavit in Nobis. And the Word was Made Flesh and dwelt among us. The Word that came forth from God was made Flesh. Exegesis of ancient philosophy and thought places much emphasis on the power of the word. The Word that came from God took form in humanity. That’s what Jesus is supposedly all about: God and humanity as one and the same entity. John, the Beloved Disciple is the attributed author of the above quote which is essential to the Liturgy of the Word in Roman Catholic ritual, and is part of that ritual on Xmas. John was the one whose head rested on the chest of the Lord during the Last Supper. John was the one to whom the Lord entrusted his mother when he was dying. John is usually depicted as a young handsome man. He is the Beloved above and beyond the rest of the disciples. A type of intimacy was attributed to and recorded about John's relationship to Jesus. Let it be said here and now that Jesus Christ, according to the accepted Sacred Gosp...

There's your beefcake homily.

Not Jacob Marley The model is Osiris Cruz. His name brings to mind the very Christlike legend of the Egyptian God Osiris: Osiris grew and became a mighty king. He went about the job of civilizing his people. He taught them agriculture and animal husbandry. He gave them a code of laws to live by and showed them the proper ways in which to worship the gods. Egypt became a mighty land under his kind and gentle rule. His subjects gladly worshiped the ground on which he walked. When Egypt was civilized, Osiris left to bring his teachings to other lands ... read more here .

As Above So Below As Without So Within Peace and Merry Be, ~G

This is planning ahead for the tradition that calls for the eating of seven fishes for Xmas eve. This recipe comes from the Ritz-Carlton and the young men, of course, can be considered sea worthy bounty or something like that.

Here are two posts from the past: Gay love is good because all Love is good in spite of what some of the ignorance on Oprah's message board purports. Go here . If you believe in a benevolent God, which is what the Xtian god is supposed to be, the smiting and the fire and the brimstone is of an unevolved era, a bygone era when Hebrews were slaves to the mighty Pharoahs. You may have noticed that it's no longer the case. Jesus Christ never mentioned homosexuality in the New Testament. The Old Testament writings come from another era. They are writings not unlike the thinking of terrorists. Yes, homosexuality is a gift from Creation. Homosexuals feel just as good about what they do as non-homosexuals, maybe even better about it, because we have learned to celebrate it. In the days when one saw hope for conventional, global religions reaching out to real people and making an impact on the real world, there were two publications that were de rigueur for the progressive, professiona...

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Winter Solstice occurs on December 21, 2010 18:38 EST. 'Tis the shortest day of the year, yet it is out of the darkness that we celebrate and await the light. We are forever on our way.

We do this every year just like David Letterman: Darlene Love continues to make her mark on David Letterman’s yearly Yuletide show with her perennial hit, “Christmas (Baby, Please Co me Ho me )” which made its debut in the watershed year, 1963. It was the year before the arrival of the Beatles and the me mory which serves well brings to mind “Heat Wave,” “Anyone Who Had A Heart,” “Cry Baby,” “He’s Sure the Boy I love,” and “One Fine Day” among so many other hit songs that year. President Kennedy provided the world with its first movie star world leader with his classy First Lady. The Cuban Missile Crisis and The Bay of Pigs Invasion were behind us. Oh it wasn’t idyllic but the young baby boo me rs at least had everything in its appropriate place and were optimistic. Darlene Love was hard at work on what was to beco me a Christmas music stalwart with the above standout original piece. Here is what she herself tells us about its inception in her autobiography, My Na me Is Love : The ...