Aussielicious

So here it is. I took my “before” shots this morning and can clearly see why I have been feeling blah lately. I’m as out of shape as I have been in a long time. I’ve been eating rubbish and not exercising properly.

Joining in the challenge (so far, it’s never too late folks) is Richard in the middle and one of our much loved straight readers Hiram. Hiram contributed to the self portrait challenge a few months back and also contributed his cock shots to Pornolicious before I killed it off. Hiram has had a head start on us starting his own fitness overhaul 6 months ago and has already lost 25lb/11kg. He’s looking really good and don’t we love a straight boy who is willing to show us his well groomed junk?

So now, time to get into it, the gym closes in two hours, so I have time.

This morning I’m supposed to be shooting a friend and his boyfriend who are right into leather, but it’s supposed to be an outdoor shoot and the weather is foggy and rainy so I am dubious it’s going to happen. Then I’m supposed to be going in to the office to do another shoot for a catalogue for work that is already behind schedule, but that shoot too is supposed to be outside. Tonight I was supposed to be babysitting my niece and nephew while my sister and her husband went to the movies, but they are now sick.

So my day is potentially looking very free and I may have some discount movie tickets. What shall I do? Well I will be finally doing my “before” photo and hitting the gym if all goes to plan.

This was a comment on my post two days ago about barebacking and the apparent desire of some people to catch HIV or the complete nonchalant attitude if they do. After a brief text conversation with a friend of mine who has been out less than a year and is involved with someone who says “condoms are for whores” I’m more determined to get this message out. Thank you Max for your honesty and openness.

As someone who is hiv+ I can honestly say that I don’t understand it either. I can say that my status is the unfortunate result of trusting someone who deceived and lied. Because my status has was the result of my choice being taken away, I’ve strived to be honest about my status both online and in person. I wouldn’t wish anyone to have this. I’ve been hit on by those bug chasers and I still don’t understand why they do it. They seem to think they know what the risk is but they don’t. Even if they think they do it is all cerebral and the theory of getting hiv isn’t the same as the reality of living with hiv. They don’t to have a concept of what it does to their health, how quickly your body even with treatment becomes susceptible. I’m 29, in the almost 5 years I’ve had this I’ve had to get vaccination upon vaccination and I hate needles. Once I tested positive, I was reported to the CDC. You’re tested every 3 months to check your cell count. I’m always afraid that the next test will come back that I’m no longer undetectable because it means more meds (I already take 6 a day) or that it’s mutated and is no longer controllable with meds. The meds they put you on affect your body in almost everything from cholesterol to diabetes to weight loss/gain. The meds I’m taking cost almost $3000 a month, thankfully I have ADAP which takes care of the costs since I lost my job and insurance. Once I lost my insurance, I went to a state funded clinic to go to which isn’t the type of care I would recommend. There was no emergency help unless you went to a real hospital and the people working there are paid by the state so they don’t care about you as a person. At least I was able to find a much, much better option in the Aids Healthcare Foundation. I, thankfully, haven’t been seriously ill in all that time but there is increased risks of pneumonia, cancer, Alzheimer’s , and dementia. There’s also the risk of being allergic to some of the meds which if you are allergic to one it either knocks out that whole category of meds or you’ll have to live with chemical rashes, skin problems, and a host of other problems. I haven’t had a date, at least one that has ended soon after I was honest about my status, in years. Most guys online would hardly give you the time of day if you’re honest with your status too. So think about that, other than my friends, it’s a serious stigma to try and meet someone even with all the medical advancements.

None of those chasers understands what it’s like to live with it. Those who would give it to others are even worse. They know what it’s like to live with it and should not make any effort to purposely infect others. While barebacking does feel good, is it honestly worth a quick lay to put your future health and happiness at risk? It’s called protection for a reason and if that isn’t reason enough, think of it this way using condoms increases the length of time you get to spend in the bedroom too.

I’ve just got home from a nearly 14 hour day in the office and I’m tired. Sorry for a lack of interesting postings but I’m sure this video from Fratpad will keep you entertained for a while.

On the weekend I stumbled upon a profile on a hookup site that made me sad, angry and log off. It was a 22 year old guy that calls himself “cumdump” and has “never” listed under safe sex. If he’s not HIV Positive now then it’s only a matter of time.

Once again I wonder if being diagnosed HIV+ makes them think “what the hell” and get into bareback sex, which is entirely their own choice. The alternative to that question that upsets me and terrifies me is that he just doesn’t care if he gets it or not. Sure, HIV is very treatable but it is not curable and every single treatment takes it’s toll on your body and in places where treatment isn’t subsidised, your finances. It can restrict your career options, your travel and will almost certainly shorten your lifespan.

I wholeheartedly support anyone living with HIV and know and love several guys living positive, but why anyone would intentionally seek to convert? Sadly there is a tiny element out there that will happily help him achieve that result. I hope he learns to appreciate his health before it’s too late.

Please not that the photos used are by no means a statement about the models status.

Every young boy has giggled over or stared at photos of naked tribes of various cultures because they, for most people are the first naked people we see outside of possibly our own family.

It raises an interesting question, that these tribes, in different pockets of the world, are still living naked as they have done for centuries, aside from those “saved” by western culture and religion. Shame about the naked body is clearly a taught response. In western cultures, or “civilised” cultures we are taught that beyond a certain age long before puberty, nudity is shameful and something to be hidden. It’s naughty, taboo and people that go nude are strange, yet somehow we teach our children that some cultures in Africa or the Amazon and lots of other places that walk around nude totally free of shame and embarrassment because they are a tribe, that it’s ok.

It’s sad to say that I think the U.S. is leading the conservative way, blurring even the most remote hint of butt crack on Survivor proving that you have to be a REAL tribe to get away with it and not a reality tribe. The U.S. sets the trend for a large part of the world in most things, fingers crossed the European attitude holds firm on this one.

You’ll have all noticed that I haven’t yet posted my “before” shot for my aussieBum challenge. That’s me to a tee, slack and procrastinating. So, at the suggestion of a reader I’m issuing the same challenge to all of you out there. Send me in your “before” photos and get yourself into shape along with me. The deadline is New Year’s Eve at the end of this year.

Ryan Kwanten has been back down under not long ago doing publicity for True Blood, and to see family and a few other bits and pieces. While he was here he stepped in front of the camera for the very talented and successful James Demitri.

James has a really cool style and adding Ryan into the mix makes for some hot results. Unlike his character in True Blood, Ryan kept his clothes on for this shoot, scrubbing up in a sharp suit. The shoot was for a new magazine launching soon called Lure.

If this is the style they are going for it will be a very cool mag by the look of it.

My school reunion last night was a very casual but very fun affair. Our graduating class had about 180+ students in it but there were only about 50 there last night, and it’s only been today that I’ve been thinking where was so-and-so or I wonder where he or she was.

Some people had barely changed in the 19 years since we finished, others had well and truly outgrown their old waistline and a fair few of the guys had outgrown their hair. It’s amazing that after so long you can just easily slip back into conversation with some people.

I arrived with a couple of the girls I’m still in touch with and we ran straight into a group of guys that I recognised, said hi and shook all their hands. One of them I just had no idea who it was until I walked away and turned around for another look. Apparently half of them couldn’t remember who I was either, but the one guy I hadn’t recognised  at all, and who hadn’t recognised me turned out to be a guy I’d gone through ALL my school years with and grew up in the same street about 8 houses away. We had a good laugh about that.

Some people were socially awkward and odd back in school and at least one of them was still well and truly awkward last night. That was a brief and stilted conversation. All in all I had a fantastic night catching up with old friends. I also liked that by now, most people had seen on facebook or heard on the grapevine that I’m gay and even the “tough” guys that I wasn’t that friendly with back then, really didn’t show any signs that they had a problem with it last night. It’s nice to know we all do finally grow up.

Today I’m heading down to my parents place for the weekend and it’s going to be an odd day. First up for lunch is my grandfather’s 90th birthday. The other grandfather just hit 94 so I figure I’m going to be fat, bald and insane for a very long time looking at the family history. My cousins who I have zero in common with will be there, and when I say zero, I doubt that there’s even a genetic link sometimes. Thankfully at times like this my immediate family all click really well and look out for each other when we get stuck.

Then tonight I have my 20 year school reunion. It’s going to be strange seeing some people, great to see others and a good laugh to see some. All those guys that gave me shit about being a homo at school before I even knew I was are mostly married and relatively happy but from what I’ve seen on facebook there are some that just look like life has beaten them down. I wonder if any of them are more enlightened these days.

You don’t like to have to walk around a shop when you go shopping? Then head to Teamm8 in Darlinghurst for one of their private showings. It’s like an old-school Tupperware party but with hot models walking around in undies and swimwear. If you get 15 friends together you get to go along to the store and have the Star Players model their products for you. The organiser of your group gets a $150 gift voucher and everyone gets 20% off items they purchase at the event. Sounds like a hoot to me! If I go missing, I’ll just be sitting out the back watching the models change.

If you want to organise an evening, email info@teamm8.com

I’ve just got back from visiting a few friends who are off overseas for a few weeks to compete at the Gay Games with the Stingers, the local gay water polo team. On the way over there I had an idea for something I thought could make a good blog post. Now, after an hour of talking about the trip, the current relationship woes of one of them and a bunch of other things, that post has gone completely out of my mind.

So. What do I do? Who knows, it will come back to me at some point. These things usually do but in the mean time I thought I’d distract you from my lazy blogging this evening with some very tasty photos of hot nude men. Can we all just pause and admire the body and ENORMOUS cock on the guy in the shot second from the left?

Long Johns. They are traditionally the domain of intrepid wilderness adventurers in cold climates and sturdy old fashioned men now in their 80′s with the crotch somewhere hovering around their knees. I’m on a mission to prove that they can be sexy.

Googling images of them is not helping my cause now with Googles new more puritanical stance on images all those sexy images of hot models just barely keeping their long johns up with tanned perky buns don’t seem to appear but it seems Ginch Gonch believe it can happen. I have to say I’m not a fan of their long johns but at least they’ve given it a go.

For me, our unusually cold winter here in Sydney is inspiring thoughts of cozy days lounging around the house in a comfy yet sexy pair of long johns. Any underwear fetishists or afficionados care to illuminate me with suggestions?

This article and interview with Gareth Thomas, now 8 months after publicly coming out, proves what an extraordinary man he is. So strong, down to earth, humble and apparently a genuinely nice guy. We love it.

Today I had the luck to follow a link from a friend’s status on facebook and ended up on a site with a photo of the day section and came across these amazing shots by a photographer called Olivier Valsecchi. The technical side of capturing these images is just amazing let alone getting all the technical stuff right as well as getting a beautiful moment. Absolutely gorgeous.