Aussielicious

Today on Twitter, I came across the twitter profile of the cute guy in the absolutely adorable “It’s Time” video that I posted that has swept across the world with it’s simple romantic charm. Keep in mind, this post is based on some very brief and unintrusive online stalking on facebook and twitter.

Julian Shaw is a film maker, a director, an actor, a blogger, a journalist and from what I can see a very driven guy. He’s produced a photographic novel, a feature film, done some public speaking and now he’s jumped to our attention as the face of GetUp’s fight to end Marriage Discrimination.

So who is he? Well, I have no idea. I do know that a lot of people will assume he’s gay because of his involvement with the GetUp video. I haven’t seen any proof of that on the bits of his facebook profile that I can see, nor his twitter. So I’m going to break it down in two possible ways.

One. Julian is a gay man that is fighting for equality, putting himself out there to achieve what he thinks is fair and just, but he’s also breaking a few stereotypes. He seems to have quite a macho obsession with Rugby Union and would fit the “straight acting” stereotype. Most of the “straight acting” types that I’ve met are terrified of being perceived as being gay, so Julian is defying that one.

The second option is that Julian is a straight man. One of those fantastic straight men that is fighting our fight right there along side us, and a good few steps in front of a lot of us. Some of the “gay mafia” would have us believe that if he’s identifying as straight now he’ll come out soon enough, but I say if he’s straight, then he is our best ally. We need straight people like Ben Cohen and David Pocock standing up and shouting to the world that it’s not just gay people who think they deserve equality.

Either way, Julian has set an example that most of us would do well to follow and ultimately, does it matter which team he’s on?

If you ever want motivation to completely overhaul your diet and exercise regime, your beauty regime and your swimwear collection, then I strongly suggest you get yourself along to a DNA Pool Party early. I arrived at the Ivy Pool bar on Saturday afternoon, not long after the party opened as I only had a few hours before I had to head off, which meant it was myself, a couple of other early arrivals, some DNA staff and the models. Lots of models.

Like most parties, people congregated with people they identified with. What did that mean to me on Saturday? It meant I was sitting near the bar within easy viewing distance of an extremely intimidating cluster of hot.

Shortly after the crowds started pouring in, in direct proportion to the speed the clouds disappeared and the beautiful blazing sun came out to make the water sparkle, the teeth shine and the oiled up tanned flesh of the models glisten. There was a fashion parade of tiny swimwear hosted by the gorgeous and lovely Will Fennell, assisted by Brodie. The music was perfect, the crowd was all mingling and laughing and the sun was blazing. When I left, it was all good and by all reports, it stayed exactly like that.

Today Kylie Minogue was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame at their 25th Anniversary Awards ceremony. The ARIAs as the Australian Record Industry Awards.

It’s great to see her receive the recognition she deserves even though the radio stations don’t really give her the airplay they should even though they are all playing similar styles of music.

I’ve been a fan of Kylie’s since she started in 1987 with Locomotion and when I get asked why I love her so much I struggle to answer. As with anyone that loves something dearly, it’s hard to put specifics on it, it just works. There are a couple of songs that Kylie has recorded that I don’t like and there are some definite favourites but I will be a staunch supporter for as long as she’s working. It’s no secret that it is a long-held dream of mine to work with Kylie creatively, even a one-off photo shoot.

This is the new Marriage Equality video, released today, from GetUp! The timing couldn’t be better as our Prime Minister has once again postponed a dinner with three gay couples who won the right to the dinner at an auction. The dinner was supposed to happen within a few weeks but with the participants agreement Ms Gillard pushed it back, as long as it was before the National Labor Party Conference, where marriage equality will be debated, which is next week. Unfortunately the dinner has now been postponed until the new year.

This is a beautiful video that I’ve watched many times this afternoon and cried every time. It’s so simple and represents exactly what I want. It’s not an in-your-face gay love scene or anything that the conservatives could possibly object to. It’s the same love story they claim to be protecting, just between two young men in love.

Last night Australia saw the latest winner of XFactor, the young, very likable Reece Mastin, who, once awarded, proceeded to belt out his debut “winners” single “Good Night”. It’s a really catchy and fun song, perfectly suited to a 16 year old aspiring rock start with a pop edge. The only trouble? While the lyrics are all new, the music is practically identical to P!nk’s “Raise your Glass”, right down to the drum beats before the chorus. You can almost hear P!nk singing at the same time it’s that obvious.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens about it. Twitter is full of people commenting on the similarity so it hasn’t gone unnoticed. Check out the two songs for yourself below.

Tonight on a “serious current affairs” program I saw a story being promoted for tomorrow night about some people who were fed up with the wild shenanigans of their neighbours. From the footage I saw I’d be annoyed by constant partying too but the line that the “serious current affairs” program kept using was the fact that the couple were disgusted and deeply disturbed by the nudity.

That’s right those disgusting people kept taking their clothes off. God forbid that people do a cheeky nudie run from the pool to the house, or a girl takes her bikini top off. Maybe we should suggest to them that if they can’t beat them, join them. Go on cranky neighbours, take your gear off and streak their party. See what they say.

Now before I get lectured on polite social behaviour, I’m not (entirely) serious. Noisy partying neighbours constantly would drive me mental too, but to cry on a national “serious current affairs” program? Call the police. It’s pretty simple. I am serious however at the ludicrousness of being deeply offended and disturbed by the sight of healthy attractive people comfortable in being nude, even if it is for a laugh. I often wonder if these people shower with a blindfold and gloves on.

You know you are getting old when you hear about a new internet craze probably moments before it becomes lame. I’m not sure where I’m up to on this latest one that I heard about today, called “Sneaky Hat”. The idea of this one is much less physically dangerous than planking but I’m sure it will be done in legally and physically dangerous places.

The idea is to get nude, and cover anything you feel the need to cover, with a hat. As one example I saw on tumblr today showed, you can even use the hat of a housemate you aren’t particularly fond of. Some of these guys prove you can even do it hands free.

Last week, there was a big announcement that the organisation known as New Mardi Gras, formerly Mardi Gras, was now going to be called Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, which after several years of the “New” title was always going to happen. The bit that is causing the debate is that the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade is now going to be called the Sydney Mardi Gras.

There are groups in the LGBTQI community that feel like that isn’t right and it’s losing the very thing we are fighting for. The argument of the organisation is that it’s now MORE inclusive and has it’s sights set on the future of an all inclusive community. I for one think it’s fantastic. By listing all the separate groups, we continue to hold up the divisions between us all and that string of letters has grown and will keep growing so that no one in the outside community knows what is going on at all, therefore defeating the whole purpose.

As humans, it’s natural to form groups with like minded people but to provide a united front and fight for equality and recognition, this step makes perfect sense to me! Congratulations and all the very best for many years to come.

Get your fix of Andreas’ enormous package with this hot new video from aussieBum. I’ve managed to sneak a peak at Andreas getting changed in the gym once and believe me, that’s all him.

This week I started working out with my new training partner and after three sessions I’m really happy. We are probably going to take a couple of weeks to settle into a good routine of what we are doing but it’s already done wonders for motivation for me. When there is someone waiting for me to turn up, there’s not even a moment’s thought about not going. I just get up and go. Fingers crossed it all keeps happening.

Two new movies are soon to be released telling their own versions of the classic Good versus Evil tale of Snow White. Who would have known the battle of the two movies would also become a battle of good versus evil, or more accurately, good versus rubbish.

Snow White and the Huntsman, starring Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth looks like an amazing dark and new take on the story, possibly annoying purists who picture Snow White as a helpless thing singing to little birds in the woods. Charlize is fantastic (from the trailer) as the Wicked Queen and Chris Hemsworth could just stand there looking all rugged and buff and I’d be happy.

The second movie, Mirror Mirror, starring Julia Roberts as the Wicket Queen looks like it couldn’t decide if it was trying to be Tim Burton crazy, Shrek funny or take itself seriously, thus failing to achieve any of them. Granted I’m only going on the trailers here, but that’s what the studios are banking on to get audiences in. Julia, please sort out that accent. It’s a bit odd.

While I’m still reeling a bit from the breakup a couple of weeks ago and there are moments when I’m really sad about it all and missing Dan very much, there are things that I’m looking at as positives. I now have more time to selfishly do what ever I want with.

One of the advantages is that now that I’m not waking up with my boyfriend, I’m trying to motivate myself to get to the gym more mornings than not. I’ve also managed to find myself a new training partner which will make me get to the gym on those mornings when I’d rather roll over and go back to sleep.

I will never look like the guys in this video, which I can cope with as nice as it would be, but getting a bit fitter and stronger again certainly wouldn’t hurt.

Well, two weeks after my boyfriend ended things, the reality has set in. The first weekend I was riding an emotional roller coaster. Angry, sad, accepting or empty whatever that hour decided it wanted to be. For the two weeks since, I’ve mostly been pretty accepting and comfortable with the situation, although I wouldn’t say I was happy about it.

This weekend has been different though. Friday night I was home alone and feeling bored and lonely and promptly burst into tears so I took myself off to bed. Yesterday I was fine, the sun was out and I was busy. I tentatively downloaded Grindr on to my phone, even though I really don’t want to hook up with anyone at this stage, it’s a gentle way of seeing what’s going on.

I don’t know if it was the Grindr thing or not but the realisation that I am looking down the barrell of bad dates, awkward coffees and shallow sex, good and bad, has made me really sad. For nearly ten months I had someone to cuddle, laugh with and do all those fantastic couple things with and now I don’t. If I have to be single again for another 10 years before I meet someone, that is NOT going to make me happy.

AussieBum have just posted this behind the scenes video from the shooting of the Rugby’s Finest Calendar in England starring the sexy and adorable James Haskill. Of course, the guys are all wearing AussieBums, which they look great in.