The High-Strung Loner

Shamboyle

2009-11-01T22:39:15Z

I’m listening to “Michelangelo” from Tango: Zero Hour by Astor Piazzolla.

Technorati Tags: mullet, shambo, survivor, survivor samoa, susan boyle

Man on the street

2009-09-01T05:07:35Z

This roofer was working on the house next door this morning. Click on him for larger pics!

I’m listening to “Strike Me Pink” from Debravation by Deborah Harry.

Separated at birth?

2009-08-16T06:36:08Z

Philly’s legendary Wibbage “Good Guy” Hy Lit and a local “Bear looking for love.” I first posted this five months ago, in the beginning of September. A friend had pointed out to me that this guy looks a lot like a young Hy Lit and I made graphic to empicturalize it. I didn’t mean to insult or offend him. In fact, it was a compliment. Hy Lit was a really handsome man in and for his time, and well-loved. About a week later I got a nearly unintelligible email from an unidentified person asking me to remove his picture from the top of my web site. The message went on and on about gay.com’s Terms of Service. Since I didn’t get his picture from gay.com, the picture at the top of my web site is a picture of me, and the Hy posting had moved down a few places by then because that’s how blogs work, it took me some time to figure out that it was actually Hy Jr. who was pissed off. I responded via email that I wasn't criticizing him and that no offense was meant. He wasn’t really satisfied with that so I removed the posting entirely. It’s the only posting I’ve ever taken down from The High Strung Loner. Four months later, on New Years Eve night at the Bike Stop, I happened to be occupying the urinal next to Hy II. He looked at me and said, “You are a small, ridiculous idiot” and with a dramatic flourish he left the bathroom. I laughed out loud and I have proudly been using that phrase as my bio-line on gay.com chat ever since. Early this morning in chat, five months after I posted that picture, he started again. Three of us tried in vain to convince him of two things: 1. That the original posting, though ambiguous, was a compliment and 2. That once you post your picture publicly to the internet it’s pretty much fair game. We (well, the other two guys, at least) tried to keep it in good humor but it quickly became obvious that it wasn’t going to work. Getting furious, I said he should be glad I don’t enumerate his repeated racist remarks in the chat room and really embarrassing displays of public drunkenness at the Bike Stop which I haven’t because, until this morning, unbelievably, I still liked him. Then it happened:

delcoguy_: hiv must be a sad lonely existance
Me: i knew that was coming. what a dick
Woof60: you can go there, but it will have no effect.
delcoguy_: and i understand it goes to the brain but really
Me: you think this is making you look better? it's amazing how low gay men will stoop to to be bitchy and that is the lowest. why don’t you go pick on people with cancer?
Woof60: or make fun of a maimed soldier

Anyway, now I don’t give a shit what he thinks and I’m sorry I removed it in the first place. Using HIV as an insult in an argument is nothing less than a sign of self-hatred and homophobia. Coming from a gay man it’s simply grotesque.

I’m listening to “Twist & Crawl” from What Is Beat? by The English Beat.

the most popular boy at the whore houses

2009-07-28T00:52:12Z

From Craig's List Missed Connections:

Bath House Jimmy M. - m4m - Cherry Hill - 27 There is a really hot guy that is poz who forgets to let everyone know he is. Oh and did I mention he is mostly at the bathhouse tweeked out of course, and the guys love it cuz because he is young and attractive (not for long tina will take that soon too) and is a complete pig so will fuck anyone that is willing to give more drugs, old, fat, black white whatever he is the most popular boy at the whore houses. And when I say popular I suppose I am being modest, cuz not only dose he fuck for drugs , after the high is reached, its on, so anyone who is willing gets a go. In fact it is reasonable to say at any 24 hour period for there to be 12-15 men who will get the lovely opprotunity to have sex with Jimmy and test death. One more thing, his partner in crime boyfriend, Michael (another Petri dish of communicable diseases) participates in this wonderful debatary of Russian roulette. The thing is.... because they don’t tell guys to wrap it up, and in fact discourage it, the victim is mant timmes unaware that he’s playing. But what’s even more awesome, is how they use and manipulate those around them with charm and sex to escape the fact that that these two amazing duo, one being close to 30 and the other over 40 still live with their mom and dad. Thats right folks these amazing men have no responsiblitity at all other than to infect you. If you see Jimmy (get tested) and or at the very least let him know of a rehab center nearest you. and let his punishment be anyone you know that goes to bathouses a lil too much should be known as a "bathhouse Jimmy"

Oh, come on! Entering a bathhouse without believing that everyone there is already HIV positive and then acting accordingly is almost delusional. To put the responsibility of disclosure completely on the positive person in this setting is unrealistic as well as unreasonable. Wake up! I don‘t know what bone you have to pick with this guy (admit it, we all know there is one!) but postings like these accomplish nothing other than making you look utterly stupid. By the way, the 80’s called; they want their AIDS panic back!

I’m listening to “Stay With Me” from Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating in Space by Spiritualized.

Technorati Tags: AIDS, bareback sex, bathhouse, craig's list, gay, gay sex

chatlinQ

2009-07-25T22:11:15Z

After nearly a year, someone’s finally made another third-party chat client to access gay.com chat. Since the demise of ChatClient after gay.com’s disastrous redesign last fall, many people have stopped chatting on gay.com altogether. Their new Ajax chat interface, while a huge improvement over their old Java-powered Volano Chat, is still a browser resource hog and leaves a lot to be desired. chatlinQ is still in beta and missing many features but, for me at least, it’s working beautifully so far. The beta is open to anyone. Right now, chatlinQ is Mac only and it seems like he’s gonna make an iPhone version too!! I really like the Mac-centric bubble-view in the screen-shot above but I’m sure it’s not for everyone. The tradition list-view is available too but, at this time, the formatting isn’t great. Hammering into Room 1 isn’t incorporated yet, either. I’m patient. I’m just relieved and grateful that someone had the time and the dedication to create this. Many people will be very happy.

I’m listening to “Long Tall Texan” from The Road to Ensenada by Lyle Lovett.

Technorati Tags: chat, chatlinQ, gay.com

Paparazzi

2009-07-25T21:07:05Z

You can barely see her but Martha Stewart’s head is completely recognizable in this picture I snapped while Derek and I were driving through Ogunquit Maine last week. According to another customer at the gas station where we had stopped, she had just bought a sweater at Blacksmith’s Mall. Much as I hate to admit it, it was very exciting!

I’m listening to “Wi' Nae Wee Bairn Ye'll Me Beget” from 69 Love Songs by The Magnetic Fields.

Technorati Tags: marth stewart

Man on the street

2009-07-20T00:32:43Z

We saw this guy sitting outside a Rita's in the Poconos this afternoon. Click on him for a larger pic!

I’m listening to “I Can't Give You Anything But Love” from Rufus Does Judy At Carnegie Hall by Rufus Wainwright.

Bear Art show

2009-04-26T01:24:52Z

Jim Bloom

Posted via Pixelpipe.

Jim Bloom [Flickr]

2009-04-25T18:19:55-07:00

highstrungloner posted a photo:

at the Bear Art show

Hot guy in the news

2009-04-25T17:33:46Z

Romanian Constantin Marius Mituletu in today’s New York Times.

I’m listening to “Miserablism” from Alternative by Pet Shop Boys.

Technorati Tags: immigrant, new york times, romania, spain

Separated at birth?

2009-04-24T05:19:29Z

gayporno000 from the Philadelphia chat room on gay.com and Susan Boyle. gayporno000’s profile is fascinating:

hi every 1 i am so tired of being cheated on i need a man that will love me forever lol bobby ur not that man i thought u were but u r not gay or bi u r str8 i found that out today y didnt u just say u were str8 instead of hurting me again ima make u feel the pain this time watch so every 1 on here i kno the truth he just told me he was str8 so no body talk to youngbod or youngbob wat ever 1 is his screen name unless u wanna get hurt like i did so plz i need a guy that lives close to me and can kick bobbys ass for me and love me forever i need a man that drivess tooo lol

I’m listening to “It Takes All Kinds” from Bachelor No. 2 by Aimee Mann.

Technorati Tags: chat, gay, gay.com, online profiles, susan boyle

The Exquisite Queer

2009-04-23T03:19:52Z

A few months ago I had my picture taken as part of a project by Dave Kube, a student at Temple’s Tyler School of Art. He explained the project as a sort of “Exquisite Corpse” flip book of gay folks. As usual, I was incredibly uncomfortable getting my picture taken but I got through it. As a kind of payment for being part of the project, he gave his subjects a bunch of photos to take home. Mine were great! I don’t think I’ve ever looked so good. (I say this even though the pictures actually look like me!) Anyways, Dave decided to use this as his thesis project and it's on display for a few days at Temple Gallery. That’s my weird head in the upper right in the postcard above. If you want to see more of Dave’s work, the details are below. April 22-25, 11:00 - 6:00 Reception: April 24, 6:00 - 8:00 Temple Gallery, Tyler School of Art Norris and 12th St., Philadelphia, PA 19122 In the meantime Dave received the well-deserved First Prize in the 4th Annual Juried Art Show in March at William Way GLBT Community Center, where he showed two stunning photographs from another project. My old friend, the great Jimi Mooney (aka Helen Back) got 2nd prize for his equally beautiful collages. Look for them both in future gallery shows at Willian Way.

I’m listening to “Le Feel Internacionale” from A Wizard, A True Star by Todd Rundgren.

Technorati Tags: art, dave kube, gay, photography, temple university, tyler school of art

First block on Grindr

2009-04-23T02:36:22Z

I took an entire month, which might be a record, but I finally got some abuse on Grindr. All I did was turn down sex with an 18 year-old. They almost never take that very well. (His messages are on the left, mine on the right.) I wish I had thought to grab his picture before I blocked him.

I’m listening to “Carioca”by Esquivel and His Orchestra from The History of Space Age Pop, Vol.3: The Stereo Action Dimension.

Technorati Tags: chat, gay, gay sex, grindr

Separated at birth?

2009-04-17T03:10:10Z

ZenithX3 from the Philadelphia chat room on gay.com and Bat Boy.

I’m listening to “God (Interlude)” from Speakerboxxx/The Love Below by Outkast.

Technorati Tags: gay, gay.com, online profiles

Blowoff queen

2009-04-09T07:15:06Z

When this guy showed up in the chat room I put him on my gay.com “hot list” because he looked really sexy (with a nice mustache!) in his main picture on gay.com. (Not this one!) It soon became clear that he had an agenda when he almost instantly started mouthing off, out of nowhere, about how “ironic” it is that Madonna is more popular with gay men than Bob Mould is. OK, first of all, there’s nothing ironic about it. Really. Nothing at all. Second, are gay men supposed to flock to Bob Mould simply because he’s a gay man? In my opinion, he hasn’t made a good record since 1985 when Hüsker Dü were still Hardcore and, last time I checked, Bob Mould wasn’t actually popular with anyone. Why pick on gay men for not liking him? No one likes him. Besides, he sings like he’s got a hankie in his throat. When several chatters pointed some of these things out to Mr. Fixit, he retreated, saying, “I’m sorry I brought it up.” I bet. The butcher-than-thou attitude from these Blowoff queens is really tiresome. Blowoff is probably really fun, and the audience have nice hairy faces and hard muscles, but it’s still just a circuit-style dance party with a couple of famous DJs. They play Madonna and even Britney! Please, get over yourselves. As much as I wish they did, muscles and beards (and Black and Decker cordless drills, for that matter) do not make you masculine. Then I read his obnoxious, judgmental (I know, pot/kettle) profile, which I’ve posted in edited form below, and saw his other incredibly silly picture, above. I swear, It looks like something from bad calendar from the 80s. (Love the Daisy Dukes, honey!) Totally embarrassed, I removed him from my list immediately. Sadly, he could still see that I had added him in the first place. The limits of technology continue to vex me. Please note: He’s already won the crunchy race! He says he “was ‘crunchy’ long before you,” so there’s no point even trying. Of course, none of the gay men reading his profile could be nearly as evolved as he is. Please. And don’t forget to “gush” at dinner.

I go to school, I am butch, smart, take care of my body, my mind and my soul....do you? Carry on a conversation for more than 3 lines. Challenge my mind, not my dick. Do not pretend to want to get to know me if you dont read anything on my profile. You will add illiterate to other derogatory words. If all you want are pics to look at you damn well better have some in return. You will notice I do not ask for pictures and that is because I am more interested in who you are than what you look like. What I'm Looking For A man who is not needy, a guy who knows how to do butch things and doesnt feel bad about it. I am not overcompensating, I just dont care to talk endlessly about shit on TV that has no substance. A guy who is a prince on the street and can be a pig in the bedroom. A guy who I could take home to my mom (if she were here) and she would like, cuz I am that guy for him. Someone who likes to snuggle with the pups, prune the dogwood, and gush when a good meal is made for both of us..... Ask Me About Please don's start off asking me about my sexual role. I was 'crunchy' long before you were. Bob Mould, who is a SINGER he is also queer as hell., Richard Morel who is Bob's 'Partner', I love this dude and his homosound....Bob Mould, huskerdu, sugar, copperblue, body of song, last dog and pony show, circle of friends...DISTRICT LINE......don't make me cry any more.....moving vans. Ask Me About Ask me about me, not the size of my dick, whether I am circumcised or not (it is not 'cut' or 'uncut' -- that is an absolutely disgusting question to ask someone you are not face to face with. If all you are shopping for is a fuck, this store is closed to you. I am an intelligent, hardworking sincere, funny, creative, interesting man. I can frame a house or hang an IV. Hobbies I fuckin get HARD over ICE HOCKEY. Music BOB MOULD, RICH MOREL, BLOWOFF DC TV and Film do not ask me if I watch QAF, Queer Eye, yada....I try to fill my head with good stuff, not garbage. I do not play or like video games (maybe Wii).

I’m listening to “Concrete and Clay” by Unit 4+2 from The British Invasion: History of British Rock, Vol. 6.

Technorati Tags: blowoff, bob mould, gay.com, madonna

Cruising on the iPhone!

Suzie Brown [Flickr]

2009-03-11T00:56:38-07:00

highstrungloner posted a photo:

World Cafe Live, Philadelphia PA, March 9 2009

Suzie Brown [Flickr]

2009-03-11T00:56:35-07:00

highstrungloner posted a photo:

World Cafe Live, Philadelphia PA, March 9 2009