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Wednesday, June 30, 2021
Happy Canada Day!
'It is wonderful to feel the grandness of Canada in the raw'
Emily Carr
Happy CANADA DAY!
Special hanks to badsign769 for the original artwork!
🍁 Check out more Canada Day posts on the Next Page! 🍁
Canadian Clichés
'If you can tell people you're at Timmies and it's not followed by 'Timmy' who?'
You might be a Canadian...'
There are many clichés about Canadians, most I've discovered are true. Although not all Canadians are hockey-loving, polar bear-riding, poutine eating, ice fishing in July, toque-wearing northerners who all say 'eh', there are a few Canadian clichés that fit many Canucks.
Top 5 Canadian Clichés
1. All about the maple syrup
2. Hockey fanatics
3. Merciless winters
4. Sorry, not sorry
5. Timmies run
6. An ode to beer
From my experience, the six traits above are fairly accurate, especially those Timmies runs. Timmies (Tim Horton) is Canada's main coffee house, and many Canadians hit the Timmies drive-through for a caffeine fix several times a day.
Devyn 247
I'm not sure how many people have Googled 'Tim Horton's Naked' , but I'm guessing I'm not the only one. I was not especially surprised to learn, that although not that common, walking into Timmies naked is often the dare used in a Canadian evening truth or dare. Devyn 247, and his buddy James, shared their naked Timmies run, (or walk) on Youtube.
Mountable: Kay by Lights On Studio
This year, I wanted a Mountie of my own, well, at least a Mountie for FH.... Covid however, made finding one a bit struggle. I initially wanted a Canadian photographer and model for the Canada Day themed shoot. I started out talking with Chris Teel, whose work have helped celebrate many Canada Day's on the site. Unfortunately, Ontario was on lock-down at the time, which meant Chris wasn't able to shoot. I thought of several of my favorite photographers, but most were also in the Ontario area, and most would have had the same issues as Chris.
I then decided to go East, and got in touch with Shaun Simpson, a favorite photographer of mine from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Shaun was up for the task and began looking for models. Shortly after he thought he had one lined up, Nova Scotia went into a another lockdown after their Covid cases began to rise again with the introduction of a new variant. I thought my Mountie might have to wait until next year until Tom Nakielski, (Lights On Studio) rode in to save the day!
I didn't think to ask Tom for two reasons. The first is, he's not Canadian. Although Tom's home in Lansing Michigan is actually further north than some part of Ontario, like Alaska, it doesn't really count. I also wasn't sure Tom was up to a big holiday shoot. Although he's on the mend, a recent accident is still making shooting, especially set-ups a little difficult. Like a Mountie though, Tom was determined to get his man, and to get the job done. I so appreciate his dedication and determination.
Although Tom may not technically be Canadian, he's incredibly easy going, and also I hear, a fan of maple syrup and poutine. Tom also spent many years living in Detroit, with Canada just a ride away across the Ambassador Bridge. His proximity to the border, made quick trips North, (and sometimes South) a regular occurrence.
'When I was young our family would take summer vacations in Canada. Oh and of Course a trip to Niagara Falls. While there we ate at a restaurant (The Grog?) It was one of the best meals I ever had. And the Canadian waiter was so friendly and fun we still talk about him.
When I was older, I would make trips to Windsor, Canada to see performances at the Colosseum at Caesar's Windsor, Also made trips with gay buddies to a stripper club, Danny's, that had hot hot hot male dancers sporting full on erections. Regretfully it is now closed. I saw Paul McCarthy and Ravi Shankar in Toronto. It was a quick overnight trip. Also went to Toronto with an ex to vacation. Loved it. Such a clean and friendly city. Yonge Street was so much fun, almost like Mardi-Gras, but with a bit more class.'
Unlike Tom, Kay had only been to Canada once, and it was a quick trip. A one day excursion to Toronto for a co-workers wedding didn't give the Columbus Ohio model and artist much time to interact with other Canadians or to explore the city. Kay did his research however, and channeled his inner Mountie. It also helped that Kay's been working out quite a bit the past year, and has bulked up to perfectly to fit in, and then burst out of his uniform. It was also a trip that brought Kay and Tom together. Tom was looking for just the right model when he heard that Kay was going to be in Lansing visiting friends. Kay a few shoots already lined up, but he and Tom coordinated their schedules to make it all come together.
'Kay helped set up the backgrounds and helped moving props and lights. It made it so much easier and quicker with his help. I am so grateful that the models are willing to assist me during the session. In my weakened state, I would have to consider to whether I could continue photographing. But I am able to keep at my passion for creating sensuous, artsy images of some beautiful men.'
'The session was a lot of fun and went better than expected. Much to my delight Kay had been working out in that time and is buffed out which is great for a Canadian Mountie image. Kay's artistic talents give him an advantage when he himself is the subject. We immediately got busy with the session. As he went through his disrobing routine it was evident he was excited to be back in the studio showing off his well defined features. Hmmm is that excitement showing in more ways than one? '
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Leaf Blower
'Maples are such sociable trees... They're always rustling and whispering to you.'
Lucy Maud Montgomery
Most countries, both their colors and their flag, have been embedded on men's underwear. I think Canada's, especially the maple leaf, is the most revealing. The stars and stripes of the red, white and blue tend to cover and mask, but the plain white and red maple leaf do a great job of spotlighting a man's assets.
The maple leaf on the front almost seems a hug a guy's package, showing off bulges and curves. The maple leaf on the back, provides a spot on target, one that can be seen from afar. Whether across a great lake, an Alberta Prairie, or a Prince Edward Island potato field, it's easy to spot a leaf in need of blowing.
Sex & Violence in Canada
Having a bad week....
Picture it... High School party, a small Canadian town, 2017.
Zach (Alex Purdy) and Zayne (Allister MacDonald) are about to have sex.in an upstairs bedroom. Just as they get going, they're interrupted by a group of their friends. When confronted about being gay, the guys make excuses about only smoking weeds. Their group of friends don't buy it and want them to have sex with a drunk girl they've dragged in. Zach refuses, but Zayne succumbs to the pressure. He sexually assaults the drunk girl as the other guys look on and film with their cameras.
Cut to school a few days later. Zayne shows up with a gun, shoots 12 people, killing 6. When he comes face to face with Zach, he tells him he loves him then turns the gun on himself a few feet in front of Zach.
A few days later, Zach meets a handsome stranger at a candle light vigil for the victims. The stranger, Finn (Callum Dunphy) begins stalking the 18 year old high school student, sneaking into his home and watching him shower. Finn begins showing up in places where he knows Zach will be and before too long, they have sex. Zach has no idea that Finn is 'The Strangler', a serial killer who has lured many gay men into bed only to then strangle and murder them with a leather belt.
Every holiday, I try to feature an actor, production that celebrates the day. I had a tough time finding a movie, tv show or theatre production that celebrates Canada Day, but I did think of a show that highlights Canadian talent. Sex & Violence began as asix-part show, focused on domestic violence. The show starred and was executive producer was the late great Olympia Dukakis. The show became the highest rated original drama in OUTtv's history
Sex & Violence wasn't always easy to watch. Sure there was plenty of sex, almost every male cast member was fully nude throughout the shows run. As the title suggests however, that sex was often mixed with violence, and it wasn't always so pretty. The show was filmed in Halifax, Nova Scotia, one of Canada's most scenic provinces. Although Nova Scotia is almost entirely surround by the Atlantic, the show didn't give us panoramic views of beaches, parks or mountains. It kept it focus narrow, on the grittier places, and the locations where it's characters lived and worked.
It was in the show's third season that we were first introduced to Alex Purdy's Zach. With everything I described above that Zach went through, you might think it spanned over 6, 12 or even 20 episodes. No, the final episodes of the series featured Zach spanned just 3 episodes. Because however, Alex Purdy was so engaging, so beautiful yes, but also so talented, we were pulled into his story. Although the plot was at times unbelievable, the writing, directing and acting had it all seem both plausible, and most of all, so horribly ordinary.
This was Purdy's first big role and his job wasn't an easy one. To being with, his character was fully naked in each of the three episodes he appeared in. Secondly, given he was a new character, he had to pull us in quickly, and have the audience care right away. Purdy was easy to love right away, he's hot as hell. His character wasn't however, so easy to like. That rested on Purdy's skill as an actor. It was helped by some skillful storytelling and flashbacks which had us learning his backstory with Zach in bits and pieces. Looking forward to seeing where Purdy's career takes him in the future.
Back Issues: Playgirl, March 1984
There's a well-kept secret going on north of the boundaries of the Lower Forty-Eight. Our giant neighbor is alive with exceptional men. Lots of them. The kind that invite minute inspection-fi not outright adulation-with their arresting good looks and cultivated manners.
Aarnie Kartna
Aarnie should know about spontaneous combustion! He's a fire fighter for the city of Etobicoke, a suburb of Toronto.
Scott Nicholl
Scott Nicholl, 20, is a student at the University of Toronto. he plans to be a lawyer someday, the better to cross-examine witnesses of his many charms. Scott's a self-described extrovert who goes for outgoing partners, especially if they have long brown hair and dark eyes.
Victor Fisher
Victor Fisher, 24, is a picture of sensuality, and well he should be. When he's not taking classes in photographic arts at Ryerson, he's combing the streets, camera in hand, for candid moments and photogenic beauties. Whatever develops depends on what happens in the darkroom.
Oh CANADA
Playgirl, March 1984
Photography by Jacky Winter
Oskar Tankovitz
You're in the money where Oskar Tankovitz is concerned. A Viennese dream from Austria. Oskar is a worldly-yet-down-to-earth newcomer to Canada who has already succumbed to that country's charms.
James Stackaruk
Those legendary Canadian winters are a good excuse to snuggle up to the likes of 26 year old James Stackaruk. James comes from a long line of chill resistant Ukrainians, so he knows how best to keep the heat on.
Greg Shaw
One of Greg Shaw's pet gripes is having to wear clohtes. They inhibit him, he feels, so when he's not in public, off come the shirt and socks-and everything else in-between
Stephen Scott
We appreciate any man, like Stephen Scott, who can get down to the bare essentials-and still give you the time of day. Employed at a public relations firm, Stephen exudes a maturity that belies his not-quite 19 years.
Peter Kodric
Peter Kodric, 22, particularly enjoys ice hockey when it's ins season. Off the ice, Peter turns to movies and good books.
Herc Rick
David Ishmael, 23, doesn't like long haired cates, but is wild about almost anything else he encounters, especially tall sensuous women and Canadian Club rye.
David Ishmael
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