Hope in Bloom 🦅

'That piece of red, white and blue bunting means five thousand years of struggle upwards. It is the full-grown flower of ages of fighting for liberty.  It is the century plant of human hope in bloom.'

Alvin Owsley

✨HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!✨

Jay by Steve Jerome

Tis The Season: Jake Isaac by RMark Photo

 'Tis the Season, stars and stripes season that is.  It's the time of year many pull out their red, white and blue speedos, undies and thongs.  When I featured model Jake Isaac, and his work with RMark Photo earlier this year, (HERE:) included in the visuals was one shot of Jake in his American undies.  When Roger shared he had similar shots to edit, I decided to tuck that image away until the 4th.  Jake brought the underwear along to the shoot having recently purchased them from JJ Malibu.  Jake had seen another model wearing them online, and wanted a pair for himself.

Most years, Jake spends the 4th soaking up the sun on the beach and swimming at the lake with his family.  'Nothing like some sun and sand to celebrate!;  Now, when celebrating with his family, Jake generally chooses more conservative attire.  But... if you've checked out his social media sites however, (Instagram / BlueSky) when at the beach with friends, Jake often ditches the stars and stripes and wears nothing at all!  Check out more holiday hotties, in and out of their patriotic panties, on the NEXT PAGE HERE:

RMark Photo on BlueSky

A Slice of the Pie

You realize we're all going to go to college as virgins. They probably have special dorms for people like us

Jim

Every July 4th, I think I featured the American Pie series for my 12 days post.    Unlike the Porky's films, one of which I featured on Canada Day,  I've only seen a couple of the American Pie flicks, and didn't really love them.  I think in part it was my age.  When I saw the Porky's films, I was still a kid, sneaking down to the rec room to rewatch the male nude scenes on VHS.  

By the time the American Pie films hit, I was in University, and wasn't watching as many movies.  I was juggling classes with 2 jobs to pay for those classes with my sexual identity in crisis.  I'd ended my relationship with my high school girlfriend, but wasn't really out to many people other than my ex and a few close friends.

I also became, briefly, a little snobby about 'film'.  I was hanging out with an artsy crowd, and going to a lot of foreign films, and art house flicks in teeny tiny theatres.  That doesn't mean I didn't catch mainstream films, but mostly on television or at home on DVD.  I did appreciate the cast, and remember crushing over the male cast especially Thomas Ian Nicholas and Sean William Scott.  Ahh, that 2003 shirtless cover of Teen People...

Over the last few years, I've caught a few of the sequels, mostly for Eugene Levy, and I've gain a new appreciation for Jason Biggs and the films.  Biggs is really quite fearless when it comes to nudity, both on film, and on his social media pages.  I've also come respect the actor for his progressive social and political views.  Not that I agree with them all, or that there haven't been controversies... I remember him getting in trouble with conservative during the 2012 election.  In addition, his tendency to post non-family-friendly content online led to him being fired from the voice role of Leonardo in the Nickelodeon series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

As you can see from the shots below, Biggs love to sport the stars and stripes off screen as well.  Many of you I'm sure recognize some of the speedo wearing hotties in the pics below.  A few are quite famous, and I've featured a couple of them previously on the site.

Check out much more of Biggs, and my favorite moments from the American Pie franchise on FH HERE:

Struggle Upwards

Image by Lights on Studio

'That piece of red, white and blue bunting means five thousand years of struggle upwards. It is the full-grown flower of ages of fighting for liberty.  It is the century plant of human hope in bloom.'

Alvin Owsley

✨HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!✨

While The Storm Clouds Gather Far Across The Sea

When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 19:33-34 

I really try not to get too preachy on FH, especially on holidays.  I want the site to be light and fun, and a place to escape.  FH is certainly an escape for me, from a stressful day job, and the struggles and life losses we all feel and experience.  That being said, there a few occasion I break my own rules, today being one of them.  If you dislike political comments, I only do this once or twice a year, so please just continue scrolling and enjoy the images of the stunning Simm by TR Pics.

I've celebrated the 4th of July since the early days of FH. The hot guys in stars and stripes speedos, the majesty of the flag, the red, white and blue proudly held by strong and patriotic men.  I grew up fully believing in the American values and belief, especially those centered around individualism, freedom, equality, and democracy. Values rooted in the nation's founding documents and historical experiences.

The Trump years however, for so many of us, have been like a gut kick to everything we thought we knew.  Individual rights are disappearing faster than we can keep up.  Cruelty has become the guiding principal and every single person, with the possible exception of  rich, white men who cave to his every whim, are vulnerable and expendable. 

I know I'm not the only one feeling this way.  According to Gallup, just 58% of Americans say they’re “very” or “extremely” proud to be American.  This is down from 85% in 2013 and the lowest ever recorded by Gallup organization.   It's not surprising given how so many groups of people are being dehumanized by the orange anus and his followers.  So many lies and propaganda violently shoved out about immigrants, minorities, trans and LBGTQ community members.  

The racism in the MAGA immigration debate is so clearly about racism, it's really impossible to deny.  It took less than a year to go from 'they’re eating the dogs, they’re eating the cats' to now wanting to feed immigrants to alligators. It's so degusting, yet so obvious, in any other time and place, the racism would be the daily lead story.  Under the orange Cheeto, hospitals get closed while Alligator Alcatraz gets it's grand opening. So many remained silent, and his supporters thought they were safe.  As we  know however, now veterans, the elderly and the poor, are all now also in the crosshairs.

To do posts featuring the usual 'rah rah' and flag waving would be almost inappropriate.  I'm not naturally a fake it til you make it kind of guy.  Still, I do have hope. The No Kings protests were powerful, and timely.  I believe eventually, this ignorant and intellectually inadequate idiot will be gone.  It will take awhile, maybe years to fully rid the country of his stench, but that day will come.  Bullies can only survive with support, and when his time in office draws to a close, most of them will scurry to the next idiot to idolize and hide behind.

The No Kings protests helped motivate me to continue my Independence Day visual celebrations.  My goal this year is not to necessary celebrate what currently is, but what was, and what will be again.  I wanted a reflective tone that reflects the struggles, but celebrates the beauty, the culture and the diversity, that even when under attack, are the true representation of the land of the free and the home of the brave. 

Simm by TR Pics

Meeting the Moment: Cooper & Sterling by TR Pics

'We must learn to live together as brothers and sisters or perish together as fools.'

Martin Luther King, Jr

Sterling

I've been featuring the work of TR Pics for close to fifteen years, and especially love Tom's holiday work. Over that time, if I've learned one thing about Tom as an artist, is that he's always up for a challenge.   One only look back to two years ago, to my 2023 Halloween posts. (HERE:)  I let Tom know my theme was King Kong, and that I wanted a hot naked model in the hands of the magnificent beast.  Tom didn't think of reasons it couldn't be done, he blew by any and all obstacles, and focused on how it could be done.

Cooper Bold

When I asked Tom about shooting for this year's 4th of July holiday, the challenge, at least on the surface, seemed easier than putting a 6' tall male model, in the paw of a 24ft tall gorilla.  It was however, more artistically specific.  I often request themes, but I don't remember after asking about tone or mood.  My request to Tom was to shoot a diverse set of models with a reflective tone.  

Given the present political climate, and the intellectually limited clown in the White House, I was visualizing subdued beauty.  Visuals embracing strength and resilience.  Images expressing a patriotic pride rooted in the moment, but determinately looking towards a more hopeful future as well.  To hit just the right patriotic note, Tom enlisted four models, including Cooper Bold and Sterling who are featured here. (The other two models are featured on the next page HERE:)  As you can clearly see, Tom, as well as models Cooper and Sterling, rose to the challenge and more than met the moment.  

' I love shooting with Tom because he is so easy to get along with. He's got the sweet heart and genuinely pays attention to his models. He finds beauty in every body and knows how to bring that out in the shoots.  As for the theme, being an American to me is finding strength. Not just to stand up, but to forgive. Having the strength to look past the small things and find unity in our struggles.'

Cooper

Tom describes Cooper Bold as an amazing guy, visually stunning, but even-keeled and  someone always willing to jump in and help.  Tom met Sterling at a group photoshoot and was immediately taken by his amazing body.  Tom describes Sterling as one of the sweetest, and modest models that he's worked with.  Sterling shared that he wasn't always so tones, and is very  proud of the hard work he has put into his body and into his health.

I was very intrigued when Tye told me about his wants to commemorate the United States' Independence Day for FH. Because of these very "trying times" all around the world, the idea of a celebratory "Fourth" just seemed a bit... off. He had mentioned maybe we could focus on the feelings of what "Freedom" means to those folk who are almost targeted for being different today, namely either immigrants or those with darker skin tones. 

We decided we wanted a serious bent, because Freedom for a lot of people took more effort and courage and desire than it did for a lot of people. Some of us have taken it for granted. Others know of the demands that it took to fight for it. Hopefully, that comes across.  My theme and objective was, Pride for the past; Hope for the future.

Tom, TR Pics

TR Pics on Twitter

TR Pics on Instagram

Cooper Bold on Instagram

Sterling on Instagram

Breathe Free: Carlos & Azi by TR Pics

'Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free'

Carlos

'Carlos has a grin that stretches for miles. A slight accent, his energy fills us the studio for days. A lot of fun to shoot with.'

Tom, TR Pics

Carlos on Instagram

Azi

'Azi, (pronounced "Ozzy") is the newest model I shot with. Gorgeous, and great model, and has a lyrical fun time doing crazy moves on a dance pole.'

Tom

Azi on Instagram

TR Pics on Instagram

TR Pics on Twitter

Draped

Although he was up against some stiff competition, I think Alex James won the contest.  The goal, how best to drape one's hot body in the red, white and blue.

Alex James on OnlyFans

Alex James on Instagram

American Dreamin 🦅

 ✨HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!✨

Venture Fourth...

'It's a party in the U.S.A'

Struggling to decide what to this fourth?  Thinking of a party, a parade, a quiet day at home with friends?  Check out some FH-style suggestions on ways to spend the day on the NEXT PAGE HERE:

He Wears It Well

Alejandro García looking hot in his stars and stripes speedo

The Male Form By CP: The Red, The White, The Blue

Constantine

True patriotism springs from a belief in the dignity of the individual, freedom and equality not only for Americans but for all people on earth…

Eleanor Roosevelt

The American flag consists of 13 horizontal stripes, seven red alternating with six white. The stripes represent the original 13 Colonies and the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well; RED symbolizes hardiness and valor, WHITE symbolizes purity and innocence, and BLUE represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.

Kanou

The stars and stripes and the red, white and blue on the American flag make it one of the most famous, and visually stunning flags in the world.  Every year I love to find new images featuring the flag, with equally stunning men, posing, holding and draped by the colors and symbols.  This year, I have new models to feature, Constantine and Kanou, both shot by The Male Form by CP.

Thanks to The Male Form with CP for sharing these shots, some of which have not been published before.

The Male Form by CP

The Male Form by CP on Twitter