Ergh. Aargh.

I've been sick all week guys, hence the "not blogging." Mostly, I've been laying on the couch watching Firefly and Roseanne. Comfort food for the soul.

Today, before I head to the couch, I thought I'd throw something up here: The Guild. I recognize that I'm somewhat of a latecomer to this series, but we just watched the first two seasons this week and this show rocks my world. If you don't know much about it, it's the brainchild of actress Felicia Day (Penny, from Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog). The Guild focuses on the lives of six gamers, both in-game and in the real world, and it's fucking hilarious. To prove it to you, I offer you the first episode:

You see, The Guild is a web series. You can watch the entire thing free on-line. I urge you to do so.

I'll be back soon with my regular postings of naked guys and, you know, art.

SYLVAIN NORGET

Somehow I've managed to run this blog for this long, and I've apparently not featured photographer Sylvain Norget's work before. This is a major oversight, and I apologize, to both my readers (who deserve to see Norget's work), and Norget (whose work deserves to be seen). I feel like I've followed Norget's work for what seems like years, back before there was a TNRP blog or book. His photographs can be playful, thoughtful, disturbing and coy, but they're always sexy and it's more than Norget's inherent sexiness (he's his own model for a good chunk of his work), although he has that in spades.




Norget's current blog focuses on nudes and is less thematically focused than his previous projects, The Naked Rabbit Project and Masks, though the work is still equally as creative. Norget has an eye for himself and it's this examination that brings a level to his work that just isn't present in the work of every auto-portrait artist. Add to that his technical photography skills and the photos become discussions about art, sex, nudity, voyeurism and attraction.






I had to have my partner help me narrow down the pictures I wanted to run, lest I just repost every picture on Norget's blog. Expect to see a lot more of his work around here. I have a lot of blogging to make up for when it comes to showing off his work. Until then, you can check out his blogs: Nudes, TNRP, and Masks.

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MAKING MY SYNAPSES FIRE

These are the things making my brain work today. Fuel for my synapses:

FICTION:

"Pump Six," a short sci-fi story by Paolo Bacigualupi. An audio version was done by the podcast Starship Sofa, and it's really blowing my mind. It's collected in his book of short stories, also called Pump Six. I might have to pick up the collection soon, if all of the stories are half as good as this one. You can find a direct download here, and the story starts 33:56 into the episode. You won't be disappointed.

ART:

"Moonshot" by Mal Jones. Part of his "Print A Week" project:

(via Warren Ellis.)

PHOTOGRAPHY AND HALF-NAKED MEN:

These photos of Daren Kagasoff, by Hedi Slimaine for Vman Magazine:

(via Towleroad.)

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FRANCOIS SAGAT IS A SUPERHERO

Francois Sagat posted a new video yesterday where he fondles and poses with friend Whilhelmina:



I watched the video twice before it grew on me. Largely, I blame the Rammstein song. As I mentioned yesterday, I really like Francois Sagat, and watching this video is like watching comic book characters come to life. Both Sagat and Whilhelmina have made a conscious decision to turn their bodies into hypersexualized fantasies. This goes back to transhumanism, which I discussed yesterday as well.

Transhumanism is an international intellectual and cultural movement supporting the use of science and technology to improve human mental and physical characteristics and capacities. The movement regards aspects of the human condition, such as disability, suffering, disease, aging, and involuntary death as unnecessary and undesirable. Transhumanists look to biotechnologies and other emerging technologies for these purposes. Dangers, as well as benefits, are also of concern to the transhumanist movement. (Via Wikipedia)

Neither model here is exactly my idea of an ideal human. I lean toward a more naturalistic look, myself. But I find myself respecting the decisions that Sagat and Whilhelmina have made to look the way they do. You can talk about how culture affects people, and you can make assumptions about why someone would strive to be something different than they inherently are. At the end of the day, though, these two humans had a goal and appear to have reached it.

Watch them for what they are.

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GOOD MORNING

Close my eyes / Evening dies / My friend rise up to the sunrise / Brand new day / New chance / Some say / If I can make a difference / In this world / Then I may / So I must / So I trust / All my lyrics just bust / Into this new day / Like I was busting a nut / Oh, feels so good / Rising up the morning / I just got on the radio / It’s a positive moment

("Ain't That Right" by G. Love)

Like I mentioned last night, I'm ready for this cold weather to fuck off and for it to be summer again. It's a frustrating feeling to have in late January. On my way to work this morning I listened to this song. G. Love is one of those artists who, I swear, could get me off by the sound of his voice alone. He drop's the line "bustin' a nut" and I get hard every time.

Good morning, people. It's going to be a good day.

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