Photo Shoot with Scott #2 - Abstract Nudes

As expected, I did a second shoot with Scott and once again I am extremely pleased with the results. As we began to explore at the end of our first shoot, I've come across a concept that I want to pursue further -- glass brick nudes. Everyone that I've shown these first series of images to has been very excited and positive in their feedback about the potential of this project. They have even gone as far as saying they would like a print to hang in their homes. I can see this becoming an extensive series and an unique exhibit. Expect to see more of this style of photo in the future as I shoot other models of varying body types/builds/ethnicities and hopefully even couples.

XTRA! Magazine

Happy to see that the portrait I did of Cijay Morgan here in Edmonton has finally appeared in the May issue of Xtra! published out of Toronto. This was my first shoot for the magazine and hopefully more work will come of it. Here's the photo that ran -- click on this link to see how it turned out and to read the full article.

Analyze this!

Here is but one of the many dreams that I had last night. I am in a tug-of-war with an almost full-grown lion or tiger (not quite sure which, or maybe it was both) cub over meat. What seemed to start off as just a large bone in the scramble to keep possession of it turned into a full roast-sized piece of meat by the time the lion/tiger finally won possession of it. I felt I couldn't challenge the animal any more because it was still "wild" even though I really did what to control it. But I also let it have that piece because I knew I had a full-side of beef size piece of meat put away where the lion/tiger couldn't get at it. Make any sense to you? It actually all makes sense to me. Scary huh.

I also had another dream where I was showing someone a very large tank (think aquarium only bigger) where sharks were hiding under/amidst the sea plantlife. I was using a wooden chair to show them how the sharks would attack, which a large one did, once you started poking around. I can't remember much more of this one so it doesn't make nearly as much sense to me.

There was also an elevator dream which ended with a short french woman and I running through a parkade to evade the other passengers who were in pursuit because we hadn't held the elevator for them. Well it was more complicated than that but you get the idea. Signficant factor the elevator was going down.

Anyway I'd be happy to hear anyone's idea what they think this all might mean or if you are into dream intrepretation at all I'd like to hear what all the images symbolize. Or maybe not.

Edmonton Queen

I attended the book signing of an old friend of mine, Darrin Hagen, who's book The Edmonton Queen has just been republished on its 10th Anniversary. Darrin delighted the crowd by reading from this and his other book, Tornado Magnet at Audrey's Books. The hilarious accounts of his drag persona, Gloria Hole, and the defunct gay club Flashback and all its tawdry characters took me back 20 years -- a time when I was first hitting the nightclubs here in Edmonton. Apart from being a talented drag queen, Darrin is a gifted storyteller and performer and I'm thrilled to see him having such success. I have countless personal memories of Gloria Hole: how she used to terrorize patrons when she bartended at Flashbacks; performing "This is My Life"; in her Star Trek catsuit serving jello shooters on the bus ride to one of my Hell parties; playing the accordian as a contestant on the live gameshow Panic; and just too many wondrful nights at the clubs to list. Thanx Darrin for being truly one-of-a-kind!

Photo Shoot with Scott

After years of talking about doing a shoot, Scott McLeod and I finally were finally able to do it today. Although this isn't the exact shoot I want to do with Scott -- we both want to do shoot outdoors -- I thought it would be good to get him in front of the camera and become comfortable with posing nude. As it turns out, Scott was very relaxed and consequently we got some remarkable images. The other wonderful thing about our session is that I discovered a new abstract concept that opens up a whole new series of photo shoots. Scott will be my first subject.

Figure study - legs

You'd Scream Too!

OK since I posted one of my favourites the other day, I'll add this one too since it has to qualify as one of my all-time faves. Thanx to Lady Bunny for turning me on to this one.

BOM CHICKA WAH WAH

I love this commercial! This is perhaps the funniest commercial I've seen on TV in a long time, made only funnier by trying to show someone who's never seen the advertisement what happens in it. C'mon you try those moves.

The New Hilton Hotel

Paris Hilton ... jail ... Paris Hilton in jail ... hehehe!
Her porn video from there should be quite interesting.
Bye Paris, enjoy your 45-day stay in your new Hilton Hotel and maybe think about whether there's anyone with as much money as you that could possibly be any dumber.

I Heart NY but ...

NEW YORK - New York City produces nearly 1 percent of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions — an amount that puts it on par with Ireland or Portugal — according to a city study.

The study, released Tuesday, was ordered by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to assess the city's progress in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030. It was conducted by the mayor's Office of Long-term Planning and Sustainability.

"You have to have a real baseline or we're just talking past each other as to what works and what doesn't work — we won't ever know whether we really made a difference," Bloomberg said.

The study found that the buildings, subways, buses, cars and decomposition of waste in America's most populous city produced a net emission of 58.3 million metric tons of greenhouse gases in 2005. The report said the city's emissions "are currently as much as those of Ireland or Portugal."

The U.S. total was 7.26 billion metric tons for that year.

Greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, methane and other gases, essentially trap energy from the sun, which warms the Earth's surface and lower atmosphere. Many scientists believe human activity that increases those gases is contributing to global warming.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a United Nations network of 2,000 scientists, warned last week of possible catastrophic risks such as floods, disease, food shortages, species extinction and human suffering throughout the world.

The city has 2.7 percent of the country's population — 8.2 million of 300 million — and the average New York City resident contributes less than a third of the emissions generated by a typical American. This is largely due to the popularity of the city's mass transit system, which cuts down on car emissions, officials said.

The operation of the city's hundreds of thousands of buildings — which consume electricity, natural gas, fuel oil and steam — contribute 79 percent of the city's emissions total.

The study found that the city's focus on environmentally friendly initiatives — including alternative fuel vehicles, energy efficient traffic lights and green buildings — appears to have helped stabilize emissions rates in recent years.

"Each one of these things really does make a difference, and they add up," Bloomberg said.

Still, emissions were found to have increased by more than 8 percent between 1995 and 2005, the study found.

Bye Bye Ruby

Attended the final Edmonton performance of local drag queen extraordinaire, Ruby Slippah at the Roost tonight. As usual Ruby did not disappoint. Also leaving the city is her roommate Michael aka 'Pepper' Dore (included in the photo) who is heading to Toronto for film school. All I can say is words Ruby said herself "Look Out Toronto!"

In Memory of Richard "Dickie" Teha ........... (May 4, 1979 - March 4, 2007)

Dustin and I went to the funeral today of a very unique artist, a co-worker, and our pal, Richard "Dickie" Teha, who was truly one-of-a-kind! I'm posting this collection of photos that I took of him; working as a bartender at Woody's, appearing in the Christmas show at Buddys, and marching in the 2006 Gay Pride Parade as a reminder of what an absolutely great guy and crazy character he was. It is with profound sadness we say good-bye. You will missed Dickie - may God have lots of paints in heaven for you to dip your balls in.

In Memory of Leo Jackson

I received the call today from my parents, that my Dad's brother - Uncle Leo had died shortly after breakfast. In the past few weeks he had been quite ill but had managed to keep pulling through even the worst conditions. So it was still somewhat of a surprise. At 78, as he said himself just the day before he died, he had managed to outlive the age of his own father and joked with Dad about sticking around a few more years to outlive their mother's age (my grandmother died in our home at 81). When Mom & Dad brought him a coffee (decaffeinated - unbeknownst to him) and two old fashioned donuts in the hospital in Dawson Creek he told them "It was like money from home." Although I hadn't seen Leo in many years, I spoke to him frequently as he called Dad every morning and sometimes I was the one to pick up. He was hugely interested that I had begun to research the Jackson family tree and always wanted to know if I had discovered more. I have wonderful memories of both my Uncle Leo and my Aunt Laura, when they and their five kids (my cousins Anita, Teresa, Brenda, Guy and Blake) lived in Edmonton back in the 60s. Uncle Leo marks the last of my Dad's immediate family and he will be sorely missed and lovingly remembered. God's speed Uncle Leo.

Photo Shoot #2 with Jon

Photo Shoot with Rodrigo in Ajusco

Once again, Rodrigo and I made the long, hot trek out of Mexico City to shoot in Ajusco. As was the case last time, we once again had a very successful shoot and got remarkable images. I love shooting this man! He has a natural affinity to the camera, understands what the photographer is looking for, has incredible concentration and patience, and is as interested in creating provocative images as I am. How can you go wrong with a model like that! I could do an entire exhibit on Rodrigo himself. Hopefully one day I will.

Photo Shoot with Rulo

We Need to Talk About Kevin

Finally finished the novel, We Need to Talk About KEVIN by Lionel Shriver. My good friend, Jennifer, loaned it to me ages ago and said it was a must read. Now, I'm not sure if I should thank her or hit her. It was a very disturbing account of a ficticious high-school mass-murder, much like that of Columbine, except the story is told entirely from the point of view of Kevin's mother, in an endless series of letters to her estranged ex-husband. Initally a slow read (I'd read a chapter/letter and put it down), once I actually got into it, I couldn't really put it down. And truthfully, the further I got along -- especially the last 50 pages, the more I couldn't wait for it to finally end. But I have to say the final chapter and the final page caught me completely off-guard. I love that! Anyway, I'd recommend it to anyone. Not a fun read but a profound literary experience.

Trust, my next book, by one of my all-time favourite authors, Augusten Burrough's POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS is much, much lighter fare.

Jackson needs ...

OK this is hilarious, my good and twisted pal Daryn, sent me a chain email that what you do is type in your name followed by the word "needs" into whatever search engine you use and see what the first thing to come up is.

For Daryn it read (not a word of a lie - google it yourself):
Daryn needs something new because "He never got Viagra when we were dating!"

For me, it read (and I'll list the top three)
Jackson needs new priorities.
Jackson needs God!
Jackson needs to become a muslim.

I so wouldn't look good in a burka - well at least I don't think I would.

Anyway ... try it for yourself. I'd love to hear some of your results, leave them in comments if you want.

Photo Shoot with Otto - Queretaro, Mexico

XTRA XTRA

I was very pleased to receive an email from Julia Garro, the Associate Editor of XTRA in Toronto:

I've seen your work in Outlooks magazine and I'm wondering if you'd be available to do a portrait shoot of an Edmonton woman for a feature article we're working on ...

The article is on asexual identity and the subject Cijay lives in Edmonton, so I'll be doing the shoot there - not in Toronto sadly. Fortunately, they are able to wait for the shots until I return from Mexico.

I'm hoping that this assignment is just the first of many from XTRA.

Me and Bill Gates

Just finished taking an IQ test, haven't done one in years (click on the link if you want to take it for yourself).

Here's what they had to say:

Your IQ score is: 138

You scored 138 on Tickle's IQ test. This means that based on your answers, your IQ score is between 128 and 138. Most people's IQs are between 70 and 130.

In fact, 95% of all people have IQs within that range. 68% of people score between 80 and 120. The following chart shows these percentages and where your IQ score is on that scale.

There's more to intelligence than a single number, a single score or a single label. Tickle uses four distinguishable Intelligence Scales in the Ultimate IQ Test. By analyzing your individual scores on those four scales, we are able to look beyond the raw IQ score into how you process information and thereby determine your Intellectual Type.

Your Intellectual Type Is:

FACTS CURATOR

Like a meticulous collector, you've fed your brain a unique set of facts and figures over the years. Words, numbers, you've got it all. That's what makes you a Facts Curator. Whether or not you intend to absorb every piece of information that comes your way, your mind has certain steel-trap qualities to it. You are a knowledge sponge. You have almost enough words in your head to fill a dictionary, and you're equally adept when it comes to manipulating numbers. You can also detect important patterns in number sequences, and probably remember the mnemonic devices you were taught in grade school.

You may feel comfortable in classroom settings where absorbing details is critical. You're also able to learn from example and piece together all the little facts in life to get to the big picture. That's why you never stop accumulating information as you walk through life. Your strengths lie in both the verbal and math realms — placing you in the same arena as someone like Bill Gates. Gates has the ability to not only store and retrieve an especially large amount of specialized data, but to translate and present that information to the population at large. His entire empire is based on this unique talent. And to think — your brain works in this same way! When it comes right down to it, you and other Facts Curators can ride a wave of information to live a truly enriched life.

Great Jobs For You
Because of the way you process information, these are just some of the many careers in which you could excel:
Tech writer
Astronomer
Computer engineer
Algebra teacher
Copy editor
Doctor

Some of Your Greatest Talents
You've got tons of strengths. It wouldn't surprise us if you:
Can process information quickly
Can articulate knowledge clearly
Are a thorough researcher; almost detective-like
Are the person friends want to call for their "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" lifeline

Your Intelligence Scales

Your 4 Intelligence Scales

Now let's look at the factors that contribute to you being a Facts Curator with a 138 IQ score. Based on the results of your test, Tickle divided your scores into four distinguishable dimensions — mathematical intelligence, visual-spatial intelligence, linguistic intelligence and logic intelligence. Here's how each of your intelligence scores break down:

Mathematical Intelligence
Your Mathematical Percentile

You scored in the 100th percentile on the mathematical intelligence scale.

This means that you scored higher than 90% - 100% of people who took the test and that 0% - 10% scored higher than you did. The scale above illustrates this visually. Your mathematical intelligence score represents your combined ability to reason and calculate. You scored relatively high, which means you're probably the one your friends look to when splitting the lunch bill or calculating your waitresses' tip. You may or may not be known as a math whiz, but number crunching might come a little easier to you than it does others.

Flexing Your Math Muscles
Like anything, keeping or improving your math talents requires practice. Here are some everyday mental exercises that could be particularly helpful to you:
Balancing your checkbook
Figuring out your monthly budget
Predicting what the change will be the next time you buy something
Calculating your waitperson's tip in your head

Visual-Spatial Intelligence
Your Visual-Spatial Percentile

You scored in the 70th percentile on the visual-spatial intelligence scale.

This means that you scored higher than 60% - 70% of people who took the test and that 30% - 40% scored higher than you did. The scale above illustrates this visually. The visual-spatial component of intelligence measures your ability to extract a visual pattern and from that envision what should come next in a sequence. Your score was relatively high, which could mean that you're the one navigating the map when you're on an outing with friends. You have, in some capacity, an ability to think in pictures. Maybe this strength comes out in subtle ways, like how you play chess or form metaphors.

Vision Quest
Like anything, keeping or improving visual-spatial talents requires some practice. Here are some everyday mental exercises that will be particularly helpful to you:
Playing chess, or video games like Tetris
Studying maps and become the navigator on your next trip
Sculpting or photography

Linguistic Intelligence
Your Linguistic Percentile

You scored in the 100th percentile on the linguistic intelligence scale.

This means that you scored higher than 90% - 100% of people who took the test and that 0% - 10% scored higher than you did. The scale above illustrates this visually. Linguistic abilities include reading, writing and communicating with words. Tickle's test measures knowledge of vocabulary, ease in completing word analogies and the ability to think critically about a statement based on its semantic structure. Your score was relatively high, which could mean you know your way around a bookstore and maybe like to bandy about the occasional 25-cent word to impress friends.

Word Power
Like anything, keeping or improving linguistic talents requires some practice. Here are some everyday mental exercises that will be particularly helpful to you:
Doing crossword puzzles
Start reading just for fun
Befriending your dictionary
The next time something breaks, try reading the instruction book first

Logical Intelligence
Your Logical Percentile

You scored in the 100th percentile on the logical intelligence scale.

This means that you scored higher than 90% - 100% of people who took the test and that 0% - 10% scored higher than you did. The scale above illustrates this visually. Tickle's logical intelligence questions assess your ability to think things through. The questions determine the extent to which you use reasoning and logic to determine the best solution to a problem. Your logic score was relatively high, which could mean that when the car breaks down, your friends look to you to help figure out not only what's wrong, but how to fix it and how you're going to get to the next gas station.

Logic Lessons
Like anything, keeping or improving logical talents requires some practice. Here are some everyday mental exercises that will be particularly helpful to you:
Trying some brain teasers
Throwing away the instructions and relying on instinct to fix something
Playing chess

What do all these percentiles mean?

For each scale, Tickle determined how many people received scores above and below yours. Your "percentile" represents what percentage of people scored lower than you. In other words, 90th percentile means you scored higher than 80 to 90% of people did. How are the percentiles determined? These percentiles were determined based on the one million users who have already taken our test. We then adjusted these percentiles based on a nationally representative IQ distribution to make sure that no level of intelligence was over- or underrepresented in the analysis. Thus, the percentiles we present reflect your score compared with people in the United States in general. What factors helped determine my score? If your score isn't as high as you thought it would be, remember that there are plenty of external factors that can affect your performance on the test. If you were tired, hungry or distracted, you might have scored lower than you expected because you were less able to concentrate. Your level of formal education and your familiarity with taking these kinds of tests also influence how well you do. That's part of the reason IQ tests aren't a perfect measure of your intelligence. Your score would probably be quite different if the IQ test was designed to take into account your musical, artistic, emotional and social skills. On their own, IQ scores can't predict someone's ultimate success or definitive potential for success. Many of the qualities that lead to great achievements are learned through culture, experience and schooling - not solely from doing well on an IQ test. What your IQ test can help explain, however, is how your brain works best. By looking at the kinds of questions you answered correctly and the kinds of questions you answered incorrectly, we can tell you more about your intelligence type — the type that explains the kind of information that makes sense to your brain.

Eternal Embrace

Was very moved by this image that I came across on the internet this morning. It's possible that it resonated so strongly with me because I am missing Dustin like crazy, which is usually the case when I travel, but also becasue it shows the power of the photograph -- described in the written word it would not have had nearly the impact this visual does. (If you want to know more about this neolithic couple, click on the photo, it's fascinating.)

My View of the World

Just a shot of the beautiful golden sunset I saw at Los Muertos playa in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico tonight. For all my friends freezing up in Canada and the US, I know this is going to hurt. Sorry.

Photo Shoot with Rodrigo - D.F. Mexico

Photo Shoot with Carlos, Mexico City

Woke up in a panic as my alarm didn't go off and it was 10am, the time I had arranged to meet Carlos at Los Bisquets. Thankfully he had a cell phone and I was able to reach him and tell him to wait. We had a quick breakfast (with my two cups of cafe con leche, of course) and headed to his apartment in Condesa. It proved to be a perfect location to do photos - decent light, nice furnishings and a very competent, discipled model. I was delighted with the images we got, especially the series with the glass vase, which I'm sure will make an exquisite exhibition print. Carlos had a beautiful physique combined with his willingness to try whatever I suggested, made for a delightful shoot. I hope to photograph him again upon my return to DF mid February.

After winding up the shoot, I headed off in the wrong direction on the Metro bus. Fortunately, you can get off and switch directions across the platform once you realize your error. Once I dropped my equipment off at the hotel, I headed over to where John is staying (Hotel Gillow) to see if he was in - he wasn't. But now I'm very curious to see one of the rooms (it has an amazingly visual lobby compared to Hotel Ambar) which may make for a nice change to shoot some models since in many ways I feel like I've exhausted what I can do at Hotel Ambar. I'll make the trek over again later in the day.

Worth noting that I got my first mosquito bite today, not sure where or when but sitting here at my laptop it's itching like mad.

Day 1 in Mexico

I arrived in Mexico City at midnight exhausted from what seemed like endless ridiculous travel. Why Air Canada now flies from Toronto to Mexico City instead of Vancouver, I'll never know. So upon waking up on my first day of travelling since June, I didn't have a clue what time it was. My alarm clock, my cell phone, and my computer all had different times. But then again, what did it matter. I had a very cold shower and headed to Zona Rosa for breakfast at one of my favorite restaurants, Los Bisquets where my favorite waitress Claudia works. As usual I wasn't disappointed, the Heuvos a la Veracruzana (eggs a la Veracruzana, if you click on the link it's the plate with the 4 green chili) was exactly what I wanted, along with two cups of their amazing cafe con leche. I wondered around the area but found I wasn't really in the mood for shopping or sightseeing, in fact, I was still very tired.

Humorous anecdote: I wandered by Starbucks in the very upscale Plaza Angel only to find it had been closed due to some sort of violations, I presume health. Whatever it was, they closed it immediately as there was still pastries in the case. God knows for how long. The mall security guard wouldn't let me get a photo of the door plastered with closed notices so I had to go out on the street to get the shot.

In the afternoon I was visited by my favorite Mexican model, Rodrigo, who sporting a new blond hairdo, was as handsome as ever. We made plans to do a shoot on Sunday, hopefully in his new apartment (which he assured me has wonderful light) providing his landlord will give him the keys.

In the evening I was supposed to meet a new friend and go to the 3rd Anniversary of Boy Bar but unceremoniously got stood up - a not so subtle reminder that people here are quickly becoming more like Americans and Canadians than I care for. Undaunted, I decided to go to one of my failsafe haunts El Taller, it was quieter than usual for a Friday night, but it was raining quite hard which may have affected it. As always, I was quite obviously the stranger, and received countless furtive glances. A few brave souls managed to muster up the courage to come over and talk to me (followed by very overt propositions) but I was content to have a couple Sol and make my way back to Hotel Ambar. Plus, I had to be up early, if I can figure out what time it really is, for a photo shoot with Carlos.

Seattle Erotic Arts Festival 2007

Thrilled that I have been selected for the third consecutive year to exhibit two of my photographs in this year's Seattle Erotic Arts Festival.

We are delighted to inform you that you have been selected to show art in the 2007 Seattle Erotic Art Festival (SEAF). Your work was selected from 932 submissions we received from 397 artists in 33 states and 18 countries. Congratulations.

The 2007 jury consisted of:
Barbara Shaiman, Director, Seattle Art Museum Gallery
Jim McDonald, Jim McDonald Fine Arts Services
Patricia Ridenour, Faculty, Photographic Center Northwest

Here are the two pieces that were selected:

New Year's 2007

Brought in 2007 with the man that I love -- Dustin! Like 2006, we were both working (this year at the bar where the photo was taken) but somehow managed to make our way to each other in the final seconds of the countdown to bring the new year in together.

And ... speaking of together, that's exactly what is going to happen. Happily, we have decided that our earlier plans to spend time apart isn't what either of us really want so we will continue to live together. I think that as the time approached for me to move, the thought/reality of us not being with one another any longer was just too much to contemplate. We both had time to take stock in what a really great thing we already have. I know it made me realize just how important Dustin is in my life and how I don't ever want to take that for granted. It's a solid, loving, happy, honest relationship and I truly believe we will be able to work through any obstacles. Insofar as Dustin needing some time and space, I will be doing considerably more travelling this year and that should rectify what he needs. But for now, what we both need and want is each other!

Hot Cops

Happy to report that Cleis Press in San Francisco has selected another of my images for the cover of the upcoming new release HOT COPS.

Once again, I found out completely by accident. I was showing someone the photos of mine that have been used for past covers and, lo and behold, there was the new title. It's all good, just means I'll be starting off the New Year with an invoice along with my Best Wishes for 2007. Hehehe.

Photo Shoot with Terry

My buddy Terry, from Vancouver, was in Edmonton to visit his family for the holidays so I capitalized on that fact and decided to have some fun doing a shoot featuring his very unique tattoo. And, no the image has not been photoshopped in any way, just old fashioned low-tech creativity.

Seattle Erotic Arts Festival - 2007

Today was the deadline for the 2007 Seattle Erotic Arts Festival. My work has been exhibited at the Festival for the past two years and in fact, anything I've shown there has sold. I wasn't sure that I was going to participate again this year. Partially because of my own attitude, I didn't feel like I had been creating any new work, so I didn't feel that I had anything to submit. But, when I sat down and reviewed the photos I've shot since 2004 (their cut off criteria) I found that I had quite a few images that I was interested in submitting. Whether they are selected for this year's Festival will remain to be seen, each year it is a new panel of jurors. I'd be interested in hearing any feedback from readers here (please post as comments).
Here are the three images I sent in:

Love means letting go ...

“If you love something, set it free; if it comes back, it's yours. If it doesn't, it never was.”

Richard Bach
(author of 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull')

After 14 incredible and joyful months, Dustin and I have decided it is best if we part ways. He remains the love of my life and because of such, I willingly let him go to fulfill his destiny and explore who he is in the world. Although, I would be lying if I said this is not a sad juncture in my life, I respect and admire the man he is and the man he will become.

Thank you Duddin; for the honesty, the love, the laughs, and the memories. I am eternally blessed for the brief time we've had together. You will remain forever in my heart.

If You Can't Beat 'Em ... Annoy 'Em

Tips for Handling Telemarketers:

Three Little Words That Work!
The three little words are: "Hold On, Please..."
Saying this, while putting down your phone and walking off (instead of hanging-up immediately) would make each telemarketing call so much more time-consuming that boiler room sales would grind to a halt. Then when you eventually hear the phone company's "beep-beep-beep" tone, you know it's time to go back and hang up your handset, which has efficiently completed its task. These three little words will help eliminate telephone soliciting.

Do you ever get those annoying phone calls with no one on the other end?

This is a telemarketing technique where a machine makes phone calls and records the time of day when a person answers the phone. This technique is used to determine the best time of day for a "real" sales person to call back and get someone at home. What you can do after answering, if you notice there is no one there, is to immediately start hitting your # button on the phone, 6 or 7 times, as quickly as possible This confuses the machine that dialed the call and it kicks your number out of their system. Gosh, what a shame not to have your name in their system any longer !!!

And have some fun with your junk mail too:

When you get "ads" enclosed with your phone or utility bill, return these "ads" with your payment. Let the sending companies throw their own junk mail away. When you get those "pre-approved" letters in the mail for everything from credit cards to 2nd mortgages and similar type junk, do not throw away the return envelope. Most of these come with postage-paid return envelopes, right? It costs them more than the regular 37 cents postage "IF" and when they receive them back. It costs them nothing if you throw them away! The postage was around 50 cents before the last increase and it is according to the weight. In that case, why not get rid of some of your other junk mail and put it in these cool little, postage-paid return envelopes. Send an ad for your local carpet cleaner to American Express. Send a Domino's Pizza coupon to Scotiabank. If you didn't get anything else that day, then just send them their blank application back! If you want to remain anonymous, just make sure your name isn't on anything you send them. You can even send the envelope back empty if you want to just to keep them guessing! It still costs them 37 cents. The banks and credit card companies are currently getting a lot of their own junk back in the mail, but folks, we need to OVERWHELM them. Let's let them know what it's like to get lots of junk mail, and best of all they're paying for it... twice!

Let's help keep our postal service busy since they are saying that e-mail is cutting into their business profits, and that's why they need to increase postage costs again. You get the idea !

If enough people follow these tips, it will work ---- I have been doing this for years, and I get very little junk mail anymore.

10 Days on Earth

I went to see my friend, Ronnie Burkett, and his Theatre of Marionettes new production of 10 Days on Earth. He is truly a master of his craft, the puppets are exquisite (he creates them himself - a dying artform) and the show itself was remarkable - a story that balanced somewhere between gay camp, children's fairy tales, and a heartwrenching contemporary tragedy. I first saw his shows (Virtue Falls and then Awful Manors) many, many years back and I am delighted that the magic is still there. Ronnie is truly an unique and gifted artist. He finishes his run this Sunday at Theatre Network and then moves on to Vancouver. If you get the chance to see this impressive show, all I can say is; GO!

My Life's Path

Your Life Path Number is 5

Your purpose in life is to live freely and collect experiences. You love life - new adventures, new people, new ideas. You are very curious, and you crave novelty in all forms. You tend to make friends easily, and you enjoy the company of all types of people. In love, you are fun and even a bit intoxicating. But you tend to not stick around for long. You are impulsive and spontaneous - which sometimes leads you to do things you regret. Sometimes you can be overindulgent with food, sex, or drugs. You have many talents, so many that you are often scattered and unfocused.

What Is Your Life Path Number?

Photo Session with Jon

An amazingly hot, young man, Jon has just relocated to Edmonton from the Maritimes. Ironically, he works at Abercrombie & Fitch where he could well be the very type of model the company uses in their advertising.

Proud new parents ...

Here, in the land of many strollers, Dustin and I are happy to announce that we are the proud new parents of:

A 20-inch iMac and an 80G video iPod. Hehehe
(As if you could imagine us raising anything other than someone's blood pressure.)

Bravo!

Thanx to Dustin, and his student discount, we have expanded our cable TV subscription to include the full package. As a result, I was able to watch a very relevant program on Bravo TV tonight: The Art of Nude Modelling. It is a six-part documentary on homoerotic art with a heavy emphasis on photography and included substantial footage from nude sketching classes in NYC at the Leslie Lohman Gallery (where I've exhibited) and also had an interview clip with one of my favorite photographers Evergon, who I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing back in the 90's, and whose work I have hanging in our living room (the shot above & below is a detail of the polaroid transfer taken at night with reflection.)

BASH'd!

Had a wonderful opportunity to photograph the talented writing/acting duo Nathan Cuckow and Chris Craddock in their new play, BASH'd (a gay rap opera), in its closing performance at The Roost.

Not only was I very impressed with the performances but the script, music, and direction were all tight and the subject matter was powerful, moving, and funny.

I'm sure we'll be hearing more about the success of this innovative two-man musical in the future, but until then ... here's a few photos from the show. And if you want to hear some of the music, check out their page at the link above.

Little Superstar

I double-dog dare you to only watch this once!

Albertine (Charbonneau) Mortimer

My grandmother, Albertine (Bertha) was born on October 3, 1900 which would have made her 106 years old today. Born in Hull, Quebec, she was the 13th of 14 children (no need in mentioning that they were Catholic with those numbers) and outlived all her siblings. I am probably related to half the province of Quebec as one of her brothers alone had 10 sons.

My grandmother was the person I was closest to in all my childhood and teen years. I have endless, warm, loving and often funny memories of her. I think in many ways I draw my sense of humor and daring from her. She was the first person to teach me french although she disliked Quebec francophones immensely especially after the rise of the seperatists movement. As she would often say, "They can all go to hell." Once I was older, we had many existential conversations on God, religion and the possibility of an afterlife -- which she firmly did not believe in. Her philosophy was that our hereafter was that the moment we stopped breathing we created room on the planet for another to be born and consume the air and space we had once occupied. A very simple and finite belief.

It has been 25 years now since she died but my connection to her and the relationship we had is as strong today as when she was alive. I miss her and her deep baritone voice immensely. For my own selfish reasons, I sincerely hope there is a place where energies, who once knew one another, go to reunite. Albertine is someone I would definitely like to "see" again.

THE BEST ADVERTISING - money can't buy

All About Ass

Life is all about ass;
either you're covering it,
laughing it off,
kicking it,
kissing it,
busting it,
trying to get a piece of it,
or behaving like one!

This was sent to me by good friend Jennifer Katz, who truly knows what a total ass I can be. Ha ha ha.

Spent the morning having coffee at Naked with my dear friend, Poopsie Too aka Val Brandt (formerly Val Jenkins) who was briefly in town from Vancouver for a wedding. I have the great fortune of being friends with this talented lady who's company and stories are always completely enthralling. There is never a dull moment when you are in the presence of Val. She is truly one the brightest crayons in the box.

white roses

my gift from Dustin

Year One

Celebrated our first year together today.
This is so much more than I could have ever hoped for.
I love you Dustin.


photo by Rob at Buddy's

Men of Talent

Was honored to be included amongst some remarkable photographers on a website, entitled Men of Talent that features the work of erotic photographers that specialize in the male nude.

The site adminstrator, Cindy Graziano, a very sweet lady who ironically happens to be my Canadian neighbour living in Saskatchewan, made the original selection of images to showcase, I added a couple extra images of new work for a total of 10 photos.

Take a look for yourself by clicking here.

A Thousand Thank-yous

Happy to report that Dustin and I completed the AIDS Walk for Life this sunny and warm afternoon and together we raised $1,000 in donations -- all of which were collected too! So I'd personally like to thank: Jenny Ling in Calgary, my parents Frank & Mary, my friends: Ryan, Brad, Denny, Ben, Ruby Slippa, Twiggy, Joel, Charles, Andrew, Michael, Scott, Kumsorntha, Tanya, Godiva, Steven, Kelsey, Darryl, Chelsey, Nathan, my co-workers at Buddy's: Sean, Chris, Joe, Denis, Lizzie and my partners at Starbucks: Stephanie, Julia, Christi, Justine and Amanda, for all making generous pledges.

Not only did we finish in under an hour, we were also total media whores while we were walking (we were right behind the HIV Edmonton banner carriers) so we were photographed by magazines and a couple TV stations. If I find anything online I'll post it.

Beating around "The Bush"

As anyone who knows me, or reads this blog, knows I absolutely, positively, detest GEORGE W. BUSH (read: I hate the fucker) and will happily find time to pass on any condemnations of what history will show as the United States of America's all-time worst President. So for today, here's a little Bush-bashing for you to enjoy:

George W. Bush goes to a primary school to talk to the children in order to drum up some much-needed positive PR. After his talk he asks, "Do you kiddies have any questions?" One little boy puts up his hand and George asks him his name.

"Stanley," responds the little boy.

"And what is your question, Stanley?"

"I have 4 questions: First, why did the USA invade Iraq without the support of the UN? Second, why are you President when Al Gore got more votes? Third, whatever happened to Osama Bin Laden? Fourth, why are we so worried about gay-marriage when 1/2 of all Americans don't have health insurance?"

Just then, the bell rings for recess. George Bush informs the kiddies that they will continue after recess.

When they resume George says, "OK, where were we? Oh, that's right, question time. Who has a question?" Another little boy puts up his hand. George points him out and asks him his name.

"Steve," he responds.

"And what is your question, Steve?"

"Actually, I have 6 questions. First, why did the USA invade Iraq without the support of the UN? Second, why are you President when Al Gore got more votes? Third, whatever happened to Osama Bin Laden? Fourth, why are we so worried about gay marriage when 1/2 of all Americans don't have health insurance? Fifth, why did the recess bell go off 20 minutes early? And sixth, what the heck happened to Stanley?"

And on that note, how can you not like a guy like Hugo Chavez!

UNITED NATIONS - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez took his verbal battle with the United States to the floor of the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, calling President Bush "the devil."

LIFE is good

First and foremost, I am looking for pledges for the AIDS Walk for Life here in Edmonton that I will be participating in on Sunday, September 24th. And there's no excuse for not making a donation/pledge, I can accept cheques, credit cards and I can also have HIV Edmonton bill you regardless of where you live. So dig down in those pockets and make me feel like I'm walking for you too!

On a secondary note, I got promoted at Starbucks yesterday to Shift Supervisor (well, once I complete my interview and training) which is quite funny because I haven't even been there my initial trial 3 months yet. Oh well, it'll mean more dollars, and I work with a great group of people, which is all good. The promotion means a 4 hour per week increase (for a total of 24 hours/week) so that'll work out ok too.

I'm enrolling in a Photoshop (specifically for photographers) class at NAIT starting next Wednesday for 5 weeks - it'll be the first classes I've taken since finishing college many years ago, so I'm quite excited. Plus it's all software stuff I've learned myself so it'll be good for me to hear how a professional does it and what tricks they have up their collective sleeves.

Speaking of school, I went to Grant MacEwan College (which is just at the end of the street from our apartment) with Dustin yesterday and we joined their Sports and Wellness Centre. Since I'm alumni it was very reasonable, and now I can get back to the gym and into better shape, since I haven't really been since I left Sherwood Park in May.

I figure I might as well start doing some things for myself instead of just feeling stranded here in Edmonton like I'm missing out on everything (read: life back in NYC).

Five Years Ago Today - 9/11

Five years ago today, I awoke to a phone call from my parents, back home in Edmonton, checking that I was somehow safe from planes and falling buildings in NYC. The ensuing 48 hours, sitting glued to my television set, were the most emotional, helpless, and traumatic moments of my life. I was able to tear myself away briefly to go up on my apartment rooftop in Harlem, some 8 - 10 miles away, and shoot off this one photo. That was all I could bring myself to take.



I will never go see movies like United 93 or World Trade Center, the experience to this day is still too raw. Tears, sorrow and grief remain just below the surface.

The only footage I have been able to watch to date, was the extremely provocative "The Falling Man" which will have an encore broadcast tonight on CBC Newsworld. This show perhaps best encapsulates the profound human tragedy that occured during that most photographed day in history.

A tribute to Willi Ninja

I didn't know Willi Ninja all that well but our paths crossed on numerous occasions and I had the opportunity to photograph him (the above photo was taken in June 2006 at the club Love just before he was hospitalized) frequently in his natural habitat -- the nightclubs of NYC. Sadly, he died a few days ago on September 2nd, and I wanted to pay tribute to one of the true legends of vogueing who I first saw on Malcolm McClaren's video "Deep in Vogue" a song that I loved dearly. I will miss the snap of Willi's fan and the fierceness of his presence.

Deep in Vogue
This has got to be a special tribute to the houses of New York
Le Beija, Extravaganza, Magnifique, St. Laurent, Omni, Ebony, Dupree.
In my black tights just throwing shade
Doing this dance that some queen made
I remember the first time I saw it,
Told my brother to put me up on it,
It wasn't easy no 1, 2, 3
It takes a long time to learn to be free
But here I am Vogueing pretty
In some club deep in this city
Deep in Vogue, Deep in Vogue
Imagine runway modeling, in freeze frame
At the ball that's what they call Vogueing
Vogueing is a challenge dance
Instead of fighting you take it out on the dance floor
10!, 10!, 10!, 10!, 10!, 10!, are there anymore!
Sometimes on a legendary night
Like the closing of the Garage
When the crowd is calling down the spirits
Listen, and you will hear all the houses that walked there before
Deep in Vogue, Deep in Vogue
The House of Extravaganza the House of Dupree
Who the hell are they?
They're nobody, except when they're in that little ballroom

Malcolm Mclaren - Deep in Vogue

featuring the legendary Willi Ninja