My staggering realization: The world could be coming to an end this very instant and I wouldn’t even know it. While enjoying my now-daily breakfast of double scrambled egg whites, three hard-boiled eggs and two broiled tomatoes, it’s possible that the whole Eastern seaboard could simply drop into the ocean, leaving the United States looking something like a cross between Hitchcock’s silhouette and a Cheeto.

It isn’t until the second full week at sea that you realize living on a looped stream of CNN, cliche gay-themed movies and condensed New York Times news sheets have the ability to not only alter reality, but keep you about as well informed as a Gitmo detainee… Add in some carb overloading from the typical Asian diet and you’ve got a recipe for informational disaster. Quickly you begin to understand how celebrities lose touch with reality when everything around them is cannibalized for their own protection- There’s a fine line between a functional member of society and caged import panda at the National Zoo.

For those who haven’t been keeping up with me through Twitter or the photoblog, I’ve spent the last two weeks sailing through Southeast Asia (Hong Kong-Vietnam-Thailand-Singapore) with Atlantis Cruises. While I’ve taken a lot of time on cruise ships in the past, it’s rare for me to do something ‘gay’ specialized like this particular trip . Outside of a couple of other RSVP Cruises, this is my first Atlantis trip… And it’s been interesting. Not exactly what I expected from what friends have told me, but depending on your expectation, it’s a fun way to spend 10 days on the sea.

Let me sat that if you haven’t had the chance to explore a city like Hong Kong, it’s really one of those ‘must see before you croak’ cities- that is, if you can stomach the 15-hour flight. It’s got the glitz and mass consumerism of Las Vegas, the well-kept public green spaces of the deep South and the unwavering hospitality of the Midwest. Hong Kong really offers something for everyone, even still being one of the most expensive cities in the world. Two of my favorites things to do if you’re looking to just kill time are finding private karaoke pods (where you can rock-out in private with a killer sound-system and special effect lighting) and CD recording booths, where for a price, you can re-record your favorite songs, have them properly (and quickly) mixed and buy discs to torture your friends with. You might not have the vocal range of Mariah Carey, but thanks to Autotune, you do now.

If you’re a fan of Pho (noodle soup) like I am, you can always eat on the cheap, opting for just about any kind of meat/noodle combination. Dim sum is also an inexpensive way to fill up. I really think the best part of Asia is getting to experience actual cuisine versus the crap most Americans have come to accept as ‘authentic.’ Sure, some of it looks like Nicole Kidman’s surgical castoff, but give it a shot: It’s pretty damned good. Also, what’s most interesting about eating in Asia is that street food is usually the best way to judge what locals eat and consider the best of the region. In Bangkok, it’s not only safe to eat on the street, but actually better than most of the local-cuisine sit down restaurants: Sure, you might be getting ‘baby tiger’ (ie, dog), but at least you know you’re getting the most fresh dog available. From pound-to-plate in one day flat… Just ignore any collar you might get in the curry.

Hey, don’t judge me… After eating cat tacos in Mexico City, poisonous blow fish in Tokyo and what I assumed was horse in Paris, I find that variety is definitely the spice of life. I’m basically the Dick Cheney of cuisine: I condone all forms of kitchen-based torture as long as I don’t actually have to do any of the dirty work. Bon appetite!

Spending two weeks on a small ship (600 pax) full of gay men can sometimes compare to Chinese water torture, feeling that constant homosexual drip of bass line from songs that haven’t been popular since 1995. Thankfully keeping some sense of sanity has been pretty simple, as long as I know I’ve got another book to read or something to keep me busy that doesn’t involve drag queens, dance music or yet another Tea dance. What the hell is a ‘Tea Dance’ anyway? It sounds like a dance party for gay British men.

Some thoughts for the Atlantis folks (who, yes, are reading) to ponder for future cruises:

* The cardinal rule of business- other than ABC (always be closing)- is never cater to a dying audience. What might have worked for Atlantis customers when they first started cruising in the early ’90s will not work now, especially considering the more sophisticated tastes of today’s younger gay consumer and their ability to spend money. You simply cannot offer one ultra-campy activity after another and expect to attract a younger, next-generation customer. It’s not going to happen.

* Along the camp line, today’s gay consumer expects solid entertainment for their dollar that doesn’t hark back to the days of Stonewall, Abbey Lane drag and yet another afternoon Tea Dance with some no-name DJ that no one really cares about anyway. News Flash: The circuit scene is dead, as is name-recognition for guys who mix the stuff. Circuit parties are now squarely in the category of drugged-out, dragged-through and just plain passe. The only thing that makes The White Party white anymore is the abundance of cocaine and ketamine filtering through the crowd. Today’s generation of gay men seem to want to rise above this community stereotype of drugs, dancing and parties.

* Offer a little something for everyone: You don’t have to cut out the late-night dance parties and drag entertainment like Miss Richfield 1981, but you do need to offer more for folks who don’t want to bake all day on the pool deck and get hammered all night. Suggestions include sociopolitical panel discussions, guest speakers, targeted trivia games, reality show-like competitions, karaoke, tech/gadget talks, cuisine classes. There’s so much out there that’s not being explored. It can’t be an issue of cost, as most of these suggestions involve little overhead, so it seems to me that Atlantis has simply become complacent. That’s bad: Always be moving forward.

* What will cost them is attracting more attractive entertainment options. On this cruise itinerary, I’ve seen two separate drag acts, one gay comedian, a no-name gay ‘Broadway’ cabaret-style singer and numerous bad piano bar pianists that were far too campy/lazy to bother name-checking. It was just a sad offering that never attracted a full house at any event and only seemed to appeal to older gay men who don’t know they’re listening to Cole Porter and Gershwin songs being mercilessly butchered over a public address system. I don’t expect Atlantis to be able to attract talent along the lines of Lady Gaga or even B-listers like Adam Lambert
(although, give his ‘career’ another 6 months and we’ll see), but if Rosie O’Donnell can make a few calls to get Liza Minnelli, Lilias White or Billy Porter to perform on her ship, then it seems that someone working the entertainment department at Atlantis is dropping the ball. Instead of more drag, why not replace with illusion acts that actually do vocal impersonation as well as the visual. I can name a dozen performers out there today who not only look like Cher, Bette Midler, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Britney Spears and others, but also sound and move like them as well. To me, that kind of talent is much more impressive than schlepping yet another tired drag act that’s more at home in a gay bar from 1981 than a very different year 2010. Instead of getting some Broadway chorus boy who’s not working and has the stage presence of toothpaste, why not pick up the phone and see what true professionals are doing- Sutton Foster is not currently doing a show and neither is Linda Eder: Those are two incredibly talented vocalists who could easily fill a room for Atlantis.

Overall, it’s obvious that Atlantis tries to go above and beyond to keep their cruisers happy: That’s no easy task when you’re dealing with a packed ship full of gay guys. We can be picky, apprehensive, closed-minded and elitist. We want the best, but aren’t always willing to pay for it (human nature, I suppose). All a company like Atlantis can do is hope to appeal to a wide demographic without alienating current and future clients. It’s obvious by their upcoming cruises that Atlantis continues to go for for broad appeal (massive ships mixed with more specialized tall ships and yacht-like smaller vessels) with their 2011 line-up. Perhaps another sailing with them is in order when they charter the largest ship in the world, The Allure of the Seas, for a Caribbean sailing next year. We’ll see. *wink*

Watching Clooney in this year’s ‘Up In The Air’ on my way from Singapore to Tokyo, I found it funny how ‘inside’ some frequent fliers claimed the film was. It’s not that it wasn’t somewhat realistic when it came to the TSA, profiling fellow travelers to quick-step your airport experience and a general infomercial for one of the greatest airlines flying (American), but overall, it felt a little, well, contrived.

I fly 350,000+ a year- That’s a whole lot more than Clooney’s ‘Ryan Bingham’ character. The 10 million mile mark that Bingham has as his goal is also somewhat murky, as he’s not just earning those as BIS (Butt-in-Seat), but through credit card co-branding, honors programs and, likely SkyMall purchases. Those not only don’t count as elite miles, but they simply aren’t road-warrior miles to folks like me who do all 350,000+ miles a year in actual aircraft. It’s a nice thought that 10 million total miles would get someone lifetime executive platinum status with American, but I don’t think they’d let someone in that easily. It seems far too easy to reach that point today with 200% mileage bonuses, dining rewards, shopping miles and other ways to get around actually having to FLY to elite status.

Elite, but laid-back

Overall, that’s my biggest gripe with the new breed of elite traveler: Most of them simply apply into the program through a credit card, getting the perks without any of the real work (or appreciation for the time spent). In the beginning of traveling quite a bit, I had spent years as top-tier with Continental (at the time, a platinum with ‘*’ status) and had a total of about 3 million miles with them. I eventually moved to American after being enticed by their higher levels of status, international upgrades and newer business-class seating. My total mileage with AA is now somewhere around 5 million miles, which should keep me at platinum status for the rest of my life.

For my next trick, I’m hoping that AA will offer a lifetime Admirals Club membership, as it’s what I ended up doing with Continental’s Presidents Club and it’s been quite worth the money spent.

… And speaking of airlines, taking this trip to Asia gave me the opportunity to experience truly great flights with both Cathay Pacific and JAL. Main talking points: Perfectly comfortable seating, a crew who goes above and beyond and AVOD that’s advanced, well-maintained and actually entertaining. Why is it so tough for American-based airlines to see this and adapt? In business, if you’re not moving forward, you’re dying. While it’s now a fact of life that airlines are going to nickle & dime you to death, the very least they can do is continue it with a smile on their face. Anyone who’s flown Delta/Northwest since their merger knows the value of an honest smile considering most of their employees wear a disgruntled frown… And I don’t blame them. Overall, it’s just a bad recipe for business: Take one cup failing airline, combine it with a dash of an even worse airline, let simmer for 45 minutes with DOT approval and you’ve still got one gigantically shitty way to travel. Nothing’s getting better through these mergers and all we’re really getting are monopolistic business practices, less ways to redeem frequent flier mileage and ‘codeshare’ flights between two airlines that can’t actually communicate with each other.

We watch while US airlines plead poverty, lose millions- sometimes billions- and play the bankruptcy game: It’s a broken system that’s been broken long before government regulation began. The airlines allowed commercial travel to become, well, a little too commercial and now they’re paying dearly for it: Making it possible for a family of 5 to travel to Disneyworld for under $200/person may have played well with the public, but it was a loss leader that airlines just couldn’t recover from. In the meantime, the general public grew used to cheap coast-to-coast flights, not realizing that flying should likely be a privilege and not a right. What was a big deal in the ‘60s and ‘70s was now relegated to just another form of mass transit.

Right now, I’m already back on the road, turned around to Sydney, Australia for a four day gig and back in the States for a day before going to Key West for some 7-day downtime. It’s been nearly a 80k mile month for travel and, while loads of fun, I’m dragging ass a little. I’m looking forward to getting my body clock back into normalcy in Key West with a little gym, a little Bikram yoga and a lot of bumming around. Look for a new edition of Eye Candy next on the 15mm agenda and, most importantly, a total redesign of both BenjaminNicholas.com and 15MinutesMore.com in the next month. I’ve been working with my web designer on some new things and I think much like the original BN.com changed the way people look at escort websites, this new design will really bring something new to the table. I’m excited about it (and hope y’all are too). Lots of fun BN-centric stuff in the pipeline and coming soon.

Love the comments on my Twitter and Photoblog sites.
Keep them coming guys. Always appreciate knowing I’ve got readers out there, especially the ones who talk-back now and then. For those who haven’t checked in on my Google Photo Gallery in awhile, I did a massive update to all folders with travel pics and general nonsense that I snap on my blackberry day-to-day. Enjoy.

From down-unda,

BN

15 Minutes… And Benjamin Nicholas… will be on holiday through 4/10/2010. A new edition will be worked on while in Asia and uploaded when I’m back in the States, but do keep an eye on my continually updated TWITTER feed, as well as the Photoblog. I should be keeping up on those daily, as long as everything remains copacetic between me, my wireless company and my device. We’ll see.

Email return will temporarily be slowed to a US Post Office-like operation, but rest assure that if I can snag a quick wifi connection while in port, I’ll be replying with cat-like speed and reflex. Those of you who have access to my personal email addresses, I’ve been told that communication should be no problemo. Email away! I’ll get them (on Asian time) and respond as soon as I can.

Thanks much folks for your patience. Until next time,

BN

Can I start this entry off with a total, shameless, informative plug for DirecTV?

After suffering through cable for years, feeling like I was in a continuous battle to keep my rate low, I finally gave up and called DTV about a year ago. They were running some incredible promos for new customers and if I signed up underneath a friend of mine who already had the service, we’d both get $10/off a month extra for a year. I scheduled the tech to come out for the install and was up and running less than a few days later. Bada-bing, bada-boom.

Sure, there was some re-learning involved: Big differences in user interface, a more featured remote control, many more options for customizing your video/audio stream through the DirecTV receiver, etc. I opted to hook all of my receivers up to my in-home wireless network so that I could enjoy pay-per-view, firmware upgrades, on-demand movies and multi-room viewing, which allows you to record a program on one receiver, but watch it on any other receiver in the house. At the end of the day, this system gives me more HD channels, better picture/audio, a greater channel line-up and truly state of the art technology. What’s best: It’s more than $50 less than what I was paying with Time Warner Cable.

What I’m really psyched about is that in the next few months, DirecTV is adding over 200 new HD channels and will be the first programming provider to offer real time 3-D channels. It could be totally tank, but it’s interesting that they’re willing to take the risk on something so popular ‘in the now.’

If you’re on the fence about leaving cable (or the tech-bungled UVERSE), consider this your rally cry and take some time to look into either DirecTV or Dish Network.

Got in a week of sun, Speedos and singing (?) in Key West this past week. I kept friendly company with the one and only Randy Roberts, spending the days by the pool attempting to get some color into this Irish skin, while spending nights enjoying stellar voices at The Keys. In truth, it was a relaxed trip for such a busy part of the season (spring break) and I expected much more drunken stupidity from the college contingent. Luckily, they were pretty respectful and provided for some hot eye candy when I went for runs on Smathers Beach.

Seriously, what the hell are college guys taking now to get muscle like this?

College guys now, whether in sports or not, are lean, ripped and sometimes just plain stacked. Beautiful bodies. It appears as if the Abercombie-ization of America is complete. Yeah, a lot of us in college looked like this thanks to playing sports (for me, it was soccer), but what I saw in Key West was just shirtless guy-after-guy with perfect V-shaped torsos, stacked stomachs of abs and well-defined shoulders. Like a lot of straight guys I know, I saw some stick-legs paired with those great upper-bodies, but for the most part, it seemed that the 19-23 age group is really taking gym time serious now. It was my eye candy section come to life and walking down the street around me.

I toddled from my usual gym in Key West to Iron Bodies on Truman Ave, where it’s kosher to lift shirtless. The gym is old school in every way, with rusted out equipment, mismatched dumbells and no AC, but it’s THE place to hit if you’re wanting a no-nonsense workout. While I won’t jump ship totally, I do head there when my routine is getting stagnant and I’m in the mood for some competitive edge with the other young (often shirtless) guys who lift there.

… And when the gym bores the hell out of me, I head to Bikram yoga. Just walking around the island on a summer day can feel like a usual Bikram class, so they crank up the heat factor in the studio using quartz wall heaters. It’s blazing in there, but being able to burn 1500 calories plus a class is an amazing thing. Best of all, the guys all usually come to class in nothing but tiny running shorts or speedo-cut swim gear.

In getting back to Manhattan recently, I had the chance to see two new talked-about plays, getting away from the musical scene this trip, but thoroughly enjoying both of these productions: ‘A Behanding in Spokane’ and ‘Looped.’

Looped- starring Valerie Harper- at first seems like any of the other one-woman tribute shows to Tallulah Bankhead that have been written in the past 25 years: Harper slurs her way around the stage, drink-in-hand, smoking like a chimney and wise-cracking every other line. What makes Looped very different is the introduction of two other characters. The whole plot revolves around Bankhead having to go into a sound recording studio to capture one last ‘loop’ of audio that was missed during live shooting. Something that should be so simple ends up being incredibly difficult thanks to Bankhead getting progressively more drunk throughout the session, leaving both the sound engineer and the movie’s editor to, somehow, someway get the job done. It’s a one-note premise for a play, but thanks to three very capable actors, it’s brilliant.

Harper, drunk and loving it.

Many reviews of this show have mentioned enjoying the first act much more than the second, but I totally disagree: I found the first act funny, but entirely too cliche. Harper does an incredible job of stepping into some horribly large character shoes with Bankhead, but her moment to truly shine as an actress comes in the second act- There are some beautifully transcendent moments between the editor and Bankhead. Harper shows a wide range of emotion in this play and I’d be shocked if she didn’t take the Tony award. She certainly deserves it.

A Behanding in Spokane is a totally different animal- Written by acclaimed playwright Martin McDonagh, who also wrote The Pillowman (on Broadway a few seasons ago), this is a story that can’t quite decide whether it’s a slapstick comedy, a humanistic drama or a thriller. It’s about a man who’s spent the last 40 year
s of his life searching for his severed hand from a childhood accident. Did I also mention that that man is played by Christopher ‘More Cow-Bell’ Walken?

Walken, only has to use half-as-much Purell as a normal person

Yeah, it’s a strange play that just keeps getting stranger. It verges on absurdest at times, but there’s always that hint of danger than keeps Behanding squarely reality based.

The script seems to have been written especially for Walken, who’s vocal mannerisms fit the character perfectly- So much so, that by the end of the play, you simply can’t imagine anyone else right for that role. His supporting cast is serviceable, with the real acting standout being Sam Rockwell (as a hotel front desk employee). The play itself felt a little half-baked, almost as if the playwright was racing to finish it for opening previews, and could stand some additional tweaking through the process.

What struck me as most strange was how ‘ready’ some audience members were to laugh at this show, seemingly beginning the drawn-out chuckle long before the punch-line landed. To me, that reeks of the producers papering an audience. ‘Papering’ a crowd ensures a visual sell-out, even if the theatre has only sold to 50% capacity. Several papering services around the city provide plays and musicals with enthusiastic audience members at cut-rate ticket prices ($20 or so). If you’ve got the flexibility and time, I highly recommend applying for one of these spots, as it’s a better deal than joining TDF (the Theatre Development Fund) and you often times get to see some great, albeit not popular, shows.

No trip to the city is complete without a few bowls of braised-beef noodle soup at Ollies on Broadway/70th: Highly recommended and open late. I’m bummed that Apple just opened a monstrous new store next to them, lighting up the whole neighborhood to daytime-like levels at night and generally just being the capitalist-scum we all know they are. If you do go for soup, please resist the urge to go into that blasted place. It’s just so tacky.

Totally craptastic experience for breakfast one day and it was my own damned fault for trying something unknown, but more importantly, something near Times Square. Anyone ever felt the wrath of Ellen’s Stardust Diner? I have now and I’ve never before eaten a full breakfast so quickly in my life: 12 minutes flat, including coffee. Here’s why…

Show tunes sung this loudly at 10am should be banned in the same way that San Franciscans get a foam in their panties over the legality of foie gras and plastic grocery bags. This diner was created so that tourists from Nebraska could go back home with pictures of their ‘wild times’ while visiting ‘The Big Apple.’ What’s ultimately sad is that Ellen’s Stardust Diner is so much more worse than just simple campy vocal vamping… It was an out-and-out gay pride parade of never-will-work-on-Broadway ‘singers’ who blasted cheap-sounding MIDI tracks that were way, way out of their voice range. The one thing that I can now say with absolution is that I would never wish my greatest enemy the same home-fry eating experience there that I did: Having to endure a flamingly bad homosexual version of ‘No Good Deed’ from Wicked (performed in its original female key). If I were someone famous, I would have thought I was being Punk’d.

Bell, ridiculously talented.

The true highlight though of this trip to New York was getting a chance to see Josh Bell play Carnegie Hall from a perfect, back-orchestra, center seat. Even if you aren’t a fan of classical music, the experience of seeing and hearing one of the most talented violin virtuosos alive today is unmatched- Add in being at Carnegie, and you’re in for a thrilling program. Bell’s ability to make even the most difficult pieces look effortless is stunning. While being a relative newbie to watching Bell perform, it’s clear that he’s one of the more athletic musicians while on-stage, changing directions frequently, working various levels with his Strad and sweating like a whore in church.

While it’s rare to hear him play it live, I do like Bell’s interpretation on West Side Story (on CD) and listening to him ‘slum it’ a little on his Gershwin album. A friend of mine who’s also a fan of his, let me know how incredible Bell can be when he fiddles as well. That’s something I’ve never seen him do live, but I imagine it’s quite a treat.

So, it’s now come down to Chriss Angel directly poking fun at the gay community in his Las Vegas show not once, but twice now. Why is it that all firmly closeted, tranny-hiring, botox conscious guys with short man-syndrome seem to think that the ‘doth protest too much’ approach is the way to look straight? Las Vegas can be incredibly inclusive within the entertainment industry and I’ve spent my fair share of time with enough headliners to know some of the very best gossip- I’d think it would be in Angel’s best interest to stick to the script and keep his barely believable sideshow antics to a minimum. He’s already lost his gay following… How long before Cirque goes too?

Tony Trapp and The Male Nude have just unveiled a rather ambitious new web design and a fantastic new flash-based real time chat room. I’ve had a chance to sneak a peek at it and the software is solid, easy to use and likely to bridge the gap that a traditional message center cannot. Check out the fruits of his labor now by clicking here. Also, if you’ve got a vouyer streak in you, there’s free video chat as well.

Speedos are once again back in the limelight thanks to a UH-Manoa student who was caught jerkin’ the gherkin after-hours in University classrooms from videos he posted on Xtube. While I’m all for extreme exhibitionism, I think this kid
went a little too far and is now backtracking anyway possible to justify his bad choices. He now says they were ‘audition’ films for getting into gay porn. To me, that doesn’t excuse the rather nasty things he left behind for other students and professors to deal with… If memory serves me correct, first-amendment rights don’t extend to creating a bio-hazard.

As for his budding porn career: I hope he jumps on his 15 minutes quickly, as aside from a decent-sized cock, his face and body aren’t anything that marketable. Methinks it’s all a downhill ride from here for this Speedo kid.

So, The Hookies happened without much fanfare and it seems another year goes by in the Rentboy-sponsored ‘contest’ that’s only open for FOR (Friends of Rentboy) or porn-folks who have absolutely no solid reviews or reputations as anything but hustlers. I suppose that’s what one expects from an award called ‘The Hookie.’ I’m also at odds with who they chose to host the event, as Raven was a replacement in the Las Vegas company of Zumanity and never matched the talent or energy of Joey Arias (the original cast’s host). It just all feels so… Second class.

Just a heads up to those participating in this year’s AIDS cycle: If you’re going to whore around at night, all the while under the guise of ‘finding a cure,’ you might want to choose sex partners with tighter lips. It’s beyond me how someone can participate in something amazing like this while on the flip-side offering video of themselves fucking and having other guys swallow cum on their website. It’s more than hypocritical, it’s just tacky. If you choose to donate to a cause, that’s fine and commendable, but do it with pure heart- not just as a PR tool.

This image about sums up my fear regarding gay cruises

Later this month I’m spending a couple of weeks going from Hong Kong to Singapore on one of Atlantis’s cruises and am wondering if anyone else out there is booked to go? I’m a little frightened at the announcement of the entertainment on the ship (two drag queens, no headliner). Does anyone happen to have any words of advice for this particular cruise or/or what to expect. Atlantis did this same iten last year and from the chatter on various message boards, it seemed split down the middle on those who liked it and those who hated it. Shoot me an email.

Let’s close down this edition with a plethora of EYE CANDY. I’m backlogged on getting this stuff out there and will work on EC updates more frequently now. Literally, I’ve got over 1000 images just waiting to go. It sometimes takes my servers a while to process all of the images, but click the link below and it should get the party started pretty quickly. Just remember to hit the BACK button when you’re done and you’ll head right back here to 15mm…

EC6.swf

BN

Let’s start things off with a reader request. I’ve been meaning to get this posted up, so in the tradition of Greydon Carter and Vanity Fair Magazine’s ‘My Stuff,’ here’s a quick look at a little of what makes me tick:

Benjamin Nicholas ‘My Stuff’

This is where I want my hair again. Probably another 3-4 months.

Another edition of 15mm and another Las Vegas adventure to share: I spent the last couple weeks exploring the new City Center project recently opened in Las Vegas and came away not thrilled, but looking forward to what it will offer as a whole when it’s 100% complete. Admittedly, it’s beautiful design (if not a little antiseptic). The three current hotels that are open for business within City Center are Aria (the largest hotel, located in the back of the complex), Vdara (a mixed condo-hotel project that’s keen on being ‘green’ and eco-friendly) and The Mandarin Oriental (where I stayed).

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx6k9vA2-dE]

I was able to tour a couple of the Sky-Suite rooms at Aria during my visit, getting a feel for the contemporary vibe of Aria, but not understanding the serious lack of views (from large, unwashed windows), service (does anyone at MGM actually smile?) and overall design. It’s like they wanted to go hip & cool, but they ran out of money midway through construction. What it really felt like was an upper-level room at a Trump property: Completely bland with little personality and in need of a few cocktails.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd0H9-qj4j0]

Vdara wasn’t much more impressive, with small room layouts, appliances that didn’t work in the room and a tub/shower/toilet combo that somewhat frightened me. The high point of Vdara is complimentary, VERY fast wireless internet and that it’s a totally smoke-free property.

The Mandarin Oriental was a whole different ballgame: Mandarin’s are in the same league as Peninsula and Jumeriah properties. It’s a chance to experience true Asian service quality while enjoying the insanity of the strip just outside. As one of Vegas’s few non-gaming hotels, Mandarin is a haven of peace, quiet and solitude… So basically, if you’re looking for that typical clanging of slot machines, yelling from the craps pit and dodging large groups of foreign tourists, this isn’t the place for you. It’s probably the first full-service hotel on the strip that I would truly consider ‘away from it all’ and peaceful.

I smile at the current web discussions regarding escorting and rate structure, considering the state of the economy. It’s odd that some guys think the high-end business has all but dried up and that everyone is willing to negotiate way down just to get work. Let me put the lid on that myth folks: People still have money- lots of it- and they’re spending it as if nothing is wrong with the world. The funny thing about money is that no matter how much you think you have, there’s always someone out there who’s got more… A lot more.

Got an email the other day from a San Francisco-based
escort who was going to be in San Antonio and wanted to get together ‘for coffee.’ Now, don’t get me wrong. I love caffeine as much as the next guy, but based on what I know of this escort, it’s just his way of saying ‘let’s fuck’ without sounding like a slut.

So, I said no. No thanks, actually, but no less of a no in this case. It’s not that I’m anti-sex outside of escorting, but there’s just something unsavory about escorts who are constantly on the hunt for sex with other working guys outside of the office. Even with protection- and, trust me, there are many ‘name’ escorts out there who don’t play safe, both professionally and in private- there’s still calculated risk. Any number of STDs can be transmitted, some you won’t ever recover from, even if you wear a condom. Why in the world would I want to jeopardize my good health, my insurance policy and my client’s well-being for a quick fuck with someone I know nothing about?

Honestly, it’s almost as insipid as allowing a client to film your encounters for his ‘private collection.’ Trust me kids: Gay men can have intolerable ego at play and if you’re a hot (or, what he considers hot) young guy, the vids will somehow, some way, see the light of day. That’s a guarantee. Don’t be dumb.

… And speaking of being a total slut, it reminds me of my more promiscuous days and one of my favorite sex stories. It was one of the few times I knowingly hooked up with two other guys for a group session that ended up being one of the hottest nights of sex (well, okay, hardcore fucking) I’ve ever had.

One guy was insanely tall. Taller than me. Around 6‘4“, perfect alabaster skin tone and built like a brick wall (230lbs- worked out). I got into the room and immediately thought based on his height and muscle that both my friend and I would end up with our asses in the air at some point during the night. I was dead wrong: The guy turns out to be massive bottom, as was my friend, so I ended up doing a quiet happy dance while fucking the living hell out of them both, back and forth, for almost 4 hours. The other guy, my friend, was the perfect bottom, had done porn before and came prepped and ready to play. He’s about 6′ tall, thin, swimmer’s build. Super tanned, smooth skin. The hottest part of watching this whole scene happen was the difference in our respective coloring. Super white-white skin up against a perfectly tanned, golden-bronze. He’s also the kind of guy who gets a little cock crazy, doesn’t want a lot of foreplay and prefers his top to just unzip and slam it in until he (or you) is ready to squirt. You’ve got to really expertly edge him or the hot bottom you were looking forward to fucking all night long ends up popping far too quickly. Not cool.

So, after a few hours of sex- stopping, restarting, talking, laughing- and more fucking, I was ready to get the show on the road: The cumshot ended up being insane and I shot both of them in the face with a couple of good ropy streams of nut. One of the hottest nights of sex I’ve had (and the first time I’ve shared the story with anyone since it happened).

Just one of many good memories I have. Maybe there will be more to come in future postings: It’s been awhile since I’ve really gotten raunchy around here. Perhaps the place could use a little more scandal on the walls.

*wink*

Now, it’s back to the pool to continue work on a base tan. Here in Key West until the weekend, then jumping back over the Atlantic for some time in Europe and the end of the month will be on an Atlantis cruise from Hong Kong to Singapore. Keep an eye on the photoblog and Twitter for the latest on what I’m up to and always feel free to shoot me an email if you’ve got suggestions, comments or anything to say. Much appreciated guys.

BN

My sincere apologies for not keeping in-touch and writing more, but spending this week in the beachy confines of Key West should inspire some prose of a highly sexual (or at least shirtless) nature. Spring Break is upon the island, meaning loads of hot, ‘straight,’ muscular guys walking around in various states of undress… Yes, the very same straight guys who post ads on Craigslist Key West every night looking to hook up while their girlfriends are too drunk at Louie’s Backyard to notice.

Whether you agree or disagree, it’s a hedonistic spot. What’s best is that you can easily just observe or partake fully, depending on your demeanor.

Last night is somewhat of a blur. It’s been awhile since doing the ‘no eating, more drinking’ routine, but thanks to friends down here, I made it home safe and had a great time. Lucky for me, I ended up in my own bed this morning, alone and fully clothed. The island is far too small for me to be that dastardly on my first night in town.

I’m saving the barefoot, shirtless (and more) debauchery for tonight

Just gotta say: WTF Oscars? You give it to Bullock? Great acceptance speech Sandy, but this was Meryl’s year. Boo.

More to come this week. Full 15mm posting, as well as new editions of Eye Candy. I’m constantly updating my TWITTER feed, as well as my real-time photoblog. While you’re waiting and if you’ve seen every pic I’ve got to offer, check out this new website I stumbled across recently…

http://www.ChatRoulette.com

It’s a roulette wheel of video chat with people from all over the world. Interesting concept and if you’ve got a speedy internet connection, it’s a fun way to waste a whole lot of time. Loads of hot Brazilian guys on there (although it’s not specifically a sex site). Fun way to meet people. Check it out.

I’m on the road to writing a new edition of 15mm, but for now am posting up some video of yours truly, as well as some new pics below. Look for a ‘favorite things’ list (ala, Vanity Fair magazine) of mine in the next posting that details some of my workout supplements, skincare, etc. You ask- I provide.

This week I’m enjoying the shirtless/barefoot lifestyle that is Key West and then onto New Orleans for a couple of insanity days at Mardi Gras… New York later in the month and then gearing up for an Atlantis cruise from Hong Kong. While I’m thankful for the continued full schedule, it’s ambitious to say the least. Such is my (great) life. You get what you give- You give what you get. In addition, don’t forget to bookmark my Twitter page, as well as my constantly updated travel/photoblog, both linked on the left-hand menu. There’s a lot of crazy crap in this world and I simply attempt to photo-chronicle as much of it as possible.

I’m sure to get a decent amount of heat over some of these new pics: Anonymous guys who have nothing better to do than tear people down from their lifeless cubicles. Luckily, I’m quite happy with how my ‘look’ is progressing… And based on having a schedule that’s currently full at nearly three months in advance, it seems that there are many others out there who are as well.

To other guys out there in this industry, know that the best defense is to simply walk away from those who drag you down and win-out by doing well. Very well. It makes the success that much sweeter.

BN

I’m working on a new edition of 15mm over the next few days, but in the meantime am now posting some new Eye Candy. Enjoy the show!

Click below on the EC logo:

EC4.swf

I’m currently in-residence at Mandarin Oriental in Las Vegas, there for a few days and then headed to the Miss America finals the following weekend (details to follow, long story). And for those who happen to wonder, I plan on rooting for Miss Virginia… She’s always a bridesmaid, never the bride. Those Texas girls always make Top 10. I want a Yankee up there this year.

*wink*

BN

More specifically, I’m a male escort with a problem.

It’s a problem that’s put me in a variety of wacky situations, strange positions and foreign environments: Seeing as I’m still here to tell the tale, it’s not as if it’s something nefarious and dark. It’s actually a problem that just involves one little word…

No. Nyet. Nay. Nao. Naheen… Saying it when it comes to my schedule has always been tough and my true resolution for 2010 will be to take more time for myself, my dogs and my personal social skills. This year’s tally for commercial travel on the airlines is 345,000 BIS miles (Butt In Seat, that is). While having a personal mileage competition with George Clooney’s character in ‘Up In The Air’ is all well and good, it doesn’t allow much time at home to foster a healthy group of friends or regularly fall asleep with your pups (or a boyfriend, for that matter). Actually, it’s just about enough time to write another check for your housekeeper, make sure your luggage is in good shape and re-wash what you need for your next trip.

Sure, it’s glamorous for awhile, leading a jet-set life, but after 7 years you begin to feel the bitch slap of Tokyo’s time zone change a whole lot more than you used to. It doesn’t just sting anymore… It’s like a 300lb gorilla sitting on your chest. Excedrin doesn’t make a formula strong enough for this kind of stuff.

Admittedly, in the times I’m allowed, flying private is truly a whole other experience: No TSA, you go when you want, a cabin crew of folks who truly appear happy to be there and seats (or sometime beds) that rival ANY commercial setup. Imagine walking onto a BBJ (Boeing Business Jet), sitting down for dinner, having a drink and then going to your private bedroom to sleep all the way across the Atlantic. It’s absolutely stunning… and stunningly expensive.

So, all summed up, this year will be my year for a little more normalcy. From the looks of my current schedule, I don’t think that’ll happen until mid-May. No complaints at having a full schedule here, but definitely looking forward to some ‘me’ time soon.

I ended up spending my holidays this year in Key West, deciding somewhat against my will (and better judgment) to forget the family and spend my days enjoying the 80-degree sunshine. Over the last year especially, the island has really gone from being a place I enjoy visiting to my home-away-from-home: I’ve met some wonderful locals who have really made this past year enjoyable on a much more personal level. I’ve also gotten quite defensive in how commercial Key West is getting and continues to get. While the cruise ship trade is down to 10 ships a week, it still spills an incredible amount of traffic on the main Duval drag… And unfortunately it’s usually a crowd the city doesn’t need.

They don’t eat at diverse restaurants. They litter. They think that the Duval bar-crawl is all that Key West is about and don’t even take the time to walk around and learn about the island. Worst of all, many are homophobic and think since they’re tourists that it’s acceptable behavior to make their opinion clear while they’re on vacation.

Luckily, even with the city making a deal-with-the-cruiseship-devil, it’s still an awesome place to go. This last trip got me out to LaTeDa for dinner, as well as up into the cabaret to see Chris Peterson’s ICONS show. The show was entertaining, but his Judy Garland impression (vocals and looks) was just insane. I could have watched a whole show of him doing Garland. For those who have seen the great Jim Bailey do his take on Judy Garland, Chris is like watching Bailey in his prime. He’s just a great entertainer who has respect for the impression. Here are some vids of both Chris and Jim (respectively) doing their thing:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25Fo9ryh0eU]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15abY9auk-k]

And now for your gratuitous, semi-nude self pic of the day…

I’ve been working my ass off in the gym for the past couple of months and it’s paid off. I’ve got stacked abs, lower body fat (7%) and am still at the 195lb mark, meaning I’m keeping muscle. Awesome thing. I’m also supplementing down a lot, cutting out most of my old stack and now just taking Ephedra and a vasodilator. Most of the change I’m seeing is thanks to cutting out all soda (diet included), putting more bulk fiber into my diet and slamming my system with protein two-three times a day. I’ve also had to quite comparing my body to those I admire in my gym, as it’s a waste of time and not realistic when you compare me to them.

They’re usually 5‘9-11“ and I’m just past 6‘3“. It’s easy to build a better body when you’re a the size of a keychain. Luckily, I’m not bitter at all about being born a giraffe.

A big shout-out to Randy Roberts who got some major screen time on this year’s gaymazing CNN New Year’s Eve program with Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin. While I didn’t hear him name-checked on air, he did have some quippy, smart one-liners and looked Chertastic. I’m sure if it wasn’t for the bevy of somewhat soft go-go boys behind him (and the fact that Anderson Cooper was likely pawing the screen and making obscene hand gestures off-camera), CNN would have showcased his spot-on vocal impression of the ageless wonder. If you haven’t seen him before, here’s some video of Randy in various states of Cher:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iEJ0A7ObbE]

Boo. Broadway (ie, tourists) audiences can suck it. They, along with the gossipy bitches at various Broadway message centers, have shuttered the beautiful revival production of Ragtime. It might be closed by the time this posting is live, so here’s hoping that it’s recognized in some way at this year’s Tony awards. Ragtime was a musical that demanded your full attention and that’s somewhat of a hopeless thing in today’s business of Broadway: Without a massive set, live animal
s, robotic dragons, pyrotechnics, nudity or a familiar movie to base it off if, the audience often struggles to connect, leaving usually great shows to play for half-priced crowds or totally papered houses. Another great show, Caroline or Change, had the exact same issue. Brilliant writing by Tony Kushner and stellar performances by Tonya Pinkins and Anika Noni Rose, but crowds who didn’t know what to do with a musical that explored issues they were likely uncomfortable with.

They would rather pay top-dollar to see a green woman on a cherry-picker yell for nearly three hours. Lovely.

Yeah, and Michael Riedel (NY Post theatre critic) can suck it for his recent kicking them while they’re already down column. Truth be told, someone should tell Riedel that people in glass houses shouldn’t lob stones… If his various escapades with variant transient folks went public, I’m sure he’d pipe down a bit. There’s nothing more fun than taking the bite out of someone’s very shallow bark. *wink*

I’m going to wait to do a trip report on Spain and North Africa, as it was nearly a 15-day trip and there’s still images I’m processing, as well as things I want to physically jot down before writing. It was quite an adventure. One of the best hotel upgrades of my life came while spending time in Lisbon… I’m still trying to find a way to send flowers to the concierge at the Four Seasons for that awesome suite. I’d also like to mention that that same hotel houses the most beautiful gym I’ve ever seen at any hotel. All glass and located on the top floor. If you’re fair-skinned, you’d actually need SPF to work out there mid-day, as the sunshine just streams everywhere.

Some pics of the pool area and fitness center…

What I will describe in this edition is the serious cool factor of the Emirates first class suite, which I had the opportunity to fly in on my way to and from Dubai over the New Year’s holiday.

First, a quick look…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiTG_k6rjFc]

The most interesting thing about this suite is that with the touch of a button, walls raise to provide total privacy and sound isolation. It even lights up a ‘do not disturb’ placard on the outside of the door. The seat reclines to a full 6‘5“ position and offers retractable arm rests for those wanting to side sleep comfortably. Adding to the general sense of space, Emirates did away with overhead bins in the first class cabin, opening up vertical space and allowing tall folks like myself the ability to stand up and stretch without bumping into anything. Nice touch.

While I didn’t use them, the shower suites were an insane design touch. Imagine the ability to arrive anywhere in the world, showered, fresh and ready to roll. That, to me, is priceless. While I usually end up using an arrivals lounge to freshen up, it’s a true time saver if I could do all of this on-board before landing. Big thumbs up for that very luxe amenity.

Emirates is still pouring Dom and doing a caviar service, even as their contemporaries (ie, British Airways, Qatar, Singapore) are doing away with it. Granted, I’m not a fan of caviar and never drink while flying, but it’s nice to see that for more than $20k a seat, you’re still getting the very best they can get their hands on.

So, I got to Dubai without fail and spent my NYE there. While it wasn’t my first time there, it was my first time for New Year’s Eve. It took me awhile to get used to all of the ‘non-alcohol’ events, as most of my ushering in of years has included at least one to three bottles of Bollinger.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CXwzhHaTGU]

Contrary to what American news media has reported, construction has NOT slowed down and the city continues to build at a breakneck speed. There’s definitely a feeling of Las Vegas scale when you’re there, but with the sheer amount of oil money going into every project, it makes Sin City look positively primeval. While most of the design is jaw-dropping, there is also quite a bit of garish, or- more appropriately- just plain ugly decor, reminding me that you can take the gold-leafing out of the Middle East, but you can’t take the Donald Trump out of the oil money. No matter how many ‘stars’ the Burj Al Arab (repeatedly) say they have when you check-in, their suites still make you feel like you’ve checked into an Atlantis resort on quaaludes.

Ski Dubai was pretty neat. With it being nearly 80 degrees outside, it was fun to be able to suit up and ski indoors on a rather large slope. Amazing building it’s contained within. Looks like something Frank Gehry would design.

Ski Dubai

… And speaking of batshit crazy design and loads of foreign money, City Center (partially) opened in Las Vegas: It’s a new hotel/entertainment complex from MGM containing 5 hotels, a massive new mall, yet another Cirque show and hopefully a newfound service ethic to wash away the usual crappy taste that MGM properties leave in my mouth. I still haven’t forgiven MGM for what they did to Bellagio when they swiped it from Steve Wynn. Bastards.

I haven’t yet had the chance to stay at CC, but the trip is already planned for late January and I’ve got one-night stays lined at all open CC hotels: A 1br sky-penthouse at ARIA, a panoramic suite at Vdara and an apex suite at Mandarin Oriental. While I’m a little scared of the opening reviews for Vdara, I’m willing to suffer through for the greater good… And that good would be seeing just how well MGM copes with the growing pains of a brand new property. I’ve done opening days for both Wynn and Encore, which turned out
to be surprisingly smooth and am chomping at the bit to compare and contrast.

Look for a complete wrap-up of City Center sometime in early February. I’ll snap lots of pics too!

With 2010 now beginning, the last month was sprinkled with talk of ‘EOY’ honors (Escort of the Year) and who deserved what from whom. In full-disclosure mode, I was not mentioned on any of the major sites, but that’s neither here nor there: I’ve garnered my awards for my professionalism and continue to get name-checked in publications as the best in the high-end business. What was mildly funny about this year’s awards was that they weren’t really awards at all.

On Daddy’s Reviews for example, there was no actual vote taken and everyone mentioned on the published list seemed to appear out of nowhere and without proper explanation. Now, it’s fine with me if the owner of a site wants to simply name his favorite names and call it square… Frankly, it’s his site, his sandbox and his rules. What concerns me more about this situation is that a portion of the escorts named are also guys who quietly practice questionable sexual safety, both personally and on a professional level, putting their current and future clientele at great risk. Even when practicing safer sex (w/ a condom), the transmission of HIV is still possible and that’s not even to mention the risk of breakage.

I maintain that supporting anyone who actively hides their true HIV status while engaging in professional sex work is irresponsible, dangerous and just plain idiotic. What’s even worse is rewarding the behavior and giving credence to the unsafe activity happening on a repeat basis. Just because we function in a fringe industry doesn’t mean we have to conduct business in fringe ways.

Well, it looks like the famous ‘if the GHB bottle don’t fit, you must acquit’ argument still works… Sources tell me that Seth Apper/Scott Adler has been released from the pokey, getting (again) probation time and an immediate, court-ordered stint in rehab. I find this all very interesting considering it was common knowledge in West Hollywood that Seth rarely overindulged in what he sold, preferring to make money off of his drugs. It sounds as if his defense attorney used an ‘addiction’ scenario to plea down his sentence from prison time. Nice move, but now Seth is in the delicate situation of having to walk the straight & narrow, as there are MANY out there who would like nothing more than to see him violate the terms of his very lucky parole. That means no more (public) escorting. No more posting on escort message boards (possible intent to commit a crime). No more Rentboy pool parties (because, let’s face it, there’s more snow at those events than in the French Alps).

Seth, if you’re reading this: Now is the time to make a real change. You’ve been given a massive chance to retool your life and start over. Don’t fuck it up.

Ah, before I forget, mi amigo (and fellow beautiful Texas escort) Noah Driver has started down the long and winding road of blogging. Congrats! I can only offer my sympathy and strength to keep it going as long as I have. My advice is to always keep it real and if you’re going to plagiarize from someone else, make sure they don’t have a Pulitzer Prize.

I kid, I kid… There’s never an excuse to not originate.


That’s all I’ve got in me for this edition, so I’ll sign off with a hearty thanks for reading and most excellent wishes for a happy, prosperous and shagadelic 2010. I’m very much looking forward to a fantastic year and a whole lot more blogging. Just to make it a little easier, I changed my blog template to include my Twitter feed. If you want to ‘follow me,’ it’s as easy as clicking on the new button… Being this lazy has never been so much fun!

BN

There’s a tiny sliver of time in-between the steamy summers in Manhattan and the unbearable cold that follows (wedged somewhere around late October) that provides the absolute perfect climate for anyone wanting a true ‘Fall in New York City’ experience. The weather is just crisp enough to break out a light jacket, but it’s not so cold that everyone begins looking like they just stumbled out of a homeless shelter. It’s also a great time of year to tell who’s gay and who’s not: The gays immediately break out the colorful, striped scarves, twisting them around their necks in an origami-like fashion. I like to call it the ‘gay noose.’

Some thoughts from a recent re-charging of my Broadway battery…

Ragtime (the revival) is perhaps the most well-thought out, paced and precisioned musical on the boards right now. Sourced from the E.L. Doctorow novel, it’s a look at the formation of a young America and the struggles of both the upper and lower class. It’s one of the few new musicals I’ve listened to and immediately placed in the same class as something Learner & Lowe or Rogers & Hart would have written. It’s beautifully pieced together, lush and one of those scores that brings back the 45-piece orchestra, rather than rely solely on synth and computer fill-in.

Here’s a clip from the stunning opening number…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKn2N4GRVhY]

The original Broadway production of Ragtime was a monster of a show, opening the same year as The Lion King and, like every other production of that year, being trampled by Disney at Tony time. Ragtime’s ultimate demise came not from bad reviews, but within their own production team when it was found that lead producer Garth Drabinsky was skimming off the top. This eventually shut down a otherwise healthy Tony Award-winning show.

Fast-forward 12 years and a scaled-down, yet much more emotionally complex version of this masterpiece is now back in Manhattan. I hope this production has a long run ahead of it, but that will take an audience who’s willing to sit through a show that doesn’t involve movie tie-ins or gargantuan set pieces constantly moving around. I wonder if that’s even possible with today’s Broadway ticket buyer. I guess we’ll see. Here’s a look at the new cast and some of the production…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=229xmIZuImU]

I also caught the here today, gone tomorrow revival of Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs, starring one of my favorite actors Laurie Metcalf. It seemed doomed from the beginning, as Neil Simon’s easy brand of Jew-centric comedy doesn’t mix well with today’s over-the-top spectacle expectations. The audience slept through most of the show, waking up in time to just barely put their hands together to form a clapping sound. It was depressing, but the show itself was quite nicely done and the actors found their individual character moments in ways I’ve never seen from this play before.

Bye Bye Birdie, the Broadway revival currently being done by Roundabout was what I would have expected to be a lush, colorful, Technicolor remake of a musical that cast the best of today’s young (and very capable) Broadway performer.

The set was there. The costumes dazzling. Fantastic use of lighting and an on-stage, built-in treadmill (ala, Sondhiem’s Into The Woods). What didn’t work at all was the cast. This is another lesson to be learned when casting celebrities in two leading (and iconic) roles. When you’re basically replacing Dick Van Dyke and Chita Rivera, you’ve got to take real time to make sure the male/female lead can, at the very least, match those performances.

John Stamos and Gina Gershon were dreadful: They were self-concious, uncomfortable with the material and gave performances that made all too clear that they were giving 110%, but failing miserably on all accounts. I warn you now, watching this YouTube video might be hazardous to your health…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Odi4pNWaEU8]

Stamos can neither sing, no dance. I don’t care if you saw him in Cabaret years ago and found him ageless and dreamy: He still sucks. He’s quickly becoming the new David Hasselhoff of the Broadway stage, going from show-to-show, closing them as quickly as his little off-key voice can muster.

Gershon I was looking forward to, as her performance in last season’s Boeing, Boeing was fantastic. In Birdie, her costumes, while beautiful, didn’t hide the fact that she had gained a bit of weight and I think she was really concious of it. She moved in an awkward way. Her singing was more like slurring on-key. I was hoping for at least a Showgirls-quality character, but all I got was boring stripper.

Kim was boring and bland. Somewhere, Ann Margaret is pissed off and could likely still play the role… That is, as long as she’s wearing that damned oversized cashmere sweater (just off of one shoulder).

Conrad Birdie was a Nickelodeon actor and totally forgettable in every possible way. Weak voice. Wooden acting. Worst of all, the actor’s mother was sitting behind me and actually yelling (pep-rally style) every time her son came on-stage. Trust me, you haven’t lived until you’ve sat through nearly three hours of yelling in a thick Jersey accent. I felt like I was at a Jewish Apollo Theatre.

Now transitioning from Broadway to gay porn… Because, hey, isn’t that always the case?

Looks like Malachi ‘I’m really straight and getting fucked in the ass for book research’ Marx is back to doing porn, as his ‘tell-all’ book was turned down by every major publisher. Rumor has it that he’s going to now be self-publishing the book. Thank God! It’d be a real shame if he spent all that time on his back for nothing. I await the release with breathless excitement.

Wasn’t it once said that people in glass houses shouldn’t bareback mindlessly while throwing back a line of cocaine? In reading through a certain pornstar’s blog recently, I was treated to a rant against another performer who was obviously taking night classe
s at the ‘Erik Rhodes School of Seriously Fucked Up.’ The story involved sex, drugs, bareback sex and threatening threats. Funny thing though, as the accuser is, in reality, just as messed-up as the accuse. This blogger spends entirely too much of his life on ManHunt, cruising for dudes and specifically looking for bareback pig play. It’s tough for me to feel anything but apathy for someone who pisses their life away and then has the brass balls to call out others.

A big welcome back to Blake Riley to the wonderful world of porn! If you’re reading Blake, I do hope you’ve cleared up that long-term case of gonorrhea before you start filming again. Seriously, isn’t Randy Blue supposed to blood test their models before the fucking begins? Seems to me that Randy might be spending a bit too much money on his house in the Hills and not enough on his bread & butter.
Bel Ami goes bareback with brothers! How wonderful: Now we get to see incestuous sex AND a likely transmission of disease from one bland model to another. It’s nice to see that some things never change, like Bel Ami’s ability to make every sex scene totally soulless and prove that Eastern European guys will do just about anything for a quick buck. Nice.

Okay, okay. Enough bitter ranting! I’m spending the holiday in South Florida and will be working on a new travel blog, filled with interesting details about my recent sojourn through Europe and Africa. It was a really spectacular two weeks abroad, so stay tuned. I’m also going to be heading back to Vegas to review the three new open hotels at MGM’s City Center: Vdara, The Mandarin Oriental and Aria.

Shameless Plug: The perfect Christmas gift for the gay in your life… Kylie Minogue’s LIVE IN NYC album. It’s a recent live release from her only US tour to date. Great vocals and the re-arrangements of her songs are some of the best I’ve ever heard. Go forth and buy!

And speaking of shameless self-promotion, I got an email today letting me know I was in the finalist running for Cruising For Escort’s EOTY competition. How shagadelic! While I’m not certain if winning this will get me a spot on The View, where I can tell Barbara Walters to shit in her hat, it may indeed get me that sash and diamond tiara I’ve always wanted. Click on the above C4E banner to register your vote today!

Last, but not lesbian, I’ve updated my personal photo archive on the Google Gallery in a big way this past week. Look for new stuff in the travels and random sections. For your daily dose of something BN, you can always check out my continuously updated photoblog, as well as my Twitter feed. Enjoy!

Happy Holidays!

BN

Okay, it’s been since the dark ages that this blog has gotten some update love and thanks to some well-placed emails and catty commentary, it’s about time for something to get posted on 15mm. It’s not that I don’t want to write, but more a matter of time… The past month has been bogged down with international trips and starting this Monday, I’m taking holiday through Christmas in South Florida. Beginning January 1st, it’s back to blogging hardcore. That very well may be a promise I can keep through 2010. We’ll see.

For now, I’m appeasing the masses with a major personal pic update (linked by clicking the above pic) and another ridiculous round of flash-based Eye Candy goodness. I’m still getting used to posting in flash format, so bear with me on not being able to yet control the speed at which these pics go. Just think of it as a hands-free experience that leaves you more ability to focus on other, harder things. Also, please do keep in mind that from here on out on 15, the EC will return to it’s full XXX-rated glory. Definitely NSFW:

EYE CANDY!

On the Google Gallery, look for new muscle pics, snaps from a recent trip to Greece, Spain and Tunisia and refresh on some of my more wacky looks from years past. Anyone remember the mohawk? That was fun. What about the shoulder-length hair? Yeow. I must have lost my damned mind.

Here’s wishing everyone a very happy holiday and a safe NYE,

BN