That’ll change. The past two months have been introspective, busy, fun, scary, sexy, stressy, wonderful and, ultimately, totally necessary.

See you early in 2010. Promise.

Underworld, “Two Months Off”

And scariest of all…

YYZ High-Speed Walkway (2 October 2009)

To my knowledge, it’s never worked, never made its way past testing in the nearly five years since Terminal 1’s been open. Enormously expensive, too, as you might imagine. Worse, YYZ was the first airport for which the manufacturer had been contracted for this particular system. It was doomed to failure from the beginning, though, as its whole intent — moving inbound passengers from flights to baggage carousels — seemed enormously flawed in the first place: passengers quickly are transported to baggage claim areas where they still have to wait ages for their luggage.

Returning to YYZ from TLV was a lesson in security incompetence, too. After five security checkpoints at the Tel Aviv airport, in which we were screened by trained personnel clearly adept in ferreting out ne’er-do-wells and scofflaws (and, apparently, anyone with a Russian accent) we were treated to a wait in line while a Brazilian traveler was detained for her attempt to bring a dangerous vial of cheesy perfume through the checkpoint. She was questioned by four security agents while the entire line was held up behind her, each security agent unsure of how to handle someone bringing more than 100ml of liquid through, as if it was the first time it had ever happened. I am never disappointed by Canada’s first (and only) line of defense against troublemakers.

Video: Sarah Silverman, “Sell the Vatican, Feed the World”

And before those there were Ivory soap ads:

“Ivory soap had a good many unusual experiences during the war…”

“Not the least of the pleasure of a hard game is the bath that follows it.”

I believe it’s safe to say that I’ve devoted the latter part of my life to being 0 ⁵⁶/₁₀₀% pure. And I can’t help but think that ads like these got Mad Men’s Sal into advertising.

(From Divine Caroline via MikeP.)

Dreaming (30 September 2009)

Three days ago, to be exact, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention it (at least in passing). We all mark significant milestones in our lives, and 22 September 1979 was one of the most critical in my development. Not unlike a majority of gay men of my generation, the moment we pass from acknowledging our attractions to acting upon them can be tumultuous, distressing, earth-shattering and wonderful.

Thousands of men later, many thousands of experiences later… and yet, that particular “birth” was more than sex. It was entry into Otherness. Outsiderness. I cherish and celebrate that singular moment, that birth, in every encounter, on every new day.

Happy Birthday, me. Thirty years. Ho-LEE.

I hope every gay kid reading this, but not yet having had the moment of birth of which I speak, knows that those who’ve come before you — heh — will always be your brothers.

Peace. And Love. Lots and lots of Love.

Video: The Dandy Warhols, “Godless”

(Thanks, Bruce.)

I don’t think I’ve got a good body. And that’s not cause I want you to say I have. I don’t look in the mirror and go: ‘Fucking hell Benny, good body.’ I look at it and go, actually, I need to lose some more weight, I need to do some more work and I’ll go into the gym and I’ll try, I don’t really think I have a good body. If people do than fair enough. I think it’s my genetic make-up. I don’t really have much of a say in it.”

I’m sorry, Mr. Cohen, but they simply do not make ‘em much hotter. Predictably, more after the jump (underwear shots, possibly NSFW)…

Courtesy Towleroad.

Important Reminder: The “Green on Thursday” series always reveals very much more about your host at This.That.No Other. than it does about any of the featured personalities.

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

Courtesy Sheepy.

Aptly-Named Beach, Vancouver, 21 September 2009

Timber and Your Host, Silently Judging You, 19 September 2009

And Timber paid a visit to this fair city, for a few days of work and a few days of R&R. These guys represent two of my very closest friends and confidants, and it did my soul — if I had one, I mean — a world of good to intersect with them.

Add Champ to the mix and, well, heaven. If there was one, I mean. And if I ever had a chance of getting there, too.

Champ and Your Host, 19 September 2009

Timber and Your Host, 19 September 2009

I’m almost embarrassed at how happy I am, here and now and, if I was a different person, at how blessed I am. Connectedness, people. Respect it. Cherish it.

Video: The Whip, “Trash”

Thanx to MikeP…

With J.D. (7 September 2009)

…bought an awesome new citybike, heard the seven trumpets:

The Seven Trumpets

…discovered that in Space, no one can hear you eat:

Space Lounge

…ate some hard strawberries:

Hard Strawberry

…had problems with scale:

Scale

…lusted after Doug Brooks on Leverage:

Doug Brooks in Leverage

…and we’re currently enjoying Friday Night Martini # 3 4, featuring garlic- and jalapeno-stuffed olives.

A good week.