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Wonderful Websites – Music & Radio

By Amazon, Music & Radio, Technology, The WebNo Comments
wonderful-websites-image This is the ninth blog post in a series titled Wonderful Websites. The first focused on general health and can be read here. The second focused on mental health and mental illness and can be read here.

The third post focused on shopping and can be read here. The fourth focused on money and can be read here.

The fifth focused on gigs, shows and theatres and can be read here. The sixth focused on paganism and can be read here.

The seventh focused on gay culture and society and can be read here. The eighth focused on TV, Online Streaming & Films and can be read here.

Here’s Wonderful Websites for music & radio:

1. YouTube – It’s great for discovering new music. You can watch official music videos or lyrical videos. Plus YouTube will automatically find related videos.

2. iTunes – Podcasts – I love a good Podcast. Podcasts are like prerecorded talk radio shows. Two I enjoy are Desperate House Witches and The Gay Agenda.

3. iTunes – A quick and convenient way to buy and download music. I dislike the restrictions Apple are placing more and more on the music you buy through their store.

4. BBC iPlayer Radio – The great way to listen to and catch up any BBC radio station.

5. Gaydio Radio – If you like dance music you’d love Gaydio. I listen on the odd occasion. However a wider variety of music and some discussion programmes would better represent the diversity in the gay community.

6. Spotify – I got a Spotify Preimum free trial with a phone contract a number of years ago. I loved it. But when the free trial ended the £9.99 per month was in my mind too expensive for a service that you get nothing tangible from.

I tried the free version but the advertising was too frequent and quickly became too irritating to stand. So I don’t use Spotify at all now.

7. Heart Radio – I’ve recently discovered Heart Radio thorough hire car and courtesy car radios as my car has been off the road (see It Comes in Threes).

8. Smooth Radio – I like a bit of Smooth radio as it helps me relax. Even if they do repeat the same tracks far too often.

9. Amazon Music Unlimited – I’ve never tried Amazon Music Unlimited. I bet it’s great if you have Amazon devices such as the Amazon Echo.

Are there any music & radio websites that you think are useful that aren’t on the list? If so leave a comment below and let me know.

In the next post in my Wonderful Websites series I will list great websites for technology.

Blog soon,

Antony

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I aim for posts on this blog to be informative, educational and entertaining. If you have found this post useful or enjoyable, please consider making a contribution by Paypal:


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Wonderful Websites – Gay Culture and Society

By Gay, The Web8 Comments
wonderful-websites-image This is the seventh blog post in a series titled Wonderful Websites. The first focused on general health and can be read here. The second focused on mental health and mental illness and can be read here. The third post focused on shopping and can be read here.

The fourth focused on money and can be read here. The fifth focused on gigs, shows and theatres and can be read here. The sixth focused on paganism and can be read here.

Here’s Wonderful Websites about gay culture and society:

1. The Gay UK – My number one source of gay news.

2. Gay Star News – My close second source of gay news.

3. Gaydio – A gay radio station that can be listened to in London and Manchester and online.

4. Stonewall – A national charity that campaigns for LGBT rights.

5. The Albert Kennedy Trust – A charity that supports LGBT homeless young people.

6. RUComingOut is a brilliant resource for anyone struggling to come to terms with their sexuality, coming out or thinking about it.

7. GMFA – A gay men’s health charity.

8. LGBT @ BuzzFeed – A news site that has an LGBT section. Has the odd interesting article.

Are there any gay culture and society websites that you think are useful that aren’t on the list? If so leave a comment below and let me know.

In the next post in my Wonderful Websites I will list great TV, Online Streaming & Films websites.

Blog soon,

Antony



I aim for posts on this blog to be informative, educational and entertaining. If you have found this post useful or enjoyable, please consider making a contribution by Paypal:


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Some of My High School Celebrity Crushes

By Amazon, Gay, Happiness & JoyNo Comments

When I was a teenager, I was quiet at high school and spent most of the evenings at home watching soaps on TV. TV is where I discovered some sexy celebrity males and developed some crushes, so here are some of my high school celebrity crushes:

Jansen Spencer

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Jansen Spencer was my first celebrity crush, when I saw him in Neighbours.

Jansen Spencer was probably my first crush, when he played Paul McClain on Neighbours. I liked his jet black wavy hair, natural tan and cute ears. He looked about my age, although is actually a few years older. I thought he was gorgeous and for a while imagined all Australian’s looked like him.

He didn’t get his top off often enough, but the images below are two rare occasions that he did. I’m not sure what he’s up to these days, but he is on twitter: @JansenSpencer.

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I loved Jansen Spencer’s jet black wavy hair.

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Jansen Spencer on the rare occasion he was topless in Neighbours.

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Jansen Spencer topless.

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Andrew Hayden-Smith

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Andrew Hayden-Smith in Byker Grove.

I discovered Andrew Hayden-Smith when he played bad boy Ben Carter in Byker Grove on CBBC. He was the only reason I watched Byker Grove. Hayden-Smith went on to be a Presenter and played a minor role in Doctor Who. More recently he’s scored role in Russell T Davies’ Banana and Cucumber. As time has gone on he’s got sexier and sexier. Much to my delight (and the delight of many others) he is happy to be in his birthday suite for the odd photoshoot:
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Andrew Hayden-Smith – Now.

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Andrew Hayden-Smith – Now.

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Andrew Hayden-Smith – Now.

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Andrew Hayden-Smith – Now.

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Andrew Hayden-Smith – Now.

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Andrew Moss

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Andrew Moss in Hollyoaks when I was younger.

I loved watching Hollyoaks, partly for the eye candy. Andrew Moss played Rhys Ashworth, who was a bit of a player and womaniser. He was always getting his kit off. I’m not sure what triggered my crush, perhaps it was his characters confidence. I just liked him.

Moss moved on from Hollyoaks and I’m not sure what he’s up to now. But he has twitter: @AndyMoss.

Below are two topless pictures of him, one in a jacuzzi…just because:

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Andrew Moss in Hollyoaks now.

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Andrew Moss in a Jacuzzi…just because.

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Guy Burnet

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Guy Burnett in Hollyoaks when I was younger.

Another Hollyoaks crush of mine was the stunning Guy Burnet. Gorgeous body, straight white teeth and big brown expressive eyes.

Burnet played Craig Dean in Hollyoaks and had loads of great storylines. One of the biggest storylines was the development of a gay relationship with character John Paul McQueen (James Sutton).

Burnet left Hollyoaks in 2008 to try new things. Unfortunately I was unable to ascertain what Burnet has been up to since he left Hollyoaks.

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Guy Burnett in Hollyoaks – looking fit.

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Guy Burnett in Hollyoaks gay storyline.

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Karl Davies

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Karl Davies first discovered in Emmerdale.

In Emmerdale, I developed a crush on Karl Davies who played bad boy Robert Sugden. I thought he was hot when he first came into the soap and has only got hotter since.

After leaving Emmerdale, Davies has continued to work on screen as an Actor. According to this website and Wikipedia he has played several different roles on TV and in films.

Recently my crush on him was reignited when I watched him in The Syndicate (series 2), which was a series about a syndicate winning the lottery.

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Karl Davies topless once he’d began working out.

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More Karl Davies topless.

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Even more Karl Davies topless.

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Kieron Richardson

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Kieron Richardson as Bad Boy Ste in Hollyoaks.

My final Hollyoaks crush was the attractive Kieron Richardson, who played another bad boy (I’m starting to sense a theme here!) Ste Hey.

Ste has had loads of storylines over the years, including a coming out storyline were his character came out as gay. I read that Ste is currently in a relationship with John Paul McQueen and has recently been diagnosed HIV positive.

Actor Richardson has come out gay. As well as continuing to work on Hollyoaks, Richardson also presents a radio show on Gaydio. Richardson is on twitter: @MrkieronR.

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Kieron Richardson’s character Ste later became gay.

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More Kieron Richardson.

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Prince Harry

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Prince Harry – my weird celebrity crush.

Prince Harry (in the photo left) was my weird crush. I saw this photo and thought Oh, he’s cute. There was just something about him. I think I was attracted to him because of his looks as well as his hereditary power and wealth.

Harry has grown up and been known to defend the rights of gay people. He is still reasonably attractive, especially with his top off (see below) but I no longer have a crush on him. Sorry Harry.

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Prince Harry Topless.

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Jon Lee

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Jon Lee from S Club 7 was perhaps my first pop crush.

Jon Lee from 90s pop band S Club 7 was probably my first music crush. To me his big smile, blonde hair and brown eyes made him beautiful.

Since the band split, Lee has focused on his stage career, released a solo album and come out as gay.

These days he’s still good looking, although I’m not sure about some of the tattoos.

S Club 7 are reuniting for a small UK tour this year. Jon Lee is on twitter: @JonLee321.

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Jon Lee topless.

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More Jon Lee topless.

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Even more Jon Lee topless.

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Now: Jon Lee topless, not sure what I think of the muscles or tattoos.

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Another Jon Lee Now.

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Tom Cruise

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Tom Cruise, my first movie star crush.

After I watched the sex scene at the beginning of Jerry Maguire, Tom Cruise instantly became my first movie star crush. His jet black hair, defined check bones and body were all appealing. I will add that for a long time I didn’t realise how short he was. Not that this would have made any difference, as I have always tended to like men shorter in height than myself. Cruise has aged well, looking great for his current age of 52 years old.

Cruise has had a long career Acting in films. My favourites have to be the Mission Impossible films, with a new Mission Impossible film (MI5) coming out this year. I have also enjoyed his recent futuristic action films Minority Report and Oblivion.

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Now: Tom Cruise.

Who were your celebrity crushes when you were younger? Leave a comment below.

A note on Image Credits & Copyright:
Images have been collected off the Internet. I am unsure where most of them came from, apart from the images with a source identified.

I am not the copyright holder of any of the images in this post. If you think you are the copyright holder and would like the image removed please contact me.

Blog soon,

Antony

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I aim for posts on this blog to be informative, educational and entertaining. If you have found this post useful or enjoyable, please consider making a contribution by Paypal:


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TheGayUK Articles – Vintage History: Manchester Gay Village, Top 5 Vintage TV Characters & Book Reviews

By Creativity, Gay, History, Journalism, TV, Online Streaming & FilmsNo Comments

TheGayUK‘s theme this month is Vintage. The articles I’ve written this month are: Vintage History: Manchester Gay Village, Top 5 Vintage TV Characters & Book Reviews. Now, some of these have been submitted, but not yet published. The Editor assures me he’s spreading out the articles over the month, so here’s your chance to get a first read.

Here is my first article on the theme and what I learnt from writing this piece:

Vintage History: Manchester Gay Village

Manchester Gay Village has a long history that makes it truly vintage. Starting as an underground scene in the sixties, through the decades it has transformed to what it is today: one of the most vibrant gay scenes in the UK. In this article we’ll cover the significant events that led to this transformation, describe the Village today and briefly contemplate it’s future.

In the 60s the area that would become the Village was deserted following the collapse of the cotton industry. Having been industrialised it was a gloomy part of the city with little life. The night visitors to the area were either men looking for prostitutes or the prostitutes themselves.

At this point it was still illegal for men to have sex with men, gay people were isolated, not seen as part of society and often encouraged to conform and get married to someone of the opposite sex.

The New Union pub started out as a place for men to meet female prostitutes, but it soon started to attract a small number of gay men. Female prostitutes and gay men might sound like an odd combination, but it was a relationship of mutual legal protection. If the Police ever raided, the prostitutes would pretend to be the gay men’s girlfriends so that neither could be arrested for their respective crimes: prostitution or men that are having sex with men.

In 1967 after campaigning in Manchester, London and other cities the law was changed so that men having sex with men were no longer doing anything illegal, but societal attitudes would take longer to change.

In the 70s the civil rights movement in Manchester continued to campaign for equality. The Rembrandt pub opened as well as one or two others; but these few venues were regularly raided by the Police aiming to catch gay men engaging in sexual activity in a public places. The Police applied the law unfairly, as it was only applied to gay men and often the attitudes of Police Officers were perceived as homophobic.

Then the early 80s came and along with it HIV/AIDS. This caused an increase in homophobia in society but caused the gay community to stand together. In the Village the Thompson Arms seemed to have opened at around this time, if not slightly earlier.

By the late 80s more gay people were coming out. In Manchester protests against Section 28 took place that passed through the city centre, the Village and ended at the town hall. At one of these Manchester protests around 20,000 people marched and what was significant was that: they weren’t all gay. In the Village New York, New York, Queen Club (now Company Bar) and Napoleons opened at around this time. The New Union and Rembrandt were still going strong.

In the late 80s Manchester Pride was also born, although it wasn’t named as that until many years later. It started with the owners of Rembrandt, Napoleons and the New Union wanting to do something on the August Bank Holiday weekend, the main event in the first year was an afternoon bring and buy sale. The vigil aspect came a few years later, when the gay people of Manchester started loosing their friends, lovers and life partners to HIV/AIDS.

The 90s brought a glass-fronted revolution started by the newly opened Manto bar. Before Manto the Village had a very “behind closed doors” feel to it, and this glass-fronted venue was symbolic of being: out and proud. New bars sprang up including Metz, Prague 5 (now G-A-Y), Vanilla and Via Fossa. Poptastic and Cruz 101 clubs opened around this time as well.

The late 90s brought Queer As Folk, a TV programme that dramatised life of three gay men in the Village. It was aired on Channel 4 and signified that there had been a major shift in societal attitudes towards gay people.

By the noughties the Village was similar to as it is now but the construction of The Beacon of Hope was significant. The Beacon of Hope stands on the edge of the canal in Sackville Park. It is a beautiful artistic steal structure that lights up in the evening symbolic of remembrance. Although we’ve moved on, we’ve not forgotten our gay brothers and sisters who’ve been lost to HIV/AIDS.

The Village today is a clean and bright setting with plenty of bars and clubs that gives it a vibrant atmosphere. It has the Village Business Association (business owners group), the Lesbian and Gay Foundation (a charity aimed at improving the health & well being of gay people), Manchester Pride (one of the biggest pride events in the country) and a myriad of community groups around every sort of leisure activity you could imagine. If you want to find out more about Manchester Gay Village, see our guide to gay Manchester:
http://www.thegayuk.com/#/manchester/4565401305.

Looking at the Village’s history one thing that is clear: it has always brought the gay community of Manchester together. Once together gay people have always instigated the change they want to happen. As long as the Village continues to bring the gay community together, be a part of the changes and keep up with them, it’s future will remain secure.

Antony Simpson, writer of this article wasn’t born until the mid-eighties. So in addition to speaking to some of his older friends who witnessed to some of the historic events in this article, he would also like to reference the following sources:
Gaydio: Your Story Radio Documentary, available: http://yourstory.gaydio.co.uk/documentaries/.

Guardian: Village people by Beatrix Campbell, available:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/aug/07/gayrights.communities.

Channel 4 OD: Queer As Folk
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/queer-as-folk/4od

Wikipedia: Canal Street (Manchester), available:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_Street_(Manchester)

Here is what I learnt from writing this article:

  • Don’t disregard an idea without discussing it with someone first. I happened to mention in an online writers meeting that I’d had the idea for this article, but disregarded it as it was local history and TheGayUK is a national online magazine. The Editor seemed really keen on the idea and said that after London, Manchester was their next biggest audience.
  • More about the journalistic research process.
  • If you’re writing about something that’s been wrote about it before, make it your own by using a different slant or point of view (POV).
  • When it came to writing about the ‘noughties’ writing 00s didn’t feel right so I ended up using the word. This was inconsistant with the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s I’d previously used. I should have found a better way to write the decades, as it would have made the article consistent.

Here is my second article on the theme and what I learnt from writing this piece:

Top 5 Vintage TV Characters
This month’s theme is Vintage. So I thought I’d share with you my Top 5 Vintage TV Characters. In order to make my list, characters had to be iconic (at least to me), gay and in some way vintage. So here we go:

5. Willow Rosenburg (Alyson Hannigan)
5.Willow
(Image Credit: Slayer Revival @ Flickr)

Buffy The Vampire Slayer first appeared on TV in 1997. Willow started off as a geeky, shy girl who fell in love with part-man part-werewolf Oz (Seth Green). When Oz decided he was too dangerous to be around and left Willow she slowly transformed into an UBER Witch. She met fellow Witch Tara (Amber Benson) and fell in love again, only for Tara to be murdered. I love Willow because of the transformation from shy girl to powerful independent woman.

4. Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman)
4.Captain Jack
(Image Credit: alacoolb @ Flickr)

Captain Jack Harkness first appeared on our TV screens in 2005 in Doctor Who, before getting his own spin-off series Torchwood. Captain Jack is openly bisexual although all of his on screen relationships have been with men.

Now before you start commenting and telling me 2005 is hardly Vintage; Captain Jack is an immortal rogue Time Agent that has a timeline that dates back 1860’s. So if that doesn’t make him vintage, I don’t know what will.

3. Michael ‘Mouse’ Tolliver (Marcus D’Amico)
3.Michael Tolliver
(Image Credit: Seattle Gay Scene)

Michael ‘Mouse’ Tolliver appeared on TV in Tales of the City in 1993, which was based on the series of books with the same name. Michael is a gay man living in San Francisco in the late 70s and is a truly loveable character. If you’ve never seen Tales of the City, I can’t recommend the TV series’ and books enough.

2. Mr Humphries (John Inman)
2.Mr humphries
(Image Credit: NightMaresGrim13 @ Flickr)

Are You Being Served? Originally appeared on TV in the 1970s through to the 1980s. Are You Being Served? Was a sit-com set in Grace Brothers’ Clothing Department that focused on the Sales Clerks. I remember seeing a re-run and instantly fell in love with the mincing Mr Humphries.

Camp humoured Mr Humphries was filled with innuendo always alluded to his sexuality, as did his famous catch phrase ‘I’m free!’ whenever a good looking gentleman entered the store. An iconic character, one of the first TV characters to allude to their gay sexuality.

1. Edna Everage (Barry Humphries)
1.edna everage
(Image Credit: jsarcadia @ Flickr)

Edna Everage debuted on stage in her native Australia before she appeared on our TV screens in the late 80s. This Melbourne Housewife is surrounded by fables, but is essentially a character created and played by Barry Humphries. Edna Everage self-proclaimed advisor to the stars and royalty I always think of as being the first mainstream comedian drag act. Her international status makes her number 1 on my list.

If there’s a TV character you feel should be on the list, comment below so that I can discover some new characters.

Here is what I learnt from writing this article:

  • That I can write and indeed enjoyed writing a light-hearted ‘Top’ article.
  • The format of a ‘Top’ article.
  • Use of a Creative Licence with regards to using flickr user images.
  • Keeping it brief: saying more with less words.

Book Reviews
This month I have submitted two book reviews: BOOK REVIEW: Into The Flames by Mel Bossa and Book Review: Handling Edna The Unauthorised Biography by Barry Humphries.

Blog soon,

Antony



I aim for posts on this blog to be informative, educational and entertaining. If you have found this post useful or enjoyable, please consider making a contribution by Paypal:


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