I recently found an artist online who knows how to speak my language: that of sexy, furry, masculine (not to mention hung) older men. I managed to get in touch with Danny for an interview for the HOM blog. Danny is a very friendly and intelligent guy. I enjoyed interviewing him almost as much as I enjoy looking at his paintings of hot and hung daddies... almost.

*****

CR: I understand that you are mostly self-taught. How did you get into painting?
DB: Yes, I am mostly self-taught. I painted for 25 years until I moved to Florida 6 years ago and decided to go to college and get some art training.  The classes were great and did give me new ways of looking at things and the classes also helped me technically.  I got into painting when I moved to Los Angeles from my small town in Louisiana in my mid-twenties.  I saw this big giant art store one day and it fascinated me.  I went in and couldn’t help but buy a few brushes, paints and canvases and started dabbling.  Dabbling in male figures of course.

CR: I'm always curious about the process of an artist. How often do you paint? Is it something that you are drawn to doing? 

Louis CK is one of my favorite comics these days. He's certainly a bit of a Daddy Bear too, although he's only 41. I love his masculine, no-bullshit attitude, and as this clip shows, he's not afraid of talking about sucking dick -- or at least the possibility of it. Wait for it...

I've discovered a way to get my news in a more digestible format: from a sexy, funny daddy-bear named Uncle Jay! Move over John Stewart -- well actually I don't think I could do without Jon Stewart and The Daily Show, but now I have another place for news. He's a bit goofy, but I sure wish I could see him explaining news and world events naked, or at least with his shirt off. OK, maybe just undo one button so we can see a bit of fur?

I've always had a weakness for stocky, balding daddies. They just seem to be brimming over with testosterone. I wonder if Uncle Jay is gay? I don't see a wedding ring on his finger, although these days a wedding ring could just mean he's married to a man. Does anyone know anything more about Uncle Jay? I sure would like to know more about him. In the meantime, I think I'll have to just be satisfied being entertained and informed by this witty and intelligent man.

It's tricky to draw the line with technology, to accept a certain degree of gadgetry and gizmos in your life, while saying no at a certain point. For instance, I’m fine with facebook, but I’m terrified of the iphone. I’m okay with exchanging occasional text messages but cannot wear a Bluetooth device on my ear.  I’m scared of turning into a robot, giving over more and more of my silence to the frenetic and scrambled mania of compulsive email checking and internet surfing.

In the past ten years, as the internet has become more and more integrated into the way we meet sex partners, I think it’s useful to think about the various ways our interactions are shaped by technology. At a sex club or bar, we’ve got to be a little more on our toes about getting up the nerve to talk to someone. We’ve got to be a little more forceful when we want to get out of a conversation. And sometimes we take a chance and go home with someone because we’re aren’t up for saying no. There’s more anarchy in those live situations. Sometimes, someone can talk their way into your evening if they have charm or the guts to talk dirty.

It’s totally different on the internet, where you can just ignore someone’s message or make up a white lie excusing yourself from the electronic courtship. “I have to go to bed,” “I have to get up early,” “a friend just called and needs me to run an errand.” Have you heard these? Have you said them? I find more and more men online moving into the single line email as a means of communication. Essentially sending each other text messages, not wanting to waste a few sentences unless they felt it was a sure thing. I worry that we’re losing those mating muscles, the skills gay men have acquired over centuries to locate one another and connect.

I’m having this problem when I go to the gym: I get too horny.

I was so excited last night when both Sean Penn and Lance Black won Oscars for MILK. I'm sure most of you saw the speeches, but's it's always worth watching them again. It's the first time I can such a powerful call out for gay rights at the Oscar's. In the past we've heard a nod to a same sex partner, but nothing like what we heard last night. Times are-a-changin'!