Thursday's Thoughtful Reading

All eyes continue to be locked on Russia and the controversy surrounding their march backward into infamy and the coming Winter Olympics.  John Aravosis over at Americablog, who first clued me in on the NYT article I wrote about on Monday, wrote another excellent post yesterday entitled 'Holocaust-phobes' that is once again a really excellent read.  As usual, his analysis of the situation is spot on and worthy of any small time investment necessary to avail yourself of the data he is putting forth.  

Another interesting article that I ran across yesterday was in the New Republic written by Senior Editor Julia Ioffe.  In 'Eight Horrific and Uplifting Stories About Being Gay in the New Russia' she relates the stories of friends, reporters, acquaintances and celebrities living their lives as best they can considering the situation in Russia today.  This is another article that is worthy of the small time investment of which it would take to to partake.  The stories are horrifying as the tile suggests, yet ultimately uplifting  for the courage shown by the subjects as they strive to live their lives with honesty and dignity.

In a show of solidarity with our Russian LGBT brothers and sisters, for the rest of the week I will be featuring the music of Russia's Greatest Gay Icon, composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky.  Today's Musical Moment features his Violin Concerto in D Major, Opus 35 with a live performance in the Grand Hall of the Musicverein in Vienna by the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Fedoseyev and featuring Arabella Steinbacher as Violin Soloist.  

Concluding today's post is this little collection of delicious dudes dynamically decked out in denim in this edition of Men In Jeans.  Thanks for sharing part of your day with me, see you tomorrow for Naked or Nearly So plus whatever else I come up with between now and then.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday Musings, Music and Men

After Friday night's adventures, the rest of the weekend was fairly tame.   Although I am a bit tired this morning, I feel pretty much alright and I have the night off to rest up for Tuesday's truck night adventures.  Other than work, I did run across a couple of interesting things in my web wanderings over the weekend.  Barbara Weicksel from Barb's Gift of Gab blog whose post was also published on LGBTQ Nation wrote a really must read article 'My being Gay is not my opinion - it's my life'.  Barbara is eloquent in the delivery of her point of view as well as entertaining.  Click on the link and I guarantee you will not be disappointed.  Meanwhile, over at Americablog, John Aravosis posted a video of one of my all time favorite songs, 'Over The Rainbow'.  (What friend of Dorothy doesn't like this song?)  This acoustic version was recorded live at Blues Alley in Washington, DC in 1996 by vocalist Eva Cassidy of whom I had never heard before viewing this video.  Unfortunately, Ms Cassidy is no longer with us as she passed away from Melanoma in November of 1996.  I had to re-post the  video because her rendition is sweet, simple, emotional and evocative.  I think you will like it as much as I do.  After 'Over The Rainbow' you will find Concert 5 live from Berlin inthe Berenboim on Beethoven series, which continues our exploration of the Piano music composed by Herr Beethoven.  Following the videos you will find a full complement of cuties casually clad in their Monday's Undies to brighten your day and mine.  I thank you for the visit and hope you have a fantabulous week.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!