Frustrating.

If one word could describe my experience with Me2, the novel by M. Christian, “frustrating” would have to be it.

To be fair, I’ve had a lot of distractions over the past couple of months, so perhaps part of the experience is my fault.  To accomodate this fact, however, I tried to read Me2 twice.  Note the word “tried.”  The second time was a no-go.

I did manage to complete the novel once–the first time–in furtive spurts.  Which, as I think about it, somewhat resembles the manner in which it reads itself.  As a story, it progresses in fits and starts.  Just when it gets interesting, the novel fizzles back into one of the transcripted therapy sessions that begin each chapter.  (That’s not metaphor–each chapter begins with an italicized transcript of what is evidently the main character talking with his therapist).  For me, it just didn’t mesh as a story.  It was far too slow and laden with descriptions that I just didn’t find compelling.

On the other hand, I did like what the author attempted to do in certain respects.  There is an rhythm of lyric at points that made me want to read on.  And the basic concept itself (which I won’t divulge for those who wish to read the novel) is done with an originality that I can only envy as an aspiring writer myself.  But for a novel described as “horror,” I think Me2 fails.  Perhaps it’s horror if the reader is a schizophrenic narcicist, but for me, I kept thinking “when is he going to get on with it?”  I just didn’t find anything about it scary at all.

And the denoument of the novel really does it no favors.  The ending is far too tiresome to read the first time around, let alone a second try.

I don’t know.  Perhaps I’m too rural to “get it.”  I can only say that at times I felt almost confronted by the somewhat tiresome exposition, and the manhattanite descriptions of characters.  It was overly surreal, unrelatable, and repetitive, albeit with some passages of fine writing skills buried within.  If I was grading this for a college class, maybe a B-. 

(Note: this is a personal editorial and not necessarily endorsed by Homomojo LLC or its proprietors--at least until Keith says so.)
It is with great glee that I read this news today:


The hatemongering Phelps family has been a constant and consistent bane in the side of not only the gay community, but the American community at large.  According to the Phelps's (and anyone referring to them as a church should be slapped vigorously), gays are responsible for every ill under the sun.  Their motto, of course, GOD HATES FAGS, has been plastered on the news and on signs at every pride parade, equality event, or military funeral that they can find bus fare to attend. 

With the imminent sale of their property and buildings, I hereby call upon the many philanthropists within the gay community, and without, to establish and contribute to a fund intended to purchase and repurpose said properties.  It would serve us well to turn what has until now been a well of hate into a well of goodwill.  Whether the buildings and grounds be used as a gay youth oriented retreat, a glbtq retirement community, or even a firing range for the Pink Pistols, there is an opportunity here for the gay community that should not be missed.

The added bonus, of course, is that it would just burn Fred Phelps's ass to no end.  And that would be soooo worth it. 

So what do you think?  Is this a good idea?  Do you have ideas for uses for the property?  Let us know and leave a comment.

I  have never outright panned anything that I’ve been asked to review before now.  Usually I try to find something, anything, positive to say about a movie or book I review, if only to give the author some credit for putting themselves and their creativity out there for public examination.  That’s just not possible with this movie.

If we gay people, as a group, had gone out one day for coffee, all together, for the express purpose of deciding upon a weapon to give Dr. Dobson and his ilk to use against us, we could not have made a more appropriate choice than the “movie” Skull & Bones.

Not since having my wisdom teeth removed have I voluntarily subjected myself to such a painful experience.  To call it demented B-grade porn-lite would be generous.  Much as I hate to destroy someone’s dream, this isn’t a dream–it’s a nightmarish waste of time.

It’s not merely that the plot was weak.  It’s not even that half of the filming was obviously done in someone’s basement.  No, the worst of it is that not one sensibility is left unoffended.  Take A Clockwork Orange, dress it up in S&M gear, turn it gay, then multiply it by a factor of 1,000.  And you’re still not close to how horrible and sick this disaster of a movie is.

Understand, I love horror movies–even the schlock ones.  And I expect them to have at least some corny aspects.  But Skull & Bones is just downright awful.  The acting by the main characters, obviously some sadistic manifestation of the author’s fractured psyche, is terrible.  Terrible, terrible, terrible.  The extent to which they sexually torture their captives is beyond depravity, and the director’s choice of “effects” is equally tasteless.  You can say, for instance, that a guy shit himself without showing a closeup of his ass covered in shit.    THAT should’ve been the picture on the cover.  It would’ve been more honest.

The main thrust of the plot is that the two primary characters Nathan and Justin (I refuse to call them protagonists because there’s nothing positive about them) proceed to drug, kidnap, rape in various ways, then kill, “straight” men who’ve picked on them because they’re gay.  As the movie proceeds, we’re either subjected to scenes with 3rd-grade drama club acting skills, in which they’re obviously reading cue cards, or scenes with 2nd-grade acting skills and shots of the same two unattractive asses thrusting back and forth as they rape their victims.  Oh, and don’t forget the first rape scene in which the victim dies with his rapist inside him–and promptly evacuates himself, as we humans tend to do at death, prompting the aforementioned ass-covered-in-shit shot.

I can’t even begin to adequately condemn the dialogue.  Suffice it to say that I’ve heard better dialogue in silent movies.  Oh, yes.

Most disturbing to me, however, is the fact that someone actually thinks there’s a market for this mess.  This sick fantasy arose from the author’s imagination, and I shudder to think what that author does in his personal life.  God forbid Dr. Dobson and company should get their hands on this movie–I can fully see it being used as a tool against the gay community.  “See!?!” they’ll say.  “THIS is what those sodomites want for our nation!!”  Great.  Thanks a lot, asshole.

Honestly, Skull & Bones is THAT BAD.  I forced, yes, forced myself to watch the entire movie.  I said I would watch it, and I keep my word.  Then I BURNED IT.  I even burned the envelope it came in.  I burned it, then took a shower to wash the filth off of myself.

And here’s the one good thing about the movie: it made pretty sparks in the woodstove.

Recently a major gay blog (Scott-o-rama) went on hiatus.  Unfortunately for us that blog was a MAJOR supporter of this site and our traffic has dropped quite a bit.  We've always supported gay bloggers and encourage those of you in the blogosphere to link our items as much as you like.  You can also submit items to our site when you have an article, image, vidoe or whatever that is featured on your site.  We're glad to have you use our site to pique the interest of readers to visit your site.  A few hints to get your posts to the main page:  People like images and videos.  Just linking your blog is okay but a provocative quote will get more clickage.

But to make this symbiosis work we need your help to get eyballs here too.  I am asking those of you that have a blog to help out by linking us with a little banner button that will hopefully catch the eye of a few of your visitors.  More people visiting here means that when you do link your items more people will see it, vote foor it and click over to your site.  We'll do our part by posting the sexy videos and such but by all means post snippets from your serious articles.  If you make a post you are proud of, the next step should always be to pimp your work here!

The code for the button is as follows: 


It'll look like this: 

In return, we'll soon reinstate our blogroll (which used to be the biggest gay blog list on the net).  However, this time we'll only link bloggers that request to be on the list.  The old list was a nightmare to maintain but this time we'll keep the number down and only link our friends that actually visit this site and have active blogs.  I'll add the block for the blogroll as soon as we have about 10 requests or so.

Finally, thanks to Scott for all the past support.  Please come back soon!

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