The rest is just gravy
Scottie’s got a lot to crow about, because unlike his buddy Peter Pan, Scottie is an adorable, whip-smart, compassionate, intelligent man who is celebrating his birthday today. And I’m the lucky guy who gets to celebrate it with him. I love you, Scottie. Happy Birthday!
Scot’s butt is on the line… literally, at the Prime Meridian in Greenwich England.
So, Neil Patrick Harris is gay. We all know this. We all know that he’s also one of our current “it boys” — seemingly able to do no wrong whether he’s playing straight on TV (How I Met Your Mother) or at the movies (Harold & Kumar) or doing the song and dance thing with Joss Whedon (Dr. Horrible’s Sing-along Blog) or whatever he wants to do. So why is there now this little backlash over at Gawker stating that’s he’s “too straight?” More, why am I hearing about it for the first time on one of my comics blogs where the Occasional Superheroine takes issues with Gawker’s post? Both sides actually have merit to their argument, and I am at a loss as to where I fall. Guess it depends on the time of day. Bravo for Mr. Harris’ success, and it’s always nice to see more successful gay people in the entertainment business. And come on, he looks pretty hot on that Out Magazine cover.
As you’ve probably noticed, I don’t post as much as Scottie does, but every once in a while I see something that I just have to share.
First there was Vulva (totally not safe for work, but truly a must-see website. Don’t skip the video) the original scent of a woman… and now we’ve got Bálla powder, on sale at, of all places, Amazon.com (you know, the online bookstore?) This talc powder is designed to keep your scrotum silky-dry, smooth, and fresh-smelling. Really. Now I’m a fan of a dry, smooth, aromatic scortum as much as the next guy, but I’m not sure if a special powder is needed to do the job. Here are a couple of excerpts from the product features list on its Amazon page:
Better yet, here’s the product description from Amazon:
Balla Powder for Men is the ideal anti-chafing and anti-wetness solution for clammy sacks. Guaranteed to prevent the dreaded “bat wing” syndrome, Balla Powder for Men is lightly scented with a masculine fragrance, for anyone else who plans to work in your close quarters. Can be sprinkled into your fudgies for all-day-long comfort and dryness. A fabulous post-workout treatment, Balla Powder for Men can also be used between your cheeks, as well as on fetid feet and aromatic armpits.
Tell me truly, do you spend a lot of time worrying about the dreaded “bat wing” syndrome? And what’s the matter with good old baby powder if this is really an issue? Of course, this product does come in original, fragrance free and “tingle” formula. Hmmm. Well, Scottie’s birthday is coming up in August, and I’ve been trying to think of something unique to get for him (and it’s only $15). This just might do the trick.
The Graveyard Book is Neil Gaiman’s latest work for children coming out in September. Now I don’t remember what it was like to be 10 or 11, but his man in his forties loved this novel. No one writes books with appeal to all ages as well as Neil Gaiman. Borrowing a concept from Kipling’s The Jungle Book, which tells the story of an orphan raised in the jungle, The Graveyard Book features a toddler who wanders out of the house and into the graveyard after his family is brutally murdered, and is raised by the spirits and others beings who live there.
Young Bod (short for Nobody) is adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Owens, a kindly couple who died childless, and watched over by Silas, a mysterious and powerful being who is neither alive nor dead. Bod learns the secrets of the graveyard, and things no living beings know. As he grows up, he begins to encounter the living from time to time, and a curiosity is sparked. All the while, Jack, the man who murdered his family, is hoping to correct his failure by finding and finishing of Bod as well.
Gaiman populates The Graveyard Book with all the sorts of mystical and fantastic creatures he is known for. Silas’ wonderful, Eastern European substitute guardian Miss Luprescu is surely my favorite, but from ghouls to witches and other denizens of the dead, there is something to astound and capture everyone’s imagination. Watch for this one when it’s published in September.
Of course, friends of mine will know I’ve got a long-standing admiration for Mr. Gaiman, and about a month ago, while attending BookExpo America in Los Angeles, I was able to meet and hang out with Mr. Gaiman not once, but twice! The second time I even was so bold as to ask to have my picture taken with him. It was a geeky thing to do, and I’m smiling way too hard in the photo, but at least I hvae it. I’ve been reading Neil’s work since the 80’s when he broke into comics at DC with the Black Orchid miniseries. Shortly after that Neil began what has become arguably his most popular work, The Sandman. His work as a novelist began with the riotously fun Good Omens, co-written by Terry Pratchett. He has since hit the NYT bestsellers’ list on his own with the titles American Gods and The Anansi Boys. He has done screenplay work for such films as PRINCESS MONONOKE, MIRRORMASK, and BEOWULF. His young adult novel Coraline has been adapted for the screen and is due out later this year.