Sunday, January 27, 2008

Have you considered a Boyzilian?

Men seeking Beckham effect go wild for Boyzilians?

Intimate waxing is gaining popularity among males gay and straight, salons say

It wasn't the first thing most people noticed when they saw the posters of David Beckham modelling a new range of designer underpants. But once they had finished inspecting the xylophone stomach muscles, cooed at the snug fit of his briefs and imagined themselves as the object of his come-hither look, their eyes were drawn to the footballer's upper and inner thighs. They looked awfully smooth. Had he ... he hadn't, had he? ... done his bikini line?
The Guardian

Friday, January 25, 2008

Memorial sought for Soldier Bear

A campaign has been launched to build a permanent memorial to a bear which spent much of its life in Scotland - after fighting in World War II.

The bear - named Voytek - was adopted in the Middle East by Polish troops in 1943, becoming much more than a mascot.

The large animal even helped their armed forces to carry ammunition at the Battle of Monte Cassino.

Voytek - known as the Soldier Bear - later lived near Hutton in the Borders and ended his days at Edinburgh Zoo.

He was found wandering in the hills of Iran by Polish soldiers in 1943.

They adopted him and as he grew he was trained to carry heavy mortar rounds.

When Polish forces were deployed to Europe the only way to take the bear with them was to "enlist" him.

So he was given a name, rank and number and took part in the Italian campaign.

He saw action at Monte Cassino before being billeted - along with about 3,000 other Polish troops - at the army camp in the Scottish Borders.

The soldiers who were stationed with him say that he was easy to get along with.

"He was just like a dog - nobody was scared of him," said Polish veteran Augustyn Karolewski, who still lives near the site of the camp.

"He liked a cigarette, he liked a bottle of beer - he drank a bottle of beer like any man."

When the troops were demobilised, Voytek spent his last days at Edinburgh Zoo.

Mr Karolewski went back to see him on a couple of occasions and found he still responded to the Polish language.

"I went to Edinburgh Zoo once or twice when Voytek was there," he said.

"And as soon as I mentioned his name he would sit on his backside and shake his head wanting a cigarette.

"It wasn't easy to throw a cigarette to him - all the attempts I made until he eventually got one."

Voytek was a major attraction at the zoo until his death in 1963.

Eyemouth High School teacher Garry Paulin is now writing a new book, telling the bear's remarkable story.

Local campaigner Aileen Orr would like to see a memorial created at Holyrood to the bear she says was part of both the community and the area's history.

She first heard about Voytek as a child from her grandfather, who served with the King's Own Scottish Borderers.

"I thought he had made it up to be quite honest but it was only when I got married and came here that I knew in fact he was here, Voytek was here," she said.

"When I heard from the community that so few people knew about him I began to actually research the facts.

"It is just amazing, the story is totally amazing."

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Michael Underwood quits Dancing On Ice

GMTV reporter Michael Underwood has been forced to pull out of the ITV show Dancing on Ice after breaking his right ankle during a training session.

He told GMTV that dropping out of the show had left him 'devastated'.

Underwood was practising a routine with ice skater Melanie Lambert when he fell awkwardly while stopping on the ice. He was then taken to hospital.

'I'd like to say I was attempting some amazing triple axel or something, but I was just trying to stop,' he said.

A show spokesperson said: 'After breaking his ankle last night, Michael Underwood can no longer compete in Dancing on Ice.'

Whilst clearing coming second to Chris Fountain in terms of what might be termed 'hotness', Michael Underwood scored huge ticks in the categories of 'adorable' and 'funny'.

Lovely guy - why oh why couldn't it have been the utterly gormless Greg Rusedski...?

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Heath Ledger 1979-2008



Hollywood actor Heath Ledger has been found dead at a residence in downtown Manhattan.

'He was found unconscious at the apartment and pronounced dead,' the New York Police Department said, adding that pills were found near the body.

Police are reportedly investigating if the Australian actor, who earned an Oscar nomination for Brokeback Mountain, died of a drug overdose, possibly from prescibed medication.

The 28-year-old was found dead in the flat at around 1530 (2030 GMT).

The exact cause of death is still being investigated, but suicide has not been ruled out. Apparently Heath Ledger had been in a spiral of addiction and depression for some time.

In September the Perth-born actor split from his girlfriend Michelle Williams, with whom he has a two-year-old daughter, Matilda. She played his wife in 2005 film Brokeback Mountain.

The film's director Ang Lee said Ledger's performance had been a 'miracle' of acting, echoing a young Marlon Brando.

He won an Oscar nomination for his role as a gay cowboy in the film but the award went to Philip Seymour Hoffman for his role as Truman Capote.

Ledger starred in I'm Not There, as one of several actors in a role representing singer Bob Dylan. He also plays the Joker in yet-to-be-released Batman film, The Dark Knight.

There can't be many gay men who were not touched by the intensity, strength, restraint and dignity of his acting in the iconic Brokeback Mountain.

Nothing in his work prior to Brokeback really gave any clue that he was capable of so completely inhabiting a character and giving such a moving and memorable performance.

And for that performance he will never be forgotten.


John Galliano at Paris Fashion Week

Paris-based British fashion designer John Galliano [pictured] turned to the dark side of history with his 2008/2009 autumn/winter collection for Paris Fashion Week.

Galliano's collection, called Ice, focused on the fairs which once took place on the frozen Thames in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, when the climate was more severe and the masses would gather and hold fairs and celebrations on the ice, wrapped up in as many layers as possible.

Galliano's look back in time saw princes, judges, guillotine victims and harlequins take to the catwalk. The fashion inquisition featured some shocking images, which featured bloody body paint as well as models dressed for an execution, complete with ropes and hoods.

You have to love Galliano for his incredible imagination, theatricality and the historical richness of his couture collections.

Wearable? Actually, some of the pieces would convert well to the high street and heaven knows most menswear is so boring...








You can see more shots from the Galliano show here

Friday, January 18, 2008

Henry Cavill at Selfridges

Henry Cavill at his personal appearance at Selfridges, London this week in his capacity as the face of dunhill's new LONDON fragrance - looking as handsome as you could wish and wearing an outfit [presumably also dunhill] that brings to mind the fact that he apparently came close to securing the role of James Bond - the producers finally decided he was too young and Daniel Craig won out.

I bet he smells nice.



More pictures here

Exterface - Two Hearts

Exterface is a creative duo comprised of Julien and Stéphane.
More than photographs, they create poetic picture and stories.
They are responsible for their own art direction and graphic design.

Exterface is based in Paris, France.


Exterface

Their work is reminsiscent of Pierre & Gilles without being at all derivative or nearly as kitsch; altogether a more modern experience and their exquisite website is well worth a look.

Their latest piece of work is entitled Two Hearts and is a luminous tale of bears (or cubs) in love.





Monday, January 14, 2008

Chris Fountain

Actor Chris Fountain is just one of a group of well known - and not so well known names- being put through their paces on ITV's popular skating celebrity show Dancing On Ice, which has just started a new season.

Best known for his role as the rebellious teen Justin Burton in Channel 4's Hollyoaks, Chris had previously featured in a number of dramas including Where The Heart Is, The Royal, and Bob and Rose, and recently took centre stage in the BBC's singing competition, Just the Two Of Us, coming third.

Still just twenty years old, this talented and sexy young man has a bright career ahead of him - if he can stay upright on the ice. In any case, after his role in Hollyoaks, he is used to be being bruised.

Henry Cavill

The lovely Henry Cavill - best known recently for his appearances in The Tudors - has been revealed as the face of British luxury brand dunhill's new LONDON fragrance.


The fragrance launched its worldwide exclusive at Selfridges London (also available at Selfridges Birmingham and Manchester) on 10 January 2008.

This is a scent for any gentleman that embraces his surroundings, exudes his personality, and embodies the city in which he lives. Especially if that city is London, one imagines. This scent links the historical craft of perfumery with the modern innovation of the dunhill brand.

If you're quick and handy for London you can pick up a bottle and actually meet - or gaze longingly at - Henry Cavill, who will be doing a meet and greet in Selfridges Oxford Street 16 January at 12.30.

David Beckham


Not limited to modelling white Emporio Armani pants, David Beckham has now revealed that he is able to model black Emporio Armani pants too. Jolly well, too.

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

2008 - a new year


Pierre et Gilles celebrate sport in their own unique style