urbanTechnocrat

Discrete? Not so much

I am online way too much. And I am a member of way too many "friend" sites and dating sites. And recently, I have noticed that being a part of all these sites has decreased my anonymity and the anonymity of most people. Let me give you an example...

So, I am a member of this gay online dating/hookup site where people try to be all discrete by hiding their faces in photos, but showing other things you sometimes just don't want to see. There are plenty of body shots... you see a lot of chests, asses, tattoos, and other unmentionables.

I am also a member of a few networking sites, such as Connexion and Friendster. And, I've found, so are many of these headless people from the previous hookup site. It's quite interesting when you are browsing one of these networking sites and come across a familiar picture, this time with a face. Think you're being discrete, huh? Not so much.

Now, I have a lot of information about you. I know your name, your real age (most people don't lie on these networking sites, but they do on dating sites), where you live, where you grew up, your occupation, your favorite movies/books, and alot of other crap along with additional pictures, most with your face.

And today at the gym I came across another one of those "You can't see my face" people when I recognized his tattoo. Not many people have the Hawaiian Islands tattooed on their forearm.

Anyway, I guess my whole rant is about the fact that its quite easy to find out who anyone is these days. We are just willingly posting our photos and putting all of our personal information out there. Anonymity is no longer.

'Brokeback Mountain' Cast on Oprah

It has been in talks for the past few days that Oprah would host the cast of 'Brokeback Mountain' on an upcoming show. Well, that show aired this morning in Chicago and blogger Malcontent has a video clip if you want to get a peek. Hopefully, you all knew about this and recorded it to TiVo, but if not, this is a great clip to catch the candidness of Ledger and Gyllenhaal regarding the movie. And while I haven't seen the entire show, I'm hoping it will change my earlier opinion of Jake in his previous interviews.

Watch the video

Travel daze

Despite the fact that I really don't have any money to spend, nothing much in savings, and I may be moving at the end of June, I haven't let that discourage me from traveling. Though, I really should. But, I can't really turn down vacations that have free lodging; nor a birthday celebration. Stay? Go. Stay? Go. Anyway, my travel plans are as follows (so far):

March 24: I'll be flying out to Vegas for Aaron's 30th birthday celebration. I haven't been there since October 2001, a few short weeks after air travel resumed in the U.S.

April 20: San Francisco, here I come. Thanks to Aaron's work travel schedule, I'll be staying and playing in the city with him for the weekend. The major plus is getting to see my adored Eric, along with Leland, Jack, Roby, and a few other familiar faces.

June 1: The gays descend on Orlando for yet another Gay Days celebration. Aaron, Stephen, Brian, and I will be having a blast at the hotel, the pool parties, the circuit events, and the theme parks. Go Mickey!

July 4th Weekend: Either PTown or Fire Island, depending on if my Boston boys secure a fun place to stay.

Labor Day Weekend: David and I have decided on either Cairo or someplace in Eastern Europe, like Prague. Destination and details will be forthcoming.

Not a bad travel plan, so far, if I do say so myself. And for early next year, I think a brood of boys will be heading out to Park City for the Sundance Film Festival and skiing. I have never skied before, and I probably won't if I decide to go. Look for me by the fire with my laptop or at one of the films.

So... anyone have any great travel plans? Let me know and maybe I can join you. :-)

Big Yellow Taxi

Blogs are fun, blogs are great, blogs are ...  I don't know what they are, but they are definitely interesting. Mine is much more of a personal journal and so, most times, not extremely interesting. However there are some really great ones out there.

Gothamist for example... a great blog that keeps you up-to-date on the happenings in the Big Apple. And its a commercial blog that has expanded out to Boston, Toronto, LA, London and many other places.

So while reading Gothamist, I came across New York Hack, the blog of a New York cab driver. Think Taxi Cab Confessions. Check it out!! Interesting and funny...

Disappearing act

The disappearing act... the #1 most performed act by gay men. And to tell you the truth, I am getting tired of it.

While I'll admit that I have performed the disappearing act more than once myself, I really hate it. The disappearing act is pretty self-explanatory. You meet a nice guy, think you had a great time, hang out again, have another great time, and then *poof* the guy vanishes. Emails aren't returned, voicemails are left unanswered, and there isn't any explanation of where the hell they went. It's happened to you, right? I think its happened to everyone. Its not like its a rare occurence; its common practice. And it sucks.

Not surprisingly, I've had yet another one disappear. And it wasn't even someone I wanted to date, but I thought there could at least be a good friendship out of it. It wasn't that I didn't really like him or I wasn't attracted to him, but the age gap and the fact that he's on a major TV network didn't really help the chances at all. So, I was fine with the friends thing. We had hung out a few times, he took me to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels on Broadway and then out to a great dinner. It was quite the night; fun yet relaxing and in the presence of great company. When I got home, I wrote a quick email thanking him for taking me out (he treated me which was very thoughtful) and headed to bed. I got an email the next morning:

Next time you talk to your momma, tell her she did one helluva job. You're new to this city, but I'd gotten to the point where I just kinda gave up on people here, and their lack of manners. To get nice notes, or a thank you means more then you know. It's the kind of stuff I was raised on, and now can see, you were as well. I enjoy spending time with you. You're smart, warm, and really -- a genuinely nice guy.

Nice right? Seems like he wants to keep hanging out, do the friends thing and all that. Well, within two days, *poof* he magically disappears. I've sent a few emails, nothing. I've called maybe twice and left one message with no returned calls. If I wasn't able to see him on TV, I'd think he was dead. And I just don't understand it. Did I say something offensive? I can't imagine I did. So, what the hell happened in a matter of a few days?

I can understand that someone may not be interested in hanging out, or may not have the time. That is fine. I think, however, that people should be more considerate and at least give the person a heads up about it instead of just vaporizing. That way everything is clear about what the situation is instead of having to wonder for a few days before finally just giving up.

And pretending to be interested is just as bad when you're not, so don't do that either.

Blue collar workers

So, I worked from home two times this week because I needed to have my TV repaired. Now while I enjoy the opportunity to be able to work from home it is, quite honestly, extremely boring. I have more fun at work goofing off and laughing histerically with my boss than I do sitting at home watching Martha and Judge Judy.

Tuesday the TV repair folks were supposed to call me in the morning to give me a time window in which they would be arriving. Well, they called my office phone instead of my cell phone and since I missed their call they couldn't come to fix the TV. And they gave me this news when I called them only 10 minutes after they left me a voicemail at work. Now they can't come until Thursday. Needless to say, I was pissed. Waiting around at home for nothing. That is, until I remembered I had the first of two pieces of my mirror being delivered.

<<BUZZ>> "Yes?"  "FedEx"

I was hoping for a hot FedEx delivery man when I opened the door. Sadly, he was not. Not even remotely; he WOULDN'T do in a pinch. Harsh, but true. <sigh> I was disappointed. The entire day was really a bust. I had to work the whole time. LOL!!

So today rolled around, and I was home again. I basically told the TV repair shop that even if they called me and I didn't answer, I was going to be home the whole day so they better send someone out. I got the call at 9a that they'd be coming before 3p... I also was waiting for the second piece of my mirror to come via UPS.

<<BUZZ>> "Yes?"  "UPS"

This is when I realized that porn stories really ARE just a bunch of fantasy. I opened the door and... well, not so much. I was 0/2 on delivery men this week. Since when did blue collar workers become less attractive? I mean, most guys have this sexy quality about them, or are at least built seeing as how they do all the heavy-lifting and what not. But no, not this guy. Ah, well. I still could hold out hope for the TV repair guy. So the repair guys show up... yes, there were two of them. And again, neither one attractive at all. And I even LIKE latinos. But, these guys were in their 40s and needed a little help in the waist area.

So there I sat again... another day at home, frustrated, bored with working, and nothing good to look at. I would have rather been at work. LOL!

Still hurts

My toe is black and blue... and it still hurts!

Surprisingly Awesome Weekend

So what I thought was going to be an uneventful weekend actually turned out to be a lot of fun! Oh, and painful. Let me explain...

Friday night, Adam & John (friends of my ex, but we're friendly) came into town, stopping by my apartment before we headed out to meet Brian at Therapy. It was a bar hopping kind of night with stops at Barrage and Secret later on in the evening. Good convo, great drinks, and I got to show the boys a few cool places they had never been before. Besides, I love the boys; they are some really great guys. Anyway, Adam goes to school near Tarrytown so when we all decided to leave, I had them come back with me to my apartment. It was just too far to drive at that hour and with that many drinks.

Saturday morning the boys left early so they could go check on their puppy back home. I, meanwhile, lied in bed until noon. I really shouldn't have. I'm the type of person that, when I force myself to sleep, I wake up more tired and grouchy than if I just got out of bed the first time I woke up. I never seem to learn though. Besides, it was a crappy day and I didn't have anywhere to be. I did catch up with Brian though, and met him and Todd in the city for some rainy day shopping. I was good; I only bought one shirt. :-)  Saturday night I went out to The Slide and 10th Avenue Lounge with Ken and Brian C. At the Lounge we met Ralph who, coincidentally enough, broke up with PH (the guy I was kinda/sorta seeing back in July) recently. Just when I thought I had removed myself from the annoying "everyone knows everyone" crap in Boston, I run into the new ex of someone I was dating. Doesn't it figure...

That aside, yesterday turned out to be a great day. While cold and blustery, I couldn't use that as an excuse to skip brunch with my favorite David. We ate at a place in the East Village called 7A (at 7th and Ave A, surprisingly) where I downed two Bloody Mary's only because they came with brunch. LOL! This was followed by a nice little coffee date at Starbucks in Astor Place with a nice Jewish lawyer. Won't say much about that other than I hope we get to hang out again sometime soon.

So, last night I managed to convince John and Adam to come back into the city for a night of fun at Hiro. All I can say is "wow!" I really loved the space, although it was a bit over-crowded. All my favorite people were there including Brian, Todd, Erik, David, and Michael. The only drawback of the night was when John was dancing on a wobbly bench that tipped... and landed RIGHT ON MY TOE! OW! OW! OW! I didn't realize the extent of the injury until I got home this morning at 4a and took off my sock. Completely black and blue... I think I'm suing.

By the way, Happy Martin Luther Jr. Day.

renamed.

I've renamed the blog AND given it a new address.

urbanTechnocrat can now be found at www.urbantechnocrat.com

Design changes will be forthcoming. :)

New Years Re-cap

So, it started Saturday, December 31. After a being out at Opaline the previous night, Aaron and I woke up about noon or so to start the day. We actually just kind of hung around and did nothing. The past 4 days of us going out and me worn down, and that's rare! It had become increasingly colder and there was a light rain which eventually turned into snow. Great, the last thing I want to see on a night when I'll be standing outside for an extended period of time.

I also had to resolve my cell phone situation. I had been "phone-less" since Friday morning when I realized that I had left it in a cab the night before (note to self: losing your cell phone in a cab is a major pain in the ass). I went up to the Cingular store in Brooklyn Heights and got myself a new SIM card to use in one of my back up phones. How exciting... can't you see how exciting the day is going?

When I got back we got ready to go out. I have to say we were looking smashing! We headed over to a friend of Aaron's in the West Village who was having a little gathering. He was a theater director that worked a lot with community theater programs. The conversation was interesting and so were the guests, but sadly we had to leave early so that we could get to our party in time.

Times Square was a mad house. We had to report to 43rd and 8th to get our security badges which would allow us into the Times Square area. We were going to an amazing party hosted by the Times Square Alliance at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurant. The restaurant is right on Broadway in the middle of all the action. It was an all you can eat, all you can drink, all you can party it up extravaganza. And the best part was you were able to walk right out of the restaurant into a closed off area for party go-ers only. I didn't have to wait for HOURS in the cold to get a good spot for the ball drop. It was amazing.

At 11:40p we walked out into Times Square into or little area. Mariah was going to be performing on the stage in front of us and we wanted to try to get a good view. It was COOOOLD. Poor girl looked like a frozen icicle! Not even 20 minutes later we were standing there, in the Square counting down...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! WOOOOHOOOOO!!! <confetti> <confetti> <confetti> <cue music>

Aaron and I had met the two Irish lads at the party who were visiting from Dublin. Soooo adorable those two. After the ball had dropped, we stayed for about another hour to get some more of the open bar time and then we all headed to Secret. We had even picked up Brian before we left; he was next door with some of his work folks. And only in NYC can you walk around picking up more gay men. LOL!! By the time we got to Secret we had picked up another two who didn't know what to do or where to go now that the festivities were over.

OK, so this was kind of a boring entry, but there aren't too many specifics anyway. Take a look at the pictures though. It was quite a sight. HAPPY 2006 everyone!

And BTW: In a few days I'm going to back-post this entry... I was just too tired to write the day after, but I can't post the re-cap 14 days later. It has to be near when it acutally happened... so hope you can deal, people!!