The birthday girl gets a red-hot post for the mid-day hour. Here are a few of her hotter timeline entries:
She gave us ‘Fever‘…
Nothing like a good spanky…
It will burn inside of me…
Warm wind carried on the sea, called to me…
Candy kisses and a sunny day…
Jumping in the pool and swimming with our clothes on…
That little fire is still alive in me…
 The Ministry of Madge-ic should have decreed this an International Holiday many years ago, but until such time as sense prevails, we will unofficially celebrate the birth of our majestic muse, Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone, on this day of our Lord, August 16.
Madonna means many things to me, and while my fandom has matured and cooled over the years, it’s also solidified into something reliably fun, endlessly engaging, and perennially interesting. She still elicits the same thrill I felt decades ago when a new song or album was due to be released, the same joy I feel when revisiting her extensive and exquisite back catalog, and the same wonder at very new endeavor she deigns to attempt.
The First Hundred entries of the Madonna Timeline have already been contained with these two posts: Retrospective One and Retrospective Two. It’s been a while since we recapped the ones that came afterward, however, so here is the collection of entries 100 through now. We are not quite at the end (may it never come) but we’re approaching the last quarter of those songs currently lodged in my iTunes account. A few classic gems have yet to be excavated (the entries for ‘Vogue’ and ‘Express Yourself’ haven’t been written) so some good stuff is still on the horizon. In the meantime, here’s a quick link-back to the last thirty entries. Happy birthday, M.
#128 – Messiah                Â
As the rest of the diving world gets challenged by the windy conditions at Rio for today’s springboard competition, the Americans relied on their outdoor practice to make strides into medal territory. This is Kristian Ipsen, who was right behind Zac Efron look-alike Michael Hixon the last time I checked – but these standings are as volatile as the peripatetic wind.
The Rings.
They are the true test of strength, focus, balance, endurance, and body fitness.
I can barely hang onto a handrail going up a flight of stairs, so the idea of holding onto two rings that aren’t connected to one another is a feat of superhuman insanity.
Eleftherios Petrounias has no such issues, as exhibited by his wondrous performance at this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio. Representing Greece, he does his country proud.
{Note: The Madonna Timeline is an ongoing feature, where I put the iPod on shuffle, and write a little anecdote on whatever was going on in my life when that Madonna song was released and/or came to prominence in my mind.}
Why this plotting thud wasn’t excised and replaced with something like ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’ on the otherwise mostly brilliant ‘Rebel Heart‘ album is beyond me, but here it is. A filler track at best, ‘Best Night’ is Madonna at her laziest, both musically and lyrically.
There’s really nothing more to say, but this is far from her ‘Best.’
YOU CAN CALL ME ‘M’ TONIGHT
SONG #130: ‘Best Night’ – Spring 2015
It’s stank outside.
In this heat and humidity, grammar and words don’t mean much.
(Kind of like Donald Trump every day of the year.)
On with the previous week and everything that went down on this site, including the kick-off to my birthday countdown.
It was all about the Rio Summer Olympics.
Swimmers like Adam Peaty, Marcelo Chierighini, Chad Le Clos (but no cigar), Ryan Lochte, Ryan Held, Joseph Schooling, and Anthony Ervin.
Gymnasts like Marcel Nguyen, Brinn Bevan, and Kohei Uchimura.
Divers like Zac Efron look-alike and doppelgänger Michael Hixon.
Runners like LaShawn Merritt.
Volleyball players like Matt Anderson.
Gingers like Christophe Harting and the great Greg Rutherford.
Heroes like Amini Fonua.
Sexiest Olympic Couple: David & Steele or Dan & Tom?
Because one post wasn’t enough, here’s the bodacious bulge of Ryan Lochte again.
Even the Hunks of the Day were mostly Olympic men: Nicolai Ceban, Devon Allen, Chen Aisen, Ryan Murphy, and Dan Goodfellow.
Not to be outdone by all the Olympic bodies, these gentlemen bared their all, and a few famous nude guys made for a rollicking post. Including the otherwise wretched Justin Bieber.
Somehow Madonna managed to make her way into the proceedings, with this gorgeous song from the ‘Like A Prayer’ album.
Gay Uncles Day? Whatevs.
A gymnast from the Summer Olympics 2016 host country Brazil, this is Diego Hypolito, who recently tumbled for us, and did his country proud with an impressive floor routine. I love when the host country rises to the occasion, and Mr. Hypolito made that dream come true.
We love a good comeback story. Sixteen years ago, Anthony Ervin won his first gold medal at the Olympics. In the ensuing years, he dabbled with alcohol and drugs, womanizing and a suicide attempt, but managed to make his way back to the Olympic Games in Rio this summer. Last night, he won his second gold medal. I can’t imagine what he must be feeling, but I’m guessing it’s pretty good. Congrats to Mr. Ervin for making it back to the top of that golden mountain.
I’m not claiming that title.
Yet.
Today is somehow ‘Gay Uncles Day’ which is ridiculous and wonderful and something I want nothing to do with unless gifts are involved. In a world where the hunt for the next Hallmark Holiday has run dry, leave it to the Gay Uncles to step up the fabulousness. (Though I do wonder why the Gay Aunts aren’t included.)
It just so happens that my niece and nephew will be visiting us for a summer dinner later today, so we’ll celebrate in our own way (likely with Uncle Al doing their bidding). They’ve provided a bright spot in this otherwise rather dark summer, and for that I am grateful. Summer’s not over yet, and I’m reminded of that in the exuberance of a child. Or two.
Greg Rutherford has been one of the most popular figures featured here, and thanks to this sizzling collection of photos the reasons are quite apparent. It doesn’t get hotter than a super-fit ginger who has been an ally to the LGBT community for his entire career. Cheeky photo-shoots that emphasize his ass don’t hurt either, and he has just the right amount of body ink to be both elegant and a little edgy. Here, we present some of his finer shots in honor of his long-jump endeavors at the Rio Summer Olympics.
Mr. Rutherford’s history here goes back a while, with his initial Hunk of the Day feature, wherein he posed and pulled his pants down just enough to whet the appetite for more.
He got a little more naked here for a butt-baring GIF that I’ll repost below for good measure.
On Twitter I posed the question of whether Christoph Harting was the hottest ginger at these summer Olympics. A resounding ‘NO’ was also accompanied by the simple proclamation that it was Greg Rutherford. Who am I to argue with Twitter?
In addition to his features, Rutherford also helms a number of miscellaneous posts, such as this one, where he adds his powerful back-end to the naked likes of Orlando Bloom, Justin Bieber, and Epke Wonderland.
His most nude post maybe this sexy recap where he joins force with a naked Dan Osborne for some British Booty Exhibitionism.
Even when he’s a minor, albeit-crotch-grabbing, part of a post, he still burns bright, even in black-and-white.
Congrats to Mr. Rutherford for making it to another Olympic Games. Here’s hoping this is just the beginning of many more fabulous photo shoots. Go Gingers!
{And if you want to see his biggest ass-baring photo, it’s right here in this post.}
This discus-throwing ginger behemoth from Germany just won the Gold Medal at the Rio Olympics, and there’s absolutely nothing about this that I don’t like. This site has been partial to gingers since the great Greg Rutherford disrobed for the first (but not the last) time. As for Mr. Harting, kudos to his gold-medal-winning spin-and-throw.
The Delusional Grandeur Tour may be even more delusional than originally thought, as my traveling seems to have diminished greatly. When you only have to step out your back door to an 87-degree pool, and back inside to a cool 70-degree house, travel seems largely unappealing. That said, I still enjoy a jaunt out of town, and this tour is still in full-effect until I say it isn’t. Hence this bonus tour post, which recalls the Hotel portion of the Tour book. Rather than trouble you with further discussion, here are a few links to bring you back to one of my favorite hobbies: staying in hotels.
“I’m more at home with my backpack, sleeping in a hotel room or on a bus or on an airplane. Than I am necessarily on a bed. It’s weird being here. It feels like I’m standing next to my real life.†~ Henry Rollins
There’s a distinctive shift that comes over me when I’m in a hotel room. A sense of safety in anonymity, the possibility of being unknown and untouchable. Ensconced in a lofty space high above a city, or on the ground floor of some seaside retreat, I find comfort in being a transient stranger.
We are all known in our own circles, and that can be incredibly wearying.
As much as we strive to be known, to be recognized, to be seen, we sometimes forget that it comes with its own set of burdens and responsibilities.
I long for a different kind of freedom, something that can only be found when you go away.
I will never understand, or forgive, NBC for relegating the men’s springboard diving competition to 1:30 AM, but by chance and luck I managed to catch the bodacious back-ends of the whole thing to see Jack Laugher and Chris Mears win the gold in a spellbinding upset. The US gained the silver and the heavily-favored Chinese team earned the bronze. It was quite the (late) night. Mr. Laugher and Mr. Mears have been featured here before, so this seems as good a time as any to recap some of the loveliness that this Olympic Games has brought into our lives.
Chris Mears has gone naked for some scorching layouts, and Jack Laugher bared his butt for all the world to see as well.
Tom Daley and his diving partner Dan Goodfellow made a striking pair, and a pair of practically-splash free performances.
Michael Phelps has made more history winning a couple more gold medals in these games, but most visitors to these parts will focus on his naked photos for the ESPN Body Issue. His friendly rivalry with Ryan Lochte, and not-so-friendly rivalry with Chad Le Clos made for some riveting moments. Mr. Lochte has his own sizable following, thanks to pics like these.
Another swimmer who made a sexy splash on this site is Marcelo Chierighini.
The US Men’s Gymnastics team didn’t fare as well medal-wise, but body-wise they were charged up and ready to impress, proudly proclaiming they be happy to perform without shirts. No one put up an argument.
Entering the second week of the Summer Olympics, we’re only about half-way through, so more Hunks are sure to come.
When he was a kid, Joseph Schooling looked up to Michael Phelps as an inspiration for an incredible swimming career. Today, Schooling edged out Phelps for the Gold Medal, and it was a sight to behold. The swimmer from Singapore sailed past Phelps and Chad Le Clos to take his own moment of Olympic glory. It was a great race, and seeing Phelps give him a hug at the end of it is an exercise in classy sportsmanship. Congrats to Mr. Schooling on his golden triumph.
Volleyball dynamo Matt Anderson has done wonders for the US team in the Rio Summer Olympics, and he’s doing some fine things for the blog as well if we are to judge this crop of fit and fine photos. Mr. Anderson also has a growing collection of body ink artwork. I’m especially partial to that tree. (And that beard.)
