I knew he would make it to Final Three.

This last challenge is something he does all the time.

In fact, one of the shoots he did for The Magazine just won some national award.

I can't remember which covers he's done, though.

I can't wait to get the deets once he's not under a non-disclosure thingy.

Honestly, I think the lesbina chick should have been the one booted off.

Speaking of antlers...

303 Magazine's Hair/Fashion Show

Question for my readers.

The Magazine wants me to do a piece on what kind of skin regimens people do. Since I have a some-what captive audience, I figured I get a reading of you guys do. Take the poll:

Opinion Polls & Market Research

For October issue of The Magazine.

For those of you who are new to Bon Jour, Pee Wee, I write for a column in The Magazine called 'He Said, She Said'.

It's a fun piece where three people; a straight guy, a straight girl, and the gay of the village [that's me] write our opinion on one topic.

October's topic is how to keep a long term relationship interesting:

You want to keep a long term relationship exciting? Date an Aries. Seriously, you will never have to worry about the lack of drama (good and bad). I actually had a potential dating partner turn me down after he found out I was an Aries. He said he had already rode our mental-merry-go round, and didn’t want to take another spin. (His loss).

If you’re not lucky enough to date an Aries, I would say that the way to keep things interesting is to try and prevent going in to a rut in the first place. Part of the benefits of being in a long term relationship is that you and your mate eventually find your groove or rhythm.

But that can be a trap. One day you’ll wake up and realize that some takeout and a night, in has become you’re entire life. So if you make a concerted at the beginning to not get caught up in the monotonous and repetitive, you shouldn’t have to worry about down the road.

If you’re out of luck and things have gone stale, the steadfast rule is variety and surprise can work wonders. And when in doubt, adding a little kink doesn’t hurt either.

Another article for the October issue.

Thinking about getting a personal trainer but don’t know where to start about going to get one? There are a few things you should know before jumping head-long in to a commitment.

First thing is that here in Colorado, one does not need to be licensed or certified to become a practicing personal trainer. It is, however, recommended that you do find someone who is licensed and certified as you do not want to work with someone who, improperly trained, could actually cause serious injury to your precious body.

The American College of Sports Medicine [ASCM] and the National Strength Conditioning Association [NSCA] are both institutions to look for when selecting potential trainers. Certification from these entities does not exactly define how good a trainer is, but it does inform you that they have passed the minimum requirements in order to be at least, certified. They should also know CPR and basic first aid techniques, and be able to furnish proof of such.

It is also not a bad idea to use personal references from friends and family. If a trainer is a practicing professional, they should have no problem giving you their own personal references, if it is a trainer that comes unsolicited.

Next up, you want to find out what kind of fee or rate you are going to pay. You can get a feel for what the average price of a trainer is by calling around to various gyms and getting information on what they charge. This will give you some sense of where to start off when negotiating a contract. Be advised though, that more experienced trainers, as well as such things as if the trainer will be coming to you, rather than you going to a gym or their facility, will also be a factor in determining cost. Some trainers charge by session, but others may charge by the program. Make sure you discuss what your goals are and how the trainer will attempt to attain those goals with you.

Probably the biggest factor when looking for a trainer is personal compatibility. You need to consider such things as personality, your comfort level with this person who is going to be touching you, and just that general sense of whether or not you and the trainer “mesh well”. Having a trainer that you don’t like will kill your motivation, which in the end will make the whole thing a waste of time and money.

Finally, if you really want to see if a trainer is worth their salt, they should have a very clear and defined exercise or training philosophy. If you have a hard time getting motivated, maybe a drill-instructor type is for you. But as mentioned before with the compatibility factor, you want to factor in their philosophy with what you actually think you can handle. Also, don’t judge a book by its cover. Just because that trainer has buns and abs of steel does not mean that their statuesque figure was not the result of plastic surgery, or exercise obsession.

Hee hee.

Tape Dispenser



Martini Shaker

These are some pieces from this artist I found for features for The Magazine.

Her name is Carol Boyes.

Funny that.

Every time deadline comes around for the magazine, I start freaking out because, yet again, I have procrastinated.

It's a big task to come up with ten things to review, that I find funky and unique.

Not to mention, either getting high resolution images from the vendor, or having to take the product photo myself.

You see, in the beginning, my 'column' was just random stuff I would come across that I thought most people might miss.

[Kinda like this lil' blog here].

At first, it was all text.

Which was fine, but I never received any feedback from readers, or from other members on staff.

Then the editor and art director decided to change things up a bit, and the format slightly changed, but now I had to get images.

Problem with that was that 500 words, and half a page everything wouldn't fit.

So I got bumped up to a full page [retail $2500 for any one who wants to advertise - ha - shameless plug].

Going to a full page, meant also being bumped up to 1000 words.

[!]

This on top of the other articles I might be given.

So the format change happened, and the staff commented on how they really liked it.

Still no response from readers though.

So it's been about three issues with the new format, each of which, was spent working at the last minute to find, review, and get images for products.

Each time, I seriously debated about just handing the feature over to someone else since it does get so stressful at deadline.

But that changes when an issue comes out, and everyone raves about it.

Needless to say, I am on deadline this week and have bupkis for content.

To top that off, over the weekend, I had a meet and greet with a new vendor, about featuring items from their store.

Luckily, they have some groovy things, but my journalistic-self has some issue with shilling for businesses.

I'll shill as long as I like the product/business.

I am trying to come to terms with that, since it is, after all, a magazine, and not like a hardcore-serious newspaper, or anything.

It is also this week, that I have found out that they want to bump me to two pages for the next issue.

[Which is another problem, the way our deadlines are set up, I am confused what month it is.

We're on deadline for October, and in my day to day life, I keep thinking it's September].

One good thing though, is they have finally hired a marketing director, and she has already been successful in getting product from various peeps.

I originally was left to fend for myself when it came to contacting marketing types and PR firms to get info.

[For wanting to get their word out about stuff, they are really lax about getting back to you.]

So it looks like I won't have to find stuff anymore, rather just sift through the stuff we get and see what I like.

I should talk with Jeff at Pop-O-Matic, since it seems that he does what I am doing, but as his actual job.

It's just funny that every time I think about quitting, something comes along to change that.

Question to my readers.

For October's issue of The Magazine, I need to write about personal trainers, and I was wondering if any of you knew of one, that I could ask a few questions via email.

Deadline for that issue is August 24th, so it would be in the near future.

Let me know via email or comments.

Thanks!

My first stab....

at taking product photos for the magazine.

Thoughts?

It's the raw photo. I haven't had the chance to color correct it yet.

Another article for the mag.

Writing articles for the magazine often gets you to analyze things you normally pay no mind to. Take for example, your nails. While doing research for this piece, I became hyper-aware of the state of mine [as if I didn't already have enough things to have OCD over].

I actually used to have the nasty habit of biting my nails, which is not only gross, but unsanitary. But when I thought about what your hands come across during the course of a day, I dropped that habit quick. [I’m a bit of a germophobe as well].

Then there are your feet. We really punish them don't we? We also tend to take them for granted; that is until they get injured and/or incapacitated. It was then that I became a convert for the male manicure/pedicure.

While some may see men getting manicures and pedicures as something only girlie-men do, basically it is just the next level of personal hygiene. You wouldn't chide a guy for getting his hair professionally cut, or regularly seeing a dental hygienist, would you? The mani/pedi is pretty much the same thing.

Believe me, there are people out there who notice the little things like gnarly digits. The procedure itself is about properly cleaning and shaping the nails, and cleaning up any problems like dry cuticles, and hangnails. In all actuality though, if you maintain your hand health, you won't get hangnails and have cuticle issues.

Hygiene is especially important when it comes to the feet. Your feet can produce up to a pint of sweat each day, and this, coupled with being sausaged in to a pair of shoes, your feet can become breeding grounds for fungi, resulting in some heinously smelly feet.

So not only do getting regular treatments improve the appearance of your hands and feet, it can also contribute to healthier limbs. If the technician knows their stuff, you get the added bonus of getting your extremities massaged. For those on their feet all day, or on a computer all day, this stimulation can prove to be extremely refreshing and relaxing.

If you still don't have the cojones to go to a spa to get the treatment done, you should at least invest in a men's manicure set. A simple set should include a pair of cuticle scissors, a cuticle pusher, a pair of clippers, and a file. There are more elaborate kits out there that include additional tools to help you show that you pay attention to detail.

Recently, a friend of mine recounted a story of getting their leg sliced by their partner who had Sasquatch-length toenails, while in the throes of passion. Not only would that be painful, it could be messy. In this day and age, no one should be walking around with deadly talons like that on purpose.

The Peace Project

The latest installation at Museum Of Contemporary Art's Lo Do Temporary space is a piece by Miami-based artist/architect team Roberto Behar and Rosario Marquardt. Known for their permanent large scale public installations, ‘The Peace Project’ aims to 'construct a sensuous and color-drenched environment -- an experimental space for the idea of hope.'

Upon entering through a hanging corridor of streamers, you come across the main space. Outlining the walls, and ceilings, are bright swaths of color and light. Much like the previous installation by Redl, the effect of replacing the walled structure of the space, with a distortive treatment, helps the viewer to become engulfed in the piece.

In contrast to the joviality of color, is the main element. Off center, is a multi-pointed star, with miniature people milling about. One figure is also seen, curled up, asleep next to one of the star points.

As with all art, the work's meaning depends on the interpretation by the viewer. With this piece, however, the artists present you with some of their thoughts on their thought process. The star is supposed to represent a cryptic visitor that inspires contemplation by humanity. Is the star, a positive or negative harbinger, of a fate that is to come?

It is an interesting thing to contemplate, given today's global climate of human conflict. It makes the viewer question whether or not human civilization is indeed self destructive, and if there is any hope for us at all.

Currently running through July 1, 2007
mcadenver.org

For the May issue....

May's 'He Said, She Said', is 'Where is the best place to find a mate?':

'It kind of depends on what you are looking for. If you are looking for something long term, it's probably best to stay clear of nightclubs and bars. Finding a significant other, doesn't usually occur at places like The Eagle. Places where the booze flows freely, are usually best for a hook up, or quick fling.

The best places to find a potential partner usually are the everyday places, like the grocery store, or local coffee shop, perhaps. Even better than that though, are social activities like a soccer team, or cooking class. In these activities you get to interact with people, without the pressure of an actual date. Here you can get a feel for someone, and find out what kind of person they are, without having to 'interview' them over a meal.

Surprisingly, social sites like Connexion, and MySpace actually do work. I know a few couples that met this way, and are still together. Plus you get to see if you happen to know people in common, which can be an added bonus for getting the skinny on your potential mate, from a second or third party.'

April's Cover

It's the 'bikini issue for 303 Magazine.

Whew.

[Image by Kim Koehler for 303 Magazine]

So, April's 'He Said, She Said' column for 303 Magazine, is 'Does size matter?'

After getting that assignment a few weeks ago, I have been wrestling with what my 'Gay Of The Village' response would be. Previously, I had a story get cut because it was deemed 'too gross' to print. So I knew I had to walk a fine line between being 'offensive', and sharing too much [personal] information.

I've sweated it for weeks.

Today, on deadline, I finally figured out what I would say.

I'd take the clinical approach.

The result:

'The politically correct thing to say, is that, no, it doesn’t.

But in reality, sorry guys, it does.

So does girth.

But so does, ‘the motion in the ocean’.

Getting back to size, most clinical studies, where the measurements were not self-administered, including one performed by the Kinsey group, state that the average size of an adult male’s endowment, is between five and six inches, with 87% of men falling within the five to seven range. Average girth equates to being equal in length.

This measurement was taken on the top, from the base of the groin, to the end of the tip. Most clinical studies, again, including the Kinsey report, state that the largest measurement on file is between eight and nine inches.

The BBC however, featured Jonah Falcon in a special called ‘The World’s Largest Penis’. He measures in at thirteen inches, and has been noted to say, that having such an endowment, is not all it’s cracked up to be. Oxford did a study that found the world’s smallest endowment being such, that they believed the guy to be inter-sexed.

Once you start getting to the extreme variants of the average size member, you deal with complications, or disappointment. There can be too much, or too little, of a good thing.'

Ack.

For April's issue of 303, my assignment for 'He Said, She Said', is on whether size matters. It's going to be tough trying to not be graphic. They already cut one of my articles out of fear that it would 'offend'.

So I guess...

...I am writing for 303 Magazine.

I went to their staff meeting last night, to, what I thought was, pitch a possible article here, and there.

But by the time the meeting was over, I had business cards, an invitation to the Christmas party, and a couple of feature columns.

Whua?

It's great, though. It will be a nice creative outlet, and everyone seems pretty cool on staff.

They are re-launching the magazine in February to a larger format with more content; so Denver peeps, keep an eye out for it.

'I am The Gay of the village'.

One funny moment last night, dealt with them wanting to get a 'gay' perspective, or columnist, to contribute. I had already stated why I there for the pop culture thing, but at the final round of idea storming, I told them I could take the 'gay' thing.

It was funny because it felt like I had just come out to a group of strangers.

No big whoop though. [I'm pretty sure they're all straight].

Quick plug, 303 Magazine and MySpace are having a Christmas party next week, Friday December 8th, at DC-10. It's invite only before 10 PM, but open to the public after that.

303 Magazine - I should get paid for this.

Or at least a contributor credit.

From: Dave

Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2006 12:07 PM

To: Big Daddy/Buzzsaw Pete

Subject:

Is that all you can think of for the travel shoot?

From: Big Daddy/Buzzsaw Pete

Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2006 12:35 PM

To: Dave

Subject: RE:

what's it for?

From: Dave

Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2006 12:37 PM

To: Big Daddy/Buzzsaw Pete

Subject: RE:

303 the travel shoot I told you about. a women travel in a cab, hotel, helicopter and train and we shot her in those different parts.

From: Big Daddy/Buzzsaw Pete

Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2006 12:42 PM

To: Dave

Subject: RE:

duh i know that - but why do you need a name?

From: Dave

Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2006 12:44 PM

To: Big Daddy/Buzzsaw Pete

Subject: RE:

To title the shoot, it's a spread in the magazine.

From: Big Daddy/Buzzsaw Pete

Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2006 12:48 PM

To: Dave

Subject: RE:

oh.

i like 'destinations'

From: Dave

Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2006 12:54 PM

To: Big Daddy/Buzzsaw Pete

Subject: RE:

We need a good play in words between fashion and travel

From: Big Daddy/Buzzsaw Pete

Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2006 1:02 PM

To: Dave

Subject: RE:

Travel fabulosity? play on words of 'travelocity'

From: Dave

Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2006 1:04 PM

To: Big Daddy/Buzzsaw Pete

Subject: RE:

Ooo I like that, that's good. I am here all day if you have more.

303 Magazine

Here is the cover for the new '303' that I helped Dave with. This series was much better than the ones of the model in a pink stripey outfit in front of Union Station.

303 Magazine

So my buddy Dave, does graphic design for 303 Magazine and he called me to get my take on next issue's cover. The theme is travel, and there were photos from a set done by Union Station, and another done at an airport.

I told him that the images with the model by the helicopter 'spoke' of travel more than the Union Station ones, as unless you knew the building, you wouldn't relate it to travel.

It will be interesting to see if the photo I said should be the cover, makes it to print. I would link to their website, but it hasn't been updated since last year.

It's a cool mag that you should check out if you come across it. It is like the trendy yuppie manual for the Denver set.