Secret Songs of Silence

time in torino (1)

It was only on my last day in Torono last summer  that, after 4 days of lunching on mediocre tomato mozzarella sandwiches, I discovered that my conference centre was right next to Eataly - the original Let me quote another blogger to describe it:

Reminiscent of walking through one of Italy’s unbelievable farm-fresh local markets, Eataly is your local farmer’s market, only way, way better. Beyond the jaw-dropping aisles of pasta, produce and pane, the store maintains a zonal configuration to induce optimal sensory satisfaction and in keeping with the true Italian tradition of respecting every ingredient individually. The store is split into distinct themed sections or zones, each focusing on a particular item such as cheese or fresh meats, and showcasing endless varieties and incarnations of said item.

By the time I found it, I had already eaten lunch so I didn't stop to partake - areal shame.  Here are some pictures I took on my wander through.

 

on the road

I'm on the road for the next little while.  I do expect to be able to blog while I'm travelling but just in case, I've queued up some posts about last summer's trip to Italy which I hope my regular readers will enjoy.  I've also included some eyecandy towards the end; stuff I saved but never posted.

doppels

I came across this tumblr pic yesterday and my instant reaction was: he looks familiar.

(pic via Beep-ers)

He looks very like a guy who used to live hereabouts and was well known among the local gay chatterati.

Then again, he might just be someone else who beara a remarkable likeness!

* * *

It was inevitable, I suppose, that someone would portray Peeka Haavisto, one of the two run-off candidates for the Presidency of Finland, an openly gay and partnered man, with an image drawn by Tom, one of Finland's most famous gay sons:

While, I don't think the likeness is all that remarkable, it certainly would get my vote!

Here he is in real life accompanied by his partner, Antonio Flores:

blog rant

Man, you call around your (banks and) credit card companies to tell them your travel plans and they just *have* to ask you if you want to transfer your other bills to them to take advantage of their temporary low interest rate.

As if you really want to go messing around with things like that on a saturday night 36 hours before you're due to travel.

Not to mention the fact that each call takes a good seven or eight minutes by the time you dial, punch in the numbers, listen for options, pick one, find out that it's the wrong one, hit 0 'cause that should take you to someone.

I've got other things to do.  Sheesh.

dreaming...

I know this has been around the intertubes a lot in recent weeks but it's cold, and snowing and freezing rain outside so why not dream of a hot carwash...

 

love the bouncing packages on some of those guys!   :-)

* * *

and for some reason, seeing this pic has me dreaming of riding...

...or being ridden!

(via David Dust)

 

bolle!

If Roberto Bolle is going to tweet a pic such as this, how can I resist blogging it?

signs of aging

I turned 56 and a half twelve days ago.

An unremarkable anniversary you might think.

As did my financial advisor; the guy who is preparing various life insurance applications on my behalf.

He started these in December.

Had he finished them then, things would have been fine.

But now, that we are past my 56.5 anniversary, he needs an EKG to go with my application.

A nurse will visit me at home to wire me up etc.

Sigh.

boys and toys

The Harper regime wants to buy new fighter jets.  65 of them.  Brand spanking new F-35s for $9 billion.

Now, it seems to me that this money would be better spent on social programs in Canada, and that our air force could do their job quite admirably with a different less-sophisticated aircraft. Besides, they're attack aircraft; just who do we plan on attacking?  Oh, yes, dumb question.  Good (sic) King Stephen has his sights set on the persian landmass.

There's also the not-so-trivial matter that they're going to cost way more than $9 billion no matter what the promises and what anyone says.  And we're already seeing headlines about problems with the aircraft meeting this or that technical specification.

So, you might glean that I'm not really in favour of this particular purchase.

And you might also understand that Scott has rather pissed me off by posting this little video:

 

'cause, man, do they ever look like cool planes.

 

Burns Nicht

I completely forgot that today was Rabbie Burns Day.  Our local Burns supper was held last saturday night so, for me, that has put the occasion out of mind.  That, plus the fact that today was the day the maids were due so I had to rush around this morning tidying stuff away!

Anyway, here via Scots pr0n actor J.P. Dubois's (and if that's a common name in Aberdeen, I'll eat ma bunnet) twitter feed is a poster suitable for the occasion:

...oh what the heck, Burns was known to enjoy himself with his clothes off, so why not toast the twittering laddie hi'self with his pic:

It can be embiggened with a click!  Google his name if you want to see more pics, in almost none of which is he clothed.

dragon stripper and sp==do cuties

[note: this post shamelessly inspired by Nicky's...]

I have reached that stage in my life where I know that I will never be a pole dancer.

But, I'd be as mortified and as thrilled as the young woman in this video to be on the receiving of this lap/pole dance:

 

and for extra asian goodness, two cuties:

(via tgrade5)

Happy New Year of the Dragon everyone!