Urban Insanity

Taylor Lautner Shirtless

Although I'm not much of a teen idolizer, Taylor Lautner just looks damn good, almost good enough to sit through the Twilight series . . .  

Taylor Lautner in the ocean.

Taylor shirtless and in jeans.

USA Tennis Player and Olympian John Isner

John Isner is an American tennis player.  He achieved his career-high singles ranking of World No. 9 on March 19, 2012, and is currently the highest-ranking male tennis player in the US. 

U.S. Olympic Champion Trey Hardee

Trey Hardee brought home gold in for the first time in over 50 years for the U.S. in the Men's Decathalon event!  Great job, Trey! 

And Trey looks damn good in a speedo!

Australian Swimmer James Magnussen

Swimmer James Magnussen represented Australia in the 2012 Olympics in London.  He is the current 100-metre freestyle world champion, and he holds the 4th fastest swim in history in the 100-metre freestyle with a time of 47.10! 

Check out James Magnussen's abs!

Swedish Olympian Bjorn Barrefors

A few friends just forwarded Bjorn Barrefors' photos to me this morning - Wow!  What a great looking athlete!  Does it get any better than the Olympics?!  Unfortunately, it does, because Bjorn actually didn't make the Olympics this year. 

I ran track for four years in high school, and I don't remember any of my teammates or competitors looking remotely this good. 

Canadian Diver Alexandre Despatie

Diver Alexandre Despatie (born June 8, 1985) is a Canadian diver and Olympic athlete from Quebec.  He was the World champion at the 1 and 3 m springboards from 2005 to 2007 and is the first, and so far only, diver to have been World champion in the three categories (1, 3 and 10 m platform). 

Olympic diver Alexandre Despatie placed 11th in the Men's 3m springboard at the 2012 London games.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hot Stuff to Do in Dallas This Weekend!

Some friends of mine are planning the Lambda Legal Landmark Dinner and White Party, a fundraiser gala and dance party which will raise lots of money for Lambda Legal, a non-profit organization that fights for LGBT rights in courtrooms across the U.S. 

In both 2010 and 2011, the White Party was a huge success, and featured Dallas DJ Brandon Moses, one of the hottest DJs around.  

It is definitely THE place to be seen in Dallas on Saturday night. 

Here are the details:

Date:  Sat, Aug 11, 2012

Time:  10:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.

Location:  Hotel Palomar, Dallas, Texas

White attire is highly encouraged.  Admission is $30 if you buy your tickets before Saturday, or $40 at the door.

OPEN VODKA AND CHAMPAGNE BAR ALL NIGHT!

Here is the Facebook page.  And the website is www.landmarkdinner.org  

U.S. Track Star Nick Symmonds

Nick Symmonds, born on December 30, 1983, is an American middle-distance track star from Boise, Idaho.  He's not just great looking - he is also extremely talented in the 800 and 1500 meter distance events, two events that I used to run in high school, and they were be far the toughest events. 

In college at Willamette University, he won seven NCAA D-3 titles in outdoor track.  He is competing in the 2012 Olympics in the 800m event. 

Recently, Nick Symmonds went on a date with Paris Hilton, and he refers to her as his "dream date."  Typical. 

American Diver David Boudia

American diver David Alasdair Boudia just won a bronze medal with his diving partner, Nicholas McCrory, at the London Olympics on the synchronized 10m platform!  The 23-year-old hunk competed in the men's 10m platform and men's synchro 10m platform, and achieved the first Olympic medal for the United States in men's diving since the 1996 games in Atlanta.   

Doudia is a native of Abilene, Texas, and he now lives in Indiana, where he goes to Purdue University. 

Let the Gays Eat Cake, But Only if You Want Them To...

Same-sex marriage opponents and supporters are debating whether a cake shop in Lakewood, Colorado can turn down a request from a gay couple for a wedding cake.  Unfortunately, the shop's owner is legally able to refuse to make the cake.  But supporters of same-sex marriage can also legally refuse to patronize his business.  See the story below. 

 

kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen 

Soccer Player Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro is a Portugese football (soccer) player who plays as a striker for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid.  He is also the captain of the Portuguese National Team. Ronaldo is not only strikingly good looking, he's also the highest paid soccer player in history, as he recently entered into a €12 million per year contract with Real Madrid.  And his buyout clause is valued at €1 billion!

Spanish Soccer Player Cesc Fabregas

I am not officially a football (soccer) fan!  Spanish soccer player Cesc Fabregas has to be one of the hottest athletes this year, if not one of the top of all time.  During normal season, Fabregas plays for Barcelona, as well as the Spanish National Team as a mid-fielder.  Recent media photos of Cesc Fabregas with his girlfriend, Daniella Semaan, suggest that he is completely enamoured with her, and she with him.  For good reason! 

Dallas Megachurch Pastor Robert Jeffress Urged Flock to Support Chick-fil-A

Was there ever even a question?  Of course not. 

Last week, Dallas megachurch preacher Robert Jeffress jumped on the Chick-fil-A bandwagon, urging his giant flock of 10,000 to support the fast food chain.  KDFW-TV reported that First Baptist Church Pastor Robert Jeffress asked parishioners to join in “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day” on Wednesday, August 1, and from all reports, many of them participated.

 

Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy ignited a controversy in July when he told the Baptist Press that the company was “guilty as charged” when it comes to supporting “the biblical definition of the family unit.” More disturbingly, the company has donated millions of dollars to organizations that oppose the legalization of gay marriage.

British Olympian Tom Delay

I promise to post about a serious topic in the next day or two, but for now, I'm still hooked on the Olympics and engaged in meaningless debates with Facebook friends about the Chick-fil-A drama. 

So...in the interim, here are some more photos to enjoy! 

Olympic diver Tom Delay is 18, and I sincerely hope that we get to see him again in four years.  He's young, but super cute, and an excellent diver to boot. 

Ryan Lochte - Olympic Hunk

I know he can be a dumbass at times, but I really just can't get enough of this guy.  I just love the Olympics! 

http://ryanlochte.com/

U.S. Gay Gymnast Danell Leyva

Unfortunately, despite the rumors to the contrary, rumor has it that Danell Leyva is very much on the straight side of the fence.  But we can still enjoy the photos.  I just wish the men could've pulled it off in London this year - they had great energy, and seemed like a fantastic group of guys.

Danell Leyva on Rings:

Danell Leyva Floor Exercise:

http://danelljleyva.com/

Chick-Fil-A's Comments About Homosexuals

Over the last three days, including a large part of my Sunday, I have been involved in Facebook debates with folks over Chick-Fil-A's stance on homosexuality, and what it means for their business.  If you want to see some of the debates, search for Chick-Fil-A on Facebook, and look at one of their most recent posts on "fans sticking by them" and Jim Henson withdrawing the muppets from happy meals. 

I'm not going to belabour this debate on here, but I took away a few very succinct impressions from the tragic hours that I wasted debating with unreasonable people from both ends of the spectrum:

1. Chick-Fil-A has the right, legally, to make the proclaimations and the policies that they've made thus far regarding homosexuality. 

2. Gays and gay supporters don't have to like it, and they don't have the patronize the restaurant.  Gays and gay supporters also have the right to do whatever they feel is necessary to hurt Chick-Fil-A's bottom line, including using the media as a platform to do so. 

3. A real problem I have with Chick-Fil-A's stance (besides the obvious), is that they are using a relatively small message in the Bible to enact policies that discriminate against a sector of the population, while ignoring other passages of the Bible.  For example, homosexuality is mentioned only 6-10 times (depending on your interpretation) in the Bible, while divorce (and God's and Jesus's distate for it) is mentioned 34 times.  Yet Chick-Fil-A doesn't make policies designed to deter divorcees from their restaurant or management positions. 

4. I'm disappointed at the amount of ignorant, hateful people engaging in the argument on both sides. 

5. I firmly believe that this argument will be moot in 10-15 years, when the law will change, and gays will be able to marry and will have protections from discrimination like other protected classes.

6. Lastly, Chick-Fil-A was my absolute favorite fast-food restaurant growing up, and I hate it that I will no longer patronize it. 

Antigay Evangelical Blogger Jonathan Merritt Outed as Gay

Jonathan Merritt, son of famous evangelical preacher and former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, James Merritt, is a well-known evangelical blogger.  Jonathan is also, apparently, a deeply conflicted gay man. 

Jonathan has written for many national publications, including USA Today and The Atlantic (where, recently, he proclaimed his support of Chick-fil-A).  It appears that Jonathan is also a “deeply conflicted gay man,” according to Queerty, and he just got busted for sexting and messing around with gay blogger Azariah Southworth.

Southworth outed Merritt in his blog earlier this week, and Merritt responded by admitting his "inappropriate" actions to evangelist blogger Ed Stetzer.  Merritt admits that he and Southworth began emailing and sexting after Merritt wrote an article saying "that Christians must love people who experience sexual brokenness." The sexting led to a meeting, and "as we were saying goodbye, we had physical contact that went beyond the bounds of friendship. I was overcome with guilt, knowing I had put myself in an unwise situation. We never saw each other again and we ceased contact after a period of time."

Merritt says he visited a Christian counselor to sort through his childhood and “sin in [his] past . . . Inappropriate texting, inappropriate actions are inappropriate no matter who the other party is. These were my decisions and no one else’s. It’s from my brokenness, that I feel I can now be transparent, honest, and authentic about these accusations. Those close to me know I have actually been planning to share the story of my brokenness for some time. Because it is part of my spiritual journey. And because it underscores the power of the Gospel to transform lives.”

Southworth himself said, "Exposing this truth of Jonathan’s sexual orientation is not an easy decision for me. I take no pleasure in doing this. As I type this my stomach is turning because I know of the backlash he will receive. I have thought about what all of this will mean for him and for me. I base my reasoning in the importance of living an authentic and honest life. We must have radical honesty in the character, intentions and identities of our leaders.”

Olympian Josef Prorok

I might have to watch track and field this year.... the Czechs are looking good!

The Olympics are here!!!!

Olympic fans, it's time to buckle down and gear up for the most exciting two weeks in sports!  Below are just a few photos of what we have to look forward to! 

2012 Men's Olympic Gymnastic Team: 

 

Danell Leyva on Rings:

Gymnist Jake Dalton on Rings:

Olympian Jake Dalton:
Jonathan Horton gymnist:

Jonathan Horton pensive:

Austrailian Men's Swimming Team

Olympian Guiseppe Lanzone (rowing):

And, of course, no "Sexiest Olympic Athlete" list would be complete without Ryan Lochte:

Of course, there are many other amazingly talented athletes, but these are definitely on my hot list for the next two weeks!  The full schedule can be found on www.nbc.com.