Kemco's flagship racing franchise has seen three iterations on the Super Nintendo (and one on the Genesis). Kemco's Top Gear series is not to be confused with theworld-renowned Top Gear on BBC. In fact, Kemco's Top Gear in the United States is called Top Racer in Japan. It began with Top Gear/Racer in 1992 with eight different locations boasting four tracks each for a total of 32 races. Top Gear/Racer 2 was released in 1993 offering sixteen different locations with four tracks each for a total of 64 races. Top Gear 3000 (called The Planet's Champ) is a futuristic title taking you to multiple planets and galaxies. All three titles were created by Kemco with development from Gremlin Graphics (which has created a number of great racing games in the early 1990s). All three titles feature races with as many as 20 cars to a track. All three titles offered their own challenges. All three are classics among 1990s racing games. You're about to read (and see) why in this blog entry.
--- Top Gear/Racer ---
In 1992, Top Gear/Racer debuted with fast-paced racing. The unique aspect of this game is that you have to perform pit stops in certain races. You compete in over eight different locations (I say locations, though the game uses "countries," and some of these locations are mostly international regions). Players had to choose between four cars (all fictional) with varying characteristics to each. When you go racing, you will always be in split screen. Your rival will be below as he/she tries to better you in each race. It doesn't matter if you beat your rival or not. The most important thing to remember is that you must finish 5th or better in each stage to advance to the next race. You are allowed a maximum of three turbos for each race, so use them carefully. There is no damage in the game, so the pit stops are only to add more fuel to the car. You will know where to pit when you see pit signs along with a tire wall. Go into the pits to refuel your car. Press any button during the pit stop to abort the pit stop with the amount of fuel in your car. It is recommended to stay in for the full duration so that you won't have to pit again (unless you have a car that consumes fuel rapidly). If you run out of fuel, you're basically going to have to retire. Cars will just pass you by as you can do nothing about it.
Cars.
The four cars to choose from are all fictional and are not really based on any real cars. Here is a look at the four cars:
You race in eight different regions. I am using locations because some of the venues are just international regions. This will be your trail of racing action around the world:
* United States * South America (Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Mexico) * Japan * Germany * Scandinavia (Iceland, Finland, Sweden, and Denmark) * France * Italy * United Kingdom
If you want the best action, try to win on the hardest level (Professional)! Here are some of the many cities you will be racing in: New York City, Tokyo, Rome, and London among many others. The best advice I can give is to pay attention to the number of laps and the length of the race. Most races lasting more than three laps means you will need to make a pit stop in that race. Also great advice is that if you want to race for long without having to pit constantly in longer races, it is absolutely recommended you race with the white sports car. It consumes the least amount of fuel of the four cars.
Finally to cap this off, here is a video demonstration of Top Gear/Racer for the Super Nintendo:
Top Gear/Racer 2 was released in 1993 featuring many more places to race. All of the locations, including the cities you race in) from the previous game are in Top Gear/Racer 2 along with many new locales. The field is now level as everyone races the same car (including you). Unlike the previous title, you must finish 10th or better to advance to the next stage (compared to 5th or better in the previous title). Qualifying for the next race grants you money you can use to upgrade your car. Once you complete a country or region, you will get a password to help track your progress. Fast-paced gameplay and some creative use of 3D makes this game a total classic. I may even say that some of the cities in this game are places I've first become introduced to in this game. This game, for example, helped spur my love of Auckland, New Zealand.
Gone is the split-screen deal (unless you're doing two-player racing) where you're always seeing the rival at the bottom of your screen. Instead, it's just a full view of you and the 19 others who want the same thing you're after- finishing first. Get ready for an intense world tour of racing. Effects such as rain, snow, and fog will be hazards you face in trying to become the fastest driver in the world. You can collect nitro and cash in certain tracks. Each credit you pick up is good for an extra $1000 to use upgrading your car. This game was also available for the Sega Genesis/Megadrive.
Cars and Upgrades.
Looking ahead to the challenge of Top Gear/Racer 2, you will be able to take part in a much more competitive style of racing. There are no pit stops of any kind in this game. While you can't change cars, you can now upgrade your car. Each upgradeable element consists of three different upgrades. Here are the upgrades you can purchase for your car:
* Engine - more powerful engines give you better top speed. * Wet Tires - improves grip in rainy/snowy races. * Dry Tires - improves grip in dry races. * Gearbox - more efficient use of the engine's power, and may even add some extra gears. * Nitro - improves the output and power of nitro boosts. It may give you that added edge to win races. * Side Armor - reduces the impact of collisions to the side of the car during races. * Rear Armor - reduces the impact of collisions to the rear of the car during races. * Front Armor - reduces the impact of collisions to the front of the car during races. * Paint Shop (not an upgrade) - pick one of over eight colors for your car.
Countries and Regions.
Have a look at the locations you race at in this game. Each region is featured in alphabetical order as the order of locations you race in. Here are the countries where you will do your racing. New locations are featured with exclamation points (!): * Australasia! (Australia and New Zealand) * Britain! * Canada! * Egypt! * France * Germany * Greece! * India! * Ireland! * Italy * Japan * Scandinavia (Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and Finland) * South America (Chile, Mexico, Peru, and Brazil) * Spain! * Switzerland! * United States
When you begin a race, you get a look at each track. The length of the track, number of laps, weather, and time are all featured along with a lovely scrolling graphic of the track's horizon. To give you a preview of the new venues you will be racing at, here are a few cities from the newer venues you will race on in this game: Auckland, Cairo, Lucerne, Seville, Dublin, and Athens. Maybe a problem I'd have with this game is that there are probably more cities you could have visited. I'd be interested in racing in a few more cities in this game.
This is your video preview of what Top Gear/Racer 2 has to offer [for the Super Nintendo]:
--- Top Gear 3000 (The Planet's Champ TG 3000) ---
In the year 2962, you are part of a major racing event that rocks in outer space. You are racing a futuristic car across a number of different planets and in various systems. The past two Top Gear/Racer games have you racing in real-world locations. In this game, however, get ready for out-of-this-world racing with the same intense action provided in Top Gear/Racer games past. Your car is equipped with four nitro boosts. There are no pit stops, but you can run over certain areas to service your car on the fly. Run over the red areas to recharge your car, and run over the blue areas to repair damage to your car. You may find some yellow areas in some races- those are turbo boosts, my friend! You must place 8th or better to receive points, and you must finish 10th or better to advance to the next race. After clearing each system, you will receive a password to help store your progress through the game. Are you the greatest racer in all of known space? Prove it in this game!
Cars and Upgrades.
As in the previous title, you can upgrade your car. Throughout your playing of this game, new items will be made available to you ranging from various upgrades to new weapons and features. The available upgrades feature nice descriptions on the features of each upgrade.
* Paintshop - color your car. * Engine - upgrade your car's top speed. * Tires - improve the grip of your car. * Gearbox - improve the efficiency of your car's engine, and it may also add some extra gears. * Armor - increase the rigidity of your car all around. * Boost - improves the performance and efficiency of your nitro system. * (Special) - various weapons and items I can't disclose here. Play the game to find out all that it has to offer!
Tracks.
Your journey through this galaxy starts off on the tail end. Throughout this journey, you move closer and closer to the center of the galaxy. Each race is marked by its galactic system and the planet you are racing on. Each system features two planets you race on. Once you clear each system, you will receive a password before heading on to the next system. If you want to race in the all of the races races, you will need to race this game on the hardest difficulty.
The venues are listed by their galactic system and the planet you are racing on. The challenges vary greatly depending on the planet you're racing on. You could be racing on a perfectly fine planet for one race. Then, you may be racing on a track on another planet that is very hot or is raining hard. Lots of unique challenges await you.
After each race, you will earn credits based on your finish and in other departments. You may earn bonuses for your performance during the race. For example, you may pick up a bonus by going the entire race without using a boost. There are many other ways to win credits, so race as hard as you can and as best as you can! If you REALLY want to beat the game, play the game on more difficult levels, because you race on more tracks. In addition, some systems have more race tracks for you to compete on. In other words, racing the game in Easy difficulty only gives you so many tracks. Try racing in harder difficulty levels to race on more tracks (including those not found in easier difficulty levels). Here is your encouragement to race in the harder races (information taken from gamefaqs.com): Easy Mode features a total of 25 tracks, Medium difficulty features a total of 34 tracks, and Hard features a total of 47 tracks. Want to BEAT the game? Play the game on Hard. There is even a rumored 48th race in this game.
Now I provide you this video preview of Top Gear 3000 (or The Planet's Champ TG 3000):
--- What The Top Gear/Racer Trilogy Demonstrated ---
The Top Gear/Racer series demonstrates some of the last great racing games. The first three titles in the series all demonstrate high-speed racing. Not many racing games of its day allowed you to race competitively against 20 cars. Kemco and Gremlin Graphics have collaborated to create some of the finest racing available to gamers back in the early and mid-1990s.
I would say the first title had a real racing touch while it was purely arcade. There wasn't as much strategy, but it was a game that had you think about pit stops to refuel your car. It was a realistic racing element implemented even before Gran Turismo came along. Again- you just refuel a car, but the action is still fairly solid.
Top Gear/Racer 2 shown you much more of the world with double the races of the first title. Everyone races the same car. Races and series that have only one car means the action ultimately comes down to the driver and his/her skills. This game just took what the first title did and make it worlds better. Perhaps not having pit stops made the action focus more on arcade racing rather than focus on any kind of real racing aspects. Top Gear/Racer 2 is personally my favorite of the three games I've discussed in this blog post.
Top Gear 3000 provided a futuristic touch while still delivering great racing. Racing in different worlds and systems made racing just that much more intense. It also, however, opened the possibility of incredible unworldly racing possibilities.
The Top Gear/Racer games of the past wouldn't have established its sort of character had it not been for these three installments of the series. Future games would come along from the Top Gear/Racer series. My favorite Top Gear/Racer other than the three I've mentioned here is Top Gear Rally for the Nintendo 64. I will blog about Top Gear Rally in a future blog post. For now, though, thank you for reading! If you want to buy any of these titles online, here are some Amazon items featuring these classic games. Read my John's Shop Space blog entry on classic gaming to buy any classic systems if you don't have the classic systems to play these games. Anyhow, here are the three titles for you on Amazon:
WARNING: This topic may not be suitable for all audiences. Please read at your own discretion, or feel free to read any other blog posts of mine if you are offended by this topic or its subject matter.
A controversial subject is that of same-sex relationships. These vary depending on culture and society. There are some who enjoy the company of being romantically involved with someone of the same gender as much as (or more than) being with an opposite. There are a number of issues involving such relationships. Many of these issues involving same-sex love range from having social connotations to religious connotations. Therefore, some question and debate accepting same-sex relationships. Same-sex bonds are either acknowledged or not acknowledged in many countries (or in certain states and provinces). In some countries, however, homosexual conduct could get you into trouble. You may face penalties for having same-sex relationships. These can range from imprisonment to even the death penalty. In addition to the notion of same-sex relationships, there is also media's portrayal of such relationships which really disregard the seriousness and legitimacy of such relationships.
This blog entry is about same-sex relationships, ranging from casual loving bonds to more romantic bonds. I strongly encourage my readers to help me with certain points regarding my blog, because I am sure I will screw something up. I want my readers to enjoy my blog post as I try to explain everything with professionalism and respect. Please let me know if there are certain parts of this blog post to help make get my facts straight, and I will make the needed changes (as long as they are legit). Having said this... let's begin!
--- Same-Sex Relationships at a Glance ---
In recent times, the issue of gay marriage has been a concern. There have been pushes to legalize gay marriage in the United States and internationally. There are many connotations regarding same-sex relationships, most of which are usually religious. Before you read further, PLEASE note that I am NOT speaking from any kind of personal experience. The majority of what you are about to read relates entirely to thoughts of mine.
What Makes Same-Sex Relationships Appealing?
Being in the company of a partner of your gender lends itself to a different sort of experience. For some who enjoy a same-sex experience, being with someone of your gender can be just as satisfying or more satisfying than always having to be with an opposite. There is one problem that comes into play with same-sex relationships. If you want to have children, that option is eliminated unless you decide to adopt children. Gay adoption of children depends on the rules in your area or country. The problem becomes a bit more magnified if with a transgendered person (or someone you may not know is transgendered in some way).
Is it Ever Okay to Have Romantic Appeal for Someone of the Same Sex?
I am someone who tends to believe that love for a partner is love for a partner regardless of whether it's a heterosexual or homosexual bond. I think the primary point is that you love someone. The key here is on romantic interests. Do you see someone as a soul mate or perhaps someone you can devote your life to with loving care? Even if at the expense of being called any sort of gay slurs, if you are intrigued and influenced by having some sort of same-sex bond, what's holding you back? Don't feel ashamed if someone of your gender who you have with romantic interest.
Regrets and Fears of a Same-Sex Bond.
I hinted on it earlier. You may end up being called all sorts of gay slurs, saying that you're diseased, or anything like that. There are people out there who are no stranger to having loving interest in a partner of one's own gender. Maybe the biggest regret is in being ridiculed for wanting to be with a same-sex partner rather than seek opposites. A bigger regret would be going out in public and being openly gay or lesbian.
Allowing and Recognizing Same-Sex Relationships?
A number of countries legally prohibit any kind of same-sex relationships or acts. Some countries even penalize those who engage in same-sex relationships or acts. Depending on the country and its rules, penalties range from minimal penalties to life in prison to even the death penalty. Many Western Hemisphere countries (including certain states in the United States) recognize and/or allow same-sex relationships. Various European countries (mostly Western Europe and Scandinavian nations) recognize same-sex relationships. Most of Africa disallows same-sex relationships excluding the Republic of South Africa. Most of the Middle East, some Indian Ocean nations, and a few Southeast Asian countries penalize same-sex relationships. All of Australasia accepts same-sex relationships except Papua New Guinea. For my Pacific island readers, there are certain Pacific islands that allow or penalize same-sex relationships.
Are Same-Sex Relationships Better?
It depends on you and your interests. Some people probably become so tired or discontent trying to be with opposite partners that they seek companionship with a same-sex partner. Some find greater satisfaction with a same-sex partner rather than being with an opposite. This is a question you'll need to answer for yourself.
Now that you have some perspective from me, let's get right into the main point of this post. How about a closer look at each bond? These sections are all commentary pieces regarding various same-sex relationships.
--- Same-Sex Relationships: Gay Relationships ---
^ from: dating.newsnupdates.com - a gay couple.
This section relates to two males being together. Speaking as a male, there are plenty of my own males who would cringe on the notion of two men together and in love. Heterosexual males would rather see two girls kissing than two guys kissing. Gay couples usually want to be with males rather than being with a female. One of the most common relationships among men is the so-called "bromance," whereas two straight males have a casual, tight-knit bond. Bromances do not involve any kind of sexual contact. That's bromance, but what about more romantic bonds between two men?
Gay Relationships Defined.
A real gay relationship involves a romantic bond between two males. It is where two males find something to love with each other and want to be romantically involved together. Their interests and tastes are just as much as a heterosexual couple wanting to be with each other. They still share the same want and desire to be with one another. Trouble is, many in mainstream would cringe over the sight of two males romantically involved. What many fail to realize is that love is love, even in the case of two males who love each other. There is a certain passion between two gay males that is about as similar as any hetero relationship. It's about finding someone who makes you feel happy and complete- even if it's another male. There is no shame in two males in love with each other. Even if most of society cringes at the notion of two males together and in love, at least two males found love and are happy together. Why ruin others' happiness, especially if they've done nothing to harm you?
I am probably taking this neutral side because I've known a few openly gay males before, and there have been males who feel happier with other males rather than among females. How far certain gay males want to have a relationship depends. Such bonds can range from casual love for one another to deep romantic involvement (including sex). If two gay males want to have a family of their own, the issue of gay adoption comes into play. This, like most other LGBT issues, has its fair share of endless debate and controversy.
^ from: www.fulloma.com - a newlywed lesbian couple.
Love between two females is lesbian love. This is where females are romantically (and even sexually) attracted to each other. They prefer the compassion of another female rather than the compassion of a man. For some lesbian females, they just feel happier and more comfortable in love with a woman than being with a man. For some other lesbians, they are more attracted to females after having bad luck dating and keeping men. Such females just feel that romantically being with a male just doesn't equate to much happiness personally and sexually.
While many males love seeing two women kiss and be romantically involved, there are not as many who actually acknowledge love between two lesbian partners. Many just think it is a cheap sexual thrill to see two women kissing or getting intimate with each other. Lesbian love is not all about two attractive females deeply in love with each other. As much as there are women who are sexy and attractive, you have butch lesbians who are androgynous females who appear and act very masculine in appearance. These are lesbians with an androgynous boyish appearance. So lesbian love is not always about two sexy and attractive females.
Back to the glorification of lesbians for a moment...
Fetishization of Lesbian Love.
Many perverted males love the sight of two women kissing or engaging in intercourse. Not as many, however, appreciate two females in love with each other. It's like we romanticize and fetishize the notion of two females in love with each other (or even cheek kissing), but don't really regard or recognize two lesbian women in love with each other. On Facebook, I am friends with a girl who is married to another girl.
This goes to show how much we've glorified and fetishized the thought of two women kissing each other, but not as many regard or acknowledge trying to make a lesbian relationship. Most (usually heterosexual males) love the idea of two incredibly attractive [preferably] young ladies together in love and kissing, but don't think about such a couple trying to stay together for so long. There are two things to express reality- not every lesbian couple is a pair of 18 to 21 year old college coeds that are ridiculously sexy and attractive. Also, those seriously into lesbian relationships usually want a lasting relationship with another woman and don't want to by with a guy.
Actually Acknowledging and Respecting Lesbian Love.
I am one of the few people who actually acknowledges a lesbian relationship as a serious relationship between two women rather than some cheap sexual thrill. Strange I take this side, but I sometimes think mainstream media makes too much of two females together as something sexy or cool. Hardly anyone really seems to acknowledge the notion of a lesbian couple truly in love. Media is readily available to make two females kissing seem fun and erotic, yet not as many regard two females totally in love with each other and are happier together than with either lesbian wanting to be with a man. Maybe there are those who have had tough luck being with men and want to love other females instead. Whatever the case, a lesbian couple is as much in love with each other as any hetero couple.
Of Lesbian Love and Children.
One last note... In some circumstances, lesbians may want to have children. I didn't know that a lesbian couple can get pregnant. I won't get into too many details, but the non-medical way I can discuss is that some lesbians adopt children. There are other medical ways lesbians have children (artificial insemination, for example), so you'll have to look that up online.
--- Same Sex Relationships: Bisexual Relationships ---
^ from: www.metroactive.com - Do you want to be with a guy or a girl? A bisexual would say, "either... or both!"
By design, bisexuals have the best chance at finding love because they can love someone of their opposite gender or seek the compassion of same-gender love. Bisexuals feel as happy with a same-sex partner as they would with an opposite-sex partner. Romantic bisexuals would lovingly and passionately kiss (and be kissed) by a same-sex partner as they would with/by an opposite-sex partner. If you believe this, then there is almost no reason for a bisexual to be single.
Bisexual by Definition.
Bisexual people equally appreciate the romantic company of both males and females. Some are completely open to bisexual relationships while some are bi-curious. Those who are bi-curious are happy being romantically aroused by opposites, but often times question or speculate being being with a partner of the same sex. So in the case of a male, the male would want to be with a female, but becomes curious being with a male partner. In a deal like this, it's more about finding whomever makes you feel more comfortable and happy, be it with your opposite or someone of your gender. Are you seeking long-distance or short-term? Are you possibly considering being with someone of the same sex as an experiment or want to know what it would be like to be in love with someone of your gender?
Bi-curious Urges.
Some people into opposite-sex partners sometimes want to test the waters of being with a same-sex partner. If a male in his early 20s loves women, then a bi-curious male would want to sample being with a male partner. Someone who is bi-curious loves someone of the opposite gender, but would at least want to experiment being romantically involved with a same-sex partner.
That is the real key in being bi-curious: are you willing to become romantically involved with a same-sex partner as you would an opposite-sex partner? Please note that I said "romantically" involved. It doesn't mean you have to be involved in sexual contact with a partner to be romantically involved. Passionate kissing and hugging is just enough to equal a romantic bond.
How do such urges develop? If you become as attracted to a same-sex partner as you would an opposite-sex partner, then you certainly start to grow bisexual urges. It is perfectly fine to regard someone of your own gender as beautiful or handsome. However, if you feel a sexual or romantic attraction to someone so beautiful/handsome, you tend to envision having a same-sex affair with that person. Let's look at this in two different ways.
• If you are a male: are you attracted at the image of a male with a muscular body as you would the body of a sexy woman?
• If you are a female: do you become attracted at the image of a woman with sexy legs in a mini skirt as you would a muscular and handsome male in swimming bottoms?
For both: if you are attracted to someone of your own gender as you would someone from your opposite, are you romantically and/or sexually attracted to that person? Or would you be romantically/sexually attracted to that person?
Some people are probably just so attractive that you want to be with that person regardless of that person's gender.
Naturally Bisexual?
Some people tend to believe females are more naturally bisexual than males. Even straight females consider other females amazingly beautiful. Some other people believe males and females are equally bisexual; just that most males are not as readily able to admit and accept having such romantic tendencies and feelings towards other males. And then, a lot of people in society have praised and embraced the bisexual female more than the bisexual male.
Bisexualism in the Media.
^ from: www.hollywoodtoday.net - Tila Nguyen (better known as Tila Tequila) and "A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila" offered males, as well as females, a chance to hook up with her in her MTV reality TV series.
One of the biggest media depictions of bisexuality was when "A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila" series showcased the Asian hottie showcase her bisexuality. That's for guys (and gals) to have a chance at being with Tila Nguyen (better known as Tila Tequila) back when this series aired on MTV.
--- Same Sex Relationships: Transgender and Intersexed Relationships ---
(NOTE: The majority of this will be about a male being with a transwoman, but this can also apply to a female with a transman, or either a male or female being with a transgendered or intersexed person.)
Being with a transgendered person is the best of both worlds. You get to be with someone who is both male and female. It is important that I mention that while "transgender" is an umbrella term, there are different kinds of transgendered folk. You have transvestites (crossdressers) who love dressing as and acting as their opposites, but do not seek surgery to become full-time members of the opposite sex. You also have transsexuals who have surgery done to become full-time members of the person's opposite sex. They can be pre-operative (or simply "pre-op") transsexuals who are still transitioning between sexes, or they can be post-operative (or "post-op") transsexuals who have had all the transitioning done and are permanently of the opposite gender. For some people, a relationship with a transgendered person allows you to be with an opposite-sex partner despite the fact the transgendered partner was born of the same sex.
What about intersexed people? Intersexed people (or hermaphrodites) were born with both male and female organs. Many people like to make the misconception that transgendered people are intersexed. That is completely untrue. Loving someone who is intersexed carries about the same weight as being with a transgendered person. Or look at it this way- you have to have transition between genders to be transgendered. If you were (to quote Lady GaGa) "born this way" as someone with both male and female organs, you are interesexed.
"Am I Gay if I Love/Date Transsexuals?"
I think this depends on your own ideas. Do you still love being with opposite-sex partners, but fancy a partner who is transgendered? Are you attracted to (as a male) a genetic female as you are a transgendered female?
For some males into transgendered women, they are attracted to such transwomen, especially those who still have (certain genitalia) attached. What becomes a problem sometimes is when a transgendered person doesn't disclose his/her sexual identity to their partners, especially when one is unaware of one's birth gender. So you may be dating a girl who is transgendered and not even know it! Some transgendered folk can be so passable (meaning they easily are recognized and accepted as their opposite gender) that it's difficult to realize their birth gender.
If you fear being considered gay just because you fancy transgendered partners, I don't think you are gay just because you love or date transsexuals. I think you become truly gay if you completely do not want to be with someone of the opposite sex and born of the opposite sex. A male who'd rather be romantically involved with men or transgendered woman and not with genetic women is gay (or at least bisexual). At least, this is my view.
Transsexual Dating.
A long time ago on YouTube, I saw a video of a German man named Peter Neunteufel, the publisher of a German language publication in Thailand called Thai Fokus. He is the boyfriend of a Thai ladyboy named Tai. Despite the fact Tai is transsexual, Peter says he found the perfect woman. One thing he made note of was that you don't run the prospect of getting a transwoman pregnant since transwomen weren't born female. One of the biggest causes for concern is when a transgendered person doesn't disclose he/she was born the opposite gender. A person who may be in love with someone who doesn't know he/she is transgendered and wants to start a family with that transgendered person, may not be able to start a family of their own because the transgendered person can not give birth to children. Peter then goes on talking more about how his transsexual girlfriend is a real woman to him despite the fact his transwoman girlfriend isn't a genetic female. Tai herself mentions how even though Peter is a bit older than her father, Peter still takes great care of Tai and treats her right. Peter even says he is like a father to her. At the time the video was recorded (uploaded on May 11, 2008; or at least uploaded to YouTube), Peter wanted to marry Tai. This isn't so easy to legally marry a ladyboy because even if Tai had sex-changing surgery, she is still legally considered male if the two got married in Germany. Considering this is in Thailand, they could only be legally married in a Buddhist ceremony. A divorce in Thailand would basically bring her back to Bangkok or Pattaya's red-light district. This district is famous for ladyboys walking the streets and living among themselves. Here was a comment I posted on this YouTube video:
"It's okay to dislike either or both people in this video. Thing is, they are still human at the end of the day. Even though Tai here is a ladyboy (male-to-female transgender or transsexual), you have? to admit- she's lovely. But come on now. Peter probably knows she's not a real woman, but he's happy being with her. Love is genderless even if your views on transgendered folk are purely negative."
-JohnMarineTube (me)
Transsexual Dating: The Trap Factor.
Here is another case of transsexual dating. In another YouTube video I saw, it was an episode of The Jerry Springer Show with the episode called "Transsexual Takedown." A beautiful young lady named Selina confessed to Lee (her boyfriend) that Selina was born a man. The boyfriend, who has four kids of his own, felt totally embarrassed that he's been dating a transsexual. He left the stage quietly in disgust and in disbelief. Lee was perfectly convinced that Selina was a real woman. Then when appearing back on stage, Lee was absolutely furious and upset that Selina didn't tell him that she is not a real woman. Lee later said to Jerry Springer that he is not gay. This man was in love with the transwoman Selina and wanted to start a family and devote his life to her. Selina still wanted to earn Lee's trust by saying she is still the same person within even though she was born a man. When I first saw this episode, Selina looks and said VERY feminine; almost impossible to tell (or even care) that Selina is not a real woman. If you want to see the episode I am referring to, here is a video for you to see: Jerry Springer - Transsexual Takedown part 1 (mildly not be safe for work).
Dating a transgendered or intersexed person can be great challenge for more reasons than one. The more common case is with a straight man trying to date a transgendered person (or a woman the man doesn't know is transgendered). Only so few tend to appreciate the true beauty and personality of someone. However, not disclosing that a transgendered person is transgendered could lead to complications down the road of a relationship (or one being developed).
So do you fancy being with a transgendered partner?
But wait, there's more! Read on after the break to see more on this topic!
--- Romanticizing Same-Sex Relationships ---
^ from: news.com.au - Intimacy among two females often makes for sexual arousal and entertainment when portrayed in media.
The media has done its fair share of work to make same-sex relationships and same-sex moments so acceptable and marketable. For one thing, media has done a lot to make such moments marketable and entertaining. You sometimes have these "lesbian moments" where two females kiss each other (even if casually).
Homoerotic Impact.
One time taking British Literature back in 2007, I had to read or do this story involving two boys engaged with each other in homoerotic fashion. There have been certain literary works dealing and dabbling with homoerotic themes. There are also certain awkward situations where we face some kind of same-sex encounter. I remember reading online once involving a woman having her first lesbian encounter at a clothing store or someplace. One thing to note is that same-sex encounters don't have to be anything erotic, it can be some awkward or unexpected moment that draws certain amounts of arousal. It could be an intimate encounter that is totally unexpected.
Media Portrayal of Same-Sex Relationships.
Likely "for ratings," media tends to glorify two lesbians in love, usually for arousal and entertainment. Heterosexual males are usually drawn to the attraction of two females kissing each other. And when you usually see two females kissing each other, they are usually two extremely attractive females between the ages of about 18-25. Are all lesbians sexy 18-25 year olds? No. What about the marriage between Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, for example? I mean, most mainstream people think of THIS as being the only kind of lesbian relationship worth glorifying:
While lesbians are two women in love with each other, people usually imagine two incredibly sexy and attractive young women having steamy sex and kissing. Perhaps a curious case of LGBT dating was in the ABC series (that I've never seen), "Dirty Sexy Money" with transsexual actress Candis Cayne playing as one character's girlfriend. There were also shows such as "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," which I have also haven't seen.
--- Same-Sex Relationships: When it All Goes Wrong ---
^ from: pinknews.co.uk - If you think domestic abuse isn't a problem among same-sex couples, think again.
So you think that same-sex relationships are all happy and care-free? Well, think again! Domestic disputes can happen amongst gay couples as much as any straight couple. If you are in a relationship with someone, the best... and the absolute worst can happen when two parties aren't happy with each other.
Hey... domestic violence among a same-sex or bisexual couple is as serious and intense of an issue as domestic violence between a heterosexual couple. So if you get abused in a same-sex relationship, it's best you find some help or counseling either from friends or from licensed counselors.
--- Same-Sex Relationship Resources ---
This is a variety of online resources to help you if you are considering or trying to maintain a same-sex relationship. All resources are based on material I have found online for you relevant to this blog topic. So feel free to have a look at what all I have to offer for you in case you are interested or want more information:
This section is exclusively for all my people in the greater Houston/Galveston area. If you live in this area and want to find some online resources in same-sex relationships, allow me to find some material for you online. I can't find too many resources for Galveston folk, so most of what you will see here will relate mostly to Houston. Here are some resources for you relevant to this topic:
• Outsmart Magazine - Houston's premier gay publication, complete with more resources for LGBT folk. You can also link to this magazine via their Facebook fan page and their Twitter feed. Links to both are included with the link to Outsmart Magazine.
LGBT Domestic Violence Resources.
These resources are important if you want to learn more about violence among LGBT couples.
More resources could be added in future edits (as always).
--- If You Are Among the LGBT Folk Reading This Blog Post... ---
If you are among the people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, intersexed, or whatever... I hope you enjoyed what you read here. I have really worked to make this topic both educational and insightful. I continue to try to make topics and make commentary of professional quality.
I know I've probably missed some important points or missed some facts. If I have, this is where I look to you to provide me corrections to my material. The reason why I ask for your support is because I want my readers to enjoy what they read and come away with some sort of satisfaction for my work. That is what has helped establish the character of my blog. To maintain this character, I need the support of readers like you to help to push my blog further into the future while also continually providing great content across multiple topics. If you want to help me out, please tell me what corrections I need to make in a non-threatening, non-sarcastic manner. In other words, don't send personal attacks or spam in attempting to tell me what corrections I need to make.
Regardless, I thank all of you at least hitting this blog post. I hope my efforts to discuss this topic were to your liking.
Heaven forbid, I LOVE Charlie Brown! However, Charlie Brown and all that goes on in this classic cartoon series, sometimes, Charlie Brown reminds me so much of myself and some of life issues I have faced before. The cartoons are simply classic, especially the more holiday-oriented cartoons (like "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"). When you look at the various issues impacting Charlie Brown and some other characters, it is an animated depiction of just how cruel and unfair life can be. Think about what Charlie Brown goes through- falling on his back trying to kick a football, getting hit by a baseball after pitching, picking a short and wilted Christmas tree for a Christmas play, having nobody believe in him to do anything right... reminds me a lot of myself some times. Only so few get to actually think about the episodes and cartoons of the Peanuts.
^ original picture credit: giantbomb.com - Charlie Brown. "Why me?"
What is one way I think of this cartoon series? I can think of being around peers and being disrespected in some such fashion. There have been people who always seen me as not being "cool" enough to hang out with others and be happy around others. Charlie Brown is also usually never given any hope or promise to get anything done right- just like me sometimes. He often times has no one really to look up to him to give him any hope on his worst days. In other words, he has to live with his struggles basically on his own (or with limited help from others). Going life alone and being so isolated from others is a feeling I've especially felt. There is actually a reason as to why the late great Charles Schulz depicted his depression with Charlie Brown- Charles has endured severe depression in his life, and so he uses Charlie Brown to depict some of his own transgressions.
So as much as I love the Charlie Brown cartoons for the humor and timeless cartoons, part of me thinks back to how Charlie Brown and I are sometimes one in the same with a lot of issues. It can be entirely surreal how a cartoon can sometimes remind you of yourself and your life. If anything, these Charlie Brown cartoons remind me to treat other good people with more kindness and respect than what some others have felt. Having endured my own personal hardships, the last thing I want to see happen is for other people to suffer similar hardships. I always want the best for people because I always know what the worst outcomes have been for when nothing goes right. You could say that I want to help make other peoples' lives better just because I want others to have what I've been unable to have in my down times.
John's Blog Space has been all about one person- myself, because only I feel that I am the best one to move my blog onwards and upwards. A recent message I received online was from someone who wanted to post a guest blog entry on JBS. The traffic my blog has sustained in recent times has been mostly substantial. I've bragged about getting blog hits from over 140 countries and every continent (except obviously Antarctica). External support wouldn't hurt, but I don't want my blog to be better only because someone's post other than my own is better than my own work. So therefore, I did not want to allow for any guest bloggers. This blog is underrated and under the radar, but it isn't sorry.
So what are you reading here? This post relates to me perhaps allowing guest bloggers to come in and contribute to my blog posts.
--- The Impact of Having Guest Bloggers ---
I think the biggest impact of allowing someone to post in your blog is because someone loves your content and wants to contribute with his/her/their content. People do contact me about certain things in my blog, but it was just earlier today that someone was interested in making a guest blog post about a relevant subject.
--- Issues and Concerns on Guest Blogging for my Blog ---
Time for specific issues on guest blogging on my blog...
Considering Guest Blogging?
There have been reasons why I haven't been in favor of guest blogging. One of the biggest is that I want to achieve my status on my own with my own content. So therefore, I don't feel personally happy or satisfied when my own work pales in comparison to others. Getting the traffic and the attention I've worked towards since becoming more serious about blogging. I always have something to prove to myself.
There is another big reason why I haven't been open to outside support- I am a poor teammate. I could never coexist seamlessly with others in making quality content. I've been neglected or even have my efforts mean very little in the final outcome of something. Even back in school, I didn't like the idea of working with others because I felt like I could never contribute or play a real factor in a team project working successfully. I am not a hot shot or a loose cannon, but I was just never good at working with others. That's why I have preferred doing my online content by myself, because only I could push my content to a direction I am happy with.
Therefore, there is only one reason why I am entertained by the offer of guest blog posts:
Involvement.
For as much as people visit my blog and have a read, not as many people are reluctant to comment. How do I know if my frequently-visited blog post are liked or not if people keep visiting? There aren't even people interested in becoming fans of my Facebook fan page. I don't get as many fans, and I am trying to get as many fans as possible without having to spend money just to get more fans or more support.
So this may be the biggest reason why I may consider guest blogging- involvement. I need to know that people care about my work and my blog to where people want to throw in their input. I need to see if my blog can reach out to more people and get more involvement. Because of this, I am allowing, but being careful, in allowing guest blog articles. All 600+ blog posts on John's Blog Space thus far have all been my own work. If this helps to bring more readers and get more involvement from readers, I'll be sure to consider this.
Lingering Fears.
This section addresses a few fears I have in allowing Guest Bloggers.
Still, I want my blog to still be able to be enjoyable with my own content. After all, I am the one who made my own blog relevant, so it would pain me to see my blog that I've worked to grow and expand become popular... because of someone else's work. I just need self-assurance that my work is still relevant and don't want to fall in anyone else's shadows. Or at least... not see my blog become popular for works by other people rather than because of my own content. In other words, I worked to create this blog to become highly-visited. I'd hate to see the success of my own work go to waste with OTHER PEOPLE'S CONTENT being better than mine.
I also mentioned being careful at what content I allow. I don't want my blog to take on a character different from what it was built on, so I'm not going to haphazardly allow content that is different from material I try to focus on. So for example, I'm not going to allow someone to post a blog post highly criticizing a political leader or allow a blog post attacking certain religions. I don't do topics I'm not comfortable with on YouTube, and the same goes for my blog. Having said all of this, I am open to guest blogging if there are those who want to contribute. I will at least try to make an attempt at being more open.
If anyone does want to make Guest Blog posts for my blog, then be sure to contact me with what you want to do a blog post about. I will need to take a look at the blog post in its completion and see if it is good enough to be posted online. In addition, I will mark "Guest" on the blog post to note that it is not a blog post of mine. Be sure to contact me directly by visiting my Blogger/Blogspot profile page and pass along an Email to me.
Thank you for reading this blog post. I'd be very interested to see how much guest support I can get because while this is still my house, you're welcome any time (unless you're a hater)! :)
(NOTE: The "no picture" experiment isn't working. This blog post will be edited to include pictures of each given location. Of course, proper credit for each image will be added for the ones I do use.)
A way I'd like to repay my European readers is to make notion of some of my favorite locales in Europe. Europe is an important market for me as a blogger and as a YouTube channel. So many people from Europe view my content in addition to my fellow American readers. This is a chance for me to share some of my favorite European locations. Not necessarily cities, but various places including entire countries. This is kind of my chance to shout out to certain locations. This time, I won't try to rely on pictures to prove points. Not having a lot of pictures will make this blog post flat, but it's less work for me to share main points.
--- Favorite European Cities and Locations ---
I'll be doing this a bit differently. I'll mostly share the location and why I love it without really needing to post a picture (though pictures help). Please note that this is not necessarily about cities. It can be about certain locations, certain parts of Europe, certain countries in general, and more.
NOTE: Click on the headings of any of the featured locations to visit either their official website or some travel site linking you to these locations. Be warned that not all sites are available in English.
WHY: Do I NEED a reason? Just look at the lovely surroundings and structures of London. It is one of my favorite cities in Europe. You have many reasons to fall in love with London- Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and stuff like that.
WHY: Besides London, Manchester would be perhaps the only other city in England I'd want to visit. Of course, you know the Manchester folk love Manchester United football (and Manchester City, but Man U fans outweigh Manchester City)
WHY: The only thing I know about Cardiff is that it the birthplace of Charlotte Church. It is easily my favorite city in Wales. I do wish I knew more about Cardiff. It's the only other Welsh city I know of besides Swansea.
WHY: It's hard to ignore or downplay the beauty of a city like Paris. It's been one of my favorite places in the world for the longest, and it is also a place I'd love to visit if I were actually travelling. Paris just exudes so much charm and character to be ignored. I sometimes imagine what it would be like to be on the top floor of the Eiffel Tower. I'd feel like I was atop the world.
WHY: Other than the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco, Monte Carlo is a place you just instantly fall in love with. The only other thing I know about Monaco (besides Monte Carlo) is that there is a beautiful football (as in what us Americans call soccer) stadium called Stade Louis II.
WHY: ¡Viva España!. There are many places in Spain that I love. You can read about all of them in my blog entry: What I Love About Spain. There's just so much to love about Spain- Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Salamanca, Toledo, Ibiza... you go from there. I tend to love Spanish architecture the most.
WHY: Besides Berlin, Cologne is my favorite city in Germany. A lot of the various structures and city locales in Germany are simply stunning. Almost as beautiful as Paris.
WHY: While I don't know as much as I would like to about Amsterdam, this city is certainly beautiful. It is undeniably a great looking city. It's also infamously known for its Red Light District.
WHY: Switzerland is nothing short of beautiful. Some of my favorite locations in Switzerland include Geneva, Lucerne, Zurich, Bern, and Grindelwald. Switzerland is just nothing short of breathtaking.
WHY: The cosmopolitan city of Milan is just an amazing place. I know it as a fashion capital as well as not being far from the lovely Autodromo Nazionale Monza. The Piazza del Duomo is spectacular.
WHY: Florence is absolutely charming. All the red roof buildings and Old World architecture is nothing short of amazing. It is a truly beautiful place. The Florence Cathedral stands out most to me as far as structures in Florence are concerned.
WHY: Do as the Romans do. This is a place that has a little of everything. You can immerse yourself in the ancient history of Rome. You can probably envision what the first battles were like at the Colosseum. You can toss a few coins into the Trevi Fountain. According to legend, if you toss two coins into the Trevi Fountain, you will one day return to Rome. Or, you can check out some of the more modern stuff in Rome. Either way, it's a spectacular place.
WHY: Malta is a place I've slowly and steadily wanted to learn more about. As my blog kept getting blog hits from Malta, I got to learn about some of the different cities of Malta. The Old World charm of Malta makes it a beautiful location. Just about every picture I see of Malta is simply sensational. Totally breathtaking and captivating Malta is. I am still wanting to learn more about Malta. But for what I do know, it is a spectacular island nation.
WHY: Croatia is a beautiful country, and its beautiful capital is Zagreb. From a number of angles, Zagreb is just a beautiful city. I even have a few friends online from Zagreb. It's a lovely place.
WHY: Besides Rome, Athens is another classic locale full of history. You can't fault the history and the charm of a place like Athens. In fact, playing "The Battle of Olympus" back on the NES exposed me to Greek Mythology and all of Greece. It was a great game. As for Athens itself, you have the same sense of immersion here as you do with Rome.
WHY: Blue waters, lovely buildings, and an amazing setting all make Mykonos a truly beautiful place. It's my favorite location in Greece besides Athens.
WHY: As I started following my international blog viewers, I got to learn more about Slovakia. Growing up, I've always remembered Czechoslovakia. I still have a lot more to learn more about Slovakia, but if there's one thing I know about Slovakia, it's that Bratislava is a lovely city (and it's also the capital of Slovakia).
WHY: Vienna is well known for music. No song more beautiful could ever be composed than the creation of Vienna. It is a beautiful city with lots of history as well as musical history. Even one Austrian native named Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (you might have heard of him before) resided in Vienna apart from his Salzburg home.
WHY: I was preparing this blog entry and felt ashamed I forgot to mention Budapest. Budapest is one of the loveliest cities in the world, let alone one of Europe's loveliest.
WHY: The capital of Lithuania is a beautiful place and the only city I really know of in Lithuania. There are beautiful buildings, both old and modern in this city. It's a fantastic place.
WHY: I know very little about Latvia. The pictures I've seen of Riga are very nice. It is a lovely city from what I've seen. I wanted to pay respect to people from Riga who visit my blog! :)
WHY: Estonia is one of my most recent fascinating places anywhere in the world. My favorite city in Estonia is Tallinn, the capital. Tallinn is a lovely place from what I've seen in pictures. I even think Estonia has a lovely national anthem from the instrumental hymn I've heard of Estonia. It is a lovely place, as is the rest of Estonia.
I don't really know of anyone from Estonia, except for a fashion blog and a race car driver. The only famous Estonian I know of is World Rally Championship racer, Markko Martin. The Estonian fashion blog I follow here on Blogger/Blogspot from an Estonian teenage girl named Tuuli Jürgenson, who is the creator of a blog called Fallie's Scrapbook. She has been featured in publications such as Teen Vogue. You can read more about the Estonian in this Teen Vogue interview.
WHY: Helsinki is perhaps the city I immediately think of when it comes to Finland. It is a lovely city. I also kind of know Helsinki for Helsinki Polytechnic Stadia as part of the Formula SAE competition.
WHY: Iceland's capital is the ONLY city I know in Iceland. In addition, some of the structures there are totally beautiful. The one that stands out to me is the Church of Hallgrimur in Reykjavik.
WHY: It's tough not to find something to love about a classic city like Moscow. Basil's Cathedral and The Kremlin are two lovely structures that instantly jump out at me. Moscow is just a beautiful place. Moscow will even play host to a future Formula 1 Grand Prix race.
WHY: The only city in the Democratic Republic of Georgia that I know of is its capital city of Tbilisi. This is a lovely city from what I've seen in pictures as well as in videos. Sameba Cathedral is perhaps my favorite structure in the [Republic of] Georgian capital. The city itself is as modern as almost any other major European city (like London or Paris, for example).
Baku, Azerbaijan.
WHY: A Sister City of Houston, Baku is really a lovely city. The country of Azerbaijan is considered part of the European continent. It is the southeasternmost country in Europe, and Baku is a beautiful place. Its urban beauty will captivate you about as much as any other major European city.
--- Favorite European Cities and Locations: Honorable Mention ---
Here are some honorable mentions I'd like to make in regards to favorite European locations. Again, click on the headings to visit official websites or tourism sites for each location (if available):
Turku, Finland.
WHY: I'm doing this in honor of some friends on Facebook. Turku is somehow seen in Finland much like Houston here in the United States- underrated. I think Turku is a very nice-looking city from what I've seen.
WHY: I'm paying respect to my blogging friend, Cindy, better known as Glamour Bbey. Antwerp is a lovely city. As lovely as Glamour Bbey. (NOTE: The website to this heading was the best one I could find for this city. I'm deeply sorry.)
Boden, Sweden.
WHY: A loyal mate of mine online hails from Northern Sweden, so it's safe to say that while it's cold up there, he's one of the coolest people I've ever come across online. So I'm showing support for Boden and the Boden Municipality here.
WHY: Gibraltar is a majestic location. Just the sight of the Rock of Gibraltar is mystifying. Both the territory and the Rock of Gibraltar are outstanding.
Istanbul, Turkey.
The reason why I didn't include Istanbul initially was because this was about European cities. Istanbul, though, spans both Europe and Asia. So I pay Honorable Mention here though I love Istanbul.
--- If You're From Any of the Mentioned Locations... ---
I'm just here to show some love for all of you from Europe! :-) I love all of my readers the world over, but I'm just paying some tribute to my European readers for this blog post. Feel free to post a shout out to me if I mentioned your hometown or country here!
Please let me know of any official websites or tourism sites I can use to edit this blog entry in the future to better service my readers. Contact me directly if there are any better sites I can link my readers to in making this blog entry better.
Androgynous people combine male and female properties with little or no compromise. It is a best-of-both-worlds style that is both artistic and unique. The ones who demonstrate androgyny the best are the ones who blur the lines between male and female with incredible ease. In fashion, dressing up in and sharing cues from the opposite gender helps make the whole androgynous experience even more unique. Certain fashion models do a great job at males offering feminine charm and females offering masculine charm. It is not about females looking masculine. It is not about males looking feminine. It certainly is NOT crossdressing or transgenderism. It is about combining cues from both genders into one unrealistically artistic package.
This massive blog entry is about androgyny, both as art and as fashion. I want to thank everyone whom have helped to make this blog post popular since its initial posting.
WARNING: Some of the content in this blog entry may not be suitable for all audiences. A Jump Break will be provided to keep this blog post friendly for all (or almost all) audiences. Therefore, you will need to read the fully blog entry to see the entirety of what I have to offer here.
LATEST UPDATE(s):
APR 5 2011 - updated post
--- Androgyny at a Glance ---
Androgyny, in its simplest sense, is a where a person of a certain birth gender bears strong visual qualities of his/her opposite gender. An androgynous male bears beautiful and feminine features. An androgynous female bears boyish and masculine qualities in her looks. I think a big note in all of this is that androgyny does not involve having any sort of surgery or hormone usage. The whole deal here is about natural genderless beauty, not having surgery to permanently be the opposite sex.
Some are able to perfectly transition or dress up as his/her opposite seamlessly. If any bunch of people are pretty good at being androgynous, it's mostly emo people. Some emo boys can be greatly androgynous and do very well at feminine-style or feminine-inspired looks. In no way am I influenced or indulged with any rock-influenced culture, but it is one thing I wanted to point out on the topic of androgynous people. The androgynous influence also goes into things like males who are involved in visual kei.
On the androgynous female side, the ones I usually know as being androgynous are usually butch lesbians. There are, however, females who have very boyish looks. Some can seamlessly wear either masculine clothing cut for a feminine body or wear male clothing while providing a feminine twist. The idea goes beyond clothing. In fact, you also need a good hairstyle to complete the boyish touch.
The most disliked aspect of androgynous dress is also what gives androgyny its character:
Trap Factor.
The thing that brings most people to disappointment is in finding out what one things is a beautiful woman... all to find out that beautiful woman is actually a man. This is the element of androgyny that makes most people cringe. However, it is also the touch of a trap to provide that element of surprise.
--- The Most Attractive Aspect of Androgyny ---
What speaks the highest volumes in regards to androgynous people (especially androgynous males) is the amount of confidence in an androgynous male's style of dress. It takes a great deal of bravery and confidence to wear some feminine garments while also looking fabulous in such clothes. Think about it for a moment- it takes confidence for a girl to wear a mini skirt or a short dress. It is not like any female can show off her legs in a cute skirt or dress, and the same applies for wearing a chic pair of shoes or sandals.
Even more of a wow factor is envisioning a MALE wearing feminine garments while looking almost every bit as fabulous as a girl would. Some males can pull it off, though. As much as a girl is confident in her style of dress, a guy confident in his style of dress is just as hot. A good sense of style (and perhaps even things like exercise to help shape your body) can also go a long way to being confident as an androgynous beauty.
You will see later in this blog post the beauty of androgyny once I introduce you to some androgynous people.
--- The Seductive Appeal of Androgyny ---
As much as illusion is the beauty of fashion, it also applies to seeing androgynous people. In the case of a male having feminine beauty, we are often times drawn to elements that make most females beautiful. Us [heterosexual] males are often naturally turned on by the image of a female with a luscious body- smooth legs, voluptuous belly, lovely face, flowing hair... the like. Some of these androgynous males sometimes wear feminine fashions to express their inner goddess or princess a bit more. They may wear feminine footwear or even mini dresses. These androgynous males who sometimes wear feminine clothes are not exactly transvestites or anything. They sometimes would dress up in feminine clothes while not wanting to be a full-time female. But in the case of a male that looks too feminine, most of us males quickly become disgusted finding out that the beautiful lady we thought we were looking at... is actually a male with a deliciously feminine body. Some feminine-looking males are so attractive you almost WISH they were real genetic females. :)
The seductive appeal of androgyny can also happen involving boyish females. Of course, the instant appeal of a boyish female isn't as apparent as a feminine-looking male. Some females are able to take elements of male fashion and male fashion cues while giving them a very feminine touch.
I think when someone looks so much his/her opposite gender or bears beauty characteristics of one's opposite gender, it's a real testament to how beautiful someone really is. A term I will use often is "genderless beauty" to describe those who have that middle ground of beauty- neither a beautiful male or a beautiful female, but masculine and feminine beauty with little or no compromise.
--- My Inspiration for This Blog Post ---
In about 2004, I was an Art History 1 student. We once did a section on ancient Greek sculptures of humans. The way that male sculptures were portrayed and illustrated got to me in a way that I grown to appreciate the beauty of the male form. This would begin myself looking at things in different ways. After all, art has the tendency to change your perception of the world and of others.
This new sense of art I've absorbed has gotten me to appreciate the human body a bit more, especially of the male body. With the right touch, the male body can be just as beautiful as even the most attractive of women. The average heterosexual male would cringe at the notion of calling another male handsome or attractive. However, I have learned to find beauty in all people. There is at least one aspect about all of us that makes us beautiful and unique.
--- Various Androgynes: Androgynous Males ---
QUICK NOTE: Images from Flickr may be used. I am looking for newer ways to properly credit any Flickr images I use. So click on any image from Flickr to be able to properly view the original images.
I want to begin with a young man that has really shown me that androgynous males can be just as beautiful as almost any female. An androgynous gay model from Australia blurs the lines between masculine and feminine beauty. Photos of him showcase his genderless beauty. His name is...
(mouse over both images for additional credits; click on any image to view on Flickr) ^ from: flickr.com; courtesy of David Paris - Australian androgynous model David Paris.
^ from: flickr.com; courtesy of David Paris - an old, yet beautiful picture of David Paris, with a lovely hairstyle.
David Paris is incredibly handsome, but he also has feminine-beautiful pictures and qualities in his pictures. Some of the pictures you see of him will make you appreciate the genderless beauty he possesses. The Australian (who is also half-Swedish) is someone who is artistically beautiful in almost every sense of the word. His beauty often times blurs the line between masculine and feminine beauty. David Paris has a heavenly and divine body. The amount of charm he possesses in his looks are nothing short of amazing. Therefore, I commonly use "genderless beauty" to describe his looks.
In addition to being a beautiful fellow himself, he is also quite fond of vintage babes.
Here are some other male models that blur the lines between masculine and feminine. To avoid getting into any sort of copyright violations, I will mostly just share links. I will describe the models in question. If I can find a way to show pictures of these Model Mayhem models, I will show pictures. But for now, visit these Model Mayhem links to see their Model Mayhem profiles and their many pictures. Here are more androgynous boys to spur your interest...
Young Paris Volsch is an androgynous male model with feminine curves and a unique hairstyle. Paris is male, but his dimensions and figure make him irresistibly feminine. His hairstyle is very much feminine while also having a boyish touch. Paris Volsch has a fairly feminine physique, allowing some of his more feminine images to be really outstanding. I would likely say Paris Volsch is quite passable. Passable is a common term in the transgender realm meaning that you look so much like your opposite gender that hardly anyone notices. See his pictures by visiting his Model Mayhem profile page (a link to it is provided to the heading of this section).
R'ryan (pronounced ar-ee-on) is English-Thai from California. Images of this young androgynous model feature him with lovely hair. He is fairly as passable as Paris Volsch. Click on the heading to this area to see R'ryan Garavani and his pictures.
^ from: katalepsja.tumblr.com/ (best I could find) - Nagel Lanväettir is a male with feminine-like curves. His beauty is really a best-of-both-worlds package.
Nagel Lanväettir is someone who I just came across recently on Flickr preparing this blog post. Nagel is a young German male with a delightfully and deliciously feminine body. He has flowing long hair that extends down to about the middle of his back. The picture I have provided is a friendly picture of him that I am showing you for this portion. In fact (and this may gross out some of my readers), some of pictures of him are so artistic and beautiful that you almost want to imagine he is a real girl and not an androgynous male. I was not sure what picture to post as an example of his androgynous beauty because the majority of his pictures are artistic nude pictures. You will need to view Nagel's Flickr photostream to see him in all of his androgynous beauty. Or, you may read later in this blog entry to see another picture of him.
There isn't a girl out there would swoon to a handsome male like Adam Lundberg. The young man from Hawaii has both a deliciously feminine upper body along with feminine-like hair. According to his Myspace profile, he's not gay, and pink is his favorite color. Unusual that a straight male loves pink.
Steven Lai is an androgynous male with a (if I may) very cute face. With some of his pictures, it can be a bit tough to tell if he is a boy or a girl. He has a great balance of male and female beauty, especially with his hair and face.
A baby face and cute hair makes this young Filipino irresistibly eye-catching. The young man from the Philippines could almost easily pass for a girl with some lipstick and a girly outfit.
Miles Devin is a young male with some feminine beauty. He has a Goth/alternative style appearance, but also a very feminine upper body. He has a very feminine-style belly to compliment his androgynous appearance.
If you prefer a sexy androgynous male with a feminine body, a feminine face, and feminine hair; Issac Mascote will not disappoint you. The young Mexican from California does both modeling and various applications of makeup and beauty. Issac is as sexy of an androgynous male as almost any hot Latina. You need only see his Model Mayhem profile or Isaac's Myspace profile to see his pictures.
"I feel that as a male, I need to show that male models are not just the buff, musclehead types, but can be the smaller types as well. In essence, I want to model to show that I can do this and it is not just for the stereotypical bodybuilder types that can succeed in modeling."
-Maelstrom
Having said this, the young model from North Carolina is an androgynous male with a very good sense of style. Any male reluctant to express male beauty without being some hard-bodied hunk chiseled from stone is worthy of respect to me.
That's it for the Model Mayhem androgynous models. Now, meet some more androgynous males here...
Onch Movement is a colorful person. Considered initially (by me) to be a girl with a boyish side, Onch is a colorful guy who just wants to spread the world with cuteness and coolness. This fellow found fame in taking part in the first season of "Paris Hilton's My New BFF" reality TV tournament. Onch specializes in making creative fashion accessories. In his words, Onch wants to spread the world with cuteness.
^ from: blogcu.com - Izzy Hilton bears masculine and feminine beauty with a heavy doasge of emo.
Izzy Hilton's looks are very feminine, though not as beautiful as David Paris. Piercings anywhere besides the ears or on the navel personally freak me out. So therefore, I get freaked out seeing his piercings on his nose and below his lower lip. Izzy Hilton is someone very much part of the androgynous male crowd. He is a gay male who has a serious kick of feminine style and charm.
Izzy Hilton has a YouTube channel. Here is one of his videos:
NOTE: I noted in a past post that Izzy Hilton was the lead singer of Tokio Hotel. Well, he isn't. Then again, I'm not a rock music person anyways, so I apologize for screwing this up for you rock fans.
^ from: chasemebaby.com - "LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!", says one young Chris Crocker.
Whether you love or loathe him, Chris Crocker is an Internet celebrity who rose to fame with his "Leave Britney Alone!" video in the midst of issues involving Britney Spears. He and his videos can be annoying. However, the (born December 7, 1987)-year old from Tennessee earns my respect (to an extent) because he's not afraid to express himself however he pleases. This is someone almost totally unapologetic and fearless in making the points and comments he does.
^ from: imageshack.us - Gackt often times blurs male and female beauty especially with his more artistic and dramatic photos.
Never been a fan of Gackt, but his looks (especially in some of his more artistic photoshoots) really blur the lines of masculine beauty and feminine beauty.
From his androgynous dress to sporting some cute (and even sexy) high heels, Gregory Gorgeous is one 18-year old (as of the date of this edit (Dec. 2, 2010) fellow not afraid to rock some high heels along with some feminine fashions. He has some very handsome short hair along with a nice sense of fashion. He even has somewhat of a feminine voice. Gregory will wear some skinny pants or leggings along with some fierce pumps or high-heel shoes. The fellow from Toronto, Ontario, Canada is more like a cute girl than a very handsome male to me. Gregory Gorgeous' YouTube channel has over 80,000 subscribers. Here is a quick video showcasing his style (and a special message):
This is one delicious androgynous diva. You might agree if you see this video below:
I don't know enough about David Bowie or know of any of his songs. All I know is that he is an androgynous icon, and two of my favorite songs of his are "Dead Man Walking" from "The Saint" soundtrack and "I'm Afraid of Americans."
^ from: hotmusicbeat.com - '80s androgynous icon, Boy George.
God forbid that I'm sick of '80s fandom, but I have to include Boy George for relevance and for my audience. Besides his music, Boy George's androgynous looks make him iconic and very much a part of the discussion of androgynous celebrities.
Tait Hughes Geijer.
(ADDED: October 7, 2011) This short-haired fellow is someone you might initially think is a short-haired girl. Maybe you take this person to be a boyish-looking girl. This person is all-male. Tait Geijer is a model (born either in 1992 or 1993) from San Clemente, California, USA. He is of Swedish, German, and Welsh descent. Here is a Flickr gallery of some of his older pictures: Flickr gallery of Tait Hughes Gaiter.
^ from: www.refinery29.com - Andrej Pejic... the guy you thought was a girl.
This specimen of androgynous goodness is Andrej Pejic. The Bosnian model is one of the most beautiful androgynous males anywhere in the world. Nobody walks the tightrope of androgynous males quite like Andrej. He is also quite young, too. Andrej Pejic is only (born August 28, 1991) 19-years old (as of April 5, 2011). His beauty will astound you as much as David Paris. Perhaps even more so th Got Facebook? Become a Fan/Like Andrej Pejic!
That covers androgynous males. If there are any androgynous males you want to bring to my attention and want to see in this blog post, feel free to contact me! I may feature more androgynous males in future posts with your help.
--- A Few Famous Androgynes: Androgynous Females ---
We've seen males with feminine looks; now, let's go over to females with boyish looks!
^ from: autostraddle.com - the funny daytime talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres.
Metairie, Louisiana-born Ellen DeGeneres is perhaps the most recognizable faces in American media. While I don't regularly watch her daytime talk show, Ellen DeGeneres is very funny and entertaining.
^ from: musictory.com (best I could find) - Tanya Manibusan (or "Teeh") is a girl, but looks nothing like a girl.
Tanya (or nicknamed as "Teeh") is a musical phenom from Guam. She does, however, look very boyish. I even had to look up online if Tanya is really a boy or a girl, and Tanya's 100% girl. Just looks very boyish. I think in a video interview, she said something along the lines of not liking boys. She does make some good music. You could think of her in this way- she is someone who prefers making great music while not making herself look super girly or super sexy. Tanya is more of someone who lets her music do the talking rather than looking overly sexy to grab attention. You can also "like" her on Facebook by visiting Teeh's Facebook Fan Page.
Tilda Swinton.
^ from: comicbookmovie.com - Tilda Swinton.
Tilda Swindon appears very boyish in many of her pictures. However, she does wear lovely dresses for special occasions. So it isn't like she is very anti-girly or anti-feminine all the time. Her face and hair are boyish in nature regardless.
These are some of the big ones to me. If there are any androgynous females you want to bring to my attention and want to see in this blog post, feel free to contact me! I may feature more androgynous females in future posts with your help.
--- Androgynous Bloggers ---
(added: September 14, 2011) So are you okay checking out androgynous bloggers? If so, here are some blogs for you to check out featuring androgynous males or androgynous females. Click on the hyperlinked text in each heading to visit that person's blog. I do recommend you read the description on each blog before doing so, though.
Eli Alcaraz is an androgynous fellow who has very nice fashion style. His fashion blog features many different fashion styles as well as fashion inspiration. You will be surprised by some of the many androgynous looks he pulls off in his outfit posts. You will be impressed by his sense of style when you visit. From dresses and skirts to a bevy of feminine heels, Eli's style is absolutely left of the mainstream.
This blog features a Spanish fellow with an eye for feminine style. Among his many posts, he wears a variety of mostly casual fashions. Some of his many posts feature many different outfits that would make any girl's style shine. However, his special touch makes each look come alive in his own unique way. You can see more of this androgynous male's style in his blog or by checking out Androgyn's Chictopia page.
You bet I will edit this post if I find any other blogs to spur your interest.
More to come! The remaining material may not be for all audiences, so I'm providing a Jump Break to keep this blog post friendly. Click on "Read More" to read the full blog entry (or disregard this paragraph if you're reading the full blog post)!
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--- Androgyny as Art ---
Art tends to make you look at things differently. So is the case for androgyny. The reason why I'm fascinated about androgyny from an artistic standpoint is because of the beauty it provides. It's not just about a male with feminine beauty or a female with masculine beauty, but just seeing someone with genderless beauty- neither masculine nor feminine beauty, but genderless beauty.
Often times, we are romanticized with the image of handsome men or beautiful women. We know a handsome man or a beautiful woman when we see them, and as we envision what qualifies as beautiful for a man or a woman. What happens, then, when what you think is a beautiful woman is really a man or if what you think is a handsome male is really a woman? Please note that transgenderism has NOTHING to do with this topic.
Here are some pictures to fantasize the sensual element of androgyny...
^ from: pansexualsodomite.com - An interesting case- a male with feminine beauty.
In the case of the picture above, this demonstrates a real best-of-both-worlds approach. This is clearly a man with the physique he possesses. However, his face and hair are very feminine and actually appealing. You can probably also argue this man's arms are a bit feminine.
^ from: rcrdlbl.com - This is Lissy Trullie, exhibiting an example of boy tough, girl cute.
This picture is an example of being a girl while having some boyish charm. The whole craze of the boyfriend look plays a big role in making this look come alive. You can take a look at this picture and possibly imagine a boy with long bangs. By the way, the girl in this image is Lissy Trullie, and you can hear her music here: Lissy Trullie on Myspace Music.
^ from: ??? - Nagel Lanväettir is a male with feminine-like curves. His beauty is really a best-of-both-worlds package.
As demonstrated in the above picture, Nagel Lanväettir has tasteful androgynous beauty. His beauty is a harmony of masculine and feminine beauty. I can not show you some of his other pictures because they are a bit too racy for my blog. Nothing hardcore, but mostly just some artistic nude pictures and a few romantic nude pictures. You can see more of his artistic photoshoots by visiting Nagel's Flickr photostream.
Video Game Influences.
Here are just some random comments from random games...
• For many people, there are those who dislike feminine-looking male characters in games. One of the most notorious is the Final Fantasy series. Though I've never played it, Final Fantasy IX had two MALE characters that were both very feminine in appearance- hero Zidane and villain Kuja. Kuja is especially more feminine in appearance than Zidane. In fact, Kuja bears his belly, hips, and parts of his upper legs. All of which offer up an extremely feminine image.
^ from: www.cosplayhouse.com - Perhaps the most famous character in Guilty Gear, Bridget- the boy you thought was a girl.
• Bridget from the Guilty Gear series is more notorious on the androgynous front than the ones I've mentioned in the previous paragraph. Bridget is a boy, but according to the storyline, he was born in a village where twins of the same gender brought about bad luck. Bridget is dressed more like a nun. He wears this blue and white veil and short tunic (I wanted to say mini dress) outfit. His weapon of choice is a yo-yo as well as his teddy bear. He wears black shorts underneath his tunic/dress, so don't feel squeamish at the image of seeing Bridget wear panties underneath his tunic. However, there are a number of perverted folk (mostly hentai artists) who would portray Bridget with panties underneath his tunic. On games.net, Bridget was rated as one of the most androgynous video game characters of all time. Where does Bridget rank? Find out by reading games.net's Top 16 Androgynous Game Characters of All-Time!
• In the game "Magna Carta: Tears of Blood," the main character, Calintz Jerevinan, appears feminine with his physique and his outfit.
• Code Name: Raiden from Metal Gear Solid 2 is seen as an androgynous figure as well. Though I've never personally played though "Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty," I do remember watching my brother play. Maybe one of the most embarrassing moments of the game is having to play as CN: Raiden in the buff.
• Maybe one of the most famous aspects is seeing someone who you think is a man... until that man exposes HER identity. That's the feeling many got when people played Metroid back in the 1980s to discover Samus Aran is a female.
• You wouldn't think someone named King would be a girl. However, King is very much a woman with a masculine image. She is a tough fighter to use if you're a fan of the Art of Fighting or King of Fighters series.
There are likely many more notorious androgynous characters I haven't mentioned. I just named a few here that stick out for me.
Anime Influences.
Now, some random chatter on anime influences on androgyny...
^ from: photobucket.com - One of the craziest characters from Cowboy Bebop is Edward. SHE is a very silly character on Cowboy Bebop despite her masculine name of Edward. She wears a cropped T-shirt and some bike shorts.
^ from: www.doushi-sumeragi.net - While "The Candidate for Goddess" (or "Pilot Candidate" in North America) was no "Mobile Suit Gundam," the five men all wore these sleeveless shirts along with shorts. They are a bit feminine for some guys like in this anime.
^ from: www.dvdtimes.co.uk - My all-time favorite anime series is Ranma 1/2. Early on, there were those who questioned if Ukyo Kuonji was a boy.
• The biggest androgynous influence in anime is in bishounen. Bishounen (or "pretty boy" in Japanese) are men who are immensely beautiful, sometimes even as beautiful as any genetic female. Some bishounen are sometimes portrayed in romantic ways. As much as bishoujo ("pretty girl" in Japanese) are portrayed in romantic settings or with romantic images, bishounen are portrayed in almost the same way. Bishounen are mostly as discouraged as almost any other androgynous males by most people. The most extreme cases of bishounen artwork (or other male and media can be seen in yaoi (or "Boys Love"), which is a homoerotic portrayal of two males engaged in a relationship that involves either seductive kissing or any other seductive activity.
I know there are a lot more notorious androgynous characters in Anime, but these are some of the few that immediately come to mind for me.
Final Thoughts on This Section.
Some people just think every male should be masculine and every female should be feminine. However, part of the magic of media such as games and movies is to create certain illusions and fantasies that make them unique. That even includes coming along with androgynous characters. One of the reasons why some people like hating on the Final Fantasy series is because of certain male characters that look too feminine. Cloud. Sephiroth. Squall. Tidus. Zell. You go from there.
What about other titles? Some people just feel like any Japanese game couldn't be complete without some sort of feminine male character. Basically saying it like it's a disgrace. I'm not saying that feminine males in games and cartoons is bad, but just that this is the certain character of certain Japanese media.
--- Androgyny in Fashion ---
Let's discuss masculine fashion with feminine cues and feminine fashion with masculine cues.
Androgynous Feminine Influences.
Here is a look at female fashion with a boyish touch. Menswear has been a recent trend in giving a feminine touch to masculine fashions. The
^ from: rewaj.com - Boy tough, girl sexy! Arshiya Fakih is in this picture wearing a blazer with a vest, a tie, and a shirt.
The lady in this picture is Arshiya Fakih. She's wearing masculine pieces put together with feminine flair.
~~~ image to come in a future edit... ~~~ ^ from: ???
I've always liked a pair of wide-leg dress pants paired with a feminine or boyish shirt or blouse. The pinstripe vest adds some extra classy charm to this look.
from: fashiontribes.typepad.com - Two Ralph Lauren menswear looks.
(LEFT) While purely feminine with the oxford pumps and the skirt, the looks here have a boyish touch. The look is purely feminine while having a boyish charm. (RIGHT) I personally love this combination. The wide-leg dress slacks are very much masculine along with the suspenders. The shoes compliment the whole look nicely.
A future blog entry on menswear for women may be considered in the future. I had a past blog entry available, but never created such a blog post. This section will be replaced with a link to the future blog entry if the blog entry is ever published.
Androgynous Masculine Influences.
This area focuses on men's fashion with some feminine hints. Most of what I have mentioned on men wearing girly clothes can be found in my blog entry called "Males Wearing Feminine Fashions."
I have honestly had a tough time trying to find certain androgynous feminine influences for men's fashion. To me, fashion is much more versatile for females than it is for males. Plus, there aren't as many fashion items or fashionable men trying to blur the lines of masculine and feminine beauty.
Having said all of this, though, there are still some males who wear feminine clothing to add a touch of androgynous dress and fashion freedom. Men wear skinny jeans and even tights as much as any female. Some males even wear girly skinny jeans since there aren't any jeans that fit most male bodies to where skinny jeans provide the best fit for them. The problem with males attempting some sort of androgynous dress, however, is the fact that most males just appear completely awkward.
Again... credit to you males if you can pull off any androgynous dress successfully, but it's too challenging to pull a semi-decent androgynous look if you are a male. If you want an idea of androgynous males wearing feminine fashions and in some high-heeled footwear, visit the Blogger/Blogspot blog entitled high heels for men.
UPDATE (Nov. 30, 2010) Femboy Magazine has a new blog! Unfortunately, it's not a Blogspot blog. :( You can check out the magazine's new blog by clicking on Femboy Magazine's blog (Wordpress).
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This was a long one for me. I hope you've enjoyed my efforts to discuss androgyny in a respectful way. Most people would usually just hate on something just because it's completely ugly. Whenever you read some of my more detailed and longer blog posts, you're getting the full extent of my respectful and insightful comments. I hope you've enjoyed my work for this blog and my many others. If you enjoy my blog, PLEASE consider subscribing and/or even following this blog using Google Friend Connect. DO NOT just come in and leave. If you enjoyed my work, PLEASE let me know by subscribing, following, becoming a fan of my Facebook fan page, or anything like that. Let me know that you appreciate my work (if you do)!
