Once You Go Asian....

Adjusting

2007-03-12T00:30:00.000-05:00

A conversation this weekend has helped me to think through some of the priorities in my life. As regular OYGA readers have no doubt noticed, my posts lately, though relatively consistent, have been severely lacking in any creative content besides the daily eye candy.

This has been unavoidable, as my life lately has been rather crazy, particularly with my job in a company that is in a tailspin it is unlikely to recover from. Consequently, I am trying to balance the demands of a very full-time job with the fairly-urgent need to find a new job in a more stable situation.

As a smart friend reminded me this weekend, I need to make sure I am dedicating the maximum amount of effort possible to my occupation situation and not allow myself to use other things (such as blogging) to be used as an escape from the stress I have been under for far too long. For, when I spend my time on things less important, I ultimately only will increase my stress and delay its resolve.

So, today OYGA is going on an indefinite hiatus. Although I have every intent to return to blogging at some point, I cannot today tell you at what point that will be. I will keep the blog up, and perhaps I will be able to give an update along the way. But at this point, I don't plan to post again until my job situation has settled down and I am comfortably-settled into whatever new opportunity awaits.

Thanks to all who have been so kind in your comments and visits. I do hope that I will be back here again soon....keep checking!

And, as a parting gift to you, thanks to the great work of the folks at Blogger and Picasa, you can see 1,000 of the photos I have posted on OYGA in photo albums on Picasa by clicking on the picture below. Enjoy!

Click here for photo albums!

Saturday

2007-03-10T00:01:00.000-06:00

Happy Weekend!

Friday

2007-03-09T23:32:00.000-06:00

Enjoy!

Thursday

2007-03-08T11:25:00.000-06:00

Ever find a picture of a guy who just captures your attention? This first guy has such a warm and inviting smile, definitely a nice way to brighten this Thursday morning!

Skinny

2007-03-07T23:16:00.000-06:00

Here are some guys who remind us that being a muscle-bound hunk is definitely not the end-all definition of beauty!

Time Traveling

2007-03-06T23:50:00.000-06:00

It's actually a couple minutes past midnight, but fortunately Blogger lets me set the post time for whenever I want, so this can still count as Tuesday's post....

Quickie

2007-03-05T21:36:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday. Someday life will slow down, I am holding on to that hope!

Weekend Morning

2007-03-03T00:35:00.000-06:00

Feel like lounging around with some of these guys?

Friday

2007-03-02T19:49:00.000-06:00

Yes, they are hot.

Confrontation, Humility, and Forgiveness

2007-03-01T00:26:00.000-06:00

Well, just as I make the comment that I almost never post YouTube clips on this blog, sure enough today I find another one that I can't overlook posting. Both yesterday's and today's clips are worth your time to watch (and fairly brief, so it's not a major commitment!). But while yesterday's was purely entertainment, today's has value beyond just diversion.

Regular OYGA readers may recall this post from last December in which I talked about Rosie O'Donnell's insulting "ching chong" comments on The View. Well, it took a while, but someone finally got through to her. Poet Beau Sia created the video you see here, and honestly I cannot imagine someone coming anywhere close to being as dead-on perfect in response as he is here. Firm, direct, confrontational, measured and unyielding--yet with an offer of forgiveness and the possibility of reconciliation.

And effective.

Because Rosie finally offered that apology that should have come months ago. And, from what it appears on her blog, the apology was sincerely given. So high praise for Beau Sia and a measure of respect for Rosie for responding as she should. Let's hope the lesson is long-lasting.

And now, on to the main attraction.....

Holding Out An Olive Branch to Homophobes

2007-02-28T00:01:00.000-06:00

Well, George Takei (a.k.a. Sulu on Star Trek) may have waited til later in life to come out, but he certainly is enjoying the freedom now! He was the grand marshal at the Gay Pride Parade here in Chicago last summer and was obviously enjoying all the attention. The clip above is hilarious....Takei recorded a "public service announcement" in response to NBA player Tim Hardaway's recent homophobic comments. I try not to use YouTube clips too often on the blog, since they can easily become a substitute for originality, but this one made me chuckle, and we could all use an extra laugh today, so enjoy!

And, of course, pictures for you (isn't this guy in the red shirt the most adorable guy ever?)....

OYGA Oscars

2007-02-27T19:38:00.000-06:00

I love the Oscars. And I have to say I enjoyed this year much more than last. Ellen was fabulous, and there were very few awards I disagreed with (though Dreamgirls was robbed by Melissa Etheridge for Best Song, and I was kinda rooting for a Little Miss Sunshine upset for Best Picture). Many many more compliments than criticisms overall, however.

So, as all the stars sleep off their post-Oscar hangovers, I give you OYGA's awards for a number of Asian guys who have achieved great heights of hotness. I'm not certain what to call the awards, since "Oscar" is already taken. Maybe Peter? Or Dick? Whatever we call it, I am sure each nominee will be deeply honored for the recognition.

And for those who win, send me an e-mail, and I will give you directions to my ~~bedroom~~ house, where I will be glad to personally present the award to you. And here they are...the first-ever OYGA Oscars (and yes, they're not gonna be quite as traditional of categories as you would find in Hollywood)....

BEST SMILE:

BEST KISS:

BEST ABS:

BEST SOURCE OF PROTEIN FOR BREAKFAST:

BEST DESSERT:

BEST EYES:

BEST BUDDIES:

BEST NIPPLE ORNAMENTATION:

BEST T-SHIRT:

BEST SAUSAGE:

BEST DEFENSE:

BEST BANANA:

BEST BLOWING:

BEST BLOWING RUNNER-UP:

BEST SUCKING:

BEST ENDING:

Hot But Not Bothered

2007-02-26T00:36:00.000-06:00

With guys as hot as these, it's no wonder some believe we have a global warming problem...

A Note for Justin

2007-02-24T00:01:00.000-06:00

Hey Justin,

I just wanted to write a quick note to let you know that I brought sexy back. Thanks for loaning it to me. I put it back in the second floor closet next to your board games as you asked.

I went downtown today and definitely caused quite a stir. Unfortunately, those other boys just simply do not know how to act. But there was one young guy there who impressed me. Walking right up to me (as I attempted to nonchalantly hide sexy behind me), he whispers. "I think it's special...what's behind your back." Next thing I know, I've turned around and he "picked up the slack" (if you know what I mean).

- Lance

P.S. - Next time come along yourself...VIP, drinks on me.

Dirty Babe...

You see these shackles, baby, I'm your slave....

I'll let you whip me if I misbehave...

It's just that no one makes me feel this way...

Yummy

2007-02-23T12:06:00.000-06:00

Starting off the weekend with some à poil guys for you....

Non-Stop Sexy

2007-02-22T00:31:00.000-06:00

New header and color scheme today. And more non-stop sexy. Bon appetit!

Drifting Off to Sleep

2007-02-21T00:01:00.000-06:00

Exhausted.

Obligatory Blogging Milestone Post (100 Posts-100 Men)

2007-02-17T00:01:00.000-06:00

As I am sure many of you have eagerly been anticipating this moment, I feel it is my duty as a dedicated blogger to create an artificial sense of achievement and imaginary excitement by pointing out that this is the 100th post since I began this blog last August.

For those of you who may not maintain a blog yourself, you are likely unaware of the complex initiation rituals surrounding the launch and maintenance of a blog. When someone applies for a blogging license, he must first pass a difficult screening process. While many aspects of that interview period are sworn to secrecy (upon penalty of death, or worse--deletion), those of us who have reached the milestone of 100 posts are granted a bit of freedom to share insights that you will not find elsewhere. Thus, I can tell you the screening process includes some or all of the following:

Applicant must have no aspirations of ever running for public office.
Applicant must spent no less than 83% of his waking hours in front of a computer.
It is preferred that the applicant be strongly opinionated yet have not spent much time outside of the basement of his or her house, lest those opinions become tainted with, shall we say, "distasteful" influences, such as reality.
Rush processing available to those who (a) are over age 30 yet still live with their mothers, or (b) own a minimum of 3 functional video gaming systems produced since 2005. Those rare applicants who fulfill both (a) and (b) may actually skip entirely Level 1 (see below) and begin their blogging immediately at Level 2.

After being approved for a blogging license, the newly inducted blogger begins his journey at Level 1. The various level advancements are as follows:

Level 1 ("Newbies") - As I view newbie bloggers today from my slightly-seasoned vantage point, I chuckle as the memories of those early days come back to mind as if in a distant memory. Ah yes, the days of using a generic pre-packaged Blogger template, when (almost embarrassing to admit) I was so unfamiliar with web publishing that <wry grin>I wouldn't have been able to tell RSS from Atom.</wry grin> When I began blogging, believe it or not, I had never even once aggregated!
Level 2 - A Level 1 newbie may advance to Level 2 when he has reached 10,000 hits on his blog. This very modest achievement is generally celebrated with much fanfare generated only by the blogger himself.
Level 3 - This level is attained when a blogger has completed and published 100 posts. Generally, photoblogs will mark this occasion by posting a "supersized" selection of pictures...100 pictures being the obvious choice, as you will see at the end of this overview/tutorial. By this time, the blogger has grown comfortable in his role as Web Publisher and has likely begun to branch out into other related pursuits, such as writing articles for Wikipedia or training newbies on the proper use of gay-torrents.net. This is, of course, only as time permits, since they must be sure that Wayne is making good progress against the Akrids and has adequate thermal energy for his trek across the Lost Planet. Occasionally, tragic circumstances will converge simultaneously, and a Level 3 blogger's mother will call down to him in the basement to ask for assistance bringing the groceries inside, and either the snow pirates are going to be devoured, or blog posts go unwritten. Few casual blogging readers can understand the true nature of pressure faced by a dedicated blogger.
Level 4 - Level 4 is reached when a blogger reaches 100,000 hits on his blog. In superior circumstances, this level can actually be reached before Level 3. When this happens, the Level 4 blogger is granted "Super Blogger" status, which gives him the authority to issue meaningless web awards to other bloggers he likes.
Level 5 - After a year of blogging has been completed, and assuming all the requirements of Levels 2-4 have been completed, the blogger reaches the fifth and (for the sake of this farce) uppermost level of blogging. I'm sure I could list more levels, but this post has already gone far too long, and I want to wrap it up so I can go downstairs and eat some del.icio.us cookies I baked earlier today.

Well, as you attempt to control your unbounded enthusiasm over the fact that OYGA today has attained "Super Blogger" status with this 100th post, take a moment to do two things with me:

First, join me in welcoming a great OYGA friend back to the blogosphere. Few blogs have such a classy and fun <style> as The Best of H.O.Z., so I was saddened when, back in January, it seemed Thoz was closing up shop. But I am very happy to see that he is back and posting again! So stop by there and check out his new posts! (Rumor has it that he was gone for super-secret covert blogging training....details are sketchy, but I heard it involves lethal combinations of nested tags and myspace profiles).

Second, click on the link below, and enjoy 100 men to celebrate 100 OYGA posts today!

Guitar

2007-02-16T00:01:00.000-06:00

Don't you just love guys with large instruments? Particularly when they are skillful in their use of their instrument. It's beautiful music.

Romantic Residue (à poil)

2007-02-15T00:01:00.000-06:00

Well, are we all still basking in the slowly-ebbing glow of Valentine's Day? Hope each of you had a pleasant (and perhaps even memorable) day and night! And today, enjoy some à poil pictures of cuddling couples who are obviously feeling very ~~horny~~ romantic.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2007-02-14T00:01:00.000-06:00

"The only remedy for love is to love more."

Henry David Thoreau

Not Tonight, Dear, I Have A Life

2007-02-08T01:20:00.000-06:00

I hope you all will forgive me for my severe lack of creativity lately. I am faced with a dilemma as I face this blog for the next few weeks at least. Either I can take a break entirely from blogging (which I doubt too many would want), or I can just put up quick posts to at least let you enjoy the pictures, even if they are not as cohesive or joined by engaging text. Because I simply don't have the time with all the other truly important things going on in my life right now. Not that I don't value this blog, but to be realistic, it is lower on my priority list than my job and loved ones. So, since the job in particular is being rather demanding, lower priority items suffer.

But I suspect that, as long as I keep the pictures coming, most of you will find that your supply of patience lasts a surprisingly long time....

Sleepy But Dedicated

2007-02-07T00:18:00.000-06:00

I wish I was asleep already, but either my obsessive-compulsiveness or my sense of dedication has prompted me to post these pictures before I retire for the night. Had a good day, concluded particularly nicely by the visit of a special someone who stopped by my house this evening. Add to that these pictures, and I'm fairly certain to have pleasant dreams tonight. Hope each of you are visited by scantily-clad hot guys in your dreams as well! Until tomorrow....

What A Great Idea! I Wish I Had Thought Of It....

2007-02-06T01:22:00.000-06:00

The picture above is a screen capture from the Hunks Galore website, one of the sites that I highlight in my link list here (click on the picture to see the site in its own window). Pictured is their post from this past Sunday, titled "Hunks in Jumper." Regular OYGA readers who look at the pictures in that post may feel an odd sense of deja vu, since every single picture in the post is identical to my own post exactly one week earlier, titled "Overalls" (January 28).

Coincidence, you say? Perhaps, although it would be a pretty amazing coincidence that even the filenames that I gave my pictures (I always name the picture files to help me later identify them in my files according to their posts) are identical in that post.

Now, I know that picture sharing on the internet is by nature a murky ethical area. I deal with it daily and have attempted to balance being honorable and being realistic. I do not post photos when I know the owner has asked for the photo not to be copied or published. I do not use an entire post of pictures from one source unless I give credit to that source. Frankly, I spend a lot of time scouring the internet trying to find photos that have not been reproduced on every other site out there and yet which I can post without purposely offending those pictured.

But the reality is that pictures on the internet are stolen/borrowed, copied, and re-published with such ease that it is impossible to create a blog such as this and know the original source of all the pictures. Because of this, I placed a link to my statement on OYGA picture policies very prominently near the top of the left column of the blog. That statement includes a promise to remove immediately any photo posted here that the owner of the picture does not want posted. This has happened on only one occasion, but I immediately offered my apology to the person involved and promised to remove the photo. And I will continue to do the same in the future.

So it does not bother me in the slightest that someone would take pictures from my blog (which are not "my" pictures in the first place) to use on theirs. However, it does irk me a bit that someone would take advantage of the hours of work that I have put into making my posts themed and original, copy them wholesale with no additional effort on their part, and give no credit to their source anywhere on their site (and, to annoy further, all this after I have given free publicity to their blog on my link list from the time OYGA began).

Well, at least I can get a bit of satisfaction in realizing that, although Hunks Galore has been in existence nearly twice as long as OYGA, we just passed 100,000 hits yesterday, significantly higher than their total. So I know that a lot more people will enjoy reading my little (good-natured) rant here than enjoyed their "plagiarism" on Sunday. Maybe they will even be embarrassed enough to add my blog to their link list (hint, hint).

P.S. - I do like the Hunks Galore site, so don't boycott them on my account or anything...lol.

-Eukolos :-)

I Guess It's Just a Really Special Serving Dish

2007-02-04T12:28:00.000-06:00

Apparently, there is a significant athletic event taking place today in which one of the participating teams hails from my hometown of Chicago. In a very clever attempt to force sports upon the masses, apparently they sneak this athletic event onto the television in segments during the night all the great new commercials are aired. How crazy is that? We go to watch the fun commercials, and they interrupt the commercials a number of times along the way to show clips from this sports game. Well, I for one intend just to record the commercial show on my DVR and fast-forward through the boring sports stuff. But to show I'm not a complete anti-sports zealot, here's some athletic guys that definitely tempt me to become a sports fan at times!

Black & White

2007-02-01T12:45:00.000-06:00

I never could get the hang of Thursdays....

Tattoos

2007-01-31T16:00:00.000-06:00

I am a fan of tattoos. I think that, more often than not, a tattoo improves a guy's appearance. Even more, I think a tattoo, if seen as more than just decoration, can be a very powerful statement about a person's life, what he values, and what has shaped him into the person he is today. Unless someone is drunk, he probably doesn't get a tattoo without plenty of forethought and planning.

Personally, I have two tattoos (pictured below), and both of them reflect the most personal, life-changing events and times of my life. Previously I wrote about the smaller tattoo on my other blog, and today I posted the story about the dragon tattoo. You can read about it by clicking on the picture below (or here).

And, lest we get too sentimental, worry not! Here are some guys who are sexy with or without their tattoos!

Locker Room (à poil)

2007-01-30T01:24:00.000-06:00

Ok, just a quick random rant. Please carefully note the distinction between the two following scenarios:

Scenario A: In high school or college, the young handsome guy surreptitiously checks out his classmates as they change and shower in the locker room after a football game.
EVALUATION: HOT

Scenario B: A 60-something overweight guy buys a gym membership for no other reason than to sit in the sauna for five minutes and then stand in the shower room staring at those of us who are there actually attempting to benefit our health and physique, NOT pose as eye candy.
EVALUATION: SCARY

Well, at the risk of encouraging such voyeuristic tendencies, here's some pictures that make me at least somewhat sympathetic to the nasty old guy in the shower. I mean, if I was in the locker room with these guys myself....

[Update 1/31: See comments section for some helpful clarification and discussion on this post]

Spicy Monday Morning (à poil)

2007-01-29T00:01:00.000-06:00

Here's a nice way to start your work week! Hope it's a good one. Mine will be severely blog-time limited due to the impending visit of my parents from Kentucky. They are learning to be more open-minded, but it might be a while before they are ready to appreciate hot Asian guys as much as I do! Still, I will do my best to get posts out as I have the opportunity.

Overalls

2007-01-28T00:01:00.000-06:00

My parents are arriving for a nearly-week-long visit tomorrow. So, in recognition of their home state of Kentucky, and because I have yet found enough time to blog creatively again, here are a bunch of hot Asian guys in overalls. Enjoy!

Sexual Racism

2007-01-27T22:40:00.000-06:00

I just added this button to the sidebar of my blogs. It links to a site dedicated to eliminating (coincidentally enough) sexual racism. I'm far too tired at the moment to write eloquently about this, but I encourage you to visit that site as well as this one for some good, thought-provoking writing.

But, before you run off, don't miss these pictures of some very wet men...

Living for the Weekend

2007-01-26T00:54:00.000-06:00

Attempting desperately to give you something interesting to read this Friday, in spite of the fact that I am completely drained mentally, so here's a joke I heard recently, completely unrelated to this post, but which should at least be good for a groan or two:

Did you hear that Mary Poppins moved to the West Coast of the USA and opened up a fortune telling business where she tells the future by the unusual method of smelling people's breath?

The sign out front says, "Super California Mystic Expert Halitosis."

Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week.

Almost Friday!

2007-01-25T00:01:00.000-06:00

It's been a long week. Please allow me to test your patience another day by just posting pictures without any rhyme or reason and without any clever and creative writing. To make up for it, I'm posting some of my personal favorite pictures today. Hopefully you will agree they are poetic and creative and can stand on their own!

Mid-Week and Still Alive

2007-01-24T22:51:00.000-06:00

Crazy busy this week. But, as I am attempting to keep my priorities in line, here are today's pictures. I promise my creativity will return; it's just on a short sabbatical.

Mix-It-Up Week, Day Seven (à poil)

2007-01-23T01:25:00.000-06:00

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said that races do not fall in love--individuals fall in love. Many who have gone before me have sacrificed much so that I as a young-ish gay guy can fall in love and have hope of a happy life with a wonderful man. Still though, every gay person today knows--to a lesser or greater extent--the sting of marginalization when society does not recognize the validity of our love.

So it saddens me even more when we who already experience this marginalization end up participating in it (in a different form, yet equally as shameful) by viewing interracial gay romance as evidence of a fad, a fetish, or a quirk. When entire ethnic groups are casually dismissed as having nothing of value to offer--whether it be for something as light-hearted as porn or as significant as a lifelong partner--the whole cause of equality and justice for which so many have suffered and fought is damaged and diminished.

So, as we conclude this "week" of posts celebrating romance and other "interaction" (wink, wink) of Asian guys and their partners of various backgrounds, I hope this blog will continue to encourage a healthy appreciation for (and a vigorous commitment to) beauty, regardless of the color, shape, or size of the package it comes in!

And, on that note, enjoy your last day of being spoiled with all these hot interracial couples (don't worry, I'm sure there will be more in the future!)....

Mix-It-Up Week, Day Six (à poil)

2007-01-22T23:30:00.000-06:00

I trust you have enjoyed this (extended) week of interracial posts. For the penultimate post of this series, here are some nice à poil pictures of this handsome Asian guy spending time with some other guys who obvious appreciate his beauty!

Mix-It-Up Week, Day Five (à poil)

2007-01-21T14:10:00.000-06:00

Today's interracial pictures feature groups of guys in which at least one is (of course) Asian...

Mix-It-Up Week, Day Four, Part 2 (à poil)

2007-01-20T13:28:00.000-06:00

To answer the recent inquiry of an OYGA friend (rhetorical questions are lost on me, aren't they?), I'm pretty certain it's impossible to have too much Brandon Lee!

The rest are à poil:

Mix-It-Up Week, Day Four

2007-01-20T00:41:00.000-06:00

In some of the recent comments left on the blog here, a couple people encouraged me to include more pictures of guys who were (how shall I say this?) .... er, "well-established." Meaning, guys who have lived long enough that they are not asked for I.D. when ordering drinks at a restaurant. Now, I hope people understand that I am not intending to promote the idea that ugly begins at 25 or anything of the sort. But, if finding fresh pictures of Asian models is a challenge (and it is), finding them of seasoned Asian models is even more of a challenge! This is simply due to the fact that the older a guy gets, the less a cameraman is going to follow him around. So, it is a scarcity of resources rather than an intentional slight that you may see in the age imbalance in photos on this site.

Having said that, I will definitely keep my eyes open for pictures (such as the one above, where I'm certain the gentlemen pictured are not a day over 23) of Asian guys who reflect a more mature beauty. And, if anyone has such pictures to share, please feel free to e-mail them to me (see address on sidebar).

P.S. - As a side note - While I do recognize the importance of not carelessly perpetuating stereotypes, there are two important things to keep in mind with a blog such as this:
- First, the vast majority of the pictures I will post on here will be of guys that I personally find to be attractive. I think that's a fair and logical way to run my site. So it will not always reflect a perfect balance between, slim and muscular, old and young, short and hung. My personal taste runs toward the guys with expressive eyes and beautiful smiles, so I don't always notice other things as quickly. Please don't assume, then, by my picture selection, that I am claiming that this site is the final authority concerning beauty in Asian men. However, I do think I can claim it is a good representation of Asian men who are beautiful.
- Second, one item I feel fairly strongly about is that part of beauty includes respect for one's self. A guy who takes care of his health and body, and who even excels in that regard, should not receive criticism for his efforts, nor should we assume that a muscular guy is well-developed for vain or shallow reasons. So again, while I will not be posting pictures of muscular men exclusively, it should not be surprising to my readers that they will appear frequently. That much dedication and good example of respecting one's body is generally deserving of far more praise than criticism (and too much criticism can quickly smack of jealousy!).
I hope those two items help to explain my thinking, and if you are not completely angry with me, click below to see more hot interracial pictures! (though if you are angry, feel free to tear me apart in the comments section...don't worry, I can take it!).

Mix-It-Up Week, Day Three (à poil)

2007-01-19T23:49:00.000-06:00

Sorry, folks, my week turned out to be unexpectedly busy with work-related responsibilities, so my well-intended interracial week is going to have to be extended a bit on the calendar. To make up for it, though, I am going to do 8 instead of 7 interracial posts, and I'll try to do a couple a day to catch up.

Today's post is an interracial couple that I think is beautiful, and I love the series of pictures so much, I'm going to put all of them on here (or at least the ones I have). If anyone recognizes this series and knows if this couple has done any other photo shoots or videos, let me know...I'd love to know where to find that! I love pictures like this, where the couple seems to be really into each other rather than just having sex to make a quick buck. So much more romantic! Enjoy!

(Note: As with the previous post, this one is à poil)

Mix-It-Up Week, Day Two (à poil)

2007-01-16T00:03:00.000-06:00

Before we move forward with the images of the day, I just wanted to thank Fleshbot for (as always) having a great sense of humor and for being magnanimous in the face of my good-natured ribbing of them a couple weeks ago. In response to my post, they published a nice write-up about OYGA's Asian crush list (click on the picture above to read).

And now, we continue with Day Two of our week celebrating the beauty of love and friendship between people of all races and ethnicities. Today's pictures are à poil, so proceed with caution....

Warning: NOT safe for work! (unless, like me, you can lock your office door and enjoy the pictures without interruption)

A Day to Be Grateful

2007-01-15T05:08:00.000-06:00

Today in the United States, we honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose courage to stand and speak out, even at the cost of his own life, set fire to a movement that continues to burn to this day.

As a white American of western European heritage, I am grateful for Dr. King's legacy, because without it, considering my family's Southern, narrow-minded roots, I would no doubt be a person who viewed those of different ethnic backgrounds with disdain and condescension, and I would have missed out on the innumerable ways my life has been blessed and enriched and completed by those from different cultures whom I have been humbled to call "friend" or "lover."

Apart from Dr. King's legacy, had I been sexually attracted to men of different races, I certainly would have viewed them as objects to bring me pleasure, rather than as companions with whom I could be open, vulnerable, and intimate.

It was not that long ago that such thinking was the norm. My grandparents believed interracial romance was wrong; even my parents felt it was a "lesser" choice (though they have admirably learned and grown in that regard). Without the societal changes that challenged that thinking, I would never have shared the wonderful memories of my first serious relationship, with a great African-American guy who remains a good friend to this day. Nor would I have met and grown close to my second boyfriend, a Filipino guy who I count among those who are dearest to me in my life and whose friendship now is more solid and deep than I was ever capable of sharing during our brief romance. And I certainly would not have fallen head over heels in love with Alfred, whose exuberance and passion and generosity continue to inspire me though he has been gone for so long.

So today, in gratitude, I say "thank you" to Dr. King and all those who, like him, have contributed to the foundational shifts in American society, where we are moving toward the day (and yes, there is still much progress to be made) when all of society recognizes that love has always been color-blind and that two people, regardless of differences (or similarities) in race, gender, and background, can come together and create a relationship that is a thing of beauty far surpassing what either could do alone.

And, in celebration of these things, today begins a week of posts here at OYGA illustrating the beauty of diversity among gay men today. Enjoy!

Sunday's Men

2007-01-14T11:00:00.000-06:00

Just a quick post today to keep your appetites sated. And, speaking of appetites, allow me to whet yours a bit by encouraging you to stay tuned here at OYGA, for tomorrow begins a week of posts in honor and celebration of the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the work he began that continues to bear fruit to this day.

The Spirit's Winter

2007-01-13T18:00:00.000-06:00

Winter can come quickly and without warning. One day, the sun is shining, the air is crisp. We inhale deeply and savor the freshness of the morning. Then in the night, the winds pick up, and the temperature drops. By morning, the full force of nature has descended and threatens to bury you in its fury.

In the days that follow, you spend your time trying to dig yourself out of the snow, but if the storm was particularly fierce, you sometimes wonder if you will ever be able to find the path again and breathe freely. In your weak moments, you just sit down and feel it's never going to be the same.

But then, along the way, the sun peeks its face through the clouds, and you feel its warmth for a fleeting moment. Daring to hope a bit, you begin looking out the window in the morning, and you are filled with anticipation as you see the snow slowly giving ground, retreating into the earth.

Finally, the day comes when you can walk around freely. Though it is cold and wet, only patches of snow remain, and though all of nature seems dead and brown, you know that spring must be just around the corner, so you push through the cold days with a renewed vigor. You begin making plans: the flowers to plant in April, a fresh coat of paint for the house, a tropical vacation in summer. That mental bracing, preparing yourself to face the winter onslaught as you walk out the door, slowly relaxes, and you let down your guard.

But it's only January. Winter is not over; this is only a deceptive reprieve. The trust that had been so carefully guarded, you finally give it away again, and it's smashed to pieces. Again, the wind howls, and you run back inside, desperate to escape that pain that has numbed your extremities and threatens to freeze your heart.

Inside, safe from the elements again, you cuddle up under piles of blankets alone in a darkened room. I know that winter will pass. Spring will come, and flowers in my life will bloom again. But as I sit in the dark, I just wish it would get here soon.

à poil

2007-01-12T12:42:00.000-06:00

As promised, here is the second à poil ("naked") post. No time to be creative at the moment, but perhaps these guys will distract you from my negligence long enough for me to sneak away....

Phone

2007-01-12T00:01:00.000-06:00

What a crazy week. I have spent more time on the phone this week than even my normal amount for work. So, time to post has been non-existent. I'm working hard on getting a few things organized, though, and hopefully once that happens, my posts will be much more consistent. For now, enjoy a few "phone" pictures, and maybe later today, I'll post some nude pics so Victor (see comments on link) doesn't get in trouble with his boss!

à poil ("naked")

2007-01-08T00:17:00.000-06:00

As this blog has developed, I have thought much on what I am trying to accomplish (motivation) and what is the best way to reach those objectives (methodology). For the former, my three primary motivations/objectives are (1) to contribute to the discussion concerning ethnicity and beauty, (2) to illustrate the beauty of Asian men in particular, and (3) to give myself a regular outlet for honing my creativity and writing skills.

As for the latter area of thought--methodology--I try to use that which will most efficiently and effectively accomplish my objectives. Though OYGA is still rather young (just under 5 months), I believe that I have begun to contribute to helpful discussions and hopefully to challenge conventional wisdom and the modern scourge of Abercrombie-ism. And this has naturally given me an outlet for writing creatively. However, in this focus, I believe I have inadvertently limited my success in the second of my objectives--to illustrate the beauty of Asian men.

I began to think that depicting naked men and explicit sexual activity would somehow "cheapen" the site and make it nothing more than a glorified porn site rather than a place for serious discussion.In some of my early posts, you can find a scattering of completely naked men. However, in conversations and through observation, I began to think that depicting naked men and explicit sexual activity would somehow "cheapen" the site and make it nothing more than a glorified porn site rather than a place for serious discussion (please note that I am not knocking porn sites! You can find plenty of them in my link lists). Also, I had some friends mention that they were unable to view my site at work because of the photos. So, I stopped using the naked pictures.

Unfortunately, this ended up prohibiting me from truly examining Asian male beauty, since I was limited in my picture selection and indirectly communicated that beauty in its pure form must be clothed (certainly not something I believe). And ironically, it probably limited me in my first and third objectives, as certain topics cannot be adequately illustrated and discussed without such pictures.

So, beginning today, I am going to strike out for a new balance. Recognizing the valid desire of some to avoid naked pictures as the blog is initially reached, I will continue to limit the first pictures to a PG-rating. And, unless otherwise indicated, all the pictures in the "Read more" section will also be non-nude.

But if you see the label à poil (French for "naked") on a post, that will indicate that there are naked pictures in the "Read more" section. I have already gone back to previous posts and added the label where appropriate. I trust this will be a welcome addition to the site and offer a broader platform from which I can speak on all topics.

As always, I welcome your comments about this or any other aspect of OYGA! And, to whet your appetite for what is to come, here is the first full à poil picture set...

The Single-Color Rainbow

2007-01-04T23:00:00.000-06:00

[Update, 1/6/2007: An anonymous person commented that one of Fleshbot's "Top 10" is actually latino rather than white. However, I think you will see that my argument still holds true throughout this post.]

Yesterday, MOC Blog (one of my favorite blogs and a daily visit) pointed out Gay Fleshbot's list of Top Ten Crush Objects of 2006. As is so typical of such lists, it was heavily weighted toward the 18% of the world's population that is white. In fact, eight of the ten models chosen were white, with just a token Asian guy and Black guy. Now, don't get me wrong, I think Fleshbot is a great site, and they have said kind words about OYGA in the past. In fact, they have had 2 posts already in 2007 focused on Asian men, so they are already more balanced than the vast majority of sites out there.

Too many gay men see the world through Abercrombie- colored glasses and never realize the beauty that walks past them each day shaded in beautiful browns, yellows, reds, and blacks.But, the gay internet in general is a reflection of an infection that extends throughout the gay community around the world. It is the thinking that, if you climbed to the peak of Beauty Mountain, you would find a 22-year-old, 6-foot 2-inch, slim, toned, blond-hair, blue-eyed white guy with a 9-inch dick reigning as king, surrounded by near-clones of himself. This idea, originating in the prejudices of the past and propagated throughout the world by the studios of Hollywood, California, has so infiltrated contemporary thinking that most gay guys view the world in this manner without any suspicion that other perspectives even exist. They see the world through Abercrombie-colored glasses and never realize the beauty that walks past them each day shaded in beautiful browns, yellows, reds, and blacks.

What makes this narrow view of the world even more unbelievable is that nature practically screams out every moment of every day the message of the beauty of variety. The most dazzling star of the solar system, our sun, joins forces with the water that brings us life to broadcast from the highest points in the sky that multi-colored emblem of beauty, a symbol that we claim represents the highest ideals of the gay community. But would a rainbow inspire awe if it was solid orange? Perhaps we would note its presence, but do you think people would pull over in their cars and get out quickly to take pictures of a solid orange band? No, it is the diversity of colors that draws our eyes upward.

And which color of the rainbow is the one that makes it beautiful? Which one is the most important? Or conversely, which one can be removed without the rainbow losing any of its effect? At the Gay Games in Chicago last summer, one of the most memorable moments of the week was when all the participants stood together in Soldier Field during the opening ceremonies and the lights were shut off, revealing an illuminated gay pride flag created by thousands of tiny colored pen lights.

It was a breathtaking effect, and yet, it was mitigated slightly by our realization that there was no yellow band in the flag. To this day I do not know why there was no yellow band (perhaps the manufacturer didn't make yellow pen lights?). And although it did not ruin the effect completely, it was obvious to all that something was missing that should be there.

This basic understanding does not stop with the rainbow. It continues throughout nature, in nearly every conceivable corner of the planet and beyond. And humans understand it almost instinctively. Can you imagine:

A "Top 10 Most Beautiful Flowers" list consisting of a daffodil, a lily, and 8 roses?
A "Top 10 Most Beautiful Animals" list with a giraffe, a peacock, and 8 leopards?
A "Top 10 Most Beautiful Places on Earth" list with one location in China, one in Kenya, and 8 in the United States or Europe?

Each of these lists would be instantly recognized by anyone as being imbalanced and incomplete. And yet, many of the same people who would mock the absurdity of these lists go through life applying just such a standard in their estimation of human beauty.

So, to Fleshbot, I love you guys and think your blog is great, but I'm just afraid your list is a reflection of a cultural myopia that ought to be addressed patiently but firmly. I hope you will use the excellent platform you have built both to entertain and inform (which you do every day in a superior way) but also to educate and contribute to an essentially-needed shift in cultural views of beauty throughout the gay communities around the world.

That is why this blog exists. It is not to promote Asian men as somehow more beautiful than others, but rather to contribute in a small way to the understanding that beauty comes in many forms, and Asian men are but one example of that fact.

So, in tribute to the 6 out of 10 people in the world who are Asian, here is the "OYGA Top 10 Asian Crushes" for your enjoyment. I think any of these guys could hold their own against the monochromatic competition!

10.

9.

8.

7.

6.

5.

4.

3.

2.

1. Jerome Ortiz - still the most beautiful man in the world (and one crush where Fleshbot and I are in complete agreement!)

Hey, you don't want to go back to work yet, do you? Why not check out the Men of Color Blog? Just click the banner!

Obligatory Sentimental End-of-Year Post

2006-12-31T15:29:00.000-06:00

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.....

Ok, to be honest, I don't get very sentimental about the end of the year. The thing I get most excited about is that businesses finally are done with holiday hours, so I can know that someone will actually answer the phone when I call! I do appreciate the sentiments that people share, though, and I do wish each of you a Happy New Year, but just as I wish you the best for each day. And, to accommodate those in a festive spirit, I give you some beautiful men to admire (some of my personal favorites!).

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-22T05:00:00.000-06:00

Today I join the mass exodus of bloggers abandoning their posts (sorry, I couldn't resist) for the holidays. Shortly, I will be leaving to drive 7 hours to visit my parents for a few days. And, since they live in the most boring place on earth, it is unlikely that I will be able to post during my visit. So, I wish all my Christmas-celebrating friends a merry one, and for everyone else, insert generic winter holiday greeting here.

I did not want to leave, however, without sharing a present with you all. So, take a look on this newly-redesigned blog and scroll down the right-hand column. There, just below the "Essential Reading" section, you will see my latest addition to the blog, titled "The Internet's Most Comprehensive Asian Male Links Compilation." This list includes 11 sections with over 165 different links to sites with pictures of Asian men. What I have shared with you here is the result of several years of scouring the internet, and it is my gift to share it with you. Of course, now not only will you not miss my posts over the next week, but once you start looking through that link list, you probably won't even notice that I'm gone!

Enjoy! If you happen to appreciate this resource, you can thank me by passing along new links when you find them (e-mail is ). I will do my best to keep the list updated, accurate, and growing.

If I am unable to post again before the New Year, I wish all the best in 2007. Make it your New Year's resolution to stop by O.Y.G.A. for a visit each day in the months to come!

Click on the Santas for the unedited pictures!

Patience, Please

2006-12-19T14:05:00.000-06:00

If you notice any problems with my blog in the upcoming days, please don't panic. Over the holidays, I am going to be implementing a major blog re-design that I have been working on for several months. Since I am self-taught in HTML and CSS, my professor is not always helpful when I run into problems. So, if things don't look quite right at times, be patient, and I assure you the final product will be something that will be quite nice (either that, or I will just trash the idea and go back to the old design).

Shadows (Holiday Mode*)

2006-12-19T00:31:00.000-06:00

Please note: As I mentioned previously, Once You Go Asian is in holiday mode until the end of the year. This simply means that, in order to cut back significantly on my blogging time so that I may accomplish many things that need to be completed by year's end, but still wishing to put forth regular offerings of hot guys, the majority of posts from now to January will not include my normal witty banter. Instead, I will simply post pictures centered around a general (most likely boring) theme. Today's theme, of course, is "Shadows."

Cowboy (Holiday Mode*)

2006-12-18T14:00:00.000-06:00