Daily Archives: December 30, 2010
Superhero Dept.: World of Black Heroes
Boris Vallejo's conception of X-Men's Bishop
If you like black superheroes like I do you need to check out World of Black Heroes.
Eye Candy Dept.: Early Rick Jeffers
And one extra hot image of Carl Hardwick thanks to KennyB.
What We’re Up Against Dept.: How Your Government Works To Screw You
Open Wide!
“That can’t be good for you.”
“No it can’t, but it sure does taste good.”
Progress Dept.: Farewell Kodachrome
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take photographs
So mama don’t take my Kodachrome away
–“Kodachrome”, Paul Simon
I’d love to tell you that loading a camera with a film canister was always easy and a delight. Or that getting film developed and being satisfied with the results were always happy experiences. I will never miss having to drive off somewhere to achieve that process. Nor will I miss how many lousy shots I took that I had to pay to see. Thank God for digital cameras and the ability to view and edit your own work. I see the digital revolution as a gift to all photographers and especially to a butterfingers like me.
But the passing of Kodachrome film is very much worth noting. Kodachrome made it possible for people to capture incredible images in color and was one of the most important contributors toward making photography something the Average Joe could do well. There are many things that I grew up with and utilized that no longer exist. Technology changes at an alarming rate. I dare say that within the next decade we will see the replacement of iPods and Blue Ray as well as much of what we now take for granted in computing. If something lasts for two decades it is a major piece of technological development these days. So just pause for a moment and reflect on the fact that Kodachrome was used for 75 years. As far as any technological achievement is concerned that is an extraordinarily long time. And for 75 years it produced sterling results. Many stalwart users will be saddened by its demise. I am grateful that it lead the way toward digital and the high quality of images that are now capable without film.
Will I be missing something I no longer need? Definitely not. But I will always have fond memories of the first time I loaded my 35 mm Olympus camera and shot a roll of Kodachrome. And thanks to the people at Eastman Kodak for making that possible. When I succeeded at using their product there was no better means to record my world and its beauty. A tip of the hat to Kodachrome and a hearty thank you for a job well done.
Physique of The Week: Rusty Jeffers, The Ultimate Muscle Daddy
Once upon a time Rusty Jeffers worked modeling for Colt and other gay studios under the nom de drool, Carl Hardwick. As far as I can tell Jeffers was able to make some good money posing for the cameras but was not gay. As I look at his more recent bodybuilding career pictures I find it striking just how different the man can look when he has been clean-shaven. That mustache is Carl Hardwick. Whenever I see it I forget that guy named Rusty and remember the big and bold soft porn star, Carl.
If you have read this blog at all you know pretty much how I feel about size-for-the-sake-of-size-alone in current bodybuilding culture, the use of steroids, and what I perceive as the insanity of the Mr. Olympia contest. I am not one of those physique admirers who thinks much of Dorian Yates or Ronnie Coleman. Yes, I am impressed by their work ethic and dedication. Am I impressed by the end results? Hell no. Freaky is freaky and not something I find all that attractive. Being a bulkosuarus has never been a personal goal and I fail to readily understand the point of building so much more armor than necessary. Sometimes it strikes me as being an example of body dysmorphia otherwise known as Bigorexia. But too much muscle armor is always superior to too much adipose tissue. Fat is just as freaky as bulk and a whole lot uglier. In other words: extreme is extreme. I support balance.
Still, there are some guys who have managed to bring off big and are able to maintain a level of physical grace and beauty. Jeffers, IMHO, is one of these fellows. In some of his photos he is pictured posing in front of monumental pieces of sculpture. This is an interesting conceit. The obvious intention is to relay a strong message that, like this outdoor art, Jeffers is a rare and refined work of art. One thing the man has down in spades is his ability to convey body pride, confidence and magnetic attraction. Jeffers is charismatic and few bodybuilders have that going for them.
I wonder how much the fact that he allowed himself to be displayed naked in gay publications has effected his ability to achieve success in the famously homophobic bodybuilding arena. It certainly effected Bob Paris’s career. But Paris was openly gay (and admiringly so, I might add) and seriously promoted himself as a bodybuilder alone while Jeffers was only slightly “gay for pay”.
Because Jeffers has fostered a clean-shaven look in the last decade of competing his appearance very much reminds me of Superman’s arch nemesis, Lex Luthor. I’ve always found Lex (especially the way he’s been depicted in recent years) to be very sexy. Jeffers may have put Carl Hardwick away forever, but it certainly isn’t possible for him to stop exuding the same sexy appeal. To my mind he makes the ultimate muscle daddy. And I for one am very happy he is still willing to expose himself so brazenly for personal gain even if he isn’t showing meat.
SUPERVERSITY 
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