Ryan Shea

Big Brother 15- This is some bullshit.

I wrote something similar a little while back regarding Big Brother but since then the level of bullshit and ridiculousness that has happened in the house has gotten so out of control that I really just can’t hold my tongue anymore. The fact that this season has turned into what it has is really the producers to blame but seeing as they are pulling in a decent amount of viewers this year I am sure that they are laughing all the way home, so why would they care who is hating the show this year?

First off, after the double eviction on Thursday night, I can firmly say that the majority of this country feels that there is no one left to root for. Not that there really was in the first place. The men are getting decimated one by one and the two people that went home on Thursday were ones that I was rooting for the go the long haul (Judd in particular). Did anyone else think it was kind of ironic that the two racist pigs in the house got rid of the African Americans each week? Hmmm. Oh and Gina Marie you are a disgusting troll who in the real world could never get a guy like Nick. Saying the things you said about Asians and African Americans, especially what you said to Candice on her way out the door regarding her mother, really shows the kind of person that you are and I can’t wait to see the look on your face when you see how much America hates you and that you got fired from your pageant job (I really am curious to know how in god’s name she got that job in the first place).

This being said, let me break down each person that is left to give my personal opinion on them. Normally I would rank this from who I like the most or who I think is playing the best, but I really think all the people that are left are frankly terrible so let’s just leave it at that-

1. Helen- I was originally Team Helen in Week 3 when she won HOH because I felt that her group was the outcasts that finally got some power. Over the weeks though, her cocky attitude has really rubbed me the wrong way and she is completely in the dark about how Amanda and some other people really want her gone. The icing on the cake came on Thursday night when Aaryn won POV and she said “Girl, you are Janelle. Don’t you realize that?” Or something along those lines. Aaryn being Janelle is like Melissa Joan Hart being Meryl Streep. In other words, not even close. Helen, shut up seriously you are annoying.

2. Aaryn- or shall I say Aryan. Good god girl. The funny thing about her is that if she NEVER said anything racist or did that stupid shit that she did early on in the game most of America would actually be rooting for her. That’s the funniest part. She’s won three HOH’s and a POV and clearly is a smart cookie when it comes to winning things. Unfortunately, she’s listening to what everyone else wants. The fact that BB hasn’t rigged it to get her out so we can all watch that eviction interview like they rigged Jeff winning everything really annoys me because that would be riveting television.

3. Gina Marie- you are a waste of space. You are a joke. America laughs at you. Take Nick’s hat off. Nick- run for the hills dude.

4. Spencer- As a fellow bear, I find Spencer the only attractive man left in the game as he is quite cute. That’s as far as I am going to go about this. He is alone in the game and will be put up every week because these houseguests are going with the majority each time and refuse to put power players up so they will go after him until he gets home. No shot in winning in the game.

5. Jessie- Cute girl but at the bottom of the totem pole in terms of an alliance. Her winning HOH would’ve been crucial as she is the only houseguest left who I feel would go against this majority bullshit, but seeing as she didn’t its a matter of time before she enters jury.

6. Andy- Andy is the most pathetic houseguest they have had in a very long time. He also is another awful example of a gay man playing this game. He can’t keep his mouth shut and tells Amanda everything. He’s formed an alliance with Amanda and McCrae, which is stupid in the sense that if they are in the final three together they aren’t taking Andy. Andy is a true floater that just like some other houseguests can’t make a decision for themselves.

7. Amanda- Girl, you are getting a phenomenal edit this year. In the house, you are a ballistic psychopath who has gone after pretty much everyone and their mom this week. You are another person that I can’t wait to see your reaction when you find out that America put your ass on the block twice and not Judd (who should still be there). Amanda has said some pretty racist stuff in the house too, which I think is unfair for them to not show seeing as Aaryn has gotten the brunt of everything so far. She is the one to beat in my opinion because everyone in this house is scared.

8. McCrae- Amanda’s right hand man. He hasn’t had to do much because of her, so I really see him riding this to the end as I predicted a while back.

9. Elissa- Who?

I really, really hope that someone goes back into this game as they have done in other seasons. If so, bring Judd or Candice back and please have them kick one of these people out. There has been a common thread in the past couple of seasons in that the person that wins the game is generally a likable person both in and outside the game (Ian, Hayden, Jordan, not Rachel). I just hope the show comes to their senses and realizes this and does something about it. Because if Aaryn, Amanda or Gina Marie win this game I will lose it.

Sneak Peak Sunday- The Como Brothers

by Ryan Shea

The Como Brothers are a couple of the guys that I have had the pleasure of writing for over the past year. I really am a firm believer in if you really strive for something you can definitely make it happen, and these guys are a great example of that. Well, now things are really kicking into high gear with the announcement that they are finally coming out with their first full length album in the coming months and now as a part of our “Sneak Peak Sunday” series you get to listen and see the videos of their two first singles off the album.

The first of the two tracks is called “Straight Face”. The song gives a really good Micheal Buble’ type feel to it with its laid back energy and feel to it. It’s also uber cute with the chorus going something like- “Yes I can say it with a straight face you’re lovely to me. I’ve been thinking about your kisses sitting under your tree”. Aw. Definitely a good lead off single in my opinion and a great video to go with it as well.

The second preview on Sneak Peak Sunday is called “Late Nights”. (Sidenote, love how both these videos are clearly shot on Long Island. Represent yo!). Unlike “Straight Face” this song has a darker and deeper feel to it, reminiscent of The Wallflowers “One Headlight” or something more recent like Imagine Dragon’s “Radioactive”. What I really love about this song and these guys is their ability to change it up in all their songs but keep it as authentic as possible in any arena.

Go ahead and support these talented guys. Buy “Straight Face” and “Late Nights” here and for all things Como Brothers log onto their official website for more information.

Matt and Andrew Como (22-24 years old) are songwriters and musicians that value organic music, musicianship, and songs with original integrity. All of their songs are credited as written by Matt and Andrew Como. Music is not a hobby of the brothers but a way of life and a career. Early in life their Dad and his brothers played music at family parties and Matt and Andrew were inspired along with their parents encouragement, to play music. They played in various bands throughout high school and are now an experienced live act playing in bars, festivals and local shows most weekends over the past years. In 2010 they began The Como Brothers Band and have been pushing forward for their dreams of a long term career in music.

Cory Monteith’s death- Gay men, pay attention.

by Ryan Shea

On July 13^th millions of Glee fans and people alike were stunned and saddened by the loss of actor Cory Monteith, who played Finn Hudson on the popular television series. What makes this more heartbreaking is not only that he died at the young age of 31 but how he actually passed. The autopsy report states that he passed away from a mixed drug toxicity consisting of heroin and alcohol. It was documented that he recently completed a rehab stay between the end of March and mid-April, only the second time in his life that he sought treatment for this matter.

There is a depth to this story that transcends Cory and so many other issues surrounding his death- one in particular being the rapid drug trend that is sweeping the gay community. We see so many ads online promoting PNP (Party N Play) in which gay men hook up with the intention of getting high in the process of. This is a dangerous and toxic element that is only hurting people and not helping them, which is why gay men should really view Cory’s death as a huge wakeup call.

“It is all too common for men in the gay community to experiment with drugs, often at an early age,” says Dr. Edward S Goldberg, MD, who has served the gay community in New York City for the past twenty years. “The most popular drugs these days seem to be crystal meth, GHB, X, and cocaine. Heroin made a comeback a few years back as an inexpensive way to “check-Out” emotionally while getting a euphoric buzz. The way I see it, the biggest problems are crystal meth and heroin due to their nearly-instantaneous addictive potential. I’ve seen success in sobriety with both substances but I’ve seen it not end well far more often than the success I speak of.”

It was never a big story in the media regarding Cory’s drug and alcohol use, mainly because he wasn’t like other celebrities whose chronicles were well-documented by the paparazzi or their recent stint on “Celebrity Rehab”. At times people keep their addiction hidden for whatever reasons need be. In millions of people’s eyes, Cory was a role model. He was under pressure to keep an image in tact that is relatable to the show. People who are under the addiction of drugs may feel the same way, but get so deep into it that it becomes a double life situation that they can’t see their way out of.

“It’s very frustrating when you see someone allow their demons and addictions to take control of their lives”, retired adult film star and gay personality Charlie Harding states. “He allowed his desires and wants for a high to outweigh his self-preservation instinct, his will power and ultimately his common sense”. For the gay men who are dealing with similar problem’s that Cory dealt with, use this as a way to get help and get out of the haze you are presently in. Don’t make a temporary problem a permanent issue.

Get to know Mark Edward of Top Shelf Premium

by Ryan Shea

A couple of months back my good friend introduced me to guy this Mark and told me that I should feature him because he is doing big things in a really unique way. Mark and I connected and he invited me to his showroom in the heart of Hoboken, New Jersey where I got to see his collection first hand. Boy was I not only taken a back by what I saw but I also felt an instant throwback feel when I walked in. Mark describes his brand Top Shelf Premium as “Wearable Vintage Garments” and by vintage we are throwing ourselves back to the early 90’s (so much so that he gave me a free copy of the PBS show “Ghostwriter” that was up on display. This made me quite the happy guy). From the music to the jackets to the hairstyle, it really screamed 1991 in so many different ways but for some reason it worked and gelled really well with the atmosphere at hand. It quickly made me think that Mark was onto something here, and I should get to know the guy more to see how this crazy idea of his started in the first place. A couple of days back, I got to know Mark and the company at hand. Take a look.

How did you come up with the concept for “Top Shelf Premium”?

The concept came from a simple lack of money – I needed extra coin around the holidays. Ive always been a collector of dope vintage. I put a few things up on eBay and saw that it sold immediately. I always knew I couldn’t work for anyone – so I started a website – started selling on the streets and pushed my way into the game.

What about the name, where did that come from?

Funny – I used to make glass art work out of Top Shelf liquor bottles – I couldn’t see my self having a future in that scene so when I started to succeeded with vintage I carried the name over.

What would you say is your mission statement for TSP?

I carry the dopest vintage in the game.

Do you think the clothes you provide can fit an array of people out there?

I love what I do – because when Im out shopping I find the piece and see the person that will wear it. I sell to all genres. Rock tees and leather for my grunge heads. Early Polo for the Lo-Heads. Vintage sport jerseys and tees for the sports fan. Outrageous patterns for all my people with confidence and that are experimental with there style. And tons of acid wash for everybody!! Acid wash in my fav – everyone looks great in it to me!

When I went to your gathering I got a strong early 90’s feel. What draws you to that era so much?

It’s the era I grew up in. So I know it hands on. Been there – done that, you know? I just love bringing back amazing memories when things were a lot simpler. Before the iPhone where I can speak face to face with someone across the world – we had to get walkie talkies to talk someone 50 yards away.

Who are your biggest inspirations?

I love the hustle mentality. So any hustler out there I look up to. Doesn’t matter what your hustling – there’s pride and a sense of making it your own way. It means a lot to me. I just want to be like Sinatra and be able to say I did it my way.

Do you hope to incorporate any celebrities into your mix and if so who?

Ive worked along side a few celebrities so far. I wardrobed Macklemore for The Source Magazine. A big customer of mine is P-Thugg from Chromeo. Last week I spent a few days with Lil Debbie – styling her for the photoshoot we did for my website. (topshelfpremium.com)

I love to work with artist – it brings my clothes to a life that it deserves – so bring em on.

Say you were doing a fashion show. What kind of music blends well with the fashions and products you are providing?

I’m personally a fan of early 90s Hip Hop and super new upcoming hip hop. From Das EFX to Joey Badass. I hear that rawness and passion behind the voice. Same feeling I get about my business.

Any tips to upcoming small business owners?

DON’T STOP.

What is your ultimate hope for TSP?

Long term goal -I want to be known as that dude when it comes to vintage. Short term I want to be able to sell across county, hitting all the festivals, colleges and big cities. Be able to reach out and spread the vintage love face to face.

For more information on Top Shelf Premium and how you can become of what I believe to be the next craze in the entertainment industry, check out their main site, Instagram and Facebook pages. Be on the lookout for this dude for real.

2013 MTV Video Music Award Noms- The List is out…

by Ryan Shea

The Video Music Awards are the one award show I look forward to every year because beyond anything it tends to be pretty freaking awesome. It ranks as one of the most social events of the year and has birthed and revamped many careers over the past three decades. Now in it’s 30th year (crazy), the VMA’s are set to take place back where it all started- New York. It will be broadcasted live on August 25 at the brand new Barclay Center right in the heart of Brooklyn. Heck, even the classic Moonman got a great redesign for only this year. Truth be told, this will be another one for the record books. How can I tell? All the great people are nominated this year. Let’s break down each category.

Video of the Year-

The ultimate, the biggest award of the night has got to be “Video of the Year”. In recent years, R&B Divas like Beyonce (Single Ladies) and Rihanna (Umbrella, We Found Love) have taken the trophies yet over it’s 30 year history has seen this award go to a bevy of legends such as Madonna (Ray of Light) and Eminem (Without Me) just to name a few. This year three R&B crooners, a hip-hop legend in the making and one of the biggest female stars on the planet all under one category. Robin Thicke has his first set of nominations this year with his number one chart topping “Blurred Lines” featuring Pharrell Williams and T.I. That song has been voted by several publications as the song of the summer, and boy has it been good to him. Justin Timberlake returns to the VMA pool with the second single off his album The 20/20 Experience with “Mirrors”. He has been in this category twice before for “What Goes Around… Comes Around” and “Cry Me A River”. Country-turned-Pop diva Taylor Swift has her first Video of the Year nod with the second single off her album “Red” called “I Knew You Were Trouble”. Rounding out this category is R&B hit maker Bruno Mars “Locked Outta Heaven” and who I think will and should be the winner, Macklemore &Ryan Lewis’ “Thrift Shop” which currently sits as the biggest selling song of 2013. It’s also a rad video. Yup.

Best Hip-Hop Video-

This category has been around since 1999 (it changed from Best Rap Video) and has been won by quite the bevy of artists such as Beastie Boys, Jennifer Lopez and Missy Elliott. The nominees this year scream out for the fresh new faces that are taking over the industry and keeping it hot and hopeful for the years to come. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, who are up for 6 this year, come in again in this category with “Thrift Shop” but they have some truly stiff competition in place. Newbies in the game from Kendrick Lamar (Swimming Pools), A$AP Rocky (F***ing Problems) have their first shots at winning a moonman, and perennial favorites such as Drake (Started From The Bottom) and J. Cole (Power Trip) are looking to make their mark in this category. “Thrift Shop” will most likely win in this category as well, but there is a crowded room for anyone to come out on top.

Best Collaboration-

This award, only given out in 2007, 2010 and 2011 has been won by all the big divas in recent years such as Katy Perry (E.T. with Kanye West), Lady Gaga (Telephone with Beyonce) and Beyonce and Shakira (Beautiful Liar). The divaness in this one is not on the mainstage, as the five nominees couldn’t be different from each other. Robin Thicke shows up again in this category with the saucy “Blurred Lines”. Hot dance tracks such as Pitbull & Christina Aguilera’s “Feel This Moment” and Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding’s “I Need Your Love” populate the crowd as well. The two that I see truly going neck to neck on this is Justin Timberlake & Jay-Z’s “Suit & Tie” and chart-topping “Just Give Me A Reason” by Pink and Nate Truess.

Check out the full list on MTV.com. Who is your pick to win? Be sure to watch the MTV Video Music Awards live on August 25th and see if your favorite wins!

Dave & Buster’s New Games and Drinks for Summer!

by Ryan Shea

Last weekend, the Dave & Buster’s in the heart of Times Square treated me and a friend to a great afternoon of fun new games, food and drinks that they have unveiled for the summer of 2013. Dave & Buster’s alone is known for it’s great family-friendly atmosphere consisting of some of the hottest games for kids and parents alike, great food and drink and overall a fun time had by all. They kicked it up a notch however with these new features.

For the games section, some you may be very familiar with. They have, in the past, taken popular iPhone apps such as “Fruit Ninja” and turned them into life sized video games to play with. This summer, they launched the uber fun “Cut The Rope” which was also a top selling app for a long time as well. Another app that they have brought to life at D&B is Temple Run, the game where it’s non stop running in each level in order to complete the mission. Some other new games they have introduced that really jelled well with the crowd is Harpoon Lagoon, the gory and monstrous Dark Escape 4D, Milk Jug Toss and Dream Raiders, my personal favorite.

Over on the food and drink side, they delighted us with four new beverages that were all delicious in their very own way. The Strawberry Watermelon Summerita was my personal favorite taste wise and also had strawberry cubes to add to its strawberry-ness. To all the sangria fans out there (holler) they had a strawberry flavored one of those as well, on top of a Coronarita (a margarita with an upside down Corona in it) and a Miami Ice Sno Cone which was super yummy.

Overall it was a great experience as it always is at Dave & Busters and they continue to thrive in the variety of entertainment industries that they provide to the general public. So stop on down to your local D&B’s for all the new games and drinks as well as some of their classic favorites. Definitely worth the trip.

Macelleria Tops Italian Restaurant Week

by Ryan Shea

Being press sure does get you going to a lot really unique and different places inside and out of Manhattan to try out and review. Normally my reviews tend to be a mixture of mostly good but some things that can be improved on. For Macelleria, in the heart of the meat packing district, it is not only all good, it’s freaking amazing. Macelleria was part of New York City’s first ever Italian Dine Out Week, which featured twenty three prominent Italian restaurants located all across New York City. This one stood out to me for its location and great buzz I have heard about it, and boy did it not disappoint.

My friend and I each chose an appetizer, entree and dessert for us to taste and try out. The two big highlight dishes in my opinion was the Branzino and the Steak option that I chose. The steak was thinly sliced but such a fantastic cut of meat and the flavoring that came with it was truly phenomenal. Other options that we tried out that were just as fantastic if not better was the Carpaccio and Prosciutto de Parma, which is where the Olive Oil truly shined in anything we ate.

I got to know Violetta Bitici and her father Sergio, who are the owners of the esteemed restaurant. The location has been around for over a decade and boasts an incredible array of authentic and imported Italian delicacies (one more noted on mine and my friends end was the best tasting Olive Oil I have ever had). During my time there I got to know more about the background of Macelleria, especially Sergio Bitici’s journey to being quite the restauranteur from his days growing up in Italy to a force to be reckoned with in the New York City restaurant scene. I also met head chef Diego Bigucci, who from the food that he made me and my friend deserves a ton of James Beard awards and anything else that might be out there for him to win. All three of them are class acts in their own ways.

If you are in the Manhattan area and are craving all things Italian, stop on down to Macelleria on 48 Gansevoort Street and see for yourself why it is truly the best of the best. Macelleria offers lunch from 11:30 am to 5 pm, then dinner from 5 pm to 1 am on Monday through Friday, and on Saturday/Sunday offers brunch from 11 am to 4 pm, and dinner from 5 pm to 1 am. For more info, log on to their official website.

Sushi Dojo NYC Rises Above The Rest

by Ryan Shea

Sure, there are a bajillion places you can go in New York City to have Sushi. So when it comes time to pick out which one is the best and most authentic of the bunch, narrowing it down can be a really tough decision for all you new Yorkers out there. So let me make this one easy- Sushi Dojo on 110 1st Avenue in the East Village.

Executive Chef and prospective partner David Bouhadana, 27, has trained with Iron Chef Morimoto, has worked in some of New York’s top establishments such as Hatsuhana, and has trained for years in Japan. This Florida-raised man fell in love with Japanese culture, language, and cuisine while he was working as a bus boy. “I didn’t find sushi, sushi found me,” said Chef Bouhadana. “I started at 18 under my first master in Florida where I accidentally found myself in the kitchen.” Upon presenting his idea to the investors, David was hired as the Executive Chef for the restaurant and was given the unique opportunity to become a prospective partner in the future.

The term “dojo” is the Japanese word for education, and Sushi Dojo’s atmosphere is complimentary to an educational experience where customers can try new things. Sushi Dojo’s team of chefs consists of professional Japanese individuals who have trained for years and are eager to make every customer feel like their apprentice by sharing knowledge, recommendations, and sushi delicacies.

“Many individuals feel nervous and uncomfortable to try new things due to a lack of knowledge or negative experiences that they have had in the past,” said Chef Bouhadana. “At Dojo we encourage our customers to ask questions and try new things. We want them to learn by doing that and having the most memorable experience by dining in our restaurant.”

As a first time customer, I noticed that the look and feel of the place was quite warm and inviting and had an overall great atmosphere to it. David as well as the waiter and hostess were kind and engaging and made the whole experience a delight for me and my friend. Some of the stand out dishes in my opinion was the Edamame and Nashu Nibitashi (Lightly fried eggplant marinated in Dashi) for the cold plates, the Pork Belly for the appetizers, and any and all of the sushi that is freshly made by David and his team (my personal favorite was the Ikura otherwise known as Salmon Roe. Yum!)

Something to note here is that you won’t be able to order something like a California Roll, as this place pries itself on being traditional and focusing on high quality delicacies. This is definitely something that you would want to try out in the near future if you are visiting Manhattan or already live here. So stop fussing over which sushi place to go to and take the subway down to The East Village and try out Sushi Dojo for yourself. For more information, log on to their official website.

Big Brother 15 Jumps The Shark- Doomed, and done.

by Ryan Shea

I was so amped to do a ton of write ups this summer about my favorite reality show of all time, Big Brother. Having been an avid fan since I was in high school, I yearn and look forward this show every year and marvel in its wizardry of alliances, mental anguish, sillyness and above all Julie Chen saying “But First”. Over the past couple of years or so, the show has really taken a down turn in terms of finding original houseguests that we root for and the redundant aspect of past houseguests showing up to compete again, similar to what Survivor has exhausted for over a decade now.

So when I found out that with the exception of Elissa, Rachel Reilly’s sister, that everyone else was brand new to the game this year, I was freaking ecstatic. Even in the short period of time that I had to view the houseguests and get to know some of them before the show even aired, I wasn’t necessarily thrilled at a lot of the choices but happy that it was going to be brand spanking new. Then the show started, and I was instantly turned off by a lot of the people. The main issue is that when you read a lot of what these people are about outside of the house, they aren’t die hard fans but wannabe actors and models who are trying to make their big break in Hollywood. The hardcore gamers are a select few that sometimes clearly know what they are doing by winning the whole damn thing (BB10 Dan, BB14 Ian, and the earlier seasons). So that was a huge turn off.

Then, not even a week into the game, a zillion reports came about of certain houseguests saying extremely insulting racist, homophobic and misogynistic comments about others in the game that was a complete turn off. This might have been brought on a bit by what is going on with Paula Deen, but the difference here is that we have taped footage of some of these people saying this stuff. Take for instance Aaryn, this dumb naive Texan who said about Helen, the only Asian-American houesguest, “Dude, shut up and go make some rice”. Fellow contestant GinaMarie added “Andy was like, ‘I’m gonna punch her in the face,’ and I was like, ‘Maybe that’ll make her eyes straight.'”

That is only the beginning of these horrid people. The conversation then turned to Howard and Candice, two African-American contestants. “Blacks stick together … They’re like tokens … They’re like black Barbie and Kens,” someone on the tape says, before another voice says that Candice’s “blackness” was coming out. They then worried aloud about Andy getting the MVP “because everybody loves the queers.” GinaMarie is from New York mind you, which has a huge gay population. Good luck coming home to that sweetheart.

It seems as if this short period of time has led to a ton of fallout not only from Aaryn and GinaMarie but the show and network itself. Aaryn has been dropped by her modeling agency Zephyr Talent, who had this to say in a statement (I love how honest they are and didn’t give a pageant answer in this)-

“Aaryn, season 15 cast member of Big Brother, revealed prejudices and other beliefs that we (Zephyr Talent) do not condone,” the page reads. “We certainly find the statements made by Aaryn on the live Internet feed to be offensive. Any views or opinions expressed in personal commentary by Aaryn, either on any live feed from the House or during the broadcast, are hers alone and do not represent the views or opinions of Zephyr Talent. Upon much consideration, we have decided to release Aaryn from her contract with Zephyr Talent.”

GinaMarie has also been fired from her day job, East Coast USA Pageant (WHAT THE FUCK WITH ALL THESE MODELS AND PAGEANT GIRLS) after not only that comment but stating that welfare is n*****r insurance, with them having this to say about this classy gal-

“We are actually thankful that this show let us see GinaMarie for who she truly is. We would never want her to be a role model to our future contestants.” “In a business where we are surrounded by beauty every day we are saddened to see something so ugly come from someone we put on a very high pedestal.”

Now here is the thing, CBS states they aren’t condoning this because it doesn’t reflect what the network thinks but someone has to take a stand. This is similar when in BB8 that they kept Evil Dick in the house even after he tortured the other houseguests and lit a burnt cigarette into Jen’s arm and dumped iced tea on her head. And as much as I love Janelle, her drunken rant in BB6 going after everyone calling Beau a “gold digger” and April a “whore” was bad as well. Eric in that season was the absolute worst houseguest of all time going after Kaysar for his religious beliefs which was the catapult to everyone in the world viciously hating The Friendship Alliance.

According to TV By The Numbers, Big Brother earned a series low with last night’s episode at a 1.6 18-49 demo, and only 5.6 million viewers (they average around 7-8 million an episode and the eviction ones are higher normally). So clearly, there has been some backlash on this. I don’t understand why Allison Grodner, who runs this show, won’t step in and do anything because quite frankly it makes her look bad and she has been the blame for why this show has been fledgling for years now. The show in the beginning was people who were avid game players who were there to play the game, not some pathetic actor types who have no idea how the game is played then become beloved reality stars. If CBS is smart, they will oust Aaryn and GinaMarie ASAP. Here is an idea- let’s watch video of their former employers firing them on air and see their reactions. That would be a ratings bonanza.

Big Brother as far as I see it has evicted themselves from a good and fun show to a drab and pathetic excuse for reality TV.

Charlie & Scotty- How an HIV Positive & Negative guy can find love

by Ryan Shea

Love comes in all kinds of shapes, sizes, ways and conditions. Yet if you are open, mature and strong enough you can look past what some others can’t and get to know your significant other as the one you love rather than the one that you see with so many red flags. This is the case with my two good friends Scotty Rage and Charlie Harding. I met Charlie a couple of months back at the Black Party Expo here in New York City. It was a quick exchange, but we started talking on Facebook and texting and I truly got to know him and what a fantastic guy he was and is.

Then I got to know Scotty, his partner, who just happens to be open about his HIV status. He is positive, Charlie is negative. This is something that quite frankly is taboo in the gay culture in that many men who are negative fear dating a man who is HIV positive for the obvious reasons (infection, health problems) and going beyond that (social stigma, embarrassment). What Scotty and Charlie want is for people to understand this disease and the risks of it, but at the core of it if you love someone you can be there for them and help them along the way without judgement. I sat down with them last week to discuss how they met, when Scottie was open about his status and ultimately what they are hopeful for with each other and the rest of their lives. Take a look.

How did you two meet?

Charlie- Actually an ex of mine that I had lost touch with for years said hi to me on Facebook. After chatting with him and becoming friends again, he suggested that I be-friend Scotty on Facebook. I did, Scotty and I started chatting and direct messaging and then that led to texting, and then a few phone calls and things progressed to where we became long-distance best friends. I was actually still in a past relationship that ended up to be very toxic and tragic, and Scotty was my confidant and shoulder to cry on when that one went bad. We were actually friends that had never met in person for the first almost 2 1/2 years that we knew each other.

Scotty- And once Charlie’s relationship had been over for about six months, I went out to visit him in Nashville. It was the first time we met in person, there were strong feelings for each other, and affection that led to sex and it just kept growing. A couple weeks later he came down to visit me in Atlanta and spent a few days. The visit went amazingly well, and we realized that we really, really, really liked each other. He went back to Nashville and a couple weeks later said he wanted to move out of Nashville maybe to Atlanta.

Charlie- Yep! So I packed everything up that I had in Nashville, and after working a bartending shift one night took off and drove to Atlanta, I moved in with Scotty. Literally the third time we met in person we shacked up together!

Scotty- Well actually, I suckered him into moving down to Atlanta and in with me under the pretense that he would be able to go find his own apartment. But once he moved in I wouldn’t let him leave!

Charlie- I didn’t want to…

What made you fall for each other?

Scotty- Charlie’s a hottie obviously, but he has an amazing aura about him. He is super intelligent, dynamic, extremely openhearted and genuine, and once he lets his guard down, he’s also very vulnerable and sensitive.

Charlie- Awe… Now he’s making me blush. For me Scotty was a breath of fresh air. He is one of the most energetic, positive thinking, happy to please and open minded people I’ve ever met in my life. Our personalities just meshed very easily, and the communication channels were so open that we felt like we could talk about anything.

How soon in the relationship did you tell Charlie about your HIV Status?

Scotty- To be honest I don’t remember exactly, but I know it was something that we discussed very early in the friendship stages. As we were introducing ourselves to each other via Facebook and texting.

Charlie- Yeah, I think it was within the first few weeks when we were kind of running through personal histories, and what we’ve done in our lives, challenges we faced and dreams of the future I think it came up in conversation. It wasn’t one of those big dramatic moments of disclosure that so many people it needs to be.

Charlie- Had you dated a guy who was poz before hand? If so, what was the experience like? If not, were you apprehensive?

Charlie- Not that I’m aware of. I mean, I’ve had lots of friends who are HIV-positive and I’m sure some sexual partners in there that were as well, whether they disclosed it correctly or not. But I didn’t really think of it as a concern when we realized we were going to start dating. It was just something else to educate myself on so that we could do what was appropriate. We discussed his medications, how long he had been undetectable, and I did tons of research as to what the risk factors of being with someone both sexually and just in your daily lives were. As an HIV negative person, I wanted to try to gain the best understanding I could of his situation, so that fear or ignorance wouldn’t be an issue in our relationship.

Scotty- We talked about it I remember, but like everything else that we talked about it was just open communication and discussion. It was never brought up as an ending factor for the potential relationship, or something big and dramatic. It was just another thing that added to the facets of our relationship and dynamic.

For both- What has been the challenges in the relationship that one is poz and one is negative?

Scotty- Well being the one who is HIV-positive, my concern is obviously to keep myself healthy, and protect the health of my partner. There’s always that chance even though I’ve been undetectable for 14 years, that I could infect him. So we discussed it, take the risks that were comfortable with, and go in with an understanding that it is extremely unlikely, but possible.

Charlie- The key thing for me was to be educated on what HIV-positive, undetectable means. That eliminates the big scary fear and reduces it to just a medical condition that needs to be dealt with.

Scotty- Have you dealt with any judgment from the gay community regarding your status and if so how do you deal with that?

Scotty- The gay community just like all of society is a big mix of people. Some are open-minded and willing to educate themselves on issues before forming opinions and others not so much. So of course certain people have judged or negatively responded when they find out that I’m HIV-positive, but the majority of folks out there it’s a non- issue. Let’s put it this way: if someone being HIV-positive would be a factor in your decision to be friends with that person, chances are we wouldn’t get along. From a sexual side, there are definitely folks who are not comfortable “hooking up” with somebody who is HIV-positive. And that’s ok. While it hurts to know that folks still feel that way, I would never ask someone to do something they were uncomfortable with. So you learn to work around it.

Charlie- Same question as Scotty.

Charlie- Well given my adult film work, one of the most surprising things that I found out was that a lot of folks assumed that I was HIV-positive. I had actually heard jokes saying “aren’t all porn guys Poz?” So I felt some negativity in that respect. Further being an HIV negative person who is coupled with an HIV-positive person opens up other questions in certain peoples minds. Some of the more close minded folks, for example those typically less educated on the subject of HIV and what undetectable means, asked me if I was a bug chaser. Evidently some folks can’t believe that you can love somebody for being themselves and not let an illness get in the way? But right now I will officially go on the record and say, “I am an HIV negative man who is in love with an HIV-positive man, I’m not with him because he’s positive, I’m with him because he’s the most amazing and loving person I have ever met. His poz-undetectable status is just one small part of the whole human being.”

Scottie, Being Poz yourself, what is your opinion with the prevalence of barebacking in the porn industry and outside of it?

Scotty- That seems to be a big discussion in the adult film industry right now: the use of condoms or the lack there of. I think the thing to remember when watching porn is that this is a fantasy. Porn scenes, television shows, movies and even fiction writing all portray fantasies. These are all ways to escape the reality situation that we live in. So what you see, hear and read are not set up to be realistic in your real life. Anyone who would watch porn, and then use those scenes as a comparable for real-life sexual situations is being unrealistic.

Charlie- Bareback sex versus condom sex is a very personal decision. From a professional standpoint performers have to decide what they want to portray on film, and what they’re comfortable with doing publicly. In your personal life it’s the same scenario. You weigh out your risk factors and act in a manner that is acceptable to you. My place is to decide what works for me, Scotty and I should decide what works for us. What everyone else does, is none of our damn business.

For both- What is the biggest misconception with men who are poz?

Charlie- I want to answer this two ways. I think the biggest misconception that I see that HIV-positive men have of themselves is that they’re somehow tarnished or broken. The other big misconception that I see in the general population is that HIV-positive men are all irresponsible. I know plenty of people who contracted HIV who were not drug users, who were not wild party people and who were not overly sexually promiscuous. HIV can affect everyone.

Scotty- I agree with what Charlie said on both fronts. When you poz your reality changes, and you question yourself worth. It takes a while to adjust and adapt to the fact that you have something that a lot of the world sees as an extremely negative illness. I also agree that a big misconception is that only the slutty, party guys are at risk.

For both- What does the future hold for the both of you?

Scotty- What were planning on getting married in the next six months, we have plans to retire to Florida at some point in the future and there’s been talk about possibly having a baby…

Charlie- Yeah I would like to actually have a child that’s my genetics. So it’s surrogate an artificial insemination maybe in our future! The main thing would be just looking forward to experiencing everything we can, live your lives to the fullest together, and hopefully celebrating the day when some one HIV status won’t be an issue because HIV will be no more.

For both- What advice would you give to some of the younger men out there who have an active sex life?

Scotty- Be smart about your decisions, be smart about your partners But don’t be scared to enjoy yourself.

Charlie- Educate, educate, educate! If there’s something you don’t understand about HIV or what undetectable means, research it. Give yourself every bit of information that you can before you start making decisions as to what you are comfortable with doing. Talk to your doctor, talk to your friends and talk to your local Community centers and HIV outreach groups. You’ll find that you’ll get a lot of differing opinions, and different information. So what you have to do is wade through it all and decide what you think fits your situation the best. For example your read studies that were done in the US that say Truvada as a preventative for HIV HAS a 40 to 70% effectiveness rate, then you’ll read about a study that was done in Europe which claims a 99% effectiveness rate. Just like with anything else review it all and form your own opinions. Don’t do things you’re not comfortable with. Don’t be afraid of HIV simply because you don’t understand.

Love these two for how open and truly amazing they are. Want to know more about these guys? Check out Charlie’s FB page as well as Scotty’s which also details everything they have in the works for their booming business life. Everyone that reads this- learn from it, don’t judge it. Be mature and get to understand your surroundings.

Also check out:

Charlie’s Twitter

Scotty’s Twitter

Charles World Apparel!!! AWESOME STUFF!

Charlie Harding Presents

Ryan Shea

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