Film Appreciation
Written and directed by Charleen Weiss and Hannes Stolpe, 40 Days is a short film that follows Grace as she mourns the loss of her brother, Finn. Over the course of 40 days, she navigates her grief while his soul searches for refuge. In a final act of closure, Grace writes her brother a letter—knowing that once she burns it, she'll have to let go and begin to move forward.
via Charleen Weiss
During the holidays, my wife and I fell into a familiar empty-nester routine: watching Christmas movies as a way to ease into the season when the house is quiet and the shopping spirit feels optional. This year, my wife was—by her own admission—a bit of a grinch, so we decided that festive films might do the heavy lifting for us.
We started with Hot Chocolate Holiday (2021), starring Aubrey Reynolds and Jonny Swenson, a sweet, low-stakes story about a coffee shop owner and a dessert shop owner who discover they share more than a love of cocoa. It didn’t need to make sense—it just needed to be pleasant, and it was.
The next night, Netflix nudged us toward A Merry Little Ex-Mas (2025), with Alicia Silverstone and Oliver Hudson, about former partners forced back into each other’s orbit when holiday plans collide. Enjoyable, provided you leave realism at the door.
My Secret Santa (2025), starring Alexandra Breckenridge and Ryan Eggold, surprised me with its humor; Breckenridge’s comedic timing carries a story about an unexpected holiday gig and workplace romance.
An older entry, No Sleep 'Til Christmas (2018), featuring Dave Annable and Odette Annable, became a quick favorite thanks to its simple, charming premise.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Jingle Bell Heist (2025) with Olivia Holt and Conner Swindells, but its mix of action, humor, and a sharp twist made it one of the most entertaining watches.
We closed out New Year’s Eve with Champagne Problems (2025), starring Minka Kelly and Tom Woznicakz, which ended up being our favorite. Set against the pursuit of a storied French champagne house, the real draw was the chemistry between the leads—balanced, believable, and just romantic enough to earn its ending.
Film Appreciation
The Waste City 3.0: Public Spaces is an interdisciplinary performance project directed by Anto Rabzas, blending Butoh dance, video art, and urban exploration to reimagine public space as a site of knowledge, memory, and transformation.
Performed by Tania Garrido and Nazaret Laso (Cranämour Butoh Dance Theater Company) and developed over years of site-specific interventions, the project examines how we experience, alter, and fragment space through perception and language.
Rooted in philosophical and literary references, it reflects on the ephemeral nature of reality and the creative impulse to grasp its meaning, even if only through illusion.
via AntonioRabazas
Sources:
https://antoniorabazas.com/videoarte-performance/the-waste-city-3-0/
Music Appreciation
Back in 2011, French DJ and producer Martin Solveig served up Smash, a pop-electro album bursting with charm, dance beats, and...tennis drama? Yep. Released on June 6, Smash was led by the global hit “Hello,” a bubbly collab with Canadian synth-pop band Dragonette. The track became a runaway success, topping charts in five countries and somehow ending up everywhere — from Gossip Girl to Ted Lasso, even a Tim Hortons ad.
But Smash wasn’t just about catchy singles — it came with its own mini music video series that plays like a French rom-com meets sports spoof.
The full-length music video for “Hello” isn’t just a video — it’s the kickoff to an absurdly entertaining mini soap opera set in the high-stakes world of...tennis. Chapter one opens with sportscaster Nelson Monfort narrating the setup: Martin Solveig (as himself) is a hopelessly determined tennis player, while his wildly enthusiastic manager/coach Lafaille (played by DJ Grégory Darsa) is doing everything short of summoning the tennis gods to get him a win.
Chapter two cranks things up. We're suddenly courtside at Roland Garros, watching Martin face off against DJ Bob Sinclar in a match so lopsided it hurts — Martin can’t win a single point. At 6–0, 6–0, 5–0, just as Sinclar is about to serve for the match, “She” (played by Flo Lafaye) enters the stands and inspires Martin to dig deep. One serve, one dramatic line call later (thanks, Mathilde Johansson), Martin is given a lifeline by none other than Novak Djokovic, who storms the court to overturn the decision. Our boy starts clawing his way back. Just when it looks like love might win, Gaël Monfils strolls in and plants a kiss on “She.” Heartbroken, Martin throws in the towel — literally — and the screen teases: to be continued.
Enter episode two: “Initial S.H.E.” This time, Martin's love-struck condition is so severe, he consults a therapist (François Rollin), who solemnly concludes, “Martin irresistibly wants she.” The prescription? “You need a swim.” Lafaille, ever the hype man, hands Martin a new headband and swears it’ll take him to the next level. Martin muses about his fascination with Japan — but Japan, as it turns out, is not fascinated with him. Recuperating in Singapore, Martin dreams of Lafaille hosting a ridiculous dance show called Mambo Jambo. Later, the two find a magical remote that controls the lights of the Marina Bay hotel. Naturally, they hijack it to flash a massive “I ❤️ She” during Martin’s performance of “Ready to Go.” As one does.
Episode three, titled “Ready 2 Go,” kicks off in a recording booth with Dragonette laying down vocals. Lafaille bursts in, announcing the album's title: Smash! Martin, unimpressed, asks, “You thought of this yourself?” Lafaille then has a brainwave: they must debut the song during a football match. He knows a guy who knows a majorette — which, Martin explains to a puzzled Dragonette, is “like a cheerleader… but with a baguette. It’s very French.” What follows is an elaborate seat-card stunt, a stadium sneak-in, and Martin dashing onto the field to perform “Ready 2 Go” with the majorette. The crowd obliges, flipping their cards to spell out the song’s title in glorious splendor.
By episode four, “The Night Out,” Martin is finally prepping for a romantic evening with She. He and Lafaille are seen carefully arranging a theater marquee. The video, which was suppose to display a heartfelt message, ended up as a video of Lafaille. Fortunately, She is unbothered and suggests they grab a beer and make a night of it. Cue a scenic motorbike ride through Paris, a dance club interlude, and a moonlit boat ride on the Seine, complete with Captain Lafaille at the helm. Just as things seem to reach a sweet conclusion, we’re treated to a flash of Martin performing “Hello” on TV before we’re whisked back to him riding off into the Parisian dawn.
Romance, rivalries, remote-controlled light shows — Smash isn’t just an album, it’s a spectacle.
via Martin Solveig
Sources:
Wikipedia
https://www.youtube.com/@spinninrecords
Film Appreciation
Bo Goldman, an acclaimed American screenwriter and playwright, was born on September 10, 1932, in New York City. He grew up in a family that appreciated the arts, which shaped his early love for storytelling. After attending Phillips Exeter Academy, Goldman pursued higher education at Princeton University, where he honed his craft in creative writing and theater. His passion for writing was evident from a young age, leading him to a career that would leave a lasting mark on the film industry.
Goldman’s screenwriting career reached significant heights with two Academy Awards. His first Oscar came in 1976 for the film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, which he co-wrote. The screenplay was a critical success, showcasing his talent for adapting complex narratives to the screen. His second Academy Award came in 1981 for Melvin and Howard, a quirky and poignant film that further cemented his reputation as a top screenwriter in Hollywood. These accolades highlighted his ability to blend character depth with compelling storylines, making him a sought-after writer in the industry.
Among his other memorable works, Scent of a Woman (1992) stands out as a testament to his skill in crafting emotionally resonant narratives. The film, starring Al Pacino, earned Goldman a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay. His later work on Meet Joe Black (1998) further showcased his versatility, blending drama with elements of the supernatural.
On July 25, 2023, Goldman passed away at the age of 90. His contributions to cinema continue to be celebrated, and his legacy as a storyteller endures through the timeless quality of his work.
Source:
Wikipedia
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/aug/06/bo-goldman-obituary
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0325743/
https://tapthelinemag.com/post/bo-goldman-oscar-winning-writer-of-one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest-script-dies-at-90
Celebrating it's 50 years in surf wear, Billabong highlighted Australian professional surfer Mark "Occy" Occhilupo.
via Billabong
Acting Appreciation
Born in the East Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, on April 25, 1940, Al Pacino is one of the most iconic actors of our time with a career spanning over five decades. He's been nominated for countless awards, and has won an Oscar, two Tony Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards.
He was raised in the South Bronx with his grandparents who were Italian emigrants from Corleone. In his teenage years, Pacino left home after an argument between him an his mother about his enrollment in a High School of Performing Arts. To finance his acting studies, Pacino took on low-paying jobs.
Pacino got into occasional fights and was considered somewhat of a troublemaker at school. Despite facing a difficult upbringing and dropping out of school at age 17, Pacino was determined to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. He attended numerous auditions and eventually landed his first role in a one-act play called Hello Out There!, in 1963.
Pacino was cast in several Off-Broadway productions, but it was his Broadway debut in the play Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?, which earned him a Tony Award nomination and launched his acting career.
Pacino's breakthrough role came in 1972 when he starred in The Godfather as Michael Corleone, which earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He then starred in the crime drama Serpico, which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
In 1975, he played Sonny Wortzik, a man who robs a bank in order to pay for his lover's sex change operation in Dog Day Afternoon. He then starred in a legal comedy-drama ...And Justice for All, which he was again nominated for an Academy Award for Best Leading Actor.
In 1983, he then played Tony Montana, a Cuban immigrant who rises to power in the drug trade in Miami, in Scarface. The film has since become a cult classic, and Pacino's catchphrase "Say hello to my little friend!" is one of the most iconic lines in cinema history.
In Scent of a Woman, Pacino played Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade, a blind retired Army officer who hires a young prep school student (Chris O'Donnell) to be his aide for a weekend trip to New York City. An iconic moment in the film was Pacino's tango with the young Gabrielle Anwar. His performance as the cantankerous yet vulnerable Slade earned him his first and only Academy Award.
He then starred in numerous roles playing gangsters, detectives, a football coach, a film director, a lawyer, a writer, and even the devil. Al Pacino has had an incredible career. He has become a cinematic icon, and his influence on the industry cannot be overstated.
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Sources:
Wikipedia
Film Appreciation
Released on March 15, 2002, Ice Age is an American computer-animated comedy film starring the voices of Ray Romano (Manfred), John Leguizamo (Sid), and Denis Leary (Diego).
The film, which features stunning landscapes, realistic animal movements, and detailed character designs, was directed by Chris Wedge and Carlos Saldanha, produced by Blue Sky Studios, and distributed by 20th Century Fox.
The film is set during the ice age, with a group of prehistoric animals on a journey to return a human baby to its family. The film features a strong storyline, with themes of friendship, loyalty, and family at its core.
Source:
Wikipedia
https://www.famousbirthdays.com/movies/ice-age.html
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Every year, during the holidays, I lock myself in my room and jackoff to porn. Okay, not really.
I do, however, look forward for the AVN Fan Award nominees every year. Like previous years, I have a technique in selecting my choices. I look at the category that interests me and develop a tournament bracket -- similar to the one you see during March Madness but for porn. Porn Madness.
Going through the bracket is harder than you think, figuratively and literally. Watching these great performers and figuring out how much more turned on I am over the other is hard work. But I do it because it's fun.
This year I'm excited because I get to vote for a great podcast I have enjoyed listening to this past year, Girls on Porn. Laura Ramadei and Rachel Napoleon make my 30 minute commute enjoyable as these two entertain with theme-of-the-week factoids and porn reviews in a non-judgement and open way.
Selecting favorite female, male, and trans porn stars was super hard, especially with the bracket format. But I am happy with the outcome because these are great performers. Sybil is gorgeous. Dante Colle is hot. Khloe Kay is stunning.
It was a toss-up between Kelly Collins and Theodora Day for newcomer. But it was the elegance Kelly illuminates that attracts me.
The five-foot-two 41 year old Aaliyah Love is a MILF, and the five-foot-six 38"/34"/53"Alex Blair is a Big Beautiful Woman.
I love tits and ass, so these categories were probably the most difficult to get through. But it came down to Autumn Falls for spectacular boobs and LaSirena69 for amazing ass. But I have to admit, I do like Elisa Laurenne's 34C breasts. 😍
Finally, I've been following Bailey Rayne for a while and so it was easy for me to select her as my favorite cam girl.
FAVORITE ADULT PODCAST
2. Holly Randall Unfiltered
3. The Pornhub Podcast with Asa Akira
FAVORITE FEMALE PORN STAR
1. Sybil
2. April Olsen
3. Vanna Bardot
4. Charly Summer
FAVORITE MALE PORN STAR
1. Dante Colle
2. Dredd
3. Ricky Johnson
4. Rocco Siffredi
FAVORITE TRANS PORN STAR
1. Khloe Kay
2. TS Foxxy
3. Jean Hollywood (fka Ella Hollywood)
4. Natalie Mars
HOTTEST NEWCOMER
1. Kelly Collins
2. Theodora Day
3. Molly Little
4. Ruby Reign
HOTTEST MILF
1. Aaliyah Love
2. Jessica Ryan
3. Reagan Foxx
4. Ariella Ferrera
FAVORITE BBW STAR
1. Alex Blair
2. Karla Lane
3. Rose D Kush
4. Lily Lovely
MOST SPECTACULAR BOOBS
1. Autumn Falls
2. Elisa Laurenne
3. SunFlowerB
4. Angela White
MOST AMAZING ASS
1. LaSirena69
2. Savannah Bond
3. Blake Blossom
4. Abella Danger
FAVORITE CAM GIRL
1. Bailey Rayne
2. Diney
3. Natalia Rae
4. Grace Ryan
Source: pornhub.com, avn.com, boobpedia.com
Film Appreciation
Perhaps one of my favorite films starring the amazing Tim Curry, Clue was released on December 13, 1985.
The mystery black comedy film, which is based on family board game, takes place in 1954 with six strangers arriving at a secluded mansion. The butler, played by Tim Curry, assigns each individual a pseudonym at their arrival: Colonel Mustard, Mrs. White, Mrs. Peacock, Mr. Green, Professor Plum, and Miss Scarlet.
John Landis and Jonathan Lynn created the cult classic which featured a star-studded cast, which included Tim Curry, Eileen Brennan, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, and Lesley Ann Warren. Although the film received mixed reviews and performed poorly in the box office, the film received a cult following, which continues today.
Source:
Wikipedia
Photography Appreciation
Born on October 25, 1962, in the Upper West Side of New York, contemporary art and fashion photographer and filmmaker Roy Stuart is best known his erotic works that captures sexuality in BDSM (bondage, discipline, dominance, and submission).
Stuart started his career as an actor playing a small role in The Godfather Part II before moving overseas to London then Paris to become a fashion photographer.
When asked in an interview why he turned to eroticism, he replied, "300 years ago, artists had to work for the Church if they wanted to express themselves. Today, it's the same with photographers who work in fashion."
He further argued, in the interview, what defines a girl being pretty or liking sex, "The idea that a girl, to be pretty, does not need to shave, to be too made up or too well styled. Or that the notion that women do not like sex is false."
In a different article, he stated that Americans are more consumer-oriented than French who appreciate women more, "In America, it's more consumerist, money-oriented... Americans are going further from the body, escaping more and more from the body."
But his idea as presented in an interview, he's approached with the question by a young model standing over a room full of erotic photos if he treats women like freaks. He responded, "... If you want a heavy take on my impressions of 'panty bandit.' To me, I just saw it as a strange and diabolical metaphor for the power of women over men. A man goes out into the street and waits for a woman to pass, just to catch a glimpse, a few centimeters, of her pubic hair, and then leaves."
Source:
Wikipedia
https://www.salon.com/2001/05/03/stuart_3/
https://www.gqmagazine.fr/pop-culture/sorties/articles/roy-stuart-interview/3257
https://www.roystuart.net/category/work/photos/
http://www.all-art.org/art_20th_century/modern_art/STUART1.html
