HALLOWEEN: The Blog

First off, I don't think Halloween should be a day anymore, I think it should be 3-4 days spread out.  Halloween is no longer solely celebrated on one day, it's a matter of days spread out so that people can attend multiple parties, wear multiple risqué costumes and drink themselves into oblivion!

Whatever happened to kids trick or treating? One day Halloween celebrations? Getting drunk off carbs? I feel that I barely see any kids out and about these days trick or treating. Maybe it's just how life in the city is, but even at my CT home there were no trick or treaters. And eating enormous amounts of candy is considered almost as sinful as drinking too much alcohol, however the latter is more accepted nowadays (at least we won't find any razors in our drinks...).

Anyway, Halloween has never been a big deal to me. Dressing up can be fun but I really prefer looking at other people's costumes.  What were you this Halloween?? My costumes are always rather clever and/or ridiculous.  I was Michael Jackson (at my retro party), Christ Ryan of the Apocalypse (don't ask) and a confused gay baseball player/circuit party boy.

Halloween is more about the scary movies, decorations and making costumes for others so that they look ridiculous/sexy/confused.  Take a look at the Grindr costume I helped to make for my roommate:

Martha Stewart's Grindr

Now if Martha Stewart had Grindr, what would it look like? I of course put Grindr's favorite clients on (excluding myself who is a "favorite" at the top next to Martha).  Justin Beiber & Bianca Del Rio are just two of the many that made the cut for this shirt. 

As for my top ten scariest Halloween movies list, here goes:

10. Seven

No many would consider this movie to be on a list of Halloween "scary movies" since it's more a psychological thriller, but take just one scene that forever sticks in my mind and you will most likely agree; the scene where they come into the serial killer's apartment and find a man tied to a bed who they think is dead, but then wakes up! God, that will always scare me. 

9. The Hills Have Eyes

The rape scene is probably the worst for me. To think of men like this coming into your room at night and raping you is pretty horrifying.  There are quite a few disturbing scenes in this movie, but this is on of the worst. 

8. The Descent

The idea of being beneath the earth and fighting off horrifying creatures that are looking to feast on you is rather scary as hell. 

7. Last House on the Left

Yet again another movie with a horrifying rape scene similar to that of the one in "I Spit on Your Grave" (one of the most fantastic revenge movies ever made). Very demented people in this movie, but they get what they asked for in the end. :)

6. Friday the 13th 2

Friday the 13th movies are not usually scary for me since I don't find slasher films scary. However, this one tops the list of scariest Friday the 13th movies.  The scene where Jason Voorhees jumps through the window sans hockey mask is rather frightening and disturbing.  

5. Nightmare on Elm Street

Another slasher film that tops my list, however Freddy Krueger is one of those slashers that's pretty horrifying as he actually has a rather disturbing personality unlike the other lifeless slashers (Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, etc.).  The scene where Freddy slashes Tina up and down the wall while her boyfriend looks on is rather horrific. 

4. An American Werewolf in London

Werewolf movies can be scary or stupid. However, An American Werewolf is the most LIFE LIKE werewolf movie.  John Landis creates the most life like transformation from man to werewolf in this movie that I've ever scene. It's fantastically disturbing and yet intriguing all at the same time. To this day no CGI or any other type of filming has made this more lifelike than An American Werewolf in London.

3. Insidious

Several disturbing and scary (make you jump) scenes.  The worst for me is the demon standing in the corner of the boys bedroom completely dark and when asked what the demon wants he just points slowly and cryptically to the boy.  Yikes!

2. The Shining

This is psychologically disturbing as it details the account of a man who suffers from a personality disorder and lives in a hotel with his wife and child for the winter as the caretaker.  The twins in the hallway, the old woman in the hotel room, the creepy backwards "Redrum = Murder" on the walls, the pools of blood spilling through hallways and Jack Nicholson's amazing portrayal of a mad man make this movie rather horrifying. 

1. The Exorcist

Still to this day nothing compares to the Exorcist. Religious or not religious, this movie shakes you to the core. Seeing a little girl being possessed by the devil, doing horrific things to her body, saying horrible things to the priests and executing very scary actions (i.e. 360 headspin, crab walk down the stairs, stabbing herself in the vagina with a crucifix, etc.) make this movie top my list. I can't sleep after watching it. 

Movies that are just as scary, but didn't make the cut

Halloween

The Ring

Martyrs

Saw (first one)

Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Black Christmas

Dead Birds

Midnight Movie

***What are some of the movies on your TOP TEN LIST?***

 HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Be safe!


-Chris Ryan

Social Networking (Minus the Networking)

This warning haunts me everyday...and yes it's a real one.

Facebook had the right idea at it's incarnation however things have changed dramatically since 2004. Facebook has always been two steps ahead of other social networking sites. And while MySpace did surpass Facebook for a bit there, it could not compete with the growing popularity of Facebook. Facebook has laid the ground work for social networking sites and nothing has come even close to surpassing it. And as much as I'd like to see something better come along, I don't see that happening anytime in the near future. Facebook has too much of a market and is connected to too many websites currently with the "sign in with Facebook feature."

However it's either time for Facebook to change it's features (and not to the crap we've seen in the past few months) to better serve the online community.

Here's where Facebook falls flat (wah wah):

1. Privacy Features are a major issue for many people. Facebook does say that they have done much to protect users information but I don't believe this to be honest. I think Facebook has ALL our information and has integrated much of our privacy into the algorithm on Facebook.

2. And now the MAJOR problem. Facebook limits our social networking. It basically tells us that we can ONLY know 5,000 people. Yes, that may seem like a lot of people to know, however if we have Facebook over our lifetime the chances of us meeting over 5,000 people is VERY HIGH. Plus socialites meet many more people than the average person, so do celebrities and well-known personalities. We are out constantly meeting people and making connections.  And we are asked to STOP connecting after 5,000? That seems a bit ridiculous.  Facebook claims that it's a spam issue we face with having over 5,000 connections/friends. Really? I mean if you can produce once of the worlds best algorithms, why can't you do something to prevent spamming while still allowing people to connect with over 5,000 people? It's time to update Facebook. And please don't tell me to add a "fan page", I'm not a celebrity and what you can do on a fan page based on having an actual profile page is limited and not for me. I put my website up as a fan page, but that's about all I will do.

3. "Liking" pages becomes an issue when you have too many friends!? This is the worst of all.  So now I can no longer add friends on two profiles, (okay that's fine I created a third) but now I can't even like anymore artists, movies, friends pages, etc. Facebook tells me that I have to delete pages to add more. So now I have to stop showing people that I like something to show them that I like something additionally??? I find this extremely ridiculous considering the amount of things we will like over our lifetime. I've had Facebook for only 5 years and already I've run into major issues to the point that I have to have 4 profile pages.

4. Complicating things makes it worse. Facebook was very easy to use, and yes there were features about it that were annoying, but the constant changes have made Facebook worse! The minute we get used to their new layout, BAM! there's a new one. And the new one gives a thousand more options and confuses the user. Facebook, take some cues from APPLE!

5. GROUPS: Please tell me what MORON at Facebook decided that the best way to get rid of group spam was to create groups that allowed you to PUT everyone in the group without their approval and then make the default setting that you get an email for every post in the group?? Please, please tell me this was not one of your HARVARD graduate employees because an idea this could have only come from a human with the same intelligence as Michele Bachmann (had to).


6. If you're a promoter you know that I don't even have to write out number 6. 


***Anything I didn't add? Oh I'm sure there is. SPEAK!***


I love this cartoon below lol

-Chris Ryan

The Next Human Evolution?

Now this might be crazy but I ask that you actually take the time to read this because I believe that my thoughts on the next human evolution are the most viable. I purposely didn't read much about the next human evolution so that my first thoughts on it wouldn't be influenced by what I read.  However, knowing what I know regarding science and the current advancements I think that my theory is well backed.

Hybrid Humans?

Yes, hybrid humans. We will not be fully robots, but we will not be fully humans. As conditions worsen in our atmosphere, as our bodies weaken and as the future calls for more advanced humans, we will enter a world that will drastically change and the humans of today won't be able to survive for very long. We have not hit the climax on the average human age of death but I do believe we will soon and my belief is that the average age of death with actually start to go down as the environment changes. We will have more technology and medical advances, but there will be certain things in our atmosphere that we will not be able to change.

Replace the cells in your body with NEW CELLS

We already see that the human species may see it's first immortal man by the year 2045.  Immortal, really? Yes, it can happen and their are medical advances that are being created (have been created) that will aid in making us immortal.  Cell scrapers/scrubbers are one of the technological advances that will help to clean out the old cells in our body and replace them with new cells.  Sound ridiculous? Well it's already been done on mice successfully!

Print out new organs?!

Yes and it's been done! A 3D Bioprinter can print out new organs and arteries by the use of cells from the organ that's being created. If you're creating a liver, you must use liver cells. More information regarding this amazing technology here: http://www.gizmag.com/3d-bio-printer/13609/

Replacing our body parts with machinery

In the near future machinery will be so advanced that we will be able to make even better (and lifelike) body parts out of extremely advanced machinery that will plug right into our current nervous systems to give us true motion and allow us to still feel pre-programmed feelings. We will be able to lift more, run faster, run longer and virtually never wither away.  Our brains will be updated too with micro-computer chips that will make us much more intelligent, improve memory, improve our ability to learn, etc. Don't believe me? Read this: http://www.livescience.com/9699-humans-2-0-replacing-mind-body.html

This all being said, humans are heading into an era where machines and intelligent computers will rule and they will be integrated into our systems making us more intelligent, smarter, faster and more accurate.  Hybrid humans will roam the planet. But what will follow? Complete replica human robots that have all the same feelings/emotions as a real human but still a robot? Why yes, I do believe so. Let me know your thoughts!


-Chris Ryan

Do you have Internet ADHD?!

I do...err...I think.

If there is such a diagnosable term, well then I have it (there isn't just so you're aware). I feel my hand methodically make its way to my mouse on several occasions to change tabs, move around sites and do several tasks at once.  If a site doesn't load within the 1.5 seconds before my attention span has ceased, then I move on to the next! Thankfully this doesn't translate to real life, but why does it on the internet only!? 

I'm working at DSL speeds and yet I still feel the need to jump, jump, jump!

Thankfully I found an extension that will actually block certain sites for me so that I don't jump to them (only available on google chrome).  I have to say it hasn't really worked all that well for me as I find myself unblocking the sites more often than not.  I think a good resolution to this would be to have the site LOCK for an hour then allow you to access it again.

The problem is, I jump from task to task and leave other windows (tabs) open and totally forget to go back to them. I actually started utilizing Mac's sticky note application to remind myself of what I'm doing (have to do.) Any other suggestions?!

I think the real answer is to limit my internet time when I'm not doing the million other things.  I think we all need to do that. If we're not on our computers we're on our iPhones or iPads or iPod touches or Androids or Blackberrys....AHHH!

Here's a piece of advice; take the time to look up at the world around you! We're here for only a short period of time and even with Retina display the world isn't as pretty on screen as it is in real life.

Quick Test (copy and paste answers in comment if you choose):

1. How many websites do you visit in an hour's time span? (check your history)


2. How many minutes do you spend on each site before jumping to the next? 


3. What's the max you will wait for a page to load before jumping to another page? 


4. How many other things are you doing while trying to maintain focus on what you're supposed to be doing?  

-Chris Ryan

I'm a Criminal Because I'm Gay

This woman is a HERO. Be one too. 

Sad, but true. There are parts of the world where it's actually ILLEGAL to be gay. One of these places is Cameroon. Cameroon is in need of help to overturn this law which will help to decriminalize homosexuality.  ONE woman attorney, Alice N'Kom, in the country is defending homosexuals in court and asking for YOUR HELP to sign a simple petition that she will submit to the president which will in turn hope to end this ridiculous law in this country and release the homosexuals that have been locked up from prison.

SIGN HERE: http://allout.org/en/actions/cameroon

Further, we're still a long way from equal rights in this country.  Take a look at this rather disturbing map of our country, which displays where homosexuality is legal, not legal, life inprisonment and DEATH penalty: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:World_homosexuality_laws.svg

Just imagine going to prison for being born a woman? Or being born with black skin? Or being born with a disability? Or being born a male with brown hair? This is what people in other countries are going through right now. They are being imprisoned for being BORN a certain way. SICK! Help be a HERO.


-Chris Ryan

Avengers Movie Trailer!

This movie is going to be EPIC! Check out Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Iron Man, The Hulk and Loki in this exciting movie trailer! I can't WAIT for this movie!

Happy National Coming Out Day! Let's Hear YOUR Stories!

National Coming Out Day is a day that commemorates those that have come out, those coming out and those willing to have discussion about doing so.  It more importantly celebrates gay and lesbian rights.  The date of October 11th (which happens to be my birthday too, oddly enough) was chosen to celebrate the anniversary of the march in Washington D.C. on October 11th, 1987 that was held for gay and lesbian rights.  More information about this nationally observed day is located here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Coming_Out_Day

On June 27th, 1999 I came out, officially.  I spent all my youth in hiding my authentic self.  I actually wasn't sure though of who I was until my teen years.  I thought I was confused about who I was attracted to at a young age and I still found myself attracted to women. While I was still very young when I came out, I was sure of my identity when I officially came out on the date of June 27th, 1999.

A year earlier, It was almost like a wake-up call.  I woke up one morning and decided that I wanted to find someone to love and I decided that that someone would be a man.  I had relationships with girls in the past, and most fell through. I could not devote myself to any women and felt that the relationship was superficial.  I decided that I was really just attracted to men and therefore would pursue that.  I started to meet men off the Internet. I met three in particular that were all very different and gave me incredible insight into gay life.  One guy in particular really struck me.  He taught me much of what I came to know about gay culture and gay life. He introduced me to places in NYC that I would someday venture when I was of age to do so.  He wasn't a lover, but he made me feel comfortable about who I was and he also was the person that made me decide to "come out." The week before Pride, this guy asked if I would like to join him for the Pride Parade.  He told me I would get to see a lot of gay culture, nightlife, groups, organizations, etc.  I thought this would be great to see and get exposed to.  I told him that I would come in to see it on that Sunday.  I got up very early on Sunday, June 27th 1999 and took a bus from my father's house in New Jersey to NYC. My father thought it was a little strange I was leaving so early for the city.  However, I was so excited that I didn't even think to realize he might wonder why I was heading in so early.  I arrived in the city and had one of the best days of my life. I watched the parade from uptown a bit.  I saw so many things that made me happy to be who I was.  I never realized there were so many people that we're out and open. It shocked me to see how open people were with their sexuality.  I started to feel much more comfortable about who I was just by viewing this. We walked down to the village where I was even more shocked (yet happy) about the things I was seeing. I had my day filled with completely new experiences, I was so overjoyed by the complete comfortability of so many that I started to become much more comfortable myself.  I headed back to Port Authority to return home.  I went to my mother's house two blocks down the street from my father.  I got a call not much later from my father telling me to come home because he needed to talk to me.  I was very scared by the call, I figured my father had found something out about me.  I was very unsure of how my family would react. I never heard them talk necessarily bad about gay people, but also never heard anything necessarily good.  I went to my father's house (probably more scared than I had ever been, but I realized that I was ready to come out).  My father took me into the living room and sat me down and very abruptly said, "I know where you were today." My body tensed up with nervousness, I started to sweat and my skin went cold.  He then stated, "Why were you at the gay pride parade?" and at this point my heart sank into my stomach. I paused for about a minute and said, "Dad, I was at the gay pride parade because...because...I'm gay." My dad looked at me with glossy eyes and said "I've always known and I've always loved you and always will." I then broke down crying. The feeling of "coming out" is one unlike any other.  For years you hide who you are and then one day you have the ability to FINALLY admit who you really are to the people that you love.  It was such a relief to finally say who I was.  I asked my father that he not tell the other family members but about 25 minutes later every family member knew about me.  I was actually glad that they did, it made my job much easier.  Not one family member was upset about it.  I got nothing but praise from every family member.

Coming out was one of the BEST days of my life and I just pray that everyone can experience the joy that I experienced by revealing my authentic self.  I know that's certainly not the case for many but I will tell you that coming out is a process.  The first person you have to come out to is YOU! That in itself is priceless, special and important.  If you're happy and love yourself then that is all that truly matters.  If there are people around you that can't accept you for who you are it's because they can't accept themselves; that's the truth. You will find solace in coming out. No one has to accept you, but YOU. Be happy, be proud and be you.

NOW LET ME HEAR YOUR STORIES! 

xoxo,
Chris Ryan

Friendly Fires Concert Ticket Giveaway Contest!

Friendly Fires are playing at Terminal 5 on Wednesday, October 26th and I have two tickets to giveaway! We’re going to do something a bit different for this contest.  I’m going to start the contest tonight at 8pm and end the contest on Friday at 8pm. The rules are below, good luck!

The Rules: 

You will need to comment on this post with either a unique picture that depicts one of the songs of their new album “Pala” or write a comment that creatively ties in at least four of the songs on this album into ONE sentence (i.e. I was “running away” because I felt so “helpless” until I realized that all I needed was “true love” to “pull me back to earth.” —yeah I know, I’m good).  I will then choose a winner from Random.org. 

And for those of you looking to purchase tickets, you may do so here:

http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/000046BAA331AD59?camefrom=CFC_BOWERY_CRYANFFIRES

Their incredible "Hawaiian Air" video

NO Love, NO Heart: Homophobia in Jamaica

After reading an article this week entitled "The Most Homopbhobic Place On Earth?" ( http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1182991,00.html ) I had to write this blog.  Jamaica has long been a travel destination for many tourists, a place of beauty and a place where any and all were welcome to relax and have fun. Now it is considered HELL if you're a gay man or woman traveling to the country.  Jamaicans believe that homosexuality is demoral and even CRIMINAL! Sodomy is considered punishable with jail time!

My post comes after seeing a despicable video of a many being beaten by several Jamaicans while bystanders stood by, watched and even assisted them in beating this gay man until he was no longer able to even fight and they burned him ALIVE. I won't post this video because of it's graphic and disturbing nature.

You've most likely heard in the news the stories of people like Beenie Man and Buju Banton, reggae stars who spew anti-gay lyrics in many of their songs including "Boom Bye Bye" which is about killing gay men.  Buju Banton has been accused of beating gay men, spilling acid on them and burning them alive.  He's a despicable example of a human being and trend setter.  Thankfully he and his cohorts of reggae stars have been blocked from touring in the US costing them thousands, if not millions, of dollars.

The Face of HATE: Reggae Star, Buju Banton

To be out in Jamaica means to be dead basically.  People are in so much fear of coming out in Jamaica due to the hostile nature of their countries residents.  Even gay tourists who have travelled to Jamaica have to live in fear as some of them have been killed themselves.  And what does the countries police do about it? NOTHING. It's basically not seen as illegal in their country
 (http://www.bahamasb2b.com/news/story.php?title=killing-gays-in-the-bahamas-is-practically-legal).

Hated to Death (as many are in Jamaica)

LGBT rights groups are working actively to change this countries policies which sees the highest murder rate of any country. Many are hoping that new prime minister, Portia Simpson Miller, will change the laws in Jamaica making it a more gay friendly place, but that most likely won't be seen for years and years to come.  Until then, I urge many to not travel to Jamaica or support a country who is so anti-LGBT.  They need to get with the times and see that their anti-gay rhetoric and hate only drives them further into the hole of desolance, despair and the HELL in which they continue to build for themselves.