A blog about LGBTQ+ History, Art, Literature, Politics, Culture, and Whatever Else Comes to Mind. The Closet Professor is a fun (sometimes tongue-in-cheek, sometimes very serious) approach to LGBTQ+ Culture.
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
To Sleep
Monday, February 27, 2017
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Testing Your Faith
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.James 1: 5-18
Saturday, February 25, 2017
Friday, February 24, 2017
Pump Jockey, Part II
On Saturday, I wrote about the short story "Pump Jockey." While I enjoyed the short story, I'm afraid some may have thought that I was recommending the longer book The Winter of My Discotheque. The truth is, I wouldn't particularly recommend the book that expanded on the short story. The book wasn't terrible, but from what I remember of it, it's not one I'd highly recommend either. However, Rebel Yell: Stories by Contemporary Southern Gay Authors from which the short story came, is highly recommended. I also recommend Rebel Yell 2: More Stories by Contemporary Southern Gay Authors. The two short story collections have everything from gay southern gothic to just good old storytelling.
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Just a Matter of Time
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Protest
Monday, February 20, 2017
Monday, Monday
Sunday, February 19, 2017
Temptation
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread."But he answered, "It is written,"'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,"'He will command his angels concerning you,'and"'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'"Jesus said to him, "Again it is written,'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'"Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.". Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written,"'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'"Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.Matthew 4:1-11
Dear Lord,You know the temptations that I am facing today. But your Word promises that I will not be tempted beyond what I can bear. I ask for your strength to stand up under the temptation whenever I encounter it. Your Word also tells me you will provide a way out of the temptation. Please, Lord, give me the wisdom to walk away when I am tempted, and the clarity to see the way out that you will provide. Thank you, God, that you are a faithful deliverer and that I can count on your help in my time of need.Amen
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Moment of Zen: Pump Jockey
This picture reminds me of the book The Winter of Our Discotheque by Andrew W.M. Beierle. It begins with the story of a surfer who is washing off the salt water behind a gas station when a customer pulls up. He quickly gets into his coveralls but doesn't zip them up and leaves them undone, enough to see his wet pubic hair. The story then continues from there and I am doing it no justice because it is one of the single sexiest things I've ever read in literature. Before it became the beginnings of a novel, it was featured as a short story in Rebel Yell called "Pump Jockey."
Friday, February 17, 2017
Hands
I am one of those people who does not know what to do with their hands. Well, sometimes I know what to do with my hands, but I'm speaking of when they are idle, such as when you are standing and listening to someone talk to you. If I put my hand on my hip, I look effeminate. If I have my hands by my side, I look awkward. Where I work, hands in your pockets is deemed unprofessional (something to do with the military, I don't get it). If I cross my arms, I look angry or defiant. I never know what to do with my hands, so I tend to try to find something to hold on to, hoping that comes across as okay.
Thursday, February 16, 2017
Breakfast
I don't often eat breakfast even though I know I should. However, if the man above was serving me breakfast I'd eat every morning. Usually, breakfast for me is a cup of coffee. But there are many benefits to eating a proper breakfast.
The literal meaning of the word "breakfast," is to break the fast between dinner and the meal eaten after a person wakes up the next morning. If you think about the amount of time spanning between dinner and breakfast, the meaning of the word is very fitting. For most people, it can be up to 12 hours since their last meal, and yet like me, they are quick to skip it as they rush out the door. Here are 10 benefits of eating breakfast and why it should be considered the most important meal of the day:
1. Energy Boost to Start the Day
2. Sharper Focus
3. Breakfast Helps Reduce Morning Crankiness
4. Metabolism Boost
5. Prevents Starvation
6. Keeps You From Overeating
7. Allows You to Properly Portion Your Meals
8. Helps Lower the "Bad" Cholesterol
9. Breakfast Can Be Nutritious and Delicious
10. Eat Breakfast to Lose Weight
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
More Snow
Snow is supposed to start late tonight and continue on to late Thursday. Unlike the last 12+ inches of snow we just received, this new system is going to slowly dump 5-10 inches on us. I'm getting a little more used to the snow, but I still hate cleaning it off my car in the mornings. The snow keeps piling up though. At my office, it has already reached up past the first pane of my window. That's only like 2 feet, but that's more than I've seen since I moved to Vermont.
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
My Funny Valentine
My funny valentine
Sweet comic valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable
Unphotographable
Yet you're my favorite work of art
Is your Figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?
But don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine stay
Each day is Valentines day
Is your figure less than Greek
Is your mouth a little weak
When you open it to Speak
Are you smart?
But don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine stay
Each day is valentines day.
"My Funny Valentine" is a show tune from the 1937 Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart musical Babes in Arms in which it was introduced by former child star Mitzi Green. The song became a popular jazz standard, appearing on over 1300 albums performed by over 600 artists. In 2015 it was announced that the Gerry Mulligan quartet featuring Chet Baker's version of the song was inducted into the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry for the song's "cultural, artistic and/or historical significance to American society and the nation’s audio legacy".
Monday, February 13, 2017
Snow
Sunday, February 12, 2017
The Old Rugged Cross
Saturday, February 11, 2017
Friday, February 10, 2017
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Twitter Censorship
Several pictures I've posted recently have been deemed sensitive material on my Twitter account. Each post I write is simultaneously published on twitter as well with the picture. However, yesterday's picture and Monday's picture were deemed too sensitive, or I guess racy, for Twitter. I don't get it. Today's will probably meet the same fate, the difference being that in today's picture the guy is completely nude whereas the other two had on briefs. Not even their butts were showing. There was no untoward nudity in the pictures at all, so why were they censored by Twitter. I guess it's like the number of kicks it takes to get to the center of the Tootsie Pop. The world may never know.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Politics, Ugh!
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Love
Monday, February 6, 2017
Super Bowl
Sunday, February 5, 2017
The Power of Prayer
“Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.” - Matthew 21:22