09.08.01
So We've returned from Burning man and survived the desert. I can't begin to tell you guys how incredible the festival was. Imagine "Who-ville" meets "Star Wars" meets "Mad-Max". It was what I had imagined and more. The black rock desert is beautiful in itself and the festival added to it. Anything you could imagine was there, from naked people to unbelievable art installments and theme camps. Much respect goes out to those who worked so hard to make it all happen. The best parts were the sunrise/sunsets and a gorgeous full moon to complement. The music all around "the city" . beat my expectations and I had one of the most memorable moments of my life dancing with about 100 other people including Paul and My buds at sunrise on the edge of the playa. I only wish you all could see the visual image of what it was. So, to sum up, those of you who can and want to go, you MUST do so next year. You wont regret it! Buy your tickets early (they're much cheaper) and make sure you take goggles and dust masks!
The other thing I want some of you to check out is a book called "Now That You Know", by Betty Fairchild and Nancy Hayward. The book will be really helpful to those of you who are just coming out to your parents and who need some help with the process. The book will also make the situation easier for your parents since it was written by the parents of gays who wrote the book together based on their personal experiences . I actually gave the book to my parents and it helped them more than anyone else at the time could have. You can order the book online here or find it at most bookstores (minus those Christian bookstores!). 
Much love, Danny

08.27.01
So This week is Burning Man...Finally.
Paul and I will be heading there soon, but we promise to bring back pictures for you all to see. It's a little late to be planning for this year's festival, but for those of you who want to check it out for next year, click on the link below.
See you all when we get back!
WWW.BURNINGMAN.COM

Paul had an excellent Birthday and thanks all of who wished him a happy one!

There are two things I want you guys to check out if you get a chance. The first is a cartoonist named Joe Phillips who was first recommended on the message board. He's a great guy and his art is really cool. I Know alot of you will enjoy it. Click on either link below to visit his websites. If your computer isn't powerful, you may have problems downloading it since it's rather complex and has many images and animation. Enjoy them!

WWW.JOEPHILLIPS.COM
WWW.XODUS-USA.COM 

The other thing I want some of you to check out is a book called "Now That You Know", by Betty Fairchild and Nancy Hayward. The book will be really helpful to those of you who are just coming out to your parents and who need some help with the process. The book will also make the situation easier for your parents since it was written by the parents of gays who wrote the book together based on their personal experiences . I actually gave the book to my parents and it helped them more than anyone else at the time could have. You can order the book online here or find it at most bookstores (minus those Christian bookstores!). 
WWW.BARNESANDNOBLE.COM 

Much Love, Danny

08.22.01
Click on this link to find out info on Burningman. See some of you there at the end of August . Only 6 days 'til...WWW.BURNINGMAN.COM
Today is Paul's Birthday! Happy Birthday!
After getting serious on last week's post, I have to go the other direction this week. I want to talk about something that I think will crack alot of you up. It cracks me up anyhow. Paul and I have been trying to figure certain things out about gay culture, and well, certain things just don't make any sense. Here's my list of things that I don't get about being gay.

1. Who decided the rainbow was going to be our icon? I get the meaning and all, but come on, could we have chosen anything lamer?
2. Who decided that diva-house was going to be our anthem music? Why must that crap be played at every gay joint one enters.
3. What's up with gay men and tank-tops? It's bad enough if you've got the body for it and you're wearing one, but it appears that all gay men feel the need to wear them. I want them outlawed!
4. Most of all, I really can't figure the connection out between musicals and gay men. I don't get it!

Any comments or items you'd like to add to the list? Let me know on the message board. I welcome the controversy.
Much Love, Danny

08.10.01
Click on this link to find out info on Burningman. See some of you there at the end of August . Only 16 days 'til...WWW.BURNINGMAN.COM
Paul and I spent this past weekend bumming around Washington DC seeing the sights. I've only been once, but was really too young to appreciate what's there. The most notable thing to see, which is one of the most impressive, moving museums I've ever experienced, is the Holocaust Museum. Everyone in this nation should see this as a reminder to what people can do when hate overcomes sensibility. It's unbelievable what propoganda can lead people to do and think. Here are a couple of pics we took.

Just a note to thank everyone who has given kind words, encouragement and support over the past year as well as those who have donated to my charity auctions. Thanks so much to all of you for helping to make this experience worthwhile for me.
Much Love, Danny

 07.28.01
Click on this link to find out info on Burningman. See some of you there at the end of August .
WWW.BURNINGMAN.COM

The other day, I randomly picked up this book at the bookstore because I was looking for something new and different to read.
So on the nerdy tip, I picked up this book called "The Soul of Politics-beyond religious right and secular left" by Jim Wallis. As it turns out, I couldn't be reading a more perfect book at this point in my life. When I was a teenager, I began questioning religion and it's role in society based on the hypocricy and hate that I witnessed in many of those who claimed to be "Christian". Eventually, this led me to an atheistic path, which later in life began to become an empty void in my soul that I didn't understand. Over the past couple of years, I've come to realize what that void is. I've realized that people need some sort of spirituality to make life meaningful. Increasingly, I'm searching for paths of spirituality outside of convential means as well as in some traditional terms. So this brings us back to the book after my rambling explanation there. The book beautifuly puts the big picure together for me about religion, politics and society. It takes a deep academic, social and spiritual look at modern religions and politics, fairly bringing each side down to its elements, successes and failures. I can't explain to you how important I think the information in this book is. As I read through the book, i'm going to post quotes here from it to give you guys some insight. Hopefully some of you will pick it up and at least give it a shot. so here goes today's (07.28.01) quote.
"Transcendence calls us to accountability and gives us a sense of meaning and purpose we are unable to find on our own. This new prophetic spirituality...attracts those, long alienated from established religion, who are hungry for personal and communal spirituality to undergrid their struggle to live more justly.
" Much love and thanks to Jhune and everyone for my Birthday E-card!
Much Love, Danny

07.14.01
Click on this link to find out info on Burningman. See some of you there at the end of August . WWW.BURNINGMAN.COM

The other day, I randomly picked up this book at the bookstore because I was looking for something new and different to read. So on the nerdy tip, I picked up this book called "The Soul of Politics-beyond religious right and secular left" by Jim Wallis. As it turns out, I couldn't be reading a more perfect book at this point in my life. When I was a teenager, I began questioning religion and it's role in society based on the hypocricy and hate that I witnessed in many of those who claimed to be "Christian". Eventually, this led me to an atheistic path, which later in life began to become an empty void in my soul that I didn't understand. Over the past couple of years, I've come to realize what that void is. I've realized that people need some sort of spirituality to make life meaningful. Increasingly, I'm searching for paths of spirituality outside of convential means as well as in some traditional terms. So this brings us back to the book after my rambling explanation there. The book beautifuly puts the big picure together for me about religion, politics and society. It takes a deep academic, social and spiritual look at modern religions and politics, fairly bringing each side down to its elements, successes and failures. I can't explain to you how important I think the information in this book is. As I read through the book, i'm going to post quotes here from it to give you guys some insight. Hopefully some of you will pick it up and at least give it a shot. so here goes today's quote.

"When religion becomes conformed to the culture,
it can no longer provide a reliable path to spirituality"
Much Love, Danny


07.02.01
So, here's the next update. As for burningman, I'll definitely be there for most of the event. I'm so psyched to hear some good music, meet some interesting people and dance my ass off. For those of you who don't know about the festival and want to get tickets and info, go to the burningman website and check it out. I'm assuming I'll probably see some of you there. 
The next thing on my list is my ebay auctions and the subsequent undergrad scholarship I'll be awarding this fall to the winner of an essay contest I'll be holding. More info about the essay contest and the scholarship will be posted here on CountrytoConcrete later this summer. I want to thank Josh from Michigan who won my car and really made this scholarship possible. I'll also be auctioning a couple more items soon, which include 2 Madonna tickets donated by Jeff and the personalized denim shirt I wore on the cover of OUT. Proceeds from these sales will also go to the scholarship fund, so be looking for those ebay auctions. I'll let you know when they are posted and have them linked from here.
Much Love, Danny

05.26.01
So, for this journal entry, I want to get back to my travel theme. The subject came up the other day on the message board, so I decided that I want to enlighten you all about a festival that I'm going to later this summer called Burning Man. I'm sure some of you have already heard of it, but for the majority of you who are in the dark about it, I want to share the thought with you. Burning man takes place in the desert in "Black Rock City" between August the 27 and September 3. The festival just isn't a music festival; it's no "party"; it's not a concert. Instead, it's a week long spiritual experience and the goal is to release all the negativity that's in your heart. The cool thing about it, besides the fact that it's in a remote location away from all modern development, is the fact that there are no spectators, but rather everyone is a full on participant. This means that everyone there takes part in building the environment around them, considering that normally, it's empty, open desert. The city that is built includes huge art installments, tent villages, and of course, the signature wooden man that is burned at the end of the event to signal the final release of all negativity and a rebirth of the soul. Pictures and more info on Burning Man, as well as schedules, newsletters and contacts can be found at www.burningman.com . At least check the website out and read about it; hopefully, at lease a few of you will make it. At least those of you who are in the states and can feasibly make it. For those of you who can't make it, but would still like to spend some quality time outdoors, check out www.wildernet.com for info on good camping and hiking in your area. 
Much Love, Danny

05.25.01
Hey all...so for this post, i want to stray from my travel theme and touch on a more serious message. For Mother's Day, I was able to take my mom to Virginia Highland Baptist Church and talk to the awesome people there for the first time since my auction and the donation. Those of you who donated should be happy to know that it really helped them out and they were able to carry out much needed renovations on the sanctuary. It looks great now. Back to the subject, while I was there, I realized what is so great about the place. I realized how much love the church has to spread. Yeah, all churches claim to spread love, but this church not only claims it, they preach it and live by their words. Their message is based in love. No hypocrites to be found there. It's such a shame that this isn't always the case. So, for those of you out there who have access to such places, use it to your advantage. If not through an organized establishment, find spirituality in some way. I especially plead to young people who have been so turned off by bigoted and outdated organized religion. Find the love that's out there and bask in it. Your soul needs it. I'll close this out with a quote from the sermon at VHBC.

"We admit, holy God, that we find it hard to hear your promise of new life. Even when we are dissatisfied with our lives, it is easier to cling to what we know than to risk the unknown. You challenge us to accept people who are different from us, but we are not eager to associate with them. You command us to love one another, but some people are not lovable. O God, melt our defenses so we can accept your love and let it flow through us. Grant us courage to embrace newness."

Much Love, Danny