Sunday, July 20, 2025

Here's my stop.

Hello All, 

Some of you may have noticed I'm posting less in the last few months. There are a couple of reasons for this. Mainly, good quality vintage photographs of naked men are getting harder to come by. eBay was my main source for the six and a half years I've been running this blog, and for those years before when I had several iterations of Tumblr blogs. eBay no longer allows most male nudes to be posted uncensored. I really enjoyed finding scans of the original prints of the great early male nude photographers, especially Bob Mizer, Bruce of LA, Lon, Milo, Douglas of Detroit and others of that era, and in most cases digitally removing dust and fingerprints etc., cleaning them up and adjusting the image tones. The images were large and sharp, and I loved bringing out the hidden detail. I know I've been successful because my meddled-with pictures tend to pop up all over the net, which is great. I've really no interest in posting well-recirculated or low-quality images, or new images of guys who shave and tattoo their whole bodies. 

Also, the jpeg format is slowly being replaced by other types of files which require more effort to capture and edit, and the quality and clarity is often lacking. As it says on the blog I do this mostly to amuse myself, (and hopefully others in the process.) If it's work it's no fun. If you don't like what you see look somewhere else.

------- 

A little about me for those who care to read it: I won't be offended if you were just here for the pictures. That's what it's all about. 

I own a two-family late 19th century house in New England which always needs some work. For instance the gas company is getting ready to dig from the street through my front lawn and under the porch I just had rebuilt in 2023 to install a new gas line, after months and months of loud construction to replace the gas mains all through the neighborhood. They went as far as spray painting a yellow line from the street, across my lawn and up to my porch, with little yellow flags for adornment. That was in October of last year. On Friday they very loudly sawed through the street pavement all around where they had already dug throughout the neighborhood. It looks like they will be digging it all up again. I'm awaiting an email which will supposedly tell me when and if they will be done with us and our house. They'll have to come in and restart the two gas furnaces and other appliances.

I'm an avid gardener growing heirloom tomatoes and a variety of traditional ornamental corn developed by a Cherokee tribe member.  Those of you who garden know it's always a battle. I also prepare, package and sell the seeds on eBay, as well as selling some choice estate and garage sale finds - mostly vintage and first edition books, ceramics, and glassware; from Pyrex to Murano. I enjoy photographing vintage glass very much. In the winter I shovel and in the spring summer and fall I cut the grass and tend the garden. I have help from my life partner but they have chronic medical conditions which prevent them from driving or strenuous exertion. We deal with Medicaid and a supplemental health insurance company which recently announced their primary care physician was no longer "in network" then changed it's corporate mind back again. Meanwhile the ruling Oligarchs want to do away with Social Security and Medicaid altogether. Not to mention what they are doing to immigrants and gay and transgender people. My country is being dismantled by bullies and fools and it gets to me.  


Sometimes the blog is not a priority. 

--------------

There are currently 3,465 posts on this blog, many with multiple images. Over the life of the blog there have been a lot of visits here, according to Blogger statistics:

United States-2.81 million 

France-309 K 

United Kingdom-272 K 

Germany-251 K 

Canada-221 K

Australia-158 K

Singapore-112 K

Russia-101 K

Spain-95.2 K

Netherlands-78 K

Brazil-74.5 K

Italy-68.7 K

Mexico-40.5 K

Finland-37.4 K

Hong Kong-36.9 K

South Africa-26.7 K

Belgium-24.9 K

Poland-21.1 K

Argentina-21.1 K

Other-595 K - Including China, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Israel, Belarus, etc. 

It was sad to see views from Ukraine diminish and then disappear in the past couple of years.

Age verification is coming and may kill all adult blogs.  I've started getting occasional email notices from Google that a post or two have been put behind an adult warning label, which is silly because they already are. The notices are quite random. 

This past week I received a very rude comment from a regular viewer who uses more than one alias when commenting, complaining that my posting was too infrequent and also personally criticizing a regular contributor in a very nasty tone. He concluded with "Farewell," then came back and read my post in response. It's all deleted now. He then sent an angry email to me with some files in a format I don't recognize and will not attempt to view. What happened to farewell? He's probably reading this note as well. 

I don't know what the future of this blog looks like right now. If I come across an image I feel like sharing I will, but I'm focused on other things. You all have been remarkably kind and supportive and I'm grateful for your enthusiasm and invaluable contributions of knowledge and photos. I'm not the best at names and faces, so thanks for that especially.

Bob


 

36 comments:

  1. yes, I am reading this note as well. if I had known you were such an angry cunt, I never would have forced you off the internet, and of COURSE you read all my previous messages, none of which were anything but helpful and encouraging.
    Enough. Mr. Too Many Aliases

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What happened to You don't post enough and farewell? And no apology for your insulting comment? Bye now.

      Delete
    2. It's your blog ! Do with it as YOU wish. Don't let the haters get to you. Just know hundreds of thousands of us have enjoyed your posts in silence 😀

      Delete
    3. Anom 5:18, comment osez-vous insulter le créateur de cet excellent blog !
      BNG merci beaucoup pour ton beau blog :)
      -Beau Mec

      Delete
  2. Bob, thank you for the years of pleasure your posts have provided and I, for one, will miss viewing your efforts. These are trying times and you are wished nothing but the best. I'll check in on occasion to see if there is anything new, or just to reacquaint myself with past pleasures. Take care and thank you, again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome, and do check in when you get the notion. There's a lot here - I like to search my own blog!

      Delete
  3. Well I enjoyed reading your report on your current home situation, and I've always enjoyed your blog. The posts were always excellent and I was never bothered if there weren't new ones every day. What does bother me is the incredible rudeness you've had to endure. People should really just learn to scream their nasty insults into a paper bag and then toss them out, rather than making a cruel spectacle of themselves. Thank you again, good luck with the gas company, be well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the kind words. The heavy equipment is at work right now!

      Delete
  4. I typed a longer comment but it disappeared. Just a thank you for your great blog, good luck with the gas company, and just ignore the commenter making a cruel spectacle of himself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Comments need to be approved first. Thanks again.

      Delete
  5. I like your blog so much and really proud to show my pics! I'll be always here!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your contributions Cris! The pics will be around a while, I hope.

      Delete
  6. This has been an incredible blog. I love it and steal from it. I appreciate whatever you do in the future, as I appreciate what you have done so far. Good luck and best wishes. And thank you for the photo of Lewis Williams and Charles Foster from this past Saturday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Leroy. Glad you enjoyed those two handsome fellows.

      Delete
  7. Thank you for your work. We have enjoyed your collection over the years!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh, do I ever understand your frustration! As a fellow vintage blogger, I have experienced just about all the discouraging online situations you describe, including bickering and questionable comments by viewers. I have resorted to foreign websites and image search engines to find "new" material with ever diminishing results. Fortunately, I amassed such a huge collection of images during the good old days of freedom that I could probably post for the rest of my life without running out. The quality, however, would decline over time, so I continue to search.

    Please hang in there and do what your are able. And feel free to use anything I have ever posted if it suits your taste. I really respect your work here and wish you the best.

    Jerry at Vintage Muscle Men

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Jerry, I've been a longtime admirer of your vintage blog also, and the way you present the photos with themes and your witty commentary. Always entertaining. I'll be checking in.

      Delete
  9. This country, especially, is really getting bad. I have enjoyed your blog since I discovered it several years ago. I also garden, but just edibles. Here in Alaska we are somewhat limited. If someone doesn't like your blog, the answer should be simple.....just don't look it up! I certainly will keep checking here. I'm wishing you good luck. Oh, those utility companies can really be a constant problem, they have lost the idea of what their mission should be, and have lost the goal of being of service to the public.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gerald, thank you for your many appreciative comments. I enjoy seeing the pictures through your eyes as you have often seemed to be discovering an appreciation of naked male fellowship for the first time through them. Cheers!

      Delete
  10. Bob, I have to add my voice here too. I appreciate all your efforts and always look forward to new finds from you. I concur with other commenters that there is absolutely no need for people to be rude or get offended (what tosh!). Thank you for sharing your biographical detail. It's always nice to find out about the person(s) behind a blog. Keep up the good work, be it here or in your garden. Brian.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brian you are a wealth of knowledge and a class act. Bob.

      Delete
  11. Thanks for all your thoughtful (and entertaining!) posts. Yes, the world is changing in not so great ways, but I continue to believe in basic goodness, AND freedom for all. I hope your blog remains as both a resource and record!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I really hope you can keep up this blog!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Another voice in the affirmative for you. Never let Trolls dictate your work. Especially when it's freely given.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. This was not so much a troll as a regular commenter who flipped out when I didn't post for a week, insulted another contributor, and announced his own departure. I don't respond well at all to scenes, and honestly after all these years it was starting to feel like an obligation anyway.

      Delete
  14. The internet is getting pushed into censorship by reactionary hypocrites.
    It seems another great blog is shut down like Retro Studs or the blogger gives up in frustration with the censorious bs.
    And so it goes. -Rj

    ReplyDelete
  15. Bob,


    Thank you for the blog, I hope you will come back someday. Health is priority, be well!


    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thanks for all you've done over the years. Hope you find a way back.

    ReplyDelete
  17. So cool that you chose to share all of this about yourself. It's a fantastic blog!
    So well done and very highly regarded. Thank you!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. It's been a great ride and the pictures are all still there.

      Delete
  18. Thank you for what you do here.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Really do enjoy your collection of pictures both vintage and modern. Thank you for bring them to the net. Enjoy the next chapter of your lift but know that we will always highly regard your efforts.

    ReplyDelete

Here's my stop.

Hello All,  Some of you may have noticed I'm posting less in the last few months. There are a couple of reasons for this. Mainly, good q...