For gays who will be seniors one day - A Steve5380 Topic!

[Steve5380]

Another video posted for "gays who will be seniors one day" and... and are smart like you should be:

 

 

Don't care for the title... it's bullshit!   There is not an ONLY science-backed routine to stop muscle loss. There are many. But this video is a good summary of how to prepare for older age in hopes of maintaining full functionality and health, and continue with such lifestyle until ???  the end ???

 

The guy on the left looks horrible, and this is how I might have looked in my 70s  had I not followed advice similar to what is given in the video.  And I assure you that this advice is very good!   Maybe it is still early, but I never had yet any feeling of being "old".  Now at nearly 82 I feel very little difference from the days I was 50 and 60, and this makes me happy. 

 

But I cannot do today what Nureyev does in the following video:

 

 

but, to my excuse, I could not do it even when I was 30,  ha ha.  

 

Hopefully when you guys are seniors, instead of looking like the pitiful old folks I remember seeing resting on benches in Chinatown, you will be dancing like these two...  or being able to do it while making better use of your time.

 

[Steve5380]

I want to post a video I found that addresses a common misconception affecting seniors and even, the not so seniors:  the obsession of washing ourselves for the sake of "hygiene":

 

 

The Instruction Manual parents receive from Nature when we are newborns does not specify what washing routine we should follow.   Many of our fellow members of the animal kingdom do no wash at all.  Yet they appear healthy.

 

We understand perfectly well the motivation behind washing:  to keep our skin clean, good looking and free of smells. Less common is the motivation of "healthy",  and this becomes increasingly important as we get older.  

 

All of our skin is covered with bacteria that exist in symbiosis with our skin, which does not mind this at all.  Not only is our skin impermeable, it keeps the bacteria at bay thanks to its secreted natural oil, the sebum, which also prevents it to become too dry and crack.  Sooo... how often should we "clean" our skin, washing away its protective sebum?  It turns out that not-too-often  ( in an extreme likeness, never ).

 

Personally, I have never felt much need for showering,  mostly when I was young and did much aerobics and became sweaty. I have lived in warm weather but not excessively so like in SG.  Lately as a senior I enjoy showering in summer a couple of times a week,  but in cold winter it's about once a week.  And my skin is perfect, ( thanks in part to ingesting mega doses of Lactobacillus Reuteri that Dr. William Davis has found that they help the skin stay healthy )  And lately when I came down with the Flu for 10 days I didn't shower... at all, ha ha!  And no one told me that I smelled bad. 

 

Now for decades I have NEVER washed my face with soap and warm water.  It is twice a day with just plain cold water,  and any dead cells that the skin may shed are transferred to the towel, cleaned periodically by a good washing machine. People ( usually women ) call attention to the skin of my face that does not show the typical decay in an octogenarian, but it is still shiny. 

 

So my advice to gays who will be seniors one day is:  FORGET about this misconception in society that our bodies should be clean like fine porcelain.  We are ANIMALS COVERED WITH BACTERIA, and we should not mind living together with these bugs.

 

The video also warns fragile old folks that showering increases the risk of falling, getting colds, etc.  But I am confident that BW gay seniors have already learned a lot about training our legs and our balance to make this irrelevant.    

[Steve5380]

Tonight after I returned from my Aikido class I saw this video with top male dancers performing their difficult skills:

 

 

What a great motivator!   Not that I compare myself  (an octogenarian) with these magnificent athletes,  but when I see what THEY do,  then it is not so unreasonable my training with much younger people with the goal of getting a black belt like they have.  And frankly, I don't feel that years have to take a toll on my body if I keep doing the best I can for it.  I like to be a role model for future seniors,  which I am for many who know me personally,  and why not?  to be also a cyber-role model for those who just read what write here.   I'm not bullshitting, ha ha.

[Steve5380]

Today after watching the following video I have found a new role-model, a new Hero:

 

 

Not that I didn't admire Mikhail Baryshnikov before.  But in this interview one learns about other worthwhile activities he is involved with,  and his attractive sense of humor.  An interesting personality who was able to identify his vocation early on,  actively pursue it early on, and make it into a successful career.  An example for all of us!

[Steve5380]

Searching YouTube for a performance of Schubert's Lied "An die Musik",  I found this one:

 

 

If you play it,  your first surprise will be to see a young guy singing like... a soprano!  YES!  This is not an oddity.  It is the voice of a " countertenor",  the highest register grown up men can sing.  It is a rarity, helped by a training of their falsetto voice.  This is a common register for young prepubescent boys before the voice breaks into a lower register.

 

Here the countertenor is Wei En Chan, from Singapore.  After the first surprise of a man sounding like a woman soprano, one can realize the beauty of his voice and the refinement of his singing.  It is surprising his good pronunciation of the German language in Schubert's lied ( all his lieder are in German ),  without a trace of... SINGLISH!  😄

 

A second notable item in the video is the person of the teacher, conductor Benjamin Zander.  I had not known him before, and soon I became enchanted with his character, his teaching, his values. In these recordings he is also an octogenarian, so he fits well in this thread as an example of a senior.  So I searched more about him, and found many videos, interviews of him,  like the following:

 

 

This is a long interview where Zander exposes his ideas of music, specifically here Beethoven's 9th symphony.  I like very much his philosophy of life with music, and his approach of enabling POSSIBILITIES in all persons he encounters and teaches.  I find him to be an example of high morality.

 

Zander was born from a German Jewish family who had to escape the Nazi prior to the Holocaust. So I have something in common with him, ha ha,  that may explain some oddities.   I have a similar love for classical music,  but he is far, far ahead in his knowledge of it and his professionalism as an orchestra director.  There are on YouTube videos of his interpretation of Beethoven's 9th, at an unusual fast tempo and strong character,  that I don't completely like:

 

 

But we are all entitled to different likenesses...

[1983rophi]

On 2/16/2025 at 3:20 AM, Steve5380 said:

Searching YouTube for a performance of Schubert's Lied "An die Musik",  I found this one:

 

 

If you play it,  your first surprise will be to see a young guy singing like... a soprano!  YES!  This is not an oddity.  It is the voice of a " countertenor",  the highest register grown up men can sing.  It is a rarity, helped by a training of their falsetto voice.  This is a common register for young prepubescent boys before the voice breaks into a lower register.

 

Here the countertenor is Wei En Chan, from Singapore.  After the first surprise of a man sounding like a woman soprano, one can realize the beauty of his voice and the refinement of his singing.  It is surprising his good pronunciation of the German language in Schubert's lied ( all his lieder are in German ),  without a trace of... SINGLISH!  😄

 

A second notable item in the video is the person of the teacher, conductor Benjamin Zander.  I had not known him before, and soon I became enchanted with his character, his teaching, his values. In these recordings he is also an octogenarian, so he fits well in this thread as an example of a senior.  So I searched more about him, and found many videos, interviews of him,  like the following:

 

 

This is a long interview where Zander exposes his ideas of music, specifically here Beethoven's 9th symphony.  I like very much his philosophy of life with music, and his approach of enabling POSSIBILITIES in all persons he encounters and teaches.  I find him to be an example of high morality.

 

Zander was born from a German Jewish family who had to escape the Nazi prior to the Holocaust. So I have something in common with him, ha ha,  that may explain some oddities.   I have a similar love for classical music,  but he is far, far ahead in his knowledge of it and his professionalism as an orchestra director.  There are on YouTube videos of his interpretation of Beethoven's 9th, at an unusual fast tempo and strong character,  that I don't completely like:

 

 

But we are all entitled to different likenesses...

Hi. Thanks for the post. I am (one of the rare breed in Singapore) a Counter-Tenor. 

 

My Voice broked in 2000 but I forced myself to sing in Falsetto so from 2001 to 2024 my head/chest voice is the same as an Alto. 

[Steve5380]

2 hours ago, 1983rophi said:

Hi. Thanks for the post. I am (one of the rare breed in Singapore) a Counter-Tenor. 

 

My Voice broked in 2000 but I forced myself to sing in Falsetto so from 2001 to 2024 my head/chest voice is the same as an Alto. 

 

Great!  hopefully you also enjoy singing "An die Musik" in the scale of D major.  I am a common baritone, and I sing it in B flat major, a tenth lower.

[Steve5380]

Ahhh... MUSIC, WHAT A GIFT OF THE GODS!   This is a special gift for gays when they are seniors,  because it replaces some of sex in its emotional satisfaction.

 

Singapore produces some nice music at its Esplanade Concert Hall.  Here is a performance from 2019 of a premium gift by Beethoven:  his Choral Fantasy!  

 

 

Here the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Chorus and Youth Choir did a very good work.  The pianist, Tengku Irfan... from Malaysia... is excellent.  And the director, very charming, did some dancing at the end.  

 

Talking about pianists,  it turns out that Ukraine, apart from its brave president and defenders, has also produced excellent artists.  One of these is Vladimir Horowitz,  one of the best pianists of last century.  I found a video of his in a concert in 1968, which left me amazed: 

 

 

Folks,  piano playing does not get much better than this.  Especially his interpretations of Chopin, the Ballade, the Nocturne, the Polonaise!  

[singalion]

Just wonder whether we still need this thread if we have RFK Jr. as the Secretary of Health in the US?

 

LOL  🤣

Edited March 6, 2025 by singalion

[Steve5380]

16 hours ago, singalion said:

Just wonder whether we still need this thread if we have RFK Jr. as the Secretary of Health in the US?

 

LOL  🤣

 

Well... the fact that he has worms in his head may not preclude him from doing something positive.  Like ending the indecent exploitation of the public by the pharmaceutical and other industries.  But... since he has to kiss the behind of his boss... he probably will do something that increases their profits. 😄

[Steve5380]

Hi, gays who want to plan for a happy aging!

 

I have seen a video about exercising by an Asian trainer who impressed me.  That video was about building tendon strength. This one points to his channel, where many titles can be found:

 

 

So, being Asian he can be trusted, no?  😄  I have not discovered from where he is, and I like his accent.  I think it has a little ring of siglish, no? 

 

These days I am interested in strengthening my tendons, in preparation for old age.  So I do plenty of isometric exercises, partial contractions and slow eccentric high force movements.  Wish me luck!

.

Edited March 14, 2025 by Steve5380

[Steve5380]

Not again!  I found a good video to post here, for gays who will have a happy life into old age...

 

 

Another Asian trainer, this time a Japanese.  I think that his good figure is the upper limit of desirable musculature. More muscle and it looks overdone (for my taste at least, ha ha).

 

I will start doing this exercise he recommends, although I have good abs already.  He has other interesting videos on his channel, which can be reached by "Watch on YouTube".   There is an infinite variety of recommended exercises on YouTube, but the more we know about the better. Hopefully we find those that suit us the best!

.

Edited March 18, 2025 by Steve5380

[Steve5380]

In a concert hall in the center of Germany,  we hear the great music "Lied ohne Worte" ( song without words) by the Western composer Felix Mendelssohn,  played on a piano of Western design and construction,  played by... an Asian.  And the interpretation is excellent:

 

 

I remember long ago when it was common knowledge in Western centers that Western Classical Music was best understood by Westerners, while people of other ethnicities could never gain a full understanding of it.   BULLSHIT!  Even then I was familiar with so many excellent musicians of Eastern origin, and today we see a majority of first class world class pianists who are mostly Asians.  ( and many of these young Asian pianists are good looking, most probably "one-of-us", ha ha... )

 

Here South Korean pianist Jinhyung Park is demonstrating a perfect understanding of the "Western Classical Music".  Let's take out the "Western" and perhaps replace it with "Universal". Because today it belongs to ALL!  

 

Take notice, dear Asian gays,  because you too should be attracted to and cultivate classical music, more than... some lame "pop". 

. 

Edited March 19, 2025 by Steve5380

[Steve5380]

Last night after returning from my Aikido class, I found this video on YouTube:

 

 

Another worthwhile video by this amazing Japanese Aikido Shihan Ryuji Shirakawa.  Since I practice this martial art, you may think that it is something for older men passed their prime who need to feel still relevant and gain a false idea that they can still defend themselves.  Think again. 

 

Watch the first time of the video where Ryuji teaches a group of...  children!  And observe how serious, interested and happy they look.  Then continue with the session for adults.  Adults of ALL ages.

 

Observe how after warmup these people are being thrown around like sacks of potatoes!  It is a large group, that includes some seniors throwing and being thrown around.  Interestingly...  the harder they are "mishandled", the more they smile.  Yet... it is doubtful that ANY of them suffered any injury from this entertainment.   Similarly, last night in my "Demo" class I also threw and was thrown around, and it was all FUN.  

 

Ryuji looks like a slim twink who anyone can intimidate.  Imagine if some big guy tries to bully him!  He would end up beaten up.  Ryuji is incredibly strong for his built,  but it is mostly his incredible TECHNIQUE.   Watch the following video where he explains some of his technique:

 

 

He smartly explains how Aikido ( and other martial arts ) exploit the vulnerability of our joints,  especially our wrist.  When our wrist is subjected to specific moves, which are called  ikkyo, nikyo, sankyo, yonkyo, gokyu, the induced pain can be so strong that the strongest guy will fall on the floor,  and then there are specific "pins" that keep him there😄    In these practices there is little violence, it's all done in a spirit of comradery.  There are neither winners nor losers in the practice of Aikido.  But in a real world confrontation there is determination. Not necessarily anger but firmness. It's amazing how having this skill takes away aggressiveness. It is a slow learning, but the process over many years is joyful.  

 

I suggest my fellow gays, especially those who feel more vulnerable, to give this martial art a try.  No one is rejected for being too weak and vulnerable,  and I have never seen any homophobia in Aikido groups.  Teaching is kind and non-violent. And all Aikido groups I know also become social groups.  It's a win-win.  

 

[Steve5380]

Today at lunch I watched a video that I find of value:  everything about PROTEIN.  It is an interview of a famous researcher expert in the field,  Dr. Donald Layman, PhD.  He has excellent credentials, and the fact that he is a PhD and not a MD adds credibility to his ideas.  I don't agree with everything he says, ( but then there is nobody I agree 100% with what he or she says, ha ha...  😄)

 

 

It is a long video, but worth watching.  DON'T think that protein is a subject of little interest:  it is FUNDAMENTAL for our health and well being, especially for seniors.  And I would add, for my dear gays who are not youngsters anymore but face a future of becoming older, middle-aged, "uncles", "grandpas" and beyond, and want to still maintain a happy life. 

[Steve5380]

Dear gays,  I found another video by this perennial health guru Eric Berg where he promotes my long-time favorite expert Dr. William Davis,  the promoter of one miraculous bacterium Lactobacillus Reuteri:

 

 

Here you can hear Dr. Davis describing how he got onto his finding, and the very importance of it.  I, the persistent octogenarian, have been benefiting from this finding for 1 1/2 years, eating this bacteria daily.  In further posts I will give more details about all this, as I find more time to post.

[Steve5380]

I love much of the music from Wagner, it fills me with nostalgia and raises much emotion in my heart.  And so I find quite interesting a group "The Ponte Singers" composed mostly of Asians that aim to bring the Western music to the East.  

 

 

Scanning this video, I have not seen a single Ang Moh, ha ha.  Yet these nice "pilgrims" do a good job in this music that is hard to imagine being more Western.  This is proof of the UNIVERSALITY of the human mind.   And it explains how I can so calmly interact as a solitary Ang Moh with so many Singaporeans,  LOL!   

[Steve5380]

Ahh.. more of Richard Wagner... and more of Tannhauser!  The "Grand March".   The greatness of this music can give one gooze-bumps!  And ln most of Wagner's work,  the geniality of his music thrives in his themes that can be seen as completely ridiculous.   Ridicule that can be found in the following video:

 

 

We can enjoy the music without minding how ridiculous some scenes are.  After all, scenery designers have to make a living too.  OR... we can get immersed in the theatrics and enjoy the scenes too.  Theater is an acquired likeness, ha ha. 

 

I'm sure that underneath these ancient traditional white bed sheets these singers display on stage,  they all wear their favorite modern underwear, Calvin Klein  and whatever the favorite pants and bras women like to wear today.  

.

Edited April 12, 2025 by Steve5380

[Steve5380]

Dear gays who will be seniors one day, I am a kind, loving guy,  but this HAS MADE MY BLOOD BOIL! In my fury I should be getting MAD WITH REVENGE!   All such change comes from watching this video:

 

 

Not only are Asians trying to rob the rest of humanity of their technology, wealth, military power and... good looks,  but now they are starting to excel in their culture!   I am seeing my beloved German musical culture, like Beethoven, Wagner, etc. etc. being adopted by Asians like it is their own, with their excellent pianists winning all the competitions with cute twinks who look gay!   But here in this video they have the audacity to break into the sacred music of TANGO,  which should be the exclusivity of people from Buenos Aires,  like Carlos Gardel and this your loving octogenarian !!!   To reach such seniority after a long life... to see this !!!  and still be so happy to take it with fun and enjoy it !!!

 

I find that these Asian musicians are doing an excellent job.  It sounds like ( nearly... ) authentic TANGO.   

 

[Steve5380]

In the last minutes I have been watching on YouTube the ceremonies of Eastern at the Vatican.   I am very familiar with the Catholic rituals since I have been a Catholic since the time I was a baby.  And aware of them for over 75 years!

 

What a PITY!  Although I empathize with the solemnity of these ceremonies,  I cannot avoid the idea that there may not be anyone, anything on the receiving end of it.   Now with the James Webb Space telescope humanity can see outwards to nearly the farthest corner of the Universe,  but there is no trace of a Heaven, a God riding on a cloud or sitting on a throne, surrounded by angels singing.  And even if this is at the edge of the Universe,  our prayers would take hundreds of years to reach it,  and another hundreds of years to get a response back.   By then,  we would all be buried already!

 

But what happens at the Vatican today is infinitely better than what happens in Russia and Ukraine,  and at the White House in Washington DC.   So... one cannot be too demanding.

 

 

[Why?]

4 hours ago, Steve5380 said:

  I am very familiar with the Catholic rituals since I have been a Catholic since the time I was a baby.  And aware of them for over 75 years!  What a PITY!    Now with the James Webb Space telescope humanity can see outwards to nearly the farthest corner of the Universe,  but there is no trace of a Heaven

 

 

It is a PITY  you wasted 75 years looking outwards, to the farthest corner of the universe, for Heaven.  Have you ever thought of looking inward instead?  Maybe that's where heaven has always been and the easiest to find.  

[Steve5380]

REST IN PEACE,  dear Jorge Bergoglio.  There has never been a Pope like you. Let's hope that you have established a precedent,  and future heads of the Catholic Church will follow your example. 

 

If one Pope deserves to become a Saint,  this is Pope Francis.  He is surely in a better place now.

 

The World, which made a turn for the worst on January 20, has now lost again! 

.

.

Edited April 21, 2025 by Steve5380

[Steve5380]

Excess body fat is not good, especially as we age and a bulging waist and spider legs conspire against our equilibrium 😄  ( but we gays don't let this happen and we remain slim and handsome... ).  Does this mean that we should avoid ingesting fats?  Not necessarily.  It seems that fats are healthy!

 

There is an online "guru" I watch sometimes and find him reasonable.  His videos are like lectures, with written material and even drawings.  He is Dr. Sten Ekberg, a doctor, not a medical one but a chiropractor and former Olympian. This does not matter, since most medical doctors are not experts in nutrition but in prescription drugs.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CLkAyWS3ew&t=776s

 

Look up this video on YouTube ( it does not "embed" ) and learn a lot of interesting things about fats,  how they can preserve and improve our health.  It seems that "saturated" fats have been unjustly demonized for too long.  This is good news, since these fats are yummy in meats, cream, butter, etc. and they can contribute to our nutrition better than carbs.

 

And it seems that Dr. Ekberg is a responsible person since he also published a video about signs of excessive fat consumption.  Like everything else, too little and too much are both bad 😲

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG6XaCi51Ec&t=616s

.

.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 25, 2025 by Steve5380

[Steve5380]

Today I watched the presentation in Rome of the next Pope in the person of Cardenal Robert Prevost, now Leo XIV.   He came to the balcony at the Vatican and did his first address to the world.  

 

My first impression of him is favorable.  Born in America, he is the first Pope from the US,  which should not be relevant. I find that he has a kind face, and an intelligent expression.  Time will tell if he passes my litmus test:  tolerance, acceptance of LGBTs !!!

 

You can watch the following video, among others, if you are interested:

 

 

I could easily follow his talk in Italian, which is very close to Spanish, my country's language.  But I did it with a heavy heart.  Although I find that the Vatican ceremonies are harmless and mostly void of hypocrisy,  I cannot but think of the very real probability that the whole doctrine of the Church is a fantasy, with nothing REAL in its definition of the Supernatural.  With this I don't mean that the Supernatural does not exist, instead I think that its knowledge is out of our reach in life, therefore being left to speculation.  Can this new Leo XIV be any closer to a Divinity than you and I ??  But the Church has come a long way since it's abuses and criminality centuries ago,  and at least this is positive.

 

Could the modest sage, the son of a carpenter 2000 years ago, have envisioned today's Catholic Church with its alleged 1.2 million members and its wealth?   Where does this pomp more fitted to the throne of an emperor leave Jesus's story that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter Heaven?  Well... this has been taken care by the rule where Catholic priests make a wow of poverty, so that these Cardinals are really poor under their flashy gowns.  This is not the case with the protestant televangelists, whose wealth runs in the millions.  I have one of these across the freeway from my home, Joel Osteen from Lakewood Church.  I don't care if he goes to hell, ha ha.  I have more sympathy for the Catholics, and I myself even without a wow of poverty, I have acquired an addiction to frugality, so... maybe I'm safe?   

.

 

 

Edited May 9, 2025 by Steve5380

[Steve5380]

For us gays who become seniors,  it is best to take the Papacy with... some humor, like watching this:

 

 

As seniors we can afford to make fun of the Pope.  Because we know that in a few years,  instead of needing this intermediary "God's Representative on Earth",  we may have a more direct buddying with God himself.  

 

Or we will reincarnate in a different life,  with different Gods and doctrines. 

[Steve5380]

Dear gays,  don't miss out on taking seriously the following video, especially if you are still some decades away from being a senior and have the time to apply what it teaches:

 

 

How do I know that what they say is true?  Simple,  because it is working on me.  I have been doing an intermittent fasting of about 16 hours for several years,  and I am avoiding many problems that I should have at my age. My joints are in good shape without arthritis, and this can be consequence of absence of inflammation and autophagy that cleans my body every night.  For example, if Dr. Ohsumi received a Nobel price for having discovered autophagy,  there is very little chance that this is the bullshit of a quack.  

 

Don't get discouraged by any difficulty of giving up snacking.  Once you form the habit, any desire of snacking disappears.  And don't think of fasting as a way to lose weight.  Instead, it is a way to reach OPTIMUM weight for one's body.  I don't think there are any doctors that are more trustworthy than these ones,  if...  if you trust doctors, ha ha.  Some we can, some we SHOULD, and with most we should further research what they say.

[singalion]

On 4/21/2025 at 9:38 PM, Steve5380 said:

REST IN PEACE,  dear Jorge Bergoglio.  There has never been a Pope like you. Let's hope that you have established a precedent,  and future heads of the Catholic Church will follow your example. 

 

If one Pope deserves to become a Saint,  this is Pope Francis.  He is surely in a better place now.

 

The World, which made a turn for the worst on January 20, has now lost again! 

.

.

 

I guess JD Vance's visit was just too much to take for him... 😂

 

negative point: he didn't really initiate a true transparency on the abuse in various churches in most countries but contributed to a cover up also.

 

 

[singalion]

On 5/9/2025 at 3:32 AM, Steve5380 said:

Today I watched the presentation in Rome of the next Pope in the person of Cardenal Robert Prevost, now Leo XIV.   He came to the balcony at the Vatican and did his first address to the world.  

 

My first impression of him is favorable.  Born in America, he is the first Pope from the US,  which should not be relevant. I find that he has a kind face, and an intelligent expression.  Time will tell if he passes my litmus test:  tolerance, acceptance of LGBTs !!!

 

You can watch the following video, among others, if you are interested:

 

 

I could easily follow his talk in Italian, which is very close to Spanish, my country's language.  But I did it with a heavy heart.  Although I find that the Vatican ceremonies are harmless and mostly void of hypocrisy,  I cannot but think of the very real probability that the whole doctrine of the Church is a fantasy, with nothing REAL in its definition of the Supernatural.  With this I don't mean that the Supernatural does not exist, instead I think that its knowledge is out of our reach in life, therefore being left to speculation.  Can this new Leo XIV be any closer to a Divinity than you and I ??  But the Church has come a long way since it's abuses and criminality centuries ago,  and at least this is positive.

 

Could the modest sage, the son of a carpenter 2000 years ago, have envisioned today's Catholic Church with its alleged 1.2 million members and its wealth?   Where does this pomp more fitted to the throne of an emperor leave Jesus's story that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter Heaven?  Well... this has been taken care by the rule where Catholic priests make a wow of poverty, so that these Cardinals are really poor under their flashy gowns.  This is not the case with the protestant televangelists, whose wealth runs in the millions.  I have one of these across the freeway from my home, Joel Osteen from Lakewood Church.  I don't care if he goes to hell, ha ha.  I have more sympathy for the Catholics, and I myself even without a wow of poverty, I have acquired an addiction to frugality, so... maybe I'm safe?   

.

 

 

 

You might be disappointed as his stance on homosexuality seems from medieval.

 

Google for it.

[Steve5380]

15 hours ago, singalion said:

 

You might be disappointed as his stance on homosexuality seems from medieval.

 

Google for it.

 

It is still early to know the position of Pius XIV in regard to homosexuality.  But he surely is far from its condemnation in medieval times.

[Steve5380]

I just watched the following recent video by my esteemed Dr. William Davis,  and I immediately contacted my long time gay friend Rick, who is suffering from the serious complications of fatty liver, and now having to be on oxygen most of the time.  He has his good doctors, who have been treating him and his worsening condition for several (many) years.  Hopefully he has an open mind and will try this unexpected advice.  He knows and trusts me.  What does he have to lose by doing so? nothing.  What could he gain?  LIFE!

 

 

If you like to watch these videos in a separate YouTube page,  look at the over 700 comments of this 7 day old video. They are mostly positive and thankful.  A clue that Dr. Davis can be trusted. 

[Steve5380]

When we become seniors,  some sources of enjoyment come out from the background to contribute to our happiness.  One of these is good music.  There is so much of it available today!  And it is practically free. From the obscurities of YouTube I fished out this video of a performance of one of my favorite music of Schumann,  his Widmung ( dedication ) he composed for his wife Clara.  I prefer this original song over its flashy adaptation made by Liszt for the piano.  

 

 

What I like of this performance is that the musicians are Japanese, possibly professionals, who play the music just like it should be done.  Germans don't do it any better.  I am impressed by the correct pronunciation of German by the singer, and I am pleased to have the text of the song to read together with the music.   When I hear it...  I cannot repress tears!  For me, this song is a perfect DEDICATION to my late boyfriend M.   Its words reflect perfectly what I felt for him... and still feel.  Over the years, the loss from his passing is being transformed into gratefulness for the gift of having  him in my life for two decades. 

.

Edited May 16, 2025 by Steve5380

[Steve5380]

Let's be fair, gays.  Asian musicians are great, but not necessarily better than Western ones.  Here is a "creme de la creme" version of the first song in Schubert's Winterreise,  a monumental work of art.  Notice here the piano, although an "accompaniment to the singer",  is like in other Schubert Lieder a principal source of MUSIC,  that is the harmony and rhythm that is so outstanding,  with extraordinary modulations and chord progressions: 

 

 

Edited May 23, 2025 by Steve5380

[Steve5380]

I found another good video by Dr. Sten Ekberg.  Not unique, but good: "Your legs WEAKEN first! Eat these 10 foods to...".   I realize that WE GAYS don't let our legs weaken too much because... because strong legs makes us more attractive, ha ha.  YES, even as seniors, strong legs and buns separate us from the rest of seniors! , and there is always this functionality and health advantage.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6-IUD6QPyI

 

Copy this link into a browser window and listen to this man, who seems to know what he talks about.

[Steve5380]

Probably not many of you live in the United States.  But if you do,  be weary of what you have been and now do put in your mouth.  Within the disaster of the fascist, criminal government we have now,  there seems to have emerged a light of hope.  In no one else but the Secretary of Health,  Robert F. Kennedy  ( the one with worms in his brain ).  See in this video the LONG TIME OVERDUE health measures he is now taking!   Amazing!  

 

 

Not many people like myself and a few other health-conscious individuals have been caring for their METABOLIC HEALTH,  rejecting over 99% of the stuff one finds in our grocery stores.  That's why we are still alive  .  And YOU SHOULD FOLLOW this example, if you live in the US... and elsewhere.   

[Steve5380]

I apologize for bringing again a music that is so emotional to me,  another version that I find to be among the best I have heard.  I wish that my voice would allow me to sing high enough for this key of A flat major,  but am a baritone.

 

 

This is again an ASIAN singer that performs perfectly a WESTERN song.  Again with good pronunciation!  And here is another good performance: 

 

 

Tenor Hyunhan Hwang is from S. Korean,  one more of excellent musicians from this country!  He has many videos on his YouTube site H CLASSIC.

Edited May 24, 2025 by Steve5380

[Steve5380]

I did run into a video about the new head of the Catholic church,  Pius XIV:  (  Senior gays... listen up! )

 

 

I was so curious!  ONE SIN that God ( the infinitely compassionate one ) does not forgive!   I started listening, but it seemed that to gain this knowledge I had to go through the half hour of this video.  SO... I consulted Google.  And here is what I got:

 

In Christianity, the only sin that God is said not to forgive is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. This refers to the deliberate and persistent rejection of God's truth and grace, particularly concerning Jesus Christ. It's not about a single word or action, but a hardened heart that refuses to repent and believe. 

 

Amazing!  I have been committing this sin all my life!  I have never believed in the Holy Spirit.  And in this, I am joined by 75% of humanity!  How did I come with this number?  Here it is:  of the 2.6 billion Christians, let's say that 2 billion honestly and sincerely believe in the Holy Spirit.  This is... 25% of the 8 billion humans.  This leaves 75%, including me, who don't believe !!!!

 

NOW I UNDERSTAND.  This sin is not the unforgiving one of a questionable god.  it is the one eternally UNFORGIVEN... by the Christian churches,  especially the Catholic one!   Because it makes them superfluous.  We don't need organized religions to be good people and do some good in society.  

 

To refuse to repent and believe... is not a consequence of a "hardened heart".  Instead, it comes from a perfectly honest reasoning that accepts the ignorance about any supernatural, leading to agnosticism or atheism.  To call this "the one sin God does not forgive" takes away any reality of a religious "sin".  

 

NOTE:  I am starting to realize the big loss of Pope Francis' passing.  It seems that Pius XIV is not up to his stature.

[Steve5380]

The change in leader of the Catholic church is having unpredicted consequences, and one is the resurgence of division:

 

 

The God of Israel came about with the writing of the Genesis,  around 1,500 years BCE.   Religious scholars attribute the creation of Adam and Eve in it to about 6,000 years BCE.  Science confirms that modern humans came along 300,000 years ago with earlier versions some millions of years before. 

 

So...   SURELY very good families existed long before Adam and Eve.  And they were unions of loving parents with children, who knew nothing about a Christian god.  And the reason we exist is nature making two versions of living animals like us,  male and female, which procreate driven by the instinct of sex.  No need for any church-blessed "marriages".  

 

But organized religions like the one of Pius XIV like to take possession of natural human activities and... make them their own...  to gain power over humanity.  Fortunately, the formality of marriage is becoming a secular regulation of a society, a government, who should be independent of any religious "sin".  Today we see that this works well:  only legal (no religious) preconditions to marry,  the ability to dissolve the marriage (divorce), and increasingly the deletion of gender in the condition of marriage. Same-sex marriages have not interfered with the traditional ones.  And much good is coming along with them.   

 

BTW... which are these 13 words "that define everything"??  Why don't we see them spoken in the video??

[Sweetie Pie]

10 hours ago, Steve5380 said:

 

In Christianity, the only sin that God is said not to forgive is  the deliberate and persistent rejection of God's truth and grace, particularly concerning Jesus Christ. 

 

Yes! Yes!!! Yes!!!!!! That is essentially what the entire Bible said directly, indirectly, in-between-lines, through hidden messages, parables, spirit-filled songs, psalms....etc   Compared to the more intricate legalistic beliefs of other religions, this one is simpler and easier to follow. 

7 hours ago, Steve5380 said:

 the formality of marriage is becoming a secular regulation of a society, a government, who should be independent of any religious "sin".  Today we see that this works well:  only legal (no religious) preconditions to marry,  

 

You never took your marriage vow in Church?  WOW!!!!

[Steve5380]

1 hour ago, Sweetie Pie said:

 

Yes! Yes!!! Yes!!!!!! That is essentially what the entire Bible said directly, indirectly, in-between-lines, through hidden messages, parables, spirit-filled songs, psalms....etc   Compared to the more intricate legalistic beliefs of other religions, this one is simpler and easier to follow. 

 

 

If this is "essentially what the Bible says",  then why is this book so thick?   And if this is the most important stuff, then WHY are gays rejected even if they worship God and Jesus Christ? 

 

1 hour ago, Sweetie Pie said:

 

You never took your marriage vow in Church?  WOW!!!!

 

 

It would have been hypocrisy on my part if I had taken my wows to a religious organization.  I made my wows in front of a judge, who came to my home to officiate the marriage.

[Sweetie Pie]

11 hours ago, Steve5380 said:

 

If this is "essentially what the Bible says",  then why is this book so thick?  

If the Bible is not thick, you won't value the hidden gem once you found it. 

11 hours ago, Steve5380 said:

WHY are gays rejected even if they worship God and Jesus Christ? 

 

Similarly, such pain was strongly felt by THE ONE.  who was not only being rejected, by mankind,  but also crucified  for worshipping God.  As such, I don't feel lonely at all.  In fact, I feel accepted by Jesus more than anyone else who rejected me.   It is a pity you chose to stay out of the club. 

Edited May 29, 2025 by Sweetie Pie

[Steve5380]

9 hours ago, Sweetie Pie said:

 

If the Bible is not thick, you won't value the hidden gem once you found it. 

 

Similarly, such pain was strongly felt by THE ONE.  who was not only being rejected, by mankind,  but also crucified  for worshipping God.  As such, I don't feel lonely at all.  In fact, I feel accepted by Jesus more than anyone else who rejected me.   It is a pity you chose to stay out of the club. 

 

 

So gems are more valued when they are hidden than when they are in the open?

 

THE ONE was not being rejected by mankind, but he was surrounded by people who listened and gave importance to him. And because of this, he became a threat to the professionals of religion of his time, who insisted that the authorities have him crucified.  Hopefully you have many other reasons not to feel lonely.

 

And me???  I was never out of a club.  Since being baptized as a baby 82 years ago, I belong to the "club".  And as a member, I highly value the moral values preached by the founder, Jesus Christ.   What I don't value is how these preaching and Jesus' life were manipulated and distorted to add power to the "club",  for example at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD,  where the religious politicians chose the Gospels that would give them the most power, created the "Holy Trinity" by making Christ a god and adding the Holy Spirit as the third god.  I have not abandoned any "club" but I have expanded the topic with my own honest evaluations and speculations.

[Sweetie Pie]

13 hours ago, Steve5380 said:

 

at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD,  where the religious politicians chose the Gospels that would give them the most power, created the "Holy Trinity" by making Christ a god and adding the Holy Spirit as the third god.

In nature, trinity is abundant. Leaf, blossom, and fruit co-exist on the same branch. They collaborate as a team.  Stop worrying and start believing.  The fruit is fresh for taking and trust that it is sweet (Psalm 34:8??).   Enjoy!

[Steve5380]

59 minutes ago, Sweetie Pie said:

In nature, trinity is abundant. Leaf, blossom, and fruit co-exist on the same branch. They collaborate as a team.  Stop worrying and start believing.  The fruit is fresh for taking and trust that it is sweet (Psalm 34:8??).   Enjoy!

 

You forgot an important trinity:  A THREESOM!  Threesomes can be delicious, especially for a DUO in open partnership.  But we have to recognize that in sex, in relationships, the COUPLE is the most natural and healthy combination.

 

We could discuss that the Holy Trinity does not have much of nature.  Most probably it is a human invention.  But what is not clear is the NEED for THREE GODS !!!   One single God with unlimited power can do the same as three gods,  And it takes up less space,  less "doctrine", less need that they also work well together and... have to be worshipped.

 

And there is one more, very important consideration. Throughout the 1500 years of the Jewish religion there was only a SINGLE "God of Israel".  Not one word about other Jewish gods. And... isn't this the monotheism that so proudly distinguished it from other polytheistic religions at the time?  Only with Catholicism was the number of gods incremented to two by adding Jesus Christ, and finally to three with the invention of the Holy Spirit.   

 

If you are intelligent and free to reason,  the above details can be important elements to, in all honesty and goodness, start questioning... or continue questioning the REALITY of the doctrines of organized Christianity,  and then by extension,  the REALITY of the claims of all other organized religions.  And then, confronted also with the REALITY that none of these doctrines have any solid evidence of their reality, and recognizing that there is a UNIVERSAL ignorance of our species and by extension all other living creatures of ANY "supernatural",  ( which BTW if known it would then automatically become part of the natural), you receive the blessing of PEACE.  You then recognize that we humans are limited in our knowledge,  and you accept this ignorance with joy and happiness, mixed with some curiosity to perhaps know a little more in the afterlife.  Be blessed, my friend,  with this peace,  and join us who therefore have one less thing to worry about!    

[Sweetie Pie]

11 hours ago, Steve5380 said:

 

You forgot an important trinity:  A THREESOM!  Threesomes can be delicious,  Only with Catholicism was the number of gods incremented to two by adding Jesus Christ, and finally to three with the invention of the Holy Spirit.   

 

Drink my 3-in-1 instant coffee before I respond.  So delicious!  Let's begin.

You simplified Catholicism too much.  Don't pretend you didn't know, as catholics, they worshipped dozens saints, enough to form a mass riot, before even talking about the wonders of trinity.

11 hours ago, Steve5380 said:

If you are intelligent and free to reason,  the above details can be important elements to, in all honesty and goodness, start questioning... or continue questioning the REALITY  that there is a UNIVERSAL ignorance of our species and by extension all other living creatures of ANY "supernatural",  You then recognize that we humans are limited in our knowledge,  and you accept this ignorance with joy and happiness, mixed with some curiosity to perhaps know a little more in the afterlife.  Be blessed, my friend,  with this peace,  and join us who therefore have one less thing to worry about!    

When you have one less thing to worry about, you have more room to worry about something else to make up for it (thus the formations of councils, rituals, the Golden Calf of modern times ..etc)  Humans are inherently unhappy, insufficient, and inefficient, which causes them to become agitated and begin questioning and reasoning all the time (to outsmart God?).  That's not intelligent at all.   God prohibited you from eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil because of this.

 

For me, ignorance is bliss because it allows me to rest on the Tree of Life, where His burden is light and His yoke is easy.  If you had to pick between the two routes to salvation, would you not choose the latter?  I'm positive I would.  Take it easy, and peace will find you—not through your own efforts, but through His (Ephesians 2:8-9??). 

 

 

Edited May 31, 2025 by Sweetie Pie

[Steve5380]

1 hour ago, Sweetie Pie said:

 

Drink my 3-in-1 instant coffee before I respond.  So delicious!  Let's begin.

 

 

You made me curious.  What is a 3-in-1 instant coffee?  If it is as I suspect a mixture of coffee, milk and sugar,...  it is not very healthy.  Try to drink black coffee,  if possible decaffeinated.

 

1 hour ago, Sweetie Pie said:

 

When you have one less thing to worry about, you have more room to worry about something else to make up for it (thus the formations of councils, rituals, the Golden Calf of modern times ..etc)  Humans are inherently unhappy, insufficient, and inefficient, which causes them to become agitated and begin questioning and reasoning all the time (to outsmart God?).  That's not intelligent at all.   God prohibited you from eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil because of this.

 

 

There is much unhappiness, but I question if this is inherent. What all living creatures do, we inherently suffer.  But this does not prevent us from being mostly happy.  And to "outsmart God" only goes for those who believe in God.  Otherwise, why would you try to outsmart something that has very little probability to exist?

 

1 hour ago, Sweetie Pie said:

 

For me, ignorance is bliss because it allows me to rest on the Tree of Life, where His burden is light and His yoke is easy.  If you had to pick between the two routes to salvation, would you not choose the latter?  I'm positive I would.  Take it easy, and peace will find you—not through your own efforts, but through His (Ephesians 2:8-9??). 

 

 

Strange.  I cannot imagine resting ON a Tree!  Should it not be UNDER a Tree?  Being a city guy,  I rest in bed at night.

 

Before answering which route I would take to salvation,  I would have to define "salvation".  Salvation from what?  I feel quite safe at home, not in need to be saved. "Salvation from sin"?  This is nonsense.  The "Original Sin" is another invention by the organized religion to make us feel that we need "salvation".   And thank you,  same to you,  peace has found me already, through I-don't-know-how...  but I suspect that it comes with being a Senior in good health and functionality.

.

Edited May 31, 2025 by Steve5380

[Sweetie Pie]

5 hours ago, Steve5380 said:

Strange.  I cannot imagine resting ON a Tree!  Should it not be UNDER a Tree? 

 

Nothing strange. It suggests that I am a little elevated, which gives me a better perspective on matters we've just discussed. 

5 hours ago, Steve5380 said:

 I would have to define "salvation".  Salvation from what?  I feel quite safe at home.

.

Did you sleep with your main door open during the night? You said your home is a safe place.  We also know that you were insecure since you kept a pistol by your bed.  Furthermore, you continued to worry about being sick and star controlling your diets.  To you, how does that constitute a "Salvation"?

 

[Steve5380]

3 hours ago, Sweetie Pie said:

Nothing strange. It suggests that I am a little elevated, which gives me a better perspective on matters we've just discussed. 

Did you sleep with your main door open during the night? You said your home is a safe place.  We also know that you were insecure since you kept a pistol by your bed.  Furthermore, you continued to worry about being sick and star controlling your diets.  To you, how does that constitute a "Salvation"?

 

 

You are a little elevated, does this mean that you live in a high rise?  I'm not sure there are hills in Singapore...

 

I don't sleep with my front door open,  I don't keep a pistol by my bed.  Many decades ago one came to my possession and it is now in my attic.  And WE ALL should worry about our health and control our diet.

 

And since I don't believe in "sin",  I am in no need of any "Salvation" from some divinity.  We will all reach a kind of salvation from the troubles of this life when we pass on.  The existence of a "hell" makes little sense. 

[Steve5380]

Today I happened to hear again on YouTube this recording:

 

 

My eyes immediately filled with tears, and my memory flew back 73 years to when I first heard this played on my 78rpm turntable. I can still see the large disk turning rapidly, with the arm with the stylus dancing up and down ( my turntable was one the cheapest ).  And then there was this sound...  incredible!  Never since then have I heard a better violin sound or a better performance of this music!

 

That 78rpm disk recently released at the time was a birthday present to a little boy who was taking violin playing lessons,  and this caused Heifetz to become my childhood hero.  He is still my hero today.  This disk came together with a second one,  the Romance No. 1:

 

 

Back then it never crossed my mind that I would be listening to exactly the same music as an octogenarian.  And feel exactly the same.  Dear gays,  believe me when I write that old age can be a blessing, full of happiness.   It may be inevitable, but look forward to it.

[Steve5380]

On 5/13/2025 at 4:02 PM, Steve5380 said:

 

It is still early to know the position of Pius XIV in regard to homosexuality.  But he surely is far from its condemnation in medieval times.

 

I might have been wrong here.  It looks like Pius XIV has some attraction to the rules in medieval times, including condemnation of homosexuality.  Fortunately,  I am already too old to be burned alive in my town's square for being gay.

[Steve5380]

Please dear gays,  don't think or Aikido as full of dangerous techniques.  It is not.  Even watching the following video:

 

 

where Shirakawa sensei does some weird techniques with the other three individuals, ( looks interesting, doesn't it? ), I would never attempt much of these  ( with my 82 year old bones... ),  but in traditional Aikido it does not go much  beyond the Koshinage ( hip throw ),  like you see in this video and it is a lot of fun: