Rod Hagen

There was a very good interview with Stephen Fry in the Sunday NYTimes magazine, you should read the whole thing: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/05/03/magazine/stephen-fry-interview.html?referringSource=articleShare Long ago, I (Rod Hagen) made myself available to Vidal twice, and both times he wasn't interested. My loss. Anyway, here's the relevant bit: Can you remember a good Gore Vidal story? The best Gore Vidal story I have you’ll probably find unprintable, but it amuses me. I was visiting him in America at one point, and he was coming to England. He said, “I’m debating whether to stay at Claridge’s or the Savoy,” and I said, “The Savoy’s a bit down-at-heel at the moment.” He said: “Yes, I’d heard that. I think I will make it Claridge’s. I am fond of the Savoy, however, for a very particular reason — it’s a literary reason.” So I said: “Oh, is that because of Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald staying there in the good old days? Or because Oscar Wilde was there in the 1890s?” He said: “No, no. It’s far more literary than that.” He said: “I was there, oh, some years ago now, and I picked up the Yellow Pages and let my fingers do the walking, as the advertisement said, and found an agency. I thought, Oh, hello, here we go, and the agency duly were obliging and sent a young man to see me in the suite. We had agreed on a sum on the telephone, and we got down to it. At one point, he said, ‘I don’t do that.’ And I said: ‘Don’t be absurd. Of course you do.’ So all went perfectly well, and then I gave him his 30 pounds, and he said, ‘It’s got to be an extra 30.’ I said, ‘I agreed on a price with the agency, and I don’t propose to diverge from it now.’ And he started cutting up rough. He threw an ashtray at my head, which I had to duck to avoid, and so I pressed the bell, which was very handily placed in the wall above the head of the bed. In due course, a floor manager in a swallowtail coat and striped trousers appeared. I said: ‘Could you please remove this young man? He’s being a thoroughgoing nuisance.’ And the young man said, ‘He owes me an extra 30 quid.’ Then the floor manager said, ‘You come with me, young sir,’ and he got rid of the gentleman and I thought no more about it. But two days later I was checking out, and as I was paying the bill, I saw that at the foot of the column of figures it said, ‘Sundries: 30 pound.’ I thought the use of the word ‘sundries’ was inspired, and I have been fond of the Savoy ever since.”

Bill Maher two weeks ago: "I don't have to leave the theater whistling, but would it kill Hollywood to once in a while make a movie that doesn't make me want to take a bath with the toaster? We all had a rough year, a little escapism would have been appreciated."

Thank you for all the work and for taking care of us :-)

Pick erotic masseurs schooled in massage, you'll have better therapeutic results.

If it's present there's a pretty strong dose waiting in saliva unfortunately.

All massages are legitimate massages.

Waiting till I get both Vaccines. SOON!

Darn Darn Darn. I was excited before I clicked the link. I thought the original Brogan was back. Oh well. Happy Memories, those were the days. https://web.archive.org/web/20050824173913/http://www.male4malescorts.com/reviews/broganla.html

It's worth it, both cities are fantastic.

Where will be your first and second post-Pandemic destinations?

I've heard so many stories of the Falling Fire. I'm glad they quit doing it and I would have LOVED to have seen it live Epigonos, I am very glad you were able to see it and have all those wonderful childTime memories.

Excellent photo, looks like a very impressive painting.

Yes, they misrepresent themselves, and two minutes of research on the internet/tripadvisor would preemptively correct people's expectations of luxury. Again, if you stay there you are paying for those things I listed, you are not paying for luxury. It's a remarkable structure in a remarkable place. On the scales of places to experience in one's life $700/night at some completely inauthentic, frette-sheet-outfitted, kowtowing, Ritz Carlton will leave one much poorer for experience than $550 for a night at the Ahwahnee with their bad seasonal-staff service and cruise-ship inspired food as well as wow architecture, unparalleled surroundings, and historic prominence. Now do I stay there EVERY time or even most times I visit Yosemite. No. I'm not rich. But it is worth it at least once FOR THE EXPERIENCE And at least once nearly every time we go climbing/camping in Yosemite, we will either do a whore's wash at Camp 4 and dress up for dinner at the Ahwahnee (actually they have showers) or at least have breakfast there, which is also wonderful and less fancy.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I think the biggest reason people talk shit about the Ahwahnee is that they are approaching it as if it's a luxury hotel. It's not. Since day one presumably the rooms have been plain and the food hasn't been gourmet. The reason you eat at, stay at, or simply visit the Ahwahnee is for the experience, not luxury. And the experience is a historically significant architectural wonder in the middle of one of the most beautiful place God put on earth.

Great movie, excellent moment/scene.

Fenced in or on a chain?

Yes, I think many people pass on Alcatraz because it feels touristy. They shouldn't pass on Alcatraz for any reason.

Yes, and if you can, travel through the San Juan Islands to Victoria from Anacortes, WA. The San Juan Islands are amazing. Also, if you have time, visit Sooke Harbor just outside Victoria as well as the gardens of course. And if you have even more time Tofino, a few hours north west of Victoria, is gorgeous and very fun during storm season. If it's your cup of tea, have tea at the Empress in Victoria. One of the better Afternoon Teas I've experienced. (I know, so gay).

The overlook is wonderful. ADDITIONALLY, even though Beautiful places such as the Valley draw lots of admirers it doesn't justify trash talking the Valley as so many do. If you are looking for non-crummy (but not great) food revisit the Stunning dining room at the Ahwahnee (I presume you have). In addition to, not instead of, the Valley I recommend people visit Yosemite's Tuolumne meadows east of the Valley. I love rock climbing there and I love just being there.

Not as good as "Headless Body In Topless Bar" but nevertheless, excellent.

Are you kidding?

It's not underrated, but I'm put off by people who live in California for decades without visiting Yosemite or, and these people are much worse, don't want to return to Yosemite because of the crowds. Guess what? Beautiful places draw people.

Haven't been to Catalina in years. What restaurant(s) for dinner and what restaurant(s) for lunch do you recommend?

Favorites in descending order: 1. BookWorm (only good books) https://www.kcrw.com/culture/shows/bookworm 2. Bret Easton Ellis (Asshole. Love him) https://www.patreon.com/breteastonellispodcast 3. Sam Harris (Reputed Asshole, love him) https://samharris.org/podcast/ 4. Ask Any Buddy (Podcast about Classic Gay Porn) https://www.ask-any-buddy.com/podcast 5. My Dad Wrote A Porno (Just great) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-dad-wrote-a-porno/id1044196249 6. Marc Maron: (I am lukewarm on him, BUT he has great guests) http://www.wtfpod.com/ 7. Al Fanken https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-al-franken-podcast/id1462195742 8. The Reason Round Table (Reason Magazine) https://reason.com/podcasts/the-reason-roundtable/ 9. Longform (interviews with people who write longform Newspaper, Magazine, and online articles) https://longform.org/podcast 10. The Bugle (Funny British, Australian, America, and Canada guests and hosts roast that week's news) https://thebuglepodcast.com/ You're welcome. I don't actually listen that often, only when the subject or guest interests me OR when I haven't listened to a particular one for several months. Driving I prefer to listen to audio books, sometimes podcasts. I also listen to podcasts when I'm doing the uphill part of a Mountain Bike Ride. Swimming and walking I only listen to music.

If you are hoping to make new friends, I'd make adjustments to those two parts of your daily schedule. Yes Television is amazing right now, but it's also just TV. If 10 years from now you still hadn't seen one episode of Game Of Thrones, or whatever it is people are watching nightly, you will be no poorer. I don't really know what a Youtube Channel is, though I presume it's a collection of videos you narrate. However, that's making relationships at a distance with people you likely won't meet. Maybe by focusing on the things you enjoyed before Must See TV and your YouTube Channel became nightly routines it's possible you will make new friends to see offline when you have time and availability be that day or night. I may be wrong, but something to think about.