Showing Love + Shutting Down BS

A Pre-Valentine's Day Reminder + Cautionary Tale

Photo by Jill Wellington

I’m a fifty-something, single white male, and I still love celebrating Valentine’s Day. Like it’s 1999. Will you—and you and you too, boo—be one of my Valentines?

Virtual candy, cards, and flowers make polyamory so much more manageable. 😜

I know not everyone feels the same way about the Hallmark card of holidays. But I do hope a few more share and show their love(s) with me and the Substack crew.

If not, I’ll be forced to present my own dedications and tributes. Don’t think I won’t. 😍

SHOWING LOVE

If you have a short dedication you’d like to share in tomorrow’s newsletter, please send it my way. Thus far, I only have a few from subscribers. I’d love to have LOTS more. Care to share?

Help me pump up the volume on “the love that dare not speak its name.”

SHUTTING DOWN BS

Last night, I was reminded that some people value their opinions and points of view a little too much. A little too high on their own supply for my taste and temperament.

In my experience, 90% of people are lovely. 10% are like dicks like Richard:

While I appreciate those who support me and my work, I cannot and will not tolerate anyone—paid subscriber or not—who tries to control me or my work.

As for any inhibitions I may or may not have, Dick can kindly go fuck himself. I’m more man than he will ever be and more woman than he’ll ever get.

In case I’m not being clear, not today, tomorrow, or ever, Satan.

Let’s keep keeping it mighty real, y’all: Few here know the “real” me. You may infer a lot based on the men I find attractive, what videos I love to make, and what subjects I tend to write about. But only a few truly “know” me, so please keep any/all parasocial relationship tendencies firmly rooted in reality. For everyone’s mental health.

My job/vocation is to create and curate what catches my eye and imagination, without worrying about other people’s ‘pinions.

“If it is art, it is not for all, and if it is for all, it is not art.”
Arnold Schoenberg

Over the past year, I have made literally hundreds of videos. There’s little to no chance that anyone will like all of them. Oh. Well. Life goes on. Scroll on, armchair critics…and pseudo-therapists.

I do my thing and try to let others do theirs. Unless their “thing” involves being an asshat, cockwomble, and/or dickhead in my comments section. To those kinds of unkind folk, I would like to be very, very clear:

1. Clint is nice until he’s not.

2. Don’t start nothing, won’t be nothing.

3. I respond to bullies by serving them a dose of their own medicine and vitriol.

Laissez-faire is the best way to be in my book. And to those who can’t/don’t/won’t be fair, I’m more than happy to escort them to the exit.

“Don’t let the door hitcha where the good Lord splitcha!”
Or do. I don’t just don’t fucking care about ugh-ly people’s feelings.

For those new to Collide Press, here’s a friendly reminder about commenting on my Substack:

1. Be kind…or rewind (elsewhere).

2. Keep it above the belt.

3. Opinions and tastes are not facts.

4. Celebrate differences—don’t debate them.

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Odds are very good you’re amongst the 90%. Thank you.
If you’re here to be one of the 10%, you won’t be here for long.

I’m here and queer to focus on the good stuff, dear.
I’m also willing and able to defend myself and my Substack.
Please don’t take anyone’s kindness for weakness. It won’t end well.

Thanks for reading!
Clint 🌈✌️

ON THIS DAY = FEBRUARY 13

BIRTHDAYS

• 1891 = Grant Wood = American artist (American Gothic) 🌈

• 1919 = Tennessee Ernie Ford = American singer and actor

• 1923 = Chuck Yeager = American general and pilot

• 1930 = Ernst Fuchs = Austrian artist

• 1933 = Emanuel Ungaro = French fashion designer

• 1933 = Kim Novak = American actor

• 1934 = George Segal = American actor

• 1938 = Oliver Reed = English actor

• 1941 = Sigmar Polke = German painter and photographer

• 1944 = Jerry Springer = English-American tv host and politician

• 1944 = Stockard Channing = American actor

• 1945 = King Floyd = American singer-songwriter

• 1949 = Peter Kern = Austrian actor and filmmaker

• 1950 = Peter Gabriel = English singer-songwriter

• 1956 = Peter Hook = English singer-songwriter and producer

• 1957 = Denise Austin = American fitness trainer and author

• 1958 = Marc Emery = Canadian publisher and activist

• 1961 = Henry Rollins = American singer-songwriter and actor

• 1966 = Freedom Williams = American rapper and singer

• 1966 = Neal McDonough = American actor and producer

• 1974 = Robbie Williams = English singer-songwriter

• 1976 = Feist = Canadian singer-songwriter

• 1979 = Mena Suvari = American actor and fashion designer

EVENTS

• 1914 = The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is established to protect the copyrighted musical compositions of its members.

• 1953 = Christine Jorgensen returns to New York after receiving sex reassignment surgery in Denmark by Dr. Christian Hamburger.

• 1972 = Cabaret, based on Christopher Isherwood’s writings about pre-WWII Berlin, has its world premiere in New York City.

• 1996 = Rent premieres at New York Theatre Workshop.

HOLIDAYS + OBSERVANCES

• Black History Month

• LGBT History Month (UK)

• National Giving Hearts Day

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ART + QUOTE OF THE DAY

'“All the good ideas I ever had came to me while I was milking a cow.”
Grant Wood