Mark Simpson visits a Russian sauna or ‘banya’ in Tallinn, Estonia and gets an eye-wateringly good seeing to. (Out magazine, Feb 2007) “You like to get beat again?” asks the gruff, naked former Red Army soldier. “I do very gently this time.” Sweating profusely, I turn my back to him and he begins… Read More »Whip Me With An Xmas tree – An Invigorating Visit to the Banya
by Mark Simpson (Guardian Unlimited, April 8, 2007) It’s over. ‘Britain’ and ‘Britishness’ are politically moribund terms. The proof? Scottish-flavoured New Labour’s recent laughable attempts to resurrect “Britishness” as an “inclusive” post-Imperial identity. Not so much because they flopped as the fact that Britannia was now such an empty vessel… Read More »The Union is Over Already – But ‘Britain’ is Still Keeping England Down
By Mark Simpson (Arena Homme Plus, Spring 2007) The American Dream has turned into a nightmare. Count the shudders and the sweats in reel time: Bush. Iraq. Guantanamo Bay. Global Warming. Iran. Tom Cruise. Pop a Nytol or three with a glass of warm milk and put on The Wizard… Read More »The Frattish American Wet Dream Conquering the World
Mark Simpson reviews Another Bloody Love Letter, by Anthony Loyd Independent on Sunday, 11 March 2007 ‘People have on occasion asked me to reveal the most shocking sight I have ever seen,” writes Anthony Loyd, Times war correspondent, ex-Army officer and ex-heroin addict. “They want a little vicarious hit off… Read More »Snorting Gunpowder: Another Bloody Love Letter
Following my previous post about straight male cockwatching, I should point out that some straight blokes are quite open about their size queenery – and in fact keen to shove it down your throat. Particularly drunk soldiers from Liverpool propping up the urinal. It seems to be part of the… Read More »The Size Queenery of Straight Men