AussieBum releases two new underwears, Byron (left) and Pure (right).

Byron is the bold statement tye-dye underwear with a unique print on each individual garment. It has a super thin waistband with a slim and complimentart fit.

Pure is a simple, lightweight style with subtle, skinny waistband available in monochrome colours of black and white. The single layer pouch and flat lock stitching leaves no internal seams for ultimate comfort.

So, which on will you choose? @aussieBum

So here come the Top Ten images that you have most liked for their charm, wit or simple loveability throughout the month of July 2014.

They come from either the Adrenaline Corner, Kickstart Your Day or  the One-a Day Spirit Lifter feature pages. Presented in reverse order, here comes No 10.

No 10.

No. 9

No. 8

No. 7

No. 6

No. 5

No. 4

No 3

No. 2

No. 1

Looking foward to August? Want to check you didn't miss anything? Then click on the related stories below.

Established in 2005, 2wink is an underwear and swimwear brand from Down Under. Their collections are Australian made incorporating an Aussie theme into their range. 

The new Graffiti Xtreme Freedom Jock that 2wink just launched, is a pair of low rider briefs with just the right amount of fabric removed from the rear. The open rear window nicely frames the bum cheeks catching the immediate attention of anyone standing by. Cheeky!

And the front? I'm not saying that you need it, BUT, 2wink have included a pocket booster to lift and increase the look of your manhood. The unique bright and colourful graffiti pattern also draws attention to this area. How thoughtful!

Go get your pair of the Graffiti Xtreme Freedom Jock now with FREE worldwide shipping! What are you waiting for?

2wink

The Ice Bucket Challenge has gone mega-viral, raising funds for good causes like ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Motor-Neuron Disease as well as bringing some moments of comedy to a media-hungry world. The challenge has also reached out to other charities, like the MacMillan cancer charity. So if you're an exhibitionist, a generous-hearted soul, a superhero or a bit of all three, here's where you come in.

What you need:

A bucket
Ice
A smartphone
A towel
A change of clothes (highly recommended)
Boundless bravery

What to do next

1. Fill the bucket with iced water
2. Pour it on your head
3. Film this on your smartphone
4. Post the video to Facebook / Twitter
5. Text to Donate £3 to Macmillan by sending ICE to 70550
6. Nominate your friends / enemies to do it next

A few ecouraging examples

Matt Bomer and family

So here come the Top Ten images that you have most liked for their charm, wit or simple loveability throughout the month of August 2014. They come from either the Adrenaline Corner, Kickstart Your Day, Boys Outdoors or  the Top Twelve Smiles feature pages. Presented in reverse order, here comes No 10.

No. 10.

No. 9.

No. 8.

No. 7.

No. 6.

No. 5.

No. 4.

No. 3.

No. 2.

Congratulations, Number 1.

Looking foward to September? Want to check you didn't miss anything? Then click on the related stories below.

Info

Male, 20 years old, from Vicenza, Veneto, Italy

A relatively new face in the fashion firmament, Andrea has, to date, made a splash in Milan through a number of hot advertising campaigns in magazines including Vogue Italy and Vanity Teen for, amongst others, Dirk Bikkembergs.

He is apparently a sporty boy. "I have practiced until December 2011 competitive soccer. I still like to keep with gym, football 5, running, skiing, skateboarding. I have good knowledge of the use of proper nutrition and physical maintenance of the body"

Stats

Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 154 lbs
Neck: 15"
Sleeve: 24"
Chest: 39"
Waist: 28"
Hair color: Brown
Hair length: Short
Eye color: Grey
Skin color: Olive

Photography by Luciano Doria, Andre from Envisions 

Lustralboy hasn't an iota of doubt that we'll hear, and hopefully, see, a lot more of Andrea in the years to come.

It was death by a thousand cuts that characterised this years UK X-Factor post-bootcamp shows. The last forty-eight acts were due to be sliced in half numerically, many of them celebrating a "Yes" vote before having the decision reversed by the indecisive judges. Such painful public humiliations have boosted audience figures dramatically. Evidently the programmers have been studying the attendance records of the Colisseum in Rome.

Six chairs await the lucky six contestants per judge who will advance to the next round, the "Judges Houses."

The biggest shock of this latest stage was the elimination of boyband Overload, one of the earlier favourites for ultimate winners. Lavishly praised at the auditions stage, and blessed with the enthusiaistic screams of teenage fans on the night, judge Louis Walsh opted to add them to a three sided sing-off versus one already secure girl band and one he had previously first approved and subsequently killed off. The adjective "messy" doesn't even begin to describe his analytical processes. Decorative and reasonably harmonious, Overload will be missed. And no-one will ever forget Louis' "You're going homes" followed by tumultuous booing, followed by his "Okay, bring them backs" and cries of "Swap, swap, swap" from the audience. Mayhem would be an understatement.

Goodbye, Overload.

The three-way sing-off.                                It's all over for Overload. 

So we're left with:

Three good singers, though "boyish" doesn't quite capture the reality.

Will it soon be all over for the "Overs? For Stevi, surely!

Some startling back stories. Some great singers? Maybe. Maybe not.

It's a miracle anyone made it through Louis' "process." More like elimination by Russian Roulette!

Lustralboy says: The Colisseum saw slaughter and death in vast quantities. But the X-Factor audience needed no lessons from Rome when it came to giving the thumbs down to their least liked acts. Tune in for more blood on the dancefloor next week.

So here come the Top Ten images that you have most liked for their charm, wit or simple loveability throughout the month of August 2014. They come from either the Adrenaline Corner, Kickstart Your Day, Boys Outdoors or  the Top Twelve Smiles feature pages. Presented in reverse order, here comes  No 10.

No. 10

No. 9

No. 8.

 No. 7.

No 6.

No.5.

N0. 4.

No. 3.

No. 2.

No. 1.

Congratulations, Number 1. And Sam just happems to be 
October's Model of the Month.

Looking foward to October? Want to check you didn't miss anything? Then click on the related stories below.

Our friend, David Harvey, briefly encapsulated as a "textiles journalist" in the Draper's Record trade magazine, died on September 2 at his home, the Mill, in Cuxham, Oxfordshire. He was 84 years old.

Why would we choose to share his life with readers of Lustralboy? The reason is simple. A boy born in Croydon in 1930 went on to travel the world, charming his way through the hallowed halls of the fashion industry, the corridors of power in Washington, the inspiring open spaces of Australia and the green lanes of his beloved Oxfordshire countryside.

And he was gay.

An Ice Cream with friends, Isle Sainte Marguerite, Summer 1997

In our currently relatively enlightened times, is his gayness worth a mention? Yes it is, because it was pivotal to his personality.

It fired his relentless search for knowledge, for adventure, for the company of other inspiring people. It took him to many milieus, at all of which he would hold centre stage with a cornucopia of opinions, insights and anecdotes that might startle or amuse. It created the bonds with designers, writers, filmakers, politicians and artists that kept him active and stimulated through his long life.

But he was no child of privilege. His father died when he was fifteen. David left school and embarked on a life of self-education.

His intellectual curiosity took him to journalism, first as a cub reporter on his local newspaper, the Croydon Times. David's fascination with fashion then shaped his subsequent career in menswear and textiles, initially as press officer for the celebrated tailor and dressmaker,  Hardy Amies, then for the International Wool Secretariat, before his return to journalism as a writer for, amongst others, The Observer, Men's Wear and Drapers Record.

Visiting with friends at the home of an Aussie landscape artist, 1996.

This was no simple linear progression. At 23 he had taken the sea route to Australia. He fell in love with the huge skies and  the warmth of his companions. He returned many times, most recently in 1996 for a month of visits to friends, now older but no less fond of this articulate, immaculate Englishman.

In his middle years, he could be found in Washington in the company of his partner, William Clarke, World Bank vice-president, mixing with the American political elite, in New York helping launch the Hardy Amies brand, in Paris reviewing the catwalks, on the French Riviera enjoying the sunshine, in Cuxham surrounded by the young and handsome as well as the tall and influential.

Catching up with "Uncle Ted," Adelaide, 1996.

And let's not forget Florence and Milan. From the early 90s until 2012 David plied his trade as UK press representative for Pitti Immagine, the organiser of Italian trade shows Pitti Uomo, Pitti Bimbo and Pitti Filati. Perfect casting for the role, his impressive stature, impeccable manners, unending interest in new people and genuine fondness for the world of fashion saw him involved, remarkably, into his eighties.

Returning yet again to the Hotel Tornabuoni Beacci in Florence, he would be greeted by a succession of smiling faces, "Ciao Signor Harvey" echoing down the ornate corridors.

Does all this explain why the sun shone so brightly on a late English September day in Cuxham?

David was fond of saying "There IS a God" at moments of unexpected serendipity, whether glimpsing Gary Lineker's thighs in a televised football match or reflecting on the deserved political embarrassments of the Francois Hollandes of this world. That day, the day of his funeral, saying it under a cloudless sky, he might even have believed it.

Some hundred or so friends and family assembled in the garden of the village hall next to the church. The coffin rested on two biers under a lean-to roof. Birdsong filled the air and red kites wheeled constantly overhead. David had already selected the music, five pieces culminating, most movingly, in Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah as the coffin was carried away.

Tributes and memories from eight friends and neighbours had accompanied the music. All shared a portrait of an inspirational man of generous spirit and huge appetites, for knowledge, for good food, for good wine and for good company. Anyone who had experienced a David feast on the lawn at the Mill under a blue summer sky would recognise the portrait immediately.

Was there ever a more lustral boy?

Sunrise over The Mill, Cuxham, January 5, 2014.

STATS

HEIGHT 190cm/6'2.5".
CHEST 96cm / 38".
WAIST 71cm / 28".
SUIT 98cm / 38.5" / 48.5 L.
COLLAR 37cm / 14.5".
SHOES 44.
HAIR Blonde.
EYES Blue.

You may recognise some of the pics below. Sam has been very visible in the social media since he first appeared in a number of shoots two years ago. Then 16, now 18, he has been enjoying the travel and the catwalks.

With a physique that reflects his earlier fondness for rugby and surfing, we predict a long and successful modelling career. Since it was his Mum who, when he was 13, first sent off his photos, his family must be be feeling very proud.

Lustralboy says: "Good luck, Sam, with your ongong assignments. Not that you'll need it, we think."

It's not uncommon for a death to bring the living together. The surprise lies in the revelations that are then shared. Set in contemporary London, LILTING tells the story of a Cambodian-Chinese mother (Cheng Pei-pei, Crouching Tiger) mourning the untimely death of her son.

Her world is abruptly disturbed by the arrival in her life of a stranger, a young British gay man (Ben Whishaw, Skyfall). The linguistic and cultural barriers between them dissolve as they communicate through an interpreter to share their grief and love for the departed, who was unable to come out to his mother in life.

Directed on a shoestring budget by Hong Khaou, born in Cambodia and now living in London, Lilting opened to warm reviews here. It now opens in limited New York theatres this weekend and in Los Angeles October 3.

Watch the trailer below. Hankies at the ready

Burke

Interviewed during the Pope’s 'Synod of the Family' in Rome, Cardinal Raymond Burke also commented on the ‘aggressiveness of the homosexual agenda’. We wonder what happened to the Pope's softer tone on homosexuality!

Burke says parents should not allow their children to have contact with gay people who engage in ‘wrong, evil’ and ‘intrinsically disordered’ relationships. He chose to speak out during the Rome Synod at which senior catholic figures gathered from around the world to discuss family issues.

Pope Francis

Despite Pope Francis saying last year that he didn’t consider himself to be in a position to judge gay people, Burke – the former Archbishop of St Louis, now titled Cardinal Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura – clearly feels otherwise empowered.

Burke was asked by the website LifeSiteNews, "How should Catholic parents deal with a difficult situation like this? When planning a Christmas family gathering with grandchildren present, parents are asked by their son, who is in a homosexual relationship, if he can come and bring home with him his homosexual partner."

"This is a very delicate question, made more delicate by the aggressiveness of the homosexual agenda,’ replied Burke. ‘If homosexual relationships are intrinsically disordered, which indeed they are … then what would it mean to grandchildren to have present at a family gathering a family member who is living [in] a disordered relationship with another person?"

In just two sentences, the "Cardinal Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura" reveals the dark underside of Vatican attitudes to gays. Forget the nonsense of a "Gay Catholic Cabal."  Reread the above senseless prejudice from a senior Cardinal who would ban decent gay couples from natural family relationships, prevent them from providing positive values to their nieces and nephews and from participating in the support that families give each other in times of crisis.There speaks a man with no concept of family values, no compassion and the kind of homophobic prejudice that often hides a darker truth within.

Lustralboy says: "Gay Catholics will be reeling from this latest revelation of the true mindset of the Vatican. We have commented before on the entrenched homophobia of the Vatican establishment. What chance does the Pope really have against such "intrinsically disordered" thinking? And wouldn't the Vatican be better occupied in addressing the rampant disordered behaviour by the child molesters in its own community? Good luck Francis.

Celebrated for his Olympic Gold Medal in 2008, Lustralboy favourite, Matthew Mitcham has now taken his life story to the stage with his one man show, Twists and Turns.

He won gold with the highest single-dive score in Olympic history, becoming the first Australian male gold medal winner in diving since 1924. Despite reaching international prominence, Mitcham was plagued by mental illness and revealed his battle with low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and panic attacks as a teenager. These were just the prelude to his later dependence on crystal meth. He told his story in his memoir, Twists and turns, released almost two years ago.

Now recovered, he shares his uplifting story of resilience and gratitude, with tales about his mother, his early trampolining, his move into diving, his discovery of gay life in Brisbane’s clubs at just fourteen and his challenge to balance his wild child partying with the discipline of training for an Olympic sport.

If you can, join him in Melbourne on 30 & 31 January, 2015. If not, we'll let you know of other dates as they become available.

And enjoy more of Matthew in the Related Stories below.

Show credits: Directed by Nigel Turner – Carroll, Script by Melbourne based scriptwriter and Green Room Award recipient Rhys Morgan, Musical Direction and accompaniment by Jeremy Brennan (Jersey Boys).

So here come the Top Ten images that you have most liked for their charm, wit or simple loveability throughout the month of October 2014. They come from either the Adrenaline Corner, Kickstart Your Day, Boys Outdoors, Selfie Heaven and Undies in Selfies feature pages. Presented in reverse order, here comes  No 10.

No. 10

No. 9.

No.8.

No. 7.

No. 6.

No. 5.

No. 4.

No. 3.

No. 2.

No.1.

Congratulations, Number 1.

Looking foward to November? Want to check you didn't miss anything? Then click on the related stories below.

Striking 19 year old Spanish model, Than Morales, has been appearing on social networks and websites all over the globe. He's an Internet Everywhere.

Hardly surprising given his distinctive look, the full lips, honey-green eyes and bleached blonde hair. A capacity for going shirtless may have helped a bit too.

Creative credits for the blonde images go to photographer Pantelis for Coitus magazine. We guess you'll be enjoying both modes of hair colour pretty hugely.

And if any of you, by now, are still unconvinced of his potential, give yourselves a treat and linger over the stunning images in the short video.

On October 13, the world's media, from the BBC to the Economist to the Huffingtonm Post, exploded with enthusiastic headlines "A Giant Leap for Gays, "The Earthquake that shook the Vatican", "The Shift to a Softer Tone" and A Sea Change." Just a week later, and after Lustralboy revealed a darker tone emanating from Cardinal Burke, the story had changed to "Vatican Waters Down...", "Vatican Backtracks..." and "Gays still Unwelcome".

Not only was this a huge disappointment to gay catholics who had naively believed that their homophobic bishops were about to undergo a Damascean conversion to gay tolerance, it was also a huge setback for the apparently more compassionate new Pope, Francis, and a top drawer PR debacle of the for the Vatican.

Yes, gay Catholics suffered a roller coaster of emotions in October. First the world's media reported a softening in tone on gay issues emerging from the Synod of the Family in Rome. Then shocking comments by Cardinal Burke suggested that the familiar homophobic Vatican attitudes were as entrenched as ever. This impression was finally confirmed when the Catholic bishops backtracked on the language in the document that had originally raised hopes of a change.

So, unsurprisingly to Lustralboy, the Vatican session ended with the traditional doctrine in place with divisions laid bare on non-traditional unions. Cardinals approved a highly watered-down version of an Oct. 13 draft document laying out the church’s position on family issues and values.

There were over 400 amendments to the document. Crucially three paragraphs dealing with ministering to gays and the issue of divorced Catholics receiving communion failed to win the two-thirds majority needed for full approval, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said during a press conference.

The final report deleted last week’s draft that read, “homosexuals have gifts and qualities to offer the Christian community,” and asked whether Catholicism could recognize the value of same-sex couples and unmarried live-in couples. An amended sentence saying “people with homosexual tendencies must be welcomed with respect and delicacy” also failed to secure the two thirds majority.

The tone and language of the first draft had set it aside from previous statements, prompting commentators like Vatican expert John Thavis to call it an “earthquake” in the Catholic Church. Pope Francis had asked that the full document be published with the voting tally on each issue, Father Lombardi had said.

The Pope's disappointment was reflected in a statement apparently made in the aftermath: “Personally, I would have been very worried and saddened if there had not been these temptations and animated discussions." Doubtless, he will be privately very worried that he has been unable to moderate the reactionary beliefs of his senior Cardinals. This came as no surprise to us. Maybe it came as a surprise to him.

He wasn't yet wholly defeated, however. On October 21st came news that The Pope had ousted Burke from his senior role. Already removed from the Vatican Committee last year in favour of the less outspoken Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, he had continued to head the influential Apostolic Signatura within the church – effectively second in command on doctrine.

Burke, howver, confirmed that he had now been ousted from that role as well, after rumours last month that he would leave after clashing with the Pope on reform issues.
He said, “Even though I would have liked to have continued to work in the Apostolic Signatura, I’ll give myself to whatever is the new work that I’m assigned to.”
Unsurpisingly, he wasn't leaving quietly, “The Pope is not free to change the church’s teachings with regard to the immorality of homosexual acts or the insolubility of marriage or any other doctrine of the faith.”

Bye, bye, Burke

So we bid a happy farewell to Cardinal Burke, he who believes gay people are “intrinsically evil”, and previously claimed: “[Homophobia is] simply announcing the truth, helping people to discriminate right from wrong in terms of their own activities.”

Lustralboy says "The tectonic plates of Vatican prejudice finally proved resilient again, the Pope's aspirations have been defeated and Cardinal Burke's rants seemed like a truer reflection of the embedded attitudes. Gay Catholics, sadly, will have to embrace the reality of no change at thisjuncture but, with Pope Francis on the job, can perhaps hope for some kind of evolution on the horizon.

Carmelo Barbarello, 45, took up his New Zealand mission in August to promote Italian culture, trade and scientific endeavour. He had, however, already made his mark by lobbying for his husband Javier Barca to become Italy's first official same-sex diplomatic spouse. Barbarello said it was great to be in a country which had legalised gay marriage.

"I congratulate the society for this achievement, what we consider a minimum level of respect."

It had not all been plain sailing. Despite being in a relationship since 2002 and married under Spanish law in 2012, Barbarello had to go to court in his home country to get Barca a diplomatic passport last year. This showed total equality had not been achieved, he said. Barbarello has now set up an advocacy group for gay Italian diplomats with partners.

The couple have never experienced discrimination in any of Barbarello's postings, despite India making gay sex a crime while they were in New Delhi, Barbarello said. "From the very beginning I've not had any problem, no complications."

The pair have barely let their feet touch the ground since arriving in Wellington and have settled in well. Wellington's culture, coffee and even weather have so far impressed Barbarello.

"Expectations are quite high when you come to this country, because it's known for its beauty and quality of life."

Barbarello's main mission, is to increase Italy's $1.3 billion in annual trade with New Zealand, although promoting Italian language is also high on the list.  With a house full of bold design statements and a natty taste in suits, Italy's first openly gay ambassador shouldn't have any trouble convincing New Zealanders of his country's modernity and style.

Lustralboy can't help wondering what those reactionary Cardinals in Rome would make of such a happy story. Not we give a damn, of course!