Worshipping at the Temple of Squat

Posted in Fiction, Real Men, Statement of intention, Writing with tags , , on April 8, 2014 by Jarrod Boyle

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Greetings Dear Reader,

As you may have noticed, I have undergone a prolonged absence. It has not been because I have been doing other things; rather, an extraordinary occurrence overtook me a month ago and completely sapped me of the desire to write. It wasn’t negative, but so profound I haven’t been able to do much other than go to work. Nothing painful; just dazzling. I may write about it at a later stage.

I am getting back on the horse and starting to produce some essays and the like. In the meantime, I thought I’d post this chapter from the novel I’ve been working on for the last nine months. I’ll have it finished soon and will publish more of it accordingly. I thought to post this today because I went to the gym and engaged in one of my absolute favorite activities; squatting with a barbell across my back. Perhaps you share my enthusiasm. Otherwise, perhaps this piece will give you a doorway into it.

Enjoy. Continue reading

Patron Saint

Posted in Observation, Reading, Real Men, Statement of intention on March 23, 2014 by Jarrod Boyle

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“When I came home: on the abyss of the five senses, where a flat sided steep frowns over the present world, I saw a mighty Devil folded in black clouds, hovering on the sides of the rock, with corroding fires he wrote the following sentence now perceived by the minds of men, & read by them on earth.

How do you know but ev’ry Bird that cuts the airy way,
Is an immense world of delight, clos’d by your senses five?”

– William Blake,

The Marriage of Heaven and Hell

Thought for the Day

Posted in Love letters, Observation, Real Men, Statement of intention with tags on March 14, 2014 by Jarrod Boyle

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“If she’s amazing, she won’t be easy. If she’s easy, she won’t be amazing. If she’s worth it, you won’t give up. If you give up, you’re not worthy. Truth is, everybody’s going to hurt you; you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for.”

-Bob Marley, That canny old Rastafarian.

Thanks to Chris Tate for putting me on to this one.

Published!

Posted in Observation, Writing with tags , , , , on March 13, 2014 by Jarrod Boyle

Cover-Island-136-e1394515816623I have contributed an essay to this edition of Island Magazine on the relationship between writing and fighting called, ‘Fighting Words’.

This is the longest feather in my cap so far. Legitimate publication!

You can check it out here:

http://islandmag.com/

Or buy the magazine at Readings Bookstores.

 

nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals the power of your intense fragility

Posted in Love letters, Observation, Real Men, Statement of intention with tags , , , , , on March 12, 2014 by Jarrod Boyle

IMG_0714“She [Heather Locklear] showered me with flowers and I learned to love it. Any guy, I decided, who doesn’t like flowers is insecure about his masculinity.”

– Tommy Lee, The Dirt

The title is taken from the poem ‘somewhere i have never travelled’ by e.e. cummings.

S.E. Hinton: Rumble Fish versus The Outsiders

Posted in Observation, Reading with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on February 27, 2014 by Jarrod Boyle
Hinton in 1968, the year 'The Outsiders' was published. Smart, hot and pigtails.

Hinton in 1968, the year ‘The Outsiders’ was published. Smart, hot and pigtails.

“Raymond Chandler wrote about the man he wanted to be. Dashiell Hammet wrote about the man he was frightened he’d become.”

-James Ellroy. Continue reading

The Lion of Boaz-Jachin and Jachin-Boaz

Posted in Fiction with tags , on February 18, 2014 by Jarrod Boyle

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“The lions came out of their cages slowly, snarling and lashing their tails. They crouched, growling while the beaters and their dogs advanced to make them go forward to be hunted by the king. Continue reading

The Civil Rights Movement is not a Thing of the Past

Posted in Observation, Real Men, Statement of intention with tags , , , , on February 13, 2014 by Jarrod Boyle

Taken from news.com.au

AS controversy rages in the US over star footballer Michael Sam’s brave decision to come out, a US sports anchor has delivered an amazing and inspirational speech. Continue reading

Still the Man: Stan Longinidis

Posted in Journalism, Kickboxing with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 11, 2014 by Jarrod Boyle

the-manInternational Kickboxer Magazine, Jan/Feb 2014

On October 7 of this year, Stan ‘The Man’ Longinidis was inducted into the Australian Sporting Hall of Fame. While this is no small feat for any athlete, it’s especially rare for a kickboxer. As with his other achievements, Stan is the first. Continue reading

Home-Made Pornography OR, The Girl in the Red Photo and the Trouble She Caused

Posted in Love letters, Pornography, Writing with tags , , , , , , , , on January 30, 2014 by Jarrod Boyle

More than anything else, this piece has gotten me into a lot of trouble. And, I expect,  will continue to do so. Even though it was inspired by one woman, it has come to involve a number of others, none of whom were happy about it. Continue reading