Get to Know... Harlan!

[Harlan]

Originally posted by RainGurl
Such good questions - hope I have good answers

what did you do before you got into adult?
I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Kent State University. After college, I moved to NYC where I design apparel for 10 years. More specifically, I designed sweaters. As knitting machine became computerized, I learned CAD and that was my intoduction to computer graphics. As a sweater designer, I selected the raw yarns, had it dyed into the colors I chose, came up with the pattern then finally the silhouette - which was creatively very rewarding but realities of business on Seventh Avenue were a different matter all together.
Starting with a blank page in web design, I found I have the same control but a crucial difference - where sweater collections are designed a year before a fashion show and another year before they ever make it to the stores, web design has a gestation period that is instantaneous by comparisson and far more gratifying.

Was PrideBucks your first venture?
Pride Bucks was my first serious adult venture. Prior to that, I did
support myself doing mainstream web design under HarlanYaffe.com and that still serves as a good "beard" when some not so enlightened and/or eldery relatives want to know "what I am up to."

Have you had 'industry sex'?
While I have fucked up and been fucked over on ocassion, I have never actually been "en flagrante" with anyone in the industry.


Are you lying??
Scouts honor


If you were a lesbian, would you be butch or femme?
I think I would be delicious combination of a lip stick lesbian by day buy the dominant one who wears the strap-on at night


How do you defy the gay sterotype?
Overly-dramatic, queeny-voiced, uber-sexual with
definite use of flamboyant gestures. Emmet on Queer As Folk is to me very representative of the the gay stereotype as seen through the eyes of popular culture. Being a member of ther tribe, I know we are are a very diverse group whom, within our little macrocasm, has varying degrees and runs the complete gamut as any collection of
people do.

have you ever had sex with a vaccuum?
I've been wondering where Juan is and his mile long list of questions but no, I haven't though I have had some encounters that have sucked the other way

more to come...

Bring 'em on boyrfriend!

[Chris Alan]

Giving this a bump, since harlan hasn't finished answering all the question posed to him.:goof:

[Harlan]

Originally posted by Chris Alan
Giving this a bump, since harlan hasn't finished answering all the question posed to him.:goof:

Thanks for the reminder, Chris. Just had one of those days yesterdays but glad to get back the inquisition!

[Harlan]

Originally posted by Gary-Alan
Ok here are some more for me

Gary-Alan, sorry for delay in responding to this Ready for PrimeTime questions...I would say worthy of 20/20 but Barbara Walters never came up with as good as questions as these!


If you could be any one who would it be? (live or dead, famous or family – your choice)
I would want to be George W. Bush and fire John Ashcroft, replace Rumsfeld with Senator McCain, apologize to the American people, remove my clutches from their personal lives and do my best to clean up the mess I have sterred the country into.

What one thing makes you so mad that you could scream?
Inefficiency. The root of many many evils

What one thing makes you happiest?
Feeling appreciated

Using the age-old formula, the name of your first pet and the name of the street you grew up on… what is your Porn Star Name?
Tabitha Clarewood

Star Trek or Star Wars?
Star Trek. I was a huge bespectakled, overweight Trekkie

Which is the most important ‘gay issue’ for you?
What a tough question...the ignorance of the "new generation" of HIV/AIDS is very troubling to be but I think the issue that effects a broader spectrum of gay society of all ages is the mixed message that have about being gay. I am afraid that exposure has been confused with acceptance. While shows like "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" and "Will and Grace" have gives the straight world a vastly increased visibility, I fear much of our breatheran confuses that with understanding. I believe, while a great step forward, we're still a novelty act...entertainment value in the way of the old Negro Minstreal Shows were. It was a long long road between Amos and Andy and the Cosby Show and we're all still far from the Emerald City.

If you could go back in time and meet your younger self, and give him one piece of advice what would it be? And at what age would you choose the young Harlan be?
ZOINKS G-A...what a question!
So very very hard but my first response is to say I would set the "Way Back" machine to visit the 18 year old Harlan and say that the first and most crucial step to loving others is to love youself for everything you are good and bad!


I love these threads!

GA

[Jason]

and the questioning continues....

1. favorite baskin robin's flavor?
2. you get one super-power, what would it be?
3. who do you want to play you in the movie of your life?

Who is on your "list?" ... let's have the top 10 people alive today that, regardelss of circumstance, if you had the opportunity to jump you'd take without a moment's hesitation.

(since you're required to narrow the list down to 10...I'll give you some time for that one before asking any more )

[Harlan]

Originally posted by 123Jason
and the questioning continues....

1. favorite baskin robin's flavor?
World Class Chocolate

2. you get one super-power, what would it be?
The power to heal

3. who do you want to play you in the movie of your life?
Harry Connick, Jr


Who is on your "list?" ... let's have the top 10 people alive today that, regardelss of circumstance, if you had the opportunity to jump you'd take without a moment's hesitation.
In no particular order:
1) Alec Baldwin
2) Ed Harris
3) Dermont MulRooney
4) Dylan McDermott
5) Ricky Martin
6) Ben Affleck
7) Chris Meloni
8) Scott Bakula
9) George Clooney
10)Hugh Jackman

(since you're required to narrow the list down to 10...I'll give you some time for that one before asking any more ) [/B]

What a Prince

[Bell]

I hope questioning time hasn't run out...

I most definitely want to know more about YOU...

I also want your Passions over here:
http://forums.gaywidewebmasters.com/...&threadid=3332


for the "Get to Know Harlan" thread (here)
I would like to know:

1. is is possible to see a picture of one of the sweaters you
designed in your past...

2. did you ever know how to knit (by hand) ??

3. do your programs have affiliate programs ??

4. will you be attending Internext - Florida - Aug. 2004
and Internext - Vegas - Jan. 2005 ??

5. have you ever done a strip dance ??

6. describe what you would consider a perfect first date ??
and a perfect 15th date ??

7. have you ever dressed up in drag ??

8. where do you find those cool shirts ??

9. what do you wear - boxers, brief, other ??

10. what do you like to see your partners in -
boxers, briefs, other ??

11. tight jean pants, short cut-off jean shorts,
extremely tight bike shorts, g-string,
if you were put in a room with those items and told to
change and then come out to a cocktail party
in the next room which item would you have put on ??

12. If you were going to a cookout and were told you needed
to bring something to share for approximately 15 people -
what would you bring ??

13. If you were told that you could invite 30 industry people
to go on a 4day-3night trip and you were able to select the
mode of transportation from the following - which would you
select and why:
cruise ship, train, bus, motorcycle caravan, jeeps, bikes ??

14. If you were told that you could go anywere you wanted with
one other person - the the destination had to be somewhere COLD
as in under 40 degrees - - - where would you select and why ??


15. If you could grant 5 current (or past) TV shows
another 3 seasons which shows would you bestow that
honor on and why ??

16. If you were also able (and required to) pull the plug on
5 current (or past) shows - which 5 and why ??


17. which of your teachers, subject, grade-level, meant
the most to you - and why ?? (how old were you at that time)

18. If you could design fashion again - for anyone you pleased,
who would it be and why ??


19. If you had to cook for a special date - what would you fix ??

20. Have you ever worn female clothes or makeup - and if so
under what circumstances ??

wow - I didn't realize we were up to 20 questions already
I better slow down...

~Bell

[Harlan]

Originally posted by Bell
I hope questioning time hasn't run out...

I most definitely want to know more about YOU...

I also want your Passions over here:
http://forums.gaywidewebmasters.com/...&threadid=3332 Did that first, now into the witness chair:

for the "Get to Know Harlan" thread (here)
I would like to know:

1. is is possible to see a picture of one of the sweaters you
designed in your past...
Bell, not much has survived from those days but I did find two examples. The first is from the late '80's when the menswear inspried power suiting and Alexis Morell Carrington Colby Dexter
brontosaurus shoulders from Dynasty were at their height of popularity...this was actually called the "The Working Girl" group inspired by the movie of the same name. The other is from a Spring Collection a few years later.

2. did you ever know how to knit (by hand) ??
Yes. My first job was with a knitwear company and as an assitant, it was mostly grunt work but by the time I reached the level where I was the head designer, I discovered that given the lead time and expense in developing patterns, the only way to test out new cables and stitch combination was to do them by hand and try them out, tweak, refine and try again so I taught myself to knit. When it came to trying different colorways and getting the height of stripses just right as well as trying combos on yarns to get the texture perfect, I used a small hand loom knitting machine.

My mother was an expert hand knitter and was able to help me learn. Somehow the fact that it was part of my job made it "ok" for her to do that in her mind and that helped me tremendously. The ironic part about that is a few years later, she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer that had spread to her brain before it was detected. Brain surgery was perfomed that left deficits on many things including her manual dexterity. As part of her therapy, when I would go home, I then tried to teach her how to knit again to help jog her memory and eye hand coordination, range of motion, etc. What goes around really does come around sometimes.


3. do your programs have affiliate programs ??
PrideBucks (shamless plug but see sig) is our affiliate program. We market that under the slogan "Making Gay Pay" and has the stats, marketing tools etc as any proper affiliate program for our three websites. Additionally, we also sell content at BoyContent.com


4. will you be attending Internext - Florida - Aug. 2004
and Internext - Vegas - Jan. 2005 ??
Yes, myself and the PrideBucks' Team, David, Joe and Rainey, will most definitely be there. Please make sure you stop by our booth so we meet and chat face to face! Vegas is definitelt "in the cards" no pun inteded as well with a big 'ole party as we did last year in Vegas!

5. have you ever done a strip dance ??
That would be negative. But if I had the body for it, that would be different

6. describe what you would consider a perfect first date ??
and a perfect 15th date ??
A perfect first date for me would be a great meal in a restaurant with a great atmosphere that would encourage, not drown out, great conservation and that conversation would be eclectryfying, engaging and propell us to leave for a change of more intimate and romantic scenery like a blanket on the beach, a bottle of wine and some seriously intimate conversation would insue followed by a long make-out session. No sex though....build the anticipation for the next time. For the 15th date...something fun in the afternoon like an outdoor concert or a flea market, back home and a shower together with some serious sex, ordering in dinner, heading out for a bit to a club or bar or even some cool outdoor coffee spot on the beach, then back home for more lovin'

7. have you ever dressed up in drag ??
Once in college - the Gay/Lesbian Halloween Ball. My friends and I went as the cast of old game show To Tell The Truth. I was Kitty Carlisle, my friend Calvin was Peggy Cass and some Lesbian friends of ours did man drag as Gary Moore, Orson Bean and Bill Cullen. That was the only time abnd mercifully, there are NO pictures and we won the costume contest

8. where do you find those cool shirts ??
Everywhere from department stores to little boutiques to flea markets and thrift stores

9. what do you wear - boxers, brief, other ??
Boxer-briefs are my favorite

10. what do you like to see your partners in -
boxers, briefs, other ??
Boxer briefs are a good choice too especially if there's a nice big tent in front with just enough precum to make the area right near the head just a little transparent



wow - I didn't realize we were up to 20 questions already
I better slow down...

~Bell

----Bell, I will be back for questions 11-20 a bit later

[Jason]

"In no particular order:
1) Alec Baldwin
2) Ed Harris
3) Dermont MulRooney
4) Dylan McDermott
5) Ricky Martin
6) Ben Affleck
7) Chris Meloni
8) Scott Bakula
9) George Clooney
10)Hugh Jackman "

Damn you have good taste...2 of those are on my list too...and while Scott Bakula wasn't on my list, it's good to see him here. I had almost forgotten about those skinflick scenes in Enterprise

[Gary-Alan]

Harlan!

Thank you so much for sharing... I love these threads because I do get to learn things about the group of extraordinary people we have here.

When did you work on 7th Avenue? I was a grunt for Tommy Hillfiger and then sales supervisor for one of the outlets (When Murjani Int'l owned the Tommy name). And on the side I would buy sample sweaters from a few of the showrooms up there and sell them from my car LMAO

I so wanted to design clothes at one time, I wound up designing costumes for small theatre companies for the fun of it instead.

I love these threads!!!

My best,
Gary-Alan

[Gary-Alan]

Originally posted by 123Jason
[BDamn you have good taste...2 of those are on my list too...and while Scott Bakula wasn't on my list, it's good to see him here. I had almost forgotten about those skinflick scenes in Enterprise [/B]

Do you remeber Scott in Quantum Leap? He wore that skin tight spandex suit when he was in the 'chamber' YUM-MEE! LOL

GA

[Harlan]

Originally posted by Gary-Alan
Harlan!

Thank you so much for sharing... I love these threads because I do get to learn things about the group of extraordinary people we have here.

When did you work on 7th Avenue? I was a grunt for Tommy Hillfiger and then sales supervisor for one of the outlets (When Murjani Int'l owned the Tommy name). And on the side I would buy sample sweaters from a few of the showrooms up there and sell them from my car LMAO

I so wanted to design clothes at one time, I wound up designing costumes for small theatre companies for the fun of it instead.

I love these threads!!!

My best,
Gary-Alan

Hey Gary....
Indeedy, these threads are fun! Murjani is a name I haven't heard in a long time. Remember when did Gloria Vanderbuilt Jeans and those commericals she did for them?

I worked on 7th Ave from May 1984 to Dec 6, 1995. My first job was at 1407 Broadway (Bway and 37th) and my last was at 525 7th Ave.
What an industry. I loved what I did but hated the industry. I didn't plan to leave, but glad it happened as it's all part of the journey to where I am.

I do miss sample sales though. The concept garments that never made it to the stores were the best!

[Bell]

whenever you get time...

I still WANT 11-20....

smooch...

~Bell


p.s. I figured that some of those shirts came from flea markets
and thrift stores - they have some of the handsdown best items...
love going to thriftstores... haven't been in quite awhile...
you never know what you'll find there... there are more people
dressing cool in there shopping when I go now - than there ever
has been... allot of the age 20-26 gang... it's fun to watch
them shop (and talk)...

[Harlan]

You've been very pateient, Bell. Here's Part 2 of your questions:

Originally posted by Bell

for the "Get to Know Harlan" thread (here)
I would like to know:


11. tight jean pants, short cut-off jean shorts,
extremely tight bike shorts, g-string,
if you were put in a room with those items and told to
change and then come out to a cocktail party
in the next room which item would you have put on ??
Don't think any of the above would be my first choice for cocktail party attire but if that is what my selection was limited to, I would choose tight jean pants

12. If you were going to a cookout and were told you needed
to bring something to share for approximately 15 people -
what would you bring ??
I'd bring extra bags of ice and those blue "keep cold cubes". Cookouts always have problems with the ice melting and keeping all of the beverages cold for the duration. This way, everyone would benefit and the party thrower would get them as a host/hostess gift


13. If you were told that you could invite 30 industry people
to go on a 4day-3night trip and you were able to select the
mode of transportation from the following - which would you
select and why:
cruise ship, train, bus, motorcycle caravan, jeeps, bikes ??
A cruise ship since it offers such a wide range range of activities and space, everyone could enjoy themselves personally and together as a group


14. If you were told that you could go anywere you wanted with
one other person - the the destination had to be somewhere COLD
as in under 40 degrees - - - where would you select and why ??
First place that came to mind is Alaska. Everyone that has heard about it says it's quite spectacular and that's one of the few places that would really offer a total get-away yet keep my tourism
dollars right here in the US economy


15. If you could grant 5 current (or past) TV shows
another 3 seasons which shows would you bestow that
honor on and why ??
1) The X-Files. One of the few shows in recent memory I would seriously plan to watch - with the caveat that it was the original Mulder and Skully as the leads
2) The West Wing: Very well written and well acted IMHO
3) Six Feet Under: Witty, ceberal, pithy...love it!
4) Hardball: Love the way Chris Mattews handles curren events
and newsmakers
5) Law and Order SVU: anything with an hour of viewing Chris Meloni is worth another 3 years

16. If you were also able (and required to) pull the plug on
5 current (or past) shows - which 5 and why ??
1) Fear Factor
2) the bachelor/ette
3) Joe Millionaire
4) The Simple Life
5) For Love or Money
why? turn of the fake reality and live you own lives. I just hate this entire genre of programming. Of course I would have included 'Survivor' above but Joe would have killed me but turst me, it's on my list in spirit



17. which of your teachers, subject, grade-level, meant
the most to you - and why ?? (how old were you at that time)
That would be Mrs. Jane Buell, the art teacher I had in 7th grade. She would refuse to accept assignments if she thought they weren't genuine. Meaning, 7th grade was all about fitting in and I did anything but. She would not accept anything unless she believed I was producing "what I saw inside my head when I closed my eyes."
The artist imprint she left was originality, even if artistic merit is not universally appreciated, is a work of integrtiy while anything less is just an imitation of someone's elses vision and not acceptable




18. If you could design fashion again - for anyone you pleased,
who would it be and why ??
I would design menswear for Hugo Boss. Their collections always reach the zenith of design, material and craftmanship and span the scope of apparrel so the complete look can be carried out from head to toe



19. If you had to cook for a special date - what would you fix ??
Leg of Lamb for the main course and white chocolate mouse for dessert. Delicate flavour, not an every day food, can be beautifully presented and still light enough not to interfere what be for dessert.


20. Have you ever worn female clothes or makeup - and if so
under what circumstances ?? For clothing, there was the one time for Halloween drag as explained in your question 7.

For makeup, I am actually a burn survivor. Fortunately I received excellent medical care and healed completely with the exception of never regaining the sence of smell. There was a period toward the end of my recovery where my skin had finally healed over but in patches, was still bright bright red and I used a coverup to conceal that as best I could.


wow - I didn't realize we were up to 20 questions already
I better slow down...

~Bell [/B]

[djdez]

Originally posted by Harlan
16. If you were also able (and required to) pull the plug on
5 current (or past) shows - which 5 and why ??
1) Fear Factor
2) the bachelor/ette
3) Joe Millionaire
4) The Simple Life
5) For Love or Money
why? turn of the fake reality and live you own lives. I just hate this entire genre of programming. Of course I would have included 'Survivor' above but Joe would have killed me but turst me, it's on my list in spirit

Damn right. Leave survivor alone