Prepular, A blog for frat boys and their fans

Menshealth has an article on buying houses.

For young professionals and moneyed couples in the twenties and early thirties, a first home often fetches seven figures
By Matt Woolsey

Step into the Manhattan offices of Prudential Douglas Elliman, and you'll see potential buyers negotiating million dollar-plus apartment purchases.

What makes the scene unusual is that many of the buyers are in their 20s and early 30s, ready to drop seven figures on a starter home.

"Credit is getting tighter and they're worried that if it gets even tighter that they'll be cut out," says Dolly Lenz, a broker with Prudential. "They're young, successful kids, and they're worried they won't be able to have the lifestyle their parents had: three or four bedrooms on Park Avenue."

In Pictures: Million-dollar starter homes

This is playing out nationwide, but more often on the coasts where the tech and financial sectors are breeding young professionals with money to invest in real estate. It's not that these young buyers don't have good credit scores or references; it's that the days of 5 percent or even 10 percent down are rapidly coming to a close. Young, moneyed buyers are looking to get in now, as they're the most affected by higher down payments since they lack the nest egg of older home buyers.

Coastal Cash

On the West Coast, brokers say that tech and venture capital - which are in better shape than many of the big New York banks - are producing a steady stream of young buyers making their first dive into homeownership with a million dollar-plus home.

In Silicon Valley, home to Google, Yahoo! and countless smaller firms, they're looking in Atherton, Calif., south of San Francisco, where property values are higher than in Beverly Hills. Other hotspots here include Menlo Park and Los Altos.

In Pictures: What $1 million buys in the U.S.

"There is a Google effect, but it's not like they've descended on one neighborhood," says Courtney Charney, a broker with Alain Pinel Realtors in Atherton. Of the buyers' profile she says, "they're usually young couples."

Location, Location

Rich young professionals in their 20s and early 30s come with the territory in places like New York, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles and Miami. As to where they settle, that's a question of personality.

In Manhattan, that's often the prestigious Upper East Side or the more trendy Tribeca. In Los Angeles, they flock to Hollywood or Santa Monica.

But sometimes, young buyers' money isn't enough to gain entreLe to such exclusive enclaves. Stodgy co-op boards can be a problem in cities like San Francisco or New York. In other places, the exclusive enclaves arenft enough for these young buyers. In Los Angeles, for example, Bel Air and Brentwood are among the finest enclaves, but they aren't as lively as Hollywood or Santa Monica.

But make no mistake: Getting enough money together for a down payment on a starter home in these places is a tough task.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) says that a good way to calculate the price of a starter home is to take 85 percent of the area's median price. In Greenwich, Conn., or Miami Beach, Fla., where you'll find super-pricey neighborhoods, a "starter home," by NAR's standard, might be a multi-million dollar mansion.

How did these properties become ripe for first-time buyers? Charney says that "$10 million isn't what it used to be." And of New York, Lenz calls a $4 million home "New York middle class."

Still, that amount of money can get you a pretty sweet spread. In Miami Beach, $4.1 million lands a 5,453-square-foot palace with five bedrooms, a waterfront and a dock; and in Newport Beach, Calif., $3.6 million gets you a Peninsula Point home with 180-degree bay views from a rooftop deck that includes a fireplace and garden. That same amount, in Greenwich, gets a five-bedroom Colonial home on 1.3 acres of pristine, landscaped grounds.

It's amenities like these that make such suburbs attractive to first-time buyers looking for a home with something extra: room for a family.

"It's a different lifestyle out here," says Barbara McKee a broker with Christie's Great Estates in Greenwich. "You can't pay enough for good schools, and do you want your child and dog walking on the streets, or do you want them in the garden?"

Labels: luxury

Excellent article from a Dartmouth student on why people want to pledge despite all the humiliations associated with it.

When I was just a wee, innocent prospie, visiting Dartmouth to decide if it was the school for me, I saw my first glimpse of the pledging process. I watched a naked frat boy running laps around a fetid basement and then crashing into a huge pile of Keystone Light cans, crushed plastic cups and torn Keystone boxes. On that particular night, he and his pledge brethren were bartending the party naked. Was it hilarious? Absolutely. Was it embarrassing for them? Surely. So why did they go through it?

The pledging process at almost any fraternity contains some trying elements, and yet over 60 percent of eligible Dartmouth students choose to brave pledge term — some admittedly more trying than others — in order to be a part of a Greek house.

Sociology professor Kathryn Lively helped explain the reasons for pledging’s prevalence and popularity.

“You only want something if it’s hard,” she said.

With the many painful myths and stories surrounding pledging, there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that pledging can be hard. And it’s the only way to be a brother.

“I think it’s hard for anyone to do something and mean it and not become part of it. If you actually want to join something and you want to take it seriously, you have to at least try,” one junior fraternity member said. The difficulties of the pledging process ensure that all those entering the fraternity truly want to be a part of the house.

On another level, hazing during pledging guarantees an integration of a pledge’s personality and a house’s personality. “It’s part of an identity process where you drag someone’s identity down a little bit and then welcome them back into the group,” Lively said. When you do that, it creates a stronger group identity.”

As well as the addition of the pledge as a true member of the group, the group is also ingrained in the pledge. “The purpose of hazing is to make one lose their identity — not completely — so the identity of a brother or a sister becomes part of a core identity,” Lively said.

Now that the identities of last fall’s pledges have been integrated into their houses, they’ll be the ones enforcing pledge rituals this time around. When asked how he felt about being an upperclassman now, the male junior said, “Can’t wait! I think that’s the general feeling amongst my class: They can’t wait. They have no ill will against the ’10s, we just want to experience the other side. It’s something new.”

This integration of identities can become a problem on campus, however. As brothers become more and more associated with their respective houses, the stereotyping can overcome one’s actual personality.

“I feel like I’ve been stereotyped as some ‘sweet dude’ in ‘the best house on campus’ but in reality I am way more than that,” the junior fraternity member said. “Basically my point is that I had serious ideas but some people don’t take me seriously because they refuse to look past this mask of stereotypes that my fraternity places on me.”

In addition to the identity and personality changes that occur as a result of hazing, other basic changes occur in the life of a pledge. All the fraternity brothers I spoke with affirmed that pledging greatly improved their pong skills, which one senior man called “essential to the life of a Dartmouth man.”

Becoming a brother in a fraternity can also affect someone’s social standing and social connections. “My social capital went through the roof. After pledge term, way more people knew me,” the junior said. “I came to appreciate a diversity of ideas more greatly and connected with people who I might not normally have connected with.”

Admitting to hazing to administrators could obviously carry serious ramifications. But the details of hazing activities are often kept secret from students outside the house as well.

“Secrecy creates a feeling of specialness,” Lively said. “If everyone has this nebulous idea that [one particular frat] has this crazy hazing … it’s the secrecy that almost makes it valuable. You’re not allowed to talk about what you do. Part of it is to make it seem like it’s more powerful than it really is.”

As the world-renowned Dr. William Ellery Channing put most eloquently: “Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.”

When a pledge class is asked to strip themselves of the layers of protection that they wear around all day (pun intended) and bartend a party naked, it’s not a simple task of humiliation. Instead of their clothes being the defining mark on their bodies, their comfort in the fraternity becomes that defining mark. They put it all out there (pun intended again), and are accepted into the group.

Labels: fraternity

Something's not right with the latest Ermenegildo Zegna campaign - one of the guys looked like Anthony Sandstrom who did nude shots for a gay mag quite some years ago. Is that him? We report, you decide.

Labels: Anthony Sandstrom, hot men

A macho man walks into a cafe asking for a job. Then, an equally qualified queen walks into the cafe and do the same. Who will get it? The striaght guy, you bet.

We have seen this a thousand times, even gay guys don't want to hire queens, just like women don't usually promote other women in the corporate world.

Is it self hatred by the way?

Cut through the political BS and deep down most people would want a white, blond, straight acting Abercrombie boy. Personally, I can take an Asian or a Latino. Latino guys are cute and most of the Asians I met are smart and we can have meaningful conversations.

Sometimes "gayness" just holds people back in organizations. This sucks. I know. Can't gay guys accept other gay guys for who they are?

"Just wondering. Like I consciously drop my voice a little when with blokes and call them 'mate' all the time.... and uncross my legs when I think of it but I think straight guys do that too. Do you consciously modify your behaviour to appear straight or 'str8acting' - how far do you go? Is it to impress others or to feel good about yourself?"Asks one guy in the straight acting forum.

Labels: secret confessions

photo credit: Nightthree

My high school days were a delightful mix of broken hearts, unfinished businesses and sweet aspirations. There were a few guys that I got a crush on - Stephen, Gary, Paul and Al. I was quite timid, and I did well in school, usually better than them as they were more like the popular jocks and players that every girl wanted. The little moments we spent together doing projects in my room, going to shopping malls or swimming after school were my fondest memories from those days. I would blush whenever they took their shirts off after a sweaty game or talked about the girls they banged. Sometimes they would let me poke them, sometimes not. I still keep in touch with a few of them, and I knew their girlfriends.

Was it love? I thought it was but I wasn't sure.

Things have really changed and the society is much more liberal about sex and people with different preferences, and thanks to internet porn, it took me only a few years to learn what past generations needed 30 years about sex. Now my mum has to remind me not to use the terms "double dragon" or "creampie" when we're visiting my cousins who are in high school.

Although I was already quite a stereotypical fag back then, I was lucky and grateful to be able to make friends with these guys. It really made a big difference because being around some sort of male energy is important to me. I remembered many times when things went south and I wanted to give up, all I needed was a look from them to command me to soldier on, that was all I needed to rejuvenate and get going. Increasingly, I am into girls too, provided they are hot looking or nice, there is less sexual tension, more companionship but I will still bang them and I will do things for them. There is nothing worse than being stuck with negative, obnoxious, self absorbed bitches who are fugly. Although I'd admit it won't be any better being with a guy who is negative, obnoxious, and fugly.

Some girls I would love to bang: Lauren Conrad, Heidi Montag, Teagan Presley, Gisele
Some guys I would love to bang: Anderson Cooper, Reichen Lehmkuhl, Zac Efron
People I never wanted to bang: Hillary Clinton (with all due respect Madam, I just cannot get aroused), Bryanboy, Dr Phil, Donald Trump, Martha Stewart.

As I grow older and start to make some money, having sex with straight guys is so much easier, you can always pay some straight fellas to let you suck his cock (trust me it is not difficult at all). But this is not what I want. I want them to want me to suck their cocks.

Sorry for getting gross and tasteless in the end and thanks for reading!!!

Labels: photo essay

Who's hotter? Brent Corrigan, Chase Crawford or Zac Efron?

Labels: chace crawford, hot men, zac efron

Lambda Chi Alpha is at it again!

Bradley Swearingen, a senior at the University of North Texas, has filed a lawsuit against Lambda Chi Alpha. His lawyer claimed that Swearingen had a neck fracture during the rush week in 2006, and missed a year of school and work to rehabilitation.

The suit named both the local chapter and the national organization, as well each of the 68 residents who lived in the Iota-Zeta chapter as defendants. It seeks unspecified damages for the medical bills, loss of income and continued pain and suffering. It was rumored that the medical bills alone were over $300,000.

You heard it first on Prepular.com!

Labels: fraternity, lambda chi alpha

When I first saw the marketing guys at Fratmen.tv used "More cock, less talk" in their promos, I bursted out laughing. This is spot on. Your professor is talking at you, your neighbor's fugly daughter is talking at you, the candidates on TV are talking at you, even the old fat dudes on myspace are all trying to talk to you. WTF is going on in this world? Talk Talk Talk.

I saw this guy COLE and he is so hot that I'm sure will make you flip / nutty / pass out / drool / and god forbid, masturbate!

I don't usually link to that many porn sites as Prepular is not really a porn blog. There are trillions of gay porn sites out there that folks can visit, we want people to come here to either experience for the first time or relive their college days of parties, hot guys, and friendships.

It is our policy not to post any naughty pictures, only shirtless ones. But this time I have to give kudos and a link (click only if you're over 18) to Cole and the Fratmen guys. You guys really put the gay in game.

Labels: cole, fratmen.com, hot men

Here's a special valentine treat from Damonslife.com. Damon has uploaded more photos to his vault. Damon is one hell of a guy, first, there's the killer smile that draws you in. Then, the playful demeanor and the washboard abs really perk your interests.

Imagine seeing a sexy college man naked in his room and then asking him all the questions you don't normally dare to ask. That’s exactly what happens in the latest update on Damonslife.com. Now you can chat ONE ON ONE with Damon for only $40, why waste time with small talk when you can jump straight to dirty talk?

Do I want some cocks?

Yes please!!

Labels: damon, damonslife.com, hot men

Sean Penn and James Franco playing gay in Milk

Gossip Girl stars Penn Badgley, Chace Crawford, and Ed Westwick featured on Out Magazine (I'd take any of them!)

Personal finance "expert" tells your parents how not to give you any more handouts

Rowan University's Theta Chi lost charter due to underage drinking

Tap dancing and ring kissing, how to be a winner in office (or just any group) politics

Labels: chace crawford, fraternity, theta chi

Want more shirtless frat guys, check this out!

Sigma Pi bros at Cornell were busted. And it wasn't one of those usual hazing incidents that resulted in the bros forced to pick up trash around the community or do voluntary work. This time, two guys were serverly wounded and were on life sustaining medical treatment.

Cornell University has revoked its recognition of the Sigma Pi fraternity, after binge drinking sent two students to the hospital back in November. The two freshmen needed life sustaining medical treatment. Cornell calls the fraternity's behavior "irresponsible" and "dangerous". Cornell's Sigma Pi Chapter can't reapply for recognition until 2009.

Not good. Not too long ago, parents sued Rider University and Phi Kappa Tau for the death of a student shortly after a frat party. The tragedy was suspected to be hazing related. The student had a blood alcohol content of .426, according to autopsy results released by prosecutors. Hazing and accidents, I think the Sigma Pi guys have got some SERIOUS problems this time.

I think we're seeing a trend here. Tennessee's chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha has just been suspended by the national organization and the university.

Pledges from the frat were hospitalized with a Staph infection two weeks ago, questions arose about what caused the infection. The infections allegedly developed from wounds sustained by the pledges from a hazing activity. The Pike house was sanitized after UT officials inspected the house and deemed it unsanitary, and an investigation followed.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Labels: fraternity, pi kappa alpha, sigma pi

Would you forgive a college footballer who takes naked pictures of himself?

Riley Skinner, who was named to the ACC All-Freshman team and earned MVP honors in Wake's Meineke Car Care Bowl win over UConn, was rumored to sell naughty pictures on the internet, as various websites were tipped off last week. This, of course, is highly unlikely. He will probably make more money any other way. It is still unknown how these pictures leaked out in the first place.

The uncensored version? Here.

Labels: hot men

Once again I'm taking a risk and blogging from work for your reading pleasure! This article from the NYMag poses a question, is frat the new leather?

The muscular guy in a backward baseball cap is red-faced from howling. “Are you a man?! Do you wanna get fucked up? Well, come up, bitch, and do a beer bong!” He’s holding a can of Pabst and a homemade beer funnel. A volunteer puts the tube in his mouth, and gulps. The funnel holder nails the empty can against the wall and pumps his fist victoriously.

This might be a familiar scene at Ole Miss or UVA, but it’s somewhat exotic in a Manhattan gay bar. This is “Boys Gone Wild,” a wildly popular “frat party” at the club Boy’s Room in the East Village.

Guys in baseball caps aren’t exactly new to the gay scene, of course. But this goes beyond being a “straight-acting” sports fan. “I grew up overseas and went to acting school,” says promoter Johnny McGovern. “It’s not like I had to deal with some mean frat boy who called me a fag. I have a pure, uncut fantasy of frat boys in my head.” Apparently he’s not alone. Whether it’s the result of five years of living under the manly George Bush fratocracy, or just Abercrombie & Fitch, gay “frat” parties have also sprung up in Chicago and L.A.

“A lot of gay boys were all about hiding in college,” says Marlon Gobel, one of the party’s “pledge masters.” “They weren’t part of fraternities. This party is about taking advantage of every fantasy you had but were afraid of.”

But no reason to be too afraid: There aren’t any frat boys at the Boy’s Room to beat you up (Gobel himself de-pledged in college after coming out). “Real frat boys aren’t that hot,” concedes McGovern. “They’re mostly drunk and fat. We’re not about keeping it real, but keeping it fake.”

Labels: fraternity

Spring break = drinking, daffodills, hooking up, partying, sunshine, sleeping-in, and driving down to Chicago! If you're over 18, add chatting with Damon to the list.

Photo Credits: Mcguirk, Lull in Traffic, Life of Pei, Don't think, Damonslife.com

Labels: abercrombie, damon, damonslife.com, photo essay, spring break

What makes fraternities and sororities so popular? The unmistakable sexual energy in the greek houses? The wild parties? The ample supply of alochol? The need to be part of an alliance?

For one young woman who just turned 18, she relied on her sisters for nurturing and intimacy. Soon after joining the sorority, she lost her virginity to a frat member, in a "non traditional" way.

Ledge parties, for those of you who didn’t attend party-school universities, featured fraternity boys luring their unsuspecting companions to a lair of choice, where they engineered some semblance of sex for the viewing enjoyment of their voyeuristic brethren, who watched from the window’s ledge. Unlike typical fraternity houses, these were contemporary buildings with plate glass windows and wide ledges that formed perfect viewing platforms.

I suspect mine was one of the duller productions, but, alas, I remember none of it. I learned later that some sympathetic brothers had objected to the spectacle and pulled me from the wreckage, which, to me, was remarkable.

Ledge parties weren’t merely tolerated in the fraternities — they were rewarded with knowing winks and backslaps. But my date had crossed a line: Apparently the fraternal code of ethics only approved of the performances when the girls were conscious (albeit still unaware they were being watched).

Long story short, a frat brother stepped in and stopped the show half-way. Her date apologised and dropped out of school. Just as she thought this was the end to a somewhat unwanted drama in her college life, her own sororoties sisters started to gossip about the fallout and blamed her, the supposedly victim, for all the troubles caused. What made her really upset, was that the very women that she trusted the most turned away, made her feel dirty, and betrayed her at a time she needed them the most. At the end, the sorority asked her the leave.

Then, some 20-odd years later, they saw each other again.

Labels: sorority

Where I grew up, we didn't have any hot male journalists, in fact, we didn't have that many hot guys at all. I am not lying when I say my heart skipped a bit when I first saw Anderson Cooper on TV.

SILVER FOX DILF!!!

I just learned that AC actually had brown hair until his 20s. Now, his gray hair is like a trademark. Gray hair on men is distinglished. It only makes them hotter. On women, it's just unattractive. A few years ago, Anderson wrote about his hair:

Some call it salt-and-pepper; others call it newfound gravitas. But face it -- your hair is going prematurely gray.

The good news: Losing color doesn't make you an old man. Just don't wear it like Phil Donahue.

Going gray is like ejaculation. You know it can happen prematurely, but when it actually does, it's a total shock.

If you read his AC 360 blog or his articles, you will get the feeling that he is indeed a very knowledgeble, worldly and articulated person.

There has been speculation in the past that he could be gay. Do you remember your mum told you if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is?

I just don't get that vibe. Maybe my gaydar doesn't work this time, I just don't see any gay symptoms in him. In fact, I think he actually acts a bit homophobic on the show.

Aside from the good looks, Anderson is a great news presenter. If they have some other old folks hosting "Raw Politics", I bet there won't be as many people tune in. Plus, his shows are informative, I learn something about the world every time I watch the shows.

I am going to leave you with this ridiculous love song from a gay guy to Anderson.

Labels: anderson cooper, hot men