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For our readers in the states, please let me take a moment to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! While it is an American holiday, I hope both our domestic and international readers will also allow me a moment to come from behind the curtain to express my appreciation.

Hunk du Jour started by accident.
I'm a software engineer and over a decade ago I created a small javascript program on my GeoCities web page to show a different hot guy (or girl, at the time) each day. Little did I know that it would eclipse my vacation photos in popularity and end up getting spun off into it's own web site.

Things have definitely changed... but one thing stays the same. Without you reading this, I'm just some guy with a laptop and too much time on his hands. Thank-you for your readership, your suggestions and e-mails (I read all of them -- and am sorry I can't always reply), and for joining us on all those other social networking sites. I have much affection for you, and wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.

It takes a big, gay village.
Love and thanks also go out to our past, present, and future Hunkologists... Troy has been introducing us to some great new people this year, and puts in a lot of time and effort to bring us Friday TPiRness each week! David has been a bit quiet since the spring, but has also been helping us rediscover some old favorites this year. You don't see anything from Michael, but he works hard behind the scenes making sure those pesky ads keep appearing so I can afford the bandwidth bills. (He also coined the term "hunkologist.")

I'm also incredibly thankful for the love and support of my partner, Doug, who so patiently puts up with all of the time I spend online. And of course, I have to thank my family -- my mom, dad, and sister who are so supportive and proud of this silly site.

I'd also like to give thanks to all of the creative industry from which I draw my inspiration... these photographers, stylists, models, agents, artists, accountants, and support staff all work incredibly hard and I think as a blogging community we can do a better job about fairly crediting and promoting their work.

I'm rambling -- you can see why I usually keep the soap box safely away in storage. To recap: Thank-you.

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:: Previous Hunk du Jour interviewee Jason Verlaine appears in Bent Out of Shape: An Evening with Jason Verlaine TONIGHT in New York, check it out!

:: The Hunk du Jour Model Search continues! We're looking for amazing guys (like you?) who are looking for a great opportunity to help a charity campaign and get a bunch of exposure. Suggest us to a friend!

We're teaming up with Support Nature Project to find someone who would be perfect for their campaign of raising awareness of environmental issues and raising some money for Plant a Billion Trees.

HOW TO ENTER
We're opening up submissions for the model search right now -- an easy two-step process. Simply fill out our entry form, and then follow the instructions at the end to submit your photos for the contest.

LET'S VOTE -- FAN FAVORITE!
We'll also be conducting an online vote for the Hunk du Jour Fan Favorite -- while this lucky fella isn't guaranteed to be selected winner by our judges, the extra buzz can't hurt and he'll receive a surprise at the end of the contest as well.

Fan favorite voting will begin on Monday, November 16.

AT STAKE...
The winner of our model search will be our guest in Dallas, TX for an exciting weekend, including two full photo shoots with On Display Men and Jay Fuertez Photography, to be prominently featured on Hunk du Jour and On Display Men. The winner will receive hotel accommodations, round trip domestic airfare, model coaching, airport and photo shoot ground transportation, as well as a few more surprises to be announced as the contest progresses.

DEADLINE
All online entries and submitted photos must be received by 11:59PM December 31, 2009. Entrants must be legal residents of the United States. Please see the contest entry form for full details and eligibility requirements.

Questions? Contact Us!

About Support Nature Project
The goal of "Support Nature Project" is to raise awareness that everyone on our Planet Earth can make a contribution to the future of the planet. 100% of the profits from the project will be donated to "Plant A Billion Trees" to benefit the environment for all of us.

The Support Nature Project is the collaboration of Jay Fuertez Photography and On Display Men and is supported by C-IN2 Underwear, Hunk du Jour and DNA Magazine. The models who are invited to participate in the project volunteer their time in support of the cause and receive the positive worldwide exposure for their modeling career.

This is just a reminder about exclusive Hunk du Jour Live Event TONIGHT, Monday August 17th at 6PM Pacific Time. You don't want to miss our live interview with Adam Bouska and Jeff Parshley!

Fantastic photographer Adam Bouska and Jeff Parshley are co-founders of the NOH8 Campaign. We'll talk to the guys about the iconic campaign in the wake of California's Prop 8.

Adam and Jeff won't just be answering our questions, though -- we'll also open the floor to your questions. Ask them about photography, breakfast, or propose marriage - it's up to you!

Good Morning, Hunk-lovers!

A programming note -- Hunkologist Troy D is taking the helm here for the next week and a half or so, while I head off to Europe with co-Hunkologist Doug B!

In addition to his Friday TPiRness posts, Troy has promised to check in on the site and make sure it hasn't crashed -- and perhaps sprinkle a few extra posts here and there during his watch.

Also returning in the meantime is Asst. Hunkologist David E, who has some great guys scheduled to appear over the next week and a half... so don't worry about not having anything to see around here!

It's truly a treat to bring this blog to you -- and your entire team of Hunkologists here delight in it. If you live in London-Amsterdam-or-Oslo and see a couple of confused-looking Seattle boys sneaking glances at the local cuties... come up and say Hi -- it might be us! (You can also watch for trip updates on my personal blog, Let's Geek Out.)

Thanks for reading, and we'll see you again very soon.

Chris M,
Lead Hunkologist & Editor

Friday TPiRness is out at the beach this week, with the girls in bikinis and boys doin' the twist at Spring Break. Never fear, though -- it'll be back next week in a super double-sized edition!

In the meantime, do you remember Contestant #6 from last week? Troy tracked him down and he was nice enough to answer a few questions for our voters -- what a guy! Check out the interview, and vote in last week's TPiRness if you haven't already.

Of course, you can always read up on all of our past Friday TPiRness posts!

Enlarge Photo | Credit: Bryan David Thomas, Photo by Rick Day

We're happy to bring you this latest edition of the Hunk Guide, and excited to announce two new hunky treats from your favorite team of Hunkologists!

First up... for all of you fans of our Hunk Guides who flock to the site every Thursday? Well, get ready to check back more often -- because we're launching an all-new Hunk Guide page where you can check out the links as we find them (and submit your own links that we somehow overlooked!)

We're still going to bring you this weekly recap of the Hunk Guide -- though if we get too prolific it may turn into a "Best of..." recap.

And secondly... for all of you iPhone and iPod Touch users, you can now carry around the Hunk of the Day in your pocket with the new Free Hunk du Jour App! Special thanks go out to our man Dan at Ginger Fever for the great work getting this initial version of our app out into the world -- knowing how we like to tinker with things you just know that we'll be providing updates as the weeks and months go on!

The Hunk du Jour App shows you who the current Hunk of the Day is and lets you flip back through the past two weeks' hunks! We're excited to get our foot in the door, and are eager to release new functionality in the coming months.

Thank-you for all of your support! ...the team here really appreciates the love, and are glad that y'all enjoy the site so much. We're looking forward to being your source for the best of the web, bringing you the insight only expert hunkologists can!

Love,
Chris M, Lead Hunkologist & the rest of the Hunk du Jour team!

We live in a world of 30-second news bites, but I heartily suggest you spare the 18 minutes to watch the iconic speech made by Martin Luther King Jr., the amazing man who we honor today.

Please consider participating in the MLK Day of Service today, over 11,400 community service projects are happening nationwide.

Today marks the 20th Anniversary of World AIDS Day. While there has been great progress made, this disease still kills thousands of people each day. It's not overstating, and it's not hype. More than two million people died of AIDS-related causes in 2007.

There are things each of us can do to make an impact, and no action is too small. Anything from writing your favorite AIDS charity or advocacy group a check to volunteering your time, from buying a cup of coffee to simply wearing red today.

Enlarge Photo | Credit: Jack Mackenroth Awareness T-Shirt

For more information on our friend Jack Mackenroth's World AIDS Day T-Shirt, check out his blog. Jack has been living with HIV since being diagnosed in 1990, and is healthy and strong.

Mark the 20th Anniversary of World AIDS Day with a $20 (or $200) donation to one of the following organizations. Thank-you!

• The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatrict AIDS Foundation
• amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research
• United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS - by mail
• World AIDS Campaign - by mail
• Project Angel Food, Los Angeles CA - online
• Lifelong AIDS Alliance, Seattle WA - online

Find a place to get an HIV test by texting your (United States) Postal Code to KNOWIT -- 566948.

For excellent coverage of World AIDS Day and other HIV/AIDS related news, please visit our good friends over at Towleroad in their HIV/AIDS hub.

We're proud to once again participate in Blog Action Day -- a day where once a year the blogosphere unites to raise awareness about a pressing issue of our time.

Please join me in supporting The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. We have made a personal contribution of $100, but urge you to give as much or as little as you can.

We're looking to raise at least $500 for the organization, and one or two angel donors would be all it takes.

Click here to donate. Thank-you!

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Pretty on the Outside joins the blog community in support of the No on Prop 8 campaign with this touching (and totally fake) portrait of Hugh Jackman and Robert Buckley.

Hunk du Jour isn't exactly a political voice in the blogosphere, but the stripping away of rights for gay Californians (including some of my personal friends) is something that should not be tolerated. Recent polls show that if the election were held today, Proposition 8 would pass by a 6-point margin and eliminate the right to marry for same-sex couples in California.

There has been a huge fundraising push by folks looking to kill the progress that has been made in California towards equality, and the conservative voices are now outspending the voices of equality.

I urge you to give what you can to the No On Prop 8 campaign. Please donate today. We're also donating ad space on Hunk du Jour to the campaign from now through election day.

Greetings, Hunk lovers!

I'm proud to announce that just moments ago we released the next version of our fantastic Hunk of the Day application for Facebook users.

In addition to seeing our featured hunk on the "Boxes" tab of your profile, you can now vote for favorite nominee right from the application! You also have a handy link back to the nominee's original post on Hunk du Jour where they were originally featured -- so you can see all the photos from that particular set.

We're super excited about the changes, and are eager to add more features (feed notifications of your votes, share with a friend buttons, etc.) as my time allows. Let us know what you'd like to see in the comments!

Restaurants across the nation are participating in Dining Out for Life, an annual event to raise money for local AIDS charities.

Aww... Ted Allen is so cute.

Though a majority of cities are participating tonight, be sure to check the Dining Out for Life website for dates and participating locations in your area.