Luann's "Hot Firefighters Calendar"

OK, this one's not real. I just thought you might like to know about it. And anything that further mainstreams the concept is OK by me.

In the current storyline in Luann, the fire department has lost funding for their school fire safety program. TJ suggests they produce a "Hot Firefighters Calendar", and much to Brad's surprise, everyone is on board with the idea -- even Toni, the one firefighter everyone agrees belongs in such a calendar.

The arc started on September 15, which is about a week away from rolling off Comics.com's archive. This isn't the first "cheesecake/beefcake" calendar to hit the funny pages: Stone Soup's Wally and Phil appeared in one back in 2002.

UPDATE: The arc ended sweetly, at least for now, last Saturday (10/12) when the last photo was shot. The "calendar" may return when it's eventually "published".

A Wunderful Cookbook for Beach Bums

They were topless on the beach, topless in Acme’s eggs and bacon section and cooking in kitchens all over town wearing only a red hat and a smile.

These uninhibited, Cape May babes are at it again and they want you to see what they are doing. They call themselves the Beach Bums and they appearing on the cover and on each page of “A Wunderful Cookbook for Beach Bums,” a project to raise funds for local resident Robbie Wunder who became a paraplegic following a swimming pool accident.

...The cookbooks may be ordered by mail by sending $11 payable to Beach Bum Cookbook, P.O. Box 495,Cape May, N.J. 08204.

The books are also available at Love the Cook and The Whale’s Tale on the Washington Street Mall, The Nature Center of Cape May, Swains Hardware, By the Sea, next to the Beach Theatre, Sunset Beach Gift Shop, Cape May Winery on Townbank Road, Love the Cook, Stone Harbor and Dock Mike’s at the South Jersey Marina.

Yes, I realize it's not a calendar (although the group did "nude" calendars in 2005 and 2006 -- which I think I missed). It's close enough. Story from Cape May County Herald.

Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust

The Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust have just issued a cheeky calendar with TV and Sports Stars.

These include Steve Leonard, Monty Hall, Sven Wombwell, 6 Rugby Team including The Bradford Bulls, and Bradford City Football Club.

You can find details of the calendar on YDMT.org.

I feel like I've arrived when I receive e-mail from the actual calendar photographer. (Thank you, Steve Rose!) I should also point out that this is but one of several calendars available from the YDMT, although the others "only" feature images of the Dales landscape.

Pictured is Bulls star Glen Morrison. See also Telegraph & Argus, The Northern Echo and Darlington and Stockton Times.

Bare in the Air

IT'S time for take-off as a brave babe gets naked to raise cash for North West Air Ambulance.

Busty Alexandra Meadowcroft, from Cheshire, went starkers for a new 'Bare in the Air' charity calendar.

She's one of thousands of people around the world who have posed in their birthday suit to raise cash for a good cause.

I really love to see a group that obviously had fun. Story and pictures found in the Sun. Buy it here.

UPDATE:

The saucy £5 Bare In The Air calendars have been banned from ambulance stations across the region after furious paramedics from the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) claimed it damages their integrity and dignity at work.

Story at Lancashire Evening Post.

Women of Curling 2009

After taking a year off, the 2009 Women of Curling Calendar, featuring 13 female curlers from around the world, is now on sale.

Like past editions of the calendar, it features nude or near-nude curlers posing with props related to the sport.

..."I think this one is more risque, in my opinion," said a laughing Keshen [Christine Keshen, who won an Olympic bronze medal at the 2006 Winter Games]. "But my boyfriend (Mike DuBois) thinks it's great. He's the boy, he's the expert."

...It was intended to be a fundraiser for women's curling teams, and models received a share of the proceeds.

Available for $34.95 from thecurlingnews.com; Reported by the Sun and the Vancouver Sun.

Spring Time

“Spring Time”, the first calendar with artistic nude photos licenced in Vietnam, was introduced on September 25 by the HCM City Culture and Arts Publishing House.

The calendar uses seven nude photos by photographer Thai Phien: “No title”, “Spreading Wings”, “Line”, “Cool Stream”, “Shoot of Rock”, “Spring Melody” and “Angle”.

I haven't found a way to order it yet. Not being a charity calendar, it's really outside my mission, but how can I not mention it? Story (and all seven beautiful pictures) found at VietNamNet.

Naked Clown Calendar

Graduates of San Francisco's Clown Conservatory Class of 2008 have stripped down to their birthday suits to make a 2009 Naked Clown Calendar, a joyful and humourous work of art the clowns hope to sell in honor of a beloved mentor paralysed from the effects of multiple sclerosis (MS) and others stricken with the disease.

$20 from http://www.nakedclowncalendar.com/. Report found at the Sun and the Contra Costa Times.