Down under

Observers of art and erotica often point out that a little clothing can be even more arousing than full-on nudity. When parts of the body are left to the imagination, the imagination runs wild.

That may be one reason that so many models are photographed in underwear or why a certain sports magazine is so successful with its swimsuit issue.

And it may also account for the popularity in many cities of underwear parties at gay bars.

Of course we also have the law to thank for underwear parties, as public nudity, even in a private club or bar, is still illegal in many cities of the world. Those of us who can't take advantage of "boots only" night in certain London clubs or "bare naked billiards" in certain Portland bars might still find some almost-naked pleasure in stripping down, at least partly, for a local undies night.

And once you have a group of men congregated in nothing but a few inches of sheer fabric, it's not uncommon for a little more than flirting to go on. In a dark corner of a bar, who knows what shorts may fall or parts flop out for some furtive mutual pleasure?

That, at least, is the theme behind this month's photo set. Sexy pal Gary returned for this hot collection, trying on as little as possible and ending up with even less. It's all waiting for you now in Underwear Party, the latest addition to Nakedism's growing collection of photo galleries.

Get a new look for a new year

Admit it. You've had the same picture, or set of pictures, as the background on your computer screen for too long. Well, it's a new year now. Wouldn't something different make that old screen look better?

Fortunately, Nakedism has what you need. Inspired by our recent galleries, we bring you screen-sized images that fulfill fantasies from public nudity to strip wrestling to, well, more public nudity. Each available in three different sizes.

To change your desktop, click your way to the Desktop Wallpaper page. Underneath one of the thumbnail images, click the pixel dimensions that most closely match your screen resolution. When the image opens in a new tab or window, use your browser's commands to either save it to your system or apply it to your background. For example, in Internet Explorer, you can simply right-click the image and choose Set as Background.

But hey don't settle for one. Download them all and try them at different times. And if you tire of that, don't worry. We'll have more wallpapers to dress up — or strip down — your desktop again before too long.

Nude for the road

For his famous 1934 movie, It Happened One Night, Frank Capra has his heroin Claudette Colbert succeed at hitchhiking where Clark Gable had failed by pulling up her skirt and showing some skin of her beautiful legs. There is no doubt some male hitchhikers could succeed with certain drivers by doing something similar, say, taking off a shirt. And if that worked, why not take off more? Maybe you yourself have driven down the highway, seen an attractive hitchhiker, and imagined him standing there, stark naked and begging for a ride. Now that's the stuff of fantasy.

But let's take the fantasy a little further: Why is he hitchhiking naked? Just to attract attention? Or maybe he has no luggage, no knapsack, nothing but the skin he was born in. Maybe his mates stripped him naked as a prank. Maybe he got drunk and separated from his clothes at a party the night before. Or maybe he lost a bet or a dare. Whatever the reason, he's naked and helpless, with nothing to bargain for a ride — except perhaps to do you some kind of favor. Surely you would have mercy on such a hitchhiker, wouldn't you? And surely you could think of some way he could repay your kindness?

These were some of the thoughts going through my head as I stood naked and vulnerable on an uncompleted stretch of freeway at sunrise with photograph Andrew Adam Caldwell. I'm not sure how many driver speeding by below caught my naked form illuminated by the rising sun. But I was completely exposed in any case. I'm only glad I wasn't really in the position of our fantasy hitchhiker, although it would certainly be a memorable predicament.

But to get a real sense of what's that like you need more than my words. You need pictures, and we have plenty of them for you. Go directly to Nakedism's photography department and check out the set called Road Show. Then add a comment below telling us how you'd handle that situation.