rustle

If you're overwhelmed by what you think you have to do, somebody recommended making a list of everything you have to do. Every day, work on something on that list. You will have to add to it, but that's OK; just keep working on the list. If some of the items have a deadline, put that on the list, too, then prioritize. Do this every day for your work and for your personal life. It'll cut the stress of got-to, and help you be more productive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCjDxAwfXV0 This is a video about blue eyes/brown eyes Zolia Lily mentioned. Worth viewing when discussing race.

I use FB often. It's reconnected me to people I hadn't seen for years, and enriches my social life, since I don't sit down with quill and ink pot any more, writing letters. Seeing targeted marketing is better than untargeted, and the network has to pay for itself somehow. BUT I don't waste time on the apps, and am selective about what I put out there. I don't care if I get junk mail, so my address is published, but my phone number isn't. The entire internet is a public forum. Everything you do and everything you say/write is out there forever. If you're afraid of someone finding something out about your life, maybe you shouldn't be doing it, instead of worrying about hiding it. Or grow a thicker skin and live an authentic life, without any expectation of privacy, and just say, "So what?"

Raijen, this is a good subject to bring up and discuss. Political correctness in the U.S. demands that we be color blind. PC's made it tougher to address prejudice, and driven racism underground. I wanna see every color and love it, without letting it influence my judgment. Please keep thinking about this. I suspect that when you really clarify your question, bring it into perfect focus, the answer will present itself.

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon The Year of Living Dangerously The Killing Fields Apocalypse Now Blade Runner in no particular order

From a Texas point of view: The exploiter divides the world into 2 kinds of people - us and them - then takes whatever the other has that the exploiter wants, justifying it because the other is "less than" the exploiter. A whole framework of myths gets built up to justify this. Stuff, land, resources - they're all fair game if the other is less human, and the ends justify the means. Once the exploiter gets what he is after, he can afford to appear and feel magnanimous and noble by doling out trinkets. Is this a deliberate process? For some. Others are impressionable, or wanting to feel superior by right of birth, because deep down, they know they're not.They invest in the mythos. And the lies and attitudes get passed down through the generations. This communal belief system is partly sustained by shame and denial. (How can we possibly be descended from such barbarians? It isn't true! We're good people! Maybe they weren't so bad.) Can you bear the burden of the sins of your fathers? Imagine growing up believing slavery was evil, tracing your lineage back, and coming face to face to face with an ancestor who owned slaves. Theory becomes an uncomfortable reality. Like New Yorkers discovering a slave cemetery in their midst. (It happened.) On the other side, being a victim or descended from victims can become part of a person's identity. It also sets the person apart. It's perverse, but it happens. Can a white person ever understand what it is to be of another race? Tell me, can a straight person ever understand how it feels to be called a fag?

W/o a doubt. Good art must reflect life in order to add to it.

In some ways, I never got past the 17-year-old goth kid I used to be. In others, I was old at 9. And that's OK. I hope to have grown up in ways that really matter, but there's "must" and there's "may." For me, discerning the difference is what maturity really is about.

I'm monogamous and saw the AIDS epidemic first-hand. Also, I hate condoms. Sex outside the relationship would put an end to sex in the relationship. Just plain survival instinct there. If there's a willingness or need for sex on the sly, outside, that part of the relationship is already over. Emotional and intellectual affairs are healthy. Can any one person be everything for another? Ever? Even touching is OK, but if I saw my S.O. touching or kissing another, I'd have to ask some questions.

At what point do you consider a bad habit an addiction, and can you turn it back into just a bad habit?

It sounds like maybe you're in a rut. What are you not doing that you want to do? Long-term and short-term. You can only help others if you're strong and healthy. I like what Marzipan said about the long-term, big stuff, but there are little things you can do today: start making some lists. The largest thing you can do is made up of lots of little things that all have to be done. If thoughts are your hangup, try action. Get physical and get your endorphins flowing. Dance or exercise til you're exhausted, then get on with life. As for repetitive motion injuries, you might find a good massage therapist and get the muscles relaxed. Don't let it continue until you require surgery.

It was beautifully written; the use of the timeline was excellent. I wish I could say that I loved this story, but it was too painful, too true. Sometimes, only releasing a false hope will enable you to find a true one. Well done. rustle

A good read. More, please? rustle

I agree with James. Play the whole song or don't play it at all. Hearing a song I like with bleeped-out lyrics is annoying. How about a radio station that plays the unsanitized versions, and put a v-chip on radio for the mommies and daddies out there to limit access for their kids? In the song context, the word "faggot" has nothing to do with homosexuality, but is a meanigless epithet misused by a character. Huckleberry Finn is not a 5 minute song - it's a long-standing classic of American literature, steeped in historical context. That context is incredibly valuable in educating people in the reality of the good old days. While the term "nigger" IS offensive, removing it dilutes the book's merit.It's important for us to look at life and history with open eyes. There are many people living in the U.S. who don't realize that there were once slaves in the northeast, and that much of the work of developing New Amsterdam (New York City) was done by slaves. Words can and do hurt; the world will never be Eden. We'll always be challenged as human beings, and part of growing is learning to deal with those challenges. We should focus on teaching the life skills and establishing the self-esteem to rise to challenges and face taunts with strong character. To be able to say, "Yeah, I'm a faggot. SO WHAT?" At those times when the words do hurt, we should offer all the support and love and sensitivity to help our fellow human beings to learn to cope with the pain, and grow stronger. Because there's always going to be a bully out there.

My biggest mistake? How long do you have? Seriously, not sure which is worst: 1. Not taking a risk and speaking up. Time and opportunities don't stand still. 2. Not taking care of myself when somebody else clearly had their own best interest at heart. 3. Compromising until there was nothing left of myself. Hopefully, we learn.

First was Weeping Lily by Nephylim, and I was hooked. From there, I read the "10 most favorite." I used to read a lot off Nifty, which led me here.

Hi Folks. I'm new to posting here, but have been enjoying the site for a while. Most of my writing has been technical (boring business stuff), but if I get brave, maybe I'll try posting some fiction. (And if I get EXTREMELY brave, I might read the reviews.) Seems only fair, since I've read so much of others' work here. Thanks for the entertainment and enlightenment. rustle