Zombie

Here's a little factoid from IMDB some of you will know: "When James Cameron was writing the movie, he intended for the main characters Rose DeWitt Bukater and Jack Dawson to be entirely fictitious. It was only after the script was finished that he discovered that there had been a real "J. Dawson" who died aboard the Titanic. This "J. Dawson" was trimmer Joseph Dawson, who had been born September 1888 in Dublin, Ireland. His body was salvaged and buried at Fairview Lawn cemetery in Nova Scotia with many other Titanic victims. Today, his grave stone (#227) is the most widely visited in the cemetery." Most visitors must be aware the grave is not Jack Dawson's. There's something quite moving that this young man (23), a "stokehold slave" who was probably regarded as the lowest form of human life when he perished on the Titanic and whose impoverished birth to unmarried parents wasn't even registered, should now be remembered (a BBC doc about his short life was made in 2001): http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/the-real-jack-dawson.html

I really have no idea what you're all talking about ...

Ah, but perceiving beauty is all about the emotional response. I suspect (but I don't know) that someone who is unable to experience emotions would not be able to perceive beauty. Is there a physchologist reading who can comment? I agree - the Google pics are insipid. His appearance only seems to be striking when you see him in performance. "Still" pics sometimes work really well for some people but not others. I don't know why that is. You're right, human response is complicated. And I agree, I don't find him hot either, even though I appreciate his beauty. For me, a hot guy will be "rougher" looking e.g. Luke Mclean, the rugby fullback / fly-half for Italy (Italian blood, Aussie raised). He's in a short YouTube vid "5 Stylish Ways to Tie a Scarf" - also worth watching for those who've never quite known what to do with a scarf ( if the link failed to show just cut + paste this into the browser window: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X14XKtZzfw ) Frankly, for me, however he tied his knot it would look pretty damned hot. Meantime, I'm searching for the vid on how to remove his clothing .... I agree. I may be gay but I can be equally struck by female beauty e.g. Julie Christie in Day for Night. Good point. And that's the problem with beauty. It fades. Whereas a rugged "manly" guy's looks can get better with age. Example, the older Gregory Peck and Cary Grant (imo) look much better than their younger selves. Yeah, that's a good point KC. If someone is exceptionally beautiful / handsome / good looking and they know it - that can be really bad. For them, and for those around them. You're absolutely right. Also, if we all looked the same and had the same emotional responses to each other then life would be much less interesting and fun too!

Now that's interesting. I accept that, for you, those pics are the epitome of beauty. Yet for me they do nothing. No reaction. I guess beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder. But I'm still curious to understand what it is that strikes us visually when we see someone, maybe passing in the street, and we are arrested by their physical beauty. May not happen very often, but when it does - WOW! Thanks for the post.

In Britain we love to moan. About anything. About the weather, TV, next-door's cat, the fat + gristle "bargain pie" bought for £1.50 at the service station (what did they expect?). Recently people have been writing in to newspapers and blogs complaining that nineteen year old Douglas Booth, the actor who played PiP in the BBC's adaptation of Great Expectations shown recently in the UK, was "too beautiful". Just to make myself absolutely clear here, he is grab-your-eyeballs-by-the retinas beautiful. This guy could not walk down the street without causing death and mayhem. Multiple pile-ups, people stepping in front of buses - that sort of thing (he can also act and it's a terrific production - if you get a chance to see it you won't be disappointed). Of course we're just talking physical beauty here. Not the inner self thing. But "too beautiful"? Is this possible? And what is physical beauty anyway? Here are some pics + clips from the BBC adaptation: http://img.thesun.co...82_1429977a.jpg http://www.tumblr.co...fore=1325121619

Thanks Red I'm just surprised that the ship could have been turned through 180 degrees by the wind. Does the AIS data show the ship's orientation - or has that been assumed? My mistake. Queen Mary 2 is the liner (stronger hull apparently) According to the C4 doc passengers were picked up at various points along the route and some had had no instruction which must have added to the panic and confusion. I think I'll stick to dry land. Now where did I put that Poseidon Adventure video .... There's now a wiki webpage on the wreck http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Concordia_disaster According to this: - two data recorders have been recovered (a 3rd is still underwater) plus hard drives containing additional data have been recovered from the ship's control panel. Surely these can't all go "missing" - passengers reported that "the Titanic theme "My Heart Will Go On", sung by Céline Dion, was playing in a restaurant when the ship hit the rock". Oh joy

I'm puzzled CJ. The ship was sailing roughly NNW alongside the island when she struck. She then heads roughly NNE? Then she gets blown back to the island by wind alone? But the pics I've seen show her prow pointing southwards alongside the island - so she must have turned around. Could the wind have done this? Surely she was just a cruise ship. Not a liner. I'm not a naval architect but I believe there is an important difference. A liner costs about 40% more than a cruise ship because it is much stronger and more seaworthy. E.g Cunard Queen Victoria is a liner for transatlantic crossings - needed to cope with very rough Atlantic storms. Her sister ship Queen Elizabeth, however, is just a cruise ship - you wouldn't want to be out in a rough storm in that baby. Coupla Qs 1. how soon after boarding was lifeboat drill in your experience? 2. why didn't the ship have a location transmitter beacon activated - C4 doc this week showed Italian search + rescue cockpit footage and the pilots were circling around in the dark looking for the ship with their infra red cameras begfore it was eventually located 3. re compensation - aren't the passengers basically stuffed by the contract terms they will have entered into when booking their tickets? 4. if not how can the US courts get jurisdiction - Italian ship - sinks in Italy Guess you won't be rushing to cruise again on Costa anytime soon ... Or indeed any Italian line. Ever again

The ability to go back in time and tell myself when I'm taking the wrong path or about to do something real stupid. Or just to give me next week's lottery numbers

They just have been (heheheh). But that's what's so wonderful about about personal favourites when they're different. Would be so sad if we were all the same.

Get the DVD of Michael Bourne's homoerotic all-male Swan Lake, and gape at Adam Cooper's magnificent, sweaty torso and fabulous hairy armpits. My favourites? Here are a few in no particular order. Hope there are some you like: Holberg Suite by Edvard Grieg Originally for piano, imho this later version for string orchestra sounds so much better with its gorgeously lush sound. The first movement (Prelude / Praeludium) is so uplifting and full of life. If you're feeling low, put this on and raise your spirits. Wedding Day At Troldhaugen by Grieg A distinctive performance of a joyous piece. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eMFuTpchns Barcarolle from Tales of Hoffmann by Offenbach (originally Elves' Song in Les Fées du Rhin) The vid proves that opera does not have to be sung by big ladies with wobbly bosoms. I'll be surprised if you don't know this music (used in lots of movies e.g. Life Is Beautiful), but if you haven't heard it before then lucky you - you're in for a real treat. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdc2zNgJIpY&feature=related Baïlèro Performed with a real sense of longing by the beautiful María Bayo, this is an old folk song in Occitan (an ancient French language) which Joseph Canteloube arranged and orchestrated along with other songs he collected which he called Chants d'Auvergne. It's about a hunky shepherd being lured across a stream by someone (another hunky shepherd?) so they can ... well, that's for you to imagine: "Shepherd across the water, you are hardly having a good time, sing bailero lero... No, I'm not, and you, too, can sing bailero... Shepherd, the meadows are in bloom, you should graze your flock on this side, sing bailero lero... The grass is greener in the meadows on this side, bailero... Shepherd, the stream flows between us, and I can't cross it, sing bailero lero... Then I'll climb down and come to you, bailero..." www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxspdNcRuWk Britain Thou Now Art Great by Henry Purcell Hey, I'm English so what's wrong with a bit of trumpet blowing? OK, there are no trumpets in this piece, but it is by England's (maybe) greatest composer. And with such an uncontentious title () the piece is restrained, subtle and ... well, just hauntingly beautiful. www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnUETmG1edg Ground by Henry Purcell Written in the 1600s, this transcription for two guitars has a timeless quality. Jakob Schmidt is mesmerising too. www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_McQKdi1fE As Steals the Morn by Handel Handel's music sublimely interweaves two voices to words adapted from John Milton: As steals the morn upon the night, And melts the shades away: So truth does fancy's charm dissolve, And melts the shades away: The fumes that did the mind involve, Restoring intellectual day. www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOPNjNHdxeA This commentary is also interesting: http://homepage.mac....F/BestSong.html Well Tempered Clavier by JS Bach The harmonic twists and turns mean you've no idea where Bach's taking you until, magically, all is resolved. Some might feel this is played a little too fast but there are plenty of other interpretations out there if you don't like it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LnRSgaDbV8 Goldberg Variations by JS Bach Glen Gould's unique performance. http://video.google....208089899995423 Fugue in D Major BWV532 by JS Bach Busoni transcription played by Georges Cziffra, one of the great 20thC pianists (he also lived an incredible life). Purists may disapprove of meddling with Bach but I like it. So there! www.youtube.com/watch?v=rF1sFEr90ww Piano Concerto by Robert Schumann An old recording by the legendary Michelangeli. The final movement is stirring, surprising and very satisfying. www.youtube.com/watch?v=CExW3G9LHNM Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis by Ralph Vaughan Williams Vaughan Williams used to be regarded as a very "English" composer but he's much better known in other countries after this music was used in Master and Commander. I guess this piece will now forever be linked with the sea but, for me, it always evoked a sense of the English countryside. And the maker of this incredible HD vid clearly associates it strongly with landscape too (click on "Show more" to read how he made it). www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnD1Ev6kZlM&feature=related Concerto for Double String Orchestra by Michael Tippett You might find Tippet's dissonance, counterpoint and rhythms sound strange. But listen through to the end and you will want to hear it again. . www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekTqSv5oA3I La Nuit Américaine by Georges Delerue I saw Day for Night on TV in my early teens and the theme music has stayed in my head ever since. Maybe because I knew I should be attracted to Jacqueline Bisset (she never looked better) but was very distracted by a hot young guy playing an extra who kept appearing for brief but tantalising moments. That's probably why I remember it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSqfhjt-Gg8 If you've read this far then here's a bonus for you: Evgeny Kissin - The Gift of Music (1998) Feature length documentary about the brilliant Russian pianist including part of his performance at the 1997 Proms concert. www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvosX-JXD9A Are these pieces classical, romantic, baroque or something else? To be honest, I don't care. Music is just there. To be enjoyed by everyone. Music plugs directly into my emotions (I read recently "Music is an emotional shortcut to the soul"). You may understand the terminology, forms, structures, phrasing and interpretation but it's what you feel that matters. Sure, the more you know about music the more you can find to appreciate and enjoy. But the key thing is the raw emotional response that great music can create in all of us however much or little we might know. Also important is state of mind because mood affects what you want to hear. If I'm on a high then I might want something challenging, but if I'm feeling depressed or melancholic then I need happy music to cheer me up. P.S. 1. GA website won't let me post more than two "live" links - but all you need to do is copy and paste the "www.etcetc" into your browser address window and it should then open up to play. 2. The vids should play smoothly but if they don't then try downloading them (480p is a good compromise).

Thanks rec. Some of the others may also be on GA but I must admit I haven't bothered to check - my bad

OK, you've not had many story suggestions so here are just a few of my favourites. They are all enjoyable reads. Before I list them, when I'm checking out a story I have a checklist: - does the opening sentence grab me? - is it finished and is the ending satisfying? (I always read the last sentence to check it doesn't end in a funeral` LOL ! ) - what is the genre (I like slow burning / developing relationship stories) - is it long enough for character and plot development Not foolproof but I have found some great stories this way including: Getting a Life by Jamie Anderson (http://www.nifty.org...getting-a-life/) Genre: gay-beginnings / relationship 9 chapters About the story: - unusual relationship but very well written and funny - quite a lot of sex but unusual and funny - alternating POV may irritate but you can always skip one POV and still enjoy it Two Distinct Divisions by Horatio Nimier (http://eu.nifty.org/...inct-divisions/) Genre: gay-beginnings / relationship 12 chapters About the stories: - computer biker geek meets lawyer - writing style is not perfect but the 12 self contained mystery stories (where the geek outwits the lawyer) are interesting and very well plotted (OK you may find some plot holes but overall the standard is pretty high) - nice developing relationship across the 12 stories, sex very low key Living in Surreality by Shadowgod (http://shadowgod.gay...words/lis1.html) Genre: gay-highschool / relationship 28 chapters About the stories: - very well written - growing up new friends boy / girl / boy characters and how they develop A Shot of Bourbon by Shadowgod (http://www.gayauthor.../ashotofbourbon) Genre: gay-highschool / relationship 5 (longish) chapters About the story: - very well written - trail biker boy and his growing relationship with his best friend Jakes Hand by R.E.C. (http://eu.nifty.org/...ips/jakes-hand/)Genre: gay-beginnings / relationships 18 chapters part 1, 11 chapters pt 2 About the story: - really well written, strong emotions - found, then lost, then found again student to adult relationship tale starting in the early 60s - spans the Vietnam years with a convincingly told plot - satisfying ending. Thats-life by W.E. (http://www.nifty.org...ege/thats-life/) Genre: gay-college / relationship 21 chapters part 1, 11 chapters pt 2 About the story: - best friends one gay, one straight - yes, it's a cliche!!!!!!! - but of its kind it is exceptionally well done - very satisfying ending. - this is the author's one and only story - shame, Seal Rocks (http://www.nifty.org...ool/seal-rocks/) Genre: gay-highschool / relationship 30 chapters About the stories: - beautifully written - strong emotions - very moving ending When-i-first-met-mike by DS Elliot (http://www.nifty.org...-first-met-mike) Genre: gay-beginnings / relationship 5 (long) chapters About the story: - dentist encounters homeless guy - story of their developing relationship including harrowing flashback of previous abuse - well written C James - all his stories! (http://cjames.gayauthors.org/) Genre: gay-relationships Mostly long multi-chapters About the stories: - mostly action / adventure, but some romance - no explicit sex - lots of cliffhangers - some violence and horror inflicted by the cruel author, including blood-spurting deaths, but the main characters are not usually permanently maimed - outstanding short stories are "Category 5" and "Three for Jake" Sorry if the list is a bit long but I hope you find something to enjoy here if you've not already read them all

Well now, see, this is obviously where your whole life has gone tragically wrong. This snappy scenario has been described many times in the forum and this particular scene was predicted in the ch96 thread (OK the victim was wrong, but that's a mere detail ). You're obviously getting out far too much, and living your own life. If you'd only spend a bit more time studying the forum posts you would be fully prepared for The Goat's scenes of blood-spurting cruelty and avoid nasty surprises like this.

Er, "The kilogram ... is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilogram) Right, so "force equals mass multiplied by acceleration. The unit of force is the newton (N), and mass has the SI unit kilogram (kg). One newton equals one kilogram metre per second squared." (http://en.wikipedia...._second_squared) These conversion tables help? http://en.wikipedia....ki/Pound_(force) Probably 'cos they're so tasty But more importantly would these be cutesy little slugs? http://1.bp.blogspot.../large_slug.JPG Or the stuff of nightmares? http://xaede.deviant...-Slug-269588396

Well, hacking off someone's head is kinda personal, dontcha think

Don't fret - it's all building up nicely to a blood-spattered finale.

<br />Then I'm afraid history is doomed to be repeated. Or, as Private Fraser likes to say, "We're dooomed! <b>Doooomed</b> a tell ye!!!" I mean, just how expensive and how many mistakes must there be before the penny drops and "the light bulb goes off" in the minds of those highly paid folks at NASA and in Government that you use one system or the other <u>exclusively</u> in anything to do with aviation or space - that you cannot safely run two different measuring systems in one project because Sods Law states if something can go wrong then it <b>will</b> go wrong, and Murphy's Law (a subtle but quite important embellishment!) states that <u>when</u> something goes wrong it will go wrong <b>in the worst possible way</b>. So, pity the poor astronauts, as if they won't have enough to worry about what with solar flares, cosmic rays, bone mass loss, muscle wastage and psychological stresses, never mind the normal risks of stuff just breaking down. You can be sure that if it was the NASA managers and Senators going into space themselves then they would have already sorted out this mess

Read Edward II, the play about "the gay king". It doesn't end well for him, not well at all

Posing the question was entirely legitimate, and the analogy with Salem was apt. But it's "the set-up" with the rant seemingly pre-planned as the closing "firework" that leaves a nasty taste in the mouth. There are some real and serious issues to be discussed here. A pity they weren't raised in a more mature way to enable this to happen instead of trivialising the issue as a cheap stunt.

I'll just chip in my two penny worth on two matters: With regard to the police and customs characters' dilatory observance of correct procedure, well I met a few policemen a while ago, and one thing that struck me was the "pragmatic" approach taken to process and procedure. I'm sure there has been a change in this culture, following some high profile complaints and convictions overturned on appeal, but at the time this tale is set, 2006, it is credible that the old adage "rules are for the guidance of wise men, and the obedience of fools" was still observed in real life by the old school copper and probably is still being observed by some when they think they can get away with it and / or they decide by reference to their own ethics that it is the "right thing to do". And I never cease to be amazed by the capacity for large organisations to be inefficient, to cock things up, to fail to follow up cases, to misplace files, to lose data, to implement crappy computer systems and implement them in a crappy manner, to fail to adequately train staff, to fail to hand-over when staff leave etc etc etc. I have no experience of the IRS, nor thankfully ever will have, but I would be surprised if such a vast organisation does not suffer from such inefficiencies and cock-ups, so any actual or perceived failure can credibly be explained in real life never mind the fictional world portrayed by CJ's manipulative and mis-directing mind The common factor here is called human nature, and that ain't gonna change any time soon

And The Goat claims that he never inflicts cruel and unusual punishment on his innocent characters >:-(

Unfortunately, proving a negative is notoriously difficult, as I'm sure our cunning, manipulative, deceitful, scheming, malevolent quadruped will gleefully point out.

Sooooo, things could be perking up then ... storywise.

Show me the lawyer who's never done anything wrong

... and if you run out of Australian numbers you can always switch to "imaginary numbers"