Zombie

I'd rather be down the pub drinking a pint of Old Hooky with a bag of scratchings

The problem with new technologies is the knowledge always escapes, so you need the next big thing, then the next. It's a nice little earner

The Face On Mars

OK OK! I confess! *oh the shame ... * I was addicted to ... ... THE FAB FIVE! :D ... and the theme

There are gravity anomalies on Earth too http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_anomaly Einstein's General Relativity explains gravity as the curvature of space-time by mass but it seems we don't fully understand it and it hasn't been reconciled with quantum theory. And measuring gravity seems to be a bit unclear too, for example the Pioneer spacecraft anomaly http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_anomaly *reminder to self to retrieve anti-grav experiments from under the bed *

Comments in your blog prompted me to find another example of how other cultures regard gender variance positively Samoa Fa'afafine are "a recognized and integral part of traditional Samoan culture ... born biologically male [who] embody both male and female gender traits ... Fa'afafine are known for their hard work and dedication to the family, in the Samoan tradition of tautua. Ideas of the family in Samoa and Polynesia are markedly different from Western constructions of family, and include all the members of a sa, or a communal family within the fa'amatai family systems ... This third gender is so well accepted in Samoan culture that most Samoans state that they have friendship relationships with at least one Fa'afafine. Traditionally Fa'afafine follow the training of a women's daily work in an Aiga " [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fa%27afafine]. A real life example is the Tuilagis, Samoan born England rugby players - the most masculine sport anywhere - whose brother Olotuli is fa'afafine and it's simply not an issue for the family or the Samoan community - "For centuries in the Pacific Islands, some of the men have been brought up to think of themselves as women and live a woman's life. In Samoa they are known as fa'afafine. "Olotuli is fa'afafine, he doesn't play rugby," Freddie Tuilagi explains. "He wears a dress and make-up and if he walks around Leicester every one looks at him, thinking, 'Is this a man or a woman?' In Samoa it's normal, there is no prejudice." [http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/meet-the-tuilagis--a-brotherhood-of-tigers-480031.html] Gives me an excuse to post a pic of Manu Tuilagi showing off his tats

Autonomous killing machines aren't here yet but when possibility becomes reality then it'll be inevitable

Could be a browser issue Mike - I find many images don't display for me too but it loaded OK and Sasha [above] could see it. Here's another source from CBS - same pic but uncropped widthwise http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57586653/gay-couple-says-oui-in-frances-first-same-sex-wedding/

Vincent Autin and Bruno Boileau kissing after their wedding today, the first in France after the gay marriage and adoption law was passed 10 days ago. No-one on this site is going to object to two gay men being able to tie the knot and seal their love are they. I wish them every happiness in their lives together and for the many who will follow them.

I love making crisp roast potatoes just like these ... and I enjoy eating 'em even more *saliva glands switch into full spray mode *

Lucky she doesn't have any enemies

Guess we won't be getting a self-aware-gay-zombie-love movie anytime soon

Way to go hubby!

I think W_L meant American Football is derived from rugby football. Just as baseball is derived from rounders

Most of us instinctively know this to be true, but recent research has shown that owners of dolls don't realise the full extent of the risks they are taking. Just to be clear, not all dolls are evil. Not at all. But the problem is that some of them are. How so? Well dolls become evil when they are possessed. The fact is your much loved doll might be absolutely fine today, and completely safe, but it could become possessed next week. Or tonight. Here's an example of an evil doll. You can tell it's evil by the eyes. And by the way they open when it sits up ... this one too ... and this one I don't wish to be alarmist but if you have a doll it's probably best not to keep it in your bedroom. Certainly not while you're asleep. In fact, just in case it gets possessed during the night and decides to attack you while you're asleep, it would be sensible to keep it locked up in a metal box. And wear the key on a bracelet or necklace so it can't use poltergeist powers to retrieve the key and get out. And make quite sure the box hasn't got any gaps or eyeholes. Obviously you want to be able to get to sleep at night. Without worrying that it might be watching you. So that's it really. Dolls are quite safe - as long as they're not possessed and are always securely locked up at night. Sleep tight. Still not convinced? OK here's some independently-verified-guaranteed-gospel-truth third party testimonies you might like to read just before you curl up and go to sleep tonight http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/scary-stories/articles/110451/title/true-creepy-doll-story http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20121223214929AAB6AUU ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Edit to add: thanks Sly for mentioning the Chucky series of documentary movies

"House of Cards is a really interesting show. the behind the scenes struggles and corruption haven't been this openly shown to the public, ever." Actually they have been - 23 years ago This is a remake of the BBC House of Cards trilogy shown in 1990-5, based on Michael Dobbs books. It's my favourite political show Don't know if the US version keeps the "feel", but in the original the hero / villain plays like Richard III and speaks directly to camera when he's plotting an especially dastardly act of malice or murder. Funny thing is the actor, Ian Richardson, was so good that although Francis Urquhart is an amoral sociopath and you are appalled watching his evil actions, the black humour makes you want him to succeed I guess the writers of Dexter picked up on this idea. Hope we get to see the US version in Britain, and if you get a chance to see the original BBC show you'll enjoy that too.

No need to be concened that you're worthless or that you'll never amount to anything. Adversity can break people or it can make them stronger and from what you've written it's clear that you have been made stronger, just by the way you've articulated so clearly the failings of your Dad and your resolve to live a very different life. And do not feel responsibility for your Mum and Dad. You can give support but they are adults and have made and will make their own decisions. At the moment you're in a bad place but as you get more control of your life - which you will - you will be able to look back on this as an important, though desperately sad, chapter in your life and be proud that you got through it and made your own life on your own terms. Never doubt this.

Hmm, interesting points. Maybe humans are hard wired to be prejudiced in all sorts of ways because we see it in the actions of others every day and, as you say Rob, in our own actions and responses too. I try to follow the adage "judge as you find", but even that isn't fool proof because until we know another person we can't begin to understand their story and why they behave, react and interact as they do. And getting to know them is made all the more difficult if we've already put up our judgmental barriers.

Politicians are held in pretty low regard on both sides of the pond. The only thing they deliver consistently is low standards of behaviour Yeah, I reckon a straight swap would be a bum deal for us - but it might give us some new targets to poke fun at

To be fair many of them are a lot more enlightened than their bigoted counterparts across the pond

Which were these?

Britain's Parliament is taking off two days - today and tomorrow - to debate a bill to introduce gay marriage in England and Wales backed by the Conservative / Liberal coalition. At the moment it seems likely to go through and become law allowing gays to get married despite the "swivel-eyed loons", the description given by a senior Conservative to describe "grass roots" Conservative Party members - essentially elderly coffin dodgers - who are angrily opposed to gay marriage. There are plans too in Scotland for a similar gay marriage law.

Top sportsmen are role models so coming out while still in the game has more impact and he's courageous for doing that. And of course we should want top sportsmen to be able to come out so they can live their lives honestly during their careers - why wouldn't we? Of course, if he's not picked up by a team then the clubs will be shown up as homophobic. Similar thing happened in Britain in football - where it ended badly - and in rugby, where it ended well. In football a lot of the problem is with fans, in rugby the fans couldn't care less as long as the guy delivers

... meanwhile on the other channel Simon Cowell gave a grateful nation Back Door Lover by one-man-freak-show Maarty Broekman

It was the centenary of his birth last July when I posted a thread about him with details about his incredible work in breaking the German Enigma code during WW2, which shortened the war and saved tens of thousands of lives https://www.gayauthors.org/forums/topic/35030-alan-turing/?hl=%2Balan+%2Bturing#entry381661 Not only was he a brilliant mathematician, he is regarded as the father of modern computing. Had he not been driven to kill himself by an ungrateful and bigoted country determined to persecute him for the crime of expressing gay love, it is very possible that the history of computer development would have taken an entirely different course. More links if you're interested http://www.ellsbury.com/enigmabombe.htm http://www.historyarticles.com/enigma.htm