Ron

4 is the only number that has the same number of letters as the number itself. That is all.

My CD collection has Classical (less than other genres), Jazz, Rock and Heavy Metal. I'm not a big fan of Folk music although I'll listen to something once in a while. I've found my taste in music has changed over time. It's now less about rip-roaring, head-banging music. I mostly listen to music on the Tidal Audio streaming service even when I already own the CD; I can find something for every mood; I can get access to better than CD quality. And, now that I've bought a pair of noise-canceling, wireless headphones from Bowers & Wilkens (30 hours on a full charge) I can take my streaming music everywhere with me without plugging in. I don't listen to music in the car. I find it a distraction from paying attention to the road and other Massachusetts drivers (absolutely unpredictable behavior), but I've also learned that those drivers from New Hampshire and Rhode Island are only marginally better behaved on the road.

Video Killed the Radio Star by The Buggles was the first video shown on MTV back when it launched on August 1, 1981. And, yes, I was watching MTV at its beginning. I was two months away from my 23rd birthday at the time.

Today is Boston Pride. This year's theme: Pride for the People. I thought this an appropriate song...

I lived in Toronto for three years. Does that count? Anyhoo, since you can't show dick you may as well show some ass which is fine for some reason.

I’m a diet Pepsi drinker. Have been for many years. I used to drink regular Coca Cola but then an article came out saying colas of any stripe decreased calcium absorption for the bones. Being over six-feet tall and gangly I decided that I needed all the calcium I could get. Years later I read a clarification on the study for that previous article and it stated the calcium concern was centered on women. By that time I was a bit older and there is a family trait (mom’s side) of being tall and slim but getting a belly. Now, as a Gay man out and about I had no interest in falling into the family trend. So when I started drinking cola again — Diet Pepsi filled the bill because it tasted better than Diet Coke. People would ask me why I drank diet pop when I was so skinny? I thought the answer was obvious: I wasn’t downing sugary drinks all day and risking the look of that rounded belly.

I’m happy to support GA with my premium membership (when I can afford to) and it’s absolutely amazing to see that support being utilized in these fairly frequent updates to the platform. I can only assume it’s all very complex behind the scenes. I will say that it is very much appreciated. I’m a fan! Even though it’s been a while (seriously too long) since I’ve contributed a story I do plan on sharing something(s) this year — another way to be supportive. Fingers crossed!

Perhaps, Thurston Howell III might be a better foil to the poor service worker. I have worked in both retail and food service, along with manufacturing and hospitality industries, and "shudders" phone sales (cold-calls being the worst part). Steve, to answer your second question I would have to say people were the best and worst parts of all of my jobs. Everything else could be worked around or fixed.

Good for you. I was in Australia just the once and after the second day in Sydney I spent the next four days in bed with food poisoning. Two days later I was in Melbourne. Luckily, Melbourne turned out to be a safe haven from food issues even if the city turned out to be a bit boring for me.

@drsawzall I hit the 'laugh' emoji because it's funny-stupid when those things happen. Try wondering just where you put your eyeglasses when you're actually wearing them!

From another Ohioan (Northcentral), although now formally a Bay Stater (Massachusetts), welcome to GA.

18 grams of whole coffee beans freshly and finely ground (11 on the Baratza Encore grinder) put into an Aeropress coffee maker. Add enough hot water (just off the boil) up to the number 2 then press through with the plunger into a mug (containing the contents of two Sweet 'n' Low packets), and then pour the brewed coffee over ice in a tall glass and top up ice cold water. I do this several times a day and it's always enjoyable. In the evening I do enjoy a martini but I find martinis to be a cold weather drink, and what with warmer weather and its subsequent humidity arriving with it a martinis days are numbered. Otherwise, there's always the tasty and classic cocktail Negroni.

Good for you folks. Massachusetts is down six inches of precipitation against normal averages. I’m afraid we’ll be in drought conditions again this year.

Pretty much the same here on the East Coast of Massachusetts (on the Cape today) and the ‘feels like’ temperature is 33 degrees — brrr. My ideal weather is sunny and 75-77 degrees with a light breeze.

I prefer dark-mode when reading the Boston Globe and the Washington Post (I may be leaving this one soon. I already skip the opinion pieces.) and Apple News. Otherwise, I use light-mode for everything else. So, a mixed bag for me!

The term male slut has been in use for a long time. At least as long as I began hitting the bars some forty-five years ago, and I suspect for far longer than that.

I saw $4.00 per gallon (that 9/10ths of a cent on the end of $3.99 shouldn't fool anyone ) at a gas station here on Cape Cod yesterday.

Time for some Depeche Mode ... Or, is it?

When I saw the word Tang I immediately thought of the astronauts and space flights of olden days. Although, I have been loosely following the Artemis II flight. I watched one short video taken through the window of a jet showing the launch which was interesting to see (window seats can be good). It's loin lamb chops, sauteed spring onions and sauteed radish greens for dinner. No starch.

Congrats on your promotion, @Jeff Burton.

Audience participation! 1. I like late spring/early summer and early fall and I've had it with the rest. 2. I lived in cities for thirty years and it was easy to walk on the 'shady' side of the street. Nowadays I'm not out in the sun long enough to bother. 3. No. 4. I have and own both. Although the physical books have diminished greatly. A few years ago and prior to a move I gave around a hundred hardback and paperback science fiction and fantasy books to my young nephew who enjoys those same types of stories as I do. Lately I have been tossing other types of books into the trash bin a few at a time; I no longer want them and no one else does either. 5. I do read actual books but mostly digital nowadays. I figure at my age it doesn't really matter if I don't actually 'own' the books I buy. And, of course, there's always the online web-based reading material. 6. Mparntwe by our very own @Palantir. At least I began reading it and I commented on the beginning for the author here after the first chapter. As it happens, and, sadly, but all too often lately, I haven't finished reading the book.

And now ... Time for some Black Sabbath. This seems appropriate nowadays.

I once did an ancestry search by going through the U.S. census records. My paternal side can be traced to a German man who listed his occupation as being a barber. He married an Irish women who is recorded as homemaker on the census. On the maternal side once again is Irish for the male and British for the female.

We are all (I think) eager for Spring to arrive. But there is a treat on Tuesday morning a little after 6AM EST, a full eclipse of the moon by the Earth visible in the lower 48 states that will turn the moon the color red, this is because some light from the sun will leak around the Earth despite the moon being in shadow. Not only that but a extremely rare phenomenon called a selenelion ( or selenehelion) that occurs during a total lunar eclipse where the sun rises and the moon sets at the same time. If you're in a high enough location you will be able to turn toward the rising sun and turn around and see the setting moon.

I feel doubly provoked by this word. I am both provoked because, and, due to the fact that I have had time to think about it, I am also provoked.