MikeL

Happy Birthday, Calien! Beware Mayans bearing gifts.

I don't think being a gay athlete makes you a freak. Being out may make you something of a novelty. Not being effeminate certainly doesn't make you a freak. Having straight and gay guys both give you a wide berth sounds odd on the surface, but I guess they all consider you "different". Their loss. I am sorry to hear you are changing schools because of it. I hope the situation may change to the point you can stay where you are. Reporters tend to be obnoxious to everyone. They are the real freaks. They would prefer not writing anything positive. As for Facebook, I think you should ditch it. "Friends" there are generally superficial. My best wishes to you Hayden. Don't give up.

erogenesis (induction of sexual desire; production of arousal)

3D Graphics Show Rise in Human Prosperity, Refute Malthus There is ample evidence, both from Rosling’s statistics and from observation, that the correlation between economic growth, population growth and food supply is vastly different than Malthus and the Hunger Games predict. The most amazing 4¾ minute lecture ever: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jbkSRLYSojo

Wait until you have hot flashes. Then you will know what hot is.

You youngsters wouldn't know hot if it bit you.

Have a great trip and a great Christmas, Westie and Paya!

I used the word "deliberately" in the sense of being slow and careful, not in the other sense of doing something intentionally.

I think police do respond quickly and in large numbers to such an event. Unfortunately, once they arrive, they take a considerable amount of time for planning and procedures. They establish a perimeter which succeeds only in allowing the shooter(s) to roam free within the perimeter and in preventing potential victims from escaping. They wait for the SWAT team to arrive. In most cities, the SWAT team doesn't arrive all at once in a big van. Most SWAT officers are busy with routine patrol duty on the other side of town or out in the county. They may be off duty. They have to drive individually to the scene of the incident, find out where their assembly point is, and get all their equipment together. At Columbine, the shooters killed ten people in the school library and took their own lives after police arrived. They were dead for several hours before SWAT team members entered the library. One teacher who was shot lay wounded for three hours before the SWAT officers reached him. How many who might be alive today bled to death? See Denver Post article. Police respond quickly, but they may act very deliberately. The recent Oregon mall shooting was different. Police responded quickly and entered the mall (in pairs) immediately. The shooter committed suicide early in the incident leaving only three victims behind (one survived). Police departments across the US are changing their tactics as a result of Columbine.

OK. I'm calling your bluff, Michael9344. We'll wait for you to enter the next word in the chain...one beginning with "nd". Twenty-four hours only.

Avocados A wife asks her husband, "Could you please go shopping for me and buy one carton of milk and if they have avocados, get six." A short time later the husband comes back with six cartons of milk. The wife asks him, "Why did you buy six cartons of milk?" He replied, "They had avocados." If you're a woman, I'm sure you're going back to read it again! Men will get it the first time. My work is done here......

Happy Birthday, John!

Hilarious video of three German Shepherds in a British pub. Has something to do with speaking Japanese and is subtitled in Dutch. It would be easier to understand if subtitled in English. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f309fSTWYo4&feature=player_detailpage

I've visited London several times and never saw a rainy day...or any fog. Can't say the same for Dundee. Americans complain about the weather a lot too. I think it's our British heritage (cultural, not genetic).

You raise some interesting questions. When I started this thread, I probably had in the back of my mind that it is unusual for gay people to win a popular reality show grand prize. (I was mistaken in believing that Josh and Brent were the first to win the Amazing Race.) It is unusual, but only because any minority faces a lot of competition in any undertaking. What really is remarkable is that they overcame a number of problems and setbacks, including near elimination, and bested younger, more physically fit opponents. In the end, it was their brain power more than anything else that propelled them into a first place finish. Their victory would have been remarkable for straight guys in the same situation. What is more remarkable still is that they had an opportunity to show the world that gays are real people, capable of holding their own in a predominantly straight world, and they did exactly that. We can and should celebrate them for what they accomplished and not who they are.

LOL. Chattanooga is not London.

~ Westie ~ Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Insipiration

Wow! The Army has changed a lot since I was a soldier.

Happy triple dozen! Today is the day... 12/12/12 That won't happen again in our lifetime...not until 01/01/01. That's January 1, 2101...88 years and 20 days from today. Enjoy it while you can. Remember to tell your grandchildren about it.

Our New Guard Dog If you come for a visit, be sure to call ahead.

Happy Birthday, Benji!

As everyone knows, C J has been on vacation in Italy for three weeks and is now on a slow boat back to the US (three weeks). Here are some pictures from his vacation: Rock climbing in the Dolomite Alps More excitement than he bargained for I suddenly need to pee and you know how hard it is to find a bathroom in Italy C J carefully observes all local customs and regulations Italy has gotten to be crowded the year round Fun at the Agriturismo

OK. Readers are surprised to learn about Julie. Many have suspected that Grundig was betraying Trevor. Now that you have read chapter 144, Betrayal, who do you think has betrayed whom? Here are some possibilities: Grundig has betrayed Trevor Julie has betrayed Trevor Julie has betrayed Bridget Bridget has betrayed Julie Trevor has betrayed Bridget Trevor has betrayed Julie Are there other possibilities?