Graeme

I think it's intended to be a clever play on words. Yes, a 'fag' is a cigarette. The end that you are left with after you finish smoking it is known as the 'butt', which has other, cruder connotations. So, it's say the end the presidency, but in a moderately derogative way.

You'd going to have to try a lot harder if you want that award. So far, what you've done it too good to win

If only I was twenty years younger and single.... You still look good, Matt!

Very nice, Joe Maybe you should get someone else to take the picture, so you'll smile more

Please, everyone, let's keep this thread on topic Some of these matters should be handled privately, not publicly, or in a different thread.

That's striking

Happy Birthday, Gabriel!

I think this is a non-issue. Many of the stories here and elsewhere are very human stories, and that's what attracts readers. Different cultures can get different things from the stories, but they all recognise a number of basic truths, such as love, hate, fear, and courage. When you consider science-fiction and fantasy, if the premise above was correct, none of these stories would be read because how can people relate to a completely alien culture? The answer is that they can, because a culture is not a story, it is only the setting for the story.

Most of the time, I can work out who the member is fairly quickly. A lot of the time, they'll use similar names. When they don't, it usually becomes obvious in context -- such as when I noticed the new name against old posts or threads.

Great pics, Trebs! It's times like this that I wished I was living in the USA (or at least was independently wealthy enough to be able to fly over to visit on a whim).

I don't think so, not really. I think he is just seen as a druggy celebrity who is a bit insane. well I hope so. most people will see it rationally I think I agree with Smarties. The majority of people will see it as a washed-out-celebrity thing, not a gay thing.

One of the amusing things that struck me was the insistence on no body contact. The old devil's dance, rock-and-roll, would have been fine. The old time classics, like waltz, fox trot and tango -- out.

Happy Birthday, Pete! I hope you have a great day and a fantastic year ahead.

Happy Birthday, David!

I believe you're correct. A horse float is a covered trailer used for transporting horses. Usually 1-3, though floats capable of carrying two horse are the most common. My wife says she doesn't trust one horse floats -- she doesn't think they are stable enough because of the narrow width. She uses her two-horse float, even when transporting only a single horse.

We have two vehicles, a Mitsubishi Mirage and a Mitsubish Triton. I drive the Mirage (the small vehicle) as it's a lot easier to drive in city traffic than the Triton. My wife drives the Triton, as it's the only vehicle we have that's capable of pulling a horse float. We had a yellow Ferrari on our wedding list, but no one bought us one. We're still waiting to win the lottery so we can buy one... and hopefully have enough left over to get the road and driveway sealed so we could drive it with completely destroying the undercarriage.

I've been to a few weddings, and even participated in one myself, and I think I can say that dancing at weddings is very unusual. I've never been to one that had dancing. The reception after the wedding is a different story -- I think they've all had dancing -- but, no, it's not normal to have dancing at a wedding.

Robbie's birthday is the 15th Jan. Today is the 15th Jan for everyone who lives in this part of the world Why should he be restricted to only the timezone he lives in? If you work at it, you can have a 48 hour birthday (starting from the International Date Line and working west until you return to it from the other direction).

Congratulations!

Happy 22nd Birthday, Robbie! I hope you get spoiled rotten

Happy Birthday, David!

Just speculating, but what's the chance the honeymoon couple had arranged for a helicopter to pick them up off from the beach and whisk them away to an island paradise somewhere? If so, we'll know that at least two people will survive.....

I've just thought of another altenative explanation. What if the earth movement was raising the beach? Admitedly, I would have expected the people on the beach to notice that, if it happened, but it would explain the retreat of the sea without requiring a tsunami. There are probably some undersea earth movements that would also explain it, such as the raising of the floor in some places to block or partially block off the sea near the beach, coupled with a drop in the sea floor just out from the beach, but that's getting a bit extreme.... Did anyone else find amusing the minister's proclamation of Brandon and Chase being 'Husband and Wife'? I know he was just saying it by reflex, given the earth movement and volcano eruption, but I can see Eric and Jon grilling the newlyweds to find out which is the husband and which is the wife.....

That was my read on it, too. If so, they are in BIG trouble, because the only way off the beach, as I understand it, is a narrow path up the cliff face. If the earth is still shaking, then that would be dangerous. Of course, staying on the beach with an incoming tsunami would also be dangerous..... :wacko:

Please see James's blog. I'm sorry, James. When you're ready, repost what you've written Until then, just take care.