Summerabbacat

Danielle - short, dumpy and bitchy, Tracy Turnblad with an attitude and without a sense of humour. I loved Killian's description that she had the "grace of a bulldozer". "Cringy" Craig - a much more pleasant person than "Dumpy" Danielle, he seemed to genuinely want to assist Killian with his investigation into Jake's change of circumstances and the reason for it. Kane had to grow up quick, it was a case of sink or swim growing up with his birthing vessel, the hideous skank Eve. Is she dead yet @Josh Aterovis? That event cannot occur soon enough, one murder you would not want to solve, in fact, give the murderer a medal. Noah is certainly presumptuous, and his vanity appears to have no boundary. Is he desperate to gather another "pair"? And what of Killian and Kane's woeful knowledge of "superhero" duos. They do not even have to travel far back in time. In my lifetime there have been many besides Batman and Robin. What of Bert & Ernie, Sonny & Cher or the Eurythmics. And who can forget the Captain & Tennille.

Agreed @Paladin. It was a short story which Ang Lee attempted to make into a full length movie. I was very disappointed with it, probably more so because I loved The Wedding Banquet (gay themed), The Ice Storm and Sense & Sensibility, all of which Ang directed magnificently. Contrary to all the movie "experts", I did not like Heath Ledger's performance at all as he mumbled constantly. Critical bitch that I am thought "surely there are other ways to portray angst and internalised homophobia" without mumbling the whole fucking time. I also thought there was only so many times I could watch sheep grazing on a hillside before it became somewhat boring, no matter how many different angles they were photographed from. I found it amusing when I left the cinema there were three gay gays a similar age to me who sat nearby and their reaction to the film was "way too long, bored shitless after a while".

My comments were largely in response to the comments made by Pacino and gay rights activists as noted above by @akascrubber. I did not think the film was exploitative or stigmatising; the brutality and indifference of the police towards gay men involved in the leather scene was I thought realistic, as they were a sub-group of a group i.e. gay men, who were already treated by many in the police force in the same manner. If I was involved in the leather community I may have felt differently. It was not a particularly good film though, but then I did not like Brokeback Mountain.

The "connection" I made too @CincyKris.

My only response to this, and it may be "blasphemous", but Jesus that is a bit "creepy".

I thought of the film Cruising whilst reading this chapter @Paladin, and your comment has made me think of it again. A very divisive film when released so I have read. I did not see it until many years later and did not find it "politically challenging" as many purportedly did when it was released, but the times were different when it was released.

Damn! I thought I was so "clever" to have even known (I had to confirm it though) there were purportedly 12 disciples, and then to "discover" the casting out demons bumph. It's all bloody Primrose's fault; she has got me thinking of existentialism and Machiavellian motivations (and I have fuck all understanding of either, they just "sound" impressive).

I forgot to comment @Mark Ponyboy Peters regarding the significance, if any, of the murderer stabbing Alexis 13 times. I don't know if it is a "Catholic thing" or a "religious thing", but is 13 significant because Jesus purportedly chose 12 disciples to have the authority to cast out demons?

A man of few words @Mark Ponyboy Peters or was this one of Primrose's offerings, LOL?

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I must say this scared the bejesus out of me @Josh Aterovis. I am frightened of birds, and pigeons are particularly "creepy". I woke about 3 am and checked on GA on my phone and saw this comment. My heart started racing and I had to give myself a good talking too before I was able to get it to slow down. I had a bit of fever when I woke which did not help matters, and I completely missed it, until now, that you had posted this because I had mentioned "bird woman". Just watching it again now and I can feel my heart starting to speed up a little. It is fucking creepy.

@Summerabbacat only ever posts songs which he at least likes @weinerdog and @Mark Ponyboy Peters and he was not, and still is not, fond of that particular song. For him, it is almost as cringeworthy as Crocodile Dundee. I suspect the manner in which Alexis has been murdered is exactly the same as Martin @Paladin. stabbed 13 times during anal sex and the Celtic cross carved at the base of the neck. Was it the Celtic cross which Rick saw every day when he walked through the gates of his old school, or was it the images of Martin's murder which he saw? Is the murderer fixated with Rick as suggested by @CincyKris (we seem to be thinking along the same lines a lot lately as I had the same thought CK)? Are the murders some kind of religiously motivated killing, someone obsessed with gay men, perhaps gay themselves and striving to "cleanse" themselves of the evils of their own homosexuality by murdering other gay men? Very intriguing @Mark Ponyboy Peters. I noticed this too @Paladin and wondered if Rick's parents are dead, resulting from an accident of some sort. Does he think of himself as some sort of "black widow"? I was surprised by the level of his vulnerability and mental fragility as evidenced by a number of other comments, but particularly this comment. I was also surprised, very pleasantly so, at how intuitive and deeply caring Adam seems to be. I definitely judged him unfairly; and his care appears to be genuine, not motivated by the promise of sex. You have me well and truly hooked on this story now @Mark Ponyboy Peters. A very different story from any other penned by you which I have read. You seem to be as adept in the "mystery" genre as you are in the "romance" genre, similarly talented to @Paladin. And finally, it is possibly because I have been listening to Lana Del Rey almost exclusively for the last few days @weinerdog that I am posting this song. Rick's "black widow complex" made me think of it. I find very few female singers who have emerged in the last 10-15 years appealing, apart from Lana, who I think is not merely fabulous, she is fucking fabulous, in fact, Norman Fucking Rockwell fabulous.

I was incensed by the insensitive questioning of Kris by the police. You made some very good points @Philippe, no history of domestic violence or abuse, so why the heavy-handed approach. It would have served the policeman right if Kris had clobbered him, but then of course Kris would have been in deep shit. Kris's reminiscences of visiting his father in hospital were very moving.

Seth, Tad and now Craig, three gay teenage boys whom Killian has had a kind word for, and for whom he made a difference, even if only temporary. That is a great achievement, something of which Killian should be pleased. It was disappointing to learn Jake had befriended Craig and Danielle, presumably when he returned from California, only to abandon them not long after. It appears to have been quite a deliberate act on Jake's part. If I recall correctly even before he went to California with Judy, even before Killian solved the murder of Seth, Zack and Jake's family, Jake was somewhat fickle, so his current behaviour is not entirely out-of-character. I am intrigued as to who "bird-woman" is @Josh Aterovis. Is she just some random person wanting Novak's assistance, or is she somehow connected to Paul's death, Jake's questionable behaviour or perhaps Micah's expose of corrupt public officials.

The load from James' juggernaut jizz-shooter will be jettisoning jizz before Oliver knows it. I suspect Oliver will ask James if he can rim him. Let's hope James is not "fleecy" @drsawzall.

I am impressed with Esteban. He appears to defy the stereotype of the Hispanic man with a machismo attitude towards gay men. His and Aurora’s kindness is seemingly boundless. Most enjoyable @Lee Wilson.

This story proved once again what a gifted author @Rafy is. Renowned for his wit, sense of humour and whimsical playfulness, this story demonstrated his talent for poignancy. A tale of one man’s long unrequited love finally noticed by his oblivious object of affection through the power of music. A story told in @Rafy’s unique manner, it is bound to move even the most cynical or jaded reader.

I wondered that too @CincyKris but thought had it been so Rick would likely have been far more upset and possibly disclosed it to Helen.

Russ and Con's reminiscences of their childhood, specifically of their father and Grand-mère, are proving to be amusing and bonding for both. Papa Kahn although harsh, apparently had a softer side, a protective side which has been referred to before. Perhaps he was a product of his era, when men did not show emotion, they were expected to remain stoic at all times, especially given he was in the military. Perhaps Russ inherited" or "learned" his self-discipline from his father. Whatever Papa Kahn's faults, he certainly sounds as if he was a warmer person than Macdonald Philpott. Another delightful chapter @Robert Hugill.

Jack indicated Alexis had been stabbed multiple times. To this amateur that sounds very personal, like it was someone who had a deep hatred of Alexis for a particular reason, a jilted lover perhaps or an admirer whose attention was spurned by Alexis e.g. a closet case bent cop such as Joe Benevetti. I do not trust that man. "Didn’t do him much bloody good then, did it?’ Helen replied quite sharply, while looking down upon Alexis and the sheet that was covering him. ‘No. I guess not,’ Jack answered. ‘We’ll find out who did this, Helen. I’m sure of it.’ ‘Yeah, whatever you reckon,’ she answered, before turning on her heels and heading for the steps that led back up to the Opera House forecourt". I assumed Helen was going to react emotionally to the murder of Alexis, particularly given Jack's comment above in bold text. I was initially surprised to learn Alexis had been a street kid, but in hindsight it made perfect sense. I suspect Helen has been rescuing street kids for a number of years, perhaps filling a maternal instinct she has, one she would likely deny to all, including herself. Adam grew on me in this chapter. I did not care much for him previously, finding him somewhat shallow. He seemed more compassionate in this chapter, or perhaps I was too harsh on him previously, which would be so unlike me. I am glad you are still with us @weinerdog.

A delightful story, with something to appeal to even the most difficult to please reader. The death of Jack's wife, Betty, after 40+ years of marriage to a terminal illness, was sensitively written and moving. The description of the plague of locusts, in the form of the husband-hunting parasitical widows who disguised their true intent with faux concern for Jack's health, dropping off food and overstaying their welcome because Jack was to well-mannered to tell them to fuck off, was very amusing. Contrast their predatory behaviour with that of Jack's neighbour, Larry, made for even more amusement. The only disappointment, the story ended too soon. I would have enjoyed further exploration of the lives of Jack and Larry, and their sons Stephen and Peter.

I like your suggestion of incarceration for Jack's parents @drsawzall. I assume they are likely to be in their late 30's to late 40's. Given this, they may have years of life ahead of them, although their drug and alcohol abuse may reduce their life expectancy. I would like for their remaining years to be as miserable and financially reduced as possible. It is pleasing to observe the health professionals for both Jack and Nick recognising and insisting that drug therapy alone will not overcome their problems.

I hope Charlie brushed his teeth to get rid of the stench of the cigar, in fact, I hope he took a shower as his whole body will have been affected. Calvin has certainly come out of his shell in a relatively short period of time.

This interaction between Oliver and James appears more mutual than those with either Declan or Mack. They have a strong historical connection which neither time nor distance has broken. The massage, although given for a specific purpose, appears to have been a sensual experience for both. I sense a sizzling adult experience is nigh.

If all these events have only ever taken place in Adam’s mind then he certainly has a vivid imagination.