GaryK

I respectfully disagree. Sorry in advance if I offend anyone. A relationship with a woman is something I cannot wrap my brain around. Thinking about straight sex makes me gag. The one time in my teens that I tried to have sex with a girl I could not perform. I've known all my life that I was gay. Never had any doubts about it. There is no bisexual in me at all. Now, to get back on topic. Nobody has a social obligation to come out. My only obligation to society is to not be a sociopath. Other than that it's nobody's business who I choose to have sex with or what my orientation is. Even in an absolutely ideal world where there's no chance of negative repercussions I still don't think anyone has an obligation to announce their sexuality to the world. Now here's the really important part of what I want to convey in this message... I prefer to educate the world one person at a time. Over the decades people that I've come to know are well aware of my sexual orientation. They see me as a hard-working, honest, decent, moral person who just happens to prefer guys to girls. That, I think, makes more of an impression than announcing to the world that I'm gay. So what if it takes more time to convince the world there's nothing wrong with being gay? Simply announcing to everyone that you're gay isn't going to change anyone's opinion on the subject. No, they need to learn first-hand that being gay or bi or whatever is perfectly acceptable. So, in my opinion bisexuals do not have any obligation to come out en masse.

Sacha, I think in light of what CJ wrote you do make a good point. Especially considering this is set a few years into the future. Who knows what Paraguay might be like in a few years. With all those corrupt government and military officials all over the place thanks to The Scar's/a dictator's money I guess almost anything is possible.

The sound might seem a bit older because Audioslave is made up of an ex-Soundgarden member and three former members of Rage Against the Machine. They seem to be a better group than either was with their former bands. And yeah, it would be nice if that's Instinct's style of music. I'm not sure Brandon could handle the ear-piercing shrieks that Chris Cornell does.

http://www.google.com/search?q=goose+site%....gayauthors.org Only nine references to "goose" in all the stories CJ has written. Some of those references are to things like goose bumps.

Goodie. Cause I sampled some of their songs and I really like them. Gonna go buy their albums now. Thanks. You give the best... !

Perhaps you're lysdexic? Meh. Helen and Barbara. Barbara and Helen. What's the difference? I'll be happy if either one gets some buckshot in her butt.

Yep. I think he needs to finish DtS and then get another series started and he'll be a perfect candidate for HA. Billy, when are you going to try a series? You've done so many wonderful short stories. It's time to challenge yourself with a series.

I thought seafood was alright with the exception of shellfish because they're considered unhealthy since they eat all the crap that sinks to the bottom of the water. I guess there's nothing wrong with lamb for breakfast. It's just not something I usually associate with breakfast food. Then again I did eat rice pudding for breakfast this morning. Either one beats cold, leftover pizza!

I hope you're right Mike. And I pray that a contingent of MPs will be enough to deal with Dimitri and Mario.

Kevvers, I want to be sure I buy the right albums. Did you mean Audioslave? Thanks.

Maybe they've all died due to a lack of nutrition? Benji, do you adhere to a kosher diet? BTW, in answer to your question about baby back ribs. Yes, they are pork ribs. Nick, lamb for breakfast? CJ, Kobe beef is so tasty. There is a steak house here in Miami that sells a US$40 Kobe beef hamburger. As an occasional treat it's wonderful.

Quite right Benji!

That's certainly metaphorically going out on a limb Tim.

Thank you! That's a fantastically perfect way of defining the role music plays when I'm reading or even doing software development. I'll stop referring to it as multitasking immediately. What should I call it though?

If Helen does that to my beloved Eric I'll have to write myself into the story and seek revenge on that bitch. I never did like her.

If you are correct, it's time to heat eat some roasted goat.

Bob, I'm sort of like you when it comes to playing a musical instrument. As a youngster I wanted to play the drums. My mother wanted me to learn guitar. As a result I can't do either one justice. It's so darned frustrating. Especially considering my former partner (now deceased) was a fantastic guitar player. He even wrote his own songs and jammed with a small group. Please don't misunderstand me about high classical music. There are plenty of times when just listening to the music is all I want to do. I put on my headphones and tune everything else out. When I'm in a bad mood I tend to go one of two routes. I'll either listen to all my versions of Mozart's Requiem, or I'll go totally off the deep end and listen to some very angry rock/rap music. Right now I'm doing some beta-reading and listening to country music. Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash. My tastes are quite varied as are my moods. BTW, I really respect you a lot. You're one of my favorite GA members.

Bob, I know you've got a few years on me. But still. When you've been a Mozart fan for as long as I have--my grandfather introduced me to it before I even have memories of it--it doesn't necessarily require your full attention. I'm quite capable of appreciating the music and a story at the same time. I can't say that about any other genre of music. Maybe I'm just good at multi-tasking. If music didn't exist I'd have to invent it to make life worthwhile. BTW, I'm listening to Bach's, Die Kunst Der Fuge, while catching up on forum threads. I can appreciate the contrapuntal style while still doing a decent job of reading and reply to threads. I guess it's all in what you get used to.

I was wrong! I made a rush to judgment about this chapter and I was flat-out wrong about it. Granted it wasn't as exciting as some of the other chapters. But as of some of you all have pointed out we do need a break. Also, when I re-read this chapter I did see there are a lot of loose ends that need some closure. CJ did a good job of summarizing them in this chapter. This was not so much a cilffhanger as it was preparation for what's to come. As someone else mentioned I think we should hang-on because the next few chapters are probably going to be wild ride as this story comes to an end!

For a moment or so let's run with the theory that The Scar is working for someone else. A dictator perhaps. Why would this person want to take over Paraguay? It's a landlocked country that is surrounded by countries that have more or less good relations with the US. The only access it has to a port is via a treaty with Brazil where the Paran

You are so bad!

Which would you prefer? The Echidna or being the main course at a goat roast?

Indeed, the awards only apply to those whose stupidity has resulted in their removal from the gene pool.

You are so deserving of this my friend! Congratulations. I told you good things were bound to happen to you at GA. "Mike and Winston" is well on its way to becoming a GA classic. If anyone here hasn't read it you really need to. Just click on the link in my signature. Hey Procyon...it looks like our boy has done well, eh?