Former Member

I suffered with my family’s tough love and dealt with eviction and homelessness with some (not a lot) of help from my friends. It forced me to make serious changes. I guess my ‘addiction’ was spending – that’s under control now. I have no debt now that the seven years have passed.

One way to get more engagement is to quote something that another reader has written. Some of us will respond when quoted or even Liked! I’ve had Notifications on Comments I’ve made more than a year ago and gone back to reply. I have fun with the Comment section! ;–) When in doubt, reference a SatW comic and reference @Timothy M.! ;–) I haven’t seen Timmy in a while, has he been traveling? ;–) If I were Brother Denmark, I’d be more worried about why Brother Finland is facing the pyramid – he’s well-known as a sharpshooter! ;–)

You don’t get to participate in the conversations, but no one is stopping you from speculating based on what you’ve read up until that point! Unless there’s a Forum topic about the story, you know as much as anyone else who has read the chapter! Especially with some stories and authors, the speculation can be as much fun as story itself! I know I have lots of fun coming up with wild theories! I hope my speculations amuse authors as much as they amuse me. ;–)

Have you read @Parker Owens’ A to Z or Predator Prey yet? They’re both complete. They also have very dark beginnings. You might enjoy them! ;–)

You need to feed the horses or cattle? ;–)

Were you a good boy this year, Jack? ;–)

Well, it seems like something you’d do. It’s been so long since I’ve read one of your stories. I think you typed your last one up on a PC running Microsoft BOB… ;–) ‘JAM’ is a kind of perverse name though. ;–)

And you’ve never done that with one of your characters? ;–)

I had the slightest memory that it was a teacher or someone from Woody’s mother’s church! There are stories in the news about teachers or other school workers who have been arrested for molesting students or trading kiddy porn. The most recent story around here was a long-employed school janitor! But before that were cases involving coaches and sports trainers, none of whom worked at schools. While these are terrible crimes, we tend to think they’re happening all the time because we hear them on the news several times a year. But fortunately, the chances of it happening in any of the schools an individual attends is relatively low. I don’t know the I’d say I’m enjoying Woody’s suspense. It’s triggering my anxiety. I’m feeling sympathetic nervousness for Woody… ;–)

Last night, soon after @Thorn Wildeposted it, I went looking for Erik Bye. Google really, really let me down, showing the most idiotic things (advertising crap), and then when I looked for an exact match, "Eric Bye", it had nothing. I knew that was BS, so finally googled the Norwegian name of the carol. Up came page after page on Bye. Jeesh, Google. From what I saw, it looks like the poem was copy-right protected in 1966. I'm not sure if that's correct. I for one would like to read more of Erik Bye's poetry (hint, hint, nudge, nudge, dear Thorn ) Jacob's ladder is a pretty familiar metaphor in English; it's the original "stairway to heaven."

I think it's an amazingly provocative translation; so many strong images and metaphors. If you dig up the original, I'd encourage you to post both on Live-Poets. We have a thread for poems in different languages (specifically about doing translations), or you can just post it on the Live-Poets' thread for maximum exposure. Great work. Now, lol, I'll listen to the video

The truth is that I’m not a frump… I just enjoy being laid back. -Penny Marshall

Also see @Wesley8890’s Status Update. ;–)

To err is human, but it feels divine. -Mae West

Maybe if I liked the same fussy, little-old-lady styles that my ex loves instead of the clean, sleek designs that I prefer, my messiness would be less obvious… ;–)

That’s just one of the milder stereotypes of a New Yorker! ;–) It’s why California is just about as far away as possible while remaining on the same continent! ;–)

From the noted philosopher: ;–)

You asked Sinterklaas to bring you yourself for Christmas? That’s rather egotistical and narcissistic of you! Or do you have an estranged identical twin out there somewhere? ;–) At least we won’t get you confused. One of you will answer to Geron. And the other will respond to Bobble! ;–)

Choir Boy sounds like an interesting and unusual story. If it didn’t involve leaving my apartment, I’d try to find the book at the library. But I’m struggling to catch up on stories I’ve found on GA and AD as it is! ;–) Personally, I’m too attached to my ‘bits’ and the hormones they produce to ever consider something like that. But I know there are people for whom that would be preferable to what would otherwise happen. I hope we can someday soon arrive at a future where no one will be teased or ridiculed for making a decision like that. ;–)

We have one here in California too – I believe it serves parts of Nevada also. I think it started with university libraries, but spread to public libraries. I’ve had them order books for me because some little libraries have some of the most interesting books. They won’t ship DVDs around though (Berkeley and Oakland have great LGBTQ selections). ;–) I have cards from four different library systems in this part of the East Bay area. One is for my own city’s library system, another is for the system that serves most of the rest of my county (because the closest library to the country-run shelter was part of that system). I also have one from Oakland where I used to live, and one for Berkeley where I stayed some of the time when I was homeless. I used to have one for Alameda County, San Diego, and even Honolulu. My parents started us on libraries when we were very young and libraries were free! ;–) These are great services! ;–)

Maybe Monte & Dane would have had a longer run if they had lived in 1550 Loring Lane… ;–) At least Rush & Ben don’t have to investigate criminal activity they’ve been accused of! ;–)

The other day, @Wesley8890 was talking about Doogie Howser on his Profile Page. ;–) I remember watching the show when Doogie Howser was first broadcast. Neil Patrick Harris grew to become a giant next to the kid who played his best friend (who always climbed in Doogie's window instead of using the front door). At the time, I had no clue he would eventually Come Out as Gay! ;–)

There are currently a few test programs paying a living wage income. Alaska has a defacto-living wage income paid out of the proceeds of its petroleum industry. A very small test is scheduled to be conducted in Stockton, California soon. If everyone were paid a minimum income and if we had a national healthcare program that covered everyone, you wouldn’t be stuck with a job just because it offered health care. Artists would be able to create their work without struggling to survive. If our national wealth were more equitably distributed…

There is an assumption that those fathers have an income that could pay child support, but when I was homeless, I encountered many guys who bragged about their numerous Baby Mamas. Many of those guys were ex-cons who were unable to find employment because of their convictions, in some cases for possession of pot in amounts that are now legal in California. There are not a lot of untapped deep pockets. With ACA/ObamaCare, there is now one less reason why people stay on Government assistance instead of working. But it’s not like there are a lot of entry-level jobs that pay a living wage that all the unemployed have access to. Most entry-level jobs pay minimum wage, which does not come close to paying enough to live on even if you are working 60-80 hours a week (ie two or more jobs). None of this even considers childcare. Not only is it too expensive for most, it’s not high quality, or available when and where parents need it. Childcare can easily swallow up all the income a parent is earning. An example was given where a woman is trying to improve her life, but is pregnant with another child. Restricting birth control and legal abortion makes it much more likely that there will be increasing numbers of unplanned pregnancies. No one thinks abortion should be the first choice for birth control, but sometimes it’s the best option for everyone involved. I don’t see hordes of people lined up to adopt or foster children with problems like disabilities, in vitro drug addictions, or the dreaded condition known as ‘puberty’. There are no easy answers, but inflexible and unrealistic regulations combined with inadequate time limits only exasperate the situation without really solving the underlying problems. It makes no sense to cut people off when they are attempting to improve their conditions. There needs to be realistic transitional programs that allow people to ease into a more productive life. But education and job training needs to be part of the solution too. In some cases, there are no jobs available in a given community or region. Social Services should not be tied to employment. If someone is unable to work (due to a disability, illness, or lack of jobs) they are at risk of losing their healthcare, housing, and food assistance (CalFresh/SNAP/food stamps, WIC, and other programs) with these sorts of draconian and ill-considered attempts to force ‘lazy’ people to work!

Well, that makes filling your klompen with a six foot ‘bobble’ easier… ;–) Does he have to respond to Bobble? ;–)