Former Member

California has banned (Gay) Conversion Therapy for minors. There was an attempt to ban the so-called therapy for adults as well, but religious groups raised such a stink that the proposal was withdrawn. I think there are one or two other US states that ban the practice (for minors) as well. There is a huge mystery in Northern Mexico near the border where hundreds, if not thousands, of women and girls have disappeared. No one knows what happened to them. Or they’re not admitting to knowing their fate. Every year, dozens of African-American Transwomen are killed in the US. Few seem to notice the horrible pattern. In part, it’s racism, it’s also Transphobia. Police seem unable or unwilling to stop the deaths. The killing of Transwomen is also happening in Central America. There are groups that are trying to get the women out of the most dangerous countries. They were getting them asylum in the US, but policy changes have probably blocked those efforts. Evangelicals from the US are stirring up homophobia in Africa. Homophobes from the US are influencing laws and public opinion against LGBTQs. We are being killed due to hateful religious fanatics from the ‘Land of the Free and Home of the Brave’. “We are not free until we are all free.”

And your nearly eight-year-long nightmare at the hotel is over. Your brain might be replaying parts of it over and over, but it’s over. You don’t work for Rick anymore! Finally! Freedom. ;–)

Wow! What a dysfunctional group of people. I hope Brett is still enjoying his HEA with Billy. These traits might not be genetic, but things that parents did certainly affected their offsprings' outcome in life. Half of the people I met when I stayed in homeless shelters were like these characters, but the staff at the shelters kept most of the violence to a minimum. Very few wanted to risk losing their bunk at the shelter just to get back at the person they were feuding with that week. Not everyone was able to control their tempers when they were intoxicated.

@R. Eric, you seem to be spending too much time thinking in Russian, Ukrainian, and Makarovian – and maybe Rick’s Hinglish! You drop articles and mix tenses as though you’re not a native English speaker. You’re the world’s only speaker of Makaronglish! Can we schedule a few ESL classes for you? ;–)

@Headstall knows who I’m referring to. The Russian-Canadian is from @LitLover's Unforgivable and Choices. A character who I was forced into hating.

Can I suggest a very short story, maybe a few paragraphs long, with a certain Russian-Canadian?

I wonder what would happen if one of these Zombies escaped into another author’s existing series? Maybe a Halloween-themed fantasy anthology could explore that in 2019? Much more interesting than The Simpsons/Family Guy or Cheers/St Elsewhere crossovers… ;–)

Yes, it seemed like he recognized him from before the ship… ;–)

One question that lingers with me is why does Miller Rayson recognize Darrian Botcher and his voice? ;–)

You know, ‘Sams’ is a very unusual name. Was it one of those long Eastern European names that was shortened at Ellis Island? Or does it have some other origin? ;–)

I stumbled on this this morning (thanks Youtube suggested playlist). A recording and performance as perfect as this makes it clear why Paisiello was considered the greatest living composer the entire length of Mozart's career. Can't beat Italians writing Italianate music

Pretty amazing for a writer who can’t even tell the difference between ecru and ivory! ;–)

Antiseptic eventually expires. Misusing it could cause bacteria to develop immunity. But they have bigger things to worry about… ;–) That also suggests a very short lifespan to me.

I wish I could leave both a "Love" and a "Sad" for this piece. Hugs for you, and a warm slap on the back for bringing The Walk to End Alzheimers to greater attention. Muah

Then it must be snorting pits and pubes! ;–)

Yeah, about that. Not to criticize Butcher56/@USA Reader 1, this is aimed at @R. Eric. I know you were a medic at one time and know more about medical procedures and regulations than I do. All of the injections I’ve gotten in the last few decades at least have been by nurses, not doctors. Or Pharmacists. Makarovia can have different laws about who can give immunizations, but if they have a shortage of medical professionals, it doesn’t make sense to reserve such a simple task for highly trained doctors when people with similar, but slightly less extensive training can do the job just as well – some actually do a better job because that’s what they do all day! ;–)

Actually, I’m not a fan of horror. I never watched Lost even though the sexiest Hobbit, Dominic Monaghan, was part of the cast. And the only reason I’ve seen the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre twice was because one of my coworkers was trying to interest a Marine she was attracted to and we didn’t think he was going to show up – she begged him to join us and we were forced to watch it a second time, although we didn’t tell him we’d already seen it earlier that evening. (The same coworker who forced us to eat at the overrated Tonga Room in the Fairmont Hotel to celebrate her engagement to that very same Marine, if you read all the Comments I write in other stories.) ;–) I never saw Braveheart either, but…

I guess they’re taking the scenic route! ;–)

I’m just guessing, but GA probably has a way to switch the email address associated with a membership… And if it’s a race, I’m beating you at 59! ;–)

You didn’t want to be a year older (Butcher57)? Or are there so many Butchers that the name was already taken? I remember watching Maybe… Maybe Not and discovering (due to a secondary character’s profession) that Metzger is German for Butcher. ;–)

This is probably the only one-off stories I’ve read on GA that has gotten more than 50 Comments! Congratulations! @Timothy M., I think you need to try breaking that record! ;–)

Lost? The Balrog in Moria scene in The Lord of the Rings? Texas Chainsaw Massacre? ;–)

I’m sorry Ron, but this story ended up being less satisfying when reread. You’ve grown significantly as a writer. I think the pornographic video was just a little over the top. The goal post should have been Plan B. It doesn’t feel like either Scott or his uncle learned anything from this and most of your other stories manage to accomplish that by the end. But to change the story now would affect the flow and pacing too much.

I was referring specifically to the attitude in the Castro. There are businesses that have been sued for racism. If you are not white, good-looking, young, and a Gay male, there are people who make sure you know they don’t really want you there. People of Color are viewed as fetishes, not real people. Porn is not an accurate representation of real life. Women are not welcomed the way white, good-looking, young, Gay men are either. Of course, not all businesses and residents behave so poorly. Things used to be much, much worse even into the ‘80s. It’s amazing how a law suit against a certain bar demanding multiple pieces of ID from African-Americans (but not whites) changes overt behavior. If you pay attention (or are the victim), you can see many examples of micro aggressions. Not everyone who lives in the Castro grew up in San Francisco – in fact the majority probably escaped from more oppressive parts of the country and still retain remnants of the attitudes they grew up with.

The Heritage Streetcars include vehicles from around the country and I think other cities around the world. BART was designed in the ‘60s and first began operating in 1972. The Muni Metro system uses stations built and owned by BART running under Market St to Civic Center where the BART tracks head under Mission St and continue further south. Muni Metro, on the other hand continues under Market St. Two lines split off at Church St to surface (one heading west to Golden Gate Park, the other heading south) and the other three (K/L/M) continue on past the Castro Station and through the Twin Peaks Tunnel to West Portal where they surface. Muni Metro switched to the subway in the early ‘80s. The newest line is the T Third St line to Bayview/Hunters Point with an extension is projected to open in 2021 including stations at Union Square, Chinatown, and potentially North Beach.