Former Member

I don’t play FPS games very often, and it’s been nearly 20 years since I’ve played one last (one of the Bungie Marathon games for Mac before they were bought up by Microsoft). There was a time when I couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t move. I finally figured out that there was probably another player standing just out of ‘camera’ view, so I shot and killed him! He had even less experience playing the game than I did and was even more confused than I was! I’m sure there are games where you can take hostages or use a body as a shield. Anything you see on TV or in movies is probably replicated in one or more games.

You’re forgetting about all those First Person Shoot ‘Em Up video games that all the teenaged boys love to play all the time! Lots of them own gun-style controllers and get plenty of practice using them. They just don’t seem to realize that real life doesn’t have a Reset Button.

I think you’d have to be a pretty bad shot to miss when you have a gun up against someone’s back.

Oh you know you couldn’t not do plenty of research! ;–)

I think @Butcher56 meant Riley. ;–)

The new Nissan Leaf ad touts its combination accelerator/brake pedal. This reminds me of the old Disneyland Autopia ride. The combined accelerator/brake pedal and even the automatic lane control! But they did Disney one better by preventing the bumper car effect of two cars bouncing apart when they hit each other because of the two sets of springs in the bumpers! (Didn’t everybody try to ram the car in front of them?) ;–)

Yes, my relationship with my ex-boyfriend (from nearly 30 years ago) shifted into a kind of bromance whenever he wasn’t married (two different guys) and I’m convinced that many people we used to see at Frameline LGBTQ film festival every year thought we were an old married couple. ;–) If that doesn’t count, my best friend and I have been very close off and on for nearly as long as my ex. We’ve usually been closer when my ex has drifted away, as now. There was a point when he proposed dating (by groping my crotch with his foot while we were in a hot tub). I mulled it over for a bit and decided I didn’t want to risk losing him as a best friend, turning him down. ;–) I feel like I’m too much of a mess emotionally to be dating anyone. I miss cuddling and kissing more than anything else. But no one deserves to be dragged down by my clinical depression and general anxiety. Until I can resolve my issues, I’m content to remain single. ;–)

So many missed connections for Kyle and Buddy! They’re both too afraid to talk to the other. There’s a mutual attraction that they don’t seem to be aware of. I wonder how many times this has happened to me? [What do you mean never?] ;–)

I would think that both Adam and Troy had frightened looks on their faces. Their actions were not typical of how they would usually interact with Carlos and his mother. The fact that he aborted his wave indicates to me that Carlos realized something was wrong. Most stores and shopping malls have lots of security cameras to deter theft or make it possible to identify suspects when a crime has taken place. Those cameras are located in parking lots as well as inside the building. Hopefully, the police will be able to ID the van and get the license plate number! Even if Carlos and his mother don’t call 911, Troy’s mother was scheduled to pick them up soon…

Why do I have this sinking feeling that Robbie & Nathan are going to hear something suspicious through those thin walls? I’m afraid that there will be something illegal, that they’ll hear something illegal or dangerous. It’s probably illegal for their classmate to be with a middle-aged man anyway, but it’s disgusting in any case! ;–)

I think it depends on the neighborhood. Soccer is more popular where there are many immigrant families than in areas where families have been here for more than a generation or two. I kind of think that the issue of traumatic brain injuries and concussions is reducing the appeal of football with mothers at least. The San José Earthquakes are doing their very best to increase the prominence of soccer in the Bay Area. They’ve had the Mexican National Team here and there’s been a lot of advertising for a game between Manchester United and another team (AC Milan? Real Madrid?) – it was a very famous club I’d heard of before, in any case. But I’m not a sports fan.

This shows just how much you’ve grown as a writer! Well people think my CA is located in the tropics! ;–)

I know if you wrote this story today, you’d do a lot of research first and would know that earthquakes couldn’t do what this story posits. Global warming would reduce the amount of land above the water, but an ice age would do the opposite. The biggest danger we face in the future is lack of potable water. [silly] But since all of Canada is inside the Arctic Circle, I can understand why icebergs would be the favored means of escape! [/silly] ;–)

Palm Spring Motel. That was very sneaky, Dodger! You knew no one would remember the reference to the motel! ;–)

Rory’s the dark horse. He and Robbie have “football’ in common. And Rory’s dad seems to like him. ;–)

I think the Guardian Angel must have a counterpart from the other side. And he’s angry that you’ve neglected him! He's getting out his ‘motivational tools!’ I think one of them is a platinum pitchfork. Very eye-catching! ;–)

1975? 1976? 1977? 1978? 1979? I must be right, right? 😉

Way too scary! ;–) I know of one author who edited the GA description of his story to quote a line someone used in a Comment that he particularly liked! ;–)

It almost feels like this story just ended! But at least we know it will continue with Jamie’s adventures in the US. And, eventually, he’ll return to Australia and, hopefully, Sam. ;–)

I’m Risk Averse, if you can’t tell! ;–)

Give Connor a break! How long has he had Leon? It takes some of us longer to adjust to a new equilibrium (and I don’t even have any kids)! ;–) Connor’s doing much better than if he had a constant parade of tricks every night! Just imagine how upsetting that would be to Leon. It’s better to take things slow and cautious in uncharted territory. ;–)

It’s good to know that I’m a normal guy! ;–) But maybe I've gone way past ‘normal’ to the extreme since I have an avoidant personality. ;–)

I already miss Ryder, Teddy, and Oli! ;–)

It’s not a coincidence that there are two places abbreviated as ‘CA’! ;–)

In the last election for Council Members (no districts, all at-large seats) in my city, I did some digging and found out that one of the (unsuccessful) candidates was a Gay man. We already had a Lesbian on the Council, but she’s a little uncooperative and prickly. She’s also one of the two LGBTQ candidates I mentioned who are running against each other – I’m voting for the other Lesbian for the State Assembly seat. (California currently has eight openly LGBTQ members of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus – including the Lesbian past-Speaker of the Assembly who is currently President pro tempore of the California State Senate!) When I lived in Oakland, I was also able to find a Gay man running for city Council. Unfortunately, he also lost. He thought he was being very Open, but the clue in his resume was that he was a member of an LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce. I pointed out to him that they probably had an anti-discrimination policy that would allow a straight businessperson to also join the Chamber. Oakland’s sole at-large Council seat is held by a Lesbian. Very fitting since Oakland has the largest percentage of Same-Sex couples than any other large city in the US. Oakland also has a larger population of Lesbians than San Francisco. I think having LGBTQ political groups (yes, plural) in the East Bay helps to get LGBTQ candidates elected even in cities outside the San Francisco/Oakland/Berkeley Axis. There are also separate groups in the South Bay (aka Silicon Valley) that have elected LGBTQ candidates too. And then there are the Alice B Toklas and Harvey Milk groups in San Francisco which have a very large influence on City politics! ;–) It’s easier now than ever to find LGBTQ candidates to support. And there are many more LGBTQ candidates running for office even in unexpected places. While we shouldn’t support someone just because they claim to be part of the community, we should do the research to find them when they do run! With few exceptions, you’ll never know if someone’s out there if you never look! ;–)