Conner

Happy B-Day, Mike!!! No longer a teenager. That must suck! So, take a day off today from being Mr. Responsible and party! Conner

Happy B-Day, Steve!!! Time to stop counting, eh? Conner

Nick, I'd be a little more direct with your dad. Let him know that you sense his anger goes beyond you being rude and such. Tell him briefly what you're feeling around it (like you're anxious and fearful) and just ask if there something else going on that he wants to talk about. Your feelings around his possible "separation anxiety" could well be the case. This is a perfectly normal response from parents. If it's around you being gay, it is more likely he's anxious about not being able to protect you once you're out there on your own. Your dad might not even understand why he's angry and taking it out on you. Men are notoriously lousy at identifying their own feelings. So you might have to throw a few ideas at him....if only to get them off your list. Conner

I am so totally with glomph and James on this one. I have a completely different context around your avatar. For me, it's real, it's sexy, it's "in your face", but mostly it's "hard". I'd go with the windmill so long as you're hanging off one of it's wings as it goes around. Conner

Happy B-Day, Ieshwar! Conner

Right on, Benji!

Smoking is essentially a public health issue. Yes, it does have civil rights elements, but the intrusion on civil rights is minor compared to the public health issues. The only solution is basically what's being done already: education programs, particularly those that target youth, and increasing restrictions on where you can smoke. I don't believe that smokers actually mind the increasing restrictions, even in bars. Most adjust and welcome the opportunity to smoke less. What a smoker can't tolerate is someone looking at them like they were an urine sample and telling (serminizing) them not to smoke at all. Robbie, after we solve the smoking problem, we're going to start putting increasing restrictions on young people whose driving practices aren't what they could be. Excessive people in the car, excessive speeds, extremely loud music.....it's all going to go, Robbie. It's a public health issue. How are you feeling now, Robbie? A little hot under the collar? Robbie, you need to blog!!! Conner

This article is yet another example of the absolute futility of reading (supposed) research results in the popular press. As has already been pointed out, a sample size 8 volunteers is ridiculously low. As the researchers came up with 4 straights and 4 gays, there was obviously some bias in the small sample they did take. In any event, it seems the point of the study was to examine behaviour of the "observers" in relation to "...the understanding of perception and feelings of assumptions and bias." How that aspect was looked at in this research and any findings around that simply aren't reported in this article. The reporter leads off with "A swing of the hips or a swaggered shoulder is enough for many casual observers to identify a man

Happy B-day, Zot!!! Miss ya, dude. Conner

It's hard to respond to that blog, Joe, other than to say, bummer. Good news on the car, tho. Hang tough. Conner

Oh sure!! Keep it to yourself!!! Good on ya, Rich! Conner

Thank you all very much! You're all great!! Conner

That's quite stunning, Jack. The shirt matches perfectly. Attention to detail! You're definitely gay. Tell me, is the bed big enough? Oh, I see, it's also the 'guest' room. Conner

It doesn't bother me in the least. Conner

There would appear to be an available source of goat. So leave CJ alone. :2hands: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20590374/?gt1=10357

Ok, fine. We still don't have a volunteer??? Conner

Dear Bob, Sex ed time: You can't milk a male goat. Conner

Happy B-day, Marty!! I plan to do a pub crawl in Ireland. I have it scheduled for 2011 to 2014. Have a super day and a great year! Conner

That was hilarious, Ieshwar. You are so funny! If I ever get to meet you, I'm just going to squeeze the stuffing out of you! Conner

I feel ya, baby! Conner

Brandon is just too good to be true. Let me see, he's totally sweet, good natured, fun loving, sexy, humble to a fault, optimistic, insightful, street wise, grateful for what he has, a true romantic, giving, unassuming, always eager to please, and totally talented. You'd think someone would have kissed him by now. I would have. So I'm pleased Chase got to tell Lump he was canned. That was a great scene. Frankly, the side story is driving me to distraction. I know it will come together at some point. It's just all so unfocussed right now. Geez, CJ, the body count kinda took off in that chapter. I suppose it serves the plot, but.... There'll be no silliness from me all week. Conner

You say silliness like it's a bad thing?? I feel honoured, actually, that you imply that my post was the height of silliness. When in Rome.....

That's very clever, CJ! What if Lump is the individual who bumps his head twice in the same spot? Think of the possibilities, particularly if Clump returns with the first lump already there: Clump's Lump Returns Clump Returns with a Lump Lump Upon Lump on Clump Who's Returning Clump is Dumped with a Returning Lump from a Sub-Pump The combianations and permutations are endless!! I can't wait for this chapter. Conner

Happy B-day, Drew!!! I shall raise a pint to your good health. Conner

Congratulations, Krista! and Felicitations, Bondwriter! Thanks for all your great posts! Conner