Lucky

Just don't want to be my congressman, do you?

Whining? Oh gosh, I sure hope it comes across as the expression of a strong desire not to miss a drop of the juicy details. And speaking of juicy, I too like the chicken at Galito. Since we usually go in their wintertime, the speedo boys are not there. But I can see how it would be a great spot to watch from. Thanks for spacing, but don't do it if it drives you crazy. I will manage!

No, I know you like to obfuscate, but being a good congressman is not the same as being able to take both sides of an argument. It is being able to see the merit in the opposing side. Are you saying you can't do that, cuz you just did with your tuna comment.

With the new NOOK going against the Kindle Fire, it seems to me that the Ipad2 is still best. Yes, it is more expensive, but it does more things. What bothers me about the Kindle is that you are tied into Amazon for its products. Reviews today say the NOOK is not much better. Some e-books cost as much as $14.99, almost what the hardcover is available for online. But, what about a cheaper tablet? I saw the Iconia Tab A 100 advertised for $329. It is Android based, with a 7" screen. Shows movies, photos, is a book reader, a planner and can connect to social networks. Seems to me that is what the Ipad2 does, but this is cheaper. Ideally the Ipad2 is probably better, but what if this one does what you want? What are the drawbacks? Thanks for the advice. I don't know that much about tablets.

I saw another version of that last shot, and this one had his nice butt more evident. I'd say 10-1 he is gay.

A bathroom whack job caused a problem in the locker room after he took his desires to another person. Reminds me of an incident many years ago at the Y in San Francisco. Apparently a guy in the steam room took a fancy to my younger self and followed me to my locker. There he proceeded to masturbate rapidly, and he appeared to be an animal in heat. I didn't know what to do, help him finish or ignore him. It was against the rules and could have gotten me kicked out if I indulged him. So, I just put my clothes on as I naturally would, and he left limply. Gym Whacker Arrested (photos)

When you come down in the middle like that, I think, geez, it's a politics forum, put something fiery out there. On the other hand, I wish people in Congress could see both sides of the issues. So I vote for you as my congressman.

Breaking News: Yes, right here! The NY Times just disclosed that Penn State is negotiating the resignation of football coach Joe Paterno in light of the failure to notify police of a child molestation. Coach On The Way Out

Since we are talking food, and since Charlie is participating, perhaps I can plug my new thread in the Politics section on tuna and Greenpeace. Take a look!

The owners of the three major tuna canneries are unhappy with Greenpeace for taking them on. We have Mr. Lischeski at Bumble Bee, Mr. Chan at Chicken of the Sea, and Mr. Cho at Starkist. Yes, I realize that 2/3ds of tuna management is Asian. After all, they will soon control the world's food supply. But as of now they are unhappy with Greenpeace for a video it created and is promulgating. The video shows one of their "brand icons" being stabbed in the eye. The tuna trio call it "baffling" as , they say, it does not lead anyone to come away "more knowledgeable about tuna and sustainable fishing." The opinion piece can be found on the op-ed page of today's Wall Street Journal. It's not exactly "op" to the Journal's editorial slant though. But the authors claim that tuna is one of the cheapest sources of Omega-3 oils, and that Greenpeace is trying to "sabotage a serious sustainability partnership between dedicated conservationists and the fishing community." That's what mass fishing is now- the "fishing community." Greenpeace also had the nerve to dress in "funny" Halloween costumes that helped "rake in the donations." So why would people donate to Greenpeace when we know how valuable Omega- 3 oils are to human health? I went to the Greenpeace site, where I first encountered an endangered polar bear who needed my money to stay alive. After telling him to get lost, I searched for the tuna action. Hopefully, Greenpeace won't mind my posting this blurb directly from their site. After all, they want to get the message out. What you find out here is what isn't mentioned in that op-ed piece in the Journal. The Tuna Trio has threatened to sue Greenpeace! Read on, and watch that harmful video (it's really a cute little cartoon) if you can stomach a tuna icon taking it in the eye! From Greenpeace.org: All three of America’s leading tuna brands have made legal threats against Greenpeace in an effort to hide the truth behind the destructive methods of fishing used to bring tuna to the table. Law firms representing Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea and Starkist have issued cease and desist letters, claiming defamation and trademark infringement, to censor a new two-minute animation that deals with the enormous problem of bycatch, or unintentional catch, created by the fishing methods used by the biggest US tuna companies. Greenpeace is declining to remove the video. “We believe the American public has a right to know how their tuna is caught, and of the swathe of dead marine creatures, from turtles and sharks to marlin, seabirds, and future breeding stock that lie behind so many of their favorite tuna products,” said Senior Campaigner Casson Trenor. “In their clumsy and litigious attempt to hide their dirty little secret, the industry has illustrated the lengths to which they will go to keep their methods in the shadows. “A simpler and more sustainable approach would be to stop using destructive fishing methods and switch to sustainable fishing, such as pole and line or FAD free fishing. “Every major tuna brand in the United Kingdom has made a commitment to do just that. The real scandal here is that Bumble Bee and Starkist would rather threaten an environmental organization with attorneys letters than consider the same approach,” Mr Trenor said. The video can be viewed here: http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/tuna_secret/ More information about tuna fishing is available here: http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/campaigns/oceans/seafood/tuna/

The WSJ reports on another threat- uncollected trash. The floods are bringing garbage from the provinces to Bangkok, which is having trouble picking up its own. Disease is becoming a problem: BANGKOK—Thai authorities are boosting efforts to collect drain-clogging garbage in Bangkok as Thailand's slow-rolling floodwaters send debris from upstream into the capital, threatening two more massive industrial parks Monday after swamping seven others. Flooded roads are preventing garbage collectors getting to many areas—raising fears over the risk of disease and over the blockage of drains, which is impeding the flow of water into the sea. Bangkok produces about 8,700 tons of rubbish a day—roughly a quarter of Thailand's total. Added to that figure is the additional trash flowing into the city from northern provinces.

Four Aces, this comment did not leave me warm: "Here in Texas, as one can imagine, sentences for nearly all crime seems excessive at times. But I do not mind that. I rather error on the side of caution by protecting citizens who follow the laws than to give way to social pressure when sentencing a criminal." The law requires that we err on the side of the one who has the presumption of innocence, not the state. You prefer innocent people to suffer just to avoid an error?

If the kids involved get millions, who pays? I read that the football program alone brings Penn State $70 million a year, so they do have the deep pockets. College football, bringing in $70 million. Wow.

Well, this post really had nothing to do with the subject at hand, so I deleted it. Read the one above it!

Oh, gosh, it wasn't Cinderella and the Seven Dwarfs was it? But she was a golddigger!

The scandal is exploding as calls for the resignation of the president of Penn State mount, and Joe Paterno, still coaching at the age of 84, is getting his share of criticism. He says he "did what he should" by notifying a superior. But, as one pundit points out, if had asked for a change of paint color and it didn't happen, he wouldn't have stood by as quietly as he did when nothing happened after he reported a sex offense on a child. Read what the students themselves are saying: Penn State newspaper

Well, Cinderella was busted for child sex charges and orgies with dwarfs. (dwarves?)

Thanks, Tom, and thanks for the eye friendly post. We enjoy your pix as well as the stories.

Occasionally on a Saturday night, the bf and I will go up to Thousand Palms to the local branch of In and Out Burger. It's always crowded, being right off the freeway, and it being a Saturday night. Living in Palm Springs we tend to be surrounded by an older crowd, but the burger joint reminds us that youth surrounds us. And soldiers, specifically Marines from the Twenty Nine Palms base up the road a ways. This particular Saturday we saw a guy who looked like a male model right from Copenhagen, and he had 3 young sons with him all decked out in designer hoodies. Even though it was nighttime, daddy had sunglasses tossed back on his head. Well, daddy was gorgeous enough that he could wear the dictionary and look sexy. Many heads turned when he passed. Soon he and the gang took up a table to eat their meals. Now, us gay guys might like to go up to a hot guy like that and chat him up, even if just to say hi and get a closer look. But I am not one of them. I was perfectly willing to admire from afar, let daddy and the kids eat in peace. But with the new fad in America of approaching obvious military personnel to "thank them" for their service, daddy did not get to eat in peace. Frankly, I would find it kind of annoying to let my fries get cold while some stranger interrupts to thank me. This particular thanker chatted daddy up for awhile, then shook everyone's hands, chatted some more, and then shook daddy's hand again before leaving. Sure, I would have liked an encounter with the hot guy. I would have thanked him just for existing. He seemed friendly enough to the stranger, but sure seemed happy to eat when the interlude was over. I'll never know just how daddy felt about this, nor will I know if the stranger was more taken with the guy's looks than his service. But we see it more and more- this approach to military guys to thank them. It assumes that they have all done something to be thanked for. After all, not every soldier goes to war. And it assumes that the thanks are welcome. For that, take a look at this recent column by a soldier on the subject, printed in the Washington Post: Thank You For Your Service

We are moments away from finding out if Dr. Conrad Murray bears any criminal culpability in the death of pop star Michael Jackson. The verdict is due to be announced in ten minutes. So, before it is, I want to say that I think he will be convicted, and he probably shouldn't be. Would you have wanted to be the Doctor to this mercurial superstar? I wouldn't have. Jackson no doubt was used to having his way whenever he wanted to, and for a professional to want to stay employed, he would likely have had to give in to whatever Jackson demanded. And one thing we know he demanded is sleep. My guess is that Jackson took whatever he wanted to get to sleep, and didn't necessarily tell his doctor what he had already taken, knowing it might preclude the doctor from giving him something stronger. Of course, I wasn't there, and neither was anyone else. So it's all a guessing game now. The media had ninety minutes to fill after it was announced that a verdict had been reached, and they did, even with nothing new to say.

Poor Tomcal is probably landing about now at LAX...or John Wayne airport...feeling quite tired and no doubt a bit lonely without his Brazilian boys around. But Tomcal, you have us! We are welcoming, and eager too. Yes, eager. We want the pics and all of the stories that you didn't have time to tell!

The media is treating it as new news, since it is all over the internet and the several papers I read each day are giving it big news status.

Even the one time the Board of Parole, or whatever it is called, recommended clemency, Governor Poofter refused it and had the guy executed. Aces, of course you don't mind, few do until they are the ones being victimized by a group of people who only give lip service to the Constitution.

Well, thanks, hitoallusa. You have started an interesting thread. But damn. I lost that extra hour I gained last night tossing and turning in bed. I was thinking of my friend who had died. She was ill, but didn't see it coming. I thought of how cold and final death is. I remembered the feelings of terror we had during the height of the AIDS epidemic. Death is scary. Mother Nature is never colder than when she takes a multitude of lives in a tsunami, a hurricane, an earthquake or tornado. Even a car wreck brings death in droves, such as the one in England this weekend. Last week, a former pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals threw out the ceremonial first pitch- a week later he was dead at 61. I give kudos to Epigonos for being the first man here to admit to "sheer terror," although not for his death, but that of his sister. Losing a person close to you can be extremely painful. Worrying how a survivor of your death will do when you are gone can bring deep thoughts and deep stress. Yet we are all going to go, yes, this includes this message board membership of aging gay men. Hopefully we all live to ripe old age, which is some comfort, but we know that won't be true. Death has already struck the old Hooboy site. Aging gracefully, accepting death- these are the challenges facing us. I admire the guys who are not letting the grass grow as they continue living, traveling, sharing time with their families, and yes, keep on hiring. All of that is probably the best recipe for the times.

Hopefully he sings that lyric to a boy.