Lucky

I do, I do. (Not words the Republicans want me to say!). What would the Politics forum be like if we all just parroted each other?

Of course I knew that already, but just enjoyed getting you to say it yet again. In my world, gay men do not support the party that has done nothing to help advance them. We don't pretend we can yuk it up with politicians who secretly despise us, but take our money. Social libertarian? Sure, if that makes you feel better. But the fact is, in my opinion, that gays voting for Republicans either do it because they are concerned about their investments, which I can at least understand, or because of an internalized homophobia of their own. If they just support the Republicans, maybe they are more acceptable than they think. Kind of like the guy in Kansas who wants his guns so he will vote for a party that consistently acts against his economic interests.

Mr. Epigonos, still no answer how a gay man can support Romney, nor an answer to how you can support a guy who did what Romney did at Bain Capital. Answers,Mr. Epigonos. You may not have to show any stinkin' badges, but answers, yes. Now as for your "easy" answer on Clinton. There were 7 major oil companies, known as the Seven Sisters. These are the ones that counted. Reagan was president when the oil companies were gouging Americans after the big oil shortages in 1979. He didn't enact a criminal prosecution against a single one. As a matter of fact, the big oil companies actually wrote the legislation that they were supposed to follow- hardly the sign of an administration trying to protect the American consumer!

You have to stand somewhere!

Mr. Epigonos, is not the presidency a job? Mr. Obama works at it, and he is paid for it...some 400k a year, plus lots of benefits. Now about Bain Capital?

Hmmm...you have not hurt me, gcursor. Here at MER we tend to be a forgiving group anyway and let bygones be bygones. So I am sure if you felt that you hurt anyone here it is long since forgotten...and forgiven...if such is needed.

Romney is no doubt the candidate of the hedge funds. This article from his fellow residents of Massachusetts helps understand his positions: http://www.massresistance.org/romney/ampad_062607/index.html So, why Mr. Epigonos do you want to criticize a man who devoted his career to public service? Is that no longer an admirable way to make a living? I'll bet a lot of high school teachers would disagree with you.

Mr. Epigonos, how does blame for the economic mess pass to Clinton? He left office with budget surpluses.

The media is all over this story. Poor Mr. Kessman probably wishes he had just asked for a chair:

A weight-challenged individual has sued the White Castle restaurant chain, claiming that they reneged on a promise to make their seats wider to accommodate people of girth. "A 290-pound diner claims the White Castle chain has violated the civil rights of its more sizable clientele by not following through on promises to make its tight booths bigger to accommodate their bellies. Martin Kessman, a 64-year-old New Yorker, filed a complaint after he could barely squeeze into the fast-food restaurants booths and bumped his knees on the table's metal supports, the New York Post reported." The article was cited in today's SFGate.com, where readers weighed in on the subject unmercifully, with most chiding the man for not losing weight, and others making much more crude comments. Here's a sample of the disdain which faces the weight-challenged today: Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/hottopics/detail?entry_id=97327#ixzz1XlE1W0aN When they enlarge the seats, it will only enable him to get fatter and sue again claiming the same thing. Your brain is suppose to tell you, "Man, I can't fit in the seat anymore. I better stay out of fast food joints for awhile." But nope. In this country, we'll pay you for being too big. Now enjoy the enlarged trough we built for you and all the free hamburgers you can eat since you've won your lawsuit. Why not sue to have a drive thru put in so he only has to run the PowerChair into the van and not deal with all the sweaty waddling? Wow, now there's a real Fat Bas*ard for you. How about, go on a diet and get a life? Oh, just take out all the tables and give them couches, beds and tv trays so they can deteriorate in comfort. *** Fortunately, you too can go to SFGate.com and add statements of support for the slider supporter.

kennethinthe212.com adds yet one more:

The article states: In the late 1970s and early 1980s, “there was quite a few really hot, buff prostitutes that were really tough,” Rob Bennett recalled. “ I can't say a word about the late 70's as I wasn't there, but in the early 80's some very hot guys were working Polk Street. The customer had the advantage of being able to see and talk to a hustler before hiring him, unlike today's internet catalogs of boys. Unfortunately, MsGuy, I won't admit to being more than a casual observer! I will say that one of the beautiful guys I have ever seen was a Polk Street boy. One Thanksgiving Day business was so slow that he offered himself to me for $15. I can't tell you if I was thankful or not... But I did enjoy the tempo of the times, days before AIDS came to our attention and Polk Street succumbed to becoming more of a skid row. Just as we have lost Stella's and the Gaiety, as Montreal's strip bars lose some of their luster, Polk Street too is just another story in the history books.

The NY Times today reports on an internet hacker, apparently from Iran, whose hacking skills seem to surpass those of others I have read about. He has been able to change the security certificates of websites, thus allowing himself to take over, for example, Google in Iran. This would then allow him to eavesdrop on every Gmail communication, denying privacy to those who might oppose the government and be organizing against it through Gmail messages. Granted, I am the last person who understands what this guy is capable of doing, so I invite Oz, TY, or other computer whizzes to read the article and tell us what I am missing, or getting wrong. One thing I am sure of: The internet is nowhere near as secure as some would have us believe! Article on Baddest Guy on the Internet

Chrome is so adept at putting advertising in places I don't expect it that the browser is too frustrating to use. If Google is the future of the Internet, we're all in trouble. I want a browser that doesn't see my wallet as its primary target.

The Weekend market is a must see, in my opinion, and that would keep you in Bangkok at least a Saturday or a Sunday. Going to Pattaya on a weekday means you will avoid the weekend tourist crowd and perhaps save on a hotel rate. The boys will still be there. Why not stay the following weekend as well? That's a pretty short trip for such long flights. This is what I would choose if I had the short trip: Friday and Saturday in Bangkok, Sunday and Monday in Pattaya, then Tues and Wed back in Bangkok? On the other hand, if you went to Pattaya on Tuesday and Wednesday, you could take the taxi from Pattaya right to the airport in Bangkok, thus saving you one taxi fare.

Who said we were done with Polk Street? The stories I could tell...

Spending too long in the bathroom on a 9-11 flight could mean that fighter jets will be dispatched to scare the shit out of you, authorities reported today: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/09/11/international/i134733D24.DTL&tsp=1

I Googled BiBottom Boy, and what I came up with is a video of him being spanked naked! See if this link works for you: BiBottom Boy Naked and Spanked

A gay man endorsing a Mormon for president, a Mormon who is also a very conservative Republican and has shown no interest in civil liberties for gays or any other group, except perhaps Mormons. Who says we are not self-destructive? What has he done to make an income lately, Epigonos?

Good advice from guys who know the territory.

I know a guy who can post 42 threads in a row. Surely that counts for something?

Townsend, it's so sweet of you to post this interesting and historic thread. (I felt bad that no one responded!)

We have followed your advice, Oz, and the bf and I are watching season 1 now. We like it, despite some rather gruesome stuff. But the family that watches meth shows together stays together...I think!

May I ask where you are staying in Rio...or how you find the hotel prices?

It amazes me that one man in Yuma AZ could take down the power network of a whole region. No doubt those who oppose us have studied this, especially after the northeast lost power in a massive blackout a few years ago. Power where I live stayed on, but just a mile or two away it did not. I do not want a big generator. It would probably get buried in earthquake debris anyway, or neighborhood thugs would see that I had it and steal it from me! I did see an emergency radio advertised for $70. It had a USB port to charge your cell phone. But then, even in this power outage, cell phones were jammed. No doubt my friend CharliePS will have all of this emergency backup. Now, if I can just get to his house after the quake or the blackout...but what if doesn't let me in???