JKane

I recently spent quite a bit of time in Texas, and their bullshit is really starting to piss me off. Yes, sure, RA1 and Ms. Nelson, you can cut 8 billion/year local spending to lose 12 billion a year federal funding and then somehow make up that 20 billion for less than your 8 billion! That math makes PERFECT fucking sense! But as a bonus you also lose the federal medicare/medicaid negotiating power, so it'll be really easy re-negotiate even lower amounts INDIVIDUALLY with all the providers left in the state! Well, the 3 who don't simply PACK UP AND LEAVE. Anybody with any experience with right-wingers knows the bullshit about 'we can do it more efficiently locally' is just code for 'we can CUT these services on the most desperate of the population but if we pretend different with a little luck the outcry won't be that bad when they start dieing and ERs across the state close'. Medicare is the best-run health care system IN THE COUNTRY. Ooooh, waste, blargh, fraud, blargle the right-wingnuts scream... yeah, 5% of their budget including administration. It's that fucking simple. Commercial healthcare? 20% including administration, advertising, and PROFIT. Again the MATH IS REALLY SIMPLE. And these fucking backwater states, every ad during the election was Obama-style spending this, federal gov't that. Except when I was in Texas EVERY SINGLE GOD-DAMNED HIGHWAY was under construction or being re-surfaced. Many in the south had to be rebuilt ENTIRELY because of the hurricanes. GO AHEAD, GIVE UP THE FEDERAL SPENDING IN YOUR STATE! Most southern states get back more in federal spending then they send in the first place (very similar to the Medicaid math), ooh, but we need LOCAL CONTROL. Yeah, let's put somebody like George W Bush in charge of energy regulation, or somebody like Sarah Palin in charge of education for a state! Some good-old-boy in Mississippi in charge of equal rights. Notice how Texas is in a 'dire' budget shortfall and the republicans first answer is let poor people die? MAKE NO MISTAKE, that's what "cutting payments for acute care" is, nobody pays the ER, first trauma centers then the ERs go broke, the poor and then even the middle class start dying from lack of access to emergency medicine, whether they can pay or not. IN A STATE WITH UNTOLD BILLIONS IN OIL/ENERGY WEALTH *EVERY MONTH* yet an Alaska-style tax (and god forbid Alaska-style regulation) isn't even a thought with Republicans. No, the answer is cut 20b per year out of the states medical services to 'save' 8b a year! Four years ago I wondered if there was a Republican alive who'd managed to read the constitution, now I wonder if there's one alive who can do basic math!

That board should discipline the administrator that suspended the teacher!

I like the change, but not a big deal either way.

Pretty much exactly. But he did want to be friends, just not sexually attracted. One fetish I'll probably never understand is 'gainers' and their admirers... as I understand it's somebody supporting somebody else getting as fat as possible. I was thinking, maybe I haven't had much problem because I'm a selfish top--especially when it comes to hiring. I guess if you require an escort to be rock hard and particularly to cum then their preferences might have more import... Don't get me wrong though, I enjoy when an escort is into a session and cums all over as I fuck him, but I don't expect or require it.

I don't talk on my phone that much in a month! I'm even surprised to realize I'm probably just over that 'daily' figure (per month) when I factor in web, text, and email... But I can see it. These kids today. Sheesh, I hate saying those three words, but it's true. Anybody else take a guy they've hired who's otherwise great and fully attentive to a nice restaurant and have them text the whole time? I have with several different guys. While riding with me in the car too... Now, I'm not really paying for their company while I'm driving or taking them for a meal (a difference between CL and Rentboy types of working guys?) but still feel it's a bit rude. I don't think the current crop of 18-25 year-olds think so though. And we've probably all had experiences with crappy escorts who kept going to check their phone during a session. I once had a guy massage me one-handed as he texted the whole time, thought I couldn't tell or something, even though he'd also insisted on playing music through his crappy phone's speaker for the massage and it also made a sound for every keystroke!

I've been kind of surprised how many other posters have posted they're also large (or used to be) of late. But I don't suppose I should be, when we used to have the hooville gatherings (and the later Rentboy ones) there were usually at least 2 large people, often 3 at the gatherings. Out of 6-10 clients. So it can't be that rare for escorts to encounter, and the trend is ever-increasing... Maybe some of the escorts Aces mentioned who had a problem with his size are so thin because they can't afford to eat--only taking business from guys with similar bodies to theirs! Personally I can't remember having a bad time with a guy I was paying because of my size. I don't often go the reviewed/rentboy route but when I have I don't think I made mention of my size either. I usually do mention it with craigslist-type encounters, I suppose a few have fell through but not that memorably. As for alternates to hiring, I've tried bearwww and gotten together with 5 or 6 guys over the last 3-4 years. Mixed experiences, nothing too memorable except the one that got clingy right away, seemed one more fuck from becoming a stalker (he still sends me messages through that site when we're on at the same time). But even in LA it's obviously not swimming with hot guys who can't wait to get with me, especially ones who I'm attracted to (like Lucky I'm not sexually into other guys who look like me). Often the hottest guys on there are elsewhere in California. So many in Long Beach/Orange county! Damn it! What other sites have people tried, and how well did they work? Anybody have any luck at bars or such? I specifically went to MJ's during a bears and bellies event but don't really know how to approach guys in that kind of social situation, not that I noticed anybody noticing me. One thing I've wondered, are we so used to being ignored by the WeHo clones that we can't even tell if somebody is interested? There are many good reasons to lose weight, but I don't think doing it to attract WeHo clones (or snooty escorts) is one. Then you'll have loose skin, or be too hairy, or bald, or old, or whatever... Since I've lost some weight I did have one encounter (from bearwww) where the guy showed up and wasn't attracted to me because I wasn't fat enough! I suppose as endings to encounters go that's not too bad...

I just got back from a month long trip, during which I ate some unhealthy food and no Optifast. Much to my surprise I weigh 10.3 pounds less than I did when I left! I did a fair amount of walking, and tried to eat healthy for the most part. Splurged occasionally, but on the other hand if I wasn't loving something I stopped eating it. Something of the Eat this, not that model (being aware of calories and especially fat/saturated fat in foods). I ate plenty of fruits/vegetables. Started each morning with cereal or oatmeal or eggs and grits and tried to eat something every 3-4 hours. Most places have some healthy options on the menu now, but they often have problems preparing it that way. One of the better 'healthy' meals I had was actually at Denny's: bacon cheeseburger on wheat bun (no mayo, with ketchup and mustard) with fruit instead of fries. Went to pick up some vegetation and water at Costco yesterday. They really do have a hell of a selection. Got a two-pack of bowls of pomegranate whorls (great taste but the piths are a bit annoying), bananas for *cheap*, little 25-calorie baggies of carrots, baggies of cut apples (am going to look for little 2oz things of caramel to dip them in occasionally at grocery), big tub of hummus. Also took a chance on some 'popcorn chips' I saw. Was worried they'd be like bland/dry rice/popcorn cakes. They're much better, and great for dipping in hummus. Chip'Ins from Popcorn Indiana, highly recommended, some sodium but very little fat (0 saturated).

It would be great to find a place a little closer than Brazil, with a more favorable exchange rate and no special visa requirements to enter! Can you give us an idea how Colombia would be for visitors who don't speak Spanish? What about safety concerns for white American tourists? Sounds like a lot has changed down there lately!

She has to fucking leave it first!!! I think it's pretty clear now she'll pull a Palin, and hang to her 15 minutes as long as she possibly can.

I was happy to vote for Newsome, sure his marriages may have been ill-timed, but bad timing hasn't stopped gay activists before. Keep in mind that while Lt. Gov is a pretty worthless position it is under the oldest guy elected Governor in California's history. So maybe he gets a promotion... I had really hoped Prop. 19 would bring out the youth vote in spades and Democrats would benefit on the side, decimating the Republican minority in the state government to the point they couldn't obstruct everything... but maybe the passage of the proposition that no longer requires 2/3rds to pass a budget will help... though it doesn't give them any way to raise much needed revenues without 2/3rds again. Maybe they can cut back the prison-industrial complex, and free up some cash that way...

I'm not familiar with SRO's, but there is a guy in North Hollywood, contacted him originally through Craig's List (now he's on Rentboy too) that works out of a one-room music studio in a building full of them. I get the feeling he's not supposed to sleep there but does--has a futon he folds down into a bed. Feels kinda odd cleaning up in a restroom afterward... But not nearly as 'low' as the $20/hr motel I used to go to with guys I'd picked up off Santa Monica BLVD. The Royal Hawaiian, on La Brea below Venice. Once found a syringe on the floor (luckily capped) that was still full of something. Still, always far preferred that to trying to do something in my car, especially around Hollywood where it's hard to find anywhere private to park.

I love Stephan Fry! Recently spent an evening watching YouTube clips of QI, his odd BBC 'quiz show'. I have a very similar build to Stephen's and have never experienced a woman who wanted me or my cock for any reason other than cash, so I can easily see his viewpoint.

Uncontained engine failure is a very serious thing. This could really hurt Airbus if what I read about them having more than 500 orders for a *single engine* passenger aircraft based of a RR engine are true (I can't imagine why the FAA would ever approve such a design!). You'd have to be as nutty as the CEO of RyanAir to even talk about that now.

I was a little underwhelmed. I'm also not that into Colbert and wasn't expecting it to mostly just be a concert. Especially the endless Roots session in the beginning. But it was an amazing accomplishment.

I've heard Brazil's economy described as 'The Flight of the Chicken', is there any sign it'll come crashing back down soon? Isn't Argentina in a recession already?

I don't think I've seen this linked anywhere before... Oops, Takei, can't edit title.

Thus far she's a professional candidate, never elected to anything. Dunno if she got any matching funds so she could start living off taxpayers early... It took her how many years to get her college degree? Maybe she just hasn't figured out about 'tab a' and 'slot b' yet.

My experience has been the opposite. Sure, WeHo clones only have sex with each other, but I've had good encounters with younger people on Craigslist and BearWWW, there are other specialty sites too. Even paying I've rarely had a good encounter with a woman. And Spain has saunas similar to Brazil doesn't it? Seems strongly preferable to picking somebody up on the street.

I'm looking forward to it, but who's going to broadcast it, Comedy Central? I thought about going but the timing didn't work out for me.

I was in the same boat so I started my diet with 3 months of Optifast. Didn't have to cook, 'meals' didn't cost much, and since it was all I had in the house my laziness worked for me... Another option is the meal delivery services, they've cropped up all over and the friends I have that were on one in LA loved the food and lost weight. But that can be expensive. Sorry I don't have much in the way of useful on-topic advice, but we're really in the same boat. One thing I'd suggest is Costco, they have great fruit and vegetables, often in little baggies. Baggy of baby carrots is 25 calories, also apples, plus trays of mixed fruit or vegetables. Also saw a pack of individual 2oz things of hummus last time. Much better than ranch for dipping vegetables, and the veggies are much better than crackers or bread for dipping in hummus! And grazing the sample aisles is great when you're trying to save money, IF you don't buy anything. It's my experience it never tastes as good when I do buy it and make it at home anyway! Alton Brown had a great episode of Good Eats on some easy healthy food. Highly recommend his show if you need to know more about cooking!

But he was a Democrat. It's only the Republicans who are immune to hypocrisy!

I *hate* that! Maybe it's because I've never lived in a city, but I'm not used to paying for parking very often, or if I do having it only be a couple dollars with validation. I was shocked when I stayed at a 5-diamond rated hotel and they wanted another $25/night to park (self park at that!). I'm currently at a *Best Western* that wants $30/night for valet! **Really** should be mentioned when you make your reservations! Why the fuck *Best Western* is operating a 10-story city Hotel with no parking when it's nothing like what one expects when one books a Best Western is another question. They really don't know what they're doing either, no bell service, for example--so get everything you need from your car, maybe you can use our on rickety luggage cart when the 5 guests before you are done with it... Fun trip so far though, but I wish I was in Brazil for 3-weeks instead!! And I'd echo that even if you don't have a lot (or any) travel for business you can get plenty of miles or perks other ways, as FlyerTalk documents. You can easily get a 100k+ miles on American for just signing up for and using two of their credit cards, for example--enough for a *business class* round trip to Rio if booked in advance! I still need to pick a hotel program and join--it would help if I didn't stay at places like Best Western though!

I've recently lost almost a hundred pounds and am finding it very difficult to eat healthily. Bought one of the Eat this, not that! books (the one on eating out) and the only pattern I could discern in it (other than some points you made, red sauce instead of white, grilled instead of fried, plus that MAYO IS THE DEVILS WORK!) is that there are no patterns. Fish Tacos one place can be over 2000 calories, while a meal at Wendy's can be well under 500. The Egg McMuffin is a fairly healthy breakfast... Went to Subway for the first time in a very long time just the other day... With them asking me what I wanted as soon as I walked in I glanced at the menu and chose the first thing next to a picture of Jared. 400 fucking calories BEFORE I answered the next question: which cheese would you like? But, on the bright side, a 6-inch with no mayo and iced tea is a lot better than fully loaded 12-inch plus chips and soda I'd have ordered before.

God damn I'm tired of hearing about HER. She was a surprisingly competent senator and seems to be competent as SecState. But I don't see the appeal at all, especially in the gay community for the political dynasty that gave us ***both*** DOMA and DADT. And I love Biden. Somebody that says what he feels and occasionally goes too far is far better in my book than somebody who focus-groups her every opinion and has no positions that don't gain her something politically. But it's hard to imagine Biden having much chance at the Presidency, so putting somebody with a future in could make sense. But that's the rub, a bright potential FUTURE, not a baggage-filled PAST.

Did the pink triangle have any good history before Hitler used it to mark us? How did that get adopted as an accepted symbol of us?