Lucky

What a ridiculous statement the author makes: "The more savage the penalties prosecutors can threaten, the more likely the defendant (guilty or innocent) is to speed things along by pleading guilty and accepting a light penalty. According to the Wall Street Journal, Swartz was offered the choice of pleading guilty and going to jail for six to eight months, or else going to trial and taking his chances." Separate the two remarks. Prosecutors cannot make "savage" charges that carry "savage" penalties without evidence. That's why we have courts and defense attorneys. If the penalties are "savage," it's not the prosecutor's fault as he did not enact them. The legislature did, and they were voted into office by people, many of whom want them to be "tough on crime." The fact that the defendant was offered a "light" penalty tells me that the prosecutor didn't think much of his case. So, because we have courts and defense attorneys, the right to a trial stands before every defendant. If you are innocent- take it! All of the above assumes that prosecutors are hard-asses who only want to cause grief for those charged with crimes. This is nonsense. They are people too. They have to live in the same community as the rest of us do. Prosecutors are too busy going after the really bad guys to waste time on the little guys who did nothing wrong or not much wrong, especially in this time of scarce resources in government, Don't expect to see them going gung ho on the little guy. Not only do they not have time or resources, but the jury won't stand for it. The prosecutors are the guys who prosecute the person who assaulted you, or robbed you. They go after gay bashers and worse. They are not the bad guys causing a defendant to commit suicide. If that happens, you can be darn sure that the guy had other problems before he even met a prosecutor. I know that someone will come up with an example of where the system went wrong and what I said above doesn't apply. That's because nothing in government is perfect. But overall, and overall by far, what I say is true.

NC Bored: "Daring to say that homophobes have rights = self-loathing? That's both absurd and offensive." Now you use a different quote to back up what you say. Do homophobes have rights? Of course they do. Do some here not care that the homophobes they defend and give money to use that money against us? Tome that's self-loathing and I don't see where you have caught me saying somethng different. Your move. (I like your moves, so don't worry!)

I see a new admin logged in today. Welcome! temp_admin so far has only 4 posts, and by his name alone it doesn't look like he will stay long, but welcome anyway!

Really, good riddance. He had his chance at rehab. He had career success. He had money. He knew the depth of his problem. He wasted his life on dope. However, if the autopsy shows that he was completely sober and hit his head on the tub as he fell, I retract everything!

What bothers me about all of this is that none of us- not one- was in the courtroom. We did not hear the evidence in its entirety. Yet that does not stop people from deciding guilt or innocence. When I spoke to the issue, I spoke as a layman and my opinion was: you kill an unarmed man, especially one younger than yourself, then you suffer a penalty. Period. But, that's not the law. Especially in silly Florida. i wonder if opinions would have changed had the young man been a cute white twink. Seriously, think about it.

You weren't paying very close attention there. Please re-read what I wrote. I am not talking about Card at all. And I would encourage you not to characterize other's posts as absurd. You are on the edge of becoming a mean girl yourself.

He gets my vote.

I'll be anxious to hear more on your visit. I might even have to unretire if these stories keep heating up!

Thanks for the interesting tale, Oz. I have been at that mall many times and never had such luck, but then, I haven't tried the movie theater. I am not much for bathroom sex either and would have done my best to bring the lad somewhere more comfortable. Of course, I see why you couldn't do that! But the mall is chock full of Thai youth as most anytime, but especially at night and on the weekends.

Sadly we see gay homophobia all of the time. Congressmen and senators who are themselves gay take strong anti-gay positions either to appeal to their constituency or to cover their own identity. The there was Ken Mehlman, who did irreparable damage as a big Republican, only to reveal that he was gay when he was losing favor with the bigots. Give Larry Craig credit- he never admited to being a bigot and asking for recognition from the gay community for seeing the error of his ways. Homophobia does not escape message boards devoted to gay topics such as this one. Many* are ashamed of who they are, afraid to reveal themselves to their families and friends. Some even defend homophobes in their posting here, not caring that if we give them money they will use it against us. It's called self-loathing, and it's sad that in this day and age gays still feel that way. *Now, I have long since learned that not everyone can come out to their families for various valid reasons, and i do not include them in this description of self-loathing gays. Many of them proudly assist the gay community while keeping a low profile, and I understand that. That's not self-loathing.

Plenty of reasonable doubt as to what? He killed an unamred youth. It may not be first degree murder, but it sure is manslaughter.

This actually was on TV in San Francisco, where one would think that Asian names would be respected as culturally different, but not a source of sick humor: KTVU Channel 2 is apologizing for an on-air gaffe that the station — or viewers – won’t soon forget. During the noon newscast Friday, co-anchor Tori Campbell, announced that “KTVU has just learned the names of the four pilots who were on board” Asiana flight 214 when it crashed at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday. She then read from a teleprompter while a TV graphic displayed four fake names that clearly were someone’s idea of a joke. The first name — “Captain Sum Ting Wong” — should have been a give-away that something really was wrong. But Campbell kept reading… “Wi Tu Lo, Ho Lee Fuk, Bang Ding Ow.” Yikes. After a break, Campbell made an on-air correction, clarifying that the names were clearly wrong — but that they had confirmed them earlier with the National Transportation Safety Board.

I thought his singing was really good or I wouldn't have posted this, Rico.

A friend recommends this cutie, who has his first single out: Check out Nick Hissom's single "If I Die Young" It's finally out and he's worked really hard on making it amazing! Nick Hissom Nick Hissom - If I Die Young (Official Single) www.youtube.com Nick Hissom - If I Die Young (Official Single) Produced By: Mick Schultz Download Here: https://itunes.apple.com/album/if-i-die-young-single/id665325080 Like...

I agree, firecat, that I should just shut up, but then, someone disagreed and said I shouldn't. I am just twixt and between. And I agree further with you that management has done a good job at keeping this a hospitable place. The unfortunate fact though is that two prominent posters felt the need to leave the site. Then they were told that the burden rested on them to avoid the negative poster by using the ignore button. All I said was that management played a role too. When you think about it, we all play a role. When someone goes negative, the community should show no tolerance. I am glad that you ind it interesting that I post, even though I want to stay retired. Life is not always black and white. But, I have a solution for you if you don't like it when I post: the ignore button! .

Well, okay then, since I am invited to speak on this: The ignore button is fine if you don't like a particular poster. But, as a means of keeping order and decorum, it is of no use. That is the job of the moderator. Rather than let someone drive away valued posters like tomcal and lurkerspeaks, the management needs to let the offender(s) know that that kind of conduct is unacceptable.

See, Oz, you already have stories to tell! I asked a Thai friend to get me a copy of your medical report from the hospital, and what you left out of the story are the doctor's specific instructions that you cannot put your legs in the air for 6 weeks! Doogy-style only is what I read....

(deleted) Oops, sorry. I am retired and did not mean to speak up!

I know that Adam Smith will soon surpass me on the highest posts count, but seriously- Mary, Queen of Scots? I read Margaret George's fascinating 800 page fictionalized history of Mary, but doubt that gay message boards will thrive on posts about her. One can always try...

Thanks for the congrats, guys. As gay marriage becomes an institution, we will see many more of our fellow posters tying the knot. At least I hope so!

I am insanely jealous, although it occurs to me that if I didn't have a mortgage, a husband, and two dogs, I could do that too! Looking for Oz's reports from Thailand will keep me checking boytoy.com...at least until the end of the year!

Happy! You can see that I am in a good mood today!

Since I broke my retirement to announce my new status in California, I thought I might add my goodwill wish here to lurkerspeaks, who has done so much to help keep this site interesting. I would like to encourage others to take a minute to express some good will toward a valued contributor here... Oz? Tampa Yankee? You?

Last fall the bf and I married while visiting New York. But our marriage was not recognized in our home state of California, giving it sort of a nebulous feeling. But now we are married in California too as the Ninth Circuit lifted the stay on Judge Walker's decision accepting same-sex marriage in California. So that means we are recognized as a married couple with no need to re-do the ceremony. Gifts may be sent care of this site...we are registered at Pleasure Chest!

I thought one of the accomplishments of this site was that people did get along. Good luck with that as I return to the sunny Ozarks to continue my retired life.