Lucky

Would that I could employ this philosophy. I've always found that when I am just myself, I am shyer. But when I am in a role, such as at work, I was much more outgoing and confident. Many a cute guy walked into our office and got personal attention from me, guys I wouldn't have dare approached outside, or at a bar especially. But I am not shy being Lucky, and I hope that others too will not shy from responding to threads and starting them. I sometimes wonder if others would post more if I didn't, but my short term experiments in that direction don't usually succeed. I would have liked for someone else to have been the first to respond to this thread...but I waited awhile and it didn't happen. Should I have waited longer? Perhaps a new poster is an Abercrombie boy by day...

"Maybe just another thing I need to take the plunge and do..." I am always up for a trip to New York!

Great story with the Abercrombie boy. I admire your forwardness with him. I did once put an ad on Craigslist for someone to attend a Padres game with me. I got a nice looking straight guy. He knew his baseball and was thrilled to have such a good seat. But once the game was over, he was gone. I had said in the ad that I was gay and looking for a gay guy to go with, but he had the best response and I am glad that I picked him. And, lurker, is not Lady GaGa a diva for today's youth? Granted, she is not a Broadway star...

I wondered how Google gets away with showing porn pix on regular Google searches. Today a Wall Street Journal columnist takes a look at those long agreements we automatically click "I agree" to. What a shock it is. The WSJ is a subscription paper, both in print and online, so I will quote a couple of paragraphs here under Fair Use: "Now, according to the Amazon.com Conditions of Use, "If you visit or shop at Amazon.com, you accept these conditions." The conditions follow and follow and follow—more than 2,000 words' worth. It's even worse if you choose to do your book reading on an e-reader. Amazon advises that if you're not willing to sign an agreement running north of 2,500 words, "then you may not use the Kindle, any Reading Application, any Digital Content, or the Service." "under Google's Terms of Service you may not use the search engine or gmail or any of the company's other features if "you are not of legal age to form a binding contract with Google." Since, in most states, minors cannot enter into binding contracts, Prof. Kerr points out that "a 17-year-old who conducts a Google search in the course of researching a term paper has likely violated Google's Terms of Service." Given the proliferation of such agreements, who isn't in some trivial violation of a provision at any given moment?" Not that the feds are going to prosecute. But they could... WSJ link

But, MA, lurker is not in New York, so he doesn't have the opportunities that you do. Of course, money is not a factor to add. hehe But Lurker has been to Rio, but not to Broadway. No doubt he would love it, as MA and I do. But I have no problems attending a show alone. The bf only likes musicals, and I love the depth that a play can have. If I took a cute young guy, I might be in a hurry for the show to end! Perhaps Oz will sponsor a theater tour with the 3 guys who post the most in December!

Gay men are stereotyped to be theater lovers, particularly musicals. We are supposed to be fans of Judy Garland, Liza Minelli, and any other diva who sings. Song lyrics tumble in our heads all the time, usually in the shower. I am a gay man, but I know no song lyrics. I have no time for divas. But I love the theater. In New York recently I saw 8 shows in 6 days, not unusual for my trips. Last night we saw what was one of the best productions yet at our local amateur playhouse, The Palm Canyon Theater. They did justice to a performance of The Fantasticks. I liked it better than the show I saw in New York several years ago. A strikingly handsome young man played Matt, a devilishly sexy guy played El Gallo. A young woman with a beautiful voice made her debut as Luisa. Everything came together. All the other actors had their roles down pat and performed with distinction. So, for a theater lover who now lives far from New York, it was a night to remember! Now, if I could just find some guys here who cared about the theater. I did return to the theater forum at Daddy's just to have some fellow-travelers, but even there, I am the one starting many of the threads. At least others do post there. Here, theater news usually falls right off the stage.

Apparently America's children have not been as protected as we all thought- and hoped- they were. The LA Times today has several articles on new scandals, including one at the military school for boys, The Citadel. There it was reported: "In 2007, a teenager alleged to Citadel authorities that [camp counselor] ReVille showed porn to boys, according to the Charleston Post & Courier. CNN reports that no one touched each other during the porn-watching session but that "sexual activity" occurred." LA Times Citadel Further, a convicted child sex offender has a job casting children in movies: Casting Director Boy Scout offender: LA Times Scout Another college scandal, say SFgate.com: Syracuse Coach

I am working at it. Damn sweet tooth keeps getting in the way. The biggest thing to help though is not keeping ice cream in the house!

They may lower them, but only from Tokyo, Taipei, or Hong Kong. You've got to get to Asia on your own.

A commenter at the NY Times website posted this: Manchester's faith led him to believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman -- just not, it turned out, to his particular woman. A year after he made that $125,000 anti-gay marriage donation, Manchester's wife filed for divorce in what later became a bitter case, the Union-Tribune reported in August 2009. "In court papers," the Union-Tribune said, "Elizabeth Manchester said her husband has $56.9 million in bank accounts but has “secretly transferred” at least $9.3 million from their joint accounts to his own. She also alleged that he kept her half of an $8.2 million tax refund, potentially cashing it without her signature. She said that after the couple's separation last fall, he stole her mail while she was away from the La Jolla home." Commenter's Link to News

Douglas Manchester, owner of the San Diego Marriott Marina Hotel and the Manchester Hyatt Hotel, among other holdings,has bought the city's leading newspaper for "above" $110 million. Manchester donated $100,000 to the Prop 8 campaign to ban gay marriage in California, and a long boycott of his hotel was carried on until it was reported that he sold it. But today's news seems to imply that he did not, in fact, sell the hotel. Both the Marriott and the Hyatt occupy prime positions on the San Diego harbor, next to the convention center. With ownership of the Tribune, Manchester can now call the shots on the coverage of the news in that city, and will certainly be kowtowed to by those seeking political advancement. It remains to be seen just how anti-gay Manchester is, but he was totally unrepentant about is Prop 8 donation even in the face of the boycott. Manchester Tribune

The Thai economy must be hurting, as the floods have caused many businesses to close, thus reducing exports and imports. Tourists are avoiding the place because they think it is all underwater. The flood waters have not ravaged Bangkok, yet some outlying areas have been affected, and there are garbage issues mounting. But January is the best time to visit Thailand as the weather is at its best. So buy now, before other tourists figure it out and prices rise.

If an email I received today is any indication, recent flooding in Bangkok has caused hotel occupancy rates to plummet. The Sofitel Silom is now available for $84 a night. Last year I paid $125 a night without breakfast. The Ibis Riverside Bangkok starts at $22 a night. The Grand Mercure Park Avenue starts at $34. The Novotel on Siam Square at $57. The brand new Novotel Platinum, opening this month, starts at $54. It goes on and on, so pack your bags! The sale email I received is from Accor Hotels, and is available worldwide.

Eeyore, you know, this is the first time that I thought an e-book would be a handy tool. The King book is heavy, but I am now used to it. And as for the different dimension possibilities, can you imagine the MER in another dimension, where everyone fights and the owner is named TotallyNuts? I wonder who the prolific posters are, and what they call themselves. Byetoallusa? MrGuy? Snookin? ThreeClovers? SEXPAT? Or lickerlicks? What a world that might be! TampaxSkankee would be the moderator, and...oh, oh, there can only be one Tomcal!

11/22/63 is a date that we all remember, well, most of us who are old enough. But it is also the title of Stephen King's newest novel. It's about a man who learns how to time travel back to 1958, where he will stay in an effort to stop the assassination of the president. The book is 848 pages long, which might deter many readers. But, I am half way through it, and I am here to tell you what a delight it is to read. It's one of those "can't put it down novels." So, if you like to read, don't let the size of the book stop you. And, if you are a Fifties fan, then run to the bookstore. King does the Fifties so well, you might think you had time-traveled. At the half-way point we have barely made it to Dallas. King is just having fun recreating the Fifties. It's nostalgia time! Known more lately for his horror stories, King has switched gears, and this epic look at a time gone by is worth it...at least to page 424! I'll keep you tuned in.

Could someone please start another thread and get this title off of the menu? Please! I am now down 15 pounds, with 10 to go before Oliver arrives.

I like the first one. Is he in Rio? Phone number?

Thanks, Lookin, and hitoallusa. I did enjoy finding the items for the Reader. I did edit some out,and shortened others. Four Aces did a mockup of the Reader to show me what I could do make it look sharper. He did a really fine job. It encourages me to try again. So maybe it could be a monthly thing if people are interested. It does add something different here, even if a minor change. I do appreciate the encouragement. (Am I the only one who worried that that college student in the hot tub might electrocute himself?)

And you came back from Rio? Leaving him behind? Seriously?

The bishop avoided prosecution after all. It seems that the bold DA who made national headlines for the prosecution of the first bishop on sex abuse cover-up charges finally realized that after all the cameras were gone he had to live there too. So he made a deal. If the bishop meets with him monthly for the next 5 years and spills all the gossip on priest's sexual misadventures, then the holy man can avoid prosecution himself. This keeps the DA in a central position, keeps the cleric from having to bend over in a jail shower, and may mean that less abuse occurs. It remains to be seen.

Oz, you would probably have to live in Vegas or Merced, CA to get one of those big houses. They are foreclosure capitols, not that Palm Springs is far behind. Hitoall, I don't think it will be weekly. It may never reappear. FourAces has been giving me lessons behind the scenes, including showing me what the Lucky Reader could have looked like had I been better schooled. I appreciate that. The other thing is that few of the items I posted got responses. We all will admit, even if only to our spouses in the dark of the bedroom, that what we post we want to be read. But I did hope to get at least 100 views,so that goal was reached.

Better yet, today is Lurkerspeaks Day at MER. Quite an honor, I'd say. I saved my greetings for that thread...

Yes, indeed. Happy Lurkerspeaks Day!!! What a bonanza to have your 1000th post coincide with your birthday. Thanks for all you have done for MER and your fellow posters.

Any pictures of the hot men of Columbia?

Lurker, what I would be interested in is to hear what items you (and others) liked and which ones did not work for you. The middle ground can be left out. Also, you can give us your review of J.Edgar now, since you were waiting for mine. If I posted these items separately, people would comment on what they thought of them. I hope that the sheer number of items doesn't discourage people from posting their reactions to the various items. The need to post in two sections is now alleviated as Oz has increased the number of pix and media items to 25 from 10. That should make the Lucky Reader a one section post should there be another one.