lookin

No doubt Cuba will see some gains from closer relations with the U. S. But I think it stands to lose some things too, if it can't resist development pressure. . . . 22 percent of Cuba’s land is under some form of protection. The percentage of safeguarded environment in Cuba is among the highest of any nation, says Kenton Miller, chairman of the Switzerland-based World Commission on Protected Areas. As wildlife and habitat have disappeared from the region, Cuba’s importance as an ecological bastion has steadily risen. As one scientist put it, Cuba is the “biological superpower” of the Caribbean. The island has the largest tracts of untouched rain forest, unspoiled reefs and intact wetlands in the Caribbean islands. Cuba also is home to many unique, or endemic, species, including the solenodon, a chubby insectivore that looks rather like a giant shrew, and the bee hummingbird, the world’s smallest bird, weighing less than a penny. But the places where nature is pristine now are most likely the places where folks will want their air conditioned hotels. The Cubans seem like strong people and I hope they can resist getting bowled over by money.

Lovin' the insights guys! Thanks! Not sure what public opinion polls mean to the oligarchs, but it can't hurt that Putin is riding high with the Russian people. Who, bless their hearts, respond to a crumbling economy by trudging out and buying flat screen TV's.

Not to be overlooked is the blunting of Russia's recent cosying up to our close neighbor. This may well have influenced the timing of the President's unexpected action. I bet those who are speaking out against the move are going to be marginalized pretty quick.

You line up the travel and visas and I'll be happy to accompany you as far as the Malecón. No doubt someone there will be delighted to push you around.

Watch out for the bearded clam

Is it my (overly-fertile) imagination, or is he a ringer for a pic Suckrates posted this morning? Note to self: Be sure to click on all of Axiom's links from now on.

It sure is! Thanks!

I'm taking the picture.

Well, call me a Sugar Plum Fairy, but my Holiday Fantasy would be for Steven Draker to return here during his hiatus at Daddy's and post some of the pleasant and informative stuff he's capable of and that it would be accepted in the welcoming spirit that we're all capable of. No jibes, no snarls, just a cup of holiday cheer for a fellow traveller temporarily between engagements. But Lookin, you say, just exactly what kind of an ass are you to think that he won't post nasty stuff that will just start a bunch of fights like the last time Daddy's server went offline? Well, you have me there. I guess it's possible. But what if they do turn out to be enjoyable posts? What if we get not one, but two active escorts added to the roster? What if a little of our fun-loving spirit made it all the way to England and Belgium? Who knows, maybe one day we'd have members from as far away as Uranus? Of course, OZ would take all the credit for his exceptional moderating skills as he reminds us whenever he finds the time out of his busy schedule to show up every blue moon or so. But that's fine. The whole point is that this is a site where those who have to stand in the corner elsewhere often become teacher's pests pets over here. So there you have it, my Holiday Fantasy for the year. Unless, of course, something better comes along.

It's Rowdy Nudie Time!

No. How's that? Did I get in?

Nice uvula!

Would you please get your ass off the phone? I'm expecting a call.

A pair of gay cavemen from Chame Were the victims of Cambrian shame. They crawled under a rock To wait out the epoch, And are now in the chorus of Mame.

As long as there's a bell curve, you're going to have outliers. What you could do is go someplace where our egregious offenses are somebody else's virtues. Just be careful who you wink at.

Glad I checked back and noticed this was fasting rather than fisting. Either way, I've done some unnecessary shopping. Maybe I can make candles.

“The authority to take a man’s life is the most draconian penalty that we allow our government to exercise,” the group wrote. “As conservatives, we must be on guard that such an extraordinary government sanction not be used against a person who is mentally incapable of rational thought.” . . . as our ranks would be depleted pretty quickly. Personally, I'm against the death penalty altogether for sane folks, insane folks, and folks who are on the fence, so MsGuy's thoughtful distinctions don't trouble my pretty little head in the slightest. I've heard prisoners say that life in prison is worse than being executed and, after reading what this guy did, I hope they're right and that's where he ends up. My hunch is that our country is on an arc away from the death penalty, and stories like these and thought challenges like MsGuy's will help to move it along among those who are still undecided.

"The only thing I regret about my past is that there's so much of it." I had thought this was one of Diana Vreeland's but have not been able to reliably pin it on her. If Google doesn't help me soon, I may just appropriate it and let her estate track me down.

If this is turning into one of those "roads not taken" threads, I'm outta here. Ooops.

Perhaps it's a progesterone thing.

To test whether homosexual behaviour really does go hand in hand with a need to form close bonds with others of the same sex, they decided to compare sexual behaviour with the level of a certain hormone in the blood. Progesterone is also known as a “social” hormone – it is produced mainly in the ovaries in women and in the adrenal glands in men, and encourages a person to engage with others in a positive way. They asked a group of participants questions such as "The idea of kissing a person of the same sex is sexually arousing to me," and: "If someone of the same sex made a pass at me I would be disgusted”. They compared the answers to the level of progesterone in the blood. The results, published in the journal Archives of Sexual Behaviour, show that the people with higher levels of the hormone are indeed more inclined to have homoerotic thoughts. A glance at the progesterone molecule itself gives a bit of a clue.

Something tells me that second guy from the left could start a Revolution on these fruited plains.