At least you had a Hayes 300 Baud Smartmodem. We had to make do with a half-duplex No-name British 1200/75 baud one, and we didn't have anyone to sort out the wires for us the first very frustrating weekend!
- ianf ⌘
Thanks... it's *semi* safe, it does include some f-bombs. Wish I could easily shrink it down a bit more. Anyway, it was kinda sad :( I keep hoping things won't go that way... this Exciting Phase has lasted for a solid 6 months so far...
- Kamilah Gill
Reminds me of the joke about the phases of sex... The 1st kind of sex is Smurf Sex. This kind of sex happens when youfirst meet someone and you both have sex until you are blue in the face.The 2nd kind of sex is Kitchen Sex. This is when you have been withyour partner for a short time and you are so horny you will have sexanywhere, even in the kitchen.The 3rd kind of sex is Bedroom Sex....
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- LogEx
I just hide 'em ... stupid, stupid game. Resent the time taken to click etc. ... boy, am I impatient!
- Kate Foy
My roommate is addicted. It is amazing how encompassing the 'small' games can be for some.
- Jennifer Dittrich
It's not an issue of hiding it. I hid it the moment it came out. It's just that she talks about it. ALL THE TIME! Most of her posts are pleadings for people to help her take out some guy who has hacked her account or something. Every Friday from 3pm on, she swamps Facebook.
- Admiral Anika
enter the android: part human, part robot...skynet shall rule the world...ok seriously, i'm annoyed by those captchas that i have a hard time reading too...
- brainno722 (Peter)
Oh, thank goodness I'm not the only one. I thought my eyes were getting even worse.
- Katy S
You definitely are not, Katy. I've been at sites where I've had to request several new images until I got one I could actually read.
- Brian Chang
Why is it that 25+ years after the initial outbreak of HIV and AIDS, gay men, or "men who have sex with men" still can't donate blood. Can't they screen that ish? <irritated and oppressed>
There's also a rule (at least at the local bank here) that *women* who have had sex with a man who has had sex with a man cannot donate. So, in other words, a woman who has had sex with a guy who has had gay sex in the past.
- Rochelle
I just gave blood a few weeks agon, Rah. The Central Texas Blood Center screening form now has over 30 questions on it. So yeah, the screen for that. And a million other things.
- Phil G
Damn, no wonder they can't get enough blood. Who wants to go through all that? Aren't they going to go behind you and test the blood anyway? Isn't this all a huge waste of time?
- Rahsheen ™, Coach Rah
It's called systemic prejudice. Built into the system and seen as inherently justified without being questioned.
- Neal Jansons
from twhirl
Yeah, they don't let us. And I'm O+ and would love to be able to help those who need it.
- Derrick
I could see the law being useful when it was proven that gay men were more likely to have AIDS like it was in the 80s... but now if they want to be statistical they would have to reject all Africans... http://aidsbuddy.com/wp-cont... which brings in an interesting question. I don't have an opinion. btw... I don't know the answer to this... but...
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- Noah David Simon
@Derrick: I'm O+, too. I'll have to donate more, since you can't. Except I'm on hiatus until April because of my Costa Rica vacation.
- Erica Mauter
@Noah: I don't think it could be proven that an ethnic group is diseased. There is proof of genetic susceptibility (like the link between sickle cell anemia and malaria resistance), and there's history of ethnic groups populating certain geographic areas. But I don't think it's sound to categorically exclude a group like that. There are so many other factors.
- Erica Mauter
@Erica: When you do, I'll be right on hand with the cookies and orange juice, my friend.
- Derrick
Well, there's always the ethical debate you can have with yourself. Do you go in and lie and donate blood anyway, knowing that you've been tested and are negative?
- Rochelle
@Rochelle, I've thought of that, knowing that the blood is tested anyway, but I haven't quite been so brazen.
- Derrick
Yeah its totally crap rule. They typically test the blood for any infections or diseases.
- CW™
It's a stupid rule. Point blank. The blood will be tested anyway. Who cares if you're a dude having sex with dudes. If you know yourself not to be infected, you should be able to donate just like anyone else. I think Noah does have a point about stopping all black people from donating, though. I believe the statistics are not in our favor, but how stupid would THAT be?
- Rahsheen ™, Coach Rah
Bumping this again. I emailed the Puget Sound Blood Center (the major Seattle blood bank) a few days ago to clarify the rules regarding gays donating (and those who have a history of homosexual contact, etc.). The donor coordinator said that FDA rules say that if a man has had homosexual contact since 1977, regardless of the frequency, he is permanently denied. If a female has sexual...
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- Rochelle
Yep, it boggles my mind that this happens in the first place.
- Rodfather
Why change anything if there is no proof that 1. Causes harm to the persons who is being denied to do something. 2. That this is not preventing the issue that the rule was created for. (Sucks I know, but once a rule is in place you have to go to double the trouble to get it rewritten or done away with.)
- CW™
They won't let me donate because I lived in the United Kingdom from 1996-2000 (during the outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalitis, which they can't test for, and which potentially has a 30+ year incubation period).
- Mistletoe Glen
I had a false positive ONE TIME after donating blood 15 years ago. Since that time, it's been negative and even noted in their system but I still cannot donate blood.
- Trish R
Like Derrick could pass for straight. COME ON
- Andrizzle Gizzle
Damn all these loops for donating blood. Seems like we need a scientific (synthetic) solution if everyone's jumping through hoops and walking on eggshells just to qualify to donate blood!
- Zulema ◕ ◡ ◕
I refuse to donate blood because it's a pyramid scheme run by Dracula and his night slaves.
- Andrizzle Gizzle
Lindsey, they rely on people being honest. A guy who has gay sex with dozens of guys a year could go in there, swear he's never had gay sex, and donate if he qualifies based on all the other criteria.
- Rochelle
Don't ask me. I didn't make up the FDA rules!
- Rochelle
i guess they make it difficult for the good blood to get through the system, because the end game is so big and could potentially save or (if gone wrong) kill someone non?
- Simply Teeeya
It is exactly the same in Canada. I think it's because they're afraid of getting sued again after they infected a bunch of people with Hepatitis. I think the number of people eligible to donate is rapidly decreasing to the point where more people will be denied than allowed. They just stopped asking questions about SARS last year.
- Kenton
The father of an ex-girlfriend of mine died from a hep infected transfusion while in the military. They are scared as hell all the time now. We do need synthetic blood; whoever invents that will be hailed for centuries (if humans live that long).
- Neal Jansons
from IM
He just died a few years ago, but the transfusion was in the early 80s. Her family went broke, even with CHAMPUS and TREA, keeping him alive.
- Neal Jansons
+1 for synthetic blood; if there is a chance their tests might miss AIDS I would understand the cautionary approach. I got bitten by a dog recently so I can't give blood for a whole year even though I have no symptoms whatsoever.
- Franz Sittampalam
If you are asking from concern: it was long ago and military policy on transfusions has advanced, partially because of issues like that.
- Neal Jansons
Yeah, I can't give blood because of my -ahem- adventurous and curious late teens and early 20s. It's an interesting secondary consequence no one mentions or realizes at the time.
- Neal Jansons
Neal, yeah. I was trying to figure out when the US/FDA started mandating hepatitis screenings in blood donation but can't find the year.
- Rochelle
I don't know the details, I can ask her next time I talk to her...she is kinda avoiding me at the moment because her husband and her owe my wife and I money. Ahh, the downsides of maintaining life-long connections :p
- Neal Jansons
Heh, don't stress over it. I was just curious. Google isn't giving me the answer I'm looking for.
- Rochelle
when a relationship is made up of 2 men and no women, there is very little chance of 'blood sucking' taking place. That kind of thing usually takes place in relationships containing 1 man and 1 woman. The 'blood sucking' is usually done by the woman, almost always following a breakup between the 2 people. The 'blood sucker' takes and takes and takes from the 'blood suckee', until there is almost nothing left to take. The 'suckee' often appears disheveled, pale and out of sorts immediately following an event
- Morgan Haley
WTF, Morgan? /me is confused by vaguely misogynistic weirdness.
- Neal Jansons
Synthetic blood substitutes are pretty common now, actually. A careful surgeon doesn't need to use transfusions, even in some of the most invasive procedures. Accidents are another matter, I suppose. Although it's possible to use substitutes in those cases as well.
- Jason Huebel
(WTH is Morgan talking about? I miss something?)
- Jason Huebel
I have no clue. Apparently hard drugs aren't just for weekends anymore.
- Neal Jansons
Neal and Jason, I have no idea. He confused me, too.
- Rochelle
Neal: What? No hard drugs on weekdays? Aw man! You never let me have any fun!
- Morgan Haley
the evil NHS in the UK does not charge for this as far as I know
- Franz Sittampalam
from IM
Sorry about the tangent post folks. I guess I mis-read the header and the comments, and perhaps jumped in head first without checking how deep the water was. So to quote the Love Master, Mr. Craig Shoemaker, 'Erase, erase!'
- Morgan Haley
Morgan - Everyone's drug life is their own business, but the coherency level here usually only approaches the Dada-istic on weekends :p
- Neal Jansons
SUCK IT, SCOBLE!!! I've found the secret to attracting followers - I've picked up 4 new subscribers in the last 33 minutes. What's the secret? BOOBS!!! It's all about the BOOBAGES!!!
Yes, Mathew, I agree. However, I did the best I could without calling my daughter and asking her to take the shot for me. Maybe you should prevail on my fiance to take special FriendFeed boob shots when he's down here next month.
- Ladybug Heather
HAHAHA!! I just saw this and I can't stop laughing!!
- Justin Korn
@Neal, most assuredly not. Just saying that we women have the power to take over the internets whenever *WE* want, merely by showing y'all menfolk the boobs. We only LET the men appear to be in charge to assuage y'all's fragile male egos.
- Ladybug Heather
Robert finally admits he has man boobs... but the world is relieved to know he doesn't inappropriately use them for adding to his social media following "prowess"
- Susan Beebe
now saved too, I'll look at you for future inspiration ;p some kind of a motivation scheme, popping out each 2 or 3 min. from random angles. "Do this, remember when you delayed it? Come on, regard this as important and take control over the facts now, John."
- ElijahBailey-Zu of FF <0,
Bonus points for this friendfeed meme. a like --> a flickr favorite --> a browse of a flickr stream --> familiar locales --> familiar faces -->Tsenga and I know some of the same people! Poketo and FF bringing people together.
- Jason Toney
I'm begging Sara to come online and play with me on friendfeed. I say make just one comment. figures it would be a picture of a baby.
- Noah David Simon
I'm surprised how many of you had kid pics at the ready for this meme.
- Kevin Bondelli
kevin. i only have 2 pics of me as a kid. i don't speak to my mom and she's in kuwait or UAE now so i have no idea where my childhood things are. the pics i have my dad let me borrow them so i can scan them, but i had to send them back halfway across the country. it's so sad, because there's a lot of cute pics of me as a kid.
- Admiral Anika
@faboo I guess that is one of the big advantages of everything being digital now.
- Kevin Bondelli
This might be my fave from the Kid Meme bunch.
- Melissa
omg LOVE this! you have won the kid meme hands down.
- Carmen
Wow, 40% ??? Americans really have turned on the republican party haven't they LOL
- Scott Bannon
Assuming she and John McCain don't win this week: I'd like to see her make a run in 2012, for sure. That said, I'm thankful that she would have little chance of even winning the 2012 Republican primary.
- j1m
Is it horrifying or a demonstration of the lack of potential talent people see in the current Republican party?
- Johnny Worthington
Right John - the Republicans have a lot of great potential candidates, but most of them won't satisfy the lunatic fringe that Palin speaks to
- Chrimmus Tad
Why does this surprise you? Seriously. haha
- Mona Nomura
from fftogo
I'd like to see her run. She'd be easy to beat.
- Sean Quinn
from twhirl
I'd LOVE to see her run. I've been drooling over that option for the past 3 weeks. But we don't matter. We'll have to see if she can play nice with The Village.
- Admiral Anika
Yes, because democrats have such a talent poll this time around. A no-name, one-term senator and the wife of a former President. Sometimes, you need to stick your head out of the internet group-think for a minute.
- Spencer
Now wait...if Palin does run in 2012, since she doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of being taken seriously and winning, that would put the race between the Democrats and a 3rd party candidate. Yeah, I'd like to see her run too, just to give Americans more real choices.
- April Russo (app103)
@April: Remember, Bush won twice against better candidates. Palin can win if she's "marketed" right.
- Rui Pereira
@Rui & @april - or... she runs as an independent, sort of a cultural Ross Perot. Or... she teams up with Newt and they run a full R ticket from the start, freezing out anything but smarter, more metro Republicans thru the primaries and setting up an epic clash with a - hopefully still - popular incumbent in the Fall.
- Thom Kennon
Maybe just for the fun of it? I hope...
- Holger Eilhard
Names like Gregg and Jindal don't have the recognition factor yet.
- Robert Hafer
and this survey was done by whom? when? against what group(s)? i am rarely moved by "a recent poll shows.." stories. IMO, they are often attempts at managing news cycles and supporting self interest. i don't often see a poll designed to -remove-biases. i see too many designed to -support- biases. anyone got the details on this one?
- MikeAmundsen
The only bottom line that's for sure is what Ian May said.
- Micah Wittman
I think Roberto is right! Bring back Tina!
- petar vucetin
I'd like to see her on dancing with the stars! lmao
- MicahBear78
The numbers and huge sway of conservative voters in America is quite astonishing. As a liberal, at the very least if conservatives are going to get into power again, please put someone in who can speak and write well and is intelligent. The Bush's weren't that and Palin certainly isn't.
- EcoAussie
from twhirl
EcoAussie, Unfortunatly, Condi Rice wouldn't run.
- Robert Hafer
haha... we used to do something similar in high school... we'd draw it on the blackboard and claim it was a rocket ship... I miss high school
- Shawn Duffy
from twhirl
I think meme came from Richard Dawkins. meme=the mental equivalent of a gene. A thought that passes all around like a virus. So meme here is something that one or a few people start doing and soon everybody's doing it. right now posting photos of doodles. it's like a fad but memes seem to run their courses even faster.
- Kamilah Gill
this message brought to you by the society to cut up men
- Cee Bee
If you can't laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at?
- jfayel
I had the opportunity to stop in Toronto early one Easter morning. It was eerie how deserted the downtown was.
- Ladybug Heather
My foot's ok, thanks for asking! It just sucks not being able to walk in a walking city, damnit! Hope you had a good holiday. :)
- Mona Nomura
Hmm, that would suck! :( Hope you had a good holiday too and that your foot gets better soon because we have some shopping to do! ;)
- Emma
Great set, Emma!! I've had dreams of wandering in an empty Central London. Captured perfectly!
- Matt Harwood
They should have filmed Survivors on Xmas Day
- Marcus Beagley
Thanks Matt! It would be heavenly to wander around London when it's like this and after being in the West End on Saturday fighting with the crowds, this couldn't be more of a contrast.
- Emma
If I ever get my dream move to live nearer London, Christmas Day will be when I'll be out cycling around town! I guess New Year's Day is pretty quiet too? ;-)
- Kol Tregaskes
am I the only hetro man in the world who finds girl on girl to be somewhat boring to watch? Nothing against it per say but it just doesn't do anything for me. No? Only one? I'll get me coat, then!
- alphaxion
It's not just the subject or the content, but how it's done that makes it erotic or boring. That's my $0.02 anyway.
- Ian May
Well, g-bucks, there's nine others on the list from which to choose.
- MVB (Grinch of FF)
Girl on Girl anything is hot, especially when one or more is naked. But the list is seriously uninspired. No amount of lesbianism can make up for the sucking that was Wild Things.
- Eric P
There was Kevin Bacon's tallywacker. Oops, my gay is showing...
- Derrick
It was all hot up until the body doubles. They were hot too, but they weren't who we were sold...
- Chrimmus Tad
@alphaxion I feel the same way about it. Girl on girl just isn't all that. Now, pterodactyl on girl on the other hand... :P
- Jon, the Chilled Beartato
There was a time when GoG was really hot. But when every damn show suddenly decides to introduce GoG storylines, it gets really boring.
- Joey Gibson
I'm still waiting for the two guys on Law and Order to make out. Not because it'd be hot, but because it's just be freaking different. Girls making out? *yawn*
- Derrick
Bound isn't #1? I have a feeling a straight guy came up with this list.
- cecily
Huh, and look what came under the Christmas tree? A copy of Mulholland Drive. Bliss.
- Pete Delucchi
THAT was the top 10? O.K. Bound; but still...
- J. Abdul-Qahhar
Bound should've been #1 IMO. And I loved the scenes between Rita and Betty in Mulholland Drive. The rest I can take or leave. Well, except for Wild Things. I would rather that just kind of went away (I have the DVD too. A gift from someone who seems to think I have shite taste in films).
- tinypants - Hagitha of FF
Hm, why kissing girls make me feel good, but man-on-man soooo bad. Maybe still some memories from the communistic times...? What about "The worst top 10 man-on-man kisses"? like bin_laden-on-bush etc. ;)
- Stoyan Zhekov
Stoyan, i believe Derrick might be able to help you with that one ;)
- Darren Heydon
Finally a list worthy to be on FriendFeed
- Outsanity
Dear Universe: please send me an additional 5,000 to 10,000 words for my story so that I can send it to the publisher for consideration. I like the part where they send me a check for money. Thank you. Love, Nine.
Then you could submit it to McSweeney's and be guaranteed publication.
- Akiva Moskovitz
Words are easy, the order not so much.
- Micah Wittman
I think one of the fantasy authors I read has been having the same problem. The last three books of hers I've read included pages of descriptions of minor characters and their histories... and then you never hear of them again.
- Alix Whitmire
It's like reading Homer! 300 pages of the dogs of Ajax and then back over to the war.
- Nine
How about having your protagonist find a talking frog that eats leopards and knows the secret code for the protag's next dilemma, but demands three leopards in payment?
- Mark Dykeman
"Caroline Kennedy, now seeking Hillary Clinton's New York Senate seat, said through a spokesman Saturday she supports gay marriage. Kennedy's staff responded to eight questions on her views submitted by Politico. She refused to answer one, whether she would support the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York in 2009 over the independent incumbent, Michael Bloomberg."
- Kathleen Anderson
from Bookmarklet
"ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: California Attorney General Jerry Brown called on the state's Supreme Court on Friday to void a recently approved ballot measure banning same-sex marriage. "Proposition 8 must be invalidated because the amendment process cannot be used to extinguish fundamental constitutional rights without compelling justification," said Brown."
- Kathleen Anderson
from Bookmarklet