Athos

I do believe gaming has become much harder and requiring more planning

Definitely

Totally good advice. I stayed with my ex a long time, always trying to change who I was, until I realized that she wasn't going to change. While i'm not perfect, I never received an apology for the tantrums, silent treatments, etc. The change was all supposed to be me! Years later (like 15 years later) we got together for dinner. Had a good talk. I did get an apology, and we're now quite good friends. Porthos

I think begging the person to reopen communication is the wrong approach. It validates their position that you did something wrong, without having the opportunity to actually have a discussion of each person's feelings. As others have stated, it is highly manipulative, passive aggressive and designed to make you feel inferior in the relationship. It only works if you come back pleading for her/him to resume your friendship. I'd say very calmly to the person: "Look, I've clearly done something to upset you, and if I did I'm sorry. When you're ready to talk about it I'd be happy to discuss it. Just let me know when you're ready." And then walk away. Be prepared to wait, because this strategy has worked for the person in the past and they won't give up being in the superior position for equality easily. But, having said that, good friendships are always based on equality. Just make sure you're clearly indicating that you are leaving the lines of communication open and that the next move is theirs. I had an ex-girlfriend years ago who would get mad and storm off. I'd follow, begging her to stop and talk about the issue. Right out the door she would go. Later, when we'd talk she'd say I didn't come after her. I'd say, sure I did, right up until you left the building. She'd then tell me she stopped 20 feet outside the building and turned around, but I'd given up, and if I'd really cared I would have kept going. I told her, well, if you cared, you would have been willing to talk the first time I asked, not after I had to go through a humiliating public show of following you through a crowded building as you stormed off. For obvious reasons, an "ex" girlfriend. Porthos

There are lots of Titanic centenary events taking place here in NL. Serious fans could have taken a cruise recreating the voyage, scheduled to be over the ship's resting place at the time of the crash. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/04/08/ms-balmoral-recreate-titanic-voyage-100-years_n_1410556.html We're having a big iceberg season, so fingers crossed history doesn't repeat itself. I found it interesting that the memorial cries had to leave two days earlier than the titanic as the modern ship isn't as fast! Porthos

And the prize will be given to WIT

Look, up in the air, leaping over that tall building, quicker than a really quick bullet, racing ahead of a racing locomotive ... It got to be Uperman!!! I'd like to watch him go toe to toe with arachnid-man, the friendly neighbourhood web-crawler.

Sadly, perhaps, but educational achievement becomes a shortcut to judging these things. If you have 100 applicants for one position, it can be very difficult to judge life experience and relate it to qualifications, ability, maturity, etc. probably, education should be thought of as nothing more than a life experience, which as a society, we've allocated particular meaning. As everyone has said, it doesn't equate with intelligence, but it does (again perhaps wrongly) often equate with opportunity. My father, who didn't get past grade 6 was a mathematical whiz and could probably have been an engineer. He could design, make, and fix almost anything. But, of course, he wasn't an engineer, but worked in a machine shop. And to be totally fair, without a professional engineering certification I'm not sure people in general would have wanted him designing bridges or electrical dams.

Congratulations .... So richly deserved!

I swore I was going to stay away from this thread, but I so agree with you Castle. Another species that is under global threat are ampibians ... Frogs in particular. This is due to habitat loss, capture and harvesting for bait, collection for dissection in school science classes, and just us people running them down with our cars. But as you say, you just don't see supermodels kissing frogs!

Wow, I can't believe how good people are at making a really long thread without employing the dreaded letter that cannot be named. There are a group of very erudite and clever people on CERB who can overcome any challenge.

Well, actually you can .... It's just you'll eventually win!

Sign on the side a street vender's truck in St. John's: "Long Dick's Sausage Emporium". All new meaning to the term street meat!!

Tonight I'm preparing tortellini with a thick red tomato concoction on top for my dinner, along with a nice bottle of red wine.

What I hate is that with all the concerns about identity theft, cleaning my home office now requires a few hours riding the paper shredder!

It's not my intention to offend anyone, but I fully support the fur trade. Of course, I also love animals, am a part-time nature photographer and believe we need to vigorously protect our wild areas. I am opposed to the inhumane treatment of animals, and the mistreatment of farmed animals, whether it be mink or chickens should be prosecuted. I also do think there are lots of misconceptions. This is a political hot potato and both sides are prone to hyperbole and occasional mistruths. Here in NL the European boycott on fur products has devastated the seal industry and those who rely on it. I love seal products and have a pair of sealskin boots. Wish I could afford a jacket. The stuff you hear said about the seal hunt, though, is often a complete load of BS. In NL, as well, those seals also go into the cook pot, so they get eaten as well. Additional Comments: So, curious about the claims of animals being skinned alive I googled this. All of the reports of this happening seem to come from China. If this is true, then the solution would be for a boycott of fur products from China, rather than attacking all fur. I couldn't find any reports of this happening in NA, but would be interested if others are aware of them.

People often think they cannot communicate without it, but they are very wrong. It can be done if you think ahead, plan carefully, and tape a pin to the key on your keyboard to remind you not to do it.

The letter that cannot be named. The alphabet equivalent of Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter.

Having moved all day you need a drink, a warm bath, and a backrub. Maybe a big bowl of yummy ice Creme too!

That's an excellent suggestion. In the past I've hesitated to do that, simply because I don't want to be causing too much inbox clutter. But this thread is making me think it would be to everyone's benefit. Porthos

I don't think I can do it for very long!

A lot of academics are egotistical intellectual snobs, who don't realize that except for the protection of the tenure system they would have been fired long ago. Many of them end up as university faculty precisely because they are so socially inept that they couldn't hold a job anywhere else. Which goes right back to the difference between book smart and almost any sort of smart that matters!

Hey Backrubman .... I can well understand why you are so upset. I'd be beside myself. It's interesting, that in a virtual community, where we live behind handles and avatars, that our reputation and good name is still so very important. I think that also speaks to how CERB is a community of hobbyists and providers, rather than a review board. I suspect you are quite right that no one is trying to deliberately cause you harm, but rather they are trying to trade on your good name! It still is extremely troubling, and makes me worry for the ladies as well. Porthos