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Insomniac

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Posts posted by Insomniac

  1. I think there is a place for reading chapters as they are posted.

    I quite understand and agree with the frustration of waiting for that next chapter, but there are also stories that benefit from that wait.

    My new series on the Doors of Love is just that, a series. It is meant to be a light-hearted episodic story, designed to be read each week as a segment in the lives of the boys who first appeared in my blog.

    Think of it as a cartoon short episode, before the main feature.

    Coming soon, as soon as my editor finishes correcting it. :stare:

    Oh man, I cannot wait to read that!

  2. I got up this morning to an inbox full of irate letters from hooked readers looking for their Saturday morning DDG fix. I got the bombast of their withdrawal symptoms.

    It was very strange, because last night I saw with my own eyes Chapter 31 posted for viewing. Today, that's been replaced with a second Chapter 30.

    I think there are gremlins gumming up the works.

    C

    PS - Thanks, Camy, for providing the link.

    That definitely is weird. I saw and read chapter 31 as well. I'll save my comments for later then as I don't want to spoil the chapter.

  3. Well, as much as I would like to see Matt 'do it' with Kevin, I can also see his point of view. He has his whole ego and self image inextricably tied together with 'maturity' and 'restraint' (not restraints, you pervs), and to let his immediate desires overrule those would put his inner psyche at risk. My only issue is that he shouldn't even be letting it get as far as it is going. If you are scared of heights you DON'T walk right up to the edge of the cliff.

    That is exactly how I am feeling, he is leading Kevin on and then stopping him after the fact. I don't know how Kevin can put up with that crap.

  4. Arrrrrghh! I just wanna slap the crap out of that kid. Just when you think he's getting more mature and some common sense he goes and says or does something really dumb once again. You are such a puppeteer to my emotions Cole.

  5. It was definitely a sad ending and most certainly not the one we wanted, but Ele is such a good writer that we understood why they couldn't be together and I can say for myself that I didn't leave feeling empty or cheated what-so-ever. It may have taken a little over two years to get the story told, but it was without a doubt worth the wait.

  6. One thing that has to be remembered is that the chance of a stupid or irresponsible person owning a gun is not a valid reason to ban guns or take them away from everybody. If this were the case none of us would be able to drive a car as millions of irresponsible and stupid people step behind the wheel each day, some even killing others. I'm writing a college paper towards the end of this semester on allowing licensed concealed carry gun owners to be able to carry on college campuses. If you guys like I can post it up for ya. I already spent almost $80 on books for resources and all is looking well for it to be an awesome paper.

  7. I live in Mississippi- untra-conservative heart of the bible belt. In short, we are America's Iran. A place where you can lose you job for publically supporting Civil Unions. Trust me I know- it happened to me. I went from having excellent performance evals to a serious attitude problem at super-sonic speed.

    Gay people have NOTHING in Mississippi. No protections. No laws. A state constutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage. A culture that damns us. If cops and judges aren't outwardly bigoted, they are damn sure biased.

    We aren't SAFE. We probably won't be in my lifetime. We only have the rights that we can hire a lawyer and enforce. We don't have tons of allies who think its cool to be gay friendly.

    I don't begrudge you what you have. Just don't blame me for wanting it.

    Only as long as you don't blame me for not being able to understand. I'm not very open, though most of my family and freinds know about me and know my BF, and I can honestly say that I've never experienced one incident of prejudice. Maybe becuase of where I live, or maybe it's because I don't exactly look like victim material. It's hard to imagine that one part of the country can be so advanced on the issue and others are still in the Stone Age.

  8. I just wanted to say that this same article was posted on a local gun forum that I frequent and it was recieved very well. I didn't see any negative remarks at all (aside from the "pink" part) and the general consensus among them was that they were happy to have more practicing gun owners reguardless or sexuality. Most of the members are from MA, but a few are from the surrounding states. I take this as a good sign as being seen as equals and that generalized stereotypes are starting to fade. I even tried to 'bait' other members with some suggestive comments (evil of me, I know), but no one bit.

  9. The Gay Rights Movement is actually paper thin. As much ground as we have covered, we have very little in the way of laws on the books to show for it: ZERO at the national level, darned few at the state level and a patchwork of city ordinances. Many of those state and local laws face routine attacks by those who would see them overturned.

    Should we face a well organized and funded coordinated attack, we could see the loss of everthing that has been won so far.

    Nothing says that any pro-gay candidate will do anything for us either, they could just as well hurt us also. To me it is just not worth it. This is also why each of us has the right to an individual vote. I also don't think the government could strip us of everything we've earned so far without serious backlash. Think Stonewall riots, but on a much, much larger scale. There are also way too many non-gay supporters that wouldn't let this happen either. I also live in one of the most liberal states in the country and Gay Marriage is legal here, so what I see in terms of rights may be totally different from what someone else in the country may see.

  10. I hate to wait for the entire story to be posted, and usually I don't wait for serials to be completed before reading them. Yet, with Grasshoppers stories I cannot stop reading and I think if I started reading this story that I would lose sleep until it's completed. I read all of his JHS stories back-to-back in one night. I just couldn't stop until everything was resolved and all was settled, the felt to much emotions for the characters to do anything otherwise. It was the same with his other stories, once I start on them I just can't stop until the story is resolved. Maybe I'll give in and try reading whats posted and wait out the rest.

  11. Well, since you've hijacked it let me but in on the hijacking.

    I disagree about choosing which candidate I vote for based on them being pro- or anti-gay rights, I think this is one of the important considerations. We've had 8 years of an administration that's anti-gay rights, preceded by a Congress that was anti-gay rights during the Clinton administration. Attempts to ban not just gay marriage but gay domestic partnerships are on the agenda of some of the candidates running in the primaries. If they were to get into office, things could get very ugly for those of us who are gay, in my opinion.

    Colin :shock:

    The Gay Rights 'Movement' has too much steam to be made to take any steps back. It could possibly not make any advancements, but that is worst case. There's nothing saying that voting for a candidate that has a pro or nuetral gay agenda will see any results either. At least voting for someone becuase of their gay rights stance is better than voting for someone because they're a 'Woman' or becuase they are 'Black'. I swear the next time I hear someone say one of the two latter comments I'm going to slap them and walk away saying nothing further.

  12. While sounding like an absurd claim, it is very true that many, many young Mormon boys were forced from their homes in Utah. In the arch-conservative branch of Mormon, the elders control the lives of the young, and they decide which girls go to which men, and young boys, gay or straight, are a threat to their having all the girls they want. So, they got expelled from the clan, kicked out, thrown out physically, left by the side of the road in many cases. This sounds like nonsense, like a story. It wasn't. Or at least wasn't so until a year or so ago when their leader finally, finally, got arrested. Since that time, this branch of the chruch as been taken over by leagl authorities. I haven't seen the outcome of the changes that have certainly occurred since. I hope no more youth are being disenfranchised, and ones that were have been taken back into their familes. Knowing the attitudes of the elders, I doubt that has happened.

    I never want to rebuke an entire group of people for the actions of some. I have known some very fine Mormons, some exceptionally fine individuals. I think it's always a mistake to look at a group and see it as a whole. It can be tempting to do that, but it is wrong. I have to keep telling myself that when it comes to some groups.

    C

    I didn't realise this was true until me and a couple friends were watching the movie Latter Days. Turns out one of my friends was Mormon and his parents got a divorce over his coming out and his mom went nuts over it (tried to kill herself and all). He said he slept for almost a year with a large knife under his pillow incase they would try and take him during the night and put him in one of those correctional facilities. I can't see how Romney's being Mormon would affect his as president though.

  13. I respectfully disagree with highly respected raccoon. :shock:

    I hate Mormons because they hate me. I know because the real life person that inspired Rainer in Broken told me so.

    If you are gay, Mormons will hurt you in any way they can while smiling to your face.

    In their twisted faith, if they punish you enough, you'll come to your senses and decide NOT to be a homosexual.

    They are terrorists and if you turn your back on them you are a fool.

    Never allow yourself in a position where a Mormon has power over you or you will regret it.

    That's why Mitt Romney scares the living hell out of me.

    Utah, home of the Mormons, is full of street kids who were thrown out of perfect Mormon families.

    I hate to hijack the thread, but I don't think you should choose which candidate you vote for in this election based on them either being pro or anti-gay rights. McCain and Romney both have religious backgrounds, but the gay rights movement has too much foward momentum to be affected in any negative manner. We may see a stalemate for a few years, but I'd rather put that all aside for awhile then have either Hitlery or "Osama" Obama take the White House. Obama has no political background what-so-ever and I feel like he'll become another "Cadillac" Devalt Patrick and win the election based on the color of his skin and then try and screw up the country with illogical and assbackwards proposals. Hillary is just plain evil and has too many political connections for her own good and I can see her making some massive and abrupt changes where they should be gradual. I also don't believe she is as pro-gay as some might like to believe. I would much rather have a conservative Rebulican in the White House for the next 4 or even 8 years then to have some extreme liberal take office and lead us to hell in a handbasket. IMHO (and only my opinion) Sometimes we need to think of the greater good and not vote based on selfish personal wants. As much as I'd like to see every gay in America be able to get married, share rights, and serve openly in the military I could stand to wait a few years for that to happen worst case. Just something to think about.

  14. Pink Pistols grow to 40 chapters

    Gays and guns issue finds common ground in civil liberties, love of guns

    by Shaun Hittle

    Originally printed 01/31/2008 (Issue 1605 - Between The Lines News)

    When Dexter Guptill and his gun-slinging group head into a restaurant, they can't help but be noticed by other patrons. Virginia state gun law prohibits concealed weapons in establishments that serve alcohol, so he and his crew must display their firearms. It turns heads, but Guptill doesn't mind; it gives him and his friends a chance to talk about the Pink Pistols - the gay, gun rights group that they all belong to.

    As unlikely as the combination of guns and gays may sound, the Pink Pistols have grown since their inception in 2000 to include over 40 chapters in the U.S. and one in Canada. Their aim, said Pink Pistols media spokesperson Gwen Patton, is to encourage the safe usage of firearms while advocating for gun rights in an atmosphere that is accepting of and welcoming to the LGBT community.

    The driving force for the Pink Pistols was a 2000 article written by Jonathon Rauch for Salon Magazine in which he wrote about the need for the LGBT community to exercise their second amendment rights. Rauch cited the example of a young gay man whose life was possibly saved during a potential hate crime when another man used a gun to ward off an attack.

    Rauch wrote, "...homosexuals should embark on efforts to become comfortable with guns...they should set up Pink Pistols task forces, sponsor shooting courses and help homosexuals get licensed to carry."

    Rauch's plea for LGBT persons to become gun owners for self-protection launched the group, whose mottoes are "Armed gays don't get bashed" and "Pick on someone your own caliber."

    One of those national chapters is here in Michigan, and has been running since 2001. The chapter is based in Lansing and is currently headed by Al Lowe, who helps organize monthly shooting events for the roughly 20 Michigan members. While there is currently only one Michigan chapter, Lowe said he hopes that the group will grow to include other, more remote locations in the state.

    While the direct connection between gay and gun rights might not seem obvious at first glance, Lowe said he feels those in the LGBT community have an extra imperative to protect themselves with firearms. "If you're gay, you're already an open target," said Lowe, adding that firearms are an effective deterrent to hate crimes.

    "Criminals fear armed citizens," he added.

    Pink Pistols spokeswoman Gwen Patton echoed Lowe's comments on the need for LGBT persons to protect themselves against hate crimes. She places LGBT status right up there with race, religion and ethnicity when it comes to the likelihood of being targeted for hate crimes.

    Common ground

    From a political standpoint, the issue of gay rights and gun rights and the groups that support each traditionally land on opposite sides of the spectrum. However, a common ground, said Patton, has been found regarding civil liberties and a love of firearms. Patton said that in her beliefs, they are both matters of constitutional rights.

    Guptill has seen a cooperative spirit in Virginia between his group and other gun rights groups. Guptill said that the National Rifle Association has been supportive of his chapter and that most gun enthusiasts react positively to the Pink Pistols. "They usually say, 'Cool, another shooter,'" said Guptill. "You're accepted as long as you can shoot straight."

    Guptill's experiences support the NRA's position on LGBT status. NRA spokesperson Ashley Varner said that the NRA respects personal privacy and welcomes "...anyone regardless of race, color, creed, or sexual orientation."

    And while LGBT persons might be accepted in traditional gun rights groups, Patton said there is a strong value that members of the Pink Pistols share: The ability to talk openly about LGBT issues during events, something that she said might not be as easily accepted in traditional gun rights groups.

    Guptill, who said he is "straight, not narrow," also finds value in breaking down stereotypes of gun rights enthusiasts. "We're not all tobacco-chewing rednecks," said Guptill. "Its fun to watch peoples' heads explode when you shatter their stereotypes."

    According to Lowe and Patton, any problems the Pink Pistols have had with acceptance of their group has come from those in the LGBT community who are against violence and guns. Lowe said that in his experience, most gay rights groups either ignore the Pink Pistols or react negatively to them.

    Political discord aside, Lowe reminds people that the primary mission of the Pink Pistols is to encourage and cultivate safe firearms ownership and usage. "The goal is to get people interested in shooting," said Lowe, adding that monthly gatherings of his group focus mostly on guns and less on LGBT politics. "It's a relaxing form of recreation."

    For more Information on the Pink Pistols, visit their website at www.pinkpistols.orgTo View Jonathan Rauch's Salon article, visit www.jonathanrauch.com/jrauch_articles/guns_for_gays_pink_pistols/index.html

  15. You know, everyone has been assuming that little Timmy is gay. I'm going to go out on a limb and say he's straight and his 'looks' are just those of admiration. He obviously has no friends and the attention he is giving could just be that of wanting some friends.

    Just a thought :abduct[1]:

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