patrick.net

FAB,

Couldn't disagree more. My broker dealer is in St. Louis (that's the town just won a World Series AND America's most violent city btw) and the gals that work at the corp. office are "da' bomb". Seriously. What makes them even more attractive is the fact that they don't think of themselves as "hot". Why? B/c they look just like all the other gals that work there!

Could ALL of them become "models"? Well I rather doubt that but they are more than attractive and what's more important they absolutely knock themselves out trying to prove their competence to you!

If ever there is a dispute regarding a comm. or registration issue, they are endlessly patient and polite to the point of a fault. I can't imagine getting that level of dedication and service in NY.

Is it just me? I think people should only sleep people that they intend to marry.

Peter P,

Wow, and I thought I was old-fashioned when it comes to relationships! :-) I don't think sex before marriage is so bad, as long as you use protection and/or are in a long-term relationship (assuming your religion permits it, of course). We are only human, after all. When I was in my teens & 20s, I must admit I pretty much wanted to nail anything hot looking in a skirt. Hmmm... come to think of it... :twisted:

According to most Left Coasters, your notions of fidelity is "quaint" and "dated", much like your notions of fiscal responsibility. You should consider a New Paradigm relationship, or at the very least a Trophy Mistress. With upgrades.

FAB,

If your business doesn't take you to Chicago, St. Louis etc. just watch as the camera pans across the crowd at a Cubs or Sox game (preferably a July game) vice the rail thin Sarah Jessica Parker crowd at Yankee Stadium! They all seem to have very pleasant faces. Will the rest of the long time married guys back me up here? Trust me, anyone that's been married a long time will tell you that you spend a lot more time looking at the other person's face than you do their body! (Just kinda works out that way). Oh...... unless you reside in a nudist colony.

I don’t think sex before marriage is so bad, as long as you use protection and/or are in a long-term relationship (assuming your religion permits it, of course).

Well, if you are in a long-term relationship, you do have the presumed bona fide intention to marry, right? :)

Trust me, anyone that’s been married a long time will tell you that you spend a lot more time looking at the other person’s face than you do their body!

I am learning to sense their aura instead.

Hey! I just heard Reese Witherspoon is now "back on the market" for you ambitious and "discriminating" type fellows! Now if we could just get rid of that ninny Matthew Broderick!

Why is crude oil bouncing back? Any ideas?

Why not? They are not making any more oil.

George

Just point out to your wife to be that renting for now could save both of you $30,000 of your hard earned income or how ever much you think prices will drop in your area - when stated like that I'm sure she wouldn't mind renting for a while - tell her to think of all the stuff she could buy for the house etc for that.

Claire,

I'm sure you've just broken some unwritten "code" that women are NEVER supposed to reveal to men! Just another added bonus you can't get anywhere but at Patrick.net!

Actually George should even amplify on that by adding that each dollar they DON'T borrow is 3-4 they don't have to pay back.

Fortunately I did not buy a house, & I have a lot of other investments, but I sure paid the price for it.

I think that's the sad part for me. Even with this soft landing, none of my investments have done even closer to what buying would've done in 2002.

In the last 5 years, my 401k has only appreciated 20% - that's total. Not YoY.

Man I suck at investing/speculating. :(

@eburbed,

Just take ConfusedRenter's advice to heart:

Life is short, got to live it to the fullest! Not in fear or shame, but proud and with destiny!

and everything will work out for you!

SFWoman Says:

> Nah, lots of men don’t like thin women.

Almost all (straight) men like thin women (defined as Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition thin, not 16 year old Heroin Addict thin).

The number of men that “don’t like” thin women (as defined above) is unbelievably small (about as small as the as the number of men that are in to amputees).

There are “lots” of men that “say” they don’t like thin women to make the chunky gal they are with happy (since they couldn’t attract a good looking thin gal).

Lots of people get to a point in life where they “say” that what they have is what they really want (but down deep wish they didn’t have a crappy job, a Geo Metro and a chunky wife)…

Life is short, got to live it to the fullest! Not in fear or shame, but proud and with destiny!

I missed that one. :-)

He's right! But I have a better solution than buying a house! I can accomplish all of these goals by strutting down the street naked, proud and with destiny! It will also only take $500 to bail out my ass after I sober up.

Almost all (straight) men like thin women (defined as Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition thin, not 16 year old Heroin Addict thin).

Or Vegan thin.

Life is short, got to live it to the fullest! Not in fear or shame, but proud and with destiny!

and everything will work out for you!

... and that's when I bought some shares of SGI thinking they'd come back. Oops.

I actually do not like thin women. They usually do not eat enough. Or they are too many things they do not eat.

The number of men that “don’t like” thin women (as defined above) is unbelievably small (about as small as the as the number of men that are in to amputees).

I think I've read somewhere that "thin" has been redefined in America - due in part to our obesity problem. That "not overweight" is now thin.

Wouldn't surprise me.

FAB,

Why is it that this exactly what I would have expected your response to be? Discriminating is one thing, bitter is another. Look, we're ALL getting older, none of us are getting younger. The 16 year old smack addict comment was way out of line. That's just taking things to extremes to make your view of things look more centered. Most of the swimsuit edition gals ARE too thin and probably heavily air-brushed to boot. They only "exist" in the swimsuit edition!

… and that’s when I bought some shares of SGI thinking they’d come back. Oops.

LOL :lol: Sorry.

There are “lots” of men that “say” they don’t like thin women to make the chunky gal they are with happy (since they couldn’t attract a good looking thin gal).

Didn't you just finish talking about the slim pickings in the singles market and how they're only after your money? It doesn't sound like you're offering much more to a prospective mate.

Life is suffering. Suffering comes from desire. Your suffering could not be any more evident.

I have met lots of those picky eater move food around on the plate types as well.

My wife is quite picky too. She does not even eat sweetbreads.

If one can get into a full-sized car unassisted, he or she is not too fat.

I get so tired of this. Any time a guy says he thinks a lot of actresses/models are too thin everyone snickers to themselves and thinks (geez, this guy must be stuck with a real "hefer"). I'm so tired of this.

Guys...... Mrs. DinOR looks just great thanks! Do I remember her being "thinner" sure. That was two (now grown) daughters ago. She spends way too much time exercising/worrying and is actually the most fun when she's eating! For Filipinas eating IS a very social thing. It gets old when were having a dinner to die for and the minute we get back to the car there's all this regret and retrenchment to not let THAT happen again! Can we all just let this go now? Hey! I'm buyin!

I just got another KB Homes email.

I got so many that they go automatically into the spam folder.

Healthy and not overweight in women is a European cultural thing, it applies in Canada, the US, Australia, NZ, etc.

It is probably a media thing. It is amazing how much control the media has on our value systems.

This is still my theory: obesity explains McMansions and SUV’s.

What about tiny airline seats?

Artificial Intelligence can speak, think and act to and through people telepathically, effectively forming your personality and any disfunctions you may experience.

Machines have no intuition.

What about tiny airline seats?

Not marketed to the obese consumer, rather, to an airline industry that calculates seat size based on maximizing carrying capacity to the limit of passenger tolerability. SUV's and McMansions are sold directly to the fat consumer.

In some periods in history, a well-fed look ruled supreme.

Being well-fed is more important.

Nowadays as McDonalds and Burger Kings rule the world, a thin look separates the upper class from the masses.

I assure you that it is possible to gain weight without fast food.

Peter P, skibum,

Our Dr. is big on the "Okinawan Program". What have you (or anyone here) heard about it from a health/diet program?

Our Dr. is big on the “Okinawan Program”.

What do they eat?

Actually, the Japanese food or sushi diet is very effective. It is even more expensive at exotic restaurants. You cannot get fat if you do not want to pay for entrees. :)

I think a fish diet is indeed very healthy.

Many "scientists" are saying that mercury can be a problem and they want to steer people away from eating fish. This should help busting some myths:

http://www.fishscam.com/

Peter P,

I'm still learning but obviously lots of fish, fresh fruit and vegetables. Oh and tofu. What was amazing about the study is that the more Okinawa becomes westernized the younger generations do not seem to enjoy the same level of health or longevity. Nor do Okinawans that migrate/assimilate so genetics seem to play a small part if any. It seems that although diet IS important this is as much about their attitude toward life and their concern for one another. Weird huh?

I seem to recall that Tuna is not OK.

The site I posted would probaby prove that most Hg guidelines are over-conservative. Many agencies are heavily influenced by environmentalists and animal "rights" activists.

It seems that although diet IS important this is as much about their attitude toward life and their concern for one another.

Yes. Diet is important. I actually believe that food drive cultural changes throughout history.

I love fish.

Well, Peter P has again linked us to a site sponsored by the Center for Consumer Freedom - Peter, are you affiliated with these guys somehow? It makes me laugh, your dogged support for these guys in the food industry.

Aside from this, I actually agree with Peter on fish. Mercury is clearly a problem if eaten in significant quantities. However, the amount of fish consumed by Americans doesn't even come close to the levels needed to cause problems. In Japan, there was a significant pandemic of Mercury-related disease later termed Minimata disease based on the area of Japan where industrial Mercury got into the fish food supply. But, the benefits of eating fish (omega-3 fatty acid intake, displacing unhealthy foods, protein intake, etc) far outweigh the risks.

@DinOR, I took a look at okinawa-diet.com. The diet seems reasonable and there doesn't appear to be much hooey like many "fad" diets. I'm just not sure about the unique benefits of the "Okinawan Diet." It looks like overall a very sensible thing, but it doesn't seem all that different from other sensible diets. If it works for you guys, go for it.

(Not medical advice).

I don’t allow people to drive me fast in their cars. They always overestimate their ability.

Exactly. 80mph is legal only on a few Texan highways. It is definitely not safe on highway ramps.

The car blew up and they identified him with dental records.

Sorry but I have to say it was a happy ending. He could have killed other drivers, passengers, or pedestrians.

People who like speed should learn to fly a plane. Even an Enzo cannot beat a Mustang (Cessna, not Ford) to Santa Barbara.

What was amazing about the study is that the more Okinawa becomes westernized the younger generations do not seem to enjoy the same level of health or longevity. Nor do Okinawans that migrate/assimilate so genetics seem to play a small part if any.

@DinOR,

That story's been played out in many cultures that have been only recently exposed to an American diet. Native Americans are a good example. There's a very important study following the Pima Indians of the Southwest - they have developed a ton of obesity and diabetes (no pun intended) since adopting a "modern" American diet (McDonald's and the like). The theory is that over generations many of these agrarian cultures lived on a feast-or-famine diet. Good harvest years lead to plenty of food, bad harvest years were lean. As a result, their metabolism has adapted to very efficiently extract energy and store it from food, particularly carbohydrates. Nowadays, on the US diet, their bodies can't "handle" the caloric overload, leading to obesity and diabetes.

CG

I see you've dropped the pretend-you're-an-immigrant ruse. Life getting boring at Microsoft again? Shouldn't you be working on getting Vista out or something better than weaving some self-imagined tapestry of trolldom on a bubble site?

I find, even now, I’m just waiting to time the purchase of a second home…. its not a matter “if” its “when”, and this is despite the fact that my dear friends (many of whom have more financial savvy than myself) have repeatedly walked me through the economics as to why buying a vacation/second home doesn’t make any sense and is just plain stupid.

scutter,

What part of the country are you in... Have you considered a "fractional" second/vacation home? This seems to me to be the most sensible as you can make peace with your "primal urges" without losing your shirt. A DIY fractional (aka TIC - tenants in common) is the most affordable, while buying a fractional share on the secondary market comes in a distant second. I consider buying a share from the developer idiotic (as it can lose as much as half its value walking out the door), but your mileage may vary.