very similar to the question on 15 July. I have the same answer, but adding that perfume in any quantity that allows detection farther than 10-inches is too much and very offensive to me… I worked for 20-years in a company that had absolutely no dress code (except for Sales and Lawyers… and that was locally managed, no a policy) and we never had problems. The current CEO wears t-shirts and levi’s to work. “I do not notice mostly. I am a UC Berkeley graduate with a entrenched 60’s attitude… thank (input your favorite deity) that I am able to eat in most of the really great SF Bay Area restaurants in a t-shirt and shorts or jeans!!! Too bad some of them still have dress codes. That said , I do notice two things: 1) is s/he smoking? If so, I move up wind or far, far away, and 2) is s/he barely dressed? If so, I admire their courage, and if their body is pleasing, I admire that too! BTW: dark hair with electric color highlights (red, pink, blue, orange, yellow, whatever) is extremely pleasing!”

My only concern is that he could die in office and we’d end up with another GUY we didn’t vote for…

I erred… I meant not rationalize-able. I maintain the suicide is the most selfish act one can perform.

and they have to live with the terrible loss… again, it’s a selfish act that in no way is acceptable, or rational.

When life becomes to desperate to endure, look through the miniscule cracks into a less-fretful existence. Do not despair, but inhale life’s majesty evidenced in so many, many marvelous ways. If there is one spark of mental capacity remaining within my skull, do not extinguish my light. Allow me to wonder far in memory and forgetfulness… I cannot imagine getting to the point of killing myself. If not for me, then for those that appreciate my being around. It’s a most selfish act… not only unforgiving, but ever-lasting.

I enjoy E. E. Cummings (see below), and anything by Shakespeare, but my favorite of the Bard’s is from the Merchant of Venice: “The quality of mercy is not strain’d, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. ‘T is mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown; His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this sceptred sway, It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God’s, When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, Though justice be thy plea, consider this, That in the course of justice none of us Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy; And that same prayer doth teach us all to render The deeds of mercy.” and just to show how eclectic I am, I also really like E. E. Cummings’ In Just Spring (especially in that the poet not only writes musically, but artistically arranges the words while writing…): in Just- spring when the world is mud- luscious the little lame balloonman whistles far and wee and eddieandbill come running from marbles and piracies and it’s spring when the world is puddle-wonderful the queer old balloonman whistles far and wee and bettyandisbel come dancing from hop-scotch and jump-rope and it’s spring and the goat-footed balloonMan whistles far and wee unfortuneately, wowowow readjusts the spacing so the art is lost… please look it up on google… you’ll be quite impressed!

Depends on how ill I am… I passed out in Physics class (and fell off the stool!!!) with a 105°F temp… went directly to the doctor.

Right up until the crunch stops… it’s like California looking for water alternatives during drought years… the first drop of rain and those desalinization plants look utterly too expensive. We need to face the truth: the American public is generally led around by their noses, so nothing will happen to alter our type of energy usage until the leaders (pick your favorite) get on board… and even then it has to be something that will provide benefit (of some sort… whatever they need) to that particular leader.

It’s politics! Any port in a storm.

The original Password, mainly because my Dad won $750 (or whatever the max was then) on it in the early 60s w/Betty White and Mickey Rooney.

Old church music (e.g., The Old Rugged Cross, Little Brown Church, etc.) because my dad used to sing them all the time… Also, Amazing Grace (Scottish bagpipe version) because I played that at my mother’s funeral.

I almost read all of the posts before posting, but sheesh! So, sorry if this is a repeat: How did Spanish become the choice? If you live in certain areas of the SF Bay, Spanish would be a great asset. However, you would be equally well-off with Tagalog, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Hindi or others in many other areas. I am not a proponent of having an official language, but I do think that it is incumbent upon an immigrant to learn the language that is predominant in the country to which they immigrate. What the heck would you do if you moved to rural France (or Holland, or Japan, or…) and didn’t bother to learn French? You’d be like the 19th Century British in India - a pariah (no offense intended to the Pariahs intended!).

+1

Aging is 85% genetic, and 15% state-of-mind… at least until biology takes over completely. I remember an interviewer asked an old guy (108, I believe) to what he thought allowed him his “extra” time. The answer was, “Ignore pain. That’s very important! That and I didn’t smoke, drink, or chase women… until I was 14!”

Sorry ki b, but finding empty space in our house is as difficult as finding someone who’ll exchange your dollars to euros at 2003 rates!