I don't know about building a 47 mile long wall, but it would do wonders for my physical fitness :-) We were at 48 last night at 9 pm. It's down to 20 here now and dropping. I hope all my outdoor plants are snug enough. Some stuff I really don't think much about since we don't often get this cold. The cactus garden is drooping. Pam

Come on people. GW and THS have been really good to me; I have gotten tons of useful info from these sites. As some of you have said these things tend to run their course. I say that we trust GW to make the best choice in the long term for the users and for the viability of the site. I can't believe that anyone is raking in piles of money from these ads and I also cannot believe that any nefarious planning was behind it. Obviously everyone is free to make their own choice. For me it is way easier to ignore those little links than to install a bunch of stuff or to get steamed about it. Its too bad if people get mad and leave; but I could not keep from laughing at the fact that a link popped up in the very rant against links :-). -alg p.s. i don't even notice the things - funny how adaptable we can be

Happy belated birthday, Dotmom. You did the right thing. I think I'd feel the same way -- I'm not so much a believer in karma anymore, seeing people never get what they deserve (and I don't care if that happens in heaven or hell--I'm sure not going to get the satisfaction of witnessing it!). And I don't always feel liking putting on a smiley-smiley face when something's annoying me. "Polite but cool" is a good way to deal with her. Are the majority of neighbors very social with each other? I think that if I were living there, I'd try to change this type of birthday gathering. Birthday cake/coffee meets for one person at a time will usually inadvertently leave someone out -- maybe somebody hasn't vocalized when his/her birthday is. At the senior center where my mom spent a lot of time, they had a monthly birthday party for every birthday baby for that month. Sometimes group parties are more equitable. For every "celebrated" birthday boy or girl, there's someone else who might be feeling left out. I wouldn't have liked that afterthought feeling, either. (Esp since I'd think that every other neighbor was already told that it was for the other woman -- it'd be very uncomfortable to be the person they say "Oh, it's Julie's birthday, too, by the way!" about.

People should have to take an IQ test to get an email account IMO. Sure would cut down the number of emails and emailers if we got rid of people whose IQ didn't exceed their shoe size. A very close friend kept on with the political garbage and I warned him several times and then did the same to him that I did to another, with whom it worked. I started sending the "opposite" types of email to him or I sent a response pointing out the flaws, misinformation, lies, etc. Worked with one, and the other flaked out. He said I was attacking him and we couldn't be friends anymore. We were friends for about 30 years and although I didn't like it, I don't like when people are drawn into cults and brainwashed into believing that kind of garbage. So I let it go. Then I got a contact from him asking if I wanted to throw away 30 years, etc, essentially he was demanding an apology. I thought long and hard but couldn't in good conscience condone that garbage so I simply said I never cut off the relationship, rather he did. If he wants to restore it, nothing has changed with me, it's fine but he has to be the one to open the door since he slammed it shut. Haven't heard from him again. Such is life. People change. And not always for the good. It's truly maddening how gullible people are and what they'll believe. But then again look at shows that are popular. These days people look for ways to be offended. It's a fad that I wish would wear off, but it's just getting worse. The "me-me-me" society we've created has blown up and people expect everyone else to be overly-sensitive to what they want. People don't want the truth anymore. They want what makes them feel superior. And that's sad. So don't feel bad. Stand with your beliefs, morals and ethics. If they won't show you the respect to allow you to have your beliefs without trying to convert you, they're attacking and insulting you. True friends don't do that.