trinacriabob

O.C. - what the heck do you do that you get to go to Boca and go on a fishing trip for "team building?" Personally, I see no value in these activities as people divide up into cliques anyway and, in my line of work, you just don't do the "touchy feely" stuff because that's not how we spend money, though I did get flown to LV to attend a "sexual harassment prevention" (NOT ME!) seminar. But $h!: the sun, the ocean, the frequent flyer points, I could do it !

Pontiac dashboards (with their many circles)

Switzerland

Where did you rent the LaX CXS? Phoenix, So. Cal.? And the point you bring up is what it's all about: the lack of history. I like having NOT to think about the reliability of my car. It needs to be a "given." That's why I love Consumer Reports and the dots. BTW, LaCrosse fares nicely in Consumer Reports. And I'm sure the results were based on the 3800 since CX and CXL versions make up the majority of what's out there.What? You washed it for them? Are you from the NY metro area? Really? Just kidding, buddy.

alarm clock

Damn, I get out of a night time graduate accounting class and this thread is still raging. As much as I like to give ocnblu $h! and as suspicious as he is, I will have to agree with what he said on one issue about societal views: gay men are seen as weak and lesbians are seen as strong. That is, if the gay men are effeminate and the lesbians are masculine. That's how they would be noticed...those who adhere to typical gender roles are more likely to blend in until they TELL US. I disagree on your assessment of the rigidity with which same gender acknowledgment takes place. That USED to be the case. Yes, ALL women have always been allowed to express affection and admiration. That is relaxing for men. All men know what is exemplary (looks, athletic ability, confidence) within their gender. You will now hear "Yeah, we just hired this new person - has good work experience, well-spoken, handsome...I think he'll do well" said by men. In Europe, they are super-relaxed about giving such compliments. I think the reason for this dichotomy is that if a man is effeminate or weak, he is LESS than what he is supposed to be as a male specimen. On the other hand, if a woman is tough and can take a "bull by the horns," she is MORE than what is ascribed to the female gender. Society always rewards those that are MORE than what they are supposed to be, though in the case of lesbians, that might not be as true because it is usually accompanied by surliness, combativeness and a purposeful desire to act and look less than feminine (I'm talking about bull dykes, now). I write an awful lot of negative comments about lesbians and few to none about (gay, bisexual, hetero) men and women who don't flaunt their sexuality. The reason I have an issue with lesbians is that I have met many MEAN ones and have had to work for some. Since they are not planning to have a man take care of them, some of them gravitate toward professions and can climb in accounting, architecture and law firms because they won't be rearing children and may not be involved in relationships. How would what lesbians do in bed affect my life? It doesn't. However, if they hate men, have a chip on their shoulder and are interested in keeping me down in my place, then I am impacted, aren't I? Prejudice is well-founded when you are on the receiving end of exclusionary treatment, and this includes some religious sects (Mormons, for instance, are highly nepotistic and hire their own. Well, gee, that impacts me, doesn't it?) Back to sexuality, I think it is probably true that gay men get more flack than lesbians. However, in my place of work, deviating from the sexual baseline of heterosexuality, so to speak, is only met with coolness when it is (1) nauseatingly apparent, and (2) accompanied by a bad character and attitude. In that case, it is one slightly tomboyish and angry (probable) lesbian that is highly disliked by most people. And why do people dislike her? Because she is a bitch and not because of who she sleeps with. The problem I see is that society makes this too big of a deal. A few people on the site are real big about proclaiming their sexual proclivities. That's fine. Sometimes, it's humorous. Sometimes, it's excessive. Aren't you much, much more than that so that it becomes something not even worth mentioning? I mean, you have a job, hobbies, skills and interests that what you do for 20 to 30 minutes and, on an occasional basis, shouldn't even define you? That's my belief... people are much more than their sexuality. This stuff is interesting because having grown up in both the US and in Europe (4 years), there are big differences in the uptightness levels around this whole issue. Still, when it comes to lesbians, I prefer to err on the side of caution.

Ooh, baby, don't get me started! LaCrosse....YES! I rented one 2 weeks ago and put 2200 km, or 1400 miles, on it after picking it up in Montreal. By all means go 3800. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. (The newer engine hasn't been around as long...you'll get more horsepower, but will lose 2 mpg or so). The 3800 in my rental LaCrosse (Allure in Canada) had decent power, was quiet enough and got good gas mileage. If this is any consolation, my 1992 Buick Regal with a 3800, which has been meticulously maintained, has 229,000 + miles. So, pretty soon, I will be getting to within of 20,000 miles of the quarter million mile mark. Also, I am planning on getting a 2008 Buick LaCrosse with the 3800 V6. Good luck! There aren't many cars out there I feel good about right now...this is one of the few.

Beyond your collegiate exterior lies some serious warpage. I like it. Condi is a weird one. She is one uptight lady.

clay

Renting a duplex in New Rochelle costs $ 2,800 a month with cable??? For that kind of money, NOBODY had better be sharing a bedroom. Is NY that 'effin expensive? Man, I am SOOO glad I didn't go to Fordham or NYU and hang my hat in that area...my uncle in Northern NJ thought that would have been a good idea. He's weird anyway. Yikes!

folds

Phil Donahue

Same general thought...in essence, a "kiss ass" My response to thread: existentialism

Thank you. Learn something new every day.

Yosemite (I think obsequious means nauseatingly flattering or accommodating...something like that)

I'm correcting myself. While Chevy may have mated small block V-8s to TBI in the 80s and 90s, Olds was doing it to their 350s when borrowed to power the traditional looking Seville of 1975 +. I just saw a late 70s Seville this pm and though about this. (Chevy also did it to their Vortec 4.3 V6 which is an exact 75% slice of their 5.7, or 350). At any rate, I can never think of any time a PMD V8 was hooked up to TBI from the 70s onward. An idea for a thread would be the visual cues to distinguish each division's motors - say the 350s from Chevy, Olds, Pontiac and Buick...aside from any obvious labels on the air intake assembly.

obsequious

Sandra Bullock is now 40 and still looks good. I saw this awful movie on the plane with her in it ... called "The Lake House."She doesn't look like anybody else...maybe, just maybe, somewhat like Jessica Walter (when she was younger, of course). All the blonde bimbos look alike to me (Pamela Anderson, Cameron Diaz, Heather Locklear...all of them...I couldn't even tell them apart). Chicks like that who have made it as well as those who are waiting in the wings were a dime-a-dozen in So. Cal.

noxious (sorry, TYD, clueless as to what you wrote)

Noah

floods

What is this world...and this thread...COMING to....

cleft chin

cow tipping

No. The other threads are more combative. You've had your turn.