THE TIGER

Yeah Mathos. Becks is protective towards her friends.

It's a nice quality in a lady. It's an instinct.

Take no notice of his jibes Becks. You protect me as much as you want.

Honestly Spendius - I feel more comfortable staying out of it. Sorry.

She's grumpy now Spendi, and it's all your fault!

I think it's all your fault.

It was you who started it all jumping in calling me a blithering,idiotic oik.

And now you have got her standing on one side like female kangeroos do waiting to see what happens.

Feminism hasn't made that much progress has it? How can it when it stands in complete defiance of tried and tested scientific Darwinism like Hazel Blears does.

Not grumpy - just resigned.

Do Roo's actually do that Spendi, with one of those little baby ones on show, sitting in the glove box?


See she is not only very grumpy, which is not because of us, I assure you. She is resigned, resigned to what, do you think Spendi?

The best kicker of course.

She has the future of the species to take care of.

So do you.

That is simply not true.

You feel no responsibility toward the future of our species?

An egg can't be fertilized without a sperm. The genetic material contained in the male contribution to the species is as important as that which is contained in the female contribution.

But it isn't as special. Not by a long chalk.

It can afford to spread it about casually can't it?

What do you mean by special? It's as necessary, vital, and essential. The quality of which when combined with the woman's has the power to either enhance or destroy the "specialness" of whatever person is eventually produced.

Men are biologically programmed to choose partners whose characteristics would seem to indicate their ability to procreate successfully just as women are. Men across cultures, ages, and throughout history prefer an hour glass figure in a woman instinctively - in which the waist measurement is approximately ten inches smaller than the hip measurement- because this is an indication of her ability to conceive, carry and bear his children successfully, as it indicates good health and balanced female hormones.

Both sexes prefer symmetry in facial features. Again, because this would seem to indicate good breeding- or genes.

But Spendius - I've already done my bit in ensuring the survival of our species. I've produced my bit of genetic legacy to replace myself on this planet - my son - and he's a pretty darn good specimen- I have to add. Nice regular features, tall, coordinated, athletic, smart as a whip- (and my favorite - beautiful green eyes). Everytime I'm out with him I see young women checking him out -thinking that they've found an appropriate bit of fertilizer no doubt.

So I'm not looking for a kicker of any kind anymore- consciously or subconsciously. If I added to my family, it would be through adoption at this point. I really do care about the planet and our impact on it - and I wouldn't add another burden in the form of an unnecessary human being to it at this point. That's why I adopted my daughter in the first place- even though I had living proof that I could conceive and carry and bear a child.

I watched a good movie last night - "The Cooler". Mathos should watch it. Now there was a love story - with realistically and beautifully acted sex scenes I might add- not a whiff of mechanization or rote bullshit involved. It was Maria Bello and William H. Macy. Both have such expressive faces and they actually had really good chemistry. I was thinking that if I was Felicity Huffman (Macy's wife in real life) I'd have been jealous watching this. He's fantastic as an actor. What a mug on that guy - so hangdog and beaten down - until he smiles and then wow! You forget he doesn't have a handsome face because of what kind of person he is. He'd be good to have babies with, I think. I liked Bello too. She's got this amazing delicate vulnerability - at least in this film. There were some shots of her that were just heartbreaking.

Alec Baldwin was in it too. Lately, it seems they just give him the same part over and over. He's becoming a characature of himself. That's sad, because I like him and think though he's brilliant at comedy, he could really do something with a real dramatic part. He had some good moments here though. You should check it out.

I hope you don't mind Becks if I refrain from discussing that subject any further. It's much to sensitive I'm afraid.

Okay. But I'm curious - which part did you find too sensitive to discuss?
Evolution and continuation of the species?
Adoption?
Or the movie and the various performances of the actors?

It would be good for me to know so I can be sure I don't bring up the specific subject again.

Yeah-evolution. Ladies magazines and such like don't do evolution.

I thought you were on a literary project for "Ibsen" woman.Darwinian sexual selection is off limits.

Money is a kicking factor which is why some of those with some display it as often as possible either directly or through hints.

You needn't avoid any subjects on my behalf though.

Okay, so does that mean that you're consigning me to only those topics that are covered in ladie's (women's) magazines? I don't read any women's magazines - so although I can assume what might be covered, I don't know for sure. But you seem to know - so maybe you can fill me in.

Why does money always have to be such a divider? It reminds me of how you were stating on the bull thread that we all have to be very careful about ever saying anything about anything because somebody somewhere might know someone who is or was affected by something.

Mathos absolutely flaunts his assets. He apparently owns tons of land, has animals, owns his own house as well as residential and commercial properties that he lets out, and still has liquid assets in the bank to travel and buy motorcycles and helicopters if he wants to. Why would anyone resent him his good fortune? And why does anyone resent anyone their good fortune? Why should someone have to hide the fact that they're successful or happy?

Having money is not a characteristic. It's a circumstance. And one that can change at any time for anybody anywhere.

You know sometimes I think it's part of the human condition for other humans to only feel happy themselves if they know others are miserable.

The thing that makes me a bit miserable at times is how miserable people are and especially when they fake not being. Oh for just a few happy-go-luckies in the pub.

Why do you think Mad Hos flaunts his money?

I'm pretty expert on women's magazines. I studied them for about five years as I also did women's journalism. I'm interested in the social effects of what might loosely be called "feminism" on society and on people and their relationships. My personal circumstances are of no significance. I'm not a navel gazer. Unless I have toothache or something my total focus is outwards. I don't even care what I eat as long as it is nutrient.

But I do care what I read.And see.

I saw 20 minutes of a programme on BBC2 on Sunday last in which a mad geezer called Bruce Parry visited a tribe, The Hamar, in East Africa and joined in with some of their activities. All I watched was the women in the background. They were fascinating. The third and last programme is next Sunday with another tribe.

Always watch the background Becks. That's where reality is. Caught unawares. Almost living Salammbos.

I'm miserable right now. And I can't fake not being.



Yeah, maybe that's what I should do tonight. But what do you think will happen if I start drinking when I'm miserable? I've never tried it before.


I don't think he flaunts his money - I think he tells us about his life and it becomes apparent that he has some money. But what are people with money supposed to do? Are they supposed to lie and say they're living rough when someone asks them where they live? Are they supposed to not tell anyone they're mowing their lawn - so people won't be jealous they have a lawn? Are they supposed to never tell anyone about their vacations or experiences, etc?, because that might make people envious?

Spendius - you should understand this. You're pretty smart. What are you supposed to do - are you supposed to act dumb so people who aren't as smart as you (namely someone like me) won't get jealous of how smart you are? I know a lot of people smarter than I am and I'm not envious - I accept that's the way it is.
Different people receive different gifts and assets. Do you think I look at my happily married parents and envy them their fifty-year long marriage? Do you think they should hide the fact that they have it because I don't? No - I'm happy for them- I'm not envious or jealous. I don't expect them to answer for what they have. I'm just happy they have it.

And by the way - I'm not rich. I'm working two jobs buddy - taking my pay over twelve months instead of ten so I can make ends meet over the summer. No vacations - no nothing for me this summer. The bracelet I said I bought the other day cost eight pounds. That's exciting for me- eight measly pounds.

I happened to find a nice, affordable house to rent - period- so don't get any ideas about me that aren't true. Okay?


I am a navel gazer. I hope that doesn't offend you.


Me too



I like things spelled out and up front. Everytime I try to watch the backgrounds I end up missing what's right in front of my face.

Gee!!

What first? And I haven't the time to do justice to any of them.



The last time I was miserable was when my father ran over my ginger tom-cat just when he was ready to go out swinging at nights. What I would think of as miserable at least. I've been fed up of course. A good few times. You haven't got to confuse miserable with fed-up.

Those women in Africa with the dying kids and the flies are miserable.There's millions of miserable people all over the place and there's you flitting about the leafy lanes of the English countryside with all mod-cons provided with even a job thrown in and amusing yourself with two clunkers on the webbyworld channels with the beverage of your choice by your side and wondering whether to have a chocolate biscuit because you've already eaten more than you ought.

Nah- you're just fed-up.

See- you're getting better already.



It would be just the ticket especially when you had had six pints of John Smiths Extra Smooth and got joshing with the regulars. But all temptations have dangers and the relief of fed-upness with the demon is highly dangerous.

One has to move to a bit down in the dumps to risk drinking. Like when a horse that should have won didn't.



Just like that! He doesn't flaunt his money does he not? I don't think he's written any post that hasn't been waving a big money flag.One way or another. It would be a lot easier for him if he just told us what he was worth and got it over with. I hate shaggy dog stories.



Sure. On a cyber thread. It isn't a bus queue is it?Over the garden wall.

Why would any of us want to know that he's mowing the lawn and he might not even be doing it.We do know he's telling us that he's mowing the lawn. The idea of being jealous is fanciful. I mowed a lawn once. It's a form of masochism. Cyber people don't mow lawns. They want to be blowin' in the wind not chopped off and mulched up in the compost; speaking of which he never tells us about his compost.

If you put "masochists" into Google an entry near the top should say EXPERT GARDENING.

I'm going for a bath which is by way of explanation. I'll be back.

See, it's a no-win situation. If a person acts too happy - certain people say they're faking happiness and are really miserable. Then when that person who usually seems so happy says, "Okay, maybe I am miserable tonight", certain people respond, "You can't be miserable - you're not in a circumstance where miserableness is permitted."

I think you're confusing a miserable mood with miserable circumstances Spendius. I'm just in a kind of miserable mood. I'm very aware that my circumstances are not at all miserable. And maybe my mood isn't either. Maybe I'm just not feeling as happy as usual. It's all relative isn't it?

And I didn't eat any chocolate biscuits - I ate an ice-cream bar- (package of three on sale at Tesco's- buy one, get one free - chocolate, with toasted coconut and almonds- awesome - you should try them - although I do hate to use Tesco's. Did you know that one out of every 8 pounds in the UK is spent in Tesco's? They're becoming a monopoly.)
And I didn't eat that much today. I had a pineapple yogurt for breakfast, peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwich for lunch, a bunch of cherries and grapes for a snack and grilled salmon, rice and a salad for dinner. So what the hell - I deserve an ice-cream bar at the end of a long, miserable day.

I don't drink beyond my lilmit - miserable or otherwise.

I like Mathos' stories. Where's he at anyway? I think I scared the **** out of him over on the sheep thread. He's hiding out.

If it's not a bus queue (that's the first time I've ever spelled queue, did I spell it right? I would have said, "We're not standing around at the bus stop." ) Anyway - don't you think this space should be whatever one wants it to be - or is that more the idea behind "My Space"?
I just can't talk to people I know nothing about. I want to find out what they think and feel and then I'll know if I want to know them or not, and/or should listen to anything they have to say.

I'm going for a bath too now. I painted my garden furniture - I got it free on Freecycle - you should check that out sometime - and I have paint all over my hands and smell like turpentine. Talk to you later.