Aw damn. So sorry for this, Drunken Irishman.

It's equally tough on girls (maybe moreso). Those of us not born to physical beauty always had a bigger burden to carry. I remember going to dances when I was a teenager. Whatever girlfriend I stood with, while we were waiting to be asked to dance, didn't matter. SHE always got picked first. And I'd still be standing there on the sidelines. There were times when the dance ended at 11:30 and it was 11pm by the time somebody asked me to dance.

People are cruel. Many times they don't even realize it. They just know what they like, and don't even think about the impact their actions have. They don't set out to hurt your feelings. But that's too often what winds up happening.

No fun. I sympathize. I know too painfully well. When I found out our first child was gonna be a girl, the only thing I prayed for was that she'd be pretty. 'Cause I knew if she was pretty, it wouldn't really matter if she was smart or dumb as dubya. If she had her looks, she'd have a good life. Turns out she got both - beauty and brains. I couldn't be happier! And yeah, she's having a good life!

Too bad things are so damn shallow and superficial, and that we live in a world of appearances. In broadcasting I saw many people who easily made the jump from radio to TV simply because they looked good or photographed well. Knew one individual who got a big break filling in one night. Certifiably gorgeous and photogenic as hell, but made so many mistakes in reporting and writing that there came no further invitation to join the staff full-time.

And I still find it galling. That's probably part of the reason I rail away at Pox Noise. Blonde bimbos as far as the eye can see. They photograph well. And they have the intellect and independent thinking capability of a gnat. But they're on camera and paid fabulously well. Meanwhile friends of mine in radio (and the joke aways was - he/she has a face for radio!) remained toiling in the back of the vineyard, passed over, making so-so salaries and with no agents to run interference for them or get them fancier gigs. GALLING. I know people who can anchor and write and report not just circles but planetary ORBITS around some of the pretty faces on camera. GALLING!!! Seems to me they were far more deserving. But deserving doesn't get you any guarantees.

If it's any consolation at all, you can always remind yourself how much harder and more miserable it is for the pretty ones as they age and start to lose their looks. Traumatic for them, and it's a rough transition I have observed (especially if you can't run to the plastic surgeon every six months). But hey, since I never had great looks to begin with, aging's been no big deal to me. As a matter of fact, I like the way I look a lot more, now - having arrived at my 60s - than I ever did when I was 16 or 21 or 26.

Hang in there, Drunken Irishman. You don't suffer alone, by any means! Besides, you show off some beauty to me! Besides, I've always found people with BRAINS to be the most attractive and alluring.

And, enjoyed this way, it's not fattening!

Welcome to DU, dhol82!

Glad you're here! Hey, carpooling is great! Part of the time you get to sit and relax while somebody else drives! Just isn't a whole lotta bad about that, as far as I can see!

Welcome to DU, LLD!

Glad you're here! I, too, am very proud of this President. The grace with which he's held up against all of this ridiculous yet nonstop and sadly unchecked/unchallenged/unquestioned - and can still smile, and joke, and speak intelligently off-the-cuff (how'd YOUR imbecile do a decade ago, 'eh, GOP?) is just astounding.

We probably don't see his down moments. I'd guess only Michelle and a few select close friends and advisors see that. It's just stunning how together he is, and continues to be. He will be a hard act to follow - especially when regarded by history. It will be even more impressive, by then, to see what he's accomplished, considering the adversities he's had to face every doggone day! I think he will be regarded overall as one of America's greatest presidents. Too bad he can't get that kind of respect now.

I guess that's just how it is, though. During the horrendous reagan years, you would have thought he'd be next up for canonization forcryingoutloud. It's only years later that a few realists are starting to poke holes in his "legacy" - a true legacy from Hell. The whole idea of "st. ronnie" makes me snicker. These days even the pope disses "trickle-down." And that's how it should be. I thought he was the most dangerous and damaging president in American history - up til dubya, that is.

Yeah, I know what you mean. They wouldn't be listening to me, either.

I'm kinda glad they think they know everything. That way, their minds will be closed to reasonable things - while everyone else's are starting to open. Which means they may eventually be left behind. They all belong in the dustbin of history.

Me too! LOVE 'em!!!

I like looking at all those faces - they're so happy, excited, thrilled, jubilant. Haters? Where? All I see are happy people, delighted and pleasantly surprised to see him up close like that, taking pictures, presenting their kids and their babies, reaching out to shake his hand, all that stuff. All GOOD stuff. Makes me happy just to look (and maybe just a wee bit jealous that I'm not in that crowd, too)!

Well, please tell her we miss her! Want her back!

Please give her our love and support. This that happened strikes me as being utter bullshit.

Me too!!!!

Shhhhhh! Maybe you shouldn't say that too loudly, Warpy!

LET THEM kill off every country venue out there! LET THEM alienate customer bases from coast to coast! LET THEM cost businesses their clients and customers with their damn fucking guns and massacre machines.

Perhaps THEY will be their own undoing, then. And the problem may be solved.

I feel the same way every time I hear somebody on camera discussing or opining about what the GOP should do to open things up. SHHHHH!!!!!! Leave 'em alone! Let them live in their delusions. Let them keep on thinking their pollsters know better. Don't help them climb out of the pit they're creating for themselves. I'd rather just smile and offer them another shovel!

Amen!

You're being kind and diplomatic, Kelvin. Our Supreme Court is just frankly fucked.

I'm impressed with Canada! Seems like this is really the only decision that could have been made. WE are interlopers on the tribes' land. THEY were here first. And as far as I've seen and studied - THEY are the ones who respected the land and its lifeforms and know how to live harmoniously with it, rather than needing to dominate it so forcibly, thoughtlessly, and wastefully. Wish we could be more like them, in so many ways.