CuriousByNature

Perhaps an ignorant question, but why are they called 'poppers'?

I did not know much about Pat Robertson. But it seems clear that he was ignorant or willfully blind to the progressive nature of understanding sexuality and gender expression/identity. Like all people with a degree of celebrity, there is the potential to use that power for building people up or tearing them down. Yes, his views were extremely troubling, and without drifting into politics and religion, I would argue they bore little resemblance to the faith he purported to represent. Nobody will ever know the extent of the harm his words and actions have had - the same as for others who enjoy the pedestal of fame. What is even more disturbing to me is that millions of people kept him in a position where he could express ignorant and dangerous views about those whose identity he disagreed with. He was just one man, but his reach was far because many people sadly still agree with his archaic opinions. That is much more chilling than Pat Robertson himself.

What an awful experience! I'm sorry this happened to you, and I am glad you got away safely. Like some others who have responded, I think a bit more information would be helpful if you are able to share it. Without that, it is sort of like saying "Someone you might meet will try to harm you, but I can't/won't tell you who that is." That doesn't work to prevent this from happening to someone else, assuming that was the intention of the original post. But if revealing more info could put you at risk, then definitely protect yourself.

Hopefully his legacy of ignorance and hate has died with him... but sadly, his opinions about sexuality and identity are shared by too many still.

I can't bring myself to celebrate someone's death, and I find it very sad that someone could hold such hateful and ignorant beliefs for almost a century of life. I can only imagine the damage he has done to so many people over the years. If he is now standing before his maker I think he is realizing the horrible errors of his ways. At least I would hope so, for his sake.

Still no breakfast bar?

Exactly. Our healthcare in Canada is better than many places, but nowhere near as efficient and progressive as Northern Europe and Japan.

It is universal in that we don't have to pay to go to the hospital or see a doctor, but the system is pretty broken too. And there is great reluctance to have two-tiered system where those who can afford it would pay privately, which would reduce wait times and unclog the system. Many Canadians view universal healthcare the way many Americans view gun ownership - an almost sacred right that must never be touched or modified.

hahaha - yes, Victoria is way more sedate. The joke in my family used to be that if you live in Vancouver and have difficulties falling asleep, just move to Victoria. While the setting is quite beautiful in Vancouver and much of BC, there are many beautiful cities around the world. And Vancouver is itself boring compared to the likes of London, Paris, or even Toronto. Living there for several years was pretty benign - nothing to get excited over, like a lukewarm bath. I was happy to move away from Vancouver and keep it as a place to visit periodically.

When I lived there the rain would get me blue for about 6 months of the year, but I remember a few summers that were incredibly dry. I don't recall ever smelling the smoke from wildfires when I lived there, but my relatives that still live around Vancouver tell me that every summer for the past few years there are periods of smoky and hazy weather caused by the fires in the interior of the province. And yes, despite the advantages of universal healthcare and not going bankrupt to get treatment, the healthcare situation is pretty dismal across the country from what I have seen. People dying as they wait more than an hour for an ambulance, very long wait lists for treatments and specialists, and hardly a family doctor to be found that is taking new patients.

But they knew that in Vancouver they would have had a much dimmer spotlight, as it would be anywhere in Canada or the Commonwealth. They need to be in the US, and the US needs them there. It is a co-dependent relationship - many Americans look at 'royals' as something familiar, yet foreign. Like a stuffed dodo bird you keep under a glass dome on your mantle. It attracts a lot of attention. And the 'royals' need the cult of celebrity that doesn't exist to the same degree north of the border. They could have blended in quite well here in Canada over time, IF that had really been what they wanted. But their actions have shown that was never likely part of their plan. They annoy me, but I do hope they find happiness and satisfaction in the life they have chosen - not everyone gets to choose what their life will be like, and theirs remains far more privileged than 99% of the population. But deep down I expect there is a lot of regret and too much pride to admit it.

Perhaps they are Canadian and giving their measurements in centimetres rather than inches?

Found an original face pic before it was Facetuned...

I didn't know Roseanne had a penis, let alone a buried one... 😆

I don't even like to be there myself when defecating, let alone have somebody else there too.

This is something I never needed to know... lol

And he must have flown in via biplane...

Probably very high in protein and low in calories. Great food for building muscle. But I think I would prefer to be un-toned if that was the only way to get ripped.

They let her use a baggage scale? When I get weighed at the airport they flop me into a canvas sling and hoist me with a crane. But seriously, any time I have been on a helicopter I have been weighed discreetly - what hasn't been discreet is when they put me on the conveyer belt and squeeze me through the x-ray machine.

Anyone I meet who has an accent - regardless of appearance or ethnicity - I tend to ask where they are from originally. It's not to judge, but to learn more about the person. Rarely has it been awkward.

There are so many problems with the H&M saga. I believe they likely do wish to use their time and fame to make a positive difference for others, but they are not altruistic nor wanting to be away from the limelight. She is an actress who is used to being in the public eye. He is a member of the most well-known family in the world, and the cameras have been on him since he left the hospital as a newborn. To me the issue is one of wanting your cake and eating it too. I have never believed that M was as ignorant as she says about what royal life would require, but as an American, it was probably impossible for her to give up any measure of her personal freedom which needed to happen to serve the Crown. And H knew he was only going to be further removed from the centre of attention as his nephews and nieces got older. Yes, his mother's death was traumatizing - but she also benefitted from the paparazzi much of the time. Like her, he wants the paparazzi on his own terms - and it doesn't happen that way. If H&M really wanted to make a difference, they could have done so as members of the family - just like Princess Anne has been able to do. And Sophie as well. But I think the real reason they left is that they did not see any value or personal gain in remaining part of the Firm, and it is the self-serving aspect of their lives that probably motivated them to make that break. They may not have fully thought out what that break would cost, but rather focused on the benefits alone - freedom to speak out freely about their grievances, and seek sympathy wherever it might be found. Entitlement through and through. These are two very wealthy individuals who are so out of touch with reality that their antics are almost comical. If they really wanted to make a difference without blowing up the Firm, they could have stayed in Canada or any other Commonwealth country, enjoying physical separation from their royal woes and have the freedom to pursue their ventures. But they knew that if they stayed in Canada they would eventually become irrelevant - and that was probably scarier to them than staying part of the Firm. They needed to be in the USA, where stardom is a career in itself - where you are famous for being famous, and where you can run in circles with super-rich power magnates who are excited by the novelty of royalty. In Canada or Australia they would have been famous, but not put up on the unwarranted pedestal they enjoy in LA. Outside of the USA they would not have gained the misplaced sympathy they have been seeking all along and they could have lived relatively 'normal' lives - but that is not something that either of them ever wanted.

Yet he had the time to respond rudely to someone asking a very appropriate question in a polite manner...

YourHunk is in his 60s? That is a lot of age shaving... some of the photos are pretty grainy unfortunately.

It's always good to prepare for the worst, even if that's pickleball.