Lookin

A source close to Woods tells me that the links legend's spouse is being paid a hefty seven-figure amount -- immediately transferred into an account she alone controls -- to stick with her husband. How very civilized! http://anchoredbygrace.com/smileys/mgtophat.gif

Rumor is, his putz will never be the same.

Good points. Well said. Nice rant! http://www.cool-names.net/msn-emoticons-smiley/thumbsup.gif

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z310/MerionMom/Miscellany/hand-raisingsmilies.gif Me! Me! Because the advertisers know that many people do look up to product spokesmen as role models. It helps them sell more product at a higher price. In fact, it seems likely that advertisers encourage this public behavior, as it gives them a competitive edge and allows them to sell more and charge more for a product that's basically just like everyone else's. It's hard to fault them for trying to encourage and take advantage of this time-tested human foible. So I won't. But I will fault myself if I buy into it. Or if I tell a child that Wheaties is better just because Tiger Woods eats it. Or if I join a gym just because Taylor Lautner works out ther . . . OK, bad example. :o http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab232/Memory105221/taylor-lautner-shirtless.jpg

Not necessarily, in my opinion. "They" didn't decide the paycheck should be millions of dollars. "We" did. We're the ones who decide to pay an extra ten or twenty bucks for a Nike shirt with Woods' face on it. And we're the ones who decide that he's a "role model". If we didn't go along, he'd have wrecked an old Chevy instead of a new Caddy. I have no control at all over whether or not he sees himself as a role model, but I sure as hell have control over whether or not I see him as one.

Well, thankee, KMEM. You are quite special as well. And I couldn't agree more with your sentiment: I think we all have admirable qualities that others like. But we all have some not-so-admirable qualities too. Otherwise, we wouldn't be human. For me, it's a lot nicer hanging around close to ground level with my fellow humans. I'm sure as a pilot, with other peoples' lives in your hands, you are often looked up to as a hero when you bring people safely home. But I'm also sure that you work extremely hard to make sure you do, and acknowledge that, every once in a while, you have a little luck on your side too. (I think of that "unofficial" side trip you made into Pakistani airspace. ) Money's not a huge issue for me. Sometimes people have lots of money and few friends. Or the other way around. It's the folks who think they are way above others, and the folks who put other humans way above themselves, that give me cause for concern. I think there are people who like to have heroes in their lives, or to be a hero for someone. There's nothing wrong with that. But when a human hero turns into a superhuman godlike caricature, it gives me the willies. Too many unhappy endings lie at the end of that story. http://www.culturejamforlife.com/nobama2008/images/HitlerAddressesRallyAtDortmund1933.jpg

Gotta admit, this whole role model thing leaves me scratching my head. Does someone actually sign up to be a role model? Maybe fill out an application and pay a fee? And is there a committee somewhere that issues a certificate? Does it need to be renewed every year or two? Role Model seems more like an honorary title that some folks lay on other folks whether they want it or not, along with a set of ill-defined obligations that are rarely agreed to by the honoree. If somebody ever tried to sign me up as a role model, I'd tell them thanks I'd love to, but I just washed my hair. Perhaps another time. There are people I admire, of course. (many right here on the Message Center ) But I sure don't think that gives me the right to put any unilateral expectations on them, and look down my nose when they don't live up to them. All Tiger Woods ever committed to do was play a good game of golf. If Mom wants shove a bowl of Wheaties down Junior's throat because Tiger's on the box, fine, but she's going to have to be responsible for explaining "feet of clay" to the little nipper when the time comes. As it usually does. If somebody falls off a pedestal that he climbed up on, that's his responsibility. If I was the one that put him up there, that's my responsibility. Personally, I think it's easier if we all just keep our feet on the ground. Unless, of course, we really are a little extra special. http://pixyland.org/peterpan/Imagezz/peter_flies1a_small.jpg

Thanks for the kind offer but allegedly those ripe melons belong to Mr. Forte himself. I guess we'll have to wait until May, when our Esteemed Colleague from Brooklyn will be giving them the official once over. http://forums.tvgasm.com/images/smilies/001_tt2.gif

Right behind you! http://images.rentboy.com/EZRENT5/82XAXXWJBX964?pre=detail&wm=www.rentboy.com http://www.clipartguide.com/_named_clipart_images/0511-0801-1017-4353_Bi-Plane_Pilot_clipart_image.jpg

Finally had to go check out what all the fuss is about, and all I can say is "Yowsah!" http://images.rentboy.com/EZRENT5/7Q8F7PBQNDL5R?pre=detail&wm=www.rentboy.com Had to keep reminding myself that not only is that thing still soft but it's hanging off a guy who's 6'5" and 265 pounds. http://www.rentboy.com/listing.aspx?lid=186309&scid=22190656&sp=1&pos=0 Sure hopes he finds a box of giant condoms and gives Chicago one more reason to be a toddling town.

RE: and they found.... High Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions Glad you dodged a bullet, tealady! Many thanks to you and the other posters who have passed on such good info. After hearing of a couple people who had cancer diagnoses when it was too late to do anything about it, I asked my GP what kinds of cancer screenings were available to catch it early on. She said that some of the tests were not without risk, so they're usually done based on risk factors. For men over fifty, screening for prostate and colon cancer is a no brainer. I guess mammograms and PAP smears are pretty standard for women. Are there any other cancer screening tests that folks are familiar with?

Whatever you do, stay away from XXXXXXX & XXXXXXX!

> Does anyone else have this guilty pleasure? Not yet, but I'll fix that! Thanks for the - er - heads up.

Bump! Some of these are real, and some I made up. I can't remember which is which. Story of my life. Rutha Day Tawdry Meadows Fonda Greencheese Merry Ann Bright Nellie Wilson Lana Caine Hedda Lyce Lotta Bling Any more?