Don't let the "_" put you off. It's Carolyn Ann. Or Carolyn. I tolerate CA - from some.

Glad you're feeling better.

Hang in there. :-)

--- DAMN IT!!! I wrote an entire response. IntenseDebate didn't see fit to keep it when it demanded I login to their stupid service. --- Deep breath. Try again.

At the very strong risk of coming across as trite, or even blithe: no one ever promised life would be easy. I try to remember that tomorrow is another day, yesterday was easy and today has a few challenges.

I've looked at that abyss a few times, myself. It's an evil, diabolically evil, mirror. It will never help you, as it only helps itself. It amplifies those feelings of helplessness, it loves to to emphasize how distraught its viewer is. It will always try to bring its viewer down. (Not to anthropomorphize the damn thing! Of course. :-) ) Don't look into it.

For what it's worth, Luke answered the wrong question. You're not seeking the world. You might be seeking yourself, though. That's something that seems to be inordinately difficult for many transgendered individuals; the conflicts going on in the mind, in the id, can be monumental! I know it was extraordinarily difficult for myself; I almost walked into that abyss. (Not because I am transgendered; I had some other reasons. Not that the abyss cares!) Anthro-wotsit, again. :-) (It often helps me to do that. Gives me an almost-tangible enemy to fight.)

For myself, I put my wife before me. (I've been criticized for that decision; it's water off a duck's back. I don't care if my critics don't matter. Or can't see past their own prejudices.) Others decide differently. No one is right in such matters; no one is wrong.

Getting professional help is always a good idea when it comes to that abyss; or even for figuring out life. You don't need to see the Styx, just yet - we all see it in due time. It's just best to put that little trip off for as long as possible.

But first: hang in there. Today has a few challenges, that's all.

Yup, it's free speech. Acerbic, but free.

Carolyn Ann

Reminds me of that guy who shot all those people on the Long Island Railway, in the mid 90's. He represented himself - and it led to a farcical scene where he asked one witness "who shot you?" The witness said "You did"

At least the saving grace is that people who represent themselves typically go down - hard. They often, I recall reading somewhere, prove the prosecutions' case for them!

Carolyn Ann

It's impossible to be astonished at the depths of human stupidity (and gullibility). Well it is, and that article proves it. Oy vey.

Carolyn Ann

Ah, it's prompted me to go buy the game. Even if it does have evil connotations of an "intelligent designer". Okay, I'll settle for "designer"...

But my local Apple store ran out of it. And they don't know when they will get more in. :-(

Carolyn Ann

I use Blogger simply because it's there. And self-hosting, for me, would take a little more time than I currently have.

Part of it is seeing others use Wordpress - they always seem to get something wrong, and it takes a long time to actually get working. I'm quite technical (network management and systems architecture are both on my resume) It was more: why should I host my own blog, when all of the features I need are available from Blogger?

This will change - I'm currently experimenting with Wordpress, but it might take a month or so before I actually find enough time to do the transition. It's one of those "5 minute" jobs that has the potential to turn into a decade-long saga... I trust my instinct on this sort of thing, and it says "be careful, there's something out there..." :-)

Hope this helps, and I certainly look forward to reading your conclusions!

Carolyn Ann