PT NEWS PT NEWS PT NEWS PT NEWS PT NEWS PT NEWS PT NEWS _____________________________________________________________ An Interactive Weekly Newspaper full of stories, weekly articles, gay news, news from the Pink Triangle chat room, trivia, BIOS, screen names, and much, much more! Without YOU, the reader… the PT News would not exist! _____________________________________________________________ Pink Triangle News pinktrinews@mailexcite.com Issue No. 53 April 16,1999 Circulation: 252 Editors: FreddieB & Alladdinn ____________________ Welcome to another issue of PT News! Well, a great milestone has come and gone recently... that of which I am referring to is the One Year Anniversary of the PT News. Now is the time to look toward the future of PT News. Freddie was asked recently if we planned to continue the paper beyond the PT reunion in May, or if we were just using it as a method of publicity for the reunion alone. In answering this question, there is basically only one answer... it all depends upon the readers of the paper, and their involvement in it's contents! Freddie and I have no reason not to continue publishing the paper on a weekly basis, and as it would seem... the readers enjoy most of the contents that they read each week! So, I suppose the answer to that question would be... NO, we are not simply using the paper as a means of publicity for advertising the reunion! We enjoy putting the paper together each week, and work hard to try to make it informative, entertaining, and an enjoyable reading. From what I have heard... those that are not planning on attending the reunion (for one reason or another) skip over the advertising of the reunion anyway. This is because it doesn't seem to apply to them, as is also the case with some of the rest of the readers with several of the articles that are printed weekly that is of no interest! As with any paper that you would get from the newsstand, most of us do not read a paper in its entirety, from cover to cover, and that is just human nature. However... I will say that these articles will remain in the paper for the select few that do find them interesting, and I would also like to take this time to thank those of you who contribute week after week faithfully! It is not an easy task to juggle personal lives and still come up with a column week after week, and I feel their efforts are commendable, as well as appreciated by us! As long as people send in articles and submissions... the PT News will remain alive and kicking... when those stop coming into the paper's email... Then and ONLY then will this paper die! Your editors, FreddieB & Alladinn ____________________ NOW…without any further delay…We proudly bring you this week's edition of the PT News! _____________________________________________________________ DISCLAIMER: DISCLAIMER: DISCLAIMER: DISCLAIMER: DISCLAIMER: _____________________________________________________________ Any information in this newsletter is not verified and therefore may not be true! All articles and submissions have been accepted and printed here in good faith (without editing, with the exception of spelling and personal information that may be harmful, or dangerous to our readers (ie. Full name, address, etc.) It is the intent of this paper to provide an enjoyable, informational reading material to you, the reader. The opinions and/or advice given throughout this paper are those of the people that submit, and may not necessarily be those of the editors! WARNING: SOME ARTICLES CONTAIN SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL! _____________________________________________________________ WEEKLY CONTRIBUTORS OF THE PT NEWS: _____________________________________________________________ RE__ - "Round 'em UP" Primebear - Gay Voice Of America & Coming OUT gayvoice@hotmail.com Tech Master - Tech Tips vp_tips@hotmail.com Misty - Misty's Drag Bag Fairmerly - The Wormhole fairmerly@hotmail.com x_mikey_x & sweet_bri - Pink Trivia pink_trivia@hotmail.com Jasen - PT Question Of The Week ptquestoftheweek@hotmail.com Goldie12 - THE Poetry Corner pinktrinews@mailexcite.com Maxam - Our resident "Roving Reporter!" Ganymede03 - Various articles _____________ THE EDITORS OF THE PTNEWS Alladdinn (Co-Editor, Birthday Horoscopes) alladdinn@mailexcite.com Freddieb (Co-Editor) fredericb@mailexcite.com _____________________________________________________________ EDITORIAL (Alladdinn) Howdy guys and gals... as some of you know I have not been in the room much at all this past week, but you may have seen me in observe. The reason for this is because I was doing some research. I have visited several of the other rooms in VP, as well as our brother and sister rooms "Guy talk" & "Girls Domain". What I observed was very frustrating to me. We in the Pink Triangle have always taken pride in the fact that our room was so "welcoming" & "friendly" by its members upon entering it. Yes, I found this to be true ONLY among OUR room in VP (that is, until lately)! Although, there are a select few that take it upon themselves to notice when newcomers arrive and make it a point to say hello! This week, I sat in several of the rooms for quite some time, without even an acknowledgment from ANYONE within the room! I would say howdy and get no response... I would try and start a conversation with someone, to only have them respond mostly with rude comments. Then, as I sat in observe in PT, I noticed more and more how people treat each other within the room. I was astonished at the crude and rude comments to "mugs", which might simply be asking questions, the pettiness between "family" members over piddly things, or when someone happens to land on someone and doesn't move as quickly as they may want them to. Yes, some of these people deserve the responses that are given out, but... are we forgetting that some of these people might be new to VP and simply do not know their way around, or how to use the controls to move their AV's? (Not to mention the fact that the arguments that are breaking out are between people we call "family" that seems to be dividing the room!) Let's remember when we first logged onto VP... Did you log on knowing the "ins and outs" of the system and the rooms? Is it necessary to continue to "bash" these people even after they DO move their AV's? I realize it's an endless battle and probably a useless topic of discussion because people will do as they want anyway, however... When someone does come in the room to "bash", is it necessary to lower yourself to their level of intelligence by "bashing" back? Most of us know they only do that to cause a scene within the room anyway... why add fuel to their fire? Nothing that you can say to them will change their opinion of the gay lifestyle, or help to educate them in any way! They are closed minded individuals, but does that mean we have to contribute to their stupidity? Might I suggest putting them on IGNORE and moving on with your conversation? (Huh, now there's a novel idea!) As mentioned later on in the paper... I am not the only one that has seen this happening within the room. If you take the time to look around you when in chat, some of the regulars are not as regular as before. We may ask why? I am telling you why right now! This fighting amongst ourselves, talking trash about people behind their backs, and contributing to "bashers" is exactly what drives people out of OUR room! I also realize that there are those that strive on the "rush" of the argument when "bashers" come into the room, as well as controversy within the room, and will not under any circumstances stop what they are doing. However, do we also stop to realize that when we tear each other down and feel we are standing our ground against bashers, we aren't necessarily supporting the fact that we're gay, bi, lesbian, or "gay friendly", we are no better than the bashers that are there to bash us! Let's stop and think for a moment about what we have in PT that makes our room different from all the rest: 1. Most of us have been in PT for some time now and know almost everyone that comes in to chat. 2. Most of us feel camaraderie and a "family/togetherness" feeling when we are in the room that we don't feel in others. That is why we come back day after day! 3. We feel we have true friends that we have gotten to know through time that we enjoy spending time with, talking and carrying on, on a daily basis. 4. We feel welcomed and accepted when in the room, which we may not feel in the "real world". 5. We possess the power to place someone on IGNORE when they get out of hand, however... do we choose to do so? Everyone has anger and stress in their daily lives, but should it be taken out on others in chat? (This also includes regulars!) There may be times that some mugs say the wrong things to tick someone off, but is it our right to tell them they have to leave the room? I do believe they pay the same amount for their service as we do, and have the same rights as the rest of us to chat in the room of their choice! It is up to us to help educated and open a "mugs" eyes to the advantages of downloading the free software, not condemn them for not doing so. Some of these people are at work, or school and can not be anything other than a "mug" in order to chat! Let's all remember that the people behind the "mug", as well as the folks behind the nice AV and the words on the screen are REAL PEOPLE sitting at their computer just as you and I and have the same right to chat in PT as the rest of us! Sometimes what is typed doesn't come across the way a person really meant it to sound, or was spoken hastily without thinking first. Let's not be so hasty to jump down someone's throat before we find out if that is how it was meant to be! In closing... We talk of common courtesy a lot in the room. However, talking about people when they are not there to defend themselves, talking one way to ones face, then the opposite to someone else is not what I consider common courtesy, or friendship. We are supposed to be together as a "family", not working to destroy one another! Where else can we go so that we can all chat together as a family and feel the warmth of love and friendship other than Pink Triangle? Shouldn't we be trying to protect what we have by trying to keep peace, rather than destroying what we treasure as "Home"? I know this may sound harsh, but it's something to really consider and give some thought! Alladdinn ____________________________________________________________ LETTERS TO THE EDITORS pinktrinews@mailexcite.com __________________ Send your letters to the editors to: pinktrinews@mailexcite.com ALL comments and suggestions are valuable to us in providing you with the most enjoyable reading material possible! All will be taken into consideration! ___________ The following is a letter we received this week concerning the reunion as a means to help advertise. It has been modified and changed slightly, with the permission of the writer: REUNION NEWS -- WE NEED YOU! May 28, 29, 30 & 31... Four days of chat, fun and getting to know one another better. Be a part of the biggest Pink Triangle Party ever -- the PT Reunion!!! Come for an hour (but why would you want to leave?) or come for the full four days. Come for the fun, food and memories. Get to know for the first time the people you already know. Meet the people behind the screen names. Sounds great? Let Ali know you'll be there. Ask for the PT Reunion Information Package by clicking here: pinktrinews@mailexcite.com Can't get there? Let them know. Maybe someone from near your hometown needs a travel buddy. Afraid to go? Don't be shy. You don't want to miss out on this event. Is it going to be big? You be it is!!!. You just don't know how big it really is going to be, unless you come! Come join us...Relax! Have fun! Drinks will be provided! Great Drinks! Strawberry Daiquiris to Glenfiddich, Michelob to Evian and everything in between! Either BYOB or you can chip in on the cost. How much will all this cost? Well, after you get there, the food and accommodation will be by donation according to how many people show up. Any costs outside of our compound will be your responsibility. So, who is going? Everyone is invited. (Contact Ali at pinktrinews@mailexcite.com if someone tells you otherwise) If you only think "maybe" right now, talk with Ali or FreddieB. They can help you decide. You can't afford to miss out on this. More info will be coming your way so think about it! And see you there!!! Any questions? Don't hesitate to ask: pinktrinews@mailexcite.com --The Goddess Divine Bound in Leather ____________ To follow up with that letter.... Here is just a sample of the events that will take place that weekend: Friday night - Mixer and Chat by the fire Menu includes: Meatballs, cocktail weenies, fish sticks, chip and dip, fruit and veggie trays Saturday morning - breakfast by Jans and Ali. Saturday afternoon lunch - BBQ, FreddieB style. (He is the General Manager of Roadhouse Grill, so he does cook a damn good meal!) Saturday Afternoon - Fag football. Saturday evening - FreddieB & Alladdinn's Wedding Ceremony. Saturday night - Dinner Under The Stars! Menu Includes: Roast beef with all the fixins you can eat! With Entertainment following, The show includes such performers as: Your hostess for the evening: Lady Erica (Ali in drag), PLR doing her male impersonations, Jans (the butch side), plus much more... and a few surprises! (If you are interested in performing in the show on Saturday night, also include that in your RSVP so that we can schedule you on the list of performers!) After the show...Dancing till Dawn Sunday - Goose and Gander's Wedding Ceremony (All events subject to change) For those of you who require special diets... just let Ali know ahead of time and it'll be taken care of! If you think chatting in PT is fun, just wait till you get us all together in person!!! Mark your calenders now to attend! May 28, 29, 30 & 31 1999 Let's make this a PT gathering that will go down in PT history! EVERYONE in Pink Triangle is invited! An information packet has been prepared for directions to the cottage and lodging accommodations. The cottage is now full with reservations, however, there are cabins just down the road! Please make sure you RSVP now (even if you are planning on attending, but are not 100% sure) so that we can begin preparing for adequate lodging and meals! We will send you the informational packet, which includes lodging in the surrounding area and directions to the cottage. We will also include the best route for you to take from your location. We want this event to be as enjoyable for everyone as possible! We are hoping to make this an event that will go down in PT history and will become a yearly event! Without your help and cooperation, none of this will happen! This PT event is being brought to you by the editors of the PT News! Please help in supporting something you believe in by helping us make this the BEST event in PT history! All donations accepted and appreciated! See ya in May! FreddieB & Ali _____________ Hello This is your friendly neighborhood anonymous av judge here. Something has come to my attention in the last 2 weeks and I think I need to say something about it. The Weekly Av Contest is meant to be FUN! A lot of people put a great deal of work into their avs or maybe just work very hard at collecting new ones. This was part of the reason I made the new category for Classiest Av. More categories equals more winners. I know in the past I’ve been guilty of maybe being a bit repetitive with who wins week after week, but this is going to stop. The point of this letter is this.... youel/Arlem/BEARs_boy (whatever he’s calling himself this week) is NOT the judge for the av contest! He just makes the avatars for the winners out of the captures I send him every week and posts them in the new Gallery he made for them, but a certain couple of people have been really hateful and ungrateful about winning and giving our av faery el (or whatever he calls himself this week) a hard time about their winning and I want this to STOP! No one is forcing anyone to like or wear their winning av. I am just trying to include people that have never won before and use the contest as a way to help newbies feel welcome and part of the family. Not trying to force anyone to be grateful either, just don’t be mean about it. He has feelings too you know. All right I have said my bit, thanks for listening... and congrats to this week’s winners... As ever I remain, Your friendly neighborhood anonymous Avatar Contest Judge _____________ Hi everyone!!!! As a new subscriber to the PT news, and pretty much a newbie to PT, I read both Freddies and Ali's editorials with interest. Do I read the news? You bet I do. As with PT it has become part of my life. In both places I have found interesting ideas, useful information and especially in PT....friendship. Do either of them drive me nuts at times (nuttier than I already am that is)... of course they do. I'm sure there are those of you who are aware that I can be vocal...and not always shy. That is one thing that can separate PT from "real life". In the short time that I have been coming to PT I have found many wonderful friends. That means more than you can imagine for some of us. Not everyone has the advantage of living in areas that there are a wealth of people to make friends with. Because I come to PT a lot, do I need a life? Why no, I have a wonderful life in so many ways... PT just is a very welcome addition to that life. In PT I have found friends and family. Do I get angry or hurt at times? Pretty silly question isn't it? Of course I get hurt. But as in all good families, people talk and resolve things. Well, maybe not all the time... but we try. I have been guilty of stirring it up in the room myself. It's not something I would always apologize for as in some of those instances I was vocal in defense of a friend. And I discovered that works both ways when I caught hell from someone.... enough to make me leave the room. Yes, believe it or not I was chased away... I'm not really that tough all the time... lol. In that instance I discovered that aiding a friend is something that the room is very good about. I understand that things got heated... and in my defense!!!! There is something very warm and wonderful in that. And the best part is I made it a point to talk to the person I had the problem with the next day and I believe I've got another new friend. Yes, the controversy in the room can be overwhelming at times... and yes, we could just iggy all the jerks and bashers that come in the room. But remember, we ARE a family and not all alike. We have good days and bad days. Sometimes we need desperately to vent. Who hasn't ever come home to their real home and done that? PT is a second home... we share our lives and our loves, our joy and sorrow. And you know what? I wouldn't trade it for a lot of other alternatives in this world. I could never adequately express the gratitude I have for many of you for making each day just a little bit better. I honestly hold you all in my heart and am so very thankful that PT exists. My, how I have rambled on... lol. Anyway, my love goes out to my PT friends... don't stop being yourselves!!!! (Well, maybe some of you could change....lol...just kidding) In warmth and love, Stuff2do _____________ TO THE PINKTRINEWS: On WED, the night of April 14, I came in to the room and like always I put Chuckie on ignore. Last night was no different for me, until the room was rage mad and yelling at each other to the point were regular members were threatened to be put on ignore for expressing the feeling about having a SWAZT STICKER in the room, that was being worn by the one and only CHUCKIE. And for me to come in to a room and have to look at such AV makes me sick and very upset. But most of all what real got me going was the support that chuckie was giving by some members of the PT ROOM. How can any one say that this kid is confused and misunderstood and needs our help? Has time gone by so fast that were we forgot what the NAZI ONSLAUGHT and terror in 1934-35 took place in GERMANY. Has time gone by were we forget how the triangle came to bear on the chest of all of our brothers and sister, that had died for our freedom. How can any body support some one that wears a NAZI SWATZ STICKER!!!!! And for me I will never support someone like him or a room that is willing to be suck in by some NAZI LOVING PIG. And as of right now I will not step foot in the pinktrangle room while chuckie is still there and has the support of members of the room. I will miss many of the members of the room but I have no choice but leave. Good bye and good luck. REV.THOMAS P. MACLEOD. CEMENT. PS. IF ANY ONE NEEDS TO READ A BOOK TRY THIS ONE OUT. THE PINK TRIANGLE. _____________ Well... now its going on 2 months that I have been out of the chat room and let me tell you that it hurts like hell sometimes. I miss all of you so badly and want to come back as a regular again but with the new job and trying to keep a relationship going with a jealous sonuvabitch is kinda hard. Now don't get me wrong, I love Sean with all my heart and soul but there are times when it just pisses me off that he feels that I have to spend every minute of every night with him and him alone. Now that we have moved into our 2 bedroom apt it makes it harder for me to chat because the computer is in the second bedroom and he can get jealous or suspicious of me when I am not spending time with him. Ok I'm done with that. And on top of the new schedule and all, we got the bright idea to download Internet Explorer 5 and guess what, VP DOES NOT work with it at all, which I do not understand because Vp is a stand alone product and doesn't need a browser to support it, right?? So the only time I can chat now with out being a "mug" is at work and that seems to be a pain in the ass, for all of those who have seen me between the hours of 8-5. I feel like I'm in some kind of bizarre sex act, I'm in then I'm out and that is it because of the way the office is setup anyone that walks by me can see my monitor. Anyway enough of all the bitching. Jenna, Sweetie I miss you so very badly. To be able to flirt with you and carry on made my day much brighter. Screwy you little shithead, you make my life hell and fill it with joy I miss you buddy. The Birds up north, you crazy kids are too much and I miss ya'll too. To my favorite Master/Slave team (Primer/E), ya'll mean more to me than you possible realize. Gwen, I'll be flying for the first time ever in May, you'll have to think of me to help me out. Freddie/Ali, you to are the greatest, even though I know that both of you want to have sex with me. Jans/LiLB/LunchBox (or whoever you are now), Seeing the way a family interacts like yours makes me so incredibly thankful that I am alive. RE, the girl of my dreams. You seem to be visiting all these people all over the counrty, hows about coming south a little?? Western (Wes,My Twin)- You are my touchstone and help me keep everything in perspective I miss you Buddy. JOIEE, My partner in smut, you have helped me realize that there is beauty below the top level. MacaRoonie, the KING of all GESTURES, my mentor. What can I say, I miss you buddy. And I know that alot of you are going to be pissed at me know because I didn't include you but I love each and every one of you Mary, Mikey, Bri, Misty, Isa, Free, Worry, Boo, Wicked, Islander, Reddie,Tenny, Tenor, Star and the whole damn lot of you. You all mean so much more to me than you will ever realize. Never ever forget me and always keep a rude thought sitting right beside you to whip out when ever you need it. Take care Pinkies and I'll see ya when I see ya. Love Always Wes76-THE KING _____________________________________________________________ "ROUND 'EM UP" - THE NEWBIE CORNER (PT Recruiter…RE__) Let's take a moment to get to know our new folks that have joined our room! Hello again everyone. I am still in Canada helping worry and boo move into their new house. I am so tired of painting and moving...LOL. Just kidding I am having a great time here and I am looking forward to coming back to Canada soon. Well I have two newbies that I would like to tell you about and I am sure you all have seen them both. Savage_femme, Donna, is 41 and lives in Florida just below Tampa. Donna has been coming to the pink for about a month and thinks it is great. She says she feels like this is the only place she can come and be who she is really is. Donna says that she is looking for her first bi relationship and looking forward to it. She wants someone to take care of and make happy. Donna works at a popular fast food restaurant, and enjoys fishing, cooking and making crafts. Donna is a wonderful person and fun to talk to, hope you all get the chance to talk to her soon if you have not already. Now another wonderful woman for sure is thatgirl. We talked all night one night I think and it did not occur to me that I was getting some good info from her, but I assured her that I would not write anything that she did not approve. So we decided to have an interview and be official. She is 39 and a freelance photographer. Her partner comes to the room often, jem, and they have a 10 yr old son that they both adore. They have been chatting in the tri since January and they like to have some place to go that they are not judged and most of the people are wonderful. Thatgirl likes photography, concerts, reading and writing poetry. And of course she loves to chat. They live in SC and have been together for 2 and a half years. I have not had the chance to talk to jem, but I will get the scoop on her soon, then you will have it too. I will be going home on Tuesday, and looking forward to seeing my kids. I miss them terribly. I got the best news while in Canada...I have two new nephews!!!!!! My brother and sister in law have started the adoption procedure for the two boys and they are fast becoming part of the family. Glenn is 2 years old and Andrew is 3. I talked to them on the phone and that brought tears to my eyes. I am so happy for my brother and his wife. Well, enough for the news. Enjoy the rest of the paper and I hope you all have a great weekend. Thank you worry and boo for making this visit a great one and thanks for the invite to come back soon. I am sure that I will take you up on this. You both have been great. Love to you all. RE _____________________________________________________________ GAY VOICE OF AMERICA gayvoice@hotmail.com (Primebear) Hello Family... Well news this week looked kind of hopeful as you read the article below. I just hope Congress acts on it but unfortunately, most of Congress are Republicans and Republicans so far have said NO as far as adding Sexual Orientation to the Hate Crimes Bill. PRESIDENT CLINTON CALLS FOR PASSAGE OF HATE CRIMES BILL, ONE DAY AFTER MATTHEW SHEPARD KILLER PLEADS GUILTY New Statistics Show Anti-Gay Hate Crimes More Brutal Than FOR WASHINGTON-President Clinton called for passage of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act at a White House news conference today, one day after Russell A. Henderson pleaded guilty to murdering openly gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard. "The president has always understood the importance of sending the message that a hate crime committed against one American is a crime against all Americans and is an assault on our society's core values," said Winnie Stachelberg, political director of the Human Rights Campaign. "We hope Congress and lawmakers in all 50 states can match President Clinton's will, determination and commitment to ending hate-motivated violence. Momentum for passing the Hate Crimes Prevention Act continues to expand, Stachelberg said, noting that statistics released today by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs showed increased savagery in anti-gay attacks. In announcing his support for the bill, Act, Clinton put hate crimes against gay people in the context of ethnic and religious conflicts in Kosovo, Rwanda and elsewhere. He called on America to be an example for the world in tolerance and diversity. "Our diversity is a godsend for us, and the world of the 21st century," Clinton said. "But it also has the potential for the old, haunting demons that are hard to root out of the human spirit. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act would be important, substantively and symbolically, to send a message to ourselves and to the world that we are going into the 21st century determined to preach and to practice what is right." Clinton said he has asked the Justice and Education Departments to provide hate crimes information in their annual report cards on school safety, and that he has asked the Department of Education to collect data on hate crimes on college campuses. Clinton also announced the formation of "a public-private partnership to help reach middle school students to discuss this whole issue with them and talk about tolerance -- why it is a moral as well as a practical imperative." At a news conference last month in Washington, Judy Shepard -- mother of Matthew Shepard -- announced her support for the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, as well as for state hate crimes laws. She said hate crimes laws could potentially deter violent acts by sending a clear message to would-be perpetrators that society unequivocally condemns hate-motivated violence. "No one will ever know if these laws would have saved ... my son's life. But we can begin today by building a safer world for all Americans, including gay and lesbian Americans," she said last month. "On behalf of my family, I call on the Congress of the United States to pass the hate Crimes Prevention Act without delay." The need for a tougher federal hate crimes law was highlighted by a survey released today by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs that documented 2,552 anti-gay incidents in 1998. The survey included reports from 16 coalition members in locations ranging from San Francisco to Cleveland to El Paso, Texas. It found an alarming increase in the brutality of hate crimes, with a staggering rise in the use of weapons during anti-gay hate crimes. "What we found most disturbing was the attacks were more severe and much more intense," said Natalie Chin, a spokeswoman for Community United Against Violence, which gathered statistics for the survey in San Francisco. "Attackers really seem motivated to debase their victims and cause serious injury." The survey found reports of guns used during assaults grew 71 percent; ropes and restraints, 133 percent; vehicles, 150 percent; and blunt objects, clubs and bats, 47 percent. The survey's release came on the heels of Russell A. Henderson's guilty plea Monday in Laramie, Wyo. to felony murder, as well as the robbery and kidnaping of Matthew Shepard. U.S. District Judge Jeffery A. Donnell sentenced Henderson to serve two consecutive life sentences. The second defendant, Aaron J. McKinney, is slated to stand trial for first-degree murder, aggravated robbery and kidnaping in August. If convicted, he could receive the death penalty. Henderson's girlfriend, Chasity Pasley, pleaded guilty Dec. 23 to being an accessory after the fact and is awaiting sentencing. McKinney's girlfriend, Christen LeAnn Price, is scheduled to go on trial in May, also on an accessory charge. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act was introduced last month. A hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on HCPA is scheduled for April 28. Currently, hate crimes monitoring and enforcement consists of a patchwork of laws that offer citizens varying levels of legal protection depending on where they live. Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have hate crimes laws that include sexual orientation. Twenty-one states have laws that do not include sexual orientation. Eight states have no hate crime laws at all. So. Will this become reality or does someone else need to die to get the message through that HATE is around and WE are the victims? PrimeBear _____________________________________________________________ TECH TIPS and CYBER NEWS vp_tips@hotmail.com (Techmaster) _____________ TECH TIP #22 ------------ What Causes Lag? The $64,000 Question! Lag can be caused by two things, a client-server bottleneck, and server overload. These are explained below. Bottlenecks are the main problem by far. To understand this best, you first have to know what bandwidth is. Simply put, bandwidth is how much stuff you can send through an Internet connection, usually measured in bits-per-second. Generally, smaller, less expensive, pipelines cause slower data transfer. Also, the more people trying to access the same page, the slower the page will load for you- all ISPs have bandwidth limits. Bottlenecks are simply caused by too many clients (users' computers) trying to access the server (host's computer), just like a traffic jam. One easy solution is to increase the server's bandwidth, similar to increasing the speed limit on a highway. This is rather expensive though and I can't see Excite investing this into a free service like VP. I have used several other VP communities, which use their own servers, and they seem to have bandwidth problems too. The other problem is server choke. A server is a computer much like yours but it's mainly used for sending rather than getting data. It has a special Operating System and software geared for networking. There are also server networks (or Intranets) where several computers, which can be hundreds of miles apart, all share similar tasks. This is common on the Internet. For example, Excite doesn't perform their famous search queries on the same computer(s) that they manage VP on. In fact, Excite has to have many mirror sites. Mirrors are used as another bandwidth backbone solution by having many versions of the same site on the net. Managing VP needs a lot of overhead. For example, it needs to take user logon info, verify it, grant/deny access, receive connection status from users, receive data (like text messages) from users, send the data back out to the right dotted quad, load avatars, host forums, monitor security, filter text, etc. If 10,000 users are online then this can be a bit overwhelming for a system. This causes the tasks to be buffered (put in a queue) and this causes delays. As you have already figured out, a room in VP is really a web page. All web pages have an address, or URL. This URL is similar to an IRC channel. Only a limited number of chatters can be in that channel, or room. The server only allots a certain bandwidth to each room. This is why it's easy for just one person to lag a room. That room only has a fraction of the total bandwidth used for VP. Understandably, bandwidth is not given on a per-person basis. In other words, adding chatters to a room does not increase it's given bandwidth. This is why lag usually is worse in full rooms. VP was built to handle regular text messaging well with little lag. It was not meant to handle scrolling, rapidly connecting to many AVs, moving around the room a lot, playing mug hockey, etc. In fact, the most common Flashing programs (which work by building up a lot of lag) create lag by quickly starting and ending tours. Send your tech questions to vp_tips@hotmail.com Tech_Master _____________________________________________________________ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! ______________________ PT BIRTHDAYS alladdinn@mailexcite.com (Alladdinn) ______ Let's take a look at last week's Birthday folks for the week ending April 16, 1999: jasenkev (April 11) lezzbo (April 12) hipchick (April 15) & GA-Stud23 (April 16). I sincerely hope your day was filled with joy and happiness! _____________ Here is this week's Birthday folks for the week ending April 23, 1999: cupcake_01 ( April 17) & CougarGA 75 (April 19) Happy Birthday gal and guy!!! _____________ Now I'd like to take a moment to wish some belated Bday's that came in after they had already happened, but have been added to my list for next year: angelina_99 (April 01) & Phipp (March 20) You two were not forgotten I just did not receive your Bdays until they were said and done! _____________ Until next week's list of Birthday guys and gals... Love and Happiness, Ali ______ PS I have a list compiled of all the PT family birthdays. If, for some reason you hadn't sent in your Bday previously (perhaps you are a newbie, or just thought: "Hey, I haven't sent my Bday in yet!", then please send it to alladdinn@mailexcite.com and I will add it to my list of Bday Guys and Gals! _____________________________________________________________ THIS WEEK'S FEATURE STORIES FROM OUR FAMILY MEMBERS _____________ No clue if this is true, but the humor and stupidity makes it worthwhile reading... enjoy Darwin award candidate Michigan, USA. (Submitted by Cupcake) Guy buys brand new Grand Cherokee for 30 some thousand dollars and has 400+ dollar monthly payments. He immediately gets ahold of his friend and they go do some male bonding. They go duck hunting and of course all the lakes are frozen. These 2 Atomic Brains go to the lake with the guns, the dog, the beer and of course the new vehicle. They drive out onto the lake ice and get ready. Now, they want to make some kind of a natural landing area for the ducks, something for the decoys to float on. Remember, it's all ice and in order to make a hole large enough to look like something a wandering duck wants to fly down and land on, it is going to take a little more effort than an ice hole drill. Out of the back of the new Grand Cherokee comes a stick of dynamite with a short, 40 second fuse. Now these 2 Rocket Scientists do take into consideration that if they place the stick of dynamite on the ice at a location far from where they are standing (and the new Grand Cherokee), they take the risk of slipping on the ice when they run from the burning fuse and possibly going up in smoke with the resulting blast. So, they decide to light this 40-second fuse and throw the dynamite which is what they end up doing. Remember a couple of paragraphs back when I mentioned the vehicle, the beer, the guns AND THE DOG ???? Yes, the dog. A highly trained Black Lab used for retrieving, especially things thrown by the owner. You guessed it, the dog takes off at a high rate of doggy speed on the ice and gets the stick of dynamite with the burning 40- second fuse about the time it hits the ice all to the woes of the 2-idiots yelling, stomping, waving arms and wondering, what the hell to do now. The dog, well it is happy and heads back from where it came from moments before, with the stick of dynamite, only to the mounting woes of the 2 bozo's now really waving their arms, yelling even louder and jumping to new heights than ever before. Now one of the guys decides to think something that he has never done before this moment, grabs a shotgun and shoots the dog. The shotgun is loaded with #8 duck shot, hardly big enough to stop a Black Lab on its appointed rounds. Dog stops for a moment, slightly confused and continues on. Another shot and this time the dog, still standing, becomes really confused & of course scared, thinking these 2 Nobel Prize winners have gone insane and takes off to find cover, with the now really short, short fuse burning on this stick of dynamite. The cover the dogs finds? Underneath the brand new Grand Cherokee 30 some thousand dollar 400+ monthly payment vehicle sitting on the lake ice. BOOM ! Dog dies, and it and the brand new Grand Cherokee 30 some thousand dollar 400+ monthly payment vehicle sinks to the bottom of the lake leaving the 2 candidates for Co-leaders of the Known Universe standing there with this "I can't believe this happened" look on their faces. Later, the owner of the vehicle calls his insurance company which tells him that sinking a vehicle in a lake by illegal use of explosives is not covered. He had yet to make the first of those 400+ a month payments. I felt pretty sorry for the dog myself. _____________________________________________________________ PINKTRIVIA pink_trivia@hotmail.com (x_mikey_x & Sweet_bri) Ok pinkies, your buddie and pal x_mikey_x and the ever popular and somewhat dangerous sweet_bri are gonna see how much you really know about your fellow pinkies in our new trivia corner. No answers will be provided until the following week. You will have to send your answers in by Tuesday night in order to be able to compete in our trivia challenge. So here is the addy: pink_trivia@hotmail.com Each month a winners name will go up on a web page so the whole world will know how smart (or nosey) you really are. _______ OK... bri was feeling blonde and forgot to send in trivia last week. 1. nessut rarmede...sunset dreamer 2. virrcwseer...screwdriver..oops left out a d here 3. geananil..angelina 4. dagren...gander 5. emnaoi...anomine...this was a boo boo sorry guys 6. loveir switt...oliver twist 7. sligpib....biglips 8. veesjakn...jasenkev 9. tewes rbae...sweet bear 10. ssifebull...blisseful. Like always I'm looking for ways to change stuff up... so why break a perfect record.... OK... now you all get to play sherlock holmes and using the facts below try and figure out who this pinkie is... here's your clues, see if you can sniff them out! 1.age..31 2.sex..male 3.state...colorado 4.car...geo metro 5.first name initail..J 6.hobby...rollerblading 7.occupation....none 8.divorced from wife 9.screen name begins with R 10. favorite color.....blue Calling all cops, dick tracys, columbos, kojaks, (and just generally nosy people) locate and send in your answer for 100 points.. Hugs to the guys from bri and kisses to the girls from mikey.. ______________ Ok gang here is the deal... I will try to keep this section going until the end of April, or until anyone cares to take it over. I see things happening in PT, which I really don't agree or care for. As most of you know a few of us have chosen to leave PT. Although I do pop in from time to time you will notice I do not stay long. To much fighting and arguing. PT is not like it was when I first came there, we use to have fun and laughs all the time. I couldn't get enough of it back then. Now it's different. I see people coming in under different identities for whatever reason trying to make us think they are someone else. Not just as a joke either. But so afraid their mate is cheating on them or that someone is putting them down. I see the girls constantly fighting with each other and the family falling apart. I see more and more bashers coming in and FAMILY choosing NOT to iggy them, although they will iggy each other for stupid stuff. If a basher attacks anyone in the family, there should be at the very least (in a full room) 19 iggys going out on him. But I hear people say: "he is not bashing me"...this is unacceptable!!!! By bashing one he is bashing all. If you don't iggy, you become part of the problem!! I think we all need to sit back and watch what is going on in the room. Go to teen chat and watch, this is what you will see... arguing... people looking for sex... immature people... Guess what? I see the same thing in PT also!! And yes a few of us have our own room we go to. We paint, make gestures, and have fun. If we get a troublemaker, we have a code that means go to a private room and we all go. We don't tolerate trouble... it's stupid and a waste of time.!! I see ali and freddie go thru a lot of trouble to make special events for the room and several don't even have the courtesy to check them out or even help out. THIS IS NOT YOUR OWN PRIVATE EXCITE ROOM!!!!!IT BELONGS TO ALL OF US!! And if people are unhappy with me because I'm NOT gay, well that's just too damn bad for you!! I can accept you being gay, because it's your choice, and if I didn't accept it I would be a bigot, but if you cant accept me being str8, does that make you a bigot? I want to thank ALI and FREDDIE for having enough faith in bri and myself to do the trivia. I'm sorry if we let you down guys. I know all the hard work it must be to put the paper together every week, because just doing the trivia is a handful for us. There are still several good people left in PT, but if things don't change I'm sure they to will be gone. Please feel free to respond to this letter at the pink_trivia addy. Thank you....x_mikey_x _____________________________________________________________ "An AV is the person we all want to be!" ___________________ Weekly Avatar Contest! HERE IS THIS WEEK’S AV WINNERS: REMEMBER… the winners have to PASS THE "Crown" on to the next winner!!! (You get to keep your personalized AV though!) This is all meant to be FUN, eventually everyone will have won! GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE! This is all meant to be FUN! Be creative! And may the BEST AV’s Win! Male - Drade Female - Curlyhi (hehehe) Couple - JennaJenna & Gander455 Funniest/Cutest - Redcatt And our newest category (for avs that don’t fit any of the above) Classiest - Anomie CONGRATULATIONS FOLKS! You may pick up your winning AV’s from either Youel/BEARs_boy, (Who creates them-Thanks youel!) FreddieB or Alladdinn. You can also pick them up now at our new (also created by Youel/BEARs_boy ) Avatar Contest Winner’s Gallery at http://www.angelfire.com/fl/arlemzrealm/wingallery.html Please note the new URL, I had to change it cuz a basher followed Joiee and I there last week, sorry for the inconvenience...bears :) (Just right click on your av and choose Save Picture As and save it to your gallery folder) This site is updated weekly at midnight EST. The new winning avs are not posted til then, so no peeking! New this week is the Past Winners Gallery. (Note from BEARs_boy who built the av gallery. Any winner who does not wish their avatar to be posted in the gallery, for whatever reason, please let me know. I will remove it from the gallery ASAP. This is intended to be fun, not to invade anyone’s privacy.) Thanks to our AV Judge who has the hard job of deciding which AV will make it to the winners block each week! It’s a tough job, but we leave it in very capable hands! Every effort is being made to avoid repeat winners to be fair to all. So in an effort to help make the av judges job easier, the following Av gallery links are included: Lucylastics Fantasy & Erotic Avs - truly one of the BEST av galleries I have ever seen... (Please note: this site DOES contain adult and BDSM images, if this offends you or you are under 18, please stick to Lucy’s non-adult galleries. She works VERY hard on her site and takes great pride in it and we have no wish to cause her any trouble.) She has a wonderful selection of many different types, something for everyone. http://members.home.net/lucylastic Another great link that includes links to many, many different avatar galleries (and gesture sites as well) Ing’s AV & Gesture Links by Type http://members.aol.com/cowtowning/bottom.html (The AV Judge must remain anonymous so as not to be tempted with bribes! LOL) ____________________________________________________________ BIOS BIOS BIOS BIOS BIOS BIOS pinktrinews@mailexcite.com _________________________ Everyone enjoys discovering more about the people we see in the room on a daily basis. If you have not sent in your BIO…we'd love to hear from you, and for those of you who are new to PTN, a BIO is merely a little about yourselves to introduce you to our PT family. We all chat and get to know one another in PT, but trying to keep up with chat and IM's, along with ICQ (uh oh's) can be a challenge at times. Your BIO doesn't have to be anything lengthy, just anything you'd like to share with the rest of our family, so as to get to know you better! Thanks, Ali _____________ Hears a little update for Me, the Pink Triangle, has been a huge turning point for my life, if not for the Room I would not be where I am today, With my new life partner Rulauro. We met on the net, and at his front door, and made promises at the Ocean, and so far they have all came true, now no more 14hr drives to see my Man, CC Tx is where I'm gonna call home, cause home is where the Heart Grows. Now me and Ru have started our new lives together, I don't have as much time to get online, and I have missed all my Pink Buddies, and the paper is truly a great thing, I have to keep me in touch with, the gang and the Newbies as well. So now I'm 26 yo gay male, in a long term relationship, new to Tx., but it's already Home to me. All my in-laws have taken me in, as one of there own, I'm a nurse, and Love my field, that I work, now have more time to SHOPP, my Favorite hobbie...lol. Well that will do for now, so I hope to see Ya'll in the Room more often, Huggs to Brans, Joiee, my sister Free spirit, spider, irony, and every one else, Most of all RuLauro1 ROMY__ Love/Laughter/Peace ____________________ Drade 19 y/o male 5’9”, 170lbs. Hello guys. This is Drade. I’m finely writing my BIO. I remember first coming into the room not knowing anyone and I started get to know everyone and it was fun getting to know all of you. Let me tell you about me. Okay, I’m a 19 y/o gay male. I graduated high school last year. I have a new job and that’s going great. Okay, now lets go back in time and tell you all about me. When I first knew that I was gay at the age of five. At that age, I knew that I was different. I didn’t know what gay meant at that age. I remember going to my grand-parents house and I would always wait for my aunt’s boyfriend to show up. When he shows up, I got all shy then I become comfortable with him during that visit. I would sit beside him and cuddle with him watching TV. Occasionally I would get an erection too...lol. In the fall of that year, I started school. I went to a small town elementary school. I remember elementary school so well. I used to get picked on allot in school. They would call me names and said I was ugly. In elementary school, I was chasing girls around at recess and I think I scared them all away...lol. I remember in sixth grade, this new girl came in my class. I liked her. She was special to me and at the end of sixth grade, I asked her out and she said no cause she was moving. Then I went into Jr. high. Seventh grade was really different. I was in a new school, meeting new people and everything. I still was after the girls...lol. Tenth grade was even more different. Going to another school and a lot bigger. In tenth grade, I was 16 and accepted myself being gay. All through out high school, I was really quiet. I had a few friends I could talk to. The summer of my twelfth grade year, I told my best friend that I was gay and she kinda knew that I was. That same summer, I wanted to sleep at her house so I called my parents to see if I could sleep over there and they said no. So I got mad and left my friend's house to go home. On the drive home, I was in tears saying to myself, “I’m gonna tell them I’m gay. I’m gonna tell them. I think it’s the right thing to do.” I was 17 at the time. When I got home, I walked towards the door and stopped and took a few deep breaths. I go and walk in my parent's room. Both my dad and mom were in there. My mom was lying in bed. My dad was in his dresser. I hesitated telling them so they said, “What's wrong. Did you get a speeding ticket?” I said no. Then it was time to tell them. I sent my dad out of the room. My mom was sitting on her bed and I was standing at the end of her bed. Then I said, “Mom. There is something I have to say to you. This is who I am and I’m happy this way. I’m gay.” When I said I was gay, I got all numb. There was no turning back what I have said. She looks at me and says, “I kinda thought you were.” She gives me a smile and says how do you know that you are? I said it’s the feelings. Then she got up and gave me a hug. We were both in tears. Then I went downstairs to my room and balled my eyes out. That’s how relived I was. My dad came down and he said what was wrong and I told him that I was gay. He almost went into shock but he came through. He was naming this guy that used to hang around them back in his day who was also was gay I think and he thought I knew him. He gave me a hug too. I went into my room again a started balling again. How I came out to my 14 y/o sister was we were at my uncles get together thingy. We were both in my mom’s car listening to the radio and I turned the radio down and I said to my sister that I was gay. She says no you aren’t. Then she came to her senses and accepted me. I remember telling my little brother who is now 18. We were in my room doing something and I told him and he said, “No you are not! You are straight! You like women!!” I didn’t want to argue with him cause there was no point. So I told him on a different day and he still denied it. In time, he accepted the way I am. The year of ‘97 ended and ‘98 came and on Jan. 30, I was with one of my friends and we went to a restaurant. We were waiting for someone. I didn’t know the guy who we were meeting and he showed up. I said to myself, “Yay, another person.” Then we left the restaurant and went to this “guys” house. I was supposed to be with my friend that weekend but I felt more attracted to this guy. We were drinking and I was watching him dance in his living room. He went to his room and I followed him in his room. We both looked at each other and we started kissing. My friend walked in on us too...lol. Ever since that night, Brian and I started dating. He was my first love. I loved being with him. He showed me the gay community. I met many friends through him too. Brian meant everything to me. He was a good lover. After 5 1/2 months, he broke it off with me. I was miserable for awhile. Brian and I are still very good friends and I think that our friendship is stronger now. I remember one night in the summer of last year. I was in the room talking to this person named Liet. We were talking and I asked him where he was from and he said Minnesota and I said I was from MN too. I asked him which part in MN and he said Elk River. I was like no way! I live in Zimmerman. We are like about 15 miles from each other! Then we talked on the phone for awhile and he sounded like a really interesting guy. Liet was having a get together at his house the weekend after we’ve talked and he invited Brian and I. I remember the first time I met Liet too. He was wearing spikes, his hair was spiked, wearing all black. I didn’t expect him to be dressed like that but he was really cool when we first met. Over the months, I went to his house and “hanged” with him every now and then. Liet is a good cook too. He makes the best hot dishes and I really don’t like hot dishes but his were really good. We sometimes made dinner together and I liked “creating” with him. I really love his chili. His chili is the best ever! He talked about Randy to me and how he died. He talks about him now and then. I would of like to meet Randy. Liet told me some good things about him. One time when I was house sitting for Liet, he was gone at work and I stayed at the house and I remember that one of those nights I was over there, I kept seeing movements in the corner of my eye and I look and nothing was there. That same night, I was going into Liet’s room, I felt someone touch my shoulder and I turned to see what it was and nothing was there. I said to myself, “I think it’s Randy.” I told Liet all about it and he believed me. Liet is a really good friend. I enjoy going over at his house and argue about PC’s and Mac’s. He has a Mac and I have a PC and tell him my puter is the best and he disagrees with me. All through the night we bicker at another about our puters. When I was growing up, we had Mac’s in school. I liked them. Then we got a PC and I liked that better. I hate Mac’s now. There are some things on the Mac I like and stuff which I can’t do on the PC. Some of you probably want to know how I made up my screen name. I thought of “Drade” one night when I was drunk and it stuck with me ever since. My real name is Mike. Liet likes to call me Mikey. I don’t mind him saying that to me. Anywho, I should rap up things about now. You people are like my second family to me. I’m looking forward chatting with all of you again! I love you all! Take care! Drade _____________ Something About “Sea” For a reason that I will not mention, I would like to share a little about myself with the PT News. I have always felt that being open about some issues is probably the best approach to address any given situation and especially those that may be in question. First of all, I’ve been around longer than the PT News has, but I am so glad that it is here for me - even for situations like this one. So that means that I have been in Pink Triangle well over a year now. Actually, I think I came in January a year ago. Prior to that I was in another chat room with my best online friend TENNGIRL. She has proven to be “my friend” during thick and thin and in all circumstances. Secondly, I have made some really fine friends here, and some of these have become “real” in addition to virtual as well. Some of them I have met, and some I now love. Regardless of what some may think, I am truly “not” a player. I have, from the beginning, come into PT to play and have a fun time. A time of respite - a time to forsake the things that tear me down on a daily basis. I have used PT just as it has used me. I don’t often share this with others in the room, but I think it is time to share it now. The one thing that I try to forget and forsake is the tumor that I live with on a daily basis and its threat of jeopardizing my life. Some of my closest friends know this, but others don’t. Because I have this tumor which is just behind both eyes and directly under the brain, I am obligated to take meds to keep this thing in control - God forbid that it should grow! Now this leads me to another point that I would now like to address. Because I am on certain medications for this tumor, my alcohol intake is very minimal. However, there was an insinuation that I “hide behind alcohol” and/or wine. This is an incorrect and unfair implication because I do not. It is a rare occasion that I will ever drink more than one or two beers ever at one sitting and no more than one glass of wine at one sitting… and never, never mixed drinks because of the hard alcohol content. I think there are four people, Redcatt (of course), WickedLove, Tawanda, and sweet JasenKev. All of these know me well enough and personally and have seen me in the party environment to know my drinking habits consist of making a glass of wine or bottle of beer last all night long. There was one occasion that I violated this rule. It was the night that Simone dumped me, and I got “smashed” while on VP that night. There were a lot of people present during that ordeal, and I said a lot of things that night while “impaired”. I don’t smoke nor take drugs. Lord knows, I have enough character flaws without adding to them myself or anyone else contributing to them needlessly. Now, the second issue that I would like to address is the comments that one person has made about me being a player. First of all, I think those comments were made to cover and mask the deceitful deed this person was doing to her own mate, and I won’t even touch that. But I will say this: it is a sad day when people cannot play and flirt in PT. When I came to PT that is what we did. Goose will well remember those days and so will Prime and a few others. So it was not unusual to see a regular in here during anytime of the day chatting and laughing - flirting and so on… but it all stayed in the room. not in IM. There were two days recently when Wicked came in the room and sat with me as she always does. Wicked is my friend for real. Actually, she is “far” more than a friend, and I openly acknowledge this to the room - Wicked is “my kindred-spirit”. If you have ever had one, then you will understand. If you haven’t had one then you will most assuredly misinterpret the meaning. Wicked is someone that knows when I hurt yet we haven’t talked that day… Wicked is someone who sits at the computer and will be eating a tuna sandwich, eating WavyLays, and drinking a Diet Pepsi while I am sitting at the opposite end chatting with her doing exactly the same thing and eating the same foods without prior knowledge of either. Wicked has been there for me for a long time and shares a real friendship with Reddie and me as well. So, if I am seen in the daytime flirting with Wicked, you may be assured we are having the time of our life, and yes, Reddie knows all about it! Now there is Tawanda! Now just how does she fit into all this. Taw and I have been friends for a year now. We have chatted almost everyday in VP and probably most everyday by phone or Netmeeting. I met Taw for real for the first time in St. Louis last month and that was a unique experience and an enjoyable one that I hope to repeat. So for those who do not understand this relationship, Tawanda is my friend… and a very good friend. This is a friendship like Wicked’s that surpasses Virtual Places. It is real. Finally, just to wrap things up in a nutshell, I don’t hide behind alcohol, and I am not a player. However, I do have one character flaw that betrays me: I care too much! That is the reason I am writing. I do care. I care about my reputation and my character, and I am not willing to sit by while a few take advantage of my absence and expel their incorrect perceptions of me. Apparently, that is all it is - incorrect perception. And since I know me best, I am offering to you, my friends, the true picture of whom I am. If I am your friend, I will never betray you. If I am your friend, I will never bash you. If I am your friend, then you have a friend in me for as long as you want it or until you betray me. Either way, I care enough to be a real friend to those that want me whether in Virtual Places or in real life. There you have it! Just a little information about the Sea and her activities. Just know she cares enough about herself, the room, and about you to share a little of the depth that makes her. SeaQuestor ___________________________________________________________ THE JOKE SHACK ______________ "It's a known fact it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile!" ____________________ SUBMITTED BI VIKING (XV666boyiking): Following is a list of cultural references used to describe freshmen students - mindset and targeting a market segment - AND something to think about for the older members of the room. 1) People entering college this fall were born in 1980 2) They were 11 when the Soviet Union broke up and do not remember the cold war. 3) They have never feared a nuclear war. "The Day After" is a pill to them, not a movie. 4) Their lifetime has always included AIDS. 5) Bottle caps have always been screw-off and plastic. 6) Atari predates them, as do vinyl records. 7) The expression "you sound like a broken record" means absolutely nothing to them. 8) They have never owned a record player. 9) "Star Wars" looks very fake to them, and the special effects are pathetic. 10) There have always been red M&Ms and blue ones are not new. 11) They may have heard of 8 track, but probably have never seen or heard one. 12) The Compact Disc was introduced when they were 1 years old. 13) They have always had an answering machine. 14) Most have never seen a TV set with only 13 channels, nor have they seen a black and white TV. 15) They have always had cable. 16) There have always been VCRs, but they have no idea what BETA is. 17) "The Tonight Show" has always been with Jay Leno. 18) Popcorn has always been cooked in a microwave. 19) They never took a swim and thought about "Jaws". 20) The Vietnam War is ancient history to them. 21) Kansas, Chicago, Boston, America, and Alabama are places, not bands. 22) McDonald's products never came in styrofoam containers. ANYWAY, there are more I'm sure. GANY, think of the 22 above - LOL. Love, VIKING (XV666boyiking) ____________________ "Some Tax Trivia" (Submitted by Maxam) The Gettysburg address is 269 words, the Declaration of Independence is 1,337 words, and the Holy Bible is only 773,000 -I don't know what version the author was referring to- words. However, the tax law has grown from 11,400 words in 1913, to 7 million words today. There are at least 480 different tax forms, each with many pages of instructions. Even the easiest form, the 1040E has 33 pages in instructions, and all in fine print. The IRS sends out 8 billion pages of forms and instructions each year. Laid end to end, they would stretch 28 times around the earth. Nearly 300,000 trees are cut down yearly to produce the paper for all the IRS forms and instructions. American taxpayers spend $200 billion and 5.4 billion hours working to comply with federal taxes each year, more than it takes to produce every car, truck, and van in the United States. The IRS employs 114,000 people; that's twice as many as the CIA and five times more than the FBI. 60% of taxpayers must hire a professional to get through their own return. Taxes eat up 38.2% of the average family's income; that's more than for food, clothing and shelter combined. Scary, isn't it? ______________________________________________________________ "WANTED, NEEDED, SEARCHING FOR, GOTTA HAVE IT, CAN'T FIND IT!" _____________________ PT CLASSIFIEDS _____________________ WANTED: Michael Boston, a semi regular in PT and Guy talk is on the search for a man! I have seen his picture and guys… HE IS A CUTIE!!! If there is anyone who would like to maybe meet this hunk for an online date… please email the PT News and we will gladly help arrange it! pinktrinews@mailexcite.com ___________________ The following are needed to help make The PT Reunion (held May 29, 30, 31 1999) run smoother and be more enjoyable for everyone, as well as get as many people involved with the event as possible: Entertainers, Music Coordinator/DJ/lighting, Bartender, Events coordinator, Someone to help with decorations and Food Coordinator. If you have talents you would like to share with the rest of the family, please let us know if you are interested in performing, or helping in any other capacity! EVERYONE is more than welcome to take part, and attend this PT event!!! Please email us at: pinkconnections@mailexcite.com FreddieB & Alladdinn _____________________________________________________________ POETRY CORNER pinktrinews@mailexcite.com ____________________ When things are down and you need to release, a poem is a perfect way to feel because it can't talk back or try to give solutions to your problem. (Krymsyn) ____________________ The Perfect Man (Submitted by Kalii2) The Perfect Man is gentle Never cruel or mean He has a beautiful smile And keeps his face so clean. The Perfect Man Likes children And will raise them by your side He will be a good father As well as a good husband to his bride. The Perfect Man loves cooking Cleaning and vacuuming too He'll do anything in his power To convey his feelings of love on to you. The Perfect Man is sweet Writing poetry from your name He's a best friend to your mother And kisses away your pain. He never has made you cry Or battered you in any way To hell with this endless poem This Perfect Man is gay. _____________ Hey everyone... first of all I wanna say that I went through a lot of shit, regarding love and myself a couple months ago... I wrote this as a release of all the tension.... I want to share it with you... enjoy... Intertwine Today is a fine day, for we all play the waiting game. Tic-toc goes the all powerful clock above my head.... Banging to the beat of a different drummer. Little Drummer Boy come round my way for just a little.... I want to tell you tale. A painful acknowledgment of self has come around to meet me square in the eyes. Beginning to realize my own torture and anger, I search for a more tangible way to rid myself of this horror. Slowly I lose everything I value. Tightly clinging to anything I can reach, trying not to slip away this time. I'm in sweet, painful, horrible love. Holding tightly to this pain.... I stare into the pretty blue eyes that have stepped before me. Sit quietly...don't make a sound for death is beating at my door, as children play unknowingly right beside him. He loudly, violently calls your name.... stand behind me and hide in my eyes. Watch through them, I would gladly give you my soul. You are my blue-eyed beauty... and I would gladly give my life for you and your ways. Realization of self is close upon your heals... if you need me, I'll be far away. Don't bother to call upon me, I won't answer... this is a game to me. A game I don't want to play anymore. I'm sitting in a peculiar area of myself.... a place no one dares to enter. I am alone in my torture. This tic of the clock grows louder, ear-shattering. Echoing off the walls, back into my face, shredding away pieces of life. A gradual decay of moral value. There are no longer moral standards here. I have grown to understand. There is no place like home kids.... Come on join me... Click your heels together and say, "there is no place like home" This is home to you and me, there is nothing you can do about it...there is no escape from this hell. Plain and simple...Hell. It is something we have to deal with day in and day out. The only thing we can do is shut ourselves out. Separate from norms of society...moral separation. Create our own world and live there... make standards to live by and don't be persuaded by the world. In the path of my eyes, I see a dark pit of confused pity... pity for who might I ask? Not for me I know that much. I don't pity myself, I brought this upon myself. Now pity for you maybe... you torture yourself, your killing yourself. Thread by thread of life.... you are unstitching your soul. I cry in my heart, pain fills me for you. You are already dead, you are just digging yourself deeper, deeper into the pit of self-grief and pity. I love you... torturing yourself is torturing me... killing yourself is killing me... and loving yourself is loving me. I take the hand of my blue-eyed beauty, and string her along my trail of tears. Hitting everysmall bump along the way, I call out to her in the night air. Holding her close to my body, my soul, my heart. There is no way out of this love... it grows deeper everyday... I fear the day she coldly turns to me and tells me to leave. This is my life and I shall prepare to die.... because not only is it my life, it is her life now too. She takes me by the strings of my heart and leads me through her mind. I fear her eyes... they blind me and hold me up. Support from the soul that is killing mine, that is fearful to my mind. So, now little Drummer Boy... you've heard my tale. I hope you paid close attention... and followed the tale within the tale..... Stephanie.. aka... Blisse _______ Goldie, Here is my submission. Use it if you want to but please show a copyright if you do. Thank you! Thatgirlp One More Time midnight approaches sleep eludes me as thoughts of you keep me wondering...... about the frailty of love how easily you may lose it taken for granted, then it's gone which makes me wonder...... about my capacity to accept this new love blossoming between us as intense and exciting as it is it makes me think...... about the bridges still burning behind me the smoke reaches me so quickly from fire to passion brings up a fear...... about how to protect this one from the ravages of the past afraid of any more pain makes me wonder...... why I'm doing it again then I see your eyes and the wondering ends _______ THE GIFT A tingling curls around my heart its tendrils reaching throughout my entire being The light from within bursting forth Blinding in its brightness I feel the butterfly touches of your love brushing my soul leaving in their wake A wonderful peaceful residue The genuine love you give is a most beautiful gift A priceless treasure I hold deep inside to hold and caress The thought of you gives me strength gives me purpose and inspiration Gives me courage to dare to dream again to believe again My heart pounds when you whisper my name leaps as your touch burns my flesh soars as you penetrate my soul The light of you blinds my eyes the love you give offers me shade Your essense fills my entire being shaking down the walls of distrust, the dust blown away by your feathery impassioned kisses The thought of you gives me the reason to go on..... The GIFT of you is a Wonderous thing! with much love and friendship, David ____________________ And now, another poem from our very own POETRY CORNER HOSTESS: Goldie, our Peculiar Poet… Poem of the week, is dedicated to Lauryn Hill, who is a singer/artist whom I think is one of the best song writer's of our time, for those who don't know her, here is a bit of her music I would like to share. I Use to love him As I look at what I done/ the type of life that I've lived/ how many things, I pray father will forgive/ One situation/ involved a young man/ he was the ocean, and I was the sand/ He stole my heart like a thief in the night/ dulled my senses, blurred my sight. I use to love him but now I don't I use to love him, but now I don't I chose the road of passion and pain/ sacrificed too much and waited in vain/ gave up my power ceased being queen/ addicted to love like the drug of a fiend. Torn and confused wasted and used/ Reached the crossroads, which path would I choose/ stuck and frustrated I waited debated/ for something to happen that wasn't fated/ thought want I wanted was something I needed, / when momma said no I just should have heeded/ misled I bled till the poison was gone/ and out of the darkness arrived the sweet dawn I use to love him, but now I don't I use to love him, but now I don't Father you saved me and showed me that life/ was much more then being some foolish man's wife/ showed me that love was respect and devotion/ greater then planets deeper then oceans/ my soul was weary but now its replenished / content because that part of my life is finished I see him sometimes and I look in his eyes/ is one of a man whose lost treasures untold/ but my heart is gold/ I took back my soul/ and totally let my creator control/ the life which was his to begin with I use to love him, but now I don't I use to love him, but now I don't. Hope you enjoyed, till next week Love Goldie ;-) _____________________________________________________________ MISTY'S DRAG BAG (Misty) Part 3 and hopefully the last part (giggle). Now something extra your going to need this week is a little imagination, a friend and a black texta (not included on your original shopping list), or alternately, get a pattern cause this description of how to make the main outfit is gonna hurt someone. Ok if you got the pattern then you don't need this article cause the description and the layout is all in there. If you didn't go get a pattern then read on. Firstly have your friend stand semi naked in front of you wearing nothing but a tight but non stretchy t-shirt and a blindfold. Grab your texta and lets get started on the pattern. We are going to put several points in the t-shirt using the texta. Put one on the chest area just in the corner where the armpit starts (with their arms down). Next is a point in the middle at the base of the crotch. Gently draw a line which curves from the armpit edge through the nipple and down to the crotch. Repeat this on the opposite side of the body. Turn the person around so their back is facing to you. Draw a line from one armpit edge to the other (again with the person's arms down). Draw a line right down the middle from this line to the base of the shirt. Draw a second line 1/2 between this middle line and the seam on the side of the shirt. Repeat this line on the opposite side. Draw lines down the seams on the sides of the shirt. Mark a point on the side on the waistline. On the front, mark a point just where the stomach meets the top of the crotch area. Draw a curved line between these two points. Repeat on the other side. Now draw a line across the back (straight line) joining the two waist points. On the front draw a cleavage line running from the armpits, over the breast and then let it plunge down a little. There we go...the basis of a pattern, gosh that was hard. Ok, take the t-shirt off and when you cut it out remember to then add the seam allowance (1 cm extra) all the way around the pattern. Cut one out of the lining and one out of the facing. PS if you left a naked person standing there in a blindfold and your waiting for instructions from me, HEY THIS ISN'T THE CYBER CHANNEL, do it yourself you need no instruction from me. LOL. Sew all the facing pieces together as was marked out on the t-shirt. Do the same with the lining pieces. Now, good sides together, sew the facing and the lining together (except the middle of the back) this allows you to turn it back the right way and put a zipper in. Sew down all the outer seams. Insert the zipper into the middle of the back, remember to fold back the seam allowance to give a good edge. OK now the top bit is complete. You can decorate it with extras if you want to, shoulder straps, lace edges, whatever. Now for the Skirt. The skirt is made using three panels of material. One goes right across the front to the sides (like the t-shirt did) and the other two go across the back from the side seam to meet in the middle. Make the skirt as short as you are comfortable with. If you want a long skirt put a split in the back to allow you walking room. Again cut one of the facing material and one from the lining. Join the panels together. Then sew the lining to the facing with good sides together (except the center of the back) turn it out the right way, insert the zipper (folding back the seam allowance again). Sew from the base of the zipper downwards together (but remember if it is a long skirt only go down to the knees) Ok go throw on the makeup and underwear, put on those heels and all the parts you have made so far including the last two weeks articles and you have one fabulous person in a matching and simply stunning outfit. And if that poor person is still standing there naked with a blindfold on, give them my number I could use a good dolly to make MY clothes on. Lots of Luck and Love Misty. _____________________________________________________________ SITES WORTH SEEING Websites from a few of our "Family" members for you to check out! (Maxam) ____________________ Ali has designed a new page with all the websites from our family members. It is called: "The Pink Pages" (Kinda like the yellow pages!) You can use this page to link to everyone else's pages!!! (Note: Freddie & Ali's page of pics is not complete yet, so you can't view any of the pics… but I am working on it!) Here's the addy: http://www.hotyellow98.com/ptreunion/pinkpages.html _____________________ Here are a few new additions that Maxam, Rex and Looksjustlikeme sent us this week: http://members.xoom.com/_XOOM/Rex__ Rex's new site. Check this one out for sure! http://www.netfinder.com/links/html/sgpl.html http://www.webbyawards.com/ http://www.prolaunch.com/ http://www.wpdfd.com/wpdres.htm Thanks Maxam, Rex and looksjustlikeme!!! _______ REMEMBER folks…Please let us know if you CAN NOT link to these sites. We are trying to make it so that it is easy for you to use the PT News as an informational tool to go to these sites! ____________________ If you have a personal website you'd like to include in your list, please fell free to send us the site address: pinktrinews@mailexcite.com and we will gladly add you to our list! __________________________________________________________ REX'S BASKET Due to many requests over the past year, since the first PT News meeting was held, I have been asked to contribute a regular sports column. Well, I don't have the time lately to contribute a weekly column so I have to give you them haphazardly. I will focus on all kinds of sports, whether I like them or not (I tend to be picky here). Here goes... BASEBALL SEASON STARTS! This year I will make another unsuccessful attempt to start a softball team at the office. I much prefer baseball but I don't have time for a league. Nonetheless, I can still watch. As you will see, there are other perks to watching baseball on TV. Here's my list of hotties from MLB (Major League Baseball). I am using last year's stats on their weight. A number are undoubtedly bigger after several off-season months of training, though. McGwire raised the stakes on working out. Most should have fan pages on the web. SCOTT ERICKSON 6-4, 230 Balt. Orioles pitcher. Trains well. Dark and handsome guy with lots of lean muscle mass. Pretty huge build for a pitcher. GABE KAPLER 6-2, 190 Detroit Tigers outfielder. A real hardbody. Successful model, Not huge a la McGwire but still big. Virtually zero bodyfat. RYAN KLESKO 6-3 220 Atlanta Braves infielder Needs more cuts but still looks fine. JAVIER LOPEZ 6-3 200 Atlanta Braves catcher Javy is a great-looking guy from a sporting family. Not a huge guy but has a great pitcher's build. What a smile! JAY BUHNER 6-3, 210 Seattle Mariners oufielder. This big guy is pretty built. He's also totally bald (shaved?) with yet another goatee, but it looks cool. KEN CAMINITI 6-2, 200 Houston Astros infielder (3rd baseman). A man's man with that cool goatee. He really started the whole baseball facial grooming thing on the field as a San Diego Padre. He trains well and is fairly heavy through the shoulders. New on that team, but he was an Astro till 94. JOSE CANSECO 6-3, 240 Tampa Bay Devil Rays (I don't have his position). This guy trains very hard. He has a lot of mass. He has a workout facility in his home bigger than many gyms, big dumb lunk but VERY hot. New on that team. ROGER CLEMENS 6-4, 230 New York Yankees (starting pitcher). Big thick-chested guy who also trains a lot off-field and it shows! He looks fine! The finest on the mound. New in that team. EDGAR MARTINEZ 5-11, 190 Seattle Mariners, designated hitter (means he doesn't play a position, only bats--only allowed in the American League) Older, but really built Hispanic guy, very hot. I love to watch his at-bats. This guy has a fitness mag cover body. HAL MORRIS 6-4, 210 Cincinatti Reds infielder. Not a big guy or a big hitter, but big on looks. MIKE PIAZZA 6-3, 215 New York Mets catcher. He likes to weight-train but his trainers have hassled him about getting bigger so he's probably bigger than 215 now. Currently on the cover of Esquire magazine and looking fine in that suit! MATT STAIRS 5-9, 212 Oakland Athletics outfielder. Fair-haired guy, and yes, another goatee affectation. Lost a lot of weight bodyfat and is looking better- wants to go 20-20 this year. GREG VAUGHN 6-0, 202 Cincinatti Reds outfielder. 3rd guy in last year's National League homerun chase, & the hottest black guy in baseball. He held out for his goatee when traded to the Reds & Schott (how I hate her) gave him permission to keep it. My kind of guy! New on that team. JEFF BAGWELL 6-0, 195 Houston Astros infielder (1st baseman). Always been in great shape. Lotsa solid muscle. This hairy guy (who looks better without his goattee) is beefed up for 99 season. DARREN DAULTON 6-2, 207 Catcher (has no team yet, formerly with Phils). Plenty of knee problems have left this guy sidelined for a while. That face! That body! Whoa! There are a few others who have been traded & are not on the regular rosters of new teams yet (like Ron Gant (male Sports Illustrated model), Tom Lampkin, Pete Incaviglia, Pat Borders, Lenny Dykstra, who have great builds), so I'll list them if & when they settle on a new team & rotation (some may get stuck on minor league teams for the time being). Now where did I put my Creatine? THE MAURESMO ISSUE I love Martina Hingis. I have been following her career, and Anna Kournikova's (wow!), since the juniors. Being named after Martina Navratilova, one would think that the world #1 would be maybe a little open-minded about lesbianism. Her personal beliefs, however, surfaced at this year's Australian Open. French tennis star Amelie Mauresmo said recently that Hingis was "out of line" when she made remarks about her homosexuality during the Australian Open. Speaking publicly for the first time since the tournament, where Mauresmo lost to Hingis in the final, the 19-year-old vowed to ignore the focus on her sexuality and seek to win a Grand Slam event this year. "Hingis was stupid for what she said; she was out of line. But I respect her and I think she respects me," Mauresmo said. "I don't have a lot to say about it. It is her problem." Before the final of the showpiece event, the Swiss player was reported to have said "she's here with her girlfriend, she's half a man," when asked about her opponent. Hingis denied making the remark but her comments were widely televised, and sensationalized in some of the Australian press. Mauresmo, the first top player since Martina Navratilova to talk publicly about being gay, won the French Open and Wimbledon junior titles in 1996, and is shooting up the world rankings, climbing from No. 109 at the start of last year to her current position of No. 18. Now, her aim is to win a Grand Slam event. You can reach me, Rex, at vp_tips@hotmail.com __________________________________________________________ JUST BEING NOSEY (FreddieB) I am totally surprised from all the responses I received from last week's questions. You guy's really came through for me. I still have lots of questions so I think that I will ask a series of questions one week, and then print the answers the following week. Then another series of questions followed by the answers again and so on and so forth. I am hoping to get up close and more personal and if by any means you wish for your answers not to be published, please include that with your responses. This will give our readers and myself your opinions on many topics. I will try to ask many different types of questions, ranging from soup to nutz. Try to be as honest as you can and give me your true feelings. Never be afraid to express yourself!!! The following are the responses I received this week from our readers. If you are not familiar with the questions, please refer to last week's paper. If you have any questions that you think I should ask, please mail them in to me so I can include them with my article. Again, Thanks for the responses. They were really interesting. I feel I know you better already. ______________ a. The first time I stumbled into the room, I just clicked right in, and have been coming back ever since. b. The people in the room draw me in everyday (well...not everyday anymore...*sigh*). c. No way could I NEVER come back.... d. I consider a fair amount of people in the room my friends...the people I chat to regularly...the people I see every now and then. I guess I have different levels of friendships in the room...it's hard to explain. It depends how we get on, as to how close we are. e. Not that I know of. Maybe I have subconsiously...but not on purpose....do bashers count? I say it in front of them anyway...LOL. f. I think PT news is fab. I find myself clenching my teeth while deciphering American phrases and spellings sometimes, but I guess not everyone is lucky enough to be born British...lol...kidding. I love it. g. PTN is sooo not boring...except the disclaimer...couldn't you spice that up a bit? LOL h. I like it the way it is. i. Hmmmm...such a metaphorical question....floating. j. I don't know what monopolize means...monopoly is a board game...I'm totally confused. k. I used to have my "own" spot...but now I just sit wherever. l. It depends...what happens if two people decided the same spot is their spot? I guess you don't. m. Drama Queens?? LOLOLOLOL... not brimming full...but sometimes there are some. Life's a drama though, although not everyone has blue blood.... n. Because it just wasn't their thing. o. It depends what mood I'm in. p. Yeah...sometimes. It depends what they're talking about...I'm blond when it comes to politics, so I get bored, and go to make coffee. q. Nope. r. Yup. s. Anything from nothing to almost their entire life story...LOL... whether it's true or not is another matter... t. I'd offer advice...a shoulder to cry on...I'd try to cheer people up. Be non-judgemental...umm...are we talking would I send them money, or ask them to stay if they were kicked out of home? That depends who it is, and how close we are. u. I don't mind the odd gesture session when you swap gestures, sing with them, etc every now and then, when other people are up for it...people who just come into a room and play gestures are weird...they don't talk do they? strange...if I wanted to come online to play gestures for a few hours, I'd go to a private room, because it disrupts conversation. v. It depends how friendly we were...not anyone...if I trusted them, and knew them pretty well. w. The amusing conversations. x. Being stuck in obby when it's full up. y. I have no money, no passport, no time off work, it's bloody far away and I haven't got a suitcase. z. All the time. aa. They think it's weird, strange and expensive. ab. It depends how I was gonna be killed. ac.. I bloody DO! Occasionally...I don't get a lot of time. ad. Yes. In a member type of way...not in a dog/microwave/car way...not an object way...in a personal/relationship kind of way...how weird does that sound? LOL ae. Help them to do what? I'll talk to them...tell them how to download if they're mugs...explain what the room is, etc. af. Yes...they would be being petty, or looking for a fight or something...it's not worth wasting conversation on repeatedly asking them to shift their big hairy butt. ag. hell yes...!! LOL...I don't cyber though...really...lol ah. Is that an online partner or a "real life" one? No. (in both cases) ai.. Offer time and support...I know what it's like...cheer them up...listen to them chat about the person...anything to help them through it. (except cyber...lol) aj. I'd probably make them even more depressed...LOL. Sure I'd try to help...but I have no clue how. ak. The chatroom is part of my life, a very special part...how can you get a life when it's part of what you've already got? al. I haven't met anyone in person...but I wanna meet up with bobu, so I can borrow his Mom's swimming pool! hehe. Ok...that's it. All I have left to say is that I love the paper, you guys are exceptional in doing all this for us...I'm sorry for not contributing all the time...and according to screwme's quiz thing, I'm a family loving, career hating, panting dog with smelly enemies and an aromatic sex life. LOL... (Always and forever Freddie babe...friends are the family we choose.) Lots of Love...look after yourselves. Bethrrrrs. XXXXX _____________ Dear Freddie and Ali: I was just reading the news and saw the questions and you asked for a response, so I have just got the first few questions but will answer the rest at a later date. 1. Why do you come into the chatroom? The reason I come into the chatroom is to chat with online friends and the ones that I have met in person. It is the only chatroom that makes me feel comfortable. I realize that I am straight and do not have the stereotype BS that the gay community has to deal with everyday in society. I try to understand and help change how society views the gay community. That is another reason why I chat in the Pink Triangle and I feel honored that the people in the room accept me for me, as I try to do the same. There may be times when I mess up but I try to apologize if I have said something that was incorrect. 2.How many in chat can you really call your friends? To be honest and that is what you are asking us to be there are only a few that I could actually call my friends. The people know who they are as I am a very shy person and do not like talking about myself for fear that they will not like me. But when asked what I look like I tell them the truth that I am 5' 8" tall with short brown hair with blonde streaks, and brown eyes, and that I am married and have 4 kids, and that my weight is my biggest problem. Then I tell them here goes nothing I weigh 230lbs.Give or take a few pounds. But I always give them the right description of me because you never know when you may meet that person and why not start the meeting off on an honest note. Sure there are times that I wish that I looked like those av's and I have stated that to the people that have asked if that was me in the av. I always say I wish it was. 3.Have you ever talked about other people behind their backs in a hurtful way? NO! If I have something to say to you I will say it to your face not to someone else. I will fight my own battles and if I need help either with a basher or someone bothering me in IM's them I come to the open chat room and type in room please help. That is how I found out how to ignore a person, through the identity there is an ignore button that all I have to do is put the check mark in it and then that person can no longer bother me. I try to get along with everyone and try to see the good in all. Yes sometimes it is hard and I just sit there and just read the screen. At times I am afraid to say something to the basher as I do not want the people in room to think that I am stupid. 4.Could you turn your computer off and walk away and never come back? To be truthful yes I could. Yes I enjoy the chat and the people in the room but then again I am like an outsider looking in. I am trying to think of the right way to word this without hurting anyone and I do not mean to hurt anyone's feelings. It is like you are all in a great big group and I am the one standing there with nothing or no one to talk to. It is something like the way society perceives the gay community, except for this community accepts me at least the ones that I know. I try to say hello to everyone and try to make them feel welcome but sometimes when they do not respond back it is kinda of difficult. I hope that I have explained that better if not if you see me in room please do not hesitate to ask me to explain I would be more than willing. If I really had to I would walk away and never come back but there would have to be something really terrible in my personal life that I could not come back in time. 5.Could you help someone with personal problems i.e. committing suicide etc.? I am a great listener and when I see or read something that I may be able to help with I try. I tried one day, but the person put me on ignore but that is to be expected as the person did not know me. But I kept telling them that I was there if they wanted to talk and that I am a good listener, and that anything that is said to me is private. All I can say is that I would be there and if they lived close enough and I knew where they lived I would not hesitate to drive to them and take them for coffee or just to listen. Letting them know that they have a friend with good ears. 6. What do you think of the PT News? I enjoy the news but there are articles that I do skip that do not interest me but that is just me. I am not into poetry but I am only one of 250 readers so why should that be taken out right. I like the bios, or when the people tell about themselves or things that have happened to them in life. I feel more in touch with that person, even though I may not recognize the name. When I read bios and that I feel more in touch with the room and the people that chat there. 7. Are you really my friend (FreddieB and Ali)? Yes, to me and my family you are. Actually you are more than friends you are my family. You are my adopted sons and I know that we are almost the same age but you are still considered my boys the same as (Goose and Gander) are my family. The other people that I have met from the net are also considered my family as they have accepted me and my kids for who we are. I am trying to teach my kids that there is an alternative lifestyle. Sometimes I type things before I think and maybe there has been a few times when I was talking with either Freddie or Ali and I have come across abrupt or demanding or just plan selfish, I apologize for that, and is nothing that either of you have done, it is just me. Sometimes I read things in the messages that are not there and I should take a few extra seconds to read the message again before I respond, as I do not mean to hurt or upset either of you as I treasure your friendship more than words can say. So I will say that I am sorry for the way I sometimes come across in IM's or ICQ. So yes you are our friends and we all LOVE YOU VERY VERY MUCH AND WISH THAT YOU WHERE HERE!!!!!!!!! So that I could give you both a great big hug and say thanks for everything that you both do to get this paper out each and every week. Well that's all for now and I have probably answered more questions and just put them in with the other questions. I hope this is what you were wanting. Love always PT-mom _____________ In response to your questions, I'm going to give you my truthful answers, 1) Why do I come in the chat room? I come in because, I have met a lot of interesting people in there and, I could use all the friends I could find, and it makes the day go by quick. 2) What draws me to the chat room each day? Lots of things, 1) Knowing all the regulars are there to great me, and wearing those sexy av's are lots of fun too. 3) Could I turn of the puter one day and not come back? If I had to yeah I could, but not a day would go by that I would not think of all the Kewl People I know and I met in the room. 4) How many people in chat can I really call my friends? Well I would like to think all of them, but when it comes down to it, I would have to say only 4 or 5 & they know who they are ;-). 5) Have I ever talked behind anyone's back from chat? Hummm that's a good one, I have to say yes, cause one time I did, but it was not bad, I just had a argument with someone, and was confiding in someone else about it. 6) What do I really think about PT News ? I think its Grreeaaatttt, as Tony the Tiger would say ... ;-) 7) Is Pt Boring to me? No, I come to work on Monday Morning, Waiting to read it with great pleasure. 8) Is Pt News sinking? Swimming? or Floating? Humm, I would like to think of it as Swimming, I hope it is swimming, cause if not, I'm not that good of a swimmer to help it out. 9) Do I get mad at some for monopolizing the chat? No everyone has there own views! 10) What do I do when it happens? Usually, act like a fool and curse them out, One thing that I am known to do! 11) Do I feel that I have my own spot in the room? Yes, I do. (Lets All Give A Loud Bronx Cheer) 12) Am I entitled to sit in that spot each time? No IM not, I do though usually connect to most friends, I hate sitting alone. 13) No the room is not full of drama queens. 14) Why haven't some regulars come back to Pt chat ? Some have not come back due to new comers in the room 15) Do I like controversy in the room? Yes 16) Am I embarrassed to meet someone from the room? No I'm not embarrassed to meet anyone from the room, I met my Girl Morgan, the only one I care for (meaning the way I look). 17) Am I honest in describing myself? Yes 18) I don't know much really on the people in chat, just what they tell me. 19) I would not go that far to help anyone in the room, unless they really needed it, and I trusted them. 20) Playing gestures are kewl , but chatting is better , 21) Do I feel safe on giving names and addys to chatters, Only the ones I trust, yes I feel safe. 22) What do I like most about the chatroom? The Gang. 23) What I like least about the chatroom? CHUCKIE 24) Why can't I attend the reunion? Cause the Boyfriend wont let me ;-( 25) Do I take advice from a chat friend? Sure, if I think its good~ 26) What do my friends think about my involvement in chat? They don't really know ;-( 27) If involved in a loving relationship, would I die for that person? Sure, if I felt that they would die for me too! 28) Why don't I give PT News any feedback? I DO I DO ;-) 29) Do I feel some own the room? NO, ITS the Internets !!!!! 30) Do I help newbies...Hummm Sure DO! Everyone needs help every now and again 31) If someone landed on me would I move if they wont, Sure, as long as roon or drade is coming with me! 32) Do I think its ok to cyber even if in a relationship? Sure DOoooo 33) Have I ever cybered behind partners back? Sure Have 34) If someone from the room passed away, what would I do,,,, Cry,, and say a prayer and go to the wake if not to far. 35) Would I help if someone came in the room speaking of suicide? The best that I could. 36) Do I think some should get a life, and instead of being in chatroom? Nah, IM a chatter too, if so, I need a life as well. 37) Have I ever met anyone from chat and regretted it? NOPE...once again I met Morgan and, she is Grrreeaattt!!!!!!!!! Freddie am I really your friend??? I ANSWERED 37 Questions...What do you think ??????????? SURE AM!!!!!!!!! ;-) Love Goldie _____________ LETS SEE HOW I DO: 1. Why do I come in the chatroom. The real reason I come in the room is to see and talk to the guys that I meet online and see how they are doing. 2. Turn off and never come back: Yes I could do that if some one really pissed me off or really hurt me: 3. Freinds: I am very careful with whom I call a friend in the rooms now, because I got burnt once very bad, and the ones that I call friend know who they are. 4. Talk about people: Yes I have talk about some members in the room when I watch them take over the room when some one is really having a bad time with life and think that their problems are bigger than some one else. Because no matter how big someone's problems are their is going to be someone that has a bigger prob and we all should let that person have his chance to air it out, and not to laugh at it later on and say OH THATS ALL IT WAS. Because that just might be the one thing that could throw them on a spin down ward and might not be able to get back up for a long time. 5. PT NEWS: There are times I find the PT NEWS BORING and TIMES I can't stop reading it, I treat it like a newspaper I get at home. 6. MONOPOLIZE: There has been some people that take over the room and think it their room alone. So I let them have it and go in to the IM world, or just say the hell with it and log off. 7. I don't believe that any body has just one spot in the room, but if I know if a member been sitting in a spot for a while I will move for him or her. 8. Drama Queens: I feel the room has many personality that help make the room more interesting to come back and see if they are still acting like little babies or they have come full swing around and join the rest of us and try to have a good time. But I am very sick of seeing the ROOM FIGHT WITH THE BASHERS ALL THE TIME, INSTEAD OF PUTTING THEM ON IGNORE. 9. The way I look: I am very honest about telling someone about the way I look, because He could be the one guy you may fall for, and as of the rest of the other guys it is there lost not mine. 10. Reunion: The real reason I can not come to the reunion is very simple, AS most of you know I just left my vocation and went back to school full time, and right now flying would cost to much for me to do. And I am not allow to drive because of the seizures I had in the past. 11. CYBER SEX: Well this is a good one, and to tell you yes I have cybered some men that are in a relationship and I don't feel bad about it, because they have come to me and wanted to cyber with me. And if I were in a relationship I would have to let my lover know because I feel I owe him that much. And if I feel that some one is falling to fast for me I would break of the cyber with him very quick, because I would not what to be the one to break up any thing they have going for them. 12. As some of the old members know, I have helped some men that were in a lot of trouble with them self and I would all ways be their to try to help them if they ask me to help them in any way, but I don't expect any thing back from them except that they tell me they followed thru with every thing I gave them. 13. Meeting some one from a chat room. Along time ago when I first came on line I was involved with some one from guy talk, I used to come home and could not wait to get on line and talk to him and cyber with him. We really got to know each other real well and he was coming to boston one weekend and we were going to meet for the first time, until I ask the big ? Was he invovled with some one in real life, and he came back and told me he was Married, well I ended the relationship with him right then and there, for I would not get that close to a married guy with a wife at home waiting for him. 2. Then when I was on AOL,I did meet this one guy and we talk a lot for many month and he soon came on to VP and found me there and we real got very close then and we did meet at my home and that was not a good idea for me, because after a while every thing turn sour and he came back to my home after I told him to stay away from me. I have learned to not get invovled with men that they are bi-married, or what they call it today. And today I am still willing to meet some one in person, because not every one are like the 2 I just mention: CEMENT (THOM). ______________ Upon receipt of the last issue of the PT News, I was scanning through the articles and happened upon an article by our very own FreddieB. At first sight, I simply thought it an article speaking of the relationship he has with Gany. However, as I read further, I became intrigued by the questions he was asking of me. The MANY questions he was asking of me. You see, all of these were questions I have rolled over in my own mind from time to time. I immediately began pondering how it was I was going to answer all or some of the questions in a clear and concise manner. The task seemed daunting at best. But then, like some chariot flying up and over the sun, it hit me. High school grammar class. I needed to make an outline from which to work. It made perfect sense. So, an outline is exactly what I sat down and made. A very LONG outline, so please bear with me as I fill in the blanks between that first Roman Numeral I, to each and every upper case and lower case A, b, C. Why do you come into the room everyday? Seems a simple enough question. Off the top of my head, I would say it is mainly for the sense of sameness. As most of you know I reside in that little, three stoplight city in the North. The land of one gay person. There is absolutely no one like me, no one that shares my mentality about what it's like growing up gay. In the room, there are bushels of you. I also find myself coming in for certain individuals. There are many of you with whom I have intriguing conversation. I like coming in and talking to you. There are a couple of you I have secret crushes on, so I come in to chat with you with a little schoolboy grin on my face. Don't worry, you'll never find out who you are, nor will anyone else. These are simply crushes, and I enjoy them for what they are. I may also come in sometimes looking for love. Now, don't misunderstand me. I am not talking about the cyber sex type of love. I mean that I pop into the room to see if my soul mate just happens to be there as well. So far, I don't think he has been there. A relationship is the one thing in my life that I don't have. I am pretty content, but that one thing is missing. So, I figure since I am stuck in this town for the time being, why not look for him in the one place I have to look. I might find him...stranger things have been known to happen. Now, as can be expected, I do have my problems with the room. These are not life or death issues here, just observations. Such as, how can anyone of us think that we "own" the room. Personally, I don't think that anyone does "own" the room, but I have noticed that some people act as if they do. I do understand that many of you see "your" spot as a part of your routine or identity. Hey, no big deal, right. It's comfortable to be in familiar territory; it helps others to locate you more quickly. BUT!!! If someone lands on you, don't assume it's intentional. I am sure that some people chat with the AV's off or on small. I am sure that some are new to the game and don't realize what's going on. If you don't get a response from asking them to move or can't stand them covering you up...MOVE. I ask you...is you're life going to fall to pieces if you have to drag yourself a few inches to the right or left. Moving on. Freddie brings up the "controversy" of the fighting and the bashing in the room. Well, I don't exactly consider it controversial. I consider it pointless. If a basher comes in. IGNORE it. It's what the button is there for...to rid the room of just such an entity. As for the fighting, keep it out of open chat. We have the perfect chance here for a utopian society. Don't We? We have been given the power to eliminate the hate mongers that unfortunately exist, and we SHOULD have the self-control to keep fighting out as well. No one in the room should be entitled to anything except the utmost in respect and love from the other chatters in the room. Which leads me to... The amount of judgment in the room astonishes me. Judgment is simply a form of hatred used to make the person casting judgment, feel better about themselves. Hitler judged the Jews...Whites judge Blacks...Straights judge Gays. Is judgment what we want? I can vividly recall a day in open chat when many of you found it necessary to ridicule some poor woman's large pants size. I don't even know whose it was. Some woman that somebody worked with or something like that. I immediately spoke on the woman's behalf since she was not here to defend herself. (And I imagine that if she had been the conversation would never have taken place anyway.) Some thought I was offended because my sister is extremely overweight, but it wasn't that at all. It was because it was pointless and cruel. Judge NOT!!!!!!! I also find the treatment of the "newbies" offensive. Tex, I think I can say that you are one of the only people to which this doesn't apply. I can use the defense that has become so overused. "We were all newbies once." But I don't have to. Instead let's play What If. What if...that newbie searched out our room while holding a razor blade to his wrist or a gun to his head. Maybe all he wanted was recognition that there are others out there like him. What if...that newbie WAS the soul mate so many of us are looking for. To bad you'll have to live out life all by your lonesome. What if...that newbie had the ability to put your life into perspective, have some insight into life that you've been missing. Instead he gets a kick in the head from almost everyone that sits in their "own" little corner of "our" room. I have to tell you, I have seen so many newbies get ignored. And I am not even talking mugs here. They will come in and say hello...no response. They will say hello again...no response. They usually end up so frustrated that they lash out with some attack on the room...now that always gets a response. The people in the room will then start attacking back. Why? Not two seconds ago you were ignoring them as if they didn't even exist on the same continuum as you. I have IM'ed many of these poor souls who feel totally defeated. I speak to them kindly, because that's how I want to be spoken to. I tell them what a great place Pink Triangle #1 is. I tell them about the newsletter. I tend to their bruised egos and feelings. I invite them back. I give them the address for the newsletter. I find out about their life. I usually lose track of them, but I wonder if maybe they don't come back because of their initial initiation into the room. When you sit in judgment, you cannot have a meaningful conversation like the ones I've had with so many newbies. You can't discuss politics, the gay community, each other. It appears you get nothing but people who continually ignore those who are not a part of the "click". Why do we, as humans, want to have endless meaningless conversation. That Brings me to a quote I wanted to share with you from Anne Rice...yes the Vampire wanna be. "There is but one purpose in life and one only: to bear witness to and understand as much as possible of the complexity of the world--its beauty, its mysteries, its riddles. The more you understand, the more you look, the greater is your enjoyment of life and your sense of peace...If and activity is not grounded in "to love" or "to learn" it does not have value...it's that way: the purpose of life is to love and to learn." I personally hold this as a way of life. It's from her novel, The Servant of the Bones, and it has truly made me SO much happier and peaceful and content. It has rid my life of so much that was unpleasant to where all that's left is a frustration that others haven't discovered it's existence. Maybe that's the reason I don't come into the room as much anymore. There is too much hatred and judgment. I feel like I could continually play the bang my gong for inner peace gesture. We constantly talk of the judgment we receive from bashers and the straight community alike. Turn the mirror on yourself. How much do you judge? Even unintentionally. None of us can say that anyone in the room is a Drama Queen, that's judgment. What I can do is listen and try "to learn" from their experiences. See how it is that they walk down their own path so that it may help me walk down mine. I can also try "to love" them unconditionally....love them for who they are, not who I want them to be. Now I fear some of you may be thinking this is all very harsh. You may be reacting negatively to what it is I have been saying. You may feel as if I am calling you a bad person. You may feel as if I am judging you. Maybe what you are feeling is guilt because you know that you have sat in judgment and ridiculed. Maybe not, maybe I am being too harsh, but I promise you that it is SO VERY EASY to break the habit. Go to Anne Rice, "The only thing is "to love" and "to learn." When I am in the room, I usually don't say much in open chat; so as for people monopolizing it, I can't really say that it bothers me. (We should all take our turn in listening though.) The reason I don't say much is because I like to discuss and analyze life and find the pace too frantic to try this in open chat. So....I usually just sit and wait for some IM to pop up or seek out someone to IM. I wait to have a meaningful conversation about my life and yours. I have had many conversations with Rex (although, most of you just thought we were cybering). I have also had these conversations with Jans and Gander and Dharma Dave and Gany and Tex. Through simple conversation I have gotten to know a little bit about their soul, even though it's a lot less than I would like to. In these talks, as well as in anything I say in open chat, I have always been honest. 100% Honest. I am even more honest with you folk than in my everyday life. Whether it be about how I view my appearance or how I feel about certain people in the room. Honesty is important to me because we only communicate through words. We have no way of communicating though body language or the senses. Thus, I feel obliged to make every word I type the truth. I want to expect the same from you. Frankly, it's what I like MOST about the room. I feel no need to hide anything. I don't know why for sure, but I like the feeling of freedom it gives me. Maybe it's because in my honesty and frankness, I will find more people who are like me or find that someone special. I like to challenge people and expand their minds. Ask those whom I've mentioned earlier. I challenge and invite each of you to IM me. You'll see that I am really talkative and quite long-winded. Even if you just need some words of kindness or some advice...IM me. I am SO willing to help you. I DO NOT judge, but I will challenge you by not giving you answers. I prefer helping you search for and find the answers within yourself. That's where they are, you know. I sure don't have them. In closing, I hope that I answered the questions so eloquently and bravely posed by Freddie. I know I didn't answer them all, but if any of you want to know my response to one of the unanswered...IM me. I am an open book. In truth, however, none of these words written here are answers, they are simply what I have come "to learn" from my time in the room. I want to take the time to thank Freddie and Ali for giving this forum. I wouldn't worry about the state of it's being...about whether is floating or soaring. It will evolve by its own nature and by the diversity of those who contribute to and read it. So for now...Pleasant Dreams. In loving kindness... Your friend, Plato ______________ Why do you come into the chatroom? To see people that I have talking to and some that I've become attached too. (and of course to flirt) *smile* What draws you into the chatroom each and everyday? The wonderful people plus it's a nice stress reliever to go in when there is no fighting going on in the room. Could you turn off your computer one day and never come back to it? No way... I've tried... but didn't last long enough for it to be noticed, lol How many people in chat can you really call your friends? A small handful, but I would say the same if you asked me about people I have actually met/know in person. Have you ever talked about other people in chat behind their backs in a hurtful manner? (No one's gonna answer this one honestly…LOL...but try to.) Yes, I have... anyone would be lying if they said otherwise...lol, but whose perfect? *smile* What do you REALLY think about the PT News? Very informative and entertaining Is it boring to you? Could it be more exciting? Not boring at all, it could be more exciting, but not likely... it is pretty packed with excitement as it is. Pick one of the following: Is the PT News sinking, swimming or just floating there? Swimming at full speed Do you get mad when some people in the room monopolize the chat? What do you do when that happens? No, try to contribute to conversation or just watch and be entertained Do you feel that you have your "OWN" spot in the room? Heehee...of course I do, it's attached to some really cute gay boy...lol Are you entitled to sit in that spot each time you enter? haha...I'd like to think so, but no, not really. Is the room full of nothing but "DRAMA QUEENS"? No, I don't think so...some, yes, but I wouldn't say nothing but. Why do you think some of the first chatters of the Pink Triangle haven't come back? Most likely they have been hurt by another or they are weary of all the fighting and bashing. Do you like controversy in the room? (for example, fighting, bashing, etc.) No, an intelligent conversation is one thing, but there is no reason to fight or bash in open chat... Do you like when people talk politics or real life situations that affect the gay community or you as a whole? It's a nice change of pace sometimes : ) Are you embarrassed to meet people in the room because of the way you look? A little, but I wouldn't miss out on meeting someone because of it. When people ask you to describe yourself, are you honest? Completely How much do you REALLY know about the people you chat with? A lot about some, little about others What or how far would you go to help someone in the room? Depends on who it is, there are some people I'd go way out of my way and do anything in my power to help them... others, that I may not know as well... well, I'm just not that trusting... sorry. What do you think about people who do nothing but play gestures? It's kind of annoying unless the room is completely quiet. Do you feel safe in giving friends your address or phone number? Friends, yes... but picky about who I'd call my friend. What do you like most about the chatroom? Closeness I've come to know with some people... brightens my day *smile* and I love spending time with them : ) What do you like least about the chatroom? Fighting and bashing in open chat What is the reason that you cannot attend the reunion? Going to try to go Do you take the advice of the people in the chatroom to help solve your daily problems? Sometimes *smile* What do your friends think about you belonging to a chatroom? They think I'm overly involved with strangers, but I beg to differ... I don't see how I can talk with one for hours at a time, on a daily basis, and call them a stranger. If involved in a loving relationship, would you die for that person? Without question Why do you not give the PT News any feedback? Asking me to open up to approximately 250 people is like asking me to strip naked while someone guts my heart out and puts in on display for anyone to see. lol, kind of dramatic, huh? but, it makes me feel too vulnerable to others. Do you feel some people "OWN" the room? No Do you help the newbies that come into the room or do you think they should learn by themselves? Sometimes I take the time, but usually not sure when my boss will come in being that I have more than just me in the office now... or I'd help more often. If someone landed on you and wouldn't move, would YOU move? Yup, I would... I don't think it's that big of a deal... usually people aren't paying attention to VP when they don't respond. I don't think it's an intentional thing people do just to piss other people off. Do you feel it is okay to cyber with someone that is already involved in a real-life relationship? Depends on how the significant other would feel about it... too often that emotions get involved when you start getting intimate with people online. Have you ever cybered behind your partner's back? Yeah, I have probably two or three times... again... who's perfect? lol What would you do if someone you were close friends with in the room Passed away? I'd be crushed... I don't know what I'd do. Would you try to help someone who came into the room threatening to commit suicide? Probably so... if it were someone I knew, definitely... but I'd probably still talk to them if I didn't... but I've been burned on a lie with that one once already online... Do you think some people should get a life instead of always being in the chatroom? No...I like talking to people when I can...if they get lives, I'd miss them...lol Have you ever met a person from the chatroom in person and regretted meeting them? Haven't met anyone yet... Am I your friend? Freddie, you and laddy are some of the few that I consider real friends, I think that if I ever really needed you, that you'd do what you could to help me out... as I would for you. I love you boys very much. JennaJenna _____________ FROM VIKING (XV666boyiking): Since there were 32 questions you'll have to refer to PT NEWS as my answers are in short form: 1) I am in the room for friendship 2) I can be off 4 awhile but NOT forever 3) I get angry only sometimes like when someone bullshits me re pretending to be stupid and helpless 4) PT NEWS, as I've send b4, is a bonding medium 5) I read ALL of the News except 4 the odd article and I look forward to it every week 6) SWIMMING as I can see the progress over a year 7) I IM whoever if someone is dominating the conversation 8) Yes, I like to be TOP CENTRE 9) I ask nicely for the "squatter" to move and if not then I wait for my chance 10) Original etc people may have moved or their life situation has changed or.... 11) A little controversy is kewl 12) NP with politics etc as long as it isn't the theme of the night 13) I am not embarrassed by myself 14) True description? Yes 15) By phone conversations only 16) I would help as much as I could 17) To friends ONLY - the ones I feel comfortable with 18) Bonding and a sense of belonging 19) I have no LEAST 20) Distance and $$$ and time re not going to reunion 21) I consider the advice given 22) NP re my friends knowing I belong 23) I do give feedback and submissions 24) NO-ONE owns the room 25) I always help newbies if they are receptive 26) I move back on top or elsewhere if need be and wait 4 another chance 27) No cyber unless it's mutual 28) No partner at this time 29) I would be hurt deeply - we are family 30) Suicide-yes I would do all I could and this has happened in the past year; this situation needs the whole room and better not be bullshit 31) No, cause I have done marathon sessions myself and needed the room/family at that time 32) No, never met anyone There, look up the questions and above are my answers. Love, VIKING (XV666boyiking) __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ EMAIL LINKS AND INFORMATIONAL MATERIAL: pinktrinews@mailexcite.com (Letters to the Editors, Opinions, Comments, Complaints, Submit an Article, Classified Ads, Birthdays) gayvoice@hotmail.com Political (Primebear) vp_tips@hotmail.com Tech Tips (Tech Master) pink_trivia@hotmail.com x_mikey_x & sweet_bri fairmerly@hotmail.com Fairmerly (The Wormhole) ptquestoftheweek@hotmail.com PT Question Of The Week (Jasen) fredericb@mailexcite.com FreddieB Alladdinn@mailexcite.com Alladdinn _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS ____________________ Now that you have finished reading the PT News…NOW is the time to respond! Please be sure to RSVP if you ARE planning to attend the PT Reunion May 28, 29, 30, 31 1999. To: pinkconnections@mailexcite.com _______________ Well folks...that's the news for this week! Until next we meet, whether it be in the PT, or coming to you through your mail boxes…Stay warm, be safe, and keep chatting! Have a GREAT weekend! FreddieB & Alladdinn Editors PT News