I was appalled to hear this story. No one deserves to be treated like that, even if there's no chemistry between you at all, and in this case there was clearly enough to be acting on...

I find her behaviour reprehensible. Just goes to show, straight women think it's men who behave that way, and straight men think it's women who behave that way, simply because that's who does it to us. But it's prevalent on both sides, sadly.

OK, these are both ethnic American:

1. I've been told this is Amish, but not sure. Sounds awful but it's FAB--do try it: peanut butter, horseradish, and thinly sliced cucumber. YUMMMMM.

2. What I grew up calling an Italian hero: Salami (I prefer dry), proscuittini/peppered ham, bologna or mortadella, (some people add other meats, like prosciutto or cappicola), provolone, pepperoncini, roasted red peppers, shredded iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, olive oil and vinegar. Absolute heaven. I don't normally eat preserved meats, or even that much meat, but this sandwich is my idea of joy in physical form.

I love Botero. I used to work around the corner from these:

www.nycarthur.com/Botero%20Sculpture/index.htm

The basic rule of thumb, which has been well known since very early internet days, is:

Don't send or post anything that you wouldn't be happy seeing on a billboard on a major highway

I keep my screen name here and my real name quite separate. There are some people who can put them together, but very few. And no email or post or anything makes that possible.

Who knew that no one is interested in fat men?

OK, here's another one from a great set of images. You can see the rest at: www.substantialbeauty.com/port/gallery.htm

I know what you mean, Brick. Given the financial struggles of most print publications, it's quite shocking!

Alternatively, we could declare some already fattening globally large scale holiday--I thought of Xmas and Easter but they're too religious--as World Fattening Day. What I'm thinking of is the global equivalent of T'giving in the US--a relatively secular holiday that is widely associated with overeating?

I think there isn't one, because I think holidays are either religious or national. But maybe winter solstice? I have a real attachment to the solstices, for unclear reasons (except perhaps my devotion to and deep need for sunlight.)

As someone who has had this experience a few too many times--and exactly when am I supposed to stop giving new guys the benefit of the doubt that they're different from the past Cecil-B-DeMille-cast-of-thousands that precede them?--I've actually given up.

I know it's possible to meet someone here, because I know people who have. But if you are older or don't fit the perfect image in some way (too fat/thin/tall/short/smart/mouthy etc etc), your chances are significantly lessened. There's no point in being hopeLESS, but I'm not sure there's a point in being hopeFUL, either.

Ah, well. It still only takes one, as someone (Computersaysno?) said above.

I quite like that sculpture, actually. And it's tactile, too--soft and squeezable.

OK, fat men, here we come--none other than Rubens' Bacchus:

and this: