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<channel>
	<title>The Flip Medley &#187; Advice</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.neobeans.com/blog/category/advice/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.neobeans.com/blog</link>
	<description>Inane rambling, periodic rants, and a whole lot of laughs...</description>
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		<title>Finishstrong</title>
		<link>http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2009/06/16/finishstrong/</link>
		<comments>http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2009/06/16/finishstrong/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:31:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>flip</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philosophical]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.neobeans.com/blog/?p=2613</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
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		<title>It&#8217;s not paranoia if they are really out to get you!</title>
		<link>http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2008/08/07/its-not-paranoia-if-they-are-really-out-to-get-you/</link>
		<comments>http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2008/08/07/its-not-paranoia-if-they-are-really-out-to-get-you/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:11:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>flip</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Web]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.neobeans.com/blog/?p=2395</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A lot of my friends are not computer-savvy. A lot of my friends also run Windows in one of its many incarnations, and when they have bizarre problems with their computers, I hear about them. One friend (who shall remain nameless) had a weird issue where her keyboard would spew random characters every so often. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A lot of my friends are not computer-savvy.  A lot of my friends also run Windows in one of its many incarnations, and when they have bizarre problems with their computers, I hear about them.</p>
<p>One friend (who shall remain nameless) had a weird issue where her keyboard would spew random characters every so often.  As she was describing the problem, I checked a few websites and found that there actually was a virus circulating that matched her symptoms to a tee.</p>
<p>Her response?</p>
<p>&#8220;Oh well, it&#8217;s no big deal.  It&#8217;s kind of cute!&#8221;</p>
<p>Then I launched in to a whole explanation about how having a lackadaisical approach to securing her computer could leave her compromised &#8212; and she could become a pawn of nebulous Eastern European hacker groups who get paid to turn your computer in to part of a botnet and use it for purposes such as spamming everyone with Viagra ads.</p>
<p>My friend politely listened as if I&#8217;d just said, &#8220;We have to wear the tin foil hats to keep the aliens from controlling our minds!&#8221;, but finally&#8230; FINALLY&#8230; a &#8220;mainstream&#8221; source of news has covered this topic.</p>
<p>From <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/06/technology/06hack.html?ref=technology">The New York Times</a>.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Bad Idea</title>
		<link>http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2008/06/07/bad-idea/</link>
		<comments>http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2008/06/07/bad-idea/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:17:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>flip</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advice]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.neobeans.com/blog/?p=2156</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Reminder: it is a fundamentally bad idea to mow the lawn and attempt to do yard work when it is almost 100 degrees out. Duh!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Reminder:  it is a fundamentally bad idea to mow the lawn and attempt to do yard work when it is almost 100 degrees out.</p>
<p>Duh!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>They probably think they are nice guys&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2008/01/29/they-probably-think-they-are-nice-guys/</link>
		<comments>http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2008/01/29/they-probably-think-they-are-nice-guys/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:52:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>flip</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Web Comics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2008/01/29/they-probably-think-they-are-nice-guys/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8230;who just can&#8217;t get a date.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><center><br />
<a href="http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&#038;id=1067#comic"><img src='http://www.neobeans.com/blog/wp-content/uploads//2008/01/20080125.gif' alt='SMBC #1067' /><br />
</a><br />
<br /><small>&#8230;who just can&#8217;t get a date.  <img src='http://www.neobeans.com/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':-)' class='wp-smiley' /> </small><br />
</center></p>
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		<title>F.U.T.D.</title>
		<link>http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2007/10/16/futd/</link>
		<comments>http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2007/10/16/futd/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:23:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>flip</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NFL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philosophical]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2007/10/16/futd/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This story reminded me of my childhood, because, at an early age, my Dad taught me one (not-very-golden) rule. He told me, &#8220;If you can beat someone at something, then make sure you beat them as badly as you can so that they don&#8217;t go around thinking that they had a chance and keep challenging [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This story reminded me of my childhood, because, at an early age, my Dad taught me one (not-very-golden) rule.</p>
<p>He told me, &#8220;If you can beat someone at something, then make sure you beat them as badly as you can so that they don&#8217;t go around <i>thinking</i> that they had a chance and keep challenging you&#8230;&#8221;</p>
<p>His logic was that it was more trouble than it was worth to be gracious in victory if it meant constantly having to deal with wannabe&#8217;s talking smack and challenging you.  So the goal was to win big and leave no doubt as to your dominance.</p>
<p>And keep in mind, <a href="http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2007/07/24/let-it-slide/">he was a very nice guy</a>&#8230;</p>
<p>Of course, since my Dad was my role model, I carried this logic over in to <b>everything</b>.</p>
<p>It definitely applied to videogames I played with my Dad.  I found out that it was possible to score 255 points in Atari 2600 football when I beat him 255-7.</p>
<p>It also applied to any fights I got in to at school.  In fact, the funny thing is I never got in to fights after about 2nd or 3rd grade.  Probably because I fought like a little psychopath.</p>
<p>(Well, I nearly got in to a mega-brawl while in the 8th grade with some guy who was a 17 year old in Jr. High school who was a Golden Gloves aspirant&#8230; but that&#8217;s a story for another day&#8230;  <img src='http://www.neobeans.com/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif' alt=';-)' class='wp-smiley' />   Suffice it to say, I had zero discretion when it came to knowing when to back down.  I am much less courageous today!)</p>
<p>So, to make a long story short, I usually try to keep my competitive side on the down-low because, quite frankly, it doesn&#8217;t work well when I&#8217;m part of a team or have to negotiate, compromise, or use &#8220;soft skills&#8221; to deal with other human beings.</p>
<p>But there is a part of me that admires anyone who can just let it all hang out, which is why this story intrigues me.</p>
<p><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=feedback/sportsguy">Bill Simmons</a> at <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/bostonblog/071015">ESPN.com</a> writes about how the 2007 Patriots are ruthless and seem to go for a humliating &#8220;Eff You&#8221; touchdown, and cites these scores as evidence:</p>
<p><center><br />
<img width="450" src="http://www.neobeans.com/blog/wp-content/uploads//2007/10/eurobxs11801072224hlarge.jpg" alt="Tom Bradyâ€¦ is he saying F U?" /><br />
<br /><small>I wonder if Tom Brady really does say &#8220;F U!&#8221; after a touchdown?  If so, I may become a Patriots fan&#8230;  And yes, I am christening this the <b>FUTD</b> &#8212; the <b>F</b>uck <b>U</b> <b>T</b>ouch <b>D</b>own.  </small><br />
</center></p>
<div style="color: #666666">
<p>&#8230;</p>
<p>As you might have heard by now, the Patriots are 6-0, they&#8217;ve outscored opponents by a 230-92 margin, and Tom Brady might quintuple Gus Frerotte&#8217;s QB rating before everything&#8217;s said and done. <font color="#ff0000">In each of those six wins, they specifically went for a meaningless touchdown just to stick it to their opponents.</font> Here&#8217;s the complete list:</p>
<p>Week 1 at New York Jets (38-14): 1-yard TD by Heath Evans, 1:58 left.</p>
<p>Week 2 vs. San Diego (38-14): 3-yard TD by Sammy Morris, 3:18 left.</p>
<p>Week 3 vs. Buffalo (38-7): 45-yard TD catch by Randy Moss, 10:22 left.</p>
<p>Week 4 at Cincy (34-17): 14-yard TD catch by Randy Moss, 3:18 left.</p>
<p>Week 5 vs. Cleveland (34-17): 15-yard fumble return TD by Randall Gay, 0:42 left.</p>
<p><i>(Important note: This came one play after the Pats failed to convert the &#8220;Eff You TD&#8221; on fourth-and-goal from Cleveland&#8217;s 4 when Brady just missed Kyle Brady in the end zone.)</i></p>
<p>Week 6 vs. Dallas (48-27): 1-yard TD run by Kyle Eckles, 0:19 left.</p>
<p>&#8230;</p>
</div>
<p>I think I have a new 2nd favorite team after the <a href="http://www.redskins.com">Redskins</a>.  And yes, I may be <i>slightly</i> conflicted on November 4th when the Redskins take on the Patriots.  *sigh*</p>
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		<title>The Secret</title>
		<link>http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2007/03/25/the-secret/</link>
		<comments>http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2007/03/25/the-secret/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 25 Mar 2007 20:05:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>flip</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TV]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2007/03/25/the-secret/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Little did I know that while having a spirited discussion with my friend Heather and her roommate Mario about &#8220;The Secret&#8221; and the Law of Attraction it espouses, that on the east coast, at that precise moment, my computer was likely recording this humorous take on Oprah&#8217;s endorsement of the book&#8230; Many of the objections [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><center><br />
<a href="http://www.neobeans.com/movies/humor/Saturday Night Live - The Secret.mov"><img width="450" src="http://www.neobeans.com/blog/wp-content/uploads//2007/03/thesecret.png" alt="SNL - The Secret" /></a><br />
<br />
<small>Little did I know that while having a spirited discussion with my friend Heather and her roommate Mario about &#8220;<a href="http://www.thesecret.tv">The Secret</a>&#8221; and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Attraction">Law of Attraction</a> it espouses, that on the east coast, at that precise moment, my computer was likely recording this humorous take on <a href="http://www.oprah.com/spiritself/slide/20070216/ss_20070216_284_101.jhtml">Oprah&#8217;s endorsement of the book</a>&#8230; Many of the objections I have are similar the ones raised in <a href="http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2007/03/05/the_secret/index_np.html">this article in Salon.com</a>, but my thinking is even simpler:  I do not believe that thoughts alone shape our reality, unless they also drive us to <i>action</i>.<br />In essence while I have no doubt that people who are enthusiastically embracing &#8220;The Secret&#8221; may even find it leads to success in their lives, I do not believe it to be the result of &#8220;passively&#8221; focusing their thoughts on achieving the desired outcome, but that they are unaware of the fact they are subconsciously <i>acting</i> to influence events.</small><br />
</center></p>
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		<title>Advice for the Ladies&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2006/03/06/advice-for-the-ladies/</link>
		<comments>http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2006/03/06/advice-for-the-ladies/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Mar 2006 19:26:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>flip</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Web]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.neobeans.com/blog/?p=365</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Courtesy of &#8220;Scooter &#038; Ferret&#8220;: The &#8220;Real Men&#8221; one cracked me up&#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Courtesy of &#8220;<a href="http://www.scooterandferret.com/scooter_ferret_ask_maridee.htm">Scooter &#038; Ferret</a>&#8220;:</p>
<p><center><br />
<iframe src="http://www.scooterandferret.com/maridee_menu.swf" width="310" height="230"></iframe></p>
<p /><small>The &#8220;Real Men&#8221; one cracked me up&#8230;</small><br />
</center></p>
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		<title>Dating For Geeks</title>
		<link>http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2005/11/08/dating-for-geeks/</link>
		<comments>http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2005/11/08/dating-for-geeks/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Nov 2005 00:01:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>flip</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sex]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Web]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.neobeans.com/blog/?p=182</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Just got back from my workout, and I had an epiphany: Some guys do not know how to woo a woman. I don&#8217;t presume to be an expert, but I know someone who is. Not Barry, even though he has women falling all over themselves to get to him. No, this person is someone who [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Just got back from my workout, and I had an epiphany:  Some guys do not know how to woo a woman.  I don&#8217;t presume to be an expert, but I know someone who is.  </p>
<p><small>Not <a href="http://www.neobeans.com/barry/blog">Barry</a>, even though he has women falling all over themselves to get to him.</small></p>
<p>No, this person is someone who has written a book specifically for men who are lost in the world of romance.  This is why she has created the book:</p>
<p><center><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0974312053/sixapart-20/103-3728760-8698263"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0974312053.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg"/></a>
<p /><small>Dating Power Tools: The Regular Guy&#8217;s Guide to Dating Smarter, Not Harder (Paperback).  Click the picture to buy this from Amazon.com&#8230;</small></center></p>
<p>Interestingly enough, I know of another book that is a bit more &#8220;geek-centric&#8221; &#8212; a book full of design patterns for dating!  I highly recommend this one because it&#8217;s hilarious, and it provides much needed insight into the process of wooing a mate.  </p>
<p><center><a href="http://datingdesignpatterns.com/"><img src="http://datingdesignpatterns.com/bookcover4.jpg"/></a>
<p /><small>Dating Design Patterns &#8212; Click the picture to go to the author&#8217;s website.</small></center></p>
<p>It&#8217;s an awesome book (also written by someone I know) and even comes with <a href="http://datingdesignpatterns.com/diagram.gif">a cool diagram showing the relationships between all of the patterns</a>, while still provdiing insightful commentary on how best to utilize patterns like:</p>
<ul>
<li><b>Pan-Dimensional Renaissance Differentiator:</b>  Perfecting the well-rounded appeal women love. Also includes differentiation from other competitors for scarce female resources.
</li>
<li><b>Fifth Position Break:</b>  Simply uses the social structure available to skilled dancers to allow any man contact with any woman in the room. Called â€œthe Ultimate pattern.â€</li>
<li><b>Trojan Proxy: </b>An extremely effective, low-risk high-planning pattern for connecting through a third-party safe proxy. Strategies include children, pets, female friends, and married male friends</li>
<li><b>Classic Method Call:</b> The recommended parameters for Just Asking.</li>
<li><b>Half Bad Boy Plus Protocol:</b>  Structuring oneâ€™s appeal based on equal parts considerate gentlemanly attributes and â€œbad boyâ€ behavior or facade</li>
<li><b>Cary Grant Helper:</b> Originally called â€œPull out a chair, get laid,â€ the gist is that the classic gentlemanly behavior cannot be unappealing. Implements the Gentleman 1.0 specification.</li>
</ul>
<p>And remember kids, only &#8220;Dating Design Patterns&#8221; is based on <a href="http://datingdesignpatterns.com/intro.html">real-world research</a>!  <img src='http://www.neobeans.com/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':-)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<div style="color: #666666">
I ran the entire program today, Saturday April 5th. Got up and got dressed in the <b>Decorator</b> suit, then hit the antique stores (<b>Exposed Accelerated Collector</b>). Had brunch with Lucy and Cindy and got Cindyâ€™s number, though Lucy called later and asked me to teach her to ski (<b>Big Fat Opening</b>). Did the volunteer work for Humane Society 2-4 and got to know Leslie; am working on her from the <b>Trojan Facade</b> angle and am planning for her to invite me camping over Memorial Day. Finally, implemented <b>Interested Listener</b> on date with Sonja with spectacular results. Am discovering more patterns and strategies every day but think IL is most effective. More later; she just came out of the bathroom.</p>
<p>â€”Christopher Alexander
</p></div>
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		<title>Dump Him!</title>
		<link>http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2005/11/08/dump-him/</link>
		<comments>http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2005/11/08/dump-him/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Nov 2005 22:04:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>flip</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Anger!]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.neobeans.com/blog/?p=181</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If a guy is physically abusive, tosses a woman&#8217;s cell phone in the trash, steals her birth control pills, and makes her life a living hell for over a month because of his own insecurities about the relationship&#8230; Well, some sweet-talking and well-placed &#8220;I love yous&#8221; won&#8217;t fix that&#8230; Sorry, but that&#8217;s Grade A shit [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If a guy is <b>physically abusive</b>, tosses a woman&#8217;s cell phone in the trash, steals her birth control pills, and makes her life a living hell for over a month because of his own insecurities about the relationship&#8230; Well,  some sweet-talking and well-placed &#8220;I love yous&#8221; won&#8217;t fix that&#8230;  Sorry, but that&#8217;s Grade A shit worthy of Jerry Springer, not a healthy. loving, relationship. </p>
<p>Playing games like that is more like <i>high school</i> than <i>graduate school</i>.</p>
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		<title>If I wrote an advice column&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2005/11/03/if-i-wrote-an-advice-column/</link>
		<comments>http://www.neobeans.com/blog/2005/11/03/if-i-wrote-an-advice-column/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Nov 2005 04:33:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>flip</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advice]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.neobeans.com/blog/?p=172</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8230;it would probably be a bit more edgy and tinged with a bit of evil. Case in point &#8212; I love Natalie Dee&#8217;s Comics, but her advice column, well&#8230; let&#8217;s just say I&#8217;m Adam Carolla to her Dr. Drew&#8230; Q: Iâ€™m a 33-year-old freshman in art school and I have this roommate that makes me [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&#8230;it would probably be a bit more <i>edgy</i> and tinged with a bit of evil.  Case in point &#8212; I love <a href="http://www.nataliedee.com">Natalie Dee&#8217;s Comics</a>, but <a href="http://www.nataliedee.com/asknatalie.php">her advice column</a>, well&#8230; let&#8217;s just say I&#8217;m <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Carolla">Adam Carolla</a> to her <a href="http://www.drdrew.com/">Dr. Drew</a>&#8230;</p>
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<b>Q:</b>  Iâ€™m a 33-year-old freshman in art school and I have this roommate that makes me have very violent thoughts.</p>
<p>She is 22 and her room looks like a Care Bear ate a box of crayons and then barfed all over. She jingles down the hallway cuz she wears her diary key on her ankle. She sits in a fold-up playpen in the living room so she can play cute-animal videogames while playing with her chinchilla. She also wears a felt hat with cat ears on top.</p>
<p>Any time I ask her something she either has this 14-year-old attitude or she complains with this horrid whiney voice. I want to throw her from a speeding train.</p>
<p>Iâ€™ve been in my place for four years and she moved in about two months ago. How do I get her to move out?</p>
<p>â€”Kate</p>
<p><i><br />
It doesnâ€™t seem like sheâ€™s doing anything wrong to me. I mean, sure, she might be a little weird or immature, but those are just personality flaws that you would have known about before she moved in. The way her room is decorated, the way she dresses, what she does in her spare time, these things are pretty inconsequential, and they shouldnâ€™t really bother you that much.</p>
<p>As for her attitude and whininess, sheâ€™s probably just reacting to your obvious dislike of her. If you donâ€™t like living people who are immature, maybe you shouldnâ€™t agree to live with someone 11 years your junior. She shouldnâ€™t have to move out suddenly because you made the wrong decision.<br />
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<b>Flip says:</b> Maybe I&#8217;m biased, but&#8230; if she really does sit around in a felt hat with ears on top, I&#8217;d say that&#8217;s a pretty frickin&#8217; weird.  That said, I think this could be solved by simply shooting her and claiming that you thought a feral animal was loose in your place.  What jury in the land would convict you?
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<p><b>Q:</b>  I think my boyfriend â€œJackâ€ is gay. If you were to look at him youâ€™d see the very Christian, very Republican, very George W. Bush-admiring man that I love. But now I have doubts about his feelings.</p>
<p>Once before I noticed Jack went to Gay.com and I asked him about it. He said he went to the site to tell the men they were sinners, so besides being upset he would do something like that I let it go. A few days later I came home and saw a pic file on my computer labeled â€œJackâ€ and I thought it must be a photo of him. Wrong. It was of some guy masturbating. I deleted it from my desktop.</p>
<p>Yesterday I came home from work and kicked him off my computer so I could do some work. Jack offered to help me with something; he fiddled with the program and when I turned my back I saw him close the window and move a picture file labeled â€œJackâ€ to the recycle bin.</p>
<p>I know if I confront him heâ€™ll deny it unless I have a picture. Besides, heâ€™s so uptight and Christian I think heâ€™s throwing himself deeper into denial. Porn I can understandâ€”itâ€™s normal to want to see photos of naked people. But of a guy?</p>
<p>Jack is affectionate and kisses me everyday and he sleeps over a lot, though we are not having sex (weâ€™re both waiting until marriage). What should I do? Does this sound like heâ€™s gay?</p>
<p> â€”Emily</p>
<p><i><br />
Itâ€™s really not my place to say whether this guy is gay. Sexuality is not a straight or gay, black or white thing. There are infinite variations in between.</p>
<p>Maybe he is gay. Maybe heâ€™s straight and just bi-curious. Maybe heâ€™s 100-percent straight and is afflicted with that disease that all those Christian Republicans have where theyâ€™re fixated on what other people are doing in their bedrooms.</p>
<p>The fact of the matter is, if youâ€™re concerned about what heâ€™s doing on the computer when youâ€™re not looking, you owe it to yourself to talk to him about it. Only then will you make any progress in finding out what heâ€™s thinking about.<br />
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<b>Flip says:</b>  Okay, so your boyfriend is gay.  Or at least bisexual.  If that bothers you, I&#8217;ve got a friend named <a href="http://www.neobeans.com/barry/blog">Barry</a> who is 110.2% hetero, and I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;d rock your world until you&#8217;re chanting &#8220;1-4-3&#8243; like a whipped little kitty with a felt hat.
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<p><b>Q:</b>  I recently left a long and serious relationship. Shortly after the breakup, a guy Iâ€™ve been best friends with all of my life asked me to marry him.</p>
<p>I have no physical attraction to him, and think of him like a brother. Weâ€™ve never dated, and heâ€™s never even hinted that he has feelings for me.</p>
<p>What the hell should I do? His friendship means the world to me, but I donâ€™t want to be his wife! Is there a pleasant way to say no?</p>
<p>â€”Sara</p>
<p><i><br />
Awww, poor guy. The most pleasant way to break it to him would be to tell him just what you told meâ€”his friendship is really important to you, but you donâ€™t want to marry him. It might be a little awkward after you turn him downâ€”his ego will be bruised and whatnot. But if youâ€™ve been friends for this long, youâ€™ll be able to work through the awkwardness eventually.<br />
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<b>Flip says:</b>  Before you tell him you&#8217;re not interested in him  consider this:  he didn&#8217;t even wait for corpse to go cold before trying to marry you.  What type of dorkwad asks a girl to marry him <b>before</b> they even go out on date?  So you totally need to say no&#8230; mainly because he&#8217;s a nutjob.   As a result, I also recommend you <a href="http://www.vsp.state.va.us/cjis_cwp.htm">consider moving to a state with a concealed carry law for firearms</a> so that when he loses his mind, you can drop him with a double-tap to the chest.  Seriously.  You&#8217;ve got a Stage 5 Clinger here!  Don&#8217;t worry about his bruised ego &#8212; worry instead about making sure this wacko doesn&#8217;t go postal on you when you lay the bad news on him.</p>
<p>Incidentally, should you feel the need to go out on a date, I have <a href="http://www.neobeans.com/barry/blog">a friend named Barry</a> who is single and available.
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