...in not being born?

Sorry. It's true!

... the solution is simple. PUNK ROCK WEDDING!

We don't all have one, or at least we don't identify with one. What makes you think that we all do?

I wondered why "virginity" matters for so many people. What's the big deal, as long as they don't have any diseases? Then I realized that it's usually due to religion. That's the explanation: Critical thinking is impossible. You can't argue against whatever is supposedly in the Bible/Koran/whatever. How hard is it to decide that perhaps the "holy book" is wrong?

People do seem to commonly see the illogic in it all. That's why in every society where "vaginal virginity" is prized, there's widespread practice of non-penis-in-vagina sex.

This reminds me of something else. Women who wear religious garb often claim that they aren't oppressed, because they have education and jobs and such. They might not even consider cases like this, because they've imbibed the prudish Kool-Aid just like the men, and can't quite sympathize with women who might actually have unmarried sex. "Freedom for me, and not for thee." The next time I hear one of these women defend her bedsheet-wardrobe, I want to ask her about sexuality. The issue is not the veil, it's what the veil symbolizes.

I don't recall the exact figures, but most people don't end up in any kind of facility like this. The percentage was actually pretty small, as I recall.

Even so, I desperately hope that I'm able to check out on my own terms rather than deteriorate pointlessly. "To my Friends, My work is done. Why wait?" - From the suicide note of George Eastman (1854-1932.)

Here's a better example, from the Wikipedia entry on the matador Juan Belmonte:

"When he finally was ready to die [at age 70] it was because his doctor told him that he could no longer smoke cigars, ride his horses, drink wine or perform sexual acts with women. This so discouraged him that he ordered his favorite horse brought to him, took a handful of cigars, two bottles of his favorite wine and rode out to his finca where he was met by two of Sevilla's "women of the night". He, smoked, drank his wine and engaged one more time in his final passion, then took his pistol and shot himself. He had told others prior to his last day that if he could not live like a man he would at least die like one."

Some aspects of this article made me fear aging less, but then some of the comments here reinforced my worries. I'm actually more worried about women getting old before I've had all my desired experiences with them.

On another subject: Some people in the past have commented on the use of "ew," and, regarding this article, the word "creepy." I had no idea that sounded childish. Am I the only one?

"Some parts of this article lessened my fear of aging..."

The victims of heart disease and lung cancer are usually older than the victims of, for example, breast cancer. Doesn't that have something to do with the different priorities they seem to be given?

I usually perceive AA's ads as sexy. Very few ads are, most just feature skin with no result other than tackiness. Dov Charney might be sleazy, but that's never the word that comes to mind when I see his company's ads. The women in those things look like cute ladies in comfortable clothes.

And you know who looks like they're in an 80s workout video? The "Call on Me" dancers. That one's also almost comically sexy: http://www.youtube.com/user/digitalpressure

I know adoption isn't easy, but it has to be easier than all of this.

If European countries really do need immigrants, it won't be long before more of them do what Spain and Portugal already do, that is, import Latin Americans. Middle Eastern and African immigrants are controversial, but probably not Brazilians or Mexicans, etc. With that said, relying on a larger generation to support their predecessors is a pyramid scheme.

They want to stop people from having sex, unless the people in question are married and attempting to conceive. I'm not exaggerating. They hate heterosexuality even more than they hate homosexuality.

Woodviolet, I don't necessarily disagree with you in general, but don't bring Obama into this. He's a duplicitous fraud like JFK, RFK, Bono, Bob Geldof, et cetera. He does not in any way oppose American imperialism, in fact, his opposition to the Iraq war seems to be primarily based on its counterproductive consequences for American imperialism.

Search for the article "Obama's Audacious Deference" by Paul Street, or just read what he said to that Kenyan reporter who asked if maybe, as a Senator, he could do something about American farm subsidies.

People I know and like work for Starbucks (Starbuck's?) I just can't fathom the appeal of the place... or at least I don't understand their beverages. Their sizing annoys me (how can Tall= small?) Like Serai1, I don't want to be like all the addicts I see. Disgusting.

STRAIGHT EDGE!!! sXe

If homosexuality is a choice, then explain the gay voice. You know what I'm talking about. Not all gay men talk that way, but only gay men talk that way.