The whole thing is heartbreaking and any man who can't acknowledge the subliminal fear women have to deal with in nearly every interaction with the opposite sex is in denial of the grim reality of our culture.

Allies are great, so long as they don't try to get out in front of the people they're supposed to be supporting, and I don't think that pointing out when it happens is petty infighting.

I don't know if Cale/Kale is an especially rural name, but I knew a few Cale's growing up in the 80's/90's ... and long before the KALE-VOLUTION took over the world. Anyone else?

Excellent piece Barry. Although, I'd like to offer my thoughts on a particular line: Coming out is now a stage-managed media event, scripted and choreographed in a way that ensures America receives only the most telegenic version of what at bottom is still a deeply personal act.

LittleBearNYC — Undoubtedly we're dealing with a better set of "problems" than we were in 1973 (or 1984, when I came out). At the same time, I get a little squeamish when activism reaches the stage where it ceases to be about forward movement and starts to be about management, because it feels like it ceases to be…

Very true, but most of the late-nitpicking I've been subject to has been at salaried positions where five minutes here or there cannot matter especially when I'm expected to put in hundred-hour weeks while being paid for forty.

That said... as my advisor puts it, "Academia is so flexible! You can work any 80 hours a week you want!"

I've known mean cats that could boss around dogs several times their size. I even owned a cat that loved to pick on big dogs. But I've never seen a cat come to the defense of a human child that way. It does happen apparently.

I love those videos of cats scaring the shit outta bears. MY LAAWWWNN!!

Yep. Totally. I've had several extremely territorial cats. Those bitches hated it when strange animals and humans touched their humans or invaded their space.

I guess I've owned too many cats in my life, but this isn't all that surprising to me. Cats can be highly territorial, and housecats in particular can develop a strong pack instinct with respect to their family, and young kids especially. I've seen plenty of cats face down/chase off dogs that made the mistake of…

"I knew the job was dangerous when I signed up for it. My recruiter told me that I might face my greatest fear someday. Today, I saw the ogre, the nemesis, the dog and my training took over. I'd like to thank my sensei Mr. Pickles for seeing in me what I could not. Also, meeoow."

We at Team Dog regret this incident and plan on investigating further.

I'm looking at you, people who think your dog is friendly and well-behaved enough to be off of a leash. You're all assholes.

anyone...anyone..?

My brother, who is a toothpick, likes girls who are, in his words "thicker". People make fun of him and his girlfriend all the time. He says they are at the very least, nice enough not to say it in front of her, but he says that his friends make fun of him and his heavy girlfriend all the time. It doesn't matter how…

Auctioneers over Metal.

Auctioneering is pretty heavy stuff. The auctioneer is creating legally binding contracts in seconds in front of a huge room of people. And they have to be engaging and exciting and tell jokes. Watching good ones work is pretty amazing.

Yes, and the Africans were allowed to witness the greatness of auctioneering first hand.

I was always wondered what Rob McElhenney did when not filming for Always Sunny.