When I first met him, I was fascinated by how mysterious he was. Quiet, reserved, really cute, my perfect kind of guy. And I definitely thought he was way out of my league. He started to talk to me a little, giving me compliments here and there. I would get so happy and couldn't sit still every time. When my friend found out that he thought I was cute, I was even happier. It seemed like things were really looking up for me.

How did it all change? All of a sudden, he's calling me and IMing me all the time, and he's telling me that he really likes me. Is it just me, or is that way too fast? I think all of this interest made him lose his appeal. Today, he told me that he likes me as a lot more than a friend and asked if I felt the same way...and I said yes. It isn't even true; I'm not being true. Really, all I want now is out. We just started talking maybe a week ago and already it feels like we're married. Now, I guess I made sure that he's doubly interested. He wants to hang out, which is all great but...I really don't want anything more. At all. At least not with him. I really can't explain, I'm just not that into him.

Please, Xanga, help me. I'm not about to become a heartbreaker, but right now I feel way too tied down, and we're not even going out. Is there a way for me to be free without hurting his feelings?

Whenever I watch the movie Titanic, I marvel at how women are portrayed as weak, as vulnerable as children. When the ship is sinking, they expect the men to take better care of themselves and be more adept at swimming; in general, they adhere to the stereotype that men are stronger than women. It's always bothered me. But what bothers me more is that it still happens today.

Titanic, was, obviously based on the Victorian Era, where women still had very few rights. However, today I am still appalled at how women are still portrayed as inferior. Recently, I've seen this on people's Facebook statuses: "765 Palestinians murdered by Israel in Gaza (more than 230 children & 100 women) & 3100 injured." Which is all fine and dandy; I'm more than happy to use Facebook to support a good cause. Maybe I'm just overanalyzing by wondering, Why does it matter how many were women? It's as if a woman's death is more tragic than a man's, because women have less of a fighting chance.

And then we sit here and wonder why women are still getting $.77 cents per man's dollar, why there hasn't been a female president yet, why women are still used and judged every day. It could be because we are making this simple stereotype. Children are innocent, and usually defenseless. Women should not be perceived that way anymore. Haven't enough women showed you that we're just as capable as men are? Even with people like Hillary Clinton in politics, and with teens like Shawn Johnson doing so well in the Olympics, it still has not gotten through to most of us that women are equal to men. The worst part is, even women accept this stereotype, by having to be shorter and younger than their boyfriends, by assuming that when challenged against a guy, they will fail.

How can we finally get complete women's rights?
We can start off by accepting women in our own minds.

"Parking Vulture"--it's a rare undiagnosed disease that few of us have heard of, but many of us have witnessed. Everyone has seen it. Picture yourself in a crowded parking lot, with absolutely no spaces empty for you to pull into. As you drive by, you see a car about to pull out; eagerly, you slow down to claim the spot as yours. That's when you realize....you are not alone.

It could be one, it could be three, maybe even more. As soon as these creatures hear an engine rev up, they sneakily align themselves at just the perfect angle to be the first to snag that parking spot. There are several species of Parking Vulture; the spontaneous, the lurking, and the vicious. The first variation is the most common; it just drives around at random and takes a parking spot when it can. Many of us have been known to exhibit Spontaneous Vulture Behavior, but the illness is relatively benign. However, Spontaneity can develop quickly into the other two types of Vulture, if not carefully moderated. The Lurking Vulture takes the epidemic to a new level. These clever creatures are blessed with the gift of...patience. They let their engines idle for minutes, even hours on end next to a particularly promising looking area--and they do not change for anyone. The reader is advised to avoid these creatures at all costs. Unless you are a Vulture yourself, you will not beat the lurkers to the spot you desire.

Type C is the most severe. Vicious Vultures are always combined with one of the symptoms above. The Vicious Lurker is the reason for the advice in the last paragraph. These foul fowl mark their territory as soon as they see a spot they like, and they will wait any amount of time to get it. If their territory is crossed, they will undoubtedly resort to terrifying violence. No human stands a chance.

Vicious Vultures also appear in the spontaneous variation. Although these are less territorial than their Lurking cousins, they are also the most reckless. They tear through parking lots, and once they see an emptying spot, it will be theirs. They act on spur of the moment decisions, but their defence mechanisms are more powerful than any other breed of vulture.

It may be nearly impossible to ward of the Vultures. Chances are, if one has an eye on the parking spot you desire, you will not come out as the victor. However, most vultures are vulnerable to the following tricks...so while you can't always get the parking spot you want, there's nothing like good sweet revenge...

• The Vulture Fakeout. This trick works best on Lurkers. Simply find an idling car, and walk up to the parking spot it is eyeing. Take out your keys and pretend to unlock the car. Watch the Vulture erupt in euphoria, only to discover that its parking spot is not yet being abandoned. For an added touch, look at the vulture and shrug as a sarcastic way of apology.
• Wave the red flag. This trick works on all types of vultures, but beware of the Vicious ones...they may not think this is too funny. Walk casually to your car, start it up, and begin to pull out of the parking spot. Then, while the Vulture is getting ready to take over, pull back in the spot. Repeat several times. Then explain to vulture that you were "just adjusting." Proceed out of your car and away from the Vulture.

Remember kids, vultures appear to look just like you and me. Do not trust them. Also recall that the most common Vulture breeding times are on Labor Day Weekend, Black Friday, and Christmas Eve (*known as Procrastinating Vultures). Most of all, remember that these Vultures were once normal people...try to show them some sympathy and be grateful that you aren't infected with this dreadful disease.

Next time there's a big sale, have fun and be safe...and don't forget that the biggest danger Lurks in the parking lot.