I am in the process of an Orthodox conversion. I made a vow last year that I would not touch a guy before marriage, besides maybe hand holding. Sex really confuses me. I have had sex before, and I was sexually abused as a child. I figured the best way to have a healthy sex life is to not have sex again until I am married. I went to a YJAM shabbat get together yesterday. I found out that my vows are eaisier said than done. I noticed a pattern in myself that may have something to do with being sexually abused. When a cute guy talks to me, I notice myself throwing myself at him, figuratively speaking. Yesterday I didn't realize I was flirting until after the fact. This guy was talking to me, and he was soooo attractive.... I started to have naughty thoughts. I am glad I didn't touch him, and I'm glad I decided to go home after I realized I had been flirting. But the way I acted really scared me. It seems that the only way I can relate to guys is by sex. I am afraid I will seem boring when I talk to a guy, so to me, sex is a way to keep from talking. If the cute guy I talked to yesterday would have walked me home, I'm sure I would have done something I would have regretted. I crave afection so badly, because my parents were abusive and I didn't get hugs growing up. What should I do? How do I get the affection I need without breaking the promises I made to myself and G-d? Will I ever get enough affection and attention to satisfy me? How do I control my urges better, so that I am not five seconds away from sleeping with any guy who is nice to me?

OS 275 Somebody recently came up to me, and gave me unsolicited information about astrology. From a reliable source, with a good history of accuracy, he gave me some tips on the stock market. Am I allowed to act on that information?

At what age is a child not required to listen to his parents? For example, if man wants his son to wear a certain kind of kippah, and the son wants to wear a different type, at what age is he allowed to do so without violating mitzvat kibbud av? Specifically, if the man has said, I do not allow you to wear this-and-this type of kippah. Furthermore, if the child is approaching the age where he would soon start dating and makes the claim that he wants to wear that type of kippah because he will do that once he is out of his parents' home and he does not feel it is fair to "shock his wife" or "make her think that he is one type of person when he really is not." B'kitzur, this is the situation and the first question is the main one - is the son allowed, at age 20, to disregard his father's wish/command for the above reason? Thank you very much.

Dear Rav Please either provide me with a halachic guideline or advise me what steps I should take in obtaining such advise for the following situation: I realise that you advise that both parties to be before a Beis Din, however the other party, although Jewish, is not agreeable to such appearance. This question is for my benefit. Events: I am an attorney who specialises in intellectual property law (this shaila deals with a patent matter). A client (the other party - Mr X) approached me with an idea he wished to patent. He claimed that although he wished to proceed with the patent, he did not want to/ could not really afford my full fees. I agreed to a significant reduction in my fees (about 90%), in return for a 50% share in future profits that may or may not materialise from the patent. I subsequently lodged a patent application with me being a 50% share holder. Thereafter, Mr X and I scheduled a meeting with an expert in the relevant field who was a potential buyer of the patent (internet gaming systems). Prior to our meeting with the expert, we reviewed the points we intended to discuss with the expert. At this discussion, I came up with a second idea relating to gaming systems. This idea was novel and different from the first patent (particularly from a patent point of view) and involved a clever aspect never thought of by Mr X previously or by myself when doing the original patent. Mr X thought that it was a good idea, but was not bowled over by the idea and was more concerned with his patent. At the meeting, the expert said that the patent was not workable based on previous experience. In addition, he thought it was probably not worth much as a patent based on existing gaming systems. (Note that the guarantee of patentabiltiy was never given, nor expected by Mr X - this was made clear prior to undertaking the work). However, the expert thought that my initial idea was very good and was indeed a worthwhile patent. Due to the fact that Mr X's patent had been "shot down" by the expert, I offered him 50% in a second new patent (based on my idea) in a moment of compassion for Mr X. I then proceeded to research and further develop my idea and draft a patent based on it. Mr X is now claiming that I do indeed owe him 50% in the new patent. This is based on the fact that we had a 50% arrangement with the 1st patent and that I said I would give him a 50% share in the second patent. He also says that had he not come to me with the original idea, I would not have thought of my idea. We have also had several arguments regarding limiting he's rights and share in the second patent. These include objecting to me taking my professional fee that I would have charged a client for the patent, should the patent make a profit. Question: 1. Do I owe him a share in my idea, and if so, would it be 50%? 2. Regarding the 1st patent, he approached me with the idea entirely thought of by himself. The second patent, I thought of by myself, but was in his presence when I thought of the idea. Does this have any baring on what I should give him or whether he should pay me extra? NOTE: If I do not come to a solution which makes him happy, he will continue to spread negative rumours and comments about my professional integrity. In addition, he is likely to lodge a complaint with the Law Society and cause me great problems (with possible jeopardy to my ability to practice as an attorney). I look forward to hearing from you. Regards Doron

I volunteer my time as a moderator on a linux forum, recently I have confronted the Site Administrators why they let anti-semitic threads prevail, & what their official policy is. I was confronted with why I thought one said thread was anti-semtic. The answer I feel is painfully obivious, I need the Rabbi's help here on explaining why this thread and it's links & some post are anti-semetic. Here is said thread: http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=235203 (Thanks in advance: Jozef)