Zombie

But he hasn't claimed to be "innocent" recently (heheheh )

Presumably the point of writing fiction is to have readers that want to read it? Of course, I could be entirely wrong about this So, can anyone name any interesting and "honest" fictional character that gripped them and kept making them want to turn the pages? Come on, be honest now

... and Ben seemed like a nice boy. Can't remember him doing anything downright evil, anyway.

Right, so, it's not about "honesty" but "breaking the law" which is much narrower. Even so what I said earlier still applies ("I can't think of anyone I've ever met or encountered that would never have broken any law. Was such a creature ever born?"). Have you never exceeded the speed limit? Not even by a teensy weensy bit? Like, maybe, 1 mph? Ever?

So is that what this thread was all about? So you could single out an individual to be strung up, to "hang 'em high"? Or maybe we're all strung up, whatever was said?

Not sure what you mean by "honest" Marty: always truthful? fair? upright? ethical? decent? just? respectable? (maybe that's a bit Jane Austinish ) not fraudulent or stealing? (well, we know who that rules out ) doesn't hack people's heads off? (ditto ) To be "honest" I can't think of anyone I've ever met or encountered that would satisfy all the above. Was such a creature ever born?

I don't know if this is a real life situation or just an academic exercise, but I'll assume it's real. As Domaholic intimates we don't know what your position is. It could be anything, but I'll suppose two possibilities:: 1. You and your friend (call him "John") and the unreliable source (call him "Steve") all work for the same employer in positions of responsibility towards minors. - Check your employer's policy and see what it says about acting on rumours. - Meet with Steve and insist he gives full information otherwise you will report him - you cannot just let this be - If he refuses - report him to your employer for spreading rumours about a colleague and refusing to give details when challenged - If he admits it was malicious - report him for malicious action - If he provides any supporting information refer to your employer's policy and decide on materiality whether it is reportable under the terms of the policy, otherwise do as Domoholic suggests. 2. John does not work with minors - your only relationship is friendship - You could do nothing. But what sort of "friend" would sit back and do nothing while someone else spreads these rumours. If you are such a good friend don't you owe it him to tell him? For all you know "Steve" is spreading this rumour all over the place. How would you feel if you were in "John's" shoes and dreadful rumours were being circulated about you of which you were completely unaware until everyone around you knew except you? - So, at the very least, you should challenge Steve as above (the only thing you can't do is report him to your common employer) - Then ask your friend "John" if he knows "Steve" (the source); ask what he thinks of Steve - then I think you have to tell "John" that you value his friendship very much and that is why you feel you have to tell him that "Steve" has been saying terrible things about him. You owe him this as a friend - if it turns out to be false and malicious John is then able to intervene and seek legal redress with you as a witness - if it turns out to be true then you will have to decide what sort of friend you are to John, can you be a friend in bad times as well as good.

Happy birthday KC!! Have a slice of cake I've baked specially for you P.S. If the picture doesn't display then you'll have to "cut and paste it" into your browser window (heheheh)

One of my favourite films, Marty, is a low budget movie called "Running On Empty" with River Phoenix playing the son of a couple on the run from the US authorities. If you've not seen it you should. I like to think that in real life (not as we've seen from The Goat's evil mind ) that's what Dirk and Rachel would have done with Trev.

Trouble is it's not the kinda movie you could shoot on handheld videocams for a few hundred grand. You'd be talking mega money to do the story justice AND we haven't yet got to the special effects budget needed for all the blood and gore when Mr B moves in for the kill

Hahaha. Here's a few more What the British say: "Hello, how are you?" What the British mean: "Please don't tell me anything about your health condition" What is understood: "He wants to know if I'm well" What the British say: "How nice to meet you" What the British mean: "You are a boring tick - where can I find someone more interesting?" What is understood: "He likes me" What the British say: "He is unwell" What the British mean: "He is about to die" What is understood: "He's just got a cold" What the British say: "There seem to be one or two problems here" What the British mean: "This is a disaster - we are doomed!" What is understood: "There are a few minor issues but they can easily be fixed" What the British Airways Captain said (true incident):"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them going again. I trust you are not in too much distress." What the British Airways Captain meant: "We're in a spot of bother but I think we can fix it" What is understood: "We're all gonna die!" What the British say: "This may interest you" What the British mean: "Read it or you will be sorry" What is understood: "I can look at this if I've got time" What the British say: "Correct me if I'm wrong" What the British mean: "I know I'm right--please don't contradict me" What is understood: "Tell me what you think" What the British say: "This is not a reprimand" What the British mean: "You are being reprimanded" What is understood: "Nothing to worry about then" What the British Prime Ministers says: "I have every confidence in his abilities" What the British Prime Minister means: "He is about to be fired" What is understood: "He is about to be fired" What the Scottish say : aye, right What the Scottish Mean: no, wrong What is understood : he agrees with me What the Belgians say: "non, peut-être" ("no, maybe") What the Belgians mean: "yes, absolutely" What is understood: "I have no clue" What the Dutch say: "Ya" What the Dutch mean: "I am not listening." What is understood: "He is listening to me." What Germans say : What they mean What Germans mean: What they say What is understood: Those bloody Germans are rude, aren't they? What Australians say: "Yeah! No!" What Australians mean: "I agree with you 100%. I was just thinking the same thing myself." What is understood: Nothing What the Russians say: Nyet! Nevozmozhno!" (No! It is Impossible!) What the Russians mean: "Offer me a bribe and you can have it tomorrow" What is understood: "It is impossible" What the Americans say: “Have a nice day" What the Americans mean: “Where's my tip?” What is understood: “What a polite attendant” What the Americans say: "When you get a chance" What the Americans mean: "Get this done by the next time I ask about it" What is understood: "I'll do it if I'm ever less busy" What the (sneaky) Americans mean: "And if you finish it too soon, I'll assume that you need more work" What the American says: "Awesome" What the American means: anything between barely acceptable up to remarkably good What is understood: it's remarkably good What the Americans say: As you know What the Americans mean: This is something I should have told you ages ago but I'm telling you for the first time What is understood: Really? Why didn't you tell me this before? What the Americans say: "Excuse me" What the American means: "Get out of my way, jerk" What is understood: "I apologize for stepping on you" What the Californians says: "Let's do lunch." What the Californians mean: "If I ever see you again, I'll pretend that we never met." What is understood: "Great, he likes me."

A form of sanctioned gay marriage existed in Islamic culture right up until around the 1940s in the border region between Libya and Egypt. This was explored, through interviews, in the French documentary-style film Tarik El Hob

During the Nazi years in Germany jews and gays were sent to the concentration camps along with gypsies, the "feebleminded" and several other categories of people who did not meet the Nazi standards of "full human beings". Jews were forced to wear yellow identification badges, gays had to wear pink ones. We know the terrible fate that befell so many of these wretched people during the war years. But what is not so well known is the tragedy that occurred after the war. When the Allies defeated Germany and the Nazi Regime, the political and remaining Jewish prisoners were released from the camps (the regular criminals- murderers, rapists, etc.- were not released for obvious reasons). But the homosexual prisoners were never released because Paragraph 175 (a clause in German law which prohibited homosexual relations) remained West German law until 1969 when it was moderated (but not finally abolished until 1994). So these poor innocent men, whose only crime was to be gay, watched as their fellow prisoners were set free, but they remained prisoners for up to 24 more years. It makes you weep. The following links contain much important and interesting gay history, including the terrible suffering inflicted on so many homosexuals: http://en.wikipedia....i/Paragraph_175 http://www.lambda.org/symbols.htm http://en.wikipedia....d_the_Holocaust

Sadly I must once again remind readers of the monstrous and vile untruths propagated by the Cloven-Hooved One. Not satisfied with the blatant misdirections in his plot weaving, he continues to extend his webs of lies and deceit into the forum. Btw a very moving and beautifully written ending CJ - despite the cast iron copper-bottomed cliffhanger! - and a neat touch having those "plastic clip-on earrings" to accessorize Jim and Dirk. Hehehe, made me think of Some Like It Hot

Please everyone, please, no cruel jokes now

Weekend 2011 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1714210/ Gay Indie Brit flick released this month. Two guys meet and fall in love over a weekend. IMDB and Daily Telegraph rave reviews. Sounds like this could be a favourite movie. Has anyone seen it?

So, tomorrow night is Fright Night. The night when, according to ancient folk lore, supernatural creatures and spirits are abroad and meet with the living in the corporeal world. But Hallowe'en is just dressing up in a joke costume, making scary noises and trick or treating. Having fun like Yang Bang and all the other posters in his thread. You don't really believe in such things. At least, not when the sun is shining, and the sound of friends and laughter is in the air. But later, when the shadows lengthen as the sun sets and it gets colder? When you're alone. On All Hallows Eve. Sometime in the night you sit up, suddenly wide awake. In the dark. What was it that woke you? A sound perhaps. Of course, it was just the wind. Or was it. Was it something ... breathing? And over there ... in the corner, that shadow. No, not a shadow. More like ... a shape. Didn't it just move? Still don't believe?

The recruiter will most likely want to know why you're interested in joining their business so have a good look at the business's website so you understand what they do and how they do it, and see if you can find something or things that attract you to them so you can show yourself as well-informed about what they do. Better than saying "I want a job, something that pays well with lots of paid holiday healthcare - by the way what do you do exactly?" Also being well-presented helps (clothes, haircut, clean shoes etc) and get there 15 mins before time so you've plenty of time to clear Reception, sit down and calm your heart rate

But The Goat has got form here. Based on the horrific cruelty imposed by the merciless and scheming plot-meister on beloved characters in his previous tales, is it likely that The Goat would allow the opportunity for some more violent and bloody killings to slip past his cloven hooves? Hmmmm? Just asking

Here's your link Marty. It's well worth another viewing - definitive proof, as if any were needed, that The Goat is a CLIFFHANGER!!!

It's one of the many words that have acquired a new social media meaning: "In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory,[2] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[3] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.[4] The noun troll may refer to the provocative message itself, as in: "That was an excellent troll you posted"." Warning: you may find such creatures are not entirely absent from these forums

I like to be uplifted by films, so I avoid anything violent or depressing. Yeah, I know, I'm feeble minded, so sue me. Many of these have already been mentioned, but here are my all-time faves and all have guaranteed happy endings Boy Culture (2006) - excellent US film Dorian Blues 2004 - funny, witty, sharp Eating Out 2 (2006) - arch comedy but it is very funny, well produced and well acted Get Real - very good schoolboy Brit flick Just a Question of Love - excellent French student coming out story - both actors v hot! Latter Days - excellent US film Le Fate Ignoranti 2001 - beatiful Italian film, stylish and oozes humanity. I love it. The ending is very subtle - you need to have been paying attention to understand it If you download it watch out, though - one set of subtitles is excellent, the other is rubbish. There is a bizarre death at the beginning but don't worry about that Mambo Italiano 2003 - brilliant! Next Year In Jerusalem 1997 -nice Jewish love story set in NY Patrik 1,5 - excellent Swedish gay adoption story Plan B 2009 - slow but satisfying Shelter - excellent US film Sobreviviré or I Will Survive 1999 - excellent Strapped 2010 - really a 5 act play Summer Storm or Sommersturm (2004) - very good German film Une robe d'été or A Summer Dress 2002 - I love this short French film, it's hot and funny If anyone wants more details you can ask here or PM me.

I've got Finale and all the Atari kit it ran on but, like so much geeky stuff I bought, I never got round to using it. Last year, however, I came across the free composition program Musescore. Reviewers claim it has much of the functionality of Sibelius. If you can notate and want some software save your cash and give this a go - it is excellent. You can playback your score as you go. You can also share your scores too. So far I've got one posted, but notating takes me a long time

That's exactly what I saw in my mind's eye

Conspiracies are such great fun! But most turn out to be crazy ideas. Like the notion that NSA faked the Moon landings. Strange, that one's gone a bit quiet lately, with recent telescopic images of the landing sites e.g. Moon Rover tracks, the lander base etc The "face" and "pyramids" were visual artifacts of the original low resolution orbiter imaging. Images from later orbiters with higher resolution cameras showed that these "artifacts" just disappeared. It's a bit like the "canals" seen on Mars by Giovanni Schiaparelli in the Nineteenth Century and later advocated by Percival Lowell. Modern imaging has long since shown these just to be an optical illusion caused by low resolution imaging and atmospheric disturbance.