C James

Ahhem!! Now, oh Evil One, would you be kind enough to mention one example of when I

Awww, but it's not like I said who was dead? There are indeed clues in the chapter as to what actually happened. But, I

OOps! Thanks for spotting that! I'll update the chapter when I post the next one. But, no one in the story was left dangling off a cliff... Though there were, ummm, perhaps, some unresolved questions in the chapter. Colin, I do love the way you use Shadowgod as an adjective for evil and cliffhanger. But please remember, Shadowgod is the King of Eeevil Cliffhangers, so therefor, doesn't it logically follow that, if, perchance, the ending of LTMP 19 is thoguht by some to be a cliffie, that it's all Shadowgod's fault? ACK!!!!! Poor, sweet, innocent (and quiet) me? Wouldn't it be better if we all just blamed Shadowgod? It's not easy being a goat who writes... I think I better find a safe place to hide... Wasn't this a happy happy chapter? We had Brandon pranking Jon and Eric. And, ummm, roasting goat? Uhoh.... It did say explicitly about death: Barbra said it was a fatal accident, and then she laments about the loss of one of the brothers. And, ummm, what? A cliffhanger? It wasn't a cliffhanger... I never use those.

Merry Christmas, Myr!!!

??? But LC, what did i do? Or has Shadowgod added one of his patented tense bits? He's evil like that, ya know...

Merry Christmas, Everyone!!

The chapter is up, and merry Christmas, everyone! CJ

:worship: Thank you, Sasha!! It's so good to know that someone believes in me. RE: Point #1. Now Shadowgod, honestly... Can you truthfully say that in the time we've been betaing that there has never been a case of a cliffhanger being punched up during our betaing sessions? You can't say no, so therefor, I win this point. :P :P Point #2. Huh?!!?!? But you are the unrivaled King of Evil Cliffhangers! And lest there be any doubt, I shall mention LiS 26, again! And for #3, Now, now, frosty... I never use cliffhangers, and I'm a lurker! I fear I must remind you of the rules posted at the top of this forum: Rule #1: All bad things are Shadowgod's fault. So are, of course, Cliffhangers. Rule #2: When in doubt, see rule #1. Safe journeys, Graeme!!

Thank you Carl!! I'm having fun writing it, even though I'm a little out of my depth. I have never had an interest in the music or entertainment industries, so getting the technical background details of a rock band right has been a challenge, and I still can't guarantee the accuracy. The nuclear design was far easier by comparison, though coming up with some of the details that are in coming chapters was tricky, becuase it all has to be technically feasible. (I'm rather anal when it comes to technical details). Of course, even if I could (I don't have the technical ability) I wouldn't put a totally accurate design online, so I'm not including engineering specs, and I'll fudge a detail or two. The cobalt tamper mentioned for the nukes, which makes them far, far more deadly (increasing the fallout by a factor of over 100, probably closer to 1000) is actually real. Here's a Wikepedia article on it. This design is also sometimes called the Doomsday Bomb, though just a few wouldn't end life on earth. BTW did anyone notice this back in Ch 16?

Free the goats! Free the Goats! BTW, I'm formatting 19 now. Just got it added to the html template, and going through it and making sure all the line breaks are in the right place (sometimes they don't survive the cutting and pasting). I'll send it to Joe tomorrow. Also, in further story news... I'm presently working on LTMP 23. I've been catching up on my writing, and we should be able to have weekly chapters from now on instead of the posting gaps we've had. I also want to thank all of you who've stuck with this story.

Now, now, Graeme, Shadowgod is indeed the Anonymous Beta Reader, and as such he, like you, can add things in edit mode. He could also, therefor, hit "accept changes" and I'd never notice the unmarked changes. If there are cliffhangers, wouldn't it make sense that they come from the King of eeevil Cliffhangers, Shadowgod? :pickaxe:

:worship: Yay, thank you Sasha!! That made my day! Now, now, Graeme, I think we should respect FrenchCanadian's opinions. I've never seen a Tasmanian Devil outside of a zoo. However, i've seen them on TV, and in groups they are, well, just a little, um, raucous? They are kinda cute though.

Outspoken? Me? But, that would be a bit out of character for my quiet and shy self? ACK!! Now, now, Echidna, Spears? Hilton? Gah!! And a celebrity? Hrmmm... Graeme, you've posed a very unfair question! How are we supposed to know of anyone who is famous for being non-famous and quiet and shy?? That's sort of contradictory. Thanks... Aww, me, a hidden agenda? Come now... And politicians are famous for putting a spin on things. I'd never do that.

Welcome, DLP! We're a friendly bunch here, and if you need any help of advice, just give me a yell. CJ

Awww, Graeme, how can you doubt me so? I think I might need to sharpen them soon. Thanks Steve! HAve yourself a safe and happy Chrismas! CJ

You mean I can't say you use cliffhangers, and you acknowledge that I don't use them? Hrmmm... Well, okay, it's a deal! Welcome back BK, But, umm, cliffhangers in FTL?!?!?! Shadowgod, what have you done!?!?!?! (Or, alternatively, read rule #1 posted at the top of the forum ) Thanks Sacha, but, ummm, you do realize you're implying that *I'm* the devil, right?

You mean that Ieshwar is a postaholic? Yes, i agree.

Hrmmm... Well, he did post, didn't he? And it has become the most active thread in this forum, hasn't it? That's useful, right?

Ahh, so by the fact I'm being scrutinized, that's prima fasce evidence that I am, indeed, quiet and shy, right? ACK! Surely you can't mean me?!?!?!?! Hrmm, this reminds me. I'd better go get Ch 19 formatted and ready to send in.

Aww, but Shadowgod, once they know your story, how can they doubt you? Speaking of your story... It seems I'm not the only one with a story in his forum. Here's a handy link.

Who? Me? Merry Christmas, Rbenn!! LoL! So you admit I have some good points? Like never using cliffhangers and being a lurker? I vote for rule #1.. Did you just imply that I'm the devil?!?!? Sorry, but there can only be one, and you're it.

Three for Jake :nuke: :nuke: Spoilers Below!!! :nuke: :nuke:

As others have said, it depends on which state "the deed" occured in. Also, the fact that it could have been different states gives near automatic reasonable doubt, unless there is some form of proof. (in other words, they could claim there were in one state where it was legal, such as Mississippi) Personally, I've often found some of these laws to be absurd. I'll gladly condemn any adult who goes after minors, BUT, when we're talking two kids in their late teens and very close in age, that's just nuts and no place for the law. In Arizona, it's even crazier. For example, if two seventeen year olds are having sex, that's basically legal. But let's assume one is five days older than the other. If they are in a long-term relationship, the one who turns 18 first can get in real hot water, along with the added prize of lifetime membership in the registered sex offenders club. Worse, there is an exception for both still being in high school, but it's a proactive defense, NOT an automatic out. In other words, they can still be charged, and its then up to the jury to consider the defense. This has occurred to teens just days apart in age when in a long-term relationship. One of the nastier bits of this law is that an ongoing sexual relationship prior to the 18th birthday of the eldest is considered presumptive evidence of said relationship occurring once the eldest turns 18. There have been prosecutions over this. It's rare when they are within a year's age, but it has happened at paren'ts urging, usually whn its the girl who is younger and the parents don't like the guy. I shudder to think was could happen to a gay couple under these circumstances, as the jury might not be so inclined to consider the proactive defenses. Jack, my sincere coldolences on the loss of your mother. BTW, you said you see a story in this somewhere. Well, there is one story that I know of here on GA that had exactly this Arizona law as a major plot point. Been as it's relevant, and I did research the law for it, I'll link it. It's called "For the Love".

Why, Graeme, I'm quite sure that the way I portray the engineer, and the fact you are an engineer, is entirely coincidental. ACK! Can't a poor, quiet, and shy goat get away with anything these days? BTW, in writing news, my short story "Three for Jake" has been approved for the anthology, and so will be in it. (I won't approve/disapprove my own stuff for the anthology, due to obvious conflict of interest, so someone else (I don't know if they want to be named) is very kind and does so for me).

Hrmmm, but wouldn't just about any chapter of any story you liked make you wonder what was going to happen next? ACK!! But Sasha, Why would you say such a thing? You know I (unlike you) never use cliffhangers.