C James

But.... Frog, I'm just trying to help Talonrider, who is more comfortable with northern hemispheric math.... surely that's something we can all agree on? In any case, the changeover would have been soon anyway, because the story focus will soon be returning to the northern hemisphere. As for our use of Aussie Maths for the chapter numbering while Trevor is down under, I felt that was the least we could do for our Aussie friends for playing host to the story for a while.

Chapter 130: Dead Man’s Hand The Australian press had been busy. The Geraldton bombings were a major story, and word had eventually leaked out that Trevor was involved. It hadn’t taken long after that for the press to draw the obvious conclusion; the bombings might be another attack on him. This served to renew and intensify their interest in finding him, and an enterprising reporter with some well-placed sources in Perth had found out that the navy had been sheltering a big red catamaran,

Dead Man's Hand is up. Sorry it's late, but this one had to be right, there's a ton of foreshadowing in it. (and yes, that's a hint!). (it may take about 30 seconds after this post for the chapter to appear).

Actually, I doubt that one person entering the search over and over would have any effect. The google algorithm doesn't work that way because it would be too easy to alter your rankings.It's have to be entered by a lof of people to take hold. I can say for a fact that I have entered that search, at most, five times over the past year, mainly just to see how it's doing. . Interesting that Yahoo, Bing, etc, Don't seem to recognize Wildone... And as google confirms, Wildone is deserving of the award!! Good luck with that... it never works for me. Yes, typing with hooves is hard! Pitty my poor, overworked team... (seriously, they do have to put up with a lot) I wish I was off having fun... though last week I did have a business trip, mostly it's just been super hectic lately. I think I'd prefer the goat diving without the shark! I think that the chapter numbering system may be to blame here. The chapter to post in a few minutes is AUD97, but Australian maths are tricky for anyone not from down under. Perhaps you've raised a good point, and we should revert to northern hemisphere math for the remaining few chapters? Okay, let's toss that out for a general question to all; to make things easier on Talonrider (and everyone else not from Australia), should we revert to northern hemispheric mathematics (abandoning the current aussie maths system) now? I was going to wait until the story focus returned to the northern hemisphere in a couple of chapters, but we could do it sooner? Hrmm, we change now, chapter AUD97 becomes chapter L6.... BTW, a chapter should be appearing inside of five miniutes, internet permitting.

Just a fast note on my way to work: assuming no internet outages, the chapter will post sometime today. (I think Jan is referring to the following chapter, which I should complete today... he's definitely seen Dead Man's Hand, today's chapter.).

Benji, these accusations against me regarding cliffhangers... They are all part of an eeevil conspiracy led by Wildone... he's evil, you know. I can prove it. Type king of evil cliffhangers into google. Whose name comes up as the #1 hit? Wildone! Think that's just a random chance? Or it just happens because it's a slightly rare phrase? Nope... It isn't. Let's try again, this time with the very common phrase king of cliffhangers Just type that into google. Whose name comes up first, worldwide? Wildone. Again!! I could make links, but then I'd be accused of cheating somehow. Same with copy and pasting the text. Type it in yourself to remove any doubt. Is this google-bombing? of course not- many bestselling authors, particularly of horror or suspense, would kill for a google ranking like that for king of cliffhangers. Yet, Wildone is the only author on the planet to make the first page, let alone the #1 slot. So, I encourage everyone to try it for themselves. It's irrefutable proof that Wildone is the king of cliffhangers (and king of evil cliffhangers) and thus, as head of a vast eeevil conspiracy, is trying to frame me. The truth is out there for the world to see: Wildone is the King of Cliffhangers!!!

Guilt? What guilt??? I'm innocent!!! Won't anyone defend me here??? I'm innocent, I tell ya, innocent!!

But Benji, what would there be to say, other than what we all already know: that I never use cliffhangers It is entirely possible... What? Poor, innocent me devious??? Now, Frog, yes indeed you are more colorful than most Cliffhanger Chirping Frogs, but a Tennessee Cliffhanger Chirping Frog you be!!

When you redo your sig, be sure to keep the part supporting Cia for Queen of Cliffhangers! She is indeed truly deserving. Cia 2012!! CJ

Benji!!! Oh come on... you know I'd never have anything to do with a cliff (or a cliffhanger)! Well, there is a bit I left out... it's actually Bridget's fault in the main. She's been demanding some plot changes, and those take a while to do.... That many? Wow.... No wonder we're at almost 100 chapters... The title is "Dead Man's Hand". I think y'all will like it. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, it IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The frog is very, very clearly guilt of a cliffhanger here!!!! But that makes sense.. He's a Tennessee Cliffhanger Chirping Frog. (a rare but real species, as we see on wiki.) We've got about 8 chapters left... put yipes, I had no idea it was that large. I sincerely thank all who have come along for the ride. Ack... If this keeps up, I'm going to have to post my 37 page explanation of why, precisely, I am not verbose...

BTW, did anyone get the "ghost in the Machine" reference??? In one way, it means Arnold Bellevue; a man dead for over a decade whose hand is still in play on Kookaburra. The other meaning is the vague one... it's the title of Arthur Koestler's 1967 book The Ghost in the Machine, and the book is primarily about mankind's connivance at its own destruction: in other words, inadvertently conniving at self-destruction. :-)

I promised I'd avoid doing this again for the remainder of the story, but... 7 day delay in the posting of the next chapter. Sorry.. I had a busy week with included a business trip, plus it's lightning season here. However, while we wait, we can all take solace in words that appeared in Low Flyer's e-mail to me; "At least we're at a nice, restful pausing point."

The crash seen in the opening credits of the Six Million Dollar Man was actually real; it was a Northrop lifting body prototype, air dropped from a plane for a glide test. Later flights used a rocket boost after air drop. The Dream Chaser is a somewhat similar design - and is partially based on the early Northrop designs from the 60's.

Interesting! Fishing nets are indeed an ongoing problem, and they stay intact for decades.

Ah yes, but do the VCRs of circa 2006 automatically detect the format, or does one have to throw a switch? Oh, this is actually a huge amount of progress; they found what started it all; what Bridget has strived for over a decade to keep lost, and the entire reason she's been after Trevor. Plutonium perhaps? But, it couldn't feel like 'another one" because there are no cliffhangers in Circumnavigation. As you say, I never use cliffhangers. But... it can't possibly be me - as we all know, I'd never have anything to do with a cliff!!! If that tape is unreadable (possible - it's been in there for about 14 years) then Trevor and Shane are safe... with the only copy of the tape effectively destroyed, Bridget and the cartel would have no further interest in Trevor and Shane. But but but... A goat would never have anything to do with a cliff!!!!It';s all just a malicious rumor!!! And, as for me and my sunglasses... I just get a touch of red-eye on occasion, nothing a little visine wouldn't cure. See?

Chapter 129: A Ghost in the Machine Off Cape Burney, Kookaburra was cruising slowly, four hundred yards out past the breakers. Shane hung up the cell phone, ending the call with the shaper. “He sees us, and he’s going to paddle out, about three hundred meters north of us,” he said, reaching for the binoculars. A few moments later, he said, “I think I see him.” Trevor looked, advancing the throttles slightly and accelerating to four knots. The shaper, a surfer in his early 20s, drew closer

Chapter AUD96, A Ghost in the Machine, is up! (or will be, within 30 seconds) Can anyone guess both of the dual meanings? The first is pretty obvious, but the second is kind of literary... I'll give a hint; the year was 1967. (if all else fails, wikipedia's entry gives it away pretty quick). CJ

I hope you are feeling better now, Benji!!! I will say this; that narration you quoted is very important. Yes, if they view it, they will be putting themselves in the cross-hairs of the entire cartel. Frog!!!! Now, you know we shifted over to Australian mathematics for the chapter numbering when we reached chapter 99, which then became chapter AUD66, so the new chapter is indeed chapter AUD96... we're still under 100 chapters. Plus, we're coming up on the end.

How much of it is achievable? Let's start with what's already been done; ULA's Atlas 5 has been flying for years. SpaceX and Dragon have flown, and could carry astronauts today. (they only lack a launch-phase powered-abort system, which shuttle never had, so there's no reason they couldn't fly astronauts today. Plus, they should have the powered abort system within 2 years.) At the opposite end of the scale, ATK's Liberty is smoke and mirrors, and will probably soon be forgotten (It's the Ares 1 with a fancy paint job, but still the same awful design). The rest? My guess is they range between 4 years and never. Dream Chaser is a favorite of mine, but I have doubts regarding their business plan and vehicle design. I hope I'm wrong.

Arnold Bellevue was the man who sold Ares to Rachel, which we saw mentioned in the prologue. He was mentioned there as planning on divorcing his wife, Bridget. We now know that she killed him after the sale. I wanted to remind people of something Bridget said in chapter 16 Ignorance is Bliss, Whatever Bridget is talking about, it's clear that in some ways, Arnold's skills exceeded her own. But what, and how? And flair? We're about to find out.

It's definitely getting close to the end. About 8 chapters.

Let's just say the title of the next chapter (I'll put that at the end of my post) has several meanings. ;-) Arnold was a clever one. It might be good to read something Bridget said long ago... Hrmm, I'll make a separate post on that. Cliffhanger?!!? But, frog, you know I never, ever use cliffhangers! I have pledged two things with Circumnavigation, and the first and foremost is to keep it entirely cliffhanger-free! (the other is to keep it under 100 chapters). I don't see why anyone would use the C-word.... Uhoh... whenever goat cooking is mentioned, I get very nervous... I'm very tough and stringy... definitely not worth eating!! But there are no cliffhangers!!! Lisa and Joel are just going off for some fun in the sun (spring break) so what could possibly go wrong? Same for Trevor and Shane; they're just having fun and sailing... Cliffs??? But, there are no cliffs... Or worse, a wild haggis hunt. Okay, the title of the coming chapter, AUD96, is "A Ghost in the Machine". It has more than one meaning in relation to the chapter.

The word "explosive" is misspelled; it's spelled r-e-l-a-x-i-n-g Preial? Typo alert! I think you mean "leisure" Aren't I helpful?

Chapter 128: The Last Secrets of the Ares “Ned, she’s beautiful,” Trevor said, in quiet awe. Trevor took a few more steps into the salon, his eyes sweeping around, remembering with painful clarity the wreck Atlantis had been when he’d arrived in Carnarvon. Now, she shone bright with new, lightweight flooring and all manner of new fittings. However, it was the woodwork that made Trevor blink. The main dining table was a work of art; modern and low, its dark luster of mahogany covered by many

Chapter AUD96, The Last Secrets of the Ares is up. Finally, we get to unravel something that needs unraveling. (Can't be having things stay raveled, now can we?) BTW, the link to the chapter might not work for a few seconds after I post this.