MikeL

Can you believe this? Here's the latest in reading for toddlers:

Beautiful! This is a very well-crafted poem. You have a real talent, Danny.

Excellent poem, Danny. It has an honest, heartfelt quality. Keep up the good work.

Screeve.org has some very good stories, most of them by British authors. It also contains some of what you might consider pornography, but you can read the stories without looking at the pictures.

I think theschnauzers is right about the lack of feedback. The new system doesn't seem to promote chapter releases as well as the old system did. I can't put my finger on just what the difference is. Hopefully, after everyone has transferred all their work to the new system, new chapter notices won't fall off the bottom of the Story Announcements list as quickly as they do now. If you post frequent responses in this discussion forum, you would improve the chances that more people would be aware that you have started a new story. Sorry I read chapters I wasn't supposed to see. It was pure, dumb luck that I saw them when I did. I will take extra care not to spoil anyone's reading by mentioning something from an unpublished chapter. That's the reason for my "spoiler" about spoilers in the previous post.

Just curious...am I the only person other than Jack and his editors who, by sheer good fortune of timing, has read all of the first three chapters?

Now here's an idea. Those seeking to reach the 500 level could post their jokes in the Soapbox forum. Would anyone notice?

Thanks, Andy. I didn't know there was a distinction between the two types of posts. You'll reach 500 soon...post away.

Now that you've bought up the issue of number of posts, I'm trying to figure out just how many I have. My profile says I have 3,176 (before this one), but when I look at one of my posts it says the total is 2,754. I wonder which is right or if the Admin folks know of a glitch.

Yay! Three chapters in three days. The plot and action are moving along very well. Cooke and Kess really do need protection (no double entendre there). Thanks, Jack, for another intriguing story.

Hopefully you went to Cafe du Monde for coffee/chickory and beignets. If not, an early return trip is required.

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The Associated Press has an interesting article out today titled Student tracking finds limited learning in college. I know there is a significant difference among colleges. There are top flight institutions in the US which really challenge students in critical thinking, complex reasoning, and articulate writing. But a recent study discloses that 45% of undergraduate students show no significant improvement in these skills beyond the level reached at the time they graduated from high school. I see examples of poor language skills everyday. They can be seen here at GA, in your local newspaper, and in radio and television newscasts. People who have the greatest influence on how we use the language regularly say "snuck" instead of "sneaked", "bust" when they should say "burst", and "less" when referring to numbers rather than "fewer". And, what is the value of a college degree in a person's adult life? That's a hard question to grapple with during times of economic distress and high unemployment. College enrollments are mushrooming at a time when many institutions, especially state universities, are hurting for the necessary funding. The lack of jobs for high school graduates and state lottery scholarships are prompting college enrollments. I have to look no further than my own family for examples that call the value of a college education into doubt. One son has a master's degree, but drives a delivery truck. One of his brothers, with less than two years of college credit is a well-paid sales executive with a prominent company. My own father rose to a prominent place in local government service without ever attending a single college class. My answer to the question I have posed is yes. A college education is worth the time and effort. Just make sure you select the best college you can possibly afford. Enroll in honors programs and foreign study opportunities and make the most of every class. Be socially active, be involved in campus life, and take part in political activities if they appeal to you. Just make sure you make the most of the education opportunities you have. Don't expect the professors to do more than their share, but do hold them to a high standard.

Privacy interferes with the revenue stream. They don't give your personal imformation away free of charge.

You may already know of my strong aversion to Facebook and the fact that I booted it out of my life several months ago when I found a picture of one of my grandsons in a place where it should not have been. Today's Los Angeles Times contains an article Facebook grants developers access to user addresses and phone numbers. The change was made without any announcement to the 600 million Facebook users. Users will have an option to deny access to their information, but without any notice, the majority will never even consider opting out. What are your thoughts about Facebook? Please participate in the poll at the beginning of this forum topic.

I'm a college fraternity alumnus. I think the national offices of fraternities take incidents such as those described in Second Shot very seriously. They do not refrain from suspending or revoking the charters of chapters who get involved in illegal activities or infractions of university rules. As for assaulting other students for being gay, I would think fraternity members are less likely to do that than are members of the student body at large. Most fraternity members probably are homophobic, but they are not likely to commit hate crimes.

I was raised in Memphis and still lived there when Dr. King was assassinated. It was a shock to the entire community. If you are ever in Memphis, be sure to visit the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel. It is one of the most impressive memorials I have ever seen. I previously published a poem, Dystopia, here on GA about the civil rights and gay rights movements.

Artificial Intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

Very good, Jack. I'm glad to finally see a new story from you. It's shows a lot of promise right from the start...romance and mystery...always a treat from you. Like the joke about the doggie position.

I have never believed in astrology, horoscopes, or fortune telling. I was a lion, but am now a crab. How absurd!

Happy Birthday, Robbie!

Mike, look to the right, it is the 'random image' shown on the right hand column. Right now there are no other photo's in the gallery so that is what appears, like i said it ain't much to see - it's a 5 day old embryo - well two actually Right hand column? What page?

Can't find the gallery entry. Can you supply a link. Do they look like you?

You are entirely too romantic. Reminds me of The Glass Menagerie. Better to enjoy the food and music.