Graeme

Lurking? Is that what you think you're doing? You're as bad as CJ....

Sorry -- I have to sleep sometimes.... :wacko:

Thanks, Trebs! That website appears to answer a lot of the concerns I had. Thanks, Hylas! I personally prefer PC games, but for long flights the handheld consoles are going to be a boon for two weary parents....

I've been an IT professional for almost 25 years now, which means I know absolutely nothing about modern technology. We're planning a major vacation for 2008 and we're going to get our boys handheld games console to help them cope with the travel days (and any rest days). We were originally looking at the Nintendo DS Lite, but our youngest boy (who will be turning 7 soon) indicated he wanted a PSP, which I eventually worked out meant Playstation Portable. What do people recommend? The eldest boy wants Transformers and Pokemon on his games console, and I suspect any sort of racing game will be fine for the youngest boy. I believe that for some DS games that (if they both hand DS consoles) they would be able to play against each other. However, if this is the case, most games would require that they both have the same game card installed. Does anyone know of a website that would list the games where this is NOT the case (ie. both can play even if only one of them has the game card installed in their DS)? Looking for experts -- or anyone who actually owns one of these things

Okay, it's now on the official record -- CJ has promised to post the next chapter early. Only if we don't get the chapter early, or we don't like the contents. If he posts it early AND we like the contents, I think the BBQ should be postponed (not cancelled -- I'm not that trusting).

Also, while Brandon may be a brother-in-spirit to Jon and Eric, and Helen and Barbra may think of it that way, the news reporters wouldn't, and wouldn't list him as one of the Carlisle brothers. It would also invalidate the theory that the title "Then there were two" means two brothers.

LOL -- I have to agree with jkeeling While I originally didn't think it was a cliffhanger, sober reflection reveals otherwise. Since we don't know if Jake survived, we have the lead character in a perilous situation at the end of the story -- the definite embodiment of a cliffhanger. Thanks, jkeeling, for pointing this out. If there's a cliffhanger section in the Member's Awards, maybe this one should be nominated.

NO! Don't do it! If he's being accommodating, it's because it suits him. CJ is a ornery goat and if he gives you the first couple of paragraphs, I just KNOW they won't resolve anything. He's got form -- look back at the discussions in the chapter prior to the one called "The Kiss". He promised everyone a kiss, but we didn't get the one we wanted -- the kiss between Chase and Brandon.

I do my best In case you're not aware, there's a weekly silly season with CJ's forum -- usually the last few days before the next chapter. I'm hereby declaring that the silly season has started, and requesting assistance. It's been getting hard on this old echidna to keep on top of what CJ is up to and making sure he doesn't issue spoilers. I'll also admit that I was tempted to relax my "no spoilers" rule just this once, so we can find out what is going on. This is clearly a sign of old age and shows that I need an assistant (or ten) to keep CJ honest (or at least semi honest). Are there any volunteers, and if so, we need to know what punishment you'd inflict on CJ if he issues a spoiler.....

That's a long way to go for a house call.... Maybe you can find a local hedgehog or similar who'll stick you full of spines? I'm not sure what temperature, but I think he'll be nicely done for New Year's Eve.....

Actually, that was very cruelly done, because I know CJ can't respond directly. He won't say anything about it until the next chapter come out (assuming the answer is in that chapter -- if it's not, I'm seriously thinking of flying to the USA to learn how to hunt goats.... ) It's only another few days until we find out the answer....

That's hilarious! Hmm... does the fact that you are so knowledgeable on the cases of mistaken death reports mean that you've been researching the subject in preparation for LTMP?

Hi, Conner, Here's a link to an early version of the story: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/articles/2...7459874061.html It's reported as being from AAP. Yes, the story is worded as a report from a tabloid (The Sun, in the UK), but the fact that it's from the AAP (and was picked up and run by both major newspaper groups in Australia -- Fairfax and News Ltd) lends it a degree of authenticity. The follow-up reveals the whole story as a hoax: http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0...5006301,00.html http://www.smh.com.au/news/unusual-tales/b...7459927942.html So, if the report from the wire service was that one of the Carlise brothers has been reported as dead, then it's accurate even if none of the brothers died -- they are reporting a reported death, not a death itself. However, I don't think either Helen or Barbra would care for the fine distinction. As a side point, the original news report on the News Ltd. web sites is no longer there -- only the follow-up saying that the whole thing is a hoax. The Fairfax media (which includes the Brisbane Times and the Sydney Morning Herald) still has both the original report and the follow-up. I wonder which is being more honest?

There are still plenty of examples of times they've got it wrong, when a little bit of checking would have shown that. Earlier this year there was the story about sheep being sold to the Japanese as poodles -- which is so ridiculous that I'm still amazed that so many mainstream news suppliers believed it and printed it.

Good luck with the writing course! If the professor is professional, he'll be marking it without being influenced by the subject matter. I suspect you wouldn't be the first gay student he's had, so I don't think you'll have a problem.

I don't really know why. I've only threatened to hunt him down a couple of times, if he tries to give out a spoiler....

Colin, you really need to write some more and post the stories online. You've got a great writing style. Your Fairy Tale Anthology entry was very popular.... As for the sentiments, I think you've capture the general mood really well.

Rather than clicking on the "Reply" button, click on the "Quote" button of each of the posts you want to quote. When you've selected them all, click on "Add Reply" at the bottom and it will quote all of the selected posts in your reply.

In addition to the above, a big thank you to CJ for coordinating everyone. I don't think everyone realises how much work is done behind the scenes to get everything ready in time. CJ does a great job of making everything happen at the right times. Thanks to all the authors, too -- I really enjoyed getting to read the stories (at least most of them) ahead of time. One of the privileges of being involved

Alas, CJ has already announced the next chapter title as "The show must go on".

Happy Birthday!

Who wants to use the military for as an instrument for social change? A person's bedroom activities should not be a matter for the military, as long as it does not violate military secrets (ie. no sleeping with enemy spies) and does not undermine military discipline (hence relationships between different ranks can be problematic). I fail to see how homosexuality, per se, disrupts the unit. Now, if the majority of a unit are homophobic (to one degree or another), having a gay member of that unit could be disruptive. Equally, if the majority of a unit are racist (to one degree or another), having a member from another race in that unit could be disruptive. I haven't heard that tolerating racism (in the later case) is considered to be a good idea, though. The response in the later case is to educate the soldiers concerned to eliminate, or mitigate, their racism. Why should the response in the former case be any different? Anyone can be an outsider -- perceived as different. It could be because your shorter, taller, fatter, thinner, richer, poorer, speak with a different accent -- anything (check out any school yard bullying for many examples). The solution is NOT to remove the person who is "different" but to show that their difference makes no difference to them doing the job involved -- in this case, defending their nation. Many other countries (including Australia) have openly gay members serving in their military -- what is so different about the USA that means that their soldiers can't handle the situation at least as well as the soldiers of other nations? Especially since they are currently serving along side openly gay soldiers from other nations.

My eldest brother is still recovering from treatment for prostate cancer. The form of cancer is one that has a genetic indicator so the rest of the males in the family have also been advised to have regular checks. I've had one so far and it came back negative.

I'm now speaking as an ignorant Australian, but my understanding was that a large part of the reason for the Electoral College was based one communications -- it was essentially impossible at the time for all citizens to know who they would be voting for, so they vote for delegates to represent them, and those delegates would evaluate the candidates and make the choice. In today's highly connected society, that original reason is no longer relevant. That doesn't mean that the Electoral College is not longer relevant, but one of the basic reasons for its creation is not applicable anymore. As for the constitution, I find it amusing that some people think it should be interpreted literally, or based on the original views of the founders. (I've been keeping up on the news of the SCOTUS since I find it an interesting body). After all, the literal wording of the 1st amendment only protects speech -- not recordings and not actions. It is now generally interpreted to include electronic recordings (like TV or internet) and actions (such as protests) but that is not what was written.... Based on that well-known example, interpreting the underlying intent of the constitution is a fair and reasonable activity.

A belated Happy Birthday, Jack! Sorry about the late wishes, but I was away for your birthday.