Graeme

Sorry that you've had to go through that, Steve. If you want a copy of a "liberal" interpretation of the bible and homosexuality that I did a couple of years ago, just let me know. It's a summary of what's on the Religious Tolerance web site. The thing I find saddest (though also slightly amusing) are the people use Leviticus as saying lesbianism is sinful. Leviticus clearly talks about men laying with men as with a women (ie. anal intercourse). How that indicates that two women having sex is sinful is beyond me....

Psionic Corp certainly lends itself to a series of stories in a common universe. I think it would be great if you could do some a short stories for the anthologies Good luck!

I believe that one of the best ways to create an unexpected/unpredicted storyline is to play on people's assumptions. I've personally done this a few times. In my first story, I'm sure most people would have read it assuming that the narrator was going to turn out to be gay -- the fact that he wasn't was the first surprise. It was a surprise because the target audience is made up of mainly gay readers -- they weren't going to be expecting a story that's not centred on a gay character. Another example is my short story Ambush but I won't ruin that one by saying what assumption most readers would have made. The mark of a very good short story is the twist at the end that makes the reader go back to the start of the story and revisit what they've read because they realise they've made some basic incorrect assumptions. Two examples of that from recent anthologies would be Bardeara's It's Time To Go and C James's Category 5. Both of these show how a reader can be led to make assumptions, and then be shown that those assumptions have been incorrect -- and hence resulted in an unexpected/unpredicted change in the story. Extending that out in a novel is more difficult, but achievable. I believe I did that in part two of my novel Heart of The Tree where I carefully led the readers into making assumptions, only to find out that they'd made a mistake. I don't believe you can create an unpredictable storyline without a completely outside incident taking over, because that assumes that no reader will pick up on the preceding events. Taking a real life example, 9/11 was unpredicted by the vast majority of the world, but there were a few people for which is wasn't a complete surprise because they had been expecting something. In a story, however, that is close enough to a completely outside incident that for most people it's just setting up an environment for the story to continue in a new direction.

G'day, scoopny! Feel free to poke around and join in when you want to (like you are already doing ). Cheers! Graeme

It was the normal policy here in Melbourne when I learnt to drive, too. Doing your test in an automatic meant a restricted license, so almost everyone tried to learn to drive a manual transmission car. That didn't stop them from buying an automatic after they got their license, of course, if they wanted one. I'm wondering if the next generation of this "problem" will be the GPS. I saw a cartoon several months ago where a dad had bought a new car for his daughter. She was mortified that it didn't come with a GPS and she'd actually have to learn how to read a map and navigate by herself....

Second I've never seen a kama sutra guid in a hotel book shop.... but fiction would probably have been a better (and safer) choice. Still, at least they tried to think of something appropriate, even if they got it absolutely and completely WRONG. I forgot to mention this, so you're first with that one. I really don't know what is going on there. It doesn't appear to be as simple as just uneasiness around gays. Eric believe Wilde is the key to The Shadow's behaviour, but I'm lost as to what that could be.

A good chapter (not that I expected anything else ) I loved the present from The Shadows to Chase -- how embarrassing can you make a gift? Chase got out of it beautifully, though. I also loved Chase's revenge on Brandon. I think it's the type of revenge that Brandon will go out of his way to have repeated.... And I was right with the Tequila I noticed that Helen has decided to break Eric's head in a future chapter as a consequence, since I really can't see him giving up the stuff.

Yesterday (Sunday) was a busy day for me -- we had people around for a BBQ and they didn't end up leaving until just before 11pm. Today was a shocking day at work -- in that I actually had to work They're my excuses....

I understand. My wife and I also have a monogamous relationship. I answer "it depends on the people/circumstances/time" simply because I'm not adverse to the idea, even though I know it will never happen. It would have to be with two (or more) other people who were all very accepting of the situation, and my wife would not be accepting of the idea at all. In reality, the answer is no, but as a hypothetical, the answer is that it's possible.

Good luck and have fun. Just play safely...

Jan, you're not helping CJ doesn't need any encouragement....

I was taught how to do this as part of my driving lessons. It's just a handbrake start. You release the handbrake as you release the clutch, just when you feel the car wanting to move forward. I do handbrake starts all the time -- it's become a habit for me. I don't like having the car roll back, even on a hill.

:king: :king: Happy Birthday, Jan! :king: :king: You can start your birthday now, because it's your birthday here in Australia. Keep celebrating until the end of the 16th in Hawaii, too -- you deserve a 48 hour birthday

I don't think this conversation is going anywhere I will state, for the record, that I have no interest in the title of King of Eeeevil Cliffhangers, just like I'm not interested in the title of Queen of the Evilest Cliffhangers. While I think poor Shadowgod has been poorly maligned by his title, it was confirmed by a narrow margin by the GA membership. I'm very happy, though, about the wide acclamation that C James received as the Queen of the Evilest Cliffhangers. A more deserving title would be hard to imagine.

I think I need a translation here. The fruit cake I know of (and quite like) is not a dessert -- it's a cake. Wedding cakes are traditionally fruit cakes, for example. Are you talking about a Christmas pudding? Which is usually a heavily fruit based steamed dessert served with custard (brandy custard if you're lucky) and cream. Also very yummy

And most, if not all, of those posts are by you. Since we've all accepted that you believe you don't use cliffhangers, those posts are meaningless. Of course, just because you believe you don't use cliffhangers does not mean you don't use cliffhangers -- just that you don't believe you do. Don't worry -- we still like you

I'm pleased to announce that CJ has finally provided his definition of a cliffhanger in this thread. I've linked to my reply, rather than his post, just in case he decided to edit his post.... You'll also notice that, by his definition, LTMP chapter 7 was a cliffhanger. I didn't bother doing the same thing with any of the chapter in For The Love -- I'll let someone else have that fun. Graeme

Congratulations! You've passed a basic English reading test....

The car I normally drive has a manual transmission. Our other vehicle is an automatic, but that is largely because it used for towing a horse float, and my wife didn't want to worry about gears when she's busy worrying about her horse.... At one point (in the distant past), we actually had two different licenses, depending on whether you did you test in an automatic or manual -- if you did the test in an automatic you were not permitted to drive a manual transmission vehicle. As a side point, whenever I hire a car in the USA I get an automatic transmission (I don't think they hire any other type) because I want to concentrate on driving on the other side of the road (I almost said "wrong side" but that would risk hijacking the thread) and unfamiliar roads and road laws.

Correction: I know you claim to never use cliffhangers. That's something completely different to what you said

I really need to start being more controversial. Too many people seem to agree with me

I don't interact with a lot of teenagers in a face-to-face basis, but do either of those two words "w00t" and "pwn" actually get said, or are they strictly written only?

My apologies. However, I think my comments still apply -- I just used the wrong word Relationships just involving two people can be complex enough, and a lot are unbalanced (in that one partner tends to dominate). I would be concerned about any relationship that involved three or more people in how the interaction between them would work. I'm reading the concept as more than just multiple sexual partners, but in having more than one emotional/sexual relationships at the same time, where all parties understand and accept the situation.

I found the question incomplete. A polygamous relationship will only work if all parties involve agree to how it will work. Anyone who has been in a monogamous relationship will know how hard it can be -- adding extra people adds layers of complexity that can be daunting. Sexually and emotional, I believe I'm capable of being in a polygamous relationship, in terms of being able to love more than one person. However, my wife is a strictly monogamous person and that ends the question for me -- I'm not interesting in considering anyone else because it would mean the end of my current relationship. I'm also not sure if I would be able handle the complexities of an emotional and sexual relationship involving multiple adults. I've worded that carefully because I AM in a relationship with multiple people, though two of them are young kids and that part of the relationship is very different in nature to the one I have with my wife. The relationship I have with my sons is not the sort that is being asked about here, but it still causes a lot of complexity.

Great pictures, Matt! I didn't see Wales in Winter, but I remember some of that countryside I rembember going to a gay bar in Cardiff for Sunday lunch. It was full of families -- straight ones I suspect it was a different place at night