Bill W

Leave it to the warped and wickedly funny mind of @Lee Wilson to turn a ride in the car on the way home from the vet into another humorous gem. If you like or love pets, then you won't want to skip over this comical banter between two dogs in the backseat. Hopefully, you'll be able to stop laughing long enough to jot down a comment or click on an emoji.

Leave it to @Lee Wilson to turn a ride in the car with the pets into a humorous short story. Well done, Lee.

A perfect story for Halloween, with ghosts, two roommates that appear at first to be polar opposites, but eventually find a common link. There's also a black cat to tie it more closely to ghosts and something bewitched, and a mystery to solve about a malfunctioning laptop. This story would be a great read no matter what the season, but tying it in with Halloween makes it even better. There may also be a warning about the dangers of messing around with AI.

Wonderful story, Myr. Oh, is Elliot your alter-ego or a clone? It should also serve as a warning about messing with AI without understanding all of the ramifications! Could prove fatal! If this were a restaurant menu, I'd describe the story as: an entre of paranormal, with sides of romance and humor, and for dessert a black cat for a touch of levity. Wonderfully done.

The word "buffoon" originates from medieval Latin buffo "clown". That was picked up as the Italian word buffone, meaning "jester" or "clown". This word came from the Italian buffa, meaning "jest," and likely derives from the imitative sound buffare, "to puff" or "puff out cheeks," a common gesture in clowning. The French then borrowed the word as bouffon before it entered English in the 16th century. The word "buffoon" first appeared in English around the mid-1500s, with the earliest evidence from the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) dated 1584. Initially, it was used to refer to a professional jester or clown. It was likely adopted into English from French and Italian, which both used related words to describe someone who performs jokes or jests. In the 1550s, it was a rare Scots word to describe a kind of pantomime folk dance, which in the late 16th century came to denote a professional jester. Examples of "buffoon" used in a sentence: "He has a keen sense of humor without becoming a buffoon." "When they have a complete buffoon running the country, the combination is explosive." "He was accused of being a buffoon, but he was also a brilliant strategist." "He loves to play the buffoon at parties to make his friends laugh." "The class clown was a bit of a buffoon, but his antics were mostly harmless." "He was not the buffoon that people said he was."

For some reason, as I was reading this story it made me think of it as being a Sci Fi version of a western. Instead of a wagon train, there was a line of mechanized camels that they were taking to a predetermined location. Instead of whiskey causing the problem, part of the problem could be attributed to fairy wings, and we're not talking Tinkerbell here. Instead of the wagon train being attacked by hostile indigenous Americans, they were sabotaged by techies that created a potentially threatening situation with their coding. I found this story to be captivating, with interesting give and take between the two humans on this mission, and the plot kept me guessing until the end. If you liked the book or movie "The Martian", then I'm sure you'll find this inventive story fascinating as well.

If a programmer got past the auto-restraints as was responsible for the camels doing something to harm the humans, then that shithead is going to have to answer for causing two deaths. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes. I was enjoying the give and take between Bent and Patel. At times they sounded like an old married couple. My only question is, what was that part about Bent taking all of the camels as he continued the journey to the research station at Terra Arabia after Patel's death. What was that all about? I thought Bent was continuing the mission only to discovered that he had died as well. Did he leave his howdah without his suit and die in the Martian atmosphere, or did the camels somehow evict him from the howdah and cause his death? That part wasn't exactly clear to me. It's also my fear about an out-of-control AI if it isn't regulated properly. Even though I was a little confused about what happened to Bent, I still enjoyed this story!

An interesting tale with plenty of drama and suspense. I was hoping Bobby Ray would have to pay for what he did to JT, and he did after the first trial when he lost his car and the insurance money, but it didn't stop him - he was bent on revenge. I was hoping that Bobby Ray wouldn't succeed, but I didn't expect that would mean his death. However, I'm glad that Rufus was there to protect JT, and that Pete and the Sheriff got there, maybe a little late, and I'm also happy that JT and Tommy Lee were able to become lovers.

That's a strange looking creature. Is that a big proboscis or is it something it's eating?

The word decorum eomes from the Latin word decorus, meaning "proper" or "fitting", which itself is derived from the Latin decor, meaning "beauty, grace, or ornament". It entered English in the 16th century, initially referring to what is "proper or fitting" in a literary or artistic composition before broadening to mean proper and polite behavior. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word "decorum" was first used in English in the mid-1500s, with the earliest evidence from before 1568 in the writings of Roger Ascham. The word comes from the Latin word decōrum. The term was first recorded in English around the 1560s to describe literary and artistic propriety, and by the 1580s, it was being used to mean "propriety of speech, behavior, or dress". Examples of "decorum" used in a sentence: "it was important to maintain decorum in the council chamber." "At the start of the hearing, the judge warned the audience to keep decorum in the courtroom." "There are some democracies where business is conducted with correctly soporific decorum." "They have a reputation for decency and decorum while playing a tough and skillful game." "Suddenly, all decorum and perspective was out the window." "The public should have high expectations of politicians in terms of their personal conduct and decorum." "In a place where manners and decorum are at the absolute bottom of the priority heap, all that is really required of you is to avert disaster."

The word "inhalation" comes from the Latin inhalare, meaning "to breathe in". It is formed from the prefix in- ("in, into") and the verb halare ("to breathe"). The suffix -ation denotes an action or process, making the noun mean "the act of breathing in". According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the first use of the noun "inhalation" in English was in the early 1600s, with the earliest specific evidence from 1623 in the writings of lexicographer Henry Cockeram. It was derived from the Latin word inhālātiō. The verb "inhale" first appeared in English between 1715-1725. The first recorded use of the verb in the dictionary was in the OED's 1900 First Edition. Examples of "inhalation" used in a sentence: "The fire killed 36 people, all of whom died from smoke inhalation." "The dogs suffered smoke inhalation but were revived at the scene, the spokesperson said." "The fire started in the garage and sent one person to the hospital for smoke inhalation." "She made no noise except the occasional inhalation and exhalation of air." "Treatment includes resting the voice and inhalation of humidified air." "Hyperventilation is the repeated inhalation of fast, full breaths of air and rapid exhalation."

The word "abhor" comes from the Latin abhorrēre, meaning "to shrink in horror" or "to shudder at". It is a combination of ab- ("away from") and horrēre ("to bristle," "to shudder"), which is the same root found in the word horror. This etymology highlights the strong sense of loathing and repulsion inherent in the word's meaning. The combination literally means "to shudder away from," which evolved into the modern meaning of "to loathe" or "to regard with disgust". According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the verb abhor was first used in English before 1425, during the Middle English period (1150-1500). The OED cites its earliest evidence from Guy de Chauliac's "Grande Chirurgie:, a translation of a French surgical treatise. In Shakespeare, "abhor" means "to feel intense hatred, loathing, or disgust for something", essentially the same as its modern meaning. It can be used to express "a strong rejection or aversion", as seen in lines from King Lear where the character shunned his "abhorred society," or in Macbeth where Young Seyward calls Macbeth an "abhorred tyrant". Examples of "abhor" used in a sentence: "They abhor above all others the highest and worthiest sign... the sacrament of the altar, the precious body and blood of Christ." Romans 12:9 of the King James Bible: "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good." "He abhors the way people leave their trash at the picnic sites in the park." "The man abhors them the same way the Longhorns despise the Sooners. "Some even used the words the labor union abhors more than any other: salary cap." "It's the use of a legislative tool to block bills you abhor." "Chances are you abhorred that kid who used to torture the frogs in biology class." Five synonyms for abhor are: hate, detest, loathe, despise, abominate.

The word "conspire" comes from the Latin conspīrāre, which literally means "to breathe together". It is made up of the prefix com- ("with, together") and spīrāre ("to breathe"), combining to suggest an agreement or a shared purpose, originally with an implied secret or malicious intent. This root is shared with other English words like aspire, inspire, and expire. The original definition of conspire means to act or work in harmony with another to achieve a common goal. The meaning has evolved over time to specifically mean "to plot together," often for a criminal or mischievous purpose. The word "conspire" came to English from the Old French word conspirer and Latin conspirare. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the verb "conspire" was first used in English in in 1362 by the poet William Langland. Examples of "conspire" used in a sentence: To plan something harmful: "He suspected his colleagues were conspiring to sabotage his project." I had a persecution complex and thought people were conspiring against me. For events or circumstances to come together: "It felt like the universe was conspiring to prevent him from reaching his goal." "Events conspire to leave her alone on the streets of London." To secretly plot an illegal act: "The two spies conspired to steal the classified documents". "The criminals conspired to rob the bank." When many things work together to create a specific outcome: "The combined effects of the cold and the wind conspired to make travel difficult." "Bad luck and poor timing conspired against the team's efforts to win."

What could be more universal than a moving story about a boy and his dog. When the story begins, Jake, the protagonist, is at the age when the hormones are beginning to stir within his body and the angst of his youth and the feeling that he doesn't quite fit in are beginning to weigh on his mind. However, his questions about his life are suddenly set aside when he runs across a stray puppy one day while walking in the woods, and the pup looks uncared for and badly malnourished. Of course, Jake takes the puppy home with him and convinces his parents to let him keep it, and now that it's his, he names the pup Buster and the pair grows up together. This story has a great deal of action, a lot of drama, an enormous amount of love and tenderness, and we get to watch how this little puppy ends up affecting Jake's entire world. Buster not only forms a deep connection with Jake, but he makes a lasting impression on the whole family, many of Jake's friends and teammates, and a large segment of the community in general. Don't be surprised if some of the tender moments of this wonderful tale cause you to shed a tear or two, and I hope these words will encourage you to sit down and read this marvelous short story.

What a tender and touching story with plenty of action and drama. Very moving and enjoyable. A job well done.

The word "adroit" comes from French, where adroit in Old French meant "handsome, elegant, skilled (in combat)" and came from the adverbial phrase à droit, which is made up of the preposition à (from Latin ad-) and the noun droit (from Latin directus, meaning "straight"). The combination of these roots gives "adroit" the sense of being "dexterous" or "skilled" in a "straight" or "right" way. It evolved into the English meaning of being skillful, deft, or clever. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the first known use of the adjective "adroit" in English was in 1652, in the writings of diarist and writer John Evelyn. Examples of "adroit" used in a sentence: "Johnson's adroit footwork was behind the team's first goal in the soccer tournament." "it took some adroit maneuvering to get the car parallel parked." "This is an adroit sidestepping of the issue, but a sidestep all the same." "She is adroit at handling all sorts of problems." "The fire ants Hugh was studying in his lab turned out to be adroit escape artists." "McConnell's stewardship of the health care issue has proved less adroit than his predecessor."

I read all of week 1 stories, but I'm still working on week 2. 😞 Too many interruptions this past week, but I'll finish them soon. @centexhairysub, a spanking isn't punishment if you're looking forward to it. 😜

Well, they finally agreed on something!

One very large group of horny bastards! 😜 Thank god they're not babysitting. 😈

I, like you @Zombie, am intrigued by things like this! The maps paint an interesting picture of some of those places and what they 1) don't know what those terms mean or 2) what the majority of the people are trying to get hooked up with. A side note to those living in California - beware of your friends that are trying to hook up with your mom, because they may end up becoming yoou step-daddy. 😵

This is an intriguing look at what the after thinks your existence might be like after death if you go to the hereafter, at least what it was like for Peter. He wasn't expecting to die, nor did he know what to expect once he was dead, but he thought he would go to either heaven or hell, yet he ended up in the hereafter. In fact, Peter's hell might have been the life he was living on earth with his often troublesome spouse. To find out if he made out better or worse in the hereafter you'll have to read this creative short story, and you may be surprised by what you discover.

Peter's hereafter was temporarily under the supervision of Curly, Larry, and Moe, or their doppelgangers. Personally, I would have chosen the park, because at least there would be others there so it wouldn't be quite so boring. And if Peter was sent to the hereafter, what was it that kept him from going to heaven? Was it just because Suzie was with him and might he have gotten to heaven without her? Interesting, and somewhat frightening take on what we might face after death. Carl, I hope you don't have a pet and fare better than Peter did.

The word "grifter" is believed to have originated from American criminal underworld slang around the early 1900s, likely as a variant of the word "grafter" (a slightly older slang term for a person who acquired money dishonestly or was a swindler, such as con artists, pickpockets, and card sharks). The word may have also derived from a combination of "grafter" and "drifter" reflecting the rootless nature of many con artists. It first appeared in print around 1915 and initially referred to a con artist or non-violent criminal, particularly those associated with carnivals and circuses. The term has evolved from its criminal origins to describe anyone perceived as self-serving or deceptive, especially in politics, where it is used as an insult to accuse someone of using the political process to enrich themselves. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the first known use of "grifter" is in 1915, in the writings of George Bronson-Howard. Examples of "grifter" used in a sentence: "The con artist was a skilled grifter, convincing people to invest in a fake business before disappearing with their money." "The grifter used charm to get close to his elderly neighbor, and soon the neighbor's savings were gone." "Critics accused the politician of being a grifter, alleging that they engaged in dishonest practices to enrich themselves." "Below that, thousands of comments tumble in, calling him a terrorist and a grifter." "So while Fuentes may survive longer as a true believer, he'll never gain as much money and influence as the grifters."

If you're looking for a story that's full of drama and suspense, and that also includes a unique character, then this is the story for you. It also features a very caring individual with a strong moral compass, something that not everyone involved in this story seems to possess. Trust me, you'll be clinging to every word until you finish reading the final sentence.

A wonderful story and you had me fully invested in it. One image I kept having in my mind was something from Harry Potter - when Viktor turned into a shark for one of the challenges for the Tri-Wizard Tournament when he went to save Hermione in the lake. Found it totally interesting and you had me rooting for Patrick as well.