Daddydavek

You and your family remain in my prayers. DDK

It has always been a dangerous world. The 20th Century saw the worst toll on humanity and the environment from war of any in human history. The 21st Century may eclipse that toll.

Saw an article about this on NBCNEWS.COM. Loved the line about the joystick control. #!

Thanks for the latest Granger fix. Somehow, I suspect that Calvert's mission will not be all that easy. George's plan to keep the large ship boxed in also may prove less than tedious.

The important take-away I got from the chapter was from Calvert analyzing his relationships and his intentions on how to act. However, Calvert being Calvert, I suspect his best intentions will founder with Gatling. Men on board ship for long periods of time and all that....

Another time to once again use the oft quoted: "He doth protest too much!"

Even thought it is now the day after your birthday in your part of the world, I just wanted to add my congratulations!

It's not Celtic but he looks like a Shadow to me. P.S. Whatever you name him, he is adorable!

Wayne, you are in my prayers!

This clip is from a recent Letterman show featuring the best Elvis Impersonator singing a selection of his songs: http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=G8fjHJbF9Es The orchestration and the two back-up group of singers along with the staging make this. Turn up your sound if like Elvis.

The thing that deters me the most is a boring story with no plot or character development. A damn good story can be enjoyed despite poor grammar or the breaking of all your enumerated fckups above. --Except perhaps, the one on breaking up overly long paragraphs with little or no white space.

You are right that every country has things in its past that diminish them. And our country was very much wrong in the way it was built with no respect for native cultures, the use of slave labor, inequality for women, and its expansionism. However, the genius was that we evolved and overcame those blunders. Some at great cost. Most people today have no idea of the great cost of our Civil War. Further the assessment that today's generation is the worst ever is hyperbole of the worst sort. But since 1980, what great progress have we made socially in America? We have more poor and more poor as a percentage of the population. We used to be country that valued education and made it affordable but as a percent of budget, both state and federal, that has declined. When I was in college, a student could work part-time and pay their own way through a state school. Now students are burdened with student loans that they will be paying until they are in their forties. Politicians used to know how to reach across the aisle and get things done. The headlines today make hay out of the fact that the US Senate passed a budget proposal for the first time in four years and it was by a bare majority of the Democrats. If any of the polls are to be believed at all (and yes some of them got the election right) a clear majority of the American people believe the budget should be brought under control by a mix of cuts and tax reform. Does anyone believe that there will be any meaningful tax reform with the closing of loopholes? So I guess, the point of my blog is to start to get people to actually start thinking and doing something and not just rely on a limited source of information before coming to conclusions. It really is up to the people to force the kinds of change we want for America to be all she can be. If it's going to continue to be every man for himself, I'm making mine and to hell with everyone else, then I guess this is nirvana.

Thanks for the update and I'm glad for the positive progress. I will keep you and yours in my prayers.

I think it does make it's point taking some dramatic license. But where does the US rank in reading, math, and science? Where do we rank in life expectancy? Where do we rank in obesity rates? Where do we rank in the number of prisoners? So it is not all a crock of shit even if it doesn't jibe with your perception of reality.

I came across a powerful indictment of American hubris. Not to pile on about the decline of America which I don't personally think has happened, but in my opinion we are less than we assume and less than what we were. Please take a look at the video in the below link and watch it all the way to the end but be warned it contains some very strong language: http://www.safeshare.tv/w/UAGOcLSuLX I submit that with politics dead-locked in this country, we are becoming a dysfunctional society. People seem to care more about their own personal agendas than the good of the country. I have lived through 12 different presidential administrations. The trend since President Nixon has seen the middle class shrink, government being blamed for problems instead of used as problem solver and the rise of huge corporations with corporate practices intent on only the bottom line without regard for much of anything else. What do you think of the views expressed in the video and by me? *Cia has reviewed this video to ensure it does not violate GA.'s ToS*

Maybe a TGIF surprise?

He's not giving away anything.....

"I sure hope so!" Sums it up for me too! Loved it.

I posted the link below a while back in the Games & Humor forum and it might be enjoyable to those that follow this thread as well. It explains why paper is not dead.....It's in French but anyone can understand the point it makes from viewing it. http://vimeo.com/61275290

Well the last chapter of Paternity is up and it ends beautifully. For all those who speculated that Will would shoot off his mouth, eat your humble pie. Thanks Mark for a wonderful book in the CAP series. Hopefully, you will let us in on your plans for the next book soon!

Wow! An amazing end to an amazing story. The reason this story was voted best hosted story of 2012 was because it was with each chapter being consistently excellent. To Mark Arbour, Mr. Consistency!

"See, life is not so dull when you get older " You certainly have a flair for excitement! I think you have the setting and the mood and the circumstances all pre-packaged for you for a really good mystery story. Time to write? Hugs! DDK

Not my favorite chapter. Everything is so bleak for our fantastic foursome whose numbers may already be reduced. Nothing that happens to Bridget will be enough atone for her actions to date and that leaves me upset. This round the world epic has been a roller-coaster and it looks like it's about to run off the tracks. I can only await the final chapter and epilogue to find out how it all ends.

Based on my recollections of the times Will has been in Hawaii, Will knows about the dangers that threaten Lark and I doubt he would blurt out who Jeff's father is. I think he may forcefully discuss it with Brad however.....

LOL I really got a laugh out of that line. I just hope our esteemed elderly author doesn't take umbrage....