Rilbur

If Earth Abides isn't available, something is wrong. It's a good book, well worth reading.

Well, I've liked Exodus so far... what little there is of it... I enjoy the little technical 'nuts and bolts' and how they effect the story, so... writers choice, naturally!

Great epilogue... though now I have to re-read the story before it!

No zombies? But... skeletons are just so passe in comparison! I'll have to think about this; I have a story that could be 'post apocalyptic', but... it's not time to write it yet!

I'm 25 and have yet to even start getting over said freeze. That said, if you want a different example, how about condolences? Other than simply saying "My condolences" or something similar over a loss, I don't know how to talk to someone in need of support. Listen, sure, (and occasionally ask helpful questions) but... there are times when all you want to do is call someone up, and give them a great big verbal hug and I can't. And my attempts are pathetic and awkward when I try.

Oh, I am still writing stuff. But doing an entire novel in one month? Not likely to happen

I dont' think I'm going to be able to do anything... School has me too busy

Wait, they aired a new series? Dangit!

I didn't take it as trivialization, just misinterpretation.

That matches me too! LOL

You don't get it: without the rules, I freeze. I can't act. I dither. I become non-functional. Actually, yes there are. They're just internalized. Even I know most of those though... for example, you don't go down on someone within 5 seconds of starting the date. And you don't go straight for the kiss-with-tongue as as another example.

There is a difference between mild and coping well. All I have to do is get into unfamiliar territory (like dating) and I collapse (usually I 'freeze, and just dont' move forward). I don't know the rules for dating; how do I ask someone out, where do we go, etc. etc. Things other people take for granted sometimes I slip on (I know to wrap Birthday and Christmas presents; I don't automatically apply that to graduation presents). Yes, I'm functional... but only to a degree. And the fact that I know the rules intellectually but rather internally means I screw up with stuff easily, and with no clue how I did it.

An interesting quote, and it definitely 'fits' -- I'll have to remember it. I'm surprised at some of the things the article glossed over / didn't mention, though maybe Clay doesn't suffer from Aspergers in quite the same way I do. When it comes to social interaction, most people simply intuit their way through the rules -- oh, they might need to spend some time learning about them as kids, but they can then apply them relatively easily once they've learned a few 'guide posts'. Me, I have to intellectually analyze just about everything. I do it almost automatically, trying it into my urge to revise everything to make me look better as a suppression mechanism (i. e. I think and review what I've written to make sure it's socially acceptable as a way to suppress my habit of trying to make myself look better at the cost of shading, or breaking, the truth), but I have to think my way through things. I don't simply 'understand' them. And that can lead to... real problems. I don't know if the whole revisionism urge is tied into Aspergers or not; I know the one other person I've ever met who suffers from Aspergers does it to, to an even worse degree. In him, it's a lot more clearly an effort to be accepted, included, but... he's never really learned to control it (or most of his other symptoms, I swear!) whereas I have. The other interesting effect of Aspergers is my tendency to associate myself with 'superiors'. I want to hang around the alpha (fe)male, for whatever reason. IRL, I've channeled this into always showing respect and courtesy to teachers, bosses, etc etc, but... it's there. And that one is a recognized symptom of Aspergers. As for my personal fascination... I think I somehow channeled that into computers. But I've never had it as strongly, as powerful, as that guy! I guess I'm just thankful that my Aspergers is relatively mild / I've learned to cope well. Hell, while I'm uncomfortable with actually dealing with people on a personal level, I've got charisma by the bucketload for interview type situations! (Something I suspect I gained because Aspergers made me think in terms of rules, and I got taught, hard, the 'rules' of public interaction for stuff like speeches and interviews)

I've used my cell as a light on more than one equation... in pitch black conditions, it emits a heck of a lot of light, even with the screen set to 'low'.

I like my Zune. Good battery life, and it was built like a fricken' tank, so it can take the punishment I give it. It's charge lasts for a while, too, and it's got the radio which the iStupids lack (I'm not a Mac person, and between durability and lack of radio, iPods were completely out). Disadvantage is movie / music formating (it has a relatively restricted range), it's screen doesn't work as well in bright light as you describe (mind you, I spent most of my time with it outdoors, so...), and pricepoint. The new HD ones were pretty expensive last time I looked.

Hey guys, seeing as how this thread is supposed to be a three-day warning, perhaps someone should mention that it's now "D-Day"... send your e-mails today, or not at all! May the best man... Er... Sorry Neph... writer win!

Ah, thanks! I knew that was floating around somewhere!

Wait, I have tomorrow too?! ... LOL! Edit: Stupid question, did the rules forget to state where to turn our stuff into, or am I just blind?

I'm re-reading the series (OK, I love DK's writing more than I should! So sue me! ) and I noticed something that kinda disgruntled me. I don't have the exact chapter on hand (I'll come back and edit / repost when that's the case ), but in chapter 4 Coach Campbell ends up 'in' on the secret of time travel, but in the later chapter where they give a list of who knows about the time travel secret to the government they mysteriously forget that Coach Campbell knows. I'm a nit picker, sorry! I just had to pick at it... because it'd drive me nuts if I didn't. (Read: I forgot to post it the first read through because I wanted to save it until I'd read everything... and now I can't put it off because I know I'll forget it again!) Edit: OK, I'm an idiot. I missed the one line in chapter 17 where Coach Campbell ends up dead Edit edit: . I just had to mention on this read through how much I loved this line! I've spent enough time around the navy to understand exactly how true it is

I remember way back when in seventh grade, and I ended up needing a shower after gym... I didn't take another one, mostly because I didn't enjoy everyone gawking at the fact that I already had a full set of pubes. Talk about different experiences!

Same here

Well, I don't have much opportunity to go to the gym... and there was no call for going 'all the way' in my high-school gym courses (no showers after P. E., darn!) so I don't know what I would have done then (OK, I would have gone all the way... ) but I suspect I'd go all the way. Full nudity, woo-hoo!

In so many ways, this game is just wrong.... But maybe that's because I'm still in an oversexed "I'd Do Anything" mode? (Do)

mmm, a moderator? I've always loved power figures...(Even if I prefer male ones)