Pedro

Try this link if it works http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/126407/etymology-of-div I thought , like Graeme, that it might have something to do with 'division' and authority eg a teacher or prefect. But the alternative of div as someone of low intelligence would fit if referring to those of his peers he does not like. TTYL = talk to you later - I had to look that up too!

I was ready to play the smug European. But I passed on two that i would have been right but wasn't sure. Joe Biden who I thought might have been replaced for the second term, and Angelina Jolie. I also didn't know two but thought them of no consequence : Jennifer Anniston and Snookie. I would have said South Park for the latter if pushed. My feeling is that UK college students would probably do at least as well as I did on these US questions, but that you could easily pick similar questions on UK history /politics that they would make just as poor a showing as your Texan students. I presume the clips/interviewees were chosen to make a point, but I did suck my teeth when the black kid said he thought the Confederates had won the Civil War! Ignorance may lead to discrimination, but you can't say ignorance discriminates. Did anybody spot the trick question? Texas gained its independence from Mexico, in 1836. And my first (very smug) reaction to the piece? "Now I know how 'Dubya' got elected!"

Forgot to say - enjoyed the story. Ta muchly!

I was at school in the mid-late 60's. The school had boarding and day pupils. The latter included kids from the state sector as the school acted as the local Grammar School. There was a large RAF base in the catchment area and we used to get a few kids from there each year. IIRC some of these (including one of my best mates) transferred to boarding when dad got posted on, especially if it was an overseas posting. There may have been an element of choice for the parents. In my opinion a fairly enlightened policy. One that I doubt is used today. Selection, boarding and private schooling are all an anathema to the PC brigade in charge of 'modern' educational thinking, and the 'bean counters' will say the cost was too great. Certainly the type of mixed private/state school that it was at the time, no longer exists as far as I know.

Do dyscalculia sufferers ninety six?

Hey guys. I thought it was us Brits that go on about the weather!

'Out of the very mouths of babes' Classic!

For those of you who enjoyed this story, (and the shorts), there is a sequel in progress. Up to chapter 17, posting at Craftingmom's usual rate of one a day approx. IIRC the comments reveal there are 22 chapters in total. http://www.gayauthors.org/story/craftingmom/bloodoftheneko

I was always given to understand the naval bell bottoms were that shape so that they would roll up easily. But on reflection rolling probably wouldn't work and they were probably to 'hitch up' . So that they would stay dry if you had to paddle about in shallow water for whatever reason. I vaguely remember a biographical snippet where the subject bemoans the introduction of zippers to regular naval uniform trousers. He considered the buttoned drawfall described in Merkin's extract so much more fun! I think the author was Quentin Crisp in the Naked Civil Servant, but I am not sure.

There is a thread elsewhere on the forum about an advert for a breakfast cereal, with video clips of the responses of a children's panel. I was amazed at how articulate / erudite most of the kids were and without appearing precocious. I was never anywhere near their standard at that age and I still struggle to put two sentences together now. Hole in one there, Cole. I was once told that one of the reasons Jewish kids made good in the world was because they were all involved in all family decisions, including financial and political, from a very early age. The views of the youngest would get an airing even if the decision was ultimately made by the adults. The comment was not meant to carry any racial or other baggage, just to demonstrate the value of a particular aspect of family life.

Changeing the direction slightly: I think I see where you are coming from, but who gets to set or change that Set of Values? Me? You? The old biddy down the street? Public opinion? We know how fickle the latter can be. ------------------ There is a question fundamentalists and zealots of all religious persuasions and none never ask themselves: What if I am Wrong?

.... By a bray of activists?

&..Poor Kale I can't help feeling that one day Kale will visit a most terrible and fitting revenge on Alec. Thanks for another great episode.

Bump Chapter three of part two now posted. I really like this tale, part 2 even better than part 1, based on the evidence so far.

I 'googled' the town to try to get a feel for the kind of place I was trying to write about in my story since I have never been to that part of the U.S. . Street view showed some widely spaced houses, a church and IRRC a small store and not much else. The map showed a railroad and the junctions on I-88 and R-7. Two of the first pictures turned up in the search were of the cemetery gates, hence the opening line. The pictures also showed the RR depot is closed. I must admit I got a bit confused with the small size of the real place as turned up in my search and the size implied in the stories.

Oh my!

Nigel Thank you for your kind comments. As a newbie both here and more generally to the craft of storytelling they are a welcome confidence boost, and hopefully mean that I have got something right!

R - good analogy, one that had not crossed my mind. But In that case might be the other way round- " here are my details in Canada - or should I say Quebec." to reflect the sensitivities of the 'minority' position. Lugnutz - What Nick said!

I was gearing myself up to reply to Rutabaga, but Nick has answered more elequontly than I could have done myself. Quote: "... and certainly if one had owned property in Wales or Scotland, or lived there for a while as getting this wrong is a good way of upsetting a Welshman or Scotsman." Exactly. This was first drafted about the time of the Scottish referendum so this kind of issue was bubbling around in my semiconscience. Quote: "So Pedro has done a rather better job...," You ascribe a higher motive I think- I was just having a little dig at those who treat British and English as synonyms, or worse that think Scotland is part of England! P

Up to chapter 17 now. Posts seem to be nearly every day. Not a 'comfortable' tale at all.

Nick, thanks for the lead for this tale (or should that be tail?). A bit of good 'fantasy' makes a nice change. I really got into this one. And there is the hint of a sequel.

Gwilym, If you've never heard these phrases I suspect it may be an age thing. Bit like jokes. I used to think, until comparatively recently that all the jokes I heard at school were handed down from year to year. I now know that I can drag them out of the dusty recesses of my brain, use them and they will be new most people outside my own age range. They might get a laugh too if I am lucky! This type of expression may also have a regional / dialect element. 'Up the duck' is a misquote - it actually says 'Up the Duff' on the video.

Thank you Bruin for this excellent short. Absolutely on the money. To use the modern idiom - Awesome!

Nicholas Hall was one of the first authors I came across when searching for gay (short) stories on the internet, and have enjoyed all that I have read so far although inevitably some more than others. I would like to add the short ' Railroad Bridges' to Nigel's recommendations. Through searching for Nick's stories I found the IOMFATS, Nifty & CRVboy sites and following another author from there lead me to find AD and all the goodies herein!

I am greatly enjoying this tale. The author has several other tales posted. They are in various different theme categories some of which are definitely not to my taste. Another post apocalyptic tale I enjoyed was ' at days end www.nifty.org/ nifty/gay/sf-fantasy/at-days-end/ Some of his stories appear incomplete . I hope this doesn't happen with 'the last shaman'