ChrisR

Returning this one to the fore. Just finished it and enjoyed it thoroughly. It's what I call a just plain 'sweet' story, not in any condescending way, but one that's overall a joy. Well, with the exception of Miss Crabapple in math class, but the less said about her the better. A wonderful, fun, joyous tale.

Cole - Ah yes. Thanks for the reminder of T&J's Rhapsody shoot. I'm certain the animators worked hard, but the poor pianist must've sweated blood for that one. And Graeme, I do like Tchaikovsky, but keep in mind that he stole the main theme for Overture of 1812 from the Quaker Oats people and their "This is the cereal that's shot from guns" commercial. Let's not forget another classical music animation sequence that still gives me goosebumps - An der schönen, blauen Donau from the docking sequence in 2001 - A Space Odyssey. Coming on the heels of Also Sprach Zarathustra the combination still goes down as my favorite movie/classical music selection ever.

The best of all, of course, being the classic "Kill the Wabbit" opera. "No, mom, cartoons will not destroy my brain. I'm learning all about classical music. Besides, you and dad get to sleep in. So there."

Rather fun indeed. Strange how the music is all about The Lone Ranger today and few people have even a clue about who William Tell was. Any idea which orchestra that is? Some of the players look rather young for the typical orchestral makeup.

Step aside Jeff Shaara, Michael Shaara and Shelby Foote. There's a new American Civil War author in town! Wow! This story is a phenomenal accomplishment that puts the humanity back into the heroic tales of the second half of America's nineteenth century. From rural life to civil war to wagon trains to the undying call of "Go west, young man, go west!" Chris gives us a taste of just what real life was like. His characters are a tremendous collage of real people. The struggles they each must face give a beautiful view into what life was like at the time and the challenges and opportunities that people had to endure. It gives a human face to the costs and rewards that were a part of the process. It's obvious that this was no slap-dash writing exercise. Chris has done his homework and researched things as they were. Yes, I even looked up who was the mayor of Sacramento. Chris nailed it! And I'm not sure if it's the same place, but my high school senior ball was in the Sir Francis Drake Hotel off Union Square. And I read the last chapter with Mozart's Adagio for Violin playing in the background. This is truly fictional history at its best. Thank you ever so much for it!

I'm glad you guys bumped this one up again. Just finished the story and it is one of the finest sci-fi tales I've read. Hopefully the author is still writing, perhaps under a new pen name. Stories of this quality are rarities to be treasured by many.

Somehow, this term has been REALLY transformed as it went its way across the Atlantic. There are more than a few American boys who would love to get paid to knock up their neighbor! http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-35840393

This topic has sort of hung out here in the wind for a few days, giving plenty of time for contemplation. I have to say that this one leaves me somewhat queasy. As much as I've grown to accept that different people have different sexualities, the idea of not deciding until the last minute which one you're going to be strikes me as odd. Aside from doubling one's wardrobe budget, it also puts one's partner into the position of not knowing what to expect. There may well be partners and parents who are ready and able to deal with it. And that's great. I'm just not sure I'm one of them

If this was your first story, then you have set a high bar for yourself from now on. Beautiful, poignant and sad all at once. Bravo.

I believe Darth Vader has come along and unleashed the dark side of the force with this one. It is in one turn both fully believable and fully reprehensible, so it must certainly be repeated all too often in real life. One wonders who is truly in charge. Well, if creepily, done!

I've heard the saying "it's a tough row to hoe" but never before "it's a tough boat to row!" With thanks to the Oxford v Cambridge ladies for nice timing, here's the downside to these boat races! http://www.bbc.com/sport/rowing/35907714

It seems from comments here that we've all made the assumption that the faculty and staff at this school are all white. Sounds a bit like a prejudiced view from the outset. How would this be different if the adults were blacks? If this were a predominantly black school rather than the ~20 black kids cited? In the real world do the statistics show those as more closely in line with discipline rates at white kids in white schools or just as biased? Is the staffer correct in saying, "The parents of those black kids don't mess around"? Is that discipline or is it abuse and violence that begets more violence? Yes, it's an excellent story. But I think that there are much broader questions to be addressed that are, quite literally, less black and white.

Yeow! What a great opening salvo there. Has a vague hint of Triffids, a dash of Andromeda and a thwack of Corn children. I do hope that this one will turn into a full blown tale.

I suspect that short of a regulatory body making them mandatory the schools will balk at the idea. Aside from the violation of "tradition" they'd be sure to claim it puts their team at a disadvantage. Of course after 5 or 10 kids drown and the lawsuits get settled the idea will catch on.

I've worked at more than a few of those World Chili Cookoffs and your report is spot on! Very funny and downright real. Our scout unit ran the Buffalo Chip Toss for the young'uns. Figured if the chips made it into the chili nobody would even notice.

Beautifully done. Short, sweet, and right into a meteor strike from out of nowhere!

Geesh - the boxing sequence was obviously serious business. But Cole, you never warned us about the dangers of crew! Bet you never saw 60 kids being treated during a football game. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/03/24/nearly-60-students-treated-after-crew-boats-capsize-on-frigid-ny-river.html?intcmp=hplnws

I'm surprised at not finding an existing thread on this wonderful whodunit by Cole. It has his marvelous touch of personalities, friendships and relationships, humanity, and pathos. But this time it's wrapped up in an Agatha-Christie-esque tale. Wonderful, enjoyable, and a welcome addition to Cole's repertoir.

Have they provided any justification behind their action? Are they declaring HIV is no more? Has the program grown too costly for the few who might benefit? Are they just throwing it out because they figure "you play, you pay"? Obviously none of this is a valid reason, but governments love to pretend we're all better for their action.

Definitely a triple double! I do like happy endings.

Okay - I've never particularly thought of Mel Brooks as prescient, but this dances incredibly close to the "nominate the new sheriff" routine from Blazing Saddles: Hedley Lamar: One day is all we'll need to secure your name in the annals of Western history, and to get for you a nomination for, dare I say...?Gov Le Petamaine: Dare, dare!Hedley Lamar: The Presidency! Sadly, this isn't some wild west comedy. A nomination for Ben Carson could actually provide a number of swing voters for Trump. Even a rumored nomination could have an impact, given recent minority polling that doesn't show a particularly strong following for Clinton.This whole election cycle is turning the American experiment with democracy into a shambles.

A 15-year-old Australian boy whose attempted suicide was thwarted speaks out on Anti-Bullying Day. http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/school-life/nathan-whitmore-makes-a-passionate-plea-to-help-bullying-victims/news-story/289ae8dd31e435b6f28b9232ffa855ce

I like Robert's work, but I can't help but chuckle when a guy named "Reich" calls somebody a fascist!

There is no question in my mind that Trump is an ass. He will not receive my vote in any public forum and I can only hope and pray that the majority of folks will agree. That said, however, I find that a group soliciting volunteers to join in a conspiracy to interfere with anybody's right to free speech -- even Donald -- is one of the more frightening things I've heard in my lifetime. How does it differ from any other gang of thugs? Or from some group that finds this website or any other website offensive? It immediately brought to mind the words of Pastor Martin Niemöller ...Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out.

I just finished reading Feredir and immediately turned on Schubert's Symphony No. 8. Yep. Beautiful, haunting and crying for more. Just like the Schubert.