Merkin

I agree wholeheartedly with everything Des has said immediately above, and I share his view that we as individuals manifest both characteristics dependant on circumstances. The key issue here as Des points out is just this: '...there is a real problem when we compartmentalise people with labels of an introvert being, a deep thinker, an anti-social recluse, and an extrovert as being, an outgoing, sociable or shallow thinker.' Additionally, however, I'm with Cole in his experience of his innate introverted self consciously playing the role of extroversion under circumstances which demand that he put that face forward. Within the spectrum of human characteristics those of us who habitually inhabit the end labeled "introvert" have a hard time (and a very self-aware struggle) wearing the outgoing mask of extroversion. Trab is onto something, I think, when he identifies the ability of the charismatic to pull others along in his wake. 'Charisma' is an exceedingly hard characteristic to isolate, and although it would be easy to say that it represents an extreme form of extroversion, I think it is more likely to represent a quality manifested by someone who has easy access to the whole spectrum of introvert-extrovert responses, whether he uses them for good or ill. If both Joseph Stalin and Mohandas Gandhi can be described as charismatic leaders, then it seems that we need to be very careful in describing our understanding of human personality types.

Watch yor moth, Cole. I dobt our fonders cold even cont, mch less spell.

Truly excellent sound effects. I particularly liked the footsteps slogging through the debris and ashes. And hearing the voices is a treat. Thanks, Mike, for the reprise.

This one made my day and I bet you won't stop smiling either. My lemonade stand was a flop but this nine year-old built an arcade out of cardboard boxes and scored big. http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-caines-arcade-video-cardboard-arcade-20120411,0,7270609.story?track=icymi

It's wonderful, Camy, and proof positive of my heartfelt belief that poems are always best when read aloud.

Those kids did a great job and deserve medals. I do have a misgiving, though. Many (most?) automobiles are rigged so that when you turn the key to 'Off' the steering locks up and you lose power to the brakes. Would that have been the case on most schoolbuses?

They never stop running. Now he'll start wheeling and dealing behind the scenes in the hopes that if Romney should get elected he'll end up in the cabinet, maybe as Secretary of Church and State.

The role of poet laureate in the United States is quite ambiguous, and people seldom pay attention to anything they say. The job, unlike England's, does not even merit the small cask of dry wine and no wreath is bestowed. It's a position largely misunderstood and it has no official status in our government. Billy Collins, (laureate from 2001 - 2003) was once asked by a high school student "How many people would have to die for you to become President?" Except for delivering an annual reading and lecture there is no obligation to write. American poets laureate invent their own "duties"; some, like Ted Kooser, Rita Dove, Robert Hass, and Billy Collins have reached out to popularize poetry with programs in the schools and in the media, but Joseph Brodsky's plan to place books of poetry in motels and supermarkets unfortunately never came to pass.

Do we credit Hollywood for this prevailing stereotype of what Jesus looked like? There are so many to choose among: Max von Sydow, the hippy Jesus; Christian Bale, whose only qualification seemed to be his first name; Jeffrey Hunter, the blue- eyed blond Jesus (woo woo). There have been several others who wore the white bathrobe but I think the honors for the stereotype must be shared between Robert Powell and Jim Caviezel--one of these fellas must be our underwater Jesus. It's hard to tell, since he's holding his breath and turning a bit blue..

This story was my first encounter with the work of BiJanus when I read it over on Nifty. My eyes were wet when I finished it there, and again upon rereading it here. James

This is NOT posted in response to anything Mike may have posted recently, which I haven't read anyway. The 8 Year Old Patterns of Development 'Eight year olds are outgoing and lively. They love to tackle new projects and have a new sense of confidence that was lacking at age 7.' 'They work fast and play fast. This reckless approach to life can lead to accidents and sloppy work.' 'They tend to brag and to make up excuses for their behavior.' 'Nothing is too difficult for the 8-year-old who - often overestimates his ability to meet new challenges - needs help from trying to do to much - is very dramatic' Cognitive Development 'seeks to understand the reasons for things' 'begins to feel competent in skills and have preferences for some activities and subjects' Language Development 'can converse at an almost adult level' 'reading may be a major interest' Physical Development 'finger control is quite refined' 'stamina increases; can run and swim further' Social/Emotional Development 'can be helpful, cheerful, and pleasant as well as rude, bossy, and selfish' 'emotions change quickly' 'impatient; finds waiting for special events torturous' 'develops close friends of same sex' 'favors group play, clubs, and team sports' 'more influenced by peer pressure' 'can be obsessed with, and motivated by money' Stages of Awareness Regarding Differences 'Regarding sex, the eight year old is becoming more aware that the specifics are not very clear. So, some will ask, others will not. Girls are more likely to broach the subject with mother, specifically regarding intercourse and menstruation. Of course, the children will discuss the subject among their friends, as well as begin to make the connection from observing animal mating. This is a very good age to begin to discuss sex in more detail with many children, in response to their questions. If they don't ask or seem aware, perhaps you can put it off until nine or ten.' 'Eight year olds become quite involved in interpersonal relationships. Boys notice pretty girls and girls will chase handsome boys on the playground. Parents should be alert to the possibility that their eight year old could become involved in sexual play. Parents should not allow the circumstances that might lead to this to occur.' (Freely adapted from various child development resources.)

The fact that you published poetry first took my eye, Mike; that was practically unheard of then (and you are still among the few). What blew me away was the sensitive, intelligent discussion of it, and in fact of all the writing posted on this site. It was an amazing discovery for someone making do with Nifty for online gay writing: AD was a site where not only could I predictably find thoughtful, creative work by and for our GLBT family and friends, but also wonderfully interesting and stimulating discussions of those writings and of the world around us. Thanks to links you provided I began to discover other equally thoughtful family sites, but yours is the one I've always returned to as my home base on the internet. Thank you. James

This is a wonderful letter, and the shame of it is that I, as a citizen of the U.S.A., am in no position to write a similar letter putting forth my own country as an example to be emulated. James

That's a powerful column, Des. What religious leadership seems to have in common around the world and throughout history is the fear that we will think for ourselves, and they are bent on achieving the means to prevent that, regardless of the consequence to our humanity.

Nice twist to each. Thanks, Lug.

Time to stir the pot a little. What do you think of using dialect in writing dialogue (or for writing exposition, for that matter)? Here's a classic example (for Americans): “W’en old man Rabbit say ‘scoot,’ dey scooted, en w’en ole Miss Rabbit say ‘scat,’ dey scatted. Dey did dat. En dey kep’ der cloze clean, and day ain’t had no smut on der nose nudder.” FromUncle Remus – A Story About Little Rabbits, by Joel Chandler Harris. Personally, I shudder when I see it looming ahead in any story I pick up, and I tend to put the story back down and move on. Dialect done badly is excruciating, and it is done badly very nearly always. This, I think, is because writers lack the necessary skill to pull it off due to a tin ear for speech outside of their own experience, and also because of the difficulties associated with coming up with any sort of deliberate misspelling of words that are supposed to be 'dialect' words. I also believe that readers have no patience with it. Mark Twain may have gotten away with writing in dialect, using it to convey class or caste or location in history, but I cannot think of a successful use of it in my general reading. James

Next he'll advocate passing a law against rainbows.

Colin's examples make the case I was so clumsily advocating above. I also think editors and beta readers are key to the success of this technique, for only by test driving your creation can you be sure another reader understands. (Added Later): I just read through Camy's brilliant suggestion, an article by Neil Cross. Among his many good points is this key bit: 'Anyone can write a bunch of talking, but talking isn’t dialogue. Like every other word in your novel, dialogue is there to do a job — a number of jobs, in fact. It needs to move the story forward, to give information, to intensify characterisation. Ideally, it should do all three at once.' Worth a look. I particularly like the admonition that dialogue is meant to intensify characterization. I take that to mean that dialogue among several characters should exhibit in each case the personality of the character speaking, as the reader has come to know it. That way tag lines become almost superfluous. James

Although I tend to agree with your general point, Richard, I think you can repose some confidence in your reader to get who is talking once you establish, say, a pair of characters exchanging conversational lines. Typically if conversation becomes extended for some number of exchanges between the characters, the reader can usually follow (as in watching volleys in a tennis match) as the spoken lines alternate, with perhaps an occasional hint from you by repeating a character name. I think most readers would find it quite wearying if each uttered line was ascribed to a character, either by name or with a pronoun. Similarly, in an action sequence, it is often possible to let the characters interact, once they have been identified, without continuous labeling as to who is doing what. Often the nature of the interaction is enough to indicate which character is acting (Paul is the one applying the hot iron, Peter is the one screaming and begging for mercy). James

Yet Hope must always battle with Certainty. James

I can't begin to do justice to this complex social and psychological and political issue that permeates our culture, Gee. Where I live now it is even more clouded--absolutely muddied--by some kind of weird subtext concerning constitutionality as seen through the lens of the Civil War, no less. So I won't try, except to say that one of the key differences I see among my acquaintences in their attitudes toward guns and gun ownership, above and beyond their individual political biases, is whether they grew up in a rural setting or in a city-town-suburban environment. Guns, for a country boy like me, have always been a tool, necessary for varmint control, crop protection, putting down an animal in dire straits, and for both sport and subsistence hunting. This, I believe, is in line with your own experience as you describe it. Guns are not inherently "evil" although some manifestations of this form of weaponry are either fairly useless (such as many of the handguns if used for the applications I've touched upon) or grotesque (most versions of automatic or military weapons, most thankfully illegal). Country folk respect guns, teach their kids to respect guns, and use guns mostly in their working relationships with nature. People born and raised in American cities and their suburbs, however, have a much different experience of guns; one which I have not shared except late in life and without the essential early and continual exposure to gun threat or serious gun-bearer violence. I cannot speak knowledgeably from this point-of-view, and must leave it to others to expand on the real danger of guns as killing machines. What I do recognize is that we have entered an era where many elements of the general population are essentially out of control. 'Civilization' is breaking down, and concern by individuals for the well-being of others is disappearing in many settings and situations. I believe that guns add a sinister and potentially devastating variable to many of the circumstances we encounter more and more in today's society. I have reluctantly come to believe that public safety can only be achieved through rigid and relentless gun control--if only we could agree on what should consititute that control. I an beginning to think we will not be safe until we get rid of all the guns. I am afraid of what that means for the rural countryside. James

An astonishingly heroic, deeply moving revelation.

Re defacto relationships in Australia: It is my understanding that every Australian has a defacto relationship with at least one bartender.

Thanks, E.J. Some eye-openers there.

Glad you got them back to math; now there's a subject you can sink your teeth into.