Merkin

Novels are a different beast altogether, and I think it makes great good sense to recognize them for the block they impose on a short story writer's kind of writing. I love your short stories, and if you can spin your particular brand of imagination out into a novella that would be peachy keen with me. I think distinctions based on word count are pretty meaningless anyway; doesn't it have more to do with how you best progress from a starting point to a finish that makes it all work? James

I think the better part of wisdom is to stay well out of this one.

Just another pretty butt.

The Winesap, grown locally, is a fermented apple, and is highly favored by cows. Cows fed exclusively on Winesaps produce a creamy sort of hard cider which is very popular among country folk and musicians.James

No, but you'd better resign yourself to making out under the stars in the business end of a pickup truck that usually hauls composted vegetation.

Camy's move to town makes great sense. The answer lies in the Wiki article: Also, since they do not have opposed thumbs, it takes at least two of them to change a light bulb.

Now gentlemen, play nice. In answer to your original question, Cole, I would not mind at all reading more about baseball. After all, it is such a thoughtful game; I am sure there is much more to be said, and much more for these boys to learn of life from the experience of playing it. James

Cole somehow always seems to pack a full-length novel into a short story. Yet no matter how long they are, they always end too soon. James

Have the Altar Guild ladies called on you yet?

Sometimes these discussions can become very anal.

Sounds like Ray is going to experience what 'extended family' is all about. What a wonderful adventure in store!James

I agree that the publishing house made its decision on the basis that they want to sell more books. In fact, I believe that is their only decision driver. The underlying issue here is that publishing executives appear to have made the assumption that only straight characters in fiction will sell the most books. I think that's bullshit, and I think sales records will bear me out on this. James

Your mattress is rolled up and waitingYour clothing is all in a boxYour significant other isn't your motherSo breathe deep and pull up your sox.James

You've set out a very interesting premise here, R J, but I'm left wondering who these beings are and how they might relate to humans. An ending seems to be missing. James

Took the words out of my mouth, Bruin: it is a brilliant poem. The careful metric construction of each line underscores the sense that here is repetition that has been experienced over and over, and that the past will always dominate and haunt the speaker's present, and continue to force itself upon his future. James Merkin

In some jurisdictions just the accusation is sufficient.

And to think, I used to give it away...

I was amazed at the number of commentaries on this particular study that can be found on the internet. There are numerous criticisms of the factual reliability of penis size claims as disclosed by the Kinsey study. Here is a typical critique: '...the study's fatal flaw, if I may, is its reliance on self-reported data. The straight and gay men in the study were asked to measure themselves and report back to creepy Dr. Kinsey, so odds are good that many men, straight and gay, lied, telling researchers what they, the subjects of the study, wanted to believe -- i.e. that their cocks were huge. I would knock an inch off both averages just to be on the safe side, bringing the average -- average, mind you -- gay cock down to 5.46 inches, and the average straight cock down to 5.14 inches; numbers which jibe with my own observations in the field.' (Dan Savage) Bottom line, we just have more size queens.

If you're not tolerant you should get a life.

Midnight Dude?

Since I live quite close to the coast I took Rev. Robertson's advice and shucked my gayness. This has had the additional benefit of providing me with a conversational topic that I feel I can use indefinitely with my family, friends, and neighbors. Also, I now have no fear of eye contact, since my eyes are protected by eyeglasses. (If any of you anticipate eye contact with another person I urge you to use protection.)

I think there's more than one of your fans who will await the next installment with bated breath.James

Very cool. (I'd join Tracy's wave but I have no rhythm.)

Let's give credit to the rebel rag-tag forces who somehow withstood enormous setbacks including being strafed and bombed by our own western high-tech wizardry.