DesDownunder

Ditto

That's one of the reasons I like Avast. It is fast and thorough, and I can still use the computer.

Bruin, I took no offense at the mention of bacon, I merely saw an opportunity to state how much I missed bacon because of my adopting a vegetarian diet. I was not meaning to promote vegetarian diets even though I can see how this might have appeared. To each his own diet, and having dieted, then so to do we live and die.

I use Avast (free version) for anti-virus. I also have the free version of Malwarebytes installed, but only run a scan with it if I suspect trouble. So far, after many years, I have found these are effective protections.

Bacon is one of the things this vegetarian misses very much, but the agony of the pig's slaughter is more than I can bare thinking about.

I generally find that when I question if I took my pills, then I didn't take them. This seems to work for me as I am still not pregnant.

It's very important to recognise the two ways that the word theory is used. In the colloquial sense a theory is generally a hypothetical, or a conjectural statement based on intuitive logic, at best. Scientifically, a (rational) theory is an argument with, evidence, as an explanation for an observed phenomena. As such the scientific use is much closer, subject to testing, to the next stage of becoming "a law." e.g. we no longer speak of the theory of gravity, it is generally accepted, and called, the "the law of gravity." Whereas the big bang theory is exactly what it implies, an explanation based on evidence for the beginning of the universe. Theories which are mere conjecture are useful means to question an observation but until evidence is presented, it really is nothing more than common conjecture or an idea from our imagination. As such it is a very useful starting point, but should not be considered as a scientific theory which offers explanation backed by evidence. Scientific theory is of course, open to challenge by new evidence, but common use of theory as an idea seems to be what most people understand when they say, "It's only a theory," implying no evidence is forthcoming. Discussion and evidence (fossil) of the theory of evolution by Darwin, and what we have come to understand based on his work, shows us that it is a theory on very solid ground as no scientific evidence has been found to confront the theory. So much so, in fact, many people regard or treat evolutionary theory as having adequate evidence to no longer be considered as, hypothetical. Based solely on the idea of man being at the centre of the universe, the once commonly held theory about the Sun revolving around the Earth has been shown to be lacking evidence. The Earth being flat is another 'theory' in this category of imaginative speculation, or a myth. The idea that the Earth is round, a planet, a sphere is no longer postulated as even a mythical theory; (I hope.) Too many people misconstrue "It's only a theory," as a way to dismiss well founded scientific research based on evidence. These two uses of the word theory is very important to bare in mind.

James is certainly on a very productive roll. The quality is unquestionably very high. Love the poem.

sorry....

I've maintained for years that there is a sign on the back of Neptune that reads, "Beware third planet from the sun, hostile life-form. Land at your own risk."

That could so easily become a which hunt.

When I was in high school, the worst drugs were coffee and rarely, tobacco. However, I can vouch for either of the two alcoves in the school library, small though they were, they seemed to give just enough room for blowing intimacy.

Well Camy, is that so? Good for you!

That's delightful!

I remember button flys. I also remember when I got my first zipper trousers. My Grandmother warned me to not zip up fast. She was right!

I can never find the tool that I want when I need it, but whilst I am looking, I do find the tools that I needed a week ago.

I don't think they mean stud muffins, just the usual wooden studs used for putting up a wall. At least I hope they don't mean stud muffins, not that I mind short stud muffins.

Pass the tissues, please. Suddenly I feel at peace and alive, And yet disturbed, happy to love, Yes, that's it, Happily disturbed at life.

Probably, the flame came from a religious nut case. At least you get responses to your stories. Although I'm sure you could do without that flame. Your story certainly didn't deserve it, in my opinion.

An absolutely delightful story with accurate psychology and enchanting characters.

Tool Glossary DRILL PRESS: A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings your beer across the room, splattering it against that freshly-stained heirloom piece you were drying. WIRE WHEEL: Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere under the workbench with the speed of light. Also removes fingerprints and hard-earned guitar calluses from fingers in about the time it takes you to say, "YEOWW! ELECTRIC HAND DRILL: Normally used for spinning pop rivets in their holes until you die of old age. SKIL SAW: A portable cutting tool used to make studs too short. PLIERS: Used to round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the creation of blood-blisters. The most often the tool used by all women. BELT SANDER: An electric sanding tool commonly used to convert minor touch-up jobs into major refinishing jobs. HACKSAW: One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board principle. It transforms human energy into a crooked, unpredictable motion, and the more you attempt to influence its course, the more dismal your future becomes. VISE-GRIPS: Generally used after pliers to completely round off bolt heads. If nothing else is available, they can also be used to transfer intense welding heat to the palm of your hand. WELDING GLOVES: Heavy-duty leather gloves used to prolong the conduction of intense welding heat to the palm of your hand. OXYACETYLENE TORCH: Used almost entirely for lighting various flammable objects in your shop on fire. Also handy for igniting the grease inside the wheel hub you want the bearing race out of. WHITWORTH SOCKETS: Once used for working on older British cars and motorcycles, they are now used mainly for impersonating that 9/16 or1/2 inch socket you've been searching for the last 45 minutes. TABLE SAW: A large stationary power tool commonly used to launch wood projectiles for testing wall integrity. HYDRAULIC FLOOR JACK: Used for lowering an automobile to the ground after you have installed your new brake shoes, trapping the jack handle firmly under the bumper. EIGHT-FOOT LONG YELLOW PINE 2X4: Used for levering an automobile upward off of a trapped hydraulic jack handle. TWEEZERS: A tool for removing wood splinters and wire wheel wires. RADIAL ARM SAW: A large stationary power saw primarily used by most shops to scare neophytes into choosing another line of work. TWO-TON ENGINE HOIST: A tool for testing the maximum tensile strength of everything you forgot to disconnect. CRAFTSMAN 1/2 x 24-INCH SCREWDRIVER: A very large pry bar that inexplicably has an accurately machined screwdriver tip on the end opposite the handle. AVIATION METAL SNIPS: See hacksaw. PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER: Normally used to stab the vacuum seals under lids and for opening old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing oil on your shirt; but can also be used, as the name implies, to strip out Phillips screw heads. Women excel at using this tool. STRAIGHT SCREWDRIVER: A tool for opening paint cans. Sometimes used to convert common slotted screws into non-removable screws. HOSE CUTTER: A tool used to make hoses too short. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent to the object we are trying to hit. Women primarily use it to make gaping holes in walls when hanging pictures. Also used as replacement for screwdriver. MECHANIC'S KNIFE: Used to open and slice through the contents of cardboard cartons delivered to your front door; works particularly well on contents such as seats, vinyl records, liquids in plastic bottles, collector magazines, refund checks, and rubber or plastic parts. Especially useful for slicing work clothes, but only while in use. DAMMIT TOOL: Any handy tool that you grab and throw across the garage while yelling "DAMMIT" at the top of your lungs. It is also, most often, the next tool that you will need.

I love that no one mentioned the names. It just goes to show how cleverly the story was written.

A willy that is nilly is probably too short to be lopped.

Luv it Rick.

Even we atheists can admire this story, Well done James.