Tragic Rabbit

Yes, the Future is filled with endless threads and posts of humorless jokes, anecdotes and 'amusing tales'. Be Afraid. TR

Ah, no, no, James, James, you've made the classic mistake, but that's okay, it's rooted in ye olde spelling mistayke--to wit, the famous 'trials' in Salem were WATCH TRIALS, not 'witch' trials. There are no such things as witches, silly, but watches, now, many wars have been fought over the correct time! Puritans were famous clockwatchers but never remembered to wind the things, so were always in the wrong when they'd take someone to court over CLOCKS and WATCHES. After CoE and Episcopalians became mainstream, adopting Greenwich Mean Tyme and later Daylight Savings, the Puritans and other timeless Fools were left barking and gnawing their fingernails in frustration---resulting in a terrible persecution across NorthEastern America in ye olden days over What Time It Really Was. Puritans 2, Sane People 8,634,201 at last check. Pay all that no mind, Cole et al. To find out the Real Time, just stick your head out the door and read the sundial. Fear not, no more Watch Trials in these enlightened days. What's good enough for G. Julius Caesar is surely good enough for us! Unfortunately, fundamnalist christians still haven't learned to spell two centuries on. TR

Three Little Pigs 'too offensive' By Sean Coughlan BBC News, education A story based on the Three Little Pigs fairy tale has been turned down by a government agency's awards panel as the subject matter could offend Muslims. The digital book, re-telling the classic story, was rejected by judges who warned that "the use of pigs raises cultural issues". Becta, the government's educational technology agency, is a leading partner in the annual Bett Award for schools. The judges also attacked Three Little Cowboy Builders for offending builders. The book's creative director, Anne Curtis, said the idea that including pigs in a story could be interpreted as racism was "like a slap in the face". 'Cultural issues' The CD-Rom digital version of the traditional story of the three little pigs, called Three Little Cowboy Builders, is aimed at primary school children. But judges at this year's Bett Award said that they had "concerns about the Asian community and the use of pigs raises cultural issues". The Three Little Cowboy Builders has already been a prize winner at the recent Education Resource Award - but its Newcastle-based publishers, Shoo-fly, were turned down by the Bett Award panel. The feedback from the judges explaining why they had rejected the CD-Rom highlighted that they "could not recommend this product to the Muslim community". They also warned that the story might "alienate parts of the workforce (building trade)". The judges criticised the stereotyping in the story of the unfortunate pigs: "Is it true that all builders are cowboys, builders get their work blown down, and builders are like pigs?" Animal Farm? Ms Curtis said that rather than preventing the spread of racism, such an attitude was likely to inflame ill-feeling. As another example, she says would that mean that secondary schools could not teach Animal Farm because it features pigs? Her company is committed to an ethical approach to business and its products promote a message of mutual respect, she says - and banning such traditional stories will "close minds rather than open them". Becta, the government funded agency responsible for technology in schools and colleges, says that it is standing by the judges' verdict. "Becta with its partners is responsible for the judging criteria against which the 70 independent judges, mostly practising teachers, comment. All the partners stick by the judging criteria," said a Becta spokesman. The reason that this product was not shortlisted was because "it failed to reach the required standard across a number of criteria", said the spokesman. Becta runs the awards with the Besa trade association and show organisers, Emap Education. Merlin John, author of an educational technology website which highlighted the story, warns that such rulings can undermine the credibility of the awards. "When benchmarks are undermined by pedestrian and pedantic tick lists, and by inflexible, unhelpful processes, it can tarnish the achievements of even the most worthy winners. "It's time for a rethink, and for Becta to listen to the criticisms that have been ignored for a number of years," said Mr John. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_n...ion/7204635.stm Published: 2008/01/23 13:49:31 GMT ? BBC MMVIII

Old Habits Die Hard A man was standing in line waiting to go into a movie theater when he suddenly felt the guy behind him massaging his shoulders. He turned around and said, "Hey, what the hell are you doing?" The guy stammered, "Oh, I'm terribly sorry. It's just that I'm a chiropractor and I could tell you were pretty tense, and without even realizing it, I started to release the tension and help you relax." "That's hogwash," the man cried. "I'm a lawyer, and you don't see me screwing the guy in front of me!"

Exactly how 'long' do you need the editor to be, Caylor?

Twas indeed my own and only point, Dear Pec, that Roddenberry as person wasn't relevant to Roddenberry as Great White Bird of Trekdom, whose sacred creations were being trifled with. Ba da boom TR

Yes, and Adolf Hitler was a smart, often charming, vegetarian non-drinker who loved kids and dogs...but does that make him 'better' than Roddenberry? hijack the world...

No, today's quiz was yesterday, you just missed it. Don't blink! TR

I'm more 'anit' turkey, myself. All that neverending gobble-de-gook. Penguins are cool...practically cold, really. TR

No, and if you keep this up, I'll report you to Gene Roddenberry's ghost. TR P.S. They totally screwed Gene over in the making of STTNG, as you know, plus all the movies after the first one. Ah, Gene, we hardly knew ye...

Yes and yes. If you ask anyone who used to teach, and most who currently teach, why they'd rather not teach, it'll be this exact ban. Tiresome but true. Too much media and political cr*p and not enough time for your students. Bleh. TR

No.

I can understand Mel just fine, but don't ask me to interpret Southern (that's 'Deep South') American. Even some forms of Texanese are unintelligible to me. When I think of Aussie accents, though, I tend to think of the mock-Aussie skits perpetrated by Monty Python's Flying Circus. What some people in the UK don't appreciate is that Americans don't understand their fellow Americans if they're from a few States over. I've lived in several parts of the country and have often had to learn to tailor my speech to local ears, even though my pronunciation is pretty close to American Standard. The biggest obstacle is usually speed: there are whole swathes of America where people speak veerrry slooowly...and expect you to do the same. So, while I can understand Bob Hoskins and Michael Caine in films, I can't always understand--or stand--the regional speaking styles of my fellow Americans. For what it's worth... TR I have to say, I adore the BBC news site: Stunning discovery of ancient Hobbit bones in the Shire raises anthropological questions

Des, you didn't just use Star Trek Next Gen as philosophical arguement. Everyone knows you can only use Star Trek TOS for that... TR

OMG, that's English you lot speak? I had no idea, it's always been Greek to me. TR

Yes. You can, or you can first re-send it to Dude and CC the Rabbit (me). Be sure you've made clear what you are submitting is for the Flash section. TR

Correct. Anyone is free to post flash fiction here in the forum (but if it doesn't belong, Camy and I will move or remove it), but AD Authors may prefer to submit their better 'flashers' to TR and the Dude for possible uploading to the main site's Flash section. Please don't do both with the same story. Flash stories in this section will be available for comments from readers, much like posted work in the Poetry and Bull Pen Forums. Kisses... TR

GRRR, where art thou, O Emu?? Yeah, soon Racoon. Bad, bad Camy, not signing onto IMsies... TR

Quite right, Camy, though it's actually THIS! Also heard from Mum today, she actually liked the Millmount Mound story (!!) but she did correct my Ireland geography. Apparently there is no 'County Connacht', Connacht is one of four provinces and contains Counties Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo. So much for me! Kisses... TR

tenterhook Main Entry: ten?ter?hook Pronunciation: \ˈten-tər-ˌhu̇k\ Function: noun Date: 15th century : a sharp hooked nail used especially for fastening cloth on a tenter* ? on tenterhooks : in a state of uneasiness, strain, or suspense <the waiting kept us on tenterhooks> http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenterhooks *Main Entry: ten?ter Pronunciation: \ˈten-tər\ Function: noun Etymology: Middle English teyntur, probably from Medieval Latin tentura, from tenta tent frame, tent Date: 14th century 1: a frame or endless track with hooks or clips along two sides that is used for drying and stretching cloth 2archaic : tenterhook

Again as always, RM, you've managed to capture with well-sharpened words a painful moment that we can all identify with. Very nicely done! You're a gifted poet and I love you. Kisses... TR

Ellen DeGeneres Responds to Killing of Lawrence King Ellen DeGeneres cleared some time during an episode of her talk show, set to air today, to comment on the killing of 15-year-old Lawrence King who was shot Feb. 12 in Oxnard, California allegedly because he was gay. In the commentary, posted to her website last night, Ellen talked about equality, homophobia and the importance of screening politicians on equality. She became emotional and choked up. ELLEN DEGENERES RESPONDS TO KILLING --STORY and VIDEO

Why thank you, Maddie. TR Today's hatchet job: Arrogant 'Crypto-Nazi' William EffBuckley Jr. Felled by Very Large Word AND Prince Harry to Agincourt frontlines; Bavarian claimant 'moves up a notch'

JAMES SAVIK!! Take that *shudder* SuperTramp lyric out of your signature or... I'll murderize you!! Why, I oughtta.... TR Toe-Tapping Larry Seeks Dance Partner

Ay, I'm as English as that Rolf bloke, he's from Perth! I'd never heard of that soldiers song and I like it, it's sugary sad, but on looking into the singer, I found he'd done another song that even I'd heard of: Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport. Mum liked it, had it on a 45 and would sometimes play it and other 'novelty' tunes for us kiddos. Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport by Rolf Harris I have to say, that song and the whole 'diggery-doo' thing sounds awfully gay. Sorry, guys, I know you all love him. Just teasing. **************************** I agree, the idea behind Two Little Boys is somewhere In the Mud of Millmount Mound but it's also in other TR tales. I think the underlying idea of children, particularly boys, caught in a grownup world of hate and horror is one that fascinates and moves me. Grown-up children, the idea of what happens to all the darling little boys after they grow up, is an intriguing idea though not a popular one, I'd guess. People like to mystify and mythologize childhood but there is a definite cut-off date in most people's minds, after which you are forever banished from Eden. Witness the bile and hate directed at former child-star Michael Jackson, now that he's (supposed to be) grown up. Peter Pan wouldn't fare well away from the Isle of Lost Boys, would he? But when and how do we grow up, exactly? I have two soldier boys a bit more like the Rolf song in Der Cowboy. That's about an American and a German soldier having a snowed-in interlude during one of the hairiest battles of WWII--what Americans call the Battle of the Bulge. And DOG BOYS is about a young boy coming to grips with the reality behind his boyish wish to... 'run with the pack', join the world of grown men. It also features two boys who are friends. So does Some Enchanted Evening. ...and you can read all those and other TR tales at Tragic Rabbit Stories TR