Bruin Fisher

Does this brand me as irredeemably drippy? I don't read gay fiction because it mirrors real life, I read it because it allows me to imagine what life COULD be, or at my age what it MIGHT HAVE been. So generally I love happy endings. If it's a good story I don't mind the odd sad ending but mostly I like them happy. The clue is in the title: it's fiction, if it was reality I wouldn't have to read it, I'm living it. I like my fiction to be different from reality, and to provide me enjoyment and boost my happiness quotient. Okay I hold my hands up and confess: I like escapism. So shoot me. Bruin, very happy that there is so much excellently written escapism here at AD for me to enjoy. <- Happy Bruin with a bunch of AD mates

Well, of course, I knew that - doesn't everybody???! I did, however, have to ask my friend W.Pedia about Melpomene, who turns out to be the Greek Muse of Tragedy (originally of Singing) so I've learned something there. But even dear Wiki couldn't explain Foeffer, (or F?ffer either). Anyone know who or what this is? Bruin, perplexed and not liking it

I want to say a heartfelt Thank You, Rick. Your post is brave, yes indeed it is. It is also IMPORTANT and for that you deserve thanks from all of us. I hope the CD4 count improves and the viral load continues insignificant. I know others on the three-drug cocktail and it seems to be very effective. One guy I know is still healthy 15 years after diagnosis.May your beard grow ever longer, or, as the Scots would say, Lang may your lum reek!Bruin x

Right up my street. Thank'ee kindly! Bruin

I don't think I like Mr West very much. What's he like in a bar when he's had a few, I wonder? All the poor bear did was look at him, and because he didn't like the way she looked at him he tried to kick her in the face. He started the fight, not her! And he ended up killing her, and her cubs had to be put down too. So many pub fights start just like that: 'Who're you looking at, sunshine? I don't like the way you're looking at me. You wanna make something of it? Mebbe THIS'll teach you some manners, and THIS, and THIS...' Couldn't he have just run away? Bruin

Magpies of the world unite!I have every sympathy, Camy. The Sony is very bright, very shiny. Just begging to be coveted.On the other hand you have to sympathise with Waterstone's too. They don't have experience selling things that go wrong. It must be freaking them out.Once you've discounted the Sony e-reader, Waterstones do sell a lot of alternatives that shouldn't give any trouble. I recently bought one and I have to say its advantages far outweigh its disadvantages:Advantages:It can be used in almost all lighting situations except complete darkness, and there's a low cost accessory available to overcome that limitation, very useful for those with nothing better to do under the bedclothes.Very low cost, to suit Camys with long pockets and short arms - and delicate credit cards.Very green: it uses no power at all (even page turning is done using miniscule amounts of energy derived from the digestion of vegetable matter or protein - a wide variety of energy sources is available). Also it is fully recyclable and biodegradable, made entirely of paper!Water resistant - it will withstand even full immersion in water, but it is advisable to let it dry before attempting use since damage can occur if used when very wet. Multi-purpose: when not in use for reading, can be used to prop open a door, prevent a table from wobbling on an uneven floor, etc. When no longer needed it will even help with the lighting of a fire.Disadvantages:Contains only one book. Storage capacity is the one major drawback relative to the Sony that I can see. The low cost of purchase however makes it practical to buy several. I have shelves full of them now!I'm hooked - can't think how I ever got along without them. Isn't technology marvellous - I often wonder what my grandfather would think about it all if he were alive now!Bruin

Sorry Cole, my Brittery is a little flat and and all I have to charge it with is a small apartment. Seems like I may be unable to lift your spirits for a while. Sorry - elevate your bourbon?

A sidewalk? Is that anything like a cakewalk?

I installed it last night and looked at it very briefly. First impressions: lots of very good ideas including a very comprehensive implementation of tabs. It seemed significantly slower than Firefox rendering pages (the opposite of what Colin found, and he will have tested it more exhaustively than I did), but this didn't worry me since it's a Beta. I'm fiercely loyal to Firefox so I sort of didn't want it to be good but I think I was wrong. They've announced their intention to produce versions for Linux and OSX. Good for Google! Bruin

You spoke too soon, din'tyer? The weather's gone back to being vile."What was that?""What was what?""That warm bright thing, just then.""That was the summer.""Damn, I missed it. Do I get another?""Sorry, mate, that's yer lot.""Oh. Are there any more chocolates?"Perhaps, dear Camy, you should have asked a brick. They're all psychic, you know!A Frisson? Is that like a Soup?on but cooked differently?

Camy, the man with the creative backup disks! Very nice. Caught me at a time when I was thinking exactly what the poem expresses, so it sang my dirge with me. Which made me feel a little better. Thanks mate! Bruin

... and in similar vein, I once heard a teacher ask his class a question, the answer to which was 'happiness'. No-one knew the answer, so he was faced with a sea of blank faces. Eventually he tried giving them a clue: "Come on, it begins with an H...." still no answers, so after a further pause he continued: "... and ends with 'appiness'!" The class sat stunned, and I for one was replaying the previous few seconds in my mind, trying to work out if I'd heard what I thought I'd heard. Yes, I had. An unforgettable moment. Bruin

Two great masterpieces by Titian are for sale by the Duke of Sutherland. Apparently they're probably worth about ?300,000,000 at auction ($550,000,000?) but he's offering them to two galleries for ?50,000,000 each. So it's making the news here in the UK. It reminded a friend of mine of this limerick and I just had to share it with you guys because it's a classic, I think. Titian was mixing rose madder To paint a lewd nude up a ladder. Her position, to Titian Suggested coition So he rushed up the ladder and had 'er. Now I'm blushing...

Truly wonderful, Colin. Commentators make terrible gaffes sometimes. A British cricket commentator, much loved and sorely missed now he's retired, in 1976 announced "The Bowler's Holding the Batsman's Willey" when the England team were playing Australia and Michael Holding for England was bowling to the great Australian batsman Peter Willey. BBC Sport website article that tells this story Bruin

Brilliant, Colin. I read it, mouth agape, and only after reading it did I wheel my maths into play and worked out you've been gay for nearly nineteen years... so you didn't have a great deal of time to explore being straight! I hope you didn't cause your mother too much trouble. It must have been awkward for both of you, going through such a traumatic experience, and not even in your own home but in a hospital! Bruin

A Camy triumph. Read it and weep, shout, laugh, leap around making monkey noises. It has just changed my day immeasureably for the better. Pulled me out of my current funk and made me get up and get on with the housework. Thank you and here's a gold star. Bruin

Has anyone seen my rattle? Bruin

I read this pair as a scene from a movie, from two different camera angles. I found it enjoyable because I was able to picture the scene clearly in my mind based on the words. That's very well done. Ultimately I have to say it was a little unsatisfactory, only because it was just that - a scene. It told neither the beginning or the end of any story. Just a vignette, almost a snapshot, and I find one of the joys and challenges of flash fiction is fitting a real story (with a storyline that progresses and concludes) into about a thousand words. Sorry Richard, I don't mean to sound critical. What you did you did really well. But I want to know what happens to these two guys and what their relationship is. I want a story. And if I don't get it I'm going to throw my rattle out of the pram. Bruin

I've said it before in the forums - I think Awesomedude Radio is a wonderful service. I love to listen to it while I work, it alternately soothes me and challenges me and lifts my spirits. The playlist is better than anything I can find elsewhere. I don't listen when I'm doing creative writing, but I need to be alone with my thoughts to do that. My heartfelt thanks to his awesomeness and all those who've helped to provide the radio service. Bruin

Works for me. Does exactly what I expect. Bruin

I see Colin as Brad.

5/10. And some of them I kicked myself when the truth was revealed. Bruin

Very nice poem. I loved it. Sweet. Bruin

Since Jagged Angels is Dude's novel pick for August 2008, it seems the right time to resurrect this thread from 2005! I just read Jagged Angel right through, almost in one sitting. It's an involving story with plot twists that take you aback and the situation that develops is quite scary. Woven into all this is the developing maturity of the lead character and his self-discovery, and initially he's not a very sympathetic character. I didn't like him. He gets the corners knocked off him though and becomes a real hero. A splendid story, from a very talented writer. Thanks, Pecman! Bruin

Now, that would be worth seeing....