Bruin Fisher

I just finished reading Everybody's Wounded. You want a share price tip? Buy Kleenex. This is an emotional rollercoaster (box of tissues advised) but a very satisfying read, well-written and involving. I love the story and strongly recommend it. Bruin

Stunned, awestruck, overwhelmed I am. I haven't even attempted it. My excuse will have to be I don't want to be seen as xenophobic...! Bruin

What a sad story. I don't often comment on news items, but in this case I feel that the reply given by 'dear Abby' was not well thought-out. The parents are grieving, and in their grief have blamed the girlfriend for their son's death. She wants to set the record straight, for her own justification. She doesn't know that the parents unwittingly drove Jerry to suicide; he was worried about their reaction if he told them, but he may have had a lot of other worries as well - workmates, friends, etc. A closeted gay guy has multiple worries like that. Nothing anyone says now will bring poor Jerry back, so whatever anyone says now should be with the goal of helping the grievers to move on. If she tells the parents they drove their son to suicide, will that help anyone? Especially since she can't be sure that's why he killed himself? The girlfriend was his only confidante; was she aware he was sinking into depression? Could she, should she, have done more to help - she was the only one in a position to. Maybe she could just tell them he was gay and leave the rest to them. It might help them to understand why he died - the only idea they have at present is that he was distraught over the split with the girlfriend. It is, as Caylor says, a very sad story and there's no happy ending for any of these poor people. Bruin

Just finished Tim, not quite at one sitting - real life intruded a couple of times. It's a great story if a little harrowing in places. It's very well written, an emotionally powerful story sensitively told. If you haven't read it yet, go read! It's strongly recommended. Bruin

Fantastic! You don't write poetry (?) I don't like poetry (?) But you wrote it and I read it and I love it. It's fully of symbolism, imagery, allusion - you really mastered the art. I read it again, and again, and again, as you do with all the best poetry. It reads and has meaning on multiple levels. So clever, kudos to Trab! Bruin

Thank you, guys, for your kind comments. Glad you liked it. Kapitano, sorry to disappoint, yes I have changed pen-name. However there is a brand new story heading towards completion so check back again soon! Bruin

The New Job by Bruin Fisher I couldn't believe the place. New job, new town, new home, and my first day at work was turning into a tour of Neverland. I mean, I'd heard of the HR policies at the big IT research establishment where I'd just landed this plumb job, and of course when I got the job offer I'd jumped at it, even though it meant moving to Palo Alto. But I'd never realised how far it all went. Did you know there's a rule: you're never more than a hundred metres from food? And the food is free. And there are relaxation rooms dotted about all over the place, all with a different layout and atmosphere. In some you can play games on a wall-sized screen while sitting on, or in, a beanbag. In others you can surround yourself with books and curl up in a big overstuffed chair by a real fire while you read. In others you can prop up a bar and chat, or dance under the disco lights. There are table tennis tables, pool tables, squash courts, two swimming pools, it's amazing anyone gets any work done at all. But they say they want their people at their creative best, and so they need to be happy, relaxed and stress-free. And this apparently is the way to get that. I'm not complaining! I was being shown around by this cute girl who looked like a school-leaver but she said she'd been there three years already, since the centre was first set up. And we were interrupted by a tannoy system which was announcing various social events coming up. The Bridge club, the hiking club, the Grass Court Tennis association, the open source committee, even the dungeon masters. I was trying to listen to my tour guide but the tannoy kept taking my attention, especially to the announcement that the first meeting of the Homo Nerds Support Group was to take place the following evening in Sun Lounge F. This, I thought, was just too good to be true. A social group that fitted me like a glove. You have to understand, gay geeks don't fit into most social groups terribly well. Not in my experience anyway. And now I'd landed a job where they had a club for us! Fantastic! I asked the school-leaver where Sun Lounge F was, and noted the details down on my PDA. By the following evening I was feeling a little more at home. I'd established myself at my desk in the open plan but quiet and private cubicle in the big room which held no less than thirty cubicles like mine. Nevertheless once ensconced in my nice leather chair, I could pretend there was no-one else in earshot. At the end of the day's work I enjoyed a good meal in the cafeteria two doors from my office before scooting home for a shower and change, and then back to the office to find Sun Lounge F. I wore my favourite tight leather trousers and a sleeveless skin tight t-shirt. I spiked my hair a little and shoved my coolest shades on the top of my head. Black leather loafers, no socks. A final check in the mirror ? hair, nose, fly ? and I was satisfied. Sun Lounge F here I come. It turned out to be a sort of enormous conservatory built on the roof. As I walked in, a middle aged woman in twin set and pearls came up to me, her determined smile faltering a little at the sight of me, but she persevered and welcomed me to the new group, handed me what she called a welcome pack and pointed out the refreshments area and the seating, very comfy cushioned cane chairs. I glanced at the cover of the welcome pack and my legs gave way so it was just as well I was standing right against one of the big chairs. It said: Home Owners Support Group.

Kapitano began this thread just four days ago and it's been read 408 times, and posted to 96 times. Maybe that's some kind of a record? Certainly I reckon he deserves a clap for it..... (No, not that kind of clap, sillies) Bruin

But then he'd have missed out on an excuse to sleep with his buddy.....

Another great offering from our Camy. Is there no end to this man's talents? One thing puzzles me - what is the significance of the title - Gab? Bruin - is there no beginning to this man's talents?

My two-penn'orth: The Butler Did It. How's that for an incorrect answer? And now here's the answer to my clock puzzle. He winds his clock back up before he leaves to visit his friend. And he notes the time on his clock when he leaves, and the time on his friend's clock when he arrives. He now has a time interval that would tell him how long the journey took him, except for the discrepancy between the two clocks. He notes the time on his friend's clock before he sets off home, and the time on his own clock when he gets home. Again, he has a time interval that tells him the journey time skewed by the discrepancy between the two clocks. However the discrepancy between the two clocks will increase the apparent journey time on one of his trips and decrease the apparent journey time on the other journey - by exactly the same amount. So if he adds the two time intervals, he gets his there-and-back journey time, because the time discrepancies cancel out. So if he divides this time by two he gets his one-way journey time, and he can subtract that from the journey time he measured to see by how much and in which direction to adjust his clock. Easy when you know how! Bruin

The Trubshaw thing will just have to be put down to serendipity, since I have no idea what your e-mail address is! The character from 'Der Ring des Nibelungen' - the series of operas by Richard Wagner - is given by Wikipedia as Alberich. But I've always spelled it Alveric in my mind because that's how it sounds. Wagner's operas were based on Norse legend and the epic poem 'Nibelungenlied'. Actually I know hardly anything about Wagner's operas, and care rather less. I like the overtures, that's all. Bruin

Sorry guys but the solution to the clock puzzle doesn't depend on him already knowing how long it takes to walk to his friend's house, or on being able to see his friend's clock from his house. It works even if the friend lives miles away. Bruin

There He Sat pt V by Bruin Fisher from an original idea by Trab Well, I knew he had just asked a question, but it didn't register; I was still floundering. How did I hurt my head? How did I get from the edge of the forest in the rain to this comfy bed? How did the tearful man with the wet hair, the beautiful eyes and the gun turn into the smiling angel of mercy with the same beautiful eyes I was looking at? And why did he think he could kiss me? I didn't have answers and my brain grew confused and fuzzy in the attempt. So he'd sat on the edge of the bed and asked a second time, and then a third, before the words filtered through and I realised what he was saying. Knowing what he was asking me didn't help much; I didn't have a rational explanation. I mustered my resources and tried to come up with something plausible. "I went out to hire a video. In the car park I saw you, you looked like you were in trouble, I should have offered help but I chickened out and drove off, without even getting a film. But you had worried me and I went back, just as you were driving off. He just watched me. He didn't make a sound, like he was waiting for me to continue. So I did. "Maybe I should have turned around when I saw you drive off but you seemed so desperate, I was worried about you." "What made you think I was in trouble?" "You were crying." He gave an odd snort like a suppressed giggle. I looked up into his face in time to see it squash into an ear-to-ear grin, crinkly eyes and all. "That would be the onions in my kebab. I love onions but these were powerful, enough to blow the top of your head off ? and make your eyes water." He was laughing now, and struggling to talk through it. "That's all it was. But thank you for your concern!" I couldn't help but see the funny side of it, and soon we were laughing together. I reached out for his hand and grasped it in mine, a sort of friendship gesture. When I had some control back, I asked: "How did I get here? Where are we?" "You hit your head on the end of your roof bars as you stood up out of your car. Knocked yourself out cold, and I couldn't bring you round. So I put you in my car and brought you home. I left your car on the side of the lane, but I locked it and it'll be okay there till you're ready to get it. It's only a quarter mile back along the lane from here." "And here is?" "My home. My parents' home, actually, my Dad's the forest warden, and I still live here and my sister does. They'll be here soon and I'm going to have to explain you to them." "I don't know your name." "Eric. Eric Hofstraat. If you promise to keep quiet about it I'll admit my real name is Alveric, after the dwarf in the Wagner operas, but I prefer Eric, it doesn't need so much explaining!" "Hi, Eric. I'm John Trubshaw. You checked my wallet so you know that." "Yes, sorry, I hope you don't mind, I was trying to find who to phone about you when I couldn't bring you round. There's a picture of you hugging another guy. Your brother?" "No, my boyfriend. That was four years ago, we split up not long after the picture was taken, but I keep the photo." I'm always like that. If being gay comes up I come right out and say, but I always have to watch faces after I've spoken to see if I'm going to have trouble. I watched Eric, and there was no reaction. I kind of guessed there wouldn't be ? I still hadn't asked him about kissing me ? and the way he kissed had told me enough about him. There was a commotion coming from below ? downstairs, I guessed. "That'll be the folks home. You ready for this?" asked Eric. I nodded, without any idea what to be ready for. The door of the bedroom opened, and a short, buxom woman with a pretty, round face and elfin features walked straight in, with a puzzled frown, and a very large policeman right behind her. "Eric, darling, there's a policeman here to see you. You're not in any trouble, are you?" - and at that moment she spotted me on the bed and took a step backwards, putting her hand to her mouth and wailing "Oh, oh... oh!" Bruin

Yup that's it. As far as I know the only word that ends -mt. But I'm sure someone will now prove me wrong.... There is a logical solution, though... keep trying! Perhaps the AD spell-checker wants it hyphenated?

Yup well done - I find my brain gets railroaded - once I'm thinking Tremendous, Stupendous.... I then can't derail the train of thought sufficiently to leap to hazardous. No-one's even attempted Einstein's Puzzle yet? It's not impossible - it took me about twenty minutes. It helps to use paper pencil and eraser - or a blank spreadsheet would do fine. Oh, and the words ending -gry? I know we're not really looking for them, but it struck me that if one is Hungry, another is Angry, the third one is likely Hopping Mad by now.... Bruin

Can anyone come up with an English word that ends -mt (without using a dictionary)? There is at least one! And how about this - it's a logic puzzle. A man lives in a house with only one clock and no other timepiece. He forgets to wind his clock and it stops so he doesn't know the time. He walks to his friend's house, stays the night, walks back and now he knows what the correct time is so he resets his clock. How does he do it? Additional information: his friend's house is equipped with a clock but he doesn't borrow it or any other timepeice. He does not make use of radio or any other electronic means to get a time signal. Bruin

Good one, Des! I'm resisting the temptation to debate whether 'yolk' should talke the plural form of verb or not - I saw the teeth of your mantrap just in time, peeking out from the screen you covered it with! I love these puzzles - does that make me a nerd? Hi my name is Bruin and I'm a nerd. (sniffle)

I'm not a weasel I'm a bear. Bruin

Quite wonderful, Maddy, a flame of genius burning brightly. Get this out and onto paper and then let it go. Much better on paper than on your mind! You have a great talent and a lot of folks here who care about you. Do some more writing! Bruin

Wow, Camy - this story just went into top gear. Absolutely brilliant - as the Welsh girl in Torchwood would say. Now, I wonder where it's going to go next....? Bruin in awe

Hmm... Of course if you're familiar with the puzzle about 'The English Language' (the third word is 'Language'), it's tempting to think other puzzles work the same way. But mine isn't as sneaky as that - I really do want the four words that end '-dous'. I'll start you off: Tremendous Stupendous Horrendous There's three of them, now you've only got to find the fourth. Bruin

This is a tough one but it can be done. If you don't like it, blame Einstein! I've filched it from here: Einstein's puzzle on H2G2 and you can check the answer there if you like. Albert Einstein wrote this riddle in the early 20th century and claimed that 98% of the population would not be able to solve it. Can you? It takes a bit of working out, but I assure you it is possible. You might find it helps to write down your ideas as you go along. The Fiendish Question In a street there are five houses painted five different colours. In each house lives a person of a different nationality. The five people each drink a different beverage, smoke a different brand of cigarette and keep a different pet. 1) The Brit lives in the red house 2) The Swede has a dog 3) The Dane drinks tea 4) The green house is on the left of the white house 5) The owner of the green house drinks coffee 6) The person who smokes Pall Mall has birds 7) The owner of the yellow house smokes Dunhill's 8) The man living in the centre house drinks milk 9) The Norwegian lives in the first house 10) The man who smokes blends lives next to the one who has cats 11) The man who has horses lives next to the man who smokes Dunhill's 12) The man who smokes Blue Master drinks beer 13) The German smokes Prince 14) The Norwegian lives next to the blue house 15) The man who smokes Blends has a neighbour who drinks water. Who keeps the fish? Bruin with a maniacal laugh

Silly me. I've re-worded it. It's no good just confirming you can name all four, you've got to actually do it. Bruin