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Smiley

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Everything posted by Smiley

  1. Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EST) on March 2nd, 2019 [01:30 A.M. (GMT), March 3rd], for a discussion of "The Merino Sheep" by Banjo Paterson. Andrew Barton (Banjo) Paterson (1864 -- 1941) was a very popular Australian Journalist and poet and is perhaps best known outside Australia as the author of the song "Walzing Matilda". His writing captured the flavor of the outback. For an brief biography those interested might check the Australian Dictionary of Biography http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/paterson-andrew-barton-banjo-7972 "The Merino Sheep" is a humorous essay describing the difficulties faced by those trying to manage a flock of those animals. I found a few lol moments while reading it. Although the story is obviously of Australian origin, it is available from the good folks at: https://americanliterature.com/author/banjo-paterson/short-story/the-merino-sheep It was republished in the The Australlian (a newspaper) and is posted on the paper's web site under the title: "But Wolves in Sheep's Clothing: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/but-wolves-in-sheeps-clothing/news-story/420c519c79d9fd50bf0e67a2c8565425 As usual we will meet in the #readers_corner channel: Webchat: http://koach.com/cha...=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner I hope to see you all for the chat. Don't forget to bring a friend.
  2. Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EST) on February 23, 2019 [01:30 A.M. (GMT), February 24th], for a discussion of "The Guests" by H. H. Munro. Hector Hugh Munro (18 December 1870 – 14 November 1916), perhaps better known under his pen name: Saki was a British writer. His father was an inspector general for the Imperial Police of the British Raj; his mother a daughter of a British admiral. His mother died when he was two years old and Munro and his siblings were sent to live under the strict rules of his maiden aunts in England. He completed his education and joined the British colonial police service, serving as had his father, as a police official in Burma. Due to several debilitating bouts of fever, he was medically discharged and sent back to England where he turned attention to literary pursuits. On the outbreak of the First World War, Munro, at the age of 43 enlisted in the British army. He was killed in combat and is buried in an unmarked grave in the war zone. This story, set on the estate of a British expatriate family in the Indian Raj, is most probably based on his memories of his familiarity with life there. It's a humorous tale, as related by the wife of a expatriate to a fellow English woman. I think you will find the story amusing. The story is available from ReadPrint.com at: http://www.readprint.com/work-4900/The-Guests-H-H-Munro/contents As usual we will meet in the #readers_corner channel: Webchat: http://koach.com/cha...=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner I hope to see you all for the chat. Don't forget to bring a friend.
  3. Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EST) on Fwbruary 15, 2019 [01:30 A.M. (GMT), February 16], for a discussion of "The Hated" by Frederick Pohl. A quick check of the archives surprised me in that we have not, at least since we have been saving story announcements in the archives, discussed a story by Frederick Pohl. Pohl is one of the greats of Science Fiction, having won all of the major awards for SF authors. He was an active editor and writer from 1937 until shortly before his death, at 93 years of age, in 2012. Like most of the "greats" on the genre' he focused on the societal and psychological effects of future scientific developments rather than the mechanics of those developments. I remember the early days of the space race where there were serious concerns about the mental health of Americal astronauts who might be forced to spend long periods in space capsules or orbiting space stations either in solitude or close contact with other crew members. Those early astronauts were subjected to all sorts of personality and psychiatric tests to assure that they could mentally cope with those stresses. This story explores the mental stresses suffered by such persons during and after lengthy space voyages and one possible governmental decision on how to treat them. The story could have dealt with the crews of nuclear submarines or teams of scientists wintering over at the South Pole...but Pohl chose space travellers involved in a mission to Mars. Whether you are a fan of science fiction or not, I believe you will understand, and appreciate, the tale. The story is available from eastoftheweb.com (although it is not listed on the site index) at: http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/Hate914.shtml#1 As usual we will meet in the #readers_corner channel: Webchat: http://koach.com/cha...=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner I hope to see you all for the chat. Don't forget to bring a friend.
  4. I always thought that Colorado was replete with most of the really huge flakes in America.
  5. yout grill looks just like my grill with an inch of snow on it.
  6. Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EST) February 2nd, 2019 -- 01:30 A.M. (GMT) February 3rd -- for a discussion of "Leaving Bill" by Gaynor Hill.  This week's tale is provided by East of the Web, a frequent source of contemporary short stories (most of them from new, relatively unknown British authors). The story is a good one with just enough of a twist at the end to surprise us. I think you will enjoy it. There are quite a few references to confections consumed by the British but that most Americans have never experienced. I hope that Nan will be able to provide translation services for us. I enjoyed the story and I believe our group will as well. The story is available american literature.com at: http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/LeavBill1026.shtml Meeting Place: #Readers_Corner Webchat: http://koach.com/chatlogin.php?chan=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner I hope to see you all at our chat.  Don't forget to bring a friend.
  7. Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EST) January 26, 2019 -- 01:30 A.M. (GMT) January 27th -- for a discussion of "Under the Deck Awnings" by Jack London.  Jack London was a prolific American author/news paper columnist during the late 19th and early 20th century. His stories tended to focus on adventure and danger and often involved sea voyages or exploration of strange or exotic lands. He was of course a product of his times, and in accord with the tender sensibilities of that kinder and gentler age, managed to describe life in rough locales without resort to what we would now consider "realistic dialogue". Were he writing this story today it might have been called "The ***** on the Promenade Deck", but the strongest term used in the story was in the rhetorical question: "When is a woman a pig?" I think you will enjoy reading the story and I know we will have lots of fun discussing it. The story is available american literature.com at: https://americanliterature.com/author/jack-london/short-story/under-the-deck-awnings An audio version (pod cast complete with a GEICO commercial at the beginning) is available at: https://recordedhistory.net/2018/01/29/under-the-deck-awnings-by-jack-london/ Meeting Place: #Readers_Corner Webchat: http://koach.com/chatlogin.php?chan=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner I hope to see you all at our chat.  Don't forget to bring a friend.
  8. Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EST) January 12th, 2019 -- 01:30 A.M. (GMT) January 13th -- for a discussion of "Peach" by Thomas Gresham. It an interesting little tale which poses the question: Do we all turn into our parents when we have kids? It's a gentle story and I think you will enjoy reading it as well as discussing it in chat. The story is available from Carve Magazine at: https://www.carvezine.com/story/2018-spring-gresham Meeting Place: #Readers_Corner Webchat: http://koach.com/chatlogin.php?chan=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner I hope to see you all at our chat.  Don't forget to bring a friend.
  9. I hope you all enjoyed the holiday break and are ready for another year of pleasant literary discussions (he added sotto voce). Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EST) January 5th 2019 -- 01:30 A.M. (GMT) January 6 -- for a discussion of "Midnight Express" by Alfred Noyes. In honor off the new year, and in the firm hope that the world survives another year without repeating the disasters and foolishness of 2018, I have picked a short little story that might have been called "Deja Vous Again." Instead the author decided to give the tale a bit of the railroad flavor with the idea of a non-stop train. It gives one a feeling of racing faster and faster to a fate worse than death. Let's discuss such issues as predestination, vicious cycles, Groundhog day, and flat out fear of the unknown during our dissection of this Victorian era gem. I hope you enjoy the story, I know it will provide grist for our usual readers critical mill. The story is available from the Hypnogoria.com Blog at: http://www.hypnogoria.com/html/midnightexpress.html Meeting Place: #Readers_Corner Webchat: http://koach.com/chatlogin.php?chan=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner I hope to see you all at our chat.  Don't forget to bring a friend.
  10. (Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EST) on December 22nd, 2018 [01:30 A.M. (GMT), December 23rd], for a discussion of "The Little Match Girl" by Hans Christian Anderson.taThe story is a classic tale, usually thought of as a Christmas story, although it is not a happy, Santa Claus type of tale. Many primary and middle schools use the story as a vehicle to teach some basic facts of life to their students. I think you will appreciate it.  The story may be found online at Online.Literature.com: URL http://www.online-literature.com/hans_christian_andersen/981/ Meeting place: Webchat: http://koach.com/cha...=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner I hope to see you all for what promises to be an engaging chat. Don't forget to bring a friend.
  11. Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EST) on December 15, 2018 [01:30 A.M. (GMT), December 16], for a discussion of "All Summer in a Day" by Ray Bradbury. Ray Bradbury has written a number of our previous stories, and they have always been well received. Not only are his stories well written, they are thought provoking and emotionally satisfying as well. While considered a science fiction writer, Bradbury's stories are really about the "human" condition and emotions; the futuristic or fantasy settings are incidental to the content. I believe that we will all appreciate this story and that it will provide ample grist for our critical mills. It can be found on line at: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8502328/1/All-Summer-in-a-Day-By-Ray-Bradbury As usual we will meet in the #readers_corner channel: Webchat: http://koach.com/cha...=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner I hope to see you all for the chat. Don't forget to bring a friend.
  12. Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EST) on December 8, 2018 [01:30 A.M. (GMT), December 9], for a discussion of " Arrangement in Black and White" by Dorothy Parker. The story was suggested by Dash, and it seems to be a good one to read at this time. I think you will all agree it is a more easily read one than last weeks. Dorothy Parker was a popular writer during the first half of the 20th century and was not adverse to stirring up the pot a bit. She was on the far left of the American political spectrum (although today she would probably be considered a moderate). In this story she looks at racism through the rose colored spectacles of the New York liberal of the early 20th century...we all know the attitude, " I value the contributions of the colored races, everyone should have one or two of them around the house to cook and clean." The story should provide a number of things to talk about including, whether and (if so) how much anything has changed in the past 80 years or so. The story is available on line (html format) at Bibliokept.org: https://biblioklept.org/2015/08/20/read-arrangement-in-black-and-white-a-short-story-by-dorothy-parker/ It is available as a streaming audio at: https://youtu.be/7JHykv5-BxY Webchat: http://koach.com/cha...=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner I hope to see you all for the chat. Don't forget to bring a friend.
  13. The Castle is called Neu Schwanstein and is located in the Bavarian Alps near the Austrian Border. It is one of the three "fairy tale" palaces built by iKing Ludwig of Bavaria (Mad Ludwig). It is open to the public for tours, and it is a fascinating place to visit...talk about over the top architecture. Oh, Yes! It is the castle on which "Snow Whites" home in Disneyland is modeled. Nice sandman, Nan
  14. Good Story Dash We'll do it this Saturday. Thanks for the recommendation.
  15. T'is the season that thoughts turn to home, family, and all the joys of the winter. I wish all of you, the very best for this coming holiday season and the new year. Have a Happy Hanukkah, Joyful Christmas, and Prosperous New Year.
  16. Our regular Saturday Evening (time zone dependent) chat will not be held on November 24th because of family activities by most of our American members over the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend. Therefore: Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EST) on December 1st, 2018 [01:30 A.M. (GMT), December 2nd], for a discussion of " Casting the Runes" by M.R. James. "Montague Rhodes James OM FBA (1 August 1862 – 12 June01936), who published under the name M. R. James, was an English author, medievalist scholar and provost of King's College, Cambridge (1905–18), and of Eton College (1918–36). He was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge (1913–15). "Though James's work as a medievalist is still highly regarded, he is best remembered for his ghost stories, which are regarded as among the best in the genre. James redefined the ghost story for the new century by abandoning many of the formal Gothic clichés of his predecessors and using more realistic contemporary settings. However, James's protagonists and plots tend to reflect his own antiquarian interests. Accordingly, he is known as the originator of the "antiquarian ghost story" (Wikpedia) This story is both an entertaining and interesting one, a bit longer than our usual, but in that we have an extra week to peruse it, should not prove a difficult read. In addition, several readings of the story are available on Youtube.com. (The audio versions take longer to listen to than does the reading, but of course you can listen while engaged in other activity. The story itself has an interesting spin, with the message that those who seek revenge might be better served by accepting the situation with more equanimity. The story is available on line (html format) at: http://www.hypnogoria.com/html/castingtherunes.html It is available as a PDF at: http://www.folkhorror.com/casting.pdf and as a streaming audio at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii4Jmko_gGQ Webchat: http://koach.com/cha...=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner I hope to see you all for the chat. Don't forget to bring a friend.
  17. Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EST) November 17th -- 01:30 A.M. (GMT) November 18th -- for a discussion of "Starlings" by Joseph Johnson. This weeks selection is an oblique discussion of U.S. attitudes towards unrestricted immigration and the invasion of other "unwanted foreign invaders" like city slicker who dig up farmlands to put up parking lots. Lots of interesting points are made in the story. It is not a partisan political rant; rather, it makes some observations on changes in American values. The story is an easy read, and I believe you will appreciate it. The story is available from Carve Magazine on line at https://www.carvezine.com/story/2012-fall-johnson Meeting Place: #Readers_Corner Webchat: http://koach.com/chatlogin.php?chan=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner I hope to see you all at our chat. Don't forget to bring a friend.
  18. Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EST) November 10th, 2018 -- 01:30 A.M. (GMT) November 11th -- for a discussion of "He who Grew Up Reading Sherlock Holmes" by Harlan Ellison. Please note, if you are not in the USA and following the curious U.S. rules for daylight savings time, you will find the chat one hour later than the time you have used over the last few months. This week's story is from a master of the speculative fiction world, Harlan Ellison. He is a one of the most awarded, and most hated, sci-fi writers to have ever lived. There was never a question about his talent or the quality of his stories, the only issues involved his touchy personality which drew him into a number of lawsuits. This story ties a series of unrelated events into a coherent web leading to an "Ah ha!" moment, at least i think it does. I think you will enjoy the writing and be captivated as you try to unravel the web of causality. The story is available on line at: https://subterraneanpress.com/magazine/summer_2014/he_who_grew_up_reading_sherlock_holmes_by_harlan_ellison The #Readers_Corner is available at Koach.com Webchat: http://koach.com/chatlogin.php?chan=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner I hope to see you all at our chat. Don't forget to bring a friend.
  19. Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST) November 3rd -- 00:30 A.M. (GMT) November 4th -- for a discussion of "Blue Spiders" by S. Pippin. This is a short and pleasant "horror story" (by short, I would estimate you will need no more than about 15 minutes to read it the first time). Oh, it's really not all that scary, but it does leave us with a few unanswered questions in the end. How dangerous can a slow moving bright blue spider really be? The story is available on line by the good graces of the Saturday Evening Post at: https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2018/10/blue-spiders/ Meeting Place: #Readers_Corner Webchat: http://koach.com/chatlogin.php?chan=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner I hope to see you all at our chat.  Don't forget to bring a friend.
  20. Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST) October 27th -- 00:30 A.M. (GMT) October 28th -- for a discussion of "Aloha Oe" by Jack London. Jack London was a prolic and popular columnist and author in the late 19th and early 20th century. We have already discussed a number of his stories, all of them quite different from the others, but all of them, to a greater or lesser extent, involving exotic settings, from the frozen plains of an Alaskan winter to the dusty terror of a civil war battlefield. This story explores the coming of age of a young American maiden and her first love, a mixed blood Hawaiian surfing instructor. I feel certain you will like the story. The story is available american literature.com at: https://americanliterature.com/author/jack-london/short-story/aloha-oe Meeting Place: #Readers_Corner Webchat: http://koach.com/chatlogin.php?chan=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner I hope to see you all at our chat.  Don't forget to bring a friend.
  21. Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST) October 20th -- 00:30 A.M. (GMT) October 21st -- for a discussion of "Harvey's Dream" by Stephen King. This week's story was suggested by our newest member, Monicaslovely from Oz, who actually posted the link to it in the General Discussion section of the Readers' Corner Forum on Koach.com. It's a fairly typical King story, i.e. a horror tale. This one more of a brooding, lets worry ourselves sick about something that is going to happen, story than his usual 500 pages of blood splattering, screaming, terror. I think you will like it. The story is available from The New Yorker magazine at: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2003/06/30/harveys-dream Meeting Place: #Readers_Corner Webchat: http://koach.com/chatlogin.php?chan=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner I hope to see you all at our chat.  Don't forget to bring a friend.
  22. Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST) October 13th -- 00:30 A.M. (GMT) October 14th -- for a discussion of "Stronghold" by Henry van Dyke. We have discussed two other van Dyke stories: Humoreske and The Keeper of the Light (both in February of this year). Like those stories this one is an easy read, and like them it carries a fairly obvious moral. The story is available on line at Amercanliterature.com: https://americanliterature.com/author/henry-van-dyke/short-story/stronghold Meeting Place: #Readers_Corner Webchat: http://koach.com/chatlogin.php?chan=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner I hope to see you all at our chat.  Don't forget to bring a friend.
  23. Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST) October 13th -- 00:30 A.M. (GMT) October 14th -- for a discussion of "Stronghold" by Henry van Dyke. We have discussed two other van Dyke stories: Humoreske and The Keeper of the Light (both in February of this year). Like those stories this one is an easy read, and like them it carries a fairly obvious moral. The story is available on line at Amercanliterature.com: https://americanliterature.com/author/henry-van-dyke/short-story/stronghold Meeting Place: #Readers_Corner Webchat: http://koach.com/chatlogin.php?chan=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner I hope to see you all at our chat.  Don't forget to bring a friend.
  24. (Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST) on October 6th, 2018 [00:30 A.M. (GMT), October 7th], for a discussion of "Starving Makes It Fat" by Kay Sexton.taThe story is an entertaining, albeit strange, one of crime and punishment, or perhaps of supernatural revenge. I feel certain that our readers on the distaff side of the room will love it. The story may be found online at East of the web. URL: http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/StarMake713.shtml Meeting place: Webchat: http://koach.com/cha...=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner I hope to see you all for what promises to be an interesting chat. Don't forget to bring a friend.
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