Smiley

That's funny and seeing where pecan trees grow, just might be truer than you would think.

Rednecks don't pay anything for fish. they steal the dynamite.

Everyone except sea lions love polar bears.

Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST) on March 28st, 2015 (00:30 A.M., March 29nd (GMT)), for a discussion of 1939 Quiz Night at the Jamaica Inn by Layla Cummins. The story was published in the March 6, 2015 edition of the Saturday Evening Post. This is the second SEP story in a row, but it is quite different from our previous excursions into the realm of slick popular fiction. The story is a not too horrible horror story, or perhaps a not very fantastic fantasy. I guess we all know that there is nothing more frightening than the British moors (of which those in Scotland are considered the most terrifying). This story takes place in and around the more mundane English variety. I couldn't help but flash back to my mental pictures of the moors as depicted in The H.ound of the Baskervilles or the first few scenes of the now somewhat camp film An American Werewolf in London. is This story, however, is much less bloody than either of those stories. I think that even those of our more sensitive literary critics will find the story benign enough for general audiences (Parental Guidance nor required). The story is available on line at: http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2015/03/06/post-fiction/contemporary-fiction-art-entertainment/quiz-night-jamaica-inn.html Meeting Place: Webchat: http://koach.com/cha...=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner Don't forget to bring a friend. I will bring along some chocolate chip cookies if Nan agrees to bring some tea and crumpets'. Hope you all can make it, and don't forget to bring a friend.

I haven't found one. I am not sure whether the SEP offers an audio edition, but I haven't seen any adverts for one.

Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST) on March 21st, 2015 (00:30 A.M., March 22nd (GMT)), for a discussion of 1939 Plymouth, or The Bootlegger's Driver by Lisa Trank. The story was published in the December 29 2014 edition of the Saturday Evening Post. Like most SEP stories, it is a pleasant read and a good way to spend a relaxing few moments. The story is a snapshot of life in the United States during the final stages of the great depression. Prohibition has just ended (Al Capone is dying of cancer in a Miami jail) and the country is seemingly unaware of the growing threat of Hitler's Germany. Life for a Jewish immigrant from central Europe is far from ideal, but a vast improvement from the situation on the continent. I feel confident we will have an interesting discussion, both of the story and the economic and political situations presented. The story is available on line at http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2014/12/29/post-fiction/contemporary-fiction-art-entertainment/1939-plymouth-bootleggers-driver.html Meeting Place: Webchat: http://koach.com/cha...=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner Don't forget to bring a friend. I just might bring a pitcher of margaritas in honor of the 18th amendment to the Constitution. Log Attached: #readers_corne 20150321.txt

that's funny

Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST) on March 14th, 2015 (00:30 A.M., March 14th (GMT)), for a discussion of A Gun_Running Episone by George A. Birmingham (the pen name of James Owen Hannay (16 July 1865 - 2 February 1950). Hannay was an ordained Anglican minister who spent most of his life in Ireland. He was a prolific novelist, devoting much of his literary efforts into various historical and political novels dealing with Ireland and its people. Around the turn of the last century, he was an active member in the Gaelic League (at that time an non-partisan organization devoted to the preservation of the Irish Language and culture). He resigned from the league after performance of his Play: General John Regan drew criticism from the League. He continued to serve as a clergyman in various parishes in Ireland and later in England until his death in 1950. This story is a humorous look at the circumstances surrounding the Irish independence movement in the early 20th century (before partition into two distinct political areas by the Parliament's granting home rule to most of the Island while maintaining British government in the nrth. The initial partition occurred in 1914, but the unwillingness of the mainly Anglican population in the Belfast area and consequent religious and political strife resulting from those differences led to the Irish Civil War with ultimate full independence being granted to Ireland except for the separate United Kingdom realm of "Ulster" in the northeastern corner of the Island. That separation proved as successful at stopping the conflict as did the partition of Korea into North and South, the division of Vietnam into North a Jewish and an Arab checkerboard. I feel confident that you will enjoy the story as well as our discussion in #readers_corner. The story is available on line at: http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/24170/ Meeting Place: Webchat: http://koach.com/cha...=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner Don't forget to bring a friend and your sense of humor (humour for you folks who still owe allegiance to the crown--thus being forced to use gratuitous U's by the adherence to the rigid and antiquated rules of the "Queen's English"). Log attached: #readers_corner 20150314.txt

If you have a kindle fire (not sure about other versions of Kindle) there is a "docs" folder accessible from the selection bar at the top of your home screen (small print above the home page carousel). You can dump any text or doc file from your computer into that directory (use the USB cable to your charger to move the file--your computer will recognise the kindle as though it were a thumb drive or memory card. The Kindle can open the file as either a doc, txt, rtf, or pdf. Just open the docs folder on the kindle, and touch the file you want to read. You can also save a file directly to that docs folder from your kindle browser.

I remember most of them and I served with Efrem Zimbalist's son in Vietnam. He refused as assignment as a public affairs officer in Hawaii to serve in Vietnam.

Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EST) on March 7th, 2015 (01:30 A.M., March 8th (GMT)), for a discussion of Things You Can Buy for a Penny by Will Kaufman. The story is a fantastic horror story (as opposed to a horrid fantasy) with a feel of the slowly building suspense which one might find in the best works of our beloved E. A. Poe. Regardless of your taste for the macabre, I think you will enjoy the goose bumps this tale will cause. May I suggest you accompany your reading with a glass of fine sherry or perhaps an Irish coffee, something to warm your cockles after the chilling tale. The story is available on line at: http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/things-can-buy-penny/ Meeting Place: Webchat: http://koach.com/cha...=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner Don't forget to bring a friend and anything left over from the bottle of sherry. Log attached: #readers_corner 20150307.txt

Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EST) on February 28th, 2015 (01:30 A.M., February 29th (GMT)), for a discussion of Hunter Quartermain's Story by H. Rider Haggard. I am reasonably certain that all of us have encountered at least one movie, story, book, or T.V. show in which the character "Allan Quartermain, the great white hunter" has appeared. The first appearance of the character was in the classic adventure novel King Solomon's Mines by Haggard (1885). Haggard continued to use the Quartermain character through several series of novels, all dealing with British colonization and exploration of the dark continent, and a number of related short stories. The last of Haggard's Quartermain novels was published in 1927. Quartermain, like other heroic characters from the 19th and early 20th century such as Sherlock Holmes and Tarzan, has been revived and redefined in various dramatic reincarnations, most recently in the film "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" in which Sean Connery played the part. I hope you enjoy reading the story as much as i did. I am certain we will enjoy discussing it. The story is available on line at: http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/1093/ Meeting Place: Webchat: http://koach.com/cha...=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner Don't forget to bring a friend. Log attached: #readers_corner.koach.com.20150207.txt

Best Wishes and happy b-day

Damned Global Warming

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLONDIE!!

Because of social commitments for the evening of February 14th (unless I take my wife out to dinner for Valentine's Day, I will not have one by the end of the month) our next chat in #readers_corner will be held at at 8:30 P.M. (EST) on February 21st, 2015 (01:30 A.M., February 23rd (GMT)), for a discussion of the short story The Arrest of of Lieutenant Golightly by Rudyard Kipling. I am reasonably certain that all of us have encountered at least one of Kipling's poems in school (the ever popular Gunga Din springs to mind) and most of us have also seen several of the Disney children's movies based on his collection of jungle stories. Kipling was a soldier in her majesty's armed forces (Victoria, not Elizabeth II), and he served for a while in India. His short stories about his experiences there, although usually humorous, are most certainly based on personal experiences. Anyone who has served as a soldier in an oversea assignment realizes that the stories meet the very vigorous standards of a war story (i.e. that the story be based on a true event and further be at least plausible). This story passes the plausibility test by judgement by old soldiers of (as the bard so elegantly puts it) "been there, done that". I laughed at Lieutenant Golightly's predicament not only because of the author's skill but also because it called to mind a similar occurrence from my own experience in which one of our company lieutenants, hurrying back to camp after an evening of entertainment, paid an unexpected visit to the bottom of a Korean honey-well. I might recount that tale during the chat and I'm certain one of our members from the colonies can elegantly explain from whence comes the "f" is in the British pronunciation of "lieutenant". The story is available on line at: http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/2462/ Meeting Place: Webchat: http://koach.com/cha...=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner As usual, you are encouraged to bring a friend. I may even bring a six pack of IPA to share. Log attached here: #readers_corner.koach.com.20150221.txt

Did you contact Noah and ask for help?

Please join us at 8:30 P.M. (EST) on February 7th, 2015 (01:30 A.M., January 11th (GMT)), in #readers_corner, for a discussion of the short story The Thing in the Attic by James Blish. After your patience and understanding while wading through last weeks less that sterling example of a story with flaws too numerous to mention, it's appropriate to be rewarded with a well crafted, interesting, and entertaining story by a master story teller. The story was written in 1954 during what is rightly now called the golden age of science fiction. It was one of five stories dealing with "The Seeding," a theme based around human colonization of other star systems by humans who had been genetically engineered to survive in hostile environments. The first story was written in the 40's, the last of them shortly before Blish's premature demise in 1975 at age 54. This story has a little bit of something for everyone: adventure, intrigue, conflict, budding romance, and a happy ending. I feel confident that all of you will enjoy it. The story is available on line at: http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/63524/ Meeting Place: Webchat: http://koach.com/cha...=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner As usual, you are encouraged to bring a friend. Last week we had a new chatter join us despite technical connection difficulties. Hopefully we will have all of our regular members and our newer ones as well. Log Attached: #readers_corner.koach.com.20150207.txt

Please join us at 8:30 P.M. (EST) on January 31st. 2015 (0130 February 1st (GMT)), in #readers_corner, for a discussion of the short story Highway Time by Jennifer Jenkinson. This contemporary story is an interesting examination of an encounter of a young aspiring rock musician with a young female hitchhiker. I think it might be categorized broadly as a "chick story" and I believe we might have an interesting chat exploring the differing reactions of our male members (no pun intended) to those on the distaff side of the room. I think you will find the story a pleasant and "easy" read. The story is from our oft visited on-line literature sites, East of the Web, at this url: http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/HighTime.shtml Meeting Place: Webchat: http://koach.com/cha...=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner 6667 I hope to see you all there. As usual, please tell your friends about our chats and bring as many new members you can.

Please join us at 8:30 P.M. (EST) on Saturday, January 24th, 2015 (01:30 A.M., January 25th (GMT)), in #readers_corner, for a discussion of the short story Establishment by Ken Poyner. Poyner is a respected writer with works published in various publications, both in print and on line. This story, a bit of science fiction (or perhaps predictive sociology), appeared in the December 2014 issue of Black Denim Lit, an on-line literary magazine.awards to his credit. This story is an interesting one which deals with the social interactions among various intelligent beings, both mechanical and biological. Fovea would love it, as will Star. I think we all will enjoy reading it as well as discussing it in our chat. The story is available on line at: http://www.bdlit.com/establishment.html Meeting Place: 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 there and, as usual, you are urged to bring a friend. Log attached: #readers_corner.koach.com.20150124.txt

I'm with Ryan, I have been trying to figure out who this Nan person is for years now. Glad to hear you are doing better, and I hope to see you back in Koachsworkshop before much more time passes.

Please join us at 8:30 P.M. (EST) on January 17th, 2015 (01:30 A.M., January 11th (GMT)), in #readers_corner, for a discussion of the short story Nothing but the Truth by Jim Gray. This story was published in the December 29 2014 edition of the "Saturday Evening Post" (talk about contemporary) and gives us a view of the aftermath of combat on the soldiers coming home. The story concerns a World War II veteran and his difficulties in readjusting to life on the home front. I think you will find it interesting, and like all of the stories from the SEP entertaining and well crafted. The story is available on line at: http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2014/12/29/post-fiction/contemporary-fiction-art-entertainment/nothing-truth.html Meeting Place: #readers_corner Webchat: http://koach.com/cha...=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner As usual, regular members of the Readers_Corner chat are strongly are encouraged to bring a friend. New members are always welcome. The only price of admission is a love of literature and a willingness to discuss a good story in a convivial atmosphere. I hope to see you all there. Log Attached: #readers_corner.koach.com.20150117.txt

Please join us at 8:30 P.M. (EST) on January 10th, 2015 (01:30 A.M., January 11th (GMT)), in #readers_corner, for a discussion of the short story The Lucky Strike by Kim Stanley Robinson. Robinson is a respected Science Fiction writer with many literary awards to his credit. He has written not only about the future, but has several stories that might be classified as "alternate history" or "what if" stories. Unlike many established scifi authors who tend towards a conservative / libertarian view of the future, Robinson leans towards the liberal side of the spectrum, and often has explored ecological themes in his works. This story is of the alternate history type, and I think you will enjoy it. It is a well crafted work, accurate in the technical details discussed, with just a touch of creative alterations to actual history. I am certain that the story will give use plenty of grist for our chat mill. The story is included in the September 2014 on line edition of "Strange Horizons", but it originally was written in 1984, The story is available on line at: http://www.strangehorizons.com/2014/20140922/2luckystrike-f.shtml Meeting Place: Webchat: http://koach.com/cha...=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner As usual, you are encouraged to bring a friend (physical force and/or bribery are considered legitimate methods of introducing them to our weekly literary discussions). I hope to see you all there. LOG OF CHAT ATTACHED: #readers_corner.koach.com.20150110.txt

You could substitute flatties for the ground beef, then it would be good on fridays.

Please join us at 8:30 P.M. (EST) on January 3rd, 2015 (01:30 A.M., January 4th (GMT)), in #readers_corner, for a discussion of the short story Otis in Paris by Lisa Westerfield. (Wow, that was as difficult sentence to write, my fingers kept trying to type 2014.) Most of us will remember Lisa Westerfield as the author of several humorous stories that we have discussed in #Readers_Corner: George Washington Is a ****, The Butler Did It, and The Art of Shedding Excess Baggage. In this story we have another excellent example of Westerfield's skill, albeit this time with a more serious theme. I think you will enjoy the story as well as our discussion of it. The story is available on line at: http://gather.com/otis-in-paris-short-story/ Meeting Place: Webchat: http://koach.com/cha...=readers_corner mIRC Users: /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner This is a good story to start off the new year. For those of us who may have celebrated a bit to enthusiastically, I'll bring the bromo selzer if you bring a cup of strong coffee (or tea) and a plate of left over cookies. I hope to see you all there. Oh--Happy New Year!