Wapsi Square Forum

When I'm doing refurbs on HP printers (for example) I'm struck by the difference in Pickup Rollers, (very similar in composition to Tape Deck stuff). In the 'olden days' the rollers were a small axle core and a lot of 'rubber' material, these days they are more Plastic Barrel w/ a thin 'rubber band...

OK, guys. I recently picked up an Akai M8 (tube) reel to reel tape deck. Lovely beast, and essentially new. Hell, the thing still had the plastic slip bags on the speaker covers. I used to have an M9 in the rebadged version - the Roberts 771X. Loved that thing. I was impressed for 20 bucks. However,...

I would also contend - and the author can tell us otherwise - that had he not chosen the rigors of discipline of Her Majesty's Armed Forces, his magedom would have come out full-force - and likely in a very negative way. Something that may have well happened in Wapsiverse-53 or so. An interesting p...

What Al was struggling with here wasn't what he had done, really. It was what he is (or, at least, what he perceived himself to be, from the time of his birth and childhood). That's not something that one can change (at least not in the literal sense, and lacking a time machine). Spot on {he says, ...

As for the "Real" Al, while it was quite interesting, I felt that the buildup lead to a bit of a letdown... I half expected to not only have rose from poorer ranks, but to have led a life of (small) crime, or have suffered abuse (bullying notwithstanding), before he ran from home to join the army. ...

And I see I was right about Hew being read-in! Though I didn't think of Brandi instigating it . . . --FreeFlier Brandi has managed to irritate two women that she should not have - Staff Sergeant Damhnait and the alpha dam of the Alexander clan. I expect someway, somewhere, there is a golem that is ...

I notice a lot of drivers here in PHX keep a Euro plate on their cars, probably to advertise that they "imported" it (something frequently done by rice-burner fans). Not sure if that can be done in MN, since they have the two-plate rule. The EU plate is by law considered a 'decoration' or 'accessor...

Dave/Sarge: Actually, it's relatively trivial even in the People's Republic of California. One of the saner bits of regulation the US has on a Federal level is a thing called the 25-year law. In short, anything over 25 years old (rolling from manufacture date) does NOT need to meet any Federal regul...

Epilogue: The day was bright and crisp, and the turning of the leaves on the trees in Chesnut Park a flame-coloured accent against the red brick of the industrial building behind it. Children played in the park, scuffling through the drifts of leaves from the trees and reveling in the bright sunshi...

Chapter 43: The Bentley idled at the door of the house, warming quietly. The goodbyes had been said, hugs given and received, and promises to visit given by both couples. The refilled picnic hamper was in place in the back seat, with a vacuum flask of coffee accompanying it. Al in the front, Rosaly...

Chapter 42: As they ate they talked, both between themselves and with the other folks at the table. The story of Al and Rosalynd’s arrival was of interest and discussed up and down the table. The reason for it was carefully not discussed, but the return itself talked of in detail. With that, the gu...

Chapter 41: A half-hour later they returned, both smelling of soap and a bit of scent. Rosalynd was dressed as she had been when they walked to dinner in Halifax – a satiny blouse, chinos and her ever-present knee boots. Al was much the same – fresh khakis and the scent of his myrrh shaving soap ad...

No, the problem I have with the dialog in question is very specific: "vegetable marrow". I'm sorry, but I can't honestly comprehend how anyone could be satisfied or contented with raising vegetable marrow. Of all the wonderful, tasty, exotic, nutritious, soul-nourishing vegetables that exist... thi...

Applause. You state it well, GLytch. Hew, as a product of farm life Oop Norf, is tapped firmly into the Wild. While nothing but a box stock human he too connects to the World and grounds through it - he has the quiet in his soul. Millicent is different - while a City person (Richmond is a suburb of ...

There's one spot in the dialog which is (in my estimation) totally unrealistic. The implications of it are... well, "blatantly impossible" is probably as good a description as any. I mean, really. Is there actually a single person, anywhere, who would be content with a vegetable marrow?!? :P Hence ...

Chapter 40: Thudding as only a contented Land-Rover will, the Ninety pulled itself up the drive. Mud-splashed and dirty, it exuded an air of contented success at the day out. The time on the moors had been brilliant. Al and Rosalynd had begged a refill of the picnic hamper and a rucksack to carry i...

Chapter 39: Walking through the woods, the pair talked of the past few days, and the futures. Snuggled up to his wife’s back, Al marveled at the sights and the tranquility. “This reminds me of Alexander House – the land is tranquil and strong, and the wind, sun and running water keeps it that way. ...

Chapter 38: The next morning dawned brilliantly. Al had been up at dawn, collected a cup of coffee and a buss from the lady of the house, and had adjourned to the farmyard. Finding a spot facing east he awaited the dawn, and was not disappointed. The sky pinkened, then turned to a rose colour befor...

Chapter 37: Hew walked back into the kitchen and began to call out to Al, till he spotted the stranger at his table. “And who are you and what are ye doin’ in my house?” he demanded, till the stranger stood. Black-suited, her polished wingtips had obviously never come through the dust of the farm’s...

Chapter 36: Moving like a man in a nightmare, Al sat up on the bed and extracted his phone from his pocket. A quick sweep and tap or two and the phone clicked, and the American-style ring started at the other end. ”Director Oduya’s office. Can I help you?” “Yes, this is Al Richer calling for the di...