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|2006-05-13, 18:20
|Link #1
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Gundam Serie/Series you Dislike
I like Gundam but they're some gundam series i hate sooooo damn much like for example gundam serperior defender that sucks chiefs chocoballs. But the gundam series i hate the most is any gundam series that people don't pilot, it just piss me off liek what ever the person does the gundam will do the same thats STUPID!!! soo anygundam series where people acualy pilot it is a good gundam series . that my opinon.
|2006-05-13, 18:37
|Link #4
Absolute Haruhist!
Join Date: Mar 2006
Age: 31
Common sense tells you that the cockpit motion trace system is actually a more efficient way to pilot and makes much more sense than 'conventional piloting'. I always don't get how a pilot can shoot, punch, kick, dodge, flip, grab and do delicate finger movements just by 2 hand controls and 2 foot pedals.
Anyway GSD is going to be bashed in this thread, count me in!
|2006-05-14, 00:30
|Link #5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Age: 34
Not a series, but F91. It makes me sad, there is so much potential there. It's completely wasted on that movie, it practically screams for a series instead.
Gundam 0083 I vary between liking it and hating it. Delete Nina and I would love it.
|2006-05-14, 01:13
|Link #7
The Tall One
Join Date: Jan 2006
|2006-05-14, 02:06
|Link #10
I found Zeta to be a very excellent series (except for the overcompensation of main character deaths...poor Emma ='( )
There's something about almost every Gundam series that I liked. One's I didn't like that much was Gundam Wing, Gundam SEED and Gundam SEED Destiny.
A.) WAY too one-sided unless the story calls for it.
I mean..one bullet from a Gundam Wing Gundam to a grunt Mobile Suit and it explodes, yet, put a large beam into a Gundam and it barely does jack unless, again, the story calls for it (or it self-destructs). Then put a Gundam Wing Gundam Pilot into that SAME type of grunt Mobile Suit and they can take like...1000 gatling gun shots all over the place and only have a few scratches (coughcoughendlesswaltzcoughcough)
B.) Gundams were far too over-powered for their own good
C.) Characters were bland and not that interesting most of the time and barely have any development to make them interesting.
D.) Rushed endings/battles
E.) Like most alternate reality Gundam series' except for, mostly, G-Gundam and Turn-A Gundam, ideas were almost all taken from the original series' (especially SEED Destiny)
I liked the original UC series' because they were actually good, yet realistic as well. The character's were interesting most of the time and actually learned things and overcome various obstacles, but not without difficulties like regular people face everyday. They don't really last too long or too short either.
The mobile suits were much more equalized and even the "all powerful" Gundam's get (out)matched by "grunt" mobile suits as technology grows, so even though at first the Gundam may seem like the most powerful, it doesn't last TOO long. The grunts were actually good Mobile Suits (GO GELGOOG!!!!) and not JUST cannon fodder (even the RB-79K Ball was cool thanks to Shiro Amada's good piloting).
And even though revolutionary weaponry like the funnels and other "super weapons" are good and/or effective, they are not without limitations that can/are exploited. Funnels with their limited energy supply, the Big Zam with its overheating and melee combat weakness and so on.
Even being a Newtype/Cyber Newtype/EXAM junkie (lol) didn't make someone completely invincible in the UC era (good example being Yuu Kajima in a regular RGM-79 vs RX-79BD-1 Blue Destiny and fending it off or his RGM-79D Cold Climate Type vs. MS-08TX(EXAM) Efreet Custom and, again, fending it off.) And even with his own EXAM-equipped MS (RX-79BD-1 and RX-79BD-3), he still ended up losing them along with defeating the opponent.
Even the "all-powerful" Amuro Ray admits that he wasn't able to properly control his fin funnel's in his second sortie of the Nu Gundam (I think it was the 2nd one when Kayra gets killed by Gyunei)
|2006-05-14, 02:18
|Link #12
r0x0rz j00r b0x0rz
Join Date: Jan 2006
SD Gundam Force sucked, except, EXCEPT, for the Zako Zako hour. (Zako Zakos are easily among the top Gundam moments)
0080 sucked, since the action weren't all that great, and that kid needs to die.
Other than that, I like most Gundam shows...
|2006-05-14, 02:54
|Link #13
Crazy Devout Fanboy
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: 1st Ra Cailum-class battleship Ra Cailum, port-side officer's bunks
GSD. Easily the worst Gundam series ever. This one doesn't need any explaining for anybody who has seen it, besides which, its many many faults have been pointed out and debated upon in these forums more times than any of us could ever accurately remember.
Wing. As RX-78GP04G Gerbera pointed out, the "Invinceability Factor" as well as his other points. GW got me hooked on Gundam, but I'm not going to call a not-good/bad series good just because it was what started me on the franchise.
|2006-05-14, 03:07
|Link #14
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
For me - I didn't like GSD much. It screamed of fan pandering, as well as rushedness.
0083 was good for the mech design (Come one, look at the Dendrobium and tell me you don't like it, tech inconsistencies aside), but my favourites are 08th MS Team, Turn A and GX.
|2006-05-14, 03:54
|Link #16
Mr. Folgers! Wassup, suh?
Join Date: Jan 2006
Movie version of Zeta is extremely superior to the TV series. I actually enjoyed the movies. TV series I would not watch again if someone offered me a million dollars.
|2006-05-14, 05:19
|Link #17
System/Web developer
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
I´m not used being looked down upon but if that´s what I get for enjoying Destiny I´ll just have to take it. Atleast we know we had a good time when we saw Destiny while they didn´t.
Zeta on the other hand is overrated. After reading about it in here I expected a lot more than I´ve gotten so far. Zeta is good but it´s not that good.
**UC-Fanboys, OBSERVE!!!**
Take note that I´m not comparing Zeta to Destiny.
Last edited by Last_Hope; 2006-05-14 at 05:33.
|2006-05-14, 05:32
|Link #18
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
|2006-05-14, 06:09
|Link #19
Lost in your Eyes~~~
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: UK
In all honesty I don't like the series of Zeta too much for reasons mentioned that it is boring however at least it actually had good fights but the movies are fantastic compilations. Its like Zeta with all the pointless bits cut out. (Okay if you neglect the canon changing ending at least)
Anyway this is easy for me.
Horribly one sided fights, incoherent half-assed story and reasons, forced relationships, technology seemingly advanced nearly 300 years in only 2-3.
A pure super robot series which tries to advertise itself as a real robot series, too many goddamn main characters when they obviously can't handle them like some writers.
Shamelessly ripped off elements with 'tribute' slapped on them, and many repeated elements from SEED except made worse. At least it had great music.
Nuff said....only good thing about it is its hillarious....hillariously bad.
Superior Defender Gundam-
An insult to the SD Gundam or Musha Gundam name in general. SD Gundam doesn't need any story, just unadulterated humour and mayhem.
Other not as bad mentions:-
Char's Counterattack-
Now this movie was pretty awesome for fights, but the story just made little sense. Char had seemingly gone crazy. It started halfway through the story, plus some rather incoherent characters. Incomplete ending left open. I feel if they actually gave Tomino more time and less stick, the full Beltorchika's children would've proved a far more enlightening movie than CCA.
Gundam Wing-
Actually I really liked the idea and concept in it, philosophical sometimes to the point of being silly but some stuff made alot of sense. However in the end the story jumped about, fights were pretty one sided. (Thankfully both were fixed in Endless Waltz)
Though the silly re-designs looked out of place, they should've stuck with the original Katoki designs. Well at least G-Wing did allow 2 of the best spin off series to happen. Also sorry but when it comes to politics Gundam Wing did have the best outlook of any series. Wars are always political and based on ideals in a real environment and no other Gundam series seems to enforce this as much, Wing tried it but failed, though theres always the music to fan over at least.
Really nice concept but again suffers from CCA syndrome, it just did not have enough time but unliek CCA it did not have a existing story or characterizations. It really should've been a full series especially since it did setup the scenario for what I consider one of the best and criminally denied/forgotten Gundam series ever (Crossbone Gundam)
Uh hum....debated but yeah it is slow and boring even when I'm a story/explanation kind of guy, alot of pointless parts which are fixed by the movie. Great fights at least and nice scenario plus abit of politics thrown around now and again made the scenario much more surreal and actually kept the atmosphere consistent. *glares at C.E.*
|2006-05-14, 06:25
|Link #20
~Night of Gales~
Join Date: Dec 2005
Looking back, I kinda realise that GSD fanbase suffered from jumping the bandwagon. A few more critical people listed out the bad things they find in GSD, then more people start hating GSD, and more people find the faults in GSD and eventually, they stopped looking at any good point in the anime altogether.
MAJORITY would've probably end up not liking GSD anyway, but the fanbase itself really hurt it more than it deserves. Meh, it's my opinion and as a GSD fan, my opinion's shit anyway.
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Part two A Mystery And A Sign
God made the wicked grocer
For a mystery and a sign,G.K.Chesterton
Chapter One Shopping For Food
The first week in November he was doing his regular weekly grocery shop in Bests supermarket when he first noticed her. She had only a small basket, in contrast to the trolley he always used, and in that basket were only small sizes of each item, and only the supermarkets Bests Value range, which were, of course, the lowest priced, lowest quality of their three ranges, Bests Quality, Bests Buy and Bests Value. Then he spotted that she was hovering by the price reduced shelves and when items which were very short dated, or had damage to the packaging were put up at half price or cheaper she would, occasionally, buy from the better quality ranges.
This was a small mystery which puzzled him. Why would an attractive woman in, I estimate, her early thirties need to be so frugal? She has on a wedding ring, so presumably has a husband somewhere. Are they so hard up? He decided, out of curiosity mostly, to see what he could find out.
When she left the supermarket he followed at a discrete distance but she clearly had no car there, and she walked past the bus stop, looking as though she was setting out for a long walk home. He left it at that the first time he had noticed her, as he was only mildly curious and had no wish to be in trouble as a stalker.
The next time he saw her it was well over a mile away from the supermarket, but the collection of bags she had with her suggested that she was going shopping. He was truly grateful to the government of the day which had introduced a small tax on new plastic shopping bags to encourage just such reuse.
Sure enough, half an hour later she came into Bests supermarket while he was still mooching round picking up his weekly shop.
He made sure he finished well before she did and went out to the car park with his shopping. Driving out of there, he travelled some distance further than he knew she had come, to a small housing estate with a local shop which sold newspapers, drinks, cigarettes and childrens treats. Parking in a side road he watched for a while, and then thought, Am I really so bored that I want to play detective after a random quarry, and for no really good reason?
He had more or less given up waiting and was ready to go home when his guess turned out to be right, and his target came into sight. He watched as she went into one of the houses a short way down the road. It was a matter of moments to drive past it and note the number, 33.
Coming back into the local shop he bought an unnecessary newspaper and an even more unnecessary magazine. As he paid for them he asked the shop keeper, Are there any houses for sale round here do you know?
Number 17 is the only one I know of sir, was that worthys reply, but an under offer board went up a couple of days ago.
Oh. I had heard a rumour that number 33 might be up for sale, but there isnt an estate agents board up.
Number 33? Well I hadnt heard, but it wouldnt surprise me. Thats Mrs. Parfitt. Shes living there alone since her husband took a job away last August, in China they say, and rumour has it he isnt coming back, or sending her any money. I doubt she could sell the house without his say so though.
Oh, Ill forget that one then. You know what rumours are like; people start off putting two and two together and pretty soon its added up to seventeen, and he left the shop well pleased with his detective work. As he drove home he thought, Ill take that as a sign that I am meant to meet Mrs. Parfitt, and hopefully on a bed, naked, because he realised that while she looked tired and worn down by life, underneath she really was quite attractive.
Chapter Two Shopping For Advice
As it happened, and not quite by chance since they both shopped there quite regularly, they met again in Bests supermarket as David was perusing the fish counter. Nothing ventured, he thought and said, Excuse me, but might I ask your advice?
Mine? Wendy asked.
Yes. Im sorry but Im thinking of making myself a fish pie. I did so enjoy them when my wife made them, and I thought I would try, but I cant decide which to use, cod or haddock, smoked or fresh, and dyed or plain. Do you know which is best?
Oh. I dont know. I think it all depends on which you like. I havent made fish pie for ages, not since I always used to use smoked haddock, but not dyed.
Thank you. Ill take your advice.
Oh, dont do that, she said hurriedly, It all depends on personal taste. Your taste might be quite different from my husbands.
Down boy, David cautioned himself, Now is not the time for smart answers. The fishmonger here says recipes use all of those, so I expect trial and error will soon tell me which I like.
Yes, well her voice trailed off.
How much fish do I need for one portion? he persisted.
Not much. I used to get half a pound for the two of us.
Thank you very much, David said, And I am sorry to interrupt your shopping, he lied.
Oh, no problem at all. I was happy to help, she said as she moved away before he could ask anything else.
Chapter Three Shopping For Coffee
The following week they met again, apparently by chance.
We really cant go on meeting like this, he said, smiling, People will start talking about us.
She returned his smile and offered, Well, when they are talking about us, they wont be talking about anyone else, now will they?
I know. Lets make it obvious. Come and have a cup of coffee with me, please, he asked.
Erm, well, where exactly? she seemed very doubtful.
He decided it was time to see how submissive she was. Here, where everyone can see us of course. No sneaking off to a quiet café for us, and he took her elbow to steer her to the cafeteria at the end of the store.
But I havent paid for my groceries, she objected.
We can do that on the way. No backing out now youve agreed. I hate drinking alone, even just coffee.
This confused her, as she didnt remember agreeing to anything, but she didnt want to make a scene, and after all, what harm could there be, right there in the supermarket where everyone could see? He did seem a nice man and had listened very carefully to her advice about the fish the previous week.
When they got to the checkout she didnt quite understand how, but her basket and his trolley ended up on the same bill which he paid. When she protested he waved her protests away saying, You gave me good advice last week, and Ill let you pay for the coffees if it will ease your conscience.
But she started to protest but once again her dread of attracting attention came to his rescue and she subsided.
Once he had collected their coffees, and toasted teacakes at his insistence, again somehow he had paid for them.
Now you really should let me pay what I owe you, she said as they sat down.
Ignoring this remark he declared, Now we havent really been introduced, so here goes. I am David Ransome and I work in an office on the Honeybourne Trading Estate. I live in Stapleford in a house far too big for me. My wife died some two years ago and I have two adult sons, neither of whom lives with me.
Clearly he was waiting for her to respond so she felt obliged to say, Im Wendy Parfitt and I live on the Greenacres Estate with my husband. We have no children.
He thought Nothing ventured, nothing gained, and decided to risk it, Is that basket of tiny portions enough for the two of you? Or is your hubby on a special diet?
He is working away at the moment, and she suddenly started to sob quietly.
Putting on his most sympathetic manner, after a moment or two he asked quietly, Whats wrong? Can you tell me about it?
This brought a further flow of tears and she shook her head. Id rather not, she said.
Well, drink up and bring your teacake. Ill drive you home as I really should be going to work now and I go past your estate on the way.
Trying to recover some element of control in this conversation, as they sat in the car Wendy asked, Yes. Why arent you at work now? Where do you work anyway, and what do you do?
I work in Stapleford Secure Systems and I dont have to do much, mostly boring meetings and drink coffee. We work flexi-time and I have loads of time built up. I often work late and some mornings I go in very early. Our core time is only eleven in the morning until two in the afternoon, and even then I only have to switch my mobile on if I want a break and dont have a meeting scheduled. The hours are designed to suit those with children at school.
Government contracts I suppose?
Yes. Mostly.
Pulling up in a lay-by at the entrance to her estate he asked again, Do you want to talk about your problem? I promise not to laugh at you, or your thoughts.
No, not now, she said, Thank you for the shopping and the coffee. You shouldnt have paid for any of mine.
Thats OK. Arent you going to offer to pay for the cold toasted teacake? and he was pleased to see that raise a tiny smile on her face. Now just go and take your groceries and teacake with you. I wont deliver you to your door because you might have nosy neighbours and it would set the curtains twitching.
As Wendy got out of the car she smiled at him and gave a little wave as he drove off.
Chapter Four Shopping For Company
The next week they met by accident as they shopped at about the same time as usual. As it happened she was not averse to meeting him again as he seemed a nice, respectable and respectful person. In her straitened circumstances she never went out and so never met anyone to talk to from one weeks end to the next. Besides that he had paid for last weeks groceries, seeming not to notice the cost, and she was becoming desperate for funds.
For his part David was definitely interested in meeting her again, as he had high hopes of having his wicked way with her. There had only been one woman in his bed, and one over his desk, since his wife fell ill three and a half years ago, and his bedmate had moved away from the area with her husband some weeks earlier. For some reason he found this apparently submissive woman who was obviously going through a hard time totally irresistible. Perhaps it was the challenge of stealing her from her absent husband, or perhaps it was simply the desire to have someone to dominate.
After doing their shopping and collecting coffees and teacakes, David paying as before, they sat in a quiet corner of the supermarket café to enjoy a quiet chat. David rather surprised Wendy by asking outright, Are you ready to tell me what your problem is? I cant help you until I know what is wrong.
Not here, she whispered.
Well, on the way home then? he persisted.
Reluctantly she nodded, feeling that she was being pushed into giving away her secrets. On the other hand he might be able to find out what has happened to Rodney, she thought, and that decided her.
Parking in the lay-by he turned to her and said, Wendy, I dont want to pry, but you obviously need help and I cant help you if I dont know the problem. Now you have a choice, he put a little management emphasis in his voice, tell me the problem or I wont bother you again.
I have some bills coming soon I dont know how I will be able to pay, like the TV license and he seems very nice, she thought so she started to answer, Rodney, my husband and then she just burst into tears.
Starting the car again, David drove off as she sobbed uncontrollably. He pulled into a public car park and drove to a deserted corner, well away from any other vehicles. Passing her a handkerchief he ordered, Dry your eyes and tell me about it. Start when the difficulties started and tell me everything.
It seemed natural to Wendy to obey this apparently caring and well meaning man so she told him, It all started when I didnt get pregnant. Weve tried for a baby for years now and it just never happens. The doctors say it should as they could find nothing wrong with either of us after a lot of tests. She started to cry again.
Stop crying. I cant help with that, David said fairly brusquely, thinking, This one is really a submissive. I will get her.
Collecting her thoughts and drying her eyes, Wendy continued, Rodney, thats my husband, started an affair with his secretary and stopped having sex with me mostly. He used to tell me about their wonderful sex life and make me feel awful. He said, another burst of sobbing, he said all I was good for was doing his laundry. She fell silent.
After a short silence David remarked, I cant help you with that problem. What is your immediate and solvable problem?
Well, money really, she whispered, and you have already helped me more than I have any right to expect.
Hes left you then?
Yes. When Angelica, the secretary, fell pregnant he arranged a transfer for both of them within his company and they moved in together.
David looked surprised as he asked, But isnt he paying you anything? You can chase him through the courts for some help.
Wendys voice was quite angry as she explained, I could I suppose, but they moved to work in the Singapore office and a solicitor I went to told me it would cost far more than I would get, and they might both be put in jail there because their laws are very strict about sex. I wouldnt wish that on Angelica because it wasnt her fault.
So to sum it up, you have no husband to rely on and no income? Is that right?
My savings are almost gone and my parents cant afford to keep giving me money. What I need is a job, but I have never worked and so Im not trained for anything, Wendy admitted, once again near tears, The JobCentre didnt hold out much hope. I suppose when Im homeless the streets will be the only answer.
Ill think about your problem and see if I have any ideas about a job. I can promise that, at least, David said as he started the car again. He dropped her at the entrance to her housing estate without another word.
Wendy walked the few hundred yards to her house thinking, Well I suppose he might come up with something, but I doubt it.
Chapter Five Shopping For Staff
Wendy was not surprised to run into David when she next went to Bests supermarket, as she knew it was usually at the same time on a Tuesday morning, when she knew it would be quiet in there. She had thought of changing the day or the time but decided that he was relatively harmless despite his cross-questioning her the last time they met, and she would not be pushed into busier times or days just to avoid him.
As usual, he had a trolley full of much more expensive items than her pitiful basket. And as the last two weeks, he contrived to pay for her items as well as his own. However, this time he did not suggest having coffee and toasted teacakes in the supermarket café. Instead he offered to take her straight home and she accepted, thinking he must be getting bored with her problems.
When they arrived at the lay-by she thanked him for the lift, but he said, Please dont get out for a minute. I want to talk to you.
Why? What do you want with me?
You said you wanted a paid job to help you make ends meet. Did you mean it?
She nodded as she admitted wryly, But I am not qualified for anything. They even turned me down for shelf stacking in Bests because I couldnt reach the top shelves.
Well, I may have found something you can do, he said, If you are really interested, that is.
Oh, Im interested, but where is it? Is it at your office?
No, its not at my office. That would take too long to organise in any case, he admitted, because we do a lot of work for the government and they insist on security checks which seem to take for ever, certainly months.
So what is it? she was growing impatient.
Tell you what, sitting in a car in a lay-by on a busy road isnt my idea of an ideal place for a discussion, he observed, Shall we adjourn to somewhere we can talk? hastily adding, Somewhere relatively public.
No harm in listening, she thought, asking, Where do you suggest?
Well, if you dont mind eating with me, I was planning to have lunch in the Lisboa. Do you know it? Its close to the supermarket.
The Lisboa! she thought, Just about the most expensive restaurant in town. But Im not dressed for anything like that, she protested.
Its half past eleven now. You go home and get your best dress on and be back here in twenty minutes. Then we will get there before it gets busy. He used his manager-giving-orders voice and she got out of the car without a word. After she left he mused, Looks pretty submissive to me. That is if she comes back promptly.
Just nineteen minutes later she slipped quietly into the passenger seat and said, I hope Im not late? It isnt the lunch, and we dont have to go to the Lisboa; we can just go somewhere much cheaper to talk.
As he pulled out into the traffic she noticed that they were heading away from town and asked, This isnt the way to the Lisboa? Where are we going? with a little nervousness in her voice.
Doing a U-turn on this road is not easy, he explained, and I didnt want to go into Greenacres with you in the car nosy neighbours and so forth so we go a few hundred yards up here then swing right round the roundabout and come back into town. Satisfied?
Sorry, she said in a very quiet and contrite manner.
In the Lisboa she was not surprised when he was greeted by name and they were shown to a table marked Reserved. She tried to ask about the job, but he simply cut her off with a curt Food first, talk after.
The lunch was excellent though there was much more meat on the Pork Espetada than she could eat. David quickly asked for it to be wrapped and commented, Theres your supper.
Coffee was ordered and he said, Now this job.
Yes. What is it? Where is it? What makes you think I can do it?
It is basically a housekeepers job. It is in Stapleford. You said you were married for ten years so I assume you can do things like cleaning and laundry and some cooking.
Yes, I could do that, but jobs like that are few and far between. How did you hear about it?
He put on his managerial voice again and said, Congratulations, youre hired. We just need to sort out the details of hours and pay and so forth.
Her heart sank as she thought, Its for him and its two years since his wife died. I wonder what sort of mess the place is in with only a man living there on his own for two years?
I suggest, if you have nothing better to do with your afternoon, that we go and look at it now, and again the tone of voice made it an order rather than a suggestion.
It was a twenty minute drive to Stapleford and she was much impressed by the house which was double fronted and she guessed would have three or probably four bedrooms. Weeks of work to get it back to clean and tidy I expect, was her thinking.
This used to be a farmhouse, he said, and it was built in 1895, but the land was sold off in 1970 when the family couldnt keep it going. Letting them in with a radio key he quickly turned off the alarm system. The alarm is silent but you must remember to switch it back on when you leave if there is nobody else here.
Her first surprise was that the living accommodation was immaculately clean and tidy, and there were no dirty dishes or glasses in the kitchen.
David stopped her as she went to go into the next room along the hall, explaining, Thats my study. I dont need you to do anything in there. I can keep that clean and tidy myself.
Wendy wondered why that would be, then she remembered he said that his employers did a lot of government work and insisted on all staff having security checks.
When they went upstairs there were three bedrooms but one was completely devoid of furniture. David explained, I only keep a bedroom for me and one for the occasional guest. Both have complete en suite facilities and the fourth bedroom used to be between them but it was converted into a pair of dressing rooms when the older boy left home. Going back downstairs, he casually said, Id like a cup of coffee now, please. Youll find the makings in the cupboard by the kettle and cups in the next one. Have one yourself if you like. Milk and sugar in mine please.
As she automatically turned into the kitchen to obey she suddenly thought, Am I already his servant? Well at least his last housekeeper was efficient.
After making them a pot of coffee and taking it, and two cups together with milk and sugar, into the sitting room she said, Hours and wages?
In answer to your thoughts, yes, you are being paid for your time now, and no I did not have a housekeeper. No other woman has worked here since my wife died, or for the last twelve months of her illness. I learned that it was necessary to keep things tidy while she was ill and I have just carried on. Does that answer your silent questions?
Wendy nodded, How did you know what I was thinking?
Do sit down, he ordered and this made her realise that she was still standing like a servant in a period TV epic, It was easy. I had started giving you orders, so I should be paying you, and this place is absurdly tidy for a bachelors quarters, so I must have had a woman in to sort me out. I assure you that I can keep my own house clean and tidy. It is just a matter of having formed the habit while my wife was ill.
So you are hiring me as an act of charity? she asked bitterly.
Far from it, David replied, I have various things I want to do, hobbies mostly, but dont have the time. A housekeeper is the obvious solution and I didnt quite know what to put in the advert, and more to the point, where to advertise the job.
Chapter Six Shopping For Clothes
Now, he continued, Your hours are whatever they need to be, and you decide that. Your pay is ten per cent over the government approved Living Wage with a minimum of 20 hours a week payable. That should help a lot, especially as you can get one good meal a day here and Ill throw in a season ticket from Greenacres to here on the bus. I will provide the necessary protective clothes, like aprons, gloves and so forth.
Thats very generous. I accept, said Wendy, but one good meal a day here? How do I do that?
Well you will be here most days I expect and when it gets round to lunch time you simply make a decent meal from whatever is in the larder. I usually have a reasonable amount in. Certainly there is always meat of some kind, eggs, vegetables and basic ingredients like flour, sugar, butter, lard and so forth. Often there is a meal ready cooked as I hate cooking for one, so I do at least two portions and then use the rest the next day or two. Go and have a look.
Obediently, David noticed, she went to look and then came back nodding her head. Theres certainly plenty there. Dont you have to throw away a good deal when it gets past its best-before date?
No. I dont throw anything away. If the use by date means anything I drop it off a couple of days before at the night shelter where they make meals for the homeless and can use almost anything. If the use by date is meaningless, like say, he paused thinking for a moment, honey, which keeps for ever, I just ignore the age. OK, the honey will, over time, invert but it doesnt go bad.
Im sorry, she said, but what do you mean invert?
It goes from runny to cloudy. Thats called inverting in the case of honey. If you want to do it quickly you add a tiny amount of cream of tartar to the honey; if you want to reverse it you just very gently heat the honey indirectly, like by putting the jar in a pan of warm water.
Oh. I knew there was runny or cloudy honey and I knew that bees made them, but I didnt know they were actually the same stuff. Are you a food chemist then?
David laughed aloud, No. My father kept bees, thats how I know about honey. However, a certain sternness crept into his voice, whenever I give a little talk like that one I dont expect to have to repeat it. From time to time there will be an exam on what I have taught you.
Wendy was momentarily frightened by the tone of voice until she realised that he had a wicked grin on his face.
The following Tuesday, when they went to Bests together by arrangement for the first time to shop for food, David steered Wendy into the section where household goods were sold.
Why are we here? she asked.
To kit my new housekeeper in an appropriate uniform, he replied, looking at a sweater with OH WHAT FUN printed on the front.
Wendy was horrified at the thought of wearing it, but then he moved on to something even worse a lace-trimmed net beach dress. His next look was at bright yellow high visibility wear for motor-cyclists. Finally he settled on a sensible overall which was actually advertised as for laboratory or school wear.
Dont you think this would be a good idea for housework and round the kitchen, to protect your own clothes? he asked and Wendy had to admit it might well be a good idea.
Good girl, he said and she felt proud that he seemed pleased with her, what size are you?
In here I dont know, she replied, Sometimes Im a 12 or even a 14, but in one shop I was a 10. There doesnt seem to be a standard size scheme any more.
Just try them on until you find one that fits then, he ordered.
When she had found which fitted her he took one of each of the three colours they had, white, beige and sky blue, and proceeded to the cash desk.
Wait, she protested Why do I need three?
Because I say so, was his immediate response, but when that seemed to bewilder her he added, One to wash, one to wear, and one for spare in case of accidents. His tone brooked no reply. His purchase of rubber gloves was justified by pointing out that his hands were much larger than hers, so his would be no use to her.
Did you notice anything else we needed? he asked, Do I need a whip to keep you working hard for instance?
Chapter Seven Shopping For Underwear
The next step on his plan to seduce her was to buy her personal clothing, rather than the work items she had accepted without any real argument. Taking the spare overall into a respectable womens clothes shop, one run by a local, not part of a chain, he inquired about simple underwear, knickers, brassières, slips, and so forth to fit a lady the size to wear that overall.
This got him some very odd looks, but when he mentioned the budget he wanted to spend there was immediate attention and much advice forthcoming. It didnt harm his case when it was apparent to the shop owner that he was altogether too large to fit any of his purchases, so he wasnt a cross-dresser as she had first thought, nor buying for a mistress as his wishes were described as, Simple every-day wear, nothing fancy.
Late in December he gave them to her wrapped in Christmas paper.
I havent got you anything, she said apologetically but he waved her objection away, Dont you want me to come in over the holiday? she added, or are you going away?
No. Ill be here as usual, or even more as the office is closing from Christmas Eve until the Monday after New Year. I suppose you are away?
No, I cant burden my parents. They are really beginning to resent my attitude, as they think its my fault I havent conceived and my mother was determinedly on Rodneys side, she confided as a tear rolled down her face.
If you could put up with my cooking, we could eat together here on Christmas Day, he suggested, then putting a little more steel in his voice he added as more of an order than a suggestion, or I could book us a Christmas lunch somewhere?
Either of those would be lovely, she replied, Ill leave it up to you.
Thats the attitude I want, he thought, acquiescent. Ill be taking that underwear off her body by the end of January or Im a Dutchman.
Christmas Day came and David had managed to find a fairly small goose which he had stuffed and roasted with all the vegetable trimmings. For sweet there was a traditional plum pudding with white sauce, also cooked by him. The wine was a very tasty red which she did not recognise, called Barolo, which David explained was one of his favourites and which, as he put it, could stand up to the red cabbage.
Do the Lisboa serve it then? she asked, made bold by three glasses.
Of course not, he answered, The Lisboa is a Portuguese restaurant and this is a wine from northern Italy. I was lucky to get this, ottanta due is the very best at prices I can afford.
I thought it was called Barolo? she was confused.
Yes, ottanta due is the year. 1982. A truly superb year.
You mean its fifteen years old? she was incredulous, We never had anything that old. Me and Rodney I mean.
Changing the subject, was my present acceptable? You can always change them if they dont fit.
I wondered why you gave me intimate underwear? she said, suddenly cautious, And how you guessed the sizes?
Oh dont worry, I dont want you to model them. I just thought it was the sort of thing you might need, but not yet be able to afford. As to size, the shop staff guessed from one of your overalls what you would need.
What can I do to say thank you? she asked cautiously.
You may not know but one of my hobbies is photography, so far railway trains mostly. You could do some photographic modelling for me? Seeing her worried look he hastened to add, Id like to try some portraiture, head and shoulders only, adding silently, At first, but get your hair done at my expense. And of course Ill pay you for modelling. Cash in hand, not through your wages, and double the housekeeper rate.
Wendy thought about this. I suppose head and shoulders is OK. He hasnt shown any sign of making advances, but if he took me on as housekeeper out of pity thats fine; out of loneliness might mean that he is after sex. But he is so masterful, I wouldnt mind him just taking control of me and my life, especially financially, and I suppose that would mean marrying him, or something like. Stop it. He offers to pay you to help his photography and you have imagined that up to fucking him! Better get back on the pill, though, just in case.
After a few moments she said, What do you want done about my hair?
Dont ask me. Ill make an appointment for you to have it done and let the experts do whatever seems appropriate to them and you. Now as to my photographic studio, Ill get some lights and reflectors and so on and we can use the empty bedroom.
And so Wendy found herself a few days later at an expensive beauty salon being given a full mornings treatment, starting with to advice on hair shapes, cuts and colour tones to suit her face shape, and natural hair texture, then moving on to manicure, sun bed, skin tonic, and so many other things that she couldnt remember them all.
At first they used Wendys own clothes, but then they tried to use some clothes that had been Junes, Davids first wifes, but he decided that they were all the wrong size, though a picture of Wendy draped in a much too large anorak had both of them giggling as they suggested captions to each other. Wendy actually felt much more at ease than usual with David as they did this, so much so that she accepted his offer of buying one or two things for her to wear for these sessions, and it was only later that she realised he had not actually offered to buy them so much as told her he was going to buy them.
It was when she was wearing a blue evening dress which was fairly low cut with spaghetti straps on the shoulders that David risked his next move. Just push the straps off the shoulders so as not to spoil the line of the neck in the photograph, he suggested, or rather ordered, and she found herself obeying without question.
The next time they had agreed to have a photographic session, which was, as usual, a Sunday morning, David said, decisively, I need to move on. I think we have exhausted the possibilities of these dresses. The next stage of your modelling career is to be a little more daring, bathing costumes, nightwear, things like that.
Wendy found herself saying, If you say so, and almost adding sir on the end.
Good, David said producing a large shopping bag, Go and change into some of these in your bedroom and then come in here with a dressing gown over them.
When she opened the bag there were two sets of underwear and a couple of flimsy nighties, one floor length and the other barely reaching her knees. Besides that there were two bathing suits, one a yellow bikini, and the other a flesh pink one piece swimming costume.
Chapter Eight Shopping For Nudity
It was after a week of shots of her in the flimsy nightwear, I really would like to try some life studies, David said, Nudes, you know. How do you feel about at least one of the nightdresses without the underwear under it, as a first step towards that?
Wendy felt the inevitability of this progression, but decided that as he had not made the slightest move to touching her, contenting himself with verbal instructions as to where and how to pose, she would go along with it.
Well, wont you turn your back while I change, please sir? she asked.
Use your bedroom to change, as you always do, came the reply.
Well at least he isnt going to try to sneak a peek at me, she thought as she fled to her room, What shall I wear? I know, the short nightie, it will show him I trust him.
David correctly interpreted her arrival a few minutes later wearing only the knee length nightie as a desire to please him. He was, however, sensible enough not to touch her as he told her how to pose. Softly, softly, catchee monkey, he thought, I might well be allowed to cup a breast while posing her, but it could set me back weeks. I want her as my willing sex toy, not struggling and saying, Unhand me Sir Jasper.
After one or two sessions in the nightdress, which really hid nothing under the array of spotlights he had assembled, he had achieved the effect he was aiming for. The model had felt that the flimsy material nevertheless meant that she was decently covered, while the finished photographs were as revealing as could be. Nipples, areolae and pudenda were all clearly delineated, if not actually revealed. All I need to do now is show her how much can be seen in the prints and then I can ask her to strip completely for me, David thought, [/I]The worst she can say is no. Wait a minute, I am the artist and she is the paid model; Ill just order her, in the nicest possible way, to strip off.[/I]
David enthused to her about the prints as he left the darkroom. Just look at these! he exclaimed, I think Ive got exactly the effect I wanted, youre hidden behind a mist, a vapour, a mystic veil.
She had to admit the effect was entirely that of a nymph hidden behind a curtain of mist. Do you want she broke off, embarrassed, Do you want to blow that mist away?
Got you. But of course. That is the next stage of the photographic odyssey, to order the model to reveal herself, said David. Then he added, But would you want more money to persuade you of that?
No, of course not, if its what you want? she offered.
Naturally, David enthused.
With no more need for privacy, she did not retire to her bedroom to change, but simply shedding her only garment there in front of him she stood naked before him and smiled.
You know, I expected you to be shaved, but I like the neatly trimmed pubes, complimented David trying to decide how he wanted her posed, and how to achieve that pose without offending her. Just give her her orders, I suppose. Right, I want you hiding your nipples with one arm and your pubes with the other hand, but looking coyly tempting. Can you do that?
I dont know, she said, But Ill try.
It took twenty shots before David gave up on this pose. Its no good, he finally said, Your either look nervous or actually available and pretending.
Well I am nervous, standing in front of the camera with no clothes on.
Wrong, Wrong, wrong, David raged, There isnt a camera here. It is a lovers eye and you are trying to tempt him, but make him bed. Oh hell, lets try the other emotional extreme. Try full frontal looking eager to be bedded by your lover. That means arms outstretched, feet slightly apart, smiling, Come and get me look.
This she found much easier and was very gratified when it took only a few shots before David said, Thats it. Im feeling your emotion myself, hastening to add, through the camera, of course. Mustnt frighten her off the first nude session weve had.
Chapter Nine Shopping For Mastery
David surprised Wendy the following Monday by telling her that she could add his study to her cleaning routine, But dont touch anything on my desk. That is important.
Why do you think you need to tell me that I shouldnt touch your desk? she replied.
Id better make my dominance felt, he thought so he said, If you are going to work for me you need to obey without always questioning me. Of course, you are at liberty to leave this job at any time.
Wendy was very worried by this prospect, as she was only just beginning to get on her financial feet, and losing the income from being Davids housekeeper would be a disaster. So she protested, But I dont always question you. I only ask questions when I need you to explain something. Why do you say I am always questioning you?
David smiled and said, I rest my case.
What do you mean? she persisted.
He sighed and then replied, I have given you an order about my desk and you ask me Why? I object being questioned and indicate that if you dont like my giving you orders you can always leave, and you deny questioning me and ask me Why? again. When I try to indicate subtly that this is what I mean you ask me to explain myself. Do I take it that you want to leave?
No, not at all, she hastened to say.
Then stop asking me why I want something when I give an order.
Sorry. Ill try, I really will.
Well see. Lets try something, David thought as he gave an order, Right. Here is an order. I am going to take some more pictures of you. Go up to the studio and undress. I will be there in a minute and I want to find you waiting for me, nude. Do you understand?
Yes, sir, and she left the room.
David waited exactly one minute and then made his way unhurriedly up to the studio, wondering whether she would be waiting as he had ordered. He was somewhat relieved to find that she had done exactly what he had said. I could have blown it by giving that order, but she seems very obedient. Lets try taking advantage of that, he thought. Lie on the couch as if you are watching a television set in that corner, was the next order.
She lay down on her side and looked in the direction he had indicated.
No, he said, your arm should be under your breast supporting it.
Wendy squirmed for a few moments and then looked worried at him, not quite understanding but mindful of the earlier spat and so not daring to ask a question..
Here, let me show you, he said and, for the first time in their photo sessions, he lifted her by one shoulder and slipped the arm under her. Then he lifted her naked breast out of her armpit and rested it on the arm so that the nipple could clearly be seen.
Wendy was a little surprised that he had done this, though she had been expecting it ever since she was first persuaded to pose nude for him. Still, she reflected, he hasnt made any sexual move towards me. I wonder what I would do if he did? Obey orders, I suppose. After all I am on the pill.
David spent half an hour taking photographs, but was clearly not pleased with any of them. Then he said, No. I cant seem to get the effect I want. Call it an hour at modelling rates and you can get dressed now.
After she had dressed and was preparing to leave, David offered, Stay here and have dinner with me. Ill drive you home afterwards.
Why would you feed me a second meal today? she wondered.
To tell the truth I hate eating alone. David replied aloud while thinking, And its the next step on the pathway to my bed.
Chapter Ten Shopping For A Live In Housekeeper
One day as they were about to sit down to one of their now frequent dinners, after which he was due to drive her back to her house, he said, You know, Wendy, I would love to have some wine with my dinner tonight, but I cant do that and drive you back afterwards. How about if you stay in the guest room for tonight?
Well, I dont want to spoil your dinner, so I can order a taxi to take me home.
Thats silly. If you dont yet trust me enough to stay here Ill manage without the wine.
She thought for a few moments and then said, It isnt that I dont trust you. I dont have any night things here to start with, then theres a toothbrush and a hairbrush, and so on.
David seized the possibility, As you know the guest room has its own en suite with a brand new disposable toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste. You could make do with your photo modelling nightwear perhaps, or the pick of Junes old nightwear for the one night, surely? And then you could perhaps keep an emergency set of your own here for just such occasions as this.
Well I suppose for once it would be alright.
Good. Thats settled then. Since its salmon tonight well have a nice bottle of Prosecco to accompany it.
She was strict at first and said she would only have one glass. He did manage to persuade her to have a second glass, but it wasnt really so difficult. The third glass went down a treat.
In the course of the next few weeks it became most nights that David would have wine with his dinner and Wendy join him and then she would stay in the guest room. Eventually David suggested, then insisted, that she should move into his guest room on a more permanent basis and pointed out that she could make some money letting the house at Greenacres to carefully chosen tenants.
This was agreed, with the proviso, at her insistence, that he cut her wages to the national minimum as she would not have the housing cost. David was doubtful, but wisely did not push her on this topic as he realised that she was totally serious about it. If I let her have her way occasionally it wont seem too much like a take over. In any case I can put the difference to one side for her if, or more likely when, we split.
Although he still had her into the studio for photo sessions, and some of those were nude, and although they watched television together most evenings, there was no overtly sexually contact between them. In fact they had not yet even kissed; the modelling sessions could have been with a plastic dummy for all the interest in her personality he showed when moving her flesh into the pose he wanted.
Chapter Eleven Shopping For Ecstasy
The furniture was positioned so that it was natural for them to sit side by side on the sofa, and she simply sat where David indicated, next to him. He murmured, Allow me, as he put an arm round her shoulders in a comforting manner when she sat next to him. This quickly became a habit, and David didnt ask permission, any more; he just assumed that she would sit next to him and lean companionably against him.
It went on like this for a fortnight or so, until they watched, for want of anything better on TV, the film Jaws which frightened her and Wendy buried her face in his shoulder to avoid the scary scenes. As she carefully peeped round to see if the frightening bit was over, David let his hand cup her breast, and when she looked up at him he moved a fraction and their mouths met in a kiss.
Then he noticed that she wasnt stopping him, nor moving away. In point of fact she was returning his kiss with a degree of enthusiasm and when he moved his hand away from her breast she pulled it back to cup her eager tit. Somehow, between them, they managed to make that caress, which started outside her clothing, slip in and under and past all the barriers so that David suddenly realised that it was luxuriating on warm skin, and that a nipple was quickly stiffening in his palm.
Sensing that she was feeling a mixture of fear, excitement and arousal, he lost no time in slipping his hand under the waistband of her skirt and on to her mound, gently rubbing her knickers into the crack between her labia. There was no objection from Wendy, quite the opposite, as her legs parted to allow him more freedom to explore her most private parts.
Slipping a finger under the edge of her knickers and on to her clitoris, where he stroked and twiddled until she was overtaken by a small orgasm signalled by a whispered, Yes. Oh yes.
Was that good?
She nodded shyly and blushed, once again burying her face in his shoulder.
Can I ask you to return the favour?
Should I? she wondered, Yes. Thats really an order dressed up as a request isnt it? She nodded without taking her face out of his shoulder. Then she was aware of some fumbling whereupon her hand was gently moved onto a warm flesh tube which was rapidly hardening. She stroked the flesh as she had done to get her husband interested, but didnt know quite what to do next. We arent in bed. He wants pleasure but I dont think he wants to go all the way. Should I suck him off? Should I swallow if he cums?
David solved the problem for her by producing a linen handkerchief and saying, Use that to catch it.
She started to rub much faster, as she had seen her husband do when he was sneering at her and wanted to spurt all over her. Fairly soon she felt the prick in her hand jumping and twitching as it filled the handkerchief.
Thank you, David said, thinking, Well that went OK. Sucking next week after a few mutual masturbation sessions.
It didnt take that long. The very next evening as they were supposedly watching television She whispered in his ear, Rodney liked me to kiss him. Do you like being kissed, sir?
Yes, of course I do, David replied, wondering where this was leading. He got his answer when she bent her head down to his lap and began to kiss along his prick.
When she had thoroughly kissed its length she took the head in her mouth and began to titillate it with her tongue.
As he felt he was about to cum, David gently lifted her head away and bent himself to kiss and lick her clitoris.
You dont need to do that, sir, she murmured, And I know you were near cumming in my mouth, sir. We can do whatever you want, sir.
David redoubled his efforts and she climaxed almost immediately.
Its a good thing this house is detached, David thought, or the neighbours would have heard all her gasps and screams. As she calmed down he asked, Would you have been angry if I had cum in your mouth? You know men like to do that and women are supposed to submit to it.
I know, and I will, she said before leaning down again and enthusiastically tonguing him until she drank all he had to offer.
That was the beginning of a regular nightly drink of his semen for her, and the occasional oral ministration from him. Mostly, though, he just used his hand to give her her climaxes and she seemed content with that, though very effusive in her thanks and addressing him always as sir.
Chapter Twelve Shopping For A Live In Mistress
David suggested, This is silly, as Wendy was about to go to bed one evening in April after they had spent the evening on the sofa watching television while gently masturbating each other.
What is silly? she asked.
Pleasuring each other but not sleeping together, he said, and then hardening his voice to what she knew meant an order rather than a request, If you get yourself on the pill it would be quite safe.
Her heart leapt at this and she replied, I went on just after I started in here. I guessed you would want me, and I knew if you ordered me into your bed I wouldnt be able to refuse, or want to. Want to refuse, I mean.
And? he asked.
And if you want me, I am yours, Master, for anything you want.
And so the mystery of how to get everything sexual he wanted had been solved and the sign he had thought he saw on his first visit to Greenacres Estate was fulfilled. But, he thought, I know I shall tire of her, probably quite quickly, and what then? And it was with that thought he led her by the hand up the stairs and into his bedroom.
In the bedroom it all went much better than he had expected. She simply stripped off her clothes, folding them carefully and putting them on the dressing table, as if it were the most habitual procedure in her life. Then she pulled the duvet back and lay down on the sheet to watch as he undressed rather more slowly than she.
David climbed on to the bed and they restarted the mutual hand jobs that had been their usual evening entertainment until David moved down the bed and leant over her cunt to open it with one hand and start to lick along the slit.
No, she murmured, You dont need to do that. Just fill me with him.
I want to, he murmured, I know you like it and I know I enjoy doing it.
Please? she begged.
Please what? he teased.
Please fuck me? she seemed embarrassed to use the word.
Not yet, and David redoubled his efforts with his tongue teasing her clitoris. It was when he sucked the nubbin in between his lips that he got the reaction he was looking for.
Her legs lifted off the bed with her knees bent beside his head, and then those knees straightened and the feet were high in the air as a moan came from her lips and she was obviously on the verge. The toes started to curl as the orgasm hit her. Yes, yes, yes, she cried out.
David moved quickly to push his prick firmly into her cunt as deeply as he could. The feeling of her cunt milking his prick almost immediately brought him to a climax as she was still in the throes of her own ecstasy. After he finished cumming he rolled off her and lay for a few moments on his back.
Well, arent you going to clean it? he asked.
Oh, sorry, she apologised, I wasnt thinking clearly after that. It was wonderful, better than I ever she broke off and got off the bed heading for his bathroom.
David let her go, thinking, I bet she comes back with a warm facecloth.
Sure enough she returned with a warm damp cloth and started to wipe his penis.
What do you think you are doing now? he asked petulantly.
Cleaning him, she offered, I thought you wanted me to do that?
Yes, he said, but with your mouth.
Oh, I never
You never did that for your husband after you had sex with him? I expect thats why he never gave you as wonderful a time as I did. You were going to say that werent you?
She stared for a moment and then admitted it, Yes. It was the best sex I ever had.
Even better than on your honeymoon? David persisted.
She blushed, Yes, even better than then.
Well I expect a reward for that, so clean him with your mouth. Youll taste some of my semen and your own juices but you need to get used to that. The next load of cum goes down your throat, but not without the added flavour of your juices, David ordered, thinking, God, I need to get it up again straight away, but it seemed that his penis agreed with his tactics. You can suck me to clean him and then carry on until I cum. Mind you swallow all of it.
Wendy wondered, Can I do that? I never did for Rodney, though perhaps he would have liked it. He just never asked me for it; only let me suck him after his bath, even as she was leaning forward over the bed to suck at his burgeoning erection. It took quite a few minutes but she was pleased that she succeeded as her husband had never cum twice in the same session with her.
After that they spent every night in his bed together, except when she was unavailable. David never suggested any alternative during her periods, and for that she was glad. She would have sucked him off then if he had asked, and she had even contemplated letting him have her arse. She didnt enjoy being buggered the few times she had tried it, but for her Master she felt she could not refuse anything.
Chapter Thirteen Punishing A Mistake
What do you think this is? David demanded, staring at the mess on his plate.
Im sorry, Master. It was supposed to be a soufflé but it fell as I took it out of the oven.
You mean you dropped it? he asked, knowing full well the answer and thinking, Just the chance Ive wanted. An excuse to spank her.
No. I didnt drop it. It just collapsed on the plate. Im sorry, she apologised, looking a little fearful.
Did you try to make a soufflé before?
No. I thought it would be a nice surprise for you. I did it exactly as the recipe said, she mumbled.
Recipes are not everything. And with a completely new item you should always practise beforehand until you know you can do it right. I thought you knew that? he asked, looking for an opportunity.
Yes, but she started.
David interrupted her, You will be punished.
Oh just take the time and cost of materials out of my wages, she offered, I understand that I have to pay for my mistakes.
Oh no. It isnt that easy. If this had been practice I would have had the costs but not the disappointment. Your punishment is to make you remember in future, not to reimburse me for the cost of your error.
Wendy stared at him for several seconds then ventured, What punishment?
Your mistake was a childish one, so your punishment will be just as childish. I shall spank you for it. He held is breath as she took that in, then added, I shall spank you hard for it.
Then, to his great relief, she said, I understand, Master. Will you spank me here?
No. In the bedroom, now.
She rushed out of the room and up the stairs. David followed her at a more leisurely pace.
When he reached the bedroom she was standing waiting for him with the skirt of her dress rolled up. tucked in to its belt, and her knickers off, so that she was fully prepared to take her punishment on the bare as was traditional in English schools. David sat on the bed and ordered, Over my knee.
The first signs of her fear were visible in the way she lowered herself slowly onto his knees, supporting herself with her legs one side of then and her hands on the carpet the other side.
David could not control his erection at this prospect and he knew that she could feel it as well. He did not let that stop him from administering the promised punishment.
One cheek reddened.
She remained silent until he said, It is traditional to count the strokes aloud, and to thank me for each one.
One, Master, she said in a shaky voice, Thank you. How many is the punishment to be this time?
That is for me to know and you to find out, he replied, actually not having decided how far to push her She seems to accept that this is the first of many. She said this time, he thought.
The second blow landed on top of the first one deepening the hue of the skin.
Two, Master. Thank you, she intoned in a firmer voice.
By the sixth blow David could clearly smell her vaginal arousal, and asked, Is six enough?
Yes, Master, came the reply, Please fuck me now to make it better.
Why would I want to do that? It was a punishment, not foreplay.
Well it has me all fired up, she said as she turned over and freed his prick so that she could take it in her mouth.
Sure enough, he came in a matter of seconds and she swallowed all she could, leaving a small amount of semen to ooze out of the corners of her mouth. Oh Master, I must make some more childish mistakes if your punishments turn me on like that.
Chapter Fourteen Husbands Return
After a few weeks sex had become much more of a habit than a joyous coupling as each of them felt duty bound to perform for the others pleasure. The spice added by the spanking also became more of a habit than thrill for both of them.
Then a letter arrived for Wendy from Singapore.
David said, Well, arent you going to open it?
Im afraid to, she replied, Its bound to be bad news.
Well, it wont get any better for waiting, he offered.
She tore the envelope open and scanned the single sheet of paper. Rodney finishes his assignment in October and wants to come back. Oh God what should I do?
That gives you four months to decide, David observed, Does he say what happened to the girl he ran off with? Wasnt she pregnant?
She said she was. No, no mention of her. I expect its over. His liaisons never lasted.
But your marriage did?
Yes. I thought I loved him and always forgave him.
Typical submissive, thought David but aloud he said, And this time? Will you have him back again? Do you still love him?

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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Adry Torres: Miami Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays Trade Taints Major League Baseball
Less than a year after Miami went on the biggest off-season spending spree in Major League Baseball, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria completed the team's fire sale, agreeing to send Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson to Toronto. The deal was first reported by Fox Sports on Tuesday.
While in the past the Marlins have been known to follow a championship season with a fire sale, this latest news caught the baseball world off guard.
Who would have expected that Reyes and Burhrle, two prized off-season acquisitions along with Johnson, would have quickly followed recently fired manager Ozzie Guillen out of South Beach in what turned out to be a disappointing season that was filled with the hope of winning a championship.
However, the Marlins never lived up to the expectations that accompanied the team's new $515 million stadium located in Miami's Little Havana.
The Marlins were followed by Showtime for The Franchise, a television show on the cable network that gave fans an inside look into the lives of the players of a major league club.
Today the Marlins are better suited for an installment of Back to The Future as the fan base has once again been misled by the art dealing owner.
The team struggled out the gate with a 8-14 record in April but had a hot streak in May, winning their first seven games of the month, going 21-8 and for a moment striking up some hope. Entering play on June 5th, the Marlins were tied atop the NL East with the Washington Nationals, whom went on to win the division. Miami then lost six straight and 11 of the next 14 games, thus never recuperating.
It may be time for Bud Selig to save baseball and its fans in Miami...
Miami finished 69-93, good enough for last place in the NL East and even great enough for Loria to fool fans with another fire sale.
Catcher John Buck also was shipped north of the border for a package that included shortstop Yunel Escobar, starting pitcher Henderson Alvarez, shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, catcher Jeff Mathis, and pitching prospect Justin Nicolas along with two other minor leaguerers.
The front lawn yard sale might have been easily accepted by Marlins fans after the team won the World Series in 1997 under former owner Wayne Huizenga and then in 2003, a year after Loria purchased the club.
The first warning signs came last year when right before the trade deadline the Marlins decided to pull the plug on Hanley Ramirez, who reportedly was never happy about switching over to third base after the team did not consult with him before signing Reyes, and traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers. If the smoke of the fire sale was not clear then, then it was when the Marlins dealt starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez and second baseman Omar Infante to the Detroit Tigers.
Loria shed over $30 million in salary in those two trades.
Before the 2012 World Series had even concluded, the Marlins pulled the plug on Heath Bell, trading him to Arizona. Bell flopped as the closer and sparred verbally with Guillen throughout the season. Loria will pay only $8 million of the $21 million Bell is owed.
The latest binge Tuesday evening had some fans scratching their heads as they headed home from work, ready to get that hot stove going in their kitchens.
Instead they're now left with a sour taste of what could have been if the team had been kept intact for first-year manager Mike Redmond.
Here it's the fans and the city of Miami that are the real losers.
Along with many citizens of Miami-Dade County, who could care less about the Marlins, the city ended up getting played by Loria. With the backing of local government politicians, the city still owes $2.4 billion for the estimated final cost of Marlins Park that now stands as a constant reminder of the now disgraced franchise.
Can fans trust Loria anymore? It was he who stripped Montreal of its baseball franchise and sold the Expos to the commissioner's office for $120 million in 2002 and then turned around to purchase the Marlins from John Henry, who would then buy the Boston Red Sox.
He paid $158 million in 2002 for the Marlins, who according to Forbes were worth $450 million in the early stages of the season that just ended.
Loria balled so hard and in an instant gave out $191 million during his spending spree last winter.
Loria wined and dined Reyes in New York once the free agency window opened up and gave him a check for $106 million but was smart enough not to give Reyes a no-trade clause. Ditto with Burhrle, who had signed a four-year, $58 million deal. With Guillen running the show in Miami, it was easy to convince Buehrle to join his former skipper for a run at another title after winning one together with the Chicago White Sox.
He even flirted with Albert Pujols.
Fans could have braved this trade after the 1997 and 2003 seasons, when the sole decision to trade away talent was based on the stadium issue. That excuse in unacceptable now.
Last December before the NBA resumed its abbreviated season, the Los Angeles Lakers almost got Chris Paul in a deal before commissioner David Stern stepped in and vetoed the trade for "basketball reasons".
It may be time for Bud Selig to save baseball and its fans in Miami from this madman.


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Understanding Islam to enable us to destroy it once and forever
How Iraq can take the entire Middle East into Apocalypse
Musharraf's Pakistan - A friend or a foe?
What does it take to win a war against theology-inspired terror?
The Root causes of Muslim Alienation and of 9/11, 3/11, 7/7
What makes Muslims glorify murder and revenge?
The cracks and contradictions within the Communist-Islamist Alliance
The real Muslim mind revealed by an Ex-Muslim
Strategy to break the Islamist-Communist Alliance
Logic behind Iran's Mullahs' Desperation to get Nuclear Weapons.
Putin's romance with Palestinians, Iranians and Syrians - Shades of Hitler-Stalin (Ribbentrop-Molotov) Pact of 1939?
Iran's Duplicity in building Nuclear weapons under the cloak of Energy Requirements recalls Hitler's duplicity of building Luftwaffe using Flying Clubs
Vietnam War and the War on Terror - similarities and differences
|Islamic Terrorists Murder Students at "Immoral Picnic"
|Book Review: Atomic Iran - Jerome R. Corsi
|Security breached at US nuclear power plant
We are dealing with nihilists and despots who worship a death- cult. They hate modern liberalism and democracy and their ideology is the cousin of fascism and communism. When we faced Stalin and Hitler, the last thing we needed to do was agonize over why they didn't like our societies, lifestyles and systems of government. Neither should we do anything different in confronting the Osamas and Al Zarqawis. More....
Past Editorials
There will come a point when widespread Muslim terror attacks against the U.S. will no longer allow military actions as we have taken in Iraq and Afghanistan and will call for a re- appraisal of our military strategy…… More....
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Oilers 6, Wild 1 – Game 47 – 2013-04-26 @ 6:00 PM MST – SNET
So tonight, the Oilers, who've won ONE game in their last 10, take on the Minnesota Wild. The Wild have embarrassingly dominated the Oilers, winning 19 of the last 20 matchups. That's unbelievable. Anyone who thinks this shit bag team is going to play spoilers and bump the Wild out of a playoff spot is in for bitter disappointment. You might be best not turning this one on. I predict a final score of 3-0. I typically am not this doom and gloom about the Oilers, but really… all signs point to a pretty crappy game. You've been forewarned.
However, a bit of wackiness in the lines tonight. I am interested in the top line. Horcoff seemed to really mesh well with Hall and Eberle when they were breaking into the league. Seeing Hall and Yakupov as his book ends will be mighty interesting. Also, Fistric will play with Justin Schultz. That's a strange one, in a way.. but maybe the Oilers want to see the full potential from Fistric? Or perhaps that will be the bottom pairing, since Justin Schultz has been showing flaws in his D game for a fair bit now (he's young though, so I'm not alarmed).
Khabibulin gets the start tonight, which might be our only wild card hope in stealing a win.
Some good 30 thoughts today by Elliot Friedman:
22. Oilers GM Craig MacTavish, asked if he sees Taylor Hall as a winger or a centre: "We wanted to try him at centre this season, but aside from some faceoff work when Ryan Nugent-Hopkins struggled, it never materialized … Terry O'Reilly always used to tell me, 'Position is just a place where you line up when they drop the puck.' Taylor covers a lot of ice from the wing."
23. MacTavish had another good quote: "My vision of the team will be very obvious very quickly." He pointed to Montreal as a team he hoped to emulate. It's tough to make trades right after the season because you can't deal with anyone in the playoffs and those who are out of it prefer to decompress before making important decisions. It's a good thing he was at the under-18s in Russia because this week's been a nightmare.
24. MacTavish did not specifically address Oscar Klefbom, but the sense is the Oilers consider the left-shooting defensive prospect an untouchable. I also think they are realistic about his impact, especially after Justin Schultz's late-season struggles. They believe he can be a top-pairing blue-liner, but maybe not for two years.
25. Finally, Edmonton is going to try and upgrade in goal. Devan Dubnyk's held them in a lot more games than the Oilers deserve, but they don't have much throughout the organization. I wouldn't be surprised to see them chase guys who can help them in both the NHL and AHL.
Hall – Horcoff – Yakupov
Paajarvi – Gagner – Eberle
Belanger – Lander – Jones
Smyth – Smithson – Brown
Smid – Petry
Fistric – J.Schultz
N. Schultz – Potter
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The Strand House in Manhattan Beach commands an enviable position at the edge of the ocean-side town overlooking the pier. No accident, since owner Michael Zislis is already a big presence here with his Shade Hotel and a number of casual restaurants, including Mucho, Brewco and Rock 'n Fish.
But with the Strand House, the Zislis Group is trying something different from its successful run of beachy restaurants. It has overhauled the former Beaches and turned it into a lavish three-level restaurant and lounge that looks more to Hollywood for its style cues than to the town's laid-back beach culture. And the Cal-Mediterranean food borrows from what's perennially popular in L.A. — pizza, handmade pasta, vegetable sides and the usual suspects in terms of mains — with mixed results.
The place definitely stands out on a block anchored by a bikini store. One night a doggy stroller (pink, and my first sighting) is parked just outside the front doors. By the time I leave sometime after 10 p.m., the stroller and its occupant are gone, replaced by that trendy bit of paraphernalia, the velvet rope. What? The gentleman hired to man the door tells us the downstairs level becomes a club in the later hours. On this wind-swept night with not one person in line, this seems more like wishful thinking.
Inside, the two hosts at the desk are appropriately chirpy and welcoming, but the place still has a chilly corporate vibe. Table not quite ready? Get out your credit card. In the entrance, Wine Station machines dispense wines from the quite ordinary to cult bottlings. If you've just made a killing somewhere somehow, by all means go for the 2008 Opus One at $45 a glass (or $15 a half-glass or $7.50 a taste). Or the 2009 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir from Santa Rita Hills at $36, $18 or $6.
Follow the hostess up the steep backlit stairs past a window looking onto the lower level lounge (there's another bar half a flight up from the main dining room). Floor-to-ceiling windows look out on the dark sea and the glinting lights of the pier. The crowd is prosperous-looking and much more dressed up than the diners at nearby M.B. Post. You see suits and ties, Italian sport jackets, designer dresses and major bags. They're here for the action, and loving the idea of not having to drive to the city for a taste of upscale night life.
I was excited at the prospect of yet another interesting new South Bay restaurant. And my first meal — pizza with Benton's ham and roasted tomato red pepper sauce, pasta, hanger steak — was promising, the food something of a cross between Grace and Gjelina, which makes sense. The consulting chef is Grace's Neal Fraser while chef Travis Lorton comes from Gjelina. Lorton's previous experience was in Chicago at several well-known restaurants, including Blackbird and Schwa.
Visits two and three were disappointing, though. Given the talent involved — and the prices — the food should be much better than it is. Pizzas are as thin-crusted as Gjelina's, but toppings are criminally sparse (and I'm a minimalist when it comes to pizza topping). Our mushroom pizza had only the thinnest veil of Fontina and maybe three or four mushrooms dispersed on the crust. The flavors are good, but the kitchen just needs to be a bit more generous. Zucchini blossom pizza must have had half a blossom torn into shreds, almost invisible, a few paper-thin slices of zucchini and barely any cheese. When one of my guests complains, the manager comes over and peers down at it. It does seem a little thin, he says.
I can imagine what's happening. The pizza maker has been admonished for loading on the toppings and has gone way too far in the other direction. Meanwhile, this place is busy, and the chef is too harried to monitor what's going out.
The food is wildly uneven, service in disarray. If you request the pizza to come out first, you can't count on that happening. All the appetizers could arrive at once, the pizza a good while after. Servers dressed all in black like Bunraku puppeteers may show up with main courses before the appetizers have been cleared — or even finished. If you send them away, they're back minutes later trying to do the same thing.
Here's the good, the bad and the ugly.
I love the Parkerhouse rolls to start, served warm as a pull-apart loaf, with creamed butter. Heirloom tomato salad made with tomatoes from a farm near Paso Robles is terrific. Red tomatoes streaked with color are generously served up with creamy burrata spooned over the top, a great dish to share. Roasted beet salad with pickled onions and a finely tuned sherry vinaigrette works too.
And the pizza with roasted pepper and tomato sauce topped with Benton's smoky ham is a plus. Hand-torn pasta rags with rustic lamb sausage, roasted fennel and pine nuts would be the best dish in the house if the kitchen would sauce it a little less exuberantly. As it is, pastas come off greasy.
My pick for the mains is the local black cod, simply cooked, each bite rich and flavorful. Next best is the vegetarian main course, buckwheat crepes rolled up with fresh ricotta and sauteed beet greens — simple and satisfying. When did you ever see two avid carnivores pass up their steak or chicken for one more bite of crepe with beet greens? It happened.
Now for the bad. Pork confit-stuffed tortelli with chanterelle mushrooms and kale is workmanlike at best, heavy and unappealing. Potato gratin with caramelized onions, bacon and Gruyère comes in a cute little casserole but is so overly rich it's almost inedible. Hand-cut frites, double-fried in tallow (polite speak for beef fat) are fluffy inside but sadly limp. For me, that lack of crispness is a deal breaker.
Hanger steak ordered rare arrives medium rare and lacks flavor, despite a watercress gremolata, which is a lovely idea, in fact. Grilled pork tenderloin topped with a khaki-colored chimichurri is dried-out. And the Moroccan-inspired rack of lamb rubbed with chermoula may be the most tasteless piece of meat I've encountered for $38. Brussels sprouts glazed with maple seems off kilter — you get that cabbage funk sweetened. Why?
I'm just as mystified by the butterscotch doughnuts sprinkled with powdered bacon. Everybody loves bacon, but not as a powder with sticky sweet doughnuts. If you crave a sweet, go with the Strand bar, an elongated rectangle of dark chocolate ganache so rich it has to be shared.
In the end, the restaurant comes off as amateurish and not ready for prime time. I'm not expecting three-star service. But is it too much to ask for a little common sense? Or thoughtfulness? I'd love to get a cease-and-desist order to prevent servers from continually checking in to ask if everything is "great." And the $30 corkage fee for a restaurant with such a weak wine list isn't the swiftest move either.
The trouble with the Strand House is that the place lacks soul. And even though I'm sure the chef is working hard, he may be hampered by an inexperienced crew and the chaotic front-of-the-house. I could be more forgiving if the restaurant were less expensive. But in the end, there's little reason to go back.
The Strand House
Rating: half a star
Rating is based on food, service and ambience, with price taken into account in relation to quality.
****: Outstanding on every level.
***: Excellent.
**: Very good.
*: Good.
No star: Poor to satisfactory.
Location: 117 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach, (310) 545-7470, http://www.thestrandhousemb.com
Prices: Salads, $11 to $15; appetizers, $13 to $18; pizzas, $13 to $19; mains, $23 to $39; sides, $8; desserts, $8 to $12. Corkage fee, $30 per bottle.
Details: Open for dinner 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday and for brunch 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.


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Where do sea snakes live? How do they breathe and reproduce? Why do they shed their skin?
1. Where can we find sea snakes?
Sea snakes are air-breathing cold-blooded reptiles. Like all snakes they have forked tongues and body scales and they regularly shed their skins. They are found primarily in warm tropical waters of the Pacific. The area of highest species diversity is Indonesia and northwest Australia. Each of these regions has more than 20 species but many species that occur in Indonesia and other parts of south east Asia do not occur in Australia and vice versa. Most of Australia's tropical coastal waters have a high species diversity. The Great Barrier Reef has 14 species of sea snakes. Although sea snakes need warm tropical waters to survive, they are occasionally blown south by storms and have been recorded in Sydney Harbour.
2. How do sea snakes breathe?
Sea snakes must come to the surface to breathe. However, they can spend from 30 minutes to 2 hours diving between breaths. This is possible for two reasons: they have one elongated cylindrical lung that extends for almost the entire length of their body and they can breathe through their skin.
3. How do sea snakes reproduce?
Like all snakes and lizards, male sea snakes have two penises – hemipenes - but each one functions independently and only one is used during mating. Mating takes place under water and sea snakes must surface for air during the process. The female controls breathing and as she swims to the surface the male is pulled along attached via the hemipenis. At the surface, the male gulps for air or he has to wait till the next time the female comes up to the surface to breathe. Males are unable to disengage until mating is finished.
4. How are sea snakes born?
Most sea snakes give birth after gestation periods that range from four to eleven months, depending on the species. Most species reproduce every year. The timing of the reproductive cycle varies between species and also differs between geographical locations for the same species. Young are born underwater and must be independent immediately to swim to the surface to breathe. There is no parental care.
5. How do sea snakes shed their skin and why do they do it?
Sea snakes shed their skin every two to six weeks, which is more frequent than land snakes and more often than needed for growth alone. To shed its skin, the snake rubs its lips against coral or other hard substrate to loosen it. It then catches the skin against something to anchor it and crawls forward leaving the skin turned inside out behind it. Skin shedding allows sea snakes to rid themselves of marine organisms such as algae or barnacles. If they didn't shed their skin, the organisms would interfere with the snakes' ability to swim and could cause disease.
Source and more information: IUCN Sea Snake Specialist Group


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Apple has acquired Particle, a firm specializing in the design of HTML5 websites and web apps. Particle has previously done some HTML5 work for Apple, along with others such as Google, Amazon, and Motorola and they are also behind video sharing service Robo.to. The deal for the acquisition happened last month, and is mostly a talent, rather than product, acquisition. It is unknown what the team will be working on, though Josh Lowensohn at CNET speculates that it has to do with Apple's heavy HTML5 focus for its web content:
As for the purpose of the buy, Apple has put a big focus on HTML5 on its product pages, iAd advertising, and on iCloud.com, which serves as one of the only places Apple has true Web applications.
Particle is a company that has focused predominantly on user experience in the past, and that background can be put to use almost anywhere in Apple's ecosystem. Reworking the iCloud web apps, making them faster and more responsively, is certainly an option. It is also possible that Particle's experience with iTunes Extras means that they will work on media content. The sky -- or more appropriately, the cloud -- is the limit.
While most of Apple's focus has been on native applications, web content is very important to Apple's interaction with users. Even the iTunes, iBooks, and App Store apps on iOS devices are HTML5 web apps with some native trimming. Given how quickly content needs to change in either store, for the time being, this is neccessary. It's quite possible that the team brought in from Particle will be used to impove the overall store experience, doing their best to make it more responsive, or perhaps even improving search.
What would you like to see the Particle team work on? What areas of their web experience does Apple need to imporve the most? Give us your thoughts below in the comment.
Source: CNET


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"I confess that I will not be afraid, for I am deeply loved by God. I shall take heart, and be at peace, and be strong." [Daniel 10:19]
Even as Christians, no one is exempt from facing fearful situations from time to time. We all will take on different kinds of fears as we go through life. Fear of failure, fear of rejection and most of all, fear of the unknown. Yet the Bible tells us that God did not give us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind.
Fear is the opposite of Faith and when we allow it to counteract with our Faith, then we must know that we are not pleasing our Father. Fear is also known as the spiritual force that blocks God's best for our lives, therefore we must confront fear as soon as it enters our minds.
I am always encouraged when I read the story about the three Hebrews boys, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who were faced with one of the most fearful situations you can imagine. These men of great faith were confronted with the choice of standing for the one and only true God or bowing to King Nebuchadnezzar's golden statue. Refusing to bow to the idol, the King thought he could raise fear in them as he offered them a second chance. However, these men did not worry what would happen to them, they knew that even if they were thrown in the flaming furnace, their God would deliver them. Although their faith was tested by fire, we see that not even fire could destroy them.
Ultimately, God did not keep them from being thrown in the fiery furnace, but he protected them while they were in the fire. Isaiah 43:2 states, "When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and the flame will not consume you."
Maybe you are facing a troubling and fearful situation. No matter what it is, make a stand to trust God. God assures you in His word that your troubles did not come to destroy you, but they come in order to prove that your faith is real. You can take courage as you consider the example of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Stand up and declare that your God is able!
I am deeply loved
"I confess that I will not be afraid, for I am deeply loved by God. I shall take heart, and be at peace, and be strong." [Daniel 10:19]


text: By JENNETTE BARNESStaff Reporter An anonymous telephone call to City Hall questioning the legality of Republican Everett O'Donnell's candidacy for City Council Ward 4 prompted officials to review the situation.The caller suggested that, because O'Donnell administers federally funded contracts as part of his position as Director of Maintenance for the Warwick Housing Authority, the federal Hatch Act precluded O'Donnell from holding elective office.While the Board of Canvassers does not formally respond to anonymous telephone calls, Board Chair Edward Murphy conducted a "cursory overview" of the matter. Murphy consulted lawyers who dealt with a similar case in Quincy, Massachusetts. In 1989, the chief of maintenance for the Quincy Housing Authority ran for Quincy City Council, and a formal challenge was made citing the Hatch Act, according to Murphy. In the Quincy case, Peter Kolson was allowed to run for council and won election to five two-year terms.O'Donnell was not concerned about the call. "Since it was an anonymous call, nobody gave much credit to it," he said, adding that Housing Authority attorney Joseph Shekarchi instructed him not to comment.Shekarchi spoke to the local office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which confirmed that there was no legal problem with O'Donnell running for public office."Based on my review of the information, there was no violation of the Hatch Act," Shekarchi said.Because Housing Authority funds are federal and state funds, O'Donnell generally does not administer local funding. Murphy said no conflict of interest exists when a local Housing Authority employee runs for office because the individual is not an employee of the federal government. "If the local government does fund a housing project, someone running for office should abstain from the vote," Murphy said.Mayor Scott Avedisian said he feels flattered that O'Donnell is perceived as a threat to his opponents, but Avedisian was not pleased with the anonymous nature of the call."I think it's odd, because someone who has enough information to know about the Hatch Act should know about the Massachusetts case," he said. "It seems as if someone is trying in a very cowardly way to malign Everett O'Donnell. It's sad that we have gotten to that point in Warwick city politics. We all do it through cloak and dagger and smoke-filled rooms, the old stuff that we tried to get out of this city."In a 3-0 vote the Board of Canvassers determined that the call was without merit and decided to take no further action.Board of Canvassers Clerk Joe Galucci said that when candidates file a declaration form with the board, they are not required to reveal their place of employment. The board simply determines whether the candidate is registered and has gathered the required number of signatures to get on the ballot, he said.Whoever made the anonymous call still has time to file a formal complaint, according to Murphy."We will respond if someone writes a signed letter to the Board of Canvassers. If a concerned citizen filed a formal complaint, we would call an emergency meeting immediately," Murphy said. "But hearsay is just that, hearsay."Murphy noted the board could withhold the complainant's name from the public at his or her request.


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About a year ago I tried to clean up the 30 or so holes on my '59 Chevy Apache. I say tried because I was never was really happy with what I accomplished at the time. I was planning to clean up and fix the uneven, wavy texture I created on my firewall but was not sure how or what to do about it. I could have gone the "shove a bunch of body filler" route, but then I stumbled across a similar truck that had a 3-inch recessed firewall. I had asked the owner how difficult the install was and he said, "If you can halfway use a MIG welder then just about anyone can do it. Have you ever put a puzzle together? It's something like that, but you have to make some pieces."
So I started my research on how I could make a recessed firewall out of sheetmetal by visiting my local metal supply house: Industrial Metal Supply (IMS). I then called John Meadows from Deuces Wild Hot Rods & Customs in Fillmore, CA, to get his advice on what size material to get. Since my truck was at John's shop 100 miles away he could easily measure how big and thick the piece of sheetmetal needed to be. We came to the conclusion that a 16 gauge, 4×5-foot piece of cold rolled sheet of steel would be more that enough material to work with. At the same time John recommended I think about how far I wanted to recess the firewall and how much legroom I was willing to sacrifice by moving the motor back some. We agreed 3 inches back would work just fine.
Besides cleaning up the firewall for looks there are other advantages to pushing your motor back, the big one being shifting the weight of the motor from the front end towards the back. Moving a motor and transmission back 3 inches and down 1 to 3 inches can reduce the weightload the front suspension carries depending on the weight of the motor and moves the mass more towards the rear and center of the vehicle. By moving the motor back and down you will be able to tune some of the understeer out of the front end when hitting corners. This is especially true with trucks that have been converted to big-blocks. With big-block trucks you can have little to no room for the radiator fan. I have seen a lot of cars and trucks that have less than 1⁄8-inch between the radiator and fan. This is not good because all it takes is for you to break a motor mount and the fan will tear up the radiator in a heartbeat.