There are a number of YouTube channels dedicated to reporting on Trump and Musk, in particular,.
Search for Luke Beasley on YouTube. Also MeidasTouch, Legal AF, and Ring of Fire. I generally don't watch them at present because their coverage of Mango and President Musk usually makes my blood boil.
Following is what I ended up with. Heckuva lot shorter and simpler than it was. Also, I don't need to mention an alternate dimension at all, at least for now.
A remarkable consequence of the Last Challenge is that, as time marches toward the end of history, there will be an inevitable number of discrepancies between the real events of our world, which includes the Lord’s return as a child, and the events previously prophesied in the Bible.
But we also know Scripture to be free of error. Is there, perhaps, another way to interpret Revelation so that it matches key events to come? When the Bible describes the Lord’s return in the form of a man, both in Revelation and elsewhere, could it mean he will return as a boy who grows into a man before the coming of the Day of the Lord? Or is there an alternate explanation?
When I asked these questions of the Holy Spirit, he assured me that Our Lord, upon his return, would explain these things so that we may all understand them.
That gives me plenty of flexibility going in to start making changes to the events already prophesied in the Bible. And since the Holy Spirit has promised that the Lord will explain everything when he returns, I've got lots of time to do so.
Hey, Sol. Any ETA as to when you'll reduce the ratio of words reviewed to words posted from 5 to 1 down to 3 to 1? Right now we have one of the most onerous ratios of workshop sites I know of.
Thanks
Dirk
What if we are reading something wrong?
Do you mean what if the reader is reading something wrong despite the author's words outside the story?
My reason for wanting to do something other than my existing Roads of Time writeup is to simplify the opening and the assumptions the reader has to make going into the story. It should make the ancient letter discovered in the Vatican archives shorter and less convoluted. There are only so many things I want to ask the reader to accept as up front assumptions before the story even begins (e.g., Satan issues the challenge, God accepts, that changes the future sufficiently to deviate from the Bible, explain why didn't the Bible change to reflect the new timeline, etc.).
There's a lot to be said for the simplicity of "In an alternate universe...." It would allow me to do pretty much anything I want and leave the details of trying to explain things until later (over the course of the three books) and perhaps leave some of the details to the reader's imagination.
So:
In an alternate universe....
The ancient letter says discrepancies will be explained by the Lord.
Since I'm deferring explaining some things, I may not even need to mention an alternate universe outside the story. If it's important to the story, perhaps the characters can figure it out (or at least speculate correctly).
Voila!
I had in mind to write key scenes from books two and three before I publish book one. That allows me to determine what changes, if any, I need to make to book one before I canonize it.
I'm considering trying to further streamline the explanation for the discrepancies between the Bible and the events in the story world. One way is to simply start the story with opening words like: In an alternate universe.... Or, I could explain in an intro that there are many interpretations of Revelation, ranging from literal to figurative, and my story is a fantasy interpretation that will try to end at the same place as the Bible.
Many of the discrepancies between the story and the Bible disappear once Connor's true identity is revealed at the end of book one. Even more differences disappear at the end of book three, which ends at roughly the same place as the Bible, depending on how you interpret certain events.
I would think by the time I get to the end of book three, if you've read that far, you probably enjoyed the trilogy enough not to worry about any leftover discrepancies that I couldn't (or chose not to) explain away.
Doing this eliminates the whole need for the "roads through time" mindwarp. It's just easier to explain in a sentence or two in an intro that you're not in Kansas anymore.
Thoughts?
Congratulations, Marilyn. I'll leave a review no later than tomorrow.
Did you have any say in the final title? Just curious.
Can't remember where I left off with regard to Connor and Alessandro & the rats. I wrote the long version with Connor using minimal violence, but finally decided I didn't like him using any violence. So, I moved a few things around, ripped some stuff out, and I now have a cross between the short version and the long version.
I kept most of the backstory from the long version, after which Connor, who is in a bit of a hurry, decides to fast track the usual abuse to which the rats subject him. So, he intentionally says a number of things that rile up Alessandro, who then flattens Connor twice, who doesn't fight back although he plays dead after the second punch/crash to the floor. He does refer to the bullies as either rats, rodents, or vermin, though.
I may yet change rats/rodents/vermin to brood of vipers/slithering serpents/belly-crawlers/etc. for consistency with Christ in the Gospels. That's an easy change. I just need to think about it some more and perhaps come up with terms that are sufficiently rude to provoke Alessandro. I may also add demon spawns back in as it's meant to be an inside joke for readers who've previously read the story and know that Connor is, in reality, the real demon spawn.
Below are a couple more links to other terrific Celtic Thunder songs.
This one is hilarious. It's not particularly offensive, but save it for home, just in case.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTqjPOA … hunderVEVO
And this one simply rocks (not a funny song, but perfectly safe):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPaVePP … hunderVEVO
Hi Zealous. Welcome to the site. I do a bit of volunteer user support to try to get new members up to speed quickly. Be sure to check out a post in the Premium forum on tips to maximize the numbers you'll receive on the site. It's pinned near the top of the forum, so you can't miss it.
I'm just heading out for a medical appointment, but I'll try to give you further details before the end of the day. I'll send you a connection request in the meantime, so we can communicate using the messaging system.
I have a question about an alternative way for Christ to be reborn. Rather than the story claiming that he shed his old human body to enter the newborn one, I'm toying with having someone (probably Connor) eventually explain that, he kept his old human form (which many Christians think he would never separate from) and that he also entered a second body as well (i.e., Connor). That would mean anything Christians currently believe about the return of the adult Christ will be unchanged and won't need explaining. All I add is that he is simultaneously present in a second human, which of course is just a lie.
Since I put the story on a different timeline, I can of course change anything I want, including having the adult Christ shed his original human form to be reborn. But I'm wondering if it would be more believable that his spirit also entered a second body, much the way the Holy Spirit exists in the bodies of all Christians. That would mean most (all?) of the existing prophecies in the Bible would still be true.
George/K, what do you think?
Thank you, Marilyn & Lynn.
Marilyn, Sol will be in touch for the info he needs to send you to the money. I did finally find the email address, but I'm not sure if that's all he needs.
Lynn, any plans to start posting anything new? Maybe we can get the old band back together. :-)
Seriously thinking about the cats, but I have some medical stuff to get through first.
Thank you, Lauren.
Thanks, Jack
>>You Canadians are sooooooo nice
That may be a misconception. We only appear chill up here because it's so damned cold. :-)
>>no wonder some people want Canada to be the 51st state
they want our "socialist" health insurance
>who cares about animals as much as you and Marilyn
Goodness. Marilyn's light years beyond anything most people do for animals, myself included.
Thanks, Bobbie. Are you back on the site regularly again?
You've been missed!
Dirk
Thanks, Dagny
Thanks, George. This is my second win. Proceeds will go to Marilyn's animal sanctuary if I could only find the email address. :-)
Sol, thank you for running this contest. Thanks also to the judges for their time.
Congratulations to the other winners and everyone who entered. There were some really great contest entries.
Just remember to breathe,
dags
But ... but ... what about all those microplastics floating around in the air outside? 
Hi Sol.
Sorry to nag, but I retested the way the site pays/charges points for posts, and the ratio is still 5-to-1 (costs 1 point for every 324 words posted but only pays 20% of that back to reviewers). Of course, that means we have to review 5 average-sized chapters (e.g., 2000 words each) to be able to post one average chapter of our own, which I'm virtually certain is higher than it used to be before the site crash/restore (you had estimated 4-to-1 long ago).
We had discussed changing the ratio to 3-to-1 to make it easier to acquire and keep new members. Most long-term members probably have a lifetime supply of points, so it doesn't affect many of us. At 3-to-1, it should then cost 40% less to post than it does now yet still pay the same in points as it does now, which would apply to all members (not including poetry, where the math differs).
We know that using this site successfully involves establishing and maintaining a network of reciprocal reviewers, so points really aren't as important as they once seemed, although we still want to require members (especially new folks) to do at least some reviews before they can regularly post. If they aren't interested in doing a mere 3 reviews for every 1 post, then this site clearly isn't for them.
Please let me know when you or one of your elves has had a chance to change this. I'd be happy to test it.
Thanks
Dirk
It's amazing that one filthy rich foreigner, who isn't even an American citizen, may have so decisively affected the outcome of an American election. There's a reason the constitution doesn't allow foreigners to run as president, but by all means, let's allow unlimited amounts of their money to flood an election and buy the votes and access. Besides, you folks seem to have your hands full just dealing with the loonies who *are* American citizens.
Good news r.e. Musk, Tesla sales in Europe have cratered (down about 60% recently, I believe). In China too, I believe, but for different reasons. Poor Elon decided to go to Germany and back one of their far-right wingnut parties in an election that was absolutely none of his bloody business. Now, Europe is sufficiently pissed off, and there are enough Tesla alternatives to choose from, that buyers are voting with their dollars in droves.
Cool fact: 96% of new vehicle registrations in Norway are electric. Too bad the rest of the world is still doing it's best to destroy the planet for our kids and grandkids. Among them, Alberta's conservative premier went to Florida last month at taxpayer expense to kiss Mango Mussolini's butt, still pushing new oil and gas pipelines. Drill baby, drill!
Thanks, Sol.
Truman? Wasn't he the one played by Jim Carrey in the Truman Show?
Dick Van Who?
Those are the questions all the generations after me will probably ask.
And some even in the same generation as me. 
Hi Janet. Thanks for letting us know. That's very unfortunate (actually it sucks). He and I read each other's books for many years until he left the site. He was a really nice guy.
Great! Then you can clear the snow. :-)
Of course, you'll have to pay a 25% tariff on all your worldwide possessions before you can cross. There is one border crossing you might use. I forget the exact location (probably on the net), but it's unmanned, or used to be. The crossing involves using a phone at that location to connect to a customs officer, whole ask you a bunch of questions, then decide whether you're allowed in or have to turn back. I kid you not, that was a real thing once.
And our national police force (the RCMP) always says please, when asking you to put down your gun. (Yes, that one I made up.)
