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* "Sticky Afternoon" by Rajah Dodger (foot fetish) 10, 9, 9
* "Sticky Afternoon" by Rajah Dodger (rdodger@hotmail.com). In the list preceding the reviews I labeled this a "foot fetish" story. I did so for two reasons: (1) That's what the author himself claimed it was. (2) Nobody would have read this review if I would have labeled it "gerontological sex." Yup! Here we have two old codgers going at it like spring chickens. Whoda thunk it!? It's a story about nice quiet sex that starts when two people have a conversation on a bus, progress to a foot massage, and then do what comes naturally. You know, until now I've just been worrying about my daughters being corrupted by this world of cybersex. You don't think my mother....) Ratings for "Sticky Afternoon" Athena (technical quality): 10 Venus (plot & character): 9 Celeste (appeal to this reviewer): 9 GRAMMAR TIP OF THE WEEK: Some readers have encouraged me to resume these grammar tips. If you have suggestions or comments, please send them to me. I.E. and E.G. The abbreviation "i.e." means "that is." The abbreviation "e.g." means "for example." In most cases, these abbreviations occur in parentheses. Sexual practices that she considered bizarre (e.g., anal sex, threesomes, and bestiality) were often of extreme interest to her husband. {The items within parentheses are merely samples from a longer list.} Sexual practices that she considered bizarre (i.e., anal sex, threesomes, and bestiality) were often of extreme interest to her husband. {The items within parentheses are the whole list of what she considers to be bizarre.} Sexual practices that she considered bizarre (i.e., anything other than missionary sex) were often of extreme interest to her husband. {The statement within parentheses describes all of what she considers to be bizarre.} In most cases, it would be better to say "That is" or "For example" (often in a whole clause or sentence without the parentheses) in place of the abbreviation. The abbreviations are most often appropriate in technical writing or in footnotes or bibliographies. Sexual practices that she considered bizarre, which included anything other than missionary sex) were often of extreme interest to her husband. When they read out loud sentences that contain these abbreviations, it is usually considered good form to state the English meaning. That is, don't read "eye eee"; simply say, "That is...." ETC. and ET AL. The abbreviation "etc." means "and other things." It refers to an incomplete list of THINGS. It is incorrect to say "and etc." The abbreviation "et al." also means "and others," but it refers to an incomplete list of PERSONS. The distinction is considered important by anyone who knows the difference. {"Et al." can also mean "and elsewhere in a bibliography.} You should use ETC. primarily when there is a legitimate reason not to want to state an entire list - for example, when it would be boring to state the entire list. You should avoid using it when you are simply lazy or don't know what to put in the entire list. {Note that there is a comma before "etc."} In most cases, ET AL. is used to restate a list that has already been stated once. For example, if you cite in your bibliography a book by Dewey, Fuquahr, Good, Long, and Harde, you might name all the authors the first time you cite these people, but refer to them as Dewey, et al. thereafter. {Note that there is a comma before "et al."} When people read out loud sentences that contain these abbreviations, it is usually considered good form to pronounce "etc." as "et cetera." However, most people say "and others" when they read "et al." out loud. |