The Reader's Digest Forum

[Meerkat]

The Bilge is like the Reader's Digest. All sorts of topical "articles", jokes and fun stories (like Tristan's bon mot about the boat launching and cell phone dropping circus, which prompted ths tread).

Of course, one gets more viewpoints, a wider range of topics, often better writing, and the subscription price can't be beat! :)

[Tristan]

The Bilge is like the Reader's Digest. All sorts of topical "articles", jokes and fun stories (like Tristan's bon mot about the boat launching and cell phone dropping circus, which prompted ths tread).

Of course, one gets more viewpoints, a wider range of topics, often better writing, and the subscription price can't be beat! :)

Glad you enjoyed that story Meerkat. I kept it short, but the kids (then 15 and 16) were down on the dock enjoying the show as well. My son and I had anotherinteresting launching experience last summer while we were fishing on the dock at the Wiggins Pass ramp (where we often put in our Diablo). A guy proceeded to try to launch one the the biggest powerboats I've ever seen on a trailer. His wife was stationed on the dock, holding the, fortunately, lengthy bow line. Of course the boat was reluctant to come off the trailer so bozo husband pulled up a bit, slammed back in reverse, and hit the brakes. (pause here for dramatic effect -- you know what was about to happen). This humongous boat came off the trailer and started across the little harbor. Husband drove off with the trailer, heading for a parking space. Wife had a coil of bow line in one hand and was rapidy being dragged toward the end of the dock. I managed to grab the free coil and get a turn around a piling just before she went over the side. Even with a single turn it was hard to control the damn line, and I was afraid it might pull the piling off the dock. Got the boat stopped and hauled alongside. Hubby came sauntering down, oblivious. His first words, "How'd you like that little jerk I gave it?"

[geeman]

The jerk was doing the driving

[Milo Christensen]

The Bilge is like the Reader's Digest. :)

What a great analogy. But, I got to thinking; "what would it be like if the Bilge were a monthly magazine?" And the images of the meetings of the editorial board will have me chuckling all day.

But Reader's Digest was (AFAIK) the first of the bathroom magazines. Designed to fit on top the toilet tank lid.

As a kid, I enjoyed going to other people's houses, where I could read the Digest. My dad wouldn't allow such a right wing conservative 'rag' in the house. But I haven't seen a copy in years. Is, according to the Digest, America still incapable of wrongdoing?

[PeterSibley]

When I was about 12 I was convinced they had some kind of machine that could produce "condensed books". Even then there was a horrible bland sameness to them...how did they do it ?