Ugh! Maybe I should consider getting into writing plots for video games instead of books. I don't know if it's just a looong streak of bad choices on my part, but I have seen such a huge surge of really idiotic video game plots in the last several months that I can't help but think it's something in the industry. Whoever said that 'video games are an art form' should step back and realize that nobody plays a painting. This is one thing that the pornography industry actually has over video games... it doesn't waste time with plots! 

It wasn't until a while ago that I discovered that Elftown has a view all diaries command that essentially is the same as the latest blog entries dingy here. Sometimes I clicky said command, in the hopes of finding a new joke or funny story.

Lately, all I seem to find there is a looooooooooooot of melodrama. Lots of people who really seem to hate their lives. Or at least, that's what they'll tell you. It's such a depressing little spot.

In other news we have lots of new members, some of whom I've met, others who have not yet had the privelege ^_^. I still encourage everyone to get involved, don't hesitate to ask questions, and don't be afraid that you'll mess something up. Just get involved. 

Yup. Having to go to the next county again. I'll be back at some point tonight, I suppose. At least it'll give me something to do, and I'll get to play cards again. And play with the cats. It's a pity that these people are so indescribably dull, though.

Rock! Coincidence that Elftown takes a dive for a day and some change, and WritersCo gets a several dozen new members? Who cares! New members are great. And to all of you, on behalf of myself, I say welcome, and don't be afraid to get involved! I'm one of only about ten people here who might bite, and that's usually only for money. ^^ Check out the Contest Section, Flipside, Technical Details, WCBB 1, and all the other funness we've got going on!

I watched the movie DOOM tonight. I can in with fairly low expectations, knowing how video game based movies usually turn out, and it didn't disappoint.  Or... it did. Something. The acting was surprisingly good for a Predator/Aliens wannabe movie, that actually had little to do with the game. Far too much blood, gore, and profanity took away from what little merit the plot actually had. And believe me, it was a very little. Secret experiments turning people into monsters is definitely in the top five of most overdone movie plotlines. 

In the last half hour of the movie, the promised 'action' started to kick in, and the movie picked up to where I could conceivably watch it again. Only without the first hour and some change. The Rock did a respectable job believe it or not. But yeah. Strong stomach and high tolerance for plot BS required. 

Well, today is a red letter day. The first part of an excellent RP game sealed up without a hitch today. The Flipside Birthday Blanks seems to be a pretty good success. And, I finished up a piece of writing that has been tormenting me for weeks! Hell no you can't see it. *grins* Just suffice to say that I'll have some weight off my shoulder, and maybe, just flippin' maybe, I'll be able to finish my Event piece before Wrestlemania. Yup! Moorn likes pro wrestling. I'm not particularly interested if you think it's stupid or fake, so don't bother telling me. ^^ 

In other news, happy birthday writersco! As the member who was probably involved in the most headaches in this place's recent memory, I'm pretty proud of how things are going. I played both sides of the administration, being crew at one point and being the crew's antithesis, and I think I've been at odds with pretty much everyone I've interacted with at one time or another. In the end, I have lots of great friends at Flipside, I share a (hopefully mutual) sense of respect for the crew, have only person blocked and am on less than five blocked lists! I think. I've learned a lot about how to deal with people, have become quite a bit better at it too. I don't know if my writing skills have improved all that much, but I know that I've gotten to work out some of the ones that had gotten rusty and shake the dust off 'em. All in all, it's been a pretty good time for me here.

So my resolutions for the new WC year are as follows:

1) Come up with new fun things for Flipside
2) Improve my writing (duh)
3) Include more weasel references
4) End up on fewer than ten total blocked lists!
5) Have no more than two people on my own blocked list.
6) Stop writing resolutions.
7) ... dammit.

In further news, get your butts over to the birthday celebration! There are fun things to do there, a useful thing or two, a fun contest, and a serious contest, so there's plenty to keep your little hands slinging pens. Go, monkies!

Note to everyone: Flea Markets are kind of like a monkey stuff fight. Sure, it's kind of fun to watch, but the smell is unbelievable, and it's nothing more than bipeds tossing crap back and forth and yelling at each other.

There are some really good things going here nowadays. The new novel writing workshop thing should be a kick, the contest section is more vibrant than ever, and my baby Flipside is practically swollen with members. Good mood day!

During the day I have quite a bit of trouble logging in to WritersCo lately. If you need me for something don't hesitate to ask, but know that I might not get your message until around midnight Eastern Standard Time.

I'm in a much better mood today, thanks largely to a few very kind people, and no thanks to a few people who just can't seem to act their age. ^^ Thankfully I'm immune to stupidity, so I can laugh at how much people seem to want to get under my skin.

There are a few new polls at Flipside, both concerning prospective members to an extent. It's important that all members vote, and that non-members at least look around to see what's up. ^^ Thanks everyone!

A little warning for everyone's benefit. Moorn is in a nasty mood, so choose your words carefully if you're going to message him with something unfriendly. If you decide to say something impolite to him, he's liable to tell you off, and not cease telling you off in any kind of brief timeframe. Point is, don't come to Moorn acting impolite or unfriendly. If you have a legitimate problem with him, fine. If you're just being snippish, then you don't matter and he will treat you as such, so it's best to keep it to yourself. Now. If you're nice, that's great and Moorn will like you better for it. 

Attention all members: Voting has begun at the If I were a . . . contest over at Flipside. Even if you aren't a Flipside member, you are encouraged to drop by, have a read of the entries, and cast your vote. ^^

As for other stuff... people, deeds make your reputation in a place where anonymity is everyone's equal starting place. ^^ It's probably the most common thing I see on these 'net communities; people expecting to be treated in a certain way without having done anything to warrant it. 

(Note for the sake of the little birdies that always seem to be riding on my shoulder, this opinion is not specifically targetted towards any individual. If you wish to assume as much, be my guest, but please don't come bothering me about it.)

The best way to get people to respect you is to do useful things that will earn that respect. Go out of your way to help out, create something new, and above all, don't demand respect that you haven't earned. Demanding unearned respect just makes you come across as a poser, and it is the quickest way to make people flatulate in your general direction in an environment where everyone is a number. ^^ This is true IRL too, although appearance, age, and body language account for far more in that environment. ^^

There are some contests in the Flipside Contest Section that could use more entrants. Those of you who haven't come by, you're missing out on what is in my personal experience (which means that this is my opinion, not supported by hard fact) the most helpful and interesting place on the whole of this particular community for developing writers.

We're always looking for new members, regardless of skill, so please check us out at Flipside. I pride myself on how casual and supportive the place has become. ^^ It's still such a nice feeling to take part in something where no one lords over anyone else.

Valentine's day! Or as I like to call it 'Christmas Fallout' . Back when I was single, I hated Vday like a pauper hates a miser. Not that I'm not, I... still don't especially care for it. It should be called 'Anti-wallet Day' and have its own battle cry of 'Run for the hills'. 

Lots of people get down at this time of the year, and I can't say that I blame them. Surrounded by all this faux romance, one can't help but think about how much it sucks not to be in someone's arms. The truth of the matter is that Vday these days has the exact same meaning as Christmas (at least in America, dunno about other places where I don't live), and that is that Capitalism has its claws in everything. How do you show your love? By buying a $400 diamond necklace dingy for someone who probably already owns bunches of cheaper, and cuter, jewelry. I don't get the diamonds craze, they are just shiny rocks. Then again, so were hair bands in the 80's and nobody minded them.

The fact that I don't have a great deal to say is a pretty good indication that everything's going more or less the way it's supposed to be going. ^_^ So, in lieu of having something to say, I'll put a little lesson in here in my ongoing attempts to help out. Warning: The following contains general advice. Readers who dislike advice should cease reading... now.

Well, I got my entry for [Kaimee]'s I want you to write forgiveness contest finished, and my first critique done. I just need to do an entry for Comical Random and maybe this month's A Writing Competition, and the get something longer written for this month's flipside Event. It's nice to have a workable amount of things to do. ^^

Oh! I also made more bread today, but with cinnamon and milk this time. O.o Twas excellent.

Hm.. I had a blog, but I thought it might potentially offend someone, and I'm the only person not allowed to offend someone by proxy. *grins*

I made bread today. It turned out shockingly well, given my baking lack of expertise.

I finally figured out how to un-join forums here. Talk about a godsend. ^^

In other news, nothing of any particular interest is out of the ordinary. Still lots of contests going on at flipside, and despite a 22 member roster, we're always open to new talent. ^^ So... yeah!

Flipside
Flipside Contest Section

And now, my rendition of the monster Malufel, as a Mexican luchador (wrestler).



I have an excercise for you, based on this. Challenge yourself to write a story about a monster that, while mighty, looks mighty dumb.

Gourd. There are so many great contests at Flipside that I can't even spare the time to enter them all. Yay for slacking! *grins* We have 22 members now, and things are rolling quite well. *bounce*

You want to see a retelling of a classic tale that doesn't suck out loud? Watch Disney's The Emperor's New Groove at some point... it may well be the funniest animated thingy I've ever seen, and it's clean humor too. ^^ Even has a skinny guy named [Kuzco] in it!