The Funny Things We See on the Internet

It's a Funny World Out There... 

The internet seems to provide us with a never ending supply of funny gifs, pictures, captions, and videos. Like the internet itself, Valucre too has its share of funny folks who either find good material to share with the rest of us, or have some sort of wisecrack of their own. It's good to have a place where we can write to our heart's content, while hanging out with awesome people who are fun to talk to and can make you laugh. Speaking of laughs, did you know that giving up is on the rise? Who would have thunk it?

Well, trends are odd, but hey, so are people. Sometimes, you see headlines like this one that just really make you wonder about people. At least Valucre doesn't have anyone quite like that running around. Then again, a couple of former folks from the days of old would certainly make me reconsider that position, were they still hanging out on Valucre...

Anyway, enough about oddballs and odd things, let's get down to a blog, shall we?

What's Happening Valucre?

The Chosen Goes to Round Two - Well, this is still going in an official capacity. It kinda looks like this though. You can encourage people to post in the lounge.

Gang Warefare in Last Chance- I like the way that the thread puts this- "There's a war going down between some of the biggest and baddest gangs in the most abysmal pit that ever blighted the face of Terrenus. Top heads are making power plays, grabbing for land and fighting for resources, scrambling to lay their hands on the crown and the throne and the scepter and become the King of Thieves. What side are you on?"- I really think it says everything you need to know about this RP interest check. If you like crime based RPs, you can't go wrong by looking into this. There is only one large role left (Prostitution Ring), but plenty of room for small timers or people working with leaders. So... what side are you on?

Prime Candidates and Campaigns- I am leaving this notice up for another week, as it certainly could use some exposure. If you enjoy leadership roles within Terrenus and Genesaris, you have opportunities to take on similar responsibilities for places within Renovaito- jump on it while you still have the chance.

The Demons of Zerah- A set of islands off the coast of Terrenus are home to some obscure practices never seen before in all of Valucre. Due to a large, Demonic barrier, much of the populace has reverted to a primitive mentality. This new area is more than just one Rp, but a couple of RPs utilizing brand new lore in a brand new land, involving odd fauna, potentially unstable governments, and lots of opportunity to acquire power. The lore for this is laid out really well, so if you would like to get in on something new, I encourage you to check it out.

The Essence of Life: Wonders of Nature- This looks really cool. This interest check is looking for individuals interested in getting involved in a series of quests with someone seeking to discover the essence behind all life. The quests will likely all be centered around Genesaris, but an exception might come up at a later time. You can expect puzzles and riddles, difficult obstacles and the discovery of ancient secrets- an awesome quest of epic proportions. If you are looking for something cool that you can commit to in the long haul, you have no need to look any further than this thread.

The Dead are Recruiting- The Dead, a meritocratic crime syndicate and of Valucre's biggest criminal organizations are actively recruiting for the next couple of weeks, looking to add to their numbers. If you enjoy crime based role-plays who advance you through the ranks based on what you earn through hard work and dedication, this is the kind of organization for you. They look for enthusiastic candidates who can follow instructions, are willing to put  characters into dangerous situations, and have some understanding of T-1. Will you be recruited?

Role-play Adaptation of a Classical Play- The Decision has been made- this will be a serious play (dramatic/Tragic). Now that we know what sort of play is going to be done, we need to start figuring out what plays the people like. At this time, I am taking suggestions for dramatic plays, and asking people to give new ideas or state which of the suggested ones they feel most strongly about- I will be cutting it down to three to five so we can vote on one sometime next week. Let me know..

Terrenus Bulletin Board Updated- The central place for all things Terrenus has been updated with some new info. This is a handy resource for those of you looking for some RP, or for things to do in Terrenus. Check it out.

Featured Read of the Week- I like this thread for a number of reasons. The reading is a great one of course, considering the caliber of the two writers involved. What really caught my interest was the amount of cultural pieces that are brought into this thread already, even though the RP is still quite young. The people think, act, and speak differently than we are accustomed to, and it makes them interesting, and deeper, than one might expect for an RP still on its first page. Though many details without extrapolation at this point, there is enough information to make you interested and wanting more. In the most recent pair of posts, action has begun, and it would seem the plot is beginning to take off. Seems like a great time to get into the reading.  Word of God just came down and told me that this is part of an ongoing story arc of massive proportions, and information pertaining to it, as well as a section of related threads, can be found here. Congratulations to The Hummingbird and Lastlight!

Home is Where the Heart is- A trio of travelers make their way across the midlands by way of Airship, stopping at some small and obscure village that now lies in ruins. Right away, you are brought into a poignant scene, with one of the characters coming upon the skeletal remains of their former home. Though saddened by the loss, and left wondering of his family's whereabouts, he goes in search of a particular item, something to do with his quill and ink, items whose importance is made clear by the naming of the character's professions- they are called 'Forgers'. While searching the home, another man comes upon them- someone from one of their pasts. While they begin to speak of what happened, a spell circle is discovered (too late), and an explosion rips through the remains of the home. The youngest among them is injured and rendered unconscious, but otherwise okay. The other two realize that they must pursue this individual, lest their presence be revealed to the wrong parties... 

Got some good stuff up there. Though, possibly not as interesting as some of the stuff occuring in 2010. Seriously, what was going on in that year?
  

Lore of the Week!

This Week's Feature: Port Hymir, Isélyr

At a Glance: 

• Leader: Baron Rutgar d'Amelle
• Population: Human, elven, goblin, lizard folk, and other such peoples- no numbers stated. 
• Defenses: 
• Specifics are not given, but it is stated that the city is heavily patrolled and that people who are deemed 'trouble makers' are brought to the town center, where they await the Baron to decide their guilt or innocence. He feels he cannot be bothered to show up to deliver the verdict, and instead has a flag raised from his capital to publically announce the verdict. Most times, he flies the flag representing a death sentence. 
• Regional Fauna: 
• Indigenous animals such as the common frog, toad, salamander, newt, snake, sea turtles, pelicans, hummingbirds, several varieties of fish, crustaceans, badgers, mice, skunks, and other such creatures can be found in or around the coastal waters of Hymir, as well as their giant forms. There are also several uncommon and rare species that are much more dangerous than their counterpart cousins. 
• Regional Flora: 
• Indigenous common plants include algae, mistletoe, mangroves, corals, seaweed, several varieties of grasses, shrubs, and trees. Other, more notable, uncommon and rare species of plants and trees may also be found as well. 

Canonical Occurrences by Members:

• None mentioned.

Available Quests:

• None Available at this time.

Brief Summary of Lore:

Taken from Lore: 

Located just off the eastern coast of Isélyr, Hymir is one of the most prosperous port cities. Shielded by the high, black rock cliffs on either side of the coastal city, Hymir is the main harbor for Xaroc's naval force. Several shops and taverns dot the Central Market Square, each offering a wide variety of goods and services. In a port city like Hymir, if it is wanted it is sold.

The most popular tavern is the Salty Dog run by the half-orc, Zinna Caryn. Adventurers looking to make coin can peruse the bulletin for employment.


Most inhabitants of Hymir offer prayer not only to Xaroc, but to Taninim as well. One of Xaroc's legendary Demon Generals, Taninim is highly feared by Hymirians. In an effort to gain Taninim's favor, a blood sacrifice is offered to him, the ceremony taking place on the Black Cliffs of Hymir.

Those who do not worship Xaroc and his Demon General have been banished from the city, and instead, make their homes in the tiny village of Mammoth Tin. Their Knowledge of the Divinity is the only reason why Xaroc has not ordered their death. 

Yep, I strive to give you lots of valuable information. Maybe it will eventually lead to the trend this guy desires.

New Members and Returns!

Welcome:

Bluefirewolf15:
She's an average teen girl who's into gaming, writing, and fine arts. She likes to use her creativity, whether that be with writing, working on an art project, cooking, or playing video games. She's looking to reach out to other Role-players, so stop by and give her a warm welcome.  

BlazingWolf:
Another Wolf member! They greet those who read their thread (I suppose they are the ones who would recieve any sort of greeting at all, anyway) and mention having come due to the reccomendation of a friend- always appreciate those. They enjoy writing, but their only outlet as of late is fanfiction, so Rp gives them an opportunity to flex those writing muscles. They like Science fiction and Fantasy, and have a love of anime and manga. They're also into chaotic characters, character heavy storylines, and quest based plots- fighting plots don't do much for them. So, say hello to our newest member- and hey, did I mention they are Canadian?

Lunar Maiden:
She's a long time lurker who has spent a considerable amount of time learning our lore. It took her a great deal of time to get up the nerve to join us in our RPs, but now she has signed on with a renewed sense of determination and a desire to write more, as she never sets aside enough time for it. Go say hello! :)

Babyblue:
She goes by Babyblue or just plain Blue, but she says you'd better not call her Baby, ha ha. She's brought to us by another new member- one by the name of Icaro, who was featured in the blog last week. Gotta love it when a new member is already recruiting new members for us. :D

Zhou:
His name is Mike, but his friends call him Teddy- he acknowledges that this might be a little confusing. He hails from down-under, from New Zealand, land of a lot of sheep. He heard that we're a bastion of Role-play and creativity, and so he came to check it out- sounds like word is getting out, finally!

Alpha Faustus:
His name is Richard and after a year long search that turned up nothing, he thinks he has finally found the Holy Grail of RP- I certainly would agree to that. He's been into RP for eight years, and has already pledged his willingness to help out around the site. He plans to play a wide array of characters, and looks forward to getting into the RP scene. 

Draugr:
Another one brought to us by Icaro, and that's really all I can say- this one did not say much else!

Allonon23:
He's in search of a place with 'Advanced Role-Players' and by that, he means people who actually write out some decent posts, and not just one liners that do nothing to push the plot forward. If you've read previous installments of my blog, you know how I feel about applying lables to your ability as a Role-player, so I won't advocate for the use of the term, but rather will say that we have a plethora of seriously dedicated, hardworking role-players who strive to improve. That said, welcome to Valucre!

Julie Alister:
She's knew, but plans on doing her best. She loves to use detail and prefers Para-Rp styling. She admits to disliking rude people, especially those who act as such simply because this is the internet- unfortunately, we do have a few of those, but in comparison to elsehwere, I'd like to think our numbers are low. She already started up a Walking Dead Rp and is looking for folks to join her Daryl Dixon- you gotta figure, that he would be the RP character of choice :P

Xenith Ahrimal:

This one is window shopping for RP sites, and has come to give Valucre a shot. They mention an extensive history in the RP chat world, where many people started, years (actually, more than a decade now) ago. They have played some major characters and plan to bring lots to the table. Welcome!

Kokoro:
They're excited to Rp here, and say they've done it some in the past. Hey, now that they're here, they are looking to get into some RP. Help them out. :)

Curiousgeographer:
They are brand new to RP and looking to give it a go. They are doing a dissertation on the shared imagine spaces of RP experiences, and looking to get involved in it themselves. They originally planned on online writing sites, but then discovered play-by-post rpgs- and here they are. Give them a welcome, and see if you can find them an RP or three :)

MissBella:
She asks what makes Valucre so great, thinking our simpler look means we have less to offer- whoa whoa whoa. My more egotistical side is flaring up with a puffed out chest, but I will put this forth logically- judge not by the simple cover, but by the quality of the content within. ;)

AllorVisitor:
They have been on a journey to find a great RP site, and their travels have brought them to Valucre. Previous excursions found one-liner Rps and others who made pretensious word-walls. I think their journey has brought them to the right place, and I expect they will enjoy their stay.

Returns:

Phoenix afire:
She's back from another hiatus and looking to get back into the swing of the RP thing. Welcome back!

Holy cow, 14 new members and a return, totally a net gain of 15. This is fantastic numbers, especially for this only being a one week update. Love having the new members, keep them coming. :)

Other Highlights?

Doing these highlights really get's me stewing. Always this demand for more and more content. Apparently, while this might be my biggest trigger, some out in the world claim that there is a certain aspect of video games responsible for teen violence- you decide.

Donate- If you like what you see here, and you have a couple extra bucks lying around, you can help by donating to the site. Hosting costs a pretty penny, and the use of the VB software costs its share as well- any and all donations are greatly appreciated, as the site has no means of funding itself otherwise. You can donate by clicking on the Donate! button under community.

Did You Know- About Tags and the Tag Cloud? If you want to increase the likelihood that someone stumbles onto your RP when running a search through the search functions, add tags to your thread. The Tag cloud is at the bottom of the page on the thread in question, and it allows you to add search terms to gather the attention of thers. For more on this one, go here. To see all the Did You knows, go here.

Closing Thoughts?

As I stated last week, I am doing a series of subjects pertaining to writing, using the grading guidelines used in our state testing. The areas scored are good things to look at when deciding how your story, or even RP post, is going. Last week, I covered Word Choice, a section in which they look for a variation of terms, healthy amounts of description and correct word usage. I managed to write a rather lengthy piece on that, but I doubt I will have as much to say on today’s subject as I did with word choice- word choice encompasses many different areas, while this one is more or less straightforward. Today, let’s talk about Organization.

Organization looks at the framework of your story. Is this thing working itself out in such a way that it makes sense and in a way that we can easily follow it? I know, sometimes writing is meant to be ambiguous, with details fed to the writer in little bites, done purposely to leave certain plot points ambiguous- this isn’t poor organization, this is a purposeful intent that when done properly, utilizes good organization! Organization looks at the way we are structuring our story, trying to keep elements together that need to stick together, and to avoid jumping around in ways that just leaves readers utterly confused.

Stories do not have to be sequential- look at Quentin Tarantino movies. His stories almost never move in sequential order (often beginning at the end), and despite that, you can easily follow along. The way in which his movies unfold their stories still make sense, and are easy to understand. There is no requirement in good organization to be sequential, rather, you must keep related ideas together and presented in a way that allows them to stand on their own within context, and not leave us wondering what just happened.

An example of bad organization: In this story, we have started a little later in the story. The character fills you in on their crime history, so it becomes no surprise when the mob comes after him and he ends up in a shootout. Then, out of nowhere, you cut to a flashback where he is picking up his laundry at the dry cleaner. Absolutely nothing relevant to what is going on is all that is presented in the scene, and then we cut to the after math of the shooting. All is well, and the story starts to progress. Only, five minutes later, we cut back to what happened during the shooting (this split came from left field), go back to what happened an hour before picking up the dry cleaning (he bought a pack of gum) and then shoot forward to the next day.

Confused yet?

I think it is pretty clear that the sequence of the above events are not coordinated in any form of an intelligent fashion. They fly all over the place and fail to remain on a central idea, or bring in elements that add to the story as it is in this moment. Flashbacks can be handy- but make sure you have some sort of system to it that makes sense, and that helps the plot advance in some way. Perhaps the flashback gives you a better understanding of something that just transpired or will happen soon. It really shouldn’t be used to reveal a plot element that isn’t even relevant anymore, or will not be relevant for another 80 pages.

The same goes for RP. Make sure your posts aren’t going all over, bringing in random elements that have little to do with the current situation, and try to address the previous posts in some sort of a fixed, intelligent manner. I look at things based on what I think would have happened at about the same time, and then work from there. If I am in an exchange that involves three other people, my character might be reacting to all three participants in the current interaction. If I jump all over the place, I might leave everyone confused.

Example of Good Organization:

Character A: Character A looks up from his book and states, “Character D, will you bring me a soda”? He goes back to his reading, until Character D brings him his soda. After, he hands character D a slip of paper and tells him, “This is something you should look at.”

Character B: Character B whistles a happy tune while sweeping the floor. He leaves a big pile of dust in the center of the room, departing so he can get a dustpan. He returns with a dustpan and finishes his chore.

Character C: Character C enters the room and announces, “I just got mugged!” He stomps into the room and plops down into an empty chair, grumbling the whole way.

So, now I come in to post with Character D.

Character D gets up from his seat in response to Character D’s request. His exit from the room is interrupted as Character C walks into the room and announces his misfortune. Character D gasps, “You were mugged? That’s terrible, are you alright?”

Character D waits for a response from Character C before leaving to get Character A’s soda. When he goes to walk out of the room, he makes sure he steers clear of the large pile of dust and garbage, walking to the right of the pile. He grabs to two sodas, one for Character A and one for character C. When he walks back into the room, he nearly bumps into Character B, who is returning with a dustpan. “Oh, I’m sorry.” After getting past Character B, Character D gives Character C a soda, and then walks over to Character A, handing him his can. He takes the slip of paper from Character A with a raised eyebrow, before lifting it up to get a look at its contents.

With my Character D post, I assumed the actions of each of these characters occurred in two different periods of time, more or less at the same time. Rather than addressing them in any sort of a mish-mashed order that could have made no sense whatsoever, I addressed it based on when each part was relevant according to the timing of my actions. If I had mentioned the mugging after getting the sodas, and then brought up how I walked around the dust to get out of the room, it wouldn’t have made much sense.

Organization of ideas and events is an important aspect of both writing and Role-playing.

Well, that’s the closing thoughts for this week. Hope you could glean something from this.

I’ll see you in two weeks (skip week). ;)

- Acies

"In writing a series of stories about the same characters, plan the whole series in advance in some detail, to avoid contradictions and inconsistencies."   ~L. Sprague de Camp

The Valucre Blog was so Much Better Before it Went Mainstream...

Seriously, the writer sold out. 

Like, I was into it before it was 'cool'. 

Okay, I can only keep a straight face while doing that for so long. Welcome to another weekly rendition of your Valucre blog, filled with plenty of RP goodness for all you insatiable folks out there. We got plenty of good stuff to go around this week, so I hope you find something to spark your interest, or learn something new. Because you know what? Valucre (and by extension, this blog :P) are always cool. ;)

What's Happening Valucre?

The Chosen Goes to Round Two - Hey, one match ended- mine! Yeah, person dropped. Go figure. Anyway, this is still limping along. You can encourage people to post in the lounge.

Quest in Drakis Keep- A contributor to Orisia has set up a quest in Drakis keep, and is looking for some folks looking to take him up on the Gm'd adventure. You'll be starting out in a landmark called the Museum of legends, and the idea is that the characters involved will eventually find their way over to the mercenary help postings, where a shipping company is looking for some able bodied folks to go investigate disappearing goods. It will take you over some harsh environments, leading to dangerous times ahead. Good pay offered to the 3-4 players willing to take it up. Are you up for the task?

Prime Candidates and Campaigns- There has been offers of leadership positions in Terrenus and Genesaris, and now it looks like Renovaito is going to offer the same. If you are someone who enjoys role-playing in this diversified realm and would like to take on the role of a Prime (chief magistrate), you can apply for candidacy in one of the three major cities without one-  Nu Martyr, Oo`Xora, and Avylon. The requirements of the position are much like Genesaris- a promise of attempting to generate activity, not to an extent requiring a constant work, but an honest attempt to increase activity here and there. If this interest you, you can check it out in this thread or PM the boardleader.

Depths of Unterholm- An interest check to undertake a Terrenus based quest, the author of the interest check is looking for two others to join them on this quest that involves escaping the Unterholm prisons. The characters don't know how they got there, but the one certain thing is they must escape quickly, before an awful fate befalls them. The interest check is here.

Love, the True Art of War- I've seen a lot of interest checks come up for 1:1 Role-plays involving romance, and all of these requests seemed to get filled fairly quickly, so I am guessing there is a healthy demand for romance based role-play. That said, this is a notice for multiple opportunities for romance/politics based role-plays, involving the pairing off of character nobles played by members of the Shadows of Isador group. If you are interested in these sorts of opportunities (male and female characters), go check out who's available. ;)

Just for the Explosion- This is a Genesaris based role-play, involving a stolen airship, pirates, and a big mess created by said thieves. The role-play takes place in Telerian City, and involves a request for volunteers to go and round up these thieves before they cause lasting harm. They say if you can blast the guy out of the sky in a magnificent blaze, you get a free custom airship- that's a hell of a deal, if you've seen their prices. Take to the skies!

Role-play Adaptation of a Classical Play- Another opportunity to feel guilty about putting my own stuff up, but hey, I gotta get my RPs advertised too! Anyway, I thought an interesting project could be to take a classical play and adapt it into a role-play, working from the source material and converting it to an RP, reworking dialogue and format. At this point, it's in the early development stages and what we're looking to do is decide on which would be the preferred medium- a Serious Play (Tragedy) or a Comedy? Taking voting for about another week, and those who plan to try out or those who plan to read are welcome to give input. There is a ton of details, so go read up.

Colonies of Were- The colonies of Were are giving their allegiance to the Great North, and so the group is getting ready to become more active once again. If you are someone who enjoys playing Were-creatures, this might just be the group for you. There are a wide variety of potential creatures, so don't feel limited to Werewolves ;). You can mention interest here.

Featured Read of the Week- Another selection from Alternative, but like I said before, I'm not limiting reads to just canon areas- I'm taking them from wherever, so long as they're interesting and fun to read. This one certainly fits the bill, as it takes an old theme and puts an interesting spin on it. The Role-play involves MerryGoRoundOfLife, PandaHat, Carrionjackal, & Deviant.

The Four Horsemen- I find the title a bit misleading, in that rather than four horsemen, you have three women and one (implied) homosexual horseman. The RP is a fun read, as this takes a look at the Horsemen dealing with the modern age, and how much of what they once wrought in the world is now brought about by humankind all on their own. It presents a dilemma of identity crisis, but the RP is not entirely so serious either. The characters are fleshed out, filled with depth and quite entertaining. They have quirks, humerous personality traits, and each contribute to the story in a pleasing way. Definitely an enjoyable read.

Oh, you like those threads? They are sooo in the past. Like, forever ago.
  

Lore of the Week!

This Week's Feature: Muhir, Tellus Mater

At a Glance: 

• Leader: Rosencrantz Alisdor
• Population: The native population is comprised of 750,000 people. 
• Defenses: 
• The land is highly militaristic, with the art of warfare considered a highly honerable one. One third of the population is pooled throughout military chapters, creating an impressively sized army. 
• CROSS: A faction of warriors trained in White Arts, a field centered around providing protection for the church.
• ORDER: A high echelon of Aeliyrian Arms, these warriors are gifted with great military and political prestige. Their armor stands out, marks them for their rank, an awe-inspiring thing for the common people. Their faces are concealed behind masks, and any record of their previous appearence is lost. They have a subfaction within their ranks, with less power and prestige than their higher counterparts, but still a priveleged status. 
• The Developing Daylight of Tellus Mater: These people are tasked with developing new magic and technologies, and are a newer branch formed by the government. 
• Aeliyrian Arms: The bulk military force, comprised of Imperial Knights, Imperial Shields, Imperial Mages, Elites, and a sizable Airfleet.
• Led by General Iseul
• Attractions: 
• The Mana rich soil itself is an interesting thing to observe, as it has a strange effect on people, particularly when combined with the land's close affinity to other realms. 
• Neighboring Landmarks: 
• None Listed.

Canonical Occurrences by Members:

• Invasion — the Dyvreal moved in from the underbelly of Muhir, a place that has only been described as Hell. They were fierce, numerous and their cruelty would later be told as nightmares. Yet, it was the heroes of Muhir that drove their numbers down to only a few, they would soon have their days ended.
• A Passing — A death has left the city of Elrux without a formal leader; however, the ORDER has currently slipped into the position of rule, while they continue their hold on the mines and precious ore that rest within. A rumor speaks of a child, a female, who would be the heir should she come forward to claim the city.

Available Quests:

• None Found

Brief Summary of Lore:

Taken from Lore: 

The glory of such a city as Aeliyr has been evolved from the ancient scriptures of lore. The understanding of rune casting, magical circles, and alchemy has ascended the knowledge of the world known. The wondrous advancements in healing as well as military prowess from the study of magic has made Muhir one of the most powerful continents known. Sages from all around the world come to study within the spiritual realm of Muhirian constitution.

Touching Muhirian soil, a physical body becomes more in tune with their ethereal presence; naturally amplifying their magical prowess and connection. This enables even the most unskilled denizens to understand and utilize rudimentary magic to their advantage. However, the drawbacks of such a sense of magical self would also make beings more susceptible to magical attacks. 

The amplified ethereal presence could also lead one to fits of delusion, removal of their rational faculties, lapses in common sense judgment. The presence of rich unadulterated mana flowing through the very fabric of Muhir is only kept in check by several common place magic sigils, or spell circles found throughout the city. Normally found on lamp posts, illuminated by the city lights, or magnificently crafted into the city's natural landscape-- market squares, intricate streets that weave through the city to act as large magic circles.

The Muhirian area is indeed well within the boundaries of the omniverse. It has realms extending beyond the boundaries of the physical plane, stretching into planes unknown by most of the denizens. With the lack of a specific deity for worshipping, there are little differences within the Outer or Celestial realms existing in this multiverse. The strongest presence in the coterminous material plane or the perception of the physical world of Muhir is the Ethereal Realm. Revealing a greater understanding of one's soul or 'ether'. However, there are several planes and areas of pocket space within Muhir that may be different in terms of perception due to the naturally heightened presence of several extraplanar sites and the absence of others.

But you probably never heard of it, because they're underground.

New Members and Returns!

Welcome:

Ronthedriver234:
He's new and promises to have some tricks up his sleeves. I hope they are good tricks, because boring tricks aren't very much fun. :P 

Dreamer94:
They ache for role-play (perhaps some Ibuprofen in the interim?) and hope to get some invites soon. A role-player of six years, the profess a dear love for RP.

Mer:
He comes from a land of akward weather patterns and menopausal cashiers- hell, throw in bad drivers and you have my neck of the woods. He's familiar with a few of our folks and has stopped by to say hi, with the encouragement of a couple other members. So, yeah, HIIIII. 

Hotorispirit:
They go by Whisper, Whisperer, and Hoto, and they are joining us from something called a Virtual Space App, a thing I am not familiar with! They hope to find a mature audience for RP, and used that term I hate so much- litterate. If you can read and write, you're literate sir/madam, so don't lable yourself! :P

Weltschmerzification :
He says little other than he's new here and on a dare, and other than that, all I can remark on is that he has an obnoxiously long username. 0_o

Icaro:
Icaro says, 'Sup'. Well Icaro, not much. Sup with you?

Eskk Jannik:
Well, I wasn't sure if I should include this person or not, because they admitted to feeling overwhelmed and state they likely will not stick around. Nevertheless, I figured we should still give them a shoutout and a welcome, and hope that perhaps they shall change their mind. 

Runa:
Runa is a female role-player (we have a bunch of those :P) who goes by Rune, Runa, Star, or anything else you feel like calling her, so long as it isn't rude or crude. She enjoys fantasy based RPs, states she's patient, and looking to improve her writing while hanging around. Welcome Runa, happy to have you. :)

Penny Dreadful:
They say they feel out-awesomed by the site, but I am digging their username! I love their way of putting it: It's like a sucker punch to the gut by a radioactive freight train- that's totally awesome! They enjoy supernatural and steampunk RPs, and look forward to joining our community. Be sure to tell em hi and get them shown around. ;)

Returns:

Praetorian:
He put up no thread to announce it, but I'm not letting it go unheard. He's not saying he's back for good yet, but it's damn nice to see him around the forums again. Welcome back Praetorian, even if you're just visiting! :D


Well, nine new members and one return, a total gain of ten. It's a good average I think, and I am happy to take nine new faces any week. Welcome to Valucre people!

But I knew them before you did heard of them. >_>

Other Highlights?

I already had a rant earlier, so I am spent. No rant today, just highlights. Hell with it, have three. 

Blog Forms- I mentioned it last week, and followed it up. The blog forms are updated, and you can look at it here for the changes. Everything is updated to better reflect the new format. You can submit threads for What's Happening, nominate a closed thread for feature of the week, suggest a section of lore to review, offer a closing thought, give suggestions, and volunteer to do guest blogging. Cool stuff. :)

Advanced Search: I probably ought to write a full on post about it sometime, but I figure this is a good thing to point out. There are a lot of things you can do with an advanced search, depending on what your needs are. You can use it to track down old posts, aggregate statistics, see who's posting where, etc. I encourage you to look through the array of options available to you, and experiment!

Did You Know- Reply to All? Get a PM addressed to multiple people, because you are trying to carryon a private discussion? You can use the reply to all button to respond to everyone, to keep the conversation on the same page for everyone. Quite handy when trying to sort something out between a few people. You You can look at the Did You Know here. The rest of the Did You Know Archive is over here.

Besides, cooperating is so ironic.

Closing Thoughts?

Sometime I struggle with this section, trying to come up with something to write about, and end up hitting a brick wall in the process. Luckily, during the week I had an idea come to me, that idea led into another, and now I have something to work from over the course of the next few blogs. I am going to be going over some aspects of writing, stuff applicable to both your general writing and writing of posts, in the hopes that I can pass along something you might be able to use. The influence for this actually comes from the old standardized testing grading for Oregon High school writing tests, but the areas they look at are good ones for consideration.

Each week, I am going to pick one to cover. I might break it up with something else in between, should a compelling topic arise or should someone submit a request, but assuming there is no exception made, I will cover one of the six areas. I’m not sure in what order I will cover them. Going alphabetically is too mainstream you see, so to buck societal expectations and do something ‘cool’, I am going to start this week’s at the end.

Okay, being honest, I planned to do this one first from the outset. This topic was the one that made me go back to and look up those categories and decide to do a series based on their other points, because this subject is one of those covered.

Today’s Topic: Word Choice.

 This subject is not one that is going to focus so much on right and wrong according to hard and fast rules, but instead take into account words that can be ‘technically’ correct, while still being a poor choice, and looking at ways to use words differently. Given how my time to complete this blog quickly diminishes, I hope I can adequately cover this section before having to go forth with publishing.

First, let’s talk about words that are technically correct, but perhaps are a poor choice.

The first example I am going to bring up is the one that prompted this close in the first place. It was a comment on a friend’s messenger status, and for days it bothered me, until I finally spoke to him and got him to change it. Call me anal, but this is what it said:

“Wow, 7mbs internet is much quicker than 5mps service”.

A silly think to be worked up over but believe me, it bothered me. The word quicker just sounds wrong in that context, despite being ‘technically’ correct. If you look up the word in the dictionary, you will find absolutely nothing wrong with it, based on the definition. Yet, if you really think about it, we rarely use the word ‘quicker’ in this context. When we are thinking about something’s speed, we generally say ‘faster’. Rephrased, the sentence would look like this:

“Wow, 7mps internet is much faster than 5mps service.”

I cannot speak for the readers of this blog, but in my (perhaps not so) humble opinion, using faster just sounds… cleaner. The sentence flows, it makes sense, and my brain doesn’t lurch when hearing the word quicker in this context. When we are talking about the speed in which an object moves or performs, the word faster tends to see more use.

Now, what about the word ‘Quicker’? If we are avoiding its use in this context, what context do we generally use quicker? Quicker is a word that is associated with time. When we are thinking about the amount of time something was completed, we use quick. I might describe my internet speed as faster than before, but I could point out that the improved internet speed complete my download much more quickly than before. The download time of that song was so quick! Conversely, if I refer to the download’s speed, I might say, ‘it was a fast download’ vs ‘I downloaded that song quickly’.

Use of either word, in either context, assuming you modify for proper tense, is correct. However, one word fits better than the other does in each of those examples.

This is thinking about your word choice.

The words you choose might be the difference between a sentence that flows, and a sentence that causes your reader to hit a lurch- a bad thing. We want our writers to remain immersed in our writing, to get into the story we are telling or the post we made in our role-play. Use of a word that does not fit well creates problems.

Another example that tends to bother me, one that some argue is a hard and fast rule and others have slackened with, is Ensure vs Insure. I see it all the time, particularly in my work place, when managers want us to ‘ensure our work is completed’ but instead say that they want us to ‘insure that our work is completed’. If you follow it as a hard and fast rule (or even just look at it from a context of what sounds right and what looks right), insuring something is securing your potential financial losses. I insure my car, so if I get into an accident, they I will be reimbursed for the value of my car, and be able to afford a replacement. By doing this, I ensure that I will not get into a serious situation later.

If I am using a scenario that could be interpreted either way, using the wrong word of the two could create confusion. Even if the word does not create confusion, I find that the wrong use always makes me stop. I know the word does not fit before I even think about how it is incorrect. I could go on for a long time, writing out different examples of words that might be against rules in some books and not against the rules in others, or words that might be considered ‘technically correct’ but when taken into the context of common usage, sound awful. I’ll leave it to you, the readers, to work do some critical thinking as you proofread your stuff, and decide if perhaps something’s wording sounds a little… off.

The other thing I wanted to touch on is thinking about the words we use in the context of conveying a message. When I am writing a story, writing an essay, or writing an RP post, I have a multitude of words available to me. Using these words, I certainly can paint a picture of a scene, whether I am talking about the environment/scene, or describing a character’s appearance, their emotions, or their actions. There might be certain things I see in my mind that I want my reader to experience as well, so I begin to think about how to describe it. Sometimes, this creates a tempting trap:

Using too much description, or hitting a thesaurus and using the wrong words.

I covered the latter example in a previous blog, so I really won’t go into it- let’s just say that oculars and orbs are not synonyms for eyes. With the former, you might be trying to create a picture by thoroughly describing something- by either going over every minute detail, or taking your adjective and weighing it down with half a dozen adverbs- okay, maybe I exaggerate a little here. While you might not weigh down the adjective with half a dozen adverbs, you might still use one or two, which on occasion is perfectly acceptable. Over time, with repeated use, your writing just ends up bogged down.

I’m not so extreme as to tell you to use them next to never (Stephen King approach), but I have seen some superfluous writing which would have benefitted from a bit of trimming down. Hell, I am certain I have been guilty of it myself, here and there. The way to beat this is to try to think outside the box- use descriptive words that capture what you are going for. I might use a metaphor that isn’t normally associated with that object, or a descriptive word that I wouldn’t have thought to use.

One could describe the snow as pale white and powdery, lying about in drifts, or perhaps I could say the snow-covered meadow resembled a field of cotton.

Different, but effective- and it did not involve the use of a word that sounded clunky, huge, or different (avoids getting into purple prose).

When it comes to description, some degree of word economy is desirable- you don’t have to be a miser (unless that is your style, if so, work it), but a little bit of frugality certainly wouldn’t hurt, when you are tempted to blow your budget, so to speak. Carefully choosing our words can make a profound impact on our writing.

Like the use of profound. Think about it: How did that affect you when you read that sentence, versus saying something like ‘significant’, or ‘noticeable’? I chose a word designed to evoke a specific thought or reaction- another way that word choice can shape our writing. Had I the time to explore this, I would but alas, my time runs short.

Perhaps another day.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy, and I will see you all next week. :)

Because yes, you’re still cool enough to hang out with me. :P

-          Acies

"In good writing, words become one with things"   ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy *Insert Independence Holiday Name Here* Day!

No matter what your day, Valucre is a fine place to come Celebrate.

No- seriously, pull out some of the good shit. :D

So, here in 'MERICA (I love how that sounds) we have independence day, giving us our freedom to be our own country, where we have people like that gentlemen upload videos to youtube. Up North, our cousins celebrate Canada day, which from my understanding, celebrates two different events- the unification of the colonies (into... CANADA) and then later the Canada act. These days celebrate our autonomy, our freedom, and the ideals in which our countries are based. Yes, that means that people get to go drink copious amounts of alcohol and blow shit up... well, that sounds like every day for a lot of folk- only now there is an excuse.

Wait, we have an excuse to blow things up? Boy howdy, it's time for another edition of the blog with EXPLOSIONS!

What's Happening Valucre?

The Chosen Goes to Round Two - You know, I am just gonna leave this here as a placeholder, and let you figure it out. I have been posting about this and posting about this, so posting more on it just get's repetitive. Go to the lounge.

Aplomado Dragoons- A member is looking for some fine folks to come join his RP gathering efforts in Saber City (a name that may soon change), with an opportunity to join on as a member of an elite, highly mobile specialized task force- the Dragoons. They are not mounted fighters, but specialists of the spear, who utilize fast footwork and specialized movements to overcome their opponents. If this appeals to you, you can read more on it here.

Abolition- This is an RP of my own, and I feel a little cheap putting it up myself, but I think I have as much of right as anyone to have an RP up here in the blog. Anyway, justifications aside, I'd like to point out this RP as a long-term project in which there is no defined outcome (good or bad). The idea behind the role-play is that a couple of characters have decided to purposely get themselves tossed into slavery, so that they can try and bring it down from the inside. Of course, nothing goes as well as one might hope, and these two are in for a lot hardship, specifically dealing with themes explored in the Stanford Prison Experiments. People are welcome to join as others interested in joining for similar reasons, people who are already slaves, slavers, or something else, if you can find a way to make it fit. Check out the interest check, there is a lot more info there.

VCL Re-Redux - The Valucre Combat League is an attempt at creating a centralized T-1 effort, where people can have sanctioned fights and tournaments with rankings, and while the idea has been popular, it has not ever quite got off the ground with significant traction. Spacegy is putting out an effort to get this back on track, so our T-1 enthusiasts have a place to get their desire for combat sated. See what you can contribute to the effort.

Whispers in the Woods- Coban City is a city situated in some of the most chaotic regions of Orisia, and it seems as of late there have been some particularly strange occurrences. Strange noises, ranchers missing animals, a tree disappearing without a trace- all rather odd events that have left the locals stumped. The Coban militia is in charge of investigating these oddities, and you are welcome to come play the group searching this out. This will not end well, as it is designed to lead into a bigger story later on- but participation now ensures a play in the larger plot. Take a look over here, see if it interests you.

Super Heroes?- This is a new take on an old idea, a superheroes RP that does not take place in Alternative, but in Valucre itself. Our caped crusaders are much like other MP characters inside of Valucre, only these ones have decided to put on the tights and to hide away their identity beneath a mask, so they can go out into the lands and do good deeds anonymously. If you like superhero stories, this could be of particular interest to you.

Community Based Character- I thought this idea sounded particularly cool and unique in concept- using a collaborative effort to create a character that we can send out into the world, to do good or do evil, to solve quests or create quests to clean up his messes, whatever the whims of those who participate in his creation. The idea is to create a character by voting on his traits, then find someone who can best take this person out into the world of Valucre and play him. I like how it get's everyone involved, and look forward to seeing the results. Come collaborate.

Valjer Dark Light Festival- A festival promising games and alcohol (what more could you want) in Valjer's biggest yearly celebration. There will be a haunted manor, appearances put in by the leader herself, and demonstrations by the Deepdelve Rangers. This Festival serves as a celebration of how Valjer rose from their forced underground living, coming back to the surface and taking back the lands stolen from them. It is here that you can buy custom wolf pelts, while enjoying the merriment. Come celebrate.

Featured Read of the Week- This week, I found one that has had some ups and downs in activity, but has been a little more consistent as of late, so I am giving it a showing here. It features some great writers and a rather comical scene at the moment, so I definitely suggest giving it a read and perhaps following along for a time. This thread is (I believe) the Dougton body snatchers quest, but right now, it's been a bar scene full of comical misunderstandings and strange interactions. Presently, I have seen Supernal, Sikis1312, Desolate, and Confused Objectives participating in the current run.

What Dreams May Come...- I more or less covered it above- this is (I am pretty sure) the current incarnation of the Body Snatchers Quest that Carlos put a lot of work into developing and trying to get members to follow through with questing. Right now, people are looking into the rumors surrounding the body snatchers, but so far, things have not panned out especially clearly. It displays some great talent, and the reading was fun. 

This is some awesome reading, but I wonder if it is as much fun as watching some redneck's get themselves into trouble...
  

Lore of the Week!

This Week's Feature: High Crest City, Genesaris

At a Glance: 

• Leader: Mayor Geval Ectaris
• Population: A massive city and among Genesaris' largest, High Crest boasts a diverse population of many races, though the majority is that of native Genesar humans. The total population of High Crest City is 2.5 million people, nearly 52% of which are women, and 1,325,000 are of a working age (Over 16, under 60).
• Defenses: 
• 7,500 City Guard, in addition to 23 high ranking officers, 415 jail workers, 215 capital building guards, 23 special assignments officers (includes 5 edgemasters and 5 stealthmasters), and at least 50 mages (trained in Mageside City) . 
• Special assignments officers led by Bridgemaster Arenach Reayiss.
• Stations about 30% of the Southern Swell's military forces, numbering 250,000-350,000 people, depending on needs of the lands. 
• The Capital is known for it's highly advanced defense systems, including a shield that blocks out all forms of magic and will vaporize those who attempt to enter it. The shielding is anchored to a mana stone kept in a secret location, maintained by no less than 6 very powerful magic users. The shielding goes into effect during times of high alert.
• Attractions: 
• City Hall: The City Hall itself is a major attraction, as it serves both as a culmination of artistic crafts within the city, but also for its advanced Research and Development facilities in addition to its smoothly ran governmental affairs.
• Campus for Advanced Research and Learning: Probably the largest college in all of Genesaris (excepting Mageside City, whose entire city could be called part of the college), this school takes up land and space equal to 1/4 of the city- effectively making it 20% of High Crest City. The sprawling campus houses many learning centers, research labs and testing areas, where they work on bringing the future to Genesaris. The campus hosts well over 200 faculty, some 10,000 students, as well as an additional 1,000 staff for varying purposes- security, cooking, cleaning, land crew, etc.
• Neighboring Landmarks: 
• Sits on the West coast of Genesaris, just a couple miles away from a major inlet.
• About 1,000mi Northwest of Talthanus, the infamous drug town.
• About 1,500mi South of Saint Desolates, a mysterious and dark city.

Canonical Occurrences by Members:

• A nearly botched attempt by OIC operatives eventually led to the city coming under the control of the major crime organization OIC. OIC left the mayor in place, using blackmail (illegal trade practices) to keep the Mayor under their control. High Crest serves as a major location in Genesaris for access to magitech, as well as deployment into Genesaris based missions. 
• OIC opened the Blue Dream Hotel, a luxury resort.

Available Quests:

• None Currently

Brief Summary of Lore:

A city not quite large enough to be a capital itself, High Crest city is a highly successful city that combines magic with technology, leading the way for technological advances of magic. The city builds it success largely on this push of technology and with the money earned, they have a built a powerful city. The military is quite capable and well trained, led by one of the few remaining Bridgemasters, a specialist peace officer who learns the way of both Edgemasters and their counterpart, the Stealthmasters.

At the heart of the city is the town hall, a large structure with many built in defense mechanisms, the most noteworthy a unique artifact crafted by a council of Wizards who also work out of the Town Hall. This artifact produces an impenetrable shield that reverberates energy to degrees capable of breaking fine steel, and sends powerful electrical currents as well. The shielding also acts a magic leech, helping power itself by stealing released magic from the environment. This artifact forms the basis of much of their defensive program, programed to connect to a specific enchanted metal that will ground its shielding. These metals are found as poles surround the city hall, pieces that protect the all warp gates, in arrows of their specialist aerial troops, and in other places as well.

Can High Crest make explosions? Bet some of their mages could make stuff like this. 

New Members and Returns!

Welcome:

Bambi:
She's new to Play-By-Post RPGs, having recently began her adventures in role-play thanks to an emersion into D&D and MtG from her nephews. Let's show Bambi (what she wants to be called) a great time, and help her get into writing role-plays. :)

Watcher:
Diremast brings us this veteran role-player, who's dabbled in a bit of everything, but after hearing good things, has come to Valucre. He says his first impressions are good, so we have that going for us! For now, he is sticking with one character, but may bring in more in the future. Hope to see him out RPing soon!

Kesson:
An Army Vet who has scoured the farthest reaches of the internet, participating in Role-plays of all kinds in all kinds of places. His resume reads like one of those Most Interesting Man in the World commercials, because he has a lot of cool adventures under his belt. He's not sure if Valucre is going to have what he is looking for, but for now, his wandering has brought him here. Let's show him what we got!

Cyrus:
Speaking in few words, Cyrus interest is contingent upon our willingness to allow alternative RPs. Well, we promptly pointed out our Alternative section, a place for all kinds of RP not quite fitting into the lore. Hope they give it a shot!

Cassie:
Cassie is new here and looking for some help. Won't somebody help her? :P

Dwarf3d:
He goes by that user name, Dwarf, or the seemingly random Jimmy, though he states that is not his name either! He comes from a circle of friends who have trouble taking RP seriously, so here is giving our form of RP a shot. He's excited to be here, and looking for advice. Go give him some! :)

BlackRabbit:
Blackrabbit says they stumbled over our place a few weeks ago (hope they didn't get hurt 0_0) and now they have come back to investigate. Their reading interests include the Dresden series of books, but they plan to expand further. Let's get them reading Valucre stuff! :)

Dren:
Apparently, Dren's eyes are prone to whirling in his/her head- that is a little concerning, I would think. They read the lore and still feel a little lost, and feel that maybe they don't belong here... well, we welcome anyone here! So, let's make sure that Dren feels at home and like there is an RP for them. :)

Lakesterbit:
Lakesterbit has no idea where to get started, but wants to become a 'solid', so they're asking for help. Let's make sure we give them the tools they need to be successful! 

Troutt:
They had little say on their intro post- other than that they are new and looking for help getting integrated. Something must have went right, because I have seen them around a lot, already. So, hey, welcome!

Crypticink:
She's a new member who also goes by Jade, and claims to be your average girl living here in MERICA- although, anymore, I am not so sure if there is anything average! Anyway, her interests include reading, writing, and photography- a good mix for Valucre. She's open to meeting new people, and promises she doesn't bite. That... might actually be a little disappointing. ;)

Brett:
He starts out by addressing those kind enough to stumble over his hello message- well, I don't think I call that kindness so much as clumsiness, but hey, tomato, tomato, right? He gives a range of positive and negatives about himself- upfront and honest I guess? Anyway, he's another that I have seen already diving into the scene of Valucre, so make sure you help him get into some good rp. :)

Riv:
Riv is a new member looking to get into RP here on Val, likely to start out in Terrenus. She's been Role-playing for the last five years, and at one time wanted to write a book- until she found RP suited her better. She's taking advice, so be sure to give her some good advice if you have any. 

Breana:
She's the new girl on the block, only she's way down the block because she hails from London- we like to think of the interwebs of consisting of really long transatlantic blocks. ;) She's a die hard rper who has lost sleep on many nights due to her infatuation with role-playing- that sounds like a familiar story, ha! She's looking for invites, so hit her up! :)

Brisinger:
Brisinger is new to the site but not so new to role-play. It looks like Sci-Fi is Brisinger's thing, but they have been looking up on the lore and plan to get involved soon. Give them a welcome. 

Black Magic:
A nomad of RP websites, Black Magic, aka Jay, is looking for a place to get comfortable and get down to some role-playing. He hopes to improve as a writer while presenting us with off the wall concoctions for characters that he puts a ton of work into developing. Sounds like my kind of RPer- let's give him a warm welcome and help him with his self described 'a bit overwhelmed' feeling :) 

Shuffin:
Shuffin gave me very little to write about- how frustrating, I love writing! I try to come up with clever things to say about people, but Shuffin only gave me that they are new to our forum, not to RP. Well, I hope they are happy now, they made this blog writer really sad. =/

Mercurycocktail:
Her name is Jade, and she is looking for some good RP in a place without too much of a centralized storyline, as it is difficult to jump into those. Fortunately, while Valucre has its lore, there are a myriad of different stories taking place, and a person is welcome to create their own or jump in anywhere. Let's make her feel welcome, and get her into a story!

Xedrak:
Another one of those short message people, but at least they said Hi! Well, Hi(!), and that they hope they can make a good name for their self. Well, a good way to start is to tell us more about yourself, and what kind of RP you are looking for!

Haruka Namani:
New to our site but not to RP, this is a para-rp styled player who enjoys a wide swath of role-plays, from Anime based to real life. They promise to be friendly and encourage requests to get them to join an RP. Well, let's get them directed to the water cooler! :)

Returns:

S0m3thingr4nd0m:

He's been busy with moving, military deployments, and preparing for a baby! Things are settling down, routines are being made, and the baby is soon to come. He's back to stay for some Rp, which is great, but make sure you give him a congrats on a soon coming daughter!

Raziel:
Back to renew their yearly subscription, just before it ran out, right? ;)

Avvercus:
Things got really hectic for him at work, but things are settled down and now he is back to get involved in some RPing. Welcome back to our friend from Japan!

The Vindicator:

He's not been on Valucre all that long, but he has some ties going way back. He found his way to Valucre, and then had a computer dive out on him. Well, now he's got that back online, he's here to get back into the RP scene.

Dark Templar:
Dark Templar left for a while but is back, feeling older, wiser, and more experienced than before. They are itching for some active RP and asking for people to come invite them in!

Dark Fire Moon:
A tragic event on her birthday took her away from us for a while, but as time soothes old wounds, she is coming back around. We're sorry for your losses, but happy to have you come back to hang with us.

Wow, we had TWENTY newcomers these last two weeks and a total of SIX returns- which is more returns than I have ever counted up in one go, if I am not mistaken. This totaled out an increase of 26 people, which is a lot to list up here! It took me a while! And I am using too many exclamations! Maybe I am just wound up because of fireworks :P

Other Highlights?

I wish I could gain some independence from these oppressive Highlights, but since I can't, I might as well get on with it.  

Blog Forms- Hey, do you remember that there is a form to submit content to the blog? Well, there is, and I am going to go through and change some things up in it to, to better reflect the current blog. If you have stuff you want to see make it into what's happening, want to draw attention to a particular closed thread, or something else, feel free to use it. It's under FORMS and REQUESTS from the General tab. Or, you can click this. Note: The changes might not come for a day or two.

Did You Know- About First Impressions? Hey, once you have given Valucre a test drive, come let us know what your impressions are of the site. This is a chance for you to give some feedback- believe me, Carlos and the Outreach folks read all of it. You can look at the Did You Know here. The rest of the Did You Know Archive is over here.

Close up footage of an explosion? I call that a highlight too

Closing Thoughts?

You know, for all the things that do go wrong around here, I sometimes have to take a step back and think about how much worse it could be. Sure, our government (here in ‘Merica, mind) is spying on us, and trying to take away rights whenever they can get away with it, but at least we have those rights take away in the first place. We have individual freedoms, we have the ability to make choices, and for that, I’m thankful. So, with those choices, I have the ability to decide what I want to do with my life.

Like, perhaps pursue a life in the field of the arts (writing, perhaps).

There are places in the world where you have no opportunity to do anything besides be a menial worker, and others where what you are doing is decided for you by others, other than yourself. Here, you can decide if writing is the direction you want to go- so if you want to pursue it, give it some thought.

What I am meaning to put out here, as we think about our independence (and therefore our right to make choices), is thinking about what you want to do with yourself- and then going out and pursing it. Find out what drives you, what makes you happy, and what you can realistically do- and by that, I mean if you are the worst writer to have ever existed, please don’t delude yourself into thinking you are going to work in a writing field. Being honest with myself- I know I am never going to make drawings for a living (I am a TERRIBLE artist, lol). So, as you decide what to pursue, please, be honest with yourself: If you lack the ability to do something, and have no way of gaining that ability (I will never be good at drawing), please admit that it should remain a hobby.

Or, if you sing like I do, a hobby you keep to just doing by yourself in the car, ha ha.

Otherwise, I encourage people to go out there and chase that what drives you. With some many people in our world who still have virtually no choice with what they get to do with their lives, we really should be taking advantage of those opportunities. Use what is available to you, go after what you are passionate about.

Not much of a closing thought, but I am running way late, and I was unprepared for this week. I apologize, I promise better for next week (I hope!). 

And so I close, with the ultimate firework- and atomic bomb blast.

Have fun, and be safe!

-          Acies

"To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, be nothing."   ~ Elbert Hubbard