Happy New Years!

Well, sorta, I'm kinda late... again.

Sorry for making the readership wait, but there has been a lot of stuff going on as of late- it seems taking a vacation made things harder for me to get caught up then having my work schedule- go figure. Now that I am back to work, it's back to work on producing that fine Valcure product that you all know and love. Well, at least I assume you do, because some people out there keep reading this thing. Must have a strong affinity for the smell and taste of old cheese...

Now, what else is going on? I'm sure the big difference you'd have to be literally blind to miss is that the forums switched over to a new form of software- that's right, Valucre shed off its Vbulletin coat and put on something a little more spiffy. Pretty soon, you're going to be seeing some updated lore pages with better standardization and access. Other good things are coming too, so make sure you keep your eyes open. Some spectacular shit is on the way. ;)

What's Happening Valucre?

The Chosen: Round Three Continues- Hey, its going on and there has been posting. Bit of a break there due to holidays and other complications, but there is posting movement again. Keep watch!

Extinction is Forever- A writing experiment of sorts, for those who are looking for a bit of a change in pace. This is an alternative based RP, where you will choose one of the available characters and accept them as they are- their strengths, weaknesses, and array of probably useless possessions. The RP is a post apocalyptic RP in which you will only the know the extent of the details that the characters know as well. If this peaks your interest, you just might have what it takes to survive. Check it out.

Last Chance City Wide Event- RIOT!!!-  

It's all in your point of view.

---- Are you from Fortuna?

The years-long economic and social divisions in Last Chance have finally come to a head.  La Ultima Fortuna, the CDF and the Watchmen, so recently gifted with updated equipment through a generous donation from Argus Incorporated, have a chance to retake their city from the violent criminals who refuse to vacate La Ultima Opportunidad.  The gangs' death-like grip continues to dash any hope for the city to truly advance into the Terran power it could be- instead, they force it to remain in the shadows- ever attempting to drag its people back to the drug-enslaved, starving, hovel that Last Chance used to be.

---- Or Opportunidad?

The years-long economic and social divisions in Last Chance have finally come to a head.  La Ultima Opportunidad has finally had enough; the loss of Madame Double, the continued oppression, the flight of literally anyone who could live anywhere else and the unending knowledge that half the city is just waiting for you (yes, you) to make a mistake so they can take you out.. it's too much.  Like any cornered animal, La Ultima Opportunidad has had a choice every night - fight, hide or run? 

For years they ran and hid; but no longer.  

No one knows what sparked the riot, but something did, and now the entire city fights along the line of contention which divides Fortuna from Opportunidad.

All new threads starting up in Last Chance at this time need to account for the turmoil and violence in the streets. Various bits of loot shall be up for grabs as well- so pay attention. More information can be found over here- read it, it might save your skin.

Fuck da Police -- Ruthless Rufus and the Ragtag Renegades [Riot]- The first official Riot thread, this one is a battle between thugs and watchmen. Guarenteed loot comes of this, so if you are looking for some cool items, best you make sure you get involved. This particular one is guarenteed to end with the thugs winning, but future threads will not be defined as such. Get involved in this one, if you're ready. ;)

Cia Style RP- Into that spy genre? Want to be involved in covert ops and reconnaissance? We just might have the developing RP for you then. This person will not be ready for about another four days yet, but they are working on throwing together something interesting and thrilling- check it out.

Nightwalkers Recruitment Thread- Interested in playing some vampires, things that actually go bump in the night and give people (other than hormonal teenage girls) the utter chills? Of course you do, for who doesn't enjoy a bit of good creep now and then. Iselyer has growing vampire families and they need some people round out their numbers. Join the darkside...

Lore of the Week!

Temporily unavailable- waiting for restoration of lore pages. 

Newly Awarded!

None this week, check back next week!

Valucre Blog Challenge!

Still plugging away at this, despite the lack of responses. 

New Challenge of the Week: Give us a hero's tale, something of valor and bravery, something epic and remarkable. Only, there is one catch...

Your hero must be a barnyard animal.

Yep, figure that one out- how do you write a compelling and epic tale that involves something found on farms (EXCLUDING HUMANS). 

Since we've lost the blogs, just PM it to me! :)

New Members and Returns!

Welcome:

~Beedis~
~Elphie~
~TheEyeofNight~
~HeroOfRage~
~Dinky~
~GunnCaliber~
~Noonday Demon~
~Asuras~
~ Machiavellian Charm~
~Levity~
~Shards~
~Confustin~
~Daisers~
~Bandit765~

Returns:

~LauTaun~
~Guardian~
~Eternity~
~Objective~

Normally I write a personalized greeting for every new and returning member. I write them for each person to provide a bit of flavor and a more personable greeting. Unfortunately, I am running behind on the blog and operating on no sleep- yes, no sleep even though I worked 18hrs yesterday and will be doing so again today- so please forgive me this slight. :(

Birthdays of the Week?

Don't have a way to track these yet, so delayed! :(

Other Highlights?

My most dreaded subject, one that now applies more than ever! We have a brand new forum and a ton of stuff shuffled about. We've lost forms! We've lost lore pages! We've lost our underwear- wait, maybe I'm the only one who managed that.

Anyway, yeah, lots of changes means I should have some fodder for this section. Let's see if I am any less confused than the rest of you.

Find New Conent- This baby replaces the previous 'View New Posts' button and comes with much more customization. First, you can choose to look at the portal feed, members, or the forum. The middle section depends on what you chose- if portal, you can look for lore pages, articles, etc. If Forums, you can specify in what time period- from since your last visit to a year ago! Forums also comes with a third set of selections- letting you define what you want to see. Threads you participated in? Threads you have not read? Threads you started? Or the things you want to watch (By forum selection). The last choice is Members, which allows you to look people up either new member registrations (within a selected timeframe) or look at profile feeds- which shows you status updates. Neat, right?

Did You Know-  That our tag system is updated? This new tag system is also how we mark threads open, semi-closed or closed. There is a nice instruction guide by Supernal found here. Also, you find other Did You Know in the announcements section.

Closing Thoughts?

I’m not a big fan of New Year’s Resolutions, so let’s avoid the cliché opening topic this year and focus on something a little different. Yes, only a little different, but enough so to be a cooler idea than talking about some goal you won’t stick to three days after starting (as in, you’ve probably already failed).

A Bucket List.

Yes, a bucket list.

What’s that you say, you aren’t dying yet?

Well, let me tell you something:

1. It is never too early to start one.
2. You are too! From the day we are born, our Telomeres begin to replicate, creating a copy that is just shy of perfect- over and over and over. This is aging, and it is the slow process in which you’re body eventually succumbs to being old- and dies. So, yes, from day one, you’re kind of dying.

 Downer note, right?

Well I don’t mean it to be that way. What I mean to say is that life is short, that from that first day we draw breath, we really do have a limited amount of time- whether that would be because we grow so old that our bodies can no longer sustain us or a car accident claims us early. Assuming that because you are not dying or will not soon be dying is grounds for not doing something like this is just silly. Let’s just skip the arguments against and get to it.

Create a bucket list. Write down a list of things you want to do before you depart this world. Fill it with anything, so long as it is at least remotely possible that you can do it- don’t put something down like meet aliens or discover mermaids- make it something you know has at least the remotest chance of being realized. That includes the things that are costly and out of your reach right now.

Got your list yet? Got your long list of things that you want to see, do, or accomplish before you die? Make sure you put together a pretty decent list of things. Wouldn’t want you to get through this too fast, now would we?

Wait- get through this?

Yes!

Now that you have yourself a nice bucket list, I want you to make it your goal- no, your mission, your quest bequeathed upon you by the most venerable of blogs, and start thinking about at least one item on that list you can do this year.

Will you try parachuting?

Do you want to go horseback riding?

Do you want to ski? Water Ski? See Hawaii?

Go to that favorite sporting event? Travel out of the country?

There could be a lot of things on that list, and while it might seem like a total pipe dream to be able to accomplish any of it, do one thing. Your goal, your ordained task is to cross off one item this year. That is all you have to do- cross off one item off this list.

Now, I never put together a list for myself, but as I got to thinking about things, I realized something that definitely would have landed near the top of such a list would be to make it to a 49ers game at Candlestick Park. True to my nature of running late or waiting until the last minute, I made it to the last regular home season game (and most likely last ever) that will ever be played there- next year, new stadium opens. I found a way to scrounge the money and make it work, and went out and got to see something that was very important to me (Though perhaps silly to others).

That was my crossed off item for 2013. Guess I need to start brainstorming what I will do in 2014.

And that is my closing thoughts for today- a bit on the shorter side, but hey- it makes them more bearable and easier to get through in one sitting, right? No indigestion or nausea, just one light and easy reading and then you are back on your way.

Going along with encouraged comments- let us know in the comments what a few of your bucket list items are and perhaps one or a few you might want to try and cross of this year. I can tell you one thing- there is a gentleman out there who I need  to take down a peg in air hockey. Might be a 2014 item, might be another year, but that is certainly near the top of my list.

Take care folks. 

-          Acies   

"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today"  ~ James Dean