NESS

When I attended my first Creative Writing class I became very fearful when I saw what we had to do. When I took Creative Writing in high school there wasn't much involved. You pretty much just showed up to class, though that was optional sometimes, and submitted the assignments. But for my university class we have to do these writing exercises and we're expected to give constructive feedback when we workshop a student's exercise. You also [b]have[/b] to get your stuff workshopped, which was the one that scared me the most. I mean, I write stuff but I don't like sharing it, which is kind of strange when you think about it. Why write stories at all if you don't plan to show it to someone. So I finally gathered up the guts to get one of my exercises workshopped. Better to get it over with, right? And it wasn't that bad. The exercise of mine was one about dialogue; we had to write a scene and through the dialogue get across who the characters were. For the most part the class seemed to like it. There were some things people didn't quite like and I totally saw why. The main issue was with how natural my dialogue sounded. Some people thought it was pretty natural while some thought it sounded a little forced, like I was trying too hard to describe the characters (which I was but let's not go into that :wink:). But it's the funniest thing, really. My writing is totally influenced by Joss; he's the reason I got into writing in the first place. But while his writing is the most awesome-st there is out there, we all know it's not natural. His characters exist in worlds that don't exist. So when people say my dialogue doesn't sound natural, it's true, but at the same time, it is natural because my characters end up really meaning what they're saying even if they're using words and phrasing that aren't common. That's Joss' influence. His characters aren't fake people; they could be any person out in the world, they just happen to talk a little different. Though I have to acknowledge that I do have to change, or try something different. The class isn't going to be familiar with Joss-isms so I really can't rely on that way of speaking. On the up side, I sort of squashed my fear of sharing my work. But the one downfall is the fact that the classroom is a safe environment. All 17 of us are in the same boat. I may be comfortable sharing with my fellow classmates but I still have to get over my issues with posting my fics. But I still have the rest of the year. We'll see in May whether my irrational fear goes away.

MAGHAFFAR

Just a little plug for an Anti-virus program I found & have been using for about a month now... It's called NOD32 --- www.nod32.com -- and so far it's done wonders. I had just purchased Spyware Doctor 4.0, supposedly one of the best AV progs out there, and it did catch a grip of stuff -- but I was having problems with some pesky Trojans that Spyware Dr would find and delete, but they just kept coming back every time. So a friend recommended NOD32 and said loads of corporations used it, but that it wasn't widely known outside the IT community. All I know is, I ran the bugger and it found spyware and other junk embedded in my PC that no other program ever found. plus the NOD32 actualy removed them all -- even those Trojans the Spyware Dr couldn't. So I'm a fan. They give you a free 30-day trial which will at least clean out your computer for you for free. Stay Shiny.

NYARL

So I had to watch [b]The Message[/b] last night with the commentary on with Jewel and Alan. What a hoot. I just love listening to the actors go on about the behind the scenes antics, good times and giggle sessions while they were filming. It’s a window into a world I can only dream about being in. And does it ever sound like a heck of a lot of fun. But so few actors make it onto a quality show and share a camaraderie like the one I was listening to on this commentary. Jewel and Alan were making fun of continuity screw-ups - Jayne’s hat mostly and the straw. Straw on - straw off. Alan saw that one. They talked about how Nathan was totally cracking them up during filming and how Tim didn’t mind since it was the last show. And I got a sense of the heartbreak once the show was winding down for Jewel and Alan. Man that must be tough to have lived and breathed such fun for months only to have the rug pulled out from under you. Some day, I would love to be part of something like that . . . And being here, well, that’s like sharing a small part of something grand already. Anyhow, if you haven’t listened to that episode’s commentary. What are you waiting for? Great insider stuff. And if you have, well, just listen to it again!

JONNYQUEST

Our oldest (5 years) are litter-mates (2 of 8, as opposed to 7 of 9...) Shiloh and Sully, Lab/Sheperd mix with hints of Chow tossed in for good meassure. Shiloh looks like a Champion Black Lab, sleek and seal-like, spot of white on his chest but his his tail curls up tight in a very un-Lab-like way. Brother Sully is WAAAAY more to the Shepherd end of things, all black and tan and a Zorro mask. Chow attribute? A black spot on his tongue. Slade is the 65 pounder. At a mere 3 years, he's absolutely the smartest thing on four legs ever. I keep having to remind myself he is not a human. (I get surprised when I talk to him and he doesn't answer...) Lab/Pitbull mix. The pet store (I know, I know; but I look at it as a rescue) said Lab/Aussie Shep/ROTTWEILER. Pretty sure they got their killer dogs mixed up on that one. Heart of a terrier in a mini-Shiloh body minus the curly tail. Incidently, in a fair fight, he could take out any two of the others at the same time. And any unarmed spectator within reach. Lucky for us, he is as tenderheart sensitive as you can be. Two year old Captain Jack is a pure bred German Shepherd Dog. There's a lot of dialog between Sully and him about who's really in charge, but Sully's got about 15 lbs. on him and the division of labor is that Sully gets to be the food Nazi and door guard, perimeter checks and foreign invader clearence fall to Captain. The baby, just over a year old, of Yellow Lab mom and dubious paternity, is Sir Donatello (the artist not the Ninja Turtle). He's gregarious. He's loving. He's guileless. He's completely devoted and dependent on me. He's totally self-absorbed. He has way too much skin and I'm pretty sure he's our biggest. And he was raised almost single handedly by Captain Jack. The Front Yard 1

JOSSISAGOD

So, here I am, taken one bus to get to Calvert county Maryland from St. Mary's. I'm waiting on the bus that is supposed to take me to College in Prince Fredrick, only when the bus comes he flies right by without even thinking of stopping! He RUTTIN' LEFT ME! I HAVE to get my parents to get in the car with me to teach me how to drive across the bridge, so I can do it on my own! By the way, I'm home now 'cause I had the bus that dropped me off, pick me back up.

BIRDMAN

in my time here I have made an Enemy out of another member here. Xenopath. I have kicked his ass :bash: up and down the block. he is a good guy though. I have found out that there are more Emocons than listed. there are hidden emocons. the only hidden one I know of is : Cheers : without spaces. it looks like this: :cheers: thats all for now