Timewaster's Guide Archive
Local Authors => Writing Group => Topic started by: The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers on March 30, 2004, 10:16:02 AM
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This was tried once, not terribly successfully, on the Geek Culture message board, but I want to try it here. What will happen, if we have the participation, is this:
The first person to post (me) will write the last bit of a story. The next person will write the bit leading up to it. Then so on. Until we get to a beginning. Because I want it organized, I want people to post to this thread that they wish to participate. I will make sure that we know what order to post in, so people have turns (this prevents people from posting immediately after someone else has when they both respond to the same previous post). I'm going to define how many rounds we'll go once we know who is in.
Anyone interested?
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I'm in.
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I don't think I'd want to participate, since I don't write, but it would be intresting to read.
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Count this guy in.
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Me!
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I'd be interested, just so long as you don't expect fantastic quality writing, but if you'll settle for my RPG/message board level, sounds cool.
EDIT: Actually sounds kinda similar to that great film, Memento.
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Sure. I'll be sure to add in alibino chocolate sheep.
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I'm just going to leave it open for the rest of the day. Tomorrow I'll post the rules and such, and the end of the story.
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Ok, it's me, stacer, Gemm, MoD, JamPaladin, and Entropy. I'm not taking anymore takers. I have Mod powers over this forum, so I WILL delete other people trying to sneak in. Comments from the peanut Gallery should be in this thread, not in the thread holding the story.
That's six of us, so we'll each have 5 turns I'm thinking. So keeping that in mind, it's a short story.
I'll use this thread to remind people it's their turn.
When it is your turn, you have 48 hours to post your section. That's it. After that, it's the next person, even if you didn't post anything. The time starts from the time the last person posted.
Turns are limited to what will fit in one post, maximum. THey can be as short as you want. You can edit what you posted up to the time that the next person posts. Don't feel restricted by lengths of other peoples turns. Write what you feel you've got, then pass it on.
Right now I'm not of a mind to limit the genre, however, try to be consistent. If someone said in their turn that there's no such thing as fairies, then you can't have a dryad show up and make out with him earlier in the story (obviously, I can think of exceptions to how that would work, but I think you can follow my point). Stay in the established genres. Saruman will not be appearing on Darth Vader's TIE Fighter, k?
Be silly if you like, but make sure it flows into the post preceding.
Remember, this is being posted backward. That means my first turn will END the story, and we won't know where it started until we get to Entropy's first turn.
Along the lines of genre, do NOT contradict anything that has been posted (since you have to lead into it).
The flow is most important. Remember that you need to leave something people can build into. and remember that you have to build into what was posted just before you, developing themes that have been concluded already. You may have to describe a character that's been used. You may have to introducing a setting where something has already happened. Have fun and play with it.
Finally, remember that there are six of us. That means six brains. Whatever gets posted will NOT mesh perfectly with your preconception. Cope with it, and write along.
I'll post the end of the story later today.
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I may be a little late, but do you mind if i join in?
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yeah, a little late. Maybe next time.
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all right.
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So what is the order of presentation?
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oh, forgot to mention that. The order will be as I listed earlier, which is the order people joined in. To wit:
SaintEhlers
Stacer
Gemm
Mistress of Darkness
JamPaladin
Entropy
Repeat five times. Mix well. Serve chilled.
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Ok, that could work. So each of our bits will have to finished within the end of the week?
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Gotcha.
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no, i will post, and then Stacer will have 48 hours to post. You will have 48 hours from the moment she posts.
Let me know if it will either take you longer or you think we should not count Sundays toward the time.
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I vote that Sundays should not count.
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OK, I finally did it (only 2 days late). It's short because I'm at work and thought you deserved a start rather than a long bit, and I was having difficulty putting my ideas down. THat's a good bit of mystery for you there. Who's the protagonist? Who is the "her"? Why is she flying? Is she on a plane? Is she magical? What was the trouble she caused? Why will the protagonist miss her anyway? I DON'T KNOW! Guess the next 29 posts will work that out for us.
Your turn Stacer, you have till 10:50 AM on April 7, 2004 (ASST) to give us the second to last part of this story!
Oh, and since only one person expressed a preference, we'll go with that. Sundays don't count toward the 48 hours.
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Gemm, your go.
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Gemm has till 10:45 on Wednesday, 4/7/04 to post.
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pm, yes?
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yes, PM
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Oh man, this is a bit hard. Trying to tie my end up into the person before me.
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MoD, it is your turn! You have until Thursday!
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/me is excited.
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Thursday 4/8/04 2pm, ASST natch. (that noon Utah). Go MoD
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/me looks guilty
I've already started. I hope I get some work done today.
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Don't feel you need to be as hefty as myself, or that you have any big shoes to fill. Just go as you will, and let your mind fill with a plethy of ideas! Then go forth and bring about the end of the beginning that began with an end but will not know a beginning until it ends!
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We'll have to see how long it takes from the beginning I started to get to the beginning of yours. ;) I've got the character of the Baron in my head, which helps.
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Late, but finished.
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not like we can penalize you with giving you a lower grade or something. But you carried it quite well. I like your addition.
And how do you say penalize? pee`na`lize or pen`a`lize?
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I offered no extention!
ok, well, better late than never. I don't think that JP was even awake to start, so we'll let it slide.
JP, your turn, you get till 2:17 ASST on Saturday 4/10/04(that's in like, 47.5 hours) from this post) to put your next one in. I reckon that may actually be sunday early morning sometime for you. Not sure.
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Thursday 4/8/04 2pm, ASST natch. (that noon Utah). Go MoD
According to that, I'm only 17 mins late. It's just that Gemm posted 11:50 ASST, and I realized that I was 2 hours late from that.
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late is late.
Though it does appear I notified you of the incorrect time. *shrug*
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I'm busy all of today, thanks to a games day, but expect mine up sometime tomorrow, well within the timelimits.
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Good for you. Don't follow my example!! ;)
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Done, and I think it's alright. And with time to spare too.
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K, Entropy. Go. Sunday doesn't count, so you have till 12:05 am on early tuesday (I think that works out to 5am your time) to post the lead into JPs bit.
ARGH!what artifact?! What's misaligned?! someone answer these questions!
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This is good, you guys. Makes me want to know more!
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Good job Jam.
What does everyone think of starting a thread that points out major items that need to be written into the story? Good idea/Bad idea?
For example:
- John needs to be confused because in the last post, the confusion is cleared up
- Rajisa needs to tell John that their relationship will never work, probably several times. Second to last post.
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Well, sunday does count for me, so i should actually manage to post something. Maybe not on time, and not complete, but something.
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this thread is fine for that, I think, MoD.
Plus the confusion in the last post could be interpreted to be chaos, which is what leads to the fight or caused by the fight.
I do want to point out, however, that the next poster does not always have to resolve all the remaining issues. (s)he can leave that for future posts.
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I wish to participate... just so you dont erase what I already posted... :)
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Ok, it's me, stacer, Gemm, MoD, JamPaladin, and Entropy. I'm not taking anymore takers. I have Mod powers over this forum, so I WILL delete other people trying to sneak in. Comments from the peanut Gallery should be in this thread, not in the thread holding the story.
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oh well, sorry
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ohj noj, it's alright.
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yeah, cuz I can edit.
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I don't think here is a great place for an outline discussion. It gets too mixed in with the other posts to be very useful. If it's not necessary, I won't stress over it.
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I'd say just keep in mind what issues you have a good answer for. Then put them in your part. LEave the other issues for everyone else.
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k, i get till 6:30 on Wednesday to do my thing.
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uhm... crap. I just realized I missed my deadline. I suck, I know.
Stacer, your go. I'll start the clock now. you get till 11pm on Friday night (if you have plans, you should do it before friday!)
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Why don't you give yourself an extension? ;)
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ayiyi.... well, might make for a nice break from the horrendous indexing project I've been slaving over all week.
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So... ummm... hello?
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hello what? It's Stacer's turn. When we see something from her, or when her dead line passes tomorrow night, then it'll be your turn, Gemm.
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I thought you went before stacer and after Entropy.
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Yes, note this post that you may also read above:
uhm... crap. I just realized I missed my deadline. I suck, I know.
Stacer, your go. I'll start the clock now. you get till 11pm on Friday night (if you have plans, you should do it before friday!)
I missed my deadline, therefore, we skip me. THis is to keep things moving if someone flakes like I did.
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Oohhh, that's what you were referring to when you made that comment. I had no idea.
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I would have finished it, but I was sick yesterday. A friend just called and needs to talk, so I can finish it when we're done, or if it just has to go to the next person, that's fine too...
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well, that sucks. Two of us in a row. Well, Gemm, your turn. You got till Monday night. 11ish
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Just like to point out that not only has Gemm missed his, but the person after him is close to missing themselves.
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Oh poop, why didn't someone remind me. This totally fell from my mind!
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which would be MoD, which means, er... will we see one? If not, JP will take over I guess. I think if four people miss their turn, maybe we should start that round over. We'll see.
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I'd like to argue that, as I've been depending on SE to declare who's turn it is.
I can post something by 11 tonight, or something better by 11 tomorrow (or whenever you decide the deadline is).
EDIT: Just realized that that would be 11 ASST, but I could still post something.
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Oh good, MoD replied. I wondered if i was going to have to post the next bit myself.
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That's probably why SE suggested starting the round over, so that you wouldn't have to post twice. ;)
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well, as almost all the participants in the story will be on IM at 9ish tonight, we can see where you are and we'll decide as a group what to do. Yeah, I dropped the ball. what you gonna do about it?
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Yeah, I dropped the ball. what you gonna do about it?
Strap a banana to the ball and then set the banana on fire.
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Smokin' banana peels in between meals
I was all pumped up about the iron
Let's all pray get down and kneel
Smokin' banana peels sound like this!
Talk to me about Elvis!
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I'm sorry, I forgot to ask for an extension, but I need one.
Please??
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We didn't talk about it at all. I mean, that's 4 of us missed the dead line. I think we should just rewind, and give me till 10:23 on saturday to get a part done. I'm going to go with that unless I hear lots of whining before I go home tonight.
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:P
Okay
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This seems to have stalled up again. What's going on with it?
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I'm just a brain dead idiot, that's all. Whoever has a turn after me.... go ahead. 8am friday is your deadline.
Er... that's Stacer.
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Just a reminder (because we all need them frequently), stacer you're section is due at 8 in the morning tomorrow.
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Argh! Okay, I'll do it tonight when I get home. Thanks for the reminder.
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NP.
I'd really hate for this to die after we started off so well. So, I'm going to try and be as helpful as I can. Maybe EUOL can nag us. ;)
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/me cringes
:-/ I missed it again. Sorry, I really meant to do it, but it completely slipped my mind. I've got roommates moving in, roommates moving out... It's a busy time right now and I'm kind of scatterbrained.
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Gemm. GO. You get till 8 am monday. I'll try to make it a habit to post a reminder at least once a day.
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Okay, my turn. I've got until 8 am Wednesday, right?
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Yes, I have thought several times to post that reminder, but I kept getting distracted. Thanks for posting it.
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np I'm just glad I remembered. I'm also a little miffed at myself for deleting what I had before. Silly me.z
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ding ding ding!
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next up: JamPaladin. 44.5 hours left on the clock Hopefully we'll get some more of this done. everyone try to remember to post a daily reminder that this needs to be done.
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Yeah, I could have used that yesterday. I got caught up with Health Insurance worries yesterday. Sorry.
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So I end of posting with only a single post since my last one?
This is ridiculous.
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stop yer whining
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speaking of flaking, consider this your official reminder. 19.5 more hours, Jam
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ok, Entropy, i'm unsure of our time offset, but you've got about 40 hours and 10 minutes left of your turn. That's Saturday night, for me, early Sunday morning for you. I guess if you want to take Sunday off like most of the rest of us do, you get till early Monday morning. Anyway, your turn, Entropy
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uhm... Entropy's turn ended Saturday night, even with the extention, which would have been LAST night. That means my turn is over half over. I have something due tomrorow night at quarter to 11. Remind me to do it people.
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Reminder. :D
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Uh, yeah.
Oops :-[
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wow, yeah, there are weird things writing backward. If I bring up a new complication, I have to resolve it right away. weird.
Anyway, I finished my turn. stacer's turn. You got till 7:10 pm on Thursday. we're in the same time zone, so we don't have to recalculate anything. Go!
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bump
Stacer, this is your daily reminder. You've got about 32 more hours.
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wow, yeah, there are weird things writing backward. If I bring up a new complication, I have to resolve it right away. weird.
OR . . . you could resolve a conflict and let someone introduce it later. ;)
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Or is it earlier?
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on that note, stacer has about half an hour. Then it's Gemm's turn
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Argh! I was going to do it today and then got a free ticket to a movie right after work and ... yeah. Well, on the bright side, I'm writing a review of the movie right now.
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btw, Gemms turn ended last night, but because it's sunday, Izzy still has around 46 hours. Quarter of 7 on tuesday is the deadline. She's in cali, though, so that's like 3:45 pm.
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Daily reminder: Izzy, still your turn till tomorrow night.
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*ding*
Izzy, you've got about 12 hours I think. gonna make it?
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It will be short.
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it's longer than most. Ok, JP, your go. 47 more hours
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of course, there's a little gap there. i mean , from "I'll get it back" to "It was a simple trick, really, now came the big one" What was the simple trick?
Oh well, one of the hazards of this format, I suppose.
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SE, you promised me an extension if I wrote an article, since you had none.
Your article has been submitted. I hereby claim my extension.
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Yea, verily, I didst do so. Therefore, instead of 11 hours left, take 35 (an extra day)
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Whose turn is it now?
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er.. yeah, JP, your turn, even with an extention, ended about 21 hours ago. Entropy is up. If he wants, I think we should give him an extention since his turn is half over. So... by Monday or Tuesday 7:30 my time (I think that's just after midnight your time, not sure)
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Oh.
Yay.
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Well, I needed the extension to keep my record of being one of the few who has actually posted everytime on my turn.
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hey, Entropy, don't forget it's your turn.
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of course, there's a little gap there. i mean , from "I'll get it back" to "It was a simple trick, really, now came the big one" What was the simple trick?
Oh well, one of the hazards of this format, I suppose.
Sorry, my hour on the library computer was up, so I had to end it fast.
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Done and done.
Since jampaladin left me nothing to work with (thanks) i thought i'd change the perspective, throw in a bunch of new things, and do a only-partially connected segment.
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well, it's a little late, but no one was paying attention, so it matters little. Good job Entropy. good long post. (haven't read it yet, short on time) I will have mine done by 8pm thursday night.
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dang, I flaked. So I can only assume everyone else did because I did. Therefore, it is Stacer's turn. Since there were no reminders, She gets all of monday and Tuesday to go (Sundays don't count).
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So, has this died again, or what?
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eh... problably.
Let's make it Gemm's turn, and I'l try to remember to post reminders. You guys could help, y'know.
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Yes. We could.
But we won't.
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If it's Gemm's turn now, that means that my turn is coming up. I usually only come to the library once a week, but I have high hopes of getting internet at home this week. So, if you don't hear from me by tomorrow, please assume that I won't be able to post until Tuesday. I hope that's not a problem. Maybe Jam and I can switch turns.
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Gemm has till midnight.
Good luck on the Internet thing
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Thanks ;)
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MoD has failed. JP. GO!
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:P
So much for the trading idea. Oh well.
We are now connected to the world wide web. And not through NetZero, either, thank the stars or something.
Keyway (which is apparently only in CA) is inexpensive and comes highly recommended from my mother and grandfather. Just in case you were wondering. . . .
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I totally missed the trading thing. Want to take a turn MoD? i suppose we can make an exception. I'll give you 48 hours. That's Monday at 10:30-ish on the east coast (since Sundays don't count). 7:30-ish your time.
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You mean pm, right?
That's what I'm assuming, anyway. . . .
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sí
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Done.
Now is it Jam's turn, or Entropy's?
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JP. Got 48 hours.
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22 hours, JP.
*cracks whip*
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Entropy, JP has failed me for the last time (ok, probably not the last). But anyway, you've got about 45 hours left on your turn
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Don't you worry, I'll be ready when the Ninja Monkey's arrive.
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Wahoo! I've posted to the story as many times as Jam!!
/me gloats
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yeah, Entropy, you've got about 6 hours. Though I'm not going to time anything done while I'm out of town. so if you did something before i get back next saturday, that's good.
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So, what you're saying is that he gets all week?
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"Quote? What quote? I didn't hear any quote."