Last Viner Standing: A Contest of Stamina

# THIS HAS CHANGED: You may publish to any applicable groups and use any applicable tags, but you must be sure to use the tag LVS0407.

I liked the three-tag rule, it allowed you to do the neat things like find anyones first article, or anyones fifteenth, or just one persons third, etc., through tag searches alone. I'm doing it that way, it's not like it takes some great effort.

#1 Why I Intend to Stab My Own Union in the Back ... it's pretty self-explanatory.

#2 Breaking It Down: Grindhouse ... the latest in predictions.

#3 Activist Josh Wolf Released From Prison -- a report and commentary.

#4 This Ain't Your Daddy's Java, Part 2 ... Part 1 isn't in this contest but it's an article nonetheless. Not for the faint of heart.

#5 Chronicles of Riddick Lost in the Dark ... A writers dissection.

#6 Revenue Sharing is Bad for Writers ... a general rant on Newsvine and now AC payment.

#7 What Carelessness Brings ... this contest just cost me one of my favorite personal possessions.

#8 Are Webisides and TV Downloads Killing Reruns? ... This is not up to my standards by any stretch, but it was the most palpable of the five things I've posted to my blog today, so it'll have to do. Sometimes short really is sweeter.

#9 Why Revenue Sharing is Good for Writers ... what goes up must come down.

#10 Associated Content Doubles Submission Review Length

#11 John Roberts Judicial Philosophy Could Destroy The Bush Administration ... A unique view on strict constructionism.

#12 Republicans Stubbornness Will Cost Them Dearly ... Political commentary. I've been reading a lot of Glenn Greenwald lately and he has rekindled the PC spirit within me. If only I could write as he does..

#13 Right-winger Deems Salon.com a "hate site" ... I suppose this makes Ann Coulter's site library material.

#14 Democratic Front-Runners Are Empty Suits ... A look at Obama, Clinton, and Bill Richardson.

#15 Son, Russians Don't Take a Dump Without a Plan ... Nearly 2,000 words on how a simple failure to think before you act has caused us so dearly.

Mulligan for the 17th. I've been so busy doing the contest, and two other blogs, it just completely slipped my mind. How embarrassing is that? I forgot. Had plenty of free time too. :\

I wanted to win it with a perfect record, but oh well. Don't take this as a sign of weakness peeps, it was a fluke and I still intend to be there at the end.

Question: if you can write an article a day early if you know you'll be busy, can I write two of them today because I forgot about the 17th and "back date" one? Personally I think the answer should be no in the same way that I think mulligans are crap too (in which case I'd be out), but I've seen some crazy stretching of the rules so far and this doesn't seem all that abnormal in light of things.

Nothing personal but if I don't start banking on loopholes this contest will never end.

With people writing 2-3 days ahead, some writing short fiction on a social news site, and still others submitting 30 word entries, I don't think it'll ever end. I know personally than I've written close to 16,000 words in the past 15 days despite having my laptop completely destroyed because of it but I haven't complained about that until now.

If you want to let other people get free rides, but not me, that's fine.

I'll make do.

If anyone remaining is writing sub-300 word articles, they need to be out.

Who wrote a 30 word piece?

If you're accusing me of cheating regarding working 2 or 3 days ahead I explained that that was because I had no net access and I had that pre-approved.

But still, this is just a fun game with good intentions and interesting results.

I'm not accusing anyone of anything, I was simply pointing out that we're playing so fast and lose with the rules that maybe I could catch some slack. With none forthcoming, I present...

#16 Solutions to Gun Violence Can Be Found

#17 When You've Only Got A Hundred Years To Live

Tragedy is not limited to those events in life which manage to grab the medias attention for 120 straight hours, even when nearly five times more people have died in the past 24 hours in the Iraqi civil war than did at VA Tech.

#18 Bush Could Learn From Schwarzenegger

If there ever was a statement more clear about the narcissistic personality of President Bush than "I'm the decider", I'm not currently aware of it.

#19 Without Justice, There Can Be No Freedom

There was never any question as to whether or not President Bush's appointments to the Supreme Court were going to destabilize the delicate balance it has had for much of the past 10 years. That was pretty much the entire purpose.

#20 I'm Hungry For...

Hungry for intellectually honest conservatism. No more demonizing liberals who place liberty above a false sense of security. No more associating people with different ideas with despicable enemy. No more using the troops as a divisive political weapon.

#21 Alien vs. Predator 2 Shots

Trying something new, a bit of actual news.

#22 Of Debates and Vetos

The President said recently that allowing terrorists a place to prosper was not a way to bring peace to the region, speaking of the Middle East and an attempt by congress to force his hand on Iraq. Hard as it may be to accept, destroying the area and killing every human being within Iraq's borders with nuclear weapons would do more to bring a final peace to region than the presidents failed war would, even if allowed to continue for another hundred years.

#22 Of Debates and Vetos

The President said recently that allowing terrorists a place to prosper was not a way to bring peace to the region, speaking of the Middle East and an attempt by congress to force his hand on Iraq. Hard as it may be to accept, destroying the area and killing every human being within Iraq's borders with nuclear weapons would do more to bring a final peace to region than the presidents failed war would, even if allowed to continue for another hundred years.

#22 Of Debates and Vetos

The President said recently that allowing terrorists a place to prosper was not a way to bring peace to the region, speaking of the Middle East and an attempt by congress to force his hand on Iraq. Hard as it may be to accept, destroying the area and killing every human being within Iraq's borders with nuclear weapons would do more to bring a final peace to region than the presidents failed war would, even if allowed to continue for another hundred years.

#22 Of Debates and Vetos

The President said recently that allowing terrorists a place to prosper was not a way to bring peace to the region, speaking of the Middle East and an attempt by congress to force his hand on Iraq. Hard as it may be to accept, destroying the area and killing every human being within Iraq's borders with nuclear weapons would do more to bring a final peace to region than the presidents failed war would, even if allowed to continue for another hundred years.

So nice - you posted it once, twice, thrice, four times?

So nice - you posted it once, twice, thrice, four times?

That counts for one day not four but nice try:)

So not my fault. I did what I was told :p

#23 Fox "Drives" Into a Brick Wall

Either Fox has a personal gripe with Tim Minear that involves kissing his ass, ordering his pilots, then purposefully crashing them into a wall, or they are just really, really stupid.

Take your pick.

#24 FCC Asks Congress for Censorship Guidance

Though the traditional role of the FCC has been to regulate the radio spectrum in the United States in the best interests of the public, they are still a partisan government agency that can, and under Republican leadership often does, stray wildly outside of their mandate in atte …

#25 Democrats Holding All The Cards

While many in liberal circles are still trying to decide how to handle the coming veto from President Bush on the troop funding bill, I'd hope that there are a few of us with enough good sense and courage to suggest a counter strike, as opposed to backing down from the fight.

#26 This Week Has Been Such a Blur

I don't remember very much about the past week or so. Last Sunday I decided that I wasn't real happy with my blog's growth over its first year in service. In fact, it didn't grow at all.

#27 Dem and GOP Candidates Need Chin Music

I've had a few days to reflect on the first Democratic presidential debate, and though I'd like to review my video copy since my attention was focused elsewhere; I'm not particularly impressed by any of the candidates or the questions thus far.

Note: barely conscious when written.

#28 Spider-Man 3 "bloated, uneven behemoth"

AP movie critic Christy Lemire is anything but supportive of the new film, as the title indicates, in a way recounting all of the same criticisms that were lobbed at Peter Jackson's Kong, though she didn't make that precise connection. It is apropos, however.

In Defense of Terrorism is a look at what circumstances could lead one to terrorism. It takes a look at two "mythical" nations where circumstances have gotten dire. It is my hope, that this piece helps those who read it to understand those whom they are so quick to label as "the enemy".

Albania, part five of my Better Know a Nation series covers a nation that is a bit more prominent and active than those covered previously. This is a weekly series that should be completed by 2012.

The Necessity of Immortality in the 21st Century considers the divide between rich and poor and the corresponding pregnancy rates. Immortality is proposed as a key factor in solving the problems we will face in the coming decades.

A History of Faith, a Question of Truth is a look at my past as a Christian. I attempt to defend faith due to the comfort so many people find in it, but ultimately must ask the question: Faith or Truth?

There Once Was Light is the first short story in a new series of fiction dubbed, Friday Fiction. Set in a fictional future in which President Clinton invades Saudi Arabia, it diaries the moments before, during, and after a captured Marine's abacination. More than simply a story of torture, the message conveyed should be that there is still light in the world - despite past circumstances.

Chase - An Unfortunate Experience is a chronicling of the poor experience I have had in dealing with Chase Bank after selling my car. I show there are redundant departments and a complete lack of synergy within Chase. This has been a terrible experience.

Television in Keeping You Down is about what worth, if any, one really gets out of television. This is a different look at why one would oppose television. I propose television is a major contributor to the widening gap between rich and poor.

Innocence [In Defense of Terrorism, Part 2] is in response to some of the comments received on my article In Defense of Terrorism. It takes a look at the nature of innocence and indifference, while bringing up possible differences in the way it is perceived between cultures.

I decided to submit two articles today, just because I can.

Framing vs Spin, Conveying Science to the Masses is an article to explain the need to frame information for the public to digest, without spinning it as politicians often do.

The second article is part six of my 245 part series, Better Know a Nation. The nation in focus today? Algeria, a nation that is nearly entirely Islamic [Sunni], but still has to deal with terrorist activities within its borders and attacks on its military.

Wow, people have been talking about sbutki or Oldfogey taking this, but I'm thinking it might end up being Henry VII ftw.

Seeking the Truth - Facts, Lies, Hopes and Opinions is perspective on the debate between religion and atheism that seeks to espouse the lies being permeated about atheism.

Expect a 'spiritual successor' tomorrow.

The 'spiritual successor' has been delayed as I am a bit tired of discussing religion.

In its stead, I present A Dream and a Journey - a look at my personal experience in searching for a career I can enjoy. I present my reasoning for pursuing a PhD in Molecular Genetics when I return to The States in August. Here, you can get a deeper understanding of my history and present situation.

Today, I bring you another round of Friday Fiction in the form of Cognitive Dissonance, another short story. It is the story of Darrell Jackson, who has just had a futuristic medical procedure performed on his mind and body.

The Power of the President is a critical look at not just President Bush, but the office of the presidency itself. Common abuses of power by both major political parties is evidence we need to reconsider this highest of positions.

Innovation, True Art in Gaming is a look at what makes something art and how it applies to video games. In the article, I propose a means for comparing all video games against the same scale - as opposed to providing different standards for different genres of games.

A Different Kind of Addiction is a look at the possibility that addiction can be used for the benefit of mankind, instead of the detriment. With nicotine as a beneficial source of addiction, how can it be better used?

Halfway there.

Today, I give you Part VII of my CCXLV part series - Better Know a Nation. The subject, you ask? American Samoa, a nation of a territory being run by Democrats.

Well, I finally did it. I went out on payday and picked up the seventh generation game console I've had my eyes on for a while. Prepare to be amazed as Henry VII Gets His Game On.

Getting Things Done [with Midnight Inbox] is a look at the philosophy of Getting Things Done, specifically in regards to the stated software. I have been using it to keep myself focused and motivated during this competition.

So many requirement fulfilled with just one article. Here is my nineteenth article for this contest. It is also my entry in sbutki's fiction game. It is also my Friday Fiction short story. Ladies and gentlemen: Superiority and Self Indulgence.

Guns, Games, and Tragedy is an attempt to see both sides of the gun control argument, while espousing the myth that games can turn normal children into killers. Please vote in the poll after reading the article.

God 2099, Souls of the Future is a look at the theological questions theists will need to ask themselves in the coming decades. I'd like to get the questions out there early, so I am looking forward to responses from theists all across the religious spectrum [and atheists too].

Our computers get upgrades. Why not our governments?

I present, Democracy 2.

Less optimistic than my previous predictions for the future of humanity, I present a quick jaunt through the end of the world in I Look Forward to the Coming Dystopia.

Airline security has gotten ridiculous. Bypass it entirely by flying Bare Air!

With the 2008 election still twenty months away, it seems we can't wait to get a new president in office. There are so many candidates in the running, and it is sad that none of them are really ideal or looking for a way to compromise. Still, we must search for The Ideal Candidate.

My entry for this Friday Fiction [as well an the second round of the Fiction Game] is a short story with a quasi-steampunk environment. That said, it is set in a future, after WWIII. Here is Steam.

Seems I must use my mulligan for the 28th. I wasn't planning on using one for the entire contest, but the festival I attended turned into a party and the a trip to karaoke. Then, due to certain circumstances, I needed to ponder why I seem to lack usual emotions.

The next two days will be a two-part series. One on belief, the other on faith.

As promised, here is my article for April 29th. Entitled On Belief, it is a different look entirely at the religious debate. Here, I focus on the nature of belief - and the fact that we can not simply change our beliefs without accepting new evidence, no matter the issue.

Here it is - my final article for this contest. On Faith shows the grave distinction between faith and hope. I show that faith is a bastardization of belief and in many ways, like a cancer.

#3 democracy and freedom

Oh, the trials of writing in the wee hours.

#4 Another woman died today

#5 Astrological profiles on the Vine

Mulligan yesterday.

#6 Shelter in the Storm

I'm done.

April 3rd: Mr. President: Congress is not your rubber stamp.

Day 3, April 4th: Indecent Experiences. Meta for three days or so, ongoing series that I've had unpublished for some time.

Day4, April5th: Indecent Experiences, #2. Morning, ya'll CST'ers.

Day 5, April 5th: Indecent Experiences, #3. The last of the subway freakouts - still more experiences to come, though I may have to switch back to politics for a bit.

Oh, and as of this second in time, the spreadsheet should be updated. A few more people are out, a few more mulligans used, et al. I got bored and filled in all the blanks.

I'm up for the day: Indecent Experiences #4. I desperately tried for a political article I've had forming around the nethers of my brain for the last day, but it was HORRIBLE. Saturdays suck for me as getting anything useful done.

April 8th: Bring on the Cheesecake.

April 9th: McCain has lost it.

April 10th: Car shopping.

April 11th: The real crime behind AttorneyGate

April 12th: Gas, corn, conspiracies - plausible?

Wooo ethanol conspiracies.

I mulligan'd for the 13th. I fell asleep promptly after coming home from work and didn't move a muscle until 3am. I'll probably be out by the end of today, I have two meetings and a wedding to go to :D

As is no surprise, I'm out! Today is the first time since 3am Saturday I've been able to touch my computer. Good luck to those left!

we should each have our own comment thread in which we post the links to our own daily articles. It would probably make it easier in the end.

Maybe you should stop mucking up my comment thread then ;)

I'm up. Took longer than I thought 'cause I actually had some work to do.

Day two is up. It's sad, really.

Day three. I like books.

Day four. I still like books.

Back again. In case you were wondering, I still like music too.

I've realized I have absolutely no desire to do this on the weekends.
I lieu of using my mulligan today and being out tomorrow, I'm just going to say I'm out today.

Ok, unless someone wants to let me pretend that I am in the Mountain or Western time zone, then I am already out ;-)

That's only cause I kick so much more ass than all of you combined, and instead of writing some simple little article, I coded a slick wordpress plugin for newsvine. So there :P

Also, is there a "no-meta" rule? Or, must the meta meet some sort of standard?

Man's True Purpose

Eat it, pigs.

Another Serial.

Continuation

A self-conscious meta-article

Number Four

Number Four

That's five isn't it?
Just noticed while updating the spreadsheet.

Oh, why yes it is, thank you.

Number SIX

One Ring to Rule Then All

I've got like two articles left before I've exhausted this series.

The Climax

The Denouement

A New Deal

Alright, This is My Final Word on the Subject

I am taking Mykola's approach to the issue.

It Came In a Dream

The Human Condition

An Interesting Realization Catalyzed by an Innocent Diversion

I've Changed My Mind About Something

A New World Order

Call it Education

What Must-Needs Be Addressed

Dear God:

Something Different

My Bitterest Article

I Don't Usually Do Reviews

Why?

The Global Village of the Flat Earth

25

26

27

28

Good article (I'll comment when I get the chance to read a little more thoroughly). You forgot one of the "necessary" tags though :)

Jeebus, I can't keep up with you people. I'm but a simple country girl.

Trying to one-up me?

:-)

Alright, day two is a meta article: How Newsvine Views the Issues.

Day 3: People in History - Adam Smith, Father of Economics

And suddenly life catches up with me. I'm not officially throwing in my hat with hopes that I will have time to write tomorrow, but this is my mulligan.

Alright I'm back with What Would Jesus Really Do?

Faith, the Unknown, and Hope - A Late Night Brainstorm

Alright I forgot to link it here, but the article was up yesterday: People in History - Pericles and the Pelopennesian War

Last of my historical ones for awhile I hope, People in History - Augustus, a Man of Two Personalities

And I'm out... yesterday. It was fun, but this has been during my exam weeks.

here it is, an opinion piece, how rare...

no that didnt work... here it is

"Oh @!$%#" Moments. Part 1: A Blazing Inferno

The newest from the crabshack

DAMN! ok, I'm out. Chemistry homework and a friend from out of twon took too much time away from me. I wish the rest of you good luck and announce my predictions of the winners:

1. Mykola
2. Oldfogey
3. Sbutki

Myk only wins out because I know for a fact that he spends 80% of his time at work on newsvine. The other 20% is spent talking to girls 6 years younger than him and eating.

Careful Pete, girls 6 years younger than Myk would be about 8.

Myk only wins out because I know for a fact that he spends 80% of his time at work on newsvine. The other 20% is spent talking to girls 6 years younger than him and eating.

Who are you and how do you know that story?

well, its more legal in any case...

Yikes, this is hard for me. I'm used to blogging. You know, short paragraphs, nothing more.

I just had to sign up for a frickin' challenge.

Are you an amateur?

Oh, look! A movie review

Who is Kaya?

Stereotypes, do you have any?

Writing Rituals

We used to discuss this a lot at my domain.

A Music Review this time.

Look, something that could be political in nature. I mention Señor President.

For the Children, Pt. 1

And now I have to go and add the lvs tags because I forgot. oops

More fiction.

I Confess.

Well I'm out already ;-) So I can act as an independent panel.

Hmm... competitive much? ;-)

Oh, Jesus. If I really thought these changes were going to be incorporated, I would have suggested them before everyone had made their first entry.

Let's not criticize me for making my thoughts known about how to run a "contest" with a hope of an ending when I have to listen to comments about what people "ought" to write on Newsvine all the friggin' time when there's "no" contest involved.

I was just chiming in, no need to get all indignant.

Oh, I'm not saying I didn't think the ideas were good, or I wouldn't have made the suggestions.

And, while drinking would be nice, it would simply make my sore throat more sore, so I will probably have to hold out for a few days on that front.

At any rate, the portion about oversight was simply an effort to enforce the rules that Mykola already put in place in his original description. It gives people who aren't interested in submitting daily content a chance to participate as referees.

(And keeps the participants from making arbitrary decisions about the work of others in an effort to win.)

I wasn't particularly reacting to what you or Yasmin said, Vikki. It wasn't until later that my personal opinion was made out to be some sort of Orwellian attempt at control -- for no real apparent reason other than to say something negative about a pretty uncontroversial comment.

For what it's worth -- under the current rules, Sbutki will probably win -- unless the weekend posting gets in his way. (IIRC, he likes to take the weekend off, as well.) He practically makes a post a day anyway, even when there isn't a stamina contest.

For what it's worth -- under the current rules, Sbutki will probably win -- unless the weekend posting gets in his way. (IIRC, he likes to take the weekend off, as well.) He practically makes a post a day anyway, even when there isn't a stamina contest.

The only reason I don't post on the weekends is my weekend job - living with a special needs adult for three days - doesn't have net access.

BUT I'm leaving that job AND my new job has internet access. It's three overnight shifts (9 p.m. to 9 a.m.) so if you think I have plenty of time to write now (I don't actually as I'm running between three jobs) wait until you see me in two weeks at 4 a.m. bored as
hell ponitificating on why it is that... that.. well, I can't think of anything right now but I'm sure I'll think of something.

As for this weekend I have three articles in mind - if I post them all on Friday and note which day or number they are that's good, right?

Wait, it's NOT a stamina contest? You mean I can sleep?
Oh, wow, that changes everything....

The tagging for this exercise is good - it's taught me the value of having a consistent tag. On my to-do list for one of those overnite shifts is to tag all of my fiction as "sbutki fiction" all interviews as "sbutki interviews", etc.

because there's nothing worse than having to spend hours trying to find your own review from six weeks ago as you try to conclude whether you actually wrote it or just dreamed it or what.

(Though a stick in the eye might technically be worse)

Man, I think it's the last viner standing title that's making me feel like I'm on stage.

Ok, I'll give you my favorite quick joke, and further muck up the already mucked up comments of this thread:

A man walks into a bar.

The man following him ducks.

thank you, try the veal! I'll be here all (insert date period)

What, no luck for me?

Oops. Best of luck dear, don't disappoint!

. Actually reading the articles is an important part of this contest. Maybe, in the future, we should add a rule that all participants must comment meaningfully on all entries of all other participants

That's a great idea. That way we're encouraged not only to write but also to read each other's work.

You mean I have to read what everyone is writing?

Now that will take stamina. :-D

Well, technically your suggestion was that we do it that way NEXT time so you might be able to wiggle your way out of it this time.

But if it's too onerous and demanding and you have to (insert sound of a chicken that
a special ed companion was just making as he beat me in checkers) quit I'll understand.

Of you? Ha!
I'm used to writing 10 articles a week. I can write one in my sleep - in fact I think I have.

Oh, yeah? Want to bet Millions on that?

Also you mean "going down" in a bad way, right?:)

Articles times are listed in your time zone. As such, when I post an article at noon on the 2nd in Japan - it will show up as 11pm on the 1st for those in EST, 10pm for CST, 9pm for CMT, and 8pm for PST. Viki's article was posted at 12:18 EST April 3rd or 11:18 CST, 10:18 GMT, 9:18 PST April 2nd.

As long as Viki lives in CST, GMT, or PST time zones [or Hawaii, etc.] - she should be fine.

This all sounds good, I just wanted to make sure nobody had a problem with any of it.