This is your daily open thread, talk about whatever you like, of course keeping it clean and friendly.
The Nerdmudgeon Podcast
Three middle-aged nerds (including yours truly!) review all of the MCU movies in chronological order. Short, funny, and full of good vibes, check it out and let us know what you think!
Nerdmudgeon.com
Here is an Omake Character to my 30/30 challenge, I like his story, not sure on my execution- I’ll enjoy it anyway.
http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q539/kjell17/Hero%20Machine%20Creation/KericsCarver.jpg
Sup out there! I hope everyone had a great turkey day!
Might want to mask the knife in his hand. Neat concept with a design that sells the story.
I know that it’s a holiday weekend in the United States and Jeff is on vacation. However, I figured HMers outside the US would pick up the slack. It’s been very quiet.
Do they have “Black Friday” in other countries? “Vendredi noir?” “Schwarzes Freitag?” “Musta perjantai?”
I thought so, too.
I’ll be honest, I’m thinking of shutting down the blog side of things and just leaving the actual apps and the forums. It’s a lot of work and doesn’t seem to have any impact on traffic or revenue (from ads). In fact, this whole week has seen the highest conversion rates and RPMs in the last year. Maybe all this extra content is actually harmful on the money end of things, yet it costs more because of the server loads required to support the blog engine.
I don’t know, I’m just thinking out loud.
Anyone brave the Black Friday sales? I did, I already had bought most of what I needed already so I was able to get in and out quickly with what I wanted. There were some crazy people trying to cut in lines, stealing, pushing, throwing stuff, and trying to bring their kids in the madness. Ah the american dream of having material things right LOL
For the most part, Tool, I stayed home. I’m not brave, foolhardy, or just plain foolish to dive into the pool.
I can say, though, that there was little traffic at the cleaners, video rental, and snazz beer/food retailer.
Speaking for myself, I certainly would miss the blog. A LOT. This is one of the few sites that I go to everyday looking for something new and it would make my day a little sadder to not have it. That being said, I know you need revenue. So, being a bad revenue generator (I don’t click on any add on any site), what can I do? just click on the ads? everyday? every time I see a new add?
I would certainly miss the blog if it left, but I undersand the need for revenue. Anything we can do to help?
What can any of us do!?I for one am open to anything I could do to help!Say the word Jeff!
Jeff, the blog is a big part of the fun here.
How can I pitch in?
No need for panic or anything, I’m just venting. I am making plenty from the ads, it’s not a money thing it’s more just being burned out a little.
Greetings fellow HMers! I hope everyone in the U.S. has had a great vacation and for those of you outside the states had a good week too, curious as to what people thought of my newest creation.
http://master81385.deviantart.com/gallery/40768975#/d5lymhg
So it’s Leonardo from the TMNT during his self imposed exile to Japan any critique would be greatly appreciated!!! on and P.S. that grid pattern on his arm is supposed to be like a mesh shirt that i’ve seen fictional ninjas sometimes wear…
-Thanks-
Completely understandable. I’ve given up on countless projects and hobbies. Coincidentally, I would like some feedback.
I decided to write instead of quilt. Keep in mind, either activity is extremely difficult with a cat walking all over you. The setting is an inter-stellar society. The network that holds it together suddenly collapses. The isolation radically transforms the various worlds.
Earth was part of the network. There is a definite Ancient Aliens / Stargate element. Myths, legends, and historical figures are central to my universe’s history.
The question right now is what was the mode of inter-stellar travel? Was it stargate (jumpgate) technology? Was it hyperspace or “folding space” (Dune)? Wormholes? The mode will affect the direction.
Any thoughts appreciated. This is strictly for fun. I’ll post my musings in the Writers section of the Forum. Bitte, alles!
Y’know, Jeff, if my schedule was any more forgiving, I’d be happy to lend my zaniness to a spot in your blog. Delegate some of it? I have no money, hm3 is my free hobby /art therapy / sanity maintenance, but I’d be happy to do what I can.
Hey–maybe the Home could point to YOUR thread / threads and so be cheaper somehow? I don’t know how it works . . .
I mean, I *have* been at this blogging thing for five years…
As far as transportation in your universe goes, I think you start from the desired outcome and work your way backwards from there. If it’s important that people be able to travel without huge ships, but only at specific locations on a planetary surface, then that’s a gate situation. If ships matter, if it’s important that they be able to show up anywhere, then there’s your decision point. The how is secondary to the why — figure out what you want to be possible for your characters to do to drive the story forward, and you’ll know what the mechanism has to be.
@Master81: I like. The only thing missing is the pizza he’s rescuing.
@Atomic: Jeff’s given you some great starter advice. Another ‘why’ to consider is whether, in the plot, you need part of the network reestablished, by whom, and what they can reach by what they do. Of course, there’s no reason you can’t decide that the network was made of all of the above–that’s very realistic. Sometimes technology just isn’t updated or replaced. (And a good reason why the WHOLE network can’t be brought right back up; the technology liaisons being long dead, negotiations broken down, etc.)
I like Herr D’s idea, let some of us take over the posting of some of the stuff on the blog. I’d happily do something.
Also, to save you having to think up stuff for the Vs., Contests and Pop Quizzes, maybe open up a suggestions thread and we can submit ideas, then you can pick your favourite out of those.
Ditto
@Master81385: I like his outfit. The mesh arms are a nice touch.
@Jeff: I’m hoping for a continuing or expanded universe. So I’m not looking for a pre-determined outcome. From a plot perspective, reverse engineering is a good idea.
@Herr D: Very true. No reason not to have multiple methods. Kind of like at work. We have a Director who still uses Windows 3.11 to generate a report! I’m sure when he retires, so does the computer.
Ooohhh… I’ve got it! Yes… this plays nicely in my universe. Thank you!
@All: I like the Suggestion Box idea. Maybe even put Challenges up to a Poll Daddy. Definitely more guest blogs!
I haven’t been around much for the last week and a half because my new routine with the cat seems to soak up all my extra time. I have to wash her dishes twice a day, and her face twice a day; it took her no time at all to recognize that running water in the kitchen sink was a sign to hide behind the furniture, to make it even more of a hassle. I also have to give her a huge antibiotic pill twice a day, immediately after she eats; she also runs and hides when I put food down, leaving me stuck staking out her bowl waiting for her to eat.
But! As much of a pain as it all is, it’s still better than the major illness I thought she had before I took her to the vet. When she developed fast-growing lumps on her face, I assumed they were tumors, as she has a bit of history with that sort of thing. Turns out it’s acne. (Whoever heard of a cat with acne?) So, just dance, I guess.
As for your revenue problems, have you considered putting up a paypal donation button? I never click ads, but I’d shoot you a few bucks a month. I know it’s not much, but anything is better than nothing, right?
@X-Stacy: My mom’s cat had acne on her neck and head. It developed around the time of my parents’ divorce and her subsequent stroke. It cleared after I moved in to take care of the house. Cats are very attuned to stress and change.
Paypal donations are fine with me if revenue is the issue (am already paying subs to another community-run site).
I’m getting the feeling that it’s difficult for Jeff to keep up with the regular blog and what sounds like an intensely busy job. My advice would be – don’t! With the forums so closely linked to the main page, I think the blog could easily go to a bi-weekly update schedule, if that, and be even better. Less is more, sometimes.
I find it very difficult to make time to participate in the contest/challenges these days (not the quickest of HM’ers) and there are often comments from people saying “I’d like to have participated, but….”. So spreading those over two weekends might be good. No need to allow thousands of entries, just make time for good ones.
One more thing – I’m really enjoying Jeff’s “30 characters…” drawings. In many ways I’d prefer to have a blog more about Jeff’s art, updated occasionally, than something with daily postings about content which may be covered elsewhere. After all, it’s Jeff’s style which makes HM what it is…
Thanks guys much appreciated 😀
I’ll be damned. The vet said it was common, but I was having a hard time believing her, since everybody I mentioned it to responded the same way I did when the vet told me: a blank stare, followed with a “…I didn’t even know cats could get acne.” Now if I could just figure out what she’s stressed about! (The cat, that is, not the vet.)