Snypiuer

As Snypiuer comes to and gathers himself, a shadow detaches itself from the ceiling and falls upon him! It is none other than the Legendary. . . NAY! the no-less-then MYTHICAL, Turtle of Realization (who has been stalking Snypiuer for weeks)! As Snypiuer makes a pathetic and futile attempt to defend himself from the turtle's giant bat, a memory flashes through his now swelling brain, "I COMPLETELY forgot about Peredhil's 'Players' http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=17030 !" Satisfied, the turtle puts away his bat and melts back into the shadows, leaving Snypiuer in a twitching, drooling heap on the floor, with brief coherent thoughts of, "Maybe I forgot because it freaked me out so much!" and "Why can't I come up with something that good?" randomly forming in his rapidly liquefying brain. Trust me, it IS that good - READ IT, LIVE IT! Wait. . .

A beaten, bloody and battered Snypiuer slowly enters, looks around and says, "I think I won. It's been a couple days. . . and no attacks. I think I won!" then passes out. O.K., for those of you unaware of it, we've been having a LOT of bots registering. SO, to be fair, I went through each and every one and found other forums they had joined and read their posts to confirm they were spammers and checked every spam list I could find to see if they were listed. Once I KNEW they were up to no good, I: Banned them. Flagged them as spammers (which reported them to IP Boards). Black listed their: Name, E-mail address and IP address. Then deleted them. I also added a question to the registration window (a simple one, easy to answer, BUT a human has to read it to answer). In the end, 150 - took a while. Most of the ones that were validated, never posted here (but did, either post spam in other forums or turned up on spam lists - multiple times). I'm thinking of going through and checking to see if any other members who have never posted turn out to be bots - 640+ is going to be a while! ANYWAYS, that's what I've been up to and my next project is a Valentine Day skin. BUT, first there is the matter of our boards current version. We are 3.0.5 (I believe) and 3.1.4 is the newest, with 3.2 set to come out later in the year. Our problem is IP Board will STOP support for all 3.0.x versions in a few months. MY thought is to upgrade to 3.1.4 and use that 'till 3.2 gets the bugs worked out. If there is no objections, I'll see what's needed to upgrade and do that in a few days (have a basic idea what to do, just want to make sure I do it right!). NOW, for members, go to the Muse and Quill Café in the Banquet Room http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showforum=4 like Appy did and join in the Poetry Challenge. There are a couple other challenges there you can also try. I have an idea for a new challenge, so keep an eye on the Assembly Room http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showforum=3 and I'll post when I have it worked out. FINALLY, time is running out to post for a chance to win a FREE MIGHTY PEN T-SHIRT! ANY post with the theme of 'NEW' qualifies. Write about a 'NEW': Creature. Love. World. Discovery. Invention. Beginning. ANYTHING 'NEW' and YOU could receive a FREE MIGHTY PEN T-SHIRT! That's it for now and start posting!

So far, Gravia and Peredhil have been tossing some rather good poems back and forth in the Muse and Quill Café located in the Banquet Room http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showforum=4 and Mardrax has been the ONLY one with enough sense to join in on the fun! Yes, that includes myself, but I haven't joined in because on a fundamental level, I'm a Moron (not to mention my Muse has chosen to take a vacation and NEGLECTED to provide a temp replacement!). YET, even with my diminished mental capacity, I am CONFIDENT that the rest of you WILL join in at your earliest convenience! Speaking of Peredhil - 'Players' http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=17030 go read it. . . ahh, yeah! You're welcome! THEN, there's Degorram. What can I say? I want to hug her and say, "Thank you!" BUT, I also want to spank her and say, "WHY did you keep these from us for so long young Lady!?" While I sort through my emotions, go read: Sound Salad http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=17029 Words http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=17028 Rain http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=17027 Path to Heaven http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=17026 Running http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=17025 and For the Boy with a Thing about Hats http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=17024 Finally, I am giving away another Mighty Pen T-shirt! The Topic is 'New' - in honor of the 'New' year. New: Things Love Beginnings Inventions Words Creatures WHATEVER! As long as it's 'NEW'. So, post a Poem, Story, article, idea, thought, etc. by January 31 and YOU may be the proud winner of a NEW Mighty Pen T-shirt!

Snypiuer stumbles in to find 2 unidentified Pennites. One wears a much too large overcoat, has extremely curly, red hair and carries an old taxi cab horn. The other is wearing a suit that looks like it may be 1 size too small as well as a slightly too small felt hat. Snypiuer stares at them as the first one smiles widely and begins to roughly get the others' attention - this is done with no other sound then that of the horn. P1 (Pennite 1): HONK! HONK! HONK! *Grabs P2's shoulder and shakes it violently, then proceeds to slap said shoulder and point at Snypiuer* P2: *Trying to figure out what's going on* (Thick, obviously fake, Italian accent) What's-a going onna!? Why-a youse-a slapping me arou. . . (Finally seeing who P1 is pointing at) SNYPIUER-a! Where-a youse-a been!? It's-a good-a to sees youse-a back-a! Snypiuer: Ahhhh. . . P2: What's-a matta? Youse-a get-a hit onna the head? P1: *Looks worried* Honk! Honk! Snypiuer: No? Ummm. . . P2: I no-a know, youse-a look-a like youse-a no-a feeling well-a. *Turns to P1* Check-a his vitals! P1: HONK! HONK! *Pulls out a giant stethoscope and places it on Snypiuer's chest, a loud BOOM-BOOM echoes from the stethoscope as it falls to the ground and P1 stumbles around with hands covering ears and eyes rolling wildly* P2: His-a ticka sounds-a pretty good-a! Check-a his blood-a pressure-a! P1: HONK! *Pulls out a blood pressure cuff, struggles a bit with Snypiuer, but finally gets it on his arm (not Snypiuer's, his arm) and begins to manically inflate it 'till it explodes. Once again stumbles around.* P2: That's-a lotta pressure! Check-a his-a temper-a-ture! P1: HONK! HONK! *Snypiuer begins to back away as P1 pulls out a giant thermometer* HONK! *Snypiuer makes a break for it as P1 makes it clear that it is NOT an oral thermometer* HONK! HONK! Snypiuer: ARGHHH!!! P2: Look-a him-a run! Looks-a like-a he's-a late for-a something-a! P1: HONK! O.K. then! Looks like we have a bit of activity. Several Pennites have shared their knowledge in 'Things I have Learned' http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=15061 as well as checked in here http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16926 and here http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16813 Hjolnai continued 'Shades of Grey' http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16968 and eyeoneblack not only gave some good advice on it, but hinted at a possible story for the Recruiter's office? I know I look forward to that! Those of you who can enter 'The Muse and Quill Café' (membership has it's privileges) GO! NOW! Gravia has started up a new poetry challenge. In fact, check out the other challenges while you're at it! Jomeansme may have finished 'Dreams' http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16994 but I hope it's just the beginning of many more. Cryptomancer gave us 'Because i can' http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=17018 you know why? BECAUSE HE CAN! It just may be ME, but all I can see when I read this is Gene Wilder reciting this with growing tension as he sits in the bow of a paddle boat propelled by little orange men with green hair and white overalls as they race haphazardly through darkened tunnels filled with fleeting glimpses of disturbing images. But, that just may be me. Zariah told us what's going on, what's the deally-o, with 'My life at the moment' http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=17019 Then I eaves-dropped on Vlad while he had 'Conversations with a Stranger' http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=17016 Who hasn't read Regel's 'Surprise' in the 'Critic's Corner' of the 'Assembly Room'? http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showforum=3 I would say shame on you for missing out on it, but that would be like waving a chocolate cake in front of a starving third-world child - then punching him. Ozymandias snuck into the 'Library' and left 'Cantankerous' http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=17020 for us. AND, we were able to get enough money to pay the bills! Not to mention that I finally received a box of Mighty Pen T-shirts and sent Hjolnai his for winning the first giveaway. . . Which brings us to: THE NEXT MIGHTY PEN T-SHIRT GIVEAWAY!!! We have a new year coming up, so our competition will be to write about 'New' things: Beginnings, relationships, life, universes, NEW! The winner (winner-S? May be!? - If enough people write, I just might HAVE to give more than one away!) WILL receive a Mighty Pen T-shirt! Contest starts. . . . . . NOW!!! And will end January 31. I will then select a winner. So. . . START WRITING!!!

O.K., placed a Donate button above the Forum Header and people can just log into their paypal accounts and send a payment to: donations@themightypen.net if they want. Sorry this took so long. I had some computer access problems and NOW there is only a couple days 'till license is due (Dec. 2!) ANY contributions will be APPRECIATED!!! MEANWHILE: Go to the Critics Corner in the Assembly Room and read Regel's 'Surprise'. When you do, you'll LITERALLY kick yourself for not doing so sooner. Regel also has a short poem 'Hunger' http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=17015 While Vlad has 'Conversations with a Stranger' http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=17016 and several more Prodigal Pennites have checked in http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16813 Happy that people are checking in and can't wait to read anything they wish to share.

Working on that PayPal donation button - I have NO idea what I'm doing and want to be ABSOLUTELY sure I do NOT mess it up! Will put it up ASAP! Thanks for your patience.

O.K., our license is due ($161.90)! ANY donations will be APPRECIATED. Trying to figure out how PayPal works, will let you know ASAP on how to donate! Other news, I SHOULD have more reliable internet access starting next week AND I'm just waiting for those Mighty Pen shirts to arrive (payment has been sent!) and I'll start a contest or two to give them away!

Hey everyone, still working on my computer situation. Doing what I can. The BIG news is, I will be in possession of several Mighty Pen shirts and will give them away - will let you know when I actually have them. It would be nice if there was some activity until then, but have several ideas for writing contests. I MAY decide that PARTICIPATING on a regular basis deserves a shirt - I don't know, but would it hurt to take the risk? I know real life is probably overwhelming most of you, just remember that we'll always be here for YOU! Drop by when you can and post, even if it's just to let us know you still care.

It was a toss up and I took the EASY way out by randomly picking the winner. The NEXT contest will be more structured. For now, Snypiuer is still having computer problems. Will have more reliable access in a week or so. While Snypiuer has paid for several computers, he has NEVER actually owned one (figures he can use the ones he got his Mom and Sisters - since, you know, he PAID for them!), but computers get old and he has now decided that the next one will be HIS! Thing is, AMD is supposed to be coming out with a new chip (I believe it's called the 'Fusion' chip) next year that is going to ROCKKKKK!!!!!! and. . . I neeeeeeddddd THAT one. Now, there are those of you (cough!)Quincunx(cough!) who will say that computers available today are MORE than adequate for the average user. To them, I say, "FAH!!!" That's right, "FAH!!!" to those of you who are 'anti-newest-biggest-fastest-most shiniest-super-duper-spiffiest-makes me better than YOU 'cause I have it and you DON'T, so "HA!"' and thine 'Socialist-everybody's the same-pie in the sky-let's share and hold hands-capitalist are evil-coombiyah(sp?)' ideology! *This in NO way should be interpreted as Snypiuer disliking Quincunx. In fact, Snypiuer loves Quincunx. But it is (like MANY of his loves) a shameful love. A love to be hidden and denied by ALL who have even the TINIEST shred of morality and/or decency. The kind of love that should NEVER be mentioned or even alluded to - REGARDLESS of the level of depravity of the company in which it may be mentioned. The kind of love that, if it COULD be described with but one word, the most twisted and depraved demon from the lowest pits of the darkest and foulest of ANY imaginable Nether Realm would blush with the shame of even THINKING of just WHISPERING it to a dead and absolutely empty Universe.* So, I'll do the best I can with what I got for now! Hopefully, it wont be too bad. Then again, I don't think ANYONE can tell the difference between lazy, every-day Snypiuer and computer problem Snypiuer! OH WELL!!!

Changed the skin back, sorry took so long - computery problems! Hope everyone liked it! WALK don't run!. . . wait. . .strike that. . . reverse it, to http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=17010 and read Peredhil's' 'A CALL TO PENS!' Then START WRITING!!! Finally, after using super secret technology that was reversed engineered from an Ancient Alien base (whose location is known to only 9 individuals) to chose who will receive a T-shirt, a winner has been chosen. I will need to have that individual PM me an address and shirt size (Small to XX-Large). And that person. . . IS. . . . . . . . . (is the suspense killing you yet?). . . DRUM ROLL!!!. . . Hjolnai!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! And sorry for taking so long, I will endeavor to be a BIT more organized in the future!

I set the default skin to 'HALLOWEEN PEN' for the holiday (will change it back on Nov. 1). If you don't want to keep it 'till then, you can change it back to the 'Blue' skin by going to the bottom left hand side of the page and change the setting to 'IP.Board'. Feel free to give your opinion and whether or not a skin for each Holiday is a good idea. To other news, I STILL haven't figured out who will get the T-shirt. I REALLY like everyones' work. Each one is good in it's own way and I can't figure out how to pick which one is best. It's like trying to pick which one of your children you love more (we ALL know it's the boy - but it's not 'socially acceptable' to admit it) - you love them equally for individual reasons. SO, I'm going to figure out a way to randomly pick the winner. I know it's a cowardly way to resolve my dilemma, but I can't bring myself to, basically, say that ANYONES' work is not as good as another's - ESPECIALLY when I like them all so much! I'll make certain that the next contest has a more SPECIFIC goal in order to make it clear who wins. This brings us to: I'm also going to see how many shirts I can afford to get so it will be easier for me to get them to whoever wins one (right now, I need to figure out delivery cost, send a money order and wait for it to get deposited before it's sent - if I have a few on hand, I can just send them out) there is sizes Small to 2X Large available, so I need an idea of what sizes I should stock up on. I'm a 3X Large (at least) and unsure what would be considered an 'average' size for others. Let me know what you think!

Thanks! Not only for liking the skin, but for the quote - which allowed me to figure out another piece of code! Now, if I can only figure out the rest! Thanks, again!

ARGHHH! O.K., brain hurts! Snypiuers' two natural states of being are comatose and oblivious. NOW I have to start looking into ALL of this - yes, I HAVE to (just have to make room in my busy schedule of short naps, long naps and sleep, to actually do it)! I'm debating whether I should be thanking you or shaking my fist, in anger, in your general direction! Leaning towards 'thanks', just to let you know!

Thanks! Glad you like the skin. I BROKE DEGORRAMS' EYES!!! I mean. . . nooooo, I broke Degorrams' eyes! I'm thinking I should make a few that are just simple, different color schemes (less eye-breaky). If I set the Halloween Skin as the default skin for the holiday, you can still change back to the IP.Board skin. Any ideas for skins will be appreciated! Thanks, again! Oh yeah, I STILL don't like 'The Last Exorcism'!

Now THAT is a very interesting observation. Personally, I have absolutely no knowledge on the subject and its been a VERY long time since I have read about the Tower of Babel. BUT, I think I'll have to give it a look-see. Can't wait too see what anyone else has to say about this. You've sparked my curiosity, THANKS!!!

Sorry it's been so long since last update. I've finished (as much as I can) the Halloween skin. There are a few sections I was unable to figure out - so if anyone knows how to fix anything they find wrong, let me know. Also, let me know what you think. It's available to everyone, just go to the bottom of the page and, on the left hand side, change 'IP. Board' to 'HALLOWEEN PEN'. It's my very first skin, so be as BRUTAL as possible with your views (I may cry uncontrollably for a while, but that's the ONLY way I'll learn!) Thinking of making it the default skin from Oct. 27 - Nov. 1. I want to make one for each major holiday (this is NOT going to be right away) and maybe a few alternative all purpose skins. Let me know what you guys think. Now, when it comes to giving away a T-shirt, I asked on Sept. 30 for about 3 more DIFFERENT people to post something new within the next 2 weeks or so. . . I got 1: Two poems by Xaious, Master of Time - 'Rencontre or Inevitability' http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=17002 I like them, they're for a creative writing class, so read them and give your opinion to help Xaious out. Hjolnai has added to 'Shades of Grey' http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16968 and my ONLY complaint is that I want MORE! By all rights, I should NOT give a shirt away. BUT, I really want to do something for those who DO post. So, I'm going to count Peredhil's post of a link to 'A Steel Bookshelf' http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=17003 as someone DIFFERENT, since it's to a site by someone else. AND, the posts in the ChatBox. THANK Peredhil and the CBox people! I'll wait while you do so. . . feel better now, don't you?! So, NOW I have have to figure out WHO gets it! (Starting to think I shouldn't be such a push over ) Give me about a week or so. If anyone does NOT want to be considered, let me know. Maybe an impassioned speech as to why YOU deserve one. . . WAIT! Let me know who, OTHER THEN YOU, you think deserves one and why! ANYONE want to help me out with deciding, PLEASE! It WILL be APPRECIATED!!!

THANKS!!! Actually, been working on my Halloween Skin by changing html code and seeing what happens by clicking through the site. This was to change the poll screen, can't figure out how to change the Title of the poll still. Other then that, about finished. . . I THINK! Still can't find a LOT of sections for some code or code for some sections. I have no idea what I'm doing, so I made it available for anyone who wants, to see what I've got so far, can go to the bottom of the page and change the view from 'IP.Board' to 'HALLOWEEN PEN'. ANY suggestions will be APPRECIATED! THANKS!!!

TEST POST

I considered that it was just a link to work by someone else. I included it because it created a response (participation). That's the entire reason behind this - getting people to participate more. I'm looking for ANY post that gets people writing! Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Sorry I haven't updated in a while, I'm TRYING (and I do stress 'TRYING') to teach myself how to do skins and have been kinda' ignoring everything else. ANYWAYS. . . Hjolnai continues to expand his tale of institutionalized intrigue in 'Shades of Grey': http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16968 While Degorram gave us three really good works with: 'You Words': http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16998 'Path to Heaven': http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16999 and 'Witch': http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=17000 I'll wait while you go take a look. . . I KNOW!!! You are welcome! There has been SOME increase in posting since I announced I might give away a T-shirt. So, IF in the next 2 weeks (give or take a couple days) about 3 DIFFERENT members post something new, I WILL pick someone and send them a T-shirt. At this point in time, these are the members who have posted (in no particular order): Hjolnai 'Shades of Grey': http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16968 Aardvark 'Rejuvenation': http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16976 Peredhil 'Living the Defeated Life': http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16975 'writerisms-and-other-sins-a-writers-shortcut-to-stronger-writing': http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16980 Quincunx 'Appellation': http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16971 Corwin 'Is it Shiny? Does it Jangle?': http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16954 Degorram 'Witch': http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=17000 'Path to Heaven': http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16999 'You Words': http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16998 Jomeansme 'Dreams': http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16994 'Freaking Out': http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16981 'Musings on a Friendship': http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16790 'Tomorrow': http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16978 Kikuyu Black Paws 'Rain': http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16970 'Two Poems ('Strings' and 'Saturnian Giraffe')': http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16969 I THINK I got them all, let me know if I missed anyone! Still, that's only a couple a week. 3 more in the next 2 weeks or so isn't too much to ask for. Also, I'm thinking if I can ACTUALLY teach myself how to do skins, I'll pick someone and make one based on their character and favorite colors and we'll use that as the default skin for a set period of time - it'll be a while though! So, get to posting!

A lot of birthdays this time of year (Giles must have carpel tunnel by now! THANKS for caring Giles!) - let's see. . . 9 months ago. . . HAPPY NEW YEARS!!! Seeing more people checking in. I've seen Merelas, Phoenix and Appy (Appy Appy Joy Joy!) and look forward to whatever they may post! Jomeansme has given us FOUR really good pieces: Tomorrow http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16978 Musings on a Friendship http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16790 Freaking Out http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16981 Dreams http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16994 Check them out, you will NOT be disappointed! Peredhil has made available some good advice with: writerisms-and-other-sins-a-writers-shortcut-to-stronger-writing http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16980 and COMPLETELY creeped me out by giving me an Eliza Doolittle moment where she finds out Henry Higgins is writing down everything she says ("I ain't done nothing' wrong by speaking to the gentleman. I've a right to sell flowers if I keep off the curb. I'm a respectable girl: so help me, I never spoke to him 'cept so far as to buy a flower off me.") with 'Living the Defeated Life' http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16975 - I will neither confirm nor deny spending several hours curled up in a ball, naked in a corner of a darkened room muttering, "I'm a good girl, I am!" over and over after reading this! Aardvark smiles as the greatest gift of your life takes everything from you in 'Rejuvenation' http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16976 Reminds me of the SNL skit with the airline stewardess, "Thank You, Buh-Bye!" If you can see the Critic's Corner Forum, I recommend reading "Kind Heart's Story" by Sparhawk. Quincunx unpacks some moving boxes and finds herself as she continues relating her transitional adventure in 'Appellation' http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16971 While Hjolnai keeps us wondering if 'Shades of Grey' http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16968 is a love story or a story of back stabbing and social maneuvering. Freya and WrenWind made an appearance by the Hug Bin™ - HUGS FOR EVERYONE!!! Pretty sure I've covered everything! Finally, I like what I've been reading, a free Mighty Pen T-shirt just might be on the way to a lucky Pennite! A bit more participation from a few more members and it will be worth it. There's been more postings, but not enough to induce me into giving away a shirt - YET! 'Till next time!

I was going to post this over the weekend, but my cinema misadventure left me too upset to. First, NASA has a two-part contest to: A. Pick the wake up song for the last 2 shuttle missions by voting on a list of songs. and B. Pick 2 original songs. The second part may be of interest to the musically inclined Pennites. There is still plenty of time to send in a submission - wouldn't it be great to have the work of one of our members played in space!? Here's the website: https://songcontest.nasa.gov/home.aspx Now, there has been some new, interesting posts: Hjolnai has written (in my opinion) a VERY promising beginning to what looks to be a tale of intrigue, read "Shades of Grey": http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16968 and tell me what you think! The Pen Keep's Resident Ninja (that would be Kikuyu Black Paws for the 'uncool' among you) has given us three new poems, "Strings" and "Saturnian Giraffe" here: http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16969 and "Rain": http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16970 - they say "A picture paints a thousand words", what do they say about words that create a picture? What can I say about Quincunx? Frankly, the fact that I BELIEVE I understand and can follow her writing, kind of scares me. Her work has always been on a different level. When I compare what I write to her work, I always feel like I'm in a dirt lot, on one side of a fence that I can NOT climb over or get around and there is a carnival on the other side and I can hear the excitement, smell the hot dogs, popcorn and cotton candy and see glimpses of it through tiny knot holes and cracks in and between the planks of the fence. "Appellation" is just another helium filled balloon floating above that fence. Buy a ticket and take a ride here: http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16971 Oh yeah! Regel has been spotted making the rounds! Why not put on your P.I. or Ninja outfit and see what topics have caught his attention! Finally, as mentioned in the last News post, I have contacted Smeagol and he still has a few Mighty Pen T-shirts from long ago, PM me for info AND. . . (notice how big that 'and' is?!) since I was going to buy one for myself, but he doesn't have one my size (Snypiuer is NOT a tiny person - I START at 3X and hope they don't shrink!), IF (once again, notice size) there is an upturn in posts over the next month or so, I was planning on picking my favorite post and sending the author the T-Shirt I would have bought for myself. SO, if traffic picks up and a greater number of members start to post, I'll give away a Mighty Pen T-Shirt to the author of the best post. Hopefully, there will be so many post, I'll HAVE to ask for help picking one! If it REALLY picks up, MAYBE there will be more give aways - it would have to be worth it though! If only a few people post, I'm just going to buy a shirt for my niece.

I KNOW! Anyone can love a woman who: A. Does NOT take their 6 year old child to see "The Exorcist" (especially in a day and age when there wasn't such a saturation of violence and horror so readily available in the main stream, public domain - T.V., movies, games, etc.) or B. When their 6 year old child is scared and frightened, late at night, and looking for comfort and reassurance, takes that child in their arms and says, "It's just a movie, it's not real. Everything is O.K." THAT woman can be loved by ANYONE. BUT, a woman who: A. Not only takes her 6 year old child to see "The Exorcist", but THEN decides it's a GOOD idea to ADD to his fear by VALIDATING it to the point that that child doesn't scream or run in terror, but simply ACCEPTS it with the silent thought, "O.K., that explains a lot." or B. Makes it a POINT to wake up at 1 A.M. or 2 A.M. just to go outside and tap on her children's' window in order to scare the living BEJEEZUS out of them. THAT woman you HAVE to love!!! I LOVE MY MOM!!! Oh yeah, "The Last Exorcism" STILL has me upset!

I was going to place this in Movie Reviews, but the 'movie' I saw does NOT deserve that level of remarks. I believe I can now claim, with NO reservation, that I FULLY understand why Carly Simon has never revealed who the song "You're So Vain" is about - to do so would give a level of recognition to the individual that he does NOT deserve. I WISH that I could talk about this WASTE of my useless time (yes, USELESS time) WITHOUT naming it. I COULD have spent the time I wasted watching this 'movie' doing ANYTHING else and it would have been a BETTER use of my time. For example, I could have spent the time seeing how many Habanero chili peppers I could pack into my sinus cavities while inflicting massive amounts of physical trauma to my cranium with an air hammer and dull, rusty spikes and THAT would have been a BETTER use of my time by UNQUANTIFIABLE orders of magnitude. The 'so-called' movie of which I speak? "The Last Exorcism". What REALLY upsets me about this movie is that it has so much potential to be good. There were SO many times throughout the movie that I thought, "Right here, this is where it's going to come together." Right up to the sad, disappointing end - and it NEVER delivered. It was like going out to your back yard thinking, "If an Apache Helicopter (something POSSIBLE, but rarely seen) shows up in my back yard, THAT would be AWESOME!" only to find the neighbors cat ONCE AGAIN dropping a deuce on your porch. The movie is supposed to look like a documentary and tried so hard to be 'realistic', that it ended up throwing away EVERY opportunity it had to ACTUALLY be an EXCELLENT horror movie. Maybe I'm jaded. Maybe the fact that I grew up watching horror movies has numbed me to what is supposed to be scary. Maybe the fact that the first horror movie I saw was "The Exorcist" at 6 years old and my mother (who TOOK me to see it and whom I repeatedly tell myself I love with ALL my heart) sat up with me that night, because I couldn't sleep, and as we watched the test pattern on the T.V. (for distraction - and yes, there actually was a time when T.V. programming STOPPED for the night!) I asked her, "Mom, can that REALLY happen?", she slowly turned to me, eyes wide, evil look on her face, and said in a low, guttural voice, "Yessss." (I love my Mom. I LOVE my Mom!) - MAYBE, that has caused me to expect MORE! NO! The simple fact is this movie just wasn't ANY good. WORSE? I stayed to watch it because it was constantly on the VERGE of being GREAT! AARRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here we go, been out of town for a while now (still am, trying to log on more though). I see Corwin has added to "Is it Shiny? Does it Jangle?" http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=16954 and I'd like to say two things: 1. Thank You! and 2. READ IT PEOPLE! Also, according to his post in Literature News http://www.patrickdurham.net/themightypen/index.php?showtopic=14684 GeldrinHor has writers' block Now, I'm not one to say, "ANYONE who has the ability to find GeldrinHor, should do so and poke him with a stick 'till he's no longer blocked." BUT, if you LOVE him. . . . . . . . . Finally, I've been able to contact Smeagol, who still has about 40 Pen T-shirts and is willing to sell them at $13.00+shipping each. Anyone interested, PM me and I'll send you the contact info and images. That's it for now, will ATTEMPT to update things more often!