LJ Idol Presents:

 The results are in from the Write Off, which means we now have our TOP 5!! 

Congratulations to 

chasing_silver 
flipflop_diva 
inkstainedfingertips 
littlebitofearth 
xeena 


Just a short sprint from here to the finish line. Who has what it takes to make it there? 

***
I did see the question asking if we had this topic before. No, but there was a term that is closely related to it, Kintsugi, which was used in the 3 Strikes mini season. 

There are differences between the two, but I can see why someone might think "this sounds familiar"... (I have a master list of topics that I crosscheck to avoid the same one coming up, unless I specifically do it deliberately.) 


Reminder:  The deadline is tomorrow!!  therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1176122.html

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Sorry that I'm not posting more.  Honestly it's part "seasonal depression" and part reflecting on where I was last year around this time, mental health wise. I hope YOU are doing well.  I'm thankful for everyone who has taken the time to participate in this little thing we call LJ Idol. 

 The results are in from the Sudden Death Write Off - therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1172144.html

and so far the new prompt is empty, with a few more days to go. therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1171200.html I'm sure people are paying attention to "some other vote" right now. Apparently it's "important for the future of the country".  Not sure which country people are talking about! There is only ONE country that matters, and that's 'Mercia, which extends to the end of my driveway. If you aren't a citizen of 'Merica then you are just damn dirty foreigners who need to be kicked!!! 

(It's still "funny" how my parody has become not far off from actual political discourse over the years. But I digress)

How are YOU doing right now? 

***

We are now at our Top 10.  (just realized that I didn't remove the two drops, and had to delete an entire couple paragraphs and start over again! :D) 

Was it the group you *thought* was going to be here at the beginning of this? 

Immunity has expired, which means literally any person could be going next depending on how things shake out over the next couple weeks.

Unless I'm mistaken, there is 1 Idol newbie vs 9 vets, 5 of them who I know without even looking have been in the Top 10 before. (1 I'm not entirely certain, but I know she's been knocking on that door), 1 of them a previous two-time winner. You'd think "Oh, so those are the people you *don't* want near the Top 5.  But then you also have those 3 (maybe 4) who we've haven't seen that "next level" of what they will do as they get close to winning it all! They could be gearing up to just blow everyone out of the water by kicking it up another 3 notches!!!!  From a "Gary looks at things from a Survivor strategy POV" it's pretty much all "threats" going into this Top 10, and there hasn't been "anywhere to hide" for quite some time!!!  I'm looking forward to seeing how all of this is going to play out.  (Unlike tomorrow, where I'm not looking forward to it) 

 The vast majority of contestants haven't posted yet, which means I'll have a busy night tomorrow! (Note: That's the deadline to get in your entries, in case you've forgotten, tomorrow!) therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1157031.html

If you haven't forgotten, but just like to wait until last minute, it's probably around the time that you should be looking at the prompt and writing an entry.  :) 

***

My lawyers have advised me to NOT imply that Idol has been endorsed by Taylor Swift. So I will not. Not that anyone thought she had, but maybe in the back of your mind you were wondering "Did Taylor Swift endorse this mini season of LJ Idol"? And the answer to that is, I can not speak to that at this time.  

***

In reading through previous Green Rooms it's interesting to see what a community hub we were in terms of topics that came up. It wasn't always just about the nature of writing, but news in general. I think a big part of the shift wasn't just the change in how social media is used/misused and how tense a lot of these conversations became but that there was a shift in who came into these spaces to talk. There simply wasn't as much of an interest in in-depth conversations anymore (not that they ever got TOO deep anyway. I always try to keep it lighthearted. There are never too many conversations about why René Descartes should have an Acme anvil dropped on his head. But maybe there *should* be....  ;) 

Every season, be it a full season, mini, exhibit, special event, etc has it's own vibe. It should be it's own thing that develops over the course of the time we have together. Having so many back to back though I think created a singular style. Not that it's always a bad thing. But it's definitely a "thing"...   much like the shifts in what people want out of Idol. (from the "we're just here to have some fun to those using it to further their writing career/gain skills and everything in between. I know of a couple who started out in the first camp who *have* ended up using it professionally! Which is great. 

I think the fact that at my old jobs, I was always able to get online and post/engage whereas with this one I can't do that. (they actually monitor) is also a factor. I'm hoping that people are too busy talking to each other to care about whatever I'm saying... 

***
What are YOU hoping to get out of this mini season, when it's all said and done? 

 I typed out some lengthy responses to questions I've been asked recently and then accidentally closed the tab while trying to find a different tab. So I lost it.  Let's see how much I can remember.  :)

Thees were questions I've been asked recently, except the first one. But let's pretend someone asked me when the entries are due and where to post them: 

 therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1151017.html is where, and Thursday 7pm ET is the deadline. 

- Can I move all of the byes to their own section/their own poll/remove them?  Moving lines in the poll every week runs the risk of issues with the template. Even back when we have massive tribes and tribe swaps notice that I kept them together for several weeks at a time before shifting again. Because every move is a manual task. 

- Speaking of - why are you not getting voting notifications? I'm pretty sure I answered this at one point but it's because I used to pay for two accounts. Now I'm only paying for one. I would work out all the bugs over in my personal account and then post in Idol. Since we last met, DW has made an option that allows you to post to "admin only" so that I can post there and then switch it over to public once everything looks good. Basically there are three potential options (and no, not polling people. Just saying my options outloud so you are aware):  (1) purchase a second account and go back to how I was doing it.  (2) once I've worked out the bugs, delete it and repost it as a public post.  (probably the most likely to happen) or (3) people know to come back an hour or so after the deadline to check if the poll has been posted yet.  ;) 

- What would happen if there was another tie in a Write Off? There are two main precedents for what happens: (1) Write Offs all the way down. We just keep going until a decision is made.  (2) The "black mark". The tied contestants have a mark against them. If they EVER end up in another tie, they are the ones automatically eliminated... unless of course it's just against each other and then write off all the way down.  ;)  The way things are going, it's likely you are going to learn what is in play this mini season.  :)

- If you sacrifice during a poll can you transfer your unused byes? No.  Byes are not fire tokens (Survivor reference) they can be not transferred this mini season. (there were a couple times when it was part of the theme where you could do that.) 

- What is the difference between a drop and a sacrifice? A drop happens BEFORE the poll is posted. You just drop out of the competition. A sacrifice happens *after* the poll is open and you let me know you want to take one of the elimination spots. You are saving someone else from elimination, whereas a drop does not impact the number of people going home. 

- Can you literally just write the words "this is my entry" and then sacrifice that week? Yes. People have done that before. It only happened once, but I did see someone *survive* a week like that, because people were trying to convince them to stay in...so it's a gamble. 

- Can you take a bye during a Write Off? Yes. There is precedent for that happening. It's definitely a strategic move and doesn't tend to be all that popular, but it's allowable. 

- Executive byes MAY be coming into play this week. Hopefully not, but maybe. I have offered someone up to two of them. This is for above and beyond situations where there is no ability to write due to real life. Not "I just can't motivate myself" but rather an "Act of God".  Previous distinction: "Broken arm" earned one whereas "sprained leg" did not. (one impacted the ability to write and the other didn't... devastating fire - executive bye, devastating breakup - does not  Its something I keep in reserve and use *very* sparingly over the years based on the precedent of the first season where I handed out the first bye (before they were a thing) to tinhuviel due to a sudden death in her immediate family) 

- I think there were a couple more answers in the original but I can't recall the questions. if your recent question (or one you think of) isn't up there, let me know and I'll answer in the comments!!!





- 

 I'm writing this the night before since I don't know how much time I will have in the morning. 

I want to get off to a good start to my first day at work.  So who knows how many other major world figures will have stepped down from reelection by the time I start seeing responses.  ;) 

Sundays were supposed to be slow news days!!!!  :D

***

Speaking of older people debating what to do with their lives - I just finished Thelma.   www.youtube.com/watch

Definitely worth checking out - and not just because pretty much anything Parker Posey is in is going to be good, although seriously, does she take bad roles??? She does *a lot* so there has gone to some that come to mind. But nothing off the top of my head. 

***

I'm getting the "go to bed!!!" stare. So I'm going to bed.  I'll just go ahead and post this now though, so I don;t have to bother with in the morning. Two Green Rooms on one day - you're welcome!  :) 

Make sure to get your entries in!!! therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1146151.html

It's looking like you plan on making me do the bulk of the work last minute again! Probably because you enjoy tormenting me as much as I enjoy tormenting you! 

 I was asked in a previous thread if there were going to be any special twists or rules for this mini season. Which is a fair question, since pretty much all of the mini seasons have had some sort of twist or special rule in the past. 

This is more of a "back to basics"/getting my feet wet again experience. I'm sure it's going to involve trial and error from everyone because it's been longer than normal between seasons.  Honestly, I'm not even sure how much of the same person I am right now. Figuring out how that is going to impact the experience, maybe that's the twist.  :) 

Then again, hopefully everyone has had some changes in their lives (for the better) since we were last gathered. I know not everyone can say their changes were for the better unfortunately. But hopefully those  (somehow) ultimately lead to better changes down the road. 

***
Sign ups are still slow, but they are starting to pick up a little. So please keep spreading the word!  I know that there are people who only found out this was happening because their other friends were posting about it. therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1138078.html

Thanks to those who have donated and those who have joined the Patreon.  I'll be posting more "Pretentious Drivel" soon  www.patreon.com/user

I'm not sure if it amuses me more or causes me more angst actually putting my old writing out there in the world. Probably a little of both. But it has started serving it's purpose of making me think more about writing. (to be determined if that is "I should do more of it" or "What the hell was I thinking actually writing this grap?"  ;) 




If the plasma center was closer I would have already been there... has anyone done that? What was the experience like? 

 It was just announced yesterday that the Amazing Race will finally be coming back! The season has been completed (after they had already done several legs pre-COVID shutdown) and is currently being edited. 

So things internationally are at a place where an Amazing Race can be filmed! That's definitely a big step forward!

***

How are things for you on this Veterans Day? 

***

Remember that the deadline to post your entries is next Monday... so keep writing, and definitely keep reading those that are already posted!  therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1105950.html

Make sure to get your entries in for the first prompt!  https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1103032.html

***
Today has already been a rough day at work. It's one of those times when you just ram your head into a brick wall over and over again... which is why I'm taking a break to come over to Idol.. oh man, it MUST be really bad. ;)

How is your Friday-Eve going? 

When I came up with our logo for the season, of Shakespeare's famous knock out of Hunter S Thompson - I didn't know that we would be fast approaching the finale so close to Shakespeare's birthday!

Happy Birthday Shakespeare!

Hopefully he will be getting a few more nice presents today https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1061894.html (because today is the deadline!)


***

How is your Game of Thrones Death Poll going?

Hopefully better than your Great British Bakeoff Death Poll.

Today is the deadline: https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1054366.html

Which means that everyone will be posting today. I'd say "a rush of entries", but there aren't enough people left to make much of a rush of anything!

But if you ARE one of the people still left in the competition - hopefully you are busy putting the finishing touches on your entry!

(and make sure you have noted the time they are due!)

***

It's almost the weekend already. I need to work more on a freelance article that is due soon. I just keep hitting my head against the wall on it, coming up with new angles to see what is going to work. Right now it just looks like five different pieces. :)

Hopefully I can manage to fix it so it's a little more coherent.

***

What have you been working on - in writing or in life, lately?