LJ Idol Presents:

With two people leaving us, and one entering - we have reached our Top 10!

(it's only taken a few weeks of floating just above it to get here)

But that also means that two contestants who have been on this amazing journey with us are leaving.

The good news is that they will be joining the Jury, where they will have a say in who receives immunity each week. Hopefully they will also play the Home Game for these last couple of weeks before everyone else says goodbye as well.

Before I get to "who is leaving us", I need to handle the "Who isn't".

Because the Jury once again made the difficult decision of "Who do we want to save?"

This week that person was watching_ships! Congratulations.

This did not impact the poll results, for one of the first times in a few weeks.

Which means that the two leaving us are, without a doubt, fan favorites. (then again, I think everyone left in the competition at this point more than qualifies for that title)

Leaving us this week are:

fodschwazzle
and
halfshellvenus


Thank you to both of you for giving all of those of us who read the entries such enjoyable treats week after week! I hope that will continue in the Home Game!

Today was a "Fair Day" for kids in the county school system, so they have the day off. So I took it off it as well, to "do something with the family".

That was the plan at least - only to find out that the "fun things" planned for the day was going to get their nails done, checking out a dance studio and homework. I was just going to hang out anyway... but was told "Go to work".

So here I am! :)

***

What did YOU have planned for this week and what ended up happening instead?

***

Btw - we crowned our newest Spirit of LJ Idol last night: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/835183.html

She received a special icon, and a choice of the following powers:


- Bring someone back into the game (as of Week 37 - and yes, you can pick someone eliminated in Week 36 as well)

- Immunity for yourself, from now until the Top 5. (you can use it to save yourself once between now and the Top 5.)

- Topsy Turvy - turn the poll upside down - the person with the most votes in that week goes home

- 1 bye for yourself (or a friend) to use between now and the Top 5

- The Save. Not an immunity, but an actual save. Someone is going home - you save them. No one goes in their place

What did she choose?

She is bringing someone back into the game (starting Week 37): So welcome back lrig_rorrim!

I'm sure that's not something she was expecting to be doing next week!

***

There is also a poll going on: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/835024.html There will be a couple people who will not be around to welcome her back into the fold. Who will those be? That's up to the voters to decide!

There may not be many contestants left - but there is plenty of shame to go around!

Who still needs to get their entries in?

Here's a list

crisp_sobriety
gratefuladdict
halfshellvenus
jexia
suesniffsglue
talonkarrde88
watching_ships

Go forth and shame your favorites to make sure they get their entries in on time! ;) http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/832879.html

Yesterday afternoon, the internet exploded with delight over OMG HARPER LEE IS RELEASING A NEW BOOK!!!

Last night, the internet reacted with horror over "OMG, Harper Lee actually didn't want this published and her sister was helping her do that, but now that her sister is as dead as that Nationwide kid, Harper Lee is being taken advantage of now that she is unable to make these decisions for herself!"

It was weird, since all of that information was in most of the early postings as well.

It was kind of like the internet, collectively, saw a headline and posted their reactions and only got around to reading the article a few hours later! :)

***

So what about YOU? Excited? Upset?

If she *really* didn't want it published, why does it still exist? Is it one of those things that would have normally been "found" and published once she was gone? If she honestly doesn't want it to the see the light of the day (or didn't when she was in a better state of mind) - does *that* make a difference to you?

How much control do you really have over what you create? How long does that control last? How long *should* it last?

Some people argue that it doesn't matter if they write fanfic for a world where the author has expressed a dislike for it. Others won't touch it if the author/creator doesn't approve.

Some people have bootleg Calvin and Hobbes merchandise even though Bill Watterson specifically said he didn't want any made.

Which are all wildly different things - but part of the overall question.

Follow-up: If you put aside a manuscript that you didn't like, but didn't want to get rid of - would you care if someone found it and published it after you died? (Obviously not "would you care after you were dead, but rather a "If you knew that was going to happen NOW - would you care? Would you destroy it so it couldn't happen? Or tie blinking lights around it with a sign saying READ ME!!!)

***

Speaking of "Read Me" - the Quick Fire Judges are busy reading. So if you have a free moment, you should check these out as well: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/833059.html

People are also voting on "The Spirit of LJ Idol, Season 9" award: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/832594.html

Both of these ballots have had a few chuckles for me - showing just how different tastes are - with ballots that almost could have been turned upside down coming in back to back! :) People look for different things, and they have different tastes, and that's what makes life so much fun/frustrating at times! :P

***

People are also waiting to read your entries for the main Topic: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/832879.html

If you still need a little help, stop by the Work Room: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/833401.html

Immunity is getting more and more important every week.

So a chance to get it - that may just be worth taking! :)

The last couple of weeks have been Open Topic.

So, let's continue on lulling you into a false sense of security and do that one more time!

You have until Tuesday, Feb 3rd at 10pm EST to link your entries back to this thread!

Have fun!

The topic this week is actually pretty straight-forward, especially considering some of the other ones from the season - and coming up! ;)

It's

Tiles

Let's see how your brains adjust to that!

The deadline to link your entry back to this thread is Thursday, Feb 5th at 8pm EST

Have fun!

I was going to haul out a story from the Top 7 of Season 3 that I suddenly remembered. But when I looked it up, to make sure that I had the details right, I realized that I had one important one wrong - It happened in Season 4!

I'm sensing a theme!;)

There was a well-liked contestant, who liked to let people know the poll was going on, and of course, to let people know that she was in said poll.

There were some disagreements about the ethics of pimping. Even back then, it was an old argument.

So, since she was going to asking people to come out and vote, she decided that she might as well do some social good at the same time - she would make a donation to a social cause for every round she survived. (There's more to it, but that's the basics)

The internet exploded.

Some people thought it was horrifying that someone would offer something for votes. Other people thought it was a good use of the platform she was on, to promote giving to charity.

The furor had a pretty huge impact on her, as a contestant, and more importantly, as a human being.

Because that's the one thing that everyone has in common - we are all just people. People who have been at this for a very long time, and who are coming off a stressful and intense week.

Some people are going to react to those circumstances in ways that they might not normally. Some will be more heated. Some will come up with ideas to promote themselves that might go right up to that line, and poke a toe or two over.... stress does funny things to a person.

The people who manage to hold it all together have a better chance of actually making it to the end in one piece.

There isn't a single person who doesn't deserve their spot, and who didn't more than prove themselves during the course of the season, and especially last week.

Looking at the contestant only votes that are coming in, I'm actually impressed by the diversity in most of them. Even at this late stage, you see contestants supporting each other. Which is important.

Ultimately, only one person can win this thing. Which means there are going to be 6 unhappy folks in a couple of weeks.

After all, everyone (even the ones who say that they don't) wouldn't be still in this thing if they didn't *want* to win, if it wouldn't actually *mean something* to them. Everyone has something to prove, that means that, deep down, they would like to get a little further than the next person... which doesn't mean that they don't like you. It just means they also like the idea of winning. Just as much as YOU like it!

Try to remember that.

So eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow I destroy some hopes and dreams: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/595911.html ! Maybe yours!!!

I had to turn down Romney's offer this morning. I know that it was disappointing for him. But I'm sure the lesser of evils will have to do. Granted, I've never gone after Medicaid or Social Security. Just what little is left of your sanity! So, maybe it's just a different variation.

I know he was thinking that I could add a lot to the ticket. I agree, I could have.

I just wasn't willing to accept anything less than "God-Emperor" as a title. Maybe just "Ra" to make it sound foreign, but people would know what we meant by it!

Other than playing stump speech bingo - what are you folks up to this weekend?


I imagine that it involves, http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/595911.html, the place to be! So make sure to get out there - read, comment and vote!!

Before I get into it – remember to vote in the poll! There’s a lot at stake! So read, comment and vote for your favorite entries! http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/595911.html

***

The discussion yesterday led me down an entire new rabbit hole of how we manage communication and privacy in an electronic age, and how that impacts how we deal with things.

It started with me wondering about the Readercon situation – and how the outcry for the committee to be more forthcoming with what was going on with their decision about banning that guy for harassment. (and ultimately, the changing of their decision to a permanent ban instead of for two years). What did mean that the victim released his name? Especially when it was a board of a book convention who had taken her complaint.
It’s not like that was some sort of legally binding act. It might not even be completely enforceable – it *definitely* wouldn’t be without the con taking actual legal action.
What did it mean that the Con as itself (and several individuals from the committee) came out and made statements using the name of the guy that they banned?
Now when you google him – those things show up. Not based on a court case or being put on an official list somewhere – but because of internet activism.

In some ways, it’s a really good thing. In others – it got me questioning where we are going.

There was the Dietrich case http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2177048/Savannah-Dietrich-Teen-faces-jail-lashing-Twitter-naming-boys-sexually-assaulted-her.html where the outrage kicked in after the defensive attorneys filed a motion to hold her in contempt for violating a judge’s gag order. Most people see her case and went “OMG!” and rushed immediately to her defense and thinking that was insane. The defense eventually dropped the motion after the outcry.

BUT – should they? After all, she was quite blatantly saying that she didn’t care about the gag order.

If it’s “privilege” to restrict her from speaking – call it “judicial privilege”.

Now, granted, I happen to think the “boys” (or “monsters”, which is far closer, although an insult to monsters) should have been tried as adults. You want to do an “adult” crime, you should be prepared to be treated like one. Which would have taken the need for a gag order away… but since they weren’t, and the order was in place – not to mention that she said that she was more than willing to take the penalty… maybe she should have been forced to take that penalty. After all, she definitely did it, and she was proud that she did it!
I’m sure she would have received more than enough donations to cover the cost of the fine, and probably would have ended up with a first time offender program rather than the jail time…

Just because she was upset by the verdict (as a lot of people were) doesn’t mean she can act out…

OR, does it?

“But Gregg Leslie, interim executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said Dietrich should 'not be legally barred from talking about what happened to her. That's a wide-ranging restraint on speech.'
Ms Leslie said this sort of issue is becoming more common.
'In the past, people would complain to anyone who would listen, but they didn't have a way to publish their comments where there would be a permanent record, like on Facebook and Twitter, for people to see worldwide,' he said. “
That’s a question that seems to be coming up more and more lately, as the legal structure tries to frantically catch up with the technological one.

Are facebook “likes” protected speech? http://www.webpronews.com/facebook-likes-are-definitely-free-speech-says-facebook-2012-08

http://jezebel.com/5926326/justice-for-sexual-assault-maybe-but-thank-twitter-not-the-authorities - police weren’t even aware of the photos being distributed. But it’s clear that Twitter had a huge role in catching these monsters in India.

There are so many things going on with this particular case, some pretty deep and messed up things… including the low rate of convictions and of course, the “reporter” sitting there *filming* a sexual assault for a half hour!! But also included in that list of messed up things – is that instead of taking it to the police, it was taken to Twitter first!

Now again, there are cultural stuff going on, and the idea that the police wouldn’t actually do anything is certainly a real concern. But I can easily see this situation becoming more and more prevalent – where the internet mob is receiving the information directly to rant about, and wonder why no one in authority has addressed it, when the “authority in question” hasn’t even seen the evidence!

(Apparently, in the Readercon situation, there was an email sent, that the committee members never received, and didn’t know about until people started talking about how they never answered it!)

Taking the issue from the issue of “individuals” and what it means to due process – and moving to a more Romneyesque idea of “individuals”/business concerns. Which is where it becomes a little more complicated. Because most people wouldn’t have a problem with hitting the creeps and monsters of the world with every last bit of light that they can.
But when that intersects with everyday life?

http://www.continuitycentral.com/feature0994.html “As staff Tweet about their day, or post comments on Facebook about their boss’s latest antics, their right to freedom of expression and privacy comes into direct conflict with the company’s interests to protect its professional reputation.”

http://convergence.sprint.com/blog/post/2012/05/22/The-Gray-Line-%e2%80%93-Privacy-versus-Openness.aspx

“So what is acceptable in terms of privacy? In the healthcare industry, new doctors are counseled on the use of social media. Friending patients on Facebook is discouraged or prohibited; doctors are encouraged to manage their online profile to ensure photos and other content is not incongruent with their professional reputation; and there are restrictions on the type of information that can be shared online, even in private doctor/patient portals. Growing up in an environment of openness and sharing, some younger doctors feel these guidelines are too restrictive.
The line is a gray one. Society is reshaping the boundaries of what is acceptable, and enterprise IT is left to balance accessibility, privacy, and security, while enabling the free flow of information necessary for employees to collaborate and for companies to excel. “
***
Some of this had to do with Readercon, and where my brain led me. But it also had a lot to do with rereading some of my old posts from the early days of my own journal.
I mentioned *a lot* of stuff about my life. Which is what blogging is about, revealing yourself and your world.
The nature of LJ has always had a safe haven aspect to it because of the use of user name and the feeling that it wasn’t connected… with LJ linking up with facebook and twitter, “to keep up with the times”, that line was crossed.
But it got me thinking about where we are going on issues of privacy in a culture of openness, where people seem to be willing to say just about anything, about anyone. Where is that line of personal responsibility toward what you say and “put out there”? Does it vary?
What about other people’s information? In a culture of “innocent until proven guilty” and “a nation of laws” (two things you always hear about) is there a needed counter-balance to meet “victims rights” involved in social media? Should the laws be changed to reflect that, or should people just be willing to pay the penalties if they step over the line as social activism/vigilantism?(depending on your view of it)

I don’t know. I just think they are good questions to ask ourselves as an internet culture going forward.

A few words from clauderainsrm:

Once in a great while, you get to see something amazing. If you’re really lucky - maybe you’ll see it happen twice.

If you’re checking out LJ Idol - you’ll get to see it happen seven times!

Before we get to anything else, push your chair back from the computer, get on your feet and give a huge round of applause to our Top 7!

They are f-ing amazing.

No matter what happens this week, or between now and the finals... no matter what happens in life - when someone says “You can’t do that!” or tells you something is impossible, kick them in the balls and tell them “I survived Idol Hell Week. I CAN DO ANYTHING. BRING IT ON!”

(Even if they don’t have balls. Kick them there anyway! They’ll get the picture!)

OK. Now you can sit back down.

Unless you feel like applauding some more. We can wait. They certainly deserve it!

*waits a couple of hours for the furor to die down*

Now that it’s done... we have 20 more topics due by tomorrow... ;P

Hold on! Don’t start writing YET. Read the rest of this, because that was a total joke. I may have been called a “twisted sadist” iand “insanely cruel” n some circles, but I’m not that bad. Maybe. ;)

There has been A LOT of speculation on how the voting is going to go.

I’ll take the “Sweet Seventeen” off the table right now. As much as that system seemed cool the last time we had something like this - and it did - unfortunately, it also resulted in someone being knocked completely out in the first round. Which is something that I still haven’t forgiven myself of not seeing the possibility of that happening.

So instead, we are going with a THREE-TIERED SYSTEM.

We have Gatekeepers going over each entry. We have a community only poll voting on the overall picture, and we have a ranking system from the actual contestants themselves, as well as ANYONE WHO HAS WRITTEN A HOME GAME ENTRY THIS ROUND. (as of this posting)

I’ll be sending the Gatekeepers their instructions in the next few moments.

For those contestants, and Home Gamers - I want a list of your 30 favorite entries from this round. And contestants - this is the one time when you CAN NOT include yourself. Send it to me at clauderainsrm@gmail.com

We also have the Jury, who will be awarding one of these people the ever important immunity. I’ll be sending those instructions out in a few minutes as well.

Which is going to be vital, considering that each of these methods is going to eliminate someone. By the time the dust settles on this week, we will be at our TOP FOUR.

It’s a high stakes challenge, with high stakes results!

Which is why everyone has until Tuesday, August 14th at 8pm EDT to send me their results, and the poll will close that night at 9pm EDT

Good luck to everyone!

[Poll #1858831]