clauderainsrm: (Default)
[personal profile] clauderainsrm
 I knew that, no matter what the results ended up being, that it was going to hit hard. 

I wasn't expecting it to hit quite THAT hard though. 

That is the name of the game though, in the end, everyone is eliminated except one person. Which means that you lose a lot of talented writers during your journey. I guess though since this mini season was small compared to, well, everything... that means that we lose people sooner than I am emotionally prepared for... and probably sooner than a LOT of people are prepared to deal with. 

But, one foot in front of the other... 

Tonight we are saying goodbye to [personal profile] banana_galaxy and [personal profile] unmowngrass 

Both of you will be very much missed.Thank you for making it out to this mini season, I wish you had been able to stay longer!  I hope that we will continue to see you in the Home Game, and rooting for your personal favorites!


clauderainsrm: (Default)
[personal profile] clauderainsrm
There is poll happening right now:therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1155039.html

and another prompt that will be closing in a couple days  https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1154191.html

. Which means the two who survive the write off are going to have a small window if they hope to survive very much longer.

Honestly, there's hardly anyone with an entry in right now.  So maybe everyone is in danger!  :D 

Going back over some old seasons reminded me of ways I would give out incentives to people who submitted early. Which is funny, because there were still people who took pride at being the last ones to get their entries in!   :D

***

How has your week been going? Any plans for this weekend? 


clauderainsrm: (Default)
[personal profile] clauderainsrm
There were two contestants leaving us this week - 

Which is why (of course) there is a 4 way tie!!

That means banana_galaxy  gunwithoutmusic  strryeyedgrrl and unmowngrass  have until Wednesday August 14th at 8pm ET to write a new entry (Open Topic, so it can be anything they want) and link it to the thread below. 

That's an intimidating group to be in!!

Good luck to everyone!
clauderainsrm: (Default)
[personal profile] clauderainsrm
What was your favorite moment of the Olympics? 
Raygun's break dancing or Anthony Ammirati's pole vaulting?  

***
In preparing for couple potential of a huge Idol moments that could be occurring soon I found another one that had been missed. So I'll be posting about after this poll closes. But more importantly, it's what made me start thinking about the sheer amount of time we've been at this.  (Which in turn sparked the decision that there will be a 20th anniversary celebration... I had wanted to do an "All Stars" at 5 years, but decided against it after some very good points were raised. Then I wanted to do it at 10... and decided against it for similar reasons. 20 though? 20 is most likely the last chance we will have to do this. 25 seems impossible... 20 might be a stretch. But it's something to work toward. 

I WISH LJ was doable. Maybe it will be by then. But there are definitely people who will never go back over there... and people who refuse to come over here.  :)  *chuckles evilly* Everyone get ready to go to Insane journal!!!  ;)  (anyone remember that place? Not even sure it's still in existence.) 

***

It is strange looking back over the old Green Rooms (Work Rooms and Killing Floors... anyone remember those???) and the difference between then and now. I think a lot of the difference comes from how social media has devolved actual interactions.Which is what impacted long form social media posting in general - why have involved discussions online when you can exchange memes instead?  ;) 

***
None of these things actually touch on the deeper thoughts I had about figuring out who I am in my new job, how who I became in my old job impacted my life and how to become the person I need to be... and how all these things are reflected when I read through those Idol entries. But until I get to that sort of thing, here's a link to this week's poll. 
 therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1152560.html
clauderainsrm: (Default)
[personal profile] clauderainsrm
 The town of Cohasset California and the surrounding areas need your help.  *Looks around* Well, maybe not YOUR help... but they definitely need assistance. 

And no, I have not changed my name to Cohasset and incorporated myself into being a town. 

Here are a series of links for how you can give and make a difference in their efforts to rebuild. They say it takes a village... in this case, it takes a global community to rebuild a village.  linktr.ee/rebuildcohasset


*
**

You can help a different group of people going through an emotional kind of devastation over at THIS link therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1152560.html

*
**

What are YOU doing this weekend? What have been your favorite entries this week that might not be getting the attention you think they deserve? 
clauderainsrm: (Default)
[personal profile] clauderainsrm
A few words from [personal profile] clauderainsrm:
I’m starting to take this personally. Every season she shows up, does really well for a few weeks and gets me thinking “THIS is the season she will make a deep run…” and then a couple weeks later life catches up and she has to drop out. Now of course this makes me curious who has had the longest streak of never being voted out. (It might be 7)
Until we figure out who that is though, I’m going to pretend that it’s [personal profile] nicholewithanh . You will definitely be missed. I hope that you will be able to home game.

As for the rest of you, there are no bye-outs. So good job on that!

Which means that everyone is fighting to stay in this. Which should make this week interesting!

Read, comment and vote for your favorites. Then spread the word so others will know what’s going on here and how special and rare it is to find something like this online. Not just “these days”, but it’s ALWAYS been special and rare to have something like this. We owe it to people to let them know where to find the good stuff! :)

We are going to be losing the two contestants with the fewest votes.

The poll closes Monday August 12th at 9pm ET.

Good luck to everyone!

 


Poll #31714 ’LJIdolMini-Week5’
This poll is closed.
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: Just the Poll Creator, participants: 60

Vote For Your Favorites!

adoptedwriter's entry
18 (30.0%)

aggienaut's entry
14 (23.3%)

alycewilson's BYE WEEK - Votes do not count
5 (8.3%)

autumn_wind's entry
17 (28.3%)

banana_galaxy's entry
12 (20.0%)

bleodswean's entry
28 (46.7%)

chasing_silver's entry
22 (36.7%)

drippedonpaper's entry
17 (28.3%)

erulissedances's entry
13 (21.7%)

fausts_dream's entry
18 (30.0%)

favoritebean_writes's BYE WEEK - Votes do not count
3 (5.0%)

flipflop_diva's entry
17 (28.3%)

gunwithoutmusic's entry
12 (20.0%)

hafnia's entry
19 (31.7%)

halfshellvenus's entry
18 (30.0%)

hangedkay's BYE WEEK - Votes do not count
3 (5.0%)

inkstainedfingertips's entry
19 (31.7%)

littlebitofearth's BYE WEEK - Votes do not count
3 (5.0%)

mollywheezy's entry
16 (26.7%)

muchtooarrogant's entry
17 (28.3%)

murielle's entry
18 (30.0%)

n3m3sis43's BYE WEEK - Votes do not count
3 (5.0%)

off_fleek_geek's entry
15 (25.0%)

pixiebelle's entry
15 (25.0%)

rayaso's entry
27 (45.0%)

reidharriscooper's BYE WEEK - Votes do not count
3 (5.0%)

roina_arwen's entry
16 (26.7%)

static_abyss's entry
16 (26.7%)

strryeyedgrrl's entry
12 (20.0%)

swirlsofpurple's entry
19 (31.7%)

talonkarrde's entry
21 (35.0%)

tamara_in_jakarta's BYE WEEK - Votes do not count
7 (11.7%)

thephantomq's BYE WEEK - Votes do not count
3 (5.0%)

tigrkittn's entry
22 (36.7%)

tonithegreat's BYE WEEK - Votes do not count
3 (5.0%)

unmowngrass's entry
12 (20.0%)

xeena's entry
25 (41.7%)

yachiru's BYE WEEK - Votes do not count
3 (5.0%)


clauderainsrm: (Default)
[personal profile] clauderainsrm
 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!!!








clauderainsrm: (Default)
[personal profile] clauderainsrm
 Work is starting to pick up, which is why I had to decline becoming the VP pick. This is the second time over the last couple months when I've had to tell a Presidential candidate that I wouldn't be able to serve as their VP.  Offering me a job is apparently a bipartisan goal. 

Which is extremely flattering. But I'm needed here at Idol. SOMEONE has to keep you people in line!! 

***
Speaking of which, the results of the Write Off are in: therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1151876.html

and we have a couple more days left to get entries in for the Week 5 prompt: therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1151017.html

Only a few entries are currently in, which means there is going to be a rush in the next two days. 

***

How is your week going? 


clauderainsrm: (Default)
[personal profile] clauderainsrm
 The Week 4 Sudden Death Write Off is happening right now. therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1150733.html

B
ut so is the new prompt for Week 5 therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1151017.html

I'm hesitant to go into details to avoid jinxing it. But this has the potential to be a HUGE week in Idol history. If it happens, don't worry, I'll definitely be posting about it.  :) 

***

The rain just started here. Right now it looks like Debby is just going to be a tropical storm as it comes by us. But it's going to be a hurricane much sooner than original projected. So who knows.  Either way it's not expected to be too bad... there is definitely a LOT more coverage than usual about it. Which makes me wonder if it's just for the newbies in the area (there are a LOT of them). But honestly I have to think that if you keep hyping up how serious a storm is and it's not much of anything, if you are just making it harder for them to take the REAL threats seriously when it's a 4 or 5 hurricane. 

***

Speaking of taking things seriously. It's time for me to ask a few more questions, calling out specific people.  :) 

[personal profile] gunwithoutmusic  -      Poetry has always been risky in Idol. There have been times with it's done really well, but that has been very specific people writing at very specific times. For this mini season you've been only writing poetry so far. Was that a conscious choice coming into the mini season or just how it has worked out so far?  (on a side note penumbra  was actually on the list of prompts. But I moved it back to the reserve list after your list entry this week. So for once someone else looked over my shoulder rather than me looking over theirs) 

[personal profile] chasing_silver  - Your work has always been strongly tied to a sense of  time and "place". So seeing an entry about moving into your new home made a lot of sense to me.  I know you mentioned in the footnote about how you came to connect uncanny valley with seeing the remnants of the former owner's lives, but I'm curious about other ideas you might have played with in the process to come up with that.  Was there an "eureka" moment of when your brain made that jump or has that moment just been sitting in your brain waiting for the right opportunity to emerge? 

[personal profile] off_fleek_geek - Is podcast fanfic a thing now? It makes sense that it would exist, but honestly this is my first experience with it. I suppose it's more for genre podcasts than it is "current events" or interview based podcasts though. (That would be "interesting") But I digress, this was a fun entry. What was it about the prompt that made you think that the podcast would be the perfect vehicle for this story?  It could have existed on it's own, but the framing format really seemed to add to it, so I think that was a good call. Just wondering about your process coming to that conclusion. 












Extension

Apr. 24th, 2022 11:07 am
clauderainsrm: (Default)
[personal profile] clauderainsrm
It was pointed out to me that people are still getting used to being over here on DW, and the notifications are, well, typical DW shoddiness.

So I'm going to extend the deadline until Thursday. So instead of being a "short week", it's going to be about a regular one (for this mini season at any rate)

It's one of the advantages for you of me working 70 hour weeks. :) I'm feeling more generous toward everyone else's schedules.

Enjoy the extra time.

If you got something in already, and you are happy with it - go read everyone else! If you haven't, you don't need to throw something together at last minute today.
therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1113150.html

I can't keep doing this. But you've been patient and understanding with me - so I'm trying to extend that same courtesy.
clauderainsrm: (Default)
[personal profile] clauderainsrm
The week came to an end.

The two contestants receiving strikes this week are:

[personal profile] liminaltraveler  and [personal profile] simplyn2deep 


Hopefully this means that people will give them a little more love and attention next week!

I'll admit, the one thing I do like about the 3 Strikes format is that it gives people that opportunity to reexamine what they might be missing out on!
clauderainsrm: (Default)
[personal profile] clauderainsrm
The week that would not end is coming to an end today!

So make sure you get your votes in! https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1112465.html

DW doesn't have the built in audience LJ has. Which means that in an already tight season, voting is going to get even tighter!


***

I just interviewed 3 people yesterday. The first was really nervous - with little reason to be. She's definitely qualified. But she's internal, and her existing supervisor had contacted me to let me know that she's great (and I talked to a former coworker of mine who was her ORIGINAL supervisor, who said she was great)

1 was super-animated. Again, internal candidate for a job that is going away during the transition. So her entire team has been rooting for her, the Director of the department has reached out several times about us hiring her.

The 3rd? Was someone who originally applied for MY job. Who was horrible. As much as I doubt in my own abilities, interviewing her was a "Well, yeah - if THAT was my competition no wonder they picked me!" :D
When asked about "how do you focus when working remotely?" she said "I go outside. I like being outside"... which seems like the opposite of focusing.

Then again, after "um"ing through the entire interview and giving one or two word answers she said that her biggest strength was her "communication skills" and that she didn't remember ever applying to the company, but was glad that we called her for an interview! :O

MY biggest hurdle, once we get fully staffed is going to be trying to manage them. Granted, I have SOME experience with herding cats from Idol. :D But, like here, I think I'm going to have trouble getting people to understand the difference between "I'm always open to suggestions on how to make things better" and "Tell me what to do!" :)

What are YOUR biggest challenges, work or otherwise?
clauderainsrm: (Default)
[personal profile] clauderainsrm
A few words from [personal profile] clauderainsrm:

As “weeks” go, this has been one of hell of one.
So it only make sense that I should have had a devil of a time trying to get this DW code to work again for the polls! :)

Sorry for the delay, and well, everything else that has thrown our world into chaos.

But, hopefully we are getting back on track.

However, there have been some casualties of the move. Several contestants missed the deadline, and took their final strike:
Adpaz
Banyangirl1832
Garnigal
Messygorgeous
Mmalcontent
Mossmonday
Numero_nine
Xlovebecomesher
Yachiru

And two had to drop out. One for real life, and the other because he just really doesn’t want to participate anywhere that isn’t Livejournal: Blanketsin.com and
Lyssa027

All of these folx will be missed. I’m hoping that they will still be around to support their favorites!

The way this mini season is going, who knows what will happen next! Maybe next week we will be down to our Top 10! :D *shrugs* I just hope people continue to have fun.

This week, the 2 entries with the lowest amounts of votes will be receiving a strike.

The poll closes Wednesday April 20th at 5pm ET.

Read. Comment. Vote for your favorites! Good luck to everyone.


This poll is closed.
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: Just the Poll Creator, participants: 45

Vote For Your Favorites!

adoptedwriter's entry
11 (24.4%)

alycewilson's entry
11 (24.4%)

banana_galaxy's entry
8 (17.8%)

baxaphobia's Strike – Votes For This Contestant Will Not Count
3 (6.7%)

beautyofgrey's entry
13 (28.9%)

beldarzfixon's Strike – Votes For This Contestant Will Not Count
3 (6.7%)

bleodswean's entry
13 (28.9%)

copyright1983's Strike – Votes For This Contestant Will Not Count
4 (8.9%)

d0gs's entry
15 (33.3%)

dadi's entry
19 (42.2%)

drippedonpaper's entry
14 (31.1%)

dsrmousey's entry
7 (15.6%)

emo_snal's entry
9 (20.0%)

engarian's entry
9 (20.0%)

estelle's Strike – Votes For This Contestant Will Not Count
3 (6.7%)

favoritebean's entry
8 (17.8%)

flipflop_diva's entry
14 (31.1%)

furzicle's entry
9 (20.0%)

hangedkay's entry
10 (22.2%)

hwango's entry
9 (20.0%)

itismeangied's entry
5 (11.1%)

joyfulfeather's entry
7 (15.6%)

liminaltraveler's entry
2 (4.4%)

marlawentmad's entry
7 (15.6%)

md_meezer's entry
5 (11.1%)

mollywheezy's entry
10 (22.2%)

murielle's Strike – Votes For This Contestant Will Not Count
4 (8.9%)

oxymoron67's Strike – Votes For This Contestant Will Not Count
3 (6.7%)

pixiebelle's entry
15 (33.3%)

proceedcyclone's entry
9 (20.0%)

quiltingdragon's entry
4 (8.9%)

r3ckless_blues's entry
5 (11.1%)

roina_arwen's entry
9 (20.0%)

ryl's entry
8 (17.8%)

simplyn2deep's entry
3 (6.7%)

static_abyss's entry
8 (17.8%)

stellinasusan's entry
9 (20.0%)

swirlsofblue's entry
11 (24.4%)

tonithegreat's entry
7 (15.6%)

troof_therry's entry
11 (24.4%)

tsundokua's Strike – Votes For This Contestant Will Not Count
3 (6.7%)

viagra's entry
13 (28.9%)

yamyam_kat's entry
8 (17.8%)

clauderainsrm: (Default)
[personal profile] clauderainsrm
 Just reminding you of the new deadline, this Saturday, https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1111477.html

***

Things have been really busy at work. As usual. It looks like the two new employees that I had lined up to go through the hiring process have bailed. One accepted the offer but hasn't actually turned anything in. I've been following up with her but she hasn't gotten back to me. The other just completely ghosted. 

With more work set to shift to us, with the part timers ending their time, well, it's not good.  

But hey, we'll get through, somehow, or we won't.  ;) 

How are YOU doing? 


clauderainsrm: (Default)
[personal profile] clauderainsrm
Welcome to our new home. At least for now. :) 

I'm sorry for the disruption. 

The new entry link is https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1111477.html

For those not familiar with the ownership of Livejournal. I know that I had missed several of these developments over the years: 


2007 - Six Apart was purchased by SUP at the end of 2007, Russian-based media company SUP bought it from Six Apart. The news was followed by a wave of outrage. SUP’s CEO was Alexander Mamut, a Russian banker with alleged ties to the Kremlin.    (https://thehistoryoftheweb.com/postscript/whatever-happened-livejournal/) 

2013 - SUP was purchased by, and merged with Rambler Media Group - https://cybpoint.ru/en/windows-7/rambler-internet-holding-oficialnyi-ooo-rih-obedinenie-s-sup-media-vladimira.html 

2020 - Rambler Bank was purchased by Sber, the state-controlled bank https://www.ewdn.com/2020/10/29/sber-completes-full-acquisition-of-online-media-and-entertainment-group-rambler/ 

March of 2022 - CEO of Sber was added to the sanctions list https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-oligarch-herman-gref-sberbank-added-us-sanctions-list-2022-3   "The US Department of the Treasury has added a key Russian financial sector official and close confidant to Vladimir Putin to its list of sanctioned individuals." 


***

How are YOU doing today? 



clauderainsrm: (Default)
[personal profile] clauderainsrm
 I've already saved the entries up to hwango.  https://therealljidol.livejournal.com/1182999.html

So if you have already posted your entry - you're good. 

If you haven't though, please post it here! 

The new deadline is Saturday, April 16th at Noon ET. 


clauderainsrm: (Default)
[personal profile] clauderainsrm
 In case you missed it, LJ Idol has left Livejournal.   https://therealljidol.livejournal.com/1183915.html

I hope the move isn't permanent. But I can't see a future there, to the point that I'm not only moving operations mid-season, I'm moving them a day before a deadline. 

If you are a current contestant - Only the venue has changed. You can continue to participate with your Livejournal account over here. Or use a Dreamwith/Open ID one. Either way. I only ask that if you change names, please let me know so I can keep track of it! 

If you weren't following Idol over there - and I know there were people who weren't. I guess you are in for an unexpected treat! 

Will there be people dropping because they don't want to be at Dreamwidth? I'm sure there will be. They signed up on Livejournal for 3 Strikes with the idea that it would take place over there. But sometimes the world only gives us bad choices and we have to make the best of them. 

Because of the chaos, I'm extending the deadline for this week by another week. (Noon ET on April 16th). Again, I wish I didn't feel I needed to do that. But it seems like the fair thing to do considering how much of a disruption this is to a regular mini season. 

 If you've already posted your entry  https://therealljidol.livejournal.com/1182999.html , I've already entered them into the poll. You don't have to post them again. 
For those who haven't yet posted, I'll add a link over here so you can. 

I'm sure you will have more questions - and probably a few comments. I'll try my best to answer them. 

I'm really sorry to be making this decision at all, much less right now. But I've always tried to be open and candid with you - and I really didn't see any other choice. 


clauderainsrm: (Default)
[personal profile] clauderainsrm
 Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

Do you have any plans for tomorrow? Or is it just sitting around awkwardly waiting for people to post links to their entries so you can read them?  https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1108602.html


Prompt 5

Nov. 22nd, 2021 02:12 pm
clauderainsrm: (Default)
[personal profile] clauderainsrm
 Given what week this is, it's a little on the nose. 

But then again, it's Idol Minor+!  

So the prompt this week is 

Thanks for Giving 

The deadline to link your entries back to this post is Monday Nov 29th at 1pm ET

Have fun! 
clauderainsrm: (Default)
[personal profile] clauderainsrm
 This week is apparently sponsored by hugedomains.com...  :)  I need to figure out how to get rid of that.  :D 

***

People haven't asked me if we are having a prompt this week, but I'm giving you the answer anyway - yes.  I'll post it later this afternoon. 

Until then though: 

- How was your weekend? 
- What were some of your favorite entries from this week?  therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1107400.html

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