MuseBlog

A thread devoted to the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland).

Americans have long since forgiven them for trying to stop our Revolution. Now we think they’re flamablamablous. We devour their books, and we like their accents almost as much as Australian ones. Here’s a place to talk about them.

(Requested by The Man for Aeiou.)

In the second installment of this month’s random thread, we keep laying on the ice. Cool enough for you?

Continued from Part One.

(Users’ Manual: Obey The Rules. Consult The Guide. Have fun!)

Perhaps not the pleasantest thing to think about, or maybe not so bad. Either way, talking is bound to help.

Before the discussion takes over the Romance and Relationships thread, we should move our little idyll to its own thread.

We started with oxlin’s comment:

Bah. I’m sick of society. I want to go live in a shack somewhere with Teal and not pollute and eat mushrooms and herbs we gather and carrots we grow and draw and write and be happy.

Here’s how to participate:

1. Create your signature, using whatever “natural” or digital media you like.
2. Scan the results, if necessary (preferably at 200 or 300 dpi) A digital photo might work, also, if you have a steady hand.
3. Send by email to gapa @ musefanpage.com (except without the spaces)
OR if you have no way of scanning your signature, you may send it by U.S. mail to: Rebecca Lasley c/o P. O. Box 3, Jamestown NC 27282.

For those of you who email us PLEASE USE DESCRIPTIVE TEXT IN YOUR SUBJECT LINE, i.e., “Rebecca’s signature.” Avoid generic phrases like “my signature” and such.

ONE signature per MuseBlogger, please.

We have not established a deadline yet. Best guess based on current data is that it will be sometime in September.

No last names on the signatures, please–blognames and/or first name plus last initial only. Plain or embellished, as you prefer. Take a look at the previous edition to get the idea.

DESIGN GUIDELINES

LINE WIDTH: the graphics will print best if the lines are not too thin or light. For drawing with natural media, something at least as thick as a “fine” Sharpie (not “ultra fine”) is perfect, though you may have to write larger letters than you’re used to. Pencil and fine point pens will simply get lost, especially when reduced to fit on items smaller than shirts. For digital drawing, use a brush that is at least 5 pixels, 10 or more is better, for those programs which allow you to specify (medium or large on MS Paint).

SIZE: make it big. Probably bigger than you think. There are so many variables, it’s hard to be specific, but if the file size is smaller than 80k, it’s likely too small. Most of those that proved easiest to work with last time ran from 150k up to 1 MB. No one has ever sent anything too big. It’s much easier for us to reduce a graphic cleanly than it is to enlarge one that is too small.

If you can, print a hard copy at 200 dpi or higher to see how it looks. Most signatures should print out to at least a couple of inches wide and no less than half an inch in height. Do not judge size by what you see onscreen.
Onscreen appearance can be very misleading.

FILE FORMAT: Most any graphic programs will support the following: JPG, BMP, PNG, or GIF. (When you save the file, look for “save as” or “export” in the file menu). Some allow TIF. Rebecca has Photoshop CS2, Adobe Illustrator CS2, InDesign CS2, CorelDraw suite X3, Corel Painter IX, and Paint Shop Pro XI, among other things, so you can send a file in their native formats. PDFs are also fine. Ask if you have something else. (If at all possible, avoid MS Word and AppleWorks. Their results are unpredictable.)

IF THESE INSTRUCTIONS DON’T MAKE SENSE TO YOU, DON’T WORRY. Just do what you can and send it in. We’ve learned a trick or two since last time and will find a way to make it work.

In general, keep your designs bold and simple. Don’t let details get too fine. DO NOT add tag phrases longer than a word or two. They simply will not show up.

Previous Participants: You may send in a new design or request to reuse your old one. Just let us know if you want to be included.

Factoid: In China this date is considered incredibly auspicious, because the Mandarin word for “eight” rhymes with the word for “luck.” Lucky, lucky, lucky us.

Purple Panda and Robert are playing a game, with Robert annotating (talking about positions) as they go.

Purple Panda (White) vs. Robert (Black)
###pgn###
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nf6
3. Nc3 Nc6
4. Bc4 Nxe4
5. Nxe4 d5
6. d3 d5xc4
7. d3xc4 d8xd1+
8. Kxd1 Bf5
9. Ng3 0-0-0+
10. Bd2 Bg4
11. Re1 Nd4
12. Re3 Bc5
13. Ne4 Nxf3
14. Nxc5 Nxd2+
15. Kc1 Nb3+
16. c2xb3 Rd1+
17. Kc2 Rxa1
18. f3 Bf5+
19. Ne4 Rd8
%%%pgn%%%

Previously, Robert and Purple Panda analyzed Pan’s recent game with The Man for Aeiou (below). TMFA played White; Pan, Black. (The diagram shows a variation starting at White’s 16th move.)
###pgn###
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d4 e5xd4
4. Bb5 Qf6
5. O-O Bd6
6. Na3 a6
7. Bd3 Ne5
8. Re1 Nh6
9. Nxd4 Bc5
10. Na3b5 a6xb5
11. Nxb5 O-O
12. Re3 Bxe3
13. f2xe3 c6
14. Nd6 Qxd6
15. Bd2 Ne5g4
16. g3 Qf6
%%%pgn%%%

(For reference, the squares are coded like this:)

BLACK
a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 b6 c6 c6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
WHITE

Rosanne is going to be in the Washington (D.C.) area soon, and she and Robert are thinking of getting together for some pie on the 16th. Unlike last August, this time they’d like to eat the pie. Would anyone else (and ens parents) like to come along?

They might have a picnic in a park, or might go to one of the area’s pie-renowned restaurants. The plans will depend partly on which option is better for any local MBers who might show up. Any thoughts?

Maybe these games will move faster than the ones on v. 2.

(For reference, the squares are coded like this:)


BLACK

WHITE

We don’t understand why these threads are the most popular ones on the blog, but so it goes. The Big Idea: Post under a false name, and try to guess who other posters are.

Continued from v. 2008.5.

NOTE: Check your posts before sending them. The Administrators will not rescue you if you accidentally submit one under your “real” blogname. Many an alter ego has fallen victim to a careless “submit” click.

In which we see what MBers really do with all their excess brain capacity.

Continued above.

This month’s random thread continues the theme of July’s: thinking cool amid what for many of us continues to be decidedly uncool weather. Think cool, act cool, be cool!

(Users’ Manual: Obey The Rules. Consult The Guide. Have fun!)

Unlike the random thread, this discussion thread stays on topic until the topic changes.

Newcomers should read The Rules and The Guide before plunging in.

Current topic: The Olympics
Computer programming / Web design and graphics

“Neophyte” comes from Greek roots meaning “newly planted.” If you’ve landed on the blog and think you might want to put down roots here, stop in for a friendly welcome and some helpful tips from those already here.

Please read The Rules. You might also glance at The HG2MB (Hitchhiker’s Guide to MuseBlog), which contains helpful hints regarding local customs, lingo, and other peculiarities of the blog; smiley information included.

Attention, non-neophytes! Please don’t fill this thread with non-neophytic chatter. If there’s no one around to welcome, there are plenty of other places where you can post.

Help others navigate the blog by signposting your favorite threads here. As always, we start this thread anew from scratch every month.

(Note: Please include the URL (Web address) with your requests. It also helps if you limit your requests to a few at a time, four or five at the most.)

Current categories:

ADVENTURES IN THE MUSIVERSE
Ships’ Logs (kiwimuncher)
Muse Scouts (AvalonGirl)
Pie Isle (TNÖ)
Incredible Beasts of Museica (Beatlesrockr)

LIFE BEYOND THE VIRTUAL DIVIDE
Vegetarians, Vegetarianism, Vegetables, and Vegemite (Purple Panda)
Mostly Harmless (kiwimuncher)

SILLY FUN
The Polling Place (kiwimuncher)
Alter Egos(kiwimuncher, AvalonGirl)
Stupid Senseless Smiley Stories (Midnight Fiddler)
World of Piecraft (kiwimuncher)

WRITING – RRRs
Sea Roc (kiwimuncher
Alchemy RRR (kiwimuncher)
Etheterre (kiwimuncher)

WRITING – ASSORTED OTHER

OTHER THINGS WE LIKE
Coy Woodnesse (kiwimuncher)
Visual Arts (Purple Panda)
MuseBlog Chess (Purple Panda)
Music (Midnight Fiddler)
Books and Reading (Midnight Fiddler)
History (Midnight Fiddler)
Calvin and Hobbes (ZVX)

USEFUL ITEMS
HG2MB v.2008.1
Last Month’s DFTT
Ranting and Spazzing with Abundant Spoilers

Continued from Vol. I, No. 5.

August 1 is our beloved blog’s third birthday. Just think of it: three years with pie filling running down our faces. What a long, strange drip it’s been.

Waiter, a round of key lime for our multitudes of friends!

Known Muser birthdays this month:*

08-01 MuseBlog’s birthday (2005) = GAPA Appreciation Day
08-04 Capricious’s birthday (1994 – green and blue; rainbow)
08-04 Brendan The Science Whiz’s birthday (1995 – nothing)
08-04 Random Kokopelli’s birthday (1997 – rainbow)
08-09 RAWR’s birthday (1993 – deep red)
08-08 QueenOfAces’s birthday (1997)
08-11 Sobriquet’s birthday (1992)
08-11 Lawrence of Antarctica’s birthday (1994 – black)
08-13 Sora’s birthday (1992 – all shades of blue)
08-14 bulletproofmarshmallow’s birthday (1993)
08-15 Morbid’s birthday (1991)
08-16 The Bev’s birthday (1992 – green or blue)
08-16 rabbity24’s birthday (1994 – green)
08-21 Adeia’s birthday (1996 – green or purple)
08-21 Alice’s birthday (1993 – blue)
08-21 biblioRose’s belle jeune chose’s birthday (1995 – blue and yellow)
08-27 Nthanda the Laugher’s birthday (1991)
08-26 Gwendolyn of the Eastern Seas’ birthday (1994 – purple pizzazz)
08-28 Sunrunner Bramblewood’s (=Dragonsrock828’s) birthday (1993)
08-29 Turquoise’s birthday (1995 – turquoise)
08-29 gnash’s birthday (1996 – green or blue)
08-30 Serafina/AvalonGirl’s birthday (1998 – Teal, bright purple, ethereal purple, pale misty blue, pumpkin orange)
08-31 Quintessentia’s birthday (1992 – golden)

You turn 5,000 days old this month if you were born between November 24 and December 24, 1994.
You turn 6,000 days old this month if you were born between February 28 and March 29, 1992.

*Note: Listed MBers who have been inactive for several months won’t appear on next year’s birthday calendar unless they show up again.

Robert just tweaked the code in a way that might have solved the comment-box problem. Or, as often happens in cases like this, it might have made things worse. Let us know anything you notice.

(If you’re using a browser other than Internet Explorer 7, you probably won’t notice anything at all. But you might. That’s how it is with computers.)

These are not RRRs but solo projects which share the same thread. Start your own, or just stop by and visit.

Continued from Muse Fanfiction, v. 2008.3.

Words & names you ♥ or just want to talk about. Hey, is ♥ a word?

Continued from version 2007.3.

(This includes the “What’s in a Name?” thread that several MBers have recently requested.)

Our biped heroes are still having a very bad day, but at least the evil hot-pink bunny William now looks slightly less than invincible (as well as considerably less pink).

Continued from Part Four.

*Role-playing game.

Continued from Part 4.

We celebrate his birthday every year, but clearly he deserves much more.

Requested by The Man for Aeiou.

We’re going to start a new game on the Chess thread if a Certain Person doesn’t move soon. Would anyone else like to play? If so, say so.

Thanks,

The Management