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Okay, I finished and entered my third attempt at Sci-Fi in yesterday's "Writer's Cramp." To my surprise, it won. I had a ton of fun researching and writing this short, so it begs the question: Does it make for a good chapter one? Is it hooky enough for a reader to ask for more? I had dozens of ideas that just would not fit into the word count. Is the premise good enough to expand this into a novel or novellet?
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| It is good enough. |
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| Red Lobster abruptly closes dozens of restaurant locations around the US, preparing to liquidate. How very sad… The R L was one of… if not the favorite restaurants of the wife's late grandmother, Marie Abigale Strickland. Abbie loved going to Red Lobster and being there with her family and friends. If I close my eyes, I can see her buttering one of their garlic cheese biscuits before handing it off to a great-grandchild. With the failing of yet another Icon of my youth, the past gives way to the future, leaving little for the new generations to remember their family ties. Every time we drove down the street past one of these eateries, I could not help remembering those dinners and occasional lunches with what is unarguably the most Christian, and saintly woman I have ever known. She complained about little in life, even when her mother died, leaving her to raise her siblings through the great depression years. She loved teaching school with all her heart. I pray a few of the thousands of children she taught over her 40-year career still share a warm thought for her once in a while. This company's failure takes away yet one more connection to her. How short is our visit here upon this mortal plane, and how soon we will be forgotten. Everything moves faster these days. How miserable it becomes to realize, as the memories of my grandparents and parents fade into the gray of the past, how soon they are to be joined with the recollection of me. So, if you should drive by one of the RLs still operating later today, perhaps you might consider lunch, just for old times' sake. https://www.msn.com/.../red-lobster.../ar-BB1mmWga... |
 I love Sam Elliott. |
TheBusmanPoet  -LOL, You offer that like there were some other kind of adult in the 1950s and 1960s Dad was a county Sheriff, Mom an engineer who made nuclear missiles for the Navy. Thing were a little strict at my house back then. |
| In the last 60 years, only one President lost personal wealth. Johnson was sworn in on Nov 23, 1964, and his net worth was $4 million (well, Ladybird was). He was worth $88 million when he left office. An increase in net worth of 2,100% Nixon was worth $2.2 million on the day he was sworn in and $15 million on the day he resigned. An increase in net worth of 581% Ford was worth $1.4 million and $7 million when he left office. An increase in net worth of 400% Carter was $2.3 million at the start of his term and $10 million at the end. An increase in net worth of 334.7% Regan was 10 million initially and $15 million at the end. An increase in net worth of 50% G.H. Bush was $4 million at his swearing-in and $23 million after leaving office. An increase in net worth of 475% Billy Boy Clinton was worth $1.3 million at the start and $241.5 million. An increase in net worth of 18,479.9% G.W. Bush was $20 million to $40 million. An increase in net worth of 50% Obama was $1.3 million to an excess of $70 million reported. (This doesn't include the rumored $150 million supposedly hidden offshore.) An official increase in net worth of 5,284.6%, but it leaves a 16,823% unofficial increase, counting the supposedly hidden money Trump was worth 3.3 Billion when he was sworn in and $2.1 Billion when he left office. The best guess for today (averaged from multiple sources) is $1.3 billion. A loss in net worth of ---60.6% Biden was worth (according to CBS News) in Nov. 2009. $ 30.000 current 2024 Official number is $30.2 million. This doesn't include the congressional estimated 60 million hidden in the 7 offshore accounts Congress is investigating. An official increase in net worth of 2,990.0%, But the real haul may equate to a 300,566.6% unofficial increase if the whistleblowers before Congress are telling the truth... This is why one runs for President! |
| Yesterday's afternoon nap complete, I rose and found myself dumbfounded by the news reports from our national college campuses. To what depths will we allow our societal standards to deteriorate? What they are doing is not protesting! If we enable this level of malcontent to rule, society is lost, and no law is enforceable. All laws share a common defining flaw. They are valid… only if the governed willingly submit to the legislation or the governors can force the governed to comply. How shameful that more than half the supposed protesters are outside provocateurs. (I would bet many, even terrorist/illegal aliens) Yet this morning, I can not find any reports of these anti-American traitors still in jail. Not one of those arrested yesterday is in custody this morning. So they refuse to obey the law, and our governors (administration) refuse to enforce it. I was not sure who I was more disappointed with, so I sensed a mood-dampening cloud descending over my impending day until my muse, Rainey, popped in with her mount, Scruf. She said, "That nasty 'Nutboy' started slamming and turning stuff over … Joey, it's messy enough in your head without such shenanigans. Please do not concern yourself. Scruf and I got this… if they leave campus… any that Sheriff Grady misses … We'll get!" She seems confident, So I'll let her lead the discussions today! |
Oh My, "Words Delightfuly Expound!" Bianca   came up with an impressive prompt for Today's "The Writer's Cramp"  not only a new style and format, but a great subject, though I wonder why she used "Daddy" with Mother's Day just a week away? Look at all the entries so far… wow I am glad I am not a judge these are all incredible efforts. The prompt sounds hard but once you get started… the format works unbelievably well, all most writing itself… " Daddy " "Daddy" ""My God says move"" "Daddy" "Daddy" "Daddy" "Daddy" "Daddy" "Daddy" There is still a couple of hours left to get your entry in before noon… |
| " Holy bushels of Chrispy Laurel Leaves ... Bat friends!"
It is supposed to be a ZaniLa Rhyme. The ZaniLa Rhyme, created by Laura Lamarca, consists of four lines per stanza. The rhyme scheme for this form is abcb and a syllable count of 9/7/9/9 per stanza. Line 3 contains internal rhyme and is repeated in each odd-numbered stanza. Even stanzas contain the same line but are swapped. Oh, and I can't go over 28 lines... |
I've just been drumming out the syllables with my fingers as I read (I'm a real sophisticate  ) and a lot of the lines are 10 syllables instead of 9. Some are even 11. The second lines are also consistently too long for the intended pattern. It seems to me to scan better if you replace "eternally" with "endlessly" in the repeating third line. It also gets the syllable count down from 10 to 9. |
| Dave Ryan - Here is a tool that I use, and it really helps. https://www.poetrysoup.com/syllables/syllable_counter.aspx |
Hah, it must have been Adherennium Dr of Phoolishness   's fault, his is the last post that comments worked on!!! But then you have penguins, The Doc is usually accompanied by a herd of Gninne pigs. |
| Oh, My, s , we are a bit strange, and I admit finding an eight-foot pendulum on the stairs eating your Pringles is disconcerting. But still once you figure out that he is your brother-in-law and only staying the weekend. Oh are you commenting on the fact that replies are not posting correctly? |
I've just edited an item in my portfolio:
Here is the revised of my latest effort to learn about poetry. I have spent a full day editing and am still unsure if it qualifies as worthy of inclusion in one's repertoire. Is anyone brave enough to make a comment? |
C In the "Free For All in March--CLOSED UNTIL 2025"  First prize of 100,000 GPs and an Awardicon...goes to:
 Second prize of 50,000 GPs ...goes to:
 Third prize of 25,000 GPs ..goes to:
Thanks to all the participants, and I pray you will consider entering again next year... I'm upping the stakes... check them out for next years. |
I've just edited an item in my portfolio:
Okay, the contest is officially closed and we have nine qualified entries. Judging is underway. with only nine entries the prizes only reach tier 2: 1st place 100,000 GPs, and an Awardicon of equal value. 2nd place 50,000 GPs, 3rd place 25,000 PGS. I want to thank everyone who entered and wish them good luck |
| Warning Dad-Joke, (posted in standard size font, thought to be legal in all fifty states. This warning that is...) W hat does one call the lactose-intolerant woke? I give up tell me ▼ |
Oh, by the way, there is still time to post your entry...
We are up to seven, three more entries, and tier-one prizes come into play. [Refresh to load countdown.] time remaining |
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The wind of Westeros blew the snow over.
