*Magnify*
SPONSORED LINKS
BY ONLINE AUTHORS
Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/profile/notebook/satet
Please follow an 18+ rating.*

Gutted. Just gutted.



Rest in Peace, Queen.

*Sob*


  •   4 comments
This news makes me so sad. Such a loss to us.
And I first heard it here. 83... an icon of an era. *HeartO*
What a terrible loss to the music world. She was such an icon for women that made a comeback in her forties. Ike Turner discovered her, married and abused her for years. She had to sneak out of a hotel with change and a busted face to leave him. A real legend that will be remembered.
• Edited

“Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted;
persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished;
persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot.
BY ORDER OF THE AUTHOR
per
G.G., CHIEF OF ORDNANCE”
- Mark Twain (Adventures of Huck Finn)

The text above has to be one of my favorite forwards in literature.

It came to mind as I browsed through the site AO3 (Archive of Our Own) and noticed the increasingly head-scratching
need for writers to put in so many 'warnings/labels/triggers/details' in just what's supposed to be a simple summary of what their story's supposed to be about.
It makes me wonder if 'this' generation of readers are being babied/spoon-fed just a wee bit too much.
Does that make sense?
Are writers now so concerned of upsetting folks that they feel the need to make sure they address every single thing that readers are likely to encounter, so their delicate sensibilities are not disturbed?

Back in my day (hah!), you didn't pick up a book, turn it over just to see Stephen King or Twain writing a:

psssst! This book is likely to have racially-charged dialogue and attitudes...or horror stuff inside...like blood...and dying...oopsie!

Personally, it's been a while since I've 'picked up a pen' to write anything
(the ol' brain is too scrambled with noise to find the peace I need)
However, I have to ask if anyone is faced with the same dilemma of trying to put enough 'warnings' before you publish anything - online especially. Is that an additional pressure you face or are you normal and just go 'eff it - read if you want or don't want to because I shall be ignoring your lengthy woke comment about being an insensitive human.' *Pthb*




  •   2 comments

I agree with the general idea of content ratings. It seems reasonable to give an indication when material is not suitable for children. However, pretending to live in a world of beautiful surfaces only perpetuates the ugliness hidden beneath. The only 'trigger' warning I've ever given is on my political stuff:


BOOK
Political Poems and Songs of Protest  (18+)
Warning: not a safe space for conservative snowflakes
#2264247 by Words Whirling 'Round


I can understand "don't pick up a horror book if you don't like blood and gore."

However, I have no problem with a a book that would otherwise not give an outward indicatation it contained SA or CSA references, etc, to give a mention such materials are contained within.

I'd like to think society can evolve to recognize that if such warnings don't apply to you, read the thing. If they do apply to you, pick another book.

I recognize my lived experience isn't someone else's, and vice-versa. If that makes me "woke", I'm very much @#£*ing over it.

So!

Seeing as I'm now a proud momster of this adorable little terror,
and boy, has it been fun explaining to the neighbors that the 'funny noises' they've been hearing is actually not Tassie gnawing and slurping at the walls because he - for some odd reason - likes the taste of paint.

However, all hope is not lost as look what's got him roaring for a whole new reason!

That's right! Tassie's a big fan of the shenanigans at Eurovision 2023. *Bigsmile*
Not sure who his favorite is as all the strobing lights and flashes have him mesmerized (and wanting to jump into the T.V). By the way, you should see his three extra eyes going haywire with the beats!

Hopefully, this will keep him occupied while I go shop for more paint and... a new carpet. *Sob*

Psst: want your own little pet terror to rehabilitate? Then go visit: "S.C.R.E.A.M."  today!



  •   3 comments
I got up to watch the final part of the finals. A bit tired now. Eurovision was interesting, highlighting the split between the jury's favorite and the audience's favorite. Some years they meet in the middle. Not this year. The juries really disliked Käärijä's "Cha Cha Cha"; the young voters and the audience adored it! That said, Loreen is a veteran, and she delivered. So back to Sweden. Everyone loves to visit Sweden. Will it be Stockholm? Gotëborg? Malmö? or elsewhere? Size of venue matters. The chance of it being in Upsala or Luleå isn't great. So be prepared to watch (visit? *Shock2*) May 11th, 18th or 25th. *CountrySE*
@ Kåre Enga 🇹🇭 Udon Thani - I actually liked Loreen's song, not sure why folks (at least on the internet) were so down on her, and she didn't even do too badly with the audience votes. So, good on her for winning! She looked overwhelmed and sweet about it all. Saw all the hype for 'Cha Cha Cha', but maybe I'm just getting too old - did not get what was so outstanding about it. Maybe just his personality was winning over. Either way, it was an interesting show all around. Do you plan on going to Sweden to see next year's shenanigans?
iKïyå§ama I really wanted to go to Torino '22 but I wasn't well and I ran out of time. Places to stay vanish. Same with Liverpool '23.

Sweden '24... yes, I'd like to go. I met a member of the Israeli team years ago in Sweden and I'm sure he'll be there regardless.

I've been more impressed with the songs in other years. That said Cha Cha Cha lit the place up and Käärijä is charismatic. I suspect there was a GenX-Millenial split with GenZ. The juries tend to be older than the voting public.


Oooh, I see how it is now. Hah!

Thanks to the lovely folks who have sent me MBs thanks to this fun little activity below:

Merit Badge Wars *Now Closed*  (E)
a merit badge centered activity
#2293653 by Shadow Prowler


So, and this is not to pit you fine folks against each other, but since we're doing exchanges and what not, I'll be offering the badges below to the participants in the activity:

Merit Badge in A Wodehouse Challenge [Click For More Info] Congratulations on your new "A Wodehouse Challenge" merit badge for your group, [Link To Item #1188309] ! Thank you for supporting the Writing.Com community with your inspirations, participation and activities. We appreciate it! -SMs Merit Badge in House Targaryen [Click For More Info] Congratulations on your new merit badge! Thank you for supporting the Writing.Com community with your inspirations, participation and activities. We sincerely appreciate it! -SMs Merit Badge in Angel Friends Forever [Click For More Info] Congratulations on your new merit badge! Thank you for supporting the Writing.Com community with your inspirations, participation and activities. We sincerely appreciate it! -SMs Merit Badge in Special Appreciation [Click For More Info] *^*Smile*^*Thank you for being you and making Writing.com a wonderful site. *^*Smile*^* Merit Badge in The Writer's Achievement [Click For More Info] Congratulations on your new merit badge! Thank you for supporting the Writing.Com community with your inspirations, participation and activities. We sincerely appreciate it! -SMs

Send me a badge I don't have, and you get one of the above
(or any other one you've been eyeing in the shop)

Have fun and good luck!

*Bigsmile*


  •   9 comments
I'm as certain as certain can be that you don't have the one I just sent you. *Wink* Either the Angel Friends Forever or The Writer's Achievement MB would be just perfect. Thank you!
I sent you Merit Badge in I Write 52 Weeks [Click For More Info] Dear [Link To User satet] , Is there such a thing as a "good war?" Yes, a [Link To Item #2293653] . Annette. and I would love the Wodehouse badge. *Smile*
Sent you one of my exclusive badges. Like the dragon one.

Whoooo!!!

Well, this has been fun! *Delight*

But this gal is going to bed now - got a long shift tomorrow - so if you do send anything, and I don't respond on time, don't fret.

I promise to get to you at my earliest convenience.

Good night, everyone, and thanks for making this site such a fun hangout - even after all these years (sorry, just got a whole wave of nostalgia of the days when I used to be suuuuuuper active around here) *Sob*

*Heart*

  •   1 comment
We miss you.
Well, every now and again Google does come up with some random interesting articles on their home page such as the one below:

Contronymns  

If you've never hated the English Language before, this just about makes you reconsider your feelings about it. *Facepalm*

And while I'm on it, a mini-rant for the ridiculous English-Language-Test international folks are made to take when going into 'English-Speaking-Countries'.

I challenge anyone reading this to pop into IELTS   (especially the Academic section) to see what we're made to study.

I can guarantee that over 80% of so-called professionals hardly speak or even think in such ways, yet these tests are supposed to see if you're worthy of hanging around the locals. Pfft! *Rolleyes*

/rant over.
  •   3 comments
Primary school teacher: "We're teaching the kids about prepositions in English at the moment."
Parent: "I don't actually know what a preposition is, sorry."
Teacher: "None of my adult friends do!"
Parent: "So it's not actually necessary or relevant in life to know. In which case, why are we teaching it to our kids??"

Actual conversation my sister had with her 8 year old's teacher. *Laugh* It might not have been prepositions but it was some grammatical component that neither she nor I knew (although we probably use it without realising).
When I was a teacher of adults, O worked with some new arrivals, and we taught to an Australian equivalent test. I ended up leaving because I could not see the value of being technical when understanding was so much more important. However, I wasn't the only one, and I believe they have reduced that side of it.

I will say, though, the USA does a thing we were told was called diagramming a sentence. Never seen that here, and yet our students (going back to my own schooling) have coped fine without it. Didn't even see it at University.
@Elle (she/her) - *Rolling* I feel the parent's pain. Hah! At this point, one has to wonder if the English Language has just been one giant convolution instigated by the British over the centuries *Pthb* I shouldn't really be giving teachers grief though, my mom was an English teacher, so yeah...I have nasty flashbacks of doing homework and mom frowning when I couldn't figure out where a comma or semi-colon was supposed to go in a complex sentence. *Facepalm*

@Steven (PLEASE BUY MY BOOKS!) - Very interesting. Personally, I'd just do away with most of the extra stuff those testings require (or maybe they're just trying to justify why one has to pay an outrageous fee for taking them). Give tests that focus on the basic day-to-day conversations/interactions among normal people. Not complicated and boring essays that are just traps to make you feel and look foolish. It does do a great disservice to folks who might not be 'book smart', but are brilliant in other ways. *Frown*
A reminder of:

"Note: *Rabbit2* *Teapotb* *Cheshire* M..."

There's only two days left, and it would be lovely to see more entries for Mona to read.

So, even if you can't come up with something, share the link; spread the news and let's have more folks aware of this.

We've got to keep that gal busy, up there, after all. *Wink*

• Edited

*Rabbit2* *Teapotb* *Cheshire* Mona's Wonderland *Cheshire* *Teapotb* *Rabbit2*

One of eyestar~*'s favorite activities to participate in was "Wonderland" 
So much so, she was crowned Queen for two consecutive years with her brilliant entries:

BOOK
Eyestar in Wonderland  (E)
A scroll book for my nonsense down the rabbit hole! ~In memory of Mona~
#2213174 by Lornda

BOOK
Falling Down the Rabbit Hole Again!  (E)
Another Wonderland adventure full of nonsense. Quill Finalist!
#2242255 by eyestar~*


Able to embody the nonsensical whimsiness of Lewis Carroll in her writings, I am inviting you all to showcase your best Carroll-inspired pieces for a chance to earn the badge below in her honor:

Merit Badge in Wonderland [Click For More Info] Congratulations on your new merit badge! Thank you for supporting the Writing.Com community with your inspirations, participation and activities. We sincerely appreciate it! -SMs

Share your results below (and needless to say, please put some thought and effort into your entries) and the badge is yours!

This event will run until Saturday, 8th of April, so share this notebook link on your feed to spread the fun.

Let's have Mona grinning in delight at your poems or stories!

*Bigsmile*





  •   4 comments
Should be open now Thankful Sonali WDC POWER RVW! *Smile*
I miss her encouragement because I signed up last year and I was struggling writing but eyestar~* really kept me on my toes along the way. Either way, she will be missed.

I will do the challenge in her honor.

It's with a heavy heart that we mourn
yet celebrate the life of one of our brightest stars in Writing.com

*Fairy* eyestar~* *Fairy*

The announcement was made on her notebook page below:

"Note: Hi Everyone, Just wanted to let you know that eye..."

However, we encourage you to also send in your tributes, anecdotes, and fond memories of Mona
below as well:

FORUM
White Case Memorial  (E)
Honoring the WDC members who have passed away
#1230549 by iKïyå§ama


You've fought hard and loved through it all, Mona.
May you finally rest in peace.

Let us please also keep The StoryMaster and his family in our prayers as he mourns the loss of his father.

May he, too, rest in peace.

*Heart*
  •   2 comments
She was a great mentor and friend
I can't find the words yet. Only just found out. We have lost a truly inspirational person who was such a light of positivity on this site. I will try and come up with some words to share soon... *Heart*


I am soooooo late to the party, but I am addicted:



Fun fact: I grew up on Indian movies. For those of us, in our little corner of Nigeria (and indeed most of Africa I'm sure), watching Bollywood films/shows was a must growing up. We couldn't understand the language, but it was not difficult to understand the emotions conveyed through the screen. And of course, what would a good Indian movie be without a little song and dance to keep you moving? *Delight*

Sadly, this ol' gal's memory fails to remember most of the names of the films we watched back then *Cry*. However, I do distinctly remember having a crush on a particular actor who was a staple in about 80% of what we watched. *Laugh* And for some reason the number '10' keeps buzzing in my head, so if anyone remembers what that movie/show might be, please let me know.



  •   5 comments
RRR is an amazing movie. If you haven't seen it, do yourself a favour and watch it. So good.
*Bigsmile* I totally relate! Years ago when I went to visit my grandma in Bosnia and one of my aunts, all they watched were Indian and Turkish movies/soap operas. Some would have subtitles, others were, like you said, conveyed through the emotions on the screen.

It becomes an addiction watching those shows even without understanding it all.
@Schnujo - I highly recommend watching the movie if you haven't! *Bigsmile*

@AmyJo -June, already? C'mon! - Hah! I think I lost some weight just watching the dance scene! *Rolling*

@Steven (PLEASE BUY MY BOOKS!) - Oh, I've seen it a gagillion times already it seems! *Laugh* Such a great movie.

@Gaby ~ Simply Wicked 💋 - Addiction is putting it lightly, although I had to eventually tear myself away from many of the cheesy soap opera dramas. I need to get back into the movies again. RRR is sucking me in! *Sob*
  •   2 comments
Thank you! *Heart*
You're welcome.
  •   1 comment
Thank you! *Heart*


*HeartP* *ConfettiB* *Bigsmile* *ConfettiO* *PartyhatR* *ConfettiP* *HeartY* *ConfettiB* *CupcakeV* *ConfettiB* *Bigsmile* *ConfettiO* *PartyhatG* *ConfettiP* *HeartY* *ConfettiB* *HeartP*
*Hug1**Smile**Hug2* *BalloonB* *Quill* *Balloonr* Happy Birthday, Kiya! *Balloonr* *Quill* *BalloonB* *Hug1**Smile**Hug2*
*HeartG* *ConfettiB* *Bigsmile* *ConfettiO* *PartyhatB* *ConfettiP* *HeartY* *ConfettiB* *CupcakeB* *ConfettiB* *Bigsmile* *ConfettiO* *PartyhatP* *ConfettiP* *HeartY* *ConfettiB* *HeartG*
  •   1 comment
Thank you! *Heart*
Happy birthday 🎂
  •   1 comment
Thank you! *Heart*
  •   1 comment
Thank you! *Heart*
* Content and content ratings in this area are monitored solely by this member. Page owners have the ability to remove posts and/or block posters who do not follow the content rating or who post unwanted content. In addition, each member can block/ignore another member using the Block/Ignore Members" link on the Account Options screen.
Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/profile/notebook/satet