Pretty Big News

A post has been a long time coming, my friends. So here it is.

I've got a new story ready to go for the current quarter of Writers of the Future. I'll get that off in the mail soon.

I have another story almost finished. I haven't decided if I'm going to hold it for next quarter or send it off. It's seems like a fit for ASIMOV'S to me.

I just won an honorable mention in the Wegame.com machinima contest with my entry, ASTEROID TRUCKERS. I'm pretty pleased with that video, especially since 90% or more of the other entries were all World of Warcraft machinimas. I used the game HOMEWORLD. I've never really seen any Homeworld machinima outside of music videos. I think that made it standout a bit against all of the fantastic entries. The winning submission, The Robber Baron of Warsong Gultch, was made in the style of silent film. The creator, Pinkhair, was able to give it a very convincing silent film look, including scratches on the film. The highlight was a chase scene involving a train that she said she modeled herself. I don't know how she did it, but it looked great and blended in perfectly as if it belonged. Congratz to her and all of the other winners.

If you like machinima, you can look at all of the contest videos @ http://www.wegame.com/group/augcontest

You can save some time and check out my own entry below.

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In other news, we've signed on the dotted line to build a house in a new development a few miles away. It'll mean a little bit longer trek to work, but it'll be worth it. This has been both scary and exciting at the same time.

Exciting, for obvious reasons. New house, new people, etc.

Scary in that it'll have a payment larger than any I've had to make before. We can afford it, but the thought of anything costing $1000 month is intimidating to me.

Then there's the HOA. I've never had to deal with that before. The HOA book is full of things you CAN'T do rather than what is allowed. I've never been one to do yard work regularly. Don't tell me when I need to cut my grass, damn it! Guess that's another adjustment I have to make.

That's it for now.

^JR^