Quote by Molly

I want to remind everyone that our story counter does not always show the correct count.

I've been using my word processor's count and just ignoring the glitchy counter on here. Never been a problem. Would be nice if the programmers fixed it (likely, they need to find a new code module to replace the one they are using) but it's hardly urgent.

Sorry there's no ape entry. With my evenings shot due to fatigue and my weekends continually getting sucked up with various other things, it's just not happening right now. I have ideas, though, so will probably be in at some point.

Quote by verbal
It's like, the characters decided to fall in love, regardless of what I wanted to write.

Characters going their own way, eh. Sometimes you get the best stories that way. 😊

Good morning. I am away right now, just an overnighter. Have a memorial to go to and it is far enough from home as to require an overnight stay. Will be heading home this afternoon (For the other Ontarian, I am in Lindsay).

Quote by JamesPBear
However, in retrospect, my biggest regret was not spending more time around Bar Harbor, Maine. It's a delightful part of the world, whereas the geography on the Nova Scotia side is much less interesting. Try to spend some time in Maine before taking the Cat if you can!

When we went that way, we drove through Maine, spent a night in the Bar Harbor area, then drove through NB and PEI before heading into NS and visiting Cape Breton. Our ultimate destination was Halifax, though, since Mrs. M was teaching at Dal then. But, yeah, that part of Maine is beautiful.

Welp, there goes attempt number one at the comp. I like the story and I'll still write it but no freakin' way this one can be done in 1000 words. Back to the drawing board.

Quote by Meagananne1986
All three have caused me to reevaluate my own story and pause on its submission.

Which is why I usually wait until my own is at least well underway before reading others. 😉 Nothing gives me doubts about my own story faster than reading other entries.

Oh, I'm a big fan of character development, both writing and reading. That said, I also enjoy an interesting idea or clever story twist so I can be easy on that.

Lots of description or use hints and let the reader's imagination go wild?

Hello, all. How's things? Comp is up to 3 entries so is ticking along jiggedy-boo. Now I just need to come up with something.

Refreshed the hot drinks. Cold drinks are looking good. Here's some sweet goodness in case that helps with the storytelling.

Quote by rolandlytle
Remember that the AI we are using today is not, by definition, Artificial Intelligence. They are just very sophisticated programs.

Yeppers. We are still a long way from Skynet. Whether the US regulates AI or not almost doesn't matter. China is likely going to be the leader in AI eventually anyhow.

Since I mostly write fantasy and related for here, my stories tend to be fictional but truth can seep in, e.g. the used book store in Dash is based on my youthful days exploring the ones in my birthplace.

"Realistic" fiction or fantastical/speculative fiction?

Chocolate.

On sundaes: A place I used to eat, I think it was the Canadian chain restaurant Swiss Chalet, used to have absolutely killer sundaes that were exactly what you describe. Haven't been there in years and with my diabetes, probably should steer clear of the sundaes even if I do go.

Comp entries: Agonize over them until the last second on the deadline or get them out as quick as possible?

New (to me, they've been kicking around for a few years now) symphonic metal band that came up in my recommendations the other day. Flowerleaf is originally from Brazil but has made Germany their home base for now. They have two albums out and, based on this new single, another must on the way. Great song, too. Lead singer Vivs Takahashi has a wonderful voice for this kind of music and is pretty good songwriter, too, based on what I have listened to so far.

Bowl. I tend to drop cones.

Plain ice cream or make a sundae?

Quote by verbal
Anyone remember Hale-Bopp?

Very well. The first comet I really saw. One evening, I was riding a bus from my place in Hamilton to my wife's place in London (this was during the time when we lived apart for career reasons) and got a great view of it out the window.

I've put on some Jamaican Blue Mountain Dark Roast for coffee. Teas are Irish Breakfast and Black Currant. Cold drinks all refreshed.

Temperature has improved here but it's still muggy. At least there's a breeze, which helps a bit.

No comp entry here, just stray thoughts that could become one.

Crap, I have like two paragraphs that I am not even sure about using. Way to go WriterGirl and AAnna!!!

Quote by WriterGirl
Biggest obstacle is Butters (cat) chasing words on the screen.

Mine might be about, or involve, a cat. Does Butters do modelling jobs? Who's his agent?😁

I might have something. 😊

Then again, I sometimes think that at the start of a comp and end up with something completely different by the time I hit Publish. 😕

So we'll see... 😀

Quote by Meagananne1986
quiet, serene beach on a lake

This one for sure. I like just laying on a beach chair with a book and/or music and that works much better when I have some space and less noise.

Sedan or SUV?

Welcome to day two of Summer Love!! Not some new relationship I'm having, but the StoriesSpace comp that launched yesterday. I'm thinking about possible stories. How about you?

In other news, there's Tobermory Flowerpot Island coffee brewing. In the teapots, there's some David's Breakfast (named for the chain that sells it, not some dude named David) and Kenyan Tinderet. The latter is delish. If you thought all good coffee came from the Far East or India/Ceylon, it's worth a try. There's some nice stuff in Africa, too. Cold beverages are all looking good and will be needed. 31-33C with humidex potentially heading for the 40s here for both days of the weekend.

AI research has to happen. Regardless of what we think of things like ChatGPT and Gemini, AI is a powerful research tool. Already, Google's labs have vastly improved our ability to generate models of protein folding, critical for improving drugs and other biochemistry. Scientists are feeding large data sets into AI models to more quickly and efficiently analyze them. Basically, it's the old computer adage: "Garbage in, Garbage out". Used with a meaningful, useful dataset, AI can work wonders. Used with something like the Internet, which is a mixed bag with lots of meaningless, useless, and sometimes downright harmful data, it pukes out garbage. And research is how we are going to deal with it properly. Now, whether this bill actually helps with that research is another whole issue...

(and that's James the Bear you're responding to, by the way)

I have thoughts. Going to dance through my writer's notebook to see if there's anything there, too. Most of it is longer pieces, potential novel(la)s and such, though.

Canoeing

Concert at a big venue (arena, stadium, festival) or a smaller, more intimate setting?

Quote by Meagananne1986
What, if any, is the word limit, Molly?

Quote by Molly
The maximum word count is 1000.

Your answer is right there. It's a flash comp, in other words.

The other release burning up my buds this week is from another Finnish act with a Nightwish connection, the folk-prog-rock-whatever (it's bloody hard to classify) ensemble Auri. Auri is a trio consisting of Tuomas Holopainen (keys, songwriter), Troy Donockley (various other instruments, occasional vocals), and Johanna Kurkela (lead vocals). Tuomas and Troy are longtime bandmates in Nightwish, Tuomas and Johanna are a married couple. They are coming up to the release of their third studio LP and a major European tour.

Bearwood is an interesting project. Blues-inflected rock ensemble headed by guitarist (and a damn fine one) Marko Karhu. Vocalist is Finnish singer and bassist Marko Hietala, who I know from his time in Nightwish and more recently his solo career. Magnificent musician whether he's singing or playing or both (he just sings in Bearwood). The band has several singles out now but still no indication if an album is the ultimate goal here.

I saw that on the front page. Nice banner. Will begin contemplating.

Sorry to hear you've been having a bad year. Sending good vibes and condolences on the losses. Take care.

To rephrase a song by Stompin' Tom Connors:

It's Independence Day

Down America way

On the fourth day of July

Happy Fourth, my American neighbours!! Have a good one!!

There's Kicking Horse Happy Camper on for coffee. Bigelow's (American brand) Earl Grey and Raspberry Royale on for teas. Lots of sodas from both sides of the border along with pitchers of unsweet iced tea and lemonade for those needing a cold beverage. And in honour of both countries celebrating b-days this week, here's the cake.

Quote by rolandlytle

I am looking forward to the 4th of July celebrations. I have been absent from stories space for a while, but I am enjoying the new stories.

Whoa, Roland is back! Hello there, stranger. Hope all is well with you. Have a great Fourth.

So now that my country's birthday is over with, we can get back to our regular fun and games. There's Deathwish Dark Roast on in the coffee pot. For teas we have Cream of Earl Grey and Kenyan Tinderet (a really nice African black tea). And there's the usual assortment of cold drinks in the fridge.

I am struggling a bit with writing. I'm producing, but it's all for another site and I'm despairing of ever being able to get a project for here to the finish line. They just all seem to languish or ramble on. I was reviewing some of my options yesterday and I am still not really sure which one to pursue. Or just toss the lot and start something new. Part of my problem is my penchant for starting to write with a scene or general idea in mind but no real sense of where it should go or how it will end. Or I have an idea of how it will end but grow to hate it as I progress and halt before I get there.

I like both but pork does have a bit more flavour, I find.

Card game or board game for a lazy summer afternoon?

Quote by verbal
The bill passed the Senate. The billionaires are in charge now.

Thought that a different version passed the House and reconciliation would be needed? So it may not yet be over. Keep fighting. I was a bit po'd at the revocation of the Digital Service Tax. Giving Trump his way make ape grumpy. I am not a big fan of some of the regulatory moves Canada has made around digital services (like enforcing Can-con on services like YouTube), but using a tax to keep some of the profits in Canada was one I could handle.