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rolandlytle
4 hours ago
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rolandlytle
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Hi, Spacers.

I would like to get some advice on the 'Survivor' competition. Almost no one gives anything but a five rating/score on SS anymore. Before I start reading any of the competition submissions, should I use a different, more strict entry scoring?

A four or even sometimes a three score was not unusual in years gone by. When was the last time you saw a score lower than five? I am at a loss at the best way to deal with this and would dearly wish for input on this idea. So many of you are my friends, and I trust your opinions on this.

Till later. Ta.
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rolandlytle
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Good afternoon my friends.

Trevor, that is a great-looking table of goodies. Nom... nom...

Elizabeth, thank you for the quips, they are very punny!

Happy 4th to all the Americans. I must say that I am not a big fan of patriotic holidays. Not because of what they represent, but for how many celebrate. Fireworks are not the best way to celebrate these types of holidays. I personally know four veterans that can not go to fireworks displays and have a terrible time on the 4th of July and a few days leading up to that date. Loud explosions can be very disturbing to some veterans who have seen the darker side of combat. I admit it bothers me a bit too. I am sure all of you can understand this but had that idea crossed your mind before?

I am still trying to catch up on my reading. Please be patient. I often plan to read 5-8 stories but stop earlier. I have to stop to let the story run its course through my brain. The stories and poems are so wonderful and emotional that I have to stop for a while. So it is partially your fault I read the stories so slow.


Best to everyone and have a wonderful day!
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rolandlytle
Active Ink Slinger
Cheers, all! I hope everyone is having a fun and interesting weekend.

With the 4th of July coming, are people in the British Isles celebrating that they got rid of the crazy blokes over the pond, or are they sad they could not vote to get Trump elected PM?

I am glad to see a Pluto planet cookie. I have never accepted that Pluto is only a 'minor' planet.

I can not believe the heatwave through Canada. It got so hot a village burnt to the ground. That is some weird dung.
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rolandlytle
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Quote by Verity
Good morning everyone. That moment when someone asks you to bake a cake and put Happy Birthday in French.


I adore the whole idea of direct interpretation. This type of thing is so funny! It is even better than puns.
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rolandlytle
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I have had four people tell me I am too reasonable and need to be more emotional. I am still trying to get my head around this.
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rolandlytle
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Quote by Survivor


Black Panther.


I know quite a bit about Wauconda. I live only a few miles north of the village. However, I am always disappointed when we travel through Wauconda. I have yet to see those beautiful buildings or even a single flying car. As a matter of fact, the population does not seem to be primarily black. I guess they must be using some holographic technology to hide these things from sight.
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rolandlytle
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Quote by etairay
Just finished catching up on Charmed ..finished Sweet Tooth ..struggling with Loki


Were you watching the original Charmed or the remake?

So far, the three Marvel mini-series seem to be formatted like a movie cut into pieces rather than a standard mini-series, where each episode is formatted as a single show. This makes some episodes harder to enjoy singularly. I think the best way to watch them is to wait until the entire series is completed and then binge-watch them. I just can not wait that long myself. I thought the first two episodes of 'Wanda-Vision' were so dull, but they played an essential part in the whole story when taken with the entire mini-series. With 'Falcone and the Winter Soldier' had the same problem with a couple of its middle episodes. I have only seen the first three episodes of 'Loki,' and they seem alright, but once I have seen the entire mini-series, I believe (hope) that all of them will become more understandable and interesting. It seems to me like movie trilogies. The trilogy's second film is usually considered the worse of the three because it does not have the beginning or the end of the trilogy.

I have started rewatching an old TV series. It was Aaron Sorkin's first TV show, 'Sports Night.' It has a good cast and was well-produced, but Sorkin's scripts are fantastic. The pacing and rhythm are like listening to poetry or music.
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rolandlytle
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Cheers, fellow Spacers.

Liz is recovering well. Her physical therapist's first visit was today.

Happy Canada Day! I was born so near to Canada that I feel like Canada is part of me.




For you amateur American historians, C-Span has released its fourth American President Survey results. The top five rated presidents are Lincoln, Washington, F. Roosevelt, T. Roosevelt, and Eisenhower. This has been the same over C-Span's four surveys. (2000,2009, 2017, 2021) The rankings are listed in ten categories and total. Check out how your favorite presidents ranked. All the info for how it was done and who participated are at the website
https://www.c-span.org/presidentsurvey2021/

Great cookies, Sara, but I was surprised there were no Terrance & Phillips cookies. <hehe>



Be well and happy, everyone.
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rolandlytle
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by verbal
Don't leave us hanging! What movie did you rate a 10?


The only movie I have ever rated a 10.0 is a movie most people have never heard of, 'The Man of Earth.' It is a small independent film written by Jerome Bixby, who died in 1998. His son, Emerson, brought together a group of well-known co-star type of actors to film it in 2007 on a $200,000 budget over six days. It won a Saturn award that year and several other awards at various film festivals. It had a very limited release and was then released on DVD in 2007.

Its ratings are high on most sites, but due to its static nature and religious connotations, it did receive some low votes. It was filmed in and around a single rural house. Much as '12 Angry Men' was filmed in two rooms during a jury's deliberation.

IMDb's summary is, 'An impromptu goodbye party for Professor John Oldman becomes a mysterious interrogation after the retiring scholar reveals to his colleagues he has a longer and stranger past than they can imagine.'

I highly recommend it as my all-time favorite movie. I believe it is currently on Hulu for free.
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rolandlytle
Active Ink Slinger
Hi everyone!

A quick stop for tea.

Liz is home and doing well. I think I have convinced Liz to enter a story for the competition. I hope she does well for my sake.

Congrats to England and the Nationals. (Big Schwarber fan)

Cubs threw a combined no-hitter, then celebrated by losing four in a row. Yesterday they lost 4-14. (including a 10 run 8th inning by the Brew-Crew)

Health and joy to all.
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rolandlytle
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Quote by Mendalla
Quote by rolandlytle

I suggest you use the one that will win the contest.


Wiseguy. There's one in every crowd.

You would think that after two good finishes in comps last year, I would have some sense of that, but no such luck.



I will be pulling for you, Scott. I have always done terribly in contests. I did one on Christmas, and it was the lowest score I ever had. I guess Bah-Humbug is not a good theme for a Christmas contest!

BTW I edited that post almost immediately. Check it out.
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rolandlytle
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by Mendalla
My comp entry is flailing. I can go two ways with it and can't decide which to follow... Or there's another idea I could pursue but it is so vague and high level that I am not quite sure what to do with it in terms of actual writing.


I suggest you use the one that will win the contest.

My wife Liz is planning on entering the contest. It would be her first story on SS. If she does not do well, she will surely do me physical harm. I convinced her to do it. When you vote, please remember my health may be in danger.

[-o&lt; [-o&lt;
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rolandlytle
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I just finished 'Sweet Tooth.' It was entertaining and emotional. A rating of 8 of 10 for me. I have only rated one movie a ten. I am a tough scorer.
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rolandlytle
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by gillianleeza
Point Lookout Lighthouse and buoy marking the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay.


While stationed at Little Creek, Va, for the early part of my naval career, after schooling. I was onboard the USS Papago ATF-160. When my ship got underway, I was on the Sea & Anchor detail as the lead helmsman. (mainly due to my loud voice) After clearing the Little Creek harbor, I was placed on the Special Navigation detail. Special Navigations was used until we were safely into the main channel, within a couple of miles of the coast, or anytime there was a navigational hazard nearby. (including heavy traffic for any reason) I was assigned as a bearing taker. Taking bearings referred to using special equipment to measure two or more angles from our ship to a fixed location on a chart (map). The ship's navigator used this information to plot our position. We often used the Point Lookout Lighthouse and specially moored buoys (such as in your photo) to take our bearings. At the time, I could recognize these spots from memory, especially many of the lighthouses, including Point Lookout. Thanks for bringing back those memories, Gill.

The Mets/Nationals series should be awesome.

My wife is at the hospital. I was not allowed to go. My mobility is limited, and Covid visitor restrictions would not let me visit her anyway. If everything goes according to plan, she will stay overnight and return home tomorrow.

Yesterday my calculator died. I will have to get a new one. My number-cruncher gave me 31 years of service. I used it for more than half of my adult life. So long, my good buddy.

I met a 'sovereign citizen' on my trip back from NC. A walking case of sheer ignorance with no common sense and an ego the size of a rugby pitch. I had seen videos and read stories about these individuals, but actually seeing one in action is insane. I still am unsure if a sovereign citizen or a 1st Amendment auditor (commonly called a frauditor) is the worst. SovCits are in the US, Canada, British Isles, and Australia/New Zealand. The frauditors are only an American crazy. (to the best of my knowledge) They make 'Karens' seem dull and less bothersome. As pitiful as all of these types are, at least you can laugh at their stupidity.

It is pissing a mite here today, but nice outside.

Have a great day my friends!
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rolandlytle
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Quote by WriterGirl
Hi all!

Just poppin in. I'm looking forward to reading the comp entries!

I played golf for the first time in 20 yrs yesterday. Shot a 58 on 9 holes. My drive's surprisingly still there, but I 3-putted most greens and even 4-putted one. Ha! Hopefully, that will improve with practice.

Have a good evening!


Kim, after twenty years off, I would say that a 58 in nine holes is good. I used to play some golf in my younger years. I was not good but sure enjoyed it.

Elizabeth, the Nationals have one of my favorite players, Kyle Schwarber. Schwarbs has been lighting it up lately, and he is the kind of hitter that can carry a team a long way.

Sorry for my absence recently. After my trip to see my family, it took some time to settle myself. Then we had some family drama that grabbed my attention. First, my wife, Liz, is going in for knee replacement surgery tomorrow. Then after her recovery, she will have the other knee replaced also.

My family is quite dysfunctional, but I love them all dearly. My dad, sister, and oldest son are all rabid Trump supporters. They are full of conspiracy theories and craziness. My youngest son and his wife, with their three children, have been living with us for about four years. They are going to get a divorce for the last three years and go out of their way to push each other's buttons. Neither of them can afford to move out on their own, and I will not willingly throw either out of the house unless I have no other choice. So occasionally, we have a blowup between them. I have to be the peace-maker because I am the only person in the house that everyone respects. I am sure many of you have dealt with at least one of these situates in your family or friends.

Until later, everyone have a great day.
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rolandlytle
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Quote by yurigagarin

Hi everyone !

I've come across from the sister site because I've been told that this place is a wonderful comfy forum full of friendly folk and
well written stories.

And that's exactly what I've found - so glad I'm here !


Cheers, mate. I just finished reading your first piece on SS, and I wish you welcome to our small community.
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rolandlytle
Active Ink Slinger
Hi everyone!!!

I was finally able to get on computer. I sister let me use her lap-computer. My dad did not want me to use his cause I might go on fake media place and get him tagged as socialist. He is 100% Trump man.

Jeff, I got us a virtual liquor license for the 'Inspirators Coffee Shop,' but we can not have virtual booze on Sundays between 7 am thru 8:30 am. So everyone take notes.

The best baseball movie ever has not been done yet. If they ever make a movie of the book 'Ball Four' that will be the best one. As four now it is only the best baseball book ever, followed by 'Money Ball' If you read 'Money Ball' you will see how poor the movie is against the book.

I will not be able to get online till the 21 June.

I wonder how this close call at SS will affect us all. I know it has given me a greater understanding of how important you all are to me. You are like my 2nd family.
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rolandlytle
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Quote by Mendalla
If/when we move to a new site, we definitely need to make sure the cookie jars get packed. And the coffee maker and kettle.

We just had a horrific act of white supremacist terrorism (or at least that's how many of us are reading it) here. A guy drove his truck into a family of Muslims out for a walk. Four dead (grandmother, parents, teenaged child) and one child in hospital. Guy has been charged with 4 counts of murder one and 1 of attempted murder. May also face hate crime and/or terrorism charges. The cops are still working that file with help from the Mounties. Meanwhile, my city is in mourning.


I do not understand how so many people believe this type of heinous act is right. I do not believe people are generally evil, but as the last decade has played out, I am beginning to think I may be wrong. My prayers go out to the victims and their loved ones, the man who did this, and everyone affected by it.

I have to say that the news of Stories Space's closure is a huge blow. I am home-bound for the most part and my time with you here on this site is my only person-to-person contact, except for my wife. I cried this afternoon and had to take medication for when I have an emotional break.




I leave in the morning for N.C. to see my family. I will not be able to be online very much over the next two weeks due to the trip. Everyone stay safe.
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rolandlytle
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It is one of life's pleasures to stand in the back and watch a chick fight of two beautiful ladies in front of me.
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