Post by Akbar Le Grey on Nov 18, 2007 15:22:26 GMT -5
November 18th - November 25th.
Editor-in-Chief: Akbar Le Grey.
Contributors: Linda, PJ, Jemima, Shruti, Cybermystery, tim, A., Alice, Dismay, Libitina, doctor love, Spoony.
Published by 667er Publications, ltd.
A subsidiary of the 667er Group.[/center]
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This year’s edition of The 667 Factor, one of 667's longest-running traditions, came to a close earlier this week as a winner was finally chosen. The current 667 Factor featured three different types of contestants: poets, artists, and singers. During each round, the contestants prepared something in their chosen medium that fit in with a theme. Each round one contestant was voted out, until the final round, when after an extended period of voting, Libitina was declared champion of the 667 Factor.
The three finalists, Amanda, Libby, and Tigerclaw, had been in the competition for over six months, and while it was quite liberating to finally declare a winner, all of them are to be thanked for sticking in for so long. If you see them around, be sure to congratulate them on a job well done!
Sixteen, organizer of the current 667 Factor, also deserves a great deal of thanks for putting it all together and for sticking with it at a time when 667 was not getting much participation.
An Interview with the Triumphant Winner[/u]
When planning this article, I was given a chance to speak with Libby, who kindly agreed to be interviewed and give her thoughts on the 667 Factor.
The 667er: Welcome, Libby.
Libby:Thank you, Linda. You're a nice lady
The 667er: Why thanks. So, Libby, congratulations on winning the 667 Factor!
Libby: Thanks!
Libby: It was a blast.
The 667er: First of all, I'd like to ask: What was your favourite part about the 667 Factor?
Libby: It was interesting and challenging having different genres, as it has been in the past competitions. That prevents it from being a tedious process and makes the contestants leave their comfort zones.
The 667er: You were in the last 667 Factor. Did you like the change made for this newest one allowing contestants to submit artwork?
Libby: Yes, it was a nifty change. It really added variety and allowed more people to participate, the same way allowing singing was a fun change. Obviously it was a good thing for Tigerclaw, who had some really awesome work.
The 667er: Were there any special challenges that you faced as a singer?
Libby: Amanda and I both had some trouble finding appropriate songs for some of the themes, especially the one that was about animals, I believe. That turned out to be a good thing, though, because it really got us thinking about different ways songs can be interpreted,
The 667er: That's a great point. I really liked your choice in songs.
The 667er: Now, I was just looking back, and realized that the 667 Factor went on for over six months. Did you like having the contest spaced out over such a long period of time?
Libby: Er, not so much. It kind of lost its spark a bit, but things happen.
The 667er: Do you feel there could have been more audience participation?
Libby: Perhaps, but I imagine that there were at least a few people who followed the contest to a reasonable degree. I don't think the length of the contest was anyone's fault in particular--people have been rather busy. Sixteen and Amanda often made sure that the contest continued, however, and that probably helped the audience participation a lot.
The 667er: Definitely.
The 667er: One more question: do you think that it would be a good idea to keep holding the 667 Factor?
Libby: Yes, it would be fun to see more people's work in future competitions.
The 667er: Thanks, Libby, for giving up your time for the interview.
Libby: Chure, and thank you.
The official 667 Factor Thread is here (if you haven't already, be sure to check out some of the lovely artwork that the contestants have put out).
- Linda.
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I touched someone from the Internets…
And survived[/u]
Wandering through the borders store as if she were looking for a person rather than a new piece of exciting literature, the girl approached the entrance where she appeared to stop wandering and start walking with a more decided manner. A young man leaning against a wall straightened as she approached.
A pre planned meeting no doubt. A quick greeting is exchanged to get the pleasantries out of the way. A short reconstruction of the conversation would go something like this. (Attempts to retain accuracy have been made but the reporter takes no responsibility for any deviations from the truth.)
‘Hello hello’
‘Hi. Wow you really are tall’
‘Yes, that I am. They have Gloria Jeans, it’s good.’
The girl noted as she pointed inside and then gave a thumbs up signal to display just how good good really was.
‘I have no money’ The man explained as he added the details of his limited budgeting skills. So the girl ordered two cookies and cream mocha chillers and while waiting they discussed various other neutral topics. How his trip had been. How hot the weather was lately. Mindless drabble.
They took a seat at a table and when the girl whipped out a camera and explained it was for photographic proof it became instantly obvious to everyone around what this was.
A meeting from the internets!!!
Oh how dangerous it sounds, everyone knows the internets are full of dangerous psychopathic rapists and murderers.
The man is slightly shorter than the girl and poses no real threat; the girl, however, is one shady character.
They continue sipping their drinks from straws, which they had to wait for the person working there to refill. Discussion turns to the forum.
Members, goings on, Chat rooms, mass e-marriages, the good old days.
‘Now we can talk about them behind their backs, face to face,’ the man tells the girl and they both giggle briefly.
More discussion of threads and indeed this dear publication before once again the camera is brought out for more photos.
‘Pull a more exciting pose.’ The girl tells the man before a hugging one is taken.
‘To prove I touched someone from the internet’ The man tells.
‘To prove that they weren’t a psychopathic rapist murder.’ The girl replies
‘If only you had the same proof.’ The man says smiling.
‘This is where I leave.’ The girl makes a motion of getting up.
Once again they both giggle.
However this really is where she leaves as their meeting is cut short by the greatest evil know to mankind. Namely public transport and its reduced timetable on Sundays.
‘Good Bye sam.’ Says the girl at the bus port
‘I’ll see you round on msn sometime.’
And once again their friendship is limited to the online world.
- A.
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*ON STRIKE*
If you’ve never met a writer, there are a few things you should know about us. We’re needy. Our pleas for you to “please review” are milder than “OH MY GOD IF YOU DON’T REVIEW I MIGHT AS WELL JUMP OFF A BRIDGE AND END IT” yet that is what we think.
Also, writers love to write about other writers. I could rhapsodize on Oscar Wilde for days—and that’s after I read you His complete works. Biography has its own section at the bookstore for a reason.
But the most important thing that you should know about writers is that we want to be paid to write. Forget your piddling neighbor who writes “for pleasure”. If you know a writer, he or she or it wants to be rewarded, nay, PAID for what they write.
And that’s why the Writers Guild of America is on strike. It isn’t about being greedy. It isn’t about making the viewing public suffer. They just want to be paid for what they write.
I’m sorry if this article isn’t exactly up to par…but I still want to get paid for it.
- Alice.
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Shruti: Good evening, 667ers. I'm here this evening with Triangle Eyes, aka Enemy Number One, aka Leslie. On behalf of the 667er, welcome, Triangle Eyes. Nice to talk to you. Incidentally, how would you like to be addressed?
Triangle Eyes: Tri is fine, thanks.
Shruti: Tri it is, then. So. Your profile says you are a fifteen-year-old girl. Would you stand by that statement if put under oath in a court of law?
Triangle Eyes: Yes indeed.
Shruti Krishnan: Being fifteen years old, I assume you're in high school. In one of your recent posts you discussed learning about the Oneida community. And in the past you have told some rather gruesome and, frankly, completely bizarre stories. Just where do you live that all of this happens? Is it like, a prison school? And, as a sidenote, did you know that Charles Guiteau, who assassinated President Garfield, was kicked out of the Oneida community? Kicked out of a free-love community. Isn't that awful?!
Triangle Eyes: I live in the suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts, about 12 miles out of the city. Yes, my school is somewhat like a prison. There are cameras everywhere watching your every move. It's also decorated in dull way. No, I did not know that about Charles Guiteau.
Shruti: ...are Boston suburbs really that dangerous and/or boring?
Triangle Eyes: Some are. My city isn't all that awful in comparison to those closer to the city. There are often shootings there.
Shruti: Oh dear.
Triangle Eyes: Again, some are, some aren't. My city has a nice movie theater and the neighboring town has a big mall. There's usually stuff to do around here.
Shruti: Ah, well, who cares about murder when you have a mall and a movie theater.
Triangle Eyes: Parents care about murder if they have small children.
Shruti: Understandably so, I suppose. So, Tri. You're somewhat of an enigma to 667ers. As far as I know, you've never revealed your first name or posted a picture of yourself, or anything of the sort. Since I'm trying to stalk you, is there anything you'd like to reveal about yourself?
Triangle Eyes: I have brown hair and brown eyes.
Shruti: Really. Surprising physical traits ... for an enemy. A self-proclaimed enemy. Is there a reason, incidentally, that you've declared yourself Enemy Number One?
Triangle Eyes: I'm a rebel. I didn't want to jump on the bandwagon and be a friend like everyone else
Shruti: I know you've engaged in a lot of conflict on 667. And personally, I view you as an enemy. Especially because of the recent tim scandal. Why do you hate him so much?
Triangle Eyes: Because he is a gag account.
Shruti: That doesn't mean he doesn't have feelings!
Triangle Eyes: But he isn't real!
Shruti: Can you prove that? He is as real as you or I, in that he has an internet presence.
Triangle Eyes: Gigi matched the e-mail address of tim to [redacted]’s e-mail.
Shruti: And you honestly think she had reason to tell the truth? It's called bribery, m'dear! Somebody could have been paying her off. Blackmail, perhaps.
Triangle Eyes: I do believe she is telling the truth. She is a trustworthy woman.
Shruti: So you refuse to treat Tim with respect.
Triangle Eyes: Yes, I suppose.
Shruti: Even if he *were* a gag account, how would that change the situation? Have you ever been a gag account? Can you understand what lies deep in his heart?
Triangle Eyes: What do you mean by "change the situation"? Yes I have been a gag account. I think what lies is in his heart is [redacted]’s desperate cry for attention.
Shruti: And yet, in last week's interview, he seemed so human...
Triangle Eyes: That is because behind the facade that is Tim, there is a human.
Shruti: How would you feel if I called YOU a facade? BEHIND THE FACADE THAT IS TRIANGLE EYES, THERE IS NOT ANYTHING HUMAN.
Triangle Eyes: I would call your face a facade! ):<
Shruti: A cold heart unwilling to accept a lost soul. I'm sorry. I'm afraid I can't continue. This exchange has left me very ... emotional.
Triangle Eyes: I apologize.
Shruti: Unacceptable. Tim, my love, stay strong. Until next week, this is Shruti for the 667er, signing off.
- Shruti.
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Why can't we all be friends?
Friend Numbah 3, concerned friend number 8TM, Friend Number 6, Superfriend Numbers 4 and 9...the current display name trend is quite fascinating. Fun as drama and fights are, it's nice to see people coming together and being friends (even if only in name). It makes everyone feel all warm and fuzzy inside. And as the famous Tim once said, "a friend in need is a friend in deed."
- Linda.
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Music speaks a Thousand Words
tim here to talk about my most happiest thing. you make think this is dragongirl9397 but no it is clarinets because she stopped talking to me. i have played in school band for many years now that i am a senior member of the school band. i first joined school band because my mom says it is a great idea to play music with friends.clarinets bring me so much joy in their sound the sound of its sound can soothe the savage beast. i love my band so much. one time we were playing my favorite music and then the stand fell over it was HILIRILOUS if you have any questions about clarinets or music bands pm me and i will helpyou
- tim.
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Libitina: Greetings, salut, olá, and hello in other languages that will bother Tim, 667! I come to you today with various bits of general advice that are sure to make your life worth living. More, I mean. All your lives are very important. In, er, their own special ways.
Fantine: Thank you, Mr. Simmons. And I am Fantine, her brain, which she neglected to mention.
Libitina: Aye, shows that you're working.
Fantine: Don't start with me, I control your vital organs.
Libitina: And a limb is nothing with the head cut off. Don't bother with Mark Antony! Speaking of which, this brings us to my first tip. Even given the brightest opportunities, one should never murder the king of Saudi Arabia.
Fantine: I did that once.
Libitina: Why do you think I'm advising against it now? Poor King Fahd.
Fantine: He called my dress inappropriate. Death.
Libitina: You do realize that if you go to jail, I'm going with you, right?
Fantine: Precisely, my dear Libby.
Libitina: Moving on. The next tip: If you are a sophomore girl given the chance to play volleyball with towering senior boys, don't.
Fantine: Way to support the feminist movement!
Libitina: Way to support the death movement! Next tip: If you decide to dedicate a day to your favourite teacher, don't hold Possum Day in the same respect.
Fantine: You know, it's a good thing you didn't tell Mr. Smiles about that. He would have thrown you down a staircase in a trash can like his friend from the army. Maybe he and I should start a partnership.
Libitina: You're French, you hate Americans. You can't join the American army. Another tip: If the Marines keep calling you, and it's not for a nice chat, tell them you have flat feet.
Fantine: But they don't call you, they call your older brother. The one who's in college and won't join the Marines anyway.
Libitina: Hush, fiend. Have you never heard of exploding the moment? Next tip: Chemistry teachers never have good intentions.
Fantine: And she's not just saying that because she'll never use chemistry in real life. The teacher nearly looked down her shirt! If someone had done that in my day, they'd be burned at the stake. And not even by my sole opinion!
Libitina: Which brings us to our final tip for this week. If you find yourself arguing with your brain, and your brain is not the nicest chum in the bunch, get out now.
Fantine: Well, at least we got an article in this week.
Libitina: And don't see The Golden Compass. Until next week, fare thee well.
- Libitina.
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Prologue
It was October 28th. The wind blew occasionally through the town of Winston. It was pretty cold for it to still be October, but the climate now was better than the stifling heat had been that August. The leaves were fully coloured; a nice carpet of red, orange, and yellow carpeted the streets and sidewalks.
The town of Winston was a very big town and had a middle school, Van Buren Middle School, and a high school, Van Buren High. It also had large homes in the vicinity, not extremely glamorous or big like mansions, but the houses had big backyards, balconies, and garages separate from the house. There was a church, a pizzeria, drug stores, a supermarket, and even a costume shop. Usually, the costume shop was filled with people looking for last minute costumes with kids constantly changing their minds about what they wanted to be. This left parents with headaches bigger than their heads, so then it was off to the drug store.
Today, though, was a different day. The city was unusually quiet, almost like it was anticipating something. The streets were empty except for a lone teenager. He was 17, maybe even 18. He wasn’t from out of town; this much was obvious from his red Van Buren High sweatshirt.
He was of average height. He wore very thick sunglasses which was odd since there was barely any sun. He wore his hood over his head and with the sunglasses; the boy would be unrecognizable to even his own family.
The boy seemed to walk with a purpose. He had a smooth stride and never faltered in step, unless he needed to cross the street and watch for oncoming cars. His destination was now reached: the costume shop. He walked in and saw it was devoid of people except for a lone cashier. It was also devoid of costumes, he could see a few witches, an old black cloak, a devil’s mask, and other cheap costumes.
He approached the counter to ask the cashier a distracting question. Before he spoke, he made sure that he would speak in a low voice.
“Can you check if my reserved costume is in the back room? My name is William Benson.” The boy asked.
“Sure.” The cashier said. The cashier looked about the boy’s age and looked very gullible. He went to the back.
By the time, he came back to the counter to tell the customer his reservation was not there, the boy was gone. The cashier shrugged it off and decided that maybe it was just a prank. He decided to close the shop down too. It was 7 and no one was coming to buy a costume soon. He locked up the store and started to walk home, not realizing the store was missing a devil mask and a black cloak.
- Cybermystery.
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Jem's Room.
Step right into the room of Jemima! The one and only bedroom! How exciting! View her posters and prized possesions. This week, she features what's on her wall:
Here is an adorable poster of her favorite Disney character, Stitch, from Lilo and Stitch. Note that he is Experiment 626. Also beware of the alien cursing on it: "Meega na la kweesta!" D: You need some soap, Stitch.
A quarter of the other poster in the picture is the scene from Titanic, where Jack and Rose are on the bow, "flying."
As you can tell from this snapshot, Jem tends to be messy, but have good taste at the same time. The mysterious cat on the wall is none other than that famous French poster, "Turn of the Black Cat." This poster is also featured in Jem's French class teacher's room. The microscopic poster, compared to the Cat, is from a concert a year ago featured at her local high school. The band had come up from downstate, and are now one of her coolioest bands evar.
The top painting with an intricate frame is a black panther in a waterfall. Found in an exotic shop in a downstate mall, Jem knew it was poster love at first sight. She bought it right off the bat for $30. The panther is fuzzy. ^_^
The bottom watercolour painting is of a children's park in Michigan, also downstate. Everything's downstate. What can she say? Anyways, her little cousin gave her this poster just because he's so sweet and a little cutie-pie.
The very faint parrot next to the watercolour painting was drawn more than a year and a half ago. She was bored and tired of the blank, white walls, so what's better than to add a parrot?
True, this isn't on a wall, but it's on a door, which is connected to a wall, and running into a closed door is the same as running into a wall. This is Edward Scissorhands. Jemima happened to get this poster downstate as well as most of her others. She loves Edward Scissorhands. This was purchased more than a year ago.
Jem has old Barbie dolls on a shelf. She used to play with them a lot. She's also got a white robe, and a really tall shelf that's next to the wall. The light switch, located on the wall, is hidden behind that incredibly tall shelf. The ornament topping off such a shelf was bought in the Bahamas more than five or six years ago! She now uses it as her Easter basket that holds chocolate bunnies and Peeps. Jem doesn't really like Peeps.
Next week, look forward to Jemima's bureaus and dressers!
- Jemima.
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