Round 22 is Over!

[lolmac]

Another fine round!

In between the hypnotic giraffes bent on global domination through brainwashing, the purple zombie werewolves, and the glowing, freshly laundered penguins, we had plot handwavium, tea, sugar, gifs, glowsticks, glow that stuck, incoherent blood on the walls, bacon, and cheese.  We had some new faces turn up, discussions of grammar that did not end in bloodshed, and lots of writing and editing and writing and outlining and writing and beta reading and writing and revising and writing and researching and writing!

So post here and brag about your accomplishments!  The writing-related ones, that is.  If you're an accomplished knitter or postcard artist, there are other forums to post about that.

Please take a moment also to thank the Mod Squad: isdon_isgood9, glinda_penguin, pitry, the indomitable dbskyler (who triumphed over an LJ glitch in mid-mod), lullabymoon, idlewild_, and lothithil!

Keep an eye on the comm for the November poll!  We'll be here to support the NaNoWriMo lunatics participants, as well as the picowrimo and mini_nanowrimo and NoWayInHellWriMo people, and anybody else.

Also, it's my birthday tomorrow.  In case anyone wondered.  ;-)

Comments

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

I wrote 11,322 words! In base 4. Base 4 is an awesome base for word counts.

But yay for fic_rush, because it got me started on a new fic, which is just what I was hoping would happen! Thanks everyone!

Hope you all enjoy your freshly washed penguins -- mine smell lemony -- and see you next round!

And happy early birthday, lolmac!

[lolmac]

I should do all my word counts in Base 4.

Mmm, lemony penguins!

[thisbluespirit]

Hurrah! *throws stuff*#

(What are these bases of which you speak? I just, you know, click my word count button...)

#nice shiny stuff

[lolmac]

There's first, second, and third base, and home plate. It's an American thing. I think. I don't watch sports myself.

Ooo, shiny!

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Base 4 is writing numbers using only the digits 0, 1, 2, and 3. The number "4" in normal numbers is written as "10" in base 4.

In the Hour 48 post, Beth had suggested counting in base 8, so I found a base 10 (normal numbers) to base 8 online converter and posted my word count in base 8. Then for this wrap-up post, I realized that posting my word count in base 4 made it appear much larger. So, I did a normal word count, and then converted that number to base 4. (Online converters are awesome.)

[thisbluespirit]

Thanks. It sounded as if it was something along those lines, but my brain is just skidding over all the bits I don't understand. Which is most of that. *blushes*

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

I have a lot of trouble understanding number bases too. I get the concept, but whenever it comes to details, I get confused. Which is why online converters (http://www.convertit.com/Go/ConvertIt/Calculators/Math/Base_Converter.ASP) are so handy.

I was at least exposed to the concept of different bases when I was a kid, in the Tom Lehrer comedy song "New Math." In it, he "explains" the math problem 342-173 = ? He first does the problem in normal numbers (base 10), and then does it in base 8. You can listen to the song here on youtube. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wHDn8LDks8) (Don't try to actually make sense of it, though. Well, it does make sense if you slow it down, but it's supposed to be fast and funny.)

[lolmac]

Ha. Silly LJ screened your comment, because it had links in it. Clearly, you're a spammer from the New Math Brigade.

I am embarrassed to admit I knew most of Tom Lehrer by heart before I was 10. This did not mean I actually understood Base 8, though.

And if you've never seen this particular animation of "The Elements", you've missed a treat.
http://www.privatehand.com/flash/elements.html

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks. Silly me, I never even noticed that it got screened.

And no, I'd never seen that animation to "The Elements" before! Thanks for the link. :D