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ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ

I'll try to whip through this infofile, perhaps the artscene's most demanding,
because we have tons of great art, no one has had a chance to appreciate it
yet, and infofiles are not widely enough appreciated to justify delaying
release!  Saturday, April 18th, we launched 2020's edition of the Blender IRC
"funpo", under the revised 2019 rules: running two parallel competitions, one
brief and one long.  But doubling the work on our plate wasn't enough for some,
so we one-upped our audacious selves of one year ago with a new development:

<Cthulu> Warpus suggested we have active and interested blenderians milling
around in here, would you like warpus and I to kick things off early
with a warm up round?
<warpus> we could do some sort of a warmup
<sIMONkING> why not? :)
<Cth^Mist> we have a long way to go [six hours?!@#%] before real blender,
 we're just tapping the energy in the room

So sure, if the bodies are there and the mood is right, why not, running three
Blenders is surely not much more work than just running two of them.  We took
many, many years off, so why not start making up for lost time?

<teakay> did you advertize in #ansi about this blender compo?
<teakay> i heared bots can draw too these days ;-)

We also preserved our 2019 innovations of rewarding with bonus points artists
who participated in multiple compos simultaneously, iced with additional
bonuses for artists who grandstanded by incorporating multiple compos' worth of
topics into a single monolithic creation!

<Cth^Mist> remember, go for the bonus and use both sets of topics.
<Cth^Mist> in fact, I recall there is a bonus bonus if you are able to
 consolidate and use all six topics in a single artwork
<lum> hell yeah.
<Cth^Mist> live the dream!
<burps_> that does make it easier indeed..
<warpus> and if you mix in some of the pre-blender words into all that too,
 then it's an option as well
<Cth^Mist> that's so much bonus it actually turns negative

I gotta say, the artists seem to be going for it!  It's an exciting new dynamic
to this venerable battle of wits, if I say so myself!

ßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßß
°°ÛÛÛ°°Û        jÛuÛsÛtÛ  f o rÛ  p r a c t i c e °° Û±±°°ÛÛÛ°°ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛ°
ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ

<Cth^Mist> hang on, just hand curating the words
<firecat_> great
<firecat_> i forgot what i sent
<firecat_> damn

<Cth^Mist> OK, we've looked over our word suggestions, here's an easy topic
   for the warm-up pre-Blender blending round
<Cth^Mist> ROBOTS / TRAINING / IN VIRTUAL REALITY

<Cth^Mist> get your entries in to me or more likely Warpus within the next
   four hours and 19 minutes.
<Cth^Mist> In the meantime I'll be buzzing off and helping to demolish an old
   lady's basement
<Cth^Mist> innuendo fiends, go wild

<sIMONkING> where to send ansi?
<@warpus> send entries to me
<sIMONkING> what channel e-mail? ftp? fb?
<Cth^Mist> any way your little heart desires
<sIMONkING> :)
<Cth^Mist> (warpus hears a knock on the door and all blood drains from his
 face)

<Cth^Mist> should I announce the winner of the pre-compo?
<Cth^Mist> I should.
<Warpus> yeah might as well
<Cth^Mist> In third place, The Odd Fire Cat!
<Cth^Mist> In second place, sIMONKING!
<Cth^Mist> and in first place, Pinguino!
spiny applauds
<Cth^Mist> hats off everyone!  You don't win any points for your crews, but
you know in your hearts that you are true winners.
<Cth^Mist> The rest of us, of course, are just wieners.
<Cth^Mist> Weiners.
<Cth^Mist> God damnit
<Cth^Mist> how do you ruin an already unfunny punchline?
<Cth^Mist> I will find a way!
<Cth^Mist> That's what makes me the spirit of April Fool's.

ßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßß
°°ÛÛÛ°°ÛÛt h i s   t i m e ,   f o r   r e a l !  Û°° Û±±°°ÛÛÛ°°ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛ
ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ

<Cth^Mist> good topics inspire superior art!
<cranksy> if two of those words are gabber and cat I'm golden
<cranksy> UNF UNF UNF UNF MEOW
<Cth^Mist> and lacklustre words are turds that even master craftsmen can only
 polish so far
<Cth^Mist> or if you can't think of a topic you would excel at, ask yourself
 what are topics you could handle that would trip up the competition,
 anti-inspirational
<Cth^Mist> like "monks / doing taxes / in a library"
<Cth^Mist> possibly the most boring topic possible?
<Cth^Mist> "growing grass / watching / drying paint"
<mel_farr> did some actually submit growing grass watching drying paint?
<Cth^Mist> it was a hypothetical
<mel_farr> i kind of like it fwiw

<Cth^Mist> thanks for your patience, we almost have the words settled
<Cth^Mist> for the SHORT FORM BLENDER 2020 compo, due more or less in 2.5
 hours' time:
<Cth^Mist> the words are "COWBOY / EATING SUSHI / KIDDIE POOL"
<Cth^Mist> and for the LONG FORM BLENDER 2020 compo, due more or less in 24
 hours' time:
Cth^Mist plays a suspenseful drum roll
Cth^Mist pokes Warpus with a drumstick
Cth^Mist demonstrates amazing percussion technique
Cth^Mist twirls one stick in the air while cleaning his ear with the other
<warpus> the words are "MONKEYS / RESCUING / IN BETWEEN REALITIES"
<warpus> excuse me, I was in between realities for a sec there myself
<Cth^Mist> You have your assignments, artists.  Now go forth and make us some
 art!

<Cth^Mist> OK, will go announce the topics on social media.  See you in 2.5
 hrs!
<burps_> wtf!? where is the usual complaining about the keywords? this is not
 a normal blender! :)
<mel_farr> i just got back
<mel_farr> about to read the words and complain
<kniffy> dont worry im about to complain
<kniffy> how can i make anything on these?!
<kniffy> i gotta stew for a bit and annoy myself into an idea

[time passes]

<Cth^Mist> intense judging going on behind the scenes
Cth^Mist observes white smoke puffing out of the chimney
<Cth^Mist> We have a new dope!  It's... it's me.  I know, same dope as before.
<Cth^Mist> All right, friends, for the short-form compo of Blender 2020,
  engaging the words "cowboy", "sushi" and "kiddie pool"...
<Cth^Mist> IN THIRD PLACE...
<Cth^Mist> the warm-up round winner, PINGUINO!
<Cth^Mist> IN SECOND PLACE...
warpus fires off some confetti guns
<Cth^Mist> with a topical treat for your ears...
<warpus> CRANKSY
<Cth^Mist> and in FIRST PLACE...
warpus fires some more confetti, but this time into the crowd
<Cth^Mist> the winner of the short form Blender 2020 compo
<Cth^Mist> LUM!
<warpus> INATOR!!!
<Cth^Mist> congratulations to all competitors
warpus fires some confetti into his own face
<mel_farr> CONGRATS 2 EVRY1
<Cth^Mist> now everyone get back to work for the LONG FORM compo
<Cth^Mist> running for another, I don't know what, 19 hours?

<lum> Good morning!
<Cth^Mist> nice work, you won the short form round!
<lum> \o/

ßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßß
°°ÛÛÛ°°Ûa l l   c u l m i n a t i n g   i n . . .Û°°   ±°°ÛÛÛ°°ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛ°
ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ

<Cth^Mist> OK everyone, if you haven't got your submission in yet, the time is
   now.
<Cth^Mist> our judges are retiring to the judging chamber to deliberate
<cranksy> they're going to get distracted for an hour
<Cth^Mist> half of the judging is complete
<Cth^Mist> strange noises are being heard from the judging chamber
<Cth^Mist> the sounds of breaking furniture
<Cth^Mist> a keening ululation
<Cth^Mist> what is the sound of a thousand eels shrieking?  that.
<Cth^Mist> someone is heard swearing in Polish
<Cth^Mist> the calliope of a merry-go-round, slowing down and then playing ...
in reverse?
Cth^Mist bursts out and demands the delivery of 20 live chickens to allow the
 judging to continue
<Cth^Mist> the judging chamber goes eerily silent, save for the sound of a
     distant dripping and an old woman sobbing
<mfs> I AM THAT OLD WOMAN
<mfs> I FEEL SO SEEN
<Cth^Mist> We have wound up with a ranking that satisfies both judges, and
makes an old woman cry
<Cth^Mist> (that is the most important thing, after all)
<Cth^Mist> (fairness, lack of bias, and devastation of the elderly)
<Cth^Mist> without further ado
<Cth^Mist> actually, a little more ado
<Cth^Mist> an incredible thanks to all our participants!
<Cth^Mist> this was not particularly well promoted, but you somehow found your
   way in here anyway
<Cth^Mist> we had enough participants over the whole weekend to run three
   separate compos!
<Cth^Mist> I don't know if it's the lockdown talking
<Cth^Mist> but this might be a sign it's time for Blender to go more often
 than once a year
<mfs> !!!
<Cth^Mist> don't quote me on that though
<Cth^Mist> I'd love to see it
<Cth^Mist> would you believe it once ran weekly?
<Cth^Mist> OK, now without further further ado
<Cth^Mist> so the math involved yielded three sets of ties
<Cth^Mist> one at the bottom of the rankings, and two in the top three
<Cth^Mist> IN THIRD PLACE!
<Cth^Mist> we have arranged for an extra wide podium so that Lum and sIMONKING
 can share the glory while social distancing
<mfs> << CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP >>
<Cth^Mist> in SECOND PLACE
<Cth^Mist> Spiny, you crazy bastard, you get the spot all to yourself
<mfs> << CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP >>
<Cth^Mist> usually I reserve the 1st place for Warpus to announce, but despite
 still being online, his focus has been hijacked by a cadre of his
 friends requiring him to play Risk with them right this very second
<Cth^Mist> priorities!
<Cth^Mist> that can't be right.  I think I made up the Risk part.
<Cth^Mist> It would be a bold affront to be left in the lurch for Risk, because
  it is such a terrible game.
<cranksy> must have had to milk the moose
<Cth^Mist> wow
<Cth^Mist> well I know what next year's topic will be!
<Cth^Mist> But enough stalling.
<Cth^Mist> IN FIRST PLACE
<Cth^Mist> we have ANOTHER TIE
<Cth^Mist> two next-level pieces
<Cth^Mist> by WHAZZIT
<Cth^Mist> and MEL FARR SUPPASTAR
<Cth^Mist> Congratulations to all the winners
<mfs> << CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP >> {but for Whazzit}
<Cth^Mist> The competition was tiiiight, even with half the competitors tieing
      their way into the top 3
<mfs> after 2018 I had _lost_ 19 blenders. I was really hoping to get to a
      20th loss last year but it eluded me
<mfs> it seems to have eluded me again
<mfs> THANK YOU FOR RUNNING IT
<Cth^Mist> mfs, maybe in 2021, gotta come back and try!
<Cth^Mist> Come back and try Apr 17-18 2021!
<mfs> WELL MAYBE WE WILL DO AN OCTOBER ONE
<mfs> my recommendation would be a 6hr compo 2/yr
<Cth^Mist> a fun idea
<Cth^Mist> all right, Apr 17-18 2021 IF NOT SOONER
<Cth^Mist> stay tuned
<Cth^Mist> cheers and Blend on everyone!
<Cth^Mist> check 16colo.rs tomorrowish for the contents of all three of this
 year's compos!

ßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßß
°°ÛÛÛ°°Ûp o s t   g a m e   a n a l y s i sÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ°°   ±°°ÛÛÛ°°ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛ°
ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ

OK, just a couple of very superficial observations, items that may have eluded
home viewers who didn't laboriously pore over the incredibly statistics-driven
Blender infofiles...

1) Triple the compos, triple the art!  Lots of great material came in, none of
which would ever had reason to be brought into existence had this compo never
occurred.

2) The bonus gambit!  It's a whole new pathway for Blender advancement.

3) The rankings: After running Blender revived for five years, it's great to
finally have Blocktronics up on the board!  But the most surprising activity
was the enormous quantity of points won by artists representing Fuel this time
around, considering that the group has been considered defunct for months now!
But I'm not going to argue with artists' SAUCE metadata, even if it is just
haunted by expired default settings.  The Legacy krew is up on the board now
also, and I expect it will be pulling most of those phat Fuel winnings in
future compos.

4) Stepping up the pace?  Yeah, I can see a case for doing more of these, more
often.  It's as fun as it ever was, and now that one-world government may
impose you all to remaining indoors at all times in physical solitude, why not
Blend to maintain your sanity?  (I'm sorry, I can't say that with a straight
face.)

I gave myself until midnight to blitz through this, and I'm 5 minutes late.
The end!

ßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßß
°°ÛÛÛ°°ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛb y e                    ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ°°   ±°°ÛÛÛ°°ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛ°
ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ

 if there ever is another blender, it will most likely be held:
(if not sooner!)

saturday, april 17th - sunday, april 18th, 2021
7:30pm - 7:30pm (est)
 #blender (on EFnet)

please join us. - hennifer
& warpus
& cthulu







































<mel_farr> weird how this channel is still full
SAUCE00Blender 2020 infofile              Cthulu, Warpus & HenBlender!            20200420%­

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