The Lounge

[LeChatNoir]

Evening, LCN. How goes your evening? Remains standing for a while, just to keep his legs stretch out.

Hello, Noon Shadow. My evening's going splendidly, thanks. A good time playing cards with some friends, and now a quiet end-of-evening.

How about you?

 

[thestruggle]

I hope so as well. Though I've been doing some writing lately-mostly because I've been back in school. It's not quite the same as creative writing, especially erotic creative writing, but at least I have something of a writing voice right now. I'm just scanning through idea threads right now to see if something catches my interest. I'm picky about story ideas that I want to write about.

Hopefully I'll bump into some of my old co-writers and see if we can pick up or start us some new ideas.

As for whether it's good to be back...well, not the best period of my life right now. Having something of a safe social group (anonymity can be a security blanket) might help me out for a bit.

Ah, yes, I have a hard time finding new stories to write myself. I'm also quite picky, but then, my posts tend to be novel length so it's probably better that I don't write more and kill my cowriters with my verbal density. I'm sure you'll find some great stories to write.

And I'm sorry to hear that. It can be comforting to have a place like this, I agree. I hope it helps.

drops in, a glass of rye in hand

Hey there, people.

No more demon liquor...

 

[LeChatNoir]

No more demon liquor...

Mmm. Demon ichor.

Err...

Liquor.

 

[Noon_Shadow]

Hello, Noon Shadow. My evening's going splendidly, thanks. A good time playing cards with some friends, and now a quiet end-of-evening.

How about you?

Well, in addition to attempting to get myself reacclimated here, I'm watching MST3K and attempting to work on my chess game. I'm really frustrated that I can't remember the main lines of the French defense. I'm going to have to pull out my chess books at some point.

Ah, yes, I have a hard time finding new stories to write myself. I'm also quite picky, but then, my posts tend to be novel length so it's probably better that I don't write more and kill my cowriters with my verbal density. I'm sure you'll find some great stories to write.

And I'm sorry to hear that. It can be comforting to have a place like this, I agree. I hope it helps.

I'm sure it will help, to some degree. Appreciate the greetings. Nods.

 

[thestruggle]

Mmm. Demon ichor.

Err...

Liquor.

You know, that's a hot sauce. Not bad. But mostly just reminds me that I owe a post. Does Kal have demon ichor? Or would he just explode into fiery dust?

I'm sure it will help, to some degree. Appreciate the greetings. Nods.

Think nothing of it!

 

[LeChatNoir]

Well, in addition to attempting to get myself reacclimated here, I'm watching MST3K and attempting to work on my chess game. I'm really frustrated that I can't remember the main lines of the French defense. I'm going to have to pull out my chess books at some point.

Ha! For some reason, I am absolutely terrible at chess. Just haven't devoted the time to it in order to be good at it, I guess. But really, I'm terrible.

And I'm not just trying to get you to wager on the outcome of a chess match.

 

[LeChatNoir]

You know, that's a hot sauce. Not bad. But mostly just reminds me that I owe a post. Does Kal have demon ichor? Or would he just explode into fiery dust?

Hmm. Ichor.

Definitely ichor.

 

[Noon_Shadow]

Ha! For some reason, I am absolutely terrible at chess. Just haven't devoted the time to it in order to be good at it, I guess. But really, I'm terrible.

And I'm not just trying to get you to wager on the outcome of a chess match.

Nods, and then chuckles. Well I used to be really good at it, a couple of years ago. Mostly I decided It was one of those neat skills I could pick up in my spare time that would both occupy my mind, and make me seem more sophisticated. Smirks slightly.

I've gotten away from it, though. I've gotten away from a lot of things, but this is something I've been picking back up lately.

 

[thestruggle]

Hmm. Ichor.

Definitely ichor.

Boo, I had a fun picture of him getting angry and poofing into a flaming cloud.

 

[LeChatNoir]

Nods, and then chuckles. Well I used to be really good at it, a couple of years ago. Mostly I decided It was one of those neat skills I could pick up in my spare time that would both occupy my mind, and make me seem more sophisticated. Smirks slightly.

I've gotten away from it, though. I've gotten away from a lot of things, but this is something I've been picking back up lately.

I used to work with a woman who fancied herself quite the chess player. I managed to draw her two games in a row, at which point she decided that i was really good and was holding out on her.

In fact, I was just very, very lucky.

 

[Noon_Shadow]

I used to work with a woman who fancied herself quite the chess player. I managed to draw her two games in a row, at which point she decided that i was really good and was holding out on her.

In fact, I was just very, very lucky.

Heh, it certainly happens. And some people don't know as much about chess as they think. Mostly I've been playing the computer lately, and stepping myself up. I can beat it repeatedly at difficult 6, but I'm still losing 70% of the time against level 7. It helps playing against the computer, mostly because it doesn't bruise my ego when I lose.

 

[Scuttle Buttin']

As much as I enjoy chess... I have to ask what episode of MST3K you're watching.

 

[thestruggle]

I always felt like the computer cheated. Am I alone in this?

 

[thestruggle]

As much as I enjoy chess... I have to ask what episode of MST3K you're watching.

Do you actually enjoy chess or are you just pouncing on the MST3K thing? Although I would like to know, too.

 

[Noon_Shadow]

As much as I enjoy chess... I have to ask what episode of MST3K you're watching.

"The Killer Shrews," Season 4 Episode 07. Though I've not really been paying attention to this one. I really should have, more-it's one I'd never watched before.

I always felt like the computer cheated. Am I alone in this?

I never feel that way, at least. But yeah, it doesn't make obvious mistakes like leaving pieces hanging, as a lot of learning human players do. I've learned that it intentionally does make some dubious moves on occasion in order to give me a chance, but I'm still screwing up at recognizing some of the positional ideas it's working on me. I tend to get overly aggressive in the middle game, but I can't seem to gain enough tempo to stay in front of it, even if I'm sacrificing pieces to try and force a checkmate. I probably need to relearn a lot of my mating theory, I've gotten awfully rusty.

 

[thestruggle]

I never feel that way, at least. But yeah, it doesn't make obvious mistakes like leaving pieces hanging, as a lot of learning human players do. I've learned that it intentionally does make some dubious moves on occasion in order to give me a chance, but I'm still screwing up at recognizing some of the positional ideas it's working on me. I tend to get overly aggressive in the middle game, but I can't seem to gain enough tempo to stay in front of it, even if I'm sacrificing pieces to try and force a checkmate. I probably need to relearn a lot of my mating theory, I've gotten awfully rusty.

But then, I tend to get frustrated with computers in general, and video games as a rule... Your strategy seems sound, though - at least you know there are things you would like to improve on. I mostly just don't like losing pieces. Blah.

 

[Noon_Shadow]

But then, I tend to get frustrated with computers in general, and video games as a rule... Your strategy seems sound, though - at least you know there are things you would like to improve on. I mostly just don't like losing pieces. Blah.

I know the tricks, at least-forks and pins and skewers and the like. I know how to make sure I'm developing my pieces without leaving anything hanging. But my computer opponent is too smart at this level to walk into basic forks, and knows how to deal with pins. And once I've developed my pieces...I'm at the point where I don't remember how to attack, really.

 

[Scuttle Buttin']

I've been playing chess since kindergarten, actually, Miss Smarty Pants.


Every time I watch Killer Shrews I get that song stuck in my head. It's a good one though.

 

[Noon_Shadow]

I've been playing chess since kindergarten, actually, Miss Smarty Pants.


Every time I watch Killer Shrews I get that song stuck in my head. It's a good one though.

Frankly, I always have MST3K on, at this point, unless there's something else I really want to watch. I've been consuming it at a high rate. Mostly, having it on helps me sleep-light humor and familiar voices, and, importantly, boring films transpiring behind the riffing. It's a good sleep combination.

Killer Shrews ended. I was barely watching it, I'll have to get back to it later. Too much of my attention was here and on my chess. Moving on to the next episode, "Hercules Unchained."

 

[Noon_Shadow]

You know, it's a shame Joel left the show as early as he did, mostly because it's so entertaining to recognize Mike Nelson's cameos before he became a show regular. Just had another one here.

 

[thestruggle]

I know the tricks, at least-forks and pins and skewers and the like. I know how to make sure I'm developing my pieces without leaving anything hanging. But my computer opponent is too smart at this level to walk into basic forks, and knows how to deal with pins. And once I've developed my pieces...I'm at the point where I don't remember how to attack, really.

That's actually quite a problem of mine. I play very defensively, not very good at the attack. Now I feel like I should be practicing!

I've been playing chess since kindergarten, actually, Miss Smarty Pants.


Every time I watch Killer Shrews I get that song stuck in my head. It's a good one though.

Hey, I was asking nicely! Or, trying to. Oops. I bet you're awesome at chess, Shrimpy!

Don't look now, but he's gonna take a bite!

 

[Scuttle Buttin']

You know, it's a shame Joel left the show as early as he did, mostly because it's so entertaining to recognize Mike Nelson's cameos before he became a show regular. Just had another one here.

I think it's funny to see him doing the occasional other roles after he took over as host. It didn't happen often, but every one in a while you catch one.


Also, I tend to think he's better outside of the theater than Joel.

 

[Noon_Shadow]

I think it's funny to see him doing the occasional other roles after he took over as host. It didn't happen often, but every one in a while you catch one.


Also, I tend to think he's better outside of the theater than Joel.

When Joel Hodgson was running the show, it was very formulaic. They did their invention exchange, they always did their little scream-panic thing when it was "movie sign," etc. So the formula gets a bit stale, especially if you're watching it non-stop. But I did like some of the other things they did-they'd talk about the plot and do little skits directly relating to the plot of the film of the week, some of which were really good. Mike's host segments often spoke largely to the developing plot of the show...I use the term "plot" very loosely, of course, but there were times they wouldn't really talk about the on-going film during the episode at all, outside of the theatre. I miss it when they don't.

Season Three is also some of the best riffing. It was before they pissed off Sandy Frank so much that they couldn't use any more of his stuff, so they really abused him that season. The bad Japanese dubbed films are just so easy to riff.

 

[Miss_Vivi]

Dashes in, ignores Daddypantz and tacklehugs a Shadow man.

Noon!

 

[Noon_Shadow]

Dashes in, ignores Daddypantz and tacklehugs a Shadow man.

Noon!

Smiles and hugs back Vivi, catching her and giving her a kiss on the cheek. Well hello to you, too. How are you?