Quite a while back now I installed the Disqus comment management system in an attempt to build upon the community that was already forming on Quit Your Day Job and hopefully encourage everyone to chat amongst yourselves and really grow some conversation.
At first there was some trepidation from a few of you who really didn’t like the system, and I totally got that, but the system worked really well for me especially managing the comments and you know, it’s my house so whatever makes my life easier then cool.
But I did say that I would revisit the experiment down the track and see how it was faring. Well, we’re down the track and I’m curious about what everyone still thinks about it.
See I know that I’m still getting the traffic come through the site but that my comments have been dropping. This of course could be for any number of reasons:
Everyone hates the comments system
The comments system doesn’t always work
The content of the blog has changed
The blog just isn’t floating anyone’s boat any more
Posts aren’t regular enough, too many, not enough
I’m not engaging everyone as well
I’m not commenting on enough of everyone else’s blogs
It’s all fine and frankly who has time to comment now days anyway!
Obviously there are a couple there that I don’t subscribe to but I’m generally open to it all.
You see one of the big things I always wanted out of Quit Your Day Job was to invite you guys* to join a community around here, to come over to my place and hang out (virtually), talk stuff, encourage each other to do that stuff in our lives that make the daily grind worthwhile.
One of the biggest components I see as part of that community is the comments. By the way this is not in any way shape or form a criticism of any of you. I don’t want anyone to feel they have to comment, the fact is I need to make it so you want to comment. The best way I can see of going about this is getting your input, I’m not going to do anything that i don’t want to but I’m also open to accommodating what’s needed to get everyone talking. This isn’t going to be an overnight process but I want to get things rolling.
So first thing’s first:
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If you do feel strongly enough to chose to keep it or get rid of it then please expand on why you feel that way in the comments (which would kind of be ironic for some feedback at least) or by my contact form, or if you know it you can always just email me.
Actually if you do have any suggestions, I’m opening myself up to them and you should feel free to drop me a line. Of course personal attacks and purely unhelpful stuff really isn’t welcome.
Thanks a lot everyone!!
* I do want to mention when I say guys I don’t mean it in a gender term, I mean all you people, just clarifying.
I’m usually pretty slack with these things but I got really excited about this Bear Fight book competition thing and actually filled out the form and have submitted the final piece.
So here is the actual image that has been submitted, they required it in grey-scale which was my intention in the first place however I ended up using some ‘warm greys’ which changed the tone a little.
I like the colour version slightly more but there is a lot to be said for how it comes up in grey-scale.
I also think they’d make a pretty cool iPhone wallpaper, let me know if anyone does that because it would be neat to hear!
The Academy Awards really kind of sneaked on me this year, although in fairness I generally don’t get too caught up in the whole affair most years anyhow as sometimes the films are yet to be released in Australia and more often than not I groan at the idea of something being Oscar worthy.
But this year I’ve seen some of the films and I’m actually really impressed with the expanded Best Picture category list and thought I might make my predictions and give my thoughts on the films I’ve seen and the for the others based off their trailers.
I’ll start with the film I predict will win best picture:
The Hurt Locker
I love this film, I loved it as soon as I saw it but it took some thinking time afterwards to really appreciate it. I felt bad during the film that as I watched I imagined what a brilliant video game it would make, mainly due to my playing Modern Warfare 1 so much in the last couple of weeks.
It is just a riveting film, with great performances, interesting direction and I think there is enough buzz around it to get it across the line.
If this doesn’t get the nod then I suspect the film will be:
Avatar
Huge budget science fiction extravaganza, I have no problems with this winning Best Picture if only for the cinematic experience that it provides when you see it in 3D at the cinema. Nothing is even remotely like it and frankly for all the belly aching and carry on regarding the weakness in the script and the dialogue I say go back and take a good long sober look at Star Wars A New Hope.
District 9
Wow! How awesome is that!?!? A really smart and clever science fiction film has been nominated for Best Picture and it really deserves it! It’s only a shame that it isn’t going up against Moon which should also have been nominated (should have had a decent release too but hey we’re talking about District 9). District 9 is really well put together, the performances are excellent and surprising, it’s such a shame it is such a tight field this year because this could have won in other years easily.
The Blind Side
I haven’t seen this film so I went and had a quick look at the trailer and remembered that I had heard about it. I’d actually be interested in seeing it, especially surprised from the trailer that it made the Academy list. The things I heard were mixed for sure, I think it depends on how cynical you go into it.
An Education
Another film I haven’t seen but I usually really like Nick Hornby. The trailer threw me out a little as I couldn’t quite work out the lead character’s age and when she was picked up by a much older guy I thought the film was going down a different path. Alfred Molina always impresses me so I don’t see how this will be any different.
Inglourious Basterds
Has Tarantino been nominated since Pulp Fiction? Another film that I really loved last year and am impressed to see make its way onto the Best Picture nomination list. I would give this a nomination simply for the opening sequence and how deliciously well paced out it is.
Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
And the award for longest name in the nominations list…
Actually this looks like a very powerful film, it’s probably one that I’ll watch on DVD eventually I am impressed by Mariah Carey in what I have seen, which is of course something I didn’t expect to be writing on this blog anytime soon. Gabourey Sidibe looks like she gives a very honest and powerful performance.
A Serious Man
It’s a Coen brothers movie so I’m sure to love it, they have yet to misfire for me yet. The only strange thing about their films is that I rarely get excited enough about the prospect of one to rush out and see it in the cinema. It’s just one of those odd things I guess.
Up
This is one of Pixar’s best films, right from the beginning when it has some of the most heart-wrenching scenes seen in animation right up to the end and the wonderful message it provides. It’s simply a great film and it’s nice to see an animated film nominated.
Up In The Air
I’ve already written about my love of this film and that hasn’t changed, if I had to pick a third runner up for best picture I would easily pick this. In fact if it actually won I would only be mildly surprised and would be very happy for it.
Because they’ll show the Academy Awards here during the day (if they do live that is) I’ll have the results spoilt by university students and unemployed people on Twitter.
If you do want to ‘hear’ more thoughts on movies you should check out the Midnight Movie Club!
Leave your own predictions in the comments for bragging rights!!!
I got a really cool email the other day (you know I honestly am beginning to think that my inbox will one day start rejecting emails that aren’t “notifications” because I get real mail so rarely) from QYDJ friend Arkonbey telling me about this art submission thing that I totally have to get in on but only have a couple of days in which to do it.
Now when Arkonbey talks about something like this I listen, if you don’t check out his work then you really should.
So I went over and checked it all out and got super excited.
The brief is an illustration depicting a bear fight, literally. So here are the pencils for my bear fight illustration which I’ll be inking up later today and hopefully submitting tonight.
I know it’s been quiet again round here but it’s been crazy busy at home, so much so that the house is a shambles that I’m thinking of torching and running away with the sweet sweet insurance money* and it hasn’t left a LOT of time to get around to everyone’s blogs and post here etc.
*Just so you know the insurance money would not be that sweet and we are not planning to burn our house down, knowing my luck the bloody house would burn down now and I’ll get accused of ‘torching’ the place…
So how do I get more comments out of you guys?
Quite a while back now I installed the Disqus comment management system in an attempt to build upon the community that was already forming on Quit Your Day Job and hopefully encourage everyone to chat amongst yourselves and really grow some conversation.
At first there was some trepidation from a few of you who really didn’t like the system, and I totally got that, but the system worked really well for me especially managing the comments and you know, it’s my house so whatever makes my life easier then cool.
But I did say that I would revisit the experiment down the track and see how it was faring. Well, we’re down the track and I’m curious about what everyone still thinks about it.
See I know that I’m still getting the traffic come through the site but that my comments have been dropping. This of course could be for any number of reasons:
Obviously there are a couple there that I don’t subscribe to but I’m generally open to it all.
You see one of the big things I always wanted out of Quit Your Day Job was to invite you guys* to join a community around here, to come over to my place and hang out (virtually), talk stuff, encourage each other to do that stuff in our lives that make the daily grind worthwhile.
One of the biggest components I see as part of that community is the comments. By the way this is not in any way shape or form a criticism of any of you. I don’t want anyone to feel they have to comment, the fact is I need to make it so you want to comment. The best way I can see of going about this is getting your input, I’m not going to do anything that i don’t want to but I’m also open to accommodating what’s needed to get everyone talking. This isn’t going to be an overnight process but I want to get things rolling.
So first thing’s first:
If you do feel strongly enough to chose to keep it or get rid of it then please expand on why you feel that way in the comments (which would kind of be ironic for some feedback at least) or by my contact form, or if you know it you can always just email me.
Actually if you do have any suggestions, I’m opening myself up to them and you should feel free to drop me a line. Of course personal attacks and purely unhelpful stuff really isn’t welcome.
Thanks a lot everyone!!
* I do want to mention when I say guys I don’t mean it in a gender term, I mean all you people, just clarifying.
Posted in Quit Your Day Job, Social Media Stuff | Tagged Blog, comments | 28 Responses