RIP: NaNoWriMo, 25 years of service

National Novel Writing Month, held in November, has thrown in the towel and is no more. They put forth the challenge of writing 50,000 words in that month and offered a word count tool to measure your progress and awarded badges for the accomplishment.

However, the last few years have been turbulent, a questionable sponsor came on-board and then a flirtation with AI with a very dubious endorsement by the organization caused a large boycott last year. A general downturn in arts sponsorship over the years, and now no NaNo.

It's possible someone else will come up with a new name and organization, if so, we can only hope they adhere to a stronger code of ethics.

https://gizmodo.com/longtime-writing-community-nanowrimo-shuts-down-after-ai-drama-2000583619

RIP: VAL KILMER?!

Aged 65. He had been diagnosed with throat cancer a decade ago, but had reportedly recovered from that. Pneumonia did him in, which is normally fairly treatable, says the man who is immune-compromised and had it five times in seven months in his late 40s.

He did a lot of very good work, definitely a career cut short.

This obit is rather short as a Rolling Stone Breaking News arrived in my email only half an hour ago.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/val-kilmer-dead-obit_n_67ecb4d4e4b0923ef8b48f70

Dems take WI Supreme Court seat, defying Leon Muskbrat's millions spent!

Ah, love the smell of techbro's petulance. While the Republicans took the seat in Florida, which was the other major election Tuesday, that one was unlikely to flip, though it was a possibility. The Wisconsin seat maintains the balance of power in WI, at least it will make gerrymandering more difficult for the R's and gives the Dems a bit of hope for the next election cycle.

Leon spent over $20 mil in the state to sway the election, most likely breaking election laws, but apparently no one is concerned about such things unless Dems were to attempt it.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/liberal-judge-wins-wisconsin-seat-defying-musks-millions_n_67ec4ef4e4b0923ef8b46e24