geekhack

geekhack Community => Off Topic => Topic started by: hwood34 on Tue, 17 February 2015, 17:40:13

Title: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: hwood34 on Tue, 17 February 2015, 17:40:13
Up for the giveaway is this Bubblegum Ba'man:

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7353/16376732479_929b63d5a1_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/qXa31x)

This was originally in a giveaway, so it only makes sense to keep the cycle going. To enter, all you have to do is write a short story or poem about or relating to keyboards. Length isn't super important, anywhere from a few sentences to a paragraph to a page (if you really love to write :p). I won't put any post or join date requirement on this since it requires some degree of effort. I'll also be covering shipping. I'll leave the signups open for 1 month (March 17 at 11:59pm EST)

You can either choose to write a response here, or if you'd prefer, just PM me it

At the end of the time, I'll choose my favorite
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: Novus on Tue, 17 February 2015, 17:55:25
Once upon a time there was this place called geekhack
At first it was a pretty interesting place.
It had lots of information and spirited discussions.
Then came the horde.  They spit in the water, infected the clacks and infiltrated the GBs
For a time, things were not great.
Tension were high and tempers flared.
People lost their jobs, homes, families and money.
Dissension filled the ranks.
Drama here and there.
The horde was eventually repelled. The old guard that had once dominated GH left and founded new homes on other parts of the web.
People grew older, they went and left.
Displaced members found new homes on other parts of the web and life went on.
Things were peaceful once again.
GH wasn't what it once was but it still as a good place for better or worse.
Then the zombies stuck.
They would make useless redundant threads.
They would talk about noppoos and razers and things like that.
They wouldn't bother to use the search button but the worst part was that people indulged them.
Then the quality of GH really took a drop.
The newly inaugurated guard did very little to stem the tide of the undead.
Thus here we stand today, like Rome, a once great empire marginalized by time, inaction and complacency.
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: vivalarevolución on Tue, 17 February 2015, 19:32:47
I recommend a word limit.  We don't want this to get out of control.  Some of us can write thousands of words in one sitting.
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: hwood34 on Tue, 17 February 2015, 19:42:19
I recommend a word limit.  We don't want this to get out of control.  Some of us can write thousands of words in one sitting.
I mean, as long as they use a (more) tag to keep the page somewhat condensed, I really don't mind. I'd love to read something long that someone put a lot of time into
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: Joey Quinn on Tue, 17 February 2015, 19:52:49
I recommend a word limit.  We don't want this to get out of control.  Some of us can write thousands of words in one sitting.

Sounds like a challenge for tp4.  :))
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: hwood34 on Tue, 17 February 2015, 19:54:49
I recommend a word limit.  We don't want this to get out of control.  Some of us can write thousands of words in one sitting.

Sounds like a challenge for tp4.  :))
you know what, for just this once I'd welcome a tp4 wall of text ;)
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: byker on Tue, 17 February 2015, 20:26:16
I appreciate you continuing the giveaway Hwood.  :)
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: Joey Quinn on Tue, 17 February 2015, 20:29:03
I recommend a word limit.  We don't want this to get out of control.  Some of us can write thousands of words in one sitting.

Sounds like a challenge for tp4.  :))
you know what, for just this once I'd welcome a tp4 wall of text ;)

That's a bold statement. But also something I'd love to read.  :thumb:
Title: Death by IBM
Post by: Sygaldry on Tue, 17 February 2015, 20:42:04
Death by IBM

It was unnaturally quiet and all that could be heard was the soft, mechanical whirring of the mini refrigerator. The screen of a laptop computer cast an eerie red glow across the room and a man was hunched over in front of the desk, arms hanging lazily at his sides.

Drip...

Drip...

Drip...

A strange sound broke the silence.

Drip...

Drip...

Drip...

Lying under the motionless man's head was an old fashioned keyboard, missing key caps and soaked in a strangely viscous fluid. The red glow of the room hid the fact that the liquid slowly and rhythmically dripping from the now-broken relic of a computer peripheral was actually blood but the metallic and acrid smell filling the air left no room for doubt.

On the laptop screen, a single message was displayed, "At last, it is quiet."
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: sethk_ on Tue, 17 February 2015, 20:58:47
There once was a man from Geekhack,
his **** was so long he could jerk it,
as it goes he got banned,
and he said with a grin,
my name is Ripster so suck it.

There once was a man who was banned,
as we said he sure knew how to jerk it,
and he said with a grin,
I know what will win,
lets make a circlejerk sub-reddit.
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: Sygaldry on Tue, 17 February 2015, 21:05:00
his **** was so long he could jerk it
Obligatory post to let you know I'm using it for my signature  :))
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: sethk_ on Tue, 17 February 2015, 21:05:18

his **** was so long he could jerk it
Obligatory post to let you know I'm using it for my signature  :))
Dank
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: Zeal on Tue, 17 February 2015, 21:05:48
Gateron
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: billnye on Tue, 17 February 2015, 21:06:07
I hunt for keyboard
China man make it challenge
Such is keyboard life
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: DrHubblePhD on Tue, 17 February 2015, 21:06:10
Gateoran
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: Moralless on Tue, 17 February 2015, 21:07:42
Gateron

10/10

Gateoran

0/10
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: hwood34 on Tue, 17 February 2015, 21:08:06
I hunt for keyboard
China man make it challenge
Such is keyboard life
beautiful
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 17 February 2015, 21:21:28
Such Geekhack forum
Much community spirit
So giveaway - wow!
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: DrHubblePhD on Tue, 17 February 2015, 21:22:22
Mods are censorship
TOS violations
Hoff is a circle
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: jdcarpe on Tue, 17 February 2015, 21:51:58
There once was a fellow named Ripster
Whose pretentiousness rivaled a hipster
He called us geeks whack
So got kicked in the back
And drowned face down in the ****ter
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: Moralless on Tue, 17 February 2015, 23:01:31
I call this, How keyboards changed my life

I use topre board
Women swarm me all day long
Such is topre life



Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: VesperSAINT on Tue, 17 February 2015, 23:12:44
I call this, How keyboards changed my life

I use topre board
Women swarm me all day long
Such is topre





Name is Moralless
I don't know how to haiku
Such a freaking noob

<3
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: Moralless on Tue, 17 February 2015, 23:13:47
I call this, How keyboards changed my life

I use topre board
Women swarm me all day long
Such is topre





Name is Moralless
I don't know how to haiku
Such a freaking noob

<3

Fixed it for you Vesper  :-*
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: VesperSAINT on Tue, 17 February 2015, 23:15:39
Fixed it for you Vesper  :-*

(http://25.media.tumblr.com/e766816f2aee197fa6fe2fc9050c3e59/tumblr_ms6k9sOoC21sc3ie4o2_500.gif)
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: FrostyToast on Tue, 17 February 2015, 23:26:58
I quickly wrote a wall of text (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qhJvtWAsWnv2yEwq1NhW7P4w215wWj10t_ex680MIIE/edit?usp=sharing).
Hope it isn't boring.

This piece is dedicated to Vespie-Senpai.
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: HoffmanMyster on Tue, 17 February 2015, 23:32:37
I like the keyboard
that clicks and clacks to no end.
Dat Model F tho.

<3
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: VesperSAINT on Tue, 17 February 2015, 23:41:24
This piece is dedicated to Vespie-Senpai.

(http://media2.onsugar.com/files/2013/11/05/061/n/1922283/1b43d41f97243545_tumblr_m5yk1eK2S21rzn3i7o1_500.xxxlarge.gif)

(http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/2014-07/23/5/enhanced/webdr10/anigif_enhanced-28427-1406106284-4.gif)

(http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/emma-love.gif)

More

(http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lt73gxldWT1qe1pmho1_500.gif)



Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: FrostyToast on Tue, 17 February 2015, 23:44:34
This piece is dedicated to Vespie-Senpai.

Show Image
(http://media2.onsugar.com/files/2013/11/05/061/n/1922283/1b43d41f97243545_tumblr_m5yk1eK2S21rzn3i7o1_500.xxxlarge.gif)


Show Image
(http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/2014-07/23/5/enhanced/webdr10/anigif_enhanced-28427-1406106284-4.gif)


Show Image
(http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/emma-love.gif)


More

Show Image
(http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lt73gxldWT1qe1pmho1_500.gif)



(http://media.giphy.com/media/KE6Mmaf8ea1ry/giphy.gif)
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: hwood34 on Sat, 21 February 2015, 12:49:16
moar submissions plox
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 21 February 2015, 23:51:54
Once upon a time there posted in a certain forum a little girl, the nerdiest geekette who was ever seen. Her mother was excessively fond of her; and her grandmother doted on her still more. This good woman had a little red wrist rest made for her. It suited the girl's themed keyboard so extremely well that everybody called her Little Red Wrist Rest.

One day her mother, having made some memes, said to her, "Go, my dear, and see how your grandmother is doing, for I hear she has lost her internet connection. Take her a meme on this USB stick, and this little collection of cat GIFs."

Little Red Wrist Rest set out immediately to go to her grandmother, who posted in another forum.

As she was going through the dilapidated post-modern industrial area, she met with a scammer, who had a very great mind to trick her into submitting to a Nigerian scam, but he dared not, because of some hipsters skulking around nearby in the post-modern industrial area. He asked her where she was going. The poor child, who did not know that it was dangerous to reply to a scammer, said to him, "I am going to see my grandmother and carry her a meme and a few cat GIFs on this USB stick from my mother."

"Does she live far off?" said the scammer.

"Oh I say," answered Little Red Wrist Rest; "it is beyond that old warehouse converted into a set of apartments you see there, at the first house in the next street."

"Well," said the scammer, "and I'll go and see her too. I'll go this way and go you that, and we shall see who will be there first."

The scammer ran as fast as he could, taking the shortest path, and the little girl took a roundabout way, entertaining herself by gathering Doge pictures, running after conspiracy theories, and gathering bouquets of little lolcats. It was not long before the scammer arrived at the old woman's house. He knocked at the door: tap, tap.

"Who's there?"

"Your grandchild, Little Red Wrist Rest," replied the scammer, counterfeiting her voice; "who has brought you a meme and a few cat GIFs sent you by mother."

The good grandmother, who was in offline, because her server wasn't patched, cried out, "Use this custom port, and you can login to my server."

The scammer used the custom port, logged into the server, and then he immediately spammed her mailbox and sent the good woman off to Nigeria, for it been more than three days since he had successfully scammed someone. He then closed the port and got into the grandmother's online persona, expecting Little Red Wrist Rest, who came some time afterwards and knocked at the door: tap, tap.

"Who's there?"

Little Red Wrist Rest, hearing the big voice of the scammer, was at first afraid; but believing her grandmother had a cold and was hoarse, answered, "It is your grandchild Little Red Wrist Rest, who has brought you a meme and a few cat GIFs mother sends you."

The scammer cried out to her, softening his voice as much as he could, "Use this custom port, and you can login to my server."

Little Red Wrist Rest used the custom port, and logged into the server.

The scammer, seeing her come in, said to her, hiding himself under the table, "Put the USB stick with the meme and the cat GIFs into the laptop upon the desk, and come get under the desk with me where I'm fixing this network cable."

Little Red Wrist Rest took off the keyboard roof and logged into the forum. She was greatly amazed to see how her grandmother looked under the table, and said to her, "Grandmother, what big arms you have!"

"All the better to press tactile grey switches with, my dear."

"Grandmother, what big avatars you have!"

"All the better to include hidden details in, my child."

"Grandmother, what big ears you have!"

"All the better to hear the keyboard feedback with, my child."

"Grandmother, what big eyes you have!"

"All the better to see the keys with in this semi-dark non-backlit environment, my child."

"Grandmother, what big keycaps you have got!"

"SA profile are great, aren't they!"

And, saying these words, this wicked scammer came out from under the desk, and sent Little Red Wrist Rest off to Nigeria, where she met her grandmother and they started an online community to enlighten the masses to the dangers or online Nigerian email scams.
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: Evo_Spec on Sun, 22 February 2015, 00:16:13
This community is so awesome.

"Geteron switches have gold cross point technology and optimum girth"
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: vivalarevolución on Sun, 22 February 2015, 14:55:16
Okay, here is my submission.  This one is rather long, 1400 words, but you said no word limits, so.....

More
As Vladimir Putin masturbated to a map of the former Soviet Union laid over his treasured 122-key IBM Model F keyboard, part number 6110347, and Barack Obama felt himself aroused as he stroked his newest sand wedge while reading the text of his televised speech that evening, there was a war happening in some featureless expanse of sand that neither of them ever would visit.  A General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (a drone aircraft, for all those reading at home) controlled by an eager and professional Air Force pilot at Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, New Mexico, fired a missile at a warehouse in northwest Iraq in another nameless dusty town believed to be a supply depot and hideout in Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).   With the press of a button by a clean and manicured thumb in an air-conditioned control center on the other side of the planet, the MQ-9 Reaper launched a missile and struck the warehouse, triggered a larger explosion of the munitions inside, and transformed the warehouse into a flaming pile of molten metal. 

The four young boys in the warehouse were incinerated and left to smolder with the rest of the warehouse's remains in the late morning of northwest Iraq.  Over the preceding weeks, a few alleged members of ISIS had been observed hauling various crates into the warehouse, but it also served as a place for local children to race their toy cars on a smooth, indoor, concrete surface rather than the bumpy, dusty roads of the town.  Now it served as a pile of rubble for some still living children to play in once the flames stopped reaching towards the sky.

The usual routine surrounding such incidents ensued.  The government of the United States dismissed the incident as a casualty of war, citing ample evidence that the warehouse was a strategic location and closely observed that no civilians had entered the warehouse prior to the missile strike.  They expressed sympathy and issued an apology for any unintended casualties from the mission.  ISIS used the incident as yet another rallying cry.  Vladimir Putin and his beloved Russia added the incident to the list of reasons  of why they should stand up to American military aggression.

Mr. Putin received news of the attack as he was eying the Baltic states on the map and increasing the intensity of the strokes on his penis at the thought of appointing his former finance minister as the president of Estonia following a brief and relatively uneventful invasion.  His phone only used for the most pressing of emergencies triggered its shrill ring, which caused Mr. Putin to mumble a few curse words, removed his hand from his penis, and grab the receiver.
   
   “What is it?” Mr. Putin yelled annoyingly. “I'm very busy at the moment.”
   “I'm sorry Mr. Putin, there has been an incident in Iraq,” said the voice on the other end of the line.
   “Go on.”
   “The Americans have destroyed a warehouse that contained munitions that we supplied to ISIS, the Iraqi army moved in after the attack, and they were able to identify the remains of the munitions as being supplied by us.  NATO is not happy.”
   “Will this be a problem?” asked Mr. Putin.
   “Perhaps.  The Americans and Germany are talking another round sanctions and boycotts.”
   “Ah, the usual.” Mr. Putin paused for a few seconds. “Let's move into the Baltics.  It's long overdue.  I've always enjoyed Tallinn in the late summer and early fall.”
   
In contrast to the typical errant missile fired by the Americans, this one had the added of flavor of dead children and Russian-supplied munitions to an armed group that should not be receiving munitions from anyone.  All parties involved were pissed.

Mr. Putin, an IBM keyboard enthusiast even before the Iron Curtain fell, open the bottom left drawer of his desk constructed from a disappearing species of rosewood from Madagascar.  The importance of this incident required Mr. Putin to use his specially programmed 50-key IBM Model F keyboard, part number 6019273.  This particular keyboard was programmed to initiate only the most aggressive and risky military commands, such as invasions of neighboring countries and launches of nuclear missiles.  The last time Mr. Putin used this keyboard, he triggered the invasion of Ukraine.  Now he was about to trigger a land invasion of the Baltic states, starting with Estonia.  Another part of the former Soviet Union would be absorbed back into Mother Russia.

Mr. Putin had a gleeful half smile on his face.  He plugged the keyboard into the USB port on his computer, unfolded a piece of paper with a layout of the unique commands activated by each key, located the key that would commence military preparations for the invasion of Estonia, and pressed the key with measured enthusiasm.  A window popped up on his computer screen asking him if he wished to confirm his selection, and he quickly pressed yes, grumbling about the inconveniences of the system.  He told his secretary that he would prefer to be unbothered for the next hour and unzipped his pants to return to his previously scheduled activity.

Forty-five minutes later, Mr. Putin's secretary barged into his office and told him that they needed to evacuated immediately to the bunker underneath the Kremlin.  Mr. Putin, eating a Twinkie with his pants around his ankles after his masturbation session, was visibly annoyed.  She explained that China has responded and they need to take the necessary precautions.
   “Responded to what?” yelled Mr. Putin.
   “The nuclear attack you ordered, sir,” she explained.
   “The nuclear attack?  What nuclear attack?  I called to prepare for an invasion of Estonia!  What's going on here?!” he yelled as he slapped his palms on his desk. 

The piece of paper with the commands for his 50-key Model F keyboard went flying onto the floor, which his secretary dutifully picked up and placed back on his desk.  As she did, Mr. Putin noticed the date on the paper.  It was from a week ago, and not the most recent version he received earlier that morning with the weekly update of keyboard commands.  He mistakingly pressed the key for a nuclear attack against China.  Within Mr. Putin's unbothered hour, the Pacific nuclear submarine fleet of the Russian Navy turned their missiles towards the southwest to launch a nuclear attack on the major cities and vital military installations of China.  The Chinese responded with a similar attack on Russia.  Mr. Putin noticed outside his Kremlin window the anti-ballistic missiles being launched from the outskirts of Moscow.  World War Three had begun.


*   *   *    *   *


Simultaneously in Washington, D.C., Barack Obama was practicing his bunker shots with his new sand wedge on the artificial bunker installed on the White House South Lawn.  He wore the tie-dyed Lithuania Grateful Dead basketball T-shirt given to him by Arvydas Sabonis during the president's last trade mission to the Baltic nations.  He was interrupted mid-stroke by one of his advisors yelling and running from the direction of the White House.

   “Mr. President!  Mr. President!  Mr. President!”
   “Come on!” yelled the president as he sliced the ball towards the White House basketball court. “Yea, what is it, Frank?  I'm busy here.”
   “I'm sorry Mr. President.  I have big news from out east,” said the messenger, panting heavily.
   “The Knicks traded Carmelo and his contract to the Lakers?  I knew it would happen eventually.”
   “No, further east, Mr. President.  Russia and China are launching nuclear missiles back and forth.  Land invasions are imminent.  It's World War Three.  Us and the other nuclear-armed nations are on high alert.”
   President Obama looked towards the busy street to his left, observing the cars move up and down the avenue for a few seconds.  He glanced up at the late morning sun, then down at his T-shirt, studying the Lithuanian skeleton dunking a basketball, and tossed around the sand at his feet with the end of his golf club. 
   “Mr. President?”
   “Frank, move the IBM keyboards to the bunker, along with a couple soldering irons and all Teensys and xwhatsit controllers we have lying around.  Then get Michelle and the kids down there.  Let's stay out of this one.  Looks we'll be the only sheriff in town for awhile.  We need the best keyboards at our disposal.”
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: vivalarevolución on Thu, 26 February 2015, 14:09:42
I'm guessing that my submission was so good that nobody is even gonna try anymore.
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: hwood34 on Sun, 01 March 2015, 09:13:04
bumperino
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: hwood34 on Wed, 11 March 2015, 23:29:32
bump
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: berserkfan on Thu, 12 March 2015, 00:17:31
I recommend a word limit.  We don't want this to get out of control.  Some of us can write thousands of words in one sitting.

I've been doing exactly that, discussing geopolitics, history, economics, philosophy with other GHers in PMs...

but when it comes to this giveaway, I have nothing to say. One look at that pink angry Orc (is that what it is supposed to be?) and I have writers' block.

Guess artisan caps are not for me. :p
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: vivalarevolución on Fri, 20 March 2015, 06:53:27
So who won?
Title: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: hwood34 on Fri, 20 March 2015, 10:03:11
Sorry for taking so long, this thread didn't get much traffic and I sort of forgot about it. Congrats Sygaldry! Just PM your info and I'll get the cap out to you
Death by IBM

It was unnaturally quiet and all that could be heard was the soft, mechanical whirring of the mini refrigerator. The screen of a laptop computer cast an eerie red glow across the room and a man was hunched over in front of the desk, arms hanging lazily at his sides.

Drip...

Drip...

Drip...

A strange sound broke the silence.

Drip...

Drip...

Drip...

Lying under the motionless man's head was an old fashioned keyboard, missing key caps and soaked in a strangely viscous fluid. The red glow of the room hid the fact that the liquid slowly and rhythmically dripping from the now-broken relic of a computer peripheral was actually blood but the metallic and acrid smell filling the air left no room for doubt.

On the laptop screen, a single message was displayed, "At last, it is quiet."


Honorable mention goes to billnye for "My Struggle"

I hunt for keyboard
China man make it challenge
Such is keyboard life
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 21 March 2015, 01:34:02
Congrats Sygaldry! :)
Title: Re: The Writer's Giveaway
Post by: vivalarevolución on Sat, 21 March 2015, 07:22:23
Brief and Beautiful.