Discussion thread for the "Polls only" thread (Part 1)

Tom Conti played the prince in Shelley Duvall’s version of “The Princess and the Pea”

In that, he moved each end of each eyebrow separately. It’s pretty amazing

I had a really good crit group with a bunch of people who became close friends, but it kind of fell apart when people developed different needs. Two of them started co-writing on Vella and have enjoyed modest success, but they don’t really have time to get crits anymore due to the speed at which they have to write installments. Meanwhile, I don’t like to sub things when I might rewrite them substantially, and I’ve been stuck in my manuscript, so I haven’t subbed. And two of them live in another country (just over the border) so it’s a pain for them to come out on a Tuesday night, especially when nobody else is subbing. But the way the conversations have gone, they’ve been kind of snobbish and insulting and very writer gatekeeping. They didn’t mean to be, but they were. We’re on hiatus right now, and it’s messy. To be honest, I thought our friendship was worth more than whether we happened to be generating work - these things ebb and flow, and in my case I started a new job and started a kid with developmental issues in daycare - during the adjustment, I just don’t have the mental bandwidth to write. So we are going to meet up soon to socialize, and we may well resume meeting for crits, but I’m never going to trust in the reliability of that group again. And I’m up shit creek because I don’t have much of a social life outside of them.

But we had a good six-year run with limited drama. Not bad for eight people.

Most months I get the free book, but those were some of the worst Amazon free books in quite some time, and I ended up picking none of them. (if I did miss a hidden gem, please let me know)

I picked the witch one and the science fiction one. I never read these books after I download them, but I have made a pact with myself not to buy any books for the month of January, in hopes I would work through my back catalog - but this helps me cheat. The question is, will I read them?

And I’m thinking of extending my experiment through the quarter. I have so many unread books it’s ridiculous.

I love that Ralph Macchio still has that car.

If Plymouth Rock doesn’t top that poll, it’s only because people haven’t been there.

Funny - I always thought Plymouth Rock looked like this:

Hmm, I’ve been there, but i can’t say my expectations were so high that i was disappointed.

I said I’d be uncomfortable answering a public sex poll, but in fact, it depends on the poll. And i wasn’t uncomfortable with the one that was posted recently. So…i didn’t answer the poll about that, since none of the answers applied.

That is amazing. I especially love the body language in the woman in the pink outfit.

mmm

The Hollywood Walk of Fame (not on the poll) is nasty, dirty, full of homeless people, and smells like pee.

Is there anything bad about it?

I’m not surprised that MOA is near the top of the poll, but I am surprised that Plymouth Rock isn’t. And that Disney isn’t. I don’t get the attraction to Disney beyond Space Mountain/roller coasters. It’s just so very schlocky, even if the edges are polished. At least I expect Las Vegas to be schlocky.

In the Mr. Miyagi’s cars poll, it occurs to me that I picked the car that most appeals to me as an adult (the woodie wagon). But my teenage self probably would have gone with Ford convertible. Although the wagon would probably be the best one to cruise around in with all your friends in the back.

I didn’t pick Plymouth Rock only because I’ve never been there.

I actually thought the Mall of America was fun the first time I visited when I was a teenager. Maybe it was because my sister and I got to roam around without parental supervision, and see a bunch of stores we didn’t have back home. I made a couple of strange impulse buys, like a Star Wars necktie, and a Soviet flag. I have no idea why I bought a Soviet flag. I guess just because it seemed nonconformist.

It’s really just a mall. But yes, some good novelties there. I live nearby so perhaps I’m jaded.

Never been to MOA, so I couldn’t vote for it. But I was bad-mouthing Plymouth Rock to my students last week.

I don’t think any of the Rolling Stones will get the biggest reaction. They all look like cadavers already, so it’s just a matter of making it official.

Really tough call between McCartney and Dylan. I have a strange feeling that Ringo will outlive them both and still never be as heralded, but my gut said Paul so that’s how I voted. Either is an equally valid choice IMHO.

That’s exactly why I picked Mick Jagger. So many people have said things like “How in the world is he still alive?” that when he does die it will be a big deal.

Yeah, Paul seemed the obvious choice.

Brian Wilson and Ray Davies deserve to be on the list, even though I wouldn’t have voted for them over McCartney.