2009 Bulwer-Lytton Winners
6.30.2009
Yes, folks, that famous strike-a-single-sentence-blow-for-purple-prose challenge has been decided once more. The 2009 results are in!
If you don't know it, the Bulwer-Lytton is a contest that has been sponsored and run by a professor at San Jose State University since 1983. The rules are simple: in one sentence, compose something in the most florid, turgid collision of low concept and high style that your wits will allow. Then drink a few Red Bulls, try again, and submit that, too.
Personally, I still don't think anyone has topped the 2005 winning entry:
If you don't know it, the Bulwer-Lytton is a contest that has been sponsored and run by a professor at San Jose State University since 1983. The rules are simple: in one sentence, compose something in the most florid, turgid collision of low concept and high style that your wits will allow. Then drink a few Red Bulls, try again, and submit that, too.
Personally, I still don't think anyone has topped the 2005 winning entry:
As he stared at her ample bosom, he daydreamed of the dual Stromberg carburetors in his vintage Triumph Spitfire, highly functional yet pleasingly formed, perched prominently on top of the intake manifold, aching for experienced hands, the small knurled caps of the oil dampeners begging to be inspected and adjusted as described in chapter seven of the shop manual.
-Dan McKay, Fargo, ND
Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, keep moving
6.29.2009
So I've been recollecting myself over the past week or so, following my trip to Seattle on family bidness. Oddly, only yesterday did I start to tell Shel about the trip, and how it went. Too busy and/or exhausted before that to talk about all that went down. But, the weekend was full of good sleep and loafing, and we finally caught up on our Naruto Shippuuden episodes. I played a little Prince of Persia but not too much, and recorded Episode 43 of the JPAG Show. We took a walk last night because the weather was so nice.
And I finished my character for this sure-to-be-amusing Dungeons & Dragons campaign that I am undertaking with a few members of the JPAG. The DM is a hardcore tabletop RPG aficionado, and I think we're in for a treat. Too bad all the players are smartasses like me. Or maybe that's actually way better. I tend to think so.
It's funny, since I had all that D&D stuff when I was 12 or so, and had no one to play with. Going back through all of this stuff again, getting dice, and building a character has been great fun. The idea that we can play for real and still have a fun time being stupid has a lot of appeal to me.
And I got some sweet dice that look infernal. Black with red elvish runes all over them. Have a look here!
And I finished my character for this sure-to-be-amusing Dungeons & Dragons campaign that I am undertaking with a few members of the JPAG. The DM is a hardcore tabletop RPG aficionado, and I think we're in for a treat. Too bad all the players are smartasses like me. Or maybe that's actually way better. I tend to think so.
It's funny, since I had all that D&D stuff when I was 12 or so, and had no one to play with. Going back through all of this stuff again, getting dice, and building a character has been great fun. The idea that we can play for real and still have a fun time being stupid has a lot of appeal to me.
And I got some sweet dice that look infernal. Black with red elvish runes all over them. Have a look here!
If I am encouraging others to write...
