I've been hearing alot of this lately................Hmmm, you do know that we do this without recompense? We volunteer our 'free' time to moderate/coordinate things in the forum, that's doing this plus working a full time job, making ends meet, coping with family problems, some of which can be life threatening, friend problems, our own health problems and the stress that all these things have combined together ,PLUS hearing how absolutely lousy a job we're doing for YOU.....

I'm sorry, but I may have my phone turned off, that includes internet service as well, I'm trying to forstall that....the car gave up it's last, so we're figuring out how Todd can get to work to make money to pay the rent, much less the bills.....I started working full time, two jobs to fill in the gaps, how do I get to work as well...

Agent Smith has had his fair share of pain-in-the-ass problems as well this winter, that's what has been keeping him busy, for all his good intentions of spending time here, family comes first and foremost.

Still with all that ,I manage to find a minute or two to drop in, between jobs to see how everyone is doing, and if there is anything I can do to help. Yes, the challenge got sideswiped, for that I'm sorry, and if you have an absolute need to blame someone, blame me, for not paying more attention here then at home. The coming months will see the forum get back to normal with both of us here (hopefully) more often, and the challenges will go on as they always did....

Patience....

Zhann

I'm not trying to lay blame on anyone. And I wasn't under the impression that you handle the challenges. What I do find strange is that it is a sticky and its been totally ignored, even when Agentsmith came back. Although, it seems like he may be gone again.  I do understand about real world problems and I know that they can sideswipe anyone of us. I hope that you will be able to pull out of your troubles soon.  I've been working two jobs now for 6 1/2 yrs so I feel for you. I think most of us who are complaining are from the northern parts of the country and are experiencing the cabin fever and winter blues. I know I am. And I'm sorry about the thread I started but it seems like nobody was reading the sticky one, so it didn't make sense to make another plea from within it.
Hugs everyone

Hope things improve for you soon Zhann,and I hope you get your transport problems sorted soon.Take your time and get yourself on an even keel ,I think most members will cope while you sort your priorities out.Family and Real Life come first.

Is there anything positive that members can do to help out? :unsure:

Ang25, don't worry...it is a sticky and I'm sure he read it even if no response......=)  
And it wasn't  a plea for sympathy on my part, (I'm just fustrated at what I can get done in a 24hrs), or aimed at you in particular, I just think people forget (especially those that don't work for a living) that we donate our time because we 'want' to not because we 'have' to, and that life sometimes gets in the way at the worst possible time to mess things up....=o

This is the first time I hear a "reason" for not concluding the challenge...  Had you posted once that you needed time and could not do this right now..  certainly I would **have not ** posted frustration.  I would have at least had an understanding... It was not knowing what happened...

speaking for my self....
I hope you get your own concerns taken care of and don't worry about this stuff right now...

Maybe - its just a suggestion but maybe you need someone else to help you here.

I think things will ease up soon....=)

Well, I've been a bit absent myself, but from the gist of your frustration, maybe Bea is right.  Can there be a "Challenge" only mod?  It would relieve you and AS from that task, but with the right criteria, the "Challenge" mod wouldn't have to deal with the real nuts and bolts of the forum, just the challenge...

My $0.02

I've turned into a fairly non-partaking lurker so I can't say anything, can't remember the last time I started a challenge image and finished it on time :(

Things will ease up soon.  :o)

I didn't officially announce it, but I am now on a 4-6 month leave of absence from my (real life) job. This will give me more time at Renderosity. (to say the least)

I have had to tie up some freelance gig(s) I had going on, but am now pretty much free save for an upcoming 3DWorld article.

I am also going to be hiring on at least one, and maybe two more Bryce Coordinators. No time table on that, yet. I have a couple members here in mind, and will approach them when I get my Bryce ducks in a row.

But, yes I need to get the Challenge back operating (better) as it used to!

I'll get that in order tonight-tomorrow, and get us ready to go ahead with the new month.

Real life comes first, It's where we get our inspiration.
After the last 2 years of some pretty powerful RL situations, Everything else is a cakewalk!!

I was under the (it now turns out) false impression that you guys were paid for the time you put in on here. I made a rule for myself a long time ago, my health comes first, then my family, then work last. That was after making myself ill working all the hours I could to look after my family & waking up to the fact that the people I worked with & for didn't appreciate what I did for them.

We (I'm sure I can speak for "almost" everyone) out here do actually appreciate what you guys do for us.

Well mods may not get paid, but they do get perks!
They get to give us a hard time when we get it wrong, 24 hour shutdowns for doing naughty things like stealing each other's avatars, banning people, deciding on who is naughty and who  is nice (bit like Santa Claus) locking threads......the list goes on.......they get the inside track on what's going on in the 3d universe...and girlfriends who buy them dinner (albeit with their creditcards)...........Me? All I get to do is torture heretics with comfy chairs.......

Seriouosly, you guys gotta get some help. I know all about real life. God knows I've had a gutfull of it these last few months.....

There should be a law against real life ;)

Don't complaint...  the mods and coordinators of life never even showed up the first day.....

Hey, my girlfriend never bought me dinner....;o)

:scared:Woah! Zhann is gay????????

I spent the end of 2005 and all of 2006 away from home working out of Chicago with 30 of my co-workers.  We  came back home end of December 2006 and 30+ of us who have worked there for over 16 years got laid off.

I was hoping to get back to my regular routine when I got back and participate in the forums here, but right now I'm busy with getting my Resume done and look for new work.

So I havent forgotten about this place, just busy getting life stuff done.

As I upgrade my Desktop PC.  I will add my previous desktop to my Render Farm, I guess I should upgraded my Bryce as well from v5.0 to v6.0.

Once things settle.  I'd like to once again offer Free Render time to anyone who needs a high end render done.

No, bi......the way, Bryster, what version is your pinnacle? I downloaded thier trial version and had a 'fatal error' on one of the components....aborted the entire install....=(

No, bi......the way, Bryster,              :lol:  I want to see pictures!!!!  *(he sez, wearing his dirty macintosh)

9.4something............I can't use 10 because I don't run XP. I'd try d/loading again......but check the specs very carefully (trying to teach his Gran how to suck eggs...)

Sheesh...I need to check in more often.
Disgruntled peevy posts back in fashion...
Zhann dealing in double entendre...or not....
Sounds like the good old days are coming back!!!!

"life...don't talk to me about life"- Marvin the Robot...;)

As long as we're kvetching ..... I moved from California to Texas, but kept my home in California so I could rent it to a friend who needed a place (for like $2000 under market per month).

Found out it was HARD to make two mortgage payments every month, so now it looks like I will lose the condo and about $250,000 in equity in the condo.

Meanwhile, I sold my car in Cal to give me enough cash to catch up on the condo mortgage so I would have a little more time to sell it (it's been on the market for about six months ... no takers), and the bank took the money out of my account to pay the FEB mortgage, which left me not enough to pay the back payments, and they won't take partial payments .... sooooooo

they are holding my money "in suspense" and will credit it to me after they foreclose.

Ah, the joys of Catch 22.

:)

I don't understand the problem here...AngentSmith just needs to divide himself like in the movie???

I hope everybody - everybody - gets things sorted soon so everyone can relax a little and enjoy life.

Just trying to spread a little happiness.....

:wub:

:tt1:

Fran: I don't do group hugs................

*Ang25 invites Bryster to a group hug - waits to see if he's telling the truth or not ;P

Ricky....bummer, but don't let them foreclose on your place, it 'never' goes away, ever....I know we went through the foreclosure 'experience', although if they foreclose you should have 90days to redeem the property (once your funds are released), or you can bid on it at the foreclosure.......it's a nasty situation no matter what, my sympathies.....=(

**Ang25 invites Bryster to a group hug - waits to see if he's telling the truth or not ;P

*That doesn't qulify as a  GROUP HUG....;P

I'm going to try my best not to have it happen, but it's going to be hard to come up with the money right now.

May have to start selling my body over in Granite Shoals.  I dunno .... what do you think .... twenty five cents a pop??  I ought to be able to earn a few thou in no time.

:)

Gawd! NO!

yup...I've done the foreclosure thing (no choice), and 4 years later,my score's still in the 400s..:| Good luck, hope it works out.

so i don,t get why the person is they are peeved with?

I don't think Zhann was peeved with anyone in particular ... she's just going through a period of immense frustration right now (as are many of us for various reasons .... including Agent Smith ), and to top it off, she has to listen to a bunch of complaints from members, many about things she has zero control over, and she needed to vent.

And, because we appreciate all that Agent Smith and Zhann do, we are having a commiseration party.

Oh, and everyone .... it looks like I'll be saved from foreclosure for at least another few months.  So, back to finding a really good job.

ok i had read over most of the first page and was left wondering. as i saw it was said it was left as a sticky for him to see or some such.  so  thats what left me looking back over and seeing it differently .
thx

Yea! Ricky! glad to hear it may not come to that......finding a really good job,we all need one for sure, good luck!...=)

may you all find what you need, will keep fingers crossed!

Strangely enough I happened to watch Las Vegas tonight. Apparently the character Sam got an offer she couldn't refuse. $2 million (American Million B_Man) for said services. Although we don't know for sure if she did it, 25 cents or even  $10,000 seems a little cheap by comparision. 

Zhann,
 Things could be worse - you could be me. cheer up, unless you wake up in Fresno with a cat trying to rub it's butt in your face you're probably doing o.k. - in case you're wondering I've learned to cover my face with my hand.

cats can learn to fly!!!

Speaking of cats (wow .... did we ever get off topic), one of my cats has learned to (1) open up the pantry door, (2) get out a can of Fancy Feast, and (3) open up the pop top lid.

I am now putting locks on the pantry door.

Well, there it is Ricky…put that cat to work. Sounds like a follow-up to Garfield. Get yourself a PR consultant and a talent manager and put that cat in show biz. Its talents should bring in a tidy sum for you and your worries would be over.

Seriously tho, I hope everyone gets their lives in functioning order. Priorities, priorities, priorities!

I thought about that .... problem is, he won't do it on command.  I wouldn't have know he was doing it, except I kind of surprised him in the act.  I knew someone was doing it ... and I knew it wasn't me, but I didn't know which cat, until I caught little Kevin red pawed.

It's kind of cool to watch ... he puts one paw across the back of the can, then takes the other paw and pushes the ring up.  Then he takes his claws and hooks them on the ring and pulls back.  And viola ... open can.

I'm not certain how he is getting the pantry door open, but I've purchased some of those old hook and ring gate latches to stick on all doors and cabinet doors.  And, I am putting them out of his reach.  Of course, if he learns how to move and use the step ladder, I'm doomed.

Maybe you can capture all the shenanigans on video and submit it to “World’s Funniest Videos” and “World’s Funniest Animal Videos”. I’m sure they’d pay something for it. It sounds really cute and precious.

yes definatly video tape it. first place $100,000 that would help you out .

Quote - I thought about that .... problem is, he won't do it on command.  I wouldn't have know he was doing it, except I kind of surprised him in the act.  I knew someone was doing it ... and I knew it wasn't me, but I didn't know which cat, until I caught little Kevin red pawed.

It's kind of cool to watch ... he puts one paw across the back of the can, then takes the other paw and pushes the ring up.  Then he takes his claws and hooks them on the ring and pulls back.  And viola ... open can.

I'm not certain how he is getting the pantry door open, but I've purchased some of those old hook and ring gate latches to stick on all doors and cabinet doors.  And, I am putting them out of his reach.  Of course, if he learns how to move and use the step ladder, I'm doomed.

Sounds like your cat is the sort that could be trained and you could make some money out of that.It's amazing how much some animals earn in ads and films.

We have a show over here called 'You've Been Framed'
They pay £250 if they show your clip. 
I saw one tonight about a little dog that couldn't get over a gate, so it dragged a plastic 'step-up'  over and used that! Hilarious!

It does amaze me sometimes how creative the cats can be.  When I first got Brian (my brain damaged boycat), I had to confine him in a cage.  He had food and water in there, along with a bed, litter box and a scatching post.  

Each morning, I would take the litter box out of the cage to clean it.  So, I'm heading back to the cage with a nice clean litter box only to see Brian peeing in the corner of the cage where the box would normally go.  So, back to the kitchen I go to get paper towels and some Lysol spray.

As I get back to the cage, Brian is staring at the puddle he made and then looking around the cage.  At last, he grabs the scatching post with both paws and drags it over the puddle.  "There, all nice and covered up .... problem solved."

I about laughed my ass off.

First Ricky I'm so glad the foreclosure is postponed. Second, I love those cat stories and if you could set up a video camera to catch him in the act when you weren't around that would be fantastic. Who knows maybe it could make you some money. I know I saw a video once where a woman finally got fed up with not knowing who was taking cookies out of the cookie jar at night. She set up a camera and lo and behold it was a cute little mouse. It would take him a few jumps to catch the lid, then he managed to turn it and pop it off and he get inside grab a cookie and off he'd go. :)

Love it .... in fact the mousie story relates to the image I'm doing right now.  Really love it.

Right now, rather than set up a video camera and hope .... I'm going to job hunt.  Not that it isn't a great idea, and maybe I'll do it when I can afford a better video camera ... mine's about 15 years old ....

I was happy just minutes ago, but now I'm steaming mad.  Yes, that's what happens to me when I hear that people have to work 2 jobs to survive.  Its a dammm shame that in this modern age this needs to go on when there are folks making $5 million a year or more.  In a way we all still live in the dark ages, we just dont realize it.  Our leaders and policy makers should all be ashamed. If someone has the right to have $200 million, why would another not have the right to survive on just one job?

I have times in my life when I've worked two full time and two part time jobs at the same time.  Then again, I've had times when I didn't have a job, or like now, when I'm self employed, but not making enough from that "job" and need to have a regular outside job to make ends meet.

According to one friend, I need to raise my prices (or, rather, my hourly).  I've only charged between $100-$150 an hour for years (like about 15 years), while the usual fee for someone with my background is about $300 to $450 an hour.

However, with the economy as sucky as it is right now, it's hard enough for my clients to pay their bills as it is without me raising my rates some gawdawful amount.