Why do you limit it to a "small" amount of postwork? Is this an art contest or is it a math contest? Why the narrow guidelines? I think that's one lousy rule.

Couldn't be more deserved. :) Congrats dear Panny!

We have a site almost just like that, Fayrelady. And it is free. The fractal artists ring, the ring Tina and I run, has a user's gallery where people can upload their images into their own personal gallery. You can't comment on the images, but you can have your own gallery, though, on the net. The URL to the FAR is http://www.tcdesign.net/fractalpp_webring.htm The thing is you need a website of some kind, even an AOL homepage is fine, to be able to join the ring to be able to utilize the user galleries. It is ideal for people with free websites who dont have enough space, or HTML skills, and they can have their own beautiful galleries.

...And I also left out Nancy Pelosi's hair and Kyocera Mita commercials ;) Yeah, Terry, I know what you mean...I am just in a foul mood. I do respect how you feel and did say above that I did not want to invalidate anyone's strong feelings about this matter. For what it's worth, I always appreciate when someone leaves a place without fanfare, as you did. To me, that packs a way bigger punch. {{{{{{{{Terry}}}}}}}}}}}

Hi Terry, I dunno, "serious" is kinda relative. My mother was just diagnosed with stomach cancer and her doctor told me she has about six months to live. I myself am having some very serious and life-threatening surgery in a few months. Soldiers are dying in Iraq; in Israel, children going to school on buses are being blown up and their body parts are being strewn all over the place. Maybe I am just in a mood, and if so, please forgive me...but in the scheme of things, rating systems on websites and artists leaving art communities aren't really all that important. If you have people around you that love you, and you feel healthy, then perhaps a little perspective is needed. Mindy

Hi Gradient, I really couldn't agree more. All this stuff just isn't all that important to me, but by the same token I don't want to invalidate others' feelings...because clearly, it is important to many others. To me, what is best about being here is the opportunity to meet some special people....Tresamie, Pennylane, FractalLinda, Paragon, Marion and many others come to mind. If somebody wants to click their mousepads off on a pile of crap while typing those compliments in frenzied exuberance, rock on. :) S'okay with me. :) Mindy

Well, here is what I think: though I may be more blase than some people here with regard to the competitive air of this website, I agree with the well-stated criticism by Cruel Animal and Fractalgrrl. I believe that ratings and view numbers simply have no place in a true art community. Further, when talented artists like Terry and Deagol leave a community, and those Poser manglers run amok, there is a problem. If Renderosity wants to address the issue of artistic integrity, and the loss of valuable talent, they will act. If they are only interested in the mercenary point of view, they will not. Let's find out. I think a good idea would be to have a petition written and passed around, and when/if a large number of their members express their like-minded feelings about this matter, perhaps the administrators will do something about it. It certainly couldn't hurt to try. Mindy

I was, when I wrote my Al Qaeda post. But you took care of that. :)

I wasn't offended; I was annoyed, like I get annoyed by gnats and midges. Nor would I wish to censor you; like you, I just reacted to what I read. The gargoyle remark meant you looked for something (meanness) that was not there.

If it was an insult to anyone, it was to Rosie O'Donnell...who, as far as I know, doesn't post here.

LOL! Ooooohhhhkay. What a pile.

Oh for crying out loud. It was meant as humor, not meanness. Do you see gargoyles under the bed, too? Know what was mean? Her remarks to everyone here. Why didn't you take issue with that? People like you, who look for things to complain about, make my participation in forums more and more infrequent.

It has just come to my attention that Lisa Hammel is a member of a large Al Qaeda cell operating out of Passaic, New Jersey. Using Poser images as a way of secret communication on the internet, each thorn in the image was imbedded with coded instructions for other worldwide Al Qaeda members to follow. "Thorns in My Soul" referred to a cell operation to kidnap Rosie O'Donnell (Thorn = Rosie) for ransom money to fund their US operations. The plan was scrapped at the last minute when it was decided that nobody would care about the kidnapping enough to pay ransom. John Aschroft will have a press conference about it this afternoon. I, for one, will make sure I watch.

What plastic thingy? Where? just waking up

sob I will miss her.