The competition had nothing to do with me or Skulduggery — it was all to do with an educational video game designed to teach you maths and have, you know, actual fun while you do it. Incorporating historically accurate aspects of Native American tribal life and culture, the game was called Spirit Lake, and the competition was to find someone to become a character in it, using your name and likeness. Here's what I said about it at the time:
"And if this works like they hope it will, this could be the beginning of something huge. This could revolutionise teaching, and learning— not just in America but across the world— and it could be just the thing that's needed to help struggling students make that singular, all-important leap. This could change people's lives."
The competition was a great success. I got in some hilarious responses, and also some heartfelt ones, and while it was not easy to pick a winner, a winner I did pick.
And now I'm going to do it all over again.
These same awesome people — people who include the mother and sister of my personal (Twitter) friend, UFC champion Ronda Rousey* — have another game in development, called Forgotten Trail.
SO — if you like the idea of having a video game version of yourself teaching kids maths across America, give me your reasons why. In no more than thirty words, explain why you should win, and send your entries to skulteams@hotmail.com. You can enter as many times as you like, you can be any age, from any country, and the winner will be announced at the end of July.
Good luck!
* Yes, Ronda does count as a friend**.
** By friend I don't, of course, mean someone I've ever actually met, but that's not what's important here***.
*** What's important is that we're PALS. Some might say buddies. Kindred spirits, perhaps. I might even go so far as to say I've taught her everything she knows****.
**** I haven't ACTUALLY taught her everything she knows, but she knows that I would have, if ever I knew something that she didn't already know. Such as writing*****.
***** Although seeing as how Ronda's autobiography has made it to the New York Times bestseller list — a list I have yet to ACTUALLY grace — this probably isn't the best use of my, or her, time. But even so, I am sure there are PLENTY of things I could teach her. Though probably nothing useful or, you know, not-imaginary, like unicorn-taming, or yodelling******.
***** I'll shut up now.
Posts
4,893 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 1201 – 1400 of 4893 Newer› Newest»gem: I am the outsider of this family ^_^
@Andviolet: On double-commenting, no worries. Happens all the time. :)
@Chi: Weeeelllllll, it's what I'm saying? :)
@Chloe: Hear, hear!
*agrees on all three :)*
((*except that I never saw The Beauty & the Beast*
*I agree with the concept of not judging by appearance and of teaching that*
*and also the general concept of being a film*
*um*))
@Fera: Well, I can't even draw a simple set of axes correctly, so I wouldn't worry about it. Everybody makes mistakes, even at what we're best at?? ^^
taia: problem is, mistakes is all i can make ^_^
(you are family now Fera)
@Fera: *politely disagrees*
Okay, so I noticed that some of you put @s before people's names and some don't. Is there a protocol there?
@Inky: Yeah. Fairy nuff. Just - I'm trying to get my head into yours. :P
@Andviolet: Nope. :)
There are no mods or admins, so . . . DO WHATEVS. :)
Um, Chloe, you have an email.
Okay, awesome. Duly noted
(I am back, somewhat.)
andviolet: no not really :D ^_^
taia: well thank you ^_^
clo: *sighs* why are you guys so good to me? ^_^
Hmmmmmmmm.
To greet Sophia or not to greet Sophia . . . ?
It's nice to greet people
but if I greet her then I need to greet everyone else when they arrive
and I'm bad at doing that
um . . .
Hi Sophia. :)
@Fera: Why wouldn't we be?
*Stares at the new person*
*hugs Star, because Star*
Welcome back, Sophia!
@Fera: Because you're SUPER. :P
(Hello, Star.)
*stares back* HI!
hey sophia ^_^
star: I didn't do anything to deserve it. in fact i don't deserve it ^_^
(Thank you, Taia.)
Ooh. Hi Blake.
*hugs Sophia*
@Taia: :) *hugs back, because hugs, and because Taia, but 'because Taia' really comes under 'because hugs' because Taia hugs . . . or is it the other way around . . .*
*EITHER WAY*
taia: thank you but...
(Hello, Andviolet.)
*Stares back-back(?)*
Hi.
(*she hugs Star back* What is that for, may I ask?)
@Fera: I don't believ friendship is something one has to earn. I believe it is something that everyone should have unless they are happier without it, simply because . . . people are nice and friendship is nice and if you stick two nice things together it just creates more niceness. And like. Yeah. Niceness. :)
Greetings, everyone!
(hi J!
okay!
cause youre family fera)
@Sophia: What is it not for?
. . .
I tried to reserve the 'what is that for' there, in the way that people say 'why not' in answer to 'why.' It may not have worked.
But yeah. I think I rather meant 'what is it not for,' too. :)
*disappears mysteriously into ominous purple fog to complete science project*
:) Hi, Andviolet!
Okay so actual greeting this time.
Hi, I'm Blake. If you'd like you can call me J (Author's first initial).
@Andviolet: DON'T MENTION SCIENCE!
*hides from physics*
*Curses at the purple fog and jumps into a shadow*
(I replied to email)
@Inky: :)
*pokes head back around corner* Don't worry, it isn't physics. It's biology. But j seriously do have to go now, so bye everybody *poofs away in flash of sparkles*
but i don't get why...the only thing i've ever caused is trouble ^_^
Star XD
Thank you :) :) :)
@Sophia: :)
Hey, Blake! xD
@Fera: *points to what Star said*
Bye, Andviolet!(?) *waves*
(Goodbye, Andviolent.
I understood what you were meaning, Star, do not worry.)
but it's only in the case IF people are nice...i am not nice.
(BNyii Violet!
you've made us laugh too)
I did?
:) Bye, Andviolet!
Physics still got mentioned. :o
@Fera: Eh. One could argue that about a lot of people. Trouble-causing doesn't cause me to cease valuing people. And just because people cause a lot of trouble doesn't necessarily make them a bad person . . . ?
*gestures to Sophia as an example of a person who can cause trouble and isn't bad*
@Sophia: :) Good.
@Fera: You definitely are nice.
Although I don't necessarily dislike non-nice people.
star: but what's there to value about me?
(you've made me laugh)
@Star: Anything you need help on [science-we're-not-supposed-to-be-mentioning]wise, or just general [that-forbidden-science]-exam-fear? :)
@Fera: *basically just backing everything Star says on the matter at this point*
*nods enthusiastically*
*also at what Chloe said*
*yes*
@Fera: You're a friendly person who wants to do good in the world and make friends.
Fera - You're funny, friendly, welcoming; and your comments are saturated with smiles, and I personally think that goes a long way.
awww, thank you taia and star and clo ^_^ :)
@Taia: C: It makes me feel very honoured when people second my opinions. Thank you. :)
Nah, it's okay, I just have to revise and I don't want to. :P
(tis okay Fera)
star: what do you have to revise for? :)
btw, i feel really good that i have such good friends :) you're all awesome :)
(thanks)
@Fera: Physics.
I don't know what exams I have next week though. XD Haven't checked. Maybe I should.
ANytime, Fera. *hugs* :)
@Star: :) :) :)
*laughs* Aw. Can't help there, sorry. :P
(nomore examsssssss!
I feel freeee!)
taia: *hugs*
staR: you need help with physics? (i can try since i am doing it for A level) :)
(@Chloe: *throws confetti* C: !!)
brb
(*dances around*)
(Star, I am certainly not nice.)
@Fera: No, it's okay. I just need to memorise it. :P
(And I'm good at memorising, so it's all good. Just - effort. :P)
@Sophia: It kind of depends how you define nice, but in general, I would say no. I did actually consider using you as an example in my comment as an awesome person who wasn't generally nice and therefore someone I liked who wasn't particularly nice, but like, I'd just used you as an example in my comment before that so I decided not to overdo it. :P
(you can be nice Soph
but you can have your moments, like everyone else ^.^)
star: I see ^_^ yeah i am not ^_^
(Bye Andviolet.
Bye John...
Welcome back Sophia.
Hi Star, Don't think i greeted you earlier.)
@Gemma: It's okay, I don't think I greeted you either. :) Hi! :)
(*smiles*
Hello Star. How are you.
i never asked but do you prefer Star or Holly?)
You know when I come online on a night and I get kind of rambly and open and hyper and I say a load of stuff and then I wake up in the morning and I'm like "WHAT THE FUCK WAS LAST NIGHT?"
Well, it's been happening quite a bit recently, and I'm beginning to identify when it happens, and like, it's happening now, and like, I don't know if I should log off now or summat, or if I should just keep talking because like I like talking like idk.
@Gemma: I prefer Star, thank you. :)
And I'm alright, thanks. :) Came home at eleven today: yay. :)
How're you? :)
star: what? XD
(Chloe - It is more a case of... I do not define myself as nice or not nice. I cannot relate to nice people, nor people who are not nice. I just do what I think is right, whether it be good or bad. So essentially - my actions can either be nice or not nice, but I am in fact neither.)
( hi kinda passed the most 600 comments because I've been busy on holiday :P I've got massive read lines on my arm where my sleeve stops)
(I see ^.^)
(hey K)
@Star: Do what you enjoy? If you like being here and bouncy, why not? :)
(Hey Keiron.
the Weather is good back home too, Jack got sun burnt on his neck.
Ok Star :)
And that's good. Yay for leaving school early.)
@Sophia: Yeah. But I would define that as not nice.
(I think we are supposed to have showers tomorrow -_-)
@Star, continued: I mean, I'm not judging you, whatever you do. :) ^^
Hi, Conductor! :) Hope you had/are having a nice time! :)
( hey Chloe ...
Hey Gem :0 getting after sun tomoz because its that bad lol oh well
How are you all?
I seen we have a new person... Or is it New name old person?)
(Star - I was using the word "not nice" as a substitute for "bad". If we take into account the word "bad" exists, I am neither good or bad, I am just not nice.)
@Sophia: Like -
I don't think you have to be mean in order to be not nice.
I think being not nice is just not being particularly nice.
And if you don't have a relation to niceness, then you are, by definition, not nice. That doesn't mean you're mean, it just means you're not nice.
I'm struggling to explain what I mean here. :/
@Taia: Yeah, I enjoy it, but sometimes I regret it in the morning, because sometimes I just open myself too much (and I mean, I'm pretty open, but you know that moment when you open yourself too wide and you just - yeah. You just feel a bit raw and then kind of unpleasant and panicked. But sleep deprivation only usually causes it to a small extent), and then sometimes like you just sound like an idiot and then like you're like *winces* because like . . . idiocy.
And then also you don't get to sleep on time adn then you're really tired and you fail your chemistry exam.
*nods*
Hi Conductor. :)
@Fera: . . . Idek. :P
@Gemma. :)
Oh hello new person.-Zaf
( hi taia ....yup having a great time. Still got till Friday so tomoz is last day of doing things, then 2 hour train journey home where I need to go to college cox my lecturer is complaining about ne bot filling in a sheet that says when I finished stuff)
@Taia: Oh good. :)
@Conductor: Nah newbie. C:
@Sophia: Yes. Neither nice nor mean, but not nice.
I'd say you were good, though, on the good-bad scale. You're just sometimes good in a mean way.
Of course, good and bad are all entirely relational, and I'm not sure if I'm judging you by your moral code or mine here . . . but eh.
(As am I, Star. What I am currently understanding from you, is that "not nice" is simply the absence of niceness, rather than being mean. It is, in effect, neutral territory, but there is an absence of niceness, therefore by definition I am not nice rather than being mean, although I can be mean sometimes.)
@Sophia: Yes. Yes. Yes.
(Gah! tyoo deep for me!
and that's not a joke for the internet to enjoy)
(I... Would possibly define myself as someone who attempts to do something vaguely recognisable as good, in a bad way.)
*too
( her star 🌟:P. Nice, new person wish I. Met them :(, do you think they'll return or did you all scar them off?)
@Sophia: The 'in a bad way' applying to the 'something' or the 'attempt'?
@Conductor: OH MY GOSH YOU GOT A STAR EMOTICON. :O
WOW.
THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.
Hopefully they'll return. O_O They seem cool. I hope we didn't scare them off. :)
(I meant that I aim to get results which I consider good, but the method I use to achieve said results can be rather on the bad side of things. Which I do not especially mind, since I believe the end justifies the means, but nevertheless.)
(im going to bed now
nos da!)
@Sophia: Yep. I agree that you do.
:( Fours, Inky!
. . . I should go to bed soon.
(I have never actually analysed myself to this extent before.)
(Parents are fighting again...i'm kinda scared because they've been fighting a lot recently and after they said they were thinking of getting a divorce...:-/ it's all my fault...they always end up arguing about something i've done or haven't done. I need to fix things with my dad before we go on holiday...
right now i wouldn't mind if they got a divorce. My dad is a dick most of the time. But my brothers would be without a dad and mum would have to look after us herself. So i need to fix it...)
@Conductor: Awesome! :)
Shame you have to head back so soon, though? ^^
@Star: Equally, if you're not comfortable with it, then don't?
And also definitely take care of yourself and sleep if you need to because that's important.
Which is pretty much just me rephrasing whAt you already said, so- yeah. :P
Gonna go, because I would like to not feel sleep-deprived and only semi-alive tomorrow. :)
And also because I can feel a sudden Star Trek rant coming on (following talk about nice/good/bad/ends-justifying-means/etc) and I'm not sure I'm entirely prepared to deal with that. :P
*hugs all who want hugging?*
Bye!
@Sophia: Really?
I analyse myself a LOT. So.
@Gemma: It's not your fault. If they weren't prone to arguing with each other, they wouldn't argue over you.
@Taia: :P Yeah.
Thanks, though. Sometimes I need to hear otehr people tell me it. :P
Thing is, I don't have to go to school tomorrow, so I'm like "eh . . ."
I might still wake up at seven though. :/
:) Fours, Taia.
Hi.
Bye, Taia!
@Gemma it's not your fault they argue. Some people just argue, and are selfish so they find a reason to argue. Sorry you're caught up in it...
(:P thought you'd like it :P goodnight if your going to sleep 💤...
🏰 *♡* Θ_Θ 🙈💃
👻 )
(((((
That's not your fault, Chi.
I really do need to go, but that is not your fault and please try not to think that it is.
The difference in opinion about something between two people is not the fault of that something/someone.
All the best, Gemma.
*hugs tightly*
(Night Taia and Chloe
it is my fault this time. My dad and I have been arguing a lot recently too cause he says i've been doing nothing around the house but every day i put 1 or 2 loads of washing out and bring them in and the house is a mess but most of it is clothes they might be taking on holiday so i don't want to touch them in case they get lost and i would be blamed.
the thing is, even if i do clean up everything tomorrow, he won't say thabk you. He won't even acknowledge that i did clean up which is going to piss me off even more.)
( *hugs taia* :P goodnight only for 3 hours ob Friday then its holiday again ... Well summer anyway.
hi kas 👻)
@Chloe :/
He's mean :/
(Hey Kassy...)
@Gemma: And how is that your fault?
(It's my fault for not doing something apparently. Even when i am. But they want me to do more. And i got pissed off and was really cheeky to him which started a screaming match. Saying he would kick me out.)
( Gem... *sighs heavily* ugh ... It's not your fault, it never was, they might look fir something to blame it on if that's you blooming kick his balls.
*annoyed muttering to himself* )
(My dad got pissed off at my mum for not calling me out on the way i talked to him when he was still there. She talked to me after he left.
he says he wants respect and my mum rightly said that he doesn't give any to us.)
Gemma, he's being a dickhead. He's being a shitty parent. It's not your fault.
*waves slightly to acknowledge everyone's presence again*
(Thanks guys...)
(Well i guess i'm going to go to bed too since it's my other interview tomorrow so goodnight guys.)
(Goodnight, Gemma.)
I hope your interview goes well, Gem. Good night!
( gbai 🙋)
hey ^_^
( hi fera 👍😎 )
how are you? :)
( ,⤵⏬ ughh holiday is the only thing keeping me going tbh. Picture says the rest.)
( wbu)
something similar to that, though i am a bit between happy and sad ^_^ we haven't talked on skype in quite a bit ^_^
(.*hugs* ... I know mostly bcoz I'm on holiday I think... I can get it on my phone btw... If you want, might Be distant though, lots of walking and swimming and running. I'm knackered lol.)
*hugs* yeah ^_^
( need to go b bro early rise again... Goodnight, remember just coz I don't reply straight away on skype didn't mean I won't at my earliest opportunity :P * hugs again*(
ok bro, see you *hugs*
*pops in, leaves hugs, and goes as quickly as she came*
*drags back hopey* :D
*is dragged back*
Meep!
...
*looks around in confusion*
Ha! You tried to escape :P *hugs*
*hugs back*
Still distant though, so meh. :P
How are you doing? Did you see my email?
hopey: yeah, that was a meaningful message :) :) :) :) :) how are you ^_^
Awww poor Coco
*prods him gently*
Oi, you're still avoiding the question, mister.
As for me, I'm okay. Sort of on the fence, so anything could tip me over.. But right now, I'm okay.
*waves at Fitz/Zaf*
what question ? ^_^ :) good, i am glad, and aww *hugs*
What happened to Coco?
I asked how you were. Both here and in the email.
hopey: *sigh* I am doing....fine ^_^ I am ok :)
...
*hugs*
hopey: *hugs* Some stuff are in my head that i've been thinking about quite a lot ^_^
If you ever want to get some of your thoughts out, you can always email me.
*smiles gently*
hopey: ok hopey hope *sigh* *hugs tightly*
*hugs tightly back*
So how's your dancing coming along? :P
hopey: *smiles at you really gently*
hopey: well idk, how would it be coming along? :D ^_^ I guess i can move my body still :P XD
*shakes her head and laughs*
Good to hear. XD :P
hopey: I am glad it's good to hear :P XD RAMEN RAMEN RAMEN :P btw, do you remember when we had the truth or dare? :)
It wasn't /that/ long ago. Yes I remember. :P
God of ramen. I'm STILL laughing at that! XD
hopey: well i know, was like what, 2 weeks ago? :D but still, it's a memory now :) yeah, haha that funny...YOU! :P
Hehe. ^_^ XP
Has it really been two weeks? Nah, couldn't have been that long ago, right?
It feels like less than a week..
hopey: yeah, but i think it has been 2 weeks :) ok maybe not exactly but close ^_^ :)Just remembered your singing...your voice is so beautiful ^_^ :)
Thank you. ^.^
I like to sing a lot, but recently, there's never been a quiet enough place to record..
hopey: oh...i think i get it ^_^ *hugs* I am sorry *hugs tighter*
Don't be sorry, it's not what you think. It's just that there's a lot of people in the house and they're everywhere. :P I can't find an unoccupied room to record without someone barging in. XD
hopey: oh...ok, well that's very good i am glad i's not what i was thinking ^_^ *hugs*
how do you like my new prof pic btw? :P
wait gonna change it now, and then you give me an opinion :P
*hugs back and waits*
:)
done ^_^ :)
can you read it? ^_^
*laughs*
Nice. :P ^.^
haha :) ^_^ if i can have a prof pic, why not have something meaningful you know :)
Yeah, sorry. I got pulled away from my iPod for a bit. ^.^'
it's ok hopey :) have you drawn anything in your new book? :)
Oh, yeah. Well, still in the works, but I've started. :)
It's how I imagine this one spot in Blogland. There's a tree by the lake with a bench under it, facing the water. I like to sit there sometimes when I'm feeling peaceful or lonely. Depends on what I'm thinking about.
But I want to try to draw it. Probably not gonna be exactly how I imagine it, but something to make it seem real, ya know?
hopey: I see ^_^ But if there was a physical place like blogland, and we all lived there, i wouldn't let you feel lonely :)
I dedicate to being nice to each other :)
Hear hear! :)
I guess lonely might not be the right word. More like... Sentimental? Nostalgic? Thinking about past memories and melancholy bleh. :P
yeah, that IS a lot better :P :) and btw, gonna upload a dancing video soon ^_^ :)
Yay! ^.^
Although I'm not gonna be able to watch it as I have to go right now. :/ Sorry, Frank.
*hugs*
See you tomorrow. :)
it's ok hopey, i am not uploading it now ^_^ *hugs* see you tomorrow ;) :)
Aaah, there is a big storm and there are sheets of rain and it's hailing and there's thunder and lightning and the power went out and random things in my house keep beeping and apparently a tree branch in our front yard fell down... Why schmeppaleppadoo, gaaaaaahh!
Oh my gosh Violet! :0
Well I don't know what I'm going to do tomorrow, now I can't charge my phone over night...
andciolet: hope you'll be ok! ^_^
Would it be creepy to ask what country any of you guys are from? I don't really know... Oh well, I will regardless. What countries are you all from *she said in the most non creepy way imaginable*?
lol why would it be creepy, you planning on nuking those countries? XD :P I am from the UK ^_^ and I'd guess you're from US right? :)
Oh yes, and I can't recall who it was, but whoever suggested earlier that you might've scared me off, I laugh at the notion. Anything any of you have said hasn't been the least bit unnerving. I mean, I don't know what a normal person might think(sorry, I really don't have that perspective to work with), but if I were a normal person, I probably wouldn't have joined this merry little community!
I am indeed, and I don't really know why. Again, I don't really know what other people might find creepy, so I like to play it safe. Sometimes. Sometimes it's fun to creep people out. And I'm quite good at it. *evil grin*
andviolet: oh i see ^_^ :D well, i find a very very very small amount of things creepy, some things that humans couldn't even do sooo...yeah XD nahh, so far you're not doing a good job :P
Oh, I wasn't trying to though. I was actually trying not to. Also, it works better in person. But noted, that very little creeps you out.
andviolet: ^_^ :) lol, so i am guessing you're female? ^_^ and also, are you from the US? :)
Yes and yes
cool :) any hobbies? ^_^
Yeah, I do a bunch of stuff(and pretend I have time to). I like to sing, dance, act, read, and write mostly. Oh yeah, and Internet(yes, that is a verb), but mostly the other stuff.
How about you?
*waves
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