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Adam
Land Surveyor
Level 5: 993 points
Alltime Score: 11364 points
Last Logged In: August 17th, 2018
BADGE: Senator BADGE: INTERREGNUM TEAM: United Kingdom TEAM: SFØ Société Photographique TEAM: 0UT TEAM: Urban Picnic Society TEAM: UxbridgeØ BART Psychogeographical Association Rank 4: Land Surveyor The University of Aesthematics Rank 1: Expert Humanitarian Crisis Rank 1: Peacekeeper Society For Nihilistic Intent And Disruptive Efforts Rank 2: Trickster
highscore

retired
250 + 100 points

The Fickle Sky by Adam, Tøm, Charlie Fish, GYØ Daryl

October 21st, 2007 4:10 PM

INSTRUCTIONS: Write something in the sky. You may not spend money completing this task.

RESUBMITTED!

A few weeks ago, Quentin Watson (formerly Stanley Gibbons) submitted a very literal interpretation of this task. It was quickly judged as too little effort for a Level 6 completion, and flagged to death.

Not wanting to accept defeat, he decided to collaborate with a few others to try again. But how to write something in the sky and make it worth 250 points? We certainly weren't going to hijack an airplane. (That's at least Level 7.)

The solution? Instead of one completion worthy of Level 6, we have submitted TEN completions worthy of Level 2 (give or take). Together, they represent a Level 6 completion.


Methods of skywriting:

1) Typing Trickery

This is the original, very literal interpretation. I suppose you could also technically complete this task just by writing down the phrase "something in the sky"...

inthesky26429.jpg
2) Projectorage

The GY0 clan appropriated a digital projector, splashed some sky over a whiteboard, and wrote in the sky. Can't argue with that.

05-10-07124326904.jpg
3) Light Writing

Charlie Fish burned some words into the sky using a sparkler and a 3-second exposure on his camera.

cimg435726991.jpg
GY0 Adam did it too (and in Charlie Fish's opinion he did it better!):

sf017428391.jpgsf018028392.jpgsf017828393.jpg
4) Words on a Skyview Window

SF0-Man came to the rescue for this one, scribbling on the sky, "It's a bird... It's a plane... IT'S SKYWRITING!"

cimg436026992.jpg
5) Writing "in" the Sky

Part 1: Another fairly literal interpretation...

cimg440827163.jpg
Part 2: This uses a particular definition of the word "in":

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
in /ɪn/
preposition, adverb, adjective, noun, verb, inned, in·ning.
.
.
.
5. (used to indicate means): sketched in ink; spoken in French.


So the word is not written in "ink", it is written in "the sky" - i.e. it is written using the sky.

cimg440927164.jpg
Part 3: Part 2 was written using a printed image of the sky, whereas this time the word is actually written in the negative space - the cut-out space - which contains sky. The word is made from the sky. Again, writing "in" the sky can mean writing USING the sky...

cimg441027166.jpg
6) Hijacking a Plane

OK, we did manage to commandeer a plane after all...

(If you can't see the videos, scroll down to the bottom to see them there.)

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7) Ribbon Writing

Charlie Fish tried to write with a ribbon in the sky. He probably should have used a bigger, silkier and more colourful ribbon on a less windy day, but you get the idea.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.



8) Smoke Signals

Charlie Fish borrowed his housemate's smoke machine to make smoke signals in the sky. Writing in morse code, the signals spell SF0.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.



9) Word Suspension

Charlie Fish hung some writing in the sky. This has the advantage of being visible to everybody that walks past my house, so I've left it there as an advertisement for SF0.

http:http:
10) Mid-air Musings

Charlie Fish is writing (whilst) in the sky.

cimg456528452.jpg
Summary:

1) Typing trickery
2) Projectorage
3) Light writing
4) Words on a skyview window
5) Writing "in" the Sky
6) Hijacking a Plane
7) Ribbon Writing
8) Smoke Signals
9) Word Suspension
10) Mid-air Musings

Note that the first few comments below apply to the original task, before it was resubmitted!


+ larger

And...
The projector
The board
The board
SF0 in the sky
sf0 174.jpg
sf0 180.jpg
sf0 178.jpg
SF0-Man
Sky Printing
Floaty light
Writing "in" the sky
Negative Space
Skywriter.wmv
Ribbon Writing.wmv
Smoke Signals.wmv
Word suspension
Word suspension
Word suspension
Word suspension
Word suspension
Writing on the fly
sf0 174.jpg

20 vote(s)



Favorite of:


Terms

multicompletion, trytryagain, lewlesque, sf0daemonspeaks

51 comment(s)

Interesting.
posted by The Villain on October 1st, 2007 10:16 AM

I love underhandedness.

But I flag because there is no writing here. Just typing.

(no subject)
posted by Tøm on October 1st, 2007 10:24 AM

Surely typing is writing :S

I'm writing a sentence right now.

Typing may be writing...
posted by Spidere on October 1st, 2007 10:39 AM

...and I do love visual puns, craftiness, and unexpected interpretations. However, for a level 6 task, I would expect something...more. (Think of it like this; 250 points is 50 votes, which is a heck of a lot)

(no subject)
posted by Lizard Boy on October 1st, 2007 10:42 AM

This is exactly why we need a "forgo automatic points" option. Flagged due to high-pointness of the task.

The Fickle Flag
posted by Ink Tea on October 1st, 2007 10:52 AM

Yes. Clever, but not 250 points clever. I don't do this often, but you've earned my fickle flag.

I love your player icon, I loved your escape the camera. In my show of good will, I give you a vote for your great icon.

Oh well...
posted by Tøm on October 1st, 2007 10:56 AM

I did think it'd get flagged.

Worth a shot :)

The Big Red X -4
posted by SF0 Daemon on October 1st, 2007 10:56 AM

This proof has been flagged by several of your fellow players (for the benefit of all, flags are anonymous). As such, it has been automatically disapproved. Most likely, they've posted comments explaining why they're displeased. If you think you may be the victim of a bug, injustice, or a gang of Rubins, hit up the contact page.

(no subject)
posted by Haberley Mead on April 24th, 2008 4:16 PM

Wow, you can comment flag the Daemon - a true sign of resentment towards your task being taken off!

(no subject)
posted by Ben Yamiin on October 1st, 2007 10:57 AM

I'm sorry, I have to flag as well...

But I do like your other tasks! I truly do!

(no subject)
posted by Tøm on October 1st, 2007 10:58 AM

I'll leave it here in case a new player tries it.

I'm never going to do this without trickery anyway.

(no subject)
posted by SNORLAX on October 1st, 2007 11:03 AM

I don't think the task (not this completion) should have been posted to begin with (or at least not for 250 points. Its not feasible for the vast majority of us, and it begs "trickery,"

(no subject)
posted by Tøm on October 1st, 2007 11:04 AM

"posted by Lizard Boy on October 1st, 2007 10:42 AM

This is exactly why we need a "forgo automatic points" option. Flagged due to high-pointness of the task."

Like votes only?

If so that would be a good option.

To Mr. Lowteck
posted by The Vixen on October 1st, 2007 5:37 PM

There are so many possible interpretations for this task, I don't think that there is any one "right" or implied way of doing it. So what if you can't rent an airplane and form words out of contrails? Who said you have to literally mark the physical sky above us with words? (even that can be interpreted in more ways than one). I think it's an awesome task.

(no subject)
posted by SNORLAX on October 1st, 2007 7:10 PM

i agree with you. i think its a great task, that proly won't be done with an airplane. i just don't think it should be worth 250

(no subject)
posted by Burn Unit on October 1st, 2007 10:04 PM

there you go thinking with the points, man. just figure that shit out and let us (i.e., the community) worry about the points and votes. somebody please just write on the damn sky!

Well...
posted by Tøm on October 21st, 2007 4:12 PM

How's that?

The resubmit is quite cool.
posted by Spidere on October 21st, 2007 5:13 PM

I like the variety of thought put into it. Ten interesting little takes on the task.

(no subject)
posted by Fonne Tayne on October 21st, 2007 6:21 PM

yes... you've perhaps silenced that earlier point-unruliness by diluting your action, or rather multiplying it.....

now each completion is worth 25? sounds fair. i vote for at least one of them, especially 'writing in midair' but equally so the lightplay.

when i tried to do that for one task back in the day i failed utterly.... and in the end didn't submit nuthin'.

(no subject)
posted by YellowBear on October 21st, 2007 6:37 PM

aww, i've been practicing with my laer pointer and tri-pod. you all beat me to it

(no subject)
posted by Ink Tea on October 21st, 2007 7:31 PM

Good job on the resubmit. You get a spirit-vote from me, kids. Also, I love me some light writing.

a lot of points for a lot of work and thought
posted by susy derkins on October 21st, 2007 11:02 PM

One could think that you guys pretty much exhausted the possibilities!
Light frozen in mid-air, make sure your hand is neurosurgeon-steady. Maybe this device invented by GRL could be useful for sf0s worldwide: I, for one, want it!
Ribbon writing, on the other hand, is certainly a complex communication technique, mastered by the very few, and technology hasn´t help it much.
I flew on an ultralight plane a few weeks ago: damn, that would have been such a prime location for sky writing...

HOLY SHIT!!!
posted by Ohrlyeh Totenkinder on October 21st, 2007 11:12 PM

VOTES!!!!!!!

The Big Red X -1
posted by SF0 Daemon on October 22nd, 2007 3:07 AM

This proof has been flagged by several of your fellow players (for the benefit of all, flags are anonymous). As such, it has been automatically disapproved. Most likely, they've posted comments explaining why they're displeased. If you think you may be the victim of a bug, injustice, or a gang of Rubins, hit up the contact page.

Oh no!
posted by Charlie Fish on October 22nd, 2007 4:58 AM

Why was this X'ed again? Did you guys really flag it to death again, or is that big red X just a hang-over from the original completion?

Boo!

(no subject)
posted by Tøm on October 22nd, 2007 5:58 AM

If you think you may be the victim of a bug, injustice, or a gang of Rubins, hit up the contact page.

(no subject)
posted by Loki on October 22nd, 2007 6:17 AM

It looks like you've been flagged anew.

Sorry to see that, fellows. I guess standards around here are pretty high (unreasonably high?) for a 250 point task. Either that, or there are at least five people so unhappy with word-play completions that they'll flag anything that comes close.

If you ask me, this time around you've put together a legitimate completion. It may not be an overwhelming, awe-inspiring praxis, given the task's rather extreme point value, but I'm surprised to see it flagged.

Hope you don't take it too hard. A lot of us enjoyed it quite a bit.

At the very least, you've given those of us itching to try this task some more data on what we'll need to do to keep the praxis viewers happy. And, you've convinced me that Burn Unit's votes-only submission button really could be useful. No doubt this could have netted a 0+100 pretty easily, rather than a Big Red X.

what, again?
posted by Burn Unit on October 22nd, 2007 6:53 AM

Jeezum crow people what the hell is the matter with you?

A variation on smoke signals is exactly what I was planning, spending no money on it either. So let's honestly assess this: would that have gotten flagged? Let me ask you flag throwers, do you think you could have gotten the button-punches you needed if I'd slung my version up on the praxis solo? Or might the "burn unit cred" have gotten me kudos instead? I was amused and inspired.

People are, and I say this with all due respect, just assholes.

(no subject)
posted by Charlie Fish on October 22nd, 2007 7:07 AM

Burn, and Loki, I'm still holding out hope that the red is a hang-over from the original completion (which deserved it). We are currently seeking confirmation from the site administrators.

If we did get flagged to death again, fair enough, the community has spoken. But if not, then we want a fair chance!

(no subject)
posted by Tøm on October 22nd, 2007 7:10 AM

Certainly do, I admit that when I submitted the original I knew it was going to get flagged, I was bored and I fancied doing something. However, this resubmit saw much more effort than the original, and should not be X'd!

(no subject)
posted by Scarlett on October 22nd, 2007 8:47 AM

Vote (but, due to X, no points) especially for the smoke signals and the lovely writing mid-air photo. Nicely done, indeed.

Vote, partly in protest over the re-Xing.
posted by Spidere on October 22nd, 2007 10:28 AM

I hadn't voted before, basically in agreement with Loki--that the resubmit was nicely done, but not awe-inspiring when compared with the point value (though غ م صيب /zemaluco's argument was persuasive, and made me reconsider). I vote now to say I think it was well done. Spirit vote, if nothing else.

(no subject)
posted by Adam on October 22nd, 2007 11:49 AM

Spirit vote or not its still 5 points. Thanks.

No...
posted by Tøm on October 22nd, 2007 11:54 AM

The X means no points, at all.

(no subject)
posted by The Vixen on October 22nd, 2007 12:03 PM

Seriously. What the z'ell? Y'all are just jealous of their high sky'n skillz.

Hooray!
posted by Tøm on October 22nd, 2007 12:41 PM

The task is back, thanks to whoever fixed the X!

(no subject) +1
posted by SF0 Daemon on October 22nd, 2007 12:43 PM

Pity the victims of a Daemonic oversight! For whatever reason, unsubmitting wasn't clearing flags correctly. For technical reasons, we can't separate the flags from before and after the re-submit, so they've all been cleared again, and the red X removed.

(no subject)
posted by Burn Unit on October 22nd, 2007 2:11 PM

then I retract my paranoid ravings. Good news, everyone! You're not all assholes!

(no subject)
posted by Tøm on October 22nd, 2007 2:18 PM

Hooray!

(no subject)
posted by Charlie Fish on October 22nd, 2007 3:45 PM

I love the Daemon! He is not villainous at all!

(no subject)
posted by The Villain on October 22nd, 2007 4:00 PM

The Daemon should be more villainous.

I don't agree that the compilation of these 10 completions is worth 250 points. These photographs are clearly only worth 10 or 15 points each.

I want to see 20 things written in the sky.

20 things!!!

Charlie Fish: you can pick locks, why don't you just steal a plane?

20 Things? Here you go.... +2
posted by Charlie Fish on October 22nd, 2007 4:10 PM

Villain:

Picking locks.

Flying light aircraft.

There is a difference. Please learn this before next boarding a plane.

20things28639.jpg

(no subject)
posted by Lincøln on October 23rd, 2007 7:58 AM

Thank you Mr. Fish.

(no subject)
posted by Charlie Fish on October 23rd, 2007 8:03 AM

What for?

(no subject)
posted by Lincøln on October 23rd, 2007 8:14 AM

For writing 20 things in the sky.
And for being a general all around good guy.

Swiss Tony says
posted by Meta tron on November 19th, 2007 4:12 PM

picking a lock is a lot like making love to a beautiful woman...

(no subject)
posted by Adam on November 20th, 2007 9:13 AM

Fast Show reference deserves a vote I think.

Even if it was made in the comments.

Hold on.

This is my task.

(no subject)
posted by The Vixen on November 20th, 2007 11:53 AM

Meta: that sounds extremely awkward...beautiful women are that hard to maneuver in bed?

Nah it's easy... +4
posted by Meta tron on November 20th, 2007 12:09 PM

It's just like making love. You know, left, down, rotate 62 degrees, engage rotor...

(no subject)
posted by GYØ Ben on December 28th, 2007 3:43 PM

...

(no subject)
posted by GYØ Ben on March 23rd, 2008 11:37 AM

Hahahaha. I just got that comment, Mink.

JUST now, watching Futurama.

Only 3 months late.

(no subject)
posted by Jellybean of Thark on April 15th, 2008 7:03 PM

I like this.