Discussion Thread November 2019 75 Word Writing Challenge.

[Ursa major]

The poll has now closed and we have a winner:

Congratulations, mosaix!​

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[Victoria Silverwolf]

Many congratulations!

For those who wanted an explanation of my little puzzle:

Spoiler

The date February 30 did appear on a real calendar, once in history. I'll let wikipedia explain the circumstances:

February 30 was a real date in Sweden in 1712.

Instead of changing from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar by omitting a block of consecutive days, as had been done in other countries, the Swedish Empire planned to change gradually by omitting all leap days from 1700 to 1740, inclusive. Although the leap day was omitted in February 1700, the Great Northern War began later that year, diverting the attention of the Swedes from their calendar so that they did not omit leap days on the next two occasions; 1704 and 1708 remained leap years.

To avoid confusion and further mistakes, the Julian calendar was restored in 1712 by adding an extra leap day, thus giving that year the only known actual use of February 30 in a calendar. That day corresponded to February 29 in the Julian calendar and to March 11 in the Gregorian calendar.

Some have suggested that the Soviet Union had a February 30 after the revolution, this appears not to be true. Again, wikipedia:

Although many sources erroneously state that 30-day months were used in the Soviet Union for part or all of the period from 1929 to 1940, the Soviet calendar with 5- and 6-day weeks was used only for assigning workdays and days of rest in factories. The Gregorian calendar (since 1918) remained for everyday use: surviving physical calendars from that period show only the irregular months of the Gregorian calendar, including a 28- or 29-day February, so there was never a February 30 in the Soviet Union.

Thus, 1712 was the only year with a real February 30.

 

[Vince W]

Congratulations @mosaix!

 

[Culhwch]

Many congratulations!

For those who wanted an explanation of my little puzzle:

Spoiler

The date February 30 did appear on a real calendar, once in history. I'll let wikipedia explain the circumstances:




Some have suggested that the Soviet Union had a February 30 after the revolution, this appears not to be true. Again, wikipedia:



Thus, 1712 was the only year with a real February 30.

I will readily admit that I did not get that February 30 was unusual, and now I feel really dumb...

Congrats, @mosaix!

A big thank you to @The Judge, @Luiglin, @HazelRah, and @Shyrka for the votes, and thanks also to those who kindly mentioned or listed my story. I was a bit concerned that I'd had to redact too much to pass the censors' draconian limitations, but it seems my message did get through in the end!

 

[Karn's Return]

I do so hope it's a more approachable genre this time...though who knows, I may wind up not doing another one yet again, I've had tremendous block for the longest time now...

 

[mosaix]

I do so hope it's a more approachable genre this time...though who knows, I may wind up not doing another one yet again, I've had tremendous block for the longest time now...

I’ll do my best, Karn.

 

[mosaix]

Many congratulations!

For those who wanted an explanation of my little puzzle:

Spoiler

The date February 30 did appear on a real calendar, once in history. I'll let wikipedia explain the circumstances:




Some have suggested that the Soviet Union had a February 30 after the revolution, this appears not to be true. Again, wikipedia:



Thus, 1712 was the only year with a real February 30.

Commiserations, Victoria.

 

[mosaix]

BTW, if anyone’s wondering why I’m posting at 1:40am UK time, I’m sitting in Telford Hospital Accident and Emergency department waiting for a specialist to attend. Nothing too serious. More info tomorrow.

 

[elvet]

Congrats! @mosaix
And I am grateful for the mentions @Pedro Del Mar , @Marvin , and @Alex The G and T .

Meanwhile, as for favorites, the coded puzzle pieces seem to have gone over my head. I was drawn to sidewise references.

@D3athw4lker 's Austin Powers, @sketch_livingstone 's very old girl band pop song, @elvet 's Marilyn Monroe.

As soon as I saw the parameters for the challenge, the vision of Marilyn Monroe singing Happy Birthday was my inspiration. I knew I would build my story around seduction. The last line was meant innocently enough. It wasn’t until I read it over the second time that I appreciated the pun, and hoped others would as well.

@mosaix Wishing you the best, hope you are ok.

 

[Danny McG]

Well done @mosaix
A gripping yarn

 

[Tywin]

Congrats Mosaix!

Hope the emergency room trip is okay!

 

[Parson]

Congrats @mosaix. Well done!


My story for was based as I am sure all of you picked up, on the Man from U.N.C.L.E., which I loved as a kid. At first I had Napoleon chasing drop dead gorgeous female while Illya was lying in the cold as happened from time to time in the show. But the word count wouldn't allow it.

 

[Ian Fortytwo]

Congratulations @mosaix .

 

[Peter V]

Congrats mosaix. Very enjoyable little tale

 

[Luiglin]

Congrats @mosaix.

I had trouble with the theme/genre and had to go with the absurd as I found 75 words not enough for a serious entry.

Working in IT, I've found the amount of people who still use birthdays and pet names names as quite surprising. Hence, the stupid story of Fluming's hero Bund and his nemesis, Blufeld.

Strange how 75s go, I thought it came out well. Obviously, not.

 

[nixie]

Congratulations mosaix.

Hope all goes well at hospital.

 

[olive]

Congratulations, mosaix. Get well soon.

 

[mosaix]

Thanks, everyone.

I’m home now. A few years back I had laser eye surgery for a torn retina. I’ve got some ‘cobwebs’ in that eye that my brain ‘tunes out’ of my vision. Yesterday evening some new cobwebs appeared. NHS 111 telephone advice - off to hospital. I’ve been given an appointment at ophthalmology - for Saturday morning, so it’s probably nothing serious.

Regarding my story. Naturally, I was more than happy with the win, but there was one bit of it that I had difficulty with so I might post in the ‘improving’ thread later.

 

[Elckerlyc]

Congratulations with your win @mosaix!
I'm always a bit queasy when it comes to eyes, having only one that's actually doing it's job reasonably well. I'm hoping your current problem is nothing serious indeed.

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

Well done @mosaix

As for my effort , no votes and a couple of mentions. I guess there was just too much effing for people's tastes