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Nikira

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Blog Entries posted by Nikira

  1. Nikira

    Hee Hee

    By Nikira,

    If you haven't checked out Dokster's blog yet, then you've missed out on one of the most bizzare events of history...
     
    ...
     
    BZPers have turned me into a fad.
     
    ...
     
    What has happened to humanity's sanity?
     
    >>>EDIT: If you are doing any 'merchandise' that involves using a picture of me, pleasepleaseplease, use my Bionicle character pic or the wooden penguin. Do NOT fish up pictures of myself and use them, or the links/images will be removed from the blog comments.<<<
     
    ~Nikira
  3. Nikira

    Lego Game Time!

    By Nikira,

    MOCers and anyone else who is even slightly interested - I will be selling ALL OF THIS starting later this week. See something you like in this massive heap? Keep it in mind.
     
    Anyways...
     
    TIME FOR A GAME! =D
     

     
    First person that is not Than, TMD or Makaru to correctly guess how much I spent on all this (plus 5 pounds of knex, 4 pounds of Lego/Megablocks, two Transformers, a fully-working compass and a copy of Lego Racers 2 for the GBA) wins a Nintendo Wii.
     
    (Said Nintendo Wii may not actually exist in the real world, but hey that's what our imaginations are for.)
     
    Note that I did get all of this in one day. Fascinating!
     
    Now, get guessing!
     
    -Nikira
  4. Nikira

    Reviewing How-to

    By Nikira,

    Bumped 7/4/09, cause I really feel this point needs to be addressed yet again.
     
    These are guidelines from my personal experience, not BZP rules. This is what I as an artist particularly enjoy to see in thorough reviews, small or large, but they are not required to post a review on BZPower.
     
    I've been glancing around random topics in General Art, and now that the Art Contest is over, I've noticed a decline in the number of really decent reviews. Yes, yes, a pop in to say "wow that looks nice" is always nice, but heartier reviews are really appreciated.
     
    So here's a few tips on how to review to the upmost.
     
    Overall, a review is supposed to encourage an artist/author and help them improve - something that a lot of recent reviews do not do.
     
    In my opinion, a good and interesting review consists of three things:

    Encouraging CommentsConstructive CritiqueHelpful Questions Repeat that list three times.
     
    Got it?
     
    Good.
     
    Now let's confirm that only doing one of these three things does not necessarily make a good review. I have seen good reviews that consist of just encouraging comments, but the lack of saying what could improve can be bothersome. Similarly, I have seen reviews that consisted entirely of critique, but many times they can be major mood-killers and make said artist feel rather bad about themselves (thus the reason for encouraging comments.) Questions are the only thing that I don't have a problem with, as they usually need to have some kind of comment or critique behind them for them to make any sense.
     
    Got that?
     
    Alrighty.
     
    Now let's break it down a little.
     
    The first thing most people do (and the first thing you should do) is provide Encouraging Comments - really point out the major strengths of the picture (or MOC, story, etc.) and comment on things that positively stood out to you. If you like the choice of colors, let the artist know. If you liked how a certain part of a story was laid out, go ahead and share it. The comments are the main sell-esteem booster for the artist and it makes us feel good (not to mention keeping us from falling into a self-denial art rut ). Just don't go so far as to be dishonest. Lying about how you really feel doesn't help matters - your goal is to help the artist/author improve, not to give them a false sense of triumph. Just find something you truly like about the art (or story, etc.) and let that be known first.
     
    Second and most important is Constructive Critique.
     
    Let me repeat: Constructive Critique. Not destructive. CONstructive. There is a difference.
     
    In its most basic sense, constructive critique is going through and saying what you know can improve and/or what you think could improve (this usually involves either personal opinion or uncertainty), and then - extremely important - explaining WHY. Saying "I don't like this" isn't critique. If something looks off, be specific about it and, if you can, offer a suggestion to help improve said offness. You can say 'the arm looks weird', or (even better), you can use specifics and say 'the left arm looks like it's bending the wrong way, but maybe you could do this to improve it: *insert suggestion here*' Just mentioning which arm or which paragraph or which part of the art/story/MOC seems off to you can help, and suggesting a way to improve can help even more.
     
    It also helps if you don't rub a mistake in the artist/author's face. Rather, just make a point about it, giving enough emphasis that the artist/author knows that it's something they need to work on, but not so much that you rip their self-esteem apart. That is inconsiderate and, in some cases, very rude.
     
    Now, onto the fun part of every review: Helpful Questions. This is getting rarer nowadays in the art forum. Questions can be a less harsh way of doing criticism, and IMO, there is never anything as 'too many questions', especially if you are confused about something - don't automatically assume that the artist/author figured something out one way. Instead, stop, think, and then ask a question about it. Inserting questions here and there can help you and other members to better understand the picture/story/MOC (especially if there is a story behind it or how certain parts of it were made).
     
    It also gives us artists/authors something interesting to reply to!
     
    Again, a review is supposed to encourage an artist/author and help them improve.
     
    So go out there and help us improve encouragingly.
     
    -Nikira
  5. Nikira

    Pets In Signatures

    By Nikira,

    This is for everyone who is using/thinking of using any type of 'Signature Pet', whether it be Kratta, Raptors, Leechies, Dragon Eggs or whatever it may be.
     
    It's called the Signature Guidelines.
     
    Read them. Know them.
     
    Please, if you value the wonderful existence of your signature, make sure it follows the rules when adding any cool thingamabobs or doodads to it.
     
    For example: If you have a 468x60 or 250x100 banner and decide to add a pet to your sig on top of that, realize that it WILL be removed. The limits are the limits, please respect that. If you want a pet in your sig, you will have to adapt your other images accordingly.
     
    Make sure this also counts for the combined filesizes - remember that 100KB is the limit (about 100,000 bytes).
     
    Do not be surprised if your sig containing one of every type, color, and size of pet and each individual description suddenly disappears, either.

    TOPIC STARTERS:
     
    I know several have done this already and I appreciate it, but please - if you could make sure that members are aware of the signature guidelines before using your creations, that would be a great help - just providing a link to the Sig Guidelines in the first post can work wonders.
     
    -Nikira
  6. Nikira
    Wow. Didn't notice this until, like, just now...
     
    Anywhoos:
     
    Congrats on the OBZPCship, Lady Kopaka!
     
    *dances with you*
     
    Now you can help Turakii and I take over the world pelt male OBZPC with packing peanuts.
     
    ~Nikira
  8. Nikira
    Niki's going to the State Fair in the morning.
     
    Niki's gonna see how her drawings did.
     
    Niki's excited. =D
     
    The weather at the State Fair isn't so exciting.
     
    The weather will be 98F.
     
    With humidity.
     
    So it'll feel like 104F.
     
    And it's going to rain on top of Niki later in the afternoon, too.
     
    Don't be surprised if Niki comes home as a soaked, shriveled raisin.
     
    Niki will still be happy.
     
    =D
     
    And Niki will try to take pictures of the fair. And maybe pictures of pictures, who knows.
     
    ~Nikira
  10. Nikira

    3, 3, 3

    By Nikira,

    Well, if my time is right, I am officially three years old in BZP years.
     
    ...
     
    Wow.
     
    I feel kinda old. XD
     
    ...
     
    *puts on Huna and starts poking random FAs in the shoulder blades*
     
    ~Nikira
  11. Nikira

    Bookmarks (for Sale)

    By Nikira,

    Thanks to everyone who has purchased bookmarks - this has done much better than I thought it would, and I'm very happy that people have been interested in these! I'm currently working on a Takanuva bookmark as well as designing a Metru set and a Chronicler's Company set (this would be in Bionicle form, not the human designs Scratch that - I would not be able to sell these if I used the Bionicle designs, so these will be human as well). Let me know what you think.
     
    YAY bookmarks are finally done.
     

     
    Woooo, okay!
     
    These will be $5 a piece.
     
    Sets of 2 (Onua/Lewa, Gali/Pohatu, Tahu/Kopaka) will be $8.
     
    The full set of six will be $22.
     
    ONLY TWO SETS PER PERSON, PLEASE.
     

     
    All bookmarks are laminated. The back has a simple black border with the individual Toa's name across the left side.
     
    I accept cash (USD only), check, and PayPal. Comment here or contact me via PM if you're interested.
     
    -Nikira
  12. Nikira

    Silence

    By Nikira,

    There are NO male human beings in my house. For the second week in a row.
     
    ...
     
    ...
     
    The silence is... strange... and, uh... unnerving...
     
    ...
     

     
    ...
     
    Excuse me while I go into a fit of hysteria with my felines now.
     
    ~Nikira
  13. Nikira

    Arg/

    By Nikira,

    It was very, very, very long, but Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End was still so much awesomer than Spiderman 3.
     
    Arg. It be the truth.
     
    EDIT: If you comment, please put ANY spoilers in Spoiler Tags!
     
    ~Nikira
  14. Nikira

    Playing

    By Nikira,

    I gots a new CG program.
     
    I played around with it.
     
    And I got these.
     

     

     

     
    Playing with computers is fun. =D
     
    ~Nikira
  15. Nikira

    Mom's Day

    By Nikira,

    Tomorrow's Mother's Day.
     
    It's also a Sunday.
     
    Sunday = hectic day for everyone in my house. So, since my mom, dad, and none of us will have any free time until after 1 p.m. tomorrow, we are celebrating Mother's Day today. Already did the classic breakfast in bed and got her some new birdfeeders to replace the ones that are falling apart because of old age.
     
    Later today we're taking her to a conservatory over in Columbus. Very, very pretty. She loves the place.
     
    There's even a special butterfly room she's been wanting to see since September.
     
    And, of course, my dad's taking her out for supper. We'll probably clean the house while they are gone.
     
    Or something like that. I like it when my mom's happy.
     
    ~Nikira
  16. Nikira

    I Luv You, Tufi

    By Nikira,

    I really do, I mean it!
     
    Thaaaaank yoooou. <3
     
    *grovels*
     
    In other news, Niki got her Rahaga-head spinny this afternoon and is feeling rather old. D:
     
    -Nikira
  17. Nikira
    There's a lot of people I know who need hugs right now, and have gotten many today but still need more.
     
    There's a lot of people I know who need hugs right now, but are too far away to get them.
     
    There's a lot of people I don't know who probably need hugs right now but are either not in my range or not in my memory banks.
     
    ...
     
    I'm just gonna give everybody hugs right now.
     
    Kay?
     
    Feel better, everybody.
     
    *hughug*
     
    -Nikira
  18. Nikira

    Prettiest In The World

    By Nikira,

    Some of the most beautiful things in life are the most simplistic.
     

     
    These loverlys are found in Barbados. If I was ever there, I'd be tempted to take them all.
     
    Dude, if these aren't the prettiest flowers you've ever seen (ignore the JPEG quality, it is irrelevant), then you need your eyes checked. >=(
     
    -Nikira
  20. Nikira

    Ike

    By Nikira,

    Well seems like Ohio is now recovering from Hurricane Ike (or what's left of it).
     
    Our campus got hit with Category 1 hurricane-force winds on Sunday, knocking down branches and trees, ripping bushes from the ground, tearing shingles off roofs, and totally cutting all of the power for the whole city (as well as most of the state of OH - my family 1 hour away lost their power only two hours later, as well as the folks down in Cincinatti where 500,000 people were left in the dark). No rain, no lightning, just wind, and LOTS OF IT.
     
    Plus I came within seconds of being hit with mentioned debris. Not fun, I don't recommend it. o_<;;;;
     
    By the time I woke up the next morning to take most of my pics, the cleanup was almost done - students worked on it bright and early in the morning, getting a normal week-long job for the town done in a matter of hours. <3
     

    Bit hard to see here - had to take this from my window during the storm, as we were confined to the dorms until the winds died down. There was branches falling down all over the place, and one of the trees only partially visible in this shot lost almost all of its limbs during the course of the storm.
     

    Tree across from our dorm.
     

    Same tree. There was a car underneath it but it had been removed by the time I got to take a pic.
     
    We only now regained our power/AC/heat/Internet/etc. here in the dorms at 11:06. Everyone simultaneously rejoiced. <3
     
    But yes, that's where I've been the last 48 hours. No power = no classes today, wheee. <3
     
    How was your week?
     
    -Nikira
  21. Nikira

    My New Toy

    By Nikira,

    A big thank you to Niki's Dad. : D
     

     
    Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 200GB of memory, 2GB RAM, DVD-Rom drive, WiFi, etc. (plus a 2GB flash drive and a scanner/printer/copier on top of all that).
     
    The Graphics Card doesn't support 3-D for some reason (which means no Star Wars Battlefront for Niki D:), but STILL!
     
    And I finally get the prettyness of Vista (and tablet compatability plus handwriting recognition, hoooooo boy : D) minus all the stuff that makes it annoying! Like Windows Defender!
     
    I love you, Dad, you work miracles. <3
     
    Plus I was able to fit all my music and drawings and files and everything onto the flash drive and transfer it from my folks' PC, and I'm just glad it didn't like asplode or get deleted or whatever, yeeeee. ^^
     
    *wubwub*
     
    Haha school shall be most awesome. Thankyouthankyouthankyouuuuuuu Dad! : D
     
    *hugslikeabajilliontimes*
     
    -Nikira
  22. Nikira

    Vbs- Day Two

    By Nikira,

    VBS - GAME DAY CENTRAL: 2 of 5 days completed alive. Sanity: Groggy.
     
    'Allo.
     
    Well, VBS went pretty smoothly again this morning. We had some problems with kids quarreling around 11 or so (we have Rec acd Snackage last, and most kids tend to get cranky if they're hungry), but other than that, it went well.
     
    Tomorrow will be awesome. It's big-dramatic-drama-day-where-something-bad-happens. Dundundun!!!!! 8O
     
    And yeah, got to go to the doctor's. Yay.
     
    He figured that I have reactive hypoglycemia - a blood sugar problem where my body's insulin consumes my sugar too fast, thus causing me to feel tired and lightheaded, even shortly after eating.
     
    Basically, it's diabetes turned backwards and upside-down. I'll get one of those fancy silver bracelets, like the kind that people with severe allergies have, later this week.
     
    They still did a blood test for anemia (I TOLD YOU HA. :-D), so my left arm is all weak and numb and stuff and I can't move my fingers.
     
    I'm also typing this out with only my right hand, so please be nice and ignore grammatical errors.
     
    But hey, I got a nifty bandage. With flames on it. Yay for flames! 8D
     
    ~Nikira
  23. Nikira

    Ummmm....

    By Nikira,

    Why do you need to use me as a goal post for your games, you silly Sea Ponies?
     
    I'm sorry, but it's not fun!
     
    It ruins my mane.
     
    EDIT: Bumped =D
  24. Nikira

    Runningz

    By Nikira,

    We AREZ runningz!
     
    For the Ohio State Fair - Original Cartoon/Comic Character Design, Youth Division.
     
    This would be myself, one of my siblings, and three incredible friends from my church. There's about 15 inside jokes in this one picture that you'd probably never get unless you were one of the people depicted.
     
    Sassafrazzlemrazzle.
     
    ~Nikira
  25. Nikira
    I've recently learned that over the past couple weeks, someone I work with during the week has been severely hurt, emotionally, by what I've been doing.
     
    It's hit me hard, as this person is an extremely important person to me. I had no clue what I had done until I was pulled aside by 3 different adults, who set me straight.
     
    What's horrible is that I've become the kind of person I swore I'd never be...
     
    I've fallen into a rut of depression because of this knowledge... and it's making me feel horrible...
     

     
    ~Nikira
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