Scopimera

Saecula Novae, a forum for speculative evolutionists, is now open. We are a new, friendly community that is just starting up and looking for more members. People are encouraged to share this entry, and link back. Hopefully we can spread the word!

What Is Speculative Evolution?

Broadly defined, speculative evolution is the practice of coming up with fictional evolutionary histories for alternate Earths and other worlds, as well as discussing topics that influence these fictional evolutionary history, such as how gas-filled aeroplankton might be made to work, and under what conditions it could exist, if it could exist at all.

Speculative evolution is both an art and a science--speculative evolutionists are expected to conform to established scientific principles (though there are exceptions: for instance, exercises in how life would evolve if exposed to an environment that was unlike anything we might expect to see, such as a world where things fell upwards; however, in these cases the evolutionary history is still expected to be realistic and well-done), but they are also expected to be able to come up with new and novel ideas. Examples of speculative evolution include Snaiad, the Speculative Dinosaur Project, The Future of The World, The Future is Wild, After Man, and Man After Man. Several projects are closely related to speculative evolution, though not strictly falling under its aegis--for instance, All Tomorrows is a book that deals with what happens to humans over millions of years as they evolve into a multispecies galactic civilization, with more focus on historical and social aspects than evolutionary aspects.

What's Unique About Saecula Novae?

Two main things:

1. Community projects. At Saecula Novae, we have a staff dedicated to promoting community projects. If you wish to start a community project, we will help you create the subforum, give you advice, and, if you so desire, give you moderator abilities over that specific subforum. We also have a community project, The Future of The World, already started.
2. User-directed. At Saeculae Nova, we believe that the will of the community is one of the most important things. Therefore, we are determined to respond promptly to user concerns, and do everything in our power to ensure that everyone on Saecula Novae enjoys their experience on the forum and is able to make maximum use of the resources we provide.
3. Staff as servants. The point of being a staff on Saecula Novae is to help other people. As staff, we promise to put the needs of the user base first, to put in the time and energy to make the forum as welcoming and useful a place as possible, and to encourage the highest quality of speculative evolution.
   

How Can I Join?

Simple. Click on the link at the beginning of this journal entry, fill out the required information under the register tab, and introduce yourself! We greatly appreciate new members, and our staff and senior members will help you get started if necessary.

From bcbdrums.deviantart.com/journa…, because I'd really quite appreciate it if my theriotype didn't go extinct.

I'll be participating, of course.




Using Art to Save a Species!


Welcome to the International Cheetah Day Challenge!  What is this challenge, you ask?  Well...

The International Cheetah Day Challenge (ICDC) is the day when you, supporters of saving the endangered cheetah, use art to raise awareness about this dying species and maybe even raise money for the cause!  The idea behind the challenge is that deviantART's front page will be totally filled with cheetah-themed art for at least one day, and through this people will look into what's going on.
To get involved, all you must do is submit cheetah-themed artwork to deviantART on December 4th which is International Cheetah Day.  See further details below.
Other ways to help are by promoting this challenge to others on the site in any way you can!  There are perks to getting involved!  Also see further details below.
Please see the ICDC Update Blog for regular news about the challenge!

Together we can make a difference!



FAQ's

How will the challenge work?

On December 4th, submit cheetah-themed art to deviantART!  Any and all cheetah art is welcome!  Submit as many deviations as you like, the more the better!
In your deviation description, please state that your piece was created for the ICDC.
Also include links to the Cheetah Conservation Fund, our "About Us" page which has many facts about cheetah endangerment, and to a special journal which will be uploaded on December 4th.  We will post the Sta.sh link to that journal here as soon as it is finalized.
Submit your art to the ICDC category on deviantART here: [link] which will be open for 24 hours on December 4th.  Use this submission page: [link]
Other places to submit your art are to this group, and to #The-Big-Cats-Club, who are holding a special ICDC contest!  On December 4th, this group will open submissions to everyone and submissions will be auto-approved.  We will also have a gallery folder specifically for the ICDC!  It's not required to do this to be part of the challenge, but we would love to have a folder to recognize everyone's efforts to raise cheetah awareness!  There will also be a folder in #The-Big-Cats-Club open on the 4th for their contest.  See the journal (link above in updates section) for details on their contest!

What can be included in the artwork?

You must include a cheetah in some way.  The other content of the artwork is up to you, as long as it is in support of cheetah conservation!
Your submission must be your original work.  Your submission must comply with all deviantART rules.
Any medium is accepted!  Any skill level is accepted!  Quantity is the key to the challenge's effectiveness!

How else can I get involved?

Promote promote promote!  Write a personal journal about the ICDC!  If you own a group, promote it there!  Tell your friends!  Raising awareness is all about telling others, so tell anyone in any way you can.
Donate to the cause yourself at the the Cheetah Conservation Fund.

What's in it for me?

If you submit art on December 4th, it will be included in a special gallery in this group.
Your name will be featured in a special ICDC journal posted to this group on December 4th.
People and groups who help promote the ICDC will also be featured in a special journal.
You will have the satisfaction of knowing you are helping raise awareness to save a species!

We are setting a minimum goal of 500 deviations!  Together we can make it happen and use our art to raise awareness!

Visit the Cheetah Conservation Fund to learn more about cheetahs and how to help save the species!

Please comment with any questions, suggestions, and let us know how you plan to get involved so we can add your name to the list of participants!  Keep an eye on the group and this journal for updates!

I'll be gone by Saturday. And be gone for a few days.

Which is why the Winds of Change chapter was written in such a short time. Also, because I didn't know my turn was up because my laptop wasn't working so I had to use a different one and didn't log into dA for a while.

As everybody probably guessed from the recent upload, I'm alive, and not as inactive as I appear. Very soon there shall be many uploads of things I've done fairly recently, and they will be very very nice (I hope).

Even so, I'm a bit out of shape, in the artistic sense, especially in regards of poetry. Need to refresh my mad poetry skillz.

I've created a poem in the last week or so, and have uploaded it (it's Society). Anyone have any ideas on how to improve it? If I don't get any responses (and I may well not) I'll probably find other people to give me advice on it.

Oh, and if anybody wants to give out a spoken word poem request, I'd be quite glad to make one; sometimes other people come up with seeds for ideas that escape me.

RULES:
1. You must post these rules (Very Important indeed).
2. Each person must post 11 things about themselves in their journal.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and create eleven new questions for the people you tag to answer.
4. You have to choose 11 people to tag and post their icons on your journal.
5. Go to their page and tell them you have tagged him/her.
6. No tag backs.
7. No stuff in the tagging section about "you are tagged if you are reading this." You legitimately (AKA, really, truly, with all honesty) have to tag 11 people.


1) When in your life did you really start getting into art?
Oh, around adolescence.

2) What kind of art do you really hate doing? Eg, do you hate pottery? Do you think charcoal is a pain in the butt? (Note: this is not a "what don't you like to draw" question)
Papier-mâché. Hate the stuff.

3) What was the last thing you dressed up as for Halloween?
I forget.

4) What kind of career do you want/ your dream job?
Zoological architecture.

5) What are/were your favorite toys?
Board games.

6) What is your weirdest habit?
Let's go with talking to my cats in a high-pitched voice and narrating their responses.

7) What's your favorite internet meme?
The philosoraptor.

8) What kind of animal are you afraid of (or what kind creeps you out, if none scare you)?
Ticks. And tapeworms.

9) Ever been in a really huge blizzard?  Let's hear about it!
Nope.

10) What's the last book you read?
The Animal Dialogues.

11) Favorite season of the year and why?
Summer. It's nice and warm, and things are less organized.


And now my questions:

1) If given the option between a slow death by your blood crystallizing in your bloodstream and causing ice crystals to pierce your cells and a slow death by heat causing dehydration causing your blood to thicken, which one would you choose?
2) Next Generation or Original?
3) If you were given control of an organization dealing with paranormal threats, would would you do with it?
4) What is your favorite area of academics?
4) Favorite animal?
5) Favorite plant?
6) Favorite mushroom?
7) Favorite biome?
8) Favorite book?
9) You are given one superpower. What is it? Note that it cannot be absorbing other's powers.
10) If you could choose one weird supernatural thing to be real, what would it be?
11) Favorite flash game?


The tagged (who don't have to participate and should just tell me if they aren't):