Dear Survivors,
My house burned down Thursday night and I was not able to vote for the IC because I was shoveling soot and crap and broken glass all day and I tried to post that yesterday from the home I am temporarily staying in but their computer booted me out.
[Insert much foul language to any survivor who bitched about me not voting]
Sorry, I know ya'll didn't know, but give me a break, I'm a bit pissy right now.
The fact is you don't know why ANY judge didn't vote so just shut up until you find out.
Sorry.
End rant.
P.S. I may not be able to continue being a judge since I do not have a Home or Possessions or Vehicle or email and I may or may not have time to read all IC entries from work. I do wish everyone good luck with the rest of the game, and hopefully I will be able to return.
See ya's.
P.P.S. Yes Meg, I got rid of the ad banner but you may NOT buy me presents! Love you...

I say this not to be contrary to Mocksie, but to maybe spur a little thoughtful debate: Should we be challenging the contestants with the ICs, or should they be challenging themselves?

I always felt that, the less structured the IC, the better. Really, the ultimate IC would just read "Write an entry." As a judge, I always voted for the person who took the IC and really made it their own. I think bending over backwards to write a truly challenging IC is almost counterproductive.

Okay, discuss...

Mocksie, who supplied the topic for Immunity Challenge # 3: speaks.

And regarding Blogger, who took the ads off of the contestants' blog? Pischina? Do I have to start sending you more presents? Cause I will, I'm warning you! Also, I can't even access the 'help' section of blogger, and I am an admin. But then, the Fruzz usually helps me with the tech stuff for blogger. Unfortunately, she can't even get online, as the judges know.

Get those votes in judges!

Electric! OOH, I like that!
BZZZZZT!!!!! BZZT!!! BZZZZZZTTT!!!
Take *that*, Survivors!!!

Didn't you hear? First-year gets a stick, and second-year gets to go electric! Here's some batteries...

Hey, who let Mike have the Poking Stick?
I thought only 2nd year and older judges got the poking stick!

Wow, this is the first time I'll have to go home and re-read all the IC entries again before I vote.
Whether funny or serious, I loved something about each one of them.

I'm going to throw my last two cents in here about the IC on Death, then I'll shut up about it, I swear...
Someone mentioned this was supposed to be a "fun writing contest", but really, writing isn't always fun, and GOOD writing is sometimes very painful.
While I certainly don't wish to inflict emotional pain or nightmares on anyone, and I'm VERY sorry if this IC did that, sometimes the best writing comes when you are very emotional about something.
I heard some very good arguments about why some Survivors were uncomfortable about this topic, but when you feel that strongly about a subject you really should *embrace* it. Purge yourself by writing about it. Write about (whatever subject) using all that pain and fear and you will turn out the best entry of your lives, one that will hit every reader in the gut. This shouldn't apply to only Diary Survivor, this should be how you write even when you're not in a contest.

Okay, that's it for me. I promise. On to the Fun ICs!

Glad to see I wasn't the last to figure it out for once!

I'm either the most naive woman on the planet, or just completely left out of the loop on Everything!
I remember last year how stupid I felt after being SO SURE there was no alliance...
And now after going through judges' and Survivors' diaries and guestbooks I realize there is ALL KINDS of Drama going on behind the scenes.
Wow.
And we're barely up to IC#3.
This is going to be a looooong contest...

Yeah, we do sometimes have "whacked out views" on what is good, but that's the great thing about having so many judges from so many different backgrounds. You Survivors are being judged very fairly whether you agree with us or not.

Racer96 = Hilarious

And I'm loving that Telutci is taking a more visible role in the game. Many *kisses* to Telutci.

Telutci is exactly right in everything he said, you can call us all the names you would like and we'll still judge the Survivors fairly.

And KLo, SSSSHHHHHHH, we don't want Jonny to *know* we're stalking him, otherwise he'll lock his doors and windows! So don't tell him, kay?

I'm going to break my silence for a moment to address something that Chrome said:

"After reading my long ass rant I'm sure now I'll never win an immunity challange."

I want to assure you – and everyone – that the judges are completely impartial and honest. Anything you say in your journal, anything you say on the contestants blog, anything you say on a message board or a guestbook...NONE of it will influence any of the judges when it comes time for voting on Immunity Challenges. If anybody even *suggests* that they are being biased, they will be beaten up by the rest of us so fast, they'll probably drop out on their own.

This is a serious matter – probably the ONLY serious matter. We don't care if the contestants are biased and petty in the TC's (that's part of the game), and lord knows the judges have to entertain themselves somehow. But we are always going to be 100% fair when it comes time to vote. I don't want anybody doubting that. Keep in mind that the judges really only have one job, and that's to vote. Everything else is just play.

If any of the contestants ever has a question or a comment that they want to make to me personally (I'm not sure why you would, but the offer is here all the same), please feel free to email me at telutci@ihateyahoo.com. I'll be as straightforward as I can be. Also, Meg Probst is always available.

Thanks, and try to have fun playing the game. When it stops being fun, it stops being a game. We don't want anyone thinking of this as punishment – that's no fun for anybody.

I thought the "Cereal Box" IC from DS2 was much worse than anything we have planned for DS4. I don't see anything wrong with this IC.

This week's IC topic makes people consider quitting the game? Not the intended effect. Not my topic, but I think the author wanted to...hell I'm not going to put words into someone else's mouth. It's thought provoking. Serious, as some of the topics will be. Judges, thoughts?

Oh, and Meg, I've seen plenty of (always dark) pictures of you, you're beautiful. Not another word out of you!
And Jonny, we're not really stalking you, it's okay to leave your doors and windows unlocked, Really!
heh heh heh heh.....

Hey Kinetix, I didn't ask anything! I haven't even posted in two days! Don't be mad at me!!!
Besides, I'm probably the one fool judge from last year who refused to believe there was an alliance! I was so surprised to find out the other judges were right - and also so very proud of the Survivors who thought it up.
As for this vote, my first thought was maybe there was another alliance, but then again, I would have voted for LoudWoman too, strictly because she seemed the most popular writer. Everyone has their own reasons, and if you're in an alliance well that's a good enough reason right there.
To all DS4 Survivors: Ignore us judges, we're just trying to have fun too. Our only job is to give one of you immunity each week, otherwise the entire direction of the game is in your hands.
HAVE FUN, I mean that.
Love,
Pischina

Wow, so much to catch up on. You know, when Jonny writes "you look nice today" directed at no one in general (I think?), in the judges blog, I instinctively turn around to see if someone is looking in my window. Meanwhile he's the one who should be checking the locks on his windows and doors. Pischina and I really are stalking you Jonathan. Pischina, I wish I was prettier than the girl in White Oleander. Oh how you flatter! The person who made the comment, my friend Shelly's fiance, was here this weekend (with her of course!) and she said that he wouldn't shut up and kept repeating during the movie "It's Meg! Look hon!" After she got him more popcorn he was quiet for a while though. I hate pictures of myself, so the one in my yahoo profile is the most recent, taken about a month ago I think. Yuck!

Mike, I want a skinny Elvis, don't forget.

All of the contestants are amazing. I don't think any of the judges are trying to be mean or overly critical. I think Jenistar is right, we just talk smarmy and snarky to play our part. Behind the scenes, we're fans of group hugs and fluffy bunnies and stuff. I've never had a problem with alliances and strategy in Diary Survivor. Do what you have to do and what feels right for you contestants. It's just a game. When you get voted off, you're still a part of DS4. Keep posting in the blogs. I'll still be reading your diaries.

K.Lo - Jeff Probst is hysterical! He even said "dude" to Robb. While I think he's harsh at times, I'm loving it. It's about time the editors show us more Probsty crankiness and reaction shots. Like when Erin fell off the flower puzzle, the camera panned to Jeff who made this weird face, wincing in pain yet grinning, like "that was smooth."

I have no clue what is up with blogger. I keep getting error messages too. Uberhamster, keep hitting publish or copy and paste then re-post and publish. That's what I've been doing. Blogger offers no explanation or help for the problems, only that they're "Working on it."
Grrrrrr. Contestants, are you having problems posting in blogger?