I'm not kidding myself to know that I am of any importance, but I want to make an announcement regarless of its insignificance. I'm not going to be around Newgrounds for a while in the near future.

This is not an April Fool's prank. Rather, there are personal reasons why I'm taking a break, much of which have to deal with real life. However, one of the reasons is because of what I personally have become as far as Newgrounds goes. I've become in essence a robot, something I hoped to never be.

When I started voting a Newgrounds, I tried to vote on Flash movies that were new and to write reviews on the ones that affected me for good or for ill. Now I simply go through the motions and vote on what's popular, and only leave a review when it comes monthly voting time. While this was due to time constraints on my end, over the past few weeks, I've begun to realize how lazy and selfish this is. It's not being a productive user, but following the herd, a mentality that I at least used to try to avoid.

I may drop in once or twice this month to vote, if that, but that's it. It's not that I don't love this place. I could spend the rest of a normal human life span just looking at the numerous Flash movies. But I want to actually be something more than a person who votes on five Flashes just to get my credits.

My thanks go to all the Newgrounds staff and the Newgrounds artists and users I've interacted with. Barring some unforseen accident I will be back, trust me. But I need a break right now; Newgrounds is too much of a good thing.

This really isn't news, but I just want to say that in the interest of fairness, I try to judge an author's flash movie based on what I perceive as his or her actual level of skill, rather than use the bar of the most skilled Flash artist. Not everyone simply has the talent or time to create a timeless piece. As a result, I may look down on some pieces that more technically proficient in favor of ones that are clearly made by beginners.

It's not easy to draw well, and it's doubly hard to do so in Flash, let alone to create the animations, menus, etc. As a result, I can't expect every piece to be an instant classic. That's not to say that I'm not biased in favor of pretty productions (I certainly am), but something that is animated poorly or drawn poorly can win a lot of points in my book if it's made with heart. Conversely, something that is shaded well, animated well, and put together well will end up with far lower score if there are basic problems with it.

If an artist can draw with phenomenal talent, then I expect the artist to create something far better than the average with that skillset. A person who may not have much ability may need to improve, but everyone starts somewhere, and as long as it looks effort was made and it's well written (or even good sound), I'll try not to hold underwhelming visuals against it. If the production is sleek and beautiful, though, then you had better bring an equal level of skill to all aspects.

As the coverage of all the ceremonies remembering the attacks of September 11, 2001 is spread by the media, it's easy to look at the public posturing with a jaded eye. Please do not let cynicism numb you to the meaning of this day.

I ask people to remember how they felt this very Tuesday six years ago. Remember in silence all voices that were silence, the heartbeats that were stopped, and the lives that were ended. Remember not with tributes, parodies, or other works of art, but a complete and perfect silence.

Usually, I don't bother to draw, since I have very little ability when it comes to graphic art. Still, I have to admit I had fun drawing and coloring the piece I entered for the High-def Sprite Contest, despite all the flaws it has. For the first time in a while, I had a genuinely good time. I hope this contest comes back, because I intend to do better the next time.

I'd like to create more Flash movies, but sadly, I don't have Flash and I'd need longer than the 30 day trial permits. I don't have any money for Flash and I would need a more powerful computer to handle the suite of products. The one I have is fine for what it is, but if I were to do serious graphic work, I'd need something more powerful.

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. So who's going to give me a ride?