C.O.W. - #017: Hill Stomper

[Fozzybar]

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/images/cow/cow.jpg


Round #017

Topic:
Hill Stomper

Deadline:
Tuesday, 14 June 2005




- for any questions or help go here:
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=37512

note: The deadline won't be EXACTLY after a week...it can last up to 24 hours more, i am human and have to work also, you know ;)

Post your creature for this week!

[Fozzybar]

For the last rounds I missed some of the regulars who entered at the beginning of COW ...Matt Dixon, xia, fungi, lukavi, Dougbot, arteric, Helzon etc...

So, i guess they are in the same mood/situation like me...i already had short time to enter the COW each week but i mostly managed to do an entry, but as the weather got warmer and warmer i miss some motivation for pc-stuff...

That means, if this round will have also less entries than the usual ratio i will start a summer break for COW...all for the sake of it :)

[Tad]

hill stomper??
i like it best when theres alil blurb about the idea behind
the title for the concept.

[thirdeye]

I don't think it's the summer thing that causes people to not participate. I'd rather blame following :

- End of semester which causes some of us to focus more on school than on anything else
- Very weird topics lately or too much open ended (like the last one) - half of the entries in the last one was disqualified
- Some of the people you mentioned, already won the COW so maybe they're not so much willing to participate.

I was waiting for the summer to participate because I'm too busy most of the year with school and work, so anouncing a summer break is like kick in the nuts for me :( And this week's topic is great - I have an idea already :)

Also - off topic, maybe you can answer this - what's up with IDM ? Davi added the winner of the IDM#1 to the winners thread today, but didn't put up a voting for IDM#2 (which topic BTW was simply to difficult and complex) or start IDM#3 ? Is that on dead already?

[duddlebug]

ooooh... Hill stomper...? Nice title...

I didn't have time to take part last week, but i'm gonna try and get something done for this one!!

[Fozzybar]

Tad
Ok here is the blurb especially for you:
"Hill Stomper - make a concept about a hill stomping creature. The creature must be able to stomp hills. It is called Hill Stomper because it is known for stomping hills. The hills are stomped by this creature. Stomping hills makes this creature the hill stomper. It stomps the hills by stomping them. You are in the land of the Hill Stomper if you see creatures stomping the hills like seeing hills which are stomped by the Hill Stomper."


thirdeye
Now, the weird topic thingy was the result of allowing the winners to pick the topics i guess, i already got another pm where someone complained about this...the easiest way is to turn back to the old system, where i picked the topics. I didn't want to change it, since we came up with this idea in the ideas-thread...it's all about democracy (and sometimes cruel decisions by the ones who are on top, hehe)...

hmm...you waited for summer...i would really like to kick in your nuts, so this is not an argument for me ;)

"half of the entries in the last one was disqualified"...errrmmm....like two? I will be a little stricter in future when it comes to rushed or inane entries...

IDM...i don't know anything about IDM, davi is the master of this thing, but i think slowly ca.org-duties are overflooding his time budget...

[Carnifex]

hmm i'd agree on bringin back the old system. even if it's something for the winners to look forward too i dunno if it really brings out good ones. people expect different things from the topic also (like fungi chose gluttonous emperor).so,back to set topics!;)

[Tetsuo]

hmm Hill Stomper eh? .....

[Craig Houghton]

Hill Stomper is a fantastic and easily accessible topic. I hope everyone is gunning for this, but if there's not much of a turn-out, a summer break is a great idea. Actually, it's a painful idea, but for the sake of the cow I understand the wisdom behind it.

-Craig

[leckronium]

Tad
Ok here is the blurb especially for you:
"Hill Stomper - make a concept about a hill stomping creature. The creature must be able to stomp hills. It is called Hill Stomper because it is known for stomping hills. The hills are stomped by this creature. Stomping hills makes this creature the hill stomper. It stomps the hills by stomping them. You are in the land of the Hill Stomper if you see creatures stomping the hills like seeing hills which are stomped by the Hill Stomper."

:tihi: ....well said Fozzy!

I think this topic has a lot of possibilities of good art. As for going back to the old system, what's the difference between Fozzy picking the topic, and the winner picking the topic? They're all coming from the same list of topics and Fozzy still has final say over something he doesn't like. And for those complaining about this weeks topic, I would guess Fozzy picked it since he didn't say who did. If that's the case then your complaining about nothing because you already got your wish. :dur:

[palal]

very good topic indeed:) AND FOZZY! DON'T MAKE A SUMMER BRAKE!!! please:) vacation is the only time I have time for such things:)


WIP
http://www.members.lycos.co.uk/afredro/hill2.jpg

[S.C. Watson]

For the last rounds I missed some of the regulars who entered at the beginning of COW ...Matt Dixon, xia, fungi, lukavi, Dougbot, arteric, Helzon etc...

I don't know if I qualify as a "regular" or not, but I've been fairly busy with commission work. I suspect the others are in the same boat there. I know Matt is.

Cheers,
~S

[Fozzybar]

:tihi: ....well said Fozzy!

I think this topic has a lot of possibilities of good art. As for going back to the old system, what's the difference between Fozzy picking the topic, and the winner picking the topic? They're all coming from the same list of topics and Fozzy still has final say over something he doesn't like. And for those complaining about this weeks topic, I would guess Fozzy picked it since he didn't say who did. If that's the case then your complaining about nothing because you already got your wish. :dur:

I chose the topic, since duddlebug and AndrewLey didn't send me a suggestion (better this way, could have been hard with two winners, hehe)...

I don't know if the winners always took topics from the idea-thread, i don't check this (you don't expect this from me, really?)...but i would appreciate it, since members post their ideas in this thread and it shouldn't be for nothing...

[Fozzybar]

As for going back to the old system, what's the difference between Fozzy picking the topic, and the winner picking the topic?

Well, there might be a slight difference, like i started the whole COW-activity and therefore my picks support the unity of this idea....but then again it's not said that picks from other users will change it and if so, changes are nice sometimes :)

[leckronium]

Either way you choose to continue COW is fine with me. I still think this is the funnest part of this site. I'm surprised there hasn't been more threads like it. If you choose to go on summer break I'll understand, sometimes it gets really hot up here on the second floor and I don't have air conditioning.. :^^;:

[Eriboss]

"Eriboss introduces himself to the C.O.W"

decided to join in this week, liked the title "Hill Stomper"

anyway here's the way im thinkin, very early WIP concept:
gunna have something to do with jumping, and bird eating i think :x
http://www.reelfilms.co.uk/images/hillstomp.jpg
edit: playin with colour:
http://www.reelfilms.co.uk/images/hillstomper.jpg

[Blitz_]

my entry, and my first post.

:teeth:

http://www.mediasoldier.net/cow/17.jpg

[luxun]

i only found out about this just recently and im most definatly going to enter this week:), i hope you dont hold that summer break because i think this is a kickass activity. and summer vacation is the part of the year i have most time to do such a thing:)

[luxun]

btw can people do collabs?

[Fozzybar]

btw can people do collabs?

nope! :)

[croovman]

- End of semester which causes some of us to focus more on school than on anything else
That'll be the reason for me.
Though I hadn't had much time to participate, I liked visiting now and then to check the topic and see if I can at least think of something and maybe sketch it later, and I rather liked the variety of the topics; from loose ended to topics where it's harder to think of original ideas, but fun coming up with them.
Summer break from COW? Oh, please don't.

[possessed]

Hill Stomper as painted by Matt Vending
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/c5740bcde8.jpg (http://www.freeimagehosting.net/)

These creatures were unknown to us for a long time until 'that' day.
On the second day of March the earth trembled. It was the awakening of the organisms we know call 'Hill stompers'. For many centuries our people have built their homes and towns upon green hills rich with vegetation and food sources unknowing of the danger at hand. Little did we know these 'hills' were crawling behemoths when suddenly our cities began rising towards the skies and moving towards the horizon. Those who had the fortune of living on a stomper were the lucky ones. Those who lived on the ground, in large urban area's would soon face a terrible faith. The stompers flattened nearly every great city whenever they came across one, nesting in it's ruins. We have learned the stompers cannot be destroyed so we had to make the best of our situation. We can only hope, that one day, the hill stompers will lay to rest once again.

[vaughany_boy]

I wont be taking part this week because this is the heaviest week of exams I've ever had. I haven't been around here long but I'd like to say that I was also hoping to take part in more ca.org activities over the summer holidays. Still, I understand how a summer break might be justified if interest continues to die down. I just hope it would be back again before too long.

[duddlebug]

I chose the topic, since duddlebug and AndrewLey didn't send me a suggestion (better this way, could have been hard with two winners, hehe)

ooOops... sorry. I'm kinda new to COW and I didn't realise that i was 'sposed to do that!! This is a fab topic though and i'm hoping i can find a few hours to get something done...

[cakeypigdog]

redehlert: thats brilliant!!! great idea! love the style too. the more traditional media entries always stand out to me... i never really enjoy digitaly painted entries as much. love the little mole guy falling down on the right hand side.

Eriboss. thats looking really good. i love the attitude youv'e captured in the creatures head. look forward to seeing this one develop.

[redehlert]

redehlert: thats brilliant!!! great idea! love the style too. the more traditional media entries always stand out to me... i never really enjoy digitaly painted entries as much. love the little mole guy falling down on the right hand side.
Thanks CakeyPD - appreciate the vote of confidence. I plan on doin' er up in color, so I hope you'll still like it when it gets all digital. :S
Cheers!
D

[fanboy]

My submission.
The Rum'Katar (Hill Stomper in American English) is the king of the massive planes of Reign’ sea. The frontal bones alone weigh 9 tons, and yet this creature can sprint to speeds of 30 M.P.H. (not for long) The Va’Keese insects that make up the planet’s sentient population still hunt these beasts, which despite the advances in weapons tech, are still hard to bring down intact. There is an old legend that explains the name: that when god created Reign’ sea, he realized that the world had too many hills. Rather than fix them himself, he created the Rum’Katar to flatten the hills as well as provide the Va’keese with food and transportation. This legend forms from the unusually aggressive nature that is brought about when one of these creatures is attacked. Hill Stompers, when attacked, will aggressively hunt down the predator. If the massive skull or the fore legs smack the unlucky hunter, the Stomper will rear up and finish the creature in one massive stomp. According to biologists, there is never the need for another stomp to finish the victim.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/Timberwolf393/HillStomper.jpg

[PhilHolland]

Gaireeth The Hill Stomper - by Phil Holland
http://www.artbyphil.com/phfx/artwork/CA_Cow17_HillStomper/images/hillstomper.jpg
"During my travels across Clinso Ridge I came across a somewhat astonishing sight. I found myself at the peak of the mountian staring at what the locals call a 'Gaireeth The God of Hills'. At first I feared greatly that this would be my final sight, however I soon learned that this monster of a creature was friendly. And perhaps a more shocking bit of information was that in fact this giant can communicate in our native tongue. It would appear that he has protected the local villagers for several hundred years. I was fascinated by all of this and decided to see if I could somehow speak to the beast. He briefly in a deep voice explained that he left his home from deep southern hills of Koroj during a war that apparently separated several factions of his people. He spoke of bloodshed and extreme agony, yet Gaireeth has a hopeful twinge in his voice. He says he knows that others survived and one day they will be united. I asked him how he knew of this and he told me 'a little bird told me'."

There's my fantasy jarble. Here's my wip.
http://www.artbyphil.com/phfx/artwork/CA_Cow17_HillStomper/images/hillstomper_steps.jpg

And here's a slightly larger wip with extremely brief explainations of the steps for those interested.
http://www.artbyphil.com/phfx/artwork/CA_Cow17_HillStomper/index.html

Cheers,

Phil

[Helzon]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/Helzon/Dourgedone1.jpg
Have you seen them? Last known whereabouts of Ionima and Arginald Crig: First Hillocks of Srinagar

3rd Rising, 10th Major Mark of the one hundredth year passing of the P.L.C.E (Post Ludditic Crusadic Era)
I begin this report with some rather delightful news to the Supreme Ludditian Committee. We have lost but only three Dourge's in the last month with the following associated casualties:
1)Hibberster Kalwinkles
2)Ionima Crig (wife of following)
3)Arginald Crig
Stibenard Auglend sustained some crushing wounds along his left side...he's alright now.
This represents a marked decline (calculated by beads and fingers) in the number of deaths and disabilities. Far below last year passing's height of five thousand per week.
In terms of progress I must also announce that the last of what the fallen elitist intellectual empire called the "Himilayan Range" is no more. A master yardsman has measured it's height (by the only instrument allowed on hand, his thumb of course) to be a mere half a meter above sea level.
It has taken more than five thousand teams fifty years at the cost of one hundred thousand lives...but this milestone should set a worthy example to all those who dare hold the subversive thought of a world that is not indeed flat.
I daresay the gall of anyone to hold such a filthy notion. Heresy I say!

Teams have also reported that the 'Alps' are well under control...as are the 'Urals' and we look to the stubborn 'Atlas' range in the coming year.
Oh the glory of Earth as it was intended by the maker....flat from horizon to horizon. To his glorious intelligent design we commit ourselves.
Yours,
Hingbricker Levelspurn
(Eastern Hemispheric Operations Co-ordinator)

P.s. You may or may not find attached (by sticky resin) a monitary pledge form for the orphaned Crig children. Give generously...so that they too may follow their parent's shining example.

[redehlert]

PhilH and Helzon :cheerleader: nice!...I dig where both are at (and in Mike's case - where it's goin!)....
Peace.
d

[Carnifex]

*sigh* i admit it. this topic doesn't appeal to me. no entry from me this round.

[End Hits]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/marginwalker/500footZOIDBERG.jpg

A nomad, planting itself in moisture rich hills, moving on when they dry up.

[leckronium]

http://home.comcast.net/~leckronium/onlinestorage/hillstomper2.jpg

Ever wonder how Earth's terrain got to be the way it is today? We know from studying geological formations that obvious formations like lakes, rivers, and canyons are all formed from water drainage. Mountain ranges are formed from tectonic plates moving against one another in opposite directions. But what about other less obvious formations like prairies, meadows, and the plains that are scattered throughout the world? Any answers that scientists may come up with could be true but there is one reason that they might not know about, Glomp von Stompp.

Glomp has been recorded into history ever since man was aware of his own existence. Being one of a kind, this gigantic mass of a beast has been carved into cave walls, written into books, painted into paintings, and sung about in songs. Much of these recordings have also told about great destruction that often result in earthquakes and other natural disasters. Not a whole lot is known about Glomp other than that there are long periods of time where there are no recordings of his appearances. We 're not sure why there are gaps and we don't know what causes him to stir from his slumber. The last recorded appearance was in Austria in the 1930's where a series of hills and a family who liked to sing upon the tops of them mysteriously disappeared within minutes. :nohope: :tihi:

[Ostrander]

http://rhinohidestudios.com/images/hs-fin.jpg
The race of Perhamish Hill Stomper's are a cheerful lot, most sleep lazily throughout any given day till starlight when they appear drunkenly wandering the hilly landscape to which they are so accustomed. They are awkward and clumsy in their gate which resembles that of a Bansailien toddler just learning to walk. These creatures are relatively harmless as long as you don't get caught in their unpredictable path.

[Fozzybar]

Blitz
Where's the concept? Is this your final entry? Looks rushed...

possessed
Where's the creature??? I can't spot it...

fanboy
looks like a triceratops to me :S ...get rid of the ugly text at the bottom...

[brokk]

Thats a Styracosaurus (http://images.google.com/images?q=Styracosaurus&hl=en) actually! : )
Cousin to the good old Triceratops, both are members of the Ceratopsidae (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceratopsidae) family.

[Fozzybar]

dammit, always these fanatic dino-freaks... :^^:

[brokk]

hehe, and anal retentive too. :bashful:

[Matt Dixon]

http://www.vortex.plus.com/HillStomper.jpg

The Tale of the Hill Stomper

Pity the people of Beantrickle Mills,
Who build their small homes on the tops of round hills;

For that land is the home of a twelve-toed aggressor,
That presses their dwellings with terrible pressure.

This bully's main hobby is leaping aloft,
Searching for houses he hasn't yet squashed.

Once spied, he approaches, with cunning so smart,
Then launches himself with a thunderous fart.

He crushes the village, once peaceful and sweet,
And licks up his lunch from the soles of his feet.

[AndrewLey]

lol - thats great Matt - very funny

[S.C. Watson]

Excellent Matt. :teeth:

I'll have to do one now. Arg! The pressure!

~Oreg.

[fungi]

lol awsome matt. reminds me of monty python. i wont be doing this one, maybe the next one will tickle my fancy (i hope it will).

[Main Loop]

first time ive entered:

http://www.remtek.net/0/mainloop/default/images/13/248.jpg

Artic Hill Dweller

This species generally doesnt stomp any hill larger than an average mole hill or ant hill, but he has found that stomping on large hills attracts prettier female AHD's.. This means he gets to score a lot more than the average AHD, thus making him a true playa for real..




haha.. great, Matt.. I like yours too phil holland.. nice one gloklund..

[Fozzybar]

Matt is back!

Very cool :^^:

[young paddy1]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v19/youngpaddy1/stompovirus2.jpg
There is only one relligious docturine in the hills below the purple mountains of Gustar, "If you want to live a long life build, tall, build pointy and...."

it has been handed down in a badly burnt manuscript for thousands of years, the problem is the all important burnt bit had the best advice,

"build in a valley, build of brick and stone and iron, no wood or thatch, no wattle or dawb is to be used for construction of your houses. For when the Fatarsed Stompovirous comes he'll crush your home to splinters."

The Stompovirous' diet consists entirely of Mammogul eggs found in their nests high in the purple mountains. The shells of the eggs are a foot thick and solid granite, no tooth or claw could possibly open them from the outside. That is why the Stompovirous swallows the egg whole by opening its trisected mouth and locking the top of its erectile horn into a pocket in its back expanding its throat and jumping face first at the pointy end of the egg. Once inside the Stompovirous turns the egg up the other way and leaps off the nearest precipice bouncing on its hardened backside and pushing off again with its giant feet, from hill top to hill top.

just placing a wip

[AndrewLey]

This creature uses its powerful claws and hind legs to stomp through the tough walls of the termite hills. It then uses its long tongue and claw to catch its juicy prey.

http://img225.echo.cx/img225/1781/hillstomper1bv.jpg

[Mike Corriero]

Ok I was goin more for the Beauty of this creature than having it smash hills since thats what most people are doing.
http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1118777495.jpg

Walking Nature- This gigantic living land mass is given the name "Hill Stomper" by the natives. The native inhabitants of this region owe thier lush beautiful scenery to the Walking miracle of mother Nature which provides nourishment,water,flowers,trees,oxygen and a home to the birds in the sky. It appears from far back in the hills walking through the mist and fog shaking the ground for miles as it makes its nightly rounds of feeding the land in which it lives. This miracle of nature houses thousands of birds and disappears without a trace before dawn.

[Carnifex]

i smell a three star rating for mr dixon...
gloklund's also very nice.
leckronium's...*goes check country history*

[leckronium]

Yeah, gee Matt welcome back......hurry up and pick a new topic will ya? so we can get on with the next round :P

Carnifex - I'll help you on your search.

Sound of Music 1965 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059742/)

Its a movie my parents always watched when I was younger and I had no problems stomping it out of existence. Rent it if you can find it and then watch it. I may just end up with your vote :teeth:

[killerbee]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y187/itselectric05/hillstomp0er.jpg


hes kinda cute- for a hill stomper

[Lyliani]

Thanks for the laughs Matt - definitly needed it - its been a hellish month

[Form]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/formsketch/MountainStomperRevised.jpg

Akei

"My Dear Brother"

[bluefooted]

Some really Fab entries this time around! I wish I had the time to compete this week, but work comes first...

Phil Holland, Leckronium, Gloklund, Mike Corriero: Beautiful entries, fine work by all.

Matt Dixon: I spat coke on my keyboard when I read your poem. That, combined with the insane look of glee on the creature's face, just did me in. Great job!

[fanboy]

New verson. No bad Handwriting.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/Timberwolf393/HillStomper.jpg

[hallo]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y295/fbar/hillstomper_web.jpg

"...and as the enemy unleashed the Hill Stompers, the battlefield turned into a stormy ocean of sand and dust, trembling beneath our feet..." - Anonymous

Gah, I suck at poetic writing.
Furthermore, my entry feels more like a WIP to me, but I could not resist posting it before the thread gets closed. :bashful:

[Fozzybar]

fanboy
it's still a dinosaur...i am not saying that i won't take your pic to the poll, but it doesn't make much sense to enter with a known creature...think about it for the next times...

[fanboy]

Dinoish was the intention, but I'll try to be more original next time. I might redo it…I’ll post it if theirs still time.
Anyhoo, I am awed by your entry Helzon! HOLLY FRIGGING CRAP! The concept, the creature, the colors… Wow.

[JeffZNY]

dix...owns.
nuff said.

[redehlert]

Ah yes, the day is not complete unless you’ve spent a spell watching the cavorting ways of the Bounding Bluff! See it prance hither and thither in giant leaps and bounds upon the hilltops rousting, better yet, launching(!) resident mound moles into the air. Seeing how they deftly catch the litter critters with one of their three, whip-like tongues is truly amusing to observe.

http://www.cognitionstudio.com/conceptart/rdlrt_cow17.jpg

[Helzon]

fanboy: Thanks man for the kind words...I really appreciate that!

I must say this however, this round has brought back two old feelings
1) The overwhelming sense of gargantuan awe, from the sheer outstanding quality of work.
2) The outrageous consternation of actually having to pick but only one in the poll.

Consider my humble hat's off to everyone.
Cheers!

[shadoman]

Matt D., Glocklund, Mike C., and many other great entries... I am so pissed that I couldn't contribute.

[ChaoticKnight]

Today's the last day right?
I had a sketch ready, but I doubt I'll be able to finish it before tonite. I had a background story and everything. :nohope:
I will try to make the deadline.

[S.C. Watson]

Oh well. Bills before pleasure. No entry this week. Yer safe for another little while Mr. Dixon. Enjoy your freedom while you can.

But someday, some day sooon mwahahaha....










Okay. Need to lay off the high octane coffee there some....

[Mike Corriero]

It seems like C.O.W. is telling us it doesnt want to quit for the summer, this round seem to have jumped up a level from the previous rounds as far as quality and participation.
Gloklund, Matt Dixon, Lecronium, Phil, Nice work all around.

Glad to see your back Matt.

Oregano- better luck next week, works a bitch :bashful:

[prostate sunrise]

http://www.kekaikotaki.com/pics/hillstomper.jpg


The Verdant Strider of the Kamorian Plains is a wonderful creature of ill repute. Known mostly for devastating the hill country during the spring, they are not well understood. Most do not realize the true reason that the Striders stomp the hills during spring.

For in actuallity during the spring the beautiful Ardur Blossum blooms, covering the hills in a swath of pastel brilliance and filling the air with sweet, sweet smells that the mind can barely contain, let alone comprehend.

But what little do people know, is that the Ardur Blossum is the sign that a female Strider is in heat. That the aroma of the bloosums send the Bull Striders into a frenzy. In their passion and ardor, the Bulls rut the country side driven by sight and smell of the blossum.

Which is why you never step into the gooey mess of a Striders passing.

[flaptraps]

awesome cake!

[luxun]

deep in the "enormeous" woods of denmark, lives the crature only known as "the creature that inspired that horrible stomp music" you guess how it got its name :wink: one day a man went into the forest and when he came out he had a weird need to stomp brooms at the ground, people thought he was insane but some people considered it music :nohope: and started doing it to, thats how the stomp music came to be.

as for the creature itself it suffers from hard cleaning madness, and sometimes when the frustration of not being able to clean the hill completely gets to big, it starts hitting the ground with its brooms, one of the brooms have grown together with the creature because of it being in its hand always.

http://img191.echo.cx/img191/7789/stomp0jt.jpg

i had a hard time coming up with a concept fot this, and i think it shows in the design, but whatever. also my english is not the best since im danish, and havent had that much english tutoring since im only 15, so bear over with any spelling error that may occur:)

[vigostar]

wow, Prostate... wow, that shit rocks.... you should really finish it.. in your spare time.. I think it would be worth it... Render the ground.. Maybe add some Pogoda house.... you have the hard part done... Keep on going!~

[wassermelone]

...




:x

My.
Prostate Sunrise... thats.

:bow:

-toasty

I agree with vigo!

[croovman]

am I the only one having trouble seeing anything from photobucket? I wouldn't want to miss out on anything, the stuff I can see looks excellent.

[Helzon]

croovman: Yeah..it smells like they are down again...whether it's for routine
maitenance or not who knows?...but hope they are back up in time for polling.

[0kelvin]

http://www.whereismyeyeball.com/images/CA/COW/COW17.jpg

Stumpbill Stomper

The Stumpbill Stomper is the heaviest known flying species of bird. Unlike most birds, its skeletal structure is thick and sturdy. It has immensely strong wings and legs, which allow it to fly despite its heavy frame. However, the birds have very little stamina and are not able to fly long distances at a time. Unable to migrate to warmer climates, the Stumpbill spends its winters hibernating underground. After gorging itself on whatever food it can find for a week or two, the Stumpbill begins its ascent. It flies directly upward for a matter of hours, expending all its energy to get as much altitude as possible. Once the bird has used up the last of its stamina, or the air gets too thin for the bird to fly any higher, the Stumpbill tucks in its wings and goes into a freefall. The Stumpbill hits the ground, beak-first, with enough force to bury itself ten to twenty feet underground. The impact knocks it unconscious, but its sturdy frame usually prevents any major injuries. That is, unless it misses the soft earth of the hills and lands in the rocky valley. Just be thankful I don't have an illustration of that tragic scenario.




0kelvin

[Lyliani]

@MikeCorriero

very elegant twist to the story - its beautiful and serene - definitly unique from the rest of the entries - tough pick this week :)

[Pavel Sokov]

luxun.
that
was RANDOM
i love it

[princeofhappiness]

http://img106.echo.cx/img106/2420/hillstmpers1lp.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

In another Texas, the one in a parallel universe, things are not quite the same compared to Earth's Texas. In our Texas, tumbleweeds are rare, small and fairly harmless rolling objects that are quite amusing to watch. In the other Texas, these things are far from amusing. These tumbleweeds are the size of mountains, and theyre everywhere. Their rolling action generated by the wind sculpts beautiful green hills into......rubbish. In the other Texas, nearly 500 families get tumblesquashed every year due to these monsters. Certain incredibly stupid superstitions have also been spawned due to this phenomena: The McHanniganians say, "This Texas of ours is Gawd's gawf couwse, and that rolling sonoffagun is His gawf ball."

[redehlert]

vote time? hmmm? precious?

[Mike Corriero]

Did I miss when this turned into the week and a half COW topic? :er:





:bashful: :wink:

[Tad]

Please hold off starting the voting!
I have a piece i'm trying to finish and really would like to enter it.
I'll try to have it done tonight, if not, definetely tomorrow.

so if you could hold off the voting till I post it,
i'd really appreciate it.

I'll definetely lyk if i'm lagging or something..