Happenings and Goings On:

As I have been home from work for a while, I am using this time to create all sorts of mischief in Second Life.

Besides being happily immersed in building several projects - I make up for skill with enthusiasm - I have some other things cooking as well.

Every Tuesday at 10pm (with exceptions usually medically related) I am teaching a class at Caledon Oxbridge University called The History and Culture of Caledon.
Which sounds horribly stuffy and self-important. Except I decided that rather than holding forth on the actual history of Caledon I would use the opportunity to make up horrific lies about what happened, when and to whom. Perks the class right up. The best part is that some of the juiciest stories are actually true! And since Desmond never attends it is pretty much open season on him.

I will be participating in this spring's Grand Tour, being Conducted by the lovely Breezy Carver and the delightful Rose Springvale. These ladies are troupers. And insane :)
My event is the Sparking Gears Ball in Steam SkyCity on Saturday Feb 19th at 9am. Romance among the Robots! Clanks and Automatons are invited to come and greet the day, with dancing and prizes for best avatars.

The Steamlands Embassy is coming to Steam SkyCity! This will be a part of the flying city dedicated to introducing visitors to all the Lands of Steam. Invitations have been sent, and building is commencing on the Embassy.

Speaking of building - I am also working on the build for the Newcomer's Association which is relocated to Caer Firnas, and the build for the Green Fairy which WILL return to Steam SkyCity.

The theory is that if I put it out in my blog, I HAVE to get all this stuff done :)

And someday, somewhere, I want to ride an ostrich.

Namaste

There are two things which I keep over my desk at work, and have through the past 10 years. These are reminders of who I wish to be, and how I wish to interact with the world. Today seems a good day to share these.

The first I have marked as "Tibetan Nurse's Prayer". It is apparently a Buddhist prayer attributed to Shantideva in 8th century India.

May I be a protector to those without protection
a leader for those who journey
and a boat, a bridge, a passage
for those desiring the further shore.
May the pain of every living creature
be completely cleared away.
May I be the doctor, the medicine
and may I be the nurse
for all the sick beings in the world
until everyone is healed.
Just like space
and the great elements such as earth,
may I always support the life
of all boundless creatures.
And until they pass away from pain
may I also be a source of life
for all the realms of varied beings
that reach unto the ends of space.

From the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
Sogyal Rinpoche

The second I cannot attribute, I have had it for years.

There are of course numerous rabbinic discussions about determining the precise moment of dawn.

How do you know when night is over and a new day
has dawned?

One Talmud student said, "You know it is a new day when, at ten meters, you can tell the difference between a fig tree and an olive tree."
The other Talmud student disagreed and said," You know it is a new day when, at ten meters, you can tell the difference between a sheep and a goat."

So they went to ask their rabbi.

The rabbi answered them,

"When, at a distance of ten meters, you can see a man and know whether he is a Jewish Israeli or a Palestinian Israeli and still call him brother,

or see a woman and know whether her skin is black, white or brown and, in all cases call her sister,

then you know the night has ended and a new day has dawned.

May this be the fruit of all our prayers.

Amen"

Just WOW

My thanks to everyone who came out to the End of Days listening party in Steam SkyCity today, to everyone who participated on the IRC chat stream, and most especially to Captain Robert and Kristina from Abney Park who chatted with us on the stream while we listened to the wonderful new album!
Lucien Brentano's wizardry and KBWM's expertise made this happen - Thank you all so much!

Abney Park Listening Party!

You are Cordially invited to

Saturday November 6th at 3pm
in the
Volare Warehouse Ballroom
Steam SkyCity, Caledon

A listening party to celebrate the release of the latest album from



Hosted by The Gray-Volares and KBWM

Addendum: we will now have an IRC channel available for those who would like to join us from outside of SL. Bandmembers may be joining us as well!
http://webbased.quickfox.net/KBWM_Radio

Our Final Big Brass Balls - Tonight!

Every Tuesday night for the past 2 1/2 years, with a handful of exceptions, we have gathered in Steam SkyCity to hear some wonderfully talented DJs spin whatever they want to play.

As a result, we have heard some truly amazing music and I have personally been introduced to many artists who are now favorites.

In that time, we have had many visitors to Caledon come through the Big Brass Balls. And no small number are still here! After the opening of Caledon Oxbridge University's Community Gateway, quite a number of folk who were new to the grid have also joined us for dancing, music and camaraderie.

The success of the Spring Fling dance after 2008's first Spring Egg Hunt was the catalyst for the Big Brass Balls. There was little to do on a Tuesday night at that time, and having a dance is usually Caledon's answer to all problems :)

I loved the idea of inviting DJs to come and share from their libraries, spinning the music that they love. By paying the DJs up front so they are not dependent upon tips, they did not feel that they had to spin what would be popular - but could be very experimental. I think this was successful. It also gave new DJs the opportunity to get their feet wet in a very fun and supportive environment.

Most importantly of all this, a big incentive for me to start the Big Brass Balls was the opportunity to have an excuse to get together with Vivito every week and to dance!

Our goals for the Big Brass Balls have been met - and with our family responsibilities and time demands offline it is time for us to move on.

The great news is that the Big Brass Balls will continue - to find out how you will have to come tonght and see!

On the occasion of my 4th Rezday

So following the longstanding SL tradition, I am taking the opportunity afforded by the fourth anniversary of my rezzing to indulge in some reminiscences and assessments of the past four yea......

?? What the hell is that godawful noise?

HEY!!! You kids turn down that damned noise!!! You call that MUSIC?! In MY day we had REAL music, not that garbage you are blasting over the neighborhood.

As I was saying, reviewing with fondness the salad days of my SL youth and offering a critique of the current state of the gri.......

.......HEY!!! That is NOT a toy! That is a genuine collectible Original Primerrific Simcrasher 1.0....do NOT press the red button!! I mean it!! Put DOWN the rabbit, are you crazy? Are you some kind of moron? LOOK AT THE CREATOR, you idiot!! Of COURSE it killed you - it was made by Denver Hax! Serves you right, too! At least we had the sense to check someone's profile back in the Good Old Days...

Anyway, the changes that have come about in the past four years - the loves, the losses, the joys and sorrows, the perver...

DAMN IT!!!! YOU KIDS GET OFF MY LAWN!!

Where is that damn Reactor Cannon? I AM ENABLING DAMAGE NOW YOU LITTLE PUNKS!!

FEELING LUCKY???

Making a move

Most of our friends are aware that Vivito and I are planning a move south next Summer. Both our families need us, and we need a much bigger place closer to a major medical center for my parents to come live with us.
The upshot is that after a lot of trying to make it work we have admitted that there isn't any way we can make it to SteamCon this year. We are obviously disappointed, but SteamCon III will be in our backyard next year.
We prepaid our tickets at last year's Con, so we will be financially supporting them a bit anyway.
I am certainly disappointed to be unable to do a lot of the things I was planning, and sorry to be unable to help as I had wished. But I know our friends understand the needs of family taking precedence.
We are going to be utilizing our mad building skillz on offline projects here at home, and wishing that it was as easy as rezzing, torturing and texturing prims!