Finding the Words

Being unable to find the words to express these thoughts and feelings, I am grateful to Kenneth Sutton for pointing me to Ursula K LeGuin's website. As always, she finds just the right words to say what is in my heart.

http://blog.bookviewcafe.com/2011/03/14/to-my-readers-in-japan/

Thank You, Desmond Shang

On the occasion of the 5th Anniversary of the Independent State of Caledon in Second Life (tm), I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to our Guvnah, Desmond Shang.
And I know what you are going to say, so just hush and listen for a minute sir :)
Thank you for envisioning a wonderful and unique place where people who shared your aesthetic could come and play.
Thank you for thoughtfully creating a Covenant that stressed respect and autonomy over drama and control.
Thank you for treating each new soul who you encounter with respect, and taking time you have never had free to help them.
Thank you for caring deeply about all of us, and sharing our joys and our sorrows for 5 years.
A personal thank you for being responsible for changing my life profoundly - setting me up in Steam SkyCity 4 years ago where I met my neighbor, that funny Mr. Volare.
And a huge thank you goes out from me to everyone who has contributed their time, energy, money and importantly their love to creating an amazing community.
Well Done!

2011 Grand Tour...All Aboard!

You are cordially invited to join us for the
Sparking Gears Ball
Saturday February 19th
9am - 11am SLT
Proud to be a stop on the
Spring 2011 Grand Tour!

Put on your finest mechanical avatar, clank, robot, construct or other creation of Science!
Awards will be given for most creative, most fun and most eye-popping avatars (PG please!). Cool Prizes :)
The finest caffeinated engine oils and sparkling mineral spirits will be available!

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