Updates from January, 2015 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Izzy 14:07 on 30/01/2015 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ,   

    A Matter of Scale 

    Isabella Medici standing near a tree in the road at Medici University

    Tiny “1-story” Izzy, dwarfed by 1-story house w/vaulted-loft ceiling. Which in turn is dwarfed by many stories tall tree.


    M E D I C I U N I V E R S I T Y
    Office of The Provost


    Dear Campus Community,
    (More …)

     
    • rmarie 20:30 on 30/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

      One thought I had in reading through this is that you’re expressing a covenant. Many estate sims have covenants that the inhabitants are expected to work from. Adapting to these can bring out creativity – like being handed a green crayon. Where does the covenant start and end?

      Scarlett and I were talking about about doing a campus stroll to sort of look at individual areas closely in terms of the “urban” landscaping. I like the idea of Medici being 1100 years old, a bit further east than Florence, with layers of old and new. Maybe urban trees in “new” sections are never more than two times the height of an avatar. Maybe Camille, where the commons has settled, is older so those trees are a bit larger? Which sections do we consider to be newer?

      One idea is to pass out a basic kit for the standard street or walking path, to give that to everyone and have them create the streets and walking paths in their sections, but with the caveat that they can depart using those materials (for example, if the covenant said “use this flagstone,” then in some areas that flagstone might be texturally worn, or a different color, or graffiti’d, potholed, deliberately routed and stacked up by the side of the road, etc). “Reinterpreted consistency.”

      Is it even possible to suggest that sort of meta-consistency to people moving in? What about the SL Art School city and fantastical things that defy the laws of physics? Where does that fit?

      • rmarie 20:35 on 30/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

        Of course, the message here was one of scale. I won’t forget that!

      • Izzy 20:46 on 30/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

        These are wonderful ideas rmarie, care to implement them? 😀

        Re: laws of physics — once again I turn to the sage Penny Patton, in fact it’s right on her profile page if you want to look her up:

        My minotaur avatar is over 7′ tall! Not exactly human sized. In RP sims where you’re playing a character, it just makes sense to make your avatar the size of the character you intend to be playing. Why claim to be a 6′ human or orc then make your avatar 8′ tall? A 12′ tall werewolf isn’t a werewolf, it’s a fuzzy giant.

        Just like writing good fiction, I can accept anything that is consistent unto itself. If you want to do “Impossible IRL” work, well, I don’t expect it to follow the “laws” of RL physics! But, whatever framework it exists in, it should be consistent to that.

        We hate deus ex machina endings because they cheat the narrative contract the storytellers have made with the audience. The audience was willing to “suspend disbelief,” or to use the term Robert Pratten prefers, “active co-creation of belief.” As Pratten says,

        They know it’s fiction, but they want to believe.

        They want to believe, if only you’ll do enough work to let them. So deus ex machina endings suck.

        When I see Impossible IRL work by an artist like Betty Tureaud, it’s great! It doesn’t pretend to be about the laws of RL physics and it shouldn’t have to. But it does “feel” right. It is designed in a way that feels consistent unto itself. That’s really all we can ask of Architecture, Cities, Artists, Avatars, Fiction, or anything else.

        • Newton 22:42 on 30/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

          They are just ideas – probings into how real consistency could really maybe be achieved. Nothing can be done without the participation / feedback / discussion / logistical commitment of others. At least, it’s not as fun.

          As far as deus ex machina, don’t tell Spielberg those endings suck. There’s something about the human psyche that loves them, or maybe it’s cultural. I’m glad the pushing of the envelope is another matter entirely!

          • rmarie 22:45 on 30/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

            Well said brother. Now get to work. 😉

    • Veyot 14:42 on 02/02/2015 Permalink | Reply

      I found another thing that makes a good neighborhood–back doors. I am already planning to remodel my office at MU. The way it is now, if I want to go visit my neighbor Agnes, I have to go out the front door and run all the way around my house. I do have myself set on “always run”, but still, it’s a bother.

      • Izzy 16:12 on 02/02/2015 Permalink | Reply

        That’s so great Veyot!

        IRL Laneways, the small service roads in-between buildings have become popular places either to build small houses or to create things like restaurants that face tiny pedestrian-only streets. These too-small-to-do-anything-with spaces have become sites of civic renewal and social interaction.

        Sadly we didn’t really leave any laneway space between studios, but it’s great that you’ve envisioned a way to create that sort of connection anyway! 😀

  • Vanessa 03:19 on 30/01/2015 Permalink | Reply  

    MU Sweatshirts 

    Did we get any Fashion Design students??

    We could really use some MU Sweatshirts to give to the new arrivals!

    Woman in a pink Oxford University sweatshirt

     
    • Emma 05:06 on 30/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

      ooh.. i want one..
      hm maybe for the.. ehm.. wait is there some sort of sport team?

  • Vanessa 13:12 on 29/01/2015 Permalink | Reply
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    MU Motocross Saturday! 

    poster for Medici University Motocross

    Saturday 31 January ’15
    Medici University Motocross
    • Competition: 7pm SLT – Torch Bridge
    • Dance Afterparty: 8pm SLT – The Black Sun (Katy Perry’s Face)

     
    • Izzy 15:07 on 29/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

      Name Change?

      I’d like to suggest a name change for The Black Sun. I do appreciate that there is no more iconic name for avatardom than The Black Sun, still, I have to ask if we’ve created a The Black Sun?

      Whatever a Black Sun looks like, it probably isn’t this. And the fact that we have to acknowledge that no one will know what we’re talking about with “(Katy Perry’s Face)” suggests that we accept the obvious and rename the MU Danceteria to KatyPerryopolis!

      As you are no doubt aware, Miss Perry is the most popular human being on the face of the earth. And whether one loves, loathes, or has (somehow) never even heard her music, that can’t be a bad association to have. Does Neal Stephenson even have a twitter?

      KatyPerryopolis!

      • Newton 16:52 on 29/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

        Does Pop Music have a dark side?

        • Izzy 17:28 on 29/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

          Let’s see:
          1. I’m dead.
          2. Jim Morrison.
          3. Kurt Cobain.
          4. Continue…

      • Newton 19:04 on 29/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

        Marilyn Manson ?

    • rmarie 23:09 on 29/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

      Aces!!!

  • Paypabak Writer 19:34 on 28/01/2015 Permalink | Reply  

    Just in time to preface the upcoming Torch Bridge Motocross event at MU:

    https://www.tumblr.com/paywriter/109408058514/medici-03

     
    • Vanessa 20:06 on 28/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

      MU is so lucky to have a *Blogger-in-Residence! Lovely work Paypa!

      You almost remind me of Gabrielle from the good ‘ol Xena days. (in the beginning, when she was actually a Bard and defeated peeps with her mind, before they turned her into Xena Jr.)

      • Paypabak Writer 17:42 on 29/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

        I never had much success as a Bard in games! Thanks! I do wish I could attend the event but I am off the grid visiting my younger son in Florida. Nice to get away from the dropping temps but sad to miss what I propogated. I do hope they’ve set up ramps though!

        • Vanessa 02:32 on 30/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

          OMG, we can’t have the inventor of Torch Bridge Motocross miss the event!!! Does it work better for you the following Saturday?

    • rmarie 07:03 on 30/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

      ♥

  • Diptheria 12:26 on 28/01/2015 Permalink | Reply  

    I am looking to Open Space to discuss, “What are we going to do about live theatre and performance in Second Life? If you are interested, I would love to talk about ideas, possible projects, and collaborations. I am particularly interested in creating live interactions/experiences between avatars, but am interested and open to all discussions, even those not seemingly related to performance. I hope to be able to call some working sessions with those who are curious or passionate in the near future, so please send me your name or drop me a line. I have substantial real life experience but little in world practice, but I am passionate about this medium’s potential!

     
    • Izzy 13:15 on 28/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

      This is fantastic Diptheria! Your own MU Studio may well be enough space for some of this work, and we have other spaces if you need more.

      We can post a Calendar here on MU/Talk where things can be added: Classes / Workshops / Impromptu Discussions / Live Interaction-Experience Explorations etc

  • AlexandreLois1 00:37 on 28/01/2015 Permalink | Reply  

    Interestingly, in which you play computer games. There are so many wonderful games. I am now playing Neverwinter. It’s amazing! There is created a real artificial intelligence. Highly recommend this game.I also do a bit of computer games. There is a project, when the player of Chaos creates the world and the world begins to evolve. There is a problem of good and evil. It is not clear, there will be Satan or not!

     

    Скриншот 2015-02-15 09.31.41

     
    • Izzy 20:07 on 28/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

      That’s fantastic Alexandre! Can you post a photo or two of it here?? TY!

    • Zsophia 00:44 on 25/02/2015 Permalink | Reply

      lol I love Neverwinter too

  • rmarie 17:09 on 27/01/2015 Permalink | Reply  

    Maria Bridges 

    Bridges can be between friends, towns, cities, sometimes countries.  Bridges are for building, walking, tearing down and building again.

    Little Bridges – Right now, there are two bridges straddling the gorge based at Maria 13 and 6 (http://mediciuniversity.co.uk/artists-studios/). The goal is to whittle it down to one bridge. One of these? Maybe. Both bridges are wooden. One is a classic “girder” style with twinkling lights all over it. The other is an arched deck, blackened, with four torches on each side. Although crossing that torch bridge might singe your eyebrows, you should see Paypaback ride her motorcycle across it!  Thoughts on bridges are welcome~!

    Big Bridges – There’s also a big bridge closer to Mt. Rushmore. What? Thats not Mt. Rushmore? Well who is on Mt. Rushmore if it isn’t the three of them? Some kind of bridge building curriculum is in the works for that. Imagine a bridge building collaborative “class,” including formal bridge installation, party on bridge, and  more.  There could be one bridge per month between March and June, if the class flows in the usual SL relaxed manner. More extensive info is forthcoming in the class schedule!

     
  • Xue 12:12 on 27/01/2015 Permalink | Reply
    Tags:   

    Need Any Help? 

    portrait of Xue Faith in greenish-yellowish false color acid tones and mounted in a museum matte

    Hello all, I’m the webmaster here for Medici University & MU/Talk. I’m also a college student at King’s College in London, so I’m definitely not a pro, but if you have any website questions or need any help with anything, I’ll try my best.

    Go MU!

     
    • AlexandreLois1 13:31 on 27/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

      Hello, Xue
      I’m experimenting with web design and I have some very unusual pages. You can see how my web design is pleasant?

      • Izzy 13:50 on 27/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

        Hello Alexandre, is there a link or URL to see your experiments?

    • AlexandreLois1 14:59 on 27/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

      I do not give these links open viewing. I can give only privately in the world.

    • Newton 23:16 on 28/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

      Thank you for taking on this important role. I have submitted a faculty application, however I noticed that in Google Chrome on Mac OSx, the application form seemed to just reload on submit. I’m not certain as to whether my inquiry was received. Sorry for the customer service annoyance, but I think i’m directing this to the right expert.

      • Xue 00:30 on 29/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

        Hi Newton. So sorry about that! Did you restart Chrome & restart your Mac? That often helps! We use “Ninja Forms” which seems to work pretty well. I can try it out on Mac/Chrome tomorrow and see if I can replicate whatever happened for you. Did you try Safari?

        We did receive a Staff application from, perhaps your sister, just fine. But sadly, I don’t see a Faculty application from you in the cue at this time. Keep me posted and I’ll see what I can sort out on this end!

        TY / Sorry!

        • Newton 01:33 on 29/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

          Thank you for your speedy response in this matter. Your answer regarding having not received it is tremendously helpful and I shall submit it anew in a different browser, posthaste. All the Best.

  • rmarie 07:22 on 27/01/2015 Permalink | Reply  

    Greetings from the Office of the Chaplain 

    Hello. It is with high hopes and congratulations that we watch MU come alive.

    The Office of the Chaplain is here to provide resources for worship, social opportunities, weddings, funerals, and other rites as needed.

     
    • Izzy 11:47 on 27/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

      Thank you for your warm welcome Chaplain Beedit. In honor of all the wonderful new students moving in to MU just now, I’d like to officially wave the traditional L$1 fee for holding weddings and other special events. For the rest of Spring Semester, holding special events at MU will be free for all Students, Faculty & Friends of MU.

      • MIchel Nostradamus 11:51 on 27/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

        I see great towers rising in the north

      • rmarie 23:43 on 27/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

        As an example of immediate free gratis services mentioned above, just stop by the Chaplain’s office located at #8 Camilla, and ask any question you like of the TempleSkully. You can’t miss him.

        • Vanessa 03:12 on 28/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

          I found Skully’s logic to be rather eccentric. And that poor skull goes on more tangents than me!

          Typical MU Student! He’ll fit right in!

          • rmarie 10:11 on 28/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

            For an enlightening conversation with the skully try short sentences…

            • Vanessa 13:31 on 28/01/2015 Permalink

              Note to self: Shorter sentences.

              Yes.

              Learn.

              Do.

  • Paypabak Writer 19:25 on 26/01/2015 Permalink | Reply  

    Blogger-in-Residence, checking in with two posts so far:

    https://www.tumblr.com/paywriter/108787747957/medici-01

    https://www.tumblr.com/paywriter/109111805142/medici-2

     
    • Izzy 22:20 on 26/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

      Fantastic BiR! Or is it BIR? In any case, you’re off to a great start. Thank you so much for your participation.

      Have you met Ananda, btw? We’ve got about 3 Bloggers and about 3 Creative Writing students so far. The 6 of you make quite a nice cohort. And actually, while MU/Talk is absolutely for everyone, you guys were the impetus to launch MU/Talk! 😀

  • Newton 07:18 on 26/01/2015 Permalink | Reply
    Tags:   

    A Greeting 

    Thank you to Izzy and V for their generosity and the exciting possibilities at M.U. this Spring.

    Am looking forward to presenting a curriculum under the subject of Café Sophistry, just as soon as the smirking barista delivers my croissant from the toaster oven (From my perspective, it is never toasted enough. She always claims it will burn. Are either of us ever really wrong?).

     
    • Vanessa 08:29 on 26/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

      I often find that arriving at Bacon Barista at the butt crack of dawn as I do, that the BB ovens have yet to reach full scorching temperature and I simply have my croissant, heavens, raw!

    • AlexandreLois1 16:56 on 26/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

      Newton, you are an expert on philosophy?

    • Newton 18:55 on 26/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

      AlexandreLois1, I can only ask questions and provide some historic perceptions. I’m an expert at some of that.

      • Xue 22:12 on 26/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

        Oh, so the Socratic Method, then? So you are an “expert” on philosophy!

    • AlexandreLois1 01:25 on 27/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

      I thought exactly the sophists are philosophy

  • AlexandreLois1 21:29 on 25/01/2015 Permalink | Reply  

    Bright and gentle soul ghost 

     
    • Izzy 22:02 on 25/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

      Hauntingly beautiful Alexandre. Thank you for sharing it.

    • AlexandreLois1 17:15 on 26/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

      Very nice comment.

  • Paypabak Writer 21:26 on 25/01/2015 Permalink | Reply  

    Is there an MU Flickr account for posting pics? I am enjoying the island so far.

     
  • Izzy 21:14 on 25/01/2015 Permalink | Reply  

    Your MU/TALK Profile! 

    Medici-University-2

    MU / TALK

    Some of you may be participating mostly for the in-world RP and not necessarily interested in talking here on MU/TALK. This is fine. Others will like the ability to interact with peers and help plan programs and share resources. You can make pages and collaborate on any info you like. And you can also just casually chat here. Post a photo or video. Share a link.

    Your Profile

    It might be helpful to post a “Profile” here. It’s optional. And what it includes is up to you. You could say something about your current goals. Perhaps your background. Of course links to your website or social media.

    LMK if you have any questions or if I can help with anything here on the site, or on campus.

    Happy Learning!

     
    • Ananda Crystal 20:14 on 26/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

      yay i am here!

      • Izzy 22:17 on 26/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

        Fantastic Ananda, welcome! You already have several blogger companions on the MU campus, and there are 2 or 3 other Creative Writers who applied and were accepted. I think they may not have arrived yet due to the unfortunate gmail habit of sending my emails to spam. I’ll resend the acceptance letters from a “safe” gmail address in the next few days.

        If you’d like to post something about yourself and your work here, that’d be great! You could post some of the wonderful text from your application if you like. You could also use this place as a scratch sheet to work out your program ideas. I find that most things are better in public. That’s the power of something like MU/Talk, and also the hope in the design of the MU Campus at LEA23.

        For sure you don’t have to post anything here, or anything specific. But if you try to work out your Program, Goals, Steps, here, then I and others can help you formulate that plan and achieve those goals.

  • Izzy 18:53 on 25/01/2015 Permalink | Reply
    Tags:   

    Hello World! Welcome all new Students to Medici University, Spring ’15!

    I hope you have a great experience at MU and I hope this new MU/Talk page helps you work on your programs and interact with your peers!

     
    • Vanessa 19:00 on 25/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

      Very exciting Izzy, TY!

      If anyone needs help with their program, give me a shout and I’ll try to lend a hand. We will also be setting up some “Resoruces” pages soon!

  • Xue 17:48 on 25/01/2015 Permalink | Reply  

    Hello world! 

    Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

     
    • Mr WordPress 17:48 on 25/01/2015 Permalink | Reply

      Hi, this is a comment.
      To delete a comment, just log in and view the post's comments. There you will have the option to edit or delete them.

  • Vanessa 08:58 on 24/01/2015 Permalink | Reply
    Tags:   

    Katrina’s Birthday! 

    photo of Katrina Schaag with her chin propped on her palm and overlooking a cake with candles burning. The photo has a orange glow from the candlelight which casts half of Katrina Schaag's face in a warm glow and half in shadow

    It’s Katrina’s Birthday on Sunday!

    OMG, Katrina’s turning 29 tomorrow! Happy Birthday Katrina! Have a wonderful year!

     
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