Laserskater, FeelsEmpty and I are planning an Artcar race, Friday at 11AM. You will receive the car through VBFriends mail. The first lap will be a pace car lap, around the Medici sim, and then drivers will rev up their wearable cars and race to the finish. Winner will have his portrait hung in the Mu Travel office. An evening race will be scheduled upon request. Prize ribbons also go to the best decorated cars.
Updates from March, 2015 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts
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veyot
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Myra
I posted an art riddle. Yes, very strange, I know. It kinda came to me when I was making a new piece, today. I hope it’s not too obscure. If you’re curious, it’s posted over at MU/Creativity.
http://mediciuniversity.co.uk/creativity/an-art-riddle-why-is-this-called-art/
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Oona
I love riddles. 🙂 This is a hard one!
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Myra
I think it is a hard one. I don’t think I’d get. My mind just happened to be wandering this particular path that day.
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Paypabak Writer
Is it okay to guess? I am seeing parts of the letters that spell ART. Is that it?
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Myra
Sure guess. Of course. The answer is up, now, but don’t peek if you want to figure it out on your own. : )
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Paypabak Writer
My post on the Anthea Sharp talk last Sunday (3-29-2015):
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Oona
Great article Pay. :)There was a fabulous turnout, and Myra and all involved did great organizing. 🙂
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Oona
Neeva doesn’t deserve to be lumped into ‘all involved’. I just had to clarify that. 😉 She deserves equal billing. 🙂 🙂
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Myra
Good article, Pay. Thank you for doing that.
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Neeva
Nice distillation of Anthea’s event Paypaback! You really captured the essence. I’m pretty sure Anthea Sharp will end up linking to it from her social media.
If she does, do you really want to amplify Michael’s newb quote about how creepy and pervy all avatars are as the lead in your post? There is a good chance this post ends up getting read by more non-SLers than SLers. Anyway, worth thinking about.
Thanks again for the link.
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Paypabak Writer
I don’t usually change a post so radically, Neeva, but I’ll make an exception because I may have more to say about that guy anyway. His website is execrable in terms of usability/readability. Or I may just let it go. I just posted about making mean comments, so best to keep quiet. Anyway, thanks for the heads up.
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Paypabak Writer
Now that I’ve fixed it … all done in less than two minutes … I like it much better anyway.
BTW, I am thinking about a sailing party for the 18th of April and will work out some kind of invite for MU writers.
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Neeva
Sailing sounds great to me!
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Paypabak Writer
I may lay off michaelgreenwhatever. I was able to recognize that he put up a link to my Mean Comments post. I was surprised and delighted. See:
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Oona
I also would enjoy sipping expensive champagne on anyone’s yacht. 😉
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Ryan
Oona Fawkes & the Grey Dossier
Are you as excited as me? New Blog Post!
http://agentof.ch/ange/oona-fawkes/-
Oona
“But try to exchange something. And never worry about “losing” something. The most meaningful things in life cannot be lost by sharing. They can only become even more precious.”
<3 What a beautiful series of words strung together. I will add, I think I’m settled and not ready to move again for about a month. 😛
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Pearl Grey
I’ve been considering different ways that I can exchange at MU, including the learners I’ve never met or that I see around and never talk to. Feel free to contact me with any ideas.
Anyway, I’ve been mulling over some ideas to do a blog post regarding Bad Ryan’s Agent of Chaos post called “Why Bother?” I just reread it and noticed that comments have been activated six hours ago.
/me points at it.
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Oona
Hey Pearl 🙂 I’d love hear that blog post about Bad Ryan. 🙂
As for exchanging with other learners, I enjoy trying to find new ppl to meet that I haven’t before. Its not always easy it seems and sometimes my fear of rejection works its way up into my head, but overall – I’ve had few problems and many surprises. And…. I think I’ve made some of the best connections I’ve ever made anywhere else in Second Life. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, MU is one of my fav places ever for what its about, what it gives and who is here. Its a hidden gem. 🙂
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Pearl Grey
I agree Oona; it’s a hidden gem. And I’ve made a few great connections that will last longer than MU.
I’ve kept my invitations to collaborate simple to make them more do-able and I’ve had to say no to some because they’re beyond what I can do.
The rejection part is a little scary, I know. Who wants to feel like an interloper?
I’ve found that being on the sim at different times of the night and day when possible can result in pleasant surprises.
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Pearl Grey
Thank you Whiskey Monday, Drax, Inara Pey, Linden Lab, creators in virtual reality and beings of the universe.
https://modemworld.wordpress.com/2015/03/30/the-drax-files-28-art-and-sl-as-cathartic-renewal/
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Neeva
And thank you Pearl Gray, for waking me up to an SL artist I didn’t know about with this link, and for your pictures and words, your quiet little oasis of a studio, and for your sweet, inclusive spirit.
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Pearl Grey
Yeah, about that; it’s how I prefer to roll. It isn’t a sign of weakness or lack of discernment.
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Neeva
Agrees completely. I don’t think having a peaceful beautiful studio or being sweet and inclusive of people you encounter implies weakness or lack of discernment at all.
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Xue
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Neeva
Thanks for this Xue. Handy info. I’ll try to update my profile and get a Gravatar pic up tonight.
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Xue
😀
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Pearl Grey
I’ve tried to link my MU blog in my profile five or six times now. I started yesterday and thought it might take a while to show up. I see the URL in the field and the “profile updated” but my previous comments look the same.
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Pearl Grey
Oh I see; it will show up moving forward.
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Xue
OIC Pearl, IDK that myself! 😀
So all new comments are good, then? But the older ones are “already baked” with the old info?
LMK if you have questions or if anything else comes up.
Happy Wednesday!
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Pearl Grey
Yes; what you said. Thanks!
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Glad Kidd
Dear Classmates,
Please accept my sincere apology in advance for touching your stuff. I get bored easily and end up peering in windows, caming artwork, studying objects for hours. I was told I was probably a cat in a previous life due to my insane curiosity. So if you see me poking though your things please dont be insulted. Im merely dissecting, digesting, and appreciating your works.-
Emma
Dear Classmates,
What she said.. i do that too and have been doing so since i came to MU and got a place.. oh no wait.. since i began with SL..?
You wont believe how much curiosity killed the cat.. -
Oona
I don’t mind at all, unless i’m in the house naked… then at least let me put clothes on. 🙂
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Pearl Grey
Anyone’s welcome in my studio. I look at stuff too but I flit around and don’t stay long.
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Izzy
You do know that there’s a “Perv Camming” jar on the corner of my studio, right? L$5 / incident. Self reported!
Show me the Lindens, creepers!
note: all proceeds go to Friday Beer Fund.
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Paypabak Writer
Check is in the mail, Izzy. My studio has no walls, so by all means click on the Home page of my blog/media object and check out my latest posts, pose on various pose stands–I do wish you could click through the poses in my sphere but I can’t do anything about it. Unlike a cat, I don’t rub against things, but otherwise, I found Gladd’s metaphor applied to me, too.
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Myra
Inspect my build. Poke through my stuff. Look at my dirt (There’s literally dirt in my build.). You can even use the sofa.: ) Watch out for the crows, though.
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Ryan
So, uh, I really hope I don’t have to sing Britney for karaoke night, again!
But, uh… I’ve written a blog post:
Good Ryan:
• agent of change / feminine energyActually, um… I wrote two…
Bad Ryan:
• agent of chaos / why bother?-
Oona
Good and Bad…. hmmm split personality or what! We shall see which side wins out.
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Pearl Grey
I read them both and have made a secret bet with myself which one will win.
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Glad Kidd
Annoyed I cant figure out how to update my profile photo….le sigh….
this is your brain on caffeine deprivation.-
Xue
Oh hey Glad, sorry for any confusion! Do you mean your “icon” or “avatar” like we see on this post? That isn’t stored here on MU/Talk, but uses the “universal” “Gravatar” here:
http://en.gravatar.com/houseofbattleWhatever photo you select there will be shown here.
And on various other sites that:
1. Use Gravatar
2. You signed up for with the same emailIf you wanted to have different pix for use on different sites, you’d just make 2 Gravatar accounts with different emails. Then whenever you signup with “Email-A” at a site, you’d get “Gravatar-Image-A” and the same with “B”. If you do want to change your email here on MU/Talk, just edit your profile and enter the new email and save.
I hope I didn’t make that more confusing!
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Glad Kidd
Yay! Thanks so much. Think ive got it now!! Maybe….hopefully lol.
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Izzy
Visiting Artist Flickr Group!
Fantasy author Anthea Sharp speaking at Medici University on Sunday 29 March ’15
We have a new MU Flickr group, MU Visiting Artists!
We now have 3 public groups and 1 private group on Flickr:
• Medici University (main group)
• KATYPERRYOPOLIS!
• MU Visiting Artists
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Newton
Café Sophistry Part 2 Gender and Virtuality
Thank you to all attendees to the final part of the section “Gender and Virtuality” under the Café Sophistry curriculum.
You can see some art related to this first section in Nostradamus 9 and Camilla 15. Thank you to all participants.
Just a reminder: there are two more sections to which everyone is invited, including “Time, What is it?” with parts in April and early May, and “The Popcorn Tear – Finding Virtual Forgiveness,” with parts in late May and June.
To check out more about Café Sophistry, visit the blog.
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Elle
Thank you, Newton! It was a very good class. Loved seeing people’s work and all the discussion. I really like your piece, it would have been great to discuss and hear people’s reactions. I have a similar old photo of an unknown female relative in a tree. It made me smile!
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Newton
Thank YOU Elle. It was a nice closure to the Gender and Virtuality section. I was left feeling we all expressed provocative ideas but that I wanted more time, something like dining on a delicious dinner with ever so slightly small portions. Thank you for contributing to the feast and looking forward to the next section on April 12 – TIME.
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Vanessa
Anthea Sharp Live Stream!
See you in-world for Anthea Sharp at noon SLT today!
If you can’t make it, watch the live stream!
http://www.twitch.tv/vaneeesab-
Myra
That’s so awesome you set that up, Vanessa. Really smart thing to do.
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Vanessa
😀
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veyot
Dance Anywhere Video
The dancing was great fun! If I missed anybody’s name, let me know.
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Izzy
Anthea Sharp Sunday
Neeva’s arranged for Anthea Sharp to speak @MU @Collaborateopolis @Maria-5-13 @Noon on Sunday!
You might like to take a peek at her website before the talk to learn a bit about Sharp and her work:
• Anthea Sharp.com
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Izzy
Incredible Friday!
Did you catch how many awesome things happened @MU yesterday!?
(More …)-
Oona
Yay… Fawkes sounds dirty though. lol While I miss my old neighbourhood, I’m enjoying the process of rebuilding in Vashti. Although I’ll always be a Nostro girl at heart. pours some liquor on the ground for my homies back in Nostra As for moving every week – I’ll have some of what Izzy is smokin’ BUT if i was challenged… i do have a hard time resisting a challenge. 😛 Please don’t challenge me though…. cries lol Wishing Feels the best in Nostra! Hope your first keg party rawks!
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Neeva
Yeah, a lot happened on Friday. But did you see how much happened on Sunday! So much activity on campus, both formal and informal. I’m afraid our calendar will never be able to capture the spontaneous stuff like the pink-pillow-bus sky tour or Onna kickboxing my tower until it collapsed while a crowd cheered her on. You just have to be here to get in on that good stuff.
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veyot
For Dance Anywhere, we danced everywhere. It was great fun. If I missed a name, or mispelled anything, let me know.
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Vanessa
Fantastic video Veyot!! Thanks so much for joining us and thanks for this wonderful document of our day!
It’s now on our official Dance Anywhere page!
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Neeva
Oh I loved this so much. There are some really beautiful shots, and it seems like you slowed down the dances sometime which was really effective. It was so fun to see you all dancing at my studio around the big blue feet of muse’s and my collaborative sculpture.
I logged into the event on iPad, so couldn’t see where you were or what was going on, so your video really is my visual memory of the event. Thanks SO much for posting it!
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Oona
This is marvellous Veyot! You’ve got great editing skills!! 🙂 Bravo.
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Myra
What a wonderful video! Thank you, Veyot.
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Elle
Great work, Veyot! Thanks for sharing it.
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Fanny
Big Avatar On Campus Week 3: Art Oluja
Seven nights I slept so good with the Trophy next to me – time to pass it on to the next Big Avatar On Campus.
You all may have read this more than one time already, but it is true that it is not easy to decide for one person. However, the BAOC Award for this week goes to Art Oluja for her Editor work and lots of interviews she did so far. I hope to see her some time today to present her with the Trophy.
I also thought that a picture with the several states of metamorphosis may be nice, so here it is.
The history of the BAOC Trophy so far …
On the left side Izzy’s creation which went to Neeva, in the middle you can see Neeva’s light-projector which went to me and on the right side my interpretation which goes to Art. Izzy’s first primitive object is still part of it as well as one of Neeva’s (means showing them as creator).
Now, next Friday it will be Art’s turn to pick the Big Avatar On Campus for week 4. She can add something to the trophy and pass it along to the next BAOC … and yes, I stole this sentence from Neeva’s post.
Congratulations Art!
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Oona
Congratulations Art! How exciting! 🙂 🙂
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Izzy
I’m with Oona!!
Congratulations Neeva!
Congratulations Fanny!!
Congratulations Art!!!I know Art had other plans for time here at MU. Then there was that night when Newton and I kept her up all night talking, and the next morning MU/Creativity was born and Art was the editor! So much lovely work and such community spirit!
Go Art!!!
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Neeva
@Art. Congrats Art! Thanks so much for your work on MU’s Creativity magazine. I love how your head is so full of ideas and enthusiasm. Your presence has really added to the community at MU.
@Fanny. I love the picture of the trophy’s evolution! Great pic and great pick.
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Elle
Congrats Art!!
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Art Oluja
Whaaaaat the trophy lands on my doorstep how awesome, thank you all!
I’m in love with the metamorphosing of this trophy (of course I would be haha!), and I’m tempted to go on about how its a wonderful metaphor for how I like to think of MU, in that exquisite corpse creative process sort of way. It’s been a pleasure being a part of MU and getting to know so many creative people, it’s quite a rush of inspiration, and I’m looking forward to more of it!
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Neeva and 
Myra, 
Oona are discussing. 
Glad Kidd and 
Newton and 
Elle are discussing. 
Art Oluja, 
Paypabak Writer
Another “lecture” on social networking and blogging:
Comments welcome here or on the Tumblr site: see two links for making comments at bottom of thbe page or us Disqus.
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Tiffany Mosienko
Hi neighbor! I do have a question for you, Paypabak. How do you manage identity across all these modalities? Is that important to you? I used to think SL was great because it had many media all together, kind of all-in-one. I’ve not done as much blogging over the years as you have (and now playing catch-up). But I’m interested to know how platform-hopping affects your sense of self. From an archival standpoint as well (clearly you’ve done some reflection with this post), how do you consider the multiplicity of self and place in virtual space?
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Neeva
Thanks for the blog post. I always enjoy reading your thoughts. It is also really convenient and appreciated when our bloggers post a link to their writing on MU talk.
@Tiffany. really thought provoking comment. For me, just this year has seen Neeva-self leaping beyond SL with my own email. Then MU enticed me to add Flickr and visit Pearl and paypabak and your blogs, then avatar friends have got me on Gtalk and Slack. SL used to seem like the entire world to Neeva-self. Now it seems like one (beloved) dimension in Neeva’s wider multiverse.
im still sorting out what that means to identity and the experience of being multiple.I have heard of a novel where the premise is the person’s avatar shows up at her front door in RL with suitcases and moves in. How would your avatar be as a housemate? Would he or she get along with your real life self? How would they be the same or different?
PS: I do read italics paypabak. 🙂
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Pearl Grey
Yeah, I read the italics too. 🙂
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Paypabak Writer
Oh, I’m in trouble now!! (Italics is not a safe haven!)
Great question, Tiffany, and I love your response, Pearl! I definitely have this sense of digiphrenia (I am fearfully attracted to this: http://www.rushkoff.com/present-shock/) managing these identities but that’s part of what I meant by it keeps one honest. Managing fantasy identities over all of these platforms either cracks you up or it forces you into a wholeness that sustains you.
I absolutely adore Vaneeesa Blaylock! Talk about your Mistress of Multiple Identities! Every week she has a different name, and that is the unscratched surface. I keep telling myself, “I must resist, I must resist!” She’s like the effing Borg with her invitations to this or that shiny new social platform! (Pearl mentions Slack, so help me, God!) If I met that woman in first life and she is anything like her avatar, she would dazzle and wear me out in ten minutes. On a good day, reinforced with coffee and properly dressed. I blame her for this present predicament of being Blogger-in-Residence at MU. (The use of “blame” in the previous sentence is equivalent to “thank, or to give credit.”)
As I try to relate in my post, with Flickr, Plurk, Second Life and Tumblr, I manage well enough fairly well-defined avenues for expressing myself with media with which I feel comfortable and which fulfill my desire to share my aesthetics and Slife. Medici U is certainly another platform within the Second Life platform where my play/work as an avatar is challenged. It’s another metagame within what I feel is the ultimate in metagames.
Is it worth it? As we say on Tumblr, Fuck Yeah! How have I been writing so long and not had such wonderful responses in quantity and quality as I have experienced in the short time MU has been open? I am drinking of other amazing bloggers’ nectar and finding sustenance to overflowing. MU may disappear after June 30, but it will resonate in the depths of my heart for a long, long time.
Pearl Grey
I’ve written a blog post with some thoughts about learning parties, different approaches to participation and collaboration, etc. It’s about 1530 words but I don’t really want to cut any more of it out. https://virtuallyeveryoneiscreative.wordpress.com/2015/03/25/more-thoughtful-thoughts-about-mu/
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Oona
Great article. 🙂
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Elle
That’s a great article, Pearl, many good points!
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Tiffany Mosienko
Beautiful photos and thoughts, Pearl. I agree that commitments for virtual world art can be very taxing and time-consuming. It’s different for everyone and there is no such thing a normal Everyone is learning and participating at their own pace.
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Neeva
Thanks for the link. I enjoyed reading your post.
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Newton
Thank you Pearl. Art and the way we interact with our art can be – is – quite personal. But not only does “our process” come heavily into play as creators, but also there is the “SL factor,”where – in general – we have highly personalised expectations of what the experience is going to be like. For me, this was the hardest thing about adapting to any community in SL, that “Nothing happens the way we expect it to.”
The people making the rules at Medici are also artists in the process of the “meta” creation that is Medici University, having THEIR own experience.
And by the way, thank you for the conversation last week – it was wonderful getting to know you better.
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Newton
I should add, “making and changing” the rules, because we all can contribute to them.
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Pearl Grey
Thank you Newton.
Your sister has also reminded me (when I’ve expressed anxiety) that the artists in the process of the “meta” creation of MU are having their own experience. I wish I felt a sense that they are enjoying it more and that it’s flowing a bit more to their expectations.
It’s important to me too that MU is successful, not only for all the emotional investment and other resources the meta artists have put into this but also for modeling effects for the future.
It’s sad that there’s a waiting list for studios while some are being rarely used. In my opinion it affects us all. I know I’m feeling it.
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Pearl Grey
Thank you for reading and responding.
Izzy
A-2-Z Challenge-4-April!
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/what-is-blogging-from-to-z.html
Hey Learners!
Astrid’s challenging us to do A-Z in April! If you’re a blogger, you could Blog A-Z. But everybody can play! Photographers can Flickr A-Z, Chefs can Pinterest A-Z, Tweeters can Tweet A-Z, etc!
We can setup a place to feature what the participants are up to, or maybe 2 places, 1 inworld and 1 online!
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Paypabak Writer
Mercy! I did this last year with the Alphabet Inventory. Hmmm.
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veyot
i would do it on tumblr. Poets A-Z here is the first. http://veyot.tumblr.com/
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Oona
I love this idea, count me in, on Flickr.
Izzy
A Few Numbers
- There’s a bit over 7 billion people alive today.
- About 3 billion of us have internet access
- There are about 1 billion webSITES
- 75% of those are “parked” so about 250 million sites
- Bing indexes about 5 billion webPAGES
- Google indexes about 50 billion webpages
- In the middle of such vast oceans, the 70 of us @MU have the chance to build a small, real, compelling community. It’s about what we share. About what we give. About what we create together.
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Pearl Grey
Totally with you on # 7 Izzy. The window is open for a finite time.
Izzy
Anthea Sharp arrival point
Thank you Neeva for bringing Anthea Sharp 2MU!
In anticipation of her Sunday Noon SLT talk
(Noon – San Francisco / 8pm – London / 3am Monday – Hong Kong)
I’ve set the arrival point for the Dianora Quadrant of MU to Collaborateopolis! (Maria-5)
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Neeva
Thank you for the great poster and logistical goodness Provost Izzy!
Izzy
Easy A
Don’t stress learners! @MU it’s always an Easy A!
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Myra
I love that song.
Tiffany Mosienko
Announcing: Media Archaeology 200: the Electric Image
Part 1: the Modern Image to Network Television
Part 2: Video Art
Part 3: Theory and Aesthetics of the Electric Image
Media Archaeology 200: the Electric Image exposes learners to the history of the electric image and its contemporary modalities. Part 1: the Modern Image to Network Television dissects a variety of early media technologies from electricity and photography to celluloid film, radio, sound recording and network television. The Modern Image to Network Television is presented as an illustrated web guide for learners; learning can begin right away. Part 2: Video Art, will be an in-world lecture at Camilla 15 at Medici University in Second Life and discusses artists’ use of video cameras and the recorded video image, and early computer graphics. Artists’ experimentation with form and the relationship of video art to pop culture and early computer graphics will also be discussed. Part 3: Theory and Aesthetics of the Electric Image (also at MU) explores the relationship of contemporary cultural forms to their hybrid histories. Internet motion, multimedia and computer motion and visualization are compared to their relative mechanical counterparts, eliciting theoretical constructs suitable to Internet video, machinima, and other new media forms. Part 1: The Modern Image to Network Television is available now as a multimedia web guide. Dates and times for parts 2 and 3 lectures and discussions inworld at MU will be announced shortly.
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Izzy
Oh wow Tiffany! Super awesome! Thanks for doing this!!
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Elle
Tiffany,
I want to go through this carefully when I have time, but it really looks great! That’s a lot of work.
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Elle
Tiffany,
Had some time to go through your web page properly. It is great! Thank you so much for the historical background information. It really helps to put things in context.
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Myra
Anthea Sharp event on SL Calendar.
I’ve added the Anthea Sharp event to the SL calendar, too. If anyone wants to know how to do this for other MU events they might want to publicize more widely, just let me know.
https://secondlife.com/my/community/events/event.php?id=6278988
Also, does anyone know the closest landing point to the event? I’ll add it to the event once I figure that out.
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Paypabak Writer
You will probably need to explain to visitors that they need to walk to the actual site as precision TPing is not allowed. You may be able to get signs put up pointing to it.
You might let people know that Anthea’s first book in the Feyland series is free for Kindles!
Neeva
Author Anthea Sharp’s Sunday Class
Can someone help me get author Anthea Sharp’s Class on the Calendar?
Who: Fantasy author Anthea Sharp
What: Talking with MU students and interested persons about writing craft, publishing, and her Feyland books.
Where: Colaboraopolis at Medici University
When: This coming Sunday, March 29, at 12:00-1:00 PM SLT
Why you might be interested: She hit the USA today best seller book publishing her writing digitally through Amazon, Apple and others. Her fantasy books have a strong virtual-reality theme. She’s a fantastic writer and very engaging. She is really open to questions by writers of every level. She knows your favorite author. Free stuff: the first book in her series. Also…Snacks!
RL universities have best-selling authors come to campus. . .
This Sunday at 12 SLT
…why can’t we?
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Myra
I think I got it added, correctly. Izzy, when you have a chance would you mind checking my work, please?
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Izzy
Awesome Neeva! Thank you Myra!
BTW, just added Neeva to Calendar! (you should get email w login info). And added Neeva to “Slack” (no, not “Slacker”, “Slack”! 😛 you should get email invitation.
We can clear Collaborateopolis after Wed’s Crit and let you set up for Sunday. Shout if you need anything.
Do you want to send out a group notice for someone to make a poster? Do we have a photo of the avatar on a plain background? Or of just a book cover? (so event info can be added for poster)
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Paypabak Writer
I mentioned it on your post about the calendar but Anthea’s first Feyland book is available on Kindle for free. I am trying to read through it so I can appreciate her talk!
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Paypabak Writer
This is wonderful! I am also hoping to bing in bestselling SF writer Michael Stackpole and possibly Robert Vardeman, who have SL avatars and meet in SL on a regular basis. This news should help convince them it’s worth their while.
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Izzy
So awesome! Go Paypabak! (Writer!)
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Paypabak Writer
Actually hoping to have some guidance from you on this. Let’s talk next time I’m inworld.
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Neeva
That would be great if you could bring in another author Paypabak. Let me know tips I can be of help.
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Neeva
Let me know *if I can be of help, I mean.
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Xue
Gravatar!
psst… if anybody’d like a cool photo icon instead of those blue, sideways “G” thingys, it’s super easy!
Just drop by
http://gravatar.com
Make a free account with the same email that you signed up on MU/Talk with, paste a photo there, and voila! Your awesome mug will populate all your stuff over here!
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Myra
You can also get your gravitar icon through wordpress.com when you register on their site. You get a freebie blog, there, when you do, so it’s an option worth considering.
If your privacy is an issue – blogs often log IP addresses – consider trying CyberGhost. It’s free and mixes up your IP address for you.
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Xue
Yes Myra! Going to Gravatar or WP.com is more-or-less the same thing. (they’re both from Automattic) either way will get you the same thing.
If you only want an Icon, just go to Gravatar. You can always have a blog at any time later, still free & easy.
If you’d like a blog, as Myra said, you can go to WP.com and do both. And of course, you can sign up for a free blog without any obligation to use it! :+]
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Ryan
My Sister
{closes eyes… drops posture… tries to look humble… opens eyes… taps microphone…}
tap… tap… is this… one… two…
Hello everyone. I’d like to apologize for a somewhat abrupt group notice yesterday. And to assure you that I, and everyone here at Medici University hold our many, wonderful, and diverse learners in the highest esteem. My probably too-early announcement of our Guy Fawkes Day / Studio Roulette activity was intended to inspire, enlighten, and ennoble you. I hope that it did that for at least a few of you. But I appreciate now that for many of you change is not a welcome thing. It was not my intention to distress anyone nor to suggest that our freedom loving university was going to dictate experiences to anyone who didn’t want them.
Please accept my apologies and know that I will redouble my efforts to handle Campus Facilities Management with sensitivity to the needs of all learners. I’d also like to apologize to my sister who had to do some explaining to some of you earlier in the day. I’m sorry about this everyone. I’ll do better.
First Lady of Florence
I think everyone at MU appreciates how much Isabella does for us. And in my own case, I have to confess a certain, lifelong over-exuberance in so many things. I’m always striving to maximize creativity, or just to live moments fully, but I know it’s most often Izzy who has to cover for me or bail me out. We all owe her thanks, and no one owes her more than me.
I thought I might share a short paragraph about my sister that Donna Cardamone wrote in 2002,
Wit, beauty and talent made her conspicuous among all the women of the day, and she captivated every heart except her husband’s. Speaking Spanish, French and Latin fluently, a perfect musician, singing beautifully, a poetess and improvvisatrice by nature, Isabella was the soul of all around her, and the fairest star of the Medici.
Ryan, and 1 other are discussing. -
Paypabak Writer
We all adore and admire your sister!
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Neeva
Stand tall agent-of-chaos Ryan! Big teletubby hug to you and your sis.
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Ryan
ooo… Agent-of-Chaos! I like that so much better than Director of Facilities.
Do you think I should switch titles?
Oh gosh, but I’m still apologizing for last time! Maybe AoC isn’t such a good idea.
Oh well, thanks anyway for your support Neeva. It’s appreciated.
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Neeva
Why switch titles when you can have them both? I think traditionally the two titles go together anyway.
Conceptually, I think the idea of studio roulette is pretty awesome (minus the part where the villagers revolt and chase you with flaming torches. 🙂
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Oona
lol @ flaming torches
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Oona
Hugs Ryan, I know you meant well. Wish everyone wasn’t being so hard on you. Hang in there.
Izzy
Guy Fawkes Day @MU
Yesterday my step-brother, enfant terrible, and MU Director of Facilities, Ryan Medici let out an early notice about the upcoming Guy Fawkes Day at MU.
For anyone who may have been upset by the notice, I apologize. Let me remind you that this IS Medici University! No one ever has to do anything here!
The Details
Guy Fawkes Day is, of course, the fifth of November. Since there is no 5 November in Spring Semester, we’ve decided to do a “half-Guy Fawkes Day” and rotate it by 6 months to 5 May.
• 1 May – Friday – Mayday Celebrations at MU
• 1, 2, 3 May – Jane’s Walk 2015 – we’re so excited that for this 9th annual Jane’s Walk, MU will become the 1st ever Virtual City to participate in the global event!
• 4 May – The Monday after Jane’s Walk weekend is Jane Jacobs’ actual birthday
• 5 May – Tuesday is Guy Fawkes Day @MU
It’s Always about Choice
If you’ve familiar with the foundational ideas of MU, espoused around our websites, then you know that no one, not Ryan, or The Chaplain, or I, or anyone else is here to force anyone to do anything. If you want to pick a spot and never move, that’s great. If you want to make a lot of work in that spot, that’s great. If you want to rez a gallery and never come back, well, that’s not great, but it isn’t a violation of any rule since we don’t have any rules, other than be nice to each other, try to get along, be tolerant and inclusive, be supportive, look at each others work, blog about it, share links, and so on.
Wow! That was a lot of rules for no rules! Basically we have no rules. Except for the golden rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. That’s it. It’s really that simple. Oh. And while not “required,” we do encourage working your ass off and doing amazing things!
At times we might suggest things like Studio Roulette, and before you dismiss it out of hand, I’d urge you to really consider the possibilities, but it will always be your choice. Opt in. Opt out. Your judgement. The only thing that isn’t a choice is that come 1 July, we’ll all be gone and LEA23 will become someone else’s art project and it will look very different.
Guy Fawkes Day
Our 5 May Guy Fawkes Day celebration is indeed an optional Studio Roulette. When we get a little closer to that time, you’ll be able to very easily opt-in or opt-out of Studio-Roulette as you like. Even though MU is all about creativity, change, innovation, new ideas, new connections, new pathways, risk, trying different things, and so on, we all have a tendency to get comfortable and set in our ways. Even though we know we’re getting tossed out on 30 June, we still like to set up fortresses and protect them like they’ll never change. That certainly includes me. Ryan. All of us. Guy Fawkes Day / Studio Roulette is an optional invitation to nudge ourselves out of our comfort zones. An optional invitation to interact with different MU Learners. To see the campus from a different vantage point. To be closer to the center, or more out at the frontiers.
Men are animals of the earth. They come from Papa, the earth mother, and make their homes on the land. They walk the ground, like Pig and Rat. Walking animals do not know the spirit of motion, as you do. Their world stands still for them, and their footsteps fall always against the steadiness of rock and soil. Winds blow and they crawl inside houses. The red floodwaters rise and they climb to dry caves and sleep poorly in the stale, cold air. What do they learn in these houses and caves? Stillness. Calm. They hope things will never change. Men hate change. But that is not the way things are. Light and darkness. The currents. Death. That is the order. When these men speak, their voices are little because nothing pours into them. They do not want other powers. But the man whose chest swells like the tides, who leaps the sea cliff to hear the roar of the fall, and dives straight into the ocean like a spear — this man is not like the rest. His mana is not only of the earth, but of the sky and water. He swims the lagoons and outer reef to watch the fish. He stands tall on the mountaintops. When he speaks, he will be listened to.
— Maui, The Demigod, Steven Goldsberry
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Paypabak Writer
I have all kinds of fireworks and I love setting them off! Go go Guy Fawkes!!
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Izzy
Awesomesauce! You certainly don’t have to wait till May for an MU fireworks show! You can call one anytime! Or maybe team up with an Emma Roof Rave.
But yes, come may, you can be the official MU Pyrotechnician!
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Neeva
Come July 1 this sim will be flooded by Neeva’s tears. Then it will dry and we will start planning the Medici University reunion party and inking MU merchandising deals. How about MU the movie? Imagine one just like this university, but filled with movie stars, only everyone is naked….and then…Sharknado!!! I’m switching to the MU creative writing program and starting my script now!
P.S. I have a lovely, centrally located studio for studio roulette. Well maintained, lightly used. Looking to trade for studio with indoor swimming pool and 60 prim garage + cash in an amount to be negotiated at closing.
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Fanny
Guido Faukes still seems to be very popular. SL search found 43 Avatars with “Guy Fawkes” in their name.
I am looking forward to the fireworks!Neeva, I guess there will be enough tears from us to flood the whole sim. Maybe we should warn the neighbors? And I agree to naked!
P.S. None!
veyot
Have you seen the vandalism done at MU? I was horrified when I saw these broken windows.
My husband warned me when I enrolled at MU that I was too old to fit in with the students. The rock music and the flashing lights do bother me, but after all, I just can’t sit around and watch Dr. Oz everyday. Now, about these windows. Do you think it was ravers on their way home from late dances at Katyporryopolis?
Love, Aunt Veyot
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Izzy
“Vandalism” is often an entitled perspective. We tacitly allow money and power to colonize another culture. Then when this dominated and marginalized culture tries to reclaim itself, to push out the foreign invaders, to decolonize itself, they are called “vandals” and hauled off to trial.
Perhaps it is not the “vandal” who graffiti wrote on the “Disney Princesses” billboard who is the social ill, but The Walt Disney Company itself with it’s hegemonic imposition of gender and beauty stereotypes.
As there is no 5th of November in Spring Semester, I propose that we celebrate Guy Fawkes Night on the 5th of May!
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Oona
lol @ watching Dr. Oz. But I think one is never to old to learn.
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Izzy
You CAN teach an old avatar new tricks!!!
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Izzy 22:40 on 31/03/2015 Permalink |
So exciting Veyot, Laserskater & Feels Empty!
Will the Cars be going out in advance of Friday morning? So Rally Participants will have time to decorate?
The winner’s portrait hung in the MU/Travel office?? – That’s Gold!!
Neeva 16:31 on 01/04/2015 Permalink |
I can’t make the race at that time, but I want to decorate a car. So much more fun than decorating an Easter egg.