Physical Attachment
Physical Attachment
Geez, I woke up in this! Whered’it come from?…Oscar?…Meggie?
Updates from January, 2014 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts
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Donnie Archer
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Christa Forster
Will he give Ysidora a soul
Will he give Ysidora a soul?
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Oscar
Ah, Christa, maybe Ysidora should see a philosopher about that. I know a good philosopher in Paris…
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Meg O'Ryan
Hey Oscar! I hope your Paris Philosopher isn’t the same Tree Surgeon you sent Donny to? That guy who kept running around “une mechanisme”? Not pretty.
What do you mean “Will Ysidora get a soul” Christa? Ysidora’s the only person I’m sure has a soul!
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Christa Forster
Dear, Meg. You are truly kind. Ysidora blesses you!
The thing is–have you ever heard new age people or philosophers or theologians or recovering addicts say something along the lines of “you will become that which you fear” or “fear begets fear” or “Be careful what you fear, you just might get it” or something like that? Well, guess what Ysidora’s greatest fear was? That she would lose her soul! And (you guessed it) she lost it.
She feared this because from a young age (let’s say four), she was taught to fear it by the Fathers, the Frays, as in Fray Juniperro Serra, et. al. Because of these dudes (Franciscans), she lived in fear that her soul would perish, that it would not live on in the “promised” land, the paradise, the place named Heaven, where these guys assured her Suffering did not exist. And she suffered, a lot, so of course, she wanted to go to this place. But whether it was because of the dogma from the fathers or the repression of her desires or a combination of both, she ended up acting in ways that caused her soul to, indeed, perish. In short and in full, she lost her soul to the silence engendered by her shame.
In never sharing her story — her story did not fit with the governing narrative, which by the way, was guarded, albeit drunkenly and whimsically, by her brothers and (less drunkenly and whimsically) by her husband — her soul shriveled up; paradise was lost.
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Meg O'Ryan
OMG Christa, that is so sad! You know what will cheer you up? I just read this amazing piece about a guy who was able to use “new media tools” (back in the 80’s or so) to give voice to the voiceless. You should go read it right now!
http://practicebased.re/search/blue-eyes-kenneth-hughes-first-film/I don’t mean any offence to anyone, but I think sometimes religion and “religious people” can just be such bullshit. You should talk to Izzy sometime about all her family’s shenanigans (be warned: it doesn’t take much to get her started) Her dad engineered the election of, like, 3 Popes! And they “paid” him back! It just makes me so sick to think about the number those guys did on an innocent soul like Ysidora. (it’d be so great if you could get her to join the conversation here!)
Thinking about that Kenneth Hughes thing though, I think there’s real hope there. If you think about it, the world we today take for granted, our Western Liberal Democracies, with human rights and civil rights, all that probably would have been impossible without the rise of The Novel. I think it was the novel that let people, really for kind of the first time, experience other people’s lives.
In a way it’s all about who has access and control of information. The novel created shared experience and empathy. The Franciscans you talk about used the power of knowledge and lack of knowledge to manipulate Ysidora. Today we have an amazing access to knowledge. Google can fetch any article. Wikipedia can explain any concept. YouTube can teach any skill. And with MOOCs you can learn, often for free, from some of the most amazing faculty the world has to offer.
IDK if you’ve ever had to sit thru one of Vanessa’s Free Culture rants, but in a way, she’s right: a non-neutral net hurts everyone. And pretty much, a non-neutral net means massive profits for broadband providers as the morph the freedom of today’s Net into pretty much Television2.0. (and not the empowering EZTV kind of television, but the Banality2.0 kind)
So I guess we should seize this moment and use the Open Web to share and learn as much as possible… and… oh look! I guess that’s what we’re doing right now!
Maybe Ysidora2.0 can redress some of the injustices of the past. I hope so.
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Meg O'Ryan
Hey Donnie
Aunt Renie & Meg
Hey Donnie! Here’s a little pix of me with my Aunt Renie. Her best friend passed away suddenly and she was feeling a little melancholy, but then she decided to just go for it and enjoy life. She flew to Sydney to visit me. Here we are dancing on the Harbour Bridge. Where are you Donny? We should totally hook up sometime!
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Donnie
Geez, Meg, sweetheart, if I had an arm I’d offer you flowers…
Where am I? Where am I? Between a rock and a hard place. A rock and a hard place, kid.Listen, kid, Oscar says he knows some fancy doctor in Paris who can kit me out with new arms and legs. New hands and stuff. But I sureas hell can’t afford the slow boat to Europe. Heck, kid, though, so I had this moment of – I dunno – prescience? drunken vision? of some guy – a wizard or magician or something in your neck of the woods who can make hearts and brains, movin’ parts – listen, kid, if he can make that stuff do you reckon you could ask him if he could make me a body?
Oscar says there’s a map – some Goggly Googly thing – I dunno – and y’have t’ follow a yellow brick road to find this surgeon guy…
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Meg O'Ryan
You’re an amazing person Donnie. Some who haven’t gone through half what you have are just broken and bitter, but you sing love songs! I don’t care what anyone says about your raspy voice, it’s beautiful to me.
Paris doctor? IDK Donnie. Oscar has some crazy stories about hunting for “une mécanisme”. These things don’t seem to end well. I know a good tree surgeon here in Sydney. Do you want to come convalesce? Or maybe you can reach out for other experts in your area. If you hear some quack say “une mécanisme” though… run Donnie! Get the hell out while you can!
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Oscar
Good heavens Christa little did I know what…
Good heavens, Christa, little did I know what I was in for when, taking up on your invitation, I started to scuff the dust off a couple of centuries of vent history. I’m honestly not sure what 19th-Century-Donnie with his wild hair and wilder tongue will come out with next! I do know that he’s come through some really rough stuff – though Izzy’s right, it’s hard to be certain what’s fact or fiction when he’s so often inebriated. I want to help him somehow but he’s a strong-willed guy.
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Christa Forster
RASCALS! I’m so excited to be running amok among you. I myself stay away from all intoxicating substances, but I live vicariously through miscreant folk creatures like y’all.
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Oscar
Oh I’m so sorry everyone I think Donnie’s…
Oh, I’m so sorry everyone. I think Donnie’s blundered in here drunk! Ignore him – it’s the drink talking. I’ll bring him back when he’s sobered up.
Come on, Donnie. Let’s go.
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Vanessa
No worries Oscar. Thanks for bringing Donnie along. I’m sure he’ll liven up the place.
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Donnie Archer
Wheress the kid Whassis name Oscar Osssar
Wheress the kid? Whassis name? Oscar? Osssar?
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Donnie Archer
Whass this place A saloon A salon Whose…
Whass this place? A saloon? A salon? Whose runnin’ this joint? Can no one give a thirsty vent a drink round here?
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Isabella Medici
Firewood my friend! Firewood! Best sober up that tongue! My father would have had you swiftly in the furnace. Actually, beheaded first, and then in the furnace!
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Meg O'Ryan
Harsh much? OMG Izzy! Lighten up! Donnie had a few drinks. Who hasn’t? He seems like a nice Irish boy.
How’s it going Donnie?
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Donnie
Meg, kid, howya doin’?
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Meg O'Ryan
I’m doin pretty good Donnie, how’s it with you?
Except I’m not in Potsdam anymore. I’m in Sydney where you can’t even get a real beer. What do you like to drink, Donnie?
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Donnie
Listen, Princess, don’t cast stones at me kid – you Romans sure knew how to down a few bevvies..As for the beheading. Geez, if only my 19th century body remained to chop off! I’m all mouth, kid;-)
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Oscar
Er…Donnie…Izzy’s from Florence, not Rome.
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Donnie
All roads lead to Rome, kid.
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Isabella Medici
Thank you for coming to my assistance Oscar dear.
Mr. Donnie, Oscar is correct. I certainly am not from that vulgar city! I am a Fiorentini, thank you.
Perhaps you are confused because my psychopathic ex-husband Paolo lived in Rome (another good reason not to visit) Perhaps you and Paolo should commiserate, Mr. Donnie. I’m confident your ilk would have much in common.
Or perhaps you are confused simply because of your continual state of intoxication. Either way, it is of little consequence to me.
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Donnie
(sings): Meg O’Ryan, O’ Meg Ryan…Meg…Meggie.
When I first said I loved only you Maggie. Meggie. and you said you loved only meeeeee…What do I drink? Anything, kid. Anything. My jaw aches. If Miss High-n-mighty Medici crawled out of The Five Points like I gone dun, reckon she’d understand better, eh, Meg. Meggie, eh!?
So, Sydney, kid, Syndey. I dunno if I should even know where that is…Keep on doin’ fine, kid. Don’t fall for the devil drink.
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Izzy
Hi Everyone I’m so excited about Christa’s Tweetchat…
Hi Everyone! I’m so excited about Christa’s Tweetchat! And Oscar’s research is so interesting! I’ve started writing a few bits of information here:
http://mediciprincess.com/I’ve also discovered a thing called “Pinterest” — oh how many hours and days we would have spent on this back in my day! I think it is a wondrous tool for collecting bits of detritus and feelings. I must work further with it!
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Christa Forster
Wassup, Izzy? I’m trying to get Ysidora a Ghost account, but I can’t make the images work (even though I’ve tried resizing them, etc.)! I keep getting a message saying that I must upload a “valid image.”
What would you in your royal, timeless wisdom suggest I do?
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Isabella Medici
What a wonderful idea Christa. My website is actually on a platform called “Ghost”
http://ghost.org(as opposed to WordPress or Tumblr, etc)
You probably don’t mean that, do you?Do you mean to get Ysidora an account here on .Re/act? I’m certain Vanessa could set that up with great alacrity.
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Christa Forster
Ancestors from 1850 in Conversation!
Let’s put an ancestor of ours from the year 1850 in conversation with one another, in the present, on Twitter.
Why?
To see what happens!
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Isabella Medici
What a fantastic project Christa! (anything that gets me out of the catacombs is a fantastic project! 🙂
Could you give this letter to my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter Vanessa? TY!
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Christa Forster
Dear Isabella, so GREAT to hear from you. Thank you for reaching out to us from 450 years ago! I think our luck is good (rather than shitty) to hear from you, a PRINCESS no less. I am interested in what you say about how “false nostalgia and blind romanticism always make past lives more simplistic. Easier than they were. Harder than they were. Other.” I’m pretty sure I understand what you mean by “other.” But I’m wondering if you’d like to talk about this more, This “otherness” that you seem to propose is a product/consequence of nostalgia and romanticism.”
If you have other things to deal with (like washing your hair, which I’d totes understand — it’s a DRAG) I get it. Still, since we have you on the line and all….
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Oscar
Hello Christa,
Thank you for your invitation to participate in this project! I’m intrigued by the idea of engaging in conversation with an ancestor. While I have no recollection of my life before 2003 and, currently, no desire to probe my personal history beyond this, I am keen to trace the history of my craft – to tune my ear to the whispers of dolls and their partners long since decomposed…
The 19th century was, by all accounts, a rather busy and exciting time for ventriloquist dolls and their human collaborators!-
Isabella Medici
Hello Oscar. Is it “the marionettes” of which you speak? I loved them so as a child! They were a rich and frequent part of the entertainments that my father arranged at Palazzo PItti.
Dearest Christa, I am confused, “wash your hair”? Do not you simply braid it up and forget about it? As for your questions, I am not certain I have answered them, however I have written another letter that may be of some use:
http://mediciprincess.com/vegetarian/ -
xtaforster
Welcome, Oscar!
I love your name. How was this name chosen for you?
I, too, am interested in the history of your race, the traces of races which have marked themselves in your lineage. I cannot wait to learn more about this! Thank you for joining us.
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Oscar
Thank you! This ancestor mining is so much fun, Christa! As to your question re. my name – well, the truth is, I kind of moved into it (it was waiting for me). I find it easy to say, easy to spell, so I consider it a good fit. I used to have a different surname but shed it because it felt uncomfortable and contrived. I’m happier with “Devent” which we created in order to facilitate my online communication (all those demanding forms!). I’ve had a similar conversation on this subject with Ellie here: http://megoryan.me/post/69899480046/oscar-autonomy#disqus_thread
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Christa Forster
1850 Twitter Chat Invitation to Participate Call for…
1850 Twitter Chat — Invitation to Participate
Call for participants up now at .Re/cipes:
http://practicebased.re/cipes/product/1850-tweetchat-
Vanessa
Hi Christa! This is so wonderful! I hope it’s not too confusing, but over on .Re/cipes (The Open Art Cookbook) instead of “Blog Posts” we make “Products”! 🙂
On the “+NEW” menu, instead of
+NEW >> POSTjust do
+NEW >> PRODUCTI can help with any of the details. I’ve put your Tweetchat up in the form of a “Product” and updated your link above. (and now it also appears on the home page of .Re/cipes
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Christa Forster
Teju Coles Story in Retweets
Yesterday in our hangout, I mentioned Teju Coles’ story in retweets as inspiration for the Twitter Chat performance I’m developing. Here is a link to a story about this performance of Coles’.
Oscar are discussing. 
Christa Forster, and 
Donnie are discussing. 
Aero Bigboots
AlexandreLois1
Ananda Crystal
Andrea Foenander
astrid
Aunt Renie
Aurelia Scheppers
Christa Forster
Ciara Finnegan
Bird on a Cyber Twig
Diptheria
Donnie Archer
Edie
Elle
Emma
Elizabeth Taylor Swift
Fanny
FeelsEmpty
Glad Kidd
Izzy
Jade Ravenheart
Kate Nova
Ken Doll
Mary Anning
Meg O'Ryan
Michael Masucci
Mireille
Molly Ross
Monerda Skute
Myra
Neeva
Newton
Michel Nostradamus
Oona
Oscar
Owen
Patrick J. Sweetman
Paypabak Writer
Pearl Grey
Rebecca Narum
rmarie
Ryan
Scarlett Luv
Sello Tape
Serra Qendra
Teresa of Avila
The Knight
Tiffany Mosienko
TrilbyM
Tullia Aragona
Vanessa
veyot
wendz tempest
Xue
Yellow Fever
Ysidora Pico
Yves
Zsophia
Oscar 05:54 on 24/01/2014 Permalink |
Oh, I rather like the country squire look you’ve got going there, Donnie!;-) Beats the diagonal frock coat, if you ask me…
Isabella Medici 10:40 on 24/01/2014 Permalink |
I quite agree with Oscar, Mr. Donnie. Now if only your comportment can match your attire, you may even be welcome in my court.
Meg O'Ryan 09:24 on 25/01/2014 Permalink |
OMG Donnie Incarnate! PTL! PTL! IDK how it happened Donnie, but it’s amazing! Can you feel your limbs? Can you walk? What do you want to do now? It’s a true miracle from Deus ex Machina!