In addition to being a host for Radio Riel, I occasionally act as a DJ or musical presenter. I’m very excited that later this evening (just before I go to bed, in fact), I will begin broadcastingRadio Riel: From the Library . . . Luciafest, which will shuffle about nine hours of music through the early evening (mid-afternoon, SLT) of Thursday, December 13.
Tag, I’m it! I’m it! I’m it!
First, it was the Defender of Murdann; then my web-friend Marion Rickenbacker, whose photography I love; and now I’ve discovered that Lady Edwina Heron has joined the fray. (And I suppose I should also count Miss Achariya Maktoum, who tagged “all of Caledon”).
The rules of tagging are simple, and as follows.
- Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
- People who are tagged need to write a post on their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules.
- At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
- Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog
- I was in a modern dance collective that performed The Shakers (1931) by Doris Humphrey by being coached with Labanotation. The collective also performed a dance I choreographed.
- I worked on a dairy farm in Blokzijl, Netherlands, for three months in 1976 through a program of the Future Farmers of America.
- I’m descended on my mother’s side from Anne Hutchinson, one of the founders of Rhode Island; John and Priscilla Alden, Pilgrims made famous by a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; John Middleton Hester, who served in the army of the Confederate States of America; and Preston Tinsley Henderson, whose 1854 will includes specific mention of “a negro boy at five hundred dollars” and “a negro girl at three hundred dollars”. Such is the stuff of American ancestry.
- I have a Bacon number of two, in two different ways: I have a friend who was at a dinner party with him, and one of the members of my clearness committee when I became a Quaker is his cousin.
- I prefer strong black tea with milk and sugar.
- I’ve broken bones in both my feet, on three different occasions.
- I have been thrown by a horse.
- I own eight Hoya species: H. australis, H. carnosa, H. caudata, H. curtisii, H. lanceolata bella, H. longifolia, H. multiflora, H. serpens.
Now, really, who’s left to tag? This thing has spread faster than any noxious blog meme I’ve ever seen, so I refuse to check to see if I’m repeating people: nox Pinion, and via Twitter, cala, Kirakitty, Lactose, rikomatic, Gloire, SinTrenton, ZoeConnolly.
Defender of Murdann
Yesterday the Duchy of Loch Avie celebrated St. Andrew’s Day in fine style, with festivities throughout the day. A highlight for me (and the only portion I was able to attend) was the tourney of arms between Duchy Champions. I was honored to be represented by the Protector of Caledon, Lady Whoop-ass, Diamanda Gustafson, Defender of Murdann.
Lady Dia and I confer before the contest of arms.
Positive report on Second Life religion
The Christian website “Crosswalk” has an article about Christian churches in Second Life: Virtual Church Proving Real for Some
In real life a shy single who tends to stay home every night, “Jillian” explores Second Life’s virtual pubs, drug connections and adult games with abandon.
At least she did until she stumbled onto one of Second Life’s Christian islands by accident. Now she is exploring the claims of Christ – anonymously – which, she says, is much more comfortable than being confronted by a zealous member of a real life church.
The state of social dance in Second Life
A most surprising occurrence last night at Radio Riel at the Rock. Lady Protector Diamanda Gustafson was DJing. (I missed the audio on the first half, as I was also watching the end of a movie—but I can vouch that the second half was fantastic!) The conversation turned to various forms of social dance not yet available in SL, such as the polonaise, the quadrille, and even a short English Country Dance set (not mentioned, though no doubt also desired, would be a square dance and a contra dance set).
Currently there is a relatively short list of couple dances from major animators: waltz, tango, salsa, and ballroom. Alexicon Kurka, however, produces a polka, and has recently introduced several Greek dances, including a hasapikos (or perhaps a syrtaki, but it is called hasapikos by Mr Kurka) that can be coordinated in a line:
Left to right: Hotspur O’Toole, Searra Weatherwax, Gabrielle Riel, Eladrienne Laval, Annechen Lowey, Otenth Paderborn, Myfanwy Davies, and Iason Hassanov (I’m not sure I have Miss Davies’ name correctly, and I would be happy to receive correction.)
Miles Van Der Rohe?
While not yet in Second Life, I got an email telling me that:
The object ‘Einladung zur bizMart Adventsaktion’ in Second Life has offered you inventory.
Log in to accept to decline this inventory.= Einladung zur bizMart Adventsaktion is owned by Architect Miles
Suspecting advertising spam (a scourge still in its infancy in Second Life, but on the rise), I did a search on “architect miles”. Nothing that would help me figure out who he is, but a distressing number of results for this:
Designed by legendary modern architect Miles Van Der Rohe
Victorian decorative arts
Mr Expedition Offcourse and Miss Persephone Gallindo were kind enough to give a presentation Saturday evening on the Victorian decorative arts. It was held in the Gaiety Theatre in Caledon Penzance, which was designed and built by Miss Gallindo. The event was held in voice, occasioning a bit of technical difficulty at first, quickly overcome. (It is clear to me that practicing with the voice function of the client should be on my list of tasks.) Mr Offcourse had a series of technical misfortunes, but he skillfully covered in such a way that participants were not inconvenienced.
Mr Offcourse outlined the broad artistic movements affecting Victorian decorative arts, showing an example from each movement and explicating some of the distinctive elements of each. Miss Gallindo then spoke about the process of building in SL, encouraging her listeners to be constantly looking, both in SL and in FL. Mr Offcourse then gave a short practicum on creating custom textures and sculpties.
Live celtic music
On Friday I attended my first live music event in Second Life, the grand opening of Smuggler’s Cove in Caledon Wellsian. The band was Keltish, which apparently has been playing in SL for some time, at the Blarney Stone. It was great fun. Although the sim was doing okay, I had terrible lag, what with several dozen people in one small space. I managed to camera over and get a shot of the band, with images in the background of the live audience the band was playing to in a RL house concert.
One year on
- I’ve reconnected with the sociable, well-dressed, dancing me of younger years.
- I’ve found a way to continue a connection, of sorts, with Quakerism.
- I’ve explored, in a participatory way, Unitarian Universalism.
- Gifts in leadership will express themselves one way or another.
- I’m good at listening and giving counsel in SL and text chat, as in RL.
- Tinkering and adapting is easier for me than original creation.
- Details of hospitality do not come naturally to me.
- When the fussy aspects of my personality are given shape, I become a bit bitchy in a way I don’t enjoy.
- I identify quite strongly as a gay man, even when I can be anything (which is apparently typical).
As for the future?
- I’m dabbling in internet radio.
- I’ve created a public service, the Victorian Shopkeepers Association group.
- I need to give some careful thought and attention to Wyre.
- I’m finding my way as the Duke of Murdann in the Independent State of Caledon.
- I’m enjoying a mild flirtation with a pleasant gentleman.
- I’m deepening the quality of some of my friendships.
- I will have occasions to bring my RL work into SL.
Interview with the librarian
Baron BardHaven discovered lacunae in his knowledge of the Caledon Library system:
I set out in a quest to find out more about this mysterious library.
Thank to position and repute, I was able to quickly find the right address for my questions, that being the Director General of the Caledon Library, Miss Scandaroon Beck.
The result is an entertaining and informative report, Library Cards.