Steam Hunt 4 Completed… now to clean up the mess

Posted on by March 29, 2011
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Dhughan here, it’s been a long few weeks since I last blogged. Sorry, busy, building, learning, fixing, tearing out hear prim by prim, blah blah blah!

At long last, I have had a chance to complete STEAM 4: The Hunt as a hunter, not just as a creator. And now I have to clean out my inventory as I go.

First, a short word to my fellow shop-owners and content-creators.

 

Please, please, don’t make it so difficult to find the gear, or make it difficult to navigate around your place while searching for it, or set it up so that when found it doesn’t behave as described in the guidelines for STEAM Hunt Engineers. Otherwise, we might miss wonderful things like this:

Haven Gifts

That’s a fun “Under Construction” sign, a Tesla Power Grid collection light (it’s much taller than shown) an un-animated (and no-mod) engine, a wonderful old-fashioned phone that sends IMs to the owner, and a terrific inworld radio that IS modifiable, can be deeded to group land, and can still be modified afterwards (a pet peeve of mine).  It seems to stop working if “taken” into inventory, though – the station won’t change. So set it up where you want it, deed it, change it, forget about it. It looks very nice sitting out, or embedded in a wall or something.

I’ve invested in some inventory sorting boxes, will review them as I learn how to set them up. Seems simple, and they’re very attractive.

But now to bed. Much more sorting and unpacking to ensue.

 

UPDATE: It’s difficult to organize because first one must organize. It’s a never-ending process but an enjoyable one for me.

In the meantime, in one of the “chump gears” (decoys, but funny ones” from Battersea Amusements in Babbage Canals, I opened it up to find THIS EXCITING CONSOLATION PRIZE.

Weekly Tweets 2011-03-27

Posted on by March 27, 2011
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Weekly Tweets 2011-03-20

Posted on by March 20, 2011
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Weekly Tweets 2011-03-13

Posted on by March 13, 2011
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Weekly Tweets 2011-03-06

Posted on by March 6, 2011
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  • /me comes up for water "Oh, hello Tweeple I've totally neglected while I was burning the midnight pixels the last few days. How are you?" #
  • RT @isfullofcrap "RT @MoRocca: Galliano dismissed. Too bad, I was really looking forward to his Springtime for Hitler collection." #
  • @isfullofcrap That made me LO so L that everyone in the cafeteria looked at me funny. #
  • If you recast the classic SNL Star Trek sketch as a #SecondLife machinima, what AV would have an "I want my ears! I want my ears!" meltdown. #
  • @Drasilova First time as a #STEAMhunt engineer, imma need new retinas now. 😉 #SL #
  • RT @SecondLie "Instead of handing out Second Life Community Platform Bears, we're handing out Second Life Community Platform Shoes. #groovy quot; #
  • @Drasilova I look forward to shiny new retinas, expect clockwork irises, too! #
  • I'm off to texture the crap out of my new Community Forums Rank Icon Avatar: http://bit.ly/eZAaD5 via @addthis #

Kaʻiulani: The Sad Peacock Princess

Posted on by February 22, 2011
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During the course of making and decorating items for my shop in the STEAM hunt, I was struck by the story of Princess Ka’iulani of the Kingdom of Hawaii, who was deposed before she ever ruled by American business interests, and who died young after spending many years being educated in England. She was a proper Victorian lady of royal birth, and like the inestimable Isabella Bird, is an inspiration.

Princess Ka'iulani, the Peacock Princess

In fact, she was known as the Peacock Princess, and so I have decided to include peacock feathers in my hunt gift, because God knows we all need a little more color in the Steampunk world! Too much brown and orange is not necessarily a good thing, when there is a whole palette of Victorian dyes (natural and artificial) to choose from. So bring on the intense blues and greens and purples!

During her absence, much turmoil occurred back in HawaiÊ»i. King Kalakaua died in 1891 and Princess Lydia LiliÊ»uokalani became Queen. LiliÊ»uokalani immediately appointed KaÊ»iulani as her heir, and KaÊ»iulani became the Crown Princess. In 1893, the Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown and the new government attempted to become a part of the United States. The news arrived to KaÊ»iulani on January 30, 1893 in a short telegram that said: “‘Queen Deposed’, ‘Monarchy Abrogated’, ‘Break News to Princess'”.

Kaʻiulani then made a statement to the press in England:

“Four years ago, at the request of Mr. Thurston, then a Hawaiian Cabinet Minister, I was sent away to England to be educated privately and fitted to the position which by the constitution of Hawaii I was to inherit. For all these years, I have patiently and in exile striven to fit myself for my return this year to my native country. I am now told that Mr. Thurston will be in Washington asking you to take away my flag and my throne. No one tells me even this officially. Have I done anything wrong that this wrong should be done to me and my people? I am coming to Washington to plead for my throne, my nation and my flag. Will not the great American people hear me?”

She referred to Lorrin A. Thurston, who was touring the United States promoting its annexation of Hawaii. Kaʻiulani decided to take action and traveled to the United States herself the following month. Upon arrival on American shores, although shy by nature, she addressed the press in public with these words:

“Seventy years ago Christian America sent over Christian men and women to give religion and civilization to HawaiÊ»i. Today, three of the sons of those missionaries are at your capitol asking you to undo their father’s work. Who sent them?   Who gave them the authority to break the Constitution which they swore they would uphold?   Today, I, a poor weak girl with not one of my people with me and all these ‘Hawaiian’ statesmen against me, have strength to stand up for the rights of my people. Even now I can hear their wail in my heart and it gives me strength and courage and I am strong – strong in the faith of God, strong in the knowledge that I am right, strong in the strength of seventy million people who in this free land will hear my cry and will refuse to let their flag cover dishonor to mine!”

The pro-annexation press of the time often treated KaÊ»iulani with contempt,referring to her in print as a half-breed, or calling her “dusky”, although she did not receive the blatantly racist treatment repeatedly given her Aunt. Typical of the time, “positive” accounts of the Princess appearance often tried to emphasize what was thought to be “white” about her, although her “British” half was invoked negatively on occasion by American writers fearing Great Britain was a rival for possession of HawaiÊ»i. As she traveled across the United States following her education, the real Princess surprised open-minded members of the press. Instead of an unmannered caricature “heathen” described by enemies of the Kingdom of HawaiÊ»i, journalists and the public were confronted by a modern Royal Princess wearing elegant gowns and speaking English or Hawaiian, French or German

via KaÊ»iulani – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Lelani Carver is a Steampunk resident in Second Life who blogs a little about everything, and about nothing of any importance.

Weekly Tweets 2011-02-20

Posted on by February 20, 2011
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Creativity Killers: The Internets, TV, Fear, And Everything Else

Posted on by February 19, 2011
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Creativ(ity) is an easy kill. A simple search of creativity killers yields a multitude of would be candidates: television, the Internet, inflexibility, too much flexibility, fear, lack of fear, goals, lack of goals, time pressure, too much time. The list is sizable.

via Phasing Grace | Social Architectures and Virtual Worlds: A Penchant for Creativity – Knights and Nobles.

Wow! Yes. I am a little behind on a commitment I made to myself and to others to create, create, create. And the killers are all listed above, but chiefly “fear, surprise, terror, and an almost ruthless INefficiency” which causes me to be rather disorganized… STOP LAUGHING YOU LOT! Okay, a lot disorganized when it comes to ideas, images, and inventory.

It’s so unseemly when people literally fall over laughing and kicking and screaming on the ground. Stop that this instant: admitting that I’m disorganized and need help is but the first step in a journey of a thousand sims.

At least after a hiatus of several months, I’m starting to feel like I’m getting back to where I was with GIMP, feeling more confident in my ability to actually create something of decent quality, and feeling better about the organization factor.

Fashion Faux Paws

Unfortunately there’s nothing I can do about the Total Dork factor.

Am I logged in? No. So I am not working on a new Mardi Gras necklace, and I’m seeing some sales pick up on that and also on the St Patrick’s ones, which all need to be updated and made a bit more… elegant like.

Do I have time now to get stuck in? No, because I was messing about on Facebook in my other life, not playing but working on promoting something important to me in meatspace.

Have I been watching too much television or mindlessly liking and sharing stuff on Google Reader instead of working in Second Life on my commitments? Well, Dhughan has gotten a fair bit done, I have not got as much done as I’d like. Maybe I need to reconsider my need to watch “Mythbusters” and “Top Gear” reruns?

Have I been afraid to fail? Yes. However, I HAVE put up a couple of new products, or have several things nearly ready to go. I have made good progress with re-learning GIMP, though, and that was very satisfying. More to be done, of course; but I’m feeling better about what I do know how to do.

Do I have goals, or lack them? Yes.

Do I waffle back and forth? Yes.

Do I like waffles? Yes – ON A STICK.

Am I under time pressure, or do I have too much time? Yes, and yes. I have a RL commitment in a couple of hours and will be forced to be AFK, and I really should have been inworld this morning. However, I do have time to… yes, create SOMETHING.

Yes, there it is, I HAVE CREATED A PIE MACRO. I feel better. This pie was baked by my cousin Janey, and is a family classic recipe known as “Damn Sour Pie!”  It’s always pronounced with an exclamation point, it’s full of rhubarb, and it’s not a trifling trifle.

It’s in response to this thread.

And now I’m being kidnapped into a strange meatspace…. aAaaaaaAAAAAAAAAUGH!

…

Some hours later, after heading off to a RL family gathering, I came home in time to check in for some dances in Steelhead and at Cafe Wellstone and at the community center at the Anglican Cathedral, and had actual fun.  Received a WONDERFUL HAT from Thadicus Cadogan at the Steelhead Electrified Ball.

Also did a tiny bit of tweaking on one of the new products; tomorrow it will be completed and listed, tonight was for recharging.   BZZZTTT!!

#SecondLife Events: “All Aboard Grand Tour” This Weekend

Posted on by February 17, 2011
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The Grand Tour returns to Second Life with The “All Aboard Grand Tour” on Saturday and Sunday, February 19 and 20, 2011. The tour includes 15 different locations with a theme of trains and transportation.The Grand Tour began in 2008 as a positive expression after some unpopular decisions by Linden Lab left many residents discouraged. A few people got together and created the marathon event. The All Aboard Grand Tour is the fifth tour. The creator of the event, Fogwoman Gray, summarizes the purpose, which had become the motto of all grand tours: “To bring all nations and groups together to demonstrate why we stay and what is important”.

via Events: “All Aboard Grand Tour” on Saturday and Sunday.

This sounds like a lot of fun to be had, and there’s an event in Steelhead on Sunday afternoon. My neighbors in the group of steam-themed sims are an amazingly eclectic group, and that’s just one of many communities putting together events.

Will try to get some time if near the computer this weekend to drop in.