Duc N. Ly

 

 

I mentioned that I’ve been reading Steves’s humour column in DIYplanners. Recently, I befriended Stephen (Steves) Sharam, the writer behind those entertaining columns. It all started when I had asked Douglas Johnston about Nova Scotia. He moved from there long ago so I told me to ask Stephen. (As a boy, I had read Howard Norman’s fiction set in and around Halifax, Nova Scotia. Every time my Wife and I fly over Halifax, on our way to Poland, my heart skips a beat. As the on board monitor shows a map of our flight plan, I try to peer out into the cold and try to imagine what it’s like to live there.) Update: Steves has prophetically written about his new concept of Cattle Based Planning. Recently I encounter a planning system based on dairy products…well close enough. Check it out here: Remember the Milk

The following is an exchanges of messages in our Facebook accounts:

Hi Steve,
Douglas Johnson told me to ask you about riding unicycles and listening to wireless radio in Nova Scotia…I’ve only heard about these things from Howard Norman’s books
-Duc
Stephen Sharam
Hey, well Doug says a lot of things that are not true Halifax has a lot of bagpipes, which is sort of like wireless radio. Are you on DIY? What’s your nick?
Duc
Yes I’m on DIY….my nick is my real name duc ly
what’s your nik
*lol at the bagpipes comment
Stephen Sharam
Ha, thanks. My nick is ’steves’, I write the humour column on Fridays (usually:P)
Duc
ahah….yes i read your columns…in fact I mention it on one of my interview with Rasmussen…
I’m one of your big fans….
I would like to interview you some time…maybe?
Stephen Sharam
Wow, thanks, it’s nice to have a fan Sounds possible. What would we talk about?
Duc
Hm…I don’t know maybe how you got started in diy and what makes you write humorous pieces for diy?
What’s the deal with your Facebook picture in profile…are you like a confused don quixote slaying at the invisible wind mill on your bicycle?…and shouldn’t you be riding a unicycle?
Stephen Sharam
Hmm, I’m not sure if there’s much of interest there. I started because Doug asked me and I write them for kicks Short interview Let’s try and think of something else.
What’s up with the unicycle thing? No, no, I came home one day several years ago and my parents had a bunch of things out for a yard sale, including the bike, so I ran into the house and grabbed the sword and had Dad take the picture. I just think it’s important to show the neighbours that you mean business
Duc N. Ly
haha…okay I’ll think of something else…so far I think your answers are entertaining.
what’s it like to live in Nova Scotia. Well, I am fascinated with unicycles and wish I could ride one while juggling knives. How long have you been on diy and are you obsessed with notebooks too?
Stephen Sharam
Ha ha, well I’d love to see that. Let me know before you try your unicycle-riding knife juggling and I’ll bring my camera
Well, I don’t actually live in Nova Scotia anymore. Not lots of unicycles, but I just couldn’t stand the bagpipes anymore
I’ve been on DIY since it started in Sept. 05 and I actually only use the creative parts of the planner packs. I’ve tried printing off full planners, but I keep loosing them. I think Doug asked me to write for the site because I’m very much opposite to most of the people on it in terms of personality. I’m disorganized, silly and kinda lazy. I think DIYPlanner.com needs me
Duc
What’s with your aversion towards bag pipes? I think I should ride the unicycle and play the bag pipes instead! Although, it would be difficult to ride in a kilt. That’s the second person that moved away from Nova Scotia. I’m not familiar with the creative planner packs. Diy sure needs you. Do you write the humour column some as a profession? How can I get in touch with a Nova Scotian? Particularly one from Halifax.
Hm…I think it would be cool to post this on my blog with your picture as a modern day Don Quixote. With your permission of course.
What gives you the inspirations for your humour columns? Who do you read or think is amusing?
Stephen
Ah, you’re a very sneaky man. I thought maybe I was being interviewed and didn’t know it Ah well, that’s fine with me

My picture as a modern day Don Quixote…well, that works. I’ve been telling my girlfriend for years that she’s Sancho Panza, keeping me on the straight and narrow…sometimes.

Why do you want to find a Nova Scotian so much? Is it the bagpipes or the kitchen parties? they have plenty of both.

Where do I come up with my ideas? Actually, that’s gotten much harder as time has gone by. Several times I’ve thought of an idea that seems great, only to realize that I already did that topic a year and a half ago Often I’ll talk to Innowen or Doug and bounce some ideas around and something will start to gel. I think it’s kind of difficult actually to write humour columns every week on a site about productivity. Shockingly, paper-based planning is not the funniest subject out there. People writing things on paper? Stop, you’re killing me!

Most people who write humour leave themselves wide open, so they have the most options and I think my columns have certainly become a lot less focused on productivity humour over time. It’s probably a good training ground for if I ever decide to do it professionally: If I can write something funny about paper-based planning every week, I can write about almost anything

Duc
Great!…I think we’ll go to print! :)0 Saves me from having to think about making a new post all on my own….
Stephen
Sounds good If you wouldn’t mind, please mention my blog as well as DIYPlanner (can’t pass up free advertising
www.whenrealityknocks.com
Cheers

ras_004

Originally uploaded by Duc N. Ly.
I’m glad to have with me today in Hell’s Kitchen on Second Life, a second interview with Ryan Rasmussen (aka Austin Ellison), one of the author of ‘Age of Conversation’. I’m please to have Ryan back again to talk about AoC and many other subjects. I will start the conversation by congratulating them on the success of the book.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1348/853945806_1ec3e27993.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1340/853945750_30fe215aa4.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1147/853945656_8be0155aff.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1216/853945472_9ab60fc768.jpg
[10:11]

Click To Play

http://rasmussen.blip.tv/file/309817/

play_blip_movie_314492();

You: Congratulations to you, an author of Age of Conversation.

[10:12] Ryan Rasmussen: Thank you.

[10:12] You: You were saying before the crash that there is quit a buzz about this book AOC…it’s interesting that I came to it through your Facebook profile

[10:13] Austin Ellison: That is what happens when you collect 100 ’social media savvy’ minds and ask them for creative methods for marketing this project.

[10:14] Austin Ellison: Several of the contributors joined Facebook solely for this reason: to market the book.

[10:15] You: I think that it’s a great idea. The Facebook (FB) community is growing also I join because of the notebook community. FB is being used in a very creative way.

[10:15] Austin Ellison: It’s incredible addictive!

[10:16] You: Yes it is more so then any other media…maybe it’s because of the ‘mash’ables

[10:16] Austin Ellison: Last night, I was taking photographs and videos of a thunderstorm while walking down Michigan Ave solely to upload them to the FB profile.

[10:17] Austin Ellison: I used Shozu, and a few FB modules/mashables to automatically upload the media.

[10:17] Austin Ellison: I’m not entirely certain ‘why’ it is so intriguing. However, I suppose it is just a new form of journaling 2.0

[10:17] You: You always seem to find ways around it, to use it fully.

[10:18] You: Let’s get back to AOC. I always think about the story of how we met.

[10:18] Austin Ellison: Sure. I believe it you were shopping for groceries, right?

[10:19] You: Meaning that I was experimenting…around that time I was doing some PayPerPost… and the idea of asking for sample products to review on my bog.

[10:19] You: I have always like paper products and on a whim I sent out an email

[10:20] Austin Ellison: Yes. You actually had created quite an impressive footprint online with your Squidoo and word press pages.

[10:20] You: Aha Yes I was in the Polish European meat market shopping with my wife when I got that phone call from you.

[10:20] Austin Ellison:

[10:21] Austin Ellison: Anyway, I really noticed your site when I realized you were in the top 20 Google results for Levenger.

[10:21] You: So you were the impetus for my subsequent reviews of the products from other company as well… but it’s a perfect example of what AOC is all about.

[10:21] Austin Ellison: Google searches are quickly becoming a compelling new method for deterring exactly what is occurring with one’s brand.

[10:22] Austin Ellison: Thank you. I think it works best when both parties see the “conversation” as an opportunity to collaborate, or co-create.

[10:23] You: yes our real life company, a mortgage company is paying thousands of dollars to be able to be search-able on Google. In fact, I sent the article you wrote on AOC to my marketing person. She’s young and energetic…I hope she’s open minded about marketing and social media. I also showed her my Circa Rolla notebooks because she saw it and was very curious.

[10:24] Austin Ellison: Excellent.

[10:25] Austin Ellison: An active conversation about something is pretty attractive to a Technorati spider or Google-bot.

[10:25] You: So I’m curious as how you got involved with AOC…what was the first conversation? The seed…where did it start?

[10:26] You: Can you please define for us laymen Technocratic spider or Google-bot?

[10:26] Austin Ellison: *terms for methods used by search engines to determine a site’s relevance.

[10:28] Austin Ellison: As for connecting with AoC, I started only with DiyPlanner.com working with the idea of collaborative innovation * opening new product development up to the group of natural creative-types. The DIY community was natural to the processes of brainstorms.

[10:28] Austin Ellison: I then attended a presentation by Ben McConnel of Church of the Customer.com

[10:29] Austin Ellison: It was then that I started to understand the divide between traditional PR and marketing approaches to engaging customers.

[10:30] Austin Ellison: Traditional messages were one-way. Microsoft’s Digital Advertising Solutions, “The Break-Up” did a terrific spoof of this in video titles.

[10:31] You: I see

[10:32] Austin Ellison: Although the ROI is near impossible to calculate, a word-of-mouth campaign is incredible powerful. However, it requires passionate customers + responsive merchants.

[10:33] Austin Ellison: Social media provide the opportunity for companies to really learn how customers feel about their brand through open conversation.

[10:34] Austin Ellison: Ben’s presentation leads me to seek out other marketing bloggers that might be actuating this sort of campaign.

[10:34] You: Well said….

[10:34] Austin Ellison: Large companies, like Microsoft and Google, realized the importance of corporate blogging some time ago. I was on a quest to see who else was actively questioning and listening to their customers.

[10:35] Austin Ellison: This led me to Gavin Heaton’s blog, and the open call for participants.

[10:35] Austin Ellison: My email simply stated, “I have been working with customers online for quite some time.”

[10:36] You: true true

[10:36] Austin Ellison: In my own article, I chose to speak of some of the obstacles to approaching this sort of open engagement.

[10:37] Able Whitman is Online

[10:37] You: Yes, I’ve underline a few sentences.

[10:37] Austin Ellison: Entering a community as a company representative exposes oneself to any number of incalculable slings and arrows.

[10:37] You: They are reluctant….

[10:37] Austin Ellison: Often, this is the reason companies are reluctant to jump in.

[10:38] You: I’ve asked a number of companies for product review and often I get rejections.

[10:38] Austin Ellison: However, any feedback, including negative, is vital to brand health.

[10:39] You: Extremely. Ryan, in a year you went from Manager to Director of new Media at Levenger…incredible.

[10:39] Austin Ellison: I continue to manage the store.

[10:39] Austin Ellison: I spoke with Stephen Smith at HDBizBlog about this a few weeks back.

[10:39] You: I see you as an example of what they call ‘Blue Ocean’ Strategies…

[10:39] You: Oh I’ll have to see the link

[10:40] You: Stephen wrote a post about Levenger getting it right

[10:40] Austin Ellison: Well, it was actually a more recent conversation with him where I asked if he had any advice for what I should actually “call” my position.

[10:41] You: what is it officially called now?

[10:41] Austin Ellison: A few members of DiyPlanner had suggested, “Company liaison”, etc.

[10:42] Austin Ellison: I direct Levenger’s social media program. What started as an experiment last fall has developed into something pretty compelling.

[10:42] You: I think that you have gone above the red sea of the competition and have created a position where you are in the blue…an innovative new place beyond other competitors. And that’s unique.

[10:42] Thim Vella: hello

[10:43] Austin Ellison: Therefore, “director of social media optimization/engagement” came together.

[10:43] Austin Ellison: Thank you.

[10:43] Seth Rahja: draw

[10:43] Austin Ellison: However, it really was born from the interaction I was accustomed to on the retail floor.

[10:44] Austin Ellison: Instead of approaching social media from a marketing background, I saw it as another method of forming genuine relationships with customers.

[10:44] You: Great…let’s mention Tom Kelly’s book and his ‘Ten Faces… or personas

[10:44] You: as I would like to call them…one is the Anthropologist

[10:45] You: that is an excellent analogy for what you do…

[10:45] Thim Vella: hi Seth

[10:45] You: and you are very careful not to be too commercial or marketing it.

[10:45] You: trust is important to you as any cultural anthropologist would say….

[10:46] Able Whitman is Offline

[10:46] Austin Ellison: Tom instilled an “urgency” of innovation when I heard him speak.

[10:46] Austin Ellison: This is what really catapulted the project forward.

[10:47] Murda Cortes is Offline

[10:47] You: And that’s why when I approached you to blog about some of what you do you were careful and I was hesitant because I didn’t want to compromise your trust.

[10:47] You: Yes so it is the same for you and I because we , mostly you were doing things…stuff like fast prototyping before we read the books.

[10:48] You: In our last interview I think the readers got a sense of not being too commercialized

[10:49] You: I was evangelizing to some extent before I realized what I was doing….until Art of Innovation states it in a text book.

[10:50] Austin Ellison: It’s important that I not overtly commercialize my blog, or the manner with which I present new products in communities that are built upon “real” emotional connections. I stated in a post on DiyP a few months ago, that during a presentation to managers I felt as though I should have been wearing and official DiyPlanner.com t-shirt. The bonds between community members are real, and trust is incredibly important.

[10:50] Austin Ellison: Yes, about evangelizing, Ben McConnel’s book was titled, “Customer Evangelists”.

[10:50] Austin Ellison:

[10:50] Murda Cortes is Online

[10:51] You: In your write up for AOC there was a quote about Flickr.

[10:52] You: Levenger is incredibly fast.

[10:52] Austin Ellison: The early adopters, the 1%’ers, brand advocates, … they ‘do’ generate spontaneously. However, honest direct relationships that show a company “listens” as often as it “talks” can actually generate some of this excitement.

[10:53] Austin Ellison: That quote was from a DiyP member under the handle, Eris.

[10:54] You: DIY Planner community is incredible….

[10:54] You: It really comes from the testing of products that consumers do.

[10:54] You: I think I found out about the hpda from a Flickr hack

[10:56] You: Even with the appearance of Tom Kelly on Cira notebooks in the web, then I see him in the paper Catalogue.

[10:56] Austin Ellison: -what better method for determining if we should or shouldn’t develop a new product than by simply bouncing the idea off of a notebook community!

[10:56] Austin Ellison:

[10:57] You: Then in the next paper catalogue there is a product tailored towards that idea of Circa Jr. notebook as a tool to write books.

[10:57] You: I wonder how Levenger feels about its products being knocked off?

[10:57] You: or I mean imitated.

[10:58] Austin Ellison: There is an old adage I’ll spare you from.

[10:58] You: hehe

[10:58] You: So you encounter Tom Kelly’s book after the fact?

[10:58] Austin Ellison: ?

[10:59] You: Meaning that instinctually you knew the direction in which you were going?

[10:59] You: That is, you were playing the anthropologist even before realizing it…

[10:59] Austin Ellison: Yes ;), but his words made the project seem vital! …

[11:00] Austin Ellison: Tom used an interesting analogy I had not heard before.

[11:00] You: and what is that?

[11:00] Austin Ellison: He used the term, The Red Queen Effect.

[11:00] You: meaning?

[11:00] Austin Ellison: Referring to Alice and the Looking Glass.

[11:01] Austin Ellison: The idea is that the playing field of competitive advantage and innovation is already in motion.

[11:02] Austin Ellison: In order to succeed, the speed of innovation must be faster than the rate at which the entire playing field is moving.

[11:03] Austin Ellison: It was this concept that instilled a “hit the ground running” approach to the experiment.

(Due to some technical difficulties, some parting words were lost. Basically, I asked Ryan what was next for him. He mention mobile reviews. Ryan said that he could not have predicted a year ago where he would be today and would not attempt to. Very well said.)

update:  age-of-conversation-2-an-excerpt

Related Post:

• hdbizblog.com/blog/2007/09/19/an-interview-with-an-innovator
• damniwish.com/2007/09/how-to-become-a.html

tags: Levenger, Ryan Rasmussen, Duc Ly, Age of Conversation, interview, Hell’s Kitchen, Second Life, Diy Planner

Jennifer has several blogs, one of them is Lifemuncher (there’s a link in the blog roll). I’ve always admired her writing and sense of organizational style. If you haven’t look, take a gander. I sent out my not always reliable but Google-ly embedded reporter Lex to have a interview and chat with the lovely and organized mademoiselle George. It seems they talked about toys, gtd, and paper. Lex had a bit of technical difficulty in transcribing the interview. Jennifer had to send the text archived in the chat. ‘me’ is Jennifer. and ‘Lex’ is lex.

10:43 AM Lex: well hellow gennifer george
10:44 AM me: hey man
10:45 AM Lex: hehe what up
me: just readin blogs
10:46 AM Lex: aha i see…so david allen’s second book is not as good is it?
10:48 AM me: nah. much more new-agey and really scattered
10:49 AM Lex: that’s what i thought. i’m running out of ideas on what to blog …how about u?
10:50 AM me: i have ideas. i’m just too lazy to write them
Lex: yeah i write a bunch but the same post gets read not new stuff.  What’s ur idea?
me: one is that i want to write a summary post about ready for anything…but i’d rather take a nap
Lex: haha:)…why do i think of connie chung
when i see claspin’walnuts.  Hey, i have an idea…i can do an interview on you! Ahem…this is Lex here…google embedded reporter for the daily news..I got my circa hipster and a truely crazy writer….
me: pleasure to be here lex
Lex: what is life munching any way? and what’s the deal with claspin’walnut? care to explain?
me: claspingwalnut was a randomly generated user name that was suggested to me one time by yahoo. i liked it and kept it. it has
a certain threatening quality that i enjoy.
Lex: oh i think so
me: lifemuncher was a play on lifehacker. it makes me think of silly childish insults like “buttmunch” and i’m silly and childish, so it fits
Lex: a strength of an ox…haha I think that fits…although I was thinking of something else….but never mind.                                                                     me: yeah, that too
Lex: aha so ur a gtd gal…..
me: i love organizing things, so gtd is right up my alley
Lex: aha so it’s a life hack for everyone…hm so do you remember how you first heard of gtd?
me: we actually had the seminar at work, from the david allen company people themselves. i loved it and immediately went home and
organized all my files. Then i read the book, and found all the productivity bloggers, and got immersed in the gtd world.
Lex: about how long ago was that?
me: i think it was about a year and a half ago
Lex: so ur kinda like Monica on Friends
11:02 AM are you like her in other ways?
me: no, i like creating systems and organizing, but i’m not so good at maintaining them. monica’s much neater than me 11:03 AM i’ve always been pretty organized though. the problem is i don’t stick to any system for long. i just like thinking about different ways to do things
Lex: Hm…is there an easy way to save chat besides copy and paste…I ask since ur a google expert too. Yeah i think i’m the same way
me: you can tell google to archive all your chats in the settings
Lex: I was a Franklin Covey guy before … how about u?
me: i think a lot of the gtd bloggers are the same way
11:05 AM i was really into daytimer for a long itme
time
Lex: What about this interview now…
me: i think you’ll have to copy and paste if you’re not already archiving
Lex: oh shoot….I need to change the setting
me: daytimer taught me the value of taking notes during the day and having everything in one place
Lex: I didn’t use daytimmer…
me: it’s pretty much the same as franklin covey organizer-wise.  I’ve never read 7 habits. should i?
Lex: Hm..I haven’t read the 7 habits either. And I never did the mission statement and role defining. I think it’s a good book to
read.
me: how’s second life?
Lex: I just got tired of transferring task from day to day  Second Life is fun. I got into it because of friend…Austin… and Snow Crash. we both read that book….What do you think about Snow crash?
me: i love that book. i think it was very prescient about the future, don’t you? you should read diamond age too
Lex: totally prophetic and perceptive about the future
me: i’ve been trying to read the baroque cycle, but it’s soooo long
Lex: I think you would enjoy second life
me: i can’t decide if i would like it
Lex: have you seen Neal Stephen’s website?
me: not in a while…cryptonomicon is great too
Lex: He has a picture of a stack of paper about 4′ -5′ high….He hand wrote most of it. And he used such expensive fountain pens…
me: do you have just piles and piles of notebooks?
Lex: hm…Yes I do…they are like museum pieces…some I use for reference.  I would like to hack them and combine them into hybred notebooks but sometimes people will ask me about this and that notebook and I have to answer.  I saved the model number sometimes because it comes in handy. You never know when you’ll need a certain scrap of paper. I push these notebooks to my family and friends in real life too   Do you know of Jonathan safron froer?
me: sounds familiar… from where?
Lex: He’s an author of everything is illuminated…well he saves blank paper…he collects black papers from famous writers 11:18 AM I believe he frames them up on his walls. If i’m more organized and have a place I would have a note book museum
me: I’d love to visit. there’s something about notebooks that is so intriguing, so much potential
Lex: yeah…and also the fear and obligations to fill it…believe me there can be actual confusion and hesitation in choosing
which one to use at what time.  What do you think is intriguing?
me: i always imagine that i will write lots of cool stuff and fill them up with great memories, but then when i stare at a blank page i
can’t think of anything to say.  So i just start writing down anything that comes to mind. i always wanted to keep a regular journal, but it’s taken me years to get into the habit. it’s scary
Lex: Why is it scary? are you affraid that others will look into it?me: that’s part of it. i think i’ve always been disappointed in what i write
Lex: I think you got the sense of what Froer was talking about…as a writer you must conquer the blank page
me: it’s never as good as i think it will be.  I bought “the war of art” have you read it?
Lex: No….tell me about it.
me: it was recommended by Merlin Mann. the subtitle is “breakthrough the blocks and win your inner creative battles”. it’s about internal obstacles to success “an inspirational, funny, well-aimed kick in the pants guaranteed to galvanize every would-be artist, visionary, or entrepreneur.”
Lex: I do find that bloggin helps writing …what do you think?
me: definitely! especially when people actually seem to like what you write. gives you confidence
Lex: well….yeah but I think it’s more then that….it’s just different from writing journal alone.  like you say…it’s a blank page and hard to approach.
me: you have to be in the mood
Lex: what’s your fascination with toys?
me: i really don’t know. i think there’s something in the vinyl that
messes with your mind
Lex: haha…You have a strange fascination with paper and vinyl
11:32 AM me: i do
Lex: maybe it’s the scent
me: could be…
Lex: have you try to combine these two together?
me: sort of i guess. i have an extensive collection of header cards and stickers related to the toys and the toy artists
Lex: so you are keeping your child alive….that wonderment?
that inner child
me: i guess
Lex: (man…this copy and paste is going to drive me nuts)..hm I have to go soon…any last words of wisdom?
me: may shai hulud protect your water or something like that
Lex: Any parts that you want to ommit?…lol…i like that
me: no i’m cool
Lex: may you have a good Tau. btw i got kicked out of Dune
me: oh dear
Lex: see you can be in second life and join the Black sun
metaverse…or go to hogwarts…or mist of avalon…or be a furry. You would enjoy Dune
I bet you can make an avatar like one of your toy…so you
can bring it to life maybe? just a crazy idea
me: i’ve always suspected that i was a bene gesserit
Lex: I think that you are…give me the gom jabbar…11:39 AM I need to brush up on my duneology and maybe we can role play.  It’s been an enjoyable chat/interview to probe the mind of the claspin…mind munching georgie girl.  oh shoot i think i lost the whole thing
where is the chat?
me: i can send it to you if you want
Lex: That would be nice…
me: just a sec
Lex: okay
Jennifer: just a secLex: okayI’ll edit some and then post it :)Jennifer: it’s on its wayLex: thanks…did you have fun?Jennifer: sure! thanks for chattingywttyl
Jennifer: ciao

 

[9:36] Austin Ellison: I’m interested to see how Microsoft’s coverage of Wimbledon will work in SL.

[9:36] You: really

[9:36] You: how

[9:37] You: give me the landmarks please.

[9:37] Austin Ellison: I think Allison wants to play - I’ll grab a link - one moment

[9:37] You: k

[9:37] You: *throws Allison a bone

[9:37] You: Well I will have to get my tennis whites on

[9:38] Allison Jonze gnaws on the bone

[9:38] You: *pets dragon

[9:38] You: Allison I can’t remember when I saw you as a human.

[9:39] Austin Ellison: I think big blue is keeping the build location a secret for now.

[9:40] You: ha-ha

[9:40] You: lovely

[9:41] You: I use to have a flaming wall.

[9:42] You: Do you have any other Avies?

[9:46] Austin Ellison: No, just Austin Ellison. (So if you want to publish anything, just ask. )

[9:48] You: btw I saw what you wrote about ten faces on Stephen’s blog.

[9:48] You: I always wonder why you don’t write like that in your own blog.

[9:49] Austin Ellison: Just remember, not many of your readers understand what an avie [avie is an Avatar] is, let alone that there can be a separate ‘personality’ attributed to that avie.

[9:49] Austin Ellison: Thank you.

[9:49] You: or maybe it’s because when people asks in form of an interview or questions…our writing response becomes better?

[9:50] Austin Ellison: I walk an odd line with how I use Collaborative Ideation. I want to keep it entertaining, but I ‘do’ represent Levenger to an extent with what I write.

[9:50] Austin Ellison: I often try to avoid anything that appears too commercial.

[9:50] You: Yes … I think that is your fear to appear too commercial…

[9:51] You: and I think it holds up some of the writing.

[9:51] Austin Ellison: There are times where I am really excited about a new product or find a large discount on an item others have expressed an interest in, but I do not post such content as it would appear to anyone unfamiliar with my work, as an advertisement.

[9:51] You: in a way it’s a sort of censoring of one self?

[9:51] You: I would agree.

[9:51] You: that’s where people like me come in

[9:52] You: to bring that sort of good news to the consumers.

[9:52] Austin Ellison: With your outside perspective, you can offer an opinion about what I write that feels more objective.

[9:52] You: I see.

[9:53] You: but some times I hold my tongue.

[9:53] You: because I know they are free samples.

[9:53] You: and I edit my opinion too much.

[9:53] You: I try to find a ground where products try to work together if I can.

[9:54] Austin Ellison: I’m thankful for the work you do, with the entire notebook community. I realized a few months ago that the social media experiment I’m running is less about the ‘kind’ of notebook used, but about the creativity and “fast-prototyping” of the community that helps us learn together.

[9:54] You: and I think that’s the most fun …to be creative with the good.

[9:54] You: thank you…I sometimes don’t know what I’m doing…I simple play on a hunch and experiment like you.

[9:54] Austin Ellison: Your voice is certainly being broadcast out there to businesses. You’re doing a great job.

[9:55] You: you have an input and support have help.

[9:55] You: and it seems each blog links me to a new connection.

[9:55] You: from Levenger I found out about Tom Kelley

[9:55] You: and then to snow crash to SL

[9:56] You: I wonder if it’s like that for you?

 

[9:57] Austin Ellison: There are a small group of influencers managing content. Following the web, or clusters, is what can lead to hive research. (Or lots of wasted time.)

[9:58] Austin Ellison: Learning takes on an entirely new operation with collective content intelligence (web 2.0)

[9:58] You: hm…Hive research

[9:58] You: good analogy…we are like worker bees.

[9:59] Austin Ellison: Try creating a feed from a del.icio.us search for some topic or group of words like “SL+library”. You will benefit from the research of everyone else, and as you bookmark your own sites, give back to that effort.

[10:00] You: I see

[10:00] You: I’ve always wonder why you don’t use del.icio.us?

[10:00] Austin Ellison: This is where I step off to some proverbial lectern and begin speaking about emergent communication technology. …..Rather see the space station?

[10:00] You: Or why you choose Tumblr?

[10:01] You: fine with me…do your lectern

[10:01] Austin Ellison: (I find ma.gnolia.com to be much better. It is the blogroll on the right of the tumblr page.)

[10:02] You: Tell us about what you think is the emergent communication tech.

[10:02] Austin Ellison: Further, the guys behind Tumblr have some bright potential. I think there should be some great improvements to the platform in the next few months. It is very “mash” able

[10:03] You: aha I see…delicious had become too commercial maybe.

[10:03] Austin Ellison: A great place to learn about emergent communication is Alex Pang’s EndOfCyberspace blog.

[10:04] You: I see… how did you find his blog?

[10:05] Austin Ellison: He works with a few other researchers from Palo Alto. It was only by chance that I learned of his upcoming book. I had read his entries on Future Now for quite awhile.

[10:06] You: I see….it’s all overwhelming sometimes to keep up with.

[10:06] Austin Ellison: I’m not going anywhere.

[10:06] You: You were talking about Avies earlier.

[10:06] You: what is your explanation.

[10:08] Austin Ellison: Yes. I wanted to mention that sometimes the concepts that you and I have already grasped in regards to dividing selves into SL-Avie, RL, RL on the phone, RL instant messaging, etc, aren’t easily understandably to an audience unless they have experienced them first-hand.

[10:10] Austin Ellison: SL is actually pretty foreign to some. Perhaps you should create an objective, or mission, for Ducce as Duc. Something to help distinguish the personalities while adding a purpose like, “the web 3.d explorer”.

[10:10] Austin Ellison: I bet your fans would find that exciting.

[10:11] You: I think so…(Duc looks around…What fan?)

[10:11] You: I didn’t think anyone reads those things.

[10:11] Austin Ellison: …or “ace reporter from the metaverse”

[10:11] You: but one woman got out of character to chide me on my bad grammar.

[10:11] Austin Ellison:

[10:12] You: Ducce’s personality arrives as he went, a sort of fool misfit.

[10:12] You: I even had to make corrections to make her happy.

[10:13] You: She is a furry in SL. I know some people only exist as furies on here.

[10:13] Austin Ellison: I grasped that on your first post. (Especially when Ducce called Duc an XXX) But I bet you thoroughly confused a few readers

[10:13] You: and good…

[10:14] You: I think some people are so serious with their blogs

[10:14] Austin Ellison: Yeah, I agree.

[10:14] You: that’s why I like to read the humorous Steve on DIYplanner.

[10:14] Victoria Trenchard is Online

[10:15] You: What do you think about trying to appear like your real life self on SL?

[10:16] You: I’m thinking I would like to do that but I don’t know how yet.

[10:16] Austin Ellison: I ‘read into’ things a great deal. Further, I felt it would help me to remain focused on my objectives and keep accountable for my actions.

[10:17] Austin Ellison: A fountain pen network member was in Chicago last Friday. He recognized me by my avatar. I was quite impressed.

[10:17] You:

[10:18] Austin Ellison: -just add a suit and tie.

[10:18] You: I did see your Youtube demonstration of the Aaron Chair

[10:18] You: I must say there is a resemblance.

[10:19] Austin Ellison: Have you seen the station?

[10:19] You: No….I do like the Circa ’salad’ bar.

[10:19] You: Perfect cross pollination there!

[10:19] You: It’s design experience in action.

[10:19] Austin Ellison: …oh ….. I’m having a heck of a time trying to figure out how to promote this thing.

[10:20] You: The gadget station?

[10:20] Austin Ellison: It’s funny how a difficult advertising ‘free’ notebook is. (What’s the catch? the predominant response.)

[10:20] Austin Ellison: -no the space station - SL

[10:21] You: oh *Ducce perks up* free?

[10:21] You: I haven’t seen the space station.

[10:22] Austin Ellison: *this is where I sound like a commercial* Anyone that enters a Levenger retail store, can receive a free, custom, Circa notebook. We build a sample with the kind of pages they want to try. The idea behind it, obviously, is that we want to get people excited about the personalization potential of the system.

[10:24] Austin Ellison: Anyway,…that is what those video prototypes are about. We are developing some method for letting customers know about it that doesn’t seem too “cheeky”. A series of videos shot within the actual stores seemed the right blend of authenticism.

[10:24] You: Oh…I would put on a different mask and appear with a different accent so I can get it all…hehe

[10:24] Austin Ellison:

[10:25] Austin Ellison: To the space station? (I thought it would be a good photo op in the cockpit before launch

[10:25] You: good idea

http://rrasmussen.tumblr.com/

grounds-control-to-major-rasmussen/

http://ducly.wordpress.com/2007/07/19/an-interview-with-ryan-rasmussen-aoc/

kisa interview_001Originally uploaded by Duc N. Ly.

[2:24] Kisa Naumova: sorry - 2 secs

[2:27] Kisa Naumova: Do you mean what it is that I do art-wise in SL and RL?

[2:30] Ducce Lykin: yes

[2:31] Kisa Naumova: Ah, OK. Well, I suppose it’s an extension of Abstract Expressionism, but in a Digital way

[2:32] Ducce Lykin: aha so you also build the place that i saw?

[2:32] Kisa Naumova: Which one was that?

[2:32] Ducce Lykin: the gallery meeting place

[2:32] Kisa Naumova: In Steiger?

[2:33] Ducce Lykin: yeah i think so where cyrus introduced us

[2:34] Kisa Naumova: Ah, no - that was my build of where I work. The one in Steiger is just a little gallery of mine

[2:34] Kisa Naumova: But yes, I built it. I’m curious about what it means to have “art” in SL

[2:34] Ducce Lykin: i think that is amazing

[2:34] Kisa Naumova: So I’m comparing traditional representation, with conceptual re-presentation

[2:35] Ducce Lykin: yeah i’m interested in projects like this and want other people to hear about it too.

[2:35] Ducce Lykin: do you mine if i put our convo on the blog?

[2:35] Kisa Naumova: Not at all

[2:36] Ducce Lykin: so how do you think it’s going so far…how have you include your students in the project?

[2:37] Kisa Naumova: It’s a slow start. We’re trying not to go down the “teach a class in SL” route

[2:37] Kisa Naumova: Rather, just provide a space for experimentation - that’s what the other sim is for

[2:37] Kisa Naumova: There are some students on it building an allotment as part of a project they’re working on

[2:39] Ducce Lykin: so there models of rl building where you work on sl?

[2:39] Kisa Naumova: The build at
Leeds, yes

[2:40] Ducce Lykin: how long did it take you to build that?

[2:40] Kisa Naumova: Well, I wrote a script that built it for me

[2:40] Kisa Naumova: So in total, with the planning and scripting, maybe about a week

[2:41] Ducce Lykin: oh that’s fast. i don’t know how to build yet in sl…i do autocad and 3d face sometimes…things i’ve seen on sl amazes me

[2:42] Kisa Naumova: http://www.sleeds.org/show.php?ref=506095_5eab3c

[2:42] Ducce Lykin: how long have you been on sl and how did you come up with this idea to show students to sl art life

[2:43] Kisa Naumova: I’ve been on for nearly two years

[2:43] Kisa Naumova: I bumbled around for a bit, until I saw a friend doing her RL work in SL, and realised I wanted to use this as part of my work

[2:44] Ducce Lykin: what sort of work was your friend doing?

[2:44] Kisa Naumova: Marketing

[2:45] Ducce Lykin: was it hard to convince rl students or faculty members of sl and what you are trying to do?

[2:45] Kisa Naumova: Heheh very

[2:45] Kisa Naumova: They still think I’m daft for it

[2:45] Kisa Naumova: But they’re gradually seeing the results, and that makes them more appreciative

[2:46] Ducce Lykin: hehe i like it when english people say daft!

[2:46] Kisa Naumova: I’m Irish

[2:47] Ducce Lykin: for us who are unfamiliar of script…give us a dummie version of what is scripting

[2:47] Kisa Naumova: OK, um…

[2:48] Kisa Naumova: You can write little ‘actions’ that objects perfom in response to the things around them

[2:48] Kisa Naumova: So you can get them to talk when touched, for example

[2:48] Kisa Naumova: And they can have effects on the things around them

[2:49] Ducce Lykin: good to know that you are irish…this gives me a good excuse to ask u about rl stats if you don’t mind me asking…so are you in your thirties or twenties…

[2:49] Kisa Naumova: Heh. Thirties

[2:50] Ducce Lykin: hm okay ….so you taught yourself to script…hm so thirties and irish …do you look like your sl av or vice-versa…and how do you get your av to look like you?

[2:52] Kisa Naumova: I do look like my AV, yes. But not in obvious ways. It’s taken me two years to tweak my appearance

[2:53] Ducce Lykin: wow that’s serious work. I know another architecture student who is obsess with gaining knowledge of skins…he told me it’s a well guarded secret on sl.

[2:53] Kisa Naumova: It’s not a secret - it’s just complicated work

[2:55] Ducce Lykin: well i think people would be curious about your AV so if you like you can send me a picture of your av and i can put it along this this text

[2:55] Kisa Naumova: OK…

[2:56] Ducce Lykin: is there a good way to save im or do i just have to copy and paste into word

[2:56] Kisa Naumova: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyefood/240622021/in/set-72157594504008189/

[2:57] Kisa Naumova: Yeah - copy-paste I’m afraid

[2:57] Ducce Lykin: so you just teach yourself about skin and scripting?

[2:57] Kisa Naumova: Actually, wait - I’ll try and find a better one

[2:57] Ducce Lykin: k….

[2:57] Kisa Naumova: Yes. I’ve been programming since I was a kid, so I pick up new languages and stuff

[2:59] Ducce Lykin: So you would also have to teach your students this stuff…that’s double work…why would you want to do that?

[2:59] Kisa Naumova: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyefood/399564736/

[2:59] Kisa Naumova: I don’t - I let them find out themselves

[3:00] Kisa Naumova: Same way that I approach teaching RL software

[3:00] Kisa Naumova: I think it’s more important to show someone to find out how to learn, than it is to show them which buttons to press

[3:01] Ducce Lykin: i agree and there is their own self motivations

[3:01] Ducce Lykin: it’s not so much about discipline but more about motivation

[3:01] Kisa Naumova: Yes, and a way of thinking

[3:01] Kisa Naumova: “There must be a way to do this”

[3:02] Kisa Naumova: rather than “it’s all too hard”

[3:02] Ducce Lykin: i see…do you mind poping into this place i’m at for a second?

[3:02] Kisa Naumova: Sure. Gimme two secs

[3:03] Kisa Naumova: TP?

[3:03] Ducce Lykin: what do you think about people who will say that it’s good to learn art in rl before sl stuff

 

 

 

[3:08] Ducce Lykin: so any way…what do you think about people’s doubts….and what role does play involve in teaching.

[3:09] Kisa Naumova: Hmm

[3:10] Kisa Naumova: I think play is important. The freedom to fail and experiment is key to learning

[3:10] Kisa Naumova: I think people see this as a game, and put it in a ‘non-serioous’ category

[3:11] Kisa Naumova: I need to go somewhere BTW

[3:11] Ducce Lykin: okay we have enought i think thank you for your time Kisa

[3:11] Kisa Naumova: No probs

[3:11] Ducce Lykin: i’ll send a url of the interview

[3:11] Kisa Naumova: What a rude man :\

[3:11] Ducce Lykin: maybe next time we can try the swing

[3:11] Ducce Lykin: what happen?

[3:11] Kisa Naumova: Sure

[3:12] Kisa Naumova: Man who bumped into me

[3:12] Ducce Lykin: oh some times people have prroblme controling av

[3:12] Kisa Naumova: Catch you later

[3:12] Ducce Lykin: like a noob like me lol

[3:12] Ducce Lykin: bye

at a diner, in second life

Originally uploaded by amywilson.
I thought this was an interesting concept. Amy Wilson painted a series of watercolor images of her Travels in Second Life. She put together a very nice book on
www.lulu.com/content/840930

I asked her a few questions and here is her answer.

Hi,

I’ll do my best to answer your questions… let me know if you want me to elaborate at all…

I’m an artist professionally. I have my body of work that I normally work on, which is different than the SL watercolors. I started playing around with the SL watercolors more or less as a lark - as a way to wind down the day after I’d spent hours working on my “real” work. I’d sit in my studio and paint all day, then go and spent an hour or so on SL, then - just before I’d fall asleep - I’d quickly make a watercolor of what I saw in SL and write some comments along with it. I also sometimes made a watercolor in the morning, just as I was waking up and warming up to get to work on my other projects.

I have been on SL for about a year. My in world name is Amy Freelunch.

The material is standard watercolor and pencil on paper. The originals are about the same size as they are in the book, so they are small (about 6 x 9 at the largest). While I’m flying around SL, I take multiple screenshots, trying to find a composition I really like. I might take 20 or 30 photos before I find the one I like (of course, this process is really easy in SL - just pushing a button). I go through them once I’ve logged off and then either print out the image (most of the time) or occasionally work from the screen. I prefer to print it out because it is usually late by that time and I’m working with water… don’t want to spill it on my computer!

Let me know if you need more info! Thanks so much for everything.

Come to the book signing in Second Life.

http://amywilson.wordpress.com

Check out her musing on Lulu and art

tags: Second Life, Amy Wilson, Water color, art, drawings

[14:28] Ducce Lykin: hi
[14:28] Ducce Lykin: im new here
[14:28] Vynka Dean: hey
[14:28] Ducce Lykin: where you get the robe?
[14:28] Vynka Dean: ok and you would like to join the project?
[14:28] Ducce Lykin: yes
[14:28] Ducce Lykin: i think i joined
[14:29] Vynka Dean: yes you joined the citizens gorup,
[14:29] Vynka Dean: do you have a spcific role you want to play?
[14:29] Ducce Lykin: no…something easy
[14:29] Ducce Lykin: are you a bot?
[14:29] Vynka Dean: nope I a Fedaykin in the Fremen group
[14:30] Vynka Dean: senior member
[14:30] Ducce Lykin: i join you bro
[14:30] Vynka Dean: you want to be fremen?
[14:30] Ducce Lykin: sure…i want spice eyes
[14:31] Vynka Dean: well those you can get for free. htey are part of our freebie collection but a fremen is not just a sanddweller..
[14:31] Vynka Dean: they have history.
[14:31] Vynka Dean: so what is your history
[14:31] Ducce Lykin: i have no history
[14:31] Ducce Lykin: i read the book long time ago
[14:32] Ducce Lykin: it’s empty here…ur the first one i see
[14:32] Vynka Dean: well some are really busy and we have no active storyline at the moment.
[14:32] Vynka Dean: Have you read th sim rules?
[14:33] Ducce Lykin: no
[14:33] Vynka Dean: then I advise you to do so before you get yourself into something you may not like.
[14:34] Vynka Dean: the rules are here
[14:34] Ducce Lykin: do i have to pay alot?
[14:35] Vynka Dean: nope its free onlly clothes and equipment cost money
[14:35] Vynka Dean: but not even that much
[14:35] Ducce Lykin: great then i like
[14:35] Vynka Dean: where are you from?
[14:35] Ducce Lykin: usa you?
[14:36] Vynka Dean: Netherelands
[14:36] Ducce Lykin: wow
[14:36] Ducce Lykin: you got a cool outfit
[14:36] Vynka Dean: thanks you can get the stuff on our marketplace.
[14:36] Vynka Dean: do you know what rping is?
[14:36] Ducce Lykin: no
[14:36] Ducce Lykin: have you read snow crash>
[14:37] Ducce Lykin: role play?
[14:37] Vynka Dean: allright roleplaying is there in different forms.
[14:37] Vynka Dean: 1) the combat and RPG version
[14:37] Vynka Dean: 2) the enactment and roleplaying version in an actin gstyle.
[14:37] Vynka Dean: which do you like?
[14:38] Ducce Lykin: i can’t act
[14:38] Ducce Lykin: i don’t know the book well enough to act
[14:39] Ducce Lykin: man how come there are no chics in here
[14:40] Ducce Lykin: let’s fight
[14:40] Ducce Lykin: have a duel
[14:40] Vynka Dean: nope sorry im in no mood to fight and it is not how things are done here.
[14:41] Ducce Lykin: okay you can be my guide
[14:41] Vynka Dean: and there are women you just havent found them yet or they are nt here.
[14:41] Vynka Dean: Well I can but do I have the time? It is 23:41 here now and i am getting ready to go to bed.
[14:42] Ducce Lykin: aha okay my friend
[14:42] Ducce Lykin: next time then
[14:42] Ducce Lykin: i add you you to friend
[14:42] Vynka Dean: yes probably best.
[14:42] Vynka Dean: one tip:
[14:42] Ducce Lykin: k
[14:42] Vynka Dean: Got ot http://dune.simtopia.org and you will see what this sim is about
[14:42] Ducce Lykin: do you have anything to give me??
[14:43] Vynka Dean: it is very serious on the acting part so be aware that commiting to it means discipline and acting.
[14:43] Ducce Lykin: oh dear okay…so far so good i like enivorment here
[14:43] Ducce Lykin: good to chill out
[14:43] Ducce Lykin: can you get stone on the spice here?
[14:44] Vynka Dean: yes you can in a Tau within the Fremen group only
[14:44] Vynka Dean: but then you need to be accepted as a Fremen first
[14:45] Vynka Dean: that means writing a backstory and think Fremen life style.
[14:45] Ducce Lykin: wow they are serious…
[14:45] Ducce Lykin: where is tau
[14:45] Vynka Dean: do you know what tau is?
[14:46] Ducce Lykin: no
[14:46] Vynka Dean: allright that explains your light view on it.
[14:47] Vynka Dean: Tau is a fremen group union that brings them together as a group. Is is like a drugs orgy
[14:47] Ducce Lykin: it’s been a long time since i read the book…well read again
[14:47] Ducce Lykin: fantastic
[14:47] Vynka Dean: well we have explaining subjects in our forum
[14:47] Ducce Lykin: great
[14:48] Vynka Dean: have a look there first and see what you think of it.
[14:48] Ducce Lykin: why are you a fremen
[14:49] Vynka Dean: Iam a Fremen because that is my nature
[14:50] Ducce Lykin: how long have you been a fremen
[14:51] Vynka Dean: for a while now but I am also very active on the sim for the ggroup that is Why I was selected to join the council
[14:51] Ducce Lykin: aha i see….that’s why i have sellected you as my guide
[14:52] Ducce Lykin: muadib
[14:52] Vynka Dean: we are not hosting characters from the books or moevies.
[14:52] Ducce Lykin: oh
[14:53] Vynka Dean: For now an mabye also in th efuture there ill be no Paul
[14:53] Ducce Lykin: no paul
[14:53] Vynka Dean: nope and now Hawatt and no leto and no baron vladimir and no feyd etc etc etc
[14:54] Ducce Lykin: i see just fremen
[14:54] Ducce Lykin: so just lots of tau activities
[14:54] Ducce Lykin: what about the sand worms?
[14:54] Vynka Dean: what aoub them?
[14:54] Vynka Dean: we have a few in the desert.
[14:55] Ducce Lykin: you live peacefully among them?
[14:55] Vynka Dean: yes off course they are Shai- Hulud
[14:56] Ducce Lykin: our gods aha yes
[14:57] Ducce Lykin: do you have a clan here?
[14:57] Vynka Dean: we have a tribe in our sietch yes.
[14:58] Ducce Lykin: i would like to live in the sietch
[14:58] Ducce Lykin: would like to belong to a tribe
[14:58] Ducce Lykin: what’s your history and background etc.?
[14:58] Vynka Dean: its in the Backstory part of the forums..
[14:59] Ducce Lykin: aha i’ll have to read it dig it out.
[15:00] Ducce Lykin: so how big is your family in the stiech?
[15:00] Vynka Dean: we are forming famillies now we have 5 to be staged
[15:00] Ducce Lykin: are there opportunities for employment?
[15:00] Ducce Lykin: i would like to be apart of family
[15:01] Ducce Lykin: oh there is some one else here
[15:01] Vynka Dean: well there is no work that can make you linden
[15:01] Ducce Lykin: what shall my profession be…no linden is fine
[15:02] Ducce Lykin: is it possible to take a fremen bride?
[15:02] Vynka Dean: if you know the proper protocols yes. and your actitity is partly yours to decide on.
[15:03] Ducce Lykin: great to learn the protocol is in the forum?
[15:03] Ducce Lykin: do you have a fremen bride?
[15:04] Vynka Dean: nope it is in the encylopedia, but that can also be found through a link on th eforum
[15:05] Ducce Lykin: have you been in a tau?
[15:06] Vynka Dean: nope not yet since they have not ben started yet.
[15:06] Ducce Lykin: we can start one
[15:06] Ducce Lykin: what is role of concil?
[15:06] Ducce Lykin: do you fancy a fremen bride>
[15:07] Vynka Dean: the council decides on all major isuues including story lines and approval of members
[15:07] Vynka Dean: and no not at this time
[15:08] Ducce Lykin: aha so would you approval my membership?
[15:08] Vynka Dean: only after I have a little background on you and am certain that you have a good idea what you are getting yourself and us intl
[15:08] Vynka Dean: into
[15:09] Vynka Dean: and a little background means a little vbackground story on the fremen DucceLykin
[15:09] Ducce Lykin: aha i see very cool
[15:09] Vynka Dean: not the SL avatar but the character you will be playing
[15:10] Ducce Lykin: I see…well i will be a spice expert
[15:10] Ducce Lykin: i’m a scientist studying the spice…promote grow etc.
[15:10] Ducce Lykin: or maybe my eyes are impervious to spice and remain black
[15:10] Ducce Lykin: or maybe i’m maudib’s cousin
[15:11] Ducce Lykin: it could be that the spice doesn’t affect me the same way
[15:11] Vynka Dean: think about what you want and put it in a notecard.
[15:11] Ducce Lykin: i’m sober during a tau
[15:11] Vynka Dean: Then send it to me or Dracaena hnen
[15:11] Ducce Lykin: okay first i put it on paper
[15:12] Ducce Lykin: first and then on notecard
[15:12] Vynka Dean: Yeah make a notecard and send it to me also put in there you expect of the group
[15:12] Ducce Lykin: is the idea so far plausible?
[15:12] Vynka Dean: what you expect …
[15:13] Ducce Lykin: maybe i’ll be the one to betray the fremen
[15:13] Vynka Dean: a deep desert spice specialist would be workable, but you need to sto determin to thicht sietch you belong.
[15:13] Ducce Lykin: i expect lots of taus
[15:13] Ducce Lykin: what are my sietch choices
[15:14] Vynka Dean: ha well ill hafe to disappoint you on that. they wont happen very frequently if at all…
[15:14] Ducce Lykin: and i expect a fremen bride
[15:14] Vynka Dean: you have sietch Taber and the south sietch.
[15:14] Vynka Dean: again read through a few of the backstories befdore you begin.
[15:14] Vynka Dean: I have ot go.
[15:14] Ducce Lykin: i want to be near the deep desert stiech
[15:14] Ducce Lykin: thanks dean
[15:15] Ducce Lykin: holy wisdom of fremen
[15:15] Vynka Dean: sure. let me know when you need more info
[15:15] Ducce Lykin: okay
[15:15] Vynka Dean: gnight
[15:15] Ducce Lykin: gnight

ducly.wordpress.com/2007/10/10/ducce-in-sietch-tabr/ 

tags: Dune, Fremen, Second Life,

Earlier, I feature Rufus McCool here and asked Penny Cork a few questions. I didn’t see her email until now. Oops…Better late then never!

D: what was the inspiration for the pic?

Penny: “Rufus McCool: Library Day” is an extention of my character, Rufus McCool. He lives in Desert of the Mind, and has a regular life, though he dreams of becoming either an official spokesarmadillo, or an armadillo secret agent. Right now, though, he’s working at his mother’s salon, the Scuff-N-Buff. You can learn more about Rufus and his life by checking out his MySpace page at: www.myspace.com/rufusmccool. He also writes a blog there.

D: (Aha, so I my hunch was right, Rufus is a full fledge being! with is very own myspace! How cool is that!) what matterial did you use?

Penny: This is an ACEO (Artist Cards, Editions and Originals) which are always 2.50″ by 3.50″, this card is 140lb Arches paper, watercolor, ink and prismacolor.

D: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
How did start to be an artist etc.

Penny: I am trained as a professional floral designer, and my background includes teaching art to adults with developmental disabilities. I’m married to the world’s best husband, who is an artist and musician, so he understands the challenges of living a creative life, and is tremendously supportive of my art and writing. I really jumped into ‘art’ as a career choice about a year ago, when I began painting ACEO’s. I’ve since branched out to larger watercolors, and assemblages. As a lifelong writer, I began a blog, and I also submit articles to Helium.com. I consider myself to be more of a designer, than an “artist.” My blog address is www.pgcork.blogspot.com, if you’d like to check out my writing.

D: What do you think of PDX as a place to create art?

P: I think that a creative person will be a creative person, regardless of where she lives. I’ve only lived in Oregon, so, it’s all that I know. But, I have a strong imagination…

D: any good books to recommend?

P: Two books that everyone should have are the bible (or the spiritual guide of their choice) and a good dictionary.

Rebecca allowed me to post some of her handy works. In an email, she asked me if I need additional information. So I wrote her:

Hi Rebecca,
First of all I would like to thank you for the use of the images. I really like your ‘font’.
Well first thing I can think of is how did you come up with the idea that people needed hand lettering and who are these eccentrics?
-Duc

A very Personal Touch

Hi Duc:

Well, its something I’ve always done for myself. it’s been a passion- ever since I was a little kid I’ve been interested in hand-drawn type, hand-written missives and have been in love with mail and personal letters. I also love vintage and antique ephemera, all the better if someone’s handwriting is present! So just doing what I do somehow led to people requesting I do it for them for special events. I primarily work with brides lettering invitations and addressing their envelopes, but I’ve also hand-lettered marriage proposals, party invitations, memorials, posters, products and whatever else comes my way! So as far as it being unusual, in the wedding world my style itself is unusual - certainly not any kind of traditional calligraphy font but the fact that people want to use my lettering in wedding collateral isn’t strange or underground. although, that said, I don’t get the traditional brides contacting me - often they’re young, women who collect contemporary art, who think outside the box, who are educated and want something NOT traditional. So I guess what you say may be on the mark - perhaps I do attract the eccentric bride?! I like that - “the eccentric bride.” I think people who contact me for more personal missives and missions, so to speak, are really creative people who understand the beauty of handwriting and somehow want to capture that personal element in whatever project they commission me to work on. I’m rambling…does this answer your question? Of course, send any others you might have.

Best, Rebecca

A cabinet of curio

Hi Rebecca,
Sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner. I was thinking of questions to ask you.
This sort of mini interview is fun don’t you think? And yes you’ve answered my questions. I think that the reader would like to know the materials you use; pen, paper etc. My own wedding invitation was almost non existant. You provide a very unique service. Even if I wanted to get hand letter invitations I wouldn’t know where to go or who would do it. I like the ‘eccentric bride’. I can imagine that it would be fun to receive a hand lettering letter from you. I belong to couple of letter exchange groups made up of some artist on flickr.com. I think that would be cool to get a letter from you. Anyway. Do you write like that all the time?!? Do you have a bad handwriting ever? hehe. I try to keep a common book and practice handwriting and lettering, I think it’s a good idea. I wonder if you ever got commission to do a whole book of other people’s poems or common place book etc.
-Duc

This one reminds me of the biscuits I use to eat.

yes, very fun. thanks for asking questions. it gives people more of an idea of what I do, how I do it, etc. oh, materials - well, I LOVE love love my super cheap wood dipping pens and my cheap nibs. I love to buy premade inks, although finding one that is the right consistency for a dipping pen can be a challenge. many inks are pretty in the bottle, but then won’t work for me. so I have a lovely collection of bottles though! mainly I have the best luck with guoache inks and I mix them and use them for writing. I also love black Pilot rolling ball, extra fine tip pens. they’re my favorite. so nothing fancy in terms of writing materials and instruments. now paper is another thing…I love all kinds of papers from paper source papers (www.paper-source.com) to amalfi papers. I love fine papers and am happy to work with them, if possible!

Letter exchange groups? I didn’t know there was such a thing. how wonderful!! I’d love to research that more thoroughly, although I have to say, I sort of missed the boat on Flickr and totally don’t get how to navigate that site at all. It confounds and finally frustrates me, so I’ve all but given up on it. Not sure if its me (probably is) or what - I’m usually pretty computer literate. hmmmm. Any advice or groups to search? Do you have to have a profile to access everyone in Flickr? Perhaps thats my problem as I don’t. Please advise.

No, I’ve never been commissioned for such a project. How wonderful, though! I would be delighted.

Also, for all of my love for handwritten items, mail art, papers, etc. I’d never heard the term “commonplace book” and just love that. So thank you for opening my eyes to such a thing! I intend on researching it further.

Thank you again and hope to hear soon re: flickr advise.

best, rebecca

(I came across this website via Goodonpaperdesign, via Outblush. Yes I must confess that I sometimes puruse that site. When I’m caught in the act, my usual excuse is that I’m shopping for my wife.)

bluebirdstudios.com

bluebirdstudios.com/lettering_gallery01.html

Feel free to use the comment section to ask Rebecca additional questions.

an-interview-with-ryan-loghry/

An-introduction-to-rebecca-of-bluebirdstudios

dakegra on livejournal saw Rebecca’s hand lettering and decides to link this post. Very cool.

http://serph.com/handwriting_font/page-5

tags: hand lettering, bluebirdstudio, paper, dip pen, Epica, journal, mail, brides, place cards, wedding invitations