Tuesday, April 29, 2014

A Blog Challenge About Blogging?

This is probably the cleanest image that
popped up when I searched my computer
with just the term blog.
How self-referential! A blog challenge about blogging. Or maybe it is introspection. Skipping last week's challenge from Strawberry Singh I felt I really had to jump into her "My Blogging Journey Challenge" er .. challenge .. and try to do a good job with this one. Of course, you'll be the judge.

Meme instructions: Copy and paste the following questions and answers to your post, delete my answers and input your own. Don’t forget to leave a link to your post in the comments so others can come by and read your answers as well!

Which electronic devices do you use to blog with?
I have an Apple iMac 27" (Late 2009) desktop computer for my blogging. Sometimes I use my iPad  Air but the Google Blogger app isn't really that good.

Do you have a mission statement for your blog, if so, what is it?
The subtitle on my blog is about as close to a mission statement as it gets, I suppose. Sometime a while back I changed it to "Real Me. Digital Life. Virtual Spaces," one of a series in a similar vein. For a long time it referenced Second Life but this more generic form lets me espouse many subjects. Not that justification is needed. It's my blog. But it does help to focus me.

How do you feel about blogs that use their platforms to spread negativity?
There are blogs that do that? Ah .. Fox News. Right. I've heard of them.

Are you a grammar junkie? Do you thoroughly check your blog for errors before posting and/or do you judge other people’s posts if they contain errors?
I prefer the term Word Nerd, thank you. As often as I proof read my posts before hitting the orange Publish button I frequently find errors on subsequent reads. My conscience twinges when I "fix" an older post, but as I'm not really a journalist that is probably a moot issue. If an error is egregious or fixing it changes the nature of the post, I'll note the changes and tack on [Update] to the title. So it's obvious I'm not perfect and that tells me I don't have the right to be "Judge Judy and Executioner" (source). Fellow word nerds should check out A Way With Words, a blog and podcast.

If you could switch blogs with another blogger who would it be?
Cripes. I did that once, switching with Torley Linden for a big blog swap challenge a few years ago. and it was fun, but I don't think I could do justice to other blogs.  See here info on the swap.

Has your blog/blogging style evolved over the year(s)? How?
If my style has evolved then I don't see it. Probably I'm too close to notice anything.

What is the most extraordinary thing that has happened to you because of blogging?
Sticking with Second Life blogging (I have non-SL blogs) ... That time I was chosen to for the blog swap I mentioned was kinda cool. And I was a guest blogger for the Lindens one Halloween (see here).  Now and then I get a wee thrill when someone thinks I'm a fashion blogger and sends free clothes to me. That usually doesn't pan out as I'm brutally honest (read: not flattering).

When it comes to Second Life blogs, there are different styles: Fashion bloggers, Lifestyle & Travel bloggers, Informative bloggers, and more. Which style do you prefer and where do you feel your blog fits in?
The Poultry Report (named after the radio news farm reports I grew up hearing) is a mishmash of styles. Once in a while I'll toss in posts on fashion ("What's in My Closet?"), lots on travel (often as my itinerant pixy character Zyx and her road trips), helpful (I hope) posts about how to do things, and quite a few rants. Real Life often pops up especially when I feel one of those rants.

What has blogging taught you?
Blogging has taught me that I'm basically lazy. Really. Consider that I'd rather clean your kitchen than my own. My pastor when I was in high school figured out that if he set baskets of laundry next to me without saying a word I'd fold them nicely unless it was my own laundry. Most days I'll think of some great (IMHO) blog ideas and write them in my head, but they don't hit the computer. Thank goodness for these challenges.

Share your top 3 tips for new bloggers.
Just do it.
Have fun.
Don't be afraid of mistakes learning opportunities.

Topless Tuesday on the Runway!

When I blogged about wearing a tuxedo last December (see here) the compliments poured in ... at least four or five, seriously. I was overwhelmed. So I went back to the runway today and shed the shirt and jacket for Topless Tuesday.







Check out how others in Second Life commemorate the day on Flickr's Topless Tuesday in SL group.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Zyx on Topless Tuesday


Since she was born in November 2010 my adult pixy character Zyx Resident has worn the same three skins from SinSkins so her look, admittedly, was becoming dated. Unlike her little sister Zyx Flux I really wanted to stay away from a human skin and stay with her blue-ness. After searching long and hard I finally found a nice one from Plastik. A pair of SLink hands and SLink feet later, she's all set. Zyx has shared the Topless Tuesday spotlight before (see here) but her new skin merits a solo picture.

Look for more Topless Tuesday in SL pix on Flickr here!

Having Fun With Pixelmator


Having fun with Pixelmator, an image editor for OSX that I picked up on sale the other day.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Bay City 6th Anniversary Festivities Announced!

From a press release:



BAY CITY, SL (21 April, 2014) - Created by Linden Lab® in May of 2008 and the first of their "Linden Department of Public Works" projects, Bay City has become one of the most popular mainland communities. In honor of the sixth anniversary, Bay City's Residents welcome everyone to join their annual parade and live music event.

Anniversary celebrants will gather at noon SLT/PDT on Sunday, the 18th of May, with a parade lineup at the bandshell in Bay City - Harwich (SLurl). The parade will make its way down Route 66 beginning at 12:30 p.m. SLT/PDT, concluding at the Bay City Fairgrounds in the North Channel region (SLurl).

A live concert will kick off at 1:30 p.m. SLT/PDT at the Bay City Fairgrounds, featuring a trio of live acts and including GoSpeed Racer of KONA Stream providing music leading into the event.

All Residents of the Second Life grid are encouraged to participate. Celebration goods are available at the Bay City Community Center, in the Daley Bay region, for those who wish to be a part of the parade, and ample viewing area is provided. The music event is also open to all who desire to attend. 

Bay City is a mainland community, developed by Linden Lab™ and home to the Bay City Alliance. The Bay City Alliance was founded in 2008 to promote the Bay City regions of Second Life™ and provide a venue for Bay City Residents and other interested parties to socialize and network. It is now the largest Bay city group, and home to most Residents of Bay City.

For more information, contact: Marianne McCann (marianne.mccann@gmail.com)

# # #