2008.12.18 19:00 - Take your 9 seconds as needed

The guardian for this meeting was Sylectra and the comments are Sylectra's.

doug Sosa: hi selec
Sylectra Darwin: Hi Doug!
doug Sosa: ouch!
stevenaia Michinaga: hello

Steven's feet were on fire - literally - and he was sitting on an invisible chair every time he paused in his walking toward the circle of cushions.

Sylectra Darwin: Steve, you got hot feet.
Sylectra Darwin: and you're still sitting you silly man.
stevenaia Michinaga: long story
doug Sosa: What if you walk in the water?
stevenaia Michinaga: was trying to sit in it
doug Sosa: good try.
Sylectra Darwin: Well now you are not doing the other sit, so that is progress.
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
Sylectra Darwin: Wouldn't that be neat if you could turn a fire animation off by going in the water?
doug Sosa: it looked like it sort of worked.
stevenaia Michinaga: well you can but not automatically
doug Sosa: i've ben pretty absent lately, but now is break time. what has been happening?
doug Sosa: I mean,like new pavillion.. what else?
stevenaia Michinaga: I jsut read the emails and a log or two now and then, I see there is a new project to summerize logs over time
doug Sosa: what sessions do most people show up for.
stevenaia Michinaga: random, one wednesday I was here for 30 minutes and no one showed up, the very next week there were many here
doug Sosa: hmm?
stevenaia Michinaga: seems each time slot has a consistant group (relatively)
stevenaia Michinaga: I was only to one 1 am session
stevenaia Michinaga: and a few daytime session over thanks giving
doug Sosa: i keep thinkig to show then, out of curiosity, but just haven't been awake!
stevenaia Michinaga: it was nice meeting people I have read over time
doug Sosa: I do not do the reading.
stevenaia Michinaga: the "Europeans"
doug Sosa: I like the break by coming to sit and chat and explore,but the reading is not a break,just anoher thing to read.
stevenaia Michinaga: do you do the 9 second meditations?
doug Sosa: yes, quite frequently. we used to spend more time reporting on them.
stevenaia Michinaga: or any meditation otherwise
doug Sosa: yes. i try a meditative approach to almost all things.
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
doug Sosa: leads to more spontaneity.

Doug made a thought-provoking comment that rang true.

Sylectra Darwin: I agree, but I just wish I could accomplish that state of mind more often.
doug Sosa: well,if every time you wish,you did he 9 sec,it would happen :)
stevenaia Michinaga: the key is not to rush.. just do
Sylectra Darwin: That's a good point, sort of a meditation on demand.
Sylectra Darwin: Are you familiar with yogic breathing?
doug Sosa: i like he "just do" so i in the 9 sec do not stop anything, just kep doing,but observe - carefully..
doug Sosa: as in in-hold-out?
stevenaia Michinaga: when I do yoga and 9 sec I use the same breath
Sylectra Darwin: No, more of an aware breathing.
stevenaia Michinaga: a breath of change
Sylectra Darwin: You start with a deep exhale, one that squeezes your ribs like a sponge is squeezed of its water.
Sylectra Darwin: Then you take in a full slow breath until you think you will explode.
stevenaia Michinaga: bush belly button to your backbone
Sylectra Darwin: You do this one more time - very slowly so you don't hyperventilate.
Sylectra Darwin: yes, Steven, that's right, you do yoga too.
Sylectra Darwin: Then you normalize your breath and listen to it while quieting the mind.
doug Sosa: yes, i've done that. feels good.but not meditation in the 9 sec sense i don't think.
Sylectra Darwin: When I was dealing with the sadness of my mom's illness, this method helped me get through emotional times so I could be at work and stay on task.
Sylectra Darwin: No, it's a different thing.

Staying on task.

doug Sosa: staying on task is a difficult concept.
doug Sosa: we all do it, but why?
stevenaia Michinaga: meditation is a task
Sylectra Darwin: We all do what, Doug, specifically?
doug Sosa: stay on task - for others.
Sylectra Darwin: It can be a good thing as long as it's a worthwhile task?
doug Sosa: yes. worth however is also difficult.
stevenaia Michinaga: you you said... even doing dishes can be a meditation (worthwhile)
Sylectra Darwin: I agree.
Sylectra Darwin: what about work tasks that are hard to stay focused on?
doug Sosa: oh yes,and a yoga posture, or doing tai chi with the dishes ..
stevenaia Michinaga: I sink deeply into work tasks
doug Sosa: what kind of tasks?
Sylectra Darwin: I've been writing web copy for law firm sites. That's hard to stay focused on.
doug Sosa: do you know the web site of scott horton, lawyer?
doug Sosa: http://harpers.com/nocomment I think
doug Sosa: oopsno.
doug Sosa: ah http://harpers.org/subjects/NoComment
Sylectra Darwin: I actually didn't know of that site.
doug Sosa: over time he is very good,blending ral values with high culture.
doug Sosa: ral=real
Sylectra Darwin: It looks insightful.
doug Sosa: what is that bar out there going up and down?
Sylectra Darwin: I understood :)
Sylectra Darwin: let me cam out and look.
stevenaia Michinaga: bar?
doug Sosa: like a three quarers fallen tree or telephone pole..
Sylectra Darwin: I don't see anything yet.
doug Sosa: hm, gone.must be an artifact of he gaphics ..
Sylectra Darwin: wow, our world is breaking up.
doug Sosa: nope,not here.
Sylectra Darwin: well come have a seat.

Pila joined us.

stevenaia Michinaga: hi Pila
doug Sosa: hi
Pila Mulligan: hi -- thank you
doug Sosa: hey we are not bing recorded we can really cut up :)
Sylectra Darwin: greetings Pila
Pila Mulligan: kind of laggy now :)
Sylectra Darwin: I am recording the chat. I just didn't push the button.
Sylectra Darwin: Is that okay with you Pila?
Pila Mulligan: yes, thank you Sylectra
Sylectra Darwin: OK good!
stevenaia Michinaga: Plia is a regular, Syl
Pila Mulligan: but every day is new :)
doug Sosa: oki'll be good.
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
Sylectra Darwin: haha
Sylectra Darwin: I met Pila last week, I think.
stevenaia Michinaga: and inspiring
Sylectra Darwin: excuse me a moment - I have to be afk
Pila Mulligan: yes, in fact I must admit your name reminded me of an old typewriter :)
Pila Mulligan: once upon a time there was a typewrite with a boundng ball as its typehead named the selectric
Pila Mulligan: bouncing*
Pila Mulligan: tomorrow will be the start of the group phenomenology expereiment, at 2 pm SLT, if my memory serves
stevenaia Michinaga: you mean the discussion?
Pila Mulligan: I think there will actually be a plan for an exepreiment also, resulting from the dicussion
Sylectra Darwin: Hi, I am back.
Pila Mulligan: wb
Sylectra Darwin: Reading through the log, I wish I could be at the phenomenology experiment, sounds fun.
stevenaia Michinaga: hmmm, I was trying to get through the first log on that
doug Sosa: i'd love to sit more but stuff to read, and i've go to put some wood on the fire..
Sylectra Darwin: Staying warm is a good idea.
Pila Mulligan: bye doug
Sylectra Darwin: You take care...nice chatting with you.
doug Sosa: thanks!
Sylectra Darwin: Fridays are the best days to be on Second Life during the day.
Sylectra Darwin: Between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. SLT there are many interesting programs to participate in.
Sylectra Darwin: Ironic that I have to work during those times.
Pila Mulligan: :)
Pila Mulligan: what are some of your favorite SL events Syl?
stevenaia Michinaga: well happy hour at the Kira cafe is 5:00 EST
Sylectra Darwin: That is a good one, Steven. The Kira cafe is a fun place to be.
Sylectra Darwin: I really like Science Friday in SL.
stevenaia Michinaga: I like the bar there, but I find it;s not a very ctive place...yet
Pila Mulligan: is Science Friday at the Kira Cafe?
Sylectra Darwin: Not only are the chairs set up in a really interesting formation, but the way Ira Flatow and his staff mix radio questions with SL chat questions is wonderful.
Sylectra Darwin: No, it's done in another location. Would you like a landmark? I think I have one.
Pila Mulligan: really, I had not heard of that :)
Pila Mulligan: yes please
Pila Mulligan: thank you
Sylectra Darwin: If you're ever free at that time, you've got to go. I think it's around noon Fridays.
Sylectra Darwin: Kira cafe has been doing some science related stuff too though.
Pila Mulligan: how interesting, NPR :)
Sylectra Darwin: Yes,!
Pila Mulligan: 2 hours
Sylectra Darwin: Did you go to the site?
Pila Mulligan: I have never been there
Pila Mulligan: oh, do you mean a web site?
Sylectra Darwin: yes, NPR's Science Friday Web site. Or were you reading info on the Landmark?
Pila Mulligan: the landmark :)
Sylectra Darwin: hehe
Pila Mulligan: I wlll look at their site later -- my system is resource challenged and likes to just do SL insetad of mixing other things with it
Sylectra Darwin: http://www.sciencefriday.com/
Pila Mulligan: thanks
Sylectra Darwin: Yeah, that's a good idea.
Sylectra Darwin: SL is better.

Talk turned to gadgets and the programs that love them.

Sylectra Darwin: Did you guys hear about the new SL IM that allows you to chat from outside SL with those logged into SL?
Pila Mulligan: I am limping along on a 500k connection
Pila Mulligan: no, that is a good idea though
stevenaia Michinaga: I looked at that, a rather big download for chat softwate
Sylectra Darwin: yes, it is.
Sylectra Darwin: I am waiting for them to make a mobile version
stevenaia Michinaga: :) me too
Sylectra Darwin: Steven, you have an iphone, right?
stevenaia Michinaga: yes
stevenaia Michinaga: for now I jsut hve AIm on it
Sylectra Darwin: My phone is a frustrating thing. It has lots of stuff on it and half the stuff doesn't work.
Sylectra Darwin: But if we could get an SL client for mobiles, more people could participate in PaB meetings!
Sylectra Darwin: although we'd see more chat lines like this: r u sure that's right? thx LOL
Pila Mulligan: well, I stumbled on this question earlier -- could the mobie IM be gotten into the group chat?
stevenaia Michinaga: voices without avatars
Pila Mulligan: have you seen SLeek?
Pila Mulligan: it is a voice wihtout graphics client
Pila Mulligan: of tect rather
Pila Mulligan: or text*
Sylectra Darwin: for Second Life?
Pila Mulligan: rather :)
Pila Mulligan: yes
Sylectra Darwin: Oh my, that is exciting.
stevenaia Michinaga: why?
Pila Mulligan: well, for people with very slow connections and low resources :)
Sylectra Darwin: That's going to work for mobiles - have they done a version for mobiles yet?
Pila Mulligan: not that I have heard of
Pila Mulligan: hi TonyC
TonyC Martian: Hi pila
TonyC Martian: My first day here
Pila Mulligan: welcome
TonyC Martian: It's like a nightmare
TonyC Martian: I walk and walk and nothing is happening
Pila Mulligan: :)
Sylectra Darwin: Tony, hi!
stevenaia Michinaga: you can fly
TonyC Martian: Yes I have notice that
Sylectra Darwin: Something is happening here.
stevenaia Michinaga: but best to seach on the map and teleport there
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
Pila Mulligan: quicker than walkinig :)
TonyC Martian: Must eat breakfast
Sylectra Darwin: First day, don't worry about maps yet.
Sylectra Darwin: breakfast?
TonyC Martian: Yes its five in the morning here
Pila Mulligan: dinner time here
Pila Mulligan: 6 pm
TonyC Martian: Oh sorry forgot
Pila Mulligan: :)
Pila Mulligan: SL plays hell with time zones
TonyC Martian: I must go to school soon
Pila Mulligan: heck*
Pila Mulligan: well, I hope you enjoy your breakfast and school day
Sylectra Darwin: Maybe he'll drop by again.
Pila Mulligan: after class
Pila Mulligan: Ireland is 5 am?
Sylectra Darwin: Interesting!
Pila Mulligan: western europe is usually exactly 12 hours different from my htime
Pila Mulligan: and he was an houreralier
Sylectra Darwin: Pila what time zone are you in?
Pila Mulligan: Hawai`i standard (we never have daylight)
Pila Mulligan: daylight saving sitm that is
Pila Mulligan: we have plenty of snlight :)
Sylectra Darwin: That must be nice. I hate this back and forth we have to go through.
Sylectra Darwin: hehe
Pila Mulligan: part of the tropics
Pila Mulligan: yes, we are alwasy on daylight wasting time :)
Pila Mulligan: taking it easy :)
Sylectra Darwin: So your 9-second meditations must be easier in that nice setting.
Pila Mulligan: if I don't doze if during them yes
Pila Mulligan: off*
Sylectra Darwin: Guys, I am going to have to go. The groceries have arrived so RL calls.
Sylectra Darwin: *The
stevenaia Michinaga: ok, night Sylectra
Pila Mulligan: oh, nice -- well have fun
Sylectra Darwin: Thanks for the nice conversations