2009.05.14 13:00 - A rose would smell as sweet

The Guardian for this meeting was Storm Nordwind. The comments are by Storm Nordwind.

I sat in the pavilion with just eight cushions showing.

Fefonz Quan: Hello Storm, Aurel
aurel Miles: the circle is different
aurel Miles: how come?
Storm Nordwind: Hi both!
aurel Miles: Hi fefonz
aurel Miles: Hi Storm
Fefonz Quan: Storm has many abilities :)
Storm Nordwind: Guardians have the power to change it
aurel Miles: how?
aurel Miles: i feel as though i have suddenly been given all these special powers (and responsibilities) and don't yet know how to use them.
Storm Nordwind: I've sent you an IM so you can find out how
aurel Miles: thank you
Fefonz Quan: i guess you assumed othes here know how to do it ?
Storm Nordwind: By convention, the guardian on call (me today) can choose the layout of the pool
aurel Miles: that's cool

The guardian can choose to keep the pool with its high fountain and 24 cushions around, or they can lower the fountain, or they can remove the pool altogether showing and extra 8 cushions in the center, or they can show only the central 8 cushions.

Storm Nordwind: Do you know Fefonz?
aurel Miles: and we also get a place to live
aurel Miles: which is interesting
Fefonz Quan: i guess i did, but forgot
aurel Miles: i haven't looked yet
Storm Nordwind: Yes if you want one aurel!
aurel Miles: maybe
aurel Miles smiles
aurel Miles: this week has been full of gifts and blessings
aurel Miles: ok
Storm Nordwind: That sounds encouraging!
aurel Miles: i have a million things to tell
aurel Miles: so i am going to tell one
aurel Miles: cause waiting and trying to listen does not seem to be working out that well

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We talked of weather...

aurel Miles: during my 9 seconds, i looked out the window and saw the wind blowing the trees around lioke crazy. I do not like the wind so I was glad I was not outside. But I remembered a cartoon I saw once where Rose, the main character, was leaning against a tree in late spring. It was very snowy, as it often is here.
aurel Miles: And she was leaning against this tree thinking - no matter how it looks right now
aurel Miles: the spring will come
aurel Miles: and the snow will melt
aurel Miles: and that thought cheered her up
aurel Miles: and then the next frame was a wider view
aurel Miles: and you could see a snowman leaning against the same tree
aurel Miles: and thinking the same thing
aurel Miles: and sighing sadly.
Storm Nordwind: I like that
Fefonz Quan nods
aurel Miles: i do not like the wind - but i bet the trees do.
aurel Miles: i think of that often.
Storm Nordwind likes the wind - as you can guess! :)
aurel Miles: ha ha ha
aurel Miles: i bet you do!

... and then of names

Storm Nordwind: My name in RL is also Storm
aurel Miles: really?
Storm Nordwind: Or rather a longer version of it
aurel Miles: what is that?
Storm Nordwind: Stormerne
Storm Nordwind: Which is Old North European for Storm Eagle
aurel Miles: in real life my name is Stephanie - Laurel was supposed to be a pun on my name
Storm Nordwind: The erne is white tailed sea eagle
aurel Miles: but i lost the L when I signed up and ended up being the listener instead.
aurel Miles: aurel
aurel Miles: lovely
aurel Miles: to be named for an eagle
aurel Miles: i am named for a crown
aurel Miles: a Laurel garland actually
Storm Nordwind: Yes. It is Greek for crown
aurel Miles: the poet's laurel

... and then whether a person's name affects them in some way.

aurel Miles: do you think your name effects your path through life?
Storm Nordwind: A very interesting question
Storm Nordwind: The answer has to be yes
Fefonz Quan: sure
Storm Nordwind: It affects how others see you
Fefonz Quan nods
Storm Nordwind: It can even affect how you think of yourself - if you let it!
aurel Miles: i have seen situations where it effects people when they do not even know its meaning.
Storm Nordwind: But I think it affects you via others mostly. They use your name more often in their words and thoughts than you do yourself
aurel Miles: true
Fefonz Quan: i agree Storm.
aurel Miles: but then why would it effect our professions?
aurel Miles: i see that a lot
Fefonz Quan: and when they use it, first they see the others they know bearing this name, and they have some pre concept about it
Storm Nordwind: True Fefonz. Can you give some examples aurel?
aurel Miles: lots
aurel Miles: John Tory - former leader of the provincial Tories in Ontario
aurel Miles: Stephen King
aurel Miles: same first name as me
aurel Miles: and wildly successfukl
Fefonz Quan: what about S. king?
Storm Nordwind: For every Stephen that is successful i suspect there are 100 that are not so
Fefonz Quan nods
aurel Miles: maybe
aurel Miles: but i have never met anyone whose name was antithetical to what they do for a living
aurel Miles: and every day i meet more whose names are what they do
aurel Miles: even me
aurel Miles: i am a writer
aurel Miles: and apoet
Fefonz Quan: and why stephanie correspond to taht?
Fefonz Quan: that*
aurel Miles: the greek crown
aurel Miles: stephanos
aurel Miles: was awarded to poets
aurel Miles: among others
aurel Miles: but that is where the name comes from
Fefonz Quan: ah, nice
aurel Miles: and also why we say
aurel Miles: Poet Laureate
Storm Nordwind: We have a new one
aurel Miles: in England
aurel Miles: yes
aurel Miles: a woman
Storm Nordwind: The first time it has been a woman
aurel Miles: yes
Storm Nordwind: for over 300 years
Fefonz Quan: what is Lureate?
aurel Miles: Laureate
aurel Miles: one who is the chief of poets i guess
aurel Miles: the one who writes for the country
aurel Miles: speaks for the nation
Storm Nordwind: Generally it means most highly acclaimed
Fefonz Quan: ok, thanks
Storm Nordwind: But for poets, it is an official honour
aurel Miles: that comes with a lot of booze
Storm Nordwind: When there are royal occasions they are supposed to write poems in celebration
aurel Miles: specifically sherry
Storm Nordwind: They eschew the booze now
Fefonz Quan: i see many people whos name have nothing to do with their profession
aurel Miles: i guess they understand that being a poet is not exactly easy
aurel Miles: but have you looked deeper?
aurel Miles: into their middle names?
aurel Miles: or the meanings of their names?
aurel Miles: the roots
Fefonz Quan: no midle name mostly where i live
Fefonz Quan: middle*
aurel Miles: where do you live?
Storm Nordwind does not have a middle name
Fefonz Quan: in israel
aurel Miles: oh
aurel Miles: hmmm
aurel Miles: in jewish tradition children are named for relatives who have passed on
Fefonz Quan: not always, sometimes
aurel Miles: but they usually have middle names

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Mick joined our happy band, and continued pretty much as we'd started.

aurel Miles: at least - everyone i know but my jewish family is of european extraction, so that might make a difference.
aurel Miles: Hi Mick
Mickorod Renard: Hi, sorry I am late
Fefonz Quan: american jewsish may have
aurel Miles: what about the names we choose?
Storm Nordwind: Hi Mick :)
Mickorod Renard: Hi
Fefonz Quan: which ones? in SL?
aurel Miles: sure - that's an apt example
Fefonz Quan: sure, they have more connection, but that is not surprising. similar to the fact that i guess 50% of the passwords in the world are the family members of the passworder
aurel Miles: hmm
aurel Miles: i am not sure you can say that in absolute terms
aurel Miles: i am always leery of absolutes
Fefonz Quan: didn't measure, but it can be measured
aurel Miles: how?
Mickorod Renard: what is the subject tonite?
Fefonz Quan: about the password? it is just a technical issue,
aurel Miles: oh - i just started babbling
aurel Miles: sorry
Mickorod Renard: grin
Fefonz Quan: names and effect of our life Mick
Storm Nordwind recalls that 75.62% of all statistics are made up on the spur of the moment
Mickorod Renard: babble is good
aurel Miles: is that DNA?
Storm Nordwind: No but it could have been
aurel Miles: i am still annoyed with him for dying as he did.
aurel Miles: like a character out of one of his books.
Storm Nordwind: I'll pass that on to him!
Fefonz Quan: how did he die?
aurel Miles: jeeez.
aurel Miles: do you know his work?
Storm Nordwind: Over exercise
aurel Miles: hitchhikers guide to the galaxy?
Fefonz Quan: sure
aurel Miles: lived most of his life like a typical writer
aurel Miles: having fun
aurel Miles: missing deadlines
aurel Miles: getting incidental exercise
aurel Miles: and writing brilliantly
Storm Nordwind heard the very first radio broadcast of the very first episode
aurel Miles: then he gets serious
aurel Miles: moves to California
aurel Miles: (you're lucky)
aurel Miles: takes up exercise
aurel Miles: and
aurel Miles: on a treadmill at a fitness facility
aurel Miles: drops dead of it
aurel Miles: All those years of loose living and he was just fine
Fefonz Quan: oohhhh...
aurel Miles: yes
aurel Miles: i blame California
Fefonz Quan: yes in praise of lasiness
aurel Miles: names and naming?
Fefonz Quan: but he wasn;t very young, aws he?
aurel Miles: or shall we move on?
aurel Miles: or am i being bossy
aurel Miles: ?
Storm Nordwind: He did a grat serice to mankind that we are still appreciating in Play as Being
aurel Miles: yes he was very young to die
Storm Nordwind: *great service
aurel Miles: 40 something, i think
aurel Miles: maybe 50-ish
Storm Nordwind: 50
aurel Miles: certainly not more
aurel Miles: too young
aurel Miles: his best writing years were still ahead of him
Mickorod Renard: so what about names?
Storm Nordwind: He helped people suspend their disbelief. We need that.
Fefonz Quan: and lsugh a lot we need that a lot!
Fefonz Quan: laugh*
Mickorod Renard: yea,too right
Fefonz Quan: and not taking things so seriously
Storm Nordwind: Playfulness
Mickorod Renard: yes,,thats nice
Mickorod Renard: there is a risk that we get too serious here
aurel Miles: he wrote a book about names
aurel Miles: the meaning of Liff
Storm Nordwind: The meaning of Liff
Mickorod Renard: yes?
Mickorod Renard: what was the idea?
aurel Miles: in the introduction he wrote that it was his goal to get those lazy words off streetsigns and maps and into the mouths of babes
aurel Miles: it was very funny
Mickorod Renard: a name can have an effect on the persons outcome?
aurel Miles: very very funny
Storm Nordwind: And their income Mick!
aurel Miles: true
aurel Miles: my name is long and pompous
Fefonz Quan: like if you're name is bill gates the II, you shouldn't have a lot of financial problems
Mickorod Renard: mine is simple,and generally a popular name in my era
aurel Miles: i am only getting comfortable with it now but my business cards are still as minimal as possible because the name is already more than fancy enough
Mickorod Renard: lol
aurel Miles: it already promises more than i can deliver.
Fefonz Quan: Stephanie is too long?
aurel Miles: Stephanie J. Farrington.
aurel Miles: all it needs is an Esq.
Fefonz Quan: yes, soulds like noblety
Mickorod Renard: yes,,very posh
aurel Miles: like something out of a Jane Austen novel
Storm Nordwind: I'm not sure. I don't really like the Amerian obsession with middle initials
Fefonz Quan: where i live, people mostly use first names,
aurel Miles: my name

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aurel Miles: as my parents chose it - has cause me a lot of inconvenience. It's hard to blend in being the kind of person I am with a name like that.
aurel Miles: and not to be defensive but
aurel Miles: there are two Stephanie Farringtons in Ottawa
aurel Miles: and when i didn't use the middle initial
aurel Miles: we both booked flights west
aurel Miles: at the same time
Mickorod Renard: cool
aurel Miles: with the same travel agent
aurel Miles: and they mixed us up
aurel Miles: it caused problems
Storm Nordwind: Ottawa is really that bad that you both wanted to escape at the same time? ;)
Mickorod Renard: but a name like that is likely to open some doors for you
aurel Miles: don't get me started
Storm Nordwind chuckles
aurel Miles: I am going to Boston on monday
aurel Miles: and after that....
aurel Miles: stay tuned -
aurel Miles: ha
aurel Miles: so
Storm Nordwind smiles
Mickorod Renard: grin
aurel Miles: why did you choose the name you chose?
Storm Nordwind has happy memories of Boston
Mickorod Renard: in sl?
aurel Miles: Storm's matches his real name
aurel Miles: and mine is a pun on my real name
aurel Miles: Miles = Faring
Mickorod Renard: mine does in a way
aurel Miles: oh?
aurel Miles: renard is fox
Mickorod Renard: yes
Fefonz Quan: like mickorodenstein?
Mickorod Renard: he he he
Mickorod Renard: similar Fef
aurel Miles: i have always been curious about Fefonz
Mickorod Renard: or just plain mick
aurel Miles: unusal name to my ear.
Fefonz Quan: well, it is from some old email address i had, in some university department where my first name was already occupied
Mickorod Renard: I was in a weekly school play , a western cowboy play,,and my character was micko the rod
Fefonz Quan: and the lat part is after some famous figure :)
aurel Miles: funny Mick
Storm Nordwind finds Mick's name reminds him of orange vans... ;)
Fefonz Quan: ah, nice mick
aurel Miles: Quan Yin?
Fefonz Quan: ah, meant to the last part of fefonz
aurel Miles: the Fonz?
Fefonz Quan: ayy!
aurel Miles knows she is being silly
Mickorod Renard: yeh,,he's a cool dude
aurel Miles: what about Quan?
Fefonz Quan: well, this is just from a small list as you recall,
aurel Miles: yes - but a list of choices just the same
Mickorod Renard: Hi Gen
Storm Nordwind: Hi gen
aurel Miles: Hi gen
Fefonz Quan: so out of all the long weird options they had, that was nice and zenich :)
Fefonz Quan: Hi Gen
aurel Miles: zenich?
aurel Miles: what does that mean?
Fefonz Quan: Zen-ich
Mickorod Renard: zen ish?
aurel Miles: Zen-ish?
Fefonz Quan: Zen oriented...
genesis Zhangsun: Hi
aurel Miles: i see
Mickorod Renard: renard was from the list..it was french,,and semed like it was me
Mickorod Renard: seemed
aurel Miles: french fox
Mickorod Renard: yes
aurel Miles: maybe a spirit animal?
Fefonz Quan says 'renard, ren ad,renard in his mind with strong frech accent :)
Mickorod Renard: my family was also french 2 generations ago
Fefonz Quan: there is one phenomena with names, the one of parents trying to be very original, and leaving their children with life long confrontatins
Fefonz Quan: phenomenon i guess
Mickorod Renard: that is very true
aurel Miles: like Moon Unit Zappa?
Fefonz Quan: yes, that can be chalenging
aurel Miles: or my niece - her mother named her Sedge and when she was old enough to speak she started correcting people and asking them to call her by her second name - Isabella. I was astonished that she would do that, she was only 4.
Mickorod Renard: strangely nough, I tried hard to pick a general name for my son, yet one that was not too popular,,,,then that following year it became in fashion and also became one of the most chosen
Storm Nordwind reminds people that Stim's workshop is about to start
Fefonz Quan: challenging
aurel Miles: right
aurel Miles: Stim
Mickorod Renard: ok,,Stim's
Fefonz Quan: yes Storm, we are warming the enginges
aurel Miles: we are getting stuff out
genesis Zhangsun: right Stim's workshop
aurel Miles: so as to be quiet.
aurel Miles: in my case
Storm Nordwind: Anyone else coming?
Mickorod Renard: me
Fefonz Quan: yep. See you all :)
genesis Zhangsun: bye everyone!
aurel Miles: bye gen!

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