MetaTalks

MetaTalks The Write Stuff: A Moment in Time

2011-05-24T22:22:00.000-07:00

This episode is the reading of the writing assignment submissions:

Capture a moment in time. During the coming week set a fictional incident in a real life place you regularly inhabit. Try to capture the essence of the space as best as possible. [550 words or less].

Alachia:

The more he fiddled with the gum under his shoe, the more it seemed to latch onto the bottom of his sole. He gave up finally and put his focus on the rack of magazines to his left. Angelina Jolie caught cheating on Brad Pitt, Kristey Alley is thin again, something about a Spanish actress, and the 10 fastest ways to get a bikini body for the summer. All titles which jumped out at him.

He was tempted to pick one of the tabloids up to read the piece of title on one of them that spoke about Kate and William but opted not too. The lady behind him was staring at the same magazine. She had a bald baby in her arms who was pulling on her shirt. He couldn’t help but notice the way it also revealed more of her left breast as he grasped her collar.

He turned back quickly not wanting her to see him staring. Flesh, not as pretty as he normally liked. Hers was dark and leathery, obviously she’d seen one too many tanning beds in her time. Why do women do that? We don’t care if your body is black or white as long as it’s naked and we’re in it.

Maybe it was true that men have sex on the brains every five seconds. The line hadn’t moved yet. Apparently there was problem with one of the woman’s coupons for a package of eggs and the teller had to call in a manager.

He sighed and shifted his focus to the candy selection on the right. Of course his gaze went straight for the package of Reeces Peanutbutter cups. Immediately his mouth began to water as he imagined the last time he ate one straight from the fridge; crisp, cold, and smooth. Chocolate and peanut butter had to be the best combination in the world he thought.

Of course thinking of peanut butter made his thirsty now and he wasn’t sure how much longer he’d have to wait in line. Also the drive home was going to be at least thirty minutes. Best to buy a drink now. He quickly shifted his weight backwards and twisted his body as to not touch the woman holding her baby and grabbed a Pepsi from the fridge. It was super cold and he smiled.

Normally he wouldn’t be so impatient but since the manager was slowly explaining how to enter a coupon code to the obviously new teller, he decided to go ahead and open the bottle. Ahhhh. Perfectly refreshing. For that instant, he thought he could stand there all day.

Of course, he then remembered that he had a gallon of Bluebell Peppermint icecream in his cart and started to get anxious it might be melting. In fact, his cart had quite a bit of things that were probably melting like the butter. The milk was slowly spoiling as well as he could see the condensation on the jug increasing.

His ears perked when he heard the lady ahead say loudly, “no problem! just glad we got it figured out.” Thank god he thought.

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Garry Watts (Gravenau):
I stepped off the scooter as I loosened the helmet the cool air rushed into the vacated space of my helmet had left I breathed in the cool air of the night it was always so crisp at this time of night I walked in the back way the smell of boxes and cleaning product assaulting my nose as I entered the kitchen the cool air of the night was replaced by the heat of the oven, stoves and deep fryers.

The smell of cleaning product and boxes quickly replaced by the smell of hot oil and cooked food I nod to a co worker as I place my helmet and gear near the cool room before walking back out to the kitchen to here the report of the last shift. Getting down to work I slowly stack the chairs on the tables before getting out the vacuum I look out the full wall of glass to the road outside as another metal monolith roars past spewing diesel fumes into the air always racing to meet this deadline or that.

After I cleaned up the main room I still have to sweep and mop she mocks me from the counter we were friends once lovers even before that co workers but that was all before the day after that day the world would never be the same. It had taken a lot from everyone it had stolen a lot from her but her wit and sharp tongue remained as I worked she would mock some days she would even offer some words of encouragement but those days were few and far between mostly she would chat with the customers if I wasn’t fast enough to the counter flirt with the truckies as they came and got their free cups of coffee or ordered off the men.

It was hard to begrudge her anything considering what she had lost on the day. I was lucky none of my family had been effected but others had. the rest of the night like most nights went smoothly I got a few minor splash burns off the fat from being to slow when dropping the dim sums in. I watched the sky slowly lighten from dark to light out the back door and windows the early signs that my work day was almost over.

It had been a slowly night so I got to chat with one of my regulars my lil offsider flirted with him he had known her before the day and they had stayed friends even afterwards he had a daughter her age he finished his cup of coffee filled his travel mug for the last 4 hours of his trip and was out the door and into his metal monolith. The great creature belched a plum of black diesel fumes as it roared into life and merged with the flow of traffic out on to the high way and rumbled away.

I finished the last of the dishers just in time for the next shift to take over while I was out dipping the tanks my lil offsider filled in the next shift in on the last nights issues I filled out my time slip and wandered out the front lowering my hand my lil offsider skipped over and climbed into my palm after the day I had become her full time carer which she always thought ment personal slave but what could I do she had lost over 4 feet of height on the day.
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Strumpet:
Really - it was amazing that she could concentrate in this space. High, warehouse ceilings. Concrete floors. So much of the space gray and industrial. Tiny, LED lights hanging from what looked like picture wire from the ceiling. The red plastic baskets holding silver wrapped burritos, tacos and quesadillas provided the only patches of color in the room.

Of course, those ceilings and those floors did nothing to help with the acoustics. And the music was always loud. Loud and progressive. No matter where she sat, it always seemed to be right below a speaker offering dance beats, jazz, or something new and totally interesting.

And she liked to come at lunchtime. At lunchtime, when the restaurant was always filled to the brim with teenagers from the high school across the street. Teenagers that seemed to take up so much more space than their physical bodies inhabited. Groups of them spilling out of booths and crowding around tables. It seemed that all of them were talking at once. Laughing, squealing, shouting cries of indignation or surprise. Cramming all their joy and life into the 20 minutes of their lunch period.

Sometimes, a table or two would have a bewildered looking older couple or stay at home mother with their baby perched uncertainly - swallowed up by the sheer exuberance of life around them. Like they had inadvertently stepped onto a stage where a full-fledged production was taking place and no one had told them what their role was.

Strange as it seemed, this was always where she had her best ideas. Perched at the counter, watching the kids, listening to the music and the youthful joy, with her notebook in front of her, she would scribble her ideas, plans, and hastily thought out questions furiously - hoping to steal some of the energy, as it poured out the door when the kids headed back across the street to school.

Hoping she could hold onto it, and maybe, just maybe, recreate some of the spark out there in the world.
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McFluffy:
Hi Both,

so below is my writing submission for this exercise. No planning went into
this one, no clue where it would lead onto so pretty much the opposite of
my last submission. the location is the bus that tormented my journey home
5 days a week for many years. The incident never happened but the
feelings and descriptions of the bus come from my own experience.

PS attached at bottom is an additional audio submission. mini book review!
microphone positioning is definitely something i need to learn so
apologies about the quality.

Both writing and speaking are, for now, terrifying concepts to me. Thanks
for providing a friendly outlet for giving it a go!

----------------------

Whoever had decided that the seats on the bus only needed to be 13 inches
wide was an idiot. However, given the current situation, I concluded that
they weren't the only idiot involved in the buses.

The driver for a start, quite what had possessed him to try and overtake
the broken down truck using the bike lane would probably never be clear.
Still, I couldn't help but admire his apparent masochistic driving skills
that had gotten the bus from the bike lane, along the path, and over the
tiny bit of bridge into the stream below. A stunt driver couldn't have
done any better.

Surveying the situation there were the normal sights and sounds, litter
everywhere, the obligatory half eaten kebab, the gum stained seats and the
muffled blare of a few of the schoolkids mobile phones playing the
androgynous beats that had formed the theme tune to my daily commute home.

The only difference from normal was that everything was upside down...
well everything still attached to the bus was upside down, which no longer
included a number of the seats, the cctv monitor and all of the
passengers.

Bloodied mangled bodies surrounded me yet I found my attention being drwan
to a solitary shoe stuck to the now ceiling, no doubt by months of spilt
food, drink and less savoury substances that seemed to coat the buses
these days.

At least no one was trying to talk to me, even if the reasons for that
were more than a little unfortunate. I would normally rely on headphones
to protect me from my peers, today fate had given me a bus crash...
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Jaminbee:
Sunlight attempts to pick its way through the clouds, easily pushed aside by black clouds of the impending storm. A soft roll of thunder in the background the wind whips through the open window.

The hair stands up on my neck, I turn and flick on a light to substitute the loss of natural illumination, multiple books spread out in front of me. Enough papers to start a small house fire litter the ground and table I work on. I drop my pen, lean back and gaze through the window.

A thunderstorm will be here in less than ten minutes, which is strange, five minutes ago not a cloud could be found in the sky stretching as far as the eye could see. A break in the clouds develops, rays of glorious southern heat streams through and hits my face. As quickly as it appears, the crack in the great black abyss vanishes. Rain begins to pour from the clouds, great glorious drops of life giving water hit the earth with the driving force of a stallion. Falling from the heavens the rain pounds the house, a dull roar fills the house.

I give up, with such a symphony beckoning me to bed with the force of Greek Sirens, I surrender my senses and return to the soft embrace of my bed. The white and blue sheets folded back from where I exited their warm embrace the morning before welcome me like an old friend, grasping me tight, not willing to let go. I fall into a deep, full sleep, only to be suddenly shaken by the crack of thunder and flash of lightning. As the reverberations dissipate I return to my slumber, more than willing to forget everything but the feeling of the sun on my face.
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Thelonius Mac:

I wake. I know it’s around 3 or 4 AM. It’s happening again. I feel her. Her body draped against my back. Her arm over my shoulder. This time I don’t fight it. I take note of my lucidity, checking the date, calculating Pi in my head. Then I concentrate on what I feel and so help me “she” is there. She's fucking spooning me. As usual, I can't move.

The problem here is that I live alone.

"She" comes at no specific time, but always after I’ve gone to sleep. I’ve even given her a name. "Pime" or Paranormal Irrational Metaphysical Entity. If I attempt to rationalize these occurrences, it would seem that I am experiencing some form of “Sleep Paralysis.” I could proceed with self analysis from that point, but here’s the thing... I, I don’t completely dislike the experience.

I look around the loft. I can see the high concrete ceiling with the exposed sprinkler pipes, the hardwood floors, white walls, and the column in the center of the room. The track lights are dim. The earthquake kit is still next to the door. Need to find somewhere to store that. 2 weeks of survival food. Rule #2: "Nature is not your friend." We're due for a big quake.

I’ve been here since December. Since moving here, sleep has been something of an adventure. When I’m not having a staring contest with insomnia, I’m having the most incredibly lucid dreams I’ve ever had, or playing footsie with, with, I don’t know what to call her.

I have a theory. When I lived in my house in the Hollywood Hills, I was fairly isolated, and the house acted as a sort of psychic faraday cage. I was there for years. When I moved into this building full of people, my mind had become hyper-receptive to psychic energy. I’m in a building full of it and my brain is picking up on broadcasts from all the lofts around me. I’m a psychic sponge now.

Thinking this way is dangerous. I'm using irrational thinking to rationalize the irrational, and rule #1 says, "Irrational thinking is the true root of all evil."

The refrigerator kicks on. I begin to move my right hand, bit by bit toward my iPad laying inches from me. I touch it, it lights up. I tap the icon for the home automation app. I turn on all the lights in the loft. The second the lights come on, I’m completely free.

She’s gone.

I take a deep breath. I’ve got to do something about this. I don’t know what. I'm an empiricist for crying out loud. My only belief is in the rational. My only religion is the scientific method.

The computers come on. The alarm on my phone goes off. It’s 6:00am. How long was she here this time?

Suddenly I become aware of a low, muffled noise. A human voice. Crying. It’s coming from the south wall. I get out of bed, naked, I walk to the wall. I put my hand on the wall. I get close to the wall, as close as possible. I take another deep breath, exhale, spread my fingers and press my face as closely as possible to the wall.

The wall is cold to the touch. I can hear someone sobbing in the next unit. Deep plaintive sobbing. A woman. I begin to feel her pain. My face begins to contort as I experience a sense of, loss. I don’t want this, but I begin to absorb the pain. Suddenly I hear someone on the other side of the wall say, “Hello?” I snap away from the wall. Shit. Rule #34: "One crazy woman can ruin your entire day."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tedrah:
Here's my attempt at the writing assignment. Not really fiction but a slice of a typical evening & place. If it's crap or not what you meant, feel free to not use it, lol.

I sit silently in the darkness, only a glow from the bathroom light hitting the right side of my face. Caesar lies beside me on the floor whining for my attention. A red rubber ball stuffed in his mouth muffles his attempts
to talk to me. The oscillating fan blows papers off the desk. Specs and rotations now litter the floor. Blood elves and Draenei battle for Tol Barad in front of me.

Caesar has begun circling the chair when suddenly 75 pounds of muscle has decided my lap is the best seat in the house. He launches at me from the left, knocking my chair back from the desk. The ice quakes in my glass of coke as it teeters on the brink of spilling, a disaster waiting to happen. By the time I struggle out from under his assault, my face wet with doggy kisses, my blood elf lies dead on the field of battle. At least one of me has won as Caesar furiously digs at the sheets on the bed behind me. He tries to bury himself beneath the blankets.

The moon has risen and shines thru the stained glass peacock hanging in the window to my right. Blues and greens flow down onto my laptop screen. The images seem to inhabit an eerie seascape. The voices of strangers, no - friends, come from the speakers, reassuring me that it’s okay to go on a killing spree as long as I don’t hurt the bunnies.

Contact:
podcast@metatalks.com
@alachia
@eljeppy
@metatalks

Metatalks Episode #13: Real Talk

2011-04-26T07:35:00.000-07:00

From the Isle of Wight to the Isle of Wight...

First face to face Metatalks episode recorded on the Isle of Wight. Tea is spilt and prawns split when Alachia and Jeppy go from Metatalk to Real Talk!

MetaTalks The Write Stuff:Just Write All Right?

2011-04-23T06:12:00.000-07:00

A discussion on structure vs flow regarding creative writing. A last minute writing exercise submission by Chewy and an audio submission by Strumpet. This book club vote result and the new writing assignment.

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@chewyfruitloop:
The world zips by so quickly at 70. Right at this moment though, slow motion was in effect. The nudge hardly registered until it was to late. Spinning about and clipping the barrier set into motion the events that where beyond all human control.
The air was beckoning and into the blue he flew.

Inverted is not the normal view of the road. The engine revved wildly as the friction was reduced to nothing.

It seemed an age until the thud of the landing. That didn't seem to matter much to physics, why have one landing when you can do it all again. Rolling wildly like a ravenous crocodile wrestling some poor beast to its fate he bounce. Crushing, bruising, hammering his body.

Steel will succumb. Now like wet paper the body came apart. The cage that had been his shelter was now his enemy. Lacerating, rending, flesh is no match.
The cars halting was a blessing and a curse. Neither of them would be injured any further, but now he could feel the union of them both. Warm and wet. Blood and oil mingled in the road. The horseless carriage was beyond help, he wondered if he was to.
---------------------------------------------------------
Strumpet’s Audio: ….

Discussion
Structure first vs Just Write

Assignment
Capture a moment in time. During the coming week set a fictional incident in a real life place you regularly inhabit. Try to capture the essence of the space as best as possible. [550 words or less].

Book Club
Wuthering Heights - May
Making History - June

Upcoming
Favourite books.
History of writing and genres.

Contact:
podcast@metatalks.com
@alachia
@eljeppy
@metatalks

MetaTalks The Write Stuff: In Media Res

2011-04-20T04:46:00.000-07:00

A bit more on the In Media Res writing style, the writing exercise submissions read, and the four books to vote on for the May bookclub reading.

Book Club Vote Off:
Wuthering Heights
Choke
Making History
Little Brother
(I've decided not to put a poll up because I'd like an identity behind each vote to keep things fair. Please send a twitter to @metatalks for your vote or email us at podcast@metatalks.com! Thank you!)

Writing Exercise Submissions!

@Rishal_BP:

Dyllin scrambled upright, staring in amazement at the smoking fissure that just
appeared in the ground. Mouth hanging open, he realized the combatants surrounding
him had stopped. The sky above the battlefield was an angry red, with unnatural slashes
of green and purple. The air was hot enough to burn Dyllin's lungs, which he barely
noticed it until a great wracking cough broke his reverie. His next few breaths were
harsh, rasping in his chest as he looked around.

Bodies lay strewn about the fissure. Some were charred remnants, smoldering
piles of blackened flesh and melted armor. The unlucky few to be in the path of the
blast had been sheared in half. One grotesque figure scraped the dirt with its hands for
a moment before falling still. There was a wider swath around the edges where still
figures lay, their armor melted into their flesh. Dyllin heard a raw, primal scream and
was amazed to find it coming from his throat. Across the field, voices echoed his own.
Those of sterner constitution were already regrouping.

The man opposite Dyllin shook himself and raised his sword and shield. Dyllin
stumbled back, trying to bring up his own weapon, but he didn't have the time. His
opponent rushed forward, disarming him and pressing the point of his sword to Dyllin's
throat. "I surrender," he croaked. The last thing he remembered was a blow to the side of
his head. After that, it was blank.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

@TheMcfluffy:
Dennie struggled to his feet and stumbled towards the Inspector. He
couldnt figure out where the pain was coming from, only that it was worse
than any pain he'd felt before. But that wasn't important right now
though, the Inspector needed him.

The short distance to where the Inspector was lying that should have taken
mere moments seemed to be taking an age. It seemed like everything that
could have been thrown on the floor had been. The pain was getting worse,
it was getting harder and harder to navigate amongst the debris. It
occured to Dennie he couldnt even feel the shattered glass and splinters
that he was stumbling over.

Finally reaching the Inspector it was quickly apparent something was
wrong, he wasn’t moving, he felt cold and limp. Dennie licked his face to
try and get a reaction. Nothing. nuzzling him first gently then with as
much force as he could muster Dennie tried to get his master of 10 years
to wake up. Nothing.

The pain hit a new level, Dennie's legs gave in causing him to collapse on
the unresponsive Inspector, he knew he needed to get help but it was too
late, he could no longer move, and everything was starting growing dark.

All he could do was bark in the hope someone would hear him and come to
investigate. Even that proved impossible, a whispered yelp all he could
achieve before the darkness consumed his consciousness.

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@Bidcar:
Here is my submission, I don't think I hit the mark, but I don't have any more time to work on it. I think it wanders off into the contrived. By the way this is Bidkar, but my name is Ron. If it sucks too bad, just skip over it..

Looking at the door, thoughts peddled in his mind as life continued on without care for the anxiety. Above, a television coughed for the banality meant to entertain the old and the young, thus capering for no one.

A woman stood at the desk with her care in arm, making demands. Explained to her that others were first made no difference, she could not wait, had no time. Insistence changed nothing, but her words still wafted in the air, seeming selfish, but really not. Her worries weren't his worries, but worries still valid in her world.

Others sat about waiting their turn, one couple laughing over a screen of a phone, sharing in it's remote wisdom. People gathered in their groups, whispering their conversations as a secret.

Time continued on unchanged, growing shorter in it's temper, seeking resolution. Time is short. Those words have been uttered by all for a millenium. Sometimes for the good, more often for the bad.

It was a small bit ago when life seemed like it lay before us, we had all the time in the world to laugh and play. A day seemed as infinite as the sky's patience, waiting for the creation to live the life given. Now, though, time diminished. He could feel the fact shoved in his face, even though with all the might he had, he denied the thought. Time would go on as it always had, nothing changing.

A lie believed is a lie nonetheless. An eagerness to believe a lie cannot be turned away. He clung to hope, a hope proffered for the betterment of life is better than the possible reality. Turning his head toward a sound, he saw the door open.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

@Thelonious_Mac:
08:40PM. Staring at twin 17” MacBook Pro screens, black background, green text flowing by, comparing what should be to what is, and then I finally see it. Son-of-a-bitch. Here’s the fucking leak. Script buried within a script, buried within a script, activated each time the CEO sends or receives email. It sends a copy to a blackberry BIS account. Exchange servers. Bah. They insist on using this ‘Microslop’ because it makes them feel like pros, well, whatever. They do pay on time and that makes them a priority.

The BB BIS account is registered to some stupid yacht company in the Netherlands. I search, nothing for them but a stupid web server. I probe, softly, not too deep. Doesn’t take much to get it to open the kimono. It’s a Windoze server. Good, about 80 different ways to get it wet. I spot a folder in the admin directory called “Arsenal.” It’s full of skiddie hacks. Seems this shit likes to play hacker. Seems he’s got a thing for law firms in Los Angeles also. I check through the server’s logs and find that whoever is using it is doing it remotely from, you’ve got it, LA. The yacht company probably has no idea.

There’s lots of folders filled with documents from numerous law firms. I spend the next 30 minutes copying the evidence, when suddenly the link goes dead. Simultaneously a snitch window pops up on the twin MacBook. Someone is trying to back hack. I could play games but I decide to go decidedly low tech. I get up from my desk, walk over to the cable modem, and unplug it.

Not good. Not good at all. Not much I can do about it tonight though. I copy the files onto an iPod shuffle. Leave it hidden in plain sight. No one ever looks at iPods. I’m tired. Don’t know if I can sleep. I decide to try listening to a podcast, that gamer chick. She’s unusual, a thinker, and fuck, what a voice. Sometimes she’s sad, so goddamn sad. I drift off listening to her.

11:56PM. iPhone rings. Scares the shit out of me for some reason. I grab it, answer. No one there. Had a feeling I’d fucked up earlier. I take the hint. Get dressed. Grab my go bag. It’s got MacBook AIR, WiFI hotspot, and a crap load of other shit that I might need, including a sub-compact 9mm Glock 26. I’ve never hurt anyone in my life, not even in Somalia, but you never know. I snatch the iPod, stuff it into the backpack. I’m out.

I decide to leave the Mini Cooper and take the Ducati. I hit the streets of downtown LA just in time to see a black Ford SUV pull up outside my building. Somehow I know it’s me they’re here for. I call Bruno, the doorman and tell him I’m not expecting visitors. No one should be given my loft number and that if they insist, he might want to call the cops.

I head for WiFiTini. It’s a bar/club that caters to LA’s cyber underground. It’s vibrant. Blasting trip hop tonight. Place is full of everything from venture capitalists to some of the most gifted hackers on the west coast. Ton of bandwidth, damn good martinis, and I’m “friendly” with the owner. Nicole. Tonight though I need to see Manfred. Gonna need a place to crash and maybe a whole lot more before this is over.

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@Jeppy:
He was swimming upward through viscous waters the surface of light close then far. The metronome of his heart beating the strokes.

Darkness. Heat. Pain.

Consciousness crashed upon him and he greeted it with a rusty voiced moan.

Questions of where and why and how instantly demanded answer but were met with stubborn blankness.

His senses all screamed panic his muscles briefly fought and he fell back beneath the surface.

Seconds minutes hours later awareness again returned but this time slowly and prepared.

The answers still did not come. Memory skipped and darted just beyond his minds grasp. The harder he tried the more they eluded him.

He opened his eyes and found only more darkness. localising the pain to his forehead he lifted his right hand to examine and the left came too. Momentarily confused he tried to separate them and felt plastic eat into his flesh.

He stopped all movement and lay still. He was on his side in a foetal position. He tried to stretch his legs and almost instantly met resistance discovering at the same time that his legs were also bound. He again lay still.

He felt sweat slipping down his skin smelt hot metal and the sound of his own heart thrummed in his ears. He took a deep lung full of air and felt gladness that it appeared plentiful.

His heart beat slowed and made way for another sound. Familiar. His mind sought and found the word. An engine. The pieces fell together as to where. Tied up in the trunk of a vehicle but the whys and hows still taunted him from a distance.

The engine stopped. He heard doors opening feet crunching and doors slamming shut.

A bright burning light invaded and his eyes shut in quick defence as he felt several hands grab and lift him. One minute rising then falling. Pain shooting though his body sand scorching his skin.

He raised his head and allowed his lids to slit but saw only silhouetted figures. Again lifted his bindings were cut and a canteen thrust into his now freed hands. He drank. The canteen was taken and something else was placed more carefully into his hands. Glasses. His glasses. He put them on and the world around him darkened.
Raising his head the silhouettes took on distinction and a voice purred.

“Well Captain Winters you seem quite the little trouble maker”

Memories suddenly stampeded through his mind let lose by the voice and now the face.

He dropped back into the waters of unconsciousness.

MetaTalks #12: The Insolence

2011-04-14T06:43:00.000-07:00

And onto a new direction...

First episode of the new show format which will be more free flowing. Jeppy talks about all the things he hopes to talk about and we share our first writing exercise assignment together.

The writing exercise:
1. Beginning in the middle, write a beginning that starts in the middle of action (550 words or less)

MetaTalks #11: Harass Me Lambast Me

2011-01-10T16:51:00.000-08:00

We're back!!! We have returned for 2011!!

You can subscribe here or

Alachia has awesomesauce news and Jeppy has a sore on his tongue.
Then we seriously metatangent about spanking, the woes of politics and how NOT to clean your beaver box!

~Current Conversation:

Us: Sister Sister and Tongue Sore

Them:

Rebellion in the UK

You:

Strumpet Audio
Sahd Audio
NastyTotem Email
Doug Email
Kichelle Audio

*Metatalk's Gtalk Partchat:

Just add metatalks@partychapp.appspotchat.com to your gtalk friends list

Related Links:

* Peroxyl

* Student Riots

* Ejji Zombie Video

~Closing Song

Kichelle- Violin Song

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Binaural Recording Track: (in case you're wondering where we "are" in this Episode)

This week we're hanging outside in the middle of nowhere not far from a major highway.

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Metatalks TSI #3: Twas the Night Before Christmas

2010-12-23T00:47:00.000-08:00

MetaTalks TSI Presents:
Twas the Night Before Christmas

You can subscribe here or

A very special MetaTalks reading of Twas the Night Before Christmas!

Special thanks to (in order of reading): Sahd, Kriseb, Mitre, Gedgres, Kichelle, Ejji, Strumpet, Gravenau, Daisy (Jeppy's), Chewy, and Jemimus.

*Updated December Calendar:

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Metatalks TSI #2: IF The Game of Life

2010-12-15T11:27:00.000-08:00

MetaTalks TSI Presents:
IF The Game of Life

You can subscribe here or

If you could be invisible for one hour, what would you do? We answer questions like these in this special TSI episode.

*Related Link:
If (Questions for the Game of Life Book

*Updated December Calendar:

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MetaBytes #2: A Little Bit of Jeppy in My Ear

2010-12-14T00:05:00.000-08:00

I get a little distracted a lot when I'm editing.
Thought I'd put together some scraps of outtakes and old audio really quick to procrastinate some more on editing. From my ear to yours.. here's a little bit of Jeppy.

Guess I'll start adding these MetaBytes to the podcast feed!

FanGrrrls

2010-12-11T16:05:00.000-08:00

Dedicated to Strumpet and Kichelle.
Thanks for letting me meta control you.

MetaTalks December Calendar

2010-12-11T13:53:00.000-08:00

Google Calendar Link

HO HO HO Bitches!

MetaTalks#10: Gun Kata

2010-12-10T10:46:00.000-08:00

You can subscribe here or

This episode is three hours of serious Meta-Tangents! After a long break, we're back and talking about everything. And we have a little fun on formspring terrorizing our meta friends! And we read possibly the longest listener email submission ever!

~Current Conversation:

Us: Relapse, Masks, Job Offer, Gun Kata, Cheque, Shawshank, Wasabi!!!!

Them:

Advent, Formspring, Napodpopmo-->TSI

You:

FenFen Email
Strumpet Audio
Chewy Audio
Felixthecat Audio
Eade Email
Allecia Email

*Metatalk's Gtalk Partchat:

Just add metatalks@partychapp.appspotchat.com to your gtalk friends list

Related Links:

*DANCE DANCE DANCE

* Equilibrium Trailer

* Kichelle Panda Hat picture

* Definition of Ornery

* Jean Kilbourne

Cancer will be World's Biggest Killer in 2010

~Closing Song

Oresti Tsonopoulos
Say it Somehow- Alexandra Stewart

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Binaural Recording Track: (in case you're wondering where we "are" in this Episode)

This week we're hanging outside in the middle of nowhere not far from a major highway.

Google Buzz Link to the MetaTalks #10 Gun Kata:

Buzz: Metatalks #10: Gun Kata

Twas the Night Before Christmas HELP

2010-12-08T10:49:00.000-08:00

HO HO HO.
Dear MetaTalks Christmas Grinches and Scrooges,

We'd love your help in putting together a Christmas Eve Reading of Twas the Night Before Christmas!

If you'd like to help, just send in an audio recording of yourself reading the text below. You can find it in the shared doc or I also put an external link for those who have trouble viewing google docs.

Just email your recording to podcast@metatalks.com

THANKS SO MUCH!!! /hugs

Twas the Night Before Christmas Doc
also a external link here

Metatalks TSI #1: Thankful

2010-12-03T17:14:00.000-08:00

MetaTalks TSI Presents:

Thankful

You can subscribe here or

This episode was recorded on Thanksgiving after I nearly tore Jeppy's arm off twisting it. Not thankful my ass! Turns out he has a lot to be thankful for.

Just a note, this is a fun, quirky episode. We decided to forgo to the thankful for life, happiness, family, friends, etc...because of course we do.. at least every other day. :)

*Metatalk's Gtalk Partchat:

Just add metatalks@partychapp.appspotchat.com to your gtalk friends list

Google Buzz Link to the MetaTalks TSI: Thankful:

Buzz: Metatalks TSI: Thankful

TSI: The Space Inbetween

2010-12-01T16:32:00.000-08:00

Hi folks,

The month of November is over and we succeeded in completing sixteen episodes of Napodpomo. It was definitely a worthwhile experience and we learned so much from the experiment. We've come up with many new shows formats and had immense pleasure in the community feedback and participation (major bonus!).

We've decided to finish out all of the planned episodes during the next few months at a much more reasonable pace. :) We will still be continuing with the weekly MetaTalks shows but will add in a new feature called TSI, The Space In-between (so very TNG sounding hehe). TSI will cover all sorts of supplemental shows and even more experimentation to cover everything we don't catch in our regular shows.

Expect some Christmas carols, binaural Jeppy wetting his pants as I pop firecrackers for the New Years, and general misbehavior all around.

Thanks for supporting us throughout.. we hope you continue to join our conversations!

*INSIDE YOU-aaaZXYAAA!!!-You Spin me Right Round!*

-Alachia & Jeppy

MetaTalks Napodpomo #13: Little Known Facts Part III

2010-11-17T22:12:00.000-08:00

MetaTalks NaPodPoMo Presents:
Little Known Facts Part III

You can subscribe here or

Metatalks Napodpomo presents Part III and the conclusion of Little Known Facts. We finish up this series with sock obsessions, Jim Morrison's Grave, and a ninja bear-slaying tour guide, Oh My!

how can you say this ring isn't pretty, Jeppy?

Napodpomo: Calendar

~Links related to the conversation:
*MetaTalks Napodpomo Calendar Share
*MetaVoices Info

*Metatalk's Gtalk Partchat:
Just add metatalks@partychapp.appspotchat.com to your gtalk friends list

Google Buzz Link to the MetaTalks NaPodPoMo Little Known Facts Part III:

Buzz: Metatalks NaPodPoMo: Little Known Facts Part III

MetaTalks#9: Double Rainbow

2010-11-16T04:26:00.000-08:00

You can subscribe here or

This episode is packed with some full on-omg-what does this mean- double rainbow content. We cover everything from cancer, body image, ice cream as medicine, the art of silence, how we suck at pimping ourselves, and back to politics again. We are also adding a Poetry II episode to the Napodpomo line up.

~Current Conversation:

Us: Race for the Cure, Fire Shoot and Bad Movie Night, Sonic Blast as a Medicinal Treat, Body Image, Too Early For Christmas.

Them:

Double Rainbow

*Twitter @MetaTalks

*MetaTalks Napodpomo Help:

*Silence is Golden: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11712668

Information on how to help with MetaVoices:

http://www.google.com/buzz/alachia.me/1FYQoBAxmBn/Meta-VoicesHallo-If-youre-willing-to-help-out-with

You:

Lionchild Email
Strumpet Audio
Parxyr Email
Lothillian Email

Napodpomo: Calendar

MetaTalks Napodpomo Calendar Share

*Metatalk's Gtalk Partchat:

Just add metatalks@partychapp.appspotchat.com to your gtalk friends list

~Closing Song

Pogo- Upular

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Binaural Recording Track: (in case you're wondering where we "are" in this Episode)

This week we're hanging outside in the middle of nowhere not far from a major highway.

Google Buzz Link to the MetaTalks #9 Double Rainbow:

Buzz: Metatalks #9: Double Rainbow

MetaTalks Napodpomo #12: Little Known Facts Part II

2010-11-15T00:11:00.000-08:00

MetaTalks NaPodPoMo Presents:
Little Known Facts Part II

You can subscribe here or

Metatalks NaPodPoMo continues with Part II of Little Known Facts. This section takes us from Athens to Egypt and covering everything from porn, drugs, and nekkidness. Part III continues in the next "NaPodPoMo" Episode!

Correction: We say Part III will continue in the next episode but it will actually be released Tuesday the 16th, not Monday the 15th. Two episodes from this one. :)

Jeppy's Facebook Post:
270 Hurley +1
0 Sawyer -1

Sawyer stood (shirtless) in the jungle clearing and surveyed the bodies of his fallen comrades. Who could have done this he thought - polar bears? the others?. Suddenly his ears focused on a low hum coming from the jungle path and his eyes

darted left and right for somewhere to hide. Before he could move however an orange and white blur raced out from the

trees and struck him hard. real hard. As his body sailed through the air he thought of the life he had led and regretted

not one minute. No not even Ana Lucia. His body hit the ground and he knew his end had come. Breathing his last breath he wondered if it would be heaven or hell for him and which one he would find Kate in.

Hurley clambered down from the VW van and shook out his fine mop of curley hair. He Slowly counted the bodies and whistled softly to himself.

"Dude that took like forever"

For a moment there was complete silence and then as if from everywhere a voice rumbled

"You have done well my son"

Hurley smiled and pulled a battered Apollo bar from his pocket which he ate in two bites. Sitting heavily on the ground he carefully removed his shoes. He was glad the island was proud. He smiled as he contemplated the caves full of rations hidden away and wriggled his 4 toes in joy.

The End

Napodpomo: Calendar

~Links related to the conversation:
*MetaTalks Napodpomo Calendar Share
*MetaVoices Info

*Metatalk's Gtalk Partchat:
Just add metatalks@partychapp.appspotchat.com to your gtalk friends list

Google Buzz Link to the MetaTalks NaPodPoMo Little Known Facts Part II:

Buzz: Metatalks NaPodPoMo: Little Known Facts Part II

MetaTalks Napodpomo #11: Little Known Facts

2010-11-13T20:40:00.000-08:00

MetaTalks NaPodPoMo Presents:
Little Known Facts Part I

You can subscribe here or

Metatalks NaPodPoMo presents Part I of Little Known Facts. Obscure, embarrassing, hilarious, and mundane facts about the hosts Jeppy and Alachia. Part II continues in the next episode!

Napodpomo: Calendar

~Links related to the conversation:
*MetaTalks Napodpomo Calendar Share
*MetaVoices Info

*Metatalk's Gtalk Partchat:
Just add metatalks@partychapp.appspotchat.com to your gtalk friends list

Google Buzz Link to the MetaTalks NaPodPoMo Little Known Facts Part I:

Buzz: Metatalks NaPodPoMo: Little Known Facts Part I

MetaTalks Napodpomo #10: Therapy

2010-11-12T21:34:00.000-08:00

MetaTalks NaPodPoMo Presents:
Therapy

You can subscribe here or

Metatalks NaPodPoMo presents a glimpse into the mind of depression, the mind of a lost girl, the mind of Alachia. The journals read in this episode span nearly nine years. They are read to share how the mind can cycle continuously in darkness without help. Therapy is a type of help which is explained. Someone should advocate for you, you should advocate for the people you care about. Don't let them sink.

Napodpomo: Calendar

~Links related to the conversation:
*MetaTalks Napodpomo Calendar Share
*MetaVoices Info

*Metatalk's Gtalk Partchat:
Just add metatalks@partychapp.appspotchat.com to your gtalk friends list

Google Buzz Link to the MetaTalks NaPodPoMo Therapy:

Buzz: Metatalks NaPodPoMo: Therapy

MetaTalks Napodpomo #9: Rememberence

2010-11-11T10:53:00.000-08:00

MetaTalks NaPodPoMo Presents:
Remembrance

You can subscribe here or

Metatalks NaPodPoMo presents a tribute to Remembrance Day. Jeppy gives us a beautiful piece of history and poetry readings for and by the fallen.

Napodpomo: Calendar

*Metatalk's Gtalk Partchat:
Just add metatalks@partychapp.appspotchat.com to your gtalk friends list

Google Buzz Link to the MetaTalks NaPodPoMo Remembrance:

Buzz: Metatalks NaPodPoMo: Remembrance

MetaTalks Napodpomo #8: Hackers Reading

2010-11-10T21:31:00.000-08:00

MetaTalks NaPodPoMo Presents:
Hackers Reading!

You can subscribe here or

Metatalks NaPodPoMo presents the movie Hackers reading production staring Kichelle, Azyxa, Igoo, Jemimus, Flipmax, Halloseve, Ciulla, Chewy, Alachia, and Jeppy. Hack the Planet!

Napodpomo: Calendar

~Links related to the conversation:
*Hackers
*MetaTalks Napodpomo Calendar Share
*MetaTalks Needs You! Yes You!

*Metatalk's Gtalk Partchat:
Just add metatalks@partychapp.appspotchat.com to your gtalk friends list

Google Buzz Link to the MetaTalks NaPodPoMo Hackers:

Buzz: Metatalks NaPodPoMo: Hackers

MetaTalks Napodpomo #7: Tweet Day

2010-11-09T10:48:00.000-08:00

MetaTalks NaPodPoMo Presents:
Tweet Day!

You can subscribe here or

Metatalks NaPodPoMo has a bit of fun reading out tweets from friends on tweet day. Jeppy doesn't like zombies, Alachia dreams of an evil surgeon, and we sing Happy Birthday to @diggins. Why a spoon cousin!? aaaaaaZXYA!!

Napodpomo: Calendar

~Links related to the conversation:
*Palin Video
*Under new Pa. law, neighbors control abandoned lot
*Zombie loves Brain Stick Figure Cartoon
*Peperami Advert
*History of Predictive Text Swearing
*MetaTalks Napodpomo Calendar Share
*MetaTalks Needs You! Yes You!

*Metatalk's Gtalk Partchat:
Just add metatalks@partychapp.appspotchat.com to your gtalk friends list

Google Buzz Link to the MetaTalks NaPodPoMo Tweet Day:

Buzz: Metatalks NaPodPoMo: Tweet Day

MetaTalks#8: ♪ Bah Bah Bah Ba Ba ♪

2010-11-08T02:19:00.000-08:00

You can subscribe here or

This episode, we pretty much commit social suicide here and delve into politics but we try to make up for it with some nice humiliating personal stories and some inspiring ideas and submissions from the community.

~Current Conversation:

Us: French Geography, the anti-social gene, I didn't vote, Napodpomo Failure, Scared of Fireworks

Them: Coffee Table Project by Strumpet, NaPodPoMo help- MetaVoices, VR Away Teams, Time Capsule

Information on how to help with MetaVoices:

http://www.google.com/buzz/alachia.me/1FYQoBAxmBn/Meta-VoicesHallo-If-youre-willing-to-help-out-with

Napodpomo: Calendar

MetaTalks Napodpomo Calendar Share

You:

Grim's Wedding and Poetry audio submission

~Links related to the conversation:

*Strumpet's Coffee Table Flickr Project

*Gov 2.0 Summit
*Gov 2.0 Expo

*Metatalk's Gtalk Partchat:

Just add metatalks@partychapp.appspotchat.com to your gtalk friends list

~Closing Song

Liptease- Firework (Katy Perry Cover)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Binaural Recording Track: (in case you're wondering where we "are" in this Episode)

This week we're just within earshot of a living room tv. This was a binaural request from Alghairon.

Google Buzz Link to the MetaTalks #8 Bah Bah Bah Ba Ba:

Buzz: Metatalks #8: Bah Bah Bah Ba Ba

MetaTalks Napodpomo #6: The Lost Second Life Episode

2010-11-07T00:22:00.000-07:00

MetaTalks NaPodPoMo Presents:
The Lost Second Life Episode

You can subscribe here or

We dug through the archives! The Second Life Episode finally makes its way to the metaverse. This is a pre-recorded conversation between us before we did Episode #3-Layers. We talk about Second Life and the beauty of binaural. Beware the flying willies!

Napodpomo: Calendar

~Links related to the conversation:
*MetaTalks Napodpomo Calendar Share
*MetaTalks Needs You! Yes You!

*Metatalk's Gtalk Partchat:
Just add metatalks@partychapp.appspotchat.com to your gtalk friends list

Google Buzz Link to the MetaTalks NaPodPoMo The Lost Second Life Episode:

Buzz: Metatalks NaPodPoMo: The Lost Second Life Episode

MetaTalks Napodpomo #5: Poetry

2010-11-06T01:14:00.000-07:00

MetaTalks NaPodPoMo Presents:
A Compilation of Poetry Readings
by the listeners...

You can subscribe here or

Metatalks is proud to present this compilation of poetry readings by the listeners. Thank you so much for your submissions.
Special Thanks to: Syntychus, Rishal, Lionchild, Francois, Strumpet, Chewy, Neske, Juno, and Parxyr

"A poet's work is to name the unnameable, to point at frauds, to take sides, start arguments, shape the world, and stop it going to sleep."
Salman Rushdie

Napodpomo: Calendar

~Links related to the conversation:
*MetaTalks Napodpomo Calendar Share
*MetaTalks Needs You! Yes You!

*Metatalk's Gtalk Partchat:
Just add metatalks@partychapp.appspotchat.com to your gtalk friends list

Google Buzz Link to the MetaTalks NaPodPoMo Poetry Episode:

Buzz: Metatalks NaPodPoMo: Poetry

MetaTalks Napodpomo #4: Remember Remember

2010-11-05T05:34:00.000-07:00

MetaTalks NaPodPoMo Presents:
Remember Remember by Jeppy

You can subscribe here or

A MetaTalks Guy Fawkes Day special presented by Jeppy. Remember, Remember the fifth of November!

~Remember Remember the Fifth of November Rhyme:
Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
the Gunpowder Treason and Plot,

I see no reason why Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, t’was his intent to blow up King and Parliament.

Three score barrels were laid below to prove old England’s overthrow;
By God’s mercy he was catch’d with a dark lantern and lighted match.

Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!

Hip hip hoorah!

Napodpomo: Calendar

~Links related to the conversation:
*MetaTalks Napodpomo Calendar Share
*MetaTalks Needs You! Yes You!

*Metatalk's Gtalk Partchat:
Just add metatalks@partychapp.appspotchat.com to your gtalk friends list

Google Buzz Link to the MetaTalks NaPodPoMo How Mutch? Episode:

Buzz: Metatalks NaPodPoMo: Remember Remember

MetaTalks Napodpomo #3: Alachia Cooks (Binaural)

2010-11-04T01:03:00.000-07:00

MetaTalks NaPodPoMo Presents:
A Binaural Culinary Experience with Alachia

(Headphones recommended for this one!) You can subscribe here or

MetaTalks NaPodPoMo brings you a binaural culinary experience of Alachia cooking Pasta Bolognese with Meatsauce.

~Meat Sauce Recipe:
Ingredients:
1lb Ground Beef
1 White Onion Diced
1 Garlic Diced
5 Medium Tomatoes Diced
1 Can Diced Garlic Flavored Tomatoes
1 Can Tomato Paste
1 Can Chopped Olives
1 Can Sliced Olives
1 Jar Ragu (Garlic Flavored)

Cook Beef til' brown, flavor with salt, pepper, oregano, basil, onion powder, and garlic powder to taste.
Add in Fresh Vegetables, let cook down
Add Canned Tomatoes and Paste, simmer
Add Olives, simmer
Add Ragu
Add more seasoning to taste.

Napodpomo: Calendar

~Links related to the conversation:
*Garlic Peeler
*MetaTalks Napodpomo Calendar Share
*MetaTalks Needs You! Yes You!

*Metatalk's Gtalk Partchat:
Just add metatalks@partychapp.appspotchat.com to your gtalk friends list

Google Buzz Link to the MetaTalks NaPodPoMo How Mutch? Episode:

Buzz: Metatalks NaPodPoMo: Alachia Cooks (Binaural)

MetaTalks Napodpomo #2: How Mutch?

2010-11-02T22:47:00.000-07:00

MetaTalks NaPodPoMo Presents:
How Mutch?

You can subscribe here or

MetaTalks NaPodPoMo presents How Mutch? Where everyone has a price, including Alachia and Jeppy. FYI, Jeppy is cheap!!

~What's YOUR Price?? We want to hear!:
How much would someone have to pay you to not use the internet for one year?
How much would you pay to have lunch with Jon Stewart?
How much would you pay to have lunch with Stephen Colbert?
How much would someone have to pay you to take a vow of celibacy for one year?
How much would you pay to hook up with Scarlett Johansson?
How much would someone have to pay you to streak naked at the Super Bowl?
How much would you pay to have your DNA mapped on 23andMe?
How much would someone have to pay you to star in a porno under your real name?
How much would you pay to have Morgan Freeman narrate your life for one day?
How much would you pay to fly to space?
How much would someone have to pay you to hook up with Snooki?
How much would someone have to pay you to spend a year in a maximum security prison?
How much would you pay to have X-ray vision?
How much would someone have to pay you to eat dog crap?
How much would someone have to pay you to cheat on your significant other?
How much would you pay to punch the CEO of BP in the face?
How much would someone have to pay you to get a tattoo of the Microsoft logo on your arm?

How much would you pay to have a glass of wine with Gary Vaynerchuk?
How much would you pay to ride in the Goodyear blimp?
How much would someone have to pay you to lick a subway pole?
How much would you pay to never have to shave again?
How much would you pay to have a million followers on Twitter?
How much would someone have to pay you to never drink coffee again?
How much would someone have to pay you to give away your dog?

Napodpomo: Calendar

~Links related to the conversation:
*HowMutch.com
*MetaTalks Napodpomo Calendar Share
*MetaTalks Needs You! Yes You!

*Metatalk's Gtalk Partchat:
Just add metatalks@partychapp.appspotchat.com to your gtalk friends list

Google Buzz Link to the MetaTalks NaPodPoMo How Mutch? Episode:

Buzz: Metatalks NaPodPoMo: How Mutch?

MetaTalks Napodpomo #1: Kick Off Show

2010-11-01T23:10:00.000-07:00

MetaTalks Presents: National Podcast Month
pop open your drinks, stick in the straw and get ready for some podcasting action. Thirty days, thirty podcasts, let's go!

You can subscribe here or

MetaTalks NapodPOmo has it's first kick off show where we explain what to expect for the next month of MetaTalks podcasting goodness. Also, the British apparently only ever get stale, crusty candy. Go America!

Napodpomo: Calendar

~Links related to the conversation:
*MetaTalks Napodpomo Calendar Share
*MetaTalks Needs You! Yes You!

*http://napodpomo.ning.com/profile/Alachia
*http://napodpomo.ning.com/profile/AndrewJepson

*Metatalk's Gtalk Partchat:
Just add metatalks@partychapp.appspotchat.com to your gtalk friends list

Google Buzz Link to the MetaTalks NaPodPoMo Kick Off Episode:

Buzz: Metatalks NaPodPoMo:Kick Off Show

MetaTalks#7: It's a Short One (TWSS)

2010-11-01T03:51:00.000-07:00

METATALKS NAPODPOMO IS A GO!!

Please remember this is a binaurally recorded podcast so headphones are HIGHLY recommended for maximum listening experience. You can subscribe here or )

Going back to the short two hour format (lol), MetaTalks continues this week with Jeppy calling Alachia a fascist and predictions that all of the greater London area is soon to burn down. We also ponder the question of 'Does non digital media still have a chance?' Metatalks Napodmo kicks off with this episode and we are excited for the future collaborations this month. See you tomorrow!

~Current Conversation:

Us: Pain, Babies/Genetic Aborations, Lucy in Disguise with Diamons, NFL comes to London, Audio Galaxy Best App EVER, and Sports Update sponsored by Rishal.

Them: Fireman Strike, New Newspaper Launch in the UK, We need YOU for Napodmo!

Napodpomo: Calendar

MetaTalks Napodpomo Calendar Share

You:
Email from Kevin Haslam
Email from Lothillian
Email from Mon_Star
Email from Strumpet
Email from Rishal
Buzz Post from Mutable Paradox and Strumpet

~Links related to the conversation:

*The Independent Launches iii

*Explain the Internet to a 19th Century British Street Urchin
*Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds
*http://napodpomo.ning.com/profile/Alachia
*http://napodpomo.ning.com/profile/AndrewJepson

*Metatalk's Gtalk Partchat:
Just add metatalks@partychapp.appspotchat.com to your gtalk friends list

~Closing Song

Julieta Laso- De mi Barrio

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Binaural Recording Track: (in case you're wondering where we "are" in this Episode)

This week we're having lunch at Thai Fresh in Austin, Texas.

Google Buzz Link to Episode 7:

Buzz: Metatalks #7: It's a Short One (TWSS)

MetaTalks#6: ScheduleSchmedule

2010-10-25T16:31:00.000-07:00

Artwork by Spenser

Please remember this is a binaurally recorded podcast so headphones are HIGHLY recommended for maximum listening experience. You can subscribe here or )

MetaTalks this week is a 3.5 hour long discussion that ranges from Marriage to High School Life to Soccer gangs and then takes a couple of sharp turns for some good old Meta discussions ranging from our cognitive surplus to the delusions of online relationships.

~Current Conversation:

Us: Meaningless Traditions, Final Fantasy XIV, Zero Inbox, Playing with Fire, Baseball (ick), Pretty in Pink= American High School Life?, The Firm (not the crappy Tom Cruise one), and Favre vs Rooney.

Them: Cognitive Surplus, What happens to idle minds, what are we drawn to, where are we dumping this suprlus now? are most of us just bottling it up?

Napodmo- Open Casting Calls:
Hacker Script Reading - Nov 6th
Tweet Day- November 9th
Poetry Readings- Nov 10th
Duets- November 11th
Meta Voices- Nov 17 & 18
Top Ten Day- November 21st

http://www.dailylit.com - Books in easily digestible bites

You:
Strumpet Recording
Juuno Recording
Email from Eade
Buzz post from Mutable Paradox
Chat and Talk with Syntychus and Jemimus

~Links related to the conversation:

*How I Finally and Permanently Cleaned my Inbox

*Clay Shirky at Web 2.0 Expo SF 2008:

*http://www.dailylit.com
*Hockey Fight at a Wedding
*Wedding Cake
*Metatalk's Gtalk Partchat:
Just add metatalks@partychapp.appspotchat.com to your gtalk friends list

~Closing Song

Michael Feinberg Quartet- Cacoon (Bjork cover) @Cornelia St. Cafe

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Binaural Recording Track: (in case you're wondering where we "are" in this Episode)

This week we're hanging out in my garage right after a rain storm.

Google Buzz Link to Episode 6:

Buzz: Metatalks #6: Schedule Shmedule

MetaTalks#5: Us Them you

2010-10-17T23:31:00.000-07:00

Please remember this is a binaurally recorded podcast so headphones are HIGHLY recommended for maximum listening experience. You can subscribe here or )

After a long break, MetaTalks returns with Alachia and Jeppy and a new format to the show. We play catch-up and discuss everything from depression to learning French to the cutest dog in the world to American Football to this fall's boob tube shows to the fallacies of Social Networking.

~Current Conversation:

Us: Life as a Nutter, Je ne parle pas français, Daisy, American Football from a British Fan, and 1x01s TV shows

Them: The delusions and illusions of social networking and friendships. Is it just me or do people really not want to be social?

You: Nothing yet! Hopefully something next week!

~Links related to the conversation:

*The Short Lifespan of a Tweet: Retweets Only Happen Within the First Hour: http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/the_short_lifespan_of_a_tweet_retweets_only_happen.php

*Social Media Demographics:
http://social-media-optimization.com/2009/08/social-networks-demographics/
*Metatalk's Gtalk Partchat:
Just add metatalks@partychapp.appspotchat.com to your gtalk friends list

~Closing Song

Jahselle- Infatuation (Hidden Souls Album)

http://castroller.com/podcasts/SoulMusicOf/1394167-DJ%20COA%20presents%20Jahselle%20Infatuation

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Binaural Recording Track: (in case you're wondering where we "are" in this Episode)

This week we're having lunch outside at the Shady Grove in central Austin, Texas.

Google Buzz Link to Episode 5:

Buzz: Metatalks #5: Us Them You

Facebook and Radical Transparency Article Comment

2010-05-15T08:10:00.001-07:00

Got a few good links for thought from the last Metatalks. Many thanks to Melvyl for linking us this article about Facebook and the future of radical transparency in our meta culture.

http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2010/05/14/facebook-and-radical-transparency-a-rant.html

What I loved the most in the article wasn't just the commentary about whether we should be having a debate of public vs private on Facebook. I love how it really illustrates the absolute confusion and distortion of facts to give metazens proper information to truly decide for themselves.

If any of you have used Facebook and aren't just the type to click "okay okay okay" to all the shit that pops up on your screen, you'll know just how much they are manipulating you to relinquish your privacy. Even before Facebook started to change it's approach to privacy, I remember a lot of people didn't understand that when they joined say the "Boston", "Chicago", "Austin" network that they were giving everyone in that network access to view their account.

Even now, it's hard to tell who can see what photos because I swear I toggle "family only" and suddenly guildmates are commenting on the picture. Those are times when you realize you are experiencing a WTF am I doing on Facebook moment.

I still don't believe that this quote is true:

“You have one identity… The days of you having a different image for your work friends or co-workers and for the other people you know are probably coming to an end pretty quickly… Having two identities for yourself is an example of a lack of integrity” – Zuckerberg, 2009

As users, we have to stop putting the power in the hands of the architects of these networks and fucking demand they create a network that suits our needs or hell, let's start creating groundwork for a more flexible infrastructure ourselves. They are not gods. You think some twenty-six year old kid is the only person on earth who could come up with a viable framework for how we want to develop our communication, interaction, and existence online? Seriously, so many people harness the resources to contribute to something WE want.

I hope more and more people read articles like these and really start to question how they want to interact with the world around them. Pay attention, get informed, and don't settle. I think it lacks far less integrity to be shackled into one identity that is suppressed by the lack of control of its data than to create one hundred identities that are all honest in the information about who I am.

Metatalks #4 Transparency

2010-05-08T11:30:00.000-07:00

Please remember this is a binaurally recorded podcast so headphones are HIGHLY recommended for maximum listening experience. You can subscribe here or )

Episode 4 is a little off protocol. It starts straight with the audio submission from @phoenix1914 regarding the Meta Layers Episode #3. Audio is a little rocky for the first 11mins from Jeppy's side and then gets better after we switched to Skype. We're working on finding a clearer audio input on Jeppy's side including getting him his own binaural mic set.

~Current Conversation:

This episode is our bumpy first bike ride on podcasting after a long hiatus where we respond to @Phoenix1914's audio submission and delve more into what the future culture of transparency means for the quality of our connections. Should we get used to having no privacy? In a world where you can be tracked from anywhere in both your RL and digital traces, who are we kidding?

~Links related to the conversation:

*Facial Recognition for Android Phones: http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/recognizr_facial_recognition_coming_to_android_phones.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+readwriteweb+(ReadWriteWeb)&utm_content=Google+Reader

*The dangers of Transparency: http://pleaserobme.com/

*Employers Dig Dirt on You with Google and Facebook: http://www.switched.com/2010/05/07/potential-employers-go-to-google-facebook-to-dig-up-dirt-on-you/

*Alachia's Trek to her Car from the Kite Festival via google maps:

View Kite Festival to Car in a larger map

~Closing Song

John Mayer- Lenny (Stevie Ray Vaughan)

http://www.archive.org/details/jm2002-08-24

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Binaural Recording Track: (in case you're wondering where we "are" in this Episode)

This week we're in a park next to a road.

Google Buzz Link to Episode 4:

Buzz: Metatalks #4: Transparency

Metatalks #3 Meta-Layers

2010-03-26T05:56:00.000-07:00

Please remember this is a binaurally recorded podcast so headphones are HIGHLY recommended for maximum listening experience. You can subscribe here or )

Episode 3 is dedicated to @phoenix1914 who asked us in the Metatalks Bindpoint channel to cover how to begin developing ourselves in the Meta.

~Current Conversation:

Your identity in the Metaverse can consist of many layers. This Episode focuses on the nature of creating those layers to represent yourself online and the consequences of too many or too little layer types.

~Links related to the conversation:

*How to create multiple profiles in chrome: http://www.labnol.org/software/create-family-profiles-in-google-chrome/4394/

*How to create multiple profiles in Firefox: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Profiles

*We are the people of the Internet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OT5jQCaM8Y

~Closing Song

Alexander Blu- Emptiness

http://www.alexanderblu.com/

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Binaural Recording Track: (in case you're wondering where we "are" in this Episode)

This week we're having lunch at BJs, home of the Pizookie.

Google Buzz Link to Episode 3:

Buzz: Metatalks #3: Meta-Layers

Facebook Doubletake

2010-03-20T13:26:00.000-07:00

What the heck does anyone use Facebook for except to stalk other people? Well, according to the BBC Virtual Revolution documentary I watched with @Jemimus there are over 400 million active users on Facebook. It's the largest social networking site hosting more than 35 million user status update per day, 3 billion photo uploads per month, and 5 billion pieces of content per week (facebook statistics). This network even dwarfs my favorite site, Flickr, by a lot.

So someone like me who is heavily invested in the Metaverse has to ask what it is about this clunky, socially limiting site that actually makes it so popular. After looking at more articles on the popularity of Facebook and the site itself, I realize now why this network is so vast and most favored. It's because it DOES NOT appeal to me! It's about how the majority of people out in the "meatverse" like to connect.

Name, Age, Sex, Occupation, Favorite movie please! Sorry, no time for more exchange! Yup, that's how we interface in the RL. We're too busy, too fast pace to have the time to dig and create niche communities beyond the quick and dirty group pages. "Click Join" is a lot easier than combing the web to find people who are truly like ourselves and share the same passions. There is a great power in a global web that Facebook provides. It has allowed those in the mainstream movement of socializing to find a place on the Internet that isn't too "strange" or "eclectic" for them.

I've always looked as the Metaverse as place to delve deeper and seek branches of human thought that bloom in imagination and creativity. But the reality is that most people who take their first steps of "being online" are just looking to find the check-in counter. Where's the lobby? Facebook is the lobby. Some people will never leave this area and I think that's fine, at least they have a place to meet and greet. And hell, at least they checked in.

I won't go into the viral marketing strategy Facebook employs. I'll just say that people who gave Google Buzz such a hard time should understand that your Uncle George may not understand that it's extremely easy to get tricked into inviting his entire e-mail contact list to Facebook with just one accidental click. And while I don't get the appeal of silly beer games and farmville, I also will admit I don't get people who are into playing solitaire on their computer all day long. That is the true genius of Facebook! It ignores people like me and says, "uh.. yeah, you're not the only one. There are some people who just want to find place to keep in touch with their kids or network with their entire graduating class."

That being said, I wonder as someone who does long for more out of everything, is there a way to utilize Facebook beyond the base tool that it is? I keep meaning to experiment with the medium. Is it is as simple as consistently integrating normal web content to the Facebook page so FB users never have to leave that "lobby" and yet still access your data? Or can it be more? I guess I'm still experimenting and researching.

One of the things I find the most intriguing about Facebook is the network being used for data research. Pages have created over 5.3 billion fans of something with obvious overlap but that data and other user input I think could help generate more efficient and effective future infrastructures for communities online. Thanks to massive security flaws in Facebook, a lot of that data has been harvested and I hope something positive can come from what I perceive as stagnated space.

I created a Facebook page for MetaTalks and will be playing around with it to see if there are any potential possibilities that I may have overlooked. Sorry for the clunky URL. You don't get a simplified URL until you have more than 100 fans..something which I don't agree with because sometimes user groups for certain interests aren't really about high volume numbers. But anyhow, more importantly though, I swallowed my pride and realized it might be a tad ignorant to underestimate the power of the world's largest data pool of online metazens....even if they don't know they are part of the Meta yet. :D

Update: I was reading the PeteSearch Blog and found out he's destroying most of the data he farmed from Facebook due to legal issues. That's a shame. I kind of thought that might happen but maybe that's just his official statement and the data is still out there...somewhere.

Binaural on the Go Sample

2010-03-13T19:35:00.000-08:00

So I invested in an H2 Handy Recorder and it arrived on Friday! I was so excited to try out the ability to go mobile with my binaural mics. There is only so much I can test and experiment with in my office. With the ability to take the mics mobile, I can go create my own binaural tracks so that Jeppy and I can take you guys to more places!

This is my very first recording attempt with the mobile recorder and I'm telling you I got chills listening to it and I had actually experienced the original thing! lol. If it doesn't make you shiver when you hear that car go past me while I'm collecting my mail, I don't know what will.

You can even hear the pitter patter of my dog's feet at the very end when I go back inside.

Anyhow, this is my journey to go pick up the mail in binaural. (two doors- one for the house, one for the garage, a long ass driveway, a mailbox, and back).

or
http://www.wowcastpodcast.com/metatalks/binaural/Alachiamailbox.mp3

MetaTalks Episode 2 Buzz Thread

2010-03-11T16:54:00.001-08:00

I think I'll start adding a buzz thread for every episode because sometimes 140 chars just isn't enough :)

Here's the link to the Episode 2 Thread: http://www.google.com/buzz/alachia.me/H639ZMmAUib/MetaTalks-Episode-2-out-http-metatalks-com-eljeppy

Two people from bindpoint wrote really lovely posts sharing their stories of their intro into the metaverse. Maybe I can get them to post them onto the buzz thread for others to read. I'm not sure how private they are.

It's interesting though that even though we may have all integrated into the Meta at different points we somehow found intersecting lines throughout the timeline.

Metatalks #2 My Favorite Mexican Dish is Eljeppy

2010-03-08T00:26:00.000-08:00

Please remember this is a binaurally recorded podcast so headphones are HIGHLY recommended for maximum listening experience. You can subscribe here ---> or )

Episode 2 is our official intro episode into the podcast where we give you our backgrounds and our journey into the meta.

~Current Conversation:
The official intro to Metatalks with background info about us and our progression into the world we call the Metaverse. Who are we? Where did we come from? Why are we here? What's the purpose of this podcast? Where did Metatalks come from? What the heck is bi-oral? lol.

~Links related to the conversation:
*Nov 02, 2007 David Wong- A World of Warcraft World: 10 Ways Online Gaming Will Change the Future
*Viddler - Jeppy's Epic Desktop Video
*Youtube- Alachia's Desktop Video
*1 Minute Video: Mentioned video of Brendan working on his laptop

~Closing Song
Pomplamoose- Cover of September by Earth, Wind & Fire
http://www.youtube.com/user/PomplamooseMusic

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Extra Content (I am deaf the destroyer!/Jeppy does 24 Intro/This is how we roll):

Funny enough, I actually decided not to edit much out so there wasn't any real meat to put into the extras.. maybe next time!

How to Start Buzz

2010-03-03T13:23:00.000-08:00

Got a great email response back from @ashayo regarding the usefulness of Google Buzz and how to use it so I created a buzz thread in case people would like to give feedback.

You can access the MetaTalks buzz thread HERE

I'll go ahead and post my initial response here as well:

Buzz is much like other social networks in that you must garner your circle first. Even with all the hoopla of the intrusive adding of friends, unless you are one to follow everyone who follows you, you'll be missing people.

I don't like to auto-follow back simply because I've chosen to use Buzz as my core discussion social media tool and you just can't give people your sincere attention and feedback if you've got a list of 500 you are following that run the post gauntlet like twitter.

I tend to almost always follow back anyone who comments on my buzz or regularly puts feedback on other people's posts because then I know they are the type to actually want to engage in conversations and discussions and not just voyeuring (which is NOT a bad thing).

Also, if you don't think people are currently following you but you want to engage in a particular buzz convo, start one and then link to it in twitter. That's another effective way of kicking off a discussion.

I'm still researching a way to embed a buzz convo in a blog or website.

Hope this helps.

Metatalks #1 Let's Get this Conversation Started

2010-02-21T21:49:00.000-08:00

(Please remember this is a binaurally recorded podcast so headphones are HIGHLY recommended for maximum listening experience. You can subscribe here ---> or )

The new podcast launches in just a few minutes. I'm so excited. I'm currently watching the upload % right now. I can't express how happy I am to have a forum for open meta discussion where I won't have to feel guilty for not talking about World of Warcraft. :D

This is planned to be a bi-weekly podcast with shows recorded every other Thursday and released on Sunday. We truly hope you enjoy the show and look forward to any feedback. Also, if you're interested in more content, I am posting an additional .mp3 in this post after the notes which gives you a glimpse into the "intro making" and the conversation truly continuing (05:07) after the podcast ended.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Here are the show notes:

Episode 1: Let's Get this Conversation Started Already

~Current Conversation:
With all the google buzz and talk about too many social networks and backlash hatred for facebook and twitter and the concept of blogging, it seems like we have not yet figured out how to truly communicate yet in the Meta. Will communication always be limited? Is this all we want?

~News related or Links related to the conversation:
*Google announces Google Buzz- http://techcrunch.com/2010/02/09/if-google-wave-is-the-future-google-buzz-is-the-present/
*Broadcast twitters vs. real time conversations and connections
*The illusion of security online-
*Data Farming Facebook- http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/facebook_user_data_analysis.php

~Closing Song
Attila Jelinek- Explain
http://www.myspace.com/attilajelinek

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Extra Content (the making of the show intro and the conversation continues 05:07):

The Podcast Begins

2010-02-16T06:02:00.000-08:00

I have overhauled the previous metatalks blog into the MetaTalks Podcast site. I think the new place looks pretty spiffy. :) I had a lot of fun setting it up. I'm going to keep it simple. There won't be a facebook page or many other avenues for this podcast other than our twitter accounts, the show's email address, and this site.

I notice that most shows create a lot of networks but they all end up with redundant info so for now we'll keep it simple.

First show is being recorded this Thursday and should be up by Sunday. This has been roughly 5 months in the works between Eljeppy and I trying to figure out how to pursue this project. When it finally launches it will be quite exciting. We are always having wonderful conversations regarding everything. It'll be nice to finally share them.

MetaTalk Tram Party

2007-05-31T15:23:00.001-07:00

Feelin' the need to unwind from the stress of the game? This one's going to be a low brainer..

Bring your own beats! Turn up the volume! Time to have fun.
Events for the night:
1. Tram Racing
2. Tram Hopping
3. WoW Stress Affirmation followed by attempted Suicide Club Movie re-enactment
4. A trip to the Tram Aquarium
5. And of course, freaking people out on the Tram

Hope to see ya guys there!

Has WoW Changed You Transcript

2007-05-29T22:17:00.000-07:00

May 24th, 2007 Meeting Transcript

Has WoW Changed You

[20:15:45] [Metatalk]: actually.. just a show of yes, do any of you feel that WoW has changed you?
[20:15:50] [Komalie]: yes
[20:15:51] [Metatalk]: yes
[20:15:57] [Ligon]: yes
[20:15:59] [Spurlok]: yes
[20:16:01] [Xelaere]: shit yeah!
[20:16:04] [Kitch]: yep
[20:16:05] [Merivel]: somewhat
[20:16:11] [Felixthecat]: yes
[20:16:28] [Metatalk]: any No's?
[20:16:29] [Zeroofmeta]: Yes
[20:16:44] [Rowweniana]: hellz yeah! Ironicly that was the name of my second cousins Gnome mage... I'm serious

WoWcentric

2007-05-29T21:55:00.001-07:00

I remember looking at this chart a few months ago and kind of having a sense of pride. How nice it is to belong to such a huge community. But at the same time, as I've delved more into the ideas of the metaverse and actually creating a real and thriving working meta society...a lot of realizations came to me.

If WoW is the catalyst for what we now recognize as the start of a real metaverse...a great platform for how a virtual existance can begin.... what happens if it ends?

WoW no doubt takes up a huge chunk of the pie and it's very game based..its users are all of a certain goal orientation. If you take that away, is there anything left?

I keep thinking of what a future metaverse would look like. Where Alachia isn't just my identity related to a priest or mage or engineer or medic etc. Where Alachia is simply Alachia in the meta.. period. And that she can assume many roles.. some to fulfill game-like fantasies and other times to explore philisophical topics or to kick back and watch youtube videos with friends or to read up on the news or look up random words for the hell of it. Anything.

Tonight's topic for MetaTalk is going to explore the idea of 'How WoW is Meta?'
What kind of a social impact would it have on most of us if we were to lose this medium overnight? What kind of connections would we stand to lose? Or would we evolve into something else?

How WoWcentric are we?

How WoW is Meta?

2007-05-17T13:57:00.000-07:00

MetaTalk tonight
05/17/07

"How WoW is Meta?"

Scarlet Crusade US
Stormwind/The Park
8pm central

/w MetaTalk for invite

MetaTalk Virtual Taboo Meeting Transcript

2007-05-16T15:38:00.000-07:00

MetaTalk Virtual Taboo

To read the transcript click here:
http://www.wowcast.net/metatalk/taboo.rtf

I think the meeting went very well. It was the first time I ever had a free form discussion going on. At times it did get a little overwhelming but I think some really good ideas on the notion of taboo were shared.

Thanks to everyone who came and helped to delve into the sociology of Virtual Taboos.

Virtual Taboo

2007-05-10T09:42:00.000-07:00

Tonight's Meeting: Virtual Taboo

Scarlet Crusade US Server
Stormwind/The Park
8pm central

/w MetaTalk

:D

What is WoW Transcript

2007-05-05T02:46:00.000-07:00

MetaTalk: What is WoW....to you? May 03,2007 Thursday 8pm central

Read it here or take it with you: whatiswow.rtf

[19:50:38] [Komalie]: howdy
[19:51:22] [Felixthecat]: HOWDY
[19:51:28] [Vino]: wazzup
[19:51:35] [Rowweniana]: (\_/)
[19:51:35] [Rowweniana]: (^ .^)
[19:51:35] [Rowweniana]: (> <)
[19:51:42] [Spurlok]: OMG...ITS FELIXTHECAT

[19:57:56] [Metatalk]: great shirt felix!
[19:58:12] [Vino]: that*
[19:58:25] [Felixthecat]: thanks
[19:58:30] [Felixthecat]: cost me a hole 2 silver
[19:59:00] [Caitin]: can I spam you for gold then? =P
[19:59:21] [Felixthecat]: hahaha I have 3 copper
[19:59:28] [Vino]: I got 4
[19:59:47] [Felixthecat]: sweet together was have 7 copper
[19:59:49] [Felixthecat]: we are rich
[19:59:57] [Felixthecat]: lets BUY stromwind
[20:00:05] [Rowweniana]: WOOT!
[20:00:09] [Vino]: nah alliance sucks, lets buy silvermoon

[20:00:25] [Sadin]: OMG, Sadin has set the new world record for naked gnome run through the eastern kingdoms!
[20:01:11] [Spurlok]: Hey sadin
[20:01:17] [Rowweniana]: sup?
[20:01:18] [Sadin]: my head has been rubbed for luck and i've been told to get back in their belly you naked gnome
[20:01:23] [Sadin]: wut a great server
[20:01:42] [Vino]: well, it is a RP server
[20:02:07] [Aenjel]: Greetings Lords and Ladies of Metatalk!
[20:02:19] [Felixthecat]: howdy
[20:02:21] [Spurlok]: I may have to turn off my ui interface..I can't avoid my gaze from him..its like a car accident

[20:02:59] [Metatalk]: If you'd like to share the same music.
[20:02:59] [Metatalk]: Go to shoutcast.com.
[20:02:59] [Metatalk]: Search for Trance Techno
[20:02:59] [Metatalk]: Station: [Trance Techno] 1.FM-Trance

[20:03:07] [Kirce]: sorry im late
[20:03:27] [Felixthecat]: np glad u made it
[20:03:31] [Spurlok]: and if you get 60's music you are listening to the same music as Felix
[20:03:43] [Metatalk]: wowcast bunny ftw
[20:03:45] [Zeroofmeta]: Brb
[20:04:02] [Metatalk]: okie doke. ready to begin?

[20:04:04] [Spurlok]: Use of the wowcast bunny without express written consent of alchaia inc is strictly prohibited
[20:04:12] [Metatalk]: lmao
[20:04:17] [Komalie]: LIES!
[20:04:27] [Sadin]: who's alchaia?
[20:04:35] [Aenjel]: my hero
[20:04:36] [Vino]: who......cares?
[20:04:42] [Sadin]: and where do i get this consent?
[20:04:48] [Spurlok]: Duh sadin. She's that woman on Taverncast
[20:04:48] [Felixthecat]: who... knows?
[20:05:02] [Metatalk]: there is another wowcast podcast. I found
[20:05:15] [Vino]: I thought she was that guy uhh Scott on The Instance
[20:05:21] [Rowweniana]: /boogy down
[20:05:23] [Spurlok]: Can you say Temporary Injunction?
[20:05:33] [Metatalk]: big words..woah.
[20:05:41] [Metatalk]: okay. gonna start now
[20:05:45] [Felixthecat]: cool
[20:05:46] [Kirce]: temporary... what?

[20:05:52] [Metatalk]: WELCOME to MetaTalk. Thanks for coming!
[20:05:52] [Metatalk]: Today's topic is What is WoW....to you?
[20:05:52] [Metatalk]: Through a series of questions we'll explore the different ways people play and how WoW may be different for each of us.

[20:06:08] [Metatalk]: You'll be given a scenrio. Assume the scenerio applies to you, your guild, your family. Guildmate does not equal friend. Keep that in mind.
[20:06:08] [Metatalk]: I'll call people at random to share their answer and point of view.
[20:06:08] [Metatalk]: This is not a debate. :)

[20:06:33] [Metatalk]: okay. here's the first one
[20:06:38] [Metatalk]: Your guild member Snippy says, "Guys, I'm temporarily quiting the guild to do more end game content. I've raided Karazhan with you all, gotten gear, but progression isn't fast enough for me"
[20:06:57] [Metatalk]: Later, Snippy comes back the next day after his run with the new guild and asks to go on the Karazhan run which has been cleared to the first T4 drop. He says the new guild sucks. He wants back in.

[20:06:57] [Metatalk]: Your response is:
[20:07:09] [Metatalk]: 1) Sure, welcome back. Glad to have your help
[20:07:09] [Metatalk]: 2) No, we needed you to help us raid and you left us
[20:07:09] [Metatalk]: 3) Indifferent

[20:07:45] [Metatalk]: type in the number which agrees with you most

[20:07:51] [Komalie]: 3
[20:07:59] [Aenjel]: 2
[20:07:59] [Felixthecat]: 2
[20:08:00] [Metatalk]: 2
[20:08:03] [Oakshay]: 3
[20:08:04] [Vino]: 2
[20:08:05] [Britnay]: 2
[20:08:12] [Kirce]: if not friend...2
[20:08:17] [Rowweniana]: 1
[20:08:21] [Caitin]: 3
[20:08:21] [Spurlok]: 2...nice knowing you

[20:08:50] [Metatalk]: Rowen, why did you choose 1?
[20:08:56] [Metatalk]: would you mind sharing?
[20:09:09] [Vino]: OOHHH put on the spot!
[20:09:35] [Rowweniana]: because
[20:10:49] [Rowweniana]: I I'm sortof a heavy WoW player, but I'm not one to diss someone
[20:11:15] [Rowweniana]: and a guild is
[20:11:33] [Rowweniana]: sorry, I'm a slow typer
[20:12:50] [Rowweniana]: a guild is alot to a player, and it isn't always about getting that epic gear, becasue than
[20:13:05] [Rowweniana]: its all about work
[20:13:19] [Kirce]: i agree
[20:13:26] [Rowweniana]: sorry, 5 year old nabor bothering me
[20:14:03] [Rowweniana]: and that takes away from teh whole community and fun aspect
[20:14:11] [Rowweniana]: the*
[20:14:22] [Rowweniana]: /end i guess
[20:14:29] [Felixthecat]: cool
[20:14:35] [Vino]: sweet

[20:14:35] [Metatalk]: Kirce, why did you pick 2?
[20:14:55] [Kirce]: well in the beginning you said that guildy does not equal friend
[20:15:06] [Kirce]: if the person was my friend i'd of course let them go
[20:15:11] [Kirce]: and re-enter
[20:15:29] [Metatalk]: why not just another guildmate?
[20:15:34] [Kirce]: but if it was a guildy i was unfamiliar with, and this guild wasnt good enough for them, then they should look elsewhere for a guild
[20:15:51] [Rowweniana]: thats a good point too
[20:16:00] [Kirce]: ty
[20:16:10] [Metatalk]: cool.
[20:16:20] [Kirce]: o /end

[20:16:24] [Metatalk]: Caitin, why are you indifferent?
[20:16:44] [Caitin]: based on the facts that were given that they had all the gear from kara
[20:16:58] [Caitin]: it was implied that they did not need kara anymore
[20:17:13] [Caitin]: therefore the person came back due to the guild social aspect
[20:17:19] [Caitin]: rather then progression aspect
[20:17:42] [Kirce]: i see u thought it out more than i did lol
[20:17:49] [Metatalk]: interesting perspective.
[20:17:59] [Caitin]: since the guild he went to would be further progressed then the current guild was the implication
[20:18:05] [Caitin]: /end

[20:18:20] [Metatalk]: Next Scenerio
[20:18:23] [Metatalk]: You're a druid. You've done 10 consecutive Karazhan runs. Finally, the Shard of Virtuous drops. (+300 healing one handed mace). Your raid leader says you can not roll on it. It is being given to the Paladin who is the main healer of the raid.

[20:18:38] [Metatalk]: Your response is:
[20:18:38] [Metatalk]: 1) BULLSHIT, I have every right to roll on the mace!
[20:18:38] [Metatalk]: 2) That makes sense, sure I pass to the Paladin.
[20:18:38] [Metatalk]: 3) You silently disagree but stay quiet to not cause drama.

[20:18:59] [Felixthecat]: 1
[20:19:01] [Kirce]: 3
[20:19:04] [Britnay]: 3
[20:19:09] [Metatalk]: 1
[20:19:12] [Komalie]: 3
[20:19:12] [Rowweniana]: 2
[20:19:13] [Xelaere]: 2
[20:19:14] [Spurlok]: 3
[20:19:20] [Vino]: between 1 and 2
[20:19:22] [Sadin]: 1
[20:19:28] [Caitin]: 2
[20:19:37] [Oakshay]: 2

[20:20:32] [Metatalk]: Felix, why 1?
[20:21:41] [Felixthecat]: I feel if u have been raiding with a group u have the right to roll on loot u can us. The pally is one of the healers and being the main healer should not guarantee the loot
[20:22:13] [Felixthecat]: I feel that since the group took down the boss, the group shares the loot, and having 1 person telling anyone they can not have the loot is wrong
[20:22:46] [Felixthecat]: so, that is why I went with one. I do not think anyone should tell people they can not roll on a item they can use.
[20:22:53] [Felixthecat]: thanks /end

[20:23:26] [Metatalk]: Xelaere, why do you pass it?
[20:23:57] [Xelaere]: How did I know I was going to be asked that... :)
[20:24:58] [Xelaere]: Primarily, I'd pass on it because it's a better time in the hands of a paladin that it is in the hands of a druid
[20:25:07] [Sadin]: burn!
[20:25:14] [Caitin]: lol
[20:25:16] [Metatalk]: ...
[20:25:20] [Xelaere]: there was no mention in the question that we as a druid were actually playing a healer in the raid
[20:25:29] [Xelaere]: *time = item
[20:26:39] [Xelaere]: and if we are a resto druid, healing in raids, we'd be looking for something with Spirit on it, as opposed to the generic (and overly-itemized) stam / int / mp5 / +heal
[20:27:19] [Xelaere]: also, that thing is ass-ugly. World of Fashioncraft > World of Lootcraft
[20:27:33] [Kirce]: lol
[20:28:49] [Xelaere]: on top of all that, I feel that when you're in a raid, everyone there (particularly in Kara and beyond) needs to play like a single, focused entity. loot drama will hurt your raid more than you not getting a hammer will help you
[20:29:46] [Xelaere]: and really, if you're in kara and your a druid using a one hander / offhand healing combo, your main hand is likely to be something *nearly* equal already.
[20:31:08] [Sadin]: any loot that falls in WoW has "Property of Sadin" written on it. Therefore, if loot falls it belongs to me. I choose who gets it after that.
[20:31:16] [Xelaere]: I guess to sum up, without rambling on for another few years, I'd pass because it's not a big deal. Dropping that giant bitch-queen should be enough of a reward for all the players in the raid - the loot is just icing on the cake.
[20:31:29] [Xelaere]: /end
[20:31:36] [Felixthecat]: cool
[20:31:42] [Vino]: sweet
[20:31:48] [Aenjel]: well said

[20:31:56] [Metatalk]: Komalie, why 3?
[20:32:59] [Komalie]: Basically, loot rules shoudl be laid out BEFORE you run. It's as simple as that. You dont' ask people go to a raid, kill a boss, and "oh, I'm sorry you can't roll". That's bullshit. However, the raid is not the time to bring it up, it should be mentioned
[20:33:00] [Komalie]: after
[20:33:15] [Komalie]: ./end
[20:33:22] [Felixthecat]: thanks
[20:33:41] [Komalie]: But that's a lousy way to run a raid IMO
[20:34:02] [Komalie]: ./end 4 real

[20:34:01] [Metatalk]: Cool. Next Scenerio!

[20:34:05] [Metatalk]: You have spent 3 hours farming 10 primal water (end game mats). Your guildmate says he needs 8 primal water for +81 healing enchant to their gladiator weapon.

[20:34:15] [Metatalk]: Your response is:
[20:34:15] [Metatalk]: 1) Hey, I have 8 primal water if you need them! I can farm more.
[20:34:15] [Metatalk]: 2) You stay quiet and don't mention the motes you got.
[20:34:15] [Metatalk]: 3) You offer to sell them at fair market price

[20:34:25] [Vino]: 2
[20:34:32] [Caitin]: 2
[20:34:33] [Britnay]: 2
[20:34:34] [Metatalk]: 2
[20:34:40] [Kirce]: 3...but at a guild discount
[20:34:45] [Rowweniana]: 2
[20:34:45] [Komalie]: 2 with reservation
[20:34:46] [Felixthecat]: 1
[20:34:47] [Oakshay]: 1
[20:34:52] [Spurlok]: 2
[20:34:58] [Sadin]: 3
[20:35:25] [Spurlok]: whata bout 4....sell them a 2x market price because none left in ah
[20:35:37] [Felixthecat]: shhhhhhh that is my plan
[20:35:37] [Sadin]: i assumed that was the same as 3
[20:36:09] [Zeroofmeta]: 1
[20:36:09] [Xelaere]: 1 or 3, conditionally

[20:35:18] [Metatalk]: Oakshay, why 1?
[20:36:17] [Oakshay]: Just the way I am I guess. Here to serve and protect if I can. I have more time in the end, and would feel much better for helping another. /end
[20:36:34] [Metatalk]: that's noble for sure. you sound like felix.
[20:36:48] [Rowweniana]: very well put
[20:37:25] [Komalie]: This music is awesome btw

[20:36:43] [Metatalk]: Spurlock, why 2?
[20:36:54] [Spurlok]: 'cuz I'm a selfish bastard
[20:36:59] [Spurlok]: Actually...
[20:37:39] [Spurlok]: I don't mind helping out a guild mate, in some cases I might give some. But my game time is pretty limitted, and if I was out farming, I was doing it for a reason. I either needed them myself or for money for something I was trying to get
[20:37:53] [Spurlok]: .../end
[20:38:06] [Felixthecat]: cool
[20:38:16] [Spurlok]: no! I'm a greedby bastard!

[20:38:20] [Metatalk]: Sadin, why 3?
[20:38:31] [Sadin]: 1) Because I'm a greedy gold hording bastard and any chance to make a copper I'm in.
[20:38:54] [Sadin]: 2) If I sale them to them this time, next time they prolly won't come asking again
[20:39:29] [Sadin]: 3) If I don't sell to them now, most people know my account and their gonna get it anyways
[20:39:39] [Spurlok]: hahaha
[20:39:43] [Sadin]: \end
[20:39:55] [Kirce]: /applaud reason 2
[20:40:04] [Felixthecat]: cool

[20:40:30] [Metatalk]: okie doke. next one!
[20:40:36] [Metatalk]: You have a girlfriend (woot!), but she doesn't play WoW. And you love her. She knows you love to play WoW. She's annoyed that you spend so much time doing it. She asks you to quit.

[20:40:47] [Metatalk]: Your response is:
[20:40:47] [Metatalk]: 1) What's WoW?? I'll quit for you.
[20:40:47] [Metatalk]: 2) /gquit (girlfriend quit)
[20:40:47] [Metatalk]: 3) Try to negotiate, but end the relationship if she doesn't allow moderate play.

[20:41:03] [Komalie]: 3
[20:41:06] [Caitin]: 3
[20:41:07] [Rowweniana]: 1
[20:41:09] [Komalie]: see how fast I answerd that?
[20:41:09] [Felixthecat]: 1
[20:41:12] [Britnay]: 2
[20:41:13] [Aenjel]: 3
[20:41:20] [Metatalk]: 2
[20:41:23] [Felixthecat]: but she better be HOT!!
[20:41:23] [Oakshay]: 3
[20:41:23] [Spurlok]: ummm...does my wife know about the girlfriend/
[20:41:24] [Kirce]: 1
[20:41:32] [Zeroofmeta]: 4
[20:41:35] [Vino]: depends
[20:41:37] [Spurlok]: 1
[20:41:38] [Aenjel]: ditto that one spur
[20:41:40] [Rowweniana]: 4?
[20:42:03] [Sadin]: yes 4: Smack her around until she concedes
[20:42:08] [Xelaere]: 3
[20:42:10] [Spurlok]: 4
[20:42:22] [Zeroofmeta]: None Of The Above I Date Gamers
[20:42:26] [Kitch]: 3
[20:42:28] [Vino]: w00t gold spam
[20:42:28] [Komalie]: 5 get HER hooked on WOW
[20:42:43] [Xelaere]: mm. zero has the answe that is much more likely for me.
[20:43:19] [Vino]: we should all /cheer at the same time to freak him out

[20:43:21] [Metatalk]: Spurlock, why 1?
[20:44:07] [Spurlok]: Well, I guess my real world relationships are a little more important. Its harder for me since if I didn't quit, she might tell my wife and that would suck hard.
[20:44:15] [Spurlok]: /end
[20:44:23] [Caitin]: lol
[20:44:25] [Metatalk]: smart ass
[20:44:37] [Felixthecat]: hahaha cute
[20:44:40] [Kirce]: hehe

[20:44:45] [Metatalk]: Britnay, why 2?
[20:45:13] [Britnay]: Well, if someone I was with wanted me to quit something I loved, I think it shows that we're really not compatible...
[20:46:40] [Britnay]: I would have to find someone who really shared doing what I loved to be happy, I think.
[20:46:57] [Britnay]: that's it. /end
[20:47:04] [Kirce]: that was cute
[20:47:08] [Kirce]: =]
[20:47:10] [Felixthecat]: cool

[20:48:21] [Metatalk]: Caitin, why 3?
[20:48:49] [Caitin]: actually its pretty close to what britney says
[20:49:14] [Caitin]: but I interpreted the word "negotiate" as explaining to her this is part of who I am
[20:49:31] [Caitin]: since I do "love" her and would want to try to work things out
[20:50:01] [Caitin]: but ultimately in the, if she cannot accept this part of me, this relationship cannot be long term for me /end

[20:50:19] [Metatalk]: Okay. Last scenerio!
[20:50:25] [Metatalk]: You and your party have just completed the quest to get the Darol's Rod of Transformation (turns you into a furblog). Your party member says "Let's go tranform ourselves and dance in front of the bank in Ironforge!"

[20:50:46] [Metatalk]: You Respond:
[20:50:46] [Metatalk]: 1) You're joking right? Let's go finish questing and gain another level tonight.
[20:50:46] [Metatalk]: 2) I call dibbs on the AH bridge!!

[20:50:54] [Vino]: 2
[20:50:54] [Komalie]: 2
[20:50:54] [Kirce]: 2
[20:50:55] [Spurlok]: 1
[20:50:56] [Rowweniana]: 2
[20:50:59] [Britnay]: 2
[20:51:03] [Felixthecat]: 1
[20:51:04] [Oakshay]: 2
[20:51:16] [Metatalk]: 2
[20:51:17] [Sadin]: 3: Check you friend into pysch ward
[20:51:26] [Spurlok]: oh..can I switch to 3
[20:51:29] [Xelaere]: 3 - hells yes... for however long we survive (horde4life!)
[20:51:48] [Kirce]: hahahahaha
[20:51:53] [Zeroofmeta]: 4) Dance In Front Of Under City
[20:52:07] [Zeroofmeta]: Flaged
[20:52:09] [Caitin]: 1
[20:52:48] [Xelaere]: oh right, that's an alliance-only quest. in that case, yeah, go dance in a horde city. so I guess 2 is the most fitting of the presented options

[20:52:55] [Metatalk]: Caitin, why 1?
[20:53:33] [Caitin]: personally for me, I find satisfaction in the measurable achievements in the game
[20:53:55] [Caitin]: I am not as influenced by the thoughts of other people
[20:54:04] [Rowweniana]: my god, how immature
[20:54:06] [Caitin]: thats not to say I do not goof off once in a while
[20:54:42] [Caitin]: but I tend to do things that results in some reward /end

[20:55:08] [Metatalk]: Vino, why 2?
[20:55:16] [Vino]: oh me cool
[20:56:22] [Vino]: because I love doing that kinda of fun stuff. dancing as different things in places where others are. throwing snowballs at random people. running and juming around the tree outside the auction house in stormwind. just little stuff that I love
[20:56:27] [Vino]: ./end
[20:56:51] [Kirce]: /agree
[20:57:18] [Vino]: or if you're alachia, you spy on people with a picnic
[20:57:26] [Kirce]: lol
[20:57:29] [Metatalk]: lol
[20:57:38] [Felixthecat]: hahaha
[20:57:43] [Xelaere]: (setting up 'obstacle courses' made of totems, pets, and images of archmage Vargoth, then running them as halloween bats while everyone around you spams flashy AoEs on you)
[20:58:26] [Xelaere]: (not that we did that just 2 nights ago or anything)
[20:58:36] [Felixthecat]: LOL

[20:58:42] [Metatalk]: sweet. awesome answers guys
[20:59:08] [Metatalk]: we have hardcores, we have lootwhores...we have role players, we have real players
[20:59:24] [Felixthecat]: who got a A on the test?
[20:59:33] [Metatalk]: for some of you, it seems more like a lifestyle..and others, still just a game
[20:59:51] [Metatalk]: Thanks for coming and sharing.
[21:00:04] [Vino]: and we have spies, dancing naked gnomes, nooblets (aka alliance and a certain someone) and me, the awesome
[21:00:11] [Komalie]: it's over? :(
[21:00:26] [Zeroofmeta]: Alittle Of Both For Me
[21:00:38] [Metatalk]: Yup. it's 9pm. All the time we have. :)
[21:00:50] [Komalie]: Good night everyone
[21:00:51] [Kirce]: k ttyl
[21:00:53] [Kirce]: bye
[21:01:00] [Xelaere]: off to burn arena teams out of their boots are you?

[21:01:04] [Spurlok]: Oh, oh, what is next weeks topic?
[21:01:11] [Oakshay]: Nite everyone! Be safe
[21:01:19] [Metatalk]: Next week. Virtual Taboos
[21:01:27] [Komalie]: ooooooh. I don't have a tattoo
[21:01:27] [Rowweniana]: come again?
[21:01:28] [Felixthecat]: sweet
[21:01:29] [Spurlok]: Cyboring. A valid wow pass time? Is that it?
[21:01:31] [Caitin]: o.O
[21:01:38] [Komalie]: lol
[21:01:40] [Felixthecat]: I want 1
[21:01:48] [Zeroofmeta]: Lol*
[21:01:48] [Felixthecat]: later all sweet time
[21:01:57] [Spurlok]: Thanks..it was fun again
[21:02:06] [Britnay]: It was alot of fun, and great music.
[21:02:13] [Metatalk]: yeah. now i want to go dancing
[21:02:30] [Caitin]: rl dancing? :P
[21:02:37] [Xelaere]: I am having a lot of con dancparty flashbacks now that you mention it
[21:02:39] [Metatalk]: yes. RL dancing.

What is WoW?.....to you.

2007-05-02T00:41:00.000-07:00

MetaTalk Topic for this Week: What is WoW...to you?

May 03,2007, Thursday
Scarlet Crusade US
Alliance/Stormwind/The Park
8pm central

Britnay made a cool suggestion last time. Perhaps since we're all not ready for a vent organized event, we could instead share the same audio by means of shoutcast.

If you'd like to share the same music, head on over to Shoutcast.com
Search for: Trance Techno
Station: [Trance Techno] 1.FM-Trance

hope to see you guys there!

...

MetaTalk Field Trip Pics

2007-04-29T04:12:00.000-07:00

The field trip pics are up!

MetaTalk Field Trip

...

Field Trip Recap

2007-04-28T11:45:00.000-07:00

Thanks again for everyone who came and shared the horde express train with us. I had a very good time. The tour was hilarious as it was quite beautiful. It rained! Totally unexpected but very nice. One thing cool about the VR, weather is much more appreciated and it doesn't deter us from going "outdoors". heh.

We took off from Red Cloud Mesa around 8:12pm. We hit Undercity by 10pm.
The horde starting zones and cities are so vastly different from the Alliance side. Everything is very tribal and very "native" feeling to the earth. You saw a lot of windchimes and trinkets hanging about the doorways of huts and buildings. They seemed more spiritual in a way than the industrialized zones of Stormwind and Ironforge for sure.

Our first stop was Bloodhoof village, which I kind of gather is equivalent to either Auberdine or Goldshire. I really liked the openness of it and there was a giant lake just to the north of it as well.

Thunderbluff was a bit confusing for me because of all the rises but I'm sure if you visited it enough you'd be able to wrap your head around the different levels and bridges etc. The view from Thunderbluff was amazing though. There's nothing like that at all on the Alliance side. A city that overlooks a vast countryside.

Crossroads was how I remembered it from the Alliance side. It looks like it sounds but just outside the gates atop a cliff, there lies the Shrine of the Fallen Warrior. Kitch gave me the coords and we went to go visit the grave site. It was a memorial in the game in honor of a fallen animator who died while WoW was still being developed.
It was a quiet and solemn stop during our field trip and quite appropriate I thought considering how much our adventure was about all of us admiring this game.

Ogrimmar is vast! It seemed so large to me.. Out of all the cities in WoW, this one really felt like a city with clusters of shelters sprawled throughout different levels and tunnels. I think the only one I've seen that has the same vast feel is the BE one.

The Zeplin is always a favorite of mine. I road my first one a year after I started playing. They are so much more fun than the alliance boats because of the view they offer and of course that heightened feeling of flying :)

On my way over to Red Cloud Mesa, I boarded the Zeplin and thought I could stand on the tip of the boat without falling off. Apparently, those railings are just aesthetic. :) I was like "OH Sh337!" And then Felix and Spurlock had to wait with me again for the Zep to cycle through. Lesson learned.

Our final stop was the Undercity. It's a pretty creepy city that has a very claustraphobic feel to it since you know you're underground. (under-city, I get it! lol) Thanks to Xelaere, we got to see a live performance by Lady Sylvanas. It's a very haunting song. You can check out a lot of videos of it on youtube.

I really appreciated the fun little tour provided by Spurlock. It allowed me to really see the other side without actually playing for the horde. It's really a whole other side of the game I probably will never experience. I think that's kind of amazing though...that while we share the same game, our experiences and environments can vary greatly.

Pics to be added shortly.

If you'd like to read how our field trip went:
Meta Field Trip Transcript

Video Montage of the Field Trip:

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Meta Talk Field Trip

2007-04-26T04:30:00.000-07:00

Tonight, Thursday
April 26, 2007
8pm Central

Scarlet Crusade US/ HORDE/ Red Cloud Mesa (Tauren Start Zone)

(Red Cloud Mesa Map)

/w MetaTalks (with an 's')

Field Trip Style Tour from Red Cloud Mesa to Thunderbluff to Ogrimmar to the Undercity! Tour given by Spurlock the Troll Rogue.
Tour starts at 8:10pm sharp!

I suspect it will take approx 1.5-2 hours if all goes well. Should be fun to see and learn more about how the Horde live. :D

Hope to see you guys there!

...

MetaTalk Meeting 2: Think Tank

2007-04-24T02:29:00.000-07:00

MetaTalk Think Tank: The Future of MMORPGs

The meeting went very nicely. About 20 people came and we all broke into 3 groups to have small little think tanks on the The Future of MMORPGs. The three group topics were Classes, Economy, and Player2Player Interaction.

At the end of the meeting, Spurlock the Troll Rogue made a guest appearance in the moonwell! But he left fast cuz he didn't want us alliance to pwn him :)

Thanks for everyone who came and participated! It was very interesting to read the different discussions... I hope you guys enjoy them too.

See Below for the Transcripts! They are in .rtf format.

Raid:
General Raid Transcript

Topic Discussions:
Classes Discussion Group Transcript
Economy Discussion Group Transcript
Player 2 Player Interactions Discussion Group Transcript

....

MetaTalk Meeting 2 Pics

2007-04-24T02:00:00.000-07:00

April 19, 2007 MetaTalk Meeting
Think Tank: The Future of MMORPGs

MetaTalk Think Tank

Think Tank

2007-04-17T23:53:00.000-07:00

Meta Talk this week is going to be a little more engaging now that we've done the whole "brief get to know you thing"...

The topic is a Think Tank: The Future of MMORPGs.

We'll split off into small groups and each group will be given a topic regarding an aspect of an MMORPG to develop. The idea is to be creative as well as help answer questions as to how far we can push the envelope.

At the end of the meeting, we'll have each of the group present their vision so we can share and comment.

I'm assuming at least 15 might show so I've prepared 3 aspects to explore but have a few more just incase.

1. Classes
2. Leveling Experience/Goal for end game?
3. Economy + Market System
4. Interactions (people to people)
5. Skills/Crafting/Non-Combat goals
6. Interactions (people to world)

For example. Currently, the MMORPG we all play (WoW), has a very linear structure in terms of goals and leveling experince. Are there ways to enhance the experince in an MMO that does not involve combat? Are there ways to have interactions with other players that go beyond standard party grouping and simple trade systems?

Can we push the box of our meta existence and see the MMORPG world extending into our real world? What about devices that can record your RL physical activity and translate that into achievement in the MMORPG? Is it possible to start blurring the line or do we need boundaries?

The micro goal of the think tank is to develop an MMORPG from the imagination of our minds. The macro goal is to perhaps explore the nature of how we play and how we want to play....or should I say meta-live...

hope to see you guys there. :D

April 19, 2007
Scarlet Crusade US/Alliance/Stormwind/The Park
/w MetaTalk

MetaTalk Pics

2007-04-14T02:47:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Kitch, Jessand, and Komalie, and Xelaere for sending in screenshots!

MetaTalk First Meeting