Google Talk

For those who are also on it -- as usual, my job implies that I run every major IM client, so I've installed Google Talk on the theory that it will eventually be "major". My login there is my usual online handle, at gmail. (Yes, I have a gmail account -- I don't use it a lot, but that's because it's only one of a dozen email accounts.)

Initial impression: the UI is very simple and spartan in the usual Google style. The feature list is pretty small so far, although VOIP is front and center. They seem to be very strongly focusing on being standards-compliant, and brag about working with a number of the common clients and a lot of different standards right off the bat.

Nothing terribly remarkable initially, but I suspect that this will be most important as the common entree into "Google on the Desktop". It already has a gmail notifier built in, and I'd be very surprised if they don't start adding other Google-related features fairly quickly. The notion of the "Google account" is becoming more powerful by the day -- they are adding a lot more features for people who give them an identity...

Google Talk

For those who are also on it -- as usual, my job implies that I run every major IM client, so I've installed Google Talk on the theory that it will eventually be "major". My login there is my usual online handle, at gmail. (Yes, I have a gmail account -- I don't use it a lot, but that's because it's only one of a dozen email accounts.)

Initial impression: the UI is very simple and spartan in the usual Google style. The feature list is pretty small so far, although VOIP is front and center. They seem to be very strongly focusing on being standards-compliant, and brag about working with a number of the common clients and a lot of different standards right off the bat.

Nothing terribly remarkable initially, but I suspect that this will be most important as the common entree into "Google on the Desktop". It already has a gmail notifier built in, and I'd be very surprised if they don't start adding other Google-related features fairly quickly. The notion of the "Google account" is becoming more powerful by the day -- they are adding a lot more features for people who give them an identity...

Seeking topics for SCA 201

As part of Carolingia's upcoming Novice Schola, I'm planning on teaching a new class called "SCA 201". We've had "SCA 101" for a while -- that's an introduction to the Society, aimed primarily at the true novice, giving useful information for getting up and running. This is a little different. The target audience here is people who have been around for a year or three and have their feet under them. It is intended to get into a bit more detail about life in the SCA, and how to survive and thrive within it.

To that end, I'm seeking ideas for topics. Any and all ideas will be considered, but I'm especially looking for ideas from the people who *have* been in for 1-5 years. What questions have you had in the back of your mind for a while? What would have been useful for you to know about, that you learned only through painful experience? This class has a very broad remit -- the primary constraint is that it about SCA culture, *not* about history. Don't be shy about tossing ideas into the pot, and don't be afraid of "me, too" in this case -- if a bunch of people think a topic would be useful, that will bump it up the priority list. (Just bear in mind that I only have an hour, so I can't cover everything.)

Seeking topics for SCA 201

As part of Carolingia's upcoming Novice Schola, I'm planning on teaching a new class called "SCA 201". We've had "SCA 101" for a while -- that's an introduction to the Society, aimed primarily at the true novice, giving useful information for getting up and running. This is a little different. The target audience here is people who have been around for a year or three and have their feet under them. It is intended to get into a bit more detail about life in the SCA, and how to survive and thrive within it.

To that end, I'm seeking ideas for topics. Any and all ideas will be considered, but I'm especially looking for ideas from the people who *have* been in for 1-5 years. What questions have you had in the back of your mind for a while? What would have been useful for you to know about, that you learned only through painful experience? This class has a very broad remit -- the primary constraint is that it about SCA culture, *not* about history. Don't be shy about tossing ideas into the pot, and don't be afraid of "me, too" in this case -- if a bunch of people think a topic would be useful, that will bump it up the priority list. (Just bear in mind that I only have an hour, so I can't cover everything.)

What I Did On My Summer Vacation, Part 3

( Monday -- Heat )

( Tuesday -- Things Start to get Busy )

What I Did On My Summer Vacation, Part 3

( Monday -- Heat )

( Tuesday -- Things Start to get Busy )