Colonia Nova Amphitheater...rebuild? please discuss

[Widget Whiteberry]

A point of information about the politics of VS principals of whom there are some 12 hosts, moderators and Sunday media panelists: We are not a uniform group. Although I believe we share common values, we are not unified in our political views. Some are affiliated with RL political groups or parties, others are not. Some support the current US administration, others do not.

In large part through discussion with each other and the SL 'studio audience,' most have evolved their views and understanding of various social, political and economic questions since we launched VS Sundays in 2010. While the principals consider themselves to be (US version of) 'progressive' or 'liberal,' there has been much - and often heated - discussion of what that means.

As to the more than 230 guests who have appeared inworld either once or multiple times, they are almost all published authors in a wide range of fields, many with university affiliation. To the degree that one might infer their political views from their subject matter, they are neither unified nor consistent in those views.

I've not followed up on the kind offer to move us because complications related to the recent move to CDS have taken months to settle out, especially for people who are rarely inworld. An interim move seems an invitation to more chaos.

I do appreciate that the issues under consideration are far greater than where VS is produced or the extent and nature of its presence in Second Life.

[Bagheera]

Yes, okay, thank you Tan for being the voice of reason. You are absolutely right. I apologize.

Going forward with the original intent of this thread, what I would love to see, what I would invite everyone to do, is throw out your ideas here. What would you like to see? It seems many are in agreement that the amphitheater needs to be changed, so we'll just move ahead on that assumption. If you do NOT think the amphitheater needs to be changed, please speak up here. There is no judgment. Every opinion is welcome.

To begin, let me talk about some ideas I have had. None of these are fixed in any way, shape or form, they are just to get the ball started:

1) Have the amphitheater be even more amphitheater-ish between uses and put a couple animated lions in there to roam the pit. (makes it interesting to newbie visitors, even if no one is on the sim)

2) Following along Widget's design, have a rezzing dais that raises the floor level and circular tiers of seats that are more inclusive (for example, there is a Linden build of an open air amphitheater meant to be used at the corners of 4 sims - one of them is the sim: Plum. I would use dimensions for the tiers similar to what they used there as that seems to be a good arrangement).

3) Along with the Guild's expertise, we have at least a couple citizens who sell commercial items that fit in our theme - Lef and Alexis - perhaps approach them about selling the government Roman-style chairs that have perms necessary to go in a rezzer. I could see using the ubiquitous double hollowed-half-circle prim chair in tiers. Personally, I also have an extensive inventory of full-perm sit animations and builder tools that I would be happy to employ on behalf of the government.

4) Holodeck systems (tools available from the Marketplace) have the ability to rez a variety of different scenes, so we do not need to be limited to one single layout, and perhaps - for long term dedicated usage - we could include layouts that are customized for a particular citizen/group's events (such as VS).

So, those are some of my ideas. Please share yours ! *smiles* (and thank you!)

[Ranma Tardis]

Virtually Speaking is a political group and very partisan at that. I have found some information on Nine of them. Jay Ackroyd is unknown and he is very critical of the Current Administration. No infomation on him and Google Fu only has him and Virtually Speaking references. The views of these people below appeals to Europeans who dislike the United States. So this show will split the CDS community into rival factions based on real life politics. It will cause bad feelings and turn off potential citizens who want Democracy but not real life politics.

The "skinny" is the CDS is supporting this group with free land. While it went from part time to full time to part time. It is my guess it will become full time again. The benefit is one citizen with her kawaii rabbits. I intend to introduce a bill that disallows real life politics on public land. If they believe in their message they can afford a lot. The CDS government must never take sides in real life politics.

Avedon Carol; She was born in Maryland but now resides in London. She runs a political blog at http://avedoncarol.blogspot.com/.
Gloria Feldt; She's a frequent public speaker, lecturing at universities, civic and professional organizations, as well as national and international conferences on women, feminism, politics, leadership, media, and health.
David Johnston; is a Canadian academic, author, and statesman who is the current Governor General of Canada, the 28th since Canadian Confederation.
Mike Elk; is an In These Times Staff Writer and a regular contributor to the labor blog Working In These Times.
Maryn McKenna; is a journalist and author who specializes in public health, global health and food policy.
Thomas Levenson; is a US academic, science writer and documentary film-maker.
David Cay Johnston; is an American investigative journalist and author, a specialist in economics and tax issues, and winner of the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting.
Culture of Truth; a blog http://cultureoftruth.blogspot.com/
Stuart Zechman; is a keen observer of how corporatist policies are peddled through various Rubinite/Hamilton Project organizations and other mouthpieces and skillfully messaged so as to snooker or co-opt bona fide progressives who ought to know better.http://www.nakedcapitalism.com
Jay Ackroyd; Attended University of Minnesota?

Virtually Speaking
Live episodes 9pm eastern, presented simultaneously through the 3-D Second Life communications platform. Conversations about politics, policy, economics, media, science and more. Sundays feature a panel of prominent members of the liberal blogosphere. Wednesdays dedicated to science, authors and practitioners with hosts Alan Boyle, Tom Levenson and Jennifer Ouelette. Thursdays, Jay Ackroyd talks public affairs, mostly with authors, mostly about progressive issues.

[Widget Whiteberry]

Other things on my to do list as RA member:

2) real world political activist signs on public land (not talking about VS here), who says they are okay & can everyone leave one?

Bags, what constitutes 'political activist' signs? I would hope for more - and more diverse - programming of a serious nature that seeks to inform and inspire to participation in our various forms of government. Metanomics, for instance, had a libertarian perspective. Although not labeled as such, it was recognized as such by both libertarians and others. Still, it offered perspectives on public affairs and I enjoyed it's long run in SL.

[Shep]

My thoughts on this situation are various ... I'll begin with the headline subject of the thread .... yes I think the amphitheater could be rebuilt .. but if anything I would like it to look even more authentic .. we may not be a RP community BUT our sims covenants should be upheld.

I knew about Widgets meetings but had'nt been to any .. so I was quite shocked to see how the place had been changed .. I assumed that any items needed were removed after the meetings .. it is after all a public building... instead it has been taken way out of covenant ..... now please don't think I put any blame on Widget ... she is new to us and how could she know how things are meant to be done ... I do have one question as to her choice of venue however .. why chose somewhere you deemed unsuitable as it stood? We are not in the business of altering or allowing to be altered our public builds at a whim.

I think Sudane's solution is the ideal one .. one of the various vaux rezz or is it rezz vaux options would be ideal ... I've not used one myself so am a bit lacking in being able to advise .. but I see Widget is open to that solution also .. so if we can get that underway asap it would be great ... and everyone will be happy while we consider whether to rebuild or build something else in place ... being CDS it will take it's time!!

[Rosie Gray]

Indeed Sudane has a rezzer that is capable of rezzing various scenarios. It is in use already in the Kirche, and is accessible to anyone in the group assigned to use (the one in the Kirche is usable by all Land Vertung members).

As I've already said, I really do think that the build itself needs to be updated. Personally, I'd much rather see something unique created by one of our citizens for this spot than purchasing something already made. Also please keep in mind that any new public builds will be required to be given, full permissions, to the CDS Archive avatar as backup.

I do agree with everyone that we must adhere to our covenants, otherwise there's no point in having them!

[Tanoujin Milestone]

Returning from Plum, looking at Brian's building in Colonia Nova:

looks more like a roman theatre than a roman amphitheatre, which is a circular or oval arena, adapted to multiple functions like performances, gladiator fights, races and circus games (example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Arles-arenes.jpg).

The roman theatre is a semicircular building dedicated to plays, pantomimes, choral events and orations, providing superior acoustics. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_thea ... ructure%29 Please note the floor plan).

I would prefer a theatre, cavea less steep, optional display/screen fitting to the scene frons again, a pulpitum serving as stage, the orchestra more a forecourt than a pit. We can consult Arria on originality, she is an qualified expert. I suggest we make the rebuilding of the theatre second priority.

Technical question on holo emitters: I guess they work like multiple rezzers? The temporary items need to be modifiable then to allow component scripts to be added? And if they are not copyable, is there an automated means to take them back to the rezzer object's inventory? What about ownership? Let us run some tests and share the results. Have to check the emitter at the church again...

I would like to join a task group...

[Rosie Gray]

Technical question on holo emitters: I guess they work like multiple rezzers? The temporary items need to be modifiable then to allow component scripts to be added? And if they are not copyable, is there an automated means to take them back to the rezzer object's inventory? What about ownership? Let us run some tests and share the results. Have to check the emitter at the church again...

I would like to join a task group...

Go look at the one in the Kirche Tan. It is capable of rezzing different scenarios. I believe that the owner of the rezzer (in this case Sudane) must receive all components as copiable, but not sure about the rest. At any rate, we have it functioning there now for months and it works very nicely.

Oops, forgot to say - the rezzer is in the attic of the Kirche.

[Bagheera]

I was doing some research and found the following page about Colonia Agrippa - there is no mention of an amphitheater but there is a lot of mention about other physical characteristics of the city, which I found fascinating and inspiring. We already have the sewers of LA, but I long ago discovered there is a whole unexploited underground in the city of Colonia Nova.

http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Places/Place/418174

I could see doing something interesting with that (shrines to female deities, etc.) and having an underground passage go outside the city limits to the amphitheater - perhaps build a whole underground level (like there was in the original)

http://www.budgettravel.com/blog/rome-t ... vel,11316/

All in fun, please feel free to throw your own ideas into the soup !