Fionavar

Hi Bobbi, your choice to take the time and share this with us is a gift for which words are inadequate to exprress thanks or gratitude. I have learned over the years here in the 'sandbox' something important from tarna/Scott. The words we choose affect other people and he always used them - in my experience - that honoured the person, even when he had to moderate. So your words hold power and for them, I simply say 'thank you:' for more than that would take away form their power for me.

Fighting a #@$#@#$#@$ summer cold on the Roost :?

Hello everyone, I wanted to share two things. One is the obituary for Scott/tarna. It can be found here: http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Scott-Moore&lc=2160&pid=161071448&mid=5306989&Affiliate=denverpost&PersonID=161071448&FHID=4386. I sincerely hope this helps with your/our grieving. I have also shared with the family the link to this thread and have passed on your care and concern. As well, as Sargy wished, I shared that we also hope they might come to see the impact he had on our lives. Second, I wanted to share a recent blog I wrote. I have been blogging now for about 6 years and, in particular, from a faith based perspective: A Deacon's Musing. I pray that the copy of that blog, called A Deacon's Musing|Scott imparts some of my own reflection and honours the man whom we mourn. with respect, Richard When tears fall & souls weep. When grief strikes & questions abound. May we (who r able) respond with care & may those who need - be embraced (Verses|May 2013) 15 years give or take a few solar revolutions … that’s how long I had the privilege to call Scott a friend. Though at first I knew him by the nickname he used in our online community as tarna, once we began to work with one another and then connect on the phone, PM, IM, and through various digital media our relationship matured from digital acquaintance to friendship. Scott was one of the bravest men I have ever known. He fought with an illness so aggressive that required frequent surgery and caused pain that sometimes I could hear it in his voice that I was not only humbled every time I phoned him, but his joie de vivre was a blessing. I will miss you Scott/tarna. And for those of you for whom relationships are grounded in the digital, never listen to that voice that says such connexions are ‘less than’ or not ‘real.’ The tears I have experienced at learning of the death of my friend have been most real and I know that Scott is now free of the pain with which he choose to live with dignity. Perhaps the first paragraph is as much a testimonial of loss as it is a catalyst for reflection about my faith and what I might need to learn, to share with the church. Faith & church: they are intimately connected, how I live out individually what I understand to be a reflection of the Holy will obviously inform the way I walk into the human institution called church. My relationship with Scott was grounded in a place and in a way that some see as ‘less than’ or ‘not real.’ I have been online for the better part of 2 decades and have friends from around the world, many of whom I only know digitally. These relationships are as valuable and life-giving to me as those which I have the gift to be able to embrace with physical touch. tarna’s illness did not define him, but it allowed him to model a generosity of spirit that I know affected others. His questions of concern for others in our online community not only speaks to his own compassion for others, but mirrors how such a place creates reciprocal relationships. Where mutuality in these democratic and sometimes frenetic places becomes an expectation grounded in freedom to be who we know we want to be. Sometimes, the most authentic person we long to be flourishes in these places that are free of the addictions, distractions, dysfunctions that are our lives in the ‘real world.’ Sometimes the ‘real world’ only shadows who we know we want to be – who we truly are – and an online community can embrace the ‘real’ you in ways that are life-giving and soul celebrating. As a person of faith, therefore, Scott modelled for me in this digital environment that it’s not what you believe that matters, it’s how you treat strangers: strangers in an online community are nameless and faceless at first. They might live next door or on the other side of the globe. How you treat the nameless are the seeds of friendship and that is just one way that I will honour this friendship. What I then take to the church is this, it’s not whether or not we should be testifying and evangelising the Good News in this environments – it’s the public commons of a new age and unless we’re there engaged, then we’re obsolete. For those who will follow, this is where we’ll meet them first. What we MUST ask, therefore, is ‘why.’ If our answer is about wanting to boost numbers or some double-speak agenda of conversion and coercion, not only do I want no part of such a reply, I believe it is theologically flawed. There is an entire generation, now almost two, who have no grounding in organised religion, for whom the rituals that mark death are few and far between and who are already– appropriately so –wary of those who peddle saccharine. Judgement laden and cheap faith. If our ‘why,’ however, is about wanting to help people shine, to help people transform from what the world tells them, that bullies into a conforming and controlling consumer mould where the common denominator must deny uniqueness, then I say let’s get to the business of sharing the Good News. In places online – from chat groups, Skype, social media platforms and a plethora of real-time communication – people are gravitating to spaces and places that promise to offer community and change. And I believe that the church that longs to help people awaken to the gift they are has something to contribute in such spaces. Whether or not we’re ready, however, doesn’t matter. It’s already happening, we just need to ask ourselves ‘why’ … the rest will be what it will be … RIP Scott/tarna Faith is the unspoken confidence in a threaded reality that defies word compartments. Belief is the construction of compartments (A Pres-bit|@wpgpres)

Sargy and I have also been in touch via PM

Update: I have sent a message to the family and will hopefully hear from them soon. I have shared this thread with them and will update once I hear back from them and share that with which they are comfortable to allow.

Hello everyone, friends, trolls, denizens & members of the OBS Community, Some here can trace our connexions with OBS back over 15 years: from old IPLY BB, when hyperlinks were the fad to this current community that the men and women, owners and employees of OBS nurture. We have and will continue to gather. For others this is a new community and I am most grateful for your presence in this evolving community. A place that - in my experience - has and does build valuable and rich relationship that often cross the divide between cyber and 'real life.' In this time people come and go and it is with a most heavy heart that I am sharing that tarna - a long time fixture and voice of calm, once a moderator and always generous of spirit - has died. I am currently trying to connect further with his family - I would check-in with him every few months as he battled with an aggressive illness - and OBS and will share developments, details and possible ways to respond to our loss as is appropriate. As today proceeds into the next day, please be gentle with those you call friend here, perhaps strike up a new connexion with a member who is new. In your lives beyond these boards, may you embrace those whom you love and care for the stranger in your midst. tarna – for me – was in many the ways the epitome of this community. Generous, caring and lived with a dignity that allowed others to shine – as I so hope you to do and shall. With respect & heavy-heart, Fionavar Update #1: I have sent a message to the family and will hopefully hear from them soon. I have shared this thread with them and will update once I hear back from them and share that with which they are comfortable to allow. Update #2: Hello everyone, I wanted to share two things. One is the obituary for Scott/tarna. It can be found here: http://obits.dignity...71448&FHID=4386. I sincerely this helps with your/our grieving. I have also shared with the family the link to this thread and have passed on your care and concern. As well, as Sargy wished, I shared that we also hope they might come to see the impact he had on our lives. Second, I wanted to share a recent blog I wrote. I have been blogging now for about 6 years and, in particular, from a faith based perspective: A Deacon's Musing. I pray that the copy of that blog, called A Deacon's Musing|Scott imparts some of my own reflection and honours the man whom we mourn. with respect, Richard When tears fall & souls weep. When grief strikes & questions abound. May we (who r able) respond with care & may those who need - be embraced (Verses|May 2013) 15 years give or take a few solar revolutions … that’s how long I had the privilege to call Scott a friend. Though at first I knew him by the nickname he used in our online community as tarna, once we began to work with one another and then connect on the phone, PM, IM, and through various digital media our relationship matured from digital acquaintance to friendship. Scott was one of the bravest men I have ever known. He fought with an illness so aggressive that required frequent surgery and caused pain that sometimes I could hear it in his voice that I was not only humbled every time I phoned him, but his joie de vivre was a blessing. I will miss you Scott/tarna. And for those of you for whom relationships are grounded in the digital, never listen to that voice that says such connexions are ‘less than’ or not ‘real.’ The tears I have experienced at learning of the death of my friend have been most real and I know that Scott is now free of the pain with which he choose to live with dignity. Perhaps the first paragraph is as much a testimonial of loss as it is a catalyst for reflection about my faith and what I might need to learn, to share with the church. Faith & church: they are intimately connected, how I live out individually what I understand to be a reflection of the Holy will obviously inform the way I walk into the human institution called church. My relationship with Scott was grounded in a place and in a way that some see as ‘less than’ or ‘not real.’ I have been online for the better part of 2 decades and have friends from around the world, many of whom I only know digitally. These relationships are as valuable and life-giving to me as those which I have the gift to be able to embrace with physical touch. tarna’s illness did not define him, but it allowed him to model a generosity of spirit that I know affected others. His questions of concern for others in our online community not only speaks to his own compassion for others, but mirrors how such a place creates reciprocal relationships. Where mutuality in these democratic and sometimes frenetic places becomes an expectation grounded in freedom to be who we know we want to be. Sometimes, the most authentic person we long to be flourishes in these places that are free of the addictions, distractions, dysfunctions that are our lives in the ‘real world.’ Sometimes the ‘real world’ only shadows who we know we want to be – who we truly are – and an online community can embrace the ‘real’ you in ways that are life-giving and soul celebrating. As a person of faith, therefore, Scott modelled for me in this digital environment that it’s not what you believe that matters, it’s how you treat strangers: strangers in an online community are nameless and faceless at first. They might live next door or on the other side of the globe. How you treat the nameless are the seeds of friendship and that is just one way that I will honour this friendship. What I then take to the church is this, it’s not whether or not we should be testifying and evangelising the Good News in this environments – it’s the public commons of a new age and unless we’re there engaged, then we’re obsolete. For those who will follow, this is where we’ll meet them first. What we MUST ask, therefore, is ‘why.’ If our answer is about wanting to boost numbers or some double-speak agenda of conversion and coercion, not only do I want no part of such a reply, I believe it is theologically flawed. There is an entire generation, now almost two, who have no grounding in organised religion, for whom the rituals that mark death are few and far between and who are already– appropriately so –wary of those who peddle saccharine. Judgement laden and cheap faith. If our ‘why,’ however, is about wanting to help people shine, to help people transform from what the world tells them, that bullies into a conforming and controlling consumer mould where the common denominator must deny uniqueness, then I say let’s get to the business of sharing the Good News. In places online – from chat groups, Skype, social media platforms and a plethora of real-time communication – people are gravitating to spaces and places that promise to offer community and change. And I believe that the church that longs to help people awaken to the gift they are has something to contribute in such spaces. Whether or not we’re ready, however, doesn’t matter. It’s already happening, we just need to ask ourselves ‘why’ … the rest will be what it will be … RIP Scott/tarna Faith is the unspoken confidence in a threaded reality that defies word compartments. Belief is the construction of compartments (A Pres-bit|@wpgpres)

Laundry & Lawn cuttting on the Roost and some random Bot-squishing. So far, so good!

It's gonna be a Pathfinder RPG sort of night ...

We'll see how you continue to post, but this seems likely consistent with PnP tools and assets that might be helpful. We obviously do not want solicitation, but are never opposed to sharing of resroucess. Fair?

I have heard the same thing about the Sony product - I was waiting to see if they were coming out with a mini version. In respect to producitivity, it's more about basic notetaking, web access and document reading. Basiclaly to rpelace a notebook and the need to print everything is where I am @ ...

Anyone tried the Dell XPS 10?

Thanks Leferd. Your experience echoes what others have shared. It currently seems like one of the detemring factors - for me - will depend if the MS Surface can learn from the 1st gen. @ the moment, the iPad mini's next release may be the route I choose. Is anyone out there using the Surface? Thoughts or experiences?

It seems I am now considering a tablet. My primary intention is to utilise it as a productivity tool. I know the new Surfaces & iPads will likely be out in September. So, any Gecklings have time to helpt he Big green learn from you experiences?

Ah the time zone conumdrum ... Maysyn2083 has a tech fix for it!

It is with gratitdue that I welcome & introduce syn2083 to the Skeeter community! He has agreed to help with the TechFAQ and share some of his gifts and skills with the community. I am most honoured and affirmed by his offering! with respect, Fionavar

Hello again Skeeter's folk! The Diaries have been maintained for almost a decade! It's seeming, however, that the need for the feature is no longer really needed. If there’s someone out there who might want to pursue developing or continuing it, please let me or the Squad know! It would be great to explore how you might feel your interest/passion might translate into either a continuation of the thread or perhaps something altogether new! With respect, Fionavar

Hello Skeeter Denizens! I am thinking that perhaps we might retire this Pinned thread. I also want to check - however - if anyone has an interest/itme to review and update the thread for the community? If so, just drop me or any of the Squad and we can talk about how this might fit for you and for the OBS community. with respect, Fionavar

I've removed some of the post. I also think - owing to the nature of the request, we'll just lock the thread and see what happens next in the sandbox known as WoT

More bot squishing ...

Welcome Diagoras, Gunsage of the Obsidian Order! The OOoE is 648 strong!

OT: If there's snarking, just let me know ... Thanks for your input & intention to add to the conversation!

Welcome to our newest OOoE member, Melasoul, Divine Cybermancer of the Obsidian Order Proud Members of the OBSIDIAN ORDER OF ETERNITY: Members must post what forum title they would like to have in this thread (or any last minute corrections) and OOoE member SqueakyCat will add you to the list so you can receive your personal forum title as soon as possible.

I've been using BSG 'Action Stations' as my ring tone ...

We have had a nother 20cm of snow so I thought I would build a winter roost for the Big Green & call it a glacier!

Welcome Kaedryl, Mad Doctor of the Obsidian Order. OOoE @ 646 Awesomenesses!