The burg saloon will be busy on Saturday nights for the next 3 months. Grab a glass and sit awhile.
New hands are arriving from the East with head scout @phb256 Paul Bond from UMW. They are getting their connects set up and starting to ride in. These pups are earning their keep and will be workin sun up to sun set and then some to earn their actual.
The Open range folks are circling with head scout @cogdog who is bringing along a later arrival from the south (Mexico) in February. Cowpokes in this bunkhouse tend to work smarter and not always harder while balancing with other ranch and range responsibilities. Extended cattle drives often have them absent for a spell, but they come back with all sorts of new fangled thangs to share.
Wild Toady
There is also a gang up in the hills that is lookin’ fer trouble in #western106. Not sure what they are going to be doing.
Wild Toady is gathering the gang – 106 Outlaws. He’s got a lot of history in wranglin in these ds106 parts.
Charlene of the Hills
Charlene of Hills showed up. A strong woman who has mentored many a lady and is here to make sure once and for all everyone hears of the strong and brave women of the western front.
She also shared the info of the daily Internet Kid comic strip for a daily funny and thought provoker posted to Twitter by @dogtrax
The Lawman Shaw is Upholdin’ the Law where the Law needs upholdin’.
And the UnderTaker is ready for any business that may come his way.
Looking forward to meeting the others as they roll on into the bunkhouse or at the saloon for a drink and jawin.
This open range work can get exhausting – so looking to pitch the fork and turn the hay to keep things going if I can help – but also at a pace of balance in life as well.
Out on the ranch you can plan all you want- but a change in the wind and skies, or a train or stage robbed, can throw all those plans out to shrivel up in the desert. So remembering to relax with the flow of the current and paddle harder when needed to make sure the gang doesn’t go over the edge to the big jump from too much playin is on the docket.
Most of all – do what I can when I can but don’t go riding off into the sunset with hat over my eyes. Thar’s plenty of open web to keep everyone running at whatever pace keeps a bounce in thar giddy up. It will all be daisy.
Lots of stories to be made, seen, and heard ahead. Yee Haw!
I am a true believer and #4life fan of #ds106 spirit and connection. Just adding another shout out and reach to round up anyone who is interested in some art making and learning fun.
#western106 begins on January 11, 2016 officially, but like many #ds106 adventures timelines are only there to help one organize and to facilitate connections. You are in charge of you and your own learning.
There has been a flux of activity already in anticipation – even that @jimgroom guy is shootin out awesome stuff in #ds106 style. Scout out the traveler blog list as it grows and see who else is riding along. Then add yourself!
I am encouraging anyone who has ever thought they might like to jump into #ds106 to do so now in #western106. Don’t let the activity of #4life bulls scare you away with some of their fancy creations and deep reflections – they do that because they want too and sharing is the new actual – this ain’t no shoot out or competition (well there may be some along the way just fer fun). Some of them just been practicin more out in the back 40 longer, but can always learn new tricks from the colts. This wagon train is stronger and will travel farther with as many different travelers that join on. This is the ultimate time to become a part of a diverse community AND to share and contribute. When you bring together a wide range of skills, experiences, and viewpoints in one focus the wealth and richness is exponential!
EVERYONE GAINS! If y’all scratchin’ yer head on what is this – start here.
As #western106 is saddlin’ up folks on the range have already been yammerin’ and talkin’ about media protrayals, history, inequities on the serious side of life. But also been playin’ and havin fun with creatin on the lighter side.
@cogdog – Alan Levine is a man with no course and is ridin’ as scout and leading the posse in focus. If you are a kindly sort of cowpoke – keep an eye out for buying him a drink at the saloon for his efforts.
@cogdog has set up a ranch and bunkhouse for gathering and sharing that makes creating together as easy as shootin fish in a barrel. The Western106 Ranch is a great place for bein schooled in how to ds106 create and new folk fresh on the western trail will get their sites in place for some sharp shootin.
As ds106 seems to create #4life members those who are Looking Fer Trouble are meetin up at the 106 Outlaws with Wild Toady. This gang may not be present in some of the Blog riding camp round ups – but will be creating and adding to Ranch work of #western106 along the hills.
Hitchin’ up on the trail will be @phb256 Paul Bond and his UMW one room schoolhouse for more creating and collaboration. And if that ain’t enough – @cogdog is co-wrangling a herd at Universad Sagrado Corazon with Antonio Vantaggiati that will hitch up to the wagon train in February2016.
If ya ever wanted to be a cowpoke, poke fun at cowfolk, or preach n’ teach about the horrors of the past – while you create art western style learning a heap of digital skills, history and life load up that wagon and saddle up!
See you on the range and in the bunkhouse!
What are you waiting for.
Part of my interest in #ds106 was the opportunity to create and to learn from others while I was improving my own skills and developing my learning path to create family memories. I started the journey in January 2015. The first months were following the open course framework and tagging along with the UMW #noir106 learning. Both provided guidance, community and challenges.
Connecting and learning from the traditional college for credit cohort was energy. A multi-generational and multi-experienced group to learn from and view work. @mburtis, @phb256, @jimgroom – provided entertainment, guidance and plenty of challenges. The student groups – well lets just say I made some new friends and continue to follow their growth and passions.
The other tangent was the open course. Wow! Joining the G+ Community connected me to others. @RonaldL, @johnjohnston, @mdvfunes, @rockylou22, @janweb3, @sandramardene, @annacow, the #burgeron106, @iamtalkytina, @christinahendricks and MANY more. Not everyone posts- but many read and follow. And at times you will see a post from someone who feels it is time to jump in.
Summer came and #prisoner106 and the #burgeron106 Bovine County Fairy Tale Festival came about. MORE connects and people to collaborate with and create alongside. My GIF skills were put to the challenges along with video and audio. Seeing the #prisoner106 group had a badge, I connected contributions of the #burgeron106 group and created a badge for the group. 🙂
While all this was going on – Sunday afternoons CST would bring #ds106goodspell on DS106 Radio. Tweeting along with others during the live broadcast by John Johnston and Mariana Funes. Some weeks would also lead into David Kernohan and Viv Rolfe doing a live broadcast right after – two great musicians, outstanding academics and really neat people – and Spike the dog too!. And many a late night listening to ds106 radio Vinyl Tracks with @cogdog Alan Levine.
The Daily Create evolved into The Daily. A great way to stay in the create mode. I haven’t been as diligent in following through with doing daily, but do read it each day. I have created daily – but not always from the prompts. I KNOW sharing keeps things vibrant, and sharing in a like create experience builds connections, skills, and community, as well as making sure one is tethered to support. So my resolution is to read/respond each day and make at least 3x a week for 2016.
Fall 2015 – Tales of ds106 ran at UMW and I dipped my mouse a few times, but fell behind. The group did not tweet as much which is my primary way of tracking activity of ds106. Other groups were creating and I along with them. Alan Levine was a keynote for the K12 Online conference and put out a call for submissions of content for him to meld into his presentation as examples. This provided the opportunity to take some work from the summer to another level by putting audio to video and I contributed Ds106 and the Ed Administrator.
Other fall creating was in GifItUP2015. I was WAY out of my league. But what I have learned most about this online world is that you may think you have 1M people looking at your stuff – but you need and are happy if there is one – so why not? There are no body clues, no eye contact, no way to connect unless you put things out there. If you put things out that are not so great or maybe not too polished – chances are no one saw them anyways – BUT maybe someone did and now they understand or see that you did not get sucked into a black hole and fall apart, giving them the courage to reach out or share. Share often, share good, share not so good – be human. I digress – the GifitUP was such a joy and frustration. I started – got stumped – stopped. And then someone in the community would do something or comment and my interest and ability to focus again would come back. I created 3 and submitted 2
– I am personally pleased. I am also even more amazed at the creations and have the bug to create more.
I have learned many things.
Videos need to be 5 minutes or less if you want others to view.
Design is essential and FUN!
keeping track of your personas, your stories, and being you can get confusing
connecting is essential
taking risks and sharing is of most importance
play nice and appreciate others viewpoints and passions
audio takes longer than you think – but is key
you are your worst enemy. Make art – have fun. There are times when you need to be serious and deep, but many more times when being on the edge and silly will get you into new places that will push you further. JUMP!
Tweet often
Share more
Supporting others will build your own skills
OMG – going thru the same stage as @mvdfunes of at the end of her headless13 cohort
So much created and done this year. Even more the work of others viewed and admired. You can look thru the blog archives, and the links to Flickr, YouTube, Soundcloud , My GIFs on Tumblr, etc. on your own (more links in footer) – I won’t repost it all here. 😉
And if you haven’t yet jumped into ds106 – WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???
Thanks to so many and all who make this a great adventure. On to #Western106 and #outlaws106 in 2016 YEE-HAW!!
