Raising Animals in Minecraft

I discovered that you can tame a horse by feeding it wheat or golden apples.  If you right click on the horse, you can ride it, but you will only be able to control it with the use of a saddle.  Luckily, I found a saddle in a mine, allowing me to ride two different horses back to my animal farm.  I also figured out how change the color of sheep, to harvest colored wool.

I have cows, chickens, and horses on my farm. Feeding the cows and chickens led to the arrival of baby animals, but I haven't had luck breeding the horses.

Red Stone Roller Coaster (Minecraft)

Jamiergal and I built a fully functioning mini roller-coaster today.  Using a combination of powered and unpowered rails, our roller-coaster gets its power from red stone torches.  If you right click on it with an empty hand, you can ride it.  Look for it at the Sustainability Farm.

Architectural Exploration in Minecraft

Across from my garden, farm, and simpler house, I've built a new structure using cobblestone, stained glass, obsidian, and lapis lazuli blocks. 

I made dye from cactus and lapis to color the glass. The floors are decorated with wool dyed in a variety of colors.  On the outside, I've planted peonies, lilacs, and rose bushes that I found in the Forrest Hills.

My favorite features of this house are a staircase and a semi-transparent floor with water flowing beneath.  

Mining in Minecraft

I have to confess that I've been getting way more enjoyment out of this game than I expected!  I'd been feeling guilty for spending hours exploring and reading tutorials, until a classmate admitted to doing the same.

I'm most excited by the mine I built, because it opens up into an immense cavern with plenty of lava and water for harvesting obsidian.

While exploring the cavern, I stumbled upon two immense waterfalls, lava fall and random lava pits, and an abandoned rail line.  I knew it was abandoned because of the broken tracks and plentiful cobwebs.

I discovered a chest inside of a mine cart yielding an enchanted book, a saddle, and some gold bars.

It was incredibly exhilarating to use ladders to scale tall walls and discover elevated nooks and crannies!

Gardening, House Building, and Tree Planting in Minecraft

I planted my first garden in Minecraft today.  It took a few tries to figure out how to use the iron hoe properly, taking off the top layer of dirt rather than obliterating the entire block.  First, I crafted a bucket in order to have water where I needed it. Then I planted pumpkins, wheat, carrots, and melons.  I know how dorky this is, but it was actually thrilling to see the fruits of my digital labor!

I also decided to add a cobblestone facade and wool flooring to my house.  Once again, the dorkiness of my morning was high, but I can see why kids love this game.

Lastly, while planting seeds and thinking about the bread I made from the wheat I planted, I started wondering about the trees I'd pillaged to build my house.  In the process, I learned about saplings, which sometimes fall from trees when you cut their leaves.  I have planted my first sapling, but will have to wait and see whether it likes the spot I chose.

First Days in Minecraft

Yesterday was my first foray into Minecraft.  I learned that the checker board is called a "spawn"  site where all newbies first arrive.  Today I learned that I can use the "M" key on my keyboard so I can always return to this spot, rather than wandering like a nomad the way I did yesterday.

At first, I hated the game, because I didn't know what to do or how to move.  To save myself some frustration, I watched a few tutorials and perused the Minecraft wiki.  Armed with new information and recipes, I returned with gusto to build my first craft table and tools...in the rain.

My first house, a hovel really, was made of oak planks.  It was three blocks high and had a door way with five holes for the windows.

After building it, I wandered around and got very lost, encountering cows, pigs, and chickens that laid collectible eggs.

I also encountered a lava fall, snow-capped mountains, and a birch wood forest.

Eventually, I was joined by Mr. B. who graciously transported me back to Games and Sims.

He gave me a chest, because I'd run out of room in my inventory and couldn't figure out how to get rid of things. We were joined by Deadturtle, who inquired about our powerlessness to fly.  It's hard to see the lay of the land from the ground!

Today, I got a fresh start and learned that it's not okay to dig inside of buildings (it was an accident, really!) or take items others have collected.  This snapshot reveals that I wrongly pillaged a few decorative slabs from the castle floor, which I shoddily repaired with sand.  (Sorry, Tis).

It's okay to dig up the landscape, but replanting is the considerate thing to do.  I'll admit that while my intentions are good, I have not yet started replanting the pumpkins I purloined.

I also learned that mining can be very tedious without the correct tool.  I'd been doggedly digging with a wooden pick when Tis found me and offered me an iron pickax.  That made a huge difference, but I later lost it for reasons I can't understand.  Now, I have to figure out how to get a hold of iron ingots to make a new one.

In an aha moment, I figured out how to sheer a sheep for wool, which may be used to make a bed.

I may also have discovered that dirt can be used to slow/ stop a lava flow.  It worked in this case, allowing me to mine some interesting ore.

Lastly, I learned how to make glass windows, a door, and a trapdoor for my redesigned house.  It's not pretty, but it made me happy to light it up with a torch and put a sign on it.

1920's Berlin (Second Life)

Upon arrival to the 1920's Berlin Project, I noticed a slew of free clothing, hair, and gestures, as well as a board with the names and images of people I could contact should I need assistance.  This sim requires visitors to wear clothing from the times, not the "...sexy flapper dresses that you might have picked up in other places in Second Life." To hammer the message home, primary source images from the times show women's skirt hems being measured below the knee.

The intended audience for the role playing sim appears to be history buffs, but I inferred that this sim might offer underground attractions that could be more realistic than some historians may want to get. The general idea according to their website is that people can discover the good, bad, and the ugly of this time period through their wanderings, which may include viewing 1920's movie clips, socializing at a Caberet, or reading the headlines.  The website for this sim offers some explanation about its mission, links to learn more about the history, and a calendar of events that is up to date with events.

I teleported to Alexanderplatz from the main train station, where an announcer advised passengers to watch out for pick-pockets.

From there, I wandered up to the town and started exploring.  Newspapers scattered on the ground warned of political unrest, as the people of Berlin pondered the 10th anniversary of the Versailles Treaty that ended WWI.

The advertisements on the buildings are striking, as was the random appearance of a zeppelin, patrolling the skies.

I encountered an avatar dressed as a police guard who was not a NPC, but his intimidating posture discouraged me from idle chatter.  Another avatar was standing around smoking a cigarette, but there weren't any others around.

I briefly visited rode an U-Bahn, swam at the Volksbad, and explored a wealthy person's house.

My favorite discovery was a music store where one can listen to 20s tunes while dancing the Charleston.

Renaissance Island (Second Life)

Since I'm a former history teacher, I decided to investigate Renaissance Island.  Upon arrival, I noticed half-timbered houses and gardens.  A more thorough exploration revealed a replica of the Globe Theater, a jousting ring, a fortified castle, a mill, a church, themed cottages, and replicas of famous artwork. The audience appears to be history buffs looking for an immersive environment.

Billboards outside of the Globe Theater advertise upcoming performances.  There are also a lot of posters advertising upcoming events near the Town Hall.

Among the interactive features I experienced were plucking a chicken, firing a cannon, archery practice, dancing around a maypole, and kneading bread. 

Visiting with a companion or small group would allow you to engage in a Renaissance dance in the great hall or a jousting contest.

While there was a lot of attention to detail in the architecture and furnishings inside of the churches, halls, and cottages, the area felt more commercial than educational in a few places.  I didn't encounter any rules of engagement or statements of purpose in this sim, in contrast to Roma and Rocca Sorrentina which both do a fantastic job of establishing rules of etiquette.  I didn't encounter any helpful people, just a griefer on a bike who cut my initial trip short.

Information was largely delivered via note cards and detailed builds, but theatrical performances and public jousts appear to play a large role in this sim as well.

As far as freebies go, I encountered gender neutral peasant rags, a couple of nice Renaissance dresses, and jousting gear.