Heya ppl. Your friendly neighbourhood wide eyed cyclist  offering another update on Project: Carbonize My Ride!!! I swear I made the biggest newbie mistake ever… *groan*

So here I was bringing my bike and frame (picture cycling on 1 bike, with the frame <handlebars n forks all attached> slung across my back. Wasn’t pretty…) to Soon Seng to swap the parts over. And horror of all horrors, the mechanic told me that my front derailleur bracket that was attached to the carbon frame was a braze-on version, while the 0ne coming off my Merida was a clamp on version. So it can’t be done without me getting a new braze on front Derailleur, and he didn’t have any. So I had to cycle home (again, not pretty) thoroughly defeated and disheartened by the experience… Was super damn sad, but my never-say-die attitude kicked in..

This time, I decided to send my bike into another bike shop… Rodalink in the east. Rodalink is the distributor of Shimano parts… so I figured that if they didn’t have the ability to get the part, who did? So happily (this time I used my car and bike rack) I drove down to Rodalink to get a 2nd opinion…

Basically, the 2nd opinion was the same as the 1st. Cept that these guys could actually order the part in… which could take anything from a week to 3 months. On its own, a braze-on derailleur doesn’t seem hard to find, but I needed a braze-on derailleur for a TRIPLE crankset. Now, THAT is hard to get… By this time, I had almost given up hope and so just agreed to leave my frame (Got confirmation from the Rodalink mechanic who was V experienced in frame from the 90s that my carbon frame’s actually a Trek carbon from ‘95… woohoo…) at the shop and wait for the parts.

So now I’m going to play the waiting game and wait for the part to come in while cycling on my heavy assed Merida bike for now…. Its the *grumble* engine that counts anyway…*grumble grumble*

*New update: I’m gonna call up all the major shops in Singapore to check for the part. Finger’s crossed for the part 4!!! Hopefully I can wrap this one up by then!!

*Anyone out there with a kind heart and a good soul that has a Braze-on Front Derailleur for a Triple Crankset to donate?? Please?? Leave your contact details in the comments section if you have anything at all…

This is looking to be quite an epic topic…

CYNFUL owner Cynthia Ultsch has been busy again, releasing yet another awesome outfit for all you guys!

Hair:  .+*Mory*+.Lightbrown [MIRAI STYLE]

Skin:  -Belleza- Jesse Deep tan 7

Outfit:  [ Cynful ] Corset Overall – Bubble Pink

Boots:  Maitreya Gold – Esprit-Xtd Noir

Earrings:  -LC- Pierced Heart Earrings – Black Glass

It comes in several different colours too including  Bisque Black  Stripes (Shown above), Brown, Dark Blue, Dark Turquoise, Green, Grey, Light Blue, Purple, Red and Rustie – Normal Version and even the Stripe Version

And if that isnt enough CYNFUL is also giving away this cute DOLLARBIE to celebrate Thanksgiving! [ Cynful ] – Dance-a-licious Jumper – Thanksgiving Special

Happy Shopping

Kirsty Xx

Everyone needs a little black dress and this stylish one is made by owner of *League* Nena Janus.

Hair:  LAQ ~ Tess hair (Black)

Skin:  *League* Skin Deeptan -Misty- Smoky

Dress:  *League* Studded Scoop-Back -Black

Boots:  – TESLA – (bag) Angelina *Black* Boots

Gloves:  *League* Come with the dress

Glasses:  [SteinWerk] – GT Sunglasses

Happy Shopping!

Kirsty Xx

Yes, I’m a newbie to blogging. I started this blog to learn how to use the blogosphere and how to set up a site using the software. This will most likely end up rather random, more focused blogs to come in the future perhaps. Well, I have a lot of stuff to learn so I better get started.

If you haven’t been to Kittie’s Lair yet, why on earth not?!!!!

Owner Babette Ultsch has been busy releases lots of new items in her store including, Sweaters, Jeans, Boots, Shoes and even sexy swimwear.

Hair:  Magika – Lust

Skin:  -Belleza- Jesse Deep tan 13

Top:  *KL* Swimsuit Nice – Black

Jeans:  *KL* Super Low Rise Jeans w Side Zippers Black

Shoes:  Maitreya Gold – Esprit-Xtd Noir

Bracelets:  .:* LOULOU&CO *:. – Bracelets :: ENIGMA ::

Hair:  Magika – Bailey

Skin:  -Belleza- Jesse Deep tan 13

Dress:  *KL* Knit Long Sweater/Minidress Black

Boots:  *KL* Fur Boots Klondyke Black

Happy Shopping!

Kirsty Xx

My first blog post ever. So nerdy! I’m sure I will be the only person to ever read this, but I hope that it helps me lose some weight, tone up, and become healthier. Stay tuned for more of my eats/treats/exercise stats!

Ok, so it’s been another cold day here in England, so i decided i needed to wrap up warm in Second Life too.

Hair:  *ARGRACE* ~ Knit Beret “Loose up” ~ (Light brown)

Skin:  -Belleza- Jesse Deep tan 13

Top:  *ARGRACE* COAT ” Traveler”  (Brown) Lady

Trousers:  DYN Black Flared Trousers

Shoes:  KBoots – Brown (Exile)

Necklace:  -LC- Locke Couture Army Necklace ( Free Subscribo Gift)

Close up of the cool FREE GIFT from Locke Couture by simply clicking the subcribo sign 

Happy Shopping

Kirsty Xx

Ok, so the lovely designers at KHUSH are giving away this sexy little black dress FREE for a limited time only, so head on over there now and grab yours!

Happy Freebie Shopping

Kirsty Xx
 

Defend an openess that does not exist?

A wiki is a web site everybody (or anyone) can edit, they say. But how “wiki” is Wikipedia nowadays? Ed Chi has taught us that 20 % of a newbie’s edits are reverted, in comparison to 2 % of the edits of an experienced Wikipedian. It became difficult to join the community which is often repelling new people by unnecessarily harsh comments.

In the past, the media complained that “anyone” can put “anything” into Wikipedia; today, after quality requirements have become more severe, they complain that too many articles are deleted. (Especially the German media have jumped on that train.) This is the result of the evolution of Wikipedia from a “project to create an encyclopedia” into an encyclopedia that, essentially, already exists and has to be maintained.

A lot of the problems of Wikipedia could be solved by opening only two doors to content alteration:
A) Reporting: If a reader finds something wrong in an article he can push a button and report that; Wikipedians will deal with the proposal similar to the questions nowadays sent to the “support team”. Polish Wikipedia already has a Reporting system. Of course, why compel someone to learn editing and Wiki syntax and stuff if he just wants to report a typo?
B) Joining: Make joining a real procedure. Say hello to new people who want to join, accompany their first steps. Should they fail they cannot complain that there was nobody to help them.

This two-way-system or dual system could prevent a lot of vandalism, improve the friendliness towards new people (simple vandals and trolls will be filtered away very soon) and still benefit from the input of readers, maybe even better.

Alas, I am afraid that a lot of old Wikipedians would detest this dual system as “the end of the wiki, the end of openess”. It takes only a look at pages such as the articles for deletion log to see that the openess defended does not exist.

Ziko

OK, so my relaxed sunday looks continue with this cool hair from Magika and this stylish outfit from NINIKO.

Hair:  Magika Hair – Sneaky

Skin:  -Belleza- Jesse Deep tan 11

Top:  ”NINIKO”Loose Shirts(B) white

Trousers:  ”NINIKO”Crease-crease Pants(black)

Shoes:  UBU Drunks (Urban Bomb Unit)

Necklace:  +SPICA+Long volcanicglass necklace

Happy Shopping

Kirsty Xx

Hey. Today i just start m blog using wordpress. Here i hope you all can teach me how to skill my page.

Thank you.

Ich möchte auf diesem Weg allen auch noch mitteilen, dass meine Designs künftig nicht mehr auf x-street erhältlich sein werden.

Die Konditionen auf x-street werden geändert und auch das Einstellen von Freebies wird kostenpflichtig.

Zu Info:

http://www.fashionwithoutfreebies.com/

in English

http://www.fashionwithoutfreebies.com/news/why-we-say-no.aspx

in deutsch

http://www.fashionwithoutfreebies.com/news/why-we-say-no-%28german%29.aspx

Damit bin ich nicht einverstanden und ziehe meine Konsequenzen. Mein x-street Shop wird geschlossen, sobald das umgesetzt wird.

Designen ist für mich überwiegend der Spaß daran kreativ zu sein und ich gebe meine Dinge auch gerne kostenlos ab, z.B. mein Geschenk an alle Newbies. Für mich ist das Geld, das ich hier verdiene nicht vorrangig und ich horte es auch nicht unter meinem Bett. Der Spaß an Sl ist das, was mich motiviert, nicht der Profit.

Ich selber habe schöne, kreative, witzige, nützliche …Dinge als Freebie über x-street erhalten und hatte viel Spaß damit. Danke an all diejenigen, die ihre Kreationen frei weitergegeben haben.  Gerade auch als Newbie habe ich auf diesem Weg viele gute Dinge erhalten. X-street hat den Vorteil leicht das zu finden, was man sucht, aber ich denke, dies gehört bald der Vergangenheit an.

Schade ist, dass viele neue Jungdesigner und Hersteller nun völlig chancenlos gegen die großen Konkurrenten sind, weil mit den Gebühren ein wichtiger Marktzweig als Startpunkt fehlt. Ich wünsche allen aber trotzdem viel Glück.

Ich selber habe die Petition mit unterzeichnet, die gegen diese Umstellung ist und hoffe und wünsche, es werden mehr die sie unterzeichnen.

Abia

OK, so its sunday which means its gotta be casual, so with this gorgeous hair from Magika and this stylish outfit from MIEL i think I’m sorted for the day!

Hair:  Magika Hair – Doll

Skin:  -Belleza- Jesse Deep tan 11

Top:  MIEL MO TUBE TOP – toffee

Trousers:  MIEL MO POCKET PANTS – driftwood

Shoes:  Maitreya Gold – Shanti Dark-Ecru

Happy Shopping

Kirsty Xx

I was wondering way way back if scrapbooking would be a good idea, the stuff you usually for it is pretty expensive, that’s for sure, but for a person who likes doing stuff -  artistically even though said persons’ isn’t an artist by profession only by heart – this is something that I can’t resist trying

So I bought a few stuff and a medium sized scrapbook from Papemelroti and try my scrapbooking skills 9 which I will seriously be needing later on )

As you guys can see from the above picture ( minus my DS and the EK ticket ) it was pretty messy

I’ll try to take a picture of the final outcome of this ‘test’ ;3

*doing the scrapbook while paying Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney*

***

Hello Everybody
I put the new work of Newbie Assistance Pack on my Main Bar

【.::PeppermintBlue::.Newbie Assistance Pack November Collection 2009 Makeup Option #02】

The skin, Shape, and Fashion Set are bundled.
Even users other than Newbie can use this.
Of course, it is free.
Please come to take this if you like it

【今日のおしゃれ】
Fashion Bar Peppermint Blue
SilkRoad Main Bar
http://slurl.com/secondlife/SilkRoad/18/242/26
FS CITY Bar
http://slurl.com/secondlife/FS%20CITY/137/244/30
Alice07 Barzane

Ok, So CYNFUL owner Cynthia Ultsch has been busy again making some cute new items which she released yesterday, if you havent got yours yet, i suggest you get on over there!

Skin       :Curio: Acorn-June 2-Calla Lily

Hair     >TRUTH< Trisha – Espresso

Top   [ Cynful ] Sinful Shorties – Black

Bottoms    [ Cynful ] Jeans Shorties – Grey (Leggings included)

Shoes    Kboots- black (Exile)

Earrings  -LC- Pierced Heart Earrings – Black Glass

Necklace  Aurora Borealis~ Casandra Necklace

Happy Shopping

K Xx

Ok, so i was searching my inventory for a pair of jeans and came across this funky pair from Meembee that i had forgotten i had \o/. 

Skin       -Belleza- Jesse Deep tan 11

Hair     >TRUTH< Cameron – walnut

Top   DYN Zipped Top – Opened Version

Jeans     [MEEMBEE] Jeans Zep – snow white

Shoes    Maitreya Gold – Esprit-Xtd Noir

Gloves  -LC- Half-Gloves – Natural Black

Earrings  -LC- Pierced Heart Earrings – Black Glass

Necklace  {SMS} Pearl Necklace Black

Also check out the fab jewellery from designer Naoki Ninetails owner of Locke Couture, I am in love with these heart earrings.

Happy Shopping

K Xx

Yehawwww, what can i say??? The title says it all! 

Skin       -Belleza- Jesse Deep tan 11

Hair     >TRUTH< Farrah – walnut

Outfit   *Staged* Jeeper Jumper Set

Boots   J’s Western Boots

Bracelets   [P/a] URANUS -Women’s Bracelet

Happy Shopping

K Xx

Ok, so after the previous barely there outfit, i thought it was best to wrap up for the winter with this fab sweater from Lelutka and stylish Jeans from DYN Clothing.

Skin       -Belleza- Jesse Deep tan 11

Hair     >TRUTH< Cameron – walnut

Top   [LeLutka]-TURTLE NECK/grass

Jeans     DYN Zoo Jeans

Shoes    J’s 3way Engineer Boots

Belt  Maitreya Coin Belt *brown*

Happy Shopping

K Xx

Ok, So lets start today with something SEXY, The amazing shoe creator JB Gazov of J’s Boots has made some killer thigh highs, and the lovely Ephedra Loon has just opened a cute jewellery store called Dragon Charm Designs and is definetly worth a visit.

Skin       -Belleza- Jesse Deep tan 4

Hair     >TRUTH< Tanya – Espresso

Dress   !_Ce Cubic effect Wrap tank mini dress(Black)

Boots     J’s Thigh High BOOTS

Necklace  *DC* ‘Ember’ Necklace ( Part of a set)

Happy Shopping

K Xx

When you give someone your word you’ll help him or her, you better make good on it.

I found that out again Wednesday, when I got an e-mail from a newbie reporter I met a month ago at an event I was covering.

She asked for my business card, I gave it to her and told her to call me if she needed some help.

And so she did send me an e-mail asking for my help. 

She asked me what’s happening at the city hall these days. What are the news? She told me she’d be coming to the city hall for a committee meeting. What should stories should she be looking for?

I just shook my head and closed my computer.

But then I remembered telling her if she needed help not to hesitate.

So I fired away a response e-mail giving her direction on how to find the committee agenda from the city website.

I didn’t hear from her again until I saw her at the committee meeting.

It was a busy day. There were several reporters at the meeting, all wanting to find out whether the city is going to allow parking infraction fine increases.

All the television stations, radio stations and the two main daily newspapers in the city had their reporters at the meeting.

The meeting was long and tedious. Reporters came in and out of the room, sometimes hanging out in the corridor discussing how the story of the day was developing.

The newbie reporter was there too. She sat away from the other reporters even when we were gathered in the corridor.

One veteran radio reporter said, “She must be lonely there.”

I walked up to her and asked if she checked out agenda.

She told me she did and was thankful I directed her to it.

There was a scrum with one of the city politician. The newbie joined in. She was a little bit tentative and was too shy to stick her microphone and recorder.

At one time, I told her to come closer and put her microphone closer to get better audio.

She just smiled and followed my instruction.

When the meeting was finally over there were another series of scrums. As usual, she was too shy to stick her microphone and recorder closer to the politician we were interviewing.

She must have been extremely intimidated.

When I was just starting with this job, I too was intimidated to stick my recorder. I didn’t want to appear too aggressive and assertive.

Over time, I learned I had to go past that and be like the others.

I told myself, I too have the same right as other reporters to be there, asking question, finding answers.

I too have to be inquisitive enough to get the right quotes out of the interviewees, get every ounce of truth they’re willing to let out.

When I was still working in Fort McMurray, I had a chance of sitting down with two Globe and Mail columnists. Well, actually if not for the generosity of a friend who called me up and told me to come down she and another friend were having dinner with the Globe and Mail folks.

Roy McGregor asked what’s my background. I told him, theology and philosophy.

He said he wasn’t surprised. He knew a number of other journalists back in Ontario who were once at the seminary.

He told me it must be the art of writing homily that makes a former would-be priest like me get into writing for a living.

He also said, if you don’t have the basic desire to know, the inquisitiveness required to dig up stuff, you won’t become good in this business. 

No one is going to hand you the answer just like that. You have to work for it and sometimes hard.

The thirst to know what’s going on, why it is, how it is, when, where, and who’s involved, is just the first step in the process of news gathering.

One also needs to know, how answers to these questions matter to the readers or audience.

When I look at the newbie reporter I’ve been dealing with, I sadly don’t see the signs of a future brilliant journalist, but I’m not saying she doesn’t have a future in this business.

Who am I to talk? I still get awestruck when veteran journalists take the centre stage and grilled politicians with stinging questions.

But then, I also know not every story requires the sting of a sharp-tongued scribe.

Nov. 18, 2009