Forums > Social Chat > Open letter of thanks to Malcolm

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protozoaGOLD Member
member
148 posts
Location: Baltimore, MD USA


Posted:
I sent this letter to Malcolm & CCed it to our local mailing list, but thought I'd post it here as well. Can I get a second? Is there a 'here here!' in the house?--Hi, Malcolm. Okay I'm here to send you an honest-to-god fan letter. Your site has done wonderful things for me and quite a number of people in my area (Baltimore, MD, USA..45 min north of Washington DC, 3 hrs or so south of New York City by car). I first picked up the poi in September while visiting a friend of mine in Richmond, VA started learning from _her_ friends in New York. I didn't know anyone in my area who was doing it (Richmond is also about 3 hours away, so needless to say I don't see my friend very often). I'd always been mystified by it when I saw the skilled fire dancers at Burning Man and other outdoor events, but never thought I could do it. My Richmond friend referred me to your site for lessons when she couldn't be around to teach me herself and helped me make a set of practice chains and beanbags (made from old socks and lentils). Soon after finding your site, I added my own entry on the 'meet others' database & two weeks later heard from a seasoned spinner from San Francisco, who told me that he was a frequent visitor to the Baltimore area, and suggested we get together. He brought me a set of the beautiful streamer poi, and I got super addicted to them and started practicing an hour or more per day. I've never been much of a performer and I've never called myself an artist. I'm a simple unix administrator with a rather dull government job. When it comes to expressive extracurricular activity I typically have engaged myself behind-the-scenes; helping others build their projects or operating the sound and light boards. The experience of learning and practicing, and more recently, teaching and performing with the poi, has completely changed my life. I've learned nearly every move on the 'poi lessons' page and I so enjoy reading the interactions on the lively discussion board. While I once remarked to fire dancers that they made it look so easy, now other people are saying that to me.Perhaps best of all is the way others have picked up the poi after seeing me do it. Almost every one of my friends is now learning, either with homemade equipment or borrowing mine, and several are eagerly awaiting their own streamers in the mail. The San Francisco fellow is now one of my best friends. And we started up our own regional mailing list a month ago, currently with a membership of 22 and growing! Last night my _second_ poi student lit the wicks (a pair of wicks built by my _first_ student, no less!) for the first time. Five of us got together on a public square in the middle of town to trade tips and show off for the locals a little. A woman approached us and asked if she could join in; I expect to see her subscribe to our list pretty soon too. I've heard stories about other parts of this country where poi spinners jealously guard their secrets from each other, where 'plagarizing' each others' moves is considered a horrific thing to do and they actively discourage newbies from learning the craft. The way I see it, poi is just too good to keep to myself. I can't help but share and am only too happy to help others get the indescribable benefit I've gotten out of this. And I'm so grateful for your site. Suffice it to say that without it, I'd still be spinning by myself in my backyard. Our group (we call ourselves the Baltimore Calefaction Society) will be putting together a large equipment order from your store soon; partially because we need more streamer sets for incoming newbies and some of us (like me!) are ready to be owners of our own fire wicks. We also see it as a way to support you in your endeavor which has been so beneficial to all of us, and to thank you with more than simple words. I hope your site is around for a long time. A thousand thanks for all your great work!Cheers,protie

PeleBRONZE Member
the henna lady
6,193 posts
Location: WNY, USA


Posted:
Here, Here.I agree and cheers!

Pele
Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir
"Oooh look! A pub!" -exclaimed after recovering from a stupid fall
"And for the decadence of art, nothing beats a roaring fire." -TMK


SimosBRONZE Member
enthusiast
384 posts
Location: London, UK


Posted:
very well said protie grin - this site has done a lot for me too; without it i'd still be whipping myself with the 'poi'( they were closer to whips than poi wink) i made before i discovered this site...happy swinging,Simos

AnonymousPLATINUM Member


Posted:
Yeah - I'll add a Hear Hear!This site rocks. Anyone who comes to it with an open mind will leave a better twirler (and perhaps a better person) smileThanks Malcolm.Josh

smittymember
104 posts
Location: Brisbane QLD Australia


Posted:
i'm glad i found this site while i am starting out in my twirling days, its helping me progress alot quicker that i normaly would,thanks malcom, keep up the good work

KatBRONZE Member
Pooh-Bah
2,211 posts
Location: London, Wales (UK)


Posted:
Yes, definitely a great job done.Not just this site, but the Poi are excellent too. I was very interested in Poi but if I hadn't come across this site chances are I wouldn't have started learning. My sister visited me recently and was also intrigued and is checking out this site and planning and getting her own Poi. We'll create a Poi Cirle of Fire Friends in Ireland yet!Kat ------------------"London is a city coming down from its trip and there's going to be a lot of refugees" - Danny,Withnail & I

Come faeries, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame.

- W B Yeats


adamricepoo-bah
1,015 posts
Location: Austin TX USA


Posted:
Here here, Protie. A lot of what you said resonated for me--I've always been the behind-the-scenes guy myself, always preferring to be at the edge of the spotlight. That's how I got involved in making firedancing equipment in the first place--a way to be involved without being in the spotlight. But it was sort of a new year's resolution for me to learn how to actually *use* my equipment that got me started, and this site has been a great help for learning moves, and providing a community (though Austin has a good community too). I've discovered that twirling is great fun, and a completely different way for me to be in my body. Still haven't lit up--give me another week or two to practice.------------------Adam Rice :: www.fire-gear.com

Laugh while you can, monkey-boy


HephGOLD Member
member
79 posts
Location: Chicago, IL, USA


Posted:
Me too! Malcolm rocks!literally EVERY thing i've learned technically about poi has been from this site! i don't know anyone else in the area that does this stuff, so without the videos, lessons, advice, and help from others met on this site, i would be looking at my poi on the floor, wondering what others might do with them! sorry for all the exclamation points. Malcolm deserves the poi-guy-of-the-millenium award.

protozoaGOLD Member
member
148 posts
Location: Baltimore, MD USA


Posted:
That's amazing Adam; good luck with your first fire spin! Don't be stupid like me; the first time I went to fire the wicks had been soaked in white gas and I was wearing a polyester shirt. Terrible combination!Thanks for sharing your story, Adam; I had seen your site before as well and was kind of wondering if you ever actually started spinning yourself.-protie

Finnmember
341 posts
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia


Posted:
Hear hear from the Sydney crew too. grinThanks to the home of poi's meet others section 5 of us got together in Newtown the other night to play with fire. Hopefully it will become a regular thing. Who knows where it will take us.We're planning a really big burn soon...... on Shelley Beach at Manly, with even more Sydney people from the meet others section. Maybe it'll turn into something like Brisbane's full moon fire fest's...Oooooh! I hope so smileThanks Malcolm, we owe it all to you.Finn
Non-Https Image Link

gάrbǿ²addict
521 posts
Location: Bristol / London / Norwich / Chennai, India (UK) (...


Posted:
Here Here. I'll drink to that.peace out people garbo tongue[This message has been edited by garbo (edited 02 February 2001).]

be excellent to each other: safe:


bobrobmember
61 posts
Location: currently in..... Perth WA


Posted:
Hooray for us all, each and every one!!!it just keeps getting better! 8)cheers malc, (and while i'm writing, coz i don't very often, nice one everyone, you make 4 good reading!!)inabit x

Oatsmember
28 posts
Location: AUS\RSA, Orange/Joberg


Posted:
I'll add a here here to all thats been said, as well as a nod of agreement with all thats been said.(by the way is that right)

Bish_the_Dingmember
52 posts
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa


Posted:
I'm gonna name my firstborn 'Malcolm' !Even if she's a girl ...

Hasst du etwas zeit fuer mich?... Dan singe ich ein lied fuer dich ... -Bjork/Nena


Timmymember
45 posts
Location: Bishop's Stortford, UK


Posted:
A big thumbs up to one-and-all! Hurray for Malcom and his wonderful website! Big group hugs!! winkTim /|\

Rick aka LokiBRONZE Member
member
134 posts
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada


Posted:
Yeah, thanks, Malcolm.I'm from Halifax, NS, Canada, and there are very few people to learn from and with here.This site is a wonderful thing. Cheers to all of you for being who and what you are.Thanks again, Malcolm. grin-Rick

-Rick aka Loki
oh, man, a signature?... uuh... this is like coming across wet cement... uuh, shoot, I had something clever I was saving... I hope I don't run out of sp


ffirebellGOLD Member
member
44 posts
Location: Aotearoa, New Zealand


Posted:
Yes! Hooray for Malcolm! Hooray for us all! Hooray for fire!!! Fairie Firebell :-)

Fairie's wear boots.


house_of_millGOLD Member
old hand
896 posts
Location: Manchester England


Posted:
Never seen this before but you know what they are so right Malcolm, I've found friends and more on this site skills I never thought I'd ever have a few years ago and the insanity has set in enought to buy techs.
When I started spinning Manchester had a few spinners spread out far and wide now because of Hop Manchesters got a Spinning scene, its so great!

*Thats one of my favourite Nurseries over there,*

Roman, Trippie Hippie,On the way back from Play Festival


shaping_lightSILVER Member
member
138 posts
Location: In a warm bed with me teddy!!, United Kingdom


Posted:
Thanks so much from me too.
Theres only so much random flailing a person can do and HoP has helped me so much to stop belting myself


Thanks again smile

Fun is not a straight line <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


LazyAngelGOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
2,895 posts
Location: Cambridge UK


Posted:
here, here!!
HoP has supplied me with safe fire equipment, helped me learn no end and helped me meet other spinners from all over the place, who are some of the nicest people I've ever met!

Thank you Malcolm!

Because ActiveAngel sounds like a feminine deodorant

Like sex, I'm much more interesting in real life than online.

'Be the change you want to see in the world around you' - Ghandi


AsenaGOLD Member
What a Bummer
3,224 posts
Location: Shatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom


Posted:
*does a happy dance in malcolms honour*

biggrin

Thanks malcolm!! biggrin (and the rest of the mods, and anyone else who helps too)

SethisBRONZE Member
Pooh-Bah
1,762 posts
Location: York University, United Kingdom


Posted:
Hear Hear!

This site gave me something I could enjoy in the dark dark days of 6th Form, where my only enjoyment was spinning.

Now I have a social life, :olleyes: and spinning is *still* one of my favourite pastimes ever. Thanks for making the site.

Thanks also to the many and varied wonderful, wonderful people here, who actually deign to put up with the babble that goes on. That goes double for the Mods.

After much consideration, I find that the view is worth the asphyxiation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I may disagree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.


JauntyJamesSILVER Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,533 posts
Location: Hampshire College, MA, USA


Posted:
Wow, somebody I've actually met has started a thread on HoP. I never knew.

Hooray for Malcolm! hug's for showing me a world of spinny goodness and for being a lovely person.

-James

"How do you know if you're happy or sad without a mask? Or angry? Or ready for dessert?"


Rouge DragonBRONZE Member
Insert Champagne Here
13,215 posts
Location: without class distinction, Australia


Posted:
I can't believe how old this thread is.

i would have changed ***** to phallus, and claire to petey Petey

Rougie: but that's what I'm doing here
Arnwyn: what letting me adjust myself in your room?..don't you dare quote that on HoP...


MynciBRONZE Member
Macaque of all trades
8,738 posts
Location: wombling free..., United Kingdom


Posted:
thanks to malcolm hug

without him I wouldn't have met so many cool people AND my loving girlfriend, cheers mate...you rock!!

A couple of balls short of a full cascade... or maybe a few cards short of a deck... we'll see how this all fans out.


TinklePantsGOLD Member
Clique Infiltrator, Cunning Linguist and Master Debator
4,219 posts
Location: Edinburgh burgh burrrrrr, United Kingdom


Posted:
[Old link] biggrin

Always use "so's your face" and "only on Tuesdays" in as many conversations possible


screechcircling on the edge of madness
889 posts
Location: away with the faeries


Posted:
Written by: Mynci


thanks to malcolm hug

without him I wouldn't have met so many cool people AND my loving girlfriend, cheers mate...you rock!!




ditto i wouldn't have met your loving girlfriend either or her mad and wonderful sister

finland finland finland
the country where i want to be
pony trekking or camping
or just watching tv


TinklePantsGOLD Member
Clique Infiltrator, Cunning Linguist and Master Debator
4,219 posts
Location: Edinburgh burgh burrrrrr, United Kingdom


Posted:
Written by: screech


Written by: Mynci


thanks to malcolm hug

without him I wouldn't have met so many cool people AND my loving girlfriend, cheers mate...you rock!!




ditto i wouldn't have met your loving girlfriend either or her mad and wonderful sister



YOU SHOULD BE THANKING ME FIRST! lol

Always use "so's your face" and "only on Tuesdays" in as many conversations possible


alien_oddityCarpal \'Tunnel
7,193 posts
Location: in the trees


Posted:
I'll add a here here to this too biggrin


this site has done alot for.......

1) my self confidence
2) my sanity
3) helping to meet people
er...........i think there's more but i cant think of them right now ubblol

NYCNYC
9,232 posts
Location: NYC, NY, USA


Posted:
Written by: TinklePants



YOU SHOULD BE THANKING ME FIRST! lol






I honestly wrote 3 different posts trying to explain that this thread predates your thread by 4 years but they all came across as mean.



Now I'm sounding condescending. frown



Um... this thread was started in 2001 so trying to cough or asking for thanks for you not doing a search in the first place probably isn't the best course of action.



In fact, you're implying that someone is doing exactly what you have not seen that you are guilty of.



I find that funny. ubblol



There.... that wasn't bitchy at all, was it? biggrin

Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
[They do not move.]


Fine_Rabid_DogInternet Hate Machine
10,530 posts
Location: They seek him here, they seek him there...


Posted:
S'what I was going to say.
However, I couldn't be arsed to waste my breath, cos those kinda posts always get ignored anyways...

The existance of flamethrowers says that someone, somewhere, at sometime said "I need to set that thing on fire, but it's too far away."


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