The Embers of Burn2 2011 in Second Life

The Temple Burns 2011

There is a lot of smoke and ash on the Burn2  playa today.  The festival ended last night with the Temple Burn and a lot of tears from sleep deprived eyes after an amazing, intense and busy nine days.

It will take me a while to process everything that happened but I want to share some thoughts that come immediately to mind.

The Temple Burns 2011

The Burn is all about the 10 Principles and experiencing them in the desert and interacting with the amazing art and appreciating wonderful music from around the world.  But most of all it's about the people and I worked with a team of fabulous individuals.  The Core Team and the staff in the various departments are dedicated and supportive and hard working.  The Community team was a joy and I wouldn't trade a moment with any of them even if you offered me the opportunity to get some sleep.

I have memories of being set on fire and having marshmallows roasted on me.  I watched an Italian greeter spend a long time with a spanish newcomer to show her how to get around inworld and even dance.  I saw another team member arrive at Center Camp with a bus to take tired people over to the other stage to save them the effort of moving.  I also have memories of joy and silliness and amazing acts of dedication and a determination to make the experience the best it could be for everyone.

The Temple Burns 2011

There were lots of glitches of course.  Two of the sims really require couples counselling because they would frequently refuse to speak to each other.  There were lessons learned all day everyday - livestreaming taught us all the value of protecting a keyboard and mouse from a cat so the camera doesn't shift to just show feet, that sim and equipment crashes have a huge impact on your ability to stream anything and you really need more than one person being a camera because shiny things are attractive and can divert their attention.

We learned that when newbies arrive in hordes they tend to start running as soon as they land (my theory is that they're used to WOW and are afraid of being shot).  They are also very slippery and tough to catch.  Luckily the greeters and guides are skilled trackers.

The Temple Burns 2011

Working on events like the Burn is my favourite part of Second Life.  The people who volunteered, who built camps and the people who came to participate and enjoy made this a very special experience on a personal level and kept me going even when my real life avatar was having difficulty seeing the screen.

The sims are still open for you to explore for the next few days.  There might be some camps falling down or catching fire so watch where you go. :)

Thank you to everybody who made Burn2 2011 so very successful in so many ways.  I'll leave you with a video of the man burn.  I'm going to get some sleep now and then I should spend time organizing an inventory that went crazy this week.  The concept of gifting can sometimes get completely out of hand.

Wherein the Intrepid Explorer Experiences Another First in Second Life

Center Camp @ Burn2 (moderate)

Burn2 is going full throttle and finding some time to just relax is tough - but it's all good and a lot of fun.  Jef caught me this morning before the coffee kicked in and persuaded me to jump on a couples dance ball.  I admit this is the first time in my more than 4 years inworld that I've done this - some people don't realize how shy I am. :)  At least he didn't drop me!

Come and dance at Burn2.  Great music and great art and lots of terrific people await!

Burn2 2011 in Second Life - The LiveStream!

Burn2 2011 Temple (moderate)

This is a quick post - you'd think that after working on something for months there would be no last minute running around, but it's a little hectic on the playa while we get things ready for the opening at noon.

I do want to announce one of the projects we've undertaken this year at Burn2.  We will be livestreaming the Burn!  Much like the Burning Man livestream there will be a playa cam showing folks walking around the sims and some of the builds but we will have more. In addition to some pre-recorded content we will be broadcasting many of the performances from Center Camp and, later in the week, Tokyo Stage.

When I was exploring ways to do this I went looking for a geek with a spare computer and highspeed connection who would be willing to devote that setup to this idea.  What I found instead is a one person television production outfit in Howdy Colter.  Howdy has been an amazing resource and if this doesn't work it won't be the result of a lack of any effort or determination on his part.

The livestream (and chat function) is available at the Burn2 website.  We have a schedule for the performance broadcasts and you know it will change but we'll keep it updated as best we can.  (Note that there will be many more performances taking place at the Burn but these will be the ones we can broadcast.  Howdy insists on both sleep and the ability to go to school/work but we'll show everything we can!)

So assuming all the planets align correctly, technical difficulties (like sim/avatar crashes) are kept to a minimum and our kharma is in balance, you will be able to see what's going on here at the Burn from your desktop even if you can't come inworld.

Oh and I promised you yesterday I would give you the slurl for the fabulous amazing Temple.  Check it out!  We'll open at noon and then the sims will probably crash but we'll be back.  Consider the experience a bit of performance art. :)

Starting From the End at Burn2 in Second Life - The Temple

Burn2 2011 Temple by Damanios Thetan

I want you to imagine for a moment that you have walked onto the playa at Black Rock City in Nevada during the Burning Man festival.  It's large and it's full of people and builds and camps but there are two iconic structures there on the desert floor.  A giant Man and a Temple.  Both of these structures are consumed by flames at the end of the week; the Man on Saturday night and, as the climax to the annual celebration, the Temple on Sunday.

The Temple is the spiritual centre of the festival without being religious.  For the full week of Burning Man people in that city bring messages to this structure.  The messages are for loved ones or for themselves.  Often the messages are for those they have lost through death or estrangement.

Burn2 2011 Temple by Damanios Thetan

The messages are written on pieces of paper or on the walls.  Sometimes they bring momentos or items they've created as tokens.  I've seen narratives describing individuals leaving the ashes of a loved one at the Temple.

The emotions accompanying the messages range from love to anger, despair, sadness and hope.  After a week of thousands and thousands of messages the Temple is infused with emotion and the messages form part of the structure.

When the flames consume the structure they take with them all of the joy and pain and memories that have been left on and in the building.  It has meaning to each of the individuals who have visited.

Burn2 2011 Temple by Damanios Thetan

Every year Burners anticipate the unveiling of the Man and the Temple with impatience and those who go to Burn2 are no exception because there is one of each of these amazing builds on the virtual playa. This year's Temple by Damanios Thetan is extraordinary. People are left speechless when they first see it and I was no exception.

The Burn2 version provides a similar focus and function as that on the Black Rock Desert floor.  If you approach the pool of gold in the centre you can leave your own message in the Temple.

On Sunday October 9, as people gather to watch the finale to week's festival, the Temple will "read out" the messages collected during the week.  Then we will all watch the flames celebrate both the structure and the emotional gifts left there.

Burn2 2011 Temple by Damanios Thetan

I hope you have a chance to visit Burn2 this coming week because you will see great builds, wonderful art and share music and dance.  But most of all I hope you go visit the Temple.  It's the emotional center of the playa and my favourite part of the festival.

I will have some exciting news to share tomorrow but I wanted to start with this post to give you a chance to get there and leave your own personal message.  Burn2 opens October 1 at noon.  I hope to see you on the playa.

PS.  I'll give you the slurl to the Temple tomorrow as well. :)

Burn2 2011 Temple by Damanios Thetan

Burn2 2011 is coming to Second Life

I'm not going to moan about not being around and not blogging.  What I will do though is say Burn2 is so far exhilarating, exhausting and occasionally maddening but it's an awful lot of fun.  I think you'll have a very good time.  I will solemnly swear to post something very cool later this week and share some exciting news.  In the meantime, watch the latest promo video (by Bubblepop Unplugged & Catzi Pearl) and if  you wish to attend the Press Day see Ches' and Uccie's posts and come on down. :)

Wherein the Intrepid Explorer (and Friend) Goes Mesh in Second Life

Mesh Honour

This is just a quick update - I'm buried in Burn2 lists at the moment.  I will get out later this week and bring you some fabulous locations though.

This morning Diana Renoir and I put on our new mesh avatars and I had to show you! Each has an arc of 33 - amazing.  She is wearing something not only adorable but it appears soft and squishy just as it should.

I can't get over how easily they rez and how crisp the textures are.  This is fun but I thought I should show you what we look like in case I encounter somebody without mesh enabled. Note I kept my view distance down so I'm not giving advance glimpses of the Burn2 builds. :)

Mesh Di

Viewers, Drivers & Weird Sh*t in Second Life

Alpha Point  moderate (in Beta Viewer)

I hadn't taken any photographs for a few days and I was going through withdrawal.  :)  So I went inworld to go exploring but wound up spending my time looking at the screen quizically (to be honest confusion is one of my usual states).  The graphics seemed to have changed - things looked clearer, sharper and better.

I've made two changes since my last visit - I downloaded the latest nVidia driver and I was using the newest (non-mesh) beta viewer.  So I went to Alpha Point, took a photo and then switched to a production viewer to see if there was a difference.  The same settings are used on both and I tried to get the same angle/distance, but I see a difference (thousands might not,  but I do) and not just because the particles never did resolve themselves in the production version.  I think the change is the viewer.

Alpha Point  moderate (in Production Viewer)

There is some weird sh*t happening though.  I found myself constantly adjusting the angle/distance from my avatar for my standard view.  I'll have to go into an older version and note the settings because they've changed in the Beta and I can't seem to adjust them properly or get them to stay where I want them.

There is also an odd random perspective issue.  This next photo is of the stage that Kev Sweetwater built us for the Burn2 Community Day.

Burning Man- Silver Seed  moderate

This photo is what the same structure looked like as I tried to maneuver my avatar perspective around.  Um ......well it could be the video card ..... maybe.

Burning Man- Silver Seed  moderate

Speaking of the Burn2 Community Day - we had a lot of fun.  Great music, wonderful people and lots of laughter.  I was thrilled to discover that jjccc coronet had made a machinima of the party - so here's an artist's view of the great stage, the rides and the eclectic mix of residents who came out to the playa.

I'm going back inworld to experiment some more. :)

Body Painted, Sky Skating, Porta Potty Building Dancers in Second Life

Burn2 Community Day (mature)

The sun is coming up on Silver Seed and preparations are almost complete for the Burn2 Community Day on Friday August 5th.  Everybody is invited and there will be a lot going on so I'll try and give you an overview of what to expect and look for. 

The event officially runs from noon to 8:00 pm slt, but if you want to come and play on the rides or work on a porta potty before then you are very welcome. :)

The music schedule is as follows (and if the music genres are wrong it's totally my fault):

NOON - 1PM

    Linda Foodiboo

    Music: Disco, Latin, House

1PM - 3PM

    Castion Eyre

    Music: Rock/classic Rock

3PM - 4PM

    Golan Eilde

    Pop & Dance Music

4PM - 5PM

    Dmitriy Gausman

    Music: Mostly 90s

5PM - 7PM

    Carbo Carducci

    Dance, Trance, Electronica

7PM - 8PM

    Eio Tuqiri (live singer)

    Blues, Classical, Folk

The Community Day Stage (mature)

While music is playing throughout the sim there are carnival rides to enjoy.  Some are "traditional" like the two ferris wheels and the tilt-a-whirl.  But there are some wild "swings" and sky skating, along with a maze and both a kissing booth and a dunk tank.  The bumper cars, merry-go-rounds, bouncy castles and giant slide just add to the fun.

There are gifts for you which include, yes, "body painting" for the women.  You'll be able to express your individuality and show off your physique all at the same time.

The Carnival fills the Sim  (mature)

I mentioned before that we need to right the wrong done to non-humanoid residents by ensure that there are porta potties which suit their needs.  So the sandbox is ready and open and just waiting for creative builders to add to the Burn2 landscape this coming October. 

This is intended to be a day of fun, a way to start getting excited about the event in October and to get back to the playa.  We also want to remind you to get your plots and if you can donate anything to feed the Burn we'd appreciate it.  Remember all funds go to acquiring sims for Burn2 - without you there won't be a festival this fall.

I hope to see you there tomorrow!  Tell your friends, families, strangers on the street and come party with us.

Porta Potty Sandbox (mature)

The Great Porta Potty Scandal of Second Life - It's Time to Right the Wrong

The typical Humanoid Porta Potty

A scandal of enormous proportions has been ignored by both the mainstream media and the Second Life blogosphere, one which affects a large percentage of grid residents.  It is time to face up to this example of blatant bias and discrimination and address one of the most fundamental inequities in our world. 

In 2010 the United Nations declared that access to clean water and sanitation is a fundamental human right.  You'll notice they said "human".  The arrogant bias shown by the physical world is reflected in our virtual lives as well and, unfortunately, until now Burn2 has been a co-conspirator in this plot to marginalize those who do not fit the elitist humanoid lifestyle.

One of the hallmarks of a Burn2 Festival (formerly known as Burning Life) is the existence of fabulous, often luxurious, porta potties.  It is seen as a priority to provide the sanitation facilities so otherwise lacking in the middle of a desert - I mean it's not like there's a tree or a bush you can hide behind while taking care of the inevitable bodily functions.

A Non-humanoid Burner Looks for a Bathroom at Burn2, 2010

But what about the residents who are not humanoid?   Those who do not stand 5 or 6 feet tall?  What about the furries, or dragons, or tinies?  What about any of the residents who don't fit the anachronistic human shape?  What are they supposed to do?  Now is our moment to address this horrendous oversight.

On Friday, August 5th there will be a Community Day at Burn2.  I will have more information this week on the music and carnival and workshops to be held but first I wanted to highlight what might be the most important initiative on the grid in this century.  A sandbox has been created for those who take non-human rights seriously and wish to end this truly myopic view of our population.

Basic porta potty guidelines will be available, along with a bucket to submit your build for inclusion in the Burn2 Festival landscape.  Think about the different cultures and their needs - help provide decent sanitation facilities for all!  It's about time somebody did.

The sandbox will be open during the full 8 hours of Friday's event so start planning your design now.  Give a pixie a way to pee in private and you'll make the grid a better, safer, healthier place.

The Porta Potty  Sandbox (mature)

A Day with Burn2 Mutant Vehicles in Second Life

Day with the DMV at Burn2  (moderate)

I got to the playa just as the sun started coming up this morning - it's going to be a big day for those who love racing and dancing and just mutant madness in the desert.  The Department of Mutant Vehicles is hosting a day of fun and mayhem and we're all invited.

Day with the DMV at Burn2  (moderate)

Come Fuel the Burn! You make the Burn happen here!

The Hotties of the Department of Mutant Vehicles would like you to come spend a day with us, celebrating the history and traditions of Burn and the DMV and to get you in the mood for the upcoming Burn! (October 1 - 9).
Come try your hand at racing some of the fabulous Art Cars or dance to great music and entertainment!
Check out the Infocrate at the Info Tent for information on how to participate in Burn2!

Schedule (all times SLT):

8am-9am - DMV Event kickoff and Races - Tiny/Micro vehicles vs Regular/Large vehicles
9am-10am - Changhigh Trinity Sisters Fireshow with Yman Juran
10am-11am - DMV Races - Backwards Race
12pm-1pm - ~D R U M~ performs on lot by Info Tent * ~D R U M~ will be debuting a new set for this event!
1pm-2pm - Carbo Carducci DJ
2pm-3pm - Graham Seale DJ
3pm-4pm - Anything Goes Race

*Art Cars from previous years will be on display

Day with the DMV at Burn2  (moderate)

One of the reasons I got there early was so I could scope out the various vehicles and choose the one I want to race.  After all, they've probably forgotten my driving ban by now right?  Maybe?

Day with the DMV at Burn2  (moderate)

Burn2 Town Hall & Party on the Playa Tomorrow in Second Life

Burn2 on SilverSeed

The message from Burn2 is clear - the drought is over and we're having a party!

It’s time to come together to hoot and holler and have some fun and do some sort of serious planning and organizing for BURN2, the BURNING MAN regional in Second Life.

What’s special about it is that WE ALL make the BURN: you, that avatar that looks like a robot sitting next to you, and that hot green Martian gal in the armor over on the next sim…we all make it happen! And it is coming fast, ‘cause October 1 is just around the corner!

Let’s get together, and we will tell you ALL about what we have been working on during the year, how you can help, how you can participate, what the dates are, and the theme.
We will have a question and answer period and take your feedback on how to make the BURN rock! Remember - this is a do-ocracy, so if really want to make the BURN bettah, please do show!

We will do all of this on Saturday, June 4 at 8:00 AM SLT and again at 6:00 PM. In between we have a whole lot of dancing and partying to do!

8a-9a     Town Hall with the BURN2 Core Team
9a-11a   Fancy Dress Costume Party with w/ DJ Llamatron Fetid
11a-12n  Debi Latte live!
12n- 1p Performance Group Stilt Bitches!
1p-6p    Events!
              DMV races
              Burniversity- Building an ART CAR
              DJs
6p-7p    Town Hall with the BURN2 Core Team
7p-9p    Fancy Dress Costume Party w/ DJ Lady Healerbird


So if you are ready to…

• get your camp plot ticket (yep, they will go on sale),
• sign up to volunteer,
• sign up for the plot lottery,
• find out how to submit an art project,
• or even gift the use of your sim for the BURN (wow, can you really loan a sim out?!),
• or just see people that you haven’t seen in a while,
• or if you just need some of that plain old BURNER LOVE..

You gotta come. I hope to see you on SilverSeed!

BURN2 Core Team

To get you in the mood here's a taste of last year's Burn2.  You'll want to come tomorrow to start planning for this year. :)

Pandemonium and Getting Involved in Second Life

Pandemonium, Legion (moderate)

"Where are you?" is the message I received in a variety of forms from a good friend of mine.  "You haven't plurked or tweeted or posted!"  The answer at the time was that I was hanging off the end of an iv tube getting a succession of, what the Doctors insisted was, good drugs to combat a 4 day old migraine.  You'd think at my age I'd know better than to cheat and eat one of the many foods my system has decided are forbidden but no, I can be an idiot sometimes.  I'm starting to recover so let me catch up a bit with some random, yet vitally important, notes on stuff inworld.  Honestly, if my to do list was insane before now it just looks like a mess of angry snakes - but I will slowly get on top of it.

First I should tell you that the photographs today are from Pandemonium,  Legion - a really interesting, if dark, homestead that is for "sale" or rent.  Its name seems to match my inbox at the moment.  You can choose to keep this landscaping and the builds or redo it with your own preferences.   Contact P4NDOR4 Quintessa for information if you are curious or just go visit to see what she has done.

Now let's talk about 4 ways you can have a lot of fun, get involved and participate in events on the grid.

Pandemonium, Legion (moderate)

The Second Life Birthday celebrations are, with Burn2, my favourite time of year in Second Life.  It's a truly grid wide event and gives all of us an opportunity to participate in something fun and helps build a sense of the wider community. 

There is still a need for Stage Managers to help with the multiple venues and you are invited to sign up!  If you've never done it before don't worry - they provide training!  If you are interested send a notecard to  Doctor Gascoigne and title it SL8B Stage Manager *your name* and he'll get back to you. I plan to work a couple of shifts to satisfy my lifelong ambition to be backstage at a rock concert. :)

Pandemonium, Legion (moderate)

On Monday June 6 the grid will welcome the inaugural running of the LEA Avatar Games.  Built by Bryn Oh this is a wonderfully wacky obstacle course with multiple twists and traps.  You can participate and/or have fun as a spectator - Crap Mariner will be doing the play by play and I will add colour commentary (as well as protecting any vulnerable squirrels should he get hungry). 

I hope to see  you there Monday at 4:00 pm slt.

Pandemonium, Legion (moderate)

Speaking of Burn2 - there will be two Town Hall meetings this Saturday (June 4) followed by dancing on the playa and more.  Come and find out what's happening this year and how you can get involved.  If you are ready to…

get your camp plot ticket (yep, they will go on sale),
sign up to volunteer,
sign up for the plot lottery,
find out how to submit an art project,
or even gift the use of your sim for the BURN (wow, can you really loan a sim out?!),
or just see people that you haven’t seen in a while,
or if you need some of that plain old BURNER LOVE..
You gotta come. The whole day will be a blast!. See you on SilverSeed!

8a-9a     Town Hall with the BURN2 Core Team

9a-11a   Fancy Dress Costume Party
11a-12n Performance Group (shhh name is secret!)
12n-6p   Events!
              DMV races
              Burniversity- Building an ART CAR
              Live music performers
              DJs
6p-7p    Town Hall with the BURN2 Core Team
7p-9p    Fancy Dress Costume Party

Pandemonium, Legion (moderate)

As a final note for today - yes, I'm going to nag you again - I need your help with my SL8B project.  I'm very pleased with the photos that are being submitted and I look forward to seeing many more.  It's important to me that we wind up with a good cross section of our world represented in this portrait.  Please take some time to add your picture to the portrait - I'll save you a dance!

Now I'm going to rest up a bit and then tackle that ugly to do list.  If you're waiting on me for something I promise to get to it soon. :)

Burn2 2011 - Passages in Second Life

The Burn2 Burnal Equinox (moderate maturity rating) celebration has begun and you are all invited! There is dancing and cavorting and carrying on as I write this and all of the mayhem will continue throughout the weekend.

As part of the kickoff there were a few key announcements:

1. Burn2 2011 will begin on October 1. The aim is to have 18 sims this year (I'd better start training now).
2. The theme is "Passages". Based on the theme for Burning Man 2011:

   
   There are moments of crisis and frisson in our lives which inform us that we've somehow crossed an inner threshold and are changed. Thus moving from one state of being into an unknown other obliges us to face our innermost insecurities, and it requires faith, a willingness to leap off the ladder of ordered existence. Our theme this year invites participants to join with others in creating rites of passage.

   
   The organizers would like the artists and camp builders to consider creating "rites of passage" for those who attend. Applications for camp sites will be available shortly.

3. There is a huge opportunity to volunteer. If you'd like to build but never have - look at the "hotties" in the Department of Mutant Vehicles as a fabulous place to learn and contribute while belonging to a team of truly mad creators. If you love people in all their flawed beauty - look to the guides and greeters and linguists. The website will be announcing all of the volunteer opportunities (and there are too many for me to list) so bookmark it and check back frequently.

Burn2 is one of the few gridwide events held and it's enormous fun. More importantly it tries to include everybody and we all have the chance to get involved in something truly magical.

This weekend is one big party. There is music and insanity 24 hours a day. This afternoon the DMV races will start at 5:00 pm and I plan to be there. Start thinking about what you want to do for Burn 2 this year but go have some fun while you do. :)