And They Say Girls Can't Do Math! The Art of Wizard Gynoid in Second Life

Fractalized Tensegrity Icosahedron (moderate)

You'd never know it from the state of my desk but I love order.  I enjoy precision and intricacy and, yes, even math.  Just don't ask me to script anything.  I was also one of those students who assured their teachers that I wouldn't need geometry when I grew up.  Somehow, I don't think Wizard Gynoid ever challenged the value of  studying  "the properties and relations of points, lines, surfaces, solids, and higher dimensional analogs".

The Art of Wizard Gynoid (moderate)

Wizzy is, apart from her obsessive interest in mathematical constructs, a seemingly perfectly normal artist (and if you don't recognize the inherent oxymoron in that statement then you haven't met many of them).  Her work is on display this month at UWA Virtlantis as part of the University of Western Australia's ongoing support for art on the grid.

The Art of Wizard Gynoid (moderate)

This exhibit covers a full sim and has as its centerpiece a Fractalized Tensegrity Icosahedron.  Really! All you builders now need to take a deep breath ..... This is perhaps one of the largest and most complex objects in Second Life. At almost 7,200 prims, the object is made up of 1,728 smaller Tensegrity Icosahedra.

And you thought aligning the walls of that house was tricky!

The Art of Wizard Gynoid (moderate)

There is colour and movement and beauty in these works.  All of the math teachers out there need to show Wizzy's installation to their students - it could make a big difference.

The rest of us have the opportunity to enjoy them for their artistry and technical wonder.  I strongly suggest you go visit the exhibit.  I'm not even going to try and figure out how she did it but I'm grateful it was done. :)

PS. Please remember I need your help with my SL8B Project.  I'll bake cookies!

The Art of Wizard Gynoid (moderate)

Clowns, Mutants, Relief & Baby Birds in Second Life

Sopor Aeternum (moderate)

The photographs today are from the wonderful Sopor Aeternum sim by the Wizard Zardoz Tantalus and the great builder Sarion Koba.  It is designed to be viewed with the "blizzard" windlight setting, which I did, but I also tweaked it occasionally for the pictures.  There are magical doorways, creepy clowns, a multitude of devices you can use to transport yourself into the air and around the landscape, the opportunity to have your Tarot read and a very scary old church which is inhabited by flying demons.  I loved it!

While you look at these images I also want to bring you up-to-date on some of the things happening inworld that you should put on your itineraries.

Sopor Aeternum (moderate)

Burniversity is back with a class on Building a Simple Vehicle - this is run by the Department of Mutant Vehicles and will be a blast!  You have the opportunity every year to volunteer as a member of this Burn2 Department and a more wacky, supportive, creative bunch is hard to find.  The class is open to everybody who has some basic building skills and wants to know how to build a car, insert the scripts and learn how to use a sit positioner tool to seat your avatar correctly in your vehicle. 

You may decide to become a team member this year, but even if you don't you'll be able to create your own version of the ultimate travelling machine.  This Sunday, May 15th at 11:00am slt  head over to BurningMan Silver Seed and join the fun!

Sopor Aeternum (moderate)

Editorial Clarity  highlights two fundraising efforts - for Japan and Relay for Life - that are going on this weekend.  So wear purple and go visit the extraordinary Shopping Opportunity which will raise money for AmeriCares' efforts to help the people of Japan. The event will open at 11:30 am slt on Saturday May 14 and 60 of the grid's best designers have created something you just know you want!

Sopor Aeternum (moderate)

It's been a couple of months since I last visited the fabulous Art Gallery Nordan om Jordan.  The newest show looks spectacular and includes one of my favourite artists, Claudia222 Jewell.  This photo of her Baby Bird should be enough to convince you to go visit!  After all of your running around, building and shopping this weekend you deserve the beauty and inspiration of the works on display here. 

All of the places and events I've included in this post should remind you of the fun, the talent, the support and the sheer joy available to us inworld.  Take those grumpy friends of yours who insist they can't find anything to do.  :)

PS Please remember I need your help with my SL8B Project.  Let me know if you have questions.  :)

Sopor Aeternum (moderate)

New Babbage is Steampunk Heaven in Second Life

Wheatstone Waterways (moderate)

If you've followed my adventures for any amount of time you know I love great complex builds, Steampunk, beautiful textures, Community and humour.  All of the things that make me happy can be found in the 10 sim group known collectively as New Babbage. As always, my photos don't do it justice - you really have to go visit to appreciate just how fantastic this place is.

Babbage Square (moderate)

I met the Mayor of New Babbage as I played tourist this morning.  The charming Mosseveno Tenk and his companion Arnold were gracious enough to chat with me and give me some important links.  One of things they shared is that the Community always has something special going on - at the moment it has fallen whole heartedly in support of Relay for Life, including painting the sims purple.  In some cases you'll find an entire building has changed colour - in others you must check out the roof tops to find it.  :)

Babbage Square (moderate)

The details on these sims are exquisite and plentiful.  There was more to see than I had time this morning and, trust me, I must have taken 50 photos in just the short time I did have.   I still get a thrill when I see fabulous flying machines and gears and steam.  The fact that we get to experience this type of fantasy is truly one of the best things about the grid.

Interior of Flying Submarine

You need to explore New Babbage and you should check out both their Podcast Website as well as their YouTube Channel.

I'm going to leave you with one of their videos just to give you a taste of the talent and humour living in New Babbage.  Don't forget though that I need your help with my SL8B project - I'm going to nag you til it launches so you might as well just give in now.  :)

Help Me or I'll Shoot This Second Life Asset Server!

Crie Style (moderate)

Please excuse my shouting, and the threats, but I typically have very boring Blog Post Titles and I really wanted you to look at this one.  I need your help with my SL8B project!  I mentioned this yesterday and now that I've proven to myself I can handle the technical aspects I'm formally inviting/requesting/begging you to assist.  I'll even throw in some pretty pictures in the hope that it will keep you reading.  :)

It has always seemed to me that the answer to the question "What is Second Life" is, once you get past the techie bits, a very personal answer.  A portrait of this world is really the aggregation of all of our individual "lives".  My plan is to try and create this "portrait" and exhibit it in June.  I'm hoping you'll make this possible by participating and by inviting all of your friends, acquaintances and enemies across the grid to do the same.  I'm also hoping we can include as many of the cultures/communities/languages etc., of the grid as possible.

Think about what your Second Life is to you and then take a photograph of it.  You have from now til June 15th to do the thinking, the photography and the submission.  You may already have a picture that you want to use.  If you really can't narrow it down to one, there are multiple categories available for different aspects of your "Life".

Crie Style (moderate)

I've created a page which captures the following information you will need to participate.  The link is near the top on the right hand side and it will stay there until SL8B is over.  The steps are as follows:

1. Take your photograph and save it directly to your hard drive.  Please remember that the pictures must satisfy the requirements of the General Maturity Rating.  I won't be able to use them if they don't.
2. Create your Koinup account if you don't have one already.  (Note: it's free and it's easy)
3. Upload your photo. (choose Upload from the top menu bar, then Second Life, then Pictures)
4. Name and tag your photo.  Click on "Save Batch" and you're done. Your picture, your user name and the name of your photo will appear inworld when I have the exhibit set up.

If you can't profile your Second Life with just one photo you can add a picture to more than one category.  Each of your contributions can only have one tag.  The tag should be chosen from the following options (in bold) and must be spelled correctly with no spaces:

• SL8PAvatar   (avatar)
• SL8PHome  (home)
• SL8PCommmunity   (Community)
• SL8PFriends  (friends)
• SL8PMusic  (music)
• SL8PDancing  (dancing)
• SL8PArt  (art)
• SL8PTheatre  (theatre)
• SL8PLiterature  (literature)
• SL8PEntertainment  (entertainment)
• SL8PLandscape  (landscape)
• SL8PLocation  (location)
• SL8PFashion  (fashion)
• SL8PRolePlaying  (role playing)
• SL8PBuilding  (building)
• SL8PLearning  (learning)
• SL8PTeaching (teaching)
• SL8PGames   (games)
• SL8PDiscussion (discussion)
• SL8PCommerce  (commerce)
• SL8PCollaboration  (collaboration)
• SL8PCreation (creation)
• SL8PAbility  (ability)
• SL8PSupport  (support)
• SL8PSport   (sport)
• SL8PVehicles  (vehicles, including boats and flying machines)

 I've probably missed categories - please let me know and I'll make sure I add to the list.  You can always change your tags if you decide to move your photo into a different category.

Crie Style (moderate)

Some answers to those pesky Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Why photographs and not machinima?  This project is intended to include all SL'ers who wish to participate.  We all have cameras - not everybody has the knowledge or means to do machinima.
2. Do I have to have PhotoShop?  No - you don't need any photo editing software.  If you really want to play with your picture you can but the original image you've taken is more than acceptable.
3. Why Koinup?  Because it has the functionality I need to make the project work.  :)
4. When do I have to submit my photo?  It should be uploaded by June 15th.  After that I can't guarantee your contribution will form part of the exhibit.
5. What if I want to do something that doesn't meet the General Maturity Rating?  Then I can't use your photo.

I hope this is clear and I hope you'll contribute your Second Life photos.  I'm really looking forward to seeing what everybody does.  :)

Obscurity & An Initial Plea for Help With a Second Life Project

La Isla Obscura (moderate)

I stumbled upon La Isla Obscura this morning and fell in love.  It reminded me of the thrill you get when you first "own" land and the endless possibilities available to you (um, ignoring the whole prim trap thingie).  The Wizard Ilmord Darkford has created his home base paradise and it's open for us to share and full of secrets for us to find.

Exploring this little gem and looking at its name reminded me that, due to its size, we really have no hope of seeing everything that exists in Second Life.  The grid is vast and varied and, because the vast majority of us operate withing our own smaller "world", it is also oddly personal.

La Isla Obscura (moderate)

There are two things that we all have in common.  We have a "Second Life" and we have a camera.  Which brings me to the point of this post.

After 4 years of thinking about it I finally decided to try and do something at SL's anniversary celebration.  SL8B will take place in June and I hope to be one of the exhibitors.  I've had a huge project in mind for a very long time and haven't managed to persuade myself to commit to it however I think that a smaller version of it will be doable.  I won't actually know if my application is accepted til the end of May but I'm going to need your involvement for this and I don't think I can wait that long before actually making a formal request for assistance.

La Isla Obscura (moderate)

I will do a post in the next few days giving details of the project and the help I'll need.  In the meantime I'd like you to think about your Second Life.  If you could take one photograph that would show people why you come inworld what would it be?  Community?  Friends?  Music? Art? A location?  Funky Avatars?  Maybe one photo in each category?  An important thing to keep in mind - the picture must align with the requirements for a General Maturity Rating.  No NippleGates will be indulged here. :)

I'll be making use of the functionality available in Koinup so I will need you to register there.  It's free and easy but if you don't want another place in your bookmarks I'll understand.  (I'll cry and pout but I'll understand.)

La Isla Obscura (moderate)

I'm acquiring the technical skills necessary to make the project happen the way I want.  Once I've proven to myself that I can do it I'll post the details of both the project and the assistance I need.

Please consider participating.  I would love to see something that represents as much of the grid wide Community as possible and will need your help and the help of your friends to achieve that.

La Isla Obscura (moderate)

Deconstructed CyberPunk, Music, Anarchy & Squatting in Second Life

Hangars Liquides (moderate)

The surface of our planet is unlivable. The institutions and bureaucracies we know and depend on have vanished.  But civilization has the ability to adapt and mutate and, in Second Life, there is a place that the surviving cyberpunk generation has chosen to build their own version of utopia.  Welcome to Hangars Liquides.

Hangars Liquides (moderate)

Taking its name and inspiration from the French electronic music label this City is hard core and, not surprisingly, mimics the experimental nature of the sounds that pump through your speakers.  A sense of the real nature of anarchy is obvious from the moment you realize that squatting is permitted - but within the constraints imposed by the Community.  The guidelines reflect the need to cooperate with and respect your fellow citizens.

Hangars Liquides (moderate)

The 3 sim City is full of tall, very tall, towers and neon.  There is a casual approach to safety and caution and even role play.  The latter will be considered but isn't the point or focus of the society here.  You are responsible for your own health and welfare; for example the walkways are solid and trustworthy but if you stray off of them you're likely to find yourself falling thousands of meters.  The State has little apparent interest in mothering you.

Hangars Liquides (moderate)

I met the builder, Djehan Kidd, on the site of a new project.  I was enthralled and once it's open I'll share it with you.  In the meantime I thought it was fitting that I finally, after much nudging from friends, go check out Hangars Liquides.  Even if it's not the type of place you want to live in you must go see what a coherent, consistent sociopolitical vision can do when it's coupled with outstanding talent.  This is a dark place which benefits from careful planning and a deft artistic touch.  I was very impressed.

Hangars Liquides (moderate)

Wherein the Intrepid Second Life Explorer Should Have Just Stayed in Bed

Anna's Many Murders (moderate)

OK so I'm having a lousy morning.  My voyage of discovery inworld was fraught with glitches and "unfortunate" landings and so I'm just going to vent a bit and show you more images from Bryn Oh's new installation called "Anna's Many Murders".  It is worth repeating so I'm not going to feel guilty. :)

Anna's Many Murders (moderate)

My crankiness actually began when I discovered an email from LL saying there'd been a billing failure and I needed to fix it before my account was suspended.  This was puzzling because it's been almost a year since I owned any land to pay tier on.  Luckily (?) they tried using a credit card that's not operational but now my balance is in the negative and I have to sort it out.  The support person on the phone didn't argue with me - he saw the problem.  However, I have to phone back on Monday to get into the "escalation" process.  I'm pretty sure it'll turn out to be my fault for being a Canadian.

Anna's Many Murders (moderate)

I made use of the Map to look for locations today.  Wound up on an island whose description turned out to be full of "forced rape, torture, dolcett etc." Oddly enough the place was rated "Moderate".  I've been assured by a veteran role player that it was just "advertising" and they doubted any of those things actually take place.

The logic of advertising that kind of thing just to attract the people who would be interested and then not actually providing it escapes me. 

The next island I landed on informed me that it was damage enabled.  Standing in front of me was somebody named "PsychoKiller" and he was armed.  I left cause I'm a wuss.

Anna's Many Murders (moderate)

I did succeed in finding a place I've been looking for.  However I got stuck in a Tardis wannabe.  Managed to relog and get out of it but then when I tried to get the rules and Observer tag for the place none of the scripts worked for me.  sigh  I found a tag from a previous location and went exploring anyway.  I decided though that, until I can figure out what kind of role play it is, I should just wait and look around another time.

I turned 4 the other day.  Maybe I'm just feeling my age. :)

Anna's Many Murders (moderate)