Aries (3/21 to 4/19): Wheel of Fortune (fate and chance), upside down 5 of Cups (crying over mountains made from molehills) and an upside down Knight of Wands (Right thing for the wrong reasons) --- don't bet that just because the "ends justify the means" that you'll be happier because of it. Don't take such a crap-shoot and go more solidly with tried-and-true methods; don't be a maverick.
Leo (7/23 to 8/22): 4 of Pentacles (Stubbornness), the Lovers (personal connections) and the Knight of Cups (Honest knight) --- There may be some relationship spats both in business and pleasure. Your personal strength and inability to give in may in fact be a hinderance here. At least people will be accepting once it is time to kiss and make up, though.
Sagittarius (11/22 to 12/21): 2 of Cups (Gift giving and friendship restoring), upside down World (things turned on its head) and an upside down 5 of Cups (not seeing the forest for the trees) ---Good intentions end up on the paved road to hell. Some things are too far gone to restore; the most important things are not too far gone. Keep that in mind.
Taurus (4/20 to 5/20): 9 of Cups upside down ("All that glitters..."), the 8 of Pentacles (hard work), and an upside down Ace of Pentacles (bad finances) --- people are going to attempt a hostile takeover; do not let them take credit for your good deeds or you'll never get out of the hole.
Virgo (8/23 to 9/22): The Sun (personal relationship opportunities), the Ace of Swords (Victory) and Justice (karma, destiny) --- Now's the time to ask people out, the window of personal relationships is not going to remain open this wide forever! And if they turn you down, it's a pretty sure sign they'll -never- want to connect.
Capricorn (12/22 to 1/19): Upside down 6 of Cups (boring routine), the 5 of Pentacles (big dreams with a lack of resources) and the King of Wands (Stability) --- If you ask someone with resources to aid you, you'll get that aid but be prepared to be in a "boring" situation for a long time as you dig yourself out of the hole.
Gemini (5/21 to 6/21): 2 of Swords (Black and white choice), an upside down Ace of Swords (growth in the wrong direction) and the upside down 10 of Wands (big burden) --- Double back on all major decisions this month. Just because all roads lead to Rome doesn't mean you have to pick the one with 24-hour construction covering it.
Libra (9/23 to 10/22): 6 of Pentacles (communications), upside down World (scrambled signals to those communications) and the upside down 5 of Wands (petty babbling) --- watch what you say, words have a stronger impact than normal and you might not realize to what out-of-context extremes people might take what you say.
Aquarius (1/20 to 2/18): Upside down King of Pentacles (Greedy man), upside down Knight of Pentacles (his lacky) and the Devil (danger) --- Danger comes in the form of someone who wants/knows too much and wants more. Don't get shaken up by the goons they send and hold your ground. They'll "go to hell" eventually...
Cancer (6/22 to 7/22): King of Cups (Stable man), upside down 8 of Swords (Lies, hiding the truth), the Queen of Cups (Stable woman) --- if there seems to be secret keeping between a relationship you know of between two other people, do NOT get in the middle of it! You don't need to be getting any of the lies on you.
Scorpio (10/23 to 11/21): Upside down Page of Swords (Not looking before one moves), upside down 10 of Cups (Disaster), and the upside down 3 of Swords (breakups) --- If you jump the gun and don't verify your facts before you act, you're going to REGRET IT. Make sure all the layers of lies and deceiving are lifted before exposing the heart of the matter!
Pisces (2/19 to 3/20): Upside down Page of Pentacles (Someone talking out of his butt), upside down 5 of Swords (lots of combat and squabbling), upside down 7 of Wands (Victories not worth holding) --- You might hold the moral high ground in an argument but the moral high ground in this case is potentially worthless; you're going to have to be ruthless instead of acting all worried about what other people think of your actions.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Biker Rally at ZZ Studios
A friend of mine had told me ZZ Studios, the exotic “blue movie” studio, was holding a biker rally on Sunday July 17th. It had originally been scheduled for Saturday, but after hearing about the Relay for Life walk moved the event up a day. The event was at 6PM Second Life time, just across the street from the Studio’s theater and social club in Falcon Valley.
So what’s a biker rally hosted by an adult media company like on the Grid? There were a few more women than the one’s I’ve seen in real life, sometimes with skimpier clothing, and there wasn’t any beer. But they had the essential element: motorcycles. Over a dozen motorbikes were parked in the lot. To get around the prim limit, two riders brought in a couple more bikes by staying mounted on them. And of course, Miss Cindy “Zig Zag” Babi, the infamous tigerstriped skunkgirl whom was the owner and main actress of ZZ Studios, was there.
Most of the bikes were made up from 28-39 prims, some looking fairly well designed. But there was one monster primhog, the GSXR88, taking up 239 prims. While well detailed, those on the Grid whom have had to deal with lag (and who hasn’t) might question the wisdom of using all those prims. Also, maybe it was a glitch of the Grid that particular day, but periodically the GSXR88 would vanish then gradually rezz prim by prim.
The DJ for the event was Husky Fang. And just what music gets played at a ZZ Studios biker rally? Most were pop hits one could expect at most any other party. They included, “The Reanimator,” “Numa Numa,” a Tron “Derezzed” remix, which got Cindy going, “Wow! I like this song,” and of course one skunk song, “Stamp on the Ground.” Also played was “I Can Only Imagine,” which I hadn’t heard in Second Life since a visit to a Christian club. And the DJ played one song just for one biker ...
On the day I was born, the nurses all gathered 'round
And they gazed in wide wonder, at the joy they had found
The head nurse spoke up, and she said leave this one alone
She could tell right away, that I was bad to the bone.
Bad to the bone!
Bad to the bone!
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
Bad to the bone!
They talked about the bikes and the music, but talk went to other things. Somehow food and deserts came up, and conversation turned to cheesecake. One of the girls sighed, “Cheesecake? Oh, I would make LOVE for cheesecake.” Some of the guys promptly began doing Internet research for cheesecake recipes.
Cindy Babi had a bike of her own in the rally, her “Super Sybian.” But at another point she rezzed something else, a kind of rideable jet. Readers may remember from her interview “never put Zig Zag in the cockpit,” so what would happen if she tried driving the thing? The jet launched, and quickly zipped around the office building. It quickly went past the beach, and into the water. But before the engine’s fire was flooded out, she got it out of the water, and ZOOOM!! It took off like a rocket. Within a couple seconds, the jet was out of view. Would Cindy end up being the first porn star in orbit? A minute later, she walked back to the bike rally. She had managed to get away before becoming an accidental astronaut without a suit.
It was soon time to judge the bikes. Third place went to Valen Greymoon, second to Krae Evanier, and first went to Polecatt Merryman, who owned the GSXR88. But the crowd wanted a little more, and Cindy agreed to a “Burnout” contest. Krae and Valen entered, along with “Bad to the Bone” Ronald Milev. One after another, the two biker babes and biker guy drove to the street, revved their engines, and sped down the road for a short stretch. Krae Evanier was declared the winner of the Burnout and 600 Lindens.
With the end of the contest, the bikers began going their separate ways. And this ended the bike rally at ZZ Studios.
Bixyl Shuftan
So what’s a biker rally hosted by an adult media company like on the Grid? There were a few more women than the one’s I’ve seen in real life, sometimes with skimpier clothing, and there wasn’t any beer. But they had the essential element: motorcycles. Over a dozen motorbikes were parked in the lot. To get around the prim limit, two riders brought in a couple more bikes by staying mounted on them. And of course, Miss Cindy “Zig Zag” Babi, the infamous tigerstriped skunkgirl whom was the owner and main actress of ZZ Studios, was there.Most of the bikes were made up from 28-39 prims, some looking fairly well designed. But there was one monster primhog, the GSXR88, taking up 239 prims. While well detailed, those on the Grid whom have had to deal with lag (and who hasn’t) might question the wisdom of using all those prims. Also, maybe it was a glitch of the Grid that particular day, but periodically the GSXR88 would vanish then gradually rezz prim by prim.
The DJ for the event was Husky Fang. And just what music gets played at a ZZ Studios biker rally? Most were pop hits one could expect at most any other party. They included, “The Reanimator,” “Numa Numa,” a Tron “Derezzed” remix, which got Cindy going, “Wow! I like this song,” and of course one skunk song, “Stamp on the Ground.” Also played was “I Can Only Imagine,” which I hadn’t heard in Second Life since a visit to a Christian club. And the DJ played one song just for one biker ...On the day I was born, the nurses all gathered 'round
And they gazed in wide wonder, at the joy they had found
The head nurse spoke up, and she said leave this one alone
She could tell right away, that I was bad to the bone.
Bad to the bone!
Bad to the bone!
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
Bad to the bone!
They talked about the bikes and the music, but talk went to other things. Somehow food and deserts came up, and conversation turned to cheesecake. One of the girls sighed, “Cheesecake? Oh, I would make LOVE for cheesecake.” Some of the guys promptly began doing Internet research for cheesecake recipes.
Cindy Babi had a bike of her own in the rally, her “Super Sybian.” But at another point she rezzed something else, a kind of rideable jet. Readers may remember from her interview “never put Zig Zag in the cockpit,” so what would happen if she tried driving the thing? The jet launched, and quickly zipped around the office building. It quickly went past the beach, and into the water. But before the engine’s fire was flooded out, she got it out of the water, and ZOOOM!! It took off like a rocket. Within a couple seconds, the jet was out of view. Would Cindy end up being the first porn star in orbit? A minute later, she walked back to the bike rally. She had managed to get away before becoming an accidental astronaut without a suit.It was soon time to judge the bikes. Third place went to Valen Greymoon, second to Krae Evanier, and first went to Polecatt Merryman, who owned the GSXR88. But the crowd wanted a little more, and Cindy agreed to a “Burnout” contest. Krae and Valen entered, along with “Bad to the Bone” Ronald Milev. One after another, the two biker babes and biker guy drove to the street, revved their engines, and sped down the road for a short stretch. Krae Evanier was declared the winner of the Burnout and 600 Lindens.
With the end of the contest, the bikers began going their separate ways. And this ended the bike rally at ZZ Studios.
Bixyl Shuftan
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Behind Bronyville’s Fall
Bronyville was up for only a few scant months before it went down, and went down hard. All signs point to Bronyville (and its co-existing sim, Derpy) being lost forever with the removal of the original owners (Overbrain Unplugged and Twinkie Swizzle), the latter of which I did an interview with while things were finishing up being built. Krypton Radio is reporting at http://kryptonradio.com/2011/07/21/woodbury-banned-a-third-time-sl-bronies-take-a-hit/ that both Overbrain and Twinkie were "ban evasion" alts of trolls/griefers, real troublemakers against Linden Lab.I talked to a few people, and they seemed to be in agreement. In the eyes of Linden Lab, "once a griefer, always a griefer" --- meaning if these two straightened up and "went legit" on their ban-evasion accounts, they'd still get in trouble if caught no matter how many good deeds they did (such as building Bronyville, getting people interested in SL BECAUSE of Bronyville, etc).
Then I got wind that the Bronies were recovering at a new sim raised by donation money, known as Bronytown (the sim next to that, Everfree Forest, I am not sure of if that is part of the new Brony sims or not). I tracked down one of the bronies who offered an interview, and they had this to say:
[12:19] Xymbers Slade: Ok, so what can you tell me about the massive avalanche that went on with Bronyville? I've been hearing a lot of reports of different things, from an admin coup to an admin troll.[12:20] Magenta Stars: Well, I think it was the troll. I had heard rumors, but never really made the connection myself. That Overbrain was a Troll ALT was surprising
[12:21] Magenta Stars: I've seen coups before, they're never so clean or quick as this was.
[12:21] Xymbers Slade: Did you lose a lot from Bronyville when it went down? I had a plot I'd just dumped a good 6 or 7 more weeks into when it went down.
[12:23] Magenta Stars whispers: I had a plot in Derpy that still had three weeks rent on it, and I was on the waiting list for a merchant stall. They told me I could open for business when the Arena was finished.
[12:24] Magenta Stars: Beautiful sim you have here.
[12:24] Xymbers Slade: Are you going to grab a stall or plot on the new sims? Do you think the same thing will happen, that trolls disguised as "good people" will wreck things?[12:26] Magenta Stars: Yea! And will I worry? No. Even if i know the leaders are trolls elsewhere. Trolls don't bother me, being a furry in SL makes you have to grow a thick skin, lol.
[12:27] Xymbers Slade: Thicker than most, at any rate. Do you think this was the intention of the trolls... to build everything up and to get their "lulz" later on, knowing it would come crashing down?
[12:28] Magenta Stars: No. I don't, maybe they got some lulz out of it, maybe not. But you know they invested some significant cash into the two sims. I think it was the genuine article. Maybe I'm nieve, but I like to hope for the best =^.^= mews Happily =^.^=
[12:29] Xymbers Slade: I'd seen at the meeting where the sim was going to be named... between the bouts of noise spam from those outside, it looked like [Another Brony], who I thought was a driving force, was basically ostracized.
[12:30] Xymbers Slade: Any idea why?
[12:31] Magenta Stars: I'm not sure, by the time I came in, Bronyville was largely formed and Derpy was only weeks away. [Another Brony] seemed to me to be a quiet type. Hope he's doing well, I havent' heard from him since this all started.
[12:32] Xymbers Slade: I think that's all the questions I can think of... thanks for your perspective. I remember interviewing Twinkie for my first article on the Bronies... hard to believe that he (according to other sources) was a troll alt as well.
[12:33] Magenta Stars: Yea, he seemed pretty cool.
[12:33] Magenta Stars: and no problem. Bix told me you were doing a piece, so I thought I'd offer.
I'm expecting more troll attacks in the future. I know that much of /b/ had declared the Bronies "cancer" (they did tell them to go get their own board, which they did at ponychan.net) and they like nothing more than trolling something as "innocent" as a kids show aimed at little girls. When something this popular rebounds this quickly in the face of the trolls, it just turns into too tempting a target. I didn't lose much from my little plot when Bronyville went down (other than a couple of no-copy freebie water jugs from years ago), but I'm not going to buy another plot for rebuilding my store... not until I see things are solid and stable and hopefully troll free. I'm sure Brony Town when finished will be a nice place to visit, but I'm not going to live there.
Xymbers Slade
Editor's note: Reading the Krypton article, I noticed the name connected to the alt "Overbrain Unpluged" was a familiar one: Intlibber Brautigan. Sorry to say the SLN veterans in Second Life Newser are all too acquainted with him.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Bronyville In Trouble
I have learned that Bronyville and its accompanying sim Derpy has been taken offline, hit harder than the repeated griefings by bored troublemakers in the past. I hadn't logged in for most of the day, being elsewhere and otherwise indisposed, but then I started to see the notices flow in... "calm down, please"... "we'll get this straightened up..." "attempts to rebuild and salvage are in the works..."
I spoke with three or four people, and at this stage in time many people are not talking. Many of the people "with power" (or whom I assume have power) are just as confused as to what went on and is going on as I am. I spoke with one concerned citizen of Bronyville who had this to say:
[20:50] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: not the slightest, some coup between admins
[20:50] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: I suspect we aren't getting it back though
[20:51] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: Curly got hacked, twinkie and rembrandt got banned for supposedly being the hackers
[20:51] Xymbers Slade: Got hacked, again?
[20:51] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: then the bronies group went ape****, accusing Curly or getting them banned falsely so that he could control everything
[20:51] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: no, not again, the last time he was hacked was what set off these events
[20:51] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: so depending on who you believe
[20:52] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: maybe [Sim Owner] is powerhungry and got the other admin ponies banned
[20:52] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: or maybe its a big misunderstanding
[20:52] Xymbers Slade: Banned from the sim, or Second Life?
[20:52] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: nobody knows what actually happened and is just speculating at this point
[20:52] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: banned from Second Life, which is why the sims are gone
[20:53] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: I barely know any of them so im not gonna make any judgements
[20:53] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: but the place has been a giant dramafest from the start
[20:54] Xymbers Slade: As are most things spawned by 4chan, though... /co/ board or not.
[20:54] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: one conspiracy theory is that a chan hacker got into all the admin's accounts
[20:55] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: and maybe used [Sim Admin]'s computer as a proxy to hack curly
[20:55] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: to get them all turning on each other and fifing off all these bans and ****.
[20:56] Xymbers Slade: Mind if I save this log? I write for a SL blog, and this kind of story will require more than one "eyewitness" opinion.
[20:56] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: I'm far from an eyewitness, I'm just repeating the heresay that ive heard
[20:56] Xymbers Slade: I'll list it as hearsay then if I write an article on it.
[20:57] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: nobody that actually knows what is going on has spoken about it, except maybe [Sim Owner] who had a meeting to tell their side of the story earlier today
Speaking with one of the "Brony Royal Guard" (if titles can be believed):
[21:20] [Brony Royal Guard]: The canned response is:
[21:21] [Brony Royal Guard]: The Bronyville and Derpy sims are offline while Lindens investigate [Sim owner]'s account trouble. The sims may go back online, but we will probably need to find a new owner/sponsor. The worst case scenario is that the sims will go back online for a short period of time (a week?) for people to pick up their items before going offline permanently.
A few minutes before walking away from what appeared to be a little group meeting held on another sim nearby to discuss the untidy turn of events, a notice went out that essentially said "Attempts are being made to salvage Bronyville and Derpy (if it can be done everyone will get a voice on if we should save it or lose it; Funding attepts are being made as well; Once stages 1 and 2 are done everyone will get to choose who they want to lead the sim and who they want as admins."
By "Funding" I am assuming a new sim, which makes me think Bronyville, at least in its current incarnation, is not going to come back. That last bit has me worried. "Choose who they want to lead the sim"? It makes me wonder what kind of drama and politics were being played with behind the scenes.
Now, I had a small plot on Bronyville which I just renewed. If the sim goes down for the count, there goes a few thousand $L down the drain. I had nothing truly "of value" on the plot so I will lose nothing if it disappears from the Grid, but it was a nice home away from home. Others spent hours or weeks or months on the build, getting it just right. I can't imagine how they must be feeling right now.
The moment I know anything more, I'll report it here on the SL Newser.
Xymbers Slade
I spoke with three or four people, and at this stage in time many people are not talking. Many of the people "with power" (or whom I assume have power) are just as confused as to what went on and is going on as I am. I spoke with one concerned citizen of Bronyville who had this to say:
[20:50] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: not the slightest, some coup between admins
[20:50] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: I suspect we aren't getting it back though
[20:51] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: Curly got hacked, twinkie and rembrandt got banned for supposedly being the hackers
[20:51] Xymbers Slade: Got hacked, again?
[20:51] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: then the bronies group went ape****, accusing Curly or getting them banned falsely so that he could control everything
[20:51] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: no, not again, the last time he was hacked was what set off these events
[20:51] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: so depending on who you believe
[20:52] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: maybe [Sim Owner] is powerhungry and got the other admin ponies banned
[20:52] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: or maybe its a big misunderstanding
[20:52] Xymbers Slade: Banned from the sim, or Second Life?
[20:52] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: nobody knows what actually happened and is just speculating at this point
[20:52] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: banned from Second Life, which is why the sims are gone
[20:53] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: I barely know any of them so im not gonna make any judgements
[20:53] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: but the place has been a giant dramafest from the start
[20:54] Xymbers Slade: As are most things spawned by 4chan, though... /co/ board or not.
[20:54] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: one conspiracy theory is that a chan hacker got into all the admin's accounts
[20:55] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: and maybe used [Sim Admin]'s computer as a proxy to hack curly
[20:55] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: to get them all turning on each other and fifing off all these bans and ****.
[20:56] Xymbers Slade: Mind if I save this log? I write for a SL blog, and this kind of story will require more than one "eyewitness" opinion.
[20:56] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: I'm far from an eyewitness, I'm just repeating the heresay that ive heard
[20:56] Xymbers Slade: I'll list it as hearsay then if I write an article on it.
[20:57] [Concerned Bronyville Citizen]: nobody that actually knows what is going on has spoken about it, except maybe [Sim Owner] who had a meeting to tell their side of the story earlier today
Speaking with one of the "Brony Royal Guard" (if titles can be believed):
[21:20] [Brony Royal Guard]: The canned response is:
[21:21] [Brony Royal Guard]: The Bronyville and Derpy sims are offline while Lindens investigate [Sim owner]'s account trouble. The sims may go back online, but we will probably need to find a new owner/sponsor. The worst case scenario is that the sims will go back online for a short period of time (a week?) for people to pick up their items before going offline permanently.
A few minutes before walking away from what appeared to be a little group meeting held on another sim nearby to discuss the untidy turn of events, a notice went out that essentially said "Attempts are being made to salvage Bronyville and Derpy (if it can be done everyone will get a voice on if we should save it or lose it; Funding attepts are being made as well; Once stages 1 and 2 are done everyone will get to choose who they want to lead the sim and who they want as admins."By "Funding" I am assuming a new sim, which makes me think Bronyville, at least in its current incarnation, is not going to come back. That last bit has me worried. "Choose who they want to lead the sim"? It makes me wonder what kind of drama and politics were being played with behind the scenes.
Now, I had a small plot on Bronyville which I just renewed. If the sim goes down for the count, there goes a few thousand $L down the drain. I had nothing truly "of value" on the plot so I will lose nothing if it disappears from the Grid, but it was a nice home away from home. Others spent hours or weeks or months on the build, getting it just right. I can't imagine how they must be feeling right now.
The moment I know anything more, I'll report it here on the SL Newser.
Xymbers Slade
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Virtual World Conference about Real World Rights
Virtual Ability, Inc. announces the International Disability Rights Affirmation Conference (IDRAC2011) to be held Saturday and Sunday, July 23/24, in Second Life®.In 2006, the United Nations held a Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The text of the Convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly, and now has over 100 signatory states, including the US and the European Union.
Legislation to protect the rights of persons with disabilities is becoming common around the world. However, the June 9 World Health Organization study, the World Report on Disability, found significant barriers to equal access for persons with disabilities still exist.
This international conference will begin to explore legal protections around the world for persons with disabilities. Featured panels of persons from around the world will discuss local legislation that supports the rights of persons with disabilities. Panelists come from Australia, Belgium, Costa Rica, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the UK.
Featured presenters include Scott Gill, Simon Walsh, Sister Abeyante, and Roberta Walker Kilkenny.
Gill is Executive Director of Access 2 independence, a Center for Independent Living in Iowa, US; he will talk about the independence movement. Walsh is head of his own consulting firm in the UK; he will compare the US ADA legislation with the UK’s DDA. Abeyante is a Salvatorian Sister; she will discuss advocacy for disability (civil and human) rights. Kilkenny is a college instructor; she will present about the significance of the UN Convention.
Presentations by the National Service Inclusion Project and the Job Accommodation Network will highlight disability services available in the US. Other sessions will feature peer support, comedy, and dance, both as part of the affirmation celebration.
Presentations will take place in Sojourner Auditorium on Virtual Ability Island within Second Life®: Virtual Ability (54/170/23) . The full schedule of confirmed presenters is posted inworld, and at http://virtualability.org/IDRAC2011.aspx.
Alice Krueger, president of Virtual Ability, Inc., stated: “It is a great pleasure to host so many wonderful speakers. Our audience will gain information about the extent of the issues facing people with disabilities, and the potentials for solutions to barriers.”
About Virtual Ability, Inc.
Virtual Ability, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation based in Denver, Colorado, dedicated to enabling people with a wide range of disabilities by providing a supporting environment for them to enter and thrive in on-line virtual worlds like Second Life®.
For more information on Virtual Ability, Inc., including the benefits of virtual reality for people with disabilities, please see www.VirtualAbility.org.
For further information, contact:
Alice Krueger, President
Virtual Ability Inc.
Office: 303/400-3306
akrueger@VirtualAbility.org
Press Release sent by Gentle Heron
Friday, July 8, 2011
"Free Avatars" or Maybe Not
Acting on a tip from one of my friends the other day, I headed on over to the "Free Furry Avatar Warehouse" over in the Solbim sim (180,153,91). It's inside a large megaprim off of the main road and holds both a dance club (deserted, like 95% of clubs I see on the Grid, epecially on the mainland) and the "win zone", a place with a lot of Lucky Chairs and Midnight Mania boards. After flying in through the wall of the prim (directly below the pawprint showing the name of the place), I flew up to the second level where the "win zone" was, and was stopped by a wall --- you have to be a part of a group called "Anthropomorphism Therianthropy" and have the tag active before you can go into the Win Zone (or else be ejected from the area and deposited outside of the building).
"Well, that's not free, is it, if you have to do something like join a group to be eligible..." I said to myself. Still, that's not abnormal for SL, as many many groups give out free things to their members all of the time.
Using my camera to pan in, I saw several Lucky Chairs lined along the wall... then blinked to myself as I recognized the avatars. Avatars including the Crux, old equines by Avenity, and most of Wingless Emoto's avatars were available to win. These are avatars I remember paying $L for (1000 for my Crux, about 900 or so for one of my Avenity equines). These weren't "special" avatars available to members of the group, these were copied off of someone else's hard work and given out for free, depriving the makers of another sale.
Now normally, I'd be a bit annoyed about seeing copied avatars, but these are very old versions. I know that the maker of the Crux got out of the avatar making business because the Crux got copybotted in a big way (I do not know the details and I am reluctant to track down the creator for the whole story as I heard it is a very very painful story with way too much drama) and I think Wingless Emoto got out of the avatar making business as well due to "business problems" (I do not know the details). I found myself asking "Does anyone care?" I hardly see anyone wearing any of these old, old avatars. If anything, I see the occasional crux. Maybe some newbies are wandering around in Wingless Emoto's avatars. But other than that, I don't see many wearing these. I know Avenity updated their equines a while back, and these are not the updated versions, so it's not like they're "missed", I think.
Still, they were copied off of someone's hard work. That's really a problem with Second Life. There really ISN'T a way to stop things from being copied and passed around. On top of that, after eight years of being on the internet, there can be only so many ways to make a horse head, or a lion avatar, and so on, and you're bound to get nearly-identical things from time to time. Those trying to build new things after so long on the Grid are running into that as a major problem ("If you go into this now trying to make money, you will fail." someone once told me, and I agree).
Then I noticed that the owner himself, Farthington Whetmore, was in the area. As my opinion is that people who stoop to copybotting are trolls of the worst order, it was time to test that hypothesis and see if he had any "remorse" about stealing. I asked him how he got the avs on the chairs, to be free to all, and his reply was that he got them from various places on the Grid, as well as them being full perms when he got them and that he thought it'd be fun to give them away to newbies searching the grid. I wanted to use our exact conversation, but "Due to the TOS issue and until I research more, I'd rather you didn't." Fair enough.
Still, "Just been" brought to his attention? The tip I got from my friend was about a week and a half old when I decided to act on it and visit the place. "Full perms"? I don't think they had full perms when they were first made. Yeah, my hackles are up, but I'm not going to pursue the matter further for now (mostly because if he IS a troll, I don't want retaliation or drama). I brought up the fact Avenity updated their horses, and it will be interesting to see if I return to the area in a few weeks to find the selfsame things put up on the Lucky Chairs. Given the nature of copybotters/trolls like that, I would not be surprised if my current appearance at the time (a "Verin" avatar out of the company called Derp) got slapped up there as well.
The real problem is that the damage has already been done and that these things are out there. This sort of grid-wide damage can't be undone simply by destroying the place. Linden Labs would fare better simply by saying "What you make you make at your own risk" and leaving it at that, but even being that honest would damn -them- in a way as well and they would lose a LOT of players because that's what Second Life was founded on: The ability to build or make/be anything you wanted.
I doubt I'll return to the "free furry avatar warehouse." I know of -several- places that I can get free things from; this is just yet another place on the grid that does it.
Xymbers Slade
"Well, that's not free, is it, if you have to do something like join a group to be eligible..." I said to myself. Still, that's not abnormal for SL, as many many groups give out free things to their members all of the time.
Using my camera to pan in, I saw several Lucky Chairs lined along the wall... then blinked to myself as I recognized the avatars. Avatars including the Crux, old equines by Avenity, and most of Wingless Emoto's avatars were available to win. These are avatars I remember paying $L for (1000 for my Crux, about 900 or so for one of my Avenity equines). These weren't "special" avatars available to members of the group, these were copied off of someone else's hard work and given out for free, depriving the makers of another sale.Now normally, I'd be a bit annoyed about seeing copied avatars, but these are very old versions. I know that the maker of the Crux got out of the avatar making business because the Crux got copybotted in a big way (I do not know the details and I am reluctant to track down the creator for the whole story as I heard it is a very very painful story with way too much drama) and I think Wingless Emoto got out of the avatar making business as well due to "business problems" (I do not know the details). I found myself asking "Does anyone care?" I hardly see anyone wearing any of these old, old avatars. If anything, I see the occasional crux. Maybe some newbies are wandering around in Wingless Emoto's avatars. But other than that, I don't see many wearing these. I know Avenity updated their equines a while back, and these are not the updated versions, so it's not like they're "missed", I think.
Still, they were copied off of someone's hard work. That's really a problem with Second Life. There really ISN'T a way to stop things from being copied and passed around. On top of that, after eight years of being on the internet, there can be only so many ways to make a horse head, or a lion avatar, and so on, and you're bound to get nearly-identical things from time to time. Those trying to build new things after so long on the Grid are running into that as a major problem ("If you go into this now trying to make money, you will fail." someone once told me, and I agree).Then I noticed that the owner himself, Farthington Whetmore, was in the area. As my opinion is that people who stoop to copybotting are trolls of the worst order, it was time to test that hypothesis and see if he had any "remorse" about stealing. I asked him how he got the avs on the chairs, to be free to all, and his reply was that he got them from various places on the Grid, as well as them being full perms when he got them and that he thought it'd be fun to give them away to newbies searching the grid. I wanted to use our exact conversation, but "Due to the TOS issue and until I research more, I'd rather you didn't." Fair enough.
Still, "Just been" brought to his attention? The tip I got from my friend was about a week and a half old when I decided to act on it and visit the place. "Full perms"? I don't think they had full perms when they were first made. Yeah, my hackles are up, but I'm not going to pursue the matter further for now (mostly because if he IS a troll, I don't want retaliation or drama). I brought up the fact Avenity updated their horses, and it will be interesting to see if I return to the area in a few weeks to find the selfsame things put up on the Lucky Chairs. Given the nature of copybotters/trolls like that, I would not be surprised if my current appearance at the time (a "Verin" avatar out of the company called Derp) got slapped up there as well.
The real problem is that the damage has already been done and that these things are out there. This sort of grid-wide damage can't be undone simply by destroying the place. Linden Labs would fare better simply by saying "What you make you make at your own risk" and leaving it at that, but even being that honest would damn -them- in a way as well and they would lose a LOT of players because that's what Second Life was founded on: The ability to build or make/be anything you wanted.I doubt I'll return to the "free furry avatar warehouse." I know of -several- places that I can get free things from; this is just yet another place on the grid that does it.
Xymbers Slade
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Eve Online’s Veteran Players Revolt Over “Monoclegate” Controversy
Among Science Fiction Massive Multiplayer Online games, the top-ranking one has been Eve Online. A ship vs ship combat game in which players organize into alliances, it has stood over most of the “Other than WoW” crowd. Recently however, some developments could put this status into question.
For most of Eve Online’s history, players never saw their game face. That’s because all the action was in space. For some time, there’s been talk of allowing players to walk about in their ships and space stations. On June 21, their “Incarna” update finally allowed it.
At SL8B, I had a chat with GoSpeed Racer, whom also plays Eve. She told me this update came with a catch. If you wanted to put accessories on your avatar, most clothes would cost the equivalent of $17.50 US dollars. More expensive is the monocle, which costs a $70. When I went to read more about it, I came across more news. News that was making veteran Eve players afraid and angry.
A document from the company behind Eve was leaked which revealed plans to allow purchases of ammo, ships, and other equipment, in addition to other things like faction standings. Why the fuss over these “microtransactions” as they were called. Eve is not a new game, but has been around for several years with a core of dedicated veteran players. And the company had promised for some time there would be no items affecting gameplay up for sale when microtransactions became an option. The message taken by many as the result of this leak was “We lied.”
Articles on Massivley stated that the company’s initial answer to the controversy did nothing to soothe player anger. The results were numerous protests in-game. One film of a protest showed “hundreds” of players firing on a space station. Not all Eve players share this opinion. Another Second Life friend who began playing Eve was unaware of the controversy when I mentioned it, and didn’t see what the fuss was about.
Massively’s “Eve Evolved” columnist was hopeful, but also worried that the company was willing to demolish the sense of community the game had in the name of short-term profits, “I don't want to look back on this weekend in years to come and say to people, ‘This was the day that EVE Online died.’ ”
Fortunetly, CCP realized the mess that had come about. An apology was issued for the tone of the initial response, and they went as far as to fly the game’s “Council of Stellar Management,” a group elected by the players to represent their views, to Iceland for a meeting. After some time to talk, the company issued a statement that their store “will be used for the sale of vanity items only. There are no plans, and have been no plans ... to introduce the sale of game breaking items or enhancements ...”
Responses to Massively’s article were mixed, the majority of those responding expressing some level of skepticism. Although some are willing to believe the company behind Eve Online, it seems the “Monoclegate” controversy has left a sour taste with some veteran players that will take time to fade.
Source: Massively, PC Gamer (picture from PC Gamer)
Bixyl Shuftan
*Addidtion* - GoSpeed has her own blog with her comments on the matter.
For most of Eve Online’s history, players never saw their game face. That’s because all the action was in space. For some time, there’s been talk of allowing players to walk about in their ships and space stations. On June 21, their “Incarna” update finally allowed it.
At SL8B, I had a chat with GoSpeed Racer, whom also plays Eve. She told me this update came with a catch. If you wanted to put accessories on your avatar, most clothes would cost the equivalent of $17.50 US dollars. More expensive is the monocle, which costs a $70. When I went to read more about it, I came across more news. News that was making veteran Eve players afraid and angry.A document from the company behind Eve was leaked which revealed plans to allow purchases of ammo, ships, and other equipment, in addition to other things like faction standings. Why the fuss over these “microtransactions” as they were called. Eve is not a new game, but has been around for several years with a core of dedicated veteran players. And the company had promised for some time there would be no items affecting gameplay up for sale when microtransactions became an option. The message taken by many as the result of this leak was “We lied.”
Articles on Massivley stated that the company’s initial answer to the controversy did nothing to soothe player anger. The results were numerous protests in-game. One film of a protest showed “hundreds” of players firing on a space station. Not all Eve players share this opinion. Another Second Life friend who began playing Eve was unaware of the controversy when I mentioned it, and didn’t see what the fuss was about.
Massively’s “Eve Evolved” columnist was hopeful, but also worried that the company was willing to demolish the sense of community the game had in the name of short-term profits, “I don't want to look back on this weekend in years to come and say to people, ‘This was the day that EVE Online died.’ ”
Fortunetly, CCP realized the mess that had come about. An apology was issued for the tone of the initial response, and they went as far as to fly the game’s “Council of Stellar Management,” a group elected by the players to represent their views, to Iceland for a meeting. After some time to talk, the company issued a statement that their store “will be used for the sale of vanity items only. There are no plans, and have been no plans ... to introduce the sale of game breaking items or enhancements ...”
Responses to Massively’s article were mixed, the majority of those responding expressing some level of skepticism. Although some are willing to believe the company behind Eve Online, it seems the “Monoclegate” controversy has left a sour taste with some veteran players that will take time to fade.
Source: Massively, PC Gamer (picture from PC Gamer)
Bixyl Shuftan
*Addidtion* - GoSpeed has her own blog with her comments on the matter.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Xymber Slade's Fortunes for July
Aries 3/21-4/19 Upside down Heirophant (Unhealthy Knowledge), upside down 3 of Pentacles (bad foundation), upside down 9 of Swords (Big mistakes): Do NOT jump to conclusions this month. They will be as far from the truth as Egypt is from New York. Even if you don't like where your knowledge of events takes you, to jump to conclusions will only make the problem(s) worse.
Leo 7/23-8/22 Upside down 10 of Pentacles (People as a whole), upside down 6 of Pentacles (Bad communication or outright lies), 5 of Wands (petty conflict and combat): Rely on actions, not others' words or guarantees, and don't worry what others say or do to criticize your works. It's all minor compared to the big dreams and goals you're chasing and to hold on to such small grudges would be a mistake.
Sagittarius 11/22-12/21 Upside down Star (Lack of a chance), 5 of Wands (Conflict), The Sun (A new dawn on a situation): Current obstacles are not worth the trouble to cross directly unless you have a lot of resources to spare. Circumvent them with unusual ways and methods and your path should be clear to your goals.
Taurus 4/20-5/20 Upside down 6 of Swords (Wrong-way travel), 7 of Cups (Too many possibilities), upside down 9 of Wands (Impassable barriers): You're going the wrong way about things, but you'll find that out on your own before the big goals you have in mind are shot down out of the clouds. Afterward, take one goal out of the many you have and focus on that 100%.
Virgo 8/23-9/22 Upside down Lovers (Trouble in relationships), King of Swords (Strong male influence, a possible threat), the Emperor (an even stronger man / bigger threat): The strong male influences in your life may get suffocating in a BIG way. Open a window, quick!
Capricorn 12/22-1/19 The Tower (A fall from grace or hitting rock bottom), upside down King of Swords (Dangerous threat), Page of Swords (Threat reduced in power to lowest rank): Absolute power corrupts absolutely... but at least here the lesson is learned. Stay out of the fall of others... you don't want to get hit by falling bodies on the way down.
Gemini 5/21-6/21 Upside down Wheel of Fortune (stacked deck, taunting Murphy), upside down Lovers (relationships on thin ice), 2 of Cups (Gift giving and emotional bridges repaired): The relationships you "fix" from a rocky start won't last long. Too much unpredictability. Heart's in the right place though, and that may be enough.
Libra 9/23-10/22 The Chariot (Movement and speed), 6 of Wands (Victory), upside down King of Wands (Unbending resilience): Goals set this month should be able to be reached with a minimum of effort and problems. Just don't let it all go to your head.
Aquarius 1/-/18 The Moon (Secrets revealed), 2 of Wands (Stay or go? Moderate choice), Upside down 3 of Wands (Bad intent): Err on the side of caution and paranoia this month regarding leaps of faith. Any escape route you set up beforehand you may very well be needing.
Cancer 6/22-7/22 Upside down Devil (Handbasket to Hell), Ace of Swords (Victory in the extreme), 8 of Swords (Blind to the obvious): You escape the current round of difficulties very very easily... but you still overlook something that may come back later. Double back on your route and check sources.
Scorpio 10/23-11/21 Knight of Wands (Stability), upside down Hermit (Moving to action), upside down 3 of Pentacles (Bad set-up): You're on a shaky path, but you can't afford to stop now. Press on with the knowledge that despite best attempts and nothing going wrong, some things are not meant to be.
Pisces 2/19-3/20 9 of Cups (All that glitters), upside down 3 of Cups (Bad or false luck), upside down 5 of Cups (Lamentation, wasted resources): You're being sold a sob story on fool's gold, or it's not as bad as someone makes it out to be. Be very careful who you help, because you might not get the help returned when you need it.
Xymbers Slade
Leo 7/23-8/22 Upside down 10 of Pentacles (People as a whole), upside down 6 of Pentacles (Bad communication or outright lies), 5 of Wands (petty conflict and combat): Rely on actions, not others' words or guarantees, and don't worry what others say or do to criticize your works. It's all minor compared to the big dreams and goals you're chasing and to hold on to such small grudges would be a mistake.
Sagittarius 11/22-12/21 Upside down Star (Lack of a chance), 5 of Wands (Conflict), The Sun (A new dawn on a situation): Current obstacles are not worth the trouble to cross directly unless you have a lot of resources to spare. Circumvent them with unusual ways and methods and your path should be clear to your goals.
Taurus 4/20-5/20 Upside down 6 of Swords (Wrong-way travel), 7 of Cups (Too many possibilities), upside down 9 of Wands (Impassable barriers): You're going the wrong way about things, but you'll find that out on your own before the big goals you have in mind are shot down out of the clouds. Afterward, take one goal out of the many you have and focus on that 100%.
Virgo 8/23-9/22 Upside down Lovers (Trouble in relationships), King of Swords (Strong male influence, a possible threat), the Emperor (an even stronger man / bigger threat): The strong male influences in your life may get suffocating in a BIG way. Open a window, quick!
Capricorn 12/22-1/19 The Tower (A fall from grace or hitting rock bottom), upside down King of Swords (Dangerous threat), Page of Swords (Threat reduced in power to lowest rank): Absolute power corrupts absolutely... but at least here the lesson is learned. Stay out of the fall of others... you don't want to get hit by falling bodies on the way down.
Gemini 5/21-6/21 Upside down Wheel of Fortune (stacked deck, taunting Murphy), upside down Lovers (relationships on thin ice), 2 of Cups (Gift giving and emotional bridges repaired): The relationships you "fix" from a rocky start won't last long. Too much unpredictability. Heart's in the right place though, and that may be enough.
Libra 9/23-10/22 The Chariot (Movement and speed), 6 of Wands (Victory), upside down King of Wands (Unbending resilience): Goals set this month should be able to be reached with a minimum of effort and problems. Just don't let it all go to your head.
Aquarius 1/-/18 The Moon (Secrets revealed), 2 of Wands (Stay or go? Moderate choice), Upside down 3 of Wands (Bad intent): Err on the side of caution and paranoia this month regarding leaps of faith. Any escape route you set up beforehand you may very well be needing.
Cancer 6/22-7/22 Upside down Devil (Handbasket to Hell), Ace of Swords (Victory in the extreme), 8 of Swords (Blind to the obvious): You escape the current round of difficulties very very easily... but you still overlook something that may come back later. Double back on your route and check sources.
Scorpio 10/23-11/21 Knight of Wands (Stability), upside down Hermit (Moving to action), upside down 3 of Pentacles (Bad set-up): You're on a shaky path, but you can't afford to stop now. Press on with the knowledge that despite best attempts and nothing going wrong, some things are not meant to be.
Pisces 2/19-3/20 9 of Cups (All that glitters), upside down 3 of Cups (Bad or false luck), upside down 5 of Cups (Lamentation, wasted resources): You're being sold a sob story on fool's gold, or it's not as bad as someone makes it out to be. Be very careful who you help, because you might not get the help returned when you need it.
Xymbers Slade
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