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
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Xymber Slade's Hororscopes for June
Aries (3/21–4/19) 6 of Cups ("Same old, Same old..."), upside down Ace of Cups (Overturned holy grail), 2 of Swords (Black and White Choice): You're running on fumes; when faced with upcoming tough choices simply pick the lesser of two evils and otherwise just -get some rest-.
Leo (7/23–8/22) Upside down 3 of Cups (Bad or negative luck), 7 of Pentacles (Stored resources) and the Lovers (Intimate connections): Relationships shouldn't go wrong, but they likely will and it will be out of your control. Don't fight it, you've got enough "stored potential" to outlast Murphy -and- his damned Law.
Sagittarius (11/22–12/21) Upside down 2 of Pentacles (The unhappy jester, living a lie), upside down 9 of Cups (all that glitters, and some things that do, ain't gold), upside down Queen of Cups (Someone focused only on themselves): Someone you care about is holding you down. Cut them loose before you get dragged down further; know when it's time to call it quits.
Taurus (4/20–5/20) Upside down 4 of Pentacles (selfishness), The Lovers (personal connections), and the King of Swords (dangerous threat): Someone who doesn't bend with the wind will instead snap like a twig in a storm. Be careful what you say and how you say it as people will be so singleminded as to refuse to "agree to disagree".
Virgo (8/23–9/22) Upside down Justice (Time for Karma), upside down 9 of Wands (barriers and walls) and an upside down King of Cups (The emotional game-player): People who have done you wrong will get what is coming to them, but not without some feedback to you. Don't worry about the backlash, this has been a long time in coming.
Capricorn (12/22–1/19) Upside down Ace of Cups (Overturned holy grail), Queen of Cups (Strong emotional allies) and an upside down Knight of Swords (Tripping over one's feet): Good intentions, bad outcome. Conclusions you jump to may be right, but the obvious "fix" isn't the correct fix. Try approaching a problem from an unusual 75-degree angle.
Gemini (5/21–6/21) Page of Pentacles (Overeager friend), Knight of Cups (Said friend with a good heart) and King of Cups (Someone who listens): If you have allies and big dreams, use the former to achieve the latter, quickly! Now is the time to act on those big dreams. It won't be cheap, but it will be cheaper than normal.
Libra (9/23–10/22) Upside down 10 of Cups (Incoming storm), the Devil (Dreams and reality are two different things) and an upside down 5 of Swords (War, conflict, physical harm): You're on far thinner ice with many explosive situations than you realize. Unless you like causing nuclear war, Back Off.
Aquarius (1/20–2/18) Upside down Knight of Pentacles (Personal greed), upside down Queen of Pentacles (wasteful and materialistic), and an upside down 10 of Cups (Trainwreck of a situation, incoming): The road to Hell is paved with gold. You can get rich quick, and get poorer quicker.
Cancer (6/22–7/22) Upside down Judgement (The final end of one situation, beginning of another), the 7 of Wands (fighting for every step), and an upside down 3 of Pentacles (the house of cards): You feel forced into climbing a mountain made of loose sand and looser stones. Sometimes the best game played is simply none at all.
Scorpio (10/23–11/21) Upside down 8 of Cups (Empty potential), 4 of Pentacles (Stubbornness), and the Queen of Wands (Established, but too by-the-book): Let others hold on to their ideals, even if those ideals can't be met. You may need to play the "What they don't know won't hurt them" card.
Pisces (2/19–3/20) Upside down Queen of Cups (Entitlement), the 2 of Wands (a safety net) and the 6 of Pentacles (communications): You've got it, but you don't know you've got it. Time to be more assertive than normal but remain aware of your limits; your "insurance" can't protect you forever.
Leo (7/23–8/22) Upside down 3 of Cups (Bad or negative luck), 7 of Pentacles (Stored resources) and the Lovers (Intimate connections): Relationships shouldn't go wrong, but they likely will and it will be out of your control. Don't fight it, you've got enough "stored potential" to outlast Murphy -and- his damned Law.
Sagittarius (11/22–12/21) Upside down 2 of Pentacles (The unhappy jester, living a lie), upside down 9 of Cups (all that glitters, and some things that do, ain't gold), upside down Queen of Cups (Someone focused only on themselves): Someone you care about is holding you down. Cut them loose before you get dragged down further; know when it's time to call it quits.
Taurus (4/20–5/20) Upside down 4 of Pentacles (selfishness), The Lovers (personal connections), and the King of Swords (dangerous threat): Someone who doesn't bend with the wind will instead snap like a twig in a storm. Be careful what you say and how you say it as people will be so singleminded as to refuse to "agree to disagree".
Virgo (8/23–9/22) Upside down Justice (Time for Karma), upside down 9 of Wands (barriers and walls) and an upside down King of Cups (The emotional game-player): People who have done you wrong will get what is coming to them, but not without some feedback to you. Don't worry about the backlash, this has been a long time in coming.
Capricorn (12/22–1/19) Upside down Ace of Cups (Overturned holy grail), Queen of Cups (Strong emotional allies) and an upside down Knight of Swords (Tripping over one's feet): Good intentions, bad outcome. Conclusions you jump to may be right, but the obvious "fix" isn't the correct fix. Try approaching a problem from an unusual 75-degree angle.
Gemini (5/21–6/21) Page of Pentacles (Overeager friend), Knight of Cups (Said friend with a good heart) and King of Cups (Someone who listens): If you have allies and big dreams, use the former to achieve the latter, quickly! Now is the time to act on those big dreams. It won't be cheap, but it will be cheaper than normal.
Libra (9/23–10/22) Upside down 10 of Cups (Incoming storm), the Devil (Dreams and reality are two different things) and an upside down 5 of Swords (War, conflict, physical harm): You're on far thinner ice with many explosive situations than you realize. Unless you like causing nuclear war, Back Off.
Aquarius (1/20–2/18) Upside down Knight of Pentacles (Personal greed), upside down Queen of Pentacles (wasteful and materialistic), and an upside down 10 of Cups (Trainwreck of a situation, incoming): The road to Hell is paved with gold. You can get rich quick, and get poorer quicker.
Cancer (6/22–7/22) Upside down Judgement (The final end of one situation, beginning of another), the 7 of Wands (fighting for every step), and an upside down 3 of Pentacles (the house of cards): You feel forced into climbing a mountain made of loose sand and looser stones. Sometimes the best game played is simply none at all.
Scorpio (10/23–11/21) Upside down 8 of Cups (Empty potential), 4 of Pentacles (Stubbornness), and the Queen of Wands (Established, but too by-the-book): Let others hold on to their ideals, even if those ideals can't be met. You may need to play the "What they don't know won't hurt them" card.
Pisces (2/19–3/20) Upside down Queen of Cups (Entitlement), the 2 of Wands (a safety net) and the 6 of Pentacles (communications): You've got it, but you don't know you've got it. Time to be more assertive than normal but remain aware of your limits; your "insurance" can't protect you forever.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Meanwhile, Back in Azeroth
Busy as I am in Second Life, I still find a little time in World of Warcraft. Especially since my residential area has it’s own guild there, in Lightbringer. Recently my namesake character finally reached Level 60, and with it a flying mount. Before “Cataclysm,” one would have to wait until Level 68, Cold Weather Flying wasn’t an option until Lvl 78, and only available at the city of Darlan deep in the interior of the continent of Northrend. And of course, you couldn’t fly in the “classic” continents of Kalimador and the Eastern Kingdoms.
Now, flight’s available just about everywhere, the exceptions being the starting Bloodelf and Draeani areas. For Northrend, the Cold Weather Flying skill is available at any flying trainer. The only problem is, for those near level 60 in Outland, and Levle 70 in Northrend, you need to be more careful where you land in certain areas. Touching down next to a foe several levels higher than you may not be a landing you can walk away from.
For a break in the questing, the Easter and Mothers’ Day events were an interesting diversion. For Easter there was Noblegarden, in which one gathered eggs hidden at the towns closest to capitals for the chocolates inside. There were also occasional goodies such as dresses and pet bunnies. The picture shows two Worgen girls from the Sunweaver guild munching on their candies.
Gather a number, and eventually one got turned into a bunny. Considering the wolflike Worgen player-characters are now involved, Noblegarden became a little more interesting. One of the achievements involved shaking a flower boquet at least one female of each player-character race. But with the neutral city of Darlan no longer the focus of the amount of traffic as it had before Cataclysm, finding girls of the opposing factions was a problem.
Some in the Sunweaver guild made Noblegarden into a social event, going to Azure Watch in the Draeani lands to get hidden eggs. Bu there were other ways. One of the Noble garden achievements is “Hard Boiled” in which one’s bunnified av lays an egg in the hot springs in the Un’Goro crater. In the Zangamarsh server, the “It Came From the Blog” guild, started by posters in the WoW Insiders newsblog, organized a “Hop to Hard Boiled.” In this spontaneous event, they and one other guild, and friends, didn’t fly but walked all the way from Razor Hill to the Un’Goro hot springs. They made this tape of the event, which is over an hour.
"The Hop to Hard Boiled"
Just after Noblegarden was Childrens’ Week. With the changes from Cataclysm, the Ogrimmar and Stormwind quests for the event were changed as well. The Stormwind ones included a motorcycle ride in Westfall, including a pass at the crater and its slimes, which got a little close for comfort for the kid. Horde players had their own wild ride quest in the form of “Ridin the Rocketway” in the Goblin area Azshara.
Until Cataclysm, the Alliance was seen as less diverse than the Horde by many, some Horde dismissing them as “Humans, hippies (Night Elves), and short guys.” With this in mind, one wonders if the Stormwind orphanage matron is having some mixed feelings about trusting her kids to these huge werewolves. The kids would probably think it’s cool, “Doggy!”
Besides the events, Blizzard has also released a new WoW character pet, the cenarion hatchling, available for ten dollars. The proceeds from the sales go to the tsunami relief effort in Japan. Also, an article from WoW insider suggests WoW’s subscription levels have fallen back down to pre-Cataclysm levels. But at 11.4 million subscribers, it’s numbers still make it the 800 pound gorilla of MMOs. There's been at least one suggestion that Blizzard should take this as a sign that it should offer a Free-to-Pay option besides the 10 Day Trial. But it seems most feel the people behind the game are feeling little pressure to do so.
On a final note, with my namesake character being a hunter, I should bring up some recent changes to combat pets. When I first played hunters, one had to keep one’s pet happy. If it got too unhappy, it could run away, especially if it was a new pet. Later on, Blizzard changed the game so they didn’t run away. This was seen by most as favorable, as it was one less thing to worry about. Unhappy pets still didn’t fight as well, so one needed to keep food on hand for the pet.
Now, the rules have been changed so that pets no longer get happy or unhappy, but just a level of content. Food is still handy as it heals damage on a pet. But still, not only does it remove the combat bonus the hunter’s pet gets from being happy, but from my point of view, it takes away from the experience of owning a pet, that it isn’t “just there” but needs occasional attention.
Well, that’s it for now from the wild world of Azeroth. Next holiday is the 4rth of July one, the Fire Festival, in which no doubt we’ll be seeing numerous guys and girls with maniacal grins as they chant “Burn! Burn! Burn!”
Sources: WoW Insider
Bixyl Shuftan
Now, flight’s available just about everywhere, the exceptions being the starting Bloodelf and Draeani areas. For Northrend, the Cold Weather Flying skill is available at any flying trainer. The only problem is, for those near level 60 in Outland, and Levle 70 in Northrend, you need to be more careful where you land in certain areas. Touching down next to a foe several levels higher than you may not be a landing you can walk away from.
For a break in the questing, the Easter and Mothers’ Day events were an interesting diversion. For Easter there was Noblegarden, in which one gathered eggs hidden at the towns closest to capitals for the chocolates inside. There were also occasional goodies such as dresses and pet bunnies. The picture shows two Worgen girls from the Sunweaver guild munching on their candies.Gather a number, and eventually one got turned into a bunny. Considering the wolflike Worgen player-characters are now involved, Noblegarden became a little more interesting. One of the achievements involved shaking a flower boquet at least one female of each player-character race. But with the neutral city of Darlan no longer the focus of the amount of traffic as it had before Cataclysm, finding girls of the opposing factions was a problem.
Some in the Sunweaver guild made Noblegarden into a social event, going to Azure Watch in the Draeani lands to get hidden eggs. Bu there were other ways. One of the Noble garden achievements is “Hard Boiled” in which one’s bunnified av lays an egg in the hot springs in the Un’Goro crater. In the Zangamarsh server, the “It Came From the Blog” guild, started by posters in the WoW Insiders newsblog, organized a “Hop to Hard Boiled.” In this spontaneous event, they and one other guild, and friends, didn’t fly but walked all the way from Razor Hill to the Un’Goro hot springs. They made this tape of the event, which is over an hour.
"The Hop to Hard Boiled"
Just after Noblegarden was Childrens’ Week. With the changes from Cataclysm, the Ogrimmar and Stormwind quests for the event were changed as well. The Stormwind ones included a motorcycle ride in Westfall, including a pass at the crater and its slimes, which got a little close for comfort for the kid. Horde players had their own wild ride quest in the form of “Ridin the Rocketway” in the Goblin area Azshara.Until Cataclysm, the Alliance was seen as less diverse than the Horde by many, some Horde dismissing them as “Humans, hippies (Night Elves), and short guys.” With this in mind, one wonders if the Stormwind orphanage matron is having some mixed feelings about trusting her kids to these huge werewolves. The kids would probably think it’s cool, “Doggy!”
Besides the events, Blizzard has also released a new WoW character pet, the cenarion hatchling, available for ten dollars. The proceeds from the sales go to the tsunami relief effort in Japan. Also, an article from WoW insider suggests WoW’s subscription levels have fallen back down to pre-Cataclysm levels. But at 11.4 million subscribers, it’s numbers still make it the 800 pound gorilla of MMOs. There's been at least one suggestion that Blizzard should take this as a sign that it should offer a Free-to-Pay option besides the 10 Day Trial. But it seems most feel the people behind the game are feeling little pressure to do so.
On a final note, with my namesake character being a hunter, I should bring up some recent changes to combat pets. When I first played hunters, one had to keep one’s pet happy. If it got too unhappy, it could run away, especially if it was a new pet. Later on, Blizzard changed the game so they didn’t run away. This was seen by most as favorable, as it was one less thing to worry about. Unhappy pets still didn’t fight as well, so one needed to keep food on hand for the pet.
Now, the rules have been changed so that pets no longer get happy or unhappy, but just a level of content. Food is still handy as it heals damage on a pet. But still, not only does it remove the combat bonus the hunter’s pet gets from being happy, but from my point of view, it takes away from the experience of owning a pet, that it isn’t “just there” but needs occasional attention.
Well, that’s it for now from the wild world of Azeroth. Next holiday is the 4rth of July one, the Fire Festival, in which no doubt we’ll be seeing numerous guys and girls with maniacal grins as they chant “Burn! Burn! Burn!”
Sources: WoW Insider
Bixyl Shuftan
Monday, May 2, 2011
Virtual World Avination and Gambling
I was recently contacted by an old friend, Foxyfurman Kumaki, about a recent development in the virtual world Avination. As the estate owner in Second Life of the old Foxworth sim, he and Linden Labs got along less than well. Eventually, he and his partner moved to the mainland, getting a shop there (and paying only a tiny fraction what he once did).
He also decided to check out other virtual worlds, and soon found one he liked: Avination. “This was the first world that I could log into easily,” he told me earlier this year, “This is less money and more stable from my view.” Foxyfurman reported the number of sims back then as 800. More recent statistics of the Opensim based world show over 1100, with almost 26,000 members, almost 9000 whom logged in within the past month.
One thing Foxyfurman liked about Avination was the difference between it’s policy on gambling and that of Second Life. Because Linden Labs is based in the United States, it has to deal with the government’s less than friendly attitude with Internet gambling. A few years ago, Linden Labs banned all gambling in Second Life. Later on, it began allowing some games such as Zyngo, if a case could be made they involved some level of strategy. But there was at least one occasion Linden Labs changed the rules and ordered gaming halls to comply, or else.
“In Avination,” Foxyfurman told me, “it is straight up gambling. AVN is in the UK, so games of this type are semi-legal.” An article in VirWorld wrote about gambling there, describing a casino that was so big, his viewer couldn’t see it all.
Unfortunately, Avination’s relaxed policy on gambling got unwelcome attention from Paypal. Foxyfurman told me the reason Linden Lab had put the pressure on Zyngo halls earlier was because of Paypal, “Paypal is international, and they do not like it.” Avination had been using Paypal for it’s residents’ convenience. But because of the gaming, they were thinking of leaving, “it looks like AVN has few choices: ban gaming, or find a good and easy payment method.”
Some days later, Foxyfurman had some good news, sending me a notecard, with a message to AVN’s staff from Paypal:
Thank you for providing additional information
regarding your website/s and business in order
to comply with PayPal's Acceptable Use Policy.
After a recent review of your account, we have
found that you have completed the requirements
to remove the limitation and have granted an
appeal.
Furthermore we are glad to inform you that you
have been approved to use PayPal as a payment
option for your sales on the following website/s:
http://www.avination.com
So it seems the gaming halls are in Avination to stay.
Bixyl Shuftan
He also decided to check out other virtual worlds, and soon found one he liked: Avination. “This was the first world that I could log into easily,” he told me earlier this year, “This is less money and more stable from my view.” Foxyfurman reported the number of sims back then as 800. More recent statistics of the Opensim based world show over 1100, with almost 26,000 members, almost 9000 whom logged in within the past month.
One thing Foxyfurman liked about Avination was the difference between it’s policy on gambling and that of Second Life. Because Linden Labs is based in the United States, it has to deal with the government’s less than friendly attitude with Internet gambling. A few years ago, Linden Labs banned all gambling in Second Life. Later on, it began allowing some games such as Zyngo, if a case could be made they involved some level of strategy. But there was at least one occasion Linden Labs changed the rules and ordered gaming halls to comply, or else.
“In Avination,” Foxyfurman told me, “it is straight up gambling. AVN is in the UK, so games of this type are semi-legal.” An article in VirWorld wrote about gambling there, describing a casino that was so big, his viewer couldn’t see it all.
Unfortunately, Avination’s relaxed policy on gambling got unwelcome attention from Paypal. Foxyfurman told me the reason Linden Lab had put the pressure on Zyngo halls earlier was because of Paypal, “Paypal is international, and they do not like it.” Avination had been using Paypal for it’s residents’ convenience. But because of the gaming, they were thinking of leaving, “it looks like AVN has few choices: ban gaming, or find a good and easy payment method.”
Some days later, Foxyfurman had some good news, sending me a notecard, with a message to AVN’s staff from Paypal:
Thank you for providing additional information
regarding your website/s and business in order
to comply with PayPal's Acceptable Use Policy.
After a recent review of your account, we have
found that you have completed the requirements
to remove the limitation and have granted an
appeal.
Furthermore we are glad to inform you that you
have been approved to use PayPal as a payment
option for your sales on the following website/s:
http://www.avination.com
So it seems the gaming halls are in Avination to stay.
Bixyl Shuftan
Friday, April 8, 2011
Interview with Cindy “Zig Zag” Babii of ZZ Studios
For readers of online comics one popular (or infamous) character is “Zig Zag,” the “blue movie” studio owner and head actress from “Sabrina Online.” In the strip, the title character reluctantly accepts a job as webmaster of the adult film company ZZ Studios after getting laid off. Some fans in Second Life set up a ZZ Studios here on the grid, which both produces exotic adult-themed media and is a social hangout.
The studio is owned and headed by Cindy Babii, whom plays the part of Zig Zag in the media, as well as being viewed as her in her unique tigerstriped skunkgirl avatar. I recently had a chance to interview her, and ask her about her and the studio’s beginnings, and how the place operates.
The interview began in Cindy’s office.
Bixyl Shuftan: So Cindy, how did you first find out about Second Life?
Cindy Babii: Well, a friend I knew from the online forum Gaia told me about Second Life. When I first logged on, my friend TPed me to “The Ark.” That first hour, I spotted a tigerskunk avie there at The Ark. I knew then what I wanted to do.
Bixyl Shuftan: Did it take long for you to get one of your own?
Cindy Babii: Someone donated a thousand Lindens the same day so I could get one. I’m still wearing the skin from that avie.
Bixyl Shuftan: So how long before you had the idea of bringing ZZ Studios to Second Life?
Cindy Babii: Well, my first intention was to just be Zig Zag in Second Life. But everyone kept asking me if I was going to make a studio. One thing lead to another, and I finally rented my first plot. I think it was 750 prims total.
Bixyl Shuftan: A little small compared to now. How long ago was this?
Cindy Babii: About three and a half years ago.
Bixyl Shuftan: So what are some of the challenges in running a "blue movie" studio in Second Life?
Cindy Babii: Hmm tough question. (pause) I find what we do here as fun and not as any challenge. The normal challenges would be getting sets made, costumes found, finding the right actor/actress, then setting a time when all can be on and we can film.
Bixyl Shuftan: Considering the fanbase the character Zig Zag has, I take it you got quite a bit of attention from the beginning?
Cindy Babii: (laughter) It hasn't stopped yet! I get fans daily who tell me how much they love Zig Zag and ZZ Studios (laughter) and some I have to explain that I’m not Max (Blackrabbit.)”
Bixyl Shuftan: (chuckles) So some thought you were Max Blackrabbit or Eric Scwartz (the two artists associated with Zig Zag)?
Cindy Babii: *nods* I tell them my boobs are bigger than theirs. (laughs)
Bixyl Shuftan: (chuckles) What have Max and Eric have had to say about the studio?
Cindy Babii: Well, I know Max has seen the studio in the early days and liked what he saw. As for Eric, I only have heard what others have said. I haven’t talked to Eric directly (not that I wouldn’t. I love the Sabrina series).
Bixyl Shuftan: Sounds great about Max. When did the studio begin making it's movies?
Cindy Babii: We started soon after we had a building. We started filming there. I took the pictures for most of the first productions. The first one had no text at all, and the story was told with just pictures. Now the studio has many talented people making awesome pieces of work.
Bixyl Shuftan: Yes, I've seen some of them, some full time, some contributing. Any in particular you'd like to mention?
Cindy Babii: I would have to say thanks to everyone that helped keep the studio going while I delt with my Mom and her battle with cancer. She passed away in October.
Bixyl Shuftan: Oh, I’m sorry. (pause) It is good to hear your friends helped give you the time you needed.
Cindy Babii: Yes, it was along time, and they all did great. And they didn't burn anything down (grin) ... like that time I crashed a sim-sized blimp into the land owner’s house.
Bixyl Shuftan: Now that sounds interesting. What's the story there?
Cindy Babii: While the studio was on a different sim, someone wanted to show me this full sized Hindenburg blimp. And we all should know you don't show Zig Zag the cockpit. Well, things got touched, something moved, and next thing I know the blimp is crashing into the land owner’s house (he's a dragon, you know how they are) and it broke up into these huge pieces that started floating all over the place.
Bixyl Shuftan: Oops!
Cindy Babii: (Grins) It had to be the funniest thing I’ve seen in Second Life ever.
Bixyl Shuftan: (chuckle) So Eric might draw something about that if he heard?
Cindy Babii: (laugh) I would like to think so.
Bixyl Shuftan: So what other funny incidents have happened at the studio?
Cindy Babii: (laughs) Oh my God hun, I could go on for hours. We always have a good time here, and you never know what you will see here. ... But I will say I have beat up Godzilla here.
Bixyl Shuftan: Oh?
Cindy Babii: (laugh) Yes he came in here, and I jumped him, and was surprised I won. ... Xerxes catfight. That’s what I used on the huge Godzilia. Luckily Ziba was standing right there and saw it, or no one would've believed me.
Bixyl Shuftan: I take it the DJ at the club played "Ultimate Showdown" the next few days. (chuckles a bit) yes lucky.
Bixyl Shuftan: Back to the movies, how has the way they're made changed?
Cindy Babii: We still do a lot the old way, with the addition of motion-picture films. We show them time to time in the theater, and have a few new ones being made as we speak.
Bixyl Shuftan: Are most today motion pictures?
Cindy Babii: We still do still, but with text and effects.
Bixyl Shuftan: About half and half?
Cindy Babii: No, about 80/20.
Bixyl Shuftan: About how many people apply for jobs every week?
Cindy Babii: I’ve passed that job onto other staff, but last I heard, we have averaged about 25 a week.
Bixyl Shuftan: Has finding reliable actors been a challenge?
Cindy Babii: Oh no, that’s never been hard. I’ve casted before and had over 300 show up for a part.
Bixyl Shuftan: So most of the applications are more or less serious and not jokes, the subject of "blue movies" having a giggle factor to some?
Cindy Babii: (laughter) We call them self-help movies. (pause) We find a lot just want the ZZ tag to show off, but most come here wanting to do anything they can to help the studio out.
Bixyl Shuftan: About how many people are involved in an average film, not that these films are average?
Cindy Babii: Well, we usually have the director/camera person. Then the set builders throw in some actors for the main shoot. And when done its off to editing. Then the writers, and finally the graphic artist for the finishing touches.
Bixyl Shuftan: About how long does it take?
Cindy Babii: It can take weeks to years, Cyber Angels took a year and a half.
Bixyl Shuftan: Were some of the staff involved offline for a while?
Cindy Babii: No, it just took awhile to have it the way we wanted it.
Bixyl Shuftan: So sometimes it can take a while to redo a scene until it's "just right?"
Cindy Babii: Well, that's all done in filming. What takes the most is the writing, editing and the artist work.
The interview was put on hold for a while when Cindy had to take care of real-life matters. When we met again, it was at the theater, which had a couple comics on display, as well as having a short Eric Scwartz film up, “
Bixyl Shuftan: So once a project is done, what does the staff do to celebrate?
Cindy Babii: We usually have a Premiere Night here in the theater.
Bixyl Shuftan: How many usually attend the premiers?
Cindy Babii: (laugh) Well, we’ve crashed the sim a few times on Premiere Night.
Bixyl Shuftan: Oops. (pause) What other events do you have here?
Cindy Babii: We recently had out yearly Valentines’ Day Tail Sale, and are going to have another Biker Night here soon. And we have DJs at least 3 days a week.
Bixyl Shuftan: A biker-themed party? I did hear one of the staff liked making bikes.
Cindy Babii: They’re a lot of fun and provide the studio with some rent money. Yes, Darke is the studios’ bike maker. She makes all kinds as a hobby.
Bixyl Shuftan: I recall she had a few comments about your own bike. (grin)
Cindy Babii: Oh what was that? (laugh)
Bixyl Shuftan: She described it as the primmiest one on the lot.
Cindy Babii: (laughter) Funny. I get the same with my avie.
Bixyl Shuftan: Getting back to the movies, I read that in real life the number of women viewing adult movies has been growing. About how many of the viewers of your media are women?
Cindy Babii: You would think so. (pause) I’m not sure about that, as I haven't really looked into that aspect of sales. I do know we have a large female fan base.
Bixyl Shuftan: Have you ever had trouble with griefers at the studio?
Cindy Babii: Only once or twice. We don't get a lot of griefer problems like other furry places.
Bixyl Shuftan: How does the studio get along with it's neighbors?
Cindy Babii: Oh, we get along great. Only time we had a problem was from a bunch of ninjas that lived next door to us on another sim.
Bixyl Shuftan: Ninjas? What happened?
Cindy Babii: You know hard it is to get ninja out of your fur?
Bixyl Shuftan: (chuckle) Sounds like something interesting. Did everyone get along in the end?
Cindy Babii: (laughter) Yeah, it all turned out good. They thought we would like a bunch of ninja running around the studio. But became a problem quickly and turned into what we call the ninja wars (laughter).
Bixyl Shuftan: (chuckles) "Ninja wars?"
Cindy Babii: (laughter) Yes. Just incase your wondering, furrys vs ninjas, furrys always win.
Bixyl Shuftan: (chuckle) So is there going to be a ninja-themed movie from the studio?
Cindy Babii: We don't have anything planned at this time (laugh).
Bixyl Shuftan: Perhaps in the future, unless perhaps Max Blackrabbit draws some when he finds out.
Cindy Babii: (laughter) Cute. (pause) Here is what I used.
Cindy then brought a gun out of her inventory, a huge anti-tank rifle that would dwarf 50 caliber guns. She told me anyone close to where a round landed would likely be knocked over unless sitting down. This led to a few minutes of foolery and joking.
Bixyl Shuftan: Guess one really doesn't know what to expect here. That seems to be all the questions I can think of. Was there anything else you'd like to mention?
Cindy Babii: (laugh) No, you never do. Thanks for your time. Don’t be a stranger hun and look forward to seeing some new pic's.
Some months ago, I had written to Max Blackrabbit and Eric Scwartz about their opinion of ZZ Studios. Max told me he’d get back to me, but never answered further. Eric did answer, saying he knew of the studio, and had no problem with it.
ZZ studios is located in Falcon Valley, the southeast corner of the sim.
Bixyl Shuftan
The studio is owned and headed by Cindy Babii, whom plays the part of Zig Zag in the media, as well as being viewed as her in her unique tigerstriped skunkgirl avatar. I recently had a chance to interview her, and ask her about her and the studio’s beginnings, and how the place operates.
The interview began in Cindy’s office.
Bixyl Shuftan: So Cindy, how did you first find out about Second Life?Cindy Babii: Well, a friend I knew from the online forum Gaia told me about Second Life. When I first logged on, my friend TPed me to “The Ark.” That first hour, I spotted a tigerskunk avie there at The Ark. I knew then what I wanted to do.
Bixyl Shuftan: Did it take long for you to get one of your own?
Cindy Babii: Someone donated a thousand Lindens the same day so I could get one. I’m still wearing the skin from that avie.
Bixyl Shuftan: So how long before you had the idea of bringing ZZ Studios to Second Life?
Cindy Babii: Well, my first intention was to just be Zig Zag in Second Life. But everyone kept asking me if I was going to make a studio. One thing lead to another, and I finally rented my first plot. I think it was 750 prims total.
Bixyl Shuftan: A little small compared to now. How long ago was this?
Cindy Babii: About three and a half years ago.
Bixyl Shuftan: So what are some of the challenges in running a "blue movie" studio in Second Life?
Cindy Babii: Hmm tough question. (pause) I find what we do here as fun and not as any challenge. The normal challenges would be getting sets made, costumes found, finding the right actor/actress, then setting a time when all can be on and we can film.
Bixyl Shuftan: Considering the fanbase the character Zig Zag has, I take it you got quite a bit of attention from the beginning?
Cindy Babii: (laughter) It hasn't stopped yet! I get fans daily who tell me how much they love Zig Zag and ZZ Studios (laughter) and some I have to explain that I’m not Max (Blackrabbit.)”
Bixyl Shuftan: (chuckles) So some thought you were Max Blackrabbit or Eric Scwartz (the two artists associated with Zig Zag)?
Cindy Babii: *nods* I tell them my boobs are bigger than theirs. (laughs)
Bixyl Shuftan: (chuckles) What have Max and Eric have had to say about the studio?
Cindy Babii: Well, I know Max has seen the studio in the early days and liked what he saw. As for Eric, I only have heard what others have said. I haven’t talked to Eric directly (not that I wouldn’t. I love the Sabrina series).
Bixyl Shuftan: Sounds great about Max. When did the studio begin making it's movies?
Cindy Babii: We started soon after we had a building. We started filming there. I took the pictures for most of the first productions. The first one had no text at all, and the story was told with just pictures. Now the studio has many talented people making awesome pieces of work.
Bixyl Shuftan: Yes, I've seen some of them, some full time, some contributing. Any in particular you'd like to mention?
Cindy Babii: I would have to say thanks to everyone that helped keep the studio going while I delt with my Mom and her battle with cancer. She passed away in October.
Bixyl Shuftan: Oh, I’m sorry. (pause) It is good to hear your friends helped give you the time you needed.
Cindy Babii: Yes, it was along time, and they all did great. And they didn't burn anything down (grin) ... like that time I crashed a sim-sized blimp into the land owner’s house.
Bixyl Shuftan: Now that sounds interesting. What's the story there?
Cindy Babii: While the studio was on a different sim, someone wanted to show me this full sized Hindenburg blimp. And we all should know you don't show Zig Zag the cockpit. Well, things got touched, something moved, and next thing I know the blimp is crashing into the land owner’s house (he's a dragon, you know how they are) and it broke up into these huge pieces that started floating all over the place.
Bixyl Shuftan: Oops!
Cindy Babii: (Grins) It had to be the funniest thing I’ve seen in Second Life ever.
Bixyl Shuftan: (chuckle) So Eric might draw something about that if he heard?
Cindy Babii: (laugh) I would like to think so.
Bixyl Shuftan: So what other funny incidents have happened at the studio?
Cindy Babii: (laughs) Oh my God hun, I could go on for hours. We always have a good time here, and you never know what you will see here. ... But I will say I have beat up Godzilla here.
Bixyl Shuftan: Oh?
Cindy Babii: (laugh) Yes he came in here, and I jumped him, and was surprised I won. ... Xerxes catfight. That’s what I used on the huge Godzilia. Luckily Ziba was standing right there and saw it, or no one would've believed me.
Bixyl Shuftan: I take it the DJ at the club played "Ultimate Showdown" the next few days. (chuckles a bit) yes lucky.
Bixyl Shuftan: Back to the movies, how has the way they're made changed?
Cindy Babii: We still do a lot the old way, with the addition of motion-picture films. We show them time to time in the theater, and have a few new ones being made as we speak.
Bixyl Shuftan: Are most today motion pictures?
Cindy Babii: We still do still, but with text and effects.
Bixyl Shuftan: About half and half?
Cindy Babii: No, about 80/20.
Bixyl Shuftan: About how many people apply for jobs every week?
Cindy Babii: I’ve passed that job onto other staff, but last I heard, we have averaged about 25 a week.
Bixyl Shuftan: Has finding reliable actors been a challenge?
Cindy Babii: Oh no, that’s never been hard. I’ve casted before and had over 300 show up for a part.
Bixyl Shuftan: So most of the applications are more or less serious and not jokes, the subject of "blue movies" having a giggle factor to some?
Cindy Babii: (laughter) We call them self-help movies. (pause) We find a lot just want the ZZ tag to show off, but most come here wanting to do anything they can to help the studio out.
Bixyl Shuftan: About how many people are involved in an average film, not that these films are average?
Cindy Babii: Well, we usually have the director/camera person. Then the set builders throw in some actors for the main shoot. And when done its off to editing. Then the writers, and finally the graphic artist for the finishing touches.
Bixyl Shuftan: About how long does it take?
Cindy Babii: It can take weeks to years, Cyber Angels took a year and a half.
Bixyl Shuftan: Were some of the staff involved offline for a while?
Cindy Babii: No, it just took awhile to have it the way we wanted it.
Bixyl Shuftan: So sometimes it can take a while to redo a scene until it's "just right?"
Cindy Babii: Well, that's all done in filming. What takes the most is the writing, editing and the artist work.
The interview was put on hold for a while when Cindy had to take care of real-life matters. When we met again, it was at the theater, which had a couple comics on display, as well as having a short Eric Scwartz film up, “Bixyl Shuftan: So once a project is done, what does the staff do to celebrate?
Cindy Babii: We usually have a Premiere Night here in the theater.
Bixyl Shuftan: How many usually attend the premiers?
Cindy Babii: (laugh) Well, we’ve crashed the sim a few times on Premiere Night.
Bixyl Shuftan: Oops. (pause) What other events do you have here?
Cindy Babii: We recently had out yearly Valentines’ Day Tail Sale, and are going to have another Biker Night here soon. And we have DJs at least 3 days a week.
Bixyl Shuftan: A biker-themed party? I did hear one of the staff liked making bikes.
Cindy Babii: They’re a lot of fun and provide the studio with some rent money. Yes, Darke is the studios’ bike maker. She makes all kinds as a hobby.
Bixyl Shuftan: I recall she had a few comments about your own bike. (grin)
Cindy Babii: Oh what was that? (laugh)
Bixyl Shuftan: She described it as the primmiest one on the lot.
Cindy Babii: (laughter) Funny. I get the same with my avie.
Bixyl Shuftan: Getting back to the movies, I read that in real life the number of women viewing adult movies has been growing. About how many of the viewers of your media are women?
Cindy Babii: You would think so. (pause) I’m not sure about that, as I haven't really looked into that aspect of sales. I do know we have a large female fan base.
Bixyl Shuftan: Have you ever had trouble with griefers at the studio?
Cindy Babii: Only once or twice. We don't get a lot of griefer problems like other furry places.
Bixyl Shuftan: How does the studio get along with it's neighbors?
Cindy Babii: Oh, we get along great. Only time we had a problem was from a bunch of ninjas that lived next door to us on another sim.
Bixyl Shuftan: Ninjas? What happened?
Cindy Babii: You know hard it is to get ninja out of your fur?Bixyl Shuftan: (chuckle) Sounds like something interesting. Did everyone get along in the end?
Cindy Babii: (laughter) Yeah, it all turned out good. They thought we would like a bunch of ninja running around the studio. But became a problem quickly and turned into what we call the ninja wars (laughter).
Bixyl Shuftan: (chuckles) "Ninja wars?"
Cindy Babii: (laughter) Yes. Just incase your wondering, furrys vs ninjas, furrys always win.
Bixyl Shuftan: (chuckle) So is there going to be a ninja-themed movie from the studio?
Cindy Babii: We don't have anything planned at this time (laugh).
Bixyl Shuftan: Perhaps in the future, unless perhaps Max Blackrabbit draws some when he finds out.
Cindy Babii: (laughter) Cute. (pause) Here is what I used.
Cindy then brought a gun out of her inventory, a huge anti-tank rifle that would dwarf 50 caliber guns. She told me anyone close to where a round landed would likely be knocked over unless sitting down. This led to a few minutes of foolery and joking.
Bixyl Shuftan: Guess one really doesn't know what to expect here. That seems to be all the questions I can think of. Was there anything else you'd like to mention?
Cindy Babii: (laugh) No, you never do. Thanks for your time. Don’t be a stranger hun and look forward to seeing some new pic's.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Some months ago, I had written to Max Blackrabbit and Eric Scwartz about their opinion of ZZ Studios. Max told me he’d get back to me, but never answered further. Eric did answer, saying he knew of the studio, and had no problem with it.
ZZ studios is located in Falcon Valley, the southeast corner of the sim.
Bixyl Shuftan
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Xymber Slade's Hororscopes for April
Aries (March 21 to April 19): Upside down 9 of Cups (All that Glitters is not gold), the Fool (Self-explaining) and Death (An ending of some sort) --- Put your past mistakes behind you. You've made some dumb moves, now it's time to close the door on that self-doubt that resulted and open a door to the next chapter.
Taurus (April 20 to May 20): Upside down 5 of Cups (crying over spilled milk), King of Cups (someone established, with power willing to share) and the 2 of Wands (Moving forward) --- Don't hesitate to ask someone with power for help, despite previous fall-outs you may have had with them.
Gemini (May 21 to June 21): Upside down 7 of Pentacles (Lack of resources), upside down 5 of Pentacles (Goal in sight, but feeling blocked) and an upside down Magician ("miscast" spells) --- Plans made now will not stand on their own feet. Delay progress a month. The goal is sound and the steps to get there are good. Now's not the time to execute those steps though.
Cancer (June 22 to July 22): Upside down Queen of Pentacles (someone holding more than they deserve), Page of Swords ("attacking the problem head on"), and the Knight of Cups (Good intentions triumph) --- You know the difference between right and wrong, but zealotry will make more enemies than it will fix problems. Still, sometimes zealotry's needed to win.
Leo (July 23 to August 22): 10 of Swords (Betrayal, endings), Upside down Heirophant (Bad knowledge leading to a worse situation) and the Page of Wands upside down (a liar) --- don't trust everything you read or hear. Some of it may be just plain bad or come from sources with a subtle agenda.
Virgo (August 23 to September 22): Upside down Hanged Man (stagnation, total block), The High Priestess (Emotional power) and the 10 of Pentacles (people as a whole) --- You won't accomplish your goals on your own; people are not listening nor will they. Time to hire outside talent, even if it's on a very short term basis.
Libra (September 23 to October 22): Upside down Queen of Cups (Someone who acts good but is a black widow), Justice (teaching the Queen a lesson) and the 4 of Pentacles (Stubbornness, not listening to the universe) --- Someone in your circles is ignoring a lesson or is stubbornly getting in the way convinced they're in the right. They're not going to go away. Adapt rather than fight them off.
Scorpio (October 23 to November 21): Upside down Page of Cups (Brat), Queen of Swords (Someone ignoring the brat), 8 of Cups (Emptiness) --- A problem involving two people will burn out on its own. Don't go trying to fix what will properly end or you stand to be the next troublemaker.
Sagittarius (November 22 to December 22): Upside down Queen of Pentacles (someone who is too connected), the Star (opportunity rising), and the 7 of Wands --- Someone with a winner-take-all attitude's "time to shine" is rapidly approaching. They'll be so busy fighting to keep every step whether they got it legally or not that your plans are unaffected. Fly under the radar.
Capricorn (December 22 to January 19): Ace of Cups (Holy Grail), upside down 8 of Cups (Emptiness, no potential) and the King of Pentacles (Someone with a lot of riches/power/connections) --- You hold the "cup of bounty", but it will rapidly run dry. Enjoy it while it lasts before it passes into the hands of the lawful-but-undeserving.
Aquarius (January 20 to Febuary 18): Upside down 3 of Wands (Trojan horse), 9 of Wands (barriers), and the upside down Knight of Wands (Bad starts, slow progress) --- Trust yourself over others on the same life goal or path, though your own progress will be slow going for a while.
Pisces (Febuary 19 to March 20): Upside down Page of Pentacles (Bad spending), Upside down King of Pentacles (Worse spending), upside down Knight of Wands (near-no progress) --- stop spending your material resources. They're getting you nowhere. Back off on projects, use go-betweens or emotional resources instead.
Taurus (April 20 to May 20): Upside down 5 of Cups (crying over spilled milk), King of Cups (someone established, with power willing to share) and the 2 of Wands (Moving forward) --- Don't hesitate to ask someone with power for help, despite previous fall-outs you may have had with them.
Gemini (May 21 to June 21): Upside down 7 of Pentacles (Lack of resources), upside down 5 of Pentacles (Goal in sight, but feeling blocked) and an upside down Magician ("miscast" spells) --- Plans made now will not stand on their own feet. Delay progress a month. The goal is sound and the steps to get there are good. Now's not the time to execute those steps though.
Cancer (June 22 to July 22): Upside down Queen of Pentacles (someone holding more than they deserve), Page of Swords ("attacking the problem head on"), and the Knight of Cups (Good intentions triumph) --- You know the difference between right and wrong, but zealotry will make more enemies than it will fix problems. Still, sometimes zealotry's needed to win.
Leo (July 23 to August 22): 10 of Swords (Betrayal, endings), Upside down Heirophant (Bad knowledge leading to a worse situation) and the Page of Wands upside down (a liar) --- don't trust everything you read or hear. Some of it may be just plain bad or come from sources with a subtle agenda.
Virgo (August 23 to September 22): Upside down Hanged Man (stagnation, total block), The High Priestess (Emotional power) and the 10 of Pentacles (people as a whole) --- You won't accomplish your goals on your own; people are not listening nor will they. Time to hire outside talent, even if it's on a very short term basis.
Libra (September 23 to October 22): Upside down Queen of Cups (Someone who acts good but is a black widow), Justice (teaching the Queen a lesson) and the 4 of Pentacles (Stubbornness, not listening to the universe) --- Someone in your circles is ignoring a lesson or is stubbornly getting in the way convinced they're in the right. They're not going to go away. Adapt rather than fight them off.
Scorpio (October 23 to November 21): Upside down Page of Cups (Brat), Queen of Swords (Someone ignoring the brat), 8 of Cups (Emptiness) --- A problem involving two people will burn out on its own. Don't go trying to fix what will properly end or you stand to be the next troublemaker.
Sagittarius (November 22 to December 22): Upside down Queen of Pentacles (someone who is too connected), the Star (opportunity rising), and the 7 of Wands --- Someone with a winner-take-all attitude's "time to shine" is rapidly approaching. They'll be so busy fighting to keep every step whether they got it legally or not that your plans are unaffected. Fly under the radar.
Capricorn (December 22 to January 19): Ace of Cups (Holy Grail), upside down 8 of Cups (Emptiness, no potential) and the King of Pentacles (Someone with a lot of riches/power/connections) --- You hold the "cup of bounty", but it will rapidly run dry. Enjoy it while it lasts before it passes into the hands of the lawful-but-undeserving.
Aquarius (January 20 to Febuary 18): Upside down 3 of Wands (Trojan horse), 9 of Wands (barriers), and the upside down Knight of Wands (Bad starts, slow progress) --- Trust yourself over others on the same life goal or path, though your own progress will be slow going for a while.
Pisces (Febuary 19 to March 20): Upside down Page of Pentacles (Bad spending), Upside down King of Pentacles (Worse spending), upside down Knight of Wands (near-no progress) --- stop spending your material resources. They're getting you nowhere. Back off on projects, use go-betweens or emotional resources instead.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Reader Submitted: My Journey in Second Life by Skylark Lefavre
Way back when I started on Second Life I was but just a newbie. Everything was new and fascinating. I saw a new world worth exploring, yet I knew how to do nothing. Someone I made friends with on a website got me to sign up for Second Life. I met him on my most favorite hangout then named Beat Island. This sim I remember was education and full of musical entertainment. My friend lived and worked here. It is here where my journey started.
I eventually caught up with my friend who is a New Zealander. I thought "how cool is this?" and after getting voice to work learned to build and move lickety-split. Still using the freebie white winged wolf angel av I picked up from Help Island, I looked for avatars different than I saw as mainstream. "What could these be called?" From time on furry websites I knew they were furry avs. I did a search and low and behold I found a place called Rocket City Furmeet.
Knowing this to be a real life furry convention center I thought "what the heck?" I walked into the structure and into the vendor room. Back then it was small and in the Second Life building instead of where it all is now. I found the Aventity vendor which back then they sold a few avs. I bought an orange fox after realising where to buy it from. I was still under the Linden Currency buying cap being new. Now I needed to wear it. How do I wear it? I wore it and dragged the contents from the box it was in to a new folder in the inventory. Then a resident says it's easier to use a sandbox. Hmm sandbox, well something to use for a later day. Well back then I didn't know it was inappropriate to not have clothes so I searched for clothes. I found Bare Rose in 2007. This was nice, good looking clothes at affordable prices. I bought as much as I could. Back then Bare Rose wasn't laggy not did it have the sheer volume of what it does today nor selection. I this time used a sandbox.
I hung out with my new friend and his friends which led me to a medieval RP sim called Alchera. This was a very noteworthy RP sim that had alot of possibilities had it not gone under with the time and rising costs of land. It was this magical place I met two other friends where all three would become my oldest and best friends. Later on I wanted a dragon av, and at the time I still had trouble purchasing Linden currency through lack of experience. I had purchased enough to get an Isle Of Wyrms Fire Wyrmling of what was then known as Xstreet, a Second Like marketplace offline of Second Life. Well I was proud of my new avatar. I wore it all over I even danced with a Second Life elf from another medieval RP sim called Avalon a sister island to Isle Of Wyrms. I became Dragon of the Mist with the help of someone I would know only for a short time and miss everyday. He was already a Dragon of the Mist there. We dated some hung around shopped for things teens liked like Superheros stuff. Me and him were flying in a sim that was a wasteland of rock and caverns that was supposed to be like the place bad people go when they do evil in life. Me and him flew around having fun we felt right at home. Two humans were on the ground below us. A New Chapter unfolds.
The two humans bought a sim it had a glorious mountain with a waterfall and grotto, there was a cave for me and my love. on the other side cottages. The two humans adopted us as Pet Rider Dragons . We were the first and last to be in this pet rider dragon group they called Climbing Rose Rider Dragons. Time passes, and two more were added to the group, our daughter and son dragon hatchlings. The RP fell apart misunderstandings and wrong assumptions led to the selling of the island and to the end of the RP. I was heartbroken. I had lost touch with my lover due to things beyond my control. My handler thought I wanted to quit.
I went to Exterminatus Labs and got me a Black Therion av and had Black Demon Rot Wings and an aqua Green gown, 'cause Avalon rules then were if you walked on two legs you wore clothes. I met a Portuguese elf that took me in as his dragon lady. I helped him with lots of things off of SL and been best friends with him. I left Avalon and headed to Isle Of Wyrms. This place was a place where I am accepted and loved. I learned important life lessons, and my first taste of keeping order to chaos was here. I bought me at their Cathedral a Storm Hatchling. I joined the group Hedgies Hatchlings and Tinies and became a Tiny. I later rented my first home in Hatchie Haven.
I lost contact with my Portuguese Elf friend but I met two other Portuguese kids. One loved me with a kind and happy heart. We went to a water sim that had a road. On the side was the entrance to a Water Dam. Inside there were freebie Transformer avies that transformed from the transformer movie. He got me a free black cat av from a sim that now is a werewolf RP store. Things changed though. The breakup and loss of my home and family and friends at the RP and a plethora of troubles associated with this first account. I made this account. This account became my primary. My journeys were not over. I had gotten more work hours and found a better way to buy currency and make currency. I knew how to do more. I started collecting avs and making cute and beautiful avatars. I met a horse avie and we hit it off. Thus a memory entails our meeting and a legacy never dies.
Me and my best friend forever and then my lover had an idea, a dream, a dream to bring something special to this virtual world. He was a crackpot telecommunications programmer. A Hatchling I had met that later created the Gadzoo line of furry avs helped build the final version of the building that started a legacy. My friend from Alchera was the DJ manager. I was the manager, but I preferred and was good mainly at hosting. Yes this was a club: Furry Desires. I was co-owner with it with my lover. We had a different way to do things. We never did adult themed things. We never allowed pole dancing, we never did event contests. The crowd we drew came for the music and a good time nothing more.
He lost his job and the payment for all the lots for the club, avatar mall, and other more adult themed items mall down the street was threatened. We sacrificed the malls but we never gave up. We payed monthly rent all on tips alone. I met up with the owner of a popular av making company and the owner came by in this small av and told me how much he enjoyed reading my notices to club gigs at Furry Desires. Well this was becoming a strain on the regulars. We shut Furry Desires down for a short time, sold the parcels. This would not be the end!.
My Lover was in a bad way and in poor health. We basically just parted without hatred anger or vengeful thought. Instead I did what I do a lot. I became best friends with him. Well I met a few others afterward I dated. I ended up in Wolf Valley. It was a little laggy and somethings like my diving Board and kiddie train I couldn't use. But my best times were spent renting there. I didn't know this, but the time I was there the one running the sim was teaching me how to be a sim admin which I will always be thankful to him for since later down the road I would be sim admin to three sims.
I eventually had some job hour cuts and had to sell all my parcels. Last I heard I rented just under the amount the gf of the one who was teaching me had and she had a good share of Wolf Valley rented. My second exposure to renting a home. I moved to Cape Suzette a Sunweavers sim owned by my now Second Life beloved mother owner of the Sunweaver Islands. Due to a failing economy in and off world, people could no longer afford rent. Before the final death of Cape Suzette, a place I wished I could have kept, I was lured to a place called Kitsuhana, Japanese Kitsune and forest themed. The owner there was fascinated with my landscaping talents and I made her Faerie Acre Forest. People came from all over Second Life to see it. With what I was taught I kept script lag down low while keeping it aesthetically pleasing with a faerie theme. I had finally found a place to set up my kiddie train and it worked the Christmas before I had to leave due to the owner selling off a big part iof it and my parcel was on the list of parcels to be sold.
I remet up with a person I met in Wolf Valley who had ventured to my giant 5 story castle. He is the owner of Mythica Woods. He asked me to adopt him, which I did. My Second Life Mother owns the homestead his place was on. So I became Estate Manger there. He asked me to make things. I far outdone myself in originality and creativity. I even created a community or mixed residents furry, neko, dragon, and human. Seeking a place I could call home I looked for a sim or part of a sim. I met a fur who later became my sister a pink bunny and fox mix or fennec. She took me in on her sim. I rented 1/5 of a sim on mainland. I had so many prims I didm't know what to do but build the first of the many space stations I would call home. I loved that place as well. The owner and the co-owner had a difference of opinion so I left that place before it wa shut down and moved to Mythica Woods. I finished most of my work there and kept everyone happy as I was the landlord as well and I made the rules on how to run it and I did banning, ejecting, and all that an officer and sim admin would do. Drama has followed me since I had a taste of running sims and my family had grown bigger. I got pulled into fights and war I didn't belong in and I got tired of it. Another life lesson learned, look out after yourself.
Well I sought a group access place or adult themed hideout for a home. I found it finally and no farther away from my Second Life mom's home. But along the way I met special people, been to special places, and found out things that will in turn allow me a more peaceful life in any life and last if not least a lover who I am now engaged to in real life I have been seeing 5 years. For me Second Life was more than a Virtual World. Its been a magical fairy tail full of memories I will never forget. Not everyone has had my luck or my kind of journey but there is no reason to give up hope of having it!
Cheers and hope your Second Life is as good as my own life.
Skylark Lefavre
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Best Viewer Apps for SL
Second Life Viewers are maturing rapidly and avatar users are choosing sides. I am decidedly multi-viewer. As an active user and teacher of several major viewers, I'll share some important news and insights. In my recent survey of 133 experienced Second Life (SL) users, the viewer market share breaks down like this:
56% use Phoenix Viewer @ PhoenixViewer.com
26% use Linden Lab's Viewer 2 @ SecondLife.com
3% use Other New Viewers (e.g. Imprudence/Kokua, Emergence, Ascent)
16% use Linden Lab's Viewer 1 and Miscellaneous
More surprisingly, SL ages appear to correlate with Viewer choice…
Phoenix users are mostly 1 to 4 years old in SL
Viewer 2 users are mostly less than 1 year old in SL
Viewer 1 users are mostly over 3 years old in SL
* Of course there were several outliers who don't fit these norms
Linden Lab (LL), the maker of Second Life, stopped development of Viewer 1 at version 1.23 in October 2009. LL launched Viewer 2 the same year, and offered the Viewer 1 code to 3rd party developers. First Emerald emerged as third party leader, which was replaced by the Phoenix project, which now dominates SL viewer market share.
When I announced this survey to some groups, people came forward to announce their Viewer 1 loyalty. Indeed, oldbie avatars (avis) are laggards, by and large, and even very old versions of Phoenix are being blocked from SL (156 and 168).
You see me in Phoenix Version 818 with all my glorious Heads Up Device (HUD) gadgetry in Picture 1. The pictures are all raw SL snapshots, un-retouched (i.e. a little dark), where I compare Viewer 2 and Phoenix for this story.
40 GROUPS NOW in SECOND LIFE: Here's How!!!
From time immemorial in SL, users were limited to 25 SL groups. Someone at LL made a ridiculous assumption that if we let people join too many groups, the resulting communications would overload the virtual world. Kind of like a nuclear chain reaction, we would collectively melt their server farm!!! LOL Finally LL came to it senses. Hee Hee!
If you are Viewer 2 user, you are already 40 groups capable. If you are in Phoenix, you may need to enable this feature, here's how: Enable the Advanced Menu by holding down CTRL and ALT… then press D. In Advanced > Show Debug Settings, then type "Phoenix40…" (auto-completes)… and click the TRUE radio button, then OK button. Done!
Viewer 2: Market Share by Default Downloads
If you don't have a desktop iMac and or a superwide HDTV 16:9 display, forget V2, Bada Bing! V2 has a right margin bar that takes up too much screen on ordinary computer displays, Picture 4.
Nevertheless, I have always liked the Viewer 2 (V2) interface, and declared that to M Linden (then LL CEO) while V2 approval ratings among SL users was only 3%. See my letter to M Linden on SL Newser: http://tiny.cc/udl6m
I suggested M dump Google… they were botching V2 search quite badly, the key feature that makes SL SL (e.g. Compare with OpenLife). Instead, LL drove Google very deeply into V2, to the extent that, it's fair to say: V2 IS SPYWARE. V2 requires full enabling of Google's Analytics, AdServices, AdWords, and LeadServices… otherwise the "action" buttons in search don't work at all: Teleport, IM, Profile, and Details. Why does Google need to know who's profile I'm opening? Groups I research? Where I'm going in SL? Or who I'm IMing? YIKES! See https://jira.secondlife.com/browse/WEB-2465
Remember… I like Viewer 2. Adding Phoenix to my SL quiver was hard for me in some ways. V2's groups list is awesome; I love the Favorites Landmark (LM) bar across the top (Picture 3); and the Instant Message (IM) icons are way cool… little caption bubbles pop up when a chat arrives.
In-World search in V2 actually works! Yay! But the user interface is very annoying, making you slowly reopen search numerous times, every time you TP. Slow Google-driven buttons… need to be re-started from scratch for your next search. For Event Search, your best bet in V2 is to click the Profile button then Notify, for a bunch of Events, before you TP. In Phoenix (after you TP), to use the next search result… Ctrl F, Click-Select an event, and Teleport. Dead simple and fast! Duh!
The surgery LL did on Group Notices, IM's and chat with Toast pop ups, Toast Time, Toast Fade time… is pretty ill-defined and unworkable for users. Either you go with their ADD-inducing 5 second defaults or… go with their ADD-inducing defaults… You Will Lose Settings with Every Viewer 2 Update!
Now, what really irks me is Viewer 2 lag. Clouding and Ruthing are a form of lag. I get serious Clouding most every time I log into Viewer 2, and seldom a problem in Phoenix. Viewers 2.4 and beyond significantly increased lag… I noticed instantly because I surf in SL, and I CAN'T SURF IN THE LATEST few V2 releases e.g. my SL Surfs Up iReport: http://slnewserplaces.blogspot.com/2010/12/dude-surfs-up-in-second-life.html.
This lag in LL's own viewer is a great irony, because the new CEO of LL is a video gamer guy.
For Clouding/Appearance fixes see my iReport: http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-504314
And see this amazing Phoenix Wiki note… incredible De-Clouding advice! http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/doku.php?id=bake_fail
Why Phoenix is Winning Market Share!
TA DA!!! PHOENIX OFFERS FREE LIVE TECHNICAL SUPPORT… In-World for their browser… delivered by Phoenix staff… through their SL group Phoenix Viewer Support. During peak SL hours, Phoenix has at least 2 dedicated staff answering your questions. This is an amazing feature because in my 3+ years in SL, I've never seen LL do direct technical support. Not even close.
If you are in Viewer 1 (or any non-V2), moving to Phoenix is dead easy. No learning curve, 95% upward compatible, you won't notice the difference. I assure you. I urge you NOT to stay on Viewer 1.23… since there are no code updates in years, the security/griefer situation will continue to deteriorate. The multitudes of V1.23 users are a juicy target! Oh Yeah! Don't get hacked silly, upgrade painlessly now!
Most features of Viewer 2 are available in Phoenix in some form. The Outfits folder was a great V2 innovation, fully available in Phoenix, and built into Appearance > Make Outfit. Your V2 outfits are already in Phoenix and work great!
Zoomable Mini-Map with mouse wheel! Great V2 feature! It's in Phoenix too! Yay! (Picture 2).
Favorites links… are an inventory folder in Phoenix. Often, I get annoyed with V2's way of splitting up inventory… into Places and Outfits and whatnot… Yikes! I'm in the WRONG V2 window again! But no, in Phoenix it's all in inventory and searchable without switching panes.
Phoenix let's you see which SL Viewer other people are using. Making this story possible! Hurrah! Look at avi name tags. Picture 2 shows many Phoenix cool cats hanging with a handful of Viewer 2 and miscellaneous avatars.
Phoenix has many "beyond Viewer 1" extensions… Some are integrated into familiar SL controls… but many are in the new Phoenix menu and the new Phoenix tab on Ctrl P Preferences. Fun to explore… no worries, the good olde features are just where you expect!
Bottom Line: What to Do?
If you are on Viewer 1, upgrade to Phoenix. If you are on Viewer 2 and don't mind the avi clouding and lag… you are cool and should stay. Enjoy your SL! Otherwise migrate to Phoenix and join Phoenix Viewer Support SL group! You can't go wrong!
And join my classes, I re-start teaching in February, every Saturday and Sunday at 6:30am SLT (US Pacific). All at our remodeled way-cool campus in SL: Dream Seeker (206, 132, 22)
For more info, download my free SL book, links in this iReport: http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-518024
ABOUT SECOND LIFE GADGETS & HUDS (Pictures 1 and 3)
SL, like Dog years, feel like 7X faster than RL years. In my decades in SL, I've accumulated over 22,000 items. Omg! Most oldbies use a lot of HUDs and attachments as shown in any Picture 1 and 3. All this stuff is pretty easy to find in the SL Search classified ads, or just ask any SL help group.
Starting from Mini-Map upper left, and going clockwise, you see HUDDLES EZ Animator. I have this one setup to do modeling poses, but it's main function is to animate dances and invite friends to sync dance. Buy the deluxe model because it's copyable.
Top center is the free Simbolics Translator. Does dozens of languages, translating both directions. You also have built in Google translator in Ctrl P Prefs, Chat tab, but that translation is only 1 way :-(. Ferd's free translator is also great and does 3 or more languages at once.
Just under Group Notices in Picture 1 is the JLU signal HUD. This is anti-griefer panic button that summons the super-hero-clad Justice League Unlimited experts to your location. It's the 911 of SL for fighting griefers!
The Pink button next to the chat window is Musyume-AO from MAMESANDO Rings (Japanese AO seller). Gotta love those way-cool AOs to get some 'tude in ur avi postures!
Above the chat window is Avatar Online Tracker. I find SL's online friends notification to be way laggy and annoying. This great device helps me track online status of anybody, especially useful for iReporters and event promoters for finding people online they want to meet!
P.S. I only specialize in the features of SL that enable fun. I would love to have an open discussion (i.e. public SL meeting) with people who are truly knowledgeable about SL techno stuff.
P.P.S. Viewer 2.4+ very important… (otherwise it's DOA)… Advanced Menu > Show Debug Options, then in the box type adminmenu, set the radio button to True and OK. Then… Advanced > Show Develop Menu and Develop > Show Admin Menu. Now you can ALWAYS FLY real high (fixes loads of SL problems) and work round the SL music failure bug… Essential for true SL fun lovers! See Chapter 2 of my free SL book for more info: http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-518024
P.P.P.S. The next version of Phoenix is FIRESTORM... and the next Imprudence viewer is Kokua... the new new thangs! Get the buzz on the SL group Phoenix Viewer Support! It's cool to people-watch the SL support fun! Go Figure!
P.P.P.P.S. The 10 thousand odd members of the Phoenix Viewer Support group make it an amazing forum... SL's true Towne Square... A recent interaction really "made my day"... someone asked sincerely... if we could help her friend who was lagged and clouded and having tremendous SL problems... Whirly Fizzle promptly offered this sage advice... "If boobs are not jiggling... go to edit... prefs.... Phoenix..page 2... effects,,, make sure boobs are enabled & set numbers to 100, 15, 100, 16, 1 (if you have low fps you need max/min vel at 100/1). If still no jiggle go to advanced... debug settings..... PhoenixBreastPhysicsToggle...set to FALSE, then back to TRUE" LOL LMAO!!!, used with Whirly's permission!
(originally on CNN)
Any1 Gynoid
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