You're My Hero!

With the passing of John Hughes comes the end of an era. "Ferris Bueller, you're my hero!" will no longer be said with the zest it once was, but instead, with a slight sadness in tone, a reflection of time past, a longing for understanding that all Hughes films gave us in our teens. That understanding kept us going, told us it was better to be ourselves than anyone else, and that it's smart to take inspiration from anywhere, not just those places - or people - who are "cool".

In all of the reading I have done lately on the late Hughes, no one said it better than Scott Bradley in an August 13th article entitled Don't You Forget About Me, in the New City. Here, Bradley gives us "Scooty's Mollyfesto": quips and wisdom from 1980's Midwest films that touched our hearts.

1. It is futile to compare your inside to another's outside; we are all outsiders on the inside.
2. Even if it's applying lipstick with your cleavage, take pride in your small accomplishments.
3. Don't take Ducky in your life for granted; true friendship will always outlast fleeting romance.
4. Face life's little humiliations with a dramatic roll of the eyes and move on.
5. Bite your lip to bring clarity to confusion.
6. Never trust the pretty rich people; they really don't care about you. No, really. Unless, of course, they are played by Molly.
7. Be open to inspiration from the most unlikely sources, even the geek in braces.
8. When life hands you ugly pink fabric, make yourself a hideous dress and dance!

John Hughes, you're my hero.

Top SL Blogs

As a service to you, gentle reader, I provide an extensive list of many active Second Life blogs, compliments of virtual pal ArminasX Saiman's Second Effects. Yes, you will note RLTS made the list which, given I had been out of world when this was collected/written and relatively offline for six months prior, I am honoured, not to mention surprised.

Dying to know the top ten? Check 'um out. And be sure to visit Second Effects for the full list.

Second Life Blogs by Technorati Rank

( 1 ) Massively
( 2 ) Official Second Life Blog
( 3 ) iheartsl.com
( 4 ) Virtual Worlds News
( 5 ) New World Notes
( 6 ) Raph's Website
( 7 ) VintFalken.com
( 8 ) Torley Lives
( 9 ) Not Possible IRL
( 10 ) Free*Style

Oooo and one more thing - patience paid off. This walking party provider made the iReport in re: SL6B. Go figure.

Confessions of a Book Junkie

With the beginning of the new school year it should be no surprise to learn that I totally dig books. In fact, I am known to hang out in more than one reading room in SL. This should not surprise anyone given I grew up in a place where I spent at least 4 hours, five times a week across the street from a book store so big it took up a whole city block. When I hit my teen years, they put in a cafe across from the old and rare book room (OMG). And they also opened up smaller satellite stores including one of nothing but techno junkie manuals. Yeah, I have a bibliophilia problem - I am a bibliophiliac.

The list below has apparently been floating about the blogosphere according to dear virtual pal Thoria Millgrove. I have stolen her idea and bolded those I have completed, starred those I love, and italicized those on my reading or soon-to-read list.

Thanks Tho!


1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen*
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6 The Bible*
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19 The Time Traveler’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams*
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll*
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy*
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis*
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery*
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert*
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett*
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray*
80 Possession - AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens*
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl*
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

With that I say, "Let go of the mouse, step away from the computer and pick up that bound pile of paper over there. Yeah. That one. They call it a 'book'."

Less Than Seven

Long time aquaintance and award winning videographer and documentarian Draxtor Despres is at it again, this time sharing his chronicling skills at the Second Life Community Convention in San Fransisco, California. Draxtor lays down the whole gig in under six minutes. Really.

I would say it is odd to see so many faces in RL whom I have known for a while in SL but honestly, it is not. People are people as the good song goes. All I can say it it is nice to see a smile without the glowing white prim-teeth. I only wish I was there to join the girls on their treck for the ultimate pumps.

Do you wanna date?

I have hosted a virtual personality since 1988. With a minor break (due to an accidental run in with a certain system that will remain unnamed), I returned in 1991, just before the burst of the internet and the adolescence of BBS and chat systems. It was not long before the beauty of video gaming exploded onto the scene, bringing character to virtual life.

Back in 1988 however, it was me, a kid, and a few others, posting to a BBS. I met a couple of them and learned the hard lesson of chemistry. You can truly appreciate someone online but meeting them in person can and will change everything - sometimes for the better, sometimes, well, not.

So I offer to you now the dynamic work of The Guild. Enjoy the tunage.

Welcome Baby Linden!

It is a pleasure to welcome into the world a child who will be much loved and if I dare say, is quite famous simply for being born. This child was brought into the world by Plurk.com friend Washu and her husband Damain Fate. We are all delighted to celebrate this new life and pray for much joy, peace, and love in the coming years.

With the recently discovered Baby Linden Plurk Page comes the baby package. All good plurkers must have a few welcome items. First off is the gift of food. No doubt Mom Washu will provide much of this but nothing will be as good post weening as daily Food Porn. Secondly, a decent smilie site is a must. I offer the rubber duck to begin. Third, Baby Linden has his own MyBrute for much wrasslin and squablin in his future. And lastly, the gift of tinysong so that he may be lulled to sleep via a quality music plurk.

Welcome Baby Linden! We cannot wait to meet you!

*drooling*

Things have been pretty crazy around here lately, so crazy that I rejoyced as I was able to log into SL for a total of 13 minutes last night - the first time in about a month. I was delighted to have a conversation with a total of two people - Catty and Earth -- all for about 2 minutes each before falling alseep.

And yes, I drool.

Get Inspired at SL6B

The Inspire Space Boys are at it again, this time creating a breathtaking build, their gift to you for Second Life's Sixth Birthday: SL6B's Inspire Space Park Light.

These boys produce perhaps the most detailed of astral bodies in SL. After you force midnight (or even sunset), sit on a pose ball and soar through space. Or perhaps relax and find your center with a little virtual Tai Chi.

Even if you do not have the computer to run graphics at high draw distances, do not worry! All heavenly bodies are so close you'll feel as if you are walking among them.

Take a breather and a chill pill and visit Inspire Space Park Light. Earth Primbee, SL6B Virtuocity

The Walking Party Provider

SL6B is here! Finally!

Okay forgive my enthusiasm. I really am excited as I have many friends and acquaintances who spent countless hours building, organizing, babysitting, and managing the coming of the gig. It is nice to watch them finally be able to breath. Unfortunately many of them are so tired they cannot even enjoy their handy work. We will just have to enjoy it for them.

The rollout of SL6B was a wee bit rocky. I was so far out of the loop I could not even be helpful to managing a solution. (How often does THAT happen?) My Greeter perms did not roll in until two days before open. And by the way? Not to be a complaining pain, but it would be REALLY helpful for Greeters to have access at least the day of an event so that they might be able to explore a little bit and know where things are located. I am not trying to be rude or demanding. But I spent three hours at a post having no idea that a stage for which I was welcoming people was above my head. It took Dusty Linden to come and say, "Did we make that too difficult for you?" before I had to bite my tongue. "Me point to teleporters right under noses." Never mind that they did not work for 60% of us. Where it took us, who cared so long as it worked, which, again, for many of us, it did not.

I understand a rumour (mind you, it is just a rumour) that the value of Greeters was not recognized this year. Allow me to explain just how helpful we can be.

This is a typical day in the trenches. It may seem drama ridden but this is what mentors and greeters face every day. This is our job.

We are standing at a landing point in a sim. Most gathered for Philip Linden's opening remarks as the main stage apparently filled quickly leaving SL6B main staff, exhibitors, volunteers, moderators etc all clambering for a position. Most also missed his remarks despite efforts to share with them the external url. And most were none to happy about it.

Imagine for me, what it is like to have six exhibitors and two moderators IMing you as a brand new Greeter to whom no one gives any information, asking why they cannot get into the main stage. Had someone simply said, "the main stage is limited to 40 people however..." we as greeter/mentors could have managed the crowds with grace leaving a much happier bunch.

It did not help that we had a reporter from CNN standing around asking for comments about how people felt being locked out of the speech. I put on my happy face. We are all cool about it, of course! We are there to be with one another and darnit, if we cannot be where we want to be, at least we are together. And that is what SL is all about. Oh, and here is the SL6B media contact who can help you with your article. (For this she seemed delighted.)

This calmed the natives, or at least put them in a position where they had to be grateful rather than cranky.

Course, I said that just before we all got dumped from SL6B and sent to various telehubs and help islands.

Which put me into another situation with REALLY cranky people. Do you know what it is like to stand among extremely cranky exhibitors who have invested so much time into their builds that their virtual eyes have turned red, who are unable to be WITH their builds at the grand opening? Granted everyone seemingly was locked out but no one told them that.

So I lied. I told them that. It leveled the playing field and put them at ease. "Just hang in there for a bit. Here! Have some cake!" No, I am not kidding. Yesterday, I handed out more cake than you can imagine. It helps to be a walking party provider. Cake chills people out. Trust me on this.

Eventually, because I have several friends on staff, one of them sent me a TP. God bless this woman. I was locked out of course, but she recognized instantly how important we had become and made an effort to get me where I needed to be. Which brought me, after nine tries, to the stage in the air with the TP mushroom that did not TP half of us.

Now comes the part where Greeters AND Mentors are helpful. For SL6B, I am a Greeter. This means I take off my Mentor hat and become focused purely on helping people have a great time at their Birthday Party. This means that I cannot dedicate two hours to helping a noob learn to put on a shirt. There simply is not time.

Enter Paul.

Paul landed at the main stage just after I did. We both arrived having found a noob standing there. Poor noob was friendless, skilless, and girlfriendless (which seemed to be his largest complaint). How a noob landed there before the staff, Greeters, Lindens and all the rest who came through did is beyond me. But he was not the last. There were several newcomers to SL who slipped through that spot. Paul stepped up and we tag teamed.

God bless this man. He instantly realized that I could not greet and mentor too. So he mentored while I shuffled people to where they needed to be, answering questions (okay, guessing at answers since I had not seen the place before and to date have not left that landing point), fielding reporters/bloggers, and directing traffic. The dance with Paul lasted most of the afternoon. From this point forward, I will invite any mentor brother or sister to stand by my side (or in front of me!) during major events to help manage the influx of people.

My SL6B boss shot over a SURL to a goodie bag which I took as my reward for a very long shift. Oooo! More cake!

But here is the best part.

CT stood by my side. He encouraged me. He jumped in when he could. And he smothered me with IM smooches to keep me good humoured. Thus the value of a SL partner over any SL mentor in world.

But what is there to do?

Tis that time again, the time when Second Life boasts its existence with a birthday celebration. Can you believe it has been six years? Welcome to SL6B.

What is it? the noob asked. Why, it's a birthday party! What's there to do? The Greeter and Mentor looked at each other in IM and burst out laughing. What's there to do. That's a good one. With region count in the double digits, there is PLENTY to do. No shopping, but loads of freebies in hundreds of exhibitor booths. Who are these exhibitors? They are hand picked pieces of Second Life who applied to have a built out presence there. From a mystery performance troupe to builders, fashion designers to non profits- it is all there in 17 different categories. Just about every facet of SL holds a presence at SL6B. I must say I am saddened to see that Ballet Pixelle and the SL Shakespearean Company do not have a presence this year. However, RLTS friends Grafix, Earth and Raph from Inspire Space Park were granted exhibitor space to build a mini space park for all to enjoy.

RLTS friend, the ostentatious and snarky Crap Mariner, is operating Dallier's Hope Messenger - the seemingly official blog of the SL6B. Surf on by and enjoy his witty repertoire covering all that is our SLBirthday!

SL6B runs June 23-July 6.

Other helpful links:

The SL6B Wiki

SL6B Exhibitor Directory

Sl6B Upcoming Events Directory

Dallier's Hope Messenger (Official SL6B Blog)

Split ends and a little style

I mentioned in a previous blog that Hair Fair was coming up. I cannot stand it any longer as my split ends are frizzing. I had to post on some details especially as it starts Saturday and I need a new style.

Beta Technologies is sponsoring the 4th Annual Hair Fair in world. Last year, they raised over $9,500 USD for Locks of Love, an American charity that provides hairpieces to disadvantaged American and Canadian children who are medically ill and suffer from hair loss.

This year's Fair boasts 125 designers including long time favourites Adam n Eve, Deviant Kitties, and Truth. Operated by the lovely ladies of Hairspray, Hair Fair is always a destination shopping stop for all SLers. The Hey Girlfriends should keep their eyes peeled for Catty Loon's contributions from Audacity Hair.

The picture provided here is one of the Hair Fair Flickr contest winners, submitted by Ai Baroque. Just one of many talented images for which I encourage you to take a peek!

Hair Fair runs from June 20th through July 4th. Stock up and help a child in need. MUAH

Got a Fantasy?

There are fairs and then there are fairs. We all know Hair Fair is in the works, and Fashion Fair is soon to be concluding. But where do elves go to find a new pair of ears? Or neckos to discover the perfect adornment to their paws? Enter Fantasy Faire.

Nine sims, each dedicated to their own breed, er, brand?, of fantasy figure. Need a new ray gun? Stop by Sector SciFi. A new wand? Elvencourt boasts the best. Something fluttery? Wings Wands and Wonders. A new purr animation? The Neko Industrial Park. A new dragon avi? Via Obscurium. The hot new fantasy thing this year seems to be mermaids. Bring your breathing aperatus as the Mer Market is completely under water.

Proceeds go to help find the cure for cancer via the Relay for Life. Opening today, visit the Fantasy Faire website for a complete Sim list.

Live long and prosper.

Traveling Pixel Party, RSVP?

I was bored. This has been happening a lot lately. I find my SL has become the people I know and I do very little exploring these days, opting instead to spend time with the folks if they are online. I blame Yvette for not being around to show me the hot spots. Doesn't she know that that is part of her job?

Then Luna Jubilee plurked a request for warm pixels to join her. She's working on a project called the Traveling Prim. I TPed over and found myself facing a tower of cubes, each with snapshots of RL places, pictures, etc. What the heck? Friend and idea spawner Ryoken Vendetta jumped in.

Ribbons Whitfield: Now, tell me about this project (if you've a moment)
Ryoken Vendetta: Sure :) Basically, the idea is bring a lil bit of SL into your RL and a bit of your RL into SL
Ribbons Whitfield: LOL I do that every day. LMAO Damn fax machine never rezzes right.
Ryoken Vendetta: Most people don't want the two lives to ever meet. This was a fun way to encourage them to take a step back and look at the balance between their lives... and hopefully merge them a bit more
Ryoken Vendetta: As for what people actually do... you make a 2 inch (or 5cm) cube and show the prim your real life. then you take pictures and/or video of the experience and submit them to the relevant Flickr and Vimeo groups I made.
Ryoken Vendetta: The cubes are aggregated at the blog http://ryo-baka.net/tpp and then also aggregated in world here. Eventually, for prosperity, http://ryo-baka.net/tpp/join-in/


Build a prim. Take it with you throughout your day and snap pics of it. Then share it baby, share it! The collection can be seen at MIT.

Boom Baby, Locks and a Whole Lot of Love

So many things happening lately! My dear friend Adeline Paule of Envisage Public Relations has signed up to help CT Xue in his quest for the ultimate branding logo. I've been enlisted to help her out behind the scenes which mostly includes getting her coffee and making sure she has enough well sharpened pencils. She also motions in CT's direction with a brightly coloured writing device and points saying "Go sit on him please." This is usually in an attempt to contain the boiling over mind that is Xue. For those curious as to what the Ultimate Branding Logo Quest is all about, CT has invited people to design a logo for him. Finalists recieve a Linden cash prize, second place, a new laptop, and the winner picks up an all expense paid trip to SLCC in San Francisco. Think I'm kidding? Check out the plurk.

Things are a-changin' at the Xue compound as now former neighbor Aisuru has demolished her property. CT created a viewing area behind a safety screen so visitors could gather and enjoy the destruction. Being the smarty pants I am, I came by at an appointed time, found no one there, slipped out to run an errand and when I came back, nothing. All gone. BUILDING GONE POOF. I missed the whole show. Thankfully Aisuru posted the photojournalistic experience for all of us to enjoy. I know she will be missed by CT and friends.

In other news, plurkster Washu Zebrastripe has been a busy little bee as she organizes the 2009 Hair Fair. Dates are now set for June 20th - America's Independence Day (July 4th). Last year's festivities raised over $9,000 USD for Locks of Love. We all look forward to the hottest new styles in this years festival.

I've been helping Adeline get her SLife together with a makeover. Next time I volunteer to do this, would someone please remind me that I SUCK AT IT? The only thing I could contribute to this poor woman who had to put up with me was the discovery of some decent hair at Analog Dog. It only took
seven stores. Yes, seven. I stink that bad. So here is to patient friends with big sticks that make you sit on people!

Libidinous Epidermis: Eden

With my return in world, I needed a little something something to brighten my look. Course, I wasn't aware of this until after I got a make over. That's why you have girlfriends. They take a look at you, blindfold ya, spin ya around three times, then cover you with a mud mask, tweeze everything known to mankind, and induce enough dancing to make you loose a dress size.

Plurk friend Ryker Beck is one of those friends. "Here, try this!" she said as she sent me over a new beta test skin called Eden. Right. Sure. Try this. No big deal.

It is a big deal. Beck had been working on this baby for months. She combined the best of the best in resources for the skin's design. And the part for which I did my infamous snoopy dance? You got it. Freckles. The most lovely freckles I've ever seen. That wasn't the end of it. She created a new set of eyes (which by the way, I later found out come with every skin purchase) to compliment the skin.

Now, I'm not known to draw a lot of flirtatious attention in public places. Occasionally someone will strike up a conversation but I'm almost never complimented like many of the other girls. Or I should say, I wasn't. One day in Eden and I was receiving more attention then I had in almost two years in SL. Now I am not an attention hog but I have to admit it was refreshing. Interestingly, my sister decided she wanted a makeover too. You'll dig her before and after shots I'm sure.

Return of the Fatale and A Little Speed

We all take hiatuses from SL from time to time. I think they are healthy and give you some perspective about what you like and don't like about being in world. I had my little sabbatical recently and feel 100% more happy with my SLife. But I am not the only one.

You see, dear friend Nexeus Fatale has returned to spin the Thursday Night Dance Par-tay. (I think I just like saying par-tay. I like the way it rolls off the tongue.) And I couldn't be happier about the move.

Last fall, DJ Tarsis and I concluded our regular gigs in world as new things were happing for the Alterntive Classix in RL that required more attention. That, and well, Tarsis wanted to have an actual life with his wife. ;) Me on the other hand, I was on sabbatical and had other responsibilities to which I had to attend. But, the decision ended not just our weekly Friday night gigs, but also our Wednesday night Bossa Nova Beach Party which, interestingly was not on a beach but at the high - Nexeus'old digs.

I went from three regular events to nothin. Nada. Zip. Zilch. And until Nexeus' return to the TNDP, I had no idea how much I missed it. I missed it so much in fact that when talking to Tarsis, he took the words out of my mouth when he said we needed to get back to SL and spin a party soon. This is when I did my happy dance. This looks a little like the snoopy dance but with elements of the Cha Cha Slide and a sort of Soldier Boy edginess. En pointe.

What was super cool is that when I returned to SL, I was essentially homeless and aquaintance GoSpeed Racer stepped up and gave me a landing spot to call home. So, a DJ's manager now resides at the home of Kona Radio. With two DJs. On the land of the idiosyncratic Crap Mariner. Needless to say, I've learned to keep my head down for incoming missles.

Speed, Rav and Crap have become quick friends. My mentoring has stepped up again. I am making gigs from time to time. I have managed to support a few friends in their SL efforts. I have rediscovered some of my long lost sarcasm. I even changed clothes a few times although I am still frustrated with the lack of really REALLY snazzy shoe styles in world. And I enjoy my time again in SL.

Here's to returns, alternate realities and a bright bright future!

Rails Bailey Saved my Second Life

Probably over a year ago, I reached one of those frustration points in a mentor's life that made me want to not just walk away from the program, but throw a lot of shoes at the program managers heads. Heavy shoes. With really pointy heels.

Working with some of my colleagues had become stressful because of a very small set of people who were unable to get along with the wider group culture. This caused Linden Labs to eventually (too late in my case) crack down with the "If you guys cannot play nice then we will take away the swing set privileges" threat. While I still disagree with the resulting rules, I do not offer blame as I am not sure I could have come up with a more viable solution (better yes, but better does not mean viable).

It was then that God brought a guy into my life who, frankly, no words can describe my gratefulness.

You see, Rails Bailey saved my mentoring job.

I love helping new folks out and I love digging around for answers. Am I good at it? Not really. Do I get frustrated navigating the wiki? Yep. Do I rely on my other mentors too much? Probably. But they are good people who put up with me. Rails is the avi who gave me a little perspective and offered me a mentor home with Mental Mentors. Not just a home but a place where I belong. And even better, he gave me time to calm my sorry butt down because I was HOPPING MAD.

One of the things I love about this guy is that he gives his knowledge away. Rails is not a political, power, or money hungry hack. He's the real deal. He loves SL. He loves mentoring and helping people. He is able to see what is really important. And he is wise enough to get the job done. His passion for mentoring is obvious - he receives no compensation for spending most of his time on mentoring projects. He is available to everyone. Period. No questions asked.

All that said, Happy Rez Day my friend. And thank you for saving my Second Life. And thank you for setting the example of the kind of mentor I hope to be.

Down with Adult Content!!!

Today, Linden Labs released their plans to address the issue of "adult content" in world. Three major steps make up this plan and include moving adult content to one area on the grid, creating a mechanism in search to filter out adult content, and the idea of toying with age verification for adult content access which may or may not include particularly bloody (or particularly violent) games.

Several bloggers have commented on this topic but two SL heavy hitters stand out to me: Nexeus Fatale and Crap Mariner.

Let me make this clear: I object!

I find it frustrating that people "need" someone to censor their behaviors. I have been in SL for a long while (two years in April) and never once have I voluntarily set foot inside a sex palace or any other place of "adult" content. (I must admit however that I was once sim hopping and accidentally landed in a Gorean sim and I also, at one point, stumbled into a rather risque position while shopping by sitting on a shower pose ball.) Despite these occurrences, for nearly two years I have self censored my travels and avoided all things "sex". I also firmly believe that while I may have an opinion about such things, not everyone agrees. Forcing my standards on another is disrespectful of their soul and right to make decisions and in no way inspires "better" behavior (as I see it). In fact, it instills in people resentment which often leads to more anger and more less desirable behaviors. Again, my personal opinion, one I realize in which a lot of people will disagree. They are entitled to their own and I respect their right to have it. (I just hope it is well thought out!)

Nexeus makes two excellent points about this: what exactly is "adult content" and what about privacy? LL has stated that only 2-4% of content on the mainland is classified as "adult". This is the content which we are discussing, not "mature" and not "PG" rated entities. I applaud efforts to reorganize certain content to one grid. And I am delighted that I might be able to soon filter my searches to keep out what I consider to be smut. I am also broken hearted when I think that theoretically, without verification, I would be unable to visit in the future many art galleries, sculpture gardens and other artistic expressions depending on how LL chooses to apply the new regs.

However.

Censoring anything, which the age verification regulation will do, is a slippery slope. Make one change "for the good of all" (or to "protect" all or to "help" all) and the next change towards stricter rules is accomplished with much more ease and much less resistance. History tells us this is how fascism begins - making changes to "protect" us from ourselves and supposedly, others. It is because of this reason that I have VERY mixed feelings about the new verification standard.

Luckily LL is welcoming your two cents. Visit Upcoming Changes for Adult Content to weigh in.

What Mentors Do Behind the Scenes

The mystery of mentors behind the scenes is solved. This* is what we do when no one is looking.

Mentor 1: Did anyone get a notecard regarding Science week? Or is it just on the website?

Ribbons Whitfield: Oooo Science week! *Swooning*

Mentor 2: Science Week?

Mentor 1: Yes starting tomorrow through next week, got a notice in email from [insert emailer here]

Mentor 3: Part I - The Science of Cement and Baking

Ribbons Whitfield: Part II: Chemistry - blowing things up in the virtual kitchen

Mentor 2: Part III -- Baking and Setting Fenceposts: Keeping it Real

Mentor 2: oooh! I want to take the blowing up class!

Mentor 3: Part IV - Rock Candy - an Alternative to Gravel in Architecture

Mentor 3: Part V - Gingerbread Houses and Green Energy Construction - learn how cotton candy can increase the R value of your insulation

*Disclaimer: Mentors who wish their name to be included here, please contact me in world or via email and I will make the appropriate adjustment. Regards!

SL Statistics

Apparently, just under 1/3 of SLers Plurk when SL is down. Interestingly, Plurk is not the major cause of drama. Thanks to Haley Salomon for sharing this insightful research project with the RLTS readers.

And by the way - when I don't respond to an IM, I'M WORKING. No, I'm not interested in cake and yes, my graphics card does suck. I'm just saying....

Brought to you by The SL Revolution

Cheap Vinyl

There is one thing I really miss in RL. I miss being able to walk into a record shop - one in particular that reminds me oh so much of Championship Vinyl in High Fidelity - and absorb the surroundings. I miss the smell. I miss the romance. I miss the cute guy behind the counter. And I miss walking in a hearing the deep rhythm of Talking Heads Burning Down the House thumping through the speakers.

I recently discovered ROLE Magazine and stumbled into an article on hotspots in SL featuring Fabulous Soul Club in Fabulous Soul (210, 146, 25). An open air club, the real gem is the record store within. You too will instantly be reminded of the musty covers, the stained carpets and the vintage joint inside a historic inspired building. Rest your feet in the lucky chair or take your place at the deck.

No matter what you do, make sure your volume is up and your soul is ready for the drop dead beats from the 70s and 80s. Funk, Latin, Jazz, House, R&B, Blues, Bossa Nova - your body will be moving and your soul singing to the warmth and depth of a music of long ago.

Special thanks to Plurk friend Ofelia Laval, Editor in Chief of ROLE Magazine.

The Great Move

I love change. Well, controlled change anyway. I was laid off from my SL job, moved out of the tree house in SL, and lost my SL boyfriend to RL. I also quit my RL job, moved out of my RL house, and gained a RL boyfriend.

In other words, lots of change going on. Promise to be back in SL soon with oodles of new fun to be had.

In the meantime, I share with you the following. Please note especially numbers 89, 94 and 100. These have a special place in my heart. 50 More Rules in Second Life (Yes, there are 50 more prior to these! Enjoy!)

Ribs

New Beginnings

When you have fifteen things to do in a day, they all take an hour each, and you have to worry about eating, sleeping, and the normal showering, something has to give. And when something big happens, something so totally cool that you want to drop everything, reality kicks in. You have to reorganize.

The AC Live team will miss sharing our tunes in world. We're excited about the future and can't wait for you to be too!

Happy New Year to one and all. Here's to new beginnings!