opropi: April 2007

Monday, April 30, 2007

Well I had never actually seen what a griefer can do so this was my first rather upsetting experience! I came on to discover there were 8 objects owned by some unknown person on our land - thinking someone had just bought a few items and left their boxes (this happens a bit, people in SL can be so untidy) i went to my shop to find them. Well I sure did find the boxes but not MY boxes and not in my shop!

I TP'd to the club to see if the offending items were there !!!Well!!!!!!!!!!After I managed to get out of the club this is what I saw:There were 8 in total and after doing the obvious - start to return them , i stopped myself and thought 'hang on what am I doing!' So I stopped and thought about it.First i looked to see who they belong too, then i reported them!Secondly, since I saw he was online, I sent him an IM to inform him of the fact! This is what he had to say;[13:27] dana Vanmoer: you have been reported for greifing on our land[13:28] chieltje11 Subagja: hmm i saw that you were returnign soem stuff[13:28] chieltje11 Subagja: cant you atleast ask what happend i cant remember[13:28] dana Vanmoer: and i have informed lindens through the report system[13:28] chieltje11 Subagja: lame[13:28] chieltje11 Subagja: really lame[13:28] chieltje11 Subagja: im not a griefer[13:28] dana Vanmoer: 8 blocks 10x10x10 in our club, no excuse for that[13:28] chieltje11 Subagja: ah dude/girl (really he can't tell with a name like Dana?)[13:29] chieltje11 Subagja: that wasent me[13:29] chieltje11 Subagja: argh sheesh common[13:29] dana Vanmoer: your objects - your creation[13:29] chieltje11 Subagja: i know[13:29] chieltje11 Subagja: i mean[13:29] chieltje11 Subagja: a friend of my was on mya ccount[13:29] chieltje11 Subagja: ahh common man[13:29] chieltje11 Subagja: lame lame (really good way to ask me not to report him)[13:29] dana Vanmoer: still your problem and your account[13:30] chieltje11 Subagja: and you just report someone[13:30] chieltje11 Subagja: lame[13:30] dana Vanmoer: yes its called griefing no matter what you say[13:31] dana Vanmoer: i couldnt get into my club neither could my customers[13:32] chieltje11 Subagja: dude when someone is on your account and he did some wrongs things how would you feel if you get banned then[13:33] dana Vanmoer: you shouldn't allow others on your account, so you still deserve to be reported[13:33] dana Vanmoer: not my problem its yours[13:34] chieltje11 Subagja: well i was assleep[13:34] chieltje11 Subagja: and im sorry for the things he done[13:35] chieltje11 Subagja: so please dont report me for this thing (after he called me lame a dozen time, yeah right)[13:35] dana Vanmoer: as i said your problem end of subject report has been sent so no point trying to justify it[13:35] dana Vanmoer: i am still as disgusted as i was when i got on[13:36] chieltje11 Subagja: people like you make the world terrible[13:36] dana Vanmoer: no people like you ruin sl for may others whether it was you or someone on your account - you allowed it[13:37] dana Vanmoer: how would you like it if someone ruined your buildings![13:38] chieltje11 Subagja: veryawefull happend to myself but i have nothign to with itShould I have reported him? what do you think? I only know I still don't regret it even after speaking to him and if I am lame what does that make him?Dana

Alliance Navy!

Merovingi Clothing fair, part 2

HELL!.....

Yes you read right I am in hell, literally.

I walked through the gates of heaven leaving the clouds and angels behind to see the gates of hell looming towards me.

Above, the flames rose and something
through them;

I couldn't wait to see the rest of this sim the art work the statues the whole ambiance has to be experience to be fully appreciated

I did wonder about the theme, heaven and hell?

But when you walk around there are info boards that tell you all about RFL and cancer and what RFL is doing to help.

Designers over this side include Moonshine threads, Bewitched and DKs, keeping in the theme of HELL.

Its amazing as you walk around to see how much effort the designers have put into their stalls they are totally in keeping with the theme;

As one designer, Keishii Roo: said of the fair "Its amazing ppl gets together in events like this to support something like the Relay for Life, it shows that no matter where you are from or what your way of thinking or religion we can get together to make something good for others :)"I also had a chat with Shelly Toonie from Moonshine threads to find out how she got involved:You:how have you found the facilities?Shelly Toonie: Every thing's been handled fantastic. Hannah, Pips and Nevah are great to work withYou: what do you think of what they are attempting here?Shelly Toonie: Pips did a wonderful job with the RFL as wellShelly Toonie: Well this is my first experience with anything like this..I think coordinating it is a huge undertaking and with all the grid problems it seems to have come off very well.You: yes i agree it has :)You: a wonderful collection of designers all in one placeShelly Toonie: Yeah..fantastic..I'm always awed by the talent and creativity myselfShelly Toonie: I think it was a blast to see what everyone did with their booths as well[14:23] You: are you personally involved with RFL or is this the first you heard of it?Shelly Toonie: I'm very involved with RFL in SL and in my 1st life. I'm the team leader for my 1st life team for the last 3 years and spent last weekend on a big fundraiser here in NCYou: is there anything you would like to relay to our readers about RFL?Shelly Toonie: If you have never been to a RFL weekend you are missing an incredible experience. Picture a grateful dead concert with no drugs or alcohol lolYou: how do people find out about them?Shelly Toonie: It's just happy people sharing and giving ..you are laughing one minute and crying the next.Shelly Toonie: Well in my hometown it's a very large event. But I suppose everywhere it's different. I'm involved because my mother had breast cancer.Shelly Toonie: Anyone who wants information can easily find links for their area at the ACS websitesAs a last word today i would like to repeat to you all something i overheard here at the fair:you know when people who don't play SL say it's silly: and for sad losers?:yes:I look at something like this and I think the losers are the people who never see thisGoodnight all, see you at the fair over the weekend - don't forget to vote for your favourite designer, lots more going on here over the next few daysDanaXxX

Merovingi Clothing fair 2007, part 1

After hours of struggling to get back onto SL after a disastrous download/update I wandered along to the Merovingi Clothing fair, press day, for a sneak preview of what its all about.I was amazed; I was teleported into heaven, that's what it looked like!I was met by Pips Fetid and Nevah Lobo the hosts of the fair and also on the board of directors of the Merovingi group; A philanthropic group that donates all profit from its casino to :Relay for Life & the Swedish Child Cancer Foundation.

Once i had rezzed i was invited to turn around to see the survivors wall, it was covered with pictures, some of SL members and some photographs of people all of whom had survived cancer, it was incredibly touching to see; Nevah walked me over to the Memorial garden to see the dedications of loved ones lost; Once i had looked around (and composed myself), I allowed myself to ask my host why he had done this:Nevar Lobo: I did this because my best friend is a cancer survivor and i have just walked her through her pain and chemo, she is now in remission. When we were trying to come up with a charity it was the only one i could give every ounce of my effort to, because it was so personal, to many people we lose everyday cuz there is no cure. I am not able to fight for that cure in RL, so I'm fighting for it here and my staff. The owner of Merovingi is fighting just as hard.Nevar Lobo: This is why we dedicated the fair to RFL myself, Pips Fetid and Hannah Liberty and we are all on the Board of Directors for the Merovingi Group oh and Chablis Crabgrass she worked with the cancer survivors to get the wall done, she is a survivor herself.Nevar Lobo: what is important about this is that after the fair the Merovingi Group will move it and make a permanent display and garden for SL so none of the stones will be lost and in the garden here the stones that say In Memoriam on them are available for anyone to place a picture of someone they would like to remember.Me: It must have been hard to build something so personal, to yourself and so many others?Nevar Lobo: yes it was hard to build we all had our tears, but like fleicaa she will always be apart of SL and not forgotten.Nevar Lobo: you know i need to give you two names of people from RFL that have just given all they can to help us Fayandria Foley is one and the person who did all the rfl work here and let us use a lot of these statues (beautiful statues can be seen all around the sim) is Tayzia Abattoir.There will be 36 of SL's top designers showing at the fair and each and every one has a vendor in their stall with an item for sale for the RFL; You will also find donation points around the site: I didn't have time to see both sides of the fair but Nevah warned me: This is heaven so when you get to the gates of hell you have a whole new look and don't get lost in hell its breathtaking over there!I can't wait to see it tomorrow!I also hope that some of you will take the time to, not only visit the fabulous designers who have given 100% effort for this worthy cause, but also take the time to think about the reason for it.I believe that at some point each person will be touched by this terrible disease and this is a small place to remember 'You are not alone'More from the other side soon.................Dana XxX

Homeless Howard

Merovingi Clothing Fair 2007

Just Waiting.

Do avatars dream of a digital field?

The Basic Basics

Part 2 is HERE!

Raven Red Rides

Dublin in SL

Date released for SLWorld2007

!!! REMINDER !!! - Win L$ 1000

Vive La Politque

So there I am... standing in a nightclub high above the ground, trying to interview with a man who is sitting pointing a rocket launcher squarely at my head, as he sits in his army helicopter, telling me in no uncertain terms that if I was not French, then I would be removed from his island... and since I'm not, and can barely speak French... well, you can see what I have to go through in the name of a story."So how did you get yourself into this strange situation, and should I call amnesty international or the UN to ensure your swift release?" you may be asking? Well, to answer that, I need we need to go back to a previous article I wrote, where I interviewed a gentleman doing a study on SL for university (http://15timez.blogspot.com/2007/02/interview-study-of-sl.html). In the interview, it was mentioned that "The French National Front set up a HQ in Second Life, which caused a protest, which broke down in to a riot." This stuck with me, as the idea of having politicians following us into our little virtual fantasy world, where we go to escape the boring day to day grind and reality of things just like this, was not one that particularly struck me as being conducive to fun. However, being the studier of the human condition that I am, it intrigued me, and so I went searching for evidence of real world politics in SL.Frustratingly, I found little evidence of the politicians actually getting on their laptops, logging into Secondlife, and canvassing the streets for potential voters. There are a few groups and places for politically like minded people to gather and chat and debate (as much as you DO debate when you're politically like minded). There are even a few places independently trying to promote certain political candidates, but are completely unaffiliated with the party the represent, or the person, and didn't really seem worthy of in depth investigation (although I did learn that Hilary Clinton seems to have her own logo).

Frustratedly, I moped around the sl-newspaper offices, until, while discussing this piece with fellow newshound Dixie Barbosa, it was suggested that I return to the source of my intrigue. With the French Election in full swing, we set off to investigate it's effects on SL.

And thus, we ended up on the island of Caricavatars, a place of political discussion, demonstration, and from what we discovered, performance art. The place is littered with signs and posters, protesting for amongst other things, gun control (with their own little tribute to the Virginia Tech victims next to a picture of a George W Bush type avatar wearing stars and stripes boxers, and holding two handguns). There is a castle with more propaganda and political statement, and a nightclub where folk gather to chat about the pros and cons of current political feeling. But the thing that really got my attention on arrival, was the gunfire. At first, we thought it was a griefer, but upon closer inspection, a caricature avatar of the French centre-right politician Nicolas Sarkozy, current UMP candidate for the French Presidency, was shooting randomly, and flying a military aircraft. Eventually I managed to grab a few words:

[16:36] You shout: Hello![16:36] You shout: May I ask what you're doing?[16:37] Christophe Hugo: I am the owner. Next question[16:37] You: ah... np.....[16:37] You: was just looking into this place as part of a story on rl politics in sl[16:38] Christophe Hugo: there is no rl politics in France. There is just a dictatorship[16:38] Christophe Hugo: I am the dictator[16:38] Christophe Hugo: any more question?[16:38] You: right....[16:38] Christophe Hugo: are you French?[16:38] You: no... english[16:39] You: but interested in learning[16:39] Christophe Hugo: I am sorry but I have to protect the French national identity[16:39] Christophe Hugo: consequently I will have to ask you to leave if you are not French[16:39] You: o....k......[16:39] Christophe Hugo: you can't learn to become French[16:39] Christophe Hugo: you're French or not, simple for Sarkozy[16:40] You: no.... but I can get a perspective on french situations and politics[16:40] Christophe Hugo: easy:[16:40] Christophe Hugo: (a) me Virtual Sarko next dict... next president[16:40] Christophe Hugo: (b) you and all French people have to obey me[16:41] Christophe Hugo: (c) for the next 5 years[16:41] You: ah...[16:41] Christophe Hugo: simple[16:41] Christophe Hugo: and it seems that you truly are not French...[16:42] You: well... thank you for the information, my brother from across the channel[16:42] Christophe Hugo: you welcome.

This is the fascinating and impressive thing about island: Not only is it being used to allow political debate and discussion, and proving to attract many intellectual residents to engage in these talks, but also for performance art, using skillfully modelled cartoon avs, to make dramatic points about the real world, through character and presentation. And while the ability to move the discussion from the real world to the virtual, to get a wider mix of perspectives, is undoubtedly a good thing, the use of the medium to create thought provoking pieces, that actually engage with you, and make you think, is much much more so. And if the rl political influence into SL produces more things like this, then it can't be all bad, can it?

Thanks to Dixie Barbosa for the assistance and photos

Monday, April 30, 2007

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Friday, April 27, 2007

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Monday, April 23, 2007

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Friday, April 20, 2007

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Friday, April 13, 2007

Thursday, April 12, 2007

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