What I would refer to as "successful failures" - meaning a "failure" to those of us who use it and expect more, but not in the least as far as the general public is concerned. They simply don't know any better and thus, they maintain the successful nature of the thing. Even though a huge number, possibly a majority of users are completely inactive. At least this is how it feels on Facebook and the SL Grid. Not so with Twitter because it's a rather targeted system. We each create our own little worlds or "rooms" where we find and see only those we follow directly. So it feels busier than it might be at the big picture level.
It just depends on which side of the door you're standing on, I suppose. I never have been much of a twitterer even though I have a Twitter account The same is true with my Facebook, Lined-In and myriad of other "social media" accounts. However, I decided to try a little experiment to see if my gut-feeling on a few particulars about "social spaces" were accurate. They are.
Within a few days, I received so many friend requests from people I've never heard of and who no doubt have never geared of me all coming out of the woodwork like crazy. I had to turn off my email notifications because of it. So here we are, a few months later. Not a single one has written on my "wall" or mentioned me or even written on their own walls it seems. Not so much as said a single "hello!"
It's a game. For many, it's a simple game to see how many friends I can get in my friends list.
How many followers I can get on my Twitter feed. How many RSS subscribers I can get on my blog. So I can feel important. As though people actually give a rat's behind about what I think on anything. At all. This is true for anyone and everyone who creates these accounts on these social media spaces and chooses to use their Second Life (or other anonymous) persona. I think the same may be somewhat true on the grid also. But one thing I have discovered about Facebook and Twitter and the Second Life grid: your friends aren't. Not really, anyway. Some turn into really strong acquaintances. Many are drive-by "hiyas". Most are just a number. Another notch on the "friend stick just so I can say I have more than you or worse to make myself feel better about...myself.
Of the hundreds of friends I have so mysteriously obtained on Facebook, I think two or three actually wished me a "happy birthday" Saturday. Of course it was just the system sending them a system message "these friends have birthdays today" and they shoot-off the messages like clockwork. however, I agree it was at least thoughtful they took the effort. As far as Second Life grid and friends go, there are three I work with as part of our (we are a team) store. I don't know which of them remembered, but they three each passed along happy wishes and I do appreciate that more than any others.
Except one.
I saw it this morning. A couple days after the fact...
A simple "happy belated birthday".
This happy birthday wish actually carries the most weight with me. It feels the most sincere. I know there wasn't some computer calendar reminding them of the day. I know they didn't have to send the message. I know they went out of their way to send it.
It was from someone who only addressed themselves as "L".
You know who you are.
And you know what? I know who you are, too.
Thank you.
It's been a couple weeks since Linden Lab started issuing Linden Homes to premium account holders and that first weekend was a nightmare for many as they "sold-out" rather quickly.
My first first difficulty was in deciding which theme to get. The last time I had actually visited the Linden Homes was way back when first announced and previewed - so I was going off memory with regard to some things. That and all the negative hype by naysayers on the Official blogs:
- The lag is horrendous!
- They are too close together, like sardines in a can!
- There is no privacy!
- All the window views are into the homes of others!
- Even if the house doesn't count, you can't do anything with only 117 prims!
I thought the "Meadowbrook" ("California-style") homes to be the least visually creative and interesting, but I found they sold-out the fastest and I see why: they are the largest. I decided on this style and it took a lot of clicking and refreshing of the "order" page until I finally got one.
The first thing I noticed when I arrived is all of the above objections, save the prim limits, are total bunk. The house (and build) is quite nice. The window views are considerably better than I expected and no different from a real life view in a similar kind of neighborhood. Not only respectable, but actually pleasant.
Even with my draw distance set to 512 meters, once I allow the time for things to rez, there is practically no lag, save for computer lag (my graphic card trying hard to draw and keep track of all those prims in viewing distance) - I am easily maintaining 24-frames-per-second which is completely acceptable.
And thus, a new home-owner's tour:
The last objection all the whining crybabies threw-out a lot was the 117 prim limit. The simple fact is with some creative building and care these entire homes can be decked-out quite stylishly in every room with prims to spare. And so my shameless plug: six "Linden Home Edition" furniture sets designed from the beginning for the Linden Homes and their prim limits.
All four major rooms: a complete living room, bath room, bed room and kitchen. Menu-driven and animated sit-poses throughout in themed sets. Obviously they will work well in non-Linden homes, but to know that the entire house of furniture only uses between 92 and 103 prims (depending on the theme you choose) is a bonus.
See the sets here on XSL and click the "See it in world" link on the XSL page to see the sets side-by-side in the Zodiac House store. Oh, and my home is open to all visitors!
If you want to see our "Carmine" set (the most difficult as the Meadowbrook homes are so large and thus hard to fill-out) - take the SLURL below to tour my home in Linden Land (Clarabella region) and have yourself a personal tour to see a Linden Home (and the Carmine LH Furniture set) for yourself.
Links at the bottom of this post.
Visit my Linden Home in Clarabella.
Visit XSL to see our Linden Home Edition furniture sets. Oh, and if you have one of the "Fantasy" Elderglen homes, that theme will be available by Saturday after noon.
©2007-Present, Andr'Deco & Pixietale Studios, DBA Socially Mundane; Common Sensible
I love Kirsten's viewer. It's blazing fast (easily on the same class as Snowglobe) and offers awesome features, especially "shadow-casting". And that function is easy to switch-on, switch-off at will.
The "Kirsten Viewer" is among the first to be officially blessed by Linden Lab.
Congratulations, Kirsten!
Arabella's Ramblings unleashes the news (for me, anyway):
An exciting new development has been released in the seemingly never ending battle that so many creators endure – theft, ripping, texture stealing, content theft – it has many names.
I agree, it is exciting news. And the copybotgrieferidiots are running around soiling their pants over it all, especially over at SL Universe forums (so I'm told - which makes sense as that is a drama-cesspool of the most high.)
The blow being dealt: in-short the "CDS" or "Client Detection System" - which is a scripted object planted on your parcel, that through a complex system of detection, scrutinizing, analyzing and otherwise complete vetting of the viewer client all visitors are using when entering your privately-owned parcel will eject and outright ban them if it turns-out that client viewer is among those known to be used for illicit purposes.
Of course everywhere this CDS system is spoken about, such as SL Universe Forums, Alphaville Herald and likely the other paranoid, rumor-control cesspools and decent blogs alike... the feedback comments are rarely indifferent. Most are rather panicky and "offended".
It's a laugh, really. The main themes follow a few basic points:
- "It will detect legitimate viewers and ban innocents"
- "Even if I use an illegitimate viewer, it's the copybotting activity that is wrong, not the viewer itself - I just use it to test or (insert innocent reason here).
- "It doesn't work, I've been in and out of this or that sim already!"
- "It restricts my freedom from visiting many places across the grid! It isn't fair that I must travel in fear of being banned from the next place I visit!"
Okay fair enough. And my simple answers to these are:
- It is only 80% effective specifically so it won't "detect legitimate viewers". It errs on the safe side. Only known viewers with explicitly illicit design will be detected. If there is a doubt, you get a free pass. This time.
- Perhaps you are a nice angelic person who would never copybot anything of mine, oh perish that horrible thought! Unfortunately, it's the other idiots using the same viewer I am fighting against. Sorry to lump you in with them. Perhaps you should use a "legitimate" and "approved" viewer?" Oh, and only a fool would "test" these viewers anywhere else beyond their own private property.
- If it doesn't work because it is fearware, then I presume the creator of the device is running around from parcel to parcel anonymously sending the "Ejected and banned for illicit viewer" messages to the owners of this system?
- Your freedom is not restricted. You may go anywhere you want on the entire grid, including my places. Except, when you come to my place, it will be on my terms. And my terms are simple: no illicit viewers.
My reply to Arabella's post is as follows:
I don’t know Skills personally. But I have had the opportunity to speak with her on occasion here and there and I respect that she is definitely a potent coder and developer. The moment this thing was released and in seeing that it is authored by Skills, I jumped on it immediately – a copy for each of all of my places.
The nay-sayers are all abuzz: “oh but it might ban innocents!” Ummm, I don’t think so. “It doesn’t work! LULZ!!!” Well, even only 80% effective is better than zero-percent effective the way I see it.
Then there’s the “It’s just fearware – doesn't work at all!” – okay, then who ejected those people from my places and sent me the IMs claiming to be the CDS system?
I understand Linden Lab’s position on how it is not the gun that kills someone, it is the person pulling the trigger. And I agree with that. As for all the whiners in fear of this system proclaiming how it’s not fair and how I am restricting their ability to travel the grid in freedom and all that? Well, on *my* land *I* get to say who comes and goes, stays or gets banned.
And my only criteria for it is simply whether this CDS system allows you in or not. For those of you who say you are experimenting with the illicit viewer: go ahead. But do it on your own land...
*not mine*.
link: Arabella's Amblings
link: CDS System at XSL
©2007-Present, Andr'Deco & Pixietale Studios, DBA Socially Mundane; Common Sensible
©2007-Present, Andr'Deco & Pixietale Studios, DBA Socially Mundane; Common Sensible
As is typical with all blog posts by Linden Lab, the hysterical doom-and-gloom whiners come out of the woodwork. People who profess about how much real money they pay to Linden Lab each month, how much virtual land they own and how Linden Lab's new project will "kill" their business.
I say "and you call yourself a business person?"
Any good business person will look at what's going-on and adapt to any market changes. Especially when there is a lot of lead time. As for the Linden Home project, we've had a heads-up for a couple months already. Unlike all the doom-and-gloomers, there are creators and other real "business" people who are moving quickly to adapt and turn the "doom-and-gloom" into real opportunity.
And we have done this at Zodiac House:
Ever move into a new house or apartment and before any of the furniture is moved-in and arranged you notice that strange echo? However, once you throw down a few rugs and plop the sofa and bed into place and all the rest, that cozy feeling settles-in.
One of the "complaints" about Linden Homes is that you...
"...can't do anything with only 117 prims! It's ridiculous!"
Umm, yeah. Then you are lazy-minded with a simple education and zero creativity.
This evening, Zodiac House releases the "Linden Home Edition Full House" furniture sets. The above picture shows one of the A-Frame Linden Homes with four rooms worth of furniture: Living room, Bed room, Bath room and Kitchen. All with appropriate poses and the bed is even menu-driven.
L$800 for the whole set and only about 100 prims.
We are releasing the first four sets today, with new sets based on different themes (including the Asian and Fantasy themes) and a variety of each over the next few weeks.
So, step-up to a premium account, get that L$1000 bonus, for L$800 you can deck-out your shiny new place in full so there's no echo and have some Linden Dollars and prims left-over.
Come visit Zodiac House this evening to take a look-see for yourself.
Watch the market, stay apprised of what's coming, adapt to turn potential pitfalls in the market into opportunity. It's just good business sense to do so.
©2007-Present, Andr'Deco & Pixietale Studios, DBA Socially Mundane; Common Sensible
©2007-Present, Andr'Deco & Pixietale Studios, DBA Socially Mundane; Common Sensible
©2007-Present, Andr'Deco & Pixietale Studios, DBA Socially Mundane; Common Sensible
It's not even annoying. But it is a...curiosity.
Recently Michael Linden posted to the SL blog1 that there are some new sims added to the Linden Seas, where he said in part:
"They feature lots of open water, an island with a mysterious skeleton, and lots of underwater content for the swimmers and mer-folk. There are two rez zones, both in Ahab's Haunt (look for the docks); and no doubt some racing marks and start lines will appear soon."
I thought hey cool! New stuff to explore. The problem is I get so darned busy lately when I go in-world I keep forgetting about it. Yesterday I spotted a blog post by Peter Stindberg2 over at his "Second Stindberg" blog where he marvels at a 2500-prim skeleton that was built by Linden Lab, via Department of Public Works Moles, which gave him a nice segue with regard to megaprims, etc.
"The skeleton was built by "moles" - content creators contracted by Linden Lab. It is a safe assumption that the moles know what megaprims are, and how to use them. At the same time finding a Linden build (or Linden contracted build) that uses megaprims is like searching a needle in a haystack."Sometimes I can be rather slow and just not put 2+2 together and the epiphany strikes far after the fact. So I finally managed to take some time for myself a couple mornings ago and I followed my usual 4 A.M. routine, starting out in my home region of Neobelow and popping open the map looking to see if there are any parcels for sale there...yet...again.
Something didn't look right... it turns-out that world hole in the middle of my sea (yes, I lay claim to it as I seem to be the only one ever sailing it) was filled-in. And in the middle of the previous hole was a fresh sim with a bizarre shape on it. I decided to investigate what I shortly later learned what is called the Leviathan Skeleton. It appeared to be some private build, but since when does Linden Lab allow private regions to connect to, much less be plopped into the middle of mainland regions?
Upon inspection I discovered what is a wonderful build!Beautiful. And, it fills-in that gaping hole in the sea so now there are no virtual Maelstroms to avoid! I then spotted something in the distance and found Michael's abandoned, floundering hulk that uses the same bobbing motion as the giant crane platform to the far south inlet from the Blake Sea.
Oh and thank-gawd they have made the ends of each of the two docks on the island to be rezz-points, which allows me to get off and on my boat without having to delete it first and re-rez a new one when ready to get under way again, a major complaint I have about many of the islands in the Blake Sea area. But I no longer care about those and the shiniest, newest desert island is within five-minutes sailing from my home marina!
Though I think the "bobbing" script might need a little tweaking as about every three-minutes or so the "Mighty Fitz"3 seems to be weathering an invisible hurricane-sized wave. Have a look at what I mean:
So, only this morning did it occur to me that all these previous 'references' were referencing the same thing - and it is in my own front yard:
The blue star is my home in Neobelow. The two paths are how I used to sail off on my way to the Blake Sea. The yellow area is where the gaping vortex was and now is filled-in with these new "Big Fish" sims and allowing me to now take the white path toward the Blake Sea, bringing me right past the Leviathan Skeleton island, which I know claim as is my right as a Buccaneer of the area, as mine and all mine.
So I simply wish to express a "Thank you very much Linden Lab, way-to-go Department of Public Works, you rock!"
- Official Second Life Blog: "The 'Big Fish' Regions"; Michael Linden; https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/land/dpw/blog/2010/02/04/the-big-fish-regions↩
- Second Stindberg; http://stindberg.blogspot.com/2010/02/2500-prim-skeleton.html↩
- S.S. Edmond Fitzerald. On November 10, 1975, while traveling on Lake Superior during a gale, the Fitzgerald sank suddenly in Canadian waters approximately 17 miles (15 nmi; 27 km) from the entrance of Whitefish Bay at a depth of 530 feet (160 m). Although she had reported having some difficulties prior to the accident, the Fitzgerald sank without sending any distress signals. Her crew of 29 perished in the sinking with no bodies being recovered. When found, it was discovered that the Fitzgerald had broken in two. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmond_Fitzgerald↩
Oh well. One continent where Linden Lab at least "experimented" in creating a theme is to the immediate west of the Blake See, an entire island beginning with a massive and gorgeous lighthouse on Byth (I know, another totally uncreative lazy sim name). Byth (and Blake Sea) is to the right on the map below, with the seriously majestic Byth Lighthouse at the entrance (right edge of green mark) to the long canal leading into the fascinating circular area toward the western part of the island.
The point of all this is how Linden Lab leaves a lot of little surprises for us to find and no doubt very few, if any of us find them at all. For instance, you really should see the island shown above. Tune-out most of the resident builds and focus on the overall theme Linden Lab has built. It's stunning, fascinating, need-more-of-these awesome.
It's a typical world above water at the western point near the shoals in this seemingly unimportant area. But a peek under water is a another story....
Under water ruins of some lost civilization, courtesy of Linden Lab.
The yellow space is an impressive build all it's own, like a giant Greek or Roman "welcoming" to all passers-by in a majestic sort of way. And the cool thing is most of the resident builds, if not in these are at least not too far on the garish side. The little island in the orange area looks like any other little water-wart plopped-in by the Lindens, until at nighttime you see what appears the be a castaway campfire lighting up.
And there is more, all throughout the Blake Sea as well. For instance, for whatever reason, I had to stop the Hades' Strumpet (my tall ship frigate) and delete it. Without a care I ended up under water. Fiddling in inventory, something caught my eye - movement. I looked and found what appeared to be a Bull Shark.
The thing is, the Lindens (and Moles) are putting in a lot to see and explore. All for your leisurely enjoyment, observation and simple discovery. All this work and effort and detail when you know that 99.99-percent of the residents on the grid will never, ever see it or even know it exists as most of them are out looking for the "Bondage Ranch" or "Free Sex City" elsewhere on the grid.
So, think about it. How would you feel about building a bunch of nicely detailed, interesting builds knowing full well almost no one will ever see it?
How disappointing to a builder is that?Hey, every last one of you surname Lindens, especially all of you who never make it in-world and do the most menial things - like even the guy who empties the trash-cans every night...:
Perhaps that will nudge her to finally write something! Quaintly is not so much as shy as she is thoughtful of what to actually write here (being that she is contributing and it's not officially her bog). I keep telling her: hey, write whatever the hell you want - yes, even {/me shivers} about SL Fashion.In fact, consider this the place were you can be hugely opinionated and say what you really think about things. But, twisting of arms kidding aside, there really is no pressure to "force" Quaintly to post anything. I invited her here so that she can post if she wants to and for no other reason.
{Yes, I had to find a good, yummy pirate picture of Quaintly. Now to force-feed her something, anything to get some meat onto them skeleton bones!}
Consider this also an invitation to you: doesn't matter if you are a blogger or have never blogged a word in your life. If you want a wall where you can let your perspectives known, feel free to contact me. I'll add you to this blog as a contributer and no, there are no required minimum number of posts or anything else like that.
- Need a Google account. This blog is hosted by Google Blogger.
Google accounts are free so there is no money involved. - I don't want your first life information. I don't care. In-fact, I would even prefer that in your Google profile, you go by your Second Life name, but that's really up to you.
- Yes, you can blog about other stuff, not only SL-related.
- No there is no required number of posts in any time-period.
- No there is no limit on word-count and all that stuff.
- No, there are no deadlines or cut-offs.
- Yes, you must at least keep the content "PG-13" at worst.
One of the trickeries of Second Life is in the shopping experience. Unlike first life, price is certainly not an indicating factor with regard to quality or usability or any of the other important decision-making benchmarks. It is painfully frequent when we purchase something and it turns-out to be over-priced garbage, never to see the outside of our inventory folder again as long as we live.
On the flip-side, the Japanese and other Asian natives tend to give much better quality for much less in the way of Linden Dollars (as a rule, there are price-wacked and stunning items in all sectors of the grid) on a consistent basis. My point is that I am often very pleasantly surprised with my purchases from those creators who hail form the Far-East part of the world.
However, once in a while a creator will literally stun you.
Burnman Bedlam has done that. On more than one occasion actually. Burnman has been around the grid even longer than I have. However, a couple years ago he left. Put-up his networked vendor system he was working on as a full-perms purchase and whatever else he had or was working on either still sits in his inventory or chucked off into the asset black-hole of the grid. I don't know.
Imagine my surprise when I was introduced to a new friend (and I allowed this person as one of the very few in my friends list) only to discover much later that this is the same Burnman whom I, as a newbie, felt was a celebrity to me! He showed me his latest project. A small gunboat that sails on the SL wind like the SPD, TSS and other incarnations that are becoming better known on the grid these days.
I took a look via camming around and I thought the primwork was very well done. I told him to let me know when he releases it so I can look into buying one. He offered me the opportunity to help beta-test one, but I ended-up a bit busy outside the grid so I thanked him but declined.
A rather realistic water wake adds a nice touch, but the realistic bow-splash is something I have not seen until now. Note that these pictures are of my customize re-textured version.
I hadn't realized he released his new gunboat and launched his new company "Age of Sale". I spotted the armed dinghy on XSL by accident (see? That "featured listing" thing really does work) - and I wasn't sure if I should be disappointed that he hadn't told me or overly excited that it's here and now ready for purchase. So I didn't bother locating it in-world and went for the XSL sale.
Being familiar with Burnman's previous scripting work I expected a well-satisfied purchase and I already was aware of the primwork on this thing. Then I rezzed it in the water and took a good look.
The "Black Dream" can't be white! So I repainted the primary woodwork to a nice shade of... well, black.
The supplies hold and bell are a truly nice touch, especially for role playing purposes.In short: I am floored. This is a work of art, hands-down. Not a seam in sight, the texturing is meticulously crafted and though there are a couple of areas where I might have used fewer prims, there aren't many at all. It sails wonderfully and feels like a stallion itching to get out of the gate. It just wants to "go". This makes it a little difficult in tight areas as it can be tricky to actually slow-down, but overall the maneuverability gives me fortitude enough to go against a 16-gun Frigate with it's single cannon (this, like other boats and ships from SPD and TSS and others will take damage and with enough, actually sink.)
And the thoughtfulness in the details is where the quality really shines. A mariner bell the dings that authentic ding when clicked-on, a working anchor, and the bow-storage area with opening doors to reveal period supplies. Even the box of cannon shot next to the gun itself and the ability to carry an additional (to the pilot and gunner) six passengers.
The working lamp flickers on upon click, or when the SL world goes to night.This is one of those rare purchases I make where I am so impressed that I tell everyone else about it. I genuinely await in eager anticipation to what new vessels "Age of Sale" and Burnman intends to create. No doubt my fleet of period boats will grow just as fast as he can release them.
If you have never actually sailed in SL via the SL wind system (no, not pressing the up-arrow and steering like driving an SL car) - then you simply must try it. And you can, for free. Open my profile in-world, click to the classified tab and teleport to my throne store.
You will land at the dock. There is a teleporter to take you up to the store proper. But also is a sign there that, when clicked, will rezz a sail-able Jangers (centuries-old historic fishing raft) - it holds two people. Jump-on and give SL-wind sailing a try.
Or if you already are familiar or feeling bold enough to just jump-in, you can get this Age of Sale Gunboat at XStreet SL at a price far fairer than lesser-quality boats available for sale in SL. And even if you just let it sit at some dock in front of your SL home, it'll be a head-turner by just lookin' damned good.
