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Tuesday,August 18, 2009

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Commercial sim premiers BY SHERRIE SHEPHERD Staff writer

ON LINE METAVERSE, A new commercial sim, recently opened at http://slurl.com/secondlife/On%20Line%20Metaverse/165/113/23/. Live entertainment by a blues and country singer was provided at the sim’s opening, along with an art exhibit.. The new location offers a business park type atmosphere for Second Life businesses, and encourages a spirit of cooperation amongst merchants and the sim’s management. - Photo by SHERRIE SHEPHERD.

The premiere event for the new commercial sim, On Line Metaverse, was held on July 31 with live entertainment by Blues and Country singer Lightnin Lowtide and an art exhibit by Italian sculptor nessuno Myoo. Myoo has a passion for music, and his sculptures are inspired by musicians and musical instruments. His sculptures are on permanent exhibit and for sale at his gallery, White Gallery by nessuno myoo, Telecom Italia 4 (199, 199, 25). His art work can be viewed at http://www.flick r.com/photos/27823218@N03/. The On line Metaverse merchants, who sponsored the event, are a group of friends and business associates who joined forces to create a one stop shopping environment for SL residents. For shoppers’ convenience, they provide Segway Scooters for visitors to hop on and take a spin around the pristine suburban sim to see all that is offered there. A 5,000L contest prize for a lucky event attendee was sponsored by Xavier Naidoo, owner of the Zyngo Club Main there. Also sponsoring the event was

Kernelbug Raymaker, sim owner and photographer/owner of Skandalo’s Studio and Money Inworld. Sponsor and owner of FILM G FUN! Studios, Glasz DeCuir, pitched in to do the event planning for the celebration. Other On Line Metaverse merchants include: Miss Metaverse, Jalore’s, Eternally, Blog Todas’ Gallery, Sublime Geek (tools and technology), PW Games Reseller. Embraced Club and Mall are soon to open. The philosophy behind On Line Metaverse, which opened in May, was the concept of Raymaker who felt that from his experience, commercial estate owners did not get involved with their merchants other than to address problems. Raymaker explains, “Most commercial estate owners only appear when there are complaints, and they don’t worry about what’s happening at the sim meanwhile. “Seeing all this, I decided to grow my own estate, and I invested all of my old business profit to buy On Line Metaverse. When a new merchant comes, I explain to him the philosophy of this sim. I really try to be involved in the success of each business on the sim, and I try to See PREMIERS, Page 15

Interview with an SL vampire By SHERRIE SHEPHERD Staff writer The castle of the Queen of the Vampires de Lioncourt is an imposing vision in the eerie mist of the Isle de Lioncourt, with waterfalls of blood cascading down the torch lit facade. However, if you venture in, you’d be surprised at the uncharacteristically warm welcome you’d receive. All the trappings of a vampire lifestyle are available to those who choose to join the clan, yet visitors are always welcome and can be assured of safe passage by expressing their desire to simply explore without being fed upon. There’s much to explore and enjoy, starting with the Queen’s Castle, dark and damp with rich blood red upholstered furniture and fountains splashing precious sanguine spray. Here you may encounter the Queen herself, the hauntingly beautiful, Violet Steamweaver. Steamweaver reigns over a small clan of sixty-five vampires, two lycans, a type of werewolf, and twenty-eight humans who choose to play as blood dolls (willing donors) or familiars (humans who associate with the clan but do not

Inside

Sim of the Week - Page 10

offer their blood to them). She emphasizes that all walks of life are welcome by the clan as long as the rules are followed. Offered at the sim are an equally eerie clubhouse in the sky where clan members and visitors alike can play games, dance, enjoy entertainment options, or just relax on comfortable lounges and pillows. For an intimate and romantic setting, the sky terrace affords dancing amid breathtaking orbiting planets. A sacred place in the forest below allows an atmosphere for ritual or just chilling out. The turning room takes you back to the more macabre aspect of the clan. There a human is made vulnerable to the will of the vampires while strapped to the turning table amid huge storage barrels of donated blood from previous victims. Two story stone dwellings are available for rent to those who desire to reside among the clan. Joining SL expressly to live the vampire lifestyle, Steamweaver explains, “I did actually join SL with the intention of becoming a vampire. A friend of mine had been in SL for a couple of years prior to my joining, and nothing she talked about seemed to capture my attention.

See VAMPIRE, Page 14

QUEEN OF THE VAMPIRES de Lioncourt Clan Violet Steamweaver poses with Prince Treyton Kiranov. - Photo by SHERRIE SHEPHERD

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Beginning on Aug. 27, the Metaverse Messenger will switch from publishing on Tuesdays, to publishing on Thursdays. The advertising deadlines will switch to the Tuesday prior to publication. For more information, visit the M2 website at www.metaversemessenger.com/.

SL News . . . . . . . . . .Page 3 Perspectives . . . . . . .Page 5 The Line . . . . . . . . . . Page 6 ROTW . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 8 Comics .. . . . . . . . . . .Page 8 Entertainment. . . . . . Page 8 Photo Contest . . . . . .Page 9 Community . . . . . . Page 16 Sports . . . . . . . . . . .Page 18

Inside

Resi of the Week - Page 8

About Us Volume 4 No.27 Second Life The Metaverse Messenger

Page 2 The Metaverse Messenger August 18, 2009

 General staff writers  Executive assistant  Fashion reporter  Business reporter  Entertainment reporter  Columnists  Cartoonists  Photographers  Group news  Event listings  Club news  Engagement announcements  Business news  Classified ads  Display ads  Wedding announcements  Photographs

E-mail [email protected] for details on applying for a job, getting your items published or buying advertising space.

SL News August 18, 2009



The Metaverse Messenger Dublin (23, 75, 26)



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Second Citizen rises from the grave By GEORGE BACKBITE Staff Writer Second Citizen, one of the most (in?)famous third party Second Life forums, was shut down in August 2007 after circumstances caused its proprietor to decide to end the site. For nearly two years, many former members of the site expressed sorrow at its loss, noting that SC was known for its noholds-barred style and minimal moderation. Now, in a surprise move by longtime Second Life resident and former SC member Lecktor Hannibal, the site has been reborn in the form of secondcitizen.net (The original SC was located at secondcitizen.com). Hannibal initially founded the site under the guise of “Your Mom,” a nod to the original SC’s admin, Alexander Bard, who went by the name “Mother FIC.” Within days, however, Hannibal had revealed his true identity, bowing to requests from various members to know who had reestablished the site. In just a week’s time, the new site has gained more than 160 members, most of whom were members of the original Second Citizen, although many new members have joined as well. In an exclusive interview with the Messenger, Hannibal said that he decided to start the new forum site because of the “increase of visibility of a certain poster on [another popular third party SL forum site] having more than the common knowledge and

or forum abilities to address a poster in any given manner.” He indicated that this was causing a certain amount of friction at the other forums. “I had been a member of [the other forum site] since its inception or very near, I think. I believe after SC I closed, and we were all ‘forced,‘ basically, over [there], [its] original atmosphere… was destroyed.” He described the other site’s style prior to the closing of SC I as “the of-

ficial SL forums sans Robin and Jeska,” and said it degraded into a “clusterf*ck,” adding that immediately upon the closure of the original Second Citizen there was an influx of SC refugees to other forum sites and that this was one of the causes of this friction. Regarding the first week of

the reborn site, Hannibal said “I am elated. I’ve made some enemies, no doubt, but I think the enemies I made were ones that were teetering that way to begin with. I’ve made scores more friends by doing this, and that is way more important to me. The tittering behind my back and full on backstabbing emails, just make me more determined. I love my SC Community and am dedicated to keeping MK II going.” IsaDaft Trollop, who was a member of the original SC forum for over a year before it closed, said “I think [SC mk II] is off to a good start — the no holds barred attitude is already there! Also, it is good to see many old friends who have not been seen much since the original closed… I do feel it is serving the purpose it was meant to.” Phoenix Psaltery, formerly the associate publisher at the M2, said, “[SC mk II] already feels just like the old SC in so many ways. Some people protested that SC would never be SC without Alex [Bard], but SC was never really about Mother FIC, it was about the community, the people — Second Citizen was, and is, a big family; a dysfunctional family, to be sure, but a family nevertheless, and it feels like we were all taken into foster care two years ago but now we’re finally reunited. I’m having a blast, and for the most part, I think everybody else is, too.”

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Page 4 The Metaverse Messenger August 18, 2009

THE PALACE OF AL ANDALUS, seen here, is part of the six sims that recently merged with the Confederation of Democratic Sims. - Photo by KATT KONGO.

Al Andalus Estatemerges with CDS The six sim Al Andalus Estate, which recreate thirteenthcentury Granada, Spain, including the Alhambra Palaces, has become part of the Confederation of Democratic Sims, the oldest Democracy in Second life. Al Andalus, two years old in July, was formed as an experiment in forms of democracy. The original premise was to form a democratic government based on authentic Islamic principles. While there remains a strong Islamic presence in Al Andalus, the group has evolved into one whose focus is on tolerance, consensus building and communication. CDS has its own constitution and code of laws, based on the UDHR, and is governed by a Representative Assembly elected by factions. As part of the merger, Al Andalus will send six representatives to the CDS Representative Assembly, whose new term began Aug. 1. With an established system in place, Al Andalus citizens whose energy would otherwise be directed toward mechanical issues can now focus on philosophical and “real” issues. For example, Al Andalus has recently participated in vigils and discussions about the political situation in Iran and is working on establishing a library of Islamic literature, Andalucian Art and Architecture. A museum devoted to tolerance issues is also in the works. The Confederation of Democratic Sims has enjoyed steady growth over its five years in Second Life, learning many lessons about self-governance in virtual worlds. They plan to share some of those lessons at a Symposium

on Self Governance that will be part of the Anniversary/Oktoberfest celebration in late September. The merger has resulted in physical relocation of the sims on the grid to form a new 11 sim continent. Al Andalus represents the third architectural theme, joining the Bavarian Alpine theme of Neufreistadt, Monastery and Alpine Meadow, and the Roman/Greek themes of Colonia Nova and Locus Amoenus. Al Andalus include Al Andalus Alhambra, with the Alhambra palaces, fortress and Great Mosque, Al Andalus Generalife, which includes a popular caravan market, the Convivencia Institute at the Summer Palace, the Al Zahra Theater and Entertainment site featuring primarily Spanish dance and music, Al Garnata, which houses two libraries and an opera house, Albaycin, a sim devoted to sustainable land management and nature preserve, as well as many other projects of citizens. Strict covenants are enforced in all CDS sims to maintain the quality of life, and beautiful surroundings, its residents enjoy. Citizenship, in CDS, with voting rights is one benefit of land ownership in any of the 11 sims, and a limited number of sites are available for newcomers in each theme. An Inaugural/Merger Ball was held Aug. 9 in the Al Garnata Cultural Plaza. The formal, wedding themed celebration kicked off with a piano concert by Winters Kanto, and then continued with a ceremonial procession, with a reception with Dj Soliel Snook of Radio Riel.

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Perspectives August 18, 2009



The Metaverse Messenger Dublin (23, 75, 26)

Four years By KATT KONGO Publisher The Metaverse Messenger recently celebrated its fourth year in publication. It seems impossible that that much time has passed by when it seems like just yesterday that Phoenix and I were discussing possible names, and how we would operate. I still remember the surprised delight most people expressed textually over the layout of the first issue. We have had so many writers over the years. Some I barely remember. Some, like Sarg, I still miss. Some writers turned in articles that required a good 30 minutes of editing. Some staff members, like Dagmar and Holman, were so accomplished that I learned a lot from them. The way the M2 has been published has changed multiple times over the years. The first issue was much too big. I hadn’t worked at a newspaper in a while, so my pagination (page making) skills were a bit rusty. It took me awhile to remember the design rules I had been taught. In addition, I wasn’t very familiar with all of the functions of PDFS, so pages and ads were not linked. It wasn’t until Cristiano Midnight griped that the M2 didn’t make use of such features that I even knew that was possible. Of course, I didn’t ask him how to do that. I had to explore and click on different things, experimenting until I figured out how to do it.

The buildings and locations which housed the M2 have changed many times over the years as well. We started with 1024 square meters and a small building. We got a bit more land and put up a building several stories high. Then when we got even more land, we had someone build a skyscraper to my specifications. It was 13 stories in total. We continued to add more land to the M2 holdings, until we had slightly more than half of a sim. However, when the economy started to slow down, I was forced to sell all of it off. The M2 office is currently located in the Dublin sim, but I hope to be able to buy land soon and re-establish a building that touches the sky. The website has also changed. The original site was pretty basic. Katier Reitveld has gradually taken over the layout and content uploads. With my input, she changed the site to its current design. I’m hoping to expand the website even more in the future, with more content, so that people who dislike the PDF can still visit the site to get their news. In two of the years the M2 has been in publication, we have printed out hard copies of the M2 for the Second Life Community Convention. We didn’t do so in 2008 because Phoenix was very ill. We didn’t do it this year because we just couldn’t afford it. I’m hoping to do it next year, See YEARS, Page 15

Columnist wanted. For details, E-mail [email protected]

The Metaverse Messenger E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.metaversemessenger.com

Publisher: Kristan Hall (Katt Kongo in SL) Associate Publisher: Katt Kongo Composition: Katt Kongo Account Executive: Katt Kongo Office Manager: George

Backbite Distribution: Join the M2 fan group Associate Editor: Dagmar Kojishi News Editor: Katier Reitveld For a complete list of staff writers, visit the M2 website.

The Metaverse Messenger is published once each week on Tuesday for $L0 per year in Second Life. Subscribers should an instant message to distribution. Any erroneous reflection upon the character, standing or reputation of any person, firm or corporation, which may occur in the columns of The Metaverse Messenger, will be gladly corrected upon being brought to the attention of the publisher(s). The publisher is not responsible for copy ommissions or typographical errors which may occur other than to correct them in the nearest issue after it is brought to the publisher’s attention and in no case does the publisher hold him/herself liable for damages further than the amount received by him for actual space covering the error. Copyright © 2008.The entire contents of this publication are copyrighted by The Metaverse Messenger and the Rose from Ash Publishing Company. No material may be reproduced without the expressed written permission of the publisher.



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Page 6 The Metaverse Messenger August 18, 2009

norinnrichard.blogspot.com Real Disasters The second Line article we published was “The Fun in Disaster.” While this was the second article we published, it was the first time I had sat down to clearly say something about “The Line.” Much to the surprise of many readers who have joined us since then, it was a column in which I stressed how clear, and important, the separation between Reality and Second Life was. In that piece, I described my reaction to the first Second Life “disaster” I had experienced. In what would become a very common event in the following months, a griefer had released a malicious script that crashed The Grid. By luck of the draw, I was the only member of the staff online at that moment, and so did much of the work covering the event. As the evening drew to a close, and I tried to get some sleep, the realization of the differences between myself as a virtual journalist and a real journalist struck me. What I had done was no different then what regular journalist do every day, but what I had done it about was. I had covered a “disaster” that consisted of a few thousand people not being able to connect to an online world for their

nightly entertainment. Real disasters were events with much greater consequences. The lives a Real disaster touches are never the same again, if they continue at all. As I recalled that night, in most Real disasters, someone dies. Now, as I look back over my thoughts at the time, I have to say that my opinion on this particular topic has changed drastically. That night, I expressed profound relief at the fact that Second Life was not Real, and therefore the “disaster” had no Real consequences. That part of my opinion has not changed. The events of that night had no true consequences for those involved, beyond an evening of frustration. In the past years however, I have seen events in Second Life have consequences in the Real world. I have seen people become deeply emotionally involved with others through Second Life, just to learn that those other people were not who they claimed to be. Residents have watched months of work, and even large sums of Real world investment, vanish into the black hole of inventory bugs. People who had built businesses that provided them with income have watched those businesses have to close See LINE, Page 15

Advertising works!

August 18, 2009 The Metaverse Messenger Page 7

INCREASE TRAFFIC TO YOUR MERCHANT SITE BY SPONSORING THIS SECTION.

Entertainment Page 8



The Metaverse Messenger Dublin (23, 75, 26)



August 18, 2009

Upcoming events R e s i d e n t o f t h e We e k : Veekay Navarathna NAME: Veekay Navarathna OCCUPATION IN SL: CEO Medley Estates, Conceptualizer, Builder, Co-Founder and primary builder of Shekhawati. Shekhawati, the newest Indian sim, Shekhawati (107, 147, 23), graces SL with a vision of historical India complete with its rich cultural influence, unique architectural design and beautiful art work. DATE JOINED SL: Dec. 26, 2007 WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT BEING A RESIDENT OF SL? To pursue opportunities and to be creative where only technology is the limit. When I first came into SL, I was curious of what it was all about and wanted just an office for my RL business. When I went around and saw the work being done and the mix of technology and creativity, it excited me, and I felt that it was the future of internet. ONE THING IN YOUR INVENTORY THAT YOU WOULD BE THE MOST DEVASTATED TO LOSE? Devastated is a very strong word or emotion. There is nothing that could cause such an emotion. Yes, discomfort, if our creations at the Shekhawati sim were lost, when so much hard work and creativity has gone into it. There are no love letters or sweet nothings in notecards that I would miss.. smile.

See ROTW, Page 19

LEARN HOW TO play Second Life on cell phones: Aug. 21 from 7 to 10 PM SLT, at Raimondo (198,6,63). The host is Parystec Oh. Would you like to play SL away from your computer say in a park or on a train, in fact anywhere where you can get a mobile signal! Well you can, come and watch a video on the big screen showing you how it works. Relax in our open air plaza, have a FREE T Shirt and talk to us when we are there. BEST FIRST DATE IN SL: Aug. 22 from 5 to 8 AM SLT, in Imzadi (98, 162, 21). The host is Hayley Comet. Teleport to Imzadi Beach for a guided or freestyle scuba tour (free gear is available) of our famous coral reef. From there, take your best guy or gal to the romantic rooftop restaurant, Imzadi Moon, for fine dining (all-you-can-eat buffet or sit-down dinner) and dancing. End your evening with a leisurely balloon tour of our four-island estate. Get a birds-eye view of the islands of Tovadok II, Minshara, Imzadi and Eridani. Sights include Imzadi Beach and Coral Reef, the Star Trek Museum Complex, Fort Malaya History Museum, P'Jem Monastery, Pirate Ships and Minshara's three beautiful Waterfalls. The tour ends at our whale-watching pier for a fabulous self-operated DeCuir fireworks show. (Click the Star Trek Museum sign for a list of LMs to all other island attractions.) Contact Wabisabi Matahari for more information.

Send event details to [email protected]

GOGOMODO TRIVIA SCORES For the week of July 27

The recipe for live music success in Second Life By TEDDI SHAMROCK Staff writer

Sitearm Madonna works with some of the hottest SL music sims, including Dublin in SL, and San Diego in SL. I spent some time with her to learn more about how she goes about getting musicians interested in performing in SL. To begin with, I learned Sitearm is a true expert. She gratefully acknowledges, however, that many others have helped her by sharing their expertise over the years—as it relates to music, that person is Ham Rambler, owner of the Blarney Stone and the Dublin in SL sim. Besides her music promotion experience in SL, Sitearm works with other organizations to design and implement virtual world projects in business, tourism, music and arts. Her expertise has been recognized by Linden Labs, who has awarded her company, Siterma VWP, distinction as a Linden Lab Gold Solution Provider. This is a certification program Second Life initiated in 2006 to help businesses, educational institutions, government organizations, nonprofits, and individuals connect with skilled resources to

design and implement projects and experiences in Second Life. Sitearm is one of a small cadre of true experts. While there are 250 in the program, there are just 31 who have earned the distinction as Gold Solution Providers in this global program. To earn this signification, Linden Labs looks for a high level of client satisfaction, and a track record of developing successful Second Life projects and demonstrated skill working with First World organizations. So when Sitearm talks about what it takes to make things happen in the SL music space, she knows what she is talking about! In sharing her observations on what it takes to make a successful music event in SL, Sitearm has an elegantly simple way of looking at it. She said, “It’s like a recipe. Speaking abstractly... you need three things: Artist, Marketer, and Producer.” The artist is what audiences resonate with most keenly. Sitearm noted this is because “the artist performs and connects with people.” While audiences may not recognize the interaction, audiences also interact with both the marketer and the producer too. “The marketer LOVES the artist, and tells EVERYONE about them,” Sitearm notes. And finally, the producer keeps it all on track, she said.

As we talked, I came to appreciate that it is the producer that keeps everything on track. Sitearm shared that the producer is the support base, covering multiple issues. “Is the artist on track? Are they inspired? Do they have material?” The producer isn’t just looking at the artist though. Sitearm noted that the producer is also looking to ensure the marketer is reaching the right places. And even looks out for the artist and the audience to make sure their needs and goals are being met too. She also shared that a producer worth his or her snuff is also looking out for the venue. “Are the venue’s goals being met so they want the artist back?” The audience is key, “so eventually they will come wherever the artist is playing,” she said. The producer is also taking note to see that the artist is taking care of their instrument,” which includes their voice too. A producer is key to having a smooth performance, and for growing a SL music following. I asked her if she thought Second Life audiences were more forgiving than First Life audiences. “Well,” she began, “they ARE more forgiving to the extent that they did not invest so much to attend in SL,” meaning the effort to travel to an event.

See BITES, Page 18

INDIVIDUALS Fiona DuCasse MyFatherSmelledOf Alderbury Bitsy Blinker Elder Lubitsch Samohung Johin Beach Beebe Madeleine Bluebird Elise Philipp Karlo Antonelli Giselle Eberhart Mileva Milev Melian Catronis freya Morgath Pim Strom Robinton Beattie TEAMS Cafe Trivia Fantasy Isles cuppycake gumdrop The Cats Lair Artemis Tavern Sunset Solace Black Wolf's Bar & Grill Incendia Sunflower Trivia AXEs Place Dream Game Park kajun Zoo Bar Sharon's Diner Tranquil Falls Visit http://www.gogomodotrivia.com for more scores and trivia locations.

2310 2309 1548 1501 1344 1158 1096 1092 960 833 756 555 541 537 420 7046 5527 3750 1705 1353 1345 1263 1160 1065 593 544 481 464 268 247

August 18, 2009 The Metaverse Messenger Page 9

Ask Acu Advice from Acuminous Watanabe

Hey Acu, I’m not really looking for advice; I just want to vent. I really don’t get this whole idea of integrating SL with RL and relationships. I mean its Second Life, not eHarmony or Match.com. I keep hearing people talk about how they feel so lost because SL affects their real life, blah-blahblah. My second life is just that: a SECOND (and separate) life. I am not my avatar; they are separate and apart from one another. I have a REAL life, and when I come to SL, it’s to live out fantasies and experiment with things I might not be as willing to explore in real life. I could always try these things in real life of course, but I DON’T WANT to. SL is much easier to access and is a lot cheaper to build my dreams in. I guess I am different than most people as I am intelligent and creative enough to keep SL and RL separate. I don’t take this game seriously and don’t trust most of the people I encounter in-world. After all, they are living their fantasies too. Although there are

a few people I’ve encountered who I have felt worthy of knowing me in my first life, I have no interest or desire to have people in my SL also in my RL. SL will never be a substitute for real life, so if you don’t have one, you need to log off and find one. ~Keeping it Real Blessings “Keeping It Real”!

Thanks for writing and being open to sharing your thoughts and feelings so expressively. You may be surprised to hear this, but I think we agree on a few things here. SL is never a substitute for real life, although it can certainly provide a platform to explore things we might not have access to (physically, emotionally, financially) in our first lives. We cannot “live” inworld, and all must log off to return to our first lives ultimately. If we are neglecting RL, however, we won’t be logging off too much, and the cycle begins making SL the more attractive of the two lives we are living. Escaping RL is when our SL adventures can become problematic, which is why I believe many struggle with their relationships in-world. Why their relationships? Because unlike other MMORPGs, Second Life is a social grid. The See ACU, Page 12

WIN L$1,000 in the M2’S Eagle Eye Photo ID Contest! If you think you know where this picture was taken, e-mail your answer to [email protected] along with your avatar’s name. The deadline for this week’s contest is Aug. 3. No one correctly identified the photo in the last issue. For a complete list of rules for the contest, visit the M2 office in Dublin.

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THE SHADOWLANDS (RIGHT), owned by Kvrst Messmer, is his own little slice of the Void. Sprockets Theatre (left) is an old style movie theater, liberally covered in monster movie posters. - Photos by THE SOTW TEAM

Sim of the Week: Tempest

By VIOLETTA HEART Staff writer Cobwebs hanging from the rafters, a chill on the wind, and the sight of dark and brooding clothing against pale white skin greet the Sim of the Week crew as we land in Tempest, home of Morbid Mausoleum, where Quality Goth clothing and home needs meets affordable pricing. (Norinn! Look at all the spiders! Wouldn’t they make cute pets?) Tempest is a landlocked sim situated on the Southern continent. Teleporting into the sim, you are deposited into rental lands owned by Zodiac Properties. There are some very nice tracts open, which rent for L$400 per week with 280 prims available for personal use. Heading North from our entry point, we find a charming European-style village where housing styles range from Roman villas to Tudor frame housing to brick and stone farm houses. Dark little courtyards are scattered throughout the village where owls hoot and bats fly. You can imagine yourself in an Eastern European village, lost somewhere in time where any turn of the corner may bring you face to face with The Count himself. These rental homes run L$295 and up.

Heading east from the sim border, we find several for sale plots just in case renting is not your thing. Heading South, you will see that the plots of “For Sale’ and owned but unoccupied land run all along the Eastern side of the sim. There is a plot in the center of this strip that had the red bars of friendship up on it. When you bash your head into this barrier, a pop up will tell you that you need to be age verified in order to enter that plot. It will give you a log in page that looks like the Second Life log in page in order to verify your age. When I attempted to use the browser window, the links were broken and I was unable to enter any information there. In the exact center of the Eastern border of the sim, there is a store named Cheapskates owned by Vikki Chama. Chama has several venders there where you can purchase clothing and skins for $1L while on the other side of her shop you can find things ranging from L$250 to L$750. Turning South, the crew finds a plot of land owned by the Ravnos Army of Bloodlines. You will be offered a notecard when you enter their lands. Please read it carefully as some of the rules only apply to Bloodlines play on the Tempest parcel.

See SOTW, Page 11

August 18, 2009 The Metaverse Messenger Page 11

ONE OF THE courtyards in the Eastern European-style rental village is owned by Zodiac.

SOTW

Many glowing green crystals dot the landscape. Turning West at the sim border, we find more rental homes by Zodiac VI Rentals. These homes are higher end mansions with a modern, Greek Isles feel to the buildings. A movie theater named Sprockets, owned by Sprocket Easterwood, graces the middle of this side of Tempest. Monster movie posters adorn the walls while a projection screen gives access to YouTube. At the South West corner of Tempest is an interesting discovery. A huge glowing twisting mass of black rests upon the pristine rocks of Second Life. This is the home of Kvrst Messmer, a demon freed from the void by hapless (and probably now dead) occult practitioners. This is his

From Page 10 foothold in the grid complete with stunted and twisted trees, tentacle thingies, and floating wreckage. In the center of all of this dwells Morbid Mausoleum, owned by Morbid Emor. Emor designs and sells Goth style clothing and accessories. She runs the gamut from Gothic Lolitas to Gothic Victorian clothing. This is all high quality outfits that will not break the bank. The rear left hand corner vender has a few items that are free or very low cost for those on a tight budget. Coming soon from Emor is an additional store for Gothic home décor. That is all this week from Tempest. Where will the winds of Second Life take us next week? Only the Gods of Linden and the random teleporter know.

STEAMPUNKS, CYBERPUNKS and other guests were entertained by the band Pink Floyd on Aug. 12 at the STEAMPUNK and CYBERPUNK FESTIVAL. The festival opened Aug. 8 and runs through the 28th, on Pavo Isle (134,156,2502). N.A.I.L. Productions, in collaboration with VR Style Magazine, have organized the festival with a weapons tournement scheduled for Aug. 2, and culminating with a Gala Costume Ball on Aug. 28. For more information, contact Ariel Lingiuan, iolejanana Chajit or Nadia Felwitch.- Photos by SHERRIE SHEPHERD.

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ACU roles we play, unlike in other platforms like WoW or EVE are more like real life. Sure there are the Furries and Nekos and such, but there are by far more “human” avatars than any other form in Second Life. It is here that we fulfill fantasies relative to other people (who happen to be in avatar skins). We are not here to battle them, win a goal or advance a level. We are here to connect to others who are like us. In that regard, maybe SL is a game, the same we play in our real lives. Trying to discern other’s intentions and motives and responding to them in a way that creates a desired response. Griefers want drama, artists want accolades, DJs want crowd cheers, and some want loving, reciprocal (not always, but often romantic) relationships. This is especially true when relationships in real life don’t provide this. “Enhancing” rather than escaping RL is a much better prospective use of our SL energies, which is where the whole integration idea comes in. Keeping your SL separate from your RL is completely possible. In real life, we tend to compartmentalize all of our social relationships (business from personal for example). We cannot, however, separate the person from the avatar.

From Page 9 Without the human behind the screen, our avatar has no life. If we are exploring things in SL that we wouldn’t in RL, those fantasies belong to the human operator, not the avatar. Although the pixels on the screen don’t have feelings, the operator behind it does. It is the human who seeks and provides responses to what he or she sees on screen. It’s amazing the emotions those pixels can produce in us: love, pain, fear, hate. Hmmm, just like people in RL (grin). Integration of SL and RL is more about finding balance than it is exposing your privacy or inviting people into your world. It’s about creating experiences based upon our perceptions and current level of understanding, and having those ideas challenged and matured as a result. It’s about allowing what we learn about ourselves as we explore our relationships in one aspect of our life and having the lessons learned trickle into our other experiences. It’s about knowing who we are in both lives and developing healthy habits and relationships which allow us to grow: mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Wishing you Peace in the pieces of your journey, Acu

The Metaverse Messenger

Fashion August 18, 2009



The Metaverse Messenger - Dublin (23, 75, 26)

Purple haze covers SL Purple is the newest trend in Second Life By JESSIKA JENIEVE Staff writer

some. Tyrian or royal purple is a It has been a quiet week on purple-red dye made by the anSecond life, so I have been looking at the new season’s colours, both in RL and SL. You think that not much is new, but something rather sneaky is happening in the shop windows. I’ve noticed this happen before. A trend is set, say it’s neon yellow, it’s in all the shops, in your face, and then slyly, out on the streets, a totally different color creeps in. And so in SL, it just creeps up on you. Look around – it’s pur- cient city of Tyre, from a mucusple! It blasted my retinas this secretion of a gland of a marine morning in a saturated up-market snail. They also made an indigo display in the windows of Escada. Then I went into a SL club where at least six or seven avies, including lots of our fairy friends were wearing it. What is this about? It is as if we; (those who decide what we will wear) as opposed to them; (those who decide what we will buy) are having a bit of a revolt. Love a nice fashion revolt – all for it! Perhaps we are just testing colour called royal blue or hythe waters before we nip out and acinth purple, which was made buy the yellows. Or maybe the from a related species of marine clothing designers have had this lot ready out the back, just in case we all chickened out on the neon. Now I don’t like purple; my avie is dark so she can wear it, but Storm, my alt, with her flame-red hair, would not even give it a second thought. It throws a horrible reflection on your skin, a sort of Zombie in fashionable clothes. The history of the colour is equally grue-

snail which was reported as fetching its weight in gold. The snails were basically mashed and boiled and smelled really awful. Producing a tiny drop of dye took millions of snails, and was slow and generally disgusting, and no one wanted a mollusc mincing plant in their neighbourhood. I have on good authority from marine expert Phil the Fish that these things are not edible whatever sauce you put over them. It was so expensive that purple became a symbol of power, and, above all, wealth. If you could afford it then you could wear it, and when the poor little molluscs became almost extinct, laws were passed to reserve purple for emperors and cardinals. Finally, in 1856, an 18-yearold chemistry English student called William Perkin isolated the first aniline dye, which just happened to be purple. Queen Victoria decided it would make a tasteful alternative to her usual black and wore a silk gown colored with the new dye to the Royal Exhibition of 1862. After that it was cheap, fashionable, and anyone could wear it. Just take a look at any Goth/ Steam punk fashions; the Victoriana/vampire look only comes in a few basic colors, dark red, black and good old ‘nasty pallor on the skin’ purple. True, the clothes from the designers specializing in this subcult area are often better than some of the other tat that fills our SL stores. The style requires a cut and structure that is flattering and sexy, but the color palette is so limited – no green Vampire costumes around here. At least the Steampunks have the lovely stripy socks to add some fun. Take a really good look around this week. It’s a purple virus, and it’s spreading. I’m all for the consumer dictating the trends, as well as wearing just what we choose, but save me from clubs full of purple fairies.



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Page 14 The Metaverse Messenger August 18, 2009

VAMPIRE One day, she mentioned a vampire in passing, and that was all it took to get me to sign up! “ An interactive vampire system and game based solely on SL is available at http://www.slbloodlines.com. The website tallies the souls captured by the over 17,000 vampires active in SL and the Lumens of moonlight captured by the over 1,400 lycans. According to Bloodlines, there is a quota of souls that must be captured in order to be royalty. However, SLers are not bound by the quota system of Bloodlines and Steamweaver said, “I took the title Queen since I am the matriarch of my clan. I formed my clan after trying to find one that fit what I was looking for but was not lucky enough to find it. I and four others started a clan together, and it has blossomed into the wonderful Family we have today.” The name “Vampires de Lioncourt” is taken from Anne Rice’s main character, Lestat de Lioncourt, in her famous novel, Interview with a Vampire. Of the character, Steamweaver says, “He is my favorite literary vampire, so I paid him homage here in SL with my clan.” She takes a laid back approach to role-play (RP), yet does require members of her clan to follow certain rules. As an example, she requires them to be polite, engage in conversation and most importantly ask permission of a potential donor beforehand. To Steamweaver, enforcement is something she is serious about. She said, “If I found out that a member of my Family was spamming people with bite requests or being otherwise dishonorable, they would get one warning. If it happened again, they would be kicked out of my clan. I do not tolerate that kind of behavior.” Of the RP aspect, Steamweaver offered, “I basically leave that up to the individual. If someone wants to bow/curtsy before me and the other royalty, and they like to RP their turnings and feedings, I will RP along with them. On the other hand, if someone just wants to say “hey, can I bite you?” and they like a more relaxed approach, I go with that as well. “I personally don’t take a lot of time with the RP aspects. Our clan doesn’t really have a back story. We are just a happy Family that likes to hang out and do things

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together.” She sees her role as Queen as being there to help her clan members. She went on to say, “I am here to help people however they need it. It’s my job to make sure everyone is taken care of; be sure they know how to use their game HUD, answer any questions, protect those that need it, and keep everyone in line so to speak. I also keep apprised of the Bloodlines updates and anything of interest and pass those on to my Family members. “

Speaking of the other royals of the clan, she said, “Prince Treyton Kiranov is my right hand man. He is there to help with turnings, answer questions and teach fledgling vampires how to hunt. Princess Laurel Moonwall is my main blood doll. She is there to help answer any questions the humans may have about the process of being a vampire’s food source. And my Countess, Morgan Lowtide, assures that everything stays running smoothly by helping me out wherever and whenever I need her.” Steamweaver feels she benefits from being a vampire saying, “I enjoy the lifestyle. It’s an interesting icebreaker when someone reads my profile and says, ‘So, you suck blood?’ I have met people while I was out hunting that I may have never met otherwise. I have a great

Family and extended circle of friends all because of Bloodlines. I can’t imagine my SL without it. Besides, who doesn’t look sexier with fangs?” She describes her clan as a great group of people, a small, close-knit family. They welcome everyone, and she emphasizes, “We welcome all walks of life. I don’t care if you are human, elvish, furry, neko or a child avatar. I don’t care if you are straight, gay, bisexual or anti-sexual. We truly care about each other, and we have a lot of fun together. We welcome humans both as blood dolls and as familiars. “If someone doesn’t mind a vampire biting them now and again to sustain their lifestyle, they become a blood doll. If they are just looking to be a part of the Family and have a home, they are a familiar in our clan. Either way, our doors are always open to new faces.” Speaking of the future of her clan, she said, “I’m not sure about the sim, as it is an ever-changing canvas, but the future of our clan is bright. I believe we will grow steadily at a slower pace into a wonderful large network of diverse people.” She would like the SL community to know that her clan, “are not crazy blood-thirsty freaks just out to see how many bites we can get in a week. We don’t hold soul count as an important thing in our clan. We are about Family. “A lot of clans say that, but we truly mean it. I know every single one of my members and speak to most of them on a regular basis. We make time for each other and we are always there to support one another. Above all, we are a Family. I know Bloodlines has a really bad reputation in SL because of all the “spampires” that just go crazy trying to bite everyone they see. We are not all like that. “Vampires come from every walk of life. Vampires are builders, creators, teachers, musicians and even parents and children. Please don’t judge us by a handful of avatars you may have come across that you dislike. Some of us are really great people.” For more information about the Vampires de Lioncourt clan, contact Violet Steamweaver or Treyton Kiranov. She invites SLers to visit them at http://slurl.com /secondlife/Moonstone%20Bay/98/106/22.

August 18, 2009 The Metaverse Messenger Page 15

LINE due to changes Linden Lab made to the Terms of Service. Any individual who had experienced one of those events could state quite loudly that a Real disaster had befallen them. I would totally agree with them. The impact to their personal lives, be it emotional, financial, or merely stressful, was extreme enough to qualify as a disaster. More importantly, that impact was extremely negative, with consequences they could well deal with for the rest of their lives. The fact that there is the potential for Real disaster out there is one reason why I now stress to people that Second Life is not necessarily a safe place. That is not to say it is unsafe. In Reality, nothing is ever truly safe, as any look at the nightly news will tell you. Second Life is no different. Logging in has the same danger that getting out of bed does every morning. The risk just takes a different form then the risks we face in the Real world. The only saving grace is the fact that large scale disasters would be much harder to inflict on The Grid. That does not make the smaller disasters any less painful for those who have to experience them.

From Page 6 Why should we bother then? If Second Life is just as risky as the Real world, why would we want to take a chance on it? Simply put, because the rewards are just as Real as the dangers. I have seen people have their hearts broken in Second Life, but I have seen loves flourish as well. While business failures in The Grid may be common, successes exist as well. There are Real disasters waiting out there in our un-real virtual world, but there are opportunities Reality cannot offer as well. There are people to meet, ideas to be exposed to, art to experience that cannot be reached otherwise. It is a personal choice, deciding if the risk is worth the reward. Forewarned is forearmed. Just as those who hear, and heed, warnings of an approaching hurricane fair better than those who stubbornly try to “ride out the storm”, you have now been warned of what could await you in Second Life. Use what you have learned, and your own good sense, and you should be fine. But do not forget that nothing is guaranteed. The hurricane could still come. If it does, you can display another of our human traits that translates well to Second Life, the tendency to not give up, and rebuild.

YEARS if there is enough interest. However, I must point out that when people say negative things about the M2, I do listen, even if I don’t always respond. One thing that has been said is that each year the M2 was printed out, there were many copies left in various location. This forced random people to pick up and dispose of leftovers. So this is an issue I will need to address before we can again print a paper copy for the SLCC. One thing that had a significant impact on the M2 was Phoenix’s illness and subsequent departure from the M2. Since then, the M2 has struggled. This is not because Phoenix left behind too much work for me to handle. No, I can complete everything fairly easily. I struggle to produce the M2 because, quite simply, I miss Phoenix. I

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miss having someone to work with while I do pagination. Some might think that the decline of the M2 means that it is going under. If this were a business in First Life, such thinking might be correct. However, since my overhead can be kept low, the M2 can continue. As the economy improves, so will the M2. I have a ton of plans for the future of the M2, and I thank everyone who is a loyal reader of the M2. I also thank the loyal staff writers of the M2, who are currently not receiving any pay for their services. So if you happen to see Katier Reitveld, Norinn Richard (or any of the SOTW team), Sherrie Shepherd, Drake Bacon, Jessika Jenvieve, Mara Svenska or Eddi Haskell, make sure to tell them that they are very appreciated.

PREMIERES

make everyone successful. “Mainly, I run my own initiatives and encourage everyone to join them. No one has an obligation to participate; however, all are given the opportunity. Also, I care about sim performance and explain to everyone how to act to improve it. “If neighborhood shops are successful, your shop will be as well. We have developed a good merchant community here, and I really think we will be successful working together.”

From Page 1 Going forward, Raymaker says, “We want to expand the concept with more full sims and homesteads, some for commercial and some for residential, all of them managed under the same philosophy. “Depending on the project evolution, there will be also a whole sim dedicated to events. His current plan is have special events every two weeks. For more information about On Line Metaverse, contact Kernelbug Raymaker.

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works! To learn more about advertising in the M2, visit www.metaversemessenger.com

Be Virtually Visible!

Community Page 16



The Metaverse Messenger - Dublin (23, 75, 26)

Support for Healing Weekly Meetings:

Sunday 08:00 AM SLT Tong Ren Energy Sharing Hosted by TongRen Writer at Catherine House Peer-to-peer distant healing modality for physical and psychological issues.

Monday 04:00 PM SLT

Depression Support Group Hosted by Industria Dowler at the Meeting Circle

Tuesday 06:00 PM SLT Tong Ren Energy Sharing Hosted by TongRen Writer at the Meeting Circle 07:00 PM SLT Loss for Life Hosted by Jenna Tapioca and Lavendermist McTeague at Catherine House This is a weight loss support group.

August 18, 2009

Hosted by Glenn Oud and Reverie TimTam at Catherine House

Friday 07:00 PM SLT Loss for Life Hosted by Jenna Tapioca and Lavendermist McTeague at the Meeting Circle Monthly Meetings:

Saturday, Jan. 5 11:00 AM SLT GLBT Group Hosted by Industria Dowler at the Meeting Circle Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender issues. PFLAG and heterosexuals welcome!

Saturday, Jan. 19 11:00 AM SLT Fundraising Meeting Hosted by Industria Dowler at Catherine House Come help SFH's fundraising projects come to fruition! Impromptu Meetings:

*Random days 2:00 PM SLT

Thursday



08:00 PM SLT Anxiety Support Circle

Buddhist Listening and Discussion Group Hosted by Jonno Zond at Catherine House Check events or contact Jonno for more info.

For more information, visit

http://slurl.com/secondlife/SupportforHealing/86/221/26

August 18, 2009 The Metaverse Messenger Page 17

Weekly events scheduled at SL Libraries Summer Picnic and Hunt for Treasure! Info Island, Info Island International, Imagination Island 8/16/09 - 9/7/09 http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island%20International/114/234/32 Join the fun! Its summertime and what is better than a good old fashioned picnic in a library? Yes, a library that covers three sims! If that’s not enough to attract your attention, then come over to HUNT for some great prizes. These are prizes for men and women! While you’re here, you can play volleyball! You can stop by and see the Tiny picnic area! In the mood to eat? Visit our Cantina picnic area! Jazz Cat, our cool, blue club is always open! While you’re here check out all of the outstanding displays and collections of interesting stuff! Have a question, ask one of our real, live reference librarians! This is like no library you’ve ever visited! Come on over! The event runs from 8-16-09 through 9-07-09 Alexandrian Free Library: (Caledon, Winterfell, Steelhead, New Toulouse, New Babbage, Amatsu Shima, West of Ireland, Steeltopia, Deadwood & Al Andalus) Library Events for August 19 - 25 2009

Life, do you have a favorite character you have developed? Can you tell a tale that would help us understand who that character is and what motivates them? A growing element of role-playing community in Second Life is involved in “RP Storytelling” — the use of rp to develop or advance plot lines for stories that cross over into written stories, to explore character interactions and relationships for these stories, and in many cases, to act out scenes from stories to be recorded visually. At the heart of a successful RP storytelling project are well developed, engaging characters, and in most cases, what makes a character work is their back-story. And at the core of that back-story there often lies a seminal moment — a key story — that provides essential insights into who the character is, and how they became who and what they are. RP storytellers from throughout Second Life are invited to come to the Falling Anvil to tell a short tale that encompasses a seminal moment from their favorite character’s back-story. Each tale should take no more than ten minutes to present, and will be presented in text form (no voice). If you wish to take part, please contact JJ Drinkwater or Aldo Stern to be included in the lineup of storytellers. While pre-registering is encouraged, drop-ins are still welcome the night of the session and will not be turned away: you’ll just get added on to the end of the list and go in order you sign up

Continuing Exhibits: Caledon Library: From Oxcarts to Gondolas: the travel albums of Isabella Stewart Gardner 2009-06-14 - 2010-01-03 HG Wells Memorial Library, Caledon Wellsian, http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Wellsian/225/236/23 New Toulouse - Louis Armstrong 2009-07-05 - 2009-10-01 Toussaint L’Overture Community Library, New Toulouse http://slurl.com/secondlife/New%20Toulouse/64/87/34 Great Ladies of Cookery: British and American cookbook publishing by Women in the 18th & 19th centuries 2009-07-31 - 2009-10-29 Where: Whitehorn Library, Caledon Victoria City http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Victoria%20City/55/202/23 WOI - Names of Ireland 2009-08-11 - 2009-10-01 Where: West of Ireland Library & Cultural Center, West of Ireland http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/157/29 Events of the Week: WOI- ChivalryBean Ragu with Special SciFi Stories Wednesday, 19 August 2009 7:00pm-8:00pm SLT West of Ireland Library & Cultural Center, West of Ireland http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/157/29 Join ChivalryBean for some fascinating stories from another dimension. Read in voice. WOI- Shandon Loring with Weird Tales & Astonishing Stories of HP Lovecraft Thursday, 20 August 2009 7:00pm-8:00pm SLT West of Ireland Library & Cultural Center, West of Ireland http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/157/29 Influenced by Edgar Allan Poe, and highly regarded by Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft is now appreciated as one of the best horror stylists of the 20th century, although for years he worked in pulp obscurity, only known to a small circle of fans and fellow writers. Lovecraft’s major inspiration and invention was cosmic horror, the idea that life is incomprehensible to human minds and that the universe is fundamentally alien. Those who genuinely reason, like his protagonists, gamble with sanity. Tonight a few specially selected tales of wonder and weird, just for you! Read in voice. Story Session at the Falling Anvil - The Heart of the Tale: key moments from SL role-playing back stories Monday, 24 August, 2009 5:00pm - 8:00pm SLT The Falling Anvil, Caledon Tamrannoch http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Tamrannoch/230/108/22 If you create and tell stories utilizing the tools of role-playing (RP) in Second

WOI – “The Devious Book of Cats” with Caledonia Skytower Monday, 24 August 2009 7:00pm-8:00pm SLT Where: West of Ireland Library & Cultural Center, West of Ireland http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/157/29 Have a cat? Ever wondered about cats? Well, this reading session should be fun for you. Caledonia reads the inside scoop on strategies for leading a fulfilled cat life in excerpts from “THE DEVIOUS BOOK OF CATS” by “Fluffy” and “Bonkers” and ghost written by some weird folk with opposable thumbs that they found. Read in Voice. By Whitman, Biweekly! Tuesday, 25 August, 2009 4:00pm - 5:00pm SLT Caledon Library, Caledon Victoria City http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Victoria%20City/160/117/23 A Discussion led by Dame Kghia Gherardi of the works of Walt Whitman By Whitman, Biweekly! Alternate Tuesdays at 4pm SLT Caledon Library, on the Hub in Victoria City http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Victoria%20City/160/117/23 Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass is one of the works at the foundations of American poetry. Its expansive attempt to capture the spirit and landscape of the 19th century United States has influenced an entire culture’s self-concept, and its rich language continues to inspire readers today as it has for the century and a half of its existence. “By Whitman, Biweekly” will provide an opportunity to look closely at this beloved work. Each time we’ll spend an hour discussing its context and examining the poetry of the 1855 first edition. The series will also give those who love Leaves of Grass, and those who would like to learn more, an opportunity to explore Whitman’s vigorous and heartfelt poetry together. Schedule: August 11 & 25 September 8 & 22 Oct 6 & 20 Nov 3 & 17 Dec 1, 15, & 29 WOI – Aoife Lorefield with tales from “The Green Man” Tuesday, 25 August 2009 7:00pm-8:00pm SLT Where: West of Ireland Library & Cultural Center, West of Ireland http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/157/29 Aoife Lorefield reads stories and poems from the collection The Green Man: Tales from the Mythic Forest, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling. From the Preface: “When we journey deep ‘into the woods’ ... we travel to a place of magic, danger, and personal transformation.” We’ll begin with Charles de Lint’s tale, “Somewhere in My Mind There Is a Painting Box,” and move to Delia Sherman’s “Grand Central Park,” adding a soupcon of poetry here and there as needed for seasoning. Read in voice.

COMMUNITY NOT FOR PROFIT This spot is for you. E-mail [email protected] to learn how you can use it

Page 18 The Metaverse Messenger August 18, 2009

Neo-Realms Fishing Camp Results from the week of April 13

EDDI HASKELL PHOTOGRAPHS COSTA RICA SIMS: Costa Rica Sims www.costaricasims.com/webhome/ is large development of over 50 Sims which replicates the diversity of the Central American country it is named after. . Photographer Eddi Haskell used a golden sunset tone finish, and high contrast settings to get this effect of one of the many detailed buildings. Framing is done though the free Scribus program. Eddi Haskell’s blog can be seen at www.eddihaskell.com

BITES Sitearm then caught me with the flip side of this, “but they can LEAVE faster too, for a better alternative.” She agreed that SL citizens have a more intimate relationship with artists, leading to greater awareness. Sitearm noted, “The artist can read everyone’s comments live or later from the log.” This is great feedback that an artist can use to continue hone their skills for connecting to an audience. Sitearm believes that an artist needs to perform in First Life first, so they can use all of their senses to measure their connection with an audience. This gives the performer poise that helps them recognize this connection in a virtual world too. When asked what her most fun music event has been in SL, Sitearm said it actually happened very recently. She was able to work with Ham Rambler, who is the master producer for an his-

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toric gig, and owner of the Dublin in SL sim and the Blarney Stone pub there. He took the show on the road with Blarney Stone on Tour, at the San Francisco SLCC. To learn more about Sitearm or the Linden Lab Gold Solution Provider, check out her website at http://www.siterma.com (that is not a typo :o). There you will also find a link to learn more about the Linden Lab Gold Solution Provider too at http://work. secondlife.com/getstarted/findpartner/. You can also check out http://www.hamrambler.com to learn more about Ham Rambler, worldwide pilot, expert promoter and barkeep. Next week, I’ll continue my conversation with Sitearm Madonna with a discussion on SL live music on internet radios, as SL Live Radio will have its 250th live musician online by September.

2009-08-11 - EVENT ROD TOURNEY First Place: Callum Finesmith Second Place: SabreWulf Banshee Third Place: Hateinside Blackheart Best Catch: Siddy Kidd

2009-08-12 - EVENT ROD TOURNEY First Place: Hateinside Blackheart Second Place: MyCelestial Wingtips Third Place: Gia Sautereau Best Catch: Devi Nightfire

2009-08-11 - EVENT ROD TOURNEY First Place: Donna Dagostino Second Place: Allissa Demar Third Place: Jal Hinterland Best Catch: Jal Hinterland

2009-08-12 - EVENT ROD TOURNEY First Place: Borg Capalini Second Place: Nikee London Third Place: Gia Sautereau Best Catch: Ryko Carter

2009-08-11 - EVENT ROD TOURNEY First Place: Ryko Carter Second Place: Jal Hinterland Third Place: Lance Lafleur Best Catch: Carol1313 Greenwood

2009-08-12 - EVENT ROD TOURNEY First Place: mikelz Ember Second Place: Lacey Latrell Third Place: Nikee London Best Catch: Buckeye Buscaylet

2009-08-11 - EVENT ROD TOURNEY First Place: katy Harrop Second Place: Donny Spore Third Place: James1971 Silvercloud Best Catch: Clarice Karu

2009-08-12 - EVENT ROD TOURNEY First Place: francois Uba Second Place: mikelz Ember Third Place: SabreWulf Banshee Best Catch: Hateinside Blackheart

2009-08-11 - EVENT ROD TOURNEY First Place: ImThe Best Second Place: RainbowGirl Galaxy Third Place: Hateinside Blackheart Best Catch: akaharley Baron

2009-08-12 - OPEN ROD TOURNEY First Place: Hateinside Blackheart Second Place: KaliCat Kennedy Third Place: Ginger Goldlust Best Catch: Ginger Goldlust

2009-08-11 - EVENT ROD TOURNEY First Place: CarlyAnne Rainbow Second Place: Jaki Sismondi Third Place: Callum Finesmith Best Catch: Myke Philbin

2009-08-12 - EVENT ROD TOURNEY First Place: Mike71 Karas Second Place: Jaki Sismondi Third Place: Suma Sleeper Best Catch: GoldQueen Dezno

2009-08-12 - EVENT ROD TOURNEY First Place: Tazzthespazz1262 Bookmite Second Place: Richie Marenwolf Third Place: Mica Mertel Best Catch: Tazzthespazz1262 Bookmite

2009-08-12 - EVENT ROD TOURNEY First Place: Mica Mertel Second Place: Donny Spore Third Place: Hateinside Blackheart Best Catch: Mica Mertel

TOP 5 2007 TOUR Name KaliCat Kennedy Lacey Latrell Carol1313 Greenwood Jaki Sismondi mikelz Ember

Points First Second Third Best Catch 896 91 79 85 49 640 59 60 53 43 639 64 58 51 54 536 51 50 40 24 505 49 43 40 35

Hearts Enchanted (203, 192, 24) Samarai Tokyo (161, 96, 24) Alston (41, 87, 22) For a complete tournament schedule, visit fish.neorealms.com

August 18, 2009 The Metaverse Messenger Page 19

ROTW WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LOCATION IN SL? Our Sim Shekhawati. It is my labor of love to showcase India in a different way. When I first came to SL, I was surprised that there was hardly anything worthwhile about India except a place called Bollywood with a cinema hall and some stuff to sell. Then there was Taste of India, again more like a Bollywood movie set. What was needed was to show something which is off the beaten track and shows a different India. I zeroed in on the Shekhawati Region of Rajasthan in India which has an interesting history and an unusual way of defying the authority. This region lies on the silk route and is dominated by the warrior class and merchant class. It was natural to show something of both. Since most of the invaders to India came through this route, the Warrior class defended, not only their states, but were the first line of defense of India. They were the rulers of this area. The merchant class made money from the trade route and had pots of it. They wanted to build palaces like the rulers; but could not as the rulers did not allow them. So they hit upon the idea of beautifying their huge houses called “Haveli” by getting fresco paintings done on the walls, which in turn started an era of Fresco paintings. Some of the places have paintings as old as 300 to 400 years. I traveled this area for two weeks and photographed some of the prominent places. In the meantime, I read four books on SL and learned building and organizing events on my quarter sim land in Immortalis called India Bazaar. We organized Best Male and Best Female in Indian dress Contest and some Indian festivals. Ultimately we staged a major event, Fashion Designer of the year award 2008, during an important festival of India “Dewali.” We will be repeating the same this year in Shekhawati in October. Immortalis was my learning and experimenting cycle, and Shekhawati is the next stage of that learning. Briefly, we have built an Amphitheater, based on a fort of that area, Palace in the sky, Art Gallery and Museum, shops and residences with frescoes. To have some recreation, we added tennis, horse riding, golf and fishing along with the usual Sploder, raffle etc

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WHAT ONE THING ABOUT SECOND LIFE WOULD YOU CHANGE IF YOU COULD? Crashes. It is annoying right in the middle of some important conversation or building to suddenly crash. However, I do not blame LL entirely, as they are pushing the technology envelop to the edge, and it will have some consequences like this. DO YOU HAVE AN SL PARTNER? IF SO, TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT HIM/HER. I have been married for 40 yrs in RL to a girl with whom I fell in love at the first sight. Thus, 40 years of RL marital bliss weigh much heavier than few moments of virtual pleasure..smile. WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO SEE IN FUTURE SL UPGRADES? Less struggle to do decent sculpties. It would help bring some very exciting things to SL. WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE PERSON (NON-PARTNER) IN SL, AND WHY? There are quite a few. Top of the list is Perdita Lacey. Here is a fighter with her RL medical problems. She has contributed her might in SL by organizing events, building and most of all not losing her cool even with extreme provocation. She helped me in Shekhawati when I was desperately looking for help. My SL guru Fallacy DeCuir guided me in the initial stages of learning and building structures for India Bazaar in Immortalis. Mamie Baxton helped organize our events in Immortalis and now has again come back as Events Manager of Shekhawati. Last, but not the least, my colleagues Cavin McGinnis and niksarojaz Titanium tirelessly worked with me on this sim. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE LINDEN? IF SO, WHO AND WHY? Met only one Linden and who was an intern so I cannot say who my favorite is. However, I must give credit to the originator of SL who dreamed and built this exciting place on the internet.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE THE OUTSIDE WORLD TO KNOW ABOUT SL? Come and Join the party…SMILE… It is the future of PIE OR CHEESE, AND WHY? the Internet. Pie, I have a sweet tooth… smile.

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Second Penguins:

More fur and loathing 2009 By DRAKE BACON M2 columnist Of course, it’s been a full month since Anthrocon. I’ve taken a holiday from writing for a bit too long, so it’s best I get into some updates. The Sager NP2096 I bought has two small bugs I haven’t called about yet. First, it’s got a painfully slow boot cycle, like it wants to check all the memory first before it even touches the screen. Four gigs of RAM, even with a fast processor, may not be entirely touched. Second, this laptop comes with three USB ports on the side, and only two of them work. My mouse is in one of them. Thankfully, since it has an Expresscard slot, I can overcome this problem by simply adding a four-port USB card, which works very well... if the card wasn’t a 36mm thin slot instead of a full 54mm. At least it clicks all the way in without hitting the lip that is on this laptop. Other than those two problems, I’ve been generally happy. Windows 7 RC has been happy with it, as does Gentoo. Both are running 64-bit mode, and all work very well. Except for my 3G dongle, an AT&T USBConnect, aka a Sierra Wireless 881U. I broke it while trying to upgrade the firmware on it, on the Sager, in Windows 7, on that third, broken USB port. It killed the connection while upgrading the firmware and promptly bricked it. Thankfully, I was out of the two-year agreement on it and was able to upgrade to better hardware, the AT&T USBConnect Mercury (aka the Sierra Wireless 885U). It has an integrated micro-SD slot in it, which can hold Portable Apps if needed. Of course, being so-bleeding-edge-I’m-dripping-bloodow-ow-ow, the normal software doesn’t work. I have to install Sierra Wireless’ 3G Watcher program that integrates nicely with Windows 7. That side works. The Linux side, however... is a pain in the tail. Sierra though up the bright idea of putting the data modem part of the 885U on the fifth USB serial device loaded in Linux. So I’m plug-

ging in /dev/ttyUSB4 where I can... except I can’t because not only does version 0.6 of Network Manager not handle modems, but the dial-in manager for KDE 3.5, Kppp, only goes to /dev/ttyUSB3... which while it takes commands, refuses to connect to the 3G network. So I have to hack it in on Gentoo, and get that working. Other flavors of Linux aren’t that good to hack around. I was holding out on a Nvidia ION based netbook from Asus, but had a good artist be impressed by his manager’s purchase of a Dell Mini 9 that he wanted one. So I broke down, nuked my EeePC 900A with Xubuntu, and sent it over to them. In the 900A’s place, I bought a Asus N10J, a 10” diagonal netbook with 2 gigs of ram, 160 gig hard drive, and more importantly... NVidia graphics. Now, this is switchable NVidia graphics. meaning I can boot into old Intel graphics if I need to. That being said, NVidia graphics are much better... and with me not trying to update drivers immediately (letting Windows 7 update ‘em), everything turned out smoothly. Tell that about Xubuntu. Granted, I had to tweak the user interface, and I haven’t gotten to running Powertop on it. I probably need to put in some laptop utility programs to boot. And then there’s the Sierra Wireless 885U... which Network Manager 0.7 picks the wrong USB serial device (/dev/ttyUSB3 above) and I have no way of fixing it other than suggested hacks that don’t work out so well. So I broke down, and bought a CradlePoint PHS300. It’s speeding it’s way from California to Maryland here in the US as I write this, and according to UPS is in Philadelphia now. I heard how good it is from Linux Journal, TWiT’s Leo Laporte, and even New York Times’ David Pogue weighed the pros and cons of it versus the Verizon/Sprint CDMA based MiFi. The thing for me is, I’m not spending an extra $60 US a month for it — I’m using my own card. My new card, which I’ll throw out a WPA-protected “Canmeph-Mobile” access point. Watch me run Second Life through it on the Asus N10J.

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I want to Roleplay.. But don’t know how? use it, but realised it wasn't nearly as important to them. In the end, they boycotted the missions and prevented anyone from getting the production “Roleplay: Verb. To assume the attitudes, rights. actions, and discourse of (another), esp. in a The GM complimented that faction on make-believe situation in an effort to applying one of the best twists to a storyline understand a differing point of view or social interaction; to experiment with or experience (a he'd witnessed. It happened about eight years ago and is memorable to this day. situation or viewpoint) by playing a role. But how does someone get involved? http://dictionary.reference.com/ It’s always good to read all the note cards a That's what the dictionary says, but what sim provides. Sometimes these are lacking, and exactly is involved in roleplay? What makes the owner will say, “It's free form roleplay.” roleplay successful and memorable? How does Free form roleplay is where the owner and one get involved? For someone new to roleplay, these and other GMs of the sim provide little or no background story. They just let the residents develop them. questions will most likely be on the tip of their But residents still need a rich background to tongue. The biggest thing to remember, however, is work their characters off. It is probably best to avoid such sims, as it's that roleplay is just that; playing a role. When creating a character in a roleplay world, it can be hard enough getting into a sim without finding some support from the owner. anything that fits within the roleplay Once the information has been digested, environment. It doesn't have to be a 'typical' character for finding a GM or the sim owner is a good idea. They might have an idea for a character or that world; Nor does it have to be a superhero. A fairly lowly character can be as much fun, suggestions for tweaks to your character. Maybe they need a cleaner. As a cleaner, your maybe even more fun, to play than a super character could eavesdrop and become the hub powered one. of all the gossip. Think cleaner, and it sounds so Maybe create a peasant farmer instead of a mundane, just roleplaying cleaning rooms and noble in a medieval world. How about a timid, more. But add that twist, and suddenly your shy, girl in a dark and grimy post apocalyptic character could become one of the best on the world? You character doesn't need to tow the line; It can be mischievous, rascally, secretive, sneaky. Background stories to your character aren't essential but can add depth. A roleplayer can start with a fairly simple character sheet and just let it evolve and have a fun and successful time. Roleplay isn't just about your character, however. Roleplayers interact with each other and have storylines from game masters to work with. It's no good just 'doing your own thing' without accepting a roleplayer has to interact. Interaction doesn't mean towing the line. Sometimes doing what the Storyteller didn't expect is what makes a story memorable. For example, the Storyteller sets a story in motion with a storyline that benefits your enemy. He expects it to go smoothly, but you sneak in and sabotage something. The end result is that the story goes elsewhere and quite often turns into a memorable event. Such a moment happened in the MMPORPG called Jumpgate. As a MMPORPG, it has some of the best player/GM generated storylines, and one story involved hugely dangerous missions to secure the production rights of a component. This component was much sought after by two of the three factions. The third faction could By KATIER REITVELD Staff writer

Many Roleplay Sims have a range of beautifully constructed buildings including bars and shops. Yet despite presenting ideal character inspiration they often remain unused. - Photos by KATIER REITVELD sim.

Once you have settled on your character, placing it in the sim can be tricky. It's probably best to find the local pub or club and use that as a way to get to know what's going on. Once you have worked out the lay of the land, the world is your oyster and should lead to many hours of enjoyable roleplay.

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The Metaverse Messenger August 18, 2009

Remembering Freja it without keenly missing her. Time has helped to ease the pain over her sudden passing, or Anyone who knew Freja perhaps I have opted to remember learned to expect the unexpected. Freja fully alive. She was joyful Nothing, however, could prepare and genuine. Instead of leading by those who knew and loved here for intimidation or fear, she engenthe news of her passing. We all dered loyalty and respect from wanted it to be some strange RP Free and Bond. She shared with moment, even though the note to me when she had first come to the citizens and bonds of Heimdal Gor there were those who would began with “this is not a joke”. not RP with her because she was Days after, we still really hoped it not yet familiar with all the rules was an RP misunderstanding. The and etiquette of Gor. It was her news spread solemnly but quickly way to open an Instant Messenger that Freja Asp has passed away. box and help teach or resolve an Her son had delivered the news. issue or understanding. Freja was She had been suffering from medthe single best ambassador for Gor ical problems, but few knew how and Torvaldsland. Somehow she serious. Freja rarely seemed down managed to run a successful marand she always had a kind word of ket, sim and still made time to role welcome or encouragement for play. any and all. And she could make us laugh! The finality really hit me fully Freja was an excellent commuwhen I had to share the sad news nicator and often sent notecards to with my Jarl. He was traveling make sure all of her citizens were and not able to visit Second Life apprised, sometimes ranting, PROPER NORDIC SENDOFF during a roleplay event remind Heimdal Bondmaid Mara Sventhat week. “WHAT?” The incredsometimes informing. Freja spoke ska of Freja Asp, who recently passed away. ulous tone in his voice made the Danish, and though her English words stick in my throat, and his shock compounded my own and made me cry for the was excellent and much better than my Danish (which is woefully nonexistent), she first time. As Red Caste, he took great pride in his Homestone. For over a year since could delightfully butcher an English phrase. Wishing I had saved one of those notes, he had collared and brought me to Heimdal, I had watched him leap to the call of duty I was delighted to see that her profile is still available. Take a look to get a sense for at a moment’s notice fighting selflessly alongside the other warriors to defend it. her delicious sense of humor. Reading her “About” statement in her profile, I can’t More than once, he was part of a delegation that went to negotiate or secure Freja’s help but laugh out loud. Her RP limits are still there: “RP limet :will not take off her freedom by force as need be. When I heard the hurt in his voice, I knew for him, and socks.” most of the free of Heimdal, Freja was Heimdal. I am grateful to have had the privilege of knowing Freja. I spoke to several in anIt takes a special person to be completely Gorean and non-conventional at the same ticipation of writing this memorial to mark the closing of Heimdal. Mistress Syleena time. Countess Freja was both. I remember writing a story about a Blue Caste event Sheridan, who served as Heimdal’s Scribe, my Jarl rHOnDO Hunghi, Master of Arms, at Heimdal and noting that then High Jarl Ries Kurka and Countess Freja were in at- and Jarl TC Demina, who was also helped to craft the sim into Heimdal. I was touched tendance. My editor, Dear Darling, was quick to point out that ‘Countess’ was not a by how each of them was moved by their relationship with Freja too. Gorean term. These are pictures I took during a role playing event, after Freja was kidnapped and Sure enough, but it was her sim, and that’s the way she wanted it. Heimdalians killed Heimdal gave her a proper Nordic sendoff. I mean no irreverence, but I like to understood. The article did not aggravate these sensibilities, the reference in final print think she is pleased to have broken convention yet again, by having had the opportunity read: “High Jarl Ries Kurka and his Free Companion, Freja Asp.” to attend her own funeral. Heimdal is now closed, and is just as well. Wouldn’t be the Memorials were spontaneously left all over Heimdal. I was so moved by the love same without her. She is proof positive you can connect with another person halfway she engendered, not just from the people of Heimdal, but from all over SL Gor. Those across the planet in a meaningful way by the power of your personality—and the wonwho had the privilege of knowing her came to pay homage, and flowers were left all der of Second Life. over the sim. Those closest to her erected a moving memorial too, and I could not visit Freja was one of a kind. Rest in peace, Countess, and thank you. By MARA SVENSKA Staff writer

What is Gor? There are no "female warriors" on Gor. Gor is on the whole an honestly male-dominated realistic world. Indeed, this honesty is one of the things that commends it to romantic, heterosexual, hormonally normal women. Antimenite fantasies, man-hater fantasies, frustrate fantasies, and such, belong elsewhere. There are panther girls, and talunas, on Gor. These are not, however, women warriors. They are unhappy, frustrated, disturbed women half alienated from their sex. They tend to run in dangerous feline packs. Once captured and subdued it is said they make excellent slaves. "Bring me into the collar if you can!" "I am now yours, Master." "Amazons" are for female frustrates, and perhaps male weaklings, or masochists. Ms. Conan does not belong in the Gorean world. Let her pump her iron elsewhere. In the Gorean world such a character would seem out of place, and silly. The Gorean movies, of course, in their shameless pandering to PC, had recourse to such unGorean absurdities. -- John Norman, Author of the Gor series