New World Notes

THE UNCANNY VALLEY EXPO: XELLESSANOVA ZENITH

The first machinima-based Expo submission comes from Xellessanova Zenith:  "You Caught Me at a Bad Time", shot and modeled by the submitter, and edited by Ute Hicks.  It combines Model Pose 26 by Michael Firefly, and "Stand_005" animation by Scarlett Butler (from the AniMe stand animation), with avatar shapes XellDefault and XellContempt by Xellessanova Zenith.  Ms. Zenith included some fascinating background on the uses of avatar expression, and her creative process for the submission-- read that after the break.  Details on submitting your own Expo screenshots and videos here. 

THE UNCANNY VALLEY EXPO: IRIS OPHELIA

The third Expo submission is from Iris Ophelia:  "Material Desire" features Iris posing with Erin Nolan (or rather, Erin's leg.)  Pose created by Iris Ophelia, expression created through Siggy Romulus' Mood HUD.  (Full image here.)  Details on submitting your own Expo screenshots and videos here.

STILL CHEATING, STILL HEARTS BROKEN

From "Your Cheating Heart" 

Someone I'll call "Kaitlyn" was having trouble posting a response to the Comments of "Your Cheating Heart", my 2005 story of a virtually unfaithful man who woke up to find himself naked and his real marriage in deep jeopardy.  The question that drove that entry was: "Do you consider having avatar sex cheating on your spouse if the flame has gone?"  Many SL residents had different opinions-- and after reading it, Kaitlyn (not a resident, for reasons that'll become obvious) had hers. 

So she e-mailed her answer to me, asking if I'd post it for her:

"Hello from the land of outdated computers and broken hearts...

BURNING AGAIN

Burning Life 2006 is imminent, and so's the deadline to enter the drawing to win a piece of the virtual playa to build your wild dreams on.  Jeska Linden has the details-- read and respond by the afternoon of August 18th.  While hoping for your name to get picked, read up on Burning Life '05, for inspiration.

THE UNCANNY VALLEY EXPO: OSPREY THERIAN

The fourth Expo submission is "Osprey is Not Amused", modeled and shot by Osprey Therian using Siggy Romulus' Mood HUD.  Details on submitting your own Expo screenshots and videos here.

TRANSPARENCY IN FASHION

Celebrity Trollop's Second Style Fashionista is a digital cascade of SL fashion and accessory reviews, boasting all manner of delectable wearables for the discerning avatar.  She selects and blogs it up at such a furious clip, I've often wondered how much of the stuff she came across in-world, and how much of it was slipped into her hands by friends and self-promoting designers.  Evidently I wasn't the only one wondering, because Ms. Trollop just posted her ethics of SL fashion reporting:

I've decided that when I feature items here in the future, I will always include a few pieces of information in the interest of full disclosure and transparency to my readers...

Easily more upfront and transparent than most real world fashion editors, one suspects.

LEAVE IT TO TATERU...

... to have the final word on the closing of the official Forums.  Well, the final images, anyway:

From her guest strip for the consistently sharp and witty Plywood comic, created with and for SL residents.  Read it all here.

STILL POLLING

My blog survey, "The most important issue Linden Lab should publicly address at SLCC 06 is...", continues on the right column, middle page, and will run until the beginning of the Convention, this Friday.  So far, "Improvements to the user interface" and "Frequent grid downtimes" are running far ahead, and battling neck and neck.  Scroll down, click in your own opinion, and discuss here.

LOSING KIN

Iris Ophelia

Beginning with a reference to a Mao biography and 1984, SL blogger and Metaverse Messenger contributor Iris Ophelia has concentrated her ire on the apparent banning of Kin Keiko, a leading hair designer:  Rage, Ophelia.  It's arguably overwrought, but Kin's account troubles with Linden Lab have ripped through the SL blogosphere, even inspiring Neil and Nephilaine Protagonist, the husband and wife team who are among the world's most established and respected developers, to close down their anime-themed Nakama island, for a day of protest-- no small step. 

I just contacted and received Linden Lab's side of the matter, while also following up with Iris, to get an update-- read after the break.

THE PENGUIN AND THE ZOOKEEPER

The other night while I was researching at my office in Waterhead, a copper-skinned beauty and a penguin atop a robot exoskeleton dropped by, to tell me of their travels.

"We sailed from the other Western side of the continent," the penguin announced proudly.  His name was Eoin Widget. "Was interesting to see that the waterways are indeed connected."

His companion was called Taina Heart, and she smiled prettily at that. "Was just stretching my sea legs.  I play music during our travels."  (She has a flute, and performed from the deck, while the penguin was at the helm.)

"Yes," Eoin agreed, "the music made it fun."

They stood close together comfortably, and it made me think they were romantic, so I asked them. 

But Taina only laughed.  "We aren't a couple.  Are just friends."

I suspected a prejudice, so I pressed.  (Because what kind of world would it be, if there were no place for love between raven-haired women and penguins on robots?)

"What," I asked her, "you got something against dating penguins?" 

Taina Heart laughed again.  "Yes. They smell ungodly in real life.  I worked at the Bronx Zoo.  I KNOW what I am talking about.  The salt water discharge from their beaks, it's like boogies...but smells like death."  And she coughed at the thought.