New World Notes

Second Life Images Inspired by Our Fight Against COVID-19, Found As I Myself Recovered from the Virus

My RL view as I write this post, and of my "troll" tree

Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting

Before I share my latest round of Second Life photos inspired by the Coronavirus pandemic, I should start with a personal update, after my doctor diagnosed me as likely having the virus: 

I believe that I have recovered from COVID-19. Nearly all my symptoms are gone. The big difference for me is that I feel good, not like something run through a wringer a few times. There is this irony brought about by the lack of Coronavirus tests: When you are sick, you must presume you have it. When you get better, you must presume you did not.

So now I have a cold. Really! Life has a sick sense of humor.  

Now, on to Venicio Armin’s photostream, which is full of beautiful images, mostly lush and gorgeous landscapes. But recently, he did a series of photos in response to the pandemic: 

Cajsa's SL Flickr Pick: Behold the Unbridled Badassery of Razor Cure

Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting

Razor Cure’s photostream is one of the most exciting on Flickr, one Hamlet described as unrelenting badassery a while back. This picture is so cool. Posing his avatar on the pointing finger, it’s exciting and fresh. 

Here’s the thing. Razor Cure’s stream is not a single story, every picture is a new story:

Kimika Ying Creates Second Life Photos Inspired by Tweets & Real Life

Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting

Kimika Ying’s “Curiosity Rover” adds a touch of sarcasm with a photo of the Mars Rover on Explorer Island. It appears she was inspired by a tweet from SarcasticRover, a twitter account that says stuff like:  “Suddenly spending the rest of eternity on a lifeless planet devoid of any human contact while wandering an endless wasteland doesn’t seem so bad." It is one of the pictures in her Pandemic album.

Another Twitter-inspired pic below:

Cajsa's SL Friday Fashion Blog Pick: Gogo's Juicy Bomb

Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting

Juicybomb is among the oldest and most popular Second Life blogs. Gogo is the main blogger, though she shares her blog with her friend Cake. One of the excellent features of her blog is that she does more than list credits. In “Coronavirus and Second Life” she speculates what the effect of coronavirus will be on Second Life. She’s less concerned about the operations of SL, since many staff worked remotely in the first place, but what about the many residents who are laid off to reduce the spread of the virus? She even has a proposed solution. And of course, this comes with her always recognizable photos. Clean, well-lit, and instantly recognizable as Gogo. 

• Exile – Gwen
• Decoy – Renee White Top, Mini Shorts @ the Arcade
• Pink Fuel – Delina (Peach) Skin

Here's Gogo's post on for a new mesh head from LeLutka:

Cajsa's Choices: Anton, Fantastic Second Life Flickr Photographer

Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting

Anton’s photostream is full of life and romance. This picture is so striking, shooting straight into the sunlight. This untitled picture is a great example of the rule of thirds. The horizon begins one-third from the bottom, the tree is one-third from the left. 

Anton’s pictures get a bit more romantic in the next pics.

Cajsa's Choices: Images from My New Flickr Gallery, "Coronavirus in Second Life" -- And Coronavirus Advice from My Doctor in Real Life

Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting

Gwen B completely captures exactly how I now feel in her photo “Covid-19.” I admire her composition, the use of the Rule of Thirds in placing her avatar, the use of the triangle to connect the text and the subject. It’s bold and brilliant. 

If you are interested in how Second Life is capturing coronavirus, I have created a whole gallery of pictures to enjoy, if that’s the right word. (Slideshow above.) I also thought I would share my doctor’s advice since she is an infectious disease specialist who recently diagnosed me as likely having the virus:

• My doctor said there is no approved treatment and that all treatment is oriented to your symptoms. So just use whatever over-the-counter drugs you would use for the symptoms you have. 
• The new one for me was using my albuterol inhaler to ease my breathing. I have it for allergies and didn’t know it would work for chest congestion. It never occurred to me. 
• All the rest is pretty normal: As needed, take acetaminophen, cough syrup with dextromethorphan, cough drops, fluticasone, and sudagest. 
• She also said call 911 if it’s hard to breathe or your temperature is over 103. Guess they don’t want folks just showing at the hospital up willy-nilly.  

Hamlet asked me how seeing these pictures make me feel while I am sick, presumably with COVID. I feel all sorts of things. The TP hoarding images make me laugh, as they seem to mock the ridiculousness of buying 144 rolls of TP, though diarrhea is on the list of possible symptoms. Thankfully not for me, since I didn’t stock up. 

I am touched by the SL photos of social distancing that portray the alienation that comes with staying at home, separating ourselves from the fabric of life. There is this tremendous irony that the most communitarian thing we can do is to isolate ourselves. 

Back to images. What is a pandemic without a rush on toilet paper? SL has its own take on the shopping frenzy as seen in the pictures below:

Cajsa's Choices: Powerful Coronavirus-Themed Second Life Images -- That I Found After My Doctor Said I Myself Likely Have Coronavirus

Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting

Mich Michabo’s “One Can Try” captures the anxiety and uncertainty many of us are feeling in this new world of sheltering in place, staying at home, social distancing, and self-isolation. She created a series about COVID-19. 

It really hit home for me when I discovered I myself have been exposed. It suddenly put this cold that I have been dealing with in a new light. My doctor thinks I am likely to have it, but I won’t get a test as I am not sick enough. Seeing her series made me stop in my tracks. That is what art is about. 

Take a look at Mich’s other photos about experiencing the pandemic:

Cajsa's SL Flickr Artist Pick of the Day: Kimmy Ridley

Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting

Kimmy Ridley’s picture is certainly timely and on point. It was inevitable that COVID-19 would penetrate the art world of Second Life as it has the world of arts in our first lives. This reminds me that with the many postponements and cancellations, the performing arts creatives are hard hit, particularly those who are not the highly-paid household names. Most are paid on contract meaning they do not qualify for unemployment and if their gig is postponed instead of cancelled, they don’t even get the cancellation fee. So keep your creative friends in mind and ask if they need help. I love the reminder to wash your hands. 

More of Kimmy’s sound advice below.

Cajsa's SL Flickr Photographer Choice of the Day: Ashy Chan

Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting

Ashy Chan’s photostream is filled with slice-of-life photos with her and her friends. I like this one. Lately, so many people have taken to turning their photos sideways, more in hopes of being chosen as a group header than because of any aesthetic need. This is how it should be done. I should never have to turn my head to appreciate the photo. Here I can see the outfits, I need not turn my head at all. This is a fun photo, casual outfits and a casual snap. 

There’s more relaxed and charming style below the fold.

Cajsa's SL Choice: Zib Scaggs Combines High Fashion & Avant-Garde Style

Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting

Zib Scaggs is a long-time favorite of mine because she really goes there in styling high fashion and avant-garde looks. “Lorea” illustrates many of the hallmarks of her photos. The outfit is very stylized with outré adornments like the spiky green accessories that are her own creations. She is one of the few creators who credits the other creators’ items in her display photos. There are some who might include a style card if you purchase from them, but she puts the credits right in her Flickr descriptions. 

Coming up, a photo that portrays Der Blaue Reiter as fashion: