Chey's Travels: Barbee

Written 23 January, 2011

Chey's Travels

Barbee

Here's another interesting place I visited-- Barbee.

Barbee is at heart a simple sim. The theme; Put up a lot of buildings with garden spots here and there and fill them with glowy plants.

Still, it works, and the photo opportunities are marvelous.

I really like the way the black-and-white motif makes colors pop.

Lots of photo ops here, folks. I really like the element of tension created by the giraffe...

... but there are plenty of other stunning spots.

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Chey's Travels: Roche

Written 23 January, 2011

Chey's Travels

Roche

I've been bopping around the grid a bit lately and thought my few but loyal readers might appreciate a bit of exposition.

Of all the places I've visited recently, Roche is my favorite. It's a simple ruralscape, but done with great skill.

The owner is ddsm2 Mathy, a name that seems to give more of a hint about lifestyle than nationality, but even though the content isn't specifically Asian, the sim has that serene Japanese feel. Maybe the name of the bakery-- Misaki-- gave me a clue.

Disaffected Shopgirl

The ground textures are deliberately unattractive, but wonderfully done, giving a desolate seaside air to the ramshackle little town.

The only out-of-character element is the sim's single sign, which advertises free bicycle rides-- on full bright.

Paths are wonderfully contoured to the landscape.

I love this subtle drainage feature.

Aah, sheep!

Let's get a better look...

Uh-oh. Better get in touch with the Empress &  Heirophant folks and tell them I've found their missing livestock.

Ah, inhabitants!

I think I'll walk around to the front of the trailer and say hi. Oops! Nope, better not. Those hats and expressions make them look like spree killers.

I found the bakery stunning. The level of detail was impressive.

I went back this morning with Sweetie. She took this wonderful photo:

It makes me feel like a shit for pushing her off the edge of the cliff.

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Sweetie Hates It When I Do That

Whimsy's New Rail Texture.

Standard Rail Texture for Kitto Flora's Trains

Written 23 January, 2010

Sweetie Hates It When I Do That

For some reason I cannot understand, Sweetie is forever accusing me of shrinking her.

True, my real-life training and occupation has long been applied behavior analysis-- the modification of human behavior-- but I would never EVER use my superpowers to manipulate her.

Well, hardly ever.

Sometimes I can't help myself.

For a long time now I've been working on new textures for the train line here at Whimsy. I purchased a great set of textures from Starship Jefferson and was able to apply them to make straight track, but curves-- specifically, the texture that goes on the top of the curved track-- has eluded me. Starship's set has nothing even close.

I tried to modify Starship's track with GIMP, but just couldn't seem to make it happen.

I even read Chapter 2 in the manual.

I went so far as to fabricate a section of curved track with prims, laying down the bed and placing rail and ties and even putting in the spikes. It looked great (and should have at 255 prims), but taking a snapshot, saving it to disk, cropping the result, and then importing it just resulted in a  fuzzy texture.

This evening I was telling Sweetie of my difficulties; she said that while she admired my nerdishness in wasting all those prims, my explanations were making her head hurt. So I sent her a few texture files JUST so she could see what I was doing.

I had NO IDEA she would spend the next three hours making the texture I needed. Really. I just wanted her to get an idea of how things stood. I had NO CLUE sending those files would get her brain ticking and send her off to GIMPworld until way past midnight.

Despite what Sweetie says, I wasn't shrinking her. I was just... sharing.

Sweetie Somehow Made a Texture for the Curves...
But Not Because I Was Shrinking Her!

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Cutting the Budget

This utterly ridiculous post was inspired by the Lindens' unfortunate decision to rescind land discounts for nonprofits and schools.

If John Boehner Didn't Dye His Eyebrows...

Written 21 January, 2010

Cutting the Budget

Neelix: Neelix Nesslerode here.

Sleezy: And I'm Sleezy Spinoza.

Neelix: Tonight in a special report we update you on actions taken by right-wing Lindens--

Sleezy: And especially the Teabaggers from the Zindra continent--

Neelix: to reform--

Sleezy: And by reform, Neelix means delegitimize and destabilize--

Neelix: -- this virtual world.

Sleezy: We'll be back after the break... Can you believe this idiot, Neelix?

Neelix: And to think I voted for him! And we're back.

Sleezy: Today at a press conference, RepubiLinden spokesavatar JohnBOner Linden announced the elimination for all funding for Second Life arts, health, education, and social programs and a restructuring of the Linden dollar. Take it away, Neelix!

Neelix: The efforts to downsize education were begun in a shocking surprise move several months ago when the Lindens rescinded special pricing for nonprofit corporations, schools, and universities. Before, 501(c)(3) status made these organizations eligible for 50% discounts on sim down payments and tier. When asked about this policy, BOner had this to say:

JohnBOner Linden (on screen):  Educating people teaches them to think and makes them more likely to be Communist leftist baby-eaters. There's no reason schools and nonprofits shouldn't compete against huge multinationals and their buildings full of lawyers, overpaid executives, and secret assassins. Besides, it's been proven that helping people makes them dependent on handouts and corrupts their character.

Sleezy: BOner then shocked the press corps by calling for the immediate end of the weekly stipends for paid Second Life subscribers.

JonBOner Linden (on screen): Research shows that if you give people a handout, they're less likely to go out and get a job. I'm not alone in asking, "Where are the store greeters? Where are the sex workers? Where are the models?" They're sitting at home with a government subsidy instead of stimulating the economy by making $1L an hour. It's not as if the people on stipends are paying for them. I say let's end the dependence on this social welfare program and let the private sector take care of these peoples' needs.

Neelix: BOner refused to acknowledge that residents who receive the stipend DO in fact pay for it in the form of monthly charges to the Lindens for premium membership. Just look at this footage:

Sleezy (on screen): Mr. Linden, don't people get the stipends only if they pay the Lindens a monthly fee?

JohnBOner Linden (on screen): Of course they don't pay for it-- and I'm going to make sure there's a ministry of Doublespeak, Thoughtcrime, Re-Education, and Truth that makes sure they think they don't pay for it. The only way we're going to find strength is through ignorance. We'll find our freedom only in slavery.

Neelix: This is scary stuff, Sleezy.

Sleezy: You betcha, Neelix. BOner went on to propose taxes on Second Life's audio, video, and voice and IM channels.

JohnBOner Linden (on screen): Why should the virtual airwaves be free when they could be given away or sold for a few Lindens to huge communication companies that would tax both broadcasters and listeners at every opportunity? Why should speech be free? We're thinking of instituting a typing tax, also. It will be reasonable, of course-- perhaps ten Lindens for every one hundred keystrokes. It will be much like the $10L upload fee we managed to get in place some years ago. You type a hundred words, you stop and pay. You type a hundred more, you pay again. I've detailed it all in my comprehensive 10-page plan.

Neelix: We'd soon be broke, Sleezy.

Sleezy: BOner proposed taxes on both sellers and buyers in Second Life Marketplace transactions, prompt action on JIRAs in exchange for campaign contributions, fees to access or post in the Forums, and the layoff of all Lindens in the support department.

JohnBOner Linden (on screen): The Concierge line will be repurposed as a conservative-only donation line and support tickets will be limited to effusive praise for our actions.

Sleezy: BOner announced more cost-saving measures, including the cancellation of all groups not related to conservative causes or repressed sexuality.

JohnBOner Linden (on screen): Most people mute their groups anyway. What's the big deal?

Neelix: I mute mine.

Sleezy: Most controversially, BOner wants to decimalize the Linden dollar, cutting each Linden into one hundred centiLindens. This effectively reduces the de facto Second Life minimum wage by a factor of 100.

JohnBOner Linden (on screen): The inability of Second Life employers to pay less than $1L per hour cripples the Second Life economic system. Now newbies can earn as little as .01 Linden per hour. This will stimulate the economy, creating new jobs, and improve their morale. We must end these socialist wage supports. The market can take care of itself!

Neelix: BOner promises that money saved by employers will trickle down to residents.

Sleezy: Trickle down? That sounds familiar...

Neelix: I'm still waiting for some of that Reagan money to trickle down, Sleezy.

Sleezy: You know it, Neelix. BOner announced planned new features in Viewer 2.5 to track the activities and communications of residents and promised a future in which Second Lifers will have numbers rather than names.

JohnBOner Linden (on screen): Visionary-- that's doublespeak for San Francisco latte-drinking utopia-lover-- Philip Linden never imagined-- not in his wildest dreams-- how easily his dream world could be subverted for private gain and oppression of the larger population. He little realized that every avatar's unique identifier would one day be used to market them, spy upon them, and manipulate, control, and demean them.

Sleezy: BOner praised the implementation of  Second Life's new Display Names and called it the next step in controlling the Second Life populace.

JohnBOner Linden (on screen): Names indicate individuality, and that's not a good thing unless you're wealthy enough to copyright yourself. By giving the last name Resident to all new citizens, we have effectively done away with last names. First names will follow. And Display Names? A diversion. They'll be depreciated in Viewer 2.6. Did I mention we're going to privatize the Linden roads and railways and, in exchange for a one-time payment of $50 U.S., lease the teleportation system to the Royal Online Sheikdom of Dubai? We'll no longer be hindered by infrastructure costs.

Sleezy: I would have paid more than that....

Neelix: Not included in Boner's list of items to be cut were subsidies for big business.

JohnBOner Linden (on screen): What motivation do our most productive citizens have if they're not financially rewarded? We need to subsidize our big-name sellers and hype artists-- the creative types who have branded the content of this world. They toil endlessly and then have to give $1L an hour to no-talent workers. How can merchants contribute to my campaign if we don't give them the money to do it? I am, of course, influenced in no way by those donations. In no way. Nope, not a bit.

Sleezy: BOner justified planned increases on policing and military spending as well, claiming Second Life needs a strong police presence to quell resident unrest and a large and well-supplied military to defend its borders.

JohnBOner Linden (on screen): We never know when Blue Mars might attack. Face it, in every science fiction story ever written, Mars attacks. The price of freedom is eternal virtual vigilance! We will find our peace only through war!

Neelix: BOner even suggested invasions of Blue Mars and the OS Grid are in the planning stage.

JohnBOner Linden (on screen): Blue Mars thinks it can deter us by depreciating its PC version and hiding on hand-held portable devices. Fat chance. We will never give up-- never!--until James Wagner Au is safely back in Second Life with his virtual DNA restored. And the OS Grid-- who knows what virtual terrorists are hiding out in their virtual mountains. We'll soon be deploying scripted grid-crossing drones to track down and kill rogue avatars. We know from machinima sent to our offices that Au is still alive. A special ops team is already on its way to apprehend and return Au. Wait! I wasn't supposed to say that! Nevermind!

Sleezy: Although BOner would neither confirm nor deny it, rumors are that Second Life megasellers and his financial supporters will be given special exemptions from all fees, up to and including region purchasing and tier costs. New fees and taxes will be levied on ordinary residents to fund vital military and merchandising initiatives.

JohnBOner Linden (on screen): I have no comment on that.

Neelix: BOner promises to insert one or more of his spending cuts in every Linden blogpost.

Sleezy: Do you read those things? The Linden blogs?

Neelix: Me? Never!

Sleezy: The overall package will be known as the Spending, Education, Health and Social Program Fast! Easy!Fun! Act.

Neelix: After the break, we'll have JohnBOner Linden with us live to answer questions from callers. Back in sixty seconds.

Sleezy (in a stage whisper): You guys have BOner out of makeup? No? Why not? Oh... I see... the crying... and the skin tone.. yeah. Get him to turn those tear particles off and get him out here. We're about to go live.

Neelix: Welcome, Mr. Linden.

JohnBOner. Thank you, Neelix, Sleezy. I'm happy to be here to show my concern for working class Second Life residents.

Sleezy: Our first call is from Cheyenne Palisades.

Cheyenne: Hey, John, why are you orange?

JohnBONer: Next caller.

Dakota Burns: Hey, jerkwad, why are you orange? WHY ARE YOU FUCKING ORANGE? You look like a fucking oompa-loompa, okay?

JohnBOner: Next caller, please.

Neelix: Yeah, that Burns woman is known to be an out-of-control alt of Ms. Palisades. Here's a woman named Sweetie on Line 2.

Sweetie: Good evening, Mr. Linden.

JohnBoner: Ah, at last a constituent!

Sweetie: I appreciate the difficulty of your situation.

JohnBOner: Oh, thank you.

Sweetie: I understand your many problems, and empathize.I know you have in mind only the protection of the super rich and privileged and utter disdain for the downtrodden and unfortunate and out-of-work.

JohnBoner. Exactly. thank you for understanding.

Sweetie: I know your unhealthy skin color comes from too much time spent on tanning beds and your overtanning is a defense against your feelings of inadequacy.

JohnBOner. Yes, thanks. Uh-- wait a minute...

Sweetie: I appreciate the patriotism shown by your frequent on-camera tears in gratitude for the chance to harm so very many people in favor of the very few.

JohnBOner: Yes! Exactly!.

Sweetie: I know your self-righteousness is armor against your sexual inadequacy and many perversions.

JohnBOner: Can we go to commercial, please?

Sweetie: You were bullied when you were small, weren't you?

JohnBOner: Yes. That bastard Bitch McConnell picked on me all the time! Can we edit out that last line, please? If he hears that he'll beat the shit out of me again.

Sweetie: So I feel for you, Mr. Linden. I sympathize.

JohnBOner: You do?

Sweetie: Of course. May I suggest you immediately check yourself into our robot sanatorium for a brain transplant?

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I've Gone Nowhere

21 January, 2010

I know I've gone longer than usual without posting, but I've gone nowhere. I'm co-writing a 30,000-word chapter for a textbook, and, because my writing partner is prepping for his dissertation defense, the first draft is all up to me. I've been writing 6-8 hours a day and by the time I've finished there aren't many words left for a blog. But outrageous behavior by Republicans has compelled me to stop before I exhaust my daily quota of words and do the post that will follow.

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Sim Corner Inspection

Written 6 January, 2011

Sim Corner Inspection

Last night I got a message from one of my few renters. He was showing more prims than he could account for, enough to put him close to his limit. It was driving him nuts.

I asked him to wait a minute and flew to the 0,0 corner of Whimsy, at 0 meters altitude. I cammed below the surface, and sure enough, there was one of his hairdos, 57 prims, and a four-prim bubble emitter owned by his partner. I returned both items.

Since it had been more than a month since I checked the sim corners, I flew to Whimsy Kaboom. There I found one of my own hairdos. At the corner of Whimcentricity I found a lost Christmas tree owning by another renter. I returned it.

I figured I might as well check Eccentricity, Leaf Shermer's sim, to see what she might have misplaced.

(The first time Leaf and I met, more than four years ago, was when one of my prims wound up at the corner of her property on Dreamland's Forsaken sim).

I checked; there were no objects, but I found-- well, see the photo! She told me it was okay to print it.

You know when you sit on a prim and wind up in the blue zone? That strange area?

In some cases, you're below the sim boundary, at 0,0. Leaf was on a poseball. In her view she was elsewhere, but to me, there she was. Her poseball partner was, happily, nowhere in sight.

If you're running out of prims or just want a cheap thrill, check that sim corner!

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Meltoff

Whimsy is Now Back to Normal

Written 2 January, 2011

Meltoff

Under the merciless rays of the Linden sun, the snow on Whimsy began to melt.

Too quickly.

Soon it was all gone.

We weren't overly concerned when the waters began to rise. It was just from the meltoff, we told ourselves.

But they kept rising.

And rising.

Soon the first floor of Melissa's house was underwater.

The little Japanese house on the lagoon was submerged.

Chey had taken refuge in Mr. Tiki. It looked bad...

Bob was barely able to keep his beak above water.

 Finally, the flood peaked. Just one more meter would have spelled disaster for the train...

The waters rapidly receded. Whimsy is back to normal, or, rather, as normal as Whimsy ever gets!

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