Winter is Coming to Second Life --Explore In The Snow! Visit Derailed

derailedsnow.jpg, a photo by Kara 2 on Flickr.


Winter is coming to SL!  I am finding some very nice snowy scenes to visit and Derailed is a good example.  Visit here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Crash%20Boat/128/128/31

This sim by Denise Rowlands has a lot of fun pose spots, great scenery for pics, the trains, and a store! She said she is just switching over to winter and it's still being worked on... "It's a work in progress".. .. but really it's already fantastic.   She added a sleigh rezzer, is working on slopes, there are snow mobiles behind the house, unlocked so people can ride them,  and she is going to add a small skate pond, falling snow, a theater in the house, and other things.  But I would never have guessed she is not finished as it's loaded with cool stuff.  Enjoy.

 

Bryn Oh Creates

Visit here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/BaK/128/128/24

If Bryn Oh makes it and Divi and Apmel blog it, then I must go see.  And see I did, obviously much better than Divi did, as when I landed I had on all my bright windlights and was like WHAT? so much white and bare space and nothing like what Divi and Apmel described.  I couldn't find Bryn online so I IM'd Divi and he suggested I check the box and use region windlight.  So typical KT runs in all "not-so-techy" like.  But in the end I totally got it and it's best dark like that with region windlights at ultra with atmospheric shaders and all marked.

Bryn Oh, is such a creative and intelligent artist and even this full sim minimalistic exhibit is captivating.  There is no notecard, which I generally do request and need to comprehend Bryn's stuff, but *meh*, in the end it's enjoyable for what it is.  Divi gave this "all philosophical" explanation or at least his interpretation of "White Balloon". Check it out here: http://dividni.blogspot.com/2013/11/white-balloon-small-experiment.html

What I saw once I had the lights the way I wanted them was a large valley area in the dark with a huge light at one end and at the other an illuminated Bryn figure that when clicked plays music box type music and says in local chat:

"I fell in love one afternoon
 and wrote your name on a white balloon
 I set it free to fly above
and dreamt it was a flying dove"

The Bryn figure is holding that trademark giant fishhook, and looking toward the floating balloon that I could not hold, click, float from, or do anything to other than appreciate.  I progressed toward the next spotlighted area filled with flying birds, then finally to the homing bomb carried by the birds. I took some pics and enjoyed the retro "happy music" as Apel described it. It's like "old time" radio music.  It was nice in the dark.   My mind started to wander in the dark, so I moved on toward the big light and that seemed to be the end of the exploring for the area.  Check out Apmel's review "A Visit to Nothing" here: http://translate.google.com/translate?client=tmpg&hl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fapmel.blogspot.com%2F&langpair=sv|en

Bryn's exhibits always provide me with a fun and interesting time in SL.  She's also so kind and generous.  She has a small collaborative exhibit I'm helping to curate over at The Station that has been very well received and of course is so creative in Bryn style.  We've had a lot of compliments on it.  I was very excited and pleased she agreed to contribute when I asked her if she would be able in a  two week window, with few prim available, in a challenging space to provide something.  She and Sina Souza came up with this very impressive 2 and 3D exhibit  that is in story format.  I've blogged it before and really should be seen to be appreciated, like all Bryn's works.  Visit here:http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Station/149/197/1028  

Second Annual SL Lovecraft Festival Nov 13-17th

        Welcome to The  Second Annual Second Life Lovecraft Festival November 13-17, 2013!

I went in for a sneak peek and took a few pictures.  This should be a very fun festival based on all the strange sights I witnessed. There is much to see and buy. I will post the SLurl when I get the go-ahead for that, but in the mean time let these pics be a little teaser for you.  This should be a fun one!

Ok, here's the link:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Playground/128/128/95

Gladys Knight and The Pips Cross Over Event

The Primier event has come and gone, but I have hopes there may be some follow up appearances!  This event was so much fun, well executed, and super special in that real life celebrities came into SL just for the event, and even talked and answered questions.  That's right, yesterday William Franklin Guest, one of The Pips of Gladys Knight and The Pips, and Lady Dhyana, Dr. Dame Dhyana Zeigler, co-authors of the book, "Midnight Train FROM Georgia" were in SL.  (see here: http://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Train-Georgia-Pips-Journey/dp/0828324697/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1384125882&sr=1-1&keywords=midnight+train+from+georgia )  See also following post for a great deal of information about the event.

My friend Sonicity Fitzroy is first life friends with Lady Dhyana and she put together this event together with her partner Belinda Barnes and Lowe Runo all of SoNice Productions, RingMyBel Productions, and Lowe Runo Productions.  On a personal note I was privileged to helped a little bit behind the scenes and got to be in Skype conversations with the guests of honor.  I was very impressed with their friendly, gracious and enthusiastic engagement with those of us in Skype regarding the production.  William was very congenial and they both very much enjoyed their avatars made for them by Sonicity and Belinda.  Soni and Bel also made the avatars for the tribute show following the talk by William and Lady Dhyana, that included Gladys and the Pips as seen in some of my photos.  I think they did an exceptional job making the avatars look like the actual people.  Lady Dhyana and Willam used the avatars made for them and handled them very well considered they have just been in SL for a couple of days and they have taken over their avatars now,  so maybe they will be around SL again in the future.  The show Pips and Gladys avatars are maintained by the companies presenting the show, but the group/band was set up and run for the tribute concert by Definitive Rock Concerts.  Miles 11thHour DJ'd leading into the event. 

William and Lady Dhyana spoke on voice for about 30 minutes about their experiences with the group giving some family background history, and information about record lables and their travels and experiences.  William's smooth voice and clear story/memory telling led for a exciting, interesting event.   Lady Dhyana's energy, enthusiasm, and personal life involvement seems to tie the whole of the family memories together for the book.  I was privy to a little extra information since I was on Skype with the production group during the event and learned that Lady Dhyana and William had done 3 prior interviews (first life) earlier in the day already Saturday prior to this SL event.  I also learned that they both really enjoyed seeing and being the avatars and felt they were very well made and good likenesses of them.  William obviously is a little older in first life and they commented how much his avatar looked like him and looks like one of their relatives now in first life.  They had some family member gathered around them watching their computers as they gave their SL talk and they were all enjoying Second Life and the crowd, band, and looks of the avatars.  It was also fun to see them enjoying the crowd and dancing in Second Life to the tunes of Gladys Knight and The Pips.

An interesting thought about this presentation is that a first life historical celebrity was present to talk about his history in show business and all the public presence and yesterday was able to see the future in one way media also can present his story to people around the world via an avatar and virtual world.  Can you imagine how that must feel? 

(Lady Dhyana, Belinda Barnes, Sonicity Fitzroy, William Guest, myself, Kara Trapdoor, and Lowe Runo)

Credits: 
This event was produced by SoNice Productions, RingMyBel Productions, & Lowe Runo Productions
with Tribute Concert engineered by Definitive Rock Concerts (DRC).   
Event held at the co-partnered sim, Virlantis (Southern Illinois University & University of Western Australia).
Gladys Knight & The Pips Avatar creations by Belinda Barnes, RingMyBel Productions.
Choreography, Puppetry, Lighting and Dance Floor Animations by Definitive Rock Concerts.

(I even got a nice shot of myself with William, the guest of honor!--A very nice gentleman indeed)

Gladys Knight and The Pips Coming to SL

(More teaser video by Sonicity Fitzroy)


The press release states:

"A Once in a Second Life time event!  
A Pip's Journey, with a special appearance from "Pip" William Guest, live in Second Life. 
Public Event:  Let's welcome RL singer/musician William Guest for the first appearance of a Pip in Second Life!  

All are invited to "A Pip's Journey," featuring Pip William Guest, book author and original pip from Gladys Knight & The Pips. 
Guest was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. 
William Guest, one of the Pips and cousin to Gladys, and his co-author LadyDhyana, will share some comments about their book titled "Midnight Train FROM Georgia:  A Pip's Journey.  Guest's biography is available at all major book outlets; check online at Amazon.com & BarnesandNoble.com.  
Lady Dhyana Ziegler, DCJ (Florida A&M University, Ph.D.) is Professor of Journalism, President and CEO at Z Creators, LLC, and co-author (with William Franklin Guest) of "Midnight Train FROM Georgia" (Branden Books, 2013). Lady Ziegler was knighted as a Dame of Justice in England in 2008.

Time/Location:
Date:  Saturday, November 9, 2013 Noon to 2PM SLT.    
Location:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/UWA%20Virlantis/162/99/2927
Come to the meet and greet, groove to the funk of DJMiles11thHour, followed by a special tribute concert in honor of Pip William Guest.
There will be two stages, one for the DJ, and the other for the Gladys Knight & The Pips Tribute concert. 
Get here early to secure your place.   Autographed photos will be given away during the day of the event. 
Schedule of Events: 
12:00-12:45:  Miles11thHour as DJ  (miles.eleventhauer) (Stage One)
12:45-1:00:    Comments from book authors   (Stage One)
1:00-2:00:      Tribute Band (Stage Two, Performance Stage)

Credits: 
This event is produced by SoNice Productions, RingMyBel Productions, & Lowe Runo Productions
with Tribute Concert engineered by Definitive Rock Concerts (DRC).   
Event held at the co-partnered sim, Virlantis (Southern Illinois University & University of Western Australia).
Gladys Knight & The Pips Avatar creations by Belinda Barnes, RingMyBel Productions.
Choreography, Puppetry, Lighting and Dance Floor Animations by Definitive Rock Concerts.


 Thanks!
Media/Event Contact: 
Coordinators, Sonicity Fitzroy, IM or sonicityfitzroy@yahoo.com
Belinda Barnes, IM"

(Promo photos by Sonicity Fitzroy)

I also heard there will be signed doorprize giveaways! Don't miss out on this RL/SL crossover event!

No Salvation, Dragon Rose Isle, Anniversary Celebration

Visit here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Dragon%20Rose%20Isle/128/128/39

Enigmatic and I ran over to No Salvation, Dragon Rose Island, to explore before their big 5th anniversary event that is scheduled for this Friday evening.  My friend Rogue Braveheart suggested  I have a look again, as he really enjoys the place and they've decorated for the holidays.   I've visited before off and on over time to enjoy the cool build.  They've kept the original huge structure over time, but added many things so it's always fun to explore every corner.  I am very impressed with the rich textures and impressive build.  As you can see from my amateur photos below that are completely untouched, anyone can take some great pictures in this place.  The lights and colors are amazing too.  If you are into this sort of thing you should have a great time at the party.  I made a slide show of pictures in the sim back a few years ago as I thought it was cool then, but so much more has been added I felt compelled to make the above video last night.  Please have a look at it and you can get a little idea how cool it looks.

(Above I asked E to stand in the cool blue window lights so I could take a pic of him and below I caught some of the regulars hanging out dancing)

Gladys Knight and The Pips Come to Second Life

Teaser: William Franklin Guest and Dame Dhyana Ziegler, Ph.D. of "Midnight Train From Georgia: A Pip's Journey (Volume 1)" book are coming to Second Life LIVE!  Get ready folks for yet another SL/RL cross over event brought to us by my friends Sonicity Fitzroy (who is a RL author I've blogged  many times about- so use the search bar here if you want more RL and SL info. about her credentials) and her partner Belinda Barns, along with their company Lowe Runo Productions at the co-partnered sim, Virlantis  (Southern Illinois University & University of Western Australia).  A meet and greet with DJ Miles will begin at 12:00pm SLT, followed by comments by the authors, then a tribute concert engineered by Definitive Rock Concerts (DRC). More information will follow, so keep an eye out for this special event.

For more information about the book see the Amazon link here: http://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Train-From-Georgia-Journey/dp/0828324697/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383503227&sr=8-1&keywords=midnight+train+from+georgia