Avatars United Shutting Down-I don't "get it!"

I just don't "get it"! Linden Labs acquired Avatars United, the avatar social network, this past January. Many avatars signed up, use it regularly for social greetings and advertisement, and now I hear they are shutting down! Just when I had established over 1,000 SL avatar contacts for myself? Nooooooo. I have actually made several good SL inworld connections due to AU. AU is similar in nature to Facebook or MySpace, but is for avatars, primarily SL avs. Surprisingly I found myself checking in there almost daily to see what friends where up to, check personal or general messages, look at new pics and to find cool things to do or visit in SL. I actually really enjoyed it a lot, but I've heard some call it a self promotional ploy. Call it what you will, but thousands of people were using it regularly -and now this. Straight from LL: Here. So what now? After all this time and effort uplaoding pics, finding friends and establishing many new contact, they are telling us what? They are taking it down and we will have to start all over with something new and different inside SL? Wwwwhhhhyyyyy? I read the info. I don't really "get it!" Check mine out here if you like: Kara'sAUHere. The closing date is set for September 29, 2010.... Farewell Avatars United.

BOSL 2010 Fashion Week Sept 18-25

Where but Second Life can just about anyone afford, fit, or even make the most fashionable clothes ever imagined? Granted we can’t all make the impressive designs showcased this week, but the designers have gone all out this year for an impressive showing. The Best of Second Life Fashion week is well under way with the Kickoff Saturday September 18th at Milky House showcasing gorgeous Japanese Kimonos in a quaint Japanese setting located in Insilico. The shows run daily now through Saturday Septembur the 25th at 10 am SLT which will be a tribute to Yves Saint Laurent in the Renaissance Galleria.

Sunday the 19th provided attendees at the Chateau Versaile with an eye feast of Haute Couture collections featuring gowns from some of the best designers in SL as the models glided down a corded off strip surrounded by onlookers. Of course I tp'd in right on top of the models as usual. I have to question why that always happens to me and wonder if my subconscious self wants to model these cool clothes or something. Monday provided attendees a look at the urban collection for the streets of Second Life exhibited at Couture Boulevard.


Tuesday I was in for a treat as the show was right up my alley presenting Mea Culpa Fantasy Couture in a glamorous setting at the Mexico Distrito. Spectators sat in the floral and grassy knoll or in rustic wooden bench seating amongst greenery and flying Akasha. VIPS including Brett Linden stood across the water in elaborate building doorways and window balconies. Models emerged from a magical veil of greenery that gave the appearance of walking downhill from a forest pathway to the stairs that led to the runway surrounded by water, waterfalls, mystical lights and magical surroundings. The musical selections added a dramatic touch with fitting songs like Mea Culpa, and a ET remix giving the whole event an almost surreal feel that was fitting for the exotic outfits the models displayed. The Mea Culpa designs provided attendees a pallet of unique and beautiful outfits that ranged from mermaid style all the way to the almost demonic. Even Frolic Mills participated in this event.

Wednesday the 22d provided a look at the Vintage Collection in all the splendor of the 20s at the impressive Patch Thibald Auditorium. It’s always fun to see the audience get in the spirit, many of which showed up in vintage designs themselves.


Thursday was The American Graffiti show at 4pm SLT. I also really enjoyed this show and dancing 50's sock hop style afterward with the models. The guys and gals showed off, some of them skating in, retro clothes such at poodle skirts, saddle shoes and bobbie socks, leather jackets, cool shades and various other styles and fun hair from the 50's look all set in a cafe/soda shop with drive in setting.

There is still plenty to look forward to as Friday will be the Black and White new collection at Couture Blvd. Saturday September 25th at 10 am SLT will wrap up the week with the Tribute to Yves Saint Laurent. The date and time change was done so that many more people can enjoy it and also so that Metaverse TV can film it. This promises to be a show not to be missed presenting 25 brand new Yves Saint Laurent inspired couture dresses that will take your breath away by the 3 time winner, Miss Nish Mip. There will be engineered lighting and Soleil will perform live. Honestly it will be hard to top the other shows but knowing BOSL it can be done and I know I for one don’t want to miss it. http://slurl.com/secondlife/The%20Renaissance%20Galleria/206/84/1009
Stages were built by Architects Patch Thibaud, Mr. Mike Denneny and Miss Nardya Rousselot.

A Few Fun Things

Some links not SL related but shared by SL friends. Check these out for fun if you get bored. Be forwarned the second one is not PG and if you can't stand the "F" word please don't watch it.
1stOneHere One of the early SL machinima I found that cracked me up good.
2ndOneHere. The more I watch this one the more I think it should be my new theme song for a few "things". But, in the end... it's all good. I enjoy RL and SL a LOT and, don't hold grudges and want to have fun with everyone... just saying.... sometimes you just gotta think it though once in a while. And if you think I'm talking about you I'm probabaly not.. it's just in general some stuff.
3rdOneHere. This one is fun to play with and almost like magic at first : ) Enjoy.

Ok that is 3 for now. If you find any other really good funny ones please let me know. Thanks : )

Phaylen Fairchild and Divas Machinima

One of my all time favorite machinima. Phaylen Fairchild has this series "Divas" and she just recently released the 3rd episode that can be viewed on her Youtube or Vimeo.. check out her Youtube here: PhaylenYoutubehere. Phaylen is well known in Second Life for her cute machinima and the Diva series is done in WOW with her SL avatar. This one happens to be my fav and I just wanted to pull it here and share. She has many many other great machinima and so far 3 Divas episodes.

A Crooked House? My SL House Hunt: New Houses, Haunted Houses, Crooked Houses, and Frank Lloyd Wright Houses

Recently I moved to a new location in SL and was having a very hard time getting motivated making it feel like home. My heart was not in it so I decided treating myself to a new house might help. Having numerous houses in my inventory already, I thought I'd try to find a higher quality dwelling this time. I was getting a little tired of having my furniture items sometimes looking like they were disappearing outside through my walls, trees suddenly appearing inside, curtains going transparent, crooked walls, perspectives being "off" (think giant size doors, counters or bathtubs), or like in my last rental the doors kept flying open and shut as though possessed.

Thanks to my RL/SL sis Piper, I found a cute land parcel to buy, and off I went with my good exploring buddy Cafi in search of a "quality" home. Keep in mind I have been on this hunt several times before. Several hours later and with about 20 new demos and more than 50 home views later a friend suggested I check out the homes and furniture by Pamela Galli. The second I landed in La Galleria I knew I had found a home. Other friends had suggested "The Loft" (nice, but way to big), contracting for a build, and various other home sales landmarks, but this is the only place that even came close to fitting my bill. Granted everyone has different needs and desires in a home which I understand and although I was not looking for a specific style necessarily, I really was after quality. La Galleria homes are mostly cottaged style ranging from what I would call "large" to "too large for me" in size, although are modifiable and with parts that detach as well. I think in the end I chose the smallest of the offerings and still it is a bit large for a single inhabitant on a small lot. The one I chose is very homey with gorgeous hardwood flooring, crown molding and style throughout. I did detach the pool in lieu of yard space I want and I left out some of the many extras that came with it, such as ceiling fans, some shutters and extra curtains, etc., to save on prim. The houses are a bit primmy for me, but mine checks in under 200 prim that is well worth it to me as it is full of class and style and has a lot to offer for the value, plus no weird disappearing walls, strange doors or other oddities. In other words I love it.

La Galleria also offers a wide range of home, kitchen, dining, living rooms, bedrooms, curtains, rugs, outdoor, vases and lamps, garden center and office/study furnishings, some of which come with a discount when a home is purchased. The furniture is classy with some very impressive features such as the dining tables that offer full course meals with food choice options. It's like magic to me. Visit just for fun or to add some style to your home. Check it out at a direct link here: LaGalleriaHere.


Speaking of homes, I'll add a direct link here to one of my favorite SL haunted houses. I visited this same build last Halloween and was happy to see it again this year. Be sure to see all the interactive cool things upstairs too where you will find a "trapdoor", giant spider, creepy kids room and it's loaded with much to see and do. Direct link enjoy here: HauntedHouseHere.

My friend Divi got into the house hunt spirit with me as well and gave me a tour of an interesting build called "Crooked House" at xyz which is an ever changing stacked cube home filled with magic doors and hatches leading... or rather... misleading visitors up, down, and all around until you are more confused than an Escher picture. Be careful not to fall out of the bottom or maybe that was the top. Check it out here: xyzCrookedHouseHere.














Cafi also showed me the Frank Lloyed Wright Museum sim that includes examples of some interesting homes. There are plenty of homes to see and Cafi explained I could visit the RL homes as replicated for us in SL. I noted the Frank Lloyd Wright sim is also holding it's annual Fall FLW inspired build off Sept 24-26 with many events and entry spots in novice to pro divisions. Check it out here: FrankLloydWrightHere.

Oceanwind 1 Year Anniversary Celebration

One of my fav sims. Press release: "Oceanwind's One Year Old Party
This Saturday 18th 10 am to 4 pm SLT
Music to dance by with:
10 to 12:00 Crunch Optera
12 to 1:00 Charity Corleone
2:00 ish to 4 pm Lysana McMillian
Live performance by
1:00 Brett Hansome
Come celebarate our gorgeous sim's one year aniversary and share in the fun!
Dancing on the Crystal Sky Platform,
Gifts for everyone.
And if you havent yet then please come and explore the isand!
Love to see you,
Narina and Windhawk"
OceanwindHere.

More Explores:

IBMExhibitCTreeofTreesHere".
Soror Nishi, very cool explore



WeAreNotInTheWorldHere.
An installation by Dekka Raymaker. When I first visited this very interesting and challenging interactive place I was somewhat confused about the meaning. I later took a note card from out front. I met Apmel Gooson here who has a fantastic blog and he blogged some of our conversation which I found amusing. Plus he has some good pics, check it out here: ApmelHere. You will prob have to scroll down a bit as he moves along very fast: )









CrossworldsGalleryHere. Glyph Graves Art