Castle Blarney

For those who haven't had enough of St. Patrick's Day, or feel like a trip to see something Irish, one place to go to is Castle Blarney. And yes, the place is home to Second Life's own Blarney Stone. The build is located at O'Hare's Gap in the Wilde sim at (150, 110, 33).

For those who don't know, Castle Blarney, about five miles from the town of Cork Ireland, is a popular tourist destination. People go there to kiss the Blarney Stone. Legend has it whomever kisses the stone will be granted the gift of gab (or be "full of blarney"). A scroll near the stone (and the teleport point to upstairs) states the following from Irish bard Francis Sylvester Mahony:


"Tis there's the stone that whomever kisses
he never misses to become eloquent.
Tis he may clamber to a lady's chamber,
or become o member of Parliament.
A noble spouter he'll sure turn out, or
an out and outer to be let alone.
Don't try to hinder him, or to bewilder him,
for he is a pilgrim of the Blarney Stone."


Getting to the Stone is simple enough. One takes a teleport to the top of the castle, walk over to the stone, and clicking on it to lower one's avatar to bend down and kiss the Stone. If one teleports back down and exits the building on foot, one gets a reminder that a certificate of one kissing the stone is available. One clicks on a sign near the doorway.

The real Blarney Stone besides being a popular tourist attraction is the subject of legends and even modern fiction. Wikipedia mentions one legend of the builder of the castle being involved in a lawsuit appealing to the queen of the fairies for help, and is told to kiss the first stone he sees in the morning. He does, and wins his case. He then takes the stone and makes it part of the parapet of his castle. Another legend holds the Blarney Stone is actually part of the Stone of Scone or Coronation Stone used in the coronation of monarchs in Scotland and later Great Britain. Another was of Queen Elizabeth requesting an oath of loyalty to retain the land, and the castle's owner responded with subtle diplomacy and promises. Elizabeth proclaimed he was giving her "a lot of Blarney."

The ritual of kissing the stone once needed assistance from someone to hold the kisser's legs while he or she lowered himself, as it was possible to fall from the height. A "Sherlock Holmes" radio program had the sleuth investigate a death in which a man fell while trying to kiss the stone. It turned out his boots had been greased and he slipped from the assistant's hands. Today, hand rails and protective bars make kissing the Stone much safer.

For anyone going on a date for two to the castle, there is a nearby village to stroll about in as well as the countryside. Or one can teleport to Dublin and head to the Blarney Stone pub. Whether or not kissing the stone can make one better at talking up to making a casual date to a hot one has yet to be determined.

Special thanks to Jasmine Dawn/Orasine.

Bixyl Shuftan

Skyrim-Inspired Sim and Builder Merceal Smythe

A few months ago, the computer game Skyrim was a big hit. With it's popularity came parody Youtubes and online comic references. It was probably inevitable someone would try to duplicate it in Second Life. And someone has been doing just that.

MistressBubbles Bondar, or just "Bubbles" to her friends, recently came back to Second LIfe after taking a break. After a while, she got the idea of doing a sim based on the world of the Skyrim game. She wasn't alone. She managed to get some talented help from sim builder Merceal Smythe.

After some work, Bubbles invited me over to see what she had. Yours truly hasn't played the game. But it's been in the media so much, the sim was recognizable as the setting. Rustic wooden buildings with a Norse feel to them in a snow covered winter area. "The whole sim is still very much a work in progress," the elven lady told me, "but I figured I'd show off what we have done so far. The castle is Merceal's work. Well most everything here is. My job is to find the materials so he can build (laughter)."

She offered to show me around, and we walked through some scenery, across a bridge and into a fortification structure, "This is one of my fave places so far aside from the castle. We hope to have battle scenarios through here." We walked further, and came to a cabin, "And here's my little cottage (smile). This is the biggest one of the batch. I have two more smaller ones I'm going to make to place around the sim. … I had fun with making a close to period timber frame house. … Still have a few things to fit properly. Like I said we are still building things (chuckle). So there will be snow drifts and more structures and a farm or two. … We will have a small port as well."

Getting to the riverbank, she teleported across and sent me one, "makes it easier untill we have a boat set up to ferry is across." Going to a settlement, she showed me an incomplete marketplace, and a windmill which would later be moved to a farm yet to be set up. She then offered to show me the castle, "it's not finished yet, but it's still really cool. It's pretty close to Dragonsreach, but with enough difference's to be on the safe side. (laughter)"

Going inside, there were still some things yet to be placed such as no throne on the platform yet. There was an upstairs with a good view, "and for sniper archers (big grin)." She thought when finished, the castle would be 300-350 prims, "not bad when you look at the size of the structure."

"The sim is not officially open yet, and we are looking at doing a soft open with personal invites going out to help us 'Beta test' the story lines and systems we are working on. We are starting out as a text base or freeform role-play. But we do also plan to bring on a simple combat meter to help us keep track of stats for full on battles."

Bubbles wanted to make two things clean, one that the sim wasn't really her effort, bringing up Merceal Smythe, "He's the main builder and the one in charge of this project." She also pointed out, "Just remember it's not a Skyrim sim,"it's loosely inspired by Skyrim. (Giggle) We don't want to get into any legal issues with the game's makers."

As it turned out, Merceal was soon available to chat to. He appeared before us, clasping his hands together, "So! yes, I'm the developer and renderer for the sim. the concepts were inspired from several points of interests, but primarily historical and mythical Lore. ... my main sources of inspiration are Viking, Gaelic, and Norse Mythology, as well as their corresponding cultures. What helps is that recent popular game releases, such as Skyrim, are based of like histories and lorries. So the storylines wont be too far off from one another." "And there is a lot of interest out there for a role play world of this kind," Bubbles added, "because of the said popularity of those games."

Merceal went on, "I've tried to make a name for myself in reguards to an understanding and respect in the art of role-play, and understanding of the need of an immersive environment to correlate with it. The problem is Second Life is capable of so much, but due to its... engine and server designs, limits its own potential. So the trick, is creating such worlds and stories in this 3D environment, without the world itself taking up too many resources. A single avatar, if designed improperly, can lag a viewer. Viewers, rely not just on the data being received from the Asset servers, but the performance of the computers themselves. if the Viewer takes up the majority of the systems resources alone, and suddenly has new avatars appearing in and out, it'll overload the RAM and create a lot of problems.. so like i said, the trick is keeping the surrounding environment... simple, yet detailed and immersive. This is from my experience and observations over the course of over four years."

Bubbles commented, "Merceal is a bit of a master at things like prim management and efficient use of textures. He's worked on a number of sims in the past. Most of them Star Wars related I believe." Merceal replied, "So far, I have a vast amount of experience in it. And even when my other associates are offered free building services, they come to me, because I create the worlds the right way. I take pride in my work, and if I'm not happy with something, I wont call it complete, and will even start over. (And) yes, most of my sim projects have revolved around sci-fi roleplay sims, namely, Star Wars and sci-fi RP."

As it turned out however, many of those roleplays were ruined by internal drama, "However, due to the struggles and ill management of that RP community, i can no longer role-play or do deep association with a lot of the ... sim owners, because their interests lie in personal gain, rather than community development and immersive roleplaying. My sims were always top mark, mostly prim, to save on latency. And in addition, individuals from several RP environments came to the sim. During nearly every sim opening, the sim capped on the limit of players that could enter the sim. The last sim we did came out great. And it's pretty popular as far as a Star Wars role-play sim can be at present. I always enjoy seeing individuals enjoy an immersive world. I just wish I had more trade skills in the scripting and mesh field to offer more creations. However, due to my ... real-life conditions, I'm limited on such resources, but I still provide the best i can with what I have."

Bubbles commented, "But Star Wars roleplay is dying for the very reasons Merc mentioned." Merceal agreed, "Yeah... sadly too many people want control, as in, they want to dictate the every action of each individual RP'er, and they don't like losing. The thing about RP, is no one can control the flow. The stories write themselves in the environments they cake place in. The stories are written by the events, not whoever screams 'I own this sim and RP group' the loudest, and throws the most money at it. Sadly, that isn't understood by a lot of sim and group owners. They feel because they front the money, they get to decide everything in such an environment. The most anyone can do is 'guide' the flow of events. But there is no control over human will and spirit." Bubbles added, "It was hard walking away from Star Wars roleplay. But we are looking ahead to a bright new future with this place."

"Where there is one group of people with the desire to create such a world, there is another, with a different personality, and different approach and vision to it all. Its just a matter of knowing the individual, and when they'll be around, if they aren't already. For example this sim. I don't own it. A friend of mine owns it, as I wish all those I associate with to be. However, I place most of the prims, and do the work, and we work together. Bubbles has been a huge help in reguards to research and locating materials needed and necessary for the sims development. The team work and chain of roles has been very beneficial to its development, considering I just started this new sim design yesterday (laughter)."

Bubbles responded to the complements by blushing, "I like to hunt stuff down and find the best deals. It's a lot of fun watching how the tools I find are used and come to life. Besides, I am also learning how to build better along side of everything else. … compare my little cottage to the ones I made a year ago."

Merceal went on, "I just wish it was easier. I don't think people realize how to price what they've made that makes economic sense. … personality characteristics that show signs of greed, but i cant say for sure (grin). I made this sim for free, and when i do need lindens for more projects I charge very little if anything. The other thing is if i have the time and patients for these projects (laughter). Sometimes sim owners who hire me for work tend to want things done yesterday, when I started the project 3 days ago, and I have at least 4-6 months to work on it (laughter). However, I normally complete my projects take normally half the time."

Bubbles noted, "I remember one of our projects that was like that. You were working on it for a week straight, getting a lot done. We projected it would take a month and the client comes up and dumps another three months of work on top of it and asks if it can be done in half the time. (grin)" Merceal responded, "That is the WORST situation I come across. We come in agreement of a verbal contract of how the sim will be built or designed. And suddenly, out of no where, they redesign the whole thing, no warning, and expect me to scrap the whole sim. That is, rather frustrating. Not to mention the projects are normally three times larger, and require more supplies than I posses. I mean, my inventory is HUGE with primarily building supplies, like sculpts, textures, and meshes. sounds, scripts... etc."

Merceal went on, "But I build in all sorts of themes, and make little to no lindens... so when my generosity and flexibility of work is taken advantage of beyond the original concepts, demanding more work and resources from me, and disrespecting me because they decided to be a pain and change things? Just indecent and rude... I've sadly had to drop at least half the projects i've taken on due to things like that. just flat indecency and inconsiderate actions." "It's shocking how often that happens too," Bubbles added.

"Of course, I get a bad rap for doing nothing wrong but the right thing," Merceal commented, "so I can make myself available for another client who is A, more respectful, and B, more deserving and willing to create worlds for RP and living this 3D reality. It's hard to put a price on a way of life, and I try to avoid that (grin).

Of the Skyrim inspired sim, Merceal spoke, "I'm hoping things go well here. I also am crossing my fingers that drama-proned individuals will not repeat unfavorable habits while here (grin). i plan to write broad but fair guidelines and regulations to make this environment enjoyable for all, mainly in the approach of the storyline and sim lore itself." Bubbles nodded, "we are looking to build this place up with the goals of offering a clean, low lag sim that allows the freedom of roleplay without personal agendas to mar the way."

Oh his plans, Merceal stated, "my goal is to lead in project developments that 'enhance' the role-play experience, and do not get in the way and make over all performance degraded by the new addition of aids and features. I wish it was easier to add scripts into the viewer itself as a type of add on feature. But the SL viewer's.... normal performance is far below capable of even achieving it at the moment (grin)."

The talk soon drifted to Bubbles thinking of getting her old friend Aiko Swashbuckler to work on the trees, and we ended up talking some about our days in Woodlin. Eventually, we went our separate ways. And it was goodbye for the moment to this tribute to Skyrim with a promising future.

Bixyl Shuftan

Mystery Science Theater 3000 in SL

Have you wondered where the worst science-fiction B movies you have ever seen went?? I found them! They are in the comfortable theater located at the sim, This Island Earth.

A quote from the land says, “Keeping the world safe from bad B-Movies by keeping them contained." Somehow Squeebee Wakawaka has sequestered them all and they are playing 24/7 for your viewing pleasure. All you have to do is sit and touch the box at the poster to start or catch up if it is in progress. If you want to have an outdoor view and lounge by the pond you will find a screen there too. How he found these films is beyond my comprehension, but there they are. Grab a bag of popcorn or a pizza and settle down.

There are comfortable seats for all and for those who like to snuggle up with a partner there is seating for you too. I sat and watched part of “Fugitive alien” and on another visit, “ Star Force Alien 2." I had to chuckle and then laugh out loud at the films. Hopefully that is what the owner wants, or, my apologies.

I met Mordoc Blackheart and asked if he were involved in the theater. And yes, he is a Saturday night host for the showing of a movie. He told me they had been in this sim for about a year and in another one previously. Most of the films are from MST3K which was on TV from 1988 through 1999 in the USA. Mordoc said they had almost all the films that were shown during that period and also some other interesting science films.

If you want to learn the story behind MST3K check it out at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_Science_Theater_3000, or search it for other informative sites. The building is a copy of the space craft where the MST3K crew spent their time forced to watch these films (Listen to their comments!). There are huge tribute builds of the robots who were part of the crew outside. There appear to be hosts for events each day at one time or another. There is a group for notices about get-togethers for events if you would like to join and keep up on the current offerings.

Have a fun afternoon at the movies. http://slurl.com/secondlife/This%20Island%20Earth/205/153/23

Gemma Cleanslate

Cartoonimals Changes Hands

In January, the Cartoonimals sim, noted for it's virtual critters, amusing gadgets, and other fun items available for purchase, was in danger of closing. In mid-February, I heard the sim had been saved. A buyer had stepped forward and took the place under her wing.

Dropping in to take a look, the place had been changed a bit. Much of the sim was bordered by cliffs and trees, including some picturesque waterfalls, and there was a stretch of beach with crashing waves. And the layout of the attractions and vendors had been rearranged some. But it was still basically the same place, with their critters and whimsical goods still up for sale. Near one waterfall, an elephant stood in the water and hippos were swimming. At the beach, seals were jumping out and back into the water.

While looking around, I noticed a couple people nearby in a building and went over. And there was Duggy Bing, the builder of the cartoonimals and the old owner of the sim, and Ima Flanagan, the new owner of the place. Ima greeted me with a joke, "Hi Bixyl! Lovely avatar you have there. Be careful ... Duggy might make you into a tip jar." After some initial laughter, Duggy Bing told me, "It's Ima's sim now." "I did a bit of rearranging , but not to difficult when you have these great creations to work with. I purchased it , hope to save it. Hate to see this leave SL."

The two were currently working away, Duggy saying, "We're trying to get the stupid messed up vendors to work. The transfer messed things up." "Makes for extra work," Ima told me, then leaned closer to whisper with a grin, "Of course they came back with my name on them. … shhh, don't tell Duggy."

Part of the reason Duggy had sold the sim was he was increasingly busy in real life, "lots of projects." Asking him if there would be any more of his products, he answered he was, "taking a break. It will be a while."

I asked Ima what plans she had other than giving the sim a new look and the vendors straightened out. "There will be a large freebie store," she told me, "not the usual minor items, but many things people need to get started in SL. There will be more stores, but I hope to keep it on this sort of theme. I am not a fan of a sim full of buildings. This is a joy, because these items, play well with landscaping."

I asked them what reactions they heard of the sim up for sale and it's purchase. Ima answered, "One woman dropped by, she gave me an article her friend had written about the sim, and Duggy selling it. She said she didn't want the sim to go. She had a look about and was pleased with the changes. That was good to hear. Loyal fans of sims are sometimes unnerved with changes. She was pleased and was off to tell her friend the sim survived the change."

Duggy Bing was happy at how things turned out, "I'm delighted that Ima Flanagan agreed to take over Cartoonimals sim. She is a longtime freind, and a creator who has built some marvelous environments. She's the perfect person to not only maintain Cartoonimals, but also reinvent it as a whole new experience for SL residents to explore and enjoy." Ima considered it fortunate for her that she was able to get the sim, "I'm the lucky one."

Talking a little more, Ima did have some plans for a social center where people could hang out. After saying goodbye, I looked around a little, and away from the main area saw a small deck next to the beach, animated by waves crashing onto the shore, and the silence interrupted by bird calls.

And so the sim built around Duggy Bing's whimsical creations continues under new management, and with a slightly new look. It should be interesting when Duggy is ready to resume making new goodies once again.

Bixyl Shuftan

Syzygy Communuty Expands and Celebrates

On Feruary 13th, Samantha Glume, the CEO of the Syzygy Communuty, warned Syzygians of a "sim-sized" asteroid headed toward their homeland. At the time, Syzygy was winding up it's winter season and planning for Winterfest. The asteroid was detected from the SGE Space Station and was closely observed as it entered the atmosphere. The asteroid, later determined to have come from the former Cake sim, impacted Syzygy on February 14th.

The impact occurred in the water, and no residents were injured. However, there were rumors of sightings of sea creatures from Alkahest, which were apparently disturbed by the impact. The Cake-asteroid was fractured and altered upon impact. The exact metamorphic process is being studied by Syzygy physician.alchemist Elric Anatine. The asteroid piece, which became pink on impact, had hard outer shells, and gooey centers, similar to fried ice cream. The pink chuckles littered the ice near the impact area. Pipsqueak Fiddlesticks described one specimen as "small and looks sort of cute." She also stated, "It's making imploring 'plock plock' sounds."

The force of the impact caused part of the southeast tectonic plate to rise, creating two new islands. The new islands are named Syzygy Theia and Syzygy Cetus. The new land masses are cooling rapidly and may be safe for exploration with in the next few days.

This was just in time for the Syzygy Winterfest, which was planned for Sunday, February 19. If you like winter activities, this would be a good time to visit. The community is now comprised of nine islands, all open to the public, and currently surrounded by ice and snow. However, at the end of the month, warmer weather is in forecast.

If you plan to visit, a good starting point is the Community Center, located at Syzygy Eos (18, 20, 76). Inside are maps, notecards, and a folder of winter landmarks. You and your friends can play a round of Greedy, Greedy here, too.

Bring your skates, too. The entire area is available for skating. If you would rather go sledding, you can find rezzable sleds at Syzygy Eos (147, 141, 36). While you’re out on the ice, you’ll find a snowball fight area where you can pummel your friends, and Warbugs rezzable fighting planes to fly. You can even rez a helicopter for an aerial tour.

Ice fishing is available, with warm camp fires and some crazy fishing companions. The areas are 7Seas fishing stations, too, so you might catch a great fish. Some of the best spots are the Lighthouse at Syzygy Corvus (26, 195, 21), the Fishing Snowmen area at Syzygy Eos (91, 96, 21), and the very gothic ice fishing hole at Syzygy Nyx (107, 50, 21). While you’re at Nyx, be sure to check out the sack of goodies under the tree. It might just toss you a present.

On Syzygy Calliope (236, 235, 21) you will find a Communications Tower to explore. Step inside and activate the elevator to reach the top. Here you can take a teleporter to the SGE Spaceship,which also has sections that are open for exploration.

If you like a little whimsy with your winter, come to Celtic’s Slice of Heaven on Syzygy Selene (67, 34, 38). Bears and other animals are skating and sledding and enjoying the festivities. But beware of the Badgers!

The winter Greenhouse is one of my favorite places, also located on Syzygy Selene (162, 208, 38). When you approach, you’ll see a herd of reindeer munching hay. A cold wind whistles outside, but inside it’s cozy and warm. The charming greenhouse has pots waiting for the spring thaw and a warm fire.

Syzygy is also home to a Neko tea house, gardens, and shrine. The Neko teahouse is located at Syzygy Selene (37, 110, 21). Walk inside for a serene and calming cup of tea. Cats rule here. Meditation spots are also tucked away throughout this area. If you have time, follow the path for a relaxing and scenic journey. Listen to the birds sing and enjoy the beauty of nature. The view is magnificent at Neko Garden at Syzygy Selene (70, 139, 88). The mountain goats are friendly, too.

No trip is complete without a snack, and you can find a great one at Syzygy Pyxis (205, 179, 21). Here you can enjoy an Asian noodle cart and a sip of sake. Delicious!

If you time your visit right, you might see the Aurora Borealis that appears often on Syzygy. It is especially beautiful from my home, Grey Wolf Retreat, located at Syzygy Corvus (186, 218, 23). Feel free to relax on the deck or take a hike to see elk, wolves, and other wildlife.

These are just a sampling of the things you can do on Syzygy. Many more places are listed on the notecards available at the community center. Winter will remain on Syzygy until end of February. At that time, the ice will thaw and the winter fun will end for this year.

Grey Lupindo

*Editor's Note* For more on the "Cake Asteroid," check the Syzygy Community Blog.

"Game On" at Linden Realms

Don’t you just love running hither and yon.. up and down mountains, rocky ledges .. through toxic waste.. over hill and dale? Not only that, but don’t you love having huge ugly rocks with rumbling noisy gaits chasing after you and tossing you out of the space you are in? "You burned in the outer layers of an expanding star!” I was informed. That was a good one. How about going down a deep mine shafts with falling boulders trying to flatten you to the ground?

If you can’t wait to experience all these creepy events and even more, take yourself off to the Linden Realms to go treasure hunting. Wow! It is an experience you can’t afford to miss. Fortunately when you are crumpled on the ground, you are sent to a resurrection circle where you revive to begin the chase again. The goal is to reach some crystals of various colors and value that can be traded in for Linden dollars. It is really great fun and a hilarious experience.

It works like this. You arrive at the Linden Realms Portal and make your way to one of the entry portals. Walk through, and fall to the ground, groggy. You will be prompted to wait for a hud to load and sometimes it appears, and sometimes not. But I have learned by experience that your gems are being carefully noted and held for you, hud or no hud. The hud will keep track of each colored gem (worth points for exchange for lindens). There was one avatar there that was cashing in 22000 orange crystals to exchange (a little over 2000 lindens!).

You will find the base camp nearby and some information there but will mostly have to figure it all out as you go along your way through the forests and groves and along toxic waste rivers and ponds. Beware! There is danger behind very tree or hiding in the hillside. I recommend that you set “always run” in the world menu and learn to jump.

It is a great way to earn lindens, but requires alert attention at all time in contrast to the old form of camping. In about 4 hours of running and being immolated and resurrected on different occasions I earned about 108L. This is an fun active game within Second Life. Enjoy: http://slurl.com/secondlife/LR%20Portal%20Park1/130/128/25

Gemma Cleanslate

Castaway Cove

In the virtual world of Second Life, lots of clubs seem the same. Contests to draw regulars or new blood, the same DJs or events. Human and furry clubs both have to think of new and innovative ways to make itself stand out, to draw the furry and/or human clubber.

Nydia Tungsten has done that with her new club Castaway Cove. And she did say humans are welcome just like the furry crowd the Nydia aims to draw to her sim. Her main goal is create a common area for the residents or outsiders to come and relax.

The first thing I noticed after I used the landmark Bixyl gave me is that I land on the beach. Not many clubs are located like that. Then I see, "Ooo neat looks like a pirate ship sliced in half." And indeed there are two halves of a pirate ship laying on the beach as if it was in a shipwreck.

Another thing that Nydia brings to my attention is the Psicorp vender that one of her employees Sylnaya Windlow brought to Castaway Cove. Psicorp in the furry world of SL is a big deal for various furry products. Local builders like Fortunas Sands and Lsai Aeon also have shops here at her club.

In addition to the basic dance area I saw many other attractions on Nydia’s sim. For one example the game "Primtionary," which happened to be in an earlier article of the SL Newser but I asked anyway, "Primtionary, what game is that?"

In Nydia’s own words, "Well if you have ever heard of pictionary, it is like that, but instead of drawing the clues you build them with basic prims."

"So if I wanted to build an apple it would be a red sphere with a stem at the top?"

Nydia said yes, and she gave one hard example of Lsai having to explain jet lag, which she did accomplish after a lot of hard work. Each correct guess wins a small linden cash prize.

On top of having a unique new game on her sim Nydia also has jet skis to zoom around on and board games to goof off playing with friends. Also there was Bruce, a large crab at the bottom of the ocean. It was a big daddy! Be sure to ask Nydia about her special tub and to view it at sunset.

After I finished this interview I had fun playing the SL version of the game Clue with Helios and Rua. Besides Clue I also saw Greedy Greedy.

So next time you want to try out a new hangout spot just to try something new. Go to Nydia's Castaway Cove, located in the Kalmeere Paradise sim (18, 184, 21)

Grease Coakes

Natural Wilderness

Are you ever looking for a really quiet peaceful place to go hang out with a special friend? Perhaps it is a first date, and you would like to just sit and talk without interruption.

I found a delightful place called Natural Wilderness in Loch Haven. The site is filled with trees, shrubs, flowers, hills and valleys but as you wander around you will come across gazebos, benches and intimate nooks with pose balls for cuddling or dancing. I found a fisher, JT Cortes, just hanging out on the dock. He told me he loves to fish there in the solitude.

There were some dancers enjoying one of the dance floors and the music. Right now there is a winter place if you like to dance in the snow. You may want to hang out with some friends chatting by the fire, or just sit and gaze at the waves. The trees and flowers are delightful and it is a restful sim.

You can pick up the notecard near the landing place that tells you that above there are some sky boxes for rent if you would like more privacy and you have your choice of venues and activites. I took a short look at the Autumn bathhouse where there is a building in which you can enjoy a snuggle in the hot tub. In the Spring Forest Glade Skybox, you will find dances and a place to chat with friends or snuggle up with a special one while looking out onto the trees. There are other options. It is possible to take a look for free and then decide if you want to rent for a while.

The TPs and the prices and time limits are near the entrance. I enjoyed walking around and discovering little corners of privacy and I hope you will too. I tried not to be intrusive to the avatars I came across on my travels.

The entrance is here. http://slurl.com/secondlife/Loch%20Haven/119/237/24

Gemma Cleanslate

Cartoonimals Sim to Close

Daniel Voyager had some unhappy news on his blog the other day. The Cartoonimals sim would be closing in about a month. Owner Duggy Bing had put the region up for sale, saying “real life projects” were taking up too much of his time to keep the place.

Cartoonimals was a store, but its creations are so funny and whimsical the place is well worth a stroll through just to chuckle at the goods. There’s a wide variety of items from virtual pets, wearable and grounded, tip jars, novelty items, and more. The place is arranged in a circle so the sections are fairly easily accessible. There's also a roller rink in one corner, presumably designed for social events at one time.

Duggy will still be selling his items on SL Marketlace, plus his vendors will still be up in various places. He stated some details in a notecard:


I’m dropping you a note to let you know that I’ll be closing Cartoonimals in about a month. Real life projects have been taking increasing chunks of my attention and I simply haven’t had time to devote to creating new products and attending to marketing (never was too good at that). It was a terrific couple of years and a very rewarding experience. Not a single customer issue that could not be easily resolved….in SL that’s saying something! I want to especially thank those of you who helped with ideas, scripting, building and support.

I’ll continue to offer my stuff on Marketplace, as well as through affiliates. I will be inworld at least once a week to assist customers and replace missing items. As always satisfaction guaranteed.

So again, thanks so much. If I ever find a Third Life I hope you are all there!!!!—Duggy


Treet TV took a look at the place in 2009, and the video is still in the archives. But it’s no substitute for visiting the island yourself. Head to Cartoonimals (162, 157, 24).

Bixyl Shuftan

Forgotten City

The city hovered on rocks high above me as I made my way in on cobble stone roads, passing a a marker, like a gravestone , on the way that said “Forgotten City.” It was a long walk over several bridges until I came to a sign that said elevator. I pressed a button and down came an ancient box. I had no idea where I was so after pressing a few buttons a cage closed and I went up to level 2. The cage opened and I almost stepped into an abyss until I realized it was a two way cage and stepped out the back door carefully.

This is a silent empty sim with magnificent buildings to explore. The doors are impressive and the wall paper in one of the lavish buildings spoke of older times as did the parquet floors. No furniture remained and no portraits on the walls. I passed a neglected sign that said "Rent a House." I came across the first automaton in the square stationed in a kiosk that said "News Tobacco and Souvenir Stand." I glimpsed a lamp lighter in the distance but as he approached I saw it was another automaton. I was to see many more as I walked along . They are the workers who keep the City going.

I came across a fantastic steampunk water wheel behind the houses and stopped to watch it work for a while wondering what purpose it served. I saw a zeppelin take off and vowed to take a ride in it next time it came down. In the meantime I set off to visit the Capitolorium. There some wonderful eclectic pieces of art on the walls inside the building . The centerpiece in the entrance way is an old fashioned train set with locomotives and cars rounding the tracks of a miniature village with miniature people waiting to board the cars outside a the station. The tiny towns have familiar names to me: Chesterfield, Bellows Falls, Brattleboro ... all in the state of Vermont in the USA and I have been to all of them. It is a sight not to be missed.

I stopped in the saloon to watch the dancers on platforms move around and around. Out back in the courtyard I found a map of the city recommending rentals of the abandoned buildings. As I roamed I did find that indeed some people have returned to take up residence in the city in various corners . So perhaps in the future perhaps it will come to life again. I finally caught the Zeppelin and took a ride over the city. It is a great overview of all there is to see there. There is an intricate system of pipes running through the entire area carrying power from the waterwheel I assume in the form of steam. I found the port with a schedule of vessels that come by at various times and you can hop aboard or you can take a row boat and explore the canals.

I was lucky enough to meet the owners and creators of this spectacular sim. The newest addition to the city is a Winter Park (you will need a mesh viewer at the Winter Park) with ski jumping and other fun activities, and I went there and sat down to talk to them. I was interested in why and how the sim became. Jenne Dibou and Mandy Marseille are the creators of the City. Mandy explained “we had a different island here, called SOL Solution Island, owned by a good friend, and built too mostly by Jenne ... but that friend left SL and so we had to decide to go homeless or try to build something that's more than a playground for us. Something 19th centurish thing, but more Central European than British, so the build style is really a mix of 'fantasy' and secession/jugendstil, a kind of branch of Art Nouveau that was common in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and the story is basically that our dear renters (who we love very much!! *smile* ) or explorers arrived here around 1885ish ... they have discovered this city in the middle of nowhere really. And they realized that people are gone, even though you can see Lincoln or Napoleon had once visited this place.”

After I left I paid a visit to the JD Mechanical Toy Factory. That is a must and you can find teleports around the Capitolorium and in the streets to take you up to it. Outside you will be able to try some of the games available. Horse racing was great fun! Choose your horse and watch it win or lose. Play poker with a friend. I lost! I tried the shooting gallery and did not do too badly there. Inside the factory itself you can purchase lots of fun steampunk items including creepy avatars, automatons, flying machines, motor vehicles of past ages, and entire buildings. It is a steampunk aficionado’s delight!

In the meantime plan on a long visit to the Forgotten City. As I look at the last view of my visit I know there is more to discover. It has been a while since I have found such an amazing sim to visit over and over. Perhaps I will see you there. It will be not so much "forgotten" but unforgettable.

Forgotten City (175, 210, 35)

Gemma Cleanslate

Pure Land: Exploring Buddhism

There are so many lovely, quiet places in Second Life where one can go for contemplation, either religious or meditative. I have written about some of them. A friend passed on a land mark to Pure Land Buddhist Practice in Takeuti.

It is very easy to see that the owner has arranged a place where one is able to move around to all the individual shrines in a peaceful setting. As you explore there is a mandala where you can sit and sip from a choice of drinks while you read the notecards and learn about the practices of Buddhism in this sim.

You are invited to join the group which in its mission statement says, “If you join us, the only thing we ask is that you are a respectful seeker. We are open to, and welcome everybody. Current beliefs or lifestyle do not matter. What matters is the practice. What we practice, and what we teach – through that practice – is the Dharma as taught by the Buddha. Truth is One, the sages speak of it by many names. Anybody can discover that One Truth. All of us have different experiences, all of us can contribute.“

You are invited to visit the various shrines and you will find a teleport board with all of them listed there. One TP you must take is to the Space Egg where you may float in meditation or try Reiki. The principles or Reiki are listed on the board. There are many thought provoking elements to be found in the Egg. You will also find a tarot reading area in the Space Egg. It is a sublimely quiet place to spend some time.

When you TP back to the Information Center you will see a schedule of all the Buddhist Meditations that are available in Second Life with the days and times and will be able to pick up the landmarks for each of them. The information Center is here: http://slurl.com/secondlife//220/198/26 .

Gemma Cleanslate

The Mitt Romney Information Center and Meeting Area

Last month in December, I heard about something that seemed a little off to me, a Mitt Romney dance club. Actually, the name listed was “Mitt Romney for President.” Curious, I decided to investigate, and teleported over.

For those not in the know, presumably mostly outside the North America, Mitt Romney is one of the leading contenders to be the Republican Party’s candidate for the Presidency of the United States. In 2008, there were several places on the Grid that were either the locations or planned locations for builds to publicize both Democratic and Republican candidates for their respective party nominations. And now, one had arrived for 2012.

Arriving at the club, attendance was light. But the enthusiasm of the people seemed to show in their “Believing in America” tags. The partiers whooped and “Yaaaaay”ed and gestured much like other clubs I went to. Stacey Zirgar was the lady DJing for the club. Noticing the club listed her as the owner, I spoke to her when the event was done.

“I didn’t plan this,” Stacey spoke of the party, “I just kinda got it there. I figured the best way to get the word out was for me to DJ.” I asked how a club with a political candidate’s name on it came to be, “It’s not really a club. I am a DJ in SL, and I DJ at a lot of clubs, but I created this for a couple reasons.” She wanted to educate others about Mitt Romney, as well as make a place like-minded supporters. She found no one around when she dropped by the GOP Cafe, “so I decided to make this place today. There is nothing for Mitt in Second Life, so I rented this parcel, set up the office in the back, got the group, and all the rest of the stuff I had in inventory.”

Noticing a larger building in the back, I asked if that was the information center. “It will be,” Stacey answered, “and a meeting area.” She invited to show me around, though told me she had yet to put in much detail. In the land description, she put, “This office is for supporters of US Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney. Weekly meetings and events will be announced through this group. If you want to volunteer, please contact Stacey Zirgar: www.mitromney.com .” She told me she had a fundraising page on his website, “I don’t take fundraising money in Second Life.” I asked if the place would remain open until Election Day should Romney win the nomination. She told me it would.

Stacey didn’t have anyone else helping out at the moment, “I just started this today, so I have to get the word out.” She did have a classified ad somewhere, and had a donation jar if anyone wanted to help pay for the cost of the land. She had a $500 US dollar fundraising goal, “but mostly this will just be for information and meeting others who also support him.”

Stacey told me she’s also a DJ in real life. On the Grid, “I have tons of stores in Second Life, so I am really a business-oriented person." It wasn’t long before she had to be elsewhere, and we parted ways.

I dropped by again this week. Although the land was still in Stacey’s name, the stage and info canter were gone. Perhaps she is in the middle of rebuilding. The group "Mitt Romney for President" and her fundraising page are still active.

"Mitt Romney for President" was at Mastic Beach (103, 133, 22).

Bixyl Shuftan

Skiing! More Winter Fun!

It has been such a busy season getting lovely Christmas items in the advent calendar and all the hunts I have been negligent finding the winter sports for you! But, winter is just beginning and there will be lots of time to participate. You already have a list of slurls to visit for skating.

How about skiing? There are some great places where you can go skiing, sledding, skateboarding and the sports gear is provided for you. One of my very favorites is at Wolf Mountain. That is on the skating list but you walk over to the tram and take it to the top of the mountain and there you will find everything you need. A spectacular view and a wonderful ski run. You can bring your own and not use the pose balls to flash down the mountain. http://slurl.com/secondlife/Wolf%20Creek/248/44/35. You will love it! You can warm up in the Lodge after your last downhill trek.

Now, if you love cross country skiing, one of my other favorites is the place to go. Aero Pines has 8 sims open for you with skis, poles, and auto cross country poses all set up! http://slurl.com/secondlife/Equus/18/180/22. That makes it easy to view the sims too. There is so much to do in both these sims. We have been going to both places for 4 years now.

Another place we have frequented for a couple of years is Chamonix City where you will find so many winter activities to either participate in or watch.They have a terrific ski jump! If you want to learn to play hockey this is the place to go. Freebies and information are available at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cross%20Check/146/99/62.

In Wengen there are great ski runs off the ONSR Railway, one of the private rails off of the SL Railway. . There is a ski lift right across the tracks from the station. This will take you on a memorable ride up the mountain to the runs. Enjoy the view! http://slurl.com/secondlife/Wengen/71/204/92 .

One more for you to take a look at is the French Ski Resort in Jura .It has a nice steep downhill and for a change, try the Snowmobile ! Wow! http://slurl.com/secondlife/Jura/238/96/116. That is a good start for skiing.

I will be looking for more fun places for you and I know they are there!

Gemma Cleanslate

The Curious Prim Main Store

I'm in the mood for something out of the ordinary, something historically captured and exceptional in detail.

My selection is made in Second Life’s destination guide. I arrive in a unique architecturally designed island with steampunk, fairy, antique and Roman influences. It is whimsical and stunning as the guide states. The textures are elegant and its main store is called The Curious Prim.

Walking up to the first exhibit on a marble floored display is Uncle Irvin Chatbot. The 41 prim stationary bot is so clever in his appearance. Grey Kurka needs to be recognized for his steampunk creativity. Uncle Irvin 's brain is encased in a covered tank floating in water, electrical-like pulses generating. His blinking eyes on each side of the square tank appear to look right at you. His body is formed from a steampunk typewriter with scrolled paper. It appears an adjustment knob is on the side of his propped up body. His legs are a three-legged tripod with wood grain. To the right is an old canvas bag and matching fedora. Nothing less than enchanting.

Off to the next exhibit I find "The Night Palace," a 230 prim, copy-modify build. You can teleport to the building to explore its multi-use structure. Grey's notecard informs me that it can be used as a residence, store or exhibition space. Its footprint is 50x50. All unique textures and sculpties are used throughout. It can be used for a role-play environment or an attention getter. Across from it is a Luxury Store which is designed as an elegant space to be used as a store or exhibition hall. It includes ceiling lights, urns with acanthus plants and a sculpty Venus statue. Only 138 prims with a 40x40 footprint. Front and center is a magnificent reproduction, the image of elegance, perfect for a musical recital. The white Harpsichord Princess has a French look to it. It is exhibited with a smaller model. Propped up in the center, you'll find the sheet music. Casting light to read the sheet music is a tall candelabrum. Love it.

I could not resist the lure of an air ship close by. A short flight and I touched down on its deck to cast my gaze across the sim.

Returning a day later I found more wonderful creations. A Green upholstered Regency couch and chair set, a dark wood gothic table with lighter wood top and benches, an ornate gilt mirror and portraits, a leather covered trunk. Everything is rich in textures, unique and beautiful. The content creator deserves an award in creativity.

I had to touch base with this man who has somehow reached into my dreams and created the fantasy world I desire. Grey Kurka is The Curious Prim's creator. The first incarnation of his store was at a charming corner lot in the Rue Dantibes shopping district. It was nestled next to Barnesworth Anubis and Cory Edo, two talented early Second Life creators. The store opened early in 2008 and after a year or two it was expanded to a larger parcel in the Otherland Continent which is now gone.

"I settled here in Mythopoeia in July of 2010, so all told I have been in business with the Curious Prim for nearly four years. I also started using the SL Marketplace from the beginning and that has been a great help," he told me.

Kurka didn't choose to work on any specific genre. He merely let his inspiration and sense of whimsy be his guide. His love of fantasy illustration led to his creation of "Fairypunk."

"That term sums up my love of fantasy and Techno-Baroque funk," Kurka explains. "Because Second Life tends to be composed of different role play communities it is easier for them to identify work that fits an intended environment. However as a designer, I feel free to let my imagination roam at will."

Kurka's ideas are generated from real life objects. He tries to avoid looking at how other 3D artists have solved a certain design question and prefers to study as many actual artifacts as possible. Then he lets his imagination and ability with technology work to their best advantage.

“My Manor House, for example, was inspired by a boathouse designed by an architect named Julia Morgan, but it was greatly modified,” he explained. “Most of my stuff has some antecedent in real life to give it a context, but is then made personal through reinterpretation.”

In terms of how long does it take from prim to texture to fine tuning, Kurka said that if his drawings are sound, and he has gathered decent reference photos, the actual construction phase moves along fairly quickly. For example, a chair takes two three hour sessions. He’ll make three prototypes for every final.

“However, the research, design, and animation creation can easily take three times as long, not to mention scripting and all the preparation for sales in world and on the web,” he mentioned. “So, from idea to actual display, a week or more.”

Kurka does not enter contests. He finds it’s a difficult fit for designers that create for commercial venues. He said the designers that role-play as fine artists in Second Life tend to have a culture of “monastic abstinence when it comes to selling their work, perhaps perceiving that it compromises the purity of intention.” However, real life galleries work on the assumption that the artist expects remuneration, and the average income of any designer in Second Life is basically on a token level as far real economies are concerned.

“To be fair, we are all illustrators in here, creating visual equivalents for our own fantasies and dreams,” he said. “When I first started working in Second Life, I used to visit a sim called Dreams. They have speed-builds and building contests. I had a lot of fun working with a talented group of creators and teachers, a great way to learn. I would suggest everybody should visit and get creating or just support their wonderful efforts.”

What does he find most rewarding?

“For me the true reward of finishing a new design is knowing that it enhances the immersive experience for someone and adds some visual interest into their play. It is the use of an object in a role that completes the intention and gives context to the work.”

Asked what he would love to create, he replied that he would like to see a feature where the hand of the artist could be used directly in Second Life. Having a simple set of "paint" tools, a brush, pencil, paintbucket, etc. would bring the studio into the grid in real time. Surface textures could be added to objects or artists could work directly creating 2D work on a virtual easel.

“For me the experience of doing a landscape painting from within Second Life would be so much fun.”

Netera Landar

Tis the Season

Yes, it is the winter sport season. Second Life has many wonderful places to participate in more than one sport. My favorite has always been ice skating. Skiing is fun too, and sledding.

I took a tour of the quite a few sims that already have skating ponds and rinks set up for you. At most you will find free skates, male, female and unisex available. At some you will also find some couples skating poses, and also snowball throwing prims to pick up. I sat on a reindeer at one.

Some of these slurls will take you directly to the skating area, but there are a few that you will have to search around a bit. That is ok too since the sims have other interesting things going on besides skating.

I will have some more for you as we get further into the season. It will be a long winter in Second Life so take advantage of it, (with apologies to our Aussie friends). I will also keep an eye out for some cheap vacations to tropical islands.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Misty%20Acres/181/102/21

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Freyr/201/46/54

Chamonix City
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cross%20Check/138/95/62

Christmas Island rink
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Cape%20Wrath/192/207/21

Snowflake Island - Oopsy!!! Watch out, snowball thrower also and place for snowball fights set up
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Hydra%20Isles/126/104/22

Christmas at Winter Holiday village
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Prohibition/130/157/31

Snow falls Island- have to tp from entrance, look on the board
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Requiem/40/139/22

Christmas Enchantment
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Torn/101/133/22

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Vine/110/180/112

http://slurl.com/secondlife/WolfMountainResort/53/44/33

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Gilmour/95/113/21

Aero Pines - (free winter outfits here too).

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Equus/42/204/22

Have a great time! See you somewhere!

Gemma Cleanslate

The “Happy Vixen’s” Grand Re-Opening

On November 26th, the “Happy Vixen” beach club had its “Grand Re-Opening” party. For several days, it had been closed, undergoing reconstruction. And when the job was done, owner Nydia Tungsten ordered a special party to celebrate.

Before she was entrusted with her position at Club Zero Gravity, Nydia Tungsten once owned another beach club: Angel’s Beach. Some time after becoming the space club's owner, Nydia placed a small shopping mall on the surface of the Purrfection sim, one that looked like a beachside shop with it’s thatched roof and wooden supports instead of walls. Next to the water, the decision was made to place a small beach club, built by Treminari Huet. It had all the basics of a club, plus a couple dancing poles plus tip jars for dancers and the DJ. The little beach club came to be known as “The Happy Vixen.”

Zero Gravity continued to be the main club in the sim, and indeed the little beach club was often seen as an extension of the larger space club, it’s “planetside beach getaway.” But it remained in regular use, and had it’s own group separate from Club Zero, as well as being counted among the clubs at the FCA club alliance. Parties were held at the “Vixen” usually once a week, often with beach music and the residents dancing around in bathing suits. Between parties, residents could always scoot around in the water in a couple jet skis in a nearby pier.

For months, the weekly parties of fun in the sun continued with few changes, an extra dance pole put up, a piece of artwork put up. A larger beach club, “Raised Tail Resort,” joined the FCA, but it didn’t seem to affect numbers at the “Vixen.” Recently came news from owner Kryxia Silverfall that “Raised Tail” would be closing it’s doors indefinitely due to events beyond her control.


It is with tears in my eyes that I announce that Raised Tail Resort is now closed, you will see a few more notices in the future about where you can find your favorite staff member. We are not gone for good, but like any fur, there is hibernation. Here's to hoping for an early spring.


Although there was still the “Happy Vixen,” both for the patrons and the DJs and hosts, some people had come to love the structure and beach of the larger club. Nydia Tungsten decided that perhaps after all this time, the Happy Vixen could use an expansion.

Jasmine Dawn (OraSine Resident) was given the job of rebuilding the Happy Vixen. She used the design of “Raised Tail” as an inspiration, Kryxia contributing a few items as well. The club itself was larger, with another room next to the dance floor, a future mall area with spaces for rent. The new structure has a little less open space on the sides, with a gap between lower and upper walls. The gap itself is partly covered by vines, though still allows sunlight in. The club has a wide entrance to and from the beach. in a hall between the dance floor and the second room, one can get information about renting a place in Purrfection.

Jasmine’s design included a beach. The wide beach has a number of palm trees, at least one of which drops coconuts, so careful where you step. There are a few beach towels to lie on, a hammock, a couple lounges with overhead sheeting, a few floats to rest on, a partly hidden cuddle spot or two, a couple games people can pass the time playing, plus the two jet skis from the previous build. And of course the waves lapping at the shore, and the terrific view at sunset/sunrise.

It should be noted that the beach at the Happy Vixen is a nude beach, where human, furred, and neko avies are free to go about in the buff. This was a decision Nydia made after taking to several friends whom complained about a certain development around the Grid: Second Life’s nude beaches are closing. Nydia had been told a number of “clothing optional” beaches were shutting down, and those that remained were often “perv beaches” which were the scenes of riskee behavior out in the open that would get one banned from ordinary nude beaches. The result was girls finding it harder and harder to find a place where they could enjoy full exposure without being pestered for sex.

“This nude beach is for those that have put a lot of time and effort into their skins and want to show it off, not for those looking for a quick lay,” Nydia Tungsten explained,”those will be banned immediately. It is a place to come hang out, ... um, no pun intended .... just to enjoy Second Life.”

With the refurbishing completed Saturday November 26th, Nydia threw a special party in the late afternoon to celebrate. Announcements were made in several groups, by both Nydia and Kryxia. On the board was a special prize of 2000 Lindens! Playing the tunes was one of the DJs from Raised Tail, DJ Artimay, whose metallic form got him the nickname of “DJ Furbot” by some. From 4 to 6 PM, a couple dozen residents, furred, neko, and human, danced around. Among those celebrating was a friend of longtime regulars and staff. Lsai Aeon, the beloved “Purple Puppy” DJ of Zero Gravity and elsewhere, had ended a period of hiatus and returned.

The DJ spun the tunes and the partiers danced until a bit after Six. Some went on to Club Cutlass, which had it’s Saturday party just afterwards. Others continued to dance a little to the KVXN music stream, or went to the beach to relax.

It was a good start to the new Happy Vixen.

Bixyl Shuftan