Walk Around The Grid: Jason and the Argonauts

 

By Netera Landar

On July 25, the notice said Drama Libre was featuring Jason and the Argonauts. 

 

Who doesn’t love a 3rd-century BC Greek epic poem coming to life? 

 

With Drama Libre, you’re never too sure who you’ll find on the dance floor. In this case, the beach. 

 

So, you approach with caution and watch for signs of mythical beasts surfacing from the depths of the ocean, or land creatures of magical form coming closer. For heaven’s sake, not Medusa.

Scanning the beach, I noticed an ancient Greek army, a few levitating mermaids, a hybrid griffin, a black lamb with yellow fur, a Greek warrior DJ ...

 

 

...  and a few more creatures I wasn’t sure what they were. But you don’t ask questions.

 

Iceman Merlin handled the music and greeted those teleporting onto the long boat.

 

 Everyone enjoyed the party and couldn’t wait until the next themed event.

On Saturday, Aug. 1, they had an “Interdimensional Flea Market featuring DJ Noctoon Edelweiss. This week (Saturday, Aug. 8, 7-10 p.m.) features DJ Zathras Afarensis at a Sasquatch Beauty Pageant. Not sure how you dress for that one.
 

Netera Landar

 

The Lost Gallery

 

 By Netera Landar

 

At the entrance, there was a candy booth, a grand piano inside a Christmas gazebo, and a walk-through Christmas tree. Strands of twinkling lights wrapped around light poles, tying the scenery together. 

The Lost Gallery is hosting its 3^rd Annual Holiday Exhibit, featuring over 20 artists in a whimsical landscape. The opening weekend celebration was on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 6 p.m. with entertainment by DJ Sam. On Sunday, Dec. 14, at 1 p.m., Sax Player Steve Who performed. The event runs through Saturday, Jan. 3.

An art exhibit and entertainment. That’s a perfect combination when hosting an event.  

The exhibit’s setting was beautiful and realistic. Photographs and paintings were showcased on easels along a long, snow-covered pathway. The work was easy to find and well organized. Each artist contributed three pieces for the exhibit. 

I teleported there early Saturday night before the contributors, organizers, and Lost Gallery’s supporters arrived. Harlo Jamison was already on the frozen pond dance floor, ready to greet people as they carefully stepped upon the ice. Harlo and Maggie Magenta are the event’s organizers. 

The exhibit’s setting was beautiful and realistic. Photographs and paintings were showcased on easels along a long, snow-covered pathway. The work was easy to find and well organized. Each artist contributed three pieces for the exhibit. Some provided bio statements, and a few offered gifts for the art patrons to take home. At the entrance, there was a candy booth, a grand piano inside a Christmas gazebo, and a walk-through Christmas tree. Strands of twinkling lights wrapped around light poles, tying the scene together. There’s even a Santa in a hot-air balloon.

Eager to know more about the gallery, I asked Harlo if Lost Gallery had a building for exhibits.

“The Lost Gallery is more of a concept than an actual building. Though we sometimes do use a building. We tend to move around the grid, sometimes doing art walks for other sims. Maggie and I both have our own small galleries, so Lost Gallery is a partnership more than anything else. The only thing permanent about Lost Gallery is that we always do a holiday exhibit!” said Harlo.

Asked who was involved in building the setting, Harlo replied, “I do the building…Maggie is our people person. I’m a slow builder…it took about 3 weeks for this one.”

Participating artists include:

Mikal Angello, DragonAngelvs, Michiel Bechir, Zia Brenner, Duraya, Prins Evergarden, Dante Helios, Johannes Huntsman, Georgie Iceghost, Harlo Jamison, Sparkly Mc Baubles, Maggie Magenta, Serena Marabana, Vixen Reigndeer, Alex Riverstone, Rosie Riverstone, Reign Rolfs, Doc Romano, Jamee Sandalwood, Giselle Seeker, Gayle Sweetwater, Kika Yongho, and Mary Zimmer.

 

DJ Sam and Aya Intikhab dancing together.

During the first entertainment session, DJ Sam played holiday music, and Aya was the hostess, while everyone skated or danced. Loved the sparkling lights beneath the ice and the giant snow globe. A few songs Sam played were, “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow” by Harry Connick, Jr.; “Almost Christmas” by Chris Isaak; “Christmas Lights” from Coldplay; “Come On Home for Christmas” by George Ezra; “Baby It’s Cold Outside” by Dean Martin; “Mistletoe and Holly” by Frank Sinatra; and “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” by Small Town Titans.

Everyone enjoyed dancing to the holiday music.

I asked two of the contributors about their work while they were dancing. I hated bothering them when they were having fun.

 

“I did a holiday photo and set it for just 10L, mostly as a gift,” said Vixen Reigndeer. “The other two are winter scenery and a hot chocolate stand…it’s all about the feeling the holidays bring.”

Mary Zimmer describing her work to GMetal Svartur. Left to right: Winter Refuge, Winter Sunset, Snowing While the Sun Shines. 

Mary Zimmer said her three photos are of Winter landscapes. “Winter Sunset is one of my most popular photos. They were taken a while ago, so the sims may not still be there. Snowing While the Sun Shines was taken at Blue Finch. Winter Sunset was taken at Echo Ridge.”

Serena Marabana’s Echoes of Snow, Snowdrops, where winter comes to rest. Pictured are a gazebo, a frozen pond, and a lighthouse.

Make sure you check out the exhibit before Jan. 3. Help support the contributors by purchasing their work.

Johannes Huntsman, Winterscapes 25, in blue tones, gives you the winter vibe. Johannes is the creator and owner of Kultivate Magazine and galleries.

Vixen Reigndeer's photography. I see adorable snowmen on the side of the road, frozen branches endangering a tree, and warming up with a cup of coffee.

Zia Branner’s Zale, Liberosis, and Cascade.

Gayle Sweetwater’s Winter’s Spring, Wandering Snowman, and Winter’s Winter watercolor paintings.

Giselle Seeker’s Through the Trees, Holiday cheer, and Arctic Sun. 

Holiday Candy booth and grand piano in a Christmas gazebo

Kika Yongho, Think, Early Bird, and Travel in Time.

Slurl: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Moran/78/193/53

Netera Landar 

 

R&N Photography And Art Gallery

 

 By Bixyl Shuftan

 

 

About a week ago, I attended the opening day party of an art and photo gallery exhibit. It was held by the staff of Club Lion for "R&N Photography / Art Gallery."

 

Nita (Huanita Wunderlich)  sent the invitation, "You're Invited to Party with us on Thursday 10th July.  - Start ⏰ 12 pm slt. We have some amazing photos to share with you. A collection of photos from both of us, from years of photography. Ricardo & Me open our New Photography and Art Gallery, also we Celebrate my RL Birthday. Looking forward to see you! ㋡ - I would be very Happy if you could make it ㋡ "

 

 I dropped by when Ricardo Avalira was performing on stage at 1PM.

 

 There were some gifts available.

 

Including a rideable pickle. 

 

 The exhibits were in two different rooms. One had the following sign, "All the photos in this gallery are my RL work. I have placed my work into these amazing frames, which will resize via a menu from small enough to place on your coffee table to large enough to cover the entire wall of your house. For this reason I have priced them all the same, even though they are displayed at different sizes."

 

 There were various examples of art. One could get a copy if desired, but that would cost about 100L.

 

 One wing had some mannequins (art?) and a few examples of sculpture.

 

 This included a colorful lion head which one guy made into a mask.. 

 

 You can get to the exhibit at: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Lions/47/32/3335     

 

 Bixyl Shuftan

 

Design

 

Red Rocket Cola

  
By Bixyl Shuftan

On Sunday May 23, Montecito Bay held a release party not for an avatar, but a brand of Second Life vending machine: "Red Rocket Cola."

We're having a unique party on Sunday! An awesome beach party with a special guest, Red Rocket Cola, bringing you some ground-shattering Vending Machines for sale at the event! These neat little objects allow you to choose your cola of choice, drink it, and throw it away! It's a fun addition to literally every walk of life in SL, and we're happy to raffle off a few of the vending machines through out the beach party! Come join us for awesome summer tunes and a chance at one of these awesome soda vendors!

The party itself was a hit with about fifty people attending at the skybox above the Bay. It was a beach area with a walkway of planks leading to the party area. To the left were displays of information about Red Rocket Cola, and a couple of the machines up for people to use, as well as a pile of "twelve pack" boxes people could also get drinks from. The boxes and one of the machines gave out cans. The other machine gave out larger cups of drinks, and slushies - slightly frozen soda. Besides Red Rocket Cola, there were five other brands of soda: Kiwi, Popping Cherry, Limmy, and two with rather odd names: "People Like Grapes" and a blue raspberry soda named "Blue Balls." For those outside English-speaking countries, the name of the last one can also be a slang term for the feelings of a frustrated guy after he's told to expect a very enjoyable time with a lady and then gets told it's not happening.

Also to the left, there was a table of free goodies from hats, pins, earphones, MP3 players, toothbrushes (appropriate for a sugary soda company), mousepads, and more. On the other side were three game booths with games one might find at a carnival from popping balloons with darts to squirting thirsty slimes with the right kind of soda to ring toss to knocking down cups with balls. Up ahead was DJ "Magic" Moff whom was playing to the large crows, who cheered, "EPIC SET MOFF!!!" The white Crux DJ smiled, "Magic Moff aims to please." In the middle of the crowd was a huskygirl wearing a Red Rocket Cola-themed swinsuit, baseball cap, and headphones and had a plate full of sodas ready for anyone to take. This was Eliwood407 Resident, the person behind the soda dispenser.

I would message Eliwood, whom was pleased to talk about the soda machines, "I would love to! You flatter me." Of where the idea came from, "The idea started when we needed a vending machine, but most of the vending machines on SecondLife had knockoff brands on it, or simply sent a item to your inventory you then attach, we thought we could make it more intractable!"

Of it's development, "Oh the development was rough. Fun but rough! Once we had the original machine working, we added more and more flavors. So I had to redesign parts of the touch screen multiple times. Testing the machine was not a  breeze either. Since you can drop the cups, and other players can pick it up, we had to make sure at no point the script would fail or shout an error. But eventually we ended up with a solid machine that could do soda and slushies! Then we used that code to make a simpler can vending machine, and then we used that code to make an even simpler 12-pack box! But I think the worst part was the SecondLife server to cloud update. Suddenly the machine would not work reliably anymore because of bugs that thankfully have now been fixed, after we found a way around them. ... Yeah it was devastating. All it took was a simple bug; scripts would 'wake up' two seconds after being rezzed, made it very complicated."

I went ahead and asked about the "Blue Balls" soda, asking how could it be advertised? Eliwood responded, "That's a thinker! 'You won't get blue balled with the flavor of Blueballs Blue Raspberry!' I need to hire more consultants and marketers for that flavor name!"

So what new flavors were coming in the future? Eliwood answered, "Oh for sure, I keep getting great suggestions, so there is no lack of ideas. I also think a energy drink variant of the current flavors may be neat! A friend of mine is also pushing me to make a sister brand of sparkling milk in a can. I've never had it and it sounds weird, but apparently it's big in Japan! ... Yeah it sounds weird right?"

Of future plans for Red Rocket, "Aside from the new flavors, I definitely want to make more dispensers. Perhaps ice cream may be something I want to focus on, and definitely food related items. That still feels like a big missing piece to the puzzle. But in the meantime, between working on bigger projects, I like to make silly small stuff that usually end up in the goodiebags! If I feel like making headphones, or a oldschool mp3 player, I make neat Red Rocket Cola texture for it and add it to the goodiebag. I think building up a brand people like is just as important as the products themselves!

"I just hope that word spreads and the brand becomes something great! I really enjoy seeing people wearing the brand and enjoying it! I want it to become something bigger than just me and my ideas. I think something fun people share on SL is most important, because in the end we made these machines for fun, and it should stay that way."

The party went on for a while, Moff playing tunes for a while after the scheduled end. And once he finally stepped down, people continued to talk about goings on such as the Fantasy Faire's Jail and Bail, "That's a lot of people on one simulator." There was also talk about old Second Life games. And there was some joking around about a possible new flavor of soda, "Red Rocket Rainbow Blast." "Red Rocket Rainbow Blast will send you to space and beyond." "Taste the rainbow, but it's better than skittles." People also played the games some, including me. A few were joking around with the soda squirter game, turning the gun around to the crowd. "You are gonna get us all sticky," Eliwood chuckled. As it turned out, the scores were also worth points that meant a prize depending on how high you got. The top prizes were solid gold soda cups, with the second highest being pet slimes. "Weird afterparty." "Best afterparty!"

The beach area (with the games removed) should be up for a little while at Montecito Bay (43/157/902), for those wanting to see, or for those wanting to learn more and buy one of the drink machines. They're also available on Marketplace  (cans) (cups) (boxes). They should soon be available in other places as well.

So for the latest in carbonated beverage machines in Second Life, there's Red Rocket Cola.

Bixyl Shuftan
 

The Yinglet Avatar Release Party

By Bixyl Shuftan


Some might be surprised to learn that not all comics are in the newspaper's "funny pages" or in magazines. Some you can read online. Some are good enough to be in a real life newspaper with good art and clean humor, and some are done by beginners with not much of a plot. Occasionally, an online comic gets something based on it in Second Life. One example was "ZZ Studios" which was a tribute to Eric Schwartz's "Sabrina Online." Another was a rideable mount I once got that was based on those in Tiffany Ross's "Pure", although it could also be considered one of the "Shiave" of her "Cyantian Chronicles" which had more readers.

"Out of Placers" (http://www.valsalia.com/comic/prologue/01/), or "OOPs" as it's sometimes called for short, is a Fantasy webcomic by an artist known as Valsalia that began in April 2015 in which humans share their world with other intelligent races, including Yinglets. What is a Yinglet? Probably the simplest definition I've come across is "Like the kobolds of D&D, but more comical." They're small furry bipeds that average three to three and a half feet tall (add several inches if the ears are erect), thin arms and legs, large ears and eyes, and a snout with a large single tooth in the front. Although they can speak the same language as humans, the "shelltooth" usually results in a lisp. The majority aren't quite as intelligent as the average human, though there are some exceptions, and they tend to be easily amused and distracted. Most humans in the world see them as pests or amusing distractions themselves. They prefer shellfish for dinner, their large front tooth handy for opening clams and oysters, and are often seen at riverbanks and beaches scavenging for them and anything else that might catch their interest, getting the less than flattering nickname "scavs" from the humans. They have a different sleep cycle, while sleeping fewer hours a day overall will take naps about three to seven times in a 24 hour period.

In the story's world, they are the youngest of the races, having been first recorded by human history there only several generations ago. They also age faster, reaching physical maturity at three years and considered elderly at twenty-five. They also have a severe gender imbalance, with most populations having just one female for every several males (what some guys in real life complain is the ratio of those single and looking in the "Sexual Recession"). So usually females stay in their enclaves. Enclaves are typically led by the dominant female, the matriarch, with those in larger ones having the assistance of the several more competent males or patriarchs. Between their having fewer among their numbers who can think clearly for a while and their being around for only a short time, Yinglet enclaves are not as developed technologically or socially as human settlements. The most advanced ones do so by dealing with and learning from the humans, though this has led to questions by some that this is leading to a weakening of their more traditional ways, as well as some wondering if any human can truly be trusted as so many treat them like pests.

In the online comic, the main character, Kassen Akoll, gets changed from human to Yinglet by some means he and those around him have yet to figure out. But now you can take on the look of these (usually) amusing fuzzballs here in Second Life. But on Saturday March 16, the residents of Second Life had the ability to take on the look of one as Montecito Bay hosted the release party of the Ynglet avatar, by Raphie Jular of Evil Turtle Productions. The avatar is bento rigged, and both male and female chests are included. Two colors are included, and the avatar has bento rigged mesh with bento rigged jaws, ears, tails, and fingers.

Sorry to all the newcomers who are just joining us and are probably wondering WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON! We're hosting the release of Evil Turtle Productions very own Yinglet avatar!

Do you like eating clams? Do you like talking like 'zhis'?! Do you enjoy being a short little cute ball of fluff who's always finding trouble around every corner! Then be sure to pick up this well created little avatar!

The event was held in the Avagora mall well above Montecito Bay, at it's disco dance floor set up in the middle of the place between shops. Dropping by early, some of the staff were already there, having gotten the avie a little early. But as the hour approached, more showed up. And the Yinglets looked pretty small next to the regular-sized furry folk, "normal sized avatars look like freakish giants now!" The maker of the avatar wasn't there at first, "Raphie (the creator) is having a nap because our time zone is crazy." Then he appeared, "Raphie's back (smile)." The avatar's maker waves, "Weh! Okay zhen, I'm a little less half-dead after nap. Hello all." Someone mused, "One of the best things about being a yinglet would be the naps." Raphie agreed, "Oh yes. Nap for an hour, can go ADHD for six again." "Then they can go 'eeeee' again."

It didn't take long for the place to fill up. And finally at 6PM SL time, "Hello everyone that's here so far! We're just now OFFICIALLY starting things off! Thank you all for showing up early to support the lovley Raphie Jular and their release of the Yinglet avatar!! If you take a look  to the right of the stage there's already a nice little board for you to purchase your own Evil Turtle Productions Yinglet!" Becky greeted, "Welcome everyone! Glad to see you! So the rules are as follows; if you want to join zhe raffle, ya must be here the WHOLE event, no join and run. That's the only rule! so click that raffle ball, floating above the dance floor when it opens!" "If y'all have friends who are fans of yinglets or looking for a really cool avatar, be sure to invite them along!  Raphie put their blood sweat and tears into this wonderful little thing, and I'd absolutely love to see it flourish! ...There's also an event currently on the board for 1,500L! ... The theme is 'Fantasy.' ... And you can 100% spend that on Yinglet and Yinglet accessories! ... But let's be serious, any money they get is going to clams more than likely!" Later in the event, it would get raised to 2069 Lindens.

A number got in character with the characteristic Yinglet lisp, "Zhing!" I'm hearing zhe musics." Becky Nosferatu, in one of the avatars was also giving out buckets of their favorite food, "Who wahts a bucket of claaams?! ... Seriously, who wants clams?" "All zhe clams." Apparently with not that many takers, yet, Becky went in character, "They're clams, so, I'm just gonna keep eating them." Ralphie laughed, "You're gonna get so high drunk," mentioning what happens when the often hungry Yinglets finally manage to stuff themselves on their prized food. "Come to Mont Bay and win lots of clams," someone mused. Becky responded, "I mean, we *are* on zhe bay. Zhey're fresh, okay! Caught zhem myself." Someone joked, "Hmmm...never zhought we'd find a way to 'clam' Becky up, but zhere you go (grin)." Eventually, more buckets were passed around, "Scav life." "*noms on clams*" "... Welcome to zhe Scav Life." "Yinglets' stilt legs and hand-like feet are for walking zhe beach, feeling for clams and oysters in zhe sand, and picking zhem out to eat." "It's not our faults are fur smell like low tide or swamps."

With the Yinglets just a few feet high, it was commented those used to being in very big avatars might find them disorienting, "You know, as disorienting as going from human to yinglet must have been for Kass, can you imagine a massive dragon getting Ying'd?" Jasmine Dawn commented, "Here's my take on the Ying, change to one, go home, can't reach 'nuffin."

Magpie Hyena (VesperBloodwing Parx) had a gift for people attending the party, skins to change the appearance of the Yinglet avie a little, "Raph, I have three skins I can do for this av. I don't have time to set up for selling so, I was thinking about just giving them away." Raphie agreed, "Sure thing Magpie."

Some had a little trouble with dancing. Raphie admitting, "To be honest, Yinglet's won't dance better zhan zhis." Someone else joked, "Friendly warning: Swinging Yings does not mean to zrow zem, as light as zey are. Ying not meant to fly."

Another mused, "Dancing chickenlegs even." Becky commented, "Chicken legged, but far to small to eat! You won't get any meat off these bones." She herself later got hungry, "Be right back, I need another taco." This being the favorite food of the Crux avatars that Montecito Bay is fond of, someone commented,"Seriously, you're going to cruxify your Yinglet at this rate, Becky." Emorald surprised Becky by popping a taco into her mouth, "Ack! Hey! I had zhree dammit!" Emo chuckled, "Eat a fourth one!" Eventually, someone asked, "Becky can I haz some clamz?" Someone responded, "I don't think Becky wants to share her clams, or her tacos."

It didn't take long for a lot of the people there to buy and wear the avatar, "Jesus. The Yinglet group really grew!" "Oh my God the yinglets dancing at the front of the dancefloor are *adorable*!" Raphie grinned, "Thank you, enjoy being a birdrat." Someone pretended to be upset, "How dare you call me a birdrat!  I'm a ratbird!" A third mused, "Anozher birdrat for ze birdrat collection yes." Someone joked about a scene with these and another avatar that was selling well, the Chibi Noodle Dragon, "Imagine a Yinglet sled driven by four Noodles. That is a sugar shock." "I saw ***** and was all 'what is zhat big dragon-cat-zhing?  Oh, is a noodle!'" "Suddenly, for some reason, I'm imagining a Yinglet riding a Chocobo."

Raphie continued to get praise, "Thank you for making them a real thing " "Gotta spread Val's awesome creation!" Raphie responded. "SL real at least! Though I still want a plushie Yinglet at some point." "Oh my God, I want a Yinglet plushie too." Raphie responded, "I believe a plushie skin for the Ying is already in-concept." Someone grinned, "Just barely released and already getting modded." Apparently some had already made adjustments to their Ynglets, Magpie saying, "I am so shocked that there are so many modded yinglets in existence before this avatar even happened. I am sure these yinglet avs will do well." Someone commented, "I've been in a Yinglet avatar for about an hour and I already managed to sell ad space on zhirty percent of my body like a race car!"

Besides myself, a number from the Sunweaver community dropped by Montecito Bay for the party. This included Jasmine, Gil Ottared, Alleara Snoodle, and a few others. Gil mused of the numbers, "Just wait until we get our enclave togezher and start laying eggs."

The contest was won by Iexo Bethune!.

With the party over, people began heading out. "Have a wonderful evening everyone! Thank you Raphie for letting us host your wonderful avatar!" "Yall be safe and good. Don't OD on clams!" Someone responded, "Awwwww! OD'ing on clamz iz de fun part!" Some would say they'd return, "I'll have to come back here, this place is HUGE." Raphie commented, "I will tell (Valsalia) zhe tale of zhe SL Ying takeover, Zhe mighty tale! ...Zhank you all for coming!"

I had been told that in the rush to get the avatar finished by the release party, there were a few bugs in it. But the only person concerned about it at the party seemed to be Raphie himself. They should be ironed out and those who already having brought the avatar getting updates in a week or two. It was also commented that the avatar might have a lasting effect on Montecito Bay, remarking things were crazy enough with the Crux avatars, but with Crux *and* Yinglets, things would be truly insane.

Bixyl Shuftan

Addition: Some time later, Valsalia would message me, "... just gave the article a read. I was really surprised by how much customization has already gone into these, like the bucket-o-clams object (smile). That was a really solid article, and did a great job of both explaining the creature concept and the SL implementation of them. The way people describe these little things is always both fun and valuable for me to read, as it gives me a more solid understanding of the way people are perceiving these little things, and what aspects about them stand out to people the most"