Tuesday 24 June 2014

035: A ribbeting display!

In a spare moment, I thought I'd drop into Second Pride this afternoon. This particular two-hour stint was hosted by Manshots magazine and its CEO Angelik Lavecchia; I'm a fan of this magazine and have said so before (see post #03). Thanks Angelik!

I was at the main pavilion where all the dances are, just enjoying the music and bopping along, and chatting with Jak Calcott, who designed the place ... pervcamming all the handsome guys ...

But then my attention was ribbeted -- sorry! -- by these six cute little frogs, any of whom might have been as tall as my calf, who showed up off to one side of the dance floor, dancing as a synchronized unit. I have to say, this is the best group idea I've seen in a long time.  A long time. I roared with laughter and loved them all instantly.

My friend and neighbour Joseph Nussbaum was one of the frogs -- he said they'd been taking some pictures and decided to pop into Pride for some fun and to amuse the onlookers. The other five were Tomais Ashdene, Holter, Sabor Skytower, Bock McMillan, and Boris Twist ... thank you, froggies, you made my day!

Boris Twist also came to my attention this afternoon in a completely different context, the latest issue of Photography magazine, because the guy has a fierce eye! I'm sure he must have exhibited before, I simply haven't been in the right place at the right time, but -- a frog with a great camera eye? I think my readers have to find out more LOL.

Sorry the little skeeters were moving around too fast for me to make notes of which guy was which colour frog -- but I'm sure the sexy one is Joe!

Sunday 22 June 2014

034: A walk around Second Pride

I had some time this afternoon and wanted to see what my neighbour and friend, Jak Calcutt, had done as a build for the Second Pride installation on three sims. So instead of doing the recommended thing and looking at the guides, and maps, and helpful materials that I'm sure are out there -- I went and did what about half of its visitors will do and just showed up and walked around.
Now, I'm very fond of that walkabout idea. I like to do it in strange sims, just walk around and see what the designer has planned for my eye to encounter. I like to do it especially in sims where I want to put up a house, because I like to know what my neighbours' houses are like and what the overall impression will be that I'll be living with. I expect it would really be better if I had followed some sort of official guide and looked around with the aid of a map, and really, I'll give that some thought next time LOL.
I arrived near a large sculpture that I found quite charming, since I like artworks that are pieces of type: P-R-I-D-E, cycling through the colours of the rainbow, is a simple idea but at this size an effective one. That's me in the foreground, to give you an idea of the scale; of course I could have fooled about lining up the shot to make the type line up perfectly, which it actually does; but, folks, if you walk by it, you get it at all angles and all colours. It's an interesting little sculpture and a nice backdrop for pictures, I thought.
Next I called up the map and headed for the largest group of green dots, which turned out to be a dance party in the main pavilion as a celebration for lesbians. They were welcoming, but I had things to look at and so declined; someone had a really nice exploding effect on, though, and I'm sorry I can't give it to you in full detail. The music sounded good and everyone was having a good time. But I had spotted something in the distance that looked like a ferris wheel and had decided to head for it, since I love ferris wheels.
Unfortunately, this particular ferris wheel was kind of a bust for me. There wasn't really a chance to see a lot of spectacular views from the top of the wheel, which is one of the reasons why I like them.
I'll be honest and say that they are more fun when you're with someone; there certainly wasn't anything wrong with the wheel itself, mechanically, just that there wasn't a lot to look at and no one with whom to giggle. But the midway, or arcade, or whatever you'd like to call it, well, that was a lot of fun all by myself. I didn't have much of a chance at such a thing when I was younger, since they didn't seem to hang out in my home town (or perhaps my parents sensibly declined to tell me). At any rate, I've always been fascinated by midways and carnies and now that I'm mostly grown-up ;-) I try not to miss an opportunity.
This one was, as they say in my neighbourhood, everything and a bag of chips. It had every ride and shooting gallery and fun thing that I wanted, and it all worked, and it was all fun to experiment with. I loved Zoltar, who told my fortune about a glorious future quite accurately (at least, he did with a little prompting and a couple of false starts LOL).  And although the big rides were very dramatic, I had just as much fun with the little tiny rides probably meant for younger kids -- that's me, pretending to be falling off the flying saucer ride.
I did feel as though I should be looking for more of the cultural attractions; I found an area with some interesting pieces of SL art. The photo I've provided here doesn't really do the sculpture justice, because it's moving; it's a set of shifting prims that change colour in a couple of ways, and it's quite fascinating. I didn't find a way to discover who had done this work, but I imagine that information can be found; I was lazy and didn't try hard, though. I like seeing what people can think of to do with the possibilities of SL sculpture, and you should check out this exhibit -- there's some clever stuff there.
Then I wandered into the shopping district which, to do it credit, was NOT awful and quite restrained and tasteful. By not awful, I mean that there was not a single store devoted to the purveyance of awful rainbow-coloured tatt that you'll wear once and then relegate to dead storage in inventory. Instead, there were little pop-up stores from brands that I associate with gay people's interests in SL. Some sell good clothes, some sell good furniture, hair, whatever, and they had put together a little sample of the kind of work they do and didn't sell it too aggressively. Nicely done, and very tasteful, thank you retailers. I think these stores get rented as a favour to Second Pride in order to support the effort financially.  So thank you very much, retailers, and honestly, I think you should wander through the shopping districts while you're there. Go ahead, buy yourself a new bathing suit like I did, and while I'm on the topic a donation into the box that supports the tier of this set of sims would not be unappreciated either, I'm sure. This work is probably a labour of love for a lot of people, but we can at least defray their expenses a bit.
Finally I was attracted to a building off to one side that was like architecture from my native British Columbia -- large airspace, cedar and green construction that reminds people vaguely of trees, and a lot of glass to bring the outdoors in. A beautiful building. I ran into Jak Calcutt pushing a few trees along the exterior *exactly* into place -- we all know how that goes, you never have enough time to tweak it just before the reveal, right? LOL -- and he confirmed my thought that it was a combination wedding chapel and remembrance chapel (note the eternal flame at the front), all non-sectarian. There's quite a bit of memorialization in this whole Pride build, with an extensive installation about the life and times of Harvey Milk down the way a bit, and to me it is a very appropriate way of paying homage to the men and women who got gay people to the point they're at today. I hope this building survives the Pride fete; I'd like to see it live somewhere.  Hell, I'd like to get married in it some day!
I haven't been to any of the Pride dances; I know there was a lot of good DJs who have some place in the lineup, so I intend to dance whenever I can. But just wandering around the sim was a nice experience in itself. I had fun doing things that had nothing to do with Pride, particularly, and I also had fun experiencing art and a bit of tristesse at the Harvey Milk installation. And I have to tell you, there really IS some good design in this build. I look at it from the point of view of someone who just plops himself in and goes walking. Can I always see interesting things towards which I can progress? Are there intriguing glimpses of things off in the distance? And, very much to the point, are there paths that make it possible to get anywhere you might want to go without wading through a canal, or taking to the air. As a walker, I find that important, and here it was done properly. There's lots of good landscaping here, it's super-easy to know where you are on the sims at all times -- great whacking slabs the height of my house with a huge "W" for "west" on them are hard to miss, even for the geographically challenged like myself.
I've been hearing a lot the last few days about the history of this event and an enormous amount of trouble and bad cess that's happened in the past. I got an aggrieved note from a well-known DJ while I was actually touring the sim, laying out his issues for everyone in his group. I have to respect the seriousness with which people approach these issues; for me, though, I have no axe to grind, nothing to gain, and I tend not to attend Pride celebrations in RL because I don't care for the crush of all those people. So I wanted to have the privilege of a virtual celebration, and I'm taking Second Pride -- like so much else in Second Life -- as I find it. I don't care who did what to whom for how many cookies two or three years ago; it's wise to be vigilant about what happens to charity donations, but that goes for every such situation. Like so many others, I don't care for drama and while I am glad that residents obviously care about how to put on a good celebration, at the end of it all -- it's another party. I'll attend things to have fun and I hope you have fun too.




033: Second Second Life: No freaking out required

Well, the big news on Friday afternoon from Linden Labs was that they're working on a new "next generation virtual world". I don't think anyone should be surprised at that; it's their business. The part of the press release that everyone is freaking out over is -- "[W]e don't want to constrain our development by setting backward compatibility with Second Life as an absolute requirement from the start."

Judging by reaction in the blogosphere, and a couple of random comments I heard last night while I was out shopping, that announcement means that Second Life will be shutting down in about 20 minutes, and every cent you've ever spent on stuff in SL is now completely wasted, and, and, and -- the sky is falling.

For crying out loud, RELAX.

My friend Eddi Haskell has summed it up very well at his blog, found here -- and his post is called "Much Ado About Nothing", which is perfect. He makes four very good points that you really should read for yourself. But what it boils down to for me is, SL technology is open source and Linden Labs is still making money by running SL -- so I don't think SL is going anywhere soon. If Linden Labs sells it off, someone will pick it up (and personally, I'm thinking that Facebook has pretty deep pockets right now, and it's kind of a natural fit with their business model). Firestorm will continue to support a viewer as a third-party provider, I think.

And honestly, did you think Second Life was going to last forever?  This is, to me, just like the transition that I've lived through between VHS and DVD. Yes, I had to replace movies that I owned in VHS format, but the DVD format is a lot better and easier to use. I'm betting that once Linden Labs approaches the question of creating a virtual world with today's technology, with the extraordinary graphics that we've all seen in other games, and, yes, even with the potential addition of Oculus Rift to the mix, we will be happy puppies. The technological leap might cost us all time and money, but I'm thinking that it will be like the early days of SL all over again -- covers of magazines will bring thousands of newbies into Second Second Life, as you might call it, and the experience that we've all gained in our years in SL will pay off big-time in SSL. We'll all be able to start consulting services teaching people about the equivalent of Slink feet and l'Uomo mesh bodies and custom AOs, because we've already mastered the art of surfing the technology waves that pass through SL every so often.

So look on the bright side! Frankly, although I'm sure we'll be able to play in SL for a long, long time, I will probably be enthusiastic about leaving it behind and moving to SSL. We'll be getting a better environment in which to do the same things we like to do. And we'll be the only people who have experience at using that kind of environment. I can't say I'll be delighted if I have to throw away a lot of virtual clothes and furniture, etc., but I wasn't happy about throwing away a lot of VHS tapes either. It's a part of life. And I can't wait to see what they come up with!


Saturday 21 June 2014

032: Talking heads

A couple of things came together serendipitously today when I saw two photographs in different places; two and two apparently adds up to a blog post.
Some time ago, I posted about a theory of mine that larger heads are more attractive; if you search my blog for the name Vanna White, whose head is noticeably too big for her body, you'll find my post. Today I noticed this photograph of two shirtless gentlemen standing very close together, which I have cropped for what might be obvious reasons -- but I noticed it merely by looking at a thumbnail, because there seemed to be something odd about it. If you expand the photo, you'll notice the same thing I did; both are muscular guys with about the same body structure, but the man on the left has a head that is about one-third again as big as the man on the right. The guy on the right seems out of proportion to me (his neck is too long, or his shoulders aren't wide enough, or something), whereas the guy on the left has a great ratio between head and body, to my eye. I just thought this was a good proof of concept that if you ratchet your head-size slider up to about 90, you won't regret it.
The other thing that came through my news feed today was probably the same thing that came across yours; the "handsomest convict alive", or words to that effect. If you take the trouble to read the story, the gentleman pictured has apparently just committed some serious weapons-related offences and will not be able to start a modelling career for quite some time, but his mug shot has traveled around the world. Well, I do tend to set aside photos of guys with striking faces like this for future SL design reference. What I also noticed is that his face and head are beautifully shaped; super proportions, an incredible jawline, perfectly round head. And finally that, like I've mentioned occasionally, when you have an absolutely perfect face in SL or RL, you have to somehow break it up -- give people something disproportionate or jarring in order to give the eye something upon which to focus.  In this case it's the small tattoo at the corner of his eye, and the faint neck tattoos, that immediately draw the eye; the rest is just too perfect. (I'd love to see this guy's face overlaid with a transparency of Tyson Beckford.) If I was going to reproduce this guy's face in SL, I'd give him a tiny bit heavier eyebrows, to break up the line -- other than that, the underlying shape that produced that face could be available at any one of a number of shape/skin shops in SL as we speak. I'd start looking at Intouchable; they tend to go for the gorgeous thug types LOL.



031: A relaxing hour at Arcadia Beach

Sometimes you want to be in the middle of the action, and sometimes -- sometimes you just want to lie on the beach and have a nice conversation. That's why I was glad to be introduced to the pleasures of Arcadia Beach, which I've unaccountably overlooked in the last couple of years. It's a simple and pretty location; plenty of interesting things to do if you're so inclined, and if you're feeling lazy, like I was yesterday afternoon, it's very satisfying to simply recline on the beach loungers, work on your tan, and gossip.  Arcadia is clothing-optional so if you don't want to see the more interesting body parts, don't enlarge the photographs.

The people whom I have to thank for my pleasant afternoon are, first photo above from left to right, Scylo77 Resident, Carl Wilder, (that's me in the blue trunks), Alex Thaub, Eon Starfall, and Chad Deischer. As you can see, if you simply want to relax and be surrounded by handsome men, Arcadia Beach is a good place to spend the afternoon! (The second photograph is, left to right, Carl, me, and Alex.)

Friday 20 June 2014

030: Date night at Batista's

I interviewed the charming Alex Thaub recently and he mentioned that he likes to go on dates -- so I invited him out for dinner. The company was delightful, but what really made the evening special was the setting: Batista's Mountain Resort.
Now, I've done a lot of things in Second Life, and I've put together a lot of houses, but for some reason I've never managed to be convinced that I need to have a kitchen. It just seems strange to me to build in a kitchen in an environment where you don't eat (the nice corollary of that is that you never gain an ounce in SL unless you want to). So when a friend told me about Batista's Mountain Resort, I was a little skeptical. A restaurant? Where you go and eat? I was dubious.
Well -- colour me convinced. First of all, the location is just gorgeous; photo-ops around every corner and in every direction. It's a small series of connected dining areas far enough away from each other that you're not listening to other people's conversations in the open channel. You need to make reservations in advance, because you're actually hiring both the location and the time and effort of one of the sim's operators, who guides you through the dining process. In our case it was Marion.Melodie Resident who welcomed us, brought our menus, drinks, and served our meal.
I thought the mechanics of it were quite interesting. I'd paid in advance, so nothing to worry about in that respect -- although the menus have prices in them, which confused me a little.  (But I am easily confused LOL.) When your cocktails arrive, be sure you're not in busy mode or it snarls things up; but we worked it out and ordered an appetizer, an entree, and dessert. With your menu comes a folder of utensils, and the chairs have animations built in for drinking, eating, and just sitting back. So there's a little bit of fussing with switching the animations back and forth, but nothing that people can't handle who are used to complicated sex furniture LOL.
And everything is pretty much what it would be like in an elegant RL restaurant; fine food delivered with just the right timing between courses so as to allow for good conversation, and a chance to admire the surroundings and the meal itself. I had oysters, prime rib and cherry cheesecake -- there's a ten-page menu, so you have plenty of choices.
I was actually so involved in chatting with my companion that I forgot to take a whole lot of pictures -- I think I may go back for a look round, but here's a pretty shot I took while I was checking the place out preparatory to making a reservation.
After dinner (which took about 90 minutes) we had a chance to wander around the resort looking at the various locations and taking a few pictures (and time for a little canoodling in one of the many pretty locations [wink]). It's a very impressive and beautiful build, and I think Batista's serves a function that I haven't found is done well in SL -- it offers people the chance to have a date in the same way that they would in RL and without having to carry the load of designing and producing the entire experience themselves. The service and production are both excellent and deserve a good tip -- you might spend L$1,200 for your evening, but it was an experience I don't think either of us will forget in a hurry. Well done Batista's!


Saturday 14 June 2014

029: Alex Thaub sits on my deck

I was out dancing this afternoon, after a hard day at the office -- yeah, on a Saturday. So I ran into a chap at daPier, which is a fun place to go dancing and listen to DJ Mikedacook Dinzeo (except he is taking a month or so off, I gather, so next weekend will be a good, good party on his way out I'm sure!). The gentleman in question was Alex Thaub, and what with one thing and another -- okay, I offered him a spare penis, it's a long story -- he kindly agreed to come and sit on my deck and do an interview.  Here it is!

(And, may I add -- I'm really trying hard to make the recording process work; this one has no mistakes and I apologize for bobbling things in the past.)

[19:13] Rusty Redfield: <click> Okay, we're good.
[19:13] ALEX (alex.thaub): ready
[19:13] Rusty Redfield: I'm here with Alex Thaub -- we've just met so I don't know how this interview will go!
[19:14] Rusty Redfield: Alex has been in SL six years plus -- looking for some good insights here
[19:14] Rusty Redfield: okay! First question
[19:15] ALEX (alex.thaub): yes
[19:15] Rusty Redfield: 1. Why do you stay in Second Life?  What keeps you here?
[19:16] ALEX (alex.thaub): Good question.  I guess I enjoy a few true friends that I have met here and known since my early days that keeps me coming back to catch up with them from time to time.
[19:16] Rusty Redfield: as you were saying before we started -- you take breaks from SL
[19:16] ALEX (alex.thaub): yes I do from time to time
[19:16] ALEX (alex.thaub): I find them necessary to rethink some things
[19:17] Rusty Redfield: can you tell me how that works? what triggers a break? and how does it help you stay in the long term?
[19:17] Rusty Redfield: (I like to try to appeal to newbies ... for whom taking a break might be a new idea)
[19:18] ALEX (alex.thaub): well, not a big fan of drama which seems to follow me around some times so when the drama gets to me I just leave. At first it wasn't easy doing so but as time went on it got better and really helped me handle some situations
[19:18] Rusty Redfield: aha! yes, not a big fan of drama here either.
[19:19] ALEX (alex.thaub): as I always say, there is always going ot be a good looking avatar around the corner but it's the rl person that makes the difference
[19:19] Rusty Redfield: I hear you
[19:19] Rusty Redfield: <fist bump> <LOL>
[19:19] ALEX (alex.thaub): lol
[19:20] Rusty Redfield: okay, well, that segues really well into question #2:
[19:20] Rusty Redfield: 2. What are the qualities that attract you to people in Second Life?
[19:20] ALEX (alex.thaub): Honesty, good conversations, a good sense of humor and a real plus is someone that's not in a rush to jump in the sack
[19:20] ALEX (alex.thaub): :)
[19:20] ALEX (alex.thaub): that's a big turn off for me
[19:21] Rusty Redfield: my readers know I encourage people to date here -- I think it is useful
[19:21] ALEX (alex.thaub): I agree wit hthat
[19:21] Rusty Redfield: and fun, and appropriate, and ... more interesting than jumping in the sack
[19:22] ALEX (alex.thaub): you know there are some here that meet you and right away they want you to be their partner or bf the day that meet you.  I tend to run from those lol
[19:22] Rusty Redfield: not that there's anything wrong with jumping in the sack LOL
[19:22] ALEX (alex.thaub): well, no but I prefer to know the person better if that's going to happen
[19:22] Rusty Redfield: oh yeah -- well, as you and I were saying before I turned on the recorder, there are a lot of fucked-up people in SL it seems
[19:23] ALEX (alex.thaub): sad but true, I've met quite a few mixed up individuals in these  6 years
[19:23] Rusty Redfield: but I find that having a nice av and sexy clothes doesn't necessarily mean you know what to DO with a nice av and sexy clothes
[19:23] ALEX (alex.thaub): exactly how I see it
[19:23] ALEX (alex.thaub): you're right
[19:23] ALEX (alex.thaub): takes much more than good looks
[19:24] Rusty Redfield: we have come to the part of the interview where you get to do any self-promotion you want LOL
[19:24] ALEX (alex.thaub): LOL
[19:24] Rusty Redfield: 3. What are you working on, as a form of artistic expression or in order to earn money, or both?
[19:24] Rusty Redfield: I encourage people to blow their own horn, so go for it
[19:25] ALEX (alex.thaub): hmm let me think about this for a minute lol
[19:25] Rusty Redfield: LOL well, if it helps, some people say that working on their av is a form of artistic expression
[19:25] ALEX (alex.thaub): I've never been one to toot my own horn as it usually toots on it's own :)
[19:26] ALEX (alex.thaub): well, I guess it can be but I've looked the same as you see me here for many years. have had the same hair and a few other parts since my newbie days
[19:26] Rusty Redfield: then ... niiiiiiiiice
[19:26] Rusty Redfield: <wink>
[19:27] ALEX (alex.thaub): thank you thank you.   I guess without any work on my part I promote myself when someone meets me I usually get many compliments either for my av's look or my personality
[19:27] Rusty Redfield: but not to worry.  I meet people who come here to work and I meet people who come here to create and I meet people who come here to have fun.  It's all good.  And, yes, your AV is hot, but you seem like a nice guy running it
[19:28] Rusty Redfield: so before I embarrass you I will move on question 4 LOL
[19:28] ALEX (alex.thaub): I try to be no different as I am in rl. So many here try to be something different than in rl. I treat it as an extension but always finding the proper balance between both worlds
[19:28] ALEX (alex.thaub): lol ok
[19:29] Rusty Redfield: you know, he says, stalling on the segue LOL, something that ALWAYS comes up is people saying, "The only real thing here is emotions".  Is that part of what you meant?
[19:29] ALEX (alex.thaub): oh emotions are very real here of course
[19:30] ALEX (alex.thaub): and they can be very real with the right person
[19:30] Rusty Redfield: I;'ve definitely found that.
[19:31] Rusty Redfield: 4. If you could give advice to your earlier self in the first month that you spent in Second Life, what would you say?
[19:31] ALEX (alex.thaub): you either click with someone here or you don't as in real life
[19:31] ALEX (alex.thaub): lol first thing that came to mind is stay away from sl
[19:31] ALEX (alex.thaub): :)
[19:31] Rusty Redfield: HAH!
[19:31] Rusty Redfield: I know, right?
[19:31] ALEX (alex.thaub): honestly sometimes I wish I had never joined
[19:31] Rusty Redfield: or "You will meet a tall dark handsome asshole"
[19:32] ALEX (alex.thaub): I meet one of those weekly
[19:32] ALEX (alex.thaub): even have an asshole list in my inventory
[19:32] ALEX (alex.thaub): lol
[19:32] Rusty Redfield: hah! Well, that's advice to newbies -- start an asshole list
[19:32] ALEX (alex.thaub): true and don't rush into things
[19:32] ALEX (alex.thaub): get to know people before you get to srious
[19:32] ALEX (alex.thaub): serious
[19:32] Rusty Redfield: yeah.
[19:33] Rusty Redfield: because if someone is trying to pressure you into relating to them in a certain way, there is usually a bad reason.
[19:33] ALEX (alex.thaub): and beware as a newbie of those that can take advantage of you for being new
[19:33] ALEX (alex.thaub): true
[19:33] ALEX (alex.thaub): I agree
[19:34] Rusty Redfield: for me my advice would be "don't spend so much money on crap" but honestly, I think your advice is better LOL
[19:34] Rusty Redfield: okay, almost done, I estimated 20 minutes, right?
[19:35] Rusty Redfield: I need to be respectful of your time
[19:35] Rusty Redfield: 5. What do you like most about the way that your avatar looks?
[19:35] ALEX (alex.thaub): well, when I started sl I did spend lots of money because the freebie clothes were really bad but now they have nice free clothes and things so no need to spend money right off
[19:36] ALEX (alex.thaub): as far as my looks I've always wanted to look natural. some here over due it and look like cartoons
[19:36] ALEX (alex.thaub): in my opnion of course
[19:36] ALEX (alex.thaub): ;)
[19:36] Rusty Redfield: LOL
[19:36] ALEX (alex.thaub): like those pumped up mesh av's
[19:36] Rusty Redfield: hey, I have a l'Uomo body somewhere LOL
[19:36] ALEX (alex.thaub): there you go that's what I had in mind
[19:37] Rusty Redfield: it's fun for getting attention, but ...
[19:37] Rusty Redfield: I don't need a lot of attention any more.
[19:37] ALEX (alex.thaub): I have one as well but it looked stupid so I never spent any money on it and it has no clothes
[19:37] ALEX (alex.thaub): lol
[19:37] Rusty Redfield: mmmmmmmmm  <coughs> I mean, oh, really?
[19:37] Rusty Redfield: <belly laugh>
[19:37] ALEX (alex.thaub): coughs..yes really
[19:37] ALEX (alex.thaub): hahaha
[19:37] ALEX (alex.thaub): I always attract attention
[19:38] ALEX (alex.thaub): it's a curse
[19:38] Rusty Redfield: that's the Chinese curse, right? "May you live in interesting times"
[19:38] ALEX (alex.thaub): have had a record 10 Im's going all at once
[19:38] ALEX (alex.thaub): well I wish the damn thing would curse someone else lol
[19:38] Rusty Redfield: heh heh
[19:38] ALEX (alex.thaub): ;)
[19:39] ALEX (alex.thaub): even if I wear a bag over my head it makes no difference
[19:39] Rusty Redfield: well Alex -- thank you for agreeing to do an interview on such short notice ... you're brave!
[19:39] Rusty Redfield: do you have anything you want to say to newbies, or any SL philosophy you want to share?
[19:39] ALEX (alex.thaub): oh it was my pleasure Rusty I enjoyed this
[19:39] ALEX (alex.thaub): as I said don't take things or people to seriously.  Give people time and you'll know who's being true to you and who isn't
[19:40] Rusty Redfield: I agree.  I mean, we've all had the occasional 18-minute relationship, but -- for long-term enjoyment, think for the long term
[19:41] ALEX (alex.thaub): yes, I mean long term. if you meet someone and 10 minutes later they say I love you will you be my bf RUN
[19:41] ALEX (alex.thaub): ;)
[19:41] Rusty Redfield: o yeah
[19:41] Rusty Redfield: because the next line after "will you be my bf" is going to be even MORE psycho LOL
[19:41] Rusty Redfield: "You don't treat me right!"
[19:41] ALEX (alex.thaub): or the famous line what are you looking for
[19:41] ALEX (alex.thaub): you know what my answer is?
[19:42] ALEX (alex.thaub): my keys I lost them last night have you seen them
[19:42] ALEX (alex.thaub): ;()
[19:42] Rusty Redfield: LOL
[19:42] ALEX (alex.thaub): that's how I handle that
[19:42] ALEX (alex.thaub): grins
[19:42] Rusty Redfield: half the guys I meet, if you lost your keys it was probably up their ass
[19:42] ALEX (alex.thaub): well I lost my in the sand hahaha
[19:42] Rusty Redfield: like the old joke, "If you can find my car keys, we'll DRIVE out"
[19:42] ALEX (alex.thaub): LOL exactly
[19:43] Rusty Redfield: well -- thanks Alex -- I'm going to shut the recorder off, with your permission
[19:43] ALEX (alex.thaub): my pleasure Rusty I enjoyed this

[19:43] Rusty Redfield: good! <click>

A fun guy with a good sense of humour! See you soon, Alex. 

Wednesday 11 June 2014

028: New vest from Dozze

To quote Amanda Lepore, "I don't know much about clothes, but my hair looks fierce." I'd like to think that today I look almost as fierce as Ms. Lepore, courtesy of some new hair and a new vest.

I don't often get inspired to go on a selfie fashion shoot, but you know, it's kind of fun. I went to a bar called "The Hole" that's part of Cox Leather Land to see if I could get some biker-like atmosphere. No bikes or bikers in sight, but there was a lot of enigmatic-looking furniture that I thought made for some interesting pictures.

I liked this biker vest a lot when I saw it here while glancing through fashion blogs today, and more than one blog at that, so I went and bought one. It's the Wastrel Leather Vest, rigged mesh from Dozze, designed by Zevock Trenkins, and feels very comfortable. Beautiful textures and cut for a muscular shape. It fits well with the included alpha and I had no problems with their XL size, which is sometimes the case from other designers. You have your choice of 4 colours at L$345 (black, brown, grey, red) and the fatpack for L$830. Each vest comes with ten choices of colour via HUD for the underlying T-shirt, which alas is mandatory, but the T-shirt textures and colours are elegantly understated. Dozze apparently sells only in Marketplace and the store is found here.

The Dozze store is worth looking at for a couple of reasons, one of which is, this is how you organize a store on Marketplace, so if you are floundering, here is a good model to follow. There are a couple of hundred items representing various colour choices of a limited range of garments, and each has its easily accessed demo and affiliated fatpack.

For me, the interesting part was that all the clothes fit together as a coherent look. In terms of colours and styles and attitudes, you could feel confident that if one of the garments suited your style, it all would. That for me is rare. I've seen large stores in SL helmed by excellent designers who can sustain two or three different looks for the same label, and I get that. But here I feel like I've just discovered a designer who knows how to do a single thing really well and sticks to that. If Zevock Trenkins did two or three such looks in a full wardrobe, either the Marketplace store would be unwieldy and overlarge or there would have to be an SL-based clicks and mortar location, and more marketing, yada yada. Less fun, more work. This caters to the kind of SL guy who wants to throw something on, everything fits, it looks great, and you look like you thought about what you were wearing. And if you dressed like this in RL, those doormen at the downtown clubs might be unlatching that rope a little faster <grin>. So a guy who wants to look put together could do worse -- a LOT worse -- than just go buy the entire line and then you're pretty much done for a year.

There seems to be a lot of good thought and perhaps some real-life experience behind this line, and I intend to keep an eye on Dozze. Check it out.

My new hair is fierce, I think. "Hayate" from Argrace, and I think I also spotted this in the blog feed today. I still like my last favourite, but it had not managed to maintain looking all messy and charming and One Direction/Hugh Grant/Andy Hardy-ish like when I bought it; instead, it looked like someone who was too busy to get a damn haircut and it kept falling in his face. This may have something to do with my real-life need for a haircut; sometimes art imitates life. So I was in the mood for something a bit more restrained and I thought this -- like everything from Argrace -- looked expensive and understated. I had to tweak its size and position a little but I think it was an investment of time well spent.

Hair: "Hayate" from Argrace Hair (get the demo here); mine is Ash Black and the XXL size fits my overly-large head quite nicely.
Vest and T-shirt: Dozze (by Zevock Trenkins); the vest in black is found here.
Skin: Redgrave "Cruz"
Eyes: MADesigns, "Soul"
Tattoo: Identity: Into Darkness
Ring: Chop Zuey, "The Gambler" (from the current Men Only Hunt)


Sunday 8 June 2014

027: Maxx (daddybootz) sits on my deck

I've known Maxx (daddybootz) for more than a year; I did a piece about his latest sculptures a while ago and this interview is one of the products of that interaction.  He's a busy guy -- we almost managed this a couple of times and finally did it almost on the spot, which I actually think is useful for this kind of interview. 

[15:01] Rusty Redfield: okay, tape recorder is -- <click> there we go.
[15:01] Maxx (daddybootz): hehehe
[15:02] Rusty Redfield: I'm recording.  Maxx, daddybootz, thanks for coming to sit on my dock
[15:02] Maxx (daddybootz): Hey thanks (wink)
[15:02] Rusty Redfield: we've been trying to do this now for a while!
[15:02] Maxx (daddybootz): Yeah I know, I get SO busy in SL sometimes.
[15:03] Rusty Redfield: I've known Maxx around the grid for a while, maybe even since I've been here.  Well, you're busy because you do a lot of stuff
[15:03] Rusty Redfield: You build and create and mmake and sell
[15:03] Rusty Redfield: anyway, audience, Maxx and I are friends, so don't expect me to be neutral here LOL
[15:03] Maxx (daddybootz): Yeah, through your former husband I think?
[15:04] Rusty Redfield: I know you were at our wedding reception
[15:04] Maxx (daddybootz): Yes, it was great, a real family affair
[15:04] Rusty Redfield: anyway! First question: 1. Why do you stay in Second Life?  What keeps you here?
[15:04] Maxx (daddybootz): Oh, wow.....well the first is I am disabled in RL so I have alot of free time. Instead of sitting in front of the Boob-Tube I come to SL.
[15:05] Maxx (daddybootz): I've also made extraordinary friendships here, long term ones
[15:05] Rusty Redfield: well, there you go, I didn't know that
[15:05] Rusty Redfield: I know many differently abled people come here to be on, like, equal ground
[15:05] Maxx (daddybootz): And of course I date here and love the creativity of all the things you can do in SL, neary instantnly.
[15:05] Rusty Redfield: understood
[15:05] Maxx (daddybootz): Ahh yes.
[15:06] Rusty Redfield: okay, one sec for the next question.
[15:06] Maxx (daddybootz): I mean, to be able to make a music box in mere seconds in SL when it would take weeks or months in RL is what draws me here too.
[15:06] Rusty Redfield: 2. What are the qualities that attract you to people in Second Life?
[15:06] Maxx (daddybootz): Ok
[15:08] Maxx (daddybootz): Hmm, definately their personality. I always ask people "How old are you? Where are you from? And what do you do for work in RL"? That way I have a grasp on them as a real person. Then I know who I am talking to ie some kid versus a mature guy who's been around the block a few times. Personality is huge for me; if you are bored or boring, then I will be too near you.
[15:08] Rusty Redfield: interesting!
[15:10] Maxx (daddybootz): In real life I have done tons of jobs; a real life lumberjack, in the US Navy, a shrimper, painter, truck driver, and now science fiction author. so I run into lots of different people and have learned to like it. I grew up in Idaho, where the deer outnumber the people, so diversity was kinda a shock for me at first cause in Idaho nothing is diverse; we're all pretty much the same. I didn't  even meet a Jew, Italian ,or Catholic until I was travelling as a truck driver in my 30s, haha.
[15:11] Maxx (daddybootz): i am 46 now.
[15:11] Rusty Redfield: I'm from a similar landscape a bit north of you. So I'm guessing one of the things that attracts you to people is -- that they're from a very different background than you?
[15:12] Maxx (daddybootz): Oh yes, nothing bores me more than someone exactly like myself. I grew up a strict Mormon, trust me I am sooooo not interested in doing what Mormons do anymore. Boring.
[15:13] Maxx (daddybootz): And I've some phenominally WEIRD people in SL, and I love it! HAHA
[15:13] Rusty Redfield: LOL and on the not boring side, I'm about to ask you what you do -- and I suspect that's such a long list I may have to do a save!!
[15:13] Rusty Redfield: 3. What are you working on, as a form of artistic expression or in order to earn money, or both?
[15:15] Maxx (daddybootz): Oh, well I am disabled in RL, so I am trying to keep from being homeless by being more serious about money making in SL. I NEVER made hardly a dime in SL until the last year or so. I ran the Top Services business and made tons and tons of money in the escort business, but I got burned out. I now make and mod sexy statues, ones that are super low prim (1-5 prims is an average). I really enjoy modding them. I have a brand new one as of yesterday that is a guy tied to a chair; he moans and makes random noises every once in awhile. I LOVE that sort of stuff; so creative.
[15:15] Maxx (daddybootz): Before SL was just "play" for me, now its not alot of play and more "work".
[15:16] Rusty Redfield: I know how hard you work, for sure.  Your Marketplace store is ... full of all kinds of different stuff.
[15:16] Rusty Redfield: and you have a couple of storefronts, etc.
[15:18] Maxx (daddybootz): Oh yes, I actually decided to consolidate all my stores onto one sim, a sorta megamall. I make tattoos, bumpers, unique gestures, all sorts of stuff. I am very diverse in my creativity. Being a "monomaniac" can be good if you make alot of money at it (making one product really well), but I am not so narrow focused. I have broad interests.
[15:18] Rusty Redfield: and a bunch of different skills.  I know that the understanding necessary to do a gesture is different than that for a mesh statue.
[15:19] Rusty Redfield: Or clothing. Or a corner store (what in Quebec is called a depanneur)
[15:19] Maxx (daddybootz): Oh yes, I dont make the mesh statues though, Krikket does, but I mod and resell them. I enjoy learning new skills but I am pretty old, computers are still a mystery to me, haha. I am still waiting for the day when I can just TALK to the damn computer and it will obey me, hahaha.
[15:19] Rusty Redfield: Or animated GIFs or or or LOL you do so many different things!
[15:20] Maxx (daddybootz): Yeah I enjoy that, I get inspired by others. I am working on a new line of AFK statues: sexy guys, monsters, etc
[15:20] Rusty Redfield: Can these be mannequins in stores? For the store's clothes?
[15:21] Rusty Redfield: well, not to worry. Maxx, be sure to come back and put in the comments directions for how to reach your stores and stuff. People are always curious.
[15:22] Maxx (daddybootz): Yes, they can, they are totally modifiable. I have seen one guy put clothes and prims on them, Haha. My megamall is located here:
Note: This is the first thing that didn't work, my lack of technical skills. You can find a store of Maxx's here, at Atlas Estates (231,196,21) and there is a poster on the back wall that will give you a list of all his stores.
[15:22] Maxx (daddybootz): And you can see my Marketplace store here:
[15:22] Maxx (daddybootz): https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/102105
[15:22] Rusty Redfield: I'mnot sure if those came across, but by the time I go to press with this, there will be something there, okay?
[15:22] Maxx (daddybootz): sure
[15:22] Maxx (daddybootz): you bet
[15:23] Rusty Redfield: You've just given me the Mega Mall LM, I'll take care of it
[15:23] Maxx (daddybootz): I can go to the mall and get the URL if you need it
[15:23] Rusty Redfield: Okay -- next question.
[15:23] Maxx (daddybootz): cool
[15:23] Maxx (daddybootz): ok
[15:23] Rusty Redfield: 4. If you could give advice to your earlier self in the first month that you spent in Second Life, what would you say?
[15:23] Maxx (daddybootz): oh WOW
[15:23] Maxx (daddybootz): Lets see....
[15:23] Rusty Redfield: heh heh I know, right?
Sorry, I garbled a few lines here when I was making a save. With Maxx's assistance, I moved forward ... 
[15:26] Rusty Redfield: okay! So "listen more".  Any other advice to newbies?
[15:27] Maxx (daddybootz): Oh, come see me! I LOVE making over new guys and have several folders to give new people. To date I have helped several hundred people in SL look better. Its sorta  happy hobby of mine, haha. Everyone who knows me knows to send their newb friends to see me! WINK
[15:27] Rusty Redfield: you know, that's right, I remember that
[15:27] Maxx (daddybootz): hehehe
[15:27] Rusty Redfield: you had a file of very useful landmarks!
[15:28] Maxx (daddybootz): yeah
[15:28] Maxx (daddybootz): all the best, baby!
[15:28] Rusty Redfield: I think I still have that somewhere LOL because I never throw anything away
[15:28] Maxx (daddybootz): I always send people to Spurt and Hubs first, cause they are the most trafficked.
[15:28] Maxx (daddybootz): Oh? The Newbie folder? :D
[15:28] Rusty Redfield: probably
[15:28] Maxx (daddybootz): haha, love it
[15:28] Rusty Redfield: it's all different now, though
[15:29] Rusty Redfield: so, go see Maxx, everybody ROFL
[15:29] Rusty Redfield: in the meantime, last question
[15:29] Rusty Redfield: 5. What do you like most about the way that your avatar looks?
[15:29] Maxx (daddybootz): well the Red Hug HUD is the the one I always give out in the newbie pack, I see you still use it, hehe
[15:29] Rusty Redfield: hah! that was a present from my husband
[15:30] Rusty Redfield: whom I'm thinking you probably denewbified! LOL
[15:31] Maxx (daddybootz): Oh......well that it doesnt age for one! This year in RL has been especially brutal for my family and my temples, moustache, and soul patch have gone completely white because of the stress. My grandfather nad granmother both died from cancer, my aunt is currently dying from breast cancer, and my mother is dying from kidney cancer, so LOTS of stress. I like my curly moustache and point beard the best; the Khar Dago hair is new for me and very long. Do you like it?
[15:32] Rusty Redfield: I have that same Khar Drago hair from my barbarian days, but the curly beard is new to me, it's cool
[15:32] Maxx (daddybootz): Cool cool.
[15:32] Rusty Redfield: so do you like to change what you look like all the time?
[15:33] Maxx (daddybootz): Yeah I love to change......outfits. I generally look like this. Paul Maracas custom made my shape and i LOVE it. I get tons of compliments on my shape, so I doubt I will ever change it. I do leather and latex very well, dont you think? 9wink)
[15:34] Rusty Redfield: I understand, and I agree, you DO seem to suit leather and latex.
[15:34] Maxx (daddybootz): Hahha, thanks bro.
[15:34] Rusty Redfield: Well -- that's all the questions. Anything you want to get out there about -- say, philosophy about Second Life?
[15:35] Rusty Redfield: I think EVERYBODY has something to say about philosophy in Second Life LOL
[15:35] Maxx (daddybootz): Hmmmm, kindness goes a LONG way in RL and SL. There are a ridiculous amount of vicious people in SL, don't be one.
[15:35] Maxx (daddybootz): I tell all my friends this, and newbs, and try to live like this as best I can.
[15:36] Rusty Redfield: Yes. I've forgotten exactly what the sign says, but something about that emotions are the only real things in SL so treat them carefully.
[15:36] Maxx (daddybootz): Its not necessary to be cruel, you know?
[15:36] Maxx (daddybootz): If you are having a bad day, LOG OFF.
[15:36] Maxx (daddybootz): I agree, and love that sign.
[15:36] Rusty Redfield: Yes, insetad of going to SL BECAUSE you're having a bad day LOL
[15:36] Maxx (daddybootz): Hahaha, indeed.
[15:37] Rusty Redfield: well, that's it for me! Just wanted to thank you for sitting on my deck -- nice of you to make the time -- and I think the interview will get a lot of attention!
[15:37] Maxx (daddybootz): hey thank YOU.......I had fun. You still look like a dwarf! (wink)
[15:38] Rusty Redfield: <grin> I wear muscles when I'm going to the bar; this body is for working ROFL
[15:38] Maxx (daddybootz): I hear you, grin
[15:38] Maxx (daddybootz): hugs HUGS

[15:38] Rusty Redfield: okay, machine is OFF <click>

Thanks again to Maxx for sitting down with me and go check out his stores!

026: Pose rugs

From time to time I like to talk about a good idea that I've seen, while around and about in Second Life. This one is the pose rug.

You'll see in the photo to the left that I'm in the traditional pose for the fitting of clothes; usually when you see your av in this position, it's standing on a pose stand. My pose stand, however, is the Persian carpet upon which I'm standing, which goes with my decor a lot better than a chunky pose stand with somebody's logo on it. Yes, my feet do sink into it a little; no, it's not the greatest convenience when you're fitting shoes. But for everything else it's super-convenient to have a carpet at hand that doubles as a pose stand, instead of either having an ugly stand in the corner, or rezzing a new one every time.

 I honestly don't know why this idea hasn't swept the grid. Everyone that learns my Persian carpet is a pose stand says, "OMG, that's a GREAT idea, I'm totally getting one of those!" They're available on Marketplace for as little as L$3 with 14 texture changes. What more could you want? (If you really, really want more, I'm sure you could figure out how to extract the poses and put them into the carpet of your choice.)


Wednesday 4 June 2014

025: Crito Galtier sits on my deck

It's been a while since I've done an interview; not because there hasn't been a lot of good subjects but nobody has time to sit down! But I scored a coup and managed to catch busy executive Crito Galtier in an expansive mood with a few minutes to spare. I first met Crito a while ago when I was considering entering the Mr. Terra Lascivus contest; I finally never did enter, for various reasons, but I really liked the way that he had set it up so as to avoid being a popularity contest. In fact I liked a lot of his philosophy and so I was delighted to pin him down and get him to tell my readers what he's up to.

I apologize for the presence of Petunia the basset hound in some of the pictures; she's hard to shift once she puts her mind to being somewhere.

Crito Galtier: Thanks you Rusty. It's so nice to be here with you.
[17:11] Rusty Redfield: heh heh do I sound like a disc jockey? LOL
[17:11] Crito Galtier: Not yet. hehe
[17:11] Rusty Redfield: Thanks for agreeing to do the interview.
[17:12] Crito Galtier: It's my pleasure.
[17:12] Rusty Redfield: I won't keep you from your many duties so -- here we go. Question 1, Why do you stay in Second Life? What keeps you here?
[17:12] Crito Galtier: Thank you for taking the time to talk with me.
[17:17] Rusty Redfield: I'm getting some snapshots while you think LOL
[17:18] Crito Galtier: I love the people first and foremost. It's exciting to meet so many new folks from all over the world. And also the amazing adventures Second Life has to offer makes it a fascinating place. There are so many incredible builds and so many talented people. And the talent is not just with the builds. As you know, there are some awesome artists who sing, play live music, photograph and such. Second Life is a microcosm of the real world that lets people be who they are while also letting them be someone they want to me. All of that amazes me and makes every day new and different and so enjoyable. I've been in Second Life four years now and everyday has been different and that make it such a wonderful adventure.
[17:18] Rusty Redfield: wow! it's great to hear someone with enthusiasm
[17:19] Rusty Redfield: I agree -- it's always such a pleasure and a privilege to be here, I think sometimes people forget that
[17:19] Crito Galtier: Oh yes! It's truly an exciting place to be and I do get excited about it.
[17:19] Rusty Redfield: well, that leads right into
[17:19] Rusty Redfield: 2. What are the qualities that attract you to people in Second Life?
[17:19] Rusty Redfield: I'm thinking enthusiasm! LOL
[17:24] Crito Galtier: Well, there are some truly hot avatars out there but that's secondary really. What attracts me to people is their genuineness, their kindness and the love they share with others around them. Too many people forget there are real people behind these pixels and it's important to me that the people I meet remember we are real people. And people who share are also important. I still remember the guy that took me under his wings and got me started when I first joined Second Life. That willingness to share and help people is an important trait and something we all have to do.
[17:25] Rusty Redfield: Very true. As they say, the only real thing here is the emotions.
[17:25] Crito Galtier: That is so true, Rusty.
[17:25] Rusty Redfield: well, here comes the shameless self-advertising part. 
[17:25] Rusty Redfield: 3. What are you working on, as a form of artistic expression or in order to earn money, or both? 
[17:26] Rusty Redfield: go ahead, blow your horn, that's why I ask LOL 
[17:33] Rusty Redfield: everything okay? 
[17:33] Crito Galtier: Until recently I've been working a lot on the new Terra Lascivus. There was a lot of work getting that built. My friends Robin and Mar'Kenn at Armana Designs did all the structural building and it was fantastic watching them create it all and working with them on the layout. Then I had a lot of landscaping and decorating to do, all of which I am constantly working on to make it fresh and better. I hate keeping things stagnant so there is always something to do around the sims. The new Terra Lascivus also has rentals so I have been working on that to help finance the sims. So far it's all gone quite well and I'm very happy with how it's all going. I have great tenants who love Terra Lascivus and that has led to more close friendships, which is most important to me. 
[17:33] Crito Galtier: OH yes! Very fine! 
[17:34] Rusty Redfield: it sounds very complicated. it sounds like you're enjoying all the work 
[17:34] Crito Galtier: I'm a slow typer. lol 
[17:35] Crito Galtier: I really do love the creative outlet that Second Life affords. Where else can we build lavish resorts like Terra Lascivus? It took Rome hundreds of years to build their cities and here we do it in weeks and months. 
[17:35] Rusty Redfield: By the way, just to drag in the reason we have been talking and you agreed to the interview -- my friend and blogging role model Eddi Haskell gave Terra Lascivus such a great review -- and your friends Robin and Mar'Kenn 
[17:36] Rusty Redfield: I know, it's astonishing, isn't it? And so the choices are difficult because you can literally have anything your mind can conceive of 
[17:36] Rusty Redfield: we met because I was thinking of running for Mr. Terra Lascivus a while ago -- how did the contest go? 
[17:37] Crito Galtier: Yes He did! Eddie is a wonderful guy and has an awesome blog. I was truly honored to catch his eye and love for Terra Lascivus. 
[17:37] Rusty Redfield: and it really is an awesome build. I spent like an hour taking selfies in the baths LOL 
[17:41] Rusty Redfield: the landscaping is so lovely -- there are no bad camera angles. and it has such a nice quality of peace and quiet. 
[17:41] Crito Galtier: The contest went very well. It's something I will do every year. AJ Wrightsmith won this year's competition. We had a lot of guys enter the contest. I ran it very differently from a lot of the contests here in Second Life. Too many are popularity contests and that is not what I wanted. I wanted Me Terra Lascivus to hold high qualities with regard to their personality and how they conduct themselves. The judges and contestants were all kept secret to avoid any favoritism and the process was a little hard. I modeled the contest after some of the guidelines from the Mr Gay World competition. I'm looking forward to continuing the contest year after year. 
[17:42] Rusty Redfield: we did talk about that -- I very much liked the way you had set it up 
[17:42] Rusty Redfield: I agree, there is no point in having a popularity contest, because that doesn't promote the brand you're trying to establish. 

[17:45] Crito Galtier: I'm so glad you like the surroundings at Terra Lascivus. As they say, "The devil is in the details" and it's the details and the realism you present in a sim that makes the difference between common and quality. 
[17:46] Rusty Redfield: Yes indeed. The small details make the big picture. 
[17:46] Crito Galtier: Yes it really does. I wonder how may people have noticed the birds and Rocky the squirrel at Terra Lascivus. 
[17:47] Rusty Redfield: so do you rent land only, or do you and your associates design houses and mansions? 
[17:47] Rusty Redfield: hah! you should give a prize for the best photo of Rocky the squirrel LOL 
[17:48] Rusty Redfield: I hope you noticed my basset hound Petunia behind you, she works her way into all the pictures LOL 
[17:49] Crito Galtier: I provide all the homes and landscaping at Terra Lascivus. I do that so I can maintain a level of integrity and quality. Robin and Mar'Kenn designed and built some awesome homes that are all quite large and have incredible detail. They are also set into the land very well and every one is different.
[17:49] Crito Galtier: Yes I did notice Petunia. I love dogs and I think they sense that about me.
[17:49] Rusty Redfield: I agree -- I think people respect that you have a vision for the whole sim. [17:55] Rusty Redfield makes a mental note to go on a photo expedition LOL 
[17:55] Crito Galtier: Just wear clothes there. lol 
[17:55] Rusty Redfield: oh, always LOL I'm shy that way
[17:55] Rusty Redfield: Okay! 
[17:55] Rusty Redfield: 4. If you could give advice to your earlier self in the first month that you spent in Second Life, what would you say? 
[18:01] Crito Galtier: Get out more! I spent most of my first three years in Second Life role playing a gladiator character in ancient Roman sims. I focused a lot on that role and really loved it. In fact, I owned an ancient Roman sim with my very good friend Filipa Thespian called Gods of Valor. There was enough good role play drama there to write a novel! But I limited myself too much to that genre and missed a lot of what Second Life has to offer. So I would tell my "new" self, explore more and discover what Second life has to offer. 
[18:02] Rusty Redfield: wow! I played in a roman sim for maybe a year -- loved the milieu. Yes, there are so many things that can delight people in SL, it seems a shame to stick to just one here. 
[18:02] Rusty Redfield: I look at it as an excuse to go shopping for new costumes
[18:03] Crito Galtier: Well as a gladiator all I wore was a subligaria - many people call it a man diaper. lol So there wasn't need to shope for much outside arena gear which had to be special to make a statement. 
[18:04] Rusty Redfield: I think I just like to shop for clothes LOL. 
[18:04] Rusty Redfield: which leads me to -- 
[18:04] Rusty Redfield: 5. What do you like most about the way that your avatar looks? 
[18:04] Crito Galtier: Me too and I am doing a lot of that now! There are some really great mesh outfits available now, 
[18:10] Crito Galtier: Funny you should ask that. I just celebrated my fourth rez day in Second Life and had pretty much the same avatar. I went through a make over recently so this avatar is all new to me. I'm still getting used to it. But I think it has a nice sophisticated look to it. 
[18:10] Rusty Redfield: First of all, congratulations on your fourth rez day! 
[18:10] Crito Galtier: Thank you! 
[18:10] Rusty Redfield: Yes, you look like an executive at an Internet company LOL 
[18:11] Crito Galtier: In some ways it feels like it's been ten years and in others way it feels like I got here yesterday. 
[18:11] Rusty Redfield: I know, right? there's always something crazy and new coming down the pipe 
[18:11] Crito Galtier: Maybe I should have worn my suit and tie 
[18:12] Rusty Redfield: hah! No, this is the boonies, we don't get dressed up here LOL 
[18:12] Crito Galtier: No wait, Internet executives all wear jeans now so I guess I do fit that model. 
[18:12] Rusty Redfield: well -- you mentioned a bunch of places that I know people will be curious about -- so come back and leave links and stuff in the comments, so people can travel there and check them out 
[18:13] Crito Galtier: I will do that! 
[18:13] Crito Galtier: I'll have you over to my home there when you have time. 
[18:13] Rusty Redfield: Crito, that's all my questions, but I do thank you for being so forthcoming and detailed 
[18:13] Rusty Redfield: and let's both thank Petunia for being particularly well-behaved LOL 
[18:14] Rusty Redfield: thank you for the invitation, I'll take you up on that! 
[18:14] Crito Galtier: Oh my pleasure, Rusty. I'm happy to talk to you and your readers any time. And thank you for this opportunity. 
[18:14] Rusty Redfield: any final words to newbies? That's who I always try to reach 
[18:19] Crito Galtier: I'm so glad you asked that question! Yes! Second Life is a truly wonderful place where you will meet some wonderful people. You will also meet some jerks. It's a lot like real life in that respect. Kick the jerks aside and move on to the wonderful people that are here. You are bound to make friendships that will last a lifetime. And, if you are really lucky, you may even meet someone so special you will want to spend the rest of your life with them. I know may people here where that has happened. I have friends here that will remain friends forever! And don't sweat the technical details. Those will come in time. Second Life will full of people that will help you out. Just don't be afraid to ask for help. 
[18:19] Rusty Redfield: dude! That is like 200 words, but the theme of my blog!! thank you!! 
[18:20] Crito Galtier: Did I ramble too much? hehe 
[18:20] Rusty Redfield: much, much appreciated. thanks so much for your time, Crito, I'm going to turn the recorder off now ... 

I have to say, I like this guy's wavelength. "Kick the jerks aside and move on to the wonderful people that are here. You are bound to make friendships that will last a lifetime." THAT is what I wish for me and everyone else in SL. Thanks, Crito Galtier!!