I Write Like …

Posted on July 31, 2010
Filed Under On The Web | 3 Comments

BY CHIEF STAFF WRITER PAYPABAK WRITER

I saw this great Web application referenced at Salvatore Otoro’s Second Life Roleplay blog. So I copied text from my The Big Quiet article, pasted it in the appropriate box on the “I Write Like” site and got this:

I write like
Cory Doctorow

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

I love Cory Doctorow, so I was very pleased with the result. The like to the site is part of the badge that is posted above. You get this block of coding to add to your blog, a link is provided to email to friends, and buttons help you to post Twitter, Facebook, GoogleBuzz, or tumblr. Furthermore, a listing of books by the writer is generated through which you can buy them at Amazon.

It might be fun to see what the rest of the Moonletters staff generates and maybe we can put the results on our ever-growing Writers page.

Avatarexia

Posted on July 30, 2010
Filed Under Opinions/Gossip/People | 2 Comments

BY EDITOR SHAUNA SKYE

Seen the movie Avatar yet? If so, remember how tall and skinny the Na’vi were compared to the humans? I’m guessing the Na’vi were about 8 to 10 feet tall, towering over people. Well guess what? It seems most people have made themselves this tall and skinny in Second Life. Just touch one of those gadgets that reveal what your height would be in the real world, and you’ll see what I mean. Most women, if you took them from Second Life to real life, are pushing 7 feet tall. Men? Even taller.

I’m not one of those people who think the Second Life body has to look like the real life person. While it’s true I did try to look like real life me, and stood in front of a mirror to get proportions right, since 2007 the SL version of me has gradually slimmed down a little, and I tend to wear shoes that add about six inches of height. When I first worked on myself I had people who knew me best check to see how much SL Shauna looked like real life Shauna. First comment was. “Your chest is not that big” to which I reduced a bit of wishful thinking. I was also told to add more muscles around the legs, and as a result I ended up looking not too different from myself in real life at the time.

Yes, I looked like this picture when I got into Second Life in 2007. The real life me is getting older, but I do not plan to reflect that fact on the Second Life version of myself. That’s right, if Second Life is still around in twenty years I don’t plan to have grey hair and wrinkles, and I’ll still make myself look like a version of me that pleases my own eyes. This is nothing against being older, as some may prefer a mature look, it just so happens I feel more like a kid.

What’s cool about Second Life is we can look however we want to. And yet, even where there’s diversity on clothes or even species, I still notice intolerance. It’s like you can be anything you want to be, just don’t be anything other than young or skinny. This is not to pick on thin people either. I’d take offense if the opposite were true as well, if it was expected that everyone conform to being hugely fat.

Recently someone IMd me about another person in the room. They said something like “When I created my avatar, my friend ____ helped to make me look perfect. So why did that girl make herself look more, er, healthy?” This was not said by a malicious person, but a nice person genuinely asking. Yes, I had to resist the urge to tell them the friend who helped them make their avatar “perfect” sounded rather uninteresting; and I let them know that to my eyes the person they were asking about was absolutely beautiful. I don’t just mean pretty on the inside either. Contrary to popular belief, some people find it more attractive when women have curves.

What got to me about this is the fact that this sweet, well meaning person believed that being skinny was “perfect.” Yes, skinny is perfect for some people, and can be beautiful too; but to someone else a curvier figure is more attractive. I’m speaking mostly of women because I’m a woman, but this is true of men too. Not everyone prefers the look of those big chested hulks you see so much of in Second Life.

I know my taste is different than most, because what some view as beautiful, I often find appalling. An example is tans. To me dark skin is lovely if it is natural, but the people with fake yellow hair and orange skin do not look pleasing to my eyes. Yes, I know they think the same of me, and that’s fine too. People can hardly help what they find attractive and what they don’t. Recently I met a woman who asked if I was a vampire. I had to tell her that no, I just didn’t have a tan.

If someone thinks having a bust that’s bigger than the rest of their body is beautiful, I’d never try to change them or give body advice. But please . . . let’s not call one thing “perfect” and another thing not. Me being pale is not perfect, but neither is them being tan. It’s just a matter of taste.

Like real life, there’s this expectation to conform to a certain look considered to be pretty. Staff writer Jellie Arrowmint made an interesting comment on her blog regarding this in a write up called Me Myself & I. She said:

I was given a ‘Sexy Shape’ . . . & I ended up looking pretty much the same as the other avatars there. When I changed back to my usual shape it was met with the complete lack of understanding as to why I had done this, I explained ’jellie’ is a reflection of my RL self & I was happy this way, again this was met with a complete lack of understanding.

I was left feeling frustrated, I’m an individual & refused to look like most of the other ladies at the club – as nice & full of good intentions as they were.

Actually, I think the people handing out the sexy shapes are showing a reflection of their inner selves. For one, they are demonstrating what they want to look like, or what they think others want them to look like, and well . . . a bit of mainstream conformity. Jellie, however, comes off as an interesting unique person to me.

I’m not saying it’s bad if people conform. We all do it in some ways, and it can be a good thing sometimes. What I think is bad is when people see others who are different from them and want to change them. It’s ok to hangout with people who are more like ourselves, that’s natural, but it’s bad when we try to make everyone else conform to what we prefer. I’m not sure if there’s any treatment for avatarexia yet, but if there is I think many of us need it.

Chess the Job

Posted on July 29, 2010
Filed Under Interesting Items | Leave a Comment

BY STAFF WRITER JELLIE ARROWMINT

In January of this year I challenged a friend to a game of chess when I noticed she had a chessboard in her house. Five months and one marriage later, we still haven’t gotten round to a single game, which is fortunate for me because I need to brush up on my playing skills!

I decided to take a look around Second Life to see if there were any chess boards I could practice on, and lo and behold, I came across a giant one. Ok, I know I’m small, but these pieces really are huge!

Each time I have rezzed here, pieces have been all over the board. There is an option to reset them, but I think the haphazard look is a good one, and I love the shrinking and falling over that goes on when a piece is taken; it’s a pretty good effect!

Even if you’re not a fan of chess this is definitely worth a visit. So if you have a few hours to spare and fancy getting those cogs whirring, have a go!

Visit Inworld: Boudoir Isle

Summer PixelFest

Posted on July 28, 2010
Filed Under Music Stuff, Special Events | Leave a Comment

BY EDITOR SHAUNA SKYE

Lucifer Bates asked me to pass this news on to you about PixelFest.

The Looni Bin and Totally Wired present

Summer PixelFest

Saturday July 31st/Sunday August 1st

Welcome to Summer PixelfFest – a celebration of Second Life’s best music and performance… all on one beautiful sim and spanning 48 hours.

A group of friends who live on the Terres Des Mortes sim have been long-standing fans of live music and DJing all their adult lives, and, fuelled by real-life festival experiences, wanted to try and bring together a group of DJs and performers from all over the grid to perform in one place to replicate some of these priceless outdoor memories.

Over the course of the weekend there’ll be music on both the main stage and in The Cheeky Bastard area, stalls selling a wide range of products and plenty of fun and friendly people along the way.

If at any time you need to ask any questions or need any help with anything, feel free to contact Loonia Loon, Lucifer Bates, russodelrusso Husar, Janus Planer or Kookie Hax. They’d be happy to help.

We’re currently finalising a diverse and fun line-up, and so far we have the incomparable BubbaC John & The Bubbettes (SL’s best Elvis impersonator), Vintage Dolls Traditional Burlesque, an Eek-A-Mouse tribute act, Cats Coakes from 13 Cherry, a special Dr Sketchy’s event with ByrneDarkly Cazalet, Enigma Bombay, Mericat Ireland, Russodelrusso Husar and plenty more.

On the Sunday, we have US mash-up wizard Mr Widget, incredible Australian live turntablist collective alienspeaking, Jinx Paz, Janus Planer, Wiseblood Wisent doing his version of Guilty Pleasures and fantastic live singer/songwriter Keeba Tammas.

We’ll be adding more to the line-up in the coming days, so please join the Summer PixelFest group for regular updates.

See you on the 31st!

Visit Inworld: The Looni Bin

FORE! Part Two

Posted on July 27, 2010
Filed Under Free or Cheap, Fun Places | Leave a Comment

BY CHIEF STAFF WRITER PAYPABAK WRITER

According to their profile “Since July 2006 Holly Kai Golf Club has provided the only full-sized golf experience in all of Second Life. Come experience what Philip Linden decribed as “so cool, I can’t believe it!” Putting green. Golf driving range. Free golf clubs & range finder.” If you read FORE! Part One, you would have to agree with me that this profile needs some updating. Nonetheless, variety is the spice of life. Golf at Holly Kai is challenging and fun, once you get the hang of their completely differet HUD system. A very nice touch is that you can watch videos to learn how to do it!

The course is quite a test of ability as many of the holes are over water. Definitely use the practice areas and videos before buying your fifty-Linden golf token. BTW, the token needs to be rezzed to take effect so don’t buy one and assume you’re ready to play, like I did which made me wonder and end up buying a second one! The token is good for three hours, so be prepared to use that time. Keep worn scripts to a minimum.

Holly Kai is also supported by the Holly Kai Website. It appears that they run tournaments, so if you find yourself getting proficient at the way their floG! HUD (see left) handles the game, you have a chance to measure yourself against others. I prolly need to spend more time with the videos because I kept hitting the ball sideways but again, like with the other course, I’ve been doing a lot of rebooting in SL lately and it definitely was not the course giving me headaches.

Like Green Acres, there’s a nice pro shop with clothing and golf accessories. They’ve been around a long while so you know they are doing things right and the handling of videos and signage for explaining how to play and where to go is well done.

I am very impressed with the ability to play golf in SL. It doesn’t seem like many sports are being simulated here but I’d love to hear differently, so let me know by commenting. And if you have a favorite golf course not mentioned here, again comment and I will be glad to check it out.

Visit Inworld: Holly Kai Golf Course

3 Button Tailored Jacket

Posted on July 26, 2010
Filed Under Fashion, Hair, Skin | 2 Comments

BY EDITOR SHAUNA SKYE

I’ve been asked by more than one person where to find a 3 Button Tailored Jacket. Yes, it’s men who ask me these questions, and since our resident fashionista Albion “Ace Face” Spitteler has been away for a while, I had no one to send them to for proper male mod advice.

Recently, I admired an outfit Mod Squad girl EdenSky Cortes was wearing, and she graciously gave me the landmark to the store she bought it from. While I was there I not only saw Eden’s shirt, but this 3 Button Tailored Jacket. Men, are you paying attention?

The jacket is unisex, and sells for 150 lindens. It comes with both green and red ties. While this would look smashing on a guy, it also looks pretty good on me. Thanks to Eden for sending me to a cool store.

Get it at: Unknown Boutique

Cloud 9.1 News

Posted on July 25, 2010
Filed Under Opinions/Gossip/People, SL Real Estate | Leave a Comment

BY EDITOR SHAUNA SKYE

Creator Maddison Mokeev IM’d me with some Cloud 9.1, Virtual Decay news, and asked if I’d pass it on to you. if you’ve been to the Penny Lane sim you’ve seen Maddison’s work. She not only created the texture for the road, but the record shop we used to have. Dear Prudence Rock Club has many items by her, and at one time there were bits of Maddison’s record store at the 1965 England sim as well.

Maddison is currently seeking stores for her sim. If you’re not a creator into dirty looking grunge you may not be interested, but if you are, and like urban builds that make you think of the ghetto, I can’t think of a better place for a store. Here’s a snapshot to give an idea of what her sim is like, but I suggest going there to get a better feel for it. Even if you’re not interested in opening a store, it’s worth a visit.

More info at www.virtualdecay.com

FORE! Part One

Posted on July 24, 2010
Filed Under Free or Cheap, Fun Places, On The Web | Leave a Comment

BY CHIEF STAFF WRITER PAYPABAK WRITER

It’s been at least two years since Alidar Moxie mentioned playing golf in SL to me. I have always wanted to try it. Last year she even gave me clubs and a HUD. We knocked around some balls from her skybox, but that was about all. So finally, I gave it a try. Headed to Green Acres, an 18-hole course on a beach-like sim called Romantic Times. What I found was somewhat frustrating but mostly due to SL misbehaving. The golf was fun!

It was also free and I will be writing about another course where it is fifty Lindens for three hours of golf, so free is nice. And it’s relatively simple:

Go to nearby first tee.
Touch barrel for free golf clubs and HUD to use them.
Menus will give you further instructions as you use the HUD and clubs.

Each of cleverly laid-out golf holes has a tee box where you start with the Driver. Look for two green arrows with white borders pointing to next hole with numbered flag. After each hole, look for nearby numbered tee box. Play as long and often as you would like, but after three hours the clubs expire, so you need to return to first tee and touch barrel again. You can set up the HUD to show the trajectory of your shot (makes night golf an interesting option, see my photo below). My one complaint was when I ended up in the rough, the plant prims got in the way of clicking on my ball.

A nice touch is there are couples dances at the ruins of an old stone cottage near ninth hole. You will find free gifts in the Pro Shop as well as stuff to purchase including real life gear. See Green Acres Golf Course Web site for more information. And of course, there is a putting and driving range to practice using the system.

Interesting that I ran into one Magno Writer while playing. Go figure I’d run into someone with the same last name!

Visit Inworld: Green Acres Golf Course .

Friends

Posted on July 23, 2010
Filed Under Opinions/Gossip/People | 4 Comments

BY EDITOR SHAUNA SKYE

I’ve been thinking about friendship lately. What is it? How many different levels of friendship are there? How close do you need to be to someone to consider them a friend?

On Second Life we have people on our “friend list” but we barely know them; and yet we often refer to them as friends. I think the friend list could more accurately be described as “people I allow to see me login and out” since most are barely on the level of acquaintance.

Someone said to me recently that it looks like I have friends. While it’s true I am friendly with a lot of people, I do not have many deep friendships. I am kind to people, and even have a bit of fun and banter. I know people by name, I have a laugh, but a friend for me is something more. This is not to say I don’t appreciate friendly acquaintances on a lighter level.

Real friends, the close kind, are hard to come by. I do believe I’ve had them at times in my life, though such things as marriages and distance can separate us from those we care for. An ocean between people does not take away the fond feelings, but I’ve often wondered what it would be like to have a friend I could talk to fairly regularly the rest of my life.

When people start listing qualities they want in a friend, one of the first they usually say is “I want someone I can trust.” Of course that is important. Who doesn’t want someone they can trust? But I feel it is equally important is to have someone who trusts me. I don’t have a list of qualifications I want a friend to conform to. Sure it’s nice to hangout with people who have things in common with me, but finding someone else who likes all the same things does not guarantee a deep friendship. I must admit though, some of my best friends and I got together initially because we loved the same music.

I have a friend that I’ve had numerous arguments with. There have been times I think “this is it” that there is no chance of reconciliation. However, one way or another we end up friends again. I don’t hang out with them much as we tend to gravitate toward different people, and our views on how some things should be can be different . . . and yet, I consider them a real friend. I had to think about why this is, and realized it’s because no matter what has happened, they usually believe the best of me, and no matter how bad the argument has been they are willing to be friends again once we cool down. If I had a bag of cash I would let this person hold onto it for me–and this is how they feel about me.

I have known some fun people over the years and had different levels of friendships. Some friends I have known all about them and their lives, but they have known very little about mine. Not because I hid things from them, but because they never showed an interest in knowing about mine, or I thought they were not of the right temperament to hear about it. I liked them just the same though.

Recently I parted ways with a friend. I care about her, and still believe she was a real friend. Whatever misunderstanding or disagreement there was could have been fixed since we usually got along so well. I think what happened was a “storm in a teacup” as they say, but when another person got involved, that little storm turned into a tornado. I still think she’s a good person though, and wish her only the best.

On a different note, I try not to hold grudges. I prefer to have peace if that’s possible. If someone has done me wrong and sincerely apologizes I will almost always forgive them. Likewise I am quick to apologize when I have done wrong, even if I did the wrong without meaning to. Sometimes we hurt others unintentionally.

Many things can affect friendship: distance, too much time apart, one person changing and the other staying the same, one side having romantic feelings and the other not, competition, misunderstandings, etc. But overall, I think friendship is a great thing. It makes our time on earth more pleasant. I do wish friendships could be more permanent sometimes. I mean, people move away, people grow apart, or a falling out happens. Maybe I should just enjoy the friendships for the short time, knowing the only thing that’s permanent comes when we move into the third life.

Note About the Pictures: The first is Magdalena Bing and I. That hideous light makes us look like freaks, but the picture still makes me laugh. In the other picture I’m standing with one of my best mates, Talulah Vella. Outwardly she’s a demon, but on the inside she’s a peace loving hippie.

Welcome New Writers

Posted on July 22, 2010
Filed Under On The Web, Opinions/Gossip/People | 1 Comment

BY EDITOR SHAUNA SKYE

I would like to extend a welcome to two new freelance writers here at Moonletters, Graz Firecaster and Alexxis Zabelin. Both are very different from one another, but that makes it more interesting. Let’s learn a little about these two.

Freelancer: Alexxis Zabelin

Alexxis is the newest writer for Moonletters. You will find her more often that not writing in the “opinions” category. She has very strong, and somewhat controversial opinions about Second Life. She likes anything even remotely gothic in real life and SL. In SL she can be found wandering Moonletters looking very lost, or talking to her friends, or djing. (She now has a weekly set at The Pig & Whistle.) She is in SL to be herself, to make lasting friendships . . . and yes, she is gothic in real life!

Freelancer: Graz Firecaster

Graz has been the Manager and DJ at AAi (An Alternative Indie Club) since July 2009 and it was his love of music that brought him to Second Life initially. Graz’s views and musings on SL are balanced, warm and never without humour. He is most likely to be found in world, surrounded by friends and either wearing one of his beloved self made R&R t-shirts or scanning people as a dalek. He loves his 1950s prefab, his huge refrigerator, Katy Perry and daft jokes.

I’m pleased to have them both, and interested to see what they contribute now and then. Welcome!

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