Archive for December, 2008
Robovint doing virtual relaxation exercises
December 30, 2008 5:56 pmOne of the best ways to ‘brush off’ frustrations for me is to dive into Photoshop, preferably after 3AM. I must admit I had a completely different end result in mind when I put the Imagen Mannequin Skin* on. I wanted contrast between the dark neighbourhoods that are Midian and a soft white, pearly, innocent ‘nude’ mannequin doll look**. Guess what? I’m not good at ’soft white, pearly, innocent’ it seems. :)
So err… may I present to you:
(800px width version on Flickr linkie)
I worked with a 3000px wide file and the original unedited version you can see on your right. Pixel torturing included - but was not limited to - liquify, layer modes, manual dodging & burning (for shading and highlights), dismembering limbs, spraying graffiti, adding a crowd, artificial lighting, … . 
Shading/lighting directions aren’t 100% perfect, but at least better than in the original? :)
* Imagen Mannequin Skin available for 1L$ in the Imagen shop, complete with WindLight settings. See the momola’s blog. (This skin is based on the templates released by Sezmra Splendor.)
** I even recruited Veyron Supercharge as stylist, but as the pictures took a different turn, I need to apologise to her as she’s not in the photograph.
It’s normal that when we look back at the past, we keep the sweet memories, and quickly force the bad ones to the back of our minds. But this quickly?! M, you’re a wuss for not daring to mention ‘the positive things that emerged of the Openspace Price & Policy changing’. Or aren’t there any? Well, then you could have least reminded people - in multiple languages - they have only 164 hours left to decide to go Homestead, full sim or void to abandon.
My prediction for 2009: The first month of 2009 Lindens will be very busy handling support questions in all possible languages that say something like this… “Why you raise did you me charging?” Localizing our content and experience in key international markets is a great objective, but with such a serious price hike - and weak argumentation for it - this should have been implemented in 2008 already. Knowing why you’ll soon be billed 66% extra is ‘key experience’, right?
(not so much a) PS. Anybody knows where to find the “We expect to have details of the limitations for scripts before January and will make those public as soon as we can“? Except for Babbage Linden Office Hours?
Update: LL just released a time estimate on inserting script limitations, which differs a lot from the initinal “Before January 5th, we’ll tell you what the script limitations will be.” Timing for Script Limits:
- In Q1, we will be gathering data on script load, and sharing this usage data with the community before deciding what the most appropriate limits are.
- In Q2, we expect there to be Viewer changes to allow you to monitor your script usage against those limits.
- In Q3 we will begin enforcing script limits.
So, err, although you get a “delay” or “free pass” off 6 months, you still don’t know what exactly the products “OpenSpace”, “Homestead” or even “Full Sim” are…. . Pretty nice to make your decisions upon when purchasing one, right? :D
“We are temporarily halting Linden Dollar (L$) purchases
for maintenance and review purposes.
Please monitor this post for updates and further information.”
Much speculation about what caused the recent ’snap’ in a pretty consistent lindeX L$ to USD rate: a expanded discussion on the Second Life Forums and Ciaran Laval’s blogpost on your2ndplace. More buy than sell orders for Linden Dollars are confusing all of us. Like, err… L$ is a sound investment?
But what if it’s really true, that Linden Lab can not supply enough L$ at the moment to keep the lindeX stable, because of .. let’s call it “an unexpected error that caused an insufficiency in funds”?
Grand Theft Avatar by Second Front
In Second Life, Lynden Labs owns huge amounts of land, makes their own laws and mints their own currency. They are, in effect, a nation-state. On April 14th, 2008, Second Front raided the Lynden Treasury. We plotted, we attacked and we freed the Lynden Dollars. Presented as a live performance at a panel discussion hosted at the San Francisco Art Institute, we impersonated the panelists to disguise our true identities in this historic raid. is what can be read at Second Front’s blog. So many questions arise: might there be a slight change “Lynden” is a codeword? But for what or whom? And what did Second Front do with the loot? And is this in any way related to the current conversion rates for the Linden Dollar?
PS. Should I make ‘making vintfalken.com wider’ a priority and screw up the layout of all my previous blogposts, or should allow blip.tv smaller embed sizes? I kinda still like how it is now, it fits perfectly well on an iPhone in vertical position. And “less widespread” is an easier read? :/
10 easy steps to your own virtual sweatshop
December 29, 2008 11:24 pm
Are oppressive labour laws and expensive real-estate prices getting in the way of your dream of running your own sweatshop? By following these 10 simple steps you too can become rich using telematic manufacturing.
Invisible Threads
10 simple steps to start your very own virtual world sweatshop:
1 Choose a virtual world.
2 Create a virtual team.
3 Develop a business model.
4 Purchase virtual land.
5 Build a virtual factory. 6 Hire avatars as workers.
7 Conduct training sessions. 8 Set up a real world storefront.
9 Begin telematic production. 10 Pay workers.
Invisible Threads is a mixed reality performance installation created by Eyebeam artists Jeff Crouse and Stephanie Rothenberg. The project explores the growing intersection between labor, emerging virtual economies and real life commodities through the creation of a designer jeans sweatshop in the metaverse Second Life. Simulating a real life manufacturing facility that includes hiring Second Life “workers” to produce real world jeans sold for profit, the project provides an insider’s view into current modes of global, telematic production. Machinima by Annie Ok.
Unionize Attempt by Second Front
On Thursday, December 18th, a week before Christmas, the Double Happiness factory was almost overthrown by virtual anarchists claiming to be affiliated with the virtual pranksters known as Second Front. The hysterical rioters attempted to take over the factory with at least 300 lbs of explosives and bottles of hairspray. Chanting “Happiness, not Double” while the Dead Kennedy’s “Kill the Poor” blasted from their iPhones, the hooligans tried to force our happy Double Happiness workers to unionize. Only a few avatars exploded but in “virtuality” no one was hurt in the incident and production continued to run smoothly during the joyous, holiday season. The attack happened during a tour of the factory with potential investors BIW (Brooklyn is Watching). Watch footage from Double Happiness’ security cameras:
Double Happiness Manufacturing
Of course you can visit the ‘Double Happiness Manufacturing’ factory / sweatshop in Second Life (TP to Eyebeam Island), at this time of year, the entrance is even decorated with a lovely Christmas Tree. (I believe that falls under ‘keep your workers motivated’?) Although no “global workforce” was at work - hey, they got today off whilst I was working?!! what kind of sweatshop do you actually run there?! ;) - the Double Happiness factory is a lovely build to visit with lot’s of proof of heavy jeans manufacturing going on: empty pizza boxes, whiteboards full with notes, time sheets & cards, … . I searched for a ‘x days without any accident’ sign or safety warnings, but could not find any. Although when trying out one of the machines, it became clear I did not have the right safety clearance, as it refused to being handled by me.
Some of my impressions:
The Double Happiness Manufacturing Factory / Virtual Sweatshop entrance. I love how they keep the project updates - for people like me who stumble over it only 1 year after it started, and for returning visitors - by adjusting the build to the season. That Christmas tree shows they put constant effort into this! Can anybody tell me which font they used for the factory name? It’s absolutely awesomely vintage! ;) (Overall I was pretty impressed by the ‘custom’ textures such as name plates, time cards, white board + markers, … . Only at times some more baked shading would have been appropriate. <- Before I forget to mention that!)
Trying to get details on what they produce, what’s planned and most important - factory visiting hours. ;) Hmmm… seems although the doors were closed, you could walk right through them!
My favourite picture from the whole visit, gotta love subtle use of shallow DOF, no? ;) Second best manufacturing line I’ve seen inSL, maybe if it would have been on (did I miss a button?) and a bit more cute, this sweatshop would have beated Fiat’s assembly line.
I deserved a lunch break. K? But I did not eat the last slice of pizza. Honestly. I swear! *crosses her tail*
Double Happiness Manufacturing Products
Although Double Happiness produces a wide range of different styles of jeans - RoadKill, No Pants Left Behind, Classic, Casual Friday, Lowrider - my favourite is definitely the ‘myPants™’: “Do you spend hours every day approving new batches of friends on mySpace, FaceBook, and Friendster? Do you want people to see how popular you are without having to log on? Show the whole world that you have friends to spare with myPants™. Comes with Fine Black Sharpie™ while supplies last.” I guess DHM ran out of supply, as I was able to find a price listing (Price: $45.00 USD/$11,890 Lindens) but no ‘order here’ button. Please, put those avatars back to work! ;)
Machinima & Image Credit: Double Happiness Manufacturing
Start reading more about this project at DoubleHappinessJeans.com
Bletaverse vs. BlogHUD
4:48 pmMature Woman Skins by Brazen Women (Photoshop Templates)
December 28, 2008 4:09 pmAfter my - highly amusing to some, highly frustrating to others - encounter with Miss/Mr Prokofy Neva yesterday, I am in dying need for positive things. Proof that there are residents that don’t just talk/troll, but that are doing constructive things that benefit the whole Second Life community rather than an old hag’s ego. Was I lucky, as I found out about Brazen Women’s ‘Mature Woman Skins’: “The Classic Lines skins were created from custom modifications to Eloh Eliot’s open source skin files. This line was designed to provide a range of ages for women, in a variety of skin tones, make-up colours, hair colours, and pubic hair styles.”
See, drawing wrinkles on any texture isn’t that easy as it seems! ;)
Beebo Brink, the creator of these ‘Mature Woman Skins’ stays loyal to Miss Eloh Eliot request to keep ‘derivatives’ of her Photoshop skin templates open for all to access & mod. Besides the ‘Mature Classic Line’ being available for purchase on OnRez and in-world, you can also find Beebo’s Photoshop files for your own further ‘modding’ pleasures at brazenwomen.com.
The Classic Lines Photoshop template contains:
- Age Ranges
Classic Lines I - The Skin has a hint of lines and creases on the face. / Classic Lines II - Deepens those lines for a slightly older woman. / Classic Lines III - A face of laugh lines and wrinkles, with salt-and-pepper eyebrows, and a body that is not as trim as her younger counterparts. - Make-up Options
Basic Skin Pack / Lightly Skin Pack / Blue Ice Skin Pack / Smoke Skin Pack - Hair Colour Options
Each Classic Lines skin pack includes 4 hair colours (black, brown, red, blond), in 2 pubic hair choices (natural & shaved) for a total of 8 skins. Classic Lines III skin pack also includes the salt & pepper hair color in natural and shaved versions.
Remember, these ‘free full perm skin files’ are NOT supplied in Photoshop format so you could import them in Second Life & resell them. They are donated to the community so you could create your own skins, based upon them and with proper attribution to Miss Eloh Eliot & Beebo Brink!
‘Open’ Second Life Skin Resources
Resources for the Mature Woman Skin Photoshop Templates:
Classic Lines Skins overview page at brazenwoman.com / Pale Skin Zip File / Tan Skin Zip File.
Eloh Eliot skins in general:
Eloh Eliot Skin Templates Overview / Strawberry Holiday’s Freckle Skins.
Sezmra Splendor:
Sezmra Splendor Skin Template.
Please confirm my sex
December 27, 2008 2:36 pm
You gotta love Prok, especially when she is - once again - making erroneous statements. It’s funny, how she thinks there’s nothing wrong with launching personal attacks on those who disagree with her, yet if I publish someone else’s comment saying there must be a loose wire somewhere in Prokofy’s humans head, for that same twisted brain, all of a sudden I turn… male. Or at least in the process of transgedering. I don’t really follow the underlying arguments, maybe I’m not female because I don’t loath technology and ‘tekkies’ the way she does? Or is it just ‘the loose wire’ talking?
So please, could those of you who have met me in real life, have heard me on voice for a few hours, or that have taken the time to look here, here or here, help put Prokofy’s troubled mind at peace by confirming I am a ‘real life’ female? So Miss Prokofy may publish a rectification on her blog, where she also made this statement? It’s about time that-what-shall-not-be-talked-about (and that-what-I-was-ignoring until she pulled this stunt) learns to say ‘OMG, sorry, I was wrong!’
Vint, are you a male originally in real life, either cross-dressing in that rather ambiguous photo you put up here on your website under “about me,” or perhaps in the process of transgendering? Nothing wrong with that, but I find ambivalence about such a status often does often explain the particular obsessiveness and viciousness with which some SL types like yourself begin hysterically hating me, putting up hate pages about me, whiting out my comments like Orwell’s 1984, etc. etc. So, you know, just sayin’. Say, has anybody actually seen the real Vint Falken in RL, and can they comment on his/her real or presented gender? (From the comments at BD vs. Catharine Fitzpatrick. As you can see, I’ve been quiet there for ages, so I don’t see why she all of the sudden feels the need to attack me again. Except for ‘the loose wire’ theory, of course.)
Update: So this is why (s)he’s pissed. And article I wrote in defence of Benjamin Duranske when Prokofy Neva chose to attack Benjamin’s RL persona, that is ranking well on Google and titled Benjamin Duranske vs. Catherine Fitzpatrick. The irony is that it was supposed to help Benjamin’s reply to Prokofy’s accusations rank well. As Benjamin took down his article, I guess mine went up to first place. Well, it’s staying up, regardless which gender/sex that gets me.
Second Life Land Mass is … void?
December 25, 2008 10:25 pm
Due to the OpenSpace issue, near the end of November, Second Life land mass was already shrinking steadily with people converting 4 ‘Voids’ - each counting for 1 simulator/island - into ‘Full Sims’ - also counting for 1 simulator. More recently Raul Crimson redid the numbers and found almost 15% of Second Life’s total land mass as it was before the Openspace pricing & policy change is now gone; the incredible shrinking land. But “Do not panic!” is what Lindens said:
Please be aware that the Islands Added figures are not currently an accurate reflection of short term change and are therefore misleading. This is because of the way in which they are calculated and will tend to cause the figures to look significantly worse than they actually are (either by overcounting in some cases or under counting in others). In addition, the many Openspace conversions will significantly drop the total island count exaggerating the change in numbers. We are looking at changing this page to provide more accurate data soon.
We were already wondering how Lindens would turn this numbers to “the optimistic side” using the Art of Statistics, leaving out the voids converted to either Homestead or 1/4th a full simulator, the openspaces that are abandoned or ordered to be put to sleep by it’s owners. But I guess however they did it, they did it wrong: Miss Tateru over at Massively reports that Linden Lab just between December 22 & 23 Linden Lab has decommissioned more than 23,000 simulators in the space of 24 hours. The economics stats page now shows that “islands added” for the month of December stands at “-24562″ which leaves 0 “islands owned” by the Residents. Better log in and go check if your favourite islands are still there? ;)
Really, Lindens, when gaming the numbers, one normally makes it such that the numbers are positive! Might there be a big red button that says ‘emergency exit: delete all’ that was pressed by accident? Or is this a human error or machine bug? I hope this is NOT ‘the more accurate data’ Lindens are talking about. Regardless, if possible, dear Lindens, please return the numbers to their normal state showing “islands bought - islands dropped = islands added during month” so we can continue panicking over what you’re ‘openspaces pricing & policy change’ has caused. Kthxbye.
