Month: April 2016

The Quill & Pen: literary expression in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey

WindlightSince its establishment, the Windlight brand has striven to promote all aspects of artist expression in Second Life. Each month, Windlight Magazine provides insight into the SL art scene, reviewing exhibitions and regions, interviewing artists and creators, providing tutorials, and more.

At the same time, the Windlight Gallery offers display space for artists wishing to participate in the Windlight Artist Fellowship Programme,  the artistic aspects of fashion are represented through The Edge gallery and publications, whilst Windlight sponsors and supports arts and artists through competitions and shows such as the Windlight Magazine Spring Arts Show and the 30/31 events.

The breadth of Windlight’s support of virtual arts is one of the reasons I’m particularly delighted to be associated with the brand, both as a contributing writer and as someone able to provide a little back room support when needed.

It’s also why I’m pleased to be able to relay the news that, starting in June Windlight will also be supporting the literally expressions of Second Life users with the launch of a new twice-yearly literary journal The Quill and Pen, and that I’ll be serving in an editorial capacity with the publication.

quill and penthe Quill and Pen will be published in both digital and ebook formats every June and December, and submissions are welcome for poetry, non-fiction, and fiction (including flash stories).

The broad submission guidelines for each category are:

  • Poetry: one poem per page, no more than six pages, single spaced and left justified
  • Non-fiction: one essay up to 1500 words, no extra space between paragraphs, white space for section breaks only
  • Fiction: One story up to 1500 words, double spaced, no extra space between paragraphs. White space for section breaks only
  • Flash stories: up to 500 words, double spaced, no extra space between paragraphs. White space for section breaks only

Pieces may have been previously published, and writers can submit up to two pieces per issue (either to the same category, or a mix of two categories).

For more complete information on submissions, please refer to the submissions guidelines in the Quill and Pen submissions form.

I’m looking forward to both seeing the first issue published and seeing submissions as they come in. So whether you use quill, pen or keyboard, if you enjoy writing for your pleasure,, i hope the announcement of The Quill and Pen will encourage you to write – and to submit your work!

SL project updates 16 15/1: server, viewer, Aditi inventory syncing

Posted on by Inara Pey

Tatakai Tochi; Inara Pey, April 2016, on Flickr Tatakai Tochi – blog post

Server Deployments

On Tuesday, April 12th, the main (SLS) grid was updated with the server maintenance package previously deployed to the three RC channels in week #14. This comprises a fix for (non-public) BUG-11163 llHTTPRequest returns 400 from some sims and not others, and some minor internal fixes.

Commenting on the llHHTTPRequest update at the Simulator User Group meeting on Tuesday, April 12th, Oz described the reason for the update as follows:

Some time ago I changed the code so that when LSL sends an HTTP request it is more explicit about what MIME types it will accept. That uncovered a much older bug in how the list of acceptable types was maintained; when a region updated its configuration, the list got duplicates. When all we were using the list for was checking a response, all that cost was a tiny bit of extra time, but when we started sending them it caused requests the servers sometimes didn’t like.

SL Viewer

There has been no change to the current list of official viewers since my last update.

  • Current Release version: 4.0.3.312816 (dated March 23), April 1 – formerly the HTTP / Vixox RC viewer download page, release notes
  • Release channel cohorts (please see my notes on manually installing RC viewer versions if you wish to install any release candidate(s) yourself):
    • Maintenance RC viewer 4.0.4.313759 release on April 8 – fixes for iewer crashes, memory leaks, input/cursor issues, graphics bugs, invisiprims, formatting and notifications (download and release notes)
    • Quick Graphics RC viewer updated to version 4.0.2.312297 on March 11 – provides the new Avatar Complexity options and the new graphics preset capabilities for setting, saving and restoring graphic settings for use in difference environments / circumstances (download and release notes)
  • Project viewers:
  • Obsolete platform viewer version 3.7.28.300847 dated May 8, 2015 – provided for users on Windows XP and OS X versions below 10.7. This viewer will remain available for as long as reasonable, but will not be updated with new features or bug fixes and will not be promoted to release status (download and release notes)

Aditi Issues

Inventory Syncing

Work is continuing on the Aditi inventory syncing issues (see here for details). In terms of the local caching issues previously reported (see also BUG-11651) , the Lab is testing a build of the viewer which will create separate inventory .gz files for Agni and Aditi, and which appears to overcome the issues of “phantom” Aditi assets appearing in Agni inventory and Aditi assets apparently “vanishing” from Aditi inventory, both until such time as the viewer cache is cleared.

The updated test viewer creates individual inv.gz files for Aditi (red) and Agni (blue) inventories, thus avoiding the issues og BUG-11651 (with thanks to Whirly Fizzle for the pointer)
The updated test viewer creates individual inv.gz files for Aditi (red) and Agni (blue) inventories, thus avoiding the issues reported in BUG-11651 (with thanks to Whirly Fizzle for the pointer)

The Calling Card and Favourite folders are also being synced at the moment, although it looks like these will be excluded (as had been the plan) alongside the Current Outfit Folder.

Aditi log-ins

Some people are still having issues logging-in to their last location on Aditi. When attempting to log-in, people either have to wait an age or, when eventually logged-in, arrive an a random location on the Beta grid. Not all users logging-in to Aditi are affect, but for those who are, the problem is persistent, and has been for a number of months.  There is some speculation that the issue might be inventory related, as was the case a couple of years back (see BUG-7707), and the Lab are going to poke at this to see if something similar is again occurring.

Fantasy Faire 2016: nominate your choices for king, queen & chancellor

Posted on by Inara Pey
Via Fantasy Faire
via Fantasy Faire

One of the features introduced to Fantasy Faire 2015 was the opportunity to nominate and then vote for the King and Queen of the Fairelands and their (strictly non-human) Chancellor.

Nominations came from across all realms of fantasy, with the top five nominated for each of the positions of king and queen (human or human-looking nominations only)  and chancellor  voted upon through the course of the Faire, with the winners announced at the Fantasy Faire May Day Masked Ball.

The duly elected king, queen and chancellor for 2015 were respectively Havelock  Vetinari and Granny Weatherwax and Greebo the cat, all of which marked a fitting tribute to the late Sir Terry Pratchett, who passed away in March 2015,, and whose life and works were celebrated and commemorated as a part of the 2015 Fantasy Faire.

All hail the Fantasy Faire 2015 King and Queen, and their Chancellor!
The Fantasy Faire 2015 King and Queen, and their Chancellor – who will it be in 2016? Nominate your choices!

But now, a year on, the first duly elected king and queen have put aside their sceptres, and the chancellor his chains of office. It is now time for the Fairelands Folk to elect those they feel should be elected king, queen and chancellor of Fantasy Faire 2016.

In order for this to happen, there must first be nominations! So who do you think is deserving?

Use the form below (or if you prefer, go directly to the same form on the Fantasy Faire website) and nominate your choices for king, queen and chancellor. Any character from the worlds of fantasy is eligible; the only major requirements being that nominations for king and queen must be human (or human-type) characters, whilst nominations for chancellor are restricted to non-human (or non-human type) characters.

As with 2015, the top five nominated individuals for king, queen and chancellor will go forward for public voting at this year’s Faire. The winners will then be announced at the May Day Costume Ball on May 1st. So make sure you nominate your choices today!

Note: last year’s winners, Vetinari, Granny Weatherwax and Greebo the cat, all from the works of Terry Pratchett, are NOT eligible for election this year.

Capturing the Lake District in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey

Netherwood; Inara Pey, April 2016, on Flickr Netherwood – click any image for full size

“Netherwood while a fictional name, is inspired by the picturesque English Lake District where I have lived all of my life,” Lauren Bentham says of her latest creation in Second Life. “I decided it was time for me to do a build based on my local surroundings which I have enjoyed on a daily basis for many years & share with others the experience and views I see every day, which I feel very grateful to have 🙂 .”

The result is a beautifully landscaped Homestead region which, for those who have visited the Lake District, England’s largest national park, is instantly reminiscent of the rugged beauty to be found there. But there is also something more here as well; the tall, snow-capped peaks which rise steep around the region, their lower slopes clad in fir trees, carry a suggestion that Netherwood could easily be located in other parts of the world as well.

Netherwood; Inara Pey, April 2016, on Flickr Netherwood

At the landing point on the west side of the region, visitors are confronted with a railway line, apparently disused, running beneath the boughs of trees and pointing the way eastwards. Follow it, and it will take you through a landscape shadowed by trees, overgrown with grass and heavy with bird song, to a narrow passage between wall-like cliffs, and the end of the line.

Beyond this, the landscape opens out dramatically to the left and right, and a genuine feeling of England’s north country is presented to the visitor. Dry stone walls denote grazing areas for cows and horses, tress rise from beside a curling stream,  farm houses stand amidst rutted tracks, low-slung fences and wooden barns whilst sheep roam freely, grazing where they will. There’s even a familiar royal Mail letter box awaiting the arrival of the postman to collect the letters dropped into it!

Netherwood; Inara Pey, April 2016, on Flickr Netherwood

On the east side of the region is a wooden quay, against which the water gently laps. Here, those who have visited the Lake District might be inclined to think they are standing on a quiet stretch of shoreline of Coniston Water or Ullswater, or perhaps think of Netherwood as one of Windermere’s many islands. Yet the truth is, such is the natural beauty of the region, it would fit with any of the lakes to be found in the 2292 square kilometres which make up the park.

But as I mentioned above, there is more here as well; the surrounding peaks also suggest Netherwood might reside elsewhere in the world, such as the Great Outdoor of the United States or Canada. A tall wooden water tower and broken windmill in the south-east corner of the land add to this feeling, while a more traditional windmill with a left-hand drive truck parked outside perhaps give the region a slight European influence. Nor are such influences out-of-place; rather they add to the charm and welcoming feel to Netherwood.

Netherwood; Inara Pey, April 2016, on Flickr Netherwood

Needless to say, the region offers excellent photo opportunities throughout, and should you wish to rez props you can join the local group (L$150 joining fee to deter litterbugs). There are also places to cuddle or sit and admire the view, and the entire region is wrapped in a perfect ambient sound scape.

All told, Netherwood again demonstrates Lauren’s eye for creating atmospheric and evocative regions which can be enjoyed by everyone, and it has every right to become as poplar and as well-known as her other creations: Baja Norte (and its neighbouring regions), Storybrooke Gardens and Everwinter. Thoroughly recommended.

Netherwood; Inara Pey, April 2016, on Flickr Netherwood

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2016 viewer release summaries: week 14

Posted on by Inara Pey

Updates for the week ending Sunday, April 10th

This summary is published every Monday, and is a list of SL viewer / client releases (official and TPV) made during the previous week. When reading it, please note:

  • It is based on my Current Viewer Releases Page, a list of all Second Life viewers and clients that are in popular use (and of which I am aware), and which are recognised as adhering to the TPV Policy. This page includes comprehensive links to download pages, blog notes, release notes, etc., as well as links to any / all reviews of specific viewers / clients made within this blog
  • By its nature, this summary presented here will always be in arrears, please refer to the Current Viewer Release Page for more up-to-date information.

Official LL Viewers

  • Current Release version: 4.0.3.312816 (dated March 23) – no change
  • Release channel cohorts (See my notes on manually installing RC viewer versions if you wish to install any release candidate(s) yourself):
    • Maintenance RC viewer 4.0.4.313759 release on April 8th – fixes for iewer crashes, memory leaks, input/cursor issues, graphics bugs, invisiprims, formatting and notifications (download and release notes)
  • Project viewers:
    • No updates.

LL Viewer Resources

Third-party Viewers

V4-style

  • Kokua updated to version 4.0.2.38137 on April 7th – parity with Linden Lab’s 4.0.2 code base and RLV 2.9.16.1 (release notes).

V1-style

  • Cool VL viewer Stabl branch updated to 1.26.18.1 Experimental branch updated to version 1.26.19.2, both on April 9th (release notes).

Mobile / Other Clients

  • No updates.

Additional TPV Resources

Related Links

Spring into the arts with the Windlight Show

Posted on by Inara Pey
Windlight Spring Show 2016
Windlight Magazine Spring Arts Show 2016

Opening on Monday, April 11th, 2016 is the Windlight Magazine Spring Arts Show, one of the biggest arts events taking place in Second Life this year.

More than 50 2D and 3D artists are participating, with art displays taking place both within traditional galley-style units, and outdoors under the open skies or within individual gazebos scattered across the Windlight lawns.

Windlight Spring Arts Show 2016
Windlight Magazine Spring Arts Show 2016

Running through until Sunday, April 17th, the Spring Arts Show also includes daily entertainment with DJs, live performances and tribute acts, storytelling and poetry readings, a hunt and photo contest, and a fashion show as well.

Land alongside the Windlight Gallery and office grounds has been transformed for the event, with lots to see and do. Many of the participating artists are taking part in a juried art competition with a prize pool of L$20,000, with the rest participating as non-juried artists. The event has been generously sponsored by Azul, Chop Zuey Couture Jewellery, Dope Magazine, Ferosh, Ghee,  Lyrical Poetry Cafe, Magnum Opus, Meshopotamia, Pink Ice Boutique, PotPourri Markets, Prism Designs, SL Live Radio, Models Giving Back, The Edge Gallery, The Fantasy Angels, and Windlight Magazine.

Windlight Spring Arts Show 2016
Windlight Magazine Spring Arts Show 2016

To join in with the entertainment and events planned for the weekend, check the Spring Arts Show events calendar. However, some highlights for the week include:

  • Monday, April 11th
    • 04:00 SLT – informal opening
    • 16:00 SLT – formal opening
    • All day and every day: Paint Bucket Hunt
  • Tuesday, April 12th
    • 17:30 SLT – Lyrical Poetry Cafe
  • Wednesday, April 13th
    • 16:00 SLT – Spring Art Ball
  • Friday , April 15th
    • 17:00 SLT – Obero the Great
  • Saturday, April 16th
    • 13:00 SLT – Models giving Back fashion show
    • 16:00 SLT – Duran Duran tribute concert
    • 17:00 SLT – Juried Art Contest winners announced
  • Sunday, April 17th
    • 11:00 SLT – Seanchai Library storytelling
    • 13:00 SLT – Elysium Cabaret
    • 16:00 SLT – Marilyn Mansion tribute concert.
Windlight Spring Arts Show 2016
Windlight Magazine Spring Arts Show 2016

With its rich diversity of 2D and 3D art, full entertainments programme, the Windlight Magazine Spring Show is a superb means of seen the work of photographers and artists from across SL as well as an opportunity to discover the art of the spoken word through poetry readings and storytelling. So be sure to check it out through the week.

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