April 2018 – Page 2 – Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld

This Weekend in Second Life Dance

Posted on April 28, 2018February 3, 2024 by R.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/isfullofcrap/40987204954/in/dateposted/

Hi there. R. Crap Mariner, your exhausted and somewhat acerbic dance correspondent.

I’ll be posting dance performance schedules, similar to Inara’s posts about Seanchai Library readings. We’ll start with the weekend events for now.

There’s still lots of Fantasy Faire to check out. Congratulations to Aelva for a successful run there. So this run-down is going to keep running me down. Thank goodness for copy-paste, right?

Let’s get started, here’s the events that I had on the calendar as of press time.

(All times SLT)

Friday, April 27

11:00am Changhigh Sisters

Lots of particles and fire and things. They tend to perform at times when I’m at work, so I don’t have much else, really. Sorry.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Story%20Well/99/194/61

12:00pm Nouvelle Follies

I think this is the act that I saw the other day, and I enjoyed this one.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Astrids%20Nemeton/119/247/61

12:00pm Virtuoso

THE ELEMENTS OF LIFE – EARTH: noon SLT on Monday, 23rd. April; Friday, 27th. April; Monday, 30th. April. No seat reservation required. All welcome. Audience limited.

This is K L A R K’s Earth show. I saw it the other day, and I enjoyed it. Limited seating, so get there early.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/VIRTUOSO/130/81/4036

6:00pm Elysium Cabaret

If it’s Friday, it’s Elysium Cabaret! Fancy some imagination? In The Empire Room at Copperhead Road, every Friday at 6pm SLT the dynamic performers of Elysium Cabaret take the stage to bring you a solid hour of entertainment! Featuring elaborate sets and choreography sequenced to an eclectic genre of music, Elysium Cabaret offers something for everyone. Grab your friends and get their early because the sim fills. Come celebrate Friday! Welcome to the weekend!

I enjoy going to these shows, and I do my best to go to them. Jilley’s opening music of AC/DC’s Thunderstruck and Babypea’s Billion Dollar Baby let you know something big and bright and boomtastic is coming.

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Copperhead%20Road/74/64/2754

6:00pm Misfit Follies

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Story%20Well/99/194/61

9:00pm Monarchs

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? NO! It’s dates and times for The Monarchs’ upcoming sim-wide production of SUPERHEROES.

Blog Post: Come see the superheroes of Second Life Dance: The Monarchs!

It’s really good. Go see it. Sim fills quickly, go get there early. If you derender the audience to improve performance, make sure not to derender Fuki. Not only is she a part of the show, but she’s really cute.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Monarchs/143/214/454

9:00pm Moonbeam Dancers

No, this is not Governor Jerry Brown’s personal dance troupe. Moonbeam has been the variety show catch-all of Fantasy Faire, so it’s an opportunity to catch individual acts from around the grid.

There’s been some technical issues with the stream and the performance engines, so please be patient and they’ll get rolling when they can.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Story%20Well/99/194/61

10:00pm Guerilla Burlesque

Guerilla Burlesque dance revues show what a great way to kick-start your weekend fun! This week we are heating up the Pit for more of your favorite dance performances in the round! Chrissy is on board directing this show and promises to bring you our best Pit acts! Each dancer brings her own unique style of dancing with intricate sets, evolving before your eyes! Let the music bring you in and raise your spirits because we are going to make sure you have a great time! This is our late show revue so grab a snack, put your feet up and meet us in world for a spectacular night of dancing in the round!

I’ve seen the rehearsals. It’s going to be really good.

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Idle%20Rogue/104/182/34

Saturday, April 28 2018

7:00am Mahal

I think this is a group participatory dance event, right? Hop on a dance pad and join the routines that the choreographer has planned to the music. It’s different from a stage act.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Story%20Well/99/194/61

10:00am Moonbeam

Still not Governor Jerry Brown’s personal dance troupe, even though for his age I bet he looks good in a tutu. Moonbeam has been the variety show catch-all of Fantasy Faire, so it’s an opportunity to catch individual acts from around the grid.

There’s been some technical issues with the stream and the performance engines, so please be patient and they’ll get rolling when they can.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Story%20Well/99/194/61

12:00am Second Life Cheerleading Squad

Haven’t managed to catch them yet. Have you? Let me know how they were in the comments.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Story%20Well/99/194/61

12:00pm The Cabaret Provocateur

The Cabaret Provocateur will present its encore performances of the program “Fab 4 You” at Jefferson Opera House on Saturday April 28, 2018 at noon SLT Jefferson Opera House is part of the Mysterium’s Mansion Adult sim. and Fab 4 You does feature female nudity. Fab 4 You is a program in 6 acts feature music performed by Elton John, Robin Williams and Bobby McFerrin, Lisa Lauren, Eddie Izzard, Goldie Hawn, and Phil Collins all originally written and performed by the Fab Four, (The Beatles). The dances will take you on a journey from Manhattan rooftops through Arabian Nights, to Broadway, back stage and in front. The cast consists of 6 dancers, all of whom are relative new comers to SL Dance, but are enthusiastic performers.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Aldo/113/67/3002

1:00pm Debauche

Debauche perform for the very first time at The Trophy Room, an amazing place that is somehow relaxing, lovely and thrilling all at the same time. We will be performing in a purpose-built theater at this wonderful venue and we are all SO looking forward to it. It will be a great show so come on and join us at The Trophy Room – And why not take a look around the place and see just why we love it so much? THE SIM IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL ONE HOUR BEFORE THE SHOW – though remains open for members and those wishing to join. Saturday 28th, 1pm SLT.

(PS: Yay!)

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Glitnir/160/159/23

1:00pm Elysium Cabaret Matinee

A monthly ‘best of” show for our friends in Euro and similar time zones. Especially for you!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Copperhead%20Road/74/64/2754

1:00pm Red Hot Chili Pipers

Haven’t managed to catch them yet. Have you? Let me know how they were in the comments.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Astrids%20Nemeton/119/247/61

3:00pm Avilion Mer Ballet

I finally managed to see their show. Lots of mermaid patterns in formations in the air… which is the water. (K L A R K can bring the earth, and ChangHigh can bring the fire, right?)

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Story%20Well/99/194/61

3:00pm Monarchs

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? NO! It’s dates and times for The Monarchs’ upcoming sim-wide production of SUPERHEROES.

Blog Post: Come see the superheroes of Second Life Dance: The Monarchs!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Monarchs/143/214/454

4:00pm FlyGearz

This is a participatory dance group that does a lot of Steampunky things. Hop on a dance pad and join the routines that the choreographer has planned to the music. It’s different from a stage act.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Astrids%20Nemeton/119/247/61

5:00PM Dream Time Theatre

This is the grand opening of this theatre. Variety show acts. I don’t have much else about it, but I will try to attend and see for myself. Join me?

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Valtina/12/32/3002

7:00PM Desire Arts

Desire Arts Dancers do an “after hours” show. Starting at 7pm SLT t on April 21st & 28th. We bring you the performance quality at our Saturday shows, with more skin… little less costume. Some acts do contain adult content. As an “Arts” theatre (and gallery) Desire Arts will be a venue perfectly suited for SL Performers wishing to express themselves through live performances, through Dance, Art Exhibits, Performance Art as well as Dramatic Presentations. Also, Presentations of a controversial nature (including those involving sex, politics and/or religion) will be presented separately from the Dance Program.

I missed them last week, but I’ve got them on my plans for this week. I try to plan ahead when there’s more than one performance of a show.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hell%20Lust/174/78/21

Continue reading “This Weekend in Second Life Dance” →

Seduction and Vettriano in Second Life

Posted on April 27, 2018January 1, 2022 by Inara Pey

Seductions is the title of a combined 2D and 3D installation by Alo Congrejo and Lorys Lane, with Alo providing the overall build and Lorys the photographs.

“[Seductions is] An urban pathway,” the artists state of the installation, “that guides the visitor through images representing the seduction in different fields and contexts.”

It’s a curious piece; one suggestive of depth, but which can be can be slightly confusing in the manner, the images appearing to be at odds with the general geometry of the setting, in which cubes (including the rooms in which the images are displayed), squares, rectangles, cylinders, spheres, and so on, can draw the eye to them, and away from the photographs.

The images themselves, spread across a series of red rooms – the colour itself matching the core theme of the installation -, present multiple aspects of seduction, from couples becoming intimate through to the initiation of seduction – the use of undewear and nightgowns and slips; to the way casual or suggestive acts can lead to more intimate acts: the casual touch of hand on body, the more deliberate placement of a bare foot placed between spread thighs, the start of attraction in catching sight of someone across a room. It’s a fascinating range of images, each with a unique narrative – and some have something more – as the artists openly acknowledged.

Jack Vettriano (born Jack Hoggan) is a self-taught Scottish painter, who images can encompass themes of seduction and acts of seduction (although his portfolio covers far more subjects). Several of the pieces within Seduction are offered as an homage to Vettriano’s work. Which they might be, I leave to you to decide; suffice it to say that they are presented in such a way to offer an homage without in any way being derivative – they are all of themselves unique in style and presentation.

And the setting? It exudes a certain amount of impersonality surrounding the photographs; this in itself fits the overall subject, as the act (or art) or seduction is a personal act, one that generally takes place in rooms and spaces away from the public eye, even as the world continues on around it: the ebb and flow of people in streets and places outside. Acts of seduction and intimacy can also cause embarrassment; hence, perhaps the reason for the 3D animated pieces: the offer the eye a “distraction” from the acts of – dare I say – foreplay depicted here.

The setting also has another interpretation: acts of intimacy, of seduction, can be born out of the most unexpected encounters: a meeting on the street, at a café, in the midst of the bustle of daily life. Some of this is to be found within the photographs, and the setting itself offers a further echo of this.

Seductions is, as noted, a curious installation – but this is not meant negatively; the simple fact is, the more time spent within it, the more it engages the eye and mind, the 3D environment and the photographs working in unison to attract us and offer stories for our imaginations. From the landing point, take the teleport to the main platform.

SLurl Details

Seductions (LEA 23, rated: Moderate)

April 2018 Web User Group Summary

Posted on April 27, 2018September 27, 2024 by Inara Pey

*Grumpity and Alexa Linden host the Web User Group meetings on alternate Fridays at Alexa’s barn.*

The following notes are taken from the Web User Group meeting held on Wednesday, April 25th, 2017.

These meetings are generally held monthly on a Wednesday, and are chaired by Alexa and Grumpity Linden at Alexa’s barn. The focus is the Lab’s web properties, which include the Second Life website (including the blogs, Destination Guide, Maps, Search, the Knowledge base, etc.), Place Pages, Landing Pages (and join flow for sign-ups), the Marketplace, and so on and the Lab’s own website at lindenlab.com.

Meeting Format

A point to remember with the Web User Group meetings is that they are informal discussions on things like the Marketplace.

While the Lab does give information on the work they are carrying out, plans they have in-hand for updates to web properties, etc., equally, a lot of what is discussed is ideas and the taking of feedback from attendees, and should not necessarily be regarded as statements from the Lab as to what will happen, it priority, or anything else.

Within these reports, I try to indicate those plans / actions / projects that are in progress, and offer a differentiation between “firm” plans and ideas under discussion.

Web Updates

On April 16th, 2018, the Lab slipped out an announcement on a number of web property updates, which notably include the following.

Marketplace Guidelines Change

The SL Marketplace Fee and Listing Guidelines have been revised with regards to the policy on pricing products on the Marketplace in comparison to pricing the in-world. Previously, the guidelines stated:

The following actions are disallowed. Note that these actions are disallowed by the Second Life Terms of Service, and are restated here for clarification.

Anti-Competitive or Abusive Behaviour. Examples include, but are not limited to:

inflating prices on the SL Marketplace, in comparison to in-world or other e-commerce sites”

This has now been revised so that in-world pricing is no longer exempted, thus:

The following actions are disallowed. Note that these actions are disallowed by the Second Life Terms of Service, and are restated here for clarification.

Anti-Competitive or Abusive Behaviour. Examples include, but are not limited to:

inflating prices on the SL Marketplace, or other e-commerce sites”

With the Lab noting:

We’ve removed the section which applied to in-world stores. This was contrary to your interests and our interests. Marketplace is a tool to use in your overall product marketing strategy and if you’d like to differentiate pricing between on-line and in-world stores, that’s your decision to make.

Transaction History “Quick Filter” Options

A set of “quick filters” have been added to the transaction history page on the dashboard at secondlife.com. These provide the ability to list all transactions for the current day (“Today”), the last 24 hours (“1 Day”), the last 7 days and the last 28 days.

*The new transaction history quick filters available through your Second Life web dashboard*

Please refer to the announce for the full set of web-related updates.

Other Items

Legal Question: Resale Prices on Full Permission Items

Is setting a minimum resale price on full permission items legal? this is being referred to the Lab’s legal department. However, such things as recommended retail price options, FTC guidelines on supply chain selling (both of which are slightly different, admittedly), would suggest the practice is acceptable.

Lootbox Legal Status

Questions have been raised on the use of lootboxes in Second Life. In some countries (e.g. China, Japan, Australia, The Netherlands, the Isle of Man (UK) and now Belgium) they are regarded as gambling and subject to regulation / financial penalties. Additionally, lawmakers in the United States and mainland UK are said to be looking at the status of lootboxes. The questions asked in relation to Second Life are being referred back to the Lab’s legal team.

Premium Subscription Changes

At the April 20th, 2018 town hall event, Linden Lab CEO Ebbe Linden confirmed that as a part of pivoting Second Life’s revenue generation away from a heavy reliance on land, the Lab are looking at introducing a range of Premium account options which will have different levels of benefits associated with them – see here for more (includes an audio extract of his comments).

While details have yet to be finalised, Grumpity Linden spoke to some of the ideas under consideration at the Web User Group meeting. Because her comments are likely to be of interest beyond that meeting, I’ve provided a transcript of her comments, with an audio recording.

In Brief

Need to comment on a JIRA item (bug report or feature request) and cannot? send an e-mail to letmein-at-lindenlab.com giving your avatar name to request JIRA comment access. Note that if a JIRA has been imported by the Lab or had its status changed, you may still not be able to comment on it.
Linden Homes size increase: Linden Homes are currently undergoing a face lift, and Grumpity indicated the plan is to increase them in size (presumably to 1024 to match the “free” tier offered to Premium members. There is no time frame on when the updated Linden Home will be available, although it is hoped they will be ready before the end of 2018.

Premium subscription changes: a little more news from Grumpity

Posted on April 26, 2018November 19, 2022 by Inara Pey

to précis Grumpity’s comments:

The Lab is looking at a range of Premium subscriptions, not just the single tier we know at present.
As per Ebbe’s original comments, how many and what they might each comprise is still TBD.
The over-arching idea is to make premium options so attractive, it would be “insane” to ignore them.
Simple examples of additional benefits being looked at is guaranteed access to in-world events / early access to in-world events, but overall, the Lab is looking at a broad range of benefits and (in the case of Basic accounts) limits.
With regards to Basic accounts, the Lab’s view is:
- There are many things within Second Life which come at a cross to everyone’s in-world experience, but which are offered on an “unlimited” basis to Basic account holders – this may change.
- Despite rumours circulating on the forums, there are no plans to prevent Basic account holder from rezzing things in-world.
- The Lab wants to provide a Basic account experience sufficient to give incoming users an understanding / flavour / taste (call it what you will) of all aspects of Second Life, while encouraging those who engage with the platform motivation to move to a subscription tier.
The coming changes are not about curtailing any use of Second Life or limiting what people can do or “nickel and diming” everything that can be done within Second Life. they are about giving people more reasons to go Premium, make them happy / excited about premium opportunities, and hopefully of driving revenue generation.

Obviously, it would be nice to have more in the way of specifics – and these will come it time. As has been noted, it is still somewhat early days in what is being considered / planned, and I (and others) will obviously be reporting on things as the plans are made more public.

In the meantime, for those interested, here are Grumpity’s comments, and the audio recording of those comments as made at the April 25th, 2018 Web User Group meeting.

What’s coming on the premium tiers? We are looking at all of the existing premium benefits, we’re also looking at what is included with Basic accounts. Our goal is to make a basic experience that allows you an introduction to all areas of Second Life.

So I saw some fascinating speculation on the forums, and I don’t believe we’ve ever considered not allowing Basic members to rez. That would be probably insane on our parts, because this would take away from an integral part of Second Life.

But there are certain things that impact everyone’s experience on one hand, and are completely unlimited to a Basic account on the other.

So we’re looking at different ways of putting in limits that will actually improve everyone’s experience, give basic accounts a sufficient taste of what it is like but also; honestly, our goal is that if you’re committed to Second Life and you’re invested in Second Life, the Premium benefits are such that it would be insane not to be Premium. And that’s the end goal.

And we’re looking at all sorts of limits, and we’re also looking at higher Premium levels that give you even more things. Like you could get into events even before all the other people, and you’d be guaranteed to get into the hair fair or something.

I can’t give away specifics, because this is so far away, and then when we announce you guys will be, “Oh, this is old news!” So, we’d like to hold some stuff back. But our goal is to make you happy; it’s not to make your lives miserable and to nickel and dime you at every turn. It is to make Second Life more profitable and successful by making our residents happy [and] also by making new residents’ introduction to Second Life smoother.