Cherishville, December 2024 – click any image for full size
Lam Erin has redressed his homestead region of Cherishville for the holiday / winter period, bring to it hints of both the Winter 2023 and the Autumn 2024 iterations in small touches, whilst offering something new to visit and appreciate.
Those small touches are perhaps easy to miss – the winding road through the countryside and and arrival of a steam train; but they help remind those who regularly visit Cherishville that there are nice little visual touches to be found, reflecting Lam’s eye as a photographer-artist.
Cherishville, December 2024
Cherishville is a peaceful, photogenic destination set in the heart of winter. With snowfall and stunning scenery, it offers a tranquil escape. Using PBR textures, this region is perfect for capturing the beauty of the season.
– Cherishville’s Destination Guide entry, December 2024
Caught in a night setting with surrounding hills and distant mountains semi-shrouded by falling snow, the region might be seen as being divided into two halves. to the north, and running west-to-east from the Landing Point is a little hamlet, bookended by a carousel close by the Landing Point and a Ferris wheel at the far end, the two linked by a main street. It is by the carousel that the steam train might be seen, together with a very familiar touch from Lam which also gives a sense of continuity through many of his region designs: a railways station.
Cherishville, December 2024
The handful of houses forming the hamlet are all furnished, presenting indoor elements to explore (and escape the snow!), whilst the road turns south as it reaches the Farris wheel to cross the local (and frozen) river. Here lies the second half of the region takes over, a rural setting a little mindful of the autumn 2024 design, the road winding through the countryside, looping back towards the little hamlet as it does so.
As the road does so, it passes a pleasantly-located farm; to one side, and overlooking the stream, a barns has been converted into a warm house; on the other two form a brightly-lit Christmas Tree farm.
Cherishville, December 2024
Tucked into this is a wealth of detail – places to sit, details to photograph – from polar bears playing on the ice, through reindeer wandering the countryside to teddy bears exchanging gifts. Those requiring props for photography will find rezzing in the region is open – but as Auto Return is off, do please remember to pick-up afterwards!
The following notes were taken from the Tuesday, December 17th, 2024 Simulator User Group (SUG) meeting. They form a summary of the items discussed, and are not intended to be a full transcript, and were taken from Pantera’s video of the meeting, which is embedded at the end – my thanks to her for providing it.
Meeting Overview
The Simulator User Group (also referred to by its older name of Server User Group) exists to provide an opportunity for discussion about simulator technology, bugs, and feature ideas.
Meetings are open to anyone with a concern / interest in the above topics, and form one of a series of regular / semi-regular User Group meetings conducted by Linden Lab.
Dates and times of all current meetings can be found on the Second Life Public Calendar, and descriptions of meetings are defined on the SL wiki.
Simulator Deployments
On Tuesday, December 17th, 2024, the simulators on the Main SLS channel were restarted with no update.
On Wednesday, December 18th, the servers on the RC channels should be restarted without any deployments being made.
With the holiday period starting in a week, the engineering team will be making a call in the next day or so on whether to run re-starts over the holiday period or not.
SL Viewer Updates
Release viewer: version 7.1.10.10800445603, formerly the DeltaFPS RC (multiple performance fixes, etc), dated September 11, promoted September 17 – No change.
Release Candidate: ExtraFPS RC, version 7.1.11.12363455226, December 17.
Performance improvements: enhanced texture memory tracking, broader hardware compatibility and higher FPS gain; additional code to improve texture streaming on rigged attachments (e.g. if an earring is made with 2K textures, the viewer will correctly calculate the required resolution for the textures and download them, rather than downloading the full 2K textures), etc.
Aesthetics improvements: new Antialiasing setting – SMAA; Contrast Adaptive Sharpening; Khronos Neutral Tone Mapping (can be changed to ACES via the RenderTonemapType Debug setting).
UI Optimisations.
In Brief
Please refer to the video below for the following:
A discussion on llGetObjectDetails, together with llGOD() or using a rezzer to check for an object’s presence, and potential confusion which can potentially arise, and the potential benefit in using llGetOwnerKey.
This sparked ideas for additional functions / parameter for check on objects with regions / parcels – e.g.: llDoesExist() with parameters IN_REGION, IN_PARCEL and IN_OWNERS_PARCEL.
A request was made for an update on the server-side lua implementation project, and information on challenges encountered. This prompted Rider Linden to respond:
The project is moving forward, but it is a pretty complex undertaking and we need to move forward cautiously. Remember, we’re trying to swap the VM out from under 20 years worth of scripts… in place and on the fly.
– Rider Linden
The above led to a further discussion on Lua some of which can be addressed via the Lua FAQ, although one of the the easiest to answer (“Why replace Mono”?) is perhaps best answered by the observation that the Mono version SL is running is old, and Mono itself is becoming seemingly frozen in time. This discussion wound through the rest of the meeting.
The Lua / Mono exchange segued into a discussion on region performance slowing as avatars enter, together with anecdotal reports of an increase in region crossings timing-out and people being logged-out as a result.
Monty Linden again noted the issue of avatars entering regions is being looked at, and requested that reports be filed (including locations and times) when these issues are noted.
To help, he has opened a report to which people can append their information via comments.
In terms of avatars entering regions and slowing things, he added: “Note that the recent avatar work makes entering *worse* for the offending avatar, better for those already in-region.”
Testing llTransferOwnership has shown the function generates two confirmatory message: after opting to Accept whatever is being offered by the in-world object, recipients are hit with the messages similar to “an object owned by somebody gave you a thing”, followed by “you are now the owner of a thing. [ OK ] “.
The duplication of messages is in known issue, and due in part to the viewer automatically generating the first message as soon as the Accept button is pressed, whereas the second message comes from the server.
The implication appears to be that the viewer message will be addressed, as it can be misleading.
An issue has been reported (and reproduced) relating to llGetEnvironment (+ related functions) returning inaccurate unit vectors for Sun / Moon position. There is some potential disagreement as to what is being seen / where the issue might reside, but it is being looked into.
Date of Next Meeting
Tuesday, January 7th, 2025.
† The header images included in these summaries are not intended to represent anything discussed at the meetings; they are simply here to avoid a repeated image of a rooftop of people every week. They are taken from my list of region visits, with a link to the post for those interested.
Logos representative only and should not be seen as an endorsement / preference / recommendation
Updates from the week through to Sunday, December 15th, 2024
This summary is generally 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.
Note that for purposes of length, TPV test viewers, preview / beta viewers / nightly builds are generally not recorded in these summaries.
Official LL Viewers
Release viewer: version 7.1.10.10800445603, formerly the DeltaFPS RC, dated September 11, promoted September 17 – NO CHANGE.
Release Candidate: ExtraFPS RC, version 7.1.11.12306234817, December 13 – New.
Astoria, December 2024 – click any image for full size
Astoria is a Homestead region held by Eromara Vita and Dots (Dotties Stoop). For December 2024, and unsurprisingly, the region is dressed for the winter season and decorated with touches in keeping with the time of year. The easiest way to summarise the region is via its Destination Guide description:
Astoria is a Dutch winter destination perfect for snow lovers. Glide along ice skating paths, explore hidden caves, or take a scenic walk with loved ones. Enjoy dancing on the spacious dance floor or relax in cosy cuddle spots. Ride the ski lift to the mountaintop ski bar and descend on skis, snowboard, or sled for an exhilarating experience.
– Astoria Destination Guide description
Astoria, December 2024
In terms of design, the region is split into five islands (although the channel between two is so small, it’s easy to think of them as a single finger of land running long the north edge of the region). The waters between and around the island are frozen, thus forming the skating paths, the ice reaching out to touch the off-region surround of snowy mountains.
It is on the eastern end of one of those islands that the Landing Point resides, complete with a couple of jolly (if slightly argumentative!) carollers waiting to greet incoming visitors. Reindeer are fenced in here, possibly awaiting Santa’s arrival as the snow falls, and their time hitched to his sleigh. Going on the red-and-white logoed tractor-trailer inching its way over the ice, complete with red-suited guide, they may not have to long to wait before he arrives!
Astoria, December 2024
A hump-backed bridge spans the ice here to reach the largest of the islands. This forms the setting’s highest (indeed, only) summit: a tall hill with a steep but climbable gradient crowned by a coffee bar with outdoor seating and, at the time of my visit, vehicle which looked at if Batman might be out trying to remember where he left it – although as rezzing is open and Auto Return is off, I’m not sure if it was made to be part of the setting or left by a visitor who used it as a prop (but it is unlocked).
If you don’t fancy the climb up the hill, a walk around the coast to the south-western extent will bring you to the chair lift for an easy ride up to the coffee bar. Sleds and snowboards can be obtained from rezzers at the top of the chair lift for an easy ride down.
Astoria, December 2024
It is to the south-east of the main island that visitors will find the dance floor mentioned in the description above, sitting on its own snowy island across the ice. And speaking of ice, those wishing to skate appear of have three choices: pop on their own blades and set out on the ice freestyle, or keep and eye out for the skating balls along the edge of the Landing Point island. The latter take two forms: couples and singles. As I was on my own during my visit, I cannot speak to the doubles skating balls, but the single follows a scripted path around the island in a manner that reveals everything whilst leaving you with hands free for dramatic photos, if you so chose!
If you opt to remain on the northern islands for exploration, you can follow them as they point west, a little covered bridge neatly linking them. After this an avenue of tree with boughs bent as if to try to protect you from the falling snow will lead you onto the a further bridge and the larger of the two islands on the eastern extent of the region. From here is it just a short hop to the tall island with its hill – or if you prefer, you can remain where you are and escape up into a cosy tree house.
Astoria, December 2024
The final – and smallest – of the islands is something of a wildlife reserve; a magical place where not only do penguins and polar bears meet – but they seem just fine in roaming and skating around together 🙂 .
Through all of this are many places to sit and relax, together with opportunities for photos and fun – not all the sit points are to be found on chairs or benches! And make sure you check out the entrances to the caves – they sit on opposite sides of the large island and should be hard to miss – a visit is not complete without a trip through one of them!
Astoria, December 2024
Astoria is a pleasant and engaging place to visit, so be sure to pop over and take a look.
A natural light image captured by the NASA Mars 2020 rover Perseverance as it is parked on “Lookout Hill” on the rim of Jezero Crater, December 10th, 2024 (mission Sol 1,354). In the middle distance horizon, just right of centre is approx. 10 km from the crater rim while the two hazy peaks on the horizon centre are approx. 60km from the crater rim. Credit: NASA/JPL/MSSS
NASA’s Mars 2020 rover Perseverance reached a milestone in its exploration of the region that includes Jezero Crater, when it was confirmed on December 12th, 2024 that the rover had reached the top of the Crater’s rim, and is now in a position to commence exploration along the edge of the crater as it starts a new science campaign.
For the majority of its time on Mars, Perseverance has been exploring within the crater, looking for evidence of the planet’s potential to have once harboured life and investigating the geological history of the crater itself, which was once home to liquid water. These investigations have comprised four science campaigns thus far:
Crater Floor: the first campaign following the rover’s arrival on Mars in February 2021, through to the end of March 2022, as it exploring the floor of the crater and investigated sites of geological interest, making its way towards the outflow delta of a river which once tumbled into the crater.
Fan Front: running from April 2022 through March(ish) 2023, this involved explorations of the lower end of the delta’s outflow plain, traversing a transitional region rich in evidence of water having once been free-flowing and comprising rock and material deposited in the crater rather than forming it.
Upper Fan: This saw the rover reach the upper limits of the delta fan, where time was spent in further studies which included potential routes up the crater wall, possibly using one of the former river channels, and then starting its initial ascent.
Margin Unit: starting in September 2023, this saw the rover enter a “marginal zone”, or lithological boundary between the lower slopes of the crater and its upper walls, and a region of intense geological study.
Perseverance looks back over its shoulder as it traverses “slippery” terrain whilst engaged on the final leg of its climb to the rim of Jezero Crater. Credit: NASA/JPL
Following some 8.5 months of study whilst traversing upwards as part of the Margin Unit campaign, in August the focus switched to the rover just getting up the rest of the “Mandu Wall” and up and over the crater’s rim, using a combination of Earth-based route planning and “driving”, and allowing the rover to steer its own course through hazards and difficult areas using its autonomous driving capabilities.
The rover finally reached the crater rim on December 5th, 2024, where it paused on a rise at the rim the mission team dubbed “lookout hill”, allowing the rover to catch its breath and take a look at its surroundings – and the mission team to identify possible points of exploration as they confirm plans for the next science campaign, which has been dubbed “Northern Rim”.
This is a slightly confusing name given Perseverance has ascended the south-western side Jezero’s rim, but can be explained by the fact it has arrived at the northern end of that part of the rim. It’s a location the mission has long hoped to reach, because it forms a region of significant scientific interest.
The Northern Rim campaign brings us completely new scientific riches as Perseverance roves into fundamentally new geology. It marks our transition from rocks that partially filled Jezero Crater when it was formed by a massive impact about 3.9 billion years ago to rocks from deep down inside Mars that were thrown upward to form the crater rim after impact. These rocks represent pieces of early Martian crust and are among the oldest rocks found anywhere in the solar system. Investigating them could help us understand what Mars — and our own planet — may have looked like in the beginning.
– Ken Farley, Mars 2020 mission project scientist, JPL
The first point of interest due for in-depth study as a part of the Northern Rim campaign is a mound outside of the crater dubbed “Witch Hazel Hill”. Standing on the outside of the crater’s rim, the mound is around 100m tall, and comprises layered materials that likely date from a time when Mars had a very different climate than today; thus as it will be able to gather “snapshots” of the ancient geological history of Mars going back potentially billions of years.
In this image the route of the rover’s passage up through the outflow plain delta and the wall of the crater (white line) is overlaid onto a orbital image of the portion of Jezero Crater Perseverance has been exploring. This image covers (right to left) the Fan Front, Upper Fan and Margin Unit science campaigns. False colour is used to try to help highlight the rover’s track, with the position of the rover (December 4th, 2024), to the left of the highlighted area. Click the image for a larger view, if required. Credit: NASA/JPL
From here, the rover is expected to make its way to “Lac de Charmes”, a region roughly 3.2 km from the crater rim, and believed to have not been greatly affected by the crater’s impact formation and thus likely to reveal more about the composition of the ancient crust of Mars.
Once the studies of “Lac de Charmes” have been completely, Perseverance is expected to make its way back towards the crater rim to a location dubbed “Singing Canyon”. Here it will examine megabreccia, or huge blocks of bedrock thought to have been hurled clear of the impact zone which gave rise to the 1,900 km wide depression of Isidis Planitia, on the edge of which Jezero Crater sits. The basin of Isidis forms the third largest impact structure on Mars, and was created some 3.9 billion years ago when an object estimated to be some 200 km across slammed into Mars.
This impact occurred during the Noachian Period on Mars, the epoch which saw free-flowing water on the planet and the time when the great volcanoes of the Tharsis Bulge are thought to have formed. Thus, the study of the megabreccia could unlock insights into how the Isidis impact many have both reshaped the surface of Mars, affecting things like the outflow of water and the general atmospheric environment, and so potentially impacted conditions suitable for the evolution of life on the planet.
The journeys to (and down) “Witch Hazel Hill” and then back to the crater rim via “Lac de Charmes” is likely to take Perseverance around a year to complete, during which time it will cover some 6.4 km in total, with four points of geologic interests thus far identified for scientific study as it does so. As the new science campaign opens, the mission tam also hope it will see the rover encounter much improved driving conditions when compared to the climb out and out of the crater.
Ingenuity Crash Investigation
One aspect of the Mars 2020 which will continue to be missed is that of Perseverance’s airborne companion, the little helicopter drone – and first powered vehicle from Earth to fly in the atmosphere of another world – Ingenuity.
As I reported at the start of the year (Space Sunday: a helicopter that could; a lander on its head) the helicopter, which had been designed with just 5 flights in mind but went on to make a total of 72, becoming an invaluable aid in scouting potential routes of exploration for the Mar 2020 rover, was “grounded” and “retired” at the start of 2024, following a mishap at the end of its 72nd flight on January 18th, 2024.
Images taken of the grounded drone and its surroundings later revealed not only had one or more of its rotor tips been broken (as revealed by Ingenuity taking pictures of its own shadow a few days after the incident), it had completely shed an blade.
NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, right, stands near the apex of a sand ripple in an image taken by the Perseverance rover on February 24th, 2024, some 5 weeks after the rotorcraft’s final flight. Part of one of Ingenuity’s rotor blades lies on the surface approx. 5 metres west (far left of the image), after its mounting failed. NASA/JPL / LANL / CNES / CNRS
Since the accident, NASA personnel at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory have been carrying a long-distance investigation into what may have caused the accident that resulted in Ingenuity’s effect loss. At the time of the mishap, Ingenuity was involved in efforts to help Perseverance navigate the upper slopes of Jezero Crater’s rim, which was proving difficult In particular the little helicopter was overflying a field of sand dunes in the hope of finding a route by which Perseverance could traverse them safely. However the lack of clearly definable surface features within the dune field was affecting Ingenuity’s ability to navigate / maintain its correct velocity.
To explain: in order to maintain both its horizontal and vertical velocity within safe parameters when descending, Ingenuity uses a downward-pointing camera to track surface features.: boulders, rocks, shadows, etc. However, the dune field it was overflying was almost uniformly bland and without significant features. This had already proven to be an issue on the helicopter’s 71st flight, when what appears to have been a light brush with the sand of a dune on landing caused a very slight deformation in one root.
Ironically, it as because of this incident that the mission team slotted-in the 72nd flight: they wanted to test Ingenuity’s capabilities to see if their were any abnormalities in flying as a result of the deformation. As such, it was intended to be a straight-up, hover, traverse a short distance a and flight, they kind performed multiple times in the past. So what went wrong?
Following extensive study of high-resolution images gathered by Perseverance of the damaged helicopter in February 2024, together with a careful review of data from the flight and images recorded by Ingenuity whilst flying, the JPL investigators and engineers from AeroVironment, who built the drone for NASA/JPL, now conclude Ingenuity suffered a similar issue as the 71st flight: it simply could not discern surface details via the navigation camera that could help it properly verify its vertical and horizontal motion.
As a result, investigators believe that Ingenuity approached the ground at the end of the planned20-second flight with a high horizontal velocity, resulting in a hard impact with the back slope of a sand ripple. The force of the impact, coupled with the slope, was enough to pitch the helicopter sideways and roll it forward. However, rather than bringing the blades in contact with the ground as had been thought, the combination of pitch and roll overstressed all four blades at a point of structural weakness roughly one-third of the way back from their tips, snapping them. This instantly caused both severe rotor vibration and imbalance, causing the mounting for one blade to fail completely, with the remnant of the blade hurled some 15 metres from the landing point.
This graphic depicts the most likely scenario for the hard landing of NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter during its 72nd and final flight on Jan. 18, 2024. High horizontal velocities at touchdown resulted in a hard impact on a sand ripple, which caused Ingenuity to pitch and roll, damaging its rotor blades. NASA/JPL
This act additionally caused a power surge, which in turn caused the loss of communications at the end of the flight as the helicopter temporarily placed itself in a safe mode to protect its electronics.
Whilst it has remained unable to fly, Ingenuity has been far from silent in the months since its January 2024 accident: elements of its electronics – some of which are off-the-shelf components used in cell phones and table devices – are still operational, enabling it to continue to monitor the atmosphere and environment at its crash site and send that data on a roughly weekly basis to Perseverance for onward transmission to Earth.
In addition, all of the data gathered from Ingenuity is being used to directly inform the design and capabilities of the next generation helicopter JPL hopes to build with AeroVironment. This is a more complex vehicle which perhaps more closely resembles rotary drones as used here than was the case with Ingenuity. Comprising a central body with (as currently envisaged) six electrical motors each powering a four-bladed rotor, the craft has been dubbed the Mars Science Helicopter (MSH) or simply “Mars Chopper”.
A key aim of the MSH project is to develop a craft capable of deploying and recovering science packages between 0.5 and 2.0 kg mass as it autonomously explores Mars.
Alex Bader is a name in Second Life synonymous with some of the best landscaping kits and texture sets available for use in-world (his work also being available to other platforms as well). For my part, he is one of the two landscape and plant creators who are pretty much my go-to names in Second Life when it comes to landscaping, either at home or on behalf of friends (the other being Cube Republic).
However, what many among Alex’s friends and customers may not know – and I count myself as being in both categories – is that Alex is a skilled and high-regarded graphics artist and landscape painter in the physical world. As a graphics artist, his work has won international design awards and his clients have included the Scottish Ballet, Glasgow School of Art, the Centre for Contemporary Arts, Citizens Theatre, Glasgow Art Fair, Glasgow Jazz Festival and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Alex Bader: Landscapes by Alex, December 2024
From the above list of clients, it is probably obvious that Alex hails from Scotland, where he became inspired by his father’s watercolour landscapes and love of the Scottish countryside. This stirred his own interest in and passion for both the Scottish countryside and expressing its beauty in art through both photography and painting, as well as contributing to his involvement in 3D graphics design.
I spend a lot of time enjoying the landscape, whether walking the dog through forest and on beaches or cycling in the hills and woodland of Scotland. So it’s almost inevitable that I feel the need to communicate the impact this has on me. Whether through photography, design or painting – the result is always the same process of observation, discovery and expression.
– Alex Bader, discussing his passion for art
As an artist, Alex has seen his images and paintings exhibited across Scotland, each piece finely crafted and exquisitely capturing scenes and places in all of their allure and elegance. Whilst his father worked in watercolours, Alex has come to prefer oils for his art, painting out of his studio rather than in the field, using reference images and sketches of the location he intends to reproduce on canvas. His work also ranges form expressive realism, rich in detail and beautifully representative of a subject, through to more abstracted landscapes.
Alex Bader: Landscapes by Alex, December 2024
In painting, my main aim is to convey the rich textural detail of the landscape using loose, expressive brushwork while remaining true to the colour and values of nature. Through this combination, I hope to engage the audience on multiple levels – to draw the viewer in to the scene with a real sense of place while exciting the eye artistically.
– Alex Bader, discussing his passion for art
All of this is now available for Second Life residents to appreciate for themselves, as Alex has opened an in-world gallery where limited edition digital copies of his physical world landscape art can be admired and purchased. Situated in one of Alex’s own building designs – The White Loft Skybox Interior Space (I should mention I am also a fan of Alex’s buildings, owning both his Beach House and Forest Cabin, both of which I regard as superb) – the gallery is a clean, no-nonsense space perfect for displaying art.
Alex Bader: Landscapes by Alex, December 2024
Pictures are displayed framed and sized to a realistic scale for home display in-world, with each piece limited to just 10 copies. As a particular piece is sold out, I understand Alex plans to replace it with another on the same limited edition basis. Given that each image is limited in number, purchases are not made through the displayed copy of a painting; instead, payment is made by clicking on one of white sales cubes located under each painting. As purchases are made, cubes turn from white to red and reduce in size, making it very easy to see how many copies of a given painting remain available.
Nor are people limited to just having Alex’s paintings in-world; the original oil paintings can also be purchased in the physical world as a part of a cross-over exhibition”. All of the originals are available via a dedicated part of the Studio Skye website, also called Landscapes by Alex. As with the limited digital copies, each painting is individually priced – and this price includes international shipping costs (all painting sold unframed for ease of shipping).
Alex Bader: Landscapes by Alex, December 2024
Whether seen in-world or on-line, Alex’s paintings are a delight to behold, and will grace any home, physical or virtual, so do please be sure to hop along and see for yourself.
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 