Category: Second Life

Rally to Rescue supporting Operation Delta Dog

Posted on by Inara Pey
Rally to Rescue – October 1st through 20th, 2017

Running through until October 20th, 2017 is the fourth Rally to Rescue event in Second Life in support of Operation Delta Dog.

Founded in 2013, Operation Delta Dog, a non-profit organisation, uses with experienced trainers and positive-reinforcement methods, rescues homeless dogs from Massachusetts shelters and breed rescue groups and trains them to work as assistance dogs with local veterans who are suffering with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

It was founded by Trisha Blanchet after she read reports that as many as 22 US service veterans a day were taking their lives after serving their country in war zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan, then finding themselves unable to readjust to private life due to PTSD / TBI. At the same time, she was aware that up to 50,000  dogs a year in Massachusetts alone wind up on the streets – and as many as 50% of them are destroyed as homes cannot be found for them. Given that trained assistance dog supporting veterans with invisible disabilities were in short supply, Trisha saw a means to form a link between the plight of homeless dogs and the plight of veterans, and offer a brighter future for both.

Organised by the Ghost Bullys Motorcycle Club is Second Life, Rally To Rescue is a shopping event featuring 32 designers, all of who are offering items for sale with 100% of all proceeds going to Rally to Rescue and thence to Operation Delta Dog.

There are shapes, accessories, fashion and furnishings to be had, together dog kennels for the discerning SL dog owner, motorbikes and things for Halloween. Some of the items have a canine theme, and all are presented in a pleasant meadow-like environment high above the GBMC’s headquarters. In addition, those who prefer can donate through the kiosk boxes intermingled with the vendor boards.

Rally to Rescue – October 1st through 20th, 2017

So, don’t forget to hop along to Rally To Rescue before October 20th and, at the very least, drop a few Lindens into the donation boxes for a worthy cause. Help a homeless dog get the home it needs, and a veteran get the help they deserve.

SLurl and Links

Zedekiah at Artful Expressions in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
Artful Expressions

After a short hiatus from Second Life, Sorcha Tyles has re-opened her gallery Artful Expressions at a new location and with a new design – and a new exhibition.

The gallery now sits within a charming garden setting, with a beach at one end, a terrace sitting between sand and gallery, offering a cosy, open-air hang-out which encourages visitors to sit a while and enjoy the Sun  … and a little coffee.

Artful Expressions:  Zedekiah, (ZaynIanLutz)

A single display hall is offered inside the gallery building, presenting space for exhibitions by individual artists. For October, Sorcha is featuring the work of Zedekiah, (ZaynIanLutz). And if there is one word which should be used to describe his work, it is perhaps “atmospheric”.

This is an artist with an eye for conveying a mood, a story, a world, within a single frame. Whether producing a landscape or an avatar study, there is a sensitivity and richness to his work that draws one in. Of the eight images presented here, four sway towards monochrome in tone and style, the remaining four offering muted tones and colours. In both cases, whether purely or predominantly monochrome, or when using a broader palette of colour, a rich sense of mood is evoked. So much so, that within the avatar studies particularly, we are – often without clearly being about the see any expression on the face – able to feel the emotion being expressed.

Artful Expressions: Zedekiah, (ZaynIanLutz)

Only two of the images do not feature an avatar, either as their focus or as a part of the overall scene: Winter Trace and September. Both of these are equally as evocative, with the near-monochrome look of Winter Trace drawing one into a feeling of a cold, dark night – one perhaps with a little hint of menace in the way the shadows seem to be gathering the house into themselves, without even a hint of light from the windows to offer cheer or welcome. Thus, within it, there is perhaps the echo of a thought, we are home, but are we safe?

September, seen below right, by contrast, perfectly reflects the fading of summer and the gathering folds of winter. There is still sunlight enough in the sky to feel warmth, the trees still carry their leaves and the grass is still heavy with seed. But the soft colours, the billowing clouds and the icy edge of the blue sky warn us that winter is indeed coming.

Artful Expressions: Zedekiah, (ZaynIanLutz)

A superb exhibition from an outstanding artist, not to be missed.

SLurl Details

SL project updates 40/1: server, viewer

Posted on by Inara Pey

BarDeco and Kekeland - Coffee Island; Inara Pey, September 2017, on FlickrBarDeco and Kekeland – Coffee Island – blog post

Server Deployments for Week #40

As always, please refer to the server release thread for updates and the latest news.

  • On Tuesday, October 3rd the Main (SLS) received the server maintenance package previously deployed to the Magnum RC channel. 17#17.09.22.508905 comprises improvements to e-mail verification logic (IM to e-mail) which sees the system checking whether the receiving e-mail address is verified or not.
  • On Wednesday, October 4th, the Bluesteel, Magnum and LeTigre RC channels should be updated with a new server maintenance package,  17#17.09.29.509228, intended to address the unintended returns issue of two weeks ago – see The Return of the Living Objects: A Pre-Halloween Horror Story for more.

With regards to the e-mail verification update, note that the sending / forwarding of messages to unverified addresses is not blocked – as yet. However, once a viewer-side changed has been deployed, accounts with unverified emails will no longer be able to request that IMs be forwarded to e-mail; attempts to enable the viewer-side setting will fail, and result in a message advising the account holder to verify their e-mail address.

SL Viewer

The Voice RC viewer updated to version 5.0.8.329250 on Friday, September 29th. This viewer:

  • Adds support for a higher quality voice using SLVoice version 4.9.
  • Fixes the apparent position of the speaker in nearby voice.
  • Improves retry behaviour when there are problems connecting or during temporary connection problems.
  • Logs more detailed information to the Lab for quantifying connection issues.
  • Improves security of the communication between the viewer and SLVoice.
  • Unrelated to voice, improves the validation of TLS certificates (security improvement).

It should also be noted:

  • Local teleports will cause a short (a few seconds) voice interruption because the viewer now detaches from voice a little earlier in the teleport sequence.
  • With some SLVoice changes, the SLVoice executable can be copied into another viewer – that will not work with this one. There are changes to the connection between the viewer and SLVoice that are required. Talking to any viewer version should work.

The remainder of the viewer pipeline remains unchanged from the end of week #39:

  • Current Release version 5.0.7.328060, dated August 9th, promoted August 23rd – formerly the Maintenance RC
  • 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, version  5.0.8.329115, dated September 22nd.
    • Wolfpack RC viewer,version  5.0.8.329128, dated September 22nd – this viewer is functionally identical to the release viewer, but includes additional back-end logging “to help catch some squirrelly issues”
    • Alex Ivy 64-bit viewer, version 5.1.0.508209, dated September 1st
  • Project viewers:
  • Obsolete platform viewer version 3.7.28.300847, dated May 8th, 2015 – provided for users on Windows XP and OS X versions below 10.7.

Environment Enhancement Project (EEP)

“You will be able to add water settings to the day cycle,” Rider commented at the Simulator User Group meeting on Tuesday, October 3rd, when discussing the EEP project. “So calm seas in the morning and choppy at night.”

Once he’s got the settings working as inventory assets, allowing people to exchange / sell Windlight settings, Rider aims to get the project viewer sorted and available. No time frame on this, but he’s willing to discuss it as people start testing the new environment capabilities, either at the Simulator User Group meetings (noon SLT, Tuesdays) or the Content Creation User Group meetings (13:00 SLT, most Thursdays).

For Max and Lyyric: Second Life creators and artists unite

Posted on by Inara Pey
For Max – October 3rd through 10th, 2017

On September 22nd, 2017, Maxwell Graf issued a deeply personal, heart-breaking request via Plurk. Related to a personal situation, it included a request for people to buy from his store (in-world or on the Marketplace). For obvious reasons Max didn’t feel comfortable in asking for more than this, despite the severity of the situation he and his flesh and blood partner, Lyyric Fei face. However, that hasn’t stopped friends and fellow creators from rallying around; and on Monday, September 25th, a special shopping event, organised by Charlotte Bartlett, Sophia Harlow and Blazin Arubet, was announced.

Going to the Max, also now more simply referenced as For Max, opened on Tuesday, October 3rd and will run through until Tuesday, October 10th, 2017. It features more than 50 creators from across Second Life, offering fashion, clothing, animations, accessories, furniture, fun items, curios – even entire houses – with many offering 100% of all sale proceeds in support of Max and Lyyric.

For Max – October 3rd through 10th, 2017

Taking place on the Apple Fall region, featuring booths sponsored by Shiny Shabby, For Max not only features some great shopping opportunities, but will also include entertainment (yet to be scheduled at the time of writing), raffles, an auction and more.

The sheer diversity of goods on offer means For Max really is an event with something to suit almost everyone and every pocket. So do make a point of visiting, perusing and purchasing! Be sure, as well, to keep an eye on the For Max Facebook page (Facebook log-in not required) for the latest information and updates on the event.

For Max: many of the items on sale are offered 100% of all proceeds going to Max and Lyrric at an event where you can buy everything from fashion, animations, furnishings and accessories all the way through to entire homes and fun items

But that’s not all that’s going on in support of Max and Lyrric!

Also rising to the call, artist and author Kylie Sabra has opened an art exhibition at her gallery space in the Antiquity regions in support of  Max and Lyrric. As with For Max, Kylie’s Benefiting Maxwell Graf exhibition runs from Tuesday October 3rd through to Tuesday, October 10th, 2017. 90% of all proceeds from the sale of Kylie’s art go directly to Max and Lyyric.

Kylie says of Max:

Maxwell Graf is one of our beloved members and a long-time Second Life artist and builder.  I met Max years ago when I asked him to exhibit at The Rose Theatre Art Galleries when I was curator. His work was and is impressive. He’s a great talent and I wish him the very best in these hard times. I can also attest that he makes the best-fitting pair of pants in Second Life and you’ll find them at Rustica!

Benefiting Maxwell Graf – Art by Kylie Sabra, with 90% of all sales going to Max and Lyrric

Kylie’s work – landscapes, avatar studies, abstracts, is evocative, emotive and exquisite. It is ideal for in-world display, and a superb addition to any collection belonging to the discerning connoisseur of virtual and digital art. Her outdoor gallery space at Buckingham Palace in Antiquity also makes for an idyllic visit.

So why not combine a visit to the historic Antiquity regions and time appreciating Kylie’s artistry with an opportunity to further help Max and Lyrric with a purchase or two?

Benefiting Maxwell Graf – Art by Kylie Sabra

SLurls and Links

DixMix: Elo, Maloe, Uma and a little change

Posted on by Inara Pey
DiXmiX Gallery – Uma Sabra

DixMix Gallery, curated by Dixmix Source, opened a new exhibition featuring the work of  Elo (elorac Paule), Maloe Vansant and Uma Sabra in mid-September; and it is fair to say come of the images presented should be considered NSFW.

As well as the exhibition – appropriately entitled Elo, Maloe, Uma, the gallery has under gone some alterations, and with them comes a new SLurl / landmark. The overall design remains the same, with the exhibition space divided into three halls – the Black Grey and White galleries, with both lower floors and mezzanine levels. Also retained is The Atom club space, with the rooms behind it now given over to Dixmix’s work.

DiXmiX Gallery: Elo

However, located within the Black Gallery space is the entrance to Womb, a new exhibition area located below the main building, and finished in a very futuristic style somewhat at odds with the main display halls, but nevertheless also complimenting them. I’m not sure if this is designed to be a further space for exhibiting different artists or whether it is intended to be dedicated to Megan’s work (which was being displayed during my visit).

Of the three artists exhibited in the main hall, two, Maloe and Elo, have been reviewed in these pages a number of times while exhibiting at various galleries in Second Life. Both offer striking avatar studies – the focus of this exhibition – but I do confess to being biased towards Elo somewhat because I do find her work powerfully expressive. This is certainly the case here, with some 12 pieces of her work presented in monochrome, in keeping with the theme of the gallery’s Grey exhibition hall.

DiXmiX Gallery: Maloe Vansant

Uma Sabra’s art occupies the White Gallery on the mezzanine level, where she presents 16 studies of herself strikingly taken against a plain black background. All be three are nude shots, the exceptions being three facial portraits which are, for me, the most striking.

Maloe’s work occupies the lower floor Black Gallery and is the richest in terms of colour and style, with several of the pieces presented as paintings more than photographs. Through all of them there is a very tactile element; it’s hard not to want to reach out and run a finger lightly over the surface of several of the pieces.

DiXmiX Gallery: Megan Prumier

A balanced and nuanced exhibition featuring three superb artists.

SLurl Details

2017 Viewer release summaries week 39

Posted on by Inara Pey
Logos representative only and should not be seen as an endorsement / preference / recommendation

Updates for the week ending Sunday, October 1st

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

  1. These two viewers were updated on September 22nd and withdrawn shortly thereafter pending action from Microsoft re a Windows SmatScreen issue affecting the most recent viewer updates (see here and here for more). This issue has now been resolved and the two RCs are once again available.

LL Viewer Resources

Third-party Viewers

V5-style

V1-style

Mobile / Other Clients

Additional TPV Resources

Related Links