Of Fish, Collective Estate Angst over RFL, & Ethical Subroutines

The 4th annual 7Seas Fishiversary found an emphasis on sleepwear and bedding for those who offered customs based on the theme.  A set of wine red silk jammies with gold embroidery were my contribution, along with two types of commemorative T-shirts (one silk one tyedye) and more flannel TARDIS jimjam colors were the new clothing catches.  Two types of nekkid Daleks (I always wanted to do nekkid Daleks) and a Tea Kitsune shoulder pal rounded out the new releases.  I had more planned but alas a hand operation left me out of sorts and more incapacitated than I'd anticipated.  I'm writing this portion of the blog on my way home after my first day back at work.  Careful to walk down flights of stairs on the "strong side" in the event I need to hold the bannister.  Now back to 2-handed typing, getting better at wrong-handed hygiene, able to lift a mug (two days ago I marveled at just being able to wrap my fingers around it).

First Fishing Rod, a Japanese folk style makeshift construct

We raised over $L1600 for Relay for Life at the Fishiversary for our creations and more from straight donations.

Managed the Giant Snail Races by switching fingers (proper Mouselook maneuvering requires the right hand on the mouse for steering and left on the keys for propulsion) and ended in fifth.

I'm offering my Super UltraRare Daleks as prizes in New London for avatar contests.  Watch Twitter, SL Social, Facebook and assorted group notices for info. 

This weekend there will be 3 DJ events:

1. New London on Saturday from 1pm SLT.  This week's theme is tropical beach party.  Something about palms gave me the idea...
2. Bacchus on the Beach later from 6/45pm SLT
3. Relay For Life's Mardi Gras Sunday 7-9am SLT

Relay for Life Mardi Gras Weekend starts tomorrow...

I  made 3 tyedye shirts in Mardi Gras colors and about 8 flexi "mad hats" along the line of my Silly St Paddy and Cat in the Hat hats.  I have an idea for a special edition Second Line umbrella as well.   Look for these in our store with other vendors by our team's creators at the RFL Bourbon Street sim.

My friend's husband moved to a local nursing home.  Despite the medical prognosis that he has days, I think we all know these things can take longer.  She must enjoy every minute she can with him, and so much the better as long as he is kept comfortable.

Update on two estates regarding Relay For Life...  

Both have seen conflicts, one contrived by an asshole in a blog last year (there can be no greater loser than someone who exploits the ignorance of the uninformed rather than help bring them up to speed toward such a cause.  How small such a person becomes in the scheme of things).  They don't object to individuals opting for donations or having a token kiosk here and there, because they do believe in the cause, but having been burned they feel best to work with what they know and do best, which is maintain their sim and keep it griefer free.

The other may be making more than they should over this, which is a bit curious.  They're certainly big enough as a community to have their own team, but not obligated to pursue one.  We all have a story, add to that the level of commitment to manage an estate (for both places this is very true) nor any less generous or sincere for not having a team of their own.   They had recommended another team for residents to become affiliated with.  Apparently that's not enough, and the question of an official stance may have been raised on a scale greater than my own initial inquiries when I was looking to belong before starting my own team. 

My concerns with the estate in their current mindset are:

1. My being judged for having my own team. 

2. Being judged for saying something as simple as "if you like what I play, please give to that kiosk over there" versus my usual passiveness about receiving tips. 

3. I get a strong feeling that I'm being looked down on for something someone else said or did at some other time to give them the impression that they as an estate have to be more prominently and directly involved with RFL.  I resent being treated differently because of this.  I do not want to be chastized for being actively involved with Relay For Life.  I'm not anyone they've ever known before and would like them to set notions aside.  We started on a great footing and they've been practically regarded as another family to my avatar.  I prefer to hold onto that rapport.

And after last year's BS antipathy from theme teams I swore off committing to them anyway. We're progressing just fine doing what we like in any style we wish.  As long as content is compliant for promotion or involvement I can openly promote with RFL's resources for any member of the team. Adult teams should be respected for their efforts as well. Sincerity is what defines one's efforts and not how big their membership is (we've already seen last year how teams can have many names listed on their roster but only a couple of active people) or *ahem* how many good ideas captains can rip off from recruits to their own credit. 

We've since gotten our shops and await a solution for RFL vendors placed back-to-back on common shop walls where our hovertext statistics clash.  We may just alleviate this by setting our vendors the same height and be damned with the statistics (which to be honest we should be asked to mute entirely and let our kiosks show the grand total).

I have to say I'm very disappointed to see some teams sport regular vendors and keep all the sales to themselves.  Hey if Hearts & Souls can fill the walls with donation items, certainly those bigger teams can.  I'll be sure to make available LMs to team members' shops.  And to the "tween" spot where I'm accumulating vendors and add new ones following each event.

It's not that I'm holier than thou over these others.  It's just common sense and plain ethics.  How hard is that? It takes a type to take advantage of a charity and exploit an area intended for fundraising for their own profit.  People outside SL go to prison for that you know.  I suppose in a way this really shows what some teams are all about.

RFL: All that scrambling for one day?

Other than the booth and the textures I  put together for it, the vendor items are merely the first of what the team has to offer.  We'll make more stuff and accumulate a nice collection of creations for donation throughout fundraiser season.

While I didn't have time to attend most of the Relay For Life Kick-Off celebration inworld, I did get a chance to tour the team booths in 3 regions before they were taken down.

Our kick-off booth in RFL Past. Minutes later 2 more contributors added vendors

There are more events coming up, and I'm looking forward to having a booth there again.

I was wondering where I could offer access to these vendors between RFL festivals?  It just occurred to me that the viewing area for the Atoll cross-country Giant Snail Races by Route 2 is perfect.  While theme appropriate vendors may appear in Maison Bleu and Cartoon World, I'll work out a couple of spots where they all can be, perhaps for all members of the team.

Something to think about.

In the meantime we have the 7Seas Fishiversary coming up.  Hard to believe it's two weeks from now.  The theme is silk.  This means textures,  some experimental.  Also more catchable Daleks, shirts and PJ's, and my first custom rods!

Do I bring back the purple Dalek or a new variation for RFL vendors?  I'm open to purplish suggestions.

Remember the team member I removed from my roster?  He started his own team.  That's awesome news!  Not only can he get first-hand info on what it takes and what is and isn't acceptable, it means a whole new group of people from his end who can do something for the cause.  So this has indeed worked itself out for the better!

This evening I'll put my RFL vendors out at the viewing platform.  That's just down the hill to the north beyond the fishing area.

Dakota & I pondering the purple blue box

More stuff for New Toulouse.  Another thing which has reached the top of the list. 

The Aether Chrononauts have a Time Traveller's Ball next Sunday.  I plan to be there.  Dress code is formal from any era.  I know exactly what to wear for it.  As a matter of fact, I remember exactly where I was the last time I wore it.  You'll have to wait to find out!

The Hearts & Souls RFL team is formed

Something happened.  That's all I can respectfully say.  As a result,  I've started my own Relay For Life team.  I need the freedom *I believe* only a captain has to control a team page in order to facilitate RL donations and fundraising. Sometimes a something has to happen to push you into the right direction. Thank you, something.

The theme is Relay For Life's own, so anyone who has something to offer towards a cause is welcome to join, regardless of genre, and anyone on the team who wants to engage in fundraising inworld on Mature & PG land for a General crowd will get to have their event added to the RFL calendar.  Donate as little (put donation kiosks for the team out) or as much (from donation vendors to events to offgrid donations) as they feel comfortable with.   If someone wants to make adult products and hold fundraising events on adult property they're at liberty to do so for the team.  Somehow the Goreans have done all right raising money without appearing on RFL's event billboards.

The core theme of the team is similar to that of my persona: that we're all real regardless of what substance and form we take.  No one is immune to the effects of cancer and we can make a difference in both worlds.

I've had an enthusiastic response  from folks, both whom I asked and a couple of them so far who came to me.

I believe I have a lot to give and offer towards a noble cause.  I am privileged and honored to participate and make a difference.  I know people who survived, people who are fighting, and people who lost the fight.  A friend is losing the battle as I type this.  Pettiness has no place, so advanced warning:

Fighting cancer is not a pissing match.  If your team makes more money than mine, I don't lose.  If you think so then maybe you don't have your head on straight.

Once we have won the battle, the winner is us.

I try to learn from my mistakes and the mistakes of others:

1. No more genre teams which pigeonhole me or disallow promotion of fundraising events due to theme or era vs content rating.

2. No stealing ideas from others. A team effort - and there may be a few of those - will give credit where due.  There is no cause in the universe which justifies discarding ethics or common courtesy; no one or thing is cause to forget to be excellent to eachother.

3. As team captain I will not desert my team and hang out with another and leave others to do my work.  That really rubbed me the wrong way last year. Not much can be worse than a team being let down by their own captain.

4. I'm not separatist.  If someone from another team needs help with something I'll give it if I'm able. Just don't know what skills anyone would need from me.  If another team wants to hold a fundraising event and asks me for a sign or to play music, I will certainly oblige them.

5. Group joining is not mandatory.  If you just want to put out a kiosk or make stuff for donation, that's a great help and what really counts IMHO.  You got what you want and when the RFL season is done the kiosks and vendors derez automatically.

Come to think of it, my off-season kiosk will go poof very soon.

The Fishiversary is A-Comin'

click to launch a detailed image

The diner's fishing area is a success. Giving back to the community during gaps between contests with a contest is serving its purpose. People enjoy the chalk, are working on capturing the trophies, and sometimes listening to the stream (I've started streaming during them).  With recent RL commitments demanding my Sundays, it's nice to squeeze one of these in after a long day.

Livingtree has relaunched at 8pm EST on Sundays, which was always this "what am I gonna do" limbo hour for me ever since Blaksleeworld ended, so now I get to fish there, then DJ at Bacchus.

Hey, fishing is relaxing.

And speaking of love-ins, the Fishiversary dates have been set and the theme announced (if not obvious to anyone with access to an anniversary gifts chart).  And my kinda party: a PAJAMA PARTY!  I have a lot of ideas for this one :) Won't have anything to do with diners though...

Poster by Meissa Thorne

A Krewe a Krewe! I'm in a Krewe! Watch this space for things Mardi Gras in New Toulouse...

Last but not least: Relay for Life. Teams start applying next week. I don't know what I'll do but I want to do more this year. A lot more. Dat wasn't sure yet what she has planned; the beach had their own team last year but somehow fell through the administration cracks and didn't get a parcel for the big event. So I don't know quite what will be, except a theme is definitely due.

Relay for Life Weekend

What an inspiration Relay For Life weekend was.  I wore the tag for Giant Snail Relay team, seeing how clammy the other tag had become and how I was told I wasn't needed.  Tindy had done practically all the work on the Snails' campsite, so I had a feeling no one would be relaying for them.  Racer suggested I put out my Snail shirts and Whoish vendors to bring in more donations; the team went gold level on Saturday. Total raised at this writing for the American Cancer Society by Second Life: US$373,098.

At first there were others participating.  We rooted for the first lap passersby, waving flags.  Survivors and Caregivers.  I knew so many people running and walking by us, and they appreciated our cheers.  It seemed I was wrong about the track and the impression that it was this long road which took 24 hours to complete.  More like 45min-hour, with special theme laps where we put on silly things or changed form (like the animal lap). Running by interesting builds and people cheering you on...  Proud I managed to raise 10,000 Lindens before the weekend festivities began and another few thousand during the relay from the roadside donations.  By the end of the event most of the luminaria lining the road were lit.  I'd been reunited with so many people I hadn't connected with in ages:  folks from past SL events, other causes, show n tell, previous neighbors, 7Seas fishers, Office Hours, Whovians, and so on.


It was clear that I would be the only one to run for the team.  As I've said, there were others who like me claimed more than one team tag, but they ALL represented the other.  After the first half a day, no one rooted from the campsite.  It was deserted for most of the weekend.

But the major thing is I got to run. And run. And run for all I did.  I've helped raise over 12k, about 5k of it for Giant Snail Relay's tally, maybe more; vendor sales sporadically continue.  I got to cheer people who did all they did without any personal agendas save success.  That's the spirit!

As expected, New London had been omitted again from inclusion by the Dr Who Fans Relay team, so they were unaware of the Relay weekend (Victor continues to be oblivious of an ever growing conflict between two concepts: being in charge and community obligation). When I invited Laredo Lowtide to check out the luminaria and how fans could light them in Elisabeth Sladen's name as well as for family and friends, I could tell the very setting of people running past and the luminaria - with their dedications to loved ones struggling or long gone - was something they would want to become a part of one way or another next year.  The management is so busy - maintaining TARDIS sim is a fulltime job. Maybe they need some sort of public events coordinator or something. They certainly have enough group members if not active events participants to make their own team.  Hell if the Snail Races can do it with no one on the campsite for most of the weekend, I think a good gaggle of Whovians could maintain a team presence on the track as well as put something fantastic together for a campsite. The Doctor after all is the mother of all humanitarians.

I'm sure next year will be different. It always is after the first time.  I know more people involved, am involved with more people who are involved, and Who knows what happens in 2012? :)

Remember I have a year-round kiosk in Hydrangea near the diner sign. While RFL is a seasonal campaign, cancer hits whenever it hits.

New Wave & Art Wave

I now have a better idea as to what shape my SL8B exhibit will take - literally. But first, the art.  I've put in for next Monday and Tuesday so I've got four days, but I want to have the textures done by then and spend most of that time scanning, prepping, and placing.

I also have a name for it, but I can't tell you yet.  I have a party set and need to look into where I can add it to an events listing.  There's always the possibility that I can't of course...

On a similar note, Burn2 started accepting art camp proposals & lottery ticket purchases for October's festival.  For those with money - among which I wished I could be - parcels are for sale in the Marketplace.  Keep in mind that Burn is no longer a Linden event; all monies from Marketplace, Lottery, and donations go toward purchase and maintenance of Burn sims during the festival.  

Burn2 also asks for sim donations this year.  They'd pay for relocation & renaming to and from the Playa.

At any rate this gives people a chance to work physically on their spaces throughout the summer.  Ideally one should develop and build on the playa and not just plop down pre-existing or sandbox builds.  This would give creators the chance to do more like what is done at Burning Man.  Then again, what about people?  Will they see it this way?

This Friday I'm hosting another DJ Dance Party in Bay City to raise money for Relay for Life.  Tip the kiosk if you're having a good time.  Music this time will be MTV-era pop, aka New Wave For Life pt 2.  Snurky is going to promote it in RFL's group chat this time.  That is, if group chat actually works.

Busy Busy...

Now back home (but insufficiently settled), I resumed drawing.  It's a healthy thing, like breathing.

There are many things on the plate that I need to get through; no spinning it to make them fly off into oblivion.

For one I've paid rent on that small shop in New Babbage for the past 3 months.  The space gave me the inspiration for a series of "prints".  Yes I know: I'm working backwards and instead should find a place for existing work.  Well, that's where artistic license comes in; real artists seldom act in conventional sequence.  That was also when RL stepped in of course, hindering any chance of quality time to create the prints and set them up in an appropriately designed vendor.

Then a portrait of one of my friends which I've owed for about 11 months by now.  I haven't forgotten that.

Giant Snail Races tee shirts for Relay For Life donations.  Had hoped to make a new one every week or two, but that hasn't panned out.  There are two available currently at Cartoon World, with hopefully a new one available this weekend. Remember all the money in those vendors goes to The American Cancer Society.

SL8B.  I knew the theme about 2 months ago.  No time to work on it.  I have about a dozen ways I can present what I want to present, which may just get narrowed down based on my abilities.  I know what I'd LIKE to do...

Scourgemobiles:   They were taken offline for a week or two and it was grand.  Apparently this was temporary while the vehicles were reprogrammed.  I found out one day by messaging someone while standing on Route 3. Some car came up behind me and stopped, then did its usual lumbering thing in an effort to ride around me and still remain on the road.  Selecting it revealed the source sim where it was rezzed is no longer displayed.  The vehicle had 16 scripts and a landmark.  Still adfarming and still solid.  They're still a problem when you're trying to ride the road. And the things still jump the roads into water and rail routes. AnnMarie just doesn't get it, does she?

By the way, Friday June 3rd is a meeting between LDPW and SLRR afficionados in Tuliptree. A certain someone is likely to be there.

Last but not least, dance parties in Bay City to raise money for Relay for Life.  I hold them every other Friday evening from 6pm SLT.  I usually pick a specific era and run with it. Right now it's New Wave, with the first one from its beginnings.  Next one on June 10th will be from the dawn of early MTV era, with a great variety of sounds and several blasts from the past.  Tipping goes to a Relay for Life Kiosk.

That's all for now :)

Ketchup May 2011

I was this close to taking out a new stream last Friday to celebrate my return home that night.  But with short notice who'd come?

Anyway there's a big weekend coming up for Bay City for their third anniversary.  It's also my second since the gallery opened there.  Am doing a dance party featuring music from the 20th century (I'm that ecclectic normally anyway).  Again it will be to raise money for Relay For Life, with donation of creations and a kiosk to divvy up between two teams I represent.  So if you like what you see: buy.  If you like what you hear: tip for a good cause.

Things to do:

Poster for Bay City event.  Theme will be purple.

Replace slideshow, box and listgiver at Retro Metro in Sistiana with new ones from Fishiversary and post to 7Seas' forum.  Note it's back to a 1-minute rez time for bait and rod purchases; there must have been a griefer lockdown in Nova Albion at some point that it was changed to no-rez.

Refine the Gallifrey Ten swim trunks.  I think a smaller denser pattern may look better.

More important than the swim trunks are to finish off the first wave of sketches for Artifictions and draw another couple of racing snails for shirts.  One will be purple.

Dance and fish at Bacchus on the Beach.  I realize that new fish or no, I'll never become a Hall of Famer and unlock the omega level if I let my alts fish.

Oddz n Enz

I realized some songs I'd like for Saturday night's playlist are on vinyl, and that I never got them on CD.  Oops.  That still leaves plenty to work with for a perky, optimistic set to celebrate spring.  Beware - this is going to be upbeat; bubblegum might be "served" as well.

My original parcel in Bay City is now the home of a newspaper publisher. This should be fun!

I've been charmed by New Babbage and the people I've met there.  One guise of my persona will soon open a tiny shop in Clockhaven called Artifictions.  Pondering over what the "furniture" should be.  Wish there was room a bench outside but the door is inches away from stone steps.  While I've already appeared at a New Babbage event in my pseudo-Tennant avatar (well it was a time travel party), it's not likely I'll be using it again there in character. The recent Pancake Races video has my look.

Every night this week Jen Shikami is hosting mini-contests at 7Seas HQ in Flotsam Beach. It's a lot of fun. The prize for the top winners is fishbait. Who doesn't love fishbait? mmmm-m!

Saturday will be busy!  First at noon SLT is Nova Albion's 7th anniversary celebration.  If you haven't seen posters around for it in the Tricities it's because schedules couldn't allow us to meet inworld and - for the first time in years - there was no SL forum for NA's residents to plan.  If any group made good use of their SL Community resources, it was them.  Fortunately Twitter has been very helpful in sounding the call.  While I anticipate a galvanized gaggle of tin ducks, I'll be taking a snail.

Saturday night's my Hop Into Spring party from 10:30pm EST aka 7:30 pm SLT. Maybe this time I'll have a pink star on the map?

Sunday has a big event: Giant Snail Races run Relay for Life along the western coastline of Heterocera Atoll continent from Filip to Calleta.  If you want to race with us (you donate to get a qualifying scarf) or sponsor a snail, come by The Starship Diner in Hydrangea on Rt 4. You'll see boxes in the parking lot for free snails and RFLish things. By the diner's big sign is a donation Kiosk if you just want to give.

I see only 9 signatures for the Scourgemobile petition. That's a bit ridiculous. I mean, all those people who expressed their disgust inworld, in blogs, on boards... and we got 9 people incl myself?