A Few Words in Support of New London

Since they rebranded to become a sim of London landmarks and lore, New London has earned critical acclaim and a boom of visitors.  This has meant less income as malls, flats and shops were replaced with more exhibits and replicas.  While it's brought in a lot of appreciative visitors, the result of a link on the SL launch page predominantly brings in - to be blunt - penniless noobs, often in the form of minors with fabricated stats.  I've watched their staff keep on top of griefers while remaining gracious hosts and always happy to lend a helping hand. Meanwhile donation bins placed throughout the sim sit untouched.

Add to this scenario the LSL teleport fiasco last winter, which was a kick in the head for every immersive rezzer product (a TARDIS system falls into that category), so much so that Cheshyr Ponchartrain of Novatech had to give up Abbotts within a few short months.

No doubt the draw has waned on Whovians who no longer come to the sim with regularity because New London is no longer specifically a Doctor Who sim. 

A certain fool cannot goat gloat and take credit for this situation. The only thing we can credit him for is someone griefing the sim after reading one of his silly fabrications borne of hate (much of what he writes about New London is the result of imagination).  That's the sort of people he genuinely attracts when you take away financial dependence & Middle Americans with a fascination for anyone with a Scottish accent (emphasis on "anyone").  Solly Cholly.

Being that most tourists and Whovians are less inclined to part with their Lindens for nothing in return to add to their inventory (except for maybe a Sploder), I've decided to help my friends by offering a series of modestly priced Doctor Who fanboy shirts.  These will be from original, hand-drawn art and all purchases from these shirts will route to New London's tier avatar.  The first of this series comes out later this week.

It's a start for what I believe to be a good cause.  Hope you will consider collecting these as more come out.  Those who know New London for what it truly is rather than buy into vituperative contrivances and have enjoyed its sense of community and the work everyone there puts into it for visitors to have a positive experience, I hope you will oblige them with even a small contribution on your next visit.

In the meantime financial setbacks haven't slowed them down as an active community.  New London has launched a mayoral race to parallel that of the real city.  Naturally I'm running and have surprisingly advanced to the finals (along with Harold Saxon), but my platform is too honest and altruistic.  I don't stand a chance against those other crooks! :P

Last but not least, the performance I had planned for New London Fest may happen a  bit sooner.  Look for news about our show.  I've already gotten space wolf Mayo lined up for drums. He kicks ass! Quadrupeds make great percussionists.  And Jayne will be on several instruments and have free reign of lights.  I need a second male as backup though for a handful of songs.  I wonder whether Mayo can sing in tune?

It's time to get the ball rolling on more RFL events.  Look out for them, continuing with this Wednesday's Time & Space party with me as DJ. It's also on my birthday.

Choosing team spot for RFL MayDay Weekend this May 5-6

SL9non-B

Couldn't they at least have made it to the tenth?

No, entering one's place in the Destination Guide doesn't count as a celebration.  The point was our all getting together to celebrate SL.  It was a key place to find new residents for communities and get to know a cross-section of the grid's cyberculture.  Not to mention cake.  And bears.

Rodvik you've turned out to be a soulless cad who doesn't realize how essential SLB was for EVERYBODY'S survival and retention. It brought out the best of Second Life and put it all together.  If sims dont get fresh visitors and residents they close, and then what?  Things can always get worse on the main grid. I get the feeling you're less interested in customer retention and preserving Second life than you are in recreating SL into a gaming slum.  Why is that?  A *lot* of people don't like what you're doing - and not doing - with our money.

New London Mayoral Rally Script

New Londonners!

Campaign Promise #1

Petition to have SLT changed to GMT, which of course is useless in the summer during BST but what the hey.

Campaign Promise #2

You and I know we can't get rid of Harold.

We thought he'd stay in limbo with Rassilon, but they don't call him The Master for nothing. He's been a fixture in New London since before his escape from limbo and even fancies himself as a mayoral hopeful!

Can you imagine?

To his credit, he has a provocative presence if not a voracious appetite.

If I am elected Mayor of New London, I propose redirecting funds for healthcare into a steady supply of roast chicken - and beef roasts on Sundays - to Harold.  Some have called this a frivolous act, a waste of funding... but they've never seen how hungry Harold can get.

Trust me: if we don't do this, we WILL be a health crisis!  There's just so many noobs we get into New London and we need to keep some alive.

Which leads me to my next topic...


Campaign Promise #3

A wise alien once said that strangers are just friends you haven't made yet.  That being said, I want to say a word for the Tennoobs.

Yes you heard me.

These confused and disorientated souls should not be underestimated. They are the future of our society - at the very least a potential source of Sploder winnings.  They merely need direction in their lives.

If I am elected mayor, Tennoobs will be given free clothes and Sploder training.


Campaign Promise #4

We all know that there is only one Doctor, and he is the last of the Timelords.  So tell me: why are there dozens of "The Doctor" running around?

I say let's select which to keep, then send the rest on to Geoffrey for lab experiments. And surplus to Harold.


Campaign Promise #5

One of the rampant problems we face in New London are poor TARDIS operators. They land police boxes on robots, wolves, and little old ladies. Despite piloting a time machine they miss the concept "there is a time & place for everything" and materialise police boxes in offices, in doorways, on dancefloors in clubs, and so on...

If I am elected mayor, I will work closely with New London's R&D team to devise a means to redirect TARDIS materialisations from dodgy locales and bad moments.

Perhaps we could call it a "reTARDISiser"

What do you think?


Campaign Promise #6

Along those same lines, if I am elected Mayor of New London, I will arrange to have a forcefield in place during 7Seas Fishing over the Thames pier between 11am to noon SLT each and every Sunday!

There have been far too many fisher fatalities of late, and they've become a valuable source of income for the city!


Campaign Promise #7

If I am elected Mayor of New London, renters will never be short of their own prim allowances!

New London R&D are ready - on my word - to install a Spatial Inhibitor so that any plywood prims rezzed in public areas by those other than staff or renters - are instantly returned.

Campaign Promise #8

A guy posing stand in the photo studio.

I don't know about you, but not even my avatar body can move the way Kat does!


Campaign Promise #9

If I am elected Mayor of New London, FREE bacon sandwiches and tea will be served during my events.

This of course a vain and gratuitous request as that is teatime where I live.  However I'm sure you will agree that anytime is a good time for bacon and tea!  For those who do not eat bacon, there will be smoked salmon sammies.


Campaign Promise #10

I cannot think of a tenth campaign proposal.  I'm sure one will come to me at come point, and no doubt it will involve cheerleaders...

Survey Results: A Healthy Hint or Opportunity for Bias?

I suppose it makes sense that both estates related in my previous entry had the same experience with Relay For Life.  They were invited to participate by whomever last year, neither were informed of how to set up creations for donation in sanctioned vendors (which offer assurance to those who donate where their money goes; the American Cancer Society have a verify option for each vendor or kiosk clicked to confirm that the construct is legit and not a mock-up to extort funds).  They got burned for that and each estate took a step back from involvement as a result. 

Survey results conducted by one showed the vast majority of participants had other teams with which to get involved.  A dozen out of many times more expected the estate themselves to have a team of their own.  Hey at least I offered to captain for the other community.  Expecting landlords to just lay everything out for renters just to "me too" around is presumptuous.  A quick look at the RFL of Second Life teams page reveals something for everyone. 

And you know Hearts & Souls makes no demands on events nor any limitation on theme, era or output. Hint hint.

What DOES put me off a bit is the estate owners looking too long at resident stats and APPEARING to give higher regard to those who categorized their estate as home.  The rest of us deserve no less consideration nor are we of any less value to their community.  My "home" is on Skybeam but I see Hydrangea as home base, then New Toulouse, then Cartoon World, THEN Skybeam.  Home is where you go at the end of the day, and not necessarily where you spend most of your time or effort.  IMHO we all pay the same per sqm on the key sims.  If some people rent from just one place that doesn't justify preferential treatment.


Besides, in the end it all goes toward one grand total.

Don't diss me for affording just a 512 yo.

Anyway they're thinking of forming a team but it's too late.  There was a whole month for that.  It's more of the same: not reading the documentation etc.  Personally I'd rather see the estate owners and managers focus on the estate.  Let the dozen out of 60-70 who answered the survey shop on the team list page.  Or join my team and do as little or as much as they feel comfortable. :)

Monday the stitches come out. One way by car service may cost more than a round trip bus between NYC and Boston.  The ride will be a little shorter coming back as I go to Dad's apt from there to collect and sort his mail, then pay him a visit.

Going to relish subjecting New London and Bacchus to my new CDs. 

Sunday's Mardi Gras set will be on web radio from 7-9am SLT / 10am-noon EDT / 3-5pm BST from a Gazebo in a square not far from a rollercoaster on RFL Canal Street sim.

A lot of the Nawlins music I like will be at some thing hosted by Dr John in Brooklyn next month.  I wish I had the money to take a car svc home from there by the time it lets out.  For those who are not familiar with  borough culture: Brooklynites don't come to Queens and we don't go to Brooklyn, and neither of us go to the Bronx.  Manhattanites don't go to any of us.  Anyway Irma Thomas, the Dirty Dozen Band and one of the Neville brothers are in the lineup.

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!

Niagra Falls!

RFL draws ever closer.  I love the enthusiasm I've been hearing from team members. And from the RFL community in general.  Maybe fueled by last year's amazing achievements, maybe from waiting since the end of the previous relay.  Some teams have totals from RL donations already; the convio setup which links an RL team page to the virtual one is very nice, and I plan to take full advantage of its resources.

One thing I've decided to do is put my original "pool chalk art" up for auction on eBay, maybe during the Fishiversary where I can place a vendor with info.

In the meantime, divvying up my time between work, DJing and restoring Dad's PC, the logo IS progressing but slower than I'd hoped.  It will be done tonight though, even with an extra trip after work with my heel spur to Dad's synagogue to pick something up for him before going home.

For now team members are channeling their enthusiasm into making stuff, so when vendors come out on Friday they'll set the first of them up.  Should I bring back the purple Dalek?  Hmmmm!  Anyway something new will be in my vendor at Saturday's RFL kickoff, with select vendors from teammates.  Be sure to stop by :)

Only one cloud: Someone I should never have invited. Clearly they hadn't read the notices with starting date info and when I'll be getting stuff to share with the team. Wanting to alter an all-season kiosk "for the team" where nothing inworld is credited to any teams before the 10th. The other team members are taking the spirit of RFL to heart by working on their builds and creations. Everyone else knows the time will come.

My last blog post stated that my team was NOT about pissing matches, which means an "at all costs" mentality would not be welcome. Was a bit disappointing to have to deal with that. I let them go and encouraged them to try another team which would better suit their level of enthusiasm. There are plenty of teams who want to compete against eachother etc etc, and maybe don't mind hacking a kiosk to behave differently. For my health and to maintain my team's laid back tone, I've done this. Maybe not the greatest thing for my reputation but never let it be said I don't take responsibility for my actions, and I believe that while this isn't a popular move, it was definitely for the better.  I've taken the honorable route and left them anonymous here and encourage them to find a more suitable team if they're still compelled to participate with Relay for Life.

I don't bluff and I don't play games, and I don't tolerate anyone trying to jump a line where it's not appropriate. It's over and not up for discussion. That's all I'm going to say on the subject.