Last Night a DJ Saved My Life

One of the first things I did when I logged on to SL for the first time (once I'd figured out how to keep my hair on) was to go dancing. First I did the rounds of ballrooms and jazz bars. Realizing ballroom dancing masks itself as SL foreplay I found my way to the indie clubs - first to Popscene (now defunct) and Alt7 (going strong since March 2007). Swiftly, I was tuned in to djs from around the world and introduced to a great variety of new music. I kept a pad of paper next to me, scrawling all the wicked new tracks I was hearing.

Let's hear it for the DJ!

Generating soundtracks and backdrops against which you create your own personal dramas...these DJs are the secret workhorses of SL, engaging us using their own particular techniques; some spending hours upon hours crafting a set (yes, you Ms. Lilliehook), some "curating" music, hoping to turn you on to something you've never heard before, others space out and forget they're spinning at all but no matter - they're here to entertain us and animate our experiences.

So next time you're out and about, eager to try your new dance from Henmations, remember to tip your hat (and a few linden) to the dedicated crew that make your world more aurally exciting.

A special shout out to DJs past and present Colleen Lilliehook, Darn Darwin, Enigma Bombay, Ennui Clip, Hotjack Canning, Infinite Graves, PirateDucky Constantine, The Nachts, and Warrick Renfold, who've each created brilliant soundtracks to my slife...

Burning Life is coming...

Ok, Alright

Disclaimer: I am jet lagged...feeling loose.

The symbol on the flag above means something like - "Ok, Alright". I think. It is according to the signs that were scratched onto fence posts, sidewalks and walls by hobos on the move looking for safe shelter. Read You Can't Win (a cautionary tale written by hobo Jack Black in 1926).

I read this review of the recent Second Life Community Convention, written by Andrew Sempere aka Tezcatilopoca Bisiani. He describes almost precisely why I find myself continually returning to SL, giving up valuable time to this seemingly intangible endeavor. Community is his operative word and perhaps that's why I starting thinking about the community of hobos...signaling to one another, "hey, it's ok, it's alright, stick around..." . He writes, "Why would an otherwise sane and healthy adult professional work a full work week and then spend hundreds of hours logged into a virtual world? Why, exactly, do we care so damn much? In its specifics, the answer is as varied as each of us, but in general it all ends in relationships, and community, and the sheer joy of building a world with people of like mind." His enthusiasm is motivating, the diversity of his projects is inspiring, and he uses the word "thrilled" in his review. I like.

An exhibition fit for a king

Life was a preparation for death, and when you reached your stopping point you were surrounded by spells, incantations, your servants and family. You would be buried under rushes and dehydrated for 70 days, your organs carefully transplanted into alabaster jars, your brain, which had no value, was pulled out your nose. After your body was embalmed and wrapped in linen, your spirit and body would meet Osiris and 40 other deities in a ceremony called the “Negative Confession”. You’d deny any wrong doings in your life and have your heart weighed by the scales of justice, a baboon regarding you through squinted eyes. Once you were considered “true of voice”, all would be confirmed in writing by Thoth, the royal scribe and you’d make your way to your blissful eternal home in the Netherworld. Read more here: Egyptian Book of the Dead.

I’m working on a slexhibition about a real life Victorian who recorded her travels to Egypt in 1875. I’ve never been there, never smelled the dry air or seen scattered mummy parts in the sand...Instead I visited King Tut Virtual, organized by Rezzable. Wow!

This exhibition is clearly put together by experts in design and museology. It’s one of the most layered, content rich exhibitions I’ve been to; informative without being overwhelming, chock full of detail but no lag. In front of the orientation station/teleport hub lies the Valley of the Kings...the Eye of Horus symbol transports you to archaeologist Howard Carter’s camp and finally down into the dark recesses of the tomb of Tutankhamen . Audio clips describe everything around you in wonderful detail, including a radio clip of Carter describing his discovery. My favorite technological trick was being able to enlarge artifacts from their original size. After learning so much, I skipped through the sand in my sandals, boarded an ancient barque (boat), threw water on the local hippos and, like all museum visits, there are shops to buy trinkets. This is truly a must-see exhibition. King Tut Virtual, Kings Rezzable (17, 85, 2336).

Reaching for the Ephemeral

Beech leaf, covered in black mud, Bentham, Yorkshire, June 1979. By A. Gormley

I lost my flickr account the other day. About a year’s worth of comments, correspondence, contacts, favorite images - memories erased within minutes. I clenched my fists and shouted; stamped my feet like a little kid. And then I remembered. Most of what we create here, in this digital life, is ephemeral, and I’d better pony up and accept it.

One doesn’t think much of nature at all, when working in the digital, but I thought of the environmental artist Anthony Gormley who writes “Process and decay are implicit. Transience in my work reflects what I find in nature.” So where we work, in this digital realm, is also transient. We must learn to be present, appreciate the moment, and let go.

You are heroes!

Thank you to everyone who lent their ears for War Child yesterday. Thank you for sharing your stories and for offering support for the organization. This means a lot to me personally, but, more importantly, to those children who benefit from War Child's actions. The organization works closely with the music industry to raise money to provide services for children affected by war. We listened to the compilation Heroes, which you can read about here. The most obvious way that children are affected by war is through death and injury (in the past decade, more than 2 million children have been killed and more than 10 million injured or disabled in armed conflicts). Children may also lose their homes and families, making the trauma of war even harder to cope with. Many creative projects are being done by War Child to help children recover from war. For example, "Creative therapy children's buses" travel around Kosovo to provide creative workshops for children in different areas. Check out War Child's website at www.warchild.org/projects/projects.html to learn more or contact project managers Chriistopher Carter and Sara Caproni in-world.

Please consider purchasing the album - it's aces - or joining the group in-world. Stay tuned for the opening of War Child's sim next week which will offer live music events and other activities. Thanks again, friends <3.

The Steampunk Resource Center

Sea Beaumont has pulled together a most comprehensive collection of resources at Caledon Downs. Three floors of freebies, links and landmarks for the discerning steampunk. So you won’t look like a total farb* pick up some authentic textures and artifacts such as a rusty smelter, a hobonet computer typing animation (powered by a sturdy little rat), a giant tesla ball, skybox, even a leathery catsuit and black leather kicks for the ladies. All for free!

Related landmarks are gathered together here, so you may never have to step foot in the 21^st century again. On the second floor you’ll find a brief history of steampunk and punkers, like the British engineer Isamard Kingdom Brunel (who smoked 40 cigars a day, slept less than 5 hours a night, and accidentally inhaled a half-sovereign coin, which lodged in his windpipe – the kind of man Siri would have invited round for tea). Online resources include links to you tube clips, Steampunk Magazine and the Steampunk Workshop.

Visit the Steampunk Resource Center here.

*wiki says: Farb “is a derogatory term used in the hobby of historical reenacting for participants who exhibit less commitment to historical authenticity, either from a material-cultural standpoint or in action.” (Though, believe me, steampunks are far more forgiving then the rev war folk).