The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World in Second Life – An Unfinished Journey

 I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

 

The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost

 

          Earlier in my blogging, I’d begun a series on the Real Life (RL) Seven Wonders of the Ancient World in Second Life (SL). 

          I’d done my research before I started.

          All sites were inworld, maybe not as originally intended by their RL creators, but inworld nonetheless.  In fact, I’d actually visited one with a friend before embarking on writing this series. 

          I commenced my visits and blogged about five Wonders before going off on several other writing projects.  I freely admit I like to wander and take my stories as I find them.  (Significant Other nods in violent agreement right about now.)

          What was there to worry about?

          They’d still be there right?

          Well, I was wrong!  (Significant Other asks what else is new?)

          Recently, I’d decided to complete my two remaining stories about the Colossus of Rhodes and the Lighthouse of Alexandria this year and bring this long unfinished series to a close.

          I’d learned a while ago that Ancient Alexandria had closed and the light from its famed lighthouse extinguished.  But, I’d been there before and had enough information and pictures for a story.

          Then I went looking for the Colossus of Rhodes and found the whole sim where it stood, Museum Island, gone with no one knowing why or when.  Sadly, a couple of other Ancient Wonders had been there along with many other RL recreations of ancient monuments.

          (You can imagine my surprise and disappointment when I rezzed in only to find all this gone and a SL real estate developer promoting homesteads!)

          But, I guess as I’ve blogged before, this is just part of the circle of life in SL, creation and destruction.

          SL continually evolves.  Creativity and beauty are lost only to be replaced by something else somewhere else.  Or, at least I hope so.

          I’ve managed to salvage something from this.

          I have a picture from an earlier visit to Museum Island showing the Colossus. 

I also have a picture of Alexandria’s lighthouse. I include these so you can see

what once was inworld.  (I’ll continue to try and find out what happened and if we can ever expect to see these builds again.)

          During my efforts to learn what happened at Museum Island, I came across a recent Slideshare presentation about the site which I include the link to here so my readers can see what a truly fabulous sim this was. 

          Unfortunately, more than Museum Island and Ancient Alexandria have been lost to us. 

          The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, another Ancient Wonders story, are lost to us as

well. 

          All are now among the #lostsims which I use on Twitter to identify such.

          Like ancient marvels in RL, these are now lost to us in SL.  However, unlike RL where physical ruins sometimes remain, they leave no trace behind in SL except our memoires and pictures.

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives.         

My Twitter handle is @webspelunker.  Please feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to follow you.

I can be found on Google+ as webspelunker Ghostraven.

My flickr Photostream is located here.

On Skype I’m webspelunker Ghostraven.

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

          If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

          Open roads and kind fires!

I Get Results with Social Media and Second Life!

 Human relationships used to be easy: you had friends, boy- or girlfriends, parents, children, and landlords. Now, thanks to social media, it's all gone sideways.

Susan Orlean

  

          My regular, faithful readers (Both of you know whom you are and I’m grateful even if you do insist on secrecy comparable to the U.S. Witness Protection Program.) may recall my earlier request for Second Life (SL) residents to use social media to keep the community alive beyond the Grid in case the Grid should ever happen to go away. 

          I went out into the world of social media.

          I started tweeting. 

          Got bumped out of Facebook.     

          Took up Google+ and went into the Avatar Social Network. 

          I got results!  (Significant Other looks shocked too.)

          Hits on my blog increased.  (I now average over 30K monthly.  Has to me more than just my two faithful readers despite what Significant Other says.)

          I’ve met people via these social media apps and with several I’ve become friends inworld.

          This story is about one of these people, Takio Minakuro. Who said shortly after we’d met inworld, “Why not a story about me?”

          Yes, Takio, why not? 

          And this is your story.

          As I said, I met Takio via Twitter.  She favored and retweeted my tweets which led to our following one another (I forget who followed whom first.).  This is in turn led to us conversing via tweets and one thing led to another and we became friends in SL.  (Takio goes by Dr. Takio inworld.) Pretty much how folks in Real Life (RL) meet via Twitter.

          Takio has been inworld since 2009 after learning about SL from friends.  She was active until 2011 when she took a break.  Takio’s self-employed in RL and works long hours.

          Then in December 2013, Takio had a skiing accident in RL which prevented her from working but did allow her more time inworld and she’s been enjoying herself there ever since.

          Her store, Tokyo Girl Avatar, which deals in shapes and skins opened this past January.  (It’s interesting how many creative types in SL got started because of enforced down time due to illness or accident.) 

In addition, Takio is actively involved with roleplaying in Japan Hospital where she roleplays as a GYN OB doctor.  She believes she is the first woman medical doctor inworld.  I don’t know about that but Takio does want to serve as a role model for young women who aspire to being medical doctors in RL. 

As if that’s not enough, Takio also has a partner and children inworld as well.  (I get tired just writing this.)  

Takio believes that both emotions and friends are important.  For her, SL is everything that she cannot have in RL as she puts it.  I think many of us have similar views.

Our interview took place in her home inworld which doubles as her medical office.  A standalone, German style house which is located in a small town.  (How do I know it’s German style?  I read and I’ve been to Germany!)

The home’s interior is spacious with a large living room, a bedroom, and two rooms for her medical practice.  The décor is Japanese and Western.  Pictures of her SL family are around the living area. 

The medical offices, which include an examination room and a patient’s room, include the latest and greatest medical devices inworld.  All of which are very expensive.  (After the last several years of listening to US politicians and media talk about healthcare costs, why am I not surprised?)

Takio is a gracious hostess and answers all my questions frankly.

My takeaway is this.

Social media, Twitter in particular, is a highly effective way to expand your circle of friends in SL.  Takio is a highly experienced and accomplished resident and, yet, she stepped out into Twitter “to find people in SL” as she puts it.

Takio is a longtime resident inworld with an active social life divided between her family and friends not to mention her profession, and she’s been using social media apps to broaden her community inworld.  Overall, she has 380+ friends in SL.  I’d say she’s been successful!

Hopefully, social media in conjunction with SL will permit the community to expand beyond the Grid and possibly outlast SL itself. 

I’d like to thank Takio for taking the time to meet with me for her very candid interview and for becoming friends with me inworld.  Her flickr page can be found here.

We both hope to meet others in SL through social media and to continue to grow our circle of friends?

Care to join us?

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives.         

My Twitter handle is @webspelunker.  Please feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to follow you.

I can be found on Google+ as webspelunker Ghostraven.

My flickr Photostream is located here.

On Skype I’m webspelunker Ghostraven.

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

          If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

          Open roads and kind fires!

The River Thames Freezes in Second Life

 Twenty bridges from Tower to Kew -

Wanted to know what the River knew,

Twenty Bridges or twenty-two,

For they were young, and the Thames was old

And this is the tale that River told:

 

Rudyard Kipling

                                                                

 

          The year is drawing to a close.

          Thoughts (at least mine) turn to the Holidays and their traditions.

          Second Life (SL) as does Real Life (RL) has its traditions for this time of the year.

          One of these traditions is a Christmas extravaganza put on by the inimitable Perryn Peterson, the Mayor of Mieville. 

          Folks still talk about his Christkindlmarkt that he put on last year and his A Christmas Carol before that. 

          True to form, this year Perryn has gone looking for something different yet original which will entertain his guests.

          Care to guess?

          Drum roll please.  (Significant Other rolls eyes and mumbles something about laying it on a bit thick.)

          This year’s Christmas celebration is derived from the 1814 Frost Fair in London which was the last time the River Thames froze solid enough for people to not only walk across but to throw a four day party because apparently with the river frozen there wasn’t a lot else for the folks whose living depended on its waters flowing to do otherwise. 

          Appropriately, Perryn has entitled this year’s event, “The Thames River Frost Fair.”

          (I don’t know how Perry digs up these little nuggets of history, but he sure can find ‘em!)

          The freezing of the Thames came towards the end of a period known as the Little Ice Age. The 1814 occurrence is also the last time that the Thames has frozen over so completely and solidly. (Please let’s not get into any arguments over global warming, I get enough of that in RL.) 

          The Frost Fair was an occasion for celebration with food, drink, and dance.  An ox was roasted on the ice.  Pubs and other shops were set up on the ice forming what was like a small town for several days.  Even an elephant was walked across the ice to show how frozen solid it was.  (Yes, I did ask Perryn if he’d have an elephant at his.  He replied he would if he could but not to hold my breath.  I tried!)

          Apparently, Perryn shared with me there’s even a piece of gingerbread left over from the original Frost Fair somewhere in a museum in London.  (I’ll bet it’s the Victoria & Albert.  That place has everything they don’t know where else to put in England.) 

         

Perryn’s Frost Fair is very much in the spirit of the original.

          Frost Fair is Perryn’s largest festival to date both in terms of size and participants. 

          Size wise, it’s almost an entire sim.  Regarding participants, over 150 merchants will be participating which is another record for him.

          Rezzing into Frost Fair, one is immediately hit by the stark, white reality of winter.  It even feels cold.  The landing zone overlooks the Fair and it’s big!

           A large frozen area represents the frozen waters of the River Thames and is bisected by London Bridge.  (What?  Did you expect the George Washington Bridge perhaps?) At one end is small group of buildings representing London itself.

          Frost Fair is divided into three areas, two of them on ice.  The third is contained in London proper.

          One area contains shops with spots for refreshments and relaxation.  This has been sponsored by Mountain Rose.

          The second area contains additional shopping as well as the amusement area with all the rides.  (Yes, Perryn may have taken a few liberties with the anachronisms but this is SL after all!)  BTW, watch out for the polar bear wandering around here.

          The third area located on terra firma (Or as terra firma as anything can be inworld) on a low bluff overlooking the river has shops for the merchants and their offerings.  The gacha building will be located here and there is a rumor that Santa’s Workshop may be here as well.

          Wandering through the fair, I see booths, shops, and barges (frozen in place) arranged for all the merchants.  When it opens, the Fair is going to be a very busy place!  As usual, Perryn has attracted the best merchants and the finest merchandise to be seen in one place inworld.  Definitely the place to go for Holiday gifts for your loved ones and friends.  (Or, just treat yourself if no one else does!)

         

Besides shopping there will be a full range of activities during Frost Fair.  Storytellers will be scheduled, and dances and parties will be held.  Check in regularly to see what’s going to be happening.  An Advent calendar will also be available in the town area dispensing a different gift for each day. 

Frost Fair will run from November 28^th to December 28^th and can be found here.

          This promises to be a fun event in the spirit of holiday festivals in SL.

          I’ll be around and hope to meet you there!

          Additional Frost Fair pictures may be found here.

          Happy Holidays!

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives.         

My Twitter handle is @webspelunker.  Please feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to follow you.

I can be found on Google+ as webspelunker Ghostraven.

My flickr Photostream is located here.

On Skype I’m webspelunker Ghostraven.

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

          If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

          Open roads and kind fires!

Festivals in Second Life

 Life is a festival only to the wise.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

                                                                  

          Recently, I realized that there are a lot of festivals in Second Life (SL). 

          Given all the fictional and homegrown festivals that also always seem to be going on inworld there are probably more here than in Real Life (RL)!  (Significant Other indicates that we have enough festivals as it is already.  Boundaries must be respected.)

          Yes, there are the big three, Christmas, Halloween, and Valentine’s Day.

Interestingly, these are supposedly the same big three in RL at least in the Western traditions.

          These festivals are celebrated across SL in a variety of ways.

          Some sims do themselves over for the holiday.  Some exit merely for the holiday and then, poof, are gone until next year.  If they even come back at all.

          Residents get into the spirit of things as much as folks seem to in RL.  (Although, I think the Christmas decorations on homes are even more over the top inworld than in some American developments which is saying a lot.  I wonder if the SL neighbors complain as much too?)

          But, then there are the other festivals which may be a little smaller or restricted to a specific geographic area but are still fun events to attend.

          Recent examples have St. Patrick’s Day, Mardi Gras, and Cinco de Mayo.  (Coincidentally, these are all Perryn Peterson productions!)

          I’m sure there’re more, I just haven’t found them yet.  (Or, Perryn hasn’t celebrated them yet!)

          Other festivals that I’ve come across have been the Chinese Lunar New Year, Day of the Dead, and V-E Day.  All were fun events.

          Dropping by all these festivals got me thinking about what really comprises a festival in SL.

          Festivals seem to fall into three major categories.

          First are those based on RL holidays like Christmas.  (I’m beginning to realize that

there is a religious aspect to these as well but more on that in future stories.)  Others are derived from RL fiction like A Christmas Carol from Charles Dickens’ story.  Finally, others seem to spring from the life and culture of SL itself. Hunts like the Renaissance Hunt & Faire fall into this category.

          Then there’s the commitment behind these.

          These festivals just don’t happen.  Planning and preparation are involved.  Then there’s the promotion of the event.

          Last but not least, people have to come to the festivals.  (Trust me, having thrown more than one party in RL where I was the only attendee this is no fun at all.  Significant Other really amped up my social life!)       

          And they do!

          Once again, I find myself coming back to the sense of community in SL which keeps everybody together and keeps bringing them back. 

          The festivals are just an excuse, albeit a very good one, for people to come together and have a good time.  The interpersonal relationships are the glue that hold SL together.  It’s certainly not Linden Lab’s customer service!

         

As we approach the traditional yearend festivities inworld, I’ll be visiting my usual favorites.

          But, I’d also like to break out of my comfort zone and visit new ones.

          So, please if you’re arranging or know of festivals that are taking place in SL, let me know.  I’ll visit them and post about them.  (Significant Other arches an eyebrow.)

          Hope to meet you there!

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives.         

My Twitter handle is @webspelunker.  Please feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to follow you.

I can be found on Google+ as webspelunker Ghostraven.

My flickr Photostream is located here.

On Skype I’m webspelunker Ghostraven.

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

          If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

          Open roads and kind fires!

Taking Stock in Second Life

 

When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile.

Anonymous

                                                                

 

          The recent events in my Real Life (RL) have caused me to pause for a moment and think.  (Normally, this is where Significant Other’s eyes roll or an excuse is found to beat a hasty retreat somewhere, anywhere.  Today, because Significant Other has been a major part of what’s been happening, not to mention a source of strength and comfort for me, I see support and affirmation.)

          I thought about my loss.

          I thought about all who have helped me in both RL and Second Life (SL).  (All of you who reached out via various media when I missed a blog post and stopped tweeting for a while, you’ll never know how much that meant to me.)         

          Previously, I’ve blogged about how quiet SL was.  How there seemed to be less going on. 

          But, but after writing that, I began to notice that while maybe at the galactic level, SL wasn’t as bombastic as it once was that at the personal level (i.e., avatar to avatar) there was always a lot going on. 

          Whenever, I logged on friends were around.  They reached out.

          If they weren’t around then they left messages.

          Sometimes, friends just disappeared with no warning.  Their loss is felt and I can only hope that RL offered them new challenges and opportunities and they’ve just moved on with their lives.

         

Combined with the outpouring of prayers, condolences, and well wishes that I’ve recently received made me realize just how noisy in the very best sense of the word that SL really is.

          All the other things that have been happening around and about SL are really pretty irrelevant. 

          Should we care about SL 2.0? 

          Does Ebbe Altberg really matter in the grand scheme of things? 

          Is it important if RL media is suddenly surprised that SL still exists at all?            For me the answer is a resounding “No!”

          SL is a very complicated place and it’s complicated because it’s about people.

          SL happens at a very personal and intimate (That’s not what I mean!) level.  Individuals communicating with one another and with their communities.

          People share thoughts, feelings, and fears inworld. 

          Yes, there is the veil of anonymity for many of us but that doesn’t make it any less personal.

          Are our SL friends any less real to us than our RL ones?

          Once again, the answer is a resounding “No!”

          After all these years of being inworld and blogging about it, I’m just now realizing that the community there is SL is more than just scripts, prims, and sims. 

          It’s all about the wonderful people who make it up and log in every so often to make it the wonderful place that it is!

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives.         

My Twitter handle is @webspelunker.  Please feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to follow you.

I can be found on Google+ as webspelunker Ghostraven.

My flickr Photostream is located here.

On Skype I’m webspelunker Ghostraven.

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

          If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

          Open roads and kind fires!