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Nine years.

That’s not a record, and it probably never will be.  Hamlet Au’s been writing New World Notes for years longer, I’m sure.  But it’s still something of an achievement, and definitely one for me.  My old RL poliblog, which I wrote during the second GWB administration, went only four years, and I ended it with Barack Obama’s inauguration, and I was terribly sputtery by the end — because I’d started writing this blog.  This one has been written continuously, if irregularly, since before Obama was elected the first time!

WordPress nicely breaks down the total number of articles to indicate how many I wrote — by far the lion’s share, of course, since I lured (or is that lulled?) Jem and Conan into writing with me only a year or so ago.  But in nine years, I’ve done 1,266 pieces, counting this one.  That works out to a little under 12 articles a month, or just under three articles a week.  The quality I leave to your judgment, as always; but I will claim determination at generating all those words, if nothing else.  How many words?  Well, if you assume 500 words to an average article, that would be over 600 thousand words in nine years!  It won’t be that many, I’m sure; many have been shorter, especially the pure poetry or lyrics pieces.

In the end, it’s all up to you, my readers, how well I’ve done in all that time.  As I ever wish, I hope I’ve entertained you, informed you where it was a news piece, given you something to think about once in a while, and introduced you to good art, fashion and photography across all of that time.  Many of you have been generous with your praise, for which I thank you most gratefully.  I hope I continue to justify your following me.

I’m looking forward to next November 20, I promise you.  When that one comes along, look for a new header to celebrate our tenth anniversary!  In the meantime, I haven’t given up on the plans I’ve made for a radical change or two, and you should watch following Christmas for our yearly tradition, as Oscar voting season kicks off and the Oscar Fashion Photo Contest opens up.  (That will be the eighth edition when that opens, and there’s another thing that just may be a record; has any other photo contest run so continuously in Second Life, or given away so much money?  L$166,500 over seven years, and there should be at least another L$40,000 come next February.  Time to start thinking about finding a good gown….)

As always, especially in these parlous RL times, peace be with you, and I hope you’ll stay with me for another year.

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Finally, once again, it’s MEME TIME!!!!  Strawberry Singh is trying to reactivate her popular Monday Memes as of last week, though she can’t promise she’ll keep them up constantly.  I can’t blame her for that lack of promise — coming up with meme ideas is a lot of work, week after week!

This challenge is called “Never Have I Ever.”  It’s simple:  copy and answer the questions below, and remember to link back to Berry’s article, so she knows you’re playing along.

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So much has changed on this blog in the eight years I’ve been writing Around the Grid.  Second Life most of all, of course; the constant changes, the occasional battles with Linden Lab over that time, the way we look and dress and live in the digital world.  I don’t know if I’ve always been a reliable reporter, but I’ve certainly tried to be over all these days living in two lives.

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Source: New Classic Avatars released by Linden Lab, by Daniel Voyager

You have to say, as does Daniel, that these new default avatars look a whole lot classier than what I entered Second Life with in October 2007.  It almost makes me want to start up a new “walking” alt and see what folks have to say.  To demonstrate:

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Canary Beck’s list of things to do before you click “Submit” in the sidebar. I don’t do all of these things — as much because some of them are not necessary for my writing. Lately, though, I’ve thrown in some large PNG graphics; it probably slows down the loading on those articles, and so I’m swinging back to JPGs for in the blog, even for those with fast connections. (Multiple large files on a fast connection can be as bad as one large file on a slow connection.) Some things here for all of us writers to consider.

SL Blogger Support

Have you ever published a post only to remember a bunch of things you wish you’d done before pressing publish? I find that one of the most annoying things about blogging is knowing what to do, but forgetting to do it. As blogging gets more and more complicated however, it’s really tough to remember everything. Instead of wracking my unreliable brain before I hit the publish button (and inevitably missing something important), I now use a blog post PRE-publish checklist and a blog post POST-publish checklist for every blog post I write.

When I made these checklists, I thought it might be useful for other Second Life bloggers who would rather not have to remember every single little thing before they publish a post – and instead use a checklist to help them remember everything – and there is a lot!

So here is my 12-Point Pre-publish Blog Post Checklist. Bookmark this…

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Writing from Orlando, Florida:

Meme Time again — fear and tremble, all ye mortals!

No, not really; Berry Singh actually comes up with some interesting things, and each one gives us blog fodder to keep these voracious pages filled.  This week’s Monday Meme gives us a chance to look back for a time, something we should do every once in a while to remember where we came from.  Simply take two pictures from your blog — one from the earliest articles you’ve written, and one from recently, and let’s see how much times have changed for you.  Preferably the first and most recent photo of you, it should be noted, but, as you’ll see below, I had to be a little more flexible.

For me, finding a few early photos wasn’t difficult — it was choosing one I’d like to show you!  Lord, I was rough back then, still learning the craft (of which I am by no means a perfect mistress yet).  And also getting a decent face shot!  So I’m including two from the early days, both of me in Ginny Talamasca gowns that were favorites for a time.  I wasn’t taking closeups very often back then, until my first Hair Fair.  Knowing how far we’ve come since those early days of system shirts and flexi prims and “photo-realistic” skins, well, (shudder, grin).

And so here we are today (from my OFPC “final update” gown).  It looked pretty good back then; but oh, how it looks today!  So many changes and improvements have come along, some of which everyone said Predicted the Imminent Death of Second Life.  And yet here we are, more than ten years down the road for the Grid and approaching eight for me personally.  Where’s it gonna go from here?

(Note to Berry and others:  I’ll do a proper side-by-side once I get home and get a few minutes.  Right now, I’m without all my tools, or the ability to use them well if I added them to this laptop.)

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Written en route to Orlando, Florida:

It’s Meme Time again!!!

From Strawberry Singh, on March 2 — “Transform your avatar completely so that even your friends wouldn’t recognize you.”

For me, and my love of alien looks, this wasn’t difficult at all, at least in the gross sense.  I pulled out one of the shapes I don’t often wear, which I use for my character of Keiko in my stories, and proceeded to transform her from the norm to something more…exotic.  I did try to use mostly recent items, so you’ll see these (if still available) at some of the current events.  I’m sorry, but I’ve quite forgotten which ones to go to; but contacting the creators should help.

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The details:

• Skin: Fallen Gods Hybrid (GOLD egyptian)
• Eyes: Less is More CyberEye v. 3.0
• Hair: Tableau Vivant Healy
• Attachments: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands V2 (Casual)
• Outfit: United Colors leather shorts and vest (Navy)
• Shoes: celoe snare ankle boots (biscay)
• Jewelry (all by Maxi Gossamer): Bangle – San Remo (Silver Aged); earrings and necklace – Esra’s Giant Teardrops (silver); Ring – Khaleesi’s Ring Of Power (Small)
• Makeup: Mystic Canvass Pouty Gloss lipstick (Goth Red); *BOOM* Liquid Glaze (lashed Yellow); Oceane Boho eyeshadow (Harira)

WindLight: Annan Adored Light Explosion II
Photographed in MyANIMATION region

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There was only one real choice for Z, wasn’t there?  Zibska is one of the avant-garde leaders on the Grid right now, with dresses, hair and makeups that stretch the bounds — sometimes to the breaking point.  Take this sea-urchin-like confection, called Natralia, and the matching hair (Octavia).  Anybody who gets too close to me here will definitely get the point!

Accessorizing this was tricky, as I chose to wear the collar along with the dress.  I settled for a pair of gloves from Miamai, and rings and earrings from EarthStones.

The eye makeup is from Zibska as well, to finish the theme here.

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The details:

• Skin:  PXL Faith (SK NE LEB)
• Eyes:  Poetic Colors gold flakes (sapphire)
• Hair:  Zibska Octavia (white, tinted in editor)
• Makeup:  Glamorize Dirty Babe Lips (Purple Panic); Zibska Didiane (Purple); BOOM Liquid Glaze (lashed) Purple
• Outfit:  Zibska Natralia (Berries)
• Shoes:  Blackburns Gaga No-heel Punks (purple)
• Accessories:  Miamai Rilla gloves (satin blue; mesh); EarthStones Karuka earrings and rings (Gold/Lapis)

Photographed in Star Journey region

 

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“Okay, what the heck begins with Y in my Inventory?”

(Sounds of clawing through the barely organized pile of sh– uh, crap)

“Pile of Yuck…?  No.”  (Tossing over shoulder with a splat)  “An inflatable Boris Yeltsin…?”  (Smacking her face)  “Why the hell did I buy that thing??”  (POP!)  “A yellow sign?  Hmmm….”  (She turns pensive and stares strangely, wildly, off into the distance at a place no human was meant to see.)  “Is it fated for me to be Queen in lost Carcosa beside the dead lake of Hali, the consort of the dread King in Yellow?–  Wait a minute….  THAT’S IT!!!”

I’m pretty sure I’ve worn this before, but it fits the theme:  Baiastice’s Kasia top of studded straps, with the matching shorts below.  This outfit would be even more spectacular if it was in latex or vinyl, to go with the BAX boots I’m wearing on my feet and legs!  (The listing calls the boots patent leather; but we all know better, don’t we…?)

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The details:

• Skin:  PXL Faith (SK NE LEB)
• Eyes:  Poetic Couture gold flakes (sapphire)
• Hair:  KMADD Hair Ava (Disco Dark Purple)
• Nails:  Love Soul Python (Purple)
• Makeup:  Glamorize Dirty Babe Lips (Aubergine Sheen); Defenestration Yellow Eyeshadow; *BOOM* Liquid Glaze (lashed yellow)
• Outfit:  Baiastice Kasia studded top and shorts (yellow; mesh)
• Boots:  BAX Coen Regency Boots (violet-black patent leather; mesh)
• Jewelry:  EarthStones Gemstone Palette Watch (Spectrum/Gold); Beguiled curved horn hoop earrings (purple stone/silver)

Photographed at the Mayo Clinic Conference Center in Second Life

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And who is Xacuti?  No, it’s not a “who,” but a “what” — specifically this halter-top and “knickers” combo from Zaara that I’ve retrieved from inventory for Vanessa Blaylock’s challenge.  Zaara never goes out of style, whether vintage or new.

(Photographed in the Caddo region on Samsara mainland  —  it takes persistence to find a nice spot for photography on the Mainland, especially with a lot of it abandoned these days, but you can do it.  Just be prepared to narrow your view to a smaller panorama than full-sim.)