Explorations of an Avatar Doing Research

There's this phrase about 'burning the candle on both ends'. I used to have that problem. Now I have issues with multiple blow torches on one side, so I haven't been writing... here. I have made quite a few new connections, gained some more insight into how things really work in SecondLife, etc.

And I've also had some fun. While I can't unveil my work-work yet, I can show some stuff from SL which is amusing. For the purposes of this quick entry, R2D2 hotwired the GT/R and went off in search of fuzzy dice. In doing so, he came across first time land buyers from all over the world - Brazilians, Germans, Czechs, the UK, and probably a few more areas. I even met a lady from Turkey starting her own fashion store, selling things that Yoda would not be seen wearing in a PG movie. I had an interesting discussion on Star Wars droids with a new friend who is convinced C3PO is cooler because Anakin Skywalker built him. I disagree, of course, but we get along admirably anyway.

Experiences In An Ever Shifting Strange Land

Probably the most interesting sites are the differences between the newer sims and the older sims - there's nothing quite like flying over a new sim before it has been sliced and diced for sale. The older sims have flaming things all over, have spinning signs advertising everything except cheese-wiz. The casual eye might thing residents destroy the view and move on - but that's not it. Water simply finds the level which it rests at - and so advertisers sell advertising space to advertisers in the older sims in the idiotic hope that there will be some sales of products being advertised. I know, I know. They don't have marketing data to support their claims, I know, but it is quite fun to stand back and laugh at how stupid businesses would have to be to advertise on things which... ANNOY.

That said, I gave up my old digs and bought new digs in a new sim. Almost immediately, I got a spinning sign vendor who is under the silly impression that he has the right to advertise with spinning ads within view of my land and that I do not have the right to block them from my view. I know, I know, it doesn't compute - but it is fun to stand back and laugh at some of these stances. I'd only asked him to stop them from rotating; they would be livable then. That, however, was beyond his willingness to change. He's threatened me with an abuse report, which I hope he files. If Linden Lab stops me from rezzing prims on my land, then that opens up a whole new dimension of things. To be kind though, and to follow my own version of Douglas Adam's instructions on building your own asylum, I made the side facing him transparent. His view isn't obstructed. Mine still is, but with a texture of my choice - which does not spin.

Voices

Here are a few clips of actual conversations via IM - names removed to protect the silly (except me).

Philosophy and SecondLife:

[6:04] censored: how can i get home
[6:04] You: hmm.
[6:05] You: there are many paths to having a home.

The Third World approach:

[3:09] censored: You have this lot set for sale for 13000. Can you loan me 3000?
[6:04] You: Only if you bribe me 13000 Lindens.
[6:05] censored: hmm

The 'Can I have money' question:

[12:09] censored: I need money.
[12:10] You: Yes, this is a common problem. Have you tried money trees?
[12:12] censored: yes but I need more money.
[12:12] You: so what do you do or have that is worth money?
[12:14] censored: I'm cool!
[12:14] You: The world is your oyster. Don't choke on the pearl. Money should start flying at you randomly. Be careful.

A Picture...

They say that a picture is worth quite a few words, so I offer this up before I leave you alone with your deep and perhaps troubled thoughts: