Our other selves

Entities in Second Life are generally referred to as Avatars – ‘avi’s for short. The word comes from the Sanskrit and is the name for the incarnation of a god. A pretty good name for us, I would think. Except in many senses we have more power than the ‘gods’ we are incarnations of, back in RL (Real Life or First Life).

Talking to people around SL you find a lot of attitudes among avatars about what the relationship actually is between SL and RL. Some regard them as completely separate; some don’t think of RL as even existing, while others think of SL solely as a game.

An interesting pointer to this is what we call the ‘gods’ who created us here in SL. Fairly early on, a friend mentioned to me that she refers to the RL entity that created her as ‘her Real Life Avatar’, which is rather neat.

However, I heard a better one the other day, which I am definitely adopting. My awesome mentor and friend Van refers to ‘her Mundane’. The reference is excellent – the word comes from the Latin mundus, the World. Just right, really. But I had heard the reference before and it took me a few minutes to twig. Then it hit me.

The term Mundane, applied to a person, comes from the Xanth series of books by SF writer Piers Anthony – a Brit who has lived in Florida for decades. ‘My Mundane’ has been a fan of Anthony’s writing ever since reading an early work of his, Macroscope, many years ago.

Xanth is a world of magic, where all manner of magical plants and animals exist and everyone has a magical talent of some kind. It’s also a land of atrocious puns – these days many of which are supplied by readers. There are gateways from Xanth into the Mundane world – mainly in Florida it appears – and indeed, dwellers there are referred to as Mundanes. In some cases Xanth residents have Mundane counterparts. Xanth and the Mundane world are otherwise quite separate: they don’t overlay or interpenetrate each other, like the universe of Harry Potter for example. It’s more like Lyra’s world in the books by Philip Pullman, but Lyra doesn’t have an equivalent word to ‘Mundanes’.

We might think the term derogatory, and I suppose it is – a little bit. But… well, Mundanes don’t have the powers and abilities we have, although they are perhaps a bit more careful than we are in some areas (like relationships – something I should talk about some time). However although one meaning of the word mundane is “commonplace” or “ordinary”, that’s not the #1 dictionary definition, which is rather better: “Of, relating to, or typical of this world”.

Very appropriate, don’t you think? My Mundane agrees. But then, he’s pretty much as well-read as I am.

KINGS AND QUEENS

Last night was ‘amazing’!!!!

I want to personally thank all the people who made such an amazing effort at the Kings and Queens party at ‘club connected’ last night aka The london Trance club’. We had our first ‘live’ DJ Hunter Riverview, who played a fantastic set. It’s going to take time of course before we can get things perfect, but I think the whole night was spectacular. We even had ‘lag’ for the first time, which means there are too many people.

Weightless.

I didn’t realize until after typing this whole thing out I could upload pics at the bottom, but here I am, floating in Jan’s ocean, the waves crashing, the fish swimming by, and the Sea-doo drifting a few feet away.  And we’ve all done it, isn’t it amazing?  It’s nighttime, beautiful music in the background, also courtesy of Jan.  I’m leaving that experience open as I type this, going back and forth between the deciphering here and the magic in that actual moment.  I’m there, I believe already our minds are so much more powerful than most are aware, and here in front of me is undeniable proof.  I can almost feel the water if I concentrate, hear the waves, there’s nothing like the real thing, but this is as close as it gets.  Dreams coming true, in a reality that’s already so close to perfect, in many ways, I have no doubt as to its reaching its potential in the very near future.  Hard to even imagine.  This is new, and there are kinks slowly being worked out, its a whole new environment for everyone to create and communicate in.  But I can’t imagine I could have dreamed of a better way to express virtual reality as I believe it should be.  There are enough controls to keep out whatever you’re not interested in, and surround yourself with all the beautiful magical fun experiences and people.  And the friends I’ve met here, and feeling the playfulness in their attitudes, great vibes, like zero negativity waves anywhere?  Hard to express, but sitting around a virtual campfire or picnic blanket or GIANT tree house, chatting about silly or serious anythings, souls connecting from around the globe.  I found SL through Kirsty, her blog, she’d have videos of the craziest funny stuff, her earlier adventures, learning with Jan.  And already being into her music, and loving computer technology, I found her videos excellent entertainment, and after telling her something along those lines, she offered me to meet her for tea in SL, and I figured I’d give it a try.  There are a lot who will oppose this *life* as a substitute for the real thing, or any number of other reasons, but I think those are all personal excuses to justify what they don’t understand.  I was hestitant, because I figured it’d be completely taken over by commercial marketing and spam, and you’d be so lost in the commercial reality you’d forget entirely about the outside world.  But I realized that though there is some, it’s very well under control, and for the most part there are just so many beautiful people here, making their dreams come true.  Since coming here, I’ve had countless wonderful experiences, met the most amazing friends, laughed til I almost cried, people probably in the next room in RL wondering wtf is going on in there?!  But I think it’s those good feelings that you get when sharing common interests with friends is what we all should be striving for.  We’re not going to get along with everyone, but we will find some along the avenues we explore with our own personal interests.  Connect.  And it’s easier when you pursue something without worry or fear of others judgement, or so I’ve learned.  It’s how in a matter of months, I’ve suddenly been surrounded by some very talented and expressive individuals, people with passions like mine.  Except I’m not famous or terribly talented!  Not yet, but I am a musician.  and it’s obvious music is the core behind this particular gathering, with a lot of other artistic twists in the mix.

 Peace to all, and thank you for together making this new Second Life so incredibly awesome!

Hail, Queen KFH!

Last night KFH Pooraka had a party at her club. It’s becoming a regular thing which is fabulous. Last night’s theme was “Kings and Queens.” She and I had gone shopping earlier in the day and I found some amazing renaissance royalty clothes. I annoyed KFH by buying the best one before she did so she took her revenge by going home and making a fabuous outfit. Clever gurl!

More people showed up for this party than ever before, it was amazing. Also for the first time there was a live DJ. The stream had come problems, as is typical of the internet and SL in particular, but the music was great.

There were many incredible costumes, some very elaborate. I tried to speak in a royal tone until it got too tiring to keeping up. “Methinks you doth dance divinely, my lord.” Yea, whatever.

After the DJ finished then KFH took over the music and we all danced on the DJ console around her. Thank you, KFH, for another faublous party. The best one yet!

Lights, Camera, Action!

This morning, Second Life joined forces with Real Life. The two SL friends I had gotten together with for lunch in San Francisco last month were making a film in Second Life for a class that Renee is taking. It’s a commerical for an advertising class. Several of her friends participated and we all dressed up in magical outfits, e.g. fairies, elves and dragons. They had built a huge set to do the filming on. Starcadius gave us sparklers to wear and an animation that made us wave our hands like we were doing magic on the vines and vegetables.

It was scheduled for 9-11 p.m Thursday, California time. So when I got up this morning at my usual 6:30 a.m. I logged onto Second Life and joined the filming. There we all are, waving our hands and making magic. I was happy I had an opportunity to finally wear my pink hair ‘-)

They will be putting the video up on YouTube when it’s done so I’ll put a link here then. Action!

Rik’s Tale

It’s amazing how one thing leads to another. First a friend in CA encouraged me on to MySpace at the end of 2006. Then I met Kirsty at a gig involving her father and his colleague whom I’ve worked with in the studio since the 70s. And I found Kirsty on MySpace too.

Then last month I was off work at home following an operation on my vocal cords and forced to be silent for a week (and off work for two). Turning to the computer, there was a message from Kirsty inviting me to a party that night at her club in Second Life. I had a little under a day to sign up and learn the ropes a little – so I did. As Arksun tells below, I too knew immediately I was going to be hooked. I’d read about SL and even visited the site and thought about opening an account… and now I did it.

I’ve only been in this astonishing metaverse for a few weeks but I’ve already made a bunch of friends – real friends who are real people from all over the world. Kirsty’s friends are amazing for example – that’s why I’m here and you’re reading this. You couldn’t wish for a nicer bunch of people to hang out with for discussions around the virtual camp-fire – or a vibrant party.

I bought some land and built the three-storey house you can see above (from a kit but it was still a neat learning experience). I put some furniture in it and a sound system.

In ‘RL’ (real life or ‘first life’) I’m a designer and recording engineer/producer, and I’ve been doing work with Ambisonic surround sound for many years. I would love to experiment with audio in SL too, and some of Kirsty’s friends are working with that in one way or another. In fact in a paper I presented recently at an audio conference, I included this image from SL (click to enlarge), of a virtual surround system in my living room. The possibilities are endless.

Getting involved with SL reminds me of the time I was designing web sites for the climate change NGOs at the UN talks leading up to the Kyoto Treaty in the early 1990s – the Jurassic Period of the online world in many ways. We felt we were on the edge of something enormous and life-changing – and this turned out to be the case. I feel the same about this. Some people I know regard it as a really stupid thing to be involved in, or that it’s ‘just a game’: they are, quite simply, wrong. My friends are my most valuable resource, and I have already made several special ones here, for one thing; and on a completely other level this place has over 5 million members and over $US 1.5 million regularly changes hands a day here. ‘Stupid’ it is not. ‘Unreal’ it is not. ‘Just a game’ it is not. It’s a new dimension that we can all enjoy and share. And thanks to Kirsty for opening the door – for me at least.

OUT OF MY TREE.

Yes I couldn’t believe i when I saw Janfords Tree house!!! I just had to copy and have one too, then Starcadius saw mine and just simply had to have one ))). I might make my one into a meditation area or a romantic Den… I think meditation area would be best. I uploaded a texture of my new allotment to block the neighbouring land from my view and give a feeling of being in true nature.. The neighbours are ok, but it’s a bit ‘rude’ what they are doing over there and not to my taste. ‘The sex of it all’ etc.

I have situated my tree house by the new pond with extra high diving board. Do come and visit sometime! Just type in London Trance club with’mature’ checked and then walk through the exit. You will ‘fall’ straight in front of it.

KFH

Living in the Trees

First, I bought a tree house. It was cheap and figured even if I didn’t end up using it I would give it a try. I love it. Of course, the first thing I did was buy a new grand piano for it. Having a grand piano on the porch of a tree house really cracks me up.

When KFH Pooraka came over to visit she fell in love with the tree house too so I took her shopping and she bought one. It looks fabulous on her land, with her amazing dance club floating overhead.

When Starcadius saw the tree house he ended up buying one too! Star’s tree house looks great next to KFH’s land, where you can also see her tree-house and floating dance club. We are tree-house triplets. I love it.

Happy but Sad

I am in emotional turmoil right now and basically feel like going back to bed with the covers pulled over my head but here goes.

Happy

First, the good news: I bought another island in Second Life. Yes, that is outrageous. As I developed my first island I realised that one of the things I love about it is the natural space, especially when I planted the forest. Since I want to build a house and will probably come up with more ideas, I realised the island was going to fill up fast. So, I bought another one. Yea, crazy.

Yesterday it magically appeared off the southern coast of my island. I could not access it for the first few hours, just gaze admiringly. Then in the afternoon I flew over to it and was not stopped by the barrier. I had forgotten how bare and stark new islands are and how much I have developed mine. I really love it.

Here are photos of the new island, sitting on my first island gazing across the water at the stark new island, and standing on the new island with a view of my lush forest across the water. It’s going to be such fun!

Sad

But all that pales in comparison to the devasting news I received this morning that one of my Second Life friends was killed in a car crash yesterday. Jesse was one of the very first SL residents I met and he was extraordinarily kind. He showed up just as I started building the Magnatune space on SL and was really nice. Since then, he popped up from time to time and we hung out chatting.

I’ve been sitting crying all morning but his family and friends are the ones who must be completely devasted and it just breaks my heart. I never met Jesse in Real Life but I do feel like I met him, which really is the power of Second Life.

Recently he showed up at my island and we sunbathed on the beach and chatted about software synthesizers and midi controllers. He was excited when I gave him a copy of my Second Life Minimoog. Sigh. Farewell, Jesse.

Arksun Tone

What a journey this has been so far. Since joining Second Life in december (after becoming increasingly curious over these strange pictures of a virtual world on Kirstys myspace page) I have connected with people, created and taken a look inside myself in ways I never have before.

The second I stepped onto the main grid I knew I was going to be hooked. A world where we can create anything from scratch, held in a permanent place we can call a (virtual) home, this world was made for artists and dreamers.

It could be called escapism. Sure I escape reality here, but at the same time I make very ‘real’ connections through it.

To quote a line from the Matrix “no-one can be told what the matrix is, you have to see it for yourself” . Two of the wonderful friends I’ve made through Second Life have been Jan and Kirsty who post on this blog too, hence why I’m here. It’s a real pleasure and honour to know both of you.

So sit back, relax, and listen (read?) to us waffle on about our silly little sl adventures

Arksun