Blogging notes

Welcome the talented Katharine Berry to the blogroll. You'll want to keep an eye on her. It'll be ever so much safer that way :)

Seriously, she's got the right kind of drive and ingenuity. She'll go far.

Also Mygdala March - if you haven't experienced Myg, you should. Grab a bowl. She's a tasty serve.

Wyn Galbraith has just started her blog, Second Wynd, and I'm going to take a moment to encourage you to visit and help her write more, and to remind you of something you already know.

Bloggers love comments. Hey, I keep forgetting to make any myself, what with the jetsetting lifestyle and all - and I'm betting a lot of you see a really cool entry somewhere on one of these blogs and don't think to say anything.

Visit these people. Read their stuff. Leave at least the occasional note. Page-views are page-views; they show that people are reading. Comments... comments show people are caring.

Look through the blogroll, go do some reading, and show some people that you care. I know you do - but they don't, necessarily.

Virtually Curvaceous

I've added Curvaceous Oh to the blogroll. You should go check out what she's doing. It's worth reading. She keeps two blogs. Also check out Virtual Technicalities.

Visitors - afterwards

That was ... wow.

Okay, there was some lag (especially at the outset), and we had some attachment problems (they kept coming off, but we managed anyway). And you know how you get IMs at the most blitheringly awkward moments? That happened a lot too.

I'm glad to say that nobody's hug gadget failed, despite the arduous workloads they subjected to.

I was on my very best behaviour. I did not force anyone into indentured servitude or lock them up in a dungeon. I did bite a bit - but there were no actual injuries.

Wow.

Just...

Wow.

Visitors

In less than 24 hours, two Second Lifers will be here to camp on my couches. One has travelled from the other side of the planet.

I'm looking forward to it - but I've got the jitters. Yay! Eek!

Mera Pixel's Rez-Day

It is Mera's Rez-day today. She's been in Second Life for a whole year now, and is officially all  growed up.

In the past 12 months, few people have made as much of a positive difference in my life as Mera has.

Love her, as we all love her. and there will be joy.

Cyber Rape Pornstars and the DMCA as a tool of editorial control

Anshe Chung will likely be remembered by many as the "cyber rape porn star" over coming months and years, thanks to Guntram Graef. "Cyber Rape Porn" is just too memorable a triplet of words to sink out of sight. It's the sort of thing most people call a meme. It's going to leave a mark.

The contention is that an avatar is a copyright body of work, and as we all know, a copyright body of work may not be duplicated or derived from except as granted by the copyright holder, or as provided by law.

Guntram Graef considers this grounds to suggest that an avatar's controller has the right to exercise editorial control over images of that avatar.

This raises the question whether a photograph of a copyrighted work is a derived work or not, because there seems little doubt that an avatar is a copyrighted work, possibly a work that is composed of works of others, and thus a derived work, but a work nonetheless. Is a photograph/print of a painting a derived work? Surely, though the law allows some personal-use exceptions in some places and locations.

Internet Rule of the Sandbox digression: Would anyone turn up to an open press conference if the interviewee demanded full editorial control over all text and images?

I think a more interesting question is raised. Is this a work of parody, and thus potentially an exemption to the DMCA?

Is flinging flying penises at a copyright image inherently satirical, in this context?

If so, then there's potentially no breach here, and Graef's emails about "cyber rape porn" are misrepresentational, while still remaining an indelible mark on Anshe Chung.

Now, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't be thrilled if that were me up there. I've had enough penises flung at me inworld, thankyou very much, as well as quite a few offered to me for one reason or another. The first person to whom I showed alt-mousing the camera took a snapshot up my skirt and spread a few thousand copies of that image all over the grid.

I wasn't very happy about that, no, but it's not something I was going to treat as a copyright issue.

Anshe, I'm sorry that this incident happened to you. I'm sorry that Guntram has attached 'Cyber Rape Porn' to your name. If he hadn't, everyone would have forgotten all about this by next week. You're probably stuck with it now.

Various companies have learned since the inception of the DMCA that it is a double-edged sword. It needs to be handled carefully, and with great delicacy, or it does more damage to those who use it than it does to those against whom it is used.

So..are these images and videos construable as parody? And has Graef done more damage to Anshe's long-term image than the images and videos ever could?

I am not Amber Linden

Well, today I've been flooded with little congratulational notes, like this:

"Congradulatons on all your hard work being rewarded at last!! You deserve it. Why did you pick Amber?"

I'm sorry to disappoint, but I'm not Amber Linden. I'm not even in the right country, if you check her profile, she's on the other side of the world - which might give you some sort of clue about why we're not online at the same time. Yes, quite a lot of you know my association with the word 'Amber', so that's another easy (if wrong) piece of evidence to apply.

I know it's tempting to jump to conclusions, but please. I'm not a Linden or a liaison. I don't work for Linden Lab in any capacity.

Is there a word for being told you deserved something that people think you got but you didn't? Thank you all for caring so much, but how about you send Amber some congratulations of her own, huh?

Generations...

Me, Mera, and Reina who is hosting Building Shelter at The Shelter. I feel like a proud grandma.

Appreciation

Being that it's Liaison Appreciation Week, I wanted to send a little present on. Nothing like what you'd call special, but something to show my thanks. Most of you know that I'm big on appreciating liaisons, already.

Well, Kenny Linden was next on my list. SEARCH > PEOPLE ... Umm. What?

Turns out Kenny's gone.

Well, burning curiousity aside, I wouldn't ask - and if I did, likely nobody would tell me anyway. His business is his business.

Well - I've got a few things to say. Things I'd like to say to Kenny directly - but that's no longer possible. Superman has doffed the red-and-blue figure-hugging body-stocking, put on his tie and glasses and returned to being Clark Kent. I can only hope there's a Lois Lane or Lana Lang in it for him.

In the absence of any more direct form of communication...

Occasional disagreements and misunderstandings notwithstanding, it's been a singular pleasure working with you, and watching you ride to the rescue day after day. You will be missed, and I believe that you made a good and significant contribution to SL as Kenny Linden, and that you'll still be a positive force in your alter-ego.

I don't know if this will get to you, but I hope it does.

I think well of you, for what it's worth, and so do others - although not everyone might think to say so.

Thank you for your service to us, the community. For saving the day, time after time. For wrestling with hundreds of IM tabs. For being understanding. For putting up with one or two of my more spectacularly foolish errors.

Likenesses

It's been mentioned once before, but Sinestra Sterling really drove home this likeness with Lisa Loeb. (It's the 21st century. You know to click for a larger image, right?)

How long does it take...

Q: How long does it take to get a bunch of mentors rezzed and in place for a group photo.

A: Don't even ask...Just don't. :)

Design, plan, measure

Hard at work on site design.

There's no stopping Mera. She's like a machine.


Totally.

Carry on up the flexible prims

While I was out on the preview grid I was collided with from behind by a rather singular avatar. A purple tentacle beast whose flexible, diverse and manifold attributes can only be best described as *ahem* mature.

On the plus side, he was most civil and apologetic, and hastened off, a little embarassed, I think. I didn't think at the time to record his name. Certainly a lot of care, attention, detail and ... err.. love had been invested into the work.

Buy a girl a drink next time, honey, okay? ;)

Community Fair - Hooray for diversity!

For two weeks, the Dreams sim has the Dreams/Shockproof Community Fair going on. The fair supports and showcases education and culture in Second Life.

The Sojourner and the gang have done an amazing job at getting everything together. Likewise the various booth and stallholders have as well. Wander around, look at everything the fair has to offer - although....do me a favour and skip the clown avs if you see me there. I have an irrational fear of clowns.

Want to find out more about being a volunteer in SL? Swing by the booth and collect some info. Learn more about the Live Music Scene in SL, or Deevyde Maelstrom's particular brand of Mad Science. Learn more about our residents with Autism, SL's New Resident support organisations, RL work in SL, the Foundation For Rich Content, Art and Sculpture, SL Parks and Recreation Services and yet more.

Special mentions also go to:
Coos Yellowknife, Marie Hightower, Barbarra Blair, Franja Russell, Cid Jacobs, Kfir Lomax, Antionette Petrichor, Forcythia Wishbringer, Wayfinder Wishbringer, RacerX Gullwing, Nuala Marcas, Trader1 Whiplash, SpankMe Pinkerton and Sue Stonebender. Every one of whom helped make the fair into a reality.

From the trenches..

Well, we've got enough people to take over. Time to take a break at last.

Special mentions for making it all work: Nicole Linden, Hermia Linden, Ethan Linden, Harry Linden, Shoshana Epsilon, Charisma Heart, Fion Patton, JayJay Talamasca, Martin Mounier.

EDIT: How could I miss Teeple Linden and Mera Pixel from this list?

Doublespecial mention, for making me work: Torley Linden.

Wonderful teamwork, people. You should all be so very very proud.

Do you Sumo?

Ebenezer Pixel is a charming, personable, polite and well-educated fellow. He's also a fan of Sumo wrestling and has made it in SL.




The game is simple, and exciting to participate in and to watch. The first match was tonight. Entertainment for those who just want to look on, or a fun activity for those who want to participate. Check it out, and contact Ebenezer Pixel to find out when the next match is on.

And even if that doesn't sound like fun, take the time to look up Ebenezer and take the time to chat. It's well worth the doing.

Saved by the Trep

About two thirds of the way through my beginner's building class today, my cable services went out. Phones, television, and my data connection to the internet. Luckily it was only out for a couple of hours.

Better, Trep Cosmo was on the scene and managed to finish the class up. Trep, you are a treasure.

As you can see, nobody had to twist her arm or anything ;)

Focus - Mera Pixel

Mera Pixel's been inworld about three weeks now. I taught her at the outset, and I'm pleased to see her again and again. She's been haunting The Shelter (I might say dogging it, but of course that's Travis' bailiwick) and helping people. She's made a game show centred around building and so far it's been a great success.

Mera's going to make a great mentor (or possibly a greeter...or both). She's bright and helpful, utterly reliable, and learns quickly. You can give her a new resident to take care of and know they're in the very best hands.

If you bump into Mera, inworld. Let her know how much her work means. She's a star.

If you show me yours

Last week I lined up Yumi Murakami to run an off-hours Newbie Show and Tell at the NCI, to cover for those folks who couldn't make it to Osgeld's timeslot. Of course there will always be some folks who can't make either timeslot, but I'm glad I picked Yumi.

She handled the whole event with enthusiasm and aplomb. The whole thing went off like a charm, especially for her first time hosting it. We had some great entries, and Yumi handled it all very well! Great job, Yumi! Looking forward to the next one already!

Home for the homeless

SuezanneC Baskerville, Carl Metropolitan, Linda Coffee (I do so hope I got the name right) and I clubbed together on a little project. The result: a small plot set aside at the entrance to the park by the New Citizens Incorporated Plaza in Kuula, where anyone can join the NCI Homeowners' Association group and set their home there.

Mostly the praise goes to the others, for actual implementation and logistics. All I really did was test that baby and make a temporary sign for it.

If you don't want one of the Welcome Areas as your in-world home location, come on down and use the spot at the NCI plaza! Check out newbie Show and Tell, and the Social Salsa sessions!