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Contents 24.
62.
Through the Lens
The talented photographer, stylist and blogger, Tempest Rosca, gathers her friends to show us her take on “Early Fall.”
The Proust Spotlight
Teaming up with the Blogger & Vlogger Network, we shine the spotlight on talented group member AJ Arabello and his work!
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78.
100.
122.
At Home with Wendz
142.
Artist Highlight
150.
On the Rise
Wendz Tempest highlights some of the best in Home & Decor for autumn!
The World of Roleplay
For this monthly installment, Ahn Avion goes in depth and explores the residential roleplay community of “Cedar Creek.”
Trending Now
The ladies and gentlemen of ECLIPSE, in the spirit of the autumn season, showcase some of the hottest trends of this fall.
From the WSL management company, we feature artist Toxie (Toxic Darkmatter).
This month we highlight Cassandra Middles and her youtube game shows!
s
ECLIPSE Magazine is dedicated to not only offering an aesthetically pleasing publication, but to also be considered a platform that offers rich and relevant content. Each month, we showcase residents and groups that have taken the concept of “your world, your imagination” to such great heights that they have impacted the culture and lifestyle of the Second Life community.
40.
Cover Story Redd Columbia Cover Photographer Lessthen Zero
166.
Ask Noey
176.
Voices from the Grid
196.
The Adventures of...
Writer: Cajsa Lilliehook
Noey Ivy London Flower offers the best advice on the grid for all your Second Life needs.
Each month ECLIPSE asks residents a question, see what they have to say.
Miele Tarantal takes us on a photographic journey, Cooocoo’s Desert Palace. ECLIPSE September 2017 | Page 9
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Welcome to the September issue of ECLIPSE Magazine. This is our 30th edition overall and 29th consecutive. For our cover story, we feature one of the most inventive and talented residents on the grid, Redd Columbia. Whether she’s creating for her store, writing her blog, recording her radio show, playing the various characters, thinking up things for Salchicha County, the clever, unique and creative aspect of her is evident throughout it all. She also made Q-Tips with animations, and I have a strange real life obsession with keeping my ears clean. Seriously, you can ask my girlfriend Del. It’s one of the many oddities of mine she has to endure. I do love her and recently she even consented to being my partner. I am not entirely certain what she’s thinking or what she even sees in me, but whatever it is I’m happy for it. It’s like you go so long just being content, then someone walks into your life and changes everything you ever thought about love, affection and true happiness. You realize that everyone before were only fractions, and now you finally have your whole. Del is my whole. In other news, I have been so infinitely busy. This is my last semester before I graduate, and the classes I’m taking are far more difficult than I anticipated. Oddly enough, I have also started role-playing at Mischief Managed fulfilling my life long dream of being a wizard. “You’re a wizard, Trouble.” If any of you are interested in joining, I highly recommend it. I sincerely hope you enjoy this issue, and Happy Readings!
letter from the publi
isher
executive team
No
trouble dethly Publisher
Taylor Wassep
cajsa lilliehook
carley benazzi
Shazzy valentine
Creative Director
Lead Stylist
Copy Editor
Marketing Executive
the c
writers
photographers
Ahn Avion Cajsa Lilliehook Miele Tarantal oey Ivy London Flower Oema Synful Aeon Wendz Tempest
Alex Avion Kess Crystal Kiana Jarman Lessthen Zero Miele Tarantal Sungyoung Jang Taylor Wassep Tempest Rosca Wendz Tempest Wicca Merlin Xandrah Sciavo
models Boniefacio Caesar Langer Ombrebleue Winsmore SaianSamuel Shazzy Valentine Wicca Merlin Winter Jefferson Xandrah Sciavo
guest stylist & photographer Tempest Rosca
interested in advertising with eclipse? have an idea for a great story? looking to start a new career in second life? email trouble.dethlysl@gmail.com
contributors
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Through the lens
Tempest and friends show us their “early autumn days.� Photography by temp
s
pest rosca.
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Tessa Rosca (left) Hair: Mina -Indica Jeans: Blueberry - Pizza Jeans Top: Emery - Apache Striped Top Tempest Rosca (right) Hair Little Bones - Faye Top: KITJA - Lauren Sweater Shorts: Addams - Epiphany Tights: Big Beautiful Doll Boots: !APHORISM! - Odyssey
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Kovu Kumel (left) Hair: Stealthic - Psycho Top/Jacket: Addams - Quilted Jacket/Hoodie Shorts: Cold-Ash - Chino Shoes: Hoorenbeek - Norfolk Sebastien Bouevier (middle) Hair: Stealthic - Narcotic Glasses: Redgrave -Zenith Necklace: Mandala - Kotowari Hoodie: BlankLine - SwimHoodie Shorts: Kalback - Cargo Shoes: Kokoia - Leon Sneakers Tempest Rosca (right) Hair: Clawtooth - Nice and Cozy Pants: Addams - Donna Sweater: Gizza - Sailor Shoes: Val Koer - Lowtop Sneakers Page 28 | ECLIPSE September 2017
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Click to view. Sir Q Rosca Brief/T-Shirt: Both - Mind Carlberg Hair: Doux - Cooper Tempest Rosca Hair: Doux - Excited Top/Panties: CandyDoll - Occultist ECLIPSE September 2017 | Page 31
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Kera Hexicola (left) Hair: Argrace - Haruka Choker: Amala - Elle Top: ISON - Bailey Skirt: Blueberry - Penny Boots: CandyDoll - Arabella Tights: Izzies - Chevron Tempest Rosca (right) Hair: Tableau Vivant - Chinnock Glasses: artilleri - nora Top: Azuchi+Vinyl - Fleetwood Necklace: Tags - Envy Jacket: Gabriel - Open Hoodie Shorts/Jacket - Zenith - Jeans w/waist tied shirt Boots: DRD - Dirty Combats Gloves: TABOU - Fit of Rage ECLIPSE September 2017 | Page 33
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Kiana Jarman (right) Tempest Rosca (left) Hair: ASO! Tomi Sweater: COCO- Oversized Sweater Shorts: COCO - Stretch Cotton Shorts Boots: !APHORISM! Odyssey ECLIPSE September 2017 | Page 35
f antastic u nique n ovelt
written by cajsa lilliehook. photography by lessthen zero & wic
ties
cca merlin.
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fantastic adj.
1. imaginative or fanciful; remote from reality: fantastic hybrid creatures. (of an object) seeming more appropriate to the imagination than to reality; strange or exotic: a fantastic, maze-like building. 2. INFORMAL extraordinarily good or attractive: she’s got a fantastic body. of an extraordinary size or degree: she had spent a fantastic amount of cash. Derivatives fantastical adj. fantastic (sense 1) fantasticality n. fantastic (sense 1) fantastically adv. Origin: late Middle English (in the sense ‘unreal’): from Old French fantastique, via medieval Latin from Greek phantastikos, from phantazein ‘make visible’, phantazesthai ‘have visions, imagine’, from phantos ‘visible’ (related to phainein ‘to show’). From the 16th to the 19th cents the Latinized spelling phantastic was also used.
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Redd Columbia is one of those people whose sense of the ridiculous goes bone deep. The sort of person who would play Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” on their iPod while waiting for a root canal and giggle when the dentist approaches with the needle. Or maybe not? There must be a quiet dentist. “I’m a very anxious person and loud noises scare me enough to sometimes make me cry, depending on the circumstance.”
2005. She immediately was inspired by the ease of building things and started making things to give to her friends. Her friends encouraged her to open a store and the rest, as they say, is history. And of course, once she started creating, she had to stick around. After all, as she put it, “Once I started creating, the more I decided to stick around and see what other dumb crap I could put on the grid.”
She chose her name by picking a color and Nonetheless, a spirit of finding the wry side then adding the “d” to make it not quite a of life is what makes her store -RC- Cluster a color and just chose a last name from the place that people visit again and again and list. She didn’t put much thought into it again. because she did not know how long she would stay. She certainly did not anticipate Columbia was introduced to Second Life® spending a dozen years here. by friends she met in The Sims Online® in
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It is also purely coincidence that her store name, -RCCluster, is reminiscent of the command rc.cluster that is used to set up the operating system environment and start the cluster daemons across cluster nodes. That was written as though it might mean something, wasn’t it? The truth is more mundane and more hilarious. The RC comes from her name, of course. The cluster? Well, there is this compound word that begins with cluster that describes a disastrously mishandled undertaking. I guess she did not realize her store would be a successful, beloved store that is dear to the hearts of many SL® residents. Most of Columbia’s time in SL is dedicated to creating things “So many things. So much to do,” she mutters as she fits the interview into her busy days. Creating and marketing -RC- Cluster has become her full-time job which gives her a lot of flexibility. Being a full-time creator is an aspiration for many residents, though it has its challenges. One of them is explaining
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to people who do not know SL what exactly it is that you do. Columbia hilariously describes the struggle. “The hardest part is when someone is all, “What do you do?”. I usually try to give em the ol razzle dazzle with, “I do 3D design”, or if they ask further, I can usually stop them by going on about it with “like game content”. Then they ask “would I have seen anything you’ve made?” and I’d say, “Oh, no, it’s a pretty niche market.” and then they can’t figure out what I’m saying. On the rare occasion though, someone is genuinely interested and they’ll say, “So, what is it exactly that you *do*?” and I have to think up some jazzy-fazzy words such as render, modeling, animation, and pixar. Then they’re bamboozled and the threat is diminished.” The struggle is real. Columbia does not see her migrating her business to Sansar. “As pretty as Sansar is, I’ve got a *lot* of years invested in SL, it makes me sad and nervous that I might have to give up on all of that to start over on a questionable foundation.”
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Not only that, she has dreams for -RCCluster’s future in SL. The year is 2019, The King of the United States has just announced her visit to the moon, and Google has just settled in the first of many nasty divorces between AI systems in self driving cars. -RC- Cluster has boomed into a thriving metropolis of an entire SIM, and Governor Braunschweiger just announced that a RL street will be named in his honor. There are residential areas full of people of all ages and species. Parties and get togethers and special events are held often in the city center, and the entire community of Salchicha County is invited to attend. The crops are thriving and there is abundance of sausage throughout the world thanks to the small continent’s bountiful glory. There is music and culture and art to celebrate its history, and plan for its abundant future. The future is big, the future is bright, the future is all sausagey. It is hard to imagine SL without RC Cluster. It would be a sterile, dour place without the stuff of living life. How could we tell our stories without her pizza slices with eating animations, the crutches, the laundry detergent, moving boxes, and the vomit? Thanks to RC Cluster we can brush our hair and jump in leaves and mess it up. We can take out the garbage, brush our teeth, and we can even fart. Our beautiful gardens can be watered. We can smudge our beautifully decorated homes with sage and then carve a pumpkin. We can clean our ears, shave our legs, pop our zits, and clip our nails. RC Cluster brings us to life.
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unique adj. 1. being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else: the situation was unique in British politics | original and unique designs. (unique to) belonging or connected to (one particular person, place, or thing): a style of architecture that is unique to Portugal. particularly remarkable, special, or unusual: a unique opportunity to see the spectacular Bolshoi Ballet. n. ARCHAIC a unique person or thing. uniquely adv. uniqueness n. Origin: early 17th century: from French, from Latin unicus, from unus ‘one’. Where does Columbia come up with this stuff? Does she fart in her first life and think “Eureka! I shall make a fart animation?” When asked, she spoke as a creator, setting herself apart from her avatar and her alts. “I usually just call up Redd Columbia and check in on her and her Nana and see what kind of things they need for their mundane lives. They tell me, I make a shopping list, create and deliver things for their needs.” For Columbia, it’s all about FUN. She creates these fantastic, unique novelties and together they create the stories that bring FUN into our second lives. She says that her favorite part of SL is being able to create these environments for people. “I like being able to provide an experience in SL that is fun and memorable and keeps reminding you to have fun.” She loves throwing parties and events that bring many disparate people together from all over SL. The fun of bringing people together in one room who would never have normally met brings her joy. I can imagine some of her novelties would be great icebreakers — have a barf bucket everyone. ECLIPSE September 2017 | Page 51
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So what is her process for creation? It is not the usual one. “Well, first I like to prepare snacks. Then, once the snacks are done, they are placed in front of my computer where I work up an appetite [emphasis hers] and indulge in so many types of food, many mixtures of food, food you wouldn’t believe got jiggy with other food, who would have thought food could be so complicated? But anyway, while I eat that food, I think of all kinds of things that Redd Columbia might need for her upcoming season, or maybe if it’s an event, what she and her nana might need for the theme of the event.” She has some favorite creations. “I like the backscratcher. I think it reflects my store well. It’s not completely necessary, but handy when the opportunity arises, and you always look like the prepared one when you whip that out
of your pocket. Then all your friends like you more and remember how cool you are. Not to mention they are affordable affordable affordable!” Columbia is also fond of the Sickness AO and the Barf Buckets (They come in five colors.) Perhaps it was the not-so-subtle torture this inflicted on her first life boyfriend that warms her heart. “I talked my real life boyfriend into making the custom sounds for this product, and he just happens to have a slight case of emetophobia. He stuck it out and powered through all the repetitive barf noises even though it was starting to make him actually feel sick. He even suggested adding water for a “spilling” effect, which was perfect. Making this product was a lot of work and a lot of fun to do.”
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novelty n. (pl. novelties) 1. [mass noun] the quality of being new, original, or unusual: the novelty of being a married woman wore off. [count noun] a new or unfamiliar thing or experience: in 1914 air travel was still a novelty. [as modifier] denoting an object intended to be amusing as a result of its unusual design: a novelty teapot. 2. a small and inexpensive toy or ornament: he bought chocolate novelties to decorate the Christmas tree. Origin: late Middle English: from Old French novelte, from novel ‘new, fresh’ (see novel2). Columbia is definitely more than the sum of her parts, which are considerable. She has several characters that she thinks of as mascots for different parts of her brand. Redd Columbia is the main mascot. “I didn’t feel like I wanted RC to be exactly like my real life self, but I didn’t want to take myself out completely. So rather than get too serious about things, I decided to create a ridiculously goofy looking, simple character that was unique but not too far off from who I am in rl. Her “Nana” is another character of mine, who is Redd’s sassy but smart grandmother who knows exactly how to reel her in when she gets too out there.” This makes sense, after all, is Nana really going to use the barf bucket after a night on the tiles? Does Redd need the Life Alert to sound the alarm when “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.” happens? “Depending on the product, you’ll see these characters on the vendors of my items and in the stories on my blog and podcast series,” Columbia explains.
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Wait? Podcast series? Yes, there is a podcast show. Redd Columbia’s Radio Show has six episodes with Redd and Nana. Prepare to laugh. Salchicha County is the name of her sim where the -RC- Cluster store is located, but it’s much more. “This is the community I’m trying to get together where weirdos like me can come to create, role play, or just do weird stuff in a place they could call home. My ideas for it are kind of all up in the air at the moment, but I have a really good feeling about using it as more of a fluid space, changing it often and moving things around to keep it fresh and fun.” There’s a small residential area where Redd and her Nana live that is open to snooping and rubbernecking. “It’s their personal residence but I invite anybody and everybody to come in and snoop! The most important part of creating such an immersive environment is getting people there to enjoy it.”
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Redd Columbia Check out her SL Profile. Follow her on Flickr. Listen to the Redd Columbia Radio Show. -RC- Cluster Follow on Flickr. Check out the Blog. Shop in-world. Shop on Marketplace.
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the proust spotli
photography by AJ
The Proust Spotlight is our monthly feature where we highlight one of the many creative residents of Second Life®. Utilizing the Proust Questionnaire, whose namesake comes from the late 19th century French writer, we will offer a glimpse into what makes them tick. ECLIPSE Magazine has teamed up with the Blogger & Vlogger Network, so each month the blogger we showcase on the Proust Spotlight is a group member. The group member we feature this month is the talented AJ Arabello. He shares with us, “After a few years in the SL wilderness, I took up blogging earlier this year and quickly became hooked. I am continually inspired by the creativity of people in SL and am grateful to my friends on Plurk and Flickr for teaching me everything I know about taking pictures, blogging and many unspeakable things. I am still working on honing my personal style but just tend to blog whatever floats my boat. ”
ght ARABELLO.
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What is your ideal of perfect happiness? A gin and tonic at 6pm on a Sunday, before a roast chicken dinner, cooked by my dad. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? I would like to be reincarnated as a pug and be adopted by Sophia Harlow. That’s the good life. What do you most value in your friends? Sense of humour. I find this so vital, even in the darkest of times. If you cannot laugh at yourself, jog on. What is your greatest regret? I really try not to have regrets but I tend to keep quiet in challenging situations and often regret not speaking my mind more. I always think of a million clever things to say after it’s too late. What is your motto? “Whenever you feel like criticising anyone... just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald What is your most marked characteristic? I am blessed with good hair. Connect with AJ on his Blog and Flickr.
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the world of role
this month we feature “cedar creek.” written by ahn avion. photography by a
play
alex avion.
Cedar Creek Township is a unique environment in Second Life®, combining custom mesh creations for a family friendly roleplay community like no other. It’s a place where people can live, work, and play in a community custom built by a team that has been working together in Second Life for years. Nestled in the mountains of Colorado, the once small and quaint mining town of Cedar Creek has become a booming hub of activity. Land developers have scooped up much of the land as they bring in industry, commerce, and private communities. Cedar Creek is conveniently located in the heart of historic Jackson County, also known as North Park to the local community. Cedar Creek is the perfect destination for leisure or recreation travel. Visitors find convenience and hospitality at every door, with exceptional and personalized service. Cedar Creek offers the perfect combination— the ambience of a mountain getaway with small town charm and a variety of amenities.
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The Town of Cedar Creek gives a variety of individuals a place to call home. From the casual resident who is simply seeking a home to raise their family to the more ardent citizen looking to tell their character’s story. Cedar Creek prides itself on being one of the most accepting communities in Second Life. Looking around town, you’ll see the Jones at home, barbecuing in their back yard with their three children running around; you’ll see Officer Smith around town, keeping a keen eye out for trouble; you’ll see the seedy looking character on street corner eyeing the local bank; you’ll see a group of teens walking home from school and much much more! The town of Cedar Creek is comprised of nine sims, each with their own unique feel and design. As you explore, you will find yourself immersed in the rich history of the town, from the historic district all the way to the modern uptown district. With all Cedar Creek has to offer, there is still more to come! The estate team consists of David Admiral (trent.admiral)-, estate owner; Ethan Costigan (costigan) and Rει Ѕιlvεгςlσυd (craddick), estate managers; and Xavier Aeon (ninja.aldrin), general manager. ”I’ve always been fond of residential communities and people always came to me asking to create one because myself and Costigan have always worked on projects. So one day I decided to create another community and he was of course on board because he loves doing the details,” David recalls. David and Ethan were once part of the team that ran Farfield, also a community based RP set of sims and homesteads. Farfield was sold and soon after closed. Once Cedar Creek began to become more than just ideas, David and Ethan reached out to former members of the Farfield community for their ideas and support to make something even better!
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“The original Cedar Creek was just one sim and I believe we took one week for the build. Before we actually do a build we generally do a rough sketch and then allow for some creative leeway during the actual build phase. One of the primary goals when building the original sim was to ensure that there were a variety of heights. One of the things that we noticed that would make us unique was to ensure that the town wasn’t built on one level and that the roads flowed a bit more naturally, as they do in the real world, with curves not built on a grid, like even “city block” squares. It makes Rei’s job a bit harder when it comes to parceling, but the end result makes it worth it. Cedar Creek opened in October of 2016 if I’m not mistaken,” says Ethan Costigan (costigan), one of the estate managers responsible for sim decor, design and building. “Cedar Creek has a lot to offer, a variety that is not aimed at a single demographic when it comes to RPers or residents but to many, teens, little, adults, families, criminal and department wise. We do regular assessments with the people of the community, as well, in order to make sure that we keep up with needs or wants of those that choose Cedar Creek. Being both RP and Family friendly, focusing on both, not just one, I think is something else that makes us unique and keeps people coming back,” adds Rei, one of the estate managers. Page 86 | ECLIPSE September 2017
When asked about the inspiration for Cedar Creek, Ethan recalls the details easily. “When Cedar Creek was just a bunch of handwritten notes on various pieces of paper, we decided to place it in Colorado so a lot of inspiration is drawn from there. Colorado is unique since it has a variety of terrains and vistas which made it an interesting choice. When it comes to the themes for each of the sims, we actually take a lot of input from the community. We hold monthly community meetings, typically held on Sunday evenings, to allow members to give us their ideas, wants and needs. The executive staff then try to incorporate as many of those ideas into the sim designs whether that requires a full sim build or a redesign of an already existing sim. On a personal level, I am inspired a lot by some of my favorite SL builders, meshers and designers. Sometimes I see a new build, or a new product and I try to figure out a way to incorporate it into the community. If you look on Timber Rains, there are two covered bridges which were new releases from some popular builders; they were some of the pieces that fed the feel and design for that particular sim.� Town services include a town clerk, police department, fire department, general hospital, school system, justice department, and public works. Civil service not your cup of
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tea? There’s also a dance hall, auto shop, motel, a myriad of store types, and mining of course, just to name a few. I spent some time walking around the town, staying on the sidewalks (because the streets can be driven on by licensed drivers) and ran into Aηgєℓℓє ĸnιgнт (angelle.mureaux) with her daughter тeenѕy aυтυмn ĸnιgнт (teensy.texan) and her daughter’s friend, Ember Ashlynn Braveheart (emberashbachman) who was visiting from elsewhere. Angelle and her family moved to Cedar Creek about two weeks ago. “I was searching for a family sim that was thriving. I needed a great setting with other people for RP. I stumbled upon Cedar Creek one morning and met Trent. I believe his name is Trent. He was incredibly nice and helpful. He took me around and showed me houses. I figured if he was heading this sim, hopefully he’s attracted like-minded people and this would be a great place to live for me and my family,” she explains. For being in town for only two weeks, things have been adventurous! “I’ve met a few nice people. Seen some interesting things. Police chasing and arresting a monkey, dogs wandering in the backyard. Then he, the monkey, came back by my
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home in an ice cream truck. Oh and a Russian fox tried to break into my house.” If the animals are like that, one can only guess how the human population is going to be! Teensy chimed in, “I like my house and the ice cream store and when I get to go to school and I like living with my Mommy and Daddy and when Aunt comes to see us and my dollhouse and I want to be a pumpkin on Halloween.” Priorities! Angelle hasn’t met many of her neighbors yet, but is encouraged by the overall vibe of Cedar Creek that it won’t be long until new connections are formed. She will be enrolling Teensy in school and is confident she will meet other parents and children during the school year and local events. There is also a salon near their house where she sees a future of many mother daughter mani-pedis. I also spoke with Billy Diesel (dieselaffair), a brand new resident of Cedar Creek. He learned of Cedar Creek by word of mouth and has a lot of friends who have moved to the area from Avon. Billy, the character, hails from Indiana and is an enforcer for the Bastards of Hell motorcycle club.
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“Furries are welcome as well. As long as it’s nothing too far fetched it is welcomed in Cedar Creek. We use the term Anthropomorphic to describe not human avatars permitted in town. As long as they are bipedal, can be injured like a human being, talk like a human being and can function like a human being although they may look like a fox, pup, cat, or what not within the furry community they are welcome here and even welcome to RP,” explains Rei. It should go without saying that LGTBQ residents are also welcome. I asked Rei and Ethan what they would say to convince anyone with doubts to give Cedar Creek Township a try. Rei says, “Cedar Creek has a lot to offer, a variety that is not aimed at a single demographic when it comes to RPers or residents but to many, teens, little, adults, families, criminal and department wise. We do regular assessments with the people of the community as well in order to make sure that we keep up with needs or wants of those that choose Cedar Creek. Being both RP and Family friendly — focusing on both not just one — I think is something else that makes us unique and keeps people coming back.” Ethan has this to say, “While we have homes for people to claim and call their own, being a part of Cedar Creek is so much more! You don’t have to live here to roleplay or hold a job here. As far as my advice to someone looking for a home, I’d tell them that when looking for a community, look at all aspects and see how many of those are actually checked off. Cedar Creek tries really hard to ensure that we check every single box that a new resident would want or need. A unique build with realistic and scenic vistas ? Check. Popular home choices from top Second Life mesh home builders?
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Check. A staff that is not difficult to approach, easy to talk to and willing to listen to your ideas? Check. Somewhere that not only is a place for you to put your things, but allows you to have neighbors, a community feel with events, social programs and other get-together activities? Check. A place that allows you the privacy you want in your home while still letting you go out your front door to go to work or roleplay? Check. The list keeps going, and if you do find something that Cedar Creek lacks, resident or not, send us your ideas! Who knows, it may be the next big thing in Cedar Creek!” David’s favorite aspect of Cedar Creek are the custom themed sims and the flow where they connect with each other. “You don’t just go sim to sim but you go through a community.” While the future of Cedar Creek is largely dependent on the residents and their relationship with the easily accessible estate team, David also hopes that it will continue to grow and become a better place for those looking for a community that not only gives detail and quality but also a place for people to feel the realistic view everyone wants. Make sure when you go to visit, that you bring along your welcome mat and Home Sweet Home sign. Check out their website, follow them on Facebook and visit them in-world. ECLIPSE September 2017 | Page 93
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Trending now
the talented eclipse models show us the hottest fall fashion. photography by tayl
lor wassep.
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Caesar Langer in Corduroy Jacket: GizzA - Pierre Trenchcoat & Fake Shirt Bottom: Ascend - Marc Formal Pant Stole: Scars - Stole Type B Shoes: Ascend - Triple Monk Shoes Sunglasses: Belier Accessories - Enon Shades Ring (L): Kunst - Magnus Ring Ring (R): Kunst - Wire Ring
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Ombrebleue Winsmore in Futuristic Metallic Hair: Tableau Vivant - Punky Earings: LaGyo - Laura Top: ANE - Vintage Satin Pants & Boots: Blueberry - Gracie Nails: Formanails - Ballerina Point
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Saian Samuel with Face-Shrouding Top : Gabriel - Long Hodie & coat Pants : Gabriel - Stripe Sweat Pants Mask : Livia - Frine Collar Footwear : ILLI - Galliano Leather Slip-ons Necklace : Mandala - Long_Necklace Kotowari Hair : Stealthic - Haunting
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Shazzy Valentine in Checks or Plaid Jacket: Diram - Stella Romper: Stories & Co - Tatiana Shoes: Fashion Shoes - Noemi Hair: Doux - Blair Clutch: Ison: Folded Leather Clutch Earrings: LaGyo - Luz Bracelet: Erratic - Cuffs Eyeshadow: Pink Fuel - Queen Palette Lipstick: Deesses - Sunshine
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Wicca Merlin in Lady in Red Coat: Asteria - Anna Top & Skirt: Asteria - Lady Faith Boots: MODA - Tessa Necklace: Kunglers - Sile Glasses: EarthStones - The Yesterday Hair & Hat: No.Match - No.Always
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The Winter Jefferson in Slogan Knits Hat: BeausamexBeusy - Onyx Beanie Hairstyle Glasses: B2L - Pilot Glasses Jacket: Flite - Mens Puffer Knitwear: Ghoul - Ayato Sweater Pants: Razor Method - Arctic Pants Watch: Hoorenbeek - Player Watch Shoes: Flite - Long Beach Low Tops Page 114 | ECLIPSE September 2017
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Xandrah Sciavo in Feathers Top: ANE - Vintage Blouse Skirt: sYs - Isis Skirt Boots: Breathe - Ryo Heels Earrings: Zaara - Sarika feather earrings Glasses: Mulloy - Infinito Glasses Hair: Stealthic - Persephone Nails: alme - Ombre Dark Page 116 | ECLIPSE September 2017
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at home with wen
this month we feature the best of fall. written by wendz tempest. photography by wend
ndz
dz tempest.
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Wendz Tempest explores the long underappreciated and overlooked world of home and garde bold new world of world creation. With this mo Page 126 | ECLIPSE September 2017
en design. The flourishing diversity and abundance of choice since the mesh revolution has led to a onths installment, Tempest brings us the best of fall. ECLIPSE September 2017 | Page 127
There is an appointed time when Mother Nature dons an extravagant coat of many colors, while exhaling a tingly breath of crisp, cold air. Gone are the muted and tired greens of summer, replaced overnight with an array of colors; brilliant warm hues of red, gold, and vibrant orange. Fall arrives in such a visual display of dramatic proportions, it is no wonder that autumn decor is a favorite niche in home and garden. With over dozens and dozens of home and garden products listed in the marketplace, it is easy to find oneself overwhelmed. It is challenging to say the least, but with a little organizing and planning, decorating your home for the holidays can be enjoyable. Whether you are refreshing last year’s tablescape, or adding a different design element, seasonal decor can take your living spaces to a new level.
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Traditional layouts can be remade and still be creative enough without losing any of their originality. Many designers have allowed modify permissions on their products which opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Thinking outside the box is welcomed in Second Life™! There are many ways to decorate your home in a festive and tasteful way for fall. Leaves, pine cones, harvest goods, pumpkins, gourds, are just some themes to get you started. And theme decor does not have to be relegated to indoor spaces. Seascaping can take on a whole new perspective when adding fall foliage as a backdrop to neutral or coastal themes. Driftwood, branches, and rustic furniture can also serve well along the side of cozy blankets, fur rugs, and plaid pillows. An autumn-inspired patio or porch can serve multiple purposes other than dressing up an exterior. Light entertaining can be done with appropriate seating and arrangements. A strategically placed fire pit can serve as a lovely focal space for any time of day. Using themed fabric and patterns can also liven up outdoor seating. Fall is also a time of harvest, and so adding a bit of autumn produce to arrangements will give your space a festive look. Page 132 | ECLIPSE September 2017
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Bringing color combinations into any theme-inspired room is an excellent way to diversify stylings and spaces. Blankets, pillows, linens, tableware, decor accessories, and even plants and flowers are all great places to start experimenting with color. Using natural elements such as weathered wood, antlers, rope, and time worn finishes,also create a beautiful rustic feel. Let us not forget the spooky stuff! Decorative skulls, candles, darkened wreaths can be added to an All Hallow’s Eve display, ready to welcome even the most fidgety of Halloweensters. As summer comes to an end, the changing countryside yields an artful display of abundance that inspires all would be decorators. Mother Nature is poised to showcase her extravagance, so let the show begin!
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Build: We’re Closed - Drape House Sofa: Nutmeg - Chesterfield Sofa Chair: Nutmeg - Chippendale Chair Chair: Nutmeg - Old School Chair Chair: Nutmeg - Ancient Wash Basins Chair Chair: What Next - Bellevie Chair 3 Table: Nutmeg - Hardy Iron Table Decor: What Next - Bellevie Fire Pit Decor: What Next - Bellevie Log Pile Decor: Nutmeg - Vintage Rotary Dial Decor: Nutmeg - Distressed Clay Vase Decor: Nutmeg - Sketches of You Decor: Nutmeg - Hardy Iron Lamp Decor: Nutmeg - Historian Paper Rolls Decor: Calm - Song Vase Decor: Calm - Vouvant Pitcher Decor: Calm - Oar Wall Mount Decor: Consignment - Boneyard Windmill Wall Art Decor: Apple Fall - Cotton Cluster Decor: Apple Fall - Harrogate Grandfather Clock Page 138 | ECLIPSE September 2017
Decor: Apple Fall - Pumpkin Great White Decor: Apple Fall - Pumpkin Casper White Decor: Apple Fall - Pumpkin Clonch Decor: Concept - Wood Path Decor: Concept - Beach Fence Decor: Cube Republic - Beach Pilings Decor: Cube Republic - Coast Rope Fence Decor: Kalopsia - Flying Leaves Decor: Keke - Beach Sign Decor: Keke - Hogweed in Vase Decor: Keke - Star Fish Decor: Keke - Shells Turned Decor: Keke - Sticks with Lights Decor: Keke - Stick with Bulbs Decor: We’re Closed - Fur Carpet Decor: We’re Closed - Driftwood Chandelier Decor: We’re Closed - Paper Lanterns White Decor: Revival - Book Pile & Candle Decor: Revival - Leather Lantern Decor: Revival - Candle Bag Linen
Build: Cheeky Pea - Brother County Bridge Build: Cheeky Pea - Watercolour Canopy Rocks: Cheeky Pea - Brother County Wall Rocks: Studio Skye - Waterfalls Rocks: Studio Skye - Riverbank Chair: Pixel Mode - Harvest Rocker Fence: Botanical - Scrolled Wrought Iron Fence Tree: Dysfunctionality - Apples Orchard Tree Tree: Cube Republic - Douglas Fir Plants: Yumyum - Vines Decor: Cheeky Pea - Poetry Pinecone Lights Decor: Cheeky Pea - Poetry Wooden Pumpkin Blocks Decor: What Next - Orchard Ladder
Decor: What Next - Under the Stars Bonfire Decor: What Next - Orchard Basket Decor: What Next - Harvest Pumpkin Basket Decor: What Next - Harvest Sign Decor: What Next - Summer Garden Hanging Planter Decor: Heart - Basket of Apples Tipped Decor: 22769 Bauwerk - Sun Flowers in Milk Can Fence: Pixel Mode - Fall Harvest Fence Decor: Fancy Decor - Pumpkin D Decor: Fancy Decor - Pumpkin E Decor: Dust Bunny - Autumns Calling Wine Bottle Decor: Dust Bunny - Autumns Calling Candle Cup ECLIPSE September 2017 | Page 139
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artist highlight
photography by taylo
or wassep.
Toxie (Toxic Darkmatter) is one of the many talented live artists with Whispering Sands Live Promotions. While her first love on Second Life is building, she credits a karaoke spot called The O Lounge, as where she learned how to stream and first began performing. She shares, “The past 2 yrs have been absolutely amazing! A lot of growth as a singer, my groups have exploded with, well, I don’t like calling them fans.... lets say...new friends who appreciate what I do. I have an absolutely amazing management team that helps keep things running as smoothly as possible. I was doing at one point close to 25 shows a week but it took a bit of a toll on my health and I’ve had to cut back to roughly 60 shows a month but I still love doing it every single time. The people who come out to the shows time and time again are the ones who make it so very special to me.” When asked about how long she has been with Whispering Sands Live Promotions, she tells us that she has been with them for two years and is also quick to acknowledge them for all the work they do. “They do so very much for both performers and venues alike. As a performer they have been instrumental in keeping me organized and relieving all the day to day daily ‘stuff’ to do, basically leaving me able to just show up and sing without having to worry over details like scheduling, sending notices, sending subscribo’s, touting my group, making contacts with new venue owners and all the millions of details associated with that. I just have to be present and do what I love to do. ALL my events are scheduled through them unless I take on a booking on my own.” She continues to praise them, “I honestly believe that
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WSL is one of the MOST professional and BIGGEST supporter the of SL music scene.” As a live singer, she is a firm believer that it is a necessity to “infuse my shows with a little of ‘me’.” This aspect of her performance also heightens her showmanship. With this in mind, her favorite performance is when she shared a story, “I told this really embarrassing story about myself and it sort of has taken a life on its own. I’m a bit of a class clown so I always laugh at the dumb things I do, and when I told the story and sang a song along with it. It became widely talked about and people ask to hear it often or tease me about the story itself, but the first time, it was so funny and unexpected the crowd loved it. We had about 70 people there that night and its followed me around the grid for over a year now.. so.. most definitely a memorable show!” Not only is Toxie a talented live singer, she is also an all around renaissance woman with her love for building, singing, creating and sim designing. She is also a curator for an art gallery called Musee Des Reves. On an ending note, she shares with ECLIPSE Magazine, “I compliment strangers because I have no fear in my heart & feel kindness goes a long way. Being kind is no weakness. Shallow hatred is. I’m nothing “special” and if being a dork with a sense of humor and a heart a mile wide makes me so, then I feel bad that that stands out as being “special” in todays world.” Check out her profile, follow her schedule, listen to her on Sound Cloud, listen to her on this youtube channel and this one.
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Toxie’s Top Five Songs to Sing “Am I The One” by Beth Hart (Favorite Blues Singer) “Bilingual” by Jose Nunez (Favorite Adult Tune) “She Used To Be Mine” by Sara Bareilles (Her life soundtrack) “Possum Kingdom” by The Toadies (Loves the rock vibe) “Imagine” by John Lennon (Reminds her of SL)
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on the rise: cassandra midd
eclipse magazine showcases the newest and best on the grid. written by synfu
dles
ul aeon. photography by wicca merlin.
Second Life® media has become more present on Youtube™ with videos from talented individuals talking about many aspects of SL, from news that was once reported on inworld television programs to, vloggers talking about clothes or fairs. Cassandra Middles, though, is taking it even a step further. Applications for “The Second Life Dating Game” and “SL’s Got Talent” have been passed around Facebook, Plurk, and Twitter. These shows started as a fun idea that Middles broached on Plurk with her friends and followers. ”I’d compiled a list of ideas I really wanted to do: interviews, game shows, contests, and once I joked about it on Plurk, everyone told me to go through with it,” said Middles. Her friends have jokingly dubbed her Cassie Springer and Second Life Oprah. She tries to avoid shows that are legitimate drama and keeps the shows lighthearted fun. She built the set quickly for her first show including a
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place for an audience, then recorded the promotional video on it. Her first Second Life show, “The Second Life Dating Game” was announced on Plurk June 20th and it was recorded days later. “One of my oldest friends in SL, Jeff, stepped up as a bachelor for me, and his friends followed in the following weeks– rugged and pandaman. The moment it aired, honestly, I was so worried it’d be a flop. I was extremely nervous, and whenever there was dead air, I thought people would get bored and leave. The opposite happened. It was shared in several blogs, discord chats, and on Facebook and Plurk, and even New World Notes shared it. Some people even tagged me, saying it was their new favorite thing, and it really helped boost my desire to do more shows like this,” said Middles. One time Middles even filled in for a spot on “The Second Life Dating Show’s” Friends Episode.
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Applications for more shows have been produced and sent out across social media. The latest one is the “Dress to Impress” which is a challenge coming in September, and it has already been announced on Middles’ Youtube Channel. It’s a timed challenge game where the contestants need to dress up in under ten minutes in their dressing rooms in an outfit that matches the theme Middles declares for the game. Another show that is in production is “An Interview With”, where she will interview designers, bloggers, DJs, and others, to get the inside scoop on what their Second Life is like. She also had a parody show in the works called “Cassie’s Court” that is based on silly court cases.
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”These shows are all them am wanting to do are sho show with different faces top tens, and thoughts of game, an undercover seri so you don’t have to, and price is right, to guess wha are on items from Second a few others, but with how it might be hard to find tim more,” said Middles.The a to Impress”, “SL’s Got Talen Game” can be found on M and below in the descrip “Interview With...” segmen
med out, but others I ows like The Grid: a talk bringing up their news, f the week, A newlyweds ies where I check out sims a show similar to the at certain brands prices d Life. I’ve joked about w many I already have, me at the moment for applications for “Dress nt”, and “The Dating Middles’ profile in world ptions of the videos. The nt is by invitation only .
“The Second Life Dating Game” and her interview segment both have the largest waiting lists. To be on any of Middles’ shows voice is preferred but the audience may use text chat. There isn’t a dress code but it’s preferred that contestants not show genitalia, be naked or have any overly sexual outfits. For “Dress to Impress” the contestants will be asked to wear an underwear applier as the show is for a general audience. Also, to appear on the shows you must be over the age of 18 as the TOS states that you must be an adult to be in Second Life.
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It doesn’t take Middles long to build her sets and decorate them because she is able to find many things already made that suit her taste for the simple style she wants for the sets. For “Cassie’s Court”, she has a wonderful friend helping her out with the setup. “I have a few staff members that help, especially Silver and AJ. They’re my security both on Youtube and in Second Life, and also help find contestants if I need them. Skye also kindly lets me use her sim for “The Dating Show”, so I could have more people on the land; which, was so incredibly generous of her. Other people that are a huge help are Max, Peach, and Nyte, that help with any other small tasks needed,” explained Middles.
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Currently, all of Middles’ shows, are live streamed on her Youtube Channel not edited. In the future, however, they might be taped and edited to include commercials for stores that signed up to sponsor the shows. She is also in talks with some of her friends to one day possibly make a website for their own Second Life Television shows. One day when the website idea comes together she is hoping to search for great Vloggers to have their series on the site. ”I honestly think Second Life needs to be seen more on Youtube, and I would love to see movies and shows. I’m working on a Second Life documentary when I have free time and I hope to make it machinima worthy, when done,” said Middles. Middles hopes that people see there is more to Second Life than the trolling videos found all over YouTube There is a lot Second Life has to offer as it has grown so much with mesh, bento, and graphics. Through the game shows another thriving community has been found and she hopes more people will come join the show. Check out Cassie’s work on Youtube. Follow her on Plurk. Follow her on Facebook.
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ask noey: the advice guru
send your questions to noey here, and it might be in our next issu
ue. written by noey ivy london flower.
Dear Noey, A FB friend that I don’t know well - I had pretty much one conversation with him, and I think he’s in SL, but I don’t know who he is in SL - messaged me recently. I asked him how he was, and he said, doing well all things considered. Then he said he was going to figure out how to make me his partner, and give me everything I wanted, and hold onto me and never let me go. Shocked, I said, well, that’s very sweet, but I’m sort of dating someone right now (not really dating but it’s intense and involved). Then he told me that he had cancer. I said, I’m so sorry, but we’re living in the best time for treatments. He then said he had bone cancer, and they gave him 6 mo. to a year. I feel like he is trying to manipulate me. Am I being cold and uncaring? I told him I hoped he beat those odds, and didn’t speak to him after. Was that the right thing to do? Signed, Facebook Frazzled Dear Facebook Frazzled, You have to try to understand where this man may possibly be coming from. He’s been diagnosed with a terminal illness and then on top of that an expiration date. I highly doubt that, at his end point in life, that he is trying to manipulate you into a relationship. He might be trying to fit everything he thinks is possible into a short time frame and live it out. I think perhaps maybe you might be feeling that way because it gives you a reason not to feel guilty about not being interested in him. But that’s something you cant control anyways and maybe offering him a friendship instead will help him. I think in this circumstance you really need to be a bit more sensitive. If hes your friend, even if hes not, reach out to him and actually ask him how hes doing and how he is taking everything. If this was me, I would put my “what if’s” aside, and reach out to the man and try to give him the best support I was able to give. Life is a privilege that is denied to many and its something that we should cherish. Cherish by loving one another. Not only will you give a dying man some comfort, but you will gain far more then you expect. Page 168 | ECLIPSE September 2017
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Dear Noey, I’ve been playing SL for the past three years. I started out with a female avatar just because and since then I’ve gotten into a long term relationship (1.5 years) with another woman. The thing is I’m a man in real life, and she has no idea. I love her so much, but she’s a lesbian and I fear she will leave me when she finds out I’m not in fact female. I don’t know why I’m asking this because I’m not brave enough to tell her the truth. I use a voice changer on Skype, and I don’t want to lose her. Signed, Lying Lover Dear Lying Lover, First off...you need to tell her the truth. It’s extremely selfish to keep something like that a secret on here. You are dealing with a persons heart. You are going to have to face the fact that the chances of losing her are quite high. You made that choice. And it’s your time to make the decision to do good by her and let her know the truth. If what you two share is real love, then she will see no gender. Your love and relationship will continue to grow. You can’t expect to get something positive and healthy out of lies. If this doesn’t work out, you ended it by doing the right thing and you spared her feelings from being damaged any further. And the guilt you would have on yourself for continuing to live out a lie, would begin to heal. Do what you know you should have done from the beginning. I’m pretty sure you already know what the right thing to do is.
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Dear Noey, I started a club last year with one of my friends. We got into a fight a month ago and I’ve now been banned from the club. We split the tier 50/50 and split all other costs between us. The rent is paid up for the next 2 months. I’ve accepted that I’ve basically been kicked out and whatever, but how can I go about getting my money back for the rent I paid? All I’ve come up with is publicly shaming her on social media, but those things tend to do more damage than good. I’ve tried talking to her, but she has me muted. What can I do to get my money back? Signed, Fighting Former Friends Dear Fighting Former Friends, Basically...kiss that money goodbye! You kind of ruined that chance of getting that money back when you decided to publicly troll her on social media. The only thing I can really suggest is to make another character and write her a note-card...send that note-card to her...APOLOGIZING. See if that opens up a line of communication and then go from there on how to civilly get your money back without resorting to fighting. But at this point my advice would be to move on and try to forget about it. Make a new name for yourself. New friends. And do not obsess over it. A lot of times in SL we find ourselves wasting our energy on things we cant change the outcome on. It doesn’t help us move forward, it only makes us one of those people who all they talk about is “her”. Do yourself a favor and chalk it up to a lesson learned and move on with your second life.
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Voices from the g
Voices From the Grid is a monthly survey of opinions and ideas of Second Life® residents on the salient issues of the day. At long last, Sansar is open to anyone who wishes to see it — except for Mac users — and ECLIPSE Magazine decided to ask some Second Lifers what their first impressions are.
grid
Photograph provided by Cybele Moon. Page 178 | ECLIPSE September 2017
Cybele moon
C
ybele Moon (or Hana Hoobinoo) first wandered into virtual madness with Cyans’ story/adventure game, Myst, and was immediately taken by the beautiful graphic art. It was inevitable that she would soon find the Second Life platform where she was invited to role play in an historical Egyptian desert sim. However, after a time she ended up taking a hiatus while pursuing other adventures. She eventually returned to a burgeoning art scene in SL which captured her imagination and so she decided to stay. Cybele is a storyteller and real life photographer. She found that she could combine both those passions into a virtual experience. She often blends real life and virtual imagery, creating ethereal pieces that are magical stories in themselves. She recently collaborated with an SL artist on a story sim called Niamh’s Journey of Dreams. Using Cybele’s images as inspiration, an enchanted landscape was created for an adaptation of one of the mythical legends of Ireland; Tales of the Tuatha de Danann… by Cybele Moon. She has had many favourable reviews on her art and stories in SL which you can find on her virtual blog site. Sansar! Oh my God! The Dune Mouse likes it. She yawned when she first heard about the new Linden venture. Not another virtual social scene she moaned. True to her name, The Dune Mouse tends to be a somewhat solitary traveler. However, she has one trait that tends to be more cat-like and so; curiosity got the best of her. With some trepidation she entered the public beta portal, wandered about in a directionless disjointedness, experienced lag and logged out grumbling and wondering what all the fuss was about- the place seemed unfinished! Then, somewhere, perhaps it was on Facebook, someone wrote (in disparaging tones ) that the Sansar experience was like visiting a museum. That perked up her mouse ears. After all, she is a great history buff and nibbler of old tomes. Donning an imaginary pith helmet she forayed once more through the explorer’s door. This time Mouse had an epiphany. She found herself wandering through a museum room similar to one in Cairo that she had once visited. The light poured through wooden blinds onto an elaborately carved dais. Bits and pieces of antiquity were lying about amidst the tools of archaeologists. The room exuded heat and dust. There were three doors leading to different tomb excavations and there was excellent visual depth and perspective in all openings and crannies – quite habitable for a Jerboa. She has since been back to stand in the ruins of a Highland church as Pandora type islands float by on the air stream. She also visited an installation called Godlight where folded veils of sunlight are cast from an Icelandic looking crag, reminiscent of a Jules Verne setting for a Journey to the Center of the Earth. No more need be said except that she got a handle on the third person toggle, the keyboard avatar movements, and found the camera tool. Oh yes, though not a builder herself, The Dune Mouse felt a story coming on and when asked what she thought of it all, her eyes grew brighter. The skill of the Sansar designers is amazing and the platform surpasses the graphics of Second Life in detail and light. More installations are added daily and many SL artists are involved. Technical discussion aside, the initial impression remains that it continues to be a work in progress, albeit quite wonderful, and that Sansar could go in many directions depending on the will and imagination of its’ members, but hopefully won’t be a twin of Second Life. After all, the name Sansar possibly derives from a Sanskrit word Samsara meaning wandering. Follow her on Flickr, and check out both her blogs The Runes of Gatekeeper’s Daughter and Virtually Yours from the Dune Mouse. ECLIPSE September 2017 | Page 179
Photograph provided by Stawberry Singh. Page 180 | ECLIPSE September 2017
STRAWBERRY SINGH
S
trawberry Singh has been a resident of the virtual world Second Life since May 2007. She is an award winning blogger. Since December 2007, she has been sharing her zeal for fashion, lifestyle and culture via her Second Life blog.
The first time I logged into Sansar and started exploring I was amazed by the quality of the content, especially the light. The light at the experiences and the realism that it brings to the world is just mesmerizing. I do feel that for the average Second Life resident like myself, there is not much to do in Sansar as of yet. But the more I login, the more I enjoy exploring a new world and getting to know the little community there. I feel the community in Sansar right now is so incredibly talented, generous and inviting. There are no trolls, griefers or anyone trying to get in my pants. Everyone in Sansar right now is there with an optimistic outlook and ready to become a leader in the VR world. They are incredibly intelligent and talented people and I love interacting with them and learning from them. Sansar has a lot of potential and even more talent waiting to improve it even further. I am looking forward to the future of Sansar! Check out her blog and Youtube Channel.
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Photograph provided by Isabelle Cheren. Page 182 | ECLIPSE September 2017
isabelle cheren
I
sabelle Cheren joined SL as far back as 2007 but because she had a slow dialup connection and was using an old computer, she gave up at the first hurdle. Back then she had no patience. In 2010, after purchasing a new laptop, Liz4paris Adored was born and so began the virtual life which would eventually lead to Isabelle Cheren. After some months in Second Life as Liz4paris and realizing the name led people to her real life, Isabelle Cheren was born and so became an active resident in the virtual world. Liz4paris still visits now and then and Isabelle has come to accept the blending of her real life and her Second Life. Isabelle’s first second life vlog was 1st April 2010. Not long after, Isabelle started a life in machinima creating mostly dance type videos and in 2016 began vlogging fashion and subsequently vlogs as a reporter Harriet Parker and also holds a Coffee with Isa on a Monday. My first impressions of Sansar are quite simple really. Wow! I was able to go in before the public beta was released and at least get a good sightseeing trip underway and really explore. I am still exploring because as each day people join and create their experiences, Sansar is slowly developing. Sansar is just a completely different immersive experience and some of the creations are actually for me personally quite mind blowing to look at. I mentioned it in my first vlog about Sansar something as simple as the San Francisco bridge. It’s just immense when you land there. The scale of it I have not seen in Second Life. Sansar is what I would call a world evolving. Definitely I am excited to see how it evolves as frankly my computer simply loves it. The potential for creators is there and being able to enter in at its childhood and be part of its growth is truly amazing. I visit each day, sometimes for short periods and some days for extended periods as I flit between worlds. Again it’s an evolving world and each time I visit there is a little tweak I find and a slight change. I cannot build, but I’m trying to teach myself.(You could be waiting a long time for my wee dog I made to appear!) I love how I have my own little space Namaste . I am eager to see as products appear more and more on the Marketplace™, what I can find and add to my little spot on the atlas. For now I have just added basic things. I have still yet to work out how to make my hover plane thingy stay in the sky instead of crashing on the ground! I refuse to ask anyone as I’m excited to actually learn for myself for a change. Though I did have to ask questions when I first tried to place sounds on the market place and I couldn’t get my head around the process. The Sansarians (I can’t really call them Lindens) so Sansarians it will be, were actually very helpful and the guy assigned to me, really went out of his way to help resolve the issues I was having. So great customer service I have to say. There is this great misconception that Sansar replaces Second Life. No, it doesn’t. Second Life is its own unique world as is Sansar and the two are parallel but not in competition because they are so different. My view anyhow. I love the graphics I am seeing and loving how shadows appear without me having to crank up my settings in order to get that view. I do look forward to seeing how the avatars also develop as more content creators emerge. I am an avid fan and look forward to the new world. I believe in a universe and can imagine many different worlds one day. Check out her blog, youtube, flickr, twitter, reddit, tumblr, pinterest and instagram. ECLIPSE September 2017 | Page 183
Photograph provided by Kit Boyd. Page 184 | ECLIPSE September 2017
K
KIT BOYD
it Boyd is an oldie in Second Life and still around when she feels like it. She started SL in 2007 with an hesitation from the start. Would it be her kind of game or would it get boring, as fast as any other. Surprised to find out that it was and can be a very creative world, she started creating furniture and decoration which she sold in her store for almost three years. Meanwhile she found some true friendships and also experienced the down side of SL too. People can be very hard when you are successful or kind. She closed her store because it was too time consuming and she wanted that time for herself and friends.... and she wanted to explore more of the SL world she lived in. Being able to have fun without the daily pressure of the store was a relief. Besides simhopping, she found a new passion .... photography. She started with profile pictures in the beginning but after a while it became obvious she had skills (as they told her) so she started to capture the SL world. Being able to make a picture and give people an opportunity to see the same passion or feelings within, was wonderful to her. And so she started a flickr group with pictures from her heart and with one message to all. “Have wonderful picturesques times... Keep a positive spirit and spread it around. Keep the love vibrant and alive Keep the heart open and willing but most of all... keep on hugging!” When they asked me this question, I was thinking about ‘Sansar’ in SL (adult sim) but after re-thinking that option i knew it was about the new platform that Linden is creating. To be honest...I hadn’t been there.... till now. Well I do need to know what I’m talking about....right?..... :) So I logged into this new experience with an open mind. Choosing an avatar was number one and it was not that hard because they are limited. You can customize the chosen avatar but that is also with the options they give you. (not a lot) One good thing....you don’t need to get into your horrible overfilled inventory to find an outfit :) After saving my avatar, I got a screen to go to global worlds (Atlas). There are worlds created by Linden Lab™and also some created by willing avatars who have already made the switch to Sansar. First I tried a world of Linden and started loading ... and loading ... and loading ... until finally (sorry I did not time it, but it was long enough). I came in a world, perfectly rezzed and even beautiful to look at. Then I started walking... slow...slower ...slowest... and in a way people might think I was so drunk. Partly that was because I was not wearing a VR goggle....Yes, you should have one for the best experience (that is what they say). So the best way to move was teleport about 5 meters and continue that without getting yourself stuck in a wall or drop down somewhere. I have to say that the graphics were amazing and it was great to see. It seems realistic (if I can say that)! The landscape would look even better with VR experience, I’m sure. I was already amazed at the graphic quality. After a while hanging on that creation of linden, I decided to go to a member’s creation. Again the loading took a long time. Apparently if you were in a world before...it will load faster next time. So that means ... keep space on your computer. The next world I came in was a nicely decorated place. You could see it was not a professionally made world.... but it looked pretty good. You can create a wonderful place in Sansar with features in the upload program or in their own marketplace, but all limited to editing only move or scale. If you want to add anything later on... the world needs to be uploaded again after changing. Editing creations inworld is impossible for this moment except planting them in your own creation. I walked around for a while... visited some other places that were amazing in view and graphics.....but all I could do was walk (tp goes faster)...I did see two other persons but they were wandering like me, probably asking the same question ‘What to do next?’ No interaction at all with anything in the scenery or environment. An amazing experience but it bored me so much so I left. In my opinion and in defence of Sansar… It’s a wonderful graphic experience especially with the goggles I suppose. For creators it is a place let all the dreaming begin. But for me... It was a “one time” experience for now.... A VR goggle gives me a headache anyway.... and maybe because I’m very hooked to Second Life and my friends over there. But you can always try it out yourself :) ECLIPSE September 2017 | Page 185
Photograph provided by Nillia Lamilton. Page 186 | ECLIPSE September 2017
nillia lamilton
N
illia Lamilton has been a member of Second Life for almost eight years. Several years ago she became more interested in photographing what she saw during her explorations.She doesn’t change the view she sees, but enhances it through her photos using very little editing. She now has two galleries in Second Life in which she has invited several other artists to display their work also. Her philosophy is that you don’t have to be the best in the art world, you only have to love and enjoy the art you create. I never gave Sansar much thought when friends started talking about it because I don’t own a VR headset that is used with the platform. Then one day I decided to create an account so I could do a bit of browsing on Sansar just to see if anything caught my interest. One of the first things I noticed was the fantastic graphics that each scene showed. I was very impressed that I didn’t have to adjust anything to make shadows or depth which are important when trying to create some form of realism. I wasn’t too impressed with many other parts of the platform as there didn’t seem to be any way to interact with objects such as sitting on benches, driving vehicles, running etc. While I was standing next to other avatars I just kept thinking how stiff and rigid we looked so hopefully down the road body movements will be improved. Being used to having camera controls in SL then finding out that only screenshots were available in Sansar was a bit disappointing. I enjoyed most of the scenes I visited which has been about 20 so far. I realize this platform was not developed to replace Second Life, it’s more for actual game playing which seems to be different than how Second life is being used. As for myself I loved exploring new scenes and lands, but the lack of actually being able to go to a store for shopping, dancing at clubs, or even interacting with friends may be a turnoff to many people. It also is a bit confusing to me as to how to obtain land or how to import items to the platform but then I am not a builder so I would have to really study all the info to see if I could make sense of it . In conclusion I loved the graphics, exploring and designs so will continue to visit the platform, but little else caught my interest at this time. I am definitely interested in watching it as it develops. Follow her on Flickr, her in-world gallery and Through Our Eyes Gallery.
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Photograph by Wicca Merlin Page 188 | ECLIPSE September 2017
SENA SMIT
S
ena Smit arrived in Second Life in 2015. Sena’s partner taught her the joy of making the many items as one wishes, and they have been fully enjoying the life in Second Life. Her favorite thing to do is landscape creation and her hand-made sim, Isla Pirka* is open to the public.
As soon as SANSAR beta opened to the public, I visited and experienced the new world. What impressed me most was the beauty of the graphics there, the sky, light source, shadow... It suffices to say simply everything is beautiful! Especially, I had to take off my hat to the beauty of SkyBoxes. As one who likes landscape preparation, I couldn’t resist the temptation of developing a beautiful scenery there myself and started to create Calm Lake Garden. In as much as I am still a novice creator, it will take time to finish up the landscape, but I am creating little by little through trial and error, uploading the finished scenery and sharing them in Flickr. I heartily recommend you to experience the picturesque SANSAR. Follow her on Flickr.
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Photograph provided by Eve Kazan. Page 190 | ECLIPSE September 2017
eve kazan
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ve Kazan has been a Second Life resident since January 2007. For ten years Eve has never ceased dreaming and creating with digital photography published in her blog. She also designs her own brand of accessories and makeup which she sells in a shop called Mad’. Eve also actively contributed to numerous projects combining both virtual and reallife environments. She was the representative of educational and nonprofit regions such as sims Arcachon on Second Life and became one of the subjects of “Artefact” , a digital project conducted by the artist Philippe Faure unveiled in Bordeaux, France in 2013. Eve is the sublime incarnation of her creator. The day I learned that Sansar was open to the public, I was excited. I liked the idea of being a pioneer and discovering a new territory. Before I logged in, I had to learn to be patient, first for downloading the software, then creating the account and the avatar. After the initial set up, the new Sansar v ersion of Eve could finally start venturing in the new environment. To be frank, the first attempt was not a success as I was not the only pioneer wanting to explore. It effectively took 25 minutes to access the Mars Outpost Alpha experience. Nevertheless once loaded, I was able to discover a truly incredible light. In terms of 3D rendering it compared well with some SL achievements, with the biggest difference for me being the stability and subtle play of lights which makes it all very realistic. Avatar movement is quite laborious and interactivity with objects is yet to be further developed but it is only a beta version so there is scope for improvement. I will continue to visit Sansar in computer mode and look forward to seeing what Linden Lab developers will do in the future. I really hope that Sansar will live up to my expectations as a blogger, a creator and above all a dreamer.
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THE adventures o
written by miele tarantal. photography by miele
“The Adventures of...” is a monthly feature by Miele Tarantal showcasing some of the most aesthetic places in Second Life®. A beautiful desert oasis to fuel your Arabian Nights fantasies. Bring your own camel and explore, photograph, and snuggle. Visit The Cooocoo’s Desert Palace in-world.
of...
e tarantal.
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Est. 2015 | Issue 30