Cartoon of the Day

Taken at Netera's Coffee Shop. While furs sometimes go about just in shorts, well, when there are a number of avatars like yours, you need accessories to help stand out in the crowd. Makes more sense than someone with little body hair going shirtless in January.

By Bixyl Shuftan

New Feature – Be a Noob, Just Don’t Look Like One

Today our inventive reporter DrFran Babcock starts what could be a new feature, depending on reader feedback, "Be a Noob, Just Don’t Look Like One." DrFran offers a few tips on how to get one's avatar to look stylish with a few quality freebie goods.

Read DrFran's article in Fashion.

Peace on Earth Hunt 6: Prizes 51-100

DrFran Babcock is back with more coverage on the Peace on Earth Hunt. This shopping hunt has so many quality items, just one story wasn't enough. So here she is with more goodies one can get for free. And just what can one get?

Read DrFran's article in Fashion.

The Peace on Earth Hunt 6, Part 1

DrFran is back with her latest fashion article. Her story for today is about the Peace on Earth Hunt. While many places just put out substandard goods for hunts, DrFran found plenty of first class outfits, as well as skins, jewelry, and other items for free. So just what did she find?

Read DrFran's article in Fashion.

Brandi Streusel’s Custom Painting and Underwear Shops

Does your motorbike look drab? Are you in the need of some quality panties or briefs? If so, Brandi Streusel can take care of your needs. Grease Coakes recently interviewed her, and she talked a little about both of her shops, Brandi's Custom Painting and Brandi's Panties.

Read more in Design.

News and Commentary: Real-Life News Article on Avatar Clothing Isn't News

By Bixyl Shuftan

This is news? At least that's what I was thinking when I first heard of the study, featured in an ABC article (and other sources). Canadian researchers "stalked through" Second Life observing over four hundred avatars "for several weeks." Their conclusion: females wear less clothing.

"Well DUH! Thank you Captain Obvious."

Researchers have a way of spending a lot of time and effort confirming what the rest of us already ready knew, or in this case the rest of us online. Though given how real-life media has reported on Second Life since it ceased to be the technical darling of it's eye a few years ago, tending to focus on porn and spouses caught having virtual flings, perhaps the study also shows something of the attitudes of the research team. The reference to "female forms used by 25-year old men living in their parents' basements" certainly gives a hint of media bias to this virtual journalist.

If any of the researchers are reading this, it's been long obvious to this working stiff that men tend to be more concerned with something functional, some protection from cold in winter, scrapes from twigs and other objects on more sensitive places while working or playing outdoors, etc. Women can, and often do, wear something meant to be mainly functional as well, but often the main reason is to look pretty. And the real life results often show more arm and leg skin. And considering some of their soap operas and Prime Time dramas, well, one would think ABC and other media outlets would be more aware of that.

Iris Ophelia, the fashion writer of New World Notes put it another way, When was the last time you saw an actor walk the red carpet showing his bare chest? "Fashion is practically designed around women baring skin to varying degrees, while for men it's much more binary, either clothed or unclothed. That's just the way things are, and it's not news."

A better question might be "are women less dressed in virtual reality than real life?" Probably. Avatars don't feel the cold in snowy areas. And since people often come here to do what they can't in real life, some women do take advantage to be a little more daring. They still might have to deal with overly amourous males attracted to the least dressed female, but they don't have to worry about being physically grabbed and held. And of course there are the Fantasy role-play areas, of which the stories and artwork they're based on often have women in skimpier outfits that would be impractical in real life combat. It's my impression though that some are making an effort to encourage the girls to do away with the infamous "chainmail bikinis." Nonhuman avatars have their own set of issues. Might lighter clothing be a reflection of someone with a coat of fur less likely to be chilled by a cool breeze?

An article by Ciaran Laval suggested the study wasn't completely without merit. While a case could be made for more study, given the track record of those outside the Grid imagining the girls as males living in their parents' basement, such research should be conducted more intelligently by those more familiar with Second Life.


Sources: ABC, New World Notes, Ciaran Laval

Bixyl Shuftan

Press Release: Skin Burn

Burn2 isn't QUITE over yet!

Burning Man’s Ten Principles calls for Radical Self Expression. As part of that Self Expression, Burning Culture includes nudity and decorated nudity.

For BURN2, we see it as an opportunity to celebrate the Burning Culture while watching The Man burn under low lag conditions!

How? SKIN BURN!

We do this by having our Avatars wearing just skins, no prim attachments and minimal scripts, so we have minimal Avatar Render Weight (the former Avatar Rendering Cost, or ARC), slowing down the Virtual Playa server.

We first tried this in 2010; this event was an instant hit. We're bringing it back again to the Virtual Playa with the Skin Burn on November 10th! ! Below you will find the information for this years Skin Burn.

To get to the Skin Burn sim, one must be in the BURN2 Skin Burn Group and have the tag active.

Hope to see you there! REMEMBER, access is only available to a limited number of avatars! First come, first served! Alternate viewing of the Skin Burn will be from Elko.

If you have any questions please contact iSkye Silverweb or Neeks Karu.

Date: November 10, 2011
Times:
Avatar Checking: 11:30 AM SLT - 1:00 PM SLT
The Man will burn at 2:00 PM SLT
DJ music will be playing from 2:30 PM SLT.

Place: Hualapai Sim
NOTE: Sim will be CLOSED to all except BURN2 SKIN BURN Group members!

Details:
Everyone must be checked in first for low ARC and low script count at a place off sim. Once they pass the checks, they will be invited to the BURN2 Skin Burn group and given the LM to Hualapai. Check-ins will be from 11:30am - 1:00pm SLT and then close. Free art skins will be available at the check-in for those who don't have any.

Burn2: The Skin Burn

Ready for the Skin Burn? Saturday, the 12^th of November, the fun event that began in 2010 at Burn2 will be repeated.

All avatars are invited to don fancy skins or tattoos or what ever you like. The Avatar Render Count must be the lowest that is possible in your viewer. This means no scripts of any sort and no attached prims. You must be your glorious self to get into the burn. There will be Rangers to help you lower your count to the acceptable number and you will be invited to the Skinburn Group. Only then will you be able to get to Silver Seed where the burn will be held.

There will be music and partying beginning at 11:00 AM SL Time' that will go on until 3:00 PM SL time . The burn will take place at 12:30 . Plan to get there early so you can be checked out and get on the sim. If you dont have a skin you want to wear there will be free skins available at the check point. Those who attended last year had a great time so don't miss it.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sonyo/36/240/401

Gemma Cleanslate

Skin Burn

Gemma Cleanslate's time as a ranger at the "Skin Burn" on Saturday October 30th was interesting to say the least. Contrary to what one might expect of an event that asked everyone to leave their clothes behind, there was very little nudity. Gemma remarked she saw more on a typical day of Burn 2. As people could wear textures, the effect was more like the avatars became living canvases (virtually living anyway).

Gemma provided Ranger Leondra Larrson's Flickr account link for her Burn2 pictures: Click Here, as well as providing the link of popular Second Life Singer Debi Latte's Skin Burn Flikr pictures: Click Here,

For Ranger Leondra Larrson's of Burn2 pics, Click Here.

For Debi Latte's Flckr Burn2 pics, Click Here.

*Addition* SL Newser made a typo in this article, which has been corrected.

Burn2: More Fire and Fun

You thought that Burning Man 2 was all over. Guess what? Today on October 30th, Saturday, at 12:00 Noon there will be one more burn. It is a Skin Burn. You are invited to bring your avatar in skin only .. Yes skin only, no prims for a last burn .

Burning Man has a strongly clothing optional / decorated nudity culture - and they are bringing that to the virtual playa at Burn2. The Skin Burn is a special, final burn of The Man where all avatars on the playa will be at their lowest possible ARC and script load so the agent limits can be bumped as high as possible.

It's a party where you're invited to be creative with the idea - you can use skins and layers (but no prim attachments) to create a "look" that is funky and fun. What kind of skin? What kind of look? All kinds! Nekkid, painted, burning or clothed. Sexy, comical, radical, colorful, monochromatic, strange, bizarre, disgusting, obnoxious, creative, ugly, beautiful or creepy! Wear a couch texture! Or a flag! Zombie! Playmate! Whatever rocks your boat.

Before entering the playa you will have some help with lowering arc . The rangers and others will be available to help you so come on to this area: Gypsy Falls (68, 37, 406). After the burn stay for one last party !

Gemma Cleanslate

Philip Linden’s New Look

In a Community post on the official blog on Saturday October 16th, it was announced that a winner had been selected in the “Philip Linden 2.0” contest. Philip had gone through the numerous submissions of proposed avatars, and finally chose the design made by Mars Absent of “The Abyss.” He was reportedly “thrilled” with his new appearance, of which the old spikey hair now looked much more natural. But the clothes didn’t change much. He was still wearing his trademark “Rocky Horror” lips T-shirt and the codpeice over his groin.

The Community post itself was closed to comments. The only resident-created forum thread seemed to be a debate more about whether or not he had the right to wear that shirt due to 20th Century Fox’s copyright than the new avatar. In the Second Life Universe forum thread on the subject, reaction was mixed. Some liked the new look. Others thought it left something to desire, or felt the contest was a waste of time.

And so, the Grid’s most famous resident gets a long-awaited update.

(Images from Linden Blog)

Tellaq Avatar Creations

One can find just about any kind of accessory for your avatar in Second Life, though some things can be harder to find than others. One kind of item that some residents complain they can’t seem to find are ethnic avatars. Highly detailed dark skins can be even harder to come across. Among the places that does sell them is Tellaq Avatar Creations.

Tellaq is really two stores, one for male avatars, and one on the opposite side of the small clearing between them for female. The men's’ building has a much larger selection of skins. Most of the skins are black, but there are some white, and one Asian. Both stores have a lucky chair, giving people an opportunity to win one of the skins for free.

The store is owned by Tellaq Guardian. Talking to him earlier, he called himself a graphics designer in real-life. Why he chose that particular first name, he did it as a yuk, “ ‘Tellaq’ means a cleaner guy in a Turkish bath. He cleans the customers (grin), helping them to clean their shoulders and (places on) their back where they can’t reach.” He first began making skins several months after entering Second Life. His main reason for creating the business, “I couldn’t find any good black skins for myself. As you can see in the store, there are many Afro skins.”

The men's’ store was packed with skins, dozens of them, all over the walls and on panels on the ground. Each were given names, such as “Eddie,””Pier,” “Ronald,” and others. There were a few accessories for sale, such as gold chains and tattoos, but the store was almost all skins.

While taking a look at the place, I ran into a Damian Drammond. He praised Tellaq for his work, “He does the best skins in Second Life. If you want realism, this is the place to come. He comes up with a new skin every day. He needs a bigger shop (laughter).” I thought he worked for him at first, but it turned out he didn’t. “I do avatar makeovers for guys,” he told me, “But I’m a sucker, help out the newbie population. I usually do ‘em for free (laughter).” Because of the detail of the skins, he was sending people here, “I think he has about 60 -70 skins in here alone. I know I own about 10-15. I am hooked on his skins.” He felt several were particularly good, but the “Eric” was his favorite, “he’s realistic enough but not over the top.”

Checking the building for the females, it had much less of a variety, just about a dozen, “I think he needs to start looking after the women now. ... He could make a bomb if he concentrated on the girls.” To help fill the wall space, there were a number of accessories and clothes up for sale here, “not sure about the clothes up here. ... I think skins and tatts are his game.”

Tellaq Avatar Creations is at the Tropical Breeze sim at (39, 61, 23).

So if you want a quality ethnic look, Tellaq is one place you will want to check out, or as someone put it, “If you want to look good in black, head to Tellaq.”

“I like what he does, and we need more of it. His customer service is second to none.”

Bixyl Shuftan