Relay for Life Design Contest

This year, there is a design contest for the 2008-American-Cancer-Society-Relay-For-Life-in-SL donation kiosk and ANYONE can enter (well, except the judges and the ACS RFL tech crew).

To enter, visit ACS Island or the PaperModels in Second Life store at Pinastri and touch the registration cube; you'll immediately be registered for the contest and receive the instruction note card.

Why Enter the Contest? Fame and Fortune, of course! The winner will receive a prize award of $5,000L and a $50 credit to the PaperModelsOnline.com / Paper Models in Second Life store. The really cool part is that the winning design will be developed into a real life 3D model that can be downloaded in real life by Paper Models in Second Life!

This is the first ever build event anywhere in the metaverse which the winning design will become a real life 3D model using the Paper Models, Inc. patented process! The winner could be you!

Participants will be contacted by the contest coordinators, David Jacobs or Estaban Graves and the official textures and logos provided - we're using the new MediaMaster Syndication tool so there is no group to join!

Come get involved and help us with the most awesome, donation-inspiring design ever and get memorialized as the first ever 3D download-able ACS RFL design in metaverse history!

Folks the above is a press release. I am not one of the organizers of the RFL and I can't answer any questions about this. I'll try and update later when I find out who to contact about this if you have questions.

Only 59 days to the Relay for Life Clothing Fair!

The countdown is on for this year's Relay for Life Clothing Fair....

Hard to imagine that it's just 59 days until the BIGGEST CLOTHING EVENT of the year. The Relay Raiders have been working hard dotting their i's and crossing their t's to ensure you a versatile offering of SL's finest.

Have you heard ... Dark Eden , Moonshine Clothing, DeFleur Fashions, Passionate Neko Dreams, Solange, Annalise, IEVL, Immortelle, Milady Fashion, Barerose, Casa del Shai & Digit Darkes (just to name a few) have all signed on to join us ?

Really, how can we top 84 of SL premier designers sitting down to the drawing board to create the best of the best for this year's event? Fold in live music, multiple fashion shows, treasure hunts and let simmer for 59... soon to be 58 days! We'll serve up an "Awesome" stew.

Save your Linden's, watch for events.. and listen around the grid. You don't want to miss this one!

See you there!
The Relay Raiders

Oh... did I forget to mention St. Patrick's day. I guess I did. Until next time guys, ;)!

SLNewspaper.com, Second Style, The M2, Fashion Angels and Homme Magazine are sponsoring this year's event!

The above was a press release but let me add that I will also be DJing part of the Clothing Fair -- I don't know just when yet. The Relay for Life Clothing Fair blog is located here and I have a permanent link on the nav bar on the left.

p.s. Hey folks I am not one of the organizers -- just a participant through the auspices of being a part of Dark Eden and also a DJ. If you have questions about the Relay for Life, please contact Nevar Lobo in world. Thanks!

Curses

I would like to take this opportunity, whilst I am lagging so much that it takes five minutes to move one step or for one outfit to rez, to curse every person who does not strip themselves of scripted items and attachments of any sort while shopping at the ETD and Last Call sales.

Could you be any friggin ruder? I mean really. Is there anyone out there that doesn't know to do this? If there is, the innocent/uninformed are excused from this curse. May the rest of you who are willfully ignoring pleas from everyone who wants a less lagging shopping experience be afflicted with debilitating lag for the rest of your days. May your attachments be missing, may your resses be slow, and may you be cursed with missing image till the end of your days.

That is all.

Relay for Life

Oh yes folks it is that time again and I have a press release for you that should have gone out earlier this week but is only going out now. As you may or may not know, every year the Relay for Life (RFL) comes to Second Life. The RFL is the American Cancer Society's premier annual fundraising event and Second Life residents have raised oogobs of money for them for the last two years and we hope to raise mega-oogobs this year. (Do I get points for using oogobs not once, not twice, but three times in a post?) I digress -- on with the Press Release!

Announcing the Relay for Life, Clothing Fair 2008
The much anticipated Relay for Life, Clothing Fair will be opening it’s doors March 17, and run thru March 23, 2008. Jam packed with live music, treasure hunts… and fashion shows this year’s fair features 80 of SL’s premier designers! Kicking off this years Relay for Life Fundraiser will be a multi-sim St. Patrick’s Day celebration and running 24/7 until the doors close on the 23rd.

Did I say Multi-Sim? I did, didn’t I. With names like Dark Eden, BeWitched, Armidi, Callie Cline, Rebel Hope, Nicky Ree, Awesome Designs, Aitui, Sherona DeGroot, Rfrye, Nocturnal Threads, Barefoot Designs, RPD, DE Designs, Night & Day, Mischief, Goth1c0..., way too many to list… what choice did we have! This year’s concept, spearheaded by Pips Fetid and Nevar Lobo spans five sims to ensure a low lag, positive shopping experience.

So mark your calanders, check events, and save your Lindens. Come stroll the seasons and help us “Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back”. We can make a difference! Until there's a cure, there's Relay for Life.

Also there is a Clothing Fair blog. I know Nevar emailed Tao last night to add it to the feed but as we don't know when that will happen, here is the direct link to it and I will also be putting it over on the left hand navigation pane.

I will be posting news about the Relay for Life as I get it and there will be a lot of great things to come. So stay tuned!

Then and now

How much has SL changed from when you started?

Here's how much it has changed for me. When I started, Canimal used to be the place you went for vinyl, fishnets, funky clothing and tattoos.

Today I'm cruising FashionPlanet and I see this:

I went to Canimal which is another fine maternity store and was pleased to discover the new selection of conservative, classy dresses. They are perfect for executive meetings, and for any job interview. I highly recommend them to any mother to be.

I showed that to a few friends and their reaction was similar to mine. Canimal? Interview and maternity clothing? We are thinking maybe its a spoof because the pics surrounding the quote aren't conservative by any stretch of the imagination.


But if it isn't a spoof -- How things change.

How many is enough? A time for a new system.

So right now there's a huge outcry for more groups -- as there should be. In a social game like Second Life, and without a viable events calendar, the crux of any social gathering must be the ability to easily group. So the outcry is understandable. But really I have to ask, how many is enough? Beyond that, how many is actually manageable?

When I started SL, we were limited to 10 groups and when it was expanded to the current 25 I thought I'd never use all the slots and for a while I actually had open group space. It was awesome for all of about 2 months. It quickly filled as I had the ability to join this favorite shop's group and this other favorite shop's group and before long I still had favorites I wanted to join but was out of groups. As I started getting involved in things like the SLCC and the Relay for Life, those favorite shops groups gave way to the work I was doing.

Of course that leaves me out of the things being given away to the group only. And these are shops, generally, where I drop a fairly sizeable wad of cash on a semi-regular basis. Like Queenie, I feel a bit guilty joining and then leaving but I've spoken to a couple of designers who say they completely understand and they have the same problem too.

Which got me thinking -- if I joined every group I wanted, how many groups would I be in? The list came to well over 100. So then I imagined this completely out of control group list -- akin to my friends list -- a thing crucial to my Second Life experience that I have the ability to fill as large as I wanted but with no way to organize or manipulate it. ugh.

Folks we don't need just need more groups -- they can raise it to 50 and it won't be enough and in 2 years you'll be back here filing JIRAs to get it to 100. And 2 years after that new folks will come along and wonder why its limited to that low number. And I dare you to belong to 100 groups and be able to control the traffic chatter and not crash on login when after a mere 24 hours of not logging in you have something like 50 notices. Its not viable.

What we need is a new group system. We need ways to organize groups like we can organize our inventories. We need ways to control notices and chatter. We need to be able to link it to our email so we can read AND DELETE off line. And we need to be able to join unlimited amounts of groups.

Until the entire group system is revamped or thrown away in favor of something better -- you can cry for more groups all you want but it won't be the solution you are looking for.

Value at Fairchang! Ridiculously low land plot prices !!

For the December 'Bargain Hunt' promotion, prices of many plots, already on sale, have been reduced even further. Soo... if you need to expand to get more prim allowance or have a friend that wants to buy land -- If you want land for a store or for that wonderful home.... NOW is the time to buy.

Remember at Fairchang you can buy via the website at any time, get personalized service for any questions or problems you might have, can participate in a whole community with activities, prizes, and just good all around neighbors and everything on Fairchang is zoned -- which means you will never end up with a buttass-ugly, prim-heavy, lag-inducing blingy club in the backyard of your dream home.


Check the land for sale pages on the website and be shocked! But don't ask me where they are :P YOU have to find them

Holiday Cloaks from Ookami Ningen

Zorena Deckard, master of all that is fur, has released her gorgeous christmas outfits at Ookami Ningen. There are six holiday releases in all! First we have White Christmas. This dress set comes in green and red and of course has accents of my fur. Inspired by the movie of the same name this set should make you look as glamorous as a movie star. Each set contains shirt, glitch pants, skirt, fur hat, fur muff, capelet and a three layer fur and satin skirt. It's modify, copy and no transfer and can be found for L$350 each at Ookami Ningen.



Next are four cloaks. Two for ladies (red not pictured) and two for men (green not pictured) all in the czar/czarina series. A great way to look warm and stylish while dressing up your favorite outfit for the season. All modify, copy and no transfer and are L$200 each.




These are all available at Ookami Ningen on the Dark Eden sim. Get there by hitting the SLURL on the right hand navigation panel or by searching for Ookami Ningen.

I got tagged

Y'all know this is a chain letter and is evil, right?

Eight random facts about me:

1) I hate chain letters
2) I really hate chain letters
3) Chain letters are the suck
4) Chain letters make baby cthulu cry (technically this is not about me but I am in solidarity with baby cthulu)
5) Did I mention I hated chain letters?
6) Chain letters make me cry too (see random fact 4 above)
7) Ok maybe chain letters don't make me cry but they cause a fair amount of non substantial anguish.
8) Last but not least I am not afraid to break the chain. However I am an old softy.

Pursuant with random fact 8, above, I am not tagging anyone Sherpa Davies I TAG YOU!!! So there ;p

Fantasy in Pink: New from Creative Kaoz

This is another thing I should have blogged ages ago and did not. This is one of those sets that is hella fun and has ZOMG oogobs of pieces. This is partially my fault as she kept showing it to me when she was making it and I kept saying "oh you know what would look cool!? This!" and then she'd go off and make that and 2 other things besides. So let me get with the pictures cause there are a lot of them.

So this is set one, which is a basic set with what looks like 13 pieces that come on multiple layers. The belts come in three sizes and if none of those work for you and you hate resizing prims, you can always go get her shape for free in her main store or the notecard that accompanies it to get the measurements so you adjust your shape. It sells for L$150.


Set two is the skirt set. The shrugs are in black instead of pink and you don't have the pants options that you get in Set 1. There looks to be about 11 pieces in this set and it sells for L$150. There are a few other sets put together for you and each cost L$150.



You can get just all the pants or all the tops or all the skirts or all the shrugs separately. Each set is L$150. Its not just different colors but different styles as well. I'm only going to show you the pics for the blouses and pants here.


I've saved the best for last. You can get the ultimate mega set with every color of every item on different layers. Here's a complete list of what you get in the ultimate set all for L$350:
*4 Shrugs, on the jacket layer, in 2 shades of black and white, a solid black and a gorgeous knitted pink. A prim clasp is provided to keep the edges together.
*3 feathered bodice tops, on jacket and shirt layers, black, white and rose pink
*3 sheer, 3 almost sheer and 3 lined lace bustiers, on the shirt and undershirt layers, in shades of white, black and rose pink.
*3 sheer, 3 almost sheer and 3 lined lace tops, on the shirt and undershirt layers, in shades of white, black and rose pink.
*3 ankle length pants, on the pants layer and the underpants layer, in black/ white stripes, rosepink/black stripes and black/black stripes.
*3 mid-calf length pants, on the pants layer and the underpants layer, in black/white stripes, rosepink/black stripes and black/black stripes.
*3 mid-thigh length shorts, on the pants layer and the underpants layer, in black/white stripes, rosepink/black stripes and black/black stripes.
*2 prim skirts, black/white, and rosepink/black stripes, in small, medium and large sizes, with prim belt attachments
*3 micro/underskirt shorts in black/white, rosepink/black stripes and solid black on underpants and pants layer.
*2 styles of prim belt, pink with black tabs in small, medium and large, worn on the pelvis and a broad belt in black/white, rosepink/black and black which attaches at two points: stomach and pelvis.
*A black hip scarf, on the skirt layer, with prim knot
*Le Beret in 2 sizes in black/black and black/rosepink worn on the chin
*3 pairs of dainty lace socks in white, black and rosepink
*Itty Bitty lingerie - bra and thong in sheer rosepink on underwear layer

So where can you get this fantastic thing? At the Creative Kaoz main store in Sylvina (SLURL on the right) or in her satellite shop in the Dark Eden mall -- 2nd floor.

Winter in Fairchang

The Fairchang Isles are undergoing a new look for the winter/holiday season and there's a lot going on in the community as well. Plans are afoot for for a Christmas Boat Parade around several sims. This is being planned by "another resident" but I shall smoke out who this nefarious Christmas Parade Planner is and reveal the culprit.

Yet another resident is working on a contest for the best decorated parcel. My sources tell me this is none other than the infamous William Fairchang and he is offering prizes of L$10,000 and L$5,000.

Meanwhile, about that Expo center I told you was in the works -- we are still plotting and scheming a good design for it. So while we are doing that, Pituca and Garth decided to turn it into a winter wonderland recreation area.


That's me at the Fairchang Expo sim wearing Ookami Ningen's Chanel Russian Sable jacket with Dark Eden Nu Kua skirt and Metis skates. Behind me is the large flaming ring you can jump through and if you do you get your name in lights -- or at least on a list of people who have accomplished this feat. Also on location is a Moopf vendor so you can buy skates right on the spot.


That's me again skiing down a mountain. And just like in real life, I suck at skiing. But you might not. There's a vendor where you can buy William Fairchang's skis right on the site.

And as if that was not enough, Fairchang Vista, Wharf, Lido and Balboa -- where the public parks are, have also been winterized. Previously I thought that was something I did to my car but the Fairchangs have reinvented the term.

The public park on the Fairchang Vista sim.

So how, you might ask, can I get in on this. Well the public places are there for all to enjoy (the expo sim and the public parks) but you have to be a Fairchang resident to get in on the boat parade and decoration contest. However that's never been easier or more affordable than right now. The bargain plot hunt continues through the month of December at Fairchang.com. Some plots have been reduced to very low prices (ridiculously low or so sayeth the web page) -- all you have to do is find them. So if you are in the market for land that comes with a built-in community, the excellent service the Fairchangs are famous for, as well as value that can't be beat -- go check out Fairchang.com.

p.s. to find the Fairchang sims mentioned above, just map Fairchang Expo, Fairchang Vista, Fairchang Lido, Fairchang Wharf, or Fairchang Balboa.

Ice Dancer -- New from Ookami Ningen

These ice skating outfits are to die for. They look so good with just normal boots or shoes too -- you don't *have* to wear the skates with them. This 13 piece set includes sweater, sweater shorts, plain and fur collars, plain and fur cuffs, two skirts and a pair of skates with the foot base. This is the first collaborative effort from Zorena Deckard of Ookami Ningen and Etain Peregrine of Dark Eden.





Zore has her wonderful fur around the collars and cuffs and the outfits can be worn with or without. And I think they come in all 8 of the Dark Eden standard colors to match the ice skates. Anyway right now you can get these for L$300 at Ookami Ningen on Dark Eden Island. Just search for either or use the SLURL on the right. They will be available at Dark Eden as well next week.

Czarina Zorena: The Czar/Czarina line of cloaks -- new from Ookami Ningen

How do you make a dramatic entrance? Try it with one of these cloaks. Each cloak has all hand drawn textures and is flexible right down to the fur. Choose from four types of fur with different bases. The ladies has a more open front to show off whatever you decide to wear underneath. There's a nice medallion clasp to the men's. All are mod/copy/no transfer and can be found at Ookami Ningen for 200 L each.


Czar Black Sable


Czar Silver Fox


Czarina Warm Mink


Czarina White Ermine

Find the bargain at Fairchang.com

Just for this month at Fairchang.com some land plots are being reduced to ridiculously low prices. All you need to do to qualify to buy one is...

GO FIND THEM !!

That's right! The hunt is on at Fairchang.com. Seriously there are some good bargains. If you go to the website and start looking, I'm sure you'll find youself a deal.



Any questions? Please IM Garth FairChang or email: garth@fairchang.com. Owning land has never been so easy or so affordable.

Condolences

I've been away for a bit and came back to such sad news. I didn't know Ginny well but the couple of times I'd interacted with him were good times and I knew him not only as a very talented designer who owns my closet but also as a man of honesty and integrity. Ginny left a lasting legacy and the clothes I have from Dazzle and Last Call are one of the most treasured things in my inventory and I know that's true for many others.

My deepest sypmathies and condolences to his family, his friends, and all of us who mourn his passing.

RIP Ginny. We will all miss you very much.

Vivi's Recap of CSI: Second Life

Hello world! I was in a wedding over this past weekend and my life got somewhat consumed by the wedding. Then I got sick. However I appear to be much better and back on track so I'll break my hiatus by bringing you a recap of the most talked about fashion event in Second Life history. No I am not talking about the Armidi opening. I am talking about nothing other than the TV show CSI and its Second Life contingent.

I know some of you haven't seen it yet and since it contains spoilers, I've thoughtfully put it on the blog that doesn't go to FashionPlanet and will link to it. One day I have that blog on FashionPlanet and not this blog -- but today is not that day.

Vivi's Recap of CSI: Second Life. BEWARE! HERE BE SPOILERS!

New from Ookami Ningen: Magnetic

This outfit may have been inspired by a popular movie series but has been designed as a great ensemble for any gentleman. A tunic style coat and pants of charcoal wool topped with a red velvet lined wool cape. Leather boots and gloves complete the ensemble.



The set consists of 12 pieces shirt/jacket, pants, prim jacket base, 2 styles of capes, pair of leather boots (uppers and foot parts), boot base, prim collar for capeless look, and gloves. The permissions are mod/transfer and the boots are transfer only. This outfit is L$300 and can be found at the main Ookami Ningen store in Crimson.

Fairchang: Vote for our local hotspots!

You may not know this but Fairchang Isles has some really great builds, fantastic places to see, and fun things to do. From sailing around the waterways of over 50 sims to seeing live music at the Extra Innings Pub to the fantastic art and sculpture at the Crescent Moon Museum, there is something at Fairchang for everyone. Ok almost everyone.

The church at FairChang Village

There's a reason I'm telling you this.

We have placed a number of voting booths out on popular (non-commercial) sites over our islands. b.spots.com gives out the voters and lists on their HUD the ones that get the most votes. b.spots.com is sponsored by Brussells Airlines. So I've put some SLURLs down below and thought if you were looking for places to go and sites to see and things to do -- you might want to visit Fairchang Isles. And if you liked the places you went, you might consider voting for us. You can also get your own HUD with other places that are participating in this by clicking on the Voter tower.

Fanway Park Stadium

Fairchang lowprim sandbox

Island on El Rio de FairChang


Extra Innings Pub


FairChang Laguna

FairChang Tudor Village and Crescent Moon Museum

Inasmuch as FairChang.com are California based no VAT applies to any product or land sale. Our land prices can be viewed here http://www.fairchang.com

A Formal Affair -- My last regularly scheduled DJ gig

I've been DJing a lot over the past year. I've worked at T1 Radio, Radio Radio, Phreak Radio, Bare Rose, The Blarney Stone, The Velvet, Activ8 and various other private events. With all this DJing I suppose it was inevitable I would burn out.

At the beginning of September I informed the last of my remaining DJ employers that I would be taking a long break -- possibly forever. Although forever is unlikely. What is more likely is that after a break I'll do special shows here and there. Be that as it may, tomorrow, September 29, which, appropos of nothing, also happens to be my mother's rl birthday, will be my last regular show. Good grief could I possibly get any more maudlin? Lets cheer this blog up!

So tomorrow night I'm gonna do one more rip roarin kick ass show to celebrate my new found freedom yippee! I'd love it if you all joined me. Its at Active8's Martini Lounge from 7-11pm SLT. I play big band, swing, and blues. Formal attire or at least evening wear is required.

Come and jam with me one last time.

New Islands at Fairchang.com

The Fairchangs have just added 9 new, tropical low-prim sims to the Fairchaing Archipelago.

Two types are available for purchase:

Rivulet 1/Half a tropical sim.
This plot is 32720m2 big and set in a mature sim that is lag free and voice enabled. Land edit is set at 6 meters up/down. It has 936 low prim allowance and will cost L$59950 to buy and US$44 monthly tier. For more information please click here.



Estuary 1/A sim of tropical islands.
This plot is 16368m2 big and set in a mature sim that is lag free and Voice enabled. Land edit is set at 6 meters up/down. It has 468 low prim allowance and will cost L$27950 to buy and US$27 monthly tier. For more information please click here.

As always, if you are looking for land to purchase, Fairchang.com provides many solutions. The Fairchangs have over 4 years experience in SL and a great reputation. Land sales are covered by a '7 day Return' policy. This means you have up to 7 days to change your mind and ask for a refund and take back the land. Check out the 'Land 4 Sale' link at www.fairchang.com and take a look for yourself.