Corey In The House, SL Avatar Statue Builder

 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

I recently heard about someone in Second Life who makes quality statues of avatars, Corey In The House (jjws888 Resident). 

 

My friend Nydia sent me to a teleport to his place in the Dog sim. After initial greetings, "Welcome to Agora II," he told her, "You should check out the museum while you're here Nydia." We went into a building with a sign "Agora Sandbox." "Welcome to the Agora sl history museum" someone greeted. Among the items there was "The Linden World Gem," created in the days of the Beta Grid, in October 2002. There were also some older maps. Someone commented there was also some "genuine fetted inner core stuff." I heard Corey speak at one point, "Oh, (name) this doesnt belong in the museum, but I'm putting it down to get people to come inside the museum."

Eventually, Nydia, Corey, and I left the others behind and headed to  a skybox in Collaborative Build, BaikUn. It was a gray globe around a gray platform. "Okay," he told Nydia, "pick out your pose for me while I switch viewers." "Okay," Nydia responded, "Is this hair okay, or remove it?" Corey answered, "Unfortunately its flexi-prim hair so we cant keep it. You will have to add it (to the statue) after the fact if you want to use it." I asked, "What can be done about the hair?" Corey told me, "Well the model will come out normal and she can place the hair on the model, like putting a wig on it, as this technology doesnt work well with flexi-prims, semi transparency, or super thin and small objects. The whiskers will have to go too for example."

Then Nydia found another problem, "Aw crap, this head doesn't had a hud." "You talking about the blinking?" "Yeah." "It does use an old form of animation that doesnt freeze when i pause the world, so if you could turn that off it would be great. But I can carefully work around it if you can't." "Yeah, no hud to stop the blinking, sorry." "It is what it is. We can work around it. Remove your whiskers for me and get in your pose and we can begin." "Whiskers?" Nydia facepawed. "You have very tiny whiskers on your face." "Damn!" "If you cant get rid of them then its not a huge deal either." I cammed over, then commented, "Just BARELY noticable as I cam around." "I can always edit them out," Corey spoke. "Sorry," Nydia responded, "I am neither a builder OR a modder. I know JUST enough to ruin things." "Okay are you happy with your pose then?" "Yessir." 

 

"Okay now we move out of the photo dome so it's only Nydia," Corey told me, then turned back to the vixen, "Nydia please refrain from typing in local as your mouth still moves since it's animated the old way as well.  Okay Nydia, IM me your opinion on this (image link)." After about half an hour, "Okay we're all done here." "Thank you Corey," Nydia spoke, "Bix you may want to talk to him Now while you have him *laughs*"

 

I would have a few words with Corey, "It;s not all the time but sometimes a lot of time is spent in what I call pre-production, where we have to make subele changes to the avatar to get it ready for (the) photoshoot." "It's understandable different avies would take different amounts of time," I responded, "especially if there's small complications like the hair." "Nydia isn't like a usual client with new mesh stuff, so we have to account for her old-style animated head and her flexi-prim hair. They also removed their flexi-prim parts for the photoshoot so they could add them on later. It's a rare circumstance for sure. But I do what I can."

 

"I'll spend about 20 minutes taking photos from a bunch of different angles," Corey would say about the process, saying Nydia needed, "219 images takes. Nydia's (appearance) is simple so we didnt need to break 300." I asked how many pictures would an avatar need, and he answered, "(It) depends how much clothing, you tail size, height, etc. It's a bunch of different things, but the more detailed the more pics it usually takes."

It was about this point he asked me to pause the conversation, logging off to switch viewers, and we ended up teleporting to a racetrack where friends of his, furry and human, were having a friendly competitive race, "OK now I'm available. I just have to play the waiting game while the model gets generated." 

 

I then asked how he found out about Second Life and what brought him here. Corey answered, "My friend in high school was a hardcore furry and told me about it. He told me you could have sex and make money and I thought that sounded pretty sweet. But I stuck around because I realized the depth of the customization options. I could do so much and implement my talents so quickly into the virtual world by uploading stuff. That's basically it." 

"Sounds like your first days were eventful, and you kept finding more to do." "I managed to get introduced to this guy who made sculpted furry heads, and he asked me to design a logo for his new furry club called YIFF. The club is still open and they still use that logo. So, I'm a little proud of that." 

 

"I see on your profile, you call yourself a 'former SL hobo'?" "Homeless and living the backpacking lifestyle. I still rock the look sometime but I have an SL home now. So it wouldnt be fair to continue to call myself a true SL hobo, not any more anyway."

 

Asking if the club logo led to more work, Corey's response was, "Not too much more. I hung out with the furries of SL for many years, taking month and years long breaks while playing Second Life. I learned to make my own models when mesh became a thing and made a little money. But it's not like riding a bike. I totally forgot most of what I learned to make totally original mesh. But with what I do now, I'm in blender an awful lot."

 

"So, when did the idea of making statues come about?" "It was a few years ago. I was in this sandbox called Candlewood, now known as Sandbox Not Found, (and) there was this girl who was trying out 3D scanning objects in real life like flowers and other plants. Then she tried doing the same with in-world objects like linden bears and people's avatars. They didn't come out well, but I saw so much potential in it. So I experimented for several months, trying different techniques and softwares and just experimenting, seeing what worked and what didn't. 

 

"Eventually I became confident enough I just went up to people and asked if I could make them into statues. They weren't very good at first, lots of holes and errors I didn't know how to fix. But I needed the practice. Eventually someone asked if they could pay me for one, and I said of course. Once I got paid for that first statue, that's when i realized I could make this into a thing. And I became (to my knowledge) the first person to use 3D photogrammetery, a technology used for physical spaces in the real world, with the virtual spaces of Second Life. I just had to make sure the camera of SL mimicked the specs of a real camera, and the software picked it up like if the avatars were real physical objects. 

 

"I just kept doing it and the word spread. Most of the feedback was very positive, I've only had two examples of people reacting negatively about it. Well, to my face anyway. I've heard stories of people thinking what I do should get me banned, someone even approached Linden Lab about it in one of their round-tables, and as long as I wasn't copybotting or ripping anything there wasn't much reason to do anything about me. What I do follows the TOS in regards to photography, as that's basically all I'm doing." 

 

"Banned? For making statues of people with their permission?" I asked. "Ignorance is a powerful thing, some people just have very strong opinions about things they know very little about." "They didn't know you were doing so only with permission?" "Copybotting is a Second Life taboo, one of the few that can get you in actual trouble anymore. And people would assume that's what I was doing. One creator of a mesh head even approached me, someone told them i ripped their work. Once I explained what I did and showed them an example, they immediately understood it wasn't that. And we had a nice conversation about it. I've only ever gotten one Karen who told me I was reported and I was gonna get banned and I deserved to be sued. I tried to explain to her what I did, and I think at once point she understood. But her pride was too strong that she ended up blocking me instead of admitting fault in any way. As it only happened once, I look back on it with humor."

 

I then asked how many statues he made, "I think about that a lot, and I believe I've done about 150 at this point. Maybe more, maybe less, but in that ballpark. I used to only be able to do one photoshoot a day and take about three days for a model. But since I learned so much doing so many, I can do multiple shoots a day and have a simple model ready within a day."

 

Corey stated there are three options of model available, "based on how difficult each one is to do. A low-prim statue captures the basic shape and look of an avatar, but I don't spend time doing close-ups of detailed accessories, so it only takes about 10 minutes to do a photoshoot of that. It's the option for people who want a statue cheaper or with reduced land impact. The Deluxe statue option is me trying to cram as much detail of your avatar into my photos, so I take extra photos to capture small details as well as big. The third is the same as the deluxe, but I pose your avatar in a t-pose and rig it so it's fully animated. That one takes the most effort, I completely taught myself how rigging works in blender, and when people give me glowing reactions to their finished animeshes, I know that effort was worth it." Of the prices, Corey would say, "It's 3500 for a low-prim model, 8000 for a deluxe model and 12k for an animesh."

I then asked about the challenges of pre-mesh avatars. Corey responded, "After doing so many statues,I learn what I can do and what I can't. The way SL hair used to work before mesh hairs were an option don't mimic how real hair works, it creates the illusion of hair using many small paper-thin flexi-prims. And just because it fools our eyes, doesn't mean it fools a computer. So I have to take each person and view them like a computer would, adjusting things accordingly." "What's the best remedy for that?" "I run into all kinds of issues with people's avatars, each one requiring some little or big changes. Sometimes I have to say no to people with too many things that aren't compatible.But when you run a boutique business, you have to have some rules. I do my best to include everyone who wants a statue though, and I haven't turned away many people at all."

 

I would ask whom among his clients stood out. Corey responded, "Well I attracted the attention of Madpea over a year ago and have done statues and animesh for a few of their quests. They were using NPCs with models that didn't really fit into the SL artstyle. Once I showed up and showed them I could make NPCs using real avatars, they were immediately interested. I haven't done work for them in a while, but their heist quests are filled with my work. I've also done work for the owner of the Crack Den and a few other RP sims to create AI-powered roleplay NPCs that remember who you are, which I think is a perfect use of what I do"

I asked, "So what else do you imagine you'll be doing with this in the future?" He responded, "I'm just happy people like what I do and enjoy the end product I made them. So I'm happy to make them as long as people want them. It certainly looks interesting on a resume."

When asked if there was anything else he wanted to add, Corey answered, "The funniest thing about my rise was how I advertised. Before anybody knew who iI was or what I did, I would set up illegal stalls in big shopping events. I would attach a ramshackle stall to myself along with a few examples and just stand in an empty spot where a seller would go. People would come by, ask questions about what I did and such, I did this at every shopping event I could get access to. Got banned a few times, but it's all part of the hustle. The biggest sucess I had was at Abnormality, the furry shopping event. The owners let me stay probably because they thought it was funny or clever. But I haven't had to do that for a while. I get pretty regular work from word of mouth alone. Of course, happy to share what I know with people."

Not long after the interview, Corey would finish Nydia's statue. Nydia was so impressed, she would order a second one, this time of the character with her name in the "Switched Destinies" novel. Both can be found at the Happy Vixen Beach Club. If you have tags disabled, you might think it's really her. With real life often keeping her away from the club, Nydia would comment it's one way she can always be around. Her partner Brandi Tungsten would also get a statue, setting hers up at Club Squeaks.

 

So if you want a statue of yourself, get some Lindens together and message Corey.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

Interview With Twin Ghost

 

By Netera Landar

What can I say about Twin Ghost that will help you understand the depth of his music? That when you’re in a virtual room with him, you have an instant connection. That he reaches your very soul. 

I think the first time I heard him sing was in Key West’s outdoor venue. That was a long time ago. The song I loved to hear was “Live Again.” The wolves howl in unison. Twin plays the guitar. He is pure magic. I write paranormal fiction in real life, and that always inspired me.

“Once upon a time….

You came to me in a dream

I knew you were… the one

I’ve lived a thousand lives a million times…”

Buy the digital album here (https://twinghost.bandcamp.com/album/live-again). Support Twin and enter his world. You will not be disappointed.

Twin agreed to an interview, which blew me away. When any musician can make time for you, it’s like your birthday and New Year’s wrapped up with a red bow.

Of course, I had to ask him what was the first song that he heard that made him think that’s a hell of a song?

“‘Rubber Band Man’ by the Spinners!” he admitted right away. “I don’t know if 7-year-old me would’ve said, ‘That’s a hell of a song.’ But I did wear out that 45 record! It certainly had an effect on young, Twin! ‘Love’s In Need Of Love Today’ by Stevie Wonder – That’s a hell of a song.”

Then I slipped in, "What is it about music that makes you want to devote your life to it?” 

“Because it’s magic! Creating joy out of thin air is something I will never take for granted,” he said. “When I’m performing, and that energy comes back at me. Man, that’s it! That’s where the magic is!”

Twin added that performing in Second Life is very powerful in that way. That the connection is instant and that this form of energy fuels him in a very positive way while he's playing.

I then asked him about his past. I wanted to know when he learned to play the guitar. If he took lessons or if he was self-taught. 

I learned that Twin’s father bought him a small acoustic guitar when he was 7 or 8 years old. He tried to teach Twin the three chords he knew.

“The word ‘f*ck’ was definitely expressed several times as I failed to make the chords correctly. (laughter),” he told me. “The end result was the guitar collecting dust. When I was around 14 or 15, I bought a bass and an electric guitar and simultaneously formed two bands with two groups of friends. The kids from my neighborhood and the kids from school.”

Twin was a rebel in high school, and he was fortunate to have an important friend during those years. Gary owned a Les Paul Electric Guitar and a guitar amp with distortion. 

“We’re talkin’ life-changing moment here!” Twin admitted. “The first time he handed it to me, it felt like I was being handed the holy grail! I knew my life would be changed forever. Gary was a Rock Star!”

Twin learned a lot from the “cats” he played with over the years. When he turned 17, he signed with Warner Records, released a few albums, and toured the U.S. He was in a hardcore punk band with friends he grew up with. His connection with them continued into his 20s. His life was filled with music, day and night, when he lived with talented artists and musicians.

“It was a very creative time in my life,” he stated. “Living together as a band, practicing all the time, and playing gigs. Some great nights where the band would play for hours, constantly reaching…for what? Who knows! (laughter). But we were all in and fully devoted to the cause. I learned a lot from those kinds of experiences. Good and bad.”

I asked Twin, as a songwriter, which song he is most proud of and what its message is. 

“I think the song most people respond to is ‘Pieces of My Life.” It’s a song about the effectiveness of listening. And perhaps sometimes just being an ear for someone is more fulfilling and useful than words or advice. But really, it’s just a love song.”

Twin admitted that he learned the most about his art during the years he performed in Second Life. Those were his best shows, his fondest memories, and personal musical achievements. He believes that this specific virtual world is where singers and musicians can enjoy live music, develop as artists, and craft their sound and performance. It’s the perfect learning ground because of audience feedback and support.

I asked him what brought him back to Second Life. He’d been gone for a while. 

“Gone, but hopefully not forgotten! (laughter). I certainly did not forget SL. Thought about it nearly every day. Missed it greatly. In short, life happened. But the good news is music heals. What brought me back? Music is meant to be shared (and it was painful keeping it inside). For me, live music is therapy! It has the power to heal both parties when we’re in it together. And that’s what it feels like when I play in SL, like we’re all in it together.”

Twin is booking in Second Life exclusively these days. You can find him on the grid all summer. Join his group to stay informed about his gigs, and head over to his website to purchase an album or two. 

He’s on YouTube and Bandcamp, and you can stream his music on all platforms:

https://www.youtube.com/user/twinghostfilms
https://twinghost.bandcamp.com/

The link to his calendar:
https://tinyurl.com/3xaenmha

Netera Landar
 

Interview With Maestro (Mythrilweaver Atlas)

 

By Netera Landar

You never know who you are going to meet in Second Life. I just happened to attend a political rally where RoseDrop Rust and Justine Johndory were singing. Not only was I impressed by the event, but I also met Maestro, who has incredible talent. I checked out his account on reverbnation.com.

I was lost in his song, “Wicked Thing This Way Comes.” When a song is written well, it takes you away. How far away is up to your imagination. He told me that he wrote the song about 12 years ago and that he’s made some small changes. “Under the quiet of the night, under the moon’s soft glow….” he sings, and you are transported to somewhere dark because of a curse. All is cold. Beware.

I asked him to tell me about the name Konstantin the Mithrilweaver on his ReverbNation account. 

“Well, Konstantin is my last name. Mythrilweaver comes from when I used to make chainmail armor, as the knights wore. I was using aluminum instead of steel because it is lighter to wear. Somebody asked me at a Ren Faire, ‘What is the metal you use?’ Thinking quickly of my love for Tolkien’s writings, like ‘The Hobbit,’ I said, ‘It is mithril,’ since aluminum was almost impossible to refine until the common era, so in the 1400s, it did not exist in the world in the form we know now. And he answered, not expecting that answer, ‘So you fancy yourself a weaver of mithril, do you?’ And I answered, ‘A mithril weaver? Well, me thinks I may just be good, sir.’ “And the rest is history.”

 

In real life, Maestro is a voice actor. He does radio commercials, character voices, and admits that he’s pretty good at imitating accents. 

Maestro began writing country music in 1984. His music was popular in the small Texas town where he’s from. He wrote a song a few years later, which George Jones recorded, and he got paid for it. For a teenager living at home, that was a lot of money. He signed away his rights and later learned that he didn’t receive credit on the album for his lyrics. Maestro said that was not all that uncommon back then. He began writing more Country and Southern Rock songs, and then this year chose to write Soft Rock and Blues.

He’s not sure of the exact number of songs he’s written, but said he has probably written the lyrics to over 200. He records all his own material and released one digital album in 2014.

Having listened to “Wicked Thing This Way Comes,” I had to ask him if he likes writing about the supernatural.

“I like the whole Edgar Allan Poe vibe,” he admitted. “For a while, I got well known for giving performances with a voice and delivery like Christopher Lee’s (the white wizard in The Lord of the Rings), using my newly deeper voice. I like gothic themes and classic monster movies, like Dracula from the 30s, the Wolf Man, from the 50s, and I like the more recent underworld movies, as well.”

Asked what genres he likes to sing, he replied, “I like most kinds of music. Until I was in my thirties, my voice was much higher. I got really sick, and it damaged my vocal cords and lowered my voice a bit. Now, I am a baritone naturally. I have sung in Second Life and recently started singing songs locally.”

Around 2005, Maestro began writing poetry. He also participates in poetry slams and has won more than 30 over the years. 

“I have been performing in the spoken word poetry genre for almost 20 years now. On reverbnation.com, I have been ranked #1 in my genre several times over the years,” he stated.

In terms of performance art, he said. “I’ve gotten some notoriety in the RL poetry scene across America,” he said. “I also do what I call bardics, where I read and sing in the same piece, which makes me fairly unique.”

He also wrote a satirical piece for the opinion section of his local paper. Readers appreciated his wit and encouraged him to focus on it.

When he has free time to come in-world, he enjoys exploring, going to concerts, and visiting friends. 

“I enjoy poetry, socializing, and doing artistic things, like building in SL. I have a massive tower on my mainland in the Horizons area that I modified from its original dimensions,” said Maestro. “I also built an 8-story castle in the air.”

Check out his reverbnation.com page: Konstantin The Mithrilweaver: https://www.reverbnation.com/konstantinmithrilweaver/

 

Netera Landar 

 

1890s Creede, Colorado

 

By Netera Landar

Let’s head into 1890 Creede, Colorado, a role-playing community loosely based on a real town in the Upper Rio Grande Valley in southwestern Colorado, near the headwaters of the Rio Grande River.

First, you should learn about the original town. Henri McKeenan provides the history lesson. She, along with Robby Lock, established 1890 Creede, Colorado, in Second Life. 

“In the mid-1800s, an influx of settlers from New Mexico and homesteaders from the East drove out many of the native, nomadic Ute people. By the 1870s, the area became a tourist destination. Stage services and the Denver & Rio Grande Railway provided a way for eager tourists to enjoy fishing, hot springs, and mining opportunities,” explained McKeenan. 

“In 1890, Nicholas Creede discovered a high-grade silver deposit in the Willow Creek area. Thus, the rush was on. The town’s population quickly swelled to 10,000 – compared to just 850 full-time residents in Mineral County today,” added McKeenan. “Just as Creede was booming, the city of Denver was experiencing legal reform against gambling houses and saloons. As such, many of Denver’s gambling establishments relocated to the central business district of Creede. This vibe has been reproduced in 1890s Creede, Colorado, with the Soiled Dove Saloon and the Silver Mine Hotel.”

Lock and McKeenan created their Moderate/Mature Second Life sim in 2015. Henri said they were discouraged by other Western role-play experiences that involved a hearty helping of drama. They decided to turn their existing sim into a western role-play experience with a no-tolerance policy for drama. They just wanted to have fun. The sim offers the vibe of a booming mining town without gun battles and crime.

Henri said that in February 2024, a Homestead Sim was annexed to the sim in order to create a mining district where residents could explore. 

“The project included a major overhaul of the original sim, which included improvements, such as additional or improved buildings, creation of more immersive experiences, and a touch of whimsy,” she said, adding that mesh has allowed them to do more with less impact.

The Holy Moses Mine is named after the Creede, Colorado, mine during its heyday. Near the mine, you’ll find a mining office, a tent city, and homes. Henri said that tent cities were the first homes for miners until permanent houses could be built.

“Also, there is a mineral water operation, Ute Chief Bottling Company, named after an establishment in Manitou Springs, CO, just west of Colorado Springs. The mineral water is said to cure biliousness,” said Henri.

Next came the Creede Opera House, a newspaper office, an upgraded hotel, and other building upgrades. 

The population increased, as well, and people began attending their weekly dance hall night at the Soiled Dove Saloon, Tuesdays, 6 to 8 p.m. They came to the annual rodeo and the 2-day Fall Festival in an outdoor circus setting with live music, DJs, games, photo opportunities, dancing, and a freak show.

Creede has three real businesses and several for roleplay. Henri said that “real” shopping is across the road from Town Hall. Amori dei Fiori sells household and garden items. Tangerine Studios sells period household items, cabins, and photographs. The Violet Rose is a wedding planning service that also sells wedding jewelry.

As for roleplaying businesses, you’ll find: a general store, barber shop, blacksmith and stable, bath house, Soiled Dove Saloon, Silver Mine Hotel, Post Office, Fancy a Nibble Bakery, The Creede Courier Newspaper Office, Assayer Office, Joe’s Feed & Seed, Chinatown Store & Laundry, Chinatown Opium Den (disguised as a Chinese laundry), Gunsmith (with a Western hat vendor inside), Silver Spur Restaurant and Bar, Medical Clinic, Apothecary Shop and Creede Opera House.

There are no specific storylines at this time. Here’s a glimpse at Creede’s main characters. 

1. Robby Lock - Sheriff of Creede. Originally from Illinois, the son of a Union Colonel. Instead of going to medical school, Sheriff Lock traveled, found his calling after winning a fight in Creede, and was immediately chosen as sheriff by the locals.

 

 2. Henri McKeenan (aka Rev. Henri) is the daughter of French immigrants. She runs the saloon/brothel and is also the minister of the town church. Henri has a unique philosophy: you must take care of a man's physical needs before you can take care of his spiritual needs. She is married to Wylie McKeenan, whom she met when she and her horse and buggy got caught in a sudden snowstorm. He travels between Creede and the Denver area, where he helps on the family ranch near the Wyoming border.

3. Cindy Wellerman - resident of Creede, working under cover for a secret company. Her job is to keep an eye on someone who may or may not have committed a crime. We know she may be from Boston, but we're not sure. 

4. Dr. Raven DuPre' - town physician and veterinarian. Hails from Chicago and was educated in Boston. There she met Henri, who was studying theology. They became fast friends and traveled to Creede together. 

5. White Flower (named "Elizabeth" or "Betty" by her white, adopted family) - White missionaries snatched her from her native home and brought her into Colorado City for "education." Longing for her Ute family, she stole a horse and escaped back up to her village. Knowing the authorities would charge her with stealing a horse, the elders helped her to escape to Denver, where she caught a train to Creede. She participates in the ceremonies of the Ute people, who live peacefully in Creede.

6. Maggie/Mags - a homesteader from out east, Mags was married to a wealthy tyrant known for a cruel temper. He died under mysterious circumstances, and after the legal proceedings, she became a wealthy woman. Mags escaped to Creede, where she's now discovering she’s not the only one hiding secrets!

7. Miss Lindee - also hides a secret or two, mostly about a certain barn that blew up due to one of her steam-engine "experiments." Her father's money and power were used to hush the whole affair, but because of her carelessness, he put Lindee on a train to Denver. She ended up in Creede, where she could work and hide her past. 

8. Caron Parnall - escaped Detroit from a cruel father and cold-hearted mother. With only a carpet bag in hand, she ended up in Creede, CO, where work for young girls was scarce. She became one of the saloon "doves," but then met Joseph "Joe" Parnall, the town's blacksmith. Joseph looked past her employment situation and accepted her as the sweet young woman inside the outer shell. They became husband and wife at a great celebration that included the entire townsfolk. 

An interesting fact is that Henri came up with the idea of Creede Radio. Henri said that music streams come and go, and it’s always hit or miss whether they are active. 

“Robby did some research, and we formed Creede Radio. It is now up to about two weeks of non-stop music, streaming 24/7. Three DJ’s participated in building 2-hour sets of various genres: DJ Caron, DJ Henri, and DJ Una. Each DJ has her own unique style that makes the station rich with diverse genres and sounds,” said Henri.

Follow the station here:

·      In World – http://radio.shoutcheap.com:8320

·      VLC: http://radio.shoutcheap.com: 8320

·      iTunes: http://radio.shoutcheap.com:8320
 

SURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/xFire/89/60/21

 

Netera Landar 

 

Democracy Defenders

 

By Netera Landar

Democracy Defenders' Headquarters.

A virtual world can be a platform for Americans to protect their rights and voice their disapproval. A January 31 event introduced me to Democracy Defenders, a Second Life group established by Lizbeth Portland, with assistance from Monique Travis, in March of 2025.

According to Lizbeth, Democracy Defenders is a grassroots activist group in Second Life committed to protecting the core values of American democracy.

Educating the public through posters.

“In the face of growing political polarization and threats to our freedoms from the destructive and dangerous Trump administration and MAGA, we advocate for civil rights and the protection of democratic institutions, and we work to ensure the continued functioning of a government that serves all citizens,” said Lisbeth. “Through education, mobilization, and direct action, our mission is to empower individuals to take a stand against this traitorous administration and in support of a just, inclusive, and resilient democracy.”

Asked whether the group follows the direction of a real-life Defending Democracy group, Lizbeth replied that it exists only in Second Life. Her group follows real-life groups and movements such as Indivisible, MoveOn, 50501, the Women’s March, and others to stay informed about nationwide actions like No Kings and to stay connected to and engaged in real-life resistance efforts.

RoseDrop Rust performing during the event.

The goal of the “Smashing Fascism” event was to raise awareness in Second Life about resistance to the current administration’s unjust actions and to continue building the in-world coalition of antifascist, pro-democracy resisters. 

Those who attended were encouraged to join two other active resistance groups: Indivisible and Café Resistance. Group joiners for both groups were posted, and Lizbeth encourages those who attended to join all three groups.

“Many people came to Democracy Defenders feeling as though they are alone in Second Life in their opposition to this fascist regime and are happy to learn that there are many others in Second Life who share their world view,” said Lizbeth. 

She added that music brings people together and that, for many years, musicians have addressed the need for social justice. That the event’s artists, Justine Johndory and RoseDrop Rust, were passionate in expressing their anti-MAGA and pro-democracy views, both in what they sang and what they said. This energized the crowd.

A comfortable meeting area in DD Headquarters.

 

Members of Democracy Defenders meet at 6 p.m. on Thursdays. Other events and protests will be scheduled in the future. Lizbeth hopes the multi-group coalition continues to grow and join forces. Organizers of the other two groups are Lorelei.Lavender of Indivisible and Persephone Phoenix of Café Resistance. 

Lizbeth said the groups’ main goals overlap, but they have distinct activities and unique goals. Democracy Defenders is fairly new, while the other two groups are more established. 

Posters promoting freedom of speech.

“Lori and I have spoken about bringing Indivisible and Democracy Defenders together for a combined action, perhaps around the upcoming third ‘No Kings Day’ in March,” said Lizbeth. “We all cross-promote each other’s meetings and events, and we all make efforts to promote and attend the monthly ‘Live Music and Peaceful Protest’ events held by Blue Fox (theblueeyedfox).

I asked Lizbeth why it is so important to voice our opinions/disapproval of the current state of affairs in the U.S.? 

Read and understand the message.

“This lawless, racist, destructive administration is tearing this country apart --  murdering its citizens, terrorizing its neighborhoods, destroying the social safety net – the list goes on and on,” she stated. “If we remain silent, we are complicit in the criminality. We have no choice but to use our voices to speak out against the death of democracy and the rise of fascism. If we do nothing, nothing will ever change. Every action we take against this administration matters, no matter how small we think it may be. Calling our representatives in Congress matters. Taking part in SL resistance groups matters because it supports RL activist efforts. It all matters. And we need everyone to participate because what’s happening affects all of us – not only in the U.S., but around the world.”

Netera Landar
 

The Harmony Hills Community

 

By Netera Landar

 

“Harmony Hills is a place where happiness and serene nature exist in harmony, where the promise of a bright future beckons from beyond. It will be our pleasure to welcome you home.”  ---Harmony Hills organizers

Harmony Hills was founded in July 2024 with a single region. It recently introduced its fifth. All photos courtesy of the Harmony Hills' owner.

A city bus stops in downtown Harmony Hills and then drives down the road. It’s quiet on a Saturday morning. I glance at the Second Life clock and see it’s only 8 a.m. Walking down the sidewalk in this roleplay community, I gaze at the store signs to see which businesses are here. Bloomberry Dolls is the first store on the street. A blue neon light flashes, drawing my attention to the local Video Games hot spot. 

 

Harmony Hills Hospital, where the doctors and nurses are prepared for any emergency.

 

Harmony Hills Hospital is conveniently located in the center of town. Down the street, I see a familiar pancake house. There’s a coffee shop, welcome center, town hall, bowling alley, yoga studio, and fast-food restaurants. That’s only a sample of what’s there.

Riverwalk Coffee House is just one of the many businesses in Harmony Hills.

 

This place feels like home. 

 

Angeliana Claro, the owner of Harmony Hills, founded the community in July 2024 with a single region that included both a residential neighborhood and a commercial district to support local businesses and encourage social interaction. She was responsible for its layout and vision, and a close-knit group of founding residents helped shape the town’s early identity. Town gatherings and seasonal events were hosted, and roleplay moments brought residents together.

Businesses and a new outdoor cafe area in the new region.

The most recent expansion is the addition of a fifth region. Included are horse stables, more town entertainment, commercial buildings, and a suburban living neighborhood.

“My goal was to create a town that felt alive, not just as a collection of rentals, but a place where stories unfold naturally, connections form easily, and residents feel like they belong. We don’t discriminate against anyone, and all are welcome,” Angeliana explained.

She recalled that in the beginning, the team was small. Four months after its development, the first general manager was hired. As Harmony Hills grew, departments and leadership roles were added to support the expanding community.

“Now we proudly have over 30 staff members, several department heads, and managers. All being rockstars to keep operations in Harmony Hills running smoothly,” said Angeliana.

Formal dining is offered at Chateau Noir.

Asked how the community has evolved, she replied that it’s grown significantly in size, structure, and depth. More regions have been added, more homes and businesses, and a wider range of roleplay opportunities, while still keeping the small-town feel. A number of residents play specific roles, such as police, fire, business owners, or town staff. They can participate whenever they want. New residents introduce fresh narratives.

She stated that interaction and connection are the core goals. Friendships grow naturally from shared experiences, but the focus is on meaningful engagement, storytelling, and community involvement.

“Today, Harmony Hills is home to a thriving and active population. We have roughly 200 residents. Many residents have stayed long-term, while others have moved on, often leaving lasting stories and memories behind,” she said.

A recent Paint & Sip Event.

Regular events are hosted 4 to 5 times a week, including town gatherings, department-based roleplay, seasonal celebrations, and natural story-driven events. Past events have included a classic car show, town hall meetings, a bowling tournament, trick or trivia, Oktoberfest, Fall Fair, Fall Masquerade Ball, Harvest Fest, Paint & Sip Event, Valentine’s Day Prom, Mother’s Day Brunch, and the grand opening of Old Dublin Pub.

Harmony Hills even has a newspaper. Jewels Munro and Tay O’Malley-Munro both report on what’s happening so residents can keep informed. 

Harmony Hills Town Hall.

In terms of real estate, Harmony Hills offers a variety of homes, from modest residences to larger family properties. Angeliana said that prices are fair and the town offers something for everyone. 

 

SURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/London%20Square/106/146/24 

 

Netera Landar 

 

Here's to You, Alleara Snoodle

 

 By Bixyl Shuftan

 

Party of our journey in Second Life is the people we meet and the friendships we make. Some have just a fleeting presence. And then there are those who you never forget. One of my closer friends here was Alleara Snoodle. 

 

She had first logged on in July 2008. It's hard to say exactly when we first started chatting. When I first started going to Club Cutlass around 2009 (when it was in it's 'Aztec pyramid' design), we probably just saw one another at a distance as I wasn't very talkative at the time. But one night I lingered a little after the party ended and most left. I was probably going through some notes to write a story for Dana when a white Felis kitty with red hair, dancing on a pole messaged me, asking me to come closer. We ended up chatting for a while, curiosity turning into happiness that I had found a new friend. And this breaking the ice conversation would be the start of a friendship that would last for years. 

 

 

It turned out this wasn't her favorite form. She had a few. Early on I saw her most frequently as a lioness or white tiger, with red hair, and sometimes with red wings and a red suit. But sometimes she would appear as a red kitsune fox, also with red hair and wings. Later on, that would be the look she was usually in. The lioness and tigress were of an avatar for sale she was helping to design. 

 

 I soon found out a few things about her. Besides the Sunnies, she was also active with the Chilbo community, which is known for it's artists. She was also in a SL program called Metanomics. 

 

She also would be part of a discussion at the Second Live Convention, the inworld part, in 2010.  

 

But unfortunately, she had also been severely injured in the past, pushed off a building from a height that would have killed most. She survived, but was never the same again. While she was eventually able to get around, with difficulty, without a wheelchair, it would eventually lead to health problems. In 2010, she would leave Metanomics and stepped down from a leadership role in Chilbo. 

 

As for the Sunnies, despite her injury, she was a busy one. As one of the Passionate Redheads, she helped with a number of builds, such as the "Really Wild West" exhibit for the Redheads' camp on the Relay track in 2009. And she wasn't just a good builder, but a downright smart one. I once heard she had somehow made a closing door with a script that contained just two lines of code. 

 

Alleara once showed me what she called a lag distributor, one that would allow those who had a group of sims to spread the processing across the whole area instead of just the one where all activity was dealing with. But only after making it did she wonder if letting Linden Lab know about it might be a bad idea as at the time they could be lazy when it came to development of anything that wasn't "bells and whistles."

Allie also made her way into a few SL Newspaper, and later on SL Newser cartoons. 

 

 

Allie confided to me and a few others she had an alt, Prouds Flinters, whom at first was usually a tigress, but later on saw her mostly in otter form. 

 

I would also meet a couple people through her, Linn Salamander who was in an anthro dragon avie. She and Allie would tell me they were real-life friends. 

 

 And there was Carol Cream, who appeared in either a polar "bearsy," or a white bunny. 

 

I would eventually learn details of Alleara's life on the other side of the computer. While I learned early on she was German, she told me she had been born in Romania, a gypsy. She and her parents would make their way over to Germany and become citizens. She would take occasional vacations to Norway. 

 

 Alleara also liked to draw on occasion. A self-portrait of her as her persona. 

 

 Alleara very much had a place among Nydia's Angels. I remember when Nydia threw her a rezzday party.

 

 And Allie would have a ball at Nydia's soon after.

 

She would also tell me she was a clothes designer, helping to make some of the Alessandra line.  But she wasn't officially part of the staff, preferring a lower profile. 

 

 A few months after the close of the SL Newspaper and the opening of the SL Newser in 2010, Alleara gifted me with this drawing she did. She would say of the cigarette she was trying to capture a "Bogart" look. She would also drop a copy off at the office. 

 

I would go on a few dates with Allie. But we also had plenty of fun together with Nydia and other friends. Here was one occasion the joking around between us led to a cartoon. Much like Nydia, she could have quite a frisky sense of humor, as did Lina, which led to a few memorable moments. She posted a few on her profile, notably when Nydia accidentally stated she was "known for her great heat" instead of heart. 

 

And when it was just her, she was always curious about what you were working on, or what game you were playing. And when she sensed something was troubling you, wanted to know what was wrong. 

 

There was one time Allie's helpful manner got her into trouble. Around May 2012, she had been trying to help a friend who made a sci-fi shuttlecraft load it onto Marketplace for sale, but it was buggy that day. She eventually got the attention of one Linden, who acted like he was annoyed to be called to help someone. The exchange of words soon got heated, and she found herself logged out, then notified she was suspended for three days, "I thought … he would at least react normally, but what can I say, his backyard." 

 

Unhappy with this development, I ended up writing about the incident. That got a number of people angry at the Lab, "Bah on anyone who would hurt Alleara." "Alleara is one of the sweetest people I know. If LL is now banning people (however temporarily) just for insisting that we GET what we are PAYING for, then the death of the grid truly is nigh." "Alleara is one of the kindest people. I know. If this Linden got snippy and banned her, even temporarily, he or she needs to be disciplined." When Allie herself found out, she was humbled by the responses, but would tell me she felt a little embarrassed. Looking back at the conversation, she concluded her banning wasn't entirely undeserved. 

 

Sadly, around mid to later 2012 I think, Alleara got into a bad accident. Her car was totaled, her dog was killed, and she was badly injured, especially one of her hands. Although she was able to regain partial use of it eventually, she would never be able to draw again like she had. 

 

By 2013, Allie had somewhat recovered, and was able to make the Second Life Tenth Birthday Celebrations in June. 

 

In Oct 2014, Alleara would gift Nydia with a guardian statue, it representing how the Angels group felt about protecting one another. 

 

 Sometime in the mid 2010s, Allie made this press tag for my fedora (this is a new picture, but shows it more clearly than those at the time)

 

 

 

For the Relay seasons, Allie would help with some Sunbeamer team outfits, such as the women's tracksuit, which she is wearing here in August 2016 in the post-season team meeting. One season she did one for all of the Relay for Life volunteer group. 

 

And then there were the music videos Nydia did. Alleara was a part of many of them. 

 

 She and I were in a few together. "The Fox" in December 2018 was one of my favorites. Unfortunately, it would also be the last one she would take part in. 

 

 In March 2019, Raphie wanted his Yinglet avatar ready by the time of the release party, but was having trouble ironing out the bugs. So Alleara stepped in to help. 

 

 I would see her less often in the later 2010s. She had gotten a job working for Tesla, doing so remotely through her home desk (at the time, the owner was much less political than today). She would say it involved a new plant in the USA devoted to the manufacture of electric car batteries. I never did ask how much money she made, but was hoping it was plenty and for a good retirement. 

 

 But not all was well on her side of the computer. Some time after her auto accident, her mother passed away. Also in the later 2010s, her father died. It would be just her and her real-life friends.

 

2020 was the year of the Coronavirus Pandemic. She continued to work remotely, and stayed isolated in real life. The few times we met or chatted, we talked some, and wished each other well. 

 

In June 2021, we ended up meeting up and walking about the Chilbo community she was still part of. After many years, it had less territory, and some people were gone. But it was still active and the artists were still coming up with new things. Since I was still writing my science-fiction tale, she mentioned a series being done by another beginning writer, "We Are Legion (We Are Bob)" by Denis Taylor. 

 

We talked, chatted, joked. Perhaps we were both a little older, a little less perky, but it was still nice to meet up with good friends. When it was time to go, I felt happy, and hoped it wouldn't be too long before we met again.

 

But sadly, this would be the last time we met.  

 

In October, Nydia was messaged by someone saying he was a friend of Alleara's, and he had some terrible news. He would say Allie had been increasingly ill for days, showing signs of the Coronavirus she had isolated herself from. On Friday night, she messaged a friend to take her to a clinic Monday morning. But when the friend got there, he found Allie dead. She had passed away sometime the night before. 

Our beloved gypsy, the woman who had escaped death twice before, who had a great brain and a great heart, who had done so much for so many, was gone. 

 

 People would have much to say, "She was one of the few that showed care and compassion to many, myself included. She will be missed." "Alleara was always creative, always funny, and had quite a horrific personal history. I hope she is at peace now." "I know the goddess herself met her on the other side to welcome her home with a warm embrace."

 

Shockwave would have this to say, "She was my equal in building, though she had lots more time than I did early on. She was one of the first people I met inworld (Lusk if I recall.) We spent ten years trying to outbuild each other and finally just settled on mutual showmanship rather than competetion. She was horribly crippled from a car wreck, and got around the physical deformities by living in SL instead. 

 

"May God grant you ALL the answers, dear lady. Your suffering is ended at last, and your wings will free you from your prison." 

 

A surprise was soon revealed. Earlier I mentioned I'd met a couple friends of Alleara's, Linn and Carol. But it turned out they were actually her alts! I'd never seriously considered this possibility. 

 

 Nydia would do a tribute to her and Jessicabelle, whom had also passed away only a few months before. 

 

 Two memorials to Alleara would be done. The first was she would get an Eternal Flame at the Sunweaver Memorial in Sunweaver Eclipse. 

  

Later on in the Purfection Estates, near the Happy Vixen Beach club, Alleara would get one of her own, in the style of a Japanese shrine. 

 

A German friend would also do a small one on his land, but as his place is private property, it's location is not given here. 

 

Four years have passed, and the Sunweavers/Angels, Chilbo, and Second Life, have continued on.  Alleara's friends in my quirky community have dealt with a few more problems and trimphs, gotten a little older, we've gotten new people, and sadly other people passing away.

 

But we never did forget Allie. We still talk about her. We still think about the fun times we had. Her statue remains in Pacific Waters. Her drawing she left at the Newser office is still there. A Coke bottle she left at Cutlass as Carol remains. 

Alleara's legacy in Second Life remains far and wide, the clothing she designed, the pride felt by the communities she was a part of, the items she built, and the many memories she made with her friends. She is an example of what one can accomplish of one doesn't care too much who gets the credit (and sometimes somebody will make sure the credit is given), and what one can do with great brains, an unwavering spirit, and a great heart.

 

We'll meet again, our beautiful, brilliant, loving gypsy.

 

Bixyl Shuftan