Omigosh, ALL the Hair Fair demos dropped today. So I'm going to be busy for a while...



"Calania" from EMO-tions. A simple updo shown in my token reds, this tone "Crimson".



"Dessia" is pretty, I might be tempted to get it. Shown in "Darkblonde" from the Blondes hud.



"Lulu" shown in "Mahogany" from the Brunettes hud. Comes with detachable beads in a simple pearl tone, or a silver metal version.



And "Tragedy", a short, pixie cut shown in "Mint" from the Pastels hud.

You'll be able to find EMO-tions on Redhead at Hair Fair.

From .EscalateD. we get "Jaina" in "Knallbunt":



"Kara" in "Dunkelbunt":



"Lauren" in "Astral":



And "Lizzy" in "Inferno":



You'll be able to find .EscalateD. on the Noirette sim at Hair Fair.

More shots coming! And this year's going to be rushed; I just don't have TIME with all the demos to cover each one in-depth. Apologies for that, and for the fact that this is likely part one of two thousand.

While this happened around Yule, originally, it's a perfect example of "This (or something like this) happens every night":

[3:22:30 AM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: Bento forces your fingers to be splayed
[3:22:31 AM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: How...odd
[5:08:27 PM] Emilly Orr: But I do not want my finners to be splayed. I wear mesh hands so my finners will NOT be splayed.

This was before I had Bento anything, and I still don't have Bento for many things. But this seemed to be something to do with Bento rings, which...I don't understand why Bento-optimized animations would do that.

[5:08:40 PM] Emilly Orr: Also, I am full of woe and regrets. The coffee is almost gone.
[5:09:21 PM] Emilly Orr: Also also, for those that have Faceblech, and have an interest in 7 Deadly Skins, go to their page and enter and like the page for a chance to win a 10K store credit.

I'm leaving this in, because there's generally some sort of contest or hint or clue or something about their in-world store to do on their FB page.

[5:31:20 PM] Emilly Orr: So, today's gifts from Violetility are the "Kiss me" Mistletoe sign, which apparently will pair well with the "Pelvic Mistletoe".
[5:35:46 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: How odd. Like, what fingers get splayed? Non-bento rigged mesh hands?
Bento mesh hands? LL avatar? MY RL FINGERS?!?
[5:35:49 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: Worst glitch.

Probably not your RL fingers, unless things have gone very very wrong.

[5:38:56 PM] Emilly Orr: I'm thinking, system avatar hands are splayed, but does that also mean Bento-rigged mesh hands will splay, too? And what about non-Bento-rigged ones? There are so many questions.
[5:39:22 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: I don't want my RL fingers constantly splayed.
[5:40:22 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: So does 7 Deadly Skins sell just skins? I forget if that's the one Fawkes was saying sells more than just skins.
[5:42:33 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: 7 is just skins
[5:43:10 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: Alterego has a sister store that sells not skins
[5:42:50 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: Right, that was the one.
[5:43:10 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: Also, ll fingers

I forget, it's been so long--did he mean, he only has eleven fingers, or the Bento animation only splays eleven fingers??

[5:43:22 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: Were my fingers splayed last night?
[5:43:44 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: When on the animation pose stand, yes
[5:43:54 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: But also for me when I put on the tail
[5:44:49 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: Huh.
[5:44:53 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: No Bueno.
[5:46:09 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: May try again, see if others have that issue, but it is a major issue.
[5:46:19 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: Si.

Suddenly occurs to me--this was around the holidays, so...has it been fixed yet? I don't know.

[5:47:00 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: [Fxxx], you have no avatar
[5:47:18 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx:
[5:47:26 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: Where did it go?
[5:47:32 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: No idea
[5:47:38 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: Also, are we talking about Skype avatars?
[5:48:41 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: Yes
[5:48:54 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: I have one. It is a flame.
[5:49:10 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: [links picture of the avatar]
[5:49:11 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: You used to.
[5:49:19 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: Phone Skype disagrees
[5:49:29 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: Phone Skype is so broken.

Emi agrees.

[5:54:30 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: http://neil-gaiman.tumblr.com/post/18932682858/as-requested-by-too-many-people-making-the-last
[6:23:39 PM] Emilly Orr: Skins, makeup layers (system and Catwa, mainly), appliers for most of the major mesh body lines, and a well-developed male line of skins in addition to the female line

I was responding to the earlier question about what 7 Deadly Skins sells.

[6:24:48 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: I feel like I came to Alice Project as the gift was being changed
[6:27:23 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: Ama. was going to have an advent, been cancelled due to illness.
[6:27:34 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: That's unfortunate.
[6:28:24 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: It 'tis.
[6:29:06 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: Thinking more upon it, it seems like more an animation issue than a Bento one possibly.

Well, I do know that unless one specifically does animation work on hands, they always upload as fingers splayed, or at least used to. But Bento offers hand bones, so...?

[6:29:49 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: I mean, isn't it a bit of both? But maybe!
[6:29:58 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: If it's *only* the tail.
[6:30:04 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: I would need to try other Bento animations.
[6:30:25 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: No, because LL finger positions are only affected by animations, not rigging. Theoretically.

So it can't be a Bento-specific issue.

[6:31:06 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: So just animation issue. It's likely, and I'm theorizing here, a problem specifically with the animations included in that one tail.
[6:31:14 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: Well, okay, let me rephrase. Bento Animations seem to, from the to be fair limited example, I didn't go in-depth to study it, auto splay the fingers, even though other animations tell them to do differently.
[6:31:41 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: But it is possible that for some reason, the hands were tagged to be animated when they shouldn't have been yes
[6:32:20 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: I suspect it's just the tail's animations, not Bento animations in general. Both of us need to do more testing to confirm either way though, yeah.
[6:32:31 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: The person that made the tail exclusively uses mesh avatars.

That's another good point. While I no longer make animations, and never really made them for sale unless I was putting that pose directly in an item of furniture that I also made, I made them using the standard system layer. Now I'm mostly mesh. Does that affect animations? Aren't animations still made using the basic system avatar rigging?

[6:33:12 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: That still means no bento for anyone who isn't.
[6:33:24 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: Because I am wondering if it's even possible to not animate the hands.
[6:34:09 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: If I'm right it doesn't mean that at all. If you're right it does.
[6:34:36 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: Well the issue is, I have a limited selection of things to test, but the ones I have tested all affect fingers.
[6:34:41 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: In different ways though!
[6:34:51 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: So it's likely, yes, just how they set the hands to be when uploading.
[6:35:10 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: Which is, perhaps, the problem, and would still, yes if I'm right, mean no Bento for non-mesh hand users.

Hmm. That could be a problem, too.

[6:35:20 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: Why?
[6:35:29 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: Because it'll make the fingers act *stupid*.
[6:36:05 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: If one is okay with their hands being stuck in whatever pose the bento animation uploaded, cool, but meh.
[6:36:27 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: If it's affecting LL hands in different ways, then it's likely the people making the animations doing something wrong. There's quite likely a way to just make the hands act normal when uploading an animation that includes Bento bones.
[6:36:42 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: Well, we will see! I'm hoping.
[6:38:28 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: So far, Aii's Tail, 10 Min tail, Fatewear's Cloak.

So a whole bunch of demos, effectively. I should follow up on this, ask him if it's still happening.

[6:38:38 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: All of them affect hand positions no matter what.
[6:39:07 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: What happens if you pull the animations out, and just play them?
[6:39:10 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: Without wearing the item.
[6:39:51 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: Same thing, it is the animation, no doubt.
[6:44:24 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: Well, there's that, at least.

Yeah. It does confirm that it's an animation issue, not a Bento-specific issue.

[6:45:22 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: I mean, I think I haven't...STOP FLASHING FIRESTORM...or didn't properly explain it. The issue is what I thought it was when I first mentioned it. I still consider that a Bento bug, if for some reason the Bento animations will override hand animations with no way to stop that.
[6:53:24 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: And since I have mesh hands for Maitreya, the only 'problem' will be purely my male avatars that don't have gloves.
[6:57:00 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: But if it's just an animation issue, and not a Bento Rigging conflict issue (which you never proposed but I had assumed at first), then I don't get why it would force hands into specific situations. It seems you could just... not animate the hands. Bingo bango. I don't get how or why that would screw up! But it's possible it did, and since it will animate the hands no matter what, Bento animation creators have to choose what hand position to put an LL avatar's hands into for their product.
[6:57:05 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: I assume most will choose neutral.

Which means splayed fingers.

[6:58:23 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: Apparently, you can't, at least, if you can, Bento may override that, due to needing higher priority, or becuse of a glitch. But it is an animation issue that does seem, at least slightly, related to Bento, or, at the very least, will become *much* more prevelant with Bento in a way it may not have been when it was a temp thing when wearing doll-huggers.
[7:02:47 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: Doll huggers forced your hands into being in a certain animation?
[7:03:04 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: I don't know!
[7:03:10 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: I never looked/cared enough to test.
[7:03:13 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: Now I sort of do.

Me too! I'll look through what I have for dolls and/or toy-hugging animations.

[7:03:25 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: I imagine it would be intentional though, with them.
[7:03:32 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: Splayed hands would look weird while hugging a doll.
[7:03:54 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: Hugs tend to make hands move in controlled fashions, so making sure they animate a specific way would be fine.
[7:07:38 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: Well, then it'd go back to "Bento animations are going to make this issue more obvious/annoying"
[7:08:07 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: But, so long as they don't use the Splayed position, it won't be *too* bad, like the Aii tail's animations did.
[7:08:50 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: Hopefully it will be fine enough until we can all upgrade to mesh avatars, anyway.
[7:08:51 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: If that ever happens.

Yeah, really.

[7:09:22 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: I'm feeling unless you can accept No-Mod or accept not great looking/supported Avs, it won't.
[7:09:41 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: Unless one of us gets really good at Modeling suddenly
[7:11:02 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: I can't accept no-mod. I teeter between not great but decent looking avatars and just uninstalling SL, on my acceptability scale.
[7:12:06 PM] Fxxxxx Axxxx: Yeah, I can't blame you, just ugh at the market.
[9:20:02 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: http://screenrant.com/gotham-city-sirens-megan-fox-poison-ivy/
[9:20:06 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: Oh goodness, I hope not.
[9:42:38 PM] Pxxxx Nxxx: eh. after suicide squad, how much worse could Megan make things?
[9:47:06 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: Well, she won't redeem it.
[9:47:19 PM] xXxxXxX Rxxxxxxx: Also, not a redhead.
[9:47:35 PM] Pxxxx Nxxx: those don't exist

Redheads? Bite your tongue, we do too exist.

This happened so long ago, I'd actually forgotten I still had it in drafts, but I'm still baffled by it.

[11:13] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: when I can meet most beautiful pixel girls in SL?
[11:14] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I mean where*

That's a rather stunning way to start a conversation. All he's after is beauty, personality doesn't matter? And what are his criteria for beauty? Standards do vary after all.

[11:14] nxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: o.0
[11:15] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: wonders if [Axxx] will start a [group] match.com

Oh, I do hope not. That might be terrifying.

[11:17] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: runs a talon down my hips.....I am currently available
[11:17] nxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: He is...
[11:17] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: at least until the restraining order from [Gxxxxx] expires
[11:36] Emilly Orr: My. Six years on the grid, and you haven't figured out how to find girls yet?
[11:36] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: mmmmm really not
[11:36] Emilly Orr: Astonishing.

It really is. Oh, but wait, he's after the 'most beautiful', not just any average pixel girl...

[11:37] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: girls are really Claver and sly
[11:37] Zxx Cxxxxxxx: try dating a guy
[11:37] Zxx Cxxxxxxx: it's easier
[11:37] Zxx Cxxxxxxx: and you get to do cool guy stuff
[11:37] Emilly Orr: There is that.

You know, that doesn't work as well the other way. Women date other women and the bathroom's busy more of the time, and then everyone in the argument gets to say "YOU know what you did!" or "If you don't know, don't expect me to tell you!"

But also, that line about girls being 'Claver and sly'...it makes us sound like we're feral creatures, sharp of tooth and claw, skulking under the trees. Though perhaps, to this fellow, we are.

[11:37] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: lol Hahaha I love my ass lol ))))))
[11:37] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: hahahhaha
[11:38] nxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Its sometimes easier than you think.... *looks around cautiously for She Who Must Not Be Named*
[11:38] Emilly Orr: Well, see? You're set. You love asses, you're a guy, find another fellow, the magic will happen.

Isn't that the way it usually goes, I mean?

[11:38] Axxxxxxx Fxxxxxxx: Well [group] has nothing but clever beautiful WOMEN with intelligence and personalities, but if your looking for girls.. well gor's a good start ..I guess.
[11:39] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: noooo
[11:39] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yes here really beautiful women for sure

Thank you for the compliment...I guess...

[11:39] Emilly Orr: Ohhhh, you meant no rear entry. Pity, it can be fun.
[11:40] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: but it is more hard to control woman I am young guy just 23
[11:40] Emilly Orr: Control....what, exactly, are we talking about here? You're seeking a date, you're seeking someone to collar and cage, what?
[11:41] Axxxxxxx Fxxxxxxx: Yeahh sounds like you need to look for a "gorean girl"
[11:41] Emilly Orr: Oh, be fair, some Gorean women are VERY hard to control, by intent and practice. :D
[11:42] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: mmmmmm not like anything like it ...control mean ..I talked with older woman but they always guided me like do this and don't
[11:42] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: that I don't lioe

I believe he means 'like' here, but...are we sure he's twenty-three? It sounds like he's younger and protesting about Grandma wanting to make sure his face is clean, or something.

[11:42] nxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: You're 23 and .... *stares and just shakes his head*
[11:42] Axxxxxxx Fxxxxxxx: there is a distinct difference between a girl and a woman.

Yes. There is.

[11:42] Emilly Orr: Very set in his ways already, yes. I'm beginning to perceive the difficulty.
[11:44] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: mmmmm yes that's problem
[11:44] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: can I date with you ?

Really? From you want a beautiful pixel girl, to you want to date me?

[11:44] Axxxxxxx Fxxxxxxx: -settles on the couch and pulls out a bag of popcorn and a large drink to watch what happens...next.
[11:45] Emilly Orr: My dear, I don't think you could afford me, elsewise...maybe. I admit, I'm intrigued that you think you have no chance on the grid.
[11:45] Zxx Cxxxxxxx: yea go look in groups
[11:45] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: mmmmm affording you )))) here is no coffee shop lol
[11:46] Zxx Cxxxxxxx: there's bound to be one of ladies looking for men
[11:46] Zxx Cxxxxxxx: and if you wanna spoil someone hell, I'm here :p
[11:46] Axxxxxxx Fxxxxxxx: He is not looking for ladies - he is looking for a "girl"

True. One that's not too 'Claver and sly'.

[11:46] Emilly Orr: Oh, there are coffee shops and restaurants scattered about. But I didn't mean that. I charge.
[11:46] Zxx Cxxxxxxx: oh
[11:46] Emilly Orr: It sounds like you're looking for someone that's more interested in a relationship.
[11:46] Zxx Cxxxxxxx: ooohhh
[11:47] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: mmmm then )
[11:47] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I give you my house keys

What?

[11:47] Emilly Orr blinks
[11:47] Emilly Orr: I...don't understand what that means.
[11:47] nxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Don't do it Emily!
[11:47] nxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: o.0
[11:47] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: :))) cool
[11:47] nxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: its a trap!
[11:47] Emilly Orr: Trust me, I have no intention to.

So far, he'd spectacularly failed in impressing any of us with intelligence, wit, or even the ability to string coherent words together into a single sentence.

[11:47] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx ragdoll
[11:47] Emilly Orr: ....wait.
[11:48] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: )))) I will send you keys soon
[11:48] Emilly Orr: You're looking for a doll?
[11:48] Emilly Orr: Oh, that's an ENTIRELY different proposition.

It really is. Dolls still come in all shapes and sizes, the community is still vast and diverse, but the ones he's likeliest to run across, he'd have to start frequenting the rubber/bondage sims to find. And for most rubber dolls, at least the serious ones, they seem mainly interested in other women...

[11:48] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: no its my house address in SL

Goodness, I don't want that. Have I given any indication that I want that?

[11:48] Axxxxxxx Fxxxxxxx leans over to whisper to [Nxxx] - "bet he has a freezer for of Female avatarts in his basement" -eats more popcorn-
[11:48] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: but wait [zxx] have you said something to me?
[11:48] Emilly Orr: I...don't make house calls, unless I know the patron fairly well.
[11:49] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: mmmm it will be your house

Nooope, no it won't.

[11:49] nxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: This is.... profoundly creepy. *nods slowly in agreement with [Axxx]*
[11:49] Emilly Orr: It will not be my house, but thank you for the offer.
[11:50] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: mmmmm but what you meant by affording you lol I will script you some car

I don't even know what that means. Is he offering to buy me a car? No, wait, he says 'script' here. He's offering to make me a car? But...I don't drive. Where I go, I port, I fly, I walk, or on rare occasions, I sail. I never drive, unless it's a train, and even then, no one drives a train, really...

[11:50] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: will upload some mesh jewellery

Again, not 'I will buy you pretty things', but 'I will upload something for you'. Now, let's be fair--I am not completely mercenary. I enjoy conversation and interchange, and no one's ever needed to buy me anything to make me feel desired or respected. But he's not even offering that--he's just saying "I have a template for a mesh thing, I'll upload it for you'.

But then, maybe that sort of thing impresses the non-'Claver' girls he's after...

[11:51] Emilly Orr: I'm beginning to suspect English is not your language of origin. Also, I work in Lindens.
[11:52] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: nah its my first language, you work in LL??

No. English is not a learned language? Then he is really, really bad at speaking.

[11:52] Emilly Orr shakes her head.
[11:52] Emilly Orr: We are having a failure to communicate.
[11:52] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: o.0
[11:52] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: you mean at their San Fransisco Lab?

No.

[11:52] nxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: *steals some of [Axxx's] popcorn*
[11:53] Axxxxxxx Fxxxxxxx hands him the bag because she has a chocolate orange too.
[11:53] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx licks the orange
[11:53] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ahmmm what happened?

Got me. Though I'm no longer surprised that he can't figure out what he's doing, which seems to be how this conversation is going so far.

[11:53] Emilly Orr stares at the popcorn, but decides on rum instead.
[11:53] Axxxxxxx Fxxxxxxx whispers "this is downgrading slowly, fascinating to watch......"
[11:54] Emilly Orr: No, it's actually downgrading pretty fast. The odd thing is the only one who hasn't realized it is him.
[11:54] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx only upgrades
[11:54] Emilly Orr: Yes, but you're you.
[11:55] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: much to the chagrin of some hehehe
[11:55] Emilly Orr grins

See, unlike some, I like our friendly neighborhood sparkly dragon. We don't interact that often outside of group chats or occasional parties, but I like him.

[11:55] nxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: why is the rum gone? Emily drank it all....
[11:56] Emilly Orr: Well, don't expect me to help with that.
[11:57] Emilly Orr: And I didn't drink all of it, I only have the one bottle!

Meanwhile, Mr. [w] had contacted me by IM.

[11:55] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: are you at working at that place?
[11:55] Emilly Orr: Which place?
[11:55] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: you said you working at linden lab
[11:56] Emilly Orr: No, I didn't.
[11:56] Emilly Orr: I said I only work in Lindens. As in, L$. As in, currency. Not scripted objects, not homes, not jewelry. Gifts are nice, but not my main transaction form.
[11:57] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: :) you like coins
[11:57] Emilly Orr blinks
[11:57] Emilly Orr: Sure...let's go with that.
[11:57] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ok I will kiss you by linden love
[11:58] Second Life: pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx paid you L$25.

[11:58] Emilly Orr: Did you want that back?
[11:58] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: huh why
[11:58] Emilly Orr: Well, why did you send it to me?
[11:58] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: its linden love

I don't understand.

[11:58] Emilly Orr: You're very odd.
[11:59] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: thank you )))) its not easy to being odd hahaha
[12:00] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: that linden love in on lips )
[12:01] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: mmmmm have you blocked me ?

Why would I block him? I block people for being offensive or hurtful, not stupid.

[12:01] Emilly Orr: No, just puzzled.
[12:02] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: why puzzled )

It was at this point I realized he was using ")" to signify ":)". I don't get him at all...

[12:03] Emilly Orr: You say you're looking for a girl, we say there's a difference between girls and women, you don't get it.
[12:03] Emilly Orr: I say I'm a courtesan, you pay me L$25.
[12:03] Emilly Orr: I don't get it.
[12:05] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: it is not like for that , just to cheer you up )) you seems good person ....being courtesan in SL in not problem

...Thanks?

[12:06] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: :)))) you love lindens that's it
[12:06] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I love lindens too))))
[12:07] Emilly Orr: Well, you are a DJ.
[12:07] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yep I am :)))
[12:08] pxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: coins sound is best

I really didn't have anything to add to that, and the IM conversation sort of sputtered to a halt.

Something strange is afoot in Gearhaven...again.



The scattered legions gather, remnants of older, greater nations, or nations forgotten from other realms, or even nations forgotten from this one. Why are they here? What do they intend? And who built the strange dark tower in the midst of Gearhaven?



Is that platform supporting a...cannon? For what reason? Does it have any connection to the mining now excavating Gearhaven underneath, or does it have a...darker intention?



That is not a cannon. I'm not even sure it's a Gatling gun. Is it a...mining laser? I've only ever seen a few, and those have all been cavorite-powered. Still, rich deposits of cavorite have been found in Gearhaven, so...perhaps it was built locally, not...imported?



All I know is, there is a great deal happening in Gearhaven of late, and no real clue as to what it is, or what's been found. I am both intrigued...and perturbed.

One must be careful how one struts, I suppose.

[14:09] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx struts his stiff
[14:09] Emilly Orr: Struts your stiff...what?
[14:09] Emilly Orr: Inquiring minds and all that.

Yes. They truly do want to know.

[14:09] hxxxx Rxxxxxxx: [Gxxxxxxx] Gorgeous!
[14:09] Txxxx Rxxxxxxxxx covers her eyes! "I don't want to know what's stiff!"

True, that's one of those unsafe-to-answer questions in SL, depending.

[14:09] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: 0.0
[14:09] Kxxxxxx Sxxxxxxxxxx: no comment!
[14:09] Emilly Orr: You started it!
[14:10] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: stuff stuff
[14:10] hxxxx Rxxxxxxx: well he IS gorgeous
[14:10] Emilly Orr: Suuuure.

Yes, I'm suuure that's what he meant to type.

[14:10] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: curse you talons and keyboard

Well, to be fair, that can be a problem also.

[14:10] Emilly Orr: You say that NOW...
[14:10] Mxxxxxxxxx Fxxx: A pencil.
[14:10] Bxxx Txxxxxx: lol
[14:10] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: heee
[14:10] Txxxx Rxxxxxxxxx peeks out between her fingers and sighs relief

That it's not stiff, or that it's not there? Or...that it's a pencil??

[14:10] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: now that I woke everyone up .... ehehe
[14:11] hxxxx Rxxxxxxx: nice dragon here is a big cookie
[14:12] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: delicately anf gratefully accepts said cookie ad proceeds to nom it grciously

Talons confirmed. Or [Gxx] can't spell. Could be 60/40, talons.

14:13] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: pfft
[14:13] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: [Gxx] showin off?

Always.

[14:14] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: nuuuuu
[14:14] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: smh
[14:14] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx never does thaaaat.
[14:14] Kxxxxxx Sxxxxxxxxxx: isnt he normally?

Since I've known him at least.

[14:14] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: You are gorgeous and yes you make all us ladies swoon lol
[14:14] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: buuuut
[14:14] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I am shocked at such baseless and accurate comments
[14:14] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I mean in accurte
[14:14] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Your ego is larger than life *giggles*

Well, so is he, so...would that make it just a him-sized ego, after all?

[14:14] Sxxxx Txxxxxxx: All you people can't you see can't you see
[14:15] Sxxxx Txxxxxxx: how your love's affecting our reality...everytime we're down..you can make it right

This sounded familiar, and I'm ashamed that my semi-secret bubblegum-pop heart didn't immediately identify this. It's Backstreet Boys, Larger than Life.

[14:15] Kxxxxxx Sxxxxxxxxxx: cant you see, what that dragon, been doing to me
[14:15] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: well to be fair as a dragon I am larger than most ... so shouldn't me ego be size appropriate?
[14:15] Sxxxx Txxxxxxx: annnnnd that makes you larger than liiiiiife yeaaaaah
[14:15] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx chuckles
[14:15] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I suppose [Gxx] I suppose
[14:15] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: wait wut

Yeah, kind of with the freakin' big dragon-type. What?

[14:15] Sxxxx Txxxxxxx: Size is relative, that's what the Men in Black movies taught us
[14:16] Mxxxxxxxxx Fxxx: The needle may sting, but it's still just a needle.
[14:17] Sxxxx Txxxxxxx: yeah but with the right drug or combination of nanites, needles can do wonders
[14:17] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: hmmm...if only there were a way to use a throng of adoring fans to some purpose ... hmmmm
[14:17] Emilly Orr: Wait, we went from pencils to needles...are we still talking about [Gxx]?

Because to be fair, that is kind of a diameter switch...

[14:17] Sxxxx Txxxxxxx: I think someone needs to knock you down a peg

Why? He means no harm by it, the group at large plays into it willingly, no one's getting hurt...so...again, why?

[14:18] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: well, to your purpose ..of course there is!!
[14:18] Mxxxxxxxxx Fxxx: Pegs?
[14:18] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Selling that adorably awesome plushie you are talking about!
[14:19] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: knock me down a peg? why would anyone want to do something so inconceivable
[14:19] Sxxxx Txxxxxxx: because it's easy

Damn, the bitchy side of the Force is showing.

[14:19] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: OH [Gxx] your glorious light shines and all the girls swoon ...

Well, that's going a tad far...

[14:19] Kxxxxxx Sxxxxxxxxxx hopefully awaits her [Gxx] plushy
[14:19] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: puts a forearm to my forehead .. I am cut to the core ...wounded deep in my soul
[14:19] Kxxxxxx Sxxxxxxxxxx: um, [mxxxxxx], youre not helping
[14:20] Emilly Orr: It's likely the needles.
[14:20] Rxxx Dxxxx: or cacti
[14:20] Sxxxx Txxxxxxx: I actually have no clue who [Gxx] is, I have vague memories but nothing permanent....besides, he's still young...only a 4 year old avatar...so kind of forgettable

Wait. Four years in world isn't four months; that's a bit of time expended, getting to know the way the grid operates, learning what goes and what doesn't here, figuring out who we are in this virtual space and what we want to be. Four years, that's not nothing. She seems to be so dismissive with this statement.

[14:20] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx giggles again shaking her head
[14:20] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Its always nice once in awhile...to tell someone how awesome they are.
[14:20] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: It is quality not quantity dearie
[14:20] Rxxx Dxxxx: quantity here with [hxxxxxxx]
[14:21] Rxxx Dxxxx: take that anyway you like
[14:21] Sxxxx Txxxxxxx: yeah and I've heard nothing but the circle jerk in here about your "quality" so they're obviously biased

Okay, seriously, whose bed did she fall out of this morning, and what the hell happened on the way down? She's being vile and vituperative for no cause I can understand.

[14:21] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: bwahahaha
[14:21] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: or simply espouse good taste
[14:22] Sxxxx Txxxxxxx: I didn't know train wrecks had a flavor
[14:22] Kxxxxxx Sxxxxxxxxxx: lol

Now you do. (Actually, this is the chat that I took that comment from, because that's just so on-target for this blog.)

[14:22] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: now now envy is not a pretty color on you :P
[14:23] Sxxxx Txxxxxxx: Blue is a damn good color on me

Wait, envy's not blue, though, is it? Envy's green, I thought.

[14:23] Sxxxx Txxxxxxx: Envy only counts if you have something I desire and I've gotten along just fine for this long without ever having to visit your store or message you

DAMN, girl, lock it DOWN already. Stop poking the man, it's becoming obsessive.

[14:24] Sxxxx Txxxxxxx: just another bloated ego in a sea of maniacs
[14:24] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: my someone is grumpy today

Stone-the-crows-at-home truth, there. VERY grumpy.

[14:24] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: well
[14:24] Sxxxx Txxxxxxx: I win :D

How do you figure any of your sniping is a win?

[14:24] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: [Sxxxxx] YOU ARE LOVELY AS WELL
[14:25] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I think we all have something someone wants
[14:25] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: except for me....*sobs* jkjk
[14:25] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: you won nothing but being sad and rather unpleasant but since I do not care about you it does not affect me one one way or the other

I really can't blame him for sniping back, in all fairness.

[14:26] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: so....
[14:26] Emilly Orr: Wait, [Gxx] has a store? How did I not know this?
[14:26] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: anyone excited for next years fair
[14:26] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx clears her throat

At this point [Gxxxxxxx] sent me a store link on MP, which was kind of him. He has some fun things. But then...

[14:26] Sxxxx Txxxxxxx: no one is just "lovely" people are ugly and beautiful in unequal amounts, saying that anyone is lovely is a lie, telling them they have the potential to be beautiful if they work hard and actually TRY to do so is better...giving someone a baseless pretty lie is cruel...giving someone a shot at their potential using what they have on hand and what they can do...that's called hope
[14:26] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: a small one .. I am not a great content creator by any means that I admit
[14:26] Emilly Orr: So you don't believe in hope?

Yeah, I went there, because at this point I'd pulled her profile, and while she's not the worst person I've run across in SL, she's pretty out there. For a 'beacon of hope' she is a bitter, spiteful, vicious little ball of rage. I'm mystified.

[14:27] Åxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: lol Interesting convo here and ooooo what next fair, [Mxxxxxx]?
[14:27] Sxxxx Txxxxxxx: I'm one of the last Blue Lanterns still operating in SL, I espouse hope

Which frankly, I disbelieve entirely. Not that she's a Blue Lantern; I'm quite sure she is. But that she espouses hope; with that level of bitter spitefulness and virulent jealousy, I'm not sure that she's capable of hope.

[14:27] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: The fantasy fair
[14:27] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and i meant your look...[Sxxxxx]
[14:27] Gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: She is already looking forward to next year
[14:27] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I try to stay positive here on sl since it is where i try to stay positive
[14:28] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and leave all the bs out in the real world

Ideally, we all should. Pity the Blue Lantern in our midst couldn't manage to do that.

Well, this is an interesting development. Pursuant to that, by the way, I had no idea Ozimals had changed hands--I thought Candy Cerveau and Malkavyn Eldritch were still sole owners and operators, but according to this document, it seems that's not the case.

Also, have an open letter to the Mayor of Austin, Texas, about Alamo Drafthouse's woman-only screening of Wonder Woman; a list of printers which may--or may not--display identifiable "tracking dots"; a mod that turns Fallout 4 into a gloomy, unnerving horror game; and enjoy some shots of the Museum of Failure.

Could you not just die over this? I swear, Build-a-Bear is killing it over their Pokémon line. (Except for Eevee. Eevee still looks odd.)

Also, your weekly reminder that we are, in fact, living in the future.

If you want more, how about a definitive list of essential cyberpunk fiction works? To that end, how about a list of free-to-download works of fundamental, early science fiction in the public domain? Awesomely tasty stuff.

Lastly, looking at getting a rice cooker? Look through this list.

"It has been said, 'Time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone."

~Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy

There's definitely truth in that.

[00:33] Miyu Goodnight: I just spawned inside someone's torso
[00:33] Miyu Goodnight: This is fine

I feel you, Miyu. (Actually, possibly literally--I might have been the torso.) More later.

I've had a problem for a while with finding a solid, dependable ankle lock. I had one, from Mesh Agency^*, and it worked without fail, but on the last update of Firestorm, it stopped working. So I picked up some others, intending to find one that worked consistently with the burlesque chairs we use at Sakura, which are from Henmations.

^* (Technically, it was sold by [BREATHE] on the MP; I can't find it now, but that's because Mesh Agency specifically says buyers are not to sell it as an independent item, only with shoes, so...that may be why I can't track it down at this point.)

So, last night, friend of mine needed a live body to bed-test. This was over at Newcastle, so off we went, and I noticed that many of the poses really broke my ankles. And the default I'd been running with, from *BoSH*, totally didn't fix it, even after several resets. So in desperation, I started at the top of my folder of ankle locks and as it turned out, the one from Diamond worked like a charm. Yay.

But it got me thinking--why is this happening? It's far from the first time I've noticed; in fact, it's been a couple months, at least. This shouldn't be a big problem because the script for any ankle lock seems pretty simple, doesn't it?

Anyway, had a conversation with someone from Meli Imako's group about the problem. I'm not the only one to notice.

[12:38] Bxxxxxxxxx Sxxxx: ty, so i might not be failing it's the script itself. i tested the anim in world by itself and it worked... i'm sitting here thinking damn near ten years building experience and i'm being bested by this thing
[12:38] Emilly Orr: Right.
[12:38] Emilly Orr: there is something IN the script currently, and I don't know enough about scripting to find it.
[12:39] Emilly Orr: But either LL broke a facet of their programming language, or different items are now interacting with other items in non-expected ways. Maybe it's a priority setting?
[12:40] Emilly Orr: Like, last night, testing a bed for sale at Newcastle, I noticed my ankles broke, and I was wearing the BoSH ankle lock. Wouldn't work even after reset.
[12:40] Emilly Orr: Took it off and put on the Diamond ankle lock, which hasn't worked on ANYTHING else, and it worked. So I have no clue.

I didn't think to capture pics at the time, but I went back by myself for a quick before-and-after. This is without the Diamond ankle lock:



This is the before pic, with me wearing the *BoSH* ankle HUD. And this one:



is my ankle after application of the Diamond ankle HUD.

[12:42] Bxxxxxxxxx Sxxxx: i just bought his $1 to test and i noticed it was working mostly but faded and my AO started taking it over. so i thought well maybe if it's in the shoe it'll work better so i got the builder edition and then my meli hud didn't work and it wasent working iether
[12:42] Emilly Orr: See? It's a bug, somewhere, but it's elusive.
[12:42] Emilly Orr: If you figure it out, announce it somewhere, it's been a headache for a while!
[12:44] Bxxxxxxxxx Sxxxx: i was honestly thinking it was bosh, i have never fully been happy with his scripts. he was the first hud i used years ago but when he went to the 1 script version for mesh something about it i didn't like
[12:45] Bxxxxxxxxx Sxxxx: it might be easier to figure out if the scripts wernt no mod... i understand why they are but it means no one can look at them to figure it out
[12:45] Emilly Orr: Hmm.
[12:45] Emilly Orr: That's something.
[12:45] Emilly Orr: A moddable ankle lock script.
[12:46] Bxxxxxxxxx Sxxxx: i would think all it has to be is a play anim script to work
[12:48] Emilly Orr: Okay: http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/AnkleLock
[12:48] Emilly Orr: They mention it was recently updated.
[12:58] Bxxxxxxxxx Sxxxx: you click on the link to the updated project and it comes up as an error. or did i miss something

Nope. It 404s (without actually 404-ing.)

[12:59] Emilly Orr: Damn.
[13:00] Emilly Orr: That may be part of the problem.
[13:00] Emilly Orr: Now it's a puzzle!
[13:03] Bxxxxxxxxx Sxxxx: i wonder if boch would be able to help. i have talked to him a few times... he tries to mansplane things though
[13:06] Emilly Orr: Ugh. But maybe, it's worth the ask, at least.
[13:12] Bxxxxxxxxx Sxxxx: well, he's online and says he's checking
[13:14] Emilly Orr: Interesting. I wonder if he's noticed anything.
[13:14] Bxxxxxxxxx Sxxxx: he says he's checking the script sorce and it'll be a few
[13:19] BBxxxxxxxxx Sxxxx: he gave me a new script to try, let you know in a few
[13:19] Emilly Orr: Keen
[13:30] Bxxxxxxxxx Sxxxx: took a while for the AO to cycle through to an animation that twists the ankle but.... still no dice
[13:30] Bxxxxxxxxx Sxxxx: [sent a picture link, picture below]

[13:33] Bxxxxxxxxx Sxxxx: said he has to look in to it deeper and refunded me
[13:44] Emilly Orr: Went afk for coffee
[13:45] Emilly Orr: I'm not going to sweat a Linden, but that he sees a problem, too, that's interesting
[13:45] Emilly Orr: Huh. Standing? I've never had problems standing. That's deeply odd.
[13:48] Bxxxxxxxxx Sxxxx: well i'm not even sweating the 99 i spent for the builder edition... i have wasted more than that on things that wont work for me lol
[13:50] Emilly Orr: So true
[13:51] Bxxxxxxxxx Sxxxx: oy i need some Tylenol now lol, i posted the result to meli's grp if anyone pays attention lol
[13:52] Emilly Orr: Maybe someone will
[13:52] Bxxxxxxxxx Sxxxx: you want me to update once he gets done with the script?
[13:53] Bxxxxxxxxx Sxxxx: he said it should be a few hours but it might be longer
[13:54] Emilly Orr: Sure!

She hasn't gotten back to me yet, I'm probably going to IM her and ask in a day or so. But something else has occurred to me--maybe it's not that the Lindens broke something, but that Firestorm broke something on their update? We're both on Firestorm, so...is that the answer? Who do we ask then?

It's still a puzzle. The mystery abounds.