Friday, October 31, 2008

Seasonal Robots Mod

Google has made a nice seasonal mod to it's robots.txt file, for today only.

Have fun tonight folks, and please toast the dead in fine old wine...

OMG! A Do-It-Yourself Darkling Costume! [from iPhone]

Looks like Lady Speirling, SL AV Darkling Elytis, for only £5.99 while stocks last...

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Star Wars



A capella tribute to John (the man) Williams, MP3 from MooseButter.com.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Tennents Off

When the news came through the "Cardiff Rift Parking" group just now, fanboys openly wept.

Get a grip.

David Tennent has finally stopped faffing about and come clean about leaving Who at the end of the next run. Bless him, he was hanging in there for the Who movie as a foot in the door to Hollywood, but no dice so he's passing on the TARDIS keys to someone else.


Was he a good Dr.? Yeah, not bad I suppose. Not brilliant (and worshiped more for the youthful cut-of-his-jib sometimes than owt else) but he did a dedicated job of grabbing a notoriously tricksy old role by the scruff of it's 12' scarf and, while incorporated and acknowledging aspects of his predecessors, certainly made it his own. Personally, I prefared Eccleston. Truth be known I'm still bitter Paul McGann never got a decent crack at the job and (it always has to be said) ya can't touch Pertwee or Baker #1.

Anyway, now the whole nation gets to play 'Guess the 11th Doc' for 10-12 months. James Nesbitt most oft rolled out as primo contender, but the bookies seem to favor Paterson Joseph, offering odds of 3-1 on him becoming the first black doctor (which would be ace if done for legitimate and not political reasons, and if they upped the Doc 'public school posh' to the max for it). John (Life on Mars/Master) Simm and David Morrisey are getting odds of 8-1 and 5-1 respectively. Lets' not forget Rhys Ifans though, a local lad, who's not showing on the tote.

Anywho, at least we'll get some epic shit next season now for sure. Frankly, and this is from a self self confessed Who geek of old, he wasn't my Doctor and I don't really care that much. Inexplicably, the world will continue to turn.

To be honest, where I
am excited is for Steven Moffat, coming into all this fresh, a new beginning, and I've every faith he's going to take the franchise in directions we never thought possible while keeping true to the mythos and canonical line us fanboys (and girls) love so dearly. It is, after all, Steven Moffat who will get to pick the new Who, his new costume, his new assistants, his new everything.

So, fantasy Doctors? If age and money were no object? Okay, well, I'd like Bill Nighy, Stephen Fry or Bill Baily please, maybe (being more realistic) even Alexander Armstrong. Yeah, it'll never happen I know, it'll be a young pretty boy for branding, and Paterson Joseph would be fine if ya dress him right ;-)

Monday, October 27, 2008

Leia Slave Girl Sleep-Over Pillow Fight Action


Apparently, scientists now have the means to photograph dreams!

Could be any night in some SW/Gor mash-up theme sim let's face it (which isn't a bad marketing idea, picture the write-up in that covenant, to pull in those dwindling residents).

Small oversight this scene isn't available on YouTube.

Thanks to Kontraband & Foxy.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Finally Got OpenSim Working [from iPhone]

Duncan (@digitalpulse) and I got OpenSim running today, at work.

Just started fiddling. Hmmm, localised machinima :-)

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Back to Weblin

Not been near Weblin for a while so thought I'd pop back over, download the software again, and see if it's grown.

Weblin is a kinda AV driven chat ap that lets you have a 'physical representation' on each page you visit in your browser and allows you to take your AV with you on your surfing day.

It's now not uncommon, as a user, to come across a site where there are other Weblins, sat chilling in your browser window with your own, that you can choose to engage with (not that you do most of the time) and strike up a conversation. On this page alone there's probably 5 or 6 you can't see right now, hanging around on the blogger domain so all showing on each others pages. What's nice here is that often chat is related to the common ground of the topic of webpage your visiting (I met 2 Who geek weblin frothing on about RTD's latest insult to the fan base on the BBC site). There's potential here, and Weblin Easter eggs for sites would be a great way to attract little swarms of community visitors, I'd love to get my hands on dev tools for this ("come to BBC Who and pick up your free Rassilon patch", etc.). The sports branding an AV's is starting to creep in, which means investment, which means money.

While seemingly very basic, Weblin also has it's own visual AV creation system and small virtual economy. This is one of those things worth checking on from time to time, and a great way of involuntarily promoting community by 'almost accidental' shared interest. I like it, but I'm not sure why.

Try it, it's kinda interesting, and tag/friend me as "Lactose" if you get the chance. It's possible to have more than one AV on the same account too, switching over as required.

I'll try importing a pic of an SL AV later, which looks easy enough, and I need to revamp my bloated Messanger contact list as it is, and this might be a better way to collect my virtual buddies together while still maintain some anonimity and character. In a kinda way, at very basic level, this is sorts like taking AVs from other worlds and letting them come with you as you go about the Internet, plus might be a nice way of supporting your virtual worlds identities :-)

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

K1 Final Piece [from iPhone]

Got a SV7 off eBay today (for a very reasonable £4).

Which finishes this fella.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Steamthulu Beginning

My good mate 'The Lightfoot' (the shirty Shide) has taken her Second Life clothes business a step further by using ideas inspired by her virtual life and bringing them out into the real world. In this case, Steampunk with a twist.

Check out this T-Shirt, the first of many we hope. T is a crackin' designer, in both worlds, and her artwork sits proudly on the walls in both our RL and SL homes. She has a way of making iconography speak for itself, buy adding fresh context, pattern and grouping, to say more than it does as just the original 'symbol'. Anyway, I'll have one of these for starters, white on gray for me I think.

Nice one Lightfoot, if this is the first can't wait to check out the rest. Hope they sell a ton :-)

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

RL Meet-up in London?

6pm GMT (10am SLT) onwards, Sunday 19th October ‘08? Should be a grin.

It’s the night before Virtual Worlds London at the QEII Conference Centre and I wondered if anyone fancied joining us for a social in The Greyhound, Kensington, London?

RL London will be filling up with folks from all over Europe, and I thought it might be cool to have a get together in the RL Greyhound, the bridge between realities in Kensington, to have a drink and say hello.

Situated in Second Life, opposite Northcliffe House (the SL and RL Daily Mail building in Derry Street where I work in both worlds) it’s as much part of the virtual furniture of London as the real one is of Kensington Square. Run by the same staff (oi, oi, Kwame) in both worlds it often hosts real world and virtual world cross-over events and entertains real and virtual workers and locals from the Kensington area.

So, regardless, perfect place for a pre-conference meet-up of virtual friends and work-mates from 6, including in-world press, musicians, developers and ‘mirror-world’ Kensington staff from the sims at sllondonestates.com

All are welcome. The Greyhound staff will be streaming the evening to and from the virtual pub. Come meet some of the people who work in the local area (in both worlds), look at how the 2 cross, meet other people who’ll be attending Virtual Worlds London, and help break the reality barrier :-) It’s just around the corner from High Street Kensington tube station.

Join us in RL, or join us in SL. See ya there :-)

RL: 1, Kensington Square, London, W8 5EP: Review - Map
SL: Kensington Square, Kensington W8 London. SLURL: Kensington W8 London/225/64/22

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Zombie Apocafest '08

As part of BrickCon '08, in Seattle, Zombie Apocafest 2008 took place between October 2nd and 5th.

Sponsored by The Brothers Brick, with swag from BrickArms and Valve, there were over 35 brain hungry participants, including Dunechaser (who's awesome builds I follow on Flickr).

Well worth a look at the collection, especially for the crazy
buildings (in Antoni Gaudi style) in a few of the shots.

Monday, October 06, 2008

Classic Figures 2 "Confirmed"

I see rumors on doctorwhotoys.net are stating the follow for the next classic fig. release

  • Dalek Collectors Set #2 - Imperial Dalek, Renegade Supreme Dalek & +1 Dalek still to be confirmed.

  • Third Doctor with Sonic Screwdriver (1970–1974).
  • Seventh Doctor with 3 variants of umbrella (1989).
  • Eighth Doctor with interchangeable heads (1996).
  • Mummy with canopic jar (1975).
  • Ice Warrior with gun (1967).
  • Morbius Monster with Dr. Mehendri Solon (1976).
  • V9 Robot and Stickers still to be confirmed (1977).
All great additions (except for lamo mold-copy V9). Nice to get a few more Dr's. Will beieve it all when I see some pictures.

Sunday, October 05, 2008

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Which One of You... [from iPhone]

...put this on the back of my chair?

Confess now, make it easy on yourselves, I read your email.

Friday, October 03, 2008

Brixton Canning: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra

TODAY: 3rd October - 1PM SLT - Tribute Island

It’s a sad day - the last of the live Summer concerts on Tribute Island. But, we’re going to end on a high note - tonight's our tribute to Frank Sinatra.

In a change to our published schedule, the tribute will be made by Brixton Canning, who we're chuffed to have joining us, at the last minute, for the last show.

Together with Prim Perfect and Radio Riel, lastingtribute.co.uk has presented a series of live music concerts on Tribute Island featuring the very best musical artists of the Second Life world paying tribute to their heroes.

Each concert (which have been held on Fridays during the Summer and Autumn months) have featured a live performance of an hour to an hour and a half, together with at least 2 - 3 hours of music from Radio Riel - today’s concert will be no exception, c/o our good friend Elrik Merlin.

Brixton Canning
Brixton’s vocal stylings have been honed on the musical theatre stage and in the rock and jazz clubs of the Midwest US. An experienced presenter, his style is romantic, soulful and (he hopes) inspirational. Brixton is a musical storyteller, spinning yarns and weaving tales. He believes that "music is a powerful vehicle that can take us many places" so tonights tribute promises to be a tale from Sinatra and a journey through the ranks of the Rat Pack. Miss it at your peril.

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Digital Team of the Year! [from iPhone]

Andy, Duncan, Hoony, Nav, John, Alex, Claire, guys, girls, this ones for for you. 'Digital Team of the Year' at the Newspaper Society Awards for Lasting Tribute, Big Green Switch, etc. as well as 'Niche Website of the Year' and 'Digital Innovation of the Year'.

Somewhat ironic with things having changed at ANDigital this week and that 'award winning' team being split-up all over the company...

Links added when sober.

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Field of Remembrance



Quick video I did for new 'dedicate a poppy' content release on Lasting Tribute site today.

Google '01

Google, in aid of being 10yrs old, has stuck up a 2001 version of its search site, including the 2001 index, for the next month.

Alas it only goes back to January 2001, but still fun to play the nostalgia game of looking up old sites from back in the days when search was my bread-and-butter :-)

google3oct2008.jpg