To the anonymous poster who had left me a comment about this (and, of course, to whomever else would be interested by this info):

I think I’ve basically understood how to activate an Atom feed on this blog. I’ve created an account on http://bloglines.com and tried to add my own blog to the feeds I can watch there, and it worked. Normally, you just need to use the http://tanaquil.paradygma.com URL, but if this doesn’t work, add atom.xml to this, the file is at the root. I’m not sure about RSS yet though, unless it’s the same thing… talk of being a complete newbie to these things, huh!

Hope this helps ^_

EDIT: I also have created a syndicated account at LiveJournal (as I know that several SL people have their account there, too); it’s, all that simply, called tanaquil_sl, and you just need to add it to your Friends in order to see updates to this blog.

There was this thread, recently, that went like “do you remember your first post on the SL forums”. So, because I couldn’t remember it, I had a look at my profile to check my older posts, and came to realize that, oddly enough for a forum whore like myself, I don’t post that much… nor very meangingful posts. The occasional “Hello, [new player], welcome to SL”, bumping designers’ threads about their new creations when I feel like congratulating them, or answering a more “technical” question in the Textures forum… stuff like that. No 4-paragraphs posts full of personal opinions. I think I’m actually a very dull poster on the SL forums.

But then, I realized why – it’s plainly because the “meaningful” posts I could make, the ones where I could express opinions, would be in answer to the dozens of flamebait/land-barons-suck/personal attacks/whine threads. Down with the land barons? Either you go with the bashing crowd, or end up bashed for daring say “but I never had any problems with them”. Whinefest? Half of the time it ends up in name calling. More “serious” threads? All it takes if for two-three people to start lashing out personal attacks and go into their own private little bitch-fest for a Linden to then close the thread, or at least for the conversation being ruined for any attempt at getting back on topic. I’m not sure if this is a very recent thread, I didn’t read all the posts from before I joined, but I don’t recall that things were that bad back in August, at least. Or has my perception of things changed, have I lost my sanctified aura of newbishness?

So what… am I just too chicken to take the risk of being flamed? Perhaps. But why would I take it, for starters? I’m here to have fun, not to enter forum pissing contests in the hopes of showing that I have more cock than poster X or to “prove a point” that doesn’t matter in the end because the original intent would already have been lost under the flame.. Or under lame answers, such as this thread where whomever would disagree was answered with a short “Troll. Shut up”.

Yep. In the end, I think I’m just as good being a dull poster who only says hello to newcomers or bounces in the Classified forums each time Nephilaine puts out a new set of clothes for sale. I don’t care. Whoever disagrees with me can go flame me here, but it’s all about MY fun, finally. While people bitch at ech other in the forums, I’m going to make a new kimono, or play bingo, or go to a party.

It had been quite a while I hadn’t gone back to Midnight City, and believe it or not, as of today, I still haven’t visited all the shops that are there! (Visited, not necessarily to buy something, but the build themselves reflet their owners very well, and the diversity is really impressive) In fact, when I went there a few days ago, I still didn’t visit much of it, for the “town square” was covered with snow – it was actually snowing – and with various cheerful little “builds”, ranging from a bright-yellow sports car to huge snowmen. And in the middle of this, Mr Hanky him(it?)self.

As usual when I see funny and nicely built things, I had to take some pictures. I also had a bit of a chat with Torley, and yeah, even though we often enough chat in IMs, it was the first time I was actually meeting “Torley Jr” in-world, and not only through screenshots or what other people say. Must say that my day was complete, then

The huge globe	Cooking the giant snowman??
Mr Hanky!	And finally meeting Torley Jr

Until now, I had only lent a somewhat unattentive ear to all the talk about Spittoonie, as I wasn’t sure of when I could visit it (I had mainly heard about the blackjack tables too, and I’m really not into casino stuff, so well). But then, I had a peek all the same, and I must say… I was pleasantly surprised.

Granted, I didn’t go very far for the moment, I just peered at the arrival area, took the monorail, and dropped at the first station. Said station however being calld “Blue Mountain”, it was quite a deal of fun in the end. There were several attractions there, that I’ve never been into in my fist life, but oddly enough, trying them here was pretty funny. The mountain ride was a blast, the Gravity Well was impressing to try (especially in mouselook, haha), and nobody can of course resist the call of the Pirate boat, can they. This is a place I’ll probably come back to later on, as the little I’ve seen of it yet was already very nice!

There was no way I would miss seeing the recently opened Neverland project, certainly not after Fey Brightwillow and bacara Rhodes have given us yummy appetizers about it on the forums. Old England? James Barrie? Peter Pan? Sure, I’m game, and more than once! And now, I’m not sure I can really describe yet what my first feelings on this have been, except for the (poorly adequate) word of “wow!”. Amazing? Striking? Even more another world than Second life has ever been? This morning, after I had finally managed to complete a little “Victorian” dress I wanted to make specifically for this place (I have plenty of Japanese, Asian, gothic and smart outfits, but nothing like this yet), I took my first trip to the Olde England sim… and I was overwhelmed.

The story begins at the railroad station, where the visitor can find the First chapter, and also her first directions into the place. Of course, once I spotted the train itself, I also had to take a peek – did I mention I’m just in love with old engines? No? Well, it’s done now. Important note… one cannot fly in Olde England. The only way to do so is to learn from… Peter himself, says the tale! Instead, to travel into town, you can of course use your good old feet, but also take a bicycle at the station, borrow a nice little car, or ride the tramway onto the main street, where you will find Buckingham palace, and many ‘ye olde shoppes’ for all your needs if by chance you hadn’t been able to find an appropriate era costume. As a gift to visitors, all is free, and you will soon find out that trying on the clothes themselves is quite a lot of fun too.

Truth be told, there is just so much to see in there, that time flew by, and a full hour had already passed, that I hadn’t even seen more than the shopping street and a quick glimpse of the Palace! Then, stepping out of the tramway, I saw it, far away on the horizon – Neverland itself, under the glimmering stars. I cannot go there yet, I must meet Peter first. But my travel there has only begun, and only three chapters have been read so far. My ongoing trip will certainly unveil even more marvels, this I am sure of now!

I needed to go see them, so of course, I took a few pictures. These edifices, currently located near the Ivory Tower branch in Natoma, are indeed temporary only (they’re part of – if I understood it well – a project/challenge organized by the Edifice Rex group).

From left to right, and top to bottom, the works of: Barbarra Blair, Robin Pennyfeather, Olympia Rebus, and Sulumor Romulus. (There are more, but these are the ones I snapshott’ed.)

I just can’t resist, because both of them are so cute… Yesterday (or rather this morning, it was well past midnight), I came back to Kafiri after Brian (the person I sold my land to) had IMed me. Back when we were concluding the sale, he had told me he intended to put a forest on my former plot, and that if he got around to put a bear on it – he already has an eagle, called Weedy, like another of the neighbors – he would name it Tana. So not only is Tana born now, but she has a cub too! Aren’t they lovely??

Realizing that if I went on procrastinating and never be satisfied, I’d also never put this darn website out… I booked a few hours today, gave myself a good old virtual kick in my shiny bottom, and went back to working on it. Granted, I had already prepared a few pages, but these were more about content than real graphic effort, and seriously needed a revamp.

The result (and first real version of the website) can now be found at http://aozora.paradygma.com. Not very hard to remember, isn’t it. I say “first version”, because knowing myself I’ll sooner or later do another revamp (read: the day I grow tired of the current layout). But for the moment, it fills its role, it provided me some fun in making it, and now gives me a nice display of my works not only in game but also on the web. Yayh! go me. Until the next time, that is.

Oh, and I discovered that the Le Cadre bingo has been put to 12 pm. That means no more tiring myself to death to attend because formerly it was at midnight my time, and would often last till 2 am (on work days, that’s a killer). This is gonna be fun!

This time for good, I hope, because I’ve found a lovely place, and no matter the tier acrobaties I had to do to take it (with the help of the owner, who kindly accepted to push the sale back until I could take the land), I’m now freshly and proudly installed in Varney, between the mountain and Hiro’s and Rimble’s places. I guess we’ll see an increasing number of Japanese builds in here in the near future, as more friendly neighbors have joined as well.

Truth be told, I’m going to have interesting things to do with this land… and it has some surprises too. but this will come in time! Right now, I’ve barely finished moving in, transporting my build, vendors and various little things, as I had to make sure everything would fit and look nice before putting my old land for sale. I know I’m going to do some transformations there, probably rebuild my house/store too at some point… so many opportunities, as the land is wider than what I had envisioned first, and this tends to make me prims-trigger-happy. If there’s one thing I absolutely don’t regret in Second Life, it’s indeed this one. And we had a quick meeting with the neighbors yesterday, all a good bunch of fine people… yes, this place is just perfect.

Goodbye, my little place in Ebisu. Granted, you were a nice place -but Varney is even nicer!

So I’ve been “going out” a bit more again, attending a few bingos and parties, stuff like that… and at times, I’ve seriously thought I would be going mad. Why? Not because of the people… but because of the annoying people.

I’m somewhat wondering if I’m not overreacting a bit about this, yet it really makes it hard to enjoy certain events at times… really. Oddly enough or not, this has systematically been happening with “new” people. So, out of ignorance? Or just their regular selves? I have been a newbie too. I still am, in many areas of Second Life. There was a time when I was also completely broke with my pitiful 50$L stipend that wouldn’t even buy me a T-Shirt. But as far as I remember, even in my very first days in here, I’ve never: begged, annoyed people, played with bombs and rocket launchers in an area where an event was taking place, rezzed countless prims and stupid poy-poy items that were only adding to the chat- and general sim-lag, chatted incessantly when other people around were trying to enjoy an event or mind their own business. There’s a place for all and everything, and “being new” shouldn’t normally prevent anyone from at least remotely realizing (especially when other attendants complain) that they’re just being annoying, and not “funny” or “witty”? No?...

Yes… I’m probably overreacting. Yet when I’m forced to mute someone and/or a chatting item because their incessant banter-spam is driving me nuts, maybe it’s not so much a matter of reacting, but of really facing something that is damn annoying? I don’t come to an event to read irrelevant comments and cope with farting sounds and gun smoke, after all.

But! Woe to me, for being so quiet all the time! I tend to forget that it’s not the case for everyone! Haha.