Go Deeper into the World of Molotov Alva

Today, the work of two of our own, Molotov Alva (aka Douglas Gayeton) and the King of the Hobos, Orhalla Zander, will premiere exclusively on Cinemax at 8:00pm (ET/PT): the first three episodes of a ten-part Machinima called Molotov Alva and His Search for the Creator: A Second Life Odyssey .

Hamlet Au just did a beautiful profile piece about Orhalla on his New World Notes , and Eric Reuters published an interesting interview with Molotov, too. You can also read an interview with Molotov conducted by HBO here.

In addition to the broadcast on Cinemax, the in-world premiere of the first two episodes will be shown at the new Cinemax sim at 5pm SLT today (teleport directly from here).

Given the importance of this effort to virtual worlds, I was honored when Molotov and Oz invited me to prepare a tour within Second Life® to be offered alongside a tour of their own design via kiosks at locations where the filming took place. Knowing my fixation on things NPIRL (Not Possible in Real Life), Molotov was quick to point out that I had to design a journey to closely parallel each episode in the film, so not everything you will see on it is NPIRL. Most of it is, though!

Sending our love to Patty1 Rosca

This photo by Zimmy Zuhal

March 16 update: She's home, and among us! Welcome home <3

March 15 update: Patty1 has phoned home to the Hobos! She was just about to catch a flight home from Iraq. In fact, she is on her way to the U.S. and home at this very minute. Welcome back, Patty1 <3

March 7 update: Patty1 has emailed Orhalla Zander to say that she will be coming home soon. She is looking forward to seeing all her SL friends.

March 4 update: Per Aitolda Coojoke, Patty1 Rosca has been taken off the respirator long enough to make a couple of calls to friends, asking that everyone be reminded what a hard-headed hobo she is. :D When she recovers, she intends to return to her duties in Iraq.

March 2 update: Patty1 has been hospitalized in Bagram, Afghanistan. She has burns to the face and neck, broken ribs and a punctured lung. She's had surgery and it is as yet unknown if she will be moved to Germany.

~.~

We just learned today that fellow SLer Patty1 Rosca - one of Second Life's Hobos - who left to serve in Iraq on February 18, 2008 with the US Armed Forces, was injured by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) while on duty.


Patty1's Platoon - Thank you, Dru Bracken for providing this photograph.

The extent of her injuries is not known at this time.

"Patty1 left for Iraq to serve as a medic because she wanted to preserve life. She wanted to continue life, not take it away. That's what her job is," said Orhalla Zander, who is known in Second Life as the King of the Hobos. "I say IS because she's strong and will keep going. We won't lose our Patty1," he added.

Please join us in sending our collective wishes that she will be home and back among us soon.


This photo by Wellington Bahram

Patty1, if you have a chance to see this, you are in our thoughts and prayers!

Metaverse Journal interviews Pavig Lok - My thoughts: top builder, lead creative... but an even better mentor

There's an excellent interview and a good read today by Lowell Cremorne about Pavig Lok - one of the true Giants in Second Life (and height has nothing to do with this... my avatar towers over Pav's) - at the Metaverse Journal.

Being a Second Life Hobo, I had the good fortune to meet Pavig very soon after my rez day; surely in the first week. Pav's influence on me is incalculable. Yes, Pav's builds are always brilliant in concept, always executed to perfection and invariably great fun. If I were to choose collaborators for any build project, Pav would surely be somewhere on the top of that list.


Pav on the far left, at one of many fun Hobo field trips

Importantly though, since day one, Pav has been a mentor to me and to countless others, a go-to-person for any kind of question, whether technical or how to handle a prickly situation, and above all, Pav has been a friend. It's not been a sentimental or maudlin friendship, but one built on my deep respect and appreciation. Heh, I don't believe I've ever even hugged Pav! In fact, it's unlikely I would have stuck around had it not been for Pav's support, gentle but honest nudges to quit being (insert any infraction here), balanced and always fascinating insights, and unending nuggets of advice.


Pav on the far right at yet another Hobo event; always there for the important stuff

I can't teleport you to a build to show you Pavig's greatest work. I can only point to myself and scores of others who are better people because of this one extraordinary Pastiest Hobo.

Virtual Weddings O.o

Weddings in Second Life... :o Granted, they are meaningful and important to the people who are tieing the knot, but the *ennui* for those attending! Makes one question the trappings of civilization altogether. Few acts are more deserving of admiration than when a good friend devotes precious hours on a Saturday being subjected to these laggy RL-wanna-be fetes.

Frequency Picnic, my dear friend and fellow Second Life Hobo (and a charter member of Impossible IRL, I might add!), gave me permission to republish this hilarious account of the spontaneous nuptials between hobos Candy Cornwall and Megan Choche... Luna Idler presiding. Now here's a wedding I would have given my eye teeth to attend:

Candy and Meg's wedding 7-6-07
I know I haven't posted in a while, I just don't feel like I've been doing anything noteworthy lately. Friday night , though, I happened to drop into Hobo village just as a friend's wedding was starting. In true Hobo fashion, nobody was invited, we just all showed up, and the proceedings were predictably unorthodox. Some pictures, and a transcript of the event (by Hotspur's request):

(left to right: Megan Choche, Candy Cornwall and Luna Idler)

Luna Idler shouts: everyone plz be seated err um nvm : )
Candy Cornwall: someone, anyone! hee
Candy Cornwall: good try, pshh
Nolan Finney: hello freq :))
Luna Idler: hi Freq
bartelby Pegler: Hiya freq :)
Candy Cornwall: hi Freq! :)
Aten Milo: keep quiet
Amy Plympton: i'll try.. cant walk straight.. i'll be the drunk dad who is depressed about giving away his only daughter
Megan Choche: ok lets go
Candy Cornwall: Lunas gonna marry Meg and I, look out! hee :)
You: oh cool, Pastor Luna
Nolan Finney: there you are freq - looking all over for you :))
You: hi niamh
Megan Choche: ok im ready *smiles*
Luna Idler: yea, cuz i molest children, im qualified
You: heh
Candy Cornwall: *gulp* me too :)
Luna Idler shouts: ahem ahem
Megan Choche: take pics please
Candy Cornwall: ready i mean
Amisja Fillion: eeeuuuw luna
You: are you gettin gmarried right now?
Megan Choche: yes
You: damn! I should have dressed up
Luna Idler shouts: we all gathered here today to witness the union of ....
Luna Idler shouts: Candy Corwall
Candy Cornwall: *smiles giddily*
bartelby Pegler looks for tux
Luna Idler shouts: and Megan Choche
Megan Choche: *smiles8
Nolan Finney: mega- did you still need me to walk you down the isle - couldn't fine you :))
bartelby Pegler: damn sorry i deleted it
Luna Idler shouts: ill cut straight to the chase
Candy Cornwall: hee hee
Niamh Pfeffer: :-)
Megan spanked Candy's ass
Megan spanked Candy's ass
Megan spanked Candy's ass
Megan spanked Candy's ass
Megan spanked Candy's ass
Megan spanked Candy's ass
Megan spanked Candy's ass
Megan spanked Candy's ass
Megan spanked Candy's ass
Megan spanked Candy's ass
Luna Idler shouts: Meagn, do you take Candy to love and cherish, through scurvy and poverty, til death do you part?
Megan spanked Candy's ass
Megan spanked Candy's ass
Megan spanked Candy's ass
Megan spanked Candy's ass
Megan spanked Candy's ass
Megan spanked Candy's ass
You: LOL
Megan spanked Candy's ass
Candy Cornwall: eeps!
Megan Choche shouts: yes
Candy Cornwall: :)
Megan spanked Candy's ass
Megan Choche shouts: take pitures for us please
Luna Idler shouts: Candy, do you take Mrgan to love and cherish through scurvy and poverty, til death do you part?
Candy Cornwall: i most certainly do :) :) :)
Luna Idler shouts: Megan*
Megan Choche shouts: and her fleas also
Luna Idler shouts: k, i now pronounce you married
Candy Cornwall: and her fleas
Luna Idler shouts: you may kiss
Megan Choche: wohooott
Candy Cornwall: yayyyy! my favorite part :)
Luna Idler: WooT! WooT!
Amisja Fillion: eeeuuuuwwww
Candy gives Megan a big kiss.
Luna Idler: (enthusiastic applause)
Candy Cornwall: !kiss Megan
You: c'mon, smooch!
Luna Idler: (enthusiastic applause)
Amisja Fillion: yuck stop talking about sex stuff
Nolan Finney: clap clap clap
Megan Choche: MMMMMMMMM *moooans*
Amisja Fillion: yuck
Geo Meek: (enthusiastic applause)
Amisja Fillion: eeeeuuuwww
Geo Meek: (enthusiastic applause)
Megan Choche: again please
You: WooT
Candy Cornwall: / gah! wifey, heee, yumm :)
Amisja Fillion: PG place
You: yay yay!
Megan Choche: again and again
bartelby Pegler: a cheer goes up from the crowd
Geo Meek: WooT
Luna Idler: WooT! WooT!
Candy Cornwall: !kiss Megan
Alec Paragon: woot
Geo Meek: WooT
Candy gives Megan a big kiss.
Geo Meek: YIFFY! ^.^
Nolan Finney: yiffy
Megan Choche: V^vv^V PuRrRrzZz V^vv^V
Megan Choche shouts: *kisses deeply*
Luna Idler: Geo shouldve hadda shotgun ready
Frequency Picnic cries
Luna Idler: a classic hobo weddin
Candy Cornwall: / *coos* *melts* :)
whirligig Rutabaga throws beer cans
Luna Idler cries.
Candy Cornwall: WooT
Nolan Finney gives a happy little howl!
Geo Meek: WooT
Megan Choche shouts: ok you cook clean and worship me candy
bartelby Pegler: property rights?
Frequency Picnic blows her nose on geo's sleeve
Luna Idler: WooT! WooT!
Geo Meek: V^vv^V HoWlLLzZz V^vv^V
Geo Meek: V^vv^V HoWlLLzZz V^vv^V
Amisja Fillion: whats the point of being married?????
Candy Cornwall: you all so sweet, i love you guys *gushes* :)
Megan Choche: V^vv^V PuRrRrzZz V^vv^V
Niamh Pfeffer: Congrats Megan and Candy!
Hooper gives Frequency a big hug.
Kewi Noel: purrrrrrr
Kewi Noel mews
You: purrs quietly =^.^=
Candy Cornwall: thank you ")
Luna Idler purrrrrz!
Geo Meek: *purrs*
whirligig Rutabaga puuurrrrrrsss
bartelby Pegler: purrrrrrrrrr
Megan Choche shouts: all kidding aside I love you CANDY
Alec Paragon: congrats guys
Niamh Pfeffer: =^.^= PuRrRrzZz =^.^=
Geo Meek: *purrs*
Niamh Pfeffer: Mew!
Candy Cornwall: guess we cant have the honeymoon inna PG spot, hehe ;)
Luna Idler: we all goin on the honey moon with you two?
You: woohoo
Niamh Pfeffer: LOL!
Megan Choche: umm NOOO
Luna Idler: hobo roadtrip
Candy Cornwall: lol
Hooper March: eep this hobo is attracting the strays
Candy Cornwall: careful, with Meg you never know ;)
Luna Idler: hello
You: we have to wait for the second honeymoon
Amisja Fillion: hahahahahahaha
Candy Cornwall: lol, Freq
You: congratulations!
Megan Choche shouts: ok now as my gift Candy will sing im a lil tea pot
Candy Cornwall: thank you :) *stupid grins* :)
Megan Choche shouts: Right love
Candy Cornwall: oh gawd
Megan Choche shouts: go on we all love ya!!

Tooter Claxton, his avatars, and the first buzz on his upcoming Le Salon des Clochards Riches

On his blog, NPIRL'er, builder and avatar creator Tooter Claxton introduces himself as a graphics designer from the Netherlands who has been playing in punk rock bands for 30 years.

Lest you think this makes him sound a bit too "street," think again. This warm-hearted and very witty eccentric is dripping in kulture, and his texturing is... sublime. I would go so far as to call it elegantly sloppy.

Consider Brunnhilde, one of his deranged avatars. She's a bug-eyed Viking warrior...

...and every time she types, she waves her shield around rather dangerously.

You can acquire this hazardous female avatar at several in-world locations and on SLEX, but a peek at his main store is worth the trip alone. Tooter's approach to merchandising is as refreshing as it is zany. He has condensed the presentation of his wares to a 3D pseudo magazine trailer shop, and each magazine showcases one of his wacky creatures.
Slurl: Main store

Seeing as the scale of the store is so thrifty in both its foot print and prim count, Tooter used the surplus to create Le Salon des Clochards Riches (Salon for Rich Hobos), which he describes as "a shabby-luxe gathering place for digital bohemians and great loonies with a penchant for the absurd, a taste for pointless things, and a even a parlor game or two."

Chatting with Toot makes me realize how removed I am from what is hip and happening in real life. The Salon - slated to officially open its doors in about a month - will be loosely modeled after the Pecha Kucha style evenings that launched the SuperDeluxe club in Tokyo two years ago and then spread like peanut butter under the summer sun... all over the friggin globe.

Presenters are allowed 6 minutes and 40 seconds in which to expound on whatever topic they please, such as: forgotten disco queens, how to conceal and travel with your pet in a briefcase, or the benefits of chewing each mouthful at least 40 times. The real life format for these soires involves Power Point presentations of 20 slides each, but Toot thinks "that's just anal."

Tooter's in-world profile states that his ambition in Second Life is to win a beauty pagaent. How could he not, considering the enticement of his "Eyes?":

The "Your Aunt" avatar rezzes an ironing board whilst the wearer types:

And his latest creation, "Herr Doktor Gehirnschneider," shown standing here with her majesty, the Queen of the Netherlands...

...holds brains in one hand and a surgical knife in the other.

Tooter uses PhotoShop 7 to make his textures, and like all good Second Life Hobos, he subscribes to the school of freebies, which you can find at his main store and his Avatar Factory.


We'll just have to revisit Tooter Claxton's world again.

HBO acquires machinima "My Second Life" - Molotov Alva's video diaries

HBO announced today that it has aquired a documentary that was filmed entirely in-world.

Our very own Orhalla Zander, founder and King of the SecondLife Hobos group (more of a tribe if you ask me, and I'm happy to say I'm one of them!), has been working for some time now as art director and assistant director on the 7-episode Machinima "My Second Life."

Here is a somewhat blurry version with Portuguese subtitles, so please do realize that it is best to view it directly from their website.


The virtual biopic narrates the story of Molotov Alva - played by Douglas Gayeton, director of the pixelated documentary - after he disappears from his home in Petaluma, California. You will all recognize many SL locations that have been used for the shoot.

Hamlet Au of New World Notes was the first to break the news, and subsequently Reuters has carried the story worldwide.

HBO is owned by Time Warner, Inc. and the piece is slated to air sometime in 2008.

We asked Orhalla today how he thinks the mainstream world will react to My Second Life, and he replied: "I'm certain the documentary is going to be very educational to people who know NOTHING about Second Life. It's not tutorial at all. It reminds me of a documentary about the culture of SL. And for the people who are already residents of SL, they will certainly love the film."

He added, "I think it is becoming fairly natural to have crossovers from the virtual to the mainstream media realm; they have already happened. You have Frogg Marlow and Jaycatt bringing their music inside SL. Then you have Anshee Chung who founded virtual real estate. They were the first of the firsts... and I think that while our crossover may not be the first, all sorts of people will find something tantalizing about the documentary. It just captures so much of Second Life's culture."

We're immensely proud of you, Oz.