by Saffia Widdershins - Prim Perfect

Prim Perfect • August 2008



From the Editor... 

HELLO EVERYONE – AND WELCOME TO THE SUMMER 

issue of Prim Perfect! 

Yes, summer is here, and we’re exploring 

the romantic sims of the Isles of Fatima. Twenty-six 

sims of extraordinary 

beauty, and made for 

romance ... We take a trip 

around, and show you the 

amazing house that has 

been created for Prim Perfect 

there, in a very stunning 

setting. We have an 

interview with the owners, 

Fatima Ur and Incanus 

Merlin. And we also talk 

to the team at Metaversal 

Arts, one of whose designers, the very talented 

Yolanda Hirvi, worked with Fatima to create the 

Prim Perfect house. 

By way of contrast, our landscape of the 

month is the futuristic world of Extropia, an experiment 

in living in the future, a utopia rather 

than a dystopia. And, frankly, it’s gorgeous. Come 

and explore it with Alesia Markstein! 

This month, our Resident Home of the Month 

is set in the fascinating sim of Pretty N Punk – the 

work of a collaboration of young designers who 

combine beautiful vistas with a hard-edged grunge 

look. It makes for an intriguing combination, 

as M0lly Dench found out. 

We have an article on Relay for Life – with 

several people sharing their experiences of the 

day – and their appreciation of some of the fantastic 

builds. 

We also have news of a beautiful new rose 

– and a fascinating competition – from Soleil 

Snook of Snook’s Garden Centre. As well, there’s 

news of a wonderful Photo Contest on Orange 

Island that Prim Perfect is sponsoring, together 

with Orange. And don’t miss our regular treasure 

hunt too! 

We have further news of series of live concerts 

sponsored by Prim Perfect, Associated Northcliffe 

Digital and Radio Riel. All through the summer 

and autumn, we have arranged for the top 

live performers to pay tribute to their favourite 

artists on Tribute Island. The first two concerts, 

Prim Perfect • August 2008 

given by Louis Volare and Cylindrian Rutabaga, 

were a huge success. Make sure that you don’t 

miss the rest of the season – find out who’s playing, 

who they’ve chosen to pay tribute to – and 

when you can see them! 

Our gardening correspondent Kaye Robbiani 

writes about her creation of a spectacular 

garden, while Bailey Longcloth brings us the 

latest news from Homestyle Consolidated, the 

group that draws together all the best home 

style designers and keenest shoppers in the 

Second Life world! 

And this month they are joined by a new columnist, 

Gwen Carillon, the designer and artist, 

and moving force within the Content Creators 

Association. Gwen will be providing regular information 

on serious issues affecting content creation, 

for a not-to-be-missed regular feature. 

We have two different items giving advice to 

newbies – and helping out the rest of us too! Qwis 

Greenwood talks about low prim furniture, while 

Rascal Blanco explains about the new device to 

make our lips move when we talk. 

Our Charity News tells you about a fascinating 

non-profit that links South Texas and the West 

of Ireland, while we also bring your our regular 

news from Meta Makeover and information about 

our exciting new magazine, The Primgraph. 

All this – plus a really mammoth News from 

the Grid, Readers’ Letters, a fun quiz on the subjects 

of holidays and vacations by M0lly Dench ... 

and more!


28 

38 

84 


conte 

prim perfect 

ARTICLES 

Sim of the Month 

16 When the Sun Sets, You can 

Smell the Jasmine ... 

28 Places to Visit in the Isles of Fatima 

Interviews 

22 Strength in Numbers: Metaversal Arts 

26 Creators of Victorian Beauty: 

Fatima Ur and Incanus Merlin 

Special Features 

38 Relay for Life: 

the View from the SLCN Studio 

44 Join the Hunt for Twelve Magical 

Roses in the Realms of the Roses! 

54 Calameo - A New Format 

for Our Magazines 

57 Marvellous Musical Memories: 

The Tribute Island Concerts Continue 

66 The Content Creators Association 

75 Have You Read the Primgraph Yet? 

COMPETITIONS 

36 Win One Month Free in our Star Home 

48 Prim Perfect and Orange Island 

Sponsor a Fashion Photocontest 

90 Prim Perfect Treasure Hunt 

The Table of Contents and advertisements 

in Prim Perfect magazine are 

hyperlinked in the PDF version.


nts 

Sunday, August 10, 2008 • Issue 11 

REGULAR FEATURES 

009 News from the Grid 

013 South Texas and the West of Ireland 

Charity News 

032 A House to Smile About 

Build of the Month 

046 Do You Need a Vacation? 

Prim Perfect Quiz 

050 Pretty N Punk 

Readers’ Home of the Month 

060 HomeStyle Consolidated News 

62 Meta Makeover News 

071 Decorating on a Low-Prim Budget 

Advice for Newcomers 

078 Living in the Future 

Landscape of the Month 

084 A Midsummer Night’s Garden 

Gardening in Second Life 

088 Making Your Lips Move 

Advice for Newcomers 

103 How Do I? 

How Do I get Future Copies of Prim Perfect? 

How do I Advertise in Prim Perfect? 

103 Calling all Designers 

and Builders 

105 Advertiser’s Directory 

106 Credits 

Visit Prim Perfect online at: 

http://www.primperfect.net and 

http://primperfectblog.wordpress.com. 

78 

50 

[ON THE COVER] 

Prim Perfect celebrates summer in 

the Isles of Fatima. Cover photo 

by Perry Applemoor. [page 16]



REGULAR FEATURE 

News from the Grid 

New Studio for SLCN Relay for 

Life Telethon and New Offices for 

Meta Makeover 

You will remember how last month we told 

you about the work that Jeremey Ryan of Barefoot 

Designs [http://slurl.com/secondlife/ 

Snafu/65/149/63] and Dellybean North of True 

North Designs [http://slurl.com/secondlife/ 

Goun/176/64/30] did for our fantastic build at 

the Second Life Fifth Birthday celebrations – and 

in just a week too! 

So ... when SLCN contacted us and asked us 

to create a studio for them for the Relay for Life 

Telethon, who do you think we asked? Jeremey 

and Dellybean, of course. Except ... there was a 

catch. 

This time, they only had a day. 

But they are not people to refuse a challenge 

and, without loss of time, Jeremey was creating 

the building, while Delly, as well as advising, 

was creating a great café outside where people 

could sit and watch the Relay for Lifers hurrying 

past. Maxwell Graf of Rustica [http://slurl. 

com/secondlife/Rustica/130/116/58] came in 

and furnished the build, while Anhayla Lycia of 

Treesong Designs [http://slurl.com/secondlife/ 

Chatrez/185/89/24], who created the fantastic 

El Cid sim, produced a beautiful garden for us. 

Then, as if that wasn’t enough, Jeremey created 

a lovely little kiosk for us on Orange Island, as 

part of our participation in Orange’s Media Week. 

But then, SLCN (who adored their RFL studio) 

suggested that the main SLCN island could host 

the Prim Perfect/Meta Makeover birthday build, 

and generously gave us the land. That was a huge 

treat ... but Jeremey and Delly are going further. 

The site is still under construction (hard hats are 

advisable), but it is already taking shape. In addition 

to the large design hall we had at SL5B, 

there is also a dedicated Meta Makeover studio, a 

green room, and offices – all as part of the main 

build. 

Then Delly is creating a wonderful stepped 

café to one side of the building, where people 

will be able to enjoy coffee or something stronger, 

and dance to their hearts’ content (courtesy 

of Maar Auer’s wonderful dances from 

Metaversal Arts [http://slurl.com/secondlife/ 

Cherish/143/200/60]. Strolling along from the 

café, you will find yourself at the very stylish 

beach, and along from that is a beautiful pier for 

fishing ... in short, this will be a studio, an exhibition 

area, and have social amenities too! 

We’re planning a spectacular opening party 

too, so watch the blog for full details! 

Decadent Decay: Sue Stonebender’s 

Intemptesta Nox Gets an Extreme 

Makeover N’Awlins Style 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Intemptesta%20No 

x%20/177/88/77/] 

Sue Stonebender’s Intemptesta Nox sim is 

getting an extreme makeover with a gothic old 

N’awlins twist. A grand old mansion is the new

0 Prim Perfect • August 2008


home of the Serendipity pianos line, along with 

a host of decadent new heirloom furnishings, 

stained glass torchiers and the revival of the 

decadent Opera Nox chandeliers and lighting. 

A stately magnolia and grizzled old apple trees 

shelter the grounds, complete with the gentle 

hum of buzzing cicadas, blowing petals, an animated 

tire swing and chill poses to hide in the 

branches or sit beneath the mantle to stargaze or 

read. Peek in this month as a line of deep Southinspired 

rockers and wicker furniture arrives on 

the wraparound porch, and the belfry and halls 

get a good old-fashioned haunting. 

News from the Isles of Fatima 

In the Isles of Fatima there has been a lot of 

news this month – starting with the news that the 

Isles have expanded to twenty-six! 

Miss Dixie Dabney has opened a fabulous coffee 

shop, Bottom of the Cup, which will feature 

music, artists, and poetry readings. Located on 

Fatima’s Desire in the village, it’s is a great place 

to relax [http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fatimas%2 

0Desire/101/249/24]. 

Lord and Lady Smadga have opened their two 

lovely islands in Fatima’s Serenity to horseback 

riding. Here you can find beautiful horses to rent 

for an outing in the countryside with all profits 

benefitting Great Strides, an organization dedicated 

to helping those with disabilities through 

horseback riding and caring for the animals 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fatimas%20Serenit 

y/1/184/28]. 

The Isles of Fatima has expanded to the mainland 

with a plot in the infamous Bay City. They 

have set up a chapel and gardens and benches for 

all to use free, in the hope of enchanting mainland 

visitors with the delights of the Victorian era. It is 

an excellent place to visit, and Bay City is truly a 

beautiful build, something not seen in mainland 

before – relax on a park bench and read the most 

recent copy of Prim Perfect or The Primgraph! 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bay%20City%20- 

%20Tanelorn/153/150/25] 

It’s All Greek to Me ... Greek 

Style Temple from Kitstar Designs 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Vorlheim/54/210/270] 

Kittie Munroe of Kitstar Designs has long had 

one of her very earliest builds on display for visitors 

to enjoy – the original temple building dedicated 

to the Goddess Nike. Many people who visit 

the store enjoy the views, and a fair number have 

asked if she would consider selling it ... and now 

it’s up for sale! 

Fully researched and structurally accurate, 

News continued on page 94



CHARITY NEWS 

South Texas and the 

West of Ireland 

by Coughran Mayo 

QUICK ... WHERE DOES IRISH CULTURE, WITH A TEXAS 

twang, meet up with compassion for children in a 

way that makes countless citizens of the Second Life 

world happy, and helps make possible life-changing 

events for children whose days are often filled with 

fear and violence? If 

you suggested Second 

Life’s West of Ireland, 

you would be exactly 

right! The West of Ireland 

sims represent an 

incredible synergy between 

two non-profit 

groups that leads to 

fun, entertainment and 

functional living and 

business arrangements 

here in Second Life. 

I say ‘sims’ because 

West of Ireland 

(or as it is often 

known in short, WOI) 

comprises fifteen 

sims, roughly in the 

middle of the Second 

Life map. Three sims 

– Neart, Bundoran 

Reef, and West of 

Ireland itself – are 

fully public spaces. 

West of Ireland island, 

the original sim 

in the estate, is the hub of cultural and music 

activities for the estate. Nancy Blake’s Pub is a 

popular venue for live music events, DJ’ed dances, 

and casual gatherings, and is one of the most 

authentic pubs in Second Life. The Marketplace 

and Boardwalk feature high-quality retail prod- 

ucts ranging from fine art to clothes to homes 

and furniture. The WOI Art Gallery hosts a series 

of changing exhibits of art, both real world works 

and those created for the virtual world. 

A replica of an actual Irish surf spot on the 

west coast of Ireland, 

Bundoran Reef 

is Second Life’s first 

cold-water surfing 

spot, with free loaner 

surfboards available 

to all, and a surfing 

shop for you to buy 

the clothes and gear 

you need once the 

surfing bug has bitten. 

There are even 

surfing lessons on 

Wednesdays at 5 p.m. 

or by appointment. 

Neart Island is also a 

great surfing area and 

a venue for cultural 

events. A re-creation 

of Newgrange hosts 

rotating displays on 

Irish history, culture, 

and music. 

All of the activities 

on these three 

sims, as well rents 

paid for properties 

on the remaining twelve sims, which are primarily 

residential, cover the costs of maintaining the 

entire fifteen-sim region, which is a development 

of our first featured non-profit, the South Texas 

Celtic Music Association (STCMA). The rest of the 

proceeds each month, as well as all money do-

nated to the numerous gifting bins in the public 

areas, go to support Project Children, the second 

non-profit we want to tell you about this month. 

The Goals of the STCMA, in both real life and 

Second Life, are these: 

• Providing airfare assistance to Project Children 

kids; 

• Increasing awareness of Celtic culture and 

music; and 

• Establishing relationships with a new core 

group of volunteers world-wide. 

WOI and the affiliated sims of the region have 

helped the STCMA realize these goals in Second Life. 

The Project Children charity [http://www. 

projectchildren.org] was born from the boiling 

pot of political and religious violence that was 

Northern Ireland in 1975. Soldiers, armoured vehicles 

and surveillance cameras were everywhere, 

people were dying in random violent actions, and 

children were growing up against a background 

of fear. 

Project Children was formed to combat that 

fear, and the growing separatism between Protestant 

and Catholic families that was the fertile 

ground in which that fear was planted. That summer, 

Project Children brought six kids from Northern 

Ireland (three Protestants and three Catholics) 

to Greenwood Lake, NY, where they lived with a 

host family. There were two goals. Most importantly, 

they wanted to get the kids away from 

the violence and the paramilitaries who worked 

double-time recruiting kids during school breaks. 

They also wanted to show the Protestant and 

Catholic kids that they could live together and 


actually like each 

other. It worked. 

In the thirty 

years since, the 

political situation 

in Northern Ireland 

has changed 

substantially. Although 

political 

violence still exists, 

it is diminishing 

and Project 

Children adapts 

with the changing 

times by continuing 

its mission and 

including children 

living in poverty 

or whose families 

have been affected 

by the ‘Irish 

Troubles’. Some children have had a father or 

mother imprisoned most of their young lives. Too, 

changes within local communities can move a bit 

slower. Long-held feelings still separate families of 

different faiths. Project Children is still at work, 

healing those rifts and stilling the fears of kids. 

For more than thirty years now, Project Children 

has turned despair into hope for more than 

20,000 children from Northern Ireland. Project 

Children has given these children – Protestant 

and Catholic – a much-needed break from the 

grim politics of their own country. By coming to 

the USA during the summer months, these kids 

get an extraordinary chance to play together, live 

together, and understand each other. Prejudice 

is replaced by understanding, thus hatred is replaced 

with love. Poverty is replaced by hope for 

a better tomorrow. 

From the initial program, involving six kids 

in 1975 and attendant costs of US$1600, Project 

Children has grown one hundredfold in the number 

of children helped each year, and the budget 

is nearly a million dollars. None of it goes 

to salaries. Unpaid volunteers, host families, and 

area coordinators provide countless benefits as 

‘in-kind’ donations. One expense that remains, 

though, is airfare. This is why groups like the 

South Texas Celtic Music Association do fund raising 

for Project Children airfare expenses. There 

are groups in over twenty states helping with fund 

raising for these travel expenses. And, there are 

the West of Ireland projects in Second Life, doing 

their part to support this worthy effort. Come 

visit soon! E


SIM OF THE MONTH 

When the Sun 

Sets, You can 

Smell the Jasmine ... 

AT LEAST, YOU CAN IMAGINE YOU DO, SO POWERFUL 

is the ambiance of these romantic, enchanted 

islands. 


by Saffia Widdershins 

The Isles of Fatima are a group of twentysix 

sims, loosely Victorian in theme, but with an 

even stronger emphasis on beauty and romance.


Each is named after Fatima Ur who, together with 

her husband, Incanus Merlin, is the owner of the 

Isles. So there is Fatima’s Love, Fatima’s Smile, 

Fatima’s Artistry and Fatima’s Wish, among others 

(although on the Grid Map you need to remove 

the apostrophe and have Fatimas Love etc.). 

‘I love the atmosphere, the people I meet, 

the events, the immersive nature of it ...’ says 

one resident, who prefers to remain 

anonymous – perhaps because she 

goes on to add, with a slight blush, 

‘My favourite spot is this small pond 

hidden away. I ... go skinny dipping 

there.’ 

‘I love the atmosphere’, agrees 

Spikey Timeless, who runs a Figleaves 

store on the islands. ‘I was looking 

for a new shop since I make mostly 

steampunk/Victorian clothes and 

thought it would be a good place. 

And I love the way that there’s always 

someone about.’ 

‘One thing I love is what a strong 

focus there is on beauty’, says Allia 

Benelli. ‘Each sim is formed somewhat 

differently, and Fatima and Incanus 

take pleasure in their ability 

to create inviting and varied textures. I love the 

hills, valleys, and waterways. I also enjoy the various 

rides, such as the motorboat and balloons. All 

the waterways are open and connected, so a person 

can sail or ride without hindrance. I have a 

couple of little boats and a seahorse I ride. Sometimes 

I just walk or fly around underwater. Laine 

Brandenburg has developed a Jules Verne type 

underwater world on his Isle of Fatima’s Wonder. 

There are other islands worthy of mention, too, 

but if I get started, I’ll be writing a whole book on 

Fatima’s Isles. I always find something interesting 

here. I have met some of my neighbours and they 

are good and interesting people.’ 

For Allia, Fatima’s structures and creations 

add their magic, with detailed homes, garden 

plants and trees, lighthouses, bridges, 

and even a Stonehenge (the famous 

Neolithic monument) set on a 

mountain that anyone can visit and 

enjoy. 

‘I go over to Victoriana every 

few days to see what is new’, she 

says. ‘There is a sense of humour 

here and of joy, though of course 

people have their tensions from 

time to time, as anywhere. Whatever 

the need, Fatima and Incanus 

are always interested and ready to 

help.’ 

Francesco Smadga, owner, with 

his wife, of Lord and Lady Smadga’s 

Estate on Fatima’s Serenity, agrees. 

‘Here on the Isles of Fatima we have 

found it all: Great friends, a restful, peaceful 

home and a great landlady and landlord.’ 

And Lord and Lady Smagda play an important 

role in the community too, as he explains: 

‘I have only my home here, but my wife has several 

shops, and one of the isles we have [is] full 

of horses, stables and a riding course for a nonprofit 

organisation called Great Strides.’

Yolanda Hirvi who, as part of Metaversal Arts, 

is our designer of the month, feels a similar attraction 

to the Isles. 

‘Fatima’s Isles are really nicely landscaped’, 

she explains, ‘and I like the Victorian look. It 

is very green and lush and has fun stuff like 

hot air balloons. I haven’t had time to explore 

the southern islands yet, but I have 

heard that Laine has built really 

cool stuff there! Fatima and Incanus 

have reasonable prices and their 

customer service is very friendly 

and fast.’ 

She started with one of her shops 

on the isles but, for Yolanda, things 

developed from there. ‘I just happened 

to end up in Fatima’s Shopping 

Village (in Fatima’s Desire) on 

my shopping trip. I liked what I saw 

and I rented a small store there. And 

when Linden Lab announced that the 

prims of open sims would be doubled, 

I wanted to have an island as a home 

because I wanted to build a BIG house 

and have horses and my sailing boats 

out. And I didn’t have any doubts where I wanted 

my island to be.’ 

For Yolanda, a key attraction was the generous 

amount of water areas that are a feature of 

the Isles, whether glorious waterfalls, romantic 

pools, or stretches of open sea between the Isle, 

often linked by graceful bridges. For Yolanda, 

that, she says happily, means more water to sail 

as the Isles expand. 


‘And DARN I love my island, Fatima’s Cherished’, 

she says emphatically. ‘It really feels like 

home. I have had free hands with landscaping 

and building, so it looks just the way I wanted. I 

just wish I would have more time to spend in my 

home island. It has special feel that is hard to 

explain. I don’t use privacy orbs there so strange 

people will pop in, but it doesn’t 

bother me. So my island is open for 

anyone to visit. You may even get a 

nice cup of tea.’ 

And that certainly seems in keeping 

with the spirit of the Isles! 

Tuppy Love has a similar love for 

her Isle home. ‘I searched high and 

low for months to find somewhere to 

lay my head and heart and then after 

flying around sims I found this beautiful 

sim that was calm and peaceful 

– it was somewhere I could actually 

escape to from real life when I needed 

to relax. I rented a small property 

with just enough room for one. The 

view was beautiful – I sat and watched 

the sunrise, listening to the calm waters 

of the shore.’ 

Now Tuppy is a long-term resident and says 

that her friends love to come and visit her. 

‘I have been to many places’, she says, ‘and I 

have never felt so comfortable than I do here ... 

there is just something about this place I love. 

The people are friendly and the owners are one 

in a million always there when you need a hand. 

It’s just a lovely atmosphere!’ 

An interesting element is that the residents


and the store-keepers welcome the expansion of 

the Isles (something that often causes problems). 

But here there is real enthusiasm for growth. 

Yolanda Hirvi, for example, says, ‘I am looking 

forward to expand towards north as well as the 

south! My island is in the north and I am looking 

forward to get more islands around me. AND 

more sailing water!’ 

Phrost Whiteberry owns a store in the Isles, 

and is similarly enthusiastic. ‘It seems the more 

Fatima adds, the more I like it. Her main store is 

wonderful and I stop in quite often to see what 

is new. She has done her best to make this land 

a “must see” place. And I am sure that she will 

always find something wonderful to add.’ 

‘I love the way that Fatima’s Isles are always 

changing and growing – always something new to 

see’, agrees Allia Benelli, who has a gallery on 

Fatima’s Desire. ‘Though some residents need 

their privacy, others have open gardens and creative 

landscapes to which they invite and welcome 

visitors. I am continually exploring.’ 

And it seems that, as the Isles of Fatima continue 

to grow and evolve, there will be more and 

more to explore too! E



DESIGNER OF THE MONTH 

Strength in Numbers: 

Metaversal Arts 

THIS MONTH’S DESIGNER, YOLANDA HIRVI, IS THE 

owner of Oblonski Designs – and we featured an 

interview with her in our May edition [http:// 

en.calameo.com/read/000004234111f2415d802] 

when she made over a cottage in the Orkneys for 

out SLCN TV show, Meta Makeover. But Yolanda 

has another influential role in the world of Second 

Life design – and that is as co-owner of the design 

collective, Metaversal Arts. 



Metaversal Arts is, as Darleez DeCuir (the other 

co-owner) says, a metabrand (i.e. a brand that 

is active in-world), a network and community of 

talented SL developers and artists, content creators 

and other Metaversal Arts staff. 

Or, as one of its members, Fnordian Link puts it, 

‘Metaversal Arts is a unique and wonderfully eclectic 

store featuring interesting and high quality furniture, 

magic items, dance animations and much more!’


Metaversal Arts members sell their work at 

the Metaversal Arts Shop – as well as individual 

stores across the grid. They also rent space for 

merchants with quality products complementing 

our existing product lines. 

‘Our requirement is that the products are 

suitable for the “vintage/antiques/steampunk” 

theme, or otherwise cool’, explains Daleez with 

a smile. 

At present, Metaversal Arts consists of the 

following people: 

Yolanda Hirvi - Co- Founder, CEO, Owner of 

Oblonski Designs (furniture), responsible for building 

and design of Metaversal Arts stores, event organizing, 

public relations, manager of the Metaversal 

Arts Store, graphic design, machinima 

Darleez DeCuir - CO-founder, CEO, 

Public relations, networking, event 

organizing 

Maar Auer - Owner of MaarBaZaar, 

graphic design, event organizing, machinima, 

public relations, animator and 

designer 

Crystaleen Laval - Owner of Crys’ 

Creations (mostly outside/garden items), 

event organizing, builder and designer 

Moundsa Mayo - Scripter, designer 

Lord Lisle - Event organizing, modeling, 

machinima 

Fnordian Link - Scripter, designer, 

owner of Fnordian Magical Scripting (and 

maker of items including Multiporter, magic mirrors, 

tarot card system, and a variety of other 

magical items) 

Jukka Wilkinson - animator, owner of Live 

Your Fairytale animations 

Kheph777 Enoch - Scripter, builder, designer, 

owner of Kheph’s Creations (steampunk and 

other) 

Khiira Weston – a vital role as Store Assistant 

Other merchants who have 

a presence at Metaversal Arts, 

but who have no other active 

role in the community include: 

Arundel Dumart - designer, 

owner of Arundel Designs 

Canolli Capalini - designer 

and builder, owner of Capalini 

Music Boxes 

Pumpkin Tripsa - artist, designer, 

builder, owner of Shakra 

Nova Sculptures 

Metaversal Arts also has 2 affiliate 

vendors by: 

FloraPrims (designer: Vlad 

Bjornson) 

Aries Celestial Designs (designer: 

Aries Bicklin) 

Yolanda’s role within the 

community is a demanding one. 

‘I run the shop, and look for new merchants 

and members’, she explains. ‘I plan advertising, 

build, graphic design the adverts, and plan 

events. I am involved in everything that happens 

in Metaversal Arts’. 

But she believes passionately in what Metaversal 

Arts represents. ‘Because of the very talented 

members of our team, our store is special.


The collection of our products is very large, which 

means that our store attracts traffic that I could 

never have if there was just my stuff for sale. 

Also, I like the fact that I don’t have to do the 

decision-making alone. We support each other instead 

of competing’. 

That level of support has been seen, for example, 

in the launch of Maar Auer’s dances – such 

as the fabulous Charleston, which has seemingly 

swept across the grid. (It was a huge success at 

the café for the SL5B build, and was featured on 

Paisley Beebe’s Tonight Live! show.) Many of the 

team at Metaversal Arts came together to work 

on the delightful machinima that accompanied 

the launch, and to work on other promotions. 

This, of course, then benefits everyone in the 

community, as Maar explains. ‘I know the dances 

bring a lot of new people to Metaversal Arts, who 

then end up circulating and checking what else 

the place has got to offer, often with positive results 

for all parties concerned. And I hope things 

will remain that way.’ 

This is clearly a strength of having designers 

working together – and one that Yolanda believes 

will be important in the future. 

‘My goal is export Metaversal Arts to other vir-


tual worlds’, she says with determination. ‘And I 

also wish to expand our range of products to consulting 

services.’ 

Darleez and Yolanda founded Metaversal Arts 

in the summer of 2007. 

‘We needed a group for setting building permissions 

to a land which I owned’, Darleez explains. 

‘Yolanda built my first office there for 

me. After that Yolanda built her first shop, and 

soon after that we acquired some land together, 

my office moved there and we started to expand 

the group - we offered some space in the shop 

for Crystaleen Laval, Maar Auer and Fnordian 

Link. That time the area was called the Metaversal 

Arts Factory. Moundsa Mayo built his Chaos 

Machine in the yard, 

and in the gallery artist 

Moondrift Tomorrow had 

his first exhibition in Second 

Life.’ 

Darleez also feels the 

support that the community 

can bring to each other 

is important. For her, it 

is a wonderful experience 

to work with a group of 

talented and creative individuals 

from all over the 

world. 

‘When we do things 

together’, she says, ‘for 

example organise events, 

or when someone is marketing 

or advertising, everyone 

gets the benefits. 

It’s a win-win situation for 

all if someone’s ad brings 

customers to the shop. We 

also pay attention to good 

customer service We always 

help if they have questions or try to fix any 

problems they might have with their purchases. 

We listen to our customers, and if they have feasible 

suggestions, it is possible to do custom work 

for them as well. Good service adds value for the 

products we sell, and gives us a good reputation 

in the market.’ 

Crystaleen Laval agrees. ‘Metaversal Arts to 

me is a community of great friends and great artists 

who work together to bring you everything 

you could possibly need to furnish your second 

life, inside and out. It has benefited me and the 

rest of us here greatly, I feel. None of us depends 

on just one person nor one little corner of a store 

for our success or customer appreciation. We are 

a community, working and learning from each 

other’s strengths and weaknesses to make Metaversal 

Arts all it can be.’ 

‘My Metaversal Arts location has given me 

tons of extra exposure’, says Kheph777 Enoch, 

who was one of the designers of the amazing 

steampunk recreation of ‘A Garden of Earthly 

Delights’ for ‘Not Possible in Real Life’, and featured 

in our June 2008 issue [http://en.calameo. 

com/read/000004234ab7c99a7dff8]. ‘The sim 

has grown considerably since I was first invited, 

and it always has folks exploring all the goodies 

to be found there. Plus, Metaversal Arts has its 

own blog [http://metaversalarts.blogspot.com/] 

where my newest items are often featured.’ 

Jukka Wilkinson, who creates fairytale animations, 

points out another advantage of the 

community. ‘It gives new artists the opportunity 

to sell their products and get their name more 

widely known.’ 

At the moment, Metaversal Arts are very excited 

about the forthcoming launch of a new Maar 

Auer dance. Maar is working hard on Working on 

a slow, jazzy foxtrot. ‘It’s advancing slowly, as 

my dances always do’, she says ruefully. ‘Up till 

now it still looks like two clothes hangars having 

a wrestle - but I’m working on it. It should be 

presentable within a few days’ time, a week or 

so perhaps.’ 

We can’t wait to try it! E

INTERVIEW 


Creators of Victorian Beauty: 

Fatima Ur and Incanus Merlin 


FATIMA UR AND INCANUS MERLIN, THE CO-OWNERS 

of the Isles of Fatima, both started in the Second 

Life world at around the same time. Fatima followed 

an item on Yahoo News, while Incanus saw 

a item on the BBC News, and both decided to 

come in and check it out. 

‘And we’re still here, checking it out!’ says 

Fatima with a laugh. 

They both share an affinity for history, with 

perhaps is a reason for the historical nature of 

the Isles. 

‘I have an amateur’s interest in history’, says 

Incanus, ‘and Fatima has a RL affinity for bygone 

days – she would be quite happy to wake up tomorrow 

with the world reset to 1890.’ 

‘With the addition of microwave ovens!’ Fatima 

adds firmly. 

Their very first sim, Fatima’s Love, was a gift 

of love from Incanus to Fatima in May 2007, after 

they had spent some time together on the mainland. 

They grew tired of the lag and ugly builds 

that popped up seemingly at random and overnight. 

Once they moved to Fatima’s Love, they 

soon found that they were becoming landlords. 

‘Although we always intended to take a large 

part of the island to live in for ourselves’, says 

Incabus, ‘we decided 

to see if there was any 

scope to rent out the remainder 

in keeping with 

the Victorian theme.’ 

And there was interest. 

In fact, there was a 

great deal of interest! 

Since May 2007, they 

find that they have attracted 

a large number 

of those interested in 

Victorian life, or those 

who just like the ambiance 

of the sims; currently 

they have twentysix 

sims! 

‘When we started,’ 

says Fatima, ‘neither 

of us had any appreciable 

skills – apart from 

shopping!’ 

Now Fatima builds 

extremely popular houses for which Incanus provides 

most of the textures (or adaptations of other 

artists’ textures that they have purchased). 

In addition, Fatima has her own store – Antiques 

Artistry – which supplied many of the pieces that 

furnished this month’s Prim Perfect house, while 

her Garden Centre did the same for the lovely 

gardens at the house!


The ability to purchase Openspace sims as 

stand-alones instead of groups of four has been 

particularly key for the Isles of Fatima. 

‘It has meant that we could be much more 

flexible in offering suitable islands to existing and 

new residents’, says Incanus. ‘We are constantly 

delighted by the landscaping and buildings our 

residents put up – there are some truly beautiful 

places for people to explore.’ 

Among the Isles, they have a love for their 

building platform – the site of so much creation. 

‘It’s a bit of a mess, but we like it!’ says Fatima. 

‘As far as what we would like others to see’, 

says Incanus, ‘our favourite spot is Stonehenge 

– you can see everything from there and it is a 

peaceful spot, often used by residents and others 

for a spot of mediation.’ 

At the moment, their focus is on the sims that 

they already hold. 

‘We think we are simply content with what we 

have; we are not looking to aggressively expand, 

but we can do so if the demand is there’, says 

Fatima. ‘Running 26 sims, plus a thriving furniture/textures/garden 

centre doesn’t really leave 

us much time for anything else beyond what we 

have now!’ 

Their ambition is to be known as the best 

landlords in Second Life – but they admit that 

could be quite a quite a challenge given the number 

of good landlords out there! However, having 

seen the gorgeously landscaped sims and the extras 

that they are providing for their tenants, one 

must think – Fatima Ur and Incanus Merlin must 

be very high on the list! E

SIM OF THE MONTH 

Places to Visit in 

the Isles of Fatima 

by Jvstin Tomorrow 

WHILE SAFFIA AND THE REST OF THE PRIM PERFECT 

team has concentrated on speaking with Fatima 

Ur and seeing the Prim Perfect home, I decided 

to explore the length and breadth of the Isles of 

Fatima and found them found to be an oasis of 

bucolic Victorian romance. Here are some of the 

interesting spots that you might want to visit. 

Mount Desire Observatory 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fatimas%20Desire/ 

109/59/71] 

Readers of the blog will recall I have a strong 

interest in astronomy. So, it is no surprise that I 

spotted an observatory on one of the peaks and 

went to take a look at it. Mount Desire is not a 

true working telescope in the classic sense - although 

it does give you the opportunity of seeing 

some extra stars if you set your view to midnight 

and touch various parts of the telescope! And if 

your view is set to a brighter time of day, the 

Mount Desire Observatory holds a wonderful view 

of the village and the area around it. 


The Victorian Village of Desire 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fatimas%20Desire/ 

183/37/23] 

The Victorian village of Desire in Fatima’s Desire 

is a lovely little place with dozens of shops, 

many of which have a strong artistic bent to their 

wares. Look carefully - you could find a wide variety 

of specialized or unique items for sale. At 

Heron Curiosities, for example, I found an orrery 

(a mechanical representation of the Solar System), 

which I picked up for myself. At Southern 

Charmed, there is a charming store specializing in 

candles. There is even a store specializing in the 

sale of nothing but tree houses! And of course, 

there are numerous shops purveying a variety of 

Victorian fashions. 

As in many other sims of this nature, reavelling 

by water is a wonderful way to see the village 

and adjoining areas. 

Stonehenge and the Waterfall 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fatimas%20Blush/ 

43/66/78] 

On one of the peaks in Fatima’s Blush, there is 

a complete and beautiful replica of Stonehenge.


Not far away, is what must be tallest waterfalls n 

the Second Life world, fitting in with the powerfully 

naturalistic themes of the Isles outside the 

village. 

Blushing Romance Dance Pavilion 

Do you fancy a dance by moonlight with someone 

special? Try the Blushing Romance Dance Pavilion, 

within sight of the Waterfall and the Victorian 

village. 

Castle Victoria 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fatimas%20Love/ 

88/15/60] 

The home of Fatima Ur and Incanus Merlin, 

Castle Victoria is a four-storey testament to Victorian 

design and aesthetics. The bluff it sits on 

has views of a wide area of the Isles. 

The Castle Victoria Caves 

in the Grotto 


47/8/22] 

In addition to the charm of Victorian design 

seen in the village, the pavilion, and other designs, 

there is a great deal of naturalistic beauty 

in the Isles of Fatima. Under the bluff of Castle 

Victoria careful searching will find a series of fascinating 

caves, with bridges and even a secret 

boudoir. 

Tranquility Bridge 


7/74/50] 

As befits a sim based on islands, there are a 

number of bridges throughout the Isles of Fatima. 

My favorite bridge out of all of these is Tranquility 

Bridge. 

This bridge spans the channel between the 

two islands of Fatima’s Love and Fatima’s Desire. 

What caught my eye and my attention is that 

the bridge is based on a famous bridge in real 

life. Tranquility Bridge is modeled closely on the 

Thomas-Telford designed Menai Suspension Bridge 

(Pont Grog y Borth), a suspension bridge between 

the island of Anglesey and the mainland of Wales 

that dates back to the nineteenth century. 

Our Prim Perfect 

Home of the Month 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fatimas%20Smile/ 

230/109/22] 

Our Prim Perfect Home of the Month is designed, 

of course, by Fatima Ur, and furnished by 

Yolanda Hirvi. The home and gardens are designed 

in the pastel Impressionist style of American artist 

Thomas Kinkade and sit in the shadow of the 

Stonehenge mountain. 

Fatima’s Blush Grotto 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fatimas%20Blush/ 

53/96/29] 

Not far away from our Prim Perfect home of 

the month, there’s a secret romantic getaway 

nestled in the shadow of the mountain, with a 

view of the sea. Look for the red biplane on the 

shore in order to find it! 

Fatima’s Victoriana 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fatimas%20Victoriana/194/141/22] 

What would a tour of a sim be without looking 

at the homes? After all the stores and the 

naturalistic beauty, I wandered through Fatima’s 

Victoriana, and found a beautiful neighborhood

0 Prim Perfect • August 2008 

of Victorian homes not far away from her Antique 

Artistry store. One delightful way to get a 

bird’s-eye view of the homes, and indeed a large 

area of the Isles beyond them, is via the balloon 

tour that starts in a park in the middle of the 

neighbourhood. 

Antique Artistry 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fatimas%20Art/ 

93/135/27] 

While on the balloon tour, I spotted Fatima’s 

home and garden store. Never unable to resist 

such a store, I had to check it out. In her fourstorey 

store, there are items ranging from garden 

supplies to home furnishings to antiques. A portion 

of the store is devoted to her partner Incanus 

Merlin’s textures. There is also a fascinating map 

showing the development of the Isles of Fatima’s 

sims. 

Lord and Lady Smadga’s Estate 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fatimas%20 

Serenity/0/184/28] 

Now open to the public, the expansive estate 

owned by Lord and Lady Smadga offers a wide 

range of diversions. One large area is devoted 

to those with equestrian tastes. Visitors can try 

their hand at horseback riding, and even jumping! 

Their equestrian centre is affiliated with the 

real life organization Great Strides [http://www. 

greatstrides.org], which promotes equine-facilitated 

psychotherapy. 

In addition to horseplay, there is also a winery, 

a garden, and a docked tall sailing ship to 

explore while on the estate, in addition to the 

other buildings on the grounds. And the views are 

wonderful! E


BUILD OF THE MONTH 

A House to 

Smile About 


NESTLING AT THE FOOT OF THE HILLS IN FATIMA’S 

smile, in the shadow of Stonehenge and with a 

spectacular waterfall close by ... overlooking the 

bay where dolphins play, that leads and looking 

beyond to the village of Desire and the great suspension 

bridge that leads to Castle Victoria ... 

just across a little footbridge from a landing strip 

and the beautiful Fatima’s Blush Grotto ... 


Could there possibly be a more romantic 

or more beautiful setting for the House of the 

Month? It seems very unlikely. 

And Fatima Ur agrees. ‘I chose this location 

for the home because I felt it best embodied the 

lifestyle you can enjoy in The Isles’, she explains, 

smiling. ‘Beautiful views, natural scenery, a space 

most people would NEVER want to leave.’


Her intention was to create a dream space, 

a place of pure relaxation, and the chosen locale 

totally dictated the selections for this home 

– most specifically in regard to the gardens. They 

decided to give it a look seen in the work of a 

popular American painter, Thomas Kinkade (see 

[http://www.thomaskinkade.com]), with the 

natural rambling gardens filled with wildflowers 

and perennials showing vividly against the stunning 

100 meter waterfall behind the home. 

‘With a setting that includes massive mountains, 

streams and Stonehenge looming high 

above, a manicured garden was not the way to 

go’, says Fatima. ‘Instead we opted for rich dark 

grasses and flowers, climbing wild roses, birds 

aplenty and fields of blossoms as far as the eye 

can see.’ 

Indeed, the gardens are Fatima’s favourite 

part of her design here. ‘I love wild overgrown 

English gardens so much’, she explains. 

‘But the entire look of the build for me is just 

wonderful.’ 

(Editor’s note: Hmmm ... Fatima would love 

my garden, then!) 

Inside the house, Fatima had a definite goal 

in mind: She wanted anyone visiting or living in 

the home to feel warm, cosy and and above all 

– welcome. 

Fatima worked on the house itself with 

Yolanda Hirvi, of Metaversal Arts ([http://slurl. 

com/secondlife/Cherish/146/202/60]). 

‘Yolanda is a dear friend and an incredible 

designer’, says Fatima. ‘It is an honour working 

with her – talent just oozes from her!’ 

Yolanda makes her home on The Isles of Fati- 

ma, and has a satellite shop of her main sim store, 

located in the village on Fatima’s Desire. 

‘I was honoured to get a chance to work with 

“older” designer Fatima Ur’, says Yolanda. 

‘I think the two of us giggled ourselves silly 

while making and setting up items for this home!’ 

Fatima adds. 

Yolanda agrees. ‘Working with 

Fatima was easy and fun. She is reliable, 

very professional and creative, 

so the whole process went smoothly.’ 

Yolanda found that the style of 

the estate and the house was in the 

Victorian/Edwardian era, but, as a 

Finnish designer, she found herself 

also inspired by the style of her native 

country. ‘The golden years of Finnish 

design and architecture were in 1930s 

and that explains my “subconscious” 

love of Art Deco (the style is also 

known as Jugend). My design is eclectic 

and I usually mix lots of styles.’ 

Fatima actually built ‘The Peacock’ 

(the home used for Prim Perfect) 

specifically for this plot. 

‘The blues and greens Yolanda and I chose for 

furnishings and decor were pulled from the textures 

used in the home’, she explains. ‘Wallpapers 

are reproduction 1890s styles. The stained 

glass is derived directly from a real life Victorian 

home.’ 

In fact, it was a single pane of stained glass 

which inspired the choice of colours in the house: 

Blue, green, aqua and a touch of red. 

‘Rich and elegant ... the house grew up around 

that one texture’, says Fatima. 

The house is deliberately set up to give an 

extremely realistic feel, while still respecting the 

difficulties of the Second Life environment, particularly 

camera angles and movement. Fatima 

chose to incorporate simple tiny teleporters be-

tween the three floors instead of stairs in this 

house for that reason. ‘Stairs can be difficult 

to walk’, she points out, ‘and I decided to use 

the prims to bulk up on the many tiny details 

throughout the residence. High ceilings are usually 

a “must” so cameras will work properly, but 

need to be low enough to still give a warm homey 

feeling.’ 

Fatima’s organisation of the house was based 

around the idea of a real house – and also the 

areas that she feels most people like decorating 

in Second Life. 

‘With decorating such a huge pastime 

for many, I felt it simply must have 

a fabulous kitchen and dining area’, says 

Fatima, ‘as well as a living room/lounge/ 

office area ... and a bathroom and bedroom 

section. We don’t necessarily use a 

bathroom in Second Life, but who doesn’t 

love to decorate one? So, on the top 

floor, we have a luscious claw foot tub 

with running water you can relax in.’ 

Indeed, each room and niche offers 

something special. The ground floor 

boasts a grand piano and formal dining 

area, with its own custom-designed china 

for the lady of the house to enjoy, while 

the kitchen is overflowing with every 

item needed to make a fabulous meal. 

On this level too comes a new element 

for Fatima. 

‘I decided to make a piano’, she explains, 

‘something I had not made before. I wanted it to 

be decorative but lower prim – there are stunning 

pianos to be had in Second Life, but most are so 


primmy. So I referenced a lot of pictures to make 

a nice piano design that gives sharp details but 

still manages to be only 13 prims including the 

stool.’ She smiles as she admits, ‘It doesn’t have 

all the bells and whistles of fancier ones but I 

hope it looks pleasing.’ 

Well, it certainly pleases us! 

One floor up is an amazing sitting area and 

office, designed by Yolanda. 

Yolanda’s original plan was to build 

a traditional Victorian/Edwardian style 

living area with a den. But somehow 

the living area turned into ‘Asian Art 

Deco’. The eye-catcher of this area is 

the book case, based on the traditional 

Japanese torii gate (usually found at 

shinto temple entrances). 

‘Well’, says Yolanda, ‘after the torii 

gate I just had to make my own version 

of tansu – the Japanese chest or 

cabinet. I did some online research 

for Japanese furniture and about torii 

gates for this.’ 

Yolanda is a big fan of dark (nearly 

black) mahogany, but this time she 

chose a lighter wood with a shine effect, 

while the settee, armchairs and 

lamps in the round nook are pure Art 

Deco style. The inspiration for the Japanese-style 

furniture came from Starship Jefferson’s Japanese-style 

textures (available at [http://slurl. 

com/secondlife/Sanguine/223/236/641]). 

‘I used couple of those textures here, so 

the colour scheme comes from those textures’, 

explains Yolanda. ‘The shiny satin-like 

fabric gives the hint of luxury to the set that I 

named as Gatsby.’


Even the balcony has a place to sit and enjoy 

the scenery. 

‘The view from the balcony is fabulous’, explains 

Yolanda, ‘so it is a very nice place to have 

breakfast or tea. Black wrought iron is decorative 

and never goes out of style. The sculpted 

tea set is one of my favourite creations. Most of 

the things here were created for this house, but 

the tea set and tea trolley are among my earlier 

designs that I am still very happy with.’ 

Moving up to the top floor, one finds the lovely 

bathroom – and tub! – but also the bedroom area. 

‘I wanted to make very romantic bedroom’, 

says Yolanda, ‘so I took a couple of steps away 

from Art Deco and towards Edwardian/Victorian. 

I like floral fabrics, but I like to prevent the messy 

look when mixing many floral textures in one room. 

The floral carpet was placed by Fatima so I ended 

up using only one floral fabric in the bedroom furniture. 

The dominating materials here are bronze, 

rosewood and emerald satin. I really like how the 

bedroom turned out – in fact, I think I am going to 

transfer that look to my own bedroom too!’ 

And Yolanda is also happy with one final touch, 

outside in the garden. 

‘The Charleston dance animations by Maar 

Auer (a fellow member of Metaversal Arts) are 

the icing on the cake’, says Yolanda. 

So, one cannot help but wonder how many 

prims all this took! 

Fatima smiles. ‘Our prim limit was a very manageable 

1300’, she says. ‘Incanus and I had set aside 

prims to truly showcase this home. So, although the 

plot is not huge it offers every amenity. The house 

itself is under a hundred prims which allows for details 

on top of details to be added to the gardens and 

so that furnishing can be done completely. But even 

with prims to use, we still kept prim counts in mind 

for many things. The china I created is all sculpted 

and one prim each. Most of the “decorator” items 

like the art, rugs, frames etc. are one prim, and the 

piano is very low prim – and created with this home 

in mind. If prims were no issue at all, I suppose I 

would have made every single item without sculpted 

prims, sparing no detail. But sadly, that kind of prim 

allowance doesn’t often exist in Second Life.’ 

Yolanda agrees. ‘We had plenty of prims for 

use so I didn’t have to limit my design according 

to those. But I always keep eye on prim counts. I 

couldn’t stop if even I wanted to.’ 

But we think our readers will agree – this house 

makes wonderful use of every prim it took! E

STAR COMPETITION 

Win One Month Free 

in our Star Home 

WIN A MONTH IN THE GORGEOUS ISLES OF FATIMA 

sims, staying rent-free in the lovely house created 

by our star designer! 

Now that you’ve read all about the Islands 

and the beautiful Prim Perfect home designed by 

Yolanda Hirvi and Fatima Ur, Prim Perfect is delighted 

to be able to offer our star prize, courtesy 

of the owners of the Isles of Fatima – Fatima Ur 

and Incanus Merlin: 

How do I enter? 

You need to answer the three questions below. 

All the answers are somewhere in the magazine 

- so read it carefully and you will find the answers 

you need! 

1. What famous Neolithic monument is located 

close to our Prize home this month? 

2. What are the two colours in the Romantic 

Roses designed for the special Rose Hunt by Soleil 

Snook? 


3. What independent group dedicated to the 

controversial idea that in the near future, human 

beings will be able (and willing) to transcend the 

limitations of biology, is headquartered in Extropia 

Core, our Landscape of the Month? 

Then send your answers to primperfect@ 

gmail.com - together with a completion of this 

sentence (in not more than 15 words) … 

“I want to live on the Isles of Fatima because…” 

Mark your email subject as: Star Competition 

– Summer 2008. Include in the email the name of 

your avatar. Do NOT IM or notecard anyone connected 

with the magazine. 

The winner will be the person who answers all 

the questions correctly and also supplies the best 

tie-breaker, in the opinion of the editorial team. 

There is NO cash alternative. 

Closing date: 1st September 2008


SPECIAL FEATURE 


Relay for Life: the View 

from the SLCN Studio 


THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY RELAY FOR LIFE (RFL) 

began in May 1985, when a colorectal surgeon ran 

around a track in Tacoma, Washington for twenty-four 

hours, raising $27,000 for the American 

Cancer Society. 

Today it has become an annual event that has 

spread to more than 4,600 communities in the 

United States and twenty-three countries across 

the globe – and, to the surprise of some, to the 

virtual globe.


To date, Relay For Life has raised more than 

$1.5 billion to help the Society accelerate progress 

against cancer by funding research and equipping 

patients, caregivers, family and friends to fight 

back against this disease. 

In most locations, teams of people gather 

at schools, fairgrounds, or parks and take turns 

walking or running laps. Each team tries to keep 

at least one team member on the track at all 

times. Pledges of monetary support for the runners 

are then donated to the Cancer Society. 

In 2005, the Second Life community saw fit to 

re-create a Relay For Life event within the virtual 

world setting, combining traditional activities 

with the new twists that the virtual community 

can offer. Besides having expanded to far more 

activities and fund-raising initiatives than the 

event’s originators ever dreamed, Second Life’s 

version of Relay for Life enables participation 

by those who, for reasons of physical incapacity, 

geographical distance or schedule conflicts, 

would otherwise be unable to be part of this worthy 

effort. 

Although this year’s Relay had the goal of raising 

$125,000 (U.S.), the final total rocketed past 

that goal with a scorching $200,000 contributed, 

well over the total of all four previous Second Life 

Relays combined. The imaginative builds for RFL 

weekend spread over a record thirty-five sims, 

offering visitors and runners alike a visual feast 

during the all-too-short time the displays were 

available. Residents could choose from among a 

massive scavenger hunt, a silent auction of both 

real life and Second Life merchandise, bull riding, 

archery, or a visit to outer space, to name 

only a few of the activities available. 

The scope of the 2008 RFL in Second Life was 

far greater than any one reporter could explore. 

So we asked several observers to offer their Relay 

experiences and reflections. 

Paisley Beebe 

I was contacted by Starr Sonic of SLCN.TV 

about helping her plan a TV Telethon for this 

year’s RFL. This seemed an incredibly ambitious 

goal, even for SLCN.TV who have successfully 

produced a number of significant specials, including 

the Miss Universe Competition and the Best of 

Second Life Awards. This would be the very first 

Virtual TV Telethon ... and ... I had no idea how 

to do it ... 

Starr, thankfully, already had some ideas and 

she gave me the task of rounding up hosts to work 

the ‘phones’ so to speak and interview RFL organizers 

as well as cancer survivors and care-givers. 

Three Vignettes 

by Jvstin Tomorrow 

Troy 

No story in Western culture, with the possible 

exceptions of the Old Testament and the story 

of Jesus Christ, has inspired writers and painters 

over the centuries more than the Trojan War. 

Located in Heroes 19, the ‘Fall of Troy’ build 

provided the participants in Relay for Life an opportunity 

to travel through a re-creation of the 

city of Troy just before its fall. Relay-runners and 

other visitors were able to spot the infamous Trojan 

Horse, the stables (N.B.: Troy, especially during 

the time of Hector, was famous for its horses), 

a market, the forum, and the palace. The spectacular 

build concentrated primarily on exterior 

detail rather than interior; many of the smaller 

buildings were set up only as façades. The builder, 

Tya Fallingbridge, clearly concentrated her 

efforts on things that relayers and other travelers 

on the route could easily see, creating the highest 

impact for the passers-by during the limited 

time that the structures would be on display. 

Tya suggested that visitors use the environment 

setting of ‘gelatto’ to view the sim, which 

gave Troy an early-dawn-just-before-its-doom 

sort of appearance. Using more standard settings, 

however, revealed the care and craft of the 

build in more crystal clarity. This was a remarkable 

creation. 

The Trojan War – a story of love, betrayal and 

above all, valour and courage. And it is those latter 

two qualities which made it, and the sim itself, 

a perfect part of the Relay for Life builds. 

Vignettes continued on page 41


The organizing process was quite complex, since 

it involved coordinating schedules of participants, 

Relay events and the production resources 

of the network. 

The weeks flew by with neither Starr or myself 

knowing how it was really going to go on the 

Day. I did know one thing though – the day was 

going to be huge! We were concerned that lag 

was going to be a big problem for the cameras, 

so I spent the week before flying around the sims 

before the traffic got high, taking pictures of 

the various builds as they were completed so we 

would have them available for the broadcast. 

That was a great opportunity to see the RFL 

sims before I got too busy to enjoy them. I was incredibly 

impressed with the amount of work that 

some groups had put in for what was, in fact, only 

a few days of appreciation. Among my favourites 

was the Hogwarts build, which had lots of great 

hidden rooms and passageways and some faithfully 

recreated scenes, including moving staircases 

and moving faces of the ‘portrait’ build, which 

I really enjoyed! 

The preparation process was not without its 

hiccups, however. One night as I was shooting 

some photos near the Athletes Arena, I spotted 

a strange object flying around a futuristic build 

on the sea. On closer inspection, it turned out to 

be a Dementor that had somehow escaped from 

Hogwarts and was sadly going round and round 

in circles, obviously lost with no one to scare. I 

notified the authorities immediately by sending 

out pictures of my find, to a response of much 

hilarity on the RFL Captains Group. I also heard 

reports that, apparently, there was also a giraffe 

on the loose from the zoo at one stage. However, 

no injuries were reported. 

As the telethon approached, we finalized our 

hosts and scheduled the guests for interviews. 

Hosts included Saffia Widdershins and Davon 

Westland from Prim Perfect 

magazine and Meta Makeover, 

Yxes Delacroix from 

The Shopping Channel (and 

Director of Tonight Live), famous 

clothing designer caL- 

Lie cLine, Crap Mariner from 

100 Word Stories and Podcast 

Island, and duckyfresh 

Watanabe from That S’Life 

on SLCN.TV, Pooky Amsterdam, 

host of The 2nd Question 

on SLCN.TV, and Angie 

Mornington of In a Perfect 

World Productions, while I 

took the late shift. Coverage included the Survivors 

lap, sailing, snail races, music, a ‘furry, fairy 

and mystical’ segment, and much more. 

In a feat of amazing speed, a remote studio 

was beautifully erected on location by the Prim 

Perfect/Meta Makeover team, who turned to 

Jeremey Ryan of Barefoot Designs and Dellybean 

North of True North Designs for design and construction 

of the building, which was furnished by 

Maxwell Graf of Rustica and landscaped by Anhayla 

Lycia, who had just completed the magnificent 

El Cid build. 

Since I am on Australian time, I went to bed


the night before the event hoping that everything 

was going to go according to plan. When I 

arrived, Saffia had done her interviews and started 

the ball rolling on the telethon, and enormous 

amounts had been raised already! But as we had 

expected, the lag was horrendous for the cameras, 

so an adjustment was made 

to hold the actual interviews in 

the main studio location. Some of 

the scheduled guests were stuck or 

caught up and couldn’t make it, so 

we shuffled others around at the 

last minute. Flexibility was the order 

of the day. 

By all accounts, the programme 

(though exhausting for the heroic 

production staff) went well and 

was incredibly moving for everyone 

who participated. (Ed. note: Video 

of the telethon can be viewed on 

SLCN.TV.) It was an honour to be involved 

in such an important event 

which offered such significant support 

to cancer patients, survivors 

and caregivers. 

I’m grateful to all the organizers 

of Relay For Life, the people 

who interrupted their very special day to talk 

to us about their involvement in RFL, the hosts 

who gave up time to be involved, and the entire 

SLCN.TV team – Starr Sonic, Texas Timtam and 

Wiz Nordberg. It was an experience none of us 

will ever forget. 

Paisley is a well-known singer in Second Life and 

hosts the weekly programme Tonight Live on 

SLCN.TV. 

Vignettes continued from page 39 

King Arthur—Camelot 

The magic of Camelot speaks though the wind 

as you approach. 

‘Seek out the Grail, for it may be the key to 

the cure’ 

You look around to see whose voice you hear, 

but see no one. 

Located in Heroes 13, Camelot brought the spirit 

of the Knights of the Round Table to Relay for Life. 

The varied origins of those knights from different 

lands, locations, and walks of life, coming together to 

champion single purpose and kingdom, was taken as 

inspiration for this sim to reflect the nature of Relay 

for Life, which provides another occasion of a great 

purpose bringing together many people from many 

different backgrounds, countries and walks of life. 

Centred on a spectacular Castle out of the stories 

of King Arthur, Camelot included not only a wonderfully 

developed and displayed environment, but 

also a bit of roleplay in the form of ‘Quest for the 

Cure’, an intriguing way to guide visitors through 

the Castle and grounds. Visitors saw stained glass 

windows, beautiful statuary, banners, and lovely 

views from the towers and windows, nor would it 

have been complete, of course, without the Round 

Table and Merlin’s Tower. Outside the castle, there 

was the kitchen where Sir Gareth worked as a boy, 

a forge, and even lists for jousting. 

Viewing the build in low light conditions (Ghost 

and Midnight), rather than obscuring the beautiful 

details, actually improved the overall experience 

of walking through the Castle and surrounding area, 

evoking the mystery of the King Arthur legend. 

Malakh Giles and Serenity Sieyes, the joint 

builders of the sim, along with the other members 

of the Avalon Order, made the visit to Camelot an 

immersive and complete experience for the relayers 

and visitors alike. 

Vignettes continued on page 43

Davon Westland 

While Second Life has often 

been characterized as an online 

game, for me it has always felt 

more like an extension of real 

life. That sense of reality has 

probably never seemed more 

literal than when I recently 

participated in the SL Relay for 

Life event for the benefit of 

the American Cancer Society. 

Serving as one of the hosts of 

the SLCN.TV telethon, I was 

able to experience first-hand 

the excitement, enthusiasm, 

and encouragement the event 

generated. 

Saffia Widdershins, host of 

SLCN.TV’s Meta Makeover program, 

and I were assigned the 

opening two hours of the day-long televised event. 

Arriving at the newly-constructed on-site studio, 

we began our last minute preparations, including 

not only looking over script materials but, more 

importantly, meeting participants in the event. 

Any trappings of ‘just-a-game’ melted instantly 

as we began to chat in voice with real-life cancer 

survivor LadyKay Gable. Hearing not only of her 


personal bout with cancer but also the struggles 

of her loved ones set the tone for the event. We 

realized that we were here to celebrate life and 

victory as well as to step up the fight against the 

disease that has touched countless lives. 

While the seriousness of the moment was unmistakable, 

it did not cast a pall on the festivities. 

Instead, the joy was contagious as I looked


around and realized the countless hours of volunteer 

work and the level of dedication that had 

gone in to preparing the numerous sims for the 

events that were to come. 

As Saffia and I took our seats in the SLCN.TV 

studio and the program began, the enthusiasm 

was contagious. Having been given the daunting 

task of filling two hours of live TV air time, it 

quickly became apparent to both Saffia and myself 

that the minutes were racing by as the cancer 

survivors streamed past our studio windows, 

circling the relay-for-life track. 

One thing that has always set Second Life 

apart from the ever-popular video games of the 

day is that behind every avatar here, there is a 

real human being with hopes, desires, wishes and 

dreams. The Relay for Life event, and the unique 

part that I was allowed to play in it, served to further 

strip away veneers of the other participants 

and my own as well. It showcased the caring side 

of Second Life that has often been overlooked by 

the real life media. It allowed us to remove our 

avatar masks and connect with people in a lasting 

and meaningful way, while showing heart-felt 

concern, compassion, and caring. Hearts were 

touched, lives changed, and courageous people 

encouraged to continue the fight. And (did I forget 

to mention?), the funds raised were not vir- 

Vignettes continued from page 41 

El Cid 

The El Cid sim in Relay for Life was inspired 

by the stories of Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar (‘El Cid’), 

a significant military figure in Iberian history who 

helped fuel the rise of the kingdom of Spain in the 

11th century. While a valiant soldier, El Cid was at 

the same time a model of culture, tolerance and 

understanding to his friends and enemies alike. 

Rather than using real life models for the sim, 

Anhayla Lycia of Treesong Designs created the meticulous 

structures and textures of the El Cid build 

using designs and motifs inspired by and based on 

the architecture of 11th century Iberia – both medieval 

Spanish culture and the Islamic influences 

of the period. Remarkable craft and care were 

demonstrated in placement and design, both in 

the large scale design of the buildings and the ornate 

detail work. Surprises could be found around 

every corner of the gardens and arcades. 

The quality of the design was excellent and 

created an appealing portion of the Relay setting. 

I found the Barcelona lighting, also attractive at 

the similarly Moorish-influenced Al-Andalus sim, 

the best way to see this beautiful site. E 

tual but real – thousands and thousands of real life 

dollars to make a real life difference. 

In my brief time as a resident of Second Life, 

there have been some memorable moments, but 

the 2008 Second Life Relay for Life has become one 

of those magical moments that has redefined the 

way I approach this ‘game’ called Second Life. E 

Davon Westland is producer of Meta Makeover, a 

Prim Perfect production seen regularly on the SLCN 

television network.

SNOOK’S GARDEN CENTRE HAS LONG BEEN FAMED 

for its beautiful Victorian plants and settings, including 

wonderful old-fashioned roses, but now 

they are introducing something really rather special: 

a new line of Single Stem, Bouquets and Baskets 

of exquisite prim roses created by Omicron 

Llewellyn. 

These roses come in perfect shades of pink, 

yellow, white, cream, blue, and salmon as well as 

dual tones of mauve/white, red/white and pink/ 

white – and the detail is quite breathtaking. 


Join the Hunt for 

Twelve Magical Roses in the 

Realms of the Roses! 

Snook’s Garden Centre Introduces Llewellyn Roses 

Unique to the Garden and Flower markets of 

the Second Life world, each petal of each rose is 

individually made, textured by hand and placed 

in what must surely be the most perfect rose 

available in Second Life at this time. 

Well, we certainly think so – and so Prim Perfect, 

the premier lifestyle magazine of Second 

Life is pleased to have purchased the Prim Perfect 

Blue Rose – a rose in the blue colour of our 

magazine logo. This has been created especially 

for us, and will be exclusive to Prim Perfect.


But more than that, we are delighted to add 

our backing to the Realm of the Roses’ Grand 

Rose Hunt, sponsored by Snook’s Garden Centre 

and Llewellyn Roses. 

This is a hunt for twelve exclusive blue roses. 

Three roses will be hidden in each the four Realms 

of Caledon, Winterfell, Brythony, and Lovelace. 

The clues to their hiding places will be published 

in the Prim Perfect Blog. These are collector’s 

roses, featuring the Prim Perfect Blue colour with 

special gold-tipped petals. This design will never 

be repeated. 

The rose has always been attributed deep 

meanings – whether it was a symbol of transience, 

or courtly love, or used to deliver messages between 

lovers and friends. Now friends, lovers, and 

would-be suitors can send a rose to object of their 

admiration and affection that is so outstanding that 

it surely will catch the attention of its recipient. 

Mr Llewellyn and Miss Snook took on the challenge 

of creating the perfect rose when the Duchess 

of Carntaigh announced her engagement. 

‘Mr Llewellyn and myself wanted to introduce 

the finest flower that could be had in Second 

Life’, says Soliel Snook, ‘and the rose, which represents 

so much emotion, was the perfect place 

to start. The textures are hand done, in delicate 

shades to represent the nuance of nature and not 

a illustrated facsimile.’ 

The addition of the new line of hand-held 

bouquets, bridal flowers and single stems will be 

the first of its kind for the Caledon / Victorian 

Steam Punk themed sims. 

So ... to win one of the exclusive Rose Hunt 

roses, make sure you read the Prim Perfect Blog 

every day! E

PRIM PERFECT QUIZ 

Do You Need a Vacation? 

DO YOU NEED A VACATION? FROM EITHER LIFE? 

If more than five of the items below apply to you, 

then you should immediately shut down your 

computer and go and find a travel agent. Yes, a 

travel agent. These are the people who actually 

TALK to you ... and book your holiday for you! 

And remember – a laptop is not an essential item 

of equipment on vacation. 

You know you need a real life vacation when ... 

a. You walk past a real life shop for lease and 

wonder what the tier is. 

b. You wonder if the ‘lag’ at the airport terminal 

queue is because the ‘sim’ is full. 

c. You sit on the arm of a couch because you 

couldn’t find the poseball. 

d. You go streaking in public and try to blame 

the asset server. 


by M0lly Dench, with the 

assistance of assorted Caledonians 

e. You see an ad for a house-for-sale and wonder 

why they didn’t include a prim count in the 

property description. 

Further indications that you may need a real 

life vacation include ... 

a. You shout at the television when alt-mouse 

does not work. 

b. When you can’t understand why your real 

life furniture does not rearrange itself with a 

wave of your hand. 

c. When the last drink you had is one that rezzed 

in front of you. 

d. Your last hairdo cost you L$100. 

e. When you can’t understand why you can’t 

wear your car.


When thinking about taking a real life 

vacation you ... 

a. Get frustrated when you can’t find the 

‘Teleport’ button on the travel agent’s website 

b. Panic when you think about the possibility 

of the airline losing your ‘inventory’. 

c. Wonder if you can afford to upgrade the 

video card and RAM in your laptop. 

d. Stress out completely over spending eight 

hours on a plane. 

e. Become irrationally violent when the weather 

reports indicate rain for the next 14 days. 

The last real life vacation you took, you ... 

a. Realised you couldn’t, after all, actually 

dance. 

b. You were too scared to leave your hotel because 

there was real weather outside. 

c. Kept looking for the teleporter instead of 

the elevator. 

d. Had hysterics because there was no wireless 

internet connection at the hotel. 

e. Were amazed when your drink spilt on the 

dance floor whilst boogeying. 

Finally on vacation in real life, you 

suddenly realise ... 

a. Your optional appendage may not always 

perform at the click of a mouse. 

b. Sex pose balls are not standard hotel-bed 

fixtures. 

c. Your skin, strangely, actually goes red in the 

sun. 

d. You don’t, after all, look like Elle McPherson 

or Brad Pitt. 

e. The Babel Fish translator is not immediately 

available to you when you speak to someone. 

You are on vacation in Second Life – not 

real life – when ... 

a. You CAN find the TP button on the travel 

agent’s website. 

b. The only children at the resort are your 

best friend’s alts. 

c. You wonder why on earth there is a bed 

in your hotel room when it doesn’t have sex 

pose-balls. 

d. You go swimming in the pool in a ball gown 

without giving it a thought. 

e. Your Piña Colada never runs out – until you 

stop wearing it, of course.E

PHOTOCONTEST COMPETITION 

DURING THE LAST WEEK OF AUGUST, PHOTOGRAPHERS 

in the Second Life world, working with designers 

and models, will have a new kind of contest, running 

through the entire week. On 

each of the five days, there will 

be a theme - but the identity of 

the sims we will be visiting for the 

photographs will only be revealed 

on the day of the competition! 

The five themes are these: 

Monday: Swinging Sixties 

Tuesday: Living by the sea 

Wednesday: Discover 

Singapore 

Thursday: Artistic fantasy 

Friday: Jazz Age 

Every day from 25th August - 

29th August, we’ll gather at Orange 

Amphitheatre [http://slurl.com/ 

secondlife/Orange%20Island/195 

/134/31] at noon SLT and reveal 

the destination of the sim where 

the shooting will take place. The 

Orange Island blog [http://www. 

orange-island.com/] and the Prim 

Perfect blog [http://primperfectblog.wordpress.com/] 

will give a 

little hint before every event. If 

participants cannot be at the Amphitheatre 

at 12 noon, there will 

be a kiosk placed there with the 

information they will need when 

they come later. 

After a visit to the sim with the sim Owner 


Prim Perfect and 

Orange Island Sponsor 

a Fashion Photocontest 


(or his/her deputies), the specific conditions that 

photographers will have to bear in mind for that 

particular sim will be announced, and then par- 

ticipants will have until 6AM SLT the day after 

to take, edit and upload upload their pic to to


koinup portal (full instructions on how to do this 

will be given). The finalists from each day will 

then be displayed on Orange Island and also on 

that day’s sim. 

Each photographer will have the opportunity 

to team with designers and models of their 

choice - and even different models and designers 

over the course of the week - on the condition 

that s/he credits them for their help. 

Jury members will include partners involved 

the overall week: 

• Saffia Windershiff from Prim Perfect 

• Koinup Burt from Koinup, whose Portal will 

provide the upload for the entries [http://www. 

koinup.com] 

• M0lly Dench from Runway Magazine will promote 

the event (RUNWAY Magazine is a monthly 

in-world publication dedicated to the promotion 

of fashion, modelling, and design in Second Life 

[http://en.calameo.com/accounts/4379]) 

• the sim owners 

• and representatives of photo and art related 

groups. 

So, from Monday to Friday, we’ll have in total 

5 sims to visit and 5 prizes to award. During the 

week, the finalists will be exhibited for each day. 

At the conclusion of the week, those competitors 

awarded third, second or first places will form an 

exhibition that will be displayed until late September. 

Every day will follow the same pattern 

except Friday. On Friday, we will reveal the last 

sim to visit and also announce the special Orange 

Prize for the weekend. 

Starting from Friday to Saturday 

12 noon SLT, participants 

can, in addition to the daily prize, 

try to win the Special Prize from 

Orange. 

• Five daily prizes, for the best work 

of art of the day 

• An special Orange prize, to 

be announced during the week 

• An overall prize, for the best 

single work of the week 

• An overall prize for the most 

consistent work of the week (submitting 

every day) 

On Sunday, noon SLT on Orange 

Island, the final ceremony 

will award the winners of the 

competition. 

The prizes, for photographers, 

designers and models, will be a 

plaque and the right to advertise 

their work as a winner of Orange Island Photocontest 

2008. Those placed second and third will be 

awarded plaques and the right to advertise their 

work as runners-up in the Orange Island Photocontest 

2008. Prim Perfect will feature an article on 

the contest in their September issue, showing the 

work of the winners and featuring an interview 

with the winners of the overall prize. The overall 

winners will also be featured in the Orange Island 

& Koinup Photo Sessions for September. 

More details will appear on the Prim Perfect 

blog [http://primperfectblog.wordpress.com] 

and the Orange Island blog [http://www.orangeisland.com/]. 

E


READERS’ HOME OF THE MONTH 

‘THE YOUTH OF TODAY DRESS AND BEHAVE 

immodestly, have no respect for their elders, nor 

concern for their own futures.’ So spoke Socrates 

– or at least it is alleged that he did so – and he 

was a philosopher who lived from 469 BCE to 399 

BCE. It’s nice to know that two and a half thousand 

years ago, people were complaining about 

the Youth of Today. Not much has changed – people 

are still complaining about the Youth of Today 

– but it is worth reflecting that Socrates also often 

said his wisdom was limited to an awareness 

of his own ignorance. 

Those who have not yet come across the 

Pretty N Punk sim, owned by Todd Staheli, can 

claim Socratic Ignorance as a defense. This sim 

is certainly what Socrates would have had in 

mind if he’d been in the Second Life world today 

– it is one of the places where the Youth of 

Today definitely – and defiantly – like to hang 

out, and where there is a thriving and bustling 

lifestyle for the younger avatars amongst us. 

So a visit to Pretty N Punk, on the Biopunk 

Pretty N Punk 

by M0lly Dench 

sim, is one fraught with more ‘what to wears?’ 

than an audience with the Queen. After all, one 

doesn’t wish to be seen in the light of someone’s 

grandmother, after all, amongst all the trendy 

young things zipping about shopping, playing, 

and chatting. 

The Biopunk sim is the result of a vision that 

Todd Staheli had for a sim where living, shopping, 

dancing, playing, and hanging out would all converge 

into one big happy extended family. There 

are many communities where this style of living 

is becoming more and more popular – where 

the house you rent is just that – a 

house you rent – and the areas 

surrounding it are shared community 

areas involving recreational 

activities, bars, food, dancing, 

boating, swimming, fun. 

Todd’s vision was for a shopping 

mall, and housing, in a giant 

grunge village theme. The play 

on words, of course, is after the 

band Pretty In Punk, which itself 

is a play on words for ‘pretty in


pink’, the antithesis of everything grunge culture 

actually stands for. And grunge culture is a big 

part of Second Life, as it is in real life. Grunge 

emerged out of Seattle – the subculture there that 

rejected the outdoorsy, pretty, environmentally 

beauteous, clean and upstanding 

world that many of the youth found 

so boring. The band Nirvana’s hit 

‘Nevermind’ was one of the prime 

drivers that moved grunge from a 

subculture into popular culture. 

The Pretty N Punk sim manages 

to combine elements of hard-core 

grunge – dirty windows, graffiti, 

weathered boards, iron walkways, 

and the odd trashcan – with the 

beachside feel of a resort town. Todd 

originally placed the mall above the 

village, and the village next to the 

sea, so the progression from shopping 

to housing to recreation was 

conducted in a progressive manner 

from the top to the water’s edge. 

Remembering back to his own 

early days in Second Life, Todd 

wanted most of the housing to be waterfront – it 

was what he’d searched for originally and finally 

what he built for his residents. The rents are ex- 

tremely reasonable, in keeping with the community 

values and shared living experiences of the 

grunge culture, and the houses and apartments 

are a clever, well designed mix of old boards, 

distressed wood, warehouse brick, grimy windows, 

pretty outlooks, and liveable designs. The 

textures are unusual and detailed and feel edgy 

without being too derelict. 

Shopping at Pretty N Punk is an eclectic experience. 

Todd is also a successful fashion designer, 

with his Pretty N Punk label, and again goes back 

to the name Pretty N Punk to describe his offerrings. 

He wanted to make people ‘pretty’ with 

a ‘punk’ edge and like the sim, it’s reflected in 

his clothing designs. There are over twenty-five 

shops in the mall these days and they sell a wide 

range of items. 

The lagoon is the social centre of the 

sim, where events are held and people get 

together. It has some fun and quirky elements 

to it – the pirate ship moored there, 

complete with Jolly Roger and tattered black 

sails, the fishing game, and the rubber-tyre 

swings, towels, fire pit, coloured lights and 

danceballs, all designed to encourage play 

and relaxation. Quirky humour is obviously a 

hallmark of the designer, as a number of items 

really make one smile as you wander around 

the island. The graffiti-covered bright yellow 

school bus, the big fat inflatable tyres in the 

lagoon for lolling about on, the wrought iron 

manholes with intricate detail (what IS down 

under there, I wonder) and the little sit-on 

seesaws and kiddie rides, all make for a fun 

and interesting outdoor space. 

A large component of the Pretty N Punk sim would 

have to be the Neko subculture, which has a distinct 

presence here. Again, some of the communal living 

items are designed with elements of climbing and 

play, sure to appeal, and there are little touches to 

make one smile – the ‘ears’ on the rubber tyre swing 

hanging from a tree, the cubby house for climbing up 

and out of, the welcome areas.

The sim has permissions for residents which 

make owning yet more toys even more fun. Several 

of the locals like to tear about the place 

on brightly coloured scooters, and roller-blades 

abound. Getting around fast seems to be a bit of 

theme – and I must say I wished I’d had a Vespa in 

my inventory at the time. 

Overlooking all is a gorgeous, traditional, 

red and white striped, fully operational lighthouse. 

Up on top, you can see the entire sim, 

and it’s prettiest if you set the environment to 

sunset and just enjoy the view, before heading 

back into the shared village square for a coffee, 

a drink, a catchup, or a sunset fishing trip 

around the sim. 

I was looking forward to seeing what sort of 

home Todd himself had built, having put together 

this place, but I was amazed to learn he doesn’t 

actually have a ‘house’ per se. He lives ‘above 

the shop’ as he calls it, and doesn’t seem to miss 

having a particular place to call home. Given 

that the whole sim is his playground, I guess that 

makes perfect sense. 

The houses are simple, but, as I mentioned 

above, well-made, with detailed and authentic 


textures. Predominantly beachfront, they consist 

of one or two downstairs rooms, weathered 

decking, and an upstairs room. The windows 

have that slightly grimy look which for some 

reason adds to the rustic charm. Desperate, by 

this stage, to actually investigate something, 

anything that could be construed as a home, I 

was invited into the the home of Link Schism, 

a resident of Pretty N Punk for around a year 

now. The place is decorated with a mix of the 

serene – candles – plus a tiki bar out the back 

for entertaining, an enormous television (currently 

playing the Rocky Horror Picture Show), 

both floor cushions and a most elegant couch, 

and a resident cat. 

Much like the sim, the residents decorate in 

the way that pleases them, without regard for 

conventional decorating wisdom or indeed even 

matching items. It fits the sim, it fits the personalities 

and it fits the overall cultural aspect 

of the Youth of Today. Whether or not they have 

‘concern for their futures’, they’re having fun in 

the ‘right here and now’. E 

Pretty N Punk, Biopunk/143/129/25




Calameo - A New Format 

for Our Magazines 

LAST MONTH, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE EXPLORED 

a new format for publishing Prim Perfect. 

As many of you know, Prim Perfect has always 

been available online in .pdf format. But, 

let’s face it, that can be a little clunky. It is also 

dependent on the reader organising pages; otherwise 

they can end up reading it one page at 

a time, and the impact of a two-page spread is 

lost. So we spent a little time looking at technologies 

that take .pdfs and remodel them into a 

more user-friendly format. 


One that we looked at – and one that several 

other magazines are starting to use – is 

Issuu [http://issuu.com/]. It has a nice reader-friendly 

format but, as of yet, doesn’t 

preserve the links that we painstakingly add 

to every edition of Prim Perfect, so that not 

only can web readers jump from the contents 

to their favourite must-read article, but also 

they can click on an ad or an article and get 

an slurl link to the store or place of interest 

straightaway.


So it seemed that we would have to stay with 

the .pdf format. 

We were discussing this on Live Journal when 

someone spotted our discussion and made a helpful 

suggestion: Why didn’t we try Calaméo? 

He also gave us helpful links so we could 

check out earlier publications using the format 

for ourselves – and we did. 

Calaméo [http://en.calameo.com/] has much 

the same friendly interface as Issuu, but it has 

much more – more than we want at the moment, 

in fact, for you can bring across not only internal 

links (to another part of the magazine) and external 

links (to another place on the web, or an 

slurl to help you teleport inworld), but you can 

also embed audio and video files, making it an 

extraordinarily useful and highly interactive form 

of media! 

We tested it on Issue 10, and had a lot of positive 

feedback. Here are some of the comments 

we’ve had: 

“The Calaméo hosting for Prim Perfect looks 

and works great – it’s a keeper!” 

“Saffia, this looks fantastic! Very nicely done, 

indeed!” 

“I like the Calaméo layout, very readable and 

the clickable links and index are great.” 

“New style PP online looks great – mirrors 

better what you get inworld with a few extras 

and is much easier to read.” 

So Calaméo is going to be our medium of 

choice for the present – for both Prim Perfect 

and our new magazine, The Primgraph. We believe 

it will make life easier for our readers – and 

preserve all the advantages of click-through for 

our advertisers – as well as allowing them to really 

indulge themselves creatively in two-page 

spreads! 

We will, however, continue to make the magazine 

available in .pdf format, as we know that 

some of our readers like to print out the magazine 

to read on commuting journeys (people who travel 

by bus or train, that is – we certainly wouldn’t 

endorse trying to read Prim Perfect while driving 

a car!). We’ve also brought previous issues online 

to create an archive – so be sure to check out any 

issues that you missed! 

Our central start page will be: [http:// 

en.calameo.com/accounts/4234] – make sure 

you add it to your bookmarks!E




Marvellous 

Musical 

Memories: 

The Tribute 

Island Concerts 

Continue 


PRIM PERFECT IS DELIGHTED TO BE PART OF THIS 

exciting musical venture. Together with Radio 

Riel and Associated Northcliffe Digital (the online 

version of the Daily Mail and 

General Trust (DMGT)), Prim 

Perfect is sponsoring a series 

of live music concerts, featuring 

the very best musical artists 

of the Second Life world, 

paying tribute to the artists 

who have inspired them. 

Each concert (held on 

alternate Fridays during the 

summer and autumn months) 

features a live performance 

of an hour to an hour and a 

half, together with music from Radio Riel. 

The majority of these run from 1 to 4 p.m. 

SLT; the one featuring Paisley Beebe will 

run from 2 to 5 

p.m. SLT. 

These are 

very popular 

events – so 

make sure you 

get there early! 

The Concerts 

Our first two concerts 

featured Louis 

Volare’s Tribute to 

John Lennon (see 

http://www.louislandon.com) on June 27 and 

Cylindrian Rutabaga’s Tribute to Eva Cassidy (see 

http://cylindrian.wordpress.com) on July 11. 

Both of these well-known Second Life artists delighted 

the audiences who had come to see them. 

But if you missed them, don’t worry – both have 

agreed to perform again later in the season (see 

details below). 

Forthcoming Concerts 

August 8 – Mankind Tracer’s Tribute to Syd 

Barrett (see http://www.mankindtracer.com) 

August 16 – BubbaC John’s Tribute to Elvis 

August 22 – Joaquin Gustav’s Tribute to Astor 

Piazzola (see http://www.purevolume. 

com/joaquingustav) 

August 29 - Cylindrian Rutabaga’s Further 

Tribute to Eva Cassidy (see http://cylindrian. 

wordpress.com) 

September 5 – Atomic Blondie’s Tribute to 

Marilyn Monroe 

September 19 – Paisley Beebe’s Tribute to 

Ella Fitzgerald (see http://www.paisleybeebejazzbird.blogspot.com) 

October 3 – Louis Volare’s Tribute to Frank 

Sinatra (see http://www.louislandon.com). 

More about the concerts, the artists 

and those they are paying tribute 

to will appear on the Prim Perfect blog 

[http://primperfectblog.wordpress. 

com] over the coming weeks. 

Why Tribute Island? 

It’s been created as what it says – a 

Tribute. And that means it combines a 

place to both remember 

and reflect, and to salute 

those who have gone before 

and given us knowledge, 

and beauty and even 

sheer unadulterated fun. 

So, you can enjoy your 

Fay Wray fantasies, or visit 

the cinema complex to 

remember your favourite 

films (and those who created 

them) – or even visit the 

film studios and play a part 

in their making. You can pay tribute to your favourite 

poets or dance under the benevolent gaze of 

favourite musical luminaries such as John Lennon, 

Elvis, and Dudley Moore (a noted jazz pianist). 

But you can also visit memorials to ordinary 

people caught up in the horror of war, or terrorism, 

or sheer ghastly accidents. To me one of the

most moving displays is a detailed recreation of 

an London Underground station, with plaques 

of the names of those who died in some of the 

most recent (last thirty-five years) and horrific 

incidents on the London Underground: the bombings 

of July 7, 2005, the King’s Cross Fire back in 

1987, and the Moorgate crash of 1975. 

And there’s emphasis on commemorating ordinary 

people, throughout the island. Every exhibit 

contains a link – sometimes leading you to discover 

more about the individual or the event that is commemorated, 

but also supplying links to the website 

Lasting Tribute [http://www.lastingtribute.co.uk], 

an amazing UK site where you can leave a tribute 

to well-known people you have admired, or create 

or join a tribute to people who may be less wellknown 

in the wider world, but have nevertheless 

touched your life in important ways. 

One of the most moving places on the island 

is the war cemetery. In earlier wars, soldiers were 

buried in cemeteries where they fell, and we have 

the vast graveyards that commemorate the fallen 

in France – and others from more recent conflicts 

around the world – small cemeteries in the Falklands, 

in Aden, in Malaysia ... even in Iraq, marking 

a previous British occupation (up till 1952). Now, 


of course, the bodies of the soldiers are returned 

home to grieving families, and one doesn’t really 

guess at the scale of what is happening. But on 

Tribute Island, the war cemetery commemorates 

the British soldiers who have lost their lives in the


recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan – over 200 

in Iraq and 100 in Afghanistan. It’s a deeply moving 

place – made more so by the poppies placed 

around the Cenotaph by friends and families who 

have visited and left their own tributes. 

Tribute Island was built during October 2007 

by Associated Northcliffe Digital (part of the 

DMGT Group), with the senior design consultants 

and master builders of Wind Meta Works. 

It’s UK-centric, reflecting the nationality of 

its main creator, Nikk Huet, although many of the 

tributes reference international figures – such 

as the stepping stones which salute a variety of 

American musicians, including Nina Simone, Tupac 

Shakur, and Barry White. And, despite its corporate 

input, it’s also a very personal choice by 

Nikk as to what to feature – which is no bad thing. 

At the very least, you will find yourself learning 

a variety of new and fascinating facts about people 

and events you may know well – and some 

that you’ve never heard of. And – especially if 

you visit with friends – you may well find yourself 

in the sort of ‘lists’ discussion, in which you can 

decide who and what YOU would put on your own 

personal Tribute Island. 

Actually, you could find them commemorated 

on Tribute Island itself – Nikk has asked that if 

anyone has an idea for a tribute they should contact 

Nikk Huet inworld. 

And you can also see a video on the Island here: 

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qugPEjEfdsU]. E


HOMESTYLE CONSOLIDATED NEWS 

HomeStyle 

Consolidated 

News by Baily 

Longcloth 

LAST MONTH WE MET BAILEY LONGCLOTH WHO 

has created the group HomeStyle Consolidated 

to bring home industry sellers and buyers together. 

Not all of us are builders; we need to 

seek out that special piece or that one-of-a-kind 

house that will become home. Yes, each store 

has a group for store notices but if you’ve never 

been to that store or don’t have an open slot for 

another group, you won’t know what awesome 

items they may have. Homestyle Consolidated 

is the group set up to solve the ‘Groups Issue’ 

for those who want all the last furniture design 

news – and freebies – but can’t join all the groups 

that they would like to! 

Here’s the latest news from the group ... 

It’s Bailey from HomeStyle Consolidated 

again. Wow, what a busy month it’s been! Lots 

of new releases and store openings! We’ve got 

a new logo and a new office and a new vendor! 

A big thank you to DavidThomas Scorbal for the 

logo. I’ve been busy building the office. The ven-


dor will make it easier for your customers to join 

the group and keep on top of all the lovely newness. 

Just drop me a note and I’ll send one off 

that can be rezzed in your store. 

The office is on Angel Square [http://slurl. 

com/secondlife/Angel%20Square/55/68/22] and 

will be done soon. A big thank you to Prad Prathivi 

and Rrishanna Regina for the furniture and fantastic 

landscaping! 

Here’s what’s been happening in HomeStyle: 

The Loft [http://slurl.com/secondlife/ 

The%20Loft/170/128/28] has a new release, The 

Molinari – a wonderful outdoor set. They have 

also re-released their plantation bed with sculpties 

and I must say, it’s wonderful! 

PRrim Designs is now Amodica [http://slurl. 

com/secondlife/Southsea/84/118/432]. Prad 

Prathivi and Adam Soler (of LookR) have teamed 

up under one name and are taking the Second 

Life world by storm. Good luck boys! 

Christos Creations [http://slurl.com/secondlife/Christos/128/128/22] 

has a new store 

opening soon. Stayed tuned for details! 

C&D Designs [http://slurl.com/secondlife/ 

Mapinguari/251/45/300] has been very busy with 

lots of new releases. Lots of new lighting, furniture 

and accessories. You have to see their shadow 

boxes. If you are looking for something unique, 

this is the place. 

GREENE Concept [http://slurl.com/secondlife/Beachwood/133/141/38] 

has released fatpacks 

of their San Jose and Berlin designs! The 

fatpacks come in copy/no-transfer and no copy/ 

transfer versions. I can’t wait to see what Peter 

and Ivanova come up with next! 

Trompe L’oeil [el] has released The Tourelle 

tower, a Renaissance-inspired prefab topped with a 

2-storey loft-style living area. Totally scripted and 

ready to move right in with 360 degree views! 

Aimesi [http://slurl.com/secondlife/ 

Blue%20Sky/48/85/24], offering modern interactive 

design furniture, is new to the HomeStyle 

family. Created by Mea Carnell and Yao Shaowen. 

Scarlet Creative [http://slurl.com/secondlife/ 

ScarletCreative/146/98/22] has upgraded all their 

prefabs throughout the 2008 Collection with new 

texture packs, custom blinds and accessories. Large 

or small, you’ll find one to fall in love with. 

Want to hear more? Join HomeStyle 

Consolidated! 

Cheers, 

Bailey Longcloth 

Owner, HomeStyle Consolidated

META MAKEOVER 

Meta Makeover News 

THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE YOU CAN CATCH UP 

on the latest news of our TV programme, produced 

in association with SLCN TV. 

So What Is Meta Makeover? 

Meta Makeover is one of the range of shows 

from SLCN [http://www.slcn.tv/], the Second Life 

world’s very own cable network – brought to you 

by Prim Perfect Productions, the people behind 

Prim Perfect magazine and the Prim Perfect blog. 

It is shown every two weeks, when we make over 

a Second Life home! The programme is presented 

by Saffia Widdershins, the Editor of Prim Perfect 

magazine [http://www.primperfect.net/]. 

Each show, we take a house and make it over, 

deploying up to three skilled designers – who 

might tackle a room each, or a floor, or a garden. 

They’ll be interviewed about why they’ve made 

the choices that they have – with the delighted 

(or appalled) owner having a chance to say what 

they love or loathe about their new home. 

Until now, Meta Makeover has been filmed 

before a live audience at the SLCN studios in 

Northpoint at 12 p.m. (i.e. noon) SLT every other 

Sunday. However, exciting changes are afoot. The 

time of the show will be changing, and there are 

plans to make it weekly, and not fortnightly. 

And we are having a very special building constructed 

for us in Northpoint – which you’ll see 

more about on the Prim Perfect blog at [http:// 

metamakeover.wordpress.com/]. 

All our earlier shows are available on the SLCN 

website [http://slcn.tv/programs/meta-makeover], 

and available for download from iTunes as 

a podcast (just go to the iTunes store and search 

on Meta Makeover – it’s free to download, or to 

subscribe to the podcast). 



Recent Shows 

Episode 9 – An Unusual Makeover – 

of a TV studio! 

This episode featured a rather an unusual 

makeover. For once we weren’t making over 

a Second Life home – we made over a TV studio 

– and no, it wasn’t ours! We love our PRrim 

Designs [http://slurl.com/secondlife/Southsea/88/123/433] 

set, made for us by Rrishanna 

Regina and Prad Prithivi, and wouldn’t swop for 

anything! 

No, in this episode, we witnessed a super 

makeover for Paisley Beebe’s Tonight Live studio, 

and peeped behind the scenes there. Paisley, 

hostess of one of the most popular shows on 

SLCN, had long felt that her studio was starting to 

look a little tired – and when she saw the makeover 

that The Loft [http://slurl.com/secondlife/ 

The%20Loft/170/128/28] gave Skate Foss’s home 

in our third episode, she know that she had found 

the perfect team to give her studio the facelift 

it needed. 

And on the web [http://slcn.tv/meta-makeover-tonight-live] 

you can see what happened 

when Bethany Heart and Colleen Desmoulins got 

to work!


Episode 10 – Meta Makeover looks at the 

Issue of IP theft 

Our Meta Makeover from SL5 B is now available 

on the web [http://slcn.tv/meta-makeoverip-theft], 

and from the iTunes store. And this was 

Meta Makeover with a difference! 

Instead of having a house to make over, this 

episode we addressed the very serious issue of 

content theft. We spoke to top designers in their 

stores, and in the studio – and we gave news 

of a very important initiative from Linden Lab 

[http://lindenlab.com] – the Content Creators 

Registry (see [http://contentcreatorsassociation.blogspot.com/2008/07/let-collaborationbegin.html]). 

Our guests included Sue Stonebender of Serendipity 

Studios [http://slurl.com/secondlife/Te 

mplum%20ex%20Obscurum/143/103/127], Gwen 

Carillon of Elements in Design [http://slurl.com/ 

secondlife/Elements%20In%20Design/144/129/29] 

(and the Content Creators Association), Colleen 

Desmoulins of The Loft [http://slurl.com/secondlife/The%20Loft/170/128/28], 

Dirk Talamasca, 

Juris Amat and Neil Robinson. 

And, what’s more, our show came from our 

SL5B build (built by Jeremey Ryan of Barefoot 

Homes & Designs [http://slurl.com/secondlife/ 

Snafu/94/107/37]), so you have a chance to see 

it in its glory before the SL5B celebration closed 

on July 7. 

Dellybean North of True North Designs 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Goun/176/64/30], 

who designed our courtyard cafe, also built us a 

great portable studio for this event. 

Episode 11 – A Victorian business 

in the making! 

Our next Meta Makeover returned to making 

over a home – but one with a difference! 

Bracken Back and Samaria Arai have run Cheswick 

Village for some time, offering spacious and 

elegant Tudor rentals located in a lush country 

setting. 

Their houses have frequently been custom 

made, but now they are looking to create 

a new area – with Victorian custom-made 

homes. These are unusual because, while 

many builders choose to build on level sky 

platforms, and then lower the homes onto 

flat land, Bracken has built in situ, allowing 

the contours of the land to shape his houses, 

with interesting results.

Meta Makeover asked Soleil Snook of Snook’s 

Garden Centre [http://slurl.com/secondlife/ 

Caledon%20Stormhold/57/131/22] to landscape 

the house, and Jeannie Moonflower of Bygone 

Days [http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bygone%20Da 

ys/127/123/27] to furnish the inside. Join us to 

see how they worked with this lovely and unusual 

house – and how Jeannie created wonderful stories 

around the house, and a thriving business to 

be located in the basement! 


(N.B. This episode was not available on the 

web as we went to press; find out further details 

from our blog: [http://metamakeover.wordpress. 

com].) 

Upcoming Schedule 

Saturday 16 August – Kittie Munro of Kit- 

Star Designs [http://slurl.com/secondlife/Vorlheim/54/211/270] 

makes over Catherine Linden’s 

beach home. 

Saturday 30 August – We make over a Dragon’s 

Cave on the Isle of Wyrms. 

Saturday 13 September – Show to be 

arranged. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Would you like your home to feature on Meta 

Makeover? Send an email to us at metamakeover@gmail.com 

with three or four pictures of 

your home attached, and stating your reasons why 

you would like a makeover. Every two weeks, we 

shall select one lucky owner from our postbag and 

invite them to be our next Meta Makeover! E



The Content 

Creators Association 

THE CONTENT CREATORS ASSOCIATION WAS 

FORMED primarily as a source of information on 

intellectual property theft-related issues and 

support for creators of original content. It was intended 

to help members file DMCA (Digital Millennium 

Copyright Act) reports when they believed 

that their creations had been stolen. 

Creators in the Second Life world cope with 

content theft on a regular basis. Going through 

by Gwen Carillon 


the DMCA process on your own can be intimidating; 

add to that the stress of facing theft of your 

original content, and it can be a scary and depressing 

scenario. Only through the united support 

of others and the sharing of information can 

we make a dent in intellectual property crime. 

Since its founding on January 1, 2008, the Content 

Creators Association has become much more 

than just a information resource. CCA has woven 

itself into a strong, 

tightly knit community 

of caring and dedicated 

people. As a group, we 

have learned together. 

We have become more 

experienced and savvy 

in dealing with piracy issues, 

through the sharing 

of our experiences 

and information. We 

have found that community 

awareness of IP 

issues is key to slowing 

down this wave of IP 

theft. 

I attended a roundtable 

discussion panel 

on June 4, as a guest 

exhibitor at the Tech 

Museum of Innovation 

in San Jose, California. 

Philip (Rosedale) Linden, 

creator of the Second 

Life virtual world, was 

the keynote speaker. I 

brought up the need for 

Linden Lab to work with 

creators as partners. He 

seemed a bit surprised


that I brought up the topic, but addressed it 

openly and with respect. I had the opportunity 

to discuss this further with him, after the formal 

discussion concluded. He agreed to look into the 

IP theft issues more closely and find ways to 

work with creators on possible solutions. 

On Thursday, July 3, members of the Content 

Creators Association gathered together on the 

island of Elements in Design, in Second Life, to 

discuss intellectual property rights issues with 

Blue Linden, of Linden Lab. It was an incredibly 

informative and helpful discussion. Blue introduced 

members to the creator registry project 

he’s been working on. He asked for and received 

feedback from attendees. 

Essentially, the registry would work as a 

helpful guide for consumers to shop with confidence, 

and as a way for creators to assert their 

ownership of the intellectual property that they 

are selling. The registry would work on a point 

system. The creator earns more points with the 

amount of real life contact information he or she 

provides. In order to register, a creator would 

have to at least have payment information on 

file. Now granted, it can be hard for some to do 

that, but this registry would not be mandatory. 

It is not meant to augment or replace the legal 

DMCA process. It is simply a way for creators to 

register their work as theirs and be on record 

to the general community as such. CCA members 

in attendance voted in unanimous support 

of the registry project. CCA members peppered 

Blue with a barrage of questions about the registry 

and other IP related issues. To his credit, 

he fielded all our questions patiently, succinctly 

and with good humour. The atmosphere was one 

of sincere willingness to collaborate, from all 

parties in attendance. 

There seems to be a pervading sense of optimism 

taking hold. Much of this optimism is 

due to the faster response time from Linden Lab 

on DMCAs filed by creators. Response time on a 

filed DMCA had taken as long as a week or two 

in the near past. Creators are now reporting 24 

to 48 hour response times, from time of filing. 

This is a huge improvement. Linden Lab seems 

ready to pick up their side of the banner and 

contribute to this effort. 

But that doesn’t let Residents off the hook. 

I encourage all who read this to take advantage 

of the Linden presence in Second Life and attend 

Office Hours Meetings. We need to stay 

proactive, if we are going to keep our community 

sustainable. 

CCA accepts new members by sponsorship 

from active existing members. Although much 

of our membership is comprised of higher profile 

creators that have large businesses in Second 

Life, all creators of original work are welcome. 

Indeed, selling work or owning a business is not 

a stipulation. All we ask is that members create 

and are honourable and respectful people. 

If you are interested in joining the CCA, talk to 

a current member that you know and ask them to 

sponsor you. The sponsor can then send a request 

via note card to the CCA Membership Officer, Tigerlily 

Koi. Tigerlily will process the sponsor’s request. 

However, you do not need to be a member 

to get our help. If you are a creator in need of 

information regarding the DMCA process or theft 

issues, please feel free to drop a note to me or to 

Arwen Eusebio and we’ll do our best to help. The 

most important thing for a creator to remember 

is this: Your creation is your intellectual property 

from the moment it is made. 

If it’s worth creating, it’s worth protecting! 

For more information about the Content Creators 

Association, see the website at: [http:// 

contentcreatorsassociation.blogspot.com] E





ADVICE FOR NEWCOMERS 

Decorating on a 

Low-Prim Budget 

TAKING THE STEP TO HAVE A PLACE OF YOUR OWN 

is exciting! Congratulations! If you’re anything 

like me, you found yourself twirling around with 

glee until you realized you had to decorate that 

empty space. Then it was time to face the reality 

of a budget – and I’m not talking cash budget here 

– but the far tighter prim budget. There are so 

many beautiful furniture designs available, and 

all their prims will cut into your allotment. But 

with some planning and wise purchases, it is pos- 

Low-prim furniture created by Salome Strangelove and sold at 

Facade Furnishings, Seven Veils 120/50/23. 

by Qwis Greenwood 

sible to turn your place into your home for fewer 

prims than you thought. 

Where do I start? 

Resist the urge to run to your favourite stores, 

just for a bit. Think for a moment – how do you 

want to use your space? When you’re home, what 

will you be doing? My place is a space to work 

on my writing assignments and try on clothing 

I’ve acquired. Perhaps yours will be an intimate

etreat or a hangout for friends. The purposes are 

as unique as the residents. Whatever it is, that 

tells you where to focus your prim budget. 

Off to the stores 

Whatever style of furniture attracts you, 

it can be found somewhere on the grid. Think 

about what style you like best and might go best 

in your neighbourhood, and start looking for 

your focus items in those stores. Remember, this 

doesn’t have to be a commando mission! Look 

around, take your time, and see what items 

catch your eye. 

To make the most of your prims, look for designers 

who use rich textures. Zoom in close to 

the object. The details should still look good under 

close inspection. High quality textures are 

worth the price for the look they’ll bring to your 

place. 

Accessorizing! 

Make the most of your prims by using textures 

for accents – don’t buy a shelving unit and then 

spend prims on items to fill it. Look for something 

that has the items as part of its texture. Again, 


textures are your friends! 

Rugs and wall art usually cost only one prim 

each, so they are inexpensive ways to add colour 

and interest to your space. At my home, I uploaded 

some nature photos my mother took to use as 

pictures on the walls. 

If you have some prims left in the budget, 

then feel free to add some accessories to change 

your space from a showplace to a home. Depending 

on your tastes, consider placing a coffee mug 

on your desk, a magazine on your bed, or some 

wine glasses and snacks left on the table. What 

little thing would make your friends immediately 

recognize this place as your space? 

Still need ideas? 

If you’re stuck for ideas, you’re in the right 

place. Check out back issues of Prim Perfect to learn 

about different designers and styles. Quick ideas 

can be found in the Treasure Hunt items. Finally, a 

source of inspiration for this article and something 

which may inspire your own home is Meta Makeover 

episode 7 (see [http://slcn.tv/meta-makeoverelizabetta-westland]), 

where a home was decorated 

using less than 120 prims. E





Have You Read 

the Primgraph Yet? 

IN AN EXCITING NEW DEVELOPMENT FROM PRIM 

Perfect Publications there comes a magazine, The 

Primgraph, which is aimed at Residents interested 

in post-Renaissance historical and steampunk 

sims. It includes articles on related events, profiles 

of relevant sims and venues, historical and 

technical articles, fiction, and more! 

The Primgraph has compiled a list of some 

thirty groups of sims having 

post-Renaissance his- 

torical or steampunk themes! 

But to begin with, what 

could be better than a 

close look at one of Caldedon’s 

many component 

sims? Yes, in this first issue, 

the magazine visits Caledon 

Penzance. Considered 

by some to be the cultural 

capital of Caledon, this sim 

hosts the Gaiety Theatre, 

as well as the Caledon Studios 

(a working Victorian 

machinima studio), and the 

Magic Lantern Show, offering 

a continuous showing of 

photographic transparencies. 

But it also plays a key 

role in the steampunk side 

of Caledon, being home to 

the famed Connolly Aerodrome, where the Royal 

Caledon Air Force is based, and which recently 

came tops in the popular vote for the Eight Wonders 

of Caledon. 

Mr Ederyn Clowes toured the SL5B sims in 

search of exhibits related to history and culture. 

The Fashion article was written by Miss Zadira 

Barzane, and is a sweeping look at summer offerings 

from a number of fine historical clothing 

by Alesia Markstein 

and Saffia Widdershins 

designers. For the Society pages, Dr Rafael Fabre 

traveled as far as Sybirya and Laputa to bring you 

news of steampunk-themed clubs in the Second 

Life world. The Technology section contains two 

articles – one by Mr Roberto Viking on the nature 

and function of the megaprim, and one by the 

Editrix, Mrs Alesia Markstein, on the nature and 

development of the Steam Engine; each strives to 

acquaint the reader with 

these invaluable devices. 

The reader will note 

that the most bountiful department 

within the magazine 

is that of Arts and 

Culture. It is indebted to 

Sir JJ Drinkwater for providing 

a description of the 

Caledon Library, as well as 

a list of its recent acquisitions. 

He also brought the 

fascinating novel The Mysteries 

of London to the 

magazine, which is being 

presented as an extended 

(and blood-curdling) series 

in the style of Dickens 

and Thackeray. Also, 

the Editrix discovered a 

delightful cookery book, 

I Go A-Marketing, full of 

practical advice and now likewise serialized; and 

The Primgraph also offers a pair of book reviews 

for your interest and edification. 

Finally, Mr Rascal Blanco has provided copies 

of letters from certain of his kin, who are on 

an extended tour of Second Life, and an anonymous 

individual is proposing to provide readers 

with etiquette advice under the name ‘Mistress 

of Propriety’.

There are various ways to get The Primgraph! 

You can collect it inworld from one of its vendors. 

You should start to see your favourite historical 

and steampunk stores displaying the vendor and 

– if they don’t – why not ask them to take our 

one-prim vendor? 

Or you could buy a copy from OnRez [http:// 

shop.onrez.com/item/705445] or SLExchange 

[http://www.slexchange.com/modules.php?nam 

e=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=811539] to be 

delivered to you inworld. 

Best of all, you can use the Primgraph Subscribe-o-Matic. 

Kiosks for this are located at the 

Prim Perfect offices in Oliveto [http://slurl.com/ 

secondlife/Oliveto/128/128/0], at the info hubs 

in Caledon sims, in the libraries of Caledon and 

associated libraries, in the embassies of Europa 

Wulfenbach (thanks to Baron KlausWulfenbach 

Outlander, Consul from Europa) and in The Coeur 

sims. We hope to have these distributed more widely 

very soon as the subscribe-o-matic means that, 

without having to join a Second Life world group, 

you can get regular updates of the magazine and 


other news as well! 

But if you prefer to read the magazine online 

but not inworld, there are choices too. Firstly, 

there’s the wonderful Calaméo system, which allows 

you to move smoothly through the pages, 

giving you the feeling of reading a real magazine. 

You’ll find Issue 1 here [http://en.calameo.com/ 

books/000004234ef580e1f2026] – and please do 

leave a comment! 

But, if you like to download your magazines 

to read as you commute to work, or in the bath, 

or wherever, you can also obtain a standard pdf 

[http://www.primperfect.net/primgraph/primgraph_001.pdf] 

for downloading and printing. 

What people have said about The Primgraph: 

‘A wonderful read. Well done!’ 

‘Indeed, great job!!’ 

‘Impressive!! :-|’ 

‘Terrific job – I eagerly await the second issue!’ 

‘The Primgraph looks beautiful! I love the 

way the pages flip and have that slight gradient 

of grays and whites in the background so they 

look like pages in an actual book.’ E


LANDSCAPE OF THE MONTH 

Living 

in the 

Future 

by Alesia Markstein 


EXTROPIA: AN IDEA, A PLACE, AN ECLECTIC BATCH 

of Residents. Founded in November 2007, the Independent 

Technocratic City-State of Extropia is 

dedicated to the notion of a positive future – a 

utopia rather than the more-common dystopia. 

The look of the architecture, as enforced by a 

strong covenant, is generally sleek, clean, and 

retro-futuristic. The people are civilised, friendly 

– and quite often not human. Here, robots and 

cyborgs rub elbows with furries, aliens, artificial 

intelligences, and perfectly ordinary avatars. 

The style of the public places is the work of 

Galatea Gynoid and Vidal Tripsa, respectively the 

Chairperson and the Community Architect/Director 

of Culture. Individual builds are idiosyn-


cratic, ranging from artist Truthseeker Young’s 

ever-changing confection to Argent Bury’s visual 

haiku in concrete and tree, with a lot of territory 

in between. As Vidal says, ‘[t]he main idea has 

been for Extropia to be a space where people can 

imagine their own positive futures.’ 

Most of the sims have two levels: one just 

above the water, and a second at 200 meters, either 

on provided sky platforms or as free-floating 

objects. Ban lines are forbidden as obstructions 

to travel lines – boats and especially aircraft are 

a popular hobby in Extropia. 

In fact, four of the 

six existing sims are primarily 

Openspace, acquired 

in February 2008 

and containing only a 

few builds on custom 

islands. Skies of Tomorrow, 

formerly part of 

Dogfight Atoll, contains 

one large and one small 

island, connected by a 

runway – as the name 

suggests, this is Extropia’s 

public aerodrome, 

and the headquarters of 

Gaius Goodiffe’s Second 

Skies aircraft business. 

Floating Point contains 

Extropia’s marina; also 

formerly part of Dogfight 

Atoll, it is mostly water. 

So is Dirac Sea, which is 

both a sim name and a 

name applied to the larger ocean area around it. 

Future Current, also the location of a sandbox for 

Extropian residents, is the last of the relatively 

new Openspace regions. 

The residential and business centres consist 

of two sims, Extropia Core and Extropia. Founded 

on 5 November 2007, Extropia Core contains 

a mix of public spaces, shops, and residences. 

The most important public space is the Central 

Nexus, the location for administrative offices and 

especially meeting space for Extropia’s more intellectual 

events. 

The founders and current Board of Directors 

are Galatea Gynoid, Vidal Tripsa, Argent Bury, 

and Sophrosyne Stenvaag, and they put significant 

resources into community-building and public 

events. Sophrosyne’s Saturday Salon in the 

Central Nexus has brought in many interesting 

guests, including science fiction authors Charles 

Stross, Robert J. Sawyer, and David Brin; expert in 

virtual law Benjamin Duranske (of the blog Virtually 

Blind [http://virtuallyblind.com]); and Hamlet 

Au of the blog New World Notes [http://nwn. 

blogs.com/nwn]. On Saturday, August 9, science 

fiction writer Catherine Asaro will be appearing 

– see the Extropia website for details [http:// 

core.extropiacore.net/Main_Page]. Botgirl Questi, 

who has recently acquired a private island in 

Dirac Sea, says, ‘I was looking for a place with an 

eclectic community – creative community – and 

this seemed to be THE place with the Salons, the 

events such as the future of religions conference


and the NASA conferences’. 

Other events include 7Seas fishing tournaments 

on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Core’s 

Tycho Beach; the Extropia Book Club’s Sunday 

meetings at the Central Nexus; and periodic 

conferences, including co-hosting an academic 

conference on The Future of Religions/Religions 

of the Future in June, and co-hosting the NASA 

Future Forum in May. And then there are the 

parties, most recently for Extropia’s six-month 

anniversary and for Yuri’s Night (celebrating 

both Yuri Gagarin’s journey to become the first 

human in space and the launch of the first Space 

Shuttle). The latter events were held at the 

Core’s Technohenge, a spectacular dance floor 

built by Zada Zenovka. 

And there is more! Visit Extropia Core to 

find the Diversionarium, The Secret Goldfish, 

Tycho Peninsula’s landscape, and the space 

elevator. 

The Core is also home to the headquarters of 

SL Transhumanists, an independent group dedicated 

to the controversial idea that in the near 

future, human beings will be able (and willing) 

to transcend the limitations of biology in terms 

of abilities, mortality, and physical appearance. 

Their recently-remodeled build is worth 

seeing, and their regular discussions about the 

future, human nature, and so forth are worth 

hearing. The group often hosts its own speakers 

on transhumanist topics, separately from 

the other events already mentioned. 

The sim called simply ‘Extropia’ is the 

second-oldest sim in the group, and presently 

holds most of the residences outside the Core. 

The grouping of habitat plates here is known as 

‘NeoVenice’, and of course there is also ‘Aero- 

NeoVenice’, the upper-level plates. This is also 

where Extropia’s ‘myPods’ are located – small, 

inexpensive apartments. At present there are 

three single-storey buildings with four units 

each, and also one high-rise complex with sixteen 

slightly larger apartments. 

These are considered ‘starter housing’ by 

the Directors, who naturally hope that Resi-


dents who come to Extropia will eventually invest 

in one of the larger parcels. This has worked 

in at least one case – the cyborg Whatcha Eaton, 

whose two-level residence stands near the highrise 

apartments, says, ‘Initially I wasn’t looking 

for anything in particular. I was looking for an inexpensive 

place to live. The Extropia “myPods” 

were inexpensive and offered a chance to “belong” 

somewhere, but it was the surrounding 

landscape that drew me to stay and to eventually 

own this small parcel.’ 

Asked about the appeal of Extropia, Residents 

constantly refer to the positive view 

of the future that the sims represent. The 

website’s official history notes that the Directors 

‘had been looking for a futuristic/sci-fi 

sim in Second Life, but were disappointed to 

discover that nearly all of them were postapocalyptic, 

dystopian, or otherwise undesirable 

for anyone looking for an up-beat, positive 

view of the future.’ Thus was the new sim 

of Extropia born, drawing its ocean-oriented 

landscape from the late-twentieth-century 

Oceania plans of The Atlantis Project, and the 

retro-futuristic architecture from a variety of 

sources – ranging from 1930s pulp magazines 

and films, to the Star Wars films, to Star Trek, 

and even The Jetsons. 

Whatcha Eaton echoes this position: ‘I’m 

old enough to remember TV shows and movies 

about the “future.” Those shows talked about 

the year 2000 as if we were all going to be 

transformed. I look at Extropia as a version of 

that innocence and wonder’. Resident Dante 

Quan, who recently built a facility for research 

into artificial intelligence in Extropia, likewise 

says, ‘Extropia is perhaps the only place of its 

kind in SL; to a large extent, we are a colony of 

philosophers that look forward into the future; 

there’s no downbeat tone, no apocalypse. With 

us we have Transhumanists, dreamers, thinkers, 

artists, designers … Extropia is a place where the 

future is born’. 

As Extropia’s Covenant says, ‘The future is 

here, and it’s beautiful and fun!’E



GARDENING IN SECOND LIFE 

A Midsummer 

Night’s Garden 

by Kaye Robbiani 


THINK WILL-O’-THE-WISPS DARTING THROUGH OLD 

vine-covered ruins, moonlight reflecting off wild 

white roses, the scent of night Jasmine in the air 

… The fairies will come out at night to play unobserved. 

This is an ancient place, and the garden 

appears to have always been here, untouched 

and untended by human hands, but growing in 

perfect harmony with the primal energy that surrounds 

it. 

Such is the effect I desire to create in my 

new garden in Winterfell Aislinn. The region of 

Winterfell is a mysterious place of perpetual twilight, 

comprised of dark Victorian and Medieval 

sims. I recently acquired the open sim of Aislinn 

(Gaelic for dream or vision). After spending my 

first month here building my castle and chapel, 

and terraforming to my heart’s content, I turn my 

attention to the garden.


In keeping with the ambiance of this region, 

the garden is a wild place. Making a garden that 

appears to have always existed, untended, is an 

art in itself. This is not the place for neat rows of 

anything, or manicured hedges and knot gardens. 

The plantings must be carefully selected to be 

beautiful but wild in appearance. 

OK, so where to begin? 

The principles of designing a garden are similar 

to those of interior design, in that there are many 

different ‘layers’, put down one at a time. Think 

of a painting, where the background is done first, 

then the major elements, and finally the details 

are added. In home decorating, wall and floor textures 

and colours are the first element, then the 

major furnishings, then window treatments and 

wall art, and finally the smaller 

artistic details. In a garden, the 

site preparation is the first layer, 

followed by the ‘hardscape’ and 

larger plantings, such as trees 

and shrubs. The garden is then 

‘filled in’ with foliage and flowering 

plants, and finished with 

details such as garden art and 

statuary. These basic principles 

apply regardless of the site or 

character of the garden. 

Function is also of central 

importance in garden design. 

Will this be a place used for entertaining, 

or is it principally for 

the homeowner’s private enjoyment? 

Will meals be taken there? 

Is protection from the elements 

necessary? 

As in real life, the selection 

of the garden site is of prime 

importance. One must consider 

the view both of the garden, 

and from the garden. Decisions 

regarding the terrain – the 

amount of terraforming needed 

and whether or not to cover the original terrain 

with a flat surface – will depend on the desired 

character and use of the finished garden. For this 

project, the site of the garden is a gently sloping 

area in the shadow of the castle, leading down to 

the water’s edge. It is visible from the balcony of 

my privy suite, so I can gaze down on it at night, 

and hopefully catch sight of the elusive fairies 

dancing in the moonlight. In contrast with the 

formal gardens I have created in the past, I do 

not level the land with a prim lawn. I choose to 

maintain the gentle slope and irregularities with 

minimal terraforming to place the key elements 

where I desire them. 

I do not plan to entertain on a large scale 

here, as I did in my Caledon Morgaine garden, 

so there is no need for a large dance floor or an 

expanse of lawn for garden parties. This will be a 

quiet place of meditation and reflection. The size 

and scope of the garden are smaller and more 

intimate than gardens I have done in the past. 

The next step of this design, as with any garden, 

is the ‘skeleton’. This is the hardscape as 

well as large dominant features such as trees. I 

choose as the backbone an ancient ruin reminiscent 

of Stonehenge (I found it on SL Exchange, 

where a search for ‘ruins’ brings up a wonderful 

variety!). Shade is provided by an old willow 

tree growing at the far end of the garden, and a 

grove of white birches. A round paved area, complete 

with appropriate animations, will provide 

a place to sit and meditate in the center of the 

garden. The texture I choose is that of old stones, 

arranged in a mysterious circular pattern. 

Once this backbone is in place, I can turn my 

attention to the plantings. Because of the perpetual 

twilight, this is the ideal place for a predominantly 

white garden. White flowers reflect 

moonlight and are more visible in the diminished 

light than other colours. (I do not use plants that

are ‘full bright’ in this garden, as I feel they have an 

artificial brightness which detracts from the natural, 

primal ambiance of Winterfell.) I choose rambling 

white roses, intended as climbers, but I allow them 

to meander over the ground, and up over some of the 

fallen stones of the ruins. The white clematis with 

which I cover the ruins 

contrasts nicely with the 

dark green and variegated 

ivy. Ferns and lily-of-thevalley 

play at the feet of 

the ancient stones. 

Because I seldom use 

just one of anything in 

a garden, I find it most 

economical to purchase 

copyable versions of 

plants, or packages of 

six or twelve. Another 

advantage of using copyable 

plants is that you 

can make copies of them 

while on the ground, using 

edit mode. (Click on 

the plant, select edit, then while holding down 

the shift key, click and hold one of the directional 

arrows, and ‘pull’ the plant in that direction. The 

original will move, leaving a copy in its place – voilà! 

Another plant!) I find it easier to place plants 

accurately where I want them with this method 

than by rezzing multiple copies. 

Lily of the Valley, white Delphinium, Baby’s 

Breath and Moonglories were all a part of a purchased 

pack (Midnight Garden from Creative Fantasy 

Home and Garden at Serenity Falls), which 

fit well with the theme of this garden. They provide 

a place for tiny fairies to hide and play. 

No garden is complete without some source 

of water. However, just as topiary plants and 

neatly clipped hedges have no place in this ancient, 

wild place, so a formal fountain would be 

completely out of place. The water should either 

be from a natural source, such as a spring bubbling 

up from the ground, or be a part of the ancient 

ruins, perhaps a basin used centuries ago 

for ceremonial cleansing. Although I am sure that 

the perfect water feature must exist somewhere 

in the *Second Life* world, I am impatient and 

when I am unable to quickly locate just what I 

want in a search, I decide to build it myself. I 

use a modifiable sculpty rock from my inventory, 

making several copies in various configurations, 

by stretching and rotating them. The water which 

flows out of these rocks, appearing to be a natural 

spring, is a moving water prim from Botanical 


Straylight, also modifiable, which I manipulated 

and stretched until it looked just right to me. 

Finally, to bring the garden to life, I release 

birds and butterflies which have been locked up 

in my inventory since my move last month from 

Caledon (poor things … they are SO happy to get 

out!). But such ‘natural’ 

creatures are not 

enough life for a magical 

garden such as this. 

Will-o’-the-wisps (Botanical 

Straylight) create 

a magical ambiance 

... little ghostlights 

which have no determinable 

source, they 

have been thought over 

time to be spirits of stillborn 

children, or fairies, 

or malicious spirits 

that lead travelers to 

become lost in bogs and 

marshes. Moonbeams 

shining through the ruins 

(from Botanical Straylight) illuminate the garden 

at night. And what ancient garden would be 

complete without a fairy or two? I haven’t actually 

SEEN these fairies yet, but I keep looking 

from my balcony late at night. I think have supplied 

everything they need to feel at home in this 

magical place. I can only believe that since I built 

it, THEY WILL COME! E 

Where to find garden objects: 

Botanical at Straylight (196,14,37) 

Will-o-wisps 

Sun/moonbeam 

Sculpted Willow Tree with shadow 

Butterflies 

Sculpted water 

Tesh Gardens at Wisteria Lane (67, 93, 23) 

Blue Iris (copyable) 

White Delphinium (copyable) 

The Heart Garden Centre at Heart 1 (124, 125, 29) 

Silver Birch Trees 

Climbing White Ros 

Climbing English Ivy 

The Flower Plant at Four (160, 202, 21) 

Climbing Clematis armandii


ADVICE FOR NEWCOMERS 

USING VOICE CHAT IS SUCH A HANDY THING, IT 

really makes communication so much easier 

when you are working on projects with other 

avatars. It might possibly be the most clever 

thing since, since, well ... poseballs! But ... if I 

could wave my magic wand and make this handy 

thing even handier ... what would it be ... hmmmm. 

Oh! I would love it if 

my lips would move while 

I’m speaking. Ok, I know 

I can purchase items like 

this, that force lip movement, 

but I don’t wanna! 

What can a simple guy do 

to make his lips move? 

Lo and behold, the 

Linden Lab brainiacs have 

given us Lip Sync ... built 

right into the application. 

It’s still in Beta, but they 

assure me our lips will not 

fall off or be damaged in 

any way. Here’s how you 

enable it. 

1. In your menu bar, 

click the ‘Advanced’ dropdown 

menu. If you do not 

see ‘Advanced’ then you 

first must press the keys 

‘CTRL + ALT + D’ to raise the 

‘Advanced’ menu. 

2. In the drop-down 

menu, click ‘Character’. It’s 

about halfway down, come 

now, don’t get lost. 

3. In the next dropdown 

menu, click ‘Enable 

Making Your 

Lips Move 

by Rascal Blanco 


Lip Sync (Beta)’ and an ‘X’ should appear next to 

it, confirming your success. 

You’re set, chat away, Chatty Cathy! 

For a video tutorial on this tool visit Torley 

Linden’s YouTube recording [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgYnxc2np9M]. 

E



TREASURE COMPETITION 

Prim Perfect Treasure Hunt 

THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO WIN a wide range of 

prizes from the Prim Perfect prize cupboard, generously 

donated by store owners and designers 

from around the grid! 

What do I have to do to win 

these goodies? 

You need to visit all the stores on the list below, 

and look for the item of furniture next to 

their name. When you find it, check out the number 

of prims in the item. 

How to find out the prim count 

You can find out the prim count by right clicking 

on an item. Then select edit. Make sure that 

the edit window is fully open (by clicking in the 

bottom righthand corner if the simple edit menu 

is showing - as in the first diagram). When the 

edit menu is fully open and the General tab is 

showing, then you can read the prim count. 

Finding the prim count. 

What next? 

Make a note of the prim count - and then go 

on to find the next piece of furniture! 

When you have found all eighteen (or as many 

as you can), send it to primperfect@gmail.com 

- together with a completion of this sentence (in 

not more than 15 words)… 

“Prim Perfect is…“ 

Mark your email subject as: Treasure Hunt 

- August 2008. Include in the email the name of 

your avatar. Do NOT IM or notecard anyone connected 

with the magazine. 

The winner will be the person who finds the 

most tokens. In the event of a tie, the winner will 

be decided on the basis of the tie-breaker. 

The winner will choose which of the prizes 

he or she would like, then the runner up chooses 

next ... etc. 

Closing date: 1st September 2008 

Which stores do I need to visit? 

See the illustration on the next page for the 

stores - and the furniture you need to find! E




News continued from page 11 

this simple style Greek temple has been modeled 

on an ancient Greek design, with twenty-six 

fluted Ionic columns (four at either end and nine 

on each side) all around the central structure, 

creating a beautiful colonnade of columns. 

And continuing the Greek theme 

... Greek villas for sale at Sofia’s 

Furniture 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Serina%20Island/ 

152/221/27] 

Sofia Standish has been making Greek villas for 

some time, and has some delightful ones set up on 

her islands. Now she has sent us some exciting news: 

‘I’ve been asked for the last year when I am going 

to sell my Greek villas and at last it’s happening. I 

have 3 villas for sale, ranging in size from a small two 

storey with a foot print of 10m x 30m to the larger 2 

storey, 30m x 30m. The 4th one for sale is the small 

Greek Orthodox church. This is very popular for weddings 

etc. I am planning on adding more to the range 

as soon as I get time.’ If you’re looking for the Mediterranean 

feel come by for a look at the display village 

on Serina Island. (Use the slurl or, if you like, 

you can walk across from Serafina Island.) 


Keeping Time with GREENE Concept 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Beachwood/133/141/38] 

The Quintos worldtime clocks were among the 

first items Peter Stindberg and Ivanova Shostakovich 

created at GREENE Concept. However, they 

never got around to the last finishing touches on 

them. Now, finally, the first four of the Quintos


range are ready. The chronometers are perfect 

to keep track of time with your international 

friends. They will suit your in-world office, are 

an elegant addition to your shop or store, or will 

make for an interesting piece in your Second Life 

world home. 

With only eleven prims, these clocks must 

have the lowest prim count possible for their 

task. The hands of the clocks are set by a single 

lag-free script which drives all ten hands – and 

they observe daylight saving! The clock itself is 

modifiable, so you can adjust the size. 

The Quintos are available in four designs: 

Earth (as shown), Steel, Wood, and U.S. time 

zones. The intial batch of Quintos clocks come 

either as a worldtime clock in three designs, or as 

the U.S. time zone clock. Until the vendor photos 

are finished, the clocks are available for 350 L$ at 

the GREENE Concept in-world store. 

News From Sweetbay, 

Home of Sweetbay Designs 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sweetbay/147/219/36] 

The thing that followmeimthe Piedpiper 

(known as Pip to her friends) likes about having 

land in a sim on the mainland is that there’s 

never a dull moment. Apart from new and not so 

new customers dropping in to say hello, there’s 

always plenty of activity around the place. 

This month her friend Elena Odell and Pip 

have acquired some extra land in the sim so that 

they can extend the range of buildings, etc. on 

offer and possibly have a general swap around. 

The train, Nellie, has proven very popular with 

visitors and chuffs around the gardens without 

any problems. The new land is over the other 

side of the sim from the main garden – where the 

canal runs through its tunnel. This has given Pip


the opportunity to make the coach house she has 

been wanting for ages, placing it in pride of place 

at Nellie’s secondary halt – ‘which incidentally 

needs a new station building’, says Pip. ‘Mmmm, 

so nice to have some prims to use up again!’ 

The coach house is based on a real English 

one that Pip has a picture of, and she says that it 

looks nice in its weathered brickwork, with a bell 

tower and sundial add further interest to it. 

Now that this is in place, she has moved the 

stable block and coaches across to join it. Altogether 

these make for a lovely traditional scene. 

In other news, a neighbour of mine commissioned 

Pip to make for him a new modern mall for 

the adjacent plot. This can be seen behind the 

ballroom on her main garden site. ‘He has asked 

if I’d run the train past this with a new stop there 

for his future customers’, Pip adds. ‘So maybe 

Nellie will soon have a circular route rather than 

an out and back one. And last week I was also approached 

by someone who wants to hire Sweetbay 

for a day to throw a party for their friends. 

I never thought that making my first greenhouse 

all those months ago would end up with a theme 

park! It’s always a pleasure to see folk around the 

place, so never mind if you’re just looking – feel 

free to come and visit.’ 

1 prim plants at Kvinta’s Garden 

Centre! Woot!! 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Wasp/84/43/84] 

Except the lucky few with your own sim available 

(and then … even you too!) we all need them, and 

mostly we all have too few available: the prims. 

Now Kvinta’s Garden Centre proudly offers a 

selection of grasses, rhododendrons, flowers, and 

bushes for those of us who just love a nice garden! 

‘I remember my time as newbie on a rented 

plot, low prim count’, says Kvinta. ‘Man, did I 

use a lot of time searching for nice plants, low 

in prim! Therefore, most of my plants are 1-3 

prims. Naturally, some of my creations cost a LOT


of prims, but I really try to make nice plants for 

us all to enjoy.’ 

But how can it be done – normally only Linden 

plants are 1 prim? 

The secret is not a secret at all! Sculpties are 

difficult but also very usable. Once you crack the 

code it is a gift from Heaven sent! 

‘The sculpty itself is a present from my very 

best friend in SL, who is a gifted building designer’, 

explains Kvinta. ‘She built it according to 

my specifications, and I am certain you will read 

more about her in future issues of Prim Perfect.’ 

So far Kvinta is very pleased with the results 

– and we can see why! 

Visit the classic surroundings of Kvinta’s Garden 

Centre, take a stroll around the Hanging Gardens, 

enjoy the Rose Garden, the Waterfall area, 

as well as the meadow area. Not all items are one 

prim, but if you really like a special plant and do 

not find it as one prim, let Kvinta know and she 

will give it a try, although she warns that not all 

plants look nice as one prim plants! 

A New Couples Dance Release by 

Maar Auer at Metaversal Arts: 

It’s Foxtrot Time! 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cherish/144/199/60] 

Maar Auer’s fantastic dance release series 

continues. After the breathtaking SLindy Hop, she 

will continue with a smoother, jazzier ballroom 

groove: It’s Foxtrot time! The grand release will 

take place in Metaversal Arts Café on Sat 23rd 

August, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. SLT. 

Radio Riel will guarantee the party groove by 

playing foxy oldies – and on top of it all we will 

enjoy a live concert by a talented jazz musician 

Aira Jun [http://www.junjazz.com]. You will 

surely not want to miss this event! 

Satir de Cuir Releases 

New Italian Villas! 

Satir DeCuir, the talented lead architect on 

the Al-Andalus build, has released another stunning 

set of homes this week! Her Italian Villas 

come in eight different models, various sizes and 

a choice of beautiful rustic or modern textures, all 

original to these houses. The homes have modifiable 

floors and roofs, locking doors, menu system 

windows and some of the most efficient prim usage 

in Second Life. You can see the houses rezzed 

in her sim store, at Satir DeCuir [http://slurl. 

com/secondlife/Satir%20DeCuir/107/101/33], or 

in her brand new sim development, the Isles of 

Ischia [http://slurl.com/secondlife/Isle%20of%2 

0Ischia/204/180/24]. 

The Refuge and The Progression 

– an Installation by AM Radio 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Wales%20Springs/ 

251/113/24] 

In the tradition of his previous creations – The 

Far Away, The Quiet, Husk – and progressing from 

The Refuge and The Prospect, AM has created 

‘The Refuge and The Progression’, covering two 

full sims. Evocative in mood and visual style, AM 

once again offers an immersive and interactive 

experience. The richness of detail and texture 

encourages visitors to touch – often discovering 

hidden things or gifts. It’s not unusual to visit a

second time, or third, and find new additions or 

items changed. 

Similar to an exhibit that only ran for one 

week previously, AM now has three sims up in and 

artistic style similar to The Far Away, but with 

a much larger scope. The above SLURL will land 

you at a crossroads where you can see the trademark 

field of wheat with the rusty train, along 

with a long-stretching road, AM’s less well-known 

gas station, and a hot rod, both highly detailed. A 

third sim has been added to the collection, a collaboration 

between AM Radio and Miki Gymnast, 

but you’ll need to find it. Follow the road to the 

solitary house, go upstairs and grab the fantastically 

detailed freebies, then click the radio hidden 

up in the attic to get a landmark to the hidden 

sim. What you’ll see is a very unique blend of 

two artists’ styles. Have fun! 

The installation opens at 3 p.m. SLT, Sunday 3 

August: The Refuge and The Progression, hosted 

in the Alexander Gallery sims, runs from Aug 3 

- Nov 2 

THE ARTIST 

Well-known to many, AM Radio is one of the 

most detailed and precise builders in Second 

Life. A Google search of ‘AM Radio Second Life’ 

returns numerous posts about the man and his 

installations. 

His extensive research and fine arts training 

allows him to create breathtaking installations 

based on artistic and design principles; for most 

visitors, this translates into environments that 

trigger emotions and memories. His attention to 

detail and richness of texture has made The Far 

Away one of the most-photographed locations in 

Second Life. 

THE CHARITIES 

Exemplifying Ghandi’s suggestion to be the 


change you want to see in the world, AM Radio is 

a supporter of numerous charities. In Second Life 

he does not sell any of his creations for profit, but 

offers them to raise funds for charity. Pieces of 

the original wheatfield and its builds, along with a 

1943 Jeep Willys, will be available at The Refuge 

and The Progression, in support of Heifer International. 

AM has also created a D-90 Landrover, that 

can be purchased to support Nothing But Nets. 

Please consider giving generously. 

Information on these charities can be found 

at: [http://www.heifer.org] and [http://www. 

nothingbutnets.org]. 

EVENTS 

Weekly events are planned for the installation 

– Monday night fireworks, Wednesday night 

‘Ride Night’, Sunday night live music. 

Week 1 

Sunday 3 August, 7 p.m.: 

Joaquin Gustav – classical guitar music with a 

latin and tango flair. Joaquin is donating his time 

and tips to support Heifer and Nothing But Nets. 

Monday 4 August, 7 p.m.: 

Fireworks Over the Wheatfield, provided by 

RacerX Gullwing 

Wednesday 6 August, 6 p.m.: 

‘Classic Ride Night’ – an exhibit of classic cars 

provided by Abacus Mimistrobell of AM Pro Rides. 

Come see some of the finest vehicles in *Second 

Life*, and do some dancing in the streets. 

THE FINE PRINT 

By now everyone knows the concerns about 

theft of intellectual property or content, so this 

is just a reminder to enjoy the metaphorical 

cookies, but don’t be stealing the recipe. 

The Loft Presents the Molinari 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/The%20Loft/171/128/28]


The Loft is proud to present the latest addition 

to its Outdoor Living line, the Molinari. The 

Molinari’s sectional is scripted with The Loft’s 

menu-driven multi-animation seating, providing 

seven poses for you and the company you keep. 

The Molinari is now available in dark wood. 

FAYANDRIA from Koshari Mahana 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Duhallow/127/122/29/] 

Fayandria, a unique Medieval/Fantasy community 

which spans five sims, will open during 

the latter part of August, 2008. This area is likely 

to be very innovative because it has its own economy 

as well as scripted quests, role play, residential 

living, arena games and combat utilising 

the DCS2 system. There will be a wide variety of 

races and classes to choose from, some of which 

are completely unique to Fayandria. Each of the 

five sims will offer different experiences, activities 

and settings, including the Arena, the Wilderness 

and several Dwelling sims as well as public 

gathering areas. Contact Jedediah McDunnough 

or Loki Mahana for more information. 

Sweet Romance by Night at Sweet 

Romance Furniture 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Wingo/157/81/51] 

LaDonna Upshaw is a relatively new designer 

in Second Life, but she’s already producing some 

interesting pieces. She sent us this news from her 

store, Sweet Romance Furniture: 

‘Last month, my friend Epiphany Zerbino 

was offered the opportunity to open a nightclub 

in Second Life. It is the Club Nautical, in the 

SS Georgia Sunshine, a new ship in Watersedge 

Shangrila [http://slurl.com/secondlife/Waterse 

dge%20Shangrila/206/211/22]. She came to me 

to help make her nightclub a place that people


would love to gather, to dance, to romance, and 

to have fun. After listening to her describe her 

dream, this is what I designed for the space. 

‘One side of the dance floor is romantic and 

intimate seating, perfect for cuddles and quiet 

conversation. On the other side, a bar completes 

the nightclub atmosphere, with additional tables 

and stools to observe the revelers on the dance 

floor or to have a drink with friends.’ 

MadPea Productions 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/The%20Last%20Smile/ 

132/75/673] 

Since their hit game, The Zodiac Killer, Mad- 

Pea Productions has taken a serious step forward 

in the development of games for Second Life. Leveraging 

the development capability and social 

interaction of Second Life, MadPea seeks to create 

games that are beyond anything currently out 

there. 

Encompassing a talented staff of designers, 

writers, builders and scripters, MadPea is creating 

a premier line of games based around original 

mysteries such as The Zodiac Killer and Within, as 

well as crazy small games custom made for Second 

Life companies to run in their locations. All 

games are high quality and innovative, yet maintain 

a huge fun-factor for players. 

MadPea has been previously known as Beyond 

Imagination and recently changed their name and 

their ‘skin’ in Second Life. They have separate locations 

for the games and their business offices. 

At the Game Base you get to begin the Within 

game that is a huge gridwide puzzle, played in 

eleven sims in total. Once solved, you enter a 

secret agency, giving you the privilege to play 

the whole story and discover the agenda behind 

Within. 

Sneak peek about Within: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E5kME3LEDM]. 

Also, the Game Base introduces more pointand-click 

problem-solving games such as Escape 

the Room, and is a hangout area for all the game 

and puzzle lovers out there. 

The goal for MadPea Productions is to create 

fantasies that challenge people’s imagination 

...To make their brain tick, to lure them into 

a world where they unravel a mystery, to drive 

the players to the edge of frustration and give 

rewards when they succeed. All their games are 

free to play. 

Keep posted as MadPea continues to push the 

boundaries of gaming in Second Life. The sequel 

to Within is currently in development and ready 

to be released to not just hungry Within fans but 

new players as well! 

Join the MadPeas group to find out more.


Del Sol Furniture 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Del%20Sol/ 

130/149/28/] 

If you have not been to Del Sol Furniture 

(established in 2004) in the past month or so ... 

you don’t know Del Sol. Xandi Mars has made over 

seventeen new sets, including bedrooms, living 

rooms, modern, classy, country – well, you name 

it, and it’s there. And what’s more, Xandi tells 

us that she is picking up some of the old sets and 

boxing them up at half the original price. 

What’s Cooking at Bygone Days? 

[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bygone%20Days/ 

127/123/27] 

Jeannie Moonflower of Bygone Days is busy 

working on extending all the departments in the 

store, and she is starting in the kitchen area! 

There will be added displays here along with 

bric-a-brac, curios and general antique kitchen 

requisites. A recent designer on Meta Makeover 

[http://slcn.tv/meta-makeover-bracken-backsamaria-arai], 

Jeannie creates wonderful items 

that help homes tell a story. E 

0



How Do I get Future Copies of Prim Perfect? 

PRIM PERFECT CAN BE OBTAINED either in the 

form of a Thinc book for inworld reading, or as a 

downloadable pdf (the address will be printed in 

the Thinc Book and on the web-site and blog). 

The magazine will be published every month 

- but in addition there’s a web-site [www.primperfect.net] 

and a blog [http://primperfectblog. 

wordpress.com] which is updated almost every 

day. Both of these are intended as dynamic tools 

to promote design in Second Life, in addition to 

the magazine. 

One of the things we’ve just started on the 

website is a Directory for Designers and Builders 

within SL. Our aim is to build up an added-value 

database - the directory entry will include a pic- 

How Do I Advertise in Prim Perfect? 

SUBMIT ADS TO saffia.widdershins@gmail.com as 

highest quality JPGs or full color PNGs. Provide a 

Click-through URL (can be a SLURL). If one is not 

provided we will assume one is not wanted. 

Stats 

We are aiming to create a regular readership 

of 15,000. We’ve already been mentioned as one 

of the fastest growing blogs in Wordpress’s top 

twenty. 

Prices 

2 Page Spread: L$12,000 

Full Page: L$7500 

Half Page: L$5000 

ture, a little about the store or designer, a SLURL, 

and frequently a comment from Prim Perfect too, 

saying what we liked. 

The magazine will be available to buy from 

kiosk vendors throughout SL, and also from Prim 

Perfect’s office in Venice Island and their offices 

in Oliveto. If you visit a store where you think Prim 

Perfect should be available and it isn’t, please 

ask the owner to contact Prim Perfect about installing 

a vendor. We’d be happy to oblige. 

You can also sign up to join the Prim Perfect 

Subscribers Group. This will deliver the pdf address 

and a copy of the Thinc book to you as soon 

as the magazine is published. If you want to do 

this, IM our Circulation Manager, Zadira Barzane. 

Quarter Page: L$3000 

Eighth Page: L$2000 

Calling all Designers and Builders! 

PRIM PERFECT IS CREATING an online directory 

of builders and designers as part of our ongoing 

commitment to serve the cause of design in Second 

Life. 

You’ll find it online at: www.primperfect.net/ 

designers.htm. 

If you are a builder or a designer, don’t delay 

A 10% non-refundable deposit will be required 

to save ad space. Special rates available for 

stores that have Prim Perfect vendors and/or 

regular advertisers! 

Design Your Own 

If you wish to design your own ad, there are 

a few guidelines to follow. These are available 

on our website: www.primperfect.net/advertising. 

htm. 

Ad submission deadline for Issue #12 is 1 September 

2008. 

- send us a paragraph describing what you do, a 

small pic (256X256 is ideal) and a slurl or email 

address. If we know your work, we will give a 

value-added comment! 

And if we don’t know your work, why not contact 

us as tell us all about yourselves? Prim Perfect is 

always eager to meet and work with new designers! 

0



Advertiser’s Directory 

Al-Andalus sims 30 

Architextura 81 

Barefoot Homes & Designs 12 

The Best of Second Life 92 

Brennan Homes 15 

Bygone Days 52 

Castles Q 19, 58, 64, 95 

Coeur Region sims 73 

CORN 20 

Creative Fantasy Home & Garden 10 

Cristalle Properties 77 

Elements in Design 68 

Fort Serenity Waterfalls 80 

Galaxy Cruises 53 

GREENE Concept 90 

The Hammerwielder 55 

The Isles of Fatima sims 31 

Isles of Ischia sim 99 

KitStar Designs 63 

Kvinta’s Garden Centre 35 

Lavanya’s Fantasy Suites 37 

Metaversal Arts Shop 24 

Paisley Beebe 76 

The Primgraph magazine 74 

PRrim Designs 61 

Regent Estates 102, 104 

RiverSong Gallery 87 

Rustica 82 

ShoppingSL on SLCN.TV 94 

SkyBeam Estates 45, 96 

Snook’s Garden Centre 8, 101 

Sofia’s 65 

Temasek sim 2 

TreeSong Designs 47, 72 

Tribute Island 56 

True North Design 5 

Venture Magazine 89 

Vulcania Studio & Gallery 70 

Winterfell Village 59 

XAN SHOUTcast Radio 67 

0


Credits 

Publisher and Editor: Saffia Widdershins 

Advertising and Client Relations Manager: Diva Regina 

Art Director and Designer: Perry Applemoor 

Researcher and Reporter: MoodyLoner Korobase 

Copy Editor and Reporter: Alesia Markstein 

Chief Photographer: Vera Canning 

Gardening Correspondent: Kaye Robbiani 

Additional Articles by Jvstin Tomorrow, M0llie Dench, Kittie Munro, 

Coughran Mayo, Bailey Longcloth and Gwen Carillon 

Bloggers: Saffia Widdershins, Qwis Greenwood, Jvstin Tomorrow, 

Diva Regina, Alesia Markstein and Kghia Gherardi 

Special thanks to Fatima Ur and Incanus Merlin, for their tremendous 

help and hard work – including supplying a beautiful house in the most 

lovely setting for our star prize – and to the people of the Isles of 

Fatima and of Metaversal Arts for their support, their photographs, 

their reports and their time in helping us bring their story to this 

month’s magazine. Thanks to everyone who responded with such 

enthusiasm to our questions. 

Our thanks go to all the designers and other people across the Second 

Life world who have given advice and support to help us produce this 

11th edition of Prim Perfect.

by Saffia Widdershins - Prim Perfect

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