Experiments with Avatars

Hot Babes of SL: AnnaBianca

2011-09-06T14:00:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentleman, may I present Hot SL babe, AnnaBianca Resident.

Self-described Geek Girl who lives "in the same time zone as SL."

I found AnnaBianca skillfully and politely deflecting noob attentions in the Golden Gate Bridge sim in Second Life.

Hot Babes of SL: Puma Selona

2011-09-05T15:25:00.000-07:00

It's time for me to return to SL Blogging. What better way than to start a series devoted to my favorite subject. Hot Chicks in Second Life!

Submitted for your approval: Puma Selona!

She has what it takes to get on my blog. Great shape and skin. No tattoos.

Thanks for being there when I turned my camera, Puma!

A new series: Hot Babes of SL

2011-09-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

I'm blogging again and what better subject than attractive female shapes.

Oh sure. I could write about the current state of SL, How LL has screwed-up something or other, Best SL Viewers, Real vs. Virtual Identity, ecommerce in virtual worlds, etcetera etcetera.

Screw that! Bring on the eye candy!

Phin's rules -

Great shape.
Great skin.
No tattoos.

Elle's situation

2011-01-08T14:24:00.000-08:00

Many of you have asked about Elle's RL condition.

Here's her latest blog post written from her hospital bed.

Eladrienne's Other Life!: To My SL Friends

Blue Mars: Average User Experience (rev 5664)

2009-10-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

Blue Mars revision 5664, as rendered on a Dell Inspiron 530, Dual Core, E6550 @ 2.33 GHz, 3.0 GB of Memory, NVIDIA GeForce 8300 GS.

A vast improvement over the previous revision.

Well done, and keep those improvements coming!

Music provided by Magnatune.

The track is Hagagatan by the Eternal Jazz Project

Blue Mars: The Average User Experience

2009-09-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

Blue Mars as rendered on a Dell Inspiron 530, Dual Core, E6550 @ 2.33 GHz, 3.0 GB of Memory, NVIDIA GeForce 8300 GS. Will Blue Mars be accessible and enjoyable for the average user, or will it require gaming computers that only a few can afford in the current economy?

The League of Arizona Steampunks

2009-08-10T12:56:00.000-07:00

Eureka!
Success!
This economic refugee did it!
I moved!

Since recently relocating from Michigan to Arizona, I've been looking for interesting RL activities.

Over the weekend I did a search for Arizona Steampunk Clubs and found next to nil.
Screw that!
I'll create my own!

The League of Arizona Steampunks - Celebrating the Retro-Future of the Victorian Wild Wild West

The longer description is "The League celebrates a re-imagined 19th Century timeline. A Retro-Future of the Victorian Wild Wild West in the Great Territory of Arizona."

So feel free to join if you live in Arizona and love Steampunk, like Arizona and love steampunk, or otherwise y'know - figure you're not involved in enough NING Networks.

Plywood Skies!

2009-07-06T15:32:00.000-07:00

The mega-plywood covered 4 Caledon sims (Mayfair, Cafall, Penzance, and Morgaine) at a height of 62 meters. No one else saw this anomaly.

To my eye it lasted about 30 minutes with both the standard SL and the Gemini viewers. Then the sky cleared and all was good with the world (after I crashed and cleared viewer cache).

Entertainment on a budget

2009-05-22T07:04:00.000-07:00

Linden Labs overlooks an expanding market.

They should cater part of their marketing costs toward appealing to the dollar conscious unemployed.

If you already enjoy online games and need to save money, Second Life is a great means to do a variety of things free-of-charge or on a shoestring budget. Even when I was gainfully employed, SL is cost-effective for things like sailing or flying. Imagine the cost of Real Life flying. G'ah! Just ground school alone is costly!

Unless you MUST go to a Real Life concert for the "experience" - it beats spending on a RL music event. Personally I find crowds and parking a pain in the arse, especially at my curmudgeonly age. I save on the cost of fuel and time. And if I cared about being "green" as is the fashion these days - I'd use that as a good selling point, too. Second Life reduces your carbon-whatever.

Yes you can fly an airplane, sail a ship, go to a club, listen to live independent music, meet and chat with science-fiction authors at a book discussion group, build things you can sell to others, role-play historic sims like the Roman Empire - or even destroy a Nazi V2 Rocket base. Some people dogfight in epic air combat, others engage in large-scale naval battles. Then you can create inworld videos and blog about your grand adventures.

There's much to see and do in a virtual world. Have you ever wanted to see a Jules Verne-like Victorian setting? Ever wanted to see a world as imagined in the movie Bladerunner? Ever wanted to be a DJ? Ever wanted to play live music to an international audience? You can do ALL this in a few hours (DISCLAIMER: assuming everything is working when you're online. Heh!)

This is the non-sexual Second Life the mainstream media usually ignores. It's a virtual sandbox and playground.

Oh wait! I know what LL will say: There's no BIG MONEY in the unemployed. But there ARE big numbers. Unfortunately.

Accomplishments

2009-05-22T06:58:00.000-07:00

Today is an accomplishment of sorts.

I completed two weeks of unemployment.

Or as our government overlords would like to call it... "Involuntary Vacation"

We're all into hope and change now, yes?

2009 Change "I went from employment to unemployment."

2009 Hope "I hope I get all my property out of the car before it's repossessed."

A bittersweet day

2009-05-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

This was a bittersweet day for me. My Real Life Layoff here in the fabled land known as "Michigan" is taking a toll on my Second Life. Sadly, the virtual life property losses are only the beginning. Real Life property losses are yet to come.

Today I sold the land-rights to my Caledon Morgaine lot at far below market value. I was about to lose it later this evening anyway, but a last minute buyer found my price irresistible. Good for her!

It was great fun having it, and one day when my Real Life financial situation improves, I shall expand again. Meanwhile, I'm down to 2 parcels for now and may need to let go of my Mayfair lot in another month.

We shall see.

The Return of RCAF Air Combat

2009-02-07T07:30:00.000-08:00

Greetings everyone,

Our First Scheduled RCAF Dogfight of 2009 will take place at Aeronautica on Saturday 07 February at 9:00 AM SL Time.

Restrictions are as follows:
WW2 Era Aircraft / VICE Combat System

If you do not own a VICE Combat System aircraft, others can provide one for you in 'guest' mode.

Observers and Photographers are always welcome.

From the desk of the new RCAF Marshal

2009-02-02T08:06:00.000-08:00

It is with great honor that I accept the promotion to Marshal of the Royal Caledon Air Force from the former Marshal Zoe Connolly (now Air Chief Marshal).

Since Zoe Connolly created this fine group in late October 2007, RCAF is muchmore than a one woman show. It's an active and creative community of aviation enthusiasts working, playing and flying together.

I pledge to continue her vision of opensource creativity throughout my time as Marshal. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me.

Phineas Messmer
Marshal of the RCAF

A glimpse into RL: Frank The Cat

2008-12-01T10:30:00.000-08:00

IL-2 Machinima Test

2008-11-29T07:00:00.000-08:00

An experimental machinima from Zoe Connolly and Phineas Messmer using IL-2 Sturmovik 1946. Zoe and Phin are Second Life avatars venturing in the alternate gaming platform of IL-2 for the Royal Caledon Air Force (RCAF) and Extropia Defense Force (EDF).

With Elle as Tiny Squirrels

2008-11-28T16:23:00.000-08:00

femPhin - a few older photographs

2008-11-28T16:19:00.000-08:00

Finally! A post!

2008-11-28T16:11:00.000-08:00

Standing with my beautiful partner in SL, Eladrienne Laval

Ninja Cat

2008-10-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

At least it wasn't "hey Sexy"

2008-08-28T08:05:00.000-07:00

So I was visiting a club when I get this IM (Name changed to protect the horny).

[23:35] Big Fellah imagines an evening of dancing with Phin, holding her close...then retiring with her to a four-star hotel, a suite overlooking water. Drifting off to sleep with her, holding her from behind, her head resting in the crook of his left arm, his right arm encircling her, hand cupping her soft breast, his cock hard, inside her sweet pussy from behind, his face buried in the nape of her neck, drinking in her sweet aroma...then his giving her two or three firm, loving strokes with his large cock, only to finally drift off...awakening in the morning, still holding the lovely Phin, still deep inside her, still very hard, then giving her a few more loving strokes with his swollen member...the sunlight streaming into the room...a knock at door, room service arriving with cut flowers, fresh hot coffee, and breakfast for two.....

Apparently my RL straight man inside a lesbian avatar wasn't obvious enough for him. So far I've only been hit-on by men.

*scratches head and sighs*

Back to the drawing board. I'm hoping to be hit-on by a female next time. Or even a shemale would be a good step.

Crazy Avatar Love

2008-08-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

A little video inspired by Eladrienne Laval and Zoe Connolly. Thanks, ladies!

Big Hairy Deal

2008-08-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

I was urged by my hair-enthusiast sister to visit the Hairspray sim and check-out the new Hair Fair.

The freebie hut was a big "meh" (there's a reason those things are free, ladies).

Rosie the Robot agrees that my current fP hair rawks! Other than seeing Rosie, I wasn't much interested in the place.

No offense to Zoe - or others who suggested I go, but I'm more focused on expanding my femPhin wardrobe and not really into acquiring more hairstyles (or different colors of the same style). So this didn't hold my interest for very long. I like what I have and I'm stickin' to it.

Did my male-brain just not care? Give me a gadget expo and I'm all over it!

The bottom line: I saved my Linden Dollars today.

Song by VNV Nation, Film by Andy Huang

2008-08-17T09:15:00.000-07:00

I first saw this on Zoe's blog but I'm so intrigued by this I'm posting it here as well. An amazing mashup of song and video.

elektricc wrote: "It's a mix between the great animotion of Andy Huang`s dollface and a new Song of VNV Nations CD Judgement. Even if it`s not a official Version it looks like it belong together...greetings from a fan."

Thought Process

2008-08-15T06:30:00.000-07:00

My Thought Process...

1- One of my favorite colors - Green.

2- Elle buys special Nicky Ree lingerie with me in mind in my favorite color - Green.

3- Phin experiments with female avatar (aka femPhin or fP).

4- Phin buys clothes for fP.

5- Phin likes the special green-version Nicky Ree lingerie that Elle recently purchased.

6- Phin buys his own green-version Nicky Ree lingerie that Elle recently purchased.

7- Phin thinks it would be cute if we had the same lingerie.

My Mistake...

Elle didn't like my thought process.

Where I went wrong? See number 6 and 7.

Thinking it would be cute, I took the special out of her purchase for me.

Thus endeth the lesson.

[looks at Elle] Sorry, honey!

A Flight to Remember - The Accident

2008-08-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day.

"Not much lag," I thought.

"Perfect" I said to no one in particular, donning my RCAF Jacket. I smiled, and as I watched the sun rise over Connolly Aerodrome I strode aboard my Bleriot (still an old favorite in my aircraft collection).

Stepping into the cockpit, I looked ahead of me, checking for any avatars on the runway.

All clear.

I started the engine and taxied a few meters before increasing thrust. I pulled-back on the stick and the aircraft lifted-off the runway. I smiled again.

Safely crossing several sims, I loosened my grip on the stick and relaxed my shoulders. More successful sim crossings across the Firth of Caledon.

Approaching the western edge of Caledon, I made my turn around Caledon Sound. For a few moments my eyes were transfixed on the sky. Windlight is so beautiful this time of day.

Then...

Without warning an errant object of unknown origin flew in front of my path.

Alarmed, I tightened my grip on the controls. Jerking the plane suddenly, I bit the inside of my mouth, tasting blood. I over-corrected. Disgusted I thought, "Nice one, Phin!"

I remember hitting something. It wasn't a slow deceleration, but a sudden near neck-breaking stop. In less than a second I was motionless.

What happened next was like a hallucination... I think... To tell you the truth I'm not sure if this was a dream or real.

My plane began to shake and shudder as a swirling wind-storm enveloped me.

I heard something akin to groaning as metal twisted beneath me. Within seconds I was thrown away from my craft. My flying machine appeared to implode.

Why was I still alive?

Higher and higher I flew with the storm. As my hands fumbled with the radio controls - I felt a growing nausea and pain in my stomach. Grimacing, I lost my hold of the device and watched it fall. It disappeared into the clouds. My ability to communicate with other pilots or anyone on the ground... gone.

My heart sunk further.

My mind was in as much a swirl as my body. A tornadic vortex had taken me to heights and velocities never before experienced by an avatar on the grid. I was frightened beyond measure. My brain was too addled by the ordeal and I was losing hope. I wasn't sure how I would or could escape peril this time.

Surrounded by a growing blackness, within seconds the sky was gone.

Feeling totally helpless, I closed my eyes and began to pray. I was convinced I would never see my friends and loved ones again. That I would never see Elle again. I accepted my fate, so sure that this was the end - I asked the Almighty for a quick death.

I opened my eyes. The blackness of space now surrounded me without any point of reference, yet I could still breath. Perhaps I was already dead? As I pondered this, I noticed my rate of climb began to slow and for a moment I was suspended in the air.

Then...the terrifying fall.

To be continued....

Elle's Thoughts: What Not to Do #1

2008-08-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

Aw, c'mon Phin! You bought the same Nicky Ree lingerie I had right down to the same color?

*groans*

The look on my face says it all...

The Not-So Glamorous Life of a Super-Model

2008-08-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

With the dogfights, attending a meetup with Catherine Asaro, and seeing Elle again before her week off for a RL vacation, I had a fairly full SL weekend.

Sunday afternoon/evening was much slower. I was trying to stay away from SL when my sister Google IM'ed me and asked if I wanted to do some Gun Model poses.

Me? A model? Sure!

And thus began my first job in my femPhin modeling career as a proud GirlWithGun

It was all very exciting. Exciting for 3 minutes.

Once I held my gun in hand, all the work was in Zoe's hands. I sat in the car for a few shots, then stood on the gun-pose stand while Z moved me around. I went AFK for a few minutes and poured myself a glass of wine, I sorted inventory, I rezzed something I wasn't sure about and got in trouble for ruining a shot, I went AFK again.

When I finally returned, Zoe was gone! WTF?

Zoe Connolly: mmkay then...I'm done with the shoot. Thanks for posing!

Photographers! Directors! They're all the same!

*harrumph*

Elle's Thoughts: Accessories Such As...

2008-08-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

...earrings had never crossed Phin's mind, but I thought a pair of simple silver hoops would look great with that short, edgy hair.

"I love them!" Phin said. "I would have never thought to wear them!"

It is things like this that I find interesting about Phin. These entirely new concepts of what to wear and do...

The remarkable and accomplished Catherine Asaro

2008-08-10T12:40:00.000-07:00

Zoe reminded me that Sophrosyne Stenvaag's Salon was about to begin. Author, astrophysicist and ballerina Catherine Asaro, gave some inworld time in Extropia to chat with a few of us geek-types.

As usual in our RL, I was on time while Z was fashionably late.

Bending Reality

2008-08-09T06:50:00.000-07:00

There is currently a lively discussion in the SL Blogosphere about avatar shapes and what is real and unreal. If you haven't read them, you can catch-up here, here, here, and here.

So, let me say this about that:

As a shapeshifting avatar recently exploring the Grid as femPhin, I gotta say - in the world of SL, so-called realistic shapes are boring. That is, boring if everyone *did* resemble their RL selves. I mean no disrespect to those who want to retain their RL appearance in SL, but it's a fact in my own personal case that I almost left SL because I felt constrained and uninspired. I've tried to find my way in the metaverse for over a year and other than having a few close relationships that mean the world to me, I wanted a little more from my SL.

My recent plunge into shapeshifting has given me a new lease on life in my Second Life. Changing forms and shapes is what keeps me here and keeps me interested.

This is the only virtual world that allows one to change avatar appearance so easily. I like being a human male, a human female, a tiny squirrel (and other assorted tiny avatars), and soon will go exploring as an abstract avatar (neither human nor animal).

SL let's me do this...

A male in Real Life, I can stand on a beach in Extropia - wearing a female shape, hair, skin, red bikini, high-heeled shoes that don't sink into the sand - and chat with my SL GF.

Air Combat this Saturday the 9th and Sunday the 10th

2008-08-08T22:03:00.000-07:00

Attention EDF and RCAF pilots!

We'll meet at Skies of Tomorrow 9:00 AM SL Time. I'll lead on Saturday, ACM Sin Trenton leads us on Sunday.

Sin and I have discussed new rules for our organized dogfights. These rules are approved by Marshal Zoe Connolly.

Dogfights will be restricted to airplane flight only (no hovering craft) with a TCS max of 10HP. If the Ju-87 has 15, that is acceptable. Read more and feel free to comment at the RCAF Ning page: http://rcafhq.ning.com/

For those who love to hover...

Worry-not pilots! Your dogfights are the following weekend of Saturday the 16th and Sunday the 17th. More details on the RCAF Ning and group notices next week.

~ Phineas Messmer, Air Chief Marshal RCAF and Commander EDF

Eladrienne's Other Life!: Does My SL BF Make Me Look Fat?

2008-08-08T07:55:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my SL GF Elle for this post: Eladrienne's Other Life!: Does My SL BF Make Me Look Fat?

Elle's Thoughts: Phin Was Right...

2008-08-07T16:40:00.000-07:00

...because we went to Frank's Place II together and I saw how guys would walk near him, read his profile, and hurry away. *laughs*

Elle's Thoughts: Hmm...

2008-08-06T16:37:00.000-07:00

I am laughing at the fact that Phin is the one sitting with perfect ladylike posture...

Stopped in my tracks

2008-08-05T08:09:00.000-07:00

Elle draws her weapon.

No, it's the dreaded carrot-gun!

She fired at my cute tiny squirrel feet! Acorn-bullets would have been my preference.

Point for any attorneys reading this:

I was NOT read my Miranda Rights.

Elle's Thoughts: To Know Phin is to Love Phin

2008-08-04T12:06:00.000-07:00

I've been with Phin inworld since October '07. What is that...almost 10 months now? That's like years in SL. I joked that I'd start posting about my observations on his gender shift and he was like "go for it!" Phin's charming, witty, smart and funny as hell. This is the handsome Phin I've always known...And the beautiful female avatar below is the Phin I know too, and he's been happier inworld as fP than I have seen him in months. His gender switching has given him a fresh new outlook on SL and if anything, a new perspective on women in general as well. Being female in RL, it has been interesting seeing him wrestle with and contemplate things I take for granted as common knowledge. We all want to find our place, and I think he's found his for now.

He's been used to my shapeshifting all along, saying "I never know what Elle I will come inworld to", so I was (and am) supportive. At first, I was wondering "Will I be able to relate to Phin like this?" All my memories of Phin have been as in the pic above, but really--new memories can be made and in a world where you can be literally anything, it's just a form like any other. It's the person behind the avatar that matters and if he is happy, that's all that matters in the end, isn't it?

A visit from Z

2008-08-04T07:54:00.001-07:00

Zoe Connolly (my RL sister) visits during her holiday finding me frustrated as hell as I try to build something that turns out to be crapola.

I call her Z, because it's just helluva lot easier to use than remembering all her Z name alts.

We discussed RCAF, EDF, Cape Messmer and Connolly Park Harbour.

Then I told her to scram and get back to enjoying her RL vacation ;-)

Aviatrix :: Zoe Connolly: Dogfight Furball

2008-08-03T08:01:00.000-07:00

My first dogfight coverage post is here

Aviatrix :: Zoe Connolly: Dogfight Furball

This is my second (or is it my third?) turn managing the air combat for RCAF and first time for EDF. And if I'm not mistaken, this is the first official dogfight that combines pilots from both air-groups.

So this guy walks into a bar...

2008-08-02T22:00:00.000-07:00

Well not just any bar. A Club.
And not just any club. A BDSM Club.

It was time for femPhin to strut her stuff at a popular SL BDSM establishment. Here's the text of my conversation with a fellow I'll call Master Dude. Only his name has been changed.

[2008/08/02 21:29] Master Dude: Evening
[2008/08/02 21:30] Phineas Messmer: hello
[2008/08/02 21:31] Master Dude: how are you tonight
[2008/08/02 21:31] Phineas Messmer: Good how are you?
[2008/08/02 21:32] Master Dude: where did you go

I didn't move from my spot

[2008/08/02 21:33] Phineas Messmer: Uhm....I'm right here. Do you mean where have I been?
[2008/08/02 21:34] Master Dude: yes very quite

Huh?

[2008/08/02 21:35] Phineas Messmer: Okay... well I've been to various clubs and parties tonight
[2008/08/02 21:36] Phineas Messmer: I see you have some company ;-)

By company I mean a latex-clad redhead with her hand on his manhood.

[2008/08/02 21:38] Phineas Messmer smiles
[2008/08/02 21:38] Master Dude: friends and yes I am seeking females/subs for my family
[2008/08/02 21:39] Phineas Messmer: subs... wow! well I *do* have a submarine

Heh

[2008/08/02 21:39] Phineas Messmer: I'm just kidding...
[2008/08/02 21:39] Master Dude: very nice
[2008/08/02 21:39] Master Dude: ;-)
[2008/08/02 21:40] Phineas Messmer: Have you been a Master for very long?
[2008/08/02 21:40] Master Dude: SL or RL
[2008/08/02 21:40] Master Dude: RL 1yr
[2008/08/02 21:41] Phineas Messmer: Oh! in RL too?
[2008/08/02 21:41] Phineas Messmer: Wow
[2008/08/02 21:43] Phineas Messmer: How many women are in your family?
[2008/08/02 21:53] Master Dude: right now only 1
[2008/08/02 21:53] Master Dude: I seek 5
[2008/08/02 21:54] Phineas Messmer: Five!?
[2008/08/02 21:54] Phineas Messmer: You can handle 5 women?

4 would be enough for me. This guy is just bragging!

[2008/08/02 21:54] Master Dude: yes 2 sextually

Okay...Now, if he was combining the words "sex" and "text" I'd think this clever but I suspect he didn't mean it.

[2008/08/02 21:54] Master Dude: 1 Alpha
[2008/08/02 21:54] Master Dude: 2 friends
[2008/08/02 21:57] Phineas Messmer: Hmmm, well I'm into girls, is that okay?
[2008/08/02 21:57] Master Dude: yes it is
[2008/08/02 21:57] Master Dude: where are you
[2008/08/02 21:57] Phineas Messmer: Yay!

Apparently he had a real hard time keeping track of my location. I suppose that's why he needed his girls so close to him and in chains. Vision problems. Yup, must be.

New World Notes: Phineas Unmanned: Living Second Life In Another Gender

2008-08-02T07:55:00.000-07:00

Huzzah! I've become a D (minus) list SLebrity!

New World Notes: Phineas Unmanned: Living Second Life In Another Gender

Random YouTube Video: Protest against sex tourism in Ukraine

2008-08-02T06:08:00.000-07:00

This is supposed to be a protest against prostitution and sex tourism in Ukraine.

(scratches head) At least I think so...

RCAF and EDF Dogfight in Extropia

2008-08-01T07:34:00.000-07:00

Pilots of the RCAF and EDF will meet at the Skies of Tomorrow sim in Extropia on Saturday 02 August 2008 at 9:00 AM SLT for dogfight.

We'll have air combat for approximately 45 minutes.

Our theme is : "Fly Your Favorite"

As always, one-on-one dogfights are welcome in Extropia and select void-sim duchies in Caledon.

My developing Skin Condition

2008-07-30T10:38:00.000-07:00

When I first embarked on this journey as a female avatar last week, I had great help on my first day from my RL sister Zoe. She took me to RaC/Laqroki where I picked-up several female skins. Some of them were duplicates of her skin, but I don't want to be a clone of her. I'm finding my own look in female form.

Hence the lighter geek/goth skin I usually use as pictured below:

But of course, there they are in my inventory. Hawt tan skins. Tempting me. Must...not...use...okay I caved for 30 minutes while I was at Frank's Place - a Jazz Club.

The results?

Instant magnet!

Within 2 minutes I'm approached by this fellow who did the ol' "stand-next-to-the-avatar-you're-about-to-IM" thing. Then he did the "Reading-what's-on-my-screen" animation and promptly left after realizing who I really was.

5 minutes later I'm approached by this guy. I promptly told him about my RL, then he asked if we could just sit down and chat about shapeshifting. Nice guy actually.

Lesson Learned: Like any weapon, certain skins on certain shapes are to be used very carefully.

Form and Function

2008-07-29T10:11:00.000-07:00

In a virtual world you can be or do just about anything. Recently that means spending at least part of my time in Second Life as a female avatar.

For reasons I've stated earlier, having a female avatar is eye-candy. Sometimes I stare at my avatar for several minutes. It's very hypnotic when you're so very attracted to the female form.

Breaking away from my avatar for a moment, I ponder the question of shapes and forms.

Being a real life male, I comfortably slipped into my male avatar in May 2007 and wandered about SL. When I first adopted a female avatar a week ago, something was different. My thoughts during the first few days were to think of my female avatar as another person (was this me turning women into objects?), and not really me the way I think about my male avatar. I did not quite feel myself the way I did when I was a male or even as a tiny. That feeling has quickly changed in the last few days. I feel more "at home" as a female, just as much as I do as a male. I can now change shape/gender as easily as changing clothes.

After a few days, I have a strong sense of "me" again. Being female in a virtual world is not only eye-candy, it's an eye-opening experience.

Power Tools

2008-07-28T09:16:00.000-07:00

Now I must say, I can hold my own in the intimate emote department, but I'll admit to using xcite tools from time to time. As a male, I love sex and gadgets. What better combination than to have both in Second Life?

Hey! A Female Starter Pack! That's just what I need.

That's a boatload of nipples there!

Pondering the whole nipple question.

While amusing myself by watching the store patrons I was approached by 3 males at various times who did the ol' "stand-next-to-the-avatar-you're-about-to-IM" thing. Then they did the "Reading-what's-on-my-screen" animation and promptly left.

Hah! My profile has RL Male Shapeshifter all over it.

Chatting with my lovely Elle

2008-07-28T08:27:00.000-07:00

Eladrienne and I chat about shapeshifting, Caledon, etc..

...with me back in male form

Shoes!

2008-07-28T07:28:00.000-07:00

My male avatar has 8 pairs of shoes and boots which is more than I have in RL (6). I've been collecting for more than a year since first rezzing upon the Grid in May of 2007.

In one day as a female avatar I've surpassed this number with 9!

I wanted to go with sensible shoes I'd wear in RL like tennis shoes or something. But then I think, "that doesn't look quite right with my new dress"

One thing leads to another and next thing I know thousands of linden dollars vanish from my account.

Then I think - Well basic black is nice, but *this* color would really match my new outfit better.

Pronoun Trouble

2008-07-27T13:09:00.000-07:00

Being new to the female avatar world, I'm adjusting to pronoun usage like "he" and "she"

The subject amuses me, bringing to mind an old Bugs Bunny cartoon with a short Bugs and Daffy "Pronoun Trouble" skit:

Rabbit Seasoning is most noted for an extended dialogue sequence in which Bugs' plays-on-words cause Daffy "pronoun trouble":

Bugs: It's true, Doc; I'm a rabbit alright. Would you like to shoot me now or wait 'til you get home?
Daffy: Shoot him now! Shoot him now!
Bugs: You keep outta this! He doesn't have to shoot you now!
Daffy: He does so have to shoot me now! [to Elmer] I demand that you shoot me now!
[Elmer looks at the camera, unsure if Daffy knows what he's talking about. As Daffy sticks his tongue out at Bugs, he is shot. Daffy walks back over to Bugs, gunsmoke pouring out of his nostrils]
Daffy: [to Bugs] Let's run through that again.
Bugs: Okay.
Bugs: [deadpan] Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home.
Daffy: [similarly] Shoot him now; shoot him now.
Bugs: [as before] You keep outta this, he doesn't have to shoot you now.
Daffy: [re-animated] Hah! That’s it! Hold it right there! [to audience] Pronoun trouble. [to Bugs] It's not "he doesn't have to shoot you now", it's "he doesn't have to shoot me now"
[Pause]
Daffy: [angrily] Well, I say he does have to shoot me now!! [to Elmer] So shoot me now!
[Elmer obliges and lets him have it]

I'll refer to myself in the female gender when I'm a female avatar, and speak of myself as male when I'm a male avatar. For those who have known me since I first rezzed upon the Grid, I won't go postal if you refer to femPhin as a "he" .. no worries here.

Freedom of Choice

2008-07-26T09:16:00.000-07:00

One of the most striking things I've noticed about being a female avatar is the limitless possibilities. I have so many choices for skins, clothing, hair, and footwear it's all very intimidating at first glance.

Fortunately I have two very lovely ladies on my friendslist for advice and counsel and I've taken their advice to heart.

Here's their advice: Have a vision of your avatar. Buy the basics and build from that to create your look.

My look is quickly evolving. A tall, slender, pale, goth/geek girl with tomboyish tendancies. At times femPhin (fP) reminds me of a female Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation. At other times fP looks like an ice princess (ice princess in the generic, not the 2005 Disney movie), with pale complexion and a large number of blue in her wardrobe. I think of blue-ice. I hope this doesn't make me a cold heart.

At any rate, I've chosen blue as a color-code to denote that a RL male resides within the avatar, and in the interests of full-disclosure, I've given other clues in my profile.

Where else I go with my femPhin personae I'm not quite clear. Am I a robot? A human? Or something else?

I'll find out in due time. And so will you ;-)

The emergence of femPhin

2008-07-25T10:28:00.000-07:00

After more than a year of what I would call part-time experience in Second Life, I thought it was time to shake things up and explore more of the grid. Part of that exploration takes me into shapeshifter territory and even challenges what I think about myself and how I relate to others in SL.

I decided to be a shapeshifter and I'm having a blast. Now even when my friends are offgrid or otherwise busy on projects. I'm having fun again.

In addition to being a normal looking male where my avatar matches my Real Life as a straight-male, I have a variety of tiny avatars as well as canine avs (Collie and Border Collie).

But I'd say the most interesting development lately is my plunge into the female form....

Why would a straight male want to look at himself as an attractive female avatar at every login? Read the question again. The answer is right there. And I would agree with this article that having eye-candy while ingame is a major plus.

In addition to that I'm finding an interesting side to all this. I'm working hard already on my particular look and while it was difficult to find quality clothing as a male, it's downright overwhelming to see the plethera of opportunities one has as a female. There's more of everything!

When I started on this road a few days ago, I had initial help from my RL sister (Zoe Connolly in SL). I was amazed at the ammount of linden dollars she has spent in evolving her present appearance. I thought: "I don't need all that"

Boy, was I wrong! I've already spent in 2 days, more than I planned to for the entire month! How do you ladies do it?

Flickr: phineasmessmer's Photostream

New Avatar Shopping With Zoe

2008-07-24T10:01:00.001-07:00

New Avatar Shopping With Zoe
Originally uploaded by phineasmessmer

You know my RL sister as Zoe Connolly. She helped me with a new female avatar and other assorted female necessaries to get me started on a new blog series.

At the time of this photograph all I had to wear that worked on a female avatar was combat boots. Zoe stressed the female need for shoes. Okay, I guess I need to work on that.

EVE Online Intro

2008-06-22T02:05:00.000-07:00

eve-online, evolution trailer

2008-06-22T02:00:00.000-07:00

EVE Online Exodus Trailer

2008-06-22T01:58:00.001-07:00

EVE Online Trailer Revelations II

2008-06-22T01:55:00.001-07:00

EVE Online: Trinity

2008-06-22T01:49:00.000-07:00

NAPOLEON SOLO IN THE 21st CENTURY

2008-05-27T08:48:00.000-07:00

Phin's Jazz Club with great hits supplied by Miss Diamanda Gustafson

2008-04-22T03:28:00.000-07:00

An afternoon of 1920s 30s and 40s jazz at Phin's Jazz Club in New Toulouse 04-20-2008

Second Life Videos

Whatcha been up to lately?

2008-04-16T09:31:00.000-07:00

Oh, just playing in the world of EVE Online.

Here's my portrait...My name is Phineas Messmer there, too

Scenes from Phin's Jazz Club

2008-03-23T08:33:00.000-07:00

There's nothing better than having a place you can call home...

...with a pretty gal at your side...

...who is not only beautiful, charming, and talented...

...but also your best friend in Second Life...

Taking an assessment of my own Second Life

2008-03-15T08:23:00.000-07:00

In the stark world of RL, I was forced to make a decision last week. Thursday I went to the emergency room, concerned over chest pain and numbness in my right arm and leg. Everything turned out fine and I did not need a cardiac catheterization or some such procedure -- other than resting and managing the intense stress at work and my hypertension, I was okay. But 27 hours in the hospital - away from pleasant distractions - forces one to think and reconsider priorities.

I won't elaborate on RL changes, but will outline here how I will spend time within SL.

Here's the important stuff that will continue:

Time spent with my dearest friend Elle.

Time spent with my sisters from RL who are in SL: Uhura (non-blogger) and Zoe (uber-blogger)

My home in Caledon Penzance

The Royal Caledon Air Force and my passion for flying.

My new Jazz Club in New Toulouse (I'm most at home in Taloo and have plans for more land there as it expands).

In general I'll react faster to things that are fun and dump those that are not.

And now the things that must come to a close:

My parcel rights in Steelhead Harborside will be sold. I never really knew what to do with that lot other than to have a nice skybox I could have anywhere. And from what I've heard, I'm a wanted Squirrel there anyway.

My parcel rights in Caledon Morgaine will be sold to Zoe Connolly, keeper of the aviation flame in the steampunkery world and one of my RL siblings in SL.

A busy month for Mr JB Pennypacker

2008-03-01T14:17:00.000-08:00

It has been an active month in RL for my personal typist and accounts manager Mr. JB Pennypacker. I do hope he will be able to once again assist with my electric journal.

At any rate...On with the journaling!

I visited my two best friends in SL recently.

Miss Zoe Connolly showed me her inworld aethernet journalism office in Port Babbage.

And just last night I went sailing with Miss Eladrienne Laval over the waters of the Caledon Firth.

Fantastic Flying Machines

2008-02-01T21:58:00.000-08:00

Fantastic flying machines from Syxx Craig of the Edison Corporation. Mr Craig will be working on various projects with the Caledon Aethernautical Society and the Royal Caledon Air Force.

Miss Laval plays Guitar

2008-01-23T00:12:00.000-08:00

Elle is playing Tarrega's "Recuerdos de la Alhambra" on a Robbie Dingo Spanish guitar.

Clockwork Mouse and Fruit

2008-01-19T22:49:00.000-08:00

Clockwork items from Emily Orr and Fawkes Allen

Sailing with Miss Laval

2008-01-19T20:35:00.000-08:00

Phineas Messmer and Eladrienne Laval sail on Caledon seas. Video captured while using SL Windlight.

Victorians...in the Aether?

2008-01-16T12:44:00.000-08:00

Journal of Eladrienne Laval, Rocket Lab Ass't

I have been reading recent comments about the relevance to theme of spaceports and spaceships in Caledon. If one actually visits Cape Messmer, they will find that it is informational and fun--dash it--with exhibits relating to Jules Verne and his works and their influence (such as Melie's 1902 moving picture Voyage dans le Lune), Edward Everett Hale's story "The Brick Moon" and Victorian-era theme. Verne's From the Earth to the Moon was published in 1865 and Hale in 1869. Hmm...the 1860s...I do believe that is within the Victorian era the last time that I looked?

Cape Messmer, as well as the Aerodrome complex, has sparked something inspiration-wise among the inventors of Caledon, the 19th c. sims and beyond. I love talking to inventors such as Mr Lykin, who developed a "transcommunication device" or Mr Denver Hax, whose tinkering with rocketry may get folks into the aether yet!

Just because Victorians did not actually make it into space did not mean they did not imagine it...Caledon is a nation of visionaries in more ways than one and Cape Messmer celebrates this as well as the RL visionaries of that era. It is a work in progress, so there will be something new to see for quite a while and the Prof. hopes to create a mini-moving picture tour.

Well, I am off to procure a bit of cavorite for display--and the Prof. is making me hold off on building a new Columbiad cannon after the last one well...um...another post for another day...

Caledon Railway

2008-01-15T23:58:00.000-08:00

My First Machinima. This was a test of WeGame.com following the Caledon Railway through Penzance and Morgaine.

Miss Laval is Off for the Holiday!

2007-12-21T16:29:00.000-08:00

Journal of Eladrienne Laval, Rocket Lab Ass't

I am packing up my carriage now, as I am off to the Lowcountry for the holidays and would like to wish all of you a very very happy holiday season!

I suppose the Professor will be alright, as he is sometimes is a bit absent-minded. I suppose that is not good when combining fuel mixtures and formulas.

Oh! Professor! Speaking of which, I did organize the most recent notes and be sure to read the ones from the fuel experiments! You wanted me to remind you of this due to the last time the lab, well, exploded.

My hair was singed for days and my eyebrows are just beginning to grow back...

Cape Messmer Notes - from the Director's Desk

2007-12-11T09:43:00.000-08:00

Consulting with my lab assistant Miss Eladrienne Laval.

Miss Laval and I discuss various exhibits and experiments at Cape Messmer in Caledon Morgaine. Miss Laval is seen here working on one of the moonships onsite.

A photograph taken during a time-travel jump to Spaceports Alpha and Bravo. Very inspiring indeed!

Testing of the Cubey Terra Rocketeer-inspired Jetpack. From Miss Zoe Connolly's Penzance Aerodrome to Mr. Mako Magellan's Kittiwickshire Establishment in mere seconds!

A close-up of the Rocketeer Jetpack.

Verne Display at Cape Messmer

2007-12-10T18:46:00.000-08:00

Journal of Eladrienne Laval, Rocket Lab Ass't

I fear the Professor is being remiss in his posting duties, so I shall have to tell you about the progress of Cape Messmer. Scientists I tell you! Must I do everything around this place? Oh, where are those notes? Oh my...I probably shouldn't touch that gadget over there...

Professor Messmer believes the Cape Messmer Aethernautical Labs to be a vision of what efforts and interests Victorians had in aether travel in the 19th c., whether fictional or real. We enjoy talking to the inventors who stop by to demonstrate or tell us about their latest contraptions. It is a work in progress, so there will be more to come! If you visit now, you will find a lovely telescope, an illustration based upon Edward Everett Hale's story The Brick Moon, a tiny aether-ship by Mr. Denver Hax, and my Jules Verne "From the Earth to the Moon" display--complete with a replica of the space-capsule! Soon you will be able to use it to visit the moon! The Professor is very proud of his Tartan 2 aether-rocket, which he could probably explain better than I could. Do come visit and have a look around!

HG Wells' First Men on the Moon

2007-12-05T11:58:00.000-08:00

Journal of Eladrienne Laval, Rocket Lab Ass'tDr Joseph Cavor

I am certain that I should be creating new items for the Labs or compiling the Professor's still-uncompiled and rather disorganized notes, but I came upon a rather amusing thing while doing research on the aethernet. It is a quite funny summary, with image stills, from a moving picture entitled "HG Wells' First Men on the Moon."

Cavorite and aether-spheres and Selenites, oh my!

Cape Messmer Aether Labs Now Official!

2007-11-29T23:43:00.000-08:00

Journal of Eladrienne Laval, Rocket Lab Ass't

Here is an image of the Professor looking, well, professorial, and me barely restraining my glee. The Guvnah has declared Caledon Morgaine officially open and the bluffs are now officially Cape Messmer!

He laughed as I lifted up my skirt hems a bit and literally ran around the land like a madwoman for a moment. We both "Hoooo'd" as we surveyed the site to determine where things should be located. So much to do and create! Do contact one of us if you have questions about the Caledon Aethernautical Society and feel free to join! Stop by the Aerodrome or Cape Messmer anytime! Cape Messmer promises to be an interesting addition to Caledon and SL and the Professor and I look forward to meeting like-minded inventors, builders, scripters and aether-enthusiasts!!

"Voyage dans la Lune"/"A Trip to the Moon"

2007-11-27T14:56:00.000-08:00

What if RL were more like SL?

2007-11-27T03:58:00.000-08:00

Steam Trek: The Moving Picture (Star Trek Parody)

2007-11-27T03:49:00.000-08:00

OOC - "From the Earth to the Moon" opening title sequence to the HBO miniseries

2007-11-27T03:44:00.000-08:00

The Amazing Region of Caledon Morgaine

2007-11-26T10:38:00.001-08:00

I was discussing plans for the Aethernautical Society Launch Facility with my charming lab assistant Miss Laval, when the Guvnah's Terraforming Crew arrived to begin another phase of work on the new Morgaine sim. Huzzah to Guvnah Shang & Associates!

First Day on the Job at the Labs

2007-11-24T20:02:00.000-08:00

Journal of Eladrienne Laval, Rocket Lab Ass't

Today was my first true day on the job at the Messmer Labs in Penzance, where I will be assisting Prof. Messmer with various projects related to the Caledon Aethernautical Society. Soon the Labs shall be moving to a larger location in Morgaine and form part of the Aerodrome complex. To celebrate, he set out some caramel crunch candy that gave us both a sugar rush. First note to self: No more caramel crunch is allowed in the lab, especially while handling combustible materials.

The professor would like me to help him arrange his notes. Upon asking him where said notes were located, he remarked, "Perhaps my jacket from yesterday?" When I reminded him about the rest of his notes, he looked a bit sheepish and down at his shoes. Oh my...I do believe I have my work cut out for me here.

A new appearance for The Professor

2007-11-23T23:28:00.000-08:00

I have been most remiss in updates to my electric journaling device and do apologize to my 1 or 2 readers.

I thought I might post again using this recent photograph of several weeks ago.

It was taken by my personal typist and assistant - Mr. JB Pennypacker - who also manages my financial holdings and seems to know exactly when I need more funds deposited into my accounts in Caledon. Remarkable chap!

Twitter added to my mostly unused blog

2007-10-17T07:16:00.000-07:00

Now that I am more involved in the Caledon community, I hope to update my aethernet journal more often.

2007-06-12T09:32:00.001-07:00

2007-06-12T09:31:00.001-07:00

2007-06-12T09:29:00.001-07:00