Rennie Renfort
Submitted by Rennie Renfort on 24 January 2011
Join us in our Northpoint studio at 2pm SLT today, Monday 24th January for the start of our new season as we explore the most amazing avatars we think you'll see in Second Life as we pay a visit to the famous Grendel's Children store, and the Avaria region.
Inside Grendel's Children store
We'll be talking to Flea Bussy and Toady Nakamura, two of the key people behind Grendel's Children, and seeing some of the brilliant avatars that they have created. Hopefully we'll be able to share with you something of the range and depth of avatar creation that they offer ... and discovering how (and why) they do this at such astonishingly low prices too.
But there's more to Grendel's Children than the avatars, and we'll also be looking at the four sims that make up Avaria, where the people behind Grendel's Children have created a rich and complex landscape where you can not only try out your avatars, but where you can also join a variety of interactive games, including surfing in space - which Elrik gets a chance to try. And, of course, Saffia takes the opportunity to explore the underwater world with some spectacular companions!
Surfing Space with Grendel's Children!
If you'd like a sneak preview of Grendel's Children, don't miss a lovely machinima created by Pyewacket Bellmann - The Wizard and the Ozimal , which features a number of these glorious avatars.
The Designing Worlds show starts at 2pm SLT, but you should be in our Northpoint studios by 1.30pm at the very latest to make sure of getting a seat. And this is a show that you really will want to come to in person, because there will be some amazing free gifts on offer from Grendel's Children! As usual, after the show, there'll be a chance for the audience to talk to Flea and Toady (as well as Elrik and Saffia) about what we've seen.
Or - if you can't attend in person - tune in at 2pm SLT on Monday for the live show – where you can now chat with other audience members and even some of the participants during the show – or catch it later in the week on our shows page on the Treet.tv web site.
Submitted by Rennie Renfort on 13 December 2010
Join us in our Northpoint studio at 2pm SLT today, Monday 13th December as we come to the end of this season with our traditional Christmas in Caledon show. And we're inviting our audience to join us after the show to try out some wonderful winter sports - so please wear warm Victorian gear for the show - skates and skis are provided!
A waterside setting in Caledon Tanglewood
We'll start the show in Caledon Tanglewood and take a fascinating glimpse at one of the communities there - the Tinies. We'll be finding out about Tiny events - including a year-long reading of a favourite book -and learning about a magnificent Christmas pudding, too!
The Spires of Caledon Oxbridge
Then it's over to Caledon Oxbridge to learn all about this vibrant University in Second Life, and some of the courses and events associated with it. Once a Community Gateway, it's now a thriving independent institution - with something to offer everyone!
Finally we visit a region of Caledon that has been decorated for Christmas fun - Caledon Victorian Gardens. You'll be able to see some of the winter enjoyments set out here - they include skiing, skating, tobogganing, an ice carousel - and a hot chocolate stand!
Caledon Victorian Gardens
The show starts at 2pm SLT, but you should be in our Northpoint studios by 1.30pm at the very latest to make sure of getting a seat. And afterwards we're inviting you to join us in Caledon Victorian Gardens to enjoy the fun of the winter sports there! Make sure you are well wrapped up - and suitably Victorian!
Or tune in at 2pm SLT on Monday for the live show – where you can now chat with other audience members and even some of the participants during the show – or catch it later in the week on our shows page on the Treet.tv web site.
Tinyville Library in Caledon Tanglewood
This is the last show in our present season, but we'll back on Monday 24th January with a whole new season of shows featuring design and designers in virtual worlds! So if you know something that you think we should be covering in our next season, write to us at designingworlds@gmail.com.
Submitted by Rennie Renfort on 29 November 2010
Imperial College London: Postgraduate Medical Training
Join us in our Northpoint studio at 2pm SLT today, Monday 29th November as we explore a fascinating series of projects relating to medical education and public health awareness from Imperial College London, one of the UK's most highly regarded universities.
We will be looking at projects they have developed for their own Postgraduate Medical Training Centre, and in partnership with a whole range of other organisations including the government agency NHS for London, the University of Brighton, Sussex Partnerships NHS, the Grace Eyre Foundation and even the Royal College for Art!
Imperial College London: Nursing training
These projects seek to use Second Life in innovative ways for training doctors, nurses and other health professionals in areas ranging from crisis management on hospital wards to the most effective forms of signage in hospital corridors.
And there are also projects that relate to patients too. We'll be seeing how a re-creation of Brighton sea-front is used to help patients with learning difficulties understand how hospital procedures will affect them - and how Second Life can be used to demonstrate to Londoners how a Polyclinic can improve their healthcare.
Imperial College London project: Brighton seafront
All in all, this is a fascinating programme - and one that you shouldn't miss!
The show starts at 2pm SLT, but you should be in our Northpoint studios by 1.30pm at the very latest to make sure of getting a seat.
Imperial College London and NHS in London project: Polyclinic
Or tune in at 2pm SLT on Monday for the live show – where you can now chat with other audience members and even some of the participants during the show – or catch it later in the week on our shows page on the Treet.tv web site.
Submitted by Rennie Renfort on 22 November 2010
WK Ganesvoort's Home: Exterior - Photograph by PJ Trenton
Join us in our Northpoint studio at 2pm SLT today, Monday 28th November as we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving at one one the most beautiful private homes in Second Life - in the very lovely region of Costa Rica!
We'll be viewing the house with its owner, WK Ganesvoort, and seeing some of the amazing artefacts that he has collected from all over Second Life. And there will also be a chance to see a little of the beautiful Costa Rica region.
And, of course, we'll also be sitting down to a Thanksgiving meal, this year catered by Ashlin Leandros of Incredible Edibles - and explaining how her meal delivery service works.
WK Ganesvoort's Home: Library - Photograph by PJ Trenton
We'll also be marking this Thanksgiving with a very special thank you for the life of Delinda Dryssen, a very special member of the Treet family, who died this week. People who wish to read more about Delinda will find tributes here (by Dan Barrie), here (by Paisley Beebe) and here (on the Treet.TV site). In addition, Chestnut Rau, New World Notes event writer, has also created a new SL group you can join, Delinda Dyrssen Memorial: "This group is to organize a memorial concert to benefit her favorite charity and to honor her endless enthusiasm."
In addition, if you want to pay tribute in person, you can visit The Pocket.4 which was the venue she shares with OhMy Kidd, where a steady stream of people have been stopping by just to feel close to her.
The show starts at 2pm SLT, but you should be in our Northpoint studios by 1.30pm at the very latest to make sure of getting a seat. And we're asking our audience to come dressed for cocktails, for after the show we invite you to join us for drinks and an opportunity to explore WK Gansvoort's home for yourselves.
Or tune in at 2pm SLT on Monday for the live show – where you can now chat with other audience members and even some of the participants during the show – or catch it later in the week on our shows page on the Treet.tv web site
Submitted by Rennie Renfort on 15 November 2010
Dieselpunk and Designing Worlds
The Streets of Seraph City - photograph by PJ Trenton
Join us in our Northpoint studio at 2pm SLT today, Monday, November 15, in the beautiful Art Deco environment of Seraph City ... and also the phenomenon of Dieselpunk. And we're asking our live audience to dress for the occasion in their best 1920s/1930s clothes - so that they can join us afterwards for a dance in one of Seraph City's many fabulous establishments!
You are probably familiar with the concept of 'cyberpunk', the science fiction genre noted for its focus on "high tech and low life" as Wikipedia elegantly puts it! And if you are a regular viewer of Designing Worlds, you'll be familiar with our steampunk explorations ... and adventures! But a relatively new form is dieselpunk - where the setting, rather than a dystopian future or cyberpunk, or the steam-driven alternative world of the 19th and 20th century, is actually driven by the diesel engine, and draws on the aesthetic of the 1920s and 1930s.
Seraph City, as we shall be learning, combines the speakeasies and skyscrapers of Prohibition America with the technology found in such media artefacts as Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. There are bars and clubs and amazing constructions, stores and even apartment blocks ... to say nothing of a site destined to hold the new branch offices of The Primgraph!
Travelling through Seraph City - photograph by PJ Trenton
The show starts at 2pm SLT, but you should be in our Northpoint studios by 1.30pm at the very latest to make sure of getting a seat. And we're asking our audience to come dressed for a trip to Seraph City, for after the show we intend to take you dancing in that excellent establishment - the Java Jive!
Or tune in at 2pm SLT on Monday for the live show – where you can now chat with other audience members and even some of the participants during the show – or catch it later in the week on our shows page on the Treet.tv web site
The Carrington in Seraph City - photograph by PJ Trenton
Submitted by Rennie Renfort on 8 November 2010
Julia Hathor's Lands in Inworldz
Join us in our Northpoint studio at 2pm SLT today, Monday, November 8th as we visit Inworldz - the new grid that is attracting content creators ... and communities. We'll also be talking to two of the key people behind the new grid - Elenia Llewellyn and Tranquillity Dexler live in our studio - a great chance for our audience to meet and talk with these two key people!
Koshari Mahana's Four Winds in Inworldz
Inworldz is attracting a lot of attention from content creators, artists and communities dis-satisfied, for various reasons, with Linden Lab and Second Life. It has a flourishing inworld economy - as you can see here, and increasingly, as Elrik Merlin did recently on the Prim Perfect blog, people are asking - could Inworldz be a refuge for communities leaving Second Life? This show will give you a chance to see more - and to find out more - for yourselves.
Part of d'Alliez Estates' commercial district in Inworldz
The show starts at 2pm SLT, but you should be in our Northpoint studios by 1.30pm at the very latest to make sure of getting a seat - as this is sure to be a very popular show, with a chance afterwards to talk to the Inworldz developers and put your own questions to them!
Or tune in at 2pm SLT on Monday for the live show – where you can now chat with other audience members and even some of the participants during the show – or catch it later in the week on our shows page on the Treet.tv web site
Submitted by Rennie Renfort on 1 November 2010
At the Lunatorium: Photograph by PJ Trenton
Join us in our Northpoint studio at 2pm SLT today, Monday 1st November as we visit the Lunatorium - the environment created by Bavid Dailey and Lunata Lupino.
Lunata creates plants - but plants that are unique to Second Life in that they are all delicately hand textured. Each plant is a work of art, looking like a painting by Marianne North or Margaret Mee. The delicacy of the work is utterly superb - and we'll be looking at this in the show.
Flowers created by Lunata Lupino - photographed by PJ Trenton
We'll also be taking a look at the underwater regions she has created, working with scripter Bavid Dailey, and meeting some of the beautiful sea creatures that haunt this area.
Bavid has also created an extremely useful tool for shopping - the Personal Assistant - which would help customers quickly locate what they were looking for in larger stores. It comes with all sorts of surprising and very useful extras - and we'll be exploring this on the show!
All in all, this is a beautiful and very interesting show - make sure that you don't miss it!
Underwater Coral created by Lunta Lupino - photographed by PJ Trenton
There will be a special gift for those who attend the show in the studio from Bavid and Lunata - and also a chance to see a display of their work in the Exhibition Hall – and a chance to buy some of the beautiful plants featured on the show.
The show starts at 2pm SLT, but you should be in our Northpoint studios by 1.30pm at the very latest to make sure of getting a seat.
Or tune in at 2pm SLT on Monday for the live show – where you can now chat with other audience members and even some of the participants during the show – or catch it later in the week on our shows page on the Treet.tv web site
At the Lunatorium - photographed by PJ Trenton
Submitted by Rennie Renfort on 25 October 2010
In the Village of Nyght
We are going to be looking at the phenomenon of story-telling in Second Life, with the help of talented storyteller and real life folklorist Afsaneh Metaluna - but we're going to be doing it in The Village of Nyght in Dunwich, where you are invited to join us (rather than in our Northpoint studio).
In the first part of the show, Saffia talks to Afsaneh about how she became involved in Second Life storytelling, while Elrik talks to Anara Serevi about The Village of Nyght and how it came into being.
In the second half of the show, we will be listening to Afsaneh tell a ghostly story for Halloween while we invite you to join us around a decidedly spooky campfire!
But don't believe all the rumours you hear about zombies on the loose in
The Village of Nyght comic in Prim Perfect magazine The Village of Nyght. Despite what happened to the Prim Perfect reporter Rowan Derryth and photographer PJ Trenton (as recorded in the latest edition of Prim Perfect, Page 66), we are assured that the village is perfectly safe and zombie-free. Really.
The show starts at 2pm SLT, but you should be in Dunwich by 1.30pm at the very latest to make sure of getting a seat around the campfire as this is likely to be a very popular show. And you will be able to pick up zombie-fighting equipment should you, you know, ever happen to need it!
Or tune in at 2pm SLT on Monday for the live show – where you can now chat with other audience members and even some of the participants during the show – or catch it later in the week on our shows page on the Treet.tv web site.
Submitted by Rennie Renfort on 28 September 2010
Join us in our Northpoint studio at 2pm SLT this week on Tuesday September 28th as Designing Worlds celebrates its 100th edition today - that's if you add in our first incarnation as Meta Makeover too!
Some of our favourite designers and artists are dropping gifts into a very special birthday goodie box to give away to people who come to the show! (Psst ... if you are a designer and want to add a goodie, contact Saffia Widdershins before 1pm)
And we'll be having a special show ... not so much of the highlights, but of some of the fun things that have happened to us along the way!
Meta Makeover - Episode 1
We'll be taking a look at the very first episode - and meeting Diva Regina, our guest then. We'll look at Elrik's first appearance - as a guest - and then as a host, when we REALLY threw him in the deep end!
There are going to be a LOT of cringe-worthy moments for our hosts - and fun for our audience too, we hope!
There's a chance to see again part of our Babbage show, and a clip from our most downloaded show ever.
And you may be surprised to learn of a historical soap opera (what one follower on Plurk dubbed "Second Life to Live!") that emerged from a rather unexpected show ...
We also have three great displays in the Exhibition hall. The lovely vargo and stall from Grey Kurka of The Curious Prim has been joined by a lovely display with the cutest little house from Marcus Inkpen and Sharni Azalee of The Looking Glass. And there's also a range of really excellent information from Virtual Ability on how builders can help!
The Looking Glass and The Curious Prim in the Exhibition Hall
The show starts at 2pm SLT, but you should be in our Northpoint studios by 1.30pm to make sure of getting a seat. And there will be amazing special gifts for all who attend the show in the studio!
Or tune in at 2pm SLT on Tuesday for the live show – where you can now chat with other audience members and even some of the participants during the show – or catch it later in the week on our shows page on the Treet.tv web site.
Submitted by Rennie Renfort on 21 September 2010
Join us in our Northpoint studio at 2pm SLT this week on Tuesday September 21st, as we visit Virtual Ability - the region for the nonprofit Virtual Ability Incorporated, which helps people with disabilities participate in virtual worlds.
Virtual Ability: the Orientation Area
We'll be talking to Gentle Heron, President of Virtual Ability, Inc, and to Eme Capalini, the Vice President in charge of Development, as they show us different aspects of the islands as we learn more about their work in developing universal design in virtual worlds and how they have worked to make their areas accessible as well as beautiful.
We think you'll agree that what they are creating is one of the most significant uses of Second Life - and it is clearly a life changing experience for many people. If you are interested in learning more about how virtual worlds can be a major force for improving people's lives, and also in how simple techniques can be used to make Second Life more accessible to more people, we are sure that you will find this a fascinating show!
Virtual Ability: the classrooms
The show starts at 2pm SLT, but you should be in our Northpoint studios by 1.30pm to make sure of getting a seat. And there will be special gifts for all who attend the show in the studio!
Or tune in at 2pm SLT on Tuesday for the live show – where you can now chat with other audience members and even some of the participants during the show – or catch it later in the week on our shows page on the Treet.tv web site.
Concerned about Zombie Attack? Be Prepared!
As we approach that difficult time of year when the risk of Zombie attack reaches its zenith, you may well turn your attention to how you might defend yourself, and the members of the Fair Sex in your life, from the ravages of the Undead.
In my personal view, any Steampunk gentleman worth his salt could do no better than to arm himself with the D-Z Tesla Ray Rifle shown here and available from the SL Marketplace, as employed by me recently to defend my delectable interviewee, Miss Anara Serevi, and myself from an unexpected Zombie attack during the course of Designing Worlds' recent excursion to the Village of Nyght. I heartily recommend this device and emphasise that I have no association whatsoever with the purveyor of said apparatus and speak only from personal experience.
This exceptionally well-detailed weapon has a vast array of resources that may be deployed against all manner of assailants, and conforms to many of the commonly available combat systems found in-world.
In my personal opinion, the most effective mode for despatching the Undead is the Plasma Ball facility. This unleashes an exceptionally powerful ball of compact electrical energy against one's assailants, driving them a considerable distance across the region in a manner reminiscent of the game of Ninepins. I find this approach preferable to the use of projectiles (though this weapon also provides such facilities) in that it avoids exposing the Ladies' sensibilities to the sight, and potential spattering, of the blood of the aforementioned assailants. The Plasma effect also serves to sterilise the area, which may be found to be a most efficacious approach.
However I would warn the operator not to attempt to employ the Plasma Ball in a confined space as this may result in the Ball being unable to escape in the direction fired: this may have, shall we say, undesirable consequences. Instead, attempt to attain a high location, such as a flight of Steps, adjacent to an open area, where one has a suitable view of the disposition of potential assailants and can despatch them swiftly and effectively.
In addition to its effective operation, you will find the Tesla Ray Rifle to be finely crafted and constructed of hard-wearing and elegant materials, and also that when recharging, the weapon produces a fearsome Sound as the bolt of electrical energy is being prepared such that in and of itself it may be found to have effective deterrent capabilities.
Highly Recommended. * * * * *