I wanted to know how to get the L'Oreal Paris skin, how come the bag has only pencils?
I went back. Useless, bag is still on the floor.
Then, I googled. Found a site which mentioned about the Greenies and L'Oreal collaboration. And a side line about Cao Feis, RMB city in Secondlife.
RMB City! I checked and found an impressive, enormous catalogue of work and beautiful online archives.
It is cross disciplinary, exciting, solid research work. I also like the clean interface. Gray and red. Chinese and English.
I first saw Cao Feis work at Venise biennale - China Tracy.
What i gather is this, if you continue doing whatever you do, in the end you will find it. I go from freebie make up and end up seeing the most wanted on my wish list.
How do you account for that?
They say there is only 6 steps from your point of departure to the target when you want to link up point A to B.
This always amazes me. Are we really that free?
If I let you do whatever you want, in the end, you will still be doing more or less what you normally do.
Anyway, I am happy that i found this treasure.
Reading in sight.
Friday, 29 February 2008
Thursday, 28 February 2008
Greenies Kitchen as Luxury brand playground, Other Virtual Worlds
Virtual World research data
L'Oreal Paris gives out 4 free skins, from a white handbag left on a middle class retro American Kitchen chair in the Greenies Home. Greenies are tiny martians, when avatars visit, everything is giant size. This white handbag is thrown open, left supposedly on the chair, but i found it on the floor. No make up, but books and pencils, ball point pen and a few coins inside. The object is names L"oreal bag... a puzzle, where is the glamour lip gloss that we touch to get the free skins? This publicity trick is a big success, it makes it playful and not purely commercial. I dont need these 4 skins, but not able to figure out to get to the prize intriqued me. What is the triggering point?
I went to Nicky Rees, got 3 skins, by clicking on the freebie billboard. The skins are nice - white, pastel and lollita Goth girl chic. I wore the Goth Girl shape and skin for a while.
Its spring time. I got this flower dress, when my avatar wears a pretty dress, I feel pretty too. :)
Film viewed
Jumper - 1.5*
a mix of teleporting, exotic locations, strange Matrix acrobatics, story is thin, London, Detroit, Rome. I only wanted to see what this teleporting concept, how did they interpret this. Dont bother, not worth it.
When the Cats away... (Chacun cherche son chat) 2.5*
A charming Parisien film on everyday life, neighbourhood lives of artistic people... not the luxury consumer bourgeois but the people who works - the people who supports and builds the Paris is beautiful dream. The little small scale artist ateliers, the immigrant population. Young artists, and old not quite made it artists (majority of artists). Local charm.
Paris 2.5* (same director as above "When the Cats Away...", Cedric Klapisch, several years later)
Has all the scenes that I am familiar with, every corner of the street. This is a good movie that I buy a dvd and show my family, look this is the city where I live, see this is where my house is... here, is a nice restaurant, here, i went to classes... here we walked and talked and this... my friend has an apt here... under this bridge... etc. Everybody is charming, with various episodes. But the scene in the restaurant where these rough market guys plays with a woman is vulgar. In real life it does happen, but same vulgar insensitivity, revolting. The plot is slices of life, compared to the HHH Paris movie, this one is "touristy" the HHH one is more poetic. In the end, letting actors improvise is a much more intelligent way to shoot an authentic movie. But can Cedric Klapisch take such a risk - there are too many characters, if they all improvise, maybe some illusion of Parisien charm would rapidly desintegrate. It would not generate a moving image post card Paris anymore. With the HHH film, there are limitations the characters are artists, cultured people, there is much less risk to seeing the crass side of real life.
L'Oreal Paris gives out 4 free skins, from a white handbag left on a middle class retro American Kitchen chair in the Greenies Home. Greenies are tiny martians, when avatars visit, everything is giant size. This white handbag is thrown open, left supposedly on the chair, but i found it on the floor. No make up, but books and pencils, ball point pen and a few coins inside. The object is names L"oreal bag... a puzzle, where is the glamour lip gloss that we touch to get the free skins? This publicity trick is a big success, it makes it playful and not purely commercial. I dont need these 4 skins, but not able to figure out to get to the prize intriqued me. What is the triggering point?
I went to Nicky Rees, got 3 skins, by clicking on the freebie billboard. The skins are nice - white, pastel and lollita Goth girl chic. I wore the Goth Girl shape and skin for a while.
Its spring time. I got this flower dress, when my avatar wears a pretty dress, I feel pretty too. :)
Film viewed
Jumper - 1.5*
a mix of teleporting, exotic locations, strange Matrix acrobatics, story is thin, London, Detroit, Rome. I only wanted to see what this teleporting concept, how did they interpret this. Dont bother, not worth it.
When the Cats away... (Chacun cherche son chat) 2.5*
A charming Parisien film on everyday life, neighbourhood lives of artistic people... not the luxury consumer bourgeois but the people who works - the people who supports and builds the Paris is beautiful dream. The little small scale artist ateliers, the immigrant population. Young artists, and old not quite made it artists (majority of artists). Local charm.
Paris 2.5* (same director as above "When the Cats Away...", Cedric Klapisch, several years later)
Has all the scenes that I am familiar with, every corner of the street. This is a good movie that I buy a dvd and show my family, look this is the city where I live, see this is where my house is... here, is a nice restaurant, here, i went to classes... here we walked and talked and this... my friend has an apt here... under this bridge... etc. Everybody is charming, with various episodes. But the scene in the restaurant where these rough market guys plays with a woman is vulgar. In real life it does happen, but same vulgar insensitivity, revolting. The plot is slices of life, compared to the HHH Paris movie, this one is "touristy" the HHH one is more poetic. In the end, letting actors improvise is a much more intelligent way to shoot an authentic movie. But can Cedric Klapisch take such a risk - there are too many characters, if they all improvise, maybe some illusion of Parisien charm would rapidly desintegrate. It would not generate a moving image post card Paris anymore. With the HHH film, there are limitations the characters are artists, cultured people, there is much less risk to seeing the crass side of real life.
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
Swann, Proust, comic book, Guttenberg Project, Gallimard
Swann is a character in the big book of Proust. Swann with two n's, not Swan the long necked bird.
I have wanted to read Proust for a long time now. I had collected the paper back versions, Folio. Earlier ones and later ones. But never opened any of them. Like a lot of my books, I just enjoy knowing that they are there, ready to go, when the moment comes.
Right now, over the years, I am more and more ready. I have on my shelf, a comic book version - in Chinese : in the style of TinTin the Belgian comic book clean line drawings; a Guttenberg version - pure text in English - free, and the leather bound Gallimard 7 vols. in French with illustrations - a gift from Swannjie Jie.
Sl is a type of animation. Now I think of He Youzhis words, aren't we playing out some kind of story in a miniature manner?
The stories created together with other avatars, are they really that interesting? If you told of your sl lives, how does it compare with your life in rl ? - Since there is a drastic reduction of details - and whatever detail thats given, it is rough and to tell you the truth - totally unattractive, if you were an observer, and not the player.
A comic book, in 166 pages, selected section of the novel has been drawn in flat clean lines. Dialogues reveal samples of sentiments of the great writer.
The English version, translated with original details followed closely.
Then, the real thing.
:)
Time for tea and small sweets.
I arrange my big fat feather pillows on the red sofa, next to the window opening onto the garden with white blossoms from some fruit tree.
Snow white, it flowered so early this year!
The Bucket List 1.5*
Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman. In homes and hospitals and famous scenes, like Great Wall of China, Himalaya... etc etc. car racing... all in hors d'oeuvres form, quick and postcard shot, one two three. Done. Finished. A car mechanics home thats like a Department store showroom. There is nothing special everything flash card style.
I have wanted to read Proust for a long time now. I had collected the paper back versions, Folio. Earlier ones and later ones. But never opened any of them. Like a lot of my books, I just enjoy knowing that they are there, ready to go, when the moment comes.
Right now, over the years, I am more and more ready. I have on my shelf, a comic book version - in Chinese : in the style of TinTin the Belgian comic book clean line drawings; a Guttenberg version - pure text in English - free, and the leather bound Gallimard 7 vols. in French with illustrations - a gift from Swannjie Jie.
Sl is a type of animation. Now I think of He Youzhis words, aren't we playing out some kind of story in a miniature manner?
The stories created together with other avatars, are they really that interesting? If you told of your sl lives, how does it compare with your life in rl ? - Since there is a drastic reduction of details - and whatever detail thats given, it is rough and to tell you the truth - totally unattractive, if you were an observer, and not the player.
A comic book, in 166 pages, selected section of the novel has been drawn in flat clean lines. Dialogues reveal samples of sentiments of the great writer.
The English version, translated with original details followed closely.
Then, the real thing.
:)
Time for tea and small sweets.
I arrange my big fat feather pillows on the red sofa, next to the window opening onto the garden with white blossoms from some fruit tree.
Snow white, it flowered so early this year!
The Bucket List 1.5*
Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman. In homes and hospitals and famous scenes, like Great Wall of China, Himalaya... etc etc. car racing... all in hors d'oeuvres form, quick and postcard shot, one two three. Done. Finished. A car mechanics home thats like a Department store showroom. There is nothing special everything flash card style.
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
Lenovo Island, 3Immersive, Chinese lessons classroom, csecondlife,
I visited a new Chinese Secondlife, only 18 people have changed Lindens here, its really very new. I checked the Chinese school, with the lessons. Flash files, such beautiful sounds, and huge calligraphy letters with brush strokes to show you how to write!!!
Its got an ambiance of the new China. Really nice! It has a very clean large scale corporate business look. There is a school, a huge huge Bank, hotel, sky blue color new bus - large glass windows - and all the general town planning items of a new section of town. Its quite close to reality! The Chinese school is housed in a Suzhou garden structure complete with lattice windows, Confusionist style tables and cushions.
Bamboo tables, Power Point screens - Chinese lessons with notes - I got a few lessons from the Note givers. The dialogue is contemporary Chinese conversation. If we have sl avatars all learning at the same time, this could be a very lively exciting immersive language experience. The first lesson begins on 3March2008. :)
Have a look! lenovo 156, 79, 41. Exciting, i am happy to not see - yet - another Chinese shopping mall type of get up. This looks and feel fresh, its smells like a normal place, not a commercial only place. Good. :)
Monday, 25 February 2008
New Painterly Asian Beauty Skin
See, this head is made by my friend Saitot - a sculpty head - a new sexy look :) She will show me how to make a skin.
How about a truly Asian skin? With the classic Asian beauty ? I believe there is a distinctive beauty for each shape and tone for every race.
Hmmm, this opens a section on Beauty, and beauties of all types.
I saw a girl on the subway last week, small eyes, oval shape face, plum blossom mouth... exactly what i see in Ancient paintings of an Asian Beauty. These are not the Western norm of big eyes, large mouth, not Julia Roberts; and not these strange "Asian high cheek bones", slant eyes going upwards - exotism; typically triangular, harsh, flat and angular with pointy chins, shapes rather "aggressively strange" tinted with lackluster sienna - that often we see in ads when they want to show Asian type. Though lately the ads have improved. The Asians chosen are now tinted versions of the Caucasian faces.
Check a painting by Chen Hong Shou, a Ming Dynasty painter. Here we see what curves mean. It does not necessarily mean hour glass curves, big breast small waists. It is more wave like, as in water, in the overall contour of flowing curves.
I will make a new skin, the painterly Asian beauty, delicate, soft lined, no bone structure visible type of ideal soft lined beauty. For example, Monica Bellucci is such a beauty. Her overall shape is round, we dont see any bone shapes, entirely enveloped in smooth cushiony flesh, and not at all stout. This is an ideal of what female beauty is like - its not Madonna with muscles all over. Muscles are also beautiful, it is just not the specifically female type of beauty. There are all kinds of beauty.
Sunday, 24 February 2008
web comic, He Youzhi, avatar loneliness, Sleuth, Le Limier
I began sl wanting to make a comic book out of the various scenes that i lived through in sl. So far, while i was taking the photos, I was so excited. Now, I look at all these jpegs, they are flat - how could we make it interesting for others to read?
Then we must have text. Dialogue, stories.
I interviewed the very famous Mr. He YouZhi in Shanghai, he has a special section in the Shanghai Museum, dedicated to his work. He said, I can no longer go anywhere because I am over 80 years old, and I get tired easily. I can go to Hong Kong maybe for a few days, but going on a boat to San Francisco is too far. His eyes are sparkling jewels. He said, I taught at Angouleme, they invited me. But what is there to say? I could only show them the beauty of a drawing line, but what is there to say?
For me to draw and create new works, I must have new stories. He taps his finger to his temple, whats in here, is old stuff! My head is old stuff, only younger people with new stories could create a new comic book style. Would you stay for dinner with us? (yes!!!) He said, "the road is in your lips" - this means, if you are lost, you only have to ask directions on the street. He smiled, very kindly he said, come back, again, when you have more time! I will show you my latest publications. I was so happy that he granted me the visit.
Now, I look at all the online webcomics, and remember what he said. Yes, the world is very different for the internet savvy graphic artists. They do have new stories, and different standards of social behaviors, love, courtesy... everything is different, the contexts are so different. Not only there is a cultural difference. There is notably a epoch difference, and behavior difference. People are much harder today.
He Youzhi's work is fine arts, its not popular repetitive Manga, not cartoons in the american sense. It is very well drawn, fine line drawing work, one of the most expressive. His pictures are stylised, the body sitting just right, arms, movements, everything correct. The weight, center of mass of each limb, the composition of the page. A master. Each frame could be a stand alone composition. You can admire the picture over many hours, its precious. The drawing goes with the story - to have new stories, the drawings would have to be different.
The current style in vogue around the world is not kindness, but scowling cool stances. No one smiles in todays comics. More like sharp teeth and sneering smirks and ruffled hair. From Beijing, to Tokyo to Hong Kong to Paris to NY, all the same. Its super uncool to be smiling. (Except for Hello Kitty of course!)
However, real people want kindness too!
I talked to many sl avatars, some of them told me their rl stories. Everyone needs the same things, just like in the old days, no different. But in todays social vocabulary, its much more cool - to be harsh, to be rushy, to be "unavailable", and in one click - they cut you dead - it means they are doing the cool thing, and you, you are nothing but a has-been. Dont even mention any such thing such as "loneliness" thats sooooooo uncool - because loneliness, is really, it is nothing - it is so common.
Film viewed
Sleuth 2.5*
Even though I knew Michael Caine is to be the inspector, I looked carefully and really did not see Michael Caine at all, the make up is sooooo good. The story is more on class struggles, snobbism...hinges on this. In the new version, its got a new edge of bisexual flexible moral standards that this old version is much more upright in some way. The new version where Caine played the old writer, the character is much more sympathetic. Here the Sir Lawrence is definitely a total loser, we have little sympathy for him. The old mansion doesnt look aristocratic, but mothy, playhouse for an old man. No true style, maybe in keeping with the character.
Le Limier 2.5*
Very good acting, Jude Law in a juicy role. Michael Caine is very good. The house, designers cage, is cold. Everybody needs lots of shots of whiskeys to keep warm. :) Not a moment slack. The text, dialogue is superb. Based on older movie Sleuth. Also with Caine but he was playing the younger character.
Then we must have text. Dialogue, stories.
I interviewed the very famous Mr. He YouZhi in Shanghai, he has a special section in the Shanghai Museum, dedicated to his work. He said, I can no longer go anywhere because I am over 80 years old, and I get tired easily. I can go to Hong Kong maybe for a few days, but going on a boat to San Francisco is too far. His eyes are sparkling jewels. He said, I taught at Angouleme, they invited me. But what is there to say? I could only show them the beauty of a drawing line, but what is there to say?
For me to draw and create new works, I must have new stories. He taps his finger to his temple, whats in here, is old stuff! My head is old stuff, only younger people with new stories could create a new comic book style. Would you stay for dinner with us? (yes!!!) He said, "the road is in your lips" - this means, if you are lost, you only have to ask directions on the street. He smiled, very kindly he said, come back, again, when you have more time! I will show you my latest publications. I was so happy that he granted me the visit.
Now, I look at all the online webcomics, and remember what he said. Yes, the world is very different for the internet savvy graphic artists. They do have new stories, and different standards of social behaviors, love, courtesy... everything is different, the contexts are so different. Not only there is a cultural difference. There is notably a epoch difference, and behavior difference. People are much harder today.
He Youzhi's work is fine arts, its not popular repetitive Manga, not cartoons in the american sense. It is very well drawn, fine line drawing work, one of the most expressive. His pictures are stylised, the body sitting just right, arms, movements, everything correct. The weight, center of mass of each limb, the composition of the page. A master. Each frame could be a stand alone composition. You can admire the picture over many hours, its precious. The drawing goes with the story - to have new stories, the drawings would have to be different.
The current style in vogue around the world is not kindness, but scowling cool stances. No one smiles in todays comics. More like sharp teeth and sneering smirks and ruffled hair. From Beijing, to Tokyo to Hong Kong to Paris to NY, all the same. Its super uncool to be smiling. (Except for Hello Kitty of course!)
However, real people want kindness too!
I talked to many sl avatars, some of them told me their rl stories. Everyone needs the same things, just like in the old days, no different. But in todays social vocabulary, its much more cool - to be harsh, to be rushy, to be "unavailable", and in one click - they cut you dead - it means they are doing the cool thing, and you, you are nothing but a has-been. Dont even mention any such thing such as "loneliness" thats sooooooo uncool - because loneliness, is really, it is nothing - it is so common.
Film viewed
Sleuth 2.5*
Even though I knew Michael Caine is to be the inspector, I looked carefully and really did not see Michael Caine at all, the make up is sooooo good. The story is more on class struggles, snobbism...hinges on this. In the new version, its got a new edge of bisexual flexible moral standards that this old version is much more upright in some way. The new version where Caine played the old writer, the character is much more sympathetic. Here the Sir Lawrence is definitely a total loser, we have little sympathy for him. The old mansion doesnt look aristocratic, but mothy, playhouse for an old man. No true style, maybe in keeping with the character.
Le Limier 2.5*
Very good acting, Jude Law in a juicy role. Michael Caine is very good. The house, designers cage, is cold. Everybody needs lots of shots of whiskeys to keep warm. :) Not a moment slack. The text, dialogue is superb. Based on older movie Sleuth. Also with Caine but he was playing the younger character.
Friday, 22 February 2008
Gift from Geeks
I looked at Aimee Webers site, very nice and clean, also very good article on the reality of "going Pro" for people who has some dreams of making a living from living in sl. Then I looked at the Midnight city SIM, it was empty except for me, and one other wandering Japanese.
I also read the very famous informative blogger - Wagner James Au
This confirms more and more what i feel about Secondlife, because of the information and general overall capacities. It is most useful for people who want to explore, test an idea in rl with enthusiastic,always kind and willing viewers of others online, on a small scale. A true virtual world community - thats not a negligible world of exchange!
From a users point of view, Secondlife has been a kindergarten for real life.
A very unique, creative, 3d immersive, graphic tool enabled kindergarten with children from all over the world - and it allows anyone to do kindergarten all over again in any subject. Isnt this a gift of a sort from geeks?
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