Torley Lives

When a line like "Helping make a difference in the world" is used so frequently, its impact is diluted. This is not just because of all the empty times it gets said and nothing gets done?but rather, consider how much more of a difference could be made, and then go forth in this world and do it. I'm feeling celebratory to recognize some of my SL heroes. I am singling them out because they came from a period in my Second Life when I was learning the ropes, and little did they?or I know?at the time, what would happen.

A special someone who I wouldn't be here today without is Gwyneth Llewelyn. We haven't had a long, enlightening convo in a long time, but she's always been very motherly towards me. I used to stay up all night and ask her to remind me when to go to bed! Needless to say, going until 3 AM+ is not uncommon for me and the rules have been broken. Gwyn has made some bold predictions, both in private and in public on her blog, which have come to pass. One of these would be the rise of 4-corner clubs, with a maximum capacity of perhaps 160. Would be very laggy, but visit Clovers Auditorium and you will see for youself. I don't forget these things. A search of my blog reveals more. Gwyngwyngwyn is the type of person who takes a topic, opens it up like a surgeon, and examines each and every organ. She drills down the hierarchy of wisdom, and, needless to say, is extremely well-learned. My observational humor and her more wry wit were great foils, and I hope they are again.

Kex Godel is someone I've written about in passing several times in the past. I neeed a nu pic of her. She is very intelligent, and also, very nice. When I first met her, I was sort of taken aback by how many things she could answer. Intimidated, actually. I also felt at times I might have done something to offend her, but I'm cheery to say I kept pressing on with my question, and she passed me back slips with her answers on the chat overlay. I asked her so much, from optimizing settings vs. lag, to how to force sunset (should be "Force DAYLIGHT" dangit!), to where she got her pants with the sunflower from (I forget). She is not on SL much currently, but showed up during the opening of Preview 1.7 and is what I'd consider a true spirit of Second Life. In addition to all that help?including a FAQ which is now part of the Live Helpers's package?she also once owned a whole sim. KEXLAND it was called. I wouldn't be here without Kexxles (Kexy to me), and it's funny, because a few weeks ago, I started seeing this incredible new helper named Tateru Nino, with a similar style and disposition. She even has a shop of fun things , as Kex did. She is her own unique Resident in her own right, but I can't help being reminded of my Mentor. Infact, I saw hear wearing ears similar to Kex's… and turns out that's what they are! You should read Tateru's posts in the SL Forums, they're mint.

A third name I'm going to name would be that journalistic writer (yayzerama redundancy), Hamlet Linden. I put him down as my referrer, infact, since New World Notes was one of my first forays into the eyeopening world of SL. I'll italicize as a proper publication. The first time I met him inworld was almost over a year ago. Despite his packed schedule, he took the time to meet me on his couches in his office. BIG UP if you know where that is! This was when I was Torley Torgeson, Sr., in a male av. I've never asked why he's called Hamlet, altho I may have vaguely read it somewhere. I'll leave this a mystery, and perhaps it's fitting that he just published an article titled "Being Hamlet Linden". We usually communicate via a networked proxy, which means events that impact SL on a broader scale that affect us personally, so we talk about the bigger picture at work (and play) here on our blogs, and there's a connection. In the future, what he does will be commonplace, but today, he's a pioneer, and he'll always be unique.

I bow to my teachers. I would be nothing without having been guided up the positive path. I sometimes lament when hearing of new Resis who have the misfortune of running into mean dumbasses, and thinking all of SL is like that. No, it ain't so, and I've run into some unkindly, inarticulate avatars myself, but the overwhelming whole, the collective sum, the totally cosmopolitan cauldron of my experiences here in Second Life has been beautiful and holy.

I close now by quoting the profile of one of my new friends, Clarissa Dassin:

I cite my blog posts to her frequently, hoping she will start her own blog. She has a lot of wonderful things to say, she just has to share them more?I think a lot of people will care and resonate with her words.

Believe it or not, I was a stranger in this land once, before Torley Torgeson ever became:

or what about

or even

I recognize I am who I am not by myself, but because of how strong this community is. I spend most of my time+energy praising the achievements of my friends, or strangers who will become friends. This blog, by and large, describes my reactions to what's happening around me, and perhaps in some very meta way, the ethereal catalyst I am as a watermelon trickster. I've named a number of inventions, proofread almost as many notecards, inspired new fashions, and tested an insanely great amount of products. Yet, although I may take no responsibility nor credit for great things?I do celebrate them. If SL takes a hit, parts of me fail too. I have so much thanks to give!

And Second Life goes on…