Archive for April, 2006
Entertain Me!
Since the grid is down tonight, I'll post a little of the happenings from last night. I was busy working on my online status indicator/HUD combo that I'd come up with. Tateru and Sladen were kind enough to come hang out with me. I think we were all looking for a little quiet time. As quiet as you'd like it, it's still nice to be among friends while you work something out.
Lethe logged on and joined us not long after. There was a bit of volunteer chit-chat, which was nice to be a part of. Tateru and Sladen had a bit of in and out and Lethe was kind enough to entertain me. Well, I think she was having fun on her own right, but I was entertained nonetheless. First, stack a bunch of boxes with angry Orwell pigs, then try to jump over them on your bike:
If you don't make it, keep trying:
Because eventually you're going to make it:
Yay!
A little later, Tateru took off to capture her final image for her Tatarot deck:
Although she has them up on her site (here, here, and here), here's what the first viewing looked like for a few of us:
Quite impressive, indeed. Nearly filled my skybox!
Focus: Travis Lambert
Travis is one of those amazing people on SL that makes being there worthwhile. He's friendly, thoughtful, always patient, and ready to share his knowledge. My last problem was solved with the help this puppy. Just one of many he's helped with in the past. He's been there to offer help at every step and I imagine always will be. I just need to remember to not take this for granted. You are appreciated, Travis.
Travis was mentioned in the Second Opinion newsletter recently. I didn't say much on it in my earlier post because I really wasn't sure what to say. You see, I was also included in that posting, as was Sumar Morgan. To be included with Travis and Sumar is quite overwhelming to be sure. They have done so much and I've done so little. I'm definitely honored to be associated with these two and the Shelter. When you see them online, say "Hi" and let them know they're appreciated.
Intersim Communications
Lesson learned. llKey2Name() does not work across sim boundaries. To query that sort of information you must use the dataserver event. This is helpful to know if you have a certain HUD that emails an object at your home point.
Status Success
It works. I can now set my online and offline status message in game. I made a HUD attachment that emails the status indicator attachment so it can be updated from anywhere. Nifty, huh?
It's one of those things that had to be done to prove it could be done. Will I use it? We'll see.
Slightly More Uneasy Instructing
Yesterday was my first Slightly More Advanced Scripting class. I was a bit uneasy for this one as it was not only the first class, it was the first class where I made the curriculum. It was supposed to be the Very Basic Building class, in actuality. I was making my own curriculum for that, in fact, but my first go-round I put together was a little more advanced, at least in my mind. Seronis picked up the Tuesday slot for the Basic Scripting class, so Carl must've used his judgement and simply switched my class to match my work. Thanks again for that, Carl.
Well the class seemed to go pretty well. I haven't heard a lot of feedback from it as of yet, so I'm still a little nervous by it all. Rainbow Drake was kind enough let me know that I helped her out. I found this rather surprising as I knew she'd been writing some scripts already, but it was good to hear as that means I must've accomplished the goal on some level.
I have learned a couple of things. One I included already. 1) Don't keep extranneous touch-scripts in objects you present to the class, they're happy-clickers. 2) Make some discussion on listeners and why you shouldn't use channel 0.
Number 1 I actually fixed during the class. I had a script in an object that I'd simply forgotten about. Number 2 was a topic I'd meant to cover, but I noticed I was getting short on time and skipped over. Number 2 is an important one, so I need to work it in.
I did build my own props for this class. I think they worked fairly well. I'm now re-working the Basic Building props that I use. I'll be trying them out Sunday.
Second Opinion
Wow! I'm honored by the company whom which I am included.
Going Advanced
I just noticed that my "Very Basic Scripting" class got upgraded to "Slightly More Advanced Scripting". No doubt because I'd mentioned that my class notes were on the advanced side, but I had meant that I need to improve, not change the class. But I'll live with the change. Makes my life a little easier anyhow. Thanks Carl for changing that. Glad I logged in to see the updated signage. 
Since we're talking advanced here. I've put in a couple of new features on the website. One displays info on the music stream currently being played. The other is using the XML-RPC functionality of SL to query the online status of certain individuals, myself included. I've now had the notion to updated it to display a more descriptive message that can be set in-world. I'll be working on that before long. This way instead of simply "online" it could say "teaching" or "hosting Building Shelter" or whatever we feel like. It at least sounds like a fun project.
Overdoing it?
As I'm writing my last entry I began to review, as I've been doing a lot of lately, my commitments within SL.
Sundays:
- 3:00 – Teach Basic Building
4:30 – Help with collections at Building Shelter(Coal has agreed to be the official helper! Yay!)
Tuesdays:
- 2:00 – Provide backup to Tateru's Basic Building Class
(not a requirement, but I do what I can)
Thursdays:
- 4:00 – Host Building Shelter
Fridays:
- 4:00 – Teach Very Basic Scripting
- 6:00 – Teach Basic Building
I love doing all that I can, but I'm starting to wonder if I've overcommitted myself. Add this that I'm a Mentor who spends a bit of time on Help Island and we rapidly run out of Mera time.
Yes, yes, I know there are plenty of hours in the day, but I do have a bit of a life outside of SL. Shocking, I know, but it's true. I received word that someone else had picked up the Basic Scripting class, so I may bail on that one. Decisions.
Status – Online
I had this notion recently of writing some code in LSL that will communicate with the outside world via XML-RPC. Well today I made that happen. You'll notice the new section on the front page that is "Online Status". It's talking to a block I have in-world and asking it if I'm there and then sending back the status message.
Oh this is only the beginning.
What to do in SL
There's a fair going on in Dreams, be sure to visit the volunteer booth.
And as always, be sure to watch out for the army of terminator sheep…they even have a Sheep-1000 now. They'll be baaaaack.
