Arton Tripsa’s Party at Book Island

 By Grease Coakes

Arton Tripsa stepped down as manager at Book Island after 4 years. There was a party in her honor at 4pm SLT at Book Island on Saturday June 15. I left my avatar at the beach of Dance Island while I went to grab some food beforehand. Selina Greene was there herself at the owner of Book Island. Brokail the blue alien showed up along with Perri Prinz the author of Spectral Shadows who is also the owner of the Green Meadows land club. Danger Dave and Jackson Arthur showed up a little later.

 Arton Tripsa wants to leave Second Life to start work on her second book. Hence Selina Greene set up a party in her honor. Izzy Upsilion came after a while and started djing for the crowd. He played a lot of pop and popular music. Arton Tripsa who is Jane Watson in real life is the author of Hindustan Contessa as she lives in Austrailla.

Lots of avatars were dancing and having a good time being silly. Barabara Blackcinder accused Brokali of being sick due to his skin being blue. In defense I said Brokali is a blue alien who will take over the earth and paint everyone blue. For a short time Selina Green spoke on voice and announced that the winners of the laureate awards were Arton Tripsa and Alexander M Zoltai as Alex is the events manager.

 I asked Arton about her book and here’s what she had to say, " It is a novel about a couple who travel to India to see the guy’s grandmother and get kidnapped." She adds this sentence as well, "not exactly, more analysis of dual cultures and cultural differences."

Grease Coakes, "Sounds interesting, like 'Dances With Wolves,' how the American solider gets integrated into Native American culture?"

Arton Tripsa, "Yeah something like that. The girl is Anglo-Australian, the guy is Indian-Australian: - ie born in India living in Australia (grin)."

The story idea was inspired a rare photo she had in real life.Well it was a metaphor, the photo showed an Indian child seated on a dining chair balancing on a giant Amazonian lily. It was about balance.

Grease Coakes, "About balancing different cultures together?"

Arton Tripsa, "You got it!"

Arton says her second book is about literary theft. I said that would be horrible if someone plagiarized my Children’s book. She said in real life someone took the idea of her first book. And the second book is about revenge for that. Her second book does not have a title yet.

Brokali, "The door prize winner will receive Cookie Monster Avi, Zebra Avi, Lighthouse, Vases, and garden lamps!"

Grease Coakes, "You mean the prize isn't a door?" (Giggles)

Arton Tripsa, "Lawl Grease!" the guest of honor laughed at my dumb joke.

Barbara Blackcinder won the door prize and no it wasn’t a door. The next question I thought of at random.

Grease Coakes, "If you could be a furry what animal would you choose?"

Arton Tripsa, "I have a tiny avi who is a calico kitten. (Laughter)"

Before tonight I didn’t know Arton Tripsa from Eyll Tripsa. Her friends at Book Island will greatly miss her. As she leaves Second Life to write her second book but Perri Prinz had this to say, "She'll be back, Grease. They always come back."

Perri could be right there’s always the allure of Second Life. But if Perri was wrong at least Arton got a hell of a farewell party in her honor for her pixel avatar.

For more information, check out the following links:

http://www.janewatson.com.au

http://www.janewatson.com.au/Site/Welcome.htm

Grease Coakes

Egypt Sim: Protests Turn to Celebration at News of Egyptian Leader’s Stepping Down

As the protests went on in Egypt, so did the demonstrations at the Egypt sim in Second Life. On Thursday February 10th, it was announced Egypt’s strongman Mubarak would be giving a speech. People speculated that he was finally giving in and resigning. But instead, Mubarak announced he was transferring some powers to his Vice-President, saying he would stay until the planned elections in September.

At the Egypt sim, the mostly anti-Mubarak crowd expressed their disappointment, “(This is) the same s**t as the last time he was on TV.” “He is staying until September.” “It looks like the news agencies jumped the gun in reporting that he was stepping down.” “I think riots now.” “I am afraid of that.” “Oh God save us all!” “He gives a good impression of a mad rambling megalomaniac.” “(Many) are demonstrating at Tahrir Square now and (many) all over streets, they wont let him stay.” “He is trying to brainwash them, but they are not stupid.” “MUBARAK GO NOW!”

Various people displayed links to the Al Jazeera website where live footage was broadcasts. Others watched CNN. Voice was active in the sim, and people began using their microphones to sound out the news station’s broadcasts of the sounds of the angry crowd, “All People in Tahrir Square saying Mubarak Go, Down Down Mubarak.” “He can kiss my a**!” “He is deaf and blind, ignoring people.” “Just resign Mubarak!!! get out!!!!!” “What a stubborn old man.” “Leave, leave, leave, Mubarak.” “Get out Mubarak!!!” Someone called out, “Listen to the square.” And people began chanting in type what they heard, “Leave, leave, leave, Mubarak.” “LEAVE LEAVE MUBARAK!” “Leave leave leave leave Mubarak!”

Not everyone at the sim was so quick to demand Mubarak leave. Some commented there would have to be procedures for a peaceful transition. But they were outnumbered as the chants continued, “Leave leave leave leave Mubarak!”

The following day, there were reports of Mubarak leaving the capital, taking a vacation at a resort town. Then came reports that the military had finally stepped in and ordered him out. In effect, there was a military coup. But it was a coup the protesters welcomed. When the news hit Tahrir Square, the people erupted in cheers. After thirty years, longer than many of the demonstrators had been alive, Mubarak’s reign was finally over.

Logging into Second Life, the atmosphere reflected real life. Gone were the protest signs. Instead, people were waving flags around, cheering, as firecrackers went off on the ground, “Egypt! Egypt! Egypt!” people chanted in chat again and again. The sim had been changed a little to resemble Tahir Square, complete with the tanks. A few women were dressed in Arabic women’s wear in the colors of the Egyptian flag. Someone was chanting anti-Isreali slogans, “Free Palestine!” in addition to rezzing a couple anti-Israeli cartoons, but most ignored them. The event was all about Egypt. At one point, comedian Lauren Weyland dropped in. She thought this was an exciting day, and wished the Egyptians well.

Besides the Egypt sim, I heard of a display in the Terra Egyptian sim. Porting over, there were Al Jazeera broadcasts plus a number of anti-Mubarak cartoons. One panel had his picture “X”ed out, “Bye-Bye Mubarak!”

In real life, newsmen have been endlessly discussing the situation. As of now, there isn’t much of a political process as the Mubarak regime stamped out any dissent. The Islamic Brotherhood has gotten some talk, people worried about the possibility of “another Iran.” Israel in particular is watching nervously, worried that an anti-Israeli regime would mean a return to the days when they lived under the everyday threat of war and bombardment. Others look at the situation more optimistically, calling the outbreak of demonstrations all over the Middle East their “1989,” comparing it to the fall of the Iron Curtain.

For now, the Egyptians are taking the moment to celebrate this unique moment in history, in Second Life as well as real-life.

Bixyl Shuftan

(Note: when preparing this article, I found most of my pictures were nowhere to be found, so I used what I had)