A Second Life Prodigy : Topaz Joubert

Written by Carmichael Caudron






This interview took place on July 15th.
Since the year 2009, Topaz Joubert aka Thelma Lay in real life, has been a prodigy in the Second Life™ virtual world, simply because she was one of few who managed to catapult her virtual digital magazine, MANIERA™ into a real life legitimate magazine just like any other in the real world we all normally read. Real life models, real life coverage of fashion shows, art events their real life reporters attend and ofcourse also real life advertisers which truly makes it worth it in the magazine business.

MANIERA even got nominated last year at the Digital Magazine Awards™ ceremony, amazing.

Throughout all this, she remains as humble and genuine as can be, a pleasure to be around.

I interviewed Miss Joubert via Facebook™ this Monday morning at 11 AM Pacific time for an hour, getting all the details of her journey that seems to have many more accomplishments to discover.

How did you discover Second Life?

"I first heard of Second Life by watching the show The Office™ and thought it was fictitious until I heard a few guys I worked with talk about virtual games . I became curious and decided to check it out."

MANIERA magazine was first noticed in Second Life before you made it a real life magazine, what made you want to start a magazine, do you have a background of being an editor in real life already or was this all first created in SL™ (Second Life)?

"Everything I learned about publishing and the magazine business , I have learned in Second Life. My background in RL is travel management. But what I found was useful with my real life background is always thinking on your feet.

I was not the founder of MANIERA, I was originally hired as a fashion editor . After the company was formed in SL and before the very first issue was released the owner stepped down and asked if I would take over.

Well, to answer your question. We put a lot of work to get the first issue together. We had everything just about done and when the owner stepped down. It was either trash it all or try to make a go for it.

We all decided we wanted to make it work."

Thelma Lay's Second Life avatar Topaz Joubert by G Photography.

What made you want to take a job as an editor in Second Life?

"I saw the job noticed posted for a stylist and thought it would be interesting , I think at that time I was in SL for approximately 9 months. I honestly thought it would be fun."

How on earth did you manage to make MANIERA into a reality in the real life publishing world? It is so rare and unheard of,seriously.

"Well, I think we were in our 2nd year in SL when we first starting talking about it. by the end of that year , I honestly felt where do we go from here? We put so many hours into the SL magazine, and I say "we" because it was not only me but NOx Deigan, Aphrodite Brianna, Lovelymiwacko7399 Menna and our former photo editor AtomicSparkle Skytower. I personally got to a point of either close it, sell it or see how far we can take it. I knew I just could not let it go because MANIERA became so much a part of my life.

So I talked to the team and its been amazing. They all trusted and believed in the vision . I honestly think, or should say I know , that this would have not been possible with another group of individuals."

Sweet! how did the transition come about? Did you have real life contacts or you got real life offers? Dish some (not all) secrets to our readers please :D

"Real life contacts definitely help but with this business I am finding its based on trust , building relationships. Yes, there were real life contacts, friends of friends and a good portion of reaching out to people and building a relationship.We all do our part , researching, networking , searching for new and interesting topics to cover. Our writers play a huge part in obtaining content for upcoming issues."

Thelma Lay on the cover of ManieraSL's Women issue (June 2012)

Awesome, if I am not mistaken your first real life issue was the one where you were on the cover?

"The edition with my picture on the cover was out SL Women's issue. That was the edition where we first announced we were going real life. We ran a real life preview edition and had a launch party in SL which I think is one of my happiest memories of SL. Our first official real life edition was released September 2012 with the Russian Designer Dmitry Loginov on the cover."

MANIERA's November 2012 issue, one of their best releases

November 2012: MANIERA PHILLIP TREACY FEATURE

MANIERA CHI ZHANG FASHION SPREAD

MANIERA LONDON FASHION WEEK

Taking a look back at the cover of October 2012

Some editions of real world Maniera including last month's cover of June 2013

Please tell us about yourself a bit.

"Hmm.. well, I am single , I live in Washington DC. I am a lousy cook . I wish I could say my life is all glamour and glitz but working on the magazine consumes all of my time. I am still trying to find the balance between work and leisure. Overall , I think I am pretty laid back, some may say too laid back or some may just disagree. Hell, I am still trying to figure it all out."

From a personal standpoint, I have always looked up to you. Remembering seeing the arrival of MANIERA on the scene in Second Life when I was actively publishing OI Magazine SL™ at the time back in 2009 and 2010. I even attended some of your workshop classes on publishing back then. I knew right away you would go far from the beautiful professional work you did but just how far I was pleasantly surprised! Having said that, what advice would you give beginners in the magazine world besides not giving up on their dream? Follow up question, MANIERA publishes 2 magazines a month, the real life one due today I understand and then the Second Life issue too, can you give us a sneak peek what they are about for which we will post the embedded links below for our readers to read.

"Thank you , so much for your kind words and as well for all the support you have given us. The real life magazine is monthly and we have moved the SL magazine to bi monthly. We had to make some touch decisions regarding our publications. We felt going bi monthly at this time was the best decision , to keep the quality to a certain standard. The real life magazine started growing at a fast rate , faster then we even dreamed about. We started to be noticed in the industry , mind you we were only in our 3rd publication when we made the finals of the Digital Magazine Awards™ and that is pretty unheard of. So with how great that was it also added tremendous pressure to the entire staff.

Well, I am excited for this issue , we love fashion but we also love new technology as well as science and I think this one has the right blend. We also this issue have a very special interview with Tobias Tobell director of the new thriller Confine which will have its international release. We are so fortunate to be able to get one of the first interviews with such an up and coming director.

For the Second Life issue which is now called MANIERASL™ we have a special edition featuring Mohna Lisa Couture™ and the new MLC Adriel Huntress™. Our July SL edition is a new twist on fairy tales.

Read it here at the MANIERA website (click hyperlink)

MANIERA JULY 2013 COVER

The best advice I can give anyone who is planning on launching a magazine in SL is to really think on why you want to and are you willing to devote the time. Also, decided on what magazine you want , what will make it different from the rest and look not only at SL magazines but real life ones as well to get a sense of design, content and layout."

Then the only way is up!  Thank you for your time Topaz, it is an great honor you deciding to let us interview you.

"Thank you.. it was an honor and once again Thank you Carmichael for all of your support . It means alot."


Update for 2014 :Topaz Joubert is hitting another milestone, she is going print in real life with Maniera and thus retiring what started it all ,the SL Maniera, congrats Topaz!

Her words on Facebook :
As you all know, last year we took on an unheard of step in launching a RL magazine. In such a short time, we saw how what was a pipe dream became reality - not just any reality, but a recognized and respected reality, but with that came some hurdles. One of which is one many here in SL can relate with: balancing SL with RL. I know many of you have seen how it has affected the SL side: halting the SL publication, less shows and less communication.
This is due to the fact we are redirecting our focus. In 2014, the RL MANIERA Magazine will be not only a digital magazine but also a print magazine, which will be carried in bookstores and newsstands around the US, Canada and Europe. Another major change is that while we will still carry international features, we will be more centered around the events, people and news makers in the Washington DC area. Washington DC is an ideal market for us and having a “home” location will not only build distribution and circulation but also build the brand.
The RL MANIERA has grown over the past year and is at a critical stage. We just finalized a working relationship with a business consultant who specializes in launching new magazines and circulation and distribution with existing magazines. We are fortunate to be working and guided by someone with over 30 years experience with magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Time and with Bob Guccione, Jr.owner of Penthouse launched SPIN magazine.
So, what does this mean to SL? After much discussion and some serious soul searching, we decided it is time to phase out the Second Life operation over the next few months. We will be contacting students holding unused vouchers to finish their courses, downsizing the sim and APR/MAR will be the last official edition of MANIERASL. We will not be closing down any groups as to retain the MANIERA brand in the SL community. Our RL staff will still be here in world to keep an eye on the brand as personal members of the SL community -- but not as MANIERASL. There may be opportunities for shows, just can't say when. I will, of course, understand if any of you feel the need to drop our groups. I will keep you posted on the timeline of events as they happen.
Aphrodite, Nox, Deep and myself want to deeply thank each and every one of you for the last five years. I know I have said this many times, but SL has changed my life in so many ways and each one of you have been a very important part in MANIERA. This is not goodbye, but instead a new journey for us. Ending a relationship - whether it’s business, romantic or friendship - may be sad, but remember it is not the end of the world but a chance for a new and better beginning. (end quote)

Life Talk Adult Counseling Services™ Makes Its Entrance In Second Life™

Written by Carmichael Caudron

Surfing through Facebook™ last Sunday afternoon I came across Life Talk Adult Counseling Services™ page and saw the inspiring posts left by its founder, Sabrina Hannu aka sabrinaxox​o hannu, her avatar name in Second Life™.


Life Talk Adult Counseling Services, LTACS for short in this interview, a non profit organization was created by Sabrina and her best friend and business partner, kataluna Quinnell.




logo of LTACS

How did you meet I asked."Kataluna and I met at a club in SL and I had IM'd her asking where she had bought her outfit.  We both have a love for shopping so we clicked right away.  I have known her for a few years now and she is the sweetest person I know alive, also very smart." Sabrina answered.

Glam shot of Sabrina's avatar done by our photographer Kaley Rae Fancypants ({g} Photography)

When asked how it came about creating LTACS, Sabrina told me "We started throwing ideas at each other probably about 4 or 5 months ago and that night I was pumped up about starting it that I had started to create a blog and Facebook page and we talked about how we would run it, and that it'd be free because helping people is something that makes us feel good and we aren't greedy like some. I am doing this for the sake of others in the time of need. We decided to start this because we seem to always have friends coming to us for advice and we have been through a lot. So I have always loved helping others by sharing my experience with them. We both realized how many people came to both of us just to talk, or vent, or just need some help with life. When we realized that I sort of joked around saying maybe we could save many SL relationships. That's where the idea of marriage counseling came in, then decided to broaden it to a more diverse population."


Relationships seemed a big interest for LTACS to their clients. The advices left on the Facebook page are very uplifting. Wondering if and why she encouraged SL relationships, she replied "Well SL relationships are a lot harder to maintain than in RL.  A lot more trust is involved but every couple has their own rules set and ideas of what they want.  It is just to find that other half that wants the same.  I have tried and failed many times. With every failure you learn a lesson.  I encourage it but be cautious."

Lovely RL pic of Sabrina Hannu!

LTACS has existed for a few months and is in process of also making its debut in form of a blog, I wondered what the best way was for clients to contact her and Kataluna when they need to talk.
"Best way right now is by our Facebook group (click hyper link).Then as I finish our blog I will be keeping the page updated about that."


Sabrina told me she had a few hours before she headed to work in real life, so I went deeper into our conversation mentioning at OI Magazine SL we were familiar with counseling groups as our co founder Krissy Sinclair had founded Survivors of Suicide group in SL.
Asking her if she was familiar with depression issues and if she was including that into her services, she took a pause and replied "Depression hits home for me.  I would support it 100%.  I have lost a loved one a few months back for this very reason who was my inspiration, my brother in real life.....  Even in hard times myself, I still find I feel better helping others.  As I heal, I find ways to cope and continue on in life in a positive manor and if I can share that conception about grief I hope it spreads to others.  To let them know that everything happens for a reason. As we don't have a cure all we can do is show our support to those who need someone they can trust and know that we really do care."

Sorry to hear that, Sabrina. My condolences. "Thank you."


With the recent rise for civil rights finally in LGBT groups and couples, many LGBT people in SL also look for their life partner and take it to real life in many cases. I asked Sabrina what her opinion was of the movement finally happening in our era and if she supported and included it in her counselings in SL. "Yes definitely, all are welcomed. We are all the same, a human being looking for someone to love and appreciate them.  If they find someone who makes them happy and it happens to be the same gender then so be it."


How long have you been in Second Life and what do you hope to see Second Life develop into or are you happy with the way it is? Follow up, who introduced you to SL ,how did you find it?
"Well I was in a previous virtual game called Vside™, and the group of friends I had there we heard about Second Life.  We realized how much more freedom there was and a lot more to do.  So as a group we all joined SL.  I have been in SL now for just over 3 years, and it has grown lots.  I still find neat sims and I am always learning new things to build or create.  I do hope to see it improve a little more quality wise as we all know as "Lag" it can get pretty bad sometimes :P, " She smirked.


Who designed your logo on Facebook and how did it come about?
"I came up with it myself.  I wanted something simple I didn't want to be known as an artist so I didn't want a fancy logo.  After a few hours of me being picky I came across this one I liked. As a Facebook group I use inspirational pictures as most can relate to using Facebook to generalize some topics that have come up to talk as a group."


We came to a close of the interview with Sabrina's parting words "I am no professional, no degree in counseling I am only here to provide my opinion.  I would like to see myself as someone who can try my best to help others sort through any hard time in life.  I haven't been married but I will help sort out fights, or life questions, grief is very popular as I have been through it I can provide exercises and activities to help cope."

Great words, to support or contact Life Talk Adult Counseling Services, please contact Sabrina directly at her Facebook page listed earlier in the article where you can contact her business partner as well and remember Life Talk Adult Counseling Services is a free service and client issues remain confidential.
Thank you for reading our article, feel free to leave comments and please let others know about this, my name is Carmichael Caudron, reporting for OI Magazine SL.


Update July 10th, Sabrina just designed her blog and it's ready to be viewed at this link:
http://sabrinaxoxo.wix.com/howtodeal#

Introducing Marc Strassman & Etopia News™

Written By Sita Writer






Marc Strassman, is a multifaceted man with extraordinary vision and interests that range the gamut from real life politics to virtual world etiquette. Strassman , who is a Los Angeles native that studied Social Relations at Harvard™ university is a true professional that is always in search of a good story ,Strassman admits, “ Mostly I use Secondlife™ to chat with avatars from around the world about their First Lives and, when they feel like it, about the political situation in their own countries. Second Life provides me with information that I can use in my real life profession of video interviewing guests about politics and related subjects, by giving me a clearer understanding of the actual political situation and attitudes in different states and countries.”


Technology has certainly made the world a smaller and more manageable place and Strassman’s research and subsequent interviews are perfect examples of this.

Picture of Etopia News' Marc Strassman

Strassman ,bilingual in English and Spanish is a self-proclaimed “internet reporter”.  “I use the Internet as the platform for conducting my interviews and as a means of distributing them, as well as in the sense of someone that covers new developments of the Internet itself.”


In 2003, Strassman started Etopia News™. 
The origin of the name is interesting because Etopia is a place where most public and private communications take place using electronic platforms, especially the Internet. 
Strassman tells OI that, “The name comes from a book by the late MIT professor William J. Mitchell called e-topia, available from Amazon (click hyperlink) .  When I started Etopia News, I often had to explain the origins of the name to people, but by 2013, most people realize that we are living in Etopia, even if they don’t recognize the name as such.”


Strassman started Etopia as a platform for coverage of important news that wasn’t getting adequate coverage in the mainstream or even online media.  He is reminiscent of Utne Magazine™; a subcultural watchdog that ferrets out important stories that really need to be told.  Strassman’s goal is to tell those stories via Etopia.


Over the years, Etopia has grown and evolved.  Currently there are thousands of articles and 200 plus YouTube videos to peruse created by the always-prolific Strassman.


As technology has advanced along with Strassman’s skills, Etopia News evolved from a text news operation that included links to audio and video coverage of people, subjects, and events to one that mainly features video interviews on Etopia Youtube™ channel and occasional text posts on the Etopia News blog, that also features embedded versions of the videos as they appear on YouTube. 


Not leaving a social media tool unused, Etopia News video interviews are also available on Pinterest™.  In addition, some Etopia News interviews are also syndicated as blog posts on AOL’s Menlo ParkAtherton™ Patch site. Strassman also promotes his interviews via Twitter™.


Many articles and interviews that were produced before Strassman started to use  Google+ Hangouts™ On Air to produce them (he previously used SightSpeed™ and Skype™)are archived on the Etopia News Now channel of blip tv ™. 


For the sake of convenience, a player streams the blip.tv interviews and is embedded on the home page.
The most recent interviews are streamed live and archived on the Etopia News YouTube.


In terms of getting the word out about Etopia, Strassman uses Facebook™ as his primary promotional tool.  “I usually post links to new interviews on the Etopia News page on Facebook to generate traffic to the page.  “On FB ,I define Etopia’s mission as a source that features in-depth, remotely-recorded video interviews with elected officials, academics, authors, business people, and others, covering current topics in politics, technology, medicine, business, and culture @ www.etopianews.com”) and on my own home page.   I’ve also recently created a FB page featuring 27 Etopia News videos dealing with cannabis regulation, called “The Path to Cannabis Legalization."


Strassman hopes to expand the quality and quantity of guests that appear on his show and to reach a larger audience utilizing the latest online technology for production, distribution and promotion of his shows.  “As for future guests, I hope to interview Tom Boellstorf, author of Coming of Age in Second Life, and Tom Ammiano, a California Assembly member and author of AB 473, which would reform the regulation of medical cannabis in California. I’m satisfied that Etopia News is getting its work out to a select group of viewers, but I’d like to build its viewership to enable it to reach more people and have a bigger effect on the news cycle.”


As an up and coming alternative news source, and as new stories emerge and slip under the radar, it is good to know that Etopia News will be there getting the word out and creating more conversation to a growing online community.


Thank you for reading my article on Etopia News and its founder, Marc Strassman. My name is Sita Writer, reporting for OI Magazine.

Myanmar Travel : "Yangon, A City of Reticent Hope"

Her 2013 real life trip to Myanmar ,exclusively for OI Magazine written by

Sita Writer.
Camera pictures provided by and are property of Sita Writer.

"It is all Kipling’s fault…. I wanted to go to Burma… now called Myanmar because of Kipling’s’ romantic descriptions. To me, Kipling immortalized this country in his famous quote from “Letters from the East”, “This is Burma and it is unlike any land you know about.” A tall order in this day and age where the world has gotten smaller with the ease of international accessibility and the Internet.

Burma, a country that has been sleeping for 50 years… a 50 -year nightmare is finally waking up --- but waking up to what and for how long? For now things seem to be going in the right direction but that could change at any time. After all Burma or Myanmar is, after North Korea, probably one of the most obscure and obscured countries in the 21^st century. In fact, it is an anomaly, and one I explored in March.

Pic 1 : Street scenes, man with fruit stands

When I think of Burma it conjures up magical visions of great golden temples nestled in tropical landscapes, verdant rice fields and mighty rivers, beautiful women adorned with rubies and jade, poppy fields and puppet performances inspired by myths and legends that go on into the wee hours of the night. Myanmar’s very name Suvanabhomi means the Golden Land and I wondered if it would live up to my imagination and expectations.

Pic 2: Street scenes 2, Burmese woman and food

Pic 3 : Street scenes 3, Burmese woman and flowers

Myanmar is usually described as a product of times past – it has an endearing, leisurely charm and innocence that was said to be pervasive throughout S.E. Asia fifty years ago. Unlike the rest of Asia, until recently, Myanmar remained reclusive. The first five things I noticed upon arrival was that you will see few Burmese dressed in Western garb, there are no Western commercial aspects (yet), no cookie cutter chain hotels, restaurants or atms, no skyscrapers, and although they drive on the right (a rather recent government mandate) all the steering wheels in cars are on the left making taxi rides very interesting experiences.

I traveled to Myanmar to experience a sense of the “real” and authentic Southeast Asian culture and from the very moment I stepped foot in Myanmar, I had to agree with Kipling; I knew I was in for a truly remarkable experience.

"My journey began in the former capital of Myanmar, Yangon, founded in the 11^th century by the Mon and located in the Ayeyarwady Delta area. The British seized Yangon after the Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852 and it soon became a great commercial center. Typically, the Raj built colonial styled houses, public buildings, spacious parks and gardens amidst traditional wooden Burmese structures and golden temples.

Pic 1: Colonial building

Pic 2 : Another colonial building with the Burmese flag

In many ways, Yangon is stuck in a time warp – it has no skyscrapers, and only a few high- rise buildings some commercial others apartments no more than ten stories or so high. Today, downtown Yangon is known for its leafy avenues and fin-de-siècle architecture and has the highest number of colonial buildings in Asia. Sadly, many of the colonial buildings are in a state of disrepair and one wonders if they will be torn down because they are symbolic of foreign subjugation or if they will restore to their former glory.

"My first stop in Yangon was the famous Sule Pagoda in the heart of downtown. Sule has played an important part in Burmese politics; it served as a rallying point in the 1988 Revolution and the 2007 Saffron Revolution. The name the Saffron Revolution that connects monks’ protests against the military dictatorship is a bit misleading because the monks of Myanmar wear claret colored robes unlike the saffron colored monk’s robes of neighboring Thailand.

Pic 1 : The Sule Pagoda

The history of Sule Pagoda is bound up in the mythical prehistory of Myanmar. Two monks traveling from India established it because it contained a hair relic of Buddha. The actual name Sule can be linked to the Sule Nat, the guardian spirit of Singuttara Hill. Sule, an octagonal, zedi or stupa as it is known in the west, is shaped like a bell and inverted bowl; this architectural style originated in India. It sits in the middle of an intersection like a great golden traffic circle. Inside the pagoda’s shrines and images are four colorful Buddha’s with neon halos behind their heads.

Pic 2 : Zoomed out on the Sule Pagoda

Wandering around the Sule Pagoda area I was amazed at the striking examples of colorful architecture, shops, markets and parks. Strolling through the markets and outdoor teashops gives you a feeling of how little life has really changed here. In the crowd I saw many smiling and curious faces. I would like to think faces full of hope.

Pic 3 : Interior of the Sule Pagoda

Pic 4 : Zoomed interior Sule Pagoda

"The next temple I visited was Botataung… it was exquisite. An Allied bomb destroyed the original temple in 1943. During the clean up and rebuilding of the temple, a golden casket in the shape of a stupa was miraculously recovered and was found to contain a hair and two other relics of the Buddha. I was excited to visit this temple because this 140 -foot (40 meter) bell shaped golden stupa is unusual. The stupa is hollow and you can actually walk around the inside of it. It was a surreal experience to walk around floor to ceiling golden walls all intricately inscribed with whimsical looking Burmese script embellished by beautiful floral offerings placed throughout the sanctuary. Outside the temple are thousands of turtles swimming and sunning themselves in pools of water. I bought some turtle food from a nearby stand and feed them in hopes of acquiring merit for a future existence.

Pic 1: The Botataung temple

Pic 2 : The Botataung, another angle with offerings

Pic 3 : Close up of the Botataung temple offerings

Although I did not stay in the best hotel in Yangon, which is a toss up between the historic Strand Hotel and the elegant Governors Residence, the hotel I choose had an excellent view of the Shwedagon Pagoda not only from my room but also from the restaurant.

Pic 1 : The Shwedagon Pagoda Temple

"I like temples and Shwedagon simply put, took my breath away. “Shwe” is the Burmese word for gold and “dagon” means three hills. The temple is situated on Singuttara Hill and is considered to be the holiest of the countries pagodas. Shwedagon was built over the shrine that contains the relics of the Buddha. Countless smaller pagodas made of gold leaf and lacquer, silver, marble; tin, teak, iron and brick, built one after another through the centuries are to be found here.

I will never forget taking off my shoes and socks as is customary in Myanmar and climbing a seemingly endless gold gilded covered staircase barefoot to the high marble terrace of the Pagoda for the first time; what I saw when I reached the summit was like a golden ray of hope glistening in the darkest of nights.

Pic 2 : The Shwedagon Pagoda temple and crowd

Pic 3 : Architecture close up of the Shwedagon Pagoda

The Shwedagon Pagoda is an architectural masterpiece -- it is a golden fantasy forest of gilded stupas, serene Buddha’s mythical beasts, planetary posts, glittering glass mosaic alcoves, and grand pavilions in every architectural style all of which is a backdrop for meditation, prayer, renewal, pilgrimage and merit.

Pic 4 : Rooftops of the Shwedagon Pagoda temple

"The Pagoda is said to be 2500 years old and to have more gold on it than gold in the vaults of the Bank of England. The main stupa soars nearly 330 feet (100 meters) above the hilltop and is a treasure trove inside and out. Inside it is said to house eight hairs of the Buddha as well as three other relics. On the outside, the stupa is plated with 8,688 solid gold slabs; the tip of the stupa is set with 5,448 diamonds and 2,317 rubies, along with sapphires and topaz. As if this was not enough, a huge emerald sits in the middle of the main stupa’s spire to catch the first and last rays of the sun. All this is mounted on and above a 33- foot umbrella built on seven gold plated bars and decorated with 1,485 bells, 1,065 are gold, 420 are silver. Surrounding the main stupa are more than 100 stupas, buildings, pavilions, halls and administrative buildings.

Pic 5 : The Bell of Shwedagon Pagoda temple

For me, Shwedagon is an ultimate example of the timelessness of faith and hope. There isn’t a time of day that Shwedagon isn’t beautiful or for that matter crowded with families, monks, and pilgrims paying homage here – although it is so large, it never really seemed crowded. To say it is opulent is an understatement; it is also much more because it exudes spiritual serenity and energy reminiscent of the all -knowing eternal smiles of ancient Egyptian gods and kings.

I saw hope in Yangon - a reticent hope to trust that change will continue and things will proceed in the right direction. Quick political transformation here is unlikely as there are still many places off limits to foreigners as well as things the government definitely does not want the outside world to see. Change in tourism will also come slowly – the infrastructure is sadly lacking not only in terms of world-class hotels but also in terms of rail, air and auto travel. Is Myanmar in transition? I would have to say absolutely but what course the changes take depends on the complexities of the people themselves, the government and Myanmar’s strategic location and wealth in natural resources and, most importantly, how Myanmar will interact – or not with the world.

"In my next installment… I will take you to the mythical city of Mandalay and to enigmatic Began.

Thank you for reading my first installment about my recent trip in 2013 to Myanmar (Burma) , my name is Sita Writer, OI Magazine journalist."

Celebrity DJ A.F.I. talks about Secondlife

Written by Carmichael Caudron



Introduction of a real life celebrity in Secondlife™......

beautiful promo glamour shot of DJ A.F.I

DJ A.F.I™ is a celebrity DJ and TV star aka Aubry Fisher (A.F.I stands for Aubry Fisher Ink).
Aubry who has starred in 2 reality shows TLC'S LA INK™, and VH1'S ROCK OF LOVE 2 ,also has upcoming movie projects in the works in Hollywood (Los Angeles) where she resides.
In this interview we will be looking into the past 2 years of her life , where she has visited a virtual reality game called Secondlife.
Many other celebrities have visited Secondlife (SL™) such as Duran Duran, real world companies such as Mercedes Benz™ and along with another estimated 10 million visitors at home have either made an account or live their "second" lives daily on this wonderful virtual reality.

It's not everyday at OI Magazine we have the honor to write an article on a real life celebrity so I was very excited.
I had the chance to talk to her on the phone as well as chat with her avatar in SL.

Along with the details of our conversation, lets look at her journey in SL thus far....

Family in SL....

Rain, Maddox and DJ A.F.I in Secondlife

On Facebook™ she has a professional page and an SL page for her profile and besides listing her DJ schedules , she proudly shows off her friends she made in SL and especially her SL family. To those less familiar with the virtual world, you can do as you would in the real world, after creating your avatar you can create your own first and last name, a career, design, rent a home,anything including raising a family and Aubry is doing all that.
In there she connected with the avatar Maddox Dupont, a native from Australia in real life,a well known hair,fashion and shape designer in Secondlife who owns KMADD & Mad Designs™ with whom she is raising a family that includes her simulated SL children, Rain, Paige,Lucas,Faith,Tana and their furry pet avatar,Andu.
Rain, Paige, and Lucas are all toddledoo (toddler/baby clothing) designers of which Rain has established an online store at Marketplace at this link https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/125519

DJ A.F.I in Secondlife with family and friends

The meeting of her first SL child named Rain is a deep genuine love story Aubry told me,who in real life is a 20 year old girl who roleplays Aubry's daughter in the game.It was something she had never experienced before, filling the void of not having had kids yet in her real life and finding it here in SL.

Rain in turn considers Aubry her surrogate mother as well as they both have established that deep unbreakable connection. They Skype™ almost daily, talk on the phone and Aubry mothers Rain like she would her real child, it was pretty touching hearing her speak in this way of her close friend from SL.

Meeting Maddox Dupont was also a love story on its own where she tells me one day she just imed him and said, "You are hot,I want to go on a date with you!"

Maddox replied and sparks flew in the game where they have been together ever since.


Designing SL fashion....

AFI Argyle UK Tank Top

AFI Boho Elephant Halter Dress

Recently Aubry has also just begun her own fashion clothing line in SL which she named A.F.I Designs™. She creates mesh clothing designs, male rock designs and female boho (hippy) designs with majority of the textures handcrafted by her.
That day I had met her earlier at one of her homes in the game with my own avatar where she had invited me over to ask me and one of her friends there for our opinion of some of her latest male mesh designs, where she was dressed as her male avatar displaying the clothing.
You can find her store at this link https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/125520 and to buy one of her items you need to register an account and exchange your currency into Lindens which is a very quick and simple process.


Djing in Second Life.....

promo made for her Secondlife DJ sets

The main clubs DJ A.F.I. spins at regularly in Secondlife are club Ambrosia, Rez, I love the 80s, Grind, BAD and Toontopia.
Aubry tells me she is also friends with Phil Kearny who is the owner of Ambrosia, Rez, Grind, and BAD. She continues "He has made a major impact on my game and life and I love him dearly as a friend. He has become a confidant and has been there for me through everything. He is very compassionate and motivating and a very caring friend. I owe him a lot. He pushes me and makes me a better person both in RL and SL ".

She has fliers for each event at the clubs and promotes them on Facebook or in the game (inworld)

DJ A.F.I djing in Secondlife

I asked Aubry what brought her to Second Life to DJ and roleplay plus how secondlifers perceived her being here from her RL celeb status.

"I saw it on HBO, I thought it looked so cool with 3D animations and I tried it out and found I could DJ on it as well.Been there ever since" she answered.

"Overall the acceptance was great" , she told me "but a few people did hate on me being here as they thought only normal everyday people with everyday problems as they put it,should be in the virtual world, to which I said I have as much right to be here as the next person, my status has nothing to do with it, I'm human and have the right to the same escape,relaxation and journey SL offers its players".

Couldn't have been a better answer,I thought and her answer definitely silenced her haters.

As to managing her Second Life keeping it in balance is her manager who checks on her from time to time logging in with his own avatar, who she on multiple times,ejects from her home she told me when he gets too intrusive hahaha.

past real world promo where Aubry performed

Validation was also an issue for Aubry, she tells me "When people saw my avatar, they always seemed to question my identity if I really was who I said I was, so one day I webcammed live during a set in the real life club to put the rumors to rest that I was faking who I was".She has since done several webcam shows as it was naturally well perceived by the audience in SL.

Next I asked if she has told her real life friends, colleagues and family about secondlife .

"In my real facebook I have a picture folder called Second Life, they are aware of it and it's definitely no secret"

The 108 pound 5 foot 6 blonde beauty then told me she enjoys promoting her SL but it is a lot of work as she is very busy with Djing in her real life career while trying to handle her secondlife audience at the same time but she does it because she loves it and she's paid well too for doing it.

She then gave me this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1CpojXrd2w (or see the embedded video we provided above) of her birthday party back in August last year she shared in SL on video listed on Youtube. Needless to say the event was grand and even a Linden employee attended which is rare in SL.Linden employees are people employed by Lindenlab™,the makers of the virtual world of Secondlife who have their own avatars and make sure everything goes smoothly inworld.
She tells me she has befriended several Linden employees now, who enjoy her events and periodically visit her sets!


Photography, Photoshop artist......

Photoshop Photography by DJ A.F.I

example of her client photography work

Photography is another one of Aubry's passions in real life that she is exploring in SL too using Adobe Photoshop™,she is very good at it may I add having seen her work, very skilled.You can schedule an appointment with her if you wish to hire her for any photography work,simply leave her a message inworld or via Facebook to set it up.

In closing......

As the clock turned 5 o'clock in the AM, our phone conversation winded down as I heard her yawning and ofcourse I couldn't keep a lady up this late, I thanked Aubry for her time and hospitality and being so open with me.A great experience for me as a writer in Second Life.

Don't expect to get her phone number out of me though when we talked because even I don't know it, it was blocked on my caller ID as her manager would go crazy if she hadn't made that precaution which I completely understood.

Real Life DJ bookings..........

Thank you for reading our article of celebrity DJ A.F.I (Aubry Fisher) exploring the virtual world called Secondlife.

You may join her group in SL named DJ A.F.I. Fans

Like her SL Facebook page to stay updated on her DJ gigs WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/RLDJAFI 

Like her real world Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/DJ-AFI/114614045270863?fref=ts

Also find her websites at WWW.LADJAFI.COM and https://soundcloud.com/BOOKINGTHEDJ
Follow these links to either book her services in real life or in Secondlife.

 

 

  

Soaring In Salisbury Connecticut

By
Sita Writer

This exclusive article dates back to the pre-Olympic Games in 2012.It describes Sita Writer's real life traveling experience during that time to Connecticut also provided with her own camera pictures.




Connecticut is the third smallest state in America and one of the original thirteen colonies that revolted against British rule in the
American Revolution. It is known for its compact and varied
landscape that runs the gamut from hills and river valleys to the
serene shoreline of Long Island Sound. Known as the nutmeg
state because Yankee peddlers use to sell carved wooden nutmegs
to unsuspecting housewives. Connecticut was also influential in
the development of the federal government and is known as the
Constitution State for this reason. As “the land of steady habits”
Connecticut features the highest per capita income and median
household income in America.

Winter snapshot of Connecticut by Sita Writer

In a recent article in National Geographic, Martha Stewart called
the Litchfield Hills located in the northwest corner of the state
bordering New York and Massachusetts the “real Connecticut”
because of its unspoiled bucolic countryside, large gracious
colonial homes, picture perfect village greens and charming
villages that are not sullied by the ever persuasive mega chain
stores and eateries that make so many cities in America cookie
cutter samples of one another.
There are many activities for visitors to enjoy in this southern
New England state from down hill and cross country skiing to ice
fishing, skating and even meandering on a winter wine trail or
simply relaxing by a fire at a cozy country inn.

Ski jump shot taken by Sita

One exciting winter event that takes place every January in the
quintessential village of Salisbury, located in the gently rolling
Litchfield Hills is the U.S. Ski Jumping Championship. The
village has hosted this internationally recognized ski event ever
since the day back in the roaring Twenties when a pair of Salisbury
youngsters strapped on their skis and sailed off the roof of a snow-
covered barn. That, at least, is how the locals recount the story.
Whether the tale is true or just an example of good old-fashioned
Yankee yarn spinning, “Salisburyites” have over the years grown
delightfully dippy about their annual ski get-together.  

When, for example, the U.S. Weather Service fails to cooperate and the hills
lie bare and brown, the determined and resourceful villagers import
the fluffy white stuff from wherever Mother Nature has been more
generous, spreading a blanket of flakes on the jumping ramp and
the landing area with a wheezing, gasping corn blower. Only a
few times has the event had to be canceled, much to the chagrin
of the snow-loving Salisburyites. In 1991, some snowmaking
equipment was finally acquired and the days of shovels and
strained backs are over for good.

morales pic used by permission

This year marks the 87th year for the main event, the Eastern
U.S. Ski Jumping Championships that often have forecasted future Olympic competitors. Ski jumpers will be showing off the
tremendous coordination, skill and grace it takes to soar 64 meters--over 200 feet--with a happy landing on the ski jump that rises like some wooden prehistoric creature on Satre Hill.  

Another camera shot by Sita

The tower at the John Satre Memorial Hill, just off route 44 in Salisbury, has hosted many world -class skiers including members of the American
Olympic ski-team. Foreign participants have come from as far
away as Austria, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia and
the Ukraine.
Some of the best junior jumpers in the East are expected for this
annual event that is often a warm-up for Olympic hopefuls. The
activities begin Friday night, February 8, with a chili cook-off at
6:30 p.m., followed by the human dogsled race and jumping warm-
ups under the lights. Saturday events kick off at 9 a.m. with the
kids Nordic 20 and 30 meter jumping competition, followed by the
Salisbury Invitational Competition for ski jumpers from 1 to 3 p.m.
The big event, the 87th Eastern Ski Jumping Competition, will start
at 1 p.m. on Sunday; everyone will be hoping to beat the Salisbury
record, an impressive 231-foot jump.


Traditionally, the enthusiastic crowd cheers skiers on by jingling
cowbells as the jumpers soar. This year, between 7,000 and 8,000
ski enthusiasts are expected to arrive, more than three times the
number of villagers. There is a folksy, down-home feel to the event
-- competitors must huff and puff their way up hundreds of steps
to reach the launching platform; down below spectators can crowd
to the very edges of the landing area for a close-up view of the
excitement. For further information, see www.jumpfest.org.

The Litchfield Hills is renowned for its comfortable country
inns and bed and breakfasts so if you plan on making a weekend
sojourn to this winter wonderland there are many options to choose
from.

ragamont hotel

ragamont blue room suite

ragamont living room

The Ragamont House Bed and Breakfast, an award winning
Landmark property located in the heart of scenic Salisbury offers
elegance and comfort in a stately Greek Revival Landmark
Mansion. Expansive gardens, canopied beds, cathedral ceilings,
fireplaces and cozy sitting areas are combined with up-to-date
modern conveniences and three lovely suites that you will happily
call home. The Blue Room has a rustic cathedral ceiling with two
double Shaker inspired canopied beds that have been designed by
local cabinetmaker Ian Ingersoll of Cornwall Bridge Connecticut.
This room offers a cozy sitting area with a working fireplace that
is a perfect place to warm up after a day at the ski jumps. http://
www.ragamont.com.

Rock Hall fireplace

rock hall room chamber 1

rock hall chamber 2

Rock Hall Luxe Lodging located in nearby Colebrook is a
romantic and refined boutique lodging experience on a spacious
private estate designed by renowned architect Addison Mizner in
1912. Originally the house was built as a residence for Jerome
Alexandre, an heir to the Alexandre Steam Ship fortune and his
wife Violet Adelaide Oakley. Mizner known as “The Architect of
Palm Beach,” designed and built their 10,000 square foot manor
house in his signature Spanish Mediterranean Revival style.
Today, Rock Hall is the only surviving Mizner residence north of
the Mason Dixon Line.

Rock Hall, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
features graceful gardens, orchards, walking trails and meadows;
billiard and fitness rooms, and a seasonal tennis court, swimming
pool and jacuzzi. Choose from five distinctive guest suites
including Chamber 3 with its’ hand blocked pastel printed
wallpaper from Italy, Juliet Gray queen size bed with gilt bed
tables, chaise and wood burning fireplace --the room is an
expression of romance at its best. http://www.19rockhallroad.com.

interlaken inn living room

interlaken inn townhouse image

 For a resort like accommodations, try the Interlaken Inn known
as New England’s Country Resort located in nearby Lakeville.
This resort is located between two lakes and offers all the modern
conveniences of a world-class hotel with the added benefit of being
located in a setting of great natural beauty.
Here you have a choice of lodging options from a room in a romantic Victorian Mansion
to a townhouse conveniently equipped with a full kitchen and loft.
http://www.interlakeninn.com.

Thank you for reading my article about my experience in Connecticut, my name is Sita Writer reporting for www.oimagazine.com , welcome to leave comments as always!