Marybeth Cooperstone

I use GIMP and have been using it for years to make clothing (for myself, not to sell). GIMP is free, and somewhat like Photoshop. It allows multiple layers and control of opacity for each layer. I make night gowns, lingerie, tops, skirts, etc. with it. An example use for the layers and opacity is to make a sheer unlined bra or sheer nightgown with the opacity set somewhat lower, and then add a layer with lace with the opacity set higher. Marybeth

My avi's breast are the standard avi breasts, not mesh. I have adjusted the sliders so they will look like my real breasts. So they are not just realistic, they are just like my real ones. (very small, but, according to my hubby, cute ) For me, I have no real need for mesh breasts. As long as an avi's breasts are not extremely big, the standard breasts are ok. However, I imagine that a male RPing as a female wants boobs larger than B cup. So maybe mesh boobs are better in that case. Marybeth Facebook

I have been making clothes for Second Live for a few years, but I do not sell them. I have no interest in selling or merchant activities on SL. For years, in real life, I enjoyed killing time sketching things I would like to wear. Then, after being introduced to SL and to the program GIMP (a free program very much like Photo$hop) I took my RL interest to SL. I make lingerie, nighties, dresses, tops, skirts, and the usual. All are system clothes, that is, textures done in GIMP and uploaded to SL. Then I add color in SL. Color can be done in GIMP, but I usually upload white textures and then make a number of copies in different colors. I don't get involved in the system/prim/mesh debates. For me, designing and drawing the textures in GIMP is just more enjoyable. Others may enjoy mesh more. But, since they are only for me (and sometimes for a few friends) I do what I want, not what will sell. I particularly enjoy making things like lace bras and panties. There are tutorials to learn about GIMP and making clothes, so enjoy! Marybeth

As others have pointed out, you cannot have multiple accounts on one email. However, there are two ways: 1. If each employee has an email account at you busines, use each employee's email address. 2. If not, create the desired number of email accounts at gmail or other free service (yourbusinessname.emplyname@gmail.com) Rembember that each employee will then own the SL account, even if you provide the service of setting it up.

Perrie Juran wrote: "Any time you can give customers flexibilty it is a boon. Some women in SL like being upskirted. It is not an uncommon thing in some roleplay scenarios for a girl to say, "I'm not wearing any panties." One girl I know never wears alpha layers under her mesh jackets because she really does enjoy enticing the guys to get a peek." There are some women in RL that seem to be like that.

"If you are using Gimp and save (export) the gimp files to .psd format instead of the native .xcf ,when you re-open the .psd file in Gimp you will find that the Text layers will have been converted into texture layers so you can't edit the Text anymore." I have never done text, but I will keep that in mind. The templates that I started with, the UVs for upper body, lower body, and skirt were .psd, so everything since (more than a few years) has been .psd, with save as .tga for uploading. Marybeth

Do you use Photoshop or GIMP? In Gimp (I guess in Photo$hop also) each layer has an opacity control. (slider above list of layers). If that is set to 100%, the fabric is completely opaque. (nothing will show through). At less than 100% then things beneath it will show through. For example, I made a nighty with the main part 50% opacity, the bust 90%, and lace and trim at 100%. (different layers for main, bust, lace, and trim). You could see my (avatar's) bellybutton easily, but a little more discreet for the bust. Marybeth

.xcf is the native, or default. I have always used .psd. (photoshop format). It saves all layers. Does anyone know if there is a difference between .xcf and .psd? Marybeth

Barbie, Your mom will certainly be in my prayers. I hope the visualizing does have benefits, and I feel that it probably does - not just for Parkingson's but other things as well. Marybeth

We are constantly hearing about "cures" for diseases that never amount to anything. But it would be good if it worked. I do know that there is some serious research into the use of special video games to fight memory problems related to age, however. I hope that works also. No, I do not have or know anyone who has Parkinson's or any similar disease.

As KarenMichelle Lane said, it is not illegal in the US. It is only against the LL TOS. They can kick someone out of SL, but no more. As others have pointed out, the IP address may or may not identify the general area you are in. It is assigned to your internet service provider. In some cases, that is a local company so your IP address will show (using a "whois" ip lookup service) what town you are in. In some cases the address location may be the headquarters city of the service provider. I have used (not for SL) internet from some coffee shops where the IP address location was the headquarters location for the chain. (another state miles from the one where I was). In one case someone using an office computer on the east coast had a west coast IP address (the company IT department was located on the west coast). Marybeth WordPress Facebook

I don't know if there is anything to this or not. But let's hope there is: http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2013/02/second-life-possible-parkinsons-therapy.html "This is Fran, an 85 year old woman who plays Second Life as an avatar named Fran Seranade, and while that’s interesting in itself, many other senior citizens like her are known to be active in SL. Here is the truly extraordinary thing: For over 7 years, Fran has been afflicted with Parkinson’s Disease, a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system afflicting millions around the world, including actor Michael J. Fox and sports legend Muhammed Ali. In Fran’s case, Parkinson’s has made it difficult for her to stand from a sitting position, and maintain her balance while upright. But now Fran reports she’s gained significant recovery of physical movement -- as a direct consequence of her activity in Second Life." It is worth following.

I used the temporary texture feature very often. Typically I would use it when making clothes and I wanted to see how a particular part looked but I wasn't finished. I haven't yet tried the local texture, but I will. But after all, uploading only costs about 4 cents US, so I could upload 25 times for only a dollar. Marybeth WordPress Facebook

I make clothes (for use only by me and a few friends - not for sale) and only make system clothes, simply because that is easy to do using GIMP. A few observations about system vs. mesh: System clothes are "painted" onto your body so will fit the shame of your body no matter what shape it is. So for close fitting clothes, such as underwear, system makes sense. As some have noted, mesh clothes require that your avi body be a certain size and shape, If, in a particular place, it is too small there will be a gap between the body and clothes. If the body is too large it will poke out of the mesh clothes. I would always recommend system for underwear. There are some places where clothes, even tight fitting ones, in RL do not follow the body. For example, pants to not usually show the "but crack". Women's tops are usually straight from the tip of one breast to the tip of the other. The do not go in between the boobs. In this regard, mesh looks more realistic than system which always is the same shape as the body. With mesh, dresses can be one piece. With system, they require a top and a skirt, and are tight at the waist. With mesh and an alpha layer (too keep you from poking through) the legs disappear at the hem line. When your avi is sitting, it looks abnormal. With system, when you are sitting it is easy to "upskirt" you. You can be seen all the way up. Always, with system skirts wear good looking panties because they can often be seen (good advice in RL too, but in RL the lack of light makes it more difficult to see that far up.) So system vs. mesh is a matter of choice - there are advantages and disadvantages each way. Marybeth WordPress Facebook

I have had that problem with gmail and ymail, not with IMs but with other non-spam email. The spam filters seem overactive at times, and I find email that is far from spam in those folders. Marybeth WordPress Facebook

There are some very good lessons here for all of us. Don't click on a link in an e-mail or other message (Second Life or elsewhere). Type the URL into the browser manually. I received an email this morning that was supposed to be from my bank asking me to simply go to my account using the link in the email and check to see that my address was correct. I would have had to enter my password to check my address. I did not click on the link but had someone from the IT support group at my firm check it, and sure enough the link went to a fake web site that looked like my bank but wasn't. Someone was "phishing" for my password. This happens frequently using email and other forms of messaging. Many people are fooled by it. So never click on a link in an email. Instead, type the link into your browser manually. Marybeth WordPress Facebook

It sounds like you did the right things. But when you "logged back in promptly and reset my password" did you use the link that was sent to you or type in the URL yourself? The problem is when someone sends you a link that looks real but is really a fake web site (often a copy of the real one) to gather pass words. For example, if you click on something.com you might think you will be taken to "something .com" but will really go to my site. So, if you changed your password by getting to the site with their link, you should go to the site directly, typing in the URL, and change your password again. If you got to the site by typing in the URL and then changed your password, you should be OK. It would be a good idea to go to your account page for that and other accounts (credit card, bank, etc.) and double check that the password still works, any balances look OK, and there are no strange transactions. Of course, that is always a good idea. Marybeth

Rolig, Yes, it is a part of making the virtual world look familiar. Detail that is really unnecessary, but, for those of us who like realism, adds to the realism. That is why I make bras as I do (they are for myself and some friends, not for sale). I add ring and slider strap adjustments and rear closures. Those are things that you don't need on SL, but, since real bras have them, I add them. However, and this is a big however, the bra shown in Tina's link is not an underwire bra. If you look at the bottom of the bra there is clearly a horizontal band that looks like the elastic band on wirefree bras. If you look at the links on my post at http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Fashion/Underwire-or-wirefree-bras-on-SL/td-p/2097687/page/2 you can see some RL underwire and wirefree bras. Underwire provides support; if the bra doesn't have wire it uses an elastic band at the bottom for support. For that reason, wire free bras have that band but underwire bras can have a smaller gore (center, between the cups) and can be made more attractive. If the seller is going to say underwire, it should look like an underwire bra. Many in the marketplace do. For example: https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/IrinaRED-bikini-hipsterunderwire-bluewhite/5020114. This is a marketing matter, but I would never say in the description of a bra for SL that it is either underwire or wire free. Some women can't stand underwire; others feel the same way about wirefree. If it doesn't matter, best to leave it off the description to help sell to both types. A few general observations about the SL marketplace. Notice that the underwire bra that I linked to has a picture of the RL bra that it is a copy of? IP law is pretty complex and outside of my field, so I won't comment on the legality. Along the same lines, the descriptions used on some SL merchandise seems to be a word for word copy of the text found in RL descriptions. Also, there are some bras in the SL marketplace say that they will lift or enhance you clevage. I don't think so. For that, they would have to adjust the sliders. Marybeth WordPress Facebook

One problem in many states: they claim that a certain portion of the money goes for education. However, often the amount of the "general fund" - or normal tax money - that is spent on education is reduced. So education does not get any additional money. For example, say that a state normally appropriates $5 Billion to education from general revenues. Then they start a lottery that will provide $500 Million to education. Soon the appropriation from general revenues to education drops to $4.5 Billion, so that education get $5 Billion, just as before the lottery. There is $500 Million additional in the general fund, which may go to other expenditures or to a reduction in taxes. Supporters of the lottery can say that the purchase of lottery tickets is voluntary, so that however the money is used, the money was given voluntarily as opposed to involuntary taxation. Opponents say that the lottery is a tax on people who don't know math and the long odds of winning, and don't understand that they would be better off putting the money in the bank, even at low interest rates. Then there is the value of having the dream of winning (about all you are likely to get is a dream) and having your life changed. Marybeth WordPress Facebook

To put it simply: A state pays a private company to design a lottery game, print the tickets, design the advertising, etc. The state pays for the advertising. Tickets are sold, the state collects the money. Some of the money collected goes to the private company for the work listed above. Some of the money goes to the payout. The rest of the money goes to the state, which claims to use it for some popular purpose such as education. The amount used to describe the winnings is the total amount of a payout spread over many years. For example, $1 million/yr for 20 years would be decribed as $20 million. This ignores the time. Given a reasonable "discount rate" - same as interest rate, the real "present value" of the payout would be much less. Of course, income taxes to the federal and maybe to the state are due. It would be better to invest your money in a bank account, stocks, or some other investment. But it can be more exciting to buy a lottery ticket and then dream of winning. Marybeth WordPress Facebook

Drake: "Perhaps her links should be in the signature line." As I said before, the note referring to "signature line" is an exception to the paragraph before. Since my links do not go to sites that sell anything, that paragraph and therefore the exception, do not apply. Both the paragraph and the exception do apply to your link because it does got to a site selling merchandise. If someone wanted to be extremely picky, they would point out that neither your nor my links are on the same line as the signature but are below the signature. But not even I am that picky. But, a link below the signature is covered by the exception. Your posts meet the guidelines because of the signature exception in the note. Mine meet the guidelines because they do not go to a site that advertises or promotes merchandise or services and because of the signature line exception in the note. Marybeth

Drake, The link on my page go to my Facebook page and my WordPress site. They are not commercial. I do not have any Second Life related business, so I cannot use them to promote any business. They do not violate the guidlines about links to sites that sell products or services. I have read the note that "It is OK to have a signature line with a link to your Second Life profile or information about your Second Life business." That note does not refer only to links within secondlife.com; "information about your second life business" could refer to non-second life websites providing such information. It should be read as an exception to the paragraph above it. Since, because I do not advertise or promote any product or service, the subject paragraph and the note do not apply to me. Therefore I conclude that my posts do not violate the guidlines. I might add that most of my work as a lawyer is drafting proposed state laws concerning taxation. I am used to others being picky and I can be very picky myself. [note: this is not a solicitation for legal services] But using any amount of pickyness you cannot conclude that my posts violate the guidlines. Marybeth

Drake, What link did I have that violated the guidlines? Marybeth

Sephina Frostbite: "Because in rl Bras are a pain for me at least." They were a pain for me until I went to a store with good customer service and had someone fit me with a good quality bra. Of course, when I am working in the yard on hot muggy days they are still uncomfortable.

I did look at bras in the marketplace and noticed that, while there were many that looked like wireless, there were many that had very small center gores, like bras with underwire.