A beautiful spot to enjoy an hour of music and poetry
I am reading once again this Thursday, Jan. 26th at 1pmslt on the Costa Rica Sims, a lovely spot to find a pillow on the ground, and lose yourself in an hour of poetry. I have chosen many poems, I have not performed in a long time, and it will be an eclectic mix of themes, styles and music. I really enjoy reading here, as these sims hold fond memories for me, where I was a resident for almost two years, and as most of you know, represent my RL home too in Costa Rica. I invite you, after the reading to just walk around and discover, or ask one of the staff to give you a taxi that will take you everywhere you might enjoy. So join me in this cozy tropical setting, and let me try to weave some magic through my words, choice of music, and imagery this Thursday at 1pmslt. Here is your taxi that should drop you off in front. I hope to see you there.Taxi for Tropical Reflections
Time seems to have flown by again, and I haven’t shared anything new since I said I was almost finished with my new world on Kitely – Virtual Worlds on Demand, “Sebgram X-99.” I named this planet after my nephew who is a total cool geek by the name of Sebi, and just graduated from high school, so… I made a planet for him…sort of for- the- graduate- who has -everything- kind of gift. I have recently joined the Machinima Artist Guild,(MAG) and the first thing of course I realized, is how little I know, and the pretty poor quality of my machinima I have been offering to you, my readers, for the last ten months. As I am a poet first, and a machinima techy second, I didn’t have any idea what I didn’t know, but sharing a few of my videos, some of the recent ones and a few from “The Two,” I am becoming aware that there are so many little details into making what can be termed an excellent machinima of high quality.. I am still not at their level, but perhaps what I lack in training, I can compensate in creativity. This video was shot on both my sim in Second Life and on my world in Kitely. The music once again, is my original Garage Band creation. This is my fifth world there by the way, and although I still don’t consider myself a builder, I have put together a selection of worlds now, each with its own feeling. I think that sums me up in general. I am more about feeling, and less about right angles, but I also realize how those grids, some good tools of the trade, savvay, and tricks, add up to a better build, or a better video for the audience to enjoy. For now..I give you my latest YouTube, imperfect as it is, but I tried to shoot in a wider lens with better quality as I have been encouraged to do. I made this with lots of love, a lot of editing, and a lot of time building the sets from scratch. Enjoy!!
Happy New Year and hoping this will be a really great one and not the End One..as some are predicting.. I am just naturally a more positive person and I think and feel that 2012 might be a lot better for all of us…in all ways, and I believe we will all live to celebrate a 2013 too. I have been slightly absent again, because I am stuck out in the wilds of Kitely building a strange world that I will use for my next machinima poem. I am calling it “Beyond Sebgram X-99 and yes it is an alien landscape and sort of a poetic- adventure world. The building of the world which turns out in the end to be the sets for the film, is what takes the most time..but I think in a few days it might be ready. It is available to see under construction now as it is, and anyone is welcome to come check it out, although for it to make any sense you need to be able to see video and music streaming automatically. I have created a new “look” for this world too, and I give instructional 1 minute videos inside the world as to how to enjoy and also how not to be killed or maimed on Sebgram X-99 (or beyond) here is a picture of my character in bliss..so hopefully if you all follow her instructions, you can reach this state too *smiles. Come visit soon..take a chance and if you have never gone into Kitely, well try it, and come see what I am working on and take the “tour.”“Beyond Sebgram X-99”
Bliss..even the ground is happy and moves
And then..when I can extricate myself from the moving plains of Sebgram, I find myself once again staying up too late for Tukso…and I just can’t help myself. I shot this photo, and thought it cool enough to share. So..please be a little patient and I hope to have a nice machinima/poem production sometime in the next week. Until then, enjoy the beginnings of a new year and think positively..2012 is going to be a winner and we are too!!
Tukso (our Red Hot Papa) Padula,Kari & Kiki (front row center) at dinah moez
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 11,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 4 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
A peaceful tropical setting for an hour of multi-media poetry
I hope all who can be in-world tomorrow, Thursday Dec. 29, at 1pmSLT will join me in the beautiful tropical setting of Costa Rica Sims for my reading this month of Tropical Reflections. I will be doing some new material, some original music, and some more complicated image changing, thanks to my dear friend and manager of Tukso Okey,Padula Bing ,who has offered to help me out, and will be working the photo screen. As I think some know about me, I am a Costa Rican in real life, and was a resident on this beautiful estate in Second Life (more than 100 joined sims) for two years, so I always love to do a reading here, in a picnic atmosphere, pillows on the lawn, and warm breezes blowing across the venue. If that sounds good to you too, please join me tomorrow at 1pmslt for an hour of my best efforts to entertain you with my original poetry, some well selected music, and changing imagery. Here is your taxi link (that if it happens to dump you underwater.. just fly up and follow the red beam of light please.. has been known to happen:) Taxi for Tropical Reflections Hope to see you all there!
Tukso Okey..a gift you would never take back to exchange! But you will bring him back again and again...
So..do you blame me? If you think his picture is hot.. well honestly, his music is a gillion times hotter. I know it has only been a few posts since I did one on this incredible performer, but I wasn’t even going to celebrate my rezz day more than fondly remember it, sitting on the beach, drinking a cup of black coffee, and listening to the waves roll in, or maybe invite my sisters to come dance in our family cemetery of rogue lost loves…until I went to a Tukso show a few days ago, and this chant, this mantra began to fill my head and before I knew it, while I was ignitedly dancing in our now famous girl’s chorus line, I heard myself say over and over “All I want for my rezz day is Tukso Okey.” Four years old and I am big enough to know what I like..what I love..I have 37,000 items in inventory (I know..shame on me) so I don’t “need” anything else.. Not one more thing! Things are material and therefore ephemeral..here today, forgotten about tomorrow, ahh but sharing one of those magical moments at a Tukso show, where he connects so personally with his audience (even throwing our chat back at us in a funky impromptu way) and we respond with outrageous 20- line Tukso gestures (because we are really feeling it..Really)..as the advertising slogan goes “Priceless” He gives us all his talent and boundless energy, his 27 minute riffs that keep building and driving, and we give him back, sighs and loving vows of loyalty and tears even, there were tears that day I was chanting my mantra, over-the -top applause, and we let ourselves “feel his experience” because we are now part of his music, his magic and his family. We Are the experience. So.. why would I want anything else for this, my fourth Rezz Day? If you haven’t heard him yet, and think I just rant on and on because I am too lazy to go hear other musicians (smiles)…. well I bet you will change your mind after you hear him once. Nobody is coaxing or paying me to say this, I promise you, so if you haven’t heard him, this would be a nice opportunity, and help me come celebrate my happy Sl day. If you are a fan and therefore family already, please come to my Kantina del Mar on Monday night and feel the experience with us all. Monday is not about me, or my years in Sl, it’s about what still counts to me, being with friends and family and all sharing in an event we are blessed here in SL to be able to do…bathe in the magic and the charisma of the hottest, and as Menubar Memorial puts it “The most bad-ass musician in the 2 known universes” So I hope to see you all here at my little bolero bar at 7pmSLT. Here is your taxi “Kari’s Kantina del Mar” Because for my Rezz Day (sing it with me…) All I want is Tukso Okey!!
I want to apologize to my readers who have email subscriptions. I had to take down the first YouTube of my poem “Deeper” which appeared on the post before this one, as it was
only playing at 280 and the quality was so bad. This version seems a bit better, but my normal uploads and their format seems to longer be accepted by YouTube /Google. So…I give you the slightly better version at 360 and if you clicked and clicked on the other to no avail..I am sorry.. I give you once again a hopefully better rendition of “Deeper”…Enjoy!
I’m happy to present and share with you all, my newest video poem entitled “Deeper” I at first thought this poem a little “creepy,” but I showed it to my dear friend, sim partner, and expert blogger, Happiness Merryman, and she said she found it lyrical and deep, not as creepy as my warnings had stated. I just know the subconscious as well as the bottom of the ocean, hold both fascination and terror for this woman, ever since she was a little nightmare- proned, destined -to -be- a- poet, waif in the jungles of Costa Rica. I am drawn to the depths, and yet…..well I think my poem and this video says it better than I can in an introduction. I will only say a few more things. This machinima was filmed on my newest world I created on Kitely – Virtual Worlds on Demand, and also on my earlier world of Water and Glass where I filmed two videos, “Water and Glass” and “Shooting Star” Deeper is sort of a small underwater journey through tubes and portals until you get to the… well the deepest part. Both worlds are public, free of charge and can be entered through these links: Water-and-Glass or Deeper. I would love any intrepid grid hopper, and those who don’t yet know they are, to come and visit me. I will be happy to give you the royal tour. I did use my new 3D Navigator Mouse , albeit sparingly, as there was a problem over the weekend (maybe my server end) of getting very erratic bandwidth and lousy fps. Ahh but when that gets cleared up, I can see it will be wonderful to use it full time..So without further chatter on my part, I give you “Deeper” and as always I just hope you get comfy, while you take five minutes out of your day..and Enjoy!!
“Deeper”
If thoughts could be held like prisoners,
I would hold mine back from walking too near the sea.
I would not allow them to break the rules, and be swallowed by the monsters
that always are pursuing them and me.
Immune,
I would sit in quiet satisfied complacency, and no
temptations or jeers or manipulations could break inside disturbingly.
I would not go down below the level of the ground I would not go deeper… where there reigns only the unknown and its sounds.
I do admit the deep part has its draws as well as dangers,
confusion in the dark can be so inspiring at times, but I have seen the sorrowful mistakes with my unfocused eyes,
and felt the fear envelop me… so make no mistake I do not wish descent as an escape,
and pray that sleep protects me from this unwelcome state.
Yes I know that way way down, there is some beauty to be found, but I would not go down below the level of the ground. I would not go deeper where there reigns only the unknown and its sounds, where hideous creatures and their thoughts strive to reach their dream, to catch me unaware with no vigil and no warning, to come up swiftly from underneath and when I least expect it... and when I think I am the victor,
roar with all their power and… swallow me.
It was four years ago this month, Karima was sitting, reading in her garden
It was four years ago this month, Karima was sitting, reading in her garden, most likely a book of verse, when someone said to her,
“I am watching the Discovery Channel on my television and they are talking about a strange virtual world, they call it Second Life.”
Luckily she was reading on her laptop (smiles) so she put in the address he told her, and before she knew it, she was yelling from the garden to the house, “Oh what fun, I will make an avatar, and choose a name.
I am going to be “the girl-next-door model”
“What do you think of the name “Karima Hoisan”? “Ha ha I am learning how to fly.” “I just had a conversation with a parrot” “This looks pretty amazing… Come see!” I took the first photograph of myself, which would be the first of thousands, and not knowing how to use my camera very well, was a straight noob shot from behind.
and then I fell off of Avatar Island and landed on what would be my home..forever
and then I fell off of Avatar Island and landed, on what would be my home…forever.
How many memories, tears, laughter, learning curves, creative flops and successes, loves, losses, dreams in windlight, frustrations, and moments of utter bliss, in these last four years?!! Family was born, and some were lost, friends were made, tested with time and they lasted..some left themselves along the way, and didn’t make it to today, while some disappeared into the night, like fog. If I had it to do all over again, I would in a heart beat.
Second Life changed my life in way, that four years later I am coming to understand, and to harvest and collect the creative fruits, daily, monthly, yearly.
Then one year ago this month, an idea that was born almost in the first few weeks of my Second Life journey, was realized in the publishing of my first poetry book in world, entitled, “Digital Rabbit Hole” My publisher BellaLuna Galaxy suggested, no actually she insisted, I start a blog too at the same time, to promote my book, announce my readings, or for whatever I might want to share with those who enjoyed my poetry. I could not imagine at the time, what I would ever say in a blog, and fought this idea, pretty insistently…until I lost. I was sort of like a SouthPark character walking away, mumbling to herself,
“Ok. Ok. I’ll keep a blog (grrr) Sheesh@!”
Now a year later, I look back so fondly, and see BellaLuna knew what I never could imagine, that a blog, takes on its own life, and through it, I have had so many incredible experiences, and inspirations, so many friends, who I connected with even more deeply by sharing my posts with them, and the whole year has been an amazing experience. I tried, sometimes less successfully than others, new things, new mediums for me and art forms. Stories were born, videos were made, and adventures were had. If I had it to do all over again, I would in a heart beat. I close with this video, the first ever made for me, by my friend Fidel, another Second Life jewel discovered when I wasn’t even looking for jewels. This was the promotional video for my official book launching on Galaxy Isle, and those who were there, will testify that we crashed the sim that day. Milestones and Memories of December! Thank you all for making my Second Life and this blog such a joyous experience for me.. Happy Holidays to you, and thank you for letting me show and share and learn to love you.
Thin Air
In this thin air of real life Only duty can call me to return For nothing is as glorious as a Sunset in windlight, Descending sphere we’ve come to love Hypnotizing glow and burn.
Oh Second Life you swallowed me Took me by surprise, Creative rapture! I am the willing victim Of your virtual possession, Digital rabbit hole… How you enthrall then capture.
I dream in your reflecting colors Of shifting shapes, I weep to see so much beauty on your shores, And in the souls of Some few special ones I find I burst into Emoting seeds and spores.
I stand in awe and let myself be moved. Love here knocks , it calls in many ways. My door is always open To your changing scenes, My heart expands with each Oxygen -rich day
I breathe you in, Thick.. so full of life, spontaneous laughter How thin the air above , all day the grey it makes me choke, I almost lost the will to live just could not see a why for it ‘Til I was rezzed upon your land Oh, changed forever after.
Karima Hoisan March 21,2008 Costa Rica
An excerpt from “Digital Rabbit Hole” copyright 2010 all rights reserved
Digital Rabbit Hole is not only about showcasing my poetry, and Second Life is not only about making films for me, it’s about having fun and about friendship..and a very important ingredient Live Music!! I sometimes get myself in a rut, and take it all too seriously and forget to kick out now and then and just enjoy it all. It is no secret that Tukso Okey is my favorite live musician in Second Life, and I have done several posts about him, (see back posts) When You Run With Wizards, Karima~Tukso ~The Mistaken Paparazzi~The True Story,Flux Capacitor by Tukso Okey and MenuBar Memorial, What Might Happen If , Tukso Tukso Tukso. The night before last I missed a great show, that everyone was talking about so, last night, armed with a big cup of Costa Rican coffee, I decided to stay up past my bedtime to catch the 10pmslt Tukso show at Benelli’s Bar. If anyone is reading this who hasn’t had a Tukso experience, I say without any exaggeration, you are missing one of the best things you can do in Second Life…or any life. Can you hear the excitement in my voice? Just make a point of finding where he will be next and catch a show as soon as possible. Each one is a total original, and there is never one like the one before. So, when I arrived, the show was just beginning, and there was a group of guys in perfect sync, right below the stage, dancing to Tukso’s first song…
and the show was on!
and the show was on! I had no sooner rezzed, when I got a dance invitation from Kiki to join a pretty awesome Girls chorus line that was forming. I mean watching those Boys do their moves, inspired us Girls to show them ours, and the battle of the chorus lines was now part of the show. As I said, every time Tukso performs there is a special flavor for each show, and this one was flavored in “Hawt &Sync” and as Shesa coined, we were the delicious “Tukso’s Tarts”
Eat your hearts out Boys....We have our moves too!
“Eat your hearts out Boys…We have our moves too!” But, the competition was stiff, and they showed us theirs,
Left To Right Taronn, Sandi, Misha,and Fadi
and we showed them ours…
From right to left Padula, Kiki, Karima, Shesa, and Stacie
Then they showed us theirs again…
While Tukso was showing us why he Is The Red Hot Pappa
While Tukso was showing us why he Is The Red Hot Pappa, we were showing him why we loved to be his Tarts… It was one of those spontaneous, lose-yourself-in his music moments.
Every one was a winner in the battle of the Chorus Lines
Every one was a winner in the battle of the Chorus Lines and even a 5.0 Earthquake in my country (Costa Rica) right before it was over, only made me lose the sync a tiny bit..but quickly I was back tightening my line…and It was so much fun.. am I allowed to say that? That might not be the coolest term for blog writing, but Fun is what it was..and what it always is when Tukso works his magic…
Shepp and Wynn in the foreground, Girls and Boys in line
and all present at Benelli’s Bar were in agreement..
So, listen Boys, last night was a draw...
So, listen Boys, last night was a draw… a tie, but I don’t think Tukso’s Tarts will leave it at that… Right Girls?
So we challenge you to do your thing...and we'll do ours
So we challenge you to do your thing…and we’ll do ours real soon. Now I better take a nap to be ready to stay up late again, because Tukso is ALWAYS worth losing a little sleep over… Join the group, our Family and jump into the magic that this great performer brings.
Digital Rabbit Hole 