Articles on Samuel Lison

My Week in the Metaverse

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 21:01:18 +1100

While I have been a member of both the SecondLife and OpenSimulator platforms for some time, let’s say, 16 years on Second Life, and 1 good year on OpenSimulator, it did not actually hit me that the Metaverse was already here with us until Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg wanted to create his own branded “Metaverse” to rule them all.

There was talk about Second Life briefly being the answer to the metaverse, but in reality, it does not tick all the boxes (think proprietary, centralized)

And then, I found the Fediverse, and learned about the Indieweb and Small Web movements, and it became much clearer to me.

The landing area of OSGrid, part of the Metaverse!

OpenSimulator, the Metaverse

So, why do I consider OpenSimulator to tick all the boxes when it comes to being more along the lines of what the metaverse should truly be?

After being a member of the Fediverse for a few months now and learning about decentralization and enshittification and all those fancy words, I came to realise that the OpenSimulator platform, which seems from the outside to be just a clone of SecondLife, is actually the complete opposite.

Firstly, it is Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), and secondly, and most importantly, it is completely decentralized. Allowing people to create their worlds (think, rooms) and connect them to existing grids (think, servers).

So, not only can you host your own worlds on an existing grid and create an account and personal identity on that grid (or server), but you also have the ability to do it yourself, host your own grid with as many worlds as you wish, and connect it to what is known as the Hypergrid, and still be interconnected between all the different worlds, grids and so forth.

Another way to look at it is:

Region = World, or, Planet
Grid = Server, or, Universe

You can add a planet to someone else’s universe, or you can create your own universe with your own rules and connect it, or not, to the Metaverse, or, Multiverse, officially known as the Hypergrid.

And it will always be there, no matter what happens to the rest of the universes (grids) out there.

What did I do?

I decided to host my own Region (or World) and connect it to the Grid (Universe) known as OSGrid which allows registered users to connect their own regions to their grid, at no cost (besides of course your own hosting costs).

This means, I used an existing avatar account to make the owner of my region and self-host it!

By default, region sizes are setup in the OpenSimulator configuration as 256x256 meters (which is also the size of regions on Second Life). It’s actually possible to run much larger region sizes, or to host multiple regions together and place them next to each other to suits your needs.

In my case, I am running a single region, the size of 4x4 (16) regions. Basically, 1024x1024m in land size, and I can do whatever I like with it.

It’s currently bare though, and here’s a screenshot of it in its current state.

A screenshot of my region on the OSGrid. Nothing much to see yet!

What am I working on?

I want to build a world based off of 28 Years Later. If you haven’t seen the trailer yet, I highly recommend that you do.

I love the idea of having a city which is going through a Zombie Apocalypse and the player having to fight their way through an infested city by smacking zombie NPCs and gathering resources, until they come across a stranded island that appears to be a safe-haven.

Source: A screenshot taken of the safe island and village from the 28 Years Later trailer.

This safe-haven will be a village with roles for people to take on and to live their merry lives on. Roles might include things like farmers, smiths, carpenters and hunters. Hunters would go out back into the city, looking for valuable resources, such as metals, more foods, ammunition and medicines.

Source: A screenshot taken of some of the available community roles from the 28 Years Later trailer.

A fun survival style game.

How do you accomplish that on the Metaverse? Are you able to code?

Yes, you can code on the Metaverse!

Not only can you build your world with 3d mesh models and materials, in my case, assets I purchased from the Unity Asset Store and converted them into usable formats using blender; but you can code anything your heart desires in OpenSimulator (and yes, in Second Life too).

Both OpenSimulator and Second Life have their own scripting languages.

Second Life uses the Linden Scripting Language (LSL) and OpenSimulator has a highly expanded, yet similar language known as OpenSimulator Scripting Language (OSSL).

Here’s a snippet of code so you can see how easy it is:

default {
    touch_start(integer num) {
        key player = llDetectedKey(0); // Get the avatar's key
        string playerName = llDetectedName(0); // Get the avatar's name

        // Send registration request to the data server
        llRegionSay(12345, "Register|" + (string)player + "|" + playerName);

        // Notify the player directly
        llSay(0, "Registration request sent, " + playerName + ".");
    }
}

You can view more of my source that I have been working on within my GitHub Repository!

This is just a registration board that players can click on to register their avatar as a player in the system I am working on, but there’s way more to do - such as having a HUD and floating text above avatars that tracks the players current survival stats, such as Health, Stamina, Hunger, Thirst and Infection as well as a multitude of other things, such as Inventory slots, Coins/Money and so forth.

How does one visit?

To visit places on the OpenSimulator metaverse, you need a virtual world viewer. And you need the version that allows connection to multiple grids and not just the default Second Life proprietary grid.

The best browser currently is the Firestorm viewer.

You will need the OpenSimulator version which you can grab from here: https://www.firestormviewer.org/os-operating-system/

There is support for Windows, Mac and Linux versions. I am using Linux and it works fine.

You can visit my land and come say hello when I am there, by adding the OSGrid option to your logins (by clicking on “Click to add more grids”, creating an account through the browsers “Create an Account” link and logging in.

Once you are in, open your world map in the view and search for “counterearth”. I will probably rename the region later to something that matches the RP game I wish to make and update this article when that is done.

Source: Screenshot of the world map open with counterearth in the search field to find my region for visiting!

Conclusion

Unfortunately, there is not much to see in my world currently, but I endeavour to post more updates on my proceedings and discuss the scripts I have come up with in further articles - so be sure to add this RSS to your reader to keep getting updates on my posts!

I hope that this has also inspired you into looking into the Metaverse and seeing how you could contribute with your coding knowledge to make the experience better for everyone out there! I believe the GitHub repository for OpenSimulator can be found here: https://github.com/opensim/opensim and is coded in the C# language.

Have fun all!

Shen Yun 2025: A Night of Art, Culture, and Reflection

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:57 +1100

Last night, my family and I attended the Shen Yun 2025 performance at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. It was the 6 PM session on Saturday, 15th February 2025, and the venue was packed to capacity. In fact, extra seats had to be released to accommodate the overwhelming demand—a testament to the growing popularity of this incredible show.

This was my fourth time attending Shen Yun, and I can confidently say it gets better every year. The artistry, storytelling, and sheer skill of the performers left me in awe once again. Shen Yun is not just a dance performance; it’s an immersive journey into Chinese traditional culture, told through a series of captivating stories. Each dance is a narrative, often inspired by the principles of Falun Dafa—a spiritual practice that emphasises Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.

Source: Shen Yun Performing Arts - [www.shenyun.org](https://www.shenyun.org/)

One of the highlights of the evening was the story of “Enlightenment,” which deeply resonated with me. It followed an army commander grappling with the aftermath of a battle, seeking redemption through spiritual cultivation. The tale was both moving and thought-provoking, reminding me of the challenges we all face in overcoming distractions and attachments in our lives.

Shen Yun also touches on profound themes, including the persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners in China. Since 1999, the practice has been banned under the communist regime, which views large, independent movements as a threat. Some of the stories depicted the harsh realities faced by practitioners, including imprisonment and even organ harvesting—issues that remain under scrutiny on the global stage.

While Shen Yun has faced challenges in Australia, particularly in Victoria, this year’s performance felt like a turning point. The messaging was more subtle, focusing on the dangers of atheism and the importance of staying true to one’s faith or tradition. It was a refreshing approach that seemed to resonate with the audience, regardless of their personal beliefs.

A Journey Through Stories and Values

Shen Yun’s performances are structured as a series of short stories, each with its own unique message and artistic flair. The dances are accompanied by a live orchestra that blends traditional Chinese instruments with Western symphonic elements, creating an unforgettable auditory experience.

One of the standout stories for me was “Enlightenment.” It begins with an army commander surveying the devastation of a battlefield. Overcome with guilt, he contemplates suicide but is stopped by a Buddhist abbot, who guides him toward spiritual cultivation. The commander renounces his attachments and joins a monastery, where he faces tests of his resolve. From temptations of wealth and power to the distractions of worldly desires, the story mirrors the struggles we all face when trying to meditate or focus on self-improvement.

The commander’s ultimate success in achieving enlightenment was beautifully portrayed, leaving the audience with a sense of hope and inspiration. It’s a story that lingers in your mind, encouraging introspection long after the performance ends.

The Subtle Evolution of Shen Yun

As a Falun Dafa practitioner, I’ve noticed how Shen Yun has evolved over the years. Earlier performances leaned heavily into the spiritual aspects of Falun Dafa, which may have felt overwhelming to some Western audiences. This year, however, the messaging was more balanced. The focus shifted toward universal values and the dangers of losing touch with spirituality, making it more accessible to a broader audience.

The show’s ability to convey these messages through art is what makes it so special. It’s not just about promoting Falun Dafa; it’s about encouraging people to reflect on their own values and traditions, whatever they may be. This subtlety was a welcome change and, in my opinion, a step in the right direction.

A Call to Explore

If you’ve never experienced Shen Yun, I highly recommend attending when it comes to your city. It’s more than just a performance—it’s an opportunity to connect with timeless values and immerse yourself in a rich cultural tradition. For more information about Shen Yun, visit https://www.shenyun.com/.

For those curious about Falun Dafa, I encourage you to explore it at your own pace. There are no memberships, ceremonies, or obligations—just a chance to learn and grow through the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. You can find more information at https://en.falundafa.org/.

Shen Yun 2025 was a night to remember, and I’m already looking forward to next year’s performance. It’s a reminder of the beauty of art, the power of storytelling, and the importance of staying true to our values in an ever-changing world.

Introducing Micro.Blog: A Haven for Indie Bloggers

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 16:01:58 +1100

What is Micro.blog?

Micro.blog is a unique social platform and blogging service designed for individuals who value owning their content and fostering genuine community interactions. It’s built on the principles of the IndieWeb, emphasizing personal domain control, content ownership, and interoperability with other web services.

Voices of the Community: Quotes from Micro.blog users reflecting on the platform's impact on personal blogging and community interaction.

The Creator:

Manton Reece is the mind behind Micro.blog. With a background in software development and a passion for reviving the personal blogging culture, Manton has crafted Micro.blog since its inception through a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2017. His vision was to create a space where blogging feels like tweeting but retains the essence of personal web ownership.

IndieWeb Practices:

Micro.blog actively incorporates several IndieWeb practices:

Own Your Content: Users are encouraged to use their own domain names. The service supports mapping your personal domain to your Micro.blog account, ensuring you maintain control over your digital identity.
POSSE (Publish Own Site, Syndicate Elsewhere): Micro.blog facilitates posting from your own site and syndicating to various platforms like Mastodon, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and others, automatically, thereby keeping your content under your control while still reaching broader audiences.
Webmentions, Micropub, and IndieAuth: These IndieWeb standards are supported, allowing for rich interactions across the web, where comments or likes from one site can be reflected on another.
ActivityPub: Part of the Fediverse, Micro.blog uses ActivityPub for federation, allowing your posts to interact with users on other compatible platforms.

Subscription Model:

Micro.blog operates on a freemium model. The basic plan starts at just $1 per month, which includes:
- Your own blog with unlimited posts
- Your own domain name
- Podcast hosting

More advanced features like automatic cross-posting, video hosting, and enhanced cross-posting capabilities are available in higher tiers.

Freedom and Flexibility:

Domain Use: Users are not locked into Micro.blog. You can use your own domain, ensuring that if you decide to leave, your content and URL identity remain with you.
Backup Options:
- Automatic GitHub Backup: Your blog can be backed up to a GitHub repository automatically, providing a secure, version-controlled backup of all your posts.
- Internet Archive: Micro.blog also offers periodic backups to the Internet Archive for long-term digital preservation.
Export Formats:
- Hugo Format: Micro.blog uses Hugo as its static site generator, which means all content can be exported in this format. This includes your posts in Markdown, theme files, and configuration, allowing for a seamless transition if you decide to self-host or move to another platform.
- Additionally, exports can be done in JSON, Markdown, and other blog archive formats, ensuring your data is never trapped.

Why Hugo Format?

I recommend sticking with the Hugo format for several reasons:

Portability: Hugo is well-regarded in the static site generation community, making it easy to find hosting or move to another service.
Maintainability: With all posts in Markdown, editing or updating content post-export is straightforward.
Theme Customization: The theme files allow you to maintain the look and feel of your blog even if you switch platforms.

Conclusion:

Micro.blog stands out as a service that not only promotes but practically implements IndieWeb principles, offering a platform where blogging feels intimate yet expansive. Its commitment to user freedom, with easy data portability and the encouragement of personal domain use, makes it an excellent choice for those who value their digital independence. Whether you’re a seasoned blogger or just starting, Micro.blog offers a way to engage with the web that feels authentic and owned by you.