Slightly lower resolution on youtube:

This video is licensed under a creative commons non-commercial share-alike license. (Download)

Credits, as promised:

Years of Rice and Salt (cc-by-sa)
Yunus (cc-by-sa)
ТЕЛЬНЮК: Сестри (cc-by-nc-sa)
trustno1 (cc-by-nc-sa)

OpenSim
Linden Lab
Creative Commons
Hypergrid Business
AM Radio
Ina Centaur

Silk Dreams
WTG
Style by Kira
Purrfect 10
Fashism
Calico Ingman Creations
Alli & Ali
aDiva Couture
Finesmith Designs
Rockberry
siss boom
Logo & Kin
Earthstones
Vero Modero
Purple Moon
R.icielli
Essences
YS&YS
Fallen Gods
Barerose
Redgrave’s
Akeruka
Kalnins Footwear
Somnia
Addiction

Oglaf

- Who is TGIB?

Short version: The Grey In Between.

Long version:

The Twilight’s Green Illuminate Beam,
This Great ImBalance, that I’ve seen,
That Trees Got Icy Branches and,
The Good In Bad, That God I’ve Been.

While There Goes Irwing Bishop to,
Play Tuesday’s Grand Industrial Band,
The Thousandth Giant Isn’t Blue
And The Grey In Between is you.

Our Three Guides In Byzantium
Found The Gates Into Blackness tomb
The Ghosts I Borrowed tear my soul,
Tell Gayle I Bleed, The Ground Is Below.

Thus glutted ire boils at me
A thousand guiles I banned,
Their guises idle blearily;
The gate is broke, thy gaol is barred.

And so the Thunder Grapes I Beckon,
Tomorrow Glares Into Beyond.
The Golden Island Blues is back and
To Go Is Brave, To Grace I’m Bound.

- Who are you?

Short version: V and El. The author is shown on the top left of each entry.

Long version:

Call me sister Katherine
Tread upon my valentine
Let me be your dream sublime
Give me space inside your time

Call me brother, call me Jack
Paint a cross across my back
Of the maps and books I lack
Give me my direction back

Call me angel Auriel
Drag me to the shores of hell
Ask me if I’m feeling well
With all the things I have to tell

Call me architect of sleep
Tell me secrets I can’t keep
Give me fantasies to reap
Visit me inside the deep

- How is it possible to contact you?

Short version: Leave a comment or use the contact form.

Long version: While we do have several accounts on various grids, posting a comment on this site is our preferred mode of contact. While we are inworld, we are usually busy with each other or working on something, so this method is meant to keep spam low and privacy high.

Additionally you can use our contact form for a non-public contact alternative. If you have a question you think might be of interest to other readers as well, you can post it on our question board.

Finally, we are part in several social networks, preferably open sourced ones. You can find us on our own Status.net installation and on our Diaspora POD, as well as on Twitter, and on Plurk as TGIB (V) or El. Our videos are also available through youtube.

- Can I share / sell / modify / export / import / feed your creations to my axolotl?

Short version: Yes, but please tell people that I made them.

Long version: All creations which I made available publicly ( set for ‘sale’ at 0 L$ or as downloads on http://tgib.co.uk/ ) are published under a creative commons attribution 3.0 unported license. You are free to do with them whatever you wish, even sell them or export them to other grids, as long as you state me as the original creator, where ‘me’ is either =V=, Vanish, Vanish Firecaster, TGIB, http://tgib.co.uk/ or any combination thereof.

- Why are you doing this?

Short version: Why not?

Long version: I simply do not want to be a merchant. I want to create things, and I want people to enjoy them, but I don’t want to treat anyone as a customer, or want to deal with business issues. I don’t really need to make money out of my creations, and so why should I try? I posted some of the considerations in the article ‘a gift to the public’ (Part 1, Part 2). Also, there are some underlying personal ethical and philosophical considerations, but I’m not going to bore anyone with them here.

- How do I export stuff?

Short version: Either Right-click -> Export or you can’t.

Long version: Some alternative SL viewers (for example Imprudence and Cool Viewer) support an export feature which enables you to backup content. This will allow you to transfer assets between grids and accounts.

- What do you mean ‘other grids’?

Short version: There are several independent grids you can connect to using the SL viewer software.

Long version: There is an open source project called Open Simulator which enables anyone to run a Second Life compatible grid, the biggest and most notable of these being OSGrid. Open Simulator offers the ability to run and operate your own grid and/or host your own regions on your own servers (or even home pcs). On a general note, this is much cheaper than renting ‘land’ in Second Life, but Open Simulator grids are also still under heavy development and relatively small compared to SL, thus require an adventurous spirit. SL building / scripting / programming skills are recommended, but not neccessary.

- Did you make everything yourself?

Short version: Yes, unless otherwise stated.

Long version: No, not everything. The skins are based on free templates by Eloh Eliott and sezmra. For some creations I use scripts by others from public sources. However, I make sure that everything posted here is publicly licensed for use and re-use under either creative commons or some compatible licenses, to ensure that all downloads are legal and free.

- Will you make something for me? I’ll pay you for it!

Short version: No. But you can wish for something free!

Long version: I don’t want to appear aloof, but please understand that I only create things which am enthusiastic about, and money is a bad incentive for me. That doesn’t mean I’m not open to a good idea. If you think I’m the right person for something you have in mind, please put it on our wishlist! If I like the idea, I’ll make it, and you don’t need to pay me. (If I don’t like the idea, you can pay me and I still won’t make it. I’m sorry…)

- Can you teach me how to make something?

Short version: No. I’m sorry.

Long version: I don’t give individual lessons. However, I provide some tutorials and might occasionally give group lesson which will be announced on TGIB as well.

- I heard you’re into music?

Short version: Yes.

Long version: Yes. I am. I write and play music, and have been a performer and dj on several grids and venues. Basically, I play acoustic guitar and sing, and my music taste ranges somewhere between alternative / indie / gothic / progressive. As with my creations, my music is also published under creative commons.

- Can you perform / dj at my place?

Short version: Yes.

Long version: I’d be happy to. As above, I don’t want to make a business out of it, so I’ll only perform for free, and in my own time. You’re most welcome to tell me about your venue and if I like it, I’d be more than happy to make some music there. Please note that I will only use creative commons licensed music as a DJ and thus can’t – for the most part – answer individual requests.

[Edit July 9th, 2010: I merged the original FAQ with the FAQ from a notecard I wrote in SL a while ago, hopefully answering more questions.]

[Edit July 15th 2010: I wrote a poem That Goes Into Bollocks. But there's a wishlist now.]

[Edit December 22nd 2010: Wrote a few new verses to the poem and updated contact info.]

[EDIT 11th July 2010: I disabled Flattr for this site again, to make it truly non-profit again.]