Buggybooz, creator of the amazingly versatile Kitchen Basic, multiple charming plant sets, and a beautiful bedroom set for TSR’s previous community target, Reflexsims forum/Black Pearl Sims, discovered that several of her plant pot meshes were included in a pay set by TSR’s Shakeshaft. These files were named as if Shakeshaft had created them, but internally still bore Buggy’s identifying information. Buggybooz reported this, expecting that, at the very least, the stolen meshes would be removed from TSR. Instead, her MTS2 account was hacked, her downloads deleted, and her TOU changed to be paysite-friendly. Investigation by Delphy revealed that the hacker was none other than TSR’s Thomas, who has been known for some time to use the name “Hamilton” to attempt to recruit MTS2 creators for his paysite.

Buggybooz’ post @ Black Pearl Sims: http://www.blackpearlsims.com/showthread.php?t=24861

Delphy’s explanation of the investigation: http://forums.sims-community.com/showthread.php?t=66708

There are discussion threads at PMBD, SimsCave, GoS, and other forums, as well.

There are quite a few creators at TSR whose work I like, despite my opinion of their character and/or intelligence . Shakeshaft was one of them. Now I have my doubts as to whether or not Shakeshaft deserves credit for “her” work or not. For years, TSR “artists” have blatantly copied and charged for ideas that originated in the free community - Maxis Match sets, anyone? extracted maxis meshes? age conversions? - but at least they made (okay, extracted) their own meshes.

Instead of changing their dirty business practices, TSR continues flailing about, trying to discredit the free community in general. It would be laughable if they didn’t have so much personal information on so many people. If you’re a paying member - and it’s not just because you’re keeping an active account in order to funnel files to the booty - what TSR-vindicating stories are you telling yourself today?

If you don’t visit Garden of Shadows regularly (or at all), you may not have seen the new objects I uploaded there a couple of days ago. Some art deco furniture, deco suitcases and a few suitcase tables, lipstick, pill bottles…and there are a couple of older things I posted over the last couple of months, but I’m not recalling exactly what. Anyway, it will all eventually be uploaded here, but not until I get tired of doing other things. I’m putting a priority on making a bunch of new meshes, some of which may even be useful for people besides myself. I hadn’t really thought of it this way before, but I will retroactively say that these objects are my birthday gift to you (mine is tomorrow), and also to commemorate my becoming a moderator at GoS, which means I will yell at you if you don’t READ (and follow) THE RULES.

I’ve been asked a couple of times if I’m looking for donations to support my site. Happily, I don’t need donations. Since all of the files are hosted elsewhere, my site is very inexpensive to run. However, if you’re wanting to show your appreciation for my stuff through a donation, you couldn’t do any better than to donate to GoS. I never would have learned to mesh if it hadn’t been for a tutorial written by a gosling (hello, Azaya!), and I probably would not have bothered sharing my recolors on a wide scale if the response of the members there hadn’t convinced me that there was a need for less-than-pristine objects.

downloads and/or more talk behind the cut →

Site Hygiene: As much as I enjoyed having it and reading the comments, shoutbox is down for the time being. Neither the built-in IP-blocker or spam-catcher were working for some reason, and I was getting tired of endless Ambien shilling and Scandinavian porn offers. I’m going to see if the one I’ve been using has an updated version, or if there’s something else that’s improved and extra-shiny to replace it.

Empty Promises: I’m working on a bunch of new meshes, some of which may have actual utility if/when I finish them. This includes a deco batch of Ugly Dolls, a functional tansu staircase, and a Venetian-style mirror. The Ugly Dolls are easy since they’re just deco - I don’t know how to make them playable, which is certainly the main reason they’re deco. However, even if I did, they are just too stubby to adapt well to animation - I’ve seen a few toy meshes where the mesher had made the limbs longer to fit the animations with varying aesthetic success, and I just don’t think that Ugly Dolls look like Ugly Dolls with anything but nubbins for legs.

It’s good to have goals: It’s a secret goal of mine to fill up the whole front page with blather and yap, not a picture or download in site, and I’m almost there. Just a couple more “updates” like this one and I will realize my dream.

I am not even going to talk about the state of my game–which pretty much tells you all about the state of my game (see: drinking game tag).

Quick note to let you know that I’ve remembered an alternative source for the Suiryuue garbage bags and other junk that I use in trashy scenes. I think I’ve been asked more often about those trashbags than any other item in my screenshots, and they are indeed far superior to the trashbags made by any other creator, including Maxis.

They are included in this lot at MTS2: Realistic Diner by Martine. This lot has a lot of goodies in it, but I’ll let you read the description for yourself at the link above.

FYI, I have also added a link to the lot on my WCIF? page.