Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Does M making the announcement make it more official?

Openspace Announcement Due Tomorrow
Over the last week we have been listening to your feedback and working hard to revisit the original announcement. This blog post is just a short message to let everyone know that we’re now close to being able to share our thinking more fully with you.
Tomorrow M will post to the blog. The post will be our response to all of the great feedback you have provided and will include details about how we intend to proceed regarding Openspaces.
Immediately after the post tomorrow, we will open another forum thread where we will do our best to answer your questions. We understand that many of you are anxious for news, and so I wanted to be sure to let you know that the waiting is almost over.

Cartoon of the Day


By Bixyl Shuftan
Click for full size

Monday, November 3, 2008

Ever wonder what the Lindens get up to?

At 9am SLT this morning this is what quite a few of the Lindens were doing - at Teller motor sports sim on the dirt track Jeska Linden started a 200 lap race.
Pathfinder was a good driver although this sideswipe below could be called questionable!
Emma Linden declared herself not a good driver - but I must admit it takes a certain level of skill to be able to drive in laggy SL. Most of the lindens looked like they were having a great time and soon went off to explore the other levels and tracks continuing the race as they went.

sl-newspapers Birthday

sl-newspaper.com will be 2 years old in November and we have huge plans for a celebration, it will be a week of events with contests and parties all week. Over 75,000 in prizes to be given away. The week of events will be held on a sim donated by BNT holdings and the fashion show organised by Best of SL's Frolic Mills
WHEN: November 16th to 22nd
WHERE: to be announced
WHO: Everyone!
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Opening party - Themed and FUN!
A building contest - contestants will be given a 10x10 plot and asked to build an office layout (desk, chair, accessories) in no more than 25 prims They will have 5 days to complete their builds.
Design contests - contestants will be asked to design either a ladies or a gents SL-newspaper outfit. These will become the new freebie outfits we give away. They will be judged separately in 2 fashion shows, organised by The Best of SL Magazine, one for the ladies and one for the gents
Photo Contest - run in conjunction with Skybeam estates
A fair - booths will be available for rent on a first come first served basis - Contact Dana Vanmoer for details on how to obtain a booth Closing party and prize giving ceremony - This will a formal event and all winners will be announced

We have had over 75,000 in prizes donated so far and this is still rising - all prizes will be divided between the winners of the Design contest male and female, the photo contest run by Skybeam estates and the building contest.
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If you would like to hold an event at our birthday venue feel free to contact sl-newspaper.com - there will be no charge for this - again on a first come first served basis. We will have a stage set up in the center with a large event area around it - this can be used for anything you wish - a dance, a demonstration, discussion group, story telling, a show, fashion show etc....... It is only limited by your imaginations and time.
All events will be published in advance and the cut off date for booking a time slot for the main stage is November 9th. Contact Dana Vanmoer via notecard titled 'SLN2Y event' if you would like more info or to book a time slot in advance.

Most of all we hope you will join us in celebrating all that secondlife has to offer during this week of events which is sure to show the very best that imaginations can offer.
Find out more in sl-newspaper or join the subscriber list by clicking the sign at head office
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ian%20Bernard/97/151/37

Sunday, November 2, 2008

ACS grand re-opening TODAY!

American Cancer Society Announces Grand Re-Opening of Second Life Island Office
Sunday November 2, 2008
The American Cancer Society announces the grand re-opening of the newly re-designed island in the virtual world. For several years, the American Cancer Society has existed in Second Life through its volunteers, Relay For Life event, and an island that served as a central meeting place for volunteers and avatars, of those who are affected by cancer.
Over the last several months, the island has been completely redesigned to meet the growing needs of cancer patients and American Cancer Society volunteers in Second Life. In 2008, the Relay For Life of Second Life volunteers raised over $200,000 USD which cumulated with an event that was attended by more than 2,000 avatars on 35 sims.The new American Cancer Society Island in Second Life will feature a "Hope Haven," a place where the cancer survivor support group can meet regularly and in private so they can share intimate information with each other to help cope with diagnoses and treatment, as well as provide comfort and support for one another.
The new Island will also feature a 4-story, two-tiered office building that will be dedicated to Relay For Life volunteers. Making Strides Against Breast Cancer volunteers, Island Greeter volunteers, and an Information Library. American Cancer Society pamphlets and brochures will provide information related to cancer prevention, treatment options, support and information will be available in the Information Library, as well as informative videos about the history of the American Cancer Society, cancer information, patient support programs, and Relay For Life information.
Visitors will arrive at the island at the Welcome Center, where a volunteer will be available at all times to greet and provide direction and/or information. The island will also feature a Memorial Garden to remember loved ones lost, 2 amphitheaters for large meetings, several smaller outdoor meeting areas, and a medium sized office space in a separate building. Events will begin at 9.30am SLT with an opening ceremony scheduled to begin at 10am SLT, from 9.30 on visitors will be entertained by the lively DJs at T1 Radio while wandering tours take place. There will be greeters stationed around the island to direct and answer any questions and explain the area visitors find themselves in.
At 10.00am SLT opening comments and thank yous will take place hosted by Stingray9798 Raymaker in the Southeast Amphitheatre.
11am will see the Survivors' Makeover/Fashion Show sponsored and supported by FACES with Cinders Vale, Poppy Zabelin and Serendipity Nerd followed by a closing speech from Stingray9798 Raymaker.
*Please see full schedule of events below.
The objective of the new design has been to provide visitors with a breathtaking view, peaceful atmosphere, and a comfortable place for volunteers and those seeking information to return as often as they like. "The American Cancer Society plans to utilize the virtual office no differently (in concept) than any other office in any other city," says Jeffrey Montegut, the American Cancer Society's Second Life Manager. "The same services that are offered in a real life office should be available to the Second Life community, because there are real people facing real issues behind each and every avatar. The American Cancer Society recognizes that, and fully supports our volunteers in Second Life."

Schedule of events: (times maybe subject to change)

Sunday 10/5/08
Open @ 9:30 AM SLT Ceremony @ 10:00 AM SLT
9:30 AM SLT Wandering Tour (30 minutes) - T1 Radio Streams Music
10:00 AM SLT Southeast Amphitheater - Stingray9798 Raymaker
10:15 AM SLT - Video stream of American Cancer Society-funded researcher
10:30 AM SLT Wandering Tour Break (30 minutes) - - T1 Radio Streams Music
11:00 AM SLT Survivors' Makeover/Fashion Show
11:30 AM SLT Future Plans/Closing - - Stingray9798 Raymaker

**The American Cancer Soiety would like to extend a special thanks to the following designers for their support and patience.**
Minnu Palen & Thora Charron - MM Skins/Hair & Cachet
Maddox Dupont - KMADD City & MADesigns Shapes
Nicky Ree - Designing Nicky Ree
Rosemary Galbraith - M&R CUPCAKES
Mavis McGettigan - Skin Flicks
Blaze Columbia - Blaze*
Torrid Midnight - TorridWear
Fallingwater Cellardoor - ShinyThings
Machang Pichot - AOHARU
Onyx LeShelle - Maitreya
Annyka Bekkers - Blowpop
LeeZu Baxter - LeeZu Baxter Designs
Lion Jonesford - Lion Skins
Barbara Nicholls & GM Nikolaidis - SporkCheer
No Destiny - a.C Store
Scar Ayres - A. D. Studios
And last but not least a special thank you to Bora Rossini and his building crew.

Sadness and realisation

You know tonight I was taking pictures for Mami Jewels' new releases coming out this week and it suddenly struck me; we could very soon lose our little piece of paradise.
I love Caprona and its just so unfair!
We rarely use all the prims we are allowed here, maybe the exception to that is when James and I got married and at that time I can understand we may have put a strain on the server for an hour or so but is that unusual? Aren't all servers going to be strained occasionally? Anyway only 4 avatars are usually on our island and then rarely for any length of time or all at the same time, so why should we be punished for the 'light' use of our retreat?

I truly feel saddened at the way Linden Lab are treating their residents, the people who have found happiness in their secondlives and are now having it ripped from them in such an unjust way.
For my part I am losing faith in LL and to show my disappointment I will no longer be doing business with the Lindex - why should I give them a penny after the way they have treated every one of us. Most of the decisions LL has made of late I may not have liked but I have always been able to keep my distance and sometimes even see both points of view but, in this, LL has pushed me too far.
I recommend if you are not going to use the Lindex, like myself, then you make sure you use a reputable exchange instead like the ones on either ACE-Exchange or Xstreet(formally sl-exchange). I know there are others but I personally do not know of them please feel free to add a link (in the comments) to any reputable exchanges you have used in the past.
As a reporter and editor of this newspaper I have always tried to remain impartial while still being true to myself, but, in this issue I have failed and am not afraid to say so. Many of my friends are talking of leaving SL and many others are selling their land and downgrading their accounts. While nothing is set in stone yet, according to Jack Linden, and there is a spark of hope left that LL may reconsider or find a compromise I will wait as many others will do - just don't wait to long Linden Lab to make some sort of decision or you may find yourself with a world empty of content creators and supporters.
Dana Vanmoer
(dress 'nicole' by Styles of Edo - to be released this week)

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Halloween fun and a GRAND opening!

Last night was a whirlwind of parties but the party to be seen at was the grand opening of the beautifully built Casablanca Hotel at the Best of SL boulevard it was good to bump into a few friends Pup Witherspoon looked amazing as did Raven Pennyfeather of Rfyre and of course Frolic himself. The hotel looked absolutely amazing whatever time I set the sun at - congratulations to the designers and of course Frolic and best of SL who have lived up to the name with this elegant addition.
This was a great party at Flashman's with a few of the crew. Bixyl turned up to Bat away the Rats running around - but wasn't very effective and unfortunately my spike heels kept missing them too but Mami's newest gown from Styles of Edo was a huge hit all round - look out for the release soon! (I just love previews, means I can wear something no-one else has yet!)
I am not sure about 'beauty and the beast' but beautiful Breezes and the bat? Just don't let him too near your neck Bree!............
I hope everyone had spooky fun last night! I know I did.
Dana Vanmoer