The O R I G I N A L S II

by Shellie Sands

On Sunday, 24 May, POL Arida brought together again a collection of SL performers doing exclusively original tunes. The event took place at Rasta Fairy Beach and was hosted by the incredible Harrie Skellerup once again. Each performer played a 30-minute set over the course of 5 hours. This showcase differed from the first one in April, but it was equally as unique in talent.
Kicking off the show were The Born Again Pagans (Madame Anoufhaz and hexx Triskaidekaphobia). This was a surprisingly refreshing band whose music was mellow with a hint of reggae on a couple of songs. They definitely have a sound quite different than one might expect from a band who call themselves Pagans. The band recently released their first album on 9 April 2009. I look forward to catching them around the grid some time.
AMFORTE Clarity was up next performing her original tune "Nothing Concrete." AMFORTE impressed me as sounding a bit like Alannis Morrisset but softer and a little less cynical. Very sweet with a lovely personality, she uses her music as a vehicle for pouring out her self doubt and this is evident in every song. Typically AMFORTE does orginals and some covers. I recommend catching a show if you can.
Lexie Luan is an awesome performer who really plays to the crowd. Her powerful, melodic voice will really capture your attention. A native Philadephian, and personal friend of mine, Lexie has been performing most of her life. Lexie is a talent not to miss!
Following Lexie was Bara Jonson, an upbeat Swedish performer with a strong, resonant voice and fantastic guitar strumming (and some excellent whistling talent too). I've heard him before and really like him. Soon to be a papa and proud of it, Bara will not disappoint--check him out!
POL Arida himself was next and delivered with his usual intense style sprinkled with sadness. Performing some of his best originals, including "One" and "Home," his set closer was "The Last Song Ever." This was, unfortunately, true as POL is taking a wee break and will be greatly missed by the SL music community. Best wishes POL during your hiatus. We look forward eagerly to your return to the SL music scene!
Up next was the fabulous Zorch Boomhauer serenading us with his raspy and sexy voice. Zorch has a terrific stage presence and sings from the heart.
Rich DeSoto took command of the stage next. Rich has a pleasantly surprising sweet tenor voice. His music blends country with folk and his songs are light and upbeat. Ad libbing using the members of audience was a special touch during one of his songs. Some of you may have heard Rich before singing his very funny "Avatar Girl."
Juel Resistance was beautiful as always performing her customary mellow folk-like music. Stream issues (welcome to SL Sunday!) interrupted her set, but this was quickly rectified and we didn't miss much. Try to catch Juel, she is truly delightful.
AcousticEnergy Nitely followed Juel. His name says it all. Strong emotion is captured in every song. A very moving performer, he spoke some of the truest words I ever heard about SL, "some of us have long distance relationships that are difficult to manage, but one day we'll meet and share and feel our tears." This somewhat profound statement was followed by the song "I Can't Wait to See my Joy Upon Your Smile." I was very impressed as a first time listener and highly recommend him. I look forward to seeing Acoustic in the future.
Dann Numbers joined this second presentation of The O R I G I N A L S having appeared at the first one. Enthusiastically performing his bluesy tunes he once again put on an awesome show!
All of the featured performers can be heard regularly on IndieSpectrum Radio, owned and managed by Fox Reinsch (www.indiespectrum.com). Many thanks to POL, Harrie, and all the performers, and a special thanks to hexx Triskaidekaphobia and jsmn Yao of RastaFairy Beach for hosting this fabulous showcase.

Growth is out there... really

Much noise was made of Linden Lab's blog post about a month ago, describing how well the SL economy was doing. Especially when considering the worldwide economic downturn. This column is for those who wonder why LL is gloating while your business is not going all that well.

The first and smartest thing I could say is that no matter how the whole picture looks like, some people will be left out in any economic growth cycle. In the 1995-2001 period, the world economy grew importantly. Yet, poverty was not abolished because that never really happened.

Those of you who feel the frustration of being unable to profit from your SL businesses may wonder if the Lindens are lying when telling us that everything is just fine.

First of all, let's separate the land issue from all others. LL did well even when the SL economy was doing badly in 2007. They kept rolling out new continents and the land was snapped up quickly enough for them to increase revenue from tier payments. Only from October 2008 to March 2009 did they see land ownership go down... Given this situation, LL still has a much more important revenue flow from land than it did a couple of years ago.

With that said, the Lindens are still right to pretend that the economy is doing well. The overall state of the grid has made it possible for residents to be more present than ever, as we can see with figures that often reach 80 000 people online. Also, downtime has gone done seriously.

These most crucial numbers give credibility to the "it's going well" theory:

- The value of transactions reached a record of US$120 million in the first quarter of 2009;
- In a survey, 61% of residents said they were either very or somewhat optimistic;
- 68% of residents are either increasing or maintaining their investment in SL business.

So, what's the problem if your business is not doing well? I hate to do this, but I bet that many of you control your own fate. I recently talked to a guy who got back into SL business this year after a year of hiatus. He noticed that competition is fierce nowadays, while it was not before.

This means that strategic mistakes will not be forgiven by the market. When I visit stores in SL, I often find big flaws, from product quality to traffic targeting, that can be optimized. The people who cannot even get shoppers to visit should wonder what they are not doing well.

If you make clothing, you have to find your niche despite the presence of powerhouses such as Armidi, Curious Kitties, Ivalde, Truth, Mischief Fashions and Nicky Ree. This is no easy task, and any mistake will cost you traffic and sales.

Did you come up with a hit? Then, expect your competition to look at what you do and find a way to make a competing product.

In services, rivals will make a pitch to try convincing your customers that they can do better. I've done it, I've seen it people try it. You may not have seen that a couple of years ago.

I can compare this situation to journalism. In the field, we say that the truth is out there. You have to go get it. The growth of the SL economy is there. And you have to go get it... while expecting rivals to make an effort of their own.

Disappearing Lifesaver

It seems that there is a move by the lindens to do away with camping in sl.
Perhaps not deliberately but as an offshoot of the traffic issue and bots.
Now, you know I love freebies and you have to figure that I love camping.
I started camping as a newbie 2 years ago. I thought it was great to be getting some lindens for sitting, or even better for dancing.
There was one place I loved. It was in a New York sim with a camp master where you could just sit at a lovely pond quietly in the midnight mode and earn lindens for that enjoyment and sleep at the same time..
To my favorite I make a daily visit, of course, I will not mention the name but I feel as if I have a job there. The owner is so pleasant and caring to inform us of changes occurring.
It is not like that everywhere. Some owners just use the avatars for gain and pay very little for our presence. I have found one that charges to join the group.
They do not know us and we do not know them.
I have lived with both. Actually I do not need to camp. I am addicted to the idea so I still do it. I have that feeling that it is great to get lindens for so little, But I use the money I earn for good. Much of it is for someone else who needs it. Some goes to help newbies, some to charities, some for shopping, ( but not that much since I love those freebies too) and a lot for tips.
I am not clear on what the problem is with traffic being “bloated”.
It puts some sims in the top of search and I guess there must be money involved somehow.
I wonder what the newbies will do for money.
Of course I have met those owners who have no love for the camps. It just causes trouble they say.
I know I will miss it if it disappears but I will be fine.
Some of my friends will not and that is a worry.
One newbie told me of two really good camps that have gone down in the past week. They are scrambling to find new ones. Well, we can only hope.
Gemma Cleanslate

SHANGRI-LA IN SECOND LIFE?

I arrived on a sun-drenched beach to start my journey through Reflections Plaza, a residential paradise. As I looked round there were people chatting, sunning themselves by a tiny inland lake fed by a sparkling waterfall.
Nearby was an open-air dance floor with tables and parasols and a Seven Seas fishing post, for the sporting types in Second Life. I noticed a fishing buoy nearby that controls the fish population, but thought I’d go for a dive in my SCUBA gear to have a look, anyway.
Beautiful! I recommend it. I was all alone just listening to the sound of my breathing apparatus as I swam around. I found a little channel out to the ocean but decided to stay near the shore for safety’s sake. I could feel the heat through the water and decided to take in some sun and stripped off to my swimming shorts and lay on an inflatable raft.I nearly fell asleep, it was so calm. But I could hear the sound of voices in the distance and decided to go for a walk. A nearby Gazebo housed information panels about Dove Estates and, being nosey, I went to have a look round. Palm trees stretched alongside a decking path between the houses gave shade as I walked along. The path led me between the houses which are for rent. I popped into one to have a look.
The one I sneaked into was really well designed. Each 2-storey house has its own parcel with a radio, blinds, working fireplaces, fans, security and code locking doors all controlled by a central system. There are enough prims available to make a very snug beach home.
Upstairs is an open-plan bedroom that leads out onto a spacious balcony, the lounge goes right to the roof and is heated by a remotely controlled fire, using the central management system and the adjacent room leading out to a large veranda had controllable down lighters. The veranda was large enough to take tables and chairs to enable you to enjoy a barbecue as the sun went down. Five of these houses overlooked the beach.
I walked back towards the dance floor and found a beautiful little lake fed by a waterfall, with two fountains. I clambered up the rocks to see what was on the other side. There were more houses in a grassy area, looking completely different to the beach front but just as beautiful. I flew up about them to have a better look and saw just how well these dozens of house had been planned to form a lovely living area for people. Surrounded by the sea but set on two very different landscapes separated by a thin hilly ridge.
These other houses were of a slightly different design to the beach ones, but very well laid out with two rooms upstairs. They had the same central control system as the ones by the beach. The interior design was of wood panelling and stone features and an inglenook fireplace in the same stone. Very attractive it was, too. The stone patio at the back led to a spacious garden.
While I took in the view, I noticed an area hidden away in the corner. Wondering what it was, I went over to take a closer look. Covered by a canopy of shining white parasols was a wedding area.
Cleverly split into two sections, one for the ceremony and one for the celebrations that would follow was a complete wedding “temple”. There was space for the wedding with an rostrum for the minister and plush seating for the guests and witnesses to what can be the most important day in a couple’s lives.
A short walk will bring the to the reception area complete with a table for the cake and champagne and dining tables with a dance floor to one side. Superb.
I found an information panel about the services that were available at Sunset Weddings at Reflections Plaza 42, 15. Planning a wedding? Well that’s the place to go, I can assure you.
As I made my way home, I thought to myself that here was an excellent place to live in Second Life. Beautiful surroundings, houses of the highest standard and the sparkling seas, what more could you want? Especially if you have just got married!
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Reflections%20Plaza/87/98/27
Kim Trefusis

Remembering Three Residents Who Passed Away

By Bixyl Shuftan

Death is the last thing on the minds of most people when they log onto Second Life. Unfortunately, people behind the avatars can expire, and the previous week brought three reminders that our virtual friends can one day be beyond our mortal reach.

Last week, Julie Apocalypse passed away after a long struggle with cancer. She was best known in Second Life for becoming the Queen of Bohemia in Tiny Empires. Besides a memorial being built for her, a service was held in her honor by dozens of her friends. Mojo Fiddlesticks and Raymond Goalpost headed the service. Mojo told those planning to attend Julie’s real-life funeral that it was requested purple be worn, “I am attending for each and every one of you.”

Raymond gave the following speech, “Thanks for everyone’s patience with the move. We have all gathered here today to remember Julie Apocalypse. She passed away on May 17th, 2009, leaving behind family, friends, and her legacy which has touched many of us here in SL. I know that people are perceived in many different ways, depending on circumstances, and I wish to share with you my thoughts about Julie and then allow others to speak as well.”

“I have only known Julie though the game we played called Tiny Empires. From what I know of Julie, it was one of her passions. Julie was always eager to teach, to coach, and to help players, no matter what kingdom they were from. She was competitive, but fair. She relished running Bohemia and being online at all hours to not miss the next Trader or Festival. She was dedicated to leading and guiding all of us Bohemians, which in a way she saw as her children. She was witty and had a great sense of humor. And she was a stickler for proper spelling and use of language.”

“Many of us didn’t really know how sick Julie was ‘till we heard of her passing. Unfortunately, I knew along with several others which she had sworn to secrecy. And sometimes it was a burden to bear, but something you do for a friend. After Julie moved in with her daughter to become closer to her family, she was online much less often. She would still visit from time to time, but her visits would be short due to the amount of pain she was in. She was always trying to protect her Bohemian children from the truth and she put up one hell of a strong fight.”

“It was during one of these last visits to Second Life when I spoke to her. It really summed up for me what she felt about the spirit of Bohemia. Julie had come online to give us our tax amnesties, etc., and she TPed me to the castle so that I could liege her in preparation for my ascension to lead Bohemia. So I TPed, and in one of those great SL quirks my avatar appeared naked to me! Too embarrassed to ask Julie if I was naked, I acted normal chatting with her as I checked my clothes in my inventory and saw that yes, I was fully clothed, so not to worry. So we carried on, discussing her health and small talk, then lieged, and she told me she must go, due to her back being so sore.”

“I bid her goodbye and TPed to my home and was almost instantly asked, “WHY ARE YOU NAKED?” Naturally I turned a deep shade of red and meekly IMed Julie, “Um ... Julie? ... was I naked when I was with you?” And she just said to me, “Why yes you were. I thought about saying something but ... what the heck ... this is BOHEMIA.” We had a good laugh about that, and I know that as she logged out of SL she had a smile on her face. ... And that is what’s important. Making special memories, laughing each day, and having experiences we can smile about.”

“I know that only scratches the surface of Julie’s personality, but she will be forever remembered by me for who she was and what she stood for.”

“I also have a message from Steelcobra Calamari who could not be here today, and asked me to speak for them:”

“ ‘Hello all, friends, friends and family of Julie, Bohemia. Sorry I could not be there as at this time I am just getting off work (wishes he could fire his RL boss). Well, just want to say ... Julie was one who inspired, motivated, and was always determined. She was a guiding soul to those that knew her. Willingly and selflessly helped those in need. She also had much humor as well. She always insisted that I should be a ‘misfortune teller’ and open up my own psychic office.’ She will be missed on the physical. But know that she will continue to love us and smile on us in Spirit.’ ”

Raymond concluded, and Mojo spoke next, “I used to take pleasure in talking in innuendoes ... that were sometimes so near to the bone. And Julie never told me off. (laughter) Her only exception was that she thought the word ‘arse’ should be permitted. ... lag sorry. When she became ill, she refused to let me tell anyone anything. She refused to believe what the nurses told her in January this year. ... She spoke to me on the phone, and her main worry was that we were missing tax amnesties.”

Mojo paused for a while, then resumed speaking, “Sorry about that. SL always picks its moments. Even right at the beginning, on Boxing Day evening when she collapsed, her first words were, ‘ I need to get to the computer so I can give the permissions.’ She made her daughter ring me. The last time I spoke to Julie ... she admitted that it was terminal and she was not having treatment. She told me she had 6 to 12 months to live. What she forgot to say was that three months had already passed. She forgot on purpose, to protect me.”

“When I started Tiny Empires, there were no kingdoms. Someone bought me a TE HUD. I loved the game and moved the first time someone bribed me. I had no idea what I was doing. (laughter) Then Julie lieged me. I moved about 3 or 4 times ... daily ... and she said ‘Hi’ ... within minutes she had given me more advice and help than the last 4 lieges had in total. And she explained to me that she lived about 1 real-life mile away from my house. That was our bond. She taught me everything as well.”

“People think that I knew Julie more than them. Okay, she sometimes confided in me about Bohemia, and I was her right hand man. But she didn’t know me more than you ... nor did I know her more than you do. She loved each and every one of us, individually, for our minds, our souls, she loved all good people and stood for everything good. She never complained. She was an inspiration. She told me on the phone Bohemians were her children. Everyone she encountered on SL were close to her heart. But she was an intelligent woman, and she kept me at arm’s length because we met online. She was private, but loved wholeheartedly. Yes, her family knows how much we all meant to her. And that is why they have invited me to attend next week.”

“She cried, and said she didn’t want to abdicate, but that she needed to for the good of the kingdom. Raymond was chosen by me because he believes in the Bohemia as created by Julie. And Julie never questioned my decision. She trusted my choice because she knew I didn’t wasn't to ascend as I am not online as often as I would need to be.”

“She nearly died at Christmas when she first collapsed. And a few weeks later, she got an infection which sent her delirious and put her in the hospital. The nurses were going to let her go. Her daughter begged for antibiotics. She came home two days later, and came straight online as she had not been so for a whole week. She told the room, ‘ I have a trapped a nerve in my arm and can’t type.’ Then she IMed me, and said, “ I nearly died. They brought me back from the brink of death.’ ‘ !! ‘ I said, ‘ and you told the room you have a sore arm!! Are you insane?! Please tell them. It sounds like you are being blasé.’ She said, ‘ no, I don’t want to worry them. And I don’t want sympathy.’ “

“Because she lobed us, and did not want us to feel pain. Also, she would not want any of us to sit online 24/7 and become ill. She wants people to see their real-life families, etc., and stop and smell the roses, and she wants us to remember her for what she stood for.”

With the end of her speech, her fellow mourners spoke one after another, “God bless Queen Julie.”

Special thanks to Lomgren Smalls for providing the transcript and picture.

* * * * *

On May 26, 2009 a service was held for Artistic FimiColoud, whom had passed away from cancer one year before. She was Stephanie Koslow in real life and was 49. At her memorial at Park Galleries, people gathered passing one another memorial candles as soft music played in the background. A few people wore “I Relay for Fimi” tags.

Artistic’s friends talked about their late friend, her life online, her art, about how the “little pink fox” refused to admit defeat.

Artistic’s memorial at Park Galleries remains, at Park (234, 41, 78). Her work can continue to be viewed there. There is also a landmark to her treehouse home in Second Life, Sunweaver Air (42,116, 21), which continues to be maintained and has a number of pictures of her around the place. Most are various screenshots of her life online, but one there was one picture of Artistic’s avatar lying curled on the ground while an angellike being with a face much like her real-life one rose into the air. She also has a place in Second Life named after her, Fimi Falls, in Hope Gardens in the Colorado sim at (189, 44, 25).

“Peaceful journey, little warrior.”

* * * * *

Lohti Aeon’s profile description didn’t have much. A few groups, a picture of his virtual self, a single location. A man of few words, his 1st life tab simply stated, “I'm a 19-year-old soldier who spends his spare time on his computer, after balancing out school, family crises, work, and other mumbo-jumbo.”

In real life, he was Specialist Jacob D. Borton of the US Army. Described as a “shy video gamer” in his high school years, he joined the Army and was sent to Iraq. He was described as reserved, but not afraid to come to the aid of someone he felt was being pushed around, “He wouldn’t say much unless there was some injustice being done, and then he would speak up.”

Borton met his end not at the hands of Islamofacist terrorists or their booby traps, but by one of his own comrades. He was one of the five soldiers killed at the combat stress clinic at Camp Liberty on May 11, 2009 by a sergeant sent there whom left the building and returned with a gun. Borton is described as putting himself between the shooter and another man, trying to talk the assailant into putting his gun down. He was 20 years old.

It was this week in which news of Borton's death finally reached his friends in Second Life. In response, space has been purchased at the War Memorial Annex in Ileina Cova for a memorial plaque in honor of the fallen soldier whom like the rest of us had a virtual presence here.

Bixyl Shuftan

KRISTAN'S CLUB GRAND OPENING!

GLANCE International Agency presents...



This Friday, May 29th, KRISTANS Club will make its grand opening with top models, electro DJs and fun contests... From 1 PM SLT to 9 PM SLT, Top Designers of SL will offer special fashion gifts for you for a total of 16,000L$... !

Style Sponsors of this party include [KA] Designs by Kira Ahn, Muze by Muze Rayna, Ibizarre by Anyusha Lilienthal, Zanzo by Theodore and Drusus DuCasse, Skin Flicks by Mavis McGettigan, New Dana's Delights by Dana Vanmoer, La Besace by Myralda Minelli, So Many Styles by Irie Campese. Show up at the party, participate to our hourly contests and WIN gifts certificates from these top brands!

Edward Kristan is an avid music lover in both lives, always on the look for the greatest vibes and the glamorous events. He built KRISTANS club with the spirit of a fashionable and funky place where everybody is welcome to party.

This event is produced by GLANCE International Agency, SL's Premier fashion PR Agency. GIA Fashion PR Agency is known for its first class parties and extensive experience in fashion marketing and event coordination.

Music will be provided by the talented DJs from Total Fusion Company for 8 hours of traumatic music set!

Book your calendar... This event is not to be missed!

Commercial and/or Residential Is, Lucid Dreams (29, 198, 33)

Cartoon of the Day

By Bixyl Shuftan
Click for full size image

BNT estates

Today I was asked to take some pictures for the Land Expo being held in June, the pictures were for BNTs display and I happily stepped up as many know I love taking pictures and I know there are some lovely places on the estate.
I did not expect the quality I found though and some places were breath-taking.
Like Cypreana and Coppice - I was truly amazed at the beauty that has been created.
Take a look at the images or go and see the places for yourself - pictures can never do some of these sims justice.
Dana

NEW BUSINESS HORIZONS WINS GOLD FROM SECOND LIFE CREATOR LINDEN LABS

Second Life business park and conferences developer, New Business Horizons (http://www.nbhorizons.com ), is today being awarded the prestigious accolade of Gold Solution Provider by Second Life creator Linden Labs. After a rigorous vetting programme, NBH joins just 30 other businesses worldwide in receiving the new award, launched today by Linden Labs.

New Business Horizons (NBH) runs the Blue Horizon business park in the online virtual world of Second Life, where it provides managed offices, conference facilities and other business centre services for a wide variety of clients including Universal Music Group (UMG), the Institute of Travel & Meetings (ITM) and Macmillan Cancer Support. Its work for UMG, whose artists include Amy Winehouse, Elton John, Gwen Stefani and U2, includes the building of a bespoke business complex and conference centre straddling four Second Life islands.

NBH and its 30 peers were selected as Gold Solution Providers from a pool of more than 250, in a scheme which recognises them as "particularly well qualified" in providing virtual world services for enterprises and educational institutions.

"Innovative enterprises, military organizations, government agencies and educational institutions are actively using virtual worlds for distance learning, training and simulation," says Tom Hale, Chief Product Officer at Linden Lab. "The Gold Solution Provider Program makes it easy to find experienced partners that can deliver high-quality experiences for a wide range of Second Life projects."

NBH founder and chief executive Alan Haymes comments: "Our aim has always been to make Second Life as accessible and successful as possible for our clients, whether they're smaller businesses seeking serviced offices or global enterprises requiring major developments. Becoming a Gold Solution Provider is a powerful recognition - by the owner of Second Life itself - of our work's quality. It tells enterprises and institutions that we have the official thumbs up."

The award comes just a few months after NBH scooped the prestigious 'Best Use of Technology' award from the Docklands Business Club and the East London Chamber of Commerce.

For once it looks like Linden Lab have listened to the residents!

Good News: Homestead Pricing to be Grandfathered if purchased before July 1st, 2009
Update to July 1st Homestead Pricing Plan

So, given that things seem to have stabilized in the Second Life economy and that Linden Lab's business remains strong and our revenues are healthy, we are able to forego the planned Homestead price increase in July for one year, but only for Homesteads purchased (or reactivated, see below) before July 1, 2009. In other words, any Homesteads purchased before July 1, 2009 will have their monthly fees Grandfathered at USD$95 per month until July 1, 2010. This includes any Homesteads that you currently own at the time of this post.

In addition, if you reactivate a Homestead that you abandoned (not converted) after January 1, 2009, we'll waive the setup fee to re-instate it. All Homesteads purchased on or after July 1, 2009 will be at the USD$125 monthly rate as originally planned. This offer is only open to Homesteads bought before the July 1st 2009 date so if you want to take advantage of the lower USD$95 per month rate, you will need to have purchased or re-enabled your Homestead before the end of June.

Victory for those that fought for the grandfathered system! at least for the first year.

Read the full post HERE

THE O R I G I N A L S

On Sunday, April 26th, WAMtv presented the O R I G I N A L S. Brainchild of POL Arida, the O R I G I N A L S consist of SL live musicians performing exclusively original compositions. The event took place in North Norway and was graciously hosted by Harrie Skellerup of Pixel Hill Presents. POL, with the help of others, put it all together strictly for fun and exposing the SL community to some of the best talent in-world. Simulcasted on Indie Spectrum radio, the event was attended, at one count, by 57+ avatars--a wonder we didn't crash the sim!

The lovely Mimi Carpenter kicked off the event with her sweet songs accompanied by guitar. Mimi is a French Canadian and a real pleasure to listen to. Next up was EvaMoon Ember whose Cabaret style sets her apart from many others. Accompanied by well- done back tracks, Eva belted out the tunes for the next 30 minutes.

EvaMoon - Eva has a cabaret like style and is very amusing and entertaining. "The musical equivalent of standup comedy" -- Seattle For booking contact me or Throughthesewalls Moody.

Following Eva was the fabulous Raspberry Rearwin. whose sense of humor and contributions to room chat will keep you rolling in laughter. Contrary to his light and fun banter (also known to "drop dead" on occasion), Rasp's music is serious and mature and exhibits his talent on guitar, as well as piano. Pilgrim75 Swashbuckler (aka Pete Mroz) took the stage next and wowed the crowd with his clear, strong voice, performing ballad/bluesy/folk type music. Winston Ackland performed songs with a country folk flair. A first time listen for me, I was impressed with his talent.

And then the most awesome POL himself! The crowd roared and for many he seemed to be the main attraction (I know for me he was!). Here the SL gods tried their best to interfere and after attempts to connect to 5 different streams, it was not to be. Our good fortune was in the fact that Fox Reinsch (Owner, Indie Spectrum Radio) was in the crowd and provided us with recordings of POL as they continued to struggle with stream issues. Thanks Fox for coming to the rescue! God bless Harrie for her patience and diligence in trying to get POL live. Grace McDunnough commented that Harrie has nerves of steel and a heart of gold--indeed she does. If you haven't heard POL, his music is very intense, emotional and laced with anger. A must see!

Another real treat hit the stage next in the form of Zak Claxton. Although I had never seem him perform in world, I have heard him frequently on the indie stream and always wondered who it was that I liked so much. A real upbeat performer, Zak strummed his guitar regaling us with songs from his soon-to-be released RL album. I will be sure to catch future Zak shows.

A Diva in her own right, Grace McDunnough "graced" the stage next, showcasing her enormous talent in composition. Grace's songs are about people, love, relationships and the ups and downs of life. Grace originally hails from Canada and currently resides in the Southern United States, noted by her frequent "thanks ya'lls" to the crowd. Often referred to as a sultry songbird, her strong voice speaks to the heart, whether performing originals or "gracified" covers. An unassuming Grace felt quite honored to be "sandwiched in" between Zak and Max KIeene.

Maximillion Kleene--Ahh, Max. This guy truly gets around and performs day and night. He hails from Niagara Falls on the Canadian side and is incredibly popular in the SL music scene with a huge fan base. Max has a boyish quality to him that makes him absolutely adorable and refreshing. If you haven't heard Max live, you are truly missing out.

Dann Numbers was another new listen for me, although I've see the name in events. His style was bluesy/down-home stuff and he put on a rockin' show! I look

forward to seeing him again.

Senjata Witt is another popular performer, but this was the first time I was finally hearing her. I was not disappointed. With a powerful voice and some talented guitar work, she put on a great show.

Wrapping up the afternoon was DJ Doubledown Tandino spinning originals and live mixes.

Other notable musicians in attendance included Stella Silvansky, Clairede Dirval, Lexie Luan, , Capos Calderwood, Tamra Sands, Bones Writer, PM Bookmite and Zorch Boomhauer

A good, fun time was had by all. Many thanks, POL, Harrie, Luka and countless others serving as hosts. I look forward to the May event!

Shellie Sands

Chicken? Dinner ??

The other day my friend, Vickijo, said “I have to go get my eggs before they hatch”.
Ok I said, thinking she was talking about real life. After a while she told me that she had to take the chickens to the orphanage.
Oh my, I thought what is going on here?
Well would you believe there is a chicken orphanage in sl???
Oh yes !
I went there to see. LOL !!
I found a skybox filled with tiny chicks scurrying about in pens and out of pens! So cute! They were imploring me to go get food for them at a certain place, (an advertisement, I think). But, when I touched them they displayed a health chart showing they did not need food.
It is an amazing thought that there is a chicken orphanage in sl.
I think you can adopt one if you like. I never knew chickens were so important in sl.
I took at look at the vendor (in another location) which offers a set of chickens that grow and eat and reproduce.
To bring your chicks with you there is a carrying crate that is advertised as very comfortable inside to protect your chicks.
Eggs are available so you can start from the beginning.
Choosing your chick's colour is a option too along with healthy food.
If you figure it out let me know! What next !! Indulge 244, 128, 2001.

Gemma Cleanslate

RFL Star Trek Party for Charity

By Bixyl Shuftan

On Sunday May 24 at 11 AM SL time, a Star Trek themed party was held for charity. The event was held by the Relay for Life group Relay Wizards, with all Lindens raised going to cancer research. Around the place were various things to do. One could watch a movie (“Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home”). One could grab a free uniform and Klingon translator. Trek uniforms were not requested attire, but the majority wore them anyway.

One could look at an exhibit of an “original series” starship bridge, with some various Trek foods on a counter. One could dance to the music provided by DJs, Natasiaa Nightfire from 11 AM to 1:30 PM SL time, and Jameslarken Supply after 1:30 PM.

But the most visible attraction, and the most fun for the majority of visitors, were the kissing booths. They were manned by various Second Life celebrities, getting the name “SLeberty Kissing Booths.”

Among the noted people at the booths were Hamlet Au, Pooky Amsterdam, and SecondLie Scribe. And numerous people, human and otherwise, went up to give the brave redshirts and science officers smooches for charity. One booth had a Klingon guy, “Can you human females survive a kiss from a Klingon?” And there was no shortage of ladies trying, even if he did forget to gargle with mouthwash after his lunch of raw meat.

And yes, a certain reporter got into the act. Guess the ladies just love a “foxy guy.” ;-)

The party was organized by Amber DeCuir, Haley Saloman, and Shawna Montgomery., and was held at the Chatrez sim at (96, 31, 24) in the Tiny Empires Kingdom of Avalon.

Bixyl Shuftan

War Memorial & War History Museum Annex

By Bixyl Shuftan

I was recently shown a link to a You-Tube of a VE Day ceremony at a memorial area in Second Life, the War Memorial & War History Museum Annex. Taking place on May 8, 2009, on the anniversary of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany, there were a number of people there, including Fanny Starr whom gave a speech through her daughter’s avatar, Explorer Dastardly.

Going to the memorial, there are a number of signs of statements against war from the Bible to modern speakers such as Isaac Asimov. There are also lone helmets on pedestals and in the middle of the memorial a symbolic torch, “All Mankind is one author and is one volume.” There are also a couple sets of free clothes plus a free t-shirt, and a Betty Grable avatar up for sale.

The memorial’s biggest feature is the wall, made up of many bricks on three sides of the land. A notecard explained why the wall was made, “It became clear that many expressed the fact they personally knew someone who either served their country, was killed or maimed in warfare or killed during a terrorist attack or act of war. And it also became clear that the wars mentioned covered a span of over a century and were all over the world. We then decided a way to memorialize these people should be incorporated within the War History Complex of the TLE Interactive World History Museum. This is how the War Memorial Wall was born.“

People going to the Memorial can purchase bricks for 180 Lindens, the cash going to the upkeep of this and other museum areas. Those who can’t afford 180L are asked to contact Anmarerlice Mayo, Spicy Koba, or Kitvel Silberberg for help in getting a plaque. Upon getting a brick space, the resident then gets a notecard in which one fills whom the brick will be dedicated to, and then drops into a mailbox. The plaque will appear within 24-48 hours. One can “pay tribute to those who served and are thankfully still alive, those who were killed during war or acts of war, or those who were killed during terrorist attacks. This applies to all religions, creeds, nationalities, and beliefs. This is NOT a political wall. This is Tribute to those who served and still do serve.”

Dozens of bricks have already been memorialized in honor of veterans from the United States, Britain, Canada, and other countries, and civilian targets of terrorists and Nazi Germany. There is still plenty of space to fill.

Next to the Memorial is the Military Strategy and Vehicles Annex, which shows a number of military war machines, mostly modern ones. The detail on some is very good, and one can get into the Hummer near the gate, though can’t drive it away.

The War Memorial and History Annex is part of the TLE (The Learning Experience) Interactive World History Museum. It is located at Ileina Cove (101, 194, 21). For those wishing to pay tribute to those who gave their lives to freedom, this is one place they can pause and reflect.

The You-Tube showing the VE ceremony is located at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1qUrI0T0Ug&feature=channel

“They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” - Isaiah

“History teaches that war begins when governments believe the price of aggression is cheap.” - Ronald Reagan

Bixyl Shuftan

The Syncopation Factor and Life Between Two Worlds

One of the great things about Live Music in Second Life is that occasionally you run across a musician that really makes an impact on the music scene. Australian Dexter Ihnen (Dexter Morph) in real life is one such person. I finally got a chance to chat and find more about why hes one of the most popular Musicians in Second Life.

Delinda Dyrssen: Dexter lets start with something Ive been wondering since I first heard of you... “The Funkalicious one!” Where did that come from?

Dexter Ihnen: Ha ha - It's so long ago now I almost find it hard to lock down the moment. But it was in the first couple of months when someone first said it at an event and it got repeated until well, it became a kind of a tag that I happily accepted, being that Soul and Funk have been and are such a big part of my music. So The Funkalicious One is a kind of a parody on Buddha - The Compassionate one - having studied and practiced Eastern philosophy most of my life - the parallel was just too funny to deny ;)

Delinda Dyrssen: You do have a message .. a certain spirit you convey in your music. Can you tell me more about this?

Dexter Ihnen: Of course..... How long do we have .... No seriously, it's important to me as an artist to know what it is you have to say and why. An artist needs to know their intent - in fact that goes for all of us, but before an artist can truly come from their center and reach others I believe that that is vital, so, I endeavor to 'lift' my spirit in order to lift others when I perform. Lifting oneself up is paramount to realizing dreams - rather than be disappointed in what we think we haven't got - be grateful for what we have and dream about the rest. In the making of that dream into the material world there is an alchemic quality that we need to apply to our inner life and that is what I endeavor to convey. The evolution of mankind actually depends on that in my view :)

Delinda Dyrssen: Well must admit.. I know I get an uplifting feeling when I listen to your music.. and thats just here in the virtual world.. I can imagine what it would be like in Real life. You also have an interesting take on the real life Music Industry. What are your thoughts on this?

Dexter Ihnen: Once again - thats a huge subject with me but I can summarize; Until the advent of CD roms and the Internet the Mainstream Music Industry had all the cards and they played them very tight to their chest. I saw and experienced a lot of what I call 'Art Crime' in that period ( the wasting of the talent and financial greed around Elvis Presley is a good example - and that's what really killed him if you ask me) Anyway, now things are vastly different and it is no wonder that the major labels have been and are really scared - kind of karma if you will. Artists don't need them anymore. That said, I have (through my presence and success in SL ) recently signed to a great Publishing company who embody a new approach to music sales and artist relationship. I have a lot of hope for the future being that I can see great evolution along with the freedom that the Internet brings including and especially at this time - programs like Second Life.

Delinda Dyrssen: Yes the Internet seems to have leveled the playing field a bit hasn't it. I know you have done support work with some very well known artists like Dizzy Gillespie to AC DC and Midnight Oil.. Tell me what is the biggest difference between playing out there in the real world and playing here in Second Life? And Why do you do it?

Dexter Ihnen: The Biggest difference? Well, to perform in SL you don't have to risk having a car end up on your hood on the way the gig where you may well have to lug your gear in through the rain, then wrestle with tech difficulties and managers etc., then wait for a month to get paid by them. LOL No really, Performing in SL is simply unique - the interaction between artist and listener is quite remarkable and has made a primo multi-tasker out of this longterm space-case :) The support and feedback in SL is unlike 1st life in that it is clearly visible or graphically visible - however as you play dealing with that can be tricky, if you read while you sing you can get caught in the trap of singing what you are reading. But all in all Second Life is what I call a whole new room in the house of entertainment and I'm happy to be part of the furniture :)

Playing live with artists like AC/DC, Crowded House etc. and the plethora of other Australian greats I've been able to share the bill with is something that always was and always will be the root of what we call Rock & Roll - or showbiz if you like. The smell of the greasepaint and the roar of the crowd - it's the physical experience that is it's own unshakable uniqueness about it.

Delinda Dyrssen: You have a very unique sound.. I think described as a funky plucking of the guitar strings .. a very unusual and great sounding style of it. Tell me more about how this came about and how you would describe it?

Dexter Ihnen: Well I call it 'Ricky Tick'. It's a play on 'pick' and also a tribute to 'Steely Dan' ( of which I am a huge fan - Ricky don't loose that number ) From a distance and unamplified that is what it sounds like too - a friend was walking into a gig of mine once and heard me playing unamplified ( and so - no bass ) and he said what he heard was all this kind of snapping and clicking lol . It's a style I formulated on the roads in Europe when I traveled there over a 2 year period. I lived rough on the roads and busked as well as picked grapes in major French vineyards. I wanted to encompass some of the elements of music that I had been listening to for some years rather than just strum the same old way. I used mainly the influences of 4 bass players to achieve the sound. Also, fusion Jazz and Latin rhythms played a big part in the syncopation factor and counter melodies.

Delinda Dyrssen: I love it and yes I do notice a bit of a latin rhythm in some of your tracks. So what is in the works currently for you (Dexter Morph in RL) and Dexter Ihnen here on Second Life?

Dexter Ihnen: Dexter Morph now :) and that's due to my life between the two worlds - also my life-long penchant for change and evolution. Well, the year so far has been really big in that I have been commissioned to produce a CD for a band here ( that is nearly done now ) and I am also in the early stages of doing my first serious single including video. Later in the year a longterm project of a major album production of my own music will also be completed and released as soon as possible after the single has run it's course. Besides that, It's gigs and more gigs. I have also been asked to lecture in a Steiner School and teach Production and Engineering - studio craft. So, there is a LOT going on. Besides all that I get up for a two hour training session most mornings now - just to maintain energy and build focus. I find it hard to function on this level without that.

Delinda Dyrssen: Wow.. I guess the physical aspect is important isn't it. How can one find your music to purchase it? And what group can they join on SL to find out about upcoming virtual performances?

Dexter Ihnen: Ok in SL my group is 'Planet Dex' - so notices come out across that, as well as 8 others usually. Most events will be in the listings also but Planet Dex is the sure fire way to hear. In 1st Life, one can buy my CDs from my website www.dexonyx.com on the audio page. Or email me directly at dexter@dexonyx.com or go to iTunes and look up both Dexter Morph and Dexter Morph. Better still, come down under and I'll give you a freebie ;)

Delinda Dyrssen: Well a trip down under may just be in order!..one last question.. As a successful RL and SL Musician.. What advice can you give to a anyone out there thinking about performing in SL?

Dexter Ihnen: Just do it! It can be tricky to get the hang of it initially but people here are very understanding and I myself am very supportive of anyone who has the gumption to get up and sing or play music - it's good for the soul :)

By Delinda Dyrssen

"Memorial Rockin' 24 for Relay" Raises an Amazing 505,247 Lindens !

by Mystique Sassoon

This year's "Memorial Rockin' 24 for Relay" event kicked off Friday
evening at 6pm and proved more than successful raising an incredible
505,247 lindens for Relay for Life! The event is the heart-project of
one of Second Life's most notorious DJ's - Bcreative Wilde - who,
along with Nevar Lobo, organized this year's fundraiser. Wiccan
Sojourner, of Bewitched Designs, hosted the event. This was the 3rd
year for this specific fundraiser...but this year's was unique in that
it wasn't one single Relay for Life team participating -- instead,
Bcreative opened this year's event to numerous teams. And with 11
teams participating, each filling scheduled time slots and joining
Bcreative, Nevar, and friends raising an incredible amount of money to
benefit the Relay for Life cause.

Beating last year's record of 25 hours, Bcreative DJ'd for 26 hours
straight with no sleep - taking requests and dedicating songs to those
who have won, remembering those who lost, and those who are still
fighting cancer. She kept the tunes spinning the entire 26 hours. As
the evening began to wind down, Nevar Lobo agreed to wear a gown
should the donations reach a half a million. In no short order, the
amount reached the mark. The entire crowd was filled with emotion and
good cheer as the kiosk shot up to the 500,000 lindens mark. And true
to his word, Nevar donned a lovely gown, donated by the Spaciva
Ivanova - captain of the Roma Pro Vita team, and danced the remaining
hour in the regal gown as donations continued to climb to 505,247
lindens.

Heartfelt thanks goes out to all who donated and made the event such a
success. The 11 Relay for Life teams, whose participation and
dedication were evident in bringing in the donations, were: Spirit
Chasers, Charmed Menagerie, Pink Panthurs, Roma Pro Vita, Justice
League, Passionate Redheads, Goreans in Relay, Madness Legends,
All-Stars, Relay Wizards for Spunky, and Cure Chasers. A special
thanks also went out to Wiccan Sojourner for hosting the event, and to
Nevar Lobo, Amethyst Starostin, Wiccan Sojourner, Raven Naimarc, Neill
McCullough, and members of the Roma Pro Vita team who took turns
staying up most of the 26 hours to help keep Bcreative awake.

Yes, this year's "Memorial Rockin' 24 for Relay" was a huge
success.... AND... it speaks volumes about the hearts of our Second
Life residents - who came together... and gave of their time, money,
and heart... for this cause.

NDD tonite !

A group of us were privileged to see the launch of dana’s newest designs, an incredible array of wedding gowns, bridesmaid’s dresses, tiaras and fabulous prim bouquets.

Beautiful laces, amazing taffetas, incredible details and skirts that can’t be adequately described floated down the runway.

Fabulous necklines, beautifully detailed sleeves, and amazing bodices brought ohhhs and ahhhs from the crowd, but the skirts.. oh my….fabulous prim creations that floated and swirled, with amazing under layers and over layers had us all enthralled.

No doubt ladies are already scheming on how to get their SL sweetheart to pop the question, so that they can purchase one of these fairy-tale gowns.

More images in our Fashion Section !!!!

Join me tonight

AVENUE Models is proud to debut the exclusive wedding collection of New Dana's Delights, NDD. A skillful and well-tailored line of colourful wedding fashion, NDD launches it's new wedding line of gowns, bridesmaid dresses, tiaras and bouquets this Saturday.

Just in time for this summer's wedding blitz, this is a show not to be missed by all soon to be brides on the grid. Please join AVENUE Models Livia Mastroianni, Ivyana Szondi, Nezsy Herstein, Laury Sands, Mavi Beck and Haruka Kish as they glide down the aisle-like runway in the incredible fashions of New Dana's Delights.

When:
Saturday, May 23, 2009 1pm SLT

Where:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Royal%20Properties/177/180/1001

-----
New Dana's Delights is the collection of masterful designs by creator Dana Vanmoer. More known for her work with SL-Newspaper, it may come as a surprise to know Dana is a skillful designer in RL. Making the natural shift as a designer in SL, Dana finds relaxation and fun in her talent and has to this point kept her sl-work separate.

NDD caters to the ladies, from business wear, casuals, and evening wear to her new line of wedding gowns and accessories. The feminine ladies suits have been the most popular of Dana's main line up to this point, but she suspects the wedding collection will soon eclipse it. With the support of close friends and partner James, Dana has successfully opened 4 stores around the grid.

For more information please visit Dana's mainstore or blog, both listed below.

http://newdanasdelights.blogspot.com/
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ian%20Bernard/101/153/37
-----
AVENUE Models is SL's premier modeling agency with the most magnificent and professional setup for top supermodels.

AVENUE Inc, is the umbrella company for AVENUE Models, AVENUE Studio, AVENUE Models Academy and AVENUE Magazine. AVENUE was founded by Rusch Raymaker, CEO, and by her side is a team of highly professional and qualified fashion, creative and marketing professionals striving to continuously take the world of fashion to another level.

For more information please contact Jesika Contepomi, Vice President of Marketing for AVENUE Inc.

Email: jesika@avenuesl.com
Website: http://www.avenuesl.com

Protestors Question Blondin Linden on Adult Content Plans

By Bixyl Shuftan

When the Revolting Adults held their first protest about Linden Lab’s upcoming plans for Adult Content Filtering, the Linden they questioned professed not to know much about the issue. He told them Blondin Linden would know more. So the group decided to meet at his place in the Hanley sim during his office hours, Wednesday May 20th at 3:30 PM SL time.

On the day of the protest, I tried porting over with the Landmark I had, and nothing. I tried a few more times without success, then looked at the map. The Hanley sim appeared empty, but there were a few people at the edge to the north and south. I ported near the edge of the sim to the north and headed south. I was unable to cross the sim boundary, and it appeared that there was no sim to the south, even though the map told us otherwise. But with the map showing the place was empty, what was going on? That was the question asked when other protesters gathered at the spot. Some suggested some kind of Linden trickery to keep the protest out, “LET US IN!” “... ignoring a jira ticket with over three thousand votes is one thing but, locking us out of office hours?”

Finally one of the protesters told everyone she’d been IMed by someone on the inside, saying there were about 40 people in the sim. Apparently it was limited to that number. I continued to try to port in via the map, and finally I made it in. Once inside, I saw where the people were, and headed there.

Arriving at 3:45 PM, something must have annoyed Blondin Linden just before I got within chat range as he yelled, “LOG OFF NOW!” Whatever happened, that was the only outburst I heard from him, the rest of the time answering questions. I got around the obstacles, and joined the mix of avatars questioning Blondin Linden.

These are not all the questions asked, only those answered. Only two of the questions that I asked Blondin, and one from protest leader Xantarius Cain, got a reply.

Is the estimated "end of June" time still on course for Ursula moves?
ANSWER: End of June is still on track from what I hear. That's when it'll all begin.

Will we be able to access Ursula with 1.22 viewer?
ANSWER: That is a good question and I am not 100%. I need to check. Good question though.

Here is a question, what is the line Linden has set for "Adult" content, and is it really only the extremes of sl's mature content?
ANSWER: Depends on what you consider extreme. The definitions are almost done.

Are the Lindens committed to tweaking the search restrictions indefinitely if needed until they function as intended and will there be a publicly announced plan on how people can get the exceptions that were promised for people who had legitimate use for otherwise adult terms?
ANSWER: We are committed to tweaking them. If you've noticed a bunch of words have been removed based on resident feedback.

Blondin, would giant phallic attacks be permitted in such an event if held on Ursula? :) ANSWER: Griefing is griefing no matter if its on PG, Mature or Adult.

Thanks Blondin - Follow up Question - Jack and Cyn don't seem to be singing from the same song sheet when it comes to land transfers. Cyn suggests pre-speculation and acquisition prior to move is valid. Jack says checks will be made into past content. Which is right?
ANSWER: They both are. Checks into past content will be a last resort if we feel that someone is truly trying to game the system. It's a last resort.

How will object name and descriptions which are set to show in search effect your parcel? For instance in a situation where a mature parcel with appropriate name and land description also has an object using adult language visible in search, will that prevent the parcel from being visible to mature viewers?
ANSWER: I read this quickly so forgive me if I misunderstood. Objects actually ON a parcel wont be filtered if they use adult words.

Question: I do have the concern, that with such guidelines in place, and the reliance on ARs to control it, the system might be too easily abused to report people for alleged adult content violations. Given that I have several friends now who have been suspended for nothing because it seems like there was no one investigating the reports ... how much security is provided against the abuse of the system or to prevent cases where people report activities thinking that they violate the rules but that are not doing thins actually?
ANSWER: Well, you bring up a good point about abusing the abuse reports. There are A LOT of AR's submitted each and everyday and each one gets special attention. I've seen it in action. The Resident team doesn't act unless they feel confident that something has actually happened that needs further investigation. And on that note, AR's do have to be kept secret to protect the residents’ privacy.

Oh end of June? So The Aporncalypse happens at the same time as the Homestead price increase?
ANSWER: It's bad timing - I know. But the two have nothing to do with each other.

Bixyl Shuftan: Blondin, can you tell us what will happen to landowners and businessmen/women who decline to rate their land?
ANSWER: I'm assuming you mean Private estate owners as they are the only ones who have to flag regions. In reality, not to much unless they get AR'ed. Then the Resi team will come in, look around and decide what to do. Most like, it'll be a few IM's asking the owner to flag.

Oh Blondin, what's the score with the viewer? I heard if you check Adult you can't see any PG or M results. Are they going to fix that or is it intended?
ANSWER: Seems to work for my RC viewer. There are check boxes for ADULT< MATURE AND PG. Check any and all that you want to see

I heard all furries are going to be rated as Adult from now on. Can you comment on this baseless rumour?
ANSWER: In no shape, way or form, are furries going to be generally classified as Adult.

Not flittering objects seems like a loophole that will be exploited. I follow the rules, but my competition uses objects to advertise, but get around the rating system. How will LL deal with objects in search that don't match the parcel rating?
ANSWER: Abuse Reports.

And it was answered on the JIRA because that was a big concern for fear of griefers being able to search bomb places.
ANSWER: I believe this is the correct reason.

Come on guys, give up with the sign on page thing already. It's a stupid way to announce something.
ANSWER: It has proven to get a lot of attention and it will be something we utilize in the future about commenting this to a wider audience.

Question - does that include returning protest posters from private land ?
ANSWER: Are you talking about the signs I returned? The sign on my land? The signs that were causing lag? Didn't I leave one out for good faith?

Blondin, I repeat my question... Are we Europeans having support for enter the mature section? Because we Europeans don't have the age verification system.
ANSWER: I know that laws in Europe are a bit different, but there are many Europeans who are already verified. Off the top of my head Lord Sullivan is verified.

Bixyl Shuftan: Blondin, can you tell us if age-verification will be designed to protect the anonymity of users?
ANSWER: No one is forcing you to use Aristotle. That is just one way. You can do it by having a payment relationship with Linden and your identities will not be any less secure.

They said from the start that this isn't about preventing people selling sex beds on mature land, you just can't advertise a sex bed in classifieds as sex is filtered?
ANSWER: Correct.

Blondin: The draft 'definitions' are fairly vague and subjective - you have mentioned getting final ones soon - are these much tighter or basically the same as the draft that is currently there (the one that has any photorealistic nudity as being adult) ie: all good quality skins = adult.
ANSWER: The format will look the same but we've taken the chance to explain a bit about photo realistic. THe word will still be in there, but no, it doesn't apply to the selling of skins.

Blondin, will traffic scores still affect search rankings?
ANSWER: I don't know.

Question - Many people have bought mainland parcels in the same region to provide prims to support their core business - however 2/3rds of land may not look adult will we be left with a turkey when only a 1/3rd is allowed to move for free?
ANSWER: I believe that all holds can be combined and moved over. If only a section of your land is ADULT, you can move it all, not just that portion.

What about assurances I wont get stuck wiith my (hopefully still) popular club in a sim with another equally popular club?
ANSWER: We will be very conscious of our placements.

Blondin, pardon me, but that's disingenuous. You can sell a product, but not advertise it? Come on.
ANSWER: If you rely on those key words, ie if that's the market you want to focus your advertising on, then you should be on adult land. Apply for a move.

The more I sit in on this, the more it becomes clear that no matter how much the userbase protests these changes, the userbase who pours money into LL's pockets daily, these changes are still going to happen despite the fact that only a vocal minority wants them. Talk about bad customer service.
ANSWER: But if you notice, we've changed a lot of what we originally had in mind based on resident feedback.

Blondin, does linden labs have any intention of opening up additional lines of communication or conversation on this matter? Will we see any more brown bags or forum conversations or are we reduced to the just office hours?
ANSWER: The Brownbags are over. But we'll be opening another forum thread which I'll be actively back on once the update blog goes out.

Blondin, where in the TOS or Community Standards will it be stated that adult content is OK on private land, and that these changes apply only to BUSINESSES?
ANSWER: the TOS will be changed to reflect all these changes around adult content.

Blondin: You skipped my question a second time. How many sims are you going to auction?
ANSWER: I don't know. Depends on how many are left after the swap I suppose.

Blondin, what about others who =can't= for whatever reason, but who DO want to? because here in Italy we don't have the "buy linden" service.
ANSWER: A support ticket would be the best bet.

Q: (it was missed last time I was here, and has been so far today, so I'll just ask it one more time before giving up)...Regarding groups, if/when they also get adult flagged for keyword use, what about the thousands of Residents who are NPIOF or unverified who are already existing members of said groups? Do they remain in the group, get auto-ejected? Possible repercussions?
Answer: I don't know what will happen to those members.

Xantarius Cain: Hi Blondin: Linden Lab has previously stated that private sim owners will not be affected much (other than having search terms for those sims filtered if the residents performing the search is not age-verified). TWO QUESTIONS: (a) Will private sims be required to rate themselves as "adult" if they contain adult material? (b) Will adults who have not been age-verified be locked out of these private "adult" sims? IF YES to both, private sims will be affected more than previously thought. IF NO, this presents a HUGE hole in the age-verification security that LL is building. Please explain.
Answer: yes to A and yes to B.

Haha, Blondin has been lowering the avatar limit on his sim to reduce the number of people shouting at him in this meeting.
ANSWER: Not true. I never shy away!

Well they did remove ponyplay from the filter, because the ponyplayers argued that there doesn't have to be anything sexual about ponyplay. T**s are still inherently sexual for some reason, though.
ANSWER: Google T**s.


It was after answering that question at 4:42 PM than Blondin told us, “Ok, That’s it for me tonight. I’ll be back next week!” Responses from the audience varied. Some were satisfied with Blondin’s answers, thanking him. Others were not, complaining of canned replies, skipping their questions, or of giving replies that weren’t true. One resigned resident commented, “I guess we’ll have to be satisfied with a gilded cage.”

Shortly afterward, I heard from Revolting Adults that the JIRA ticket concerning adult content they had been asking people to sign hit 4000 votes.

Bixyl Shuftan

SLOOP - THE TREE HOUSE

It is quite obvious that the modern Western culture gives us immediate access, almost instantly, to whatever may seem of interest to each one of us. It is also obvious that our attention span is shrinking as fast as our capacity to absorb new information keeps building up.

I dare say this has a price: we don’t have the time to build all that knowledge into a solid subjective structure, an inner house, a solid place, full of surprises, hidden corners, basements and attics and secret passages.
The fleeting contact we establish with all the info we absorb creates in us the false illusion of knowledge.
Those of us who are old enough not to have been cyber kids, can tell the difference.
We are fascinated with everything that’s new and State of the Art technology, but we miss the kind of time we used to spend trying to figure out everything the world has to feeds us.
So we feel our inner self is getting stuffed with knowledge, but it’s not getting deeper, it’s getting thinner.
The Spanish writer Manuel Vincent says that people are afraid to seek refuge within themselves, because that inner construction is “shaky”. So it doesn’t makes us feel safe, but quite the contrary.
And that is a shame, because being able to seek refuge within ourselves is a fantastic relief against adversity.
Like those “cabins” we made under the bed, with blankets and a flashlight.
Or the wonderful tree houses, where we felt safe, masters of the fortress, and open to fantasy.
When we loose our innocence, we loose the safety those tree houses gave us.

“When we stop playing –says Vincent-, we remain unprotected, alone in the wilderness, far from the world of dreams, having to face real enemies”.

Full of hope, he points out that there are privileged human beings that are still capable, no matter what age they are, to build that tree house inside their soul and make themselves strong and invincible against adversity.

There are many ways to do that, as long as we build it strong and keep in there some strong feelings, some strong knowledge, and keep out aggression and barbarity and inhumanity.
And, as you might have guessed by now… let me tell you: Second Life is one hell of a tree house.
The one that made us feel so strong when we where kids, the one place we felt safe to dream in.

Lets play.

Lets take care of our tree house. It’s a chance to have that magic place when we are too grown up to go climbing real trees.

Covadonga Writer