Fearless Nation PTSD Support Virtual Community

Second Life can help people in many ways. One way it can is allowing people to reach out to a person or persons for help. For those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, one group they can contact is Fearless Nation. The Newser recently met up with it's director Anya Iborm who had much to say about the group. She also had a request, volunteers for a study on PTSD,

Read the story in People.

World of Warcraft Update 8.3 "Visions of N'zoth" Live

After weeks of anticipation, the MMO World of Warcraft's major update 8.3, "Visions of N'zoth," is now live and running. The main point of "Visions" is one of the old gods is out to wreck havoc on Azeroth with visions of madness (above video link), and once again it's up to the heroes of the Alliance and Horde to save the day.

But this isn't all. Two new "allied races," or races available as player-characters once you finish certain achievements, are now available. The Alliance have the Mechagnomes, and the Horde have the foxlike Vulpera. The latter have gotten the attention of many of my friends to the point one managed to do the required achievements to be able to make one.

Nobble87 did a video checking out their character creation, mount, emotes, and one special ability (link), of which there were a number of comments, "I wish I never saw the /sleep emote. 15 years of Alliance loyalty down the tubes." "How are we going to PVP them? I will be feeling like I am going to be kicking a puppy."

So will Azeroth see a population explosion of Vulpera? Will the Alliance find themselves outfoxed?

Sources: World of Warcraft, MMO Champion

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: This Saturday at The Science Circle - "Natural Forcings And Natural Climate Cycles"

"Natural Forcings And Natural Climate Cycles"

Saturday January 18
10 AM to 11 AM SL time

Natural Forcings and Natural Climate Cycles – Just not what we are seeing today

In order to understand how human-caused climate change differs from natural cycles, it helps to have a basic understanding of natural cycles. In that context, this talk will address orbital forcing, solar variation, and natural carbon dioxide emission and removal.

By Keith Eric Grant

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/67/129/32

 To read more, Click Here.

Former Xiola Linden Joins Mixed Reality Startup

It's been about two weeks since Xiola Linden departed Linden Lab. According to New World Notes, already she's been hired. She's now at Ubiquity6, a startup tech company focusing on mixed reality.

Xiola told Hamlet Au she saw similarities between Linden Lab and the new startup,  "'Fun, energized, whip-smart, kind, thoughtful, and very diverse. That is something that was so important to me in my previous role, and I did not expect to find that kind of culture anywhere else -- I got lucky to have lightning strike twice in that regard. It's exciting to make new friends who are so enthusiastic about the incredible possibilities and potential of really compelling projects."

Uniquity6 has one product available: display.land , which it calls "a new digital canvas for creativity and shared experiences." How much we'll be hearing from them  in the future, hard to say. But Xiola's presence can only help them.

Source: New World Notes

Bixyl Shuftan

Linden Lab Calls For Merchants For Valentines Day "Shop and Hop"

Earlier this week, Linden Lab announced it would soon be having a shopping event for Valentines Day, and was looking for merchants to take part in it. The event runs from February 3 to 17.

Linden Lab is winding up for a Valentine’s Day inworld shopping event - and we’re now looking for Merchants who would like to participate.  

The Valentine’s Day edition of Shop and Hop will open on February 3rd and will run through February 17th. This is your opportunity to bring a ton of new customers to your brand, by offering some of your best items. We are looking for Merchants willing to offer a discount on some of their items and provide a small non-exclusive gift to shoppers.

Those interested are asked to fill out a form (link) by the end of Monday January 20. Those accepted will be contacted "soon after."

To read the blog post in full, Click Here.

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at the Happy Vixen

By Bixyl Shuftan

SS Galaxy Relocated to Bellisseria Coast

Yesterday evening, word began to spread about a sight just off the west coast of the new continent of Bellisseria. It was the SS Galaxy, Second Life's largest ship, three sims in length.

A vacation cruise liner, from 2007 to 2015 it was an active area, it's owner and staff renting out rooms and organizing events. Then following it's worst griefing attack ever in which the particular Linden that answered to their call for help responded poorly, the decision was made to close the ship. But Linden Lab decided to bring the ship back, and several months later it was back on the Grid.

But, there was no staff to welcome people, organize events, or arrange for people to have a cabin for a while. Occasionally people from outside would organize an event. Still, it wasn't the same ship those who saw it in earlier days knew. On those occasions I went there, I was either alone or there was just one or two others.

After hearing from a couple friends, I decided to check things out for myself. While the ship's old location on the map showed it there, a closer look showed nothing but water and the sims were inaccessible. While where the Galaxy really was, it wasn't showing on the map nor were the sim names. Nor could anyone TP there. One could only head over from the adjacent Hibiki, Bazby Gulf, and Belby Depths sims.

Getting there, the ship was the same one I remembered, and I ran into people from the continent whom were happily looking the ship over and inviting over friends. If Linden Lab wanted to revive interest in the ship, it's done so for the short term. The Newser was told that someone from the Lab would be making an announcement soon. So stay tuned for further details.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hibiki/89/130/23

Hat Tip: Oldesoul Eldemar, Ed Connect

Bixyl Shuftan

"Panda Jenn's Pad" Over Bellesseria Island

In just a matter of months, the new continent of Bellesseria and it's surrounding islands have become home to quite a community of residents. A new club just opened there, "Panda Jenn's Pad."

Panda Jenn (PandaJenn0 Resident) was the lady who set up the club, "It's a hang out for furs and such," she told me, "It's a small place, but it's meant to be a cozy hang out area." The place itself is mainly a dance floor, with some of Panda's artwork on the wall. The radio stream plays All Fur Radio twenty-four hours a day, so people can come any time to listen to music. There's also a pool table for a game.

We still have some things to add and move around. For the most part, it's ready to go." Panda doesn't own the land itself, "My friend Logan has property there. The Pad is just above it."

Panda is somewhat new to Second Life, though she's been an artist for some time. She has an online comic, "Simply Panda Jenn," that updates about twice a month. She also has artwork on Fur Affinity and Deviant Art.

Panda Jenn's Pad is at https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Parlouf/70/54/2494

Bixyl Shuftan

Events This Week at the Sunweaver and Montecito Bay Clubs and Furry Fashion Lounge

Here's what's going on at the Sunweaver, the Montecito Bay clubs, and the Furry Fashion Lounge.

Club Cutlass: Best in 'G' ?, Military, Toon Time

Happy Vixen: Foxes and Felines, Geeks and Nerds, TBA, Aliens, Fairy Tales, Barely There, Cyberpunk, Strips vs Spots, Sock Hop, TBA

Club Zero Gravity: TBA

Montecito Bay: TBA

Furry Fashion Lounge: CAYA, Rock, Retro, Plaid, Horror, Formal, Food, LNL, Royalty

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'.

"Bunny is Back" Rita Mariner Back Online

Good news for the Sunweaver community. After a few days of being locked out of Second Life with her main account, Rita Mariner announced yesterday she was able to get back on once more, "I was able to log in as of 2:30 CST (12:30 SLT)."

Rita's banning has raised more than a few eyebrows, at least one estate owner asking if something like this could happen to her as well, having her account frozen because she was sent a form that got lost in the mail or email. It was also brought up that the original Steelhead community closed down partially because the Lab had locked out the estate owner's main account (the bigger reason was numerous real-life difficulties). One person commented, "That's disturbing, and rather draconian. Something like this only reinforces the fact that FinCEN completely controls the Linden Dollar. What the hell happened to Linden Lab's spine?" Another responded, "US government regulations is what happened and LL is not going to go against it."

In any event the bunny is back, and life in the Sunweaver/Angel community can get back to clubbing and preparing for the Relay. Some though are glancing over their shoulders.

Bixyl Shuftan

Bus Tour Across Second Life

With her tour of Christmas places done, Gemma wondered where to explore next. She soon came across a sign for the answer, literally. On a road was a bus stop sign. She didn't have to wait for an actual vehicle as clicking on it took her to someplace unknown, with another bus stop sign. So where did she go on her mystery tour?

Read Gemma's story in Places.

Montecito Bay's Motel Closed, Taken By Mystery Owner

One of Montecito Bay's less glamorous but more eye-catching locations will soon be history. The city motel has been bought up and closed by a mysterious new owner. In front is a fence with a sign, saying the property had been seized, "Any person who attempts to tamper with this property will be prosecuted."

"Some weird entity is claiming parcels via eminent domain," Moff (MoffettMephit Resident) told me, "Nobody has ever heard of them!" I asked who they were, and he answered, "Azucar, Incorporated, apparently." He had tried looking up information online about them, and found nothing, "They must be brand new or something."

Stopping by the party at Studio 86 that night, which is just down the street south of the motel, people had various ideas what was going on. "Oh man, the hotel! I heard they found one of those mutants in there and the army came and closed the hotel down." "Mutants? Is that what's been messing around Montecito Bay?" "Yes, government projects. Maybe aliens. Or that SCP stuff the kids talk about on Redit." "I seen it with my own eyes, it looked like an alien, but much much bigger and stronger." "I was thinking of the church of the bleeding jackal skull. I have been watching too many 'You Don't Know Jack' commercials." "Azucar is Spanish for sugar! So maybe we're getting a Latin candy company!" "Afterwards the alien asked for sugar, in water."

In the northwestern part of town, the vicinity of the hotel hasn't seen the destruction of other parts of Montecito Bay such as last year's Groundhog Day incident, and the flying saucer crash weeks earlier. But there were a few "crop circles" in the vicinity. Before that, there was a weird statue not far away that some passersby described as compelling them to approach it. As for the motel itself, it's better days were years ago. While it's a cheap place to stay if one has almost no money, that one of the rooms is blocked off with "crime scene" tape is a frequent sight. There are rumors the place has freakishly huge spiders, but no doubt those tales are from combinations of liquor and  arachnophobia.

Stay tuned for more information.

Note: This is a fun article done at the request of Montecito Bay

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: This Week at the Seanchai Libraries

*SECRETS, TREES, MAGIC & STORIES - This Week! *

Magicland Storytime & Seanchai Late Night return for a new year of adventures. The return of Tea Time is announced, PLUS a week full of tales to intrigue and delight.

Check out the stories and the storytellers at www.seanchailibrary.com

All stories told in open voice unless otherwise noted. All times SL/PT

*MONDAY, January 13th, at 7pm:  INTEGRAL TREES by Larry Niven.  Gyro Muggins continues his newest series.

*TUESDAY, January 14th, at 7pm: Sharon Lee and Steve Miller's CUTTING CORNERS from Liaden Universe Constellation #4 with Ktadhn Vesuvino.

*WEDNESDAY, January 15th, at 7pm: Erin Morgenstern's THE STARLESS SEA. Caledonia continues this series featuring selections from the new book by the author of THE NIGHT CIRCUS.

*THURSDAY,  January 16th:

   ~ at 7pm: Midor Snyder's VIVIAN with Shandon Loring. (Also in Kitely!  Find teleport from the main Seanchai World grid.kitely.com:8002:SEANCHAI)

   ~ at 9pm: SEANCHAI LATE NIGHT - Contemporary Sci-Fi-Fantasy with Finn Zeddmore

** COMING JANUARY 19th: The Return of Sunday Tea Time, presenting Agatha Christie's DEATH ON THE NILE

All sessions held at the Seanchai Library in Second Life unless otherwise indicated. Schedule subject to change.   

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at the SL Newser office. The punchline was in an SL Newspaper cartoon twelve years ago. But with recent events, it seemed appropriate.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Rita Mariner's Account Suspended Due To Missing IRS Tax Form

On Friday night, Rita Mariner, the leader of the Sunweaver community, got an unpleasant surprise when she tried to log in. She found her account had been blocked. So she came on with an alt that night. Her name couldn't be found in the Sunweaver group, though it was still on peoples' friend lists, leading to speculation she'd been hacked. But when she called Linden Lab the next morning, it turned out they'd suspended her due to not filing a form with the IRS.

Sunnies:  Rita discovered the reason she was blocked and took care of the issue.  Seems LL sent her an IRS Tax Form W9, via e-mail, that they wanted her to fill out.  She didn't notice it in scanning her e-mails, on her cell phone, but she found in checking on her PC.  It was dated last month.  Still Rita was upset wondering WHY they wanted the form filled out and all that sensitive, personal, info, since she didn't do business on SL, wasn't here to make money. In fact SL costs her.



At the Club Cutlass event on Saturday night, she (via the alt) talked about what was going on, "LL wanted me to fill out some IRS Tax Forms, why?  I have no clue. ... If I was making money on SL and pulling it out, I could see it, but the opposite is true, I pour money into SL every month." She stated that it was a W9 form sent in her emails, "So I filled it out and then I had to verify it again it was me. It was from a Linden. It had a ticket number. And it was in my account."

Others around were puzzled by the turn of events, one commenting ironically, "Because the IRS just KNOWS you are getting rich off SL." Another remarked, "Odd that I haven't heard of other large land-owners having issues." "Other than H and R Block, no business has demanded a tax form from me," spoke a third. "So maybe the IRS is gonna make you pay tax on the rents you collect?" someone jokingly asked. "If they try, then I get to deduct the losses," Rita answered, "which means I get a refund." "Or offer to pay them in Lindens (grin)."

Rita was optimistic, "I found the problem, filled out the paperwork, now just have to wait. ... Hopefully (by) Monday Rita will be back, now that LL has their desired paperwork."

Talk soon turned to other issues, such as the upcoming Relay season, hopeful the situation was on it's way to being resolved.

Bixyl Shuftan

SL Video: "Happy New Year 2020"

(Click here if the video does not play)

From Furrex (Furry Alex) on December 31, "Song: Joel Nielsen - Internal Conflict"