The Ever-Turning Experience Of Joel Eilde

 

Netera Landar recently interviewed singer/songwriter Joel Eilde, who has been performing in Second Life for years. He enjoys focusing on numerous genres. He spoke with Netera about his love of creating music.

 

Read Netera's interview in People. 

 

Rocking Sands

 

In Netera Landar's article for today, she steps away from Second Life and reports on a place in another virtual world.  The Wolf Territories Grid, an Opensim world, is pretty small compared to ours, just a few thousand residents. But it doesn't lack in entertainment. Among the venues is the Rocking Sands club, owned by Eagle Palmer and Anjolie Amore. So what did she have to say about the location?

 

Read Netera's article in Other Grids, MMOs, and Games. 

 

At The SLB23 Shop & Hop

 

One of the biggest annual shopping events is the Second Life Birthday's Shop and Hop. With hundreds of shops to go through, there's plenty to see. Netera Landar decided to go check it out. So what did she find?

 

Read Netera's article in Fashion. 

 

After Dark

 

Newser reporter Netera Landar recently wrote about a venue that caught her eye: After Dark. Owned and managed by Meegan Dantz and located in the Idle Rogue sim, the venue had an aesthetic that caught her eye, particularly when viewed at Midnight. But there's more to the place than good looks. 

 

Read Netera's story in Places.

 

Black Flowers

 

Netera Landar recently stopped by a women's fashion store called "Black Flowers," located in Four B District. Joining the store group allows you access to some gifts, Plus there was a sale in which some good outfits were available at a low price. 

 

Read Netera's article in Fashion .

 

Ghee

 

For today, Netera Landar writes about a women's wear store in Second Life: Ghee. Owned by Sophia Paez Serendipity, it's noted for clothes made by Warm Clarity. By joining the store group, one gets access to a number of good outfits for practically nothing. But the place offers more than bargains. Netera found some classic styles that stood out and looked great.

 

Read Neteral's article in Fashion. 

 

Sixteen Years Of The Newser

 

In Spring 2010, the staff of the Second Life Newspaper faced a dilemma. It had not been a good past several months. A sponsor went under, forcing them to abandon their office and build a new smaller one elsewhere. The owner and founder JamesT Juno was facing real-life difficulties and had to take an indefinite break from Second Life. And Editor Dana Vanmoer was spending less and less time inworld due to real-life as well. Finally in their April meeting, Dana announced she was having to close the paper. It was news that shocked the rest of us, some having been writing for the "Gray Lady" of SL for most of it's three and a half year history.

So we talked amongst ourselves, and four of us, Gemma Cleanslate, Grey Lupindo, Shirley Sands, and Bixyl Shuftan (myself) made the decision to start a new newsletter. Since I was the one with the most experience, being Dana's assistant editor aka Office Manager, I would be the owner and editor. And so on June 5 2010, the day the Second Life Newspaper made it's last entry, the Second Life Newser would start. 

Sadly, our first topic was covering the retirement of the established paper. Following that were a few routine articles. Then came shocking news. Linden Lab was laying off a third of it's staff. This would include some popular Lindens. Then came news of then CEO M Linden stepping down and Philip Linden returning as interim CEO. We would cover a happy event as expected, the Second Life Birthday, the SL7B, though we also reported on the close of the classic Greenies sim which longtime residents from the early days still look back on fondly. And there was the office and land donated to us by Ranchan Wiedman of the Sunweaver/Angels community. It was an active first month. As the year went on, we would report on the Relay for Life, the Emeraldgate scandal, the decision to merge the teen grid and the older teens, Universal demanding Linden Lab shut down the Battlestar Galactica roleplay and then pulling back, Ozimal bunnies taking Amareto horses to real-life court, Philip stepping down and the new CEO Rod Humble stepping in, and the real-life news network CNN closing it's location in SL. To help us out, Breezes Babi and Any1 Gynoid would join the team. We would also get our first sponsor, the Podex Exchange owned by Jacek Shuftan (no relation). 2010 was a pretty active year. 

Since then the Newser team has continued to report the news, big and small, of the people, places, and events in this crazy and wonderful virtual world. There have been no shortage of problems, the occasional griefer, drama that can end a group or community, sims closing down, the occasional questionable move by Linden Lab (in the past this happened more often), and saddest of all people passing away. But there's also been plenty of good, memorials set up to honor soldiers and others who gave their all, support groups to help those with troubled thoughts, people tweaking the mechanics of this virtual world to explore it's possibilities, people who found friendships and comradery here, charities that help people in real life such as Team Diabetes, Homes For Our Troops, and the Relay for Life, and much more. 

Sadly, over time people have had to drop out of the Newser team due to real-life concerns. Grey Lupindo and Shelly Sands would drop out after a couple years. But we've had others step up to contribute to virtual journalism such as DrFran Babcock and Grease Coakes. Today, the Newser consists of three full time staff. Gemma Cleanslate (who is currently under medical leave) and myself remain from the original team, with Netera Landar having rejoined us and is productive as ever. 

Sixteen years later, Second Life is a very different place. The few sims owned by corporations and US Government agencies are gone. Mesh has changed the way people build. The people have themselves changed with the Boomers and Gen Xers slowly giving way to more Millenials and Zoomers. But what hasn't changed is people still want to know what's going on. And it's up to newsletters such as the Newser to deliver. We're not perfect and occasionally we miss something. But we're persistent. Every day we post something, even if it's just a video or cartoon. But we inform as well as entertain. Our mission as always is to report the news big and small on the people, places, and events of this virtual world. And we will continue to do so. 

Special thanks to JamesT Juno and Dana Vanmoer for showing us the ropes. Special thanks to Ranchan Wiedman and the Sunbeamer and Angels community for giving us our office. Special thanks to Linden Lab for giving us this virtual world to start with (but we still wonder about some of our strategies). And of course special thanks to you the readers without whom this newsletter would not be possible.

And that's the way it is. Good day from the Second Life Newser.

Bixyl Shuftan
Editor
SL Newser

 

Kaleidoscope – The Monarch Education Project

 

Netera Landar recently stopped by the Kaleidoscope sim to visit something interesting, especially to lovers of nature: The Monarch Education Project.  The place has much information about the Monarch butterfly, which unlike other butterflies migrates from north to south and back again every year, as well as being visually pleasing. One can pick up a freebie pet butterfly as well.

 

Read Netera's article in Places.  

Ministry of Trance

 

Netera Landar recently stopped by the Ministry of Trance. As a venue, it certainly left an interesting first impression with it's forest setting and DJ Puddles on a unicorn as she played the music. When Netera had a talk with her later, it turned out she was the owner and she didn't found the club, but took it over as a labor of love when it was about to shut down. Then there's the radio stream, and the Fairytale Palace. Netera would ask about these, and more. 

 

Read Netera's article in Design. 

 

Interview With Twin Ghost

 

Netera Landar recently interviewed the musician Twin Ghost. Unlike many musicians here in Second Life, Twin got his start in real life, as one of the members of a band in his older teens and even signing up with a major company and touring the country. These days, he can be found playing at venues inworld. Netera would have a number of questions for him, such as what brought him back here after an absence. 

 

Read Netera's interview in People.

 

Star Wars RFL Event At Rockin' Robin

 

On Monday May 4, Rockin' Robin was the scene of a fundraiser concert. The event was advertised as going on all day, and being May the Fourth, the theme was Star Wars.

 

We are dancing on the moon all day today (Monday, May 4th), for 24 hours at an event hosted by Team Bobbi Sue. Dress in anything space-related (Star Wars, Star Trek, astronauts, aliens) or casual. Singers today: Austin Moores at 5 pm, and Wolfie Moonshadow at 6 pm. There are also 10 raffles with some amazing prizes valued up to L$15,000!  

 

Yours truly dropped by when Austin Moores was singing, sporting an Emperor Palpatine avatar, at one point doubting the Star Wars villain probably couldn't sing a note.

 

 Backing up The Emperor Austin were dancers Netera Landar and Talia Sunsong.

 

It's not yet known to the Newser how much was raised by Team Bobby Sue, but at the end of the set, the total on both kiosks on the stage was close to a hundred thousand Linden dollars. Much had also been raised in the motorcycle and other prize raffles. 

 

 May the Fourth Be With You,

 

Bixyl Shuftan (with two pictures from Netera)

Update: The Newser was informed the event raised a total of L$479,446 , or  US$1980

SLEA - The Quiet Between Worlds

 

The Second Life Endowment for the Arts (SLEA) gets a number of art exhibits and exhibitions. Recently Netera Landar stopped by a particularly exceptional one. Located in SLEA8 and created by a team led by Nemesis and Nyx Marville, it has several levels where one can enjoy the music, remember those you lost, or simply spend some time alone to let your mind relax. 

 

Read Netera's article in  Design. 

Interview With Maestro (Mythrilweaver Atlas)

 

Recently at an event, Netera Landar ran into a talented resident named Maestro / Mithrilweaver Atlas. Also known as Konstantin the Mithrilweaver, he's an accomplished singer and songwriter, as well as a writer of poetry. Netera would interview him about these and more. 

 

Read Netera's interview in People.

 

Radio Spiral Hosts 7-Hour Bunny Hop Event

 

Netera Landar was recently at Radio Spiral, a place in Second Life that regularly performs electronica music, where you can find some longtime musicians such as Cypress Rosewood. The occasion was their "Bunny Hop" event. There was a bunny hunt with prizes, a riverboard ride, seven hours of relaxing music, and lots of company. 

 

Read Netera's story in Events. 

 

1890s Creede, Colorado

 

Netera Landar recently checked out a roleplay community, one with a Wild West theme: 1890s Creede, Colorado. It's been only a few years since the territory was officially made a state, and in Creed County, the discovery of silver has led to an influx of people, including some entertainers from Denver as the city has been cracking down on gambling and prostitution. The roleplay has been around for over ten years, has a few SL business in addition to those strictly for the roleplay, and has some lively characters. 

 

Read Netera's article in People. 

 

Drama Libre

 

In her latest story, reporter Netera Landar checked out the Drama Libre club. Having been around for almost 20 years and this September will have hosted it's 1000th party, what sets this venue apart is it has a different set for each one. Netera talked to Xerxes Sismondi, a co-founder of the club how it came to be, and some of what's happened over time. 

 

Read Netera's story in Places.  

 

The Willows

 

A few weeks ago, reporter Netera Landar wrote about a Valentine's Day party at a club called the Willows. Today, her article is about the club itself, which has been around since 2012 and has events every day. She had a few words with it's owner, Faleen Renard, about what led her to create the club, and what happens here. 

 

Read Netera's article in Design. 

 

FogBound Blues Club

Newser reporter Netera Landar recently visited the FogBound Blues Club. Located in Blue Moon Bay, the venue is over a decade and a half old, created by Yanik Lytton and Meredith Mistwalker, and has events every day.  Netera had a few words with it's manager Saphire Jinn about how the place has changed over time, and what and who has helped make it work. 

 

Read Netera's article in Places.  

 

The River Fundraiser For RFL And ACS

The River has been busy this month. For Valentines Day, they had a Bridgerton setting with Victorian houses and horse-drawn carriages. But the main event was from Saturday February 21 to Sunday February 22 with a Relay for Life event: RagnaRock Cancer. Tribute bands and live singers raised thousands of Linden dollars. Reporter Netera Landar went over and had a few words with the owner and another of the staff. 

 

Read the story in Events. 

Raglan Shire Pre-Valentine’s Day Party

 

Second Life had quite a few Valentine's Day events.  Among them was at the tiny community of Raglan Shire in it's Gazebo. Reporter Netera Landar went there, and saw a variety of the little folk, taking a number of pictures.

 

See Netera's article and pictures in Events.