SLPD Detention Center, Impact and Coffee, and Men's Health at Health Info Island

 

Despite her injury that's caused her hiatus, Gemma Cleanslate managed to complete an almost finished article using her other hand. In her latest, she writes about a new Detention Center that's part of the SLPD, located at Terrapin. The sim was also home to an art show, Impact and Coffee by Ceakay Ballyhoo. And Health Info Island has a new monthly exhibit, this one for men's health. 

 

Read Gemma's article in Places.

 

Cartoon of The Day: Jailbird DJ

 

Taken at Club Cutlass's "Cops and Robbers" event. So what would a DJ be in a prison uniform? Recalling that those wanting their own radio stations have had to deal with skyrocketing fee hikes, one possible reason came to mind. 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

A Jailbreak In Archeage

It's been a while since the Newser wrote about the MORPG Archeage. This game has attracted the attention of a few fans of the paper, notably because of the feline PCs, and it's detailed crafting system. One player, Jasmine Dawn, decided to explore around a little, and seeing the Solis Prison decided to fly over it. Unfortunately, her curiosity got her into a situation that left her feeling a little "cagey." So she took matters into her own hands.

Read the story in Other Grids, MMOs, and Games.

Businessman Gets Four Months in Prison For Not Reporting Income From Second Life

Gregg Kaminsky, the CEO of Atlanta-based Circlenet, was recently sentenced to four months in prison for failing to report his Swiss Bank account and other foreign holdings of cash in addition to failing to report certain sources of income, including  $150,000 US from Second Life. Kaminsky told the court he thought "there truly was some confusion" over whether or not his income from a virtual world was taxable.

The US attorney for the prosecution, Sally Yates, stated that the case was a clear statement that "U.S. taxpayers are required to report all of their taxable income to the IRS, whether that income is earned in the real world or in a virtual world."

Hamlet Au noted that although Linden Lab has been "cagey" about it's recent economics, in 2009 the Lab reported fifty users were making over $100,000 US dollars from activities on the Grid, mostly through virtual real estate. The top 25 accounts made a total of 12 million US dollars. He also noted that ten years ago, one writer in SL contacted the IRS about taxes from income on Second Life, and was told not to worry about it.

In 2011, Michael Prime, known in Second Life as zFire Xue, the maker of the infamous "Redzone," was sentenced to four months in prison. His logging on Second Life was against the terms of probation for an earlier conviction.

Sources: Atlanta Business Chronicle,  New World Notes, Wall Street Journal, Reddit,

Cartoon of the Day: Unhappy Easter for the SL Enquirer

Taken at a RFL Jail & Bail at "The Strip," and done in cooperation with Lanai Jarrico, the owner and editor of the Second Life Enquirer, which we have a link exchange with. This cartoon goes hand in hand with her SL Easter story. So how did Lanai end up in this predicament? Check her paper to find out.

Cartoon of the Day: Relay For Life Jail and Bail

Covering the Relay for Life isn't completely without it's hazards. While at one on Saturday April 12, I ended up "getting served" with a warrant. I was bailed out after about forty minutes.

Bixyl Shuftan

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at Lauren Weyland's "Jail and Bail"

By Bixyl Shuftan

Press Release: Lauren Weyland in RFL Jail and Bail Sunday

On Sunday, April 14th at 3 pm, please join Lauren Weyland and the Relay Wizards for SpUnKy, as we raise funds for RelayForLife of SL. What will it take to Release Lauren? Her Bail is 35,000L. Please break open your piggy banks and help BAIL OUT the incredible Lauren! Want to help but can't attend? The donation kiosk is already out and will remain for a few days after our event with Lauren. Look for the Wanted Poster with Lauren's picture on it, and donate to the kiosk below.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Chatrez/164/41/25

 For more info, contact Shawna Montgomery inworld

RedZone’s zFire Xue Gets Four Months in Prison

Michael Prime, or zFire Xue as known to the residents of Second Life, the creator and operator of the infamous RedZone, is on his way to a small cell behind bars.

According to Tateru Nino’s blog, zFire plead guilty “for four counts of violating his probation following a prior conviction for fraud,” and “has been remanded to the custody of the US Marshals and is off for four months in prison.“ When he’s released from the penitentiary, the conditions for his parole include not being allowed to work near computers or being allowed to go on auction websites, social network sites such as Facebook, or virtual worlds, at least not without the permission of his probation officer. The section of terms Tateru Nino posted specifically stated accessing Second Life would be a violation of his terms, unless he got permission from the probation officer.


Tateru also noted that a $500 fine that was part of his sentence had been waived due to “financial incapacity.” The investigators couldn’t find the money he made off RedZone. What happened to it is unknown, but this suggests that perhaps the residents of Second Life may hear of him at least one more time in the future.

For now however, he won’t be in a position to bother the Grid for a while.

Tateru provided details of his prior conviction Here. A “Redzone Victim” responding to her blog post pointed out the “United States of America v. Michael Stefan Prime” case Here. The gotvirtual.net forum also has a lengthy thread on ZFire's sentencing.

Sources: “Dwell on it,” “Find a Case”

Bixyl Shuftan

Cartoon of the Day - GUILTY!

Vixie Valiant in another "arresting" development.

By Bixyl Shuftan

“Jail and Bail” at the "Back to the 50’s Weekend" for RFL

This weekend was the "Back to the 50's" event for Relay for Life as people in the sim for the occasion had a number of events to go to, from the "Sock Hop" to the drive-in theater. But there was also one event that required a team effort, the "jail and bail," in which people would get arrested, and need their friends to help bail them out.

Read more in Events.

Trek Sim Holds RFL “Jail and Bail”

It's been an eventful time for the Relay for Life, with a number of events taking place. Among them is one being run by a Trek RP sim. Today, we take a look at the UFS "Jail and Bail."


Read more in People.

An Arresting Experience for Relay for Life

I was going about in Second Life when all of a sudden a group IM appeared, from Vixie Valiant.

“Ok, I am back in jail on a charge of chicken rustling. Come and donate to the Relay for Life to release me in this jail and bail event! It's all in good fun for a great cause. $4500L wins me my freedom, so come help release the cute fox for a good cause!” This was followed by a SURL, to the Dry Gulch sim.

I thought to myself, What has that vain, crazy, vixen gotten herself in this time? Gotten herself arrested in some Wild West town by some country sheriff whom didn’t take kindly to strangers suspected of doing no good. And even in the Metaverse, some find foxfolk with their fluffy coats, pointed ears, and bushy tails pretty strange.

There was silence for a while, then Vixie sent another group message, “Since nobody wants me released, how about coming down, donating in my name, and laughing at me behind bars?” That was followed by comments, “Can I laugh at you from here?” “Vixie is in jail!” “(laughter) Poor Vixie.” The vixen answered, “No, it's a Relay for Life fundraiser, have to laugh at me in person. ... I think I've raised $1L to free me so far.” “Can we donate to keep you in jail?” “She committed a fowl crime, stealing chickens.” “I plead innocent.”

I ported over, into a sim that was at first a bit gray with lag, but as it faded, I found myself in the middle of the street with a definite Wild West look, Dry Gulch USA. But instead of cowboys, most everyone around looked more like city dudes dropping by as tourists. I soon looked around, and found the jail. Next to the door was a board advertising other Relay for Life events, and a RFL Kiosk.

I also found the following notecard:


The Sheriff is: Mountain String.

1st Bond is set at : 5000L per person.

You may not post bond for yourself but can for each other or a friend. You can be rearrested if your friends feel you are a bad one to be set free!!

Re Arrest will cost the person requesting it : 1000L

2nd Bond and on will be set at : 2500 L per person

There is no limit to the times you can be rearrested!!!!!!!

All fees for arrests and bails will be paid directly to the Relay for Life Kiosk located at the jail.

At close of event anyone remaining in jail will have to pay a fine before being released.

Any questions on arrest, bonds, or rearrest and fee will all be direct to : Mountain, Sweeter, or Leala



I walked inside, and there were a few cells. Vixie was in one of them with a couple other girls. She was dressed in a fancy red gown, sitting on a chair propped up against the wall, and not saying anything. One of the deputies had a tag over her that stated she was to be IMed after a donation was made telling whom it was for.

I soon had to leave, so never did learn how long Vixie was in the slammer. But as the card with the rules stated, “You can be rearrested if your friends feel you are a bad one to be set free,” considering the comments of the others in the group chat, I could easily imagine a collection made to collect the fee to toss the vain vixen back behind bars.

Vixie Valiant is a member of the Passionate Redheads, a Relay for Life team.

Bixyl Shuftan