Future of Sunweaver Estates Unclear

 

 There's been plenty of talk about the passing of Rita Mariner, and not much time to write about it. But what can be stated is Rita had no backup plan for the Sunweaver Estates. Maybe the Sunweavers can get Linden Lab to pass them on to someone, or maybe not. 

 

Yours truly will have some more information soon.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Cartoon of The Day: The Reindeer After Christmas

 

 Taken at Club Zero Gravity. It makes sense that after their trip with Santa, and a little time to rest, the reindeer would celebrate another job well done with a party. But then what? Thinking about it, probably a little happy they have it easy compared to us working stiffs in North America.

 

By Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Cartoon of The Day: The Riddle of the Sphinx Avatar

 

 

 Taken at the Happy Vixen. In case you haven't seen "Austin Powers" or certain cat shows or books on cats, there's a hairless breed known as the Sphinx. Which leads one to wonder, since they lack fur, are these anthros still considered "furries?"

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

Cartoon of The Day: Question For Santa

 

Taken at the ABC store. Santa gets plenty of milk and cookies, but what do the reindeer get? With hay not always easy to come by, the guy in the red suit would have a solution in hand.

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

SL Video: "Where Are All the People in Second Life?"

(Click here if the video does not play)

From Mangrovejane Resident on Sept 16, 2019, "Welcome to my video series 20 Second Life Questions where I pick a question and try to answer it in 3 minutes or less!! The question for today? WHERE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE?"

Is Second Life Experiencing an "Oldbie" Resurgence?

On the Second Life section of Reddit, a "Neuromancer72" posted on Wednesday September 20 that after dropping out from the Grid around 2010, he had returned last year, and come across "many people" who had done the same. Which left him wondering, how many residents who had dropped out were coming back?

Mine is a familiar story - very active in SL from 2006 to maybe 2009-10, then dropped off for years only to return in the last year or so. I've met many people since my return who followed a similar route - left years ago and have now come back. Posts to this sub show others doing the same. I can't help but wonder if this is really a widespread thing, or if I've just been more aware of it because of similarities to my own history. If it is a thing, any ideas what might be driving people to give SL another go?

There were several responses, including one by "Jadziyah":

I think a majority of residents take long 'breaks' at one point. Why we all come back is harder to nail down. Linden Labs has actually had several positive changes lately such as land prim increases and the addition of bento bones, so those generated a lot of excitement. And there will always be the social aspect.

Hamlet Au thought that this very well could be the case, suggesting "if a few thousand oldbies are jumping onto the grid more regularly, it might not show up in the data, but still be significant." He felt there were two reasons for such a probable resurgence, One was social media, as many Second Life residents use Facebook and former residents would continue to keep their former virtual neighbors and friends on their friend list and continue to communicate with them, and hear about new content and goings on. He also felt the talk about Sansar would get former residents wondering "Whatever happened with Second Life" and come back to see what's been going on here.

So what do you the readers think? Have you seen numbers of former residents returning? Or perhaps you are someone who left and returned? What's getting people to come back?

Bixyl Shuftan

Little Issues: Explaining The "Fox Reporter" Look.

While much of what I write is about breaking news or concerns may have, sometimes there are just little matters that keep sticking to one's brain. In this case, it's about a certain issue a certain someone keeps bringing up about my appearance. While the question was probably a joke, it was being brought up enough that I felt it finally needed a response. So here it is.

Read the article in Extra.

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at Furry Fashion

By Bixyl Shuftan

Special Announcement by Linden Lab on Designing Worlds on Thursday November 3

Are we in for a trick or a treat, or something of both.

Just as things in Second Life were getting under way for the "Creepy Crawl" and other events on Halloween Day, "Designing Worlds" made an announcement of an upcoming announcement by Linden Lab.

Designing Worlds has a special show coming this Thursday, November 3rd at 2pm - with discussion of an announcement from the Lab that will impact all our Second Lives!

Designing Worlds DW319 - In The Mist - An Irish Tale for Hallowe’en


And Patch Linden will be in the Designing Worlds studio after the show on Thursday to discuss the announcement.

Join the live audience here in our Studio (spaces limited):
Designing Worlds - treet.TV, Garden of dreams (78, 223, 23)

Or watch the show on the web at 2pm SLT on Thursday
http://www.slartist.com/browse-dw-videos-1-date.html for a showing on Slartist

The show can later been seen on the Designing Worlds blog at designingworlds.wordpress.com .



So just what is this, "important development from Linden Lab ...  that will change your Second Lifes forever"? Saffia Widdershins wouldn't say when I talked with her. Prokofy Neva, a longtime resident noted for his opinions, brought the question up in the official forums. Prokofy was worried about what this change might be, "Am I the only one whose blood runs cold when I hear something like this? Because at best, LL gives with one hand and takes with the other. At best." Speculation has ranged from Project Bento being integrated into Second Life, to the new group of sims that appeared last month, to Linden homes, to something trivial.

Whatever it is, we'll see what the Lab has to say soon enough.

Bixyl Shuftan

Ask Dr. Philly: "Pointing Out 'That Guy' "

Dr. Philly (Joshua Xavier) is back with his column about "people issues" in Second Life, such as love, relationships, drama, and more. In the latest two letters, the first has a club manager advertising his venue through Facebook dealing with a supposed former sim owner whom demands he leave and help in spreading "the truth." The second reader points out the success of Joshua (and his alt Becky Shamen) in Second Life compared to him, and asks why the difference.

Read the column in People.

Ask Dr. Philly: "Up The Wall With The Blues"

Dr. Philly (Joshua Xavier) is back with his column about "people issues" in Second Life, such as love, relationships, drama, and more. In the latest two letters, the first reader asks about how to handle people whom just won't respond to being talked to. The second deals with a resident whom wonders what "the rules" are about being able to take advantage of an avatar's ability to more or less take on any form at will.

Read Dr. Philly's column in People.

Ask Dr. Phily: "Between a Rock and a Shady Place."

Last week, we announced Dr. Phily (JoshuaXavier Resident) would be handling our advice column about "people issues" in Second Life, such as love, relationships, drama, and more. Afterwards, we received not one, but two responses. Both were residents having to deal with neighbor trouble. Dr. Phily  offers his advice on the matters.

Read the column in People.

"Ask Dr. Philly" Advice Column

Readers will remember for a while we had an advice column by DrFran Babcock, "Ask DrFran." As DrFran has been on hiatus, Joshua Xavier has stepped up to take her place for a while with "Ask Dr. Philly." Named after Dr. Phil, whom appeared in Second Life some months ago then mentioned the virtual world on his show, "Dr. Philly" will handle any questions from you the readers about virtual relationships, disputes with friends, or any other "people" issues, and offer a little advice on how to handle the matter.

The column will be in People.

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at Netera's Coffee Shop. While furs sometimes go about just in shorts, well, when there are a number of avatars like yours, you need accessories to help stand out in the crowd. Makes more sense than someone with little body hair going shirtless in January.

By Bixyl Shuftan

SL Enquirer: What Is Second Life All About?

Earlier this week, reader Nydia Tungsten had a few opinions about what Second Life truly was. A few days later, Stareyes Galaxy had an article of her own about the subject. She took the question to a number of residents from across the world, from Egypt, Mexico, Scotland, Norway, and the United States. Each had their own point of view on the question: "What is Second Life All About?"

Read Stareye's article (here).

Reader Submitted: "What is Second Life?"

It wasn't that long ago in which Second Life got a good amount of coverage in the mainstream media, television and newspapers in addition to news websites. Today the coverage is more limited, and the reaction of many of those unfamiliar with it is that people go there just to act out their baser desires. Nydia Tungsten had a few things to say about this misconception, and above that answer the question: "What is Second Life?"

Read Nydia's article in Extra.

Ask DrFran: Is Second Life™ Addictive?

In her latest column, DrFran answers not an email, but a question by a friend in an inworld conversation. The friend mentioned another friend, and posed the question: is it possible for someone to spend too much time in Second Life? DrFran has some answers, and comments for the questions. It might not be quite what some might expect.

Read DrFran's column in People.

Ask DrFran: The Green-Eyed Monster

DrFran's column is back. In her latest letter, a reader deals with someone looking herself after some actions concerting her relationship with a friend, and not liking what she sees. So what happened and what should be done? DrFran offers a few answers.

Read more in People.

Ask DrFran: "A Buddy Comes Out"

In recent real-life news, the topic of homosexuality has been making headlines over the issue whether or not the state should recognize gay partners as married. It's not an issue in Second Life as partners could be same-gender from its start. But there can still be problems. DrFran recently got a letter from a resident whom in the past a good friend of his "came out." So what happened, and what did DrFran have to say on the matter?

Read DrFran's column in People.

Ask DrFran: Where is the Meaning?

Today, DrFran is back with her help and advice column. In her latest letter, a reader had once been going happily about the Grid. But recently, she's been having some feelings of doubt about what her Second Life has been. So where does she go from here? DrFran has a few suggestions.

Read DrFran's column in People.