Breaking News: Linden Lab Offering 50% Discounts to Limited Number of Nonprofit Groups To Renew Expired Sims.

By Bixyl Shuftan

According to an article by Hamlet Au, Linden Lab spokesman Peter Gray has confirmed that the company has been "quietly contacting a select number of non-profit and educational" groups who have let their sims in Second Life expire in the past few years, offering 50% off land payments if they renew.

Before October 2010, it was standard practice for Linden Lab to offer half tier for nonprofit and educational sims. Then the discount was stopped. Gray's announcement means a partial reversal of this decision.

Gray wouldn't say how many groups would be given the offer, only "that we've extended this special offer to a targeted number." There is no process for nonprofit and educational groups, whether they still have their land or not, to ask for the 50% reduction, "There isn't currently a way to apply for this; it's a special offer … as part of our customer win-back efforts."

Hamlet called this development exciting news, as it could mean the return of some popular places that faded away due in part to the end of the discount. His enthusiasm wasn't shared by those commenting on his article. At best, people called it "a step in the right direction." Some however had some bitter comments, "will Linden Lab also (pay) for our teeth they kicked out, the surgery required to remove the knife from our back, and the trip to the eye doctor for the dirt they kicked in our face?" A thread started in the SL Universe forums, but as of the publishing on this article, there were just a few entries.

So what do you the readers have to say? Please enter comments below.

Source: New World Notes


Bixyl Shuftan

New Sim Available at Sunweaver Estates

Looking for a place to call home?  Looking for a place to setup shop?  Sunweaver Bay is new and open for business.  You can either setup residence, stores, or both. Come take a look and pick out your lots.  Just pay the rental boxes on the lots you want.

Contact Nydia Tungsten or Rita Mariner.

The Steelhead Salmons' Kickoff Party

By Jasmine Dawn Shuftan

 Well folks, the Steelhead Salmon's are at it again. They're taking no prisoners this time. Not even the Sheriff Fuzzball Ortega is safe. I hear through the grapevine that he's been locked up, and what do I find when I come to check it out? Why I see ole Fuzz locked up and a 4x4x6 cell. With bail set at 5000 Linden, and him still in his tiny little cell put on public display for all to laugh at, even throwing tomato's was authorized. I thought to offer a pair of scissors to help his "colorful" hairdo. Was digging them out till he started the Gangnam Style dance. Lucky for him, during the event here at Club Gearz, the locals all pitched together, raised the 5000L needed for his release.

Upon his release I asked if there was anything he wanted to say and his reply was that this year, the Steelhead Salmons is more about FUNraising than FUNDraising. Also that it's good to be free.

Within a few short minutes of the Sheriff's release another poor soul, Annechen Lowey, was locked up over slander, and accusations of bad fashion sense. Cost of release: another 5000L. This reporter beginning to fear that she might soon get locked up and unfairly accused of a bogus crime decided to flee the scene and town before these random lock-up's got out of hand. I was later informed that the lock-up event was running till well into the night (9 pm SLT).

Jasmine Dawn Shuftan

For Bixyl Shuftan's article, head to People. 

Reader Submitted: Relay For Life - "First Skunked Victim"

A reader submitted  picture from Bain Finch at a Relay Rap, when he took a picture of this guy in a skunk avatar. With the "Stinky the Skunk" jokes, Bain jokingly called him the "First Skunked Victim."

Cartoon of the Day

Taken in March 2008 at Luskwood.

By Bixyl Shuftan

News and Commentary: Relay For Life – Fashion For Life

DrFran Babcock took a look at the first big event in the Relay For Life following the Kickoff, the Fashion For Life. DrFran found much to like and admire, such as the detail of the builds of the Seven Wonders of the World. Unfortunately, there was also much to dislike, notably that in this charity event not everything was being sold with the proceeds going to the Relay.

Read DrFran's editorial in Events.

VMA Spring Build-Off Winners Announced

Grey Lupindo stopped by the Builders Brewery to check up on the Virtual Museum of Architecture's latest competition: the Spring Build-Off. This event was different than most other VMA competitions, and was concluded with an awards party.

Read Grey's story in Design.

Press Release: The SL Buddy Walk

PRESENTER: JL Zinner
WEDNESDAY March 13, 6pm SLT
The Sojourner Auditorium, Virtual Ability Island
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Ability/54/170/23

The Buddy Walk® was established in 1995 by the National Down Syndrome Society to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness and to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. Last year there were 295 RL Buddy Walks. There’s also an SL Buddy Walk!

There is an Expo, March 17-30, to raise awareness. And on World Down Syndrome Day, March 21, a live music festival. This presentation will give additional information about this year’s event.

PRESENTER BIO:
JL Zinner has been involved in the SL Buddy Walk since it started in 2008. She is also involved in the real life Chicagoland Buddy Walk for the past 10 years and serves on the Buddy Walk advisory board. Her main inspiration comes from her son who is 11 and has Down syndrome.

Presented in text and voice simultaneously.

Events This Week in Second Life March 12 to March 18

This mid-March means lots of events here on the Grid. There's the Fashion For Life south of the American Cancer Society sim, there's celebrations in the London sims, and of course it's St Patricks Day, with celebrations in several places. And of course there's our reguarly scheduled DJ and live music events, book & poetry readings, talk shows, church services, and races.

Read more in Events this Week.

A Day in Second Life

Grease Coakes had a chat with someone about a suggestion, and got the idea of putting the adventures he had in one day in Second Life down in an article. He picked Saturday in which he hopped around a few places, DJed at a couple clubs, and took part in a tail sale. It was one busy day for him.

Read Grease's story in Extra. 

The Relay For Life 2013 Kickoff

By Bixyl Shuftan

On Saturday morning at 10AM SL time, the Relay For Life in Second Life began their 2013 fundraising season. In the four sim area north of the American Cancer Society sim, many avatars gathered in the intersection. Attendance was over 180 in the four combined at times. For those who couldn't get on, the event was broadcasted live on T1 Radio. Much of the Committee was seated on stage, with maps of previous Relay tracks on the wall behind them.

 The Relay Committee addressed the enthusiastic crowd. They talked about their past success in the several years the Relay For Life has run in Second Life, mentioning that the total amount of cash raised was over a million and a half dollars, and expected the two million dollar mark to be reached this year. At one point one of the Committee talked about how some people expressed fear and suspicion about having friendships with people online, talking about "the stereotype of online romances," and how they were poked fun at in ways such as a movie where the producers claimed to expose "the truth." In the end, he thanked the crowd for their effort, "from a digital construct in a magical land, thank you for all you do."

Then came a cancer survivor, Lovencia,  giving her story. With her diagnosis came a hysterectomy, ending her hopes of becoming a mother. She hadn't heard of Second Life until six months afterwards, "I wish I had the friends then that I have here."

With all the avatars, performance on my viewer was less than idea. Only a small number of the avatars rezzed completely during the event. And a number of times the viewer froze, followed sometimes by the "thunk" noise that announced my disconnection. But this reporter persisted, and so did the Relayers. There were a number there that I recognized, the black unicorn Avariel Falcon, six inch avatar Lomgren Smalls whom was now leading his own team "Micro Madness," latex-dressed DJ Madonna Milena, Bain Finch in his cowboy hat, Vic Morrington in his satyr avatar, Dwen Dooley whom was the subject of a few "Dooley noted" jokes, Trader Whiplash, and others.

Besides the lag, there was one minor disruption in the form of a couple protesters who shouted against the idea of a "Fashion For Life" event. No one seemed to pay attention to them.

Near the close, the speaker told the crowd, "Thank you for being the determined foe of cancer that your are ... we hand this relay over to our teams." Then came a surprise. MamaP Beerbaum whom was known for her hard work in the past was inducted by the Committee into the Relay for Life "Hall of Honor." A number of people in the crowd responded with "We love Mama" gestures that had been passed around, and T1 Radio played a song in her honor, "When you're good to Mama, Mama's good to you." MamaP was at a loss for words, "My goodness. I am not an easy one to pull a surprise on. … I don't know what to say but thank you very much."

Staff planner Stingray Raymaker then read the names of the Relay teams, one at a time. One though had the name "Aliens Love Ta-Tas Too," of which he commented in chat, "Can you believe they made me say that?" Of which the crowd responded with a number of snickers. The Steelhead Salmons of the Steelhead Estates were number 18. Micro Madness and Sunbeamers, the teams to replace the Passionate Redheads, were 60 and 6 respectively. Following the list of teams, came songs such as "Go the Distance," "We Are the Champions," "We Are Family," and "We are the World."



With the Kickoff coming to an end, some people headed south to the Fashion For Life sims. Others went to the nearby "Cafe Du Kickoff" and the street area that went around the outer area of the four sims. Of the latter, Bain Finch commented, "OK I have to ask. How many of you notice these kick off sims has a road that looks like a Relay Track? And how many of you HAVE already made a few  laps already?" Some teams such as the "Cure Chasers" and "Dr. Who Fans" in Second Life had claimed a few of the buildings as shops.

And others continued to hand around and party, dance around to the music. This reporter had to leave after a while, but upon returning late that night at around 9PM found a small party going on courtesy of DJ Madonna. And the following day in Relay chat came an announcement from Bain Finch, "Guess what folks, RFL of SL just broke through the $100,000 mark." The response was a number of cheers, Madonna commenting, "Wow! Nice kickoff weekend. I never thought I'd see anything like this." "Amazing weekend, and another major page in the RFL of SL history books."

And so, the 2013 "100 Years of Hope" season of the Relay for Life in Second Life had begun. There was a big event to go to, the Fashion For Life. And teams were launching smaller events, such as the Steelhead Salmons' kickoff. The Relayers were hopeful for another successful year.

For those interested, a recording of the Kickoff can be found here: https://archive.org/details/2013_SL_Relay_for_Life_Opening_Ceremony. More pictures can be found on Flickr Here: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=RFL%202013%20Kickoff.

Bixyl Shuftan

Pictures from DrFran Babcock

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at the Relay For Life Kickoff

By Bixyl Shuftan

RFL Kickoff Today

At 10AM today, March 9th, the Relay For Life Kickoff event takes place. After months of preperation, the 2013 season begins with a huge celebration. This opening event takes place in a four-sim area, RFL Kickoff 1, RFL Kickoff 2, RFL Kickoff 3, and RFL Kickoff 4. This area is just north of the American Cancer Society sim (188, 252, 21).

Following the Kickoff, the Fashion For Life begins. This event takes place in several sims to the south. There are a number of interesting builds there, based on the Seven Wonders of the World.

SL Video: "ZeroG SkyDancers - 2nd Generation 2007"

Remember DrFran's article on the ZeroG Skydancers last month? Here's a video by Gary Hazlitt of a 2007 performance by them.

Press Release: Uberverse - A Real-Life/SL Crossover Event

Uberverse is a Second Life/Real Life crossover exhibition . . . being shown in both worlds simultaneously 8-30 March 2013.

The show features artists Morgana Nagorski, Kato Salyut and Sledge Roffo.

Morgana has been working with the gallery owner for some time putting this show together.

The opening event is 9:00PM - midnight SLT on Friday 8 March @ b1 sky gallery, purpose built for the event.

A link to the RL gallery http://www.ballaratart.com/index.php?pageID=1

The opening event will be streamed onto a big screen in the RL gallery . . . so dress in your most glamorous or most weird and wonderful and come and join us and strut your stuff so there is something impressive to be seen on that RL screen.

Even better . . .blog about it.

Slurl: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Prism%20Lila/216/82/603

Bible Study at the "House of Prayer" Church

With Easter later this month, churches are more active than usual this time of year. And this includes churches in Second Life. Grease Coakes stopped by one, the "House of Prayer" church during its Bible study hour. There was singing, and much discussion as the group talked about God.

Read Grease's story in Places.

Ask DrFran: "A Friend in Need"

DrFran's latest column deals with two friends, a guy and a girl. With the girl already partnered, the two still have clean fun together on the Grid. But when her partner goes away, he's at a loss to help her out, and offering to date her doesn't seem to be an option. So what can he do? DrFran has a few answers.

Read DrFran's column in People.

QuickTips: "Getting a Home in Second Life"

The latest "QuickTips" video from Linden Lab shows off the pluses of owning a virtual home in Second Life, plus how to get one for "free" from the Lab - have a pay account. It does mention even if you're not a Premium, you can still have a home in Second Life.

Second Life Newser is sponsored by a few fine communities where one can get a home, Steelhead, Sunweaver Estates, and Angel Estates (the home of KVXN Radio).

SL Video: "Relay for Life 2013 / American Cancer Society"

From "TerminalEm," "Relay For Life, American Cancer Society - 100 Years of Hope" 

EOTB: Linden Labs "Update on Recent Improvements"

At the close of February, Linden Labs posted on their blog a list of improvements they felt they made on the Grid recently, "We have recently released fixes that improve the user experience and performance. Here's a quick progress update on some of the projects we've been working on."

First on their list was the CHUI Beta Viewer, or Communications Hub User Interface. This project had several goals, such as bringing "all communication functions and conversation text into a single window," keeping IMs from being lost, and being able to view chat transcripts.

For more  information, DrFran Babcock reviewed the CHUI Viewer, and her article can be read here. There's also a thread available in the official forums.

Also on the list was Region Crossing, "We have made several improvements to region crossing that allow a smoother transition between regions, instead of the jerky transition some users experienced in the past." The Lab stated this feature was installed on the Grid on Jan 25, and claims "the number of reported teleport failures has dropped by 91%."

An announcement by RacerX Gullwing about this month's upcoming Cross-Sim Giant Snail Race mentioned the region crossing improvements. RacerX stated when an avatar is on a sim, information comes in not just about the region it's on but also the four adjacent ones. So when one enters a new sim, the information's already partially downloaded. RacerX felt this feature would save quite a few headaches for the cross-sim races.

Also, there was "a new version of Marketplace" released on Feb 5, "which adds new emails and provides the ability to opt out of each type of email. This will allow Merchants and Shoppers to be better informed about Marketplace activity," in addition to improving the reliability of email deliveries. Finally, an improvement aimed at Macintosh users: the Cocoa Project Viewer. It now has updates "to streamline development and improve viewer performance." It is available for download in the SL Wiki "Alternate Viewers" page. This viewer is not available for PCs.

The Lab promised further improvements soon, including a viewer made for content creators in mind.