Cartoon Revisit: Happy Panda Day

 

 

 From 2020. "Taken at the Happy Vixen. Skylark "Snowbuns" Lefavre was in a pandagirl avie. With her hair, she was black and white and red all over."

 

Happy Panda Day 

This Saturday at The Science Circle

 

 

Saturday February 15

 

    ~*~

 

    At 10 AM PST   

    2020 in the Science Circle – Revisited 1

    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/2020-revisited-1/

    Delia, William, Robert

    Moderated By Stephen L. Gassior

    Auditorium

 

    ~*~

 

    NOTE: Non-members required to register once

    IM Jes Cobalt or Nymf Hathaway

╚══════════════════════════════ The Science Circle (72,129,30) ═╝

 

Various Events on New Year's Eve

 

Ringing out the old year and ringing in the new has always been a reason to throw a party. But with all that's happened in 2020, more were looking forward to it this New Year's Eve than ever for a very long time. A number of places held events. Several were part of the 12 hour FCA New Year's Club Crawl. But there were others.

See the pictures in Events.

2020: Year in Review

2020 was a challenging year in real life, with much drama and overwheling tragedy. Second Life would see it reflected here in some ways, as well as it's own special set of challenges. But there were some happier milestones as well.

In real life the big news was the Coronavirus Pandemic. Worldwide over eighty million caught the virus and close to two million perished, probably more as some countries can't or won't report all their cases. Both all of Europe and the United States each suffered twenty million getting sick, and in the US over a third of a million would die, with over half a million perishing in Europe. Most whom were infected recovered, some not getting sick, but some people were left with lasting symptoms from being short on breath after even light exercise to memory trouble and difficulty concentrating. In Second Life, there were numerous reminders of COVID-19. There were displays in health areas and discussions in numerous places. There were also memorials to those whom passed away. People also reacted to the toilet paper shortages with humor, virtual TP showing up a lot, and one avatar maker would take his talents to real life by making a tabletop game poking fun at the absurdity of it all. The biggest reaction was of people either spending more time in Second Life, coming back after an abscence, or showing up for the first time. While the Pandemic might have been good for the virtual world's numbers, it wasn't always good for the residents. While some merchants made more money with more people buying things, some landowners having lost their real-life sources of income would have trouble coming up with the money to pay for their sims.

2020 was also the year Linden Lab would find itself acquired by a group of investors.  In mid-July, it was announced by Linden Lab they were now under the ownership of an investment group led by Randy Waterfield and Bradford Oberwager. Waterfield was the chairman of an investment group.. Oberwager had founded and/or run five technology companies. Linden Lab's founder Philip Rosedale stated he new Oberwager and had high hopes for this development. Bret Linden stated the two had a good deal of knowledge of what Second Life was and wasn't, and that the deal allowed Linden Lab to continue to run independently and run Second Life. The reaction from the residents was that while some were optimistic things would continue to run well, some expressed worry that the new owners would either run Second Life badly or dismantle it. As to what attracted the investors, some wondered if they were confident the Pandemic ensured Second Life would be profitable for a few more years. Others looked at Tilia, the online payment service the Lab had come up with. But after a few weeks, the chatter went down.

In April, Linden Lab finally made good on something many residents have wished for a decade, the return of last names for accounts. But, there was a catch. A more accurate description would be last names as an option for new accounts as newcomers will still continue to get "Resident" for a surname. And the option is only available for Premium accounts, whom also have to pay a fee. Someone with a basic account would have to pay $52 for a change. A number felt Linden Lab was being greedy at a time some residents had lost their real-life jobs. Others felt with as many as there were asking for the return of last names, the Lab might have been worried about being swamped with requests. A smaller complaint was that the options for last names were lousy ones. But with Linden Lab committed to sticking with it's system of not offering a surname again after it's been discontinued, it's options were limited.

One thing on the minds of residents this year was the move to The Cloud. Work by Linden Lab on moving Second Life's data from it's old servers to Amazon Cloud servers had begun earlier. It continued throughout 2020, with the Lab announcing in November that half the sim data had been moved. And in December, it was announced at all sim data had been moved over, "We are now in The Cloud." But throughout this time, many residents complained about the number of glitches, saying they were getting worse and thought the move to The Cloud was to blame. Linden Lab finally had to admit that there were some complications, and asked the residents for patience. While some are optimistic that eventually the results will be lower fees and tiers, others feel the move was a mistake that will mean a buggier Second Life.

With the Pandemic, there were more people buying sims. And Second Life had it's biggest growth in years going from 24,740 to 25,555, with close to a thousand more private sims. But with Linden Lab moving the Grid's data to Amazon Cloud servers, it found that there was only so much growth that could be handled. So they announced there was a "limited availability" of new land, and not everyone whom asked would get the chance to buy a new sim.

In 2019, one of the big stories was the new continent of Bellisseria. In 2020, the Moles continued to work on it, expanding it to the east and doubling it in size. The area wasn't just homes and roads, but also wilderness areas and railroads. Late in the year, there were sims full of beach areas appearing to eastern Bellisseria's northeast, and when opened were full of the stilt houses that were announced by Linden Lab six months earlier at the SL17B. Linden Lab had just earlier announced a second new design of Linden home for 2020, the Chalets. Most likely, they will be available sometime in the spring or summer of 2021.

Despite all the resources going to the Cloud move and Linden Homes, there was one major technical development. In April, Linden Lab announced the Environmental Enhancement Project, or EEP. Under development since 2017, this was a successor to Windlight and offered more options in allowing landowners to change the sky of their lands to make day and night cycles longer or shorter, or make them like something out of a fantasy or science fiction tale. But at first only a minority of residents could see the results. For a time, those using the more popular Firestorm viewer could only see oddly-colored skies in sims making use of EEP. Finally in December, the latest Firestorm viewer was EEP compatible. But as a few residents using it felt their viewers were going slower, not everyone would make the change right away.

In May, Linden Lab announced it was slightly changing the official logo of Second Life. The change was minor, making the hand and eye symbol from bluish-green to blue and slightly changing the lettering of the words "Second Life" and making them black. But it was the first change in the logo since the virtual world first came on in 2003.

In 2019, the Linden Endowment of the Arts shut down after eight years of operation following a vote by it's committee, a blow to Second Life's artist community. About a year later in September, Linden Lab announced it's upcoming "spiritual successor," the Second Life Endowment of the Arts. The SLEA was scheduled to open it's first sims of exhibits sometime in January 2021.

Also in September, Linden Lab launched an online store to sell Second Life-themed merchandise. There were T-shirts and coffee cups with the Second Life logo. Curiously, although there were Linden bear pins, there were no plush Linden bears. Even more curious, Linden Lab didn't do the website on it's own but through the Redbubble online store service which was made for independent artists and not multi-million dollar corporations.

When 2020 started, the "next-generation virtual world" of Sansar was in trouble. After two and a half years, it had failed to gain much of a following, the high hopes Linden Lab had for it unrealized, and it had recently gone through layoffs in Novemeber 2019. Three months later in February, there was an even greater number of layoffs, with a few people and resources moved back to developing Second Life. In February, CEO Ebbe Altberg let on that the Lab was looking to either partner with someone to run Sansar or sell it. Then in March, Linden Lab announced Sansar had been sold to Wookey. While some were sad to see the former Torley Linden, whom stuck with Sansar, no longer part of the Lab, the more vocal residents viewed the news of the sale along the lines of "it's about time," glad Linden Lab was no longer spending money on it. Despite no longer being part of Linden Lab, Sansar seems to be holding it's own under Wookey. But the place looks less like it's on it's way to being an open-ended virtual world and more of a "virtual venue platform" in which most of the people, and money, come from the events held there. 

One feature of the Mainland, the pod car tours, had a scare when in August their owner announced she was closing them down following a 24 hour account suspension and lack of communication from Linden Lab. But once word got around, she and the Lab would talk, and the tours went on as before.

As every year, there would be many events held in Second Life. This year though, with the Coronovirus Pandemic making large events in real life. Burning Man, known for it's fans holding a spinoff event in the fall, would move it's festival online to a number of virtual worlds, including Second Life. Gen-Con, "the largest tabletop game convention in North America" would also hold it's events online, Second Life being a key part of it. 2020 being an election year, there were some political exhibits inworld. But the increasing bitter tone of politcal rhetoric resulted in fewer residents showing interest compared to twelve years ago, or even four years ago. With the "Black Lives Matter" protests in the United States in real life, they would have an impact inworld with two places inworld about the movement as well as at least one discussion. This year's Second Life Birthday, the SL17B, had "Vacations and Road Trips" as a theme. It would be distinguished by the exhibitors having greater freedom on what to build, in addition to the first time many would see the Environmental Enhancement Project feature in use for the skies of sims. But there would be no great revelations from Linden Lab as to what was in the future, aside from the next Linden Homes. This year's Relay for Life season, "Game On Cancer!" was a success, with over 200 teams raising over $300,000 USD worth of Lindens. On the Relay Weekend, over 1400 avatars walked the 49 sim track, the biggest in years. It's spinoff events, the Fantasy Faire, the Christmas Expo, and Making Strides also got attention. Other notable events included the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conference, which at least one discussion talked about how the Coronovirus crisis might lead to lasting changes in teaching, and Burn2, which did well despite being overshadowed by Burning Man moving to online.

Other changes that went on worthy of attention included the Confederation of Democratic Simulators having two elections free of drama, and Motecito Bay redesigning it's sim.

Sadly, Second Life would say goodbye to some of it's residents. The Coronovirus that had claimed so many in real-life claimed Ucello Poultry, a noted resident and former blogger of Bay City. Cerdwin Flanagan noted for her work in the Fantasy Faire, had also passed. So did Autopilotpatty Poppy of Caledon, Ertina Loopen of the Relay Rockers, and Zed Ravenhurst of the Relay's Team ACTS. William Beauclerc, noted for his work at the Builders Brewery, had died. For the Newser's home community the Sunweavers, it was discovered Tigerclaw Apps had passed away the previous year. Comcat Fenstalker, a member of the Relay's Maniacs whom occasionally went to Sunweaver clubs, also died. One passing outside Second Life caught the Newser's attention, Ferne Le'roy in the Final Fantasy MMO had passed from Corona and friends held an online funeral in the game.

Second Life would say goodbye to some places. Once the scene of yearly art competitions that awarded huge prizes, the last of the University of Western Australia sims was shut down this year. One community that almost closed down was Second Norway in the Blake Sea, the owner taking a financial hit due to the Cronovirus Crisis. But thanks to a deal with Linden Lab, most of it's sims were saved. The Yavascript travel pod tours were almost taken offline following a misunderstanding due to a 24 hour ban on the builder. But it was cleared up and the pod tours continued.

For the neighbors of the Newser, the Sunweaver community, the year brought some sadness with the passing of two friends. But there was also activity with a Relay season that brought an air show and a bumper car event. The Arcadia Asylum would hold an amusement park and a haunted house. A new club opened, the Bouncing Bunny Beach Club, and a 12 hour marathon event, a club crawl involving six clubs on New Years Eve brought in 2021 to the locals.

For the Newser, it was our tenth year of covering the news of the people, places, and events across Second Life. It's been a pleasure covering the news this past decade. And we look forward to continuing to cover it for years to come.

Bixyl Shuftan
SL Newser

Second Life Land Area Rises to 25,555 Sims, Private Sim Sales Stopped Temporarily

 

When Linden Lab announced last May that they were could no longer guarantee a new sim to everyone who wanted to buy one, it was obvious the amount of private land areas was going up. It was just a question of how much. On January 3, Tyche Shepherd announced just how much it had. The total number of sims had increased from 24,740 to 25,555, an increase of 3.3%. For private sims, the rate of growth was a little short of twice that. They grew in number from 16,105 to 17,024, an increase of 919 or 5.7%.

Checking Tyche's chart, April and May saw huge increases in private sims compared to typical changes, with 176 in the week of April 19, 192 in the week of April 26, a huge growth of 352 on the week of May 3, and 268 on the week of May 17. But this period also saw the greatest drop, a decline of 179 on the week of May 10. These huge numbers were likely why Linden Lab made their announcement saying they couldn't guarantee a new sim for everyone. From the week of November 15 to the week of December 6, there was another period of growth averaging 80 a week. This followed the Lab's announcement that they had more sims available for sale, though still in limited numbers. But in late December, the Lab put further purchases of private sims on hold, at least for now, due to maintenance of it's land store. So the number of sims dropped in the last week.

So what will happen in 2021? Presumably once the bugs are worked out with Linden Lab's move to Amazon Cloud servers and anyone can get a private sim when they want, their numbers will continue to grow. But if glitches cause them to keep new land purchases limited, the increase will be small.

Source: Tyche Shepherd

Hat tip: Daniel Voyager 

Bixyl Shuftan

CDS Announcement: New Year's Party

 

UPDATE: Let's say GOOD-BYE to 2020!

What a rotten year! Let's make sure it's behind us!

Join us on Saturday, January 2 from 12-2pm SLT.
Place: CDS - Locus Amoenus - Dancing Under the Stars
(but if you see a red airplane with a trailing banner, you are close!)

Let's celebrate the sparkling New Year, while making SURE that 2020 is gone, Gone, GONE!
Music by DJ Callipygian Christensen.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Locus%20Amoenus/178/46/27

Announcement: This Saturday at The Science Circle - "CRISPR 2020: Year in Review"

 

"CRISPR 2020: Year in Review"

Saturday, January 2,

10 AM to 11 AM SL time

Figure NobelPrize.org. Using the genetic scissors, researchers can edit the genome of practically all living things.

 

Every year there are new advances in genome engineering. In this talk, the most important and interesting news in CRISPR-based gene editing from 2020 will be presented. Come learn about Technology Advances, New Tools, Intellectual Property, and Target Genes and Modified Organisms from a former published practitioner in the field. Of special note this year is the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier for their work in CRISPR. Thus, the talk will start with a little deeper history of its discovery and invention. This year CRISPR was used for more than just gene editing, so those will be of particular interest and discussed as well. 

Non-members can register for the free events through SC members.

Presentation by Dr. Stephen Gasior (Xootfly)

For more information, Click Here. 

 https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/114/206/30

 

Who Should Be Second Life's Man (or Woman) of The Year?

On Thursday evening December 20, the noted real-life news publication Time Magazine announced it's choice for Man of the Year, with President-Elect Joe Biden and VP-Elect Kamala Harris sharing the cover. For almost a hundred years since they chose Charles Lindbergh in 1927, the magazine has done an annual issue featuring the person, group of people, an idea, or thing that has "for better or for worse... has done the most to influence the events of the year." Over the years, most American Presidents have made the achievement, as well as noted people such as Mahatma Gandhi. They've also chosen groups of people such as "The Middle Americans" in 1969 and "You" in 2006, meaning the millions whom contributed to the Internet and the World Wide Web. Not all of it's choices were popular. Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Allahtollah Khomeni selections which drew criticism from the readers. And a few such as "The Computer" in 1982 were met with confusion. But it's a tradition that's gone on through the years as reporting the news has gone from not just print media and radio, but television, cable TV, and then the Internet as well.

It's a tradition that starting in 2014, the Second Life Newser decided to take on with Linden Lab's new CEO Ebbe Altberg as Second Life's Man of the Year. Since then, we've got after the person or persons whom had the most impact on Second Life news, our last winners being the Linden Moles in 2019 for their work on the new continent of Bellisseria. And like Time Magazine, not all of our choices were popular. The choice of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai for his dismantling of Net Neutrality and the potentially chilling effect it could have on Second Life was one that got both criticism and head scratching.

Others whom got the achievement were the Second Life Birthday volunteer group in 2018, the Relay for Life volunteers in 2016, and in 2015 the community of Steelhead. There were also a number of people whom made runner-up such as Barbie Alchemi and Fran Serenade, and Draxtor Despress.

So who should our choice be in 2020? With the Pandemic raging in real life, should it be those whom have made an effort to educate Second Life residents about it? Should it be a noted resident whom caught or passed away from the Coronavirus? Should it be a person or group of people whom raised money for charity, the Relay Life being an obvious example but there are others. Should it be a noted filmmaker? Should it be a noted community leader or community officer whom made a difference? Or maybe this was someone on the Internet whom had such a big impact, it had a big influence on what happens or could happen here?

We have a few people in mind, but we're willing to take suggestions. Who do you think should be Second Life's Man, Woman, or Persons of the Year?

Source: Time Magazine, Wikipedia

Bixyl Shuftan

Election Day

 

 In the United States, it's Election Day, and time for Americans, at least those whom haven't done so earlier, to vote. It's been a unique election, and while there are always those who feel each election is the one the future of the country depends on, this time more than usual consider this one vital. 

People will likely hang out at one of several locations, such as the Election Simulator (above), one of Second Life's political areas, and even Book Island is offering for those anxious about the election to come and hang out. So who will win, Trump or Biden? We may know sometime tonight.

So go out and vote (if you haven't already), and come and hang out in Second Life.

Bixyl Shuftan

 

 

SL Video: "Second Life Destinations - Election Simulator 2020"

 

From Linden Lab on October 20. Remember the 2020 Election Simulator the Newser wrote about last week? It was just featured in the Second Life Destination Guide. It featured the above video in which creator, Duncan (ABoysPlaceMall Resident), describes the build through voice actor Reverend Quar.

The 2020 Election Simulator

 

America's Presidential Elections are less than a month away.  While the polls can tell us who's ahead among a cross-section of people across the country, in the end it's not just one big contest but fifty-one smaller contests in which their results are counted as electoral votes. At least if things go according to plan. One resident decided to build a "2020 Election Simulator" in the Eyharts sim, to help give people ideas on how it could turn out. The Newser went over to take a look.

Read the story in Design.

News and Commentary: Political Ads Banned Under Ad Farm Rule Change

With America's Presidential Election Day in a little more than two months, it seems Linden Lab is trying to cut down on the size and number of political advertising signs.  In a Concierge and Land User Group meeting last Wednesday August 26, the rules about advertising signs were amended to include a prohibition on political ads in their rules about Ad Farms.

Shortly afterwards, it was brought up in the Second Life forums and subject to some debate. Some supported it. Some were solidly opposed it. Others felt it was well-intentioned, considering how sour political rancor has gotten, but smacked of censorship.

More than once in the forum thread, someone stated no one has to worry about taking down a "Vote for XXXX" sign from their home parcel on the Mainland, provided such signs are within common sense (no huge banners standing over 8 meters in the air, no flashing lights, etc.). Taking a look in one spot, the political signs themselves I saw seemed to be within the eight meter limit, though one guy was doing a subtle jab at the opposition by making what looked like a giant body bag with the other candidate's banner. When I checked the following day though, both the sign and the bag were gone.

The Newser has written very little on the 2020 Presidential Election this year. This is partially because of the lack of headliners like the Trump Manor , the Trump Wall, and the Trump Organization getting banned by the Lab four years ago, partially. The other reason is people yours truly talking to on Second Life and the Internet expressing their revulsion and exhaustion with the state of politics and political debate today. With the home stretch of the campaign season upon us, there will be some political coverage. But don't expect it every week.

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: This Saturday at The Science Circle - "Science Fair 2020"

"Science Fair 2020"

Saturday June 27

7 AM to 10:30 AM

It is that time again!

The annual Science Fair will take place this year on Saturday, June 27 from 7 AM to 10:30 AM PDT.

This year all curators of an exhibition in the region welcome us at their own work.

For those without a permanent display in the region, pergolas are situated around a mountain.

During a joint teleport, hovering, flying, and walking event with Matthew Burr across the region, we will discover the work of 13 Science Circle members.

For more information, Click Here.  

In the Science Circle sim.

The Sumbeamer Camp For RFL 2020

The Relay track for the Relay Weekend had many builds by both individual builders and the various teams. Among the campsites was that of the Sunbeamers. Since it's start in 2013, the team has always had a campsite, and 2020 would have it's seventh. So what was their camp like this year?

Read the story in Places.

Cartoon of the Day: Veiled Confusion

Taken at the Relay Track. In the Gorean roleplays, the freedwomen wear veils. But in 2020's time of masking to reduce the chances of falling to a pestilence, someone not in the know could easily confuse them for another purpose.

Bixyl Shuftan

SL Video: "Second Life, Living The Virtual World Dream | The 2020 Comeback"

(Click here if the video does not play)

By Luca on April 2, "Second Life never went away, and now people, and the world are primed and ready to see how it truly is. Live the dream of the metaverse."

SL Video: "Second Life in 2020, Resurgence of The World's Virtual World"

(Click here if the video does not play)

From Luca on March 9, "For almost two decade Second Life has been at the forefront of the dreams of the virtual world, there are many reasons why it still exist to this day. And it's ready to show the world of today the extent of its true potential."

Some New Year's Eve Events in Second Life

Second Life has no shortage of parties, and for ringing in the New Year, there were a number. From the Goblin Cave in Caledon Downs to the Fairgrounds, people either celebrated before or after going to real-life parties, or did so just in Second Life as they had more fun there than at the local bar. It was full of bright lights, cheers, and well-wishes and hopes for 2020.

See more in Events.

Happy New Year Second Life

Happy New Year everyone! We've had a busy night, and we're tired. So we'll have more to show you later. For now, happy Two Thousand Twenty.

Bixyl Shuftan

Press Release: New Year's Eve Prim Drop at Bay City

It's time for the prim to drop once more!

Bay City's New Year's event set for 31st December

BAY CITY, SL (28th December, 2018) - Citizens of Bay City, Second Life's® city by the bay, will be marking the end of the year in fine fashion, attending the annual "Prim Drop" in the Bay city Fairgrounds in North Channel on the evening of the 31st of December.

The party will include an expanded, two-hour set of DJed tunes presented by Marianne McCann, as well as fireworks and other festive fun. Food, drink, and other party favors will be provided for all attendees.

The event is an outdoor, high-class, wintertime soirée, and black tie attire and/or full dress is requested. All Second Life® Residents are welcome to attend and ring in the New Year with the Bay City community.

This will also be the last event within Bay City this year for donating to Child's Play Charity (www.childsplaycharity.org). Child's Play is a 501c3 non profit organization offers online communities such as ours an opportunity to help seriously ill children around the globe during their hospital stays with the purchase of games and gaming equipment. To date, Bay City has raised over L$200,00 for Child's plaay this season.

Bay City is a mainland community, developed by Linden Lab® and home to the Bay City Alliance. The Bay City Alliance was founded in 2008 to promote the Bay City regions of Second Life and provide a venue for Bay City Residents and other interested parties to socialize and network. It is now the largest group for Residents of Bay City.

For more information,  please contact Marianne McCann.