Berlin Wall Display in Second Life (2008)

It was thirty years ago this month that the Berlin Wall, a symbol of the Cold War and the failure of Communism, was opened and began to be taken down. For years, the city of Berlin was divided, the state of East Germany keeping it's subjects behind a barrier of concrete, barbed wire, minefields, and guards with orders to kill anyone trying to flee. Hundreds died trying to cross it before it the guards began letting people through and over in in November 1989. For Baby Boomers and Generation Xers old enough to know, the fall of the wall was history in the making, a revolution without a shot being fired. But for younger generations, many know little to nothing about it. In November 2008, a Christo Larsen built a Berlin Wall exhibition in Second Life, detailing the history around The Wall. The article was originally published in Second Life Newspaper that month.

Read the republished article in Places.

1920s Berlin Project's Eighth Anniversary Celebrations

History fans in Second Life should be happy to know that the 1920's Berlin Project is celebrating it's eighth anniversary. Jo Yardley, who runs the historical roleplay community, made an announcement on her blog.

I can’t believe that it has been 8 years since that evening in 2009 when I opened my club and had our first little 1920s Berlin themed party in a tiny skybox. I didn’t expect much of it, I had only been in SL for a week when I started building and I had no idea what I was doing. But the theme somehow managed to attract the right crowd and within no time a vibrant community of creative, fun, interesting and exciting people started to grow and populate my simplistic pile of prims.

It is impossible to explain how much the 1920s Berlin project means to me and I am always touched and excited to hear that it also means a lot to so many others.

Starting May 30 and ending June 6, there will be celebratory events daily, mostly in the early to mid afternoon, though a few are in the late morning or late afternoon. Tuesday May 30 was the dance under the Brandenburg Gate, followed by fireworks. Wednesday May 31 has children's events. Thursday June 1 includes the food festival with beer, sausage, beer, cheese, and more beer. Friday June 2 will be a celebratory dinner and live music at the Hotel Adlon. Saturday June 3 has the Miss Berlin Beauty pageant. Sunday June 4 has the opening of a new library and art venue. Monday June 5 has a pool party and a showing of the movie "Berlin Alexanderplatz" (1931). Tuesday June 6 is when the normal rules about modern clothing and nonhuman avatars are relaxed (personal note: the only day I can get into the place with my normal look).

There is also a "My Favorite Spot in Berlin" photo contest, with a 2500 Linden prize (second place 1000 Lindens).

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/1920s%20Berlin%20Project/243/224/1929

Source: 1920's Berlin Project  

Berlin Wall Display in Second Life (2008)

For those of the Baby Boom and Gen X generations, Europe was a different place in the recent past that it was now. Following the Second World War, Europe was divided by the Iron Curtain, the Soviet Union and it's satellite states keeping it's people in with barbed wire, minefields, and border guards with orders to kill. The most visible spot was the Berlin Wall, which was set up around West Berlin, a spot of territory inside East Germany where citizens could live under a democracy. After it's construction, many died trying to cross it. In November 2008, a Christo Larsen built a Berlin Wall exhibition in Second Life, detailing the history around The Wall. The article was originally published in Second Life Newspaper that month.

Read the republished article in Places.

1920s Berlin Project Fifth Anniversary's Open House

Among the historical RP areas is the 1920s Berlin Project by Jo Yardley. Normally closed to nonhuman avatars, it was briefly opened to them in its "Open House" last Thursday as part of it's Fifth Anniversary line of events. Bixyl Shuftan took the chance to visit the place, listened to a few locals, including Jo, and took a few pictures.

Read more in Events.

1920s Berlin to Hold Fourth Anniversary Celebration

From Thursday May 30th to Sunday June 2nd, the 1920s Berlin Project will be holding special events to celebrate four years on the Grid. The following was on the 1920s Berlin blog:

On the 30th of may, 4 years ago I opened the first version of our 1920s Berlin sim, it became a much bigger success then I could have imagined and has managed to survive longer then anyone could have predicted. To celebrate the sim's birthday and how well the sim is doing in general, we’re having a few days of fun! The schedule may change at any time, but at the moment it looks a bit like this:

Thursday 30th May:
Keller party, small scale.
We’ll drink, hand out some freebies, dance, chat and invite everyone who wants to to get up on stage to tell about their discovery of Berlin, their life here, to perhaps sing, do a trick or show off another talent.

Friday 31st May:
The Grand Anniversary Dance at unter den Linden

Saturday 1st June
Relaxed Rules Day
11:00 Tea Dance
12:00 Pool party
14:00 Eldorado evening – Revealing new building

Sunday 2nd June
Kids Day!
Special class, playground games, football game

More things will be added and there will be a few surprises too…

Hat tip: Daniel Voyager

Linden Lab CEO Rod Humble Visits Bay City, 1920s Berlin

Daniel Voyager was on the scene when Bay City had an unusual guest: The head of Linden Lab Rod Humble, also known as Rodvik Linden.

Rodvik Humble who is CEO of Linden Lab today came inworld for about half an hour to hang out with SL residents in the Weston region in Bay City. A large crowd formed around Rodvik within minutes and had a interesting discussion. The reason that Rodvik Humble came inworld will be revealed soon. Wooooot!!!!

Bay City wasn't the only place Rodvik stopped by. Jo Yardley of the 1920s Berlin Project documented his dropping over there as well.

I had invited Herr Humble for a free tour of the sim a while back and was told he would be dropping in today. It was great to finally meet his avatar in person. The welcoming community of 1920s Berlin was very excited to have him as a guest and we all hope his avatar will come more often.

Rodvik Linden is not known to visit the Grid often, at least not recently. Earlier in 2011 not long after becoming CEO, he did make an effort in "getting immersed in Second Life" and he did make an appearance at SL8B. Since then however, Rod hadn't been noticed. Do these visits mean the head of the Lab will take the time to visit inworld more often. Time will tell.

Sources: Daniel Voyager, Jo Yardley.

The Drax Files: World Makers "Episode 2: Jo Yardley"

The next in Draxtor Despres' video series, where he interviews Yo Yardley of the 1920s Berlin Project, "Jo Yardley listens to Marlene Dietrich on a hand crank gramophone because she lives in Weimar era Germany and electricity is rather scarce: oh yes, although Frau Yardley lives in Amsterdam, her house is decorated with original furniture and accessories from the 1920ties and German magazines from the Interbellum Period are everywhere.

"But Yardley, who is a historical consultant for film, TV and museums has done much more than opting out of microwaves, cell-phone and TV usage: inside the virtual world of Second Life, Yardley rebuilt a Berlin that is long gone, a Berlin, where ehrenwerte Damen sport cigarette-holders and gallant Herren are seen in three-piece suits rather than blue jeans.

"This digital Berlin is home to the affluent who dance wide eyes shut straight through the roaring Twenties at the Hotel Adlon as well as the orphaned street children, begging for a few Mark to get through the day. 1920s Berlin in Second Life operates 24/7 and is complete with accurate signage, a functioning Zeppelin and a steam-engine Reichsbahn...so: let's take a trip back in time!"

More info at http://1920sberlin.com or in-world at http://secondlife.com/destination/1828?sourceid=dgw1

Weekend at the SL9B

The Second Life Ninth Birthday event was well-attended all week, with the most attendance and some of the most popular events on the Weekend. Bixyl Shuftan takes a look at some of exhibits, as well as attending a few of the events near the end of the SL9B.

Read more in Events.

Cartoon of the Day: 1920's Berlin

Dropping by the 1920's Berlin exhibit in the SL8B event, a German chef dropped by, holding one of his sausages. Those who know me will recognize a familiar pun.

By Bixyl Shuftan