Your source of news about the people, places, things, and events across Second Life.
“Echo Group, a Real Life 5013C, Band of Brothers is dedicated to our veteran community. We currently have our main group in California on the Central Coast and chapters in Arizona, Tennessee, and the Metaverse.
We are working closely on initiatives that directly affect the veteran community, such as the Veteran Homeless Crisis as well as the 22 a day initiative.
On our sim, we have kiosks providing up-to-date Veteran’s Affairs system information for veterans and family members. We have live classes on Veteran Suicide Awareness Training, PTSD Awareness Training, group camaraderie sessions, and club events at our Club Echo.
Numerous garden areas and places to just be and relax, we even have a farm tucked in the corner. And of course our famous aquarium.
We are getting our sim ready to become a Gateway in Second Life. Our Veterans will be available via scheduling to aid new Residents, and it will help the veteran earn their red, white, and blue jersey.”
From "Love Made in Second Life" on the Linden blog.
Created in an exclusive partnership with the acclaimed comic book publisher Zenescope, the all-new Zenescope Metaverse
is bursting with magic and mystery. In this week’s “Second Life
Destinations” video, Zenescope co-founder Ralph Tedesco gives an
exclusive “first look” at this exciting new virtual world experience.
This huge region is so highly detailed that it might just take several visits to see everything. Start your journey in the wide courtyard where you can connect with others before exploring. As you traverse this enchanted realm of flowing brooks and glistening flowers, keep an eye out for hidden locations and easter eggs referencing some of Zenescope’s most iconic tales.
Experience storytelling and comic books in a whole new way at the Zenescope Metaverse -- check it out exclusively in Second Life.
Video production credits: Draxtor Despress
(Click here if the video fails to play)
Posted on January 19 by Linden Lab, with the help of Draxtor Despres, "The
Ancient Order of Centaurs is a beautiful, and varied region where
centaurs and their friends can feel at home. Visitors are very welcome,
whether they are centaurs, creatures, and even hoomans. Come explore,
join the community, or just take photos of the lovely scenery."
Hammifari is the latest creation of the Bellisseria Hammies, a couple/building team that oversee the Bellisseria Animal Sanctuary. They go by Hammie (Jessycajayne) and Varistentia Varriale.
Hammifari has an open-plan setup, with the animals roaming freely. You can get up close and personal with giraffes, zebras, elephants, and more. There is also an elevated wooden walkway that lines the perimeter of the exhibit. It’s a great vantage point to enjoy the waterfall, trees, and surrounding nature.
This event takes place on the Bellisseria Fairgrounds, a space the Hammies are quite familiar with. They tell us they have done many events here, such as “Zoo-Palooza 1, {and} a winter fantasy land we called Hamnia - a play on Narnia. And we also did a summer-long Water Park last summer, which will be returning for its second year this coming July.”
Of their inspiration for Hammifari, the Hammies say “our main message to folks that come to see Hammifari or any other builds that we do, is a universal message to be kind to animals. To learn more about them and their needs, habitats etc. And to just generally help create a fun environment where families and anyone who also has an appreciation for wildlife can explore.”
The event is only up for a few more days, so teleport over soon before it disappears!
This charming and old-timey region was originally created as “The Wheatfield” by painter/photographer/coder Jeffrey Berg, who goes by AM Radio in Second Life. Shortly after, in an interview with Bettina Tizzy, AM explained that “I wanted to challenge people's idea of place. We have so many preconceptions of space. What is a sidewalk, what is a house, what is a trail, what is a cave? We've evolved our sense of space and place. What better place than SL to challenge it?”
His challenge was accepted; the soothing, yet thought-provoking atmosphere of The Wheatfield has been cherished by many Residents over the years. In fact, AM Radio and some other well-known SL artists were even mentioned in New York Times Magazine in 2009. Over the years, AM Radio has built 14 regions in SL, and many Residents have been inspired by his style. Strawberry Linden expressed her appreciation for his work in a blog post a few years before joining Linden Lab.
The region is now called “The Far Away,” and is hosted by the couple Ziki Questi and Kinnaird Fiachra on the region Dreamworld North, which is part of the Dreamworld estate owned by Count Burks. Ziki says she was drawn to it because, “to me, The Far Away is a seminal work of virtual art. Evocative and timeless, it laid the groundwork for other striking and more expansive works by AM Radio such as The Quiet and Surface, all of which now survive only in images and memory. Kinn and I are delighted to preserve and maintain The Far Away for the enjoyment of the SL community.”
Kinnaird recalls being brought here by a friend on her first day in SL: “I was not a gamer, and the whole concept of being inworld was a bit disorienting, but I remember my friend leaving me at The Far Away when he had to go AFK, saying, "you'll be safe here.””
The Far Away is a living virtual relic that has a peaceful ambiguity capable of meaning something different to every visitor. What will it mean to you? Visit today to find out. With hidden poses and interactive elements scattered throughout, who knows what your journey might lead to.
https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Dreamworld North/198/152/22/
Video from Draxtor Despres
From the Second Life Blog
This week, Second Life Destinations looks at the Coronavirus info center on Inspiration Island.
"Lissena, who also goes by Wisdomseeker, guides us through the colorful and comforting realm of Inspiration Island, which she created with several other volunteers to promote wellness in a fun and accessible way. In this region you can also find Whole Brain Health, which Lissena describes as 'the virtual arm of our nonprofit Ageless Mind Project. Our mission is to give people the tools to stay sharp, active, and healthy, based on research coming from neuroscience, gerontology, positive psychology, and creativity.'
"The COVID display in the courtyard was built by Lady Brielle, a medical librarian who maintains the text as new data becomes available. Lady Brielle has been a tireless essential worker throughout the pandemic, and her work has not gone unnoticed. Lady Brielle us that 'our outreach work in Second Life has been recognized by the National Library of Medicine and won an award in Research by the Hospital Libraries Section of the Medical Library Association.'
"Information on COVID-19 is displayed in Spanish, American Sign Language, and English. The creators of Inspiration Island took a multidisciplinary approach to presenting information so that as many people as possible can be positively impacted by visiting. In addition to medical data there are stories submitted by other Residents about their personal experiences of social distancing to remind us that what we’re feeling is totally natural, and we’re not the only ones who feel that way. There are also many activities to facilitate mental stimulation and help people feel connected.
"Lissena wants us to know that even the scary parts of sickness are addressed here: 'Once a month Rob, a member of the Collective in Germany, hosts a Death Café -- something he is trained to do professionally outside SL -- conversations that help make death less {of} a forbidden subject. Amazingly, we laugh a lot there.'
"This vibrant region is the labor of love of a devoted community. Marly Milena, a volunteer who provides 'programs focused on creative expression on Inspiration Island. I have introduced a way of working with arts-based processes, called Symbolic Modeling (SymMod for short). We use the building tools so people can make art in SL, and then we guide them in exploring meanings, new ideas, feelings, etc'
"Thuja Hynes, the associate director of the project, builds educational exhibits and tours. Two of his current projects are called Simply Imossible and Hero Walk. There are also many weekly events. Faust hosts the Positive Change Circle at Whole Brain Health on Sundays at 3pm SLT, and Arisia Vita plays piano in the gaebo every Monday and Wednesday. Priceless contributions are also provided by community members Catseye Tennen, Ghaelen D'Lareh, and Marylou Goldrosen.
"Second Life is proud to host a space that incorporates elements of education, creativity, and community, and Inspiration Island is a living example of the positive it can bring. Lissena feels that the activities found here “give you insight into yourself, encourage your creativity and your sense of purpose and reduce loneliness, which is really important.” It is open to people from all walks of life, so stop by for a visit today."
Video by Draxtor Despress
Filmed by Draxtor Despres for Second Life Destinations on December 15
This week we are listening to five inspiring stories as Residents share how they celebrate the holidays in Second Life.
Isabelle Cheren, a video artist and blogger, speaks highly of SL Residents’ adaptability to the current social isolation in the physical world. Given the depth of connections people can have with each other in the virtual world, she thinks people may be more inclined to give it a try. Having grown up in Australia, Cheren says the winter holiday spirit of SL “feels like those films I used to watch when I was a young girl because… we never had any of this, the snow, that Christmas tree, all those things.” She also has the advantage of living with her friend, prominent SL YouTuber Yorkie, so they certainly never run out of ideas for inworld adventures and activities.
Squid and Timberwolf, a couple who met in SL this year, are proof that love can be found even in the darkest of times. Squid is a student in Derry, Northern Ireland, and Timberwolf lives in Central New York. They have been together for 6 months and getting a place together inworld has been a breeze. Squid says that SL has given them “a sort of proximity that we don’t have physically with each other,” which is so valuable in long distance relationships, especially now.
Rosie Gray lives in the Confederation of Democratic Simulators (CDS), one of the oldest communities in SL. It comprises six interconnected sims of varying themes that are governed by one administration. Gray affirms that “snow is greatly anticipated” in the CDS: Residents happily engage with the technical aspects of changing the terrain textures to make way for skiing, ice skating, and the magic of winter. Their commitment truly pays off, with Gray adding, “you can absolutely feel presence here.”
iSkye Silverweb and Slatan Dryke are another long distance couple in SL. With Silverweb in Wisconsin and Dryke in Italy, one look at their avatars shows that their bond is undeniable. They are Dinkies, which is a type of Tiny. Of their anthropomorphic feline figures, Silverweb says “they’re really cute, [with] round tummies,” and like many others, their favorite activity is ice skating. They are also both active in Virtual Ability, a community gateway for Residents with disabilities. Silverweb, who is deaf, says that “in SL there is the freedom of being able to express who you are in the choices you make with your avatar.”
Game Wylder, Todd Squall, and Lain Southpaw from Club Furzona emphasize that the winter holidays in their region are all about uniting different people from different backgrounds. Furzona is a community-based, cyberpunk themed region with a constant rotation of events, music, and games. The large outdoor area has been transformed into a winter themed space, and Furzona welcomes all, not just furries.
The concert at the end is by Fly Kugin, a violinist from Istanbul, Turkey. It takes place in her region, White Mask. We hope that you all have a safe and relaxing break for the winter holidays, and remember that each season has its ups and downs. Spring will be in the air before we know it, so for now, let’s enjoy our ugly sweaters and unleash our inner snow bunnies upon the gorgeous winter regions forged by the love and creativity of SL Residents.
While many Halloween happenings go into blood n' guts horror, others prefer something more on the playfully spooky side. Among the latter is the "Shocktober" event by Raglan Shire, which was recently featured in Second Life Destinations.
We have a bonus Second Life Destinations video for you this week: let’s take a look at Raglan Shire, a community of tinies in the midst of month long Halloween festivities. No need to worry if you are what they refer to as a “biggie,” as they are welcoming to all.
As their land info states: “The original community of fun for folks of all sizes. Many different locales, events & activities for anyone seeking friendship & adventure! Whether you're dinkie, tiny sized or any size or shape, come visit & enjoy!”
Every October Raglan Shire celebrates “Shocktober” to celebrate the spooky season, but their revelry is defined not so much by blood and gore as by whimsical creativity.
Attractions include a brand new interactive Haunted House for 2020, where you can choose the level of exposure to Halloween madness: the options are cute or creepy. The Raglan Shire Ride of Horrors is back, and filled with custom rooms created by the community. Hop into that snake cart to cruise through tons of spaces brimming with unbridled creativity. Not to mention the Haunted Wooden Roller Coaster of DOOM is faster than ever before.
Musical performances and many other themed activities round out the celebration of a month that puts creative expression first, in the world of biggies and tinies alike.
For more information, check out Shocktober's entry in the Destination Guide. And of course to check things out for yourself, head to Raglan Shire's Shocktober yourself at Heron Shire (128/135/3728)
Shyla’s work is in the Frank O’Hara
Building. Named after the notable writer, this building is dedicated to
poetry. Some of her work takes the form of Fibonacci poems, where the
number of words per line are determined by the mathematical sequence
which starts with 0 and 1 and the next number is found by adding up the
two numbers before it. This adds a visually alluring element to the
poetry, with pieces resembling diamonds, triangles, or hourglass shapes.
Designed by longtime SL resident Trouble Dethly Crystal, Vive La Paris was built as a special gift by the creator for his girlfriend in Argentina. 
