Person(s) of The Year: Baron Wulfenbach/Melanippe of Themiscyra

 

Many people made the news last year. Sadly, the person who had the most impact was with her departure. On November 7, we reported that a lady player behind both Baron Klaus Wulfenbach (Klauswulfenbach Outlander) and Melanippe of Themiscyra (Melanippe Karas) had died. 

 

Baron Wulfenbach was based on the "Girl Genius" online comic character of the same name, and was constantly in character (though often in a better mood), and was quite a presence in the Steamlands. While he had his own sim, he was often in other places such as Steelhead. Melanippe of Themiscyra (melanippe.karas) was part of the ROMA community, and part of a number of events. 

 

Memorial events were held for both personas. The one at ROMA for Melanippe had a roleplayed funeral ritual, followed by a talk about both her and the Baron. A few days later at the Burton Library in New Babbage, people gathered, a few who hadn't been online in a while, to talk about the Baron, but also Melanippe. 

 

Honorable mentions include Crim Mip, the development teams behind the mobile viewer and the avatar welcome package, Scrim Pinion, and the Relay for Life Volunteer group.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

Who Should Be Second Life's Man of The Year?

 

A few days ago, Time Magazine named the people leading the development of AI as the Persons of The Year for 2025.  The "Man of the Year" edition of Time is something the magazine has done for almost a century, the person, group or persons, or thing that has made the news the most in the past year. Its not always awarded to a man, and like this year sometimes it's a group of people. The choices are occasionally controversial. One year, it was awarded to "The Computer" due to the impact of them on technology and lifestyle & entertainment. There have been time's it's been awarded to someone who did a lot of death and destruction or otherwise affected peoples' lives for the worse. 

 

So with this in mind, who would be the man, or woman, or people, of the year for Second Life in 2025?

 

The Second Life Newser has announced a "Man of the Year" every year for almost a decade. Over time, we've chosen a variety of people, We've chosen Lindens. One year the Moles got it as a group for their work on Bellisseria. Citizens and communities have gotten it. 

 

Should it be someone behind a noteworthy project? Should it be a group of people helping others, such as the Relay for Life Volunteers? Or maybe this was someone or something that had such a big impact on the Internet, it was clearly felt within Second Life?

 

We have a few people in mind, but we certainly can use some suggestions. Who do you think should be Second Life's Man, Woman, or Persons of the Year?

 

Source: Time Magazine, Wikipedia

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Who Should Be The Second Life Newser's Person of The Year?

 

 About a week ago, Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine was declared Man of the Year by Time Magazine. The "Man of The Year" as the edition was originally called is something they have done every year for almost a century since 1927, the person or group of persons the magazine feels has made the largest impact on the news for the past year. On occasion, it's been awarded not to one man or woman, but to a group of people. The choices have occasionally been controversial. One year, it was announced "The Computer" was given the title due to the impact of computer technology. A number of times, the Man of the Year had made the news due to very negative reasons such as the oppression of a people or peoples, death, and/or destruction. 

 

So with this in mind comes the question who had most impact on Second Life News in 2022? Who should be our Man, Woman, or Persons of The Year? Last year, it was awarded to Patch Linden for partially stepping into the role left empty by the late Ebbe Linden following his passing. 

So who should be our choice for 2022? 

Should it be someone behind a project that helped people in real-life, such as the numerous charities such as the Relay for Life that make use of the virtual world? Should it be someone behind a breakthrough that could change the virtual world as we know it? 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, they had a huge impact on what happened or could happen here in Second Life? 

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

People of The Year Runner-Up: The Departed

 
Sadly, among the things 2021 will be the most known for by the Newser is how many people who passed away. A number of residents, and one noteable Linden, would have their last goodbye this past year, leaving behind various records of accomplishments and sad friends and admirers.

The most prominent of these people was Ebbe Altberg, aka Ebbe Linden, Linden Lab's CEO. Never before had someone at the top of the Lab died while at the helm, and the news was a big shock to everyone. While he hadn't appeared inworld for a while and was making fewer statements, few if anyone thought much of it until the announcement. His death just before the SL18B cast a cloud over the celebration, and with the statue of him at the event, his memory was never far away. Under his watch, Second Life would halt it's long slow decline and start to grow again, in addition to numerous technical improvements. Linden Lab never did announce the cause of death, but it was confirmed to have been cancer, a disease Ebbe helped the effort against with his support of the Relay for Life.

Another whom had an impact on Second Life as a whole was Avi Arrow. She ran the Ivory Tower of Prims, where residents could learn how to build and script at their own pace. She passed in October, leaving the Ivory Tower in the hands of Marcov Carter and Kenny Luckless. Robin Sojourner (Robin Wood) , whom had connections with both Bay City and the Ivory Tower, died in April from cancer. Delightful Doowangle, known in real life as Barbara Truman, whom was with the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education and a winner of the Thinkerer Award, passed in July. Dahlea Milena was one of the volunteers at Veterans Isle, which hosted a community of vets and held monthly benefit concerts to raise money to help wounded veterans keep roofs over their heads. She died in December, possibly from cancer.

The Sunweaver community would say goodbye to two noted women. Jessicabelle Dayafter, years ago noted for being a crack pilot in a combat RP who rose through the ranks, as well as designing her own aircraft, later on would pose for pictures and appear in music videos, died of Covid-19 on late August/early September. Alleara Snoodle was a woman of many talents whom had connections to both the Sunweaver and Chilbo community, earlier in SL history appearing on the Metanomics show was also known as a brilliant builder and scriptor. As time went on, she preferred to work more behind the scenes, and like Jessicabelle appearing in Nydia Tungsten's music videos. Her passing in late November is also believed to be from Covid. Curzan Markn was an occasional visitor to the beach clubs, but he had a devoted following of friends and family. He died in December from a heart attack.

The retirement of two Lindens from the Lab, Oz Linden and April Linden, was greeted with sadness by some. But they could always still reappear as regular residents. Sadly for people like Robin and Alleara, there will be no return.

Rest in peace.

Nominated by readers was Aeonix Aeon (Will Burns), and the Relay for Life volunteers.

Bixyl Shuftan
Editor, SL Newser
 

Man of The Year: Patch Linden

 

For quite some time, Linden Lab's Senior Director of Product has been quite visible, meeting with residents at various events, explaining what was going on with Linden Lab and Second Life, and answering questions the residents had. When CEO Ebbe Altberg/Ebbe Linden began appearing less, inworld and making statements, Patch more or less stood in for him.

After Ebbe Linden passed away, Linden Lab never did make anyone else CEO. Instead Patch helped fill in the role, notably the public part, with some of the decision making presumably taken up by Linden Lab's new owners, the Waterfield Network (just how much is known only behind the scenes), with Brad Oberwager/Oberwolf Linden standing out more than the others as Executive Chairman. Patch himself would join other Lindens in some Relay for Life fundraising, notably one event that was a twist on the "jail and bail" theme in which he spent time in the belly of a giant teddy bear until enough money was raised. He's also been more visible than Ebbe was in the forums, and sometimes appears in the Bellisseria group chat inworld.

With Patch as it's de-facto head (at least in day to day operations), Linden Lab and Second Life have continued to do well. More houses and more themes of the popular Linden Homes have been produced. There's been progress made on a mobile viewer. The number of privately-owned sims has gone up. The Lab has engaged in more partnerships, including one that resulted in a commercial that while it's impact on attracting new residents has yet to be determined has won some awards.

Not everything has gone perfectly under Patch. The decision to ban gacha machines no doubt hurt a number of content creators. And the Zenescope contest that stated winners would have to disclose real-life information raised some eyebrows as the Lab has prided itself on guarding the privacy of it's residents.

Patch isn't quite the CEO, so maybe he shouldn't get the full blame, or credit, of things that happened that Ebbe Altberg would. Still, with him being the new face of Linden Lab to the residents, and taking some time to talk to them, the Newser declares Patch Linden it's Man of the Year.

Stay tuned for our runner up.

Image source: Flickr

Bixyl Shuftan
Editor, SL Newser
 

Who Should Be Second Life's Man of The Year?

 

On Monday, the noted real-life news publication Time Magazine announced their Person of the Year for 2021: Elon Musk. The "Man of The Year" as the edition was originally called is something they have done every year for almost a century since 1927, the person or group of persons the magazine feels has made the largest impact on the news for the past year. As it's not always a man, women have achieved it. On occasion, it's been awarded to a group of people. The choices have not always been without controversy. One year, it was announced "The Computer" was given the title due to the impact of computer technology. A number of times, the Man of the Year had made the news due to the death and destruction, and sometimes oppression, that he caused.

So with this in mind comes the question who had most impact on Second Life News in 2021? Who should be our Man of The Year?

The Second Life Newser has announced a "Man of the Year" every year since 2014. Over the years, we've chosen Lindens. Last year the Moles got it as a group for their work on Bellisseria. Citizens and communities have gotten it, or the "Runner Up."

So who should be our choice in 2021? The Pandemic has continued to be a problem in real life, so perhaps someone who best showed how Second Life can be useful for real life? Should it be someone who passed away from the virus? Other people passed away in the past year, notably Ebbe Linden, Second Life's last CEO. Should it be someone or a group of people who raised money for charity, such as the Relay for Life? 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, they had a huge impact on what happened or could happen here in Second Life?

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

Volunteers of the Decade

 

The past decade has seen many people, groups, and communities make the news. Some do so over and over again. Some make a deep impact. There is one particular group which has done both.

For a century, the American Cancer Society has worked to combat the disease of cancer. It's most successful and signature fundraiser is the Relay for Life. A community-based charity, soon after Second Life came to be the Relay came here, and grew. In it's centennial year 2016, the Relay for Life of Second Life ranked as the Relay's 19th largest team worldwide.

From February to July (formerly March to August) every year, with spinnoff events in the Fall and winter, the Relayers hold events to raise money to fund research to help find treatments and cures for cancer. While the disease is serious, the Relayers make the events a social occasion and have fun doing it. Since it started in the virtual world, it has raised a total of four million US dollars.

As mentioned before, this is one of the largest Relay groups worldwide, with people across many regions and communities, across Second Life of all kinds of avatars, and many nationalities and languages. The high point of the Relay season, the Relay Weekend, which has hundreds of avatars walking around a forty-plus sim track with exhibits around it, is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, yearly event in Second Life. Among the people whom are a part of it are the neighbors of the Second Life Newser, the Sunweavers, who take part through it's own  team, the Sunbeamers.

Not everything about the Relay has been fun times. As the group's numbers include people with cancer and family history's of, inevitably some people every year pass away from the disease. Over time, they have included Shady Fox, Artistic Fimicloud, Catt Gable, and others. With occasional scammers making news with fake charities, some people have come to mistrust every one of them, even one with a good record such as the Relay. And in an era of fake news, there are the occasional charges of global conspiracies. But despite the setbacks, the Relay continues on, helping to fund treatments and cures, and bringing closer the day all cancers have safe and economical cures.

For it's continued successes in aiding real-life medicine, and for involving many hundreds of Second Life residents, as well as being a prime example of the good that can be done with virtual worlds, it's the decision of the Second Life Newser editor to name Relay for Life in Second Life as Second Life's People of the Decade. In a decade that has seen the worst Pandemic in the past century end many hundreds of thousands of lives, it is fitting the title goes to a group dedicated to saving lives. 

Honorable mentions go to Ebbe Altberg/Ebbe Linden, Draxtor Despress, and the Second Life Birthday volunteer staff (2012-2018).

Bixyl Shuftan
Editor, SL Newser

Men of the Year Runner-Up: The Acquisition Team

 

Besides the Newser's choice for "Man of the Year" Draxtor Despress, there were a number of other newsmakers. But the ones who stood out were the team of investors led by Randy Waterfield and Bradford Oberwager. On July 9, it was announced by Linden Lab that negotiations between them and the team had reached a deal that would result in the investors taking ownership of the company known for it's running of Second Life. All that was left needed was the approval of the US Federal Government to finalize it. The news was all the talk around the residents for a while. Some were afraid the result would be Second Life going lower in quality or even dismantled and shut down. Others felt there wouldn't be much change or possibly even some improvement. And still others felt it was too soon to tell or were otherwise unsure. Ebbe Linden stated that part of the deal was the Lab would continue to be free to run Second Life. Brett Linden added Waterfield and Oberwager had a solid view of what Second Life was and wasn't, which led to their decision to invest. After a few weeks, the chatter died down, and Residents were more or less going about their usual business.

While the investment team was only in the news for a matter of a few weeks, the move's potential implications for Second Life are obvious. So they are the Newser's Men of the Year - Runner Up.

Other notable people this year were the Moles for their continued work on Bellisseria and the Linden Homes, the staff of Gen-Con whom took their annual gaming convention online to Second Life, those whom made an effort to inform residents about the Coronavirus and honor those whom passed away from it, and of course the Relay for Life volunteers.

Bixyl Shuftan
Editor, SL Newser

Man of the Year: Draxtor Despress

 
There's been plenty of news this year in Second Life, and plenty of men and women behind it. In real life, the Coronavirus Pandemic cast a dark shadow over the world, and more people than before found themselves looking for things to do online. To bring them to Second Life, there had to be something to advertise the virtual world, and show them what was going on.

Someone helping out with both was Draxtor Despress, (Bernhard Drax in real life). Not just this year, but for the past several. Originally known for his "Flufee" videos made with Pooky Amsterdam, in 2013 he started a new series of informative videos about Second Life, "The Drax Files." This was followed in 2013 with "The Drax Files Radio Hour." In 2018, he produced a documentary film, "Our Digital Selves: My Avatar Is Me," which was about 13 Second Life residents whom overcame their various disabilities and made a home for themselves here. His work continued with the Second Life Destination videos in 2019, and this year he began hosting the Second Life Book Club.

For his work this year and in years past, Draxtor Despress is judged to be the Newser's Man of the Year.

Bixyl Shuftan
Editor, SL Newser

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

People of the Year: The Moles

The Moles of Second Life, the residents of the Grid hired by Linden Lab to build and script things, haven't always gotten much notice. "The other blue dots" often went about unnoticed, though some residents did give them a friendly thank you for their efforts, notably the people of Bay City whom hold a "Mole Day" every February.

Most years, the Moles have a big project to take care of, recent ones being the Tyra and the Magical Glytches game and updating the Linden Realms game. But this year, they had their work cut out for them. Bellisseria, which had it's beginnings with the SSP landmass, has been nothing short of a massive undertaking with a lot of work done before it's opening in April. And they've continued to work at it, increasing it's landmass over time with details large and small. This included building and opening new Linden Homes, including the new camper homes in a campsite area. Sometimes they've been building with residents looking over their shoulders. And all this time, they've kept a sense of humor about it. The Moles' efforts didn't just build land, but the people whom moved into the new Linden homes came together into a new community, one that's been the scene of fun activities, and some beautiful shows. This month, what was probably Bellisseria's last major expansion was done. While perhaps there's a little more to do, what's been accomplished this year can only be called a great success.

For this, and keeping in mind their previous accomplishments, the Second Life Newser declares the Moles it's Second Life's 2019 Persons of the Year.

So what is it like being a mole, their interview at this year's "Meet the Lindens" events had a few details. (Click Here)

Bixyl Shuftan

Who Should Be Second Life's "Man of the Year?"

Time Magazine recently announced their Person of the Year. Over the years, the news magazine has given the title to the man, woman, group, or object that the editorial staff felt was the greatest newsmaker in the previous year, for better or for worse. Some of their selections have been controversial, such as Stalin and Ayatollah Khomeini. And some raised eyebrows such as "The Computer" in 1983. This year it was teen activist Greta Thunberg.

With this in mind, whom was the person, persons, or object who had the most impact on Second Life in 2019? In 2018, it was the volunteer staff of Second Life's 15th anniversary celebration. 2019 has had it's number of newsmakers involving Second Life, from the Relay volunteers, to the moles, to the people waiting in line for their Linden Home houseboats, to Juliet Heberle and Arabesque Choche whose Chouchou sims were chosen by the Lab to be preserved, and others.

So whom do you think should be the Newser's Man (or Woman) of the Year? Feel free to leave your comments below.

Man of the Year Runner-Up: Draxtor Despress

Much like the Newser's Persons of the Year, the Second Life Birthday Group Volunteers, the runner-up is known for his accomplishments in previous years as well as this one. Draxtor Despress (Bernhard Drax in real life) Originally known for his "Flufee" videos made with Pooky Amsterdam, in 2013 he started a new series of informative videos about Second Life, "The Drax Files." This was followed in 2013 with "The Drax Files Radio Hour." Last year, he did some Sansar preview videos to help promote Linden Lab's next generation world.



This year, Draxtor produced a documentary film, "Our Digital Selves: My Avatar Is Me." The movie, "tells the story of 13 global citizens and their avatars as they transcend their various disabilities through artistic expression and making a home for themselves in the VR Metaverse." The video has been viewed almost 50,000 times, and no doubt has changed some minds on what Second Life, and other virtual worlds, are all about.

So for his work past and present, Draxtor Despress make's the Newser's Runner-Up for Man of the Year of 2018.

Other noteable people included Luskwood for still being a noted community after fifteen years, the former residents of the closed InWorldz Grid, the Relay for Life volunteers, and of course the Lindens for keeping Second Life up and running for fifteen years.

Bixyl Shuftan
Editor, SL Newser

Persons of the Year: The Second Life Birthday Volunteers

Second Life had it's share of people making the news this year, as well as people behind places and events making the news, and those making an impact behind the scenes. Finding someone who both stood out and made a difference was less than easy. But we did find someone.

Every year since it's first, there has been an anniversary celebration of some kind within Second Life, the Second Life Birthday. With one exception, the first eight were handled by Linden Lab. But in 2012, the Lab announced it would no longer be organizing one. What happened was that a number of residents took it into their own hands to organize the event, and these volunteers saved "The Birthday." Had the Newser been giving out it's "Man of the Year" award then, it would have gone to them.

This year came a milestone birthday, Second Life's fifteenth. It would me more than just the usual crowd of Second Life residents, but people coming back after taking a break for a few years as well as a few from tech blogs and magazines whom would be seeing the event as an example of the best of what Second Life has to offer, and giving their critical eye of what they saw. While Linden Lab has been taking a role in anniversary celebrations lately, such as the Musicfest and the "Meet and Greet" with noted Lindens, "The Birthday" is still up to a group of hardworking, and mostly overlooked volunteers.

Any Second Life Birthday is a challenge to undertake, the planning, the exhibit inspections, greeting and guiding visitors, watching out for griefers, finding people to fill in for musicians who can't make it, and more. And occasionally mistakes are made. But as always the Second Life Birthday volunteers rose to the challenge, and they tackled it well.

Many of the SLB volunteers have been mentioned in the Newser a number of times, such as Marianne McCann, Faust Steamer, Treacle Darlandes, and others. Our own Gemma Cleanslate was an SLB greeter for a few years. But many others have done their (unpaid) jobs practically unnoticed outside the volunteer group.

So for their hard work this year, as well as previous years, for this high-profile event, the Second Life Newser names the Second Life Birthday volunteers as it's Persons of the Year.

Stand by for our runner-up on Monday.

Bixyl Shuftan
Editor, Second Life Newser

Who Should Be Second Life's "Man of the Year?"

The noted TIME magazine recently issued it's annual "Man of the Year" edition, as it has for decades, the person whom it feels made the biggest impact in news events for the past year. It's not always a man, as women have won it. It's not always a good guy, as it's been awarded to dictators. Sometimes it's awarded to a group of people, as it was this year when it was awarded to a number of journalists whom have dealt with persecution, and in once case death, at the hands of authoritarian governments. Sometimes the choice stirs controversy, such as one year when it was awarded to "The Computer," and at other times when it was awarded to someone whom had obviously made the news for destruction and death.

So whom was the biggest newsmaker over the past year in Second Life? What man, woman, group of people, or even thing, made the most news here?

This will be the fifth time the Newser has given the title. In 2014, the new CEO of Linden Lab Ebbe Linden was the Man of the Year. In 2015, the residents of Steelhead were the Community of the Year. In 2016, the title was given to the Relay for Life in Second Life. In 2017, someone from outside Second Life was chosen for the first time with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai getting the title for the potential damage his Net Neutrality could have for the virtual world.

So who will be number five? For now, we're still taking suggestions. Feel free to list then in the comments below.

Bixyl Shuftan

2017 Person of the Year Runners Up: Barbie Alchemi and Fran Serenade

The Newser's choice of Man of the Year for 2017 as Ajit Pai, as expected, did not sit well with everyone. Several people talked to me or otherwise left messages, saying either our concerns on the issue of Net Neutrality were misplaced, or that the title should have gone to someone who made a difference for the better. But Time Magazine's Man of the Year annual magazine, which was the inspiration for our annual article, does not always chose a force for good, just the person, persons, or object that has done the most to influence events, for good or ill.

Still, there were plenty of movers and shakers in Second Life that made an impact. And so we can chose someone for runner up. It was not an easy choice, but we have picked two.

Barbie Alchemi and Fran Serenade are the women behind Creations for Parkinsons. While Barbie is the owner and leader of the sims and the groups involved, Fran is the inspiration for them. Having been earlier aflicted with Parkinson's, her time here has been atributed to not only halting the progress of the illness, but reversing it.

This year, they were mentioned in the Newser a number of times, such as when a 90th birthday party for Fran was held inworld, and they held their Gotham Island Hallowen fundraiser for money for Parkinson's research. And earlier articles and videos, notably Draxtor Despress' video of them, continue to draw attention to both them and the virtual world of Second Life. In the case of the latter, it offers people a view of the virtual world that's world's apart from the tabliodish depiction the public has often gotten.



So for their continued work for charity, for their continuing to be an inspiration for others in Second Life and showing people unfamiliar with the virtual world the good it can do, the Newser names Barbie Alchemi and Fran Serenade as it's runners up for Person of the Year.

Bixyl Shuftan
Editor
SL Newser

Man of the Year: Ajit Pai

There was no shortage of people in Second Life whom did amazing things. As they do every year, the men and women of the Relay for Life continued to raise money for the American Cancer Society. There were also other charities, such as Homes Fro Our Troops and the various people whom raised money for hurricaine relief. With the Bento update made part of the Grid late last year, many designers made many things with it. The Steelhead Community found a new home thanks to Fuzzball Ortega. The Tombstone Community came together to give Breezes Babii, a former writer and friend of the Newser, whom had passed away from a long illness the memorial service she couldn't have in real life.

Not everything that got the attention of residents happened inworld. One was the development and release of Sansar, Linden Lab's next generation virtual world. The subject of no shortage of speculation while it was closed to the public, once opened the residents of Second Life found the place mediochre, pretty to look at but not offering much to keep their attention. So while it may have more importance in the future, Sansar's impact on Second Life this year has been low.

To get on Second Life, one needs the Internet. And to enjoy it, one needs a reliable and fast Internet connection. If something could potentially compromise the reliability and speed, make it more expensive, or both, that would not be good to residents involved. Net Neutrality, both protected by Federal laws passed a couple years ago and earlier protections, has helped ensure a number of Second Life users could access the virtual world whom otherwise could find themselves having to pay much more to be here or having to spend much less time here, or possibly find their access cut off. Earlier this year, Ajit Pai, the Chairman of the FCC, proposed a plan that would scrap these laws put in place. And this month, the FCC voted to approve the plan and end the protections. While the attorney generals of a number of states are suing or planning to to keep the laws in place, and Congress is working on a plan that would restore most of these protections, these are not sure things. And until they succeed, in the meantime some of us could find ourselves not able to enjoy this virtual world as much as we used to, and possibly for an unlucky few not able to enjoy it at all. Philip Rosedale, the founder of Linden Lab, feared the conesquences for Second Life would be "especially negative," fearing some ISPs would start charging heavily.




So due to the potential consequences, Ajit Pai is made the Newser's "Man of the Year." This is the first time we have done so for someone outside of Second Life, and for having a negative impact.

Agree or disagree with this choice of "Man of the Year?" Feel free to make comments below.

Bixyl Shuftan
Editor
Second Life Newser

Image Source: Wikipedia 

Who Will Be The Newser's Man (or Woman) of The Year

In real life news, Time Magazine just announced their Man of the Year, or rather "Persons of the Year," known as "The Silence Breakers." This is an annual tradition of theirs going back since they first gave the title to Charles Lindbergh in 1927, the man, woman, or sometimes group of people or object, whom they feel had the most impact in the news in the past year for good or ill. While often seen as a badge of honor, the title has on occasion gone to some villainous figures such as Joseph Stalin and Ayatollah Khomeini. And once in a while it goes to an object, such as the computer.

But what about Second Life? Who here has had the most significant impact in the news about the virtual world?

There's been no shortage of news in the past year from the release of Sansar, to noted residents to departed the Grid, to charity groups such as the Relay for Life, to the plans by the FCC to repeal Net Neutrality which could be potentially very bad for Second Life, and more.

This will be the fourth time the Newser has given the title. In 2014, the new CEO of Linden Lab Ebbe Linden was the Man of the Year. In 2015, the residents of Steelhead were the Community of the Year. And in 2016, the title was given to the Relay for Life in Second Life.

So who do you the readers think made the most difference in the news in Second Life this year? Please leave us your opinions below.

Volunteers of The Year

Second Life had it's share of movers and shakers in 2016. A number of people made headline news in the past year, many for the better, a few for the worst, and some quietly working behind the scenes. For a century, the American Cancer Society has worked to combat the disease of cancer. It's most successful and signature fundraiser is the Relay for Life. A community-based charity, soon after Second Life came to be the Relay came here, and grew. Today, the Relay for Life of Second Life ranks as the Relay's 19th largest team worldwide.

From March to August every year, with spinnoff events in the Fall and winter, the Relayers hold events to raise money to fund research to help find treatments and cures for cancer. While the disease is serious, the Relayers make the events a social occasion and have fun doing it. In a little over a decade, it has raised over a million dollars.

As mentioned before, this is one of the largest Relay groups worldwide. With people across many regions and communities, across Second Life of all kinds of avatars, and across nationalities and languages. The high point of the Relay season, the Relay Weekend, which has hundreds of avatars walking around a forty-plus sim track with exhibits around it, is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, yearly event in Second Life. Among the people whom are a part of it are the neighbors of the Second Life Newser, the Sunweavers, who take part through it's own  team, the Sunbeamers.

Not everything about the Relay has been happy. As the group's numbers include people with cancer and family history's of, inevitably some people every year pass away from the disease. This year, they included Catt Gable, Zaphara Cazalet, and Shady Fox. Nikoli Redmayne, whom was aboard an airline with a bomb, met his end at the hands of a different enemy. With occasional charlatans making news with fake charities, some people have come to mistrust every single one, even one with a good record such as the Relay. And in an era of fake news, there are the occasional charges of global conspiracies. But despite the setbacks, the Relay continues on, helping to fund treatments and cures, and bringing closer the day all cancers have safe and economical cures.

For it's continued successes in aiding real-life medicine, and for involving many hundreds of Second Life residents. the Second Life Newser has named the Relay for Life in Second Life as Second Life's Persons of the Year in 2016. In a year that in real life has been the end of the lives of so many public personalities, it is appropriate the title goes to a group of people helping to save lives.

Honorable mentions recommended to the Newser by it's readers are Sue Peregrine for her continued work in keeping the d'Alliez community together, Ty Tenk and Truck Meredith for their continued work in maintaining the Calas Galadhon Park sims, JP Laszlo the former leader of the Trump Organization in Second Life for the attention (and controversy) he brought Second Life to those outside it, and Dane Zander for Linden Labs bringing back his Lost Gardens of Apollo after years in the virtual nether. Others whom deserve an honorable mention include the late Ladyslipper Constantine, whose volunteering for many events in Second Life sadly came to an end with her passing this year, the Insilico roleplay community for surviving setbacks that almost meant their demise and ending the year safe and sound (and the person or persons who are providing the money), and the Linden Moles for their continued work in Second Life, such as the Horizons homes and sims and bringing back Mont Saint Michel and the Lost Gardens of Apollo to the grid after having vanished.

Still Asking For Suggestions For "Man (or Woman) of The Year"

Earlier this month, the Second Life Newser announced that we would be giving someone (or perhaps a group of someones) the title of "Man of the Year." While we've gotten a few suggestions, we could still use more, and are open as to whom should get the title of whom made the most impact on Second Life's headline news this year.

So please give us your ideas. Who should be our "Man (or Woman) of the Year?"