Trans-Sansara Causeway Update - Three New Sims, New Bridge Length

 

There's been some more progress on the Trans-Sansara Causeway project. To begin with, the unfinished bridge on the southern border of Pomponio and Albion has been cleared away. There's no trace left of the 2021 structure, and it appears a number of other builds and items have been moved as well. The construction sign has been removed as well. Were they going to use the bridge and change their mind, or was the sign a heads up the build would be gone? 

 

 

But while one bridge is gone, a new one is up. Just southeast of the five new sims that were reported on in August 10, there are now an additional three newer ones: Cleone, Falk, and Tunitas.  Just north of the sim border between Mavericks and Cleone, there's a new bridge. Currently, a gate closes it to vehicle traffic, and there's a construction sign there from the Linden Department of Public works. 

 

This new bridge is longer and more detailed than the one it replaced. Instead of just piers, the bridge is also build on rocky islands with some vegetation on them. They're also built a bit wavy and curvy. No way someone would get "highway hypnosis" on this road. A nice scenic structure to walk on, or drive on once finished. Well, one guy was driving. Abnor Mole left his car behind, with the words "Mo homes" on the side. 

 

The bridge is not yet finished, the last length resting on a bare rocky isle in the middle of the Swanton sim, within sight of the island at Tomales next door to the west. Presumable that's where further construction will be. 

 

Back in the Luna sim, where the other end of the causeway starts, further work has connected the tunnel to the road, and the construction cones have been removed. One can now drive their vehicles from the street and into it, though they will have to stop and turn around as construction at Thetis' island has not progressed. 

 

Stay tuned for more information.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

New Sims Off Bellisseria Coast

 

Listening in on Bellisseria chat the other day, it was pointed out there were some new sims on the map. Checking it out, there was a new group of eighteen off it's west coast, next to the "dragon in a boot eating a pickle." They're separated from the rest by a one sim wide gap, and cannot be seen from outside, other than the map, or tped to. 

 

 Hard to say what theme these sims will be. While "Smeagol Brook" sounds like something out of "Lord of The Rings," "Trampoline Man" certainly doesn't.

 

I heard that the sims first appeared on Monday, and at first there were just a few, then more appeared. So by the time this is posted and read, there may be more. 

 

Stay tune for further developments,

 

Update: The sims on the map have changed color, looking wintry, though are still off-limits.

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

New SSP Sims on Map

 

There's some new sims in development by Linden Lab. On the map, far north of the mainlands and Belissaria, One can see a number of light blue squares with the front part of the name being "SSP" followed by a number. There is also a group of ten whitish sims, looking like winter landscapes from above, named "QT 1" to "QT 10."

 

"SSP" has been a common temporary name for sims in development. It's short for "Super Secret Project" according to the Lindens and Moles. 

 

As of now, there's no official word on what these sims are for. But no doubt people will have fun speculating just what their purpose will be.

 

Time will tell.

 

Hat Tip: Zada Bury

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

Reminder: Special Love Train & Isle of View Linden Events Today, Tomorrow

 

Just a reminder. Linden Lab's Lindens and Moles will be hosting Valentine's Day themed events today and tomorrow. 

 

Today, Friday Feb 13

 

Love Train "To Death Do Us Part" - 11:30AM  to 12:30 PM SL time

 

WelcomeHubLindenHomes (88/53/26) 

 

Hug A Linden/Dunk A Linden "To Death Do Us Part"  - 1 to 3 PM SL time

 

Isle of View 2 (84/79/107) 

 

Saturday, February 14

 

Love Train  - 11:30AM  to 12:30 PM SL time

 

WelcomeHubLindenHomes (88/53/26) 

 

Hug A Linden/Dunk A Linden  - 1 to 3 PM SL time

 

Isle of View 2 (84/79/107) 

 

Press Release: Mole Day 2026, Sunday Feb 1, 11 AM to 1 PM

 

“MOLE DAY’ ONCE AGAIN RETURNS TO BAY CITY

Annual event Honor Members of Linden Department of Public Works for their works throughout the years.

BAY CITY, SL -  As in years past, Bay City will once again come together to honor the Moles of the Linden Department of Public Works with a party at the Bay City Fairgrounds.

Initially held in 2010 by the residents of Bay City, Mole Day serves as an occasion to show appreciation for the Moles and their many contributions to Bay City and the broader Second Life® Grid. Residents from all Second Life communities are welcome to attend and share in appreciation for the LDPW’s moles. 

Mole Day event will begin with a DJed set by GoSpeed of KONA Stream at 11:00 a.m. SLT. This will be followed by a performance by Agatha Nowles at noon.

“Moles” are members of The Linden Department of Public Works (LDPW). The LDPW is a program dedicated to enhancing the quality of life experienced by residents and visitors on the Linden Mainland. The LDPW comprises a team of Resident builders, scriptwriters, and other professionals who collaborate to create new content on behalf of Linden Lab and the benefit of all users. Notably, all members of the LDPW have Second Life accounts with the surname “Mole.”

The Moles are responsible for constructing the infrastructure of Second Life, including public roads and railways, coastal waterways and protected lands, and larger-scale projects such as the Linden Homes regions, premium content, and experiences.

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, or to participate in the event, please contact Marianne McCann. 

 

Patch Linden at The Christmas Expo

 

On Friday December 5 at Noon SL time, Patch Linden 

Mark your calendars for Friday, December 5, 2025! From 12 PM to 3 PM PT/SLT, join us for a special festive event with Santa Patch and the “Molelves”!

Stop by for holiday fun, photos, and plenty of cheer. Share your Christmas wishes, and don’t miss out on the exclusive Sebastian Boopie, available only at the Christmas Expo!

We can’t wait to celebrate with you! 

Among those there was Gemma Cleanslate, who would take a few pictures. 

 

There were many who would sit with "Santa Patch."

 

This would be one of many events on the last weekend of the Christmas Expo.  

 

Pictures from Gemma Cleanslate

 

Last Day For The SLB

 

  For those who put off checking out the Second Life Birthday sims, this is the last day to so. One is about a Second Life myth, "Our Lady of Perpetual Silence." It's at SLB Delightful (212/184/21).

 

But there's more than just the exhibits. Zady Bury invited me to eheck out what's in the water. 

 

 And there was much to see off the beaten path. The Moles did some great work.

 

 Be sure to check it out.

 

Sadly, unless there's time to do one more update, this will be the last article showing the exhibits as anything other than a memory. After Midnight tonight, the SLB sims will close.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

New SSP Sims On The Map

 

On the Second Life map, I stumbled across some new SSP sims. For those who don't know, SSP is a temporary name to a sim in development by the Lindens and Moles.

 

 They were in four groups that when the map was panned back so they could all be seen, the names were too small. 

Most of the sims were moderate, listed as SSP5*** to SSP6***. But one group was rated adult, listed as SSPR*** and SPRC***.

 

 Currently the sims are grouped at the high end up the map. What the Lab plans for these sims is currently unknown. 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

 

Press Release: Bay City Anniversary Parade And Music Event

 

Mainland City Celebrates 17 Years in Second Life®

BAY CITY, SL - Bay City will host its annual parade through the city, and a live music event in the Bay City Fairgrounds in North Channel, to honor and celebrate 17 years within Second Life.

Bay City officially opened in May 2008, with parcel auctions commencing shortly thereafter. In 2011, its landmass expanded significantly, merging with the former Teen Grid’s Bay City copy. Today, Bay City is the largest community-oriented virtual urban area within Second Life.

Parade participants are requested to assemble at noon Second Life Time (SLT/PT) on Sunday, May 18th, at the band shell in Bay City - Harwich, for lineup. The parade will proceed up to and along Route 66, commencing at 12:30 p.m. PDT, and will culminate at the Bay City Fairgrounds in the North Channel region.

A music event will kick off at 12:30 p.m. SLT/PDT at the Fairgrounds with DJ DJ GoSpeed of KONA Stream providing music leading into the event until 1:30 p.m.SLT/PT, followed by Aubryn from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. SLT/PT, Mimi Carpenter from 2:30-3:30 p.m. SLT/PT, and Jesie Janick from 3:30-4:30 p.m. SLT/PT.

All residents of the Second Life grid are cordially invited to participate in the upcoming celebration. Celebration goods, including parade float bases, are available at the Bay City Community Center, located in the Daley Bay region. Ample viewing areas are provided for all attendees. The music event is also open to all who wish to attend -- not only Residents of Bay City

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. 

Scenes From the B6B

 

The Linden Home continent, Bellisseria, is celebrating it's sixth anniversary. There's an exhibit, music, chances to meet up with Lindens and Moles, and special stamps from the BBB. Gemma Cleanslate dropped by, and took a few pictures.

 

 Read Gemma's article in Events.

Bid The Lindens Bald Results

 

On Wednesday April 9, the "Bid the Lindens Bald" event took place. Organized by the Relay Rockers, it would take place just a few days after the multi-team Relaystock. Arizona Ballinger-Whiplash would have this to say about both events.

 

RelayStock 2025 was an unforgettable celebration of community, hope, and togetherness. With 45 Relay teams—our second-highest turnout ever—and 22 teams filling the stage with music, the energy was incredible. This beloved halfway point in the Relay For Life of Second Life season is more than just an event; it’s where friendships deepen, memories are made, and we’re reminded why we Relay. From dancing 'in the mud' to welcoming the traditional final-day rain, the spirit was alive in every moment. In just 2.5 days, our amazing teams raised L$2,103,576 ($8,414 USD) for the American Cancer Society—a record-breaking total that shows the heart of this community.

"Just days after RelayStock, 'Bid The Lindens & Moles Bald' returned for its 9th year of brave, heartfelt fun in support of the American Cancer Society. Four teams of 22 Lindens and Moles rallied donations during a spirited two-hour party, all putting their hair on the line in the fight against cancer. In a nail-biting finish, Team 3 saved their locks by just L$75—proving that every linden truly counts when we come together to fight cancer."

 

 Yours truly wasn't able to get to the event on time. But the totals on the kiosks were still there:

 

Team 1 43,225
Team 2 39,675
Team 3 - 39,500
Team 4 - 49,604 (Patch) 

From Selene Jashan

So Team Four, consisting of Spiffy, Dion, and Abnor Mole and Jade, Hobbes, and Patch LInden, got the most donations. Team Three, Brigantia, Mini, and Chronos Mole and Keria and Derrick Linden were the ones whose hair ended up cut and shaved on the barber chairs. Derrick had been sporting a huge wig. Fuzzball Ortega was there and talked later that he thought of donning "The Hair," but decided against it as he didn't want to take away from Derrick's moment to shine.

 

Between the Relaystock and "Bid The Lindens Bald," the Relay Rockers' total raised for this season has gone up to 528,428 Linden dollars, or $2,113.71, making them 11th place of 179 teams.

Be sure to keep an eye out for other Relay events this month, such as Bellisseria for Life, and the popular Fantasy Faire.

 

Go Relay!

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Announcement: "Bid the Lindens Bald," Tomorrow Wednesday April 9

 

In 2017 Linden Lab took part in their 1st team challenge and since that time have raised more than L$5,440,000 -$21,764 US to help The American Cancer Society Ensure Everyone Has An Opportunity To Prevent, Detect, Treat And Survive Cancer

Governor Linden has announced the rosters for the five teams to compete in the 9th Annual Bid The Lindens & Moles Bald fundraising competition, in support of the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Second Life. 

 The teams, made up of a total of 27 Lindens and Moles, have accepted the challenge to out raise their colleagues and “Save Their Hair”.  The top fundraising team will be awarded the scissors with which they will shave the hair of the team with the lowest total.  

The competitors have agreed to go bald until SLB.  The fundraiser will be held April 4th thru April 9th in conjunction with the Relay Rockers’ annual RelayStock multi-team event.

Bid Me Bald is the signature fundraising event of the Relay Rockers and Celebrates survivors. Those who hear the words ‘You have cancer’ have little choice when it comes to hair loss. We can choose and we do so in solidarity with our honored survivors.

 

*  *  *  *  *

 

Kiosks will be placed out at 7:00am slt Friday, April 4 and opened for donations.

Kiosks will be closed for donations at 2:00pm slt Wednesday, April 9, 2024

YOU decide who keeps their hair and who goes bald!

 

The team with the highest total in their kiosk will be given the Bid Me Bald scissors to cut the hair of the team which has the least amount of donations in their kiosk. 

Haircuts: Wednesday April 9 2:15pm slt

The team with the haircut have agreed to be bald until  date TBA

 *  *  *  *  *

 

More information, including about the Limited Edition Linden Bear and the "I Bid A Linden Bald" T-shirts, at https://relayrockers.org/bidthelindensbald/

 

SURL: https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/RelayStock/127/235/24 

Mole Day At Bay City

 

 

 Yesterday was Mole Day at Bay City, Second Life's largest urban area. Celebrated every year close to, or on, Groundhog Day, it's when this community takes a day to honor Second Life's Moles. To those who don't know, they are residents of Second Life hired by Linden Lab to work on various projects, and Bay City was one of their first. 

More on the story later. 

Press Release: Mole Day 2025

 

Bay City Observes "Mole Day", All Welcome

Event to Honor Members of Linden Department of Public Works for their Hard Work

BAY CITY, SL (26th January, 2025) -  Bay City will once again convene to honor the Moles of the Linden Department of Public Works with a celebratory event held at the Bay City Fairgrounds.

Initially recognized in 2010 by the residents of Bay City, Mole Day serves as an occasion to express gratitude for the Moles and their invaluable contributions to Bay City and the broader Second Life® Grid. Residents from all Second Life communities are cordially invited to attend and share their appreciation for the LDPW’s remarkable moles.

Held on the same day as Groundhog Day, February 2nd, the annual Mole Day event will commence with a DJed set by GoSpeed of KONA Stream at 11:00 a.m. SLT. This will be followed by a performance by Wolfie Starfire, commencing at noon.

For context, “Moles” are members of The Linden Department of Public Works (LDPW). The LDPW is a program dedicated to enhancing the quality of life experienced by residents and visitors on the Linden Mainland. The LDPW comprises a team of Resident builders, scriptwriters, and other professionals who collaborate to create new content on behalf of Linden Lab and the benefit of all users. Notably, all members of the LDPW have Second Life accounts with the surname “Mole.”

The Moles are responsible for constructing the infrastructure of Second Life, including public roads and railways, coastal waterways and protected lands, and larger-scale projects such as the Linden Homes regions, premium content, and experiences.

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, or to participate in the event, please contact Marianne McCann.

 

Troll of The Year: The Linden Ageplay Allegations Controversy

 

SL news is full of people accomplishing great things and helping others. Unfortunately, one of the biggest news stories this year was caused by a single individual whose accusations led to questions about some of the Lindens and Moles and resulting in policy changes which irritated many.

In late February, a number of residents were taking about an article that accused a number of Lindens and Moles of taking part in ageplay (sexual roleplay between an adult and a minor) with avatars designed to look like young teens. While the writer claimed to be well-known, a search of his name didn't point out other articles. Prokovy Neva, no friend of the Lab, would state that aside from a real-life name or two mentioned, there was no real evidence anything in the write-up was true. As one commenting in the Newser would say, "Anyone can make any claim they want about anything. And in SL, its also easy to create evidence of anything - you take a picture then add awful textures to replace the innocent ones on their wall. Sorry, but in this postPhotoshop world, having a picture is not sufficient to hang someone. Anyone can take any picture in SL and edit it to look like anything else."

 

Eventually, the Lab would take the discussions seriously enough to start investigating, reminding people, "we have a zero-tolerance policy against sexualized ageplay" and they were taking the accusations seriously. On May, Linden Lab announced changes in their child avatar policy, notably that they could no longer be nude and needed a "modesty layer," and could no longer enter any sim rated Adult, even if the location had nothing of a sexual nature. The later led to a number of complaints, particularly because some residential sims were labeled adult out of fear the Lab would boot consenting adults for what happened behind closed doors. The change in policy would affect the Burn2 festival as it had allowed both nudity and child avatars, notably Marianne McCann who helped out at the event. But with the new rule, she could no longer attend. 

Bellissaria chat would be quiet of blue dialogue from the Lindens and Moles for a while, and for a time those named in the article, notably Patch Linden, would keep a low profile for a while. Many cheered when he reappeared, but there were a few going along the lines of "hide the children!" 

Yours truly is not going to mention the man who caused all this by name, or psudonym, but he is our "troll of the year" for 2024. 

Bixyl Shuftan

Fourth SLB Linden "Town Hall" Today

 

Today, Friday June 28, the fourth of the Linden Town Hall events for the Second Life Birthday will take place. This one will feature a number of the Linden Moles.

 

 Attend a Town Hall at the SL21B Aquatorium with the Moles! The Moles are builders, scripters, and content creators employed by Linden Lab to work in the Linden Department of Public Works.    

The event will take place at 1:30 PM SL time at the Aquatorium building. 

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLB%20Mesmerize/88/164/24

 

Pictures From "Bid The Lindens Bald"

 

On Wednesday, the Relay for Life's "Relay Rockers" team had their "Bid the Lindens Bald" event. This event is unique as a number of Linden Lab's finest volunteered to put their virtual looks on the line. Gemma Cleanslate was there, and took some pictures. Editor Bixyl Shuftan added some commentary.

 

 See the pictures in Events.

Bellisseria Anniversary Bumper Boat Challenge

 

 

 The Bellisseria celebrations have had many events. But on Wednesday April 17, at Noon SL time, there was one on the water. This was the "Moles Versus Residents Bumper Boat Challenge."

Put on your summer gear, swim suits or shorts and summer top and let's go to battle in some bumper boat challenging fun!
We'll play a game of teams Moles vs Residents and a good old fashioned race around the islands in bumper boats!

When I arrived, it was various Moles in three blue boats versus two of the "Bell Hammies" and another Bellisserian in red ones. The two teams were trying to push a bouy to the other side of the field, "Push harder you fat hammies!" There were so many calls of "push!" someone made a comparison to giving birth.

The first match ended with the Moles winning three to one. The second match was closer, three to one. Finally, the Lindens and Moles lifted the three boat limit. The result was a huge pileup. The residents ended up winning round three.

Following that, the Lindens and Moles announced there would be a race around the four sim island the celebrations were taking place on.

I joined them in the race, but was among those who lagged out. Tropikitra was the one who won the race. There would also be a second race going around the other way.

It was quite a "bumpy" day at the Bellisseria celebrations.

LM: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SSPBA3/139/90/29

Bixyl Shuftan

Breaking News: Linden Lab's Executive Chairman Makes Statement on Ageplay Accusations

 

This afternoon, there was an announcement from Linden Lab's Executive Chairman, Brad Oberwager, concerning some accusations that some Lindens and Moles were engaged in ageplay (virtual roleplay of child sex abuse). He stated that the charges are being taken very seriously, and while nothing's been found yet, the investigation is continuing to make double sure.

I want to take this opportunity to speak directly to the Second Life community. Thank you for being part of this wonderful world and giving us the time to carefully assess our situation after we became the subject of a blog post that has the potential to cause harm to our dedicated community members and the virtual world platform that so many people call “home.” 

The post contains a complex mix of accusations regarding Second Life, and it questions our strong dedication to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all members of the Second Life community.

Our Response to the Allegations

At the heart of the blog post were unsettling accusations about sexualized, virtual avatar ageplay, including alleged violations of our community guidelines. I want to be clear: we have a zero-tolerance policy against sexualized ageplay. The safety and integrity of the Second Life platform are paramount to us, especially concerning the protection of minors. 

We will continue to enforce our existing governance policies and community standards and we are proud of our collaboration with law enforcement and organizations like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to combat child exploitation. These efforts underscore our commitment to a safe online environment. 

With that said, I want to acknowledge that we can do better; this has been a harsh wake-up call for us that we need to take tangible actions to improve Second Life’s governance policies and protective features that benefit the entire community.

Our Actions Moving Forward

I promise you that we are taking this very seriously. Very. Full stop. 

I promise we hear you. We know you're angry and you're confused. We are working to do our best to resolve your concerns and restore your trust in us. These are complicated issues and we want to do things right. We will make mistakes along the way. I wish I could say we will not, but we will. 

As owner of Linden Lab, I have initiated a thorough investigation, both internally and with external partners, to review whether or not there have been any violations of our company and community policies by employees, contractors, or community members. While early preliminary internal investigations suggest that some of the accusations are unfounded, I want to make sure that we get additional investigative support externally to ensure that the process is fair and thorough.

One of our top priorities has been to ensure the safety of our residents, moles, employees, and families. There are real people behind the avatars, and it has been important to confirm that nobody was in actual physical danger. 

Additionally, I am taking proactive steps to review and revamp many of our policies, including a comprehensive review of our Community Standards, Content Guidelines, and Ageplay Policy. Any violation detected will be met with swift enforcement actions to protect our community. We’ll be sharing these revised policies in the coming weeks and, critically, we are turning to the community to help us shape the future of how governance operates within Second Life. 

Our Commitment to You

Second Life remains a vibrant platform for expression, creativity, and connection. I and the Second Life team are deeply committed to protecting our community and ensuring that Second Life continues to be a safe, inclusive, and welcoming space for everyone. Your trust is our priority, and we pledge to work tirelessly to maintain and enhance the integrity of our virtual world.

I appreciate the patience and support of our community as we navigate this challenge. Together, we will emerge stronger and more united in our mission to build the best possible virtual world experience.

 

The accusations were made from an anonymous account on a blog in late February.  The Newser reported on March that the Lab was starting to investigate them. 

Hat Tip: Daniel Voyager

 

Bixyl Shuftan

The Belliwood Squares

 

 For those who remember the game (and comedy) show Hollywood Squares, there was a treat at Bellisseria for Life yesterday, Thursday March 7. Seven Moles and two Lindens volunteered to take part in a special event: "The Belliwood Squares."

 

Read more on the story in Events.