Calas – The Hot Air Balloon Ride

Deaflegacy recently went to a noted area, Calas Galadhon Park. What got her attention was the balloon ride. So what happens when a pony gets on a hot air balloon? She wrote about her experience.

Read Deaflegacy's story in Places.

Rebel Yell

Gemma Cleanslate is back from exploring Second Life. Her latest article is about a new sim called Rebel Yell. If the name sounds familiar, they're a tribute group that has entertained residents for years. Now, they have a lasting place on the Grid. Gemma took a look around, and had a few things to say about the hangout.

Read Gemma's article in Places.

New Brighton

Gemma Cleanslate's latest article is about a little corner of Second Life called New Brighton. Modeled after the real-life Brighton Beach in the United Kingdom, the sim has been around for about ten years. The place offers much to see and do from rides, to swimming, to pumpkin-hunting contests, to live music events, and more.

Read Gemma's story in Places.

The Grand Canyon

Britty Bee is back with a new story about her travels across Second Life. Here, she writes about her trip to the Grand Canyon. One could just relax and admire the view. But there's much more to do here such as camping, ballooning, horseback riding, and a few things not available yet at the real life canyon. A great place for an adventure. Just be a little careful where you yodel.

Read Britty's article in Places.

Grand Canyon National Park

Grey Lupindo reports on a recent trip to a real-life location brought to Second Life: the Grand Canyon National Park. Here, one can do just about all there is at the real canyon. There are balloon rides, river rafting, horseback riding, hiking, watching from the skywalk, and more.

Read Grey's story in Places.

Dahlia's Second Life Adventures

Netera Landar recently did one of her more adventuresome interviews. Dahlia Jayaram, whom once made news by sailing across the waters of Second Life, is back. This time, the traveler is making a hot air balloon journey across the continents of the Grid. To talk with her, Netera flew with her, braving storm clouds, air traffic, potential pirate gunfire, and ever-trecherous sim crossings


Read the story in People.

Burglar Ballooning a Bust

Recently, The Podex Exchange was the target of an attempted burglary. The day in late July began much like others at the time. The tellers were discussing the weekend at the Relay for Life track, and were talking about the various exhibits there. Up in the air, however, someone was headed their way.

Floating high up was a figure. He had gotten hold of some lighter-than-air balloons, and was able to take flight. And the breeze was taking him towards Podex. He was the burglar the SLPD have nicknamed “Clumsy Cooper” (a play on the noted thief Sly Cooper), whom has a record of trying to rob the exchange, and never succeeding. His plan this time: when just over the bank, he’d let go of enough balloons for a soft landing, sneak inside from the top, and make off with the Lindens.

However, Clumsy Cooper didn’t count on the region’s air traffic. First a vintage Second World War Two Imperial Japanese bomber flew by, blowing him off course. Then, a little pink dragonette flew over, and began pecking and clawing at the balloons, bursting them. Clumsy Cooper tried scare it by shouting at it, then tried to shoo it away. But the dragonette popped the last few balloons, and the bandit plummeted back down.

Fortunately for Clumsy Cooper, he was over the water at the time. Unfortunately, some of the bank’s neighbors had heard his shouting, let alone the big SPLASH! Wadding out of the drink, he saw people headed his way. He promptly ran off, dropping a notepad and some tools. Although soaking wet, the notepad revealed his plans. The people seeing the pink dragonette with popped balloons in it’s beak and claws, and the SLPD questioning nearby airports, Clumsy's ill fated mission was figured out. Another thing that doomed Clumsy's efforts, he had brought with him safecracking tools, which would have been useless at Podex. “All our exchanges are done through electronic transfer,” a teller explained. There had never been a threat to the exchange's funds.

Clumsy Cooper is wanted for attempting to circumvent a region ban and attempted griefing. Anyone with information of his whereabouts is asked to contact the nearest chapter of the SLPD.

The Podex Exchange has a record of being one of the safest Linden exchange services in Second Life, the data processing done outside the exchange, and has a record of thousands of satisfied customers. Transactions can be done at their website, or their location inworld at Moonberry (26, 223, 34).

Bixyl Shuftan