Fourteen Years of The Second Life Newser

 

It was fourteen years ago today that one newsletter in Second Life closed down, and another began. Over three years earlier, JamesT Juno had started the Second Life Newspaper, and over time others joined him in writing stories about Second Life. Among them was Dana Vanmoer, who as editor helped it grow to the best paper covering the virtual world. We would cover the detailed and exciting places of Second Life, numerous events that were happening, the people that helped make Second Life what it is, and the goings-on of Linden Lab. 

Unfortunately, events in real life would catch up to James and Dana. And eventually the decision was made to close the Second Life Newspaper. For four of us, Gemma Cleanslate, Grey Lupindo, Shelly Sands, and myself, Bixyl Shuftan, we made the decision to carry on as journalist. But it would be under a new newsletter, our own. Since I was the Office Manager in James' and Dana's paper, posting when they couldn't, I would be the editor. And so on June 5 2010, James and Dana would hold a farewell party in which they announced the Second Life Newspaper's closing and would be departing Second Life indefinitely. And I announced the opening of the new one. Our first story covered would be a sad one, that of our predecessor shutting it's doors. 

We ended up hitting the ground running. After just a few routine articles came news of Linden Lab laying off a third of it's staff. This was soon followed by Linden Lab's CEO stepping down. It would be an eventful year, with Philip Linden coming back to temporarily lead for a few months and some controversial moves such as the Teen Grid merger and the Emeraldgate controversy in which the most popular third party viewer at the time was shut down due to actions by it's team. But not everything was controversy, and there was plenty of happy news such as the Relay for Life and the Second Life Birthday. Eventually, sponsors such as the Podex Excnage came forward to support the paper, and people came forward offering to join our team. And of course the Sunweaver community supported us from the start, offering us both land and an office as our headquarters. 

Over time, we've had our share of challenges. There would be more controversies to cover, such as the rights of content creators when Linden Lab changed it's terms of service to some questionable language for several months. There have also been new developments, such as mesh and mobile viewers. There have been places to cover, such as Bellisseria. There have been many events, such as the Relay or Life and Second Life Birthday. And of course writing about some of the people who make them possible.

Sadly, we've had to say goodbye to people over time. Grey Lupindo and Shellie Sands would eventually depart the paper. The Podex Exchange would close down after a few years following the Lab ordering all third-party Linden exchangers to cease operations. But other reporters would step in, and other sponsors would come forward. 

So where do we go from here? We've had our ups and downs. And real-life can sometimes butt in into our writing time. But unless there's some calamity that shuts down the Internet, Second Life will be around for years to come. And we at the Newser will be around to cover it.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Farshore Radio, Montecito Bay, the Safe Waters Foundation, and the Sunweaver community that has been the home of our office for all these years, to Linden Lab which created this virtual world to begin with, to James and Dana to showing us the way in how to report the news here, and of course you the readers.

Bixyl Shuftan
Editor, Second Life Newser

Announcement: Seanchai Library Celebrates 14 Years

 

VOLUME XIV
Seanchai Library Celebrates 14 Years
Sunday, March 27th
from 2 to 4 pm slt/pacific

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nowhereville/204/43/26

It was March of 2008 when the first story was told, and fourteen years later we are still sharing stories, poems, and enthusiastically starting out on new adventures in literature. Join the Seanchai Library staff and friends for two hours of stories, poetry,songs  and remembrances as we celebrate in Ceiliúradh Glen, whose very name means "celebration" in Irish.

Featuring Corwyn Allen, Shandon Loring, Elrik Merlin, Faerie Maven-Praloy, R. Dismantled, Ktadhn Vesuvino, Finn Zeddmore, Aoife Lorefield, Kayden Oconnell, and Caledonia Skytower, live.

Teleport from the main landing point, or take a leisurely stroll down the stone path to The Glen.

www.seanchailibrary.com
 

This Saturday at The Science Circle

 
    Saturday, February 19
    
    At 10 AM PST

    14th Anniversary SC, History & Future
    By Dr. Phil Youngblood
    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/14th-anniversary-sc/

    ~*~
    
    At 9 PM PST
    
    Trivia
    By Jes Stannard
    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/sc-trivia/
      
    ~*~
    
    NOTE: Non-members required to register once
    IM Jes Cobalt or Nymf Hathaway

╚══════════════════════ The Science Circle (72,129,30) ═══╝
 

Commentary: Fourteen Years of Writing About Second Life

 

It was on November 2007 in which I officially began writing the news about Second Life. I started off as a freelancer at Dana Vanmoer's Second Life Newspaper, soon getting the hang of things and writing about the people, places, and events across the virtual world. Fourteen years later, I'm still doing it. So how did it start, and what's happened over time? Here, I reflect a little on what I've done and what else I've been writing on.

Read the commentary in People.
 

Furry Fashion's 14th Anniversary Celebration

Furry Fashion is having an anniversary celebration, it's fourteenth, this Saturday May 1. The first event starts at 2PM SL time , and goes on all afternoon and into late at night with the last event going on to at least 10PM (but will likely go on a little longer).

"Techincally FF's birthday is the 5th," Amethyst Crystal, the owner of Furry Fashion explained, "but the 1st is on a weekend allowing more people to join the contests. Every contest will have the usual linden prize (tho a bit bigger) and there will be mystery raffles all the way through every event. The prizes will range from GiftCards to stores not just FF but to places like Half-Deer, Nomad, DRD and Lore and other prizes will include Mods I'll buy the winner directly from Marketplace. They won't know what they're winning until it's announced to keep it more fun! Fort and I are teaming up for the first event (2pm SLT) to kick everything off.

"If someone had told me I'd still be running FF 14 years later I'd have told them they're dreaming but here I am. I didn't expect to honestly with all the health issues in the past couple of years but here I still am, mostly in thanks to my awesome staff supporting me and keeping things going."
   
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Furry/211/42/29 
   

Raglan Shire Turns 14

 

Second Life's most noted communities of "Tinies," Raglan Shire, has turned fourteen years old. The news was announced in the community's Discord chat yesterday, Wednesday April 7.

Over the years, the community has remained a unique one in Second Life. It's not just for the small stature of it's residents, but also for it's events, such as it's annual Art Walk, the creativity of many of it's residents, it's squeaky-clean image, and it's friendly reputation.

Happy anniversary Raglan.

*Correction: * As it turned out, there was a mistake. The community came about in April 2007, not 2006. Sorry about the error.
  

Caledon's Fourteenth Anniversary

On Wednesday, Second Life's largest steampunk community celebrated it's fourteenth anniversary. There would be two events that night, which took place a few days after it's Mardi Gras. There was much fun to be had, by local residents and visiting friends alike.

Read the story in Events.

Gift Grab: Week Fourteen

It's near the end of Week 14 of the SL15B Gift Grab, and just a couple days left for what for many is the last item up for the taking. This week's clue is "Once you’ve battled the Dinos and saved the grid, can you search high and low to discover the gift?" Which means head to Paleoquest.

Where the Gift Grab prize isn't too far from the entry area in Paleoquest. In fact, it's clearly marked as the "Free Gift" area, which to those who haven't been there means a different free gift. As usual, while having the Swaganator HUD on, click on your prize to claim it.

This week's prize is the biggest one yet, so you'll want to rezz it somewhere with plenty of room (such as the Ivory Tower sandbox). This is the Crystal Tower. It's empty on the inside, but it could easily be made into a small home or used for some other purpose.

Unless you've collected all thirteen of the previous weeks' Gift Grab's gifts, this will be the last of the SL15B hunt items you can get. For those who have gotten all fourteen, then Week 15 of the Gift Grab, starting Monday September 24 will offer one more item that promises to be particularly special. What is it? Stay tuned.

Bixyl Shuftan

SL14B Sims Online

It was just a few days ago in which the theme for the Second Life Fourteenth Birthday celebrations were announced: "Carnivalesque." Over the weekend, a peek at the map revealed 18 sims set up for the event later this year in June.

The letters and numbers carved in the land and water on the west are an interesting contrast to the orange and blue of last year's preview map. Last year, applications for exhibitors and volunteers weren't open until mid-April, though this year the applications for infrastructure builders are already being accepted.

The Newser will continue to keep you the readers in touch about updates of the SL14B as they come.

Bixyl Shuftan