Holiday Shop & Hop Women's Gift Gowns And Outfits

 

The Christmas Shop and Hop is taking place. And Netera Landar dropped by to check it out. For today's article she looks at some of the women's gowns and outfits offered as gifts by the stores. So what did she find?

 

Read Netera's article in Fashion. 

Sunweavers Get Free Month's Rent

 

A few days ago, Rita Mariner, the chieftess of the Sunweaver community, and it's landlady, gave the local residents an early Christmas present: a free month's rent. 

 

CHRISTAMS RENT BONUS FROM THE BUNNY

Hi, as per my tradition, I give all my Wonderful Renters, a free month's rent, as a Heartfelt thank you for sticking with me another year. 

If I missed someone by accident, IM me.

RITA M, your ebil land bunny 

 

 

Free SLB Shop and Hop Car

 

The Second Life Birthday has a large number of freebies. Among them is a car.  So where is it and how well does it run?

 

 Read more in Design.

 

EOTB: "Membership Mania" Offering Higher Group Limit, More Perks For Upgraded Accounts

 

 

On Monday February 10, Linden Lab announced their "Membership Mania" week. Everybody, basic accounts included, is getting higher group limits. And there's now more perks for upgraded accounts, including a few Linden Home types available for Plus.

 

February’s Membership Mania continues with even more surprises and rewards for our valued Plus, Premium, and Premium Plus members! If you thought last week’s announcements were exciting, just wait until you see what’s in store this week. From free daily Linden Dollars to expanded benefits across the board, there’s never been a better time to be a Second Life member! 

To begin with, everybody is getting a higher group limit.  This includes Basic accounts, who are having it raised from 42 to 50. Plus accounts are getting it raised from 50 to 55. Premium residents are going from 60 to 70 groups. And for Premium Plus, the limit is going from 140 to 150.

The last time the group limit was changed for basic accounts was in 2011, when it was raised from 30 to 42. At Second Life's beginning in 2003, it was just ten.  In 2004, it was raised to 15. In 2006, it was raised to 25. In 2016, it would raise the limit of Premium accounts to 60.

 

In 2019, Linden Lab announced it would be cutting the limit back, but eventually relented and kept the limit at 42.

Less important but still useful, the number of stored IMs will be going up. For Basic, the number will be going up from 15 to 30. For Plus, from 15 to 40. Premium goes from 80 to 120. Premium Plus goes from 160 to 240.

 

Linden Lab is lowering the cost to be a Linden Home owner. Those with Plus accounts are now eligible for one. But, they won't have the selection Premium residents have. They will be limited to just three kinds, Newbrooke Sakura, and Campers. 

For those wanting to add one more decoration to their Linden Homes, more good news. Linden Lab is raising the Land Impact levels. For land parcels 512 square meters in size, is up from 175 to 234 LI. For those 1024 in size, 351 to 468. And for those 2048 from 703 to 937. 

And for those using the Mobile Viewer with accounts over Basic, good news. The Lab will be paying you to log in daily with their "Linden Reward Streaks"

 

 

For a limited time, we’re rolling out Linden Reward Streaks, an exciting new way for Plus, Premium, and Premium Plus members to earn free Linden Dollars daily simply by logging in to the Second Life Mobile app. 

To claim some free Lindens, log onto the mobile app if you have an account higher than Basic (download it first if you don't have it). If you log on for a second day in a row, you get a few more Lindens than the first day. If you log on for a third day in a row, you get still more up to day seven. After that, you get the same amount of free Lindens for as long as you keep logging in every day, "Look for the Streaks pop-up when you log in or find it in your main menu. "

To check the blog post in full, Click Here.

Free Fireworks

 

For those wanting to celebrate the Fourth, DeniseUnicorn Toonie has some free fireworks.

 

 The Forth of July is here! I have something for folks that are on Secondlife wanting to celebrate it. I've made some simple sparklers that you can wear in your left, right, or both hands. They're also totally free! 

 

You can get them here: https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/DeniseUnicorns-Fireworks/22223329

 

 

Happy Flag Day: The World Peace Flag Garden

 

 

Yesterday was Flag Day in the United States. In the Odaesan sim, there's a place with a lot of them, and for free. It's the World Peace Flag Garden in Odaesan (81/151/42). I found many dozens of flags, not just of the USA and Canada, but also state and provincial ones, and flags from around the world from major nations to numerous tiny ones. 

 
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Odaesan/81/151/42

New Maitreya Avatar Announced

 

For those interested in mesh bodies, there's a major release from Maitreya. After several years, they have an all new body that was made in response to numerous requests. So what are the details? The Newser took a look.

Read more on the story in Fashion.

 

Echovets Announces New Veteran’s Gateway Sim

 

 

 Almost a year ago, we wrote about the Echovets sim and community, which later ended up in Second Life Destinations. A couple days ago, it's co-President Stacy Maracas (Stacy Lee) had an announcement, shared through a notecard.

Last week we were given the first and only Veteran’s Gateway Sim.  I am currently building it as we speak, and we are searching for business owners to partake in that sim with us.

What we are attempting to do is have some free items for our Active Duty, Veterans and family members that choose to Rezz for the first time in Second Life at the EchoGroup Gateway.

I have been in SL for almost 19 years, I know, and have seen us pull together to help new residents get a great start.  I am hoping I can count on you to pull together again, with us to make it a great experience for them as they come to Second Life, and to EchoVets and not only join us in the place we all love, but also to receive the benefit of having their Rezz day on our sim where we can provide LIVE assistance with the systems in place to help them as Uniformed Service Members.

We are looking for Mesh Bodies, Hair, Skins, Clothing, and any great items you think might be a nice free item or even VERY low cost that I am willing to give them the lindens out of my pocket to obtain.

I welcome you to tour the sim, ask any questions you like, and I am also including some background and our social media links for your information.

The Gateway sim, Echo Group Welcome, is just north of the EchoVets BandofBrothers sim. While much of the place is still empty, some things have been set up, such as the beginning of an orientation course, and a freebie mall. But the mall had very little. As stated by Stacy, Echovets could use a little help in getting free or practically free items for veteran newcomers to Second Life. 

In my opinion, the idea of a Gateway sim for veterans is a good one as it would encourage more to stay in Second Life.

 http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/EchoVets%20BandofBrothers/159/221/23

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Happy Flag Day: The World Peace Flag Garden

 

In the United States, it is Flag Day in the United States.There are some flag stores in Second Life. But there is also a place where one can get flags, and flag-themed clothes, for free. They're at the World Peace Flag Garden in the Odaesan sim.

Free  flags of all nations.  Hand-held, modifiable for your build.  Free patriotic swim trunks, gym shorts, speedos, shirts.  Camping for world peace.  In Second Life, good people of all nations meet in friendship.

The place has flags of just about every nation in the world, including a few places not officially recognized as countries. They are grouped by continent. There's also boxes where you can get flags of American states and Canadian provinces, some American cities. You can also get the Confederate and Pride flags. Many of the country flags come with themed items of clothing, such as caps, jackets, and swimsuits.

The Flag Garden is owned by Edd Thor, who also has the Thor's Oak Christian Men's Center next door. 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Odaesan/81/151/42

Bixyl Shuftan

The Gift Area, And The Swaginator Hunt

 

It seems no matter how long people have been in Second Life, gifts will always get our attention. And at the Second Life Birthday, There's plenty of opportunities to get one. There's the Gift Area at the Tapestry of Time in which you can take as many as a few dozen. But for those who enjoy a challenge, there's the Swaginator Hunt. So where do you go to start and what can you get?

Read the details in Extra.

 

Wee Wonders Tiny Freebie Store

 

Being a tiny has it's share of challenges in Second Life. Among them being that most things were made for avatars larger than yours. But there's a place that has all sorts of things for tinies: Wee Wonders. Owned by Veloce Bertone and located in the Didean sim, there's all sorts of things for smaller folk from vehicles to furniture to animations. And the price, they're free!

Read more in Design.
 

Flickr Limiting Adult Images To Paid Accounts, Limits on Private Images

A number of Second Life residents, notably content creators, have plenty of images on the Flickr photo service. So some may be affected by a couple changes last week, announced in the Flickr blog.

Today we’re announcing some upcoming changes to our Terms of Service that will help us continue to preserve the art, expression, history, stories, and memories of all Flickr members for the next hundred years. These changes fall into two distinct buckets, and will affect Flickr free members.

The first change is that adult images, or "restricted or moderate content," will be limited to paid accounts, or Flickr Pro members. And those with free accounts can no longer upload them without risk of deletion. "Moderate" is defined as partial nudity, such as bare breasts and bottoms. "Restricted" is defined as full-frontal nudity and sexual acts. It's up to users to label pictures as such. If a Flickr moderator finds a picture they see as incorrectly labeled, an account 's rating may be changed so it's not defined as safe.

The second change has to deal with pictures that can't be seen by just anyone, but are restricted in who can view them, or "non-public photos." Flickr is now limiting free accounts to fifty pictures with restrictions on who can see them. Those who have more without upgrading to a paid account risk having pictures deleted.

We love being entrusted with your photos—but we love seeing them get discovered, added to groups, and submitted to photo competitions even more. We’d never turn you away if you just want a safe place to store a lifetime’s worth of images, you’ll just need a Pro membership to do so.

Flickr Pro costs $8.25 USD per month, or $6 a month when billed annually ($72 a year), or $5.54 a month with a two year plan ($132.96 for two years).

Bixyl Shuftan
 

Call of War

 

Some of you may have seen advertisements for a comnat game called "Call of War." It is a World War Two themed stragegy game played on one's browser. Players assume control over one of a number of countries on the map, build units and structures to make the units, and launch attacks and defend against them. Yours truly took a look at it. So is it a good game?

Read the review in Other Grids, MMOs, and Games.
 

Store Openings At The Avagora Mall

 
Hey everyone , we have eight standard sized stores and two LARGE sized stores in the Avagora Mall, and they're just waiting for someone who makes avatars and/or mods to come along and snatch them up! Shoot me an IM if you're interested. ... Only requirement is you have to make avatar mods or avatars, or avatar parts!

50LI for Avatar modders and 100LI for avatar makers! What are you waiting for?!

Contact Becky Nosferatu
 

Free Lindens At The Fallout Shelter

 

For those dropping by the Fallout Shelter on Sundays, something new has been added. This weekend, Rebel Wolf announced a raffle that would give a prize to a random winner, if they were part of the sim group or not.

The Insane Wolf is trying something new..He has a raffle gas pump in the Fallout Factory ( dance hall) In theory anyone can click on to enter, and win $200 on Sunday night. Non group members can even enter right now. The prize may increase if there is any interest. But I'm very cheap. Sue Me. Come one come all. Bring your alts! It should work..maybe...hopefully...

Rebel Wolf would tell me, "If there is any interest by the draw Sunday night at or after dance, I may increase the prize to 1000 a  week, group members only, but for now its open to all. ... Don't gotta be here to win. ... If it gets a lotof interest, it stays, and robs me blind with a increase in Lindens to give away. So! Donate to the Deadlands donation barrell, so I can give it away."

The Fallut Shelter is in th Deadlands,in Paradise Kingdom (87/37/22) (follow the road).

Bixyl Shuftan
 

Game Review: Wasteland Survival

 

As busy as I am with the paper, I do take a little time for games. One that got my attention recently was "Wasteland Survival" on Steam. As the title suggests, the objective is to try to survive in a land laid waste to by disaster. With a dog as your companion, you scavenge for resources while fighting off zombies, animals, and the occasional NPC survivor. The price of the game: Free. So is the game worth playing?

Read the review in Other Grids, MMOs, and Games.
 

"The Mouse," The SL18B Gift Car

 

I've been hearing about a new little car that's being offered at the Shop and Hop for free as a gift: The Mouse. With it's small size, plus the ears and tail decorations, the little car has gotten some positive comments in some Second Life group chat. I decided to get one to see for myself. So how does it handle?

Read more in Design.
 

Update on The Coronavirus Survival Store

 

Last year, Gemma Cleanslate reported on the Coronavirus Survival Store. Recently, it's owner Jadin Emerald contacted the Newser, "I tallied up the number of freebies that the store gave away in the past 14 months. ... 11,000 items given away for free!" 

Some items were more popular than others. The " Anzen Bonsai Tree in Mossy Soil" was the most popular one with 788 copies given out. Other popular items included a "Soundly HUD", a set of eight Crystals, various artwork, Crystal-Infused Water Bottles, and others.

Jadin commented, the "emphasis of the store has been relaxation and stress reduction. When I opened it, we really had no clue what was happening. People were so freaked out." As for the place's future, it will soon be gone, "I'm in the process of closing down my Coronavirus Survival Store." Dropping by there, there was a sign saying, "Items are being moved to the Jadin Emerald Design Studio stores." So if you want to stop by, do so soon.
 
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lorena%20Blue/114/126/3200 

Bixyl Shuftan
 

KittyCatS! Celebrates Ten Years

 

For fans of KittyCatS, it's the tenth anniversary of the producers of the breedable pet cats. And they have a gift for anyone whom has ever gotten a kitty, or kitty food, from them (presumably that's all that's needed to be registered in their database). They have a pair of special cats just being offered at this time, for free. One is for their tenth anniversary, and the other their ninth.

In celebration of our 10 year birthday, we created a fun little cat as a grid-wide gift!

This cat comes as an "non- identical twin" kitty with our 9th birthday kitty, who has arrived "fashionably late" to the party! Something about that 9 lives thing? Who knows! But you will be getting 2 cats to jump "out of the cake!" this year!

The cats are available at KittyCatS (131/44/26). It should be noted there was nothing in the announcement about the pets not needing food. So while the kitties are free, you'll still need to get pet food. 

The free kitties are available until March 15.

"Stay At Home Club" To Close, Sept 25

A group offering free gifts to it's members will soon be no more. On it's webpage, the "Stay At Home Club" announced it was closing on Friday September 25.

On it's webpage, the group was described as, "a group of designers based on the City of Neon Dreams at the HILTED region. During one of the harder times in everyone's real lives, we came up with the idea to gather a set of gifts to offer to people for free. Together we stay strong and in times like these we need each other. Originally the City of Neon Dreams team wanted to create a collection of gifts to offer to people, but we decided that it would be a good idea to involve other designers. The more the merrier! We started talking to a few friends and shared our ideas with them, that resulted in so many positive vibes and reactions that we decided to start The Stay at Home Club." 

On September 5, the club would announce it was closing:

We have decided to close the Club for multiple reasons and we want to be open about this difficult decision. Firstly, we have dealt with over 1000 of incredible, generous, and outgoing designers. Many of which have gone above and beyond to help and provide gifts, some of which regularly updated and added more to help support us all. As of today, the in-world group has hit nearly 16,000 people, the Discord has over 900 members, the Facebook page has 2,600 likes, and the website has well over 2 Million page views! With this comes a lot of maintenance, the team has sunk much of their personal time and money into the Club to keep things running smoothly and up to date. Although we have worked with many incredible people, we have also experienced negativity.

We have sadly had to deal with abusive designers and residents, copyright infringement, hate speech, and even personal attacks in-world, on Discord, and on Facebook. This was not what the Club stands for, we wanted to bring a bit of light to a dark time by helping to provide gifts, support, and a place for people to not worry about ongoing real life situations. That being said, it was the minority causing those issues, but they did greatly affect us as we were also going through the same real life issues that many of you were also facing. We feel at this stage, the Club has served its purpose and has been an incredible experience for many of us involved, but now is the right time for us to say goodbye. Thank everyone involved and wish you all the best for the future. Times may be difficult, but stay strong, we will get through it!

While "multiple reasons" are listed for the closing, it seems "the attitude of a few hundred people" was the main one. Although they had banned the worst of the troublemakers, "the continuous attacks we received throughout multiple channels cannot be stopped." The webpage would state that some members reacted badly to the announcement, and reminded people that abusive behavior would be reported to Linden Lab. 

The announcement stated that no new members were being accepted, and on Friday September 25, both the inworld group and the Discord server would be taken down. On the Facebook page, there were a number of statements expressing support, and sadness that the group was going, "It's sad to see you go, but you guys did amazing work. Sorry you had to deal with such negativity over such a positive helpful thing during a pandemic." "Thank you for the great work. Sad sl is full of bullies." "We really thank all yours for the hard work all this time and truly sad for all this happens. Just the hope and best wishes for future projects knowing always will have the fans supports with all yours. Sadly the haters are in every place but helpful people too and they are the only who really matters." "Thank you so much for all the gifts, the time that has taken to the creator to make all of them and for this project that bring a moment of happiness to our life. But, it's so sad that you have to deal with negative and toxic people's and you have to close the project."

"Once again, we thank you all for joining us on this adventure and we hope it brought a little bit of happiness to your day. Stay safe and stay strong!"

Hat Tip: Ceejay Writer

Bixyl Shuftan