Cartoon of The Day: Hugging Teddy

 

 Taken at Bellisseria's Copperfield Heights. One lady had a teddy bear attachment that carried her around. One in real life would likely be powered by AI, which has become a touchy issue lately. But it's far from the only burning issue these days.

 

By Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Scenes From The "Hug-A-Linden/Dunk-A-Linden"

Valentines Day had a number of events across Second Life. The One Billion Rising women's rights demonstration was probably the most attended happening. Another big draw was Linden Lab's official event of the holiday, the "Hug-A-Linden/Dunk-A-Linden." At the Isle of View for two hours, residents could interact with a number of Lindens and Moles. They could just chat and take pictures, or they could try out the hugging and dunking booths.

See the pictures in Events.

"Hug-A-Linden/Dunk-A-Linden" Valentines Day Event Announced

February is best known for Valentines Day. And Second Life will be having a number of events related to the romance-themed holiday. Linden Lab has it's own Valentine event every year, and recently announced it on the official blog: the "Hug-A-Linden/Dunk-A-Linden" event.


Isle of View has returned with its forested walks, love nooks, and romantic swan boat rides. Love is in the air, and pink sunbeams are the perfect spot to profess your true feels to your belle or beau. Enjoy a scenic glide across the pink and purple waters, the twinkling rain of fireworks (and not just the kind you expect when you sneak that first kiss!), or stroll through the twining paths to hugging booths for picture-perfect moments.


While the Isle of View's entrance from Portal Park remains closed, one can access it on the map at Isle of View 2 (84/79/107), which is also mentioned in the Destination Guide. The Isle's sun is frozen at sunset through the clouds, giving the place a pinkish hue. One can walk down the paths, with lots of heart-shaped builds, pink lanterns, cherry-blossom trees, fireworks, and more. Or one can go down the water in a swan boat, preferably with your special someone.

The Valentines Day event will take place at the two "Love Pavilion" areas, seen as dome-like structures from a distance. Until then, people can have fun at the hugging and dunking booths, or buy a gift for a friend at the gift kiosk.

In earlier times in Second Life's history, there would be a "Kiss a Linden" event every year. The last one would be in 2011, after which it along with a number of other yearly events were discontinued. The Teen Grid would hold "Hug a Linden" events, at least until it was merged with the Mainland at the end of 2010. The Isle of View would be gone for a few years, but it's yearly appearances returned in 2014. While the "Kiss a Linden" events were no more, the "Hug a Linden" events resumed in 2016, combined with "Dunk a Linden," on a larger Isle of View.

Source: Linden blog.

Bixyl Shuftan

Scenes From Valentines Day at the Isle of View

Valentines Day had many events across Second Life. But one gave a chance for the residents to meet a number of Lindens. At the Isle of View, they could get a hug from one of Linden Lab's finest. But there were also dunking booths available, which allowed those with less charitable feelings to the Lindens to take out their frustration. Bixyl Shuftan was there, and took a few pictures.

Read the story in Events.

Eye On The Blog: "Shop Your Heart Out" and "Hug or Dunk a Linden"

Linden Lab is coming out with two Valentines Day themed events this month. One is a shopping event. The other is the yearly tradition that takes place this time of year: the "Hug or Dunk a Linden" event.

Love is a complicated creature — inspiring poetry, prose, songs, and art since the beginning of time. The Isle of View celebrates this complex feeling once again with the hub of all things Cupid and hearts - the Isle of View!
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Come hug and dunk some Lindens
At the Isle of View!

On February 14th from 10am-12pm SLT, join us at the Isle of View for a chance to hug and dunk some Lindens. Bring your friends, bring your family, bring your one and only - when else are you going to get the chance to cozy up to a Linden or splash one into a cold tank of water? An opportunity like this comes around about once a year — so don’t miss out.

The event takes place at the Isle of View at Isle of View (84/79/107).

For those whom still have their gear from the "Tyrah and the Curse of the Magical Glytches" game, there's a special new glytch in theme with the holiday you can capture and keep.

While you are at the Isle of View - you can hunt for some limited special Glytches. What’s a Glytch, you might ask? Part of a grid-wide experience that launched last September - Glytches are collectible little creatures that you can capture with tools that you can upgrade with gems. Get started (if you don’t already have a weapon and hud) at portal park, then bring your hunting spirit to the Isle of View to capture these adorably cute little rascals.  

There's also a "Love Bug" glytch available in Premium kiosks, for those with Premium accounts.

For those who prefer to shop, there's the "Shop Your Heart Out" shopping event.

 Our annual Valentine’s Day shopping event is back! Discounts on clothings, hair, accessories, decor, and more, plus gifts from many of your favourite Merchants and brands are available from now through February 26th. Drop by the Gilded and Golden shopping regions to collect your gifts and get some great deals. Many of our participating Merchants are also putting items in their Marketplace for sale, so be sure to visit them.

To get the free gifts and deals, head to Gilded (104/135/52).

 For a few years early in Second Life history, at least as far back as 2008, "Kiss a Linden" events were held at the Isle of View sims, while in the Teen Grid "Hug a Linden" events took place. With the closing of the Teen Grid in January 2011, "Hug a Linden" events were closed, and the last "Kiss a Linden" would take place in Feb that year. The Lab would quietly do away with the event, which took some by surprise next year. No reason was given for the closure, although it was part of a trend at the time of the Lab having less interest in interacting with the Second Life community. After three years, the Isle of View would reappear in 2015. And in 2016, "Hug a Linden" was back as part of the "Hug a Linden/Dunk a Linden" event at a rebuilt and expanded four-sim Isle of View.

 For more information, check the Linden blog entry here. 

"Hug a Linden" And "Dunk a Linden" at Isle of View on Valentines Day

Valentines Day is coming, and there will be many Valentine-themed events (and a few anti-valentine events for those who think of it as 'Happy Stick-It to Singles Day') across the Grid. Linden Lab will be having it's own events on the Isle of View: "Hug a Linden" And "Dunk a Linden." Both events will be taking place at once on Tuesday February 14 from 10AM-12 Noon SL time, and 2-4PM SL time.

Roses are redViolets are blueCome hug and dunk some LindensAt the Isle of View!

...  join us at the Isle of View for a chance to hug and dunk some Lindens. Bring your friends, bring your family, bring your one and only - when else are you going to get the chance to cozy up to a Linden or send one shrieking into the depths of a dunk tank? An opportunity like this comes around about once a year — so don’t miss out.

To read the blog post in full, Click Here.

For several years in it's earlier days, Linden Lab would hold "Kiss a Linden" events in the Isle of View and Isle of View 2 sims, sometimes called "Valentine Island," while holding "Hug a Linden" events in the Teen Grid. But Linden Lab would close the Teen Grid in January 2011, and February that year would see the last of the "Kiss a Linden" events, none being held next year in 2012. At the time, it was seen as part of a trend of Linden Lab distancing itself from the residents.

The Isle of View would be gone until 2014. But it wouldn't be until last year in February 2016 in which Linden Lab would start Valentines Day events with a new and larger four-sim Isle of View, bringing back "Hug a Linden," and adding a new event: "Dunk a Linden."

Happy Valentines Day.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Isle of View 2/84/79/107/

Bixyl Shuftan

Valentines Day At The Isle of View

Friday February 14 was the "Hug a Linden/Dunk a Linden" event at the recently renovated Isle of View. Among those there was Deaflegacy Darkbloom. Darkbloom took a few pictures and observations of the event, and it was more than just residents tossing a few balls at Lindens, or giving them hugs, but residents coming together for love.

Read Deaflegacy's article in Events.

Isle of View Rebuilt and Larger, "Hug a Linden" Event

The Isle of View, Valentines Day themed place on the Grid by Linden Lab, has gotten a makeover. Last week, the heart-shaped sim of the same name, plus the "Isle of View 2" duplicate island, were taken offline. This week, the Isle is back, bigger than ever. Instead of a one sim island and a duplicate, the place has been expanded to cover four sims.

As it turns out, there's some activities going on at the place, involving both Linden Lab and the Parkinson's charity "Team Fox," which for years has been collecting funds in Second Life through the "Creations for Parkinson's" In the latest official blog post by Xiola Linden, she states that not only do residents have a chance to donate money to the charity there via the purchase of gifts for friends, but Linden Lab promises to match the total raised from them, doubling the amount.

The Isle of View is the perfect place to discover that the truest hallmark of love is time spent with our loved ones. This year it’s bigger and better than before - with some rebooted classics and new festivities! ...Visit the Isle of View kiosks any time this month to send virtual roses and candy hearts to your Second Life friends and sweethearts. Nothing is better than giving, so the L$ proceeds from the sales of these gifts will go to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Visit the Isle of View to select and send your Valentine’s gifts. We’ll match the final total and double the donation love! How’s that for a sweet pairing?

On Friday February 12, some of the Lindens will be at the Isle for an event (Valentines Day February 14 falls on a Sunday). From 10AM to 12 Noon and 2PM and 4PM SL time, Various Lindens will sit at booths and dunking stools for the "Hug a Linden" and "Dunk a Linden" events."

We understand that love is sometimes complicated. You have got to work hard to make it work - and we’re not afraid of a little tough love. ... we'll be mixing things up with the return of Dunk-a-Linden and Hug-a-Linden booths! You may just meet your virtual Valentine while waiting for a chance to dunk or hug a Linden - and if you don’t - hey you still got to dunk or hug a Linden! It’s a win-win situation.

The Isle of View, the Valentines Day themed place on the Grid by Linden Lab, has had a bit of a history. For years, it was the scene of the annual "Kiss a Linden" event, where residents had a chance to pucker up with one of the Lindens. It last took place on 2011. But in 2012, it never took place, part of Linden Lab's lack of interest in interacting with the residents in those days which was reflected in no longer sponsoring some events and calling off others they used to hold. But in 2014, the Isle of View sims returned, although there would be no events by Linden Lab.

So why not bring back "Kiss a Linden," instead of taking the "Hug a Linden" from the Teen Grid when it was around until it's merger with the main one in 2011? One can only speculate. It's possible the Lab is a bit wary of embarassment if someone chose to prank them with a carnivorous alien (NWN article) or a donkey avatar, in which case, they would be quite literally kissing a resident's you-know-what.

For the Linden blog post in it's entirety, Click Here.

Bixyl Shuftan