Funky Junk

Many of us talk about having come across "junk" in Second Life, but how many places are truly made to look like it? Gemma Cleanslate's latest journey to the Linden Endowment for the Arts regions took her to LEA 22, and the "Funky Junk" exhibit. In this depiction of the future, humans have been replaced by beings made of recycled goods. It was a trip into the surreal that showed a good deal of creativity in it's concept and creation.

Read Gemma's article in Design.

YadNi's Junkyard Closing Down

For newcomers to Second Life looking for free items, one of the top places to go to, if not *the* top place, was YadNi's Junkyard. Run by YadNi Monde, his profile states he started it about April 2004, and was the first freebie "store" in Second Life. After running for eleven years, it retained it's popularity, recommended by both websites and residents' word of mouth. Gemma Cleanslate wrote about the place in September 2012.

On June 23, YadNi announced via Google Plus that the days of his Junkyard were over. He had taken it down.

YadNi's Junkyard has closed today.

After 11 years of helping thousands (of) new residents with REAL freebies, full perms for free, and one of the longest lasting money trees, I had to close the place today.

I hope you have good memories of that place.

His post was followed by sad comments, people remembering how important the place was, and wishing him well, "The Junkyard was a vital part of many, many, people's Second Life experience. As a relative latecomer in 2007, it created a connection for me with the history and culture of SL it would have been impossible to gain otherwise." "This is sad news, one of the first places I visited and would take people to when they joined.  Thank you for giving everyone this place for so long. Your dedication is noteworthy and it will be truly missed." "Thank you YadNi Monde . Your Junkyard changed my SL experience for the better. I taught myself how to build by looking at how the freebies were put together and textured. Building is the main reason I still do this. I brought so many friends to the Junkyard over the years and we all appreciated your generosity. You are a huge part of everyone's SL."

YadNi was humbled at these comments, "Thanks a lot guys, i am touched by your words, and very sorry i had no other choice."

Heading to it's location in the Leda sim on the Second Life mainland, I found the place was already gone. Nothing was left but a depression in the rocky ground.

And so, the first and best known freebies place is fading away into the virtual nether.

Source: Daniel Voyager

Bixyl Shuftan

Gracie Kendel's "Goodbye to Second Life Stuff"

Last weekend, Second Life artist Gracie Kendel closed her "Binge and Purge" exhibit, inviting people to drop by before deleting virtually everything from her inventory. With so many of us having quite a bit of junk on us, the exhibit was a reminder of that. But with Linden Lab's recent change in the Terms of Service, the exhibit had taken on new meaning.

Read more in Design.

Free Still at Yadni’s Junkyard

While I was on the playa at Burn2 this morning I came across a build that looked familiar. I clicked the build to see the creator and had a fit of nostalgia. It was a vehicle from Yadni’s Junkyard! This is a place where I spent a lot of time my first year because it is one of the best places for newbies to go to collect all the junk you need for Second Life. 

So I took a trip over to the check out the junkyard. It has changed a lot since 2007. But there were the familiar boxes full of treasures for a newbie: Gadgets, clothes,  jewels , avatars , weapons,  textures, animations! I could not stop myself from buying a few of the old boxes. What fun! There are also some new contributions and I did collect a couple of new boxes to inspect. 

You can read the history of the yard on the wall. Across the road you will find Le Monde de Yadni where he has set a ”museum” of all his builds on the walls, showing those alive and working, and all those that have been extinguished. It is a remarkable number of builds that have been and still are in Second Life. 

Another very nostalgic moment! I glanced up at a row of media boxes where you can pick a newspaper or magazine and lo and behold there was our old SL Newspaper box. I clicked and it still took me to the page that announced the closing. 

If you have never been to Yadni’s Junkyard you should make a visit just to look around a bit. It is amazing to find a freebie place that has been here in Second Life for such a long time. It's still helping newbies and oldies looking for fun bargains. http://slurl.com/secondlife/Leda/210/28/54 

Gemma Cleanslate