20th Annual Hair Fair in Second Life Offering Limited Edition Last Names, Lifetime Premium Plus, Premium Auction

 

With the attention on the Relay for Life, it's easy to miss another cancer-related fundraiser going on in Second Life: The Hair Fair. Taking place in six sims, it offers a large variety of hairpieces, as well as other headgear like bandanas and wraps. And for it's anniversary, this Hair Fair is offering something special: Limited Edition last names and a  Lifetime Premium Plus and Lifetime Premium auctions.

 

...the 20th annual Hair Fair event in Second Life. Since 2010, Hair Fair has proudly partnered with Wigs For Kids, raising crucial funds and awareness to support children experiencing medical hair loss. Each year, creators, organizers, and residents come together to make this virtual event a meaningful celebration of community and generosity. 

 

Like every year, the Hair Fair has numerous shops offering hairpieces for sale, each with a listed percentage of sales going to the charity Wigs For Kids. Fifteen percent is the minimum amount, with 100% of the bandana sales going to the fundraiser. They are in six sims, grouped by hair color: Blonde, Brunette, Redhead, Streaks, Noirette, Fouls. Supporting a good cause isn't the only reason people come here. You can find varieties here that can be hard to find anywhere else, especially men's hair. 

 

But there are two things that set this Hair Fair apart. One is you can purchase one of three limited edition surnames for your account (all hair related): Style, Salon, and Strand. 

 

You can purchase at the event the last name of your choice and these will be manually set in motion with Linden Lab. They are being sold for the standard name change fee of L 12250 and 100 % goes to Wigs for Kids. You can also change your first name included in the price.

These will not only have the awesome factor of having such unique new names, but also knowing that the name has history of helping Wigs for Kids ♥. Who do their best to promote this event every year on their own website. 

 

As a reminder, your name will not change instantly, "While the name change is not instant it is done in order of filing your ticket, so do that as soon as you purchase." To get one of these last names, head to:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hair%20Fair%20-%20Blonde/236/251/24

 

But this isn't all. You can also bid to get to upgrade to a Lifetime Premium account or a Lifetime Premium Plus account. You'll never have to pay another monthly fee for as long as Second Life is around. 

 

Hair Fair 2026 has been given the amazing opportunity to Auction off two Lifetime accounts, where 100% of the proceeds will go to Wigs for Kids.

 - 1 Lifetime Premium Plus account.
 
 - 1 Lifetime Premium account.
 
 The starting bids are based on the purchase price of these accounts set by Linden Lab. The Auction closes on 14th June but do not miss out on getting your bid in, if you are outbid before the auction ends you will be sent a notecard with landmark to return to the location to bid again if you wish to do so - which will also show as an offline notice to email if you have your settings that way. Please visit regularly during the event to keep your eye on the Auction. 

 

The Hair Fair is going on until Sunday June 14.

 

To get to the auction, head to: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hair%20Fair%20-%20Streaks/233/11/24

 

For more information on the Hair Fair, check out:  https://www.wigsforkids.org/events/20th-annual-hair-fair-in-second-life/

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hair%20Fair%20-%20Blonde/245/239/24 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

Breaking News: Linden Lab Offering Limited Number of Lifetime Premium-Plus Accounts

 

 It was just announced at the Friday Town Hall at the Second Life Birthday by Patch Linden that Linden Lab will be offering Lifetime Premium Plus Accounts, called SecondLifetime Premium Plus Accounts (youtube link). BUT, it will be a small number. As this the 21st anniversary of Second Life, there will be 21 Lifetime Premium Plus Accounts available, "it's in honor of Second Life's 21st Birthday, and we enjoy trying to be thematic when we can."

These lifetime accounts are not cheap. They will cost 1,899.00 US dollars, or 1,150.00 if one is upgrading their SecondLifetime Premium account.

 

SecondLifetime Premium accounts were offered last year at the SL20B.  Back then, they were $749 USD. The price has since gone up to $859.00

More details about SecondLifetime accounts can be found (here). 

Commentary: Reflections On The SL20B

 

We made it!

While Second Life turning twenty was seen as a near-certainty though far-off date in it's golden age from 2007 to 2008, a few years later, it didn't seem that was as troubled times from 2010 to 2013 led to some doubts and rumors. But enough residents toughed it out, and Linden Lab managed to stay afloat. In comparison to some hit video entertainment a generation earlier, such as Atari games which went downhill after a few years, the virtual world has been far more adaptable and durable. And this year it was time to celebrate the big two-oh.

Second Life is no longer in it's teens.

This year had some things what have been part of birthday celebrations since Linden Lab assumed control a few years ago, such as the Shop and Hop and the Tapestry of Time (though the later was updated). But this year there were some differences. For the first time, people were allowed to bring back an old exhibit from a previous birthday if they wanted to. Also for the first time, there were adult-rated sims set aside for builds that exhibitors there could design of a more graphic nature than would be allowed on a moderate one and for shops selling items of a clearly adult nature. These sims were placed in their own separate areas of the SL20B and the Shop and Hop. This was something of a surprise to many as Linden Lab in the past had mixed feelings about Second Life's more sexual side being talked about.

The theme this year, "Our Fantastic Future," was an appropriate followup to Steampunk for SL19B. But it was also reflective of the optimism often shown by Linden Lab as well as many of the residents. Despite all the problems of today, there's hope for a better world tomorrow. And with Second Life's future being in doubt on occasions in the past, there is certainly reason for such optimism. Some exhibits showed the theme in the form of technology and space travel. But this being a milestone birthday, there was also a reason to look back with pride, hence the number of old exhibits that made a return (or given a 'second life,' pun intended).

Of the announcements made by the Lindens and Moles, the two that got the most attention were the new Linden Homes exclusively for Premium Plus residents, and the new option to get a lifetime option for Premium and Premium Plus accounts. For newcomers, the NUX avatars were almost but not quite ready. For the rest of us, it was announced progress was being made on the mobile viewer, but an open beta wouldn't be available until at least early 2024. While there was excitement about these by a number, there were a few grumbles that this was evidence Lab was mostly interested in money. Perhaps Linden Lab's owner the Waterfield Network has been encouraging them to find ways to make more cash. We can only speculate. But that the Premium Plus homes were quickly snapped up could also be called evidence they were simply responding to demand.

So what will SL21B hold? Who knows. While Second Life may be "old enough to drink," the theme sure won't be beer parties. But this year's theme being about a brighter future, let us look forward to good times for the next year, and beyond. We've made it this far, and no reason to feel we can't for a few more years. While future birthdays that don't end in "5" or "0" may seem a little less special, we'll still find plenty of reason and ways to throw and enjoy a good party.

In the meantime, more time for us at the Newser to write about the people, places, and other events in Second Life.

Bixyl Shuftan

 

"Second Lifetime" Premium Accounts For Life, Upcoming Ranch Linden Homes Announced at Lab Gab

 

 

 (Click here if the video does not play)

On Monday June 26, Patch Linden was interviewed in the first of the SL20B's Lab Gab shows. Patch almost always reveals something about what Linden Lab is planning or is about to release, and yesterday was no exception. But the big details involve users with the most cash to invest in their inworld experience. 

 

At the SL19B last year while talking about then upcoming Premium Plus option for accounts, Patch stated that eventually there would be a 2028 sq meter option for Linden Homes just for them, double the size of the max available for Premium residents.

On Monday, Patch stated the homes were just about ready. He would also mention them in the forums.

 

The all new Ranch theme features country style Ranch homes in multiple sizes and open floor plans on 2048m2 parcels. It is a beautiful rural area with gravel roads, split rail fences, windmills, silos, and stunning fields of wildflowers.

More land means more land impact. Previous themes have 351 or 175 LI per parcel. These have a whopping 703! Plus a new theme means a new content pack, with wildflowers, hay bales, and such. 

They would also be mentioned in the SL wiki in the page about Linden Homes.

The ranch theme is your invitation to step into life on the grasslands of central North America. This is farm country, a land of rolling prairie and big sky. It’s a place where you can imagine raising wheat or corn or soybeans and having a few cattle, a horse or two, and a flock of chickens. You might have a barn stocked with hay bales and a tractor and harvest machinery. Or, perhaps, you could have the large garden for vegetables and flowers that you always wanted.

The houses are in a new area in Bellisseria, north of the central part of the continent (and the new WelcomeHub area, which is now also connected to Bellisseria by a road). The sims themselves often had appropriate names such as Silo, or whimsical ones such as After You and Knott Mine. There were several different styles of Ranch houses, Spring View, Stable View, Knotty Pine, Creek Stone, Silver Spurs, Buffalo Pastures, and Grizzly Point. With the larger amount of land per home, plus the gravel roads and the country look of the houses, the place certainly looked more backwoods than much of the Linden Home continent. There were silos, windmills, and other farm buildings and structures in places. And some residents and brought in cows, horses, and other animals.

 

Despite that "selection of specific Ranch homes will not be available until July 10," demand for these houses was high. In Bellisseria chat, it was stated that a day after they were made available, there were no more left to claim. When the next batch will be available is unknown.

 

 

The other feature aimed at Premium Plus, and Premium, accounts was "Second Lifetime." This was an option to have a Premium, or Premium Plus account for life.

 Be among the lucky few to claim one of the limited edition SecondLifeTime Premium or Premium Plus plans – available in extremely limited quantities at SL20B. Each SecondLifeTime plan offers the same benefits as Premium or Premium Plus – but for a one-time fee for the rest of your life! Only available while supplies last!

Patch Linden would explain some details at the Lab Gab, and there was also a "Frequently Asked Questions" page. The one-time payment for a lifetime Premium account is $749 USD, and for a lifetime Premium Plus, it is more expensive at $1749 USD. Compared to Premium at $99 USD a year, and Premium Plus at $249 USD a year, it's comparable to a resident paying for several years in advance. 

 

Patch would say that only so many residents can get a lifetime account. Only two hundred residents will be able to get Premium for life, and for Premium Plus for life the limit is much smaller, just twenty. The openings are available on a first-come first-served basis. On the FAQ page, it stated a Premium for life account holder "might not" be able to upgrade to Premium Plus, and anyone wishing to do so would have to talk with a Lab agent to see what could be done. 

While it wasn't mentioned by Patch, or the FAQ, it should be reminded that even a lifetime account holder would still be subject to the Lab's Terms of Service, and people have been banned for what some would see as small offenses such as using a parent's credit card. 

Patch would discuss other things in the video, such as the upcoming newcomer NUX avatars, the new WelcomeHub area, an SL radio station, the *possibility* of one of the more recent last names being brought back temporarily, and Linden Lab talking to the producers of a TV show about a deal which would have Second Life being a big part of the plot of one episode. This would be the first time since an episode of CSI in 2007.

Bixyl Shuftan