Halloween at Calas Ghaladon

 

One of Gemma Cleanslate's favorite locations is Calas Ghaladon Park, which changes it's appearance about every season. The owners have also done something special for Halloween every year. But this year is a little different. Instead of sometime entirely new, this year's build is a look back at precious builds. Gemma took a look, and was not disappointed.

Read Gemma's article in Places.
 

Announcement: This Saturday at The Science Circle - "The Past and Future of Virtual World Psychological Research and Development"

 

"The Past and Future of Virtual World Psychological Research and Development"

Saturday September 18

10 AM to 11 AM SL time

Second Life is underutilised as a platform for wide-ranging psychological research and community development projects. That statement was also true in 2003 when Linden Lab created the virtual world. Although other virtual world platforms may offer advantages for academic research and community impact projects, none are as robust and established as Second Life. In this presentation, I describe several funded research and development projects I have led in Second Life, including reflections on past pilot work using the platform for people with autism. I reflect on successes and ideas that were abandoned along the way and the different people I have encountered on my professional virtual journey. I  will also summarise some of the background published literature supporting a proposed research project with Science Circle, looking at communication styles in the virtual world. Questions, comments and challenges are encouraged.

By Dr. Simon Bignell (Milton Broome in SL)

For more on the event, Click Here.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/104/125/1114

Five Past Online Comics

 

A number of  us love a good cartoon strip, and for some of us that includes online comics. But no serial comic strip lasts forever. Real life may force the artist to stop due to growing family and job requirements or other reasons. The artist may decide to end the strip while it's still good, or perhaps they've concluded their tale. And of course the artist (or the writer) may pass away. In this story for today, yours truly describes five comics that are no longer updating for various reasons.
 
Read the story in Extra.
 

Announcement: Library Costume Contest - "Past Sins"

It's not Halloween but we don't need that to dress up. Today (March 7) starts Past Sins for our story. For the duration we will keep track of who shows up as their favorite character of the story the most nights attended! Winner will receive 1500L, generously ponied up by Illya Leonov. You have to be in the library so you can be seen though.

Does not have to be the same character every time.
Can use imagination on the OCs that no one has descriptions for and name yourself one.
There are a lot of characters in the "Past Sins" story, including monsters.
The main goal is to have fun.

 http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Trotsdale/22/156/25

The Story of Second Life, 1999 - 2017, At The LEA

After a necessary leave of absence, Gemma Cleanslate is back. Her first article once she picked up her pen again was appropriately enough about the history of Second Life. At LEA 25, there is a new exhibit about past events, and aspects, of the virtual world. Designed by Sniper Siemens, there one can read about the closing of the casinos, camping and why it went away, Philip Linden, and more.

Read Gemma's article in Design.

Whatever Happened to Intlibber Brautigan?

Before there was Second Life Newser, there was Second Life Newspaper. And among it's sponsors was BNT Holdings, owned by an Intilibber Brautigan, a figure whom was not without controversy. Since the company went under, very little has been heard about the man. Recently however, he posted in Facebook about his current status in Second Life, in a "prison cell sim." So what's going on?

Read more in People.