Holiday Fun

If you are looking for a fun activity to do for the Easter week, or for the rest of the month, Aero Pines Park & Recreation Area & the SL Riding Club are holding their 4th annual Easter Basket Hunt in their eight sims. 
You will find the baskets out on the trails and in the public buildings. They are not difficult to spot and there are some delightful gifts in them. 
There is  transportation available there. 
It is a great place to ride your horse, try a demo horse or borrow one of the vehicles.  
The buildings with closed doors are private but all the open doors invite you inside. 
The last time I was here it was winter. Now spring is blossoming everywhere and you will enjoy your tour through the lush grounds, hills and sparkling waters.
 Remember there are eight sims to explore!
This is a good place to start, right at the stables.  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Equus/194/173/22


Gemma Cleanslate

Looking for places to explore?

Grey Lupindo takes us on a trip to Amsterdam in the community section while Gemma looks at the opening of a new sl school that would instruct in the lifestyle of the Victorian steam punk San Francisco. 

Cartoon of the Day

Berlin Wall

It was 20 years ago today that the Berlin Wall fell. One of the starkest symbols of Communism, it cut an ugly scar through Berlin, people cut down by gunfire as they tried to escape through it. After several weeks of protests in the midst of the collapsing of the Iron Curtain in 1989, the Communists gave in on November 9, letting people through.

In the Ceil sim, this Berlin Wall “Die Mauer” exhibit stands at (60, 119, 23), presumably kept up only temporarily. The exhibit was also up last year for the anniversary of it’s fall (Click Here for the 2008 article).

Bixyl Shuftan

Cariama: a new vending system

Why should you pay a commission for your sales when using a vending system?

Major vending systems are based on commission, however at Cariama we have decided that sales should not been commissioned at all and if you put up your products for resale, you decide how much to give to resellers. So simple, sales commission at 0%, and you may compare with other vending systems.

Moreover, the shopping experience should not be limited to Second Life world® since different Opensimulator worlds exist. Cariama proposes to expand and benefits from sales in those Opensimulator worlds.

Several features have already been implemented in Cariama: multiple avatars are sharing the same Cariama account, products are sold inworld with vending machines and via the website, collections and stores are created, and customers’ statistics are given (fees may apply for certain statistical tools).

The revenues of Cariama come mainly from advertisement. Banner and product ads appear on a majority of Cariama pages and in the different virtual worlds. That gives the most exposure possible for an efficient online advertisement campaign for your products, services, blogs, forums, or any websites. With a simple auction system and depending your budget to make a higher bid, you can now take advantage to expose your products.

Cariama brings you all those opportunities and as a seller you will gain major profits. Sell inworld and via website, at no cost.

You can preregister now and receive news till Cariama is launched: website http://www.cariama.com, and in Second Life world® http://slurl.com/secondlife/Alpha Centauri/215/240/27/.

 

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Cariama is a new vending system for virtual worlds. The system gives Second Life® and Opensimulator residents the opportunity to buy and sell their products and services with a single interface sharing inworld and website features. Cariama is committed to an original concept that unites the goals of customer value: no commission on sales. The strategy of Cariama is geared towards sustainable growth based mainly on advertisement.

For more information, see Cariama online at http://www.cariama.com

Headquarters: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Alpha Centauri/215/240/27/

Contact: Kay Noble

Email: kay@cariama.com

Guy Fawkes Day in Second Life

Thursday November 5 was Guy Fawkes Day in England. Here in Second Life, there were a small number of parties around "Bonfire Night," as it's sometimes called. I wasn't able to find any still going, though did find this dummy of "The Guy" besides an unlit (or extinguished) bonfire.

Guy Fawkes had tried to blow up the English Parliament in 1605, but was discovered. A Wikipedia article describes "Londoners were encouraged to celebrate the King's escape from assassination by lighting bonfires in the city ... beginning a tradition that has persisted across the UK ever since." After some time, people began throwing dummies of Guy Fawkes into the bonfiires, sometimes stuffed with fireworks after they became part of the festivities.

Bixyl Shuftan.

Day of the Dead Exhibit in Second Life

Following Halloween, there comes a holiday in Mexico that looks very similar with it's skulls and skeletons, but it is much more a day of rememberance. Check in the Community section to see how one sim sought to educate residents about the Day of the Dead.



To continue, click Here.

“The Fire King” author in Second Life

By Nazz Lane

Several weeks ago, I received an instant message inviting me to special event at the Athena Writers Island to meet and listen to the noted author Marjorie M Lui (aka MarjorieMLiu India in Second Life) to talk about her latest book, “The Fire King”. She discussed the book, which is the latest release in her Dirk & Steele Series and talked of her other series, Hunter Kiss along with being a writer and author. I took the ride over to listen in and enjoyed the next hour scrolling through the chat lines of questions from the dozen or so avatars assembled and Ms Lui’s replies. I unfortunately had to leave before the events completed, but shortly after, I was contacted by her in-world representative, Cheepoka Laval and we discussed my meeting with Ms Lui in-world for an interview.

After an exchange of e-mails the scheduled date and time arrived as did Marjorie after accepted my teleport request. We met at the headquarters of the SL Newspaper.

Nazz: Hello Marjorie, it’s nice to meet you.

MarjorieMLiu: Hello, again! It's great to meet you, too. I'm still trying to get a hang on this thing.

Nazz: I’m assuming you'd not spent too much time then in second life so far.

MarjorieMLiu: No, I haven't been back since that last chat.

Nazz: I saw in an e-mail that Cheepoka (aka Taughnee Stone) wasn’t able to join us.

MarjorieMLiu: I saw that, too. She's great -- a wonderful person, and a fantastic designer.

Nazz: She's handling your PR in second life?

MarjorieMLiu: Yes.

Nazz: How did you find out about second life?

MarjorieMLiu: Through Taughnee. I tried to use it more than a year ago, and got scared away by the avatars themselves -- I just couldn't get mine to work. In preparation for that book chat, though, Taughnee worked with me.

Nazz: You weren’t scared away by rude behavior I hope.

MarjorieMLiu: Oh, no, just the technical aspects of it all. And, of course, SL is the same as RL in the sense that if you don't know anyone, you'll still feel awkward.

Nazz: Yes, that's true. Have you done any exploration of second life, like going to a live music event, an art exhibit or shopping yet?

MarjorieMLiu: No, none of that.

Nazz: I wasn't able to stay for the entire book chat when you appeared, how did that go for you?

MarjorieMLiu: It was fantastic. I loved the forum, and the ease of reaching out to so many people from the comfort of home. And the avatars! Everyone was so beautiful! I mean, seriously -- in RL, how many chances would a person have to chat about books in a beautiful library on the sea?

Nazz: Not very many. Are you aware of some the writing groups that exist in SL?

MarjorieMLiu: No, I'm not. Are there many?

Nazz: There's several ... the Written Word is perhaps the largest ... in fact there's a large event coming up next month where they are the sponsor … Autumn Writers Exchange.

MarjorieMLiu: What kind of event?

Nazz: It’s basically a three day event ... one can set up a virtual booth ... there are writing and poetry competitions … live readings by authors … concerts.

MarjorieMLiu: Sounds very cool! Do you participate, or just cover it for the SL newspaper?

Nazz: Both, I wrote an article on it and did a reading last year

MarjorieMLiu: What did you read?

Nazz: Some of my own fiction and a piece I did for the SL newspaper.

MarjorieMLiu: Nice, any particular genre?

Nazz: I use SL as a backdrop for my characters ... the main character is a lawyer from Chicago. He meets and falls in love with a woman in SL.

MarjorieMLiu: That's very cool. Do people publish books in SL?

Nazz: Yes they do, I've published five chapters of my serial novel.

MarjorieMLiu: Is there a bookstore type place where you keep them, so that people can browse through the fiction?

Nazz: There are several different types of venues in SL, bookstores are one of them

MarjorieMLiu: Are there virtual books -- in essence, where people can "live" the story? I'm not sure that makes sense, what I just wrote.

Nazz: There are role play SIM’s, areas where people take on the guise of a character … wild west days, like Colorado and Deadwood and science fiction SIM’s. Some are quite extensive in their set up, like the Dr. Who series for example.

MarjorieMLiu: Sci-fi SIMs sounds cool. Wow! Dr. Who? Love that show … and Torchwood.

Nazz: In your latest book, “The Fire King” is set in central Asia, you'd commented about being fascinated by that region of the globe, what’s so intriguing about it for you?

MarjorieMLiu: I've always been fascinated with nomadic cultures, and that area is rich with history -- partially because of the Silk Road. Many cultures and people passed through Central Asia and you can see it in the faces of the men and women who still live there.

Nazz: Have you visited the area?

MarjorieMLiu: Close. I've been near the border to Mongolia. The region is beautiful.

Nazz: I think I saw some where were you'd commented on character development by thinking of the character and after then where to set them, is that a fair representation of how and what was it about Soria that said silk road and central Asia?

MarjorieMLiu: Yes. I'm a very organic writer. In the case of THE FIRE KING, I had originally thought about setting it in the American Southwest, but it wasn't isolated enough for what I thought the characters had to go through.

Nazz: You'd also commented on listening to loud music while developing your characters, what were you listening to with Soria?

MarjorieMLiu: Gosh, I need to pull up iTunes! I think I listened to a lot of Imogen Heap and other stuff. I'm all over the board from Alternative to R&B to Greatest Hits of the 80's.

Nazz: You had commented in your appearance at the book chat, that your next book is set in the South China Sea, what drew you to that area?

MarjorieMLiu: My research on piracy. That area has a lot of trouble with pirates.

Nazz: It does have that reputation.

MarjorieMLiu: Yup. One of the most successful pirates in history was a former Chinese prostitute who sailed those seas several hundred years ago.

Nazz: Oh wow!

MarjorieMLiu: That's what I said! She needs to have a book written about her.

Nazz: Are you planning for more appearances in SL or other virtual worlds?

MarjorieMLiu: I hope so. No specific plans at the moment, but I would guess that around my next solo release, next year...I'd like to come back. I actually have an anthology coming out at the end of October, called Never After. Then, another anthology in January, called Inked.

Nazz: I know you're just about out of time … any closing thoughts or comments to share with my readers?

MarjorieMLiu: Just that I think this is a wonderful place, with so many creative possibilities. I think you've made a wonderful community here.

On the Proper Care and Feeding of Muses

A Column by FoxM Ember

I by no means consider myself anything more than a novice at such matters, however it is my suspicion that the majority of SL residents have not as yet had even as meager an education in this area as I. To whit, I feel it my virtual civic duty to impart upon the general populace of this world that to which I have been made privy, concerning the proper care and feeding of muses.

Before I begin in earnest, I shall admit my profound assumption that there exists a general and common understanding of the muse’s defining characteristics. I state this, for it is no small matter, and germane to this entire writing. Further, I pray you will find it agreeable and reasonable that, in keeping with the earlier traditions, I assign and refer to this entity in the feminine, while reserving and referring to we mere mortals (including this author) in the masculine.

For this shared understanding of a muse’s traits, I rely upon the great myths and legends of ages long since past, in which are described, with greater insight than I possess, the qualities afforded the muse. Suffice to say, that she is the pinnacle of inspiration and creativity sought after by any sane poet, artist or scribe that desires above all to attain the level of Master. Oft presenting herself in the most intoxicating of appearances and with soft sweet whispers, the aim of which to open an awareness and vision and consciousness for the providentially blessed artist, to aspire to greatness in his chosen field.

However, all too frequently, the artist is so smitten with the muse herself, as to lose in the glare of her beauty, the cherished gift she offers freely. Tragedy frequently results in these instances, and great works of art appear as blank canvas, unsung songs and empty pages. Even more tragic, the artist, entranced wholly with his muse - by virtue of her unaccepted gift will take leave - is left bereft of motivation, and heartbroken. A tragedy upon a tragedy still.

Thus manifests the quintessential conundrum of the artiste when confronted by his muse and her offerings: how and whether to direct his energy and focus - not upon the giver - but upon the gift. The layman would surely see this choice as simplistic child’s play, for common sense and prudence concerning one’s livelihood certainly dictates the mere “use” of the muse in order to benefit from her promptings, thus securing rewards and accolades for himself. However, for those who face this choice, the deep complexity is made visible through the ethereal mists of her beauty; the prudent decision becomes shrouded in thoughts of romance, feelings of elusive true love, and the irresistible temptations of her innocent seductiveness.

Yet, there is no malice in her snare. Hers is an unintended trap. Indeed, she is often heard raising her voice in stark warning to the artist to avoid his focus upon her, and to gaze upon that vision which she seeks to inspire. How blissfully tortuous are her natural and intrinsic ways, for in issuing warning and caution, she only amplifies her distracting beauty. Her kindness and concern do nothing more than intensify the desire to know her, and yes, to love her.

It is an irony, that in failing to heed her siren warning, the artist also fails to provide his muse with that which she needs to survive. For a muse, not to find a willing recipient for her inspirations is in no manner different than a doe seeking and failing to find the gentle stream that quenches her thirst. The same, as a dove whose wings now clipped, can no longer ride the wind, as is demanded by its very nature. In choosing to love the muse, at the expense of accepting her offerings, he condemns her to starvation.

Therefore, my fellow artists, writers, painters, musicians, creators of all sorts, heed this simple instruction as concerns your muse. Take anxiously of her gifts, and create wondrous passionate works. Place your efforts and focus on the vision given to you and see it through to its magical and beautiful conclusions. And, share these works with all people, for in doing so you breathe life into your muse, she is fed and satiated by virtue of meaning and purpose finding residence in her. And yes, cautiously if you must, earnestly desire her, romance her, fall in love with her…and always care for her properly.

"No Muse-poet grows conscious of the Muse except by experience of a woman in whom the Goddess is to some degree resident…A Muse-poet falls in love, absolutely, and his true love is, for him, the embodiment of the Muse…as manifest in the supreme power, glory, wisdom, and love of woman, and the individual woman whom the Goddess may make her instrument...

- British poet, Robert Graves

Age verification in SL and the new 'ADULT' rules

"First, they came for the communists, but I didn’t object, I wasn’t a communist. They came for the Socialists, and I didn’t object, because I wasn’t a Socialist. They came for the Labour Leaders, and I didn’t object, because I wasn’t a Labour Leader. They came for the Jews, and I didn’t object, because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to object"
(Pastor Martin Niemoller)

First things first. I implore ALL readers of the SL newspaper to search for Bixyl Shuftan’s excellent work (opens in new window) on the topic of age-verification in this very paper, and to read it carefully and digest fully.

Then I ask all readers of this paper to get the word out to their online friends about the matter, to point them in the direction of this paper, and urge them to join Xantarius Cain’s “Revolting Adults” group (it’s free) to register their objections to age-verification. Assuming the protests match my online times, you will see me on the picket lines.

Ladies and gentlemen, six weeks after my previous piece on the ill-thought process of age-verification, I’m back. While it has been hugely tempting to contribute other pieces to this paper on a variety of issues relating to SL, I have resisted, spending the time wandering the sims of SL with a view to a follow up article on how, exactly, it might affect my -and your- Second Life.
Until this week it all seemed rather much of a storm-in-a-teacup because, despite my best efforts, I had only discovered one sim from which I was denied access on the grounds of it requiring age-verification. My best efforts to be denied entry to orgy theatres, BDSM sims, freelance escort clubs and so on all failed, and my febrile imagination eventually gave up on trying to find “adult” sims from which to be turned away.
However, that changed this week, and I’m angry. Now, to quote from Pastor Niemoller’s poem, they ARE coming for me.

Your correspondent is a keen naturist/nudist, in real life as well as in SL, and likes nothing better than a week soaking up the sun in Spain or Croatia without swimming trunks on. Part of the appeal of SL was the chance to indulge, virtually, in long dark winter months and dream of the next naturist holiday planned. Not all SL naturists are the RL variant, but along the way I have met and enjoyed conversations with RL naturists with whom I’d share experiences, tips on good restaurants and so on, and for me it appeared to be an example of SL at its very best -a social networking facility from which valuable knowledge could be utilised back in RL.

This week, rather sadly, came the news that Manatee Naturists is to close, although I’m not altogether certain that this is related to age-verification, but rather the result of dwindling numbers. It’s a shame. Back in those dark winter months, as a newbie, I was able to log in and share a little while with fellow naturists, dancing naked in the sun with people who have become firm SL friends, and with whom I converse regularly.
Sex? Well, no. We danced naked in the sun and discussed the global economic crisis, pretty much a replication of interaction at a RL place, where the nudity is incidental rather than central.
This week comes notice that another naturist sim, Sunset Cove, is going to opt for the adult route, their group notice suggesting that it might be best to do so now because Linden Labs will charge for this in the future. This is where they DO come for me. This is where the time comes to add my voice to the “Revolting Adults” group and object any which way I can.

Readers are advised to read Firehorse Rearwind’s article (opens in new window), also in this paper, on the topic. I paraphrase:

“You can’t wander through a pg shopping mall with your xcite bits swinging, although as a European I have to wonder why anyone would be offended by nudity”.

Well said, that man.

There are global cultural differences, and Linden Labs broad-brushstroke approach takes little account of it. As another European, I have to say that it’s sometimes rather more surprising to see a bikini top on a beach in RL, such is the widespread acceptance and toleration of bared female breasts (and in front of children and adolescent boys, too!) To us, it’s normal behaviour. Now, do I invite one of my SL female friends to join me on one of SL’s many beaches, and chat away on a variety of subjects while she sunbathes topless? How can a beach sim possibly designate itself to mature or adult in such circumstances? How can Linden (or sim owners) even make it workable? Oh, I forgot: they’re based in a country where Janet Jackson’s nipple caused more public comment and outrage than the rather more disturbing pornography of violence, usually referred to as “the news”. Pictures of dead Iraqi’s=OK. Janet Jackson’s tit=a scandal.

As Bixyl points out in his questioning of Blondin Linden, pony players have succeeded in having their roleplay removed from the filter system because they argued that there doesn’t have to be anything sexual about pony play. Here’s some news for you, Blondin, neither does naturism, either in RL or SL. One excellent naturist sim, Harbour Village, perhaps reflects RL naturism more accurately than anywhere else in SL. Not a single sex poseball exists on the sim, just as you’re not likely to see any acts of intercourse on a RL naturist beach. But according to Linden Lab’s rules, Harbour Village should be adult.

What a bunch of mixed, confused, “make it up as we go along” messages we’re getting from Linden Labs. Slavery and whip marks, in the context of a Gor sim, may be OK? But the naked human form is not. Combat zones, guns, grenades and such like are OK? But female breasts (or the genitalia of either sex) are not.
Pony players may be satisfied, for now, at their exclusion from adult filtration but, mark my words, and those of Pastor Niemoller, Linden Labs will be coming for them shortly.

Despite my European identity, which renders many of the elements of age-verification useless, I could attempt to age-verify in an instant. But I won’t. I may, perhaps, just take to wandering the malls of SL with my xcite bits swinging, until the Linden Labs Nazis come for me, too.

Submitted by Howie Lamilton

Edo opens 'Ekho' fashion town

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ekho/127/7/21

Camping bots, an overdue change with side effects

Finally. After years of lax policy, the Lindens have let the community know that they will actively seek camping bots and crack down on their existence. The move is long overdue but we have to recognize its side effects and the poor state of search in Second Life.

First of all, this is something we should embrace and rejoice over immediately. Camping has been used to trick the traffic numbers ever since people knew how they are attributed daily. Even with the “new” Google-based search, this made a place come out on top because traffic is part of the relevance criteria.

This had heavily perverse effects, as you can guess. Business owners who wanted to play a fair game had a major disadvantage. The ones who did not want, did not have the means to pay for occupied camping spots or to set up bots paid the price for their choices.

Even some of us had wrong visitor counts. I cannot remember how many times when I saw an avatar landing and leaving within 5 seconds, after not having found a camping spot. This kind of “visit” makes it hard to figure out your true level of success in attracting people.

If the ban is mainly a positive element, there will be some negative consequences. Many business owners will actually lose traffic and, eventually, sales. This includes top quality content creators. They will have to find out different ways to make sure their stores come out on top of search results. But there is an element of fairness which could push them towards more traditional forms of advertising around the grid.

This is no small deal when you think of it, however. Despite adoption of Google-based search technology, Second Life search results still lack in quality. If so many people tricked the system, it was partly because the system was not very efficient. The state of SL search can still be compared to Web search before Google made relevance king.

This is yet another major challenge for Linden Lab. Will they come up with a solution?

Second Life Plays Host to Exhibit at the 2009 Boston Cyberarts Festival

By Nazz Lane

On April 24th, the Boston Cyberarts Festival opens and runs through May 10th. The festival features both visual and performing arts and boasts of being the only one in the world to feature “all art forms, including both visual and performing arts, film, video, electronic literature, public art, and web art”. The festival began in 1999 and is held every other year. This year will be the sixth occurrence and it will feature more than sixty exhibitions, from visual and performing artists who use computer technology as an integral part of their work. Exhibits are hosted at multiple locations in and around the Boston area. This year, festival organizers have included the virtual world of Second Life and will feature the work of several well known SL artists. An opening reception of the Second Life exhibition and an artist talk will be held on April 26th at 2 PM PDT/SLT on the Artropolis SIM.

Artropolis is home to Filthy Fluno (aka Jeffrey Lipsky) where he has established an artist colony and nurtured it to become one of SL’s leading art communities. Having interviewed Filthy for an article earlier this year, I’d become familiar with the SIM, so I TP’ed over a few days before the opening to find that preparations were well underway. I found an information box for the event and received a note card when clicking on it, the first line read, “Thanks for logging in and joining us for Boston Cyberarts Festival's ‘Traversing Sweet Illusions’. “ The note went on to provide information about the exhibits at this and other locations for visitors whether new to SL or seasoned residents. It also explained that the exhibit has “Organized the artists into 2 categories, ‘Immersive’ on the left side and ‘More Traditional’ on the right.” As visitors walk around they can to click on the virtual sculptures and be given note cards with the artists' information and description of their BCAF exhibit.

Featured works include "In the Sweet Bye & Bye" by Philip Jones; "Land of Illusions" by Lily & Honglei; "Adventures of Filthy Fluno" by Jeffrey Lipsky; "I'm Not Here" by Lance Shields; "Hostile Space" by D.C Spensley; and "Artropolis" by Todd Tevlin. These works will also be available for viewing in the non-virtual world. CounterpART Gallery in Lowell hosts the entire Festival Second Life exhibition from April 24th through May 2nd. Lily & Honglei's Second Life artwork will be on view at Design Gallery 154 at UMass Dartmouth.

SL Resident Osea Zapatero (aka Carmin Karasic), has been responsible for the second life exhibit along with Melita Podesta. She has been busily working in preparation for the festival opening, in both her first and second life. Ms Karasic, a web site designer and multimedia artist is exhibiting a piece along with co-creator Rolf van Gelder titled, "Human^n" which will be featured at the Boston Museum of Science during the festival. A resident of Eindhoven in the Netherlands, she is an assistant director of the BCAF and a faculty member at Lesley University. She graciously took some time away from her busy schedule and we met briefly to discuss the exhibit in SL.

“How long have you been involved with the BACF.” I asked

“I’ve been involved since the start, the first one in 1999 … well really since 1998 when we began planning for the first one.” She replied.

“What bought you into second life?”

“I really don’t know for sure what led me here. I’ve been here for a little while but I hadn’t really done much in SL until now. This has all been very exciting for me.” She said and then added, “I’m an educator as well as an artist and I’m hearing and learning so much about the educational community here. I want to learn more.”

“What were the selection criteria for the SL Art included in the exhibit?” I asked.

“The idea of including art from second life was George’s (BACF Director George Fifield). He became interested in it and we began working on it. We really didn’t have selection criteria, we found some things we really liked and were interested in presenting. We are already anticipating a stronger SL presence at the next festival in 2011.” She replied.

Complete information, including a searchable database of the more than 60 events and exhibitions, is available at www.bostoncyberarts.org.

Reporters of Gor: The Kajira Chronicles Book 2

This article, this instalment of the Reporters of Gor series will likely be the last such for a good long while. (at least if I can help it) I have seen Gor, I have spent weeks within it, but overall, the experience was a negative one. I realize now I hung on for as long as I did simply because I've always enjoyed roleplaying, but even this was not terribly entertaining since I personally don't consider “Get me some Paga Beast” to be terribly engaging roleplay. It is for this an other reasons I feel that I am done with gor, but here are some of my final thoughts on the matter, submitted for your consideration and for my inevitable rise to fame and glory......................

Continued in the REDLIGHT section

The notices are going up!

Age-verification in SL apparently beckons, in early May. And, my, but the natives appear to be restless, as a quick shimmy through blogs and out-of world websites demonstrates. Of course, much of this comment is mere speculation. Truthfully, no one -perhaps even Linden Labs themselves- seems to be entirely clear as to what age verification really means, in terms of access to sims, and more importantly, how it’s going to be implemented and retain the confidence of users. It would appear a policy of “suck it and see” seems to be the best way to describe the entire policy: Linden Labs will introduce it and then see how or if it works and tinker endlessly thereafter.

I have spoken to people who believe that age verification is going to be necessary for “mature” sims, which means about 99% of all sims. One person I spoke to was under the impression that any form of “nudity” would require users of sims to be age-verified. This meant that freebie shops showing skins for sale would even fall into that category. From what I can gather, this is not going to be the case (although, as with every element of the entire age-verification thing, no one can really be sure how it will manifest itself). Linden Labs are, apparently, going to introduce a new ‘Adult’ category, above and beyond ‘Mature’. Although I cannot be entirely certain, I’m guessing that ‘Mature’ will include, for example, nude beaches (and freebie shops), while “Adult” may include orgy venues and BDSM sims.

However it eventually shakes down, it all seems a little ill-planned. We know that minors are barred from the grown-up version of SL, yet this demand for age-verification seems designed, in part, for the purpose of protecting minors from potential predatory paedophiles. There can be no complaints, from anyone, on this issue. It is right, it is good, and it is important that minors (who shouldn’t be there in the first instance) are still afforded as much protection as they can be afforded, even if they are contravening the terms and conditions of use by logging into the grown up version of SL.

What I’m less enamoured with is that age-verification seems like a sop to ‘outside forces’, self-styled moral guardians, making demands that SL cleans up its act. While protecting minors is vital, demanding that SL conforms to some code of morality defined by others is most definitely not acceptable to most users. People use SL to create their fantasy life and fulfil their dreams, a fact borne out in the way that most people are virtually siliconing, botoxing, and working-out their avatars to make it the land of the beautiful people.

If they wish to create the cantilevered breasts or impressively proportioned genitalia they lack in RL, what’s the harm? It is escapism. It is a dream. It is fantasy, and it is entertaining relaxation time.

Chaining a submissive girl to some instrument of torture and gang-raping her is not my idea of fun but, hey, if that’s the fantasy of consenting adults who can fulfil a fantasy/dream (albeit with cartoon characters), then it is not for me to judge. Personally, I find the entire thing incomprehensible, but I’m not going to judge the morality or fantasy of others. I cannot accept that, and neither should you. It is vitally important that users make it clear to Linden Labs we all understand and accept the need to protect minors (who shouldn’t be using the grid anyway) but we will not stand for interference from a self-styled morality police.

And that brings us back to the age-verification issue. How do we ensure the matter of being confident that there are only “consenting adults” involved? Why have Linden Labs embraced this ridiculous third party age verification system when a global standard -the purchase of internet hard-core porn included- would be a credit card?

On that issue, I need to make it clear I am a European user, so the matter of social security numbers aren’t really applicable to me. But I am led to believe that giving your social security number to a third party is actually an offence in some states (of the US).

My “data” has previously been verified by my credit card company. My use of that card creates an audit trail. My purchases, of whatever and wherever, are traceable. Is there really any need to adopt any other sort of system? What are the benefits of Linden Labs chosen method of age-verifying, over that of the credit card system? The fact that a street-wise kid can probably borrow Dad’s credit card. Yeah, but will the same street-wise kid not borrow Dad’s social security or passport number?

The person fulminating over the fact that “nudity” demanded age-verification brought up the matter of “cultural differences” in what is judged to be acceptable and unacceptable. “I can go to a beach in France where topless women are my expectation and norm”, said SL resident Jimmy Humbridge, “but that is not the case on US beaches, by and large”. While Jimmy’s fears appear at this stage to be unfounded, it does raise the issue of local cultural acceptability. Could someone, for example, rezz some poseballs that replicate a woman being stoned to death or a man flogged, things that do happen in real life and are understood to be part of the justice system? It’s a horrible idea, to the overwhelming majority of western SL users, but possibly unworthy of comment by some other SL users.

The real world is diverse. There are many elements of it we embrace or deplore, but we implicitly understand (or should understand) that it is impossible to impose our values on others. Their reality is their reality, and ours is ours. I do not wish to be judged on my views to nudity within SL anymore than I wish to judge others views on submissive females or instruments of torture.

In the end, the age-verification issue is fraught with dangers from a lack of a clear indication of what it entails. At this stage it would seem that users should desist from age-verifying until the nuts and bolts of the matter becomes much, much clearer.

Submitted by Howie Lamilton

SL Shakespeare Company’s Twelfth Night, Act 1 Photography Contest on Koinup

Shakespeare, Second Life and Brescia, Italy: The SL Shakespeare Company joins forces with Koinup to launch the world’s first major photography contest featuring a professional theatrical production based entirely in the virtual world of Second Life. Starting March 1, the contest invites participants to attend the SL Shakespeare Company’s open-ended run of Twelfth Night, Act 1 and take photos. Over L$100,000 in prizes will be awarded to the winners.

The contest consists of a main contest whose final submissions deadline is June 15, 2009. Several mini-contests with weekly or bi-monthly deadlines and prizes will be held starting in April. These mini-contests will be held in conjunction with several “Variations” on the open-ended run, where, for example, an all-female or switched-genders cast interpretation is tried.

To give all participants a chance, the contest introduces a special “Unedited SL Photography” category with its own exclusive prize.

The contest also has a special Avatar Photography category for photography that focus particularly on actor avatars. To help facilitate this specialized component, the SL Shakespeare Company will be holding special actor avatar photography sessions starting in April.

In efforts to recognize photography based not only on artistic merit but also on their appeal to different people, the contest will be judged by a panel of well-known Second Life residents from several different arenas. Judges include Ananda Valeeva, AM Radio, Beyers Sellers, Eshi Otawara, Frolic Mills, Ina Centaur, Jaymes Kjeller, Prad Prathivi, Rightasrain Rimbaud, Sarah Nerd, Tara05 Oh, Vint Falken, Verde Otaared, and others.

Shows occur weekly on Sundays at 1 PM PST and Tuesdays at 6 PM PST at the SL Globe Theatre. Performances are free except for shows on the last Tuesday and Sunday of each month. Donations are gratefully accepted.

About Twelfth Night, Act 1

Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is the story of a shipwrecked girl named Viola, who chooses to go incognito as a boy eunuch. Act 1 establishes the love triangle that Viola, Duke Orsino, and Olivia become entangled in, and also introduces some of Shakespeare’s most memorable characters—Malvolio and Feste. Unlike the Bard’s other plays, Twelfth Night exists only in the folio editions.

About the SL Shakespeare Company

The SL Shakespeare Company (SLSC) is a resident-funded and resident-supported professional theatre company that embraces the best of what Second Life (SL) has to offer. While it is primarily known to provide quality live Shakespearean theatre available to anyone in anywhere in the world, SLSC is also the curator of Second Life’s most historically accurate theatres and architecture relating to William Shakespeare.

About Koinup

Koinup is a media-based social networking platform geared specifically for virtual worlds. Koinup users submit and share photography and machinima to share their stories and art outside their virtual world. The Koinup website features many tools to help users present and syndicate their work, and is also a center for some of the most exciting photography contests in virtual worlds. Koinup currently helps share the following virtual worlds: Second Life, The Sims, World of Warcraft, IMVU, OpenSim, Lively, vSide, Kaneva, There, and Other Worlds.

Schadenfreude, hotshots!

What a striking contrast. If you look for keywords such as "financial", "bank" and "stock exchange", you now have a hard time finding many interesting results. Barely two years ago, a large number of "companies" were competing for a market of financial services and stock exchange listings.

I cannot resist schadenfreude (a German word that means "unexpected delight at somebody else's misfortunes") when seeing how most of the hotshots who drove that industry are gone from SL or at least quiet.

Let me say this up front: I do understand that the investors among you are disappointed with the many failures you witnessed and probably lost money in. And you are right. On the other hand, I am rather happy reality brought the "moguls" back to Earth.

I won't name names here but there was a time when I got in touch with a few of them. With one, I had a deal to display art for sale at his place. The whole time, the best attitude I saw was one of light arrogance instead of consideration as an equal human being.

Another one gave interviews to the SL media, telling them how he racked up millions of Linden dollars per month in revenue, but was crossed by the first guy mentioned above. Another one simply took his stock exchange and ran with it, without leaving anything to the people who trusted him.

Today, the rare players who are surviving, such as the Ancapistan Capital Exchange, have been serious and well-grounded.

While we shouldn't shed a tear for the people who cannot run ventures in SL anymore, it is sad that they took an industry down with them. When Linden Lab banned interest payments, any honest and conservative banking model went down with it. So did credibility of SL financiers when the World Stock Exchange vanished.

At the heart of the problem you find privacy. Of course, individuals who use SL need to be protected but for investment to be worth more than a leap of faith, real disclosure of information is needed. This is what many failed ventures used as a shield to take money without being accountable to the market. Real trust will be earned by those who disclose.

I leave the final word to the founder of Ginko, a "bank" that crumbled because of a bank run in 2007. His post on the ACE forums is delicious if you can read with a smirk.

SL In-World Transactions to be Taxed

As a result of the worsening financial condition of the world’s largest economy, a new tax is set to take effect April 1^st, 2009. The little known details of this new tax, now included in the high profile U.S. Stimulus Package, will be applied to all web-based commerce conducted through servers housed in the U.S. This reporter has now confirmed that, because in-world currency is transferable and convertible, SL is among several simulations whose in-world transactions will be affected.
President Obama’s $879 billion dollar stimulus plan, recently passed by both houses of the U.S. Congress, contains a number of tax increases found in the low-profile “Proposed Stimulus Funding Mechanisms” section of the bill. Included among these tax increases is a 16.75% sales tax on all transactions conducted in-world beginning April 1^st, 2009. The provision, proposed by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Electronic Industry and Security, has garnered little attention to date, as these taxes amount to less than one-half of one percent of the total funding provisions in the package.
A representative of the administration, speaking on condition of anonymity has confirmed that in-world transaction will be affected and were purposefully targeted given large amount of SL transactions and the obvious revenue potential for the U.S. government.

“Given the fact that sims such as yours, are totally recreational and so can be construed as a ‘luxury’ purchase by those fortunate enough to have disposable income, it was reasonable to target these transactions. This is completely in keeping with President Obama’s stated mission of wealth redistribution.”

“The disparity in our world today between those that have the financial means to participate in online recreational games such as SL, and those who are less fortunate due to no fault of their own is glaring and shameful,” the source continued.

In addition to generating an additional and as yet untapped funding source for this package, this initiative also changes the strategy of the current U.S. administration’s position from creating an environment of encouraging economic fairness, to legislating it. However, reactions from SL residents who have been interviewed have been noticeably sanguine. Here are some comments from SL residents:

“I think it’s time for this kind of thing, I mean I’m not really rich in my mind, but I suppose for someone who’s unemployed and got 8 kids to feed and buy stuff for and only gets welfare, I probably am rich to them. It’s not really their fault, and I can afford it, so I suppose that’s fair.”

“I don’t really like it – but if it means more people will be able to live more comfortably and maybe even be able to buy a computer to enjoy what we do in here, then I’m OK with that.”

“I don’t live in the U.S., but I support it because it’s not fair that so many Americans have so much and can afford to buy stuff here in SL, while others don’t even have a nice house or flat screen television of their own. The rich have too much and if you have the money to buy stuff in here for fun, then in my book, you’re rich. Maybe 17% isn’t enough!”

Judging by the handful of reactions so far, it appears that SL residents will be willing participants in the U.S. administrations new initiative to achieve economic parity through the redistribution of wealth, be it real or virtual.

"Would that he had been able to endure prosperity with greater self-control and adversity with more fortitude!" C. Asinius Pollio

Submitted by FoxM Ember

The Greatest Love hunt starts TODAY!

The greatest love hunt is approximately 200 designers coming together to give you samples of what they make - JOIN IN TODAY!
You can find a group joiner outside my main store HERE plus a poster with the starting landmarks outside

No Limits!

Where did we end up this time? Click the image to find out