The End of a Sim, But Not a Community

By Bixyl Shuftan

It was March 21st when I got the news. Dreamers Cove was gone, and with it my old home, Woodlin. The other sim in the area had vanished a couple weeks before.

Woodlin was created almost a year ago, and when I first saw it in Summer 2008, it was mostly the form I had known it. Dreamers Cove was the main of the two sims in Woodlin. Most of the residents lived there, either in treehouses or apartments built onto the larger trees that stood a few hundred meters high. There was also a shopping mall where people could get new clothes, accessories, avatars, etc. Dreamers was also where the Margaritavile beach club was located. The sim also boasted a movie theater (for a time, people could see movies in their own homes as well). All was built in a sim with a natural look to it, where one could explore the trees, hills, and streams, occasionally finding some hidden caves. The largest one was a temple where one could meditate.

Hopeful Shores was the second sim of Woodlin, only occasionally ever have anyone living there, and fewer trees. But it had two good clubs. 6th Circle was the hell-club there, inspired by another one that had gone out of business. Later on came Star Tails, the highly-colorful space club that regularly hosted parties to the end. Late in 2008, a space station was built and Star Tails attached to it.

The Woodlin area was built and managed until recently by Dax Loon. Staticminded Waco became co-manager in January, and full manager in February.

I made a number of friends there. There was Bubbles, whose lighthearted manner and “bubbly” friendliness were always a cheery sight. There was Aiko, whom was a bit of a prankster, but always wanting everyone to have fun. There was Maria, whom was often seen with Aiko and her “partner in crime" in mischief, though the more I knew her the more I saw of her sweet and tender side. There was Mega, whom liked firing her guns and causing explosions (away from peoples’ houses). There was Miki, the self-described “lil imp,” whom was known for her line of clothes and webcomic. There was Galvanized, whose “movie voice” made him popular with others and one of the best DJs. There was Rory, who proved to be a great event organizer and club owner. There was Aiko’s partner Foxy, whom also made a name for himself DJing. There was Isegrim, the “big but not so bad” wolf as I called him, whom was known for eyeing the ladies, but so big-hearted none of the girls minded. There was Jessica, whom was a bit of a tease. There was Danikia, whom was an up and coming DJ this year. There was Ekedo, the quirky little DJ whom is best described as young at heart. And there are many others whom I lack the time to mention.

The times we had. Where to begin? We saw movies together, laughing at humor and cheering at the action. We played games of Una in the space station’s lounge, cracking jokes over voice and laughing harder than we had in weeks. And of course all the parties we had, and not just in the clubs. We would have a dance party out on the deck of one of the apartment trees. This included a few beach parties with the landlady dancing around in a bikini and guitar.

Although this may be the end of the Dreamers sim, it is not the end of the community that for months called it their home in Second Life. Foxy acquired another sim: Foxworthy, also known as Willow’s Thicket. Running the location with help from Aiko, he has offered a number of houses for rent, some housing other old neighbors of his. With the close of Dreamers Cove, he plans to eventually offer more residential places for them. In the meantime, the residents of Willows are continuing to keep in touch with old friends.

The land may be gone, but the happy memories remain, and friendships forged over time between neighbors in SL continue.

Bixyl Shuftan

Virtual Ability Island Expansion

By Nazz Lane

In August of 2008 I wrote an article for this newspaper on the opening of a new SIM, Virtual Ability Island. I’d met and interviewed Gentle Heron, founder and president of Virtual Ability Inc. (VAI), a RL 501(c) 3 Corporation. Since then the VAI presence in SL has expanded. The first change occurred in November, when VAI partnered with Cap Able, a leading community that supports the hearing impaired. In the partnership, VAI became the owner of the Cape Able SIM and has plans to develop it to further enhance their capability in meeting its mission of providing an “orientation and training center for people with disabilities and chronic illnesses”. A second expansion came about when it was announced that VAI would become one of the Community Gateway choices available to all new residents who sign up for SL with Linden Lab.

I caught up with Ms Heron recently. We met in her skybox office, several hundred meters above the orientation center on the VAI SIM. We exchanged pleasantries while I waited for things to rezz. When they did, I took a seat across from Gentle and we began the interview.

Nazz Lane: It seems that SL is rather slow today.

Gentle Heron: We had a whole bunch of new arrivals come in for the Stepping into Science Conference, which slows things down.

Nazz Lane: I had just read a press announcement about Virtual Ability becoming one of the Community Gateway choices. I thought you had one of the best orientation programs around ... congratulations Gentle. How’s it going?

Gentle Heron: Yes, since January 26^th, still a few kinks to work out. We used a research-based approach, with community development input in developing our orientation. It makes it a bit slower, but we like our results.

Nazz Lane: I also saw information about the partnership with Cape Able, was it a partnership or an acquisition?

Gentle Heron: It was an acquisition, as we announced it in November. They were an existing community for D/deaf and hard of hearing people. They were very socially isolated and by acquiring them, we can integrate them into SL society, which after all is a major goal of the Virtual Ability group.

Nazz Lane: How did the acquisition come about?

Gentle Heron: Interestingly Treasure Ballinger approached us. The former owner had a RL health crisis and couldn't continue. Treasure knew of our group and came over for a chat.

Nazz Lane: How long did it take to work out the details?

Gentle Heron: Less than a month. We had to move fast or they would have lost the SIM.

Nazz Lane: Is the integration complete?

Gentle Heron: Yes, it is. It was a residential SIM and we kept the estate manager, Treasure Ballinger. She now is a member of the Virtual Ability, Inc. RL Board. She is in charge of the rental property on Cape Able. But there are two other facilities there of interest, one is a Service Center with tons of resources both for the D/deaf community and the community of the disabled in general. The other is an art gallery run by an RL art curator, Nicolo Anthony. The gallery features works by deaf and other disabled artists. It will reopen the SIM in February with a Grand Opening celebration, featuring two SL artists. The opening will take place on Feb 22nd from 2-6 pm SLT,

Nazz Lane: So the transition has gone well?

Gentle Heron: Folks from the Cape Able community have begun to come to Virtual Ability social events, and mingle, and our folks have gone to their events, and a few have moved over to Cape Able. So it's working well. Treasure is going to make a presentation to our folks about speaking with someone whose native language is ASL not English, the words are similar, but the grammar isn't and sometimes people who speak ASL are taken for stupid by those who don't understand but they truly speak a different language. Treasure's presentation on ASL will also be given at the Dreams Community Fair in February. We always participate in that, it’s a great way to support the community at large.

Nazz Lane: ASL is the American Sign Language?

Gentle Heron: Yes, but typed out instead of signing. There is a display about the grammar differences in the Service Center.

Nazz Lane: So now with two SIMs ... and with this being one of the communities of choice for new avatars ... what else is in the plans for VAI?

Gentle Heron: Oh my, well we've been working with the SecondAbility Mentors group. They serve as helpers for our newcomers. There are bells along the newcomer orientation trail that anyone can ring for assistance and that sends a message to any SAM wearing their HUD the first SAM to respond then is given the SLURL and can TP directly to the person needing assistance. Those bells are now used at the Autism Society of America here in SL, and at the London SIMs. We had a volunteer scripter who created the bell/HUD system. What else we are doing is providing a wiki of resources in SL that the SAMs can use to refer people to for additional specialized assistance.

There is a continuing supply of new free accounts in Second Life each expecting exciting new adventures. Which they will surely get, but how do they emulate the older residents with their cool clothes, beautiful hair, bodies and skins? Of course there are the ubiquitous freebies, hundreds of outlets and thousands of products, so many of them repeated in each yard sale or freebie mall and they soon find that everybody else has got the same hair, skirt or jeans. “You can spot a Newbie a mile off” with the plastic hair and unrealistic face.

Apparently there a three questions that new accounts ask: 1. How do I get money?

2. How do I get a job? 3. Where do I go for sex? There may be others but these are the favourites.

Well it would appear logical that if question 2 were answered, question 1 would be answered and there would be no need for begging. Problem solved! Ah, but how do you get a job? There’s the rub. So, I went looking for jobs.

Well camping seemed to be thought of as a job, so I had a go. There are different levels of activity in camping. Your avatar can do nothing, scrub the floor or clean the windows for, say, L$2 for 50 minutes. One camper I saw had achieved a level of over 1000 minutes. They must have left their computer on continuously for over 17 hours(I wonder how much that cost?). You can work in nightclubs as escorts, dancers or bouncers. These jobs apparently pay quite well. There are higher levels of pay but some I would rather not discuss how they are earned.

So, you can earn money by doing a “proper” job. So why beg, at all? I can only think it’s because it’s the first “real life” thing you learn in Second Life. Even before you register, you’re told about begging. It’s also naughty, therefore fun! Also it’s not REAL work.

But there are enough residents in Second Life who get upset about begging and believe that something ought to be done about it, for it to be taken seriously by “The Authorities”.

“Ban them “, I am told. “Kick them about a bit and THEN ban them” Phew; strong feelings! “How do they know that begging is wrong?” I ask “Common sense”, “It’s obvious”, “Of course, they should know, “everybody knows it’s wrong” come the replies.

There are two sides to this argument, The “Newbies” and their helpers. On the one side and those of us who are settled in and living and working in a real world, on the other. So, what can be done about it? I asked some residents... Without exception, they were strongly opposed to it and suggested strong action against it, from the residents and from Linden Lab, themselves. It is believed that beggars will go to dozens of groups with the same message and some residents respond by paying the L$1 required. Apparently this can mount up to enough money to buy a shape or a skin. A big prize; indeed.

There does seem to be a problem, but it is on one side, apparently. There is a great divide between “Newbies” and long-term settled residents, with homes and work or jobs and a history in Second Life. So where does the solution come from?

People will soon learn the etiquette of Second life and find work or dip into their RL pockets to fund their lives here, or leave. Very many have done that. There are job agencies in SL, there are valuable skills to be learned which will earn a good income, once mastered. For the individual who started off begging, then learned trade or started a business, found his or her funding, the problem is over. But a new wave join up and it starts all over again.

So, it is an SL-wide problem and will never go away unless tackled on that scale. Banning it, punishing the perpetrators as criminals, as some have suggested, is too totalitarian and leaving it to the offended resident to complain and ban or mute the offending party is too lax. Perhaps more emphasis should be put on teaching Second Life etiquette on the Help Island, making sure that the newcomers REALLY know not to beg and what to do so that they don’t need to beg. Also a more concerted effort in creating and finding jobs and opportunities for new residents and bringing it to their attention.

There ARE agencies out there but they are competing with each other and most offer very little. Several I have seen have huge walls covered with empty posters with a scattered few announcing camping or FREE MONEY. It is hardly enough to meet the reportedly huge demand from the daily influx of “Newbies”.

Perhaps there should be a Grid-wide network of Job Centres, financed and monitored by Linden Lab, sharing work and training information, to ensure that everyone, wherever they arrive or live in Second life has access to them. Or is that too much like Big Brother, too much like Real Life? Maybe begging is just something we can decide to accept or do something about, on an individual basis Second life is like that, isn’t ?

Kim Trefusis

Looking Back at the STA

It’s been a year since my old hangout, the STA, faded away from Second Life. But it is still remembered.

My story there began at Luskwood, my first hangout, in August 2007. It was just weeks after by long newbie period could be called over. One day there, I met a lively lady named Kara. She and I became friends, and looked forward to seeing one another. A few days later, she invited me to TP over where she was. So I did, and found myself in a circle of cafe tables & chairs, with two guys with her. She introduced them as Blarion and Keli. She called the place the STA.

Little did I know how big a part of our experience in SL this little place would be.

The STA area, short for Student Travel Association, was bought by the agency for the purpose of attracting people to their website to purchase travel tickets. It was made up of two sims. the east one held the main STA building. It was like that of a fancy travel agency, showing pictures advertising the benefits and joys of traveling abroad. The west one, Orientation Island, was the one my friends and I usually hung around.

The STA was run by two people. GlobetrekkerBob Lane was the official manager of the sim. But a great deal of the work was done by assistant manager Euranna Rossini, or Anna as we called her. We would occasionally run across them near the walkway, where they would talk about an unusual happening, or perhaps a story. GlobetrekkerBob for instance had done quite a bit of world traveling earlier in his life, and would occasionally tell a story from those days. At parties, Anna would always show up. Bob usually did.

They didn’t run things by themselves. They had the help of a small number of volunteers, such as Aellyn, August, Stormshadow, Gemini, Maccy, Sparklin Indigo, Ivana, Rashed, and others. My friends also helped a little, myself offering help to newcomers, so Bob considered us members of the STA group as well, though with no set hours. Blarion also became the DJ for the Monday night parties, with Keli as host. Blarion also got the use of one dorm, even though he wasn’t really a newcomer. Otis was another DJ with a rougher style.

The STA had a partnership with Sean Voss and Landmark Island. The organizer of the Second Life Tour Group had a link to the STA, and would send them notices about his tours. A number of people, myself included, belonged in both groups.

So we hung around there, getting used to the occasional nude newbie, “Ray Stevens music anyone?” I would dryly comment sometimes. Sometimes we would run into a new friend. Sometimes there would be a crazy situation, such as a completely random shapeshifter. Kara changed from a catgirl to a huskygirl a few weeks after I first came across the STA, Blair switched to a wolf avie. Keli was always a Kitsune at Orientation island. Four others joined Kara’s band of friends, three men and a lady. The guys, two huskyboys and a blue raccoon, were Schism and two whom wished to be anonymous. The second huskygirl was Kara’s roommate Kana, whom had a greater mischievous streak than Kara.

Then I got my job at the newspaper, and the place became a favorite spot to take pictures for cartoons. My friends also gave me a few ideas for articles.

The high point of the STA was the “Wandering Art” Show. For three days, the dorms and sandbox gave way to picture art displays in the notrh, and sculpture in the south, with over thirty artists represented. This got the place some publicity, and the costume party was like being able to have some leftover Halloween fun. And in Christmas and New Year’s, the fun continued. At one point, Bob mentioned the Discovery Channel was interested in the sim, but I never did see the place on TV.

Then on January 25, 2008 came something no one expected. I logged on to get a message from Bob that the STA was gone. The company had decided the sim was not getting them an increase in sales, and so they pulled the plug. Those online at the time gathered for a few hours after the last-minute warning, and then the sim vanished. By the time I logged on, they had gathered at a friends beach, talking about what had happened, and about the sim. We were still in disbelief over it, and no one knew for sure what they were going to do next. Bob told a few stories, and stated he was going to take a few days off from Second Life before deciding his next move.

Others expressed their sadness at the STA’s passing. The Shade dance club made plans for a newcomer orientation place on their land. Sean Voss invited us to use his Landmark Island as a hangout, and of course his weekly tours continued. But instead we went in different directions. I followed Kara and friends to hanging out at a sandbox with a “treehouse” building. But a few weeks after the STA closing, Kara told everyone goodbye, saying she was going on a long hiatus. And with her gone, it just wasn’t the same happy little group it once was, and we met less and less. Blarion DJed for a while, but gave it up to concentrate on college.

I never did see Bob again. Anna told me he had come back online once, but mentioned nothing about future plans. Sparklin Indigo soon created a club, Sparks Ignite. It did good for some months, but real life stepped in, and she had to abandon it. Otis found other places to DJ. Euranna Rossini was the most successful, starting up a virtual flower shop: Gairdin na Sidhe. One can still go there to get flowers.

Many old friends from the STA I seldom ran into any more, or never saw again. Then when some friends talked about having a rezzday party for Blarion in June 2008, so many people from the STA were invited, it turned out to be much like a reunion. Some like Otis I hadn’t seen since the STA closed, and would not see again for a while. It was a happy time, and even though the location was different, it felt a little like the old STA had come back for a little while.

A year later, we’ve more or less gone our own ways, some of us keeping occasional tabs with one another. But we’ve never forgotten our old home in Second Life. It may be gone, but the memories of good times and friendships remain.

Bixyl Shuftan.

Woodlin Restored

The Dreamer’s Cove sim is back to normal, at least in appearance. But the rumors may take longer to deal with.

The attack had been launched Friday night. Someone had hacked Dax Loon’s account, made an announcement the “Playtime” group was ending, then ejected everyone from it and began deleting everything in the sim. Friends could not find her on their lists: the hacker had erased them from hers. The officers online at the time couldn’t stop the hacker as they found themselves banned from the sim. The hacker also made grossly obscene insults in conference chats in every group Dax was in. One friend called it the worst assault he had heard of in Second Life.

Fortunately for Dax, her friends in those groups worked to spread the word this was not her. Chase Vesperia told me, “just be glad Mako (Minogue) was on SL, else Dax's username might be under permeant suspension right now. Hacked accounts are usually placed on all out suspension till ownership’s determined, which since Dax is in Japan would take two months or so on average.” The hacker had intended to destroy her reputation and the community she had built.

Staticminded Waco sent a request to Linden Labs for a “rollback” to restore Dreamer's Cove to the way it was. It was granted a few hours later. One friend of mine outside the group I talked to on the matter, Foxyfurman Kumaki, commented to me that no matter what people might say about the Lindens, when it comes to technical matters, they stood superb. People logged in to find the sim restored, even the items that had been compressed into “balls” and thrown in their Lost & Found were back in place.

Dax Loon eventually came back on Saturday evening, badly shaken by what had happened. That this kind of profanity was linked to her was a lot to bear. She later had to go to a clinic. By this time, only a fraction of the “Playtime” group had rejoined. It was opinionated that whoever did this deserved far more than a simple banning, but there were grounds for a lawsuit.

Woodlin is back, but the cleanup continues.

Bixyl Shuftan

Wiped Out

I was writing a column about my old hangout, the STA, which vanished a year ago, when I got word about something happening in my current SL home Woodlin. So I logged in to my apartment’s location in Dreamer’s Cove ...

And it was gone.

Nothing left but the green landscape.

Talking with others, it seems someone hacked the account of the owner, Dax Loon. One witness to the chat told me it was obvious from the pornographic insults that it wasn’t her, “whoever did this ... that’s one sick individual.” At least one resident was banned from Dreamers. Everyone was ejected from the sim group and her friend list. We still have no idea who would do this and why, some griefers in SL wrecking destruction simply because they can. Details are still coming in.

People are still logging in, wondering what happened, and those who know, explaining. Dax Loon still has yet to log on.

So what happens next?

Time will tell.

Bixyl Shuftan

Life's Too Short...

The first column of a new year is always the most difficult to write. Somehow the nature of all that “road ahead” nonsense provokes us to preach. Or wag fingers at ourselves and others. Or turn over new leaves as if last years' lives were just so much compost. The upheaval at the bar hasn't helped; all of us forced to sup our morning caffeine 90 degrees to the left. “I dunno, Mags. That title worries me a bit. You don't usually resort to gutter language to make your point.”

“I know, I know. But this time I felt more like the 'gutter' came to me. Searched for a better word, but there just wasn't one. What the heck. I'm going with it. People say 'Life's too short' but do they really do anything about it? Do they back up their hard drives? Do they wad up their To-Do Lists and begin anew? “

“Do they organize their inventories, purge their trash, and clean up their caches? Are they kinder? Soberer? More loving and giving? Always wearing underwear?” My latte companions cast an eye downward and blushed a bit.

“Sorry, Fellows”, I muttered. “I truly am working on being more culturally aware in 2009.” We studied the photo I was determined to use to illustrate my intent to act on All-Things-New. The cups and pints were raised. The vote was in. And now it is yours for inspiration – along with our profound wishes that you move Heaven and Earth in all your lives. Why? Cuz...
by Magdeleine "Mags" Rossini

Reader Submission - I was thinking of getting an Island...............

Hi to those interested to know.

In around December 2006. I was playing Slingo and after I put my coin in a person come upon me to "watch" me play. It was "her" (a guy in RL and it don't matter). She observed me playing and had a friendly chat.. which befriended me. Finding out what I do in SL at that time was the "casino thing" if I may say.

And later on in around January of 2007 as I was going back once in a while to this persons Slingo she would talk to me. Asking me what's up and or what's on my mind. During one of our conversations. I mentioned I was thinking of getting an Island. AN ISLAND?

Yes. And this person was so excited to ask me if it was possible if we could be island partners in "ownership". I said I would do some research and think of it.

Well we had all our "gentleman's agreement" to purchase an island and go in on it 50/50 FIFTY/FIFTY. And we knew there could only be one name on the lease per se. We flipped for who would be that person. And the other would be able to name the island. I got to name the island. I named it Avaron. I wanted just each to have a 4096 and "rent out" the 14 other 4096's. so that we can and or could grow. But my partner just did not want to split me a 4096. He/She wanted to each to have equal of three 4096 size lots. and rent out the remaining ten lots. And that would be enough to cover our tier. I went along with it.
By July as we all know the banning that took place. So my partner then cut me a slice of the island and removed me from her section. As my business was a benefit of my traffic that I could attract. In previous rented land. And my partner knew that I drew people for the games and events I held. And since the business of gaming was basically gone. My partner pushed me to the corner of the sim..and become incommunicable. Degrading my status to nothing. This was for about 6 weeks. And then finally of all my partner returned my items from the Island. I asked to communicate with my partner from Skype as we always have previously. My partner said that she/ "he" had nothing to say to me. And after several attempts to communicate with my partner I was banned from the island that I had initially wanted - the Island I named. The island that I thought we was really partners with.

I have filed numerous complaints with LL about this in game and to various people. But have never had a resolve to the matter. And by January of this year of 2008. I got tired and fed up with it, and took a break. I felt I was ripped off. I felt I was defrauded. And now I find out from reliable sources. that the person had pre planned to defraud me of my 1/2 of the island we purchased together. you know $800 x 2 people = 1600 the cost of the island at that time in 2007. (in other words it took funds of 2 people to buy a server for SL).

My so called partner won't respond. My former partner tried to destroy any tie with me. Even the group that was assigned to the island. Designs unlimited members was being removed except for me. As I was listed as OWNER along the side of my so called partner. I salvaged that by adding some friends of mine that was not in the group. Just to salvage any evidence we had some connection together. I have all the conversation from SKYPE when my partner was unable to use the microphone. Which point out that we were forming a partnership prior to the island being brought on. I have a payment receipt from paypal so stating the reason I was sending my partner 800.00 USD was for the island. So..where am I wrong? by partnering with a thief ?

To make things worse I was seeing I was getting railroaded by this partner. I tried to sell out my side of the island. And that idea was even stopped by this partner. So i got a double screwing! And yet i have tried many times to contact LL even by phone call and was hung up.

what is a person to do in this situation? Take it lightly and let the bully partner get away with it? I think not..and not in this day and age.

Thank you for listening.

Inyur Orbit

Second Life Residents Participate in a Health Care Community Discussion.....Continued

I arrived at the café minutes prior to the 7:00 PM PST start time to find several people already there, including the award winning Machinama Creator and journalist Draxtor Despres who was there to film the meeting. Ms Vita, stylishly attired in a grey skirted business suit, sat on a stool on stage where she exchanged greetings with early arrivals and those that were soon to arrive. Shortly after the scheduled start time, she opened the session by asking everyone to introduce themselves and to say why they were there. The conversation occurred primarily in spatial voice along with text chat. Ms Vita, with the able assistance of Perplexity Peccable who transcribed voice into text chat and Cotton Thorne who gave voice to text chat, served as the moderator for the discussion.

The range of attendees is broad based, from first life health care givers to those who have or are actively engaged in receiving care for either themselves or loved ones in real life and those who were there simply because they are concerned and interested in the issue. Each are active and engaged residents of second life. Avatars such as Gentle Heron, president of Virtual Ability, Inc, or Jonah Zenovka Founder of Twilight's Peace an interfaith group and Perplexity Peccable, founder of SLHealthy and Healthcare Education in SL who is a medical librarian in her first life. All had a common desire, to have their voices heard, recorded and presented to the incoming administration.

"Our goal here is to discuss the questions provided by the transition team and draft a submission based on our findings and conclusions which I will submit to the Health Policy team. The questions were sent to you all via email but I have them here in-world on a slide show for easy reference." Vita said as the introductions were completed. She then added. "I really want to encourage everyone's active participation in this process. Although we will strive to find common ground, if our consensus is that there is a lack of consensus we will submit that as part of our findings. I encourage you all to a healthy and respectful debate on this complex issue. Let your voice be heard. This is your forum."

"We will review the questions one at a time and discuss each one. The decision on whether to focus our submission on all questions or focus on a specific area is ours to make. I would suggest that we get through the questions and decide at that time which, if any, area provided material we want to focus on for our submission. We'll decide that with a group vote. After the discussion questions and our vote, I'll ask you to create a note card with your avatar name, your RL name if you choose to disclose it and your answers to the survey questions. There are slides prepared with the questions for your reference. As your moderator for the evening, I will not actively participate in the debate. My role is to keep the discussion moving and I may on occasion ask that we move on to the next person or topic." She said and then asked the attendees if there were any questions.

No questions were asked so the process began and the seven questions were presented beginning with the first, which asked session attendees to state, "Briefly, from your own experience, what do you perceive is the biggest problem in the health system?"

It began and continued for the next two hours, an event that was being replicated in many places of the United States. Only this one occurred in a virtual world. And they were engaged, these avatars, engaged and passionate, and ably facilitated by Ms Vita who deftly drew each into a productive discourse. It was a remarkable process to observe this virtual meeting. A meeting where attendee's could not see each other, only the virtual representations of themselves, avatars engaged in a civil and open discourse on an issue that has perplexed and vexed the United States for many years now. At the session conclusion, note cards were distributed for participants in gathering additional responses for the final report. The dialog complete all were invited to the front of the café for a group photograph.

In a post script to the session, Siri informed me that Draxtor Despres and Nonny Writer were working on a documentary of the meeting and it would be completed in early January. She also said that Drax had spoken to "Globalvision"in New York. They had contacted him and wanted to interview us regarding this project for a real life documentary on President-Elect Obama's administration grassroots organizer efforts. She then added, "It's an awesome opportunity to get the word out about the power of second life"

By Nazz Lane

The Not So Tranquil Writer - So Go The Days Of Our Lives...sigh

All writerly struggles should be lessened with a good cup of latte and some serious thought. Or so I believed. Someone obviously slipped this writer too much decaf as my “Away” face had been kissing the table top all week long. I researched what other revered humor writers had said about the Winter holidays hoping to find some inspiration. Erma yearned to be a child again , Dave Barry offered a hysterical story about two old men and an owl . Hours passed and I became totally convinced that no one, save for Dennis Miller, had a light-hearted word to say about the holidays. “Santa is very jolly because he knows where all the bad girls live.” Thanks, Dennis.

Why the church bells in my brain should start ringing at the very moment a new face should arrive at the bar we will never know. Providential, I tell you. Jesss and I introduced ourselves and chatted amicably while scrutinizing the others' profiles.

“Ah,” I said. “I see you have discovered the more (ahem) erotic side of SL.” All the while I was wondering how Santa knew to stick a bad girl in my stocking.

“Oh that,” she replied. “I really should clean up my profile. No place really to put the past.”

Slipping immediately into my Value-Added Avatar role, I plied her with question after question about then, now, and tomorrow. She was an amazingly beautiful and poised woman – quite confident and candid about her enjoyment of the intimacies available inworld, and to what extent she availed herself thereupon and therein. Her story was rich, respectful, and intriguing. So much so I found myself sharing confidences I would have never divulged to anyone else. Her “past” had made it so, and did not deserve to be lost.

Thus I shall be preparing my New Year Proposal to Linden Labs to add the Past Life Tab to our profiles as soon as possible. And certainly as the dawn of 2009 approaches, I resolve to jolly well have a fascinating one!

So, on that note, for a good time call Mags....

The NOT SO Tranquil Writer - They Will Love Ur Longer Pole!

Today's column is a bit on the shorter side. With the Winter Solstice rapidly approaching, it seemed fitting to forego wordiness -- particularly for Northern Hemisphere readers all bundled up in muffs and blankets. Solstice is celebrated in a variety of exciting ways around the globe. In fact at one point in history, celebrations got so rowdy the Roman Empire just plopped Christmas over top of it on the calendar to restore order. Fine with me. Go Romans! All the more to celebrate.

"They Will Frolic Around Your Burning Log"

Your Yule one, that is. Set aflame with the remains from the previous year's log, it creates a sense of "that's okay, I'll keep you warm," for those with the shorter pole.
Although no one can argue that the Germanic peoples have the best drinking games, my particular Wintertime favorites are the thirteen Yule Lads from Iceland. Number 9, Bjúgnakrækir, prevails during the traditional Solstice and Christmas period December 20 - January 3. He lurks in the attic until you are sleeping. Then he snatches your smoking sausage. No doubt that will lead to The Epiphany!

"Give Her A Gift That Is As Long As Your Arm!"

Whatever we celebrate...and however we celebrate it, a common thread exists. It is a time of hope, renewal, protective, peaceful intentions, great merriment, and of course, gifting. Rich or poor, often our greatest gift to each other is simply to offer the other arm.

Happy Holidays, All. Oh! And to you Southern Hemisphere folks who have been on some strange berry diet for the last few weeks: we hate you in your bikinis. But just remember, we'll see you again on the flip side.

by Mags,

The (Not So) Tranquil Writer #3 - "Oh, Horse Yang!

Oh, Horse Yang!

I usually start my morning with a steamy latte, ponder the global, national, and local news, read some good blog material, and cap it off with a detailed study of my horoscope -- from two trust sources – so I'll know how to adjust my perspective to all that news. Lately I have felt, well, conflicted. This morning, the epiphany descended. In RL I am a Cancer. But in SL...I am, of all things, a Pisces!

“That's it!” I exclaimed out loud to no one, realizing immediately that I needed to mull both facets of my astrological influences. Not as easy as it sounds. According to the standard Tropical astrology crew, I really should get along quite well with myself. Cancerians, being of the “I Feel” ilk, pair well with Pisceans on the “I Believe” track. All touchy-feely watery people. Both oozing with empathy and sympathy; likely to be carrying tissues, aspirins, fairy dust, and calming teas to accommodate and soothe a variety of savage beasts. No conflict there.

Epiphany Two! What about my Vedic signs? After all, I couldn't rely on Ptolemy as the absolute authority to guide me on my morning quests. Using the sidereal approach, I discovered that the RL me is a Gemini. My SL me? Aquarius! The confluence of those signs can only be described as “Head Girl On 'Roids”. RL Me yelling, “I Think”. SL me screaming back, “I Know”.

The hairs on the back of my neck prickled. Jaw set, I knew the dawn of understanding approached. Some combination of “I think I know” and “I feel I believe” or “I know I believe” and “I think I feel.” Clear as mud.

Determined to leave no stone unturned, I plunged deeper. Bring in the Chinese, please. Ahh, beginning to make a bit more sense. As a Tropical Sheep-Rabbit I reveled in the delightful woolliness of my birth rights in both worlds. Soft, warm, Yin-Yin-ish – albeit a bit aimless at times.

Sidereally speaking, though, it appears I entered the world as a Tiger-Horse, 100% Yang, and probably determined to either eat or trample my Sheep-Rabbit self. I quickly reached for some comfort within the Trines. One of me was born in the year of the Ox, the other in the year of the Pig. Result: All is lost unless I partner with someone in both worlds from the year of the Dog.

The sun has finally set – the world spinning swimmingly through yet another day and me without a definitive answer on how to feel about it. Not to be undone by this, after headlines tomorrow, I shall invite the entire zoo inworld and we will settle all of this via a robust competition of Rock-Paper-Scissors.

Author's Note: Thank you to Stellata Primrose for submitting the L$1,000 winning words and punctuation used in today's column.

Mags

Will PutOutOrGetOut Oswobodowskystein Please Report To The BlehW00t Nfo Firedesk?

There are a scant few times in our lives when we can easily re-christen ourselves. Over the course of years, I have sat with many a wigged out parent who have dropped children on my doorstep wearing their “Do Not Return To Sender” T-shirts. I quickly reassure the children that we always have plenty of porridge. And I take a moment at the door to ask Mum and Dad to glance back one last time and remember the day they chose a name for their Blessed Bundle. Frequently reconnecting oatmeal-hating children and teary-eyed parents is accomplished in short order.

Then they grow up. All of them. And they can choose their Own Names, thank you.

Most readers know I sit in OChills Bar & Grill drinking latte all day. Chatting with the various visitors and pondering where their minds must have been as they were “born” into SL. Think back now. Wasn't easy was it? Picking a name that would chase you through all time and eternity. Establishing your own unique sobriquet – either to reveal or conceal the Old You. Quite a bit like vanity plates for your auto.

“So what,” you say. “I can always dump the Old New Me and get a Newer Improved Me, right?”

Wrong. All of a sudden you have Friends. You have non-transferable favorite pink sheep slippers and Big Hair of enormous nostalgic proportions.. Someone has given you a pet who will follow you devotedly to the grave. Your groups think you are cooler than Ice-T. You've bought a custom made George Clooney or Brittany Spears skin. Worst yet you may have grown rich and famous!

“Got the fix,” you counter. “I will add a Bright Yellow Text Tag Of Reason to my head explaining where said head was when I named myself!”

“Brilliant!” I say with my custom pixel brows aloft. My no-transfer latte extended Northward by my "Proust!" gesture.

The winning tag to date: “My former soul mate dragged me kicking and screaming into this crazy place and I just typed 'IBelong2Roxie' to please her. I really wanted to name myself after my dream car.” Fortunately we have good seating at the Bar for disclaimers taller than the average visitor.

Got a name like that? It's okay. C'mon over, grab some porridge and latte and I'll call your parents. Oh...and your kids too if you wish.
Mags

Woodlin: My Home Community in Second Life

Being a free player, owning land isn’t an option for me. Not that I felt the need for a home here for most of my time in SL. Some months ago, two friends of mine invited me to use a house of theirs rent free for a while. But for reasons beyond their control, the deal had to be called off. So it was back to calling my office my home. But as it turned out, not for long.

By a happy coincidence, I came across the Woodlin community. The scenery itself is impressive, with it’s tall trees with treehouse apartments and walkways. It’s possible to get around without flying in most places with the use of elevators and climbable ropes. There’s a shopping area for those looking for clothes or a new avatar, a community platform in the main apartment tree for dance parties or a soak in the hot tub, a couple steampunkish balloon & propellor craft for flying around in, a temple to meditate in, two clubs, 6th Circle and Star Tails, to party in, a theater to watch movies, and other things to do.

But what makes the place what it is, it would be the people there. I called it the Woodlin community, not just a sim, for a reason.

Woodlin was created by Dax Loon about eight months ago. A resident of SL who has had quite a colorful history over time, she created the place at Dreamers Cove as her image of an ideal place to live, later expanding it to Hopeful Shores, and kept rentals fairly low. A master builder whom a friend described as “oozing talent,” she is often working on new projects. But she will drop what she’s doing to show someone around.

But the sim is more than just one person. Megatherion Zenovka, a neko with a small arsenal of big weapons, is described by Dax as her “right hand” in the sim. There is Staticminded Waco, a self-proclaimed “dirty old dog” whom isn’t afraid to poke fun at himself in order to get a chuckle from his friends and once got the Star Tails club on a real-life club’s TV screen while doing DJ duty. There is Foxyfurman Kumaki, another DJ whom has put up some interesting variety of songs. There is Aiko, a fun-loving prankster. There is her “sister” Marai, a friendly sweet-voiced kitten whom is often her “partner in crime.” There is Galvenized Hammerer, a good friend of Dax and another notable DJ with a “dramatic commercial voice.” There is Evo Imako, Star Tails’ main DJ. There are Bubbles, Leon, Danika, Scratch, Rory, Jessica, and many others whom have helped make the place what it is. A place that finally got me to part with a bit of cash to help contribute to it’s going.

The majority of Woodlin’s residents are furred avatars. But Woodlin is not and will never be a “furry” community. Dax has stated over and over again the place is open to all, and it irritates her how some furs, nekos, and normal humans strictly stay within a “cliche.”

So if you’re in SL looking for a club to dance, a place to shop, or just want to look around some scenic views, come on over. And if you’re looking for a place for a home here in the metaverse, I doubt you’ll find a friendlier group of neighbors.

Bixyl Shuftan