Honorary Citizenship Bestowed

Close to Home

Ever since I was reached by the news about Avacar Bluestar's passing I have, privately, been hoping that he and his partner Rico had been more prudent than my Ars and I were.

It is after all so extremely easy to take precautions to help your partner in SecondLife in case something unforeseen should happen, even if one is young and in good health. Unfortunately we seem all to be living in a dream that nothing bad will ever happen or that there is no tomorrow and thereby leave our loved ones future in the - less than certain - good will of our inheritors in first life.

As the passing of Avacar hit very close to home for me and have brought all the uneasy memories from almost five years ago to life again, I have not been able to bring myself to contact Rico directly. Even if I am now very happy again and very much in love with my new partner Tomais, the memories of those awful hours, days, weeks, months and years after Ars death are with me still. In particular the period when I was afraid of losing the home we had over  period of more than two years built together on the Southern Charm sim.

Ars had just died and I was grieving deeply for him and less than two weeks afterwards I was struck with the realization that the sim was solely in Ars' name (to avoid EU VAT) and I did not know what to do to get the sim transferred to me. I was afraid to lose it all and with it all the memories of Ars.

I blogged about it - of course - as that was my way of venting and letting off steam. These are the links to my posts as the events unfolded. (If and when you read them, please try to remember I was not completely sane at the time and more self-involved than ever before or after.)

1. Trying to deal with reality - March 26th
2. Trying to deal with reality II (updated) - March 20th
3. Trying to deal with reality III (glimpse of hope) - April 2nd
4. Trying to deal with reality IV - April 13th
5. Trying to deal with reality V (The conclusion) - April 19th

I will never forget the kindness of Belinda Linden and a few others at Linden Lab when they guided me through the process, however I do believe think it would have gotten the happy ending it did had it not been for the kindness and compassion of the Wilson family.
---

I can wholeheartedly sympathize with the agony that Rico is going through at this time. The sims mean nothing to Avacar's first life family - except possibly a hateful reminder of the true nature of their son - while it to Rico is a living memory of the work the two of them did for many years to build a meeting place for the LGBT community in SecondLife.

Please @ebbealtberg, @LindenLab try to find a way to #DotheRightThingforAvacar and transfer the GFW-sims to Rico. pic.twitter.com/WFy7zoi4Qj
— Bock McMillan (@BockMcMillan) January 16, 2015

Congratulations, SecondLife!

Our wonderful immersive three dimensional virtual reality SecondLife is officially 10 years old today!

I would like to take this occasion to thank Philip Linden, in first life also known as Philip Rosedale, the founding father of our world, who first envisioned something far less complicated and more militant than the spectacular, wonderful and fabulous world we inhabit today.

Besides Philip there were other brilliant and fabulous geeks and nerds, those who first understood what he was rambling about and could assist him in creating the very first version of our world and then the later generations of amazing and lovable tech geeks and nerds at Linden Lab who kept on tweaking, adjusting and adding to the original version during the first marvelous ten years.

I love all of you adorable dorks, Philip Linden, Andrew Linden, Cory Linden, Frank Linden, James Linden, Doug Linden, Eric Linden, John Linden, Tessa Linden (who kept the first generation fueled with caffeine and dealt with matters so that the geeks and nerds wouldn't have to drop their work and do it) and all the other amazingly talented geeks and nerds and other wonderful people that followed, including Belinda Linden, Keira Linden and Theresa Linden. All of the amazing Lindens, with the single exception of that awful man M Linden, the s-o-b who downsized Linden Labs dramatically and so left us hanging with loads of untreated and unsolved issues for a long time.

You all and we made it through the first ten years, my darlings, now give us ten more wonderful years!

Support Ticket #01587329 X

Illustration from EPKhosting.com

During the past night I received two emails from my dear Theresa Linden.

The first one was sent at 00:31 CET (3:31 PM SLT).

"A comment has been added to your Case..

Case: 01587329
Avatar: Bock McMillan
Type: Other Inworld Issues
Status: Information Requested

Hi Bock,

You and I work well together as a team. I have to say, you are one of the most helpful SL cases I have ever come across! I only wish I could resolve this for you once and for all, but since I was not able to replicate this issue as your avatar inworld it is hard. I was thinking about having a developer look at this issue through a Jira case, but if like me if they can't replicate these issues, then I don't know how much more help we can be.

Is there any way to see if your ISP can run a check on your connection? Is there a friend's computer that can be tried to see if you are able to replicate the issues from that same connection, different computer?

Thanks Bock, let me know...

Theresa Linden
Second Life Support

To reply to this case, either Reply to this email, or visit : https://secondlife.com/my/support/?caseID=01587329

(To view the Case online, you will need to log into Secondlife.com with this Avatar: Bock McMillan)

The second one was sent at 02:18 CET (5.18 PM SLT).

"A comment has been added to your Case..

Case: 01587329
Avatar: Bock McMillan
Type: Other Inworld Issues
Status: Information Requested

Bock,

Good news! Someone filed a Jira on this issue today, and I have discovered now two other residents who have this issue now. You may not be able to see the Jira, but here it is: https://jira.secondlife.com/browse/BUG-1343. If you are not able to see or post to it, please let me know. This is what a developer had to say about this issue without having a bunch of details of the users specs:

Alexa Linden added a comment - 14/Jan/13 1:26 PM
The symptoms suggests this is related to packet loss in your network/internet connection: If you are on a wireless connection, try a wired connection to see if it solves your problem. Reduce/lower the bandwidth setting in Edit -> Preferences -> Network 

Could we try this last part and see what happens? Reduce/lower the bandwidth setting in Edit -> Preferences -> Network. If this does not help the situation, let me know, and we will need to update your info to this Jira. 

Thanks Bock,

Theresa Linden

To reply to this case, either Reply to this email, or visit : https://secondlife.com/my/support/?caseID=01587329

(To view the Case online, you will need to log into Secondlife.com with this Avatar: Bock McMillan)"

I sent this response to my dear friend Theresa when I had read her messages.

"Hello again Theresa,

I was not permitted to read the Jira or post to it. However Alexa Linden is an old acquaintance of mine. We have met on several occasions in-world and her first life husband with the SL name Taco Rubio is an old friend of mine. The three of us have usually met at the Swedish Lucia celebrations on December 13 at the Swedish Embassy in SL because Taco has been a member of the traditional pageant since its first time in SL. Unfortunately the pageant was cancelled 2012 and the Swedish Embassy was shut down on January 1st 2013 so 2011 was the last Lucia Pageant on the Swedish Embassy sim.

If you should happen to run into Alexa, please convey my greetings to both her and to my dear friend Taco.

I am hardwired and have my bandwidth set to 1500 on my SL-viewer at the moment. When I get in-world I will reduce it to 1000 and we shall see what happens. However, throughout the time when I have had these problems I have from time to time checked the performance thingy (the one under Lag Meter) and I have especially looked at the packet loss - I don´t know why really, maybe it was something someone told me - but I could never see that happening. All the same I will do as you ask me to and reduce to 1000 at first, and then try even lower bandwidth if that doesn´t help. I will tell you how it works out a.s.a.p.

On your questions in the previous email today I would like to say, that of course I could ask my ISP to run a check on my connection if I only knew what to ask them to check for. As far as trying on another computer, I will ask around and see if I can get to use a friends computer for an experiment. I will get back to you a.s.a.p. on this also.

From my point of view Theresa, you have been extremely helpful, kind and it has been a great pleasure to work with you. Then again I have always been exceptionally well treated whenever I have been in contact with customer support at Linden Lab. Alas the two I had most contact with Belinda Linden and Keira Linden have both left, Belinda during the terrible layoffs by M Linden and Keira later for unknown reasons.

Of course I hope we will - and still believe we can - resolve the problems I am having but even if we shouldn´t I am convinced that you have done everything possible from your end to sort it out and that they have nothing to do with the viewer or SecondLife itself. The rest will be up to me.

I hope to be able to get back to you soon, Theresa!

Bock"

Keira Linden, Where Are You?

Photography by CodeBastard Redgrave

I have a select few Lindens that I have always thought of as "my Lindens", the Linden Lab employees I would turn to if I ever ended up in serious troubles of some sort again in SecondLife.

The two on the top of the list were Belinda Linden and Keira Linden, both of them because of their helpful attitude when dealing with me at the time my Ars passed away. I was half-crazy and sometimes incoherent in my upset and worried state at the time, but they always remained calm, kind, considerate and supportive when helping me through my problems.

Belinda Linden was lost in the big purge that "the CEO who shall not be named, but who´s first name was M" brought about in June 2010 (30 % of the staff at Linden Lab was cut). As I was sending out my Holiday Greetings yesterday I wasn't able to find Keira in search, which set of all my alarms.

When I did a search on Google I came across her SecondLife profile which flatly said: "Former member of the Linden Support Team. Please visit https://support.secondlife.com for support assistance." This totally sucks!

If anyone who reads this knows Belinda Linden or Keira Linden and if any of them are still around in SecondLife (by some other name) or first life, would you please inform them that I would be ever so happy if they contacted me via e-mail lundamats@gmail.com.

Make sure they realize that I am not going to harass them in anyway, but that I just always want to maintain some kind of connection to people who have been good to me. Oh tell them also, even if they do not remember me I will always remember them!

Happy 8th Rezday, SecondLife!

Today June 23rd, 2011, SecondLife will officially be eight years old. Would you believe it?

This wonderful world of ours is only eight years old and the celebrations have already started and will be going on the whole week. For more information on what is happening please go to the SL8B-site.

I would like to congratulate Linden Lab and all who work there - and have worked there - since the start until now.

Happy Eighth Rezday, SecondLife!

I love you guys, all of you - with the possible exception of M Linden and the guy that I have blocked out from my memory who messed up my "not so flourishing" business on XStreet (these days better known as Marketplace).

I would also like to convey my gratitude to all Lindens and Ontynes - and whatever other surnames you may have - from the Chairman of the board over Customer Services to the errand boy on the third floor of the offices.

Special thanks with kisses and hugs go to my own very special Lindens,
Philip Linden - the man who shared his dream of another world with us and the sexiest Chairman of the board in both the first and second world,
Rodvik Linden - the man who will move us into the future safely and with awareness of that SecondLife is not just another game but a community and the coolest CEO known to man (even if he needs help in answering messages),
Alexa Linden - for her great kindness and good sense of humor and also for taking good care of a dear friend whom I alas usually only meet once a year,
Belinda Linden - for being warm, caring, competent and supportive towards a crazy Swede with legal problems,
Keira Linden -  for being kind, sweet, efficient and supportive in solving the crazy Swede´s technical problems and last, but in no way least,
Gareth Ontyne - for being calm, polite and efficient although the crazy Swede did not appreciate it at the time (Sorry Gareth!)

In Linden Lab I Trust

Well it seems I wrote my earlier post about being able to build again much too soon, because I wasn't able to build using the Phoenix or the Firestorm viewers this evening. I have uninstalled them both, I do not want viewers that I cannot work with and rely on.

I am now back to the Linden Lab viewers Snowglobe and Snowstorm. I did a quick test after downloading both and it seems they work for me!

Linden Lab has always been good to me, in every way possible, and now they came to my rescue again. I love you all, the people at Linden Lab, from Philip, Belinda (yes I know she is no longer at the lab, but to me she still represents the best spirit of the lab), Keira and to those I haven't met yet, with the possible exception of Rodvik. But thats only because Rodvik didn't answer my message to him on Facebook and I am sure he is a really nice guy too!

Happy Holidays

This terrible year is finally ending and the holiday season somehow always makes you think of the past year. There are so many I would just like to hold tight and whisper thank you to, for all the support and help they have offered me through this year.

I´ll try to make a list, but it will in no way be complete and I know it, so I´ll just focus in on the main characters - all the rest of you let me tell you straight, you kept me up and going also. I could not have done without any or all of you!

So here goes.

Deborah, Marie and Mr Wilson Sr, Ars real life family, for always keeping me informed about what was going on and keeping me in contact with Ars until the end and helping out every way they could after that.

Guyke Lundquist for remembering the good times and reminding me of them, for always, being there ready to weep, rant of laugh with me. Guykes husband Janttu Winkler for always being sweet and patient with us both.

Dejerrity Mycron and Jeb Nicholls, Ars SecondLife brothers, for always being there for me and getting things along when I could not deal with it myself.

Belinda Linden and Keira Linden, then employees at Linden Lab. who showed me great empathy, kind sympathy and gave me wonderful support in dealing with the problems that arose along the way.

Chade Dagger, Ronan Juran, Tim Mersereau and Hiroku and all the rest of the wonderful Hinterland group, for their support and for arranging the very first Memorial.at Saint Magnus Kirk

Millimina Salamander and Zigadena Gabardini, my dear friends, for patiently listening to me rant for hours and hours and hours, for weeping with me and for just always being there.

Tymus Tenk, Truck Meredith, Bora Rossini and Lucky Moody for creating a spot for me and the rest of Ars family and friends in real life and SecondLife to gather and to grieve together and for arranging the magnificent second Memorial Service

My real life family and friends, who were faced with a totally unexpected situation but took it in their stride and just showed me their love

My boss at work who forced me to go to the doctor with the threat of otherwise  leading me there by the hand, my coworkers for helping and supporting me

My doctor for understanding and helping me in my desperation

Ars friends and fans in SecondLife for their kind words and thoughts and consideration, my own friends for the same and for keeping me occupied when I needed it.

They say it takes a village to raise a child, looking at the list I just made I would say it takes a village to help out anyone of us when we need it. I hope to be there for you also when you need me!

I thank you all from the bottom of my heart and wish you all a really wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year.

Linden Lab Hears My Prayers

I read about it first on my friend Frostlands blog and then on The Second Life Blog (where P.J. Linden tells us about a lot of other interesting news and updates also).

My friends at Linden Lab have heard my prayers! Well everyone elses too, I guess, but I still choose to think of this as a personal favor to me from my friends at the lab.

We are getting 40 groups before the end of the year, yeaaaaaahawwww! OK, OK it´s just a trial and they may change it back but it will do for now...

Love ya right back Philip, P.J., Belinda and the rest of you Lindens!

Idag var det Ars RL födelsedag

Detta är den sista bilden jag hittar på Ars och mig tillsammans. Den är tagen lördagen den 6 februari 2010 på Elfay Pinkdots "Coffee and Pajamas Show"

Jag ägnade dagen åt att tänka på min Ars och de goda åren vi hade haft tillsammans. Dessutom köpte jag ÄNNU EN nalle till honom och lite blommor som jag ställde upp vid hans minnesmärke på simen.

Linden Lab gav mig en stor gåva idag också, på Ars födelsedag.

"Från: Linden Lab - Support [mailto:no-reply@secondlife.com]

Skickat: den 21 april 2010 01:10
Till: x@x.se
Ämne: Ticket #4051-7546025: Sent Final Resolution (Ramifications of SL partners passing)

We have solved your issue

Solution: Hello Bock,

I am so very sorry for your loss. I have completed the transfer of the region Southern Charm from Ars' account to your own. Regarding the objects on the region, even if Ars' account is disabled the objects he owned on that region will remain. We will not remove any of those objects if his account is disabled.

(...)

If there is anything more we can assist you with, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Regards,
Keira Linden"
........

Jag har ju, förutom vad som skulle hända med simen, också oroat mig för vad som skulle hända med alla de saker Ars hade rezzat på vår hemmasim, och just denna dag fick jag beskedet att de kommer att finnas kvar. Det känns nästan som om Ars jobbar för mig någonstans!

Jag vill nu passa på att tacka Belinda Linden och Keira Linden på Linden Lab för all deras vänlighet och tillmötesgående i den sak!

Samtidigt vill jag också tacka alla er andra - ingen nämnd och ingen glömd - för allt ert stöd och all er värme och omsorg under de senaste veckorna. Ni har varit fantastiska!!!

Dagen avslutades med att åka iväg till Egypt och rösta på Bara Jonson naturligtvis!

Trying to deal with reality V (The conclusion)

Från: Linden Lab - Support [mailto:no-reply@secondlife.com]
Skickat: den 19 april 2010 02:37
Till: x@x.se
Ämne: Ticket #4051-7546025: Customer Posted a Comment (Ramifications of SL partners passing)

Requested Information:
Hi Bock

Many apologies for the delay in responding to you.

We are pleased to advise we will proceed with transferring the ownership of this region to your account and you should hear from us within the next few days as that is completed.

If you have any further questions please feel free to add them to this ticket and we will respond as soon as we are able.

Best regards

Belinda

----

Yeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

Thank you so much, Belinda Linden´and Linden Lab! I am so happy and relieved I don´t know how to express it except in one way...

BIGGEST HUGS EVER!!!

Trying to deal with reality III (glimpse of hope)

After receiving the e-mail from Linden Lab on March 30th 2010 I reopened the ticket with this comment:

There is no will, thats the problem - or I would not have contacted them in the first place.

This is totally confusing!

I am asking Linden Lab to grant me the privilege of paying them 295 USD a month to keep my home and memories of the good times with Ars and also to save them any other inconvenience!

All I want from Linden Lab is the possibility to pay the tier for the sim Southern Charm on behalf of the avatar Ars Northmead, so that that avatar can retain ownership. I do not mind if my darling Ars remains the official owner of our sim. I do not want or need access to Ars account or the rest of his other property in SL.

 

 

Later the same day I added this to my ticket:

 

I have also now sent an e-mail to Ars/Dougs RL family asking them to send you his death certificate and a message concerning Doug´s estates position in this matter.

 

It will hopefully reach you soon.

..................

The same day I also sent a note card to M Linden, the CEO of Linden Lab Mark Kingdons avatar in SL, (with a copy to Belinda Linden) summarizing in a more orderly fashion - than in the ticket - what had happened.

Today I received another e-mail (I cannot understand why it did not show up in my inbox this morning at 5 am my time, when I last checked it...it must have been stuck in cyberspace somehow)


Från: no-reply@secondlife.com [mailto:no-reply@secondlife.com]

Skickat: den 1 april 2010 23:04
Till: x@x.se
Ämne: Ticket #4051-xxxxxxx: Customer Posted a Comment (Ramifications of SL partners passing)

Requested Information: Hi Bock

Apologies for the delay in responding to you, I was discussing this further with our management team to see if there were any other solutions we could offer. Unfortunately at this stage there arent, but I have forwarded to our legal team your latest notification about contact with the family of Ars/Doug, and I hope that we will be able to resolve this in a speedy fashion for you.

I will keep this ticket open so that you can communicate with us here should you need to.

The Postal address for our legal team is:
Linden Research, 945 Battery Street, San Francisco, CA 94111, Attention: General Counsel.

best regards

Belinda
Concierge Team Coordinator

.....

At the moment I am totally falling in love with Belinda Linden! This was a glimpse of hope that I was sorely in need of.