SecondLife Turns 15, Let's Celebrate!

SecondLife was launched on June 23rd, 2003 when the adorable Philip Linden, our divine creator, first set foot in this world where Kahvy Smith only existed as an atom that would develop into the first dinosaur. Apmel Goosson wasn't far behind (just a fem nanoseconds) but still came in as first runner-up.

So this year it is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary. Wouldya believe it? It looks so old and mature...

Our darling Ebbe Linden and the Linden Lab har promised that there will be a yearlong celebration. Read all about the improvements at the SecondLife Community blog (url), which include lower mainland costs, the return of last names, improved performance and migration to the Cloud and much much more.

Happy 15th birthday SecondLife!

"It Is Considered A Fashion Faux Pas"

I and the guys visited the one year anniversary celebration of Achille's "Men's Nudist Beach" (a.k.a. MNB or Men's Clothed Beach) yesterday.

Holt, I, Tomais, JJ and Wayne 

After awhile I saw something on one of my friends that shook me to the core.

Old men all over the world do it without shame. Germans and Brits do it. Hell, even David Beckham does it! And in the fashion seasons of 2010 and 2014 some designers attempted to make it trendy, but - Thank the Babylonians! - failed. We are talking about wearing socks with sandals.

Now, according to Wikipedia, this is an age old point of contention in men's fashion. "Wearing socks and sandals together is a controversial fashion combination and social phenomenon that is discussed in various countries and cultures. It is considered a fashion faux pas."

So, one of my friends was actually wearing sandals with socks, believe it or not... Surprisingly it was the most fashion forward among us sporting this weird combination, the awesome and well known SecondLife fashion icon, fashion vlogger, film director and producer (link takes you to his YouTube Channel) and not least a brilliant photographer (link to his Flickr), Mr. WayneNZ Esq.

Wayne in socks and sandals

Ladies and gentleman, I am now going to ask you for your opinion, is it the combination of socks and sandals cool or uncool? Please take the poll in the top right corner and add any additional remarks you may have in the comments.

A Message From Our Dear Ebbe

I hope you all got this wonderful email from our darling Ebbe Linden.

Ebbe Altberg, aka Ebbe Linden, sexy as hell in scruff

Dear Second Life Residents,

It’s been an exciting summer at Linden Lab. Second Life celebrated its 14th anniversary, and shortly thereafter we also opened Sansar's creator beta to the world. In addition, we are 

thrilled to announce a set of investments into Second Life and its communities that will include enhancements to our engineering support, customer support, billing systems and upgrades, and customer acquisition outreach. In all, we’ve budgeted many millions (USD, not L$...) in the coming year to make SL even better, and we’ll keep everyone up to date on improvements as they roll out (or sooner).

This summer’s milestones have given us all another opportunity to reflect on just how strong the Second Life community is, what an incredible history SL has had so far, and what an amazing future lies ahead for the virtual world and its Residents.

For more than 14 years, you’ve created memorable experiences, diverse communities, close relationships, thriving economies, engaging art, exciting events, and amazing creations of all kinds. You’ve made the world, and we’re proud to provide the platform and tools that help you to do so. We at Linden continue to be impressed by what we witness from Residents every day, and we want you to know that we share that commitment to and love for Second Life.

Here are a few of the things you can look forward to soon:

• We are hard at work upgrading all of the SL infrastructure and moving it to the cloud, which will bring a wealth of opportunities to Residents near and far, and allow us, among many other things, to make SL more performant for Residents across the world from us. It may also allow us to introduce new products with more flexible pricing. 
• We’re working on several features to increase the value of Premium subscriptions. Most recently we gave Premium members priority access to near-full events, and shortly, we’ll be ready to unveil another bit of exciting news for subscribers. 
• We're building out a series of great extensions to Windlight (code name: EEP!), which will give value, flexibility, and new marketability to land, and will make Windlight settings tradeable assets. 
• We have an extension to the animation system in the works (code name: Animesh) that will allow non-avatar objects to use more powerful and efficient skeletal animations the way avatars can today, and even more changes planned for creators and merchants later in the year. 
• We’ve also got new experiences and events coming. An exciting new grid-wide gaming experience is coming soon! The team can’t wait to share the details with you in just a few days. Also in the works for this fall is an updated Halloween Haunted Tour, with new spooktacular events to celebrate. Not to mention, we’re turning 15 next year - SL15B, baby! That’s an incredible milestone and we are looking forward to collaborating with you to produce an amazing celebration. 

Long live Second Life and long live the creative process in the amazing worlds that you've trail-blazed! Thank you for filling SL with your creations and communities all of these past 14+ years, and here’s to many, many more together.

Best,

Ebbe Linden, CEO & the Second Life Team

---

Well, what can one say after that breathtaking declaration of love, other than "We love you right back, Ebbe baby, and the SecondLife Team too!💗💗💗"

I hope you all noticed the remark about "amazing creations of all kinds", which we all know must certainly include my fashion-forward and spectacular "The Jester's Hat"! Nothing else comes to mind really so it must be Linden-lingo for Bock's creation.

It is also good to know that the Lab is going to keep on investing in, working with and improving SecondLife despite the doomsday prophets who for a long time have been crowing about how the Lab will lose all interest in SecondLife once Sansar is launched.

Dates Decided for Second Pride 2017

The Board of Directors of Second Pride had a General Assembly Meeting in the Second Pride Headquarters Conference Hall on Sunday, April 30, 2017, at 01:30PM SLT.

At the meeting the dates for this years festival were decided. Below are the festival dates as well as release dates for sponsor, vendor, and DJ information.

Festival dates Friday June 23 - Sunday July 2, 2017!

Sponsor Packages available from Monday May 8*
Vendor Packages available from Monday May 15*
Performer Applications from Friday May 26 - June 18th

*) Please note, there is likely to be a shortage of available space at this years festival as it is going to be held on only one sim. You had better be on your toes and leaning forward to grab a place!

Please contact LLedge Eames or Viktor Sandman if you need any further information or have any questions.

Reminder: Superheroes - The Party

It's high time to get your shit together for the Superhero-party on Saturday!

Read - almost - all about it here: BiSL: Superheroes - The Party.

---

If you need inspiration here is a link to someone named Lvenger's favorites: My 100 Favourite Superheroes. I have also decided that "Mummy" and "Daddy" are acceptable superheroes.

Star Trek 50th Anniversary

"Star Trek 50th Anniversary" by Tomais Ashdene

The beloved television series Star Trek celebrated it's 50th anniversary yesterday September 8th.

In honor of this celebration, my husband Tomais, who is a nerd, geek and trekkie bundled into one exceptional piece of hunky man, made the picture above with our friends JJ Goodman (in the red outfit) and Aeon J. Goodman (in the blue outfit). Tomais himself is in the yellow outfit. 

Come Celebrate the Newlyweds

Knox & Pook, photo courtesy of Bre Czaroux

Knox Dee, the Duke of Madeira, has been skulking around on Southern Charm quite a lot lately, At first I wondered what the strong attraction could be on our small sim, but I soon realized it must be my beautiful son Pook Czaroux, the Crown Prince of Southern Charm.

The guys have chosen to take the joint surname De'Roux.

A while back the extremely well mannered young man (he has been to a finishing school in Switzerland) contacted me and the other three of Pook's fathers (my consort Tomais and Bre and Eric Czaroux) to request our blessings and support in asking for our sons hand in marriage. Of course all four of us were delighted to acquiesce.

The boys didn't want to wait for a big formal wedding so - following two of Pook's fathers example - they eloped and got the ceremony over with at some registrar's office so they could at long last give in to their lust for each other.

This afternoon, Saturday March 12, 2016, at 2-4PM SLT there will be a celebration of the newlyweds marriage union at Southern Charm.

Party location: Take me to the celebration of young love! SLurl.

Musical entertainment will be provided by DJ Lee and hosting by the always charming Ms Kharissa Indigo.

Please join us!

Second Pride - June 19th Through 28th

Come be a part of the largest most diverse LGBT Festival on the grid!

Second Pride needs your help and participation to make this years 10th anniversary the best Pride ever!

Interested in performing at this year's Second Pride Festival? Just follow the link below and submit your application today! Festival Performer Information & Application

Interested in being a Sponsor or a Vendor? Sponsor & Vendor Packages. Hurry, hurry - there are still some packages free!

Get involved! Meet new people! Meet up with old friends! Show your Pride!

---

Although I already know that Second Pride's claim to this being the organization's 10th anniversary is challenged by some, I choose to accept it. (Nota bene, in my response to a comment by my dear friend Garth Raleigh, I - after having reviewed what  Second Pride actually says - correct myself as to the organization claiming anything of the sort.)

In my mind Second Pride - and any other LGBT organization on the grid, that can show any connection between their existing organization and the ad hoc committees celebrating Pride in the early days of SecondLife, can make the same claim.

#StarWarsDay

Say “May the 4th Be With You” out loud and you’ll hear the pun that Star Wars fans worldwide have turned into a rallying cry to proclaim their love of the saga. It’s the worldwide day to say “May the Force be with you” to all, and celebrate the beloved Star Wars story that binds our galaxy together. (Quote from StarWars.com)

Celebration of Avacar Bluestar's Life

A celebration of Avacar Bluestar's life event to be held Saturday at the Rose Garden at Greymyst Estates II beginning at 1:00 PM SLT.

Avacar's and his widower Rico's Second Life family are looking forward to seeing you at the event.

My friend Eddi Haskell has promised to post a landmark to the event on his blog Eddi & Ryce's Second Life later today (Thursday February 5).

The Place to Be Tonight

Celebrate 12 hours of New Years Eve with most of the gay population in SecondLife and our straight friends at Ty & Regi Yifu's Bashaversary Three.

The party starts at 12 PM (noon) SLT. Your extended limousine awaits, to take you to Times Sq, New York City, N.Y., SecondLife. 

Fantasy Gay Pride - September 19-28, 2014

I got this press release through Garth Raleigh, who is one of my most prolific sources, and I am very happy to share it with you all well in advance so you can get your outfits together in time.

Garth also told me the LGBT fae community is one of the happiest and most drama-free he has encountered in SecondLife.

"Every year a small group of creators get together to create a week long celebration of everything GLBT.  Our aim is to promote acceptance of all positive sexual orientations of all genders. All sexualities are very welcome to our festival to raise awareness of these issues worldwide - all on a unique and intriguing land with creations and magic never seen before from our very talented fantasy and fae designers.

When they were first told, fairy tales were not innocent stories for children. They often dealt with themes that were definitely adult in nature. This year's presentations will cover the erotic, twisted or hidden side of the tales we've all grown up with. These are not your grandmother's fairy tales!

 

The Press Book will be published soon with lots more information and photos. Details of live music performances to be announced. 

Whinge & Pluckett - Karalia Halostar & Greville Oh, will be presenting a completely new show this year, a sequel to "The Fairy Who Loses His Wings" called "The Fascination of Cemanus". 

Come and immerse yourselves in legend and wonder, ancient archetypes we all hold deep in our psyches... the curious, the strange..the challenging...the erotic! Our fae nature resonates to these strong and subtle primal earth energies; these ancient powers.

Creators this year are:

Aznana Shieldmaiden

Corkie Houston

Donn Canis

Greville Oh

Hakuin Clarity

Karalia Halostar

Qrystver Khandr

Shay Sunnyside

Aznana Shieldmaiden - Publicity Assistant

Blackdog Ashbourne  -  Technical Consultant

Greville Oh - Chief Goffer. Publicity & Performer/Singer in Whinge & Pluckett

Karalia Halostar - Musician Extraordinaire in Whinge & Pluckett

Shay Sunnyside & Aznana Shieldmaiden - Performances Organisers

Our phenomenal DJs are:

Astoria Luminos - Smokin'Hot Elven DJ,

Lysana McMillan our Sounds Siren,

Shay Sunnyside - Fae DJ of Farhaven. 

and Starhawk Starostin - The Music Master

Chiaroscuro Guardians will be Greeters as well as Security for this wonderful week.

Our Sponsors are an important element in our event. We welcome support from any group or organization that wishes to help promote understanding and acceptance of GLBT lifestyles. The celebration site will prominently display sponsor logos and contact information .

We fight for global GLBT rights - there are still countries where gays are attacked and tortured and where being gay is punishable by imprisonment or death. We are glad the movement for marriage equality is growing as more and more countries embrace and champion it. We will get there, GLBT people will be accepted everywhere - we will demand it as a fundamental human right and have a fabulous time doing just that.!

GRATEFUL THANKS TO ALL!

Greville Oh"

Celebrating Le Petit Prince

Yesterday the McMillan clan and friends assembled at the home sim to celebrate the first life birthday of Guyke, Prince of Paradijs (the traditional title of the heir to the throne of Southern Charm), on his 26th birthday - again.

Cupcakes in enormous quantities and varying sizes were served with tea and homemade honey. The laird, who at his advanced age has to be careful with his intake of calories, only ate one cupcake but the younger men could stuff their bellies with many more of the tasty delicacies. 

After a short break in the eating to give Guyke his birthday gift the family continued eating ice-cream and popsicles (cool, fruity, creamy and crunchy) on the roof terrace while enjoying a pleasant discussion on current events into the night.

Boystown Turns 7

Boystown in SecondLife celebrates it's seventh anniversary this weekend. The DJ's Zann, Ritch, Cole, Ralphy, Shep and Djembe, among others, will help you get in the partying mood.

Here is your bus to the celebration at Boystown, The Boystown Bus.

Closing Ceremonies of SL10B

This is from a press release by Gemma Cleanslate in the SL10B press group.

"Two weeks ago, the flags were raised to signify that the SL10B Community Celebration was open.

Flags Aloft! Photograph by Pygar Bu

Now, two weeks later, the event is coming to an end and the flags will be lowered at 12 noon on Saturday 29th June.

Once again, the idea is that as many people as possible can watch the flags lowered, marking the end of the Celebration. The flags are stationed around the sims (you can see their locations marked with red X‘s on the map below).

Position of Flags for the Closing Ceremony

You don't have to land right on top of a flag (that would be rather painful!). The idea is to land close – you'll be able to find a spot where you can see the flags lifting!

Following the flag ceremony, there will be fireworks (organised by Marianne McCann) at the gorgeous Cake Stage (which will be viewable from many points).

The Cake Stage, photograph by David Abbot

And to round off events, from 1pm – 9pm SLT, there will be a party on the fabulous Turtle Stage on SL10B Impressive and SL10B Spellbound. Details of the DJs who'll be performing will be published soon.

So come and join us for the Closing of Second Life’s 10th Birthday Community Celebrations – and then stay to enjoy the party!"

On the Turtle Stage, photograph by Argus Collingwood

♥ Celebration Of Life ♥

(Tipped via GWNews)

Please join together with the LGBT Community in SecondLife to celebrate the life of our dear friend, Fabrice Snook. The celebration begins Friday November 23, 2012, at 1 PM SLT. See you all there!

Here´s your ride to the celebration (SLurl)