Goodbye Rodvik!

Yesterday the part of the metaverse which focuses on SecondLife exploded with the news that Rod Humble, formerly known also known as Rodvik Linden, is no longer CEO of Linden Lab (The Makers of SecondLife).

This change first became known through a private message Rod sent to blogger Jo Yardley (Jo Yardley's Second Life (url)) on Facebook yesterday, where he informed her that he had "left Linden Lab last week". A short while later he posted the following message on his timeline on Facebook.

My first reaction to this rather surprising news was to check Linden Lab's (url) webpage, and sure enough, Rod Humble was no longer listed as one of the company's management.

It seemed rather amateurish to me that no official announcement about the change had been made - and still hasn't, but then I remembered that no announcement has ever been made by the company concerning my Philip - to some of you better known as Philip Rosedale - stepping down as Chairman of the Board. Linden Lab seems to really need someone with skills in communication.

However, I would like to thank Rod for all the improvements that have been made during his three years as CEO and  like my darling Sergeant of Arms sirhc DeSantis in a comment concerning the news on New World Notes (url) I say "Best of luck to (you Rod). Now...who wants to step up to be vilified next (because we are so supportive are we not =^^= )"

Payment Issues

My former credit card expired in September and my bank sent me a new card for the coming three years well before the expiration date.

As the conscientious customer I am I immediately wanted to update my billing information with Linden Lab so that I wouldn't run into any problems with money in-world or tier payments for Southern Charm.

I am experienced in filling out forms of all sorts and foresaw no problems with doing this. It was easy enough to remove the old credit card, but when I got to the point where I wanted to plug in my new card there was no option to do that. The only option that was apparent seemed to be the PayPal. I did not want to use that option as I am at war with PayPal at the moment for their support of certain hate-groups.

Being a Premium Customer in SecondLife, I contacted the live support chat and was soon taken care of by a charming person with an exotic name that I cannot remember. I described my problem to him/her and together we tried to figure out a solution by looking at the form. Neither of us could find an easy or obvious way to add a new credit card to my account.

After a few minutes my support-person came up with the brilliant idea that I should log into SecondLife and try to buy L$ (the currency used in-world). When I followed the advice a form came up that allowed me to submit my new credit card information and get new L$. Mission accomplished both of us thought.

However, a few days later I received an e-mail from Linden Lab informing me with the following content. (Click to enlarge)

The e-mail is very friendly and understanding but obviously the information I had supplied once before was not enough it seems. 

Following the instructions I had soon added the new information and could authorize payment of the  tier I was due the next day. I also got an immediate confirmation that my debt had been payed in full and that my account status should now be active.

For some reason I cannot understand, it appears you must supply the same information for different uses with Linden Lab, one for buying currency in-world and another for paying tier. I don't know yet if Linden Lab needs the same information again for the yearly payment of my Premium Account.

It seems to me that Linden Lab should make it easier for the customers who are willing to pay for their services to do so without having to contact support or getting an e-mail about being late with payment.

P.S. And now I have started thinking I must have done something wrong when I removed the old credit card, but I cannot remember - and if the user makes mistakes wouldn't the payment system make allowances for that and let us easily correct the mistakes we make?

Trying to deal with reality II (updated)

I received an e-mail today.

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


Skickat: den 30 mars 2010 12:24

Till: x@x.se

Ämne: Ticket #4051-xxxxxxxxxx: Closed (Ramifications of SL partners passing)

Ticket has been closed

Comment(s): Hello Bock

Firstly I would like to pass on my condolences for the passing of Ars, and I hope the following information is of use to you.

With this situation there are a number of legal issues that come into play, and I have included the information relevant below:

Our privacy policies disallow sharing information about accounts with someone other than the account holder, except as required by law.

From Section 2.4 of the Second Life Terms of Service: You may not transfer your Account to any third party without the prior written consent of Linden Lab; notwithstanding the foregoing, Linden Lab will not unreasonably withhold consent to the transfer of an Account in good standing by operation of valid written will to a single natural person, provided that proper notice and documentation are delivered as requested by Linden Lab.

To access an account in the event of the account holder's death, we will need
-a copy of the death certificate
-a copy of the will
-real-life ID from the beneficiary
-a letter from the beneficiary stating that they wish to close down the account or assume control of the account and its content (this includes responsibility for fees and estate ownership).

The beneficiary, if they do not have a Second Life account, should sign into secondlife.com, access the support portal and submit a ticket as a guest. A scanned copy of all the requested information may be attached to the ticket, or these documents may be faxed to 415-243-9045, attn: Legal Department.

I hope this information can assist you, and again pass on my sympathy for your loss.

Best regards

Belinda
Concierge Team Coordinator.

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

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.

Welcome Ebbe Linden!

Hamlet Au and Daniel Voyager just revealed that our wait is over and that Linden Lab has a new CEO.

The new CEO is Ebbe Altberg, presumably to be called Ebbe Linden.

Read more about this exciting news at Daniel Voyager's Blog: Ebbe Altberg new CEO of Linden Lab or New World Notes:  Linden Lab Hires Yahoo! Exec Ebbe Altberg as CEO - Announcement Emphasizes Blocksworld as Much as SL.

Bock in SecondLife would like to welcome Ebbe to our world!

Support Ticket #01587329 XVIII (corrected)

Today I have been testing as required by my friends at Linden Lab. This is the full report that I am sending to my dear friend Theresa Linden today. It is essentially a copy/paste from my SecondLife chat log.

I have corrected the post as I noticed my first stop at KMADD had somehow been lost (10:01-10:04 in the chat log).

Please do not forget to turn on your music at the bottom of the post before reading, as prescribed by +Eddi Haskell.

"Hello again dear Theresa,

I hope you are having a wonderful Super bowl weekend. I have been busy conducting the tests the developers recommended and am sending you a copy of the report with pictures enclosed.

So it seems the suggested changes have cured my repetitions of chat/purchases/teleports but instead I am crashing all the time. 

However, I will ask that you please keep the support ticket and the Jira open until I have tried again tomorrow, because there have been a few times earlier that I thought the problems were over but when I logged in the next day they had returned. 

I would also like to know how long I must keep the HTTP Textures unchecked and remain in the Male Test Avatar.

Hugs,
Bock
---

The Test Report February 3, 2013.
[2013/02/03 09:57] Bock McMillan: This is the Much Honored Bock McMillan, laird of Southern Charm and prince of Cascade Falls, speaking.
[2013/02/03 09:58] Bock McMillan: Greetings my friends at Linden Lab!
[2013/02/03 09:59] Bock McMillan: As you see from the enclosed picture (Test 1) I have unchecked HTTP Textures in the Develop Menu and I have also reverted to the Male Test Avatar.

Test 1

[2013/02/03 10:01]  Bock McMillan: Let the testing begin! I wish you all the best of luck in solving the problems I have encountered lately, may your intelligence, your skills and your creativity be with you in assisting me with these annoying problems.
[2013/02/03 10:02]  Bock McMillan: It is time for the first teleport, here we go!
[2013/02/03 10:02]  Second Life: Teleport completed from http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Southern%20Charm/238/53/33
[2013/02/03 10:03]  Bock McMillan: We have now arrived at the KMADD store.
[2013/02/03 10:03]  Bock McMillan: We have now arrived at the KMADD store.
[2013/02/03 10:03]  Bock McMillan: Testing 123
[2013/02/03 10:03]  Bock McMillan: Testing 123
[2013/02/03 10:04]  Bock McMillan: Ahhh as you see the repeats are still occurring
[2013/02/03 10:04]  Bock McMillan: Ahhh as you see the repeats are still occurring
[2013/02/03 10:04]  Bock McMillan: Let us move to another sim
[2013/02/03 10:04]  Bock McMillan: Let us move to another sim
[2013/02/03 10:04]  Second Life: Teleport completed from http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kmadd%20Enterprise/188/90/26

CRASH-BOOM-BANG

[2013/02/03 10:12] Bock McMillan: OK, I crashed soon after I arrived here at the Sey Main Store. The local chat did not go through. I have cleared my cache and come back to the last location.
[2013/02/03 10:13] Bock McMillan: I could not move either.
[2013/02/03 10:13] Bock McMillan: Both those problems seem to be gone now,
[2013/02/03 10:14] Bock McMillan: And it seems the chat is not repeating either...? But sometimes there is a short delay...
[2013/02/03 10:15] Bock McMillan: Let me try buying a Demo here
[2013/02/03 10:15] Second Life: :SEY =Mesh= Vest+T-shirt [DEMO ver.] owned by an unknown user gave you ':SEY =Mesh= Vest+T-shirt [DEMO ver.]' ( http://slurl.com/secondlife/GREED/116/147/26 ).
[2013/02/03 10:16] Bock McMillan: well no buy, but a single click gave me a single demo
[2013/02/03 10:16] Bock McMillan: Lets go back to KMADD and see what happens there
[2013/02/03 10:17] Second Life: Teleport completed from http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/GREED/84/169/26
[2013/02/03 10:17] Bock McMillan: Back at KMADD
[2013/02/03 10:17] Bock McMillan: Lo and behold, no repeat?
[2013/02/03 10:18] Bock McMillan: I bought Shape Demos
[2013/02/03 10:18] Bock McMillan: and I actually only got one set
[2013/02/03 10:19] Bock McMillan: Lets try an IM
[2013/02/03 10:24] Bock McMillan: OK I am pasting in my IM with my son in-law Ziggy here.
[2013/02/03 10:25] Bock McMillan:
[10:22] Bock McMillan: Greeting son in-law! Be courteous as I am going to ask you to copy and paste our conversation so that I can send it to my friends at Linden Lab who are examining and trying to help me with my problems.
[10:22] Bock McMillan: Do you get repeats, darling?
[10:22] Ziggy Starsmith: no repeats at all you seem fine
[10:22] Bock McMillan: Yeahaaaaaaaaaaaaw!
[10:23] Bock McMillan: Could you please copy and paste?
[10:23] Ziggy Starsmith: ok 1 sec
[10:24] Bock McMillan: Thanks so much sexy!
[2013/02/03 10:26] Bock McMillan: Moving along
[2013/02/03 10:26] Second Life: Teleport completed from http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kmadd%20Enterprise/157/81/26 
[2013/02/03 10:26] Touch For ROF iNFO OR TO JOIN gROUP:
Hello Bock McMillan!

CRASH-BOOM-BANG

[2013/02/03 10:33] Bock McMillan: OK I crashed again and am back after clearing cache
[2013/02/03 10:34] Bock McMillan: As you see from the screenshot marked Test 2 I was at the Remembering Our Friends sim

Test 2

[2013/02/03 10:34] Bock McMillan: When I arrived there I could not chat in local and I could not move
[2013/02/03 10:35] Bock McMillan: With "could not chat" I mean, I sent a message in local but it never showed up on my screen
[2013/02/03 10:36] Bock McMillan: When I tried to move away from ROF to Moa, I crashed
[2013/02/03 10:36] Bock McMillan: I will go back to ROF now and see what happens
[2013/02/03 10:36] Second Life: Teleport completed from http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Southern%20Charm/238/53/33
[2013/02/03 10:36] Touch For ROF iNFO OR TO JOIN gROUP:
Hello Bock McMillan!
[2013/02/03 10:37] Bock McMillan: Back again at ROF
[2013/02/03 10:37] Bock McMillan: This time I can chat and move
[2013/02/03 10:38] Bock McMillan: I will try donating by buying candle light for my Ars
[2013/02/03 10:39] BDG - ROF - Gas Light (low Prim) V2: THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND DONATION,WE REALLY APRECIATE
[2013/02/03 10:39] Bock McMillan: Excellent, I only paid once and chat is still not repeating...
[2013/02/03 10:40] Bock McMillan: OK, I am buying another five weeks of oil for the candle
[2013/02/03 10:40] BDG - ROF - Gas Light (low Prim) V2: THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND DONATION,WE REALLY APRECIATE
[2013/02/03 10:41] Bock McMillan: Working fine
[2013/02/03 10:43] Bock McMillan: Cannot seem to find the donation boxes here at ROF, they are not rezzing for me
[2013/02/03 10:43] Bock McMillan: I will come back another time
[2013/02/03 10:43] Bock McMillan: OK off to Moa
[2013/02/03 10:44] Second Life: Teleport completed from http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Remembering%20Friends/91/128/21

CRASH-BOOM_BANG

[2013/02/03 10:49] Bock McMillan: OK back again after a third crash, see picture Test 3.

Test 3

[2013/02/03 10:50] Bock McMillan: I am now at Moa, I can move and I can speak in local
[2013/02/03 10:50] Bock McMillan: no repetitions either
[2013/02/03 10:57] Bock McMillan: OK I am going to a meeting at Second Pride HQ now, after I have reloaded my Inventory
[2013/02/03 11:00] Second Life: Teleport completed from http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Moa/67/198/81
[2013/02/03 11:01] Kiosk.Net Greeter: Welcome Bock McMillan! Enjoy your visit.

CRASH-BOOM-BANG

[2013/02/03 11:04] Bock McMillan: OK I crashed again here at Second Pride HQ, before crashing I could not see my local chat here and could not move either
[2013/02/03 11:04] Bock McMillan: Chat and movement work again
[2013/02/03 11:04] Bock McMillan: Hello everyone!
[2013/02/03 11:04] Rocky Constantine (rockridge.constantine): Hi Bock
[2013/02/03 11:05] Tylo Mabellon: hey Bock
[2013/02/03 11:05] Tylo Mabellon: hey Rocky and Axel
[2013/02/03 11:05] Khar (kharissa.indigo): Hi there Mister Bock
[2013/02/03 11:05] Doc Spad: Was your barber drunk or something Bock?
[2013/02/03 11:05] Axel-the-fox (axelfoxthefoxyfluff): Hi
[2013/02/03 11:06] Bock McMillan: You must excuse my appearances; I am following Linden Labs orders

Bock at the Second Pride meeting
(not included in the report to Linden Lab)

[2013/02/03 11:06] Axel-the-fox (axelfoxthefoxyfluff): he's wearing a box for a head
[2013/02/03 11:06] Doc Spad: boxes are easy to hold onto
[2013/02/03 11:06] Bock McMillan: Well, with that single addition of my own
[2013/02/03 11:07] Kyle Beckett: I'm back, but I will be invisible because I had to clear cache and reload inventory, lol
[2013/02/03 11:08] Rocky Constantine (rockridge.constantine): fun fun
[2013/02/03 11:08] Khar (kharissa.indigo): wb Kyle
[2013/02/03 11:08] Khar (kharissa.indigo): Hi SquirtN
[2013/02/03 11:08] Doc Spad: afternoon Squirt'n
[2013/02/03 11:08] Tylo Mabellon: sure Kyle... you just can't find anything to wear : P
[2013/02/03 11:08] Bock McMillan: Hi Kyle and Hello Squirt
[2013/02/03 11:08] Bock McMillan: Oh just so you all know, parts of this chat will be sent to Linden Lab - so mind your language...

EDITED OUT THE REST OF THE MEETING

[2013/02/03 12:19] Tylo Mabellon: i second Khar's motion to adjourn
[2013/02/03 12:19] Doc Spad: Those in favoir?
[2013/02/03 12:19] Khar (kharissa.indigo): aye
[2013/02/03 12:19] Tylo Mabellon: aye
[2013/02/03 12:19] Baz Ceawlin: aye
[2013/02/03 12:19] Tootsie Nootan: Aye
[2013/02/03 12:19] SquirtN Wonder: aye
[2013/02/03 12:19] Doc Spad: This meeting is adjourned
[2013/02/03 12:19] Kyle Beckett: aye
[2013/02/03 12:19] Khar (kharissa.indigo): Thank you all for coming
[2013/02/03 12:20] Bock McMillan: Thanks everyone, this has been a great meeting!
[2013/02/03 12:20] Doc Spad: Thank you everyone for being here...lending your voice and caring about Pride
[2013/02/03 12:20] Bock McMillan: Byeee
[2013/02/03 12:20] Second Life: Teleport completed from http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/N%20District/239/173/23

CRASH-BOOM-BANG

[2013/02/03 12:23] Bock McMillan: Ughhh when I teleported from the Second Pride HQ to home I crashed again
[2013/02/03 12:24] Bock McMillan: I could not chat in local and move before I crashed after I had arrived to home
[2013/02/03 12:24] Bock McMillan: then I crashed
___

The Laird's Awards - 2015

As tradition bids the staff of Bock in SecondLife, consisting of the editor in chief Bock McMillan and the editor for science, geeky stuff and photography Tomais Ashdene, have been racking their brains to assemble this list of worthy recipients of the 2015 Best in SecondLife Awards.

And without further ado here they are!

Best Friend

• Ebbe Linden of Second Life & Linden Labs
• The Linden Lab (award sent to Pete Linden, Senior Director, Global Communications)
• The Phoenix Firestorm Viewer Project Team (award sent to Jessica Lyon, FS Project Manager)

Best Blogger

• Apmel Goosson of Min avatar heter Apmel
• Eddi Haskell of Eddi & Ryce's Second Life
• Honour McMillan of Honour's Post Menopausal View (of Second Life)
• Inara Pey of Living in a Modem World
• Petr Vanbeek of Confessions of a Digital Daddy Bear
• Ziggy Starsmith of Ziggy Starsmith On The Edge Of Second Life

Best Builder

• Adham DeCuir of Boystown
• Fordis Flores of all over the place
• Jak Calcutt of Second Pride
• Karl Kalchek of Second Pride
• Samuel Fallen of Lytton & Fallen
• Truck Meredith of The Calas Galadhon Park Sims
• Tymus Tenk  of The Calas Galadhon Park Sims

Best Deejay

• Aeschylus Shepherd
• Butch Diavolo-Ğrăçємσûηт
• Cupric Router
• Helene Dragoone
• Hottie B Lockjaw
• Michelangelo Vilota
• sirhc DeSantis

Best Designer

• Ansor Hoorenbeek  of The Hoorenbeek Team
• Apple Fall of AppleFall
• Damien Fate of FateWear
• Masa Plympton of Deadwool 
• Winter Thorn of What's Next

Best Performer 

• Samm Qendra
• Strum Diesel

Best Scripter  

• Chaz Longstaff of Blue Balls
• Kip Ashbourne of Blue Balls

Best Pose-Maker

• Finn Millar of Vice Poses
• RubyStarlight Writer of Exposeur
• Spencer Ronzales of Vice Poses
• Winter Thorn of What's Next

Best Photographer

• Bre Czaroux
• Darkyn Dover
• Joseph Nussbaum
• JJ Goodman
• Nikolai Warden
• Skippy Beresford
• Static Frenzy
• Strawberry Singh
• Tomais Ashdene
• WayneNZ Resident

Best Dressed

• Dex Moleno
• Guyke Lundquist
• Hottie B Lockjaw

Best Frienemy

• Guyke Lundquist

Best Gay

• Garrett Smith
• Kahvy Smith, nee Sands
• Lee McKay

Best Husband 

• Bock McMillan
• Tomais Ashdene 

Best Wife

• Iendi Laville 
• Vampi Twine-McMillan-McMillan (honorary)

Best Son

• Guyke Lundquist
• Pook Czaroux

Best Daughter

• Donna Pavlova

Best Brother

• Dejerrity Mycron
• JJ Goodman
• Michelangelo Vilota
• Rylan Sirnah

Best Sister

• Lucretia Brandenburg
• Millimina Salamander

Best Boyfriend

• Fordis Flores
• JJ Goodman

Best Girlfriend

• Lucretia Brandenburg
• Pieni

Best Wingman

• Butch Diavolo-Ğrăçємσûηт

Philip Linden Is Dead, Long Live Philip Rosedale (Updated)

My buddy NE0 Timeless has a wonderful knack of finding interesting stuff when he is scouring the Internet.

As you may remember, I reported a while back, that Philip no longer holds a official position at Linden Lab, either in management or on the board.

Today NE0 has published the trailer for an interview with Philip Rosedale (creator of SecondLife formerly best known as the avatar Philip Linden) Free Your Mind: Philip Rosedale Interview Trailer 2013-06-21 (Second Life).

In the interview for the upcoming Burning Man Philip Rosedale appears in his new avatar.

I must say that it is a wonderful and vast improvement, I am going to name this update Philip (Linden) Rosedale 3.0.

Update You can now see the full interview at Daniel Voyager's Blog: New Philip Rosedale Interview at Burn2

Prim Limit Increase!

Clip description - Published on Nov 3, 2016
In this special edition of Designing Worlds, we present a special announcement from Linden Lab that will change your Second Life for the better. Watch the show to learn more!

This episode of Designing Worlds with Saffia Widdershins features Patch Linden - talking more in-depth about this new perk.

You can also read all about this in Inara Pey's insightful article: Living in a Modemworld - Second Life Mainland LI / prim allowance increase

---

Did I ever tell you that I love my friends at Linden Lab? Well, if you haven't seen it before, here goes

Bock ❤ My Friends@Linden Lab

What Did You Mean, Philip?

SecondLife founder Philip Rosedale, a.k.a. Philip Linden, according to an article in New York Times talking about SecondLife recently made two statements that have caused a great deal of speculation and concern among residents and bloggers.

The two statements are, "The problem with creating an immersive 3-D experience is that it is just too involved, and so it’s hard to get people to engage,” and “Smart people in rural areas, the handicapped, people looking for companionship, they love it. But you have to be highly motivated to get on and learn to use it.”

Among most bloggers the statements have been interpreted as derogatory and as an almost treacherous attack by the previously well liked former CEO, now Chairman of the Board, of Linden Lab. (See for example The Metaverse Journal Philip Rosedal spruiks new venture, talks down Second Life?, Eddi Haskell Shame on Philip Rosedale. He´s Joined the Second Life Haters!, Ener Hax Philip even thinks SL is dead, Botgirls Second Life Diary Rosedales Milkshake or Sven Idyll (in Swedish) Second Life 2012 to mention a few.)

On New World Notes today blogger Herman Au makes a completely different - and more beneficial - interpretation on Philips statements in this post, No, Second Life Founder Philip Rosedale Probably Doesn't Think Second Life is "Dead". Herman Au writes,

"So I read what Philip's saying as good news: It's clear that he understands the challenges SL faces, and it explains why he's passed the reigns of its day-to-day operations to Rod Humble, who has managed to make a 3D virtual experience with user-generated content -- i.e. Sims 3 -- into a mass market phenomenon. For many years, Philip and other Lindens insisted the high learning curve and the 3D graphics and the heavy client and all that wouldn't hurt SL's growth. (I said as much myself.) But Second Life can only grow if its developers recognize who is using SL now, and what it will take, for people outside these smaller segments to embrace it."

Instead of everyone speculating about what Philip Rosedale may or may not have meant by his statements I wish he himself would come out and clarify what he actually does mean.

I hope that some of the major blogs with well developed lines of communications with Linden Lab - or those that are known to be read by Linden Lab officials or employees - will pick up on this as I do not expect this humble blog is on any of their reading lists.

Emerald - The End

"This is the end, beautiful friend
This is the end, my only friend, the end
It hurts to set you free
But you’ll never follow me
The end of laughter and soft lies
The end of night we tried to die
This is the end

United we stand and divided we fall. Thus ends the final days of the Emerald Project.


Approximately 10 days ago I and a number of devs came together to reform the Emerald Team in the anxious hope of continuing the most popular TPV in Second Life. The incredible driving passion, flair for innovation, endless energy and camaraderie were all still there. Because of this, I was sure we could make this work.


Alas this was not  to be. Linden Lab has made demands of the team that are impossible to meet. Among the demands not listed publicly elsewhere was to publicly release an RC without any ability to load the emkdu or llkdu files. This was do-able. The final demand was to ‘delete’ 3 key members of our team. While making this demand, Linden Lab was quite aware that this was effectively the guillotine to the project.


This is the opportunity for a fork project to develop and create a TPV version of snowstorm, which is what Linden Lab really wants. I am aware of a number of small projects underway now, and I wish them the best, the very best in their endeavors.


For you, the user, what this  means is that there will not be any further releases of the Emerald Viewer after today. The existing releases will continue to operate until Linden Lab decides to terminate their access and end Emerald once and for all.


There will be one final version of the Emerald Viewer released here later today; that is, the viewer we’ve been working on for the past six months. It would be a shame to let the efforts of the developers who put so many unpaid hours into this project go to waste.


This virtual world is ever changing and must be, otherwise it will stagnate. This incredible environment will continue.

Arabella Steadham
Communications Manager"

Will The Last Elves Emigrate?

I leave SecondLife for real life a few days and it seems like all hell breaks loose.

The big story is of course the decision of ElvenMyst, presumably the last Elf clan in SecondLife with over 2 000 members, to leave for a lesser virtual world.

I was really sorry to read that news. I have never had any dealings with the elves of SecondLife - not that I know of - but my Ars always spoke with great admiration of their talent, creativity and skillfulness. As I understand it there were many elves in the earliest days of SecondLife, but they had for some reason or other moved on to other worlds in the course of time.

This last emigration seems to have been brought on by a hiccup in the Linden Lab billing system, which started when one of the Eldars of The ElvenMyst clan got an automatic e-mail from the billing system about being late in paying tier, which he then actually tried to do several times but the system did not accept the payments. The Eldar then filed a ticket with customer support, when it did not get an immediate response or solution the four Eldars decided to pull up stakes and move to InWorldz (of all ghastly places).

Although they have now, according to the clans blog, - a day after the ticket was filed and after direct involvement by Rod Humble (the cute new CEO of Linden Lab, a k a Rodvik Linden) - already been given an both an excuse and a very generous offer of compensation although the Eldars want more.

As I understand it the Eldars are now in communication with the membership to find out what they wish to do in the present situation.

I must say I would be very sad to see the last elves leave, but I cannot help thinking that the decision to leave was an overreaction which was too hastily made. We cannot presume that the people working at customer service know who we are and our standing in-world. Most of those working there probably only visit in-world for work purposes and are not involved in any of the communities.

In my own experience the people at Linden Labs customer service are mostly benevolent and helpful, even if they are not always able to solve your problem fast but then again neither technical nor legal problems can usually be solved by snapping one´s fingers, no matter how huge the customers business is.

I am hoping the elves choose to stay in heaven!

Linden Lab Keeps Promise

I love Linden Lab, they always keep their promises, at least since Ebbe Linden has been at the helm!

Yesterday Linden Lab announced on the SecondLife Community blog (url) that last names, by popular demand, are now back again after being gone since 2010.

Those Premium Members who wish to change any part of their names, both first and last, can do so for a fee of $39,99. Residents will be able to choose from a rotating list of available last names, which will be on display on your SecondLife account page under "Change Name".

Excellent Service, Linden Lab

Today I got the weekly newsletter from the Calas Galadhon group in SecondLife. In it my friend Ty Tenk, owner of the Calas Galadhon Park sims together with his partner Truck Meredith and gardener extraordinaire, tells us about the how the excellent customer services of Linden Lab came through for them after a recent mishap.

Ty tells us he was cleaning up at the wonderful Misty Mountains sim, and was returning stuff that visitors had carelessly left there, when he by a mistaken click on the mouse ended up sending back all of the beautiful sim to his own inventory. The woods, streams, grasses, flowers, animals - in short everything!

Ty called the customer service at Linden Lab and within thirty (30) minutes of his call for help the sim was rolled back and everything was restored to it´s former pristine condition.

In spite of the constant badmouthing of the customer services at Linden Lab going on among some residents, I have always maintained that they do a great job and handle the issues presented to them with as much speed and empathy as possible in the given circumstances. This just - once again - proves my point.

...and guess what, Ty didn't even have to tweet Rod Humble once!

Linden Lab Releases EEP

Linden Lab yesterday released a new SecondLife viewer with uses an entirely new way to create and use environment settings for the appearance of the sky, day cycles and, Linden Water, within the viewer. This is called the Environment Enhancement Project (or in short EEP).

Photo by Inara Pey (as used in her blogpost)

But instead of me trying to explain this wonderful feature for you, please head on over to the infinitely more technologically savvy Inara Pey on her blog "Inara Pey: Living in a Modem World" (URL).

As I understand it Firestorm will release a compatible viewer in the near future.

Thank you, Linden Lab!

Är Philip på väg tillbaks som VD för Linden Lab?

Jag läste precis ett intressant inlägg på "Eddi Haskell´s Second Life".

Ryktena har börjat florera att Philip Rosedale, inworld känd som Philip Linden eller "King Philip", kommer att återkomma till VD-posten för Linden Lab sedan han hoppade in som talare vid det pågående SL7B istället för den nuvarande VD:n Mark Kingdon, även känd inworld som "M Linden".

Det skulle vara en välkommen förändring anser jag! Vad vi behöver i Second Lifes nuvarande stadium är fortfarande visionärerna och drömmarna. Produktutvecklarna och förvaltarna får ge sig till tåls ännu ett tag!

Mer intressant i denna fråga finns att läsa på Wagner James Aus blogg "New World Notes"

P.S. ...och nu ser jag att PetGirl Bergman redan är ute med nyheten på sin blogg "Tinas Universum".

P.P.S. ...och PetGirl får kalla mig "gam" så ofta och så mycket hon vill, så det så...

Linden bashing

I get very easily pissed if I read something that upsets me before I have finished my breakfast and have gotten my full pot of coffee.

Now I just read - yet another - Linden bashing posts on the blog "Mer eller mindre KRANFEL". I do not understand why Alessia/Vesper cannot promote the "lovely" InWorldz without constantly bashing the Linden Lab and Second Life.

All I can say is the following:
1. Second Life is not compulsory.
2. Linden Lab - through it´s wonderful employees - has always come through for me whenever I needed it.
3. Second Life has improved greatly - and keeps on improving - since I first arrived.
4. Second Life is well worth every penny I spend, if I did not think so I would move on and never look back.

It is true though, we really are building a paradise in Second Life and all of us who love it here benefit from that.

So please stop spitting in my soup!
..........
FYI
No, this post is not aggressive.
No, I am not being defensive to protect the time and money I have invested in Second Life.
No, I am not insecure, never have been and never will be.
No, I am not on any edge whatsoever.
Yes, we are still friends.

Now go find some better arguments!
........
P.S. Thanks Alessia/Vesper for all the international traffic to my blog from your post in the "Inworldz forum". Welcome strangers, I am usually a nice guy, whether you believe it ot not...

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!

What Has Happened To My Philip?

I came across this yesterday, but could not believe my eyes - so I thought I had better sleep on it and come back for another look today.

This snippet is from http://lindenlab.com/about on Linden Lab's webpage.

My wonderful Philip Rosedale, the founder of Linden Lab and my and your creator, (in-world a.k.a. Philip Linden) is nowhere to be found in the listings of the management or the board of Linden Lab.

Philip was the only person in the management or on the board that I felt some personal trust for when it comes to keep the original vision alive.

Did my beloved Philip leave? If so when and for what reason? Why has no one bothered to inform me? What will his removal from the board mean for the residents of SecondLife? And what is my Philip doing now?

Or is this old news to most of you, that I have missed foe some reason or other?

I Think I Love it!

This is a photograph using "depth" instead of "color", cool huh?

After reading the Swedish blogger Sven Idyll´s posts about the new Beta Viewer 3.2. and seeing the short explanatory videos he has posted there Linden Labs new instruction videos for Viewer 3 I just couldn't contain myself and was eager to try out the new viewer.

I followed my own previously described routine about how to Install a Fresh Viewer and then downloaded the new one. I must say I fell for it immediately. You can move almost everything around anyway you want it to get the thingies exactly where you want them to be and with the shapes you desire.

Is it strange I love the guys and girls at Linden Lab as much as I do? These brilliant people have given me everything I can ask for in a viewer.

Love you guys, have a round of beer on me (but no more than 30 of you and you must include CEO Rodvik Linden/Rod Humble) and chairman of the Board Philip Linden. (Rodvik is almost catching up with my all time favorite CEO Philip with this stroke of genius.)

Sorry for being unfaithful to you guys there for a while, but I am back home in the fold with ya´ll now!

Mergers & Acquisitions (Updated)

"Linden Lab, the makers of SecondLife, announced today that it is in discussions with High Fidelity over merging the two companies and thus consolidating in anticipation of a future collaboration with or takeover bid from Facebook", the Financial Times reports, citing sources.

As Philip Rosedale, a.k.a. "our creator", Philip Linden or "my beloved Philip", has a major interest in both companies it is assumed that the discussions will go smoothly and a deal will be made before the end of the week.

According to the article  it is probable that Philip Rosedale will become the Chairman of the Board of the new company, while Ebbe Altman, a.k.a. Ebbe Linden, will remain as CEO.

Read the full article Financial Times: Linden Lab & High Fidelity to merge?.

More updates on this will be posted here, as soon as I learn more.

UPDATE April 2, 2014
This entire post is of course a fabrication, it was my attempt at trying to fool you on April Fools Day.