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

Breezes Thoughts

Kinda a surprise to go to my favorite

haunt and sink into the ground and found out you can go way under; lol
ah discoveries we find in SL.
I hope to find my friends pretty soon .
Lots of underwater newness too pretty neat I found today.
Maybe we should all remember to look up and down when exploring sometimes there is lots more to see.
Now if someone could just give me a hand to get my Av out of here???

Breezes

The NOT SO Tranquil Writer -CIGBTYOT?

by Magdeleine Rossini (a.k.a. Mags)

I do not precisely recollect what newcomer life was about. That memory must have gone peacefully into the night along with the one marked "Labor and Delivery". However, I do vividly recall that on Day Three I bought some fabulous GuRLyWood hair with funding offered to me across a crowded room by a lovely pixel benefactor adorned in a dazzling black gown and sporting an enormous coif. Right-Click, Buy, Wear Now. My newly-acquired Big Hair in situ, off I toddled, breathless and ready to tackle everything. Fab!

Wondrously, she was the first in a long line of generous, supportive people I have come to know here. Because of her I decided to make my walk through this wonderful "new" world the same way as in the one where the hedges always need trimming -- in total awe.

"Yes," I vowed. "I will become an invaluable Asset to this greater universe. Giving freely, loving deeply..."

You get the point I'm sure. A Value-Added Avatar. I learned to build. I mutilated scripts. I divined exotic textures. I talked my fingers to the cuticles. I joined groups. I worked in a wonderful nightclub. I got a translator and talked my fingers further to the bone in 17 languages. I traveled to amazing places. I bought land and a house after dumping my tips into the slots one night and hitting The Big One.

Now I am prepared to contribute. To be all that I can be. But I cannot do it alone. I need your help. I am preparing a proposal to Linden Leadership for a New Blue Button for the middle of my screen, entitled ,

Now, you may think this new button is just a well-mannered tool for staving off chatty friends. I assure you its intended use is far wider-reaching.

Witness an act of kindness? Use it.

Beneficiary of the astounding global generosity and spirit that is Second Life? Use it.

And, yes. It is the perfect utility for chatty friends as well. Fortunately even on Day Three I had the presence of mind to jot down the name of my Big Hair Benefactor. When I hit The Big One, I was able to return to her the L$300. Hopefully my presence here now will serve the silent message she shared with me that night. I have no doubt she has shared again. There is never enough Big Hair.

Until the new button appears on your viewer, please apply "CIGBTYOT?" liberally. I just bet you have your own amazing story to tell, don't you?

Mags

Old Friends, and a New Friend

You never know whom you’ll meet in Second Life.

Sometimes in what seemed like a well-planned meeting with friends, someone you haven’t seen in a while will drop by to say hello.

And sometimes you’ll meet someone new, who shows quite a bit of promise.

The first day of the Second Life Newspaper Anniversary celebration was a big success, with fifty people in the sim at one point. Two times the Xploder went on overdrive, delaying the moment of it’s cash award, the second time spewing half it’s 16,000L pot to one lucky winner, and the other half split into 215 L awards to the others (a friend I TPed in put in only 15 L, making 200 ).

But that was just one part of the party. It was good to see my friends at the paper, and a couple outside it, dropping by and having a good time. Then someone called out a name I hadn’t heard in a while: Baron

And there he was, standing at the edge of the party, skinless, like a gray ghost. Our old friend Baron DeSantis had apparently come back from the “grave” to say hello. He stood there for some minutes, a few words going back and forth. Then he wished us well, and bade us farewell.

Baron had been a rather unique reporter and writer when he was here at SL Newspaper. Getting “arrested” for charity, he went back later for a series of rather unique stories. He certainly added an interesting element to the paper while he was around. But for personal reasons, he “killed” his character, and left.

Whomever else you might be here, old friend, hope you’re doing well.

Baron wasn’t the only person whom I ran into after months of silence. Recently I ran into a Japanese friend from my days hanging out at the STA sim whom I had seen only once (a friends rezzday party) since the sim disappeared. With her now having a better knowledge of English, we talked for a while on how each of us had been. A happy day.

It’s great to meet old friends.

And sometimes, one will run into someone and make a new one.

Among the people attending the anniversary party was one lady very new to Second Life. Day two of the celebration, the “newbie” party in which each of us appeared in as close to our newbie look as we could, it was different for her as she had been in SL for just three days. Thanks to supportive friends, she was already getting the hang of things, as well as having some quality clothes.

She noticed me and a friend in our newbie furry avatars, me in a “ringtail” similar to the one I entered SL in, and asked me if this how was how I looked at the start. I told her it was. She asked me if I had a free furry avatar on me, and I told her I had. I gave her a package of the “Wingless” avatars once for sale, but now available for free and passable from player to player. I also had a tan Wingless fox available ready to use and passed that over too.

For those who don’t know, the “Wingless” fox avatar folder has both male and female shapes, and also parts for both digitgrade and plantigrade legs (the latter looking more human). Newcomers had always had trouble getting the legs looking right because of all the parts, but my friend figured it out right away! She was now a pretty vixen dancing about on perfectly symmetrical digitgrade legs, as if she had at least weeks of experience, not a few days.

Running into her after the party, she had figured out about placing clothes that would normally go where her tail was attached, and was wearing a billowy silky dress. It was then that my Japanese friend came online. After some IMs, we headed over, and had quite a conversation on what one can do in Second Life, and both my friends got along well.

If there’s a glue that holds Second Life together and keeps us coming back, it is friends.

*****

On another note, it’s been about a year since I officially joined up with the paper. I had been sending a few “Reader Submitted” articles, but got the title “Freelance Writer” just in time to show up for the first Anniversary celebration. Now here I am for the second. A year of “Fox News,” in the form of articles and screenshot cartoons.

It’s been quite a journey that’s taken me to many corners of Second Life. I’ve met many interesting people, and made a few new friends along the way. There have been some sad moments, but many more happy ones. I’ve run into some talented people, some who had stories to tell of overcoming impossible odds in real life and coming out a winner. And a few I can only call heroes.

James, Dana, and all the others, it’s been great being part of the team, and I'll do my best to keep on being "fair and balanced." ;-)

Here’s to Year Three, and beyond.

Bixyl Shuftan

Reader submitted - PARTY!!!

Thanks to Fury for starting it, Luskwood's Nekkid Dance Party from two Sundays ago
Submitted by Christopher Chidester

Click for full size

SLOOP - STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT

I swear to God the last thing I was looking for when I joined SL, was a boyfriend. As a matter of fact, I didn’t know what I was looking for. But, wandering around, looking for places to hang out, I ended up at a fancy place, kind of old style, very formal, great music.
A guy approached me. I don’t exactly remember what he said, but he asked me to dance. And I said yes. I had been in SL for three months only. We were perfect strangers in the SL starry night.
I suddenly felt SL was great for romance.
I hardly remember what we said, but those must have been the right words, because the next day he asked me out, and we went back to that wonderful place that was called the Seabreeze.
We like to dance like crazy to all kinds of music, but, not being teenagers… sometimes we really need to dance to soft songs in some elegant place, wearing a tux, and a gown that flows along with the music, swaying to the tunes that carry you away to fantasy land. And we went there often. It was delightful. That was were we first kissed. (As so many other couples.) It was like being stars in an old movie. It also felt like like we were ordinary people that got mixed with wonderful fictional characters from all sorts of magic stories. Those two… maybe they are spies. That lonely guy at the bar… maybe he was waiting for his Ilsa, like Bogey. And that couple saying sweet things to each other, out loud… It was magic.
But… a few months ago… the Seabreeze closed. For good. Off the grid. And the lovely owner also vanished from SL. We were used to her voice. We felt welcomed. We loved her. The Seabreeze was “our place”.
And we have been looking for a new place that could become “our place” again, ever since.
We have a few clubs that are so much fun, and I will be writing about them soon. But that special place… the one we miss when we are in the mood for a romantic evening, with great songs from all times, a timeless elegant place for lovers… That we hadn’t found.
Until a while ago.
The “Midnight Romance” filled in the hole the Seabreeze left.
Amazing, huge ballroom. The floor reflects the crystal chandeliers. The white piano shines on the stage. Retro style. Elegant. Fancy. The owners, Ted Rousselot and Angie Dailey, are such warm and enchanting couple… they make you feel like they have been your friends for ever.
The place is great, the mood is right, people are nice, and we have found a new place to call “our place”. A new place to believe for a while we are Bogie and Bergman. Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. Or whoever makes you dream. Or just yourselves.
If you are in love, you must take your sweetheart and dance in this dreamy Club.
If you have a date… someone you just met and want to get to know better… can’t think of a better place.
If you are alone… Great place to meet people.
I can tell you from my own experience: it turned out so right… for strangers in the night.
Covadonga Writer

Breast Cancer support group in SL

This week I went to the Support group to hear Lady Kay Gable talk about her survival of 2 bouts of breast Cancer. I want all who read this to realize what a battle of fighting cancer is and that it can be done and we all support every cancer there is. What an awesome group the American Cancer society is.
Visit American Cancer Society (136, 182, 48)

'For several years, the American Cancer Society has existed in Second Life through its volunteers, Relay For Life event, and an island that served as a central meeting place for volunteers and avatars, of those who are affected by cancer.
The new Island features a 4-story, two-tiered office building that is dedicated to Relay For Life volunteers, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer volunteers, Island Greeter volunteers, and an Information Library.
American Cancer Society pamphlets and brochures provide information related to cancer prevention, treatment options, support and information and is available in the Information Library, as well as informative videos about the history of the American Cancer Society, cancer information, patient support programs, and Relay For Life information.'

I want to say to you fighting cancer should not be done alone and for any of you that have been touched by this terrible disease you should know the support is there. Thank you Lady Kay for sharing your inspirational story with us.
Breezes Babii

Feelings were running high on bonfire night (November 5th)
Faery Crossing members Guy Fawkes Bonfire burned a Linden he is almost gone in health everyone around danced as fireworks were enjoyed!

I hope you all had fun - but I don't think the 'guy' did.

Breezes Babii

I am always searching for something!

Sloop - THE ONE YEAR SL BLUES

Someone told me, when I was a newbie, that time in SL runs at a different pace. I didn’t understand it then, but now I’m certain it does. It runs slower. A week seems like such a long time, a year it’s like a decade.
They also told me that the “one year barrier” was tough to dodge. It seems that’s a kind of turning point: around the first year, most people experience a deceleration in their enthusiasm to live a Second Life.
To be honest, I have detected it among many of my friends. And I also think it might be contagious. Enthusiasm is contagious. So is depression. If you call and no one answers, you stop calling.
I guess, like everything in RL too, what’s new is fun. And everything is new in SL when we become citizens of this virtual world.
It’s amazing to TP, to be able to change your look, to find almost everything you can think of, to build stuff, to furnish your house, to buy clothes and change with just a “click” of the mouse. To fly.
It’s great to go dancing, to join groups, to meet people, to throw parties, to have a job.
The inner child wakes up, to see that our fantasy world has really come to life.
But… unless you have taken up some of the things you can do here as a serious enterprise, by the time a year or so has passed, there aren’t many tricks up this virtual world’s sleeve. And then… that’s the time when you need to stop being just frivolous: some good old feelings from RL should come in handy.
Take a look at your Friend’s List. Is it extremely long? Filled with names you don’t even remember who they belong to?
Or, instead, you have a few very close friends, the kind you miss when you are not in SL? Do you have a partner? Are you in love with someone? Do you love what you do here? Do you really care?
I have met some amazing people here. People that are engaged in making this place a gateway to a very special kind of experience. People that teach, people that learn, all kinds of artists, people that think of ways for other people to have fun, people that understood this is a place to share. Like RL, this is about getting involved.
It starts like a game we enjoy in amazement. Then, if you can’t find a way to bond, to belong here, -no matter how little time you spend in SL- it’s over. It starts to fade. Like children get tired of toys… and throw them to a corner to be replaced by the new one. I already have seen that happen. And It’s a pity. Some of us have invested real feelings. Honest feelings. Please, don’t give up easily. Keeping this alive takes a lot of work. Like in RL. You have to water the plants. You have to call your friends and ask them how are they doing. You have to tell them you love them and you miss them. And they have to take the trouble to answer, if they care.
So, when the One Year Blues kick in, pull yourself up and get back in the grid. Believe it or not, some people in here love you.
Covadonga Writer

Breezes Thoughts

I found my outlet. Beating the drums with Taiko drum Sticks. Beating out the sound, vibrates thru the night skies, the frogs are croaking ( I hope none else does around me) the wind is balmy, blowing my hair, soothing my soul, the waters are lapping against the dock, the sampans are waiting for me to take a calming ride across the seas. Come to Puzo and you will enjoy too.

Breezes Babii

101!

Did I think we would actually make it to 100??
Never!
One year ago in September I joined a philosophy class in SL. I figured even though the project was announced to be the study of the 100 philosophers who have influenced the thinking of today we would never make it to the end. I determined to stay until the end whenever it might come.
After all, how many avatars would stick around and also what would the professor do after it became too burdensome.
I guess I was not the only determined one!
The professor stuck!!
He thrived on it, putting in as many as 15 hours a week in both preparation and presentation.
In our final class of the original project Herman Bergson was philosopher 101, explaining his own experience during the past year with the words, “You all were in fact my teachers and a great help during more than a year. Your participation and enthusiasm showed that it was worth investing so much time in this project.”
We met 3 times a week for an hour, sometimes longer.
Some of the members were much more into philosophical discussion than others.
We came from all over the world! Sometimes we wandered away from the lesson of the day and were gently pulled back onto the correct path, well, sometimes dragged back kicking and screaming. Some of the original members disappeared, but others came to take their place. We all made some very good friends and we made it to 100!
Along the way it occurred to us that after the 100 we would have more work to do together. Each class and each discussion appeared on Professor Bergson’blog(http://www.thoughts.com/herman_bergson/blog) so any absentee could follow what was missed. Aristotlevon Doobie also began a book in which he put every class presented. He also included links to the background material for each philosopher. The updates came every few days in e-mail to those who wanted it along with some pithy saying and sometimes art attached. At the end was a year book with the members of the class in portrait.
We got no degree for our work and fortunately no exams!!! AND on Sunday we begin again!!
Our next series of lectures will be 25 women philosophers and their influence on modern philosophical thinking!
You are invited to join the class by contacting Herman Bergson. Hope to see you there.
Gemma Cleanslate