SL Enquirer- Feedspots 25 Best SecondLife Blogs for 2026: Josh (Thomas1 Bellic) Reporting

SL Enquirer has received many accolades in their 20+ years of existence.  But this recent recognition tops them all, in that this is a recognition from OUTSIDE SecondLife. To get her take on this accomplishment, I was able to catch up with SL Enquire Owner and Founder, Lanai Jarrico.  She was busily updating the list of businesses we support when I found her hard at work in the Office.  I asked her about this most recent award.  This is her story.

Josh (Thomas1 Bellic) (JB):     Hi Lanai.  Let me congratulate you on the SL Enquirer having been selected as one of Feedspots 25 Best Second Life Blogs to Follow in 2026.  Feedspot is an RSS Reader that lets you subscribe to blogs, news sites, and any website you want to keep up with. According to the FeedSpot Website, the best Second Life blogs are curated and ranked based on multiple factors, including content relevancy, subject expertise, posting frequency, and freshness of content. Blogs with highest credibility within the Second Life space are ranked higher. This list is updated regularly to ensure it reflects the most active, influential, and valuable Second Life blogs on the internet today.

JB:     What does this mean to you as the Owner of SL Enquirer?

Lanai Jarrico (LJ):     Thank you, Josh! I cannot accept this honor alone. Our team and everyone who has contributed to our growth made this possible!  I was surprised to be contacted by Anuj, one of the founders of  FeedSpot. I had no idea The SL Enquirer was included on their website. This means we are not just another blog on the internet, but we are part of a recognised list of Virtual world media sources that provide services to the virtual world and Second Life community. To be in the top 25 Second Life content creators is pretty cool. It means something to me that we are noticed outside of the virtual world. We are making a difference! 

JB:     I know the SL Enquirer has received various recognitions over the years, but have you ever been recognized as a Top Blog? 

LJ:     We have received many awards and plaques through the years for the work we do in Second Life. The closest recognition was probably from SpaceX of SL, but it happened in SL and Elon wasn’t there to hand out the award. I gave a speech, but I wasn't aware it was being live-streamed on YouTube! This one feels different because it is outside of Second Life. I don’t recall ever being recognized as a Top Blogger for a real-world website.  I’m grateful for the recognition from the panel that decided SLE should be on that list.

JB:     Did you submit Your Blog for their consideration, or did they find you? 

LJ:     I didn’t enter any contest or apply for anything. They found me! While sorting through my emails, I came across one from Anuj. At first I wasn’t sure if it was spam or the real deal. I’m glad I gave it a second look. I checked out their website, and to my surprise, it was legit, so I had to share the news with my team.

JB:     I see the Recognition is for being in the top 25, but if we drill down, we see that SL Enquirer actually came in as Number 9 of all the Blogs they reviewed. So you are actually in the Top 10 overall.  How cool is THAT?

 LJ:     That is pretty cool! I hope I don’t have to give a speech; I’m so not ready! lol

 JB:     I understand the SL Enquirer is the longest-running virtual world news source for fans by fans of Second Life(c), featuring events, fashion, music, culture and more.  Just how long has SL Enquirer been serving the Second Life Community? 

 LJ:     SLE has been in Second Life since 2005 when I migrated here from The SIMS Online. I actually created the original news source in TSO back in 2004. It started as a little blog I shared with my circle of friends. I’d write about the random things I was experiencing there. My friends told their friends, their friends told others, and so on. I didn’t set out to be a Media Mogul, but It went viral! With that, I felt a sense of responsibility to continue to spread news and open up SLE to other creative writers who wanted to share their experiences in this unique virtual world. Here we are 20 years later, being recognized outside of Second Life. Amazing.

JB:     In the past year, the SL Enquirer has experienced a major uptick in the number of monthly views.  At last count, you are averaging north of over a Quarter Million views every month.  To what do you attribute this uptick in popularity?

 LJ:     That’s pretty incredible! I’m still trying to wrap my head around the traffic. Last month we closed out with 447,361 views! While reviewing our Analytics, I saw that the majority of readers come from the United States, Asia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Germany. 

 JB:     What advice could you give other Blog owners looking to increase their visibility in the SL Community and beyond?

 LJ:     The only advice I can give is to be original and have fun. If you love what you do, it will show, and readers will follow. Engage with everyone at eye level and treat others the way you’d like to be treated. I’ve come across many bloggers who have lost sight of these simple principles, and it never works for them in the long run. After 20 years of service to the virtual community, I must say it has been an amazing experience. I’ve met so many talented people and learned so much from them.  I appreciate everyone who has followed us through the years and has been so kind and supportive. It is an honor to be part of such a one-of-a-kind environment. 

So, there you have it Folks, the News and Information source you have known and trusted for so long is now being read outside the Virtual World of SecondLife. So, go check ‘em out.  For more information about FeedSpot, be sure to hit up their 55 second video at:   https://www.feedspot.com/rss-reader .  Then see what the Buzz is all about at www.slenquirer.com

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SPOTLIGHT ON DREAM SEEKER ESTATES- INTERVIEW WITH Candy Dreamseeker- Lanai Jarrico Reporting…

Established in 2007 by Zeebster Colasanti, Dream Seeker Estates has proudly positioned itself as a leader in the virtual real estate market. They are the second-largest private estate in Second Life and the current 2025 Avi Choice Awards recipient.

With parcels ranging from 512m² to 65536m², Dream Seeker Estates has a place you can call home or start a business, and you don’t even have to be a premium member to acquire land! I can speak from firsthand experience about the service DSE provides. The SL Enquirer Media Center has been located in one of its many regions for the past 6 years. I sat down with Candy Dreamseeker to learn more about DSE and what makes it one of the top SL real estate companies on the grid.

Interview with Candy Dreamseeker, Dream Seeker Estates Marketing Manager

Lanai:  Hi Candy, it is a pleasure to meet with you. I know you are a busy lady out here, being a successful Marketing Manager and Corporate Avatar. That is such an important role, Zeebster must be proud.  Let me start by saying thank you for the exceptional service you and all of DSE’s support team provide to not just SLE, but for the many other tenants who call Dream Seeker Estates home. You’ve been on the grid for over 14 years. Can you share with our readers how you discovered Second Life and how you became part of the Dream Seeker Estates team?

Candy: It's a pleasure to meet you too! Thank you so much for the compliments, Zeebster and the entire team are so very proud of all the accomplishments we have made over the years. So, I've actually been part of Second Life for more than 22 years now although Candy was created 14 years ago for DSE. I discovered Second Life after playing another virtual world game, and what immediately captured my attention is that Second Life was a blank canvas and I was so amazed that everything in SL was created by the residents! Back then, Second Life was very different. This was before mesh and sculpty, when the mainland was where everyone gathered and explored. I've had the privilege of watching Second Life grow and evolve over the years, and it's been an incredible journey. It has truly been life-changing for me. Not only have I been able to pursue my creativity, but I also met my RL husband here in 2006! What has kept me here is the freedom to express my creativity and bring even my wildest ideas to life, knowing there would always be others who shared that same passion.

As for Dream Seeker Estates, I was building a family community at the time and wanted an estate company that truly believed in helping communities thrive. I explored several estates, but Dream Seeker Estates immediately stood out. Their team was genuinely engaged, responsive whenever I needed assistance, and made me feel like their residents and the community mattered. It was refreshing to find a company that invested not just in the land, but in the people and the dreams behind it.

Once I became a resident, I quickly understood why Dream Seeker Estates had earned such a strong reputation. Their success comes from a genuine commitment to creating spaces where people feel welcome, supported, and inspired to build communities they truly love. I've now been working with Dream Seeker Estates for more than 17 years and have worn many different hats along the way. Overall, as you said in your opening, seeing our commitment to exceptional service recognized by the community, especially through winning the Avi Choice Award for Favorite Land Company really brought everything full circle for us. We're incredibly grateful to our residents and the community for their trust, support, and recognition over the years.

Lanai: I agree with what you said about DSE and its genuine commitment to the professional services you all provide. I love it here. Behind the scenes, I know there is a lot involved in marketing; in fact,  you play a vital role, as it is what keeps businesses relevant and successful. What does a day in Second Life look like from your perspective as you manage DSE?

Well, no two days are ever the same, and that's one of the things I love most about my role. I usually start my day by checking messages, catching up with our management team, and making sure everything is running smoothly before shifting into marketing mode. From there, every day is a little different. I might be planning events, creating advertisements, managing our social media presence, producing promotional videos, or brainstorming new ways to showcase everything Dream Seeker Estates has to offer.

A big part of my job is connecting with people. We love finding meaningful ways to support our community, from sponsoring charities like Relay for Life and Doctors Without Borders to collaborating with content creators and building partnerships that highlight their creations within our landscaping. At the end of the day, when our residents are excited about their homes, businesses, and events, and we can match that excitement by supporting their vision, I know we've done our job. That's what makes every day worthwhile.

Lanai: I love that.  It takes a strong, dedicated team and a great leader to make it work. Zeebster has definitely established that with Dream Seeker Estates. The website is very well put together and easy to navigate.  Can you share with our readers who makes up the support team and describe their roles?

Candy: The support team consists of Anjel Sweetwater, Lillith Ravenwood, RuRu Macbain, and Trixie Pooh. Each member is a Senior Support Agent with authority to handle nearly all day-to-day estate management: from tier transfers and reclaims to estate manager additions, removals, and escalation to Linden Lab should the need arise. If our support team is unable to resolve the issue, it is escalated to Manager Renae Daines.

Together, the team handles around 4,000 support requests each month through in-world IMs, notecards, our support kiosk, and our web support portal, with Discord support planned for the future.

Lanai: That’s impressive. What type of properties are currently available?

Candy: We have properties that focus on Moderate and Adult Residential, Moderate and Adult Commercial, Moderate Farmland, Moderate Neighborhood, Moderate and Adult Unzoned, and Single-Tenant Homesteads and Full Regions.

Lanai: DSE has it covered with something for everyone! Can you describe the process for first-time land renters?

Candy: We've taken great care to ensure all the necessary information is provided on the land itself. The sign that is present on all of our available properties covers the price per week, the purchase price, how many days are provided with the purchase, the prims, the size, the zoning, and maturity.

Upon landing on a property one of our sales staff reaches out to provide any assistance with the buying process. Some prefer a more hands-off approach while some may prefer more supportive assistance to find their perfect home. This just depends on each individual person and we respect their decision.

Once purchased, the sales agent would walk them through where their tierbox is located, how to contact us for assistance, invite them to the group, and answer any outstanding questions they may have.

Lanai:  That level of support is so helpful. Do you host any specials for your residents? Are there any restrictions?

Candy: We provide a generous referral program in which if you refer someone to Dream Seeker Estates, as long as they have paid for 4 weeks of rent and are new to the estate, we will pay you for bringing them to us. You do not need to own land with us to be paid and it is paid out in Linden Dollars. You can find more information on our referral system by clicking on any of the signs on the parcels or by visiting the support article here: https://support.dreamseekerestates.com/hc/en-us/articles/218286298-Sales-Referrals.

As for restrictions, most of our covenant limitations are aimed at keeping the atmosphere enjoyable, beneficial, and fair for all tenants. This means we encourage tenants to avoid political or religious campaigning simply because it invites conflict.  And if a tenant has questions on if they can or cannot use a space for their specific use-case, they can always reach out to our support team to get a definitive answer. 

Lanai: Readers, DSE also offers Landscaping services; all you have to do is visit the DSE Land store and book an appointment!  

If you are interested in being part of the DSE Team, simply apply at the land store.

 Candy, thank you for taking the time to share what Dream Seeker Estates has to offer the residents of Second Life.  I look forward to meeting some more new neighbors!

Visit Dreameeker Estates Land Store here:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Dream%20Seeker/66/51/23

Additional Information

TELEPORT: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Dream%20Seeker/66/51/23

WEBSITE: https://www.dreamseekerestates.com

DREAM SEEKER ESTATES SUPPORT: http://support.dreamseekerestates.com/home

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/DreamSeekerEstates

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/dreamseekerestates/

PRIMFEED: https://www.primfeed.com/candy.dreamseeker

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@DreamSeekerEstates

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Interview with a Florida Man of Second Life: A Public Service Announcement in Disguise- Lanai Jarrico Reporting

You know that moment when you’re at an event, minding your own virtual business, and suddenly some walking red flag in pixelated freebie jeans and T-shirt crashes through local chat like a Category 5 storm? Yeah. That guy.

Every grid has one, but in Second Life we’ve refined him into an art form: The Florida Man of SL.  He lives in everyone’s friend list, or questionable “people you may know” panel. In my case, this suspicious alt-looking avatar fell out of the sky and landed at the Media Center.

In the interest of science, journalism, and keeping from becoming the next “ I got griefed by an Alt named “C0ca1neD0lpHin” story, I decided to sit this dude down for an exclusive interview.

Meet C0ca1neD0lpHin AKA Florida Man of SL( Fake name to conceal his identity)

Lanai: Welcome to SL Enquirer, where everyone is welcome. Just don’t act up and find out. So, for the record, who are you and what exactly do you do in Second Life?

Florida Man of SL: Name’s (BLEEP), but my friends call me “Bro.”  I’m a visionary entrepreneur, social influencer, club owner, DJ, security expert, land tycoon, and part-time relationship coach.  Currently between clubs, lands, fans, and relationships, but that's just because the grid isn’t ready for my next big thing yet.

PSA: if someone’s SL profile says they’re a CEO/ Influencer/Land Baron/DJ/Secuirty all in one, they’re not a mogul.   They’re a walking ToS violation in freebie gear.  Ask for one concrete thing they actually run that you can visit right now.

Lanai: So… “ between clubs” is an interesting way to spell “ I have a Marketplace store with three free boxes from 2012.” What happened to your last venue and why is your avatar a literal 1st generation being from the beta days?

Florida Man of SL:  Listen,  I prefer to be called vintage.  Going back to your question, that club was legendary.  We had the best traffic money can buy.  I would have kept it open, but the staff was toxic, the DJs wanted pay, the landlord expected rent, and the grid lagged my vibe. So I shut it down on principle.  Also, the estate manager banned me, but that’s political.

PSA: Any club or “business” owner who blames everybody else (staff, DJs, haters, lag) and never once says “ I planned poorly” is telling you exactly how they’ll treat you when things go wrong.  Screenshot the excuses, not the promises.

Lanai:Uh Ok… I’m sure that’s how it went down. Anyway, walk me through a typical day in the life of a Florida Man of SL.

Florida Man of SL: Wait. How did you know I’m from Florida?

Lanai: Wild guess.

Florida Man of SL: Oh. You are good!  I wake up in my skybox. Rez a 4096 prim truck on a 512 parcel and check my notecards. Then I send out about 150 group invites that nobody asked for, drop a logo on at least three other people’s dance floors “ by accident,” and hit up every woman within a 30-meter radius with “ Hey sexy, voice?” After that, I stand in at Welcome center and tell everyone how rich I am. 

PSA: Unsolicited group invites= digital spam

 Randomly dropping objects on other people’s land= tacky and reportable

“Hey sexy, Voice?” as an opener= automatic mental recycle bin.

Mute Early. Mute often

Lanai: While wearing freebie shoes?... SMH.  Let's talk about money, since you swear you’re a tycoon. How do you “do business” on the grid?

Florida Man of SL: Correction, vintage shoes.  Easy. You make a group, call it something important like “ official SL Security Department”, then sell “ staff tags” for 500L a pop.  You tell people they’ll get paid “ from tips” but never actually set up a tip jar. Then you spam local: Advertising slots available!  Serious business owners only!” and wait for someone new to hand you their rent money because you have a logo.

PSA: Real advertisers will show you their website, traffic numbers, and how long they’ve been around.  Ask, “Can you show me examples of other ads you’re running right now?” If they can’t produce anything except a group tag and an attitude, keep your lindens in your pocket. 

Lanai: Has anyone ever told you that is the worst business advice you can offer?  I can see you’ve been around a while and should know better but honestly I’m not even surprised at this point. What are your thoughts on the “old” SL versus the new, grown-up virtual world community?

Florida Man of SL: Back in the day, this grid was wild. No mesh, no rules, just bling shoes, camping chair, and voice arguments that lasted three days.  Now you people got decor themes and event calendars and “ brand reputations.” Disgusting. I respect it though. Makes it easier to spot the suckers.  If your profile has “ New to SL, please help” in 2026, that’s basically an open wallet with legs.

PSA: We were all new once. Help people, but don’t fund strangers' “business ideas”. If someone’s first real conversation with you includes the word “loans,” “ invest,” or sponsor my land,” that’s not a friendship; that’s a sales pitch.

Lanai: Am I missing something here? I don’t know if you are serious or just being an outdated griefer at this point. Since you are such a “businessman”, what are your top money-making tips for the average SL resident that I can suggest to do the total opposite?

Florida Man: Easy. Step one: Stop trying to get rich off one event where your cousin’s DJing from his phone on hotel Wifi. You are no Coachella.  You are a skybox with lag,

Step two: If your brand is a packed profile full of “no drama”, no BS, good vibes only” I already know you’re about to bring the drama, BS, and terrible vibes… and probably ask for a discount on top of it. Step three: if you actually want to make money? Show up, same name, same place, same hours, every week. Consistency is more powerful than whatever glitter body oil you’re using on your dance team.

PSA: “I opened a club”! It's not a business plan.  Have a schedule, have a list, have someone on staff who can answer an IM without rage quitting. If you disappear for two weeks and come back with a new logo, that’s not a “rebrand”; that’s ghosting with extra steps.

Lanai: Ok so you are serious? I’m so damn confused at this point. Any last words for the good people of Second Life? I have a business to run.

Florida Man of SL: Yeah. Stop trying to impress everybody and start paying attention. Read profiles, read group notices, read fine print on the “ too good to be true” land deal.  If you’re having fun, not broke, and constantly rage-quitting? You’re already doing better than half this grid.

Lanai: Rage- quitting? OK… on that spiritually confusing note, we’ll wrap it up here. Whether you are a Florida Man of SL, a tired club owner, or just figuring out why your hair is attached to your spine, remember: the grid is what you make of it. Try not to make it a crime scene. Just remember that in SL, not everybody knows what they are doing, most are winging it, and half of us rezzed bald and half naked in the middle of a crowd at one point in time. Be an SL community team player have fun, be kind and tip your hosts, mute the gesture spammer, refrain from public disputes, and if all else fails, blame lag and log out.

PSA: At the end of the day, this is a pixel world with very real money and very real emotions wired into it. Laugh, document your stupid moments, protect your wallet, and remember you can always… just log out and come back refreshed and ready to bring your creativity. If logging in becomes a chore instead of bringing you joy. What’s the whole point?

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The Phoenix: Bringing Exotic Adult Entertainment to a Whole New Level – Josh (Thomas1 Bellic) Reporting

The SL Enquirer prides itself on bringing you, our reader, reviews of the many and varied environments available throughout the entire SL Grid.  This week we happened upon one of the more recent additions:  The Phoenix: Exotic D/s BDSM Adult Entertainment Club.   We caught up with the Owners of this amazing venue, Max And Gabby Zsun Daemon as they were preparing for the weekend activities, and they graciously gave me a personalized tour of their wonderous and opulent creation.  They agreed to answer some of my questions in order that we might inform you all of this amazing Adult Entertainment venue.

Josh (Thomas1 Bellic) (JB):     Can you tell me something of the history of The Phoenix Club and what motivated you to open a BDSM club?

Max Daemon (MD): Dating back to Oct 2025 I had an idea to open a night club. The idea was to offer something different.  After visiting many clubs, I came up with the idea to open an Egyptian themed club which became what we are today: a BDSM & Hedonistic social and entertainment venue. I'd like to state that although we are a BDSM venue, it is only one aspect of what the club is about.

We are a social entertainment venue offering a variety of adult-themed events. We have a Dance floor, a beach and pool, and a wrestling ring. Events will vary using any one of the areas within the club grounds.  Phoenix has a very exotic, opulent environment. It's like stepping into a transporter, spiriting you to a modern-day Egyptian themed night club. It’s been designed with both Cyber-Tek and Art Deco elements making it a unique blend of old and new worlds. 

 JB:     So then, tell me about the sorts of events you host here..

Gabby Zsun Daemon (GZ):     Aside from our weekly parties, (DJs Tuesdays through Sundays in the evening 7-9 SLT),  we host special events every 4 - 6 weeks. We've had Cleopatra look-alike and Eyes Wide Shut contest events as well as Rock Concerts.  We want everybody to have fun.

JB:     As you know, there are lots of Gentleman Clubs in SecondLife.  What is distinctive about The Phoenix Club that sets you apart from all the others?

MD:  I am glad you asked.  There are actually several things we do that set us apart from the rest of the BDSM Community.  First, we are a multi ethnic group of individuals.  Second, we are not just a BDSM club, but we incorporate elements of the Hedonistic Lifestyle as well. Third, unlike most clubs that cater only to male dominants, we have special areas set aside for female dominants as well. Fourth, we offer not only a stand-alone clubhouse, but we also incorporate a beach, a garden area and dance floor, and more in one integrated, well-laid-out venue.  Fifth, we present our guests with an extremely elegant and opulent design throughout the sim.  And sixth, we pride ourselves on presenting a warm, easy-going, and friendly atmosphere.

JB:     I see kind of an “Ancient Egyptian” vibe going here.  What were you looking for here?

MD:     We wanted to have an ancient look but also modern.  Hence, Phoenix D/s is like stepping into a transporter, spiriting you to a modern day Egyptian themed night club. It’s been designed with both Cyber-Tek and Art Deco elements, making it a unique blend of old and new worlds.

JB:     And do you have a staff to help run the place?  Who might they be?

MD:     Yes, Lassey, a close and very dear friend, assisted us on the build and is also a DJ for us on Friday nights.   Additionally, Arabella Bloodraven Runewolf helps us operate our wrestling matches and as well assists in many other ways

JB:     What an amazing build.  Did you do it yourself, or who were some of the big contributors here?

MD:     Mainly Max was the designer/builder. Other than some technical assistance from a close friend, the design was from Max's mind, along with some input from Gabi who helped Max decide on design elements and textures etc.

 JB:     What types of guests do you think would most enjoy visiting The Phoenix Club

GZ:     For people who want a friendly place to explore their SL fantasies, we provide that place; and of course we have dancers available for one-on-one exploration.

JB:     Did I see a Wrestling Ring out back?  What is that about and where do you get your wrestlers?

GZ:     We hold Girls Wrestling every Sunday 3-4:30 SLT.  The girls enjoy it and we  are also moving into addition of males too. Arabella helps us with fighter recruitment. We feel this gives us a wider audience. All are welcome to stay and enjoy the club after events as well.

JB:     This sounds like an amazingly “open” environment. Do you have any restrictions you place on activities here?

GZ:     First off, it is important that all our guests be Adults only, human forms please. Other than that, we are pretty much an open venue.

JB:     So then, do you maintain any Social Media presence, or a way for people to find out what is going on at Phoenix?

MD:     Certainly.  Interested folks can contact us on our Discord Channel:  Phoenix Ds Entertainment

JB:     Is there anything else you would like to say

GZ:     We didn't open this club to make Lindens. We had a vision to provide a beautiful and thoughtful area for people to relax and socialize with like-minded people.

 So, there you have it, folks.  For the latest and greatest in Adult Nightclub Entertainment, you won’t want to miss this place…Just a hop, skip, and a TP from where you are right now.  Check them out at:  

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cyldane/12/195/21 

For any questions you might have about the Phoenix Club, please contact "Gabby Zsun - Daemon (gabrielle.zsun)"  

You’ll be glad you did.  And when you do, tell ‘em “Josh Sent ya.”

Be there!  Aloha!!

JB

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DISCLOSURE DAY- INTERVIEW WITH AN ALIEN- Lanai Jarrico reporting…

I’ve come across many Avatars in my day as a reporter here in Second Life, but I have to say, this particular being set the bar high for special guests like Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and even that flirtatious Cupid, whom I've had the opportunity to interview on a few occasions. It happened very unexpectedly and caught me a bit off guard as I was making my rounds at the SL Enquirer Media Center. I noticed the air was thick with the scent of ozone and something ancient, a metallic tang that clung to the back of my throat. I stood across from a being that defied every law of virtual biology I knew. They called him Enox. He didn't breathe, yet the center vibrated with a low-frequency hum that seemed to emanate from his translucent grey skin. As I secretly clicked my recorder on, the flickering lights near the stage area dimmed and turned off, leaving us in an awkward silence stare. This was the moment humanity had been both craving and dreading: the first recorded words from beyond our stars. I slowly walked closer and introduced myself.

Interview with Enox

Lanai: Hi…. Welcome to SLE. How can I help you?

Enox: Lanai, just the Avatar I was looking for. I was sent here on a mission from the Zeta Reticuli star system.

Lanai: Where’s that?  You came here specifically to speak to me? OMG, what did I do? Are you here to abduct me??

Enox: This star system is located in the southern constellation of Reticulum, and no, I’m not here to abduct you again. Last time we tried that, you woke up in the middle of the experiments and caused a whole scene, destroying our equipment and using language that offended us. We had to knock you back out and put you back in your bed. You are flagged as a feisty, foul-mouthed abductee not suitable for our breeding program. We cannot have another one of you cloned for the safety of mankind, but you are still very much a person of interest to us.  

Lanai: o.O… I should be offended! You snatched me out of my bed, and I can’t even remember what happened! I’ll have you know I make beautiful children. Pfft.

Enox: You humans are still strange and feral. We are trying to figure out if you humans are ready before we fully disclose the truth about the Universe and all the life forms in it.  We tried that thousands of years ago when we came here to mine for gold and constructed the Pyramids. At that time, humans were at least willing to work with us until they began carving graffiti all over the place, depicting images of us and our spacecraft. We are a shy culture and wish to stay out of the way and let you all thrive on your own. Sadly, you all are causing so much commotion on this planet that it might be time to intervene. In particular the use of social media. The type of TikTok videos you species make is utterly ridiculous. Whoever invented twerking should be ashamed of themselves. Anyway, You are the CEO of The SL Enquirer. Who better than you to deliver our message to the masses?

Lanai: “blinks” OK. Well, you caught me off guard. If I had known you were coming, I would have prepared a proper interview. I have so many questions, but I don’t even know where to start. Do you have a name?

Enox: My name is Enox.

Lanai: That’s a start. Nice to meet you… again apparently. Why did you pick today to come?

Enox: Well, the World Cup is happening, and apparently, an abductee went and told someone we were preparing to do a mass abduction in Miami.

Lanai: Yeah, I heard about that on TikTok, but you can’t believe everything you read on the internet. So, is it true?

Enox: If I disclosed that information, it would ruin the element of surprise. You will just have to wait and see. Right now, I can only tell you that we are real and have been watching from afar. We are still trying to understand why the Kardashians are famous, what Elon is planning to do with his Trillions, and what animal Spam is actually made of. There are so many things we are still trying to figure out. 

Lanai: There are things I’m trying to figure out, too. Like, what's up with random cow mutilations, crop circles, and those Nasca lines? Can you at least tell me if Bigfoot is real or why it is illegal to speak to dolphins?

Enox: Sighs…The crop circles and Nasca Lines are just art and road maps for us. They only got discovered when airplanes were invented and became visible from the sky.  I hate to break it to you about Bigfoot. Yes, they are real, but smart enough to stay away from populated areas. They don’t want to catch all the diseases and drama your species is riddled with. Also, don’t try speaking to dolphins; they know way too much, and they like to kidnap people to help build their underwater cities in the Gulf of Mexico.

Lanai: I get it.  That’s some weird shit. So, what exactly do you want me to share with the masses since you seem to be very vague with your information?

Enox: Honestly, I just wanted to meet you. Are you seeing someone?

Lanai: What!?! Are you kidding me?

Enox: Of course, I’m kidding. I will disclose that this planet is actually a simulator. Second Life is the closest replica of what all of you are experiencing in the “real world”. AI is actually disclosure, and the more tech intervenes, the more desensitized you will become to the world around you. Once everyone is acclimated to the new normal, we will be back to reclaim this planet and reset it again. Are you ready?

Lanai: That kinda sounds freakishly believable…Should I pack a bag and come with you now?

Enox let out a sound like static, a dry laugh that vibrated in my chest. "Keep your bags packed, Lanai. But don’t worry about coming with me—not yet. For now, just keep reporting on the madness. We’ll be watching to see if you can tell the difference between the code and the truth." 

With that, the metallic scent of ozone spiked, the lights flickered violently, and in a blink, he was gone. I was left standing alone in the silent Media Center, staring at the empty spot where an alien had just casually explained the end of the world, wondering if I should write this up or if my system was just glitching again.

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Kingdom City Church: Spreading the Gospel of Christ in a Pixelated World – Josh (Thomas1 Bellic, Reporting)

SecondLife a Virtual World creation from Linden Labs is known for its art, entertainment, building designs, fashion, theme parks, bars, dance halls, brothels, alternative life-style sims, and open-air forests.

But without a thorough deep dive into SL, you might well miss another side to life on the grid:  The Spiritual.  Today’s guest is Samuel James, pastor at Kingdom City Church.  Unique, even among other churches in SL, Kingdom City Church is, according to Samuel, inspired by God, and provides a place for the Gospel message of Jesus Christ to be made available to people who might not otherwise have access, or simply choose not to attend, mainline RL churches.  With Kingdom City Church being a fairly new arrival on the SL scene, I caught up with Samuel who agreed to share his vision with SL Enquirer readers.  What follows in his story.

Josh (Thomas1 Bellic) (JB):     Hello, Samuel.  Thanks so much for agreeing to meet with me today.  To start things off, please share with us how you decided to establish a Church in SecondLife?

(Samuel James) (SJ):     I saw a need, I felt that the way I envisioned church is SL was not available, I saw no real live worship in the churches and poor quality 96kb sermons on 40 dollar microphones, I’m not trying to sound mean here, I just felt like there needed to be the same standard we give to worldly things, like SL music/DJ scene, given to the things of the kingdom, and I have the equipment.. I have the zeal, so I took a page of Isiah's book, literally, here I am, send me.

JB:     I understand you are an ordained Minister of the Gospel. Isn't it quite a leap from RL ordained Minister to SL Church Leader?

SJ:     I am not ordained in that sense.  To be ordained, you have to go to a Baptist church or an Anglican church, recognized by a top-down hierarchy of promotion.  There is no high educational degree that makes you a pastor, no board of directors in a city has sanctioned my ministry. It is true that I have served as a pastor at 2 different RL churches and have been in ministry for over 10 years but, that was through "showing myself approved" to those local church bodies who were non-denominational and did not have a pope-like hierarchy to answer to…the word “ordained” is an archaic word that means older men gave me permission to do this.  God gave me permission, not a man in Rome.

JB:     Do you do this full-time, or is this a supplemental job for you?

SJ:     Ministry is a full-time lifestyle.  To pay my bills, I perform shows all around the grid, but that is not my job, its simply what I do to eat and live.  My job is to be about my Father's business, and that is the business of Kingdom Building

JB:     Have you done this on your own?  Or have you had help?

SJ:     Thanks to God I have a team of Godly people who started this with me, starting with my Wife Esther, and my two wonderful friends, Mandy and Zelly.

JB:     How big is your congregation?

SJ:     At the moment, we have around 10-20 coming as of our 2nd week, our building seats 72 with room to expand

JB:     I noticed your attire is a bit different from what is normally worn by pastors.  Why the difference?

SJ:     Yes so, lol, we are not interested in being what society deems as fancy.  I preach barefoot. I do not care about labels, expectations or dressing like an upper middle-class bank manager.  I was born in dirt. I come from the side of the tracks you don’t take your children to for picnics. I’m Australian… but I am what Americans would call "white trash".

JB:     I saw some other buildings on your property when I visited.  What are they for?

SJ:     So, we have lots of things on the KCC land, including two cabins, with general seating areas for activities such as bible studies etc.  We also host a podcast from the location called the Kingdom Think Podcast, as well as an entire area dedicated to games such as put-put golf, skippo and much, much more.

JB:     Are you on any other Social Media Websites?

SJ:     As a matter of fact, we are.  Please check us out at the sites below:

·         Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kingdomcitychurchsl/

·         FaceBook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588822524101

·         TicTok:    https://www.tiktok.com/@kingdomcitychurchsl

·         YouTube:   https://www.youtube.com/@KingdomCityChurchSecondLife

JB:     Is there anything else you would like to share with our SL Enquirer readers?

SJ:     The kind of church God wants to build will make children laugh and adults angry, it makes demons scream in shopping centers, it loves people away from their suicide game, it invokes the ancient dream of Eden, it could eat caviar on Monday and crusts on Tuesday, and it wouldn't even notice the difference, it is dangerously, obsessively, undeniably Jesus.  He will breathe out and we will breathe in.  I’m not interested in building a hangout sim; I mean to change lives, period.  We live as if it all depends on us but pray as if it all depends on God.

JB:     Tell me, Samuel.  How is your church different from other churches here in SecondLife?

SJ:     For one thing, we have real actually live worship with High Quality, along with the words on stage so all can see just like RL church.  Secondly, we have cameras in our church like other churches, but they are not for show, we stream live to YouTube.  Also, one of our missions is to build up leaders.  The obvious question to me is why haven’t I led worship at other churches in SL before now? The answer is most churches don’t want the help, the leaders log on… preach... log off.  They have no intention of raising up secondary pastors, preachers, worship leaders and ministers, and they certainly are not open to how things can be done differently, not that I’ve observed.  I tried going to many churches before I started this, and not one pastor ever had the time of day to have a coffee and a chat or sit among the people and fellowship.  It was always to log on, tell us how to think, and log off.  Even their bible studies are carefully curated mini sermons with no room for exploration or creativity.  We mean to break each...and every...one of those rules.  I wanna see hungry men and women of God with that Jeremiah fire that I can raise up to preach as I glorify God in their gifts.  I mean to see anointed worship leaders step into God’s calling for them.  I will be there to explain sound production to them and walk them through how to give God the best we can give with excellence and zeal.

So there you have it, folks.  Straight from the Pastor’s mouth.  If you are tired of the other options available here.  If you are looking to renew your faith…or perhaps build your faith or even if you have none…..Give Pastor Samuel James and King City Church a try.

And when you do, tell ‘em “Josh sent ya.”  You’ll be glad you did

Be there!  Aloha!!

JB

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