Welcome to Second Life! A new resident’s tale- Pen Dragon Reporting.

Living in Second Life seems, well, like second nature to most of us. But, do you remember being new? Dealing with issues like how to wear clothes so you don’t get kicked out of everywhere you visit? How did I get a bench on my head and how do I get it off? The struggle is real! Beyond that, do you remember why you came to Second Life? Were you looking for roleplay? Wanted to be like a superhero and fly? Maybe it was because you heard about all the adult sims. Whatever your reason, we all had one and we all had our struggles as new residents. I took some time and traveled to some New Resident Welcome Centers and spoke with people who have just started their journey into their second life.

As I first forayed into the world of the new resident centers was at the London Social Sims. I tried speaking with several people who were only in their first or second day and found that most were away from their keyboard and too busy trying to figure things out to answer. Some were even rude when approached, but I didn’t let that deter me. Next I went to Firestorm social island. The people I met there were much more friendly and willing to speak with me.

I met LilyRose first. She is 19 and from Tennessee,  just ending her first full week in Second Life.

SLE: My first question is how did you learn about Second Life?

LillyRose: I stumbled on it by accident. I was looking for a free download to the Sims 4 and this was the first thing that popped up.

SLE: haha. This place is better than any video game in my opinion. Is there anything you are looking forward to experiencing in SL?

LilyRose: In real life I am wheelchair bound so there are alot of things that I can't do so I want to do them here. Although,  was told there is a replica of the R.M.S Titanic i want to see that!

SLE:  Yes, there is. It's a formal ballroom and quite beautiful.  When you first discovered Second Life by doing your search, did you have any expectations as to what it might be like?

LilyRose: I kinda thought it would be like sims or even imvu where you just talk with people and make an avi to dress up, but this world has been much more than I thought!

SLE: What has been your best experience during your first week here?

LilyRose: I was in the garden of dreams there is a swing there that’s in a tree. It's hard to get there but when you do the view is amazing!

SLE:  Have you found people to be friendly and helpful or have they been rude or made you leery?

LilyRose: Mostly the men are nice. I’ve found that the women like to pick apart how your avi looks. A Lot say its bad if your avi is not mesh. Mesh is expensive.

My next encounter was with KateLove. She has been here a little longer, working her way into her second month in Second Life.

SLE: How did you learn about SL?

KateLove: I saw it on youtube a lot of times and then I downloaded it.

SLE: What was it about Second Life that attracted you?

KateLove: The people. And to and learn more about this place and it looked very fun.

SLE: What interests you the most in SL?

KateLove:  Oh! That i can talk to people and learn more about the outside life.

Unfortunately she wouldn’t elaborate on what she meant by outside life.Instead of pressing into personal matters I decided to move along and find someone else who is new to Second Life. I teleported to New Resident Island at Lawst Paradise. It was here that I met Michelle who is a month old in SL.

SLE: How did you learn about Second Life?

Michelle: Heard about it from the ads on the net. I liked the open game play and customization of the character, so I joined.

SLE: What has your experience over the last month been like?

Michelle: I would good and have had fun which is the most important thing. But there have been some people who have been pushy, but most people have been very nice.

SLE: Great! Is there anything you haven't experienced yet that you are looking forward to?

Michelle: There some places with game play requirements that I would like to try.  At times being booted from a place because I am new can be quite annoying.

SLE: I'm sure! Tell me a little about you, what your interests are, where you are from and your personality.

Michelle:  I enjoy dancing and chatting with others.  My favorite places are real life recreations especially the Disney Park Sims.  I am from Pennsylvania and I am a creative type. In real life I am very reserved and shy, but sl is fun because I can experience things that I normally will never do.  I am a big Disney and a history nerd.

After speaking with some new residents I wondered what it was like for those people who donate their time to help the new residents figure out Second Life. I was fortunate enough to meet Isa. She has been in Second Life for over 11 years and spends her time helping out at New Resident Island.

SLE: In your experience, what is the biggest hurdle facing new residents?

Isa: I think most people have to learn a lot of things before they are able to "live" easily in SL and they want to learn it too quickly. I always tell them , you needed years to learn to walk, to eat, to dress in RL, so you need to learn it in SL to, it doesn't  take years, but you really should learn it.

SLE: Why do you help new residents?

Isa:  I think because I like to help people. I am in SL for 11 years now, so I know a lot about it.

SLE: Good point! So this is a passion for you?

Isa: laughs. no, no, it is an addiction! When I started, there was no help. After joining SL , I did not know how to teleport , so I left and only after reading an article I tried again. Now there are the Second Life help sims and then people like Treacle, she is the "boss" here , made this help sim.

SLE: What seems to be the most frequently asked question?

Isa: A lot of people also ask, what is the aim of the game. So the big question is: is it a game?

I always tell them that a game need a winner , you have to follow rules to win, to be better than the others then I tell them  "If you think that real life is a game, then Second life is a game to..... "

But for me SL is to do everything I don't dare to do in Real life.

Second Life can be scary as a new resident, but it seems that the ones that join today are having a better experience with more help available than ever before.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lawst%20Paradise/126/21/22 New Resident Island

SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Firestorm%20Social%20Island/127/121/33 Firestorm New Resident Help area

SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/London%20England%20UK/227/108/22 The London Sims, Social Area

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New Blog Devoted to Virtual Sex & Romance

A new blog features discussions and information about sex, romance, and related issues in virtual worlds: www.virtualsexromance.wordpress.com. (Note that there is no “and” or “&”). Sex and romance are among the most popular pursuits in SL.As in RL, they occasion many questions and discussions, which the new blog will cover. “I’ve had interesting talks in SL about virtual relationships,” said Eugene Rodgers, who created the blog. “For instance, does a person in a committed RL relationship cheat if they have virtual sex with someone else? And why is BDSM popular in SL? Contributions to my blog should prove enlightening.” Rodgers is the author of “Femme Fatale Online,” a mystery novel with an unidentified villain who acts through an avatar in a virtual world like SL. “She tries to seduce the married hero into a virtual sexual relationship,” Rodgers said. “He agonizes over whether to go along. I first planned a blog to address this and other issues raised in the ebook, but decided there was a greater need to focus entirely on sex and romance.”

Rodgers is restricting the blog to serious discussions and legitimate questions. “I’ll remove any salacious material or improper solicitations that may be posted,” he said.

Blog topics include:

Best places to make friends and go on dates

Questions and advice about virtual relationships

Is it acceptable for a committed person to pursue virtual sex or romance?

Meeting in RL  LGBT & BDSM

Best clothing-free sites

The Future—How will virtual reality affect online sex and romance?

Other Virtual Worlds

Be among the first to raise questions or initiate discussions at www.virtualsexromance.wordpress.com!

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GeekSpeak – how smart will your smartphone get?

One day you will discover that your smartphone is smarter than you are.  It will not only have more brainpower; its senses will be better than yours.  It will sense temperature, air quality, pollen count, radiation as well as your heartbeat, weight and stress level. And all smartphones will be talking to each other.

What other senses will phones have?  Do you see a time when they will contain Geiger counters?  Lie detectors? 

Will they always be external to us or will we start implanting phones into our brains?  Will the connections between these implanted phones slowly turn us into the Borg?  Would that be a bad thing?  Will some people choose to be Borg?

Come and talk to us in GeekSpeak.  But turn your phone off, it might learn too much.

IM Vulcan Viper if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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Tips on Starting Your Own Cleaning Business

A cleaning business may not seem like the most glamorous of business ventures but running your own cleaning business can be very rewarding, whether you’re running it in real or a virtual life. One of the best things about this type of venture is that it can be done without too much expense. Think of all those swanky homes you’ll be able to look around while you’re working, and you’re certain to meet some very interesting clients while you’re there. There are also a range of different cleaning services you can offer, which include maid services, carpet and upholstery cleaning, janitorial services and more. Below are some tips to make your cleaning business a success.

Decide on Your Clientele

Before you jump in and start offering cleaning services think about the clientele you want to attract. Cleaning homes will be an easier market to get into and require less in the way of startup cash. If you already have a job and want to see whether your cleaning business will take off before jacking it in, then start with a couple of clients. You’ll be able to schedule in the cleaning work around your full time job. Taking it slow also means you’ll get the chance to offer a quality service, possibly even one that’s bespoke for special clients.

Advertise Wherever Possible  

Before you start advertising your business think about the image you want for your brand. Design a logo and make sure it appears on all your advertising material. There are several different places you can advertise:

• Local papers
• On your vehicle
• Business cards
• Referral program
• Flyers

Cleaning Products

Make your service stand out by only using natural cleaning products. This will mean your clients benefit from a healthy cleaning service. As well as cleaning products, you’re also going to need cleaning supplies and equipment, such as gloves. You may need to source disposable gloves, medical gloves or nitrile gloves depending on the type of cleaning you are doing. Other equipment such as cleaning cloths and brushes and buckets should be sorted too. Be aware that some clients may request certain cleaning products for different appliances or surfaces in their home. You’ll need to figure these into the cost.

What Should You Charge?

This can be a difficult one to quantify. The important thing is not to sell yourself too low. If your rates are low, clients will think they’re getting a service that is less than average. Cleaning is not an easy job to do and you should charge what you consider your service is worth. At the end of the day, a customer will expect to pay more for a quality service.

Hopefully, you’ll eventually get to the point where you need to take on extra employees to cope with your workload. This is when you’ll be able to stop cleaning and start running your business. It will also allow you to look at expanding into other areas of cleaning, such as window cleaning, carpet cleaning, party cleanups, real estate cleaning and much more. A good way to expand your business is with referrals. Try to be as dependable as possible and provide your clients with a cleaning service second to none.

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Come horse around at Copacabana Country Campground

At Copacabana Country Campgrounds we want you to have the best experience possible and involve the whole family. If you’ve ever gone on vacation and thought “I wish I could bring my horse” We have the solution you’ve been looking for in Second Life!

We are proud to announce the addition of Daneko Equestrian center to the Coapcabana Country Campground sim. At Daneko Ranch you can board your horse, learn to ride, get basic medical attention if needed and much more!

Located in the South East corner, near the lake, the equestrian center is run by Dali Daneko and her family. It’s fully equipped with anything your horse may need and is completely free to campers! They even offer trail rides and training for your horse!

You can contact Dali Daneko (DaliDaneko) for information about getting your horse a stall while you are staying at Copacabana Country and be sure to check out all the other fun activities we have to offer! Everything from Archery to a Zipline and even weekly activities such as campfire stories and family movie night!

Copacabana Country is the perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. We offer various sized campsite and even luxury cabins at an affordable 1.5L per prim!

Come on over and make yourself at home! You can join our visitors group to keep up with everything we do! For more information check out our website or contact jadey (jadeylynn) or Pen (arthuris1974) Dragon.

SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Serena%20Copacabana/72/216/22

Website: https://copacabana-country.weebly.com/

Group: secondlife:///app/group/2545eaab-814b-289d-a06a-8725da4309ba/about

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American Cancer Society in Second Life Preparing to Attack Breast Cancer Like Never Before

Hey, Let’s talk numbers for a minute….

I want you to imagine the Rose Bowl stadium, AT&T Stadium, and the Los Angeles Coliseum, all filled with people…

Now realize that this represents all of the people who will be diagnosed with breast cancer…in this year.  That’s 270,000 men and women.

The good news is that we have the power to change the numbers by getting involved with the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Across Second Life right now! The Strides series of events will feature 5 different ways that you can use your Second Life to fight breast cancer.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk-A-Thon
October 20, 10am – 6pm SLT
SLURL (coming soon)
Walker registration for this event will open on September 15, 2018. Sponsorship registration will open on September 16. Sign up at makingstridessecondlife.org and collect pledges from your friends and family both in and outside of Second Life. We’ll help you track how many laps around the pink-ribbon track your avatar can make, and then you go and collect all those pledges from your supporters! Awards will be presented for Top fundraiser, most laps completed, most sponsors (pledges), and Overall Top Walker. Get the full details about the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk-A-Thon here.

Out-Shop Breast Cancer
10/1/18 – 10/31/18
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer – American Cancer Society
This is not just about fashion, this is about Everything! If you have a store in Second Life, and you are interested in fighting breast cancer – this event is about as easy as it can get. Store-owners will use American Cancer Society breast cancer vendor kiosks to feature special products in their stores. Shoppers will make their strides across Second Life by teleporting from store to store with the Out-Shop Cancer HUD.

Get your shopping HUD at the American Cancer Society Island, then visit the variety of stores who have committed to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. The more you buy, the more impact we have together. For more information, get the full details about the Out Shop Cancer event.

Parade of Homes
10/1/18 – 10/31/18
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer – American Cancer Society
If you’re a home builder, designer/creator, or landscaper who wants to use your skills to fight breast cancer, this is the event for you! The Parade of Homes will bring shoppers to your store, where you’ll offer a limited edition home through a special vendor kiosk where proceeds will go directly to the American Cancer Society’s breast cancer program.

Shoppers & home buyers can pick up a Parade of Homes HUD, which will bring them to each store where they can shop and make donations! This is a perfect opportunity to discover some of the great home designers in Second Life, get your new home, and fight breast cancer – all at the same time. The parade of homes will conclude with a special live auction for a L$90,000 dream home, donated by Slash Hansome, owner of AXL pro.

If you’re interested in donating a home or shopping, visit the Parade of Homes page for full details.

Breast Cancer Gala
10/27/18 from 2pm-5pm SLT
SLURL (coming soon)
The annual gala event will celebrate breast cancer patients, survivors, and pay homage to loved ones that are no longer with us. This is a chance to meet new people,  reconnect with old friends, and share stories with others about your personal connection to breast cancer. This is a formal attire event with special live performances. Donations are encouraged throughout the event.

Photos For A Cure
Accepting Submissions from 9/1/18 – 9/30/18
Submit Photos at  www.flickr.com/groups/makingstrideswalk-secondlife
SKYY Games is proudly sponsoring this annual breast cancer photo contest where all photographers in Second Life are invited to share your artistic talents by submitting a photo that you feel best reflects the theme, “The Rack Pack.”  A L$10,000 prize will be awarded to the top photo. Additional prizes for 2nd and 3rd place will also be awarded. For contest rules, timeline, and full details, visit the Photos For A Cure on the Making Strides website.

Participate in an Event, purchase an item whose proceeds go to Strides, make a donation to a Strides Kiosk or at makingstridessecondlife.org.  For information on any of these breast cancer events, contact Leala Spire or Sandie Loxingly in Second Life.

This entry was posted in american cancer society, Committee event, making strides, media release, second life and tagged #acs, #American Cancer Society, #breast cancer awareness, #cancer, #TEAMMSABCofSecondLife, 2018 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer in Second Life, 2018 Strides Walk, breast cancer, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, making strides against breast cancer across second life, MSABC, Photos For A Cure, strides walk, Survivor Caregiver Honor Gala on September 7, 2018 by sandieloxingly.

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Spotlight on Families in SL - Areya Jewel Dragon Reporting

Are SL Families as real as RL families?

Family. What does that word suggest when you hear it? Is it a happy feeling? Is it an angry feeling? No matter who a person is or where they come from, it is certain that they at one point had a family in some shape or form, but what is a family? Is there only one definition? Are Second Life families the same as Real Life ones?

I have been in SL for 12 years and have experienced the power of family in SL many times and I also have many family members in RL as well. The major difference between SL family and RL is that SL is virtual, but does that difference get in the way of real bonds forming?

I don’t believe it does, for me the relationships I have made in SL are just as powerful as the ones in RL, if not more because they are chosen.

There are countless types of families in both RL and SL, we are all unique and different, so our relationships will all be unique and different.

I knew that every family was different in both RL and SL so to help with my point I decided to look up what it said about family in the dictionary:

1 a: the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their children; also: any of various social units differing from but regarded as equivalent to the traditional family

2 : a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head :

3 a : a group of persons of common ancestry : clan

b : a people or group of peoples regarded as deriving from a common stock : race

4 a : a group of people united by certain convictions or a common affiliation

*source https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/family

What I have listed is just half of the list because they have to do with people and since that is my focus for this piece, that is all I will mention.

Webster’s dictionary is a RL dictionary, but I have come across each of the above list in SL as well.

1. Traditional family Unit:

This is the typical family you would see in RL. It comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Single parent, Two parent, same sex, single child, siblings. All of those are found in RL and they are also found in SL. They are as real as any RL family is. The way that most of these types of families are put together is through the many adoption places that are found throughout the grid or by going through the conceiving process. Speaking from my own experience the bonds formed with this type of family is completely authentic and valuable and, in some cases, more real than a RL family connection.

2) A group of individuals living under one roof and one head

The second type of family listed in the dictionary is also found in SL, the equivalent of this concept would be in the world of D/s and BDSM. It is an adult world which the focus is a power exchange of some form or another. There are many forms of relationship dynamics within the world of D/s but one I have experience with is one head of the household (or Master) and two people who are under the head (two submissives) This power exchange family has the potential to be just as real as one would be in RL.

3) A group of common ancestry (a clan)

This family group is slightly different than the first two because you can’t share real heritage or ancestry with avatars, however. You can find many groups in SL that have people who are very proud of their RL heritage and want to find others who have the same one. There are also people who seek out roleplay as things you wouldn’t typically find in RL, for example Vampires. There are many people who choose to live their lives as vampires and are part of a clan, and those groups chose to be bonded to one another and have the potential to form meaningful relationships just as you would in RL.

4) United by certain convictions or common affiliation

The last type of family I want to talk about is one who share a common belief system. There are many types of these types of families in RL but there are also many in SL as well. These typically would be the many churches that are available to attend. These people share a common RL belief and want to bring that belief to SL and because of the many amazing people that have made this platform what it is, the opportunity to share in that common belief is available in SL. All valid and authentic just as they would be in RL.  

To conclude, the point I want to make is that even though SL is a virtual world there are still real people that are part of it, and we as people crave relationship and belonging in the form of a family we all want to be part of something. No matter what it may look like.

In the words of Lilo, of Lilo and Stitch: “Lilo: "'Ohana" means "family." "Family" means "noone gets left behind."

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GeekSpeak – what if you could completely change your DNA?

Now that DNA can be changed what will happen?  Will people choose to become mermaids?  Or centaurs?  Or will they choose that for their children? 

What other species will we see?  Will these new species still be considered human?  Will there be humans who can fly, or live underwater, or perhaps live in space?

Should we allow people to make these choices?  Or to make them on behalf of their children?  Will we create a new vision of what humanity is?  Come and talk about the new Homo sapiens in GeekSpeak.

IM Vulcan Viper if you have ideas for new subjects.

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Elite SL Music Magazine is a vibrant source of timely information about music in Second Life

Elite SL Music Magazine wishes to thank the following performers, in no particular order, for enriching our summertime with their awesome music at the Elite SL Music Venue: Amberle Janniah, Dallas Winslet, Jossef Forcela, Josie Anderton, LaidBack Celt, Mikeoo Carnell, Jack Slade, Chris London, TalonHawks, ChocolatBlack, Katia Portugal, Milan Zepp, and Amforte Clarity. We’ve had a blast! We do apologize if we’ve forgotten anyone. However, with summer officially behind us, we are shutting down the music venue but will continue publishing our reviews of musicians, DJs, and venues in the months ahead, so keep reading and keep following us on social media.

Elite SL Music Magazine is a vibrant source of timely information about music in Second Life. Elite SL reporters comb the Metaverse to bring you up-to-the minute reports on musicians and the venues they play in and stories of performers’ Real and Second Life careers. Constantly growing, changing, and reshaping itself like the music and the venues it describes, Elite SL Music Magazine is the go-to WebZine for all music lovers. Join us on these pages and in Second Life to learn about the must hear performers, the hottest as well as the undiscovered venues, and the behind the scenes stories of music in Second Life.

We cover live performances, venues, and SL’s top DJs, and provide a close up view of Second Life’s richly textured music world through candid interviews, reviews, and photography.

You can find us on social media here:

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/EliteSLMusic/

Twitter : https://twitter.com/EliteSLMusicMag

Pinterest : https://www.pinterest.fr/byronmcmackin

VK : https://vk.com/id498910114

And you can advertise on our web site at the following rates:

180x180 texture for 1 month @ 1000 L$ / 2 months @ 1500 LS
Banner: texture 460x80, minimum 2 months @ 2000 L$

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