THE FRONT PORCH: CROSSROADS "WHERE THE BLUES FEEL REAL" – JOSH (THOMAS1 BELLIC) REPORTING

Among the many musical styles available in SecondLife, Blues is certainly one of the most prevalent.  Iconic among those clubs is a place called Crossroads Blues.  Long a staple of the Blues community here, Crossroads has been around for nearly two decades, as a gathering place for aficionados of the genre.  Many a blues lover was disappointed when Crossroads closed its doors a while back.  But guess what?  They’re Baaaaaack! (Said in my best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice)

I happened to be in the area the other week, when I heard the distinctive sounds of a blues harp, wafting over the airwaves.  Not just ANY old harmonica solo, but the kind that reaches deep inside you, moving you to the very marrow of your bones.  I just had to check it out, drawn in as if by some hypnotic trance.  There I came upon The Front Porch: Crossroads, and the new proprietor, Anodyne Darkes.  She needed a break from the exhausting work of moving pixels around in preparation for their Grand Re-Opening, so she agreed to chat with me about this well-known establishment.

Josh (Thomas1 Bellic) (JB):    So, tell me, Anodyne…  Just what is The Front Porch: Crossroads all about?

Anodyne Darkes (AD):  The Crossroads is a Blues Music venue, featuring some very serious straight forward Blues DJ's guaranteed to bring you to your feet. Our mission is to showcase the BEST in Blues Music, whether you're a die-hard blues fan or a casual blues lover. I have always had a deep fascination with Robert Johnson and the whole Crossroads deal which was my inspiration for The Crossroads venue. The Crossroads attracts a world-wide family of Blues fans and musicians. The Front Porch build makes for a perfect blues-juke joint ambiance where visitors can relax, dance and make new friends. Every day is a Music day at The Crossroads and you can expect to hear some of the best blues music here. The vibe. We are all about the vibe.

JB:      Crossroads has long been an iconic institution in SL.  Can you share with us a bit of background on this Historic Venue?

AD:    We originally opened in June 2006, there were no blues clubs and not a lot of blues music fans so we called ourselves "The House of Tunes" to attract everyone. We wanted to call ourselves House of Blues but settled on Tunes. Shortly thereafter we moved to a private estate and The Crossroads was born. We used to have a road going around the sim and people could rez and ride a motorcycle. The Crossroads was ran/owned by other people during my absences but we keep coming back and hope to remain in SL for many more years to come.

JB:      What sets Crossroads apart from the many other clubs out there with a similar theme?

AD:    The Crossroads is an experience like no other. It combines a truly unique setting. We are a Blues Music only venue where some clubs mix music genres. The Crossroads was one of the first blues venues and people have oh so many memories here. I gave a lot Blues DJ's got their start here and for many, this was their 1st blues experience in SL.  We became known as more than just a club in SL, we became a place where music feeds the soul.

JB:      Who do you hope to attract to your build? What special group of people might The Front Porch: Crossroads appeal to?

AD:    The Bonfire out front burns nightly under the large oak trees and provides a warm romantic welcome as you enter the rustic surroundings. The Crossroads gives the visitor that "Juke Joint" feeling as you travel up the steps to the "Front Porch". This warm vibe is what draws people in. Once inside, you feel like you have stepped into the blues as you look around. The wall of portraits autographed by the "Kings and Queens" of the Blues and the other surroundings attest to the quality of your entertainment.  We want this to be your "date night" destination and we'll keep the Bonfire burning.

JB:      What has been your biggest challenge in reopening Crossroads?

AD:    Trying to give all these wonderful DJ's the times in which they can DJ here. There's just not enough hours in the day.

JB:      Just how many guests can you host on the sim here?

AD:    Currently we are 40 guests because we are on mainland, that will change soon as we move to a private estate.  I feel very comfortable with 20-30 people at any time.

JB:      It must take quite a staff to run an operation like this.  How big is your staff, and who are some of the key folks here?

AD:    It is my absolute pleasure to (business) partner and host The Crossroads with Captain Schorr. He and I have been friends for over 12 years in SL and together we have decades of Blues club experience and knowledge. We currently have a handful of great hosts and 20 DJ's and we adding more. We are always looking for Blues DJ's, but we seek that DJ that plays more than just mainstream blues.

JB:      Do you plan to host Special events here? Weddings?  Funerals?  Rezz Day Celebrations? Bar Mitzvas? Blues Festivals?  And how might someone learn of any scheduled activities here?

AD:    We love special events and themed parties. If it's your Rez day, let us know, we'd love to celebrate your day. We also have LIVE musicians perform periodically as well as Live tribute shows involving a cast of the band that we are doing the tribute of.

JB:      And how about the future?  Do you have any plans for future development?

AD:    There's a full sim in the works with Club/homes for those that wish to live at the Crossroads and also re-adding our beloved Blues Museum and the roads to ride. Stay tuned.

JB:      Is there anything else you would like to share with our SLE Readers?

AD:    I know a lot of folks can't get out to RL clubs and SL gives them that feeling and experience of Clubbing and socializing. If you want to feel the realness of the Blues, please join us for a memorable blues experience at The Crossroads.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

So…there you have it, folks.  If you are a current Blues fan, or maybe even a future blues fan but just don’t know it yet, head on over to The Front Porch: Crossroads Blues, at the location below. 

You’ll be so glad you did.

Tell ‘em “Josh sent ya!”

Be there.  Aloha!

JB

SURL:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Ontario/123/37/60

 

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July 4th Events in Second Life

 

The 4th of July aka Independence Day is a national holiday in America. It is observed with family gatherings, BBQs and fireworks. On this day back in 1776, the second continental congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence separating the colonies' political connections from Great Britain. Most peeps are just glad to get the day off to do whatever it is they want to do.  In Second Life, Americans observe the day by going to a variety of events.  Here are some places to add to your SL plans.

July 4th Fireworks at Big Sur- July 4th 9am SLT

4th of July fireworks with Dj Alec

join us @ Big Sur to celebrate

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Alpha%20Atoll/133/213/46

Come and join 12hrs of competitions to celebrate the birth of American Independence

July 4th at 12pm SLT.

Come and join 12hrs of competitions to celebrate the birth of American Independence.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Virsino%20Games/122/134/23

Join us for the 4th, beach style with Dexter Swansen at Sky Music Park- July 4th at 12pm SLT 

Dexter is a great vocal talent that brings so much humor, laughter and fun to the stage  Dexter plays in bands all over the UK in RL and shares his passion for music here in SL singing a wide variety of genres from 60's to 00's. Dexter is a real entertainer who makes concerts a special moment and is one of the reasons his crowds are always happy. 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Port%20Victoria%20Sound/48/133/3973 

July 4th at The Beach- July 4th at 12:00 pm SLT

Come on down in your swim suits and celebrate the 4th of July with us at the beach.... surfs up and enjoy independence day with us

The River: Rock Music at its Best

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20River/0/0/19

July 4th Event @ Club Carnage July 4th at 4pm SLT

From 4-6 Get dressed in your Stars and Stripes! Let's Hear it for the Red, White and Blue! Let's hear it for Uncle Sam!  This holiday celebrates the US adopting the Declaration of Independence.

No one EVER HAS to dress for events here. A lot of people come to hear the awesome music and socialize.

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

TP: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Young/195/214/30 

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Interview with Uncle Sam 2023- It ain't that kinda Party- Lanai Jarrico Reporting...

 

Interview with Uncle Sam- It ain't that kinda Party

Another year , another celebration for a country that most other countries don't really care for because of all the BLEEPERY. But hey I live here so I have to kinda sorta appreciate the fact that our forefathers signed the declaration of Independence to free us from the grips of Great Ol’ Britain.  Ahhhhh Freedom. I wonder what would have become of us all had those secret freemasons never decided to sever ties. The one thing I wish would have remained is the proper British accent. It’s sexy and sophisticated compared to our laid back lazy dialect.. 

Maybe it would have prevented a lot of the BS we deal with in this country today. It would be hard taking someone seriously who offers you tea after a heated confrontation. Oh Bloody hell.  Anyways, don’t mind me, I'm just rambling. Lemme stop before I get hate mail from people who might have gotten offended by that. To clear the air, I did my DNA Ancestry test and I can sit up here and say I have family ties to every country with the exception of Asia and Vikings.  

Speaking on that test though, it had me questioning if my dad was really my dad. My high concentration in Scotland, Ireland and dots around Europe As well as Africa’s Bantu people. It makes me feel like I was swapped at birth or something.. Ahhh genetics. I can’t wait til they disclose we are all alien experiments gone wrong.

 If we all took a step back, everyone in this world is related in some way. There’s no such thing as an illegal alien. That’s just rude, we are all aliens. Anyone who disagrees can go back to Mars or something. You need to get your life together.

Let it make sense. With that said, I decided to kick back and have a chat with Uncle Sam and find out why we continue to celebrate Independence and freedom in a country so divided in a world where eyes are on us like the bad kid at Sunday school.

Hey Uncle Sam, So… we meet at the Statue of Liberty… it’s been a while, last year it seems you took a day off for the holiday and could not be found. I’m guessing those student loans got you home for the holiday eating ramen noodles instead of a big fat steak on the grill.  

Uncle Sam: Hey Lanai… one of my least favorite nieces… It pains me to even ask, how have you been these days?  I heard you have been relocating across the country more than a fugitive. *sighs* This is the only place I feel like I can get away from it all and then you show up. Lady Liberty was a fine woman, we dated back in France. She was the love of my life but  She ended up running off with someone named Monalisa and moving to Italy. As one final blow, she had this big monstrosity of a statue shipped here to taunt me.

Lanai: Well damn not sure what to say to that.. Sorry to hear she did you dirty like that.  It’s great to see you too…yea I been around,  I still can’t decide which state is worse… So anyway, what are your plans for the 4th?

Uncle Sam: I’m glad you asked. I’m planning on having some words with the justice system over that major “Sike” move the commander in chief made with the whole student loan forgiveness plan. It appears all you educated imbeciles out there will start repaying those loans soon. It doesn't matter if you have a PhD, greeting people at the local Walmart or still trying to land that dream job that pays at least a 3rd of what your educated ass is worth.  It’s going to be a hardship for all. So brace yourself and cut back on getting your hair and nails done.

Lanai: That’s pretty BLEEPED up if you ask me. I literally went to the polls with hopes of some help. Man do I feel like a dumbass. I’m blaming Covid for everything, in addition to those dang wildfires fogging up our atmosphere. Not to mention stupid TikTok Videos that most will regret in 10 years.

Uncle Sam: Oh Lanai,you have a lot of ridiculous gripes. Of all my nieces and nephews , you are by far the most problematic.  Not even your distant cousins who struck up the whole witch trials in Salem held a candle to your antics. If you aren’t disappearing for months at a time doing god knows what, you are talking smack about stuff most of us want to sweep under the rug to keep the peace around here.

Lanai: Peace? Is that even a thing anymore? Peace was not having to answer a landline and letting it go straight to the answering machine or going to the corner store with 4 quarters as a kid and buying a pack of cigarettes without question. The shit we deal with today makes growing up in the 80s and 90’s feel like that was the best it would ever get…

Uncle Sam: True, the 80s and  90’s were pretty bad ass. Is crack still a thing? I’ve been around for a very long time and I’ve seen and done some shit. Today’s world sucks quite frankly and I just want to throw my patriotically decorated top hat to the flames and say (BLEEP) It. But I don’t want to be labeled as that crazy drunk uncle at the BBQs.

Lanai: *shakes head* well someone has to break it to you. Nobody really likes you. You tax the shit out of everyone and none of us know what the heck we are paying for. Our roads got potholes with potholes, our bridges are failing, nobody recycles anymore because garbage trucks toss everything into one big slurry bin and keep it movin’, the price of eggs went up, pot is legal but expensive as hell at the dispensary. It’s cheaper to hit up old  high school connections and get the street dirt. And now, we gotta worry about air quality because of someone flicking a cigarette in Canada? WTF.

Uncle Sam: I don’t even have the energy to put you over my knee and spank you over all that fake news. What is it that you want from me? 

Lanai: I just wanted to say Happy 4th of July…and ask if I can borrow a couple bucks. There’s the Cannabis Festival coming up.

Uncle Sam: I'm inviting myself. The only way to understand this crazy world is to remain under the influence of something other than you.

Lanai: *innocent grin*  🙂

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SPOTLIGHT ON SULLY VONSWAG: THE MYTH OF THE SL/RL DIVIDE – JOSH (THOMAS1 BELLIC) REPORTING

SecondLife offers an entire virtual world of new activities for residents   Sailing, Shopping, building, Musical events, and all manner of Adult Entrainment venues. One of the more commonly embraced hobbies here is that of Profile Perving.  A vast majority of those profiles will include a line to the effect of how the writer says something like.  “Let’s Keep SL and RL separate, shall we?  But that is not a universally held position.  In fact, for Sully VonSwag (sultansullyvonswag, there is no SL versus RL dividing line. For Sully, SL IS an extension of his First Life.

In a world where the news is often dominated by stories of crime, or accidents, or examples of man’s inhumanity to man, we rarely hear about the good things that happen, often right before us.

Josh (Thomas1 Bellic) (JB): Greetings Sully.  Thanks for agreeing to chat with me.  I understand you have a pretty incredible story to tell about how your friends raised money for your recovery from surgery?  Please share this with our SL Readers.

Sully VonSwag (sultansullyvonswag) (SV):  I've only been in SL steady since early 2016, and I have been performing live in SL since 2019. It is my personal experience in SL which has led me to never say RL anymore

JB:   You NEVER say RL, huh?  Interesting idea.  What is it that brought you to that conclusion?

SV:   Prior to Sl I was part of a couple different live stream sites.  On one of the live stream sites a fellow musician was much like me - self-employed and had no health insurance. He had a health issue and several of us got together and held a 24 hr online benefit for him. I hosted it.  Using Skype I would bring the musicians onto the live-stream site. And because of this we also started the “Be Kind Project”

So, fast forward

I had not been feeling well at all the entire week of Christmas.  I ended up going to the emergency room They put me on good meds for the pain I was in - back and abdomen pain.  They did some tests. The ER doc came back and said that “I had a Triple A”.

 

https://www.facebook.com/SultanSullyVonSwag/videos/979598366070186

JB:   And what exactly is that?

SV:   That was MY thought exactly. That sounds like a mouthful, I thought.  What’s it mean? I threw my hands up and asked him to put it in plain English. He said you have an abdominal aortic aneurysm.  “In your abdomen, there was a big bubble in the aorta like a bloated garden hose in one section.” He then explained if it were 2 to 3 cm they would put me on meds and send me home. Mine was 5 to 6 cm which means I was ready to burst.  Then he said if it burst you die in about 10 min from internal bleeding.  Yeah.  THAT part I understood.

EDITORS NOTE: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA) were responsible for around 9,000-10,000 deaths each year in the United States alone. According to the World Health Organization, AAA is responsible annually for worldwide deaths of 165,000.

JB:   Wow, Not good, Not good at all. I bet that was a scary thought.  Good thing they caught it in time

SV:   Yeah. After he told me and explained it, I asked him “What’s next?” And he explained that I would have to have an operation. And I kind of hoped the people from the live stream site would get together and help me out as we did for our other friend, but they didn’t. 

Finally, it was my SL lil sister and 2 other venue owners.  They got 12 sl artists together, most of whom did not know me from Adam, and they and did a 12 hr benefit for me in SL.  Some of them also offered up special shows that were bid on.  Between the lindens they raised and Pay Pal donations, I was able to survive the 3 months I could not work while I was recuperating

 JB:   Can you share the names and positions of the main organizers of the fundraising effort?

SV:   The only 3 names I know for sure are my lil sister, Velvetrose Blossom (also a singer in SL), Brindimere Laroway, and Laya Sugarplum from Café Musique.  I'm sure each of them had their contacts as well.

JB:   So then, just how much money did your friends raise for you?

SV:   All totaled it was nearly 3 grand

JB:   They raised 3,000 Lindens?

SV:   Nope.  It was Dollars.  They raised nearly $3,000 USD

JB:    They raised almost $3,000 for you?  That’s incredibly generous!

SV:   It was about 250,000 Lindens or about $1,000 USD, and an additional $2,000 came in Pay Pal donations. There were dual kiosks set up - one for Linden donations and one that would take them to an external Pay Pal site. I think that was about it.  I never really did the math on it.  I was just blown away by the outpouring of love from mostly strangers.

 

JB:    WOW!

SV:   And that’s what everyone says after that story.  So, yeah.  SL doesn’t get any more "real" than that

JB:   I can't even imagine. 

SV:   That word "real " is really only a concept.  What may be real to one is not to another.  All senses can be fooled or tricked.  I once met a woman in sl who used to love to go out dancing in her actual life.  She got in a car accident and lost the use of her legs.  SL allowed her to continue to go out and dance.  For her that was REAL. 

SL is simply an extension of my 1st life.  People are always doing amazing things here that blur the lines between SecondLife and their actual lives.  For example, there was a woman whose mother had Parkinson’s Disease.  In order to support her daughter, she started a Parkinson’s Disease Sim.  The daughter showed her mother the sim.  The mother stated that she saw her avi walk without a cane so often that she convinced herself she did not need the cane in her actual life and she did learn how to walk without it

There is even a video about how people with disabilities can really live better, more fulfilling lives through SecondLife.  Check it out at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQw02-me0W4

JB:   What kind of work do you do? when not performing in SL?

SV:   In 1st life I do remodeling and home repair

JB:   Sooo….If you don't work, you don't get paid,  and you were out of work for three months?

SV:  I don’t know what I would have done if it were not for their generosity.   I really needed those funds to survive during my recovery from surgery.  I have no remaining complications.  I get a CT scan every year…to make sure everything is ok.  But with age comes many health things

 JB:   So then...with all this kindness that was shown to you, have you done anything to "Pay it Forward?" Maybe by organizing a benefit concert for others?

SV:   Well, I’ve always helped out others whenever and where ever I can, and yes when asked to play for Relay for Life, I do.  My mom died as a result of breast cancer so I'm all for it.  The band that I used to play in did a breast cancer benefit every year.  Also, when I see new people, I help them.

I play Mondays at 8PM SLT at Cafe Musique. I also play Zoffee's Midnight Blues 8 pm SLT.  I guess this guitar on the back of my avi gave it away that I am a musician?  I play electric.  Mostly bluesy or blues-based stuff.  I do a combination of backtracks and me Soloing along and singing

I'm just grateful this platform exists and it lets me continue doing something I love.  I'll never be one of the egotistical types that feel I MUST get paid for what I do in SL.  I know I am not everyone’s cup of tea.

I played in a band for many years, so I know what it takes, and the fact I can sit here in my undies If I so chose, and play to live people is a piece of cake

JB:   Now THAT is a visual I can do without!

SV:   Hahaha. But in all seriousness, I want outsiders to see the good that SL can hold and that SL is not just about sex or old people trying to cheat on spouses.  There is a lot of good here, and I want people to know that, and would hate to think people are taking advantage of others as a result of my story.

DISCORD:  Sully #3108

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013450362240&fre FB

So there you have it, folks.  Next time you get to feeling that no one seems to care, remember Sully here…and the many caring and supportive people- friends and strangers - who helped him through a difficult time in his life.  And THAT is the reason he says there in no difference between SL and RL

For more information about Sully, here is an interview with him by Olly Esel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NccR7gNLgaU&t=142s

https://soundcloud.com/sullyvonswag/sets/originals

You can catch Sully at Café Musique Mondays at 8:00 PM SLT, or at Zoffee's Midnight Blues 8 pm SLT. Give him a shout inworld and find out where he is performing next.  You’ll be glad you did.

Tell him Josh sent you.

JB

https://www.facebook.com/SultanSullyVonSwag/videos/1046947455937096

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Edward Hopper Exhibition currently at The Gallery - New Orleans City

 

New Orleans is delighted to present this new exhibition dedicated to Edward Hopper, one of the most emblematic representatives of 20th american century painting. We invite you to discover the fascinating universe, both poetic and melancholic, of this painter who has inspired many artists and filmmakers. More than 250 paintings, oil paintings, watercolors, engravings, illustrations, drawings... which retrace the life and artworks of this great artist. We are waiting for you at La Gallery in the beautiful city of New Orleans.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/New%20Orleans%20City/129/147/22 Article and interview of Lalle Vanbeeck-Na by Ely Catronis journalist at SL Enquirer : http://www.slenquirer.com/2023/06/spotlight-feature-edward-hopper.html

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Get Your Greedy On. Win Lindens July 1st to July 31st

 

Greedy Tournament at Skyfire Club. July 1st to July 31st. Highest score Will Win 2000L Winner Announced July 31st at 12 noon SLT. Winner from Score in World will be paid Directly in Lindens. Greedy Table in the Club and scores will be recorded for all to see.

*SL Landmark http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sabnock/Skyfire/127/107/3002 FB Link https://www.facebook.com/groups/1299720957621232

Contact Doctor Kroll In World

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The Bubbles We Build - Samuel Roberts Reporting

It is said that the enemy of progress is comfort. I believe PT Barnhum said that. Technically he said “Comfort is the enemy of progress” but it's my article and I’ll word things how I want. All jest aside, we as human beings have this uncanny ability to build for ourselves an echo chamber of like-minded thinkers with similar environments, this however does not mean people that agree but rather people who think along the same genres you could say, people that enjoy politics…. Know lots of people who disagree with them in regards to politics, even though someone who doesn't care for politics knows neither crowd and isn't interested in knowing them. Sports fans know other Sports fans, and Sci-Fi Lovers know other Sci-Fi Lovers. etc.

These “worlds'' virtual you could say… or at least social, are all around us, these “Bubbles”, going back to the old phrase, “you can't see the forest from the trees”. There is a lack of awareness of the other bubbles around us, for example; to one person SL is one thing.. And to another person, it's something else.. To some it's SL: the drama simulator, to others it's SL: the online Barbie Game and to another SL: the explorer and create, Minecraft for adults. For me it's SL: The Music business simulator, that's my bubble. I've been an SL musician for years, but that's not relevant because it has nothing to do with the article and I make terrible music. The point is… these bubbles, these ideas.. They ARE subjective… in nature.. SL isn't one thing.. It's the bubble you see, nothing more, it is multi-faceted beyond comprehension. SL is almost a billion-dollar real-world economy based around virtual clothing and real estate. It's also this cool game where you troll people as a half-naked lizard waifu. It's both.. and neither… 

BUT what if.. What if I traveled inter-dimensionally between the multiverse from one bubble to another.. What if instead of attending a venue.. I went exploring. What if the explorers station themselves at a known troll location and heckled strangers for the “lulls” what if the Real Estate Mogul attended a few live shows, found a singer they loved, and became a fan? What If I stepped outside of my bubble into something I’ve never done or been involved in, that would be quite the adventure.

Heading back to our original thought, Comfort… this thing that says to us “This is fine, I'm good here” is the thing that halts our progress, there are experiences, there are feelings, thoughts, truths I haven't learned because I'm comfortable here in my SL bubble, I log on every day, I go to my live venues I hear my friends sing, I sing, I talk to fans, then I log off, how small is my bubble… how limiting are these restrictions I place on myself, SL IS only what I can envision it being, it's comfortable to do what I enjoy over and over.. But perhaps there is something else, something just beyond the horizon that will give me more joy than I anticipated waiting only for my own courage, not to try new things, but the courage to be uncomfortable. 

Well. This week I did just that, your fearless courageous intrepid reporter here took himself outside of his bubble and I did some things I'd never done before. I went exploring.. But not just randomly sim hoping, I assigned myself a purpose, gave myself a mission if you will, I explored the history of this virtual verse we inhabit, I went to Sansara, more accurately Da Boom, SL’s oldest region and sim, I went to the mainland, explored some key iconic sites but not just looked, I didn't just travel and stare like some kind of peeping tom gawking my eye spheres on all the wonders oh no no no. I read while I traveled, I read the wiki, I read blogs about the legends and myths surrounding some of these places, I felt like I was hearing ghost stories, and my mind was never quite sure if what I was hearing was true or not, my mind began to wander about where certain people were now, I had a 1000 questions to ask the right person if I bumped into them, my quest for knowledge left me with questions I didn't know existed. My mind felt stretched, and my comfort at first had dwindled but what I gained was much much better, I was pulled from my same ole same day to day routine and thrown into an adventure, an actual adventure, like something from a story, I was the main character in an episodic tale and I felt alive. 

Bubbles.. They have their purpose, and they are comfortable.. But I'm beginning to think we owe it to ourselves to poke a little tentative finger outside our bubble and begin to touch what could be. So my question to the reader is what now? And I will leave you with the immortal words of Helen Keller “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”

Additional Information: 

Da Boom SLURL: https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Da%20Boom/128/128/2/

More Information about Second Life's Historic “Oldest Sim”

https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Da_Boom#:~:text=Da%20Boom%20is%20the%20oldest,importance%20in%20any%20grid%20map. 

https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Sansara 

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Lanai’s Diary: 18 years in Second Life is shameless AF but worth it

Hey y'all, it’s Lanai. That random media ghost floating behind the scenes in Second life. In my current situation I’m just  kickin back on a Wednesday night in New Jersey. Today is officially the first day of Summer and my ass is in the house staring out the window watching clouds move across the sky with light rain. What a great sign! (rolls eyes) but at the end of the day I truly can say I busted my ass.errr…brain today and deserve a little SL time…I came home, showered and found no alcohol on my wine shelf and no more pre-rolled mini blunts left in my tin from the local dispensary.( It’s 100% recreational here so don’t judge me)  I’m no alkie pothead but I like that mellow buzz after a long day of work.I earned that shit and almost want to run into the kitchen now and make Raman noodle. I got the munchies… I haven't eaten dinner yet but I might grab something quick,  slap it in the microwave while writing. 

Cop a squat and chill with me as I ramble on. I don’t mind. I’ve been behind the scenes long enough to feel comfortable enough to write as if I'm speaking directly to my friends.

I’ve been exploring the grid and writing about Second Life for 18 years now. Many of you, including myself, have raised babies into young adults during that time. When I reflect back on the beginning of my virtual world media journey, I think wow…..I’ve experienced more of the world through virtual lenses and meeting people from around the world on a more personal level than traveling around the real world.

 I still haven't gotten my passport yet but I'm unsure if I am missing out on anything superspectacular abroad or even in Canada.  I've been to Hawaii,  a few beautiful Caribbean islands, The Gulf of Mexico, the dirty jersey shore and all up and down the east coast.

 Last year, I spent my birthday in the heart of Savannah, Georgia at a hotel. Chillaxin’ on the rooftop,  laid out in a poolside round bed cabana while sippin’ berry Ciroc. I felt the only buzz and had a great time just watching people. It kinda felt like what I was in Second Life.   I don’t do clubbin’ in RL.  I’m too grown and tired of the BS that goes along with it. But in SL I will twerk circles around you with my collection of dance moves all while holding a wine glass without spilling a single drop. 

 Shopping…ehhh. In SL I blow through Lindens on shopping sprees…..sooo not true, I like swag bags, freebies and stuff from designers. In RL,  I browse Amazon for whatever I need and take my returns to Kohl’s.. I’m not a Gucci and Prada type of person. However, I've been known to clean up nicely for special occasions both in SL and real life. That reminds me… I need to get my “sparkles” covered but that Ulta bill in real life hurts my feelings.

I’m originally from Pennsylvania. In the past year I moved to Naples, Florida, a couple of months later, I moved back to Pa…. a couple months after that…landed a job in New Jersey and well ... .packed it back up and kept it movin’. I’m not a fugitive or anything simple like that. I’m either in a mid-life crisis or I am gaining my independence and living life by my terms.

I’m settling in and starting a whole new life. It’s crazy, scary, exciting and sometimes even sad because I don’t really have any family nearby. The one thing I can say is I faced my fears and it's empowering. There’s a lot going on in my real world. I’ve been busy working and settling. 

If you feel stuck in a life where you feel like you need change, do it. With determination comes strength and with strength comes willpower. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and you will become unstoppable. I have to thank my dearest friends for being there for me when I needed them the most and for having more faith in me than I had in myself. The sky isn’t the limit, there’s a whole universe out there. I just feel lucky enough to be in it with you.

There’s no real point to this long ass ramble, I just wanted to say hi, it’s been a while.

Lanai Jarrico

CEO, The SL Enquirer

 

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