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18 Years and counting...Got SL News? Get it Published! Contact Lanai Jarrico at lanaijarrico@gmail.com

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

“The Growth and Evolution of Avatar Social Network (ASN)” -Bimala Tagore Reporting

Avatarsocial network- www.avatarsocialnetwork.com

Avatar Social Network (ASN), is an extensive and active virtual community, bringing together people from a variety of virtual games. ASN provides members with the opportunity to interact with each other and the site as their virtual avatar/character.
Members can create a personal avatar profile, share their thoughts, opinions, upload photos/videos of virtual interactions/adventures, engage in joint activities, conduct discussions on a variety of topics and make new friendships.
ASN has extended their focus well beyond just the creation of a profile. They cover many demands. Members are free to create blogs; group/business pages, promote upcoming events for their virtual worlds for free.
The accomplishment of ASN is not by pure luck. The rapid growth can be attributed to various forces working together. At the helm is Arkad Baxton, founder of Avatar Social Network. Arkad’s natural leadership skills, business acumen, drive and determination mean that his vision has turned into a wonderful virtual reality. Within its first active year, ASN has 70,000 posts and 12,000 friendships made. This shows that clearly ASN’s first year has been a success.


In this interview, Arkad Baxton shares with us how this huge community has developed and grown into a place for avatars to capture and communicate their virtual experiences in such an amazing, dynamic way.



Bimala Tagore:  The quick resident growth is a virtue to Avatar Social Network.

Arkad Baxton: Oh yes it's growing very fast.

Bimala Tagore: ASN reached 70,000 posts and 12,000 friendships in one year. The membership on the site has continued to rapidly grow throughout 2014. This positive response seems to indicate that ASN is well on its way to becoming a well-known name across the web. 

Arkad Baxton: Yes, hopefully those numbers will be at least 100 times more by next year :)


Bimala Tagore: What is the key to it's Success?

Arkad Baxton:  I don't think there is a recipe for that, but perhaps having a fantastic team to work with. Both, developers, admins and moderators helps to make the growth faster. It's great team work. Our mods are directly interacting with the members, offering support and keeping the content clean. The admins are addressing deeper issues, especially technical problems and the developers and scripters are responsible for the updates, upgrades and smooth operation of the website and of course the technical background. ASN runs on a strong and state of the art new generation server structure that keeps the website safer, stronger and faster.

Moreover we have serious investors. They are also part of ASN's success. See I am the founder of the website and my company is the owner but it also has investors that are helping the financial aspect for the growth.

Bimala Tagore: Their support and participation around the ASN community is strong. Clearly the roles of the Human Resource team, is fundamental. In this sense, your work enables you to create the result you want for ASN. Could you tell me what inspired you to create ASN?

Arkad Baxton: The people using virtual worlds and games like Second Life, World of Warcraft, There.com, etc did not have a social network website that would allow them to interact as their avatar or character. Always some kind of real life information was required, at least a birth date at every social network. So I decided to make this one happen. No real life information required. Anyone can enjoy interacting as their avatar or game character. I already had a test community back then in 2008, but I didn't see this ready yet. In 2013, I made it reality and Avatar Social Network has been growing ever since.



Avatar Social Network is available on Android and soon on iOS as well

Bimala Tagore: Yes, you are achieving true success. Avatar Social Network covers many demands and interests.  Also every interaction on the site gives you “bonus points”. You can earn credits for their virtual world.

Arkad Baxton: Oh yes it's a website that offers it all. It's like having Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Wordpress and Flickr at one place all for avatars without the requirement of any real life information. At the same time, it has a credit system which is a unique concept to the website. No one has ever done it before. It's basically rewarding website activity and the credit can be used on the website to buy virtual gifts for each other, for games, etc. or yes members can exchange it for their virtual world's game currency. I believe in giving back to the community. It is also an important part of success.


State of the Art new generation server structure

Bimala Tagore: Definitely, all this you are doing could provide tremendous business benefit. In this respect, advertisers will find massive exposure. 

Arkad Baxton: Well, Avatar Social Network is already the highest ranked social media website for virtual worlds. So because of that, it has a lot of daily visitors which is of course great exposure for advertisers. We have different ad sizes available on the website and now the landing page also offers a large ad surface for bigger companies too. ASN is a good place to advertise.

Adding to that, we also offer business pages for free so clubs, designers, artists; businesses can create their own page and grow their visibility like that.

Bimala Tagore: Even when we don't have the ability to perfectly predict the future. How do you envision ASN?

Arkad Baxton: First we will have a celebration day right here on September 20th. We will have famous live singers, DJs, gifts, and all together an fantastic events. Then we have plans to add new features to the website to offer even more to the members. Without giving away too much just hinting: music. We already have an Android App but we have to upgrade that because of the new security we set up for the website and sometime this year or early next year we want to release our iPhone app as well.

The venue is ready for the 1st Year Anniversary Event

The future of Avatar Social Network in my vision is having a social media website for all the virtual world players and gamers that can hang out, share their photos, videos, interest, connect and promote their activity without the need of providing their real life information. There are thousands of people with their avatars and game characters to keep in touch with their virtual friends and make new ones.
It's already there and welcoming everyone from all walks of life without checking their information or limiting their number of accounts. On ASN people can have more than one account, one for each of their avatars "alts".
Bimala Tagore: You will celebrate the completion of your first year online. Congratulations on your anniversary.
Arkad Baxton: Thank you, it's going to be fun. As the first anniversary, it is always  a big deal.
We have a line of famous live singers, djs. Designers will offer their gifts as well. And of course we will promote ASN to everyone who is not a member yet. Although it's growing very fast, there are still people out there that are not familiar with it. It is time to break that circle :)



Avatar Social Netoerk offers business pages for free


Bimala Tagore: It is going to be fun. On the other hand, to be connecting with others and keeping real life safe are two principles in ASN. ASN is essentially a “virtual Facebook” for every avatar, but unobtrusive.

Arkad Baxton: Yes they call it "facebook" for virtual worlds but it's probably because facebook deactivates accounts that do not provide contain real information. Avatars, game characters are being removed and members are required to provide a copy of their real ID in order to get their account back.

That triggered a lot of people to move to ASN and I guess hence the connection to Facebook that way. Facebook allows only real life related accounts and only one account per real person. ASN allows any kind of fantasy or game related account and members can make an account for each of their avatar or character. It makes ASN a very attractive choice of social media and offers much more altogether.

Bimala Tagore: Could you extend your opinion about your team work?

Arkad Baxton: ASN has three staff groups. One is the developers and scripters. They pretty much stay in the background and they do not interact with the members. Then we have the administrators that have minimal interaction with members through Help Center but they get in contact when needed. The really visible team is the moderators. They are constantly on the website and being involved with the community, assisting members and of course moderating content that should not be there. They are a fun bunch and I feel blessed to have them. They are actually from virtual worlds so they know it all. I can only say that the entire crew of ASN is a fantastic talented group of people. Everyone knows their part and are doing a great job.

Bimala Tagore: ASN demonstrates virtuous ethics, because it encourages and promotes a harmonious community. ASN does not tolerate stalkers and classic abusers.

Arkad Baxton: It is important to add that Avatar Social Network has a very decent and friendly community. The ASN team takes spamming, griefing, trolling and stalking very seriously. ASN is highly moderated, luckily though we have only had a few of those issues in this one year.


Avatar Social Network for "Facebook" Refugees


Bimala Tagore: Arkad, would you like to add anything else?

Arkad Baxton: I think the only thing to add is that I would like to openly invite everyone to join Avatar Social Network and join us in celebrating our 1 year anniversary on September 20th, 2014.

Bimala Tagore: Once again I wish you happy first year. Congratulations on a wonderful accomplishment.

Arkad Baxton:  Thank you for contacting me about this Bimala.


Join Today!

25% Off SLE Advertising if you Join ASN and friend Lanai Jarrico! use promo code ASN#1friend in the prefer staff member section here




Monday, September 15, 2014

Announcing the 7th Annual Home and Garden Expo- September 16-28th 2014

Home and Garden Expo 2014, benefitting RFL of SL, opens on September 16, and runs through the 28th. Spread over nine sims, HGE features the finest in Second Life Home and Garden design product and creator tools. Over 85 participating creators have joined HGE, one of the first mega-events of the 2015 Relay For Life fundraising drive in Second Life.

Relay For Life of Second Life is in its tenth season, as Second Life residents across the grid band together to raise funds for Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society. The funds raised go to finance cancer research. During the 2014 season, RFL of SL broke the $415,000.00 USD mark for total funds raised.



This year’s HGE is supported by nine Platinum Sponsors and eight Gold Sponsors. It also includes, for the first time, a comprehensive shopping guide listing all donation items, new releases, hunt, raffle and gatcha items. New rules and a new layout for HGE reduces lag and provides ample display space for each of the participants’ products.

The 2014 HGE features the debut of the Rezzie Awards. The Rezzie Awards are specifically designed to honor the excellent work of the designers, creators, coders, and builders who make Second Life so visually stunning and interactive, and who inspire roleplay, photography, machinima, and so much more.    

Nominations were open to the public through September 12th. The awards jury then selected 4 nominees to represent each of 35 categories. The nominated works are listed on the website and visitors are invited to vote for their choices there. (HGE Staff members will be excluded from the final list of nominees, and are not eligible for awards.) Voting commenced on September 14th, and will remain open through September 27th.The winners will be announced just prior to the close of Home Expo on September 28th!

Winners will receive an exclusive, customized trophy, designed by Reven Rosca.  The Rezzie Awards are organized by Fallacy DeCuir, and audited by Fallacy DeCuir, Kat Alderson and DeAnn Dufaux.  

Click the link below to cast your votes!
http://tinyurl.com/therezziesnominations

Official Blog:  http://slhomeandgardenexpo.com/
Official Flickr Group: https://www.flickr.com/groups/homeandgardenexpo2014/



Relay For Life of Second Life Officia Site:  http://relayforlifeofsecondlife.org/
Relay For Life Official Site about Second Life: http://www.cancer.org/involved/participate/relayforlife/second-life

Home and Garden Expo 2014’s organizing committee is: Coordinator: Kat Alderson
Co-Coordinators: Fallacy DeCuir, Reven Rosca, DeAnn Dufaux
Blog and Shopping Guide Coordinator: Eden Knoller with Joonie Jatho

Sunday, September 14, 2014

808DROP. SL's Newest Electronic Dance Club including all types of EDM and Alternative bass oriented music!


Grand Opening Saturday September 20, 2014. 4PM SLT through 8PM SLT or later!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mielikki/24/31/2048

SL's Got Talent News: ELECTRIYING PERFORMANCES MOVE 8 CONTESTANTS TO ROUND 2- Tuesday, September, 16th at 7 pm slt




Round One of SL’s Got Talent was electrifying!  A full SIM and many more live music lovers listened to an eclectic line-up of performers. The first goal for all contestants was to move on to  Round Two, which will be held on Tuesday, 16 September 2014 starting at 7 PM  SLT at The Nile Lotus Ballroom, TriBeCa City.

The contestants moving on to Round Two are as follows:

1.  Ambrosia Kamala
2.  Bubbles (Trinity Ermintrood)
3.  Donnie Tryce
4.  Mark (Singingit2ya Resident)
5   Nazirah Avro
6.  Mizanah Resident
7.  Luvofmusic Resident
8.  Nic Tebaldi



VISIT and LIKE official SLGT FB Page and WEB SITE to stay current with contest happenings:

Here is your limo to the remaining contest Rounds:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/TriBeCa%20City/247/142/22



 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  jackielefko@gmail.com

“Fallen into the endless night: A look at the amazing Cosmos” - Bimala Tagore Reporting



When the little Prince decided to explore other planets, for sure he gazed up at the stars and cured his loneliness. Oh warm night, we all love to climb on top and fall into the endless darkness. For centuries human beings have watched the sky in search of transcendental answers. Carl Sagan, prominent American astronomer, said that the study of the universe is “a long path of search inside us. We have begun to contemplate our origins and in some way understand our insignificance in the never-ending Cosmos”.

A contemplation of a starry night, it faces your ultimate destiny of the universe. Where is the end of this complex and orderly system? Has the universe existed forever? When the night is set for seeing fascinating objects out in the Cosmos, you can be lost in space time watching planets, stars and galaxies in the Milky Way. Maybe it will make you appreciate everything in existence.. Could our lineal and limited mind understand extension and age of space?

 Stephen Hawking, an important man of physics, said: “We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special.”

Regrettably, not everyone gets to be an astronaut in his spacecraft and we are not aboard any space station or belong to NASA. However, we can explore gorgeous “sims” dedicated to space and you can enjoy the artistic concept of our solar system, in Euclidia. It has been set in a larger red galaxy with planets; also you will see a group of moons, a countless number of comets and asteroids. I found a beautiful planetarium in lunar orbit and I descended in a tenuous atmosphere environment.



A Planetarium, Euclidia:

 http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Euclidia/201/2/95

You will see fascinating photos of the shining Andromeda Galaxy, colored asteroids and many planets captured by NASA. They are eye-catching. Come to Cosmos Portal Camp and look at the sky through this telescope. You will feel powerful observing 100 thousand million stars with your naked eyes. They are all insignificant in the face of infinite brilliant stars. There are as many as the number of sand grains on an earth´s beach.




Completing this planetarium tour, you will find a unique educational museum in honor of Professor Carl Sagan for his immense contributions to astronomy research. This museum also includes the famous expedition through Solar System and is a resource for learning about space science discoveries. They serve as important guide to basic astronomy information.



The studies of astronomy is often linked to specialist in science and technology. General knowledge about this topic contributes to personal enrichment, and a better understanding of the world as a whole.  If you, through your avatar are able to familiarize yourself with cosmos, the entire universe opens up before you. You will be able to comprehend how the existence around you has its laws and how it is interconnected with human evolution.



Most of what we can learn about the universe is based on observing stars. They are pretty important because not only do they light up the sky, they also illuminate our intellect with their life cycles.




Saturday, September 13, 2014

For Immediate Release: Virtually News with AvaJean Westland Premieres September 13th at 2pm SLT



NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC. CHECK IT OUT NOW!







---------------------------------------------------------------------
PRESS RELEASE






Virtually News with AvaJean Westland” is a mock/spoof news piece machinima created by actress/writer Gameela Wright. Filmed exclusively in Second Life, in the vein of SNL’s “Weekend Update” and “The Onion News Network,” AvaJean’s irreverent take on current events and pop culture pushes the boundaries while using animation as the filter.

“Virtually News with AvaJean Westland” will premiere on YouTube, Vimeo and SLartist Saturday, September 13th 2014. For those of you in Second Life, please join AvaJean  along with the talented voice actors and avatar puppeteers who brought this “News Piece” to life at the in-world premiere!

When: Saturday,  September 13th 2014 at 2:00pm SLT
Where: Linden Endowment for the Arts (LEA) Theater
SLurl: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA4/45/214/2

For more information, contact AvaJean Westland in world or avajeanwestland@gmail.com

Virtual Girl Productions
@AvaJeanWestland


The Vagabond Fugue: Chapter 4, "Prelude to a Revelation"



The Vagabond Fugue is a hybrid graphic novella set in a virtual world platform. Moments after his flesh and blood body is destroyed, Xander del Mar’s consciousness embodies an avatar, where he must navigate a new virtual world in order to regain his humanity.

Authored by Gypsy D. Sideshow, The Vagabond Fugue’s opening chapter first appeared in BOSL Magazine, and later in Torches n’ Pitchforks literary journal. This and subsequent chapters will be showcased monthly in SLE. Find his Gypsy D. Sideshow’s Gravatar profile HERE

AVIE POLL: What brought you to Second Life and what ways has it affected your life?- Debby Sharma Reporting



It has been over 2 years since I first started my journey in Second Life. During my MBA classes, one of our professors talked about virtual worlds in a digital marketing class. The ability and the impact awed me when I was writing a thesis on the same lines. Although, the time has passed and my thesis approved, I still can’t leave the place. Well, this is how I came. What is your story?


Bianca Xavorin

Photograph credits: Bianca Xavorin

Debby Sharma:  How did you come to know about Second Life when you first joined?
Bianca Xavorin: I saw it on the local finance channel. I thought what a great concept to do video. I had all intention to work with machinima but I had to learn the basics first, hence the art.

Debby Sharma:  What is the most exciting or the funniest moment you had in Second life?
Bianca Xavorin: Oh gosh! I might have to think about this one. I think a few years back when there was a glitch. People thought they were wearing clothes, but everyone else saw them naked, I called it (the emperor's new clothes syndrome).

Debby Sharma:  How much influence does Second Life have on your real life?
Bianca Xavorin: I was asked in the past two weeks to use my art in an RL exhibit. I was also asked if I would do the illustrations in a book for a published writer. So I would think yes it is influencing RL.

Debby Sharma:  How many years has it been for you and what inspires you to come back in SL after all these years?
Bianca Xavorin: I think 4 years. There are so many things. The people, the people are so wonderful, beautiful inside and out. The fact is that SL makes the world a little smaller, is a gift. My best friend is from Norway. My Partner is from Canada. Most of my SL family is from the UK. There is so much to see and do I could never be bored.




Cali Karsin

Photograph credits: Cali Karsin

Debby Sharma:  How did you come to know about Second Life when you first joined?
Cali Karsin: I came to know about Second Life because my friend told me about it form World of Warcraft, and told me to join it so I could marry my online boyfriend. So you could say, we wanted to enhance our experience together.

Debby Sharma:  What is the most exciting or the funniest moment you had in Second life?
Cali Karsin: The most exciting one is the one I will choose. The most exciting moment in my Second Life is when I came out with issue one of “Cultured The Magazine”. I wanted to use SL as my playground for my future career, so it meant the world to me and my business partner and I did it! We dealt with so many challenges and obstacles we had to get past together, but we did it. That defining moment in my life when I could say, I did it. I am just a 22 year old college kid in real life, so this profound experience of running the company is the most amazing experience that I am thankful for each and every day.

Debby Sharma:  How much influence does Second Life have on your real life?
Cali Karsin: Second Life shapes each and every thing in my life as a productive thing that I carry into my RL like career wise, personality wise, hobby wise and entertainment wise. It's a positive influence that I don't know where I would be without.

Debby Sharma:  How many years has it been for you and what inspires you to come back in SL after all these years?
Cali Karsin: 4 years and 9 months. My passion inspires me to come back after all these years. I love writing, journalism, photography, magazines, public relations, marketing, these are the things that have kept me in SL after all this time. Of course, the pixel heels never hurt anyone, I mean come on you can shake it at a club all night and wear 7 inch heels if it pleases you without sore feet. It allows you to have a social life any day of the week when you do not in RL.



Indea Vaher

Photograph credits: Indea Vaher

Debby Sharma:  How did you come to know about Second Life when you first joined?
Indea Vaher: Actually a friend invited me to come to a class on eastern religion that was being held in Second Life. I'd never been in a virtual world before this. Well not religion, I should say mysticism and not religion.

Debby Sharma:  What is the most exciting or the funniest moment you had in Second life?
Indea Vaher: Wow! Very hard to say there has been so many. The first time I brought my work into sl for a show at “The Catcher in the Pie Café”. I was very nervous because I'd never saw any work like mine in in SL before and wasn't sure how it would be received. It was a big success and I was so excited.

Debby Sharma:  How much influence does Second Life have on your real life?
Indea Vaher: I think it has a lot of effect; certainty takes up a lot of my free time. Things I could be doing in First Life when I have down time, I put aside to log on. If I didn't put these things aside I would probably never be in sl. Oh you said influence. It has an influence because I think SL absorbs a lot of creative energy and I have to be careful on how much I spend in here. I mean, there has to be a balance. The good influence I think it has helped me to become more daring in the way I dress.

Debby Sharma:  How many years has it been for you and what inspires you to come back in SL after all these years?
Indea Vaher: Six. I love SL, it's an escape for me and each time I've tried to quit I always come back. Second Life is my drug of choice, and I've made so many great friends.

Facebook: 


Sera Bellic

Photograph credits: Sera Bellic

Debby Sharma:  How did you come to know about Second Life when you first joined?
Sera Bellic: I was watching the news one night and saw a piece. I was curious so I joined and 7 years later I am still here.

Debby Sharma:  What is the most exciting or the funniest moment you had in Second life?
Sera Bellic: It excites me to witness the creativity; there are so many people with such real talents. I am still awed when I see their work. As far as funny goes, there are too many things to come up with just one, but I love the times that I would be hanging with friends and we would be doing stupid stuff really just silly stuff that I would be doubled over in laughter. To the point at times my now grown daughter would yell for me to stop laughing she was trying to sleep. oOops

Debby Sharma:  How much influence does Second Life have on your real life?
Sera Bellic: Second Life has influenced me in a couple of ways. It has taught me to be more open to all cultures, to understand deep down we really are all the same. We hurt, we love, and we laugh all the same. It has also influenced my creative side. Helped me to realize more potential than I ever knew I had.

Debby Sharma:  How many years has it been for you and what inspires you to come back in SL after all these years?
Sera Bellic: 7 years. Hands down the creating, it’s so much cheaper to create in SL then in RL. I should add a small handful of people as well.




Alpha Adonis Prime

Photograph credits: Alpha Adonis Prime

Debby Sharma:  How did you come to know about Second Life when you first joined?
Alpha Adonis Prime: I used to do video chats. My friends found a place called “rlc”. it was another virtual world but very limited. I was a builder there. Few of my friends told me to expand our horizon. And tada! Second Life, I loved it all. After the initial learning curve, I was diving, riding and was a member of a clan. Few people taught me about avatar styling. I loved the mix and match customization. The challenge to find the individuality of our virtual selves was mind blowing. I felt that if one did not invest in their virtual persona, then it is not worthwhile making friends. What we immerse in, we are accountable for our own actions. And who are not vested in their avatars, can create more chaos with impunity. At least, this is what I observed.
Debby Sharma:  What is the most exciting or the funniest moment you had in Second life?
Alpha Adonis Prime: At one time, while I was chatting in a mesh body group chat, I was approached for some pointers. I like to be helpful if I can. Well it took a long time to get the right shape and skin to work. Anyways, I asked if we could talk because it takes a lot of effort writing the whole thing again. She agreed saying, “I might sound like a pirate”. When we spoke, we knew that we were two men sitting at the ends. But I am not judging, since I have 2 female mannequins, which I use for makeover. We both thought it was funny. Laughs. Many of my friends think I know way too much about dressing a female avatar than a male one. I blame my real life sisters for not letting me play with their Barbie dolls.

Debby Sharma:  How much influence does Second Life have on your real life?
Alpha Adonis Prime: I come at nights and weekends. It influences me a lot. It’s a great social outlet. SL is my escape and not my prison. It’s an addition to my real life and not a replacement. It makes us richer. This is true for all who understand the culture of this place, where anything can be possible.

Debby Sharma:  How many years has it been for you and what inspires you to come back in SL after all these years?
Alpha Adonis Prime: I have enjoyed Second Life for over 2 years now. We see a lot in other’ profiles, “sl is sl and rl is rl”.  But the reality is different. It’s the people sitting behind their avatars that make it all worth it. It is the few dynamic people that inspires me a lot and helps me come back. Designers, friends, scenery and events all have a hand in pulling me back here. It is the dream that keeps us dreaming.



 
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