We take all feedback (good and bad) from the community seriously. That’s why we’re excited to begin a new initiative that allows Residents to share their thoughts and interact directly with top executives at Second Life. 

We hope you’ll join us for the first of many Community Roundtables with Second Life Leadership – it will be held on Monday, May 20 from 9:30-11 a.m. SLT. For this inaugural session, you’ll have a chance to meet and interact directly with Linden Lab Executive Chairman Oberwolf Linden and Senior VP of Product & Engineering Grumpity Linden. We encourage community members to submit questions in advance via this anonymous form and we’ll do our best to address as many as we can.

As we prepare for this event, we’d like to remind the community about the Tao of Linden, our guiding principles that drive our interactions with the community, and our fellow Lindens. We have been thinking carefully about these principles as we look closely at recent community feedback and strive to do better moving forward. 

In addition to the new Community Roundtable, here are some ways that you can help and collaborate to make Second Life better:

• Feedback Portal - Your one-stop spot for feature requests, bug reports, and general feedback. All submissions are reviewed by the Second Life development team.
• Community User Groups - Did you know that there are recurring inworld meetups with various Second Life development teams that anyone can attend? These meetups happen at least once a month and include the following groups and topics: Server/Sim Scripting, Open Development, Content Creation, Combat Committee, Concierge & Land, Web, Skill Gaming, and Governance.
• Support Portal - For individual account questions, we encourage you to use our Support Portal which includes a Knowledge Base with hundreds of articles and ways to reach out to the Support team directly.   

We understand that agreement on every idea or suggestion may not always be possible. However, we can assure you that your ideas and suggestions matter deeply to us, and those perspectives help shape our decisions. Your voice is valued in our ongoing journey together.

We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with each and every one of you in shaping a world that is not only enjoyable and prosperous but also vibrant and flourishing. Your presence here means the world to us, and your contributions are invaluable in making Second Life an exceptional place to belong. Thank you sincerely for sharing your time with us and for being an integral part of our journey towards creating something truly special together.

See you at the Community Roundtable on May 20th! Use one of the following slurls to attend:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Linden Estate Services4/237/19/27
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Linden Estate Services2/26/229/28 

We shared back in March our exciting news about our plans to support WebRTC Voice in Second Life.

We’ve made some great progress in the two months since we shared that news, namely:

• Second Life WebRTC Voice Project Viewer is now available: Download
• Second Life WebRTC Voice support deployed to Agni channel “Pop Rocks”
  • WebRTC Voice 1 

To experience spatial audio on this WebRTC Voice Beta region, you will need a WebRTC Voice-enabled Viewer. The WebRTC Voice-enabled viewer can also use voice on non-WebRTC voice-enabled regions. It is our goal that WebRTC-Voice-enabled Viewers can still communicate with all other viewers via P2P, conference and group calls.

You should immediately notice the higher quality audio for voice as well as the following benefits:

• Improved security
• Removes external dependency on third-party provider for voice
• Simple setup from behind firewalls and private networks
• Enables greater control of voice operation in the viewer
• WebRTC features including audio device selection, stereo audio, noise reduction, automatic gain control, and echo cancellation

There are some known issues:

• Conference/Group/P2P in WebRTC is not yet available on the WebRTC Voice regions.
• An occasional popup regarding voice server incompatibility can appear. Restart voice if you see this.
• The viewer may crash if you connect/disconnect headphones or enable/disable voice.
• Voice morphing is not available in this WebRTC-Voice enabled region.

We plan to keep working on the WebRTC Voice Project Viewer and promote it to Release Candidate status in early June. Please share your feedback and any issues found in our feedback portal. We’ll continue to deploy updates to the WebRTC Voice region during this time.

For Third Party Viewer developers, please check out this branch: 
https://github.com/secondlife/viewer/tree/project/webrtc-voice 

Consult the documentation for more information.

We look forward to WebRTC Voice being available grid-wide and supported in our default Viewer and TPVs!

Today we’re shining a spotlight on Cajsa Lilliehook, a pillar of strength and support within the Second Life community. Cajsa's dedication to uplifting artists through her discerning "Cajsa's Choices" and her unwavering commitment to social activism stand as a testament to her influential presence in the virtual world and beyond.

Photo by LessThen Zero

How long have you been in Second Life and how did you first hear about it?
Since July, 2007.  I downloaded demos of several games one night while I was recovering from an injury to my foot. I was so surprised by it and stayed. 

"It's Only Fashion" has been a staple in the Second Life fashion community for many years. What motivated you to start this blog, and fashion blogging as a whole? 
Blogging gave a purpose to my shopping. It legitimized what I did in Second Life, at least for me. Now, of course, it is Gidge Uriza and Rose Mistletoe who do all the blogging.

Photo taken in 2017

"Cajsa's Choices" on the New World Notes blog is known for showcasing the artistic talents within Second Life. Can you share what inspired you to start this column and what you look for when selecting works to feature?
It all began with a plurker who posted WTF picture critiques. They were unkind. One of my friends was heartbroken after being named and wanted to quit blogging. She only wrote a few more posts and not long after, she left SL. I wouldn't blame one plurk for her leaving SL, but it played a role. The critic often said it was cruel to be kind about bad pictures and her goal was to help everyone do better pics. 

I reasoned people would learn from praise for good pics. I began doing plurks about good pics. I started my What I Like column at Shopping Cart Disco, then I wrote a few for It's Only Fashion after SCD closed. I was pretty sporadic when it was for my own site. Then Hamlet Au asked me to write for New World Notes. This is my 99th month writing my column, three days a week, plus a Friday column on blogs I like. 

What I look for is hard to describe. I like arresting photos that make me want to stop scrolling. I like it when someone clearly follows some easily explained rule of composition. I like pictures that tell a story, that challenge reality, that say something beyond “look at me.” I love it when someone has a fixation that inspires themes in their pictures, like Skippy Beresford and ships. I love it when pictures are about something. 

I like pictures where people wear clothes. They are becoming rare as SL Flickr becomes more and more about the male gaze. I mean count the number of pictures with clothed men and nude, or nearly nude women. Now try to find one with a fully clothed woman and a nude man. I did a lighthearted, but negative column once, trying to stress how boring these implausible bodies are - SL/Flicker Cliche Bingo. 

I do want people to let me know they want me to look at their pictures. Every day I find people I had never heard of who just blow me away. They can tag me on a specific picture or send me a Flickr mail or IM me in-world or tag me on social media. I think it's absolutely right and proper to say, "Hey, look at my pictures." I try to find new people by looking at people's favorites so I don't just look at people already in my following list.

Photo taken in 2008

What advice would you give to newcomers in Second Life who aspire to contribute creatively to the community, whether in fashion, photography, or other artistic avenues?
Do what you love. Then tell people you did it. I am sure there are people in SL with no creative impulses, but I haven't met them. The hard part about making great art, clothing, houses, music, dance, whatever it is that inspires your creative passion, you have to get the word out because you aren't going to be discovered at a soda fountain in Second Life. I know it's unfair to people who are introverted. I bet there are publicists in SL. There should be.

Photo taken in 2009

With your interests in real-world book reviews and activism, how do these outside passions influence your contributions to Second Life?
Well, I did try to do YouTube video book reviews but they even bored me. I am an um'er. I might have done better off the top of my head. For a good laugh, check this YouTube channel.

My books and my activism are reflections of my values which remain constant in and out of Second Life. I mean, in real life I can't afford a tenth of the clothing I enjoy in SL, but I still oppose systems of oppression and hope for a world where marginalized people are liberated. I mean more than just having laws to protect them from others, but to eventually create a world without precarity in which people can be the people they want to be, free, without fear. 

Photo taken in 2017

Tell us about some of the other Residents in SL who inspire you and whose work you admire.
Oh wow, have you seen my columns? Hundreds inspire with their pictures. But going beyond pictures, I am inspired by the people who persevere year after year after year. 

Folks like Daniel Voyager, Inara Pey, and Hamlet Au, who keep writing about Second Life so doggedly. They have their niche and they fill it. 

Then there are the Tubthumping heroes who get knocked down and get up again, folks like Gidge Uriza, Maxwell Graf, Nimil Blackflag, Sophia Harlow, and Sanura Snowpaw....and so many others whose real lives can get hard, terrifying, and full of grief, but who just will "never let you keep me down." 

Fashion bloggers, well, my friend and blog partner Gidge is my favorite. Have you read her stuff? She is hilarious. I like the bloggers who write about the clothes, that explain why they like them, and even shockingly, they sometimes suggest improvement, bloggers like Gogo, Grazia Horwitz, Sasy Scarborough, and Sydd Sinister. 

Again, folks who persevere year in and year out. I guess I am sort of biased toward the old guard. And of course, speaking of persevering, Sasy with Hair Fair year after year. People do great things in Second Life. 

Photo by LessThen Zero

Where can people see your work? Please share links to your sites and social media accounts.
Well, my columns are tagged so you can see them all at nwn.blogs.com/nwn/cajsas-choices 
flickr.com/photos/cajsa_lilliehook 
tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com 
singleservingrecipes.wordpress.com  (on hiatus until I replace my camera) 
goppredators.wordpress.com  
itsonlyfashionblog.com 
bsky.app/profile/cajsa.bsky.social 
twitter.com/Cajsa 
linktr.ee/cajsalilliehook

Thank you, Cajsa, for your invaluable contributions to the Second Life community, and for setting a precedent as one of the original fashion bloggers, inspiring countless others along your journey.

Each of our Spotlight posts features a different Resident to showcase the spectrum of experiences and personalities found in our virtual world. If you have created something inworld that you’re proud of, or have had a deeply meaningful experience that could brighten someone else’s day, please sign up! More info here: https://second.life/spotlight-signup 
 

Pictured: Conch Island Music & Arts Festival

Are you ready to party this weekend? Start at the music festivals, then continue the excitement by club hopping to some of the most innovative music and dance venues in Second Life! Experience cutting-edge entertainment with some venues that feature the latest in technology advancements, including Physically Based Rendering (PBR), enhancing your visual and auditory journey.

Conch Island Music & Arts Festival

Dive into the Cretaceous Coast at Conch Island Music & Arts Festival 2024. This year, the 2-region festival is blending prehistoric wonders with merfolk magic and modern music fest vibes. Between May 4th-May 28th expect an epic mix of live music, DJs, art, shopping, and dinosaur-themed adventures. See you at the festival! Learn more at conchislandfestival.com

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RelayStock 2024

It’s a weekend of Peace, Love, and Hope, with great music and yes, lots of MUD! Once again The Relay Rockers invite everyone to join them May 10, 11, and 12 for RelayStock 2024, a multi-team Relay For Life of Second Life event. The event will feature ‘Team Sites’ around a 60s-style festival stage. Relay teams are invited to bring Kiosks and Vendors, host DJ segments on the stage, or invite live musicians to perform. There are, on average, 40 – 50 Relay For Life teams that participate each year! Learn more at relayrockers.org/relaystock2024

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LIVE: Emptimythia

This destination is the release event location for Tia Rungray's new album "Emptimythia." There is one performance area and seven installation areas where you can immerse yourself in his music. The areas are open from May 10th at 8 AM to May 31st at 8 AM. Special performances by Tia are scheduled for May 11th at 6 AM and May 25th at 11 AM SLT.

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The Baszement

The ™Baszement at Distillery Entertainment is a club with a fully supported PBR experience. This hang out provides music and fun for all music lovers with the hottest and most professional DJs. It is open every Sunday at 12pm SLT.

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Alley Catz Club

Alley Catz Live Music and Dance Club is what its title suggests. Their motto is “Traverse the lensing effect of music, dance, and light.” They run the venue on a single or dual performance model providing performers and patrons with a unique setting to experience live music in a warm and friendly setting within a fully supported PBR environment. When the venue is not used for performances it is an ideal place to come with that someone special and dance the night away.

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PLANET 13 Open Stage & Hangout

PLANET 13 was established in 2020 by a small group of creative music lovers. Having an interest in both live mixing DJ sets and building, PLANET 13 has since grown into a popular venue not only to listen to amazing DJs, but to enjoy the rotating custom-built stages. PLANET 13 offers a 24/7 open stage format with scheduled monthly events as well as large-scale music festivals.

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Unison

Unison is a club where fantasy meets technology and nature. This underwater and beachside locale thrills with live music performances and dancing, catering to a diverse community with a strong LGBTQ pride. Visitors can explore sci-fi landscapes, shop in eclectic markets, and unwind in laid-back, hippy-style hangouts. Whether it's for relaxation or exploration, Unison provides a unique backdrop for both.

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Club Soho

Established in 2014, Club Soho is a dance club for those passionate about electronic dance music. It features live DJs from around the world, blending genres like deep house, techno, and EDM into unforgettable events. The club fosters a welcoming environment, inviting everyone to meet new friends and experience a dynamic clubbing scene.

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Club Metropolis

Club Metropolis is a fully functional space station club with live DJs and dancers, and music from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. It's a unique place to explore and enjoy great music 7 days a week. This friendly club can be found in a galaxy not so far away. At Club Metropolis, you have reached your music destination!

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Cafe Musique

Cafe Musique is one of Second Life's busiest live music venues. More than 600 live music performers have performed on their stages since opening in Feb 2015. Aspiring, new, and established performers come together in an inclusive supportive atmosphere to help grow the live music community in SL. With over 60 live performances a week, there is something for everyone.

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Furzona

Furzona is a community-based, authentic furry club offering a unique Second Life clubbing experience found nowhere else. Furzona specializes in live video displays and laser shows, showing off the capabilities of Second Life's engine. Learn more at furzona.club

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After the club hopping, check out this tutorial series! 

Are you an artist looking to set up an exhibition in Second Life? The GBTH Mutual Aid Program aims to offer digital artists support and a sense of community. Their Virtual Exhibition 101 video series offers a comprehensive guide to setting up exhibitions.

Learn more about this video series on the GBTH website and watch it on their YouTube channel. You can also check out their Selected Works Showcase inworld.

GBTH Selected Works Showcase '24

As a conclusion of the Virtual Exhibition 101 series, part of the GBTH Mutual Aid Program, the GBTH Selected Works Showcase ‘24 was put together to dive further into considerations of exhibition setups in Second Life. This process was documented in the video series.

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Don't forget to check our Recently Added category to see all the latest additions to the Second Life Destination Guide!

Got a spot that you’d like listed in the Destination Guide? Make sure to drop us a note at editor@lindenlab.com or submit your spot via web form. Learn more about the Destination Guide criteria for Editors’ Picks or the Destinations Floater in the viewer, and increase your chances of being featured in those coveted spots!

Last week, we announced an update to our child avatar policy in Second Life, and since then, we've received numerous questions and requests for further details. We understand the importance of these updates to our community and encourage everyone to keep consulting the continuously updated Child Avatar FAQ for answers to your queries.

Additionally, we invite all community members to join the Governance User Group on Thursday, May 9th, 2024, at 2pm PT. This meeting will provide further insight into these updates, including a presentation of what the new modesty layer could look like, ensuring clarity and compliance across our virtual world.

The decision to update the child avatar policy was not made lightly. It involved weeks of meticulous discussion and coordination across various departments at Linden Lab, with the Governance team at the forefront. Our goal was to balance the diverse needs and expressions of our community with the necessity to maintain a safe and respectful environment for all users. This delicate balance reflects our commitment to providing freedom of expression while ensuring that Second Life remains a welcoming space for everyone.

By taking these thoughtful steps, we are committed to enhancing our community's experience, ensuring that Second Life continues to be a platform where creativity and expression can flourish within a framework that respects and protects every resident.

Save the date! On June 23rd, Second Life will be turning 21! The 21st annual Second Life birthday celebration (SL21B) will be held from June 21st through July 21st. Get ready for a month of fun-filled days of live music, performances, shopping, and amazing community exhibits!

This year’s Birthday theme is Elements. This theme invites us to explore the fundamental components that make up our vast virtual landscape and the diverse communities within it. From the fiery passion of creators and artists to the fluid adaptability of our social environments, from the solid bonds within our communities to the fresh breezes of innovation that propel us forward, "Elements" is a celebration of the core forces that shape our experiences in Second Life.

The SL21B Shop & Hop event is the official multi-region shopping event of the 21st annual Second Life birthday celebration. This event brings together many of the top merchants across SL for exclusive items and discounts on some of the best creations in Second Life.

This year again we are offering two types of Shop & Hop regions, Moderate rated regions and Adult rated regions. 

Are you a merchant or creator who wants to participate? If so, then please fill out this form by May 12th. We will be filling in stores as we receive applications so please apply sooner rather than later.

Some important details for participating merchants:

• The set-up for participating merchants will be held June 7-10 and all participating merchants are required to have at least a 20% discount on all items.
• All merchants must provide a new and exclusive, for the duration of the event, non-group gift.

Follow our blog and sign up for our weekly emails for more upcoming information about the SL21B celebrations starting in June!

CURRENT APPLICATIONS FOR SL21B:
Shop & Hop Application - Applications close on May 12th, 2024
Performer Application - Applications close on May 31st, 2024 (Announcement)
Volunteer Application - Applications close on May 12th, 2024 (Announcement)
Exhibitors Application - Applications close on May 12th, 2024 (Announcement)

At Second Life, we are committed to creating a richer, more immersive, and safer environment for everyone. With that spirit, we’re excited to share several important updates and developments that not only aim to improve our virtual world but also ensure that our community continues to thrive in a safe and engaging manner.

Bringing Second Life Everywhere: Mobile and Desktop Updates

Our development team is working tirelessly to make Second Life accessible wherever you are, whether you're on a mobile device or sitting at your desktop. While our Mobile App is still in Private Alpha, we’re looking forward to expanding access to more members of our community shortly. Our new App promises to bring all the richness and beauty of Second Life directly to your mobile phones and tablets. Don't miss our latest developer update video for a sneak peek at what’s coming!

On the desktop front, we're gearing up for a wider release of some of your most requested features for the Second Life Official Viewer. We're particularly excited about rolling out innovations like Mirrors and 2K textures, which were showcased in a recent "Lab Gab" video. 

Making Second Life Safer: Strengthening Community Protections

Our priority has always been to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all while preserving the freedom of expression that makes our virtual world so special. That’s why we’re working to further enhance the safety and protection of the Second Life platform. These efforts include strengthening some of our community and employee policies as well as evaluating improvements to our age verification process. 

One area of ongoing scrutiny both internally and externally concerns child-presenting avatars. We recognize and want to acknowledge the vibrant community of residents who enjoy roleplaying as such, and we also feel that it is crucial to reinforce our stance that sexualized ageplay is strictly prohibited. Today, we are updating our Child Avatar Policy to ensure a clear separation and to safeguard all community members. We know that this update has the potential to cause confusion or concern in our community, so we’ve prepared an FAQ which we will continue to update as questions come up.

Strengthening Internal Policies and Community Engagement

We recently posted our initial response to community concerns about alleged violations of company and community policies by employees, contractors, and community members. Since that time, we have conducted multiple thorough investigations to look closely at whether there were specific infractions or problematic interactions that needed us to take action. 

The investigation determined that all Lindens and contractors have stayed in compliance with our own community guidelines, as well as unwritten, ethical guidelines. I do not make this statement lightly, and I know there will be plenty of discussion. What I can say is that there is no incentive, monetary or otherwise, for me to mislead the community. At some point, the community has to trust that we, the Lindens, do well when the community thrives. We may make mistakes along the way, and we know that our community will engage with us when we do. Second Life is an enormous virtual world and we have to walk a very fine line between policing and preserving freedoms while also protecting the future growth and health of Second Life as a platform that respects diversity and creative expression among our community.

The findings did highlight opportunities for improvement. As a result, we are making updates to our internal policies to raise the standard for how Linden employees should respectfully engage with community members. This addresses multiple forms of engagement including how we present ourselves, how we interact with the community (even in moments of conflict), and how we minimize the perception of conflict of interest and favoritism in our interactions. Additionally, there have been specific actions we have initiated or finalized:

• Updated our Child Avatar Policy 
• Updated our internal Policies and Procedures
• Implemented personnel changes
• Initiated management improvement programs
• Committed to Community Roundtables (see below)
• Committed to increased transparency and accountability

Looking ahead, we are excited to announce the launch of our Community Roundtable with Second Life Leadership. The first one is scheduled for May 20 at 9:30-11 a.m. PT. This will be an opportunity for community members to connect directly with our top executives, share your input, and discuss ideas on enhancing Second Life. This initiative represents another step in our efforts to improve our community interactions, ensuring that your voice is more directly heard and valued.

I will be a part of the first Community Roundtable and welcome you all to attend. 

Building a Better Second Life Together

All of these updates and initiatives are part of our broader drive to continually improve Second Life. Stay tuned for more, participate in upcoming events, and let's make Second Life better together.

Oberwolf Linden

Pictured: Chee Chee

Explore a variety of serene nature escapes, vibrant hangouts, and immersive roleplaying communities - each destination promises a unique adventure. Teleport over and discover your next favorite spot in Second Life today!

Chee Chee

Welcome everyone to Chee Chee at The Sign III! Here, you can immerse yourself in the serene atmosphere of the shrine, enjoy the cozy comfort of the hot springs, savor delicious sushi and ramen, and indulge in a variety of snacks at the night market area. Take a moment to relax at the bar and sample sweets at the souvenir snack shop. You can also take a tram ride to explore Chee Chee!

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Cretaceous Park

Discover Cretaceous Park, a prehistoric luxury resort inspired by the iconic 90's dinosaurs movie! Enjoy suites, bungalows, and Dino Mansions with thrilling safaris, poolside fun, and more.

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Vindfjell

Vindfjell is a serene destination designed by Terry Fotherington, offering visitors a peaceful escape into nature. This ephemeral region, open for just one month, features gentle rainfalls that complement the quiet scenery. It's a perfect spot for those seeking tranquility and the soothing sounds of nature.

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Romantic Oasis of Love

Whether you are planning a romantic date, a special engagement or a dream wedding, you will find not only picturesque landscapes and romantic corners but also an atmosphere full of magic and unique emotions.

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In stillness

In Stillness offers a serene escape where visitors can quiet their minds amidst the tranquil beauty of the northwestern forests. Here, one can find comfort in rustic cabins or set up camp in an assortment of tents, trailers, and RVs. Gentle sounds of nature and soothing music enhance the peaceful ambiance. Trails invite leisurely hikes, while nearby docks provide access to boat rides across calm waters. It's an ideal spot for those seeking solitude and a touch of healing in the embrace of the great outdoors.

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Hillvale Bay

Hillvale Bay and its popular seafront promenade from the 1950s Atomic Age was a thriving fun-filled destination for family day trips and sun lovers to frequent over many years. This vintage Beach remains mostly intact and untouched from its heydays in the 1950s, but time has stood still and it remains to this day in a forgotten, abandoned state. Come and explore, relax, and take some photos.

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The Dock - Dancing at the Bay

The Dock is a place where rhythm meets romance against the backdrop of breathtaking views. Whether you sway casually or spin formally, the dance floor invites all to groove beneath the stars. With each step, immerse yourself in the pulsating energy of the night and let connections ignite. The gorgeous Dock, where every dance is a journey and every moment is a memory in the making.

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Blossomvale in Venice

Blossomvale in Venice is a destination created by photographers for photographers. It is a stunning look into Venice, set in a romantic atmosphere. There is a wedding venue for elopement and stages for live events. A beautiful city tucked away between ocean, lighthouses, and islands. If you're looking for a quiet, lagless date spot, come tour Venice. Join their group for rez options.

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Bridgeton County

Bridgton County, nestled in the heart of the vast Alaskan wilderness, is a charming small town that exudes warmth and hospitality. As you wander through its quaint streets, you'll quickly discover that the true beauty of Bridgeton lies not just in its stunning natural scenery but also in the genuine friendliness of its residents. The tight-knit community is a testament to the welcoming spirit that defines this town, making it an ideal haven for families seeking a close-knit and supportive environment. Surrounded by majestic mountains and pristine lakes, Bridgton County offers a picturesque backdrop for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. From the vibrant hues of wildflowers in the summer to the serene blanket of snow in the winter, the changing seasons paint a mesmerizing canvas that captivates the hearts of all who call Bridgeton home. Learn more at linktr.ee/bridgetoncountysl

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HMS Iron Duke, Scapa Flow 1914-1918

Inspired by the operations of the British Grand Fleet during WWI, this destination presents the flagship HMS Iron Duke in real size and captures the mood of that era, in the setting of Scapa Flow. Explore the dreadnought, climb up the forecastle and the bridge, go belowdecks and visit the wardroom, the admiral's and officers' quarters, the ratings' mess, and the galley.

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The month of May also brings about many new events, so keep an eye on the Featured Events category over the next few weeks for fun and interesting art and music events to attend.

And, don't forget to check our Recently Added category to see all the latest additions to the Second Life Destination Guide!

Got a spot that you’d like listed in the Destination Guide? Make sure to drop us a note at editor@lindenlab.com or submit your spot via web form. Learn more about the Destination Guide criteria for Editors’ Picks or the Destinations Floater in the viewer, and increase your chances of being featured in those coveted spots!

Save the date! On June 23rd, Second Life will be turning 21! The 21st annual Second Life birthday celebration (SL21B) will be held from June 21st through July 21st. Get ready for a month of fun-filled days of live music, performances, shopping, and amazing community exhibits!

This year’s Birthday theme is Elements. This theme invites us to explore the fundamental components that make up our vast virtual landscape and the diverse communities within it. From the fiery passion of creators and artists to the fluid adaptability of our social environments, from the solid bonds within our communities to the fresh breezes of innovation that propel us forward, "Elements" is a celebration of the core forces that shape our experiences in Second Life.

We are opening applications for the performance schedule. We are looking for all types of performers to join the week-long festivities. Are you a DJ who can spin up a great party set or a live performer who can jam all night? You might be one of the grid’s amazing Dance companies, or perhaps you’re a Particle Performer? One of the things that makes Second Life so vibrant and exciting is the wide range of performers who share their talent with our Residents. Whatever your medium, we would love to hear from you!

Fill out the official performer application form by May 31st, 2024.

While we encourage all interested performers to sign up, please note that it does not guarantee a spot. We will review all submissions and extend audition invitations via a follow-up note in-world to the SL username that you provide.

Over the coming month, keep an eye on our blog for more opportunities to participate in the SL21B celebrations as a merchant!

CURRENT APPLICATIONS FOR SL21B:
Performer Application - Applications close on May 31st, 2024 
Volunteer Application - Applications close on May 12th, 2024 (Announcement)
Exhibitors Application - Applications close on May 12th, 2024 (Announcement)

Learn More About the Tilia Acquisition in an All-New Lab Gab!

Join us for a special edition of “Lab Gab” with Linden Lab Executive Chairman Oberwolf Linden, who discusses this week’s announcement that cross-border payments firm Thunes has entered into an agreement to acquire Tilia. 

This deal is good news for Second Life residents and creators, who will soon see more payment processing options without additional costs. As part of the transaction, Thunes and Linden Lab (which is the current majority owner of Tilia), have agreed to an exclusive five-year partnership in which, post closing, Thunes will provide payment processing and pay-outs to Linden Lab, leveraging Thunes’ global network – allowing gamers to pay, and to receive money real-time, in a more cost-efficient way and with increased transparency.

Oberwolf tackles many of the top questions emerging from the community about the transaction, including more specific details about what this means for the Second Life community now and in the future. 

Here are links to some of the topics we’ve covered in this episode:

• https://www.thunes.com/news/thunes-announces-agreement-to-acquire-tilia-llc 
• https://www.pymnts.com/acquisitions/2024/thunes-tackles-us-gaming-market-with-tilia-acquisition 

To learn more, be sure to watch Lab Gab on the Second Life YouTube Channel!

For full episodes of Lab Gab, click over to the Lab Gab YouTube Playlist.

Join Second Life Leadership in Conversation at our Community Roundtable Event

We’re also excited to announce the all-new Community Roundtable event with Second Life Leadership, scheduled to be held May 20 at 9:30-11 a.m. SLT. 

This is an opportunity to connect directly with our top executives, share your input, and discuss ideas on enhancing Second Life. This initiative represents another step in our efforts to improve our community interactions, ensuring that your voice is more directly heard and valued. 

At the first meeting, we’ll be joined by Linden Lab Executive Chairman Oberwolf Linden and Senior VP of Product & Engineering Grumpity Linden. During future Roundtable meetups, we’ll rotate in other executives to participate on a variety of topics and we’ll also aim to vary the scheduling to be more accessible to other time zones.

For the inaugural session, we’ll open with some important updates on recent developments and announcements including the new agreement by global payment provider Thunes to acquire Tilia and other recent policy changes. Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask questions during the open Q&A portion of the event, but please remember that this Community Roundtable is not meant to serve as a forum for individual support issues or personal grievances. While we do welcome candid and honest interactions, the spirit and intent of this gathering is to provide an opportunity for both Leadership and the community to listen and learn from each other. Our usual Community Standards apply and hate speech or personal attacks will not be tolerated.

If you would like to submit a question in advance or just provide feedback directly to Leadership prior to the event, then please use this anonymous form.

We’ll update this post with the inworld location closer to the Roundtable date…and we look forward to seeing you inworld on May 20!

Second Life Leadership Team

Pictured: WEIRDOS

Whether you're looking to enjoy some engaging games, relax in beautiful natural surroundings, or venture into unknown territories, we've curated a list of some of the newest places to explore. Don't forget to check our Recently Added category to see all the latest additions to the Second Life Destination Guide!

WEIRDOS

Step into a realm where being weird isn't just accepted - it's celebrated! Whether you're a misfit, a maverick, or just a little bit unconventional, you've found your people here. Come hang out anytime, day or night. There is a game room, and plenty of hangout spots to just chill and be yourself!

More Info Teleport

HOPE

H \O/PE was created to support all cancer fighters around the world. It is a serene beachside getaway where visitors can share stories and support each other while enjoying activities like card games, meditation, or simply relaxing with coffee and music at the local Hope café. This vibrant community fosters connection through positivity and mutual encouragement, offering a space for both reflection and joy. It is created with love, hope, and faith.

More Info Teleport

Enchanted Garden Maze

As twilight deepens fireflies emerge, their ethereal glow illuminating the path. Follow their erratic dance – they know the way to the maze’s heart. But beware: These luminous guides may lead to treasures or treachery, luring you into a trap so choose wisely.

More Info Teleport

The Cloud Garden

A serene garden up in the clouds, filled with light and beauty, welcoming photographers, explorers, couples, and friends. Immerse yourself in the magic and have a great time! Pose for photos, ride a carousel, dance, and enjoy! Use the shared environment.

More Info Teleport

The Monolith Trials

Embark on "The Monolith Trials" a game of intellect and daring. Navigate treacherous black liquid, dodge deadly lasers, and solve cryptic riddles. Unveil secrets hidden within a brutalist sci-fi realm. Are you ready to face the ultimate challenge and discover the unknown?

More Info Teleport

MadPea Ascension

Welcome to Ascension, a game full of puzzles and moral dilemmas! Can you beat the AI and reach the top level to win amazing rewards and prizes? This MadPea game is suitable for everyone!

More Info Teleport

Cosmic Carnival

Remember the thrill that filled the air when the carnival lights first flickered to life each season? Gather under the night sky where the nostalgic wonder is alive once more off Route 9. Reconnect with old friends and welcome new ones in a place where every moment is a shared adventure. Let the warm scent of funnel cakes guide you down the path to fun rides and lively games.

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Celestial Butterfly HQ

Embark on an enchanting journey into the world of butterflies! Equip your net and nectars to hunt in various locations. Catch over 600 butterflies to expand your collection. Earn XP to level up and unlock better gear. Grow flowers for nectars, craft potions, and sell your creations. Explore this magical world, have fun, and earn Lindens!

More Info Teleport

Wild Branch Brewing Co

Established in 2021, Wild Branch Brewing is a craft beer brewery tucked away amidst nature's beauty. Enjoy the pub, picturesque landscape, fishing, live music, games, and so much more!

More Info Teleport

Tilheyra's Bayou

Step into Tilheyra's Bayou this spring, where nature awakens with vibrant blooms and wildlife sings across the swamp. Lose yourself in the wandering paths and indulge in the mouth-watering beignets as you immerse yourself in the rhythm of the bayou. It beckons you with Southern hospitality and a sense of belonging.

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Nature's Sillywood

Warning: Spending time in nature may cause extreme relaxation! At Nature's Sillywood, you can relax by the water, feel the wind, hear birds sing, and laugh and live in peace. Let nature fill your mind with joy. “Nature is pleased with simplicity. And nature is no dummy.” - Isaac Newton

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Blue Finch

Blue Finch is a beautiful Spring and Summer inspired destination with lots to see and explore including river tube riding, horse tour rides, zip lines, and mini golf. You will find beaches, cafes, dancing and cuddle spots. Bring your partner, friends, and/or family for a unique and relaxing experience at this newcomer-friendly spot that is also perfect for photographers and bloggers.

More Info Teleport

A Place in the Sun

Feel welcome and embrace nature at its purest form. Just find a spot to sit and be comfortable, where you can take in the sights, sounds, and beauty of nature.

More Info Teleport

Cinco De Mayo Street Fair

Come and celebrate at the Cinco De Mayo Street Fair! Get your Cinco de Drinko on and learn some fun facts about the history and origination of Cinco De Mayo! There are a few gifts - if you can find them! The fair runs from April 22nd through May 10th.

More Info Teleport

Fantasy Faire 2024

The Fairelands have returned! From the 18th of April to the 5th of May, 20 incredible regions of extraordinary beauty bring the magic of Fantasy Faire to life once more, all in support of Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society's goal of a world without cancer. For eighteen days become immersed in a world of enchantment where you can shop, enjoy fantasy art and performances, discover roleplay opportunities, and hear award-winning fantasy authors all to a soundtrack provided by Fantasy Faire Radio. Come to the Faire, become part of the story, before the Fairelands once again recede into the mists for another year! Follow all the events at fantasyfairesl.wordpress.com

More Info Teleport

Sonance Heatwaves

Sonance Heatwaves is a 24/7 party on a remote beach with all the summer essentials for thrill-seeking souls: rentals, music events, killer surf, and diving spots.

More Info Teleport

Got a spot that you’d like listed in the Destination Guide? Make sure to drop us a note at editor@lindenlab.com or submit your spot via web form. Learn more about the Destination Guide criteria for Editors’ Picks or the Destinations Floater in the viewer, and increase your chances of being featured in those coveted spots!

We’ve got an all-new action-packed episode of “Lab Gab” that you won’t want to miss! Tune in to get a first look at our latest developer video that showcases the newest updates to the Private Alpha release of the Second Life Mobile App. There’s been a ton of progress since our last update – and Senior VP of Product & Engineering Grumpity Linden is here to break down what’s here now and coming next for our Mobile future.

You’ll also hear from Director of Engineering Signal Linden and Product Manager Kyle Linden as they discuss and show off new and exciting Second Life innovations and features like PBR terrain and mirrors. 

Finally, our Manager of Support Operations Keira Linden joins us to share some news about forthcoming policy updates that will help make our virtual world safer and stronger for everyone - and did we mention that there’s also news about our upcoming SL21B celebration?

Here are links to some of the topics we’ve covered in this episode:

• Second Life Mobile App - Developer Update Video (April 2024)
• Mobile Update: April 2024 - new builds, avatar updates!
• Premium Plus - Second Life Mobile Private Alpha Sign-Up
• Feedback Portal 
• Mirrors, PBR Terrain, and 2K textures
• Materials Featurettes Viewer 
• Accessing Aditi (the beta grid) 
• Second Life’s 21st Birthday (SL21B) Updates
• Follow our Featured News Blog for upcoming Policy Updates

To learn more, be sure to watch Lab Gab on the Second Life YouTube Channel!

For full episodes of Lab Gab, click over to the Lab Gab YouTube Playlist.

Want to see just the mobile updates? Check out our latest Second Life Mobile Developer video:

Save the date! On June 23rd, Second Life will be turning 21! The 21st annual Second Life birthday celebration (SL21B) will be held from June 21st through July 21st. Get ready for a month of fun-filled days of live music, performances, shopping, and amazing community exhibits!

This year’s Birthday theme is Elements. This theme invites us to explore the fundamental components that make up our vast virtual landscape and the diverse communities within it. From the fiery passion of creators and artists to the fluid adaptability of our social environments, from the solid bonds within our communities to the fresh breezes of innovation that propel us forward, "Elements" is a celebration of the core forces that shape our experiences in Second Life.

We’re looking for volunteers to assist during the celebrations. We are seeking Residents with great people skills and a passion for sharing the best of Second Life to help us make SL21B a huge success! 

If you have the Second Life spirit and stamina to promote SL21B events and serve as a guide for huge crowds, we’d love for you to fill out the volunteer application by May 12th!

Over the next month, keep an eye on our blog for more opportunities to participate in the SL21B celebrations as a performer and merchant!

CURRENT APPLICATIONS FOR SL21B:
Volunteer Application - Applications close on May 12th, 2024 
Exhibitors Application - Applications close on May 12th, 2024 (Announcement)

Happy spring! Thank you for all the suggestions sent in for future last names through our Last Name Suggestion Form. 

Today we are doing another big last name refresh by removing some of the older last name options and adding the following new ones from your suggestions:
Firehart
Ravenwood
Zennor
Whisperwind
Starforge
Xochitl
Finchfield
Azalea
Seabrink
Pawprint
Morehead
Osbourne

The following is a screenshot of the full list of current last names available:

We will continue to make additional updates to the available last name pool, so if these options aren’t for you, stay tuned for future updates. You can also continue to suggest your favorite name on our suggestion form, all new names are chosen from there! 

For more information about the costs and how-tos involved in name changes, read the Changing your username FAQ. Click to change your name now!

New Android and iOS Alpha builds were published Wednesday, April 3rd.

We’ve been working hard for the last two months and are excited to share some major steps forward for the mobile client -- correctly displaying avatars and teleport improvements have been at the top of the list.

If your avatar depends on an avatar shape deformer, you should immediately notice the changes to avatar rendering! Avatars that didn’t render at all before, or didn’t look the way you intended, now render correctly.

Teleports are also greatly improved – no more getting stuck on a loading screen! If you’re on a parcel with streaming audio, you’ll now be able to use standard audio controls to stop/start and change the volume (tap main menu > tap the audio metadata at the bottom of the screen). 

We also found and fixed some issues with the order of group chat messages.

There are definitely some known issues (h/t flexiprims!), but overall we’re sure you’re going to love the changes we’ve made in this release.

Interested in checking out the Second Life mobile client? All Premium Plus subscribers are invited to participate - learn more about how to apply here.

If you’re already participating in the Private Alpha, we appreciate your time, participation and feedback! Please continue to report issues in our feedback portal and from the app (main menu > Give feedback or file a bug).

We’ve heard you, and know that there are lots of people waiting for wider access to mobile.  We are working hard to expand access - and we will keep you updated with details and timelines as soon as we can!

Save the date! On June 23rd, Second Life will be turning 21! The 21st annual Second Life birthday celebration (SL21B) will be held from June 21st through July 21st. Get ready for a month of fun-filled days of live music, performances, shopping, and amazing community exhibits!

This year’s Birthday theme is Elements. This theme invites us to explore the fundamental components that make up our vast virtual landscape and the diverse communities within it. From the fiery passion of creators and artists to the fluid adaptability of our social environments, from the solid bonds within our communities to the fresh breezes of innovation that propel us forward, "Elements" is a celebration of the core forces that shape our experiences in Second Life.

Just like last year, your exhibit does not need to stay in theme. Share your Second Life passions with us. Your interests. Your communities. Your world! Every year we celebrate because of you, the amazing and creative Residents who have chosen to call Second Life home. What has drawn you into this world, and what keeps you here? These annual festivities are an opportunity to show us what fuels your Second Life. Let's celebrate that together! 

This year we are again offering two types of exhibitor regions, General rated regions and Adult rated regions. 

If you would like to participate as an exhibitor with a presence at SL21B, then please fill out this exhibitor form no later than May 12th. 

Over the next month, keep an eye on our blog for more opportunities to participate in the SL21B celebrations as a volunteer, performer, and merchant!

CURRENT APPLICATIONS FOR SL21B:
Exhibitors Application - Applications close on May 12th, 2024 

As promised in our PBR Materials announcement last year -- as of this morning’s Second Life server grid roll, we have increased the allowance of Land Impact by lowering mesh Download Weight by 15% for all of Second Life! Since much of Second Life today consists of mesh content, anyone who owns or rents land will see more land impact available on their parcels. 

How can I check if my objects have been affected? Right-click on the object you want to inspect, then click Edit, then click the More info link to see the current Download weight.

We’d like to take this opportunity to remind residents that this allowance is being given for no charge and is intended to help offset any additional Land Impact spent on manually rezzed reflection probes and lights, and of course in anticipation of the upcoming Mirrors release.

Land Impact is a finite resource, please rez responsibly!

Updated: Frequently Asked Questions.

Q.  My private region can hold 20,000 prims (Land Impact). How many prims will I have after this 15% Download weight reduction?

1. The region will still only be able to hold its original 20,000 prims, as the same for any parcel, or 30k private region. With this update mesh object's download weight has been reduced, requiring less land impact for objects where download weight is higher than physics and server cost, and letting your prims go further. Imagine a box that can only carry 20 pounds. With this update, the box is still the same, but the objects inside are lighter!
   
   To learn more about how weight is factored into an object’s land impact visit: https://community.secondlife.com/knowledgebase/english/calculating-land-impact-r273

Q.  What types of items are NOT affected by the update?

1. Animesh, primitives, and sculpties are not affected. The update will only affect static mesh objects that are rezzed onto your land.

Q.  How can I see what my meshes download weight used to be?

1. At this time you will only be able to compare it by rezzing an object on the Beta Grid (Aditi) running older server code, which will be for a limited time as we are constantly moving forward. Any Beta Grid regions running server build 2024-02-21.7995320426 should report the old Download Weight.

Q.  This is confusing.  Why didn’t you raise the region's prim (Land Impact) limits?

1. Download Weight effectively controls the scene triangle budget.  While the limit was appropriate when Download Weight was first introduced, it’s too restrictive by modern standards.  By adjusting Download Weight independently of other resource limits, we can avoid overloading other systems (such as physics and script time) that are already using appropriate limits.  Essentially, the weights were out of balance, with download weight carrying too much emphasis compared to other weights, and this change moves towards a better balance.

Pictured: Nederlandse Bergen

Spring is here! Take a moment to stop and smell the virtual flowers at these picturesque nature-themed destinations. 🌸

Nederlandse Bergen

Nederlanse Bergee is a beautiful island, ideal to get away from everything. It's a place to explore, discover, enjoy, relax, and spend a romantic time with your loved one. It is owned by Aloriana Shadowstar and landscaped by Marie Nova.

More Info Teleport

Kaleidoscope - Monarch Education Project

Kaleidoscope, a Monarch Education Project, brought to you by MORPH Productions and SPARK Project, is an experience for the mind, heart, and soul. Follow the nature hike to learn about the importance of this beautiful butterfly and experience the breathtaking views of the monarch wintering grounds. Immerse in the butterfly experience while cuddling your beloved.

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What the Buzz Bee & Pollinator Reserve

Welcome to "What the Buzz" a haven for bees and pollinators in Second Life! Immerse yourself in the vibrant landscape as you wander through this preserve. Take a moment to pause and discover how you can contribute to saving our little, but mighty, pollinator friends. Join the group for info on exciting events, including informative sessions on native bees and beekeeping. Celebrate the beauty and importance of bees and other pollinators. Let's make a buzz for a better tomorrow!

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Elvion

Indulge yourself in this green land full of history and natural beauty. From stunning water views and forest trails to the cozy harbor and city. Elvion is an ideal place for photographers, bloggers, and couples.

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Luanes World - Le Monde Perdu

Luanes World - Le Monde Perdu is a beautiful, romantic Island far away from everything. A place where you can find inner peace, enjoy and relax. Landscaped by LuaneMeo and Gorba McMahon.

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Soul Deep

Embrace the season of growth as spring has officially arrived at Soul Deep! Stroll through nature around the beautiful lake with cute animals, blooming flowers, and cozy cuddle spots all around. Let the enchantment of nature awaken your senses.

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Calas Galadhon

Escape to the vast estate and nature park of Calas Galadhon, a peaceful, romantic place to enjoy the beauty of the natural world brought into Second Life. Explore by horse, buggy, boat or balloon.

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Perpetual Moonlight

Perpetual Moonlight is a tranquil haven nestled under the celestial canopy. Imagine a grassy expanse, dew-kissed and soft beneath your feet, where time slows to a languid waltz. The air carries the whisper of dreams, and the world hushes to a soothing symphony. Gentle raindrops fall, weaving a silver veil over the landscape. As darkness descends, flickering candles, lanterns, and fireflies emerge, casting their warm glow upon the velvety night. Here, you can unwind, linger, and immerse yourself in serenity. Come, let the night embrace you, and discover the peaceful magic of Perpetual Moonlight.

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Joyful Gardens

Joyful Gardens is a picturesque destination ideal for romantic evenings, family outings, or as a photogenic retreat. It features a botanical garden, maze, and rides. Visitors are welcome to explore and enjoy its diverse attractions where romance lingers in the air.

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Cherry Blossom Cove

Welcome to this bubble surrounded by Cherry Blossoms. Explore, dance, sail around the islands, hang out with your friends, and take pictures. Add your images to their Flickr group: flickr.com/groups/14881749@N23

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Or enjoy some April showers in these rainy destinations!

Le'eaf Forest Retreat

Once a bustling train depot of adventurers, the Le'eaf Forest Retreat has been reclaimed by mother nature and of course caffeine. An umbrella waits for your arrival as you wander through the rain, seeking shelter and a warm beverage.

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Green Story

Green story is a beautiful, calm, and peaceful place for everyone. It's a place to relax or have a romantic time with a loved one. A perfect place to take pictures and create memories.

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Falling Waters at LeLoo's World

Welcome to Falling Waters at LeLoo's World. In this land of rain, waterfalls, and ponds, time seems to stand still. Feel free to wander and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature. Be warned, you will get wet! So make sure to grab an umbrella and the Spring Gift, the wearable Leaf-Glider, and float your way along the ponds! For the best experience turn on Advanced Lighting and sounds. Everyone is welcome to this PG event!

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Stormy Sips & Play

Welcome to Stormy Sips & Play, where guests can enjoy delicious drinks and classic games in a cozy, vintage ambiance. Challenge friends to board games and arcade classics while savoring a cup of coffee and the relaxing rain atmosphere. It's the perfect spot to unwind, sip, and play!

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VAHA

Enjoy the most attentive music at Vaha, a commercial club integrated with nature, featuring quality music and DJs. Vaha means Oasis in Turkish and is a pleasant place for those who want to have a few drinks with a lake view on a rainy day.

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Rainy Alley

Rainy Alley is an old alley lost in time. It's a small space that aims to bring you peace and relaxation in your busy life.

More Info Teleport

Don't forget to check our Recently Added category to see all the latest additions to the Second Life Destination Guide!

Got a spot that you’d like listed in the Destination Guide? Make sure to drop us a note at editor@lindenlab.com or submit your spot via web form. Learn more about the Destination Guide criteria for Editors’ Picks or the Destinations Floater in the viewer, and increase your chances of being featured in those coveted spots!

Happy Spring! It’s time to catch you all up on recent product developments! Continue reading for mobile updates, scripting news, new feedback portal (and end-of-life for JIRA), and Viewer releases.

📱 Mobile Private Alpha Update

Big and small updates! This is a reminder that Premium Plus members can apply to participate in our Mobile Private Alpha. If you are a Premium Plus subscriber, and you’re ready to try the app and help us make it better, find out more.

We recently updated the Second Life Mobile Alpha to support streaming audio! You can enjoy music in Second Life on your mobile device while hanging out with friends inworld. Streaming audio is off by default. To turn it on, go to Settings > Developer tools > Enable Streaming Audio.

We have brought you a couple of new Chat UI features:

• Start a new chat from any chat screen
• On the Nearby Chat screen, see how many people are nearby.

Next up - teleport and avatar display improvements. We think we’ve got avatar shapes figured out…and the real challenge - skeleton deformers - are also in the works!

🐛 JIRA end-of-life

Yes, the king is dead, long live the king! While we have said goodbye to Jira as the platform for collaboration with our residents as well as for internal issue tracking, we believe this has allowed us to improve visibility and collaboration. 

The new Second Life Feedback Portal is a great place for any new bug reports or feature requests, while the public Second Life Viewer project on GitHub is where we continue our open-source work. 

Speaking of the Second Life Feedback Portal, it has already received 672 posts, 2635 comments, and 6426 votes! We thank you for your enthusiastic participation. We have made many updates since we first introduced it in January including a whole new UI and dark mode (based on your system settings). We will continue to improve the feedback portal and, most importantly, review all the incoming reports and requests!

Although Jira is dead, the archive remains. As mentioned in our Pt. 2 blog post, the Jira archive of the Second Life BUG project on GitHub is now available. You can find the public BUG archive at https://github.com/secondlife/jira-archive/issues. The archive currently contains most of the previously public Jira tickets from the original BUG project. However, there are a few that we are still moving over. It does NOT include tickets that previously had restricted access.

👩‍💻 Scripting changes

Out now: Increased sensor result limit

We've increased the maximum number of results returned by llSensor and llSensorRepeat from 16 to 32. This will reduce the need for workarounds such as repeatedly scanning small slices of space.

Coming soon: llSetLinkSitFlags, llGetLinkSitFlags, SIT_FLAG_NO_COLLIDE

In an upcoming server release we will be allowing scripts to set and get the sit flags of linkset sit targets via llSetLinkSitFlags and llGetLinkSitFlags. In addition, scripts will be able to set the SIT_FLAG_NO_COLLIDE flag to disable the avatar's collision volume when they are seated. This will be useful for clown cars and other creations.

Scripting roadmap

Status of these upcoming changes and more are visible on Second Life's new public roadmap at feedback.secondlife.com. If you have ideas or feedback on the scripting system check out the Scripting Features and Scripting Bugs boards.

🪀 Creator news

Coming soon: 15% reduction to mesh download impact

Download weight is one parameter used as part of calculating an object’s Land Impact (LI).  We will be reducing this by 15%, decreasing the land impact of many mesh assets.

LI for mesh-based objects is either download weight, physics or server cost, whichever is greatest. This change will not impact animesh or mesh upload fees.

Coming soon: Scheduling automatic daily region restarts

This feature has been on people's wish lists for many years. Estate managers will soon be able to schedule automatic region restarts via the region console:

> help region_schedule
region_schedule
    Display or modify scheduled region events.
    An empty parameter list will display the current schedule.
    unset <event>:  Removes the scheduled event.
    set <event> daily HH::MM::SS will set the event to occur daily at the scheduled time.
    set <event> weekly days HH::MM::SS will set the event to occur on the indicated days at the scheduled time.
       S=Sun, M=Mon, T=Tue, W=Wed, R=Thurs, F=Fri, A=Sat
    Note: Times are in GMT

While most regions do not need to be restarted more frequently than weekly, which is automatically scheduled, some regions with high traffic may benefit from more frequent restarts. When you restart a region, keep in mind that everyone on the region will be kicked out.

💻 Viewers

Maintenance Viewer

GLTF PBR Maint 2 contains another round of fixes and refinements to PBR rendering, including a preview of Materials from Inventory while editing objects. Download version 7.1.3.7821226606 and check out the release notes.

Default Viewer

😀 Emoji

This viewer was finally promoted to default release and is based on a contribution by Kitty Barnett, adding emoji support to text chat.

Featurettes sneak peek!

Our Post Materials Featurette Package is sharing early access to:

• Mirrors
• PBR Terrain
• 2k textures

Initially this will only be available on our Beta Grid (Aditi). Please keep your eye on our blog as we will post more details in the coming days.

Catch more Second Life news on Thursday, March 14th at 12pm PT at the VWBPE Above the Book interview with Grumpity, Signal, and Kali Linden! 

Follow our Featured News Blog and connect with us on Social Media for future Second Life News!

Looking for something to do this weekend? Dive into these featured events and activities in Second Life!

Pictured: Rhythm and Rhyme with Bryn Oh (link will start working on Saturday, February 24th at 9am PT)

The Forty Thieves' Rhythm and Rhyme presents a fantastic event with a fusion of poetry and music in an art installation created by talented artist, Bryn Oh! The venue will open to the public on February 24th at 9am PT and the event starts on February 25th at 4pm PT. Don’t miss it!

Caledon, the esteemed steampunk community, is celebrating 18 years in Second Life this weekend with a variety of special activities. Seize this opportunity to dress up and attend their Founder’s Day Ball!

Caledon's 18th Birthday

The Caledon community is set to celebrate its 18th birthday with a Founder's Day Ball, a distinguished event that marks the inception of this Victorian steampunk haven by Desmond Shang. This year's festivities, guided by the new Guv, NeoBokrug Elytis, will unfold at the majestic new Caledon Pavilion in Caledon On Sea. Scheduled for Monday, February 26th, from 7:00pm to 9:30pm SLT, the event invites residents to don their finest, be it the Caledon Tartan or the vibrant hues of the nation, for an evening of refined celebration and communal harmony.

More Info Teleport

And yesterday, Madpea celebrated 16 years of incredible escape rooms, fun rides, and mind-bending games in Second Life. We featured one of their engaging escape rooms in a video, but you can also check out their latest one below!

MadPea Escape the Wizard's Tower

Perfect for friends, couples, or solo adventurers. Unravel puzzles and magical challenges together! Dive into enchantment with MadPea's newest Escape Room Game. Grab your wand and cloak for a mysterious event.

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This is also the last weekend for Black History Month. Explore the following destinations that have special events and installations in celebration - including open mic and spoken word live events this weekend at Meroe Museum and Wandering New York.

BOI Black History Museum

Discover the rich cultural tapestry at Beta Omega Iota's (BOI) Black History Museum, where the legacy of Black women is celebrated across art, music, science, and more. Wander through art exhibits, explore groundbreaking contributions in various fields, and unwind in the museum's café or the serene outdoor exhibit. A beacon of inspiration, the museum honors the achievements and resilience of Black women throughout history.

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Premier Business Center

The Premier Business Center (PBC) is a Global Multicultural Business center, virtual museum, and art space whose mission is to educate, motivate, and inspire. Visit the PBC Cultural Arts Center and learn about black history, the civil rights movement, black leaders, inventors, artists, and more! The center also has information on Second Life visual and performing artists. Attend their 4th annual Black History Month events celebrating the theme "Black History is American History - African Americans and The Arts."

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Learning Virtuale

Established in 2009, Learning Virtualē, under the stewardship of Addison Loxely, is a learning center for educators, e-learners, and curious minds in Second Life. Offering resources and activities designed to enlighten and engage visitors on a variety of educational topics. The museum includes permanent and evolving exhibits about Black History, Hispanic Heritage, the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Presidency, and Women's History. Visitors can also explore the art gallery, ignite the skies with their own fireworks show, and delve into a treasure trove of educational resources in its library.

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MEROE Museum

MEROE Museum is the Home of Black and Aboriginal cultures in Second Life. The Museum's purpose is to provide a safe space for the repository of black culture from across the diaspora, and a place for dialog in an effort to resolve many of the conflicts that plague our communities. More info at: meroemuseum.com

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Wandering New York

Welcome to Wandering New York! This destination is based on Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs. You will find frequent live performances, concerts, art galleries, and theatre presentations. All those with art in their heart are welcome.

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If you’re looking for even more fun events and maybe a few laughs, check out the following two destinations:

Raspberry Jam Festival

The Raspberry Jam Festival is a dynamic event focused on music, art, and community. The Jam Stage sets the scene for a medley of spectacular performances and breathtaking acts. This festival is more than an event; it's a testament to the power of collaboration and the boundless possibilities that emerge when minds unite in the pursuit of creativity and joy. The two-day festival runs from February 24th through the 25th. Learn more at d-oo-b.net/RaspberryJam

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The Store Comedy Club

The Store Comedy Club in Second Life is a virtual homage to its legendary LA namesake. Under the creative guidance of Codyjlascala, this virtual venue opens its doors every Friday and Saturday night starting at 9pm PT, offering a stage for both budding and seasoned comedians to share their humor. Whether you're there to take the mic or to laugh at the jokes, The Store Comedy Club promises an evening of continuous laughter and memorable moments.

More Info Teleport

Or if you just want to scratch that shopping itch, teleport to these themed shopping events:

Fashion Fair 2024

The Seekers of Hope RFL team presents the 4th annual Fashion Fair in support of Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society. The event runs from February 17 - 25. There will be shopping, entertainment, a Fashion Show and more. For a full schedule and more information, visit seekersofhope.wordpress.com/events/fashion-fair

More Info Teleport

Abnormality

Abnormality is a shopping event focused on all things human-alternative and furry. Running every 3 months from the 7th to the 28th! All are welcome to come and enjoy the shopping to find something new or enjoy the scenery of each round's themed decoration. This month's theme is seaborne and it's underwater! Learn more at abnormality.is

More Info Teleport

FOCUS Photography Fair

Calling all photographers! Elevate your creativity at the FOCUS Photography Fair, your one-stop shop for all the tools you need to facilitate and inspire your photography! Dive into the exclusive selection of lighting tools, props, backdrops, and poses tailored just for you. It’s a photographer’s dream fair with all products relevant to photographers, all in one place! The Fair begins on Feb 16th at 4pm and ends March 1st.

More Info Teleport

Enchantment Presents Midnight Requiem

Enchantment is a one-of-a-kind quarterly fantasy & folklore shopping plus a free grid-wide Hunt event. February's theme is Midnight Requiem. Embark on an otherworldly shopping experience and free grid-wide hunt into the heart of darkness at "Midnight Requiem," a spellbinding shopping event tailored for lovers of the supernatural. The event is open from February 9th to March 2nd.

More Info Teleport

St. Patrick's Market 2024

The St. Patrick's Market is a shopping and treasure-hunting event with a St. Patrick's Day theme. Here you will find themed decorations, accessories, outfits, gifts, and fun stuff to see and do. The event is family-friendly and runs from February 17th through March 17th. Come enjoy!

More Info Teleport

Don't forget to check our Recently Added category to see all the latest additions to the Second Life Destination Guide!

Got a spot that you’d like listed in the Destination Guide? Make sure to drop us a note at editor@lindenlab.com or submit your spot via web form. Learn more about the Destination Guide criteria for Editors’ Picks or the Destinations Floater in the viewer, and increase your chances of being featured in those coveted spots!

Interested in learning more about our Second Life Mobile app? Our development team is working hard to add new features and fixes to bring the best of Second Life to iOS and Android mobile and tablet platforms – it’s an entire virtual world in the palm of your hands! 

Linden Lab executives will be discussing the latest updates and future plans for Second Life Mobile in an all-new pre-recorded Lab Gab scheduled to air on socials in the near future.

Want to ask questions directly to the team behind Second Life Mobile? Please fill out the Google Form and submit your question in advance for a chance to have your inquiries answered on Lab Gab! Act quickly, as the form will close on Monday, February 26th. 

To learn more, be sure to watch Lab Gab on the Second Life YouTube Channel!

Today we’re shining a spotlight on Kacee Popstar, a multi-talented Resident known for her pivotal role in spearheading events and elevating brands with a unique blend of creativity and strategic marketing flair.

Photo by Aria Christen

How long have you been in Second Life and how did you first hear about it?
I first entered Second Life around 2010, initially exploring the platform without a specific focus. I dabbled in creating a clothing store called Fresh 2 Def and enjoyed spending time with my SL family. After a few years, real-life commitments led me to take a hiatus. It wasn't until August 2021, prompted by the unique circumstances of the global pandemic, that I decided to revisit Second Life. To my surprise, my entire SL family was still active. Soon after returning, I met Fang Palazzo (greatfang.novo), an uber talented Live Mix DJ in Second Life. My return marked a significant shift as I delved into managing DJ Fang under Pop Entertainment. Soon after, I met my partner-in-crime Sugarplum Zsun (sugarplum85) and I found myself fully immersed in SL’s vibrant club scene and surrounded by the most amazing people driven by the love of music. I spent most of my time attending sets and promoting DJs and clubs by recording short, fun real-time party videos that seemed to really resonate with people. I am a support machine! If you are doing creative things in SL, chances are you’ve seen me right there cheering you on! My real-world experience in the music industry in NYC seamlessly blended with my virtual endeavors, marking the beginning of a new chapter filled with creativity and excitement. Second Life became a space for creativity and virtual adventures. The immersive and dynamic nature of SL really drew me back, and I've been deeply engaged ever since.

You are a multi-faceted individual who is involved in the design, production, and marketing of different events, activities, and brands in Second Life. Can you share some of the projects you are involved with and how they have evolved?
My journey in Second Life is a tapestry woven with my real-life passions and talents. Hailing from a background in the music industry, where I specialized in experiential marketing, I bring a flavor to the grid that's uniquely me. In every endeavor, one golden rule guides me - a dedication to infusing joy and prioritizing the user experience.

The excitement began with event planning and creating Pop Entertainment. Orchestrating and promoting lively DJ and club events connected me with a huge network of dedicated club owners and talented DJs throughout Second Life. These amazing people and their love for music is truly inspiring. From there, I ventured into the world of creation and design with the clothing brand DAO, meaning 'star' in Thai. This was merely the starting point for a journey that led to the evolution of Palazzo Park, a small idea for a bowling alley that blossomed into a dynamic entertainment destination. It means everything to me that so many residents visit and enjoy Palazzo Park daily and infuse a little fun into their Second Life!

Around this time, I began managing marketing for various brands. The most gratifying journey has been HexPosed. I was trusted to take over management of the brand and it has been a blast cultivating HexPosed from the ground up and steering a modest pose store with only a few products into a known brand expanding its offerings to include backdrops, holdables, and furniture. 

Along this path, my mission was clear - to bridge the gap between the mainstream and urban communities in Second Life. I started by introducing HexPosed and supporting urban events and ventures with HexPosed’s involvement. This ambition translated into DJ Fang joining Sneaky Link Entertainment, an energetic and dedicated organization featuring talented Urban DJs (DJ Gunnklips, DJ Kevo, DJ Brockie, DJ Lola Bunny, DJ Ultra Violet, and DJ Blackice), managers (Shawn X. Gunner, Kevo B. Wylin, Symone Gunner, King Slaughterhouse Gunner, Luna Laveaux, Dee Allure, and Lyric Skye), and a team of exceptional hype girls who keep the vibe hype and events enjoyable. The cross-community acceptance has been incredible, with followers on both sides of the grid attending and enjoying events. My role extends to marketing Sneaky Link, contributing to its success and popularity in the Second Life community. It has been an extremely enjoyable experience!

Simultaneously, my love for designing spaces gave rise to Spellbound Manor - a fantasy-themed residential community. Here, I express my creativity by crafting high-quality resort-style luxury homes surrounded by an enchanting forest. The success and popularity of Spellbound Manor led to a venture into offering interior design and landscaping services with Spellbound Spaces & Events, where we blend enchantment with luxury in every build. 

Then came FLOURISH, my most recent venture aimed at revolutionizing shopping events in Second Life. Being a marketer, I take note of the trends and feedback on social media regarding events. Acquiring FLOURISH wasn't just about business; it was about spotlighting creators and brands and their unique journeys. Some might call my ideas over the top, but that's just the way I like it - to bring back the spotlight to the creators who are often taken for granted, but are architects of our magical experiences here in Second Life.

Photo by Panda Banana

What unique experiences do you aim to offer visitors of Palazzo Park, and how do you keep the entertainment fresh and engaging?
Palazzo Park is all about interactive fun, inspired by the desire to create a voice-enabled, interactive space for residents to play and socialize. With attractions ranging from bowling and laser tag to a movie theater, rides, and fully interactive arcade, the goal is to foster friendships and fun in a unique environment. We aim to create a space where every corner offers something exciting and are honored to have the support of fun and talented creators, such as TIHQ, Bergson Bowling, HIVID, and Erfe Design, whose creations made Palazzo Park what it is today! Their sponsorship helps to keep the entertainment fresh by allowing me to add regular updates, new rides & attractions, and engaging events creating a dynamic and ever-evolving experience. We are in the middle of an expansion that will make way for all new and fun attractions, so stay tuned for that! Those interested in the park can connect by following our Facebook Page and joining our In-World group!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PalazzoPark
Group: https://world.secondlife.com/group/e5bbd64f-fa3c-d70b-2197-e9002255e368
Those interested in renting Palazzo Park or sponsoring our expansion, please submit your interest via these forms.
Park Rental: https://forms.gle/XeKyh1pDDyi6aDcD7
Sponsor: https://forms.gle/dR2WaNjMo8h6JQ1F9 

Photo by Aria Christen

Running a monthly shopping event like Flourish is a significant undertaking. What's your approach to selecting brands and creating a unique shopping experience each month? When is the launch date for Flourish? How can eligible brands participate?
FLOURISH is indeed a labor of love that involves meticulous planning and a commitment to delivering an exceptional experience for both brands and shoppers. We focus on curating a diverse range of brands, each with its own story to tell. When selecting brands, my approach is centered on providing a diverse and exciting array of products that cater to the varied tastes of the SL community by taking into consideration the uniqueness, quality, and appeal of each brand to ensure a well-rounded and captivating shopping event. 

FLOURISH stands out through its unique business model and features, such as the FLOURISH Mens Edition, which focuses on providing a dedicated and exclusive space in the center of the event for men's brands. We also will launch “FLOURISH Unveiled”, a monthly show that will put the spotlight on a featured brand and take us through the journey of the brand. This will be in correlation with a dedicated brand exhibit area, housed right in the middle of our Sponsor Concourse, that will take you through the timeline of your favorite brands’ evolution! 

We also prioritize collaboration over competition, fostering a supportive environment for brands to work together. I've introduced a streamlined process without the usual collaboration fees, encouraged collabs by offering discounted Collab Sponsor booths so brands can engage in collaborative releases with reduced financial risk. 

The commitment to brands doesn't end there. We have also incorporated features like the FLOURISH Cafe, at the landing point, for food and beverage creators who often get the short end of the stick at events. Additionally, our Concourse Kiosks offer a low-cost opportunity for emerging and small brands to gain visibility in a real-world shopping experience, reminiscent of the shopping kiosks in your local mall. We have partnered with Luke Rowley, creator of the EasyBloggers platform, for a seamless blogging experience for brands and bloggers. Furthermore, FLOURISH will launch a unique rewards program for brands with continuous participation, providing perks such as late fee waivers, premium booth selections, discounted and permanent booths, and social media features. This is just the tip of the iceberg of what FLOURISH will offer and my amazing team, Lillian Onyx, Fang Palazzo, Symone Gunner, Lyric Skye, Cakhez Blvck, and I are so excited to bring it all to you!

The launch date for FLOURISH is set for April 7, 2024. FLOURISH is not just a shopping event; it's a movement dedicated to improving the overall experience for both brands and shoppers. Interested brands and bloggers can join the movement and experience the fun at FLOURISH by submitting an application found on our website, http://flourisheventsl.com.

Photo by Panda Banana

With Spellbound Manor and Events, you blend enchantment with luxury. What are the key elements you focus on when creating an immersive and luxurious environment? How can Residents get more information about your design and landscaping services?
Spellbound Spaces & Events is another passion project involving myself, Lillian Onyx who handles day-to-day business operations and landscaping, and Fang Palazzo, our talented and creative lighting expert. My way of building is truly unique. Beginning with choosing environments to set the mood of a space and using high-quality, luxury decor and furnishings, plant life, and lighting to tell the story of a space. I often tell clients, that I don’t create spaces, I design with my soul to create experiences. Key elements in creating an immersive environment include meticulous attention to detail, blending fantasy aesthetics with high-end resort-style touches, and fostering a sense of wonder. The enchantment is brought to life in a way that feels both magical and grounded in reality. My goal, through the use of rich and earthy tones and shadows, is to invoke a feeling as you enter the room. Pro-tip: When stepping into any space that I create, ensure you are in “Shared Environment” to experience it the way it should be! The reception from the community has been overwhelming and we are so grateful for the support. Residents interested in our design and landscaping services can reach out to us via the form linked on our Facebook page.

Watch this video submitted by Kacee about Spellbound Manor.
Video production by Sabina Valeska

How has being a part of Second Life transformed or impacted your personal or professional life?
Second Life has been a transformative journey. It has allowed me to explore and expand my creativity, connect with an incredible community, and merge my real-life skills with virtual experiences. Seamlessly weaving together my real-world background in business, marketing, and the music industry with the dynamic opportunities of the virtual realm has allowed me to explore new facets of creativity, business management, and community building. The synergy between my real and virtual experiences has been harmonious, contributing to a fulfilling and enriching Second Life. It's not just a platform; it's a canvas for personal and professional growth, offering unique opportunities that have enriched both aspects of my life.

Kacee with DJ Fang

Tell us about some of the other Residents in SL who inspire you and whose work you admire.
In Second Life, the community is filled with so many talented individuals who inspire me every day! 

One notable figure who continues to inspire me is Fang Palazzo, DJ Fang. His passion for music and dedication to creating memorable experiences for residents constantly motivates me. I couldn’t do what I do without his continued support. 

My mother, Heaven Release, keeps me grounded and constantly reminds me that I am capable of anything! Between her and my father, King Slaughterhouse Gunner, I’ve had the most amazing support system. 

Vrutega, one of my most staunch supporters from day one, has really been a driving force behind me, giving me the courage to continue to do what drives me. 

Sugarplum Zsun and her passion for music and creating her mark in Second Life is what started my journey within the SL’s colorful music scene. 

The adorably sweet and talented SEMINA, who blessed me with my first Live Singer event, continues to inspire me with her creative shows and innovative ideas! Working with her is always a vibe and man, can she sing! 

Shawn X. Gunner and Symone Gunner both have hearts of gold and know no bounds when it comes to supporting me and all my different endeavors! Their patience and guidance are a gift as I navigate through this virtual world. 

Highlife Destination owners Tye & Gabriel Easton are truly inspiring to me. The hard work and ingenuity they put into their vacation destinations and events raise the bar and add a level of realism with flawless roleplay and endless activities. They inspire me to keep growing my ideas and I aspire to be on their level one day! 

Ras Solaris and all the education and awareness he brings with the Meroe Museum. He is the definition of inspiration! 

Second Life Creators are my biggest inspiration! Each has a distinct style and passion that continues to motivate and push boundaries. Their dedication and the unique contributions they make to the SL community are truly admirable. Their creativity and drive really keep Second Life filled with vibrant experiences, and for that, I am forever grateful. All my club rats in the SL Music scene I have a special love for! Imagine day in and day out they are here simply for the love of music. Inspiring! There are too many to name, but the support and inspiration from Second Life residents continually drives me to explore new horizons and contribute positively to this virtual world.

Kacee with Sugarplum

Where can people see your work? Please share links to your sites and social media accounts.
Yes! Please connect with me! 
You can find all my links and info at http://kaceepopstar.carrd.co
Palazzo Park: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Spellbound Manor/105/85/2223
FLOURISH Event: https://flourisheventsl.com
Spellbound Manor: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Spellbound Manor/251/210/21
Spellbound Spaces & Events: https://www.facebook.com/SpellboundSpaces

Thank you, Kacee, for your invaluable contributions and for enriching our community with your creativity and dedication. 

Each of our Spotlight posts features a different Resident to showcase the spectrum of experiences and personalities found in our virtual world. If you have created something inworld that you’re proud of, or have had a deeply meaningful experience that could brighten someone else’s day, please sign up! More info here: https://second.life/spotlight-signup        

We’ve got some great news to share with you about the Second Life Mobile app. The latest Private Alpha release has a bunch of improvements and bug fixes – and even adds support for streaming audio!

Interested in checking it out? All Premium Plus subscribers are invited to participate - learn more about how to apply here…and be sure to check out this video preview to get the full scoop on why Second Life Mobile matters.

It’s been three months since we announced our Second Life Mobile Private Alpha and we have been blown away by the support and participation. 

During this time - with help from the Private Alpha participants – we have been able to find and fix important issues and we’ve continued to make strides with feature development. We have made substantial improvements to connection stability, reduced the sensitivity of avatar movement, decreased the memory footprint of some inworld items (sculpts!), and added additional error logging so that we can continue to dig into new or existing issues. We also fixed a nasty issue with some avatars not appearing at all!

Based on feedback reported in Canny and from bug reports sent directly from the app, we have improved the user experience by decreasing the sensitivity of pinch and camera controls, moved the camera target closer to the center of your avatar and we are iterating on the size of the area for the vstick. 

In addition to these improvements, we’re also excited to announce that our latest release of our Second Life Mobile Alpha app now supports streaming audio! Now you can enjoy music in Second Life on your mobile device with a friend or a group of friends inworld. (Note, streaming audio is off by default – go to hamburger > Settings > Developer tools > Enable Streaming Audio.)

What’s next? The UI is getting some additional refinement which we hope to share soon and we’re working on improving teleports, chat, and avatar rendering. If you are a Premium Plus subscriber, go here to apply to participate in the Mobile Private Alpha.

We are excited to continue this mobile development journey with you and look forward to expanding participation in the Mobile Private Alpha program.

With love, 
Your Second Life Mobile Team

Just in time for Valentine's Day, we're thrilled to present another installment in our beloved "Love Made in SL" series. This latest episode features seven stories about love in our virtual world. 

Featured speakers and stories in order of appearance:

1. The Rizzlers: Ultra and Anti
2. The Heartsongs: Suellen and James
3. The Evergardens: Adora and Cole
4. Mat and Willo
5. Ariel Jurassic from Actually Love
6. Shady and Luci
7. Duplicat and Quartz

Enjoy how fellow residents share the strength of their connections formed in Second Life, where chance meetings can evolve into profound relationships. Join us as we celebrate love in its many forms, showing that in Second Life, love knows no bounds! 

Watch the whole Love Made in SL series in our YouTube playlist: https://second.life/LoveMadeinSL 

Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️

Video Production by Draxtor Despres
Logo by Marianne McCann

Today we’re shining a spotlight on Shawn Gunner, whose decade-long journey in Second Life has transformed from a curious newcomer to a pivotal machinima artist, DJ, and educator.

How long have you been in Second Life and how did you first hear about it?
I have been a passionate follower of Second Life for nearly ten years, finding this virtual realm to be a constant source of amusement and social connectivity. Surprisingly, I initially discovered this platform through an online forum dedicated to IMVU, another well-known virtual world. However, upon entering Second Life, I immediately recognized its superior qualities compared to any other virtual world I had encountered previously. With its captivating visuals, limitless customization opportunities, and thriving community, Second Life has undeniably become a cherished sanctuary for me.

You are a talented machinima artist, how did you get into it and do you have a background in video production?
Upon discovering machinima in Second Life, I was immediately drawn to its captivating and imaginative possibilities. Initially unaware that real users were behind these creations, I mistook them for a feature available for purchase within Second Life. I recall reaching out to a machinima video creator, expressing my interest in acquiring something similar. It was only after they enlightened me about their personal involvement in the video's production that I truly appreciated the depth of their creativity, and my fascination with the realm of machinima was born.

Spurred by this encounter, I developed a passion for crafting my own machinima videos. Although I initially considered commissioning a video from the creator, I ultimately declined due to cost and resolved to embrace the challenge myself. My friends, impressed by my non-Second Life video creations, wholeheartedly encouraged me in this pursuit.

Countless hours were devoted to researching and honing my craft. I carefully studied a multitude of videos on YouTube and reached out to numerous experienced videographers for guidance and assistance. I eagerly absorbed insights into various techniques and software, integrating them into my creative endeavors. Experimentation with camera angles, lighting, and effects played a crucial role in achieving my desired outcomes.

While I lack professional experience in video production outside of Second Life, my ardent interest in the art of filmmaking has always remained steadfast.

You’ve recently started teaching film classes at GPS Studios, can you tell us more about that and how Residents can sign up if they are interested in learning?
Due to my passion for teaching, I am thrilled to have begun my career as a videography instructor at GioNation. During my time there, I had the pleasure of meeting Sergio Castellanos, the school's founder. Although initially nervous, Sergio's polite and welcoming demeanor helped put me at ease. Following a successful interview, I accepted a teaching position at GioNation until its closure.

Undeterred by this setback, I sought guidance and support from Sergio to continue my teaching journey. With his invaluable assistance, I established GPS Studios, where my team and I offer comprehensive filmmaking classes. These courses cover essential aspects of videography, such as lighting techniques, camera movements, and numerous vital skills.

At GPS Studios, we take pride in our straightforward teaching style, striving to make the learning process enjoyable and accessible for our students. Additionally, we provide a wide range of effects for Premier Pro, which can enhance video quality.

If you are interested in creating machinima in Second Life, we would be delighted to have you enroll in our classes. Our team is excited to share our knowledge and expertise with you. You can find our sign-up page here: https://forms.gle/mJtBQgnHU4CSvxnP7 

You’re also a DJ, how did you get into DJing in Second Life and which venues do you regularly play at? Are there any upcoming shows Residents can see you at?
I have always had a deep passion for music. My sister Junie Hendrixx and I started from nothing on Second Life, playing music and slowly building a following of people who appreciated our talent. Through hard work and dedication, we honed our skills in mixing and blending, which eventually led to the creation of our esteemed entertainment company, Sneaky Link Entertainment.

Although we initially started small, over time our company grew, and we were fortunate enough to bring on my best friend and business partner, Kevo B. Wylin. Together, we have established ourselves as one of the premier entertainment companies within our virtual world. Our diverse roster of DJs, including DJ Kevo, DJ Lola Bunny, DJ Ultra Violet, DJ Blackice, DJ Fang, DJ Brockie, and myself, offer a wide range of music genres, catering to various tastes from Rap/Hip-Hop to R&B and House.

Behind the scenes, our exceptional team of managers, including Symone, Dee, Luna, Lola, Lyric, Kacee, and Slaughter, plays a vital role in keeping our company thriving. Additionally, we have a highly dedicated hype team consisting of over 15 members who assist us in promoting our events and reaching a larger audience.
To stay updated with our upcoming shows, you can join our in-world group or follow us on social media. Our Facebook and Instagram links are provided below:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/SneakyLinkEntertainment 
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sneakylinkentsl
Inworld Group: secondlife:///app/group/2f521f16-f593-e83a-90b1-59771471c838/about  

Are there any other interesting projects you are currently working on? What can we expect from you in the future?
I am currently involved in multiple projects that hold significant professional importance for me. One such project is a collaboration with Moon Studios, where we are working together to achieve an exceptional result. Additionally, I am working closely with Peasant Tater, a highly regarded videographer and voice actor in the Second Life community, on a detailed project. Our focus is to compile various scenes into a cohesive work that will undoubtedly impress. Peasant is making significant contributions to the project by creating multiple custom animations.

Furthermore, I am collaborating with a carefully chosen group of individuals on a music video project. The casting call for the video was overseen by Sauda Moon, the CEO of Moon Studios, and Revienne Decosta, CEO of Revienne. Ryah Plastique, the founder of Mu Alpha Chi Sorority, is responsible for animating the dancers in the video.

In summary, I consider myself privileged to be involved in these projects and eagerly anticipate their final outcomes. These projects hold immense professional significance for me, and I take pride in being able to contribute my expertise to their success.

Tell us about some of the other Residents in SL who inspire you and whose work you admire.
Within the realm of Second Life, a multitude of gifted and imaginative individuals exist, uplifting and propelling others to new levels of achievement. Fortunately, I have had the privilege of encountering a handful of these remarkable residents who have left a lasting impact on me.

One such individual is DJ Brockie, who, in my estimation, stands as one of the premier DJs in existence. Sadly, I believe he does not receive the recognition he rightfully merits. Nevertheless, his prowess behind the turntables is unparalleled, and his passion for music is contagious. He is unquestionably a role model for me, and undoubtedly, my entire team feels the same.

With respect to videography, the Second Life community is teeming with countless talented figures, too numerous to mention entirely. However, several individuals stand out prominently to me, namely Vrutega, Sere Vene, Sergio Castellanos, Malus Castamere, Peasant Tater, and many others. Each possesses a distinctive style that sets their work apart, showcasing their exceptional abilities and the unwavering commitment they pour into their respective crafts.

I would like to emphasize my deep reverence for each of these individuals. I wholeheartedly support and admire them in their endeavors, whatever they may be. They serve as a wellspring of inspiration for not only me but also for many others within the Second Life community.

Where can people see your work? Please share links to your sites and social media accounts.

https://www.facebook.com/GunnerKlips 
https://www.instagram.com/gunn.klips
 
https://www.facebook.com/GPSStudiosSL
https://www.instagram.com/gpstudiossl

https://www.facebook.com/SneakyLinkEntertainment 
https://www.instagram.com/sneakylinkentsl

Watch this moving machinima created by Shawn for this Spotlight interview, where he shares his unique connection with Second Life.

Thank you, Shawn, for enriching the Second Life community with your talent, creativity, and musical expression.

Each of our Spotlight posts features a different Resident to showcase the spectrum of experiences and personalities found in our virtual world. If you have created something inworld that you’re proud of, or have had a deeply meaningful experience that could brighten someone else’s day, please sign up! More info here: https://second.life/spotlight-signup