Meet Diavkha, a set designer and storyteller who has taken their passion for world-building to the next level by creating a unique and immersive series of comics using Second Life.

Learn more about Diavkha from this short interview and video as the next installment in our Made in Second Life series!

What is your name and how long have you been in SL?
My name is Diavkha, people have told me it sounds Slavic but it's an original name that I came up with. I like to have something unique and catchy! I've been in Second Life since 2018.

How did you get started making comics?
In the beginning, I just did photography, sometimes I would write short stories or descriptions of what the picture was about to give it a bit of context even though the picture might not show it. 

Last year I thought it would be an interesting project to create a deeper and expansive narrative and flesh out my writing skills. SL is perfect for that because of the sheer amount of content available within the platform to build worlds and characters.

There was also another reason that inspired me to create Beyond Star and that is my nephew, he loves things about outer space and adventures.

Where do you get the avatars and the sets from?
Most of our avatars wear the mesh heads from the store BeSpoke, they are wonderfully designed, unique, and different from what's available. Because I wanted to have non-human characters I specifically saw a lot of potential in their options. 

We also use other outfits, poses, and building kits from stores like: Process of Elimination, Contraption, SKNK, Unholy Duality, Fanatik, and more. 
I’m very thankful for these creators and their work that allow us to build imaginative worlds and characters.

How many episodes of Beyond Star are there?
At the moment we have 6 Episodes completed and are working on number 7 right now which is almost finished. The idea is to have 9 Episodes total for the first chapter/season of the project.

It was important to build the characters, themes, and worlds with a sense of pace and to let the story grow.

Each Episode can take a few months to be completed as there is a process: beginning with a script, then building sets and characters, taking the photos, and finally editing.

Can SL comics compete with “real” comics made the “traditional” way, in terms of visual fidelity and storytelling?
I don’t see a reason why they couldn’t. While some people might think illustrating traditional comics is a more valuable endeavor, the items used in SL were also created by real humans who put a lot of love and effort into making them. 

The tools might be different, what's important is to have a good imagination and use the potential of the platform to create a compelling story.

Are you self-taught? What is your background?
Since I was little, I always loved creating my own worlds and stories, sometimes I would write these stories for school and plays. I studied Graphic Design and Animation and I have a lot of interest in history, politics, science, and religion. 

My RL job allows me a certain amount of flexibility to devote to the arts and to other projects like Beyond Star.

What tools outside of SL do you use for making the comics?
Primarily a web-based editor called Pixlr, it's similar to other picture editing software and has enough tools to work with. I always try to do everything within SL, so that the editing process is less outside of it.

We are using Blurb at the moment for the printed comic, if you’d like to support us you can purchase a copy here: Beyond Star on Blurb  

What does SL mean to you?
Second Life means a lot of things, to start, it feels like an open canvas for creators of all types. It also means connections with other people, even though the boundaries of reality prevent you from seeing them. In SL, you can share moments that feel just as real and unique as they would be in real life. Sometimes those moments are more powerful just because you don’t have the weight of the real world upon you.

Do you have a place that you call home? Rent/own?
My partner and I rent a small piece of land, we’ve had it for over a year now and it's our happy corner. We use it as our home and work area for the comic and other projects.

Please mention your collaborators. 
The project started originally with my partner Elarik Nokturne and myself, later our friend Ayumi Suki joined in. They both have contributed to the project with ideas, sets, and even the title of the story.

Any final thoughts?
My hopes are that with this project, people can see SL in a positive light and see its potential.

Video Production by Draxtor Despres
Logo by Marianne McCann

Today we are shining a spotlight on Cain Maven of Maven Homes. For over a decade, Cain has been at the forefront of virtual home design for the Second Life community - learn more about his journey!

How long have you been in Second Life and how did you first hear about it?
I first set foot in SL about 14 years ago. Some online friends of mine had migrated here after the game we were playing was shut down. Needless to say, I stayed longer than I planned to -- which was every bit as much about making new friends as reconnecting with old ones. Then there's of course that certain magic that SL possesses, and that we all keep coming back for more of.

You’ve been creating content in Second Life for many years, how and when did you get started?
The plan was not in any way to start creating content. I had bought myself a nice modern villa and had fun furnishing and landscaping. Then, one fateful day, I decided that one of the rooms was too small, so I set out to modify it. I soon realized that I could maybe build whole houses, maybe put them up for sale, maybe... you see where this is going. In those early days, most of the revenue stream stemmed from my friends' pity purchases; fortunately, things got a little bit better over time. In 2010, I acquired one of my competitors and early this year I expanded with a third region.

Do you have a background in 3D content creation and what kind of tools do you use to create your content?
Sadly, I don't have a background in 3D content creation. My formal education is as an architect, but I somehow got sidetracked and ended up in journalism, software development, and graphic design. While I had tinkered a bit with various (now discontinued) tools, it wasn't until SL gained support for mesh upload in 2011 that I sat down and taught myself some new and useful tricks. My current toolbox includes Blender, Substance Painter, Photoshop, and copious amounts of coffee.

How would you describe your virtual architectural style and what are some of your favorite builds that you have created?
I'm not sure I have an architectural style per se... but if forced to choose I would probably say modern/contemporary. However, I do dabble in many different styles, with a possible fondness for Mediterranean Revival; it's hard not to love the old masters of the Italian Renaissance and their impact on today's designs. That said, I think it's challenging to do good work in a style that you don't personally like, which probably is why you will see some stylistic omissions in my portfolio. In terms of favorite builds, I would pick the Cosimo mansion (because every home should have a dome) and the modern Pacific, because its entire being centers on the collision and cooperation of weird angles.

Are there any other projects or events that you are working on? 
The main focus for 2023 is creating a collection of smaller homes -- and hopefully, being able to get into some of the bigger events. If they will have me.

Tell us about some of the other Residents in SL that inspire you and whose work you admire.
Looking back, Robert Galland pretty much owned the architecture market when I first started out. He, therefore, became the reference, the benchmark, and the competitor I measured myself against. Robert is still active and remains an inspiration. I'm also a fan of Danny Bourne of reBourne fame -- his treatment of light is second to none. And when it comes to daring concepts and outside-the-box thinking, Sergio Botha is the master.

Where can people see your work? Please share links to your sites and social media accounts.
My current selection of homes is available at the regions Maven Homes, Maven Homes 2, and Quantum Luxury Homes.

Marketplace  
Flickr  
Instagram  

Thank you Cain, for helping Second Life Residents create a virtual home away from home.

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 

Save the date! On June 23rd, Second Life will be turning 20! The 20th annual Second Life birthday celebration (SL20B) will be held from June 22nd to July 11th. Get ready for 20 fun-filled days of live music, performances, shopping, and amazing community exhibits!

This year’s Birthday theme is Our Fantastic Future. The cornerstone of this idea is what we would define as eco-futurism including sustainability, a focus on our environment, and the next generation of our world. Some might call this science fiction, but what is science fiction except a dream for a possible future? In Second Life we build worlds. Our worlds, our way. For SL20B, we invite you to show us your worlds of the future!

The SL20B Shop & Hop event is the official multi-region shopping event of the 20th 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.

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

Are you a merchant or creator that wants to participate? If so, then please fill out this form by May 14th. 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 9-14 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.
• Items need to be appropriate for a moderate audience.

Over the next month, keep an eye on our blog for more information about the SL20B celebrations!

CURRENT APPLICATIONS FOR SL20B:
Shop & Hop Application - Applications close on May 14th, 2023
Volunteer Application - Applications close on May 14th, 2023 
Exhibitors Application - Applications close on May 14th, 2023 
Performer Application - Applications close on May 14th, 2023 
Music Fest Application - Applications close on April 9th, 2023

Pictured: Circle Mental Health

Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, I wanted to take the time to recognize the importance of this topic and share some resources that offer support to those in the Second Life community who are struggling. Take a moment to explore these destinations, which offer a safe and meaningful space to reflect on your mental health and help find your inner peace.

Mental Health Symposium at Virtual Ability Island

The Virtual Ability community in Second Life presents their 12th annual Mental Health Symposium. The theme of this symposium is “Self-Identity and Mental Health.” It will be held on Friday, May 12th, 2023 at the Sojourner Auditorium on Virtual Ability Island. Learn more at virtualability.org/mental-health-symposia/mental-health-symposium-2023

More Info Teleport

Circle Mental Health

Circle Mental Health is a Peer Support Group. They are here to give help and support to those suffering from mental health. It's okay to struggle and they, as a community, are there and listening! Join their group for more information. All of their services are free!

More Info Teleport

The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse is a support group and meeting place, focused on mental health and wellness. They provide support group meetings on topics including depression, anxiety, and addiction, as well as social activities and meditation sessions. They are a laid-back peer support community where you can connect with like-minded people.

More Info Teleport

HealthInfo Island

HealthInfo Island provides timely, accurate, and accessible information on topics related to physical, emotional, and mental health for residents of SL. Information is provided through displays, links to outside resources, and events.

More Info Teleport

Center for Mindfulness

Mindfulness can literally transform your entire world from the inside out and for the millions of mindfulness practitioners around the world, it’s doing just that! Come and discover the most incredible and wonderful surprise: everything you’ve been searching for ‘out there’ feelings of fulfillment, peace, and wholeness, have been within you all along. The Center for Mindfulness is a beautiful and calming place to come meditate and learn a few mindful tricks. Learn more at mindfulnessinsl.blogspot.com

More Info Teleport

Mindful Cove

Mindful Cove exists to provide both an entry point into Second Life, and an ongoing community region for newcomers and long-time residents alike, based on the core principle that SL can be an excellent place to engage in activities that support emotional and mental well-being.

More Info Teleport

Nirvana Island

Nirvana Island is a sanctuary for your soul dedicated to well-being. All faiths and points of view are welcome. Diverse traditions and systems are harmoniously connected in this beautiful natural landscape full of treasures for mind, body, or spirit. There are daily group meetings and events. If you are in need of healing, solace, or sanctuary - you will find it here.

More Info Teleport

SL Project Hope

SL Project Hope was created to empower and support survivors individually and collectively. They are committed to fostering hope, opportunity, peace, and empowerment for all those who are on a healing journey.

More Info Teleport

Fearless Nation PTSD Support

Fearless Nation PTSD Support is an RL 501c3 Nonprofit Organization for people with PTSD, their families, partners, children, and communities. They provide education, support, and advocacy. Since 2009 they've had a virtual online community that spans distance, with a small carbon footprint bringing people together for peer support, education, and advocacy for people with PTSD.

More Info Teleport

EchoVets

EchoVets.org Band of Brothers non-profit is a new destination for all Veterans. They have current, up-to-date information that benefits YOU the Veteran, and the Veterans' families! Lots to do and see here! Stacy Maracas is a Female Desert Storm Combat Veteran, US Army, and has the knowledge of the systems in place to help Veterans and their family members. Come to EchoVets for camaraderie, answers, live help, brotherhood, and sisterhood. All Veterans are welcome!

More Info Teleport

Healthful Aging Conference

The Ageless Mind Project and its Metaverse home, Whole Brain Health in Second Life, is honored to host over 50 speakers and events online from May 15 through 21 for a first-ever conference on Healthful Aging Through Lifelong Learning. The topics cover the many biological, social, cognitive, individual, and communal ways we can improve our chances of aging well through becoming knowledgeable and proactive. To see the schedule and read delightful profiles of some of the presenters, go here agelessmindproject.org/events

More Info Teleport

Find more supportive communities and spiritual destinations in the following two categories:

• Discussions & Communities 
• Spirituality & Belief

Be mindful and take care of yourself. ❤️ 

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!

Connect with Second Life on Social Media.
Signup for the Second Life Weekly Email Newsletter.

Today we are shining a spotlight on Anu Papp, an artist, musician, dancer, and kundalini yoga instructor who has brought her skills into Second Life with her own dance company, Muse Dance Co.  

How long have you been in Second Life and how did you first hear about it?
I joined Second Life in April of 2007. A friend of mine from Oregon who was already a resident told me about Second Life. At the time I was the CEO of a non-profit, In Gaia’s Lap, and its division Artist4Mercy. Through means of internet radio, our tag was to “connect the Globe through the power of music to bring awareness to the needs of children in orphanages”. He told me it would be a great platform to promote the non-profit. Telling him I was not a gamer lol, I created Anu Papp, and one day while exploring Lost Gardens of Apollo, I hear “This is Anu. You are listening to the Artist4Mercy.” Little did I know I was already reaching Second Life through music. Nor did I realize that Dane Zander was one of my biggest donators in the physical world. From there I went on in the hope of creating a better world virtually.

In the physical world, you are an artist, a photographer, a musician, a dancer, and more! How does your background inform and shape your work in Second Life?
I am a licensed Kundalini Yoga Instructor. In addition, I am an artist of many mediums. In my early days of Second Life, as a folk vocalist, I performed live around the grid.

You can hear my music here: Featherbed by Anu (soundcloud.com) 
I believe that its all inclusive and ever evolving. As I grow in the physical world, my virtual world is a reflection of that growth. Second Life is my arm that connects both worlds. It allows me to run communities and organize events, teach, make friends and confidants when the time is needed.

In Second Life, you have a dance company called Muse. Can you tell us more about your experience founding and managing it, and when and where is the next show?
I began dancing in Second Life by hosting a small sacred dance circle. One day I was told by one of my guests that she was wheelchair-bound. The dance circles brought her alive because she could actually move! Sadly she has since left this realm, but it was the seed that fueled my continuum in dance. I manage all shows solely on my own. From set design to streaming music to laying out the choreography, I am a one-woman show. With a multitude of HUDS on my screen, I move people, change sets, and manage the entire production. We have over 40 dancers with Muse Dance from all parts of the globe and as I often say, it takes a village. I am grateful for each dancer who dedicates their time to be a part of the team and visions of Muse Dance.

On Sunday 7 May at 9 am SLT Muse Dance will be presenting Mystic India.  

A dance performance created around the colors of the chakras and culture of the Punjab region of India. Chakras are one of the many lenses through which we view the energetics of the world. Everything from yoga asana, meditation, colors, and how we interact - has a charge behind it. The subtle body, or energetics, are part of our experience of living just like our physical bodies. Join us as we travel the journey of the soul through dance. 

Mystic India 2023 - Official Trailer:

You currently have a destination in Second Life that is a real-life replica of the iconic Taj Mahal. What inspired you to create this, and do you have any plans to expand on it?
As my personal life has always been involved in yogic and meditation practices, the culture of India is strong in my heart. Ironically my region Ravenhart was the same theme in 2008, so I have returned full circle 16 years later. Future plans include meditation and tai chi areas, and Swami Café for social connections. The theater of Muse Dance is also located in the same region, so continual dance performances, including but not limited to, cultural, ballet, modern dance, and even some musicals.   

With the events of our World over the past 10 years, it's important for me to offer everyone regardless of your religious beliefs, a place within Second Life to find your Nirvana.

Visit the virtual Taj Mahal in Second Life!

How has Second Life impacted your life and what do you enjoy most about being a Resident?
I laugh when I say this, but like many, I grew up in Second Life. It allowed me as an artist to expand beyond anything I could have imagined. It's been my canvas. It allowed me to “put smiles on sad faces” as said by Paramahansa Yogananda. There is such joy when I present a dance production or design on my region Ravenhart where others can experience things they may not be able to do in RL. Muse Dance Co. is poetry in motion and I have no intention of stopping as long as I have breath. 

Tell us about some of the other Residents in SL that inspire you and whose work you admire.
Each dancer of Muse Dance Co. is amazing and continues to be the fuel that keeps me creating. They are all my heroes. Oriolus Oliva from region Verdigris - amazing sim and human. Catherine Nikolaidis for her intricate photography. Jojo Deed who has since left Second Life was the push that got me into blogging. China & Goodies and all the builders that create such beautiful historical work. Ulysses Cabaret, my dearest and oldest friend in Second Life, who was my inspiration in learning how to build. Last but not least, my Second Life partner who is also my physical world husband of 20 years. He is who keeps me going in all worlds. Too many to list but the journey to now has been an amazing ride.

Where can people see your work? Please share links to your sites and social media accounts.
Muse Dance: www.musedancesl.com
Blog: www.anupapp.com
Flickr: Anu Papp | Flickr
YouTube: | muse | dance company - YouTube
Our cinemaphotographer: Glynola Productions - YouTube
Facebook: Anu Papp | Facebook
Soundcloud: Stream Anu music | Listen to songs, albums, playlists for free on SoundCloud

Watch this mesmerizing video submitted by Anu for her Spotlight feature. 
It is the official trailer for Anu Papp's original production "State of Grace" choreographed for Muse Dance Co. of Second Life.
Video by Glynola Productions

Thank you, Anu, for bringing your artistic mind and endeavors to Second Life. Attend Muse Dance Company’s next show, Mystic India, on Sunday, May 7th at 9am PT!

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 have been very pleased to see the response and feedback for last names. Thank you for all the suggestions sent in for future last names through our Last Name Suggestion Form. 

Today we are celebrating our mermaid community during MerMay with the release of the following mermaid-themed names, only available for a limited time:
Mermaid
Merrow
Seafarer
Fishtail

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!

Today we are shining a spotlight on Yu Zhu (Jamaicasianbaby), a multi-talented Resident with an impressive array of skills, from photography to vlogging to styling, and even landscaping!

How long have you been in Second Life and how did you first hear about it?
I have been in Second Life since 2011. Actually, I can't quite recall the website where I first saw the ad for Second Life, but I do remember that it immediately caught my interest because I’ve always enjoyed playing life-simulation games, like the Sims, since I was quite young.

Your Second Life photos are amazing, do you have a background in photography, and what are some of the tools you use to enhance your images?
Thank you, and unfortunately, I do not have any background in photography. I was raised by very traditional, well-intentioned parents who preferred that I attended dental school instead of art school. My late older brother, who passed away in 2020, was actually able to become a photographer/videographer. He was always very skilled with computers and gadgets from a really young age. He was the one who introduced me to the program Adobe Photoshop when I was around 12 years old and he taught me how to select objects in an image to remove the background. 

When I was under a tremendous amount of pressure during dental school, I was able to use SL photography as an escape and an outlet for some of the frustrations I felt at the time. As much as I hate to admit it, I am sort of a pushover by nature so I found some satisfaction in portraying a more assertive and endearing character through photos of my avatar. My aim when editing snapshots was to enhance the realism of this character and the scenes as much as I could. I started with the old skills that my brother had taught me and I continued to polish those skills, learning mostly by trial and error since I didn’t know of many SL photo editing tutorials at the time.

Around 2013 I was introduced to Flickr and that was where I started sharing my work. I soon started blogging and enjoyed it for a few years. This experience pushed me to experiment with different ideas and concepts, which then in turn helped me to further develop my skills with SL photography. After some time I started receiving requests for portraits and store advertisements. In the past, I used to be more active with accepting clients and have done ads for various stores like Addams, Bad Unicorn, Cold Ash, The Forge, and others. I have drastically reduced my client intake since then because my hobby started feeling too much like ‘work’ rather than something fun and creative. In any case, I have no regrets about the experiences as I was able to learn a lot through them and met some really great folks along the way. 

Recently, my partner upgraded me to a custom gaming pc so I was finally able to start playing around with Black Dragon viewer. After having used Firestorm viewer for years on my laptop, I was blown away by the quality of graphics on Black Dragon and how it’s able to significantly augment the overall aesthetics in Second Life. This viewer definitely helps to enhance images and make them more realistic with less requirement for post-editing of snapshots in Photoshop. It does take some time to become familiar with all of the settings. I am still in the process of learning myself, but I have really grown to enjoy using this viewer to capture my raw images.

You have your own YouTube channel, can you tell us how you got into creating videos, what kind of content you focus on, and what are some of the tools you use?
I think the moment that triggered the chain of events that led me to start my channel was around the end of 2022, when I logged into SL after a long time and was going through my inventory with an intense feeling of guilt. I couldn't believe the embarrassing amount of unused items that were just sitting in my inventory, some that have not even been unboxed yet. Around this time as well, I was watching various architectural and home decor videos on Youtube because I had just married my SL partner in RL and we were attempting to design our first official home together. I felt spontaneously inspired to attempt a little virtual home tour video with a skybox that I had set up at the time and that was the very first video I uploaded to Youtube. 

There are so many things I enjoy doing on SL that I personally can’t always capture through a snapshot, like decorating and landscaping. Even when it comes to fashion. I play dress-up with my avatar on a regular basis and I go through tons of outfits that I often don’t get the chance to take pictures of. I take a decent amount of time to edit each image and I have my limits when it comes to tastefully capturing an entire outfit from head to toe in a single photo. I figured videos would be a nice way to showcase many full outfits and pretty much all the rest of the things I like to get into on SL. I wanted to create fun and aesthetically pleasing videos that I could look back on and perhaps others would enjoy watching them as well. So far it has also been a nice way to share in more detail about what I do on SL with my RL friends and family.

I guess you can describe my content as 'vlogs' as I focus on the things I do on SL/how I spend my time on SL. The topics range from fashion to creating shapes to landscaping and interior design to photography and photo editing plus more. I use a free screen recorder from ScreenRec.com to capture my scenes. The first video editing program I tried out was Shotcut, which is free and pretty straightforward to use. But then I learned about Filmora shortly after and tried the demo version of it. I had so much fun using this video editor and learning all the features that I went ahead and got the full version. 

You also co-own the Bamboo destination in Second Life. What inspired it and what can Residents expect when they visit?
Bamboo originally started off as a homestead and my private home with my partner, Jin Zhu. We’re both Asians living in the Western part of the world, so we wanted to design our SL home in a way that would represent our traditional cultures. Jin has roots in China, while mine are in Myanmar (a country in Southeast Asia). We wanted to create a home where we could feel nostalgic and relive familiar experiences from our childhoods. As we worked on materializing our vision, our passion quickly grew for this personal project and soon we expanded our homestead to a full sim and made it open to the public on March 18, 2022. 

Although we are both quite aware of the many unique differences between each Asian country, we can also appreciate the vast similarities that the majority of Asian cultures share. An often humid atmosphere, the rich smell of earth after the rain, the intense singing of insects and wildlife that thrive in lush vegetation, dense forests of ancient bamboo trees, and the sizzling sounds of fragrant foods cooking around street market vendors, are just a few examples of the similarities among Asian countries. Buddhism is also a prevalent religion in most of Asia. In many towns, one can find Buddhist temples and it is common for homes and places of business to have shrines and statues of Buddha. From our own personal recollections, we found that most countries in Asia are also especially similar when it comes to rural landscapes and villages. We pulled inspiration from memories of our travels back to our motherlands in order to create a place on SL that, in our perspective, showcased the essence of a rural far-eastern environment. 

Visitors may also stumble upon a hidden memorial on our sim that Jin kindly helped me to curate. This memorial was set up to pay tribute to the thousands of heroes that have fallen at the hands of the Myanmar military since 2021 - some as young as 1 year old, some even younger. Not very many are aware of what has been happening in Myanmar as these events have been overshadowed by the major war between Ukraine and Russia. Nevertheless, the crimes that have been committed against humanity are equally abhorrent. We wish to promote awareness of the current events that are still unfolding in Myanmar and the resilience of its civilians in their resistance against a well-established dictatorship. A cruel dictatorship that confiscated and withheld oxygen, medical supplies, and services from civilians during the peak of Covid-19 outbreaks. My own paternal uncle and cousin, who were both residing in Myanmar during this time, were not able to get access to the oxygen they needed and eventually lost their battles with the virus along with thousands of others. I am now constantly worried about losing more loved ones. Those who are resisting the military are mostly young high school students, nurses, doctors, teachers, farmers, and activists among many others. Innocent human beings, most of whom have never seen a weapon in their lives before these events. They are fighting for the freedom to hold onto their dignity and dreams, things that we often take for granted in democratic countries. The only thing that is keeping this current revolution alive is the conviction of those fighting for peace and their hope for a brighter future. The story of Myanmar is full of beauty, inspiration, tragedy, and heartbreak. I sincerely implore anyone who may be curious, to dive into its rich history and learn more about it.

Needless to say, our Bamboo sim holds much sentimental value for both me and Jin. It is a space to honor those who stood for peace during their lives and it further serves as a place to nurture and find peace within one’s own current life. This is what Residents can expect if they do decide to visit the Bamboo Destination in Second Life.

How has Second Life impacted your life?
Perhaps this may be considered taboo for most people to say but I have to admit, Second Life has been more than just ‘a game’ for me. It somehow evolved into something bigger and has integrated into my life where it will forever serve as a historic foundation for the person I am today. When I signed up with the most uncreative username that I could come up with in two seconds, I was not expecting that SL would pretty much change my entire life. 

Second Life gave me the creative outlet I didn’t really have growing up. Through this platform, I was able to explore my creativity and get through difficult times by being able to express myself in a variety of ways that would not have been possible in reality. 2020 was an especially tough year and with the travel restrictions, it was nice to be able to do things on SL like building places to escape to or taking pictures at beautiful locations that you can get to with the click of a mouse. 

I usually would never share any of my artwork with anyone I knew in RL but the warmth and encouragement I received from the Second Life community for my work really helped me to start believing in my own creative abilities. I am sincerely grateful to those who have been so kind and supportive to me over the years because it helped me to open up more in RL. My brother was the first person in my life with whom I shared my SL photography and landscaping work and it is now one of my most cherished memories with him. Since his passing, I finally gathered enough courage to share my work with my parents as well. I think many people who have grown up around western culture but under strict traditionalist, Asian parents can relate when I say, opening up to our parents is one of the hardest things to do. I’m pretty sure my parents didn’t understand much of what I was showing them but their acceptance and support for me that day has also become one of my most cherished memories in life. In a way, SL helped me to break many boundaries with my family.

Last but not least, I met my now real-life partner in Second Life. I actually already knew about Jin Zhu before we even spoke for the first time in 2018. Dynasty was one of the very first stores I discovered and loved on SL as the items invoked feelings of nostalgia for me and especially because in my early days on SL I did not come across many items with Asian themes. At the time I would have never expected that one day the creator would personally reach out to me, much less that I would end up marrying this amazing, talented, and kind individual. Jin and I were really able to connect and learn about each other through our creative endeavors on Second Life. We were able to talk a great deal and got to know each other while working on different projects and over time, precisely three years of long distance and a lot of traveling later, we both had the profound realization that there could be none more compatible than we were for each other. Jin proposed to me in Jamaica, where I grew up since I was 2 years old, on November 18, 2021. We have been married as of September 28, 2022, and I am now living in a whole new country and have a totally different life than what I could have ever imagined before I signed up to Second Life with a silly username.

Tell us about some of the other Residents in SL that inspire you and whose work you admire.
This question is the most difficult to answer as there are many talented and inspiring residents in SL. A few of my favorite stores that I can list off the top of my head, other than Dynasty, of course, are .Shi, BBQQ and [SAU] Motors. The creators behind these stores are all amazing individuals who are always so humble and supportive. I also admire artwork by Petra Messioptra (PM), who is one of the first artists/bloggers that I started following when I joined Flickr in 2013. William Weaver was also a great inspiration to me in my early days on Flickr, but unfortunately, I can no longer find his work on the platform. Some of his videos can still be found on Youtube. I've also enjoyed videos/blogs by Strawberry Singh, which I find to be quite detailed and informative. There are so many amazing residents in SL and I could fill many pages if I were to list them all here.

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

• Flickr  
• Youtube
• Instagram  

Watch this fantastic video submitted by Yu Zhu for this Spotlight feature.

Thank you, Yu Zhu, for sharing your life-changing experiences with us.

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: Szystrum Synod Region at Fantasy Faire 2023

Explore these fantastic events and enchanting destinations in Second Life this weekend! Don't forget to check our Recently Added category to see all the latest additions to the Second Life Destination Guide!

Fantasy Faire 2023

The Fairelands have returned! From the 20th of April to the 7th of May, 22 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

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MadPea's Malice in Wonderland Grid-Wide Hunt

Join MadPea for Malice in Wonderland from April 16 to May 17th! This is a dark grid-wide hunt that will push the limits of your imagination! The Queen of Hearts has enslaved everyone in Wonderland and stolen their memories. It's up to you to seek out and defeat the Queen's minions, restore the lost memories, and battle to save Wonderland from her bloody reign of terror! Accumulate points to win prizes, and become an unlimited member to get a special side quest and extra exclusive prizes!

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Astoria's Zen Garden

Welcome to Astoria's Zen Garden. Enjoy a sense of peace and calmness to soothe your mind. Meditate, practice yoga, or just sit and listen to the sounds of nature and relaxing music. Smile, breathe, and go slowly.

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Natthimmel

Natthimmel, located at NewMoon, is a creative photogenic space that welcomes everyone to visit, take pictures, explore, and just enjoy. The current installation is an interpretation of a real Neolithic site located in Turkey, called Göbekli Tepe, which is considered one of the earliest and most unique man-made constructions, dating from approximately 11000 - 11500 years ago. Add your images to the Flickr group flickr.com/groups/14854324@N21

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Kuhflucht Wasserfaelle, Alpine Meadow

Named after the real Kuhfluchtwasserfälle in Bavaria, Germany, these grand waterfalls cross the whole Alpine Meadow region in multiple steps till they meet the sea, 120 metres below! The cobbled roads wind around the stream, spanned by several bridges, making for great strolls or rides with impressive views of the alpine forests, countryside, and the ocean. Alpine Meadow is one of the regions of the CDS-Confederation of Democratic Simulators, a democratic community established in SL since 2004.

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Midnight Reflections

Midnight Reflections has romantic music playing 24/7 with live DJs on Sundays from 4-8 pm SLT. There is also a wedding area where you can have the wedding or reception of your dreams! Visit and dance under the northern lights, enjoy the waterfalls and cuddle areas, and relax in the serenity and peacefulness of Midnight Reflections. Formal wear is required.

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Weedstock 2023

The 1st Annual Weedstock 2023 is a culmination of clubs, 420 stores, and 420 hangouts all celebrating 420 and Earthday Birthday! The event runs from April 20th to 23rd with live music, Tribute bands, VJs, and DJs playing your favorite tunes for 3 days straight! Shop your favorite 420 stores, or hang out at the best stoner destinations SL has to offer! There will be prizes, giveaways, and 420 gifts! Come celebrate 3 Days of Weed and Music.

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Pose Fair 2023

Pose Fair enters its 13th year with a huge event featuring hundreds of new poses, animations, backdrops, props, scenes, and even furniture with original animations. The opening weekend kicks off on April 16th with a lineup of 8 hours of live music beginning at 12PM PT! The event runs from April 16th through April 30th.

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Battleship Yamato Memorial

At Battleship Yamato Memorial in Second Life, you will find a scaled replica of the Yamato, a Japanese battleship from World War II. Walk around the biggest battleship of the world and see historic pictures at this impressive 3D replica.

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BelliHub

BelliHub is the go-to destination to learn more about Bellisseria! With detailed tutorials and information about Premium membership, how to get a Linden home, using land tools, and more - you'll be up and running in no time! Explore the DEMO region and get an up-close look at all the Linden home themes and models. Plus, hang out with other Residents, play games, and get to know the Bellisseria community!

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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!

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Today we are shining a spotlight on Soull Starlight, an inclusive Experience Creator in Second Life who has a passion for traveling and creating interactive destinations across mainland.

Photography by Caroline Danger

How long have you been in Second Life and how did you first hear about it?
I've been in Second Life since 2007 and first learned about it from a professor in college, who introduced SL as a community history project. I spent my first few months in SL engaged in research, learning about various communities present at that time, and have been around off and on ever since!

You are an Experience Creator in Second Life. Can you tell us more about what that is and how you got into that?
When I began curating land in 2019, I was impassioned to first create spaces that were uniquely me and exuded the warmth and coziness that I like my homes to have, as a respite from my travels across the continents. My first home was in Heterocera - after traveling along the mountain road leading to the Great Wall, I discovered a parcel that faced a resident-created Stonehenge and had a beautiful vantage point, purchased it, and settled in. As I continued my travels, I started to find even more parcels with beautiful views, accessible travel points (like roads, waterways, and mountain paths), and interesting Linden landmarks around and created more homes that I soon realized I couldn't inhabit myself as frequently as I'd like. AscendBnB, my travel-based rental company, was born from this. I had too many homes at that point to live in and wanted to share my travel-friendly, fully furnished homes with others.

After creating a bunch of homes all around mainland that I felt good about, I started to hone in my ability to create public spaces that evoke a feeling, sentiment, or pure joy. I realized that my passion was in creating and finding spaces that shared an experience of some kind - in my travels, these were the spaces that really stuck with me and kept me coming back, and I wanted to extend that love at interesting places around mainland to further encourage travel. I've created the term 'Experience Creator' as my role because it encapsulates the energy that is felt when you visit one of my spaces. I create and curate to evoke a memory, or thought, or to encourage joy, fun, and freedom. 

You seem to have an affinity towards mainland as most of your destinations are there. Why is that?
I'm an avid SL traveler and spend a lot of my time finding and enjoying engaging spaces in my travels that share a sentiment, a memory, an interest, or just a sense of joy. I deeply appreciate the creativity I find as I traverse the continents, and mainland to me is the best place to discover and explore for as long as I'd like, via publicly accessible spaces. Much like real life, taking a ride, sail, or flight along mainland routes is an adventure, and one that I feel expresses the deepest intent of SL- to allow humans from all parts of the world to live, work, and play in a space they've co-created. The ability to hop in a vehicle and explore the wonderfully varied experiences that you could have on mainland is what keeps me both exploring and creating on the continents, and it's my hope that more people discover and contribute to mainland in a way that keeps exploration and creativity accessible and alive. 

Can you tell us about some of your current destinations/experiences and what Residents can expect when visiting them?
I've now curated a number of experiences that are open to enjoy and find on mainland right now and am excited to share more about them! 

In Corsica I've created Wonderpark Theme Park with Autumn Yap (and Janessa Westwood Neil with Lifestyle Inc destinations who created a Wonderpark Resort in 2020), featuring over 20 interactive rides and experiences, a water park, a food court, and more. 

Eatonville Living History Museum, an interactive exhibit featuring culturally-affirming literature that shares the Black experience during the US Reconstruction era, is also located in Corsica, along with a relaxing spa, brewery, fine dining restaurant, and community garden in Corsica South Coast. 

In Heterocera, you can find Ascension Park, off High Mountain Road with picturesque views from the mountain and a public train that takes you sightseeing across regions, and an adjoining glamping resort with finely appointed tents, hot springs, and an outdoor bar. 

In Bay City, my Bay City Activity Center allows residents to work out, learn new skills like cooking or painting, take a yoga class, and more! I encourage folks to travel the mainland, check the destination guide to find more of my spaces, or visit  https://ascendbnb.live/fun-experiences.

Are there any upcoming projects, destinations, or events you are working on that you can tell us about? What can we expect from you in the future?
My latest experience is the Dulla Centre Community, located off the Circuit la Corse in Corsica, a live-work-play space where visitors and residents can find creative, restorative, social, and professional spaces to meet, interact, collaborate, and play. The community features a rooftop mini golf area, coworking space, a flower market, breweries, a yoga studio, an eco-conscious coffee shop, and more! it is a project I'm working on with other community builders, artists, and creative contributors. 

I'm also working with Yukiko Yeshto to plan and build this year's NatureCon 2023, a large-scale nature conference featuring nature creators, organizations, and groups to collectively encourage more exploration and discovery on mainland and in Bellisseria, and am working with Ayame (stable.mum), creator of the Moorcroft Community in Sansara and the Show Society to create a mountain retreat in Heterocera. I'm always open to collaborating with other creatives to add experiences to mainland to inspire, engage, and delight residents! 

Tell us about some of the other Residents in SL that inspire you and whose work you admire.
I am deeply inspired by so many creative residents in SL, and the unique experiences, products, and ideas that they bring to the grid. 

Ayame, Marianne McCann, and Georgina Rowley of the Moorcroft, Bay City, and Seogyeoshire communities have contributed amazingly beautiful builds and experiences for residents of Sansara and Jeogeot, and are always open to sharing what they've learned with others. 

Latte Bixley of Junk Food brings SO many fun, engaging items that evoke a sense of nostalgia and joy, and inspires me to add that element of interactivity and fun to my builds. 

Emmalee Evergarden, creator of The Nature Collective and co-creator of the Mainland Community Alliance creates the most inspired landscapes. 

The content created by Aurora Mercury, TheAriellXO, Ashiko Mi, Jaira Che, and Vrutega is always entertaining and shows how varied SL experiences can be and what sort of things you can find to engage in, visit, chat about, and/or share. 

There are so many more residents, mentors, and friends who have helped in or inspired my builds and the things I share. I wish I could name them all but I share a deep appreciation for all who add to my SL experience.

Watch this video submitted by Soull for her Spotlight feature
Video Production by Lozza Weymann

Where can people see your work? Please share links to your sites and social media accounts.
To learn more about me, my travels, and the things I contribute to the grid, you can follow me:

on my website: https://soulstarlight.life 
on my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soullstarlight.sl
on the AscendBnB site: https://ascendbnb.live

Thank you, Soul, for adding your creativity to mainland.

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

Each week, the Second Life Destination Guide editorial team reviews dozens of new locations and events worth exploring. With all those beautiful destinations to check out, we thought we’d highlight a few of the entries that stood out to the editorial team.  Don't forget to check our Recently Added category to see all the latest additions to the Second Life Destination Guide!

Photo Cafe

Photo Cafe' is a meeting place for all SL Photographers (at any level) to gather and share experiences, hints, tips and tricks, landmarks or contests (inworld or Flickr), and whatever else comes to mind! The fortnightly meetings - every other Saturday at 12 PM SLT - are moderated and held via text chat (not on voice) so as to be accessible to everyone. Learn more at photocafe.news

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Queen of the Nile

Transport back to Ancient Egypt and roam the Great Pyramid like King Tut and Cleopatra. While here, explore the ancient underground tombs for an adventure like no other, but beware of hazardous snakes, ferocious lions, and the curse of the mummy. The Queen of the Nile is a magical oasis set on the harsh desert landscape, full of amazing photo spots, and cuddles for lovers.

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Morgana's Whispers

Morgana's Whispers is a scenic fantasy nature landscape and a great destination to explore or take pictures at. There are two magical beautiful landscapes merging into each other with lots to discover.

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NOVA

Open to all adults, this interstellar utopian resort invites all weary space travelers seeking a destination spa experience. From yoga with aliens to interaction with a true AI based on 21st-century ChatGPT/GPT3. At Nova their mission is to provide an otherworldly escape in a truly unique environment, leaving you feeling refreshed, recharged, and ready to take on whatever the universe has in store for you.

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The Waterfall Cafe

The Waterfall Cafe is a great place to hang out with casual and romantic dining. It has an aquatic atmosphere that is relaxing, whimsical, dark, romantic, and visually stunning.

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The Last Aokigahara Souls

The Last Aokigahara Souls is a place dedicated to Japanese nature and spirit. Everyone is welcome to relax and enjoy a cup of good tea. Photographers and bloggers can rezz objects upon joining the group.

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Duchy de Valentinois

Duchy de Valentinois is the residence of Her Grace the Princess Serenya Charlotte Grimaldi, Duchess of Valentinois, and Princess of Monaco. The Duchy is located within the Val de Loire region (France), this is a country residence of Her Highness. It consists of two structures: Chateau Noisettes and Chateau de Herces. The châteaux are surrounded by lush and evocative gardens in a typically French style.

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Lake Oblivion

Lake Oblivion is a gem tucked away in the countryside, featuring lake activities, mountain exploration, and farm living. Cuddle spots, picturesque locations, dancing, and live music provide the perfect scene for anyone looking to get away or take beautiful photos.

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Terra d'OmbrA

Terra d'OmbrA is a small piece of Italy. It is a place to explore, enjoy, relax and discover magical places that will enchant you. Created by Maizon Rayna, it is a journey into Italian art.

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Mendellson Cazenove & SL International Symphony

Attend a very special performance as pianist Mendellson Cazenove performs with the SL ISO on Saturday, April 15th at 1 PM SLT. Let the artistry of Mendellson fill the air and your ears as he performs original compositions on the piazza at Bellezzamora at The Grove Country Club Estates. Smart casual attire is requested.

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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!

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Signup for the Second Life Weekly Email Newsletter.

One day you are in Second Life, minding your own business while you walk through your favorite store when all of the sudden you get a private message from someone with a link to an item on the marketplace. Without thinking about it, and curious what the item might be, you give it a click. The page loads up looking just like the marketplace, except you need to log in so you happily enter your username and password. Next thing you know, your linden dollar balance is suddenly gone, and you can no longer access your account. You just fell victim to a popular scam known as Phishing.

Phishing scams are a common form of online fraud that targets unsuspecting individuals by tricking them into revealing their sensitive information. The goal of these scams is to steal your passwords, credit card information, or other personal details. Phishing scams often take the form of emails, or in the case of our example, websites that look identical to the site you are used to browsing. To help protect yourself from these scams, it is important to know how to recognize and avoid them.

Fear not though, we have some tips to share on how to keep your online accounts safe from phishing scams:

1. Be wary of unsolicited messages or emails. If you receive a message from an unknown sender, or really even a friend (you never know if their account was compromised), be cautious before clicking on any links. It’s always best to err on the side of caution.
2. Check the website’s URL. Before logging into the website, make sure you’re on a legitimate site. A phishing website will often have a similar looking URL, but with slight variations. Check for spelling errors, or subtle changes in the website’s address.
3. Look for security indicators. Legitimate websites will often have security indicators, such as a padlock icon or “https” in the URL, this indicates that your information is being transmitted securely. If you are not sure if a URL is legitimate, you can always send in a support ticket and ask for clarification.
4. Use strong passwords. A strong password is one that is at least 8 characters long and contains a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. You should also use a different password for each of your online accounts to reduce the risk of multiple accounts being compromised if one password is stolen.
5. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). This will add an extra layer of security to your account by requiring a second form of identification in order to access your account to make account changes.

The important thing to remember is to be vigilant. Phishing scams are constantly evolving, so always remember to take a moment, think about what you are going to be clicking on and do not let a sense or urgency rush you to do something until you are certain it is safe to do so.

By following these tips, you can reduce your risk of falling victim to a phishing scam and protect your account, and your linden dollars.

Today we are shining a spotlight on KaidenTray, a virtual landscaper in Second Life whose  landscaping skills have become renowned for their realistic detail and stunning visual appeal. 

How long have you been in Second Life and how did you first hear about it?
Officially I have been in Second Life for eight years and seven months. However, I have taken long breaks in between that time. I was brought to Second Life by the recommendation of my real-life friend who told me about all the artistic and unlimited possibilities within the game. 

You are an award-winning landscape artist. How did you get into landscaping in Second Life and where do you get your inspiration?
I have always been interested in art as a type of expression and used to draw when I was younger. When I came to Second Life initially, I explored many sims and was inspired to create different cities and locations from my mind’s eye. I was able to do so with the creative freedom that I was provided. After I completed some of the projects I worked on as practice, word of mouth created my landscaping business. 

I find heavy inspiration from real-life cities that I become fascinated with, especially those that I would enjoy visiting or living in. The majority of my life has been spent in the United Kingdom, but I am heavily inspired by countries outside of my own, including the United States and Spain. My ability to generate these cities with as much realism and detail as possible allows myself and others to be transported to those areas in a virtual world. 

What kind of detail do you look for when designing your landscapes and what are your favorite kinds of landscapes to design?
I look for small details that can immerse the person into the environment to feel like it is real, such as dirt over a road or slanted trees. It is interesting to me because so many of my clients prefer things to be perfectly aligned, clean, and straight. My mentality is very different. It is these types of imperfections of the real world that make the mind feel you aren’t in a virtual setting. However, my main concern is client satisfaction, so I make sure to provide whatever style they would like.

My absolute favorites are forests, woodlands, farms, and rainforests. However, what I adore more than anything are simply landscape challenges. I enjoy expanding my skills as much as possible with complexity. 

Tell us more about some of the destinations you have designed previously and any current or future projects you are working on.
I have completed many destinations over the years, so there are a lot to list. However, my main pride and joys are those that I have opened for Halloween events, such as The Bates Motel (2020), The Freakshow: A Halloween Experience (2021), and Nightmare in New Orleans (2022). 

Some of the popular destinations that I have completed upon commission are: The Atlantis Pemba Resort, Koyo Kyoto Resort, and the Dare to Bare Nude Beach Community. 

My main current and future personal projects are my own community/destination that I co-own with my partner, which is Wandering, New York. We are expanding into the second sim, and it is our intention to keep the sims very active with events, performances, and activities. 

Tell us about some of the other Residents in SL that inspire you and whose work you admire.
I have respect for all of Second Life’s landscapers because it is a unique niche that can often be stressful. I encourage and appreciate all of the art that can be brought into Second Life. There isn’t anyone I can name specifically and, I wouldn’t want to single anyone out from the hard work of others, per se. I can tell you that my favorite location and landscaped work in Second Life is the Elysion Sim. 

Where can people see your work? Please share links to your sites and social media accounts.
I have had many clients over the years where my work can be visible, but quite a few of them are on private sims and therefore not available for viewing. However, some of the easily accessible places where my work can be viewed are the following stores and locations:
Rosary (Moderate)  
Canape (Adult)
Mila (Moderate)
Alme (General)  
Dare to Bare Nude (Adult)
Wandering, New York (Moderate)

Facebook
Facebook Portfolio
Instagram

Thank you, Kaiden, for adding realistic beauty to virtual destinations.

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

Since we launched the new look of the Destination Guide, we’ve received a lot of feedback from the community and have been doing our best to curate all the suggestions and slowly implement them. Keep an eye out for many more improvements coming soon, including the ability to see and sort by real-time population counts! You will also notice some changes coming to the in-viewer Destinations floater very soon too!

As a reminder, with the new look, you need to be logged into the Destination Guide to be able to access the teleport button. Look for the "Sign in" link at the top right of the page and once logged in, you'll have a teleport button. The view on map feature is embedded in the meatball button (horizontal three-dot menu) which is right beside the 'Join Now' or 'Teleport' button at any destination link.

If you have more feedback and suggestions for us, or if you notice any destinations that have disappeared or need updating, please reach out to the Destination Guide team at editor@lindenlab.com. 

Here are some of the latest destinations and updates to the Destination Guide!

Are you looking for the perfect date spot? Check out the Romantic Spots category:

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.

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Rock Crest Getaway

At Rock Crest Getaway enjoy a romantic ballroom, live DJs, live musicians, a games area, white sandy beaches, and much more!

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Want to connect with other Residents via voice? Check out our new Voice Chat Hot Spots category.

Lonesome Dove Ranch

Lonesome Dove Ranch is a music venue and voice hangout spot! They have live DJs, Tarot readings, game nights, open mic nights, ASMR, and more. Come and meet new people - voice is always open!

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Need a virtual caffeine fix? Teleport over to one of the cafes in our ever-growing Cafes & Hangouts category.

Nom Nom Cafe Library

Between lush green trees, grass, and an abundance of flowers the Nom Nom Cafe Library awaits you. Relax inside with some delicious cake, a book, and cats, or cuddle up at one of the various spots surrounding the Cafe. Bring your friends and loved ones over for a night at the campfire or simply enjoy some alone time. A refuge for not only the LGBTQIA+ community but also all allies created with love.

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Want to explore your artistic side? Teleport to one of the many Art Galleries or Exhibits.

The Palette

The Palette is an artistically inspired MyStory compatible Art Studio and venue in Second Life. The Palette offers tons of events such as Sip and Paint, Trap and Paint, and Open Mic to name a few. They play a variety of music such as R&B, Neo Soul, Hip Hop, Trap, and Pop. The Palette provides everything you need to have the perfect date or friends and family outing.

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Cloud Galleries

Cloud Galleries is a lovely sky area above Corsica in the Corsica South Coasters area right near NovaOwl. Nine artists have studio Galleries here and visiting guest artists are featured every two months. Artists share their artworks in a lovely relaxing setting. Cloud Galleries has events and you are welcome to come by anytime. Learn more at throughowlseye.com/cloud-galleries

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KANARU Gallery and Crafters' Garden

KANARU Gallery was built on the ground with an elevation difference, taking advantage of the hills in the mainland Jeojeot continent. There are also steps in the large space of Sky hall so that visitors can move freely while viewing the works. A space and flow where you can feel the atmosphere of the work. It is a gallery that values it. In this special space, you can enjoy the wonderful works of photographers active in Second Life.

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Ever been to a virtual zoo or gone virtual horseback riding? Now you can in the Pets & Animals category.

Hamraiders - The Carrot of Life

The Bellisseria Animal Sanctuary presents Zoo-Palooza 4 - Hamraiders - The Carrot of Life at the Belisseria Fairgrounds from April 1st to 30th.

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Want to celebrate the future? Beam yourself up to one of the Sci-Fi themed destinations!

SL Sci-Fi Con 15

The 15th annual Second Life Sci-Fi Convention runs from March 31st through April 9th, 2023, to raise funds to fight cancer. Money raised helps in so many ways as this virtual festival joins in a global mission to save lives and give people back their future. The Second Life community gathers over these days to share their experiences across 8 Sci-Fi-themed regions. Learn more at scificon.org

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Looking for a quiet spot to take pictures? You'll find close to 100 Photogenic Spots.

Sunnmore

Amazing adventures await you in Sunnmore. Watch the Northern Lights dance across the sky, and explore the Fjords by kayak in all their serenity. Fly through the sky on the zip lines. Take a hot air balloon ride. Exhale and unwind. Welcome to Norway. Welcome home.

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Or maybe go dancing at one of the many music clubs! 

The Dumpster

Established in 2022, The Dumpster is a modernized and elegant audio-visual event club, where you can vibe with some of the hottest Twitch DJs on the grid! The Dumpster is focused on today's fashion and the newest design concepts, with a variety of music genres to match.

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There is always something to do in Second Life. So click over to the Destination Guide and start exploring this weekend! 

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!

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Today we are shining a spotlight on Severus7 XOXO, an open-format DJ who has been wowing Second Life and Twitch audiences with his infectious energy.

How long have you been in Second Life and how did you first hear about it?
I found Second Life randomly through a YouTube ad while on bedrest from a foot injury I got in a basketball game. Since you can't do much with an injured foot, I was just bored and looking for stuff to do so I clicked the ad and here we are. I have been around for 5 years now!

How did you get into DJing in Second Life?
About a month in Second Life, I was casually hanging at a club one day and they had job openings for hosts and DJs. At the moment, I had no clue how the whole DJ thing even worked so I put in an app for a host spot. I started hosting for different DJs and working with them triggered my curiosity to dive deeper into the art of DJing. So I started researching and educating myself about the basic stuff. Like what software to use, how to match beats, how to stream music in SL, etc. Eventually, I got the hang of it and ended up applying for the DJ position to give my first and only DJ audition. The DJ manager loved me and I was accepted as a DJ. Since then I just fell in love with DJing more and more and never stopped. I ended up being invited to different events around the grid and slowly became addicted to it.

You also stream your sets on Twitch, how did you get into that and what are some of the advantages or challenges of DJing in SL versus Twitch?
I had no clue what Twitch was until a friend shared some DJ's stream with me. I was so amazed that the first thought was "Wow...I wanna do that too!". The idea of streaming simultaneously in SL and on Twitch, where virtual people can watch me DJ at the same time was so fascinating that I started researching how to stream and what hardware software I need. Still remember streaming my first DJ set on the study table with a very bad camera at the time lol.

Personally, starting out as a DJ on SL gave me a huge advantage on Twitch compared to people who just started from Twitch. I have met so many people that took them more than a month to be Twitch affiliates when they started. Whereas, my channel got affiliated within a week because I was getting good viewership due to my SL following. Twitch has its own advantages too. It has helped me connect and meet with many DJs and music artists outside of SL. You can make a lot of connections through Twitch and I'm blessed to have made some myself. Last but not least, Twitch is definitely another good platform to expand your following and make an extra income.

What are your favorite genres of music, and what mood do you usually go for when you DJ?
I'm an open format DJ, which means I love exploring and playing all kinds of music, from EDM genres to Hip Hop, and from Heavy Bass and Dubstep, which are my favs, to even kpop as of lately. But my first love will always be Dubstep. It's what I'm mostly known for, which is why my SL DJ group is called 'Severus Seven's Headbangers' cause we definitely love to turn it up, breaking rails and go hard. As far as it concerns my mood, one day you can find me playing some chill House vibes and the next day you will see me throwing down heavy bass and headbanging on my stream. I love to make it a musical journey for my crowd and even mix everything up in a set sometimes cause why not. 

Which venues do you regularly play at in Second Life and are there any upcoming shows Residents can see you at?
I DJ 3 times a week (Wednesday-Friday-Saturday) at a place called "The Dumpster". That is definitely the place to be if you want great music and to party hard. On Saturdays, there's a different themed event, at 8 pm SLT, with amazing giveaways sponsored by some of SL's hottest Brands/Creators for those best in theme. There are some more future events I'll be performing at. One of them that I'm really looking forward to is Smokefest 2! I was the closing DJ at Smokefest and that was an amazing experience so I know the next one is gonna be even better, so I am excited for that and I am sure you will be too!

How has Second Life impacted your life? 
Well, where do I even start? lol. SL has impacted my life in ways nothing else has. I can start with my passion for DJing and performing in front of people. Before SL, I had no clue what a DJ was, no knowledge about any DJ equipment or even EDM in general. I was just a nerdy Mechanical Engineer and then through my experiences, I learned about all these things that I'm doing right now. SL helped me find my calling! A year back I was working for an HVAC company in my city and now SL and Twitch DJing is my full-time job. Because of SL, I don't have to worry about missing my alarms in the morning and sleep whenever I want. Making a living through something I'm passionate about was always my goal growing up. There are many goals that I am working on every day but I am truly blessed in that regard.

Besides DJing, I have met so many amazing and talented individuals here. I wouldn't be where I am without my small circle of friends, who have stuck around from day one. These bonds have helped me through thick and thin and I'm forever grateful for it. The best thing I like about SL is you can be whoever you want to be without the influence of any RL social standards. 

Connecting with people from different sides of the world and accepting each other for who we are is amazing in my opinion.

Tell us about some of the other Residents in SL that inspire you and whose work you admire.
It's hard to name individuals but I would say a big thank you to the people who I had hosted for when I was basically an SL newbie. All of them plus the people who have collaborated with me over the years inspired me to learn new things and always helped me push past my limits. Most of my inspiration for the way I DJ comes from some RL artists like Excision, Virtual Riot, Subtronics, and Kompany.  Also, I get inspired every day by all of SL's creative individuals no matter if they are DJs, bloggers, or creators. I appreciate and get inspired by their art, hard work, dedication, and passion!

Where can people follow you to know more about your next shows? Please share links to your sites and social media accounts.
You can find all my links here: https://linktr.ee/itsSeverus7 
and I do encourage everyone to join my discord community to stay updated about future sets and events and also come hang with us!  

Thank you Severus7, for the addictive energy you add to the live DJ scene in Second Life!

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

Save the date! On June 23rd, Second Life will be turning 20! The 20th annual Second Life birthday celebration (SL20B) will be held from June 22nd to July 11th. Get ready for 20 fun-filled days of live music, performances, shopping, and amazing community exhibits!

This year’s Birthday theme is Our Fantastic Future. The cornerstone of this idea is what we would define as eco-futurism including sustainability, a focus on our environment, and the next generation of our world. Some might call this science fiction, but what is science fiction except a dream for a possible future? In Second Life we build worlds. Our worlds, our way. For SL20B, we invite you to show us your worlds of the future!

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! 

New this year we are 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 SL20B, then please fill out this exhibitor form no later than May 14th. 

We’re also looking for volunteers to assist during the celebrations. We are seeking Residents with great people skills and a passion to share the best of Second Life to help us make SL20B a huge success! 

If you have the Second Life spirit and stamina to promote SL20B events and serve as a guide for huge crowds, we’d love for you to fill out the volunteer application by May 14th!

Over the next month, keep an eye on our blog for more opportunities to participate in the SL20B celebrations as a Merchant!

CURRENT APPLICATIONS FOR SL20B:
Volunteer Application - Applications close on May 14th, 2023 
Exhibitors Application - Applications close on May 14th, 2023 
Performer Application - Applications close on May 14th, 2023 
Music Fest Application - Applications close on April 9th, 2023 

Class is back in session! Second Life University returns today with a pre-recorded video by Boston Blaisdale as he shows you how to enhance your virtual environment!

Watch the premiere of the Environment Enhancement video at 9am PT: 

Here is a glimpse at the topics he will cover in this video:

• Where to find environment settings
• Pin Environment menu to your screen
• Shortcuts for some environment presets
• Use Shared Environment
• Copy Environment Settings from the Library to your Inventory
• How to create a Settings folder if you don’t have one in your Inventory
• Control lighting and shadows using Personal Lighting
• Enable Advanced Lighting Model under Graphics in Preferences
• Edit and Save your own Environment Setting by using the Fixed Environment Editor
• Edit the Horizon and Density colors under the Atmosphere & Lighting Tab
• Adjust the clouds under the Clouds Tab
• Save your Environment
• Create a new Environment from scratch
• Edit Day Cycle
• Step-by-step information about the Environment Editor  
• Find and purchase Environment Settings from other Residents on the Second Life Marketplace  

Stay tuned for future updates about Second Life University. Happy learning!

We are pleased to announce a new feature to enable Estate-level access management of scripted agents. As of Wednesday’s deploy, a new flag to prevent identified scripted agent accounts from entering a region has been added to all regions.

What is this feature exactly?

• deny_bots is a new estate-level flag for denying identified bot accounts access to a region.
• When deny_bots is ON, all scripted agents that are not explicitly listed in the estate’s Allowed Access list will be denied access to all of the regions within the Estate.
• Scripted agents that have Estate Manager privileges for an estate will also be able to access regions inside the estate. regardless of the estate's deny_bots setting.
• When deny_bots is OFF, scripted agents are treated the same as any other avatar with regard to estate access.

Details on using this new setting can be found here. You will need to download the latest version of the official Second Life Viewer to manage access on your estate through the Region/Estate floater - or you can use the Region Debug Console (available on the Develop menu) on any viewer. 

We've also updated our scripted agents policy, which can be found here.

We hope this new capability to manage the privacy and comfort of your Second Life gives many of you an extra measure of peace of mind!

Have thoughts? Join the discussion here.

Today we are shining a spotlight on Dixmix Source, a visual and musical artist and the curator of the Dixmix Gallery in Second Life, which showcases the work of other digital artists from around the world.

How long have you been in Second Life and how did you first hear about it?
After reading an article about Second Life, I logged in for the first time on a rainy day on November 10th, 2006. At first, I thought it was some kind of chatroom, but soon I discovered it is much more than that. 

You are the curator of the Dixmix Art Gallery in Second Life, can you tell us more about the Gallery, when you started it, and why you decided to curate a digital art gallery?
As soon as I rented my first land, a friend of mine gave me the “NYC loft.” At first, I uploaded some of my pictures, and then I invited other artists to have an exhibition in the place. Last December 2022, the DiXmiX Gallery celebrated its 15th anniversary!

Are you an artist yourself in either the physical or virtual world?
I’m a visual and musical artist in RL maybe that’s why I understood quickly the art scene in SL and some of our possibilities. I was a TV producer and believe me, to organise exhibitions and opening parties is nothing compared to a TV show or a movie documentary. Anyway, I take it seriously and always try my best to be supportive and positive with Artists. I am one of them and I like to treat others like I would be treated. For one year now I have been retired in RL and I like to travel so I reduced the surface of the gallery and the number of exhibitions to make time for exploring the physical world (without teleportation.)

Can you tell us about any upcoming art exhibitions, shows, or other events in Second Life that you will be involved with?
During March, we have EtaMae showing her last exhibition titled “See me.” Starting on April 8th, Catherine Nikolaidis will be back for her annual exhibition (title to be confirmed) and then later on April 24th with Akiko Kinoshi, we will perform our new Sound & Vision particle show titled “Shamanic Vision” at the Fantasy Faire.

Tell us about some of the artists in SL that inspire you, or whose work you admire.
I do love so much Maloe Vansant, she is a long-time friend and the SL artist I’ve been working with the most, like me she lives in Belgium. Just a few times more than Harbor Galaxy with whom I organised a big retrospective last Summer. Also, I have to tell you about Megan Prumier, an amazing builder and photographer with whom I have developed many projects over the past twelve years.

Maloe in the Gallery

Where can people see your work and follow your activities? Please share links to your sites, social media accounts, inworld groups, and slurls to locations inworld.
Here we go: 

• Dixmix Gallery LM: https://secondlife.com/destination/dixmix-gallery 
• Dixmix Gallery on Facebook
• Dixmix Source on Facebook
• Dixmix Gallery's fliers, the full collection on Instagram
• Dixmix Gallery Flickr Group
• Dixmix Source on Flickr
• DJ tunes 

Thank you, Dixmix, for all your contributions to the Second Life art scene!

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

Have you noticed? The web version of the Destination Guide now has a new look - and we want your feedback on how we can continue to improve Second Life’s leading directory of cool and interesting places to explore! 

The latest version of the Destination Guide offers a modern design refresh (the first since 2010!), while also adding some useful new features that enable easier discovery of Second Life events and experiences. Web visitors may welcome the addition of a much-requested Search bar so that you can better seek and find the places that interest you, while category and search result pages now also have a “Sort by” option in the upper-right corner that allows users to filter the directory by “Newest” entries and alphabetically (A-Z or Z-A). Mobile users will notice that the Destination Guide is now much easier to browse and explore while on the go – which may come in handy to accompany our forthcoming Mobile Viewer.

Want to share a Destination on your blog and/or view it on the overall Second Life Map? Logged-in users on Secondlife.com can click the three dots on the detail page to find these additional options.

…and there’s more to come!

Work is continuing as we seek to add even more improvements to the web-based Destination Guide including the ability to see and sort by real-time population counts, while also enhancing access to the full Destination Guide within the Second Life Viewer.

The latest changes are a far cry from the early origins of the Destination Guide, which go all the way back to late 2005 when a small Developer Showcase section on Secondlife.com editorially highlighted a handful of noteworthy community builds and initiatives. That section soon morphed into Showcase, a small directory highlighting the best in Arts & Culture, Fashion and Music. In 2010, Showcase formally transitioned into the full-fledged Destination Guide directory with about 16 top-level categories before expanding over the next decade to include closer to 50 categories and many more sub-categories across a wide variety of genres spanning everything from A to Z (or Anime to Zombies, if you will).

What features would you like to see in the Destination Guide? Share your thoughts and feedback with us directly at editor@lindenlab.com.

 
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 and guidelines and increase your chances of being featured in Editors’ Picks!

Today we are shining a spotlight on Marly Milena, a creativist known as Niela Miller in the physical world. At the age of 88, Marly has been bringing years of her educational experience and expertise to build communities in Second Life!

How long have you been in Second Life and how did you first hear about it?
I have been in SL since October 2007. I heard about it at a transgender event (The Fantasia Fair of Provincetown, Massachusetts) where I led workshops for years. One of the transgender community leaders, who is also in SL and was my initial mentor for all things SL, told me about it and it appealed to me immediately so I joined as soon as I got home! I just knew that, for a creative person like me, there would be many things I could do to transfer my skill set and experience from my physical life to Second Life. One of my first projects was facilitating support groups for transgenders in SL. Then I trained some facilitators from that community to take over.

How did you find the new user experience in Second Life when you first started? Do you have any tips for newcomers?
Having a mentor/guide made all the difference for me. I am pretty sure that, without that help, I would have been hopelessly frustrated. I strongly suggest that when new people come in, they are assigned to, or find, a personal guide to help them learn the ropes. It isn’t enough to provide self-guided orientations unless the person is very tech-savvy. The guide should also have a basic training in pedagogy as it applies to adult learners. Adults usually learn best by doing, not just listening to information.

Tell us more about your educational background and work experience and how that assists with the work you do in Second Life.
I combine many arts-based tools (I am an amateur musician, composer, singer, multi-media artist, actor, and writer) with my training and background as a Gestalt therapist, group facilitator, educator, humanistic psychology practitioner, coach, organization development trainer, and consultant. 

I have designed and implemented programs and offered training in a wide variety of settings ie corporate, non-profit, military, medical, religious, and more. For fifteen years, I was with a group called Associates for Human Resources in Concord, Ma. We went to many locations to do all kinds of programs and then, in 1984, I left to create my own business called PeopleSystems Potential. It still exists as a DBA although I am mostly retired and do the majority of my work now as a volunteer in Second Life. 

I also have a monthly Zoom class focused on Creative Process. It was a natural transition for me to bring in my hefty creative and pedagogical background to SL and not only design and implement a wide variety of presentations and interactive programs in a virtual world, but find collaborators and also create new organizations. 

Visit Butterfly Gallery in Second Life

How do you integrate symbolic modeling into your avatar's personal development? Can you elaborate on the two types of creative expression - theatrical applications vs shared creative expression and how you use them in Second Life? Any examples?
The best way for the viewer to get a sense of how I developed and used SymMod in SL is by watching my YouTube videos, which are linked from my website. The videos provide demonstrations in all three areas: Personal Development, Education, and Creative Expression. 

Music is a big part of your life. Tell us more about your music career and is this something you do in both the physical and virtual world?
I play piano and guitar, was a singer-songwriter for many years, and have an album called Songs of Leaving  (under my name, Niela Miller, produced by numerogroup.com) II. This is the LP album cover. I am a teenager in Washington Square Park in NYC where all the folkies played.

I also started performing when I was very young at the great Catskill Folk Festival (and others).

I also have a one-hour video of a concert of all my piano music and some separate albums as well played by other pianists. As one teacher clarified, “You are a composer who plays piano, not a pianist who composes!" They are available at the Marly Milena Music Library in SL at the Community Virtual Library. We are collecting music and performers at the library and it is currently being administered by Katsii Tennen (known as CATS) who is my program manager and the Acting Director of the music library. My musical activities have been steady my whole life but not as a professional, just as a lifelong hobby and love. 

In SL, I have had my music streamed in/performed by Tip Corbett, also a composer and professional musician who has done improvisations to some of my pieces, and also by Ari who plays piano collections at many venues and events in SL.

We do a program called Improv: Musicians and Artists where we have one of each improvise to each others’ creations.

Featuring piano performances by Molly Lozeau and Justin McCarthy for Marly’s 85th birthday.

You are also an artist. Tell us more about your art, which art mediums you use, and do you sell your artwork in RL or SL?
Again, this has been a lifelong pursuit of mine but not as a professional. Anyone can go to my art page on my website and download copies of my mixed media art. I also have a Padlet page with art I have done for classes or on my own. I take classes on a regular basis in drawing, mixed media, and collage. Once a year, I am in an exhibit at the Concord Center for the Visual Arts in Concord, Ma. I have the soul of an artist and, therefore, would be doing some form of art as long as I live. Money has never been a motivator for art-making. I earned my living with my therapy, teaching, and training skills. I just happened to be able to incorporate arts-based tools into those processes! 

See more of Marly's art

You have a group called Octagon in Second Life, can you tell us more about this group? 
The full name of the group is Octagon:Creative Exploration and we offer programs just like the title indicates. One is called Visions of Self for those who want to experience SymMod for their own personal insights. One is a training program for those who want to learn how to use SymMod with their constituents. One is a theater program called Shakespeare’s monologues which combines speeches, costumes, Symbolic Models of the characters, and audience interaction (ie what is the archetype represented by x character which shows up in contemporary life?) I also do a lot of presentations for groups like Nonprofit Commons, Virtual Worlds Education Roundtable, and conferences in SL.

Visit Octagon Cinema Grove in Second Life

Are there any other current or upcoming projects or events you are working on in Second Life?
I have been doing ongoing groups in personal development and intuitive education for almost as long as I have been in SL. The current group is called “Beneath the Waves.” We explore all sorts of Ways of Knowing beyond our primary consciousness.

Different people facilitate based on their interests. VOS (Visions of Self) will be offered again in April. For all inquiries about my workshops and presentations and Octagon programs, please contact my Program Manager, Katsii Tennen (known as CATS in SL.)

I am also very involved in the growth and development of VWEC and am on the board. We keep evolving and doing all sorts of projects. We are working on bringing in as many educators and institutions as we can find who can see the value of teaching and learning in virtual worlds.

I will be doing a few programs for the upcoming VWBPE Conference. The full program can be found on their website. It runs from March 23rd to 25th .

Visit the Marly Milena Music Library in Second Life

Where can people learn more about you and see your work in SL or RL? Please share links to your sites and social media accounts.
I am on Facebook and LinkedIn as Niela Miller.
My comprehensive website has all of my information: peoplesystemspotential.com

I am also always open to collaborations and especially finding people who want experience and training in Symbolic Modeling.

Thank you, Marly, for being an inspiration with all of your community-building work in Second Life.

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

Save the date! On June 23rd, Second Life will be turning 20! The 20th annual Second Life birthday celebration (SL20B) will be held from June 22nd to July 11th. Get ready for 20 fun-filled days of live music, performances, shopping, and amazing community exhibits!

This year we wanted a theme that not only reflects on where we have been but embraces where we are going. We are celebrating twenty years of Second Life. That is an amazing realization. Who could have imagined in 2003 the vibrant, engaging, and creative community we are in 2023? We are living the future that was only a dream twenty years ago. Now we are projecting the future we hope to see as we move ahead another twenty years as both a community and a world. 

We are pleased to announce our Birthday theme for this year: Our Fantastic Future. The cornerstone of this idea is what we would define as eco-futurism including sustainability, a focus on our environment, and the next generation of our world. Some might call this science fiction, but what is science fiction except a dream for a possible future? In Second Life we build worlds. Our worlds, our way. For SL20B, we invite you to show us your worlds of the future!

To get things started we are opening applications for Music Fest, to be held on June 22nd-24th. Music Fest will kick off the overall SL20B celebration with three days of live music performances featuring some of the most talented live musicians in Second Life!

To sign up for a Music Fest audition, please complete this application form by April 9th, 2023.

We are also opening up applications for the general performance schedule. Why celebrate for one day when we can party for a week?! We are looking for all types of performers to join the week-long festivities from June 25th to July 2nd. 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 14th, 2023, and tell us a little about how you roll.

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 next few months, keep an eye on our blog for more opportunities to participate in the SL20B celebrations as an Exhibitor, Volunteer, and Merchant!

CURRENT APPLICATIONS FOR SL20B:
Performer Application - Applications close on May 14th, 2023 
Music Fest Application - Applications close on April 9th, 2023

Today we are shining a spotlight on Semiiina, a talented live singer and musician taking the virtual music scene by storm with her soulful performances that blend a range of styles and influences.

How long have you been in Second Life and how did you first hear about it?
I've been in Second Life for 10 years! I first heard about it from my friends. I had just gotten back to Sweden after playing music in the states for a while. My friends thought SL would be a great way to keep in touch and still hang out over the pond. 

They eventually got tired of SL but the vampire world sucked me in together with the art, creativity, and the different communities. There was something about always being one teleport away from the next adventure and getting to know people from all over the world that kept it interesting for me. However, I've been a human for years now! haha!

How did music become such an important part of your life?
Music never "became" an important part of my life, it was just life. My mornings as a kid always started with walking straight to our black piano in the living room. I would sing a note with my tiny morning voice and then press down the key I thought it sounded like on the piano. I didn't always get it right back then but I do now.

Saturday trips were to the record store. Dad and I spent hours listening to music in crappy headphones that were attached to the wall. You skipped tracks until you found something that spoke to you and if it was a good Saturday, you even got to buy a single to bring home.

My bedtime stories were reading sheet music by Debussy, Chopin, or Liszt and the fairy tale stories I was told were the life of David Bowie and The runaways mixed with the artwork of Andy Warhol.

When I was playing with my girlfriends we all wanted to be princesses. My princess was always called Edie Sedgwick. Pretty alarming looking back at it now!

Do you write your own songs and/or compose your own music? Do you play any instruments?
I do! Quite a lot! I haven't done any shows in SL yet with only original music but I'm planning on it. I play the piano, guitar, bass, and harmonica; and I also DJ.

How would you describe your music, and who are some of the musicians who have influenced your style?
How I would describe my music is always the hardest question for me. The way I deal with everything that comes with being a live musician (SL and RL) and me being an introverted extrovert is to stick to my part.

My part is to perform and do every creative thing that pops up in my mind and not question it or what it sounds like, am I good enough? What do people think of me? Is this a good song choice? I just follow the creativity and the flow.

If I step out of my part, I would probably go insane. However, I guess I could describe the music as "Chamelionic." In both worlds, I like to jump between genres and not stick to the same thing.
It goes from Indy to Jazz to showgirl to pop to electronic to acoustic to a beautiful classic piano to singer-songwriter. Most shows I do in SL are acoustic with piano/guitar and vocals.

Musicians that have influenced my style are definitely Björk, Marina, Bon Iver, Fever Ray, Soko, Lykke li, Lana del Rey, Birdy, and the list goes on and on and on.

When did you start performing in Second Life, and what venues or shows can people visit to hear you sing?
This is my third year as a live performer in SL! I play all over the grid so it's hard to mention only a few. It's been a tradition for me to play at the Second Life Birthday Event, Fantasy Faire, and Rezz Room & Versovs’ ugly Christmas sweater party.  

Posters come out every week on my Facebook, in my in-world group, and on discord so the best way to catch me is to join any of my social media groups.

Tell us about some of the other Residents in SL that inspire you and whose work you admire.
Bryn Oh is my number one inspiration. She is an amazing artist in both worlds. I've been amazed by her work since my first week in SL. Bryn was also the first one to ever give me a stage to perform when others turned me down because I had no experience in performing in SL. She didn't have to do that for me at all being a stranger at the time. Her heart is kind and she has a way of telling a story through her art that I've never seen before.

Another inspiration is Tye Dinzel-Easton and Gabriel Easton. They literally saved us all from boredom during the pandemic. Together with their High Life destination team, they put together the most amazing resorts in SL with the best RP activities you could ever imagine. I had the privilege to perform at their Vegas sim together with the Dollhouse dancers. They put up a whole vegas show! Just by being in their creative and passionate presence inspires me so much.

Every creator inspires me, every artist inspires me, photographers, models, DJs, designers, bloggers, event creators, and kind people in general. There is so much creativity to be found in Second Life and so many opportunities to go all in on what you're passionate about. Whether that be hunting for blood, running a venue, performing live music, or just simply having a conversation with a stranger on a wooden mesh raft in the middle of the Blake sea.  

Where can people follow you to know more about your music and shows? Please share links to your sites and social media accounts.

• Facebook  
• Discord  
• In world group: secondlife:///app/group/7ebe3807-5ae8-25bc-2d9c-2fd58e34d24a/about 
• Soundcloud  
• Spotify  

Thank you Semiina, for adding your voice to the live music scene in Second Life! 

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

Inspired by Hashima Island in Japan, discover the strange world of Hashima in Second Life, once a coal mine community, prison, and film set.

Creator Titus Palmira shares the background behind Hashima Island.

What does Second Life mean to you?
I have been in SL for 13 years and have done many things, each adding to the overall experience, but it really boils down to this: SL is a place where I can do what I want, be what I want, how I want, and all done within a shared experience with interesting people from all over the (real) world.

What is the background of Hashima Island? Is there a story in your head that you wanted expressed in this form?
I have always been interested in ghost towns. I feel they have a poignancy about them, the life that resided there once removed leaves a trace that soaks into the fabric of the abandoned buildings. There are government facilities here in the UK that have taken over entire villages, mining ghost towns in Australia, empty towns in Spain due to the greed of property developers, or ex-Soviet era towns in Eastern Europe. I found the Latvian town of Skrunda. It was used by the USSR army as a radar facility and also hosted the soldiers' families. The melancholy of it all struck me as being very profound. That gave me the idea of replicating this somehow in Second Life and the sim "Skrunda 2" was created, this was repeated the year with "Skrunda 3". We took the ideas and concepts behind Skrunda and moved the whole thing to Japan. Hashima island is almost the perfect real-life destination to be converted into a Second Life / Skrunda sim. It's small, has a defined identity, and has been abandoned, so a great ghost town. It has a rich history, it was a coal mine, a camp for POWs, and was a set for one of the scenes in the James Bond movie Skyfall which I thought people would find interesting.

How would you explain SL or what you do to a “skeptic” among friends and family?
That's a tough question, how do you describe something with almost endless possibilities? It's not a video game, so it has no beginning, middle, or end, but it sort of looks like one. I would say it's a virtual world, which in part you create yourself, a world where you get out, what you put in. If you don't socialize and make an effort to be involved, you will spend it alone and you will probably leave SL soon after, there is only so much shopping one can do before it gets tiring. 

Do you think avatar expression is a vital part of SL or are the experiences and places more important?
I think the two things go hand in hand. As in real-life our "look" is the outer manifestation of who we want to be seen as and the message(s) we want to give out, but there is no point in having an amazing looking avatar, if there is no one to show it off to or great places for it to be seen in. Interesting sims of any kind, shopping experiences, clubs, photographic sims, role-play worlds, adventures, etc.. require effort and money to create. Not all sims are created to create a return on investment. I think what we try to do, is to offer something to the communal "pot" for everyone in SL to enjoy with no expectation of anything back. This is my way of paying it forward. 

How would you recommend folks who are new to SL and feel they have no building skills become creative residents that contribute to the wonderful mosaic that is SL?
Youtube is your friend, failing that, have some real friends who are experts in this area. My good friend Sofie Janic (an accomplished SL builder of multiple sims) introduced me to Megan Prumier, another amazing builder. Like most things in life, it's best to just "give it a go", it might seem a bit fiddly at first, but you will be surprised at the things you can create quite quickly. There are so many great stores that sell such great components for sims, buildings, vehicles, plants and trees, assorted bits, and pieces, etc. Start off with a small Homestead, rez a shack, create a garden or a beach, add some waves and a deck chair, and you are there! 

Video Production by Draxtor Despres

Hashima Island

Welcome to Hashima Island, a new destination from the Skrunda team. Take your first step onto the island from the rickety old ferry and be transported into the strange world of Hashima, an ex coal mine community, prison, and film set. The people have gone but the feeling of their humanity remains. Inspired by Hashima Island in Japan.

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Pictured: Wandering New York

Each week, the Second Life Destination Guide editorial team reviews dozens of new locations and events worth exploring. With all those beautiful destinations to check out, we thought we’d highlight a few of the entries that stood out to the editorial team.

Wandering New York

Wandering New York is a first-of-its-kind New York themed community roleplay destination, and it is completely MyStory compatible! The goal is to develop an active and flourishing community with many roleplaying activities, live entertainment, music, restaurants, and sports activities/competitions while all being a picture-worthy blog spot!

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Plumpton on Sea

Explore Plumpton on Sea, a fun welcoming Photography hangout to relax, chat and take photos. All are welcome!

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Lone Tree Yoga Studio & Meditation Garden

Welcome to Lone Tree Yoga Studio & Meditation Garden! Delight in the present as you find your breath and journey toward self-discovery through the practices of yoga and guided meditation and more. Come wander the meditation garden and practice Tai Chi or sit and meditate and be one with the sights and sounds around you. All are loved and all are welcome. Add your images to their Flickr group: flickr.com/groups/lone-tree-yoga

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Sanskrit

Funeral pyres of the Ganges surrounded by the Himalaya. Explore and walk on water.

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Moosehead Lake at Paisley Pines

Exploring Moosehead Lake is an adventure you won't soon forget! Situated in the scenic Paisley Pines, this tranquil lake offers great fishing and recreational activities. Be sure to make a stop at the charming Blue Moose Cafe, perfect for grabbing a cup of coffee before continuing on your journey!

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And if you're looking for a shopping fix, check out the following two events before they end, and find even more in our Shopping Events category:

SL Living Expo

The SL Living Expo, a mega event for the Relay For Life of Second Life, runs March 3rd through March 12th. Expanding upon the theme of home and garden and refreshing it in new and exciting ways, this event features shopping, entertainment, contests, beautiful photo opportunities and so much more. For more information, visit their website: sl-living-expo.org

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Skin Fair 2023

Juniper Events and Lelutka are proud to present the 2023 Skin Fair event. Are you ready for a total avatar makeover? The Skin Fair runs from March 10th to the 27th and is packed with hand-selected Creators showcasing the best new looks, styles, and avatar mesh add-ons. For more information, visit: juniperevents.net

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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!

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Today we are shining a spotlight on Apple Dismantled, a talented 2D artist seamlessly combining art mediums and bringing her digital art into Second Life.

How long have you been in Second Life and how did you first hear about it?
I first heard about Second Life in 2004 from a friend. I signed up, realized how much money it took to get set up properly, and never touched it again…. Until 2009 when I decided that I was interested and wanted to play again. I ended up making a whole new account and I have been here since.

You are a real-life artist, can you tell us what kind of art you create and what are some of your favorite art mediums?
I tend to lean towards the abstract realm of art for the most part. My favorite mediums for 2D art are Acrylic, Watercolor, and Fountain Pen Ink. I also dabble in digital artwork and make some pretty neat mandalas. Most of my artwork in Second Life is Fountain Pen ink as I have found that’s one of my favorites because, with simple chemical additions or techniques, you can make it react in a variety of ways and get some interesting final pieces. Though I will admit that there are plenty of failures along the way, it is still all a part of constantly learning. I’ve also done all types of other types of art in Real Life too. If you name it, I’ve likely tried it, or want to.

The piece that started it all, Dissolve, in progress

Tell us about some of the artists or works of art that inspired you to become an artist.
In real life, my art taste is all over. I can clearly remember the first piece of artwork I became very interested in because I had a moment of “You can really do anything” was Edgar Degas “The Little Dancer” where he combines a whole heap of materials for a stunning final piece. (That tutu though was what first caught my eye) However, I’m the kind of person that can look at most any art piece and find something about it that I really like and inspires me. Art is subjective and I like being able to offer my art as abstract with the song that inspired it and letting the person make their own journey. I don’t like to present my art with a clear strict message on how to consume it, I present it in a way that allows the person to take it however they want, or leave it. The journey can be different every time too depending on your mood and where your mind is at. 

You also bring your art into Second Life, how does your RL art experience translate to your SL art experience?
This is a tricky one to answer as I’ve never really had the opportunity to present the art I offer in Second Life in Real Life in a gallery capacity. I did make a website that was a gallery of my art with links to the music for each piece, but the cost was a bit intense to maintain and I just felt like nobody really understood it so I got uninspired and let it go. I feel like Second Life offers me more freedom in how I present my artwork and I can present it in a gentle way to where like anything in Second Life, people can make their own adventures.

What art communities or groups within SL are you connected to?
I’m not really connected with any outside of Curated Event.

Do you have any helpful tips for new emerging artists?
Don’t base your idea of success on other people’s opinions of your work. 
Stay Weird. 

Are there any other projects, activities, and events you are involved with in Second Life?
Outside of the few events that I am in with my artwork, I have been a DJ in Second Life for over a decade and used to do 2-4 sets a week, now I tend to do one-off events here and there at places like Leviathan Bay. I was also involved with the art side as well as DJ’n at an event called Smokefest which was pretty rad and I’d love to see more and get involved in larger music events like that in Second Life. As for other stuff, I’m honestly not doing a ton in Second Life currently, however, I’m always on the lookout for more fun things to help however I can.

Tell us about some of the other Residents in SL that inspire you and whose work you admire.
I am lucky enough to be surrounded by a plethora of artists in a variety of mediums and expressions and every single one of them in their own way inspires me. Whether it be seeing the cool stuff they do and being able to gas them up and in return, it inspires me to do cool stuff too, to when you get those compliments from creators and artists you admire and it surprises you because not only do you realize they know you exist, but they think your stuff is cool too! Second Life is full of artists because it’s a completely blank canvas that residents have built up over the years. It's become not just a virtual world but an entire interactive gallery you can enjoy however you’d like.

Where can people see your art? Please share links to your inworld galleries, sites, and social media accounts.
Well, if they DM me I’m more than likely to show whatever WIP I have going. But really, just keeping up with my Second Life Flickr for all I do here in Second Life. I am also currently working on an Art Facebook Page as well as a Youtube channel where I post videos occasionally. 

• InWorld Gallery  
• Satellite Gallery at Leviathan Bay  
• Flickr  
• Facebook  
• YouTube

Apple is also generously giving out a piece of her Art for free at her gallery to celebrate this Spotlight Feature. It will be available until March 31st, 2023. Teleport over to pick it up today! 

The Art of A. Rose aka Apple Dismantled

An interactive gallery of Real Life artwork and the music that it was created to and inspired by. New art is added often.

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Thank you, Apple, for adding your talent to the vast art community in Second Life!

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