Blush Bravin

I brought up the part about commercial use not being addressed in the Bellisseria covenant the very first day the preview opened at the home and garden show. I even asked Patch about it standing there in the middle of the street. He really didn't comment other than to say .. hmmm .. or something similar. A few days later a clause specifically addressing the prohibition for commercial use was added. I don't see that clause anymore in the covenant. So there's been some movement in regard to this topic recently. I remember the issue being brought up in other threads specifically in relation to advertising and open houses. So, we see changes without any real official comments from anyone at the lab. I really would like some real clarification even if it's to say .. hey we aren't set in stone yet on this subject .. we'll let you know when we've decided the best course of action.

I do.

Okay, here's that view from the kitchen sink. I have pancakes and freshly squeezed OJ for breakfast. I've crammed a lot into this room but it feels more cozy than crowded I think. The bedroom feels light and airy, and I still have my closet. And where I once had my kitchen I now have a mudroom/laundry area with a really nice size bathroom. It's been a crazy 6 weeks with frenzied building trying out all the Linden Home styles, but I think I've reached my peak and am going to settle back down to working on inventory and other things. Well at least until I see what the new theme is and go from there. I think I'm done for awhile now. If anyone would like to see my home in person please feel free to stop in. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Washburn/22/73/34 I use a wide variety of furnishings so trying to list who made what would be impossible, so if you'd like to know whose products I used you'll just have to come over and inspect the items yourself. I welcome you to do so.

I loved the wrap around porch with the screened room for the Continental, but I just don't like two story houses that much ... sooooooooooooooooo I pulled out my favorite single story Linden Home and started a new porch. Notice my "street number" is 2003. That has nothing to do with my actual location but more to do with how long I've been in SL I bought some new flowers too. One of the reasons I have thought about possibly changing parcels had to do with having a view to the morning sun .... so now I have it and didn't have to change parcels. I can do my morning dishes and watch the sun rise over the distant water, which is barely visible but visible nonetheless. I have my little garden going well now with added tomatoes and strawberries. Rather than use my precious LI on a pool, I decided to put out some deco items that show just how close I am to the beach. I still have 38 LI left so will be added more furnishings to the back porch and perhaps another crop of something in the garden with maybe a berry bush of some sort. I'll give you a peek of the inside in my next post.

I've always been under the impression that all moles work for nada .. it's volunteer work. I hope that's not the case because they certainly do a huge amount of work. We see them toiling away day after day on SSP for months. It would be great if they are compensated.

It really boggles my mind that people think Lindens are just some kind of free paper money that can be handed out. If they raise the stipends then they MUST also raise the cost of premium to cover raising the stipend. Lindens = money .... money = real money..... Come on people start thinking.

That's a good point. I almost wish I never had an inkling of an idea that anything is coming. It would relieve so much stress--- lol ... again my problem and something I need to work on .. but at 66 I doubt that's something I'm going to change.

I'm not too worried about how the proposed new premium will impact my decision whether to pay the pre-paid on my premium accounts now. Really that's a no brainer - I'd be throwing away my own money by not taking advantage of the offer. The Lab has already said for those who want to upgrade to the super duper they will be able to upgrade with credit for what remains of their current account. So why worry? I'm just tired of hearing the rumor of a super premium and not getting any details. That's a hard pill to swallow for someone like me who has little patience in waiting to know what will be. I honestly, wouldn't have such a hard time waiting for it to be implemented. I just want to know what it is NOW.. lol .. but that is my shortcoming. I need more patience as having a clue drives me nuts if I can't find the answer.

I've been somewhat vocal about my views in regards to groups and how they really do not function well with the way people use them in SL now. I have mixed feelings about the Lab's decision to keep the status quo on groups with the slight increase still going forward for premium. I still believe it's just putting a bandaid on a sore that really needs lancing and a through cleaning. I hope they will take some of the proceeds from the increase to premium and use it to fix groups because they really are broken. I also believe that we need to learn to budget our resources and groups are a costly resource. I hope people will reconsider how they use groups, both those running the groups and those who are members of groups. This constant turn over in juggling groups just to get the latest group gift is non productive. If people are going to join and then two days later, if not 10 minutes later, drop the group so they can join another group to get the latest freebie then the purpose of the group really isn't functioning anyway. So why have a group if that's the outcome? It's wasting resources. I really hope LL will consider a subo type function for situations like this. A subo is perfect for sending notices about group gifts and there is no need to juggle groups to stay informed. In the end, I understand why the Lab decided to hold off reducing group slots for basic accounts. I know it rubbed people the wrong way, and I understand their viewpoint specially with the increase to group slots for premiums. So cheers to Linden Lab for showing how much they really do value all of the residents.

Here is an idea why don't LL create a poll and ask premium members if they want / need more groups to the detriment of basic accounts? If you asked me I'd say that Linden Lab didn't go far enough. Not only should basic accounts have the number of groups reduced but so should the premiums. It was a mistake to give us so many groups in the first place. They were not designed to be used as they are being used today. It's broken!!! Too broken to be fixed! Groups need to be used as they were intended when we were only given 10. We need a new system for advertising and running huge RP communities. It just boggles my mind that any RP group/land group would need 10+ groups to run their business. As a side note, I also think they've given us too many attachment points.

I'll be Sophia ... when you are that old you can say or do anything you want and get away with it .. that's the life for me!

LOL .. I'm so far past menopause I don't remember what a period is!!!

I'm ready!

In order to claim one of the new Linden Homes you have to have at least 1024 sqm free. So you can own a mainland plot that you are paying tier on and also have the free 1024 sqm to use for a Linden Home or if you don't want to pay tier then you must give up the mainland so that you have a total of 1024 sqm free.

My main, Debi Baskerville, Oct 2003 ... so I beat ya!

I use a combination of Blender and Mesh Studio. I love using Mesh Studio as it allows me the pleasure of building with old fashioned prims to start the process.

I have been wondering about the offer to pay ahead now as a way of a creating a fast influx of cash. This makes perfect sense if they have to pay up front costs to do the migration. If as many people take advantage of the offer to pay ahead as I suspect, and even possibly go annual as a means of saving even more money, the lab should see a nice boost to profits next month.

Look at your next bill date. Then add a year to that date and that's when you will pay again. The year gets added to what you currently have when you pay.

You know if merchants are going to use groups for advertisement then perhaps creating a new premium account .. a merchant premium account where a maintenance fee for the group is charged on the size of group might be a way to go. That way the merchant is the one paying for the upkeep and residents aren't penalized because they don't have enough group slots.

Am I the only one kinda put out by this line, "as well as the introduction of an all-new membership level for those who want to get the absolute most out of their Second Life."? I'm tired of carrots being dangled with no real meat to grab a hold of... heck it's not even a carrot - it's a vapor of a carrot. I really would like some real information on what this is going to be. We've been hearing this rumor for well over a year now.

If you pay annually you don't have to deal with VAT. If you're up to 50 with VAT added then why not add another 50 and go full annual and skip paying VAT?

I suppose what I'm really addressing is the constant turn over of groups in peoples list. Those who are constantly switching out groups so they can get the latest free gift or join in on a hunt or hit the MM group board but then drop the group slot until they hear that group is having another free item. Those groups are not really active chat groups. Those types of groups need to use a different method for advertising, IMO. I'm not talking the likes of the big time fashion or furniture merchants. Their groups tend to be steady with people not dropping them over and over to rejoin, though it does happen even with them. In those cases the groups really aren't promoting sales as much as putting out gifts hoping to get name recognition. In those cases, having a subo rather than a group actually serves the merchant better because their group isn't constantly part of a never-ending turnover of groups with those who are constantly searching for the next freebie. I do value groups who provide community. Who offer support and help. Those are very valuable. I personally believe they are the best use of a group slot along with having your own personal group where you invite your friends and family to be a part. Those are the groups I will hold forever. I have to tell you though I do frequent the FB page of the big fashion houses and that's my biggest source of news. Group notices tend to get deleted without me even looking at them. By now you might realize that I always have group slots open because well I just don't need that many.

Ah, I see. If I were wanting to do that I would use the calling cards to organize the groups and then open a conference call with each group.

You have to exclude the other roles from receiving notices or chat abilities. You can do that temporarily if you don't want that to be the case at all times.

I actually get more sales from my subo group than my regular VIP group. But I don't have a huge customer base like you do. So perhaps my experience is closer to the majority of merchants in SL. I decided a long time ago that having the VIP group isn't all that beneficial with how often people drop one group for another just so they can get the free gift or a store discount. I've been around SL for a very long time. My main from 2003. I have seen the evolution of groups. They were not originally intended for how they are being used today. Does that mean we just stop using them? No, but to think that they can be fixed by simply adding more groups, as they've done over the years, has only compounded the issue. We need a solution. And thinking we can go on as we've been doing is only putting our heads in the sand. We need a better method.