Category: Events

SL21B: Linden Town Hall Meetings and the Live Music Events

Posted on by Inara Pey
via Linden Lab

During the Second Life birthday celebrations over the last few years, there have been sessions referred to as Meet the Lindens. Held daily, these provided opportunities for people to hear from and put questions to Linden Lab personnel, generally with questions submitted beforehand.

For 2024, these sessions will be replaced by series of special Town Hall sessions, and the second of their new Community Round Table events, featuring members of the Lab’ senior management team. On Tuesday, June 19th, the Lab provided details of these events, together with information on the SL21B live music events and performances, and I’m combining the information here for ease of reference.

Community Round Table and Town Halls Sessions

All events at the SL21B Aquatorium.

Date and Time Event
Tuesday June 25th 13:30 SLT Town Hall: Product and Engineering:

  • Senior VP of Product & Engineering Grumpity Linden.
  • Director of Engineering Second Life Server & Viewer Signal Linden.
  • Director of Engineering Web & Platform Kali Linden.
  • Senior Product Manager Sntax Linden.
  • Product Manager Kyle Linden.
Wednesday June 26th 13:30 SLT Town Hall: Product Operations:

  • Senior VP of Product Operations & Marketing Patch Linden.
  • Support Operations Manager Keira Linden.
  • Product Operations Manager Derrick Linden.
  • Creative Producer Izzy Linden.
Thursday June 27th 13:30 SLT Town Hall: Philip Rosedale interviewed by Brett Linden.
Friday June 28th 13:30 SLT Town Hall: Meet the Moles of the Linden Department of Public Works.
Monday, July 1st 11:30 SLT Community Round Table with Linden Lab Executive Chairman Oberwolf Linden and Senior VP of Product Operations & Marketing Patch Linden.

Questions for any of the above events can still be submitted through until Friday, June 21st, 2024.

Live Music Events and Performances

Over 500 live performers are lined-up to perform across  four stages at SL21B between Friday, June 21st and July 1st. The complete schedule can be seen below.

SL21B Dates and Theme

June 2024 will mark the 21st anniversary of Second Life opening to public access – and to mark it, Linden Lab has announced the 2024 Birthday celebrations as being marked across an entire month – from Friday, June 21st through until  Sunday July 21st, 2024.

Dates

Friday, June 21st through until  Sunday July 21st, 2024.

Theme

This theme for Second Life’s 21st birthday (SL21B) has been given as Elements, which the Lab describes thus:

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

– From the official SL21B announcement blog post

Links

SL21B: Community Round Table & Town Hall Sessions

Posted on by Inara Pey
via Linden Lab

June 2024 will mark the 21st anniversary of Second Life opening to public access – and to mark it, Linden Lab has announced the 2024 Birthday celebrations as being marked across an entire month – from Friday, June 21st through until  Sunday July 21st, 2024.

Theme

This theme for Second Life’s 21st birthday (SL21B) has been given as Elements, which the Lab describes thus:

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

– From the official SL21B announcement blog post

Community Round Table and Town Halls Sessions

For the last several years, the birthday celebrations have included a series of sessions called Meet the Lindens: opportunities for people to hear from and put questions to Linden Lab personnel, generally with questions submitted beforehand. In 2023, these Meet The Linden sessions morphed into Lab Gab sessions, and this year they are being referred to as Town Hall meetings, all to be held live at the SL21B event, and which will include the second of the Community Round Table events, at which questions can be specifically put to members of the Linden Lab leadership team.

It is not clear as to who will be representing the Lab at each of these sessions, or when the sessions will be held. In the announcement that they would be taking place, the Lab only promise details to come and indicate:

The founder of Second Life Philip Linden and Executive Chairman Oberwolf Linden will be among the participants, which also include many leading executives and team leads from Second Life’s Product, Engineering, and Product Operations departments.

However, the blog post does include a link to a form those wishing to ask questions of the Lab can complete and submit, which includes the opportunity to indicate to whom the question should be addressed, if required (although a little difficult outside of the usual suspects for these events given that, as noted, exactly who will be attending them has yet to be announced).

BUT – if you do wish to submit a question, then hop over to the form and do so, and note that it will remain available until Thursday, June 20th, 2024.

 

 

Second Life Hair Fair 2024

Posted on by Inara Pey
via Hair Fair

The 2024 Second Life Hair Fair is opens on Saturday, June 1st and runs through until Sunday, June 16th, 2024. As with previous years, is being run to raise money for Wigs for Kids, with every purchase seeing a percentage donated to the cause, with the Bandana booths and Donation kiosks donating 100% of all proceeds received.

As with recent years, the event takes place across six regions, appropriately called Foils, Brunette, Streaks,  Noirette, Redhead and Blonde, laid out in a block of six, with Foils, Brunette and Streaks to the north and Noirette, Redhead and Blonde to the south, separated by an intervening stream. The landing zones for the regions form decks spaced along both banks of the stream, both helping to lighten the load of arriving avatars and providing vantage points from which those (such as myself) who prefer to do so, can cam-shop without necessarily having to wander the stores.

Hair Fair 2024

As is usual for Hair Fair, the shopping regions are wisely lightly decorated in order to minimise viewer-side lag that might otherwise be created by having a significant amount of extra object and texture rendering. For those who enjoy perusing stores directly, the broad boardwalks ensure there is little chance of bumping into others, whilst those who might tire of walking can use one of the rezzers located along both boardwalks to rez a sittable “bus” and ride the length of the walkways.

The list of participating merchants can be found on the Hair Fair website, while for those who may not find something they wish to purchase, donation kiosks are available to help support Wigs for Kids, or there are the Bandana Booths, one located in Foils and the other in Blonde. within them, visitors can purchase a bandana or a Hair Fair Hare companion (all proceeds on both to Hair Fair), and learn about the history of the Hair Fair Bandana Day & booths.

Fair Fair 2024

About Wigs for Kids

For more than forty years Wigs for Kids has been providing hair replacement systems and support for children who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, Alopecia, Trichotillomania, burns and other medical issues at no cost to children or their families. The effects of hair loss go deeper than just a change in a child’s outward appearance. Hair loss can erode a child’s self-confidence and limit them from experiencing life the way children should. With an injured self-image, a child’s attitude toward treatment and their physical response to it can be negatively affected also.

Wigs for Kids helps children suffering with hair loss look themselves and live their lives. Families are never charged for the hair replacements provided for their children; Wigs for Kids rely completely on both the donation of hair and / or money to help meet their goals.

Read more about Wigs for Kids mission, and discover how hair can be donated.

URLs and SURLs

2024 Sci-Fi Con in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
via Sci-Fi Con 2024

The 2024 (and 16th) Second Life Sci-Fi Con is currently in progress across eight regions (+ the landing point region and teleport hub). It will run through until June 4th, 2024, raising money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation in association Team Fox, the fund-raising branch of the Foundation, and Creations for Parkinson’s in Second Life, and with the support of Linden Lab.

This year Sci-Fi Con proudly presents “Sci-Fi Con 16: Altered State.” Our mission is clear: to unite individuals from diverse backgrounds for the betterment of our shared world. Our vision extends beyond the virtual boundaries, aiming to make a significant impact in the lives of those affected by Parkinson’s disease. To achieve this, we are committed to giving 100% of the proceeds directly towards the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Together, we stand united, making a real difference in the pursuit of a better future.

– From the Sci-Fi con website

2024 SL Sci-Fi Con

As is usual for the event, many of the sci-fi franchises popular in Second Life are present at the Con, with shopping spread throughout the regions, together with entertainment and other events. The best way to find out about the latter is via the Con’s event page (all times SLT) – although whether it was my browser or an issue in general, I found clicking URLs opened Google Maps rather than the SL Map, so hopefully it will work for you.

All of the regions can be reached via the teleport boards at the main hub and within each of the regions. It is also possible to walk between them and over the water to / from the hub. I believe a monorail system is available, but during my visits, I didn’t actually see it operating, so not sure.

2024 SL Sci-Fi Con

This year’s convention includes the Scavenger Hunt – HUDs available at the Hub. So, prepare your away team / landing party, set phasers on fun and head over to the Sci-Fi Convention.

SLurl and Information

Sunday, May 19th: Bay City turns 16 in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
Bay City 16th Anniversary, May 19th, 2024

Bay City, the first major project undertaken by the Moles of the Linden Department of Public Works (LDPW), will be turning sweet sixteen on Sunday, May 19th, 2024. Citizens of Bay City will be joining in celebrations to mark the anniversary, with a parade, music and entertainment, and residents from across of Second Life are invited to visit Bay City and join in the celebrations.

Activities will kick-off at noon SLT, with a parade line-up at the band shell in Bay City – Harwich. At 12:30 SLT, the parade will commence its way along the City’s Route 66, and proceed to the Bay City Fairgrounds in the North Channel region for an afternoon of entertainment and fun.

Bity City Parade Route 2024

DJ GoSpeed Racer will be providing the music throughout the parade, which will be followed by at live concert from 13:30 SLT onwards at the fairgrounds. The line-up for the concert this year comprises (all times SLT):

  • 13:30-14:30: AleyKat (Aleylia Resident).
  • 14:30- 15:30: Mavenn.
  • 15:30-16:30: Sarita Twisted.

As usual, celebratory goods are available at the Bay City Community Centre, in the Daley Bay region for those who wish to be a part of the parade. Ample viewing areas are provided, such as those at Orleans and Falconmoon. The event is also open to anyone who wants to attend, not just Residents of Bay City

About Bay City and the Bay City Alliance

First opened for initial viewing in May of 2008 and with parcels throughout the city being auctioned soon after, Bay City is a Mainland community which has shown itself to be one of the highlights of Second Life: a blending of Linden infrastructure and a strong, friendly community of involved residents who give the area its unique charm. It is home to the resident-run Bay City Alliance, also founded in 2008, to promote the Bay City regions of Second Life and provide a venue for Bay City Residents and other interested parties to socialize and network. It is now the largest Bay city group, and home to most Residents of Bay City.

Each year, in honour of Bay City’s founding, Bay City residents come together with this special celebration.

Anniversary SLurls

VAI’s Mental Health Symposium 2024 in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
Sojourner Auditorium, Virtual Ability Island, Second Life

The 2023 Virtual Ability Inc., (VAI) Mental Health Symposium on Friday, May 17th, 2024, marking the internationally supported Mental Health Awareness Week (May 13th through 19th, 2024, inclusive). As such, it forms a part of a wide range of physical world and virtual world events framed around Mental Health Awareness Month, which has been throughout May observed in the United States since 1949.

2023 marks the 13th such symposium hosted by Virtual Ability Inc., and has the theme Our Youth, Our Elders, carrying a focus on the fact that children and the elderly face unique mental health challenges that are not well understood and often not adequately addressed.

The Symposium will take place in the virtual world of Second Life, at the Sojourner Auditorium on Virtual Ability Island. Those from outside of Second Life wishing to attend can do so by creating a free Second Life account through Virtual Ability’s Sign-Up Portal, and then entering Second Life via Virtual Ability’s New Resident Orientation Course.

The schedule of speakers for the event can be found on the Virtual Ability Inc., website, and presentations commence at 07:30 SLT (US PDT) on the morning of Friday, May 17th, and run through to the concluding presentation, which starts at 14:30 SLT, with each session lasting approximately one hour. For ease of reference, a brief summary of the presentations is provided below – but do please check the complete schedule via the link above for the fullest information on speakers and talks.

  • 07:30 SLT: Dr. Esther Gachuri, PhD and Dr. Anne Wambugu, PhD, MAMFT, MA, Pan Africa Christian University (Nairobi, Kenya) – “Elderly Peoples’ Perception of Their Wellbeing in Selected Mainstream Churches in Kenya”.
  • 09:00 SLT: Dr. Folajinmi Oluwasina, PhD, FRSPH, University of Calgary (Canada) – “Invisible Struggles: Addressing Mental Health Among Black Youth in Canada”.
  • 10:30 SLT: Mr. Horta Reis da Silva, Lecturer in Nursing Education at King’s University, England – “Loneliness in Older Adults”.
  • 12:00 noon SLT: Dr. Valerie Hill, MLIS, PhD, director of the Community Virtual Library in the metaverse and co-coordinator of the Virtual Worlds Education Consortium, and Rose Hill, MLIS, CPC, SUDP-T, is a Certified Peer Counsellor with a focus in trauma and crisis counselling – “The Impact of Parasocial Relationships with AI on Mental Health”
  • 13:00 SLT: Jessica Simionato, MPH, BSp, La Trobe University (Melbourne, Australia) – “Intergenerational programs – bringing youth and elders together to enhance social connectedness”.
  • 14:30 SLT: Robert Walker, MS, COAPS, Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, USA – “Older Adult Peer Support: Our Time Has Come”.
Sojourner Auditorium, Virtual Ability Island, Second Life

For those unable to attend in-world, the symposium will be live streamed on You Tube.

About Virtual Ability

Virtual Ability, Inc. is a non-profit corporation, chartered in the state of Colorado, USA.  It is a non-profit tax exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. This means that for US citizens, contributions made are deductible as a charitable donation for federal income tax purposes.

Virtual Ability hosts this annual Symposium to share information about mental health and mental disabilities with the general population. Within its cross-disability community, VAI has members who deal with a variety of mental health issues. So, not only is this an opportunity for VAI community members to learn more about topics related to mental health from experts they probably would not have a chance to meet otherwise, it allows the general public to attend a professional conference at no cost.

With thanks to Gentle Heron for the information.

Related links