Second Life Mobile App, Broken Modems and Being Thrifty

 

Have you taken the new Second Life mobile app for a spin yet? 

I've been using it for a while, mainly to check group messages and to keep an eye on the ad boards. I've been pretty impressed with it so far.

Until recently, my WIFI has been sketchy, at best. I think it's got something to do with how many times the cat has tossed the modem against the wall and to the floor. I've got a temporary solution rigged up now, I'll spare you the details, but it means there's a much better connection. Now I can run amok on mobile.

Actually it's mostly me running into walls. I'm still getting the hang of the movement controls. 

I noticed today that everything doesn't rez. My animesh isn't there, although everything else seems to be. 

As an incentive, LL is currently offering a daily payment to premium members for each day you maintain a log in streak. Each day in a row that you use the app, the amount goes up. I think I'm up to L$40. Considering I do most of my shopping on the weekend sales, it's been enough for an outfit or two. 

In case you haven't noticed, I'm cheap thrifty. 

That reminds me of a fun story. About a month ago I ran in to one of the guys who would hang out on the wall with us at Bear. I said hello, asked if he remembered me. I mean, it's been a minute, ya know? And this .... person... says, "Oh yeah, everyone thought you and your little gang were kind of trashy."

*blink*

It was hard to keep my cool and not go full-on vengeful hillbilly on him, but I kept my composure and walked away. 

Anyways, I hope I don't run in to him again. Now that I've had time to think about it, I might not be as kind. 

I hope ya'll had a happy lovey-dovey Valentine's Day and remember all the chocolate will be half price tomorrow!

Folders and Boxes and Landmarks, Oh My!

Actual photo of me sorting inventory. You can tell I'm absolutely ecstatic. 

If you ever want to strike up a conversation with strangers on the grid but you're not sure what to say, just bring up your ginormous inventory. In Second Life, complaining about the endlessness of inventory sorting is the social equivalent of talking about the weather.

Not everyone's inventory is a mess. I've heard stories of the mythical creatures who have excellent habits, placing each item into the correct folder the moment they unpack it. 

I am not one of those people.

I wish I had a magical solution to share, but I don't. My inventory is so far gone, I'm not sure it can be saved. It can't hurt to work on it from time to time though, especially after a few weekend shopping sprees. I usually start by deleting all the demos I've accumulated, followed by landmarks. 

I never use landmarks to get anywhere. depending mostly on my teleport history or search. Stores and clubs move to a new home or relocate their landing zone and you can't be sure where you'll end up. Nothing makes me stabby like TPing to a store and landing in a wall. The few LMs I do use regularly are saved in my favorites bar. So most landmarks get deleted.

After that is the sorting. It helps to have a second inventory window, making it easier to drag and drop things into the right folder. 

So many folders.

You have one for "shoes?" Great! But is it divided in to "flats" and "heels?" And did you divide the flats in to "sandals" and "dress?" Then you can break it down in to colors, if you're a control freak and never want to see the outside world again.

If mine makes it to "shoes" I consider it a success.

I occasionally see sorting parties pop up, where folks get together and chit chat while they work on their inventories. I think that's a grand idea. It's a lonely, boring business done alone. 

I've just come to accept the imperfection of my own collections of stuff and things. It's not totally out of control, just a little messy. And it's a great conversation starter.

I hope ya'll have a great week! Begin something magical. 

Escaping the News Cycle, Shop n' Hop and Random Strangers

 

When it seems like the whole world has gone crazy and my stress levels are running high, I like to find somewhere to unwind, even if it's virtually.

I fled to Second Life after watching one too many first world press conferences. I opened the map, found a small, public island on the Blake Sea and teleported over. I sat on the sand and watched the boats go by, listened to the waves. It took me back to my 1st life hometown, I could almost smell the sea air.

There were quite a few people around, doing their own thing. I enjoyed people watching.

I got a random DM from someone, an innocent "hi." I responded politely, but I wasn't really in the mood for company. I did read his profile, because I am nosey as hell. It listed among his interests "panty sniffer" and "upskirt expert."

Just ew.

I try not to judge but at the same time, I don't necessarily want to spend quality time with a self-described panty sniffer. 

When he cruised by in his tiny prim houseboat and said "Let's child together," it was hard not to bust out laughing. I'm still not sure if "child" was supposed to be "chill" or if that was his way of inviting me to bump uglies. Either way, I politely declined, while internally I snort-laughed.

I know I should have taken pics, but I wasn't prepared. 

Anywho, early access to the Valentine's Shop n' Hop is open, so I'll probably check it out later. I'm still trying to build up a basic LaraX wardrobe, maybe I can find some deals there. I'm also on the lookout for a small, rustic kitchen set and a decent, rigged backpack. 

Reasonably priced of course *wink.*

Do you ever use Second Life as an escape? How do you feel about receiving random messages? Let me know in the comments. (I told you I was nosey!)

Mainland, Memories and Early Predictions

Click here to visit.

During the early years in Second Life my friends and I spent countless hours parked on the wall surrounding Bear Dream Lodge Infohub. We had many deep conversations about the future of the grid, while modeling the latest in freebie fashion. I don't remember any of us having any grand business plans or motivation to improve our new reality. I seem to remember telling people I already had a first life job, I was just here to live out my fantasy as a socialite, which, it turned out, was just a glorified bum. 

Our loitering was frowned upon, but it didn't matter. We'd claimed the space as our own. Looking back, as our numbers grew, our congregating on the wall did take up space that prevented new residents from arriving, so there was that. 

Teh smexiness, it hurts me. (Click to embiggen)

When Linden Labs began offering private islands for purchase, I speculated that soon our beloved Mainland would become an apocalyptic landscape, lawless and covered in slums, abandoned by the elite who'd fled to private islands, leaving those of us who were less privileged to fend for ourselves. Many of the wall dwelling crowd agreed, painting a dim view of the future.

To say our imaginations ran wild is an understatement, but there were wee bits of accuracy to our predictions. 

Most rental estates fled to islands, which at first seemed like a horrible thing, but gradually rent prices began to level out. It wasn't long before more and more residents could actually afford "luxury"  island living. Fast forward to today when even premium account holders, with the offer of a free house on Bellisseria, still opt to live on private estates.

As for Mainland, it's not the post nuclear hellscape I imagined back then, but it does feel sort of empty. There aren't the strict rules of the estates, giving you the freedom to do pretty much whatever you want. A UFO abducting a cow behind your ultra-modern beach home? Sure, go for it! Dragon breedables wading in the surf? Not a problem. As long as you're within the Linden Labs Terms of Service, you can entertain any flight of whimsy your heart desires. 

The flip side of that is, so can your neighbors.

Adding to the feeling of emptiness on Mainland are the vast rolling hills of abandoned land. Abandoned land happens a few ways. One example, someone buys up large parcels without regard to the tier they'll have to pay, intending to stack skyboxes on every square meter, only to realize no one wants to live that way, even in Second Life. With no way to make tier (virtual taxes, sort of) they usually try to sell it first, eventually giving up as they lose money and letting it go. It then becomes the property of Linden Labs. 

And that, is good for you if you're looking for land to buy. You can purchase any abandoned land for L$1 per square meter directly from the Lindens. 

There are some wild builds along the highways of Second Life, making exploring one of my favorite past times. Playing GTFO or taking part in the weekly Grid Drive will add another layer of excitement to your exploring. 

You never really know what you'll see, which is usually a good thing.

Anywho, I hope ya'll have a good week. We'll talk again soon!