SLE Poll -Qualities of Friendship- Tabitha Mercury reporting...

 Finding friendships can sometimes be as easy as a smile or as daunting as a chemical equation for an English major. This makes one wonder, what qualities do people look for in starting a friendship? 

Well, I took my notepad and pen and set out to find out.

I polled several people and asked them what their top 5 qualities they look for in friendships. Well, that might have been a mistake, because that gives an array of options to sift through. Not having a standard list for them to choose from made for quite an array of qualities that we might search for when finding new friendships.

After crunching the data with my trusty rusty calculator, yeah I am old-school like that, I have found the following qualities to be the most wanted when finding a friendship with someone:

1. Sense of Humor (5 votes)

2. Common Interest (4 votes)

3. Honesty (3 votes)

4. Reliability (3 votes)

5. Open-mind (3 votes)

Some others that are worth a mention are: Loyalty (2 votes), Fun, Communication, Kindness, Inner Beauty, Outer Beauty ,Considerate, Being Real, Adventurous, Respect, Passionate, Patient, and  Likes to tease and be teased, which all had a mention.

I have a friend, Angelixa, whom I have personally witnessed being able to be friends with people who are of different circles, which is quite a juggling act, I would imagine. I posed the question to her about what she feels is important when finding new friends:

Angelixa: Every good friendship starts with humor. That's usually how you get into someone's contacts to begin with. But you cannot sustain a relationship on humor alone. Being privileged to anyone's humor requires respect, patience, and honesty. Respect their time, their privacy (especially in a space like SL), and their boundaries. The patience to listen and being honest in what you share. You don't have to share everything (we don't all have time for that), but for the things you do share... be honest.

Once you get past that stage of learning someone, you can finally begin to appreciate their true beauty... their passions. What drives them? What can they talk hours on end about? Only then will I truly consider them a friend.

I feel Angelixa has a good take on how to start and maintain a new friendship and has dispensed some sage advice. (Yes, she’s always like this, very wise and sage for her age.)

There are so many different qualities that people look for and this poll showed me that we all are so unique and look for different things in others. It was interesting to see which ones seemed to be most important (by being repeated by different people) and what some would include in their top 5 qualities that they look for in a friend.

For me personally, Honesty, Reliability, Sense of Humor, Intelligence, and Loyalty would probably be my top five qualities I look for in my own search for friends. I will admit, I have many more qualities I look for in new friends and it was very hard to reduce it to a top five list. I am taking applications for new friends currently, so hit me up if this sounds like you. *winks*

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GOT PLANS FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE? Lanai Jarrico Reporting...

 

If you don't have plans in real life for New Years eve, don’t stress about it. There is always something to do in Second Life. What’s that saying?...... When life give you lemons, f*ck it, make some lemonade. Kick it up a notch by throwing some liquor in it and get your party on in SL! You don’t have to worry about checkpoints and a DUI or waking up next to someone you thought was the bomb until you lost your beer goggles. Not to mention having to think of a way to avoid them. Party like a rockstar on a budget and live your best SLife with no regrets.

For the outside clueless world, people may assume things and think you are some gamer glued to your computer screen but to us, they are the clueless mundane land dwellers who barely get a chance to see their own creativity in a real world full of nonsense, fuckery and judgemental peeps. They have no idea that you give to charities in Second Life, help others and feel good about yourself with strangers you may never meet in the real world. That’s the beauty of the virtual world.

Don’t be ashamed to be your true self, the people that really know you will love you no matter what. Getting to meet people in a global community from the inside out that don’t judge you is a great feeling. If you come across clowns in Sl who do, kick them to the proverbial curb and keep it movin’. You got parties to go to.

 As long as you handle your responsibilities in the real world, go to work, pay your own bills and come up for air every once in a while to call friends and family, everyone else’s opinions don’t matter. They can go do some mini golf, bake a pie, be a Karen or clip coupons and do whatever else they wanna do. Why should you fit in their world when they don’t bother to understand yours?

With that said, take your ass to Sl marketplace or your favorite clothing store and splurge some lindens on a badass outfit. Gather up some friends, paint the grid with your presence and step into a New year surrounded by the peeps who make you happy.

Here are some places that will be hosting some New year’s Eve events on the grid. 

NEW YORK -  Winter - HAPPY   NEW YEARS 2024

With the purpose of providing Second Life Residents a virtual experience in New York with its main points of reference in the city, this is an inspired destination for entertainment and immersion. See replicas of the Brooklyn Bridge, The Statue of Liberty

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife//91/176/24 

HiVid New Year’s Eve “Party Before 2024” December 27th 

HiVid proudly presents our 'Party Before 2024' New Years Eve Event

With live music and DJs, we are partying like its 1999 to see the New Year in here at HiVid today.

2pm - Agatha bringing her sensational songs to us, always ready for a party and all your requests and dedications

3pm - Shaye Dezno ready to rock and roll us out closer to the New Year

4pm - Benny the residential HiVid DJ here to party until 5pm

HUGE Giveaways to be won and much much more…

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/HiVid/0/0/2 

Scarlet’s Rockin New years Eve Weekend- December 29th 8pm-9pm slt

ALL SHOWS WILL BE AT A SPECIAL VENUE LOCATION DESIGNED FOR JUST THIS PARTY

PARTY WILL INCLUDE FIREWORKS (MAY BE MUTED AS SOUNDS)

THEME: BLACK AND WHITE NEW YEARS PARTY

             FORMAL OR SEMI, BITS COVERED

          

LINEUPS

FRIDAY 12/29

7PM JOHN ROCKY

8PM MAX KLEENE

SATURDAY 12/30

7PM LEO BRIND

8PM VIRGIL

SUNDAY 12/31

TBA

CC: JASMYN

      COFFEE

      AMBER

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Scarlets%20Hideaway/100/159/3958 

New Year’s Eve at Rockin Robin- December 31st 12:00 am

Join us at a special Hollywood-themed build for the best New Year's eve party in Second Life. Dance in the famous Hollywood Bowl all day long as we usher in 2024. Formal dress requested, but everyone is welcome. Pick up champagne and party hats on your way in

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rockin%20Robin/127/77/2002

NOMA FALTA LIVE @ HOTLANTA BLUES CLUB DECEMBER 31ST 6PM SLT

NOMA FALTA comes to Hotlanta Blues' New Year's Eve and 15th Anniversary Party on the Roof to wail dem Blues for you as only Noma can! NOMA was Hotlanta's first live performer and here we are 15 years later still serving up Great Blues! It's PARTY TIME on the Roof, Blues Lovers! Let's do this thang!

Noma Falta plays Blues and soulful Rock in virtual worlds and in-person around the globe. Although she is a classically trained violinist from a young age, she left a 10 year career with symphonies to pursue her love of singing and playing live Rock and Blues music and never looked back. Gospel and Blues are the foundations of her singing.

Hotlanta Blues Club is the perfect venue to showcase this great Blues performance. In Hotlanta we live, love, mourn and rejoice in the Blues! Come live the Blues!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Northfarthing/59/216/601

IVY FADEL LIVE @ DRUNKEN DUCK! NEW YEARS EVE PARTY DECEMBER 31ST 4PM SLT

Please join us as we ring in a new year with a Fabulous Formal featuring the amazing singer Ivy Fadel!

In RL, Ivy is Vocalist since 2006 in numerous rock and metal bands and is executive producer of festivals and music events.

In his set he brings songs Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Queens of The Stone Age, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Muse, The Smiths, Faith No More and many more

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Drunken%20Duck/104/53/24

SONGBIRDS NEW YEARS GALA- DECEMBER 27TH 7-9PM SLT

SONGBIRDS NEW YEARS GALA 2023

DECEMBER 27th 2023 7-9pm

Hosted by Jackie

Dress Code:  Formal Festive

Live performances 

Melodee McDonnell

Trav McCullough

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Precious%20Gem/160/197/63

AUSTINMOORES NEIL DIAMOND NEW YEARS EVE @ XANADU BEACH CLUB DECEMBER 31ST 8PM SLT

NEIL DIAMOND TRIBUTE 

XANADU BEACH CLUB PROUDLY PRESENTS: "AUSTINMOORES" NEIL DIAMOND TRIBUTE! COME JOIN US FOR THIS FORMAL EVENT AS WE COUNTDOWN AND RING IN THE NEW YEAR. FESTIVITIES START AT 8 PM ON DECEMBER 31. IF YOUR A NEIL DIAMOND FAN, THIS IS ONE EVENT YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS, SO JOIN US FOR A GREAT NIGHT OF MUSIC, DANCING, FIREWORKS AND MORE. SEE YOU THERE!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Coral%20Taj/67/203/22

Check the SL Events list for more events happening across the grid!

Be safe, have fun and Happy New Year!!!!!!!

XOXOXO

Lanai

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GeekSpeak subject for Saturday 13th March at noon SLT: Who would you take to the moon?

 

Recently a Japanese billionaire said that he intends to take six people on a trip around the moon.  He has asked for applications.  Who do you think should go?  Painters, poets, scientists?  Young people, old people?  Would you go, if you could?

What effect will the moon trip have on the people who go?  Will it inspire them to make great art? Will it make them value our planet more?

Since we are talking about the moon, what will its future be like?  NASA wants to land people in 2023.  Will people live there?  What bases will we develop?  Will we ever look at the moon and see a completely changed landscape?  Would that be a bad thing?

Come and talk about our not so distant (well, only 384,000 kilometers) future!

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at 1pm SLT in the GeekSpeak auditorium, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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How Important Are Your Friendships and Relationships in SL?- Lanai Jarrico Reporting...

Having high expectations is something that can be a problem if you are a person that is only into shamelessly dating in the virtual world and wanting to take friendships and relationships into real life but lack certain qualities.   Be careful what you get yourself into; perhaps the grass is balding and unkempt on the other side. If you decide to go exploring anyway, take a first aid kit.

If you value your friendships, be sure to consider some things so your expectations in Second Life are not interrupted by unnecessary awkwardness, drama and issues that can get out of control; causing you to lose friends and have bad break ups.

Engaging in Conversation

Before engaging in conversation leading to friendships, romance and self disclosure, be honest with yourself and others or reconsider your activities of getting involved in a virtual world friendship and or relationship. When investing real emotions, you run the risk of being hurt or hurting others.

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CULTURE: My Meeting with Lanai the Great- Prince Sonoda Reporting...

It is not everyday that you get to meet a star but I did. I really did. I

took a trip close enough to where the CEO of the SL Enquirer lives and while

at a hotel in the next state, I decided that it would be fair game to meet

Lanai. I contacted her in game and told her that it would be neat if we

could meet. Surprisingly enough, she said yes. After requesting a full

police background check (Just kidding), she gave me directions to where we

would meet. Asking around, I found out that the drive would take about 2

hours to get there. I was not deterred. I rented a Ford Focus from one of

the few car rental companies around.

It was around 9:50am when I started my drive. I had no idea how to get

there since the directions that Lanai gave me started from the next state

over. So I drove, and droveŠ

And drove. 3 hours later, I was starting to think that I was never going to

make it. I would have given up if that were any other task. But I really

wanted to do this. Ever had one of those things that you must do at all

cost? This was one of those.

I finally stopped by a gas station on the interstate and asked for

directions. The lady behind the counter looked at me and smiled. Honey,

she said, you are lost. That, I knew, but by how far, I was not aware. She

took a map and an orange marker and pointing at a spot that looked like the

varicose veins behind the church lady¹s leg, she said: You are here.

Pointing wayyyy up on the map, she said: You need to be here. I felt

lightheaded when I heard that. I took my map and went back to the car. Sat

down and thought that since it has been 3 hours already, maybe I should get

back.

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CULTURE: My Meeting with Prince the Awesome- Lanai Jarrico Reporting...

It was just after 7 am EST on April 2, 2008 when I got up, stretched and wandered off into my bathroom to look around at my pile of cosmetics and curling iron cords all wrapped around the countertop…*sighs* yup is just another day in the life of me…

Looking in the mirror at my morning hair and removing some sleep…I thought to myself, wow Im going to meet The Prince today. …Smearing toothpaste on my toothbrush I began to think (too much so I’m told) about Meeting a friend from the Internet. It is a nerve wrackin experience even knowing Prince Sonoda in Second Life for over a year.

Normally, I don’t go meeting strangers at some starbucks across town or anything like that. Im anonymous in my home town and I don’t mind it at all, Id rather be behind the scenes But when he asked to meet me, I wasn’t afraid to say yes. He has always been the same positive person that has kept me focused. .. Calling me “Lanai the Great” and putting me on a pedestal next to Einstein and that Silence of the lambs guy. *climbs down*...Really Im no genius, but it’s a cool compliment...

 After getting clearance from the home front and telling some friends I was meeting my advisor… Their first reactions were “OMG be careful”…”be in a public place, have 911 on speed dial, “take tae bo”, “send in a decoy” ect. Ect. Ect. That’s when all the nervous thoughts started to creep in…

OMG! He better not have a trench coat on or have a duffle bag big enough to fit me in it because I would have been sprinting out the back door of the gallery…

 Working myself up for a week about it, On The day off, I was as calm as a person could be, meeting a friend from the internet for the first time.Especially,one I had never talked to over the phone or on voice chat even *hears all the gasps*…I know I know…Insane but something in me said.. Everything was going to be ok.

That is the vibe he gives off, He is a Guide …an advisor to many and most of all he is my friend one who accepts me as I am and believes in what I do. So with that said, I felt at ease.

…

By 9:30 am est., I arrived at The Gallery, went to the 3rd floor and waited for him…..and waited…and waited so I decided to bust out a pack of crayola markers and make a poster mural on some cardboard scrap I found …it wasn’t too fancy but it was a good way to pass the time. If I was in 1st grade I would have been proud….

At around 1:15 I received a text that he was about 20 minutes away, so I decided to call him back and for the first time I heard his voice. I would say like music but he already beat me to the punch with his article so I’d say more like a warm Caribbean breeze...

 He had the voice of a person that matched his avatars demeanor. So my worrying went from the horrors to the OMGs… Will I be what he expected or will I totally embarrass myself…

When we finally met there wasn’t an awkward staring contest or any stuttering going on. I came over and gave him the greatest hug and he returned it, it felt like seeing someone you haven’t seen in a looong time and meeting to play catch up. After collecting up my handful of things. I welcomed him and expressed my need for food, so we breezed thru the gallery tour and walked across the street to a cool restaurant Were we actually got to sit down and chat. For the first time I was able to talk freely about what I do here and have the person sitting across from me totally understand and not look at me all strange. It was refreshing. (So was my ice water. but marinara in my macaroni and cheese wasn’t so great…anyways)…We talked about SLE and Second Life, a little more about us and before we knew it, It was time to go.

On our way out we stopped at the arcade where like a kid at a carnival, I dragged him into the photo booth to take a cheesy picture before getting him back on the Highway and on his way back to where he came from.

As He drove off I watched his ford focus disappear into traffic. He was exactly what I expected…. The Prince I see him as In Second Life.

  Now... if only I could TP Home…

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