FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED: RELAY FOR LIFE VALENTINES CHARITY AUCTION 2023

One Light, in support of the Relay for Life, is hosting a charity auction to raise money to fight cancer.

This is the final few days to get in on the “The Road Less Traveled: Relay for Life Valentines Charity Auction”  The Auction ends on Saturday, Feb 11th at 11AM SLT” and anticipates dozens of participants all over the grid to bid, buy or even watch.  Win a date with one of the 129 participants in the Charity Auction.  

To get started, hop on over to Tropical Bliss's “The Road Less Traveled” Sim at the LM below, where you will find the auction boards representing three categories of dates. 

ROMANCE: Single and Want to Mingle then this is the right category for you. Looking for that perfect someone to settle down with and perhaps be your forever SL partner? We have 41 candidates to choose from, 

FRIENDSHIP: Looking for like-minded friends, or something platonic, one in which people share a close bond but do not have a sexual relationship, then this is the right category for you.  There are 54 participants in this category.

KINKY FETISH: Do you desire something Kinky or have some Erotic Fetish? Want to go on a date and meet someone with some Kinky Fetishes?  We have 34 eligible participants in this category

Check back often.  If you are outbid, your initial bid will be returned to you and you can try again.

AUCTION BOARDS ARE OPEN NOW!  And May the Best Bidder WIN!

SURL:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Tropical%20Bliss/38/221/25

For further information, contact moira.tristan.

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Spotlight on Maverick’s MC @ Ruffneck Falls- Respect, Diversity, Inclusion, Friendship, Fellowship, and Fun.- SLE Reporting...

 

Motorcycle Clubs in the real world are usually organized by the riding type, style, brand of bike or events and have evolved since the early 1900s when it is said MCs first originated right after world war II with the New York Motorcycle Club, which merged with the Alpha MC of Brooklyn to become the federation of American Motorcyclists. Eventually, it grew into the American Motorcyclist Association. 

Today there are many motorcycle clubs around the world involved in charity rides and other activities for the greater good slowly shedding the stigma of criminal activities by the biker gangs considered “outlaws” of society.

In Second Life, you can be part of a Motorcycle club and virtually ride across scenic terrains with your group of friends and be involved in charity events and other fun and entertaining activities without spending a single lick of gas or running up miles on your hog or crotch rocket. 

The great thing about MCs in Second Life is the bond it creates between members from around the world, sharing a virtual highway.  The SL Enquirer caught up with Maverick’s MCs owner  Λ G (angelor.galanter) and his business partner  Karlee (karlee.heartsong) to learn more about this motorcycle club and what it stands for.

Interview with Λ G (angelor.galanter) and Karlee (karlee.heartsong) 

SLE: Before we get into Maverick’s MC @ Ruffneck Falls, we’d love to know where you are from and how you discovered Second Life?

Λ G: I am in California and have lived here for many years. I became the sole parent, both mother, and father, if you will, of my youngest daughter who was 6 at the time. I wanted a way for us to play together and learn together. So, supervised, I joined SL to let her play barbie on a safe sim.

Karlee:  I live in Colorado. My RL husband introduced me to SL about 10 years ago. I hated it but tried it again a few years later and I am still here.

SLE: AG that’s an awesome way to bond with your child and Karlee glad you gave SL another shot.  Would you consider Second Life an extension of your real life or just a game to pass some time?

Λ G:  From day 1 I have acted and believed that SL is an extension and an enhancement of my real life (think video-conference with friends and loved ones!).

Karlee: I consider SL to be an extension of real-life as my feelings are involved here. I have found a great community, love to build, and even talk to many people I met here, outside of SL proper.

SLE: What inspired you to create  Maverick’s MC @ Ruffneck Falls? Can you tell our readers more about your MC motto and what you expect from members?

Λ G: Very simply we are an upscale hybrid MC within the mainstream of SL'ers who love SL and being part of a community for connection, adventure, and fun. We seek anyone who loves motorcycles, MC way of life, and brings skills, talents, and passion. 

Our Motto is Respect, Diversity, Inclusion, Friendship, Fellowship, and Fun.

We expect our members to be themselves, and share their journey in SL/life with us as we do with them.

Karlee: Angelor and I both have set this as our mission.

SLE: That is a great motto. Are you all invite-only or can anyone go to the MC events or is it exclusively for members only?

 Λ G: In general, our MC is open to the public, including events and concerts. Anyone can come and simply hang out if they enjoy the community Karlee and I (and many others) have created.

Karlee: I think other than those events specifically for patched members, anyone can join in. We love having people here and visiting with them.

SLE: That is great you are open to the public, please tell our readers more of the  types of events do you host?

Λ G: Our MC, which Karlee and I both envisioned together, and have hosted DJs and Live singers. We look forward to other events during rallies, bike build-offs, and, perhaps, even re-imagining products and services that are a benefit to the MC community as a whole.

SLE: How can visitors interested in becoming a patched member of Maverick’s MC @ Ruffneck Falls join the MC and be part of your community?

Λ G: My first suggestion for anyone is to come to meet us, ride our tracks, and get a feel for who, what, why, and how we operate. We, essentially, have no restrictions as to race, creed, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental conditions, religious/political affiliations, or citizenship. If members can't ride directly, they can either ride as a passenger for our ride-outs or be a non-riding but equally essential contributing patched member.

 Karlee: The way I see it, people should attempt to get to know the current members of Mavericks MC by joining our support group, attending our events, hanging out with us, and deciding if what we offer would be what they would want in their lives. After that, fill out an application to join and go from there.

SLE:  There are multiple Motorcycle clubs in Second Life. What separates Maverick’s MC from the rest?

Λ G:  I think a more important part is how we "fit" the fabric of all the MCs. MCs are all different but work together for the community as a whole. Every MC is a unique part of the larger community on a spectrum of all possible human potentials. Basically, we can't separate ourselves from other MCs anymore than people can separate themselves from humanity.

Karlee: In addition to that, Mavericks are different in that we are not fighting or griefing MC. We are here to enjoy our lives, have a great time with a community that all of us have built together.

SLE:  Many MCs do a lot for the community. Orion is a rider and has done many Toys for Tots and Poker Runs and many other charity rides. What kind of charities are you involved in or special events within Second Life?

Λ G:  As a vet myself, as well as Karlee, I am going to defer to her answer on that, she summarizes it so well. I will add that we assist other MCs with creating and building their sims, tracks, or any other projects they ask us to help with. We've shared the essence of our bylaws with others, as well. In addition, Karlee and I are working on tech products that will be useful not only in MCs but SL in general that will be free to all who wish to use them.

Karlee: We had a Wounded Warrior Project event on Memorial Day and we are currently planning where we go from there. Basically, as veterans, we not only hold events but help out other MCs with their events whenever possible.

SLE: Are you looking for more patched members or people for support? Can you tell us if you are currently recruiting or hiring for any positions within the motorcycle club?

Λ G:  We just started our recruitment drive about two weeks ago. This drive includes classified ads, notifications, posters, and more. Realistically, it's about us as an MC getting out there meeting/greeting people and making alliances primarily outside of MC's. There are many SL'ers who don't even know that up to 200 full track sims exist for their enjoyment. We can't and do not accept other current MC members or those who recently left an MC. (See our Recruitment Poster)

SLE: You have a Dedicated Highway here on the sim, can you tell our readers more about that?

Λ G: Yes, well, if you have anything you'd like to dedicate a track to you can. Passed or living. rip or birthday, especially vets, disabled, retired, and more.  it puts heart in what we do. We also have a Wounded Warrior Sign up and HFOT kiosk to donate for homes for our troops

Karlee: I did one level for a real-life navy friend of mine who passed away recently. The honorarium stays up for one month.

SLE: Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Karlee: We welcome everyone to come to visit Mavericks MC @ Ruffneck Falls to enjoy the natural and beautiful tracks that we have here. We have 15 total tracks. 13 of these are nice wide tracks with beautiful surrounds, a speed track to test your skills on, and our newest track, Blade Runner.

 Λ G:  I will add our primary mission: Mavericks MC's mission is to create, join, and participate in SL events, including ride-outs and/with other MCs, public, and related activities. Ride Outs typically highlight our connections with each other in a fun and unique way (usually in-voice).

Mavericks MC, Angelor Galanter, is one of many MC Estate owners and SL Estate owners spearheading a movement to eradicate griefing as a tool to strike fear in Owners of sims and businesses, and causing a huge loss in traffic and revenue. If you are an Estate owner and wish to join get an invite 

 

 here is the link: 

secondlife:///app/group/9679d3b1-3aed-6a61-4197-72ee08d001e9/about 

 

MC Command and Sim Owners Alliance. It is really up to all Estate Owners to insist griefing remain inside of RP sims.

Maverick’s MC:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Ruffneck%20Falls/194/85/24

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Does Mixing Business and Friendship Work?”- MajikVixen Reporting.

-Well, let's put it in the SL blender and see if it's palatable!  ...I trudged forth and polled different people, from all different walks of Second Life, on their experience, and this is what they said...

My first and most obvious inquiry was to a store owner, who's an upstanding citizen and been doing exemplary business for years.  She remarks that, "It's been 99% successful.  The 1% are those who push the boundaries of friendship...but you see how small that percentage is.  One thing about business in SL... it's so easy to make corrections and make the customer happy.  Nearly all of my products are 'copy,' so returning money is not an option for me, although I have made a few exceptions depending on the circumstances.  On the whole, mixing friendship with business has been quite a nice experience here in this virtual world."

The next person I asked, owns a successful venue.  She says it can be tricky mixing the two, especially when you have an acoustic venue and have friends who use tracks or both.  Luckily her friends understand and still come to support, and will do acoustic for them.  She also stated that nothing awful has happened, and that she recommends owning a venue if you can afford to do so without having to have tips to pay for it, "...we don't ask for tips.. There is a small can..if people want to tip the can there it is and we appreciate every linden.  We never ask..to me owning a venue is my want so why should I expect  people to pay for it...we  promote every show well... Facebook, Avatarbook, Avatar Social Network, Google, Twitter, Subscribo, events and friends.  ...We basically annoy everyone LOL."

After that, I asked a general manager of quite a new and successful game.  She basically said that she doesn't let friendships affect her business relationships, because she's wise about it.  Business is business, and the business she does is fun, so it's rewarding in itself.

I then was referred to StormyDaze15, regarding this with her and Chris's new game, Treasure Quest.  She stated that mixing business and friendship has worked very well for them, and that they have a great relationship with all that have their game.  Her business relies on good friendship relationships, as it is supported widely by word of mouth, "A few people knew we were working on the game, so they did tell people that liked this kind of stuff."  She also added that they have made some long lasting friendships with landowners from their game as well, "They also know they can IM us anytime they have an issue with the game, no ticket needed."  Very cool, and they seem to be off to a great business start!

I also polled a store/mall owner and she said,

"I had the best of times with my SL best friend.  We taught each other how to build and make clothing, and had masses of fun whilst we did so.

           

"We went into business together, a clothing store, I leaned more towards the design side of the business and she was more graphic design for our advertising.  We were lucky to have had such a complimentary relationship.  

           

"Having built our friendship first, we had a solid base for our business, we had already established our likes, dislikes, our ideas on fashion, and we were able to keep it fun too.  There were never any fears of offering what we thought might be silly designs to each other, instead we seemed to bounce of each other's ideas, expand them, tweak them etc.  I really enjoyed our time together, so much fun.

           

"As a shopping mall owner I seem to have made some wonderful new friends in the store owners.  I do prefer to work alongside the business owners and share ideas, offer assistance where I can.  Being on friendly terms with the owners is mutually beneficial, sharing ideas, contacts, etc."

Next I asked one of the leaders of a huge gaming group.  "It has both worked and not worked..  It could work if you know the person before you go into business with them.  You know their quirks and their history.  You know how they spend money and could conduct business.  Personally I have been in business with several people .. I have learned over time what characteristics I like in a person that I may share in a venture with ..   It is a learning process but I am finding out I am getting better at judging character.  It also helps when you get to know the person in RL as well.. so there is some transparency."  I asked her if she knew the other leader in real life first, or how that worked, and she stated that they met on Skype, " I told him I would not conduct any kind of deep friendship/relationship/ or business unless I can see them in person .. see that they are real .. It is a matter of trust for me.  He had then asked me to be an elder.. then after my efforts in clan he decided to make me a co leader. ...with him I have been so transparent with clan funds that I show him the SL files of my  account ;)"  She confirmed that the best kind of business relationships are based off of trust.  And the way it worked for her is to get to know them more closely.  Then she can judge if it will be a good investment of her time, and the relationship just blossoms from there.  " I cannot trust someone that hides behind an avatar.. they become less accountable."

Then the windlight blew me into the direction of asking a creator of an avatar website what they thought on this subject. 

"The short version is, I don't think mixing business and friendship is bad by default. 

"The long version is, this question just can't have a general answer.  I have experienced both that came with great losses or great benefits.  It highly depends on the circumstances, the nature of the people and the business itself.  

"There are some businesses that can operate even better if friends do it while others can be negatively impacted by them. 

"The bottom line is, the people being involved have to look inside and understand if their friendship can handle possible greed, power, control, hierarchy that business may affect."

Lastly, I asked a famous writer, Strawberry Singh about mixing the two,

"...pretty much everything can affect what I write about.  A conversation with a friend could inspire me to write about a certain topic.  A content creator dropping an item on me inspires me to create an image and write about it.  A lot of the memes and blogger challenges I do have often been inspired by a conversation with a friend or even suggestions and requests by my readers. 

            "So what I write about just comes from whatever is on my mind that day or whatever inspired me that day and yes of course, my friendships and surroundings will have an effect on that."

So there you have it folks!  For the most part, mixing business and friendship needs to work if your business is to survive in this "game" of networking.  Just like in real life.  However, you must build trust and know your boundaries.  Perhaps this drink is best served, with a grain of salt and a dash of experience.

Additional Information:

URL: http://www.sltreasurequest.biz/wp/

Other: http://strawberrysingh.com/

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MACKENZIE’S MUMBLINGS-FRIENDS WILL BE FRIENDS?

You, gentle reader, like me, have quite a few friends on that friends list of yours.  People you friend in a moment of madness and never quite remember where you met them or why you friended them in the first place.  People you want to stay in touch with because, well, they’re the business!  And then there are others who just mean a lot to you.  The kind of people you can have a laugh with, hang out with and just generally be crazy with.  Someone you can tell jokes to, or your innermost secrets.  Those special people you wish you had in RL.

However, those people who are in your inner circle (and you in their’s) are a fragile crowd.  After all, it takes just one incident to smash that bond forever and ruin what once was good.  So exactly how far can you go in a solid friendship without ripping everything to shreds?

I have a friend who is considering dating someone who I consider one of Second Life’s greasiest men ever.  There’s something about him that makes me want to be physically sick and it’s been that way since I had the misfortune of being in the same region as him.  He has a split personality it appears; one minute speaking his mind, the next trying to back away with apologies and token gestures.  There’s just something in the back of my head that doesn’t seem enamoured with him.  Is it jealousy?  Is it anger?  Is it genuinely fear for my friend?

So, do I step up and tell my friend about how I feel about this guy? Or do I step back and let her make her own mistakes?

I mean, ultimately, it’s none of my damn business what she does or who she sees.  But I’ve been around long enough to spot these kind of creatures so I know the signs.  He might prove me wrong, there is that chance, but there’s still that something that tells me I’ll be dealing with hurt feelings, broken hearts and tears in the near future.  I can’t shake it and I don’t know why…

If you were in this situation, what would you do?

Personally, I’ll be stepping back and letting her get on with it, despite my character aching to tell her otherwise.  Why?  Because a true friend lets their friends make mistakes, with the best will in the world.  A true friend will be there to patch up a broken heart, rub ointment on those tattered feelings and mop up the tears with their shoulders.  A true friend…doesn’t get involved.  It’s very easy to say “I told you so” after the event.  Everyone is an expert with hindsight; some choosing not to say anything, some choosing to break it gently and a few just coming out with it and saying “WHAT DID I SAY AT THE START?!?”.  I, dear reader, will be the saying nothing type, although inside I’ll be the other two as well, silently.

So what is the job of a friend really?  Everyone has their own definitions.  My definition is someone who is there no matter what, but stays out of personal lives.  Someone who watches from afar and observes when things go wrong, and is there to help out when needed.  And, most importantly, says nothing.

But what if I did voice my opinions about him and she took that badly?  Is it worth ruining a friendship just to be proved right/wrong in time?  In my opinion, no.  If/when she gets turned over by this guy and she asks me if I saw anything bad about him from the start, I will say no.  This negates the “well, why didn’t you say something?” conversation.  That could possibly be seen as lying, but what is a friend to do?  When things turn to affairs of the heart, nobody wins.  There is always a loser and you have to make sure it’s not you.

Just step back, watch and wait.

What do you think?  What would you do in this situation?  Feel free to leave your thoughts below.

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AVIE POLL: Why Does One Log In to Second Life?- Ccoursey Reporting...

What is it you can't live without in Second Life? What makes it worth logging in day after day ?  Hmm, ever thought about it? 

 Everyone has their own reasons for logging in, whether it be to have some fun, make some extra cash on the side, or just have a bit of social interaction.  To actually enjoy and reap the benefits of Second Life I've seen time and again someone has to have a reason to log in and make the best of their Second Life, otherwise what is the point?

 I've seen too many new people log in and get bored, leaving the game and missing great experiences and opportunities Second Life has to offer.  When I first started Second Life it was my friends and photography that kept me coming back.  I may have had my hand in a few different things, but it wasn't what I was logging in for.  Times have changed things a bit, but there is still pictures and true friends with me for my journey in this virtual world.

 What do others log in for?  It isn't like we are all here for the same thing...

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Second Life Etiquette: Friendships And Deletions (part1)- Pandora Drezelan Reporting...

This is my first installment of a series of articles regarding etiquette in Second Life. In this series I will be addressing different forms of etiquette from how we mix and interact with people online in the virtual world to situations such as conducting friendships, business, deleting people to what makes a good profile and more. Everyone has their own opinion on good and bad behavior in an online situation and so I will begin this series by talking about friendships and deletions.




Making Friends In Second Life:


For most of us when we first arrive in Second Life making friends is a number one priority and to make as many friends as quickly as possible and for others Second Life is about learning as much as they can before embarking on a chain of friendships and some people choose to keep their contacts list to a very select few.

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CULTURE: My Definition of a BFF - Lanai Jarrico Reporting...

It is rapidly aproaching the 1 year mark from the day I met Prince Sonoda In RL. For those that don't know who he is. You are missing out on probubly one of the greatest people you will ever meet in Second Life. I just got the pleasure of meeting him in real life too and slapping the BFF label on em.

Just like in the Many Wizard of oz or Alice in wonderland portayals throughout movies and literature. Second Life is never what it seems and many times, the people here are just as odd or eccentric as the characters found in those children's book. I dont' feel like Alice or Dorathy as much as I do if I were the wierd offspring of a cowardly Lion ... scarecrow... the mad hatter or even the rabbit with a clock that just won't stop. Whatever hat I chose to wear, underneath I am who I am and so are my friends that walk along the yellowbrick road with me.

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