SL CHRISTMAS EXPO TEAMS UP WITH LINDEN LAB TO HELP THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY PROVIDE VR HEADSETS TO PEDIATRIC CANCER PATIENTS

The American Cancer Society and SL Christmas Expo announced today that all donations to the “Believe in The Magic of Christmas”, the 9^th Annual Christmas Expo, in support of the Expo’s mission to Fight Childhood Cancer, will be dedicated to help provide funding for VR Headsets for childhood cancer patients. Along with Linden Lab, their partner in the fight against cancer, and our sponsors and participants, the Expo will be working to reach the Goal of $20,000 to help fund the Society’s VR Headset program for pediatric patients undergoing cancer treatment.

WHY VR?

The American Cancer Society and Children’s Hospital of Atlanta (CHOA) have partnered to provide virtual reality (VR) headsets for pediatric cancer patients to use while undergoing various cancer treatments within the hospital.

• For over 100 years, the American Cancer Society has provided patient services to improve the lives of cancer patients. The virtual reality pediatric program uses innovative technology to further expand the services offered to pediatric cancer patients in an extremely impactful and relevant way.
• Research suggests that ideal distraction tasks consume some portion of attentional resources so that less cognitive capacity remains available for processing pain. 
• Distraction is a pain management technique that has been shown to successfully reduce pain and behavioral distress in children during invasive medical procedures. VR distraction is a promising intervention for children undergoing painful medical procedures and is an ideal distractor for procedure-related pain because it competes for attention resources in multiple sensory domains and provides visual and auditory sensory blocking of external stimuli.^..
• 19 studies across nearly 1,000 articles have explored the effects of VR interventions with cancer patients. These studies found:
• VR improved patients’ emotional well-being
• A reduction in patients’ distress in terms of cancer-related psychological symptoms.
• A significant decrease in anxiety, distress, and fatigue immediately after chemotherapy sessions with VR

With more than 100 Merchants, Raffles, Breedables & One Of A Kind Auctions, Gotchas Hunts and Entertainment, games, contests and fun, the 10 day Expo, which runs from Dec 5^ththrough 15^th, is the Premier Holiday Experience in Second Life.  This year’s Expo will also feature the reveal of the long awaited 4^th Edition Linden Homes and special content provided by our partner, Linden Lab. The Lights of Hope House Decorating Contest will also return for a 2^nd year. The Expo will conclude with the 11^th Annual Holidays of Hope Ball.

Do not miss out on Believe in The Magic of Christmas, the 2019 Second Life Christmas Expo, December 5th through the 15th, in support of the American Cancer Society.

Give The Gift of Hope and Fight Childhood Cancer!

Registration is underway and going fast! Sign up now for a store, shop or booth, and join some of Second Life’s premier merchants as a sponsor! For More Information or to reserve your store visit: https://slchristmasexpo.com or contact Nuala Maracas in world.

P R E S S   R E L E A SEFor Immediate Release

September 4, 2019
Contact Nuala Maracas   nuala.maracas@gmail.com

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The Ultimate Fall Checklist for Your Home

As fall is just around the corner, it is a wise idea to start prepping both your interior and exterior for the colorful yet chillier season. As the weather is set to become cooler, it’s likely you will soon be spending more time inside your home and less time caring for your garden.

For this reason, you must overhaul your property to ensure it is ready for the blustery season. Check out this ultimate fall checklist for your home.

Tend to Your Garden

Don’t make the mistake of neglecting your yard this fall or you could come to regret it once spring and summer roll back around. 

To ensure your garden remains both beautiful and tidy when temperatures start to drop, you should use this time wisely to:

• Plant bulbs for spring flowers
• Cover your pool
• Rake away old leaves
• Fertilize and seed your lawn
• Trim your overgrown landscaping
• Both clean and cover your patio furniture
• Remove dying or dead limbs from your trees

It will ensure your garden appears gorgeous and healthy once the colder seasons have come to an end.

You also must take the time to seal any exterior air leaks with caulk, which can prevent unwanted cold air and moisture from entering your property. For example, you should seal crack surrounding the trim and siding, as well as your windows, doors and where wires and pipes enter your property.

Create a Warm and Cozy Home

Temperatures will start to plummet once the fall season arrives, and you will likely want to escape into the warmth and comfort of your home if the weather becomes a little windy. 

To create a cozy, inviting space, you must:

• Pull cozy bed linen and thick blankets out of storage
• Stock up on firewood if you have a wood-burning fireplace
• Change your air filter in your HVAC system
• Create a dedicated area for coats, umbrellas and muddy shoes

You should even aim to contact one of the best local plumbers to ensure that your exposed water pipes don’t freeze over and are still working correctly, which will help to create an inviting, organized and warm space throughout both fall and winter in your home. So, you will have no reason to want to venture outside into the blustery, rainy weather.

Weatherproof Your Property

While the sun is still shining, you should utilize this time to weatherproof your property in time for both fall and winter. By following the below tips, you can ensure you will not experience an unwanted draft or structural damage to your property during tougher climates.

So, you should:

• Clean both your gutters and downspouts of debris
• Replace or repair any loose shingles or holes in your roof
• Trim branches hovering over your roof
• Check the weather stripping on your windows and doors – replace if needed
• Repaint exterior paint if it is peeling to prevent further weather damage
• Fill any cracks in either your driveway or patio

Test Your Detectors

As you will be more likely to crank up your heating or fireplace during fall and winter, it is wise to check your detectors at the start of the chillier seasons. For example, you should test both your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are in working order. It might also be a wise idea to replace their batteries, even if they seem to be working fine. It will provide peace of mind that your family will be protected within the home.

Bleed Your Hot Water Radiators

Trapped air can block a hot water radiator, which can prevent heat from circulating across your home while forcing your heating system to work harder to increase your home’s temperature.

For this reason, you must bleed all radiators before fall arrives. To do so, you should:

1. Use a radiator key or screwdriver and turn the valve counter-clockwise
2. Allow water to drip into a cup or bowl and release any trapped air
3. Replace the valve
4. Repeat the process on your other radiators

By doing so, you can quickly warm up your home once fall arrives, so you will not long for spring and summer to return.

All good things must come to an end, and while the sun is unlikely to be shining brightly throughout fall, the above actions can ensure your home is both warm and inviting, and your yard is tidy and attractive throughout the season. 

So, don’t delay in transforming your interior and exterior before the blustery temperatures officially arrive, which can protect your property and family from the chillier elements.

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LUXURY IN YOUR SECONDLIFE – SPOTLIGHT ON LUXORY AND WILLOWDALE ESTATES- JOSH BELLIC REPORTING

“If you’re gonna live twice, why not live your Second Life in Luxury?”

And what better place to live that luxury than Luxory Estates and Willowdale Estates

The dictionary defines Luxury as: the state of great comfort and extravagant living.  This aptly captures the look and feel of life at “Luxory and Willowdale Estates” properties.

Two of SecondLife’s best and brightest minds, Imagin Illyar of Willowdale Estates, and Vanity Bonetto of Luxory Estates have teamed up to provide the quintessential land purchasing experience, unmatched anywhere on the entire grid.  

Immediately after landing at the sales pavilion, I was greeted by Andrea DeLauren, one of their courteous and highly professional staff.  This was no “sales bot”, but was an honest to goodness sales associate who knows the business and the details about their properties inside and out.  In fact, I was to learn that Luxory and Willowdale have a crew of eight such sales associates, providing an available agent 24/7.

I learned that Willowdale offers high-end professionally landscaped homesteads as well as full prim parcel land, and their newest product – the full homesteads.  Being a novice to the world of land purchasing, I asked Andrea, just what IS a “homestead”, and how does it differ from other properties? She told me that In SL there are two different types of sims.... "Homesteads" and "Full Prim".  Homesteads are sims with 5k prims capacity and Full Prim sims have 20k or 30K prims in total. In homestead sims you find bigger plots, usually more private... but with less prims... In Full Prim sims you get more neighbors, smaller parcels but much more prims for the price.  

Despite being one of the busiest women in SecondLife, I was able to catch up with Imagin Illyar and ask her a few questions about the Luxory and Willowdale Estates partnership.

Josh Bellic: So tell me, Imagin, what was it that turned you onto the idea of managing properties in SecondLife?

Imagin Illyar:  I bought my first sim 3 months after first joining Second Life back in 2008.  I knew as soon as I realized there was such a thing as an estate that I wanted to run one.  I enjoyed virtual landscaping from the very beginning. Making beautiful spaces is my passion and after 11 years of it I still feel as though I can't get enough.

JB: Do you, personally, own a home in Luxory Estates or Willowdale Estates and what is the difference between the two groups?  

II:  Luxory and Willowdale started out as separate estates but we merged them in December 2017.  I had known Vanity Bonetto, the owner, for many years and by joining our estates Willowdale has been able to grow and expand far beyond what I was able to do on my own.  56 sims have been added to Willowdale since merging with Luxory. It was a smart move, and yes, I make my home at Willowdale :)

JB:  What is it that makes Luxory Estates - Willowdale Estates. different from all the rest?

II:  The first thing people will notice is the landscaping.  Our tenants can also switch landscaping styles upon request. I have developed a system that allows me to do a switch in 10 minutes so you don't have to actually move to get a fresh new look for your homestead. Our sims are far above and beyond what is typical in SL, but it's the dedicated 24/7 customer service that really makes us stand out.  I know anyone can say that but our occupancy rate is usually around 95% and it's because we treat our tenants very well.

JB:  Tell me about the partnership between Luxory Estates and Willowdale  Estates? Has there been a real synergy when you decided to come together?  

II:  I ran Willowdale myself for 11 years and partnered with Vanity Bonetto of Luxory Estate in December of 2017. Since then 56 new sims have been added for a current total of 86 - and we are planning even more significant growth for the next year.  Vanity and I are a great team - I do the creative work and she runs the business end. Her highly-trained sales staff are the best in the business. We have both benefited greatly from the partnership. Vanity Bonetto and I are a perfect team.  I'm a creative type and she's the most talented business person I've ever met.  As I mentioned, we knew each other for many years before actually joining the estates.  In retrospect we should have done it from the beginning.  We've both benefited greatly from the merger.

JB:  Do you have plans for expansion?  Maybe create common use areas, like a community pool or clubhouses for use by fellow property owners?

II:  Absolutely!  Full homesteads are a new product for Willowdale and the reception has been overwhelming.  It has become difficult to keep them in stock! I very much enjoy creating new layouts for them and I hope that this growth momentum will continue for many years.  We have 4 different styles available so far and I hope to add the 5th any day now. The homestead styles I create are very unique from anything you will find elsewhere on the grid.

I've created many different common areas for tenants in the past they didn't work out.  I find that people in SL think they want common areas on estates but once provided they just don't get used.  There are a great many places that offer entertaining things for people to do in Second Life, what I provide is a peaceful and private place to come home to when you're done with that.  I've decided to just focus on doing what I do best and it's been working very well.

So, there you have it Folks.  Something for everyone. Land ownership just doesn't get any better than this!

SLURL:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LUXORY/131/131/25

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Mieville's 9th Annual Renaissance Hunt and Faire begins September 1st and runs thru the 30th, 2019

The changing of the leaves mark the end of Summer. To celebrate the changing of the seasons. Dress in your best Renaissance attire and get inolved in the Ancient  and fantasy RP community on Sunday September 1st.  You are the Duke or Lady in your own storyline.  Restore your love of fantasy adventure  by particiapting the the dragon hunt game or Visit the themed market and Join in the grid-wide hunt with plenty of entertainment, Music, shopping and more!

To begin your journey, visit Mieville's 9th Annual Renaissance Hunt and Faire.


There will be Renaissance, Medieval and Fantasy-themed gifts to find hidden all over the grid in dozens of participating shops. You'll be offered a variety of gifts as you search for the hidden items.  
Only high-quality designers have been invited to participate, and their exclusive items will be available only for the duration of the hunt. If you join the group Historical Hunts, Ltd. you'll be given a list of all the merchants' shops and you can start wherever you like!  The hunters group is extremely valuable when you are stumped and need help, or simply to meet new like-minded friends.  There will be a group joiner at the start of the hunt, or you can search "Historical Hunts, Ltd." and join for free.  You'll also find a joiner for the group "Mieville".
THERE IS A MINI HUNT AT THE FAIRE AS WELL!!!  Look for information near the entrance.

**Please keep your lag as low as possible whilst hunting--do not wear a lot of primmy items, scripts and items like bling, weapons and HUDs.  These items will slow things down for everyone.

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GeekSpeak – reaching a Kardashev Type 1 civilization. Join the Discussion on Saturday, August 31st at 12pm SLT

Reaching level 1 on the Kardashev scale means storing and using all the energy that the earth gets from the sun.  We will reach this when we increase our energy production about a million-fold.  Can we ever get there?  Will we need to hollow out the earth and use all the asteroids around?

What will happen if we do not reach it?  Will we fall back to stone age energy levels, or is there a middle way?

What will life be like if we do reach it?  Imagine spending a terawatt for your morning breakfast!

Come and discuss our energy future on a long timeline.  Bring your friends.

IM Vulcan Viper if you have ideas for new subjects.

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Welcome to Wonderland! An Alice in Wonderland themed Amusement Park

Follow Alice in Wonderland down the rabbit hole and enter the world of Lewis Carroll, with the White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, Jabberwocky and Queen of Hearts. Dark ride, spinning teacups, giant chess game and more!

 Part of Black Pearl Pleasure Beach Amusement Park.

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GeekSpeak – what is the future of Africa? Join the discussion Saturday, August 24th at noon SLT

Africa is the second largest continent, with 54 countries and a very young and rapidly expanding population.  At present it is suffering from wars, diseases, and droughts. But there is a lot of promise for the future.

Let’s talk about how the next superpower will develop.  How soon will we see a major boost in the wealth of the African population?  What is needed to get it going? What problems must be overcome?Will Africa be the next energy provider, or the next food provider for the world?  Or will we see an industrial revolution as in East Asia? What leapfrogging effects will take place?

Come and discuss the soon-not-so-dark continent today!

IM Vulcan Viper if you have ideas for new subjects.

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GeekSpeak – ethical shopping, how important is it? Join the discussion August 3rd at 12pm SLT

We in the west buy questionable products like palm oil or hardwood from the Amazon.  We buy products that may have been produced by slave labour, or at the expense of local people.  Should we all be forced or nudged into ethical buying?

Is the problem one of information?  Should all products carry enough information so that we can make an ethical choice?  Is that even possible?

How do we know what information we can rely on?  How can we see through all the tricks used by industries?  How do we decide between competing claims?  If a product is unethical because it damages the environment, maybe the only alternative is unethical because it relies on slave labour.  Is it even possible for everyone to agree about what is unethical?

Perhaps you think we should all buy whatever we want, and the market will sort it out.

Come and discuss ethics in the world markets.  Bring your 50-country-lunch.

IM Vulcan Viper if you have ideas for new subjects.

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

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Why Distance Learning is More Effective Than On-Campus Learning

Online courses and degree programs have become more popular in recent years, and it’s no surprise. With on-campus learning facing a number of issues, like budget cuts, less funding, increasing tuition and fees for students, and lower enrolment rates, it’s easy to see why distance learning is a more attractive option. 

There are still some preconceived notions about studying online, however, including the myth that online courses are easier and you don’t actually learn as much as you would if you were studying in a traditional on-campus classroom. Often times, the syllabus and coursework online are identical to the in-class syllabus and required assignments, with the exception of accelerated programs offered online, which are just condensed versions. Studies also show that online students learn more effectively than on-campus students, and here are some of the reasons why.

Fewer distractions

In a traditional classroom setting, you could be sitting in a lecture hall with hundreds or even thousands of other students, all sitting on their laptops or phones, chewing gum, eating snacks, or talking to their friends. It can be quite a distracting environment, especially if you have a hard time focusing already. If you’re studying online, you can put yourself in an environment that will help you focus, like a library, or at your own home. You can decide where you work and learn best and take advantage of that. 

Furthermore, online courses offer more opportunities for assessment, and rather than have them at specific intervals throughout the course; they’re more of an ongoing process. This can help students stay focused on the coursework and keep them engaged, so they don’t lose focus and get distracted from the course overall. 

Go at your own pace

Online students can learn the coursework at their own pace, rather than having to keep up or slow down with their on-campus classmates. If a student is comfortable with the course material, they can quickly move through the syllabus and move on to the next lesson, which also lessens the time commitment to the program. Some students prefer this option so they don’t have to dedicate as much time and can get back to work or other commitments, like family or volunteer work. On the other hand, if a student needs more time to understand and digest the information, they can revisit a lesson, take their time in understanding, and ask for extra help either from their professor, peers, or by doing outside research online. Both of these methods of learning help with retention rates as well, because if you understand something and take the necessary amount of time to do so, you’re more likely to remember and retain the information over the long term. 

Accelerated programs are also becoming more widely available from schools like Marian University, which offers a program called MPath – a flexible, accelerated program designed for online learners or adults returning to school. More schools are beginning to offer programs like this to better accommodate students and their lives outside of their educational careers. 

More opportunity for communication with the professor

Because of the ongoing assessments, professors can monitor a student’s progress more effectively, and gives the professor an opportunity to step in earlier if help is needed rather than waiting until the final exam or assignment is due. 

Class sizes are also generally smaller for online courses, and there are portals for students and forums where they can engage with professors any time to ask for clarifications or advice. Instead of waiting for a professor’s office hours, or booking an appointment to see them when it’s convenient for their schedule, distance students can communicate directly via these student portals at their convenience. Of course, if you want to have a face-to-face conversation, you most likely will have to schedule a video call, but online instructors are usually more available than on-campus instructors. 

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Believe in the Magic of Christmas 2019 SL Christmas Expo Now Accepting Merchants and Sponsors

Do you Believe in the Magic of Christmas? It may be the middle of summer but it’s time to think about Snow and Ice Skating, Decorating Houses, Holiday Store Fronts and that ‘right jolly old elf’ himself! It’s time to start planning your participation in “Believe in the Magic of Christmas”, the 9th Annual SL Christmas Expo, December 5th through the 15th, 2019. Supporting the American Cancer Society, the Christmas Expo is the premier holiday shopping and entertainment destination in Second Life. Sponsorships are already available for various levels at https://slchristmasexpo.com. 

The Christmas Expo Mission: To Fight Childhood Cancer

Christmas is especially important to kids! Remember how big that tree was when you were small? Pictures with Santa? Listening for those reindeer on the roof?  Christmas Morning?! For kids Christmas is a Magical Season! And so, this year the Expo has a new mission. Together with the American Cancer Society and our partners at Linden Lab, the expo will be supporting Childhood Cancer initiatives of The Society. All proceeds of the Expo will be directed to support research and palliative efforts to help children with cancer.

What’s Planned for the 2019 Christmas Expo?

Back again are: 

• more than 100 merchants, 
• Breedables and One-Of-A-Kind auctions, 
• nearly non-stop musical performances, 
• Gotchas and Hunts. 
• Christmas Trees, Ice Skating, Snowman Building Contest 
• Santa and Mrs. Claus and the Elves
• The Holidays of Hope Ball. 

Also back again is the popular Lights of Hope House Decorating Contest featuring homes built and decorated by some of Second Life’s best home builders! The event was introduced in 2018 and was one of the highlights of the 8th Annual Expo. 

Linden Lab Partners With The Expo to Help the American Cancer Society Fight Childhood Cancer!

But wait there is more! This year Linden Lab, the Society’s partner in the fight against cancer, is joining the 9th Annual SL Christmas Expo. Not only will Linden Lab be decorating Linden homes as part of the Lights Of Hope contest but the Expo will be the venue of the BIG REVEAL!  The long anticipated ALL NEW Version 4 LINDEN HOMES will be UNVEILED at the Lights Of Hope!  Expo visitors will be treated with the newest premier member homes as well as some very VERY Special Linden surprises and incentives! (We can’t tell you now and spoil the Christmas Surprise can we?)

The thermometer may say it’s a heat wave, but the coolest event of the year is only a few short months away!  Do not miss out on Believe in The Magic of Christmas, the 2019 Second Life Christmas Expo, December 5th through the 15th, all in support of the American Cancer Society. 

Give The Gift of Hope and Fight Childhood Cancer! 

Sign up now for a store, shop or booth, and join some of Second Life’s premier merchants as a sponsor! For More Information visit https://slchristmasexpo.com or contact Nuala Maracas in world.

Nuala Maracas nuala.maracas@gmail.com

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