Second Opinion


FEB \| 2006 Back Issues

	The Second Opinion Gets a Facelift
	Getting Creative: Study the Artistic Promise of Digital Life
	Name Dropping: Do Unto Others
	Police Blotter: Getting Terminated
	Developer Focus: Attach a HUD
	Editorial: A Sign of the Times

Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!
Join the virtual Mardi Gras in the Biloxi and the Big Easy regions in style with a virtual celebration for the 150th anniversary of Mardi Gras. If you’re interested in helping out, join the group SL Mardi Gras.

Hollywood Celebrates Oscars
Join the Hollywood Academy of Movies for a special Oscar Night Formal Ball and Party during the Oscars on March 5th. Contact MarkTwain White for more information.

TeaZers is an educational group in Second Life committed to teaching a broad base of skills to the average resident in ways they will find fun, exciting, and useful in their daily Second Life routines.

1	Waterfall Ideal for land-owning Residents who are tired of prefabricated houses. This class gives Residents a chance to enhance their land with the sights and sounds of nature.
2	Animation Overriders The operation and customization of an animation override can be confusing. This class simplifies the process. It’s just right for free-spirited people looking for unique ways stand, walk or fly.
3	Accessories Purchasing accessories for an avatar is a lot of fun but it can be expensive! Save money and get creative! Learn basic building through themed accessory classes and pick up some essential skills along the way.
4	Scripting To many, the most daunting aspect of Second Life is scripting. In this class you will learn the power of creating and operating basic scripts. Find out what wonderful effects are possible with just a little training.
5	Start a Business Want to put some money in the bank? Rather than escort, host or gamble, you can turn your creativity into cash. Learn the basics of running a business including finding a product niche, marketing to your audience, and using SL tools efficiently.
	Visit TeaZers Island

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The Second Opinion Gets a Facelift

As Second Life enters a new era of growth and surpasses 150,000
Residents, we realize we need to update our newsletter. With that, welcome to The Second Opinion v2.0. We’ll feature news stories, Top 5 Lists, and Best Bets focusing on upcoming events and editorial. See what you think and let us know what’s missing. We want to hear from you! Write us

Study the Artistic Promise of Digital Life

This month, Linden Lab announced a $4,000 fellowship to help a university student spend a semester or a summer in Second Life pursuing a project in the visual or performing arts. By offering this opportunity, Linden Lab hopes to expand arts and culture in Second Life. The fellowship is not intended to support study, but to allow a student the free time to fully explore the potential of Second Life as a medium for artistic expression. Learn more

Do Unto Others

If you have ever asked for help in Second Life, chances are you may have been helped by Toy LaFollette or Tateru Nino – fantastic volunteers who spend much of their time answering the same questions, over and over!

A relative newcomer, Toy is already known for the “smile” in her chat. Tateru is a member of the Second Life Mentor group and just about lives on Help Island. To get a sense of her positive energy, check out her blog.

Do you know someone worth mentioning?
Let us know

Getting Terminated – How It Happens

Have you ever wondered what happens when someone violates the standards in Second Life? This month, we start a new column, the Police Blotter, where we will feature an in-depth article on how crimes are tracked and offenders are punished.

This month, we take a look at the Resident Review Panel that helps balances the scales of justice when an offender is nearing termination and a closer look at two recent cases that were recently reviewed by the Panel.
Learn more

Attach a HUD To Personalize Your Experience

One of the newer features of Second Life is the ability to attach objects to a user's viewpoint. These are objects (or activities) that are viewable and controllable only by the wearer. We call this an attachable HUD (Heads Up Display) and it can be one of the most powerful tools in a content developer's toolbox.

With the help of some scripting, you can use it to build a powerful interface on top of the current SL user interface, adding interactivity and simplifying your experience. Read more about how to create a HUD.

A Sign of the Times

Over the past many months the Second Life landscape has been dotted with signs calling for the impeachment of President Bush. The ensuing debate has people on one side calling for the suspension of the sign creator for spamming the landscape, and on the other side championing his right to free speech. Linden Lab's position has been to make sure that the signs are limited to land owned by the sign creator, without additional disciplinary action. How do we defend this?

Second Life is built on the twin values of tolerance and free expression: tolerance of other people's views and the right to follow one's own path. We believe that these two values combine to allow for the fullest emergence of innovative new experiences. Sometimes those experiences will be amazing and sometimes less so, but on balance the community gains when its Residents have the widest freedom possible.

Agree? Disagree? Let us know – send us your Letter to the Editor and we will publish a representative set in the next edition of The Second Opinion.

Hollywood Celebrates Oscars Join the Hollywood Academy of Movies for a special Oscar Night Formal Ball and Party during the Oscars on March 5th. Contact MarkTwain White for more information.

Hollywood Celebrates Oscars
Join the Hollywood Academy of Movies for a special Oscar Night Formal Ball and Party during the Oscars on March 5th. Contact MarkTwain White for more information.