New horizons and new adventures

New Life, New Sailboat

The new IF sailboat from Bandit is available for 3000L$ at the following SLurl: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Dutch%20Harbor/92/37/21

Here are some notes from the Manual Notecard:

The Bandit IF is based on the real world Folkboat, a one design racing class that thanks to its unsurpassed sea going capabilities for its size acquired fame as a low budget passage maker for blue water cruising. The design may be over 70 years old, Folkboats are still being built and raced today, where the traditional wood has now been replaced by the more modern glass reinforced plastic or "GRP". The Second Life version is made in the same tradition, The focus is clearly placed on the sailing and racing aspects, but it can equally be your "home away from home" when exploring all corners of the grid.

The Bandit IF is powered by the 3rd generation BOSS Dynamic Sailing Engine. Everything about the boat is aimed at giving you a fun and realistic experience, while being both cruise friendly and accessible for beginners, yet when its manual control is fully utilized so challenging it will even inspire the most seasoned sailors to give it all they have in exciting close quarters racing!

More information on the building of the Bandit IF can be found here:
http://www.virtualworldsailing.com/index.php?/topic/561-building-the-if/

The online version of this manual can be found here:
http://www.virtualworldsailing.com/index.php?/topic/707-bandit-if-manual/

"Avoid the Voids" - Lessons in Lindenomics

I shook my head when I read news of Linden Labs Openspace Pricing and Policy Changes (and a few reactions I've read)....

Most people know I do NOT like to discuss politics or economics openly. In RL I have a particular worldview that was once shaped by family (Democrat), then college (Republican), then work experience (Libertarian), as well as a circle of friends, books, periodicals, podcasts (the list goes on and on).

I love history, political science, and economics. I consider myself a liberal in a classical sense. To put it another way, I'm a libertarian with a small "l" ... not affiliated with the Libertarian Party, yet sharing in political and economic philosophy. So in the interest of full-disclosure, I look at this announcement with a certain "free-minds and free markets" worldview.

A few points as I see it...

First, on a real world level, LL is a private company and can raise prices as they see fit. LL must spend USD on wages/salaries, electricity, and infrastructure, so that we may all enjoy using Second Life. LL like any RL company, faces increased costs, economic uncertainty, and must act accordingly.

Second, as a RL worker and consumer, I also face economic uncertainty and must make economic choices based on my own needs and wants. My work salary has a certain amount of disposable income that - although not a fixed amount, is only elastic at the margins. My discretionary income can only go so far until I hit the wall of fixed RL expenses. Other than a few generous tips I receive from 2 tip jars and 20 % receipts from aviation-related vendors placed at my aerodrome, I don't make much money from SL, and although I'm very interested in business within the metaverse, I consider myself a hobbyist and social networker. Unless hired by a company doing business here, I'll remain so throughout my time on the grid.

Obviously, all spending within SL must be far behind RL shelter, food, transportation, utilities, medicines, savings for retirement, etc. Personally, I've cut back on certain things (some RL entertainment spending and a 2nd VoIP line) in order to pay for other RL and SL expenses. It's very likely more family budget cuts are in store in the near future.

Avoid The Voids!

My hope was to obtain land-rights to an Openspace sim during the very month that this increase is to take effect. Obviously, that's shot to hell. How many others will "avoid the voids?"

Costs (Taxes) and Discretionary Income

If you consider us all citizens of this virtual world, what is happening is a virtual property tax increase. Uncle M will raise your property values (and taxes)!

Higher costs for land-rights and higher tier fees. Just like a tax.

But remember that taxes control market incentives. And as you raise costs on already burdened individuals and families, only the wealthier among us can afford such things within our ever tightening discretionary income. I don't think the federal government will enact a bailout plan for Void sims. Heehee!

Like many taxes, the likely effect of this will slow down the inworld economy. For many like me who were strongly considering the acquisition of one or more Openspace sims for SL aviation, the decision has now been made. Avoid the Voids!

I do hope that others have enough discretionary income to continue. As an aviatrix in SL, I would hate to see a decline in Openspace sims, but I definitely understand their hardships.

The Big Question:

Is LL still friendly toward hobbyists within the grid? Will aviation in SL be encouraged?

Or perhaps it's their intention that the only aviation-related activity allowed to flourish will be Boeing and Airbus business meetings?

UPDATE: Vint Falken has an excellent roundup of the SLBlogosphere reaction.

Zoe is on vacation in August

I'll be around, but not nearly as much.

My real life vacation awaits....

Taking some time off for sun and fun....

Second Life Bloggers Party :: A note from GoSpeed Racer

Second Life Bloggers Party :: A note from GoSpeed Racer...

The Itinerary for the Sunday 24 February Second Life Bloggers meet is fairly basic.

The meeting/party will run from 1pm to 4pm SLT in the Sailors Cove estate, specifically the Tradewinds clubhouse and the open area nearby.􀀀

The main hostess will be GoSpeed Racer and Ravishal Bentham will be the DJ for the event. In addition to music and dancing there will be a few parlor games like Greedy Greedy, Darts and Pool. There is also a hang glider platform too. The last hour of the meeting we will have a grand sail and anyone with any sort of boat is encouraged to rez them and sail all 15 sims in the estate. If you have no boats then there are more than enough seats to go around.

Sailors Cove estate is a family oriented sim so keep the clothing and language modest. No weapons either! Areas out side the commercial district and water ways are private residences, please do not intrude.

Please contact me or Ravishal Bentham if you have queries or ideas for the party you would like to share.

GoSpeed Racer

Sailing in Antiquity :: The Royal Antiquity Regatta

Living in Antiquity Cove has given me a new SL hobby....sailing....

Here are two snapshots of me sailing around the various Antiquity waterway sims not too far from my Antiquity Cove parcel where I have a cottage and offices for The Connolly Telegraph and the Second Life Bloggers group.

The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Antiquity will be hosting a Regatta on their sims this Saturday September 8th at 3:00 PM SL time. The start of the regatta will be at the Antiquity Bay sim. More specifics as the day gets closer...