ECLIPSE Magazine May 2020

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Contents

34.

Through the Lens

100.

Proust Spotlight

128.

SL Fiction

86.

Places to Go

114.

The Way You Inspire

142.

Artist Highlight

It is still spring yet, and for this addition we share our perspective of “Spring Showers.�

Not knowing where to go and what to do is often a recurring theme. This issue we showcase five places to visit.

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Teaming up with the Blogger & Vlogger Network, we shine the spotlight on the talented Rita Rowley.

ECLIPSE Magazine shares how Ashlee Bettencourt is inspired by her SL mom, Elvi Peppermint.

Harley Heartsong takes us ona photographic journey with her post-apocalytpic roleplay character.

Each issue we highlight one of the many talented live singers on the grid. This month, we present Parker Static.

s

ECLIPSE Magazine is dedicated to not only offering an aesthetically pleasing publication, but to also be considered a platform that offers rich and relevant content. Each month, we showcase residents and groups that have taken the concept of “your world, your imagination� to such great heights that they have impacted the culture and lifestyle of the Second Life community.

48.

Cover Story Beauty in Collaboration Cover Photographer Geena Carminucci

152.

Voices from the Grid

168.

The Wayfarer

188.

Ask ECLIPSE

Writer Cajsa Lilliehook

Each issue ECLIPSE Magazine asks residents a question, see what they have to say.

a

Join the Wayfarer as they travel the grid, visiting Lost Lagoon.

Our advice column returns, ready to answer all your pressing questions.

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executive team

Trouble dethly Publisher

minnie fae dethly

cajsa lilliehook

june fallon

sol may valor

Assistant Editor

Creative Director

Copy Editor

Social Media Manager

the c

writers

photographers

Cajsa Lilliehook Electric Monday Grayden Foxe Minnie Fae Dethly Novaleigh Freng Taylor Wassep

Cassie Middles Electric Monday Geena Carminucci June Fallon Minnie Fae Dethly Novaleigh Freng Taylor Wassep Tempest Rosca Wicca Merlin

stylists Cassie Middles June Fallon Taylor Wassep Tempest Rosca Wicca Merlin

guest stylist & photographer Harley Heartsong

interested in advertising with eclipse? have an idea for a great story? looking to start a new career in second life? email trouble.dethlysl@gmail.com

contributors

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I’m not entirely certain what is going on with my InDesign.

Every time I attempt to convert the file, so I can upload to issuu… it takes me at least a dozen times. I’ve found it increasingly frustrating; nonetheless, I hope this publication is a lot easier. I’ve gotten into the habit of checking photo sizes I use. I’ll keep you updated in my next Publisher’s note.

I am thrilled that this issue my sister, Minnie, makes her debut as my Assistant Editor. She’s essentially been doing the work for the past few issues, so I figured we might as well make it official. We have our friend, Sol, back with us. She’s fantastic too, as our social media manager. In other news, this past weekend I took my girlfriend, Ara, on a date in-world to Paris.

One of the live singers we had was Wolfie Starfire (we featured her in our Artist Highlight a couple issues ago) and another live singer we had was Parker Static. Incidentally, she is the live singer highlighted in this issue. We’ll be keeping the sim for people to visit, and we’ll likely put down a full service roleplay restaurant. It was one of my favorite aspects of San Carlo Resorts.

Now, for this cover story, we feature a group of some of my favorite bloggers. The cover story is about blogging, and Geena, Justine, Eva and Hara share their perspective. One of the things I admire most about them is their friendship and their collaborative efforts. It’s a gentle reminder that a person’s ability to shine and their talent is in no way diminished by the talent of those around them.

We have ten features this month, and I do hope you enjoy them.

Happy Readings!

letter from the PUBLI

ISHER

Hello Every Reader! I can’t believe we’ve made it to May already, or if you’ve followed my memes on facebook the third round of the triwizard tournament as I’ve started to call it. Allow me a moment to formally introduce myself, my name is Minnie Fae Dethly. If you follow Eclipse you have no doubtley, or I guess hopefully, seen my name. I came on to the staff late last year and have stuck with it ever since. When Trouble asked me to take on this new role of assistant editor, I was a bit nervous as I am usually the type that is feverish working in the background. I was a bit worried I wouldn’t be able to perform as well as the magazine needed me to, but with a little bit of a nudge and a push here I am.

I have played Second Life since 2007, well my first account I really didn’t get into till 2009 and I remember my Nana of all people showing it to me. I thought it was something silly, when she called me over to her house and I peered into her monitor she was in a telehub and in a wheelchair. Then I saw an AD on TV for the Gossip Girl sim, and that’s what got the ball rolling for my virtual life. I remember for the longest time I thought that four sims was actually just one sim, it wasn’t till someone sat down and explained it to me did I realize my mistake. Job wise I feel like I’ve done mostly everything from hosting, to djing, photography, blogging, and now tackling a magazine. Most days now you can find me blogging, or buying way too many gacha animals cause apparently not only do they all need a home, they need to all be in my home.

In real life I am a health care worker, and I have two wonderful dogs. Woodhouse who is the youngest and the most sweet loving pain in the butt cloud you’ll ever meet. He actually jumped on the counter and ate four pieces of pizza Monday, and I think is still in a carb coma from it. Then there is Zelda, my oldest dog, she’s been my ride or die for about seven years and rules my house. I have a wonderful loving girlfriend that makes me feel a lot of things I’ve never felt before and puts a smile on my face daily. I also have a weird obsession with serial killer/crimes podcast, my most recent listen that I can’t stop talking about is Dr. Death, if you’re into those types of things please check it out.

I hope you guys enjoy this issue as much as we did putting it together, also I’d like to say thank you to my twin Trouble for offering this new position and believing in me enough to let me tackle it.

h t e D e a F e i n n i M

letter from the edito

hly

or

through the lens

s

Each issue, ECLIPSE Magazine invites the many talented photographers from Second Life to collaborate. With this piece, they style, create and share a glimpse through their lens.

For this addition, Cassie Middles, Luane Meo and Taylor Wassep show us their take on “Spring Showers.�

Photographer: Cassie Middles

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Photographer: Cassie Middles

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Photographer: Luane Meo

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Photographer: Luane Meo

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Photographer: Taylor Wassep

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beauty in collaborat photography by exis, geena carminucci, hara & justine lemton. writt

tion

en by cajsa lilliehook.

Do blogs matter? If you ask a group of residents you will get opinions that reflect their own interactions with blogging. If they don’t read blogs, they will insist nobody read them anymore and they have no effect on Second Life. If they do read blogs, they will insist they are useful in choosing what to buy. If they blog, they will be certain that blogging is a vital cog in the wheels of SL commerce.

I think Linden Lab answered that question recently when they hired the celebrated SL blogger Strawberry Singh [Strawberry Linden] as their Marketing Content Specialist. Among her responsibilities is managing a blog feed called Community News that highlights and promotes blog posts from the Second Life Blogger Network. I think if blogs were ephemera of little value, they would not invest in blog marketing. On a side note, Berry was featured by ECLIPSE Magazine in February 2017.

Some people see the world as zero-sum. Whatever positive benefit someone else enjoys means that it cost someone else. If someone reads your blog, they won’t have time to read mine. Your gain is my loss. It is a dogeat-dog world out there and everyone for themselves.

But life need not be like that. Your gain can be my gain.

Instead of your way or my way, we can try our way. We all have many shared interests when we look for them.

Consider the idea that a rising tide lifts all boats. And that does not even account for the idea that sometimes cooperation can lead to gains far beyond what either party can achieve alone. The sum of the whole is greater than the sum of the parts is how it is often described.

This can all be expressed with one simple word: synergy.

synergy, n.

Any interaction or cooperation which is mutually reinforcing; a dynamic, productive, or profitable affinity, association, or link.

This month ECLIPSE Magazine decided to highlight a synergistic quartet of bloggers who often collaborate together though they each have their own blogs. They are Justine Lemton, Hara, Geena Carminucci, and Exis, four gorgeous women with fab photos and worthy blogs.

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ECLIPSE Magazine has a close relationship to the blogging world with its support for the Blogger and Vlogger Network and sponsoring The Bloggies. We also like to see bloggers collaborating. When bloggers take pictures together, they amplify each other with crosslinks and mutual support. This is synergy as it is meant to be.

Best of all, they have fun.

So how did the Fantastic Four of Blogging arrive in Second Life? Hara is the only one who was not drawn in by a friend. In fact, she joined SL thanks to bloggers. Hara explained how it happened, “So it piqued my attention one day while I was browsing custom contents for my Sims 3 on Google, I happened to clicked on a photo from Elisa Doe Button’s okkbye blog post thinking it was just another custom content outfit. When I realized it wasn’t, I spent a good thirty minutes browsing her blog looking at her wellthought outfits and decided to search for Second Life and immediately signed up.”

Justine was invited by her friend Keylin in 2009. Geena had been part of the There community and when it was faltering, a friend recommended Second Life. She was not a fan at the beginning, but she that changed after she figured it out. Exis was invited by a friend in early 2016 and quit, but she came back, gave it a second chance, and fell in love with Second Life.

Noobieness afflicted them all to one degree or another.

Hara took a tour on a minecart that showed her more of the sexual fetishes of Second Life than she was prepared for. Justine and her friends went to the Black Pearl Amusement Park and rode the Alice in Wonderland ride, singing songs from the movie without realizing they were singing in local voice so everyone else could hear. Geena’s early years were spend in the SL football (American) community while Exis was styling outfits and home decor from the outset. She just didn’t memorialize it in pictures.

They were led toward blogging organically. By 2014, most of Justine’s friends had left SL so she mainly stuck to her skybox taking photos and learning Photoshop. She enjoyed taking photos and sharing on Flickr, though they tended to be shot in front of a green screen. “The more I got involved in Flickr, the more I saw these amazing pictures totally utilizing in-world items and decor. I had no idea ECLIPSE May 2020 | Page 53

where to start. What was most overwhelming for me was making a scene from nothing and ditching the green screen.

The more comfortable I became, the more frequently I’d post.

It just snowballed to what I am doing today!”

Hara was also led to blogging through Flickr which she calls “the melting pot of SL photography.” She was struck by how individualistic each photographer was and wanted to follow their example of portraying SL “in their own light.” She came across an announcement that her favorite event, Collabor88, was looking for bloggers. “In my mind, initially my goal was to use blogging as my main hustle to get the good things for free, and it started with wanting to blog for Collabor88. I then started doing credits on my photos and making more photos almost every day. Of course, being just new, I didn’t get picked. But it didn’t stop me from improving myself.” And in time, her goal moved far beyond good things for free to improving her skills, adding more thought and depth of feeling in her work and creating photos that tell a story.

Geena was interested in graphic arts before joining SL, so photography was a natural interest from the outset. What began as a fun hobby became an important creative outlet. She added credits to her photos but did not have a blog and was not interested in the idea until Justine urged her to try it. “She had been on the path for about a year, and constantly urged me to start a blog. She was always so very supportive of my art, and it felt like every day would encourage me to challenge myself on a new path. I would consider my “official” leap into the world of blogging after I was approached by a long time favorite brand to blog. This was my first sponsor, but what I loved is that they encouraged my style and art and did not expect me to morph into something I wasn’t.”

Exis started blogging with Jules Decker, her friend who first convinced her to join. “We started it out of fun and it was a bit fashionable to be a blogger back then. It probably still is. Even though I invested a lot of time on it, I never believed it would last this long. Blogging, consistently and regularly requires time, which I still don’t have. However, I was addicted to it and I didn’t mind losing sleep or exhausting myself in order to complete a post. I think it’s a matter of goals. Being a rookie back then, I wanted to become popular and successful. The closer I was getting to that, the less pressure I felt achieving my goal.”

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For many, blogging is a solitary pursuit.

Imagine the legions of bloggers on their platforms in the sky opening bags and boxes, rezzing backgrounds, arranging a scene, styling an outfit, editing their photos, and publishing their pictures and credits to Flickr and their blog. Some of them take the time to critique items or share stories. These are not social pursuits. Collaboration is one way to get off the platform or at least get on someone else’s platform.

One way that bloggers have built community is with challenges. Berry was a great one for creating blogger challenges.

A favorite challenge from long ago was the Fashionable Relay Challenge by Sasy Scarborough. Each person needed to use one item worn by the person ahead of them. Another big hit was Achariya’s Dress Me Up challenge. Each person posted a picture in their undies and let viewers

suggest outfits or styles. The results were equal parts fashion, hilarity, and chagrin.

The thing about challenges is they connected the atomized world of blogging into something that began to feel like a community.

BVN got into the challenge game with the BVN Blogger Collab Challenge in December last year. People signed up and were paired with someone else with whom they would pair for a joint photo they would both blog on their own sites and cross link to build each other’s audience. It was a wild idea and wildly successful. A search of the Blogger & Vlogger Flickr group for collaboration returns nearly 300 results.

But these four collaborate for more than an annual challenge. Exis, in particular, loves to collaborate. “I look forward to collaborating with other bloggers. Especially those I look up ECLIPSE May 2020 | Page 57

to.” She has learned from every collaboration she has done, plus...bonus! “Collaborating with other bloggers also helps me to socialize more, open up and share my stress with people who understand it.” Geena is not so sanguine. “Collaborations, in my opinion, are the scariest thing on the SL planet when they are with individuals you don’t know. But on the flip side of that, they can be the most positive experiences and can result in amazing friendships that would otherwise never have come to fruition if it weren’t for blogging.”

For Hara, it is essential you like the person you are collaborating with in order to make it a success. “I kinda vibe people out first before I try to reach out to them or talk to them.

Communication is also a big factor, and also being able to work together smoothly, willing to work around what the other person’s opinions. From my experience, a good collaboration can be the start of a good friendship. I’m lucky enough to have formed friendships with my inspirations in the blogging community.” For Justine, collaboration is different with the different people she has conspired with. For example, she loves the way Hara can incorporate her avatar into a scene, how Exis can decorate a scene, and how Geena incorporates humor and style. Learning from the best of everyone is the best way to learn.

Justine on Friendship and Collaboration In 2017 Geena and I met, and hit it off instantly talking about mozzarella sticks. I discovered she had a Flickr and was taking AMAZING pics. I instantly became a huge fan girl even before she started blogging! I am so lucky to have crossed paths with her. From her photos, to her sense of humor, I am proud to call her my sis! Love youuuuuu <3 Exis and I met at The Arcade blogger day at the September round of 2017. She messaged me and offered some help with managing it all. It can be very overwhelming if you haven’t done it before. It’s fair to say she is one of my biggest inspirations when it comes to decor. Her pictures are vibrant with life and color! Love her!

I’ve always been a fan of Hara’s work and thought she made the most beautiful ads ever! I ran into her at early access for collabor88 and was able to get to know her better over the years. I love her style and how she can work her avatar into her scenes naturally! Love you Hara!

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Second Life blogging has evolved over the years. In the beginning there were blogs that evaluated and critiqued the clothing. Some of the best were the SL Fashionista with Celebrity Trollop. Her blog is gone, but thanks to the Wayback Machine, you can see a sample. Gogo from Juicybomb is also someone who used to not only highlight the best elements but address the glitches and problems. It did not matter that bloggers gave a mix of praise and critique. The old saying had become distorted into “If you can’t say everything nice, say nothing at all.”

And more and more often, bloggers said nothing, posting their pictures with credits and no evaluation of the products.

I think that is a loss, but there is a mitigating bonus in the proliferation of picture and credit blogs with no narrative. It allows people from all countries and languages to compete on a level playing field. SL fashion fans can follow blogs from France, Brazil, Venezuela, Taiwan, and Japan without language barriers. This makes Second Life fashion blogging perhaps the most cosmopolitan and diverse Second Life community.

But some people say there is a glut, there are too many bloggers. There are complaints that everyone is blogging the same events and items, making it repetitive to follow many blogs. Three of them offered their thoughts on the question.

Justine does not agree. She believes you can never have too many. “The point of blogging isn’t to blog for a

store and get free items, it’s to share what you love. It’s not fair to say what makes a blog bad, because everyone has different taste and styles. You gotta do what you love sis! My favorite blogs are blogs that tell stories. I love seeing others interpret new releases from various designers.”

Geena agrees. “Who’s to say what restrictions there should be on an individual’s passion to blog. If it makes someone happy and isn’t harming anyone, then there is nothing negative about it.” She also addressed the criticism of bloggers who fail to credit everything in their posts.

“I understand both sides of this, and while it can be frustrating to see something you like, go to the blog and not find a credit, we also need to remember that is a personal preference of that individual blogger. Yes, ideally a great blog would credit every thing visibly seen in a post. And while I do try to credit everything, it is not always the case. Sometimes it comes down to preference and sometimes it comes down to time. I am here to support all versions of blogging.”

Exis thinks it is hard to say whether there are too many bloggers or not.

“I know I am following a lot but I’m not sure if I can tell when they are enough.

Given that there is a huge variety of items to be blogged, I suppose there is a need for many and different bloggers.

In reality, the majority of bloggers focus on blogging the most popular brands which results in a large amount of bloggers blogging for the same brands. But that’s also understandable.

Blogging for a successful brand or event is a form of validation for us.”

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Hara on Friendship and Collaboration

It took me a while to start creating friends in the blogging community due to anxiety, and I can feels good to have friends when I started making them because it made me feel like I really be community. I feel really lucky to have made them throughout the years, also because they inspi the way, learning from them and motivating me when I feel uninspired. Even though there we who came and went, I still remember each of them and how they were part of my blogging

I think the key point of a good collaboration is you have to like the other person. LOL. And vice v vibe people out first before I try to reach out to them or talk to them. Communication is also a and also being able to work together smoothly, willing to work around the other person’s opin my experience, a good collaboration can be the start of a good friendship. I’m lucky enough to h friendships with my inspirations in the blogging community.

Out of all three, Exis had been my longest friend. I still remember when she first IMed me asking about which is better to do about the ambient outside the window of the builds when you do d My thought that time was, ‘Why is this girl asking when all I do is put trees outside?’ But then her Flickr, and her stream was just sensual type of photos so I thought she’s just new in the dec gave her an honest answer and told her I’m not good with green screens, so I simply put trees for outside ambience. She agreed and went with my advice. And now I see her doing them so r matter of fact better even than me. We became good friends after that. She was the first blogg reached out to me. She was very open and welcoming that I also started to open up to her. Sh keeps me up to date with gossip and we bond over those. LOL. She also keeps me on my feet w down about something. She’s a very honest person and has a really strong, feisty personality, what I like about her.

Second I came to know was Justine. We were already following each other on Flickr before st upon one another on an early access and had a small talk. We had a collaboration after that, stopped talking after. LOL. She was nice to me and all but I guess we didn’t have much connec last year when I joined Facebook, she first reached out and we talked over things. And then wh I collaborated with Geena, listening to her on voice had me doubling in laughter and watchin Geena’s friendship is so vibrant, and I guess through that, I got to know a little of what her perso is. I even remember when I greeted her last Christmas, she told me she was happy to get to kno that year and that stuck with me cause I thought, ‘Ah, it’s not too late after all.’ She may be loud laughs, but she got a really good heart and that’s what matters.

Last but definitely not the least, is Geena. I came to know her Flickr stream through their old frie and instantly fell in love with her work. She became an inspiration because her photos resonat want my photos to be like with my audience. I then finally messaged her one time about what her work and what I thought of her one feature. It also wasn’t until I started Facebook that we r talk more and bonded over gossip and when we sometimes talk funny about some people-LO really, I see her as free-spirited and gentle. And that we just get each other. I like her personality

Working with each of them is kind of the same (routine) as to what I do when I blog normally. talk about ideas first, then plan over them, together on which events or stores to use. Decide on to meet in-world. Then bond while setting up for the photo. It’s like hanging out with a purpose having fun and working at the same time.

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n say that it elong in the ire me along ere people journey.

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In the early days of bloggi developing professional re with creators. The connect unmediated by blogger m Collabor88, Fifty Linden Fr into being and creators go once a month if not more additional events, they be to blogger managers. The there to manage, so it bec more about standards, a fo may have depersonalized democratized blogging. If developing friendships, th apply and qualify and aga fluent in the designer’s lan blogging community beca

With the vast increase in t Second Life has a list of Blo time you get to the end of There is no official count o two thousand posting any to weekly. That’s a lot of b

This led to the Blogotex se to blogger management a democratizes blogging bu touch. It has also led to inc that many bloggers find u item or blogging items wi sees both sides as she bot herself. “Blogotex is a hot to owner’s perspective, It’s a w But, coming from someone I don’t like it. To me, the cor organization benefits. Havi I like to blog. Having that th or rejected post does not sit designers set everything up on an assembly line pumpi

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ing, people blogged for brands elationships and even friendships tions were usually one on one, managers. When events like riday, and The Arcade came ot tracked into releasing at least and more as they enrolled in egan outsourcing the relationships e job title said it all, they were came less about friendships and orm of professionalization that d the relationship, but it also f it was not about chatting and hen anyone with a blog could ain, they did not have to be nguage. Yet another way that the ame broader and more diverse.

timer, even me but I know why it’s there.” She also has great appreciation for the responsiveness of the Blogotex team and how quickly they update the system to make it easier for people. “It’s given that blogging should be something fun, or a stress free hobby, but when we start to take stores and events to blog for, there still comes an underlying responsibility from us to meet what is asked of us, and pressure goes with that.”

Geena sees the good and bad, though she prefers the inworld blogger groups. “I understand it is a great, efficient tool, for sponsors and blogger managers to easily have everything and all data in one place. I do think that it takes away a sense of community between fellow bloggers and brands. And the added pressures of a timer and in some cases, an auto-timer, can be unhealthy to some. There will always be individuals that try to take advantage of the system. Blogotex does help keep those instances in control which is a great thing.

However, I personally do not prefer Blogotex over an inworld SL blogger group.”

the number of bloggers. Blogging oggers from A to Z and by the f the A’s you’re at eighty blogs. of blogs, but there must be at least For Exis, Blogtex only created unnecessary stress. She felt ywhere from a couple times a day exhausted and uninspired and realized that blogging blogging and a lot to manage. commitments had taken the joy out of blogging. “I started to make changes. I started by deactivating my Blogotex ervice that has become the goaccount. It added a lot of stress to my already stressful life. app for SL creators. This again Soon later, I left events or brands that required more posts ut at the cost of the personal than I could commit to. Eventually, I decided I would keep on creasing demands by creators blogging for the pleasure I get out of it and for the people I had unrealistic such as blogging every built a relationship and could communicate with. I realized ithin a week of release. Justine that there is something very impersonal about the way th manages bloggers and blogs Blogotex works and I didn’t like that. Blogging is not my job, it’s opic. From a blogger manager’s/ my hobby.” wonderful tool to manage bloggers. e who blogs more than manages, All four agree that bloggers can quickly become overrporate side of it, outweighs the extended and they should not seek to blog for as many ing a timer in your face is not how brands and events as they can, but rather focus on hreat of a timer auto suspend those brands and events they most love so they remain t well with me. I understand the enthused about blogging and not pressurized by the need p that way, but It feels like working to meet requirements. For Exis, too many commitments ing out posts.” is detrimental to her health because it causes stress. For Geena, it just saps her joy and leaves her uninspired. Hara as it tracks her obligations. “For gets into a cycle of dropping some sponsors or events nizing of stores and kept me at because of time constraints and then applying and adding ments because I used to organize news ones, putting her under pressure again, though over f times, I tend to forget blogging a time she has become increasingly selective in making her equirements. Everyone hates the commitments.

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Geena on Friendship and Collaboration With Justine, we were friends before ever collaborating. For an introvert like myself, this is obviously an ideal situation because the person is familiar and I feel more comfortable. I think many bloggers tend to start collabing with friends at first, which makes sense! On the flip side, I did not know EXIS nor Hara prior to collaborating with them. This is a big step for many bloggers, and can be very intimidating.

Communication is key for a new collaboration. What inspires you, what’s your vibe, your style? Be willing to put in the work. Sometimes a collaboration is not 50/50 and that’s okay. Definitely keep an open mind, be flexible, patient, and most importantly have fun!

At the beginning of a collaboration, we start by bouncing ideas off each other, themes, styles, something we were inspired by whether it’s an outfit or decor piece or maybe a RL photo we saw. Brainstorm sessions can be fun because multiple minds are better than one! For instance, the four of us had to collaborate for the feature spread in this ECLIPSE issue. We started by throwing out RL picture ideas and SL pose ideas, and there were a ton! Some were more ideal than others, and we weren’t necessarily looking to recreate but to come together in agreement on vibes, color palette, and an ideal scene.

I absolutely love collaborating with Justine. Obviously since I have known her the longest, we have done many, many collaborations over the years. Blogging has most definitely helped develop a closer friendship over the years. She has helped encourage me, mold me, and I trust her opinion on all things. She is truly an inspiration to myself and so many others, constantly self teaching and growing her skills. She is a blogging beast, but more importantly she has a heart of gold and won’t think twice about supporting and helping others in the community.

I initially started working with EXIS when I did a portrait for her. I had always been inspired by her work, I mean, have you seen her SCENES? Wow. I was quite intimidated by our first collaboration because I am so in awe of her blogging, but was immediately put at ease when I saw how down to earth and funny she is! I think we are both a little introverted and very guarded, which made for a slow but steady friendship progression, but our passion for blogging and appreciation for SL creations continued to bring us together. She is truly one of my favorite people to collaborate with, a constant inspiration, encouragement and will give you straight up truthful advice. I am so blessed to have become closer with her through blogging, and cherish our friendship.

Hara is someone I was inspired by for a very long time. Her vibrant colors and scenes combined with fashion told a story every time, which is so very difficult to do! I can’t remember if I reached out or if she did initially, however our first collaboration I was immediately at ease. She is an amazingly warm person, and SO easy to work with.

Possibly one of the sweetest people you will meet in SL, with one of the cutest avies.

Our time differences can sometimes be challenging since we are on opposite sides of the world, but we make it work by meeting up on weekends. I always look forward to doing any type of artistic collaboration with her, and am grateful to have developed this friendship all from blogging.

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Good blogs take time. Yes, people think how hard can it be to take a picture and list what is in it, but that ignores all the thought that goes into taking those pictures. Even a picture of an avatar in front of a green screen requires styling an outfit from the skeleton outwards. While some avatars use the same skins all the time, most choose different skins and many even wear different mesh bodies and heads to show off different looks. When you’re putting an outfit together at home, you can see all your options, but in SL, they are usually packed in boxes or folders in your inventory often with inscrutable names that do not tell you what’s inside.

A fatpack of Laura’s is probably a skin, but not necessarily.

Then there are the shoes, maybe stockings, jewelry, makeup and hair. Also often with unrevealing names. After all is a hairstyle called Maven going to be long, short, in braids, or in an updo. This makes inventory sorting into descriptive folders a constant in bloggers’ lives. Creators who label their packages with descriptive names that tell you whether the shopping bag holds a dress or a sofa are held in high esteem.

Hara gives a great outline of what goes into creating a blog post, though it varies depending on how motivated she is feeling in the moment and how easily she may be distracted. She plans her post ahead, often using a sticky note app on her desktop to keep track of her plan. She looks through her event commitments and new releases to see what might go together. She tries to picture it in her mind first, visualizing it before rezzing things to be sure they go together.

1. On the day of constructing the post, I start with rezzing all of the decor I need to use or showcase, and then go with the base which is usually a build to decorate in. If not in a build I usually start with the main decor that could be used as a base of what the scene would look like.

2. And then I pick a pose for my avatar and then proceed to position her on my frame to take photos in, and then just stage the details within my frame until it’s usually filled or when I’m satisfied. It usually takes a few hours, a good four to five hours if I’m focused but I easily get distracted and take more than that.

3. Then I go to Black Dragon, find the angle I had on Firestorm, then pick a WL that goes best in the scene, which takes the least time with all the process of making the post.

4. The editing as well could just be done two to three hours if not distracted. It has gotten easier now with my editing with Nik Collection.

It used to be all manual and would take me five hours at the most, now it would just take some effects, then with a simple layering and adjustment of opacity. I would do the shading and highlights first, then use a few effects, and then done.

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Exis on Friendship and Collaboration I look forward to collaborating with other bloggers. Especially those I look up to.

I learned so much from each and every collaboration I’ve made so far and I still do, every time. Collaborating with other bloggers also helps me to socialize more, open up and share my stress with people who understand it.

I met Hara in 2018, after I had contacted her to ask for advice. She was very sweet and helpful and we bonded immediately. We’ve collab’d many times and I have to say she’s one of the few people who tolerate my bossy ways. And her avatar always looks super adorable!

I met Justine a few months later, through a common acquaintance. She was very friendly from the beginning, even though I was too harsh on her. She has an incredible sense of humor, her positive energy fills the room and I’m very happy we’re friends.

Geena is one of the newest friends I have made. I was following her work since the beginning and I was a huge fan. I met her through Justine and I’m so glad that I did, she’s wonderful. She has a sense of humor I can relate to and she makes me feel like I’m the best blogger in the world. We’ve collab’d many times and every one of them has been a blast!

Being friends with other bloggers is easy.

We all share the same passion, commitment and excitement. We often blog for the same brands/events, we help each other and we’re women; so we often gossip. It’s more fun that way. There is competition too, there has to be, in order for us to keep developing but it has to be on a small level, up to the point where it doesn’t hurt anyone’s feelings or betrays relationships. Given that there are much more bloggers now, being original and unique, has become quite the task!

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Now social media plays a much bigger role. Bloggers promote their work first on Flickr or Instagram where they post their pictures and link to their blog. Microbloggers will only post on Flickr or Instagram and leave it at that. Microbloggers will put their credits in the description and not have a separate blog. This makes it easier in some ways, but there are losses.

There is no blogroll of favorite blogs to follow and no list of supporting stores, creators, and events. This is a complete contrast with the narrative blogging that provides context and information like Sasy Scarborough is known for.

Posting on Facebook, Twitter, or Plurk creates more interaction. There is also the increased sense of community created by the ancillary posts about anything from what you had for breakfast to this great movie you just watched.

People who follow your blogging through these social media networks get to know you more than someone who just follows on Flickr or Instagram.

Geena has seen that evolution. “Social media has definitely changed over the years. When I first started blogging, I would have said that Flickr was the best platform to publicize my blog posts. However I have definitely seen a decrease in activity on the platform, along with many days of loading issues. Now I seem to be getting more activity through Facebook, which also has its pros and cons, a con being the quality of photo, so I believe it is a good idea to combine both Flickr and Facebook for your publications.”

For Hara, social media is a must and posting only takes a few minutes. “I already have my credits ready as I do them after I’m done setting up before taking the photos, so I don’t have to log in anymore only to get the credits. For years, I’ve only been posting on Flickr to build my following, because whether we’d like to deny it or say it’s not important, we do need to put ourselves out there, make a good following to be an effective blogger. I joined Facebook just last year and I think it’s a much better platform because not all residents do photography or check on Flickr. You can get a larger audience on Facebook who are also consumers, thus having more effectiveness when it comes to publicizing your posts.”

Exis doesn’t put much faith in syndication any longer. She used to be syndicated but doesn’t want to spend her time applying. “Social media offers enough exposure so that a syndication is maybe optional. And I’d rather spend that time on my images. I really feel jealous of bloggers that pop out ECLIPSE May 2020 | Page 73

images in minutes. It takes me hours, or even days, to finish a scene alone. If you include shooting and editing it, it is a long process. And that’s time I sacrifice from sleeping or relaxing so I can’t invest it in anything other than exactly that. I usually post my pictures a day after I’ve finished them. And that is because posting/sharing on social media is another timeconsuming process. I use Wordpress as my blog and then Flickr, Facebook, Plurk, and LinkedIn to share my posts. I feel safer having my own blog/domain as Flickr has proven to be unreliable and unstable.”

Flickr’s recent suspension of free accounts that linked to stores and Marketplace and even to blogs that had links was a wake-up call for many bloggers as well as creators.

The Terms of Service have always said that free accounts cannot be used to sell things, but many thought if the links were on the blog and not on Flickr, they were within the rules. In an effort to encourage people to pay for the service, Flickr began clamping down and completely eliminating accounts that violated this rule. They are losing money and cannot continue to provide the same level of free services. Many bloggers perceive Flickr’s fees as the cost of doing business while others cavil at the idea of paying for what was free for so long.

For Exis, this had no effect. “I was a PRO member before the changes and I still am today. Spending money on the media you showcase your work on, is essential. You can’t have it all. I have spent a lot of money on Wordpress for my blog, on Flickr for my subscription and I’d probably keep on spending since I’m committed to what I’m doing. But that is me; I’m sure others see it differently.”

On the other hand, it encouraged Geena to go Pro. “It has not affected me greatly. I did become conscious and mindful of certain links I would put in my posts, and decided to purchase Pro to be on the safe side. I understand that not everyone can do that, but the outreach in the community and from sponsors has all been positive, and all seem to be understanding and supportive for those who cannot or do not want to go Pro.” And just to make sure all positions are taken, Justine has retained her free account. “The only thing about Flickr’s TOS that’s changed, was me having a hard limit on how many pics I can upload. If you can’t see yourself hitting the 1000 photo limit, I personally can’t see myself going pro.”

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Tips For Bloggers E: Take your time! Instead of being the first who blogged the newest release spend more time on creating creative and original images.

J: Don’t take on more than you can handle. There is nothing worse than having a lot of deadlines and no inspiration.

H: Practice. All the good bloggers started from somewhere.

It’s all about the practice, and I guess finding your style. If you think you’re not improving, then keep on experimenting, G: Passion is what matters. If you are thinking of really getting into blogging, make sure you have a passion for some aspect of it, whether it’s photography or fashion or decorating. It is easy to get wrapped up in gaining sponsors, followers, and favs. But that is fleeting and may not make you happy in the end.

E: Invest in your resources, on educating yourself, and on growing as a blogger.

H: Don’t stop learning. Every now and then, there are still things that you can learn and it will keep your work fresh.

J: Keep learning and evolving. I keep inspired by playing around in photoshop and learning new techniques. When I keep doing the same editing over and over again, I get bored and lose inspiration.

G: Set goals for yourself, to better your craft, and to enjoy a hobby while having fun.

H: Don’t be afraid of rejection, harness your failures and make it something better, something that is yours.

J: Don’t overcommit. Look at the number of post/item requirements each sponsor requires. Personally for my speed, I don’t take on any sponsors that have over a 2 post a month requirement. I prefer blogging for single stores to be honest. I feel like there’s less pressure this way.

G: Collaborate. Whenever I am in a “creative funk” or having some creativity block, one of the BEST things for me is to do a collaboration. Being around other creative minds is therapeutic and will normally help to motivate me and keep things fresh when I’m feeling a bit tired or uninspired.

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So, now that we have picked their brains to learn their blogging secrets, let’s find out a bit more about them on the personal level.

Justine works in a specialty clinical triage call center. This allows her to work from home, though it does mean that sometimes when she is done working the last thing she wants to do is sit in front of another computer taking pictures. But that is not stopping her!

“I am a huge gamer. My current obsession is Animal Crossing: New Horizons. I’ve dumped 400+ hours into it and there’s no sign of slowing!”

and spend time with my family, friends and boyfriend. I play Sims 4, and mmorpg games with friends and my boyfriend.” Her Spotify playlist is pop, R&B, and Hiphop. She’s a Netflix fanatic who loves action and mysteryfantasy. She’s reading Artemis Fowl and hopes to finish the series. “I’m an introvert; I like solitude and most of the time like to be by myself. I have a very small close group of friends, and only have a handful of people who I talk to everyday. With this line of interests and work, I like to say that I’m into art and being a Second Life blogger reflects that.”

Exis is a professional dancer, though now she just dances for fun. “I love staying home, watching movies with friends and cooking. I do enjoy reading too, but usually that’s a summer thing, whilst I’m lying at the beach.” She is hard on herself, describing herself as a creature of habit, perhaps boringly so. She has OCD and is a huge hypochondriac, all of which have had an effect on her relationships. “I think one has to be a brave and patient person to be able to tolerate me and actually like me.

I do think I am an extrovert, in the sense that it is difficult for me to keep my mouth shut. I usually say what’s on my mind and sometimes I forget to filter it. Again, the people who know me and are close to me, understand. Or even appreciate it. And this is what I ask of them, as well. Honesty and kindness. Whatever it is you have to say to me, just say it. I’m a big girl and I can take it.” In contrast to her RL, her SL is more cat-friendly. “I often use cats in my images, but I’m a dog owner and lover. Cats can be very unpredictable and that scares me.”

Geena describes herself as a reserved person who only becomes open and outgoing with friends. She needs that trust level to be formed before she can become truly at east.

“I do enjoy meeting new people, but tend to feel more comfortable in smaller groups. That is what I love so much about collaborations.

It enables you to meet amazing people with similar interests and passions on a smaller, individual level.” In SL, she spends her free time with friends, either dancing or going to live music shows, and playing an occasional game. In her first life, she loves to hang by the pool, go to concerts, travel, and seek out foodie joints. “I absolutely love baseball and the Yankees, catching live hockey games, and going to occasional college football games. I will go through phases of reading and Netflix binging, and of course, playing SL!”

And how has Second Life changed their lives? For Justine, the obvious answer is the truest answer. It is her creative outlet. She knows everyone says it, but it’s still true. “I Hara is a Filipina. She studied Multimedia Arts have a chance to design a whole room from in college but did not complete her studies. furniture I’d never be able to buy in RL. It’s She is more of an autodidact, teaching helped me with experience of designing and herself photography and photoshop skills. furnishing my RL. I’ve made friends, friends Photography is a hard career to break into, I’ve had for over a decade. Friends that I talk to so she has been applying and enhancing her every day. Friends I love and care for as if they’re skills through Second Life. “I like to mostly talk my family.”

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Geena has been here nine years and can list a lot of things that SL has given her.

“I’m grateful to have this creative outlet, a community that helps and encourages other artists, and a platform to take neverending pretty pictures. I’ve made some amazing long-term friendships in SL that have become a HUGE part of my RL. Some I talk to on the daily, that I love dearly, and consider extended family. And last but not least, I met my RL husband and forever partner in SL. So yes, Second Life has drastically changed my life.”

Hara thinks SL has had an impact on her life. “I guess that’s the glory of this community that made a lot of people stay for a very long time. It has a lot of depth, aspects that cater to everyone.” She loves how there is always something new to see and explore. She appreciates how the platform keeps evolving to better serve residents. It has also been a boon for her mental health. “It definitely helped me with depression and dealing with anxiety. I have met people and learned from them. Blogging turned out to be an outlet for any negativity that’s flowing inside of me and turned it into something beautiful and inspiring. What makes me happy right now in SL is blogging. I love decorating, making new scenes, making my mind work for ideas, making it flow with creativity. I love making images, using other people’s creations and showcase it the way they envisioned their work to look like.”

For Exis, Second Life’s effect has been equivocal. She often spends more time in SL robbing herself of much-needed sleep and relaxation. “The most obvious effect would be the exhaustion. I know it’s probably my fault and I can only blame myself for it, but I spend way too much time on something simple, only because, in my mind, that’s how perfection happens. Stress caused by blogging was another effect on my health in particular, however that problem is now solved. Leaving Blogotex and only working with brands/ events that understand and trust me, was

a huge help. On the other hand though, blogging has also a therapeutic side to it. It helps me get distracted, forget my troubles and express my creativity through a different form.” For her it is a balancing act, seeking the good without getting too tired and stressed.

While they are growing and changing over time, so is Second Life. For Justine, the biggest change is how she looks at other residents. “Everyone has their own story, their own escape. Everyone has their own ways of living their Second Life. There’s more than just a face behind an avatar.” Hara used to roleplay a lot and now mostly blogs. “I used to like to RP, explore sims and mingle with people. I enjoyed doing them all but it wasn’t just for me. Blogging stayed with the most because the whole aspect of it is in line of who and how I am and my interests.” For Geena, there has also been a shift from socializing to blogging, “I find fewer places to hangout and meet new people and more standing on individual platforms figuring out what the shopping event of the day is. But there are still plenty of opportunities to join up in communities around the grid. It is challenging to keep interest piqued when things become stale and familiar, but what it all comes down to is the people that keep me coming back.”

For Exis, she began with blogging and is still blogging, so the changes are more in the technology most of which require learning new skills and practicing.

As long as SL remains, there will be bloggers. Blogging has evolved over time. As it has changed from narrative to picture-only posts, it has become more international and more democratic. We can enjoy blogs from Japan or The Phillippines or Venezuela, or Canada with equal facility. This has been a good thing which is demonstrated by the proliferation of bloggers and Linden Lab’s recognition of their value to the company.

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Exis Flickr - Blog - Facebook Page 82 | ECLIPSE May 2020

Justine Flickr - Blog - Facebook

Geena Flickr - Blog - Facebook

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places to go

photography by minnie dethly. written by minn

“Places to Go” is a monthly feature showcasing some of the best sims to visit for activities in Second Life®.

One of the biggest complaints we hear from people on Second Life old and new, is that they don’t know what to do or where to go. The thing we think that draws most of us to Second Life is the endless possibilities it gives us from the comfort of our home. Finding cool and interesting places to go is sometimes challenging so we’ve decided to highlight a few for you to check out.

nie dethly.

Dahlia’s Bed

This gem is hidden right off the side of Dahlia’s m treats and drinks. Roleplay here is welcome and date? This is the perfect place for you, it’s sm

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d & Breakfast

main store, it is fully equipped with your favorite encouraged. Want to take someone on a coffee mall and cozy with a great view of the water.

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Devils Bend N

Where things are a bit more than meets the eye, t normal park. With overgrown shrubbery and som free to explore or even rent. There is definitely a wander deep down, be careful to mark your way t attention to the signs that line the Page 90 | ECLIPSE May 2020

National Park

this national park is a bit less clean-cut than your me questionable looking buildings that you are a mystery here to explore, along with caves that to keep yourself from getting lost. Also, pay close e dirt roads, and beware of wildlife.

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Escapade

This sim is full of fun and adventure, having se entertained for at least a few hours or so say th distracted by something shiny, and a one-hour to play one of the games the sim has to offer, the Clubhouse, Skull Cave Waterfall, and Hawkins Bay. Page 92 | ECLIPSE May 2020

es Island

everal games to play that will easily keep you he signs. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re anything like me though I get mission turns into three. Even if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want ere are tons of things to explore from The Goony . So come spend a day or two at Escapades Island!

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Kolmann

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nskuppe

anyways. Kolmannskuppe is a unique experience hat happened to everyone that lived here, what nt town is a mystery Run into fellow explorers and s of what happened here.

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Prehistorica: The

Looking for something a little different to do? We sim is open to explore, roleplay, and even play so different areas to explore from The Prehistoric Pla Plesiosaurus in the caves, so make sure to wear y that explored the Page 96 | ECLIPSE May 2020

Dawn Kingdoms

elcome to Prehistorica: land of the dinosaurs. This ome before the land of time games. It has several ains to The Fossil Reef. You can even swim with a your adventuring boots and go see the creatures e world before us.

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the proust spotli

photography by RI

The Proust Spotlight is our monthly feature where we highlight one of the many creative residents of Second Life®.

Utilizing the Proust Questionnaire, whose namesake comes from the late 19th century French writer, we will offer a glimpse into what makes them tick.

ECLIPSE Magazine has teamed up with the Blogger & Vlogger Network, so each month the blogger we showcase on the Proust Spotlight is a group member. The group member we feature this month is the talented Rita Rowley. She shares, “There’s not really much special about me that puts me apart from anyone else out there in SL. I like to write stories through roleplay, I like to photograph with feeling, I am a seeker of the unexplained but mostly I am simply here to have fun, to breach the limits of life which can only be done in second life.”

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TA ROWLEY.

What is your ideal of perfect happiness?

For me I don’t know what happiness is let alone the ‘perfect’ version of it. I don’t think there is a perfect happiness, and as dark and gloomy as that sounds, I think it’s okay? For me personally there is no happiness I know of, the idea of being happy makes me upset, but I like to think that shows my strength, and my willingness to survive. My every breath, my struggles, that is my happiness.

What do you most value in your friends?

What I most value would be the emotional connection. Our souls must entwine or it won’t work. My value in friendship is perplexed because I struggle, in the sense that. I don’t emotionally connect with people the same others would. Friendship...it has to be a deep, real and a meaningful connection. It’s those whom share the same energy, and those whom leave a mark on my soul.

How would you like to die?

Honestly, I’ve thought about it too much, but it’s not really the dying part more-so the aftermath. I want to be a firework, I want to be cryogenically frozen, and I also want a viking funeral. To die, I want to die in peace, but I also want to go out fighting. When I meet death, I want to go on an adventure with the grim reaper, I want to ask him bizarre questions, and then I wish to be guided into the light, and welcomed by a friend.

What is your most marked characteristic?

I don’t have one? Not that I know. They’re all pretty much swallowed up into a black hole of nothingness, leaving behind a question mark. The confusion of reality, of whom I am, who I am yet to be. Maybe that is a characteristic, the mystery of myself.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Friendliness. As much as being friendly can bring good into your life, it can also bring a lot of demons. Friendliness at times, comes with a price, it’s treading on eggshells, and we can’t all do that. Friendliness can be twisted into corruption. In the wrong hands friendliness is something which will tear people apart more than bring them together.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

Probably an alien, but people say I am an alien, so I would only be returning as my true self. That might be as ET, or it might be an ‘alien’ as someone from a different time. The answer is limitless, but if I were reincarnated, I would want to do better than my former life.

Connect with Rita on her Flickr, Blog and Facebook.

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the way you inspi

photography by cassie middles. written by novale

One of the best aspects of Second Life is how it makes a large world seem infinitely smaller. It grants its residents the opportunity to meet and develop friendships and relationships with people that would otherwise be impossible. There are people who enter our Second Life and for whatever reason they inspire us. ECLIPSE Magazine’s newest monthly piece, “The Way You Inspire,” is dedicated to these incredible individuals.

For this piece, we interview Ashlee Bettencourt, and she shares with us why she is inspired by her SL mom, Elvi Peppermint. If you would like to nominate someone for our upcoming piece, please fill out this form.

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eigh freng.

“Most people would just throw their hands up and call it a day, but she went out of her way to make sure that everything was okay for everyone. She was motivational and kept everyone’s spirits up when they were so far down.”

We all have that special someone in our lives that inspires us. They may inspire us to make better choices, to be a better version of ourselves, or simply allow us the opportunity to smile more, but regardless of what they’ve done, they improve our lives simply by being a part of them. ECLIPSE Magazine’s newest feature, “The Way You Inspire,” was born to celebrate these people, and to give back a little bit of the love that they show us every single day.

This month, we look at the beautiful and talented Elvi Peppermint. Elvi was nominated by her daughter, Ashlee. A Second Life resident for nearly a decade, Elvi has worn many hats in her time on the grid. She’s been a fashion blogger, a photographer, a dance teacher, and a landscaper, and — according to Ashlee — a champion friend and a wonderful mother to boot.

In Second Life, we meet new people and have the opportunity to cultivate new relationships every single day. Each person we meet is unique. They have their own talents and face their own struggles. Ashlee met the woman she now calls her mother by chance when both were cheerleaders for the Virtual Football League’s RDG Falcons.

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“I remember Elvi was always really quiet... I thought it was sort of intimidating because I was always so goofy and messing about, [so] I thought perhaps she found me annoying and didn’t want to interact.

But then she was put in a position where she had to be put in charge of some things [...] and that was when she began to open up. That was when I realized she was just really shy around new people and didn’t want to draw much attention to herself.”

Of course, the relationship between Ashlee and Elvi blossomed from there. While Ashlee admits that she was a fan of Elvi’s blog from the start, it was her personality and her ability to take the lead and defuse uncomfortable situations that truly made her stand out. She was motivational and committed to making sure that those around her were comfortable and happy. In this, she flourished, and Ashlee began to realize that Elvi was a force to be reckoned with.

It seemed she had an innate ability to make those around her happy, to make them feel included, and as she began to come out of her box and step up, Elvi made a real impression on those around her, and perhaps even more so on her future daughter, Ashlee.

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“[It] turns out she was really just as goofy as me.”

Elvi’s personality and drive were hard not to notice. She was an inspiration to those around her, and to Ashlee, an added layer of kindness and Elvi’s determination to make her feel included in her life led Ashlee to something else — a new family.

Meeting people is easy enough in Second Life, but cultivating those new relationships in such a way that they can grow is a bit more difficult.

Ashlee had always been curious about family life in Second Life, and Elvi — a supportive and inspirational force in Ashlee’s life already — didn’t want her to miss out on the experience.

“She was always inviting me along on things to get to know everyone and I seemed to fit right in. I remember she seemed nervous to ask me if I would be interested in it …I still remember they did it in a really cute way with signs that asked me to be a part of the family. Of course, I said yes!”

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Photograph provided by Elvi Peppermint.

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Elvi Peppermint continues to work hard, offering love and advice to friends and family who need it, an ear for those who need someone to listen, and some kind words when someone needs them. She’s a dedicated individual who wants the best for others.

Family, friend, or stranger, Elvi doesn’t seem to care.

She shares her kindness with and encouragement to anyone who needs it. This is one of the many things that endeared her to Ashlee, and no doubt one of the many things that others who have had the pleasure of interacting with Elvi can attest to. Whether she is hanging out with her family, working on an event, or investigating a new hobby, she tackles everything that she does with an infectious attitude and a level of gusto that is to be admired.

“She really wears her heart on her sleeve even though she wants to think she’s got a hard shell. She is always her own worst critic even though she’s doing an amazing job.”

Elvi Peppermint has built up an impressive resume of accomplishments here in Second Life, a wealth of knowledge and a playground for those around her.

She has been and continues to be a source of inspiration for everyone whose lives she has the opportunity to touch.

ECLIPSE Magazine’s newest mission is to highlight the amazing people who bring us hope, happiness, love, and encouragement as Elvi has for others around her. If you’d like to know a little more about Elvi, see her Flickr and Facebook.

Is someone in your Second Life an inspiration to you? If you’d like to see them featured in the next installment of the “How You Inspire” feature in next month’s issue, see the link for more information.

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sl fiction...

photography by Harley Heartsong. written by Harley H

Second Life is rich in roleplay opportunities, and ECLIPSE Magazine rotates between their “SL Fiction” and “World of Roleplay” feature to showcase this. Dedicated to telling each character’s story by taking the concept of “a day in the life,” we invite our readers to SL Fiction.

Finding Daisy had been a lot of things. A new kind of responsibility. A sense of companionship. A miracle disguised as a potato body, a pair of uneven pointy ears, four stubby puppy legs and the face of innocence, something Stella had nearly forgotten. Life in the city wasn’t easy after the outbreak, but it was safe… but only for so long. Depleting supplies and overcrowding have a way of inciting anger and survival reactions.

In fear of just how dire the situation began to be, Stella knew it was time to leave their home and find fresher land. Stella knew their journey would be a dangerous one, but it needed to be made. Packing up the little she had in her pack and the little stuffed bunny Daisy had adopted, the pair made their way west, where pastures were greener.

Heartsong.

These days, morning was when you woke up and Stella had worke disrupted that. Now morning was when Daisy decided it was mor smirk her lips had formed as she diligently cleared her shotgun in take much time. With time saved, Stella decided it was worth it Page 130 | ECLIPSE May 2020

ed hard to keep a decent sleep schedule, but Daisy had completely rning. “You’re lucky you’re cute…” Stella grumbled through the half n preparation for their trip. There wasn’t much to pack and it didn’t t to take one last walk around the place they had called home.

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When you finally left the compound residing in the middle of the outbreak had been. Toxic waste bags still dotted the streets. Dirt an be seen for miles. There was no hope here. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;mon Daisy-girl. Noth trash. She was quick to run after her owner, even if she was clumsy face and a new sense of d

e skeleton of the city, you truly could see just how devastating the nd destruction, left by the early attempts to contain the virus, could hin’ left for us here.” The woman called as the pup sniffed at a pile of y while doing it. The little interaction left a bit of a smile on Stellas determination in her gut.

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The decision was made, the bags were packed. The supplies were g up her mind, it didn’t mean the choice to move on from any friend three years now… but it was time. As her legs dangled down ove beyond towards the tiny green dot that teased her on the horizon. ears. “Hope we packed your walkin’ sh

gathered and the map was properly marked. But even if she’s made ds she’d made, was an easy one. This had been her home for almost er the sheet ghettos below, her eyes strained to see past the city, . A smile tugged on her lips as a hand reached to mess with Daisy’s hoes… got a nice adventure t’morrow.”

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“Dammit-” She hissed out, one hand working to scoop Daisy up and gun out of its holster. It wasn’t like she had forgotten about the thr The low snarls and growls from outside the broken glass window Sure… maybe. Or she could hold her ground. Sure… maybe. Stel outside to decrescendo into the silenc

d out of view of their undead visitors outside, the other working her reat of walkers finding them, sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d just hoped it wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen. left her heart racing and her adrenaline pumping. She could run. lla kept them both quiet and waited for the sound of the infected ce of the woods that surrounded them.

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She wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sure when the last time sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d walked on soft earth was. W lot of things, and asphalt was perhaps the most abundant. The sight covered in green, slowly falling victim to the forest around it, had be face naturally holding a smile. Then, they reached the end of the ro smoke rising up from the distance. She inhaled deeply and looked do

Was it before the outbreak? It was possible. The city was filled with a t of the road ahead growing more and more broken, more and more egun to bring her a sort of energy. Her walk was a little bit faster, her oad and suddenly it was nothing but pastures ahead. Stella spotted own to the pup beside her. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Almost there now, Daisy-girl. Almost home.â&#x20AC;?

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artist highlight

Written by taylor wassep. photography by taylo

Artistry and creativity are at the foundation of everything we see and do in Second Life. The same is true for all we hear in Second Life. In showcasing residents and groups who embody the concept of “your world, your imagination,” Eclipse Magazine is honored to showcase Second Life’s amazing musical talent.

In this month’s “Artist Highlight,” we shine the spotlight on the incredibly talented live singer, Parker Static.

or wassep.

Musical performances in Second Life have been a constant form of creativity for many people. Playing venues of just a couple of people to events of more than one hundred, no matter the size, the love of music prevails and the emotions will always be true. One singer who prides herself in delivering “music you can FEEL,” and that beautiful soul is Mrs. Parker Static-Riley. She is an established songstress whose range stretches from Pop music to Soft Rock, from Jazz to Country; and more.

Parker came across Second Life after watching an episode of MTV’s “True Life,” featuring a performing artist by the name of Keiko Takamura. I’m sure many of you will know that name. So, she jumped at discovering this new platform to explore.

Like most people though, the confusing Welcome Island didn’t help navigate her through the ‘then’ complicated avenue that was Second Life.

A year and half later, after again watching the very episode that got her to try out Second Life in the first place. Parker returned, and with a little more patience this time. She was able to conquer the obstacle that was Welcome Island and has been here ever since. Later on, she would be come to be represented by Keys Management Group and Laurie Alexis and Liz Harley, her managers.

She has been pleased with her progress, explaining, “My career here has been mostly amazing. It’s had it’s up and downs but mostly ups. I’ve met so many wonderful people. Now and then I’ve come across a snake in the grass but it’s all part of the process. Take the good with the bad.”

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From there, she explored what Second Life was to her. Being able to perform for residents in a virtual space allows her to share her heart through music while also giving her the chance to meet many wonderful people. By staying true to herself and sharing her gifts with others, Parker has been able to meet incredible venue owners, friends from all around the world, and even the love of her life, Thorn Riley.

Speaking of Mr. Riley, Parker told us an extremely precious moment for her. The night Thorn proposed to her, she was in the middle of a show with over eighty people in attendance. Here emotions were running rampant but she pushed through her set. During her set, she performed Celine Dion’s version of “The Power of Love.” Since then, this song has taken on a new meaning to Parker.

What a beautiful moment to have someone you care for so deeply, expressing their love for you, in front of people who are there to support you, all while performing a song all about the power of love. Just kudos to her for pushing through and keeping this special moment close to her heart.

When asked who are some artists who inspire her musically, she noted two people. One is her mother – an incredible singer herself, so, at least Parker knows where she got her beautiful voice.

The other person is Whitney Houston whom Parker described as the most versatile power singer of all time “I want tobe like her when I grow up,” she added.

Parker is quite the talented young woman, and if you are interested in booking her, you will need to get in contact with Laurie Alexis (LaurieC) of Keys Management Group.

Listen to Parker on SoundCloud.

Check out Parker’s schedule to listen to her inworld.

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Voices from the g

Voices From the Grid is a monthly survey of opinions and ideas of Second Life® residents on the salient issues of the day.

For this issue, ECLIPSE Magazine we asked residents to share “What is the best thing about Second Life for you? ”

grid

Photograph provided by Sena Heartsong.

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sena heartsong

S

ena Heartsong has been in SL for over seven years now. In that time she has roleplayed extensively, explored countless sims, met amazing friends, and experimented with putting sim experiences together for others, as well as her current love, SL Photography. At this point in her SL life, Sena sees Second Life as an ongoing opportunity to create art, experiences, or new connections.

Second Life has been many things for me over the years. Beyond being a great distraction and escape from work or lulls in activity in my personal life, it’s been a place of discovery, experimentation and loads of learning.

I go in phases with regards to what I like to do and that can certainly be seen if you look at the whole history of my time here. At the beginning I spent about 99% of my time role-playing, whereas now, seven-plus years later, though it’s an activity I still love, I rarely do anymore.

These days I spend a lot of time listening to the super talented DJ’s and live singers that can be found around the grid on gorgeous sims created by equally talented designers. And when not doing that, I’m taking pictures or hanging out with friends.

Which leads me to what has by far been the common thread of what the best thing in SL is for me: the people.

I don’t think in any other part of my life I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many different people from all over the world. And it’s not just meeting a lot of people, it’s the caliber and range of people I’ve met.

I’m always amazed and grateful for the generosity, kindness and beauty I’ve found in so many here. And it’s those people that I create with, play with and get to know, that have made all the experiences I’ve had in SL so amazing. In truth... even when things have been challenging, as they can be in all lives, it’s the people and the connections that I love most.

Check out her Flickr.

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Photograph provided by Pips.

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P

ips [Halfwraith Caerndow] joined SL in 2008 for a Masters class and never looked back (well maybe a few times). The name Halfwraith was inspired by the cheesy Canadian sci-fi TV show Stargate. She is a mom and librarian in RL and in the summer spends as much time outdoors in her spare time as she can, so summers and SL for me can be a bit incompatible. But she lives in Canada so winters are long. She started a freebie fantasy blog in 2011 as she loved SL hunts, and over time her blog Pips Fantasy in SL has switched over to become a regular fantasy blog.

When she started blogging fantasy fashion blogs were few and far between, but she loves that fantasy fashion has taken off so hugely in SL in the last few years. She is creepily devoted to all things CURELESS[+] , Moon Amore, {aii}, Fallen Gods Inc. and also Boudoir.

PIPS

It is the creative possibility of being characters that I could never be in real life.

I love science and fantasy fiction and I got enamoured with SL pretty quickly when I realized I could be a Drow one minute and a tiny fairy whizzing around the next. Role-playing as an elf was where I started in SL but then I became really interested in virtual personas and representations and started playing around with being a strange girl in SL pretty early on with horns and colourful skins.

I never wear regular street fashion in SL—for me, SL is my fashion fantasy dream world. It might sound strange to some people but I would never, for example, wear jeans in SL—well unless they were by [][]Trap[][] and fantastical. For me SL is to explore things that are outside the norm—I am never aspiring to mimic the real world in the looks I create or photos I take for instance. SL has no gravity— your feet don’t need to be in the ground, and you can teleport and fly and arrange objects however you want.

My SL friends that are not into fashion are a bit bemused by my outfits and persona changes but it is what brings SL alive for me. Some days I am a tiny, a wolf, and a fairy tale princess, or a cyber being. I also really like taking photos in SL so finding wonderful items and outfits to feature in photos is really fun for me.

I like the imaginative aspect of being able to combine looks and items in unusual ways. Many designers in SL are also just so imaginative that their work inspires me and it sparks a vision in my mind of how I want to put looks, characters, and scenes together.

Check out her Flickr.

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Photograph provided by Caitlin Tobias.

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caitlin tobias

C

aitlin Tobias, or Cait or Caity, as she is called by her friends, was born in Second Life in August 2007. Those were the days of casinos and ad farms! After a career in poker palaces, hostess in a Zyngo-arena and hostess in Hard Rock clubs, she discovered the world of Katana-fighting, using the C:si Combat system.

From 2009 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2012 she had a clan with friends, and many tournaments were held.

But to all good things comes an end and in April 2012 the clan was put on inactive.

Since then she has dedicated her Second Life to blogging, photography and generally having a good time. Since 1 January 2019, she has been the Social media and blogger manager for Dutchie. In this role, she is responsible for Dutchieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s online presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr and is also actively looking for bloggers or SL photographers who are able to represent the Dutchie brand online.In addition to that, she has been a guest writer and photographer for the Fantasy Faire on their official site during the event since 2014.

Ah..that is actually quite easy to answer! The best thing about Second Life is the people. Though I love exploring regions, admiring art, shopping and dressing up my avatar, in the end, a good time in Second Life for me is always when I hang out with friends, meet new people in a club or wherever or had a good chat in one of the many groups.

Empty regions are wonderful for taking pictures and exploring is something I indeed rather do by myself, but what an empty region is not a place to stay for long. Once the pictures are done, it is time to socialize.

A good place in Second Life is, therefore, for me, not one that is a magnificent building but one that has a friendly, witty and intelligent crowd. So yes, I have had the most amazing nights in a sandbox, sitting on a prim... it is, really, all about the people and the company you have.

I always experience this when I take the photos for the Fantasy Faire, as an official photographer I get early access to take pics of the regions, even before vendors and shops get in â&#x20AC;&#x201C; just to be able to document the amazing buildings. The real fun starts after opening: the parties, the events, the people!

Check out her Flickr and Blog.

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Photograph provided by Whiskey Monday.

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WHISKEY MONDAY

W

hiskey Monday has been in Second Life for almost 15 years. She spends her time taking photos, exploring, and getting her camera tangled in trees.

She still hasn’t learned how to jump.

Second Life offers endless opportunities for expressing creativity; from the moment you choose your name, you are creating your own experience. The very definition of creativity is: imaginative ability – the ability to use the imagination to develop new and original ideas or things. Second Life offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to stretch that imaginative ability in ways that may not be possible in the physical. The best thing about SL is its capacity for removing barriers and creating opportunities that don’t exist anywhere else. That, and being able to create a sunset upon demand. That’s pretty great, too.

Check out her Flickr.

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Photograph provided by Alaska Metropolitan.

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Alaska Metropolitan

A

laska Metropolitan joined Second Life in 2005 and made her first outfit within one week. She’s been creating fashion and beauty products ever since, currently specializing in appliers. For more info on her brand, visit The Alaskametro blog.

For me, the best thing about Second Life is seeing how creative people can be when the limitations of the real world are removed. I really love exploring unique sim experiences. I like shopping for home decor, art, gadgets, and fashion that is impractical - or impossible - for me to have in real life. It’s part escapism and part art collection I suppose. When I first joined Second Life, I visited a sandbox on my first day and talked to an alien in a UFO and a giant dragon. To me, that’s the spirit of Second Life - the bizarrely wonderful, random creativity that its residents bring.

Check out her Youtube Channel, in-world store and Marketplace.

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THE wayfarer...

photography by temp

“The Wayfarer” is a monthly feature showcasing some of the most aesthetic places in Second Life®.

Often times solace could be sought in silence, and for the Wayfarer this was what Lost Lagoon brought him. Though the homes lay almost abandoned, and there was no other person within sight — there was peace. His eyes would close, and he could hear the waves crashing against the rocks with the birds chirping as they rested upon the cliffs.

Taking a deep breath that mingled with a sigh that escaped his lips, he began his slow exploration of the land, his feet treading gently upon worn paths crossing amongst overgrown grasses. Indeed, this place filled his soul.

Immerse yourself in Lost Lagoon.

est rosca.

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ask eclipse

ECLIPSE Magazine returns with its advice column, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ask ECLIPSE.â&#x20AC;? Each issue we take questions given to us by residents, and our resident advice guru provides the answers.

Have a pressing question that you would like to see answered? Be sure to fill out this form.

Dear ECLIPSE, I’ve been friends with this person for five years and they took a break for the past two years. They recently came back and think very highly of their avatar. How do I tell them they are in very much need of an update? I’ve tried to drop hints, but they’re just not picking up on it.

- Torn Tracey Dear Torn Tracey, This can be troubling waters as some people take their avatar appearance very seriously, maybe a little too seriously if you ask me. I’m not sure what methods you’ve tried but maybe start talking about ‘new’ releases such as different bodies and heads.

Start talking about all the new features, don’t make it so much about looks as it is features that can make their Second Life a better experience. Also, linking blogs has never hurt anyone a simple OMG!I think this would look so cute on you’ never hurt anyone.

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Dear ECLIPSE, My friends and I rent a sim together. We each have a quarter. One of our friends never updates their land. If I cam over, their Christmas decorations are still up and the land still is snowing! It’s such an eyesore. What can we do to get them to change their land to spring?

- Frustrated Franny Dear Frustrated Franny, I’ve personally dealt with this issue.

Depending how close you are to them, you might be able to re-decorate for them. If there are still Christmas items out I doubt very highly that they visit their home very much. If you’re not comfortable with that you can always ask them kindly, and if they seem ‘busy’ you can offer to do it for them.

Finally, if nothing else works stop camming over or build a wall around your parcel and pretend they are stuck in a time-bubble if anyone asks.

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Dear ECLIPSE, My friend left SL six weeks ago because she got into a really bad break up. Her ex and I have been getting along, and he asked me on a date. Should I accept this date (I really want to)? I mean, she’s not playing SL anymore.

- Confused Connie Dear Confused Connie, This depends on a few things really, I’m all for support girl/bro code and think exes should be off-limits. I know on Second Life that seems to be easier said than done. If you and this girl are friends outside of SL, I would highly recommend reaching out to her and expressing your feelings. I advise caution and tell you to perhaps look at the reasons their relationship didn’t work out, and maybe save yourself some heartache.

Personally, I wouldn’t go on the date. Tell him thank you for the thought, but you’d rather respect your friend even if they aren’t around anymore.

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