THE BEST OF SL MAGAZINE JANUARY 2020 EDITION by The Best Of SL Magazine

Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Reign Congrejo Fashion Editor Bronxie Asst Fashion Editor Shantal Gravois CONTRIBUTORS Jackson Redstar Arya Braveheart CompE Lockwood Bronxie Sammie Audion Jamee Sandalwood Magissa Denver COVER PHOTO: Magissa Denver COVER: MMorganWhitfield Miss Virtual World 2020

BOSL Magazine JANUARY 2020 Edition

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CONTENT

9 20

THIS OLD TOWN 9 SL NEW YEAR 20 REINVENTION 34 FASHION TREND-REINVENT THE WHITE SHIRT 54

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THIS OLD TOWN Article and Photography by: Sammie Audion After the glamour of Christmas and New Year celebrations, we find ourselves in, perhaps, the quietest time of winter: ‘Low Budget January’ is here. Of course, this does not mean everything has to be dull, dark, and depressing. Winter is a wonderful time when mother nature presents herself in her beautiful white gown--well, if you happen to live up north enough, considering the Earth’s climate zones. SIf you happen to be located in a warmer climate zone in the southern hemisphere, you are not out of luck to enjoy some winter fun – winter fun of the virtual kind within Second Life (SL), that is. Granted: it’s not that hard to add some snowy ground textures, some ‘winterized’ trees and houses, and a couple of Off-sim mountains – nor is it particularly spectacular. That on its own does not create a true Winter Wonderland. So what does? What makes a true winter sim real enough to give us this bliss when being immersed into the virtual world? There are probably as many answers to this question as there are people with different winter experiences. That simple fact of course is what makes SL so remarkable: SL provides stimuli for our

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very real fantasies, thoughts, feelings, and dreams. As a result, our minds create a reshuffled (or sometimes entirely new), engrossed, holistic experience – which is even more intense if you share the experience with other SL residents. These visual triggers or stimuli are created by the stunning creativity and skill of sim and content designers, and they go far beyond a tree covered with pixel snow. One of those gifted sim decorators and content designers is Bekks (jks.beck). She has created a constantly-evolving and transferring multi-level sim. She started out with her inspired pastime as a simple outlet for her creativity. Soon enough, she came to the realization that this was not something that should be hidden away in the privacy of her sim. Bekks decided to open up her home sim for the public in SL to enjoy. So, what is there to discover at Old Town? On a walk through the Old Town, one can find a variety of shops –

even a bridal shop to find that stunning dress for your special day. Who knows, you may choose to celebrate that very day on this gorgeous sim.. Visitors can also visit a carnival for some outdoor fun with lovely rides. Why not sit at the coffeehouse to enjoy a cappuccino or a hot chocolate? Perhaps you prefer tea over coffee? There is a tea house, too.

At Winterland, for instance, you are invited to have fun at a large ice rink. Perhaps you can imagine the feeling of cold winter air on your cheeks as you speed over the ice. If you are in a rather romantic mood, then consider visiting the sledge awaiting you and your date for a romantic ride. Cuddle up, and enjoy the beautifully designed, snowy winterscape. Or simply take a quiet, enjoyable walk and indulge in all The store ‘Le Mont’ is open to offer Bento music the amazing details of this build. instruments. Speaking of music: something unique to Old Town is the karaoke, as well as other locations Keep in mind that the sim is constantly growing and within the installment. This is a ‘must’ for all the changing; don’t be disappointed if something pointed unknown stars out there – the extremely talented as out in this article is no longer to be found – something well as the not so splendidly gifted, all in line with the new may replace it. Make sure you explore the fun and exciting spirit of karaoke. different levels and sky boxes to enjoy all of Bekks’ creations; visitors can use the blue balls distributed all When it comes to activities, there is so much to over the sim for teleporting. Most locations include explore--only some of which is covered here. horseback riding. But, watch out! You can bring your horse up to a dangerously fast gallop.

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The writer of this article and the sim owner are in no way responsible for any injury, including broken or lost pixels RELAX – IMMERSE – RECOVER - REPEAT of any kind. Right! So if you should find yourself in a ‘staycation’ situation this month, or if you have a reprieve from hectic work hours, Old Town and the various places within Bekks sim might be just the thing for you. Escape the climate, the RL rat-race, the news, the fight of making ends meet, or whatever it might be for just a little while at the Old Town. Keeping this spirit in mind, just RIRR:

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Winterland: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/ Adagio%20Breeze/185/241/1201 Old Town: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/ Adagio%20Breeze/158/118/2891

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SECOND LIFE NEW YEAR Article By: CompE|Photography By: Cara Paine Typically, one looks back at the old year and vow’s changes for the new. But what about that other life, the Second one? Welcome to a new you in a New Year. Welcome to your Second Life -- avatar 2020.

“Make it friendly,” another avatar notes. “A lot of people write things like, ‘If all you can say to me is “hello, how are you?” don’t bother!’ What’s wrong with saying hello? Lighten up.”

Before we begin the journey in cyber world, let’s start with Other comments included investing in a good profile a makeover of the inner-you. Look at your profile. Other photograph. Your SL profile is a handshake, business people do. card, resume. It is everyone’s first impression; treat it accordingly. In an unscientific survey of dozens of SL veteran’s comments and opinions on what makes a good profile, Speaking of first impressions, can we have a serious many commonalities surfaced. “Don’t write a book about discussion about Mesh? Everyone has an opinion on yourself,” noted one SL guy with many years metaverse mesh: you either hate it, or hate it more. experience. “Just a short profile description works interests, perhaps approximate age, geographical location, Once your avatar is 2020 complaint, it’s time to see a and beliefs. A paragraph is plenty.” new world in the New Year. So many choices await! Start with sites that coincide with your New Year’s And the same rules in RL apply in SL: never list personal Resolutions. Want to hone cyber building skills in information in your profile. 2020? Builders Brewery is Ground Zero.

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One of the oldest and definitive sites of SL, Builders Brewery offers soup to nuts courses in scripting, building, and programming. Professional designers and newbies hang out here. All are welcomed, and everyone is willing to help anyone.

Or, how about visiting a foreign country? One of the most underrated features of Second Life is its people power. Through these cyber portals, anybody can meet anyone, anywhere. How cool is it to hear of news in Europe, the Middle East, Australia, or Africa, and discuss those headlines with the people who live Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re building a box or designing a full sim it? They are here. Reach out and touch someone -empire, somebody at Builders Brewer can teach you. internationally. Other new skills await -- Second Life has a huge and Visit their homelands: excellent renditions of Paris, growing boating culture, from ocean liners to kayaks, Rome, Sydney, and Antarctica are here and unlike exploring the Blake Sea. Boating requires practice; the real ones, no passport required. Eating pastries at there are cyber nautical skills to master, which is part the Eiffel Tower is a click away. of the fun. Been there done that, you say? Oh sure, you mean that real world stuff. When was the last time you were Other SL sports spills and chills include hang gliding, a mermaid? You can be in SL, just look below the scuba diving, horseback riding, race car driving, and surface - to the oceanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s depths. Start with Haven of dozens more-- all waiting for 2020 and you. Mermaids, a magical community of merfolk within the community of Second Life.

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The underwater world community welcomes all. There are lands of dragons, unicorns, mythical creatures of old and new. Medieval castles are around every turn. And did I mention space? We have everything from the Space Shuttle to Klingons. Start with SL’s real-world rendition of stellar history and future: The International Spaceflight Museum. Walk among amazing replicas of actual rockets including Apollo, Mercury, and more. As educational and interesting as most real-world counterparts.

Other sites are more passive, offering a glimpse into Star Trek and other space fantasies for a well-balanced intergalactic experience. As Commander Spock would say, “It’s logical, Captain.” These examples are but the tip of the SL iceberg (there are icebergs in SL, too; also versions of the Titanic, but don’t mention icebergs around the passengers-- they get all panicky. Finally, consider giving to a worthy cause. The American Cancer Society, Relay for Life in Second Life is a great start. Minus fees, 100% of funds raised goes to cancer research. The site’s major event is June 6-7, 2020: the SL Relay for Life. Why not sponsor a team? To learn more, contact http://www.relayforlife. org/SecondLife.

What better way to begin a new year than to boldly go where no man has gone before? Sound familiar? That’s right, Star Trek is in SL, in many versions. Fleet Commander role playing sites make one part of the crew, traveling at warp SL has excellent museums, clubs, and venues for all speed and setting phasers on stun. interests best summed in an impromptu motto: “We have plenty in 2020.” May the same be said of you. Happy New Year; enjoy your Second Life.

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REINVENTION Article: Yhishara Cerise Photography: Jackson Redstar At this time of year, many people make resolutions to reinvent themselves in some way. For Second Life residents, a certain amount of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;reinventionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; takes place all the time: designers change or add to their creative focus; we change our interests and what we are involved in; we are always tweaking our avatars in both small ways (like changing our hair colour) and large ways (like changing from a system to a mesh avatar). In the real world, we have examples such as David Bowie who, even after his passing, is still the uncrowned king of self-reinvention. In a 1999 BBC Newsnight interview, Bowie shared that his own path of reinventing himself began as a teenager. He wanted to write musicals but was (ironically enough) not a natural-born performer. While he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel at all comfortable going on stage as himself, he was more than okay with going on as a character. . When he chose to pursue his musical career, he adopted as his on-stage persona a character he created and knew he was meant to play: the one and only Ziggy Stardust.

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His example is important for anyone wanting to reinvent themselves. He identified a problem (stage fright) and found a solution (developing a stage persona). For others, a different scenario may cause them to want to change. Some are wanting a lifestyle that will improve their overall health. Major lifestyle changes may force the need for change: getting married or divorced, having or losing a child, getting a new job or facing retirement. Perhaps life is becoming stagnant, or one has achieved their goal and is ready for a new challenge. Bowie based his reinvention as Ziggy on his own dreams and visions for where he wanted to go in both his personal and professional lives. A critical point to consider: we should never reinvent ourselves to make someone else happy. A University of Rochester study found that people working towards a goal they want to achieve for themselves suffer less depression

and feel more satisfied than the people changing to suit someone else or achieve someone else’s dream. Some other things to consider are: is the reinvention realistic, is the goal long-term, and does the reinvention continue to work in one’s favor.

Let’s say someone wants to create mesh templates to sell. They could set an end goal to start doing that within a year. They could take three months to learn the necessary programs. Then they could take another six months creating items. That would leave three months to set up their store, do vendor ads, and First, is the reinvention realistic? An example would hire bloggers in preparation for their opening date. be someone that likes the idea of getting up early in Setting a timeline helps us to stay focused. the morning to go for a run. It would take discipline to form the habit and, if they joined a running club, Reinventions also work in reverse, hampering our they would have people to help them stay motivated success rather than accelerating it. At those times, (all very important reinvention tips). Yet, if the person we need to reassess what is not working and try has a lifestyle where they can’t go to bed before 2 AM, to change it. In Bowie’s case, he stopped making then chances are good that when 5:30 AM rolls around different personae for his stage shows when he found they are just going to push that snooze alarm! They that they were interfering with his creative process as may want to go for that sunrise run, but their lifestyle a songwriter. It’s important to allow ourselves to stop makes it unrealistic for them. doing the things that are no longer adding positive things to our lives even if in the past they did. If the goal is a long-term one: Setting a timeline for each milestone is essential.

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Reinvention takes hard work, focus, perseverance, and determination to succeed. By making the choice and taking the steps to reinvent himself from being David Robert Jones from Brixton, David Bowie, through his alter egos, became an influencer, icon, innovator, and inspiration to millions of people. So, what would our legacy be if we, too, made the choice to reinvent ourselves as the person we always wanted to be? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth making the changes to find out; we might be amazed at how far it will take us.

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ADONIS HANSOME

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Gabriel Wet shirt 2019 [LOB] ROVID SHORT Native - Guetta Sneakers -Phoenix Rising-Ion- Mens Shoulder Bag REPRESENT - THE 6LACK CAP ((Mister Razzor)) George Facial Hair

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MMORGANWHITFIELD

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ISON - Yso Tied Shirt - white Alaskametro<3 - Norma Shirt - white Rowne - Estelle High Skirt -white BigBeautifulDoll - Sheer&Opague Tights -white Bueri. - Sylvia Ankle Boots Deluxe -white Amala - The Kylie Choker Thick - Birthstone Version (yummy) - Winter Solstice Rings tram - F1011 hair Lelutka - Lash Set No.04

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TANYA GREEN

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Shirt: -Pixicat- Shirt Dress White Under Shirt: alaskametro<3 - “Norma” Shirt Leggings: ISON - leather leggings Heels: -KC- Couture - AILEEN HEELS Hat: CA - FRENCH BERET Hair: tram - F1124 hair Brows: Zibska - Florenz Brow Liner: {MUA} - All the Ways Eyeliner Nails: alaskametro<3 - “Muse” nail art

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AVAJEAN WESTLAND

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TOP: Scandalize Bloom Shirt Satin SKIRT: Jeune by Rowne Jitte Asymmetric Skirt Oxblood LEGGINGS: January Leggings Plaid BOOTS: Gos Pepper Ankle Boots Vanilla Custard EARRINGS: Mossu Fuzzy Earrings NECKLACE: Kunglers Aisha Necklace HAIR: Vanity Hair Oh Na Na NAILS: Lueur Beauty

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JAMEE SANDALWOOD

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LUA VENDETTA

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.::LUNA::. Body Art - Fall 6 - Maitreya Nails HUD Addams // Chandra Platform Boots Addams // Piper Button-Front Sweater Addams // Sienna Ripped Short alaskametro<3 “L’Automne” eyeshadow alaskametro<3 “L’Automne” lipstick Ghee Tapestry Scarf Izzie’s - Sheer Tights Basics tram G1113 hair

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MILA BLAUVELT

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Shirt Dress ------------------------Pixicats White (Maitreya) Socks------------------------------C´est appliers)

vie!

(Maitreya

Thong-------------------------------Kaithlee´s (Maitreya) Heels-------------------------------REIGN Slay Plants (Maireya) Hair----------------------------------no.match_NO_ BETWEEN US! Makeups----------------------------.:Mai Bilavio:. SugarCane (catwa)

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QUEENBRAT BRACKEN

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Skirt: MIWAS / Meggy skirt #White Shirt: MIWAS / Emily Shirt #White Shoes: [Gos] Hurley Ankle Boots - Metallic Rings: CODEX_BENTO CHANEL RINGS Earrings: Cae :: Fabulous :: Tights: Izzie’s - Glitter Tights Hair: [RA] Stacy Hair - Reds with Truth bangs Makeup: alaskametro<3 “Royale” makeup palette

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DESIREME FALLEN

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.Loki - Fall In Love GACHA - White Beret :::ChicChica::: Chantal Creme BLOOM - OMBRE Nail Stilleto Bento DOUX - Agora hairstyle Red LaGyo_Arianna Ribbon Earring Lunar - Chanty Jacket - White Lunar - Chanty Top - White Luova // Bunny // Left Middle Finger // Rowne.Ertel Pearl Choker - Nude.Resize Scandalize.Aralda.PANTS.

SHANTAL GRAVOIS

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