I mentioned earlier this week that I was really excited about new things going on, and this is one of the bigger ones. Linden Lab have launched the SL Blogger Network, a curated feed that will allow any and all Second Life Bloggers to opt in with their website, and have the chance to be featured on SL Blogger Network. I took a screenshot of the first release of posts, featuring a heartwarming post by Kess Crystal, and an awesome post about a Library in the Second Life that I did not know about, but am really excited to hear about by Inara Pey. My own Bakes on Mesh post is also present.

What “I” Know/Think:

There will be a team of Lindens that will be managing the SL Blogger Network, looking for content that they feel will enrich our day, whether it be Fashion or Information, they are looking to share as much as possible with those wanting to get more knowledge day to day on the workings of the Second Life Grid. This is not a feed in the general sense of the word that opting in means that every post you do on your blog will hit it, it will be a selection of posts from those that do opt-in posted through. They have plans for potential ‘themed’ days, days that may be set to focus on a particular subject, such as tutorials, tips and tricks etc…or it could be a retro way back timey type of deal where they highlight the looks that were popular in a particular time in the past history of SL. This is the exciting part of a curated feed, because you may not have a current post posted, but something you worked hard on a year ago may catch someone on the team’s eye and fit right into what they want that day to be about.

In the past all feeds, or feed type sites that brought the community together were provided by residents themselves, such as ‘The Planet feed’ (RIP) , IheartSL – which to date is the longest-running , and others that came and went, because it is a lot of work.

This initiative by Linden Lab is not aimed at replacing those or discouraging others to create more, it is instead a showcase spotlight on what it is that Residents do within and outside of Second Life, that they feel really shares the community spirit. Blogging is something people do to connect with others, we do not tend to ever meet or get feedback on what we say and do, but it is a way of sharing our experiences, our knowledge with those that may seek it, and Linden Lab want to show those that are already here, and those yet to come how we as bloggers do that.

I am excited about all the changes that have been happening through Linden Lab and focusing on Second Lifes needs in the past 16 months, it has definitely felt like we have gained more overall in that time, than we have for many years prior. We have Lindens that are really focused on the residents needs more so than ever before, the changes to Marketplace to me are a huge indicator of that, and now this, acknowledging Bloggers and what they provide to the experience of Second Life is really great.

While some think that this is a new move, they have essentially been doing this in one way or another for a long time, through the pictures on the Second Life website, all credited that mean anyone googling could find them and their work, through the picture of the day, by adding your picture to the Second Life Flickr group you were opting in for that to be a consideration. This is just a bigger undertaking along those same lines. The featured posts will not only be available on the SL Blogger Network but also be incorporated into the Social Networks managed by the team, so everything will be as far-reaching as possible.

I myself bounced into Second Life today full of excitement and posted in the SL Bloggerati group so that any that may have missed the news could go get their applications in. I hope if you are a Blogger that you will do the same.

Official Press Release

The Second Life Blogger Network (SLBN) is a new community initiative that aims to promote high-quality, independent blog content to the Second Life community via high-visibility channels, such as official Second Life social media feeds. Selected blog posts will also appear on a new curated feed on the Second Life Community Pages.

Participation in this new promotional program is non-exclusive and free. Bloggers are encouraged to continue to also work with other community blogger networks (such as BVN) and inworld groups for the promotion and distribution of their original editorial content.

GUIDELINES:

Review the SLBN Terms & Conditions and Content Guidelines. This initiative does not aim to influence the editorial content of your independent blog, but we do have editorial and content standards for the text and image content of those posts that we will promote.

PARTICIPATE:

If you are a blogger and want to participate, fill out the submission form and consider adding the optional Second Life Blogger Network badge to your website.

Once you have opted-in, you are eligible to participate! Linden Lab staffers will then watch your blog for consideration for potential inclusion in the new curated Community News thread and social media channels. While not all of your new posts will be selected each day, the aim is to promote several posts weekly selected from the pool of participating bloggers.

For full details about this initiative, read the blog post HERE

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 4.2 and HUD and Library for location shoots

VR Foundry Mainstore (adult)

VR Studio @ Winx & Flair (general)

VR Foundry Marketplace

Oracul AO

Skin & Body Parts Worn:

Chloe Mesh Head LeLutka

Physique Hourglass Bundle REDUX (bake on mesh compatible)  Slink

System/Bom Layers:

Body/Head

Tasha Skin (COMING SOON) – Adam n Eve

Editorial Eyeshadow 03 & 06, Lipstick 06. Beachday Freckles and Blush – AlaskaMetro

Baby Hairs V2 – Izzie’s

Moles – Custom

Clothing Layers

Avery Crochet Sweater, Ribbed tights – Sn@tch

Solid Bustier – Flair

Hair:

Juliet – Kuni

Clothes Mesh:

Sophia Jeans – Spirit @ Collabor88

Accessories:

Comfy Cozy Rings – Yummy

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Asr0pz2l5r8&w=1120&h=630]

I have not done a video in a long while, with the introduction of Bakes on Mesh by Second Life to the grid, the release of the new Redux system by Slink gave everyone the chance to see first hand how it could work. They have been working diligently on the newer system for a year or so, and while Bakes on Mesh was not a part of the official viewers it was in beta for a great amount of time, so people could test out features, create content for it to be ready to go.

The Redux system is a complete overhaul of the body parts available (heads to come) making the items streamlined and efficient when it comes to things like complexity. The bodyparts have no layers other than the base that uses bake on mesh (system layers). This removes 3 layers of mesh, the ankles and wrist sizes have been removed and a lot of the scripting is no longer needed. This reduced my complexity by a large amount, and with the Bundle, you have one attachment for body, hands and feet.

I go into the features and showed unpacking the product, and going through the transition from what is now known as ‘Classic’ to bakes on mesh, not only with my Slink Physique Hourglass Bundle but also my LeLutka Chloe head.

I do hope the video is helpful to those that wear Slink but also those that may be missing some points about how Bakes on Mesh will change things overall.

I did realise through this that I tend to say SO and OK a lot, so if you want to turn it into a drinking game, I am not responsible for your actions afterwards so make sure it is chocolate milk or something equally adorable and be safe.

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 4.2 and HUD and Library for location shoots

VR Foundry Mainstore (adult)

VR Studio @ Winx & Flair (general)

VR Foundry Marketplace

Oracul AO

Skin & Body Parts Worn:

Chloe Mesh Head LeLutka

Physique Hourglass Bundle REDUX (bake on mesh compatible)  Slink

System/Bom Layers:

Body/Head

Tasha Skin (COMING SOON) – Adam n Eve

Moles – Custom

Clothing Layers

Clara Sweater, Jersey Studded Leggings – Sn@tch

Hair:

Ellen (@ Collabor88) Megan – Exile

Clothes Mesh:

Slip Dress – Nyu

After Hair Fair we usually have a break from doing much of anything, but it is time to get back into it, and with the introduction of Bake on Mesh and the excitement I am feeling with it, it was time to start sharing my Second Life again. I also had a very exciting morning that I will share info on later in the week. Things are getting very fun for Second Life, and the wonderful enhancements that are taking place are just stacking one after another to bring me much happiness.

So it turned out fortuitous that Nutmeg just opened their ‘The Getaway” region up to the public, they do this every so often and as in the past, the layout overall is just divine. The landscaping the view, and the elements used, come together in a magnificent way.

Prepare yourself for a delight to the senses, and either visit alone or with a group of friends. Space is just the right size for a really enjoyable chill-out moment for you and yours.

I am so excited by Bake on Mesh, if that has not been made clear to you all by now, then understand it, it is true. With the amazing Redux update included in all of Slinks body parts, the opportunities abound. I have dropped complexity in a huge way, and the fact that I am not in pieces at all now means tping and crossing regions just seems effortless now.

I made my own alpha for this great blazer that I have on, tinted my tank top that is mod, grabbed alphas from random items I already owned for the jeans and I was good to go. Then stacking on as much makeup as I wanted with my own custom Moles and honestly not giving any of it a second thought, just made Second Life for me incredibly fun again.

I think that that fun may have exploded into my shopping, as Sn@tch is having a SALE and I was prepared for hitting them big time when Bake on Mesh went live, but after 110 items purchased I think I cleaned them out a little more than even I expected. I had this major epiphany about two dozen or so items in that I could now wear anything with holes or crocheted etc and put on a bra under it and nothing would clash, and that was the end of me, I was in for it all.

I ran on over to Exile after that to catch up on some hairs I have missed, and landed in the middle of a large group of people, knowing full well I was at the time going to be yellow and blue (if not using a bake on mesh viewer you look very odd) and I just laughed and had no cares about it, it was the 2019 equivalent of tping to a store bald in glitch pants.

Firestorm is going to be releasing their Bake on Mesh viewer as soon as possible, and the preview versions are wonderful, not a problem so far, and I cannot wait for everyone to really embrace Bake on Mesh.

LeLutka also did an update to their heads, with the 3.4 versions have updated versions of the Bake on Mesh button. So if you did not get yours yet, go hit up the redelivery terminal, or wear your head and it should just send to you.

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 4.2 and HUD and Library for location shoots

VR Foundry Mainstore (adult)

VR Studio @ Winx & Flair (general)

VR Foundry Marketplace

Oracul AO

Skin & Body Parts Worn:

Chloe Mesh Head LeLutka

Physique Hourglass Bundle REDUX (bake on mesh compatible)  Slink

System/Bom Layers:

Body/Head

Tasha Skin (COMING SOON) – Adam n Eve

Eyeliner – Kati Skin – Nuuna

Kylie Plump Lipstick – Sn@tch

Moles – Custom

Clothing Layers

Butch Tank Top (tinted) – Sn@tch

Hair:

Megan – Exile

Clothes:

Glen Check Blazer, Ripped Crop Jeans – Coco

Shoes:

Elodie Flats – Ingenue

Playing a bit with titles today, as the Hair Fair is coming to a close on Sunday Evening at Midnight 1st September. The last day of Hair Fair is Bandana Day, where people wear the Bandanas they have purchased from the event that are made by other Residents like themselves. All purchases of Bandanas donate 100% and are mod/transfer and have become little collectables over the years.

There are also the Hair Fair Hares, with each year them having their own little theme and Bandana to match, they are wearable or rezzable and are also mod, as you can see Mel had to Mansize his. This year the Hares were hungry so all of them have a little food item. I love the Hares the base hare was created by Anya Ohmai and the Bandanas are created by Mel Vanbeeck.

I am also showing some of the bandanas I picked up at the event – not all as some I got in all colours. I do hope you have time to make it over for the last day and a half of the event, and pick up some Bandanas, Hares or just drop some lindens in the donation kiosks that are around the event.

I hope everyone had fun this year, I know I did. I may be cleaning sand out of my shoes and clothing for a few more weeks though.

Bandana Booths can be found on each region, so no matter where you are you will come across one.

Hair Fair 2019 Booth Regions

Blonde Region SLurl

Noirette Region SLurl

Redhead Region SLurl

Cam Regions

Streaks Region

Perm Region 

Foils Region

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 4.2 and HUD and Library for location shoots

VR Foundry Mainstore (adult)

VR Studio @ Winx & Flair (general)

VR Foundry Marketplace

Props, Furniture, Build

Location

Hair Fair 2019

Skin & Body Parts Worn:

Chloe Mesh Head LeLutka

Skin Applier League

Dynamic Mesh Hands (Bento Enabled) , Deluxe Feet & Hourglass Physique Body Slink

Avatar Enhancement Skin Appliers : League

Avatar Enhancement Nail Appliers: set 142 Flair

Daisy Romper –Tee*fy

Dana Sarong – Absolut Vendetta

Bondi Bun Buns – Hair Fair Hare – Bandana Booth @ Hair Fair 2019

Bondi Bun Buns Bandana – Bandana Booth @ Hair Fair 2019

Mel is Wearing :

Chino Shorts – Slink

Andrea Head – LeLutka

Physique Male Bundle – Slink

Sausage Sizzling Sergio – Hair Fair Hare – Bandana Booth @ Hair Fair 2019

KMH Bandana – Bandana Booth @ Hair Fair 2019