SL19B Continues and a Big Announcement is made | Get Well Soon, Teresa | Tia at the Embassy Photos | New Beta Version of the Gazette Online Travel Guide | New Locations

SL19B CONTINUES

We have already had the pleasure to meet many of you on our stand at Second Life's 19th Birthday celebration (SL19B). We are proud of the stand, which is very much in keeping with SL19B's steampunk theme. Here's a photo by one of our beloved Bellisseria Hammies who camped out with us for a while, Varistentia Varriale. Click on it to see a larger version. 

Photo © Varistentia Varriale

Our official videographer Sceneris has also made a movie there. Enjoy!

If you haven't visited yet, please come along and say hello. You'll find a whole botheration of bureaucrats (we've decided that's the official collective noun!) to chat with. 

SL's Birthday Events are a highlight of the year and there is a lot to see, do, buy and scavenge!

Patch Linden's opening speech hinted broadly at big news to come. We had to wait for the traditional Meet the Lindens interview with Saffia Widdershins on Monday to learn that big news was the new – and much delayed – Premium Plus SL account. Patch has been monitoring the SL forums as we all speculated on what extra features there might be. He says they've tried to put together a useful, compelling interesting and meaningful set.

Premium Plus launched on June 23rd at L$24.99 introductory promotional rate for 30 days. Thereafter it will be L$29.99 per month and $249 annually. The new features include:

• 2048 square metres tier
• Only one Linden Home still, but they will offer 2048 Linden Home parcels in future (Linden Mansions?!)
• Weekly stipends of L$650
• 140 group memberships
• Cap for messages increased to 160
• No upload fee for textures (true for mesh uploads Soon™, but not immediately)
• Animesh attachments limit increased from one to two
• L$3000 signup bonus
• Toll-free telephone support
• Group creation fee reduced to L$10
• Ability to create 2 land experiences
• Event fees reduced from L$50 to zero
• Premium Plus sandboxes/regions

All this is in addition to existing Premium features. Premium Plusers will also be able to file a support request for a specific Linden Home – avoiding Game of Homes.  A group of friends could therefore request neighbouring homes, for example.

More Linden Homes themes are in the works. Patch hopes to release a special new theme that particularly accommodates Premium Plus benefits by the end of this year. They will also be revisiting the older Bellisseria homes to update their features and will Soon™ address the question of winding down the old pre-Bellisserian Linden Homes. Interestingly, Patch said that some of those will never be removed – a sort of Colonial Williamsburg of Second Life® perhaps?

There is no point in increasing mainland supply generally as there are so many abandoned mainland parcels. He has no plan in the foreseeable future to add mainland coastal land, which is what people mostly ask for. However, the team is looking at maybe adding inland lakes and waterways to make empty inland parcels more attractive.

It's worth mentioning that Basic Accounts remain unchanged. Much fun can be had in world without ever signing up for either Premium or Premium Plus. You need to go premium to own land or to get a Linden Home in beautiful Bellisseria, but needn't be homeless if you don't. Many SL'ers live in high style renting on mainland or private estates and many free spirits are happy SL drifters. With or without premium features, SL is always open, ad-free, offers privacy/anonymity and can be enjoyed by all. We loved Patch's summary of the advantages of SL over rival metaverses/virtual worlds. He said;

We value and highly regard our users' privacy. Way more than any other virtual world company out there. We have long said and believe that selling people’s personal data is a boundary we will not cross. So anonymisation, personal discovery, exploration (whether that be of space or self) and discovery; those are all selling points as to why SL is what it is and why it exists today.

Long live Second Life®. Let's all enjoy it in our own way – Basic, Premium or PremiumPlus –and let's have fun getting to know each other in the process. In the end, SL is social or it's nothing. The friends we make here are the true reason we keep coming back.

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GET WELL SOON, TERESA

Our valued bureaucratic colleague and friend, Teresa Firelight; photographer, writer and co-producer with Sun of our wonderful SL19B stand, has had hospital treatment following an accident and is not able to produce her regular Meet the Team column this week. She is likely not to be in-world with her SSiD tablet for a while so her SL19B stamp may become a rare one. We're sorry if you didn't get it already and can only hope that she recovers before the end of SL19B so you get another chance.

Teresa will be missed during her recuperation elsewhere in Second Life® too. She's active in SciFi RP and is a long-established content creator, making her own range of hairstyles. In short, she is one of the folks who make SL an interesting and fun place to be. We are sure you will join the staff at The Gazette and the BBB in wishing her a speedy recovery.

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TIA AT THE EMBASSY PHOTOS

Her Excellency Bijoux, Hon. Ambassador to Satori and one of the nicest people in all SL, sent in some photos of the musical event at her embassy last week, featuring the talented Tia Rungray. There were too many to feature them all, but here are a few.

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NEW BETA VERSION OF THE GAZETTE ONLINE TRAVEL GUIDE

The Gazette Online Travel Guide has always been made by hand. We cut and paste the new locations into the appropriate pages of GOTG and we delete any retired locations as and when notified by the landowners, our users or our colleagues. Our newish colleague Robert Rhodan, however, is a dab hand with HTML. He has now devised a clever way to import the information directly into the GOTG from our operational database. 

For now, the old GOTG and the new beta version are both available under Information & Resources in the side bar to The Gazette. We would be very grateful if you, gentle reader, would click on the link to the beta version and test it for us. Please let us know in the comments, by using the email link in the side bar or by IM in-world to Dave or Robert if you find any issues or have any other remarks or suggestions.

It's great fun to work with colleagues who are so clever with technology. It makes the life of a humble scribbler easier and more fun. Thanks Robert!

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LOCATIONS

We have two new locations this week. Stamp designer Robert Rhodan commented of the first, Pacifique Landing, that

This place is amazing: not just the "usual" island theme with beach dance, DJs, hang-gliding, etc. but in particular an amazing undersea world to dance with mermaids, seadragons, and watch lots of critters, and an undersea dungeon labyrinth to explore (and to escape from again)

On behalf of our merfolk friends, we'd add that the undersea world is beautiful. As our late mer-editor Fenella always used to say "scale and tail" and head over there.

The second new location, PAW (Public Animal Welfare), is an animal refuge in Heterocera with a lot of interesting content (and free Segways to ride about on). Check them both out and let us know what you think in the comments section below!

Pacifique Landing PE
PAW - Public Animal Welfare HE

By way of experiment, here's a link to this week's New Locations auto-generated by our GOTG beta version in course of development (see article above). Please let us know if you see it correctly on your device. 

SL19B | Meet the Team: Pru | New Locations

SL19B 

The terminal issuing the official visa stamp for SL19B is to be found – of course –  on the BBB stand at the event.

As you're joyfully celebrating the 19th birthday of our virtual world, don't forget to stop by, enjoy our steampunk garden and get your passport stamped. 

If you happen upon any of the 15 bureaucrats and Bellisserian diplomats attending the event in their official capacity, you will also be able to ask them to do a personal passport check. They will then add their own, signed, personal stamps to your passport. These are obtainable by clicking on their Single Stamp issuing Device tablet computers. They will carry these SSiDs only at the event.

A botheration of bureaucrats at SL19B (bearing their stamp-issuing SSiDs) | Photo by Pru

Please note that the bureaucrats' and ambassadors' SSiDs will be automatically disabled once the event ends. So even if you're a close personal friend of the functionary concerned, you won't be able to get their stamp once SL19B is over. So make sure you collect all the stamps while you can!

Here's your handy cut out and keep checklist of the stamps available. 

Name	Status	✓
Amanda	Bureaucrat
Beeb	Bureaucrat
Bijoux	Ambassador
Boo	Bureaucrat
Dariah	Ambassador
Dave	Bureaucrat
Fiona	Bureaucrat
Freddie	Ambassador
Jack	Ambassador
Prudence	Bureaucrat
Robert	Bureaucrat
Sun	Bureaucrat
Teresa	Bureaucrat
Yukiko	Ambassador
Zoe	Bureaucrat

 

We look forward to seeing you at the event. Don't be shy, come up and chat to us!

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MEET THE TEAM: PRU

This week we will meet the person responsible for Parade of Homes, Prudence Anton.

1. How long have you been in SL?

“Since October of 2006.”

2. How long you lived in Belli?

“I got my first Linden home in Bellisseria, June of 2019.”

3. What is your favorite thing about Bellisseria?

“The community, it's so amazing.”

4. What motivated you to join the BBB team?

“Boo and I started up our own volunteer projects, his being BBB and mine, Parade of Homes around the same time and have always supported each other. Right before Bellisseria's 2nd birthday, we spoke about my coming on board, to join the BBB team and eventually combined the 2 projects together.”

5. What are your BBB responsibilities?

“I am the editor of the Parade of Homes web blog and partner with Pring Productions, doing videos that focus on Bellisserian life.”

6. What is the most fun thing you have ever done as a BBB staff member?

“Filling one of Zoe's crates of wine with my hangers. No, seriously, I probably enjoyed the BBB SSID tablets that were launched at SL18B, that was a lot of fun.”

7. Tell us one thing about yourself that most people do not know.

“Hmm, I guess the fact that I came to Second Life under the impression this was a role play community and I was very invested into role playing, 20 years of it before I retired. They frowned on you playing more than one character per avatar, so the role players made alts, lots of alts. I think I ended up with around 25 avatars. Most now collect dust in a locked and forgotten closet.”

8. Do you have anything else you would like to share?

“Our community thrives from being involved with each other, loving where we live and volunteers in the vast Bellisseria community groups. Bellisseria always needs and welcomes more volunteers.”

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NEW LOCATIONS

Apart from the special event stamp for SL19B (see above) there is also a new stamp to collect from an interesting LDPW location in Bellisseria.

The name of the region is Permaglow. In a beautiful small park there you'll find an eerie memorial to an unfortunate episode in Bellisseria's history. It's called the Three Meter Monument and features the cooling towers of the former Three Meter Nuclear Power Plant. 

Sadly, that's not the only legacy of this little-discussed event. Nearby you'll find brightly coloured waste draining into a lake. We can't really recommend, from a health point of view, that you should take a swim there. If you do (or if – more prudently – you cam beneath the water) you'll encounter spent nuclear fuel rods and (in case you're wondering about the design of the stamp) mutated fish. Explore with caution and at your own risk. The Bellisserian Bureau of Bureacracy is not liable in law for any adverse consequences of your visit.

SL19B Event – June 16th to July 5th
Three Meter Monument BE

SL19B | Meet the team: Zoe | Greg's Bar & Lounge | Ambassador Gossip: Little Trains | DJ Far's Friday Party | Tia Rungray LIVE | New Locations

SL19B

SL19B Teaser Images

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The BBB will have a booth at Second Life's 19th Birthday celebration (SL19B), which opens on June 16th and runs through July 5th. There will be lots to see and do at this exhibit, including a free gift (the same Belli Hats we gave as hunt prizes at Bellisseria’s 3rd Anniversary – so a second chance to get one!)

Other things of interest include two slide shows (one of Stamp Locations and the other of Parade of Homes), information on all seven of our embassies, information on passport stamp tours and a link to The Gazette. Most of our applications (Belli Passports, Continental Passports, Driver’s License, Belli License Plates, etc.) are available on site as is a post office where you can send or collect mail.

Of course, the highlight of our booth is the special exclusive SL19B passport stamp. Our bureaucrats and ambassadors will also be there with special event-only personal passport stamps for you to collect in person. Just click on the special SSiD (Single Stamp Issuing Device) tablet computers they'll be carrying at the event.

Be sure to come check us out. We will have Teleporters at BBB Headquarters (and at each of the Embassies) that go directly to our SL19B booth. That should make it easier for you to find us.

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MEET THE TEAM: ZOE

This week we will meet someone who takes really good care of the Bellisseria residents: Zoe Suki. She is very friendly, helpful and has a great sense of humour.

1. How long have you been in SL?

For over 15 years now, since February 25th 2007

2. How long you lived in Belli?

Since November 1st 2019. My first Belli home was a traditional in Smokey, until I discovered the GoH. I'm in a loghome @ Log Dump now since April 19th 2020. (Whoa....... it's time to move <.<” >.> )

3. What is your favorite thing about Bellisseria?

The community feeling, the rideable roads and paths, the sail-able waters, the pretty surroundings, and the free feeling of having NO BANLINES.

4. What motivated you to join the BBB team?

I wanted to contribute a little to this growing community and be part of it, as well as meeting new people.

5. What are your BBB responsibilities?

The production of all passports, drivers licenses and license plates, managing the initiation office and checking if people are Belli residents or "Asylum seekers" :-P (For the last mentioned group we now have the free SL Continental Passport, so all Mainlanders can also join in the stamp collecting game while exploring new places!)

6. What is the most fun thing you have ever done as a BBB staff member?

Joining a BBB boat tour on my water scooter!

7. Tell us one thing about yourself that most people do not know.

If I would tell you that, it loses its mysterious charm and will become an ordinary ‘public secret.’ (She grins widely as she says that.)

8. Do you have anything else you would like to share?

“Poohhhhhh............................ errr........ I will share some of my booze?”

Article and Photo by Teresa Firelight 

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GREG'S BAR & LOUNGE

The Bar Barge, the Bar Truck and now the Bar Train are part of Greg Timmerman's distinctive fleet of unique vehicles. Greg, the mastermind behind the project, explains;

Opening another club was out of the question. I wanted to provide something new that I haven't seen in SL before.

As someone who loves to explore, he was in pursuit of the right idea. It was during a RL cruise with friends where they met in a  bar on a barge that he finally found what he envisioned for his goals: The first and main project, the Bar Barge, was born.

It took weeks and months of research and modifications because Greg is, as he smilingly says himself, "picky."

I like to bring as much realism as possible to Second Life. I usually use ready-made objects which I heavily modify to my ideas. Sometimes, I would want or need a special addition that I can't find anywhere. I am very grateful for my trusted friends and the people, whom I can always rely on, who support me when I need help for a specific object or with script work.

In September 2020, the Bar Barge could finally celebrate its first cruise on Blake Sea. After many tours, further ideas for projects emerged. Why limit yourself to just water? He created the Bar Truck for traveling by land, but didn't stop there. Exploring SL by railway was the next idea. In spring 2022, a train that suited his visions was finally available. Just a few days ago, the last adjustments were made. In an attempt to celebrate his achievements, and to give more people the chance to experience a unique way of traveling, we collaborated with Greg for a Bar Train tour on the SLRR in Heterocera. The tour (details below) takes place today, so come along if you can. 

Greg's mobile bars

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At the platform at the Woodland Station (a new stamp location) visitors can find a display that shows if and where the Bar Train is currently running. A tap on the display opens the map – allowing visitors to teleport right next to the train and easily join in the fun. A similar display for the Bar Barge can be found at the Marina at Port Victoria Isle where visitors can also enjoy a relaxing time at the Lounge or the Rooftop. Additional activities such as a playable dartboard or ridable jet skis are also available.

Article by H.E. Yuki Yeshto. Photographs © 2022 by Greg Timmerman and Kitty (kitten.mills)

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AMBASSADOR GOSSIP: LITTLE TRAINS CLIMBING UP: AMBASSADOR RAYNIER VISITS LUNALIS RAILWORX

Ambassadorial Visit

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H.E. Ambassador Dariah Raynier visited Lunalis Railworkx on Heterocera on 31st May at the invitation of Cranston Yordstorm – SL land developer and performer. Cranston is an actor in RL, performing at venues across the USA in straight plays and musical theatre.

I met Mr. Yordstorm during our ceremony at the embassy in Tersa. Since I am interested in all kind of land development projects, we agreed I should visit.

The Lunalis Railworx is a large narrow-gauge railway across three regions (Lunalis, Sponsa and Lota) on the continent of Heterocera.  It connects to LDPW routes 1 and 6 and the Heterocera SLRR mainline. It has stops at neighboring storefronts, a performance venue, a motel, and a new volcano park.

Ambassador Raynier enjoyed a train ride through the regions and explored the places which are well worth a visit. She commented;

I wasn't dressed appropriately so I couldn't explore the active volcano. Next time I will return with my hiking boots and explorer outfit. You can't explore a volcano in shorts, a blazer and high heels!

She also tried out the Inferno rollercoaster.

After 45 minutes the little train returned to the station at Route 1. At the nearby Unity Amphitheatre she played some tunes on the piano.

I am not a good piano player, so I didn't receive an offer from Cranston to join his band. This is okay by me.

Dariah did get her diplomatic passport stamped though. There are two BBB stamp terminals there. 

 

Article and Photographs by H.E. Dariah Rayner, Hon. Ambassador to Heterocera.

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FAR'S FRIDAY PARTY

DJ FAR has had his Friday Party almost as long as Bellisseria has been around, it's the oldest weekly party in Belli and it is always a great time. On Friday, June 3rd, many of us dressed up in our Dinkie finery and hit the dancefloor! Here's kinda what it looked like.

The party is every Friday. It's not always at his home as it used to be. The locations vary these days so watch the usual Belli groups for announcements.

He's now moved his home to Sakura, where you can pick up a stamp for your passport. It's the same stamp as always, however – one of the oldest ones. So please be careful not to pick up a duplicate. 

Text and Video by Becca Ordinary. Photo © David, Lord Junibalya 2022.

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TIA RUNGRAY LIVE AT THE BELLISSERIAN EMBASSY TO SATORI

The Bellisserian Embassy and its ambassadors work to create community links between the other six continents of the Mainland and Bellisseria's residents. Her Excellency Bijoux Barr, Hon. Ambassador to Satori has invited Tia Rungray to host a performance at her embassy. She hopes that this will be an opportunity for the residents of Satori and Bellisseria, as well as other regions, to interact.

The concert will be on June 16th, 2022 and will last for one hour, beginning at 11am SLT. It will also be available on YouTube. 

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NEW LOCATIONS

The first new location this week is the headquarters of Crystal Craze; an interactive game. As we all know, Second Life® is not a game, but that doesn't mean it can't be a platform for one!

We don't need to tell you much here about Greg's Bar & Lounge, as there's a detailed article above. We would just point out that Greg has placed a stamp terminal on either side of the station platform but both issue the same stamp. The script won't let you get a duplicate on the same passport or visa HUD but be careful you don't mistake the other terminal for a different one if you visit later with a new HUD on!

Finally there's a new voice café in Bellisseria to enjoy, so if you're one of those who finds a metaverse more fun when it doesn't involve repetitive strain injury and typonese, make your way over to Sakurasseria for a good old chinwag!

CrystalCraze HQ PE
Greg's Bar & Lounge - Woodland Station HE
Utukushi Voice Chat Café BE

Meet the team: Dave | Community Regions in Bellisseria | Heterocera Embassy Event Report | Viking Longboat Tour Movie | SL19B | New Locations

MEET THE TEAM: DAVE

David, Lord Junibalya, 3rd Duke of Nanga

This week we continue the Meet the Team series with our news specialist, Dave (aka Lord Junibalya). Dave has been keeping us all informed of stories of interest for a very long time now. Our publication was formerly called the BBB Gazette. But when the Continental Passport Control Board (CPCB) began issuing passports to the rest of SL instead of just Bellisseria, it became simply The Gazette.  

Dave has lots to say in The Gazette, but he doesn’t talk about himself much. I did manage to get a few words from him for this series. The most I got out of him was his full name:

His Grace David, Lord Junibalya 3rd Duke of Nanga (but please call me Dave).

Here is the rest of the interview:

1. How long have you been in SL?

My first avi first rezzed on 18th February 2007.

2. How long have you lived in Belli?

Since 2020.

3. What is your favorite thing about Bellisseria?

The community. There's always something going on. It makes it much easier for new arrivals in Second Life® to get involved.

4. What motivated you to join the BBB team?

I enjoyed collecting the stamps and had various stamp terminal locations at my art galleries. Mainly though I thought the whole bureaucracy schtick was funny! In real life I fought bureaucracy for a living – as a lawyer – so it amuses me to play at being my old foe!

5. What are your BBB responsibilities?

I am Editor of the Gazette and PR advisor to the leadership of the BBB and CPCB.

6. What is the most fun thing you have ever done as a BBB staff member?

My job! I like it. I've blogged in RL about serious stuff for years and The Gazette is light relief. It's also really nice to find a way to contribute to Second Life®, which is – after all – only what we residents make of it. I have no skills at scripting or building but at least I can turn a phrase.

7. Tell us one thing about yourself that most people do not know.

I am the youngest of 8 alts. You may have met me as any of them, but you'll only know if you friended me. I have a policy of disclosing them all to friends!

8. Do you have anything else you would like to share?

I have said more than enough. Any decent editor is far too wise to volunteer information to journalists!

Article and photograph by Teresa Firelight

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COMMUNITY REGIONS IN BELLISSERIA

Her Excellency Yuki referred us to an interesting post on the SL Community Forums by Abnor Mole on the subject of community regions in Bellisseria. 

All of the community regions in Bellisseria are set up like Treeowatoor with a radio residents interested in holding community get togethers can request access to. This allows them to change the parcel stream if need be.  If anyone wants to use the space to hold scheduled events open to the public (music events, book clubs, surfing parties, or whatever) they can request to be invited to the Bellisseria Performers Group, which gives them the ability to list their events on the boards in Puffin Head at the Events Center for all residents to see. 

It would be marvellous to see more use being made of the community regions, which are very much part of the charm of Bellisseria.

Events Center at Puffin Head

So why not apply to join the Bellisseria Performers Group, reserve a place and time at the Events Center and get residents together for more fun!?

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HETEROCERA EMBASSY EVENT

As announced here in The Gazette, H.E. Dariah Raynier was duly installed last Saturday as the new Ambassador to Heterocera. Sun from the BBB presented her with the key to the embassy there and she was welcomed to the continent in a speech by Yuriko Kimura the mayor of Hiraya. Music and dancing ensued, with Mandy Dorfler from Harlow's Women Club presiding over a well-attended party (as seen in this photo by Sun).

Party at the Heterocera Embassy

You can read more in Gemma Cleanslate's report for SL Newser here. Here are some photos from our very own Teresa Firelight.

Mayor Yuriko Kimura

H.E. Dariah Raynier

Photos © Teresa Firelight and Dark Sunflower (Sun) 2022.

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VIKING LONGBOAT TOUR: THE MOVIE

Robert Rhodan of the BBB stamp team has now published a full-length version of his movie of the recent Longboat Tour organised jointly by the BBB, CPCB, our embassies and the Vikings of Bjarkavik. Relive the experience of the tour (or should we say raid?) for 22 minutes, with a suitably rousing music track and sound effects.

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COMING SOON: SL19B

We have no details to offer yet, though work on our stand is in full swing. Still we at The Gazette think you should know that the Bellisseria Bureau of Bureaucracy will be at the steampunk-themed Second Life 19th Birthday celebrations – aka SL19B. The actual birthday is June 23rd, but the celebration will run from June 16th to July 5th.

We are giving no clues as to what's on our stand at this stage but watch this space. We promise that The Gazette will first to tell you all about it when the time is right. We're not just being wilfully mysterious by  the way. The Moles have imposed an embargo on all pictures of the event until it opens.

Our staff will be carrying their stamp-issuing tablets and of course there'll be an event stamp too. So if you don't have a passport yet, now's the time to get one. If you're from Bellisseria, you know exactly where to apply. If you're from anywhere else on mainland, you can pick up the appropriate passport from our embassy to your continent (all the SLURLs are in the sidebar). If you're homeless or live on a private island, you can pick up a generic Second Life® passport from any embassy.

It was a race against time for many applicants at SL18B last year to get their passports in time to collect the limited-time stamps. Given that mainland and generic passports are available instantly now, there's no excuse not to join in the visa stamp-collecting fun. If you're Bellisserian though, don't delay. Actual bureaucrats are still involved in issuing that passport!

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NEW LOCATIONS

Our new location this week is an historic LDPW build – the Dolphin Temple at Nautilus. It's a temple to dolphins as opposed to a temple for dolphins, as the latter would be under the water not towering above it! With a little exploring, you can find a rezzer for a rideable dolphin to take you further down the canal. It is on the far side of the temple in the ocean. 

Dolphin Temple NA