Alphaville Herald

SL Militia: Task Force Marines - Day 2

Nazi alts, neopotism in the marine leadership, attack of the Cookie Monster

by Caine Constantine

[the Herald correspondent returns to the Task Force Marine base and is given a warm welcome]

Caine Constantine shouts: Hey guys, how's it going? Is bennyboy Ball in?
toccovender Waco shouts: caine, go away.

This taccovender Waco, another soldier in the Marines, was not happy to see me. But I didn’t care; I was on a mission. The leader, bennyboy Ball, was indeed online – on another account and named jaws Ashby. He came out to greet me and told me he was in financial troubles.

SL Militia: Task Force Marines

by Caine Constantine

Coverage of the Second Life military scene is traditionally dominated by information on the largest groups – the Merczateers, Alliance Navy, Ordo Imperialis, and the like. But while these may be the most visible face of the scene, there are countless other militaries rising to prominence of their own.

In this two-part Herald exclusive, I took a trip to the snows of Ocean Estate 10 to visit the Task Force Marines in their base. The sound of practice fire and scattered explosions was my welcome, but I found the Marines to be a colorful lot.

Ocean Estate 10, is snowy and rocky, dotted with seemingly out-of-place foliage and divided half between them and half between their German allies, who have a massive cannon pointed at the Marine’s base. Their own half is divided into two quarters, with a mall in one and a dividing wall where they stand guard, protecting the base in the other quarter.

DAY ONE:

I showed up on the first day to check out the place to meet Flamethrower Rives, a soldier in the Marines and one of the founders, who explained that the group is based on a futuristic version of one of the finest fighting forces in the world, the United States Marines. He talked to me while designing a new P90 submachine gun for the troops. The scene around him was interesting – almost nobody had any semblance of a uniform on. In fact, commanding Admiral Mayra Roffo, highest ranked on site at that time, was wearing something very un-militaristic indeed.

Of Memes and Men -- A Newbie’s Guide to Woodbury University

Welcome to teh Internets

by Anise Hankins

Woodbury University. Some of you may know it as a school, but there’s a side of Woodbury University that extends far past just that. It’s also a place in the metaverse we know and love as Second Life. It’s an interesting place where both students and visitors alike can come together and interact both for personal and collective benefits. What was once a simple school funded project has grown into a community featuring people from across the world coming together, all for one purpose: lulz.

To some, the ways of Woodbury University may alienate, confuse, and even frighten you. This is a completely normal response when first coming into contact with the denizens of Woodbury. Fear not, that is why I have stepped forth to help you, the innocent bystander, come to terms and accept their ways. Perhaps you too, will spread the ways and mannerisms of the students of Woodbury to your own community and help it grow even more. If not, at least you’ll enjoy an enriching experience that may brighten up your Second Life.

Memes: The lifeblood of Woodbury, and the foundation of conversation. Those ignorant of the memes and the history they are based upon may seem lost when first warping in. Everything in the sim is in one way or another, based off of internet memes, which is simply a fancy word for fad, although some of the students may argue that they are more than fads. The pictures, buildings, and avatars are all in one way or another influenced by a meme. Memes are heavily influenced by anime, video games, or other internet pop culture. There are more memes than a simple article can cover, so I will try to inform you of the most prominent ones you are likely to see referenced in Woodbury University.

Reaction to Dissention Weekend Attacks

A sense of ennui

By Tillery Woodhen


Car stalls due to black cube rain

Sunday's attacks by DiSSENTiON knocked out many sims, often trapping residents in lagged sims, crashing neighborhoods and limiting teleports. But, in spot conversations with those affected, no one really got angry.

Annoyed, absolutely. But not raging. A few people, like one who's rezzer started autoreturning everything, including legit tenants, was very upset. But many simply waited for the individual sims to reboot.

Many people were simply enjoying themselves or doing basic work. This reporter was caught in the first attack while on a Sunday drive to a party. I was essentially trapped in Columbia sim, the car effectively useless. But the scenery was impressive.

Leveling Up In The Game of Second Life

Is Plexus Linden hoping for a new griefing flava while protecting SL residents from those who would do them harm?

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk

“SL combat groups fight each other in their bases...who does that? I want to design a combat system that will work in non-combat areas - real armies and groups fight in cities full of people who want no part of it” --Supercool Sautereau

The on-going asset server attacks, self-replicating prims with DDOS payloads, and mega-IM and e-mail spam all started making sense to me Saturday evening while I was talking to Supercool Sautereau. Comrade Sautereau is a fan of traditional SL warfare and - as far as I know - has nothing to do with grid crashing or this sort of thing, but as the Soviet Premier pondered how to take his in-world combat game to the next level by moving the battle beyond damage enabled combat sims, I started understanding what is going on with the griefers and the Linden Lab "governance team" -- everyone is trying to take their game to the next level. Too bad for the civilians caught in the crossfire.

For a griefer ready to level up, going from tweaking the noses of a few metaverse residents to virtual world-wide disruption is a natural move -- and eventually leads to the possibility of taking on the game gods themselves. This seems to be the case with the DiSSENTiON group - who occasionally regale the Herald staff with tales of their exploits -- such as taking advantage of borked SL features to create widespread IM spam.

However, all is not lulz and immersive gameplay in the big-time griefing arena - there is also the issue of respect. Sadly, if the chatlogs provided to the Herald are real, it appears that griefer/governance team relations have deteriorated to the point that the mutual respect that ought to characterize a friendly competition has gone out the window:

Woodbury University Returns to SL!!!

Exclusive interview with Tizzers Foxchase

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk

Woodbury 3.0

Last July, Woodbury University’s educational sim was deleted from the metaverse in a controversial move by the Linden Lab governance team, and early this year Woodbury land group administrator Tizzers Foxchase was perma-banned from Second Life. However, Woodbury University is far from dead in Second Life - and today I visited “Woodbury 3.0” in IntLibber Brautigan's Friedman sim.

The new Woodbury site -- a quarter of the Friedman sim -- houses a virtual worlds class being held as part of the real life Woodbury’s course offerings. Breaking from the tradition of large, imposing pseudo-gorean university builds dominated by ivy covered clock towers, the bulk of the Woodbury building is actually underground with a meeting space, creatively decorated student dorm rooms, and some surprising /b/tard paraphernalia.

While taking pictures and exploring the educational space, I marveled at the sim's continuous soundtrack - you just can't hear "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley too many times. Discussion among the local residents centered around concerns about the serious business direction of Second Life.

Why Griefing = Drama: Broken Immersion

A virtual “world” creates an environment where griefers can do the most damage

by Mudkips Acronym

[I recently invited the founder and retired leader of the notorious PN invasion/griefing group to write an expanded version of his recent thesis on the serious business of griefing. Here is his response - the Editrix]

“Griefing” takes many forms in Second Life, but the results are the same. There are dozens if not hundreds of “anti-griefing” groups, all devoted to filing abuse reports, I guess. Why does griefing and trolling ignite so much drama and controversy in online communities? And why do griefing actions get an amused or positive response from people not in those communites? The answer is simple: griefing exacts the toll that it does on Second Life for example, because it breaks the immersive experience users have - or attempt to have - in “virtual worlds”.

There are a few different types of immersion we should differentiate before proceeding. First off, a movie, game, or other “alternate-reality” has a set maximum immersion. For example, an action movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger may be expected to have less immersion than a drama or romance film. We expect Arnold to be able to fly over tractor-trailers on a motorcycle, and we do not question this when it happens, even though the scene violates all we know about physics - and common sense! We can't get too caught up in this concept: of course, we can be “immersed” in this movie while still maintaining a suspension of disbelief. However, it takes much more work to immerse yourself in a medium where often events are surreal: I call this phenomenon absurdity. A film that is in a normally “serious” genre often has high maximum immersion, so if it does not deliver on its implicit claims to reject absurdity, the viewer will find the film laughably horrible. This is one of the reasons parody series, like Austin Powers and Scary Movie, tend to do well in theaters alongside the very movies they mock.

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Second Life has unwittingly set itself up for disruption

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How does this relate to Second Life? As a self-proclaimed and marketed “metaverse”, Second Life raises the bar on its claim to immersion. Expectations are high of an experience that parallels real life. With banks, land ownership, and many other institutions that exist in “meatspace”, Second Life succeeds in delivering on many of its goals. However, by attempting to parallel real-life and create a immersive experience, Second Life has unwittingly set itself up for disruption. As immersion increases, toleration of absurdity or surrealism proportionally decreases. Even more damning is that in games, users are much more disillusioned when confronted with the absurd, because they have put their own time and energy into constructing the medium. In movies, one is not an active participant, and therefore has much less to lose from the surreal.

Ex-Superhero on Woodbury, Griefing & JLU drama

Pierce Kronos reveals he "left the JLU in disgust" in exclusive interview

by Proper Prim, staff writer

A great deal of controversy has been circulating around the Justice League Unlimited of late raising questions about how much is real and how much has been manufactured - is someone is trying to troll and defame the JLU? To learn the truth, I created an alt and went inworld and asked the JLU for interviews for some time before Pierce Kronos finally (hesitantly at first) came forward to talk.

I went into the interview with a long list of questions. Could the teen grid allegations have any merit? Is Kalel Venkman really an 'unbearable power hungry fascist' as some have described him? What is the purpose of the JLU? What part did JLU play in the Woodbury University situation and Tizzers Foxchase's permanent removal from Second Life? Near the end of the interview, Mr. Kronos announced that he had 'left the JLU in disgust' but also made it clear that there are still those in the JLU whom he likes, respects, even admires and that he will in no way betray their trust by disclosing any sensitive information as Nikola Shirakawa, another former JLU member, once had.

After speaking at length with Mr. Kronos about work, life in general, griefing, Second Life, the PN and the JLU. Pierce seems to be a good guy and I am convinced that not all of the allegations circulating are true - and I suspect that the ones that are true have nothing to do with him. While Pierce wasn't been entirely forthcoming about his reasons for leaving the JLU, I admire the fact that he has shown his enemies respect by keeping his quarrels private. It is unclear if Mr Kronos intends to continue endeavors as an anti-griefer from outside of the JLU or if he simply intends to settle down and live quietly - either way we wish him the best of luck!

Welcome To Crunk Camden

by Pixeleen Mistral, photojournalist

In the past, visits to Baku sim were always thought provoking, as the W-Hat goons pursue their artistic vision with a series of themed builds. However, since the W-Hats purchased an island - named What - Baku tends to be rather quiet. Saturday evening I stopped by the What sim to photograph the goons' latest work - Crunk Camden.

Crunk Camden

sidewalk shooting

Interview with Supercool Sautereau: Premier of People's Soviet Communist Party in Second Life

by Urizenus Sklar, National Affairs desk

Forward thinking Herald readers may have feared that Soviet Communism was decomposing somewhere in the dustbin of history. But take heart comrades! It is not dead, but advancing on new frontiers and has now claimed its metaversal bridgehead on the shores of the Jessie Simulator. In this interview, Soviet Prermier Supercool Sautereau informs us that while Soviet Communists today have not forgotten their traditional concerns of economic justice, in the metaverse they have new causes and new enemies. Today the enemies include not just fascists but griefer groups like the PN and other racist fucktards, and today their weapons include not just AK-47s, but orbits and other high tech tools favored by 21st century patriots.

Scripter d3adlyc0d3c Retires From PN Griefing Group

PN griefers issue security alert for d3adlyc0d3c’s version of SL client
Does LL’s open source GPL license require publishing exploits?

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk

Even the most jaded metaverse resident may raise an eyebrow at the idea that Linden Lab’s open source software license could compel sharing exploits among griefers. But this is the legal theory being advanced by members of the notorious PN griefing group - who would benefit from a peek under the covers of d3adlyc0d3c’s modified version of the ShoopedLife client. The PN has also issued a security alert warning against using the modified SL client until they inspect it's inner workings. It is unlikely that the irony of the PN issuing security warnings and invoking GPL legal arguments is lost on anyone - except PN members.

Why is there such a high level of interest in a 3rd party SL client? Until retiring recently, Mr. Cod3c was one of the main scripters for the PN, and his latest work holds out the possibility of taking advantage of a number of exploits to evade various parcel bans - shifting the balance of power from the landowner to the griefer. Thus far Mr. Cod3c has resisted calls to publish his exploits - explaining in a series of exclusive interviews with the Herald that he wants to go straight and rejoin mainstream SL society. This may place him on shaky legal ground with respect to the GPL-licensed SL client from which the griefer-friendly ShoopedLife client is derived. Most Internet lawyers agree that under the GPL derivative works must publish source code - but what happens when the modified source may illustrate serious exploits in SL itself?

the retirement announcement

Our story begins before Christmas as Mr. Cod3c explained to the Herald that much of the charm of griefing was gone, saying "I have decided to call it quits due to many many personal reasons, including but not limited to, our legal grey area and the fact that we may be vulnerable to civil or even criminal prosecution. Another reason for my retirement is that during my 'career' as a griefer I actually became a very skilled scripter. I intend to use those skills to profit in second life".

Super Hero Super Drama!

Justice League Unlimited declares Green Lantern Core founder an enemy of the state

by Nikola Shirakawa

“Cid is way too friendly with people who are morally dubious despite his holier than thou attitude” -Kara Foley

Stunning news from an early December Justice League Unlimited meeting. In a shocking turn of events, Cid Jacobs, the founder of the Green Lantern Core, an anti-griefer group with a long history of good service, and great conduct, has been labeled a hostile by Kalel Venkman’s Justice League Unlimited anti-griefer group. Among the reasons for this new label?

“He hangs out with Nikola Shirakawa and doesn’t seem to think that the RL raid on my house was really griefing.” -Kalel Venkman

That’s right, because Cid Jacobs was friendly to Tizzers Foxchase - somebody Kalel and his flock doesn’t like - Cid is now an enemy. What does this mean to Second Life at large? Well, you’d better be double checking those friends lists, because if you’re caught talking to somebody on the JLU hit list, you just might find yourself labeled a griefer.

As to the RL “raid” on Kalel Venkman's house? Tizzers Foxchase and some other /b/tards that happen to live close to Kalel in real life, decided on Halloween to knock on Kalel's door while in costume and trick-or-treating. That’s it. They knocked on his door like any other trick-or-treaters, but what was the proper punishment for this heinous crime?

Designers Running AttackAlts? - Fashionista Shock!!!

Why the Brutal Honesty blog cannot keep their mains clean
Ana Boogiewoogie sez: Amelia Abernathy = Tina Travanti & Elexor Matador = Lothian Utorid

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk

I’ve been having a hard time writing this story - probably because it bothers me to see SL society descend to a level of nastiness that exceeds an overflowing cat litter box left fermenting in the sun next to a dumpster serving a French Quarter Gorean slave whore house. Should the payback for writing a story questioning the originality of an SL jewelry design be months of Brutal DisHonesty blog taunting capped off with a call for stalking? Apparently so, for anyone who frequents the SL fashion scene.

Maybe my problem is that I find it hard to justify supposedly upstanding, faux-friendly designers using internet sock puppets and secondlife-swiftboat blogs under alt accounts, when what is at stake is selling the pretend jewelry and clothes we dress our avatar dolls up with. The griefers keep reminding me that SL is serious business - enter at your own risk or GTFO. After over a year on the goon and griefer beat for the Herald, nothing really surprises me anymore - but I still get disgusted.

So - cut to the chase - earlier this week, the SL Herald’s iMojo wire was delivering a steady and credible stream of chatlogs from Ana Boogiewoogie suggesting that prim jewelry designers Amelia Abernathy and Elexor Matado are the “brains” running the über nasty Brutal Honesty blog as a beatdown vehicle to payback whomever they want to go after - while keeping their main accounts pristine, fresh, and clean. When contacted for comments prim jewelry designer Mr. Elexor Matador said, “Well, I'm not going to address it, to be honest. I've had enough drama over it for the last few days”.

The Alliance Navy - Banished & Forgotten?

Merczateer accuses AN of spawnkilling, sithacking in response to riot shield testing in Dorien

by Fox Mulgrave, Military Correspondent

I have seen many strange things in my time in the Second Life military community, personal vendettas, operations such as Crucifix and Crucifix II and of course the infamous Emit Time scandal, however, they all seemed to have sense in them, a purpose and reason. What you are about to read however, is quite the opposite.

Militant Collective Commander Raideur Ng refuses to bow down

Wednesday night and I was trawling through my friends list looking for someone who may have a story to tell, I found hope from a friend in the Ordo Imperialis (formerly the Venuma Coalition and The Alliance Navy II). It turns out that some kind of joint operation between the Merczateers, Militant Collective, and the Ordo has taken place; Tuesday night, all three militaries began the long process of banning all members from the Alliance Navy group, intending to cut them out of the loop completely. Some may see this as a surrender, others, like Raideur Ng (Head of Militant Collective) insists that the move was made due to AN’s ‘overactive’ use of homing kill-scripts.

Those who refused to bow down: Raideur Ng, Lurdan Huszar, Anthony Lehane, Aryte Vesperia.

Intent on finding the truth, I visited Dorien, and began to question the AN, who actually didn’t seem too bothered by the banning, in fact they seemed quite amused.

Green Lantern Core's Heroic Epic Poetry

Failure of PN's rumored friday griefing raid causes super hero to wax poetic

[GreenLantern Excelsior sent this tale of online heroics to the Herald offices via the mojo wire saturday, with a note saying "I was inspired to write this after the big PN raid last night ended up fizzling like a wet firecracker". Is the heroic epic poetic tradition is being updated for the new media? -the Editrix]

Banned griefer's ghosted avatar stuck in a walking animation is decorated with props in Sandbox Cordova

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The Wreck of Operation Battlecruiser

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by GreenLantern Excelsior

The Great PN Raid of November '07
Was planned to be vicious and mean,
With sim-crashing style,
And "lulz" by the mile,
The worst Second Lifers had seen.

The Green Lantern Core and the great Justice League
Were prepared to observe and report.
With their shields charged to max,
They'd AR the attacks
By the griefers they'd promised to thwart.

The Lindens were ready, their steely eyes steady.
The Grid was in perfect repair.
At the first sign of trouble
They'd move on the double,
Protecting the residents there.

Absentee Landlord Removes Griefer’s Objects - Eventually

PN suicide grief bomber WutWut Foggarty deleted after one day in the metaverse

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk

An un-named Linden staffer was eventually enlisted to remove WutWut Foggarty’s griefing objects from Mowry and at least 10 - 20 adjacent sims Sunday morning, after several hours had passed between initial reports and the virtual cleanup.

Ultimately both WutWut Foggarty’s objects and Mr. Foggarty himself were removed from the metaverse. Before being disappeared from the people list, Mr. Foggarty’s profile showed his account was created Sunday - and so yet another virtual suicide grief bomber came to a sudden end at the hands of the Linden game gods. Few tears were shed for Mr. Foggarty, however.

I was able to personally confirm reports of twirling cubes making loud noises, spewing particle effects, flooding the text chat channel with quaint PN gang sayings, and continuously sending requests to animate avatars. The onslaught of virtual spam was bad enough that it was nearly impossible to IM while in the presence of the attack.

Some investigation revealed that this was at a minimum a regional affair. Not only was Mowry sim infested, but as I teleported to nearby sims it appeared that the griefing cubes where spreading, possibly along Linden-owned roadways and waterways - where local landowners cannot return objects.

Interview with Smoke Wijaya - Anti-FNSL Activitst

The communist struggle against fascism in SL

by bitha Botha

Living in second life and a so called "God sim" means a lot of the players are free to go and do as they please. However this is not without consequences, as political ideas and agendas spread and clash. Recently I met with a man who calls himself Smoke Wijaya - the owner of the anti-FNSL parcel in Pahto sim. Smoke Wijaya is a communist and anti-FNSL leader. For those who have not been paying close attention, the anti-FNSL strives to purge facism and racism from Second Life, and their base, located on what is described as a "fascist sim" is decorated with giant fists, spotlights and tributes to malcom x.

According to Wijaya he started the group two months ago, and the parcel he sits on now is an outlet to purge those who preach hate, nazism, racism, nationalists and assorted fellow travelers from Second Life the like.

Since Wijaya and his group have taken it upon themselves to wipe the SL slate clean, I sat down to have a chat with him about what his group stands for and its growth from humble beginning to members in the several hundreds - a number that even the FNSL can’t come close too.

bitha Botha: I know we've talked in the past but we haven’t really gotten to what your group is all about. basically, when did it start?
Smoke Wijaya: my group?

bitha Botha: Well, your little place here. anti-fnsl
Smoke Wijaya: Oh right. Well, I bought this land when FNSL made their new HQs here, which will be about 2 months now. This is just an extension of what anti-FNSl and other anti-fascist groups have always done. Adjacent land to oppose and expose them.

bitha Botha: Have you ever had any problems being adjacent to your neighbors? I mean, they are right next to you guys. Have they ever tried to grief or cause a ruckus here?
Smoke Wijaya: well, being adjacent to them is what WE choose for...not them. And they are not really try to grief us. They have tried some attacks, but land permissions won’t let that happen... and they don’t oppose/protest against us, like we do with them.

Op/Ed: PN Leader N3X15 Is the Worst Sort of Furry

[G-Boy Anonymous tells the story of how he outgrew griefing - then learned the current leader of the PN has shocking furry sympathies. When I questioned GBoy's motivations for coming forward, he told me while he dislikes furries, he despises hypocrites. After trying to go straight, GBoy finds living a peaceful life is difficult, because “a majority of the sims I've been in have been griefed”. GBoy claims that the problem is “nexis and PN are filled with fucking idiots and 14 year old kids who got banned from gaiaonline.com and just now found out about 4chan”. And so, one avatars struggles to move on to a new life. This is his story - in his own words. -- the Editrix]

by G-Boy Anonymous

There comes a time in a greifers life when greifing is no longer the norm and no longer fun, there’s only so much lulz to be had when greifing furnation or baku or whatever - you know?

Almost a year ago I started playing second life. I was a /b/tard, scum of the internet - amirite? I played for about a week, I hung out in baku since that was the very first place I visited.

Being a /b/tard on the internet means you have ties to the internets strongest internet hate machine, you have access to scripts, programs and so called "rape machines" that would make most hackers and trolls scratch their heads or suck your dick - and this is about the time I became part of the PN, “patriotic nigras”, or what was known as second life’s internet jihad, the biggest and baddest.

Or you know, until now, when this story gets published.

Ex PN Leader Open Sources Griefer Weapons

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk

Taking a cue from game developer Linden Lab, Mudkips Acronym has embraced open source software and published scripts for griefing weapons used by the notorious “Patriotic Nigras” griefing gang. Previously access to these scripts was limited to those who asked nicely, or passed some sort of initiation to join one of the gangs.

By opening the formerly proprietary tools to community development, Mr. Acronym presumably hopes to help the community by enlisting more people for testing - and innovating - with the PN tools platform. Sources report that Mr. Acronym was tired of being IM'ed and e-mailed with requests for the scripts, and decided to simply publish them at his web site: tetravalency.org. Apparently software support headaches are universal and even extend those with software designed to be annoying.

Mudkips Acronym - sometimes known as Mootykips - is the founder and former acting leader of the PN, but recently stepped down to pursue other interests and spend more time with his family. By publishing scripts and detailed instructions for the assembly of various weapons such as the Autocager, Lulz Turtle Block Bomb, Grid Infector, IM Spoofer, Siezurecube, Money Thief Script, and Mass Client Flooder, Mr. Acronym apparently hopes to remain a contestant in the stupendous ironic badass race - and achieve Plastic Duck-like status in the metaverse.

Op/Ed: Pools Closed ...so it goes

Linden Lab really, really sucks at security - if one of the Lindens can be harassed for hours without as so much as a ban, what about the average resident?

[Mudkips Acronym recently stepped down from leading the PN - a notorious griefing/invasion gang in Second Life. When I contacted him for comment, Mudkips was gracious enough to to take a few minutes from tending his virtual roses to share his thoughts on the turmoil in the PN, Linden Lab security, and the Angel Fluffy controversy - the Editrix]

by Mootykips/Mudkips Acronym, Patriotic Nigras - Founder, Acting Leader

The last few weeks have been an odd time for the Patriotic Nigras, and probably for Second Life in general. After a general grid failure/slowdown (which may or may not have been the work of a PN scripter who shall remain nameless here), and recently the "shocking revelations" coming from one drama-loving furry accusing me of being yet another drama-loving furry, I've had my hands full.

It's surprising Angel Fluffy wants to publicly associate with me. As I'm sure readers very well know, everyone that has associated with PN has regretted it. Woodbury was closed down due to reports of PN griefers inhabiting it, and the reputation of one Intlibber Brautigan has severely declined following his attempts at hiring PN to crash the sims of his enemies (such as Anshe Chung, who he also had the nerve to make a racist remark against). The question of what would have happened to FurNation had I claimed that Angel Fluffy was me will remain a what-if, just as if the John Edwards attack was more coordinated along the lines of the original plans. I don't deal in what-ifs.

As we all know, Second Life is serious business. While I've only been involved in this game (yes, it is a game) for a little over half a year, I'm very aware of the various rivalries that exist in-world. The problem with PN is that that "serious business" attitude slowly crept in to the point where new members were all treated as suspected spies - but those new members often did the most for the organization, such as scripting the aforementioned grid crasher.

Angel Fluffy's Security Services Connected to PN Griefers?

Sources claim Angel Fluffy is Mudkips Ackronym - notorious PN leader
Griefing group created to fuel demand for Proactive Security?

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk

Running what may have been an anti-griefing protection racket in the virtual world could have backfired on Angel Fluffy - if the rumors flying around the metaverse are true. A number of sources claim that Angel Fluffy has an alternate identity as Mootykips Acronym - leader of the notorious Patriotic Nigras griefing group. Was Angel Fluffy using the PNs to create demand for the security service that Fluffy runs?

This would be ironic, since Fluffy has cultivated a helpful Linden pet image in Second Life by volunteering to “clean up” the feature voting tool proposals - earning a mention in the official Linden Lab newsletter. At the same time Fluffy has helped create a better world by stepping in to serve the in-world demand for capture/rape roleplay, with a business in silvermoon.

Neither of these pursuits have proven overly taxing, and Fluffy has also found time to run a security service and advocate linked ban lists to allow landowners to automatically ban undesirable residents. Of course, running a large scale security service could provide certain opportunities to settle some personal scores while policing the virtual world, and not all residents are sure that Fluffy’s Proactive Security and the SLBanLink.com site are entirely positive developments.

Former JLU Member Speaks Out

anti-griefer Justice League Unlimited threatens privacy and act like griefers

by Nikola Shirakawa ex-JLU member

The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which - Animal Farm

Many people on SL have run into this group. The Justice League Unlimited - or JLU - has become one of the most well-known anti-griefer groups in the metaverse. Perception of the JLU differs depending on who you ask. Residents that have requested JLU help say they are every bit the superheroes they role play. The alleged goons and griefers such as the "Patriotic Nigras" - or PN - claim the JLU are sim-crashers that fire doomsday weapons at their enemies. Some land owners, such as Artemis Fate, say the JLU are a detriment to peace on the grid.

Before serious discussion about the JLU can be undertaken, it is important to know that not all of their actions are entirely public, and some of these shady choices could paint a very different picture indeed. To the public, they just swoop in to distress calls, talk down a griefer, or, in the most extreme cases, they call down the Lindens. Nothing wrong with that, right? But these are just the actions the public sees. What goes on when they retreat to their locked down sim, Asimov Park, the real story begins.

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the JLU database never forgets

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Let's start by discussing the JLU Brainiac device. This little bot, attached to their avatars, connects to an external database that maintains a running record of avatars they have come in contact with. And I mean every avatar. Part of the script in their equipment automatically records the names of every Second Life resident, griefer, civilian, or even Linden. That's right, if you've been next to them, they have your user name, and a unique key that acts on a similar level to that used by the Lindens to issue permabans.

When the Music Stops, Or When the Griefers Go Live

Gavin MacKay, Kim Seifert's manager, at the Lily Pad

Prokofy Neva, Music Critic/Griefer Watch/Hey, when are we going to get a real music critic?

Now with open and moderated comments! --Uri and Prok

An ardent fan of Second Life's popular singer Kim Seifert, IM'd me, hopping mad at the Lily Pad Lounge in Clyde. Or rather...several sims away, as the sim had crashed due to griefers wrecking a concert of this SL live performer, who describes herself as performing "a little soul, blues, and jazz thrown in for a full color spectrum."

Once again -- apparently this is getting to be a regular occurance for a number of SL live acts -- a griefer came rolling on to the sim, released the usual Cosby Jello-wned textures all over the place, put out some screaming grief balls that self-replicated and then whoops, rocked the sim right offline for a good long while, because nobody could find any Lindens.

How could this happen, with all the tools given to residents to combat the increasing epidemic of disruptors like this, bent on denying everybody a second life? In this case, the problem was in part due to the venue owners not owning the entire sim -- it's a mainland sim -- and therefore being unable to keep griefers completely at bay. The sim-crasher -- as many do now -- also seemed to have a curious shield, or to be using a hacked version of the open-sourced client, that prevented the owners from being able to eject him immediately. An island venue might be able to insist on a group or instantly globally ban a griefer from the sim. But many venues are on the mainland, where clubland is cheaper, and even island ampitheaters can be on rented parts of sim, not the entire sim.

Intlibber: "I am sure Tizzers is in on it and works for the prof"

By Prokofy Neva

The story of Woodbury University -- "Griefer U" -- is now in the real-life Chronicle of Higher Education. You need a subscription to read the article (the link is just to the blog) -- it's one of those old-media proprietary establishments that needs a paid pass or sub, because the journalists and editors work for actual money, and advertisers help pay their bills -- all strange concepts for the hacksters and script-kiddies of Second Life. Mark Wallace's "guilt-by-association" meme is reproduced in the CHE -- to the effect that the Woodbury U involves suppression of academic freedom and due process for property owners and failure to punish "the true digital criminals". And Sean Fitzgerald, an Australian technology consultant, weighs in with his view that LL acted appropriately.

In any event, Woodbury U is emblematic of what's wrong with Second Life -- it's just that the different factions left right, north, south, furry, norm, sandbox, settler can't agree just what about the drama *is* wrong. Is it wrong because of "guilt by association" and "collective responsibility" and Lindens' ostensibly heinous seizure of land without due process, nominally "for the good of the community" -- a curious collectivized concept without legitimacy? Or is it wrong because griefers who are serial gridcrashers and determined conspiracists were able to infiltrate a goofy experimental college project whose designers should have been taken on faith as innocent? Or were the Woodbury U folks in on it all along? (That's my theory).

Whatever the case, efforts even to ask questions about what really happened lead to outrageous attempts to silence reporters, from demonstrations calling for firing of journalists (such friends of free expression, eh?) to gridcrashing while goons and geeks with plausible deniability hover over the sim letting others with throw-away alt accounts pull the grid-crashing script triggers. So what else is new to say about it?

Interview With Woodbury University's Edward Clift

"Universities should be made aware that Linden Labs maintains global surveillance on all the activities of their student members and monitors them both on campus and off-site" - Edward Clift

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk

Over the last two days, I conducted an interview with Dr. Edward Clift via e-mail, seeking his opinion on the Linden Lab deletion of Woodbury University island from the Second Life metaverse.

I will give Dr. Clift points for affecting a certain style - his Second Life avatar goes by the name MC Fizgig. In real life he is the Deputy Director, School of Media, Culture, & Design and Chair & Associate Professor, Dept. of Communication at Woodbury University, so we can assume a certain level of media-savvy, and perhaps an interest in those that hack the media to advance their own meta-messages - such as the goons and griefers. Here is a transcript of our conversation

pixeleen mistral: Did you pre-pay for the use of the Second Life island? Has Linden Lab refunded the money?
Edward Clift:We did pre-pay for the first six months of the island and have not received a refund.

pixeleen mistral: Do you plan to fight the Woodbury University sim closure?
Edward Clift: Our plan is to fight the Woodbury University closure by a) appealing to Linden Labs and b) speaking out on behalf of academic freedom.

pixeleen mistral: Apparently, Linden Lab felt that there were problems with the activities taking place in the region and with Terms Of Service violations by troublemakers. Were you aware of any of these sorts of problems?
Edward Clift: Woodbury University is a minority-serving institution whose students are often relegated to the margins or unjustly castigated as troublemakers. The fact that Linden Labs waves Terms of Service violations around with no details or supporting evidence reminds me of the Salem Witch Hunt Trials. If people come to an educational island, they seem to say, then we know you are guilty! Let’s burn you at the stake! Look, one of the 11,000 daily visitors wrote a nasty script... Let’s turn their island to grey goo! The truth is we worked diligently to institute a security force including members of the Justice League in an effort to keep problems in check. There was never any communication from Linden until the disconnection as to whether they thought we were doing a good job or not and certainly no chance to take corrective measures in any kind of cooperative fashion.

Woodbury University Island Destroyed

LL's extreme smackdown - Woodbury University's island deleted for TOS violations!
"a fascist company-controlled cookie-cutter world" - Tizzers Foxchase

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk

not even a smoking crater was left...

Sometime Saturday, Woodbury University’s Second Life island dropped off the map of the virtual world. Second Life players have grown accustomed to intermittent outages from their metaverse service provider, sometimes spinning fanciful stories about tsunami and seismic activity as part of in-world roleplay. A virtual catastrophe does not appear to have been the cause of Woodbury’s demise, however.

It appears the complete disappearance of an entire virtual university was a disciplinary move on the part of Linden Lab - for Terms of Service (TOS) violations. Tizzers Foxchase, an administrator of the virtual land group for Woodbury University, provided the Herald with a copy of the virtual eviction notice:

---

Tizzers Foxchase: (Saved Sun Jul 1 12:19:36 2007) Linden Lab has continued to find inappropriate uses of the Second Life region "Woodbury University" under your control. On the 16th of April, you were informed of problems with the activities taking place in the region. Many members of the Woodbury University group (which controls the region) have been detected before and after that date causing severe problems in Second Life, in violation of the terms of service. These problems include incidents of grid attacks, racism and intolerance, persistent harassment of other residents, and crashing the Woodbury University region itself while testing their abusive scripts. Due to the ongoing problems, Linden Lab has no option but to immediately close the Woodbury University region. If you believe that this notice has been sent in error, or that the details of this incident have not been adequately examined, please address your concerns in an e-mail to [email protected] Sincerely yours, Customer Support Linden Lab 945 Battery Street San Francisco, CA

---

Earlier this afternoon, I contacted Ms. Foxchase to learn if the Lindens have refunded Woodbury’s money, what the plans the displaced residents have, and how the Linden ban on Wodbury’s sim might affect educational uses of the metaverse.

Alliance Navy Base Becomes Furry Death Camp

Half ur base r belong 2 us
Mercz and /b/ form alliance to take over Alliance Navy's Emit Time base
/b/'s short lived Fursecution concentration camp

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk & Ace Graveling, War Correspondent

Arbeit Macht Fur

June 20 was a bad day for the Alliance Navy of Second Life. Behind on land tier payments, they lost control of half their Emit Time sim base to forces aligned with another militia - the Merczateers. Even worse, a clan of /b/ griefers set up a furry concentration camp on the former AN base, and began masquerading as the AN.

AN's trouble began about 1:25 AM SLT June 20th when one quarter of the Emit Time sim - and half of the Alliance Navy base - was placed up for sale and was promptly bought by the "Ailiance Navy" - the first i appears as a capital letter in an attempt at deceiving the casual observer. Three members of the Ailiance Navy (or AiN) maybe familiar to Herald readers: IntLibber Brautigan of Brautigan & Tuck Holdings, Ethan Schuman of the Merczateers militia, and Tizzers Foxchase, who is associated with the /b/ and Woodbury University.

After a brief chat with last week with Tizzers Foxchace (who is now serving time with the banned), I spoke at length with Ethan Schuman about how his group was able to take over the Alliance Navy’s base and turn it into a parody of the AN. While Mr. Shuman was not pleased with all of the /b/’s actions, I learned that Mr. Shuman felt collaborating with the /b/tards was a small price to pay for the victory over the AN .

Throwing my Helmet into the Ring: A Mixed-Reality "Event"

by Jimbo Quality

[What can we say? The idiot strikes again.
--Walker Spaight]

Lately, in real life, I’ve been hanging around at my local airport. I started going there a few months ago to price airline tickets to Chicago for the Second Life Community Convention, but now I go for the coffee. (I tell you, someday someone is going to invent a way to sell airplane tickets over the computer and they’ll make a bazillion dollars!) The nice people at the airline desks have been busier and busier, and as the weeks wore on it was getting harder and harder to find someone who had the time to help me look for cheap tickets. Gosh, the things those airlines make their employees do! I had people tell me that they’d love to help me but they had to go wash the plane, or fly the plane, or pack the bags, or have their body cavity searched [Only one? -- Ed.], or any of a few hundred other things I can hardly remember. If you own one of the big airlines and you’re reading this, give those nice people at a break! (At least until they can help me get a ticket to Chicago, ha-ha.)

Anyway, while I was waiting for someone to notice that I had been standing at the ticket counter for an hour and a half, my eyes fell on a television on the other side of the departure hall--and there I was treated to the hottest babe I’ve ever seen. She was wearing a beautifully tailored suit, had a smart and perky haircut, and was saying something with great enthusiasm and joy in front of a large group of people. Immediately, I was in love. Unable to hear the audio, and too far away to read the closed captioning, I feared I would not find out her name, so I ran to the television and got there in time to see her first name only: “Hillary.” On the spot, I resolved to find her. Little did I suspect that I would come tantalizingly close in Second Life.

King Bruno Ziskey of Sparta

by Tundra Koba, war correspondent

I've was lucky to interview Bruno Ziskey, leader of Sparta, the most creative military group I’ve seen so far in Second Life. Sparta is quickly increasing on its numbers and is creating the most powerful non-grieving guns for a military group in Second life I've seen. Who better to describe the group then the group leader, Bruno Ziskey, King Of Sparta,

Bruno said, "Sparta exists to role play as what Sparta may have been like if it had survived to the future, where ships and robots are the normal. Besides that, Sparta also is responsible for protecting New Sparta, our floating base of operations. Spartan soldiers live the Spartan ideals of loyalty, honor, discipline, and a ferocity in battle that is second to none. Included in this ferocity is the Spartan custom to die in battle rather than to surrender, thus the motto of Spartan is "Molon Labe," in reference to the words of King Leonidas at the battle of Thermopylae. Spartans are known for their courage and fairness to all, and act according to the Spartan ideals both off and on the field of battle."

Then King Bruno Ziskey took a deep breath.

W-Hat Celebrates 3rd Year in SL

Punk rock and memorials to perma-banned griefers
Decomposing Monstre banned & reinstated without explanation the next week

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk

I was recently in Baku hoping for a two-for-one story - one group of goons griefing another group's event. While waiting to see if the Patriotic Nigras or another of the up-and coming goon gangs would show up at the W-hat/Something Awful 3 years in SL anniversary, I partied down in the filled-to-capacity Baku sim. Decomposing Monstre's video shows a sample of the scene, artfully edited to disguise the lag.

The party started quietly enough...

The party was in some ways a typical SL soiree - a DJ spinning tunes for the parcel's streaming audio, lagged out avatars with dance animations, and running commentary in chat/IM as the community socializes, slags off enemies, makes song requests and discusses the music being played.

But where was the organizer of the party? Word spread that Mr. Monstre had gone missing from the people list. Was he banned? For what? After a time Mr. Monstre began speaking to the throng via an IRC relay in world.

Charleston Harbor Navy Declares WAR!!!

Raids, accusations, and animosity likely

by Curious Rousselot, Military Affairs desk

Immersionists (and possible Luddites) declare war

Friday May 11, 2007 -- The Charleston Harbor Navy (CN for short) held a press conference to announce their declaration of war with the Alliance Navy and the Second Life Sky Navy. Held in a hidden bunker somewhere in Rizal the announcement was made to a very small audience. Although no gunfire could be heard outside during the conference, one of the representatives, Voldo Asp, had to leave shortly after the conference began. Adm. of Ground Voldo Asp was unable to return to the conference and reasons for his departure were left to the imagination.

The Charleston Harbor Navy, as with other military groups in SL, work towards the betterment of Second Life and attempt to protect the other residents from harm and griefing. In Inuyasha Deere's own words, "We, the military founded by the power of Republicanism, wish to assist the citizens of Second Life. We will destroy these negative influences for you. I salute you". Inuyasha Deere holds the rank of Imperial Admiral in the Charleston Navy and is emperor and head of state of The Federal Republican Navy.

In their official statement, Admiral Deere stated, "The Federal Republican Navy declares war on the Alliance Navy, Second Life Sky Navy, and will work towards shutting down Mr. Lee's Greater Hong Kong- a group we accuse of funding griefers and being a scam to the citizens of Second Life. These are in our personal interests, and also in our utmost respect and support for both the Merczateers Tactical Forces and The Grand Federation. I make this statement without any doubt or regrets. The allied states will win this war. On the behalf of the Republic of Korea, death to the Alliance Navy".

War With No End in Sight

by Tundra Koba, war correspondent

the HQ in the Merczateers skybox

This reporter was teleported into a war zone Sunday morning, and as I stood behind a desk for cover I asked a few Merczateers their opinions. In the background, you could hear the twang of bullets hitting the unlucky soldiers below. Thanks God there was a protective wall in the sky headquarters above Badnarik sim, the main Merczateers military installation.

As we spoke, there were a few Alliance Navy airships bombing the Merczateers below. Alliance Navy Admiral Nanao Mahfouz was spotted near us in his airship as he fired at us - but he was shot down -- I was being protected by a few experienced Merczateers.

During breaks in the gunfire, I asked who had the upper-hand in the on-going war between the Merczateers and the Alliance Navy. Kristian Kit - an officer in the Merczateers - responded by saying "Well my personal opinion is that AN and Mercz. has to prove to each other who's the best and who fights the more honorable way." This was interesting considering that this two militaries use to be very close allies many months before the war broke out.

When I asked if the MOSCOW treaty was still active or if had been discarded, Kristian replied that it had indeed been rejected by Alliance Navy, and the Merczateers would be looking at the new STABLE treaty offered by the Alliance Navy. This treaty would limit the weapons used by the militaries to insure that none are griefing the other and gaining an unfair advantage.

Mercs Say MOSCOW Must Be Signed For War

Merczateers will not fight the Alliance Navy without a signed MOSCOW agreement
by Omega Groshomme, war correspondent

Merczateers Comdiv Ethan Schuman

On April 29th, 8pm SLT I had a chance to sit down with Ethan Schuman, an officer in the Merczateers to discuss their position with Alliance Navy (AN) and clear up the purpose of MOSCOW (Military Organization Standard for Conventional Operations and Warfare). During the interview, I learned that the Merczateers will not fight the Alliance Navy without a signed treaty and how the Merczateers claim the AN bullies smaller military groups in SL. The prospects for serious combat look dim at the moment as political wrangling has upstaged violent conflct between SL's two largest military factions.

Ethan Schuman: My name is Comdiv Ethan Schuman, of the Merczateers. In American military rankings, I would be a Colonel. I head up our Research and Development team.
Omega Groshomme: Who are the Merczateers and what do they do?
Ethan Schuman: The Merczateers are one of the oldest military groups in SL. Throughout our existence, our theme and purpose has changed, but the two elements that have remained constant are an allusion to Soviet/Russian technology and infrastructure, and the desire to just kick back and have fun.
Omega Groshomme: Your group has been heard a lot lately responding to the Alliance Navy proposed STABLE. What are your thoughts?
Ethan Schuman: Well, that depends on what you mean. One of the misconceptions that a lot of people seem to be under is the assumption that the Merczateers are the driving force behind MOSCOW. That's not the case. They are one party of many, even if they happen to be the biggest, and the organizer is a member. As for STABLE, the Merczateers don't view STABLE as any serious attempt by the Alliance Navy to right what's wrong with SL combat. Rather, we see it as an attempt on their part to try to avoid signing MOSCOW. However, the STABLE talks have all but collapsed, as the only parties on board with it are the Alliance Navy themselves and Sparta
Ethan Schuman: If you'll note, Nayaioh Commodore, the former leader of Corsair, who was actually one of the AN's biggest assets in setting up STABLE, has joined the Merczateers.

Supine SLLA Spawns SLDF, SLDM

SLLA goes tits up, spawns new groups to fight the powers that be
"one av, one vote"...except alts

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk

Sunday morning visits to the Herald offices can be rough - there is always the possibility that Walker or Uri have been “working late” on a “special project” and have decided to take a short siesta on the floor - surrounded by their “research materials”. However sordid that scene becomes, at least there is someone to help empty the ashtrays and hide the evidence take the empty bottles out to the trash. Even better - should the mojo wire relay breaking news, someone is there to respond - even if it is in a debauched dissolute fashion. But this sunday the offices were pristine and peaceful - except for the blinking red light on the mojo wire, and a short screed from Smoke Wijaya.

Smoke Wijaya reports that the SLLA is no more - with mass resignations and the formation of several new groups to fight the power - hopefully more effectively than the SLLA. Avatar rights advocates will want to track two new groups - the SLDM (SL Democratic Front) and SLDF (SL Democratic Movement) - to see if they can avoid becoming pawns of publicity-seeking platformistas and the corporate class in SL. It will also be interesting to see what sorts of t-shirts the new groups design, and if they can put on good parties to enlist the blingtard class in their movement. The goons in Baku set high standards with their party friday night - but that is another story.

Here is the text of the announcement:

Marathon Battle at The Woofer

AN repulses attack - Herald reporter wounded

by Omega Groshomme, war correspondent

The Alliance Navy was attacked on Wednsday morning 1:00am SLT by members of several opposing factions. Members of Titan industries rolled into "The Woofer", the Alliance Navy sim, using small arms fire and phantom rounds engaging in a small fire fight from the NW side of the sim. Attempts to advance toward the AN HQ were quickly withdrawn as members of the AN held back opposition with heavy machine gun fire and Talon aircraft. Attacks carried on to 1:35 SLT when another attack was reported by security forces at "tethys", the AN sub HQ.

Members of SOCOM advanced over the draw bridge into a security post where they were met with mild resistance for a short time. After a quick briefing AN Cadets were sent in to clear out hostile forces and to secure the HQ, at which they were quickly engaged by SOCOM forces using high powered rifles and sniper fire. AN troops made haste pushing SOCOM back over the bridge to the front gate where snipers were taking up positions to fire into the AN base. The snipers were later killed by AN marines sent to hold the bridge.

The engagement at "the woofer" however carried on passed 2:20am SLT when Titan forces withdrew and SL commandos, as well SOCOM continued their attempted assault. AN troops dug in,deploying light machine guns and automatic rifles holding back the attack, when this writer (Omega Groshomme) was hit by enemy fire after identifying myself as a reporter when trying to move in for a closer photo. AN cadets fired, neutralizing the hostile forces and pulling me to safety.

STABLE Talks In Response to MOSCOW

SL military groups continue negotiations
by Omega Groshomme, war correspondent

treaty negotiations continue

April 19th at 20:06 SL time an organization of military groups gathered in conference to discuss a new more improved treaty in answer to the Merczateer proposed MOSCOW: Military Organization Standard for Conventional Operations and Warfare. The conference organized by the Alliance Navy was set forth to improve the SLSALT (Second Life Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) - by not only rewriting it, but by starting from scratch involving the entire military community. Groups being represented at this first of many meetings were SPARTA, Grand Federation USC, AN, SLSN, Corsairs and CDR.

Until now,the war between AN and Merczateers has merely been personal, but as the Merczateers' attempt on an answer to the SLSALT with MOSCOW, and now the AN beginning a new involving all possible -- it is clear this conflict has gone political. I had a chance to catch up with Alenzia Epsilon who is keeping record and overseeing with others on the development of STABLE. The proposed areas of debate and regulation:

Weaponry and Ammunition (allowable rate of fire, ammo types, etc.)
Leadership and Personnel Behavior (attacking base under non-group tags, avatar flight, etc.)
Vehicles and Aircraft (possibility of depleting fuel for vehicles, weapons systems by vehicle type, etc.)
Equipment Source and Content (minimizing laggy scripts, protection of intellectual property, etc.)
Land and Territory Regulations (Estate banning, setting land to safe, invalid homepoints, etc. )
Enforcement and Regulation (inter-group regulation enforcement, appropriate actions for infractions, regulatory body made up of all member groups, etc. )

To learn more, I spoke with Alenzia Epsilon - one of the participants in the STABLE talks.

Is Second Life Liberation Army Founder Part of a Corporate Spy Firm?

Solidad Sugarbeet resigns from SLLA leadership - claims Marshal Cahill is part of real life "corporate intelligence/security firm"

by Bayesian Textbot

Today, the following notice went out to the Second Life Liberation Army (SLLA):

Dear SLLA members: Via an anonymous source, it has come to my attention that Marshal Cahill is the real life owner of Concentric Solutions, a corporate intelligence firm. As such, I cannot in good conscience remain in a leadership position in SLLA. I have tried to rectify this situation internally, and with limited success; however, the sensitive nature of this situation has left me no choice but to go public with this information. I wish you all the best, and it is my hope that SLLA will one day represent a true revolutionary vision not just for SL, but for RL as well. Sincerely, solidad Sugarbeet

I followed up with Solidad, who simply said: "I can't reveal the source but I'm willing to stake my rep on this." A closer look at the Marshal Cahill account reveals little of interest except that he's managed to be around since 7/26/2006 and is only a member of a single group - his own. Even corporate accounts generally end up with a few extra groups on there.

Herald readers may remember our previous story about the paranoid delusional ranting of a security company called Concentric Solutions seeking to poke their nose into everybody's business. We were all careful about everything we did for awhile, lest we be accused of being a terrorist.

This wouldn't be the first time that this sort of honeytrap of strategy has been adopted by security forces. If true, this would hold to the pattern federal law enforcement has been following in trying to track down activists and radicals. Still, at this time it's only a rumor.

While Concentric lists (through Metaterror.com) World of Warcraft, There, and Second Life as places it watches the public for signs of terror, they haven't seen fit to let us know what avatar names they tend to use one way or another.

Alliance Navy Training - Prepared for the Worst

by Omega Groshomme, war correspondent

the woofer

"Altittude 100,speed 85,coming in under fire" the pilot shouts - I am on the drop ship of the Alliance Navy being flown into "the woofer" AN's newest sim and HQ, a hot LZ, to meet Admiral Herbst and oversee his soldiers and training. The pilot doing his best to level out before hitting the deck and keep his horizon - tracer fire coming in from the N/NE striking the ship and wounding 1 AN soldier provide cover fire.

Everything slows down as I wait for the land under my feet - I look around to see a wasteland of bunkers and concrete buildings on both sides, projectiles flying to either side. It feels like a life time before we touch down. Struts on the deck and soldiers rushing the wounded and myself inside under heavy escort. Through 2 blast doors we run until they close, we are safe from fire but can hear the event unfold above us - the snap of bullets and the clap of grenades - the cry of the wounded. Enemy fire soon dies down and all is calm, AN on patrol back and forth through the bunkers and Raptors strafe building to building. We return topside to get air and enjoy what daylight was left.

Everyone Gangs Up on the Alliance Navy

New strategic arms treaty for SL combat groups

by Curious Rousselot, war correspondent

Merczateers and others want a new treaty

Friday April 13, 2007 at 5:00 PM PST most of the organized combat groups of Second Life started the process to craft a new treaty on the use of arms and rules of war within Second Life. The meeting, organized by Ethan Schuman of the Merczateers. Representatives of the Alliance Navy were conspiciously absent from the initial meeting.

Up to this point, most combat groups in Second Life have operated under the rules of the Second Life Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SLSALT). This effort was largely led by the Alliance Navy but involved many other combat groups, including the Merczateers. At that time the two groups were allies but a recent falling out has resulted in the current war between the two groups.

The Merczateers are not the only group who have issues with the Alliance Navy, Inuyasha Deere of the Charleston Revolutionary Navy believes, "what the Mercz believe, shooting [the AN members] will not destroy [the AN]. Isolating the AN will do so, as they will be isolated militarily and economically by [this new treaty], leading to their demise or cooperation with the [treaty] militaries, mafias, and gangs."

The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend: Federation Joins War Against AN

By Omega Groshomme, SL Herald War Correspondent

Across the wasteland. Walking, walking, now stumbling, now climbing over debris. All around me the battlefield is littered with the bodies of AN soldiers, craters, burning buildings and totaled vehicles. As I navigate the shrapnel-riddled dirt I come over the crest of a hill to see them: A group of 5 Federation soliders standing in formation. I proceed with caution, not more than a few steps from the commander. He whips around and faces me; I am now looking at the sight aperture of a desert eagle pointing directly at my head. The commander sees I’m of no threat and holsters his weapon. I announce myself as a Herald reporter (years of battlefield reporting have taught me that this opens all doors), and I arrange an interview.

Talks between Alliance Navy and Merczateers Stall. Will it be War Without End?

Merczateer Proteus Hand

I was going about some routine editorial work in the Herald bunker in Jessie when an urgent communiqué from a Herald informant splashed onto my screen. According to the informant, the two great armies of Second Life – the Aliance Navy and the Merczateers were engaged in skirmishes again. It had been months since they had a full-on war, but an uneasy low grade conflict had been going on ever since. I decided to investigate and teleported to the Merzcateer base in order to seek out my old acquaintance Proteus Hand.

I materialized on a dock outside the Merzcateer headquarters, and it appeared that a conflict was already in full swing. Sniper fire rang out and from time to time I could hear he burst of automatic weapons and the concussion of heavy explosives.

I was immediately challenged by a Merzcateer in a small pod-like flying vessel.

“State your business here,”

Giuliani Campaign Dances Into Second Life (Sort of)

[Editor's Note: The following is an unpaid political announcement received this evening at the Herald offices from virtual political operative and Second Life resident GenJCChristian Homewood. Had I not been going about my usual duties of picking up Pixeleen's cigarette butts planning tomorrow's coverage, I might have missed it. Fortunately, we are able to bring you this highly important disco-political newsbreak.
--Walker Spaight]

Remember this date, March 20, 2007. It will go down in history as the day the race for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination entered the virtual world. With the opening of Disco Rudy’s: the Unofficial Virtual Campaign Headquarters for Rudy Giuliani 2008, a Republican candidate now has a presence in the virtual world, Second Life.

"We’re very excited about this opportunity to share our love for Rudy with other Second Life residents," Disco Rudy’s creator [and GenJC's typist], Joshua Christian Homewood, declared as he christened the building with a can of virtual Pabst Blue Ribbon. "But more importantly, we’re thrilled to provide potential supporters a venue where they can share their love with each other by embracing the Giuliani lifestyle," he continued, "that’s why we’re going with a disco theme."

Goons' Ban Game - SL Relay for Life Fund Raising

Public invited to purchase words that may not be spoken - for charity
0h d4mn 1t 1 h4t3 l33t sp34k

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk

careful what you say

Some of those that frequent Baku sim or hang with the W-Hat goons are known for a willingness to push the limits of community tolerance up to - and then right past - the breaking point. As reported for several years in the Herald, this sort of fun generally leads to public outrage and periodic perma-bans from the Second Life metaverse. How can a community with a taste for griefing join in the Second Life Relay For Life charity campaign - without compromising their "values"? I recently visited Baku to find out.

In the middle of Baku - now themed as faux-Hollywood called "Bakuwood", the goons have invented a game that reflects their worldview. The object of the game seems to be to disrupt conversation inside Baku by purchasing words or letters that may not be spoken. For some reason, I was not surprised that the goons would invent a game based on disrupting the normal social order.

The punishment for speaking a banned word is immediate ejection and banning from Bakuwwod - although the ban only lasts a few minutes. Shorter banwords cost more to buy - but can be quite effective in creating disruption and commotion - exactly the sort of short term griefing that will appeal to the latent goon in even normally well-behaved citizens.

Toronto Star Reveals Plastic Duck's RL Identity

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk

Infamous uber griefer Plastic Duck's RL typist was apparently outed this morning by Murray Whyte of the Toronto Star in an article titled (Virtual) reality bites. In addition to speaking with the elder statesman of virtual journalism - the Herald's own Urizenus Sklar - and discussing the departure of the elf king, Mr. Whyte shares some choice quotes from Mr. Duck - and the identity of the Toronto resident who claims to be Plastic Duck - Patrick Sapinski.

"When I started, Linden Labs always used to pride themselves on how everyone belonged in SL - the content creators, the sexual deviants, whatever," said Patrick Sapinski, a Toronto SL resident known by his notorious in-game identity Plastic Duck.

"But what I saw was a small company trying to babysit thousands and thousands of adults. And I just thought, `What happens in three years, when there's millions of SLers and they can't babysit them all anymore? That's not going to work.'"

Con Artist Capitalizes on LL’s Slow Rez Bug

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk

Monday Beam, ESQ. alerted the Herald that a grifter has been making the rounds among the horsey set. Apparently, a glitch in Second Life causes horses bought from some vendors to fail to appear in the buyer’s inventory until after they log out and then relog into the metaverse. A con artist has been taking advantage of this LL bug - and some unwary buyers - by presenting herself as a horse ranch employee and collecting L$ 750 to help. With horses costing around L$ 2000, some buyers may feel that spending a bit more to recover a missing purchase is warranted.

AKK ranch owners Kristivon Kolache and Spritely Pixel

This con is particularly galling to AKK ranch owners Kristivon Kolache and Spritely Pixel. Mr. Pixel explained, “SL doesn't always deliver product on time, and you have to relog to get it - this person was basically giving advice we would give for free and follow up on for 750L - and that was to relog”. With the possibility of the wicked preying on the unwary, Ms. Kolache advises Herald readers that, “you need to check credentials anytime someone offers help for money”.

Ms. Kolache told me that she heard another ranch was having delivery problems as well. Apparently the Lindens are aware of the issue - Mr. Pixel said, “I am working with the Lindens and they are being very good about trying to find the [slow rez] problem”.

John Edwards HQ Owner Claims Goon Texture Theft

Jose Rote “hopes they don’t get banned”
HQ may move to Sundance Film Festival's island in a week

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk

Jose Rote

Tuesday evening, Jose Rote - the owner of John Edwards’ Second Life campaign headquarters - had his hands full. A strikingly similar headquarters next door supporting a TV psychic was mocking the idea of running presidential campaigns inside a game world. Even worse, his compound was becoming a high maintenance operation with reports of overnight defacing of the pristine building. I spoke with Mr. Rote as he cleaned “last one to die please turn out the light” graffiti from the floor of the metaverse HQ for the John Edwards campaign.

When I asked Mr. Rote for his reaction to the TV mind reading psychic John Edward presidential HQ next door he found the idea behind the build boring - but he was also concerned about possible texture theft. Perhaps we should have sent an SL fashion correspondent to cover this story?

Jose Rote: I just hope they don't get banned for stealing some of the textures
Pixeleen Mistral: did they steal some of the textures?
Jose Rote: yeah
Pixeleen Mistral: would that be a DMCA thing?
Jose Rote: you can look if you like, the mailbox
Pixeleen Mistral: any other besides the mailbox?
Jose Rote: that was the only one I saw, but like I said, but I didn't look that closely, at first I was worried that they used copybot, but once I saw they didn't steal the scripts I left.

Edwards Faces Edward In SL Presidential Race

Psychic John Edward supporters build HQ next to politico John Edwards HQ
Baku goon swing vote likely to go Edward - Edwards supporters silent

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk

Edward and Edwards campaigns running side by side

Potential perils awaiting earnest politicians in the metaverse became real Sunday evening. Given the mainstream media’s breathless excitement about supporters of John Edwards american presidential bid creating a headquarters in Second Life it was bound to happen. Next door to John Edwards’ in-world campaign HQ, supporters of a challenger have launched a campaign for John Edward - a TV psychic.

I stopped by the John Edward supporter’s campaign center in Kkotsam sim and spoke with Mr. Decomposing Monstre about the campaign. Mr. Monstre told me that he “respects Mr Edwards campaign, but really in the end ask yourself, what can the man offer you? I mean he can't even speak to dead people. That's entry level psychic powers!”. Supporters of the opposition were unavailable for comment as of press time.

The John Edward headquarters carefully mimics their neighbor, and from what I could tell during several visits has more supporters actually present at the site - at times Edward supports spilled over onto the Edwards site and I never found any Edwards supporters in world. If grassroots organization is important, Mr. Edwards is likely to have a hard time winning the hearts of the metaverse citizens - and his inability to read or control minds is also a handicap.

SL Double Dare - Games From The Shadows

by Onder Skall

I'm fairly compulsive when it comes to my web surfing, so how I ended up at the SL Double Dare blog is a bit of a mystery even to me. I found myself looking at featureless black with sparse grey text describing a new game of dares in Second Life. Members would agree on a dare and pay those that completed it. One final quote caught my eye: "Risks: Warning from SL Police, couple of days suspension .... region banning."

Who is behind Double Dare?

There was no contact information and no hint about who might be a participant. Leaving a comment asking to be contacted felt a little like slipping a note under a stranger's door with your phone number. I wasn't sure what to expect, if anything. I checked back at the blog over time and didn't see any new posts. After awhile my comment was deleted. Maybe that was it.

The other day I opened my inbox and a cryptic note greeted me: "hello, questions here, DD". I had made contact! As I typed out questions I couldn't help but wonder what I was getting myself into.

Goon Public Service Announcements

Philip Linden and Plastic Duck - as seen by Something Awful goons

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk

Recently, Decomposing Monstre dropped by with a series of public service announcements to share with Herald readers - but these presented a serious publishing problem -- how to create a real multiverse media mashup on the web 2.D so new wave marketing gurus to real life corporate titans trying to make sense of teh intraweb 3.D can still get the true zeitgeist of Second Life goons and griefers.

After some experimentation in the secret Herald laboratories, our tame text technicians suggested juxtaposing goon-created Philip Linden and Plastic Duck announcements then photographing the results as a sort of post-modern generative art form.

Since the animated posters keep changing automatically, the announcements displayed might be seen as a sort of I Ching throw down overseen by a benevolent Linden Scripting Language sprinkled with metaverse lag in dynamic balance of opposites. Perhaps this is representative of the internal dialog inside the goon community? In any case, here are the results:

A Tiny Reign of Terror?

by Onder Skall of Second Life Games

Larger than he seems...

Some might say it's all innocent fun. Some might say that the advantages a smaller avatar enjoys couldn't possibly destroy everything we hold dear. Some might say that Hitler wasn't a bad guy either, but I'm not one of them. Are you?

The Tiny culture of Second Life is something that many residents have noticed gaining momentum, but few speak about it -- for fear of being silenced. As a result, the general public remains unaware of the economic influence being generated through avatar sales, custom clothing, furniture, and architecture. Tiny-targeted shops are springing up all over Second Life, and their ranks are growing at an exponential rate.

But don't let their fluffy tails and cute paws fool you: Tinies aren't to be toyed with. It takes some brilliant (and most likely devious!) minds to make avatars so overwhelmingly cute. A smaller avatar is harder to shoot, and even when you have them in your sights, it's not so easy to pull the trigger on "Fluffy", is it? Tiny cosplay obviously has a militant agenda!