End of the beginning?

Aloha – Been forever since I posted but now it´s time again.

Last night I sent a group notice to the Bishara group (in SL) and I have to say that it was the hardest one ever. The group IM window exploded of course and I waited 20 minutes to respond, watching the chat and giving everyone a chance to vent. I then offered some info and some solid numbers on what it takes to keep Bishara running. Think it suprised everyone when they got to see for themselves what SL actually costs the sim owners.

As I never really had the chance nor did I want to add any “personal” perspective, this post and this “channel” will have to suffice. First of all and for the record, let it be known that it has been my greatest pleasure working for Dumisani and all of you. I know I speak for all of the managers and officers when I say that the whole Bishara project has been a blast. Dumi allowed us, provided for us a place to live and play in SL that other sims owners will be trying to match for a long time to come. We managed to create SL´s premier surfing paradise and for well over a year (which is a lifetime in SL) we were at the top of the heap. No bots, no gambling, no camping, no sex clubs, no weapons. Just honest good times and traffic off the charts.

As with all things in life, both RL and SL, time does´nt stand still. Things change, people move and life goes on. Perspective is in order here I suppose. It´s a “game”. We played and we played hard. We surfed, laughed, got drunk and then surfed some more. And we will continue to do so just someplace else. Bishara was a great place and will be remembered as such.

So thanks for all the good times, the support and the passion that you have all invested. Look forward to new things in SL. New places to surf and hang out, new friends and new beginnings.

Mahalo,

/V

To what end?

Aloha!

Ever since I first set foot in SL I have been amazed at the possibilities. I started surfing in rl at the age of 5, my dad helping me drag this HUGE Brewer down the beach at Newport. Even then the “real” surfers I remember as being the coolest dudes, always willing to help me learn. I was 5 but I was welcomed like one of the “locals”. Surfing and the surfing way of life became imbedded in my DNA and SL seemed like the perfect chance to get new riders stoked on surfing.

To that end I have been fortunate enough to find myself in an environment in SL that allows me to spread the “vibe” as it were. Everything I do in SL is done to help other people have fun and thereby allows me to have fun. I´m not blowing my own horn here, just wondering what motivates certain people in the SL surf scene.

So, my question is this: To what end does grief, negative energy, ego, conflict and drama serve? Do we not get our fair share of those things in RL?

Shake it off BEFORE you log and after you log come visit a “true” surf beach in SL. Leave the grief and all the rest at home in rl and chill with your friends on the beach. Catch some waves, teach someone to surf, share the vibe.

That´s what SL is, for me anyway.

Paddle hard,

/V