Your2ndPlace

While I was away, the SLCapEx site was down - I instant messaged Bogart Beck on it prior to the site coming back up (It is back up). I'd heard of an attempt to crack the site - less technical readers would inaccurately write 'hack' - and Bogart didn't say anything about that. What he did say was that they were plugging some holes to avoid future problems.

The World Stock Exchange (WSE) is still down after the perpetual month of upgrades that has lasted 3 months and 5 days so far. All of LukeConnell Vandeverre's live announcements have not breathed enough hot air into the site to get it up and running again.

Ancapex.net? No clue. Ancapex.com is still up and running, but as we all should know by now - that site has a new owner.

International Stock Exchange seems up and running.

Tonight I was chatting with Fugazi about prospects for the future. A company or business? Eventually an IPO? While we were discussing these prospects, something became extremely clear to me: In my 5ish months in Second Life, I've learned some great ways to 'avoid' making money in Second Life. I'll share these in 'Letterman-esque' "top ten" style. Ready?

10. Slingo: This is a wonderful game...if you're the owner of a gaming parlor. DONATE to the piggy, we'll take a huge cut, and you'll have a chance to win a prize. Since most gaming parlors have a policy requiring that you return a portion of the winnings (usually 20-30%), you'll typically walk away with 50L$. Of course, the establishment takes a cut of the winnings you "re-donate." Decorum requires that you tip the host/hostess 10-20% as well. Like I've always said when it comes to gambling - if you walk away dead even, you win.

9.Slingo Host: Remember when I said decorum required a tip? Yeah, people don't tip. And you'll usually make anywhere from 50-100L$ per hour, but most hosts end up using these funds trying to spice up the pot. Redundant gestures/poses will find you further in the red as you scrape up money to find a shrink.

8. Restaurant owner: Amusingly enough, I've seen this tried over and over again. Problem is...you guessed it: You don't eat in Second Life! Cafes can be pretty cool if you can get acts, but if that's your angle, try a nightclub.

7. CEO of a WSE-listed Investment Fund: Unless you're investing in a market outside of WSE, withdraw all your lindens (or "WICS") from the WSE, and keep an up-to-date record of shareholders, you're a bipolar episode away from being crucified while your shareholders end up the newest batch of victims in the WSE Tantrum Fund (WTF).

For those of you late to the party, the WSE closed on January 4th, 2008 citing upgrades that any web developer worth their weight in hexadecimal knows is a red herring. On February 22nd, 2008, LukeConnell Vandeverre said he would make a live announcement, which he did on Sunday, February 24th 2008. He later followed up with a video announcement on the 28th of February, 2008, featuring his meat puppet.

In those later announcements, LukeConnell Vandeverre stated that the WSE would be open by mid March or by the end of March (2008, or so many believe). Today, being the 14th of March 2008, there has been a lot of cloak and dagger discussion. Those few CEOs who have stood up to LukeConnell Vandeverre, piercing his LLC veil, have not lasted very long and even their announcements for delisting have been censored/edited - which is, of course, part of the WSE Terms of Service (which contradicts itself more than once).

Sarah Nerd, who I do respect, has decided to keep her company (SNE) at WSE and unlike many CEOs she has openly stated a direction for her company at this time - she's staying at WSE. As a friend, I asked her if she did that out of fear - and she assured me that this was not true. She just wants it to play out and see what happens - a conservative approach. I have to respect that. She has also assured me that the purple hair dye has not affected her judgement. :-)

I am sure I will take some heat on this, so let me say I’m sorry for your loss … unless you were stupid.

First some full disclosure, I had a Ginko account for a few months, and I left about a month before the crash. I never had more money in there than I cared to loose, after all this was a complete stranger, there were no controls, no government insurance, no information on what was done with the money, or how money was made. So one day I went, hey a complete stranger has my money, mmm, I’ll create an ALT and put my money there, no interest but I control my money. See I bank because if I have it I’ll spend it, kinda like RL, except I don’t ever upgrade the sex bed and penis in RL …. (Thinks about the possibilities) now that this is out of the way, on to the stupidity.

Yes, I know - and if I didn't, all the instant messages I got in world would have let me know: the Linden Lab blog entry, 'New Policy Regarding In World Banks' has finally arrived - almost 5 months after Ginko Financial closed its doors.

Well, they're on the ball.

I've been working on a contract inworld, and I'm glad to see that Ciaran Laval and Jezebel Bailey have chimed in already. This is a big deal.

I took my time in collecting information and not being reactionary (as so many others are right now). Let's take stock. Sure, Linden Lab is late - but they are finally doing something that they should have done at least a year ago. That they didn't has cost a lot of people a lot of money, but that is water under the bridge - nothing to do about that, really. And there are people who will say that there are no legitimate banks in Second Life - a generalization which can't be proven accurate. This is what Linden Lab is attempting to do, apparently.

I got a lot of information, particularly from Wenden Xeno who had some transcripts and images he sent - but I'm not going to use them because we already know that people are going crazy at the ATMs inworld. I fully expect that the last 2 weeks of banking in world will be plagued with servers not being able to handle the load from Second Life banks who are trying to do the right thing.

You can please some of the people some of the time ...... but then you can't please idiots ever.....by looking out for the greater good.

This is one of the 150 comments on the 2nd life blog that just made me shake my head...
Keiko Rau Says:

The more regulation enforced upon residents, the more SL becomes like the real world. It is not “My Imagination” if I am not permitted to create anything that I can imagine, and that motto has outlived its use-by date.

Can someone tell me when scamming people is considered being "creative" and using your "imagination"? When you scam someone (which people try to do in RL every day to my 85 y/o grandmother) for their money knowing that its a scam.....is plain theft in ANY world.....I do not believe its an "imagination" issue. When you find "creative" ways to steal from people, and after so many losses to date on THIS issue alone...SOMEONE has to take responisbility and put a stop to it.....(we know other issues that could use some outside interference also).

Its called "protecting innocent people". Next time someone says "Your world, your imagination" Try to imagine a world without stealing and scamming and taking advantage of others.

After reading Sarah's blog about Montelli Vantelli's experience with Celene Ballinger, I found this statement to be laughable (if not crying about your losses)
--Not a lot of people give land back where they can make easy $450.--

Celene Ballinger is the ONLY one who does not. And now that she/he has decided to return property - She/He/IT - hold it for ransom first.

When I first heard this person was returning property, I promptly messaged Celene Ballinger and made some very strong statements about what a liar she/he is and guess what NO REPLIES..of course not..she had nothing to hold over my head to get me to admit she isnt a thief preying on others errors, uneducation, lack of KNOWLEDGE, or even an SL glitch. I am being kind and not saying what I really feel like about her, I wouldn't lower myself to that level anyway.

Let the Lindens know? Why are they getting upset with you? To many complaints?

[20:01] Celene Ballinger: Please let Lindens know too and confirm that to me. I will come over in a bit and set your land back to you for 10K
[20:02] Celene Ballinger: Thanks for agreeing. Not a lot of people give land back where they can make easy $450.

What a laugh.