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Week One Back in Second Life

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I'm sat on a train right now, reflecting on my first week back in Second Life. It's been an interesting return as I've learned about all the systems that now exist in-world, while also trying to remember mechanics I used years ago. The camera system, for example, took me far longer to get used to again than I'd like to admit. Before I get into the week itself, I want to give a few people a shout-out for helping make my return much easier. First, Doreen, who was the first person to send me an IM and helped get me back on the road to being a Second Life resident in 2026 rather than someone wandering around with a 2008 avatar. Matt Cloud deserves a mention for similar reasons. He's been teaching me the mysteries of outfits, mesh bodies, and the never-ending world of Second Life shopping. Finally, Evan-Leigh and Amanda Dumpling (possibly a long-lost cousin?) for setting me up with my first scheduled DJ gig. You'll be able to find me at All Out Music every Sunday fro...
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Finding My Place Behind the Decks

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Coming back to Second Life was one thing. Finding somewhere to DJ was something else entirely. Back in the day, I never really had to think about it. I already knew people, knew venues, and opportunities seemed to come naturally. Returning after more than a decade away felt very different. The DJ scene felt saturated, there were clubs everywhere, and I had no idea where to start. So I did what any returning resident would do and headed straight to the Second Life Destination Guide. The very first listing that caught my eye was Warehouse 21 . Landing there, I was immediately greeted by a packed venue. The club's music policy was simple: anything but the mainstream . Honestly, it was a vibe. The atmosphere reminded me of some of the warehouse raves I attended in real life years ago. Dark corners, interesting music, people genuinely there for the music rather than just standing around looking pretty. It felt authentic. I liked it enough to put in an application. Unfortunately,...
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Hello World!

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Hello World “Hello World” is the default blog post on any new WordPress site, but it felt like an appropriate title for my first entry. My name is Carl, but my avatar is known as DJ Stuart Dumpling . The name dates back to a time in Second Life when users had to choose from a predefined list of surnames. My sense of humour immediately jumped to “Stew Dumpling,” and before long, Stuart Dumpling was born. I DJed and roleplayed heavily in Second Life between 2007 and 2011/12. You could probably say it became almost as much a part of my life as my "first life." During that time, I met a lot of people, including a few friends I am still in touch with today. Eventually, work and family commitments took over, and I gradually drifted away from the platform. Over the last 14 or 15 years, I have been busy raising my two children. For the past five years, I have also been DJing in the virtual world of GTA V within a roleplay community, something I have enjoyed immensely. Just like in Se...
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