Linden Labs recently released stats for the past 12 months unsurprisingly show that premium accounts are in decline, whilst hours spent inworld increased dramatically.
Some have attributed the decline to lack of any particular benefit to being a premium account holder, most can own land on private estates which are usually preferable to mainland anyway. A L$300 a week stipend, hmmm a reason to pay each month? Access to better support? What support? LOL.
As to why user hours are up, some have said this is due to those already spending a lot of time inworld are engaging more, basically enjoying being inworld. My opinion is that the user hours are up simply because with the huge amount of stability issues the grid faces it actually takes twice as long to get anything done! Call it perseverance by the majority rather than enjoyment or engagement.
What the Stats do show is a flattening out of new signups, which also shows that more and more are exploring other options - I would love to look at Open Sims stats after the advent of the banking ban for instance, I am willing to bet their signups got a huge boost!
Look out Linden Lab you are turning the population away from you.
Feel free to comment if you disagree with me, this is just one persons opinion on the trends shown.

Bad Boy Baron Back Behind Bars, but is he guilty?
I can't say I was surprised this morning when my IMs stated Baron DeSantis has been arrested and charged with the murder of Mattt Guyot:

It was dawn when they came. 3 figures stormed the island and started zapping with tasers, my kid brother crumpled to a heap on the floor - there was no need for that - half asleep I was unsure what was happening and started defending myself and my family against the intruders, my shots were aimed at the TP point, I had to stop more from coming - who was invading? why??

They had gained the house and I realised they were officers I dropped my guns and immediately raised my hands, but it was no good the damage had been done, the Guards were making it personal now. They forced my hands behind my back and I felt a hand sliding up my leg, well that was too much I reacted by sneezing my head connected with a guards nose, I sneezed again OOOPPPPs blood gushed from another guard.
They finally overcame me and I was bundled to the blackened TP point. Not surprisingly I found myself back in Ghul Federal prison charged with Murder. I had been expecting it, especially after firehorse wrote about Mattts' disappearance, I just wish I could get in touch with him so I could prove my innocence.

Right now Baron has been placed in a secure padded cell since the guards are convinced he will try to harm himself, the cell is barely big enough to sit in, but it's for his own safety. He continues to state that Mattt is merely on holiday and for the rest he was just defending his family.
We will have to await further developments.
Dana

Dominating the skyline in a corner of SL5B you may see this huge structure and wonder what it's all about. On closer inspection it is awesome. When you get close enough (if you ever manage to rezz) the sign explains what this exhibit is all about:

There have been a few instances recently of avatars passing themselves off as sl-newspaper.com employees and then causing trouble or griefing.
This has caused us some concern as of course we cannot be held responsible for what people say.
With the SL5B in full swing this happened last night and of course we were informed and asked to explain our employees behaviour.
We state here for all how to tell a genuine employee:
1, They will be in the 'sl-newspaper employees' group
if they are NOT in this group then they DO NOT work for us.
2, We do not hire ALTs; if someone says they work for us under another name and are not in the sl-newspaper employee group then they DO NOT work for us. Even alts are added to the employee group.
3, The slnewspaper group is a public group, ie ANYONE can join even those previously ejected, we do not take responsibility for the actions of anyone in a public group. The employee group is by INVITATION only and this is revoked once an employee leaves.
4, Check the employee group - members names are visible so people can confirm that someone is an employee.
5, The only action we can take when this happens is this: Teeg Palmer has been ejected from 'SL Newspaper' by dana Vanmoer. Which is not permanent until LL brings in permanent bans within groups. Abuse reports have been sent and will continue to be sent.
Please do not hesitate to AR anyone griefing or causing trouble even if they are an employee, if that is the case then we would also take action as required.

Just a few weeks after marrying Baron DeSantis, it seems that Mattt Guyot has disappeared. Some of us were concerned over Mattts touching belief that there is good in everyone and all Baron needed to change his ways was the love of a good man, but love is blind and, it has to be said Mattt and Baron seemed extremely happy making plans for their future. During their honeymoon, the devoted couple bought a private island ( although how an ex con, poorly paid reporter could afford a private island was not questioned), the location of which is known only to a few. They started work building their retreat, during which a great deal of activity occurred. Foundations dug and filled, helipad constructed for pair’s private helicopter, even a lighthouse placed on a purpose built offshore island.
The couple were often seen visiting the mainland, obviously in love, shopping and finding items for their new life together. Occasionally they could be spotted in private sex clubs, enjoying each other. This may be due to the fact that the house was incomplete, who knows but it was commented that it has never been Matts habit to visit such clubs.
Construction continued until a large, artificial, waterfall was completed. Since then Mattt has not been heard from.
Mattt’s dad InsyX Piranha, concerned about his son’s lack of contact with the family, contacted Baron and enquired as to how his son was. Baron, after a slight pause, explained that Mattt had left to go on holiday but he had stayed behind to supervise the final construction and furnishing of the various buildings on the island. He quickly severed communication after saying that a matter required his personal attention, (Baron was heard to shout at someone unknown “Don’t dig near the f’ing waterfall you damn moron, the cement has not fully cured”), before the line was cut.
Since then, Baron appears to be living the ‘High Life’. He has been seen is some dubious establishments, and also appears to have changed his appearance somewhat. He has attended parties held at pole dancing clubs and, according to a source, was seen to be giving one dancer a large tip, on more than one occasion.
The lighthouse keeper, Neslave Laville, whom Baron DeSantis has employed as part of Neslave’s parole agreement, stated that he had not seen Mr Guyot since taking on the position. As part of his daily duties is to check on the main island for security reasons, he is a regular visitor to the area. He did mention that several weeks ago he had noticed a large gathering of crows near the base of the mountaintop retreat of his employers, but as he had duties to perform at the parole (HWH) camp, did not have time for further investigation. The following day, all appeared normal on his checks.
Due to the past history of Baron DeSantis, though it pains me as a fellow reporter to say it, could there be something more to this? Is Mattt Guyot really on holiday or has DeSantis returned to his previous bloody ways?
On contacting both Ghul and Bay City Police Stations, this reporter was informed that no official “Missing Person’s Report” had been filed. Contacting other Police stations resulted in the same response.
I tried to contact Baron to ask how Mattt was and he shouted down the line at me … “Mattt is on ******* holiday ok?”
Hmmm... interesting response. Am I alone in thinking that it's odd that a newly wed, much in love with their new spouse, should choose to go on holiday alone, in the middle of building the couples much cherished love nest?
Should anyone see or successfully contact Matt Guyot, please inform this reporter so that I may put his family at ease.



thanks to InsyX Paranha for the wedding photo.

Apparently there have been instances of nipples being either removed or a request has been put in for them to be covered so when i saw this I was quite shocked!
This being, The David (Michelangelo Statue) by Timmi Allen, normally a naked statue would not shock me or for that matter anyone in SL but this I am trying to figure out - he has full genitalia minus his nipples?????
Is Timmi trying to make a point here?
How does Artfox Daviau's wooden sculpture of a lady get censored and the nipples removed yet Timmi Allens statue with everything male on show get through????
I guess he hasn't shown nipples so its ok for a PG area?
I have nothing against nakedness in Art or otherwise and Timmis' statue is a wonderful work in sculpties made with just 14 prims.
I have nothing but admiration for someone who can make a sculptie to this high standard but what about Artfox'x lady? Why did she have to be censored? She was even less lifelike being created from wood?
I wish a Linden would come forward and explain their seeming double standards here - but I very much doubt it will happen! As always feel free to make up your own minds as to the reasoning behind this because sure as he is fully endowed no logical explanation will be forthcoming from LL.
Dana

You could be forgiven for thinking you were in some transport museum with this incredible display!