Linden Snowball Fight Tomorrow, Friday December 19

 

Have you always wanted to pelt Linden Lab's finest with a cold, wet, snowball?  Well, tomorrow's your chance. The Linden Snowball Fight will be taking place. 

 

 

Grab your warm clothes and prepare for some snowy mayhem at the Winter Wonderland Snowball Fight Arena! This year’s event promises sparkling snowballs, big laughs, and a chance to face off against your favorite Lindens.

Event Details

• When? Friday, December 19th
  • First battle: 8 AM - 9 AM PT/SLT
  • Second battle: 12 PM - 1 PM PT/SLT
• Location: Winter Wonderland Snowball Fight Arena

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Winter%20Wonderland%201/241/212/44 

 

Arrive early to snag your free snow-launching gear from vendors around the arena. Assemble your squad and prepare for the ultimate showdown. See you on the battlefield!

 

This event is something of a tradition that has taken place every year for over a decade. It's been known by a few names, but people keep calling it the Linden Snowball Fight. Typically, it takes place twice a year, in December and February or March.  

 

Once again the action takes place from 8 to 9 AM, and 12 Noon to 1 PM SL time at Winter Wonderland 1 (241/212/44).  

 

Newser Crew Meeting

 

On Saturday December 13 at Noon SL time, the Newser staff would hold a meeting. It would be at its office in HV Community. From right to left were Gemma Cleanslate, Nydia Tungsten, Netera Landar, Penny Shuftan, and Bixyl Shuftan (myself). We would talk about subjects to write about, which December certainly provides plenty of,

And eventually came "meeting adjourned," which brought out a festive gesture.

 

Stay tuned for more stories from the Newser crew.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

The Lost Gallery

 

Netera Landar recently went to the opening of an art exhibition going on to January 3, "The Lost Gallery." Set in a wintery outdoor area, the place was "beautiful and realistic." She would talk to some people and take a few pictures of the displays. So which artists were there and what did they have?

 

Read Netera's article, and see the pictures, in Design.

 

Addition: Part of the article was accidentally left out earlier. It's now up. 

Cartoon of The Day: On Purpose

 

 Taken at the Happy Vixen. This cartoon was based on actual dialogue with Umbra Gardenvale. 

 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

 

Who Should Be Second Life's Man of The Year?

 

A few days ago, Time Magazine named the people leading the development of AI as the Persons of The Year for 2025.  The "Man of the Year" edition of Time is something the magazine has done for almost a century, the person, group or persons, or thing that has made the news the most in the past year. Its not always awarded to a man, and like this year sometimes it's a group of people. The choices are occasionally controversial. One year, it was awarded to "The Computer" due to the impact of them on technology and lifestyle & entertainment. There have been time's it's been awarded to someone who did a lot of death and destruction or otherwise affected peoples' lives for the worse. 

 

So with this in mind, who would be the man, or woman, or people, of the year for Second Life in 2025?

 

The Second Life Newser has announced a "Man of the Year" every year for almost a decade. Over time, we've chosen a variety of people, We've chosen Lindens. One year the Moles got it as a group for their work on Bellisseria. Citizens and communities have gotten it. 

 

Should it be someone behind a noteworthy project? Should it be a group of people helping others, such as the Relay for Life Volunteers? Or maybe this was someone or something that had such a big impact on the Internet, it was clearly felt within Second Life?

 

We have a few people in mind, but we certainly can use some suggestions. Who do you think should be Second Life's Man, Woman, or Persons of the Year?

 

Source: Time Magazine, Wikipedia

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Events This Week at the Sunweaver and Montecito Bay Clubs, Furry Fashion, Urban Furry, and Club Scorn

 

Here's what's going on at the Sunweaver, Montecito Bay, Furry Fashion, Urban Furry, and Scorn clubs.

Club Cutlass: Casual Dress, Rockin' Christmas, Christmas with A Twist

Happy Vixen: DJ Charlee, DJ Scratch, DJ Malit, TBA, DJ Khyra

Club Zero Gravity: DJ Rose - 

 

Bouncing Bunny Beach Club:  DJ Rose - 

Xanadu: DJ Jesse 

Club Squeaks: DJ Squeaks

 

Montecito Bay:  CAYA, After Dark

Club Scorn: Th 8-12, Sat 2-12

 

Furry Fashion: Celtic, Hooves & Horns, Neon

 

Urban Furry :  DJ Juana, DJ Charlee, DJ Whiskey, DJ Vantox

 

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'

 

Autism Australia Event Raises Over 130,000 Linden Dollars

 

At one minute after Midnight SL time on Saturday December 13, a 24 hour fundraiser named Autism Australia took place. It was held at Club Evolution in Hartford. A number of DJs would take part. The event was to raise funds for "Shine for Autism."Simone Wagstaff, the club's owner, and Missy (Misfit72 Resident) helped run the event. I would drop by at the tail end of DJ RocknRoll's event, and they were whooping it up. 

Missy would call out on occassion:

 

💙 AUTISM AWARENESS CHARITY EVENT 

 ═══════════════════════════════
🎗️ EVOLUTION is raising funds for AUTISM! 🎗️
Already L$130,000+ donated! 💕
Every donation counts - big or small!
Help us make a difference! ✨
Donations can be made directly at
https://www.initforautism.org.au/event/shine-for-autism/home 

 

 She would comment, "I started just before midnight. I must say we.. Anna and I ..." DJ Grizzly, who was next on stage, responded, "It's tough being indispensable." Missy grinned, "Heh, I am sure I am indispensable. ... This will be my last set (smile) after this I really need to go and pay my bed a visit." Grizzly was just starting to head to the stage, "Awww...  Well, glad your sticking around for my set.  And thanks for toughing it out!" "All for charity," Missy commented. Grizzly would start his set with "Rough Girl," while someone else, Jessica (VicBitter Resident) encouraged, "Missy get to bed!" 

Grizzly would encourage people to donate to the posters, which were accepting cash like kiosks. Jessica would say, " just want to say right here...thank you to Simone and Jack for putting all of this together. To all of our awesome DJ's and host volunteers on behalf of Evolution Australia thank you all." People were also encouraged to enter a couple raffles in which a car and a place were the prizes. 

Mira Dust would thank the Newser for helping to publicize the fundraiser. 

 

Yours truly was only able to stay at the event for a short while, and due to real life couldn't be at the end. But over 130,000 Linden dollars had been raised by the time I was there. Dropping by later, I couldn't find the total amount. 

 

There will be a second Autism Australia fundraiser just after Midnight early Saturday morning December 20.

 

Addition: The Newser has been informed that the event raised over 170,000 Linden dollars.  

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Applications Being Accepted For Valentine Shop and Hop

 

It's not yet Christmas, and people are still shopping at the stores for gifts. But already Linden Lab is getting ready for February.  On Friday December 12, Linden Lab announced it was accepting applications for the Valentine Shop and Hop.

 

We are thrilled to announce the early opening of applications for the 2026 Valentine Shop & Hop!

As we prepare for an extra special Valentine’s event, we're on the lookout for enthusiastic Creators ready to join the celebration of love ...

Merchants wanting to take part will need to fill out a Google Doc (here).  They will need to offer at least 20 percent off on items on sale at the stores. They will also need to offer a new gift for shoppers, regardless if they're in the merchant's group or not, or a gift certificate worth at least 300 Linden dollars. No adult items are permitted, nor are political themes. Also, applying does not guarantee approval.

 

 The Valentine Shop and Hop will run from Friday January 30 to Monday February 16. 

 

For the blog post in full, Click here.  

 

Yosemite in Winter

 

Gemma Cleanslate's search for wintry places took her to a favorite location:Yosemite. Snow has come to the natural park, and there are winter activities one can enjoy such as skiing and skating. But you can also enjoy the usual ones, such as horseback riding, this time with a wintry atmosphere. 

 

Read Gemma's article in Places.  

 

Reader Submitted: "Bixyl The Newshound Fox"

 

By Masane Amaha  (Masane Bloodrose), using Suno

(To the tune of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer")

(Intro) You know Cronkite and Brokaw and Cooper and Blitzer, Reporters who love to drink coffee and spritzer. But do you recall... The most famous news fox of all?

(Verse 1) Bixyl Shuftan the News Fox, Has a nose for sniffing news. And if you ever see him, He’s hunting for the interviews.

(Verse 2) All of the other avatars, Wonder where he’s gonna go. They know that clever Bixyl, Is always in the festive show.

(Bridge) Then one foggy Christmas Eve, The Editor came to say: "Bixyl with your nose so bright, Go sniff out a scoop tonight!"

(Verse 3) Then how the readers loved him, As they shouted out with glee: "Bixyl Shuftan the News Fox, You'll go down in history!"

(Outro) He's sniffing out the news... Yeah, he's sniffing out the news! (Cha-cha-cha)


https://suno.com/song/864df382-bc19-4887-9e05-acc6cc594eff

 

 

 

Cartoon of The Day:

 

 Taken at the Feral Furry theater. One of the costumed bots behind the concessions counter was open to a certain pun.

 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

A Look At The Virtual World Resonite

 

 Have you heard of Resonite, one of the newer virtual worlds? I hadn't really until a few days ago. Created by Tomáš “Frooxius” Mariančík of the Czech Republic and published by Yellow Dog Studios, it officially came online just two years ago in October 2023. One of my friends (Scratch Musikatt) talked me into giving it a look. 

 

 It's comparable to VR Chat, though there's also a third-person view from behind available. As one can see, the starter avatars aren't very much. It's clearly expected of you to move on to a better avie once you know more about the place. 

 

 Unlike VR Chat, you have an inventory. Looking into mine, I found a card showing the controls, which could be adjusted in size. 

 

If you go about and see someone with a green microphone symbol over their heads, they're volunteer mentors who should be able to answer most any question you have.  

 

I may write more on this place soon. For now, you can read more about this new virtual world on it's website (https://resonite.com/), and it's Wiki (https://wiki.resonite.com/Main_Page). 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

SL Music Video: "Forever"

 

 (click here if the video does not play)

 

From Diamond Doll Productions on July 14, "Jazmine Sulvine Tribute video, Forever doesn't last."

 

Press Release: "Autism Australia" Taking Place Saturday Dec 13, Dec 20

 

 ## Second Life Charity Event Raises Funds for Australian Children with Autism

**Second Life, Virtual World** — Evolution Australia proudly announces a special charity event in Second Life, raising funds to support Australian children with Autism through **Shine for Autism**.

This community-driven event brings together DJs, hosts, volunteers, and residents from across Second Life for an inclusive celebration of music, connection, and giving. All funds raised will directly support programs and services for children with Autism in Australia.

Participants can support the cause in several easy ways:

* **Donate Lindens**: Click and pay the **big blue “Shine for Autism” donation signs** located at the back of the stage.
* **QR Code Donation**: Scan the QR code on-site to be taken directly to the Shine for Autism website.
* **Website Donation**: Touch the information sign to receive a notecard with the Shine for Autism website link. Navigate to **Donate** and contribute as normal.

Every contribution—big or small—makes a difference.

 

* **FREE Car and Aircraft Raffles** will be held during the event.
* Entry is limited to **200 people**.
* Participants must wear the **AutAusEvoEvent group tag** to be eligible.

## 🎉 Most of All… Have Fun

This event is about community, music, and making a real-world difference. Whether you’re donating, DJing, volunteering, or just dancing—thank you for being part of something meaningful.

**Together, we can shine a light on Autism and support Australian children who need it most.**

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hartford/230/18/22

 

"What Thanksgiving Means To Me"

 

Penny Shuftan took a break from her medical hiatus to send an article to the Newser. Last month, she thought about Thanksgiving, and what it means to people. So besides looking up information on the holiday, she would interview three people she came across. So what did they have to say?

 

Read Penny's article in People (yes it's late, but better late then never). 

 

Holiday Shop & Hop Women's Gift Gowns And Outfits

 

The Christmas Shop and Hop is taking place. And Netera Landar dropped by to check it out. For today's article she looks at some of the women's gowns and outfits offered as gifts by the stores. So what did she find?

 

Read Netera's article in Fashion. 

SL Video: (Science Circle) NASA Presentation

 

 (click here if the video does not play)

 

 From The Science Circle on March 6 2016, "NASA Presentation 03-12-2013"