Cartoon of the Day

Someone once spoke about griefers, "They think they're the cleverest thing since bumper nuts, but nine times out of ten, they're the same-old, same old." One dropping by a certain club I was at was especially lame. While these weren't the exact insults tossed his way, what did get spoken was far more clever than what crudery he did.

And just why are most griefers either mishapen messes, or have something like TV set heads?

By Bixyl Shuftan

Templeton Cove Pirate Maze

Arrrrr! I be a mite late with me "Talk Like A Pirate Day" story. Apologizes me hearties, but bettah late than nevah. Our tale be of an adventure ye can still take fer yerself. We be talkin' about th' Templeton Cove Pirate Maze.

Read th' tale n' Places.

Skunk Party At The Happy Vixen, with Michi Lumin

Thursday Sept. 22 was the day of the Happy Vixen's "Skunk Party." Although the theme was chosen in advance several days earlier, the news of the "Sabrina Online" comic coming to a conclusion made the part a tribute to the twenty year strip as well. In the past, there have been some impressive-sized skunk parties at Club Zero and Luskwood. The turnout for this one was somewhat light, but there were a couple notable personalities from Luskwood and Trotsdale.

Among those there was Michi Lumin, perhaps the best known of the four founders of Luskwood, one of Second Life's oldest communities, as well as the location of the oldest furry avatar maker. Begining a few years ago, she's also been involved with keeping the sims of the pony community of Trotsdale going. She had dropped by to say hello.

Also there was ScentualLust, whom in the past had been a part owner of Trotsdale. But had recently given up her share to Michi. She stuck around Skylark LeFavre, the manager of the Happy Vixen, and that night doing the DJing.

Scentual, or "Scents" as she's occasionally known, told me a little something about skunk spray animations. It used to be they could only just go straight ahead or at anyone giving permissions (unlikely). But more recent ones could target anyone nearby using "Restrained Life Viewer" features. A rather "stinky" situation indeed.

Bixyl Shuftan

SL Video: "Future Shock - Episode 1"

(Click here if the video fails to play)

By Pryda Parx on Sept. 16, "In a leisure orientated society people can choose to spend their time in a care free virtual world, but what happens when they run out of credit?"

Inara Pey would interview Pryda and write about the video, "Future Shock is set in a dark future world where technology is designed to keep everyone safe and secure. At least that’s the way it is meant to be. A place where technology dominates and where real life and virtual worlds intertwine."

This is the first of nine segments that took about a year to make, "to get the most out of the audience will need to pause, rewind and revisit previous episodes; there are a lot of subtle connections between episodes which will not be apparent when first seen."

Memorial Service For Catt Gable

Earlier this month, Relayer Catt "Kala" Gable passed away from cancer. Last Saturday, a number of her friends, in and out of the Relay, met at the Relay d'Alliez sim to pay their respects. It was an occasion of poetry, music, and some touching words.

Read more in Events.

Kayly Iali’s Art At The Paris Metro Art Gallery

Gemma Cleanslate was recently at the Paris Metro Art Gallery for the opening of a new exhibit. For the next month, Kayly Iali will have a number of her portraits there, notably her still-lifes of fruit. Gemma ran into the artist and had a few words with her.

Read Gemma's story in Design.

Announcement: Memorial Service for Nichus Berman

All friends of Nichus Berman are invited to attend a memorial service in Chadbury at 1PM SLT on Sunday September 25. 

We will share our memories of Nichus, speaking about how much he added to our virtual lives and how much we will miss him. There will also be space to leave a small memorial object, and of course there will be cake.

Chaubury (180, 150, 31)

From the Steelhead Group

Reader Submitted: Codename: L.E.A.P.F.R.O.G.

While it originally started out as a hangout for occasional parties, Erik Mouse has recently made an effort for "Surf's Up" at Sunny Beach to have events once a week every Saturday afternoon. But the best laid plans of mice and men can go awry, and one party not long ago ended rather abruptly. Although things were soon cleared up, Erik felt that it was still necessary for him to explain what happened. So he recently sent in a reader submission about what happened from his point of view and his plans on what to do in the future.

Read Erik's submission in Extra.

Veterans Isle Raises Over 100,000 Lindens

 On Sunday September 18, Veterans Isle had their monthly fundraiser concert for the "Homes For Our Troops charity. From 8PM SL time to just after 9PM (Midnight EST), live performers sung music for the crowd.

 Besides Frets Nirvana, who helped organize the event, was one of the singers, along with the music duet Jaycat Nico and Frogg Marlowe, baz (Avantgarde), and Savanah Rain. Frets would occasionally chip in a few Lindens once certain cash amounts were reached, the money going into two house-shaped kiosks on either side of the stage.

At the end, G J  (gjackie.winkler) announced the total, "Ohhh wow, we have 116,200 L in the little homes... THANK YOU SOOOOO VERY MUCH!"

The next fundraiser at Veterans Isle should be at Sunday October 30.

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: Thank You From Virtual Ability

The Virtual Ability Executive Team is sad to share with you that our dear friend and highly valued, long time volunteer, Ladyslipper Constantine, has passed away in real life. 

We are planning a memorial service for her soon, and will keep you updated on that process. 

As Ladyslipper’s long time real life friend, I’d like to personally thank those of you who made an effort to show your love for her, and be present during her illness, via her CaringBridge site that her real-life family set up.   And for those of you who could not, but loved her, all the same.

Thank you for the love; she felt it.  She sent me an email a couple weeks ago, the last one I got; she said she loved me.  That was all.  It was enough.  She also loved all of you, Virtual Ability, Second Life and all the other groups here that she was such a vital part of.   Thank you for loving her back. 

Treasure Ballinger
Virtual Ability,® Inc.  Executive Team

* * * * *

UPDATE: There was a message shared inworld, sent from Virtual Ability, inviting residents in SL who knew and loved LS.

There will be a Celebration of Life hosted by Virtual Ability for Ladyslipper Constantine on Saturday, Oct 1 at 11am SLT, on the northeast lawn of Virtual Ability island.

The celebration will begin with some of her friends offering memories in text+voice, because LS was part of the deaf community in SL.

A slideshow will display photos of the many events LS participated in. If you have SL images, please send them to iSkye Silverweb for inclusion. There will also be music and dancing. LS loved a good party!

Celebrate Ladyslipper’s life with us. For more information, please contact Gentle Heron, Eme Capalini, or Treasure Ballinger in world.

 Source: Daniel Voyager

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at the Green Fairy's Pirate Party. If you don't get the joke, chances are, you'd rather not know.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Gaming Island

It's been years since Linden Lab's gambling ban, but one can still find games that offer the look and feel of such games. These are called "skill games" because the makers of them say at least some measure of skill can help a player's chances of winning. Recently Linden Lab opened up a place, Gaming Island, saying the location will help educate residents about skill games. So how does the place do so?

Read more in Design.

"Thanks Again To Everyone" "Sabrina Online" Internet Comic Ends After Twenty Years

For many of us, comics are a favorite part of the newspaper. So when the Internet and World Wide Web was coming of age in the 1990s, some artists began drawing and publishing comic strips on a regular basis. Most would last only a few years before the cartoonist either ran out of ideas or real life made it too difficult to keep up his/her schedule. But others would keep going. Among one of these first online comics to gain a following was "Sabrina Online" by Eric Schwartz. Starting off with a girl connecting to the Internet, the strip went through a number of plots and tales of Sabrina and her friends.

On September 15, twenty years to the month after the comics first went up, Schwartz uploaded the last of the strips, Sabrina marrying her boyfriend, followed by a message.

'Sabrina Online' first appeared on the web on September 15, 1996. It seemed fitting to bring the strip to a close twenty years to the day later, ending with a bang (of sorts) rather than keeping the strip plodding along month to month indefinitely without any focus or goal. I want to thank all of Sabrina's readers and fans out there, whether you've been there from the start or discovered the strip more recently. You all are the power that helped me keep the comic rolling as long as it has. While all good things must end, Sabrina, R.C., Zig Zag, Amy, and everyone else are not gone. It's only the regular monthly strip that is completed, but new stories and works from the Sabrina-verse will pop up from time to time. Just drop by for news and info, whether on this site, Furaffinity, or elsewhere. Thanks again to everyone. I can only hope you enjoyed the two-decade ride anywhere near as much as I did.

Over the years, the strip has gotten Schwartz a number of fans, inspiring a great deal of fanart and some fanfiction, and been translated into several languages. Some fans led by Cindy "Zig Zag" Babii, built in Second Life a "Double Z Studios," also called "ZZ Studios," named after the place where the title character of the comic ended up with a job as the webmaster. The place is still around today at Sheridan (64, 145, 2500).

 The comic itself can be found at sabrina-online.com. Be aware that the strip rates a PG-13 as while there's almost no profanity and no real nudity, it does touch on adult topics. That the strip got a bit edgy without going past a certain boundary (much), was likely part of it's appeal, along with the quality of the art and characters.

It should be noted Schwartz stated while this is the conclusion of "Sabrina Online," he will be doing more tales later on of the characters "from time to time." So fans should be hearing more about the Amiga and Transformer loving skunkgirl soon.

Bixyl Shuftan

Nominations Sought For Last Avi Choice Awards

The Avi Choice Awards, who brand themselves as "the premier annual awards presentation recognizing the people and talent of SL’s™ amazing creations, chosen and voted on by SL™ residents," are once again accepting submissions. However, this will be the final time the awards will be done, at least in their current form.

As announced during last year’s Avi Choice Fashion Awards, we are retiring the Awards, as we know them.  We are talking about continuing our mission forward in some way ...  But for now.. we have an announcement to make! On December 4th, 2016 we will host one more Avi Choice Awards!  The GRAND FINALE!  This one will take us back to the early days of our Awards when we had one program a year celebrating as many recipients in all three genre’s as we could.

 There will be some special mentions and moments as we all say our goodbyes to what has become an amazing part of Second Life history.  This program will be the conclusion of the Avi Choice Awards, as we know them.  It’s been a good run and we could not have done it without support and cooperation and input from the amazing virtual community known as Second Life.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

The Awards are in three categories: Fashion, The Arts, and SLife.

Among the categories for Fashion are clothing, avatar, avatar accessories, and jewelry stores and makers.

The categories of The Arts include "Favorite Magazine, Newspaper, or Periodical," Favorite Radio Station, Favorite Male DJ, Favorite Female DJ, Favorite Streamed Music Club, Favorite Machinima Artist, and more.

For SLife, which has the most selections, categorizes include Favorite Furniture Maker, Favorite Sim to Explore, Favorite Place to Take a Date, Favorite Shopping Region, Favorite Roleplay Sim, Favorite Second Life Blog or Website, and Favorite Second Life Blogger.

Residents have until Wednesday October 12 to cast their votes. Going through the guidelines, there doesn't seem to be any rules against voting for someone or something in multiple categories.

The Second Life Newser fits the "Favorite Magazine, Newspaper, or Periodical" in "The Arts."  But the several sections qualify for "Favorite Second Life Blog or Website" in "SL Life." Bixyl Shuftan and Becly "Sha" Shamen qualify for votes in "Favorite Second Life Blogger," also in SL Life. The Newser has been nominated twice in the Avi Choice Awards, but has yet to win first place in getting an award.

So the Second Life Newser asks you the readers for your support for the Awards.

Bixyl Shuftan

Events This Week at the Sunweaver and Furry Fashion Clubs

It's another week of events at the Sunweaver clubs and Furry Fashion Lounge.

Club Cutlass: Best in "E," School Daze, Turning Purple

Happy Vixen: Pirates, Skunked, Mice, Horse and Pony

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'.

Commentary: "Drawing Board"

Becky Shamen's latest article is not about a specific person, place, or event in Second Life, but a commentary. Second Life, she feels, could be much more than a virtual location for people to meet up. But the good that people do here could very well succeed in bringing about what idealists in the 60s and 70s aspired to: a true "Age of Aquarius."

Read Becky's commentary in Extra.

LadySlipper Constantine Passes Away

For a number of years in Second Life, LadySlipper Constantine has been active in One Billion Rising, Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education, and Second Life Birthday events, but has been best known for her role as a member of Burn2 and it's DRUM group. On Saturday September 17, she passed away from cancer. The news was announced on "The Lamplighters" blog the following day.

With a heavy heart we share news about a much-loved Elder, Lamplighter, Fire Dancer and longtime Burner, Ladyslipper Constantine. Yesterday the 17th of September, after a valiant fight against cancer, she passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. She will be dreadfully missed, but we shall treasure our memories of this deeply passionate Burner. She takes a bit of our Lamplighter fire with her into the next life.
 

On Sunday morning as word got around, there was an impromptu gathering of residents at the Cape Serenity Library in Virtual Ability. Gentle Heron and Any1 Gynoid were among those there. "It is times like these that the most articulate among us struggle for words to explain our feelings," Gentle spoke, "But sitting together, we share those feelings even without words."
 
"She had lots of animals," Îsabel (alysabelle) spoke of LadySlipper, "she loved the critters, and she would make the sim seasonal when it was time. ... I felt she was like a virtual mom to me. She gave me courage. ... I have taken all I learn here and applied to my own real life."

"I also worked DRUM with her," Dream Wrexan told, "We were part of a Wednesday/Sunday circle together. She was my building and performance mentor. She loved to build as others were saying.
The breadth of her influence is amazing."

The Library can be reached at Cape Serenity (77/108/23). iSkye Silverweb, LadySlipper's friend, is collecting screenshots of her for a memorial service later this week.

In February this year, the Newser interviewed LadySlipper. The interview can be read at: 
http://slnewserpeople.blogspot.com/2016/02/interview-with-ladyslipper-constantine.html 


Bixyl Shuftan


* * * * *

LadySlipper Constantine and I first became friends when we were both Burning Life Members. We were Rangers together for several years for the event. She was a wonderful person, kind but firm, and loads of fun. LS, as she came to be called in recent years worked with me also in the Second Life Birthday events where again we shared many good times and laughs. Her main passion in Second Life was The Drum, a  percussion group made up of deaf people that performs at many events. It is with great sorrow to many and to me to hear that she passed away after a short illness . She will be sorely missed . My heart goes out to her real-life family. Bixyl did an interview with her last year at my request. To me she is and will always be Lady. Our last conversation in June when she was already ill.  

[2016/06/11 08:19] LS (Ladyslipper Constantine): Ok, I need to go, and bring in my VAI alt to pay the sim's tiers to VAI

[2016/06/11 08:19] Gemma (Gemma Cleanslate): o bye for now good to see and talk

[2016/06/11 08:19] LS (Ladyslipper Constantine): as always good to vent and chat with you

[2016/06/11 08:19] LS (Ladyslipper Constantine): hugsss

[2016/06/11 08:19] Gemma (Gemma Cleanslate): thanks

Gemma Cleanslate

Press Release: Halloween Writing Contest in Trotsdale

It is time once again for a writing contest with the Intersim Library Network. This is open to everyone within Second Life. If you are coming to us via the forum or website first, then please join Second Life in order to be able to receive your prize if you are chosen as a winner.

Suggested Theme: Halloween, Spooky, Harvest, or anything appropriate to this time of year.

Suggested Length: 2,000 word maximum

What: Poetry or short story

Deadline: Oct 31, 2016

Examples: www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/boo-scared-you#.qeP8K3WVv

Number of submissions: up to 3 per person!

How to submit:
1. Via notecard at one of the following locations in the dropbox

Library, Trotsdale Heights (22, 156, 24)
Derpyland Giftshop, Derpyland (54, 224, 21)
Astral Coalition, Computer (29, 185, 21)

or
2. In a reply on this thread after you have made sure your entry is ready to post.
http://intersimlibrary.freeforums.net/thread/23/halloween-2016-writing-contest

What we are looking for:
Please no one liners. We will be judging on structure, recognizable characters, dialog, setting, tone, style, and point of view. It is suggested that you also have proof read and edited your submission(s) before turning them in. All submissions must be suitable for PG 13.

Prize:
Starting pool: 615$L
The amount of $Lindens to be distributed will depend on what is in the prize pool. Hanaarashi Resident will be the holder of the funds. To contribute to the prize pool you can send $L to Hanaarashi Resident, or tip the jar at the dropsites by the submission boxes. If you'd like to donate an item prize (ex: shop gift card) for this or future contests then please send a note to me on this forum, or to Amehana Ishtari (Amehana Arashi) on Second Life. There were 115$L build up in the account from percentages of sales I send there (this way I make sure I donate bit by bit on top of other donations) and I dropped another 500$L in to start the pool well.

Number of winners: Up to two!
Judge's Choice winner
Popular Choice winner

Judging:
People's Choice Award - After the close of the submission period Amehana will make sure that all entries (both via forum and SL notecard) are posted in this thread. A poll will then be set up to allow the People to choose their favorite entry.

Judge's Choice Award - After the close of the submission period Amehana will ensure that all chosen fellow judges have access to all the stories. Judging deadline is yet to be set. Judges will then give their vote as to who they feel the winner should be.