Scenes From the SL15B

There's a lot to see and do at the Second Life Birthday.  There's the Auditorium, there's the three stages, there's the dozens of exhibits, and more. Bixyl Shuftan was there to check out some of the places, as well as catch a few goings-on.

See the pictures in Events.

The RFL DSD Rabbit V2 Mod

Deaflegacy recently talked to some people about the "RFL Rabbit V2," an avatar modification. Not a complete avatar, but parts made to give another a purple coat of fur and other small changes, it was made by Astra Noctura (Silverskyranch) to raise money for the Relay for Life's Meli's Maniacs team. Deaf talked to her and a few from Team Sunbeamers whom had bought and used the mod.

Read Deaflegacy's article in Design.

Could *You* Be A Reporter?

Over the years, the Second Life Newser has had many talented writers within it's ranks. DrFran Babcock, CNN iReporter Any1 Gynoid, and many others have made their mark in the paper. But the Newser has always been open to new talent, and new writers coming in. Often these new writers have been readers of the paper.

Could you be a writer? We're looking for people who can write well, of course. But we're looking for people who can do a story several paragraphs long at least once a week. We're looking for people whom want to know more about Second Life and want to share what they've found. And of course looking for people with a great love of writing.

If you have all of these qualities, there just might be a future in our team of Second Life journalists for you. IM the editor inworld, or send an email if you're interested.

Bixyl Shuftan
bixylshuftan(at)gmail(dot)com

In The Purple For The Sunbeamers

Taken at Rita Mariner's home. When the Sunbeamers Relay team hit Platinum level fundraising, or 250,000 Lindens, a couple months ago, Nydia told everyone if the team hit Sapphire rank she would go purple for two weeks. So with the team having achieved Sapphire in the air show, Nydia went ahead and got a purple vixen avatar. Even though others had told her they'd take one of her weeks for her, Nydia says she'll go through the full two weeks, "I am a vixen of my word."

Yours truly is on the right. Even though I had the purple otter avatar, when finding a fennec fox on sale I went ahead and got it. So I've been going about the SL15B as a purple fennec. As for the kilt, my time on "Bid Me Pantsless" ends today. So thankfully back to wearing trousers.

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: This Week At The Science Circle: "Big Data: Road to the Future or Just Weapons of Math Destruction?"

"Big Data: Road to the Future or Just Weapons of Math Destruction?"
Saturday June 23
10 AM - 11 AM PDT
By Professor Giuseppe Longo

Big Data are like the God Janus: on the one end they offer great advantages, make our lives easier by offering us unlimited possibility to better organize our work and our everyday life; they allow us to achieve a better understanding of the world around us and can be used to monitor and control the environment, in practice they are changing our world and our lives in ways which would have been unthinkable only a few years ago. 

On the other end, however, if ill used -either by negligence or on purpose- they can become “Weapons of Math Destruction” leading to wrong decisions which can badly affect the weakest and poorest part of our society. The Data Anlytics phenomenon is only the most recent case of misuse of big data.

More information about Giuseppe's presentation at https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/big-data-weapons-of-math-destruction/

The Science Circle (61/126/32)

Linden Lab Cutting Land Prices And Setup Fees, Increasing Linden Dollar Purchase Fees, No New Openspace Sims After June

Some big news from Linden Lab, especially if you own a lot of land. Yesterday on Wednesday June 20, it was announced on the official blog , as well as by Ebbe Linden during his "Meet the Lindens" interview yesterday at the SL15B, that starting on July 2, the tier for private sims was being cut 15%. It was also announced that the fees to set up a private sim were being reduced "by as much as 41%." But, there's some "fine print." And to help offset these reduced land charges, the fee to buy Linden dollars is going up.

Effective July 2, monthly maintenance fees on Private Estates are dropping by up to 15%! In addition, one-time land set-up fees are also reduced by as much as 41%.  And remember, the setup fee includes your first month’s payment. Discounts will vary based on the type of land ...


The catch? First, Skill Games areas are not eligible for the tier cut. Grandfathered sims, which the Lab also called "bought down," are not eligible either, "since those are still below the newly-reduced rates." And if you were thinking of getting an Openspace sim, you don't have much time. The Lab announced after June, no more new ones will be available. For those who need a reminder, Openspace sims, also known as "void sims," are "intended for very low-impact scenic use such as ocean, forest, or countryside," and have a capacity of 1000 prims and ten avatars. They cost $150 US to set up and have a $75 US tier each.

The other part of the catch will affect many more residents. The Lab announced that starting July 2, to "help us offset the revenues lost on land," the charge for buying Linden dollars is going up from $.99 US per transaction to $1.49, an increase of slightly fifty percent. This is the second increase in the purchase fee in less than a year, the previous increase in November being from 60 to 99 cents. So in several months, the fee to buy Linden dollars has been raised by almost 150% .

So what's going on? The general feeling is that Linden Lab is trying to transfer the money paid by the residents, so less is made by landowners, and more is made by shoppers, in order to bring a halt to the long slow decline over time in the number of privately owned sims, which while having slowed down in recent months hasn't really stopped.

While some landowners are no doubt looking forward to lower tiers, there has been one critic so far. MarkTwain White posted in the comments under the article in Modem World, "The newly announced 15% tier-rate reduction is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. That reduction Does NOT apply to us that have paid incredibly higher fees (200% on average) to have our lands reduced to grandfather rates in the past (thus in one big Catch-22 causing us to pay fees only to be excluded from the new fee reduction. The subtle Second Life 'screw you' here is that we now have to pay 50% higher transaction fees' to cover the our (SL’s) increase in costs for reducing your tie.' ...Experienced land rental companies get none of these discounts that LL is offering to the new companies they hope to attract due to reduced fees designed to increase their income while at the same time building a new tax basis made up of future rental companies that will become the target of new usurious fee increases. LL had done it more than once. This is classic LL policy: squeeze blood from current content providers (developers of properties to sell or lease) but go after new blood to bring new fees (taxes) to LL...."

So will the Lab see more people buying sims? Or will the long slow decline continue while shoppers buy less Linden dollars and merchants end up making less money? Time will tell.

For more information, check the announcement by Linden Lab here.
Additional sources: SL Grid Survey, Modem World

Bixyl Shuftan

My Morning On The SL15B Regions..

The Second Life Birthday has many events going on. But there's also plenty of exhibits to see. Gemma Cleanslate went around the SL15B sims one morning. While there was too much to write about in one article, she could mention a few she felt stood out. Among them were Fran Gustav's, Marianne McCann's, and more.

Read Gemma's article in Places.

CDS Representative Assembly Meeting

The CDS is a community in Second Life which unlike most has a number of rules and procedures as to how things are done. Among these is a local government which meets and discusses issues, sometimes voting on them. They recently chose a new Chancellor and  Representative Assembly, the latter sometimes called the RA for short. And Monday January 18 was first meeting of the Assembly. The meet-up took place at Colonia Nova in the Praetorium at 10 AM. Rosie Gray, whom was one of the members, stated both citizens and friends of the community are welcome and encouraged to come. And some did, including myself. Chancellor Hannah Marie Tempestwolf (Han Held) was also there.

There were a few things discussed at the meeting. Budgeting procedures were one. Another was rewording a rule about tier collection as it referred to Hippo vendors, of which the company closed earlier this year. Also brought up was the CDS website showing errors when people tried to go to the page. Hannah also mentioned the CDS exhibit at the SL15B.

Tomorrow at 1PM, there's a Government Hour, in which Hanna will be at the Chancellor's Office in Neufreistadt.

Bixyl Shuftan

Do You Have A Story?

On occasion, Second Life Newspaper will print an article or picture submitted to us by one of you, the readers.

Have you seen a particularly well-detailed sim? Went to a great event? Found yourself in a hilarious "only in SL" predicament? We're very interested in what you the readers have to say. Send us a story or funny picture, and if we like it, we'll post it as a Reader Submitted. For pictures, jpg format is preferred.

Mail submissions to bixylshuftan(at)gmail.com.

PLEASE include your SL user name and tell us if you wish it to appear with your story.

SL-Newser reserves the right to post in the appropriate section, edit,  and to investigate any names used in submitted stories (please ask permission before using anyones name or picture or use an alias for them).

Press Release: Memorial Week Bennefit Concert at Veterans Isle

Frets Nirvana and US Military Veterans Group announce the 2018 June benefit for Homes For Our Troops in Second Life! 

Frets Nirvana, the premier guitar artist in the virtual world Second Life and the US Military Veterans Group announce the 2018 June benefit on June 24, 2018 in Second Life for the Veterans Support Organization  Home For Our Troops . 

Frets Nirvana states:  “HFOT is a privately funded 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization building specially adapted, mortgage-free homes nationwide for the most severely injured Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Most of these Veterans are multiple amputees, paraplegic, quadriplegic or suffered severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).  Since its inception in 2004, over 90 cents of every dollar spent by Homes for Our Troop has gone to directly support Veterans. DURING THAT TIME HFOT HAS BUILT OVER 240 SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOMES NATIONWIDE FOR WOUNDED VETERANS.”

In 2017 the community in Second Life sent over $10,000 to Homes For Our Troops, thanks to may kind hearts and great Second Life performers. 

Home for Our Troops benefit concerts feature premier Second Life talent monthly at Veteran’s Isle.  The concert on June 24, 2018 is scheduled from 4 PM- 9PM PST.  Featured artists will be DJ Waya Snowpaw, David Csiszer, QuadRadiX, Nina Bing and Lyndon Heart.

Cartoon of the Day

Pim Peccable at the SL15B Auditorium on Monday. Sometimes, no caption is needed for an entertaining picture.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Interview with Patch and Keira Linden

There are a number of things one can do at the Second Life Birthday celebration. Among of which is listen to the Lindens themselves talk about Second Life and answer questions about it. Yesterday on Tuesday June 19, it was Patch and Keira's turn to speak, in an interview done by Saffia Widdershins. Gemma was among those in the audience, and had a few things to say about how it went.

Read Gemma's article in People.

Update: The article failed to upload this morning at 6. It's currently up

SL Video: "Happy Birthday, Second Life!"

From Draxtor Despres on June 19, "Happy Birthday SL = my little hommage feat. Ebbe and Philip = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPzWvChb1C8 = please do share and comment with your AVATAR NAME AND BIRTHDATE ? THANK YOU!!!!!"

Volcanic Activity in Sunweaver Estates

With the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii continuing to flow lava after over 40 days, it was just the luck of the Sunweaver Estates that it would have a volcanic eruption of it's own. Shockwave Yareach warned the residents in group chat about the lava flow just after 7PM on the night of June 19, "Dear Sunweavers. As you no doubt know, SunWaterThree is a Volcanic island.  And as is happening in Hawaii, the Eastern side is experiencing an eruption right now.  But please remember:  Volcanos are not barbeques.  Please do not roast weenies or marshmallows over the lava as it has a tendancy to splatter and more importantly, burn the marshmallows.  Thank you."

With the marshmallow roasting jokes followed by those of roasting wieners, Cynthia Farshore spoke up, "Just logged on ... What the hell you guys doing THIS time?!" Shockwave answered, "Volcanic problems in SunwaterThree.  I knew that rubber stopper wasn't gonna hold." "I told you rubber will burn." "Like the phrase 'burn rubber,'" Grease Coakes commented, "I'd hate to reroll a new SL account due to death by lava." Zorro Wuramunga suggested, "You could try throwing a virgin in it.  Where is Vixie?" But Vixie was nowhere to be found.

It is unknown how long the Sunwater Three volcano will be erupting. For any Second Life residents in the area, you're free to approach the volcano at your own risk. For those in real life in or about to vacation in Hawaii, approaching a real volcano is something best left to experts as invisible toxic gasses are far more likely to do you in than hot lava.

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: Furry Fashion's Gacha Yard Sale

More items added and must go to FF's Gacha Yard Sale! Clothing (Maitraya), decor, fortune teller, furniture, witch stuffs, the area is packed with items that need to go - everything priced between 10 and 25L, once you've bought PICK IT UP!

FIRST COME FIRST SERVE!

These are NO Copy items, we're not responsible if you discard/delete etc, we CAN NOT redeliver.

Furry (119,138,54)

Eye on the Blog: "Second Life 15th Birthday Kickoff - A Tapestry of Time"

With the SL15B in full swing, on Monday, Linden Lab posted on the official blog about the celebration, and the many things you can see, hear, do, and find.

As Second Life turns 15, we look to the past, present and into the future of what makes this such an incredible community and place. The theme we chose for this year’s celebration is ‘Crystal’ - and it seemed the perfect theme for a year in which we want to reflect on Second Life’s incredible history, embrace its thriving present, and look forward to its exciting future.

 
As we met to discuss all the things we wanted to do this year, the idea of a ‘tapestry of time’ came up again and again. Imagine a bazaar filled with colorful tents and tapestries from all walks of life. As you move through the street you encounter wonderfully diverse and interesting people, each bringing something unique to contribute to the bustle of the bazaar. As you pause to take in the sights and sounds, you glimpse a woman sitting at a table inside one of the tents, her crystal ball shimmering on the table in front of her as she looks you in the eye and invites you to come sit and see what the past, present, and future of Second life have in store for you.


Every year, Linden Lab has had a present for the residents. This time, the Lab is ramping things up a bit by making it a "Weekly Gift Grab" in which residents can get a new gift every week for the next fifteen weeks, to Sept. 24.

For the next 15 weeks, we’ll be releasing a different crystal-themed gift each week. All you have to do is find and collect the gifts. Each fabulous gift is available for one week only, and in one Region only. The Region will change each week, and we'll be publishing clues each week to help you find the Region to search for that week's gift – watch the Second Life social media channels and the Blog at for the clues.

The "Swaginator HUD" to find the items in the Gift Grab is at SL15B Fascinate (168/120/26). Then one looks for the weekly clue posted by Linden Lab, then searches for the item. The Lab promises a "super-special prize" in the last week, Sept 17-24, in which to acquire, you'll need to have gotten the previous 14 items.

The Lab mentioned two parties this week at the SL15B Cake Stage, with contests which they offered prizes to winners. These are the "Come As You Were" aka the newbie party that took place on Monday, and the Crystal Ball Party and Costume Contest, which is Wednesday June 20 from 7-9PM.

The Lab also mentioned their SL15B Shopping Event.

For the first time ever - we’ve gathered 80 of Second Life’s Merchants across 4 Regions for  one big shopping extravaganza that you don’t want to miss! Each Merchant is providing a free gift in celebration of this landmark birthday and offering incredible deals on some of their most popular items. In addition, many will also be participating in a sale on the Marketplace as well. Visit each Region below to get a little celebratory shopping in, grab free gifts, and take advantage of the amazing discounts. A full list of participating Merchants is available here. Many of the Merchants are also participating in a Marketplace sale, so be sure to visit them in the web as well as inworld!
 
You can visit any of the 4 Regions from the Destination Guide.

And Linden Lab also announced the line-up and schedule for their SL15B Music Fest, "In tradition of the last several Second Life birthdays, we have three days of incredible live music lined up for you!"

The event runs from Friday June 22 to Sunday June 24, with all performances on Stage Left at SL15B Mesmerize (128/227/25). You can find the scheduled line-up of musicians on the webpage here, "though may be subject to changes because that’s showbiz!"

Last but not least, the "Meet the Lindens" interviews by Saffia Widdershins at the Auditorium were mentioned, going from Monday to Friday at 2PM. The interview tomorrow is with CEO Ebbe Altberg/Ebbe Linden.

That's a lot of stuff to digest - and it's just the beginning! See you inworld, Second Life Residents - and thank you for making this place for the last 15 years, and the next 15 to come!

For more information: Click Here.

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

It's a week full of events at the Sunweaver and Montecito Bay clubs and the Furry Fashion Lounge

Club Cutlass: Best in 'N,' Yellow/Blue. Good/Bad

The Happy Vixen: Size Does Matter, Raccoons and Wah, Ice and Snow, TBA, Toga Party, Silks, Noob Party, Birthday, Best in Purple, TBA

Club Zero Gravity: TBA

Momtecito Bay: Taco Tuesday, 8-Bit Adventure, At the Beach, After Dark,

Furry Fashion Lounge: Cyberpunk and Shadowrun, Japan, Silks, Creepy vs Cute, Beach, Genderswap, Scalies, Animation

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'

Updated 11:25AM

Reader Submitted: "At the Secondlife Newser Exhibit"

From Tonya Jo, "At the Secondlife Newser exhibit SL15B!"

Scenes From the SL15B

Catboy Qunhua hosts an SL version of the Match Game at the Auditorium. The event took place at 5PM yesterday, resulting in quite a few chuckles.

Much more took place, but yours truly spent a long time there yesterday, and rest and recharging is needed before I can put more to pen.

Bixyl Shuftan

Reader Submitted: Game Review - Subnautica, Part Six

For the past few weeks, Rita Mariner has been doing reader submitted articles on the aquatic survival game Subnautica. In earlier chapters, she described getting started and then going out beyond your initial area. In this story, Rita describes what could be called the end of the middle part of the game, in which there's just one more kind of resource left to gather. Getting to it however means braving some dangers and some strategy.

Read Rita's reader submission in Other Grids, MMOs, and Games.

"Meet The Lindens" This Week At The SL15B Auditorium

For the past few years at the Second Life Birthday, the residents have had a chance to hear from the Lindens themselves. And this year, they can at the "Meet The Lindens" events in the Auditorium. From Monday to Friday 2-4PM SL time, Saffia Widdershins will be conducting interviews with various Lindens.

Monday: Xiola Linden
Tuesday: Keira and Patch Linden
Wednesday: Ebbe Linden (the CEO)
Thursday: Oz and Grumpity Liden
Friday: Brett Linden

The Auditorium is just north of https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SL15B%20Enchant/25/119/23

RFL Team Sunbeamers Hit Sapphire Level

It was a great weekend for the Relay for Life in Second Life's Team Sunbeamers. Friday June 15 was the close of two "Bid Me" events run by the team, "Bid Me Foxy" in which Cynthia Farshore was putting her anthro goat avatar on the line, and "Bid Me Goat" in which Shockwave Yareach did the same with his wolf avatar. At Club Cutlass at 8PM following the party there, the amounts raised on the kiosks were made final, Rita announcing the results:

Beamers:  here are the results of the 2 BID MEs that ended tonight.

Cynthia Farshore:
Stay Goat:             12,900L
Go Foxy;                 24144L

She goes Foxy for 12 WEEKS!

Shockwave Yareach:
Stay Wolf:                 1050 L
Go Goat:                    24100 L

He goes Goat for 12 Weeks!

Cynthia took the change more or less in stride, when changing into a vixen having a chicken in her mouth, later saying, "Between the kiosk of Shocky and I, we racked up L$62,244." Shockwave posted on Facebook, "I was on the BidMe for Relay For Life. Every 2K$ put in, I'm a Goat for a week. I'm now gonna be a Goat for... 12 Weeks. Holy..."

The following day, Saturday June 16, was the Farshore Field Air Show. It was widely expected that the team would get to the coveted half million Linden dollar mark. And before the event was over, it did. The Sunbeamers passed 500,000 Lindens, and achieved Sapphire fundraising rank. For the second time this season, the team had achieved a rank they never had before.

The last time The Sunbeamers reached this amount of cash, I went in a female avatar for a week. But with me pantsless most of the time thanks to a previous Bid Me event,  I wasn't in the mood for something so drastic this time. So when one of my teammates was saying she'd go purple for two weeks if the team reached Sapphire, I offered to take one of them. But team captain Rita Mariner and teammates Dusk Griswold, and Skylark Lefavre also went purple that day.

So what next? There is a joint event with the Meli's Maniacs team being planned. And of course there is the Relay Weekend and the Sunbeamer camp build next month. For now, once again the "Little team that could" is taking pride that once again it's proved itself a top fundraiser among the Relay teams.

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

Bixyl Shuftan

Press Day At The SL15B

The Second Life Fifteenth Birthday celebration grounds aren't open until Noon today. But some members of the Second Life media got a chance for an early peek. Gemma Cleanslate in the past had been a volunteer for SLB events. She returned on Press Day, Saturday June 16, for an early look at the exhibits and builds.

Read Gemma's article in Events.

SL15B Celebration Begins Today

After months of preparation, the Second Life Birthday celebration is finally about to start. For a little over a week, residents will get to enjoy various events, music and discussions, across twenty-four sims of stages, exhibits, and other builds.

And among the exhibits is that of the Second Life Newser. Presenting the SL Newser SL15B Tower, courtesy of Silvia Ametza and Aimee Louise Destiny (aimeelou.destiny). The crystal-shaped structure is fifteen stories high, one for each year of Second Life. There are a few pictures at the top of the Grid's first year, plus a parachute giver for those wanting to dive off the side. Come see our exhibit, and listen to the tunes of Farshore Radio at SL15B Spectacular (196/14/23)

For more information about events and times, check the SL15B blog : http://www.slcommunitycelebration.info/

Bixyl Shuftan

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at the Happy Vixen. Two feral foxes come face to face with a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken ... or is it? Just why would someone leave a bucket where wild animals could get it?

By Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: This Week at the Senchai Libraries

SUMMER'S COMING - THE SEASHORE AND MORE!
We can almost officially declare that it's here.  Summer's a coming with lots of great plans for outstanding tales.  We've got another stellar line up this week, including a guest session featuring images and thoughts from the seashore with friend Ktahdn Vesuvino. Join us this week in #secondlife, and on our properties in #kitely, live in voice.

Check out the stories and the storytellers at www.seanchailibrary.com

All times slt, stories in Voice.

--------->> COMING THIS WEEK:
Senchai Library at Holly Kai Park
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Holly%20Kai%20Estates/215/44/27

All stories told in open voice. All times SL/PT
   
**SUNDAY,  June 17th
   ~ at 1:30pm: TEA TIME at Baker Street: join Corwyn, Kayden, and Cale as they continue (1887) A STUDY IN SCARLET. Part Two of Four today.
   ~ 6pm: MAGICLAND STORYTIME: Mrs. Piggle Wiggle concludes, live at the Golden Horseshoe at Magicland

**MONDAY, June 18th at 7pm: Larry Niven's PROTECTOR continues with Gyro Muggins

**TUESDAY, June 19th at 7pm:  More from Craig Johnson's SHERIFF LONGMIRE TALES with Kayden Oconnell

** WEDNESDAY, June 20th at 7pm:  WRITTEN IN THE SAND: Images and Thoughts from the Seashore with Ktadhn Vesusino.

** THURSDAY, June 21st at 7pm - H. G. Wells THE INVISIBLE MAN Part 1 with Shandon Loring (also presented in Kitelyhop://grid.kitely.com:8002/Seanchai/144/129/29)

COMING NEXT WEEK: Go For Poe! 

Three great sessions featuring the woods of Edgar Allan Poe, presented by Seanchai Library at LEA 18: "Edgar Allan Poe's "The Philosophy of Furniture" 

SL Video: "Feels Good To Be BAD"

(Click here to see the video)

From Nydia Tungsten on June 9, "I know it's been a while, life can be such a PAIN sometimes (laughter). We shot this in the 'Planet Serenity' in Second Life, I hope you enjoy the models and the dancing."

Relay Poem

Call you up in the middle of the night
Like a firefly without a light
You were there like a slow torch burning
I was a key that could use a little turning
So tired that I couldn't even sleep
So many secrets I couldn't keep
Promised myself I wouldn't weep
One more promise I couldn't keep

Runaway train never going back
Wrong way on a one way track
Seems like I should be getting somewhere
Somehow I'm neither here nor there
Runaway train never comin' back
Runaway train tearin' up the track
Runaway train burnin' in my veins
Runaway but it always seems the same.... GO RELAY

Sara Llewellyn (Sarandel Llewellyn)