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

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


Club Cutlass: TBA, TBA, TBA

Happy Vixen: Aliens, Pirates, Bunnies, Australia, Best in Pink, Royal Ball, Mythology, Big Ears, TBA

Club Zero Gravity: TBA

Momtecito Bay: Taco Tuesday, Musical Expedition, DJ Beknos, Vintage Vinyls, After Dark, Punk Night

Furry Fashion Lounge: Wasteland, Candy, Mix and Match, Food, Crazy, Autumn Formal, Rainbows, Fantasy

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'

Sept. 11 Memorial Ceremony at Yellow River Memorial

It was 17 years ago last week that America suffered it's most devastating terrorist attack. Second Life has a number of memorials to honor those who died. But none of the others is as large as the one as the Sept. 11 Yellow River Memorial, formerly the Stagg Island Memorial. Last week on Tuesday September 11, the memorial held it's first 9/11 anniversary events since it's relocation. Deaflegacy was there, and would write about the emotionally moving ceremony held in honor of those whom had their lives cut short that day.

Read Deaflegacy's article in Events.

European Union Copyright Directive Threatens Virtual Worlds, Internet, With Mass-Censorship

By Bixyl Shuftan

Lately it seems the Internet has been under assault. With the end of Net Neutrality in the United States, some companies have already started throttling traffic. In August, Verizon was caught throttling the Internet connection of California firefighters while dealing with a huge wildfire. One digital rights spokesman spoke of the incident, “If Verizon was willing to do this to a fire department during the state’s largest wildfire, when public safety should have been paramount, it’s easy to imagine what they are willing to do to everyday consumers.”

But unfortunately, the worst seems yet to come, and not from the United States. The European Union recently approved  legislation that has been described as threatening to "break the Internet," As Cory Doctorow explained in "New World Notes" and an "Electronic Frontier Foundation" article. Two parts of the bill, Article 11 and Article 13, have gotten the most attention. Article 11 is the "link tax," which requires platforms such as Facebook and Google to "to pay news outlets for the privilege of linking or quoting articles." Wikipedia, which would be badly hurt by the legislation, called it a threat to "freedom of expression ... online." Gizmodo commented the legislation would, "make it all but impossible for Wikipedia and other non-profit educational sources to do their work because of their reliance on links, quotes, and citation."

Article 13 would mean bad news for Second Life and other virtual worlds that allow users to create content. They would require any platform or website "that allow users to post text, sounds, code, still or moving images," etc. will have to create "upload filters" to compare all uploaded content to a database of copyrighted works, "that will be compiled by allowing anyone to claim copyright on anything, uploading thousands of works at a time. Anything that appears to match the 'copyright database' is blocked on sight, and you have to beg the platform's human moderators to review your case to get your work reinstated."

That the owners of Second Life and other platforms that fall under this bill are headquartered outside the EU won't necessarily protect them, "The EU has treaties with most of the world that allow for civil judgments to be collected in some circumstances; it's likely that future trade-deals with the EU (like the recently completed EU-Canada trade deal) would require that trading partners allow EU companies to sue and collect judgments under the EU Copyright Directive. That means that even non-EU companies could be forced to comply with these rules." And if they got in trouble with the EU over copyright issues, "those companies would not be able to establish sales/support offices in the EU, their executives would face civil and possibly criminal sanctions if they visited the EU, and they would be at risk of losing their ability to receive payments from EU customers."

Developing such a content filter in the first place wouldn't be cheap. "Google spent $60 million developing the ContentID filter system that is only capable of analyzing audio-tracks of video." Something that would analyze everything from pictures to meshes to avatars would be considerably more expensive. It would certainly be beyond the ability of smaller virtual worlds such as the OpenSim grids to pay.

And how good would it be? Most likely it would err on the side of caution, and much content that resembled copyrighted material instead of matching it would also be blocked. A content creator who found his goods blocked would have to appeal to a human moderator, and if that failed, the only recourse might be a lawsuit. Complicating the issue further are "copyright trolls" As Doctorow explained, ""[T]his is a boon for griefers. Since the rule has no penalties for abuse, griefers could claim copyright over public domain works, works that others had created, etc, and block other players from using them -- you could upload every military insignia, the logo of a rival clan, etc."

The bill doesn't go into effect right away. It will go into closed-door meetings between EU and national government representatives, then next spring the language gets voted on, then the 28 member states' governments debate on their own versions of the bill, and there are court challenges. But companies like Second Life's Linden Lab face a stark choice, either pay huge sums of money for filters that will anger their users, or block IP addresses from European countries with such bills. As Second Life has thousands of European residents, this would be a very sad, and costly, move for the Lab.

Sources: The Guardian,SaveYourInternet, New World Notes, Gizmodo, Wikimedia, Electronic Freedom Foundation   

Bixyl Shuftan

Update on Becky Nosferatu's Sister: Success

It was almost a month ago in which Becky Nosferatu's real-life sister was admitted to the hospital for an aneurysm in the brain. Becky didn't have the money to make what could be the last trip to see her, so she called out for help for people to donate a little cash. People in both Second Life and real life responded, and she had enough to make the trip over. Over the weekend, she offered the following statement.

So for those who are in the know, my sister was hospitalized due to a mild stroke that caused an Aneurysm. She's been hospitalized for a month now, due to them not able to get her levels stable enough to have a surgery to REMOVE said Aneurysm.

Long story short; on Tuesday the 11th, she was strong enough to get the surgery and lived through it. I asked for donations, scrambled up any money I could from RL and Online Friends so Monica and I could go see her. She's doing fantastically well, far better than any of the doctors could have imagined and by next week, she will be out of the ICU and being sent to a rehab hospital to get her legs back (She was in a medical coma that had her paralyzed from the neck down for a whole month, mind you) and to heal her tracheostomy wound.

I was only gone for a week, but I can't thank any of you enough that has donated money and linden dollars. That whole week was me preparing to see her, which I did yesterday. They told us that we had to put on like... these weird gowns that where really scratchy and rubber gloves. I left my cane in the doorway so it didn't bring in any bacteria.

 It was painful, for both of us. She, like me, wasn't expecting at all what would happen. She was laying on the bed, on her back. Her hair was wild and there where so many tubes and wires going everywhere all around her. She had her hands wrapped up because of the tube from her tracheostomy, you know, so she didn't rip it out. And she was writhing on the bed. I think she was still really to delirious to understand what was going on, but when I entered, she stopped moving around.
She saw me walk into the room, didn't realize it was me (cause I keep my hair so short now,) and went wide-eyed when she saw me. I took her hand, and smiled and said "hi, sis." She immediately started crying. She mouthed the words... something along the lines of "Why are you here?" Or "Why did you come here?" or something to that effect. I just leaned over and told her "Because I love you." There wasn't anything more needed to be said. We both just started crying and I wiped her tears away with a napkin. I told her that I was so proud of her for getting this far, and that after all that's happened, for her to never stop fighting. She was still... uh... pretty sedated; kept looking around the room and I noticed she focused on Monica a lot. So I looked back at her and she started crying again. I caught the words "She's so pretty" or "She's very pretty," but I couldn't be to sure. I told her I wouldn't be there long, that I flew all the way to just see her and she told me "You shouldn't see me like this." I told her that I would see her no matter what, cause I loved her. Then we both REALLY started crying. By the end of it, I just rubbed her arm and said "You stay strong, you hear? Prove to the world us FAMILYSURNAME are the strongest there is." And I told her bye.

The rest of that day was... hellish. I couldn't sleep, I had allergies and nightmares. Dad and I both where super irritable and our road rage was even worse than normal. But I'm glad I saw her. It made it very real in my head what she went through. What her son and husband went through. And the rest of our family.

This was far more than I intended to write, but, I'm glad she's recovering. And I hope that she gets to go home soon to her 3 year old son and her husband. And I honestly couldn't have seen her, or the family I haven't seen in over 10 years. I feel she'll only get better now, as the stent they put in her did exactly what what they expected. She can only get better from here. She will never be, 100%, but she is still my sister and my family are nothing but super fiery ***holes that don't know when to quit.

Again. I thank you guys far more than what you could ever know.
Becky Nosferatu

Logo Chosen For InWorldz's Successor Islandz

While development on Islandz, the successor of the closed virtual world InWorldz, continues, there is a little news. They now have a logo. It shows the letters big and bold, with an outline of a palm tree and a fish. There's also a wooden sign with the letters "Virtual World," in front of tropical plant leaves.

Earlier on the Islandz Discord chat, it was announced three logos were being considered, and opinions on which was best were welcome. The one that eventually was chosen got complements from several people. When I asked if this was now going to be the logo, I was told this was most likely it, though there is the possibility of a small change or two.

Also, it looks like there will be no need for former residents of InWorldz to register new accounts on Islandz. They should be able to use their old account names and passwords when it opens.

No date for the opening of Islandz has yet been set, official or closed beta, has been set.

Bixyl Shuftan

An Active Weekend

Quite a few things happened this weekend in Second Life. Hurricane Florence slammed into the American southeast, hitting coastal areas with high winds and causing flooding as it moved inland, knocking out power (and Internet) to close to a million people. The Pixel to Pixel Foundation had it's Ninth Anniversary party (pictured above). The "Spoonful of Sugar"began, and will last for the rest of the month. Stay tuned for more information on these, and other goings-on.

Cartoon of the Day

By Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: This Week at the Senchai Libraries

HOUNDS, HALLS, AND PIRATES

One of our favorite "holidays" this week - International Talk Like A Pirate Day!  It's almost as sacred to us as St. Patrick's Day (oh, but don't tell the good Saint I said that!).  Plus TEA TIME moves to baronial Baskerville Hall at "The Hound of the Baskervilles" continues.

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

All events at Senchai Library at Holly Kai Park, unless otherwise noted
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Holly%20Kai%20Estates/215/44/27

 All stories told in open voice. All times SL/PT

**SUNDAY, September 16th at 1:30pm: TEA TIME at Baker Street: The Hound of the Baskervilles, Episode 3- Corwyn Allen, Kayden Oconnell, David Abbot, and Caledonia Skytower, live in voice.

**MONDAY, September 17th at 7pm: Ellen Anthony's MURDER IS BLISS  continues with Gyro Muggins. (We are pleased to welcome friend Gracee Andel's Sci Fi Detective adventure to the Library)

**TUESDAY, September 18th at 7pm:  Katherine Applegate's WISHTREE continues with Faerie Maven-Pralou

** WEDNESDAY, September 19th at 7pm: INTERNATIONAL TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY!  Come along and celebrate with all the scurvy dogs on the good ship "Seanchai" ... possible celebratory cruise to follow for those brave enough to endure one of Captain Cale's sailing expeditions!
   
** THURSDAY,September 20th at 7pm - More from Richard Ratay's DON'T MAKE ME PULL OVER! with Caledonia Skytower. (TBD in kitely)
  ***

Announcement: This Week At The Science Circle: "Two Part Talk by Dr. Gastor, and Debate"

"Two Part Talk by Dr. Gastor, and Debate."

“Reducing Irreducible Complexity”
“A Biological Basis for Morality”

Saturday Sept. 16
8-9AM SLtime 

In this two part talk, Dr. Gasior discusses two crux arguments in the evolution versus religion debate.
 
One counter concept to Darwinian evolution is the argument that biological systems are designed. And, an irreducibly complex machine must have had a designer. A deconstruction of this line of reasoning will be produced along with an example of how evolution works to develop biological machines via analogy with handgun development.

Regardless of the truth of religion, many people find comfort and feel a need for a system of morality with an omniscient and punishing/redeeming entity. Science does not per se offer a specific system of morality and in fact it is argued it creates a potential sense of loneliness and isolation. The second segment puts forth a biological basis for morality from our understanding of biological diversity and Darwinian evolution.

The second segment will begin by watching the first couple minutes of the following video which sets up the conversation.

 More information at: https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/two-part-talk-by-dr-gasior-debate/

The Science Circle (61/126/32) 

Crew Meeting

Saturday September 8 was when the Newser crew had it's monthly meeting at Noon SL time at the office building in HV Commmunity. Attending were Gemma Cleanslate, Klaus Bereznyak, Deaflegacy, and myself, Bixyl Shuftan. My friend Velani was also there as a guest.

Klaus had a shirt with the country of Zimbabwe on it. This led to a short discussion of our coverage of sims with African themes, both safari areas, and places with communities with African residents. Will we be seeing more in the near future? Maybe.

Bixyl Shuftan

SL Video: "Kisses Back"

(Click here if the video fails to play)

From Furry Alex on August 9, 2018, "Song: Matthew Koma - Kisses Back (Anthony Keyrouz Remix)"

New Blog Devoted to Virtual Sex and Romance

A new blog features discussions and information about sex, romance, and related issues in virtual worlds: virtualsexromance.wordpress.com. (Note that there is no “and” or “&”).

Sex and romance are among the most popular pursuits in SL.As in real-life, they occasion many questions and discussions, which the new blog will cover.

“I’ve had interesting talks in Second Life about virtual relationships,” said Eugene Rodgers, who created the blog. “For instance, does a person in a committed real-life relationship cheat if they have virtual sex with someone else? And why is BDSM popular in SL? Contributions to my blog should prove enlightening.”

Rodgers is the author of “Femme Fatale Online,” a mystery novel with an unidentified villain who acts through an avatar in a virtual world like Second Life. “She tries to seduce the married hero into a virtual sexual relationship,” Rodgers said. “He agonizes over whether to go along. I first planned a blog to address this and other issues raised in the ebook, but decided there was a greater need to focus entirely on sex and romance.”

Rodgers is restricting the blog to serious discussions and legitimate questions. “I’ll remove any salacious material or improper solicitations that may be posted,” he said.

Blog topics include:
Best places to make friends and go on dates
Questions and advice about virtual relationships
Is it acceptable for a committed person to pursue virtual sex or romance?
Meeting in RL
LGBT and BDSM
Best clothing-free sites
The Future—How will virtual reality affect online sex and romance?
Other Virtual Worlds

Be among the first to raise questions or initiate discussions at virtualsexromance.wordpress.com!

Reader Submitted: Netera Landar's Chat Lounge Returns, to OpenSim

In an effort to inform, entertain and simply have a great time, I'm booting up my virtual world chat. But this time, I'm going to involve those of the open sim community.

I've been doing a lot of hyper jumping and have landed on a few interesting grids. One of which is run by Bill Blight and is called opensim life.com. I'm not leaving SL, my friends and partner are here. I merely want to introduce talented builders, content creators, authors and performers to what lies beyond. Open to guests that can speak on various topics: real life or virtual.

Those interested in being my guest, IM me here or email me at Netera@aol.com, Create an account on opensim life.com and IM me there. It will be a voice chat in a large build owned by an SL musician.

Hope to hear from you soon,
Netera Landar

Hurricane Florence Update: Making Landfall

Hurricane Florence is making landfall in North Carolina, at winds of 90 mph around it's eyewall. Already, over 170,000 have lost power, and the number promises to go much higher. There are also over 150 needing rescue in the city of New Bern NC.

The storm is expected to linger in the general area for a few days, crawling westward into North and South Carolina, and causing flooding well inland, with Georgia also being affected. Then the remnants will turn north, dumping large amounts of rain onto eastern Kentucky and Tennessee, West Virginia, and western Virginia.

It has been estimated some places could be out of power for days to weeks.

Source: weather.com

Update: The number of those without power has gone up to over 430,000.

Bixyl Shuftan

Firestorm Fundraiser Decleared a Success

It was late last month that Team Firestorm started a "Gacha" fundraiser to help pay for a new server and other expenses. A few days ago, team leader Jessica Lyon declared it a success.

Once again I find myself flabbergasted by the level of community support we receive from our users. In just over two weeks we have raised just over L$1.3 million lindens between Gacha sales and donations! This will be more than enough to keep us going for a few more years.

Our server admin, Mygoditsfullofstars, has already upgraded us to one new server and you should see faster download times as a result. He’s now very busy working to upgrade and migrate all our other things over to a better server too. There is even enough now to cover our Kakadu license renewal, possibly for two years!

The Firestorm team and I are forever grateful and appreciative for the support we receive from our community.

While there are a still a few more goods for sale in the fundraiser area, Team Firestorm is collecting no more.

Special thanks to all who gave donations, many were very generous! Special thanks to Kio Feila as well for all her hard work trying to keep the shelves stocked. Thank you also to all our Gateway volunteers and managers for enduring the additional traffic! Thank you all SO MUCH for your support!

Announcement: Pixel To Pixel Foundation's Ninth Anniversary

Saturday , September 15 save the date!  There will be a celebration of the 9th anniversary of the P2P Foundation in Second Life

Their work has assisted many many avatars in SL over the years. Jadyn Firehawk explains, “Some people who are on disability, however, cannot afford to spend any money on Second Life, The Pixel To Pixel Foundation's mission is to assist people in Second Life who are on disability. By granting them weekly Linden-dollar stipends, we help to make it possible for them to have homes, buy things, and pursue creative interests in SL that they might not otherwise be able to afford.”

 Donations support this effort . To read about Jadyn and this foundation see Deaflegacy’s interview. http://slnewserpeople.blogspot.com/2016/09/interview-with-jadyn-firehawk-of-pixel.html
Stop over at the event to say congratulations and celebrate!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Clairehaven/130/136/24

Announcement: The Spoonful of Sugar Festival

Welcome to the Spoonful of Sugar Festival!  This Fall we bring to you the fourth of these very successful festivals for the benefit of MSF/Doctors Without Borders.  

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare. MSF offers assistance to people based on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation

MSF offers assistance to people based on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation. You can find out a lot more about them on our MSF INFO page at the above URL or by visiting their website at: http://www.msf.org/

Second Life is a global community and with the help of Seraphim, T1 Radio, AIM and ModeLS Magazine, we will come together to celebrate the world wide movement of Médecins Sans Frontières with an entire two weeks of parties, events, and fund raising running September 15 - September 30, 2018. Join us at The Spoonful of Sugar Festival as we visit Italy!

We bring to you the finest in SL Fashion, Home and Garden and amazing Breedables to enhance your second life with style, comfort and charm. Our calendar is packed with a Panel Discussion with MSF workers, SL's highly acclaimed entertainers, dance troupes, and Fashion Shows. Shop us. Talk about us.  Educate yourself and your friends and family to this beautiful cause. Join us for what many are calling the sweetest fund raiser in all of SL.

To learn more about the S.O.S Festival and MSF/Doctors Without Borders please visit our website where you can see all the latest happening and developments: http://www.thesosfestival.com

You can also stay up to date and follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/thesosfestival/?pnref=story

To see all the new releases, exclusives, and creations from 200 amazing designers, check out our flickr group: https://www.flickr.com/groups/thesosfestival/

We will see you at The Spoonful of Sugar Festival, Sept. 15- September 30, 2018.

Yours Truly,
Ever Courtois & Angel Wickentower
S.O.S Founders
and The S.O.S Event Team

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Spoonful%20of%20Sugar/157/132/43

Hurricane Florence Update

For those in the American southeast, there's been some changes in the forecast of Hurricane Florence. It's path has shifted somewhat to the south and west. This is good news for people living in Virginia and northern North Carolina, which won't be hit quite as hard. But bad news for South Carolina which will get hit harder, and Georgia which will be more affected by the storm.

Florence has been downgraded to a Category 2 storm. But it is still very dangerous for those directly in it's path as the winds around it's core are expected to blow up to 110 miles an hour as it approaches the North Carolina shore tonight and tomorrow morning. The storm is expected to linger in the area for a few days, with a risk of flooding deep into North and South Carolina. As the illustration shows, much of North and South Carolina, and parts of Georgia and Virginia are likely to lose electric power, and with it Internet connections.

Source: weather.com

Cynthia and Shockwave's "Bid Me" Period From Relay Season Ends

In a sense, it was the last event for Team Sunbeamers, the Relay for Life team of the Sunweaver community. During the Relay season, Cynthia Farshore, known for her anthro nannygoat avatar, volunteered for a "Bid Me Foxy" fundraising event for the team. Shockwave soon followed up with his "Bid Me Goat" fundraiser. The two "Bid-Me" events raised over 62,000 Lindens for the team when the totals were tallied on Friday June 15, and helped it reach Sapphire status that weekend. But they were stuck in their new looks for twelve weeks.

When the Relay season ended in July, Rita offered to let Cynthia and Shockwave off the hook as technically all Relay events were over. But the two answered that a promise was a promise and they would stick to it. So they stayed in their "Bid Me" looks until the night of Friday September 7 at the "Lemon/Lime" dance at Club Cutlass when the 12 weeks were finally up. For the first hour, they danced about as usual.

At 7PM, Cynthia vanished in a cloud of pigeons flying in every direction. Then a few minutes later, both reappeared in another cloud of pigeons and red smoke, both in their usual appearances. "Showmanship counts," Shockwave would comment. The two then resumed their dance.

And so, the last of Team Sunbeamer's events was truly over. While the team is proud to have reached Emerald rank for the first time ever, it is also tired. While the team will be doing Bid-Mes and other fundraisers next year, there will probably be no games like this year's "Cancer Shooting Train." But the next season is months away, and Cynthia and Shockwave have a few things to work on in the meantime, such as the Caledon Downs sim and the relocated Goblin Cave,

Bixyl Shuftan

Urban Furry's "Furry Prom"

On Saturday September 8,  the Urban Furry club held it's "Fall Furry Prom." The event went from 4 to 8PM SL time/ When I dropped in, it was well attended, with over fifty present. The event attracted a wide variety of avatars, including feral, neko, and normal human avatars.

Thorrinn Resident, the owner of Urban Furry, seemed satisfied overall with the event. Aside from the lag and one or two people trying to grief the place, the party went well.

Urban Furry holds events every week, and among it's DJs is Brandi Streusel of the Sunweaver/Angels community where the SL Newser has it's office.

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcent: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer in October 2018

American Cancer Society in Second Life Preparing to Attack Breast Cancer Like Never Before 

Hey, Let’s talk numbers for a minute….

I want you to imagine the Rose Bowl stadium, AT and T Stadium, and the Los Angeles Coliseum, all filled with people…

Now realize that this represents all of the people who will be diagnosed with breast cancer…in this year.  That’s 270,000 men and women.

The good news is that we have the power to change the numbers by getting involved with the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Across Second Life right now! The Strides series of events will feature 5 different ways that you can use your Second Life to fight breast cancer.

* * * * *

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk-A-Thon

October 20, 10am – 6pm SLT

SLURL (coming soon)

Walker registration for this event will open on September 15, 2018. Sponsorship registration will open on September 16. Sign up at makingstridessecondlife.org and collect pledges from your friends and family both in and outside of Second Life. We’ll help you track how many laps around the pink-ribbon track your avatar can make, and then you go and collect all those pledges from your supporters! Awards will be presented for Top fundraiser, most laps completed, most sponsors (pledges), and Overall Top Walker. Get the full details about the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk-A-Thon here.

Out-Shop Breast Cancer

10/1/18 – 10/31/18

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer – American Cancer Society

This is not just about fashion, this is about Everything! If you have a store in Second Life, and you are interested in fighting breast cancer – this event is about as easy as it can get. Store-owners will use American Cancer Society breast cancer vendor kiosks to feature special products in their stores. Shoppers will make their strides across Second Life by teleporting from store to store with the Out-Shop Cancer HUD.

Get your shopping HUD at the American Cancer Society Island, then visit the variety of stores who have committed to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. The more you buy, the more impact we have together. For more information, get the full details about the Out Shop Cancer event.

Parade of Homes

10/1/18 – 10/31/18

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer – American Cancer Society

If you’re a home builder, designer/creator, or landscaper who wants to use your skills to fight breast cancer, this is the event for you! The Parade of Homes will bring shoppers to your store, where you’ll offer a limited edition home through a special vendor kiosk where proceeds will go directly to the American Cancer Society’s breast cancer program.

Shoppers & home buyers can pick up a Parade of Homes HUD, which will bring them to each store where they can shop and make donations! This is a perfect opportunity to discover some of the great home designers in Second Life, get your new home, and fight breast cancer – all at the same time. The parade of homes will conclude with a special live auction for a L$90,000 dream home, donated by Slash Hansome, owner of AXL pro.

If you’re interested in donating a home or shopping, visit the Parade of Homes page for full details.

Breast Cancer Gala

10/27/18 from 2pm-5pm SLT

SLURL (coming soon)

The annual gala event will celebrate breast cancer patients, survivors, and pay homage to loved ones that are no longer with us. This is a chance to meet new people,  reconnect with old friends, and share stories with others about your personal connection to breast cancer. This is a formal attire event with special live performances. Donations are encouraged throughout the event.

Photos For A Cure

Accepting Submissions from 9/1/18 – 9/30/18

Submit Photos at  www.flickr.com/groups/makingstrideswalk-secondlife

SKYY Games is proudly sponsoring this annual breast cancer photo contest where all photographers in Second Life are invited to share your artistic talents by submitting a photo that you feel best reflects the theme, “The Rack Pack.”  A L$10,000 prize will be awarded to the top photo. Additional prizes for 2nd and 3rd place will also be awarded. For contest rules, timeline, and full details, visit the Photos For A Cure on the Making Strides website.

Participate in an Event, purchase an item whose proceeds go to Strides, make a donation to a Strides Kiosk or at makingstridessecondlife.org.  For information on any of these breast cancer events, contact Leala Spire or Sandie Loxingly in Second Life.

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at the Happy Vixen.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Hurricane Florence Update

Hurricane Florence is still making it's way to the American East Coast, heading to North Carolina. As of the writing of this article, it ranks a Category 4 storm  Hurricane warnings and watches cover all of the North Carolina coast and most of the South Carolina coast, with storm warnings in Tidewater Virginia. Unfortunately, the coast is not the only area in danger as the interiors of the states in it's path and nearby face possible flooding as the storm is likely to stall and linger. The result could very well be more widespread and longer power outages.

The storm will be approaching the North Carolina coast on Thursday evening. Stay tuned for more details.

Sources: weather.com, Reuters

SSP Region Update

Since last week's update on the SSP sim region, which appeared in late August, there's been a few minor changes. A few sims such as SSP119 have been changed to look like something artificial in contrast to the island's natural features. What look like piers and jetties are being set up along the shoreline in places. SSP150 has what looks like a picture of a snake over the sim. There's also a new sim just north of the landmass: SSP2 QA Test.

Stay tuned for further updates.

Tales From Outside SL: Plagued Doctor at the Furry Con

While the following story doesn't have much to do with Second Life, it does involve a resident of our virtual world. JB Raccoon told the Newser about a friend of his, who wishes for now to be known as only "The Attendee," who went to a 'con in an unusual costume. For a couple days, all went well. Then he was stopped by one of the 'con staff who had objections to some props on the outfit that hadn't been a problem before with him and with others no one was raising issues.

Read the story in Extra.

Announcement: UoH "The Telescope in Astronomy: Historical Perspectives"

Univ of Hawaii, Astronomy Presents: "The Telescope in Astronomy: Historical Perspectives"

By Jim Mayo
Thursday, Sept 13th at 9:30 PM PDT
Institute for Astronomy - U. Hawaii Astronomy Amphitheater: 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/CUH%20Alliance/49/206/4002

And on the web: http://tinyurl.com/ifamaui

In “The Telescope in Astronomy: Historical Perspectives,"  Jim Mayo discusses the emergence of astronomy as one of the most ancient of all sciences going back to the world’s earliest civilizations. Starting with “Astronomy of the Ancients” to include Egypt, Babylonia, China and Phoenicia, the focus moves to Greece and Rome, and then to Arabic and early European astronomy.  The critical telescope precursors of the 16th Century are covered leading to the explosion of the telescope onto the scene in 1608. Mayo covers the development and early astronomical use of refractors and reflectors, the emergence of the achromatic object glass in the 1750s, the large refractors of the late 19th Century, and the great reflectors of the 20th Century.