More Scenes From the 2011 RFL Track

Talking to people in Second Life, as well as reading other blogs, a number have talked about the fun they had and a little sad it's over. So on this last day of August, a look back, with more pictures that didn't make it earlier.

Covering the Relay for Life was not only appreciated by a number of Relayers, but it got this newspaper more attention as well. On the Relay weekend, twice as many people went to Second Life Newser than before, temporarily doubling our readership.

Check out the pictures in Places.

Sunday Cartoon

A neko catgirl who's not too proud to beg. ;-)

By Bixyl Shuftan

Xymber Slade's Fortunes for August

Our tarot reader Xymbers Slade has his horoscopes up for August. What fortunes do the cards reveal? Xymbers takes a look.

Read Xymbers' Horoscopes in Extra.

RFL: The Snowglobe

Looking back at the Relay, there were many builds. Some I didn't have much of a chance to look at, and most likely many escaped the attention they deserve. Among those that I did see was a particularly beautiful build in the winter region: the Snowglobe.

The Snowglobe viewed from above.

The entrance to the Snowglobe

One could walk up the levels of the snowglobe by way of it's ice walkways, or taking the snowflakes up.

The Longest Winter whispers: When I first heard that word I felt a chill.
Winter came in a monochrome storm…a flurry of black and white..X-rays and CT scans.
Endless pages of neatly typed pathology.
Hospital halls, sterile offices, and starched white coats.
All in stark display against a growing bleak grey horizon that seemed to be the future for me.

The Longest Winter whispers:
I wanted to live.

A chorus of consonants…malignant,metastatic, morbidity, chemo, CANCER!
Nights of nausea…a forever of fatigue…an infinity of infection…this vast sea of despair swallowed my senses.

I grew sick.

The world was stark and dark and hope guttered like a candle set against the wind.
The world was frozen and I grew cold.

I wanted to die.


The Longest Winter whispers: Somewhere the consonants turned to constants.
Compassion, concern, caring companionship, conquering fear, despair and denial.
I dreamed of the hundred hands that had held mine through everything, each holding out a shining crystal snowglobe.

Something died then.

But it wasn't me.

I woke to see the crocus pushing their way through the snow.
The winter was fading.
The fear was too.
The Longest Winter whispers: As a child I had a snowglobe.
Gazing into the silvery sparkling snow at the tiny-toy town I would imagine it to
be a crystal ball that could show me the future.
A hundred hands holding the little globe out to me.
I went out to walk in a fresh snowfall.

Someone had shaken the world and made it beautiful again.

The Longest Winter whispers: I was fighting the cancer while fear was the enemy all undiscovered about me.
I was never alone.

I cannot see the future but I know I have won. I live now.

The Longest Winter owned by Arioch Snowpaw gave you 'RFL 2011 Snow Globe'

Bixyl Shuftan

Biker Rally at ZZ Studios

Recently at ZZ Studios, the adult media company hosted an event different than what most would expect there, a biker rally. The event was attended by studio and club staff, in addition to their fans and lots of bikes. And of course, Cindy "Zig Zag" Babi was there.

Read more in Extra.

RFL: The Redheads' "Last Blast"

On Thursday night 6PM SL time in the Southern Colorado sim, the Passionate Redheads Relay for Life team got together for one final event of their own for the Relay season. Dubbed "The Last Blast Party," it was to celebrate their fundraising this year, in addition to looking back on the fun they had. The event was sponsored in part by KVXN Radio.

Daaneth Kivioq was the DJ for the event, and with the walk around the track so much on their minds, most of the songs he played were about walking. The tunage included Phil Collins' "On My Way," "Footloose," "We Did the Walk of Life," Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again," Johnny Cash's "Walk the Line," and Elvis Presley's "Blue Suede Shoes," and "Never Walk Alone." Someone had a birthday, so the Beetles' song "Hey Hey, It's Your Birthday" was also played. And a team favorite, "Calypso."

Probably a total of two dozen attended the party, more than a dozen at any one time. Further donations for the Relay were accepted instead of tips, many of which came from purchases of a Passionate Redheads' calendar, made by Timber Wolfenhaut, whom also had the privilege of taking all those pictures of the girls in their swimsuits. Also for sale for charity was a cookbook. And the awards won by the Redheads were also on display, such as the gold and platinum awards.

As 8 PM neared, Daan played one final song, in honor of Artistic Fimicloud, with fireworks going off overhead, illuminating the "Little Dove" blimp overhead, "Run for Life"

I run for hope, I run to feel

I run for the truth, for all that is real

I run for your mother, your sister, your wife

I run for you and me my friend

I run for life

And after that, the Redheads went their seperate ways, some looking forward to next season. Over 5,000 Lindens were raised at the "Last Blast."

Bixyl Shuftan

Second Life Social Network Goes Live

On July 26th, Linden Labs introduced a new feature to Second Life web-based profiles. When not logged into the Grid, residents could send messages to each other through a social network . Just go to https://my.secondlife.com/ , log in, and it takes you to a space you can make a post for all your SL friends to see, and underneath posts your friends have made.


This looks a lot like Facebook, at least to me, for whom the majority of my Facebook friend list names are also on my Second Life friend list names. One difference, instead of a “like” button, there’s a “love” button. Going to “settings” and clicking on “social identities,” you can connect what social network’s you’re already on to the social web profile, but in the case of Facebook, SL may post status messages on your FaceBook wall and access your info at any time.

While worth a look, I can’t see why any Second Life resident with a Facebook account, unless they’re petrified of being banned, would use this for very long. No games, no links to news and other websites, and no friends from outside Second Life. Or as Crap Mariner put it, “Instead of MySpace, it’s WhySpace.” Hamlet Au called it “A social network inside a social network, so you can update while you update.”

Checking the forums, residents were skeptical. At most, they called it a promising first atempt, saying they might keep on using it if had more features, “my.secondlife.com would be great if I could send IMs to friends without having to log onto SL, I could pay people without having to log onto SL, I could send messages and notes to groups without having to log onto SL, . I could put events on a group page with a calendar just like in Facelook, “ etc. Others pointed out that there was no option for posts to be only to friends and not to “everybody” - “It seems to be defaulting to everyoine and everything.” A few outright hated it.

My prediction? A few may continue to use it, most of whom will have it linked to their Facebook or other social networks. But most will forget about it after a couple weeks.

Sources: Linden Blog, New World Notes

Bixyl Shuftan

Cartoon of the Day

This regular at the club (bottom right) is always bringing his fishing pole, giving him the nickname of "The Fisher Fox." He should have known doing so when the lady DJ sports a landwalker shark would not be ignored. ;-)

Bixyl Shuftan

RFL: The Last Blast Party (Rescheduled)

Please join me, DJ Daan, on Thursday July 28th, at 6PM, for one last blast, as we say goodbye to this years Relay For Life! I will be doing a long set of songs about walking, as the 24 hours we walk the track at Relay is the focus and culmination of the event. All proceeds from this event will benefit the American Cancer Society. Sponsored by the Passionate Redheads and KVXN Radio.

Hope Gardens, Southern Colorado (162, 42, 25)

Daaneth Kivioq

Garden of Dreams

Xymbers Slade recently stumbled across a store called the "Garden of Dreams." What it sells is well-designed skybox scenery. Curious, he took a look, and wrote down his findings.

Read Xymber's review in Design.

Burglar Ballooning a Bust

Recently, The Podex Exchange was the target of an attempted burglary. The day in late July began much like others at the time. The tellers were discussing the weekend at the Relay for Life track, and were talking about the various exhibits there. Up in the air, however, someone was headed their way.

Floating high up was a figure. He had gotten hold of some lighter-than-air balloons, and was able to take flight. And the breeze was taking him towards Podex. He was the burglar the SLPD have nicknamed “Clumsy Cooper” (a play on the noted thief Sly Cooper), whom has a record of trying to rob the exchange, and never succeeding. His plan this time: when just over the bank, he’d let go of enough balloons for a soft landing, sneak inside from the top, and make off with the Lindens.

However, Clumsy Cooper didn’t count on the region’s air traffic. First a vintage Second World War Two Imperial Japanese bomber flew by, blowing him off course. Then, a little pink dragonette flew over, and began pecking and clawing at the balloons, bursting them. Clumsy Cooper tried scare it by shouting at it, then tried to shoo it away. But the dragonette popped the last few balloons, and the bandit plummeted back down.

Fortunately for Clumsy Cooper, he was over the water at the time. Unfortunately, some of the bank’s neighbors had heard his shouting, let alone the big SPLASH! Wadding out of the drink, he saw people headed his way. He promptly ran off, dropping a notepad and some tools. Although soaking wet, the notepad revealed his plans. The people seeing the pink dragonette with popped balloons in it’s beak and claws, and the SLPD questioning nearby airports, Clumsy's ill fated mission was figured out. Another thing that doomed Clumsy's efforts, he had brought with him safecracking tools, which would have been useless at Podex. “All our exchanges are done through electronic transfer,” a teller explained. There had never been a threat to the exchange's funds.

Clumsy Cooper is wanted for attempting to circumvent a region ban and attempted griefing. Anyone with information of his whereabouts is asked to contact the nearest chapter of the SLPD.

The Podex Exchange has a record of being one of the safest Linden exchange services in Second Life, the data processing done outside the exchange, and has a record of thousands of satisfied customers. Transactions can be done at their website, or their location inworld at Moonberry (26, 223, 34).

Bixyl Shuftan

Sweet Dreams Theater

Recently, Netera Landar stopped by the Sweet Dreams Theater, owned by XXXGabiXXX Miami. With the help of a friend, she has run the theater where one can stop by to see a movie, along with some side attractions, "free for people ... for anyone to go," where the light is always on.


Read more in Places.

Memorial to the Fallen in Second Norway’s Stave Church

Last weekend, the country of Norway was hit by a nightmare when a ruthless killer set off a bomb in the capital of Oslo, killing eight, and then headed to a political youth camp on the nearby island of Utoeya where he proceeded to gun down children. The death toll there was originally estimated to be 85, but has since been reduced.

In Second Life, memorials often spring up in response to tragedy, and so one did in the Second Norway region. Checking the Destination Guide was a mention of a “Oslo Memorial at Second Norway.” The entry invited the readers to “Join the conversation and memorials for the victims of the recent attacks in Oslo at the Stave church in Second Norway, an active Norwegian community in Second Life.”

The link on the Guide led me next to the docks. Checking the map, I noticed a group of residents, and headed to it. I soon came across the Stave church, a type of wooden church built in Medieval times, almost all of the original ones found within Norway. Outside the church was a Norwegian flag at half-mast, and a wooden cross decorated with ribbon, plants, and a couple flags.

Inside the church were a number of people. Some were sitting at the pews, others closer to the altar. And around the altar, a makeshift memorial had been set up. There were numerous flowers and candles of all kinds, in addition to flags and teddy bears.

People continued to drop in to pay their respects, stay for a time, then head out. There were a mix of Norwegian residents, other Europeans, and some Americans. They pondered how, in a country noted for it’s Nobel Peace Prize, could this happen, “... What kind of world is this?! Tell me!” “A cruel and sad world.” “My heart hears you, and yes, too much sickness, too much.” “But when a person can look a kid in the eye and shoot them, and laugh, having fun with it, it is sick, it is cruel, it is evil.” Someone stated there were rumors early on that this was the work of a black immigrant.

The music played at the time avoided the bouncy tunes of other places I was at that day. Among the songs was "In the Arms of an Angel":


In the arms of an Angel, fly away from here

From this dark, cold hotel room, and the endlessness that you fear

You are pulled from the wreckage, of your silent reverie

You're in the arms of an Angel; may you find some comfort here


Some of the people paused to listen, “That’s one of my favorite songs.”

One resident, Nikita Mullery, stated, “It is allowed to put down a candle or flowers if you want to, but be sure it is not one with tons of prims in it, since many people want to put down a memory.” Others tried to comfort those with doubts about humanity’s better nature, “peace and love be with you,” “I wish you all peace and love, and healing.”

Dropping by hours later, there were still people coming and going at the Stave church, paying their respects to the fallen young and old.

The Stave Church memorial is at Norge (136, 149, 30)

Bixyl Shuftan

SL TV: "Designing Worlds - Farewell Alien Isles"

Remember the Alien Isles sim which closed earlier this month? On this month's showing of the SL show "Designing Worlds," they did a review of the sim. They found a number of interesting features and goodies that makes the place missed more than ever.

A fun and fond farewell to the much-loved Alien Isles sims with owners Judi Newall and Lorin Tone. See the wonderful creativity from Madcow Cosmos and music from Alazarin Mobius. Join the tour with your hosts Saffia Widdershins and Elrik Merlin.

Events this Week in Second Life from July 26th to August 1st

The Relay for Life Walk is behind us, but this week comedian Lauren Weyland will be doing a special show to raise more funding for the charity. And don't forget to catch "The 1st Question" this week, as the show will be taking a break until late August.

Read the list of happenings in Events.

Behind Bronyville’s Fall

Recently, the Bronyvile sim (and its sister sim), home to a community of pony avatar fans, were taken offline by Linden Labs. The result was the pony fans without a virtual home, and a number of rumors flying around. Xymbers Slade researched into what was going on, and talked to one pony about the view from inside.


Read more in Extra.

A Look at the Odd Ball

It's been a while since I wrote on the Odd Ball. For those whom don't know, the normally twice a week event in Second Life was started by Tuna Oddfellow a few years ago. Assisted by his hardworking partner Shava Suntzu, they have continued to amaze audiences with their psychedelic performances. The dazzling colors actually have an effect on one's brain. While a few guests have to leave due to uneasy feelings, others feel calmer, or euphoric.

Tuna and Shava have had a few problems recently, which they're waiting for further developments before talking in-depth about them. Until then, they'll continue the Odd Ball as much as real-life will permit.

Recently, the Odd Ball has been playing at Dragonhenge (126, 122, 651), usual times Wednesdays at 7PM, and Sundays at 11AM, subject to occasional real-life interruptions.

Some months ago, Chantal Harvey was at the Odd Ball when Tuna had a guest performer: Cypress Rosewood (video 1 minute).



Bixyl Shuftan

Toy's Art Gallery

Recently, Grey Lupindo attended the Grand reopening of the Toys Art Gallery. Inside a building that itself is artistically designed, the builder and artist has a number of works of art covering a variety of themes. The pictures done from scenes in Second Life have the location within easy access.

Read more in Design.

The Last Blast for the Redheads - *Canceled*

*This event has been canceled due to technical dificulties - will be schedued later this week*

Please join me, DJ Dapper Daan, on Monday July 25th, at 6PM, for one last blast, as we say goodbye to this years Relay For Life! I will be doing a long set of songs about walking, as the 24 hours we walk the track at Relay is the focus and culmination of the event. All proceeds from this event will benefit the American Cancer Society. Sponsored by the Passionate Redheads and KVXN Radio.

Hope Gardens, Southern Colorado (162, 42, 25)

Daaneth Kivioq

Interview With Ginette Pinazzo on the Zindra Expo

This August, the Zindra region, noted for being a mostly adult-rated continent in Second Life, will host the Second Annual Zindra Expo. One of the organizers, Ginette Pinazzo, invited Second Life Newser to come over, wanting to explain a few things about the event.

Read more in Events.

Happy Rezzday Quark

Gemma Cleanslate's partner DJ Quark Allen had a rezzday party at his home yesterday, Saturday the 24th. A number of people showed up, including Breezes, Glitter, Eymerich Lane, Any1 Gynoid, and more. Also showing up was a foot tall microfox, or "the little orange vermin on your piano" as Any1 joked.


Happy Rezzday, Quark

Sunday Cartoon: RFL

A little "horsing around" at the Relay track

by Bixyl Shuftan

Scenes from the 2011 RFL Track

I took dozens of pictures for the relay, but only a few could make it to the article. Here's a few more.

See more in Places.

SL Youtube: "2008 Relay for Life in Second Life (Pt. 1) "

From MarkTwain White - "This is part one of a three part video journal covering the 2008 Relay for Life Sims (Heroes Sims) in Second Life. For those who could not be there or who are not Second Life residents, please note that the majority of footage was shot before the RFL sims opened to the general public. That's the reason you don't see very many people in the scenes. You can get a better feel for the attendence by checking out the green dots on the map in the opening sequence which was the state of the Sims at a moment in time somewhere in the first hour of public viewing."

The 2011 Relay for Life Walk

Last weekend, the 2011 Relay for Life Walk took place. For the participants, it was the high point of the Relay fundraising season, and a time to both remember friends who passed away and celebrate those who survived. Every one who took part had their own experience, and for this reporter whom was in with the Passionate Redheads, here's my own.

Read the story in People.

Reader Submitted: RFL Walk - Passionate Redheads

Taken by Daaneth Kivioq, this was when he was being interviewed on T1 Radio, from left to right Kentar, Trade, Daaneth, and Nuala.

"I want to thank Trader and Nuala for giving me the honor. Go Redheads! Go Relay!"

Taken by Skylark LeFavre, her walking the track as a "brony."

"Ponies wanna party and are helping out RFL this year. Its not a party without the ponies. :D"

Taken by Rita Mariner at Passionate Redheads, RFL Family

Make Him Over!

First men's hunt in SL history, Make Him Over, again invites you to participate in its 6th golden edition! Around 150 designers waiting for you to represent their best creation for free! The hunt will begin on July 20 and end on August 20. Vic Zuzu is a well-known fashion expert and critic, journalist and President of MHOH Foundation , He says you can expect to find men's clothing, furniture and also unisex . so the women can go too. Please visit official web site more information http://makehimover2.blogspot.com/.

Men are always talking about the lack of good outfits in sl so now you can go find some! Have fun ! And women get your men out there hunting! The starting point is http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dragovar%20Dynasty%20Estates/46/98/31

Gemma Cleanslate

Interview with Amythe Moonlight

Recently, we had a conversation with Amythe Moonlight, the manager of the Mystery sim and it's recent sister sim Conundrum. She talked about her beginnings in Second Life and Mystery, the mystery "Masked Lover" whom revealed himself to be DJ Bloodrose Writer, whom she recently married in the sim's most elaborate wedding, and more.

Read more in People.

Reader Submitted: RFL Track

Team Circle of Life, taken by Lyr Lobo, submitted by Edconnect Gufler (the imp in front).

Taken by Aryon Dagger at 2011 Relay For Life sim RFL Awareness

Taken by Everest Piek at Remembering Our Friends Memorial, RFL Cure

End of an Era: Last Shuttle Landing Broadcasted in Second Life

This morning at 3AM SL time, the Space Shuttle Atlantis landed back on Earth in real life. In Second Life, the landing was broadcasted in a few places on the Grid. Among them, the International Space Museum, where RacerX Gullwing was able to take this picture.

The landing of Atlantis means the end of the Space Shuttle program, the ships heading to museums, and for now the end of the US manned space program, aside for the occasional astronaut hitching a ride on one of Russia's Soyuz rockets. Although NASA's workers cheered the shuttle landing as their last hurrah, within the week thousands will be laid off and looking for new jobs.

NASA has been working on a sucessor to the shuttle, saying they could have it ready possibly in a few years. But the US Federal government faces a huge deficit and a massive debt, political commentators and private citizens alike wondering if it is heading to a financial day of reckoning. It may be many years before US astronauts go back into space in their own rockets.

Fortunetly for Second Life residents, they can get spaceship rides for themselves in places like the Sci-Lands. Or, take a look at spaceship models in places like the International Space Museum (ISM) in the Spaceport Alpha sim.

Bixyl Shuftan

Chantal Harvey and the Month of Machinima

The name most associated with machinima, films done in virtual worlds, in Second Life, is Chantal Harvey. The best known producer of them, she has been working with the Month of Machinima, a monthly review of the best in films produced here. Recently, Netera Landar had a chance to meet up with Chantal Harvey, and talk to her about this and other details around this new genere of media


Read more in Events.

RFL Walk: And So It Ends

What was probably the last of the unofficial events of the Relay for Life Walk, the teardown party took place last night. I arrived a little late, but it seems it was a little smaller than the one I managed to catch a couple years ago. But there were some old friends there I hadn't met in a while, and a good time was had by all.

Looking around, some of the builds were still up, and I took a few more pictures, but much of the track was already gone, or mostly gone. A few places left a lone item, or two or three, such as landmark givers or critters. One place had a giraffe running around, which had been the source of a few "I found your giraffe" jokes in RFL Voulenteer chat.


One place that stood out, it was clear of everything but just one word.

Remember.

And indeed, The Walk was an event to remember. It brought the total money raised for the American Cancer Society to a new record: nearly 75 million Lindens or $373,000 US Dollars. The RFL in SL remains the biggest of online fundraisers online.

There were sad moments, remembering friends who have passed on. My sim neighbors talked about their late friend Artistic Fimicloud again and again. But overall the event was an unquestionably happy and fulfilling experience, one shared with friends old and new.

As Relayer Tahisha Fairplay put it, "If there's one thing I was taught in this group, it's to not mourn the death more than you celebrate the life."

Later on will be an in-depth article on the Relay Weekend, as well as pictures of some of the scenes, plus some reader submissions.

Bixyl Shuftan