Breaking News: Linden Lab Finally Opens Sansar

Over three years since it's development was announced, two and a quarter years since it was given a name, about two years since it was made open for volunteers to test, and several months after it's first estimated date it would be ready, Linden Lab announced today that Sansar was finally ready and open for the public to enter.

Sansar™, the world’s leading social VR platform, today opened its creator beta to the public. Sansar empowers individuals, communities, schools, studios, corporations, brands and others to easily create, share, and ultimately sell immersive 3D social experiences for consumers to enjoy on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Windows PCs. Developed by Linden Lab®, the company behind the groundbreaking virtual world Second Life®, Sansar is a brand new platform built from the ground up to enable everyone to become a creator. 

At opening, Sansar’s Atlas directory already features hundreds of engaging virtual experiences, including multiplayer games, recreations of historic sites and landmarks, art installations, movie theaters, museums, narrative experiences, jungle temples, 360º video domes, sci-fi themed hangouts, and much more. Creators invited to the platform during a limited-access preview have published thousands of amazing public and private experiences, and with the opening of beta today, the world is now invited to join them. 

"Sansar democratizes social VR," said Ebbe Altberg, CEO of Linden Lab. "Until now, complexity and cost has limited who could create and publish in this medium, and Sansar dramatically changes that. It's been inspiring to see the thousands of virtual creations that have already published with Sansar during our limited preview, and I'm looking forward to the explosion of creativity we'll see now that we’ve opened the doors in beta.”

So far, none of the Newser writers have been able to get an early peek at Sansar. One person who so far who has is Steelhead's Fuzzball Ortega, whom in group chat stated he wasn't particularly impressed, "Beautiful graphics, but if all I wanted to do was walk around and not interact with objects, I can do that here in my sim. ...  even game developers include interaction with objects and such. All I've done is walk around, and tried to figure out if there is object interaction."

It's also notable that in Linden Lab's press release, they say, "Until now, complexity and cost has limited who could create and publish in this medium." But what about users of their existing virtual world whom are able to build in "sandbox" areas inworld? Another suggestion that Linden Lab is aiming at people who haven't been to, or possibly heard of, Second Life.

The Newser will have more to say on this "Next-Generation virtual world" once one of us has had a look for ourselves. Those who wish to download the Sansar client, Click here. Their suggested hardware they state should be at least:

Operating system: Windows 7 SP1 or newer

CPU: Intel i5-4590 equivalent or greater

Memory: 8GB+ RAM

Video card: NVIDIA GTX 970 equivalent or greater

Bandwidth: 10 Mbps recommended; 5 Mbps minimum.

Compatible HDMI 1.3 video output 2x USB 3.0 ports
Bixyl Shuftan

Lichtbringer's 16 Fields and the LEA Photo Contest

Klaus Bereznyak recently dropped by LEA26 to get a look at the exhibit there, a build called "16 Fields" by a group of three artists calling themselves "Lichtbringer." There was much to see, and something to do, a photography contest. So what did he think of the exhibition?

Read Klaus' story in Design.

Little Issues: Explaining The "Fox Reporter" Look.

While much of what I write is about breaking news or concerns may have, sometimes there are just little matters that keep sticking to one's brain. In this case, it's about a certain issue a certain someone keeps bringing up about my appearance. While the question was probably a joke, it was being brought up enough that I felt it finally needed a response. So here it is.

Read the article in Extra.

Relay Wrap-Up Date Announced

It's not on their website as of the writing of this notice, but the date for the final event of the official Relay for Life in Second Life was announced in Relay group chat, for August 6, one week from now.

Save the date.....
Relay Wrap Up
Sunday August 6
2 - 4pm SLT

Watch for more info and location.
Mark it in your calendars!

Stay tuned for more information.

"Thank You Any1 Gynoid"

Remember when we reported on Any1's rezzday party on July 22, which she turned into a benefit for "Feed a Smile?"  Well, a few days later on July 28, she got this picture from the school where the charity does it's work, thanking her for the fundraiser, "Thank you Maggie and all of the wonderful singers musicians and guests who made this meal possible. Asantesana from the LLK kids from Live and Learn in Nakuru Kenya."

The schoolchildren are on a two week summer break, so the first of Any1's meals will be on August 14th.

Picture from Any1 Gynoid

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at the "Afternoon With The Lindens" at The Castle Home and Garden. Looks like Tommy Linden is trying out the different positions on the kissing booth. At least it'll save his avatar a trip to the chiropractor.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: Giant Snail Race At The Castle Home and Garden Contest

The arrows are out! for next Saturdays Giant Snail race

Were going through the Castle Home and Garden  contest  This Saturday.
The race starts at 10:30 AM  Well get there by then  to get ready race starts at 11:00  actually
Anyway if you want to see where it goes follow the Snail arrows . When you get to the Giant aarrow sit on it. your halfway done.

CHG Camelot sponsored by WHIP Radio/Hogsmeade, CHG South (216, 125, 1001)

From the Relay for Life Volunteers group

SL Video: "Atrocity - The Sound Of Silence"

(Click here if the video fails to play)

By "Calaval" in Dec. 2011, "A Second Life movie inspired by the Sound Of Silence. I hope you enjoy it!"

Any1's "Feed a Smile" Event, The "Pixel to Pixel" Fundraiser, And The Benefit Concert For Maxx Sabretooth

Quite a bit goes on in Second Life. And that includes benefit events. Although the Relay for Life is the biggest fundraising organization, there are many others, and sometimes it's just a handful of people. Yours truly dropped in on three recently, benefiting, "Feed a Smile," "Pixel to Pixel," and a gofundme for live singer Max Sabertooth's medical-related expenses.

Read the story in Events.

My Alt and I: The Story of Rezzdammit Resident

Alts have a number of uses in Second Life. Griefers are well known to use them to hide their identities. Some use them to explore around undisturbed. Some roleplayers use one with a name close to that of their character. For yours truly, I hadn't bothered to create one for years. Then when it came time to write about a new place only newcomers could see, I had to start one in order to do the story. But once the purpose he was created for was finished, I'd still bring him on, and more then five years later he still drops in inworld time to time. So who is this alt and why is he still around?

Read the story in Extra.

Press Release: Homes For Our Troops Benefit Concert at Veterans Isle on Sunday

Frets Nirvana and US Military Veterans Group announce the 2017 July 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 2017 July benefit on July 30, 2017 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).  As of January 2017 they have built 229 homes for severly wounded Veterans and have another 85 projects underway.  Since its inception in 2004, over 90 cents of every dollar spent by Homes for Our Troop has gone to directly support Veterans. ”

Home for Our Troops benefit concerts feature premier Second Life talent monthly at Veteran’s Isle.  The concert on July 30, 2017 is scheduled from 4-9 PM PST.  Featured artists will be DJ Waya Snowpaw, David Csiszer, Dimivan Ludwig, Frets Nirvana, and Saramarie Philly .


For more information, contact Frets Nirvana

ABOUT HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS  - HFOT builds homes as a departure point for Veterans to rebuild their lives, and once again become highly productive members of society. Despite their life-altering injuries, many Veterans have embarked on new careers, completed their college degrees, or started families. Empowered by the freedom a mortgage-free and specially adapted home brings, these Veterans can now focus on their recovery and return to their life’s work of serving others. Many have embraced their roles as motivational speakers, sharing their messages of persevering through tragedy with groups and classrooms around the country; others take to a national platform to promote awareness of veteran suicide, homelessness and PTSD. Their incredible stories are the driving force for the work for HFOT. To learn more about the Homes For Our Troops visit https://www.hfotusa.org

Zan's at Steelhead Bay

If you're looking for some Victorian/Steampunk wear, one place you should check out is Zan's in Steelhead Bay. Owned by Zantyago Mannonen, I went to check the store out. He has many good clothes both from the Victorian era and from other times that take the fashion as a frame of reference.  I would recommend this store to anyone who is interested in Victorian wear.

I had a few words with Zantyago. "Steelhead was looking for tenants, and I was looking for a place to set up a big shop," he told me about the store. He previously had a location in the old Steelhead Estates. He couldn't remember where he started, but Zan's really took off after he released his first male suit.  Zantyago was amazed by the response and that particular suit is still a strong seller. Zantyago then shaped and combined dresses he had already created to make new stuff.  The Blazer Belle is a great example.  That one is popular.

"I began doing this more seriously because I lost my real-life job and  I had the realization that I'm not cut up for office nonsense," said Zantyago, ."I am still studying chemistry which is my career and I had some great people that helped me and encouraged me." He then brought up the group, "Iron Sharpens Iron, which is a group of skilled people."  When asked about the Iron Sharpens Iron, he said, "Surrounding yourself with skilled people and show your works, and most important, listen to what they have to say." Zantyago explained that the group mostly disbanded, but those aviation people were great help, and good crazy fun.

Zantyago makes Victorian and occasionally clothing from other eras that take the Victorian era as a frame of reference. There are outfits for both men and women, coming in both mesh and prim. He sells to both owners of furry and human avatars, and has a line of shoes made for furs. He has a cute set with color changing abilities. Zantyago went on to say that there are clothes in pastel colors coming soon. Another excellent outfit is a collaborative effort with Amy Parker Tapkoinu Resident, "Zan's Little Lady Dress."

I would recommend this store to anyone who is interested in Victorian clothes.

Steelhead Bay (108,196, 23) / Marketplace link (here).

Deaflegacy

More On The Castle Home and Garden Contest

By Gemma Cleanslate

 I am having a wonderful time helping out at the Castle Home and Garden Contest! I am really glad I am not a judge!! So many beautiful builds grace the sims. Walking in the gardens of winter, summer and underwater is great fun. 

 Here are a few pictures of the gardens and castle details you will see .

 Climbing around in the castles  looking for hidden rooms can be very interesting. Since the event takes place on two levels the TP pads are helpful for moving from sim to sim. There is a hunt going on as you move through the shops and lots of goodies for sale.

The main stage has events every day and you can find the times here.  http://chgrfl.org/schedule/
The live music has been so enjoyable and the visitors are loving it! 

 This is the landing point at the main stage where you can pick up the guide book and find the tp pad to all the sims take a look at the maps there too showing the two levels.
. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/CHG%20Main/129/131/21

Gemma Cleanslate

Crew Meeting

 Saturday July 22 was the time of this month's crew meeting of the SL Newser. From left to right are Ciska Riverstone, whom had recently sent in a reader submission and was invited over, myself (Bixyl Shuftan), Deaflegacy, Gemma Cleanslate, and FoxytheJamie  (aka Kimiko Kanagowa), whom was back after a hiatus. The meeting took place in our office at HV Community.

There was much to talk about, as we had spent much time in the past couple months covering the Second Life Birthday and the Relay Weekend. And now we had more room to write about other things.

At one point, there was a slight glitch when an invitation, written on a texture, had been passed to Jamie, and it landed on the chair, turning the chair the pattern of the texture. It was an amusing moment in the meeting.

Bixyl Shuftan

Sansar Preview Video: Maxwell Graf

(Click here if the video fails to play)

This Sansar preview video came just after the "Ria" one on July 6. Done by Linden Lab with help from Draxtor Despress on July 12, "Opening to the public in 2017, Sansar is the best way to create, share, and sell your own social VR experiences. You can apply to join our creator preview community now at Sansar.com. 3D content and environmental artist Maxwell Graf shares his thoughts creating 'Neptune's Revenge' and other roleplaying experiences with Sansar."

The video shows Maxwell creating two scenes meant for roleplaying, "Rustica" and "Neptune's Revenge." He talks about how useful a platform could be for roleplaying, saying the area is "4096 square meters, it is pushed all the way up to the maximum size limit in Sansar. The really interesting thing about something on that scale is it does not have to be confined to a small village anymore. You can exist on each side of the mountains, and never even  see each other because it takes like three hours to walk across." With some flak from Second Life users about reports of Sansar's sims being separate rather than the ability to connect to one another, that places in Sansar can be this size is likely to be positive news. He also talks some about the possibilities of builders in Sansar marketing their content.

Hamlet Au and Inara Pey would also write about the video. Inara's article is the more positive of the two, she admitting she's known Maxwell for some time. The Newser did write about him in July 2010, when he deleted a sim to protest content theft in Second Life.

Bixyl Shuftan

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at the Relay Weekend track. When the Green Lantern character first came out, only part of is outfit was green, for some reason. That wasn't the only change over time as at first his weakness was wood, not the color yellow.

By Bixyl Shuftan

The KT Autism Festival

The KT Festival, a two week event to raise money for the World Autism Organization, has been going on since the middle of the month and will conclude on July 31. The event, taking place at Rosemist Isle in a mostly underwater area, involves close to a hundred merchants in various shops, gachas, shopping hunts, music from DJs and live musicians, and an underwater cave turtle ride. Bixyl Shuftan had a few words with Amythe Moonlight about the event.

Read the article in Events.

The Marvel Universe

After a hiatus, FoxytheJamie (aka Kimiko Kanagowa) is back with the Newser. In his first article with his return, he looks at "The Marvel Universe." Taking place in the environment of the Marvel comics, the players take on the role of superheroes. So what did Jamie think of it?

Read Jamie's article in Places.

Events This Week at the Sunweaver and Furry Fashion Clubs

It's a week of events for the Sunweaver and Angel clubs and the Furry Fashion Lounge.

Club Cutlass: Best in 'G," Apples and Oranges, Disco Night

Happy Vixen: "Food Fight," Christmas in July, Summertime Party, Bikers, CAYA, Sexy, CAYA

Club Zero Gravity: Best in Green, Public Service, Marvels

Furry Fashion: Television, Mythology, Mix n; Match, Pool Party, Modder's Monthly, Rave, Steampunk, CAYA, Technology

See the schedules in SL Clubbin'.

Note: Club Zero Gravity has a new location on it's sim.

Updated 10:30AM SL time

Announcement: "The Biggest Caper in the Castle, Home, and Garden Contest."

Great News

Team bonanza has kidnapped 4 lindens starting at 12pm slt till 2pm slt please come and help them out as they cannot leave and we all know if they are kidnapped you get no support while they are being held captive and it is your chance to meet them also.

The date is Tuesday July 25th.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/CHG%20South/56/61/23

Linden Lab Updates Terms of Service, DMCA Process Stricter

Linden Lab recently announced that there will be an update to the Second Life Terms of Service, which will take effect on July 31. One noteworthy change is that concerning DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) notices, in Section Twelve, Part Two, at the bottom of the ToS page, or their "Intellectual Property Infringement Notification Policy."

To begin with, the Lab will not respond to any DMCA requests made inworld. Anyone interested has to either fax them, at, (415) 520-9660, or send a "snail mail" letter.

Linden Research, Inc.
945 Battery Street
San Francisco, California 94111
Attention: Intellectual Property Team

Then there was the following:

Please be aware that under 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), you may be liable for any damages, including costs and attorneys' fees incurred by us or our users, if you knowingly materially misrepresent that material or activity is infringing.

Looking up this law, it basically states, "anyone filing a claim they either know is false or unsure whether it's true or not may be taken to court." Or as Hamlet Au not so delicately put it, "If you waste our time with frivolous claims, we may just sue your a**."

Hamlet Au got several responses to his article, all positive. One responded, "This is a good thing. I know two recently who have had DCMA filed against them out of jealousy of (a) better product. " Another commented, "This change has been a long time in coming - many genuine SL merchants do NOT have the finances required to mount a defence on every claim no matter how frivolous, which has been one of the weaknesses of the DMCA with regards to SL. The threat of actual blowback in the event of malicious claims should also cut out some of the adventurism in this regard. It's one thing to write a policy and another to enforce it, though. Let's see how it affects things when it finally goes into effect."

So it seems Linden Lab made a move that, for a change, is getting approval from the residents. As one stated, it remains to be seen how it changes things.

Hat tip: Hamlet Au

Bixyl Shuftan

RFL Team Sunbeamer Celebration Party

Sunday July 23 was the day of Relay for Life team Sunbeamer's celebration party. The event took place from 6PM to about 8PM SL time at the Goblin Cave in the Pacific Waters sim, east of the Farshore Field airport. The occasion was to celebrate the team's successes, notably Platinum rank fundraising and winning an award for the campsite design.

Cynthia Farshore played the tunes for the party. During the time, the people joked and talked about old times. There was talk about making a try for Jade level next year, which would require raising an additional 300,000 Linden dollars. The idea was thought highly ambitious, but doable, mostly likely with a few joint events with teams such as Meli's Maniacs and the Steelheaders.

We were "the little team that could," and did over and over again. This next time, we would be setting out sights a little higher.

Bixyl Shuftan

Reader Submitted: Burnstock 2017

This weekend, Saturday July 22 and Sunday July 23, the Burn2 spinoff event "Burnstock" took place. In Burning Man- Deep Hole, the festival took place with displays of art and a number of DJs and live musicians performing. With all of the fun, there was an eye towards raising cash for the sims to make up the "Big Burn" in October. Klaus Bereznyak was there, and wrote about the event.

Read Klaus' reader submission in Events.

Castle and Home and Garden Contest Opens

Yesterday, the Relay for Life spinoff event, the Castle, Home, and Garden Contest, officially began. Although taking place a little late this year, with it's time being after the Relay Weekend this means the event will get a little more attention from Relayers who miss the excitement and fun from earlier this month. Gemma Cleanslate has been getting a behind the scenes look at the show.

Read Gemma's story in Design.

The Moon Landing Anniversary Party

Thursday July 20 was the 48th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing. In Second Life, the occasion was celebrated with an event at their Tranquility Base venue at the National Space Society sim. Although this was an all-day event, there were two important times, 1PM and 7:30PM SL time. It was 1:18PM SL time on the date in 1969 that the "Eagle" lander touched down. I was among those there watching a video of CBS news footage at the time of the lander making it's approach and finally coming down.

Some couldn't help but cheer at hearing the famous words, "Tranquility Base here, the Eagle has landed." "Woooooooo!!! 'Man on the Moon.' " "Congratulations, Team Apollo! Yay!" "Truly an amazing feat." A few people recalled watching the event on TV at the time, " I had enough time between landing and First Step, I could watch the landing at my in-law's house in Cincinnati Ohio then drive to our college apartment in Lafayette Indiana (between Indianapolis and Chicago) and arrive in time to watch the First Step. Better believe I had my fingers crossed; nothing would stop that car!"

There was more discussion, "Walter Cronkite actually teared up. Experienced newsman than he was, it still got to him." "Imagine the pressure on Armstrong. Christopher Columbus could revise his wording all the way back to Spain. Armstrong was 'live' with an audience estimated in the billions. Most-watched-show ever at the time." "They mention Neil in his heavy spacesuit only sank about 1/8" into the lunar dust. By then they knew he was in no danger of falling into a deep pool of dust, as some had theorized, due to the earlier Surveyer landers giving them, literally, 'ground truth'."

Talk soon turned to, "So when do you think we'll be back?" Despite NASA's grand success, public support for additional Moon flights dropped, and eventually so did the space program's budget. The last Moon landing would be on December 1972. Currently, the United States has no means of it's own to send men into space, let alone to the Moon. Perhaps China or some other country announcing it was launching a Moon program would spur America to return there. Or perhaps it would be a private space program. But there was little doubt among the people that it wasn't a question of "if" we'd be back, but when.

There would be another gathering at 7:30PM SL time to commemorate the first steps on the Moon at 7:56PM.

Bixyl Shuftan

The Focus of the Newser

The Second Life Birthday and the Relay Weekend and now behind us. These two mega-events represent the best of Second Life, people coming together and making some great builds, and in the case of the Relay for a great cause. They deserve lots of coverage. And from us, they get it.

But as good as these events are, covering (and documenting) these great events and their places takes some time from other people, places, and events on the Grid, and a few related Internet and computer issues outside it. Quite a bit can go on in Second Life. For instance on the Relay's "Teardown Day," there was the opening of a small real-life book publisher's office inworld, a Moon Landing anniversary party, and a benefit concert for live musician Maxx Sabretooth whom needed medical help. We've had to make a few choices in what to cover, and what to put on the back burner. And now that the big two summer events are done, we can focus a little more on other subjects.

What do you the readers want us to look at? There's plenty going on, such as the LEA art exhibits, Madpea and other games, various shops in Second Life that we could put a greater focus on, personal stories, and of course Linden Lab's next generation virtual world Sansar.

Should anything get a little more (or less) mention? Reader feedback, especially written comments, can make a difference in what we the Newser team focus on.

Bixyl Shuftan
Editor, SL Newser

The Relay "Flood Party"

One of the traditions of the Relay for Life in Second Life following the Relay Weekend is the "Flood Party." Beginning as an impromptu event in 2010, there has been one every year just before the day the builds are scheduled to come down. On a few occasions, the "flood" was just ankle deep water. This year it was significantly deeper, enough to bring out the inner tubes and inflatables, and the water balloons.

Read the story in Events.

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at the Happy Vixen during it's "Fire" party, with DJ Fortunas Sands.

By Bixyl Shuftan

SL Video: "Giant Snail Race, RFL Tiny Shady Fox Memorial Race "

(Click here if the video fails to play)

From RacerX Gullwing on July 16. Yours truly makes an appearance at the beginning.

Tiny Race: 1 - Rowena Dubrovna: 425.159500
Tiny Race: 2 - Jamac89 Resident: 441.481300
Tiny Race: 3 - Catten Carter: 500.669800
Tiny Race: 4 - loopy String: 501.304400
Tiny Race: 5 - Caleb Kit: 508.829100
Tiny Race: 6 - Fukuju Amaterasu: 511.766800
Tiny Race: 7 - SuperGlitterLoudBox Resident: 518.262700
Tiny Race: 8 - LittleAbs Resident: 532.202900
Tiny Race: 9 - Akay Utu: 554.904400
Tiny Race: 10 - Alden Cortes: 555.871500
Tiny Race: 11 - Cuddly Waffle: 567.920500
Tiny Race: 12 - Rhianne Daffyd: 568.627700
Tiny Race: 13 - Linn Darkwatch: 657.404500
Tiny Race: 14 - Lobbie Riggles: 669.583300
Tiny Race: 15 - Hey Voom: 716.191900 *
Tiny Race: 16 - Lominola Rehula: 732.341700
Tiny Race: 17 - Maryam Camino: 757.473900
Tiny Race: 18 - Sannctuary Resident: 793.663200

RFL 2017 Tiny Race
____________________
RACERS
____________________
Loopy String
Abby Black (littleabs)
Rhiabella (rhianne.daffyd)
Brother Frog (hey.voom)
Glitter (superglitterloudbox)
Caleb Kit
Cuddly Waffle
Whispering Wind
Rowena Dubrovna
Josu Tenk
Linn Darkwatch
Fukuju Amaterasu
Alden Cortes
Sannie
Lominola Rehula
Catten Carter
Akay Utu
Lobbie Riggles

Editor To Be Guest Speaker at Safe Waters Foundation Today

Yours truly, Bixyl Shuftan, will be the guest speaker at the Safe Waters Foundation's mer Chat Pavilion today. The topic, at least which I'll be speaking about, is about writing for an online newsletter, or blog. Among the people there, Grace Wrigglesworth, the head of the Safe Waters Foundation, and Barbie Alchemi of Creations for Parkinson's.

The discussion is at 1PM SL time.

Mer Chat Pavilion  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Union%20Passage/96/229/1

Announcement: "Any1's Rez Day Benefit" For Feed A Smile

Any1 Gynoid, a former CNN iReporter and former member of the Newser team, has her tenth Rezzday today. To celebrate, she's turning the occasion into a n 11 hour long  benefit, with stand-up comedy, and live music, with proceeds going to "Feed a Smile," which funds the charity "Live and Learn" in Kenya.

For more information, check out their webpage at: http://www.leben-lernen-kenia.org/typo3/index.php?id=115&L=1

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Feed%20a%20Smile/61/142/23

SL Video: "Snowee Dance"

(Click here if the video fails to play)

From Furry Alex on Nov 2015

RFL Team Sunbeamers Celebration Party This Sunday

This has been the best year for the Relay for Life in Second Life's Sunbeamer Team. But we're not done yet. Thus Sunday, we're celebrating our success, and inviting all of you to join in the party.

The event will take place in the Goblin Cave in Pacific Waters, just east of Farshore Field. Cynthia Farshore will spin the tunes. The music and dance starts at 6PM SL time.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Pacific%20Waters/173/164/37

Interview with Gem Sunkiller

Deaflegacy recently interviewed one veteran Relayer whom has become a familiar face in the Relay for Life of Second Life: Gem Sunkiller. Part of Team Shadow, Gem was part of the team's successful efforts this season, raising almost 1,800,000 Linden dollars and earning Topaz rank in fundraising. In the interview, Gem talks about she became part of the Relay, her team's most successful event in her opinion, and more.

Read Deaflegacy's interview in People.

The Relay Track Comes Down

"All good things must come to an end." And so must every Relay Weekend track. Even before "Teardown Day" on Thursday July 20, a few campsites were taken down the day before on Wednesday. This included the Sunbeamer camp, for some reason. Fortunately, a number of others remained up until the late afternoon and evening. And so people made last minute trips seeing them in detail, finishing up various hunts and games, or just going down the track one last time. Yours truly has also been busy taking pictures of the exhibits. Sadly I didn't get a detailed look of them all, but I get get a look at a number.

Taken by Trader Whiplash

"(sigh) T1Tower comes crashing down," Trader Whiplash announced, sending a picture of the radio exhibit's build not simply vanishing, but coming down with a symbolic crash, "hates this part of relay."

From Relay chat, taker unknown

"Best. RFL. Weekend. EVER!" commented Avariel Falcon in Relay chat, "Except for next year, that will be even better!" RaydenRider Resident spoke, "It was an amazing weekend though thanks to every single Relayer in SL." One told the group, "t was a terrible rollercoaster... lost a family member and a dear friend of mine just days before the weekend."

Ertina Loopen commented, "It is hard to see it go, but envision it as tearing down cancer because that is what Relay is all about. TI and Relay for Life in SL does it best!" Avariel commented, "I like the Fantasy Faire aproch of letting everything vanish into the mist."

And so, the Relay Weekend 2017 and it's sims have passed into history. But this is not the end of the Relay season just yet. Some teams are still having more events. This includes the Sunbeamers, whom are planning a celebration party this Sunday at 6PM at the Goblin Cave in the Pacific Waters sim. A spinoff event, the RFL Home, Castle, and Garden Expo is in just a few days, taking place on five sims on two levels. The opening ceremony at July 23 at 3PM, and it lasts to the end of the month.

For those who want to see screenshots of the Relay Weekend, there is the Relay for Life in Second Life Flickr page. Among the contributors, Wildstar Beaumont, IshtarAngel Micheline (Ishtarkiss), and Avariel Falcon. The Newser will try to have some more screenshots posted, soon.

Bixyl Shuftan

Pixel to Pixel Eighth Anniversary Dance Party And Open House: July 22

Greetings, Friends! We hope your SL is going great! We're having an event, and you're invited, along with your friends!

8th ANNIVERSARY PARTY
The Pixel To Pixel Foundation

♪♫♪  WHAT - 8th Anniversary Dance Party and Open House
♪♫♪  WHEN - Saturday, July 22, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. SLT
♪♫♪  WHERE - P2P Headquarters at Clairehaven

ALOHA!

Come help us celebrate 8 years of improving the SL-lives of people on disability. Great Friends, Music, Food, and Limbo Dancing. Theme: Hawaiian. Dress: Beach Wear/Casual

Here's your limo:

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

WHAT DOES PIXEL TO PIXEL FOUNDATION DO?

The Pixel To Pixel Foundation's mission is to provide support for individuals on disability who are members of the SL community. The foundation provides a financial stipend to those who qualify, as well as other supports. The stipend enables people with drastically limited means to do things that many enjoy in SL without giving it a second thought -- have a home, buy some clothing or furniture, or simply taking snapshots or uploading textures.

ALSO: DONATIONS NEEDED

We're in need of new donations! Would you like to help?

Any amount helps, and all amounts, large and small, do add up. You can help us get more people off of our waiting list and continue to support the ones that we already do!

HOW YOUR DONATIONS HELP

We rely on a steady stream of donations to provide the stipends on a weekly basis. The math is very simple. The more we can fund raise, the more people who can receive assistance. There is a waiting list of people that you can help us to assist. Any donation helps, whether it is large or small, a one-time donation, or something you feel called to do on a regular basis.

You can help make this happen for people in Second Life who are on disability. You can become a part of that enabled or re-enabled ability to thrive. By donating to the Pixel To Pixel Foundation, you are helping people to stay in Second Life, and to better enjoy the full range of opportunities that it can give them.

However you choose to donate, we thank you on behalf of our clients and ourselves. It's a beautiful thing you're doing, and it makes a real difference.

Thank you, everyone!

Jadyn Firehawk, Founder
Pixel To Pixel Foundation

SL Video: My Walk Around the Relay for Life Sims, 2017

(Click here if the video fails to play)

Posted on Youtube on July 16 by "ThatSLGuy" Benny Springflower, "the reason why I did this video is simple, I after RFL is done all of it will be deleted, and with the video we have the possibility to watch it back even few years from now "

He starts in RFL Spirit, and goes clockwise. The Sunbeamer and Steelhead camps appear at about 13:20, at 22:20 is the multiple-award winning build by Dreamin' in Purple, and at 28:00 is the "Chinese temple" RFL Journey designer sim.

Checking the Relay Sims

"You can either *be* in Second Life, or you can write about Second Life." Actually, you can, but I've found it very difficult to the point I seldom try. Stories take time to write, time that is sometimes needed to see something before it goes away, in this case the Relay sims. Don't worry, we'll have more stories up soon.

Moon Landing Anniversary Party

Join the National Space Society in SL on July 20th at our Tranquility Base venue as we celebrate the anniversary of mankind’s first lunar landing. National Space Society (50, 100, 3674)

We will gather there at 1pm SL time ahead of the landing time, and again at 7:30pm in advance of the first steps on the Moon to watch the videos and discuss the past, present and future of space exploration and development.

Ad astra (“to the stars”)!

For more information on the Apollo 11 mission:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_11

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/apollo11.html

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/missions/apollo/apollo_11/

http://apollo11.spacelog.org

http://www.earthtothemoon.com/apollo_11.html

Important times for Moon Landing Day, July 20th

Apollo 11 lunar landing time:  July 20, 1969, 20:18:04 UTC … 1:18:04pm SL time

Apollo 11 first step on the Moon:  July 21, 1969, 02:56:15 UTC … July 20, 1969, 7:56:15pm SL time

Recommended videos
(you can view these any time in your browser or on the screens at our Tranquility Base venue)

Apollo 11 Moon Landing - CBS Coverage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E96EPhqT-ds&feature=youtu.be

Apollo 11 First Steps on the Moon - recently restored video of the first lunar EVA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9HdPi9Ikhk

“Hope Eyrie” (The Eagle Has Landed) - anthem of the Space Age
Performed by Julia Ecklar, written by Leslie Fish, video edited by Per Malm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cVOOXQo22o


NSS, National Space Society (50, 100, 3674)

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at the Purrfection Estates. Looks like Skylark Lefavre found a solution to high electric bills.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Reader Submitted: "The Very Best of Broadway"

Ciska Riverstone recently sent the Newser a reader submission about a performance in Second Life this month, "The Very Best of Broadway." Taking place at the Oval Theatre Company in the Devils Cave sim, the show offers select dance numbers from various shows such as "Footloose" and "A Chorus Line." Ciska was impressed, describing the production as "a labour of love" not soon forgotten. "Broadway" will be done again today and later this month.

Read Ciska's reader submission in Events.

Today Last Day Up For the Relay Sims

With the time until the Relay sims come down getting closer, many were taking some time, even if it was brief, to give then another look. I happened to catch this meetup between Trader Whiplash, Gem Sunkiller, and Aryon Dagger.

Fuzzball Ortega was also giving the track a look. As far as yours truly knows, he walked most of the way. Though word has it he was in a go-cart part of the way.

Among the people I ran into was Nancy Clowes, the head of the "Fun Rides and Amusement Parks" group. She introduced me to Pryda Parx, the producer of the Future Shock machinima series.

Valkyrie Ice found an Asian-themed build at RFL Journey. Since she couldn't take it with her, she took a number of picturesque screenshots with her in a Chinese outfit.

There were two announcements in the Relay groups today. One was the time for the "Flood Party, " which was scheduled to be between 5PM and 7PM somewhere in the Relay sims.

Location TBA on Wednesday
Join us one last time for a Farewell party to the Relay Sim.
Dance, party and share your relay memories!

Bring your inner tube to put on and wear your water proof clothes....just sayin.

The other announcement was a sadder one, that after Wednesday, the event would be coming to a close.

 Sadly the Relay Sims need to be returned. Campsite clean up must be done by Thursday June 21  11pm slt. We are not responsible for any no copy items left on the sims after that time.

Please try to leave the campsites /builds up until Wednesday night or Thursday if you can, as ppl are still visiting.

For those who want to see lots of screenshots of the Relay Weekend, there is the Relay for Life in Second Life Flickr page. Among the top contributors, Wildstar Beaumont, and IshtarAngel Micheline (Ishtarkiss)

Bixyl Shuftan