A New Intercontinental Route for Pod Riders

While some residents are content to remain in their own small corner of the Grid, others like to explore around. One way residents can do so on the Second Life Mainland are the Yava Script Pods. An automated form of transportation, all a resident has to do is hop on, adjust the speed to allow everything to rezz, then sit back and enjoy the ride. Pod routes exist on several continents. Klaus Bereznyak recently found out that there's a new route that was recently made between the station on the Corfeld sim station on Corsica and the DeMorgan sim station on Gaeta V. He decided to check it out.

Read Klaus' article in Places.

Announcement: Caledon's 13th Anniversary Continues at the Goblin Cave

As part of Caledon's Thirteenth Anniversary celebrations, Duchess Cynthia Farshore invites all to Caledon to the Goblin Cave under the Sidhe on Caledon Downs tomorrow Thursday February 28th from 6-9 PM SLT. Come in your Caledon tartans or your nicest attire. Music is sim wide, so explore if you wish.
Her Grace Cynthia Farshore

Caledon Downs (104/89/32)

Annoucement: RFL Team ACTS "Time Traveller's Ball"

The Time Traveller’s Ball is the extravaganza that kicks off Team Aether Chrononauts Tiny Steps’ season.  Come enjoy your travel through time led by Team ACTS. Music by DJ Otenth Paderborn,  The venue is built by Cassie Eldemar and decor by Wildstar Beaumont. This is an great and fun tradition of the steamlands. This is a PG event. 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rosehaven%20Reverie/94/92/1225

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at Cape Heron. Paperwork can sometimes be really aggravating. Though it's more likely to make one tear out their hair before it turns white.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Reader Submitted: Game Review - No Man's Sky

About a year and a half ago, the computer game "No Man's Sky" made news. Initially getting attention for it's unbelievably huge universe of planets, it was found to have fallen so short of it's claims, it was under investigation for misleading advertising. But that wasn't the end of the game. Development continued, bugs were fixed (some of them), and the game improved. Former Newser writer Xymber Slade (known as Aegis Hyena on the Internet), got the game, and played it for a while. So what does he think?

Read Xymber's article in Other Grids, MMOs, and Games. 

Reader Submitted: Happy Anniversary Caledon

Pictures taken by Cynthia Farshore. The noted Victorian/Steampunk community of Caledon had it's thirteenth anniversary yesterday, Tuesday February 26. There were four events that day and evening. Two were at the Book and Tankard Pub in the Victoria City sim at 1 and 4PM. At 7PM was the Caledon 13th Anniversary Ball in the Dragon Ballroom hundreds of meters over the Caledon OnSea sim.

Among those there at the Ball was Caledonia Governor Desmond Shang. Nicknamed "The Guv" by other Caledonians, he was doing a rather unusual dance. At 10PM was the Late Night Caledon/CCB Birthday Bash.

Events will continue in Calendon this week, such as a party at the Goblin Cave on Thursday February 28 and a Mardi Gras parade on Saturday March 2. Stay tuned for details.

SL Video: "Love Made in Second Life - Episode 2: Meet Lily and Charles"

(Click here if the video fails to play)

The second of a series of videos ( see the first one here) from Second Life's Youtube channel, with the help of Draxtor Despress, uploaded on February 25, "Can real people find love in a virtual world? Meet Lily and Charles - a couple who met and fell in love in Second Life."

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 Furry Fashion's Furscape

Club Cutlass: Best in "E", Movie Night, Sadie Hawkins

The Happy Vixen: Around the World in Time, Sharknado, Latex, Villains, Working Out, Beast Mode, Night Creatures, Leather and Lace, Panty Raid, TBA

Club Zero Gravity: DJ Candy Corn, DJ Candy Corn, DJ Naughty Nydia, DJ JB, DJ Sexi Lexi

 Montecito Bay: Taco Tuesday, Expeditions, Pickle Party, Lem n Em, After Dark, Memes

FF Furscape: CAYA, Wasteland, Scales vs Fur, Fantasy, Green vs Yellow, Casual, Leather n' Lace, Pink vs Blue, Space, Felines

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'. 

Announcement: Mardi Gras Madness - A Multi-team RFL Event

Let's get a jump on Fat Tuesday the weekend before! The Inspired Dreamwalkers invite you to join us in New Orleans for a four day event beginning Saturday, March 2 and continuing through Tuesday, March 5, 2019.
Includes a Parade of Floats, entertainment throughout the weekend and a Fat Tuesday Masquerade party finale. Float base provided. Full details and how to register your team a spot included on the attached event board.

* *

Let's get a jump on Fat Tuesday the weekend before! The Inspired Dreamwalkers invite you to join us in New Orleans for a four day event beginning Saturday, March 2 and continuing through Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

All RFL teams are invited to join in the festivities. Space is limited for floats. Activities will include: 
- Parade of Floats with each team setting out their own kiosk to receive "votes", recognition will be given to the highest vote getters.

- Entertainment throughout the weekend - teams will be able to sign up for stage time and set out their team kiosk during their event.

- Our Mardi Gras event will be capped off with a Fat Tuesday Masquerade party on Tuesday, March 5, from 6-8 pm slt. All teams are invited to attend.

There will be a Parade of Floats - Number of floats in the parade is limited. Space provided on a first come, first serve basis. Limit 1 float per team. A float trailer will be provided for your team to decorate in Mardi Gras-style. Each team will have 500 prims to decorate their float. Float set-up will be Friday, March 1 from 12pm slt - 9pm slt.

Entertainment- Teams are invited to sign up for entertainment slots throughout the weekend. Schedule will be set on a first come, first serve basis. Teams will need to provide their DJ/ performer & host. The stage kiosk will be assigned to the team represented during that entertainment slot. Must provide own stream.

To register your team, please go to http://bit.ly/2GUbNwQ

For questions or more information, please contact Sandie Slate (Sandie Loxingly) or Leala Spire-Marchant (Leala Spire)

All proceeds from this event will go directly to Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society.

This event is sponsored by Destiny Estates Sales and Rentals and the Inspired Dreamwalkers RFL Team.

Update on Montecito Bay Cleanup

Montecito Bay experiences no shortage of weirdness. But lately things have been getting weird and destructive. A few weeks ago, the southwest corner of the city was wrecked. Thankfully no one was hurt, and cleanup soon started. A few weeks later, the city is just about ready to rebuild. But the cleanup has also exposed some possible evidence of a previous incident, the crash of a strange craft in December.

Read the story in Places.

My Alt And I : The Story of Bun Buns Bunsies

People create alts for various reasons. Some do so to hide. Others to bring to life characters they've imagined. In real life, Deaflegacy has a stuffed toy green rabbit. Hearing about the idea of alts, she decided to create one with the personality she imagined it having. So how have things turned out dor Bun-Buns?

Read Deaflegacy's story in Extra.

A Busy Weekend

Quite a bit happened this weekend. The Roma community held it's Lupercalia festival. Veterans Isle held it's monthly fundraiser concert for Homes For Our Troops. There were also several Relay fundraising events, including one held by KittyKatS for it's eighth anniversary (above).

We'll have more on one or so of these, and other happenings, later on.

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at HV Community. Looks like Deaflegacy is doing a little inner-tubbing.

By Bixyl Shuftan.

Announcement: This Week at the Senchai Libraries

WEDDINGS, WILLOWS, THE CALL OF THE WILD, & TIME TO VOTE!
We move into some new realms this week, and visit a few familiar ones - old friends.  We also look to the future and the upcoming "Sherlock's Greatest Hits" Tea Time series (Vote Today for your favorites!)  Join us this week in #secondlife, and on our properties in #kitely.

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 unless otherwise noted. All times SL/PT


** SUNDAY,  February 24th, 1:30pm:  TEA TIME with Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes.  Part 1 of Laurie R. King's short story "The Marriage of Mary Russell" with Savanah Blindside, Corwyn Allen, and Caledonia Skytower, live on stream in the Library's Fireside Room (Downstairs). on STREAM

** MONDAY, February 25th at 7pm:  Ruth Beebe Hill's HANTA YO concludes with Gyro Muggins

**TUESDAY, February 26th at 7pm:  Selections from THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS with Faerie Maven-Pralou.

**WEDNESDAY,  February 27th at 7pm: WINTER SEA in Poetry & Music with Ktahdn Vesuvino (on stream) and Caledonia Skytower (in Voice)

*THURSDAY, February 28th at 7pm: Jack London's THE CALL OF THE WILD - Part 2 with Shandon Loring. (Also in Kitely!  Find teleport from the main Seanchai World grid.kitely.com:8002:SEANCHAI)


MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT:  We'll be presenting "Sherlock Holmes Greatest Hits" at Sunday Tea Times in March and April. YOU can help us decide which four out of fifty six stories we'll present (we've made it easier, we've already narrowed it down to a list of ten).  Let your voice be heard - vote today!  https://goo.gl/forms/wg352iqmZ7Gc3Wgm1

Announcement: Roma February 2019 Lupercalia and Equirria Festival

Saturday, 23rd February

10am - Lupercalia Ritual and The Running of the Luperci
In celebration of this most ancient of festivals we will be performing a Roman ritual for Faunus Lupercus, the God of Wild Things and Lupa, the shewolf who nourished the founding fathers Romulus and Remus. After the rite, we will have the Running of The Luperci - half-naked youths who bless the young ladies of the city. The women will run ahead of the Luperci, who will lightly flog them with the goatskin floggers in hopes of fertility (both of mind and body). Following the ritual, we will have our traditional Lupercalia dancing in the garden - and clothing is optional!
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/ROMA/180/131/42
Luper Cave


11am - Venus' Truth
A variation on our popular Ask Venus event -- this time, Venus would love to hear your poems of love and romance. Come join our beautiful Goddess in the Baths of Caracalla, to lounge, swim, and share the prose and poetry of love!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/ROMA/147/35/23
Baths of Caracalla

***********************************************************

Sunday, 24th February

10am - Equirria Legion Blessing Ritual & ROMA Chariot Races
The Legio, in a time honored military display, will present arms and come to be blessed for the new year. After the blessing, we will have chariot races in honour of Mars - all are welcome to try their luck at racing a chariot and a grand prize will be awarded to the victor!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/ROMA/213/140/40
Hippodrome Circus Seating


12pm - Lupercalia Grand Feast
Join us for an evening of feasting, dancing, and good company, as well as Live Music by Sassy Nitely! You may opt to wear barbarian/wild outfits in honour of the Lupercalia if you wish.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/239/225/25
Roma Concert


1pm - Legio Half-naked Harpastum
A standard harpastum (Roman football/soccer) game with a Lupercalia twist! Participants may be topless for this event!

Be careful out there - don't let the other players distract you with their charms!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/82/233/42
Legio XIII Fort/Harpastum

SL Video: "Raglan Shire Talent Show 2018"

(Click here if the video fails to play)

From Dec 21, 2018, Nitwacket's edited recording of the talent show the Raglan Shire community held that month. Like many other talent shows, some people showed great talent, while others, er-um. Not all the action, or music selections could be shown due to time constraints and Youtube rules about copyrighted songs.

RFL Team Sunbearmer's "Bid Me Human" and "Bid Me Deer"

With the Relay for Life's season underway, Team Sunbeamers has launched the first of this season's "Bid Me" events. First, the team is running a "Bid Me Human." The volunteer putting his looks on the line: yours truly.

Beamers:  We have our first victim, I mean volunteer, Bixyl.  Hoe offered to go Human for a week, per 5000L+ raised.  The Bid Me will Run thru the middle of MARCH.  So Bid Early and Often.  Kiosks can be found at Club Cutlass..

Based on the "Bid Me Bald" events popularized by Trader Whiplash, in this fundraiser someone known for being in a nonhuman avatar offers to go about in one for a set period of time. For this event, there are two kiosks in the back of Club Cutlass, the one on the left to bid yours truly sans fur, and the other to keep him as is. If 5000 Linden dollars is donated, yours truly will be not so foxy for a week. For every additional 5000L, rounded up, the time period is extended another week. For example, 9999 Linden dollars would mean one week while 10,000L would mean two. If the amount in the "stay foxy" kiosk is higher, then I walk away with my fur intact.

As before, there is one "out." As I'm a journalist in Second Life, I get to go back to my usual looks briefly when going about my duties, such as interviews.

Liska Fuchs' "Bid Me Goat" last year was such a hit, she's doing another one. This time, she's offering to be in a doe avatar for a while with "Bid Me Deer." As with "Bid Me Human," there's two kiosks, one to keep her as is, the other to change her to a deer avatar for a period of time. The rate is 2500 Linden dollars for the first week and 2500L for each additional week of vegan menus and "nice rack" jokes.

As of the writing of this announcement, Team Sunbeamers has gone over the 15,000 Linden mark and into Bronze level. The Linden dollar amounts to reach each rank are a little higher than those of last year in the Jade rank and higher. Plus there are two new ranks, Topaz and Diamond. As before, the highest rank is Purple which takes 3,750,000L, almost four million Linden dollars.

Last year, the team pulled out all the stops and made it to Emerald rank for the first time. How high will the 'beamers reach this year? We'll see. For now, I'm already getting questions as to what I'll do should the team reach Platinum rank.

People have until 8PM on Friday March 15 to donate to the kiosks. At the end of the party that night, the totals are finalized and the time period for the Bid Me (assuming the "Stay Foxy" kiosks doesn't win out) begins.

The kiosks are near the Club Cutlass entry point at Sunweaver Bay (114/117/757).

Correction: When told Liska was doing another Bid-Me, I had the impression she was doing another with her goat avatar. It turned out it's not another "Bid Me Goat", but a "Bid Me Deer."

Bixyl Shuftan

SSP Region Update

The SSP sims, the new mystery continent, remain off-limits to regular residents. But there had been a few visible changes on the map in the past month. On the SSP2 QA Test sim to the northwest, there's an image of a mouse appearing. In the middle of the landmass, a build with orange rectangles has appeared. Then there's the whimsical message on the SSP124 sim. The land was sculpted to say when looked at from the map "OSSM takes time," with a smiley face in the corner.

Presumably, "OSSM" means "awesome," and the moles are saying it's going to be a while before the region is ready to go public.

No date has been given as to when the sims in the region will be ready and opened to the public. It is believed the sims are intended to be residential areas, though Linden Lab isn't saying what the "Super Secret Project," to use the name described what "SSP" stands for at one Town Hall meeting, are for.

Hat tip: Daniel Voyager.

Announcement: Mod Monday at the Avagora

For Feb 25th, Mod Monday is comin' at ya with four modders! They are Top Tier Designs, Elephant Graveyard Inc, ZAD and BrutalHearts!

Live DJ, raffles and all around fun, don't forget to join us next Monday at 6pm SLT?PST for some awesome gifts and great music!

Montecito Bay (132/89/702)

Announcement: This Week At The Science Circle : Cyber Security

"Cyber Security"
Saturday February 23 at 10 AM PST

Moderator: Matthew Burr – Beragon Betts

Anyone who is interested in his security on the internet will soon come across worrying reports about phishing e-mails, cybercrime, industrial espionage, governments stealing each other’s data and cyber-terrorism. Closer to home, data mining affects us via Facebook, Google and Microsoft.

What started as a free sharing of data has gradually turned into an unsafe, lawless space where everyone is a target for malicious parties.

More information Harvard Cybersecurity Wiki

The Science Circle (61/127/32)

Press Release: HFOT Fundraiser Concert at Veterans Isle, Sunday at 11 AM

Frets Nirvana and US Military Veterans Group announce 2019’s February 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 2019 February benefit in Second Life for the Veterans Support Organization  Home For Our Troops . 

Frets Nirvana states:  “HFOT is a privately funded 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization building specially adapted, mortgage-free homes nationwide for the most severely injured Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Most of these Veterans are multiple amputees, paraplegic, quadriplegic or suffered severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).  Since its inception in 2004, over 90 cents of every dollar spent by Homes for Our Troop has gone to directly support Veterans. DURING THAT TIME HFOT HAS BUILT OVER 274 SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOMES NATIONWIDE FOR WOUNDED VETERANS.”

In 2018 the community in Second Life sent over $13,000 to Homes For Our Troops, thanks to may kind hearts and great Second Life performers.  HFOT built 34 homes for extremely wounded veterans in 2018.  We hope to help them exceed that in 2019!

Home for Our Troops benefit concerts feature premier Second Life talent monthly at Veteran’s Isle.  The concert on February 24, 2019 is scheduled from 11 AM to 4 PM PST.  Featured artists will be DJ Waya Snowpaw, Agatha Nowles, Austin Moores, Max Kleene and Singergirl Mode.

Sponsored by Frets Nirvana and the U.S. Military Veteran’s Group of Second Life.  To learn more about Homes for Our Troops visit https://www.hfotusa.org

Scenes From The "Hug-A-Linden/Dunk-A-Linden"

Valentines Day had a number of events across Second Life. The One Billion Rising women's rights demonstration was probably the most attended happening. Another big draw was Linden Lab's official event of the holiday, the "Hug-A-Linden/Dunk-A-Linden." At the Isle of View for two hours, residents could interact with a number of Lindens and Moles. They could just chat and take pictures, or they could try out the hugging and dunking booths.

See the pictures in Events.

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at Eternal Desires

By Bixyl Shuftan

Reader Submitted: Game Review - Subnautica Below Zero

A few months ago, Rita Mariner sent the Newser a walkthrough of the underwater survival game Subnautica. Lately, she's been playing a sequel: Subnautica Below Zero. Taking place some time after the events in the original, this time the player has to deal with surviving the cold waters of the polar region of the planet. So what does Rita think of the game?

Read Rita's reader-submitted review in Other Grids, MMOs, and Games.

SLife and Times: Viewer Issues

 Glitches are a part of any detailed computer game or virtual world. And Second Life is certainly no exception. In the early days, we accepted things like the Grid frequently being taken down and our shoes being up our back ends after teleporting. Now, while things are still far from perfect, they're noticeably smoother. So when more goes wrong then usual, we certainly notice, though still wonder if it's just us or the whole Grid. My own experiences in Second Life this week left me wondering.

Read the commentary in Extra.

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 Furry Fashion's Furscape

Club Cutlass: Best in "D", Cash In, Goofy Stuff

The Happy Vixen: Rumble in the Jungle, Anime, Bunnies, Silver and Gold, Best in White, Mad Science, Stranger Things, Birds, Cowbows and Cowgirls, TBA

Club Zero Gravity: DJ Candy Corn, DJ Snowbuns, DJ Naughty Nydia, DJ JB, DJ Sexi Lexi, DJ Applebloom           

 Montecito Bay:Cocktail Party, Expeditions, TBA, Pickle Party, Lem n Em, After Dark, Video Games

FF Furscape: CAYA, Magic, Horror, No Pants, Elements, Food, Tails, Anime, Pool Party

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'. 

RFL Team Sunbeamers Reaches 10,000 Lindens

Just a few days into the Relay fundraising season, Team Sunbeamers are making progress. Sometime on Monday February 18, they reached the 10,000 Linden dollar amount. This puts them among the bronze level teams.

Talking with team captain Rita mariner, there are a few plans for the season ahead. There will be at least one "Bid Me" event soon. There will also be a fundraising event at the Happy Vixen soon. And despite that two of the team's best builders are taking a break, there will be a Sunbeamer camp for the Relay Weekend.

When will the team hit Silver? Probably sooner than one things.

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

Cica Ghost's Drawn Town

Not long ago in the official Second Life blog, Linden Lab put the spotlight on a place made by an artist: "Drawn Town." Designed and built by Cica Ghost, the exhibit is the latest by the Serbian artist whom has made a number of builds ever year since 2013. Klaus Bereznyak took a look at the place, or rather two looks. The place looks quite different at nighttime.

Read Klaus' article in Design.

Musician Chip Takacs Dies, Was Minutes From Performance on Stage

In Second Life, we often take many things into consideration. But seldom do we think about death. Sometimes when it arrives, we have a little warning such as when someone announces he or she has cancer and has to take a break from the Grid and later on we sadly hear the person has passed away. Other times, the news comes to us as shock and surprise as someone who was doing fine one day is suddenly dead. Last week however, there was a case in which a man died at his computer just minutes after talking to others and with his avatar still around.

Over the weekend, I heard about the passing of a musician named Chip Takacs. Jen Smith had posted the news on Facebook early Wednesday February 13. She would later post something from Lisa Lavoie.


Just to maybe save someone from having to repeat what happened... Chip was in SL Tuesday morning, around 8am SLT to do a show. He was typing to people in local...and joking around with them, like he always did. A couple of minutes before 8am SLT, they put his stream in as he was getting onto the stage. But he never turned the stream on and never started playing.  After awhile, they thought maybe he'd fallen asleep. When it was time for the next performer to go on, they bumped Chip's avi off the stage so the next performer could play.

This afternoon, they found out that Chip had passed away. A RL friend of his, who is also a performer in SL, confirmed it after speaking with Chip's RL wife. Speculation is a massive heart attack, but they are going to do a private autopsy to verify that.

As of the time I write this...which is nearing midnight SLT...Chip is still logged in and standing in front of the stage where he never got to do that final show. His computer is still logged in and no one has shut it down. Once that happens, or the sim restarts....he won't be in SL anymore either.

Around 9pm a small group gathered where Chip stands to try and console each other and deal with the shock of losing another SL musician and friend. It started with a handful of us...and as I logged out at midnight SLT, there were 60+ standing around swapping stories, passing the mic and spreading the word that we lost another one.

 The uniqueness of this loss was that Chip was still with us in SL. He's still there, as we remember him....but he's not really there. He's really gone. It was both eerie and comforting to be able to stand there with him...in honor of what he meant to each of us individually. It was quite a moment in my SL history. When we all just stood there with a fallen friend, not wanting to leave him standing alone....knowing that at some point, he will be logged out for the final time.


There were numerous messages of condolences after Jen Smith's post, "So sad to hear of his passing (sad) He was one of a kind. He will be missed. RIP Chip." "RIP Chip my friend.You will never be forgotten, always in my heart." "Chip was a Great Person." On Second Life, there was a memorial concert for Chip on the night of Friday February 15, scheduled to last until Saturday morning, "it is booked solid until 9:30am SLT on Saturday morning....and that's just from the performers who were standing there with Chip tonight."




Chip, or Michael Taska as he's known there, does have a recording of him singing on Youtube.

For many users, the sudden passing of someone is something they do not know how to react to. To many others, it's a reminder that death can come without warning, even while you're seemingly safe at your computer. In any event, it's a sad time for the friends and family of this musician in real life and Second Life.


Hat Tip: Annie Oh (AnnieBrightstar Resident)

Bixyl Shuftan

Relay for Life Fundraising Season Begins

On Saturday February 16 at 10AM, the Relay for Life in Second Life, the largest charity fundraising group in terms of volunteers and amount of cash raised, had it's Kickoff event. Dozens of people gathered in the Internal Hope and the edge of the Reflections of Life sims.

IshtarAngel Micheline (Ishtarkiss) made a recording of the opening speech, which can be heard (here).

There were a number of builds at the event, including team camps at the Reflection of Life sims.

Team Sunbeamers, the team of the Sunweaver community where the Newser has it's office, had a rocket start, having saved enough over the winter to start off a few ranks ahead. While the team hasn't gotten that far yet, it has raised several thousand Lindens so far.

Lizzy Austen had more pictures of the Kickoff on her pager (here).

Go Relay!

Bixyl Shuftan

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at Roma

By Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: This Week at the Senchai Libraries

IS THAT THE SCENT OF SPRING ?
Just like nature, winter regretfully begin to make its exit as spring comes inexorably forward.  So we have series beginning and ending this week, and others to delight and intrigue. Join us this week in #secondlife, and on our properties in #kitely.

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 unless otherwise noted. All times SL/PT

 ** SUNDAY,  February 17th:
   ~  1:30pm:  TEA TIME with Templar ~ The Saint concludes.  Part 4 of Leslie Charteris' "The Man Who Was Clever" with David Abbot, Corwyn Allen, Kayden Oconnell and Caledonia Skytower, live on stream in the Library's Fireside Room (Downstairs).

   ~  6:30pm:  MAGICLAND STORYTIME ~ The Classic Maidens Caledonia shares selected tales from the Classic

Fairytale past: Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, live on stream at the Golden Horseshoe in Magicland Park.??
The New Golden Horseshoe - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bracket/181/57/30

** MONDAY, February 18th at 7pm:  Ruth Beebe Hill's HANTA YO continues with Gyro Muggins

**TUESDAY, February 19th at 7pm:  THE MOUSE OF AMHERST by Elizabeth Spires with Faerie Maven-Pralou.

**WEDNESDAY, February 20th at 7pm: The Actual Conclusion Charles Stross' THE JENNIFER MORGUE with Corwyn Allen (we really mean it this time!).

*THURSDAY, February 21st:

    ~ 7pm: Jack London's THE CALL OF THE WILD - Part 1 with Shandon Loring. (Also in Kitely!  Find teleport from the main Seanchai World grid.kitely.com:8002:SEANCHAI)

    ~ 9pm: SEANCHAI LATE NIGHT with Finn Zeddmore - contemporary Sci-Fi-Fantasy from such online sources as Escape Pod, Light Speed, and Clarkesworld Magazines.  THIS WEEK  "Given Sufficient Desperation" by Bogi Takács from the November 30th, 2017 issue of Escape Pod.

CDS News: Nominies Sought For "Celebrating SL Women 2019"

A year ago, Kyoko (Samara Barzane) honored ten women in Second Life "who have, through their work" made a difference for the virtual world. This year, she'll be doing so again, though is asking for nominations. She made an announcement in the Confederation of Democratic Simulator's group.

Last's year's event was a great success thanks to the work of many citizens, friends and, of course, the nominees. Again we are asking for nominations from our citizens and friends for this year's event on March 23.

We are looking for SL women who have made Second Life a better place for us all. And we are looking for nominees from varied fields. Emilia Avindar and I will make the final choice of 10 from all the nominations we receive.

The women honored in 2018 were Bryn Oh, Nuala Maracus, Strawberry Singh. Caryl Meredith, Kikuyu, Kikutsuru, Marianne McCann, Rosie Gray, Sudane Erato, Robin Sojourner Wood, and Treacle Darlandes

SL/Minecraft Video: "Don't Let 'em In"

(Click here if the video does not play)

From Hojo Warf (Hojocat) on February 2, a video that's a combination of Second Life and Minecraft footage, "A Minecraft and Second Life machinima. This is what always springs into my head when zombies start banging at the door while playing Minecraft. Vocals and violin by me."

Frannydj's Mardi Gras Parade

Even though we just had Valentines Day, people in Second Life don't seem to rest for long before they're ready for another party. And already people are getting ready for the next holiday: Mardi Gras. While Fat Tuesday isn't until March 5th, you can enjoy Frannydj's Mardi Gras Parade. Gemma Cleanslate dropped by the place high above the Wicked Mountains sim, and saw a parade boasting over a hundred floats. And if you need a break from the action on the street, you can look around in the French Market for king cake, beads, and other goodies.

Read Gemma's article in Places.

Relay Kickoff Saturday Feb 16 at 10 AM

In what may take some as a pleasant surprise, the Relay for Life fundraising season is starting early this year. In September 2018, the Relay Committee came to the conclusion that an earlier season would bring in more people, and donations. So this means a season that begins in February instead of March. And so tomorrow is the Kickoff event, the season start.

The theme for this season is "All Aboard for a Cure." And the various teams have been setting things up in the Eternal Hope and Reflections of Life sims. The event starts at 10AM.

The Relay for Life is the largest fundraising group in Second Life in terms of volunteers and money raised, donating money to the American Cancer Society.

"Go Relay!"

A Big Valentines Day

There was a lot to see for yours truly yesterday for Valentines Day in Second Life. There was the "Hug a Linden/Dunk a Linden" at the Isle of View. There was the One Billion Rising event. And in the Sunweaver/Angel community where the Newser office makes it's home, Club Zero Gravity and the Happy Vixen Beach club held hours of parties. We'll have some more pictures for you later. In the meantime, enjoy your Valentines Day presents (or have fun at the RFL Kickoff).

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: Valentines Day Special at the Happy Vixen

It's a special day at the Happy Vixen beach club. This Valentines Day, we have for you six hours of events, from 4PM SL time to 10 PM.

From 4 to 6 PM, it's our "Anti-Valentines" party, featuring the club owner herself DJ Naughty Nydia. Dress up in something sexy, or just look like a bad boy or bad girl. "It will be the TRUE meaning of Valentines .... SEX and getting laid!"

From 6 to 8 PM, it's our Formal Valentines Day event. This time, dress up all nice and formal in good suits and dresses. The music will be provided by the Dragon Crew.

From 8 to 10 PM is our "Best in Red an Pink/Valentines Night" event. Dress up in something red or pink, a red or pink avatar, or both. Our redheaded bunny in pink DJ Snowbuns provides the tunes.

Come have a Happy Valentines Day, and night, with us

Purrfection Estates (236, 219, 24)   

Reminder: One Billion Rising, Hug A Linden Today

Today, two big events are taking place in Second Life. One is the One Billion Rising. Part of a worldwide demonstration in support of womens' rights, the event is taking place all day until Midnight SL time tonight. It is at four sims, OBR Dance, OBR Rise, OBR Resist, and OBR Unite.

"We're really excited to be supporting the world-wide event of One Billion Rising with our special 24 hour event in Second Life," Saffia Widdershins, whom is one of the women at the event, told me, "It's an event that men and women from around the world can attend, even if they can't attend a local event in the real world. One Billion Rising in Second LIfe has now been running since 2013 and this year we are once again occupying 4 regions, with amazing art works, a huge central stage, and separate theatres for poetry and dance events.

"This year, we are particularly celebrate the two Nobel Peace Prize winners for 2018, Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad, who were awarded the Prize “for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict”. We're doing this with a special pavilion in their honour, with information about their inspiring work. And this year's Rose Challenge is also a celebration of their work.

"All around the four regions of One Billion Rising, our region designers have set out lovely white rose bushes (kindly donated by Lilith Heart of Heart Botanicals). You might find them spread across the corner parks, the landscaped spaces between the art installations and the central stage, and in the #MeToo Forest. We are asking you to travel around the regions and count the number of white rose bushes (not white roses) that you find. Then post that number by clicking on the mailbox that you will find at each of the landing areas at OBR Dance, OBR Unite, OBR Rise and OBR Resist. A box will open where you can post your number – your name will be automatically recorded."



(Click here if the video does not play)

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Also today is the Linden Lab Valentines Day event, "Hug a Linden, Dunk a Linden." You can get there by heading to Isle of View 2 (84/79/107), or from it's entrance in Portal Park, which is now open.

The Lindens themselves will be there from 10am-12pm SL time, at both the hugging booths and dunking booths. But before and after regular residents can have some fun of their own their themselves. But people can ride the swan boats, walk around the sims, or buy a gift for a friend any time.

See you at the events.

Bixyl Shuftan

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at Roma

By Bixyl Shuftan

Cleanup in Montecito Bay Begins

It was a week and a half ago on February 2 that Montecito Bay experienced a number of buildings in the southwest corner of it's sim getting demolished. As everyone was partying in their newly opened Magnum Opus Lounge at the time, no one saw who or what caused the damage, though there was a picture taken of what looked like a flying saucer in the distance. After some going through the rubble by investigators, the cleanup and rebuilding has begun.

The crop-circle patterns on the streets are still glowing. Curiously, a new one has appeared at the sim's entry point, also glowing. As with the original patterns, no one knows how it came to be.

Some strange red stains that look suspiciously like blood splatters remain up. Presumably, investigations are continuing on what it really is and how long it's been up. No investigation findings of either the massive wreckage or the mystery spots have been made public.Neither has a date been given on when the cleanup and repairs are expected to be finished. One date that has been given is for the notices for the club events to be printed in color again instead of the basic black and white pictures they've been for the past two weeks, on February 18. Montecito Bay official Emorald told the Newser that the print shop normally used to make the notices was among those wrecked on Groundhog Day. It wasn't stated though whether or not they'd continue to have the strange hieroglyphic-like symbols on them that had been appearing for weeks.

Addition: Talking to Moff later today, he remarked, "... the cleanup is continuing. We have the Crux Construction Company working 'round the clock to at least get the place cleaned up. It might not get rebuilt right away, because there's all kinds of issues involved with rezoning. But at least we won't look like a junkyard for too much longer."

Stay tuned for more details.

Bixyl Shuftan

Note: The preceding is a fun article based on goings-on by the people of Montecito Bay themselves and not the actions of any griefer.