Tuesday, June 30, 2020

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


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

Club Cutlass: Best in "M", Stripes and Spots, 4rth of July

Happy Vixen: Sparkly and Flashy, TBA,  Horned, Scales and Skins, Long and Fluffy Tails, TBA, Leather and Latex, Bikinis and Boots

Club Zero Gravity: TBA

Montecito Bay: TBA

Furry Fashion Lounge: Celtic/Best in Green, Fantasy, Cyberpunk, Red, White and Blue, Metal, Late Night, Retro

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'.


Reader Submitted: SL17B Fireworks



 From Nisha Flamefeather. She took pictures of the fireworks over the SL17B grounds in the last few hours, and sent them to the Newser.


More of her pictures can be seen on her Flickr page.

SL Video: "Railroads Made in Second Life - Part 4"




(Click here if the video does not play)

From Draxtor Despress on June 23, the fourth in a series of videos on Second Life railways. The episode, "highlights the communities surrounding the ZZR (Zany Zen Railway), which was built by Zen Swords-Galway. As you travel the ZZR, you’ll discover a variety of quirky communities and unique attractions including the small Welsh seaside town Little Coverston."

Monday, June 29, 2020

Exhibits at the SL17B, "Conversations With A Stranger" And One Billion Rising


The events of the Second Life Birthday, at least the official ones, are over. But the exhibits will be up for a while longer. As busy Gemma Cleanslate was with her volunteer duties, she had the chance to check out two. One was "Conversations With A Stranger" by noted artist Fiona Fei. The other was the one by the women's rights group One Billion Rising.

Read Gemma's story in Places.

The Last SL17B Events, Officially



The Second Life Birthday had a lot of events. But this past weekend were the last ones that were planned. Friday at 2PM was the last of the Meet the Lindens events, "Meet the Moles." For those who missed it, you can check out the video of it here.

You can also check out the other "Meet the Lindens" videos: Ebbe Linden, Patch Linden, Oz Linden, and the Marketing Team. We may do an in-depth look at one or more of the discussions later.


Besides the discussions at the Auditorium, there were music performances at the DJ booth. On Saturday June 27, DJ Tantari played her music for a crowd.


DJ Tantari's been in the Newser a few times, such as her 2015 interview, and her guide on how to DJ.


 And there would be live singers at the Main Stage.


Nance Clowes would also have a larger version of her SL17B Cake by the stage.


In the last few hours of official events, there were fireworks at the DJ booth.


Some left, but others hung around to the end.


Some of the fireworks formed words. They were too blurry for me to make out with the lag. But  Cayenne Republic posted a link to a picture in the birthday group chat.


While the official events are done, the exhibits are still there, and will be there until July 12. And with most of the people gone, this is when the lag is less, and those with older computers or otherwise have difficulty with Second Life can have less trouble sightseeing. It should be noted that this isn't necessarily the last of the events. There will likely be an unofficial final farewell party shortly before the sims are truly closed down.

Stay tuned for a few more articles about the Second Life Seventeenth Birthday.

Bixyl Shuftan

SL Video: "Railroads Made in Second Life - Part 3"




(Click here if the video does not play)

Part three of the "Railroads Made in Second Life" series from Draxtor Despress and Hrdtop75 Deluxe. Here, "both Drax and Hrdtop75 explore the ONSR (Okemo Nakiska and Southern Railway), located in the snowland regions of the Sansara continent. The ONSR spans across 13 regions and serves 10 stations for a roundtrip averaging about 22 minutes."


Announcement: This Week at the Seanchai Libraries


THIS WEEK: A Great Month of Great Weeknight Series Concludes!
Join us this week for stories, presented LIVE in Second Life, and on Seanchai Library's properties in Kitely.

All events at Holly Kai Estates (215/44/27) , unless otherwise noted.

All stories told in open voice unless otherwise noted. All times SL/PT

 * * * * *

 *MONDAY, June 29th, at 7pm:  Diana Duane's SPOCK'S WORLD concludes with Gyro Muggins.

*TUESDAY, June 30th:
Both events today will be in The Glen
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Holly%20Kai%20Estates/220/60/2966

   ~ at Noon: RUSSELL EPONYM, Live in the Glen with music and poetry in Ceiluradh Glen.

 ~  a 7pm:  Thornton Wilder's THE BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY, concludes with Willow Moonfire, live on stream.

*WEDNESDAY, July 1st, at 7pm: Kerry Greenwood's THE PHRYNE FISHER MYSTERIES, concludes with Corwyn Allen, live on stream.

*THURSDAY,  July 2nd

~  at 7pm: THE NIGHT STALKER: "Barrens" Shandon Loring presents an adventure from Kolchak: the Night Stalker Chronicles  by Chuck Dixon (Also in Kitely!  Find teleport from the main Seanchai World grid.kitely.com:8002:SEANCHAI)

~  at 9pm: SEANCHAI LATE NIGHT- Contemporary Sci-Fi-Fantasy with Finn Zeddmore, featuring stories from Escape Pod, Light Speed, and Clarkesworld Magazines as well as other source.

Sunday, June 28, 2020

Cartoon of the Day: Hairy Situation



Taken at the Happy Vixen. This Chinese Crested Dog avatar has a lot of hair on the head. With barbershops closed down due to the Coronavirus shutdowns, people may think it's not just a fashion statement.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Relay Weekend Track Closed, Wildstar's 1000-Plus Page Relay Album



I hadn't heard any official word of the Relay Track being closed to traffic (with the SLB so much in the news, maybe it got lost in the chatter). So checking the map, I noticed while the sims were still on the map, the names were gone from all but the permanent American Cancer Society sim. Heading over, the track was indeed invisible from ACS, which is an island once more as the track really is closed.

So this year, no picture of watching the sun set on the Relay track sims.

On the other hand, Wildstar Beaumont has been busy with his Flickr. He recently announced his album of screenshots of the Relay Weekend was ready for all to see. And with over a thousand pictures, there is a lot to see.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/wildstar_b/albums/72157714599747767

Bixyl Shuftan

SL Video: "Railroads Made in Second Life - Part 2"




(Click here if the video does not play)

Part two of the "Railroads Made in Second Life" series from Draxtor Despress and Hrdtop75 Deluxe. Here, they look at the Short Line in Bay City.

Saturday, June 27, 2020

RFL Announcement: Privateer's Ball Today



27 of June   From 1-3pmSLT  the Rosehaven Privateers will sponsor the  Privateers Ball at the Nepenthe Gate.  Magdalena Kamenev will be spinning the tunes loved by all Privateers and Pirates.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rosehaven%20Absinthe/52/53/34

SL Video: "Dancing" by Katie Dey




From Indie-pop musician Katie Dey on June 24. Dev made this video with the help of Devi McCallion entirely within Second Life.

"This video was made entirely in Second Life, and I hope when people watch it they think about just how much work it would take to do that. If you've ever played that game you know how difficult it is to even control the camera, let alone create a whole world, with such incredible characters, such breathtaking cinematography. Created remotely, across countries, in a pandemic, on a dying laptop, their lives in utter chaos, the world in chaos... I hope people cry about these beautiful characters, and then cry about the beautiful humans that put so much love and care into creating them. ..."

From "Fader"
Hat Tip: Inara Pey

Friday, June 26, 2020

"Meet The Moles" Today, 2PM



Today, the last of the "Meet the Lindens" events takes place at the Second Life Birthday. This time, it's a number of Moles being interviewed in "Meet the Moles."

Meet the Moles on Friday, June 26th at 2 p.m. (Pacific). The Moles are builders, scripters, and content creators employed by Linden Lab to work in the Linden Department of Public Works.

The interview will be conducted by Saffia Widdershins, and starts at 2PM at the SL17B Auditorium.

The official events at "The Birthday" will soon be over. The last ones take place on Sunday June 28. The sims themselves will stay up until July 12.

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SL17B%20Awesome/32/227/23/

EOTB : Ten New Last Names


Last week, Linden Lab announced that ten last names for residents to change their account surname to would soon be replaced. Yesterday, the Lab announced the ten were gone, and ten new ones had taken their place.



Today, we are pleased to announce the names replacing them, available as an option for purchase now: 

Vortex
Fluffpaw
Sassypants
Amethyst
Bloodrose
Aurelia
Starlight 


Additionally, three names are being made available for purchase in honor of Second Life’s 17th Birthday theme:  

Wayfarer
Rover
Wanderer


The Lab stated the next time ten names are selected to be replaces, the last three will be along them.

Read more in the official blog post (here).

EOTB: "Railroads Made In Second Life"


On Tuesday June 23 on the official blog, Linden Lab announced a series of videos: "Railroads Made in Second Life." There are five videos, all produced by Draxtor Despress.

This year’s theme for our SL17B celebrations is “vacations and road trips” - and, in this spirit, we are pleased to debut today a five-part mini-series dedicated to the unique history, culture and communities surrounding one of the most popular modes of travel in our virtual world - railroads in Second Life

Our virtual journalist Draxtor Despres recently took a ride on the rails of SL to travel across miles of virtual railroad tracks spanning across the grid. Along the way, he makes multiple stops to meet a wide variety of colorful characters and creative communities. 



(Click here if the video does not play)

In Episode One, Drax gets together with Hrdtop75 Deluxe to discuss some of the history of the Second Life RailRoad, which goes back to 2003 when the virtual world was new. 

The next three episodes deal with three rail lines, the Bay City Short Line, the Okema Nakiska and Southern Railway, and the Zany Zen Railway. The fifth has an interview with Patch Linden, "who discusses the important role of railways within the expansive infrastructure of the massive Bellisseria continents." On Wednesday, there was also a "Railways Made in Second Life" special at the SL17B.

For more information, check out the Linden blogpost Here.

Bixyl Shuftan

Press Release: June 2020 HFOT Benefit



Frets Nirvana and US Military Veterans Group announce 2020’s June benefit for Homes For Our Troops in Second Life! 

Frets Nirvana, the premier guitar artist in the virtual world Second Life and the US Military Veterans Group announce the 2020 June 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 295 SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOMES NATIONWIDE FOR WOUNDED VETERANS.”

In 2019 the community in Second Life sent  $14,000 to Homes For Our Troops, thanks to may kind hearts and great Second Life performers.  HFOT built 19 homes for extremely wounded veterans in 2018 and purchased the land to build 21 more. 

Home for Our Troops benefit concerts feature premier Second Life talent monthly at Veteran’s Isle.  The June concert on June 27, 2020 is scheduled from 4 PM to 9 Pm PM PST.  Featured artists will be DJ Waya Snowpaw, Max Kleene, Harmonia Trefoil, Turner Harbrough and J Lively.

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

Announcement: This Saturday at The Science Circle - "Science Fair 2020"


"Science Fair 2020"

Saturday June 27

7 AM to 10:30 AM

It is that time again!
The annual Science Fair will take place this year on Saturday, June 27 from 7 AM to 10:30 AM PDT.
This year all curators of an exhibition in the region welcome us at their own work.
For those without a permanent display in the region, pergolas are situated around a mountain.

During a joint teleport, hovering, flying, and walking event with Matthew Burr across the region, we will discover the work of 13 Science Circle members.

For more information, Click Here.  

In the Science Circle sim.

Thursday, June 25, 2020

The SL17B Cake Hat



 In the days of the resident-run Second Life Birthday celebrations, one repeated theme was the Cake Stage. Even if it didn't look a lot like a cake, the name stuck. When Linden Lab resumed full control of the event last year, the Cake Stage tradition would be among those coming to an end. But some traditions die hard, and some openly missed "The Cake." Finally, Nance Clowes stepped in by offering an unofficial SL17B cake of sorts, or rather a cake hat. After getting permission from the Moles to put it up in the gift shop area, she announced it in the Second Life Birthday group.

CAKE CAKE CAKE. The sl17b Cake is now in the Gift Area. It comes in edible form as well as  . . Cake Hats.  of course. at SL17B Mesmerize (134,221,24)


A few residents reacted with cheers and jokes. "CAKE!!!!!!!" "Let them eat cake." "The cake is a lie! ... not."

Taking a look myself, I got a copy just by clicking on it. It came already unpacked, so there was no need to go anywhere to rezz it. It did take a few minutes to completely show due to the lag in the area. But once it did, it look pretty.

So finally, fans of the Cake Stage tradition get their cake, sort of. As mentioned, you can get it at the gift shop area in the middle of the SL17B grounds.

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SL17B%20Mesmerize/134/221/24

Bixyl Shuftan

Reminder: "The 1st Question" This Sunday, June 28


Just a reminder that Pooky Amsterdam's "The 1st Question" game show that aired years ago in Second Life will have a special showing this Sunday June 28, from 12 Noon to 3 PM SL time. Among the people there will be Ebbe Linden.

For more information, check Pooky's blog.


http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Spindrift/66/237/701


Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Cartoon of the Day: A Painful Test



Taken at the SL17B. Anyone out there interesting contacting Earth would probably ask themselves first would we see them as people, or would we see them as monsters or things? They'd probably have ways of finding out. This guy, whom presumably has medical technology to heal him quickly, went ahead with a direct approach.

By Bixyl Shuftan

"Meet The Lindens" - Oz Linden Today



Number three of of this week's "Meet the Lindens" will be at the Second Life Birthday today. For Wednesday, the Linden being interviewed is Patch Linden.

Meet Linden Lab VP of Engineering Oz Linden on June 24 at 2 p.m. (Pacific). Oz is responsible for Second Life Engineering and is proud to be working on a product that means so much to so many people.

The event will be hosted by Saffia Widdershins, and takes place at 2 PM SL time.

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SL17B%20Awesome/32/227/23/

New Linden Homes Revealed At SL17B



At "Meet the Lindens" with Patch Linden yesterday, Patch announced that the upcoming design of Linden Home would finally be revealed. And after the event, SL17B Enchant, which had been off-limits, was finally open to the public.


What was revealed was a beachside area with stilt houses, not unlike some small communities on barrier islands with lots of sand. There are a few different designs, some with a second story in height.


While most of these houses were over ground, some were in the water, either needing a boat to get to, or next to a pier, like this one.

Like any Linden Home, a resident needs to have a Premium account to be able to apply for one. Patch didn't give a date as to when these homes would be available. For now, see the houses at SL17B Enchant.

Addition: Here's the SURL: https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SL17B%20Exhilarate/6/130/24

Bixyl Shuftan

Raglan Shire Map Masking



Raglan Shire's known for it's occasional map mayhem, someone erecting a sign over a sim big enough to cover it. This time, it's a reminder for people to take precautions during the Coronavirus crisis, which so far has claimed close to a half million deaths around the world, a hundred and twenty thousand in the US alone.

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

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


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

Club Cutlass: Best in "K and L", Black and Silver, Off to Work

Happy Vixen: Ferals, Wolves, TBA, Dragons and Slayers, Best in White, Animal Prints, Dog and Pony Show, Hair Colors, Next to Nothing, TBA

Club Zero Gravity: TBA

Montecito Bay: TBA

Furry Fashion Lounge: Animation, Forest Creatures, Cyberpunk, Deadly Sins, Rave, Cartoons, Jungle

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'.

"Meet The Lindens" Event Today: Patch Linden



The second of this week's "Meet the Lindens" takes place at the Second Life Birthday today. For Tuesday, the Linden being interviewed is Patch Linden.

Meet Linden Lab VP of Product Operations Patch Linden on June 23 at 2 p.m. (Pacific). Patch works to bring the best of product and support based decisions on a daily operational basis to the virtual world platform for Second Life, while maintaining oversight on how all of the various teams within Linden Lab can best work together for the highest good of the Residents and the business.

The event will be hosted by Saffia Widdershins, and takes place at 2 PM SL time.

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SL17B%20Awesome/32/227/23/

Monday, June 22, 2020

Reader Submitted: At The Races



Saturday June 20 was the Royal Ascot by Team Acts. Most of the events involved horses. Though as Wildstar Beaumont's picture shoes, "We even had an impromptu race of tinies riding bears."


Getting Ready For The SL17B


The Second Life Seventeenth Birthday celebration is here, and there's a lot to see and do. Among those volunteering to help out at the SL17B is the Newser's Gemma Cleanslate. Gemma was able to get a behind-the-scenes look as everyone from the Lindens and Moles to the exhibitors to the greeters and others were getting ready for the opening.

Read Gemma's story in Events.

"Meet The Lindens" This Week, Ebbe Linden Today



This week at the Second Life Birthday, there will be the "Meet the Lindens" event at the Auditorium area at the north end of the SLB grounds.

Learn more about the people behind Second Life at our annual series of Meet the Lindens Town Hall events, held daily at 2 p.m. SLT on June 22-26. Participants this year include Ebbe Linden (June 22), Patch Linden (June 23), Oz Linden (June 24), and the Linden Lab Marketing Team (June 25). You also get the chance to meet the Moles (June 26). 


Today, the events start off at the top with Linden Lab's CEO, Ebbe Altberg, or as he's known here, Ebbe Linden.

Meet Linden Lab CEO Ebbe Linden on June 22 at 2 p.m. (Pacific). Ebbe has more than 25 years of experience leading teams and creating software used by hundreds of millions of users. Learn about his vision for Second Life at this special event.

The event will be hosted by Saffia Widdershins, and takes place at 2 PM SL time.

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SL17B%20Awesome/32/227/23/

Announcement: This Week at the Seanchai Libraries


THIS WEEK: Tall Tales, Marple Mysteries, and Great Adventures Continuing!
Join us this week for stories, presented LIVE in Second Life, and on Seanchai Library's properties in Kitely.

All events at Holly Kai Estates (215/44/27) , unless otherwise noted.

All stories told in open voice unless otherwise noted. All times SL/PT

 * * * * *

 *MONDAY,  June 22nd, at 7pm:  Diana Duane's SPOCK'S WORLD continues with Gyro Muggins.

*TUESDAY, June 23rd:
Both events today will be in The Glen : Holly Kai Estates (220/60/2966)

   ~ at Noon: RUSSELL EPONYM, Live in the Glen with music and poetry in Ceiluradh Glen.

 ~  a 7pm:  Thornton Wilder's THE BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY, continues with Willow Moonfire, live on stream.

*WEDNESDAY, June 24th, at 7pm: Kerry Greenwood's THE PHRYNE FISHER MYSTERIES, continue with Corwyn Allen, live on stream.

*THURSDAY, June 25th:
   ~ at 7pm:  COLUMBO - "Oh, uh.. just one more thing" Shandon Loring presents an adventure by the trench-coated detective by author T. J. Cluedo from fanfiction.net.(Also in Kitely!  Find teleport from the main Seanchai World grid.kitely.com:8002:SEANCHAI)

Sunday, June 21, 2020

Cartoon of the Day: Firey Bunny



Taken at the Happy Vixen

By Bixyl Shuftan

The Newser Tenth Anniversary Party


A lot of news has been going on this month between the Relay and the Second Life Birthday. But the crew of the Second Life Newser took a little time to relax last weekend. The occasion: our tenth anniversary. So for a few hours at the Happy Vixen beach club, there was much music and dancing as the crew were joined by friends and fans.

See the pictures in Events.

Friday, June 19, 2020

The Second Life 17th Birthday Celebration Begins



And finally, it's open. After weeks of reporting on it under a "no pictures" rule, we're finally able to show you what the Second Life 17th Birthday celebration grounds look like.


At 11 AM, Patch officially opened the event at the opening ceremony at the Main Stage (picture from Linden Lab's Youtube channel).


 There's a lot to see with 23 sims making up the SL17B grounds (the Linden Home Demo Area is still off-limits for now).


There are a number of builds, and several sims made up of resident-made exhibits.


Among them is the Newser's exhibit, a tropical vacation island courtesy of Silvia Ametza, the "Azure of Tonatiuh," located at SL17B Stunning (210/254/23).


Silvia did a great job in miniaturizing things for the build.


Yesterday was the "Soft Opening" for those already in the SL Birthday group, and there were a number in the gift area getting freebies.


Among the exhibits was a Bleriot monoplane flight simulator, recreating the flight of Lous Bleriot's crossing of the English Channel by air in 1909.


There's a lot more to see, but further descriptions will have to wait until another article.

Stay tuned for the Meet the Lindens schedule at the Auditorium.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SL17B%20Awesome/238/111/53

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: Avali Avatar Release Party At The Avagora, Saturday



On Saturday June 20 at the Avagora mall in Montecito Bay, the Avali Avatar release party will take place from 5 to 7PM SL time. There will be at least two raffles for free avatars. The avatars are also available for 1300 Lindens each.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Montecito%20Bay/97/113/702