Sunday, April 30, 2023

Cartoon of The Day: Bicycle Blimp

 
 
 Taken at Sunlight Bay. The idea of a one-man blimp powered by a bicycle certainly sounds fun. But it something went wrong, it could be a long way down. 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

Saturday, April 29, 2023

Reminder: Sunbeamer Air Show Today: 9AM to 5PM

 

Just a reminder. One of the big yearly events of the Relay for Life's Sunbeamer team, the RFL Sunbeamer Air Show at Sunlight Bay, is today. The action takes place from 9AM to 5PM. There's bicycle blimp races, DJ Kayla and the Roos, dunk tanks, and of course flying airplanes.

For more information, check the Press Release

A Personal Change: Upgrading to Mesh

 
 
 Earlier this month, I stated I was working on upgrading my avatar from the DSD Fox that I've had for a couple years, which in turn was an upgrade from the Luskwood fox avatar I had as my main look for over a decade. And with a little, actually a lot, of help from Charlee Amethyst, my new "fox reporter" look is done. There might be a small tweak or two more, but here it is.

Mesh can be quite complicated, at least from my point of view as you often need to fit your avatar to match the clothes, or avatar parts such as digigrade feet. But with Charlee's help came up with a new look, which required getting new pants and a new shirt and jacket. So gone is the green shirt that was a reminder of my Runescape days, the freebie cargo pants, and the camel jacket that I got with my first payment from James and Dana's SL Newspaper. All that's left of my old look is the fedora, with it's press tag later added on made by my late close friend Alleara Snoodle. 

So this will be my new main look. The DSD is still a great avatar, and I'll likely still be wearing it at some themed events. But it had a higher complexity, and showed more lower leg when wearing pants. And the people behind it are no longer active and thus the avie is unsupported. There's also that my new appearance just seems and feels a few years younger.
 
I'll likely be spending some time updating other avatars of mine (with help). But the one that's my image as Second Life's "fox reporter" and "fox news" has been updated.

SL Video: "Worlds of Fantasy Faire 2023"

 
 

From Naria Panthar on April 26
 

Friday, April 28, 2023

The Fairelands Quest: "The Magic of Dragons"

 
 
One of the attractions of the Fantasy is the Fairelands Quest. In these interactive stories, you get to be the protagonist of a fantasy tale, performing a quest in behalf of the Bard Queen. One gets prizes along the way, and completing the quest gets you a heap. This year offers the quest "The Magic of Dragons." A year ago, a dragon had four offspring. Now, the young dragons seek to bring new life to a land damaged by the Unweaver years ago. But they need help to do so. 

To play the game, you'll need the required HUDs. They can be found at kiosks at Fairelands Junction at (183/178/124) and Nova Nadiya. The kiosks are being placed at the landing points of the other Fairlands sims, but not may be at all of them yet. The smaller one contains the basic game for 250L, the gaming HUD. The larger one has the deluxe version, which includes the game HUD and a themed outfit for 350L. After purchasing, just add the item, which appears on your hand, and click to unpack.


There are separate male and female outfits.
 
 Once the HUD is set up (and the outfit if you got it worn), the first part of the quest is to find the Bard Queen, who is somewhere in Fairlands Junction. When you get to her, she will explain what's going on, and what she wants you to do, the first part being to find and pick up your companion. 
 
Eventually, you'll find the four young dragons, each of whom asks for a few items, which will have you going across the Fairlands to search for them. Pressing on "hint" will get you a few clues on where to look. You're searching for small chests around the sim.
 
The Quest is in two parts, so if you got the first part fairly early, you'll have to go back to the kiosks to get the second

More information can be found on the Fantasy Faire blog Here.

Bixyl Shuftan

The BelliHub

 
 
 There's a new place in Second Life aimed at helping both newcomers and those interested in living in the Bellisseria area: Bellihub. Patch Linden would announce it in the Linden Homes forums last week.

For months, we have been working behind the scenes to provide all of Bellisseria (and Second Life in general) a place where they can go to find information regarding Bellisseria, meet up with residents living in Bellisseria and have all of their questions answered. 

Today, we are pleased to release the BelliHub!

Dropping it, at first it looks like a newcomer orientation center, with explanations what Second Life is and how to go about. Going further, there's explanations on what Bellisseria is and how to get a Premium account and Linden Home. There's also an events center, where people can post notices about goings on. On the northern half of the island, Bellidemo, one can look at examples of Linden Homes, as well as click to see different styles of them
 
 

 There's also a hangout area. On opening day, the Lindens and moles had a party there, and I was invited over by a resident. But was busy and sent my alt Rezzdarnnit over. Someone used the "Rezzdammit!" gesture, so I sent Rezzdammit over as well. People, including Patch Linden himself, had a good laugh at seeing the "Rezz brothers." It was one of the examples of fun at the party.

 
Bixyl Shuftan
 

This Saturday at The Science Circle

 
 
Saturday, April 29
 
    ~*~
    
    At 10 AM PST   

    Living On Earth And Living On The Moon
    By Tab Scott (Terry Beaubois in SL)
    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/living-earth-moon/
    Auditorium
 
   The Science Circle (72,129,30)
      
    ~*~
 
    At 9 PM PST   

    Water
    By Jes Stannard
    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/water/
    SC Meeting Spot
 
   The Science Circle (72,129,30)
 
    ~*~
    
    NOTE: Non-members required to register once
    IM Jes Cobalt or Nymf Hathaway

╚══════════════════════════════ The Science Circle (72,129,30) ═╝

Thursday, April 27, 2023

Scenes From The Fairelands: DJ Mattie at The Fairechylde

 
 
 Quite a bit's been happening in the Fairelands. Among them, the events at the flying ship, the Fairchylde. On Monday, DJ Mattie began playing at 3 PM.

Mattie grew up in the Missouri Ozarks. Having lived near Branson and spending a lot of time there seeing shows and also having family who performed for Silver Dollar City, shi was raised on country music, blues, bluegrass, and classic rock. Shi still has a great passion for these genres, country being her favorite. Music has always gotten hir though some of the worst times in hir life, and now shi loves to share some of these wonderful tunes with folks here in SL as a Tiger-Striped, 9 Tailed Fox!

 
The event went well, with Mattie in a pirate outfit and playing lots of pirate-themed tunes. Ceri Quixote showed up in a huge Colossus greenish orc avatar, with a "jolly green giant" joke or two likely shared. Trader Whiplash and Arizona Ballinger also dropped by. 
 
Then came the "Cats in Black," tinies  talking about an imminent alien invasion and offering protection for sale such as tinfoil hats. Word has it they were a group known as the "Basement Kitties of Doom," noted for some mischief in Raglan Shire, though no confirmation. Eventually, they departed. No word on if they were offering Elvis outfits.

Mattie had stated if a certain amount was raised, she'd go pink for a while She was told a total of 17210 was raised at the close of her session. Her response was, "close enough, I'll go pink." So it looks like she was pink for a little while.

More stories on the Fairelands to come
 
Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: JAPA Showcase 2023 - World Tour Performance

 
 
 
J A P A
THE FOUNDATION IN PERFORMING ARTS
 
STUDENT GRADUATION SHOWCASE 2023
 
* WORLD TOUR *

 ------> SUNDAY 30TH APRIL - NOON SLT <------
 
VENUE - THE JAPA THEATRE
                                                                                         
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/VIRTUOSO/183/98/3001

Please adjust a few settings to enable your best viewing of the show.


Students this year have worked really hard to present to you this Showcase of the skills they have learned with JAPA.
              
You are invited to join us as they take us on a Journey around the World through Music and Dance!
                                
 PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY  TO ENSURE  A FULL CACHE OF SHOW STUFFS TO ENABLE YOU A GREAT VIEWING EXPERIENCE!
                                                                        
PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY AS SEAT NUMBERS WILL BE CAPPED
 
DOORS OPEN AT 11AM SLT
                                                                     
SALUTE!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Bellessarian Embassy Opens at The CDS

 
The Bellissarian Bureau of Bureaucracy, or BBB, is known for building embassies on other mainland continents. But the other day, it made one on one of the more notable community lands. The Confederation of Democratic Simulators, known as Second Life's oldest practicing democracy, had a grand opening party on Sunday April 23 for it's new Bellisserian embassy, with both members of the BBB and noted locals attending. Gemma Cleanslate as among those there, and had a few details to report.

Read Gemma's article in Places.

Cartoon of The Day

 
 
 Taken at Club Amaranth. Following the performance of Nivor, the singing chicken ended up in the audience to listen to the DJ. But there was someone in the audience who looked like she wanted to take her for dinner. 

By Bixyl Shuftan 

Reader Submitted: "Patch Nakies And Faceless At Fantasy Faire"

 
Taken by Wyv the Biteypants FloxMonster™ (Wyvern Dryke). When Patch Linden had his "Jail & Bail" On Friday April 21 at 1PM, the lag at the Sambeaubee sim was so thick, many of the avatars took a long time to rezz for me, or just wouldn't at all. Patch  didn't even appear as a name tag for almost an hour. When I commented in Faire chat I'd likely have to borrow the pics of others, Wyv pointed to the link of a Flickr picture he posted,"ell I just crashed and relogged so Patch is nakies and faceless. Bad picture time X-D" then told me, "Put -that- in the paper hahahahah!" And checking the picture, it seems Wyv wasn't having much better luck than I was.


Fortunately as time went on, Patch would eventually rezz for both of us, and Wyv would send me a second picture.

And no, the black bar wasn't really necessary, but someone would have complained if it wasn't there.

Addition: This wasn't the only "nakies" picture of Patch out there, who responded with a "Help, Patch Has Lost All His Clothes" forum thread post. 

RFL Announcement: Tenth Annual Sunbeamer Air Show Saturday April 29

 
 
 Welcome to the 10th Annual Sunbeamer Air Show & Roos With A Dream Dance

The Teams Sunbeamer's and Roos With A Dream welcomes you to the 10th Annual Sunbeamer RFL Air Show Fly-in on Saturday the 29nd of April between the hours of 9AM to 5PM SLT. Roos With A Dream will be performing on stage with DJ Kayla and The Roos at 3pm to 5pm to close the event! 

There will be planes on display with information about them. Some Pilots will be on hand to give rides and flight demonstrations or you can just BYOP [Bring Your Own Plane] and stunt around yourself. 

This year we have two major contest running. The Balloon Bicycle Race and a Bumper Car Contest! At either contest upon a donation to the American Cancer Society kiosk you then acquire a free bicycle powered balloon provided for each entry. You can not use one of your own in the contest unless it is the same thing that is being given. This makes for an even playing field. Also we require that only participants fly the course as non-players will cause the timers to be thrown off. The course runs through the sky were you must pass through rings spaced at intervals that vary in height and direction. Missing a ring causes a disqualified time. You may run the course as many times as you like hopefully bettering your time. Contest runs through the air show hours and the prize of a Aerial Outfitters Sky Skiff Airship will be sent to the winner at the air shows end at 5PM.

The bumper car contest is no ordinary contest, remember it's the Sunbeamers who are not noted as being a very sane group. The contestants may experience changing obstacles, exploding cars, and maybe even...cannon fire? Oh My. Yes the spectators are armed and willing. The contest will be in 5 minute runs with trophies awarded at the end of each. You can enter as many contest as you like.

There will be a carnival midway with a number of activities to participate in. 

 

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Events This Week at the Sunweaver and Montecito Bay Clubs, The Fallout Shelter, and Furry Fashion Lounge

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

Club Cutlass: Lost 60s, On The Town, Sea Faring

Happy Vixen: Hybrids and Mods, Burlesque, Blue and Green, Pirates, Madkatt Mashup, Spring Colors, Glowies,

Club Zero Gravity: TBA

Bouncing Bunny Beach Club: Black and Red

Xanadu: DJ Jesse

Club Squeaks: DJ Squeaks 
 
Montecito Bay:  CAYA, After Dark

Furry Fashion Lounge:  Canines, Under the Sea, Good vs Evil, Fur vs Scales, Fantasy
 
Deathlands Fallout Shelter:  DJ Bonnie, DJ Wolfy

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'
 
 

Patch Linden's Jail and Bail

 
A lot has been going on at the Fantasy Fair. Among them, the Jail and Bail events. But seldom do they get bigger than when one of the Lindens is in the virtual hoosegow. And they don't get any bigger when Linden Lab's VP, Patch Linden, volunteers. On Friday April 21, "The Jailing of Patch Linden" took place, with the sim getting packed to unbelievable numbers and with loads of Lindens being donated for Patch to go free.

Read the story in Events.

RFL Announcement: Relaystock Team Sites, Stage Times Available

 
 
 10th Annual RelayStock 2023

It's Three Days of Peace, Love, Mud and Hope!!

A Multi Team Event Sponsored by the Relay Rockers

Reserve YOUR TEAM'S SITE NOW!

RelayStock region will be being  transformed into a 1969 NY State of Mind Farm for this year's Biggest Rock Festival in support of Relay For Life of Second Life!

Stage times available for teams!
Tents and VW Buses waiting to be reserved by teams for Kiosks & Vendors!
 
 

Monday, April 24, 2023

Sunbeamer "Bid Me" Update: "Bid Me Panda", "Bid Me Bunny", and "Bid Me Skunk"

 
 It's been over a week since three of the latest four Bid Me events by the Relay for Life's Team Sunbeamers were set up. Rita Mariner bit the bullet and ended hers early after a huge donation resulted in being an albino skunk for ten weeks. But that left two others. They are Charlee Amethyst's "Bid Me Panda" and Bixyl Shuftan's "Bid Me Bunny."
 
 There are a couple new BID MES up and running at CUTLASS.

1. CHARLEE is offering to go PANDA, 2000L per week

2. BIXYL is offering to go BUNNY, 3500L per week.
 
 
Charlee Amethyst is one of the more recent members of the Sunbeamer team, and once told about the "Bid Me" events jumped in with one that hasn't been done before. She's offering to send time in an anthro panda bear avie. For every 2000L, rounded down, donated into the kiosk on the right, she spends a week in black and white. For example, if 5999 Linden dollars are donated, the period of time is two weeks. But of 6000L is donated, it's three weeks. For those wanting to keep her as-is, there's a default kiosk on the left, which if it exceeds the panda kiosk means she can stay as is.

And then there's mine: "Bid Me Bunny." For every 3500 Linden dollars a week in the left kiosk, rounded down, yours truly spends a week dealing with hare-raising puns. For example, if 10,499L is raised, the period is two weeks. But if 10,500 L us raised, it's three weeks of hopping down the bunny trail. For those wishing to keep my foxy, there's a default kiosk which if ahead at the end of the Bid Me means I stay as is.

There are a couple outs. When doing an interview, or otherwise clearly doing Newser business, it's back to my usual avatar.

Both "Bid Me Panda" and "Bid Me Bunny" are up until Saturday May 6, and the totals finalized at 8PM SL time at the end of the Cutlass party.
 
For Liska da'Lantros (LiskaDaLantros Resident), her "Bid Me Purple" came to a close on Saturday April 22

Liska BID ME Purple results.

KEEP LISKA FOXY - 0L

TURN LISKA PURPLE - 10,300L

Liska goes PURPLE for 4 weeks, till MAY 20.
 
But this isn't the end of Liska's Bid Me events. Since her period of four weeks is about the right time for another fundraiser, she volunteered for another one: "Bid Me Skunk." Like the others, there's a default kiosk to keep her as is (when her time as purple expires), and a skunk kiosk to change her. This time it'll take 4000 Linden dollars a week, rounded down, to changer her. For instance, a total of 7999 Linden dollars would be just one week of tomato juice jokes.

People have until Saturday May 20 to donate to Liska's latest Bid Me, the totals finalized at 8PM SL time after the party at Cutlass.
 
To donate to any of these Bid Me events, head to Sunweaver Bay (114/117/757).

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

Bixyl Shuftan

 
 

RFL Announcement: DJ Mattie At The Fairchylde, Today at 4PM

 
Mattie grew up in the Missouri Ozarks. Having lived near Branson and spending a lot of time there seeing shows and also having family who performed for Silver Dollar City, shi was raised on country music, blues, bluegrass, and classic rock. Shi still has a great passion for these genres, country being her favorite. Music has always gotten hir though some of the worst times in hir life, and now shi loves to share some of these wonderful tunes with folks here in SL as a Tiger-Striped, 9 Tailed Fox!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sipala/75/169/88
 

Sunday, April 23, 2023

Cartoon of The Day: Tree-mendous Look

 
 
 Taken at Fairelands Junction. Guess the tree trunk is supposed to be some kind of weapon, but it would take "tree-mendous" strength to wield. 

By Bixyl Shuftan
 

RFL Announcement: Nivor The Singing Chicken At Club Amarantha, Today

 

Nivor the Gentlehen singing live at Club Amaranth
 
Club Amarantha for Meli's Maniacs
 
Sunday May 23 at 11 AM to 12 Noon SL time
 
Followed by DJ Badger and DJ Jenneh, 12 Noon to 4PM SL time
 
 

Saturday, April 22, 2023

SL Video: "Lullaby By Nickleback"

 
 

From Tiny Dancers on Feb 15
 

Fairelands Poetry

 
 We sail the mysts,
 Fairelanders are we,
Aboard The FaireChylde we seek out others who thirst for  hope.
Each in our own lands search for those who need to find the magic of the Fairelands.
I set sail to sail the mysts With my dear friends .
Our dreams and memories of Past Faires fuels our Quest.
Come there is always room.
Lets seek more magical lands of HOPE.
We sail between the realms touching each for the length of a dream.
We sail for the horizon.
Our hearts as our guide.
The light of the stars of hope call to us.
We sail till the mysts part and we hit land fall again.
 
 Pookie Wolfsong (Helixer Resident)
 
From Final Fantasy chat

Friday, April 21, 2023

Bellisseria's Fourth Anniversary

 
Last Saturday, the continent of Bellisseria had it's Fourth Anniversary party.  Gemma Cleanslate was there, seeing Patch Mole give a speech and the DJs play the tunes while the residents, Bellisserians and others, danced away. Gemma would also find out Abnor Mole would have a few things to say about how the land grow from a few hundred Linden Homes to a few thousand with several different varieties for Premium residents to choose from. Gemma would also mention something about the Nature Collective.

Read Gemma's story in Design.

Cartoon of The Day

 
 
 Taken at the Fantasy Faire. Seldom do I see this kind of avatar. Maybe someone is "sitting" on his or her decision on which more conventional appearance to get.

By Bixyl Shuftan
 

This Saturday at The Science Circle

 
 
Saturday, April 22
 
    ~*~
    
    At 10 AM PST   

    Second Life Scripting
    By Robert Lawson Brown (Scire Gaea in SL)
    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/vwbpe-2
    Auditorium
 
   The Science Circle (72,129,30)
      
    ~*~
 
    At 9 PM PST   

    Friendship Online
    By Jes Stannard
    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/friendship-online/
    SC Meeting Spot
 
   The Science Circle (72,129,30)
 
    ~*~
    
    NOTE: Non-members required to register once
    IM Jes Cobalt or Nymf Hathaway

╚══════════════════════════════ The Science Circle (72,129,30) ═╝
 
 

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Tha Fantasy Faire Is Open



At last, after the weeks and perhaps months of getting ready, and the equally long anticipation by fans, the Fantasy Faire, the 15th this year, is finally open.


Welcome one and all to the 2023 Fairelands! It has been a long time since we have all been together, and it feels so good to be home! The doors are now open. For the next 18 days we will live, love and celebrate in the company of friends and family. As you start your explorations, be sure to turn up the volume on Fantasy Faire Radio and listen to the musical introduction to this year's worlds.


There is a LOT to see, with twenty sims that are beautifully done with numerous spots to explore. And there's just as much to do, with the Littlefest Tours, the music events such as the parties on the Fairchylde, the Literary Festival, the Children's Roleplay, the Masked Ball, the Jail and Bail events (Patch Linden will likely be in one), the Fairelands Quest ("The Quest hasn't started yet" Fairelanders sometimes musingly tell one another), and of course lots of shopping, the stores cleverly worked into the landscapes and buildings, a portion of the money going to the Relay for Life (for some items, all of it).


Have fun at the Fare, but don't delay for too long. The events end on Sunday May 7. The sims will likely remain up for a few more days, but just how long is uncertain.


Bixyl Shuftan

The Bellisseria Anniversary, PBC Autism Awareness Show, And Other Happenings On April 15 & 16

 
Last Saturday was the anniversary of the Bellisseria Linden Home continent, which had much music and dancing. But that wasn't the only event that weekend. There was the Autism Awareness event at the PBC. There was the Affiliated Ministries' Easter Dance. There was the return of a live music performer at Music Island. And there was the grand opening celebration at a new art gallery
 
 Read the story in Events.

SL Video: "Fantasy Faire 2023 - The 15th Age of the Fairelands Cometh!"

 


After weeks of preparation, the Fantasy Faire finally opens today. At 12 Noon SL time, head of to Faireland Junction and the 19 other sims of this major Relay for Life event. 

For more information, check the blog: https://fantasyfairesl.wordpress.com/
 

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

A Story From Fairelands Chat

 
There isn't quite anything like the Fantasy Faire in Second Life, and over time, this annual two and a half week event in the virtual world has attracted it's own group of fans. As the time to the event gets closer, various fans in the group are inspired to write poetry, or stories. Among the chatter last night was one tale from Pookie Wolfsong (Helixer Resident).

Read the take in Extra.
 

Getting A Mesh Fox Avatar

 
 It's been a couple years since I finally changed over from my 2007 Luskwood avatar to my DsD fox. But friends have been telling me it's not quite enough. So, finally taking some time away from my pen to piece together a mesh fox avatar.
 
Getting a new furry avatar in Second Life has been changing. While you can, and many do, still get complete avatars, getting a mesh avatar often (and maybe usually) means piecing one together with the mesh body and various mods and parts. This takes not just Lindens, but also time to shop for the parts, and more time to put them all together, and put together just right. For the skilled (and patient), this can mean a very detailed and unique avatar. For those not so skilled, well, results vary.

Thankfully having some help with this, from the talented (and generous) Charlee Amethyst, otherwise I wouldn't know where to begin. But it's still taking some time.

I'll have more on the topic soon.

Bixyl Shuftan

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Events This Week at the Sunweaver and Montecito Bay Clubs, The Fallout Shelter, and Furry Fashion Lounge

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

Club Cutlass: Swing, Sci-fi, Spring Colors, TBA

Happy Vixen:Spring Wear, Wings, Villains, Country, Madkatt Mashup, Boots and Bikinis, Best in Black, Naughty

Club Zero Gravity: TBA

Bouncing Bunny Beach Club: CAYA, Down in the Farm

Xanadu: DJ Jesse

Club Squeaks: DJ Squeaks 
 
Montecito Bay:  CAYA, After Dark

Furry Fashion Lounge:  Purple, Gothic, Robots Androids and Cyborgs, Forest Animals, Late Night, Sparklefurs
 
Deathlands Fallout Shelter:  DJ Bonnie, DJ Wolfy

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'
 
 

RFL Purple Tears Steam Game Key Raffle

 

Come on down and take a drive along the lovely Route 9 in SL. And if you happen to be driving by the Purple Tears HQ (which is in desperate need of some decorating at some point, sorry) feel free to stop by and enter for a chance to win some Steam game keys! (If you don't want the game for yourself, you can always give the key to a friend/relative/enemy/whomever!)

Currently up for auction are:
Hogwarts Legacy Deluxe Edition
Star Wars Squadrons
Calico
Pathfinder: Kingmaker Enhanced Plus Edition
Worms Rumble

Raffles are set to end at 5PM SLT on April 30th this time instead of just a week to give people a chance to get there.

Monday, April 17, 2023

RFL Sunbeamer's "Bid Rita Skunk"

 
 Team Sunbeamers has a few more "Bid Me" events going on at Club Cutlass. Team captain Rita Mariner would explain in a group post.

There are a couple new BID MES up and running at CUTLASS.

1. CHARLEE is offering to go PANDA, 2000L per week

2. BIXYL is offering to go BUNNY, 3500L per week.

3. RITA: I am offering you a choice, A. Skunk, B. BAT, C. Chipmunk
Highest kiosk wins, Encase of a tie, I'll pick one of the tied avatars to wear. Length of time I wear them, based on how much is donated to that kiosk.  I am cheap this time 2000L/week


 
 Rita's second "Bid Me" this year was different than most. Instead of two options, there were four. Besides the default kiosk on the left to keep her as is, there were three options. The first was to bid her into a white skunk. The second option was to bid her chipmunk for a time. The last kiosk on the far right was to bid her a dark red bat. This time, there wasn't so much a week to bid her on, 2000 Lindens per week this time.

Rita was most likely thinking she'd be spending no more than a few weeks in one of these forms. But Relay can be full of surprises. Just after it was set up, some "crazy person" donated twenty thousand Linden dollars, or $90 US dollars, into the skunk kiosk, much to the team captain's surprise. This led to some joking around on Relay chat.

[19:03] Rita Mariner: Someone really, I mean REALLY want me to be a skunk avatar. In my BID, ME to be a skunk, someone piad, 20,000L,  That's 10 weeks!
[19:04] ღ Mαyα ღ (MayaserenaCeNedra Resident): \o/ That's awesome Rita
[19:04] Nuala Maracas: woo hooo
[19:04] Bixyl Shuftan: heh heh
[19:04] Nuala Maracas: it's a stinky job but someone has to do it :)
[19:04] Rita Mariner: Booo
[19:04] Selene (selene Jashan): lol you lil Stinker Rita!  lol
[19:04] Female (Female Winslet) has learned to be very, very careful about bid-mes :-)
[19:05] Bixyl Shuftan: the sweet smell of successful Relaying?
[19:05] Selene (selene Jashan): absolutely Bixyl!
[19:05] Rita Mariner: well they had a choice of three different avatars, they dump it all on SKUNK
[19:05] ღ Mαyα ღ (MayaserenaCeNedra Resident): Skunk is funnest

After that, most Lindens donated further were going into the skunk kiosk. 20,000L is a lot of Lindens to top, so the only thing likely to change was the amount off time Rita would spent as a mephit, possibly to beyond the Relay season. So Rita decided it was time to admit she was taken off guard and bite the bullet. On Saturday April 15th, Rita announced she was ending her Bid Me early.


MY BID ME - Rita to SKUNK

Since I am already at 10 weeks, I am going to call my BID ME Early.  Thank you for the donations, but 10 weeks is enough.
 
 Keep Rita Bunny - 100L
 Turn Rita to Skunk - 20,600L
 Turn Rita to Chipmunk - 0L
 Turn Rita to BAT - 50L
 
 I go Stinker for 10 weeks Til JUNE 10th.


Nobody from her team had any objections, two and a half months being a while. Yours truly remembers when Fuzzball Ortega of the Steelhead Salmons went purple for a whole year, and I personally felt that was too long. 
 
A few years ago, Relay teams could be "skunked" as a prank, and to "deskunk" the team, a certain amount of Lindens had to be raised. With this in mind, the Sunnies ended up skunked again, or rather their now red-eyed and bushy-tailed team captain.

There's two other Bid Me fundraisers at Club Cutlass at Sunweaver Bay (114/117/757). They will be described in detail in the next article.

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

Bixyl Shuftan

The Fantasy Faire is Coming

 
 
In just a few days, one of the most popular macro-events of the Relay for Life fundraising season begins: The Fantasy Faire. For seventeen days from Thursday April 20 to Sunday May 7, there will be much to see and do. There will be twenty sims, full of places to explore and stores to shop at. There will be numerous music and dance events, notably at the "Fairchylde" flying boat. There's the Fairelands Quest. There's the Children's Roleplay. There's the Literary Festival. There are the Jail and Bail events, which lately have included Lindens putting themselves on the line. And much more.
 
For more information, check the website at https://fantasyfairesl.wordpress.com/ 

Sunday, April 16, 2023

DJ Lineup at Digital Dream Studios Gallery Grand Opening Event

 
DJ Maliit:        12 Noon
DJ Snowbuns: 2 PM
DJ Whiskey :  3PM
DJ Anni :        4PM

View the works of four photographers in Second Life. We will have live DJs throughout the event, contests, and a few giveaways. Adjoined to the Blake Sea. Come join the tropical vibe our gallery has to offer.
 
 

Cartoon of The Day: Sunny Attitude

 
 
 Taken at a Relay event

By Bixyl Shuftan

Saturday, April 15, 2023

SL Video: "Forest of Mystical Dreams in Second Life"

 
 
 
 From Jackson Redstar on April 10, "Open to the Public - Donations Appreciated to Keep the Sim Running."

Fairelands Poetry

 
I make my way to my watch point and gaze into the Mysts. I catch glimpses of Faires past and the promise of future faires. I sit as the sun move westward towards the horizon. I am joined by a new Fairelander. A young girl who just had her first Faire. I offer her a seat and she takes it.

"What are you looking at?"  
 
"There just let your heart see first then your eyes will see. Flashes, Glimpses of Faires past and what maybe."

We gaze till the light fades giving way to a painted masterpiece of a sunset. 

Pookie Wolfsong (Helixer Resident)
 

Friday, April 14, 2023

"Hamraiders" at Bellisseria Fairgrounds

 
The Bellisseria Hamsters are at it again. In Bellisseria Fairgrounds, the Bell Hammies' ”Hamraiders The Carrot of Life” is going on in Bellisseria Fairgrounds. Gemma Cleanslate dropped by to check things out, and thankfully there was less peril than a certain archeologist with a fedora, bullwhip, and snake phobia had to go through.
 
Read Gemma's story in Events.
 
*Correction* Earlier the link led to the wrong section, it's been corrected.

Announcement: Bellisseria Anniversary Party Saturday April 15

 
 
 Happy Birthday Bellisseria

Bellisseria's 4th Anniversary Celebration!

Are you ready to Party!?!

Patch Linden will officially open the celebration with a Speech @ 10:00 a.m. SLT

(Please be sure to have your Voice enabled and Microphones Muted)

WHERE: Bellisseria Fairgrounds

WHEN: Saturday, April 15, 2023

TIME: 10:00 am to 4:00 p.m.

April 15, 2023, is Bellisseria's 4th Anniversary. Let's Party!

We've got a great party planned, so be sure to join us.

A Random Gift Giver with lots of Prizes!

Also, be sure to collect the rare Anniversary stamp at the event.

Music . Dancing . Prizes . Refreshments
 
Picture from Prudence Anton

Announcement: World Autism Awareness at the Premier Business Center

 
 
Autism Awareness @ PBC

Dancing with Donny and The Panda Dance Crew!

Please join PBC and the Baptiste Family Foundation this Saturday at 12:00 PM SLT at the PBC Performance Hall for Dancing with Donny and The Panda Dance Crew for Autism Awareness!

Meet the Panda Dance Crew after their dance performance at the DJ Afterparty Meet and Greet with UrbanKing Burner!!

Bring your entire family! This will be a great show with SL Children choreographers, great food, and lots of family fun!!!!  

Come support the  cause!

Saturday, April 15,2023~ 12:00 PM SLT
Attire: Casual
 
 

This Saturday at The Science Circle

 
 
Saturday, April 15
 
    ~*~
    
    At 10 AM PST   

    Recap of the 2023 VWBPE conference on Second Life
    By Dr. William Schmachtenberg (Dae Miami SL) and Linda Morris Kelley, BA (Delia Lake SL)
    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/vwbpe-2023/
    Auditorium
 
   The Science Circle (72,129,30)
      
    ~*~
 
    At 9 PM PST   

    ChatGPT and AI
    By Jes Stannard
    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/health/
    SC Meeting Spot
 
   The Science Circle (72,129,30)
 
    ~*~
    
    NOTE: Non-members required to register once
    IM Jes Cobalt or Nymf Hathaway

╚══════════════════════════════ The Science Circle (72,129,30) ═╝
 
 

Thursday, April 13, 2023

SL Video: Second Life Destinations - Poland History House

 
 
 
 From Draxtor Despres (And Linden Lab) on Monday April 11, "The Poland History House in Second Life is a historical project created as part of the 100th anniversary of Poland’s Independence celebrations which started in 2018. Creator Dex Euromat shares his Second Life journey and why he started this project.