Cartoon of The Day: Happy Halloween

 

 

 Taken at the Happy Vixen. Someone came over in a Halloweenish look, pale skin and dark clothes. While it's often the skin color of the undead in stories, I could think of a few other things that could cause the color to drain.

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

A Look At "Luna's Nightmare Night" Pony Ghostbusting Game

 

Before closing out the Halloween season, the Newser took a look at one of the more interactive Halloween events.  This was "Luna's Nightmare Night," a game in the Luna's Empire Events sim. In this game, the Ghostbuster's connection is obvious with the proton guns. You can pick them up, along with the HUD and map, at several vendors around the sim, one near the entrance at  (50/36/14).

 

I had a few words with EmpresLuna Starchild, the game's owner.  She told me she had wondered if turnout would be smaller than last year, but it's gotten bigger with over 1,100 different players, with over 65 *million* candies, the tokens awarded in the game, given out.

To get the candies, one goes around with the gun to hunt down ghosts. You weaken them by zapping them with the gun, and when their resistance reaches zero, a trap appears under them and the ghost is caught. And you get a few candies as a prize. But if a ghost touches you, you get slimed and won't get as much candy. As you get slimed more, your vision will look greener and gunkier until it reaches 100%, after which you'll need to wash in a fountain or get the help of a cleaner (more on that later). Some ghosts are tougher than others and will need multiple players to take on. 

You can exchange the candies for prizes. This year, there's a lot more variety in the gifts available. And they're not just for ponies. One can get a copy of Ecto-1 for 50,000 candies.

The green slime boss from last year is still around. But there's another boss monster. A pony farmer NPC will ask for some help in trying to take care of some haunted pumpkins. And then Luna shows up to pull something truly dastardly. And it's up to you, and the other 'busters, to save the day. And you get hundreds of candies (if you're not too slimed) for doing it.

When I was there, a number of ponies were doing a video. EmpresLuna told me the title was "Bustin' Luna," and should be up soon.

This is the last day scheduled for the Ghostbusting game. So if you haven't, get in on this Halloween fun.

Bixyl Shuftan

Reader Submitted Pictures: The Cutlass Halloween Party

 

 

 Last night at Club Cutlass was their Halloween bash, and DeniseUnicorn Toonie took a couple pictures and told the Newser there was a 20,000 prize up for grabs. She told the Newser she was "... a pole dancing ghost ... I don't have a ghost of a chance of winning."

Denise would also comment, "HAH! The amounts they won..."

[19:55] [KittyKode] ContestBoard shouts: Cynthia Farshore won L$6666!
[19:55] [KittyKode] ContestBoard shouts: DarkDaylily Resident won L$6666!
[19:55] [KittyKode] ContestBoard shouts: Valkyrie McGill won L$6666!
[19:55] [KittyKode] ContestBoard shouts: Contest is over! Congrats to the following winners: Cynthia Farshore, DarkDaylily Resident, Valkyrie McGill

Philip Linden/Philip Rosedale To Become Lab's Chief Technical Officer, Community Roundtable Friday

 

Yesterday on Tuesday October 29, Linden Lab announced they were appointing Philip Rosedale, better known to SL residents as Philip Linden, to the position of Chief Technical Officer.

 

Philip Rosedale, the visionary who founded Second Life in 1999, is returning to Linden Lab in a full-time role as Chief Technology Officer. Philip will guide technology and product strategy daily alongside Executive Chairman Brad Oberwager and the executive team, and is also joining Linden Lab’s Board of Directors.   

 

Philip’s return comes at a time when advancements in AI and mobile technology are rapidly making virtual worlds more accessible and mainstream than ever before. A pioneer in virtual world development, Philip is uniquely able to drive Second Life forward in new, transformative directions.

Brad Oberwager, the head of Linden Lab, would have this to say, "Over the last four years since the acquisition, Linden Lab has re-focused itself on improving and serving Second Life. We’ve divested ourselves of unnecessary projects, streamlined our operations, increased the quality of customer support, and grown our overall revenues and profitability. We’re now in a unique position to define the future of virtual worlds, and Philip is returning to help myself and the exec team achieve that goal."

Philip Linden would say, "I started Second Life in 1999 – a decade before cloud computing and two decades before AI. We were early, but the success of Second Life to this day shows that we were not wrong. Virtual worlds will play an increasingly important role in the future of human culture, and I’m coming back to help make that happen in a way that has the most positive impact for the largest number of people."

 

It was also announced there would be a Community Roundtable event this Friday, November 1, at 10 AM SL time. 

As part of his return to Second Life, Philip will be actively engaged inworld with our communities and creators to listen, learn, and collaborate on ways to improve our shared virtual world. He will be taking your questions and sharing more of his vision for Second Life this Friday at 10 am SLT as part of our next Community Roundtable series (location to be announced later this week). Here’s your chance to interact directly with Philip inworld to learn more about the past, present and future of our shared virtual world.

People were invited to submit questions to the Lab for the Roundtable, via a Google doc (here), "All feedback and submissions will be reviewed by Philip directly for consideration and discussion at a forthcoming Community Roundtable."

For those who don't know, Philip Rosedale was the founder of Linden Lab, which created Second Life. He would remain as it's CEO for the virtual world's first several years until he stepped down in 2009. He would briefly take charge again as interim CEO for several months in 2010 before once again stepping down. He would depart the Lab for several years, founding High Fidelity. But he would return to Linden Lab in January 2022 as a"strategic advisor."

To read the announcement in full, Click Here.

 

Addition: the event will be at Linden Estate Services3 (26/26/29)

Bixyl Shuftan

Dark Harvest

 

Halloween is fast approaching, and it won't be much longer before the scary season reaches it's peak and then is gone. So Gemma Cleanslate went to look for another Halloween place to write on. She came across one named Dark Harvest. So what did she think?

 

Read Gemma's story in Places.

Kara Foxdale, SL Tarot Reader, Has Died

 

The Newser recently learned that SL resident, Kara Foxdale, has passed away. Grease Coakes delivered the news in a Discord chatroom, "Sadly I just learned that the real life Kara behind the SL account Kara Foxdale passed away recently." He described her as being of poor health.

 

When he was writing for the Newser, Grease would write about Kara several years ago, as a club owner, as well as a tarot card reader. He would join the club as a DJ, and help her with the readings.

Events This Week at the Sunweaver and Montecito Bay Clubs, Furry Fashion, and Club Scorn

 

Here's what's going on at the Sunweaver, Montecito Bay, and Scorn clubs.

Club Cutlass: Halloween, Blue and Yellow, Sock Hop

Happy Vixen: DJ Malit, DJ Arooo, DJ Charlee, TBA, DJ Scratch, DJ Squeaks, DJ Khyra

Club Zero Gravity: Spooky

Bouncing Bunny Beach Club: Orange Yellow and Brown

Xanadu: DJ Jesse 

Club Squeaks: DJ Squeaks

 

Montecito Bay:  CAYA, After Dark

Club Scorn: DJ Charlee, Morning Show, Breakfast Show, DJ Aldi, DJ Poison, DJ Charlee, DJ Malit, DJ Gwen

 

Furry Fashion:   Blue, CAYA, Halloween, Neon, Pink

 

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'

 

Burn2 Festival Ends, Sims Still Up For Now

 

 

 This weekend was the high point, and the final two days of the Burn2 art and music festival. Saturday was the burning of "The Man," which took place just after Noon SL time. The wooden build burned, and collapsed to the ground, followed by the Burners going over and dancing over the embers. 

This was followed on Sunday with the Temple Burn. Starting at Noon, various prayers were read as they burned in the censor, "Peace & Love for the World, which we live in." After a half hour, it too began going up in flames. Like "The Man," once the temple's ashes started to cool, the Burners paraded and danced around the remains. Someone would post a short video of the burn (link).

 

 

But Burn2 is about much more than the burning of it's two most important structures. The twelve sims have numerous builds, some quaint, some very well done, and some that show a lot of imagination. 

The sims should be up for a few more days, though some of the camps will likely be taken up early, allowing more people to see them before most of the sims fade back into the virtual nether, leaving only the permanent Burning Man - Deep Hole. But for those who missed it, there are a few spinoff events across the year.

Bixyl Shuftan

 

 

 

 

Cartoon of The Day: Don't Disturb The Cat

 

 

 Taken while shopping. This is a situation cat lovers can easily understand.

 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

SL Video: "Halloween Music Video"

 

 

 (click here if the video does not play)

 From Luvett Productions on  October 31, 2018 (fake blood in video)

A "Bat-Tacular" Birthday Party

 

It was my birthday a little over a week ago. In real-life, it's usually a small dinner with a few friends on a day close to it. In Second Life, it's a little fun at a club. But this time, my wife Charlee was determined to make it one to remember. She got together with her friend and club owner Gwen Winchester, and they came up with a very different birthday party that can only be described as "bat-tacular."

 

Read the story in Events. 

 

At The Happy Vixen

 

 

 Yours truly has been a little busy lately. And I don't have the time I used to for dropping by some of the clubs I did. But Thursday night I had a break, and I was able to drop by the Happy Vixen. DJ Charlee was spinning the tunes from 6-8 PM. Besides here, there was a crowd of several.

 

The Happy Vixen has several events per week, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Wednesdays and Saturdays are covered by sister clubs.

 

Bixyl Shuftan

This Saturday at The Science Circle

 

Saturday October 26

    ~*~

 

    At 10 AM PST   

    Drug Discovery Meets A.I.: Approaching the Problem of Antibiotic Resistance

    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/drug-discovery-meets-ai/

    Dr. Natalie Foster, Professor Emerita, Chemistry Department, Lehigh University 

    Organized by Stephen Gasior

    Auditorium

      

    ~*~

 

    

    NOTE: Non-members required to register once

    IM Jes Cobalt or Nymf Hathaway

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

 

Scenes From Burn 2

 

Gemma Cleanslate has been busy at the Burn2 art and music festival. While working part of the time as one of the Rangers, when off-duty she's been looking around at the exhibits and events. So what did she think?

 

See the pictures in Design.

 

Cartoon of The Day: Internet Ghost

 

 

 Taken at "Hammieween." Yes, I know, bad joke.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Events This Week at the Sunweaver and Montecito Bay Clubs, Furry Fashion, and Club Scorn

 

Here's what's going on at the Sunweaver, Montecito Bay, and Scorn clubs.

Club Cutlass: Black and White, Blue White & Pink, the 70s

Happy Vixen: DJ Malit, DJ Arooo, DJ Charlee, TBA, DJ Scratch, DJ Squeaks, DJ Khyra

Club Zero Gravity: Cyber

Bouncing Bunny Beach Club: Bunnies and Mice

Xanadu: DJ Jesse 

Club Squeaks: DJ Squeaks

 

Montecito Bay:  CAYA, After Dark

Club Scorn: DJ Charlee, Morning Show, Breakfast Show, DJ Aldi, DJ Poison, DJ Charlee, DJ Malit, DJ Gwen

 

Furry Fashion:  Halloween Week - Horror, Creepy VS Cute, Horns, Monsters, Orange and Black

 

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'

 

It Came From Fantasy Faire Chat: Halloween Decorating

 

 

A few days ago in Second Life, chatter started up in the Fantasy Faire group. Topics went to someone playing hide and seek with his pet snow leopard, "he's not very good at hide-and-seek, but I pretend I can't find him sometimes." Then eventually Milisandre Sarleon (Milisandre Resident)

then eventually talked about her pet "helping me spook the place up a bit for Halloween." It was quickly complimented, "That looks delightfully cozy." "Wow!" Milisandre thanked them, "Thank you. I made a couple modifications to it from stock, like redoing the interior surfaces to a cleaner stucco, and adding an upper floor and mezzanine reading spot; outside vines and trellis etc."

Delain (Delain Canucci): would add, "finished up my place too and is ready for Halloween. "That's amazing!" "Thank you *smile* It's open for public so if anyone wants to visit let me know, I toss the LM" She would later give the SURL, which was for a house in Color Alchemists.

What Halloween houses have you the readers seen? Feel free to mention some in the comments?

"A Child’s Journey Through Cancer: The Musical"

 

The "I Pink I Can" fundraiser to help raise money to combat breast cancer is over. While it took place, there were a number of events. Among them was a stage play done by Patty Flow with the help of a number of other Relayers: "A Child's Journey Through Cancer: The Musical." Yours truly attended. So how did it go?

Read the story in Events.

 

A Busy Weekend

 

 

 Quite a lot was happening this weekend. One event was the annual Burn2 art and music festival, Second Life's reflection of the real-life Burning Man event. It's taking place in a dozen sims around Burning Man - Deep Hole.

At the Bellisseria Fairgrounds, there was the "Hammieween" event, hosted by the Bellissarian hamsters, aka the "Bell Hammies."

Next to the American Cancer Society sim, I Pink I Can came to a close. But Outshop Cancer is still going on. Besides the shopping, there are occasional music events.

More on these, and other, happenings later. 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Announcement: Vampire Ball At New Toulhouse

 

The Vampire Ball
With DJ Hollocluck Henley
October 26 at 12 Noon
At the Green-Eyed Fairy

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/New%20Toulouse/62/206/24

Cartoon of The Day: Skeleton Blues

 

 

 Taken while shopping. Some shoppers were dressed for Halloween, including this guy in a skeleton, a blue skeleton. So why was he blue, I could think of one reason, and another some would think.

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

SL Video: "A Swim Thru Dream, A Beautiful Halloween Sim"

 

 

 (click here if the video does not play)

By Dana Enyo on October 17, "This is not an underwater space, but I felt totally natural swimming through it. Visit by going HERE and following the easy instructions at the portal:" 

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Color%20Alchemists/167/241/3005

Burn2 Starts Today

 

 

 Halloween may be the big thing in Second Life in October. But there's also one more huge event: The Burn2 art and music festival. This is the virtual version of the real-life Burning Man festival that takes place every year in Black Rock Nevada several weeks earlier.

 

From today to Sunday October 27, there will be music parties and other events across 12 sims. And there are numerous art exhibits. Eleven of the sims are temporary ones, Burning Man - Deep Hole being the permanent one.

from Gemma Cleanslate

There's been some confusion over the schedule due to a data leak, but one can pick up details at information centers, such as the one at Burning Man-Deep Hole (116/172/25).

Two events that are sure to happen are the Burning of the Man on Saturday October 26 and the Temple Burn on October 27. The temporary sims will be up for a few days after the official close, so some exhibits can be seen afterwards. But there's no guarantee on how many artists will keep theirs up after the close. 

 

In the meantime, enjoy the art and music.

Bixyl Shuftan

 

This Saturday at The Science Circle

 

Saturday October 19

    ~*~

 

    At 10 AM PST   

    Forum: TBD

    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/2024-nobel-prizes/

    Nymfs Forum

      

    ~*~

 

    

    NOTE: Non-members required to register once

    IM Jes Cobalt or Nymf Hathaway

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

 

It Came From Bellisseria Chat: Halloween Decor

 

 

 While browsing through Bellisseria chat, I happened to notice this bit related to Halloween decorating.

Alyara Arcana: I don't know whose this Stilt is but I LOVED the pumpkin on the roof and thought to post it :)) https://gyazo.com/5a6a2fb7aa82bd7a1baddec824a3d7ba

Sandra Kringle: huge one

Alyara Arcana: imagine how much pumpkin soup one could make ....

Sandra Kringle: You will eat from this Halloween until next

Alyara Arcana: chuckles :))

There was also this, "Check out this *EEP I spotted and yep it's animated. https://prnt.sc/5GttQxsYGnCR"

 

 And there was this, "ღڰۣ BUTTERCUPڰۣ-ღ (Kennedy Fairlane): FREE Halloween Animated Bubbling Mugs with on/off bubbling sounds to carry around & sip on while Trick or Treating! Collect all 3! Come get yours when you come to get your candy! Just Touch The Ghost when you arrive.
@ Bryn Tawel (125,41,35)"

A few examples of Halloween funnery in the Linden Home continent

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Second Life Book Club to End.

 

 

After some years, the Second Life Book Club, hosted by Draxtor Despres, will be coming to a close. Last night, Draxtor announced the news.  The final show will be November 9 at 3PM SL time.

 

 Alright folks, most everybody should know by now but the SL Book Club is closing its doors. I HOPE LL will not take down the 4 islands, fingers crossed. One last hang is the GRAND FINALE on 11/09 = https://youtube.com/live/adWq3kTmtbA = keep an eye on the blog as well https://draxtor.substack.com/ + the group will be changed to DRAX DOCUMENTARY NEWS soonish

 

In group chat, Draxtor would go on say the reason for no longer hosting the show was economic. He simply couldn't go on doing so for free, not just upkeep for the sims, but time and money helping the authors prepare for the show, including thousands of Lindens for custom avatars, now that he was no longer being supported by Linden Lab. 

 

But this wasn't the end of Draxtor's endevors. He would go back to doing documentaries about Second Life.

Cartoon of The Day: Breakdance Fail

 

 

 Taken at a music event at Outshop Cancer. One guy was breakdancing. But I couldn't help but wonder that in years to come, in real life a guy wouldn't find it so easy after a while.

 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

A Visit To The Odd Ball

 

 Last week, I dropped by a longtime unique and "only in Second Life" show, the "Odd Ball." Organized by Tuna Oddfellow, these events involve partying in the middle of an animated light show, resembling the inside of a kaleidoscope. The event was inspired by Tuna's appearance in "Second Life's Got Talent" in 2007, appearing soon after. 

While there have been pauses over time, the Odd Ball continues to this day. To see a little of what it looked like in the past check out this video from 2009 (link). 

 There was a surprise this time. I've always known Tuna in his pale skinned look. But this time, he was sporting a melanistic one. He would explain to me that since going mesh, he's been alternating between light and dark

 

The music for this event was done by AthenablueDJ.

One can get notice of Odd Ball events by getting on Tuna's list.

"Still odd after all these years."

Addition: Tuna would message me, thanking me for the article and saying Athena performs every Sunday at 11 AM, "I have learned to create visuals and perform music at the same time. What you were hearing was a live ambient electronic music concert. I have been a musician for many years it's just recently become possible to fuse the two artforms for me. It was also my 7000th day in SL."

Bixyl Shuftan

Events This Week at the Sunweaver and Montecito Bay Clubs, Furry Fashion, and Club Scorn

 

Here's what's going on at the Sunweaver, Montecito Bay, and Scorn clubs.

Club Cutlass: 60's Night, Back in the Barnyard, Winged Fantasies

Happy Vixen: DJ Malit, DJ Arooo, DJ Charlee, TBA, DJ Scratch, DJ Squeaks, DJ Khyra

Club Zero Gravity: TBA

Bouncing Bunny Beach Club: TBA

Xanadu: DJ Jesse 

Club Squeaks: DJ Squeaks

 

Montecito Bay:  CAYA, After Dark

Club Scorn: DJ Charlee, Morning Show, Breakfast Show, DJ Aldi, DJ Poison, DJ Charlee, DJ Malit, DJ Gwen

 

Furry Fashion:  Goth, Blue & Purple, Hybrids, Beach, Ferals

 

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'

 

Alexa Linden Leaving Linden Lab

 

The Lindens don't usually announce when someone is leaving Linden Lab these days. But someone who's been a reliable source informed the Newser that Alexa Linden has been laid off by Linden Lab. She gave the news on her Twitter/X account on October 9.

 

Thank you all for the last 17 years! I guess I'm gone! I love you all! (broken heart picture)

Her post was followed by numerous well-wishers, expressing sadness, and some confusion. "What are LL thinking?" "WTF?" "This might legit be one of their worst moves yet." "That makes no sense." To add to the confusion, her message briefly disappeared, leaving new readers to see only responses. She would add that other Lindens had been dismissed, and say, "I guess I cared too much and was too vocal. I don't regret standing up for the product, or the residents."

Alexa Linden joined the Lab in 2009, and has been in a number of events, such as the old "Kiss A Linden," "Bid the Lindens Bald," a Madpea charity event to raise money for a school in Kenya, and others. She's also been credited as coming up with the idea of "Dog Food Day," which was to encourage Lindens to use Second Life more. 

A few days later, Alexa would leave this message:

Thank you all for your kind thoughts, comments, and well-wishes. Seventeen years is indeed a long time, and you're the reason I got up each day and logged in. Second Life was my world for twenty years, providing me with an incredible group of coworkers I now consider family. It introduced me to my husband and filled my days with laughter from your hilarious pumpkin JIRA jokes to the support in fixing my neckline or scripts. I have friends who have always been here for me. Every day was a new adventure.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you!

Bless you Whirly, Jess, & Kyle

Know a company looking for a project manager with my background & passion? I'd love to explore the opportunity.

Be excellent to each other.

You are Second Life

Wherever you go from here, Alexa, we wish you well. 

Bixyl Shuftan

Press Release: TEAM DIABETES OF SL TO RETURN FOR A NINTH SEASON

 

DATE: OCTOBER 10, 2024

WEBSITE: http://www.teamdiabetessl.org

SLURL:http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Plush%20Nonprofit%20Commons/79/78/23

We are pleased to announce the ninth season of Team Diabetes of Second Life! Team Diabetes of Second Life is an official and authorized team of The American Diabetes Association. The mission of Team Diabetes of Second Life is to raise awareness, tolerance, and funds for diabetes in the virtual world of Second Life. According to the World Health Organization (2016): 422 million adults in the world have diabetes and 1.5 million deaths are directly attributed to diabetes each year.

The official Team Diabetes of Second Life’s season will take place from October 2024 to December 2024 , with the following events scheduled to take place:

9th Annual Scare Me Silly Event – October 11 to 31, 2024

9th Annual Red Hunt – November 1 to 30, 2024
1st Annual Art Bazaar - November 14 to 21, 2024

World Diabetes Party – November 14, 2024

9th Annual Winter Showcase & Winter Art Show – December 6 to 13, 2020

About The American Diabetes Association:

The American Diabetes Association’s mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. The American Diabetes Association leads the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes and fights for those affected by diabetes by funding research to prevent, cure, and manage diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association delivers services to hundreds of communities and provides objective and credible information and resources about diabetes.

Free resources are available in English and Spanish at http://www.diabetes.org and 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2382).

For More Information:

Team Diabetes of Second Life’s American Diabetes Association Page:

http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR?px=11304578&pg=personal&fr_id=13951

Team Diabetes of Second Life’s Website:

www.teamdiabetessl.org

 

 

Cartoon of The Day: Ghost Dog

 

 

 Taken at the Shop and Hop. One lady had a ghost pet with her, presumably a dog. While there is the scare factor with any burglars, there is one other advantage to having one that comes to mind.

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

Announcement: Second Friends for Life Party Tomorrow, Sunday October 13

 

Event: Friends Party by Second Friends for Life (SFFL)
Dress Code: Casual, G-rated attire
Audience: Open to all; newcomers encouraged to join  
Free gifts, prizes, and refreshments available. Join us for a fun day of music and friendship!
==================================
Schedule:  
10:00 AM: DJ Zach (80s/90s & Hip-Hop)  

11:00 AM: WINTER (Live Acoustic Rock)  

2:00 PM: DJ Trick Rembrandt (Indie Rock)  

3:00 PM: Maximillion Kleene (Live Acoustic ROCK/POP)  

6:00 PM: DJ Roijito Feliz  (Music Mix)

7:00 PM: Agatha Nowles (POP & Yacht Rock)

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bellisseria%20Fairgrounds/170/238/24

Announcement: Pink Ribbon Ball Tomorrow, Sunday October 13

 

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Pink Ribbon Ball for Strides!

Shopping begins Oct 11th
SL merchants have donated amazing items for some shopping pleasure!

Pink Ribbon Ball Oct 13th 2pm slt
Formal attire; any era

Upon arrival, please feel free to pick up resource information from ACS about breast cancer early detection and support.

 

Internet Archive "Wayback Machine" Hacked

 

For users of the Internet Archive, also called the "Wayback Machine," Thursday October 10 was an unpleasant surprise when users discovered the site was offline.  What happened was the website was hacked. When people logged on, instead of the normal page, they saw this message:

Have you ever felt like the Internet Archive runs on sticks and is constantly on the verge of suffering a catastrophic security breach? It just happened. See 31 million of you on HIBP!

 

Bleeping Computer would say, "The text 'HIBP' refers to the Have I Been Pwned data breach notification service created by Troy Hunt, with whom threat actors commonly share stolen data to be added to the service."

 

The nature of the hack seems to be in dispute. Some are calling it a Directed Denial of Service attack. Others are calling it a data breach that "stole a user authentication database containing 31 million unique records."

 

Forbes quoted a cybersecurity expert as saying, "“Hacking the past is usually technically impossible but this data breach is the closest we may ever come to it. ... The stolen dataset includes personal information but at least the stolen passwords are encrypted."

 

Forbes would also say "While the identity behind the data breach exposing 31 million users remains unclear, the pro-Palestinian hacktivist group Black Meta has claimed responsibility for the DDoS attacks that took down The Internet Archive." 

Sources: Forbes, Bleeping Computer.com, Cyber News  

Bixyl Shuftan

This Saturday at The Science Circle

 

 Saturday October 12

    ~*~

 

    At 10 AM PST   

    Nobel Prizes in Science 2024 Roundup

    Organized by Stephen Gasior

    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/2024-nobel-prizes/

    At the Auditorium

      

    ~*~

 

    

    NOTE: Non-members required to register once

    IM Jes Cobalt or Nymf Hathaway

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

Linden Lab Partially Reverses Gacha Ban, New Gachas Must Not Be Transferable

 

Linden Lab is changing it's policy on gachas. They're allowed again, but ...

Many residents will remember gachas, the popular items that were sold on machines dispensing one of a number of items at random and people buying them up, often to get rare items that could be traded or sold for quite a bit of cash. There were events based around them such as the twice a year Gacha Guild, and there were groups dedicated to trading and selling gachas. But as popular as they were, they also had plenty of critics, people complaining they had an addictive nature. And in August 2021, to the delight of their critics and to the shock and dismay of their fans, Linden Lab announced they were banning gachas "due to a changing regulatory climate."

On Tuesday October 10, Linden Lab announced they had updated their policy, saying they were lifting the "general prohibition" on them. But, there was a catch. People can set up gacha machines that gave out items like they did before the ban, BUT, unlike the goods before the ban, they can not be transferable. New gacha items can not be resold. 

In 2021, we implemented a general prohibition on gachas to align with global regulatory concerns. Starting October 7, 2024, we are lifting this prohibition. Residents can once again engage in gacha-based sales, but with a key new rule: gacha items, including the boxes or containers they come in, must not be transferable. This means that once you purchase a gacha item, it is yours and cannot be passed on to other users.

Linden Lab would go on to say breedables and games of skill were unaffected by this policy change, the latter as long as the prize was not transferable. They would also post an entry on the Second Life Wiki about the change (link). In the FAQ, they would state the reason they were doing a partial reversal was because "he latest changes in the legal climate related to gachas and loot boxes have given us an opportunity to lessen the formerly more restrictive policy."

In the forums, reaction was mixed.  Some were happy to have Gachas coming back. Others felt this was a disappointment, that allowing gachas back but not transferable was like allowing trading cards but banning the ability to trade them. And others felt any gacha was bad, transferable or not, as they were still addictive. One interesting comment was that this partial reversal of the ban "significantly harms the secondary resale economy."

So how does this affect the machines that resemble gachas but show what item is up for sale next, and the stores selling old gacha items. People in SL chat and the forums have been telling yours truly that this new policy doesn't affect them and they can continue as they have been, that the policies affect only gacha items created after the ban lift. 

To read the Lab's announcement in full, Click Here. 

Bixyl Shuftan

Reader Submitted: Mystery Flesh Pit

 

Welp... I just found the "Mystery Flesh Pit"... in Second Life. You can use the LM here to get to it. https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Vigdorova/101/152/83

 

Let's see... Oh yea! It's an SCP... SCP-6713...
Oh wait! That's outdated info...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_Flesh_Pit_National_Park