Weekend in Brief

 

 

 Saturday March 25 was the last day of the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education conference. Among the events were the closing ceremonies, in which the annual Thinkerer Award was given to Sheila Webber (Sheila Yoshikawa). The theme for next year was also announced, "Mythic Origins."

 

At one point, the staff told everyone, "We always have help from the bloggers who cover Second Life and virtual worlds. We held another Press Day this year, which gave them a sneak preview of the conference regions.

 

"I’d like to especially thank Bixyl Shuftan and Gemma Cleanslate of the Second Life Newser."

We at the Newser appreciate the recognition.

Some of the presentations over the three days were recorded. They can be seen in the VWBPE's Youtube channel. 

Sunday March 26 had Bay City's Food Truck Festival in North Channel, organized by Marianne McCann. For two hours, people danced to the tunes of DJ Gospeed Racer, some checking out the various food trucks. There were all sorts from taco trucks to portable bars offering just booze to zombieburgers. Presumably that last one was offering scrapple. 

What did you do this weekend. Feel free to send the Newser a reader submission of what happened with you.

Bixyl Shuftan

Cynthia Farshore Honored With Community Trophy

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Saturday July 30 was the "Christmas in July" party at Club Cutlass, the main club of the Sunweaver community. But there was one thing not on the official schedule that happened. Around halftime, community leader team Mariner, whom is also the team captain of the Relay for Life's Sunbeamer team, interrupted things.

 

"Hello Everybooty and welcome to this extra special event, at our regular SATURDAY Dance. I planned this special event to  recognize a member of the Sunbeamer Team. We made Emerald again this year, due the efforts and work this person contributed all through the Relay for Life!"

 

Shockwave Yareach, whom was in the know what was happening, called out, "Cynthia, to the front please?"

 

Rita continued,  "This individual we all know and love, although they have been known to 'scream' a lot. Without their efforts and hard work, we would not be as a successful RFL Team as the Sunbeamers are! So without further delay, Cynthia Farshore, please step forward and put yourself before the rest of us."

 

Cynthia did so, and Rita went on, "Yes, Cynthia Farshore, is the very special  goat, we are here to honor. Her efforts with the airshows,  medival fun faire, BID MES, the popular Moon dances and primary builder, on this year's Sunbeamer RFL camp make her most worthy of this recognition. It is therefore with great honor, I wish to present you Cynthia, with our first ever 2022 Best Builder Trophy.  You have earned it!"

Cynthia's response was, "You know I really wasn't alone in all that." Shockwave smiled and responded, "Posh - you kicked ass and you know it." Rita went, ""Yeah, but you are the one we are handing the trophy to."

Congratulations Cynthia

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Interview With Sabina Valeska, An SL Video Award Winner About Her Passion as A Videographer

 

Recently, Marcel interviewed Sabina Valeska. She had recently won a competition, getting the February SL Video Award for music videos. So what inspires her to make videos, and what led to the winning one? Sabina had answers to these, and more.

Read Marcel's interview in Design.
 

RFL Announcement: Spirit of Relay Nominations Open

 

It's time to make your nominations for the 2021 Spirit of Relay Awards!!
The deadline to nominate a team and/or an individual person for each of these special awards is Friday, June 11.
Each form contains a full description of the award criteria. Your nominations will be considered when the awards are presented to team and to the individual at the Flood-the-Regions Wrap Up Party on Wednesday, June 16.

Team Nomination Form: http://bit.ly/21sort
Individual Nomination Form: http://bit.ly/21sori

Stingray Rainmaker
 

Sunbeamers At The Relaystock

 
The Relaystock was good news to many teams. It's organizers the Relay Rockers hit Purple level, and many others went up a fundraising level, such as Meli's Maniacs, Seekers of Hope, Team Invictus, Roos With a Dream, and others. While the Sunbeamers didn't get step up from their current level, Jade, they did make some good progress on it.

DJ Cynthia's event at the Relaystock stage was Saturday May 15 from 5:30 to 7PM. She shared the stage with several other "beamers" such as Shockwave and team captain Rita Mariner. She ended up raising almost 40,000 Lindens in the two kiosks on the stage. The following evening, Sunday May 16, DJ Matt was the closing act at 7:30 PM. Her event would raise several thousand at the stage kiosk. But people would donated at other Sunbeamer kiosks that night, and after the event continue to donate. By Monday, the Sunbeamer's total had gone up to over 640,000 Lindens. 

The awards for the CRFB DJ competition were also given out that night. DJ Mattie would get the fourth place trophy for when she took part in on April 13, raising over 110,000 Lindens for the Relay Rockers.

As of the writing of this article the team has raised a total of over  678,000 Linden dollars. With the Sunbeamer Medieval Festival this weekend, the total promises to go higher.

 Go Snowbeamers! Go Relay!

Bixyl Shuftan
 

2021 VWBPE Thinkerer Award Goes to Wisdomseeker (Lissena Resident)

 

A number of things happened at the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education conference, including a few discussions by the Lindens (more about them later). And near the end they gave out their Thinkerer Award. This was at the closing ceremony in which a number of people were thanked (including the Newser). The winner of the award was Wisdomseeker (Lissena Resident). 

Read the story in People.

RFL Team Sunbeamers Platinum Award

 

 When the Relay for Life's season started, team Sunbeamers made Platinum level fundraising right away thanks to off-season donations. On Friday Feb 26 at Club Cutlass, team captain Rita Mariner showed off the (virtually) physical award the team had gotten. So yours truly posed next to it with the dinkie fox avatar, of which it was the last night I had to wear it as part of the Platinum avatar challenge.

So what happens when we reach Jade level? Well, you'll see.

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

Bixyl Shuftan

Who Should Be Second Life's "Man of the Year?"

Time Magazine recently announced their Person of the Year. Over the years, the news magazine has given the title to the man, woman, group, or object that the editorial staff felt was the greatest newsmaker in the previous year, for better or for worse. Some of their selections have been controversial, such as Stalin and Ayatollah Khomeini. And some raised eyebrows such as "The Computer" in 1983. This year it was teen activist Greta Thunberg.

With this in mind, whom was the person, persons, or object who had the most impact on Second Life in 2019? In 2018, it was the volunteer staff of Second Life's 15th anniversary celebration. 2019 has had it's number of newsmakers involving Second Life, from the Relay volunteers, to the moles, to the people waiting in line for their Linden Home houseboats, to Juliet Heberle and Arabesque Choche whose Chouchou sims were chosen by the Lab to be preserved, and others.

So whom do you think should be the Newser's Man (or Woman) of the Year? Feel free to leave your comments below.

SL Video: "Linden Lab Spirit of Relay"

(Click here if the video fails to play)

From Stingray Rainmaker on August 6, "In appreciation for 15 years of working together to fight cancer in the virtual world, Second Life. Find support and services at American Cancer Society island in Second Life. To support the American Cancer Society in Second Life, contact Stingray9798 Raymaker (in-world)."

RFL Announcement: Closing Ceremony Awards

The following awards were given at the Closing Ceremonies of the Relay Weekend. More Awards will be made at the "Relay Wrap-Up" later this month.

*  *  *  *  *

CANCER EDUCATION AWARENESS   
Awarded to campsites earning top scores for incorporating information and education about cancer and/or the American Cancer Society into their build.    
3rd    Circle of Life
2nd    UFS Metamorphosis
1st    Inspired Dreamwalkers

BEST THEME DECORATED   
Awarded to the campsites earning the top 3 scores for the all-around design interpretation of the 2019 Relay For Life of Second Life theme: All Aboard! For A Cure!  The inclusion of www.cancer.org information from the American Cancer Society is important.    
3rd The Goreans
2nd Inspired Dreamwalkers
1st UFS Metamorphosis   

BEST WALK THRU   
Top score for Best Walk Thru Experience

TIE for 3rd Camping for a Cure
TIE for 3rd  Questing for the Cure
2nd  SUNBEAMERS  
1st Team Live Wire 

BEST RIDE THRU   
Top score for Best Riding Experience    
Guardians of the Grid

DESIGNER
Awarded for the design team build that captures the essence, reality and scale of the real or imaginary worlds they represent, and truly gives a world to call our own for a brief and unforgettable moment in time.  

3rd RFL Survivor ~ Designed by:  Darkstone Aeon & BB Woodford with the Hope Haven Survivor/Caregiver Support Group

2nd RFL Support ~ RFL Support- Mac Pierce  

1st  RFL Celebrate~ Rex (Archer Mactavish)

EPIC OUTREACH MEGA   
3rd Christmas Expo 
2nd Sci Fi Convention 
1st Fantasy Faire 

EPIC TEAM EVENT Awarded to groups, individuals or teams, who reach outward into Second Life to promote awareness of Relay For Life, the American Cancer Society, it’s Mission, and encourage participation to new audiences.

3rd Inspired Dreamwalkers  An Eggstra-Ordinary Event       
2nd Relay Rockers  Relay Stock
1st Harmony of Hope Life is a Beach  Muddy's Music Cafe  

BEST NEW EPIC
Inspired Dreamwalkers  An Eggstra-Ordinary Event

MC AWARDS   
1st Head Hunters MC
2nd HAMC Renegades/HAMC Texas
3rd Heaven's Vixens

RFL Team Sunbeamers Reach 400K, Win Campsite Award

With the Relay Weekend over, the various teams have much to cheer about. This includes Team Sunbeamers, whom while it took a month to go from 250K to 300,000 Linden dollars, raised, the Weekend event provided a big boost. The campsite kiosk alone took in 86K, bringing the team total to 410,000 Linden dollars. While a milestone in itself, the team hopes to make one more: Jade level.

Sunnies:  If you can donate, please do, time is running out for this year's RFL, RELAY WEEKEND is almost over and time to collect and count donations is fast approaching an end, for this year.  I would love to reach JADE Level, but can't do it without your support and help.  Please donate to any SUNBEAMER Kiosk, as much as you can, so we can reach thew 500,000L level and make JADE!

Yours truly is also offering a "Jade Avatar Challenge," going green for a week (except when doing interviews, or anything else obviously Newser related).

Other teams also have much to crow about. Among them is the newcomer first year team "Camping for a Cure" which has raised almost two million Lindens and put itself in the number three spot in the team totals page.

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

Who Should Be Second Life's "Man of the Year?"

The noted TIME magazine recently issued it's annual "Man of the Year" edition, as it has for decades, the person whom it feels made the biggest impact in news events for the past year. It's not always a man, as women have won it. It's not always a good guy, as it's been awarded to dictators. Sometimes it's awarded to a group of people, as it was this year when it was awarded to a number of journalists whom have dealt with persecution, and in once case death, at the hands of authoritarian governments. Sometimes the choice stirs controversy, such as one year when it was awarded to "The Computer," and at other times when it was awarded to someone whom had obviously made the news for destruction and death.

So whom was the biggest newsmaker over the past year in Second Life? What man, woman, group of people, or even thing, made the most news here?

This will be the fifth time the Newser has given the title. In 2014, the new CEO of Linden Lab Ebbe Linden was the Man of the Year. In 2015, the residents of Steelhead were the Community of the Year. In 2016, the title was given to the Relay for Life in Second Life. In 2017, someone from outside Second Life was chosen for the first time with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai getting the title for the potential damage his Net Neutrality could have for the virtual world.

So who will be number five? For now, we're still taking suggestions. Feel free to list then in the comments below.

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: Relay Weekend Awards Final

Awards were presented this morning during the Relay Weekend Closing Ceremony. Congratulations to all recipients and job well done to all the Relayers who spent so much time to build camps and provide this Relay with an amazing track. Remaining awards will be presented at the Wrap Up Party in August.

Cancer Education Awareness Award

1st Place - Relay Rockers
2nd Place - Harmony of Hope
3rd Place - Goreans in Relay For Life
Favorite Walk Through - Elves of Hope
Favorite Ride - Harmony of Hope
Favorite Abstract Build - Heroes Helping Heroes
Favorite Realism - Inspired Dreamwalkers

Theme Decorated Campsite Award

1st Place tie - The Goreans in Relay For Life and Harmony of Hope
2nd Place - Bonanza Country RFL Team
3rd Place - Touched by Angel
Favorite Walk Through - Relay Rockers
Favorite Ride - Harmony of Hope
Favorite Abstract Build - Team Livewire
Favorite Realism Build - Fly For Life

Designer Region Award

1st Place - Null Aries (Mac Pierce) - South America Hero
2nd Place - Cassie Eldemar- Europe Dedication
3rd Place - Cuddly Waffle - Survivor Caregiver

Epic Outreach Award

1st Place - Fantasy Faire
2nd Place - Home and Garden Expo
3rd Place - Christmas Expo

Rising Star Award

1st Place - Ritz New York
2nd Place - Relay for Christ
3rd Place - GTFO 4 Life

All-Star Award

1st Place Tie - Harmony of Hope and Fighting Sunflowers
2nd Place - Relay Rockers
3rd Place - Bonanza Country RFL Team

Who Will Be The Newser's Man (or Woman) of The Year

In real life news, Time Magazine just announced their Man of the Year, or rather "Persons of the Year," known as "The Silence Breakers." This is an annual tradition of theirs going back since they first gave the title to Charles Lindbergh in 1927, the man, woman, or sometimes group of people or object, whom they feel had the most impact in the news in the past year for good or ill. While often seen as a badge of honor, the title has on occasion gone to some villainous figures such as Joseph Stalin and Ayatollah Khomeini. And once in a while it goes to an object, such as the computer.

But what about Second Life? Who here has had the most significant impact in the news about the virtual world?

There's been no shortage of news in the past year from the release of Sansar, to noted residents to departed the Grid, to charity groups such as the Relay for Life, to the plans by the FCC to repeal Net Neutrality which could be potentially very bad for Second Life, and more.

This will be the fourth time the Newser has given the title. In 2014, the new CEO of Linden Lab Ebbe Linden was the Man of the Year. In 2015, the residents of Steelhead were the Community of the Year. And in 2016, the title was given to the Relay for Life in Second Life.

So who do you the readers think made the most difference in the news in Second Life this year? Please leave us your opinions below.

2017 Relay Weekend Awards

Presented at the Closing Ceremony of the Relay Weekend

Cancer Education Awareness Award

Source of content must come from cancer.org , and the experience should be interactive 

1st     Relay Rockers
2nd   Go the Distance
3rd    Dreamin in Purple

 Inventive Creative Fundraising Award

Awarded for the unique, creative and successful method of RFL fundraising at the team campsite.

1st     Old World Artisan Guild
2nd   Go the Distance
3rd    Dreamin in Purple

Best Themed Decorated Campsite Award

Awarded for the all-around design interpretation of the RFL of SL 2017 ‘Passport To Hope’ theme.

1st    Dreamin in Purple
2nd   Circle Of Life and Sunbeamers
3rd    Go the Distance

Designer Sim Award

Awarded for the design team build that captures the essence, reality and scale of the real or imaginary worlds they represent, and truly gives a world to call our own for a brief and unforgettable moment in time.

1st     Luna Barak  RFL Survivor Caregiver Region
2nd   Eclair Martinek   RFL Remission
3rd    Alia Baroque  RFL Imagine

New Team Participation Award

Awarded to the new team for 2017 that displays exemplary organization and participation during the 2017 Relay Season and Relay Day event.

1st     The Finishing School Of Angels
2nd   Buckin Cancer and Lil Rockers
3rd    Old World Artisans Guild

Returning Team Participation Award

Awarded to the returning team for 2017 that displays exemplary organization and participation during the 2017 Relay Season and Relay Day event.

1st     Relay Rockers
2nd   Bonanza Country RFL Team
3rd    Team Shadow and Aether Chronoauts Tiny Steps (ACTS)

More awards to be presented at the Relay Wrap-Up in August, including The Spirit of the Relay, Team and Individual.

Source: RFL of Second Life.

Relay Weekend, Day Two

Day two of the Relay Weekend was a bit slower paced than the first. Many who pulled all-nighters were still sleeping in the morning. In the "Coffee, Curlers, and Cake" themed hour, Team ACTS was providing some free coffee, donuts, and other goodies at their campsite at RFL Hero (first image by Bain Finch).

Normally I try to be at the closing ceremonies. But this year, my computer just can't take the lag, given I was lasting a minute or less in the opening. So I just spent the time with my team, the Sunbeamers.

At 11 AM SL time was the "Victory Lap, in which the team got onto the field." And our team had a new victory to celebrate. We had won Second Place in campsite design. "The little team that could" had done it again.

Fireworks went off at various points along the track. While the Sunbeamers had come away with much this season, in fact the real victory belonged to every single Relayer. Once again, hundreds of thousands of US dollars had been raised this season for cancer research and treatment, bringing the world a little closer to the day suffering from it is a thing of the past.

Eventually, many of the people began heading out, to real life or other places in Second Life. But some would stick around, some at a couple parties at T1-Radio's location or Radioactive Air's place at RFL Support.

One team, OD Designs, was so close to leveling, that they held an event to try and push them over the mark while it was still the Relay Weekend. A few friends from the Sunbeamers came by to help things along, and eventually, "Team OD just made Silver! ... We made it ... thank you!"

This not yet the end of the Relay season, or the Relay track. The areas will still be up for a few more days. As far as yours truly knows, Wednesday July 19 will be the last day the sims and exhibits will soon be up, with the traditional "flood party" taking place sometime that day. After that, the sims will be closed and the contents picked up. Following that, teams can still hold events, and some will continue to do so. This will likely include the Sunbeamers, whom are talking about one last party to celebrate their successful season.

The final event, the Relay Wrap-Up will take place next month in August.

One image from Bain Finch

Bixyl Shuftan

Still Asking For Suggestions For "Man (or Woman) of The Year"

Earlier this month, the Second Life Newser announced that we would be giving someone (or perhaps a group of someones) the title of "Man of the Year." While we've gotten a few suggestions, we could still use more, and are open as to whom should get the title of whom made the most impact on Second Life's headline news this year.

So please give us your ideas. Who should be our "Man (or Woman) of the Year?"

Who Should Be Second Life Newser's Man (or Woman) of The Year?

In real life news, Time Magazine just announced their Man of the Year: Donald Trump. This is an annual tradition of theirs going back since they first gave the title to Charles Lindbergh in 1927, the man, woman, or sometimes group of people or object, whom they feel had the most impact in the news in the past year for good or ill. While often seen as a badge of honor, the title has on occasion gone to some villainous figures such as Joseph Stalin and Ayatollah Khomeini. And once in a while it goes to an object, such as the computer.

But what about Second Life? Who here has had the most impact in the news about the virtual world?

There's been no shortage of news in the past year from the chance to lower sim tiers to increases in prim capacity, to the development of Project Sansar, to two sims returning to the Grid, to political groups and the drama between some, to some noted residents who had their goodbyes, and charity groups such as the Relay for Life.

This will be the third time the Newser has given the title. In 2014, the new CEO of Linden Lab Ebbe Linden was the Man of the Year. In 2015, the residents of Steelhead were the Community of the Year. Who would have been declared it in the past? We did comment about whom would likely have.

So who do you the readers think made the most difference in the news in Second Life this year? Please leave us your opinions below.

Second Life Newser Wins Award of Excellence, "Voted #1 in News And Current Events"

While some Second Life publications concentrate on a single subject, such as fashion, the Second Life Newser has striven to cover a variety of subjects about the people, places, and events across the grid, and doing so on a daily basis. Innovative Second Life saw our work, and considered it the best in covering "news and current events."

We chose the SL Newser as the #1 news source because it is a well constructed webzine offering residents news about current events, innovative products, press releases and informative articles. Covering Second Life's current news and real life matters of concern that effect SL.

Innovative Second Life (http://innovativesecondlife.blogspot.com) call themselves, "a blog covering SL news, event's, helpful tips, great destinations and innovative products. We are an in-world group of real life writer's, photographers, editors and publisher's who love sharing everything about our wonderful virtual world of Second Life. ... The Innovative Second Life Group members are writers, journalist, publishers, photographers and editors in real life. Some of us were brought together when our real life jobs assigned us to research or cover stories about the virtual world of Second Life for tech magazines or human interest stories. While others were part of the original SL media group and it's affiliates. We explore SL and all of it's community's. Research new products and places and listen to other residents about their SL experiences and bring them to our readers."

And The Award Goes To ...

Gemma Cleanslate was among those who attended the Relay Wrap-Up yesterday, the last event of the Relay for Life fundraising season. Congratulations were handed out to all, and awards to several noted Relayers. Among the new awards was the "Community Champion" award. Two individuals were given the award. One was Zander Green. The other turned out to be one of the Second Life Newser crew.

Read Gemma's article in People.