Reader Submitted: "Rain at Cutlass"

 

 Sent by Kylee Gracemount. This was taken in November during Cutlass' "Sun and Rain" event. Looks like during the party, Rita broke out the rainstorm. Good thing some had raincoats and umbrellas. 

 

Reader Submitted Picture:

 

 From Kylee Gracemount. "Sun and Rain" was the theme for the party at Club Cutlass on Wednesday evening. And the rain was falling. 

 

No word about the smell of wet fur. 

 

The Flood Party, Next Year's Theme Announced

 

Wednesday June 11 at 4 PM was the last big event at the Relay tack, the Wrap Up party. Though it's better known as the Flood Party.

 

 It would take place at RFL Advovacy and Awareness. The water level was raised to the point people needed floaters to keep above it. 

 

 The event started when a sim manager on a whim in 2010 flooded a sim a few days after the Relay Weekend, and people rushed over with floaters and inner tubes. It became a Relay tradition. 

 

The Sunbeamers didn't bring a float, but a DWUK Army vehicle. 

 

 The event would be recorded (click here to view). 

 

Besides the revelry and fun, there were also a few announcements. The most important was that the theme for next year had been decided, Wild For A Cure. 

 

Following the event, a few would rush off to take down their campsites. But most would wait until the following day, Thursday June 12. 

 

Go Relay!

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Ten Years Ago: Ice Bucket Challenge

 

 It was about ten years ago an unusual fundraiser for a disease, turned social phenomena, had reached Second Life: the Ice Bucket Challenge. Originating as "the Cold Water Challenge" in early 2014 for various charities, such as hospice centers, by summer it had changed to the Ice Bucket Challenge with the focus becoming ALS, also known as Lou Gerigh's Disease, and quickly growing in popularity. There were numerous people dumping a bucket of ice cold water on their heads, naming several people to either do the same or donate to the ALS Association or other ALS related charities. Celebrities and politicians such as Weird Al Yankovic, Justin Beiber, LeBron James, and former President Bush would take part. Even Kermit the Frog took the challenge (video).

Like so many social phenomena, the Ice Bucket Challenge would eventually reach Second Life. Eventually people began creating scripted ice buckets, then douse themselves challenging friends to donate or do the same. While it might not be as inconvenient, or as freezing, as the real thing to those getting iced, it could be just as entertaining to those watching. A number of people would record their challenge on video, such as Kara Trapdoor, and Josie Anderton. Many would get dunked at a bucket set up at a wrestling association building, raising thousands of Lindens there alone.

And yes, yours truly would end up taking the challenge as well. 

It's unclear how many thousands of Lindens were raised in Second Life Ice Bucket Challenges. But the total amount raised worldwide was over 114 million dollars. In the words of the ALS association, it almost tripled the money raised for the charity and "dramatically accelerated" the fight against the disease.

Could a similar challenge come about ten years later for ALS in Second Life? Considering all of the "Bid Me Bald" events going on, one could. 

Have an ice day,

Bixyl Shuftan

Reader Submitted: "Forecast - Isolated Thunderstorms"

From Stingray (Stingray9798 Raymaker), whom posted this on the Relay for Life's Discord channel, "I don't know who did this, but I've got my eye on Alison Flow and Sienna Thor."

Flooding At The Happy Vixen, Club Zero Gravity

On Sunday November 19, the Happy Vixen beach club in the Purrfection Estates sim experienced some flooding. One moment the water was normal. The next, waves were coming over the dance floor. And soon the dancers were waist-deep in churning surf. But a few minutes later, the waters receded, and all was as before.

The previous day at Club Zero Gravity, a malfunction resulted in similar flooding in the space station. But somehow the water turned a shade of orange, then green. Geerkil Ziskey, whom was the DJ at the time, got up on the ceiling's gravity platform. After a few jokes about where the water might have come from, eventually someone turned on the drainage. And minutes later, the deck was dry again.

Two rare times when the situation at these two clubs was all wet.

Bixyl Shuftan

The Relay "Flood Party"

One of the traditions of the Relay for Life in Second Life following the Relay Weekend is the "Flood Party." Beginning as an impromptu event in 2010, there has been one every year just before the day the builds are scheduled to come down. On a few occasions, the "flood" was just ankle deep water. This year it was significantly deeper, enough to bring out the inner tubes and inflatables, and the water balloons.

Read the story in Events.

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at Club Cutlass

By Bixyl Shuftan

Still More Ice Bucket Challenge Pictures

There's been fewer Ice Bucket Challenge videos coming out on Facebook and Second Life chat, so it seems the fundraiser for ALS funding turned social phenomena may be finally running it's course. So here's a few more pictures which just might be our last ones.

C-Wing, who'd I'd known to come by Club Zero Gravity sometimes, decided to take up the challenge if I took a picture. So I did. Unfortunately, there was a catch. Among the three people he nominated was me, which I did, though there was a twist.

Someone else C-Wing would nominate was a pony avatar with a number instead of a name. He reffered to him as "forty-eight."

And the result was one shivering pony.

And finally came this picture of my neighbor from the now gone Woodlin community, Ekedo Phang. Being in a microfox avatar, his options for the Ice Bucket Challenge were somewhat limited. He sent this picture over, saying for him the challenge was not a dunking, but a freezing-cold bath.

And so goodbye to the Ice Bucket Challenge, at least we think this is the last of the pictures and videos. You're provided many entertaining moments, albeit at the expense of a little dignity, and provided millions in money for ALS research.

Bixyl Shuftan

Cartoon of the Day: The Ice Bucket Challenge

Well, after showing a number of videos of people taking the "Ice Bucket Challenge" in Second Life, it wasn't long before I was nominated myself by C-Wing, an occasional visitor to Club Zero Gravity. Well, as stated before, I just don't simply do something. And after a little thought, I came up with the cartoon idea above.

So I finally took the plunge, but not as a fox but as a feline. So here's your shivering ice cold wet kitty picture.

I haven't seen as many challenge videos in the past few days as last week, so it's possible the Ice Bucket Challenge may finally be starting to lose steam. It hasn't been without criticism, notably people wondering why do we need gimmicks to raise awareness and money for a disease. But the result has been millions more raised for ALS. Gimmicky or not, the results speak for themselves.

The challenge is still available to be taken at Alpha Centauri (164/173/28), and possibly other areas.

Bixyl Shuftan

LPP Neo: A Place of Floods and Mystery

Becky Shamen's been exploring again. Her travels recently took her to a place called simply "LPP Neo." Described as a steampunk house in a flooded region, the three sim area defies easy description. But looking around, there are things that don't seem quite right. Not glitches, but clues to what seems like a larger mystery.

Read Becky's story in Places.

New Toulouse Floods

By Bixyl Shuftan

Earlier this week, the sim of New Toulouse, made to look like New Orleans in the early 20th Century, experienced a rare event. The place was hit by a storm and a flood. The water level rose, making walking around a wet experience.

Dropping in on the sim on Sunday, on the streets, the water level had risen a few feet. This meant for a five to six foot tall avatar, they'd  be about waist deep in water. Buildings such as shops had less of a problem, the water level less then a foot. But they still made for a damp shopping experience. Fortunetly there were ways of getting about besides taking a bath. In some places, there were boats available for people to take a copy, rezz on the water, and get on and paddle away. in places there were items floating, such as crates and sections of tree trunk.

While going about, I came across a talk between Nikita Weyman, a menfolk, and Henri Godenot. Henri is the owner of the New Toulouse and New Toulhouse Bayou sims. The two were discussing something about a Kraken, or rather the lack of one. Henri insisted, "There are no Krakens in the Bayou!" He insisted "the weird noises over by the wrecked cargo ships are caused by settling. "

Henri stated the flood had been caused by a hurricane, "storm cane in on Saturday morning, and appears to be stationary." "The rain started Friday," Nikita told, "but the sky didn't get weird and all my stuff start blowing away until Saturday." She turned to the mayor, "I think my outhouse is floating out toward your houseboat, Mr. G."

Henri told me evacuation orders had been issued, but "People have been picking up stuff and throwing parties, the evacuation has been a complete failure. in fact I think there are more people here than before the storm." He mentioned there had been some incidents, "The water rises, stuff blows in, weird stuff happens. Like that Sushi Boat Accident by the Bridge." "Sushi boat accident?" I asked, "Sure, Sushi Boat accident, because  THERE ARE NO KRACKENS IN THE BAYOU!!"

More guests arrived and Niki wanted to swim elsewhere, so the rest of us took the conversation indoors. Henri stated hurricanes and floods typical are handled about once a year.It was mentioned a boatload of coffee sank, leading to a few jokes about wide-awake fish.

Before I left, Henri thought the flood would be around for at least two more days. Coming by on Thursday, the flood was gone, and the streets were dry again.

I never did find anything about a Kracken, though.

Bixyl Shuftan

Dunk the Emperor

On Saturday, DrFran Babcock attended a Relay For Life event with a twist. Ultralite Soliel, the creator and 'Emperor' of the Tiny Empires game, volunteered to be among those in the dunk  tank. And so, people took turns tossing balls to hit the target and send the imperial figure into the drink, eventually getting him to change his clothes into something else.

Read DrFran's story in People.