Announcement: RFL Team Fundrasing Totals, Week Eight

This list is for the first  8 weeks with totals as of Monday 04/6/2020.

Congrats to everyone who has hit a Fundraising Club Level!!!! We are definitely saying "Game On, Cancer!"

Bronze

Harshlands, MC - DARK ANGEL REBELS, Southern Nights Country Club, MC - Legends MC, MC - Cobras MC World, MC - Highway to Rock, Team Bobbi Sue, UFS Metamorphosis, Purpose SL Homes, Sisters in SL, Foundation For Life, Cruz4Life, United Artists of SL, Secret Desirez, Sweet Genesis, Team Sol Existence, MC - Thunder Demons MC, MC - RWA HELLS ANGELS, SOUL SISTERS n FaMiLy, Midnight Renegade Country Club, RFL Evenstarr's, Giant Snail Races, Stay PAWsitive, GridPlay, Team OD, Team Live Wire, Steelhead Salmons, Feed Your Soul, Find A Cure, Sail For Life, Slatanic Mechanic, PawZ! For the Cause!, MC - Voodoo Rebels MC, We are Dragon's, Ministry of Dance, Mini A Chuu, Team Core Charities, Bluzsters For Life, The Krazy Korner Team

Silver

MC - Relay Goes MC, Esalinus, Second Life Cheerleading Squad, Meli's Maniacs, Relay for Christ, SHB Gems, Sanctuary Rockers, Secret Garden Productions, Supernaturals For A Cure, MC - Outlaws KY MC, Burners Without Borders in SL, Mieville Steampunks, MC - Blood Wolfs MC, B - Bellis Blues & Djs, Circle of Life


Gold

BlueWaters Plaza, MC - SISTERS OF MAYHEM, LOW GEAR AUTO RACING, Cancer Gets Stung, Inspired Dreamwalkers, Friends For A Cure, Relay Rockers, Seekers of Hope, Spirit of the DragonRFL, RGF Estates for RFL, Free Spirit Hippie Brigade, The Second Fiddle For RFL, Gor - Port Kar, Nightfall RFL, Attention on Cancer, Stormy's Stars

Platinum

MC - HeadHunters, Goreans in Relay For Life, Aether Chrononauts Tiny Steps, Team Shadow, Roos With A Dream, Gull's Wing Sailing Club, The Grove Country Club Estates RFL Team, SUNBEAMERS


Jade

Heroes Helping Heroes
MC - The River of Life



Sapphire

Bellisseria for RFL
Cure Chasers


Emerald

Camping for a Cure

Topaz

Harmony of Hope

SL Video: "Lost"

(Click here if the video does not play)

From The Demented One on March 22

Announcement: "A Sad Loss in SL, RL and Builders Brewery," William Beauclerc Has Died

Today, we grieve one of our own at Builders Brewery. I am sorry to announce the passing of our very dear friend, Williambeauclerc. Known and loved by so many as BB's Show and Tell host, teacher, script guru, moderator, mentor and the calm in all our storms...

He passed away from complications un-related to COVID19. He knew this may be coming, yet he faced it  with amazing bravery and acceptance, just like how he handled all of us in our moments of chaos ... always

From Sensuous Maximus in Builders Brewery group

Reflections: Ten Years Ago ...

Ask most people what happened to them ten years ago this month on the first or second weekend, they probably wouldn't remember. For yours truly however, it was a fateful day in his Second Life, one that would set the stage for the end of one chapter and the start of another. Ten years ago, despite all the Coronavirus stories, despite everything going on in Second Life, I still think back to what happened.

Read the commentary in Extra. 

Linden Lab States New Users Up 60%

Some interesting news about people singing up for Second Life. Brett Linden recently wrote to the Newser about the Second Life Book Club (which we'll write about later). But he also had some good news about how many people were signing up for Second Life these days.


Second Life has recently experienced a bit of a resurgence in new users due to the current public health crisis. Our new user registrations have increased about 60% since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak and we’ve been seeing the highest number of concurrently logged in users in several years. While the platform is about 17 years old, many people are rediscovering it as a place for conversation, community and collaboration while in social isolation.



Checking for statistics on how many sign up per day is tricky. The statistical charts on Tateru Nino's blog have a listing for them that only goes up to May 2019, the last day mentioning 8148. So is Second Life getting close to 5000 more signups per day, or about 13,000 due to the Coronavirus crisis? This would make it about 2000 more a day than two years ago. That is, if the number of people of people signing up remained about constant from May 2019 to the start of the crisis. It would certainly be good news for Linden Lab, and Second Life. Especially if more of these new users stayed.

Sources: Dwell on It, SL forums 

Bixyl Shuftan

Easter Scenes

Taken by Gemma Cleanslate  at her Philosophy class, or her "Easter Bunny Class." as she called it.

From the Easter event at Club Zero Gravity on Wednesday April 8. While DJ Snowbuns was "hopping down the bunny trail" of tunes, chocolate eggs were raining from the ceiling.

Announcement: This Saturday at The Science Circle - "Horse-hunting Crocodiles of Ancient Germany"

"Horse-hunting Crocodiles of Ancient Germany"

Saturday April 11

10 AM to 11 AM SL time

About 45 million years ago, Germany was part of a warm subtropical set of islands, teeming with life. In this warm, greenhouse environment reptiles were enormously successful, reaching larger body sizes than mammals and pushing into new ecological roles. Explore the fascinating environment known as Geisletal with Dr. Alex Hastings as he presents some of his research from his fellowship at Martin Luther University in Halle, Germany.

To read more, Click Here.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/67/129/32

Press Release: Twelve Years Club Lion

★ ☆ ★ 12 YEARS CLUB LION Party ★ ☆ ★
We are proud to announce Club Lion’s 12 Year Anniversary Party.

Theme Party : GLOW IN THE DARK

Club Lion’s 12 Year party will be absolutely AMAZING. We have a Fantastic lineup of Singers for your entertainment. I’ve worked hard creating a venue that you will enjoy and have a great time during our shows. We’d like to thank all of our Singers and Dancers in advance for participating in this celebration.

P R O J E C T " X " - L I O N - E L I T E - D A N C E R S
>>>>> Premier of Glow in the Dark Show <<<<<
Choreography, Music mixed and Stage built by Nita Wunderlich
Showdancers : Ricardo, Isabeau, Moful, Rofina, Leslie, Rosi, Maribol, Huanita

Friday 17th April 2020

11 pm slt : WARM UP with Torben Asp
12 pm slt : Shaye Dezno
1 pm slt : PutriSoloSinger
2 pm slt : Ricardo Avalira
3 pm slt : Khiron Ametza
4 pm slt : Hogan Baily

Saturday 18th April 2020

11 pm slt : WARM UP with Psiquence
12 pm slt : ElvisAronPresley Lisa
1 pm slt : Maribol Inshan
2 pm slt : ian Bleac
3 pm slt : Paul Nowles
4 pm slt : Veronica Weksler

Sunday 19th April 2020

11 pm slt : WARM UP with DonFranko Dagostino
12 pm slt : Mar Biddle
1 pm slt : Dandy Pianoman
2 pm slt : Tim Anadyr
3 pm slt : Lyn Carlberg
4 pm slt : WashedUp Sideways

Meet new Friends and have a great and fun time. We look forward to welcoming you and invite you to make us a place where you will come to enjoy a happy times with us. Come on over, and bring your friends!! You won’t be disappointed!!

Club Lion

Shockwave's Easter Maze

Every Easter (real-life permitting), Shockwave Yareach has always had a holiday-themed game for his fellow Sunweavers, and their friends. This year, it's a maze in which you have to find all the Easter eggs inside. The place is located high above the Sunweaver Eclipse sim.

Going to the entrance, you'll see a chocolate bunny. Clicking it, you'll get a basket, which you wear or attach. There's also a set of instructions.

When you got this notecard, you also recieved "EasterBasket012".  You must wear this during the egg hunt.  When you find an egg, simply touch it and the egg will appear in your basket.  It's just that simple.  You also get a copy of the egg that you can put out in your home or in your garden -- pretty.

But... you have to FIND them all first.  And thats not so easy.

First of all, they are in a 120m x 120m maze.  Aaaand, they move around the sim!

And did I mention, the eggs are small and hard to spot?

Not all is lost though, brave egg chaser!  Because most of the sides of the maze are not walled in.  This means, you can look in and try to find a route to eggs within the maze.  You don't have to make your way through the entire maze to reach an egg -- only part of it.  Work as a team, one person guiding and the other hunting!  Get all 14 eggs and win a special prize!

Good luck and most of all, have fun!!

Taking a look myself, it didn't take too long to find three eggs. Obviously though, the more you find, the harder the remainder will be to locate. Shockwave didn't say how long the maze will be up, though it should still be around up to a few days after Easter.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunweaver%20Eclipse/20/6/2001 

Bixyl Shuftan

Veterans Isle Thanks It's Friends

The benefit concert on Sunday March 29 at Veterans Isle for the Homes For Our Troops charity was a success with 186,350 Linden dollars raised. A week later on April 5 at Noon SL time, they asked various friends and supporters over the past year to come by. There were some questions such as how much of the money raised goes to overhead (less than ten percent, over 90% of the money raised by HFOT is used for homes). One question led to it being stated that Linden Lab occasionally demands documentation by the people representing Homes For Our Troops in Second Life.

But the main purpose of the meeting was for Frets Nirvana, the people at Veterans Isle, and two people from Homes For Our Troops, Mike and Jamie Crossman, to thank their friends and supporters for their help, "You are special to this effort and we value your support.  Thank you for all you do."

Cartoon of the Day: Bunny Mask

Taken at Xanadu. The Coronavirus epidemic has resulted in thousands wearing masks. Which leads one to wonder. If you didn't have to worry about spreading it, why else would a guy be wearing one?

By Bixyl Shuftan

Interview with Nams of Static and the Gacha Guild

The Gacha Guild event is over. But the people behind it are back to work with other things they've been doing, and there's the next one this fall. Before it started, Cyfir (Cyfiremmerich) had a chance to interview one of the people behind it: Nams (Nama Gearz). While the interview wasn't finished until after the event, there's still plenty of new information.

Read Cyfir's interview in Design.

RFL Sunbeamers : Nydia Tunngsten's "Bid Me" At Club Cutlass

Team Sunbeamers is doing another "Bid Me" fundraiser event. This time, the vic- er, volunteer is sim and club owner Nydia Tungsten, whom is offering to change into one of five other avatars for a while.

BID ME!   I have Joined Rita's "Bid Me" event, I have 6 AVI's you can bid on, the highest bid AVI win me being that for however long bid, It's for a GREAT cause so come and pick a look for me!   http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunweaver%20Bay/121/128/757

There are six kiosks for people to donate to. Besides the "default" kiosk to "Keep Nydia foxy," from left to right the choices are (2) Skunkgirl, (3) Raccoon/Rabbit hybrid, or her "Swtiched Destinies" character Nydia Tangen Baron, (4) Bunnygirl, (5) Purple vixen, and (6) normal human.

When the period for the "Bid Me" is over, for every 2000 donated in the winning kiosk, rounded down, Nydia has to stay that look for a week. For instance, if the top kiosk had 3999 Lindens, she only has to stay that appearance for one week, while if it was 4000 she would be stuck for two weeks.

The kiosks will be up until 8PM Saturday April 18. Following the end of the Saturday Night party, the totals will be finalized and the winning choice made.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunweaver%20Bay/121/128/757

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

Bixyl Shuftan

Correction: I thought the fifth choice was a purple huskygirl at first. But was told that was a fox avatar by a different maker.

April Fools, Part Two

Last week's April Fool story in the Newser was one of our more successful ones in terms of response. The first picture was the Newser building in Nydia Tungsten's Minecraft server, built by Jasmine Dawn. "Sneaky and clever" one reader called it."You got me," commented another. Still another deadpaningly suggested I delete the article in the grounds Linden Lab with their mentality might actually do what was in the joke article. Most just laughed, or groaned.

With this April being a particularly bad time, with the world in the worst epidemic since the Influenza Pandemic of 1918, pretty much everyone agreed that joking about spreading the virus wasn't funny at all. Some countries warned that spreading "Coronavirus misinformation on April Fools Day" was punishable by jail time. There were also a few suggestions from some that April Fools jokes shouldn't be done, period. But with so many essentially trapped in their homes on the verge of going stir crazy, more felt the country needed a chuckle more than ever.

As it turned out, the Newser's prank article wasn't the only April Fool played in Second Life. Gemma Cleanslate was witness to the Moles pulling some foolery of their own. Firestorm got into the act, with it's "Message of the Day" appearing scrambled, but I was told was actual languages (and unfortunately I never got a screenshot).

In the world of gaming, World of Tanks had a game called "Turret Town." War Thunder had a special game for the next few days : "Space Thunder." In Guild Wars, giant cats appeared in various places in the game. In Overwatch, googly-eyes appeared on characters.



(click here if the video fails to play)

Minecraft added a new feature that at first looked like a clever joke, tossing signed books into nether portals creating new dimensions. But it looks like an actual new feature.

There are a few more listed in PC Gamer and  Destructoid, such as a supposed "Ducktales" game in the making that turned out to be just "April Fool."


Sources: CCN, CNN, The Hill, PhlyDaily, PC Gamer,

Bixyl Shuftan

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

Here's what's going on at the Sunweaver, the Montecito Bay clubs, and the Furry Fashion Lounge.
 
Club Cutlass: Best in 'X', 'Y', and 'Z', Scary Stuff, Red and Blue

Happy Vixen: Ferals, Cadburry Bunny Tryouts, TBA, Zoo Animals, Stripes, Mods and Mixes, Weres, Easter, Tatoos and Fur Patterns

Xanadu: The Happy Show, Retro Hippy Show

Club Zero Gravity: TBA,

Montecito Bay: TBA

Furry Fashion Lounge: Canines vs Felines, Retro, CAYA, Gothic, Ferals, Genderbend, Late Night, Pokemon

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'.

CDS Announcement: The Neufreistadt Kirche Available For Meetings

- Remembering those impacted by COVID-19, CDS honors worldwide health care providers
- available for celebrations of life, silent contemplation, group religious, spiritual, or non-religious gatherings
- no fees or obligations

We all know heartbreaking stories of people who have lost beloved family members and friends to this horrid, highly contagious COVID-19 global pandemic. As devastating as it is to lose a loved one, that pain is further deepened because next of kin are forbidden customary ways of grieving and mourning, forbidden to gather with supportive family and friends to celebrate a life and soothe the transitions. While those prohibitions apply to our solid lives, they don't to our Second Lives. Here we can hug and console each other. And while we can't prevent these tragedies from happening, we can provide people with a welcoming gathering space.

The people of the Second Life community of the Confederation of Democratic Simulators, known as the CDS, have a beautiful kirche on the Platz in Neufriestadt. We offer this kirche as a place where people can hold their mourning and celebration gatherings. The architecture of Neufreistadt is inspired by the physical world town of Rothenburg, Bavaria and that includes the beautiful Romanesque kirche. 

Here's a little bit about this kirche. From the beginning our kirche has been a nonsectarian public space. Consistent with the town architecture, we normally have a triptych that is a replica of the 16th C one by Tilman Riemenschneider in St. James's Church, Rothenburg ob der Tauber set up in front but that is easy to remove and replace with other religious or non religious pieces to accommodate the preferences of any gathering. We hope this offer will give some piece and relief to people in need.

With our most sincere gratitude, the CDS community has placed blue lights around the kirche bell tower dome to honor the healthcare providers around the world during this COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.

Anyone who wants to use the kirche should contact our Chancellor, Emilia Dagostino (emilia.avindar) inworld or via email emilia.avindar@yahoo.com for assistance.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Neufreistadt/134/175/173

Delia Lake

FMI about the CDS: https://cdsdemocracy.org/

SL Video: "Second Life, Living The Virtual World Dream | The 2020 Comeback"

(Click here if the video does not play)

By Luca on April 2, "Second Life never went away, and now people, and the world are primed and ready to see how it truly is. Live the dream of the metaverse."

Bell Weather

When it comes to weather in Second Life, a few sims had systems for simulated rain, and the old NOAA sim had a hurricane. But most of us are used to place after place with sunny, or moonlit, skies with a few clouds at most. But when Gemma dropped in on April 1, she started hearing about something very much different going on in the new continent of Bellisseria. A storm system had developed, spawning tornadoes. In her story today, she writes about this unusual weather, and the chaos that followed afterward on this April Fools Day.

Read the article by Gemma in Places.

Image credit: Achilles Audion

Update on Second Norway/Sailors Cove

About two weeks ago, word started getting around that the Second Norway sims, located at the eastern part of the Blake Sea, were in trouble. Soon after at the VWBPE conference, Patch Linden stated that Linden Lab was in talks with owner Ey Ren, and was confident of a good outcome. Since then, starting on April 2, Ey began posting updates of the situation on his "Bald Elf Blog."

For those in Second Norway, Ey has stated no one there has to pay tier "until further notice. ... No regions will be taken offline without prior notice in due time. Tier payments will however be a matter between tenants and the new owner once region ownership has changed. I will research how to fund regions not changing ownership. Eventually, I will start removing regions which I am unable to keep or get new owners/sponsors for. All removals will be announced well before they happen."

For another estate of sims to the south, Sailors Cove, Ey announced that 24 of the 45 sims were being handed over to Patrick Leavitt. Of the sims left, four would be taken down, "This is to avoid entanglement with Patrick's regions and allow for eventual expansion."

A lot of infrastructure and rental equipment will have to be replaced and change hands over the next couple of weeks as we help Patrick and his estate managers get in control over the areas. Tenants will be contacted and given info on how to proceed under new ownership.

Stay tuned for further updates.

Hat tip: Inara Pey

Bixyl Shuftan

Xanadu is Back, Official Re-Opening Tonight

Some good news for fans of Club Xanadu. After being closed for months, the venue is back in operation. After some time in hiatus, co-owner and operator Perri Prinz felt it was time to bring the place up and running. She had planned for Monday night to start things up.

But then the unexpected happened. When Sunweaver Estate owner Rita Mariner tried to restart Sunweaver Bay where Club Cutlass was, the sim wouldn't come back online. So when it was time for the Saturday night party, the event was moved to Xanadu.

The theme was "Doctors and Nurses" as a salute to those on the front line combating the global Coronovirus epidemic. 3000 Lindens was on both the male and female boards, and the place soon had a number of people dancing away.

The contest was won by Zorro Wuramunga and Mieka May (MiekaRueon Resident) for men and women respectively.

Perri would write about the event on her Facebook page.

Credit: Perri Prinz

Surprise event at Xanadu last night because Club Cutlass was down from server issues. I was scheduled to DJ the Doctors & Nurses event at Cutlass. So we just brought everybody over to my club, and I got a bit of a bath of fire at getting back into club running, as nothing seemed to work at first. But nobody else seemed to notice any problems I was having.


The official Grand Re-opening is tonight, April 6, at 8PM SL time. For now, the club will be open three days a week from Monday to Wednesday 8-10 PM.

Xanadu is jointly owned by Perri Prinz and Recoyote Mindes. The building is a classic rock club named for the movie in which the Pan Pacific Auditorium is restored to a nightclub. There have been a few periods of hiatus when real-life interfered with the management, but the building has always stood there since it's construction.

HV Community (67/207/4051)

Cartoon of the Day: Lightsaber Accidents Before Class

Taken at the VWBPE Keynote. Holstering a weapon on one's back can be tricky. When done with a sword or gun, it can be seen like cloth over it or poked through the clothes. But as a lightsaber can do damage just by touching, it this case it looks like it got shoved in, either by an enemy or a training accident. So why wouldn't it be removed? Memories of life in the education system made me think of one possible reason.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Press Release: March 2020 HFOT Donations

Hi everyone.  What a difference a month makes.  These are certainly some challenging times and I hope all of you are staying safe and well.  I am happy to report that even in this crazy environment many kind folks realized that our severely disabled veterans needs are even more prevalent. And as a result we sent over $1900 to Homes for Our Troops in March 2020. So far this year we have now sent $3000 to HFOT in 2020.  Let’s beat 2019’s $14000 total!

Once again we had some great performers and their managers step up and help.  Give that applause to:
Waya Snowpaw DJ
Toxie Darkmatter and her manager Troy Nelson Musicspeaks Management
Erin Frog and Satin Gali
Austin Moores
QuadRadiX and their manager Carol Greenwood
Charice
Savannah Rain and her management team Bad Management
Anek Fuchs


Then we really appreciate the special effort made by these folks:

EastbayRay and the Legion of Vets MC
JulesA Flow, Salonios Koolhoven and DOOWOPS FOREVER at Gigli Isles
RGHangnLo and all the folks at RG’s hangout
Cayleen Linette and everyone at Cay's at Woodland Lake
Creed Bimbogami aand all the folks of Patriots of War MC
Hayanah Resident at Aether Woods and Musicians of Gor
Fire Bonfire and everyone at Boots and Lace Country Rock Club
Joi Shepherd and all the folks at Runaround Sues
All the folks at Clubmojo
Bixyl Shuftan and all the folks at Purrfection estates

Then thank you to these folks for your steady support with the donations kiosks they have placed in Second Life:

Boo Chant  at Coconut Grove
All the folks at Tobacco Road
JacksonTrig Resident and the Jacksonville Concert Series
KittyCat Ninetails and Kittycat’s Creations
Ashley Steele and the folks at Saddles Live Music Venue & Retreat
Mrs Tara Ἤᾄяяἷşὄᾗ   and DJ Tim
Eythel Popstar and E's OASIS & RESORT
Dirk danger and the All Breedable market
Fire Bonfire and everyone at Boots and Lace Country Rock Club
Snuppelure Resident at Xanadu Isle
Jaztone Resident and all the folks at HAVOK Entertainment
Jay Sparowtree and the folks at Gorean Whip Radio.
Shaunny Stovall and Waterfalls Jazz Club & Lounge
Devil Loordes and SHOOTING STAR ENTERTAINMENT
Ɲɨӿ Ð. Ɽavenheart  and Country Sisters Country & Mix Club
Kyle W. Forrester and Liberty Fire Dept & Alvinawind Fire Dept

It is always an honor to have so many folks support this important cause.

Thank you,

Frets Nirvana

Announcement: This Week at the Seanchai Libraries

THIS WEEK: Fresh Tales, Soulful Words, and a New Guest!
Share the joy of stories this week, presented LIVE in Second Life, and on Seanchai Library's properties in Kitely.

Check out the stories and the storytellers at www.seanchailibrary.com

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

 * * * * *

*SUNDAY, April 5th, at 6:30pm: MAGICLAND STORYTIME: "The Secret Garden" Continues. Caledonia Skytower reads from Frances Hogsdon Burnett's first published book (1911). Live on Stream. That which seems neglected and withering can still thrive with caring and hard work - whether they be flowers and trees, or even.
The New Golden Horseshoe at Bracket (181/57/30)

*MONDAY, April 6th, at 7pm:  Jamil Nasir's HIGHER SPACE begins with Gyro Muggins.

*TUESDAY, April 7th - both events in The Glen , Holly Kai Estates (220/60/2966)


~ at Noon: RUSSELL EPONYM, Live in the Glen with music, poetry, and stories in a popular weekly session that is finding a new home in Ceiluradh Glen as guest of Seanchai Library.

~ at 7 pm: WORDS FOR OUR SOULS: Poetry in The Glen, Seanchai Staff shares words for our time around the fire.

*WEDNESDAY, April 8th, at 7 pm: No Session tonight

*THURSDAY, April 9th,:

    ~ at 7pm: Angel Leya's WHAT'S IN A USERNAME? - "Danger In The MMORPG!" with Shandon Loring. (Also in Kitely!  Find teleport from the main Seanchai World grid.kitely.com:8002:SEANCHAI)

    ~ at 9pm: SEANCHAI LATE NIGHT, Contemporary Sci-Fi-Fantasy with Finn Zeddmore featuring stories from sources including Escape Pod, Light Speed, and Clarkesworld online magazines.

All sessions held at the Seanchai Library in Second Life unless otherwise indicated. Schedule subject to change.

DJ Matt's Bid Me Results, Arinultra Cay Performance

It's been an interesting week for Matt Carlton, aka DJ Matt. To begin with, Saturday March 28 was the last day for her "Bid Me Feral" event for the Relay for Life's Team Sunbeamers. The event netted 15,250 Lindens, so Matt has to spend the next six weeks on all fours.

But just as Matt was getting used to the feral side of virtual life, she had an event to perform for. The Relay Rockers were hosting the "Fight Back Top DJ Fundraising Competition." And on Wednesday April 1, the first event of it took place at Arinultra Cay, with Matt as the DJ.

Game On!
The BIGGEST MUSICAL COMPETITION IN SECOND LIFE,
Celebrate – Remember – Fight Back Top DJ Fundraising Competition 2020
In support the Relay For Life of Second Life and the American Cancer Society

Competitor # 1 DJ MattCarlton   April 1 - 7pm  @ Arinultra Pond Stage   http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Arinultra%20Cay/177/108/25

COME OUT AND SUPPORT ALL THE DJS!!!

Matt showed up in her custom nine-tailed Spirit Fennec avatar. Unlike her "tigerkitsune" feral, it could dance away. "I may be tiny and floffy at the moment," she commented, "but that don't mean we can't raise some big money!" The donations quickly began coming in, Matt saying after a few minutes, "My buddy Olde sent a 1000L to help get stuff going, passing that in now! Let see those Lindens build!" Trader1 Whiplash added, "I think Matt deserves a match.  Who will match my L$1000?"

Matt played a mix of songs, with the majority being country music tunes. This went well with some in the crowd, "There's an Unspoken Law within Distraida .. you have to like Country Music to live here. *gigglefits* That's not true, but it's been a running joke between those within us since the year 2004." With songs like Randy Owen's "Braid My Hair," she commented, "these songs paint the reality of cancer so well." Someone responded, "Dammit Matt, you didn't give a tissue warning. And tissues are out of stock at Walmart!" Matt encouraged the crowd to keep donating, "Every bit helps and goes a long way to help fight cancer. Thank you all again and keep the love coming."

Although this was a Relay Rockers event, DJ Matt is of Team Sunbeamers.  Other teams were represented such as Mieville Steampunks, Seekers of Hope, Relay for Christ, Cure Chasers, Team ACTS, and more.

With just a few minutes left to spare, the kiosk reached the 20,000 Linden mark. One woman added 10,000 for a total of 30,000. at the 8PM mark, "All done with a final total of 31,000." "Congratulations Matt  L$31,000!  Great Set!  Thank You and Thank Everyone!" "Thank you for the great tunes, Matt." Matt herself was surprised by the total, "I'm speechless guys. I really am. Thank you all."

Several DJs follow Matt, the top four taking part in the semi-finals on May 2 and 3. Having gotten over $120 USD worth of Lindens in an hour, DJ Matt has set a pretty high bar.

Bixyl Shuftan

RFL Announcment: United We Relay Concert!

Harmony of Hope and FUBAR is hosting a Live Concert for all to enjoy and to raise funds for Relay For Life!

Sunday, April 5, 2020 @FUBAR

 Parrot Cove (190,20,25)

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Parrot%20Cove/190/20/25

11 am - 7 pm SLT Hope to see you there!

SL Video: "A Little Story in Lisbon"

(Click here if the video does not play)

From Novata in Sept 2019, "Special collaboration with MINIMAL for Kustom9. The chosen place for this video is Lisbon and the cute yellow Tram. There is always a story in every place, even when you think nobody cares, open your eyes...someone is smiling at you. // Thank you so much to MINIMAL ..."

News and Commentary: Have a Second Life Contingency Plan

People make all sorts of plans for unexpected situations, and this includes Second Life. For instance, a DJ might ask a buddy to take his place at a venue in case the Internet goes bad. Or if you can't make a meeting, you might ask someone to take notes. But what would happen if you were sick or injured for days, weeks, or months? If you had a home, would it still be here? If you had a club or other venue, what would happen to it? Suppose for one reason or another, you couldn't come back. Following a close call for his real-life community, and with the country facing a deadly epidemic, Cyfir (Cyfiremmerich) ponders the question. Is it time for all of us to have a contingency plan in case something happens?

Read Cyfir's article in People.

East Bellisseria Now Open

Last week, a huge land mass of sims appeared to the east of Bellisseria, though were separated from the landmass and closed to the public. Last night, the gap had been filled, and the sims in the new areas were apparently all open (the map on the left is more accurate than the one above as zooming out cut a few of the sims).

East Bellisseria is a continent in its own right. Going about, there were both log and Victorian style Linden Homes. There were also forests, streams, wide rivers, bridges, beaches, and hill ranges. Where there once had been a the gap separating the closed land from the open were many of the mounds of hills. But some of these peaks deeper inland  were over 100 meters high.

Yours truly saw some people waiting in groups at the edge on Tuesday afternoon, March 31. So the sims may have been opened on April 1. And some of them had some funny names appropriate to the day, such as "Spruce Spingsteen," "Darling Clementine," "Gold Spitoon." "Whyne," "Hootnanny," "Jester," and "Fools Errand." One can always "Pop Over" and turn a "New Leaf." They can do a "Poormans Wager," Or head up the "Wazoo." "Gesunheit."

The Moles have apparently been very busy. Stay tuned for more information.

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: This Friday and Saturday at The Science Circle - "The COVID-19 Pandemic: Science and Society"

"The COVID-19 Pandemic: Science and Society"

Saturday April 4

10 AM to 11 AM SL time

The COVID-19 Pandemic: Science and Society

Robert A. Hendrix, M.D. and Phillip D. Youngblood, Ph.D.

A major pandemic is sweeping the globe. Cases of COVID-19 are growing exponentially as people spread the disease throughout our connected world. Individuals and societal groups are reacting differently, looking for solutions to stem the threat to our health and way of life.

In the face of this threat, people are turning to governments for action, to the medical community for help, to the scientific community for answers, to commercial entities for products, to mass media for information, to social media for support, and to non-scientific organizations for miracles. In many ways, the pandemic is not just a test of our immune systems, but of what we hold valuable and where we put our trust.

Dr. Hendrix will talk about what we all want to know – what this is, what you can do about it, and what medical researchers are doing to try to find ways to combat the virus.

 Dr. Youngblood will talk about what has happened over the last few months, what is happening now, and how individuals and society are reacting to the pandemic, recognizing that this presentation and discussion is a snapshot of our collective experience that is ongoing and rapidly changing.

No one has “2020 hindsight” about what will happen next, but we will also talk about probable futures based on experiences in our past and the ability of the scientific approach to project future trends.

For more information, Click Here

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/67/129/32

Announcement: RFL Team Fundrasing Totals, Week Seven

This list is for the first  6 weeks with totals as of Monday 03/24/2020.

Congrats to everyone who has hit a Fundraising Club Level!!!! We are definitely saying "Game On, Cancer!"

Bronze

Relay for Christ, Harshlands, MC - DARK ANGEL REBELS, MC - Cobras MC World, MC - Highway to Rock, Team Bobbi Sue, MC - Legends MC, Purpose SL Homes, Southern Nights Country Club, Sisters in SL, Foundation For Life, United Artists of SL, Cruz4Life, Team Sol Existence, MC - Thunder Demons MC, MC - RWA HELLS ANGELS, SOUL SISTERS n FaMiLy, Giant Snail Races, RFL Evenstarr's, GridPlay, Team OD, Team Live Wire, Steelhead Salmons, Feed Your Soul, Find A Cure, Stay PAWsitive, UFS Metamorphosis, Slatanic Mechanic, PawZ! For the Cause!, Sail For Life, We are Dragon's, Ministry of Dance, Team Core Charities, Bluzsters For Life, The Krazy Korner Team

Silver

MC - Relay Goes MC, Inspired Dreamwalkers, Relay Rockers, Esalinus, Second Life Cheerleading Squad, Meli's Maniacs, Seekers of Hope, Sanctuary Rockers, SHB Gems, Secret Garden Productions, Supernaturals For A Cure, MC - Outlaws KY MC, Burners Without Borders in SL, Circle of Life, B - Bellis Blues and Djs, Mieville Steampunks

Gold

MC - SISTERS OF MAYHEM, Cancer Gets Stung, BlueWaters Plaza, RGF Estates for RFL, Free Spirit Hippie Brigade, Friends For A Cure, LOW GEAR AUTO RACING, Gor - Port Kar, Attention on Cancer, Spirit of the DragonRFL, Stormy's Stars, Nightfall RFL

Platinum

MC - The River of Life, MC - HeadHunters, Goreans in Relay For Life, Roos With A Dream, Gull's Wing Sailing Club, The Grove Country Club Estates RFL Team, Team Shadow, SUNBEAMERS, Aether Chrononauts Tiny Steps

Jade

Cure Chasers
Heroes Helping Heroes

Sapphire

Bellisseria for RFL

Emerald

Camping for a Cure

Topaz

Harmony of Hope

Press Release: Twelve Years Club Lion

★ ☆ ★ 12 YEARS CLUB LION Party ★ ☆ ★
We are proud to announce Club Lion’s 12 Year Anniversary Party.

Theme Party : GLOW IN THE DARK

Club Lion’s 12 Year party will be absolutely AMAZING. We have a Fantastic lineup of Singers for your entertainment. I’ve worked hard creating a venue that you will enjoy and have a great time during our shows. We’d like to thank all of our Singers and Dancers in advance for participating in this celebration.

P R O J E C T " X " - L I O N - E L I T E - D A N C E R S
>>>>> Premier of Glow in the Dark Show <<<<<
Choreography, Music mixed and Stage built by Nita Wunderlich
Showdancers : Ricardo, Isabeau, Moful, Rofina, Leslie, Rosi, Maribol, Huanita

Friday 17th April 2020

11 pm slt : WARM UP with Torben Asp
12 pm slt : Shaye Dezno
1 pm slt : PutriSoloSinger
2 pm slt : Ricardo Avalira
3 pm slt : Khiron Ametza
4 pm slt : Hogan Baily

Saturday 18th April 2020

11 pm slt : WARM UP with Psiquence
12 pm slt : ElvisAronPresley Lisa
1 pm slt : Maribol Inshan
2 pm slt : ian Bleac
3 pm slt : Paul Nowles
4 pm slt : Veronica Weksler

Sunday 19th April 2020

11 pm slt : WARM UP with DonFranko Dagostino
12 pm slt : Mar Biddle
1 pm slt : Dandy Pianoman
2 pm slt : Tim Anadyr
3 pm slt : Lyn Carlberg
4 pm slt : WashedUp Sideways

Meet new Friends and have a great and fun time. We look forward to welcoming you and invite you to make us a place where you will come to enjoy a happy times with us. Come on over, and bring your friends!! You won’t be disappointed!!

Club Lion

SL17B Accepting Applications for Performers

It was a little more than two weeks ago on March 13 that Linden Lab announced that it was accepting applications for exhibitors in the Second Life Seventeenth Birthday celebrations. A few days ago on March 27, they announced they were accepting applications for performers in the event.

Calling all performers! Second Life is seeking talent for our upcoming 17th annual Second Life birthday celebration (SL17B), held June 19-July 10.  Get ready for a fun-filled week of live music and deejay performances, shopping exclusives, and amazing community exhibits.  

One of the things that makes Second Life so vibrant and exciting is the wide range of Performers who share their talent with our Residents. Are you a DJ who can spin up a great party set? Maybe you’re a Live Musician who plays an instrument or sings! You might be one of the grid’s amazing Dance companies, or perhaps you’re a Particle Performer! Whatever your medium, we would love to hear from you. 

Those interested in applying are asked to fill out a form (link), and submit it by May 18.

The announcement would also remind those interested in taking part in the auditions for the Music Fest event also had until May 18 to apply, and those wanting to be exhibitors had been extended a few days to May 22.

To read the blogpost in full, Click Here.

RFL Announcement: Swing Moon on the SS Galaxy, Saturday April 4

Aether Chrononauts Tiny Steps and DJ Holocluck Henly present 

       A SPECIAL SWING MOON on April 4th at 6pm SLT

** SAT 6pm SLT ** First Saturday is almost here and that means SWING MOON! This month ACTS and DJ Holocluck Henly present a special RFL edition in the Zodiac Ballroom aboard the SS GALAXY. Swing, vintage Jazz, Movie Tunes, ElectroSwing and More. Formal attire encouraged but optional. Please see attached for details.

We will be on location in the ZODIAC BALLROOM --> on the SS GALAXY!

Join us for some Swing both old and new, Vintage Jazz, classic showtunes, Retro Revival, ElectroSwing and more!

Formal attire encouraged but optional.

ALL AGES WELCOME!

All tips Benefit Relay For Life

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Galaxy%20AFT/128/89/53

Breaking News: Linden Lab to Downgrade Second Life Graphics in Response to Coronovirus Internet Slowdown

*Updated: April Fool!*

As many of us know, with more people staying home due to the Coronovirus Crisis, the Internet has been taxed more than ever before. Nexflix has had to downgrade the quality of it's movies. Youtube has had to do the same with it's videos. And Sony has decreased the download rate of it's games. And now, Second Life has been added to the list as Linden Lab announced that due to the ammount of people using the Internet these days, in a few days the quality of it's graphics will be significantly downgraded.

"We had hoped that the situation would be temporary," Linden Lab's CEO Ebbe Altberg/Ebbe Linden stated in the announcement, "But it is becoming clear that with the growing numbers of people, the Internet is being slowed down almost to the point of Los Angeles at rush hour. So unfortunately, we'll have to reduce graphics quality for the forseable future."

The changes are expected to take hold in a week. For those wishing to take an early peek, the viewer for the downgraded SL is available. Yours truly downloaded it, and took a few pictures. The results were the graphics quality were, severely cut, to put it mildly. Rather blocky like a 1980s eight bit game in three dimensions. But there was no more lag.

To read the statement from Linden Lab, Click Here.

Bixyl Shuftan

Reader Submitted: Relay Event "Gone To The Birds"

Submitted by Cynthia Farshore, from the "Give Cancer the Bird" event at Club Amarantha by Team Meli's Maniacs, "Found myself at a Relay event that has gone to the birds."

* * * * *

[17:55] Violet the Distroyer of Dibbles (violet Solano): ok the purches are filling up fast
[17:59] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): *scritches head- hmm
[18:00] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): I am at an event in a birdcage with a BIG CAT !! !DAA FAMOUS COUGAR !!!!
[18:00] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): ohh wow
[18:00] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): ok ok- I AMMA a cat
[18:00] Violet the Distroyer of Dibbles (violet Solano): sqawk
[18:03] Violet the Distroyer of Dibbles (violet Solano): its Olde on a purch
[18:04] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): *looks for a bird avi
[18:05] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): FREEBIRD !!!!!
[18:06] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): ohhh my - laughs- after Blackbird !!!
[18:06] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): hahahahah
[18:08] Jenneh Micelf (Jenneh Thursday): see, I may be quiet, but I pay attention in local
[18:08] Violet the Distroyer of Dibbles (violet Solano): yay
[18:12] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): you ARE soo goood JENNEH!!!
[18:12] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): ohh da looong version !!!
[18:13] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): WE are rockin it with  Meli's Maniacs- uhmm well the name says it all
[18:13] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): [18:13] Violet the Distroyer of Dibbles (violet Solano): <(0) Hi! We're giving cancer the bird! (0)>
[18:15] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): it is okies-
[18:15] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): dey jest birds - well and Cougar and me  and more cats
[18:18] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): looks down "hope no one lays an egg, it would be mess from up here.
[18:18] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): a bidet litter box ??
[18:18] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): oh these Meli's folks-- are soo inventive
[18:44] Violet the Distroyer of Dibbles (violet Solano): Meli's makiacs is Giving Cancer the Bird
[18:44] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): Give chat the boot !
[18:45] Distraida Brionnae (Distraida Resident): *giggles* Too bad we have no bird avatar :)
[18:45] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): I amma a cat
[19:01] Violet the Distroyer of Dibbles (violet Solano): Birds, Birds, and more Birds.......... stand back i'm gonna...... CHIRP!
[19:08] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): Moody Blues- Voices in the Sky -
[19:11] Cynthia Farshore: The Byrds - Eight Miles High
[19:11] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): [19:11] Now playing: The Trashmen - Surfin' Bird
[19:11] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): laughs!!! WOOT !
[19:12] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): Great one Cynthia
[19:18] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): [19:18] Now playing: Seals and Crofts - Hummingbird
[19:23] OldeSoul Eldemar (OldeSoul Resident): your song Cynthia !
[19:24] Violet the Distroyer of Dibbles (violet Solano): [19:22] Now playing: The Byrds- Eight Miles High

Zombies at Bellisseria

Dropping by southeast Bellisseria the other day, I noticed a group of people. Getting closer, I noticed these were not regular people, but the walking dead: zombies! One muttered, "Brrrrraaiiiinnnzzzzzzz......" But they were dancing in place, not making any aggressive moves.

I then heard why they were hesitating as one muttered, "Uhoh here comes a mole,  we busted." "Eat the mole!" one desired. "Moley brrrrraaaains" Another groaned. But one zombie had no wish for a mole dinner, "Nooo! Moles is nice ,they builds our homes!!!"

Deciding to make discretion the better part of valor, I left the situation to Sleepy Mole and skidadled away from the scene, feeling the blue dot on the map could handle a few zombies.

Bixyl Shuftan