Interview With Steven Strikker, Zodiack Grid Musician

 

Recently, Netera Landar interviewed Steven Strikker. Although a resident in Second Life, who attends a number of music events here, he does his own performances in the Opensim Zodiack Grid. In real life, he's a musician who's spent years on the piano and guitar, leading to taking part in a band playing music for audiences. So what did he have to say to Netera?

 

Read Netera's article in Other Grids, MMOs, and Games.  

SLCS and Blue Angel Airport Funday, Sunday August 30

 

While the Relay For Life's official season is over, and spinnoff events such as I Pink I can won't be happening for a few weeks, that isn't stopping a few Relayers from doing off-season fundraisers. On Sunday August 30, the Second Life Cheerleading Squad had their "SLCS and Blue Angel Funday."

 

The Second Life Blue Angels soar across the virtual skies with precision, discipline, and showmanship that echo the spirit of their real‑world counterparts. Their pilots execute tight formations, daring maneuvers, and high‑energy demonstrations that bring authentic aviation excitement into the digital world. Each performance blends technical mastery with immersive visual flair, creating an experience that feels both familiar and uniquely Second Life.  

 

The event was an all day one, going from 8 AM SL time to about 9PM (Midnight EST).  It took place at the Quigley sim at (104,195,1001). For those who made a donation of 100L or more, they got to go up in one of the Blue Angels jets. There were a number of live performers such as Eric Steffensen (EricSteffensen Mistwalker), Mimi Carpenter, and Harmonia Trefoil.

 

It should be noted many Relayers (probably most) need long breaks due to real life, how much energy they throw of themselves into their events, or both. So these kinds of events aren't for everyone. But cancer never stops. And there's always someone planning a Relay event, even for the offseason.  

 

By Bixyl Shuftan 

 

More Tributes to Rita Mariner

 

 

One recalls the expression, "Always the last to know." Well, a few people never got the news Rita Mariner had passed away until they saw the article about her memorial service, "Oh my God! Rita's dead?!" Others would wait to say something until after the goodbye.

 

Rhayne Tungsten would say, after reading the article, "It was a fitting tribute. I'm more upset I missed it. We touched on and off early on when I'd DJ for Nydia (Tungsten) and when I dj'ed at other clubs, including hers. She was also a regular when I had my own club. even after my absence from Second Life for a while, we picked right back up like nothing ever happened. She was a *terrible* flirt, and I can't say it wasn't welcome. Later on, I acquired her cell number, and we texted semi regularly up until the end. Gawds ... I miss her so much.

 

"It's just.... Rita meant a lot ta me. an now she's gone. An there's a hole she used ta fill."

Tantari Kim would comment, "I'm sorry that we lost her. I'm sure it was a big impact to the whole Sunweavers community. I used to be active there but I've had so much on my plate that it has kind of fallen off. But still it is good to know, at least so I can be more supportive of Sunweavers like you."

 

Jessie Vix (DJ Jessie) remarked in the comments at the end of the memorial article, "Bad Wi-Fi kept Me away. I'm just a noob in the Sunweavers as I'm only 5 years old in SL. Rita was one that was too patient with my attempted customizations messing up her land, I broke my parcel many times and Rita would drop by immediately to help. Once it was repaired, we would chill awhile and talk. As I look up towards Cutlass circling my parcel, I swear its Rita and Zorro driving her up there. The music has gone silent there but she still sails the digital skies over Sunweaver Bay, A comfort to one so young who has lost so many already both in real-life and Second Life."

 

Further comments are welcome,

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Trans-Sansara Causeway Update

 

Since the last update, I haven't noticed anything new but teasers for what's to come.  On both the Thetis bridge tunnel island and the island on Swanton, I noticed portable barriers and rubber cones set up at the end of the roads. The cement mixer that was part of the equipment added on the Aptos side of the Aptos-Tomales island in late August is now rotating. But more obvious, Wendi Linden had placed a bulldozer. 

 

Stay tuned for more information.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

A Special Tribute ...

 

 I'm sure a number of you remember when I surprised Rita Mariner by going as a clone of her. It worked so well, it became something of a Sunbeamer tradition when we hit a million Linden dollars raised to go about as that for a week. Well, with Rita gone and the Sunbeamer team retired, it looks like that tradition is no more. 

 

Still, there was one more thing I could do with the avatar. I contacted Corey In The House (jjws888 Resident), who specializes in making statues of avatars. And we got together for him to make a statue of the avie. It wasn't lost on me that what started out as a joke became something to help remember her. 

 

A copy of it is at Club Cutlass, Rita's hangout. So one way to honor her, and keep her at her favorite spot. 

 

*Addition* - I had sent a message in both a group announcement and a Discord message that I had dropped off something at Cutlass, though didn't say what it was. Apparently that wasn't enough to keep one Sunny from getting a surprise, "Scared the crap out of me! I went to Cutlass ... came face to face with Rita's ghost! ... dammit guy, where the hell did you get that?!"

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Press Release: Homes For Our Troops Labor Day Weekend Benefit

 

Frets Nirvana, longtime supporter and contact for Homes For Our Troops in Second Life in conjunction with the US Military Veterans Group, announces the 2026 September Labor Day Weekend benefit for Homes for Our Troops benefit in Second Life.   The benefit will be held on September 6, 2026 from 1PM-4PM SLT at Veteran’s Isle.  

 http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Veterans%20Isle/176/58/3501.

Frets Nirvana states:  “HFOT is a privately funded 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization building specially adapted, mortgage-free homes nationwide for the most severely injured Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Most of these Veterans are multiple amputees, paraplegic, quadriplegic or have suffered severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).  Since its inception in 2004, nearly 90 cents of every dollar spent by Homes for Our Troop has gone to directly support Veterans. DURING THAT TIME HFOT HAS BUILT 444 SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOMES NATIONWIDE FOR EXTREMELY INJURED VETERANS.” 


This HFOT benefit concert celebrates Labor Day Weekend and will feature the following DJ’s and artists from 1PM-4 PM September 6, 2026:


DJ Vincent 1 PM
Erin and Satin 2 PM
Austin Moores 3 PM


Sponsored by Frets Nirvana and the U.S. Military Veteran’s Group of Second Life.  To learn more about Homes for Our Troops visit https://www.hfotusa.org

 

Reader Submitted Picture: "Hotel Stress Door"

 

 Submitted by Zada Bury, whom is not having a good day, and this hotel door was the subject of some, stress relief.

 

Fall Comes To Some Linden Home Neighborhoods, New Copperfield Heights Sims

 

September is when autumn comes to the temperate areas of the northern hemisphere, notably Canada, and most of the USA and Europe. And it's come to a couple Linden Home areas in Second Life:  Copperfield Heights and Aspen Ridge

 

 With the Aspen Ridge, I could see leaves falling down. 

 

Hearing some chatter in the Bellisseria group, and checking the forums, I heard there were some new sims in development in the Copperfield Heights area: Promised Pony, Masked Marvel, Paz Mundail, Cowpath Ridge, and Wind River Bluff.

 

 It is unknown when these sims will be open, but Bellisserians playing the "Game of Homes" are hopeful it will be very soon.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Events This Week In SL Clubbin'

 

Here's what's going on at the Sunweaver-Angel, Montecito Bay, Furry Fashion, and Urban Furry clubs.

Club Cutlass: Temporarily Closed

Happy Vixen: DJ Charlee, DJ Scratch, DJ Mr. E, DJ Khyra

Club Zero Gravity: DJ Rose - "Fennecs, Bats, and Rabbits"

Xanadu: DJ Jesse 

 

Montecito Bay:  DJ Moni, DJ Cookie, DJ Chucklepuppy, DJ Moff

 

Furry Fashion: CAYA, TBA, Ferals

 

Urban Furry :  DJ Charlee, DJ Emma, DJ Emma

 

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'

 

A Little Project ...

 

I spent much of yesterday working on a certain project. Well, sort of. Someone else was doing most of the work. 

 

So what is it and what does it involve? You'll see.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Memorial Service For Rita Mariner

 

 

On Saturday evening August 1, it was time for the Sunweaver community to say goodbye to a special friend: it's founder Rita Mariner. A number of people gathered to give their farewells, sometimes saying a few words about her. Complicating things were technical glitches which prevented some people from being there, so ways had to be found to work around them. But the event would proceed, with much spoken. 

 

Read the story in People.

 

In Brief: Heart of Gold

 

 

In 2013, Grease wrote about the Heart of Gold space club, a club based on the ship in "Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy." For fans who lost track and might be wondering what happened, it's still around. It's currently in the Cinnamaldehyde sim, with Skeppy Manicwillow (MinkBlueleaf Fyrewik) helping to run it. 

 

After Grease Coakes wrote about it, the club was almost lost after the sim it was on when offline. It was rebuilt partially out of items from the rebuilder's inventory and partially from items in the Beta Grid. 

 

As of when I talked to her, the place has events seven days a week, 6-8PM SL time with 8-10PM Tues and Thurs. I had planned to do a longer article. But yours truly has been busy in real life. So it will have to wait. For now, head over and see for yourself. 

 

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cinnamaldehyde/46/63/2002 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

Trans-Sansara Causeway Update

 

 Very little has changed on the island on the sims Aptos and Tomales set to be the focus on further construction on the Trans-Sansara Causway since last Friday, About the only difference I saw there was a little more equipment being added, such as this surveying equipment. 

 

 But a glance of the map showed something interesting. Some distance to the southwest were four sims, named Whatever 1 to 4, that were shaped like Thetis, Aptos, Tomales, and Swanton. They showed what looked like a bridge crossing from Thetis to Aptos, and lines from the west end of the middle island the wooden color of untextured prims extending to the completed section of bridge on the eastern island. These sims could not be TPed into. 

 

This is likely the roads being build before being moved into place into the real sims.  But there was extra workings on Whatever 2, the duplicate of Aptos. Is there anything besides bridgework being planed? Time will tell. 

 

Stay tuned for further information.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Cartoon of The Day: Any Good In A Fight?

 

 Taken at Montecito Bay. This ottergirl was in a witch's outfit, but carrying a crystal ball. With magic users ending up in fights, it occurred to me that something designed for getting glimpses of the future wouldn't seem to be any good in a quick fight. But glass made into a solid heavy ball has one obvious use in a brawl.

 

 By Bixyl Shuftan

 

Club Tributes To Dolly Parton

 

 On Tuesday August 25, noted singer and actress Dolly Parton died following a short battle with cancer. Earlier, we reported on a memorial to her. But also, numerous DJs were touched by this sad news. I would come across a few musical tributes for her. One was at Montecito Bay on Wednesday August 26.

 

Yesterday was a sad day for everyone around the world, we lost an icon. Today, DJ Cookie is choosing to honor her legacy by playing a full set of Dolly (with other guest artists too). Please join us for a tribute to one of the biggest and kindest stars in the world. 

 

DJ Cookie would play two hours of her songs, such as "What's Up," "Home Sweet Home," and "Love Is Like A Butterfly."

 

On the same day, Club Zero Gravity would have it's "Roman Holidays" party, which was planned in advance. But with the recent news, DJ Rose was playing just music sung by Dolly Parton, or at least connected to her.  Rose would play songs such as "Starting over Again," "All I Can Do," "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind," "Touch Your Woman," "Heartbreak Express," and the popular "Jolene" and "Nine To Five."

 

 At the Happy Vixen on Thursday August 27, the party had no set theme. But DJ Charlee would play mostly Dolly Parton music for her set as well.

 

Rest in peace, Dolly Parton.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

SL Video: "Girls"

 

 (click here if the video does not play)

 

 From "The Rythms of [SL]ife" on March 2018