And ... Gone. SL23B Sims Closed To Exhibitors

 

 

Yesterday, Thursday July 23, was the last day the SL23B sims were up for exhibitors, also known as "Takedown Day." If you left anything behind after Midnight, you might not get it back until next year. So naturally there was space after space empty of exhibits. 

 

 

And so this meant the SL Newser's exhibit had to come down as well. 

 

There will be one or two more articles about the SL23B, and at least one more about the Relay for Life, of which we had to all but cut off coverage due to The Birthday starting just after the Flood Party. And after that, the "Busy Time," which I often call the period of time from late May to mid to late July, finally slows back down. And August will see me catching up on a few things I put off while I focused on the big news. But if you have pictures, or a story, you'd like to share, by all means do so.

 

Have a great summer, 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

Announcement: Invitation to Pioners of Machinima, 12 Noon Saturday

 

Saturday July 25th, 2026, some of the pioneers of machinima in Second Life will be on stage.
Phaylen Fairchild, Toxic Menges, Saffia Widdershins and Chantal Harvey will be interviewed by Loz and Rizzo, about the early years. And boy - do we have some stories to tell. You won't want to miss this audience Q&A and panel!

Livestream will be available, for those that cannot come in - but be early as we will take questions - and you will want to tell your friends that you were there.  

 

 https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/XD%20Machinima/152/103/3824

noon!

 

Last Looks At Some SLB Exhibits

 

 

While the Second Life Birthday is over for most, for the exhibitors there were a few more days to see something. And so when I had a few minutes I checked out a few. One was the Relay for Life's exhibit, whom one Relayer described as "simple." But it did the job. It was at SLB Spectacular.

 

Eric Mondrain's Second Life Topography, which had a map of Belisseria, was at SLB Electrify.

 

Holocluck Henley's "Clucky Studios" at SLB Sparkle.

Hope by Raven at SLB Fabulous, a memorial to optimism and hope.

But some exhibits were already picked up, the plots empty.

 

Today is the last day for pickups, and tomorrow the sims will be closed to all but the Moles. And so the sims will once again be shelved until the next birthday.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

It Came From The Forums

 

 

 Checking the Second Life Forums, on "How Does Your SL Look Today" on page 682 there was this post by Spiffy Voxel, which was a response to one by Ernest Deed, Spiffy expressing disappointment that the hat on the Newser's SL23B exhibit was not "a cunningly-disguised flying-saucer."

 

Well, we ave had a few flying saucer cartoons over the years. 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

At The SLB: Shinning Stars Hunt Prize Number Three

 

 

For those who didn't get the third and final prize of the SL23B's Shinning Stars Hunt, here it is.

 

SL23B - Star Hunt Prize Kiosk - v1.0: Congratulations, you are a super Hollywood Stars collector and have collected 100 stars, here is your tier 3 prize.

 

And the prize is, a hot dog "boopie," one named "Frank" appropriately enough.  He mumbles and snickers, and when touched (and sometimes when not) squirts mustard ketchup into the air. 

 

And so that was the prize that went to the wieners.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Update on Gemma Cleanslate

 

 

When we last heard from Gemma Cleansate, our intrepid reporter then on medical leave stated she was doing better and looking forward to once again being on duty for the Newser soon. 

 

But she messaged us yesterday that  she seems to have come down with something else. While tests are being taken, the doctors are not sure yet what it is, "a mystery."

 

 Hopefully it will be identified and taken care of soon.

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Special Veterans Fundraiser Concert Nets Over 180,000 Linden Dollars

 

 

On Monday July 13 last week, there was a special charity concert at Veterans Isle. While the location had another around the first weekend of the month as normal, this was a second one, which seldom occurs. 

 

Like others, the event was organized in part by Frets Nirvana. Unlike most, this event would be scheduled only for two hours, from 6 to 8 SL time. In the first hour, DJ Zack would play music. The second hour was a live performance, with Frets on stage along with Noma Falta with a "dual stream." 

 

The Independence Day eagle, available earlier for a donation for 2500 Lindens, was still there.  Most of the money was donated into two house-shaped kiosks on either side of the stage.

 

A total of 184,462 Linden dollars would be donated into the kiosks. It is unknown how much was raised through the eagles. 

 

Veterans Isle is the scene of a benefit for Homes For Our Troops every month, usually on the first weekend of the month.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

Press Release: Virtual Ability Thanks Linden Lab, Announcing: Wheelchair Design Contest

 

On behalf of the Virtual Ability community, I would like to extend our sincere thanks to Linden Lab for their generous L$250,000 donation announced at the recent SL23B Golden Ticket Giveaway event.

Since 2007, Virtual Ability® has been a peer support community helping people with a wide range of disabilities thrive in Second Life. One of Virtual Ability's core values is giving back to the Second Life community. We are delighted to announce that we will pay Linden Lab's generosity forward and use their donation to fund Mobility Without Limits, a contest to create original virtual wheelchairs for use in Second Life. By funding prizes that will go directly to Second Life creators, we hope to help strengthen the broader virtual world community while expanding the range of mobility options available to residents.

This contest will invite Second Life creators to design innovative, full-permission wheelchairs that enhance mobility, self-expression and roleplay for residents. A total of L$250,000 in prize money will be awarded across several categories, including:

•           Everyday Mobility
•           Racing and Sports
•           Fantasy and Sci-Fi
•           Mobility for Every Avatar, featuring wheelchairs designed for tinies and other non-standard avatars

Additional details about Virtual Ability’s wheelchair contest Mobility Without Limits will be announced soon. We look forward to seeing the creativity this contest inspires. If you have any questions, please contact Eme Capalini.

Virtual Ability's Second Life community is supported behind the scenes by our real-world nonprofit organization, Virtual Ability, Inc., a 501(c)3 charitable organization. To learn more about our work, please visit https://www.virtualability.org

Once again, thank you to Linden Lab for their generous support and for recognizing the work Virtual Ability has done to help make Second Life more welcoming and accessible for everyone. We are honored to be part of this remarkable virtual world.

Gentle Heron
President, Virtual Ability, Inc.

 

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

 

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

Club Cutlass: Fox and Socks, Vivziepop, TBA

Happy Vixen: DJ Charlee, DJ Scratch, DJ Malit, DJ Khyra

Club Zero Gravity: DJ Snowy - Beach Party

 

Bouncing Bunny Beach Club:  Beach Party

Xanadu: DJ Jesse 

 

Montecito Bay:  CAYA, After Dark

 

Furry Fashion: Plushies, TBA, Creepy vs Cute

 

Urban Furry :  DJ Charlee, DJ Emma, DJ Emma

 

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'

At The SLB: Shinning Stars Hunt Prize Number Two

 

 

Remember the SL23B Shinning Stars Hunt? For those who wonder what prize number two is, here it is.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

It Came From SLB Chat: Wisteria Grove

 

From 刀AlexandarTredd手 (loflux616 Resident), Wisteria Grove's exhibit.

The SL23B Birthday Ends (For Most)

 

 Sunday July 19 was the last day of the SL23B, the Second Life Birthday. And the sims got a bit more active with people enjoying the sims one last time, at least most of us. One spot of activity was Bay City's exhibit.

 

 They were gathered in some movie set seats at one point, but before the red clouds faded, they leaped into the pool for a conga line dance. Marianne commented it was a good thing the water wasn't much deeper, otherwise she'd have trouble breathing. 

 

 At the Belessarian Bureau of Bureaucracy's exhibit, they were watching a movie.

 

 And there was a party at the Seawall Cruising Club.

 

 Unfortunately, I couldn't stay the whole evening. But no doubt the parties went on to Midnight and beyond. For exhibitors and the Moles, they have a few days to go about the sims to see what they missed or check some one more time. But for the rest of us, it's over, with only the screenshots and the memories.

 

It was a great Second Life Twenty-Third Birthday.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Cartoon of The Day: "Don't Mention Football"

 

 Taken at the SL23B Orpheum Theater. Someone had over his head "Don't mention football!!" Why he didn't want others doing that, I don't know. But with the FIFA championships going on, I could think of one reason.

 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

 

Last Day For The SL23B

 

 Hat tip to Zada Bury. She told me about where a conga line was going on at the SL23B at the beach area, and I went over and took a picture. 

 

Remember, this is the last day the SL23B grounds will be open to regular residents. After Midnight SL time tonight, they may be closed to people entering.

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Reader Submitted: The SL23B Swaginator Gift Locations

 

 Sent by Kamida Delec, for those having trouble finding the Swaginator gift locations.

 

Gift 1 - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLB%20Celebrate/154/23/21

Gift 2 - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLB%20Fascinate/191/88/23

Gift 3 - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLB%20Impressive/146/89/219

Gift 4 - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLB%20Mesmerize/199/145/22

Gift 5 - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLB%20Incredible/187/155/21

 

SL Video: "Strongest Suit (Throwback)"

 

 (click here if the video does not play)

 

 From Merryjest Starchild on April 10, "A snippet of my SL21B performance of "My Strongest Suit" from 'Aida' by Elton John/Tim Rice."