Monday, September 7, 2026

EOTB: New Zindra Land And Getting The Parcels

 
 

 In the official Linden Blog on Wednesday September 2, the Lab brought up the new sims on the Mainland continent of Zindra, and talked about "a new way to find your next parcel." 
 
With the expansion of the land adding 92 sims, residents of Gaeta 1 were allowed the first spots as the smaller land mass was originally planned to be closed, but later the Lab changed their mind and left the little continent alone. With that done, "We’re now preparing to make the remaining parcels available more broadly. Rather than making all of the remaining parcels available through the Mainland auction system, we’re going to try something a little different. Parcels will be released in groups over a period of time, with Residents given the opportunity to enter drawings to purchase them."
 
For each release, entry kiosks will be placed directly on the participating parcels. The available parcels will include a variety of sizes that align with common Mainland tier levels.

The first group of kiosks will open at 12:00 p.m. SLT on Tuesday, September 8 and will remain open for 72 hours, closing at 12:00 p.m. SLT on Friday, September 11.

Residents may enter once per account for each parcel, and you may enter drawings for multiple parcels.
 
 
Once a drawing closes, one Resident will be selected for each parcel and contacted by Linden Lab through a Support ticket.

Selected Residents will have 72 hours from the time they are contacted to claim the parcel and complete the purchase for L$1 per square meter.

To give as many Residents as possible an opportunity to participate, once you are selected for a parcel from these new Zindra regions, you will no longer be eligible for additional parcel drawings from this release program. Any other entries you may already have submitted will no longer be eligible for selection.
 
The drawing is limited only to residents with paid accounts: Plus, Premium, and Premium Plus.
 
Linden Lab would make a post in the community forums that it stated had a list of available parcels.  But checking it, it stated "Check back on 12:00 p.m. SLT on Tuesday, September 8!" There were a number of comments by residents, "Anything that prevents Land Barons buying up vast swathes of SL's land and turning it into unrented desolate wasteland is a good thing by me." "There is not even a link to the area they are speaking about." "Frankly, I think this is a brilliant scheme -- Adult-rated land is insanely over-priced."
 
For more information, check the blog post in full (here).  
 
Bixyl Shuftan
 

Trans-Sansara Causeway Update

 

 There's nothing new at the islands that are the remaining places for the Trans-Sansara Causeway since ourlast update on Friday. But there is one change on the map a number of sims to the south. The Whatever islands look a bit different from last week, with sections being colored. What the different colors mean is not yet known.
 
Stay tuned for more information. 
 
Bixyl Shuftan 
 

Sunday, September 6, 2026

Cartoon of The Day: Kitty Mischief In Planning

 

 Taken at my treehouse home in HV Community. You never quite know what your pet kitties are thinking.
 
By Bixyl Shuftan.
 
 

Home Sweet Home

 

 Nothing much. Just a scene of me at my treehouse home in HV Community, looking out across the water to SunWaterThree.
 
Bixyl Shuftan 
 

Saturday, September 5, 2026

Team Firestorm Anniversary Thursday September 3

 
 
A couple days ago, Thursdayday September 3, was the sixteenth anniversary of Team Firestorm's, then Team Phoenix, founding. Team Phoenix came out of the "Emeraldgate" scandal, that hit what was then Second Life's most popular third-party viewer in August 2010, eventually causing Linden Lab to react, then Jessica Lyon and others to break away and form a team of their own "From the ashes of Emerald." The details of the controversy can be read in this 2018 article
 
For it's first 15 anniversaries, there were announcements of parties. But while their viewer marked the occasion with pink lettering and a short message, there was no new announcement in their blog (https://www.firestormviewer.org/). Perhaps in a few days.
 
Happy anniversary Firestorm.
 
Bixyl Shuftan 
 

VRChat Video: "Stage Flight 3.4 - Avali Takeover"

 

 From Stage Flight on Sept 1, Tantari Kim would call this "A great festival on VRC."
 

Frogg Marlowe And Jaycatt Nico in Luskwood

 

On Saturday Sept 4 at 7PM, I dropped by the Perry Amphitheater in Luskwood.  There, Frogg Marlowe and Jaycatt Nico, also known as Effinjay, were performing for an audience. They were mostly made up of Luskwood locals, including founder Michi Lumin. 
 
 https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Perry/30/211/27
 

Friday, September 4, 2026

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 
 

Thursday, September 3, 2026

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
 

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

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 
 

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

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