The RFL Sunbeamers Camp for 2021

  

The 2021 Relay Weekend is now over. But while it lasted, there were many teams large and small taking part, with 93 having campsites. Among them was "the little team that could," the Sunbeamers. This year was the ninth the team has been Relaying, and their camp this year had a mix of seriousness and humor, the latter with a Monty Python bent.
 
Read more in Places.
 

Creative Fiction: Second Life’s TV Commercial (2010)

  

Yesterday, we wrote about the Second Life commercial done by Linden Lab, in cooperation with Levitate Media. While the commercial's been in development for months, no doubt the idea of one has been floated about among the residents for years. In the days of M Linden in early 2010, for amusement I came up with a couple ideas that were part of a "creative fiction" story I did for JamesT Juno and Dana Vanmoer's Second Life Newspaper then. 

The fictional story can be found in Extra. 

So how do these two fictional commercials compare to the one that was made for real? Feel free to leave comments below. 
  

Announcement: This Saturday at The Science Circle - "Science Fair 2021"

  

"Science Fair 2021

Saturday June 26, 

7 AM to 10 AM

The annual Science Fair is approaching again and this year the organization is in the hands of special events coordinator Shiloh Emmons.

For this year we have chosen the underwater location at the lighthouse, the temperate coastal and marine ecosystems (New England) of Linda Kelley.

7:00 AM	Karthik Prathaban
7:20 AM	Linda Kelley
7:40 AM	Stephen Gasior
8 AM – 9 AM	Earl Kiech	Classical concert at the Light house
9:00 AM	Greg Bollella
9:20 AM	Phil Youngblood
9:40 AM	William Schmachtenberg

For more information, Click Here. 
  

News and Commentary: Second Life Commercial

In the middle of the SL18B Lab Gab on June 21, between when Oberwolf Linden was interviewed and when the leadership team was (more on that later), an advertisement appeared about here. This was the commercial that's been talked about since a still image appeared on the Second Life home page about two months ago two months ago, and there was more discussion a month ago when a video could (sometimes) be seen on the home page. It would first appear on it's own at Torric Rodas Newswire on June 22 before appearing on the Second Life Youtube yesterday June 23. It would also appear on the Viemo page of Levitate Media, the people Linden Lab worked with to do the commercial.

If you're traveling beyond this life, where the weight of tradition cannot follow, do not fear re-invention. The design is your liberation. Between the planes where our dreams are built, where the mind reigns  and the light bends, and the children of creation dance in time. If you're traveling beyond this life, you are not alone. We are waiting.

Levitate would say the commercial won four Telly awards, two gold, People's Telly Award and Visual Effects, and two silver, Directing and Music Score. Evan Scott of Levitate Media was listed as the producer and Kanin Guntzleman the director. 

I have yet to see a thread in the Second Life forums about "Children of Creation" as the ad has been called. Hamlet Au would say of it, "Overall, it's quite a bit better than I originally feared from the homepage imagery." But, "with its use of real world models, heavy post-production effects, and only a smattering of actual SL-based 3D content, it feels like something of a bait-and-switch: Anyone who excitedly creates an SL account after watching this is bound to be disappointed! Even more off, it doesn't actually show any of the actual creative building tools of Second Life, leaving the random viewer to wonder if the creation referred to is only about customizing avatars." 

Inara Pey would have some comments about it as well, " ... I think the advert as shown works pretty well; the images are well-matched to the narration, and the overall impact is the idea of liberation and freedom of expression. The intercuts of changing avatar appearances particularly underscores this, as do more subtle elements ... " On the other hand, she called "If you're traveling beyond this life" a poor choice of words, comparing it to someone dying, "perhaps 'beyond this world' might have been a better choice of words."

Personally, I feel an ad campaign of some kind by Linden Lab is necessary if it wants to retain the numbers it gained during the Pandemic. I've also been hearing that young adults these days with an interest in virtual worlds are more likely to head to other places such as VRChat. But could the ad have been done better? As mentioned before, there's not much actual SL content used in the ad. It could have a similar effect that the CSI episode that took place in Second Life had in which TV viewers were given an idealized description: everyone talking in Voice and no lag. While it encourages users to check out the virtual world, it may be setting them up for a small disappointment.

How it will ultimately work? So far it has yet to appear on television or elsewhere on the Internet other than Youtube or Viemo. So we'll have to wait a while, days, weeks, perhaps months, before we find out.

Bixyl Shuftan
  

DJs At The SLB

 

There's a lot going on at the SL18B. There's the "Meet the Lindens" events. There are the numerous exhibits. And there's the music. On Monday, I stopped by two DJs playing music at the DJ stage. One was Grease Coakes.

DJ Grease played to a crowd at the DJ stage at 4AM SL time, a mix of humans, furs, a gryphon, and one glowing shape. He would later post his set on Mixcloud, "played for the amazing people who make up Second Life. Trance and video game remixes are meshed in tightly for an amazing two hour dj set. The theme of "Other Worlds" for SLB this year fits in nicely with this trance set. The picture is based upon Dragon Warrior Monsters 1. Thus the last song is a piano remix of the town theme from Dragon Warrior Monsters 2 DWM 1 and 2 is all about traveling to other worlds as you jump into an epic adventure!" 

A few hours later at 10 AM was DJ Moff (MoffettMephit Resident) of Montecito Bay. He and Emmy (Emorald Resident) greeted me. 

There was quite a crowd there, including the Relay's black unicorn Avariel Falcon and Squeaky Mole.

Moff compared his set to a spaceship run, "Welcome board Crux Space Flight 168 to Tech Noir! We've begun boarding for all classes, so please, step inside, buckle up....and leave the rest of this trip up to your Captain, Super Rockin' Magic Moff! We expect a VERY smooth, uneventful flight.....(famous last words....)"

"OMG Finally! we're approaching the Pacific Coast! ... It's been a long drive, but we're almost there. I hope we don't run into anything WEIRD though. ... I told ya I'll get ya to the SpacePort! OMG the Mole fell off! *throws a teleporter* We can't wait! The ship will depart soon! ... Alright, let's see if 88mph will do the trick! HANG ON! ... OMG I think it worked! I can see the space port!"

Before long, someone in an ostrich avatar came out. And then was going around riding a banana. As Moff put it, "Now THAT is properly weird!" 

Eventually, the set would end, Moff saying, "This was fantastic! Thank you SLB18 crew for having me." Over the stream, he would say "Thank you all for having me! Happy Birthday Second Life!"

Check the schedule for more DJ events (here).
 
Bixyl Shuftan
 

Cartoon of the Day: "Great Balls of Fire"

 

Taken at the Tsunami Club at Teddy Bear Beach at RFL Celebrate during the Hopefest. Nance Clowes told me about an event there, and Bow Shim was rocking away. At one point, someone requested "Great Balls of Fire." The musician obliged, with some special effects added. 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

More News Later

 

Yes, there is a LOT more going on with the Relay and the SLB than I've been writing. But yesterday was a busy day, and yours truly needs to rest up before writing more. Sorry about the wait.

Bixyl Shuftan

Relay Track Still Open, For Now

 While the big news is the Second Life Birthday, the Relay has not quite dropped out of sight. Almost a week after the Flood Party, the Relay track remained open. Dropping by yesterday on Tuesday, the situation was much like it was on Thursday. Many of the camps and exhibits were gone. But some were still around. It's not just people in the builder's group. Sending an alt over, he could get in as well.

Among the places still up are three sims near the permanent American Cancer Society sim, RFL Strength,  RFL Survivor, and Fiona Fei's colorful RFL Spirit. They were mostly intact with plenty to see, and the bears making grunting noises that were now audible with the music turned off. Some of the story pages in Survivor were taken down. But it was still a well done place with all the trees and plants.
 

It's unknown when the sims will finally come down. Maybe tomorrow, maybe today. Maybe by the time you the readers see this, the sims will already have closed. But if not, feel free to drop by and see what remains

Bixyl Shuftan
 

Reader Submitted: Mouse Car For A Mouse Girl

 

From Brandi Streusel, who got one of the free "Mouse" cars at the SL18B Shop and Hop. "Thank you for letting us know of such a wonderful car. I love mine!"
 

Events This Week at the Sunweaver and Montecito Bay Clubs, The Fallout Shelter, and Furry Fashion Lounge

 

Here's what's going on at the Sunweaver and Montecito Bay clubs, The Fallout Shelter, and the Furry Fashion Lounge.

Club Cutlass: Best in 'W,' Denim Night, Filthy Rich

Happy Vixen: Dark, Sheer and Sexy, Ponies, Dragons and Slayers, Pajamas, Bearskin Rugs, Bottomless, Monochrome

Club Zero Gravity: TBA

Bouncing Bunny Beach Club: Skimpy, Pride

Xanadu: DJ Christine, DJ Blaze

Montecito Bay:  CAYA, After Dark

Furry Fashion Lounge:  Video Games, Elementals, Retro, Canines Vs Felines, Food, Late Night, CAYA

Deathlands Fallout Shelter: DJ Shapes, DJ Wolfy

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'.  
 

Reader Submitted: "Rough Sim Crossing"

 From Deanna Shadow-Lancaster (Deanna Lancaster), and taken at RFL Comfort not long after the Relay Weekend, "Silver had some fun with sim crossings in the party truck. Ven was driving when that happened. Well, he was apparently driving at top speeds to see who would make it through without crashing. Whomever was left on won the pool and the money went into a kiosk." 
  

"The Mouse," The SL18B Gift Car

 

I've been hearing about a new little car that's being offered at the Shop and Hop for free as a gift: The Mouse. With it's small size, plus the ears and tail decorations, the little car has gotten some positive comments in some Second Life group chat. I decided to get one to see for myself. So how does it handle?

Read more in Design.
 

Announcement: HFOT May 2021 Donations

May was truly a “Memorial Month”.  Excellent job folks!  We sent $2,517.50 to Homes For our Troops in May.  That is a 74% increase over 2020’s May totals of $1445.  Our total for 2021 is now $10327.5 .  And all indications are that we can beat last years total of over $15000.  TO DO THIS WE NEED TO TARGET $2500 A MONTH FOR THE REST OF 2021.   It is going to be work …but it is well worth it!

Jamie Crossman, HFOT’s Philanthropy Advisor commented on our May results.

"As always, thank you so much for all of your efforts on behalf of our special mission.  Our Veterans are honored by your Patriotism.  We've just completed another survey with our Veterans regarding the impact of their HFOT adapted homes and the numbers continue to be amazing.  Another great example of how you are changing lives.

Before receiving their HFOT home, only 15% of Veterans and 14% of their caregivers/spouses were in possession of a college degree or trade certification.  After living in their homes we are excited to report that now 71% of Veterans and 80% of spouses/caregivers have either obtained or are pursuing a college degree or trade certification.  AMAZING!  Why?  Our homes are donated, there is no mortgage to our Veterans so they are able to reallocate this resource into education.  Our Veterans are also safe, so caregivers/spouses have more opportunities to leave their home without worry!

These incredible achievements would not be possible without YOU!

Thanks so much, let's keep it going!  There are still approximately 1,000 severely injured Veterans in need of an HFOT home.  Our mission will  not be complete until this number has been reduced to 0.

Together, WE can make this happen.

Enjoy your summer!

Jamie”

As we always do we want to take the time to thank the folks who put out a special effort in May.  These are the folks that made it happen and there are many to thank.  

First let’s give that applause to the performers and their managers.

We also had several DJ’s helping with the Liberty Fire Department Memorial benefit last month.  Thank you:

Then let’s take note of those who sponsored special events in May to help our cause. There were several!  Thank you:

And thank you to the following who have put donation kiosks throughout the grid and continue to help with our effort:

There are many more who have taken the time to place kiosks …to each and every one of you we say thank you.

Lastly I personally appreciate Bri McMahon and Sabryne Hotaling  for all your help with our monthly event at Veteran’s Isle.

We also once again ask that you continue praying for our good friend Dahlea Milena of Veteran’s Isle, who is now fighting cancer.  We pray she beats this and is back with us soon.

This year is shaping up to be the best we have ever had.  We can do this ….let’s hit $25,000 for Homes For Our Troops #1 in 2021 and stay in the list of TOP TEN DONORS FOR HFOT!  

Thank you for letting me a part of this.

Frets Nirvana

Magician Productions Sale

 

There's a sale going on at Magician Productions. Some of it's products have been discounted. M*P

 All my rainbow avatars are discounted for the month of June, and since I put these out so late, I'll let it go through into the next month some... because who doesn't love Rainbows? 

One can check out the store at Montecito Bay (22/111/724), or check out the Marketplace Page (caution, a few NSFW images when the adult maturity level on MP is set).

Magician Productions is owned by Becky Nosferatu.
 

EOTB: "SL18B Talk Show Specials"

 

From Monday to Friday at the Second Life Birthday, there will be discussions at the auditorium at the Second Life Birthday. These are a special Lab Gab, a special episode of the Second Life Book Club, and four "Meet the Lindens" events.   

Monday June 21

8AM SL time: The Second Life Book Club - "Special with the founder of Second Life Philip Rosedale, and Professor of Anthropology at UC Irvine Tom Boellstorff. They will be talking about 18 years of Second Life!" SLB Awesome (31/232/23) (Youtube link)

2PM SL time: Lab Gab  - "SL18B Special with the Linden Lab Leadership Team" (Check here) 

Tuesday June 22

1PM SL time: Meet the Lindens with VP of Product Operations, Patch Linden - "Patch works to bring the best of product and support-based decisions on a daily operational basis to the virtual world platform for Second Life, while maintaining oversight on how all of the various teams within Linden Lab can best work together for the highest good of the Residents and the business." SLB Awesome (31/232/23) (Youtube link) 

Wednesday June 23

2PM SL time: Meet the Lindens with VP of Product, Grumpity Linden -. "Grumpity will speak in-depth about several Second Life initiatives including recent efforts focusing on growth, a stronger, more balanced economy, movement towards better community cohesion, and an overall forward-looking approach." SLB Awesome (31/232/23) (Youtube link) 

Thursday June 24

1PM SL time: Meet the Lindens with VP of Marketing, Brett Linden - "Brett will speak on recent acquisition and retention efforts for Second Life including advertising, public relations, content strategy, and social media." SLB Awesome (31/232/23) (Youtube link)

Friday June 25

1PM SL time: Meet the Moles - "The Moles are builders, scripters, and content creators employed by Linden Lab to work in the Linden Department of Public Works" SLB Awesome (31/232/23) (Youtube link)
 
To check the Linden blog post in full, Click Here.
 

The Fantasy Linden Homes At A Glance

 

On Thursday June 17, Patch Linden announced the next theme of Linden Homes: Fantasy. Looking in in SLB Mesmirize, I found four examples of them.

Amberbrooke : A two story with an upper floor in the roof. There are seven rooms, with a large central room on the first floor. On the second floor there was  a balcony one could step out on. Skylight windows on the roof let light in.

Mistbrooke - A one story house with five rooms and a back porch area one could put patio furnishings on.

Stonebrooke - Another one story house with five rooms. One enters a small round entranceway to get into through the front.  -

Rosebrooke - This house could be called one and a half stories, with three rooms on the first floor and stairs leading to two small rooms on the second. The front has a porch area.

The area itself looked like something of a fantasy story (or the Fantasy Faire). The plants around the houses had an unearthly glow about them. There was the occasional group of crystals. At night, some of the flowers and tree leaves were glowing, as well as the edges of the roofs of the houses. The globes on some stone walls, the earlier mentioned crystals, and some script on the sides of the bridge over the water were also glowing a little. There was also some purple lights in the water.

Also adding to the atmosphere were some of the residents dropping by to look around from a fairy to a furry with wings to a tiny riding a unicorn to someone in a feral horse avatar, along with some regular-looking humans. Perhaps this is a clue as to whom will be getting these Linden Homes. 

Bixyl Shuftan
 

Xanadu's Grand Reopening

 

On Thursday June 17 at 6PM SL time, the Xanadu classic rock club reopened it's doors. For months, the club had no regular events as the owners dealt with real-life issues, though would play some impromptu ones. Finally, all was set to go.
 
Starting at the top of the hour it's the Xanadu Grand Re-Opening with DJ Christine playing various tunes on the theme of opening and starting over.  We have a spectacular new dance machine you can click as you walk in the door.  A new trivia machine.  A new lighting system.  And the sploder will be loaded.  Contest is come as you are, and we hope a good time will be had by all.

A number of partiers showed up, mostly from the local Sunweaver community, happy to see Xanadu in action once more. As advertised, there was a trivia ball answering some rock music-themed questions, some easier than others. Some were using a new dance ball, one that didn't have the people who clicked on it dancing in place but moved their position as it had them dance in synchronized patters. 

At various points, hearts and soap bubbles filled the air. Then at one point, someone requested "We Didn't Start The Fire." To which DJ Christine responded over the radio she'd see about that, and the floor went aflame, looking more like "Disco Inferno."

Currently, Xanadu has two weekly events, Thursdays from 6-8PM and Saturdays 8-10PM. The club is looking to hire more DJs and hosts, and other staff.

Xanadu is co-owned by Perri Prinz (whom is also one of the DJs) and Recoyote Mindes. It is a member of the FCA, and located at HV Community (67/207/4051). 

Bixyl Shuftan
 

Announcement: This Week at the Seanchai Libraries

 

THIS WEEK: a piece of Modesty, music, and great stories continuing! Join us for stories all week long, presented LIVE in Second Life, on Seanchai Library's properties in Second Life.

All events at Nowhereville (203/43/26) , unless otherwise noted.

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

* * * * *

--------->> COMING THIS WEEK

**SUNDAY,  June 20th ,  at 1:30pm: TEATIME: Pieces of Modesty - Corwyn Allen, Gloriana Maertens, Elrik Merlin, Kayden Oconnell, and Caledonia Skytower as they explore the adventures of Peter O'Donnell's Modesty Blaise.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nowhereville/194/131/21


**MONDAY, June 21st ,  at 7pm: Scott Westerfield's BEHEMOTH continues with Gyro Muggins.
    

**TUESDAY, June 22nd:

   ~ at Noon: RUSSELL EPONYM, Live! with music, and poetry in Ceiluradh Glen, live on stream.   http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nowhereville/194/131/21
    
   ~ at 7pm: Ben Aaronovitch's WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER continues with Corwyn Allen
   

**WEDNESDAY, June 23rd at 7pm: Carl Hiaasen's SKINK continues with Kayden Oconnell.


**THURSDAY, June 24th, at 7pm: H. Beam Piper's LITTLE FUZZY, continues with Ktadhn Vesuvino, in Ceiluradh Glen, live on stream.  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nowhereville/194/131/21

   
**FRIDAY, June 25th at 2:30pm: Terry Pratchett's UNSEEN ACADEMICALS continues with Caledonia Skytower at the Seanchai lanai-firecircle (90 minutes).
*

Cartoon of the Day: Shopping Mermaid

 Taken at the SL18B. The problem with being a mermaid is your lower half is designed for going about at sea, not on dry land. While some in Second Life just float around, perhaps explaining it as some kind of mermaid magic, realistically they'd be like this lady I saw at the SL18B freebie shop, crawling about on the ground. Where's a scooter when you need one?

By Bixyl Shuftan 

 

King For A Day at Montecito Bay

 Every Saturday night at 6PM in Montecity Bay, they have a party at Club 86. But Saturday June 19 was a little different. It was the birthday party of Twocoin, aka Qrik. So they threw a small birthday party in his honor, with Moff (MoffettMephit Resident) as the DJ.

It's Qrik's birthday! That means Qrik gets special party and you-you get NOTHING! ... Well, Qrik has decided you-you can come to tonight's special event-party, too! Qrik's musical minion, the one and only Super Rockin' Magic Moff will be playing special-custom set for Qrik with 80s music and synthwave and some surprises, too! Come pay respects to Qrik here-here: Montecito Bay (224,79,23)

For some reason, someone put a throne on stage. Yours truly didn't stick around to find out what the joke was, though it did give the party a slight "Game of Thrones" element. Moff's music was however, fit for a king.

Studio 86 is at Montecito Bay (31/128/26), and has at least one event a week, Saturday from 6-8PM SL time.

Bixyl Shuftan
 

SL Video: "June 12th Relay For Life Shady Fox Memorial Race (Giant Snail Race 657)"

 

From RacerX Gullwing on June 13, "In Second Life, the good players from various corners of the globe band together and run across the second life world to raise money for cancer. This week our RFL event was held in Gullwing Shire. We have our very own RFL race called Shady Fox Memorial Race, to honor our late and great friend, Shady Fox."

Finish order 1 - Alden Cortes: 508.984900, 2 - Lobbie Riggles: 513.423000, 3 - Cinders Vale: 519.129000, 4 - Lominola Rehula: 521.561600, 5 - JaseWolf Wylie: 557.496100, 6 - Caleb Kit: 569.473700, 7 - Dorie Bernstein: 590.084000

Following the race, RacerX and his friends go around the main Relay track. 
 

EOTB: Linden Lab Offers Limited Edition Last Names For Fathers Day, SL18B

 

For the Second Life Eighteenth Birthday, and Father's Day, Linden Lab is offering two sets of limited edition last names. 
 
The following names for Father’s Day are only available until June 25th.  

Daddy
Pop
Sire 

The Lab stated that these choices may be back next year around the time of Father's Day, but also for a limited time. 

For the Second Life Birthday, the limited edition last names were in the Fantasy theme, like the Linden Homes. 

The following names are in theme with SL18B this year and are only available until July 9th.

Mystic
Fae
Mote
Woodsprite
Silvius
Fyrewik
Padfoot 

The Lab would say, "We will continue to make additional updates to the available last name pool, so if these options aren’t for you, stay tuned for future updates."

To read the blog post in full, Click Here. 
  

SL Video: "Into The Sea - The Siren's Spell Song

 (Click here if the video does not play)

From Pring Productions on June 14, "Still Photos by Prudence Anton, Cian Wycliffe. Photos taken in Bellisseria, Second Life."