Join The Newser Crew For a Party

Next week marks our eighth anniversary of bringing you readers the news of Second Life. And to celebrate, we'll be having a beach party. This is an open event, and we invite you the readers to stop by and enjoy the music and dance with us.

The party will take place on Saturday June 2 at the Happy Vixen, the beach club of the Sunweaver/Angel community which has been the home of the Newser office since a few weeks after out beginning. DJ Grease will be playing the tunes.The party starts at Noon, and will go on until the last person leaves (or the next party later that day starts up).

Saturday June 2 at Noon

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Purrfection%20Estates/236/219/24

The Sunbeamer Cancer Cell Train Shootout

Every year, Shockwave Yareach has a game for people to play at the Sunweaver Estates. This time, he's incorporated the train ride that was opened earlier this year. He's also made it a Relay fundraiser, a small fee required to play, all proceeds going to Team Sunbeamers.

Pay the kiosk 50L, wear the SalesBracelot it gives you, grab your favorite gun, and ride the train through SIX sims, shooting cancer cells as you go. Up to six players at one time can play, or just yourself. Wanna destroy cancer? Show it that you mean business! Train runs every hour at the top of the hour.

Have fun!! And thank you all for your support.

To play the game, when the time gets close to a few minutes before the next hour, head to the White Vixen Enterprises office at Pacific Waters (147, 58, 36).  Pay the kiosk that says "Train Shootout" 50 Lindens, then wear the item (it goes by the name "SalesBracelot" in your inventory). It then loads you into the game. When the train appears, board it. And make sure you have a working gun available.

As you go down the track, you'll see red cells floating in the air. Shoot them if you can. When hit, they explode in an orange cloud. You'll only be able to do so from the train. If you fall off, you'll no longer be able to see them. In a few spots, you won't be able to shoot as the bullets will not be able to rezz. Don't worry, the train will soon move to a spot where you can resume fire. The game only works when the train is going from Northeast to Southwest. Nothing will happen when the train goes the other way at half past the hour.

The train will travel through six sims. When the train reaches the end of the track in Sunweaver Bay, you're given a score on the number of cancer cells you blasted. How high can you get?

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Pacific%20Waters/147/58/36

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: This Week At The Science Circle: "Interactive tour of Brodmann’s Brain"

"Interactive tour of Brodmann’s Brain"
Friday June 1
at 7AM SL time

Join us for an interactive tour of Brodmann’s Brain! Within this giant cortex we can see and stimulate the fMRI mapped areas which correlate to fear, desire, love, coordination, meditation, speech, and more!

This model and others being developed provide a platform for exciting educational opportunities in biology, psychology, and health, behavioral, and social sciences. Sponsored by Whole Brain Health on Inspiration Island, featuring brain research post-doc OsanGar, Thuja Hynes and Lissena Wisdomseeker.

For more information: Click Here.  

The Science Circle (61/127/32) 

Announcement: Shivers Unleashed Festival

The Shivers Unleashed Festival is a 3-day event with lots of Livemusic, DJs and other fun attractions. As always we wrapped up an excellent lineup with many of the best artists performing currently in Second Life!

After the liveshows, the aftershow parties will start with great DJs and hot beats. Also we have a festival market again and other fun attractions on the festival grounds.

Also we offer a free campingsite where people can pitch their tent or caravan, or just grab one of the existing free tents.

LM: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Midnight%20Reflection/70/83/23 (Until event, limited access)

Cartoon of the Day

From the 2016 Bay City Parade. A "Flintstonemobile" that was part of the parade glitched and went down the road on the front wheels. Yours truly doesn't recall the cars in the cartoons that aired in his boyhood having this kind of trouble. Then again, the main character was a heavy guy. Maybe his weight kept this kind of thing from happening.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Reader Submitted: Game Review - Subnautica, Part Four

Rita Mariner has been doing reader submissions on the ocean-based survival game Subnautica. In earlier chapters, she described getting started and then going out beyond your initial area. In the fourth article of her series, having just gotten the "Prawn suit," you'll be able to dive deeper. You'll be needing to, to find more resources and more blueprints to things that you'll need. But to get the rewards, you'll have to go through the risks of monsters and hostile environments, all while keeping an eye on your oxygen supply.

Read Rita's reader submission in Other Grids, MMOs, and Games.

The Philosophy of Furniture

Longtime fans of Gemma Cleanslate's articles will probably recall her articles about her philosophy class. Her latest visit to the Linden Endowment for the Arts area revealed a location with the term in the title, "The Philosophy of Furniture." Named after an essay by Edgar Allen Poe, the place has many homes crafted in 19th Century styles, each with a few lines of the writing. So what did Gemma think of the exhibit?

Read Gemma's story in Design.

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

It's a week full of events at the Sunweaver and Montecito Bay clubs and the Furry Fashion Lounge

Club Cutlass: Best in 'J,' Best in Silver, Hoof-It

The Happy Vixen: Stripes, Hats, Ocean Voyage, TBA, Rumble in the Jungle, Bunnies, Newser Beach Party, Spots, Red, CAYA

Club Zero Gravity: Best in Swimwear, CAYA

Momtecito Bay: CAYA, Red Panda Mod Release, After Dark,

Furry Fashion Lounge: Celtic/Green, Genderbend, No Pants, Neon, Sexy, Bento Fox Release, Blue, Candy

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'.

Updated 1:20PM

SL15B Exhibitor Parcel Claim Deadline Today

For the first round of exhibitors of the Second Life Birthday approved by email, and were able to claim parcels on the SL15B sims starting last Friday, time is running out. The deadline to make your claim is today at Noon SL time. So if you haven't, get there.

No word yet about the deadline for the second round of exhibitors.

http://www.slcommunitycelebration.info/

Image Credit: Vivena

Press Release: "Bid Me Bald" vs "Grayson's Challenge"

Its the Bid Me Bald 2018 Grayson Challenge.. with a twist!

Each Year Yasmine and Polaris Grayson, compete to shave the other bald, This year's gonna be its different!

After 14 years on the grid, Polaris is the Last Surviving 2004 Noobie System Avatar on The Grid!  He has agreed change to a MESH Body and Hair versus the hair of Yasamine Grayson,  the loveliest 14yr old in Second Life.

The Graysons came to Second Life together, from There, on May 24, 2004. Since that time Polaris has worn only system clothes and hair.  Yasamine thinks its time for him to adapt to a more contemporary avatar and is willing to put her long blonde locks on the line against him.

Here is your chance to take part in history in the making!  Beginning May 27th there will be 2 Relay For Life kiosks, one labeled MESH the other BALD, placed at the pier in Arinultra Cay.   Vote for your choice and on June 10th @ 530pm we will total the Kiosks to see if we Bid Polaris MESH or Yasamine BALD.

"Its about time," Yasamine stated. "I do look good bald, but Polaris really needs an update!"  Polaris replied, "What about historic preservation?  How else can we measure progress if we don't preserve our relics?" 

The choice is yours, its up to YOU! 

Bid Polaris Mesh or Bid Yasamine Bald!

The Original Bid Me Bald and the Grayson Challenge are held by the Relay Rockers in support of the American Cancer Society and the Relay For Life of Second Life.  All proceeds support the Society's mission to Save Lives, Celebrate Lives and Lead the Fight for A World Without Cancer!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Arinultra%20Cay/198/34/28

It's an event that Trader Whiplash called "Second Life history in the making."

Sacred Ground

This Memorial Day, many are looking for ways to remember this country's veterans whom died while in service. Second Life has a number of memorials. One place with a number of them is Sacred Ground in the Urban Style sim. From the Civil War and earlier to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, those who perished are remembered here, both in a park at ground level and places further up the sim.

Read the article in Places.

Memorial Day

Have a honored Memorial Day from the Second Life Newser

From Sacred Ground, Urban Style (190/200/22)

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at the Happy Vixen. Skylark Lefavre in her pony avatar, holding the flag of the Relay for Life Sunbeamer Team, which holds a few events at the club.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: This Week at the Senchai Libraries

LITTLE THINGS CAN MATTER!
We begin and end this last week of May with special events: A trip down the Ulanga River with Rose and Charlie; a not-so-trippy 1986 concept album with two unique stories behind it; and lots of story goodness in between. Join us this week in #secondlife, and on our properties in #kitely, live in voice.

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

NOTE: Caledonia will be featured at Circe's Poet's Circle, this Saturday Night at 6pm slt.

--------->> COMING THIS WEEK:
Senchai Library at Holly Kai Park
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Holly%20Kai%20Estates/215/44/27

All stories told in open voice. All times SL/PT
   
**SUNDAY, May 27th:

        ~ at 1:30pm:  TEA TIME on the African Queen:  join Corwyn, Kayden, and Cale in Ceiliúradh Glen on Holly Kai as the present the Lux Radio Theater script of The African Queen, based on C.S. Forrester's novel and the 1951 motion picture.

   ~ 2:30pm to 4:30pm: Stick around and Jungle Boogie with DJ Dano Bookmite in the Glen


**MONDAY, May 28th at 7pm: Hal Clement's THE NITROGEN FIX continues with Gyro Muggins


**TUESDAY, May 29th at 7pm:  Craig Johnson's THE COLD DISH: A Longmire Mystery" continues with Kayden Oconnell

** WEDNESDAY, May 30th at 7pm:  Erin Entrada Kelly’s Newbery Medal Award-Winning Tale HELLO, UNIVERSE continues with Caledonia Skytower.

** THURSDAY,  May 31st:

   ~ at 6:30pm - RUSH 2112: music, video, and dancing with Shandon Loring (also presented in Kitelyhop://grid.kitely.com:8002/Seanchai/144/129/29)

   ~ at 7pm - RUSH 2112: Anthem - the story behind the music with Shandon Loring (also presented in Kitelyhop://grid.kitely.com:8002/Seanchai/144/129/29)

   ~ at 9pm - SEANCHAI LATE NIGHT - contemporary sci-fi-fantasy with Finn Zeddmore

SL Video: "Drip-Drop"

(Click here if the video fails to play)

By WLF on May 2016

SL15B Open to Exhibitors

 The early part of the Second Life Fifteenth Birthday is over. The exhibitors, at least the first round of those approved, were notified a few days ago in their emails. And starting at Noon today, they could ask to be invited to the exhibitors' group and claim their plots. Ant the Newser "threw it's hat in the ring" once more. Our build will be at SL15B Spectacular.

Already, some exhibitors are putting their builds up. So we can't show you an expanse of plots waiting to be claimed as the builders were that fast. We may show you a few sneak peaks over the next few weeks. But we can't reveal too much, not yet, at least of the builds. But there's still plenty to write about in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for further updates.

The sims open to all on Sunday June 17 at Noon SL time when the celebration begins.
 
http://www.slcommunitycelebration.info/

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: Giant Snail Cross-Country Race for RFL

This weeks Giant Snail cross country race RFL race.
Hey we're racing across the Rosehaven sims this week.
The  theme is adventure. The track is a "follow the arrows course" and most of the arrows are set out now. So if you want to take a look at the course go to Rosehaven Eventide (110,38,21)  also here is a snail if you didn't get one yet you can pay to race on the day or pay early at the top track follow the purple arrows

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rosehaven%20Eventide/110/38/21

Scenes From Bay City's Tenth Anniversary

The Bay City community and region reached a milestone this month. They had their tenth anniversary this month. To celebrate, they held a parade across several sims, and a concert and dance where the parade ended. The Newser dropped in, and took a few pictures.

Read the story in Events.

Memorial Dance for Artistic Fimicloud

It was ten years ago tomorrow that Artistic Fimicloud (Stephanie Koslow), a member of the Sunweaver community, as well as the Passionate Redheads RFL team, passed away on May 26 2008 from cancer. She was 49. Since then, events have been held every year in her honor, On this anniversary of her passing, a memorial dance will be held in her remembrance.

The event, "Pink for Fimi," will be held at Club Cutlass Saturday May 26 at 6PM.

Sunweaver Bay (114/117/757).

Announcement: This Week At The Science Circle: "Tumblin’ Dice – Probability Theory and Statistics…"

Saturday, May 26
at 10AM PDT
"Tumblin’ Dice – Probability Theory and Statistics as a Basis for Modern Science"
By Tagline

Probability Theory and Statistics represent something very basic to human existence and are indispensable to scientific rigor. This presentation will survey some of the stepping stones that form the basis of computational mathematics commonly used in analysis of data from experimentation. This includes some mathematical history and some set theoretic considerations for basic statistics with emphasis on discrete sample (outcome) space.

For more information: Click Here.  

The Science Circle (61/127/32) 

RFL Team Sunbeamers Reaches Jade Level

On May 23, Relay for Life's Team Sunbeamers finally achieved a goal it never had before in it's history. The team had reached Jade level fundraising, which takes 375,000 Lindens (or $1,500 USD). Team captain Rita Mariner announced the news.

Beamers:  I would have never believe it, but we are JADE!  Good going team!  Bixyl goes GREEN!  Go Relay!  Go Sunbeamers!

I had earlier stated if the Sunnies made Jade level, I'd go green for a week. So yours truly had to own up, and on top of the earlier "Bid Me Pantsless." At the suggestion of Skylark Lefavre, I went with a green anthro bilby avatar. Why a bilby? Skylark thought it was a playful pun at the actor who played Bruce Banner on "The Incredible Hulk" TV show, calling my new look "Bix Bilby" after actor Bill Bixby.

The previous level, Platinum, was reached by the Sunbeamers on April 18.  Next level is Sapphire, which is 500.000 Lindens (or $2000 USD). We already have one avatar challenge by Nydia Tungsten who says she'll go purple for a week if this level is reached. There's still several weeks until the Relay Weekend, and a few events ahead for us such as the upcoming air show. So we stand a good chance of reaching this new goal.

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

Bixyl Shuftan

Scenes From The Relay: Lantern Release Ceremony

The Relay for Life is usually a fun time for all. But there are occasional reminders of the seriousness of why the fundraiser exists. At the Home and Garden Expo, there's been a daily lantern release ceremony, every day at 4PM. It's suggested those watching set their viewers to Midnight.

In the ceremony, many dozens, well over a hundred, of paper lanterns slowly float up into the air, illuminating the sky. The lanterns represent friends and loved ones lost to cancer. The time I watched the ceremony with several other relayers, one talked about how his grandfather had taught him how to make his own paper. We each reflected on those we knew whom had passed away from the illness, and hoped that someday soon, there would be a cure for all forms of it.

Bixyl Shuftan

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at the Happy Vixen. A NotUrName (ThisIsNotUrName Resident) dropped in. When asked about what inspired her account name, this was her answer and this was my response, give or take a couple words.

By Bixyl Shuftan

SL15B Update

On Monday May 21, the first of the applications for the SL15B were answered. The Newser got it's answer the following day on Tuesday. We're approved. Listening in the SLB group, others also got their approvals, though not everyone. Others will follow. For those approved, Starting at Noon on Friday May 25, they can message a volunteer and be invited to the exhibitors' group. Once you accept, you can be shown your parcel and claim it. The deadline for exhibitors to claim their parcels is Tuesday May 29. For more details on the timeline, Click here.

After over a month of not changing much, the SL15B sims are taking shape. The total area has grown by six sims to twenty-one, three more than last year. The additional space will be needed as the number of applications us more than last year.

Sunday June 19 is when the SL15B opens. Stay tuned for more updates.

Announcement: CDS Representative Assembly Inagural Meeting

The RA of the 29th term will meet on Monday June 4th, 10:30am slt at the Praetorium in Colonia Nova to be sworn in by the dean of
The SC and to elect their LRA.

All are welcome to attend

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Colonia%20Nova/21/127/31

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

It's a week full of events at the Sunweaver and Montecito Bay clubs and the Furry Fashion Lounge

Club Cutlass: Best in 'I,' Back to Beach, Pink for Fimi

The Happy Vixen: Ears and Tails, Cops and Robbers, Down on the Farm, Arabian Nights, Sweaters and Hoodies, Military/Memorial Day, Australia, Pasties and Things, CAYA

Club Zero Gravity:Best in Gold, Best in Leather

Momtecito Bay: Food Fight, Avatar Release, 90s/00s Nostalgia, After Dark,

Furry Fashion Lounge: Fandoms, Forest Creatures, Pajama Party, Canines vs Felines, Synth-Rave, Video Games, Flowers and Florals, Undead vs Survivors

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'.

Updated 9:30 PM

Fundraiser at Veterans Isle Raises 122,000 Lindens

On May 20, Veterans Isle hosted a fundraising concert. The event to raise money for the Homes For Our Troops charity was organized in Part by Frets Nirvana. The performers scheduled for the event were DJ Waya Snowpaw and live musicians Hogan Baily, Paul Nowles, Melenda Baptiste and Wolfie Moonshadow.

I just attended one of their kickoffs for a home building here in Tennessee yesterday and cannot emphasize enough how impressed I am with the great work they are doing.  I met one Vet they built a home for five years ago.  A double amputee he expressed how this turned his whole life around.  His life has blossomed with a new wife, a baby on the way and a career that is moving forward.

Come on out today, support this great effort and kick off your Memorial week for the reason it was founded in the first place …to honor the sacrifices our vets make.    We once again we have a great lineup of talent:

Yours truly dropped in as Melenda Baptiste was finishing her performance, and Wolfe Moonshadow was stepping up. Frets introduced Wolfe as a British Veteran, and thanked him for supporting his American peers. About this time, the two kiosks on either side of the stage had raised a combined total of 100,000 Lindens. Frets encouraged the people at the already successful fundraiser to give a little more. At the end of the event, a total of 122,000 even had been donated.

Veterans Isle holds benefits for HFOT every month, usually at the last Sunday of the month. But next Sunday being Memorial Day weekend, it was held a week earlier than normal.

To learn more about the Homes For Our Troops visit https://www.hfotusa.org .

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: Burners Without Borders Movie Night: "Our Digital Selves"

Burners Without Borders  SL 1st  RFL event (this year) woot!

Showing new, full-feature documentary about Second Life by filmaker, Draxtor Despres.

WHEN: Tuesday, May 22 7pm SLT and again on 29th at 5pm SLT

WHERE: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Escapades/92/17/23

We are excited to see this film together with you in SL!!

One day we will celebrate the Cure, until then we Relay! United, Together!!

Sneak Peak: The Sunweaver SL15B Exhibit

A month ago, we reported the Sunweaver community will be taking part in the Second Life Birthday celebration. Becky "Sha" Shamen agreed to do the community exhibit. The job is about done, but naturally, we're not going to show you the whole thing yet. So here's a second sneak peak, the first which can be seen here.

Stay tuned for more sneak peeks, and clues as we get closer to The Birthday.

Bixyl Shuftan

A Busy Weekend

Quite a bit happened this weekend in Second Life. Saturday had the opening of the Relay for Life's Home and Garden Expo. There was the Bay City 10th Anniversary Parade and dance party (pictured above) on Sunday. Also on Sunday was the Memorial Week fundraiser at Veterans' Isle. All this time the Sci-fi Expo was going on in Second Life. And there were smaller Relay events such as the Sunbeamer Team's latest round of "Bid Me" fundraisers being made final (see below).

We'll get to these events as time permits. Stay tuned for these stories, and more.

Reader Submitted: Game Review - Subnautica, Part Three

Rita Mariner has been sending in reader submitted articles about the undersea survival game Subnautica. In her third story, which takes place in the middle part of the game, she describes how as your character progresses, your end goal of escaping the planet is within sight. Unfortunately, a nasty surprise is discovered that threatens your ability to realize that.

Read Rita's reader submission in Other Grids, MMOs, and Games.

What Happened With the CDS Elections?

"Suppose they gave an election and nobody came." That wasn't quite what happened with the Confederation of Democratic Simulators, or CDS. But the number of people who stepped up to run for office was small, just enough to fill the seats. Both the soon to be Chancellor, and the current CDS leader, had a few words about the matter to say to the Newser.

Read more in Extra.

Sunbeamer "Bid Me" Fundraisers Raise Over 53,000 Lindens

On Friday May 18, the totals of Team Sunbeamers' first round of "Bid Me" events were made final and official. For those who need a reminder, the three volunteers were Team Chieftess Rita Mariner in "Bid Me to the Dogs," Liska Fuchs in "Bid Me Goat," and Bixyl Shuftan (myself) in "Bid Me Pantsless." Following the end of the party at Club Cutlass at 8PM that night, Rita tallied up the amounts, and gave them out in a Sunbeamer team announcement:

Liska:
Keep Fox =    150L
Go Goat =      16,100L so goes Goat x 3 weeks

Bixyl
Keep Fox = 1100 L
Go Pantless = 25,200L so Pantless x 5 weeks

Rita
Keep Bunny = 0L
Go to Dogs = 10,650L so a Dog for 2 weeks

So it seems yours truly will be sans trousers for a while, at least when not doing Newser duty such as interviews. But I won't be going around in my undies. There's kilts, togas, male kimonos, swimming trunks, and of course going about in tiny avatars that my clothes don't fit. At a little over 25,000 , this was my second most successful Bid Me event, the top one my "Bid Me Human" for the Passionate Redheads several years ago.

With a total of 53,200 raised, this first round of Bid-Me events pushed Team Subeamers past the 300,000 mark. As of the writing of this article, the team has raised over 346,000 Lindens. At this rate, it won't be long before the team reaches Jade level, which it has never done. This season, that will take 375,000 Lindens. Earlier, I stated if this level was reached, I'd be in a green avatar for a week. It looks like I may have both a Jade Avatar challenge *and* a Bid Me condition to live up to. Oh well.

The Sunbeamers are planning more events this season, including an air show in June. And of course there's the Relay Weekend.

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

Bixyl Shuftan

Cartoon of the Day

From the "Bid the Lindens Bald" party. Among those there was this tiny skunk, Tazzie "Tazz" Tuque, in a Fairelander "Pawlice" uniform.

By Bixyl Shuftan

SL Video: "Hindsight"

(Click here if the video fails to play)

From Furry Andy on Jan 2015

Rebel Yell

Gemma Cleanslate is back from exploring Second Life. Her latest article is about a new sim called Rebel Yell. If the name sounds familiar, they're a tribute group that has entertained residents for years. Now, they have a lasting place on the Grid. Gemma took a look around, and had a few things to say about the hangout.

Read Gemma's article in Places.

RFL Graphic: Team Standings

Here's a picture showing the status of over fifty teams in the Relay for Life. There are two teams, the Relay Rockers and Unmasking a Cure, that have reached the Ruby fundraising level, which takes 750,000 Linden dollars (or $3000 USD). Third place is the Skill Gaming team, which made Emerald rank, which takes 625,000L (or $2500 USD). Fourth to seventh place are Goreans in Relay for Life, Touched by Angels, Team Shadow, and Aether Chrononauts Tiny Steps (ACTS), which are Jade level, which requires 375,000L (or $1500 USD). The Sunbeamers lead the list of Platinum-ranked teams, the others being Cure Chasers, Friends for a Cure, and Harmony of Hope. This level requires 250,000L to reach (or $1000 USD). The Gold level teams are Fighting Sunflowers, Sail for Life, Honoring Hope, the Free Spirit Hippie Brigade, the Relay Cure Masters, RGF Estates for Relay for Life, Team Sol Existence, and Team 427. Reaching Gold status requires 125,000L (or $500 USD).

Fourteen teams made it to Silver level fundraising, which takes 50,000 ($200 USD). These include Fly for Life, Inspired Dreamwalkers, Team Bonanza, and the Steelhead Salmons. The Bronze teams number twenty-four, those which raised at least 12,500 Linden dollars (or fifty US dollars). These include repeat teams Too Tough to Die, the Second Life Coast Guard team, Relay for Christ, Team Live Wire, Giant Snail Races, and Meli's Maniacs.

These statistics are four days old, so it's probable one or more teams have moved up and more have joined the ranks of the Bronze teams.

Go Relay!

Bixyl Shuftan

Bay City's Ten Year Anniversary Parade And Concert on Sunday

Just a reminder. Bay City, the largest urban area in Second Life and the first big project of the Linden Department of Public Works, has their anniversary event this Sunday, May 20. The parade starts in Harwich at 12:30 SLT, then goes down their main road, Route 66, ending at North Channel where the Bay City Fairgrounds are.  Following the parade, a concert starts at the Fairgrounds at 1:30, starting with DJ GoSpeed Racer, followed by live musicians Parker Static, Erika Ordinary, and Stratus Mactavish. The music is scheduled to last until 4:30PM.

Press Release: Memorial Week Bennefit Concert at Veterans Isle

Frets Nirvana and US Military Veterans Group announce the 2018 Memorial Week benefit for Homes For Our Troops in Second Life! 

Frets Nirvana, the premier guitar artist in the virtual world Second Life and the US Military Veterans Group announce the 2018 Memorial Week benefit on May 20, 2018 in Second Life for the Veterans Support Organization  Home For Our Troops . 

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 suffered severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).  Since its inception in 2004, over 90 cents of every dollar spent by Homes for Our Troop has gone to directly support Veterans. DURING THAT TIME HFOT HAS BUILT OVER 240 SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOMES NATIONWIDE FOR WOUNDED VETERANS.”

In 2017 the community in Second Life sent over $10,000 to Homes For Our Troops, thanks to may kind hearts and great Second Life performers. 

Home for Our Troops benefit concerts feature premier Second Life talent monthly at Veteran’s Isle.  The concert on May 20, 2018 is scheduled from 10 AM - 4 PM PST.  Featured artists will be DJ Waya Snowpaw, Hogan Baily, Paul Nowles, Melenda Baptiste and Wolfie Moonshadow.

ABOUT HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS  - HFOT builds homes as a departure point for Veterans to rebuild their lives, and once again become highly productive members of society. Despite their life-altering injuries, many Veterans have embarked on new careers, completed their college degrees, or started families. Empowered by the freedom a mortgage-free and specially adapted home brings, these Veterans can now focus on their recovery and return to their life’s work of serving others. Many have embraced their roles as motivational speakers, sharing their messages of persevering through tragedy with groups and classrooms around the country; others take to a national platform to promote awareness of veteran suicide, homelessness and PTSD. Their incredible stories are the driving force for the work for HFOT.  HFOT has received Charity Navigator’s highest rating of 4 Stars for six consecutive years. Charity Watch has awarded HFOT an A rating and included us on its list of Top-Rated Military & Veterans Charities.

To learn more about the Homes For Our Troops visit https://www.hfotusa.org

Scenes From Bid the Lindens Bald

For five days earlier this month, people could donated to three kiosks in the "Bid the Lindens Bald" fundraiser. On Wednesday May 9, the totals were finalized and the loosing team had to lose their hair for an amount of time determined by how much the winning team raised. So who kept their hair and whom ended up with a shinny scalp?

Read the story in Events.

Announcemement: Second Life Home and Garden Expo Starts Saturday

It’s Almost Time for the Expo!

Get the latest in decor for your Second Life at the Home and Garden Expo!

A number of sims of shopping, auctions and events await you through June 2nd at the annual Home and Garden Expo benefiting Relay For Life.

This Expo features the great creators of Second Life’s Home and; Garden products. The first Expo was held in the summer of 2008.  Joining in with the Home and Garden Expo is the RFL Breedables Faire. 

For the seventh year the Breedables are back, intermingled with the Home and Garden shops and holding auctions galore!

For more information, check the blog: https://slhomegardenexpo.com/

Announcement: This Week At The Science Circle: “The Anthropocene Epoch”

    Saturday, May 19th

    "The Anthropocene Epoch“
    By Phil Youngblood / Vic Michalak
    https://www.sciencecircle.org/events/2018-05-19/
   
    6 AM - 7 AM PDT
               and
    10 AM - 11 AM PDT

There is a saying that in English goes, “One cannot see the forest for the trees.” The traditional meaning is that it is difficult to see the bigger picture if you cannot see beyond your own little part in it. So it goes with seeing the bigger picture of global changes because we live on such a small part of our planet, and for such a relatively short time.

In March 2008, The Science Circle officially began its tradition of presentations of a variety of science topic with “The Anthropocene Epoch.” Ten years later, we will again explore the concept of geological epochs and evidence that humans have had such a significantly high impact on our planet that we are even now leaving evidence in rock and ice layers, in the atmosphere, and in the fossil record, that will be evident thousands and millions of years from now.

Some of the questions we will explore are: “How has the Earth changed over its history?”
“What caused those changes?” “What was the impact and how long did it last?” “How do we know?” “What natural changes are occurring right now on Earth?” “How are humans changing our planet and by how much?” “Are humans the only living things changing the Earth?” “What are the possible short and long-term consequences of our activities?” “Is there anything we can do about it?”

This is a subject that is having an impact on every one of us for centuries to come. Come join us!

For more information: Click Here.  

The Science Circle (61/127/32) 

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at the Sci-Fi Expo.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Reader Submitted: Game Review - Subnautica, Part Two

Last week, Rita Mariner sent in her first of a number of reader submitted articles about Subnautica. Subnautica is a single player survival game taking place in an ocean of an alien planet. In Part Two, she describes what happens after the beginning part of the game as you venture further from where your life pod landed. As you explore more and gather more resources, you become able to build better tools. But you will be needing them to face greater dangers.

Read Rita's reader submission in Other Grids, MMOs, and Games.

Could *You* Be A Reporter?

Over the years, the Second Life Newser has had many talented writers within it's ranks. DrFran Babcock, CNN iReporter Any1 Gynoid, and many others have made their mark in the paper. But the Newser has always been open to new talent, and new writers coming in. Often these new writers have been readers of the paper.

Could you be a writer? We're looking for people who can write well, of course. But we're looking for people who can do a story several paragraphs long at least once a week. We're looking for people whom want to know more about Second Life and want to share what they've found. And of course looking for people with a great love of writing.

If you have all of these qualities, there just might be a future in our team of Second Life journalists for you. IM the editor inworld, or send an email if you're interested.

Bixyl Shuftan
bixylshuftan(at)gmail(dot)com

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

It's a week full of events at the Sunweaver and Montecito Bay clubs and the Furry Fashion Lounge

Club Cutlass: Best in 'H,' School Daze, Lemon/Lime

The Happy Vixen: Spots, Vampires, Sports, Werewolves, Dinosaurs, Formal/Black Tie, Best in Black, Wings, Hawaiian Luau, CAYA

Club Zero Gravity: TBA

Momtecito Bay: Felines, Pastels, After Dark, Ghouls and Monsters

Furry Fashion Lounge: Jungle, 7 Deadly Sins. Genderbend, Food, Hippies vs Hipsters, Superheros and Villains, Demos, Murder, Mystery, and Monsters

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'.

Sneak Peak: The SL Newser SL15B Exhibit

It's about a week until the exhibitors for the SL15B celebrations are notified. In the meantime, work has been continuing on the Second Life Newser's exhibit. Build by Silvia Ametza and Aimeelou Destiny, it's been taking shape. Here's another sneak peak of what to expect. And of course, the Sunweaver Comunity is working on it's own exhibit.

On May25, the regions are open to builders with May 29 being the deadline for parcel claims. Performers have longer to decide whether or not to take part, their deadline being May 31.

Bixyl Shuftan

Net Neutrality Scheduled to End June 11

By Bixyl Shuftan

On December 14 2017, the Federal Communications Commission voted to end it's protection of Net Neutrality. The decision came despite numerous advocacy groups, over 200 businesses and trade groups, as well as skepticism of the public at large. Among the corporations calling for it's continuation is Linden Lab, whose founder Philip Rosedale predicted "especially negative" consequences as Internet providers could easily introduce bandwith caps and by-the-megabyte billing.

The new rules did not go in effect right away  They had to be posted to the Federal register first. For some reason, this had not been done for over four months, provoking guesses as to why. But on Thursday May 10, the FCC stated in a notice that thirty days after the following day, or June 11, the new rules doing away with the Net Neutrality protections would begin. "These unnecessary and harmful internet regulations will be repealed," FCC Chairman Ajit Pai stated.

So what happens next? There is a bill in Congress being pushed that if passed would require the FCC to keep the current protections. But while it needs only one more Senator to support it, it faces an uphill battle in the House. In the courts, more than twenty states have also filed suit to stop the FCC from repealing the present-day rules. Several states, including California and New York, are considering legislation enforcing Net Neutrality within their boundaries. But a spokesman for the FCC states such legislation would be illegal and would be challenged in court.

Gigi Sohn, an advisor to a former FCC chairman Tom Wheeler, commented that net neutrality's future will probably "stay murky" through the rest of the year.

Because of the importance of the issue of Net Neutrality, the Second Life Newser declared FCC Chairman Ajit Pai as it's "Man of the Year" for 2017 as we felt the potential harm of the disposal of these new regulations to Second Life outweighed the accomplishments of any one group of residents or any one accomplishment of Linden Lab.

Sources: CNN, Motherboard

Image Credit: Lanai Jarrico

Bixyl Shuftan