Cartoon of The Day: Not Doc Op

 

 Taken at the Fantasy Faire. Someone was going around with four mechanical arms attached to his body. It reminded me of a certain supervillain in Marvel Comics. 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

Sunbeamer Sailing Ships

 

In Sunlight Bay near the Puddle Jumper Mall are a couple of sailing ships, with the sails in the Relay for Life's Team Sunbeamer's logo. The team has every intention of outsailing cancer this year.

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

 

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

 

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

Club Cutlass: Motown, TBA, TBA

Happy Vixen: TBA, DJ Arooo, DJ Scratch, DJ Malit, DJ Khyra

Club Zero Gravity: DJ Snowy - Dressed to The Nines

 

Bouncing Bunny Beach Club:  DJ Snowy - Spots and Stripes

Xanadu: DJ Jesse 

Club Squeaks: DJ Squeaks

 

Montecito Bay:  CAYA, After Dark

Club Scorn: W 2-6, Th 2-12, Sat 2-12

 

Furry Fashion: Ferals, Cartoons and Animation, Under the Sea

 

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'

 

 

 

Last Day To Submit SLB Applications

 

For those still wanting to submit applications for exhibitors, volunteer staff, and performers , today Monday May 19 is your last chance. After Midnight, no more applications will be accepted. 

If past history is any guide, within several days the first exhibitors will get emails from Linden Lab saying they've been approved, where their plots are, and how to get into the exhibitor group. 

Stay tuned for further updates. 

Reader Submitted Picture: Tiny Empires Queen Memorial

 

 

 From Kamida Delec, from when Tiny Empires Queen Julie Apocalypse passed away from cancer and a tournament was held in her honor,  "Remembering a victim of Cancer. Tuesday ‎19 ‎May ‎2009, ‏‎19:17:04 (CET)"

 

Bay City Anniversary Parade and Music Concert

 

 

Yesterday, Sunday May 18, the 17th Annual Bay City Parade and Concert took place. The event is to celebrate the founding of Second Life's largest urban area. Yours truly missed the front part with Marianne McCann taking the lead, but I caught the second half.

 

 It went well aside from the drawbridge near the end suddenly going up. A couple people got dunked from the mishap.

 

 

Following the parade was the music concert at the Bay City Fairgrounds, with DJ GoSpeed Racer spinning the music, followed by Aubryn Melody.

 

 

People danced away, with one guy floating. And there was a conga line.

 

Happy Anniversary Bay City

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Cartoon of The Day: Robo Rider

 

 Taken at the Fantasy Faire. At one point, I saw a small robot on horseback. I imagine the player thought it was simply fun. But what a real robot be thinking?

 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

 

SL Video: "Fearless"

 

 (click here if the video does not play)

 

From Furrex on January 2024,

 

SLB Sims On The Map

 

 The Second Life Birthday celebrations are still a month away. But the Lindens and Moles have the sims for the event up. They can be seen by accessing the map and looking up "SLB." Unfortunately, nobody but the Lindens and Moles can get on the land. 

There are two groups of them. One is a large one of over forty sims. The other is about twelve, with eight of them SLB (what the other four are for is unknown). On the map, these sims are *far* from the Mainland and private sims, at least for now.

 

On a related note, those wanting to submit applications for exhibitors, volunteer staff, and performers have only a few more days. Monday May 19 is the last one to send one in. No more are being accepted for the Birthday Shop and Hop.

 

The Second Life Birthday is scheduled to start on Monday June 23.

Bixyl Shuftan

 

EOTB: "The Most Requested" New Last Names Announced

 

Yesterday on Thursday May 15, Linden Lab announced their new last names for the month of May. But this was a list of 23 names instead of the usual several changed. 

 

Thank you to everyone who has submitted ideas through our Last Name Suggestion Form. While we always choose names from your suggestions, this time we gave special priority to those that were requested most often by many Residents. So if you’ve ever submitted your favorite name, you might see it on the list!

Today, we’re doing another big refresh by removing some of the older options and adding the following new ones.

The new names are: Burney, Rabbit, Zen, Rune, Doll, Sirensong, Pixels, Stanwyck, Seraphim, Puppy, Possum, Dust, Cheeks, Lagmore, Clover, Moonchild, Dreamer, Sunny, Nightfall, Windsor, Pawto, Boop, and Waggletail. 

Which means about half of the current list are new names. 

As a reminder, changing one's account name isn't done for free, but costs $49.99 USD for Basic and Plus accounts, $34.99 for Premium Accounts, and $14.99 for Premium Plus. People are also free to offer suggestions for last names (here). 

 

To read the blog post in full, Click Here. 

 

This Saturday at The Science Circle

 

 

Saturday May 17

 

    ~*~

 

    At 10 AM PST   

    2020 in the Science Circle – Revisited 2

    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/revisited/

    A panel discussion following up on past topics from 5 years ago.

    Phil Youngblood — The Biochemistry of Our Senses
    Mike Shaw — Data into insight: Teasing out how molecules behave
    Steve van Hook —The World 20 Years Ahead with 2020 Vision

    Moderated by Stephen Gasior/Xootfly

 

    Location: Auditorium

 

    ~*~

 

    NOTE: Non-members required to register once

    IM Jes Cobalt or Nymf Hathaway

╚══════════════════════════════ The Science Circle (72,129,30) ═╝

 

RFL Announcement: Antiquity ACTS Magic of Hope

 

Travel through the portals...discover Magic through the Ages!

May 15th
12noon slt

Dress Code: come as you are...or something magical!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Antiquity%20Texas/224/225/1957

Mental Health Month At Health Island, Virtual Ability (Event Thursday May 15)

 

May is Mental Health Month. While mental illness is often feared, persistent fear and anxiety count as mental health issues. And these days they seem quite common among friends or ourselves. Gemma Cleanslate checked out the exhibit on Mental Health at Health island, and learned there's an all day event at Virtual Ability, their Mental Health Symposium, on Thursday May 15.

 

Read Gemma's article in Events. 

 

Abnormality Shopping Event

 

For those looking for parts and accessories for nonhuman avatars, one shopping event to check out is Abnormality. Taking place about once a season, the current theme is "The Garden."

 

Stop and smell the roses at the May round of Abnormality! We're celebrating spring with loads of pretty goodies so make sure to check us out this month!

 

The event goes on to Wednesday May 28.

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Abnormality/120/120/17 

RFL Announcement: Antiquity ACTS Archery Contest

 

Test your aim!  Test your strength!

Antiquity ACTS Archery Contest  May 14th

12noon slt

Dress Code: Come as you are/no nudity

ALL WELCOME!

Let's aim at a cure!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Antiquity%20MarieGalante/67/201/2002 

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

 

 

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

Club Cutlass: Space Cadets, Big Hair, TBA

Happy Vixen: TBA, DJ Arooo, DJ Scratch, DJ Malit, DJ Khyra

Club Zero Gravity: DJ Snowy - Dog and Pony Show

 

Bouncing Bunny Beach Club:  DJ Snowy - Floofy Tails and Ears

Xanadu: DJ Jesse 

Club Squeaks: DJ Squeaks

 

Montecito Bay:  CAYA, After Dark

Club Scorn: T 2-4, W 2-6, Th 2-12, Sat 2-12

 

Furry Fashion: Hooves and Horns, Purple and Blue, Plushies

 

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'

 

 

RFL Announcement: Antiquity ACTS Week "A Fabulous Dinkie Soiree"

 

Day 2 of Antiquity ACTS WEEK continues with...A Fabulous Dinkie Soiree!

Tuesday, May 13th
1pm slt

Dress Code: Soiree-ish!

ALL WELCOME

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Antiquity%20Britannica/206/203/3802
 

A Few Fantasy Faire Stories

 

The 2025 Fantasy Faire is over and done.  But the memories remain, as well as the numerous screenshots, and a few videos, made. When asked, a couple people shared some stories of theirs, in one case a short story and a picture. And yours truly has a few words.

 

Read more in Events..

 

Fresh Art Unveiled at Xaraz Gallery for May

 

After a period of quiet, Klaus Bereznyak is back.  Today, he writes about the Xaraz Gallery, by Michiel Bechir and Veyot. With seven artists' works featured, Klaus had much to say, and not just about the art but the grounds themselves.

Read Klaus' article in Design.

 

Press Release: Bay City Anniversary Parade And Music Event

 

Mainland City Celebrates 17 Years in Second Life®

BAY CITY, SL - Bay City will host its annual parade through the city, and a live music event in the Bay City Fairgrounds in North Channel, to honor and celebrate 17 years within Second Life.

Bay City officially opened in May 2008, with parcel auctions commencing shortly thereafter. In 2011, its landmass expanded significantly, merging with the former Teen Grid’s Bay City copy. Today, Bay City is the largest community-oriented virtual urban area within Second Life.

Parade participants are requested to assemble at noon Second Life Time (SLT/PT) on Sunday, May 18th, at the band shell in Bay City - Harwich, for lineup. The parade will proceed up to and along Route 66, commencing at 12:30 p.m. PDT, and will culminate at the Bay City Fairgrounds in the North Channel region.

A music event will kick off at 12:30 p.m. SLT/PDT at the Fairgrounds with DJ DJ GoSpeed of KONA Stream providing music leading into the event until 1:30 p.m.SLT/PT, followed by Aubryn from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. SLT/PT, Mimi Carpenter from 2:30-3:30 p.m. SLT/PT, and Jesie Janick from 3:30-4:30 p.m. SLT/PT.

All residents of the Second Life grid are cordially invited to participate in the upcoming celebration. Celebration goods, including parade float bases, are available at the Bay City Community Center, located in the Daley Bay region. Ample viewing areas are provided for all attendees. The music event is also open to all who wish to attend -- not only Residents of Bay City

Bay City is a mainland community, developed by Linden Lab® and home to the Bay City Alliance. The Bay City Alliance was founded in 2008 to promote the Bay City regions of Second Life and provide a venue for Bay City Residents and other interested parties to socialize and network. It is now the largest group for Residents of Bay City.

For more information, please contact Marianne McCann. 

Cartoon of The Day: TV Gone To One's Head

 

 Taken at the Fantasy Faire. Why this dragon had a head resembling a TV set, well, who knows.

 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

 

SL Video: "Fantasy Faire 2025 in Second Life - The Epic Walk"

 

 (click here if the video does not play)

 

 From Pryda Parx Studio on April 21, "This is my 2025 annual walk through every region of Fantasy Faire in Second Life. There were 18 regions this year. There were a lot of dragons this year. Some wonderful stone creatures like huge elephants and moving stone lions. A beautiful grotto and a most impressive museum. This year there were some of the best regions ever!"

News and Commentary: More on The Return of Gachas

 

 It was almost four years ago on August 2021 when Linden Lab announced they were banning the popular method of shopping known as gachas. It was one of the Lab's more controversial moves that had a divided reaction among the residents. For those who don't know, gachas in Second Life refers to a method of selling items, transferable and no-copy, through a machine which delivers one of a set of goods at random, usually a number of common ones, and a few uncommon and rare ones. 

 

It's hard to say when gachas got started in our virtual world, but the method eventually became quite popular. If you got one you didn't like, you could try again and give the first one away, or sell it. There were groups for the purpose of trading gacha items. And there were popular events with hundreds of gatcha items available for sale, such as the Gacha Guild and the Arcade Gacha. 

But gachas were not popular with everyone. Because that what the buyer got was random, there were charges they were basically a form of gambling. And with people wanting that rare item, it wasn't hard to imagine someone spending hundreds, thousands maybe, just to get it. So there were allegations the way gachas were sold enticed people to spend and spend and spend. So there were people demanding the Lab ban them. 

 

Outside events however would eventually lead the Lab to take action. Some games began offering loot crates which could not only be earned by gameplay, but purchase, such as EA's Battlefront II, which soon prompted investigation and calls for action by Government officials. When Linden Lab announced it was banning gachas, it did so citing "a changing regulatory climate." A few days ago, they would say, "regulatory guidelines emerging globally at the time." While there were no complaints from the US Government, or any other government, about gachas, it's likely the Lab's lawyers cautioned them that the way the legal winds were blowing to expect changes in the law. 

The reaction from the residents was divided. Many cheered the Lab, saying things along the lines of "it's about time this addictive practice was stopped!" Others booed it, saying they loved shopping for them and trading them, or just thought the move was unnecessary.. Some builders were saying they depended on gachas to make their living in SL and felt this would cripple them. The two big gacha events, The Gacha Guild and Arcade Gacha, stayed active for a few more years. But the Gacha Guild, later renamed just The Guild, would announce it's closing on Deceomber 2022. The  Arcade Gacha is supposedly still going, but it's blog had it's last entry on Sept 2022. 

But over time, there was change. I began noticing some vendors in which had a selection of items offered at random, including a couple uncommon ones, but the next one after the current one available for purchase was displayed. It was clearly based on the gachas, though not a true one. And finally several months ago in October 2024, Linden Lab announced a partial reversal of it's gacha ban. The catch though was that the items couldn't be transferable. That action was greeted without enthusiasm, gacha fans saying part of the fun was being able to trade them. 

And now, as of Tuesday May 6, the Lab is allowing gachas back in full, transferable and all. 

We are excited to share some important news that will bring renewed opportunities and creativity to our vibrant virtual world.  Effective immediately, Gacha is once again fully allowed as a content creation and sales mechanic in Second Life.

Linden Lab would say, "The decision to prohibit Gacha in 2021 was following regulatory guidelines emerging globally at the time.  We have continued to evaluate what steps we can take to support creative freedom while also ensuring compliance with evolving legal frameworks, which led to the recent changes announced in 2024. Since then, the regulatory landscape surrounding Gacha systems has further shifted to the point where Gacha can be confidently reintroduced under current prevailing guidance."

The Lab has asked gacha merchants to do three things, "Clearly communicate Gacha mechanics and contents," to price gacha items reasonably, and "avoid deceptive practices or 'pay-to-win' designs" that would damage trust of gacha shoppers. 

The subject quickly made the official forums on (this thread), and once again the reaction of the residents was divided, "Addictive gameplay is addictive gameplay." "This is excellent news." It may be this is one subject the residents will never really agree on.

 

But in any event, gachas are back. Now it's up to the residents to vote with their wallets.

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

This Saturday at The Science Circle

 

 

Saturday May 10

 

    ~*~

 

    At 10 AM PST   

    Department of Anthropology and Geography at Colorado State University

    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/csu/

    By Meryl McBride/Meryl Johnson

    Location: Auditorium

 

    ~*~

 

    NOTE: Non-members required to register once

    IM Jes Cobalt or Nymf Hathaway

╚══════════════════════════════ The Science Circle (72,129,30) ═╝

RFL Cinco De Mayo Party by Hands Hearts and Hope

 

 

Monday May 5 was an unofficial holiday, Cinco de Mayo. And in Second Life, there was a Cinco de Mayo event by the Relay team "
Hands Hearts and Hope" in the Silver Isles sim.

 

CINCO de MAYO BYOK til 5pm SLT
Come join me for some spicy Kiosk fun!  No, not that kind... the kind that comes with chip n salsa and some guac, and sizzling fajitas, and well... you get it! Let's do a Mexican Hat Dance and toss our change in the Kiosk Fountains!!

 

As mentioned, this was a multi team (or Bring Your Own Kiosk) event. And dropping by, there were people from a few teams, notably Roos With A Dream. Dropping by, there were smiles along with the music from DJ Chevy, along with some tacos, tamales, and tequila to the side. And there were a few jokes as well

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Silver%20Isles/156/100/275
 

While it celebrates a Mexican victory against those who tried to turn it into a colony, the date is celebrated more in the USA than Mexico, notably in pubs and bars.

 

Go Relay!

 

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: A Magical Night in Japan

 

 

This immersive role play experience will include a full dinner with live entertainment.

Choose the show you would like to attend during your dinner and if you would like to include a spa night with your package.

TABLES ARE FILLING FAST!

To book your reservation, please go to https://forms.gle/x2bZ1YQMfkaB4zY36

Fantasy Faire Ends

 

 

 It's been a great Fantasy Faire, but unless there's been some last minute reprieve, the sims of the Fairelands are now closed to the public, fading back into the virtual nether from whence they came.

 

So I, and many others, went around for one last look.

 

At the various scenery and builds.

 

 I missed the "Ravedown," but there's next year.

I finished up the Fairelands Quest, "The Dreamcasters Cauldron," getting the pieces, and after talking to the mages, made the repairs and activated it ...

 

 And got special thanks from the Bard Queen and the Dreamcaster, as well as a large reward of prizes.

 

 And so, the sun has set on another great Fantasy Faire. But we can look forward to the one next year. And for the Relayers, there's many other events this month, and of course the Relay Weekend on June 7 and 8.

 

Fare well Fairelanders,

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Breaking News: "Gacha Is Back"

 

 This just in! Linden Lab today announced that gacha items are once again fully allowed in Second Life.

 

More on this news later. 

 

Fantasy Faire Ends Tonight at Midnight

 

All good things must come to an end. Sadly, the time for the Fantasy Faire is winding down. Originally scheduled to end Sunday, it got a two day extension at Patch Linden's jail and bail. So it's scheduled to end some time after Midnight tonight, Tuesday May 6. 

 

 Thanks to Patch we have been gifted with 2 additional days in the Fairelands. To help with planning your time I want to let you know the regions will definitely be open through midnight SLT on Tuesday, May 6. Realistically, since blue fairies tend to be asleep then, it will more likely be around 9am SLT Wednesday morning. Basically anything after midnight SLT Tuesday is the cherry on top of the extra day whip cream on top of the ice cream sundae that is

 

Those who want to push things until the last minute may want to take note in the past some people could not get in a few hours before the scheduled close. On a positive note, the sims *might* remain open until late morning on Wednesday. 

It's been a great Faire, so enjoy the sights while you can.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

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

 

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

Club Cutlass: PreSummer SummerBash, Angels and Demons, TBA

Happy Vixen: DJ Malit, DJ Arooo, DJ Scratch, DJ Squeaks, DJ Khyra

Club Zero Gravity: DJ Snowy - Turning Red

 

Bouncing Bunny Beach Club:  DJ Snowy - Bunnies and Mice

Xanadu: DJ Jesse 

Club Squeaks: DJ Squeaks

 

Montecito Bay:  CAYA, After Dark

Club Scorn: T 2-4, W 2-6, Th 2-12, Sat 2-12

 

Furry Fashion:  Wings, Halloween, Pink

 

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'

Reader Submitted Picture: "A Shock of Light"

 

 From IshtarAngel Micheline at The Wrathwoods at the Fantasy Faire, "Since the Faire is almost over I had to document it with this look."

 

It Came From Bellisseria Chat: "The Priest Who Poofed"

 

Sometimes all you need to do to find something interesting in Second Life is listen to the chatter. One group that's seldom quiet for long is Bellisseria Citizens. A few days ago, someone asked about someone in a priest avatar that appeared at their home, then vanished. That led to some noteworthy chatter for a few minutes.

 

Read the story in People.

More At The Fantasy Faire

 

 

The Fantasy Faire continued this weekend. While there were smaller events at the Fairchylde and the Literary Festival, I was preoccupied with taking care of the Fairelands Quest. For those lacking patience or time, there's now an Express version of the Quest HUD that will take you at the end, for 5000 Linden dollars. But most appear to be toughing it out. 

Getting the pieces of the cauldron in the quest involved exploring plenty of detailed scenery.

 

 And sometimes the search felt like looking for a needle in a haystack.

 

 More on the Faire later.

 

Addition: For those who missed out on their chance to change their last name to "Fairelander" last year, the option is open again. (Click here) for the details. 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

Cartoon of The Day: Something Fishy

 

 

 Taken at the Fantasy Faire. Among the avatars I saw was this fish one running around. That just begged for a pun.

 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

SL Video: "My Second Life"

 

 (click here if the video does not play)

 

 From Blue Storm Productions in December 2024, "This video is about how I feel about my life in Second Life. Hope you all enjoy this video. It was a lot of hard work to put together (not to mention a lot of money too). Thank you for watching!"

Announcement: Art in a Cup- Opening May 3, 4-6pm SLT

 

 You've never seen anything like this! Fabulous Latté Foam Etchings! Meet the artist Saturday, May 3, 4-6pm. The exhibit will be up at the Cape Able Art Gallery for a month in case you miss the opening. 

 

Cape Able (128,125,23)

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cape%20Able/128/125/23

Reader Submitted: "Wolf on Book Guard Duty"

 

 

 From Wolfe Fairelander (formerly Henning Lionheart) at the Fantasy Faire, "They left a wolf known for chewing up books on guard duty. It was hard work, chewing up all those books."

 

More At The Fantasy Faire

 

 The Fantasy Faire continues. Dropping by FF Holi,the place had detailed East Indian architecture.

 

Every hour, the place has colorful clouds going up into the air. 

 

Going about, I continued to come across interesting scenery.

 

 

From small scale
 

To large.

And continuing the Farelands Quest with my companion Pax (if he doesn't appear on your shoulder, check the option on your HUD that makes him visible or invisible).

That's it for now. More on the Faire later.

 

Bixyl Shuftan