Friday, May 30, 2025

SL Newser Accepted In The SL22B

 

 For those who signed up as exhibitors for the Second Life Birthday, they're being notified they've been accepted and where their plot is. This includes the Newser, which will be in SLB Enchant. So yes, we've thrown our "hat in the ring," so to speak.


While in the past, the Newser had a few "teaser" pictures of the Second Life Birthday grounds before the start, sadly it won't be the case this year. After our "hat in the ring" picture, the Lindens and Moles say no more. But we can still show updates on the map.
 
The Second Life Birthday is scheduled to start on Monday June 23. 
 
Bixyl Shuftan

Relay Track Sneak Peek

 

 Taken at RFL Remember. The Meli's Maniacs team have been hard at work on their campsite. It's not finished yet, so we can't show most of it. But we can show their "under construction" sign.
 
More to come.
 
Bixyl Shuftan 

Thursday, May 29, 2025

This Saturday at The Science Circle

 
 
Saturday May 31
 
    ~*~
 
    At 10 AM PST   

    Empowering Home Education: How Urban Parents Use AI and VR to Transform Learning
    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/home-education/
    by Dr. Ebi Boleigha
    Organized by Chantal Jager
 
    Location: Auditorium
 
    ~*~
 
    NOTE: Non-members required to register once
    IM Jes Cobalt or Nymf Hathaway


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

Relay Track Update

 

 Several days after the Relay track sims opened to builders, the track has numerous builds up. Some are obviously halfway done. A few look complete, though it's possible the builders have some last minute adjustments. 


Among those in the middle of construction is the Sunbeamer campsite, at RFL Win.
 

 Some had some fancy ways of saying so.
 

 More to come.
 
Bixyl Shuftan
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Conflict of Nations, As Kazakhstan

 
Among the free to play strategy games out there is "Conflict of Nations." A sequel to "Call of War," you take the role of one of a number of nations (or states depending on the scenario) fighting for victory. Giving it a try a few years ago, in one game I decided to have some fun and was playing for chuckles as well as to win.
 
Read Bixyl's story in Other Grids, MMOs, and Games.
 
 

Raglan Shire Artwalk

 

 The Raglan Shire artwalk is taking place. This is one of the best known yearly art events in Second Life, and the Raglan community's most popular one.
 

 Across much of their land, numerous pictures, photographs, paintings, and sculptures have been set up.
 

 With some galleries by individual artists.


There was one group of cartoons.
 

And some 3D sculpture.
 

 

 Among the things there was the "Art o Matic 3000" which will paint a copy of your profile pic. Just watch out near the end. 

The event goes on to Sunday June 15.
 
 
Bixyl Shuftan
 

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

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: Monochrome, Pink and Purple, Memorial Day

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

Club Zero Gravity: DJ Snowy 
 
Bouncing Bunny Beach Club:  DJ Snowy - Rainbows

Xanadu: DJ Jesse 

Club Squeaks: DJ Squeaks
 
Montecito Bay:  CAYA, After Dark

Club Scorn: W 4-6, Th 4-6, 7-11, Sat 2-12
 
Furry Fashion: CAYA, Cats and Rabbits, Neons
 
Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'
 

New SSP Sims On The Map

 

On the Second Life map, I stumbled across some new SSP sims. For those who don't know, SSP is a temporary name to a sim in development by the Lindens and Moles.
 

 They were in four groups that when the map was panned back so they could all be seen, the names were too small. 


Most of the sims were moderate, listed as SSP5*** to SSP6***. But one group was rated adult, listed as SSPR*** and SPRC***.
 

 Currently the sims are grouped at the high end up the map. What the Lab plans for these sims is currently unknown. 

Bixyl Shuftan
 
 

Monday, May 26, 2025

Memorial Day

 

 Today is Memorial Day, in which America takes a moment to remember its fallen veterans. For those who fell during the Vietnam War, a conflict that claimed over 58,000 American servicemen and women.
 
 
A replica of the memorial in Washington DC, the names of the fallen are etched on granite, the sheer number a sobering reminder of the huge number of casualties.
 

Vietnam wasn't our last war, America getting into wars about every generation, the years since seeing the Gulf War, the Afghan War, and the Iraq War. America always needs its veterans. And sadly some never come home alive.
 
We shall remember
 

Sunday, May 25, 2025

Cartoon of The Day: Space Litter

 

 Taken at the Moon Dance. Once a space probe runs out of power or breaks, unless it's fixed, which is out of the question unless it's in Earth orbit (and even that's usually a cost prohibitive option), it's basically a big hunk of metal and plastic. While we humans would see those on other planets and moons as being historical worthiness, aliens might have a different idea.
 
By Bixyl Shuftan
 

Sunbeamers Make Ruby Level

 
 

Good news for the Relay for Life's team Sunbeamers, and the Relay in general. Yesterday, Sunday May 24, team captain Rita Mariner announced the team had reached Ruby Level Fundraising, or the 1,250,000 Linden dollar mark, or five thousand dollars USD. 


The team would also get it's Ruby badge that day.
 

 
As of now, the Sunbeamers are ninth of the top ten teams in fundraising.
 
Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

Saturday, May 24, 2025

SL Video: "Worlds of Fantasy Faire 2025 - All 18 Sims"

 

 
 By Naria Panthar on April 24

RFL Team Sunbeamer Bid Me Results

 
It was a week ago on Saturday May 17 in which the results of the Relay's Team Sunbeamers' last three "Bid Me" fundraisers were announced.
 
Cynthia Farshore
Stay Goat - 100 L
Go Wolf - 14,500 L
 ( Goes Wolf for 4 weeks)
 
 Shockwave Yearch
 Stay wolf - 1000 L
 Go Goat - 14,500 L
 ( Goes Goat for 4 weeks)
 
 Rita Mariner
 Stay Bunny - 0 L
 Go Pink - 3000 L
 ( Goes Pink for 1 week) 


So Team Captain Rita Mariner has been "in the pink" for a week, and Cynthia and Shockwave have pledged to switch species. 

The "Sunnies" still have two Moon Dance events left, then comes the Relay Weekend.
 
Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!
 
Bixyl Shuftan

Friday, May 23, 2025

SciFi Con 2025 Starts Today

 

Tomorrow, Friday May 23, is the start of the Sci-Fi Con in Second Life, a RFL fundraiser event. It's taking place in nine sims, with the main landing at Circuit Trap. The opening ceremony is at 12 Noon SL time. There are various smaller events, such as wrestling and DJ parties, radio dramas, movie showings, and more.

The event goes on until Thursday May 29.
 

 
Bixyl Shuftan 

RFL Team Sunbeamer Moon Dance

 

 The days until the Relay Weekend are getting short, and last night yours truly went to one of the last of Team Sunbeamer's weekly Moon Dance events. The provided landmark led not to one Moon cannon as I've previously seen, but three. It certainly helps when multiple people drop in at once. 


The event was multi-team with a number of Relay Teams showing up such as Dragon Heart, Purple Tears ...
 

 Meli's Maniacs, a number of "Roos With A Dream," and others. Shockwave Yareach was spinning the tunes, which included theme music from some sci-fi shows and movies.
 

And at the end, fireworks roared overhead as everyone wished each other well, and further luck in the fight against cancer. 

As of now the Sunbeamers have raised 1,264,519 Linden dollars,  or $5,058 USD
 
 Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!
 
Bixyl Shuftan 

Relay Track Sims on The Map

 

 One of the reminders of the Relay for Life season approaching it's high point showed itself this week, with the appearance of the Relay Weekend track sims. There are 36 sims in total, including the permanent American Cancer Society sim and it's two sister sims.
 

There's some builds in ACS2 and 3, but there aren't any campsites yet, just markers for the team camps. We won't be showing full-sized pictures of camps while they're still being build, but will be posting an occasional teaser showing a tiny part of one as a demonstration of what's to come.
 
Go Relay!
 
Bixyl Shuftan
 

RFL Team ACTS Privateers Ball Tomorrow, Saturday May 24

 

Team ACTS is having their Privateers Ball, tomorrow on Saturday Mat 24, from 1 to 3 PM SL time. 

"Get your pirate on this Saturday!"

 

This Saturday at The Science Circle

 
Saturday May 24
 
    ~*~
 
    At 10 AM PST   

    STEM Learning With Open Educational Resources
    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/stem/
    by Myron W. Jones, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
    Organized by Chantal Jager
 
    Location: Auditorium
 
    ~*~
 
    NOTE: Non-members required to register once
    IM Jes Cobalt or Nymf Hathaway


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

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Top Ten Relay for Life in Second Life Team Totals

 

 As the number of days until the Relay Weekend gets short, so does the time for the various teams to do more fundraising. Here's the list of the ten teams which have raised the most.
 
 First is The Sugar Skols, who have raised a total of 4,061,557 Linden dollars, or $16,246 USD, the one team ranked Purple. Second is The River of Life at 3,379,528 Linden dollars, or $13,518 USD. Third is Camping For A Cure at 3,300,572 Linden Dollars or $13,202 USD.

Teams for to ten are BeliforLife, Team ACTS, Cure Chasers, Seekers of Hope, Team Bobi Sue, Sunbeamers, and the Relay Rockers. All have raised over a million Linden dollars. 

Go Relay!
 
Bixyl Shuftan
 

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

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
 
 

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

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, Dog and Pony, Country

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'
 
 
 

Monday, May 19, 2025

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
 

Sunday, May 18, 2025

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
 
 

Saturday, May 17, 2025

Friday, May 16, 2025

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