Rita Mariner and the History of the Sunweavers (2014)

 

With Rita Mariner's passing, the Newser has written about her about every day since. Some readers might be asking "So who is she and how did the Sunweaver community start?" I would interview her in 2014, asking her those questions. 

 

Since then, a number of things have changed. A few sims were added. A road network, then a railway, were laid out. Nydia Tungsten and Cynthia Farshore ended up swapping sims. And sadly, some people would pass away or their real lives took over and they were seen less and less until gone. 

 

Read the 2014 interview in People.  

 

Where Are They Now: Becky Shamen and Deaflegacy

 

As the Newser gets close to it's anniversary, here's some recent developments on two of the people whom wrote for it in the past: Becky Shamen and Deaflegacy, whom took on the display name Penny Shuftan.

After her last article, Becky continued to live in the Sunweaver Community. But a few months ago, she announced she would be having to depart the virtual world. Her real-life finances were getting tighter to the point she could no longer afford a place in Second Life, or to pay for an Internet connection every month. She told the others in the community not to worry as she wasn't seeing this as the end, only the next chapter in a great adventure.

Deaflegacy's last article was in 2019. After that, she sadly informed me of her inability to write articles on a regular basis due to her health. She didn't want to quit, only take medical leave until she was once again ready to write. 

Since then, she's continued to stay in Second Life, and moving to the Sunweaver community where she keeps a few horses. She also "adopted" yours truly as her SL brother, hence her display name "Penny Shuftan."  Recently she had some trouble with her computer, but four friends chipped in with money and technical know-how to get her a new machine. So she stayed in Second Life, getting by with a little help from her friends and neighbors. She says she will try to write an occasional article, and looks forward to when she can once again report on the virtual world on a weekly basis.

On a final note, one reporter for the Newser, Kayly Iali, recently announced she will be reporting from her other account, Anita Kimono. So the crew page has been updated to reflect this.
 
Bixyl Shuftan
 

Sunny Beach and The Gathering Oak

After a short break, Penny (Deaflegacy Resident) is back doing articles. For her most recent story, she was invited to the Sunny Beach sim in the Sunweaver Estates. The place is run by Erik Mouse with a little help from Becky "Sha" Shamen. So what goes on here? Penny was able to find out some details.

Read Penny's article in Places.

"Livin' Large" at Club Cutlass

 At Club Cutlass last Saturday, things got a bit on the giant side as DJ Geerkil, whom is in his dragon avatar almost all the time, was joined by a few of his wyrm friends. Plus Becky Shamen switched to a Colossus avatar.

I didn't hear any "Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman" jokes. Though as she was wearing shorts, none of the guys got a chance to upskirt her.

Bixyl Shuftan

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

Sneak Peak: The Sunweaver SL15B Exhibit

The Sunweaver community will be taking part in the Second Life Birthday celebration. With Shockwave Yareach and Cynthia Farshore focusing on a build for the Relay for Life, the construction for the SLB exhibit was left to Becky "Sha" Shamen. A couple days ago, she showed us how much of the structure she had made.

The full size of the structure, as well as what it will be, the Newser isn't saying quite yet. But we can give a little clue about it with this picture. Stay tuned for more sneak peeks, and clues.

Bixyl Shuftan

Redwall Abbey at Sunny Beach

At the Sunweaver Estates, the home region of the SL Newser, there's a new building going up at the Sunny Beach sim, the "Redwall Abbey."

"Heads up on news from Sunny Beach," Becky Shamen told me, "We have begun building Redwall Abbey on the SW corner of the sim. The build will take time, but should generate interest in the sim and Sunweaver Estates. It's from a feature length animation about a Medieval fury community. I'm piecing together floor plans and building the whole abbey complex on Sunny Beach."

Taking a look on Youtube, and Wikipedia, I found the Redwall Abbey is from "Redwall," a series of Fantasy novels aimed at older children and young adults, written by Brian Jacques, of which an animated TV series was based on. Twenty-two novels were published, the first in 1986 and the last a few years ago. The TV series first aired in 1999.

Sunny Beach, also known as Mythica Woods, is owned by Erik Mouse, with Becky Shaman as an administrator.

Image Credit: Becky Shamen 

Cartoon of the Day: Going Ape

Taken at Club Cutlass. Looks like Becky Shamen is having some "gorilla warfare" with the lag.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Becky's Futurecast

What lies ahead? A question we all ask ourselves. In real life news, scientists began going along with a theory Becky had done so a long time ago. She had a few other predictions of what lies ahead, though trying to guess what the Lindens will do is beyond her talents. This will be Becky's last story for a while as she is going on a break that will last until at least the end of the year.

Read Becky's story in Extra.

Paradise Eiland

On Saturday November 26 a new location will be opening, the Paradise Eiland Retreat and Event Center. It is a place of healing using alternative New Age therapies for bodily and spiritual ills. Becky Shamen was informed about the place and decided to see for herself how the place could help someone. So what did she think?

Read Becky's article in Places. 

Seduction Estates

Becky Shamen's adventures across Second Life recently took her to a 30-sim large area called "Seduction Estates." Her first impression of the place was that of a "clothing optional" tropical island where one could virtually live an upper-class lifestyle, a "Beverly Hills on the sea." So she dropped by with a bikini and a speedboat to look around. So what did she think?

Read more in Places.

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at the Happy Vixen. Looks like Becky Shamen has been "boning up" on new avatars.

By Bixyl Shuftan

The Halloween "Shop Til You Drop"

From a few days ago until Halloween, Linden Lab is hosting a shopping event, their Halloween "Shop Til You Drop." "With the Creepy Crawl less than two weeks away," they stated on their blog, " it’s time to get serious about Halloween. We’ve been brewing up a wicked treat that’s easy on the eyes and on your Linden wallet. Starting today through October 31st - we’re hosting a shopping event that is sure to liven any dead man’s party! With frights and delights from some of Second Life’s best designers at deals that seem simply insane - this party central for all things Halloween - is your one stop shop ( ‘til you drop!) Costumes, accessories, decor, and much more await you and your friends in this mysterious haunted village. I dare you to venture the cobblestone paths and see what our vendors have in store for you."

Becky Shamen decided to check this event for herself, donning a "Thing" avatar and heading over. So was it spook-tacular, or nothing to be scared about?

Read Becky's article in Fashion.

SL Poetry: "Incoming Light" And "Real Life Is Calling Me"

A few of the Second Life Newser staff have decided to take their try at poetry. Becky Shamen was first, and editor Bixyl Shuftan decided to add his own little ditty along with hers.

Read the poems in Extra.

Science Friday

Becky Shamen's journeys across Second Life recently took her to the Sci-Lands, and the meeting place every for a group of listeners for the weekly radio show "Science Friday." Science Friday has a history in Second Life, some years ago the host having an avatar here and taking questions from the inworld audience. Sadly this came to an end, but fans of the show continue to meet up every Friday to listen and discuss the topics.

Read Becky's story in Extra.

The Gathering Oak

Becky Shamen reports on something new in the Sunny Beach sim. Several weeks ago, the "watering hole" or "gathering place" had a beach club built over it. But recently the owner, Erik Mouse, began wondering if something different was needed. So Becky decided to help out by getting and planting an oak at the spot. Here, she writes about "The Gathering Oak" and what it could be.

Read Becky's story in Places.

Nominations Sought For Last Avi Choice Awards

The Avi Choice Awards, who brand themselves as "the premier annual awards presentation recognizing the people and talent of SL’s™ amazing creations, chosen and voted on by SL™ residents," are once again accepting submissions. However, this will be the final time the awards will be done, at least in their current form.

As announced during last year’s Avi Choice Fashion Awards, we are retiring the Awards, as we know them.  We are talking about continuing our mission forward in some way ...  But for now.. we have an announcement to make! On December 4th, 2016 we will host one more Avi Choice Awards!  The GRAND FINALE!  This one will take us back to the early days of our Awards when we had one program a year celebrating as many recipients in all three genre’s as we could.

 There will be some special mentions and moments as we all say our goodbyes to what has become an amazing part of Second Life history.  This program will be the conclusion of the Avi Choice Awards, as we know them.  It’s been a good run and we could not have done it without support and cooperation and input from the amazing virtual community known as Second Life.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

The Awards are in three categories: Fashion, The Arts, and SLife.

Among the categories for Fashion are clothing, avatar, avatar accessories, and jewelry stores and makers.

The categories of The Arts include "Favorite Magazine, Newspaper, or Periodical," Favorite Radio Station, Favorite Male DJ, Favorite Female DJ, Favorite Streamed Music Club, Favorite Machinima Artist, and more.

For SLife, which has the most selections, categorizes include Favorite Furniture Maker, Favorite Sim to Explore, Favorite Place to Take a Date, Favorite Shopping Region, Favorite Roleplay Sim, Favorite Second Life Blog or Website, and Favorite Second Life Blogger.

Residents have until Wednesday October 12 to cast their votes. Going through the guidelines, there doesn't seem to be any rules against voting for someone or something in multiple categories.

The Second Life Newser fits the "Favorite Magazine, Newspaper, or Periodical" in "The Arts."  But the several sections qualify for "Favorite Second Life Blog or Website" in "SL Life." Bixyl Shuftan and Becly "Sha" Shamen qualify for votes in "Favorite Second Life Blogger," also in SL Life. The Newser has been nominated twice in the Avi Choice Awards, but has yet to win first place in getting an award.

So the Second Life Newser asks you the readers for your support for the Awards.

Bixyl Shuftan

Commentary: "Drawing Board"

Becky Shamen's latest article is not about a specific person, place, or event in Second Life, but a commentary. Second Life, she feels, could be much more than a virtual location for people to meet up. But the good that people do here could very well succeed in bringing about what idealists in the 60s and 70s aspired to: a true "Age of Aquarius."

Read Becky's commentary in Extra.

Wild West Roleplay Lands

Becky Shamen's latest adventure took her to a place of six-guns and horses at the "Wild West Roleplay Lands." Offering a chance to take part in the "Old West" of the later half of the 19th Century, get a good cowboy outfit if you want to take part. In her journey, Becky found her friend Eric Mouse wanted to tag along. So how did our heroine and her new sidekick do?

Read Becky's story in Places.

Tableau

Becky Shamen's travels across Second Life recently took her to a dusty place called Tableau. Set in a desert, the place is a ghost town with few clues as to what could have caused the people to abandon the place (okay, maybe one big clue). Becky described the place, in case you the readers wish to go and find out what happened.

Read Becky's story in Places.