Virtual World Best Practices in Education 2025 Conference

 

Tomorrow at 8:30 AM is the start of one of the more educational yearly events in Second Life, the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education conference, or VWBPE.  It is "a global grassroots community event, which focuses on education in immersive virtual environments." This year's theme is Transitions. Dancerina Starlight wrote about the event for the Newser.

 

Read Dancerina's article in Events. 

 

Second Life Cheerleaders Squad (SLCS) Winter Girls Night Out

 

Longtime readers will recognize the Second Life Cheerleading Squad, or SLCS as one of the Relay for Life's major teams, year after year. But they aren't just up and about on Relay season. Dancerina Starlight was with them as they had a Christmas event, a Winter Girls Night Out. So what happened?

 

Read Dancerina's story in People.

At The Office: Snack Time

 

 

 Taken at the December Newser crew meeting earlier this month. Dancerena Starlight enjoys a pretzel during the discussion.

 

The office is at  HV Community, (140, 85, 25).

 

Tranquility Dance Troupe Presents "Into the Light"

 

Dancerina Starlight recently spoke to the two owners/directors of the Tranquility Dance Troupe, a dance group that will be holding a performance this Sunday: "Into The Light." Dancerina talked to them about the group, and the message they hope to send.

 

Read Dancerina's story in Design.

Crew Meeting

 

 

 Last weekend on Saturday April 13, the Newser held a crew meeting at our main office in HV Community. Attending were Nydia Tungsten, Penny Shuftan (Deaflegacy), Gemma Cleanslate, Dancerina Starlight, and Bixyl Shuftan (me). 

We talked about things to write about in the weeks ahead, such as the Fantasy Faire, Sunbeamer Air Show, and other Relay events. We also talked about the Bellisseria anniversary. Gemma mentioned tablets one could hold for stamp hunters to touch to get one, and showed off an Away from Keyboard flag for when she was.

Bixyl Shuftan,

 

Interview With Jarden Alexis on The PBC Cultural Arts Center And The Black History Month Exhibit

 

Last month, the Premier Business Center hosted a Black History Month exhibit at its Cultural Arts Center. The Newser crew decided to interview the PBC's owner, Jarden Alexis. Dancerina Starlight met up with her, and asked her about the CAC and its exhibit. Jarden had much to say.

Read Dancerina's story in People.

Valentine's Day - Love in the Air at Love & Harmony Jazz Romantic

 

Much happened in Second Life on Valentines Day. There was the Love Train and Hug A Linden (which none of the Newser reporters were able to attend, maybe next year). But there were also many other events across the various venues of Second Life. Among them was Love and Harmony Jazz Romantic.  Dancerina Starlight stopped by there, where owner and manager Orchide Delmar held a special Valentines Day party.

Read Dancerina's story in Events.

 

Friday Night Enjoyment at Elysium

 

Dancerina Starlight recently went to Elysium. Located high above the Copperhead Road sim, this stage had a number of performances on the Friday night she attended. So what was it like?

 

 Read Dancerina's article in Design. 

Black History Month Exhibition At The PBC Cultural Arts Center

 

February is Black History Month in the United States. And to mark the occasion, the Premier Business Center's Cultural Arts Center has a Black History Month Exhibition. Gemma Cleanslate recently checked it out. So what did she think?

 

Read Gemma's story in Places.  

Announcement: BHM 2024 : You Are Invited: PBC BHM Kickoff 02/04/2024

 

 

Sunday, February 4, 2024
1:00-3:00 PM SLT
Dressy Attire
SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/PBC/168/83/3001

Entertainment will be provided by DJ LadySqueeze, and DJ Case along with a special dance performance by Dancerina Starlight!

Learn about Black HIstory Month, Black Leaders, The Civil Rights Movement, Inventions, and so much more!!

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. It is also a time to reflect on the struggles and triumphs of the past and to recognize the ongoing fight for racial justice and equality.

It is celebrated every February in the United States and Canada, while in Ireland and the United Kingdom it is observed in October.

The event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans.

Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month.

The theme for Black History Month 2024 is “African Americans and the Arts”.
The PBC theme for Black HIsotry Month 2024 is "Black History Is American History/ African Americans And The Arts"

The Belli Office Opening Party

 

 

 On Saturday December 2 at 1PM, the Newser officially opened it's Bellisseria office. To mark the occasion, we threw a party. DJ Charlee was spinning the tunes, and a number of residents from Belliseria and elsewhere came by. Besides music, there was pizza, and of course coffee.

 

Gemma had done much of the decorating of the place, "Nice to have an office on Belli." Dancerina helped greet people coming by. Charlee played a number of tunes news related, or somewhat news related, such as "I Read The News" by Peter Frampton , "I Heard It Through The Grapevine," "Photograph," "Huey Lewis And The News," " Working For The Weekend," Pete Seeger's "Newspapermen," "Taking Care of Business," and others, which got cheers from the listeners, "Great music selection!" "Wow! I have not heard this in decades!"

A number of personalities showed up, such as noted resident Prokofy Neva, Nydia Tungsten, Ranchan Weidman, the builder of the main SL Newser office, and one of the Lindens, Steeltoe Linden. Someone mused if he got the name from kicking griefers out of SL. Steeltoe never did answer that. Prokofy would say of the paper, "SL Newser is critical when it needs to be and not gratuitously."

Talk ranged from the fountain down the road and a neighbor or two, "I see a house down the road behind us that is VERY colorful! ... With lots of snow (chuckle)." Some articles were mentioned such as my commentary on the gatcha ban and one article on women's wrestling "Fight Like A Girl," which got jokes about hamster wrestling, DJ Snowy's seasonal reindeer look, and more. 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Wallingford/128/40/32

 

Bixyl Shuftan

Crew Meeting

 

 

 On Saturday November 4, the Newser crew had it's monthly meeting at its main office in HV Community. From left to right were Dancerina Starlight, Gemma Cleanslate, Penny Shuftan (Deaflegacy) who was on medical leave but expressed interest in possibly coming back, and  Bixyl Shuftan (myself).

We talked about what we did last month, notably the Halloween and Burn2 articles. Then we talked about plans for November. When I mentioned we *might* be getting an auxiliary office in Bellisseria, the response was pretty enthusiastic: "Yaaayyyyyy!"

 

Stay tuned for more stories from the Newser reporters.

 

Bixyl Shuftan

Virtuoso/JAPA Halloween/Fall Strut

 

Dancerina Starlight was recently at a dance performance by two groups, Virtuoso and Journey Academy of Performing Arts. They combined their talents in the Halloween/Fall Strut. About forty people "braved the spook and footloose" event. Dancerina had a few things to say about how it came about, and how it went

 

 Read Dancerina's story in Design.

Halloween Goings On

 

It's getting close to the end of October, and Halloween season is in full swing. There's been various Halloween events and parties. 

 

At the Premier Business Center at Friday October 27, a surprise rezzday party turned into a Halloween bash. The event had almost fifty people.

There have been numerous smaller Halloween parties, such as the one at Club Scorn on Saturday the 28th, with DJ Charlee, DJ Mallit and DJ Gwen.

Bellisseria Fairgrounds has been the scene of "Hammiween" and its parties, such as one on Sunday the 29th.

There's also various Halloween events going on. There's the Bellisseria Trick or Treat. Furry Fashion is having a Halloween Hunt.

 

There's "Haunted Nawlins Howloween." There's a "Crypt Crawl" going on as well. 

You'll find plenty of other spook-tacular places in the Destinations Guide too.

However you spend your Halloween season, make it a good one.

Bixyl Shuftan

JAPA World Tour And Graduation

 

The Journey Academy of Performing Arts, or JAPA, has been busy lately. On Sunday April 30, they held their "World Tour" event to a packed audience. On Sunday May 7, they would hold their graduation event. Gemma Cleanslate was at both happenings, and had a few things to say about them.

 

Read Gemma's article in Events. 

 

The Premier Business Center

 

Dancerina Starlight's article today is about the Premier Business Center, or PBC. Founded and run by Jarden Alexis, the Center hosts numerous events, and is approaching it's ten year anniversary. Dancerina describes just what the PBC is, and does.

 

 Read Dancerina's article in Extra.

Announcement: PBC International Women's Day Luncheon, Sunday March 5

 

 

The Premier Business Center presents the International Women's Day Luncheon

Sunday March 5

1PM SL time

Semi-formal attire

Colors: Purple, Green, White

Men welcome

Guest Speakers: Desirecinquetti Dannunzio, DarkEbony Mocha, Dancerina Starlight

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/PBC/186/137/1129

 

Crew Meeting

 

 

 On Saturday February 18, the SL Newser held a crew meeting at it's office in HV Community at Noon. Present from left to right were Serenity Kitty, Gemma Cleanslate, Bixyl Shuftan, and Dancerina Starlight. Serenity was an invited guest who recently did a reader submission and asked about possibly writing more.

 

We talked about a number of subjects from the Relay for Life, which had recently started it's official season, to the canceled One Billion Rising, to Virtual Ability, to Black History Month, and more.  

The Newser's New Year's Party

 

About twice a year, the Newser crew takes a short break from covering the news and has a little party for itself and it's fans. So a few days ago, they gathered on top of the office at HV Community for a little music and dance. A number of people showed up, and some pictures were taken.

See the pictures in Events.

 

The Newser Office Decorations

 

 

 The Newser has covered many places in Second Life putting on a holiday look for Christmas. And now, it's time to take a look at ourselves. Our office in HV Community has gotten a Christmasy look as well.

Gemma Cleanslate and Dancerina Starlight have really decorated the place. 

Each floor has it's share of decorations. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Bixyl Shuftan