Shropshire

 

Gemma Cleanslate was recently at a place in Second Life based on a real one: Shropshire. Based on a small community in England founded in Viking times, there's plenty of horse-related activities, as well as roleplay, homes one can live in, and more. Gemma had a chat with it's owners, Jenni Jones (Pixie8615) and Stefan Jones (Skilledavatar), as well as having a good look around. 

 

Read Gemma's story in Places.

 

Announcement: Call For Merchant Sponsors For "Spoonful of Sugar" Festival

 

 

"Join us for an unforgettable journey to Regency and 1800s England! Expect grand balls, garden parties, lively gossip, and a chance to time travel to another era while making a real difference in this one.

 

"We are deeply grateful for your generosity. Micro-donations, such as those made in Second Life, add up quickly. Over just ten festivals, Spoonful of Sugar has raised more than $160,000 USD for MSF. When we say every linden counts, we mean it."

 

"...we will be working behind the scenes to build a magnificent festival for you this September. We’ll be smiling too—as we hammer nails, plant gardens, and coordinate over 200 creators, performers, and events for you to enjoy and support." 

 

There are four levels of sponsorship, Peer, Gentry, Noble, and Villager.  12 spaces for peer, and 13 spaces for Gentry are available (as of the making of this announcement). 

 

Spoonful of Sugar is a fundraiser for "Doctors Without Borders." 

 

Merchant set-up dates are August 31 to Sept 4

 

Event time: Sept 5 to 21 

 

More information (here). 

 

A Tour of The Dickens Project

 

 On this Christmas Eve, the Newser still has one more story to tell before Santa makes his rounds (okay, for those in East Asia and Australia, he's making them now). Gemma Cleanslate took a tour of The Dickens Project, an informative and educational exhibit of life of early Victorian England in the time of Charles Dickens.

Read Gemma's story in Events. 

London City Honors Queen Elizabeth

 

 

 Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain died earlier today. At 96, she had been Queen for seventy years, one of the longest reigns in both British and world history. Her years had seen much from the Cold War and decolonialization to the Falklands War and later the Gulf and Iraq wars and the age of radio moving to television and then the Internet. 

She wasn't expected to be queen when she was born, but her uncle was a bit of a playboy, and eventually abdicated. Her father had to overcome a stutter, of which a movie was made, "The King's Speech." He died of cancer when she was relatively young. Her relationship with her husband Prince Philip is believed to have been a happy one, though in her later years her sons and grandsons would be partially known by family drama that appeared frequently in the tabloids. For the most part, she was seen as the rock holding the family together.

 

The reaction in Second Life has already started. At London City, a memorial was set up. It included a British flag at half staff, along with a crown on a pedestal with a flame at the base, a guestbook with candles, and three pictures that gave a slide-show of Queen Elizabeth over the years.  

The memorial is close to London City (75/218/23). Those with older computers may need to wait as when I dropped by, there were almost ninety people in the sim.

Rest in Peace.

The Dickens Project And Party At The Bellisseria Fairgrounds

 

In her search for Christmas-themed places, one of the best was an event: The Dickens Project. Organized by the Seanchai Library, This event and location takes visitors back to Victorian England at the time of A Christmas Carol and other stories by Charles Dickens, and will continue past Christmas to January 3. She then went to the Bellisseria Fairgrounds where a Christmas ball was being held.

Read Gemma's article in Events.

Press Release: The Dickens Project 2020

 
**The Dickens Project presents the New
and the Familiar, beginning December 4**

Second Life – The Seanchai Library is proud to announce the opening of The Dickens Project 2020 Edition. The Project began as a special seasonal presentation of Seanchai Library in 2008.  It transformed into an interactive environment in 2012, then to a full region experience in 2017. This year's two regions are inspired by the Victorian world of A Christmas Carol and other beloved tales, offering a broad spectrum of opportunities to explore, discover, and participate.

The Dickens Project presented over 80 hours of events during the month of December 2019, and this year's schedule is just as ambitious. Information is available on Seanchai's website in addition to other information that will be released during opening week. This year's two-region creation opens to the Second Life community on Friday, December 4th and will remain open through Sunday, January 3rd.
 
http://irelandslstory.blogspot.com/p/the-dickens-project-sl.html

"Every year The Dickens Project intentionally blends the familiar features of previous years with new things waiting to be discovered," said Caledonia Skytower of Seanchai Library. "It helps our loyal visitors feel like they are coming home, gets them excited about what's new, and encourages them to share the experience with their friends. That's our goal. Each year the Dickens Project is just a little different. This year, with a second region, there is a lot that is fresh and new."  
 
The Dickens Project is also about a community of Second Life individuals and organizations that come together for this month long celebration. That community will again include Radio Riel, and Innsmouth SL. The Community Virtual Library will feature aspects of Victorian life from clothing, workers conditions, Dickens in Spanish, to The London Exhibition in a dedicated information district. Idle Rogue Productions will return with a new edition of their "Midnight Dinner" show, and Misfit Dance & Performance Art returns with "A Very Misfit Christmas" filled with seasonal joy. These are in addition to the live story reading programs which are Seanchai Library's hallmark.  
 
Virtuoso Performing Arts joins the community this year, presenting their new "Tales of Beatrix Potter" show New Year's weekend; and the SL Hawks Aerobatic Team will present their "Ghost Flights of Christmas" air show in performances in the skies above Dickens Harbour. That's right: an air show based on A Christmas Carol.
 
For inquiring minds, there is "The Horse in Victorian London", and "The Mine" interactive experiences. The later experience includes a ride through a mine with Sultan the pit pony and his coal carts. "Sultan" is a tribute to the name of one of the last pit ponies in Wales. Like their predecessor, the Urchin Experience (on hiatus this year), these experiences seek to balance the view of Dickens' world. "It's not all plum puddings and prize turkeys," says Skytower, "not for children, the working poor, women, or for animals."
 
The popular "Carol Week" returns with a section of Dickens' novella presented live each day in a "Story Tour" to the sites on the region inspired by the story. Saturday, December 19th features Fezziwig's Ball in the Opera House. The week culminates in The Big Read on Sunday, December 20th at Noon in Dickens Square. The Big Read is a relay-style presentation involving 9-12 voices in a continuous reading of "A Christmas Carol" from the beginning to the end of it.

"And this is just the tip of the iceberg," added Skytower, "We have art shows this year for the first time, and wearable horses and carriages that you can drive around on each region, and so much more. It's not a cliche'. It's really impossible to concisely summarize everything you can do, see, or experience at this year's Project. You just have to come and check it out for yourself."
 
Seanchai Library offers its thanks to Linden Labs and Patch Linden, our 2020 Region Sponsors.


About the Seanchai Library
Seanchai Library (pronounced Shawn-a-kee, which means "Storyteller" in Irish Gaelic.) was founded in March of 2008 in Second Life. The program remains dedicated to promoting the power of stories to transform and inspire through live voice presentations: "We bring stories of all kinds to life, in Second Life and other virtual worlds."  http://irelandslstory.blogspot.com/


All times listed are SLT/ Pacific.

Press Release: The Dickens Project 2018 Edition Returns to LEA 7

Second Life – The Dickens Project celebrates its sixth year in Second Life with a return to Linden Endowment for the Arts Region 7, where the annual celebration of Charles Dickens' seminal work first was realized in full region form a year ago.  Offering four weeks of exploration, storytelling, music, dance, a new "Urchins in Dickens London" experience, this Second Life holiday tradition will be open to residents November 30th, through December 30th.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA7/129/127/22

"What's new this year? There is no short answer to that," said Caledonia Skytower, "In almost every conceivable way, the Project has flourished in the full region format. This year was a team effort - our first real foray into collaborative build creation.  We learned a lot, and we are confident people will enjoy the results."  Skytower, along with long time Dickens creator Aoife Lorefield, Gloriana Maertens, and Dagmar Kohime worked together to transform prims and textures in a regionscape that evokes the spirit of Dickens' beloved work.          

Most evident to Dickens Project fans will be the new "Urchins in Dickens London" experience.  Created by Lorefield, the Urchins Experience invites residents to explore what life was like for a poor child in Victorian England. It's a game that combines elements of an SL hunt, free form (and optional) role play, and an invitation to create (and share) stories that the experience inspires.

"Charles Dickens was ever a champion of children, writing stories about those who were poor and unprotected," says Lorefield, "His child characters are often triumphant, finding ways to build lives of purpose and sometimes even happiness in a difficult time." Residents of all ages are welcome to participate, and will find information and the Urchins HUD near the main landing point in Dickens Square.  Inquiries should be directed to Ms. Lorefield. Additional information can be found on a special webpage http://irelandslstory.blogspot.com/p/urchins-in-dickens-london.html .

To experience another new aspect of this Edition, just by turn on "sounds" in your Second Life Viewer.  A soundscape created by Dagmar Kohime will enhance the immersion of the region-exploring experience. Sounds of all kinds can be heard all over the region: a fiddler plays at Fezziwig's warehouse, the sounds of Nephew Fred's party guests wafts into the street near his home, and the Merchants Alley rings with sound of urchin laughter. The soundscape includes a special "Voices of the Story Path" hud that visitors can wear to hear short selections from "A Christmas Carol" in locations which corresponds to that selection from the story.

The 2018 Edition will include the customary presentations of A Christmas Carol in a variety of adaptations, in sections and in its entirety, and at different times to make the live readings accessible to residents from different parts of the globe.

Other works from within the author’s vast canon are featured in the weeks leading up to "Carol Week" (December 17-23), which climaxes in a marathon “Big Read” presentation of A Christmas Carol performed by a relay team of Seanchai staff and storytelling friends, scheduled for Sunday, December 23rd. 

Performances by Idle Rogue Productions, Misfit Dance and Performance Art, Russell Eponym, Wald Schridde and a host of other performers will add up to over 40 hours of events on LEA 7. In addition to these, communities participating in The Dickens Project 2018 Edition include: Ce Soir Arts, The Community Virtual Library, Elite Equestrian, Innsmouth - H.P. Lovecraft Inspired, Octoberville, and Radio Riel

"And we're not even done scheduling yet," Skytower points out.  Non-Dickens ghost stories, the Urchin Extravaganza, and a DJ Challenge will round out the days between Christmas and December 30th The schedule in-progress will be available weekly on the Seanchai Library website http://irelandslstory.blogspot.com/p/the-dickens-project-sl.html. The daily schedule, information on all aspects of the Project, and calendar links will also be available on information kiosks at the main landing point.

In 1843 Charles Dickens prefaced his classic tale with these words: “I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it.”  He began the novella in October, completed it in less than six weeks. It went on to become the most successful book of the season, selling six thousand copies by Christmas and continuing to be popular into the new year. It is a book which has never been out of print.

The Dickens Project is produced by Seanchai Library (Shawn-a-kee, which means "Storyteller" in Irish), which was founded in March of 2008 in Second Life. Thousands of stories, and hundreds of authors later, the program remains dedicated to promoting the power of stories to transform and inspire through live voice presentations: "We bring stories of all kinds to life, in Second Life."

Honoring London, Manchester, and Beyond

Just as the recent radical Islamist suicide bombing of an arena that killed 22, mostly children, in Manchester England was starting to fade from world news headlines, Britain was struck again with another terrorist attack, this time in London. The Islamofacist killers ran a van into people, then stormed out slashing everyone they could find with machetes, killing seven.

The dead of these two attacks and others are honored at the "Memorial to Victims of Terrorism Across the World," located in the Iris sim in the mainland atol continent. At a shrine, there are a number of flags representing a number of assaults across the world. This includes the Middle East, where most incidents of terrorist murders on civilians have happened. Some flowers have also been left.

The shrine itself is owned by Jessica Ornitz, The flags were provided by someone known to longtime Second Life residents, Prokofy Neva.

In recent years, Second Life has seen a number of inworld memorials to the dead from terrorist attacks, Paris 2015, Nice 2016, Orlando 2016 , Egypt Flight 804 2016, and others. Amazingly, in the past there was a sim built by people justifying terrorism, but was gone some time later, possibly taken down by Linden Lab.

Iris (197/200/21)

Bixyl Shuftan

Guy Fawkes Day/Bonfire Night at the Happy Vixen

"Remember, remember, the Fifth of November." In Britain, Guy Fawkes Day/Bonfire Night. In 1605, a group of conspirators plotted to blow up Parliament and the King, with Guy Fawkes guarding the gunpowder. But the "Gunpowder Plot" was discovered and Guy Fawkes captured and later executed. The English people celebrated their king escaping harm that night by burning bonfires, and have been doing so ever since, with fireworks and the practice of burning effigies of Guy Fawkes later added. In more recent history, Guy Fawkes has become something of a symbol or anti-government resistance with the character "V" in "V for Vendetta" wearing a Guy Fawkes mask and it's adoption by "Anonymous" as a symbol of theirs.

Guy Fawkes Day/Bonfire Night was celebrated in some places in Second Life with numbers of British, such as London. But there's just something primal about a good roarin' fire, and others took the opportunity to celebrate as well. At the Happy Vixen in the Purrfection Estates sim a couple nights before on Thursday November 3, a bonfire was set up next to the beach club, with an effigy of "The Guy" going up in smoke, and the people at the party danced away in firey costumes, fire animations, and a few with Guy Fawkes masks or black hats and cloaks.

The music was played by DJ Serenity, with Perri Prinz and Valkyrie Ice sharing the prize for best outfit.

The Happy Vixen's sister club, Club Cutlass would also have a Guy Fawkes party, this one right on the day of the holiday. But no pictures were taken of the event.

Bixyl Shuftan

New Brighton

Gemma Cleanslate's latest article is about a little corner of Second Life called New Brighton. Modeled after the real-life Brighton Beach in the United Kingdom, the sim has been around for about ten years. The place offers much to see and do from rides, to swimming, to pumpkin-hunting contests, to live music events, and more.

Read Gemma's story in Places.

Tudor Rose

Becky Shamen continues her travels across the Grid. Her latest stop is at the Tudor Rose sim. The place got her attention for a few reasons. Among them, the detail that the sim had. The other was the times. The sim is based on Elizabethian England, when a woman found herself the ruler at a time in which men were used to being the ones in charge.

Read Becky's article in Places.

Guy Fawkes Night

The Fifth of November was Guy Fawkes Day in England, which in the evening brings on "Bonfire Night." And in Britannia Village they held a Guy Fawkes Night party. It was music with some fiery fun as "The Guy" was burned in effigy (and avatar).

See pictures of the celebration in Events.

Guy Fawkes Day

Today England celebrates "Guy Fawkes Day," which is also known as "Bonfire Night." English residents of Second Life celebrate the event as well, and invite others to join them in the festivities. And for those looking for fun, fire, and a chance to blow something up, ths can be quite a holiday.

Looking around the Grid, I heard about something going on in Britannia Village in the Green Park sim. Looking around, I saw this castle with lines from a poem. Going inside however, it proved empty. But there was a portal to the local cinema, where one could catch a BBC show about "Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot." Green Park (100/50/33)

Besides the theater, there's also an event planned for today at 1PM SL time, going to 4PM and perhaps later. The poster promises, "Music, bonfires, dancing."

The popular (and packed) London City is supposedly having an event as well at Noon SL time. Be on the watch for Guy Fawkes events across the Grid.

"Remember, Remember, the fifth of November."

Bixyl Shuftan

Renaissance Island

Grey Lupindo is back from her latest exploration on the Grid. She had recently paid a visit to a historical sim, Renaissance Island. There, one can see things as they were in 1500s England, with the buildings and clothes. The place also has a number of fun events that locals and visitors alike can take part in.

Read Grey's article in Places.

Guy Fawkes Exhibition

In the Tardis sim, there's an exhibition of the Guy Fawkes Gunpowder Plot.

Experience the dark history behind one of England's longest traditions, the burning of Guy Fawkes effigies on November 5th. The Guy Fawkes exhibition will take you step by step on a true story of a plot to destroy the very establishment of England, and the truth behind the man considered the culprit. With freebies and interactive props, this Exhibition is not to be missed!

A notecard at the entrance reccomends you set your view to midnight to get the best effect. Most of the show is in the main exhibition room in the center of the place. "On your way back out, don't forget the freebies."

The exhibit at Tardis (215, 55, 22) is open to November 11th.


Remember Remember the fifth of November

The gunpowder treason and plot

I see no reason why gunpowder treason

should ever be forgot

Guy Fawkes Guy, 'twas his intent

to blow up king and parliament

Three score barrels were laid below

to prove old England's overthrow

By God's mercy he was catched

with a dark lantern and lighted match

Holler boys Holler boys let the bells ring

Holler boys Holler boys God save the King

Last Day for the Diamond Jubilee in London

A view of the London area in Second Life, all decked out for Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee. Today is the last day for the real-life event brought to Second Life.

"Join the London Sims ... as they celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth of England. Events include contests, live djs, events, street parties and a special merchant's fair in Hyde Park! Check out our blog for events and more information: http://thelondonsims.blogspot.com."

London England UK, (219, 38, 21)

The Royal Wedding

The RL wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton took place Friday at Westminster Abbey. Here in SL, our British friends are celebrating the wedding at St. Mary's Abbot, located at KENSINGTON W8, Kensington W8 Lon, Kensington W8 London (73, 240, 21). An image of the happy couple, who are now known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, is positioned in front of the SL church.

The site has lots of information about all of the Royals, including Prince Charles, the late Princess Diana, and William’s grandmother, the Queen. Even more interesting to me were the links to the official UK websites. One link has everything you would want to know about the wedding, including video highlights in case you want to watch it again. Another site tells about the palaces and shows their locations, and the link at the rear of the church tells about the Crown Jewels, which are the crowns and other ceremonial objects worn by their royalty throughout England's history.

As you probably know, both The Duke and Duchess were born in 1982. They met at the University of St. Andrews in 2001. William is second in line to be King of England. He is in the Royal Air Force, co-piloting Sea King search and rescue helicopters.

After you’ve looked at the wedding info, you can explore the area around church. Just outside, past the guards, is a carriage where you can pose for pictures with your friends. Then you can take a walking tour of London, maybe even catch a concert by the Queen tribute band. This is a fun sim, with lots of free items to take home as souvenirs, too.

The official web site states that the Duke and Duchess delayed having an official honeymoon and instead spent a quiet weekend in the UK. The rumor is that they are honeymooning in SL.

Grey Lupindo

Royal Wedding Exhibit in SL

Today in Britain, the much talked about Royal Wedding between Prince William and his fiance Kate Middleton will take place. In Second Life's London area, one can find an exhibit at Kensington W8 London (69, 241, 22).

And no, no matter how much the girls teased the guards before this picture was taken, they didn't say anything.

"A Penny for the Guy"

Arriving at New London Village at about 1:30 PM SL time, the Guy Fawkes Day/Bonfire Night party had already been going on for an hour and a half. Among the avatars celebrating was a GuyFawkes Firegrave, an alt brought out for these kinds of events. At 2 PM, GuyFawkes was hung in the gallows with the party continuing.

Life across the Pond gets it's holiday in Second Life.

Guy Fawkes Day/Bonfire Night

For British residents of Second Life, and those looking for a good party, November 5th is Guy Fawkes Day/Bonfire Night. In real-life celebrations, effugies of "The Guy" are burned, often after being stuffed with firecrackers. And in Second Life, some various locations, such as New London Village, will be having their own Guy Fawkes events.

New London Village offers more than a party. According to a CNN article by Janey Bracken, the sim has an exhibition around the Gunpowder Plot in which Guy Fawkes took part and was captured and executed for. Janey wrote the sim owners and managers, "have done a brilliant job displaying this part of the UK’s fascinating history."

The Bonfire party at New London Village will take place at Noon SL time. Other Guy Faukes events are taking place in Mango, the London England UK sim, and many others.

Bixyl Shuftan