Crew Meeting

 

A few days ago, the Newser staff had it's crew meeting, which took place in it's main office in HV Community. It was fairly small, those showing up being Kayly Iali, Gemma Cleanslate, Fritter Enzyme, and myself. We talked about accomplishments in the previous month, and what we could work on in the month ahead. 

Among the more amusing moments was when someone wondered if the coffee was getting stale. So someone whipped out a small keg of Guinness. But unfortunately it ended up on a plate of cookies.

Oh well, that's the way the cookie crumbles.

Bixyl Shuftan
 

Reaching Out and Remembrance

Depression, anxiety and tragedy are nothing new to people, in and out of Second Life. But in the past year, the Coronavirus Pandemic have made them worse. Even for those whom haven't lost anyone, there's still the anxiety from lockdowns and news events. In his article for today, Fritter Enzyme offers reminders of some suicide hotlines, and a few places in Second Life where one can mourn the departed.

Read Fritter's story in Extra.

Power Up For Charge Syndrome

 

If you haven't heard of Charge Syndrome, you're about to find out. It's a rare syndrome characterized by several signs: Coloboma (or hole) in the eye and central nervous system abnormalities, Heart Defects, Altersia of the choanae (blockage of the back of the nasal passage), Retardation of growth, Genital defects, and Ear abnormalities/deafness. There's a fundraiser to help combat the condition, "Power Up For Charge," and a sim in Second Life for it. Fritter Enzyme recently checked it out.

Read Fritter's article, in Places.

Bayou Du Chat Noir

 

Fritter Enzyme is back at the Second Life Newser. In his first article coming back to the paper, he looks at Bayou Du Chat Noir. Run by Kitty Vinji and Kylie Quinn, the town is set next to a Louisiana swamp and there's both wilderness and buildings to see from the voodoo shop to the Love Shack club. So what did Fritter think?

See Fritter's article in Places.

Reader Submission: Second Life Museum of Nuclear War

Fritter Enzyme was a regular writer for the Newser in the past. While real life has kept him busy, he still writes on occasion about Second Life. Next month are the 72nd anniversaries of the atomic bombings of two cities of the Japanese Empire, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These superweapons finally brought an end to the most destructive war of modern history. But it wasn't long before the Soviet Union developed it's own nuclear weapons, and for decades it and the West were engaged in a nuclear standoff that many feared would end in war and each side destroying the other with their arsenals of atomic weapons. Eventually, the Cold War ended. But rouge states and terrorist organizations are still trying to develop or acquire these weapons of mass destruction. Fritter came across a place in Second Life which takes a look at these issues: The Second Life Museum of Nuclear War.

Read Fritter's reader submission in Places.

Cerridwen's Cauldron

Fritter Enzyme is back. In his first article in a while, he writes about his expedition to Cerridwen's Cauldron. Created by Elicio Ember, a builder whose work has been seen in places and events such as the yearly Fantasy Faire, the place is beautifully designed with much variety of landscapes. For those who would love to take a piece of the sim home with them, they can do just that. Elicio has copies of a number of his wares up for sale to help pay his father's medical expenses.

Read Fritter's article in Places.

1920's Chicago Roleplay

Fritter Enzyme is back from exploring an American city from an earlier time. In the 1920's Chicago roleplay area, visitors are welcome to drop in and look around. You can get yourself some outfits that fit the era, drop in at the local movie theater, the local speakeasy, an art exhibit, or even a burlesque show. One can also take part in the gang wars if one desires. Though take note, the morgue and undertaker are around for a reason.

Read Fritter's article in Places.

New Toulouse

Last Tuesday in Second Life was Mardi Gras in Second Life. One of the places holding a parade, as it has every year for a time, is New Toulouse. A residential and roleplay community, it reflects New Orleans in the 1920s. Fritter Enzyme took a look at the place once "Fat Tuesday" was over, and even when it's most famous event wasn't going on, found there was a great deal for visitors to see.

Read Fritter's review in Places.

France Portnawak

Fritter Enzyme recently took a look at France Portnawak. This picturesque sim boasts a number of places to explore, as well as some spots ideal for couples to relax on. There's also a lighthouse, and the local store has some freebie items. And there are the horse and boat rides. All to some nice relaxing music. The one small problem, at least for "anglophones," the signs and descriptions are all in French.

Read Fritter's article in Places.

The Chamber

Fritter Enzyme recently dropped by a reading area known as "The Chamber." The location has a number of stories to read, grouped by author. But the scenery in the various rooms adds to the atmosphere, such as surreal builds for the place where Edgar Allen Poe's works are. But there are more than just the classics, one can also read the works of present day writers in Second Life.

Read Fritter's article in Places.

Interview With Graine Macbain

Fritter Enzyme recently met up with Graine Macbain. Graine has been a supporter of the arts in Second Life, hosting live music events at her club, music festivals, and art gallery exhibitions. In the interview, she describes about how she ended up with her club, supporting singers, and eventually artists as well.

Read Fritter's interview in People.

Enchantment Island: A Sim Close to Closing

If you've been around Second Life for a while, chances are at least one place you took a liking to has disappeared. Sometimes the owner just moves on. Other times real life puts a drag on his or her finances so the sim becomes impractical to impossible to support without help. Fritter Enzyme came across  one such place in peril: Enchantment Island, a sim with much to see and do, at least for now. If it closes, there will be nothing left but memories and screenshots.

Read Fritter's article in Places.

Rocca Sorrentina: Reliving the 18th Century

Fritter Enzyme recently stopped at Rocca Sorrentina. A "light" roleplay area, you're invited to dress as people did in the 18th century. There's also much to see and explore around here.

Read Fritter's article in Places.

Crew Meeting

 The Newser crew had it's monthly meeting last weekend on November 8. Those present were from right to left Fritter Enzyme, Gemma Cleanslate, Tiddly Winks, and Bixyl Shuftan (me). Former CNN iReporter Any1 Gynold was also there. Topics included coverage of the upcomingVeterans Day and Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Fritter Enzyme showed up in a "politically incorrect" avatar that he had gotten from a gacha. So why the American Indian headdress? Maybe with cold weather coming, he was trying to keep his wig wam.

Bixyl Shuftan

"Taxy! to the Zircus"

There's a new artistic build at the MetaLES sim, "Taxy! to the Zircus."  By Eupalinos Ugajin, this surreal looking exhibition invites visitors to become part of the artwork by clicking on it. Both Gemma Cleanslate and Fritter Enzyme took a look. So what did they think?

Read Gemma and Fritter's reviews in Design.

Cuppers and Co.

Fritter Enzyme came across a fun area in Second Life: Cuppers and Co. Created as a hangout, the place has grown to include much to explore, and much to do from fishing, to games, to shopping, and more. So just how much is there to do?

Read Fritter's article in Places.

Day of the Dead in Second Life

While people in the United States celebrated Halloween, in Mexico they were getting ready for a holiday similar in some ways but different in others, Dia de Muertos, "The Day of the Dead." In Second Life, the Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum and the University of Texas at El Paso got together to build an exhibition about this holiday, the fifth year in a row it has been done. Although the official events are over, the area is still there. Fritter Enzyme took a look to see what was there, and found a number of things to see and do.

Read Fritter's Enzyme article in Places.

Xoph: A Shop of the Bizarre and Macabre

October is best known for Halloween, at least in the USA. And in Second Life, residents often go all out for chills and thrills. Besides the Haunted Houses, there are shops where one can go to get some scary goodies. Fritter Enzyme found a store named "Xoph" that went beyond your run-of-the-mill spooky, but downright scary, strange, and can be more than a little disturbing. So he braved looking the place over, and survived to tell his tale.

Read Fritter's story in Places.

Interview with Winston Ackland

One singer whom has been performing in Second Life for several years is Winston Ackland. Interviewed by Second Life Newspaper several years ago, Second Life Newser heard about him, and sent Fritter Enzyme over for an interview. Winston had a few things to talk about, including why he ends his performances with a certain song, whom his song "Post-Fact" refers to, and his new Blender art.

Read more in People.

Reader Submitted: The Koto Project

Fritter Enzyme has another story of a place he explored. This time he tells of his time at the Koto Project, based on a Japanese town from sometime in the Feudal era. Although the roleplay group is open only to human avatars, nonhumans such as furs are free to explore around. Fritter found quite a bit to see and do in this faithfully recreated piece of Japan's history.

Read more in Places.