Cartoon of the Day

Taken at the Happy Vixen

By Bixyl Shuftan

The "Platinum Avatar Challenge"

On Monday, Team Sunbeamers of the Relay for Life in Second Life finally reached Platinum Level fundraising, 250,000 Linden dollars or about $1000 USD. And so came what's become a tradition among the Sunbeamers and their friends: The Platinum Avatar Challenge.

For yours truly, for the third time I would be something I haven't been before. This time it was a pink avatar. *But*, I didn't say what kind it would be. So in a slight twist of the challenge two years ago, I appeared as a pink "Rita clone." I revealed the new look at 4PM At the Happy Vixen yesterday. It got a few chuckles, thought not as many the first time I pulled it off. Rita herself, whom doesn't think much of being a pink bunny didn't have much of a comment this time. My own "bubblegum crisis" will be for a week, baring those occasions when I'm obviously doing something for the Newser, such as interviews and covering the Fantasy Faire.

This time, I was joined by others in the challenge. Nydia Tungsten had offered to go purple for a week. And so yesterday the normally white vixen was sporting a shade of amethyst  But it was DJ Geerkil and his Dragon Crew teammates LS Raccoon and JB Raccoon that made the biggest change: going as Yinglet avatars. Geers had read up on the lore of the usually amusing small beings from the "Out of Placers" online comic, and found the creatures interesting. For someone used to huge avatars though, shrinking to being just a few feet high took some getting used to. On the other hand, fitting behind the DJ booth and dancing with others on the dance floor was now no trouble. The three stated they'll be staying in these appearances for three months. Definitely "above and beyond the call of duty." We'll keep them well-stocked with clams and oysters.

But the Relay goes on. The Sunbeamers are planning another "Bid Me" event this week, and there will be other chances this month to raise some funds, such as the Relaystock. With Platinum having been achieved, next the Sunbeamers are after Jade level fundraising, which is 500,000, a half million, Linden dollars. A daunting task, but we've done it before. And yes, I'll wear the "Bix Bilby" avatar again.

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

Bixyl Shuftan

Sunbeamers Hit Platinum!

Once again, "The Little Team That Could" has done it. For the fourth year in a row, the team has gone beyond Gold level fundraising to Platinum. After reaching 200,000 Linden dollars a few days ago, there were some sizable donations, including team captain Rita Mariner. And so on late afternoon April 29, the amount raised for this year reached 250,000 Linden dollars.

There were a few little incentives for people to donate. Nydia Tungsten volunteered to be purple for a short time. DJ Geerkil Ziskey and two others on the "Epic Failure" team will be switching to Yinglet avatars for a while. And then there's the matter of a certain fox who offered to switch to a pink avatar, at least for club and smaller Relay events, for a week (everywhere else such as the Fantasy Faire, I can go back to red fox). Like the first two times this "Platinum Avatar Challenge" was done, it's something I've never done before. The big reveal is today at the Happy Vixen club at 4PM. 

Bixyl Shuftan

Interview With Geerkil Ziskey, the Dragon DJ

DJ Geerkil has been written about before by the Newser as part of the "Dragon Crew," part of a team. Lately though, on occasion he's been "the dragon alone" as schedule changes mean he's sometimes without a co-DJ, which for a while helped him inspire conversation and banter between songs. Recently, Deaflegacy met up with him and had a few questions about his music playing.

Read Deaflegacy's interview in People.

What's New With The Dragon Crew

It was a little over a year ago that the "Dragon Crew" was interviewed by the Second Life Newser.  The team is made up by longtime Second Life DJ Geerkil Ziskey and JB Raccoon, with LS Raccoon often acting as hostess. Often called the "Epic Failure Show," DJ Geerkil and DJ JB have been entertaining crowds at a number of clubs with both their selection of tunes and occasional humorous banter. After a successful year of "epic failure," they wanted to discuss some about a few things that have changed. They now have a club of their own, and have a new member on the team.

Read the story in People.

Happy Birthday Geerkil

On Wednesday August 1, JB Raccoon and his daughter LS Raccoon held a party for their friend and partner in music Geerkil Ziskey. For the noted dragon DJ, it was his birthday in real life. Although no theme was given other than birthday, the party soon took on a scaley look with smaller dragons and other reptilian avatars about. Besides the rock tunes, there were a few Happy Birthday songs.

Happy birthday, DJ Geerkil

Zeta Valley Beach Wharf Club

Geerkil Ziskey has DJed in a number of places, such as at the Happy Vixen and Club Zero Gravity. But lately, he's been wanting to put some new life into where he started out performing music: Zeta Valley. Recently, he and the rest of the Dragon Crew have rebuilt a club in the area, renaming it the Zeta Valley Beach Wharf Club, hoping to attract numbers of people to the sim.

Read more in SL Clubbin'.

Cartoon of the Day

Picture taken by Geerkil Ziskey. 

Caption by Bixyl Shuftan

DJ Geerkil And The "Dragon Crew"

There are plenty of DJs in Second Life. But how many are in teams, which include a dragon, or have some comedic banter between tunes? At the Happy Vixen and Club Zero Gravity in the Sunweaver community, you'll find DJ Geerkil and the "Dragon Crew. Geerkil Zisky and JB Raccoon spin out great music and a funny banter between songs, with their friend LS Raccoon acting as host (their Tuesday set's host is Kitacella), they perform events at these two clubs. With their schedule changing recently, the Newser recently had a few words with this unique DJ team.

Read the story in People.

20,000 Lindens in Prizes at Happy Vixen Halloween Marathon Event

It's been a busy Halloween, and one of the last events was the six hour "Special Halloween Marathon" at the haunted woods area set up at the Happy Vixen. To begin with, DJ Geerkil returned to his usual time after being out for a few weeks due to technical difficulties, doing a "Red and Black" event from 4 to 6PM SL time.

Then starting at 6PM came the marathon of Halloween tunes. DJ Squeaks was first, followed by DJ Nydia. Lastly, Jasmine Dawn, who built the haunted woods, took to the DJ booth for the first time in a few years. About three dozen people attended, and the 7000 Linden dollar prize was boosted to 20,000 Lindens by a few in the audience, 10,000 for the top male, 10,000 for the top female. The prize for the men was won by Kanhk Windstorm, while Salurielle Shinigami (ShadowRenee Ivanova), and Mato (Matoazma Kazyanenko) split the women's prize.

More details will have to wait until yours truly gets some rest, but I can add the haunted forest will be staying up a few longer.

Bixyl Shuftan

Scenes at the Relay

It isn't just humans and furs who take part in the Relay for Life. Avariel Falcon, the dark unicorn, is a somewhat frequent sight at their events. But there are others as well.

On Friday June 9 at 4PM, DJ Geerkil Ziskey made an appearance at the "Unmasking a Cure" Medieval Faire. Although it was before "prime time," Geerkil drew a crowd whom usually imagine dragons at Medieval events breathing fire instead of making music.

 Hello, I am DJ Geerkil, I will be performing LIVE for the UAC's third annual Relay For Life (RFL) event on June first from 4-6 PM SLT and June ninth from 6-8 PM. I ask that all my friends please support this event to help with cancer research. Help save a life today! I will be performing at the Village Square Stage. ?? This is a Medieval Faire. It features dozens of live performers and djs, medieval style tournaments and demonstrations, an expanded Activity Sim with areas for role playing, rentals, fortune telling and etc. This year the faire boasts almost 100 merchants who are all selling items for a 100% donation, in support of Relay For Life. Please consider being a part of this event and know you lindens are going for a great cause. Any and all tips go directly to support RFL.

Geerkil DJs every Tuesday afternoon at the Happy Vixen, also at 4PM.

The Medievalfest goes on until June 18.

On Saturday June 10 at Noon, a number of tinies from Team ACTS had an event in New Toulouse at the Tiny Social Aid Club. DJ Mani "Owlbear"  Hancroft was the one playing the tunes. A cardboard cutout of Shady Fox, whom passed away over a year ago from cancer and remains fondly remembered by many, was placed behind the counter. Oldesoul Eldemar was there in his own tiny avatar.

These were just two of the events going on this weekend. Among which are the two "Bid Me" events going on at Club Cutlass. Several hundred more Linden dollars have been donated in the kiosks since we last wrote about them. Donate more while you can

Bixyl Shuftan

Edited June 12