Reader Submitted: Relay Track Length, Playdolls Float

 

 Kamida Delec decided to walk the length of the Relay track, "Looks like the track is about 9500 meters long. (That's 31,167.98 feet or 5.90 miles.) (I) started at Sunbeamers, ended at more or less the same spot."

 

 "Looks like some people are testing out their rides. They passed a few minutes ago. "

 

 Kamida Delec also had a couple pictures from when she walked the track earlier.

 

 A peek at a memorial to Ren Flow at Roos With A Dream, 

 

 http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/RFL%20Win/125/24/23

 

This Saturday at The Science Circle

 

Saturday November 16

    ~*~

 

    At 10 AM PST   

    Renewed Hope Ahead For 2025

    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/renewed-hope-ahead-for-2025/

    Moderator: Stephen R. Van Hook

    Auditorium

      

    ~*~

 

    

    NOTE: Non-members required to register once

    IM Jes Cobalt or Nymf Hathaway

╚══════════════════════════════ The Science Circle (72,129,30) ═╝

 

Burn2 Burnal Equinox Event Starts Tonight

 

 

Tomorrow marks the start of Burn2's spring spinoff event, the Burnal Equinox. This month's theme is "Hope Spring's Eternal." While the poster says it starts tomorrow, March 22, the opening event is at 5PM tonight. The event goes on until Sunday evening.

 

 http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Burning%20Man-%20Deep%20Hole/147/30/24

 

 *  *  *  *  *

Burn2 2024: Burnal Equinox
Opening 5:00 pm SLT / Pacific, Friday, March 22nd, 2024
Ending Midnight PST/SLT, Sunday, March 24th, 2024
Landmark for Deep Hole in Second Life®,
Home of BURN2 Burning Man Virtual Regional
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Burning%20Man-%20Deep%20Hole/147/30/24
Happy Equinox!  
As the Winter comes to an end, Spring brings the hope of renewal and rebirth. Includes flowers blooming, and the dance of life.


Hope springs eternal in the human breast;
Man never Is, but always To be blest.
The soul, uneasy, and confin'd from home,
Rests and expatiates in a life to come.
- Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man


We are coming out of one season, into another. We humans have always found hope in things that we may not quite see - the kiss of the sun's warmth, the movement of sap in the trees, difficulties and struggles giving way to resolution and peace. Flowers break through the surface of cold ground, reminding all that better days are coming.

Since time immemorial, we have seen the cycles of life, seasons, generations, learnings, unlearnings, relearnings, new learnings. Growth and regrowth. Find this renewal of hope within yourself, let it spark new life, then let's come together to share this, to lift each other up.

Burnal Equinox will open on Friday, March 22nd, with a soft opening walk-on by the Lamplighters 5pm SLT. All are welcome to join the walk around the playa for a first look at the wonderful variety and creativity of art surrounding the effigy which is, at the moment, a glowing enigma at the center. We have some surprises for you!

We are all excited and very much looking forward to another event at Burn2. We invite you to join us in celebrating this Equinox weekend! More information can be seen on our website. 

At this midpoint in the year between our big burns, lets celebrate who we are, and share peaceful practices handed down through the ages. Lets enjoy all the different interpretations of Equinox and come together to celebrate the Equinox Burn.

About Burning Man Project
The nonprofit Burning Man Project produces the annual Burning Man event in Black Rock City, and works year-round to provide support, education, and grants to a global ecosystem of artists, makers and community leaders. In doing so, the organization functions as the cultural heart of the global Burning Man community, facilitating and extending the culture from the Burning Man event into the larger world.

This Saturday at The Science Circle

 

 Saturday October 28

    ~*~

    

    At 10 AM PST   

    Hope On The Horizon

    By Dr. Steven Van Hook

    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/hope-on-the-horizon/

 

    The Science Circle (225,230,28)

      

    ~*~

 

    At 9 PM PST   

    United Nations Day

    Jes Stannard

    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/united-nations-day/

    

    The Science Circle (72,129,30)

 

 

    ~*~

    

    NOTE: Non-members required to register once

    IM Jes Cobalt or Nymf Hathaway

╚══════════════════════════════ The Science Circle (72,129,30) ═╝

 

 

Scenes From the Relay Track

 

 

 "Takedown Day" for the Relay Weekend track is tomorrow, and time is starting to run short for those who haven't seen the builds. Among those recommended is the Second Life Cheerleading Squad's camp in RFL Hope. This year, it's space themed, with planets and asteroids floating around, plus a mention of a study that suggests zero gravity may kill or otherwise disable cancer cells.

 

 

 The camp had a great ride in space too.

Ar RFL Inspire was a racetrack curling well up into the air, good for racing cars or horses.

At RFL Journey was an amusement park by Havok Entertainment.

The Burners Without Borders Exhibit in RFL Community.

At RFL Care, a heart-shaped island, with a couple cuddle spots for couples, by Bluezaar.

The Takedown is tomorrow. While some builds will be kept up until late in the day, some good ones will vanish early. So see them today while you can.

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

A Second Life Musician Says "Thank You"

 *
The following was posted on the Second Life Forums on Sunday November 29 by a Da5id Weatherwax, titled, "A moment to say 'Thank you.'"

*  *  *  *  *

As my friends across the pond were preparing to celebrate a rather strange Thanksgiving I was doing what I normally do as part of preparation for any week, putting the finishing touches to, and rehearsing, the set list(s) I would be playing in the coming week. It struck me that I had something enormous to be truly thankful for in these troubled times. I haven't picked up a busking pitch or played a RL live gig or session since late February. All the RL venues here closed in early March, all bookings cancelled until further notice. Even when this lovely city, a true hotspot of the arts and performance, was not under the most severe public health restrictions nobody who could be out and about would gather to listen to a busker and the po-po would tell that busker to move smartly along if they did. It's almost impossible to sing through a mask anyway.

Like so many of my colleagues in performance I was instantly unemployed. My usual fallbacks when I wasn't getting bookings as a performer were also gone, because there was no work as a sound or lighting tech either. Hundreds of other performers were in the same position, having to take whatever they could get as a "day job" just to keep the lights on and the fridge full. In the music industry you're used to "living on your wits" somewhat but I know from personal chats with others that even after all this shakes down there will be some who will not be returning to the stage. I'm not talking about the real tragedies, of the voices we will no longer hear because the pandemic has taken them from us, but of the small-venue musicians who can no longer summon up the energy, the fire, to break free of the rat race a second time. They know, from sometimes bitter personal experience, how great a leap into the unknown launching a career in the arts is, how precarious it is and how numbing the fear can become. Deep in their hearts, way too many of us know that we don't have it within us to do that again.

I have something to sustain me that most of them don't. I have YOU.

It is you,the population of SL, who have continued to show up to my sets, continued to appreciate my performances and kept my sense of identity as a musician alive. I'm still putting a set list together every week because I'm bringing it to you and you're showing up to hear it. Even though that soul-crushing day job is blowing massive holes in my schedule, I'm still a performer because of you.

So, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU. You are what I have reason to be thankful for this season.

*  *  *  *  * 

Da5id Weatherwax's post didn't have many responses yet, but perhaps this will soon increase as word gets around.

Source: Second Life Forums 

Reader Submitted: "Why I Relay"

Kavori Matthew D. Carlton Huffman

Team Sunbeamers in SL

Two years involved in Relay on SL

Over ten years, until about 2006, in my local Relay For Life with team HOPE (Law offices of Brad Brashaw)

I Relay for the memories:

I have many wonderful memories of being at Relay For Life here in Springfield, Missouri. I was so very young the first time I went, and back then it was a 24 hr event for our local Relay. I remember always wanting to run around and play with the other kids, and having made many friends that lasted from days to years. I met many good people there over the years. As I got older, I joined the team officially each year and went door to door helping to raise funds. I may not have ever raised a ton or set records, but I knew that it still helped, and it made my Grandmother smile. I remember the Thanksgiving and Halloween parties her support group and team hosted, and all the jokes and smiles and fun. Those memories stand out to me, despite most of them being sick, I remember their smiles.

I Relay for loved ones and family:

My grandmother had colon cancer when I was just a baby. Then again about 20 years later when I was in college. However, I can say she at least died cancer free, even if it left its many scars upon her, leaving her sick and weak for what time she had left after that. Just recently, my Aunt has been fighting breast cancer, thankfully it was caught early and she is expected to be fine. Sadly though, my fiance's aunt was only just found to have stage 3 cancer, with an inoperable mass behind one of her lungs. Even my Grandfather had a mild form of skin cancer that was treated quickly years ago. Lots of my other more distant relatives have survived or died from various types of cancer as well, and the list is just to long...

I Relay for my friends:

When I was in 7th grade, my Dad's friend Ron died from Lymphoma, and it left us all in shock. He had found out a little before Christmas I believe, just that year prior, and didn’t even make it to the next. School had only just started for me that year when we attended the funeral. I have met many friends in my mere 33 years who had cancer, or are still fighting cancer, or have had family members that fought with cancer...Sadly there are many that are no longer with us.

Over the years I watched as less and less of my Grandmothers support group came to Relay, and more and more luminaries took their place instead. I saw similar with other teams as well there as well.

Yes, I have known many that were affected by cancer. Family, friends, coworkers, classmates. It was, and still is, everywhere.

I Relay for hope:

My Grandmother always had hope, in the end she was a two time colon cancer survivor, who fought until the very end. I can say that her hope was pure and not wasted, as the cancer was not what took her. She may have died from pneumonia in the end, but she died in peace, and free from the suffering of years of chemo and radiation and surgeries. She was finally at peace and she was content. She told me so. She was ready to see her family and friends again. Her faith gave her hope. Her words gave me hope. My faith gives me hope. Relay gives many Hope.

I Relay for a cure:

My Grandmother, Wauthena, always had a dream that the last dollar she would raise would be the last one needed, the one that would finally cure cancer. I know there are many that share that dream with her. I see it that dream in those at RFL, I see it those that don’t give up and fight till the they cant fight anymore, and I see it those family and friends that fight right along side of them, praying day in and out for a miracle. I too look forward to the day when I can go out and walk through a cancer free world, and that is why I Relay.

Matt Carlton (MattDCarlton Resident)

Announcement: The 2018 Holidays Of Hope Ball

9th Annual Gala to Support the Relay For Life of Second Life, and the American Cancer Society

The 9th Annual Holidays of Hope Ball will be held Sunday, Dec 9th from 1 – 6pm slt as part of the 2018 SL Christmas Expo. This year’s theme will be Sounds Of The Season in which you can dance the night away in a music box!    The gala is open to all  residents of Second Life.  Sponsored by T1Radio, the formal ball will feature the musical sounds of  Satin & Erin and the sounds of the season with Madelyn Majestic and Trader Whiplash

The annual Holidays Of Hope Ball, established in 2010, is one of Second Life’s brightest holiday season highlights and brings together residents from all corners of the virtual community to celebrate the holidays and to support the American Cancer Society.  Holiday Gift Basket Raffle tickets, purchased via scripted kiosks, benefit the Relay For Life of Second Life.  This year, The Holiday Shopping Spree Raffle, will be comprise of over L$65,000 worth of Gift Certificates from some of our SL Christmas Expo Merchants.   SL Merchants are invited to become Holidays Of Hope benefactors by providing Gifts and Gift Certificates for our door prizes. For more information please see below*.

This year the ball will be held in the stunning Christmas music box complete with a dancing ballerina, created by Melodie Jigsaw, high above the Christmas Expo. There is no charge for admittance.

If you would like more information or would like donate to the Holidays Of Hope Ball please contact Trader1 Whiplash in world or email trader@t1radio.com .

Private Region Numbers Grows For Second Week In A Row

It's been about two weeks since Linden Lab put into effect their reduction in what they charge for land tiers (for non-grandfathered sims), while raising the fee to buy Linden dollars. While the Lab gave no clear reason for their move beyond "to keep Second Life a vibrant world," it's strongly believed the reason for this move was to stop the overall long slow decline in the number of sims. A recent report by Tyche Shepard, who keeps track of new sims and sim numbers in Second Life showed something promising. Total numbers of private estates show growth for two weeks in a row, 35 the past week and 34 the one before for a total growth of 69 sims.


We are now two weeks into the new pricing regime for Private Estates and this is now the 2nd week of positive growth of the grid
Net Growth stands at 35 regions this week (last week was 34) All this week's net growth was among private Estates .
Overall , taking into account last weeks closure of the 24 Temporary SL15B regions , Net Change in Private Estates since the new prices stands at 94 New or Returned Regions

I've no record of Region type at the moment, and therefore no estimate of overall change in revenue for the Lab, but the initial change in demand doesn't seem enough to increase overall revenue at this stage.

Two weeks is obviously too short a time to declare the slump over, but it does raise hopes that the long slow decline, from over 25,000 in June 2010 to just over 16,000 now, might, just might, be over. We'll need at least another two weeks or so before we can say so.

Source: SL Universe 

Hat Tip: Daniel Voyager.

Bixyl Shuftan

The 2018 Sunbeamer Campsite

After weeks, perhaps months, to prepare, the Relay Weekend is finally here. Across the sims are the campsites of many teams, where they have various builds. Among them is that of Team Sunbeamers, the Relay team of the community where the Newser makes it's home. I had a few words with Cynthia Farshore, one of the two main builders of the camp, as she showed me around the place at the North America Hope sim.

Read about the location in Design.

“Bacon of Hope” Hunt at New Toulouse

Besides the Relay Weekend, Gemma Cleanslate has also been at New Toulouse in the past few days for their "Bacon of Hope" hunt. In the game, using a HUD, you look for plants of a particular kind of invasive species considered a threat to local ecology, which can be exchanged for bacon. At the end are some boxes of gifts. But one possible complication in the hunt for the flowers are the hippos that have somehow found their way into the swampland, and running into one could be bad.

Read Gemma's story in Events.

Relay For Life Christmas Expo Comes to An End

Sunday December 11 was the last day of the Relay for Life in Second Life's Christmas Expo. It was the last day for shopping at the stalls, pictures with Santa, and the last few music events.

 Not all of the events took place in the Expo sims. The Second Life Cheerleader Squad hosted a live music event with a few musicians. Among them, Beth Odets, who showed up in a dress full of Stars of David, and had a Hanuka Menorah in her hair.

The high point of the event was the Holidays of Hope Ball, or gala. Formal attire was requested but not a hard requirement. The tunes for the event were provided by T-1 Radio and Trader Whiplash.

Numerous Relay personalities were there, such as Henning Lionheart and Cuddly Waffle (pictured above), Madonna Daehlie, Wildstar Beaumont, and others.

For those who want to see more pictures, check out the Relay for Life Flickr page, as well as Wildstar Beaumont's and Ishtarkiss's own pages.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Bixyl SHuftan

Announcement: 7th Annual Holidays Of Hope Ball

Travel Home For the Holidays to the 7th Annual Holidays Of Hope Ball

Sunday Dec 11, 2016  2 - 6 pm SLT

The Holidays Of Hope Gala marks the final event of the calendar year for Relay For Life.

This year the Gala will held in the SL Christmas Expo Train Station!
Sponsored  by T1Radio w/Madelyn Majestic and AviChoice Favorite DJ Trader Whiplash.

Please join us for the Holidays Of Hope Gala
Sunday December 11th, 2 - 4 pm

Holiday Formal Attire Requested

Ornament (35, 127, 4006)

Press Release: Sign Up For The Making Strides Walk

It’s time to break out those walking shoes and join us as we Make Strides during the 2016 Strides Walk!
This year, the walk will be 10 am – 6 pm slt Saturday, October 29

Please register here:
http://tinyurl.com/j3kwbzk

Everyone is welcome!  One lap or as many as you can, Sign up! Help us take Strides Against Breast Cancer in SL!

We would like the walkers to reach out to their friends in SL and if you like real life to get sponsors for your walk.   The sponsors would agree that for every lap you walk they will pay a certain amount  to you as a donation. An example of how to request sponsorships will be given to each registered walker.

The more sponsors you have the more you can raise for MSABC!! Special awards will be given to top fundraisers.

After the walk we will send you a notecard with all your sponsors and how much they sponsored you for and what they owe.  You can set up a kiosk at your home and tp each to pay or you can go to them and rezz a kiosk for them to pay.   For your personal protection we ask that you post besides each of their names their payment to the kiosk from your transaction history.   Once you have collected all your funds we ask you return a copy of your card to Leala Spire or Sandie Loxingly by Nov. 4th.

Awards will then be given out at Wrap up on Nov. 5th.

If you have any questions, please contact Leala or Sandie.

About Making Strides Against Breast Cancer:
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer or MSABC is the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the nation, uniting more than 300 communities to finish the fight. Every breast cancer walk and event is an incredible and inspiring opportunity to honor those who have battled breast cancer, raise awareness about what we can do to reduce our breast cancer risk, and race money to help the American Cancer Society fight the disease with research, information, services, and access to mammograms for women who need them.

About The American Cancer Society:
For more than 100 years, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has worked relentlessly to save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Together with millions of our supporters worldwide, we help people stay well, help people get well, find cures, and fight back against cancer.

For more information please visit the sites below:
https://makingstridessecondlife.org/
http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/
http://www.cancer.org/

Press Release: Sign Up For The 2016 Making Strides Walk

SIGN UP FOR THE 2016 STRIDES WALK TODAY!

It’s time to break out those walking shoes and join us as we Make Strides during the 2016 Strides Walk!
This year, the walk will be 10 am – 6 pm slt Saturday, October 29

Please register here:
http://tinyurl.com/j3kwbzk

Everyone is welcome!  One lap or as many as you can, Sign up! Help us take Strides Against Breast Cancer in SL!

We would like the walkers to reach out to their friends in SL and if you like real life to get sponsors for your walk.   The sponsors would agree that for every lap you walk they will pay a certain amount  to you as a donation. An example of how to request sponsorships will be given to each registered walker.

The more sponsors you have the more you can raise for MSABC!! Special awards will be given to top fundraisers.

After the walk we will send you a notecard with all your sponsors and how much they sponsored you for and what they owe.  You can set up a kiosk at your home and tp each to pay or you can go to them and rezz a kiosk for them to pay.   For your personal protection we ask that you post besides each of their names their payment to the kiosk from your transaction history.   Once you have collected all your funds we ask you return a copy of your card to Leala Spire or Sandie Loxingly by Nov. 4th.

Awards will then be given out at Wrap up on Nov. 5th.

If you have any questions, please contact Leala or Sandie.

About Making Strides Against Breast Cancer:
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer or MSABC is the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the nation, uniting more than 300 communities to finish the fight. Every breast cancer walk and event is an incredible and inspiring opportunity to honor those who have battled breast cancer, raise awareness about what we can do to reduce our breast cancer risk, and race money to help the American Cancer Society fight the disease with research, information, services, and access to mammograms for women who need them.

About The American Cancer Society:
For more than 100 years, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has worked relentlessly to save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Together with millions of our supporters worldwide, we help people stay well, help people get well, find cures, and fight back against cancer.

For more information please visit the sites below:
https://makingstridessecondlife.org/
http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/
http://www.cancer.org/

Press Release: 2016 Strides Fundraising Tools Now Available

SEPT. 5 -- The official fundraising tools for 2016 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (MSABC) Across Second Life season are now available at American Cancer Society Island.

The SLURL for the MSABC building and the tools: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/American%20Cancer%20Society/106/73/21

If you have an old kiosk or other tools, please delete them and use the new ones.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Leala Spire or Sandie Loxingly. For tech support, please contact RyleighReign.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Across Second Life raises money for The American Cancer Society..

Some key dates for Strides:

Oct. 23: Opening of the Blossoms of Hope Showcase
Oct. 29: Strides Walk starts at 10 a.m. SLT
Oct. 30: Honor Ball for Survivors & Caregivers
Nov. 4: All donations due from walk
Nov. 5: Wrap-up on Relay dAlliez sim


About Making Strides Against Breast Cancer:
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer or MSABC is the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the nation, uniting more than 300 communities to finish the fight. Every breast cancer walk and event is an incredible and inspiring opportunity to honor those who have battled breast cancer, raise awareness about what we can do to reduce our breast cancer risk, and race money to help the American Cancer Society fight the disease with research, information, services, and access to mammograms for women who need them.

About The American Cancer Society:
For more than 100 years, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has worked relentlessly to save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Together with millions of our supporters worldwide, we help people stay well, help people get well, find cures, and fight back against cancer.

For more information please visit the sites below:
https://makingstridessecondlife.org/
http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/
http://www.cancer.org/

Press Release: Making Strides “Blossoms of Hope”

Making Strides season is about to kick off!

The 2016 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (MSABC) Across Second Life season is about to kick off and we invite you to join with us!

This year’s theme is  “Blossoms of Hope” runs through Nov. 4, 2016.

"This year's Making Strides theme is "Blossoms of Hope," said Co-Chair Sandie Loxingly.  "We chose this theme to represent the seeds of hope that every person affected by cancer carries with them. Through our efforts in supporting Making Strides, we nurture these seeds and they blossom into a world with hope of a world of better treatments, early diagnosis and less loss from breast cancer."

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Across Second Life raises money for The American Cancer Society and is part of Relay For Life of Second Life.

Some key dates for Strides:

Sept. 1: Fundraising tools to be released
Oct. 23: Opening of the Blossoms of Hope Showcase
Oct. 29: Strides Walk starts at 10 a.m. SLT
Oct. 30: Honor Ball for Survivors & Caregivers
Nov. 4: All donations due from walk
Nov. 5: Wrap-up on Relay dAlliez sim

The 2016 Making Strides Committee is led by Leala Spire-Merchant and Sandie Loxingly. Visit the following link for a complete committee list: https://makingstridessecondlife.org/about-making-strides/organizers/

An exciting change for this year’s Strides walk is that we would like the walkers to reach out to their friends in SL and if you like real life to get sponsors for your walk.   The sponsors would agree that for every lap you walk they will pay a certain amount  to you as a donation.  The more sponsors you have the more you can raise for MSABC! Special awards will be given to top fundraisers.

Please contact Leala or Sandie in Second Life if you would like to get involved with the 2016 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer season in Second Life.

About Breast Cancer:
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer.
The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her life is about 1 in 8. The chance of dying from breast cancer is about 1 in 36. Breast cancer death rates have been going down. This is probably the result of finding the cancer earlier and better treatment. Right now there are more than 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.
The American Cancer Society estimates for breast cancer in men in the United States for 2016 are:
About 2,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed
About 440 men will die from breast cancer
Breast cancer is about 100 times less common among men than among women. For men, the lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000. The number of breast cancer cases in men relative to the population has been fairly stable over the last 30 years.

About Making Strides Against Breast Cancer:
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer or MSABC is the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the nation, uniting more than 300 communities to finish the fight. Every breast cancer walk and event is an incredible and inspiring opportunity to honor those who have battled breast cancer, raise awareness about what we can do to reduce our breast cancer risk, and race money to help the American Cancer Society fight the disease with research, information, services, and access to mammograms for women who need them.

About The American Cancer Society:
For more than 100 years, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has worked relentlessly to save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Together with millions of our supporters worldwide, we help people stay well, help people get well, find cures, and fight back against cancer.

For more information please visit the sites below:
https://makingstridessecondlife.org/
http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/
http://www.cancer.org/

Hope Gardens 2016 Photography Exhibition

Gemma Cleanslate was recently at this year's Hope Gardens Photography Exhibition for the Relay for Life. Located in Saint Kitts Isle, Gemma talked with Delight (Dian4ma Shen) about the exhibits. There are numerous portraits, and behind each person there is a story.

Read Gemma's article in Design.

Shady Fox Ill With Cancer

Sad news for friends of Shady Fox (Russell Schwartz in real life). This personality whom has been a familiar sight in a few places in Second Life, the Giant Snail Races, the Relay for Life, Raglan Shire, and others, has been diagnosed with Stage Four bladder cancer. He has been in the hospital for some time.

If you have been to a Giant Snail Race - Shady Fox was behind the scenes.   Shady is having a very tough time right now with Stage 4 bladder cancer. So, if your team has had a Giant Snail Race - Shady was there !

On Shady's Facebook page, there were plenty of well wishes for him, hoping for his recovery. "It's just not the same without you here Shady. Miss hearing your voice, your laugh and your presence. Shimmer sends out warm hugs and frequent prayers for your improved health." "We sitting here thinking of da fox - have a good day and we put our paws together and pray you feel better ! Merry Christmas Shady!" "Thinking of you and hoping you feel better soon! Merry Christmas." "Shady, thinking of you tonight while Santa gets ready to fly. Sending love and prayers and care on their way to you, and to Randal and all your family, and all the doctors and nurses and staff at the hospital. Big hugs, so much love." "You can beat this foxy! Get better and know you are in our hearts and prayers." "I love you bacon face! Get well soon dear friend. I'm praying for you."

Shady's last post on Facebook was on November 4. He stated he had been diagnosed with a mass on his bladder on September 27, noticing something was wrong with his bladder a month earlier. It was diagnosed as cancer on October 8 after the mass was removed, and chemotherapy scheduled afterwards. His brother has been stopping by his hospital bed every day, and last stated his condition was improving.

Bixyl Shuftan

The Snowman Contest and the Holidays For Hope Ball

This weekend, the Relay Expo had a few last events. One was the snowman contest, of which the winner was declared on Sunday December 13. Later that day was the high point of the festival, the Holidays for Hope Ball. Second Life Newser was at both, and took a few pictures.

Read more in Events.