A Day in New York City Block (2008)

Our looking back at Second Life Newspaper continues with a look at the New York City block sim. Built by real life Brooklyn resident Cheri Bing, unlike some other better known New York themed sims, this was built a little less to shop in and more for people to rent a virtual home in at one of the apartments. Dropping in one day in April 2008, Bixyl Shuftan caught a bit of the chaos that went on with the locals that could only be considered a conbination of Second Life wackiness and New York attitude.

See the 2008 article in Places.

Reader Submitted: "I Am a New Yorker"

While covering 9-11 events, I was sent a poem written by someone living in New York at the time. And here it is today.

Read the poem in Extra.

9-11 Ten Years Ago

Fireman’s Prayer


When I am called to duty,
whenever the flames my rage,
give me strength to save some
life whatever be their age.
Help me embrace a little child
before it is too late,
or save an old person from
the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert,
and hear the weakest shout.
And quickly and efficiently
to put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling
and give the best in me.
To guard my every neighbor,
protect his property.
And if according to my fate
I am to lose my life,
please bless with your protecting hand
my children and my wife.

9/11/01 - We will never forget

Poem by Firefighter A.W. “Smokey” Linn

Picture taken at the Equis sim.

9-11 Rememberance at Mystery: 10 AM Today

The Queen of Hearts will be remembering all those lost and injured, families, firefighters, rescuers and servicemen worldwide.

Please join us for all, or part, of this service to honor them all.

10AM today, Mystery (63, 98, 23).

Goodbye NYC

It was September 11, 2007 when I ran into Cheri Bing, and her New York City Block. Part of another sim at the time, she later got a sim of her own for it: NYC. A resident of Brooklyn, Cheri wanted to recreate the place where she grew up, as well as building a monument to the World Center Trade Center towers.

In 2009 and 2010, the NYC sim hosted memorial events on September 11 that drew great crowds. The one on 2009 drew the attention of CNN. the 2010 event drew the attention of firefighter groups reported to have real-life firefighters from New York City. Shortly after that, I didn’t notice Cheri coming online. And it wasn’t until weeks later that I saw her. She told me she might not be able to keep up the tier on the sim.

Thinking about the place the other day, I decided to take a peek. But my LMs would not work, “no information available.” And checking the map, there was no NYC sim.

Hopefully Cheri’s problems are temporary. But more often than not, this means the permanent end of a sim.

The NYC was a good sim, with its memorial, a small photography museum, a small number of residents who called its apartment complexes home, and a few shops. In 2010, police and firefighter groups moved in to call the sim home.

I did manage to get in contact with JayFizzle McGinnis of the Second Life Fire Department. He explained that the group had left the NYC sim later in September after the 9-11 ceremony, saying the sim wasn’t set up for roleplay very well, “she wasn't able to accommodate, so we had to make a move ... and it pans out it was a good one ... “

Although there are other New York sims, this was one that had a kind of native charm. It will be missed.

Bixyl Shuftan

More New York City Block 9-11 Pictures

Many more pictures were taken of the 9-11 ceremonies at the NYC sim than were needed for the article. So, a number of the extras get an article of their own, to show a little more of the scenes.

To see the pictures, go to People.

Reader Submitted: Heartfelt Interviews From Secondlife on 9/11

A decade ago, madmen in Afghanistan launched a plot to murder innocent civilians in New York City and bureaucrats further South. Nine years after that war crime, people of SecondLife (SL) proved that humankind shall never forget to hunt down those lunatics and eradicate their heinous insanity from the planet. As news media, we must be very careful not to aide the cause of murderers. Words matter: they were MURDER bombers. Publicity for their despicable crimes is their primary tool.

About all this, I spoke with people at the 9/11 ceremonies at Blue Angel Memorial in SL's Unsung Village sim. Melodie Jigsaw was in Texas on 9/11 and thought: "sheer overwhelming loss and tragedy - the complete sacrifice of the first responders - the devastation that occurred so quickly and so unexpectedly… takes my breath away today." And when I asked her about burning Korans and building YMCA-like Islamic centers in NYC... a surprising and delightful response: "its just a damned shame that 1) people can't tolerate differences in each other and 2) people do things that they KNOW will push buttons. Yes, you CAN burn a Koran or build a mosque anywhere you like - but does that mean you have to? When you are CERTAIN to do nothing but cause unnecessary drama?" Dang! Nobody messes with Texas ladies!

Blue Angel organizers Hope McAlpine, Drakken Calhoun and many friends dedicated the 9/11 ceremonies to Leary Firefighters Foundation. Yes, that's Dennis Leary from the hit TV show about firefighters: "Rescue Me". Find out more and donate at: http://www.learyfirefighters.org/ Or you can experience the amazing 9/11 memorial garden and donate at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Unsung%20Village/60/144/23

Next, I spoke with Darkstone Aeon, who was an eye witness on 9/11. He recalled: "was on the phone with my brother who lives 5 blocks from the towers. I was joking and he said 'noooo! a plane hit the tower.' He said it was so loud he hid under his desk. I stayed on the phone with him… then watched as the 2nd plane hit and watched as the towers came down… I had customers who worked in those towers." His brother survived. Later, Darkstone shared thoughts about extremists who pervert religions: "they breed fascism and hatred and have for centuries destroyed… while people commit genocide in the name of god. Thats why I am here… because we should NEVER FORGET."

Anya Mellison, SL owner of Blazing Iris Consulting / Photography / Jewelery Fashions and Blazing Blazing Lounge ,told me about losing her childhood friend on 9/11. She created a special work of art, dedicated to her friend and shared it with SL Newser.

Greenies have a special place in SL society. Why they go green, who knows? I met a very wise Greenie on 9/11, Awesome Portilo, who shared: "As for the [Islamic] YMCA [near WTC], I feel like every person is an individual. I hate grouping people together like a lot of others do. America is a melting pot, it always has been. This [World Trade Center] was supposed to be the place everyone could go when they felt like hope was lost everywhere else. Just because a certain terrorist group attacked us at one point in time, we shouldn't be so quick to punish others by refusing such buildings."

And I talked to many others… with heartfelt quotes, enough for many news stories. These are ordinary Americans with impressive insights, wisdom, and creativity. As a reporter, 9/11 is actually my favorite day of the year. This is the day when hearts open up. American strangers become American friends. The inner beauty of peoples' souls is freely shared with abundance, love, and kindness.

Any1 Gynoid

9-11 Commemorations in Mystery, NYC sims

Throughout the Second Life Grid, there were a number of events reflecting on the day nine years ago when the United States suffered it's worst attack from terrorism, a total of 3000 killed. Some events were small with just a few attending. Others were larger, involving dozens. Two of these commemorations were the small vigil at Mystery, and the large remembrance at the NYC sim.

Read the story in Events.

Nine Years Yesterday

The 911 memorial day has dawned again, and it seems like it just happened.

Attending a reading of the names of the first responders who were lost on that day 9 years ago is always poignant. Some of the names become familiar over the years. I went to the reading of names at the 9-11 Memorial 2010 in Unsung Village this morning. Hope McAlpine keeps it all alive every year.

I moved on to the WTC Memorial and Statue in New York, NYC where the reading of names of all those who perished were being read. I heard some of the same names again, recognizing their affiliation, police, fire … all those in the towers, and the planes then the names of those who died in the plane that crashed into the Pentagon. And on and on. So many names. It is wonderful to see them remembered in SL as well as RL. Some of the relatives were there and spoke of their lost one. Also, Jasoncool, a relative of injured said “My 2 cousins were firemen that day helping on recovery and cleanup and they are permanently disabled from the health issues.” Respects were offered by the listeners.

My last visit of the day was to Lion’s Gate at Journeys End. How fitting. It was a place of tribute and celebration for all. It seems fitting now. Some years ago I could not celebrate, but as the years pass it is easier. A live concert seems to soothe. Sid Slade was fine for an ending. Now we will pass another year in safety I pray.

Thanks to all the world who understands our remembrance, RL and SL, and our sorrow that does not ease.

Gemma Cleanslate

9/11 We Remember

At the NYC sim: (215. 40, 23)




The tribute will be throughout the day, with a ceremony at 1 PM SL time.







Fireman’s Prayer


When I am called to duty,
whenever the flames my rage,
give me strength to save some
life whatever be their age.
Help me embrace a little child
before it is too late,
or save an old person from
the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert,
and hear the weakest shout.
And quickly and efficiently
to put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling
and give the best in me.
To guard my every neighbor,
protect his property.
And if according to my fate
I am to lose my life,
please bless with your protecting hand
my children and my wife.

9/11/01 - We will never forget

Poem by Firefighter A.W. “Smokey” Linn

SL Fire & Rescue Dept. Holds Fireman’s Ball in NYC Sim

Looking for a chance to fight fires in the grid? If so, you were the kind of person the Second Life Fire and Rescue Department was looking for when it held it’s Fireman’s Ball in the NYC sim. After the party, Chief JayFizzle McGinnis had a few words with Second Life Newser.

Read the story in People.