Interview For A Study

 

A few days ago, it was yours truly who ended up interviewed.  It was by Evonova, a graduate student of the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication. Inspired by the "1000 Avatar Project" by Gracie Kendel in 2011 and 2012, she was doing "research on how people’s avatars have evolved over time and what that means for identity and self-expression." She contacted me, and I agreed to answer her questions, us meeting at the Newser office in HV Community, 

 

We ended up talking for a while not just about avatars, but about Second Life and how it's changed over the years, and what brings people here and what makes them stay. 

 

Evonova didn't say how many in total are being interviewed, but I'm sure she'll get quite a study.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

Newser Crew Meeting

 

On Saturday December 13 at Noon SL time, the Newser staff would hold a meeting. It would be at its office in HV Community. From right to left were Gemma Cleanslate, Nydia Tungsten, Netera Landar, Penny Shuftan, and Bixyl Shuftan (myself). We would talk about subjects to write about, which December certainly provides plenty of,

And eventually came "meeting adjourned," which brought out a festive gesture.

 

Stay tuned for more stories from the Newser crew.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Fifty Foot Vixen At The Newser Office

 

 It's not often I see huge avatars other than dragons, also known as macros, going around, especially outside the Fantasy Faire. But after a conversation with Kalista Phoenix on Discord, we met up at the Newser office. Her height was, impressive, close to fifty feet tall.

 

We may meet again at the Fantasy Faire, or perhaps sooner. 

 

And no, she's not interested in attacking, unlike a certain other fifty foot lady (song).  

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Ghost of Christmas Past - The Xmas Tree That Won't Stay Packed Away

 

Taken at the Newser office in HV Community. No, this isn't Christmas in July. In December, we at the Newser put up some Christmas decorations, including a few trees, this one going on the ground floor. And in January, they were picked up. But there was one small problem. The ground floor Christmas tree returned. 

 

We kept trying to pick it up, and it kept reappearing. It was as if the Ghost of Christmas past was determined to haunt our office. 

 

So the tree remains, for now. Maybe one day when we try to pick it up, it will stay picked up.

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

 

The Book Island Newser Office, And It's Neighbor Indivisible

 

 

 For those who don't know, the Newser has a couple auxiliary offices. One is in Bellisseria. The other is at Book Island. We'll soon be sprucing it up some. Yours truly has already set up a sign for his novel "The Corsean Encounter.

 

The office is located at: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Book%20Island/221/118/36

 

 

 But it seems we have a new neighbor, the SL chapter of the political activist group Indivisible.

 

 The group is against the current US President and his plans for government. Inside was information about them.

 

 We may be hearing more about them in the future.

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

At The Office: Snack Time

 

 

 Taken at the December Newser crew meeting earlier this month. Dancerena Starlight enjoys a pretzel during the discussion.

 

The office is at  HV Community, (140, 85, 25).

 

Office Chair Issues

 

 

 Well, a recent small meeting at the Newser office in HV Community had a slight snag. I'd gotten some new chairs to go with the new building. While they seemed to work well when I got them, on the day of the meeting there was a snag. We couldn't sit in them right. It seemed out of the early days of SL in which you needed a poseball to sit properly.

Thankfully Gemma had a solution. She rezzed a dinner table with chairs. While a bit unconventional for an office, it was certainly welcome especially with lunch available.

Hopefully we'll have the chair situation taken care of soon.

Bixyl Shuftan

A New Office

 

 
The Newser is getting a new office. Ranchan Weidman, who's provided the office buildings since our start in June 2010, gave us a bigger one that takes up just about all of our plot. 

It's certainly very roomy. But, we're going to have to rearrange our furniture some. At least when real-life and our writing schedules give us a break. 

The second office went up in December 2012, and almost ten years later the third office building was set up in September 2022. There are also satellite offices in Belisseria and Book Island.

The location remains at HV Community (140, 85, 25) 

Thank you again Ranchan,

Bixyl Shuftan

Mirror at The SL Newser Office

 

 With both the Linden and Firestorm viewers now having the PBR update, Shockwave Yareach made a working mirror. He placed it at the Newser office at HV Community. So if anyone wants to try out the latest Firestorm update to see how mirrors work, they can head here. HV Community, (140, 85, 25)

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

 

Crew Meeting

 

 

 Last weekend on Saturday April 13, the Newser held a crew meeting at our main office in HV Community. Attending were Nydia Tungsten, Penny Shuftan (Deaflegacy), Gemma Cleanslate, Dancerina Starlight, and Bixyl Shuftan (me). 

We talked about things to write about in the weeks ahead, such as the Fantasy Faire, Sunbeamer Air Show, and other Relay events. We also talked about the Bellisseria anniversary. Gemma mentioned tablets one could hold for stamp hunters to touch to get one, and showed off an Away from Keyboard flag for when she was.

Bixyl Shuftan,

 

"Shocking" Mole Humor

 

 

 Dropping by the Newser satellite office in Bellisseria, I found a surprise. Quartz Mole had left a telephone pole, and on it was a cupid that had grabbed the electric wires and was getting electrified. 

 

 Quartz had done the same thing at the main Newser office at HV Community. 

Posting a picture in Bellisseria chat, "I see what you did, Quartz Mole," there were a number of chuckles, one person asking, "So is the Newser a Wire Service?" My response was, "If anyone's wondering, no, I'm not upset. Cupid's okay. He's just feeling a little 'wired'"

 

Mole humor I suppose,

Bixyl Shuftan

The Newser Decorates For Christmas

 

 

The Christmas season is well upon us. And so that means decorating. At the Newser office in HV Community, Gemma Cleanslate and Dancerina Starlight put up some decorations, such as this tree just outside the entrance. 

And we've also decorated our new satellite office in Bellisseria a bit.

Happy holidays.

Bixyl Shuftan

 

The Belli Office Opening Party

 

 

 On Saturday December 2 at 1PM, the Newser officially opened it's Bellisseria office. To mark the occasion, we threw a party. DJ Charlee was spinning the tunes, and a number of residents from Belliseria and elsewhere came by. Besides music, there was pizza, and of course coffee.

 

Gemma had done much of the decorating of the place, "Nice to have an office on Belli." Dancerina helped greet people coming by. Charlee played a number of tunes news related, or somewhat news related, such as "I Read The News" by Peter Frampton , "I Heard It Through The Grapevine," "Photograph," "Huey Lewis And The News," " Working For The Weekend," Pete Seeger's "Newspapermen," "Taking Care of Business," and others, which got cheers from the listeners, "Great music selection!" "Wow! I have not heard this in decades!"

A number of personalities showed up, such as noted resident Prokofy Neva, Nydia Tungsten, Ranchan Weidman, the builder of the main SL Newser office, and one of the Lindens, Steeltoe Linden. Someone mused if he got the name from kicking griefers out of SL. Steeltoe never did answer that. Prokofy would say of the paper, "SL Newser is critical when it needs to be and not gratuitously."

Talk ranged from the fountain down the road and a neighbor or two, "I see a house down the road behind us that is VERY colorful! ... With lots of snow (chuckle)." Some articles were mentioned such as my commentary on the gatcha ban and one article on women's wrestling "Fight Like A Girl," which got jokes about hamster wrestling, DJ Snowy's seasonal reindeer look, and more. 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Wallingford/128/40/32

 

Bixyl Shuftan

The Newser Bellisseria Satellite Office Opening Party

 

Since it first appeared on the map several years ago, the continent of Bellisseria has been the source of many news stories. Finally, it's been decided to set up a small satellite office there. This Saturday, we're throwing a party to celebrate it's official opening. And the party is open to all residents and visitors, and of course the Lindens and Moles.

The party is at Saturday December 2 at 1PM SL time. DJ Charlee will be playing the music. Be there or miss out on the great tunes, as well as the free food and coffee.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Wallingford/128/40/32

 

Note: This is a satellite office. The main office will remain in HV Community.

SL Newser Getting Ready For Thanksgiving

 

 

 With Veterans Day behind us, the next holiday on the horizon is Thanksgiving. So Gemma Cleanslate has been busy decorating our office in HV Community a little, with Pilgrims, pumpkins, and a turkey.

Stay tuned for a Thanksgiving-themed article or two.

 

SL Newser Satellite Offices

 

 

 Besides the one at it's main office in HV Community, the Newser has a satellite office. It's at Book Island, a location known for book readings and encouraging the reading of books, fiction and nonfiction. The Newser, while not exactly a book, certainly counts as non-fiction.

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Book%20Island/222/115/36

 

 

But that soon won't be our only satellite office. We have a new one that's just about finished, and will soon be officially open. So where is it? Well, we'll soon announce it.

Stay tuned for more details.

Bixyl Shuftan

Crew Meeting

 

 

 On Saturday November 4, the Newser crew had it's monthly meeting at its main office in HV Community. From left to right were Dancerina Starlight, Gemma Cleanslate, Penny Shuftan (Deaflegacy) who was on medical leave but expressed interest in possibly coming back, and  Bixyl Shuftan (myself).

We talked about what we did last month, notably the Halloween and Burn2 articles. Then we talked about plans for November. When I mentioned we *might* be getting an auxiliary office in Bellisseria, the response was pretty enthusiastic: "Yaaayyyyyy!"

 

Stay tuned for more stories from the Newser reporters.

 

Bixyl Shuftan

Newser Office Getting Ready For Halloween

 

 

 Halloween is less then two weeks away. And Gemma Cleanslate has been decorating the office. Dropping by, there was a dancing jack o' lantern and some fuzzy monster going about. 

 

Something to remind us to "scare up" a good story.

Happy Halloween

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Crew Meeting: Monster Bush

 

 

 Last weekend, the SL Newser had it's monthly crew meeting at it's office in HV Community. At one point, Gemma Cleanslate rezzed what at first looked like an ordinary bush. But after a moment, something was peeking out.

Something that "Frank"ly would be appropriate for Halloween.

Bixyl Shuftan

The White Vixen Enterprises Building

 

 

 Another of Penny Shuftan's (Deaflegacy) screenshots. This one is of the White Vixen Enterprises office building in the Pacific Waters sim. The angel statue in particular got her attention.