Alleara Snoodle Is Gone

 
It has been confirned by a reliable source that Alleara Snoodle has passed on. To those not familiar with her, she was a highly skilled builder and scriptor whom was with the Sunweaver and Chilbo communities. She was also part of the Relay for Life in Second Life.

Alleara. or "Allie" to her friends, was from Germany, though talking to her she told me she was born in Romania and later she and her parents would emigrate from there. She first logged on in July 2008. She soon became part of the Metanomics group, as well as becoming established in the Chilbo and Sunweaver communities. She's known for having taken part in the building of some Passionate Redhead camps, and the Chilbo community held at least one Relay fundraiser, in July 2010, that the Redheads were a part of. But she also worked behind the scenes on a number of things from clothing to avatars. She was a longtime helper of one brand named Allissandrea. More recently, a few years ago she helped get the Yinglet avatar up and ready on time for it's release event. Just how many projects she helped may never be known.

Besides her skills as a builder, Alleara was also an artist. The picture of the editor at the Newser office was done by her. She is known to have done some singing. She's also taken part in a number of Nydia Tungsten's music videos.

Sadly, Alleara was physically disabled, having suffered injuries from a fall some years before coming to Second Life. She would also end up in an automobile accident in later 2010. She would have to stop singing and drawing, and stepped down from her position in Chilbo though continued to keep in touch with the artistic community. Down but not out, she eventually went back to scripting and building in Second Life, though usually behind the scenes on the projects of others. She would find some work as a consultant to a major real-life business a few years ago. While she spent less time online, she never did stop coming to Second Life.

It should be noted Alleara and I were friends, having met around 2009, and meeting up regularly for a time. I found her to be brilliantly smart, but she also very compassionate. She had a way of sensing something was wrong with a friend, and would listen for a while as to what the problem was. She had many friends and admirers. She had several avatars, but was best known as a winged white vixen with red hair.

When we last met inworld in early June 2021, she was thinking of a couple things. Long knowing I was writing a sci-fi tale, she told me of an interesting story written by another beginning writer. She also wanted to show me the grounds of the Chilbo community, which after so many years had less territory but was still active.

A friend of Alleara's would say in her final days, she was increasingly ill. She was showing signs of Coronavirus, and planned to have herself checked at a clinic. But would pass away the night before a friend was to take her there.

Not just the Sunweavers and Chilbo, but Second Life has lost a great woman, with both brains and a good heart.

Bixyl Shuftan

Update: Shockwave Yareach of the Sunweavers/Sunbeamer team, would have this to say:

She was my equal in building, though she had lots more time than I did early on. She was one of the first people I met inworld (Lusk if I recall.) We spent ten years trying to outbuild each other and finally just settled on mutual showmanship rather than competetion. She was horribly crippled from a car wreck, and got around the physical deformities by living in SL instead. 

 

May God grant you ALL the answers, dear lady. Your suffering is ended at last, and your wings will free you from your prison.

 

Top Stories of The 2010s, Part Two

The 2010s are over. But as we say goodbye to the decade, there's some looking back at what happened. The Newser has covered much in the past ten years, and we're looking at some of the top stories that made the news and got more attention than most.

Read the second part of the series in Extra.

Remembering Fimi

Saturday May 26 was the tenth anniversary of the passing of a noted member of the Sunweaver community, as well as the Passionate Redheads Relay for Life team: Artistic Fimicloud. Known as "Fimi" to her friends, she is still fondly remember. The party at Club Cutlass that evening was in her honor, the theme being "Pink For Fimi."

Many of the women, and a couple of the men, wore pink or partially pink outfits. Sabine Mcettigan, who ran the Readheads, was among those appearing at the party. DJ Snowbuns provided the music for the party. Among the songs was "Calypso," which was a favorite of Fimi.

There were a few items up for display, such as a Fimi Award given out by the Redheads, made in the image of a pink fox, Artistic being an anthro pink vixen. A little more about Fimi can be read in the article of the events in May 2017. Although she's been gone for years, and the Redheads folded, the Sunbeamer taking it's place, she is still fondly remembered.

Bixyl Shuftan

Remembering Artistic Fimicloud

It was nine years ago last week that the "little pink fox" of the Sunweaver community and the Passionate Redheads team of the Relay for Life, Artistic Fimicloud passed away from cancer. Since then, the Redheads, and then the Sunbeamers have held memorial events in remembrance of "Fimi" as she was often called. This year, there were two events at the Happy Vixen and Club Cutlass. It was a chance for those who knew her to remember and a chance for more recent people to get to know who she was.

Read more in Extra.

RFL Walk: The Really Wild West Exhibit (2009)

Every year, there are some great builds at the Relay for Life Weekend track. Not all were documented, but thankfully some have. On July 24 2009, the Second Life Newspaper wrote about the Passionate Redhead's "Wild West" exhibit on it's camp. Featuring picturesque canyons, there was much interactivity in the form of a river raft ride and a mine cart ride. Several years later, the camp is still fondly remembered.

Read the 2009 article in the SL Newspaper Archives.

Rita Mariner and the History of the Sunweavers

While some communities in Second Life live a quiet insular existence, the Sunweavers, led by Rita Mariner, have been doing anything but. Since their beginnings in 2007, the Sunweavers have made their presence felt, attracting some talented residents to join their numbers, creating great clubs and hangouts such as Club Cutlass, and of course being the community behind two top teams at the Relay for Life, the Passionate Redheads and then the Sunbeamers. So just how did the Sunweavers get started? I met up with Rita, and she told a little of the community's orgins and history.

Read the article in People.

Sunbeamer Exhibit at the Relay Track

With just a few days left before the Relay Weekend, the Sunbeamer's area at the RFL Dedication sim, at the north edge of the track, is just about done. Work on the ride in the center continues. Besides that, visitors will be able to see some scenes of the team's days as the Passionate Redheads and a memorial to Artistic Fimicloud.

There is still work to be done elsewhere. Some places looked done, others not. And the "Do Not Pass" yellow tape and the orange traffic cones placed around certainly gave the appearance of an area still under construction.

When the Relay Weekend takes place from Saturday July 19 to Sunday July 20, dont' forget to check out the Sunbeamer exhibit at RFL Dedication (70/146/22)

Interview with Lomgren Smalls (May 2009)

Today marks the birthday of a unique individual in Second Life whom was small in size, but big at heart. Lomgren Smalls was best known for his (almost) always wearing a six-inch high avatar of his own design and creation. In May 2009, Bixyl Shuftan interviewed him for Second Life Newspaper, which is being reprinted in the Newser.

Read the interview in People.

After the Redheads, Not One Team But Two

Following the announcement to close down the "Passionate Redheads" Relay, people were asking two questions. One, why couldn't the team be saved. And two, what would take it's place. There was another statement issued for further explanations, and not one but two of the Redhead leaders stepped forward with their plans for a new team.

Read more in  People.

Goodbye Passionate Redheads

Cancer is a horrible illness, claiming thousands of lives every year. It has claimed a number of real life friends, and neighbors. A number of charities raise funds for research, and otherwise helping those stricken by the disease. The most well-known is the American Cancer Society, which is the recipient of the largest fundraiser in Second Life: The Relay For Life.


I first heard about the Relay For Life in 2007 after being told about it by one of my few friends on the Grid at the time. My visits to Second Life were sporadic at the time. Seeing how impressive the builds were, well, the sights helped encourage me to visit more often. Two years later in 2009, I was spending some time with a fun-loving group in Second Life, the Sunweavers, whom hung out at the Cutlass Club. As it turned out, many of them, notably most of the livelier personalities, were part of a Relay Team: The Passionate Redheads. I heard about, and got to see, the Wild West Exhibit for the Relay Track they made for that year. It was an exciting build with lots to see and plenty to do on, from a mine cart ride to river rafting.

The team was more than just my furry neighbors. There were a number of others in the ranks. All led by Sabine McGettin and Daaneth Kiviok. Sadly, one teammate had passed away, Artistic Fimicloud. Many of us had tags "I Relay for Fimi." The pink fox avatar was gone, but she lived on in the hearts of her friends.

In 2010, I joined up with the Redheads. For the season, we were in events like "Jail and Bail," and fun parties, such as the "Fanta-sea" in which this of us with menfolk aves danced underwater with them. And then came the Relay Walk. For the first time, I walked the track not alone, but as part of a team. A team made up of virtual friends and neighbors. The music played at times added to the feeling that we were doing something great. We raised over $6300 that year, and got an award for "Longest Running Team," as well as a Platinum Rank.

As the 2011 season arrived, we looked forward to setting new records. Then came a bombshell. Co-Captain Daan had suffered a stroke. We wondered what would happen? Would our friend pass away? Would our fundraising be ground to a halt? But Daan began to recover, and the team refused to quit, continuing to hold events. Among them were the three "Bid Me Human" events, notably the one with Sunweaver leader Rita Mariner putting her pelt on the line and getting 75,000 Lindens. We sponsored three sims on the track that year, and our own was a detailed one with a Fairy-Tale theme, with lots to see and a number of puzzles to solve. We raised another record amount. We got another Platinum rank award, in addition to Daan getting the Spirit of Relay award for continuing to fight cancer, even when recovering from a stroke. And in July 28, we threw the last Redhead party for the season, thankful for Daan's recovering and having stuck together for another successful year. Unfortunetly, This would be the last time we would celebrate with Daaneth and Sabine.

In 2012, Daaneth and Sabine took indefinite leaves of absence from the team. Dusk Griswold assumed temporary leadership with Lomgren Small's help. The team went on, and managed to reach Gold status. But this would be the Redheads' last hurrah.

After six years, the Passionate Redheads are no more. If nothing else, we raised over $30,000 US dollars in cash for the American Cancer Society. But we did more than that. We helped shape the Relay, bringing about the first Spirit of Relay award,  inspiring the "One Team" concept, and getting a number of prestigious awards through the years. And there was the bringing about of talent. With Lomgren Smalls and Alleara Snoodle, we had two of the most accomplished builders in Second Life. With Sunweaver leader Rita Mariner,  the team had a community behind it. And there were other noteworthy individuals, such as Dusk Griswold, Treminari Huet, Shockwave Yareach, Nydia Tungsten, Skylark LeFarve, and many more.

Gone, but not forgotten. May the Redheads' passion continue as those who Relayed under its banner go on to a new banner to fight cancer under.

Bixyl Shuftan

Passionate Redheads RFL Team to Disband

Today, Sabine McGettigan, the leader of the "Passionate Redheads" team, one of the leading teams for the popular Relay For Life cancer fundraiser, made an announcement. After six years of Relaying, there would be no more. She had reluctantly made the decision to disband the team.

As the 2013 season of Relay approaches,  I find it  my sad duty to disband the legendary Passionate Redheads Team for Relay for Life. 

It has been an incredible SIX YEARS of fundraising for the American Cancer Society, and we have, in my opinion,  accomplished some of the best work of any of the Relay Teams.   In  many ways, we helped to shape the Relay in Second Life, lighting the path for those who would follow us.

It was our team who implemented the very first Spirit of Relay award!   We went on to be awarded the Spirit of Relay three times!  Altogether, the Passionate Redheads won the equivalant of seven "Academy Awards" through the years, while raising over $30,000 USD for our favorite charity. 

Our little team came to be known as the "Compassionate Redheads" because we provided a home to anyone wanting to Relay.  Our Passionate Redheads inspired the now popular "One Team" events with our unflagging support of smaller teams who needed a presence.  We were famous for showing up at events not our own,  bringing with us our love, our charity, and our hope.   Our motto was, "Take care of the people, and the money takes care of itself."  This very spirit is our legacy, and it is a beautiful and worthy one.

I have loved this team with all my heart, for all these years; and love never ends.  Thank you for standing with me for six  years, for showering every  member with compassion,  for working with dedication,  and for supporting the team always,  no matter which direction we needed to take.

My special gratitude goes to Ginger (Dusk Griswold) and Lomgren Smalls, who selflessly stepped in last year when I was unable to continue with Relay.  I ask that you take care of them, and of each other, with the beauty and passion that has always belonged to the extraordinary members of this most Passionate, Compassionate Team.

All Love,
Sabine McGettigan

A number of residents at the Sunweaver Estates, where the SL Newser office building makes it's home, were part of the Passionate Redheads team. This news does not mean these residents have stopped Relaying. There is talk about forming a new team to pick up where the Readheads left off.

The 2012 RFL Wrap-Up

On 4PM SL time on August 18th came the official close of the Relay for Life: the Wrap-Up party. Taking place in a temporary sim of the same name next to the permanent ACS Isle, it was a chance to reflect on the season this year, and look forward to the one ahead. For those who couldn't be there or had sound trouble, T1 Radio broadcasted the event on the Internet.


Following a poem read in honor of those who passed away from cancer, the Relay Commotte thanked the Relay's sponsors, as well as the Lindens for helping out with things like "last moment requests." There were a number of awards given out. Among them was a "Shapeshifter Award" given to Dwen Dooley for his amusing use of numerous avatars. Genie Ortega was also given an award for her "Squeee!" that spread around the Relay groups. The Purple People Eater" was awarded for it's creator's use of imagination and humor. There was also an award for Best Display Name to David Fangirl.

The top three performing teams were announced. Third was "SL Music Races for a Cure" with 4,172,000 Lindens raised or $16,688. Second was "Friends Fighting Cancer" with 6,670,000 raised, or $26,281. And the number one team was "Amaretto Ranch Breedables" with a whopping 8,668,000 raised, or $34,672.

The Spirit of Relay Team Award went to Team Shadow. The Individual Award went to Zanier Green.

Following the awards, the theme for 2013 was announced: "Celebrating 100 Years of Hope." This was in honor of the American Cancer Society's 100 year anniversary. The Kickoff event will be on March 9, 2013, with the Relay Walk on July 13-14, 2013. MamaP Beerbaum announced she was stepping down as the Chairwoman, "On one hand it is sad to say goodbye, but I will be relaying for years to come." For 2013, Nikki Mathieson will have the chair.

And with the song "One Hundred Years to Live," fireworks began going off outside the building, with the event officially coming to an end, "Have a great offseason," "It's hard to say goodbye to Relay." "Good night everybody."

The "unofficial total" raised for 2012, as of the time of the Wrap-Up event, is $374,829. The Steelhead Salmons, the team of one of the Newser's sponsors, were Platinum ranked with 551,650 Lindens raised, or $2,207. The Passionate Redheads, the team whom make up many of the neighbors of the Newser office building, raised $307,810 Lindens, or $1,231.

Official Website of RFL in SL: http://rflofsl.intuitwebsites.com/index.html

Bixyl Shuftan

Screenshots of the Relay for Life Walk: Day One

Last weekend, was one of the largest events in Second Life, the Relay for Life Walk. Nearly 2000 avatars over the course of 24 hours walked the track made up of over 40 sims. One of the Newser team was there not just as a reporter, but also a participant. So many pictures were taken, they had to be split into the two different days.

See the screenshots from Day One in Events.

Dusk Griswold and Her Puppet Fun

The Relay for Life team "Passionate Redheads" has two new co-captains this year, Lomgren Smalls and Dusk Griswold. Dusk herself is known as a DJ, and was among the DJs at the 2012 Relay for Life Walk (pictures from her DJ session there). In real life, the person behind the avatar is a puppeteer, and has done performances on stage. Grease Coakes recently sat down to interview Dusk, and the conversation turned to the subject of her real-life puppetry.

Read Grease's article in People.

The 2012 Relay Walk Concludes.

It was an eventful Relay for Life Weekend, with hundreds of avatars walking around the track, probably over 2,000, with millions of meters walked and thousands of dollars of dollars raised. Someone at the closing ceremonies stated that this was the most successful Relay Weekend ever. It's certainly been among the most successful seasons so far. About 330,000 US dollars has been raised so far this season, and It's not over yet.

At the Closing Ceremonies at 10AM Sunday July 15th, a number of awards were handed out, with the Knights of Avalon winning the best theme decorated. The Steelhead Salmons came in third. Two awards went to the Doctor Who Fans in SL team. Among who walked the most laps, Jesie Janick was first with 44.21. Due to SL's noted technical difficulties, a picture of the whole audience was unavailable.

Although the Relay Weekend marks the end of the Relay for Life fundraising season, except for some teams holding one last party, the final event isn't until August with the "Wrap-Up Party," in which a few more awards will be handed out and the theme for next year announced.

For the Steelhead Salmons, the Relay was a resounding success with Platinum rank achieved after raising close to 550,000 Lindens ($2200 USD) , and two of their more noted members having a wedding that stole the show. For the Passionate Redheads, the season brought troubles behind the scenes, which resulted in less fundraising. But some individuals worked to keep the team going, notably Lomgren Smalls and Dusk Griswold, and the team succeeded in making gold rank and raising 300,000 ($1220 USD). Not as high as last year, but still more than most teams.

For now, the sims are still up until Friday, with teams asked to keep their builds up until Thursday, in which case they're to come down. Until then, there is much to see, with some activities still going on, such as the water fun at RFL Reflections, and various impromptu parties, including the "flood party."

Stay tuned for screenshots of the Relay Walk.

Read more at the RFL in SL page: http://rflofsl.intuitwebsites.com/index.html

Bixyl Shuftan

Cartoon of the Day: RFL Walk

Remember last year when the Steelheads brought you "The Hair?" Well, not to be outdone, this year the Passionate Redheads bring you "The Hat."

It's huge! It's enormous! It devours avatars alive! ... Actually, no it doesn't. But it sure gets attention on the track. On another note, that's Dusk's actual line, slightly altered. ;-)

The Relay for Life continues on this Sunday morning, with the closing ceremonies at 10AM, and the Victory Lap at 11AM. After that, all scheduled events end, but the exhibits will be up for a few more days. And keep an eye out for impromptu parties, notably what's become an after-walk tradition, the "flood party."

By Bixyl Shuftan

The Relay Track

As the date of the Relay Walk approaches, the teams have been hard at work on the builds at their camps. Many are already complete or nearly so. Around the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life sims, the ring of Relay Track sims is taking shape.

Dropping by the Passionate Redheads camp, in the southeast corner of the RFL Hero sim (second north from the southeast corner in the map above), it's also largely complete. So what does it look like ... here's a sneak peak at one tiny part. A larger view will come later.

Check out Daniel Voyager's article for a list of sim names, and the team totals for a list of their campsites. The sims are closed to the general public for now, open to all at after the opening ceremonies on 10AM on Saturday June 14th.

Relay for Life: Woodstock, The Critter Races, and the Jeffry Pastorelli Tribute

Last weekend had a number of teams running their last big events as they were to get ready to make their camps at the sims of the Relay Walk later this month. Among those held were a Woodstock-themed 12 hour party, Steelhead's "Critter Races," and a memorial event to the late Team Relay for Hope captain Jeffry Pastorelli.

Read more in People .

Passionate Redheads RFL Team Reach 250,000 Lindens, Gold Level

This weekend, tens of thousands of Lindens were raised by the Passionate Redheads Relay for Life team, mostly at a memorial service to the late caption of Team Relay for Hope Jeffry Pastorelli (more on the event later). On Monday June 2nd yesterday, the Redheads passed the 250,000 Linden Mark, and finally reached Gold rank.

Sabine McGettin announced the news to the group, "Our beautiful and Passionate Team reached Gold Status today! That means you all raised $1000 USD! We will have the Gold Banner at our campsite on July 14. I am ridiculously proud to be a part of this team. Thank you all for so much love, so much support, and so much passion! "

This year has been the most challenging ever for the Redheads, with some members facing real life challenges and a number of others taking leave from leadership positions or resigning. But they continued on, and passed a mark most Relay teams do not succeed in reaching.

As of now, the various teams are setting up camp at the Relay Weekend sims, and the Passionate Redheads will take their place among them. Battered, but still in the fight.

Bixyl Shuftan

"Bid Treminari Human" at SL Newser

On Monday, at 5PM SL time, the Passionate Redheads Relay for Life group held an event not at one of the clubs from one of their groups, but at the SL Newser office building. Redhead Treminari Huet took part in a "Bid me Human" event, which was called "Bid Treminari Human."

Well, it's time for our next Relay event, "Bid Treminari Human." If we raise 3000, Tremi has to spend a day as a human avatar. For each additional 750L, she spends another day as human up to Friday July 13th. But if we hit Gold Level, that means Treminari has to run the whole Relay weekend as a human avatar.

So will it be "Skin to win?" Come over and "Bid Treminari Human"

Next to the Newser office, a temporary dance floor had been placed next to the building and in front of the fountain (which was acquired by SL Newser through another Relay event). Treminari also brought over a "Fox De-fluffer," which she would step into once the target amount was reached.

DJ Kryxia played the tunes for the event. Turnout was somewhat light at the beginning. As time went on, more showed up. Among the people there were Nydia Tungsten, Bain Finch, and Redhead leader Dusk Griswold. But still turnout remained smaller than at the previous Redhead "Bid Me" events this year. Treminari reasoned this late in the season, people were getting low on cash. Still, it wasn't long before the 3000 goal was reached, and Treminari stepped into the "De-fluffer." After a few seconds, it fell apart, and a dark-skinned ethnic avatar, with red hair of course, was in the place of Treminari's white Lusk vixen.

The event went on, and more money was added to the kiosk. When it came to an end, the total raised was 5,500. This and the amount raised during the 50s Weekend brought the total amount raised this year to 197,025 Lindens. There would be no Gold Level today, but there were still several weeks left in the Relay season. Treminari would be stuck as human for four days.

With July a few days away, the attention of the Passionate Redheads is turning to the end of the fundraising season: The Relay Weekend, also known as "The Walk." Before long, the builders will start work on the team's area, and on the weekend of July 14th and 15th, the Redheads will take their place among the other Relay teams for the main event.

"Until there's a cure."

Bixyl Shuftan