More Tributes to Rita Mariner

 

 

One recalls the expression, "Always the last to know." Well, a few people never got the news Rita Mariner had passed away until they saw the article about her memorial service, "Oh my God! Rita's dead?!" Others would wait to say something until after the goodbye.

 

Rhayne Tungsten would say, after reading the article, "It was a fitting tribute. I'm more upset I missed it. We touched on and off early on when I'd DJ for Nydia (Tungsten) and when I dj'ed at other clubs, including hers. She was also a regular when I had my own club. even after my absence from Second Life for a while, we picked right back up like nothing ever happened. She was a *terrible* flirt, and I can't say it wasn't welcome. Later on, I acquired her cell number, and we texted semi regularly up until the end. Gawds ... I miss her so much.

 

"It's just.... Rita meant a lot ta me. an now she's gone. An there's a hole she used ta fill."

Tantari Kim would comment, "I'm sorry that we lost her. I'm sure it was a big impact to the whole Sunweavers community. I used to be active there but I've had so much on my plate that it has kind of fallen off. But still it is good to know, at least so I can be more supportive of Sunweavers like you."

 

Jessie Vix (DJ Jessie) remarked in the comments at the end of the memorial article, "Bad Wi-Fi kept Me away. I'm just a noob in the Sunweavers as I'm only 5 years old in SL. Rita was one that was too patient with my attempted customizations messing up her land, I broke my parcel many times and Rita would drop by immediately to help. Once it was repaired, we would chill awhile and talk. As I look up towards Cutlass circling my parcel, I swear its Rita and Zorro driving her up there. The music has gone silent there but she still sails the digital skies over Sunweaver Bay, A comfort to one so young who has lost so many already both in real-life and Second Life."

 

Further comments are welcome,

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Memorial Service For Rita Mariner

 

 

On Saturday evening August 1, it was time for the Sunweaver community to say goodbye to a special friend: it's founder Rita Mariner. A number of people gathered to give their farewells, sometimes saying a few words about her. Complicating things were technical glitches which prevented some people from being there, so ways had to be found to work around them. But the event would proceed, with much spoken. 

 

Read the story in People.

 

Interview With Veo Voom

 

In Netera Landar's latest article, she interviews the musician Veo Voom. When first seen, he was an unusual sight, covered in tattoos, wearing a raccoon t-shirt, and playing a guitar resembling a pizza. “I think I’ve always been unapologetically myself," he would say.  A longtime musician in real life, once he found out about Second Life, "I dove down the beautiful rabbit hole of live music." He would talk about this, and more. 

 

 Read Netera's interview in People.

 

Rita Mariner and the History of the Sunweavers (2014)

 

With Rita Mariner's passing, the Newser has written about her about every day since. Some readers might be asking "So who is she and how did the Sunweaver community start?" I would interview her in 2014, asking her those questions. 

 

Since then, a number of things have changed. A few sims were added. A road network, then a railway, were laid out. Nydia Tungsten and Cynthia Farshore ended up swapping sims. And sadly, some people would pass away or their real lives took over and they were seen less and less until gone. 

 

Read the 2014 interview in People.  

 

The Ever-Turning Experience Of Joel Eilde

 

Netera Landar recently interviewed singer/songwriter Joel Eilde, who has been performing in Second Life for years. He enjoys focusing on numerous genres. He spoke with Netera about his love of creating music.

 

Read Netera's interview in People. 

 

Corey In The House, SL Avatar Statue Builder

 

Have you ever wanted to get a statue of your avatar or that of a friend, for amusement, or some other reason? I was pointed to Corey In The House, who for some Lindens will do just that. So how does it work and what else is he noted for?

 

Read the story in People.  

Interview With Twin Ghost

 

Netera Landar recently interviewed the musician Twin Ghost. Unlike many musicians here in Second Life, Twin got his start in real life, as one of the members of a band in his older teens and even signing up with a major company and touring the country. These days, he can be found playing at venues inworld. Netera would have a number of questions for him, such as what brought him back here after an absence. 

 

Read Netera's interview in People.

 

Interview With Maestro (Mythrilweaver Atlas)

 

Recently at an event, Netera Landar ran into a talented resident named Maestro / Mithrilweaver Atlas. Also known as Konstantin the Mithrilweaver, he's an accomplished singer and songwriter, as well as a writer of poetry. Netera would interview him about these and more. 

 

Read Netera's interview in People.

 

1890s Creede, Colorado

 

Netera Landar recently checked out a roleplay community, one with a Wild West theme: 1890s Creede, Colorado. It's been only a few years since the territory was officially made a state, and in Creed County, the discovery of silver has led to an influx of people, including some entertainers from Denver as the city has been cracking down on gambling and prostitution. The roleplay has been around for over ten years, has a few SL business in addition to those strictly for the roleplay, and has some lively characters. 

 

Read Netera's article in People. 

 

Democracy Defenders

 

In real-life news, political debate in America has gotten more intense over the past decade/ This has particularly been the case over the past year as the President has gone on an ambitious and aggressive agenda that his critics have branded as unconstitutional, authoritarian, even fascist. Netera Landar recently talked to one of the people behind Democracy Defenders, a "grassroots activist group" dedicated to protecting what it sees as America's core values. So how did the conversation go?

 

Read Netera's article in People. 

 

The Harmony Hills Community

 

Netera Landar recently dropped by somewhere that wasn't just a place, but a virtual home for a number of residents, the Harmony Hills Community. Founded a year and a half ago by Angeliana Claro, the place has expanded in size in both land and people to five sims and two hundred locals. So what was the place like besides the numbers?

 

Read Netera's article in People.

Here's to You, Alleara Snoodle

 

It was four years ago this month on December 2, 2021 in which the Newser reported on the death of Alleara Snoodle. A longtime member of the Sunweaver community, she was gifted with both brains and a good heart. She was able to build many things, including the seeming impossible. But she would also take time for many friends, including myself. So who was she? Like much about our beloved gypsy, the answer is both simple and complicated. 

 

Read more in People.  

 

Singer Austin Moores Returns To The Stage

 

Musician Austin Moores has played in Second Life for quite some time. Recently, he had to take a three month break. But a few days ago, he's back, and back to performing on stage with his Austin's Angels. Netera Landar had a chance to interview him. And he had much to say. 

 

Read Netera's interview in People. 

 

"What Thanksgiving Means To Me"

 

Penny Shuftan took a break from her medical hiatus to send an article to the Newser. Last month, she thought about Thanksgiving, and what it means to people. So besides looking up information on the holiday, she would interview three people she came across. So what did they have to say?

 

Read Penny's article in People (yes it's late, but better late then never). 

 

Bits of SL Life And Times

 

As I wrote earlier, yours truly can be very busy in real life sometimes. So sometimes there's very little time to write. And so things I would like to put my pen down to get postponed, sometimes again and again. So here's a few things that I couldn't find the time to write down earlier, such as cool Halloween looks, an alt experience, and a wrestling match.

 

Read, and see, the tales and pictures in People.

 

KathyZog Destiny Offers Popular Music To Church Services

 

Second Life is more than just pixels, but also the people behind the thousands of avatars that make up our virtual world.  Today, we look at KathyZog Destiny. She is a longtime resident and an accomplished DJ, as well as a virtual church pastor who overcame a real-life disability. Netera Landar would interview her about how she came to Second Life, and what she does here. 

 

Read Netera's article in People.  

Picture of The Day: Normal People What?

 

 Taken at Club Squeaks. Charlee Harmony was sporting this shirt. For those with trouble seeing it, the shirt says "Normal people scare me."

 

So in Second Life, what does count as normal?

 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

Honoring Baron Klaus Wulfenbach And Melanippe of Themiscyra

 

Last week, the person behind two personalities in Second Life passed away, Melanippe of Themiscyra (Melanippe Karas), and Baron Klaus Wulfenbach (Klauswulfenbach Outlander), People honored both of them in different ways. The Roma community held a memorial service for Melanippe. Caledon and Antiquity would also honor the Baron. 

 

Read more in People. 

A Few Words With Beq Janus

 

Last Saturday, Team Firestorm celebrated it's fifteenth anniversary party. Among those there was the team's Project Manager Beq Janus.So what did she have to say to the Newser?

 

Read more in People. 

 

SL Burner Gets Her Build To Be Made At Burning Man

 

Burn2's summer event may be over. But the Burners haven't stopped their activities, far from it. There was an announcement about the Black Rock City Honoraria Program. As it turns out, one SL Burner would get this honorarium, and her build for the summer burn here would be planned to be constructed at the real life Burning Man. 

 

Read Gemma's story in People.