Looking Back: Shellie Sands and Grey Lupindo

 

As the Second Life Newser approaches it's twelfth anniversary, there is much to look back on. We have reported much on the People, Places, Events, and things across this virtual world over time. And perhaps a little about ourselves. Gemma Cleanslate and Bixyl Shuftan have been here since the beginning. But there were two others at the start who are no longer with us. Shellie Sands was noted for her poetry and love of pet bunnies. Grey Lupindo wrote about various places around Second Life, including her home community of Syzygy. Today, we look at these two founding members of the Newser.

Read more in People.
 

Life Cycle of an Island

SL Newser writer Grey Lupindo has had her home in the Syzygy community for a few years. She's seen the community expand and grow, and came to reside on the island of Corvus. Unfortunetly, the past few months have been trying times for this corner of the Grid, with the danger of the whole region vanishing into the virtual nether. And eventually, Corvus faded away. Grey looks back at her old home, and explains the latest news on the fate of Syzygy.

Read Grey's article in Places.

FMODAKFAP: Fairy Magic Occult Dark Arts Kissy Face Action Party

Grey Lupindo reports from her home in Syzygy about it's latest location, FMODAKFAP. A fantasy land of fairy magic and a bit of Victorian and darkness, its definitely worth a look if you're in the area.

Read more in Places.

Tank Club

Grey Lupindo's neighbors in Syzygy, in addition to a few others, have been having fun with some heavy metal, and not the music kind. Meet the Tank Club, a group of armor enthusiasts. In their customized tanks, the group has engaged in battle. But for the most part, they mostly go on tours around places on the mainland, the sight of tanks rolling about drawing looks from passersby.

Read more in Extra.

Syzygy University

Syzygy University is the latest improvement to be added to the Syzygy Community. The University is located at Syzygy Eos (89, 21, 1326).

Built by Syzygy resident B.W. Jinxings, SU has all the latest in modern technology, including TV camera and monitors. The classroom is spacious and airy.

Last week fellow Syzygy resident Elric Anatine presented the first class on SL Photography. Notes, including screen shots of the best viewer settings, can be found at http://www.syzygycommunity.com/support/tutorials-how-to/viewer-settings-for-sl-photography. Or, you can go into the classroom and touch the blackboard for a direct link to the webpage.

In case you need a pick-me-up to get through your SL day, there are Red Bull and Coke dispensers outside the classroom, too. You won't need them to stay awake in the Syzygy classes, however, as they are awesome!

Be careful, however, when walking around the grounds. Odd creatures are springing up from the lawn and sewer. It's also possible to fall off the edge of the skybox. Or perhaps one of those creatures pushed me. In any event, beware!

The next class will be May 20, 2012 at 11:00 AM SLT. Dr. Anatine will be presenting a class on "Taming Your Inventory". We all know how out of control that can get!

The University is free and open to all SL residents.

Grey Lupindo

Syzygy Communuty Expands and Celebrates

Grey Lupindo's home sim of Syzygy has been going through eventful times. First came new areas following an asteroid impact. Then on Sunday the 19th was the Winter Festival. Although the festival is over, the displays and vehicles will remain up for a little while longer.

Read more in Places.

Rez Day Party for Samantha Glume

Grey Lupindo had a little celebration to report on from her home region Syzygy. The owner of the land, Samantha Glume, had her 5th rezzday in Second Life, and her friends threw a big party for her in the Syzygy Space Station.

Read more in Events.

New Year's Eve 2011

Different people went different places on New Years Eve. In Second Life, Grey Lupindo spent time with her neighbors at Syzygy. But she also checked out a few other places on the Grid, which had their own ways of ringing in the new Year.

Read more in Events.

Syzygy - A Cooperative Virtual Landscape Beckoning Adventure

Should you navigate the seven sim islands of Syzygy, you will be swept away by its creative expression. This virtual landscape was the brainchild of Samantha Glume and through a core group of founding members continues to prosper.

Syzygy's natural landscape and symbiotic structures were carefully considered and slowly created by a small group of founding members with the understanding that it would be a safe and fun haven for those seeking to explore its natural depths and heights. Within their comfortable abodes, the shareholders enjoy their unique perspectives. They are builders, scripters, artists and educators and this is their collective retreat.

"We are supportive, open-minded and fun-loving. We look for people who enjoy sharing this dream, so to speak, who wish to help shape and build this region," explains Elric Anatine, as he sits across from me garbed in dark Victorian. His interests lie in unusual Apothecary, while his darling partner, Lady Pipsqueak Fiddlesticks, dabbles in botany.

We are sitting high on a mountainside, flanked by towering autumn trees in an unoccupied rental. The environment is extremely quiet and fairly lag free. "We are seven sims, and most people own multiple parcels," he stated. "We have three parcel types available and about 16 residents. A few are very private and don't involve themselves much in the community while others volunteer a tremendous amount of time to its upkeep."

Price range is $30US for the smaller share and $100 for the larger share. Discounts are available if multiple owned. Everyone may own a share. Although, they've decided to provide the same shares as rentals, but the shareholders or owners, those willing to pay, have more benefits as they are more likely to participate. The sim has very little turnover and 54% of the land is devoted to protected or common land. They allow residents to terraform, to shape the land how they wish, as long as they don't flatten down the mountains. They're big on mountains there. The sim is both furry and non-human friendly.

"We can supply homes that we have in our repertoire, but most people generally enjoy creating their own space," said Anatine. "Curiously, we do not all live in 'homes' here. Kulta Hannu, our landscaper and groundskeeper, has no home, but shrines and teahouses. Most people's land here is open to the public. Pyxis, which is home to a neko shrine, is very popular." The region provides many types of gardens, everything from lighthearted, dark and some truly entrancing notes Anatine.

The Community Centre is a meeting place and hub. The upstairs is reserved for gallery use for any of the residents. There's also game tables and 7 Seas fishing close by. Monthly events bring and games, bring residents together. Other areas of interest include a Waterway Lookout, Mountain Hangar with a ship rezzer, Samantha's Crashed Ship, Stargate, a hillside meditation area, a lighthouse, and Japanese Garden.

"Oh, and, we provide 900 prims every 6 weeks to anyone who wishes to create an artistic or other type of installation," mentioned Anatine. "This allows people to get creative outside their own space." What's been created has been a steampunk display, an international auto show, and a human-sized hamster run. The community is their haven and escape from stress and real life. They are here to enjoy, be silly or serious and whatever moves them.

Onward we go to the communication tower that is currently being worked on. Sam's latest project will have the dish turning and much to interact with inside. At the lighthouse there are guest-rezzing vehicles, such as a jetskis. Elsewhere, there are helicopters and space ships. One of the hidden gems is the ship hanger nestled inside a mountain. Look for the mountain goat. Check out the photo planetoid, which is a group of photo studios anyone can use. Anatine maintains hundreds of poses, great for bloggers or fashionistas. Then hop on the turbo lift to be transported to the remnants of a crashed ship, which is a newer exhibit and on to the Japanese and neko-inspired lands of groundskeeper, Kulta Hannu.

Syzygy is not to be missed if you’re looking for a quiet established community, which is both artistic and unique.

Netera Landar

Syzygy International Car Show

The Syzygy International Car show is going on now at Syzygy Eos (128, 158, 1501). Syzygy resident B. W. Jinxing is curator of the show, which features over 25 vehicles. The show is fun and interactive. You can open the doors, kick the tires (gently), and sit in many of the cars. You will also find food and a space for you to rez a vehicle and play bumper cars.

The car show is set in a modern, two-story showroom. There are a wide variety of sports cars, police cars, a fire truck, semi’s, and fantasy cars. There are even some motorcycles and cars for tinies.

Many of the vehicles are sleek sports cars with realistic handling qualities. You can view models made by Prefabrica, Lusch, EMH, and GEMC. Some of my favorites are the ones produced by Haru Motors. Their cars on display include a La Re Blue, a Fi 50 Pink, and a Po 18 Sp Red

Jinxing owns many of the vehicles, but others have been loaned to the exhibit by his friends Samantha Glume, Erin Fensen, Motoko Henusaki, and Pipsqueak Fiddlesticks. Ms. Fiddlesticks, who owns Cake!, loaned her fantasy cupcake motorcycle and pink cupcake jeep. Residents with a sweet tooth will love these vehicles. Nearby is a 60's flower-power van with fun pose balls.

The work horses of SL are displayed here, too. There is an Astaro DC 6000 semi and an Astaro Westline logging truck. Police cars, a fire truck, and even a 7 passenger city bus, the STML-107 by GEMC, are shown. The lights blink and the wipers wipe on this big guy.

After you’ve checked out the show, go outside for some delicious Japanese food at the Yatai food vendor, which Motoko Henusaki loaned to the show. The Sake and noodles are great!

The International Car Show is the latest in the series of temporary community builds that the residents of Syzygy have been creating this year. It will remain open for a few more weeks.

Syzygy Eos (128, 158, 1501)

Grey Lupindo

Syzygy Steampunk Conservatory Opens

A Steampunk Conservatory is now open to the public at Syzygy Eos (46, 55, 21). Residents of the Syzygy community are experimenting with constructing temporary, rotating installations near their new community center, and I volunteered to do the first one.

The project officially opened on April 9 with an Open House for residents and friends. Among those who stopped by for cake and champagne were Celtic Infinity, Pipsqueak Fiddlesticks, Samantha Glume, Judykins Guyot, Kulta Hannu, Grijandomore Greene, Eugenia Calderon, Bixyl Shuftan, Anika Deschanel, Desiree Laryukov, and Adra Letov.

The Conservatory and most of the items are from Steam4, the steampunk hunt that was held in March. Some of you may remember that I wrote about Steam4. The prizes were fantastic—much too nice to stay in my inventory. The conservatory building is from Primwynly, and the lovely fountain is from Zoe’s Garden. Perryn Peterson, who organized Steam4, was unable to attend the open house, but she participated by donating the steampunk sounds. Some of the more unusual plants that are on exhibit are the Ironopillus, both flowering and immature ones, Iron Leaf Shroom, and Gear Grass. These were part of the “Forest In a Box” collection from Epic Toy Factory.

On a stand inside the conservatory, you will find a Steampunk Journal. It contains note cards about the build, shopping landmarks for many of the items that are on display, and information about the Syzygy community. Help yourself to a slice of Decadent Chandelier Cake and a glass of champagne, too. As you walk through the conservatory, watch out for Jules, a mechanical bird from Damani. He nips.

The Conservatory will be open until May 9.

Grey Lupindo

Syzygy's Last Winter Party

Grijandomore Greene, “Gri” to his friends and neighbors, hosted the last winter party of the Syzygy community last Saturday afternoon. The snow has already stopped falling, and the ice will soon melt. The residents wanted to enjoy the ice one more time before the spring thaw. So Gri constructed a wonderful crystal party house on the ice near his property at Syzygy Corvus (74, 131, 21).

The party was a great event. Elric Anatine, Erin Fensen, Samantha Glume, Kulta Hannu, Celtic Infinity, BW Jinxing, Ashe Bellic, Bixyl Shuftan, and Grey Lupindo attended. For over 2 hours the partiers danced and chatted to the music of Abney Park, White Apple Tree, De/Vision, Scissor Sisters, Ladyhawke, Kaiser Chiefs, Shiny Toy Guns, Goldfrapp, the Beatles, Broken Bones, the Greek duo Marsheaux, BT, and others.

Samantha Glume pointed out that the Syzygy community is now two years old. Ms. Glume herself had recently turned four, Elric Anatine will be turning four soon, and BW Jinxing will be five later this year. These milestones were celebrated, which led to a lively discussion of “ancients” and youngsters in SL.

Syzygy has enjoyed a great winter season. Two special highlights were the appearance of an Aurora Borealis in the northern sky and recognition in SL’s Showcase for its winter skating, decorations, and whimsy. Many SL residents visited the community as a result of the publicity, and one couple chose it as the location for their wedding. The Aurora will be fading soon, but there are rumors that it may reappear at random times during the summer months. If you want to visit Syzygy in winter, you have to hurry. The thaw will begin the first week of February.

Grey Lupindo

Syzygy Celebrates Winter

Our reporter Grey Lupindo's home sim of Syzygy has been an active one this month, setting up a number of winter and holiday-themed places and activities. They even got the attention of the Lindens. The high point was a home tour given to both visitors and residents alike, people getting a chance to show off their Christmas spirit.


Read Grey's story in People.

Syzygy Celebrates Thanksgiving

Residents and friends of the Syzygy community celebrated Thanksgiving with a party at Grey Lupindo’s house