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 - 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

Pip's Acid Trip

The psychedelic 60’s can be found at the latest rotating installation on the Syzygy community. “Welcome to Pip’s Acid Trip: An Ode to Olo!” begins at the Community Center on Syzygy Eos (15, 10, 76). Pipsqueak Fiddlesticks created the installation and named it in honor of resident Olorin Tigerpaw.

The build consists of three levels, all wildly reminiscent of that groovy era of peace and love. The first level is easily reached from a teleporter in the Community Center. You will be transported into a meadow of happy, smiling flowers. Explore this magical, vegetative matter until you fall into the secret passage that leads to the second level, a psychedelic sphere of color and grooviness.

As you explore this sphere, you will fall into the third level, which was the site a wild party on July 23. Frequency Picnic served as DJ, and over a dozen residents and friends of the Syzygy community danced and told tales of that bygone time. Dance cages, fantastic flowers and even an old VW van set the scene.

Some residents claimed to have had first-hand knowledge of those times. Olorin Tigerpaw lived on a hippie commune for a while. The best event was recounted by Crescent Renard, who told about seeing Jimi Hendrix play at UCLA. She and her friends were right up by the stage. “He was ... taking joints from, or giving them to, the audience,” she remembered, “and he was playing like crazy ... guitar behind his back, everywhere.” Other residents were suspiciously silent about any memories they might have made. But for the duration of the party, at least, everyone was a flower child.

This resident installation is temporary, so visit it soon. The music has ended, but the colors and lights are fantastic. Enjoy the trip!

Grey Lupindo