April Fools in Second Life

 

As it had for the previous nine years, the Second Life Newser posted a gag article. One reader felt we went slightly too far. But I also overheard plenty of compliments. One commented it was the scariest April Fool since the joke about Disney buying the virtual world a few years ago.

But as far as Second Life goes, that was just the start of the April Foolery.

Team Firestorm got in on the act. At one point in the day they gave their logo on their viewer "googly eyes."

Linden Lab also got into the act. On the Second Life Blog, they announced two "Limited Edition" last names.

In appreciation of our Anthro/Furry community in Second Life, we are releasing two new limited edition last names today, only available until April 8th:
UwU
OwO

Checking the "Change Name" page, it appears the option is a real one. Someone on the Second Life forums also stated they saw two others use it.

But this gag last name wasn't the end. On the Second Life Flickr, there was a picture of four tenement apartment buildings.

Come get a sneak peek at our new theme for Linden Homes, on the Millbank region in #SecondLife - just for today!

Checking the Millbank sim at with an alt, the apartment buildings were there. They also had a number of old Soviet Propaganda posters. finding the parking garage entrance, there were no stairs, just "The People's Great and Glorious Elevator." But stepping inside, I ended shot up to the top, falling down, and once I got back up shot up once more. Moving around, I finally managed to get into the top floor. There were a number of markers around to point out where to place objects. On top of the building was a LDPW helicopter.

So why the Soviet theme? Maybe this was a dig at the "Woodburry" griefers of years ago whom occasionally pretended to be Communists.

Run of the mill residents got in on the act as well. Yours truly overheard a singer say to her fans that Linden Lab was asking residents to wear masks, stating it was a way to encourage people in real life to do so.

So despite that things have been rough over the past year with lots of tragedy, April Fools Day is alive and well. And the Lab isn't afraid to get in on it. 

Hat Tip: Hamlet Au, Jasmine Dawn

Bixyl Shuftan

Editor's Note: Just how does one pronounce "UwU" and "OwO"?
 

Stepinwolf Darkstone, Virtual Ability's Apartment Manager

Deaflegacy recently interviewed Stepinwolf Darkstone. While most readers might not recognize the name, many of you will recognize the places he helps take care of: Virtual Ability's apartments for it's disabled residents. She had a few words with him about what the job involves.

Read Deaflegacy's interview in People.

Grendel's Owner's Computer Lost in Fire

Almost a year after being suspended by Linden Lab for technicalities, Flea Bussy, the owner of the noted Grendles' Children store, has found himself in trouble again. This time, the problem was a real-life one when the apartment complex he lived in caught fire. Thankfully no one was killed, and the damage to Flea's apartment was from smoke and not heat. But the smoke was enough to render his computer damaged beyond repair.

"The old one is toast," Toady Nakamura, Flea's partner and co-owner of Grendle's told the Newser. "He has an off-the-shelf one at the moment, which isn't truly his. But it's not enough to run well or fast in SL, and we're hoping to change that as soon as possible." Today thought that Flea could get a new computer in about a week, maybe less, if people bought more at the store, "we have some really great new avis, all mesh ... The Wing Chairs, which let you ride your friends along sitting in them. Really neat." Unlike the crisis last year, there is no real danger to the store this time, "We're fine on business. We have so much fun stuff that people keep coming to get it. The only request was to bring friends, buy stuff, take freebies, find the secret passage in the library which leads to the sleeping dragon, have fun."

Flea had been absent for four days before he had a chance to explain what happened through a phone call. His apartment complex is not a small one, but a "U-shaped" structure three stories high on one side and more on the other, with more than two hundred people. "He went upstairs to get someone out," Toady informed, "Way beyond what he needed to do to save himself. And got himself and the other down all the stairs and outside, then tried to persuade a pile of people who were plugging up the entry, because it was minus 20 degrees outside and snow, to exit before the smoke flared up into full flame. I think people who don't just save themselves are special. Especially how he described it, and of course everyone was sick with worry for not hearing from him for the four days he was in the Red Cross shelter before being let back in. Some people were rescued by the fire department off the balconies by the long ladders. It was one of those freezing cold fire events. ... Many of the building residents are elderly and so there was more than the usual pressure for rehousing and saving things."

Toady went on to say about half the apartments are occupied again. The other half will need repairs first, "everyone else is going to need to wait or move to a different apartment. ... I think they're moving as fast as they can given all the circumstances. Up where I live, that would be a huge disaster and people would be sleeping in RVs and barns because we couldn't rehouse 100 people overnight. But perhaps in a metro area, that is not much; it's all perspective."

Before going about her way, Toady reminded that she has been giving out building lessons at Grendle's, the times of which can be found in the store's blog: https://grendelschildren.wordpress.com/.

Grendle's is at Avaria Tor (133/135/302)

Bixyl Shuftan

A Day in New York City Block (2008)

Our looking back at Second Life Newspaper continues with a look at the New York City block sim. Built by real life Brooklyn resident Cheri Bing, unlike some other better known New York themed sims, this was built a little less to shop in and more for people to rent a virtual home in at one of the apartments. Dropping in one day in April 2008, Bixyl Shuftan caught a bit of the chaos that went on with the locals that could only be considered a conbination of Second Life wackiness and New York attitude.

See the 2008 article in Places.

Rita Mariner’s New Beach Apartments

By Grease Coakes

Rita Mariner has always been the head honcho of the Sunweavers and the community has been around for a long while. Everyone enjoys being around the legendary Rita Mariner as she runs the "Sunnies" group and sims with a fair hand. When I was DJing at club Cutlass one Wedsday, Rita mentioned she had new apartments on her sim by the water. It always seems like I DJ every Wednesday for the Jenni Greenfield’s Club Cutlass. I think the Sunweavers and Rita herself really enjoy my music and djing.

Rita is a busy bunny it seems as I had to wait a while before she got back to me in giving me a tour in her new apartments. Her new rental property is at Sunweaver Bay (113/77/102). And from what I saw her new development is pretty snazzy. At the ground floor she hopes to add vendor space for the renters and any shoppers who happen to stop by.

There’s also a teleport system instead of an elevator to warp to your floor or to visit a friend. There are several floors along with a pent house up at the top floor. Each floor allows 70 prims for 600 per month. The floors are nice with wonderful ceiling textures. The Penthouse is an extra 100L per month for 700L for more room and a view of the Sunweaver club the HMS Little Dove, where DJ Yulia performs a few events a week late at night.

I asked Rita a burning question as the Sunweavers is a mainly, though not all, furry community and group. "I'm guessing humans are welcome at your apartments just like us furries?"

Rita Mariner, "Oh yes, we love humans; they go get great with BBQ sauce!" *laughs*

Grease Coakes, "Hahaha!"

Rita Mariner, "Well, I like to get all my renters to stay long term, however I can keep them."

Rita doesn’t do everything by herself though. She has her trusted friends Shockwave and Nydia to help her manage her sims. Shockwave also does movie night every Sunday at 6pm SLT at Sunweaver Space (253/175/451)

Rita had this to say about Nydia and Shockwave as estate managers,  One, because I trust them.  Two, because they enjoy it. Three, I am lazy." *laughs*

Grease Coakes: I think everyone has their lazy days.

Later in the interview, Sha came from nowhere and decided to fly inside. She had this to say about Rita’s apartments, "They (are a) good price, if you don't need many prims. I would love to have more neighbors. My house is always open." Sha’s quote speaks for itself as she owns the Arabian house on the hill.

Afterwards Rita showed me a coffee house which had an animated steampunk themed coffee maker. Rita said the theme was steampunk around that rental area. For a small fee of 25L you pay the coffee maker and for a process of a few minutes it prepares coffee for you with various visual and sound effects.

Rita is a beloved bunny as has been the queen of the Sunweavers since its inception back in early Second Life. For a low price per month come check out one of Rita’s apartments if you just need a small place to entertain your friends or maybe need some alone time with a special someone. As Rita said Shockwave Yareach and Nydia Tungsten help out Rita by managing her sims so if you ever have a problem Rita’s friends are there to help you out.

Grease Coakes