More On The Last Relaystock

 

From Friday April 10 to Sunday April 12, the Relaystock took place. It was three days of rock music and mud. While hosted by the Relay Rockers, it's asked for other teams to participate from the start. And this year like others, many other teams' musicians, as well as a few independents playing for one, took part. And many would give their teams huge boosts in their fundraising totals. But, there was one problem. 

 

Read the story in Events. 

 

The Last Relaystock

 

This weekend, the Relaystock took place with days two and three. While hosted by the Relay Rockers, it's always been open to performers from all teams, as well as some playing in behalf of one. And for many it was a moment to shine. Among those performing Saturday, DJ Cynthia, with a number of others from Team Sunbeamers acting as dancers. The team would get almost 77,000 in the kiosk, which was enough to bring them over the one million Linden mark, and Emerald level. 

 

 Read more about the Relaystock later. 

 

The Cyber Fair's Last Day

 

Today marks the last day of the Cyber Fair. This shopping event offers plenty of items to wear for those wanting a futuristic look, from headgear to outfits, to bionic limbs, various other accessories, and more. 
 

It's that time again... The virtual world is about to light up CYBER FAIR • SEPTEMBER ROUND ≼ is coming in HOT! From futuristic fashion to cutting-edge creations, this is where innovation meets style in the metaverse. 

 

To read more about it, check the website: https://www.access-sl.com/cyberfair.

 

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/ACCESS%202/126/124/1504 

 

The Dirty Grind's Final Night

 

On Wednesday December 21, The Dirty Grind would hold it's final events. About a week earlier, it was announced that the venue would soon be shutting down after over 11 years of operation. 

 

Safe Wednesday everyone ♫ With a heavy heart,  The Dirty Grind IAC today hosts its last show; we want to thank anyone who joined us in our journey and we hope we passed onto you some of our passion for the arts in Second Life. Come on over for one last dance, and please keep supporting these hard-working musicians ❤

 

In the afternoon were three performers: Lluis Indigo, Dee Timeless, and Corwyn Alle. At 6PM, a musical duo familiar to the Newser would play for the crowd, Jaycatt Nico and Frogg Marlowe, also known as Effnjay. The audience would make occasional comments, "Frogg's voice is just perfect for this song." Eventually, their set would finish, Jaycatt concluding, "Thanks everyone (smile).  And a special thanks to Ian and Lisa of course, don't you two be strangers!!" Hostess A fiya Grimbaker (asimascott Resident) would say, "Thank you so much EFFINJAY! I LOVED IT!" "Thank you Afiya!" Frogg would respond.

The last singer that night, and the last one for an official Grind event, was Nigel Freeman (Nigelfreeman Resident). Like Effinjay, he had a variety of songs. But the last one was appropriate, "Closing Time."

Closing time, time for you to go out
To the places you will be from
Closing time, this room won't be open
Till your brothers or your sisters come.

So gather up your jackets, move it to the exits
I hope you have found a friend
Closing time, every new beginning
Comes from some other beginning's end, yeah.

I know who I want to take me home
I know who I want to take me home
I know who I want to take me home
Take me home.

As the song ended, the audience broke out in cheers. But with the applause was sadness, "Going to miss the Dirty Grind." "One of the best sims/venues on the grid." "So many great times here...so many great dances, friends, laughter." "Take the feeling the Grind gave you...use it as inspiration. Make something. Sing something. Play something. Let you imagination run wild." "Send it up for a wonderful venue where lots of memories have been made." "Thank you so much Ian and Lisa!" "Good bye everyone. Love to Ian and Lisa (who I never met) I hope to see you all at other venues around the grid." "Good night everyone. Thank you for all those years Dirty Grind." Elektra Panthar, the Grind's blogger, would say, "Thank you everyone , it's been so wonderful. ... Thank you Thank you Thank you everyone, and Ian Lisa and Afiya"

Then hostess A Fiya spoke up, "I have something to say...: In December 2019 El & brought me in to host here at TDG. I had a lot to learn not having done professional hosting before, El made that easy for me.  Even though this job proved to be THE busiest job I've ever had at times, I fell in love with it and TDG all together.  I have met the nicest people ever here.

"A BIG THANK YOU! to Lisa & Ian & Elektra for all your support and love through the years.  I also thank each & every one who has come here. YOU are as NECESSARY as the GREAT performers that came here.  The Dirty Grind Independent Artist Community will always have a special place in my heart. And only right NOW.....it's just HITTING me. I hush now.

The last word, however, would be Elektra's, on the Grind's blog.

This will be my last post on this blog. It’s been a great experience and a pleasure to work with so many talented people.

Thank you, Ian  and Lisa , for this opportunity and for the many years you spent advocating for the arts in SL and creating this wonderful community.

If you have memories you want to share in form of pictures or posts, please feel free to send them to me ( elektrapanthar@gmail.com ), post them to our Flickr group page or Facebook group – they are most welcome ❤

Stay safe everyone, and take care.

And so, after over a decade of live performances, The Dirty Grind has closed it's doors, becoming a part of Second Life music history. 

Bixyl Shuftan

The (Official) SL19B Events Wind Down

 

Since Thursday June 16, the Second Life Nineteenth Birthday grounds have been the scene of many events from the Music Fest, to Meet the Lindens (and Moles), to various DJ parties. Last weekend, Saturday June 25 and Sunday June 26 were the last official days of events. 

Among those whooping it up were those at DJ Tantari's set at 9AM on Saturday, "Oh won't you give me all of your Desire! I wanna take you higher. Let me take you HIGHER! .... They call me Miss MixVix for a reason. (grin)"

But the official events were not the only ones. I found a gathering at the Bellisseria Bureau or Bureaucracy exhibit.

And in the Burners exhibit had an impromptu party.

On the night of Sunday June 26, I had to be somewhere. So I sent an alt over when it was an hour before Midnight.

DJ Ninja had the honor of being the final official performer. Out on the dance floor, stage manager Vee was mixing it up with Grumpy Mole and Dion Mole.

As the hour went on, people talked about how much they enjoyed the Birthday, "I love Contraption, best steampunk stuff. We are all dancing and partying in Walton's creation right now." "I so gonna miss SL19B *cries*" "Just wait, SL20B is coming!" "Lets start SL20B tomorrow... one year paaaaaarty (big grin)" "Yesss looking forward to next year (smile)" "I don't think they ready for this to be over." "Haha! We are never ready for this to end!" "Second Life Birthday, the party doesn't end, it's just recharging for later."

Eventually came the last tune. And then it was done, the usual radio stream taking over. 

AT THIS TIME ALL STAGES ARE CLOSED!

Thank you to all the performers for the hours and talent given to the event and a BIG thank you to everyone who attended!  All of us coming together to have a great time is what Second Life is all about!

We can't wait to see you in 51 weeks when we do it all over again, even bigger for SL20B!

And so, people gave their goodbyes, "Ninja, perfect end to the party!" "Pleasure as always." "Thank you everyone it was amazing to perform and work here hugs thank you so much!!!!" "Thanks everyone  for everything you've done...Have a great night and day.." "Thank you Moles, Greeters, Volunteers and all I forgot for this AMAZING SL19B!!!!" "Thank you all looking forward to seeing everyone next year." "I had so much fun, Happy SLB!  YAY!!!" "Thank you staff, crew, moles, and everyone who made this place for us (smile)." "Hope to join the crew again next year!" "Good night guys! Thank you for everything!" "Take care everyone! To all the staff and moles, see you on the party!" "Thank you all for this awesome time (smile)."Dion Mole himself would say, "A big thank you to the Stage Crew, volunteers and all the performers!"

But this isn't the end of the Second Life Birthday. The sims will still be up until Tuesday July 5, so people can check out the numerous exhibits and get the gifts. The SL19B "Shop and Hop" is still going on. Plus there are still the impromptu parties that spring up, such as those in the last few hours before the sims are scheduled to close. 

Bixyl Shuftan
 

Survivors of Suicide Closes, Impact Mental Health Opens

This weekend, the most well-known of mental health support groups, the Survivors of Suicide, had it's last meeting. Soon after, the sim was closed, and the group was closed to new messages. But while this group was closing, another was opening. Impact Mental Health was another mental health support group that was created in response to the closing of SoS, and had taken on many of it's members. Their grand opening event was also this weekend.

Read the story in People.
  

RFL Season Concludes

 

While the Relay Weekend in early June was the high point of the 2021 Relay for Life fundraising season, the end didn't really come until yesterday, June 30. With the volunteers on the verge of beating a season fundraising record that had lasted for seven years, they came together to make one last push.

Read the story in Extra. 
 

The Last Sunbeamer Moon Dance For 2021

 

Every Thursday this Relay season, the Sunbeamers have had a weekly event: the Moon Dance. But with the Relay Season almost over, Thursday June 10 would be the final one for the year. There was much music, and fun, to be had in the name of raising money to research cancer treatments. 

Read the story in People. 
 

Oz Linden's Last TPV Meeting

 

Panterapolnocy films the Third-Party Viewer Developer meetings. The last one on Friday February 19 would be distinguished by it being the last one. For those not wanting to sit through the whole thing, Inara Pey's report gives a rundown on what was discussed, notably the Project Jelly Viewer. But many would find the most important detail being Oz Linden's farewell talk near the beginning.

"I want to say that working with the third party viewer community has been  – I mean this is how it started for me, and it has been a theme throughout, and it has been a very great pleasure working with all of you. It’s really been terrific, and thank you. Thank you for making me look good, and thank you for all you contribute to this really impactful and fun product. It's even more fun to work on than it is to use."

Oz Linden's last appearance will be on Lab Gab, tomorrow at 11 AM SL time.

Last University of Western Australia Sim to Close - Final Art Event in November

A sim that's made the news a number of times in the past will soon be closing, and will have one final event.

Longtime readers may remember the University of Western Australia area in Second Life for it's yearly art competitions, which offered prizes that once exceeded a million Linden dollars. But in December 2015, it was announced the competition then would be the final one. In September 2016, it was announced four of the five sims would be closed down. But a month later, it was announced the sims had been given a reprieve (one transferred to someone else). In March 2017, it was announced the reprieve on three of the four sims left was ending. But one of the three would get another break, so two would remain. One last prize money competition would be organized by supporters in March 2019. This would be the last time the Newser would write about the area, it's long term future in doubt. Still, the UWA area would be the scene of some weekly events for a time (UWA blog).

But it seems almost five years after the end of the yearly art competitions, the UWA area has finally run out of chances. It was announced in the UWA 3D Art and Design Challenge group that the last sim, University of Western Australia, would soon close, after Midnight December 31st . So it it's honor, there would be one last event.

One last show... let's make this a good one.
Uni of WA estate is down to one region and it will disappear at the end of the year. (yes REALLY disappear)
Jayjay, Freewee, quadrapop and all the others who have helped put together art and machinima challenges over the years invite you to take part in this event organised by Chuck Clip.

*  *  *  *  *

This is a grand finale, a sad farewell to show our gratitude to UWA and all that they did for us as artists, curators, and residents of SL. Their work brought life and beauty to all of us and made the art world in Second Life a thing to behold.

The theme is "Gratitude"
This art show is open to everyone. The theme is “Gratitude” with a 150 prim limit per artwork, and limited to one entry per artist.

Why The Theme “Gratitude?”
For over a decade, the University of Western Australia has been synonymous in the minds of many residents of Second Life with the arts and the support thereof. Their work was unparalleled on the grid, and made waves in the art world that, even as they prepare to close their sim, resonate through the art world today.

There are so many people whose lives they touched in one way or another. So many artists found inspiration in their 3D Art Challenge themes, and support in the encouragement of the community they created.

I, Chuck Clip, am one of them, and I am honored and humbled to have been granted the chance to organize this event. I’ll attempt to carry their extraordinarily heavy torch, to continue to support the arts in Second Life in their stead.

Let us all come together this one last time to say thank you to the men and women of this great institution, to celebrate their achievements, their impact on our own achievements, and to mourn their departure. 

The deadline for interested artists to enter is November 1. There's a 150 prim limit per exhibit, and "Artwork entered should be able to be interpreted by the casual viewer as being representative of the theme." To enter, head to the UWA landing point at University of WA (76/227/25) or to Sinful Retreat (137/142/52). Both sims have a UWA Art Show Submissions box located there, "To submit entries, select the entry in your inventory (left mouse button) and then press CTRL & drag the entry while holding down that key to the UWA Art Show Submissions box. When the cursor is over the box (red outlines should appear around the receiver box), release your left  mouse button and the item is received. Do this for BOTH your entry and your Artist Notecard." Those who have problems doing so can pass the exhibit and the artist notecard to Chuck Clip.

The event opening is November 11, from 12 Noon to 4pm SLT. Exhibits will be taken down on Dec 31 or just before, before the sim closes.

For more information, check the notecard in the UWA 3D Art and Design Challenge group.

Hat tip: Inara Pey

Bixyl Shuftan

Last Day For The SL17B

It's been a lot of fun, but the Second Life Birthday event is about to come to a complete close. After Midnight SL time tonight, the SL17B sims will be closed to the public. So now's your last chance to see any exhibits you might have missed.

There have been no more official events since Sunday June 28. But there have been some impromptu ones, notably the several on Tuesday July 7. There might be a few DJs playing on stage sometime today, though no guarantees.

Enjoy this last day of the SL17B.

Last Day To See The Relay Sims

There have been some years the Relay sims were up after the weekend until Friday. But sadly this year isn't the case. Today is the last day to get a chance to take a look at the various sims and team campsites, such as the Second Life Cheerleading Squad's, which had this fun playable tribute to Donkey Kong at RFL Promise (166/160/23).

But before the camps are taken down, there's a Relay tradition to take place, the Flood Party, which starts at 3PM.

The Flood The Regions & Wrap Up awards weill be held Wed. June 10 from 3 til 7 pm, on the beach @ http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/RFL%20RESEARCH/129/36/23

Join us for one last time on the Relay Regions and Track!

Wrap Up Awards will be announced During The Party
Listen Live on https://RelayRadio.t1radio.com

Bring A Floatie and Dress To Get Wet!

After the event concludes, teams are given the go-ahead to start taking down campsites.

Addition: As the Flood Party was starting, we heard from Linden Lab that the sims had a few more days. Unfortunately, some people, presumably mostly those who would be busy tomorrow, had already taken their camps down.

Announcement: Relay Hard Cafe's "Last Bash"

ITS THE END OF AN ERA

Team Shadow will be closing the Relay Hard Cafe after one last bash!!
 Gem and Sasha will be splitting the DJ duties, so no telling what you will
 hear, Best in Purple Contest with 2000L$ on the board. Vendors, Raffles
 and Kiosks, OH MY!!!!

 Tuesday, February 18th
 5:00-7:00 PM SLT
 @Relay Hard Cafe

 BE WATCHING AS WE BEGIN A NEW ERA!

 All donations benefit The American Cancer Society

 http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Woodloch/219/208/2001

by Gem Sunkiller

The Last SL16B Party

The Second Life Sixteenth Birthday was a great event, but sadly all good things must come to an end. As the virtual clock was winding down, the volunteers threw a couple unofficial parties late last week. Friday had the larger one, and the Newser was there to get a few pictures of the fun.

Read the story in Events.

The SL15B Gift Grab: The Last Gift

After fifteen weeks, The Second Life Fifteenth Birthday Gift Grab, (described in their blog post of the event and briefly at the end of our June 22 article of The Birthday), is coming to an end. The first fourteen weeks have offered gifts from silly string to hoverboards, to crystal balls, to teddy bears, to magic wands, and more. The fifteenth gift we were told would be reserved only for those who had collected every one of the previous fourteen gifts, and was promised to be extra special.

Finally on Monday September 24, the fifteenth and final gift was made available. The clue on the Linden blog was, "The FINAL SL15B Weekly Gift Grab Hint is: Home of the Moles is where this could be. Hidden among things for everyone to see." The clue led to Meauxle Bureaux (152/127/29). The sim was quite picturesque at certain angles.

For those whom had the first fourteen notches on their "Swaganator HUD," the gift was available to claim. So I got it, and headed to a sandbox to see what the grand prize we'd all been waiting for was.

And it was ... a crystal carriage. You could sit on it. But to operate it, you needed the HUD that come with it. Once attached, you could move the carriage around, even fly it in the air. Something that would be fun for Fantasy-themed areas.

And that's it. That's the last of the SL15B Gift grab gifts. Hope you had fun collecting them. Do you have a story about a hunt area that was extra good or bad? Anything to say about a gift that was really great or a disappointment? Send your reader submissions to bixylshuftan@gmail.com

Bixyl Shuftan

SL Video: "InWorldz' Farewell Party"

(Click here if the video fails to play)

From Holocluck Henley in July 27, "inWorld's final day and its final party. Towards the end as the party sim became unavailable we had to move to public land (which wasn't so bad). Best of luck to IW friends, acquaintances and colleagues wherever you end up."

InWorldz Fades Away

Friday July 27 was InWorldz last day. Logging in at 2:30PM PST, people were gathering at InWorldz Desert Island, one of the last sims still up.Most of the rest of the sims had been shut down. Some were lamenting the downfall of the grid, others were looking back at the fun they had, and perhaps later on in another virtual world.

Ten minutes later, as the radio was playing, "Closing Time," the sim crashed.

I relogged, and was moved to InWorldz Sandbox2. This would be the last place in the grid I would see. Minutes later at 2:55PM PST, my viewer quit working. When I restarted, it listed 66 people still online, but I never could get on again. And in Discord chat, the number still there was getting smaller and smaller.

InWorldz, after over nine years in operation, and a week of raised and dashed hopes and plenty of confusion, has finally been shut down.

Closing time, time for you to go out
To the places you will be from
Closing time, this room won't be open
Till your brothers or your sisters come.

So gather up your jackets, move it to the exits
I hope you have found a friend
Closing time, every new beginning
Comes from some other beginning's end, yeah.

I know who I want to take me home
I know who I want to take me home
I know who I want to take me home
Take me home. 

Bixyl Shuftan

InWorldz Prepares For The End

By Thursday July 27, it was becoming increasingly clear that there would be no saving of the InWorldz Grid, at least in it's current form. Instead, the plan was to for people to rezz their items at sandboxes where they would be saved and accounted for when owner Beth Reischl and her staff make a new one. Deciding to check things for myself, I headed to InWorldz Desert Island, where I first entered the place more than seven years ago.

There were others around, and I chatted with a few. Some hadn't heard the news about the Grid's closing until a day or two ago, and asked me (and others) for the latest news. Others were more or less up to date, and much like me were coming on for some last looks.

Some clubs were making the most of it, having a final bash where longtime friends could spend their last moments in the grid they knew together, or take a break between exploring around.

And exploring around, sometimes one could find a vehicle and drive it around. Some sims were already closed to entry, in the process of being shut down.

As  went around and listened in on a few chats, people talked about what they'd loose from various items, to of course their money as withdraws had been frozen. But one man was upset about his pet horse as despite that items could be copied, scripts could not be and so any pets were basically doomed, "My oldest horse, the one I've had since I first arrived in InWorldz, Bandette, an Infinitude, I adore that horse, he's so realistic (sad) and listen'n to him 'talk' and prance 'n paw the ground right now, breaks my heart (sad expression)."

Some of the people I ran into also had accounts on Second Life, and at least one told others they could meet her there. Others looked forward to the replacement grid, whenever that will be. Others talked about various smaller girds they'd be going to. As someone in "Free Script Library" chat put it, "Seems we are destined to scatter to the four winds." Another woman thought InWorldz's collapse would have a chilling effect on peoples' confidence to invest in smaller virtual worlds, "Question is if people will be able to trust the grid owners after the issues and stunts with IW that has happened, to be honest."

There's still a lot of uncertainly about inWorldz's shutting down, and the Gofundme that started out as an effort to save InWorldz and then was changed after most of the money was raised confused many and angered some. A number of people I've talked to on the matter feel there's something fishy about how the shutdown is going about. Others instead express confidence in InWorldz's owner and staff and look forward to the new virtual world. About the only thing that can be spoken for certainty at this point is that today, Friday July 27, the sun sets on the virtual world on InWorldz for the last time.

Bixyl Shuftan

Addition: Someone asked me how things look for the 2018 Relay for Life in InWorldz season. Sorry to say without an InWorldz to hold it in, and no date given for the grid that we're told will take it's place, it's looking like it will be called off.

One More Time: The "Cake Explosion" And Other Last SL15B.Unofficial Events.

Although the end of events at the Second Life Birthday was officially last Sunday June 24, people weren't ready to quite call it quits on the SL15B just yet. In the past few years, the "Cake Explosion" has become a popular unofficial event as people gathered to witness the final moments of the popular build. But this year, the final day the sims were open to all had a few more happenings as various DJs turned the power on the clubs around the Birthday sims, and played for whomever would show up. And many did on the SL15B's true last hurrah.

Read more in Events.

Updated 11PM

The Last Day of Second Life Birthday Events

Sunday June 24 was the last day, at least officially, for events at the Second Life Birthday grounds. And people had one last chance to enjoy the parties there. And there were a number.

At 8PM the night before, it was the "Live Music with Dance and Special Light Show" by "Tuna Oddfellow. It wasn't at one of the stages, but at a special platform over 650 meters in the air. For those who hadn't seen his "Odd Ball" performances before, it was quite an experience. For those interested, Tuna has recently resumed his Odd Ball. Instant-message him to find out when his performances take place.

 At 12 Noon at the Cake Stage, DJ Tantari.played some tunes for the crowd. She played her "Space First Stage" set of music.

For about two hours, the high-energy blue vixen wowed the crowd with her sci-fi tunes.

Not everyone listening was on two legs. At one point a black unicorn showed up.

The exhibits were up and running as always, though the action was mostly at the clubs

By late in the night, the events at Stage North (above), the Central Stage, and even Stage Left wound down. The action was at The Cake.

At 11PM, people gathered at The Cake for the last official party, and in a sense the last hurrah.

DJ A.F.I. (Ladigirl Resident), a real-life DJ from Hollywood California, spun the tunes.

Besides the regular-sized avatars, there was a giant, and a large anthro dragon.

But regardless of how we looked, we were there for the same reason, to end the celebrations with a bang.

Among those there was cake builder Mikati Slade.

But all good things must come to an end. And at Midnight, DJ A.F.I. closed her set with a display of fireworks.

But while this is the end of the official events, this is not the end of "The Birthday." The sims will remain up and open to the public until July 1, and so most of the exhibits will remain as well (It always seems at least one guy jumps the gun and leaves right away). And there is the tradition of the "Cake Explosion," which will be sometime later this week.

"Happy 15th Birthday Second Life."

Bixyl Shuftan