A Visit To The Odd Ball

 

 Last week, I dropped by a longtime unique and "only in Second Life" show, the "Odd Ball." Organized by Tuna Oddfellow, these events involve partying in the middle of an animated light show, resembling the inside of a kaleidoscope. The event was inspired by Tuna's appearance in "Second Life's Got Talent" in 2007, appearing soon after. 

While there have been pauses over time, the Odd Ball continues to this day. To see a little of what it looked like in the past check out this video from 2009 (link). 

 There was a surprise this time. I've always known Tuna in his pale skinned look. But this time, he was sporting a melanistic one. He would explain to me that since going mesh, he's been alternating between light and dark

 

The music for this event was done by AthenablueDJ.

One can get notice of Odd Ball events by getting on Tuna's list.

"Still odd after all these years."

Addition: Tuna would message me, thanking me for the article and saying Athena performs every Sunday at 11 AM, "I have learned to create visuals and perform music at the same time. What you were hearing was a live ambient electronic music concert. I have been a musician for many years it's just recently become possible to fuse the two artforms for me. It was also my 7000th day in SL."

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: This Saturday at The Science Circle - "Panel: Medicinal Psychedelics"

  

"Panel: Medicinal Psychedelics"

Saturday May 29

10 AM to 11 AM SL time

In recent years there have been reports of the therapeutic clinical use of psychedelic substances to treat mental health ailments such as PTSD, Bi-Polar Disorder, depression, and end of life palliative care.  Please join us in the Science Circle to discuss the potential of psychedelics as medicine with therapeutic applications.

 By Mathew Burr

For more information, Click Here.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/67/129/32 
  

The Return of the Odd Ball

 

Even years after it first came to Second Life, the Odd Ball continues to wow and amaze people. Created by Tuna Oddfellow, a real-life magician, it's been described as a psychedelic experience without the side-effects by some. The event was on hiatus for a while. But Tuna recently brought it back.
 
Read, and see, more in Design.

The Odd Ball, With JaNaMooN, Today

"It's time to get odd, odd, odd."

Second Life has a number of performers. But there's only one Odd Ball. It's been about ten years ago since Tuna Oddfellow's unique performances started. With it's unique special effects, it's been described by some as like a psychedelic trip without the side-effects, there's been nothing else like it. It had been a while since I'd last seen one of it's events, but Friday night, I dropped in on a show. Tuna is "Still Odd after all these years."

His next show will be on Sunday at 12 Noon SL time. Jana Kyomoon aka JaNaMooN will be playing the music.

"Come, get odd."

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lagrange%20Point/131/122/451

Interview With Tuna Oddfellow

Tuna Oddfellow is known for a few things, such as in the past having won the "Second Life's Got Talent" competition a decade ago, for his protest against against Linden Lab during what was known as the ToS controversy, but mainly for the Odd Ball, one of  the more unique repeating performances in Second Life. Deaflegacy had a chance to meet up with him, and the two talked about his virtual life and career, as well as some about his real life.

Read Deaflegacy's interview in People.

Virtual Hippies

Some Second Life residents lived through the days of "Sex and Drugs and Rock n' Roll" from the mid 60s to the mid 70s. But for most of us, we were either too young to hear about what was going on, or born afterwards. Among the groups of people associated with the time are the hippies. Sometimes looked down upon, occasionally celebrated, just who were they? Hearing about a place inworld called Free Spirit Farms, Becky Shamen, whom did live through those times, took the opportunity to explain as she visited the place and talked to the people there whom had taken a little of the Age of Aquarius to the virtual world. Also, the Newser was informed about some "nip" that supposedly provided a virtual psychedelic trip. Becky gave it a try and compared the results to the experiences of the real thing.

Read Becky's story in People.

Interview with Tuna the Oddfellow of Second Life

Grease Coakes recently interviewed one of the more unique performers of Second Life: Tuna Oddfellow. At his Odd Ball, Tuna puts on quite a show with spectacular special effects. Grease had a chance to talk to him about his interesting past, and of course this one of a kind performance on the Grid.

Read Grease's article in People.

Still Odd After All These Years: Tuna Oddfellow's Odd Ball

One of the more unique regular performances in Second Life is the Odd Ball, taking place twice a week. Run by Tuna Oddfellow and Shava Suntzu, it's been running on the Grid for a few years.

For those who don't know, Tuna Oddfellow is a magician in real life, Mathew "Fish the Magish" Fishman. He got attention during Second Life's heyday in 2007 when NBC did a "Most Talented Avatar" competition. "I've got a mission to bring a little magic to everyone's day," he told the reporter then. And magic he has delivered, eventually coming up with the Odd Ball.

Tuna's partner in bringing the Odd Ball to life is Shave Suntzu. They met in real life before meeting in Second Life, and worked to make the show a spectacular performance. The dazzling special effects are more than just a visual treat. In some people, they can produce a "mild euphoric state," others comparing it to "getting stoned." Not everyone reacts in this way, one person I took over saying it just gave her a headache. But they were interested enough to have medical research done on the matter (details in a 201o story).

By 2010 though, the two were more concerned with Tuna's health problems that were taking a financial toll as well. With the help of friends and family, they got through them. Tuna's heath problems haven't gone away, but he and Shava continue their performances on the Grid. Occasionally they have a guest musician, such as Cypress Rosewood.

The Odd Ball normally takes place twice a week on Wednesdays at 7PM and Sundays at 11AM at the Dragonhenge sim at (126, 122, 651).

"It's time to get Odd, Odd, Odd!"

Bixyl Shuftan

Cartoon of the Day

By Bixyl Shuftan

A Look at the Odd Ball

It's been a while since I wrote on the Odd Ball. For those whom don't know, the normally twice a week event in Second Life was started by Tuna Oddfellow a few years ago. Assisted by his hardworking partner Shava Suntzu, they have continued to amaze audiences with their psychedelic performances. The dazzling colors actually have an effect on one's brain. While a few guests have to leave due to uneasy feelings, others feel calmer, or euphoric.

Tuna and Shava have had a few problems recently, which they're waiting for further developments before talking in-depth about them. Until then, they'll continue the Odd Ball as much as real-life will permit.

Recently, the Odd Ball has been playing at Dragonhenge (126, 122, 651), usual times Wednesdays at 7PM, and Sundays at 11AM, subject to occasional real-life interruptions.

Some months ago, Chantal Harvey was at the Odd Ball when Tuna had a guest performer: Cypress Rosewood (video 1 minute).



Bixyl Shuftan

Update on Tuna Oddfellow of the Odd Ball

Tuna Oddfellow and his partner Shava Suntzu, the owners of the unique “Odd Ball” show, have had some troubled times this year, with Tuna falling ill. Second Life Newser recently met up with them, to see how their situation has changed.

Read the story in People.