Flying Purple Thing Over Sansara

 

 In what looked like a scene from an eldritch horror story, while checking out an area of construction for the Trans-Sansara Causway in Pomponio, I noticed something floating to the north. Upon further inspection, it was some kind of weird floating thing with a single, disturbing-looking eye.

 

Maybe he was part of a "Flying Purple People Eater" video.

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Musical Tribute To Rita Mariner

"Our Little Purple Star"

 

(Verse 1)

She was a flash of violet in the morning light,
A gentle soul who made the world so bright.
Our Rita Mariner, with ears so soft and long,
You filled our quiet house with your own sweet song.
You hopped into our hearts, a wondrous shade of hue,
There will never be another bunny quite like you.

​(Chorus)
Oh, Rita, our wonderful purple friend,
We held your little paws right to the end.
Though the shadows fell and you had to slip away,
Your colorful spirit in our hearts will stay.
Rest now, sweet Rita, beyond the pain and tears,
Thank you for the magic of these beautiful years.

​(Verse 2)
It was a heavy storm that came to take your strength,
But you fought so bravely down the journey's length.
Even when the sickness tried to steal your spark,
Your bright purple light guided us through the dark.
You never lost your sweetness, never lost your grace,
Leaving tiny paw prints that time cannot erase.

​(Chorus)
Oh, Rita, our wonderful purple friend,
We held your little paws right to the end.
Though the shadows fell and you had to slip away,
Your colorful spirit in our hearts will stay.
Rest now, sweet Rita, beyond the pain and tears,
Thank you for the magic of these beautiful years.

​(Bridge)
Now we picture a meadow where the sweet clover grows,
Where the sun is always shining and a warm breeze blows.
Hop free, little Mariner, across the endless green,
The most beautiful purple bunny that heaven's ever seen.
No more tired days, no more battles to be won,
Just endless fields of dandelions sleeping in the sun.

​(Outro)
Goodnight, our dear Rita, we'll miss your velvet nose.
Sleep softly in the starlight, where the peaceful river flows.
We will love you always, our little purple star.
Rest in peace, sweet Rita, wherever you are.

 

Masane Amaha 

 

Link to music on Suno (here).

 

Relay For Life Fundraising Levels

 

 For those who wonder what the various team levels mean, there was a chart in the Relay for Life Volunteers group showing them.

 

For those that raise 12,500 Linden dollars, or about $50 USD, they have reached Bronze Level fundraising. This is what the plurality of teams reach. 

 

For teams that raise 50,000 Linden dollars, or about $200 USD, Silver Level fundraising.

 

Teams that raise 125,000 Linden dollars, or about $500 USD,  get Gold Level rank. 

 

Teams that raise 250,000 Linden dollars, or about $1000, about the price of a new computer, get  Platinum Level fundraising. 

 

For the teams that have raised 500,000 Linden dollars, or about $2000 USD, they've reached Jade Level.

 

The teams that get to 750,000 Lindens raised, about $3000 USD, they're at Sapphire rank. 

 

Teams that reach one million Lindens raised, about $4000 USD, are at Emerald Level. Those teams that reach this level have put in some work.

 

The teams that reach 1,250,000 Lindens raised, about $5000 USD, are at Ruby Level fundraising. 

 

Teams that raise a million and a half Lindens, about $6000 USD, are at Topaz Level fundraising.  

 

Those teams that raise 1,750,000 Linden dollars, about $7000 USD, are at Diamond Level.

 

Teams that raise 2,500,000 Linden dollars, about $10,000 USD, are at Crimson rank.

 

Those teams that raise 3,750,000 Linden dollars, about $15,000 USD, are at Purple Level fundraising.  

 

Teams that raise five million Linden dollars, about $20,000 USD, are at All Star Level fundraising.

 

The teams that raise 6,750,000 Linden dollars, about $25,000 USD, are at Super Star rank.

 

Teams that raise 7,500,000 Linden dollars, about $30,000 USD, are at Supernova Level fundraising.

 

The teams that raise ten million Linden dollars, about $40,000 USD, are at Hypernova Level fundriasing.

 

Finally, the teams that raise 12,500,000 Linden dollars, about $50,000 USD, have reached the top rank for this year - Intergalactic Level fundraising.

 

The ranks have changed somewhat over the years. For a time, they would get a little higher each year, until there was a reset. And sometimes the names are different. One year, "All Star" was the first fundraising level, before Bronze.  

 

How high will the various teams get this year?

 

RFL Announcement: Purple Tribute Home & Garden

 

 Event Name: Purple Tribute Home & Garden
 

When: Saturday FEBRUARY 7, 12:01am 
thru
Sunday FEBRUARY 8, 11:59pm

Brief Description of Event:
Visit the Ertina Loopen Memorial Home & Garden to get a notecard that lists all of the RFL season events to be organized by the ELMF team. The memorial---which pays tribute to fellow Relayer, the late Ertina Loopen---has been generously hosted by the SHB Gems Relay team since 2023 and is open year-around to the public.

Location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kangean/62/76/1500

TEAMS: ELMF, SHB Gems

RFL Sunbeamers: Bid Rita Pink (and Purple)

 

 

Team Sunbeamers is know for it's "Bid Me" events. They already had three going on a week ago. Not long after, the team captain Rita Mariner volunteered to put the color of her fur on the line for a fourth one: "Bid Rita Pink and Purple."

As with other Bid Me fundraisers, there are two kiosks in the back room of Club Cutlass. The default one on the left is for those wanting to keep the "killer rabbit" as she is. For those wanting wanting to make her pink and purple, there is the change kiosk on the right. For every 3000 Linden dollars donated, rounded down, the team captain has to change her appearance for a week or so. If 5999 L is the total at the end, she will be the color of strawberries and grapes for a week. If 6000 Linden dollars is the total, she'll be in the pink (and purple) for two weeks.

Rita's fundraiser ends sometime on Saturday May 11. For those wanting to donate to the others, DeniseUnicorn Toonie's "Bid Me Pink" ends Saturday May 4. Skylark Lefavre's "Bid Me Pink, Blue, and White" and Brian's "Bid Me Pink" also end on Saturday May 11.

The kiosks for the fundraisers are at Sunweaver Bay (114/117/757).

 

Go Sunweavers! Go Relay!

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

RFL Sunbeamers: "Bid Me Purple"

 

 

The Relay for Life's Sunbeamer team has another "Bid Me" fundraiser going. Liska has joined Bixyl and Charlee Shuftan in putting her appearance on the line with her "Bid Me Purple"

Like the first Bid Me, this fundraiser is taking place at Club Cutlass in Sunweaver Bay (114/117/757), in the room behind the dance floor. Like other Bid Me events, there are two kiosks. To keep Liska a red fox, donate to the default one on the left. To Bid Liska Purple, donate to the kiosk on the right. For every 3000 Linden dollars, rounded down, assuming the change kiosk is higher than the default one, Liska will be purple for a week. A total of 5999 Lindens would mean one week. 6000 L would mean two weeks.

The event ends on Sunday April 21, at which the totals will be made final. The bids are continuing for the other fundraiser "Bid Us Squirrels."

 

So come and show Liska a "grape" time. 

Sunweaver Bay (114/117/757)

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Gem Sunkiller at Freedom Rock: Bid My Hair Purple

 

 Hello Friends!

On Saturday, March 16th from 5-6pm I will be participating in Freedom Rock's DJ/Fundraising Contest.  I'd love to see you all there, whether you can give or not.  You all spur me to be my best version of myself, and I welcome your support.

For every 1000L raised my hair will be purple for a day, up to be beginning of Relay Weekend!  For a single  donation of 10,000L I will transform into a purple people eater for the rest of the weekend.  ( I know, I am shameless)


Gem Sunkiller

Saturday, March 16th
5-6pm SLT
@ Freedom Rock 6

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/American%20Cancer%20Society3/137/126/3001

 

 

Announcement: Paint Second Life Purple

 

 

"LET'S GET THOSE PARCELS, VENUES and REGIONS PURPLE!!  Together we Relay!! Together we fight!!   Send me your LM to be included on the list for Kickoff weekend contests!"

 

Prettykitty Gumbo

RFL Sunbeamers: Results of DJ Mattie's "Bid Me Purple"

 

It's been a very good season for the Sunbeamers, having reached not just the million Linden mark and Emerald level, but Ruby as well. But in all the celebration and the upcoming Relay Weekend, one detail was momentarily overlooked. The results of the 'beamers final "Bid Me" event: Mattie Carlton's "Bid Me Purple.

Results of Mattie's Bid Me Purple

With Ruby within reach, and then achieved, one detail almost slipped our minds, the results of our last "Bid Me" on May 27.

Stay red:            100L
Turn purple: 10,500L

Mattie turns purple for five weeks, until July 1

Thank you all who participated in what has become our greatest year.

Quite a number of the team put their looks on the line this year, between the Bid Me events and the level challenges. Rita Mariner, Snowy HunniBunni Lefavre (Skylark Lefavre), Cynthia Farshore, Liska da'Lantros (LiskaDaLantros Resident), Bixyl Shuftan (myself) Charlee Shuftan (Charlee Amethyst), FluffyFoxy364 Resident, and of course Mattie Carlton.

The Relay Weekend officially starts 10AM, Saturday June 10, and ends Sunday June 11.

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

Sunbeamer "Bid Me" Update

 

Following their performance at the Relaystock, the Relay for Life's Sunbeamers have continued to do well. On Saturday May 20 at 8 PM, the "Bid Me Otter" fundraiser, of which Snowy HunniBunni Lefavre (Skylark Lefavre) was the volunteer, came to a close. Team captain Rita Mariner would announce the results.

 

SNOWY"S BID ME OTTER RESULTS

Snowy's Bid Me:

Keep Me Bunny - 1,000L

Bid Me Otter - 10,750L

Snowy goes OTTER for 3 weeks, until.JUNE 10.

 

So the loveable bunny DJ, who also manages the Happy Vixen and BBBC beach clubs, will be "otterly cute" for a few weeks.

 

While Liska's "Bid Me Skunk" fundraiser ended on Saturday May 6, she continued to be the purple fox for a while. She had been continuing the time from her previous Bid Me event. On Saturday May 20, she started the time for the skunk Bid Me. So now she reflects the sweet smell of successful Relaying.

So now there's one "Bid Me" fundraiser still ongoing: Mattie Carlton's "Bid Me Purple." It will last for a few more days, with the total raised made final on Saturday May 27 at 8PM and the announced soon after. For those wanting to make donations, head to Club Cutlass at Sunweaver Bay (114/117/757), and look for the kiosks. How long will things be going "grape" for the Relay DJ, we'll soon see.

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

Bixyl Shuftan

Sunbeamer "Bid Me" Update: "Bid Me Otter" and "Bid Me Purple"

 

The Relay for Life Team Sunbeamers has had some good successes. With the Air Show and Medieval Fun Fest events, done with Roos With A Dream, the team was catapulted to Sapphire rank fundraising. But helping the team were the "Bid Me" events going on. On Saturday May 6, three were concluded, the "Bid Me Bunny," "Bid Me Panda," and "Bid Me Skunk" events.

Here are the totals for the three BIDD MES that ended tonight.
LISKA - Stay Fox -  100L
             Go Skunk -= 14,100L
             
 Liska goes SKUNK for 3 WEEKS
 
 BIXYL - Stay Fox - 50L
             Go Bunny - 14,100L
             
Bixyl goes Bunny for 4 weeks

CHARLEE - Stay Human - 500L
                   Go Panda - 12,000L
                   
CHARLEE goes Panda for 6 weeks

So this means that yours truly, when not doing obvious Newser work or at special appearances like the upcoming Newser anniversary party, will be dealing with carrot jokes for about a month. Usually it will me in the mesh bunny that Charlee helped me make after the Bid Me started. Charlee will have to deal with comments about Pandaren jokes and flirts for a month and a half. For Liska, she's showing a little creativity in her new skunk form, dressing up like Luskwood founder Michi Lumin.

But as most Relayers "otter" know, this is not the end of the Bid Me events. There's a couple more. They are Skylark "Snowy" Lefavre's "Bid Me Otter," and Mattie Carlton's "Bid Me Purple." 

 

Like most other Bid Me fundraisers, Bid Me Otter has two kiosks. For those wanting to give Snowy a taste for fish, they donate to the otter kiosk on the right. For those wanting her to stay a bunny, they chip in to the default kiosk on the left. For every 3500 Linden dollars, rounded down, in the right kiosks at the end of the fundraiser, Snowy is stuck as a "rudderbutt" for a week. For instance, if 6999 L is raised at the end, she would need to stay in her new form for a week. If 7000 Lindens are raised, It's "otter chaos" for her for two weeks. And if more is raised in the "stay bunny" kiosk, she stays one.

For Mattie's "Bid Me Purple," the idea came to her as she was going about the shops at the Fairelands recently, some of the items going to make a fairy-winged purple kitsune, "It's a 100% unique avatar built for Relay for Life. And all of it was pretty much purchased at fantasy Fair." Like Snowy's Bid Me, there's a change kiosk on the right, and a default kiosk on the left. For every 2000 Linden dollars raised in the purple kiosk, rounded down, Mattie assumes the form of her violet nine-tailed fox for a week. That is, if the amount there is greater than the default kiosk.

Both Bid Me fundraisers are at Club Cutlass. Snowy's event ends on Saturday May 20 at 8PM following the close of the party there. Mattie's event ends on  Saturday May 27, also at 8PM.

 

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunweaver%20Bay/114/117/757

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay

Bixyl Shuftan

RFL Team Sunbeamer "Bid Me" Events Update

 

On Saturday night, April 8, one of the fundraisers of Team Sunbeamers concluded.  The "Bid Me Ruth" event that Cynthia Farshore volunteered for concluded, and the results tallied. Team captain Rita Mariner would announce the results.

 

CYNTHIA'S BID ENDS

Cynthis Farshore BID ME is over.- results.

STAY GOAT - 1100L

GO HUMAN - 12,100L

Cynthia goes human for 6 weeks, till MAY 20th.

 

It should be noted that Cynthia's fundraiser wasn't just a "Bid Me Human," but a "Bid Me Ruth."  For those not in the know, this is the "default" avatar that in the early days of Second Life that residents would find themselves in when logging on and things were slow to rezz. Usually it would be replaced with the avatar they were last in within a minute, usually. Sometimes there was a glitch in the system and it wouldn't go away without relogging, and once in a while even that didn't work, much to the displeasure of the resident, especially if a guy. Eventually this was replaced with the "cloud" that residents today are familiar with. But older residents remember "the Ruth" as something to dread, or at least feel was an annoyance.

But this is not the end of the "Bid Me" events. The Sunnies have another vic-er, volunteer. Liska da'Lantros (LiskaDaLantros Resident) has stepped forward for "Bid Me Purple." As with the other Bid Me fundraisers, there are two kiosks. The one on the right is the default for those wanting to keep her as she is. For those wanting her to make her "great grape," they donate to the kiosk on the right. For every 2500 Lindens, rounded down, she spends a week in purple fur.  For instance if 9999 Lindens were raised, that would mean three weeks, but 10,000 would mean four.

People have until Saturday April 22 at 8PM to donate to Liska's Bid Me. Then the results will be totaled and made final. Head over to Club Cutlass at Sunweaver Bay (121/119/757).

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

Bixyl Shuftan

Relay Rockers Reach Purple Level

   

The Relay for Life of Second Life has gotten it's first Purple-ranked team this season. Yesterday, the Relay Rockers passed the 3,750,000 Linden dollar level, or $15,000 USD, or Purple level fundraising.

The Relay Rockers were the organizers of the recent Relaystock and "Bid the Lindens Bald," as well as the CRFB DJ competition.

Other teams have also made progress, such as Meli's Maniacs reaching Gold Level. Team Sunbeamers passed the 600K mark, and as of the writing of this article is at 644,000 Linden dollars, closing in on Sapphire level.  

Go Relay!
 

RFL Fundraiser "Bid Me Panda" And "Bid Me Purple" at Club Cutlass

 

Relay team Sunbeamers is having it's first two "Bid Me" fundraisers. For those new to the Relay, they are based on the noted "Bid Me Bald" events that have been held almost since the start of the Relay for Life in Second Life. But for some avatars such as furs, losing their head hair isn't so drastic a change. So came events in which the volunteer puts their looks on the line in another way, such as wearing an avatar of a different fur color, or a different type of avatar altogether. Over time there's been a variety of possibilities done.

For the team's first "Bid Me," none other but it's captain Rita Mariner has put her looks on the line in it's "Bid Me Panda." As before, there is a pair of kiosks involved in the challenge. For those wanting to have Rita make the change to a "fat male soup-slurping panda," donate to the kiosk on the right. For every 3000L, rounded down, Rita has to spend a week in an avatar inspired by "Po" of "Kung Fu Panda." 5999 Lindens would count as one week while 6001 would count as two. For those whom want to keep Rita as-is, they donate to the kiosk on the left. If the amount in the left kiosk is greater, Rita doesn't have to change regardless how much is in the right.

 

LiskaBystrouska is the volunteer for the second "Bid Me" event: "Bid Me Purple." The two kiosks for this one are next to Rita's. For every 2500 Linden dollars donated to the kiosk on the right, rounded down, Liska has to spend a week as a purple vixen. That is, unless more people donate to the left kiosk to keep Liska her normal Foxy self.

The "Bid Me Panda" event lasts until Saturday March 13 at 8PM SL time. The results will then be calculated and made final, and if successful Rita will change into her new look starting then. For Liska, her event goes on for another week, to March 20 at 8PM.

For those wishing to contribute to the events, the kiosks are in the back of Club Cutlass at Sunweaver Bay (114/117/757). The money goes to Team Sunbeamer's total for the Relay for Life, and the American Cancer Society. 

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

Bixyl Shuftan

Reader Submitted: Stingray's Dress

Stingray Raymaker had stated if a certain fundraising goal was met, he'd take a lap around the Relay Track in a purple dress. Well, it was, and he did. And after the fact, he posted this pics in the Relay Discord group, "Proof that I paid my debt!!" And yes, he gave others the okay to use, "run with it! You all earned this one!!!"

RFL Team Sunbeamer "Bid Me" Update

Earlier this week, the Relay for Life's Team Sunbeamers announced two "Bid Me" events. On Wednesday, "Bid Me Mouse" and "Bid Me Bunny" were joined by a third event. Liska Fuchs has volunteered to take part in "Bid Me Purple."

Like the others, there are two kiosks, a default one for those whom would rather stay her current looks, and another for those whom would like to see her purple for a while. For every 2500 (no fractions) in the change kiosk, she has to go through a week of "Make America Grape Again" jokes.

All three events will go on until Saturday March 21 at 8PM, at the close of the party at Cutlass that night. The fundraising totals will then be final, and how much time each volunteer has to stay in their new look will be decided. So far, the "Bid Me" events have raised almost 3000 Lindens. As of the writing of this article, Team Sunbeamers has raised over 174,000 Linden dollars.

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunweaver%20Bay/114/117/757

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

The "Platinum Avatar Challenge"

On Monday, Team Sunbeamers of the Relay for Life in Second Life finally reached Platinum Level fundraising, 250,000 Linden dollars or about $1000 USD. And so came what's become a tradition among the Sunbeamers and their friends: The Platinum Avatar Challenge.

For yours truly, for the third time I would be something I haven't been before. This time it was a pink avatar. *But*, I didn't say what kind it would be. So in a slight twist of the challenge two years ago, I appeared as a pink "Rita clone." I revealed the new look at 4PM At the Happy Vixen yesterday. It got a few chuckles, thought not as many the first time I pulled it off. Rita herself, whom doesn't think much of being a pink bunny didn't have much of a comment this time. My own "bubblegum crisis" will be for a week, baring those occasions when I'm obviously doing something for the Newser, such as interviews and covering the Fantasy Faire.

This time, I was joined by others in the challenge. Nydia Tungsten had offered to go purple for a week. And so yesterday the normally white vixen was sporting a shade of amethyst  But it was DJ Geerkil and his Dragon Crew teammates LS Raccoon and JB Raccoon that made the biggest change: going as Yinglet avatars. Geers had read up on the lore of the usually amusing small beings from the "Out of Placers" online comic, and found the creatures interesting. For someone used to huge avatars though, shrinking to being just a few feet high took some getting used to. On the other hand, fitting behind the DJ booth and dancing with others on the dance floor was now no trouble. The three stated they'll be staying in these appearances for three months. Definitely "above and beyond the call of duty." We'll keep them well-stocked with clams and oysters.

But the Relay goes on. The Sunbeamers are planning another "Bid Me" event this week, and there will be other chances this month to raise some funds, such as the Relaystock. With Platinum having been achieved, next the Sunbeamers are after Jade level fundraising, which is 500,000, a half million, Linden dollars. A daunting task, but we've done it before. And yes, I'll wear the "Bix Bilby" avatar again.

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

Bixyl Shuftan

Sunbeamers Hit Platinum!

Once again, "The Little Team That Could" has done it. For the fourth year in a row, the team has gone beyond Gold level fundraising to Platinum. After reaching 200,000 Linden dollars a few days ago, there were some sizable donations, including team captain Rita Mariner. And so on late afternoon April 29, the amount raised for this year reached 250,000 Linden dollars.

There were a few little incentives for people to donate. Nydia Tungsten volunteered to be purple for a short time. DJ Geerkil Ziskey and two others on the "Epic Failure" team will be switching to Yinglet avatars for a while. And then there's the matter of a certain fox who offered to switch to a pink avatar, at least for club and smaller Relay events, for a week (everywhere else such as the Fantasy Faire, I can go back to red fox). Like the first two times this "Platinum Avatar Challenge" was done, it's something I've never done before. The big reveal is today at the Happy Vixen club at 4PM. 

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: RFL Music Marathon at Club Happy Vixen, Tomorrow Noon to 6PM

Team Sunbeamers and Team Meli's Maniacs are getting together for a six-hour music extravaganza with three great DJs. Join us at the recently renovated Happy Vixen Beach club as DJ Geerkil, DJ Snowbuns, and DJ Tech spin their tunage for a great cause. The theme is "Best in Purple," and near the end of each of the three sets we'll have a vote to see who's best in theme.

As this is a charity event, the tip jars for the DJs, hostesses, and dancers will be inactive. All tips go to the Relay for Life in Second Life.

To keep things fair, the winner of the first contest will have to sit out from entering the contest board on the second.

To make things interesting, two of the Sunbeamer team, club owner Nydia Tungsten, and Bixyl Shuftan, have offers for a "Platinum Avatar Challenge." If Team Sunbeamers reaches Platinum fundraising level, 250,000 Linden dollars before the end of the event, Bixyl is offering to go pink for a week (something he *never* does) whenever appearing at club events or Relay events outside of the Fantasy Faire (everywhere else he can go back to normal). Nydia says if Platinum rank is reached, she will go Purple for a week.

The event will be Saturday April 20, from Noon to 6PM SL time.

Purrfection Estates (236, 219, 24)   

The RFL DSD Rabbit V2 Mod

Deaflegacy recently talked to some people about the "RFL Rabbit V2," an avatar modification. Not a complete avatar, but parts made to give another a purple coat of fur and other small changes, it was made by Astra Noctura (Silverskyranch) to raise money for the Relay for Life's Meli's Maniacs team. Deaf talked to her and a few from Team Sunbeamers whom had bought and used the mod.

Read Deaflegacy's article in Design.