Nineteen Years Ago ...

 

 It was nineteen years ago yesterday, December 17, 2006, in which I went to a place online one of my Internet friends had been bragging about. For some time, she had been talking about the fun she had on Second Life, showing some pictures of her appearance there. So when I finally got high-speed Internet, I would check out two places online, World of Warcraft and Second Life. 

 

These days, I hardly ever go about Warcraft. But after nineteen years I still get on almost every day. Much has changed. It's owner Linden Lab has gone through a number of CEOs and being bought up. It's gone through a number of developments such as mesh and PBR. It's long past what's considered it's golden age when it was shiny and new. A whole generation has passed, people leaving from losing interest or dying, and new people getting on. But Second Life is still here and continuing to thrive. 

 

It's become my main audience as a writer. But I still continue enjoying the places I see, the events I come across, and of course there's the people I meet.  There really isn't a reason to stop. 

 

So baring some unforseen disaster, I'll still be coming on, and writing about, this wacky but wonderful virtual world.  

To read more about my first days, check out my 2021 article.

Bixyl Shuftan.  

Eighteen Years ago ...

 

My avatar would be considered old enough to vote, and legally a mature man in real life.

 

It was eighteen years ago today, in which yours truly first came to this virtual world, December 17, 2006. I had only recently gotten high-speed Internet, finally getting off the old "dial-up" telephone modem. So I was free to check out two places online my friends were talking about: World of Warcraft and Second Life. 

Today, World of Warcraft has become more or less a happy memory to me, still around but no longer the king of MMOs that it used to be. But Second Life is still very much around and I'm still very much going. As any parent can tell you, a LOT can happen in eighteen years, and it has. A year later, I had a number of friends and found my purpose here: online journalism. And over time, my path has taken me to a few communities, many friends, and a couple years ago a loving SL wife. Second Life has also changed much, going through a number of CEOs and being bought up, going from prim building to mesh and then other forms of mesh, the Lindens went from involved with the residents to hardly involved to somewhat involved again. Corporations and celebrities would take an interest early on, but then began to leave. Over time, the residents would change as well, new ones coming in constantly, and older ones leaving due to real life or dying. 

So what does the future hold? Baring a catastrophe of some kind, Second Life will be around for years to come. And me, baring an accident or some other medical emergency, I'll continue to be around for a few years more. But retirement is several years away, and once that happens I'll have my physical and financial health to think about. But that's in the future. In the meantime, I'll still be coming on to support my friends and SL family, and write about this virtual world.

 

To read more about my first days, check out my 2021 article.

Bixyl Shuftan.  

"Special Rezday Livestream - Draxtor is turning 17!"

 

 

 (Click here if the video does not play)

From Draxtor Despress on February 29, "On February 20th this year it has been 17 years. Of being STUCK in the virtual realm ... OR HAS IT? Where does the time go? Does it go into a prim and it is then stored somewhere on the mainland where only Philip Rosedale has access to it? Why does Drax still wear a Slink body? What about the turtleneck he sported in 2009, or the Pacman shirt he used to wear until Linden Lab Lawyers (LLL) made him burn it and distribute the ashes over the Blake Sea? Lots of questions and no answers shall be given on this special Rez Day live stream. BUT lots and lots of stories and videos and perhaps special guests, and friends, and maybe enemies (since I am naive enought to show the location where I am at), dropping in and out"

 

Possible adult language in the video (yours truly didn't see all two hours)

 

Seventeen Years Ago ...

 

On the evening of December 17, 2006, yours truly first came to this virtual world. I had just gotten a cable modem, and was finally able to leave the slow "dial-up" behind, So I went to check out two places my online friends were talking about, "World of Warcraft" and "Second Life."

 

Seventeen years later, I've long left Warcraft behind. But I'm still going around Second Life just about every day. A lot has changed over time. The prim avatars have changed to mesh, as well as the way people go about getting one. CEOs have come and gone. There's Bellisseria. There's Linden Lab getting a new owner, and more. But after my first year, a few things have remained the same. I'm still writing away about this virtual world, and I still have a circle of friends that keep me going back in. 

To read more about my first days, check out my 2021 article.

Bixyl Shuftan. 

Sixteen Years Ago

 

 

It was December 17, 2006 when yours truly first came to this virtual world. I had just gotten a cable modem, finally leaving the slow "dial-up" behind, and I went to check out two places my online friends were talking about, "World of Warcraft" and "Second Life."

Sixteen years later, yours truly has left Warcraft behind. But still going around Second Life practically every day. Much has changed over time from Lab CEOs to mesh to Bellisseria to the Lab's getting a new owner. But after my first year, a few things have remained the same. I'm still writing away about this virtual world, and I still have a circle of friends that keep me going back in. 

To read more about my first days, check out my 2021 article.

Bixyl Shuftan.

Party in the Deathlands

 

Sunday July 3 was a day of celebration in the usually bleak Deathlands. The region's leader, Rebel Wolf (HermitBlue Resident), aka the Baron, had his rezzday then. So the Sunday night party there at the Fallout Shelter celebrated it. 

Tonight! Live at the Fallout Shelter, in scenic Deathlands, it's Second Life's favorite music maker DJ Wolfy, spinning her radioactive tunes tonight, Sunday 4 PM -6 PM SLT! Come join us for tunes and requests, and dance your heard out! The sim holds only 25, so get here early!

They talked about a few things, such as when Putin and Zelenskyy were supposedly both seen at the Deathlands, "they come to see a radioactive land and learn."  They also talked about some of the local critters. "You finally exhausted the rat population?" "Naw in church and by motel." "They regrouping." "We have baby zombies now..." "The baby zombies are cute and really all they can do is gum you." "They don't do much damage?" "They're like regular mobs I was just trying to be funny." DJ Wolfie, whom sported a lady wolf avatar and a rad symbol armband to match the baron's, played music, some  tunes especially getting the Baron's attention, "Eve of Destruction! Ohhhhhhhh!!!!!!!! Fantastic song."

Someone also had out an avatar that looked like a dolphin in an exoskeleton, with legs, "Now I am a space dolphin. I keep getting ejected from parcels with this avatar it's great. ... Half machine half cetacean." Rebel's response was, "Oh nooooooooo! Who cut off Flipers , flippers?" He then looked to the others, "So gang, how do ya all feel about fish tonight?"

It was a crazy night of the kind only the Deathlands could offer.

Bixyl Shuftan
 

RFL Announcement: Team ACTS Celebrates Duchess Liz Wilner's Rezzday With A Party

 

Team ACTS invites you to celebrate our Captain Duchess Liz Wilner's 14th Rezzday.

Saturday April 9

10 to 11 AM SL time

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rosehaven%20Laudanum/47/159/2011
 

Fifteen Years Later

 

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step," goes an ancient proverb. Every one of us in Second Life, no matter how experienced, had their own beginning. It was about fifteen years ago, on December 17, 2006, in which yours truly first came to this virtual world. So what were these first few days, with no money and uncertainty about lay ahead, like?

Read more in Extra.
 

Marianne McCann's 14th Rezzday

Saturday February 22 was the rezzday of Bay City's most noted resident: Marianne McCann. To celebrate, a party was held at The Pen in the Mashpea sim

The little venue was packed, with about 43 people at one point. People came by to wish the noted child avatar well. Though one seeing her SL age remarked , "Dang, Mari is too old for a spanking now." Marianne responded she was the "Oldest 8 1/2 year old" on the Grid. She would comment getting to Second Life, "The three people who first got me into SL, unbenowst to me, were 1. a child avatar, 2. a child avatar. 3. a cub."

There was also a bit of discussion, "Someone asked my opinion on some SL issue some months back, like I had some inside info and I said, 'don't ask me, ask Marianne!'" Marianne answered, "I don't always have any sekrit info to share, but I do tend to keep my ear to the rail." A third person commented, "Mari remembers everything! That's her real sekrit."

"That's my secret, Cap. I keep coming back to SL because everyone is doing something really cool all the time."

Happy Rezzday, Marianne

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: TRIFECTA (aka Tokyo Nights 2020)

Friday, January 24, 2-4pm slt

What's up?

music, dancing, celebrations

come
and
and
find out
--------

We are celebrating the rezdays of 3 of our "ancient ones."
Come for great music. pixel food and drink and an enjoyable event!

Somewhere in the Confederation of Democratic Simulators

Happy Rezzday Shockwave and Cynthia.

In real life, people celebrate their birthdays. In Second Life, what's often celebrated instead is the anniversary of the day a resident first walked onto the Grid, or rezzday. A few days ago, Cynthia Farshore and Shockwave Yareach, members of the Sunweaver community in which the Newser office makes it's home, had theirs. As they were close together, they decided to have a combined rezzday party, holding it at Cynthia's Goblin Cave in Caledon Downs.

Read the story in Events.

Scenes From The Relay

Besides the Sunbeamers "Bid Me" events, there have been others. On Tuesday night, March 26, at the "Blarney Stone" pub in Dublin, there was a performance by "DJ Kayla and the Roos" from  7-9 PM.

Roos with a Dream and the Blarney Stone Irish Pub present DJ Kayla and the Kangaroos for Relay For Life from 7-9 pm tonight. Come and party with us as DJ Kay treats you to her favourite music.

The following day, there was a surprise rezzday party for Gem Sunkiller at the Home and Garden Expo, "Lets crash the Sim for Her REzDay!"

The Expo is still going on for a few more days. Later on will be the Sci-Fi con, and the Fantasy Faire, which in recent years has started to rival the Relay Weekend in attendance.

Interview With Bixyl Shuftan

A little more than a week ago, the editor of the Second Life Newser, Bixyl Shuftan, had his twelfth rezzday. Deaflegacy felt the occasion deserved an interview. So the two sat down in what would be her last interview to be published for 2018. The editor had a few things to say about how the past twelve years had gone, in and out of writing about Second Life.

Read Deaflegacy's interview in People.

Marianne McCann's Twelfth Rezzday

On Thursday February 22, Bay City had a rezzday party for it's most noted resident: Marianne McCann. She turned twelve, "but only in rezz years" as the invitations she handed out stated. The party took place at "The Pen," a small diner in the Mashpee sim, at 8PM SL time.

I didn't count the number of people there, but it's safe to assume there were a few dozen. Besides some Bay City notables such as Uccello Poultry, there were also two Lindens: Evie Linden and Tommy Linden, whom had been at the Isle of View event just days earlier. There was a music performance by Erika Ordinary.

Besides the numerous "Happy Rezzday Marie" well-wishes, there was talk about the next big event in Bay City. April 1 will be the second annual "Everfest," named after the late Ever Dreamscape whom was known for her pyromania. Uccello stated, "A fire for her always burns at the Arboretum. Frankly, we have no idea how to put it out."

One resident stated before leaving, "I want to send a big thank you and happy rez day to Marianne McCann and all those at The Pen for having us today. and a special thank you to Vian.. it's a treat working in such a lovely place. Thank you everyone that made this show possible, thank you for loving music and thank you for being here."

Bixyl Shuftan

Ari's Rezzday

One person Deaflegacy looks up to is Ari (arisia.vita). A pianist in Second Life, he plays in Cape Heron, Creations for Parkinson's, and other places. The musician recently reached a milestone: his tenth rezzday. He would perform at Perfect Paradise that day, and Deaflegacy was among those who dropped by to both listen to his music, and wish him a happy rezzday.

Read Deaflegacy's article in People.

Happy Rezzday to Jessicabelle Dayafter

It's not every day someone has their tenth rezzday. So when Jessicabelle Dayafter had hers, her friends threw her a party. The celebration took place on the evening of Sunday July 30.

A number of the skunkgirl's friend showed up, some I hadn't seen in quite some time, with the rezzday girl herself swinging on a dancepole. Over the years, Jessicabelle's gotten a number of people admiring her for her beauty and talent, including a character based on her in a furry comic. She's also developed a line of aircraft, called Skunkette Aviation.

Happy Rezzday Jessicabelle.

Announcement: "Any1's Rez Day Benefit" For Feed A Smile

Any1 Gynoid, a former CNN iReporter and former member of the Newser team, has her tenth Rezzday today. To celebrate, she's turning the occasion into a n 11 hour long  benefit, with stand-up comedy, and live music, with proceeds going to "Feed a Smile," which funds the charity "Live and Learn" in Kenya.

For more information, check out their webpage at: http://www.leben-lernen-kenia.org/typo3/index.php?id=115&L=1

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Feed%20a%20Smile/61/142/23

Safe Water Foundation Meeting and Underwater Birthday Bash

On June 10 at Noon SL time, there was a meeting at the Safe Waters Foundation in which Gentle Heron of Virtual Ability gave an open discussion about how the disabled could access Second Life, and how a welcome area suited to their particular needs could encourage them to stay. The meeting was attended by SWF head Grace (GraceSWF Wrigglesworth), and Barbie Alchemi of Creations for Parkinson's. Any1 Gynoid was also there. The event took place on the ocean floor of the Union Passage sim.

Grace happened to have her rezzday about this time. And at 6PM her friends in and out of the group held a rezzday party for her.

The party was mostly merfolk, but there were a few others, including a couple people in diving helmets. Kiosks for the Relay for Life and the Team Fox Parkinson's charities were placed and  collected a few thousand Linden dollars. Much of the music played was Celtic and Celtic-inspired. Tours were offered, and yours truly got a chance to see some places around the bottom of the Blake Sea.

Stay tuned for more about the Safe Water Foundation and the Blake Sea.

Addition: Grace told me the discussion happens at Union Passage (96/229/1) every two weeks, and is called, "Let's Mertalk," "Sometimes Open Topic and other times there will be other topics announced in advance."

Bixyl Shuftan

Happy Rezzday Perri Prinz

 Last night on Thursday January 19 at 6 PM, the Happy Vixen closed for the night and the party was moved to Perri's Xanadu at HV Community (67/207/4051. The reason, the day before was the rezzday of it's part owner Perri Prinz. Perri didn't know about the event as it was done impromptu as a surprise.

 DJ Serenity, the black mousegirl who usually performs at the Happy Vixen on Thursdays, spun the tunes for the first couple hours. The theme was Steampunk, with 1000L placed on each board.

Finally, Perri showed up, much to the cheers of the crowd. And after a couple birthday hugs danced with her partner Recoyote Mindes. The party would go on to 10PM SL time with Skylark Lefavre DJing for the next couple hours.

Bixyl Shuftan

Ten Years Later

It was a few days and ten years ago that yours truly first came to Second Life. Ten years ... that's a total of 3653 days, and a lot of people and places seen. But all of that lay in the future when I first came to this virtual world. With only a few screenshots and a few paragraphs of description from a friend, I made an account and logged in with little idea what to expect. For those curious about my first days here, a year ago I wrote a story about them.

My tenth rezzday went much like any other, going about looking for stories around the virtual world, and spending a little time with friends. Baring some unexpected disaster, there's not much chance of this changing anytime soon. I've found personal success here in writing about the news here, and have every intention of keeping on going. Yes, there's always the chance of a Linden blunder that will finally send Second Life fading to black, but they've kept things going for over thirteen years. The place will most likely continue on for quite some time, and chances are so will I.

Bixyl Shuftan.