The Waterfall Café

 

The Newser has covered many winter places in recent weeks.  For those looking for something different, Newser reporter Netera Landar found a location very interesting and unique in all seasons: The Waterfall Cafe. From Katie Luckstone, with it's picturesque underwater caverns, huge aquariums with swimming fish, chairs made to resemble sea shells, and more, it's very much worth a visit. 

 

Read Netera's article in Places.  

Three Underwater Places: Mad Mines, Pacifique, Nightgarden

 

In the USA and many other places, August can seem like the hottest month of the year. So many of us are looking to cool off a bit. And one place to cool off is in the water. Recently Bixyl Shuftan decided to check out a few underwater areas in Second Life: Mad Mines, Pacifique, and one that was part of a place we looked at before, Nightgarden. So what did he find?

 

Read more in Places. 

 

A Glance At World of Warships

 

While we usually cover Second Life, I'm taking a step away from my usual coverage to write about one of the computer games I've been playing for some time.  This would be "World of Warships" by Wargaming. Players chose a ship, then fight as part of a team in a fleet battle. So how do you play and how do you get bigger and better ships, and is this free to play game really free?

 

Read the article in Other Grids, MMOs, and Games. 

This Saturday at The Science Circle

 

Saturday, January 21

 

    ~*~

    

    At 10 AM PST   

    Come Down, Down, Down to The Sea With Me

    By Linda M. Kelley

    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/to-the-sea/

 

   STEM Island (211,74,21)

      

    ~*~

 

    At 9 PM PST   

    Why Education?

    By Jes Stannard

    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/why-education/

 

   The Science Circle (72,129,30)

 

    ~*~

    

    NOTE: Non-members required to register once

    IM Jes Cobalt or Nymf Hathaway

╚══════════════════════════════ The Science Circle (72,129,30) ═╝

 

Announcement: "Help Me Help Ukraine"

 

After earning, cashing in and donating the first L$5000, I am up to L$2443 in the second round!

Help me get there!  Come to my Fanci's Deep Mer Mall booth:
 Union Passage (243,171,3)
and BUY SOME STUFF for your mer self, legged self, and friends!

100% OF SALES will be donated to the Global Giving Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund. 

Thanks!
Dana Enyo
 

SL Video: "Wellerman Sea Shanty"

 

(Click here if the video does not play)

From Inworld Films on March 2021, "Inspired by Nathan Evans the 26 year old postman who just liked to sing on TikTok and became totally FAMOUS for this song !"
 

Announcement: Deep Blue Sea Gridwide Hunt

 *

Get ready to dive into the deep blue sea!  Take a trip into the oceans blue and find deviously magical mermaids, frightening krakens, and mysterious creatures.  Sail the high seas and discover some pirate treasure adventures with us on our free gridewide hunt and chill out with open:air's live event experiences. Adventure calls and Chronicles will open January 15th at noon SLT and end February 5th

To start the hunt use the SURL at the bottom of this announcement. Simply click the hunt prim example by the Deep Blue Sea HUNT sign to receive your landmark to your first destination. You’ll be looking for a Treasure Chest in each of the stores you visit! The landmark to the next location will be located in the folder along with your prize. Alternatively you can use the page on the website for hints. https://chroniclesandlegends.com/the-deep-blue-sea-hunt-guide/

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nymphai/107/75/3378
 

Announcement From The Safe Waters Foundation

 

2021 has passed and we are looking forward into 2022:  Let's name this  the year of COMING TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF OUR UNDERSEA COMMUNITY.  Feel free to share this with other sea related groups - together we can continue to inject fun and energy to the sea parts of Second Life.  We hope you visit all the undersea spots - and come to Safe Waters Foundation to to find underwater resources, other sea folk, some fun and to help others in the community!

2021 was a great year for underwater seafolk communities.  Safe Waters Foundation  had a huge response to our Fantasy Faire involvement and experienced a big jump in traffic.  Traffic, as always goes in cycles -  we continue to encourage the  involvement of people and groups coming into SL and into SWF lands to take advantage of our resources.  

JustaChicky Goldshark has emerged as a solid officer for SWF and we soon will have another officer you all know - JewelMermaid, who owns the Pied Piper Mermaid Shop .  Jewel leads the concierge team - a huge sub-group of SWF that attempts to greet and help people as they come to a SWF booth (at special events) and to our headquarters location (contact Jewel if you'd like to become a SWF Concierge).

The Saturday gathering continues to be a strong weekly connection for us (thanks to Miranda and Sweete) - and a small  gathering I call "Grace Gather" now meets on Wednesdays 4:30pm to chat and go tour one of the SWF hangouts.

As usual, the winter months have been slow - but that's given us an opportunity to reflect and look for where we can improve in serving our mission.

We are excited to tell you that there are some remodeling and  upgrades coming to the Safe Waters Headquarters, Fanci's Deep Mer Mall and the Fanci's Deep Residential areas.  Adboards are being updated and we'll be offering some special rates to get people to restart there.  A very generous, talented builder team has stepped up to lead the rebuilds you will be seeing soon.   We intend to participate in Fantasy Faire again this year and will be working to strengthen our concierge team.  We are working on very fun ideas and yet still maintain that we want SWF HQ to be a place for you to go find all the fun under the sea in Second Life.  We are a hub for finding fun (but having fun doing it!)

So, while our areas have a bit of dust and disarray right now - please know that good things are in development.  You are invited to come to the Saturday gatherings as we'll try to have updates for you there as things start to happen.  We do need help in making it happen - I think right now we need volunteers for short term projects, and some quality full perm gifts if any of you like to build and share.  How can you help our community?  Things only happen when we all come together to help - please join us as we venture hopefully into a new year!

Sincerely,
GraceSWF Wrigglesworth
Founder and CEO
Safe Waters Foundation

=======================
Safe Waters Foundation Mission statement: Supporting the development of harmony and safety for merfolk and sea folk of Second Life. Bringing together and being a resource for designers, retailers, sims, merrow, mermen, mermaids, sirens, cetaceans, cephalopods, other aquatics and lovers of same in an environment that encourages diversity and awareness of RL ecological issues.

SWF Goals:
- To assist those considering an underwater life
- To increase awareness in the general public that there is an underwater option
- To make mer resources (events, projects, groups, retailers, sims, designers) visible and easily accessible
- To assist, as possible, with the viability of mer resources so they may continue to be available to the community
- To promote the conservation of RL oceans, lakes and waterways and the nature that relies on them

Please visit the SWF web page at: http://www.safewatersfoundation.com/

SWF Headquarters:   http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Union%20Passage/212/223/4

Read about all things mermaid at:  http://cynthiamermaid.blogspot.com/
 

Announcement: "Under the Sea" at Caledon

 
Everypaws is invited to come and spend time with DJ Cynthia and myself  Under the Sea!  Dame, DJ Cynthia Farshore says, "All you pirates, mermaids, fish and seamen, come dance to the shanties!" 

We will be in the Under Ocean Retreat this Tuesday the 24th from 6 to 8 as Cynthia streams the tunes of a pirate under water theme. In or out of theme come and join us. Please make you way to the main chamber once you arrive. Hang a left at the intersection.
 
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Oxbridge%20Village/124/218/2411
 

SL Video: "Into The Sea - The Siren's Spell Song

 (Click here if the video does not play)

From Pring Productions on June 14, "Still Photos by Prudence Anton, Cian Wycliffe. Photos taken in Bellisseria, Second Life."
  

Underwater Area Maps

 

In Safe Waters Foundation chat, Celtic Infinity posted a link to a map showing some mainland, but also plenty of water sims, "The artist collective [ MD ] has been working on a comprehensive map for the Explorers among us. ... We hope it will raise awareness of how immense the undersea area is, and inspire to swim further and find new muses."

One can find a link to it on Flickr here: https://flic.kr/p/2kGaD5v

There is also a second one, "Sea of Fables," here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fuzsus/50993125817/in/photostream/

 

Cartoon of the Day: Ironclad Misconceptions

Taken at Sunweaver Space on "Talk Like a Pirate Day" (Sept 19). The USS Monitor when designed and built was highly unusual compared to wooden warships at the time. Besides it being made of iron, it's low profile and rotating turret made it look like a "cheesebox on a raft." While the term was made to poke fun at it, this "pie rat," would see it as complementary.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: Splash - A Celebration of Mer Life in SL

Please join us August 16th to the 23rd to celebrate summer with our under the sea Splash! event for merfolk and their friends.

We have a full week of fun events and activities, including noted DJs, spoken word and dance performances, sporting events, shopping, and more!

Splash! starts

Sunday, August 16th, 2 pm SLT
DJ Elrik Merlin, of Radio Riel, opening with a watery interlude of dance and music.

Sunday, August 16th, 6-7 pm
DJ Ktadhn Vesuvino and Caledonia Skytower who steer a unique course for a journey of music and poetry, featuring the Sea in all her alluring, fierce glory. from 6-7 pm SLT.  "I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;"  (John Masefield - "Sea Fever")

Monday, August 17th, 10 am SLT

Join us for a Kelpy jumping competition under the sea for a chance to take home ribbons, a trophy and gift cards to Elite Equestrian! The Jump competition will be held at 10 am SLT.  Winners to the first 6 places receive a unique trophy + gift cards.($1,000L gift card to 1st, 500L gift card  to 2nd, 200L gift card  to 3rd, 100L gift card to places 4-6.)

Tuesday, August 18th, 12 noon SLT

Join us for a jousting lesson with Duchess Atrasalus of Tamriel Isles, Knight of Dragon's Lair, member of the Medieval Games Alliance.  Her Grace Atrasalus will teach the ins and outs of jousting, all are welcome and free for use Kelpies will be available for all merfolk and 2-leggers.  Joust class is at 12 noon SLT.

Wednesday, August 19th, 7 pm SLT

Please join us for our second Kelpy jumping competition under the sea for a chance to take home ribbons, a trophy and gift cards to Elite Equestrian! The Jump competition will be held at 7 pm SLT. Winners to the first 6 places receive a unique trophy + gift cards.($1,000L gift card to 1st, 500L gift card  to 2nd, 200L gift card  to 3rd, 100L gift card to places 4-6.)

Thursday, August 20th, 12 noon SLT
Formal joust: put your jousting lessons to the test with a formal joust competition, beginning at 12 noon SLT. Duchess Atrasalus of Tamriel Isles will be presiding, please join us for this unique event!  Free for use Kelpies will be available for all merfolk and 2-leggers. 

Friday, August 21st, 11 am  SLT

DJ Ktahdn provides sea-themed music from various sources. Instrumental and vocal, sailors and swimmers, and maybe even a poem or two. Our course will be adjusted on the fly, as we dance.

Friday, August 21st, 6 pm SLT

Tales of Enchantment from the Sea: Reader Willow Moonfire will read two traditional Celtic legends from Scotland and Ireland, The Soul Cages, and The Seal Catcher and The Selkies.

Saturday, August 22nd, 4 pm SLT

Idle Rogue's Guerilla Burlesque appearing life at Splash! with an underwater dance production featuring performances by Aubreya Joszepe, Dax Dover, Gloriana Maertens, Harlequin Lock, Meegan Danitz, and Melina Aurotharius.

Saturday, August 22nd, 5-7pm SLT

DJ Caledonia Skytower takes us under the sea from 5-7 pm with a danceable mix of watery tunes: "Above, Below, or Beside the Waves! Whether you're on fins, claws, or tentacles.  Join us at Splash! for a broad spectrum of music from rock, to country, to contemporary electronic: Rod Stewart, Christopher Cross, Styx, Metric, Pt green, Christine Anu, DNCE and more!"

Sunday, August 23rd,

Seanchai Library, among the oldest spoken word program on the Second Life grid, presents an hour of tales spun in the watery depths: mer people, and creatures of myth and legend.

What else? During the week, visit the Splash! event to ride the Kelpie -Go-Round and receive an adorable merfolk gift (new every day!), practice over the jump course or jousting list with our free Ride With Me! Kelpies, shop at selected merchants, win unique raffle prizes, find trivia treasure hunt objects to create a special mer crown, plus new product releases, and an art exhibit of mer life in SL.

NOTE: The event space is on an Adult region. While none of our programming explicitly contains "adult" content, there may be adult themes and bare skin. Topless is fine, but we do ask genitals be kept covered or tucked away.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Island%20Of%20Joy/244/12/7

RFL Sunbeamers: 600K Reached, "Bid Me" Results

Friday May 15 saw the Sunbeamer's "Under the Sea" event at the "Aquarium" venue made for special events such as this. A number of people showed up for the party, music played by DJ Snowbuns, including a number outside the team. As it was a multiteam event, two others showed up, Meli's Maniacs and Soul Sisters n Family, whom got over 5000 Lindens each at the fundraiser. The Sunbeamers got much more, getting the team total past 600,000 Linden dollars.

As of the writing of this article, the team has raised over 607,00 Linden dollars. The Sunbeamers will also be having their "Moon Dance" event tonight, and plan to take part in a multi-team club crawl this weekend.

Also, on Saturday May 16, the results of what will probably be the last of the "Bid Me" events were announced by Rita Mariner. The volunteer, Zorro Wuramunga, will be quiet for a while.

BID ME RESULTS - ZORRO GOES MUTE

ZORRO: Stays normal:  0L
                Goes MUTE:      11,151L
               
 Zorro goes MUTE for 4 WEEKS, till, JUNE 13th.  This MUTE apples to OPEN CHAT Only, He may still IM, if he wishes. Such as making a musical request. 

"What does the fox say?" In Zorro's case, nothing for a month.

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

Bixyl Shuftan

SL Video: "Come Sail Away"

(Click here if the video does not play)

From Airene Rene on Jan 27, "Simple video only coz unplanned . Thank you Blake Sea."

Puns of the Day

Taken at the VWBPE, "Advice from the ocean."

Be shore of yourself

Come out of your shell

Take time to coast

Avoid pier pressure

Sea life's beauty

Don't get tide down

Make waves

Valentine Dance by the Safe Waters Foundation

With Valentines Day this week, there's been quite a few Valentine parties. But how many can boast being a mermaid party? On Sunday February 11, there was a Valentines Day dance organized by the Safe Waters Foundation, held at Antiquity MarieGalante, at the Water's Edge Merhaven.

Tonight, Antiquity and Safe Waters Foundation present a Valentine Dance!  Bring your special someone, or meet them here!  Music by DJ Cynthia Maine, the Gold Mermaid.  All are welcome!

The party was held over a heart-shaped dance floor underwater on the sea bottom. As the announcement stated, not everyone whom attended had a tail and fins. And some who were, it was for the occasion, "This is a fun event.  And I do not get very often to be a mer." DJ Cynthia played songs like the theme from Titanic, "My Heart Will Go On," and Elvis Presley's "Burning Love."

I was there only a brief time, but was around long enough to hear some of the conversation. "ala everyone." "... how have you been?" "Just as fine as frog hair, how about you?" "Frogs have hair?" "They do but its very very fine." "Only if they grab it from somebody's comb." "They buy little froggy wigs."

The Safe Water Foundation. led by GraceSWF Wrigglesworth, is the largest group of mermaids and mermen, or merfolk as they're sometimes called, in Second Life. For more information about them, check their website: http://www.goldmermaid.com/SWF/ .

Bixyl Shuftan

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

Singer Alessandra Eberlain Returns to Live Performing

After a hiatus of about two years, singer Alessandra Eberlain returned to the stage on Sunday March 6. In an underwater area in Rainbow valley, she sung a number of Disney songs for their "Under the Sea" event, "Come and join us under the sea with bubbles and rainbows as we celebrate the Grand Opening of Rainbow Valley!"

Alessandra, whom starred in an interpretation of "Phantom of the Opera," as well as singing live on stage in a number of venues, explained she had to take some time off, but will be able to perform on Second Life regularly for the foreseeable future.

Happy "Talk Like a Pirate Day"

Arrrr! Shiver me timbers! Tis be "Talk Like A Pirate Day." An' time ta takes a look at a few pirate-themed places in Second Life. First, if ye wish ta catch up on yer pirate speak, be checkin' our old article on th' lingo.

In the past, we wrote about a detailed pirate themed area "Morgan Straits." It's no longer around, but there are other places one can engage in a little swashbuckling. One place you'll be wanting to check out is the Blake Sea. This is a HUGE area of water and islands east of the Second Life mainland. To join up with the Blake Sea Battles Group, head to Blake Diego (215, 45, 36)


There, one can get information about the group, in addition to a couple freebie craft, and one demo of a small armed ship. You can also find schedules of events, such as the sea battles.

Typing "Pirates" in Second Life search will get you a number of adult-themed roleplay areas. Near the top of the list were a couple that weren't, Trade Winds (51, 139, 22), and Pirates Destiny at Nassau Stronghold (126, 119, 25). But these places may not be friendly to nonhuman avatars, except merfolk. They have some freebie items, such as clothes, swimmer HUDs, and a merchant at Trade Winds had a freebie vessel, but while they may not mind a furry tourist walking around, being welcome in a combat RP may be another matter. This is too bad, as going about Trade Winds, there was some good scenery. But looking at Blake Sea Battles Group, the charter doesn't say anything about problems with anyone having a tail.

Besides these places, no doubt there will be a lot of venues holding pirate themed events, such as Club Cutlass near the SL Newser office. But to enjoy pirate-themed fun all year round, the best place in terms of volume of water and welcoming of one's looks is the Blake Sea.

Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day Mateys.

Bixyl Shuftan