Announcement: This Week at the Science Circle

                           

“Lessons from Seven Years of Teaching in Second Life” By Greg Perrier, Ph.D., USA
Friday, September 15th
10 AM PDT

I will give a retrospective of my seven years of working in STEM education in Second Life.  This presentation will summarize lessons learned focusing on what has worked and what did not work in our initiative to use Second Life as an educational tool for Biology. I will end by examining how these lessons from the past can inform our future endeavours.

SL Avatar: Dodge Threebeards

More information about Dodge's presentation at https://sciencecircle.org/upcoming-saturday/

The Science Circle (61/126/32)

SL Video: "Baking with Bree"

(Click here if the video fails to load)

By Muriel Campese on March 2015, A Tombstone Pictograph Short Motion Picture staring Breezes Babii, who passed away last week.

Interview with GoSpeed Racer (GoSpeed Rasere)

A couple weeks ago as part of it's "Hot Bay City Nights," Bay City had it's "Miss Bay City" contest. The winner was GoSpeed Racer. GoSpeed has long been a presence in Bay City, playing music for it's events, and getting attention with her name. Recently, Deaflegacy interviewed her for the Newser. GoSpeed had a number of things to say, from how she got her name, from details on being Miss Bay City, to her recent fictional writings.

Read Deaflegacy's story in People.

AdMire : Real Life Jam Meet-Up in The Netherlands

Wesley Regenbogen recently attended a unique music event, AdMire. The event took place not just in Second Life, but also the real life location that the inworld area was based on. So what did Wesley have to say about the occasion?

Read Wesley's article in Events.

Remembering Sept 11 at Stagg Island

On Monday Sept 11 at 6PM SL time, I dropped by the Stagg Island 9/11 Memorial. This was the sixteenth anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil that killed about 3,000 people, most from the collapse of the World Trade Center towers. There are a number of memorials to the fallen across Second Life. Stagg Island is the largest one known to the Newser.

The radio stream had both recordings of news broadcasts at the time, and music appropriate for the occasion, such as "Tower of Strength."

"Thank you for attending our 16th Anniversary tribute to those we lost on 9/11/2001. ... This memorial was constructed  for the 10 year anniversary of 9/11.  The outpouring of support has been so remarkable that the creator, and the residents and friends of Stagg Island, decided to leave it up here permanently and dedicate it to the residents of Second Life. Each wall at the memorial contains every name of a precious life lost that day. The individuals on the Airliners, in  the World Trade Center and in the Pentagon are all represented.

"At the one end of the memorial is an eternal flame signifying the light of these souls and keeping their memory forever alive.  Above the eternal flame rotates the Earth. This signifies that all countries were impacted by this terrible tragedy.  We lost people from all nationalities, colors and creeds that day. Evil does not discriminate.  Angels at each corner guard all the individuals honored here.

"The two recessed waterfalls represent the footprint of each building,  The  beam of light  in each footprint signifies each tower and are intended to light up the heavens for our loved ones as a guiding beacon to eternity. During our ceremonies on the anniversary, the "Lanterns of Souls"  will rise out of the water (from each footprint ) to the heavens, signifying the rising to heaven of  the souls of every human being lost that day."

Sixteen years after so many died, America still remembers those who fell.

Bixyl Shuftan

Events This Week at the Sunweaver and Furry Fashion Clubs

It's a week full of events at the Sunweaver and Angel clubs, and the Furry Fashion Lounge.

Club Cutlass: Best in 'Q' and 'R,' TBA, TBA

Happy Vixen, Best in Purple, Heroes, Candy Colors, Roller Skates, Crazy Hair, Swimsuits, CAYA

Club Zero Gravity: Grease, Morning Music, Flower Power, Latex, Afternoon Mix-Up, Mix

Furry Fashion Lounge: Creepy vs Cute, Rave, Videogames, Steampunk, Kids/Chibis, Punk, Cyber, Fantasy

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin.'

Updated 10AM SL time

New Look For The Furry Fashion Lounge

The last time I checked out the Furry Fashion Lounge, the place resembled a haunted castle. The place was a bit creepy, which suggests they may be getting for Halloween early. But it wasn't deterring the crowd. Going in, the music was packed and the music was great.

Check out the new Lounge at Furry (185, 206, 53)

Press Release: Registration Open for Making Strides "Treasure The Chests" Shopping Event

Ahoy mateys!

Calling all buccaneers and wenches! Here’s a way you can support a good cause, raise funds for breast cancer research and have fun at the same time.

Registrations are now being accepted for the “Treasure the Chests” shopping event that will run from Oct. 1 to Oct. 31.

The event is sponsored by Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Across Second Life.

If you have any type of business, service or sell anything, this is a shopping event for you! There’s no requirements for items unique to the event; no special vendors to set up.

There are a variety of shop sizes to choose from -- something for every budget. The shopping sim will have a Pirate/Old World theme, but don’t let that stop you! All are welcome to join us.

All businesses in Second Life are welcome to participate in this truly unique event. From designers to breedables to SL experiences, there’s a place for everyone at the Treasure the Chests shopping event.

Benefits of sponsorship are highlighted on this google document you can access.
http://bit.ly/2uHqniq

Once you have decided which level of shop works best for you, click the link below to join.
http://bit.ly/2uH4KPo

If you are unable to do sponsorship at this time but would like to participate, contact us and allow us to help you find a way to be involved that fits your needs.

We can help get your name and logo seen by THOUSANDS of people across the grid and web through our website and Facebook! All you need to do is click the link above to join or contact Leala Spire, or Sandie Loxingly for more information.

We’d love to talk to you about these opportunities and help spread the word about YOUR enterprise across the grid!

I’m In! What’s Required of Me?

You will be required to:
Register for your storefront between now and Sept. 20, by going to the following link : http://bit.ly/2uH4KPo

Pay your rental Fee for the level of shop you would like by Sept. 20 to be included in the Shopper’s Guide. The latest we will accept payment is Sept. 30, but late participants will not be in Shopper’s Guide. Payments made be made at the Strides office in Second Life.

Be prepared to start setting up your storefront by Sept. 26.

Have store open by Oct. 1. Storefronts will be required to be torn down between Nov. 1 and Nov. 4.

Read and Agree to Comply with All Guidelines which you can find here.

Is there more I can do to help? Or I can’t rent a storefront but would like to participate, how can I help?

If you would like to help more you can:
Donate a One of A Kind Item for Auction at the Treasure the Chests Gala on Oct. 28.

Donate a small item to go into the walkers’ gift bags that they will be given after the Making Strides walk on Oct. 21.

Place a kiosk in your main store to accept donations from your customers. If you have a storefront and would like to donate a portion of your sales of a special item or if you would like to create a special item for the event to sale, with proceeds going to MSABC, you are welcome too!! Just drop your donation in the kiosk next to your shop or the kiosk at the Making Strides Office on American Cancer Society Island.

You may set items up on Marketplace with a split sell to donate and you can contact Leala or Sandie for more info on this.


About MSABC

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer or MSABC is the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the nation, uniting more than 300 communities to finish the fight. Every breast cancer walk and event is an incredible and inspiring opportunity to honor those who have battled breast cancer, raise awareness about what we can do to reduce our breast cancer risk, and raise money to help the American Cancer Society fight the disease with research, information, services, and access to mammograms for women who need them.

For more information or to donate, visit MSABC in SL’s page, 

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/MakingStridesAgainstBreastCancer/MSABCCY17National?fr_id=85482&pg=entry

Media contact: Serina Juran

9/11 Memorial Locations

Today marks the 16th anniversary of the Sept 11 terrorist attacks in which Islamofacist hijackers took over four commercial airliners and crashed two into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and one into the Pentagon in Arlington Virginia, the fourth plane crashing into the Pennsylvania countryside when the passengers discovered what was going on and fought back.

Over the years, there have been a number of memorials to the fallen, such as the dAlliez Sept 11 Memorial, the World Trade Center Memorial at the New York City Block sim, and the Regant Estates’ New York NYC memorial. There was also the Stairclimb Tribute by Aero Pines Park. This year, there are a few up. Probably the best designed on is the Stagg Island 9/11 Memorial at Stagg Island (10/152/37). Last year and 2015, there were three remembrance events at 8AM SL time, 2PM, and 6PM.

 At Tenerife (118/143/1343) is "9/11 Memorial - Always Remember, Never Forget" by Bryston Vanvleck. Bryston had this announcement, "Come join us in honoring the victims and commemorating the 16th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. A moment of silence will be held at the following times:

8:46 a.m.(5:46 SLT): Flight 11 crashes into the North Tower (1 WTC).
9:03 a.m.(6:03 SLT): Flight 175 crashes into the South Tower (2 WTC)
9:37 a.m.(6:37 SLT): Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon
9:59 a.m.(6:59 SLT): The South Tower (2 WTC) collapses.
10:03 a.m.(7:03 SLT): Flight 93 crashes into an empty field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
10:28 a.m.(7:28 SLT): The North Tower (1 WTC) collapses."

At McCoy Island (74/73/30), they also had a memorial to Sept 11.

Sacred Ground at Urban Style (17/190/22) has a USO show at 6PM SL time in honor to the fallen of Sept. 11.

"We shall remember."

Bixyl Shuftan

September 11 - We Remember

Fireman’s Prayer

When I am called to duty,
whenever the flames my rage,
give me strength to save some
life whatever be their age.
Help me embrace a little child
before it is too late,
or save an old person from
the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert,
and hear the weakest shout.
And quickly and efficiently
to put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling
and give the best in me.
To guard my every neighbor,
protect his property.
And if according to my fate
I am to lose my life,
please bless with your protecting hand
my children and my wife.

9/11/01 - We will never forget

Poem by Firefighter A.W. “Smokey” Linn

 

SL Video: September 11 Observance in Second Life

(Click here if the video fails to play)

Filmed by Cyrus Hush on Sept 11, 2011, "A tour of several sims commemorating the 911 tragedy in the virtual reality environment of Second Life."

Remembrances of an Angel

Yesterday, a friend and former writer of the Second Life Newser, Breezes Babii, passed away. Breezes had a history here in the virtual world that covered over ten years and countless adventures, many which she described in the Second Life Newspaper, of which Editor Dana Vanmoer was part of her virtual family, and a few in the Second Life Newser early on in it's history. She was a friend to many in both papers, including Gemma Cleanslate. Gemma wrote about her memories of "Bree" as she was sometimes called, as she took part in roleplay communities, shopped around stores, struggled with home decorating, and much more.

Read Gemma's article in People.

Remembering Breezes Babii

Breezes is gone.

I first met her after joining JamesT Juno and Dana Vanmoer's Second Life Newspaper. Dana considered Breezes her adopted mother here in Second Life. She would write about her shopping, her adventures in the Samarkand roleplay community. But what I remember the most about her writing was her "Breezes Thoughts" articles, little slices of virtual life.  written in a somewhat poetic fashion. Sadly, most have pretty much vanished from the Internet, but a few can be seen such as one preserved in the SL Newspaper archived articles. A cancer survivor, she was also in the Relay for Life.

But I knew her as more than just a writer. We would sometimes meet at dance parties, such as the SL Newspaper ones at Metamorphosis, Quark Allen's gigs, the Bahama Beach Club, and others. And on occasion, we'd just meet up and joke around. She would also bring her real-life daughter to Second Life, Glitter. we would have a number of fun times together.

Sadly, the fun times at the Second Life Newspaper came to an end in 2010, and the lady who considered herself her daughter here all but dropped out of Second Life. But Breezes hung on, shopping, being with friends, and eventually joining the Newser for a time. Eventually, she would depart the paper, not able to write articles on a regular basis. But we would still remain in contact with her.

Breezes would spent her last few years in Second Life as a member of the Tombstone Old West roleplay community. Despite some health problems, she continued to be active. She would also continue to meet with us for Newser parties, the last one she was at being the post-holiday party in January. In June, she was becoming too sick to come to Second Life. Friends sent her well wishes and get well cards to her daughter-in law, who told me it meant a lot to her in her final months that she was still remembered.

When she passed away Saturday September 9 shortly after 10AM SL time, word soon reached Second Life. "Breezes Babii passed away and transitioned into her angel wings to watch over all of us," Spoke Ray Lobo (Nevar Lobo) in the Relay group. Vickie A. Maidstone, "Breezes will be missed, but let her legacy live on." There will most likely be a service of some kind for her at the Tombstone community.

Athene Forder would compose a poem on the spot for her.

Sometimes one must listen to the rain
as it falls in our lives
drenching each dream
yet refreshing our souls
as it washes away the soil

Sometimes one must stand in the sun
alone, enduring the heat
disregarding the sweat and toil
and the disapproving eyes
to make a point worth making

Sometimes one must huddle in the fog
of indecision and loss
feeling the cold invade our bones
while straining our eyes
to see beyond the fears

Sometimes one must endure the night
shivering in the cold
afraid to take a step
in any direction at all
for fear of the consequences

And sometimes one must sit back
knowing that no matter
the wet, heat, cold or blindness
That is not all that is given us
so we must wait

Sometimes we just need to watch the sunrise.

Farewell, our beloved colleague and friend. We'll meet again someday.

Bisyl Shuftan

Breezes Babii Passes Away

Breezes Babii is gone.

Breezes had been in poor health for some time, but in June things took a turn for the worse,  The Newser was notified today that she had passed away just after 10AM SL time. She is survived by two sons and a daughter.

Longtime readers will remember Breezes as one of the reporters of JamesT Juno and Dana Vanmoer's Second Life Newspaper, noted for her lighthearted "Breezes Thoughts" column. She would write briefly for the Newser early in it's history. She was also a member of the Tombstone Old West Roleplay area and community.

Rest in peace, our friend and colleague.

Tribute to Patio Plasma

Last Saturday September 2, there was a tribute to Patio Plasma, known as Paul Doherty in real life, whom sadly had recently passed away from cancer. The first part of the event was a tour of the Exploratorium sim which he had managed. The tour was given out by Vic Micalak, who spoke to the crowd in voice.

Vic showed people around the various builds of the sim, including a telescope that took you up to the eyepiece by raising the entire floor. With the total eclipse that had crossed the United States on August 21 just after his passing. someone commented that his wife in real life had wrote that he had "'gone ahead' to make sure all went well with the eclipse. Surely he was there."

Patio/Doherty "was a tenured professor of physics for 12 years at Oakland University, Michigan, where he taught courses ranging from physics, astronomy, and geology to electronics, computer programming, and meteorology. ... He is the author of many books, including the Explorabook, The Exploratorium Science Snackbook, the Klutz Book of Magnetic Magic, Color of Nature, and Traces of Time. Paul was given the Faraday Science Communicator award by the NSTA and chosen as the “Best Science Demonstrator” at the World Congress of Museums in Helsinki in 1996. ... He also spent time in the Antarctic Research center and he even appeared one time on the Late Show with David Letterman. The last book he wrote before he died was And Then You’re Dead: What Really Happens If You Get Swallowed by a Whale, Are Shot from a Cannon, or Go Barreling over Niagara."

Following the tour of the Exploratorium, Charlize Bellic held a Relay for Life memorial concert with live performances by several musicians inworld, "we are honoring on great individual who we lost to cancer: Patio Plasma a Second Life physicist with a true passion for science right now, and we have whirli on stage with Marqs coming up. Let's send this great person of Second Life out with the party they deserve."

There would be nine hours of music that day and evening, part of a tribute to the professor whom had done much for science in Second Life.

Bixyl Shuftan

SL Music Video: "Unchained Melody"

(Click here if the video fails to play)

From Calaval on May 2013, "A Second Life movie inspired by Ghost. I hope you enjoy it! Music is by Les Baxter."

Bay City's Demo Derby and The Last Summer Fireworls

Last week on Thursday August 31, Bay City had their Demolition Derby Event. Bay City had only recently concluded it's "Hot Bay City Nights" car show a few days earlier. But none of the cars involved here had been in it. Instead, these were specially-designed cars made so outer parts such as doors and fenders would take damage when hit and eventually fall off, leaving the central frame and engine vulnerable to hits and eventual destruction when banged enough. The arena was set up in the North Channel sim.

Eight people took part in each race. Besides Marianne McCann, among those taking part were Pygar Bu, GoSpeed Racer (no, she didn't use a Mark-Five), and Anthony (Adudenamed Anthony). Almostthere Inventor had made demolition derby arenas before for the Relay for Life and Creations for Parkinsons. But I never did ask who made the cars for this rumble of smashing virtual metal. Not everyone at the event took part. Many were content to watch the derby from the sidelines, including my alt Rezzdammit.

Frankie Lindman and Chrys (chrysanthemum.zuta) won the two races I was around to see, Chrys calling her victory "beginners luck ... I want a my own plate now." Indeed, she bumped her car into some wreckage a couple times after she was declared the winner of her race, and her vehicle came apart. People hung around for some joking around for a few minutes before going their separate ways.

But a couple days later, many of them and others would meet up again at 8PM SL time on Saturday September 2. Every Saturday night this summer, Marianne had been setting off a fireworks show at the school in the Livingtree sim. And with Labor Day weekend being the end of summer, it was time for the last show.

GoSpeed Racer was playing the music for the event. But this time she was doing so with a tiara. She had been the winner of the Miss Bay City Beauty Pageant at the tail end of the car show days earlier.

Eventually, it was time for the show to end, and the last of the fireworks formed a rainbow as "Man Or Astroma," the Mystery Science Theater 3000 ending theme music played as the night sky was turning to the pink clouds of dawn. "Thank again to GoSpeed Racer of KONA Stream for all the great tunes tonight," Marianne told everyone, "And Robin Sojourner for letting me blow up Livingtree all Summertime, each

Saturday at 8:00 p.m. SLT. And a special thank you to each of you for coming out for tonight's show. I hope you had fun!"

And so, the weekend fireworks shows at Bay City had come to an end, at least until summer comes again next year. But Bay City is an active place with things going on often, and will certainly be having some Halloween hijinks in October next month. Things don't stay too quiet for too long here.

Bixyl Shuftan

Brother and Sister Team Up in Second Life to Support Relay for Life (2009)

It was eight years ago yesterday that the Second Life Newspaper, the predecessor paper to the Newser, printed an article by Nazz Lane about the Relay for Life in Second Life. While the main season was over, one woman continued to raise funds on behalf of her brother. Nazz found the story interesting and heartwarming, and so met up with her for an interview.

Read Nazz's story in SL Newspaper Archived.

Announcement: This Week at the Science Circle: "Eclipses"

“Eclipses” by Rob Knop, Ph.D.

Saturday 9th at 12 PM PDT

Note: To not disturb the eclipse effect: Body/Facial-lights disabled, Please
    
More information about Rob Knop
https://sciencecircle.org/upcoming-saturday/
                     
 ~ Team SC

Unscheduled Maintenance Keeps Residents Offline During Clubs' Prime Time

Yesterday evening, about the time when a number of clubs have their events, residents began having trouble logging on. It turned out that Linden Lab was doing a round of "Unscheduled Maintenance" on the Second Life grid.

We are performing an unscheduled maintenance to our login systems. Residents may experience log in issues in world as well as secondlife.com. Please keep an eye on this blog for status updates. 

The trouble, according to their Grid Status Report, had started well before prime time for the clubs, the Linden Lab made the decision to do the maintenance at 5:33 PM SL time. But it would take a couple hours for the Lab to find the problem, and so residents continued have trouble logging on. And if they were on, they were advised against rezzing anything non-copyable or making any money transactions, including Marketplace or club tips.

Eventually, venues around Second Life, including the Furry Fashion Lounge and Club Cutlass, began calling off their events.

Tonight's Lounge event (Rave) is being canceled, due to the second life outages. the grid status is still being monitored, but has not changed.  So it's in our best interest. It will be rescheduled in the near future. For now we will continue monitoring grid status, and it's suggested to refrain from building, scripting, or buying/selling until this is resolved.

Sorry about the Wed Dance at Cutlass, but no one could log in the run the boards.  So I just killed the contest for tonight.  We can try again another night, when LL has it's sh*t together.

Finally at 8:08PM SL time, eight minutes after these and other clubs' events would normally be over, Linden Lab declared the problem fixed and the Grid was back to normal.

Unscheduled Maintenances do not happen often on Second Life these days. In August, one of the Lindens came forward to apologize after the one then. Though with this one coming not long after one in late August, a few residents might wonder what's going on. Still, the outages are less frequent, and shorter, than Second Life's early days when the Grid was closed down for half a day or longer a few days a month, the Lab posting picture in self-depreciating humor of apes hitting a monolith with bones, "The Grid is down while we bang on things." So while what happened was annoying an inconvenient, it wasn't as bad as it used to be.

Bixyl Shuftan