Happy 4rth of July

Happy 4rth of July from Second Life Newser

Cartoon of the Day

By Bixyl Shuftan

Eye on the Blog: Project Shinning

If there's one thing virtually all Second Life residents dislike, it's the lag. The time needed for land and objects to rezz when you teleport to a place or move from one place to another. Frequently when Linden Lab unveils a new feature, the response from some residents is "stop with the bells and whistles and do something about performance!"

Last Friday, it seemed the Lab was finally listening to them. On the Linden blog, "Project Shinning" was announced.

This year, Linden Lab is making the single largest capital investment in new server hardware upgrades in the history of the company. This new hardware will give residents better performance and more reliability. Additionally, we are converting from three co-locations to two co-locations. This will significantly reduce our inter-co-location latency and further enhance simulator performance.

The Shining project is the name given to a recent Lab effort to identify and measure delays and other problems with streaming avatars and objects and to propose and implement solutions. During the Shining project, several small improvements have been identified and deployed. The next small improvement from Shining to be deployed will be pre-rendering the starter Avatars to improve the new resident experience.

Project Shinning according to the Lab has three parts. The HTTP Library section involves improving speed and reliability with a new code library. The "Open Caching and Interest Lists" involves taking the current system of caching objects between sims and the viewer and redesigning it to take better advantage of information it already has.

The biggest changes are with the third part, labeled "Project Sunshine." Avatar textures have been processed on each one's viewer and the data sent to the sim for other viewers to read. The process can sometimes be slow, and is the reason some avatars can appear gray for a long time, or briefly appear naked while changing clothes. Project Sunshine plans to change this with new servers to process textures apart from the sim's own servers to do the texture rendering instead of the viewers to improve efficiency and speed.

As a resident, I certainly would welcome such improvements. At social events that attract dozens of people, even after ten minutes not everything has always rezzed. Seeing an avatar briefly naked while changing, while perhaps amusing to me if it's a girl, can feel a bit embarrassing to the person behind the avatar. Girls moving to a place in private to change aren't doing it out of realism. Other residents have complained often and loudly about lag. This news from the Lab certainly gives the impression finally they're listening and doing something about it.

Tateru Nino concluded Linden Lab was serious about solving the problem, "These projects are big-deal items that must have taken considerable planning and pre-production before the Lab would even consider announcing them." She expected the project to be introduced over the next six months. Inara Pey wasn't sure, "no definitive time frames for the improvements have been announcements … there's a lot to be done and matters are complex enough that LL will want to proceed with minimal disruption to the grid and to users.

Hamlet Au greeted the news of Project Shinning with skepticism. He noted two announcements from 2010 and 2011 about improvements to help with lag, and commented while they helped with some residents, others have seen no improvements. Hamlet wrote his own viewer performance was getting worse, "I remain hopeful. At the same time, a part of me feels like Linden Lab's war on lag is sort of like my government's ill-begotten 'war on drugs' -- a battle ... which never seems winnable, and never seems to address the underlying problems."

People responding to them had a mixture of answers, some happy to hear the news, "It's about time." Others were cautiously optimistic. And some weren't expecting anything. Tateru Nino answered one reader whom expressed surprise the Lindens were still working on Second Life, "From where I’m sitting ... the Lab’s done more work on SL in the last 12 months than in any year previously. The problem is that it has become much harder to tell what it is working on, because it isn’t communicating."

Hopefully Project Shinning will mean a shinning improvement for our experiences in Second Life.

Sources: Linden Blog, Dwell on It, Modem World, New World Notes

Bixyl Shuftan

Events This Week in Second Life July 3 to July 9

July is here, and with it summer fun. And the first week of July offers Independence Day on July 4rth, with events in places across the Grid, such as the Flying Tigers' July 4rth Festival and Summertown USA. While it may be the Fourth, the British are having a party of their own in the London region with their July Festival. And of course our regularly scheduled book and poetry readings, DJ music parties, and talk shows.

Read more in Events this Week.

Passionate Redheads RFL Team Reach 250,000 Lindens, Gold Level

This weekend, tens of thousands of Lindens were raised by the Passionate Redheads Relay for Life team, mostly at a memorial service to the late caption of Team Relay for Hope Jeffry Pastorelli (more on the event later). On Monday June 2nd yesterday, the Redheads passed the 250,000 Linden Mark, and finally reached Gold rank.

Sabine McGettin announced the news to the group, "Our beautiful and Passionate Team reached Gold Status today! That means you all raised $1000 USD! We will have the Gold Banner at our campsite on July 14. I am ridiculously proud to be a part of this team. Thank you all for so much love, so much support, and so much passion! "

This year has been the most challenging ever for the Redheads, with some members facing real life challenges and a number of others taking leave from leadership positions or resigning. But they continued on, and passed a mark most Relay teams do not succeed in reaching.

As of now, the various teams are setting up camp at the Relay Weekend sims, and the Passionate Redheads will take their place among them. Battered, but still in the fight.

Bixyl Shuftan

Flying Tigers Host Fourth of July Festival

Join the Flying Tigers for a four day event to celebrate the Fourth of July! Events will include a patriotic fashion show, live djs, contests, contests, and of course fireworks! The event will also feature a special three day merchant fair, where you can shop while you party!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

July 1 to July 2, 2012 - Exhibitors Set up

TUESDAY July 3, 2012:

-All Day - Festival Opens

-10am to 12pm slt - DJ Mia

-4pm to 6pm slt - DJ Anakin

-5pm to 6pm slt - Second Life Cheerleading Squad (SLCS) Performance

WEDNESDAY July 4, 2012 (INDEPENDENCE DAY)
-All Day - Exhibits and Shops are Open

-2pm to 330 pm slt - Ava Jhamin and L'Amour Patriotic Fashion Show

-4pm slt 6pm slt - DJ Heath

-5pm slt to 6pm slt - Fireworks

THURSDAY July 5, 2012

-All Day - Exhibits and Shops are Open

-12pm to 2pm slt - DJ Neilio

-2pm to 330pm slt - Bon Jovi Tribute Band Concert

FRIDAY July 6, 2012
-All Day - Exhibits and Shops are Open
-12pm to 2pm slt - DJ Anakin

WW2 Tribute (105, 210, 2518) (freebies near the landmark)

Read more at the Flying Tigers blog: http://www.slflyingtigers.info/

Reader Submitted: "The Party's Over"

Submitted by Marianne McCann of Bay City, here she looks over the empty landscape of SL9B that was once a bustling region of exhibits and people seeing them.

The Fourth of July

Looking for those flags and banners for July 4? USA is commemorating its Birthday which occurred in 1776 when we became a free nation. To celebrate in real-life, there will be parades, picnics and lots of fireworks! Flags will be raised high and banners across the roads. We in the US call it the Fourth of July.


To celebrate in SL, you need some decor. Vickijo Rivera had her creators gather some wonderful flags and balloons and other decor at the Corner of Revolving time for you. They are all free! Just take a trip over to Ophelia sim and grab them. Look for this cute picnic blanket on the lawn. Take a look inside too at the other decor you might like to grab.

While you are there take a walk to the amusement park next door and have some fun! You can also go fishing if you have time. http://slurl.com/secondlife/DreamSeeker%20SL9B%20Devet/255/81/21

Gemma Cleanslate

SL9B: Reflections

Would it be the fragmented ”Look for something to do that somewhere on the grid" kind of celebration, or nothing at all, was in my mind when the LL put out the announcement they were leaving the birthday to us. Well, I figured what would be would be and went along as usual in SL, until I heard from Honour McMillan. Would I be willing to help as an exhibitor assistant for a birthday bash? I said yes I would.

At that time I did not know the extent of what was going to become an amazing success from beginning to end. The time passed so quickly it is hard to remember it all. We were all so busy settling builders on their plots. It is a blur. Then calls for streams and names and landing points went on for days. Everyone was so nice .The builders were so cooperative with the rules and thankful for any help. A couple tried to kidnap me, LOL, and it was great compliment. It was an experience. Loved that job!

Next I settled into security mode. Although there were some issues regarding rules of the party most were cleared up easily. Yes, the usual griefers appeared as expected and off they went . This was my first time involved in a SL birthday event. I loved it!!!

The leads of the event are to be congratulated for their support and wisdom:

Senior Lead, Performance Lead and Grumpy Old Man – Doctor Gascoigne
Land and Exhibitor Lead – KT Syakumi
Land Goddess – Diana Renoir
Volunteer Lead and Cruise Director- Budster Bashly
PR and Advertising Lead – Saffia Widdershins
Greeter Lead – Honour McMillan
SL9B Troll- Crap Mariner

The sponsors are to be thanked for their expense in donating 20 sims for the event.
Dream Seekers Estates, KittyCats, Fruit Islands Estates, and NEO Streams, who donated all the streams used in the sims.

All the volunteers did a wonderful job through out it all . At this time we are in withdrawal, which I think will take a few weeks! I hope you got there and I hope you loved it. Take a look at Loki’s video when you want to see it all again. With all the time I sent in the sims I never got to see 300 exhibitors . I know because up to the last day I was discovering new fascinating builds.

See you at SL10B. Plans are already under way!

Gemma Cleanslate

SL Machinima: "The Last SL9B Video By The Angel Of Death"

Filmed during the evening of the cleanup on Thursday June 29, this was the last of Crap Mariner's SL9B "Prim Reaper" videos in which he gives his farewell.

Crap invited those in the SL9B chat over before filming (you can see the fox reporter in there too). As for the final scene, well, next time you hear the Prim Reaper belch, well, hold your breath.

Oh Canada

From Sylus Resident, a salute to Canada Day

Weekend at the SL9B

The Second Life Ninth Birthday event was well-attended all week, with the most attendance and some of the most popular events on the Weekend. Bixyl Shuftan takes a look at some of exhibits, as well as attending a few of the events near the end of the SL9B.

Read more in Events.

Cartoon of the Day: RFL Jail and Bail

Taken at the RFL 50s Weekend "Jail and Bail," Dusk Griswold getting a mug shot. She wasn't really arrested for this, but I imagine some bunny will sooner or later.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Reader Submitted: "Fuzzball Exposed"

No, "the Fuzz" hasn't been moonlighting as a stripper. Submitted by Eugenia Burton, she told me this was taken at a Relay for Life event when some avatars were doing a Chippendale dancers act, and Fuzzball was in on it, although with less revealing wear below the waist.

There were also several other shots submitted which could not be published due to SL Newser's policy on only using "work safe" pictures.

SL Youtube: SL9B Hydra Power Plant Party

Video by Qwark Allen as he DJs for a party at the SL9B. The London exhibit is somewhere nearby.

Taking the Cake at Podex

It was a late June day at the Podex Bank. Summer was here, and many of the customers were talking about getting a new surfboard or jetski with their Lindens, or a new swimsuit. One customer from Sunweavers talked about seeing an anthro mouse in a snakeskin bikini, which got a few chuckles from the staff. Considering snakes and regular mice, why would girl with mouse features be wearing something made out of snakeskin, especially a bikini?

Other things were discussed too. The jet airshow was mentioned, as was the science-fiction convention in a few days. But the real topic of conversation was "The Birthday," or SL9B. Life as they had known it had been organized nine years ago. While many residents didn't seem to care that much, others were very interested, heading on over to the exposition area to see the sights, play the games, get souvenirs, and just plain have fun. Some of the tellers had gone or were planning to go. Others didn't want to fight the crowds.

In the middle of this, someone entered the bank. He was dressed somewhat plainly, shorts and a T-shirt, but he looked like was wearing a cake for a hat! Upon a closer look though, it wasn't really a cake, but a cake hat.

"Um, can I help you?"

"Yes, I picked up a voucher for this place at the SL9B, but, just what are you again?"

"Well sir, we're an exchange service. We accept US Dollars, Euros, and several other currencies, and exchange them for Lindens."

"What if I have Lindens to trade for dollars?"

"We do that too."

"Can't I just buy Lindens at, what's the place, Lindex?"

"We charge less than Lindex does."

The visitor looked over his shoulder and at a sign, "What's this about a Visa card?"

"We worked it out with Zachodni WBK, one of Poland's largest banks. Like any other Visa card or debt card, you can use it for both Internet transactions or withdraw cash from any ATM across the world. There are no fees for exchanging Lindens into your local currency, and your money will be on the card within the same day."

The man thought for a moment, "Well, I own a shop here, so I'll take one."

The customer and the clerk went over a few details, and the paperwork was taken care of, "You should be getting it in your mail soon."

"Great. Well, back to the SL9B."

"Have fun. By the way, just what is it you sell?"

"Oh, I run a party store. I sell lots of cakes," he grinned, "and getting to this birthday first thing they do is stick one on my head!"

The two laughed, and the customer gave his farewell and went on his way.

The Podex Exchange is located at Moonbeam (26, 223, 34), with a website at http://www.podex.info/ . Jacek Shuftan is the CEO. Podex has recently been offering an SL Visa Card, aka "Second Card," with details at http://www.podex.nazwa.pl/card/ .

Note: The preceding is a fictional story, written for the dual purpose of advertisement and entertainment.

Bixyl Shuftan

The World-Famous Steelhead Critter Races

A Benefit Event for Relay For Life in Secondlife
Sponsored by Team Steelhead Salmons & the Steelhead Public Library

Sunday July 1, 2011
Races start at 6pm SLT
Steelhead Port Harbor (132, 127, 3012)


If you have a critter and it can be raced, this event is made for you!

Bring your horses, tigers, ostriches, banthas and other ridable critters!
(Ground critters only - Sorry, our course is not suitable for flying races)


You are critterless? Ostrich is lame? Bantha has mange?
Then drive one of our free Roman Chariots!

Trophies for the winners
Commemorative items for all entrants
Entry fee 500$L for 1 race, 1500$L for more than 1.
All proceeds benefit RFL.

Schedule (All times are SLT/PST)

5:45pm
Practice session.
Open track available to all registered entrants.

6pm
Races start.

7-8pm (or after end of last race)
Afterparty with DJ Thadicus Caligari.

Races:
Race 1 - Reasonably Sized Critters
Open race for any ridable animal that will fit into the starting gate.

Race 2 - Unreasonably Sized Critters
Open to any non-flying critter
LeMans-style race - avatars will stand in starting gate, at start run to a designated spot, rez their critters, begin race.

Race 3 - Horse Race
Open to any SL horse that will fit in the starting gate.

Race 4 - Roman Chariots
A free chariot will be furnished with each entry & only these chariots will be allowed on the track. LeMans start - avatars in starting gate, at start run to your chariot and drive away.

Steelhead Port Harbor -19th c. Pacific Northwest , Steelhead Port Harbor (132, 127, 3012)

SL Youtube: "SL9B - The Cake Explodes "

Posted by KT Syakumi, "If you didn't see it, just before the sims went offline, Mikatis beautiful cake exploded! I videoed it for all to see." Asked "if anyone got hit in the noggin by a flying piece of cake," KT answered, "I did, repeatedly, and she left it all for me to clean up." KT explained this was her first try at a SL video, as Mikati was going to get someone else to film, "but they didn't show up. So five minutes before she exploded it, I downloaded Fraps and learnt how to film. I did almost everything wrong." Despite her lack of confidence, others in SL9B chat cheered her on, and RacerX Gullwing invited her to join in the filming of the next Cross-Sim Giant Snail Race (today).

The RFL "Back to the 50's" Weekend

Last weekend while the SL9B was the main event, there were other happenings on Second Life. For the Relay for Life, the big event was the "Back to the 50's" Weekend. There were many attractions and smaller events there, from the dunking booth and mechanical bull, to the Sock Hop and trivia contest. And a Relay favorite, the "Jail and Bail" in which one might end up in the slammer for charity.

Read more in Events.

Thank You SL9B Community

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the Second Life 9th Community Birthday Celebration for all your hard work and volunteer spirit. True community spirit in the face of short time, insane deadlines and with all the team work that you could muster. Amazing!!! I was humbled by your efforts and collective energy.

We would like to thank our sponsors http://sl9b.wordpress.com/our-sponsors/ for the sims and services that were donated and delivered to us without a moments hesitation.

This year’s gathering expressed what true community is about. Community is not just a word it is an entity; a living, breathing entity. An interacting population of various kinds of individuals in a common location. Our common location is Second Life. It was truly humbling for me to see so much collaboration that the Second Life community shared for this event.

If you enjoyed the event and want to be a part next year, keep an eye on this blog and stay in the SLB Community Group for notification of next year’s festivities.

It was and always has been an honor and my pleasure to once again work with all of you.

Cya next time.....

Doctor Gascoigne

Submitted by Gemma Cleanslate