Anita Kimono/Kayly Iali Departing The Newser, For Now

 

Newser Reporter Anita Kimono, whom did her first stories under her alt Kayly Iali, has stepped down as part of the Newser team. An artist in real life, for about a year she has interviewed numerous artists and exhibit curators in Second Life. Recently, she obtained a job in real life that was a result of her art-related activities inworld. So she no longer has the time she once has to go about inworld, or write about it. She stated before she left that she appreciated that the Newser writes time to time about the arts in the virtual world, and that she had some time to contribute to the writing.

We at the Newser wish her the best of luck.
 

The 2021 SciFi Expo Quest

The 2021 Sci-Fi Expo is taking place. There are a number of things to see and do. Among the activities is a quest. Called "The Quest For Crystals" on one page in the Sci-Fi Expo blog, one can pick up the HUD at several places around the Expo sims. This includes New Eden (129/125/18) and Aperture (107/191/25).

There are two options when getting the Quest HUD. With the Basic version, you just get the HUD for 250L. But there's also a Deluxe version for 500L in which you get both the HUD and an outfit for the quest. When you buy the item, you add it to your avatar, and then click the bar that appears on the bottom of your viewer. You then get the Quest HUD, a "Holo Haley" wrist-mounted holographic assistant, and three sets of outfits: men, women, and dinkie. When you unpack an outfit box, you get several choices of mesh clothing. The outfit itself is pink, and comes with a small floating robot.

I should note that when I had on an avatar that was judged to be too high of a complexity by the local sim scanners, I wasn't able to get the HUD working. But with an older avatar, it worked. The HUD has a few buttons. Clicking the Objectives button for instance will remind you of what your immediate objective for the next part of the quest is. The Hint Button will provide you with a clue on what or where the next part of the quest is. There's also a bar that shows you how close you are to the next objective. If your target is far away, there's only a small red signal. If the bar is completely filled, your objective is within ten meters. 

The plot of the quest involves Earth trying to broker a peace between the various factions of the colony world of New Eden. But the global communication network is down, and one of the research assistants from Earth has gone missing with a data crystal with information the delegation needs to get things going. You're sent to look for her. But of course she isn't where you first go, just a clue to where she is. So what happens? Play the quest and find out. 

The quest lasts until the end of the Expo, which closes after Sunday October 17.
 
Bixyl Shuftan
 

Haunted Train On The Sunweaver Railroad

 

Things at the Sunweaver Railroad are getting a little spooky. Instead of the usual golden-yellow train, a different locomotive has been seen steaming down the tracks. This one is coal-black, is numbered "666," and is marked "Skeleton RR."  And the engineer was looking a little on the bony side. 

Guess one could call him the "skeleton crew."

Presumably, once November 1 rolls around, this spooky train will chug back to whatever Halloweenish place it came from.

Bixyl Shuftan
 

More Halloween Places in Second Life

 

October is here, and it's time for Halloween season. This means plenty of spooky and scary places across Second Life. Gemma Cleanslate has been on the lookout for them. In her second article, she writes about a few more spooktacular places to visit. That is, if you dare. It seems some are just, dying, to stay for good.

Read Gemma's article in Places.
 

Cartoon of the Day: SS Minnow Dance

 

Taken at the Bouncing Bunny Beach Club. Not sure why Gil Otaared was waving around the life preserver with "SS Minnow" on it. But one can imagine.

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

Do You Have A Story?

 

We at Second Life Newser work hard at bringing you the news of the people, places, and events across Second Life. This past year, we've posted hundreds of articles, announcements, press releases, briefs, and our popular screenshot cartoons. But sorry to say we can't be everywhere, and we don't always have time to write about every single place we come across.

So this is where you the readers come in. Have you seen a particularly well-detailed sim? Went to a great event? Found yourself in a hilarious "only in SL" predicament? We're very interested in what you the readers have to say. Send us a story or funny picture, and if we like it, we'll post it as a Reader Submitted. For pictures, jpg format is preferred.

Mail submissions to bixylshuftan(at)gmail.com.

PLEASE include your SL user name and tell us if you wish it to appear with your story.

SL-Newser reserves the right to post in the appropriate section and to investigate any names used in submitted stories (please ask permission before using anyone's name or picture (if taken in a private area) or use an alias for them).*
 

Events This Week at the Sunweaver and Montecito Bay Clubs, The Fallout Shelter, and Furry Fashion Lounge

 

Here's what's going on at the Sunweaver and Montecito Bay clubs, The Fallout Shelter, and the Furry Fashion Lounge.

Club Cutlass: Best in 'M', So Foxy, Tooned In

Happy Vixen: Fairy Tales, Red and Black, Witches and Warlocks, Odds and Mods, Madkatt Mashup, Day of the Dead, Mice and Canines, Spots Stripes and Other Markings

Club Zero Gravity: TBA

Bouncing Bunny Beach Club: Nearly Naked

Xanadu: DJ Christine, DJ Jesse

Montecito Bay:  CAYA, After Dark

Furry Fashion Lounge:  Fursonas, Scales VS Fur, Horror, Insects, Sexy, Late Night, Good vs Evil, TBA

Deathlands Fallout Shelter:  DJ Wolfy, DJ Nafrini

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'.
 

Announcement: No 2021 Dickens Project

 

We regret to announce that, after careful consideration, we have decided to give Charlie a year off. A variety of First Life imperatives and other factors brought us to the realization that we could not provide our community with the Project that they have come to expect, for 2021.  

This is not a long-term decision. We fully intend to come back refreshed and ready for guests and friends in 2022. In the meantime, Seanchai Library will be offering a wide range of story experiences for the season beyond the works of Mr Dickens, including a special Sunday series from classic holiday radio shows, and the annual Big Read of "A Christmas Carol" on Sunday, December 19th (just as if there had been regions filled with Dickensian doings).

Thank you for your support & enthusiasm!

~ Slainte'
 

A Visit to the Viridian Gallery

Recently Anita Kimono went over to the Viridian Gallery. Created by Julian Crooks, the exhibit there, “The Butterfly Eyeffect: Touch of Light at the Edge of the World" is by Eyeclectic (John Stone in real life). It features feature real-life photos of nature alongside some picturesque Second Life builds. Anita took a look around, and even ran into the photographer.
 
Read more in Design.
 

A Bad Week For Facebook and Twitch, Windows 11 Launched

It was not the best week for Facebook last week.  On Tuesday October 5, Frances Haugen, a former Facebook manager turned whistleblower, testified before Congress. She stated the company knew it's app Instagram could be hazardous to the mental health of teenage girls, and knew it was not doing enough to combat disinformation on it's social media website that contributed to the worsening political divide in the United States and led to the January 6 riot. While it could have taken measures to protect girls on Instagram and done more about misinformation on Facebook, it had not done so as the company didn't want to cut into it's profits, putting money over the safety of it's customers. Company CEO Mark Zuckerberg would respond with a statement denying her accusations.

But then came more bad news in the form of a six hour outage of both Facebook and Instagram. While for most it was an annoyance, some small businesses have come to rely on Facebook for communication with their customers. Also affected were sets of Oculus VR headgear. The company would eventually offer an apology.  It's estimated that the company lost billions from this outage. Then on Friday, the company suffered another outage and once again Facebook and Instagram were down once more, another blow to it's reputation.

Facebook wasn't the only social media platform to face big trouble. On Wed Oct 6, there was a massive data leak targeting Twitch. Over 100 gigabytes of data was posted online on Wednesday October 6. This includes operational details that the company "fiercely guards," such as how many millions the top streamers made in revenue from broadcasting. "Aside from the salary details, the documents seems to contain the site's source code and even technical details for yet to be released products and platforms," Joe Tidy in an article on BBC News would say, adding if everything was confirmed it would be, "the biggest leak I have ever seen - an entire company's most valuable data cleaned out in one fell swoop." ThreatModeler founder and CEO Archie Agarwal would say of the data breach,"This is as bad as it could possibly be."

While there didn't seem to be any passwords included in the leaked data, it was listed as "part one," hinting there was more to come. Still, it is reccomended that Twitch users change their passwords anyway.

Tuesday October 5 was the release date of Windows 11. Six years ago, Microsoft was saying there would be only new installments of Windows 10. That has changed, and the company has launched a new version that promises to be "clean and fresh and simpler." If you're reluctant to change over to the new system, you'll have plenty of company. The list of machines the company says this version of Windows needs has been described as "ridiculously strict." In a review on PC Gamer, the writers thought Windows 11 had a few nice improvements, but nothing worth upgrading to the new system, and a number of reasons to wait. Officially, PC users have until October 2025 to wait. After that, Microsoft plans no more technical or security updates.

Sources: BBC News, PC Gamer, The Verge   

Bixyl Shuftan
  

Announcement: Haunted Hollow - An All Hallows Experience

 

Presented by Elite Equestrian, Seanchai Library, Tarot @ Teatime, and Virtual Community Radio
October 7 - 31 on Chestnut Hills in Second Life.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Chestnut%20Hills/144/219/2502
 
"Once Upon a Time there was an Enchanted Hollow under the glow of the Hunter's Moon. It was there that tales gathered: tales of struggle and virtue, of light and looming darkness. They settled in as cooling breezes whirled the falling leaves, nestling between the autumnal heights and that place where the brook waters blend with the salty sea. Some thrive, some expire, and some twist themselves just a little."

Haunted Hollow features stories, music, live trick or treat, hunts, pony rides, and a region of fun to explore.

Take the rambler tours (aerial or ground based) of the Hollow, or stop by for one of the trick or treat events hosted by Elite Equestrian. Join Seanchai Library as they present  hours of stories for the season, including an encore presentation of Ray Bradbury's "The Halloween Tree." Explore the caves and discover video screening spots.

~ Not one, not two, but THREE treasure hunts
~ Pony rides with adorable free gifts
~ Participating in Free Bird's annual live trick or treat event
~ Presentation of author Roger Zelazny's "A Night in the Lonesome October"
~ Ray Bradbury's "The Halloween Tree"
~ Special story sessions, and "A Grimm Brothers Halloween" on the day itself
~ Two Live Tarot@Teatime episodes
~ Live Tarot Readings
~ A dedicated "Spooky Music Stream" provided by Virtual Community Radio
~ Three viewing rooms to stop and watch short features on the theme of death and transition.

~ Music events, and more!
 
Check out the schedule of events at the Main Landing Point, then check back often as the month of spookable doings continues.

You can also check out our Google Calendar for updated events: https://tinyurl.com/3p3n5pu5

Haunted Hollow is presented by:

Elite Equestrian - https://ladiespleasure.wordpress.com/
Seanchai Library - www.seanchailibrary.com
Virtual Community Radio - https://vcradio.org/
 

Cartoon of the Day: "House Flippers"

 

Taken at the Second Life Renaissance Festival. Who knows why this guy was wearing just a wetsuit bottom and a pair of divers' flippers. But there was one other kind of "flipper" I could think of.

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

Announcement: This Week at the Seanchai Libraries

 

THIS WEEK: Haunted Hollow is open and splendid!  We've done our first stores there, and more are on the way plus Ghostbusters, Watchstar, and more Wyrd Sisters. Join us in #Secondlife for fun and adventure, this week.

Check out the stories and the storytellers! 

All events at Nowhereville (203/43/26) , unless otherwise noted.

Stories told in open voice unless otherwise noted. All times SL/PT

--------->> COMING THIS WEEK

{IMPORTANT NOTE: To get to story sessions at Haunted Hollow, you will be directed to the main landing point. There is no direct teleport to the Halloween Tree venue.  Look for the sign outside the arrival building, pointing to the *telepumpkin*. Click on the *telepumpkin*  to be redirected to The Halloween Tree story venue.}


** SUNDAY, October 10th at 1:30pm: TEATIME ~ A Night In The Lonesome October Continues, live on stream at The Halloween Tree at Haunted Hollow. NOTE: Session will be 1 hour, 15 minutes-ish long. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nowhereville/194/131/21

**MONDAY, October 11th, at 7pm: Pamela Sargent's WATCHSTAR continues with Gyro Muggins.
    
**TUESDAY, October 12th:

   ~ at Noon: RUSSELL EPONYM, Live! with music, and poetry in Ceiluradh Glen.
   http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nowhereville/194/131/21
   
   ~ at 7pm: Ray Bradbury's THE HALLOWEEN TREE  begins with Caledonia Skytower, Faerie Maven-Pralou, and Shandon Loring, live on stream at The Halloween Tree at Haunted Hollow.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Chestnut%20Hills/144/220/2502

**WEDNESDAY, October 13th at 7pm: More from Terry Pratchett's WYRD SISTERS with Caledonia Skytower.

**THURSDAY, October 14th: Both Thursday sessions are with Shandon, live at The Halloween Tree at Haunted Hollow. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Chestnut%20Hills/144/220/2502

   at 7pm: THE LAST PHOTOGRAPH OF JOHN BUCKLEY

   at 9pm: LATE NIGHT HORROR - It Came From The Multiplex
   
** FRIDAY, October 15th at 7pm: GHOSTBUSTERS Continues with Shandon Loring and Caledonia Skytower

***
 

Burn2 Begins

 

Burn2, the largest and longest running annual art and music festival in Second Life, got started yesterday. This is the virtual version of the Burning Man festival that takes place in Black Rock Nevada every year, and helped inspire members of the early Linden Lab to develop Second Life. 

The event goes on to Sunday October 17, with numerous exhibits and music events across several sims. The theme this year is "The Great Unknown." The high points of the event, the Burning of the Man and the Temple Burn, aren't taking place until next weekend. But there's plenty to see, hear, and experience every day.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Burning%20Man-%20Deep%20Hole/174/32/25
 

SL Video: "Halloween - Second Life"

 

(Click here if the video does not play)

From Luvett Productions on Oct 2007
 

Lab Gab Today, October 8, at 1PM SL time

 *

Yesterday, Linden Lab announced their next episode of "Lab Gab" would be today, October 8. It will take place at 1PM SL time. Strawberry Linden will be interviewing Brian Friedman and Jon Nakagawa.

Brian is a choreographer that has worked with many popular artists, such as Britney Spears, Cher, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, and many more. He has also provided choreography for music videos, concerts, and television and film productions.

Jon is the owner of Paragon Dance Animations, a Hollywood-based production company founded by professionals in the movie industry. Paragon brings the talents of accomplished and high-profile dancers to life in virtual reality, by specializing in the production of dance animations for Second Life.

The Lab would go on to say the two had teamed up recently with Paragon, and worked on a "dance number using a motion capture suit," with a film on their Facebook page. 

The episode can be seen on Youtube live at 1PM today, or later in the archived list of videos. 

This will be the first Lab Gab since the Second Life Birthday, in June.
 
To read the blog post in full, Click Here.
 

A Few Halloween Happenings

 

It's still early in October, but there are plenty of Halloween-related things to do in Second Life. For those who like shopping most of all, there's the "Shop and Hop" going on, with ten sims of stores to see and buy from.

Come celebrate Halloween with your favorite Second Life Creators. With sales galore and gifts for everyone! The event will run from October 1st to 31st, 2021.

The Destinations Guide had a list of the sims. On the Linden blog, the post about the shopping event had a list of participating sellers with a SLURL next to each one. Or you can just head here: Tinseled (154/128/52)

There's also some haunted areas to visit. One featured in Second Life Destinations was "Hauntings."

Moody, ghostly, creepy, and fun, Hauntings is another delightful venue in Old Town. Once a charming and peaceful spot in rural America, when the events began happening, folks moved away. No cars stopped at the motel; the farm lies abandoned. What happened here? What went on in that house? No-one knows. But once a year, the spirits of those who were innocent walk, looking for treats.

To get to this spooky place, head over to Adagio Breeze (199/59/3603). The place is a little scary, though not as nerve wracking as some places. Oh, and don't worry about the giant bat, too much.

For those in the mood for a hunt to get lots of prizes, one place to go is the Furry Fashion Halloween area. They have one every year. This year, one looks around a foggy fantasy-themed place, with a few signs of witches and pirates, for dragon eggs. There are thirty to be found, as well as a few decoys that give nothing. Flying is turned off, but all places can be reached by jumping, "think jump puzzles from Guild Wars2 (Blame Fortunas and Minty for that!)."

It is recommended that you set your environment to foggy or Midnight, and people are asked not to give hints to others. The entrance, which has some backstory, is at Furry (83/115/4007).

Oh, and Furry Fashion has a Halloween photo contest. All pictures have to be taken in the Halloween area, "Submissions must be put in notecard form into the contest application box by the ghost ship in the Halloween area - Photos must be full perm or linked to your twitter/flickr. Don't forget to add your legacy SL name so we know who you are!" You can send up to five pictures, and the contest lasts until November 3. First prize is 5000 Lindens, with 2500L for second, and 1000L for third.

Stay tuned for more reports of Halloween locations and events.
 
Bixyl Shuftan
 

Gacha Guild Taking Place

 
The Gacha Guild, a twice a year shopping event, is back in Second Life. This is the first season since Linden Lab banned the sale of items through gacha machines and vendors last month. While the organizers decided they would continue, renaming themselves "The Guild," they're having to sell items though regular methods. So the gachas are gone, and there are no random chances when buying an item. Some items are sold individually. Others through fatpacks. A casual look around showed prices are higher than last season. 

The theme this year is "Dia de Muertos," the area looking like a Latin American town.  One thing that will be the same is the "Halftime Hunt." It will start Friday October 15, and players will have a chance to get some prizes. It's unknown how much of an effect the gacha ban will have on attendance numbers.
 
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Abnormality/140/130/1751 

Bixyl Shutfan
 

Announcement: This Saturday at The Science Circle - "Precambrian-Cambrian Explosion of Marine Organisms". "Alien Exosociology"

 

"Precambrian-Cambrian Explosion of Marine Organisms: The Latest Fossil and Geologic Data from Virginia"

Saturday October 9,

10 AM to 11 AM SL time

"Precambrian-Cambrian Explosion of Marine Organisms: The Latest Fossil and Geologic Data from Virginia"

By Dr. William F. Schmachtenberg, SL: Dae Miami

Virginia contains excellent exposures of Late Precambrian and Early Cambrian rocks and fossils. In this talk, I will share pictures of those rocks and fossils and possible theories that can explain the explosion of life in the oceans during the Early Cambrian. There will also be pretty touristy landscape pictures for Chantal and others who love the mountains of Virginia! If time permits I would also like to discuss Perseverance rovers search for life on Mars and why Virginia may be a model for the search for life on Mars. So a little bit of something for everyone!

To read the announcement in full, Click Here. 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/125/132/22
 
*  *  *  *  *

"Alien Exosociology"

Saturday October 9

9PM to 10PM SL time

Recent military reports of unexplained objects flying in our skies have sparked renewed interest in alien visitors. Some scientists predict that we will have made contact with advanced civilizations on other worlds within 25 years. What might they be like, and — more importantly – how might they act? Steven Van Hook, a researcher in transcultural relations, will consider what universal social traits we could share in common with our galactic alien neighbors.

Dr. Steven R. Van Hook,
 
To read the announcement in full, Click Here.
 
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/67/129/32
 

Reader Submitted: At "Tea and Rockets"

 

Taken by Neuralinks Resident at the "Tea and Rockets" event at the Rocket Ring central stage in Spaceport Alpha on Wednesday October 6 as part of World Space Week.