Announcement: Sunweaver Easter Hunt 2019 - Dungeons and Dragon's Eggs

This Easter, from Mar14 through the week after Easter, the Sunweavers are holding their annual Easter egg hunt.  14 eggs wait for you to  find them.  Just wear the Easter basket you get from the chocolate bunny at the entrance, and touch the eggs as you find them.  Then they appear in the basket.  Simple, right?

oh yes -- simple.  Except this year they are DRAGON eggs, and are hidden in the catacombs of SunWaterTwo. 

But not to worry.  This years' egg hunt doesn't have traps and monsters. This years... next year, who knows.  But what good is a dungeon crawl without treasure? 

There are two prizes.  The first 3 people to find all 14 Easter eggs in the dungeons, win 1000L apeice.  And anyone finding all of them, gets a special prize with a steampunk flair that you can't buy in any store (yet.)

The eggs are cleverly hidden.  But they aren't unfindable.  But of course, there are some rules:

* the eggs will never be underwater
* the eggs will never be outside the dungeons
* the eggs will never be inside something -- you can see it without
opening anything.

Basically they will all be where you can see them just standing there, walking about the catacombs.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SunWaterTwo/87/176/50

Shockwave Yareach

Cartoon of the Day: Happy St. Patrick's Day

Taken at St. Patrick's Town. Part of St. Patrick's Day is the beer. Some love it. Some don't care too much for it as it's not the best tasting beverage and too much will leave you looking silly. But even if you don't mind looking funny, please stay away from the drivers seat if you've had a few.

Bixyl Shuftan

SLB Sims On The Map

Last Thursday was when Linden Lab gave it's first announcement about the Second Life Birthday celebrations, the SL16B, for this June. Taking a look at the map, it seems there's a number of sims labeled "SLB (number) Build." They're sixteen in number, one for each year the virtual world will have been officially open when The Birthday takes place. For now, the sims are inaccessible.

Stay tuned for more updates on the Second Life Birthday

Luskwood Goes Medieval

Dropping by Luskwood yesterday, it looked like the place had turned into a Renaissance fair.

There were tends and pennants in Medieval design, stalls with food that looked like they could have come from a town of the era. And even a few whose outfits matched the theme.

How long the "Big Tree" will be "Going Medieval?" Time will tell.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lusk/218/167/62

Hat tip: Spooked Dreamscape

SL Video: "Jessica Rabbit Tribute 'Why Don't You Do Right' "

(Click here if the video does not play)

From Nydia Tungsten, with the help of Jessicabelle Dayafter and others on March 10, "This tribute to Jessica Rabbit, it's creators and owners,and in no way are we making any money or infringing on copyrights. this was done for fun and our enjoyment."

SL16B Theme Announced

Yesterday on Thursday March 14, Linden Lab made it's first announcement about the upcoming Second Life Sixteenth Birthday event, or the SL16B as it's called for short. The theme of the anniversary celebration will be "Sweet Sixteen."

It feels like we just packed away all that crystal magic from our 15th anniversary celebration, but our sweet sixteen is just around the corner! This summer, we’re throwing a huge celebration to commemorate 16 years with this incredible community and we wanted to fill you in on just a few of the details.

 

Sixteen years ago, on June 23rd, 2003, Second Life launched to the public. Though it feels like just yesterday and a lifetime ago at the same time, this year we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go retro and embrace the “Sweet Sixteen” theme for our big party. Sock hops, bowling alleys, and late nights at the diner were a quintessential part of many teenagers lives back in the 1950s, but the 1950s were also a time of political and social change. The world was shocked by the iconic ‘Elvis pelvis,’ and poodle and pencil skirts changed the fashion world forever. Rebellion became the titillating pastime among all that soda shoppe sweetness. It was an era that - like Second Life - rocked and rolled! So, this summer we’re throwing a 1950s themed SL16B with a TON of fun events and happenings. ...

The Lab also stated as in previous recent Second Life Birthdays, there will be a Music Fest and a shopping event. Merchants wanting to take part are asked to fill out a form (link). There will also be a "Come As You Were" party and another "Swaginator" gift hunt "with some updates and changes based on feedback" from last year's.

The event is scheduled to run from June 20 to July 8.

Stay tuned for more information on what's sure to be one of the big events of the year inworld.

For more information, Click Here.

Announcement: Saint Patrick's Day at the Cav,? No, Pub!

Yup it's time to drink green beer and step dance again. This time Duchess Cynthia's party is NOT at the Goblin Cave but at Andrea's Irish Pub! Come on, Irish party in a cave? No way, only one way to do it right and it's in an Irish pub. Sunday 17th 6-8 PM SLT and be sure to thank Andrea for the use of her fine outstanding pub.

Her Grace Cynthia Farshore

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Oxbridge%20Village/58/170/27

SL Video: "Chariot Racing at ROMA - 20 Lap Main Event"

(Click here if the video doesn't play)

From Kim Link on March 11. There are a number of races in Second Life, such as the Giant Snail Races, and the AGRA racetrack. At the Roma community, every week they have their chariot races. Unlike the other two mentioned however, the chariots (and horses) can suffer damage. Bump into the walls and other horses too much, you won't be finishing.

Something appropriate for the Ides of March.

Announcement: This Week At The Science Circle - "Lab Experiments in SL"

"Lab Experiments in SL - Design and Effectiveness of Laboratory Experiments in the Virtual World of Second Life”

March 16 at 10AM SL Time
By Kurt Winkleman

In order to explore the feasibility, challenges, and benefits of replacing real world chemistry lab experiments with a virtual experience, students at a large public university performed experiments in both the real world (RW) and Second Life (SL). Students in either the control group or SL group performed analogous RW and SL versions of two experiments by working in pairs and using the same laboratory manual. The SL group and control group were evaluated the same way as well. Results demonstrate that students learned just as much from the virtual experiments as they do in a real world laboratory based on pre-/post-experiment quizzes and lab report grades. A hands-on lab practicum showed that both groups learned kinesthetic skills to the same extent overall but there were subtle differences in individual skills that each group mastered. Students in the SL group report that the virtual experiments are fun and less stressful than the real world experiments. Teaching assistants provided a useful perspective about implementation and ideas for future virtual lab development plans.

These results are relevant to chemical education in a variety of ways. For on-campus courses, activities in virtual worlds can provide a means to address shortages in budgets and laboratory space. Existing online chemistry courses often lack a high-quality laboratory experience. Virtual worlds enable students to conduct interesting, realistic experiments which may be impractical to perform in a real world setting. Students can work independently or with lab partners, under the supervision of an instructor or autonomously.

For more information, Click Here

The Science Circle (61/127/32)

FaceBook Hit With 14 Hour Outage

If you tried to get on Facebook yesterday but couldn't, you were far from alone. On Wednesday March 13, the social network was hit with an outage that made it not accessible to most of it's users. The disruption lasted for about fourteen hours, it's worst in over a decade.

Facebook announced the outage through another social network: Twitter, "We’re aware that some people are currently having trouble accessing the Facebook family of apps. We’re working to resolve the issue as soon as possible." The cause of the trouble has not been officially announced, though Facebook denied it was a Distributed Denial of Service attack. One NBC reporter stated the problem came from "overloaded" databases.

The problem was worldwide, and numbers in Europe and Asia are reportedly still having trouble.  Instagram and WhatsApp, which are owned by Facebook, were also down.

Reactions from people varied from people complaining they couldn't message to friends, to people poking fun at themselves that they had no idea what to do, to some wondering if this was a reminder about how many have become dependent on social networks. The last time Facebook was down for this long was in 2008 when it had 150 million users. Today, over two billion use it.

Sources: BBC, NBC, Twitter

Bixyl Shuftan

A Look At The Chibi Noodle Dragon Avatar

If you've been seeing some small and cute Asian-style dragons going about the Grid, you're far from alone. There's a new avatar that's been all the rage in some places: the Chibi Noodle Dragon. Available in the Gacha Guild Spring in Dew Drop, this avie has proven just too irresistible to many. Bixyl Shuftan went to see what the fuss was about.

Read more in Design.

Happy "Pie Day"

It's March 14, which can also be written 3/14 or 3.14, the latter which is also known as "pi." So Happy "Pie Day" everyone.

Picture from Eternal Desires.

Crew Meeting

Last Saturday March 9, the Newser crew held it's monthly meeting. Attending were Klaus Bereznyak, Nydia Tungsten, Gemma Cleanslate, Deaflegacy, and Bixyl Shuftan (myself). Deaflegacy's partner Six String was also there.

Besides the talk about what to write about in the coming month, there was a little time for fun with some pizza from Gemma. At one point, she was showing off a few avatars, including a tiny hedgehog that could do somersaults in the air.

Guess one could call it "living life on the hedge."

Bixyl Shuftan

Cartoon of the Day: When You Feel Like A ...

Taken at the Roma area

By Bixyl Shuftan

St. Patrick's Town

This upcoming Sunday, it'll be "th' day o th' wearin' o' th' green" : St. Patricks Day. For those who can't wait to have a little fun on the day everyone is a little bit Irish, or you want to grab a few outfits and other things to get ready for when it is, one place to go is St. Patrick's Town. Set in Laura Liberty's Townies sim, Gemma Cleanslate recently gave the place a look. While some of the sim is for shopping areas to buy things, there's fun to be had for free from Celtic music to dancing, beer-themed dunking booths, and a gold mine mining cart game.

Read Gemma's story in Places.

Yinglet Avatar Release Party in Montecito Bay's Avagora, Saturday 6PM

Some good news for the fans of the "Out of Placers" online comic by Valsalia. The Yinglets, the nonhumans in the story that the main character ends up becoming very familiar with, are about to have an avatar in Second Life based on them.

Yinglets are bento rigged.
They have male and female chests.
Two colors included, bento rigged mesh with bento rigged jaws, ears, tails, fingers. This avatar is a Yinglet through and through.
900L for the avatar.
Working staff get it free, staff are welcome to preorder.
Devkit: dummy rig files and UV/PSDs. (if he finishes it in time, it will be offered early to skin creators, I need to know who all is interested,)

The release party is at the Avagora mall high over Montecito Bay. The event is from 6 to 8 PM SL time. There will be a raffle with one winner

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Montecito%20Bay/53/130/703

Press Release: Bid Me Bald All Aboard Challenge

The Relay Rockers, In Celebration of our, and RFL of SL’s 15th Anniversary, challenge all teams to join us in a Bid Me Bald Team Event, The Bid Me Bald - All Aboard Challenge.

From April 5 thru April 14th the  Rockers will place Kiosks in Arinultra Cay for each team that joins. At 3pm April 14th the Kiosks will be totaled and the Challenge Winner will Shave the Head of the lowest total team.

                                           *This is NOT a Relay Rockers Fund Raiser*
                                      
                                           ? ? ? ? ? ? For More Info Contact ? ? ? ? ? ?
    
Polaris Grayson, Yasamine Grayson, Trader Whiplash
                                          
                                            ? ? ? ? ? ? How It Works ? ? ? ? ? ?

1) Your team kiosk will be placed out by one of the Relay Rockers at the Bid Me Bald Barbershop.

2) The kiosk will be available for donations starting April 5. 

3) Donations will not be accepted after 3pm slt April 14

4) Totals of All Kiosks will determine the Days : 1 Day Bald for All team members  for each L$10,000

5) Only the official Kiosk, placed by the Relay Rockers will be used to determine winners and Total days bald.

6) Official Kiosks will be configured for each individual team and count toward their team totals.

7) Team Kiosks that fail to raise at least L$1000 will be removed before the final accounting, and will not be    considered for Haircuts

8) On April 14 at 3pm slt, Final Totals will be calculated and the top fundraising team will cut the hair of the lowest fundraising team!

                                           ? ? ?  ? ? ?   FAQ  ? ? ? ? ? ?

? Do I need to Rez a Kiosk?
No Need, We've Got You Covered!   The Rockers Will Rez a Kiosk configured for YOUR TEAM at the Barber Shop on the Boardwalk at Arinultra Cay

? Does My Team Get the Donations?
ABSOLUTELY.   Each team that enters will have kiosk rezzed and configured for YOUR TEAM

? Can I fund raise online for this event?
Sorry.  This is a Kiosk Based Challenge. While the Rockers strongly urge every team to fundraise online we  can not determine what online donations are dedicated to the event.

? Can I rez a kiosk at my own venue for this event?
NOPE   The totals in the "OFFICIAL BID ME BALD KIOSKS" At Arinultra Cay are the ONLY Totals that count!

? Can I fund raise before April 5th?
No! Only donations in the OFFICIAL BID ME BALD KIOSKS received between April 5th and April 14th count!

? Should I advertise?
Of course!  The Rockers will post on SL Events, will request a Message of the Day and (on April 4th) provide signs with landmarks SL Map link to help get your donors to your kiosk, but any and all promotion is welcomed!


                                   ? ? ? ? ? ? Tips and Best Practices ? ? ? ? ? ?

? Set a team goal to raise for the event.  If you surpass that goal, set a new one that is higher

? From now until April 4th, we strongly encourage you to reach out to your family, friends, acquaintances, groups in Second

Life and ask them to help your team reach its Bid Me Bald Team Goal by donating to your team's kiosk at the Bid Me Bald Barbershop. When Bidding opens April 5th send them all the Landmark to your kiosk and ASK Again.

? Advertise on Social Media to reach a broader base. You will be surprised who will donate.

? During the dates of April 5 - 14, periodically check ALL the Team Bid Me Bald Kiosks.  Are you in last place?  Now is a good time to step up your fundraising push.

?  Remember.. YOU ARE A FUNDRAISER.... we are not asking you to donate (you can if you like of course).       Ask ... Ask.. Ask... everyone you know and even those you don't to help you reach your goal.

? On April 14 at 3pm SLT, please have your team at the Barbershop for the final total count and see what team will have their hair cut!    The top fundraising team will cut the hair of the lowest fundraising team!

Events This Week at the Sunweaver, Montecito Bay, and Furry Fashion Clubs

Here's what's going on at the Sunweaver and Montecito Bay clubs and Furry Fashion's Furscape

Club Cutlass: Best in "G",  Hard Days Night, St. Patricks Day

The Happy Vixen: Dragons, Cats and Dogs, TBA (Naughty Nydia), Toga Party, Chibi Dragons and Tinies, Angels, Best in Green/St. Patricks, TBA (DJ Khyra)

Club Zero Gravity: DJ JB, DJ Snowbuns, DJ JB

Montecito Bay: Weird Avatars, Expeditions, Beach Party, Yinglet Avatar Release Party, Celtic

FF Furscape: CAYA, Movies, 80s, Rainbow, Ides of March, Bits and Butts, Genderbend, Green, 70s, Spring

Is The Lab Rethinking Sansar As a World?

Although Linden Lab has had high hopes for Sansar, it's been something of a hard sell. Despite moves such as trying to attract comedy acts, and making it accessible from Steam, it's usage numbers remain small. While the Lab isn't giving up on it, they are still wondering what could be holding the place back. When Inara Pey wrote about a recent Sansar development meeting, Chief Product Officer Landon McDown seemed to wonder if emphasizing the Next Generation grid as a number of separate experiences rather than a single world was part of the reason it hasn't caught on.

We asked ourselves what was really missing from Sansar and what we wanted to add to it, and one of the things that kept coming up consistently is that one of the magical things in Second Life is it feels like a world. It feels like place. And when we designed Sansar, we didn’t really implement that; it was a design decision where we wanted the individual worlds to stand alone, and be disconnected and independent … [Now] we feel that lack of place, that unification across all the experiences, is something that we’re personally missing and something we want to add into Sansar.

McDown stated in the sound clip, "We have a couple of initiatives to help achieve that." So how soon will one be able to travel between the sims of Sansar like those of Second Life and will it help increase numbers? Time will tell.

Source: Inarn Pey
Image Credit: Ampel. 

Bixyl Shuftan

RFL Announcement: Relaystock 2019 - Multiteam Event - Signup Now Open

6th Annual RelayStock 2019

Its Three Days of Peace, Love, Mud and Hope!!

A Multi Team Event Sponsored by the Relay Rockers

Reserve YOUR TEAM'S SITE NOW!

RelayStock sim is being  transformed into a 1969 NY State of Mind Farm for this year's
Biggest Rock Festival in support of Relay For Life of Second Life!

*APPLY NOW FOR STAGE TIMES*
DJ Performances All Day - Hosted by YOUR RFL Teams!

Tents and VW Buses waiting to be claimed by teams for Kiosks & Vendors! We provide Tie Dyed Tents or 60's VW Vans, you provide decorations, RFL Vendors, and fun!

The Relay Rockers invite all teams to participate. 
60 Team "Sites"  ~ 200 Prim Tents and  VW 'Hippie" Vans Available

Reserve your spot now!   Copy & Paste this URL in your browser    https://relayrockers.org/relaystock

Set Up Times
May 15  Wed 3pm - 8pm slt
May 16 Thur  9am - 8pm slt
May 17 Friday 9am - 12pm slt

RelayStock Opens to the public and stage times
Friday May 17 1pm - 9pm slt
Saturday  7am - 9pm slt
Sunday 7am - 9pm slt

CRFB TOP DJ FINALS - will be held at RelayStock again this year! Exciting time!

For More Information, Contact Nuala Marcus or Trader Whiplash

** All items sold must be PG and in Relay Vendors...no other vendors permitted.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW   https://relayrockers.org/relaystock