This Saturday at The Science Circle

 

Saturday June 14

 

    ~*~

 

    At 10 AM PST   

The events board is currently down, check back later

 

    ~*~

 

    NOTE: Non-members required to register once

    IM Jes Cobalt or Nymf Hathaway

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

 

Join The Newser For A PARTY!

 

 It was fifteen years ago last week in which the SL Newser started. And to celebrate, a party will be held. It will be at the Happy Vixen Beach Club at Purrfection Estates (236, 219, 24). this Saturday June 14. The planned time is from 12 Noon to 2PM SL time. DJ Snowbuns will be spinning the tunes.

 

Come on over and get a chance to meet some of Second Life's roving reporters.  

 

Purrfection Estates (236, 219, 24)  

 

Bixyl Shuftan

Editor

 

Cartoon of The Day: Cancer Stinks

 

 Taken at the Relay Weekend's opening ceremony. There was one other skunk, Kamida, but she'll get her own cartoon soon. 

 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

Reader Submitted: The Ertina Loopen Memorial Foundation

 

Every Relayer has a story behind them. Sometimes they do it as it's a good cause. Sometimes as a show of support for others. Sometimes the reasons are very personal. And sometimes even the most comical of us have a sad story to tell. Journey Texan dedicated his campsite to a close late friend, Ertina Loopen  It this article, he describes his tribute to her. 

 

Read Journey's story in Design. 

The Flood Party, Next Year's Theme Announced

 

Wednesday June 11 at 4 PM was the last big event at the Relay tack, the Wrap Up party. Though it's better known as the Flood Party.

 

 It would take place at RFL Advovacy and Awareness. The water level was raised to the point people needed floaters to keep above it. 

 

 The event started when a sim manager on a whim in 2010 flooded a sim a few days after the Relay Weekend, and people rushed over with floaters and inner tubes. It became a Relay tradition. 

 

The Sunbeamers didn't bring a float, but a DWUK Army vehicle. 

 

 The event would be recorded (click here to view). 

 

Besides the revelry and fun, there were also a few announcements. The most important was that the theme for next year had been decided, Wild For A Cure. 

 

Following the event, a few would rush off to take down their campsites. But most would wait until the following day, Thursday June 12. 

 

Go Relay!

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

SLPD Detention Center, Impact and Coffee, and Men's Health at Health Info Island

 

Despite her injury that's caused her hiatus, Gemma Cleanslate managed to complete an almost finished article using her other hand. In her latest, she writes about a new Detention Center that's part of the SLPD, located at Terrapin. The sim was also home to an art show, Impact and Coffee by Ceakay Ballyhoo. And Health Info Island has a new monthly exhibit, this one for men's health. 

 

Read Gemma's article in Places.

 

Lab Asks For Questions For SL22B Meet The Lindens

 

In late June and early to mid July, the Second Life Birthday celebrations will be taking place.  Among the events will be "Meet the Lindens," in which residents get to listen to members of Linden Lab explain what they're doing and answer any questions. 

 

In the official blog, the Lab stated they were asking people to submit questions for them to answer.

 

During the celebrations, there will be a series of Q&A events where you can meet the Lindens and Moles – live at SL22B! Here’s your chance to meet and interact with executives from Second Life as we celebrate 22 years of Second Life! 

The founder of Second Life Philip Linden will be among the participants, which also include many leading executives and team leads from Second Life’s Product, Engineering, Product Operations, and Marketing departments.

To submit a question, go to this page in Google.doc (here). Residents have the option of "having the question directed at a particular Linden," and being mentioned by name when it's answered. 

 

Questions can be submitted up to Friday June 20. 

 

The SL22B goes on from Friday June 20 to July 20. 

 

For more information, check the blog (here).  

 

RFL Announcement: "Flood Party" Today, 4PM

 

Join us to wrap up the 2025 Relay Season on Wed, 6/11 at 4pm SLT on RFL Advocacy!

That's right - bc we didn't get a chance to spend as much time on RFL Advocacy during Relay Weekend, we decided to make up for lost time by partying hard and sinkin' it back into the ocean (where it apparently likes to spend its time anyway)!

So grab your swimming (or floating) gear and chill with your fellow Relayers, DJ Purelife, & your ACS Leadership Team as we present awards and reveal the 2026 theme! 

 

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

 

Here's what's going on at the Sunweaver, Montecito Bay, Furry Fashion, and Scorn clubs.

Club Cutlass: TBA, Cartoon, Country Bash

Happy Vixen: TBA, DJ Arooo, DJ Scratch, DJ Malit, DJ Khyra

Club Zero Gravity: DJ Snowy  - Pink White and Blue

 

Bouncing Bunny Beach Club:  DJ Snowy - Paws and/or Hooves

Xanadu: DJ Jesse 

Club Squeaks: DJ Squeaks

 

Montecito Bay:  CAYA, After Dark

Club Scorn: W 4-6, Th 4-6, 7-11, Sat 2-12

 

Furry Fashion: TBA

 

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'

 

 

Relay Weekend, Sunday

 

Sunday was Day Two of the Relay Weekend, of which Day One saw a lot (link). The early morning hours are the least active, with many people heading to bed. But others were staying up.

 

 At RFL Cure, T1 Radio would play the music for the track, staffed throughout the night by various DJs, 

 

 And people continued to down the track. Someone was zipping by leaving a rainbow streak so fast it took hours to get a good shot. 

 

 

As the morning went on, more avatars of all kinds went down the track.

 

 

 

 

 Going too fast sometimes resulted in taking a bath.

 

Someone lit a fire at one sim crossing. Fortunately, it was harmless. 

 

 

 And there were more camps to see.

 

Kitsunes for A Cure had a fascinating HUD-based game, with a prize for those who found all ten scrolls.

 

 Eventually, it came time for the closing ceremony at 10AM

 

The closing ceremony would also be recorded (click here to watch). 

 

The Committee thanked those for participating, gave out some awards, and read a moving statement from someone who'd just found out his cancer had relapsed. 

 

 The Sunbeamers would have their balloon at the event.

 

It was then time for the Victory Lap, to celebrate bringing cancer one more step to being conquered.

 

It was a great end to another great Relay Weekend, with afterparties lasting for hours. But this wasn't truly the end. Smaller parties would go on to Monday and probably today and tomorrow. The campsites remind up for people to look over and try out activities. And there's the "Sink the Sims" Party, aka the Flood Party, on Wednesday at 4PM SL time. The day after that, the teams are then asked to clean up.

 

For most teams, the Relay Weekend marks the end of activities, though there are a few others. But later this month is the last notable team event, ACTS Royal Ascot. Later this summer is the official end of the season. But there will be other fundraisers this year such as Making Strides and the Christmas Expo. And of course February 2026 when the next official Relay season starts.

 

Go Relay! 

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

A Word From the RFL of SL Lead

 

Relay 2025....Wow,  I mean W O W!

This morning I sat drinking my coffee as it rained and thundered outside and just reflected on this year of Relay.  The Magic of Hope.

Registration opened and you guys were ready,  the registrations was amazing and we had more register within the first couple of weeks than in the past.  This told me one thing... "These guys are ready to Relay!"   And boy was I right!

I've been asked many times,  why do you take on so much with relay.  The answer is simple.  Its because of YOU.  My heart is full.   Watching teams raise donations for other teams other than their own.  Embracing someone going through a rough time.  Surrounding them with their thoughts, prayers and avatars so they "feel" it.   The Love, and HOPE was impalpable! Not one person that walked the track or stepped a foot inside a campsite can say they did not feel it.  Not one.

You have the ability to turn someone's hopeless feeling into a feeling of strong hope, and belief that they have INDEED Got This!

The personal stories that have been shared with me I will forever hold them close to my heart.  YOU have forever changed me.   Relay has forever changed me.  So Thank you!

Thank you for such a successful year!  Not just in donations...but in being you and giving sooo many people HOPE!   Sugar couldn't have said it better when she stated "when someone got Jade, we ALL got Jade,   When someone got Diamond, we ALL got diamond".   THATS Relay !!

Now,  as I wipe away the happy tears lol.  yes I do cry...but its good therapeutic crying filled with Hope ;-)    I want you guys to know, I will be leaving to head out of town to take care of my parents for a few weeks in Colorado.  So I will not be able to be at the sinking of the sims.  At least not in avatar form lol.   My heart is always with you guys!    But I will be back in a few weeks then we are all going to get together and reflect.   And talk about this season... how can a lead do more to help each team.   How can we possibly make Relay better .   Ideas on recruiting more teams.  Or just have time to share our stories with each other.   I'm sooo looking forward to that.   But for now,  sit back and look what you all did as ONE TEAM ONE DREAM...smile and say... WE did good!

I love you all !!

Selene Jashan
2025 Relay For Life of SL Lead 

More Relay News Later

 

  

It's been a great Relay Weekend. But yours truly hasn't finished resting up. After some more time to snooze, I'll pick up my pen.

 

Stay tuned, 

 

Go Relay!

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Relay Weekend: Day One

 

 Yesterday was the start of the Relay Weekend, with dozens gathering for the opening ceremony. 

 

It went on without a hitch (click here to see the video).

 

 The camps had some great builds.

 

 

 And dozens of Relayers of all kinds went down the track.

 

 

There were some problems with lag, and a sim shutting down, which people had to teleport across.

 

At 9PM SL time was the luminaria ceremony, and activity stopped as people paused and reflected. 

 

 The ceremony was also taped on Youtube, including the release of lanterns (click here to see the video). 

 

From RFL in SL

 More to come.

 

*Addition* For Day Two of the Relay, Click here.  

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

Announcement: TODAY! June 8th HFOTS At The USMVC Hangar

 

Date:June 8, 2025
Time: 12 PM - 3 PM SLT/PST!
 
12pm - DJ Zack
1pm - Chapman Zane
2pm - Erin and Satin

Please keep scripts low everyone can enjoy the show and help reduce lag! Please no weapons or poofers!

Sponsored by Frets Nirvana and the U.S. Military Veteran’s Group of Second Life. To learn more about Homes for Our Troops visit https://www.hfotusa.org


http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Veterans%20Isle/171/66/3501 

 

The Relay Weekend

 

 

For those who are part of the Relay for Life in Second Life, this is it. This is the big day. Months of fundraising, and a few weeks of camp building have led to today. Including the permanent American Cancer Society sims, there are 36 sims to talk in what's been described as the most intense 24 hours of Second Life with hundreds of avatars walking the track.

 

Be sure to drop by today if your computer can handle the lag. If it can't, feel free to wait until tonight when fewer are on.

 

Go Relay!

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Fifteen Years of The SL Newser,

 

It was fifteen years ago yesterday in which one chapter in Second Life journalism ended, and another began. 

 

For about three and a half years, the Second Life Newspaper had been reporting on goings on in Second Life. Starting off as a simple blog in 2005, "one man's dream," it grew and developed into a real newsletter with a staff that ensured it was updated every weekday. Yours truly would join in 2007. But sadly real-life would catch up to the owner and editor, and in Spring 2010 we were informed the paper would soon be closing.

 

A few of the staff would simply depart and go on to different things, but four of us, Gemma Cleanslate, Shellie Sands, Grey Lupindo, and myself, had joined the dream of reporting the news and were not about to just give it up. So we got together and made plans for a new one, with me as the owner and editor since I had been the "office manager" of the SLN. And so on June 5 2010, Second Life Newspaper ended, and the Second Life Newser began.

 

It wasn't easy. While we had plenty of experience writing the news, this was a new paper, and owning one isn't the same as managing one. And we started just as some *major* news was hitting from Linden Lab laying of a third of it's staff to the CEO leaving and Philip Linden returning as interim, to the closing of the Teen Grid and others. But we were persistent. By the end of the month, our friend Ranchan Weidman and the Sunweaver community had provided us with an office, and the land to put it on. And it was becoming clear to everyone we were around to stay. We would report on the people, places, and events of this virtual world that has become for many of us truly our second life. 

 

Since those first days, much has changed. Linden Lab went from where to go after the end of it's Golden Age, for a time creating or buying other products. But after a few years, over time it would close them or sell them off, the last one being the next-generation virtual world Sansar which while looking good never really took off. Confidence with the Lindens would fall and rise over time as blunders of theirs made residents wonder about them, and smart moves encouraged users to invest more time and money as well as spreading the word.  And Linden Lab itself would find itself purchased. But the new investors knew a good thing when they saw it, and let the Lab to continue as it has. 

 

The land and people have changed. Over time, we've written about many places and people. Sadly, many areas would close, and time and real life would take some people away. But other locations would open, and other people would join. The residents over time would be less Boomer and Gen-Xer, and more Millennial, who would bring in new attitudes and outlooks. 

 

We have changed. Sadly Shellie and Gray would have to depart the Newser, but others would step in such as Grease Coakes, DrFran Babcock, and others. Those who have remained have gotten older, and have had some real-life challenges, yours truly's hair has become mixed with gray in real life, but the writing goes on. Some of our competitors have not, shutting down over time for various reasons. 

 

But much remains the same. This is still the virtual world that brings out creativity and inspiration. Builders continue to make great landscapes, buildings, and other creations such as lifelike virtual pets, vehicles large and small, and more. Artists come here to show their masterpieces and see what they can do in a three-dimensional landscape. Fundraisers, such as those done by the Relay for Life and conducted, bringing in money for valued charities that help thousands. And much more. 

 

And the future? Despite the naysayers over time who thought Second Life was doomed, it has continued over time and remains stronger than ever. And while we the staff of the Newser have seen some real-life challenges, we remain committed to continuing to bringing you the readers the news of this great, and sometimes crazy, virtual world. On occasion real life may slow us down a little, but we still deliver the news. 

 

Special thanks to the Sunweaver Estates and the Angels to giving us a location inworld, Farshore Radio for helping to spread the word, to James and Dana who taught us how a newsletter should be run. And of course special thanks to you the readers whose readership makes this paper possible.  

 

Bixyl Shuftan

Editor

SL Newser

 

Relay Weekend Starts Tomorrow

 

 After another great season, the Relay for Life in Second Life is almost about to experience its high point of the year: The Relay Weekend. Described as the most intense 24 hours of Second Life, there are dozens of camps across 36 sims, here's several of them.

 

The camp of Roos With A Dream, the fun-loving Aussies & friends who have done much with the Sunnies.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/RFL%20Win/123/65/23

 

The Meli's Maniacs camp (watch out for singing chickens)

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/RFL%20Remember/125/189/23

 

The Giant Snail Racers, the team behind the wacky weekly races in this virtual world. 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/RFL%20Advocacy/44/131/23

The Second Life Cheerleading Squad's huge camp, note the double-helix tower.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/RFL%20Remember/137/125/23

The ever wacky Steelhead Salmons, led by Fuzzball "The Hair" Ortega.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/RFL%20Unity/123/195/23 

And finally the camp of the Sunbeamers, built by Cynthia Farshore and Shockwave Yareach with the help of team captain Rita Mariner and others, "Rita had to drag me away ... to get me to stop."

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/RFL%20Win/122/192/24

The opening ceremonies start at 10 AM, with the Survivor & Caregiver lap at 11, and the team laps start at Noon SL time.

 

Go Relay!

 

Bixyl Shuftan