Monday, April 7, 2025

Sunbeamers Reach One Million Linden Mark After Raising 100,000L At Relaystock

 

 This weekend, the Relaystock took place, with various teams getting campsites and a musician, sometimes with dancers, on stage. At 3PM Saturday April 5th, it was the turn of Team Sunbeamers. With DJ Cynthia spinning a set of classic rock tunes, a number of other 'beamers got on stage with her and the team danced away on stage, often cracking jokes and puns, "I get by with a little hemp from my friends..."
 
 
The results were a smashing success for the "wackiest team in Second Life," raising a hundred thousand Lindens for the time they were on stage, a new record. Two Sunnies then lived up pledges they made if this was done, Shockwave, the team's wolf, donning a grandmother's nightgown, "HOW do I get talked into doing this?" And Brian became a brightly pink fennec in a tutu, "Okay Brian!!! Strip to the tutu!"


For the team, another milestone was reached. They'd achieved Emerald status fundraising, the one million Linden dollar mark. This marks the fourth year in a row they've done so, and the earliest they've done so ever. Currently, the Sunbeamers are sixth out of 177 teams.

While the Relaystock is over, the camps are still up for people to see, and don't forget the "Bid the Lindens Bald" event later this week.
 
More pictures later.
 
Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!
 
Bixyl Shuftan

Skype Shutting Down in May

 
 
Readers will most likely remember Skype, the chat application that was commonly used from the late 2000s and 2010s, and still used by 36 million computer and smartphone users as late as Feb 2023. But it was announced a month ago that in May, it will be shutting down

We want to express our deepest gratitude for your support over the years. Skype has been an integral part of countless meaningful moments, and we are honored to have been part of your journey.
 
Microsoft, which has owned Skype since 2011, announced that Teams, it's newer platform, will be taking it's place

Skype was widely used in the 2010s, but as time went on, some users would drop it, using others such as Discord and Zoom. 

Sources: CNN, Microsoft
 
Bixyl Shuftan
 

Press Release: Homes For Our Troops Benefit Concert Tuesday April 8

 


Frets Nirvana, longtime supporter and contact for Homes For Our Troops in Second Life in conjunction with the US Military Veterans Group, announces the April  2025 Homes for Our Troops benefit in Second Life.   The benefit will be held on April 8  from 6PM-8PM SLT.

Frets Nirvana states:  “HFOT is a privately funded 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization building specially adapted, mortgage-free homes nationwide for the most severely injured Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Most of these Veterans are multiple amputees, paraplegic, quadriplegic or have suffered severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).  Since its inception in 2004, nearly 90 cents of every dollar spent by Homes for Our Troop has gone to directly support Veterans. DURING THAT TIME HFOT HAS BUILT 406 SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOMES NATIONWIDE FOR EXTREMELY INJURED VETERANS.”


This HFOT benefit concert will feature the following DJ’s and artists from 6-8PM on April 8, 2025

DJ Zack 6 PM
Hogan Baily 7 PM

In conjunction with the April 8 benefit, there will be a Easter Hunt at Veteran's Isle during the month of April sponsored  by Sinclair Worthington and Splintered Creations.  Fun for all  in support of Homes For Our Troops!


The benefit on April 8 is 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

Sunday, April 6, 2025

Relaystock Schedule for Today

 
  • 9:00AM – DJ Candi – Harmony Of Hope
  •  
  • 10:30AM- DJ Orion – Shields Of Serenity
  •  
  • 12:00PM – DJ Casey – Purple Tears
  •  
  • 1:30PM – DJ Primi – ACTS
  •  
  • 3:00PM – Abby Jaidov LIVE  – Relay Rockers
  •  
  • 4:00PM – Todd Rumsford LIVE – Cure Chasers
  •  
  • 5:00PM – The Time Machine – Trader Whiplash – Relay Rockers
 

Cartoon of The Day: "Paper Avatars"

 
 
 Taken at the Relaystock
 
By Bixyl Shuftan
 

Saturday, April 5, 2025

The 2025 Relaystock, Friday to Sunday

 
 
 Oops, with the Relay happening so fast, we forgot to notice how early the Relaystock takes place this year. Organized by the Relay Rockers, it's a multiteam event. It started yesterday, Friday April 4, and goes on to tomorrow Sunday April 6.
 

For the 12th year in a row, we have transformed the region into a 1969 NY State of Mind Farm for this year's Biggest Rock Festival in support of Relay For Life of Second Life!  Max Yasgur's 600 acre farm became the most famous concert location in RL history (Woodstock) and we can't wait for you to come enjoy the experience all over again, or maybe for the first time.  Complete with the mud bogs and mud slides, we are ready to rock and roll.
 


The sim is full up of various campsites by various teams.
 
 
And various singers, DJs, and bands, will be up on stage. Here's today's schedule
  • 8:30AM- DJ Kyla – Phoenix Productions
  • 10:00AM -DJ Sal – Belle Ame
  • 11:30AM – DJ Chevy – Hands, Hearts, and Hope 
  • 1:00PM – Max Kleene LIVE – Relay Rockers
  • 2:00PM – xDavidDarexx LIVE – Seekers of Hope
  • 3:00PM  – DJ Cynthia – Sunbeamers
  • 4:30PM  – DJ Kayla and the Kangaroos – Roos With A Dream
  • 6:00PM – DJ Fuzzball Ortega – Steelhead Salmons
  • 7:30PM – DJ Melina – Heroes Helping Heroes 
And then there's the kiosks for "Bid The Lindens Bald." But that's for next week
 
Remember, the fun goes on to Sunday.
 
Go Relay!
 
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/RelayStock/129/244/24

Friday, April 4, 2025

EOTB: "Dash For Cash"

 Yesterday Linden Lab announced what they called the latest of their "Linden Reward Streaks," mini-events to encourage people to use the mobile viewer, the "Dash For Cash." 

Exciting news! We’re taking our Linden Reward Streaks to the next level with Dash for Cash – an all-new additional way to earn Linden Dollars on Second Life Mobile. Throughout the month of April, subscribers can continue to log in to claim Linden Reward Streaks to earn free L$ daily - but now there are even more L$ than ever up for grabs!


In order to take part, one needs to be using the latest version of the viewer. You also need to have your phone set to accept notifications. You then wait for the Lab to send you a notification, "Not everyone will get the same offer at the same time and L$ award amounts will vary – but everyone can expect multiple reward opportunities throughout the month!"

For more info, check the Linden blog.
 

More April Fools

 
A couple days ago when we wrote about April Fools in Second Life, Spiffy Voxel would comment there was much more.
 
There were some other good Second Life pranks yesterday. The biggest one was the reveal of the 'revolutionary' new mesh body that Salt & Pepper had been teasing... which turned out to be a flat cardboard avatar. However, the joke appears to be on Salt and the other creators who got involved, as both Cardy and Cardo proved to be rather popular! 🤣 They should definitely be easier to make clothing and accessories for, which is perhaps a commentary on the state of working with all the other mesh bodies and heads out there...

Gorean Whip Radio announced their sale to iHeart Radio — no more DJ interruptions, nothing but Top 40 Big Band songs on repeat. 🤣 Apparently, a few people fell for it, while others (like myself) played along. 🙂

More subtle, however, was the April Fool pulled by Luke Rowley, owner of the Primfeed photo-sharing social network — various menu items were rendered in Comic Sans yesterday. 😉

 
Of the Salt and Pepper avie, someone on Virtualverse would say, "It was a very elaborate April Fool's joke. And folks are either 'That was a good one' or they are very very angry on the interwebz about it. However, it is my new shopping event avatar. It's pretty cool. There are clothes and hair for it as well"
 
In gaming there were a couple April Fools I heard about. One was an "Out Meow" for Ark Survival Ascended, a cat update which showed cats going about whistfuly around, either attacking players or casually destroying things without a care. For World of Warcraft, there was the 11.4.1 Patch Notes, "The More Herein," A play on the latest expansion "The War Within."

If there’s anything we know about WoW players, it’s that you want more. In this patch, we’re adding more of everything. More dungeons, more classes, more races, more pets and more mounts and more flight paths and more words on the screen. Unless you want more empty spaces, in which case—we've cut the words and we’re adding more empty spaces! “More more more” is our motto. Read on for more.

Among the "updates" was the new raid "The Deeper Cave Below The Bottom."

After years of going down into Azeroth, we’re going to go below that! What’s below the deepest depth? Only our friends the Digger Miners know for sure, so we’re accompanying them as they go straight down to The Bottom and then go down from there.

In the Deeper Cave Below the Bottom, there’s no light whatsoever except when you cast spells, and the extreme temperature and pressure means the enemies that live there are in a really bad mood! Defeat the lowest final boss—Ugh the Complainer—and look around on the floor of his chamber. Is that a door that leads downward??
 
On a personal note, one friend of mine commented "We need to cancel April Fools Day until sanity returns to the world." I disagree because when has the world ever been truly sane? There have always been evil men, and women, up to evil schemes, there has always been corruption, and there have always been selfish people out only for themselves. If we took ourselves too seriously all the time, we'd go nuts. So let's all take a little time to laugh.
 
Happy April Fools.
 
Bixyl Shuftan

This Saturday at The Science Circle

 
 
Saturday April 4
 
    ~*~
 
    At 10 AM PST   

    Lifelong Learning Roundtable
    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/llr/
    Presented by Lissena (Lynne Berrett, Whole Brain Health)
    VWBPE Desert Hinterlands (107/81/23)
 
    ~*~
 
    NOTE: Non-members required to register once
    IM Jes Cobalt or Nymf Hathaway


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

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Announcement: 17th Celebration Party of Club Lion

 
17th Celebration Party of Club Lion
Event Dates : Fri 4. - Sat. 5 & Sun. 6.th April 2025

     💫 ATTENTION ATTENTION Club Lion Announces the Mega Event of our 17th Celebration Party 💫
              ★ 💫 ★ Club Lion gets 17 Years Old, is that believable?.. and YOU are Invited ★ 💫 ★
                           ★ 💫 ★ Friday 4th & Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th April 2025 ★ 💫 ★
                                        ★ 💫 ★ DONT MISS THIS AMAZING PARTY ! ★ 💫 ★
 

Landmarks & Flyers : Themeparties

Friday 4th April 2025 - Witches & Wizards 
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Lions/180/79/3879

Saturday 5th April 2025 - Naughty Lingerie
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Lions/180/107/3764

Sunday 6th April 2025 - Be Crazy
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Lions/185/107/3993


🦁 𝕮 𝖑 𝖚 𝖇 𝕷 𝖎 𝖔 𝔫 𝖘𝖎𝖓𝖈𝖊 2008 - 17 Years of History! We’re celebrating 17 years of music, positive energy and unforgetable moments! To make this party even more special and keep delivering amazing nights, your support means the world to us! BIG Thanks to all our DJs & Performers in advance for participating in our celebration. Thru the 17 Years exist of Club Lion we had over 240 Livesingers at our Stage. ❤️ We look forward to welcoming you. Great Tunes - Great People - Great Fun!!! 🙈🙉🙊 ..𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝐂ʟᴜʙ 𝐋ɪᴏɴ, 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝐂ʟᴜʙ 𝐋ɪᴏɴ

Theme Party Dresscode Witches & Wizards - Friday 4th April 2025

12 pm slt : DJ Dark  -ღ- Cuʆʆɛɳ (karmelaelena)
1 pm slt : 乙٥ree (zoree.jupiter)
2 pm slt : Aragón (aragon.ducrot)
3 pm slt : DJ Dark  -ღ- Cuʆʆɛɳ (karmelaelena)
4 pm slt : Clairede Dirval
5 pm slt : Suzy B (suzybrassali)

Theme Party Dresscode Naughty Erotica - Saturday 5th April 2025

12 pm slt : DJ Dark  -ღ- Cuʆʆɛɳ (karmelaelena)
1 pm slt : Hogan Baily
2 pm slt : Maribol Inshan
3 pm slt : DJ 亗ραитнєя нαvє亗 (sergiopantera)
4 pm slt : Ricardo Avalira
5 pm slt : Unbes0grande

Theme Party Dresscode Crazy World - Sunday 6th April 2025

12 pm slt : DJ Dark  -ღ- Cuʆʆɛɳ (karmelaelena)
1 pm slt : Virgil (xvirgilflowersx)
2 pm slt : ElvisAronPresley Lisa
3 pm slt : DJ Dark  -ღ- Cuʆʆɛɳ (karmelaelena)
4 pm slt : Secret Soul
5 pm slt : Shaye Dezno

Hosts : 💃 Hosts KIARA - Brunynha

Reminder: VWBPE Conference Starts Today

 
 Just a reminder, the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education event starts today. 

Get the schedule (here).
 

Reader Submitted Picture: The Linden Topsy-Turvy Home

 
 
 From Alden Cortes, a picture of one of the "TopsyTurvy" Linden Homes in the demo area during their April Fools prank.
 

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Virtual World Best Practices in Education 2025 Conference

 
Tomorrow at 8:30 AM is the start of one of the more educational yearly events in Second Life, the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education conference, or VWBPE.  It is "a global grassroots community event, which focuses on education in immersive virtual environments." This year's theme is Transitions. Dancerina Starlight wrote about the event for the Newser.
 
Read Dancerina's article in Events
 

Some April Fools Pranks In Second Life, and Elsewhere

 
Yesterday was one of the Newser's traditions, the April Fools joke story. Sometimes it's poking fun at something done by the Lindens, and sometimes it's poking fun at real-life news. This year, it was the later, poking fun at a certain President's insistence that America "most have" a certain island. A couple readers didn't like it. Others thought it was hilarious, "Good thing I wasn't drinking my tea when I read this. Thanks for the scoop Bixyl, and maaaybeee check your calendar after reading this, folks."

But this wasn't the only April Foolery. Far from it.
 

 Those using Firestorm yesterday probably noticed things weren't quite right. Once, the viewer seemed slanted. Other times, there was a face poking up in the corner "I heard a mouse click.:And the bird had googly eyes. But there were also various messages in the popup window in the center.

Attention residents: An epidemic of uncontrollable laughter has broken out in Second Life! Proceed with caution, as spontaneous giggles may occur at any moment.
 
Fashion emergency: All virtual clothing has been replaced with banana peels and coconut shells. Embrace the tropical chic look!
 
Beware of rogue teleportation portals appearing randomly across Second Life. You never know where you might end up!

Due to a coding hiccup, all avatar voices have been replaced with chipmunk squeaks. Happy chatting!
 
And Linden Labs got into the act as well. Patch Linden would announce on the forums a new Linden Home theme.  

We are excited to introduce the latest addition to the Linden Homes family, now available for preview in the Welcome Hub Linden Homes Demo region. Residents have long awaited something fresh, and today we are unveiling a surprising new direction with the gravity-defying Topsy-Turvy Homes. Every detail of these homes has been carefully crafted to provide a completely inverted living experience. Gardens sprout beneath floorboards, welcome mats hang proudly from the ceiling, and chimneys point straight to the ground. These homes offer a whimsical and truly one-of-a-kind perspective of Bellisseria, inviting you to see the world from a whole new angle. Staying true to our finest traditions, the Topsy-Turvy Homes arrive as part of a broader effort to create more dynamic and evolving environments.
 
But this wasn't all.  "Along the coastlines, residents may notice the arrival of Offshore Oil Rigs. These towering structures have quickly become part of the seascape, giving a more industrial touch to the otherwise serene Bellisserian waters." 
 
Thankfully there were no reports of oil soaked birds. 
 
There were also reports of volcanoes, "In the Thousand Islands regions, volcanic activity has stirred, adding glowing rivers of lava and drifting ash to the air. Some believe it to be a sign of seasonal shifts within the grid itself."
 
The response so far to the Lindens' April foolery has been mostly positive, "Love the new houses, so much more interesting than the old ones/" "I want one of those homes!" "Just needs a little early 80's Lionel Richie music, and we'd be right at home!" A couple people didn't think much of the oil rigs, but the volcanoes seemed popular, "LOL - it's regurgitating cows!" "I'm a bit disappointed that I can't catch the volcano cows for my Ranch." "I'm a bit disappointed that I can't catch the volcano cows for my Ranch." "Great April Fool "
 
More later on April Fools in gaming.
 
Bixyl Shuftan
 

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

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: Fire and Water, Beyond the Sea, Hard Rock

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

Club Zero Gravity: DJ Snowy - Wild and Domestic
 
Bouncing Bunny Beach Club:  DJ Snowy - TBA

Xanadu: DJ Jesse 

Club Squeaks: Closed to regular events
 
Montecito Bay:  CAYA, After Dark

Club Scorn: T 2-4, W 2-6, Th 2-12, Sat 2-12
 
Furry Fashion:  Hooves and Horns, Fantasy, Insects VS Arachnids, CAYA
 
Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'
 
 

Breaking News: Linden Lab To Make Mainland Continent Satori Part of Bellisseria

 
 
Longtime residents will probably recognize the roughly triangular mainland continent of Satori, even if they forget it's name. Made up of plains, mountains, and shoreline, a number of residents have made it their home. But there's still plenty of abandoned land.
 
But late yesterday, Linden Lab announced Bellisseria would be annexing the land and making it into Linden Home space.
 
Due to the demand of Linden Homes, the limited paths of expansion by sea, and the amount of unclaimed mainland, the landmass known as Satori will be incorporated into Bellisseria. This means that those living there will need to sign up for Premium accounts and eventually get notices to take down their builds in order to receive their Linden Homes. 

The forums were soon filling up with responses from people with homes there not happy with the idea of being annexed. A Joe Greenland wrote, "This is our home, and we like things as they are." Jane Dane, a former tenant of renters on Satori, wrote, "It's not the neatest place in the world, but it has charm, and it would be a shame if it were to simply become just another part of the Linden Home continent. Besides, they'd have to move if they couldn't pay. Was that ever taken into consideration?"
 
But Don Linden would write, "We're so sure the people of Satori want to become Bellissarians, we're going ahead with the annexation." He insisted, "Bellessaria needs Satori, and Satori needs to be part of Bellisseria. We're going to make Second Life great again."
 
To read the Linden announcement in full, Click Here.  

Bixyl Shuftan