It has been one of the most popular and politically correct things to say, over time, that Second Life helps people with disabilities to live a bit of a fuller life. Sure, going out to clubs and partying is nice, but I believe that content creators could push the envelope.
I couldn't resist having that thought when I recently visited (or revisited) some reproductions of famous real life landmarks lately. Here I was, in a rough copy of the Marienplatz in Munich, Germany. While it could be better, it still gave a bit of a feel of the historic city.
You could say the same when visiting the Dresden Gallery, a real palace of art. Or if you took a look at the official sims created by the Mexico tourist board. There are more, such as sites dedicated to the Eiffel Tower and Cologne Cathedral. Yet that is not enough.
All of these places have one thing in common, which is making some RL sites available to anybody who is connected to SL. Think of this for a second: people with physical handicaps have to face hardship all the time. Traveling internationally requires more time and effort than for the rest of us. This is why SL could become a bit more of a heaven for people with disabilities.
I believe that private interests or governments should do more to create sims that let these people discover their beautiful countries, landmarks and cultures.
Not everyone has the same priviledge of being free to travel and having enough money to do so. Therefore, poorer users would also get a glimpse of what seems so far away, or so impossible to access.
Even those of us who do travel on a regular basis would have to gain from the spreading of touristic sims. We'd be able to get a sneak peek of places we may not consider seriously... and end up going there.
Social media are known for creating a buzz and getting the word out about yourself. SL, since it provides a 3D environment and the power to script, it has potential for more than a typical Web site, Facebook page or Twitter feed. It's high time that touristic attractions use it, at least for the benefit of those who would feel better because of it.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Travel sims would make handicapped life better
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Space Frontier Saturn V Moon Rocket Ride
It was about forty years ago last week that Apollo 11 went to the moon, mankind landing on an alien surface for the first time in history. Many of us in Second Life know of space areas, such as the International Space Museum, but can one find a place where the moon landing is re-enacted?
The answer: Yes, but it’s not quite finished.
In the Space Frontier Workspace (formerly known as the Space Frontier Sandbox) near the Sci-Lands, there is a Saturn V rocket on a launch tower. Built to scale (two avatars at it’s base in the picture can just barely be seen), the rocket stands high in the air, connected to the red launch tower. The rocket is very realistically detailed, and includes a “sound HUD” for audio from the Apollo 11 mission (does not always work) which one gets by clicking an old-fashioned computer on the launchpad’s corner. This grand build was made by Wicked Quasimodo.
One enters the rocket by clicking on the command module, almost at the top of the Saturn V. The huge vehicle launches at 32 minutes past the hour, every hour, with the tower’s gantry retracting just a few minutes before. If you’re outside, it’s a spectacular sight as the great behemoth launches into the air. If you’re inside the rocket, you’re in for quite a ride.
I had the fortune of speaking to one of the people responsible for the sim, Rocket Sellers. “I was just mitigating some space debris here,” he told me, “impromptu erotic photo studio in the sky. ... I’m the owner of record here, and there’s a crew with cleaning powers. I try to clean politely so they do not reincarnate as pesky griefers.”
Asking about the Moon rocket, “It’s still a work in progress. This is Version Two. Wicked Quasimodo had an earlier build, but Havoc 4 broke it. This one is lower prim, and the lunar module is sculpty. It really should be on NASA property, but there’s no NASA region that will adopt it. He first tried on the NASA CoLab Testbed, but the sim was just too lagy, and there was just too much junk in the sky. So he began working on it here, with the idea it would find a home at NASA for the Apollo 11 Anniversary. Instead, NASA put some posters around with landmarks to here.”
“The first iteration did the whole flight profile, including splashdown back on Earth. ... The last time I took the trip (on this rocket), we only got to lunar orbit. ... I don’t know if it lands yet or not.” Rocket Sellers then mentioned a famous name dropping in, “Last week, we had an avatar named ‘Buzz Aldrin’ visiting here. I asked him if he had taken the Saturn V Apollo 11 ride to the Moon yet. He answered, ‘Yes, 40 years ago.’ ... I don’t believe it’s really Buzz, although I can’t figure out how he got the name. ... I guess Linden Labs is not assiduous about protecting famous names.”
Rocket Sellers invited me to go along for a ride on the Saturn V, and so we and one other person got aboard the command module. And at 32 past the hour, the rocket roared and thundered up into the air. The ride is best seen with Environment set to Midnight, and being a Second Life spaceship, the stages shake a little as it travels upward. Eventually, the first stage falls away, and then the second. Soon, the ship comes to orbit a megaprim Earth, “It’s very beautiful from up here” “Approaching New Guinea.”
There is a black square under the Moon rocket at this stage. Rocket Sellers explained, “That’s the work platform, and also when you transfer to the Lunar Module, it keeps you from falling through space.” The Command Module does have windows that you can see your avatar from the outside. But looking inside through either mouselook or panning, the inside is quite detailed with numerous instruments and panels.
Eventually, the faring on the last rocket stage separated, and the Lunar Module, folded up, appeared. The Command/Service Module then rotated, and connected to it. Passengers could then right-click to board it. The connected ships then went into Lunar orbit. Unfortunately, the ride did not progress any further. It had yet to be finished.
Despite this and the tiny flaws, this reporter, can only consider it a great and memorable build, especially if one is a space fan, or otherwise nostalgic for these glory days of the manned space program.
The Space Frontier Saturn V Moon Rocket is at Space Frontier (154, 126, 137).
“It’s good when a rocket or space person finds the place.”
Bixyl Shuftan
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Open the Box with Dana
You know there are certain things I hate, both in RL and SL.
One recently that I have come across in SL is bullying:
bully1 [boo
l-ee] Show IPA noun, plural -lies, verb, -lied, -ly⋅ing, adjective, interjection
–noun
| 1. | a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates smaller or weaker people. |
Recently I was asked to remove a sponsor because they had 'copied' another sponsor - now in this I sat on the fence and was put squarely in the middle - I could see the similarity BUT I had also seen other dresses similar - believe me I hate a copycat and any out and out copy I would have acted differently - but being in the middle and considering all involved as friends I passed it over to James who told me to do the totally neutral article which asked your opinions.
Notice I still do not name names and I won't because I disagree with 'name and shame' I believe certain people have acted badly, but that does not mean I have to do the same!
Anyway the original accuser then withdrew his sponsorship and insisted his 'students' do the same saying that I had sided with the 'copycat' - so basically I was given a choice between losing one sponsor or several - well I won't be intimidated by anyone and the newspaper will not either - we report what we see regardless of whether someone is a sponsor or not - if they do something wrong we will not shrink from reporting it.
This all happened at the beginning of the month and I was told by the accused that she had been asked to remove her store from a couple of malls and other Mall owners had pressure to put on them also to remove her from their malls - as I said bullying tactics.
This morning I received a note - again i will not name names:
Dana I must ask you to empty out your space at *** , There seems to be a conflict here with your store being here . If I allow you to remain any longer, I stand to lose 5 big stores. This is nothing personal. Its just a matter of me doing whats best for the mall, your rent terminated today july 29. If you can please remove your objects by midnite I would appreciate it. After midnite my staff will return any of your objects that remain if you are unable to come pick them up. Thank you for all your help,
Its loss is of no consequence, BUT I would ask the question - which would you rather lose 5 stores or your integrity?
I guess I am made of different stuff because I prefer to keep my integrity.
What do you think? How would you have acted? Feel free to leave your comments but remember we will be watching them and any offensive comments will be removed.
Dana
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Why Baron Returned: Open Letter.
It has been a year since ‘Baron’ vanished from his private island. True, many people were astonished, some hurt, and others glad that it happened. Speaking for myself, I felt, at the time, it was the only way out of some rather unenjoyable situations. Things had turned sour on many aspects of ‘his life’ and no longer the fun it once was.
I have spoken privately to many people in SL about this for many months, those that know who I am in another form that is. I am aware that many felt….perhaps let down…by my vanishing, despite that I kept contact with many I had become friends with. To those, I apologise again.
To those that take the news thinking…’Oh God…he’s back!!’….don’t. I made some mistakes, for which I and others have paid a heavy price… I have no intentions of doing so again.
I have returned for a few reasons, apart from having paid for ‘Baron’ this past year.
1. I missed writing for the SL Newspaper, it was a huge part of my life, one I hope to restart.
2. Time moves on, and hopefully avi’s can do the same.
3. Lessons learned at great cost are not forgotten easily… nor should they.
4. I feel that after a year, it is time for ‘Baron’ to return to SL and once again take his place in the massive world that is Second Life.
If some people regard my return with trepidation… don’t. Should I have the privilege to write for the SL Newspaper again, it shall be on a general basis, hopefully art related and ‘special’ reports. I have no intention of going back to any prison, regardless of the chances it may give for RP or a ‘Story’.
The Sink Freak is dead and gone, though I admit it was fun at the time.
I only wish to let Baron return. If you do not like the idea, then that is fine… you can ignore me or whatever.. I have no problems with that. Baron is back, a changed man, so please let him have a contented existence.
Thank you.
Baron DeSantis
Monday, July 27, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Virtual Ability Celebrates Americans with Disabilities Act
Virtual Ability, Inc. is pleased to announce the first annual celebration of the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The event will be held at Virtual Ability Island, from 11AM SLT until 8:30 PM SLT, this Monday, July, 27th.
Please join us to enjoy dancing to the music of award-winning musician HatHead Rickenbacker (6 PM - 7PM SLT) and DJ Ricken Flow; as well as discourses by speakers Dusan Writer (11 AM SLT), ICU nurse and author, Kaznats Oh (1:30 PM SLT), educator JeniAnn Ametza (3 PM SLT), Virtual Ability President Gentle Heron (3:30 PM SLT), nurse KlewTBucklew Glendevon (5 PM SLT), and attorney Geri Kuhn (8 PM SLT). The speakers will be transcribed, and there will be time set aside for discussion.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), first signed into law in 1990, represents an important milestone in securing the rights of millions of people with disabilities living in the United States.
Please join us in the commemoration and celebration of this important legislation. Thank you.
For further information, please contact Gentle Heron via IM or at gentle@VirtualAbility.org
X Search for the Black Pearls
Search for the Black Pearls,the hunt starts August 1 and runs through the end of the month. Hunt starts at Sirens Song Sea Side.
The Scarlett Queen was sunk in a terrible gale storm. Aye she carried a treasure trove of gold, rubies, emeralds and the fabled black pearls.
We think twas Calypso that sent de storm dat sank us. The Brethren had unbound her and loosed her. She is said to haunt the South Seas.
Alas tis true me ship went down on de way out of Tahiti with de precious pretties.
A freighter bound for Frisco came along and rescued me and me crew mates
Find them all and perhaps you can string a necklace. Prizes await the hunters along the way to gather these precious pearls.
Lots of pirate and mermaid booty for all.
Bein a good pirate and wench dis is just de tease to get you ready for de big hunt. Check back for updates and if you join de group a special prize may find its way to ur inventory.
Madam De Barbary
For more information see - http://seawitche.blogspot.com/ or contact Kaffe McMahon
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Relay for Life of Second Life shatters records, raises over US$270,000 to fight cancer
RELAY FOR LIFE, the signature fundraising event of the American Cancer Society, closed
its fifth and most successful annual event in Second Life on Sunday, July 19 having raised
over a quarter of a million US dollars in support of cancer research. With donations still
coming in, that figure is already over $270,000 US and it looks as if the final total will easily
surpass that by the end of July.
This year’s Relay had the theme of ‘One World, One Hope’ and was the largest to date, with
a track lined by luminaria winding through 37 sims of amazing builds - some specially
created by designers, and some built by the teams themselves. More than 1,900 avatars
completed one or more laps, a combined total of 2,155 laps, while others chose to visit
the campsites, where they could teleport to a space station from the survivors’ moon camp,
visit the Mars base, cycle around the Tour de France, zap cancer cells in the Anatomica
build, take a ride through the breast cancer rollercoaster, explore The Shire – home of the
hobbits - rest on the lovely Tranquility beach, or attend one of the music events on the
entertainment sims. There was also a lovingly built replica of the Charleston, SC Hope
Lodge. Avatars gathered outside Hope Lodge wearing purple capes, and pledging to ‘Fight
Back’, in a moving ceremony. And 5,370 luminaria were lit in support of loved ones going
through treatment, and in memory of those heroes who have passed on.
Stingray9798 Raymaker (the avatar of the official ACS representative in Second Life,
Jeffrey Montegut) drew attention to some of the new features of this year’s event: ‘This
year marked the first year that we held the Relay for Life of Second Life Teen Edition (a teen
relay was held from Friday to Saturday) which means we actually relayed for 48 hours,
straight.’ He went on: ‘Particularly important this year was that the American Cancer
Society’s ‘mission’ and the ‘international’ aspect of Relay were fused into almost every
aspect of the event.’
Fayandria Foley, who is stepping down as Relay for Life of Second Life Event Chair after
four very successful years – three as Event Chair – said: ‘This was our largest and most
successful Relay ever. We have put Relay for Life of Second Life on the map not only in
Second Life but also in real life.’ She continued: ‘Gwinnett County Relay For Life (one of the
largest perennial events in the USA, with more than 6,000 participants raising more than one
million US dollars – ed.) may be the biggest Relay for Life and the largest money maker in
real life but ... they don't have participants from over 26 different countries, a survivor camp
on the moon, a roller coaster, or sailing activities, they don’t have tinies and furries, they
don't have the ability to fly and to teleport from one side of the track to the other, and above
all they don’t have you! WE are truly One World!’
This past weekend’s Relay For Life of Second Life also set a new listener record for
T1Radio, the Relay's Official Broadcaster, which reported that this was its biggest weekend
ever!
According to Trader1 Whiplash, the station recorded more than 6,000 unique IP
addresses logged to T1Radio on July 18-19 combined. ‘I knew right away this was going
to be a huge weekend. By the time we began the opening ceremony we had more than 600
listeners showing on our board’ said Trader.
A record number of teams took part this year with 130 teams listed, ranging from two to 400
people per team, by the time of the Opening Ceremony. For MamaP Beerbaum, Chair of
the Teams Committee, it was an extraordinary experience. ‘When I was asked if I wanted to
Chair the Teams Committee, I hesitated, because I had been a team captain the previous
year, and that was what I so loved about Relay ... the team experience. I knew if I said ‘yes’
that I could not do that anymore. Well, I am glad I decided to take the leap. Instead of
working with ONE team, I got to work with EACH of the teams, to talk to hundreds of you, to
share your plans, your dreams, your heartache, your passion, your ups and downs, your
kindness, your caring ... It has been my privilege and honor to relay with each and every one
of you.’
Cinders Vale, the avatar of a breast cancer survivor in Washington State, USA, says: ‘This
was my third year, and this year I took a more active part in volunteering. Being part of Relay
with so many others was beyond what I thought it would be. I can’t wait to get started for
2010!’ Cinders was Co-Chair of the Survivors/Caregivers Committee which organized the
opening lap when survivors and caregivers take to the track. According to Cinders, 135
survivors and caregivers were registered in advance for the opening lap and an estimated
150 avatars took part, setting another record.
Poppy Zabelin of the new International Relations committee said: ’Coming from two
European countries - I am originally from the UK and I spend part of my time there and part
of my time on Holland which are BOTH International Relay countries - I immediately saw the
theme of this year’s Relay as an opportunity to help to put Relay on the map as a truly
international, global, event which is now licenced to 20 countries outside the USA. Here
though there’s one crucial difference: we all walk the same track.’ She went on: ‘By the
close of Relay I had counted participants from a record 31 countries and made many new
friends. It was awesome to see so many flags around the starting sim and to be holding
hands with so many people across the globe.’
As incoming Event Chair for 2010, Tayzia Abattoir, pointed out at the Closing Ceremony, it
is impossible to touch on all those who contributed their time and skills and thank them all
individually.
‘From the American Cancer Society Representative, Jeff Montegut, to the Event Chair and
Co Chairs, and all of the Committee members, those making sure the main event runs
smoothly, others making the awards, the t-shirts, luminaries, the kiosks, taking care of PR
and spreading the word, mission integrity, international relations, greeters, mentors, radio
stations, publications that give us free space, musicians that provide free events, assistance
from the in-world ACS support groups, and so much more, there are so many things that so
many people do, I just can’t possibly touch on all of them or I will be talking forever.
‘From everything that goes on behind the scenes, to the captains and teams. Without you,
we would not have a Relay. You are the blood that runs through the Relay veins, who have
raised over a quarter million dollars for our 2009 campaign alone, and in today’s economy
that speaks loudly about the caring, giving community that Second Life is and of our Relay
for Life family here.’
She closed by saying: ‘I am honored to be a member of this family and look forward to
guiding Relay for Life of Second Life next year as the Event Chair, but I look forward even
more to the day when there is a cure so that we can just gather as friends without the worry
of cancer.’
Some of the Committee are already looking ahead. Technical Chair ZenMondo Wormser
who stepped in at a crucial time to recover the database so that the donations were correctly
recorded, said: ‘Collecting donations and recording them is becoming a larger task as Relay
grows larger. For 2010 we’re designing a new system that should rise to the occasion as
well as offering new kiosk and vendor systems.’
The last word has to go to a first-time relayer and cancer survivor from Australia, RebelMum
Slade, who is a member of the Friends Fighting Cancer team. The event took place in the
same weekend as her real life birthday and days before her four-year check-up, which was
clear.
‘Words cannot describe the impact of working with people from all over the world toward a
common goal. The utterly amazing international melting pot of people gathered in Second
Life to share laughter, memories and most of all to stand up to a common enemy is
empowering. The love and caring makes you wish the whole world could experience this.
Days after the event as I go for my walk, my head is a little higher, my stride faster and my
smile wider as I see myself doing backflips and running down the virtual track surrounded by
survivors, caregivers and supporters from every nation.
‘2009 was my first RFL in any life but you can bet this Aussie cancer survivor will be joining a
local group in real life too.’
Next year’s campaign runs from March through July 2010 but plans are already being
made, so if you would like to play an active role please join the ‘SL’s RFL Volunteers’ group
and look out for the announcements.
Friday, July 24, 2009
RFL Walk: The Really Wild West Exhibit
With so many exhibits on the Relay for Life walk, there just isn’t the time and space to write in detail on each of them. But I did get a sneak peak at one, the “Really Wild West” by the Passionate Redheads.
The exhibit was set in the Old West themed area of the Relay for Life Walk in the southwest corner of the RFL Endure sim (the other west sim was RFL Courage just to the east), the road just on the edge of the RFL Advocacy sim to the south. The place looked like it was set in some mountainous desert, with Native American music in the background. Just behind and to the right of the sign over the entrance was the main building, a two-story adobe structure that served partially as a store, offering a number of items for sale for charity. But the place also had some messages of inspiration. Nearby next to the road were some whimsical “Armadillo Crossing” signs, with armadillo nearby.
Paths and bridges helped one up the mountains. One could walk around to the various sights, but there were also teleports to the more notable ones. There was a mine in which one could hop on a cart and ride down the tracks. There was a river rafting ride, in which one could make their way down the twisting mountain waters. There was an Indian Circle, in which one could sit on a blanket, get a drum and a stick, and beat in rhythm.
The completion of the exhibit was announced in a few group chats a couple nights before the Relay for Life Walk officially started. People headed over, gathering at the adobe building, and having a party around the hot tub. When this reporter checked a few days after the Linden lease ended on Tuesday, it was still up.
Most of the work on the exhibit was done by Lomgren Smalls. Of the theme of the exhibit, “We found out we were on the ‘western’ themed sim already,” he explained, “I thought blending in with what was already there was a good idea.” Others had told me Lomgren had spent so much time on the place, he got only a few nights sleep in the days just before it was finished, “If you count actual hours ... I put in around a day, to a day and a half of work. Others did more as well, with the river, the detailing, the plants, etc. If you count real-life time... it was done in... 4-5 days.” Of the various attractions, “We all contributed toward the ideas. Daaneth loved the mine idea. We were all just spouting out ideas quickly.” Lomgren had no idea how many stepped off the track to look around, but he had a good idea what they felt, “Everyone's loved it.” Although pleased to hear it was still up, he felt it wouldn’t me much longer before it would vanish into the blue, “Anything after (Tuesday) is a bonus.” Despite the temporary results, Lomgren was still happy to have built the place, “That Relay is awesome, and more people should try to get involved. And that building it was fun, if exhausting.”
For his work, the Passionate Readheads awarded him, along with Dusk Griswold, the first Annual Fimi Awards, named after the late Artistic Fimicloud.
On July 21, Daaneth Kivioq announced the Passionate Redheads had raised 2,425,968 L, or over $9,300.
Bixyl Shuftan
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Spirit of Relay - One World..........
The spirit of relay was once again in evidence in secondlife this past weekend as shown by these pictures from Bixyl Shuftan.If you have pictures that show the true spirit feel free to email them to dana.vanmoer@gmail.com for inclusion here.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Relay for Life Music Event
Sat-Sun, July 18-19
At 7 pm it was back to Enterainment Bay Fest for Steely DeCosta. Always a treat, Streely is a great show to relax to, a very soothing sound and great guitar solos.
I split my time between Celtic and Mike00 Carnell so as to take in as much as possible. Mike performed at the RFL Courage sim at Buckshot Bend. He has played guitar for 18 years and has been performing in a RL band called Jazzmanix. He plays a Fender Strat USA Deluxe, as well as acoustic guitar. In addition to some original tunes, he plays classic and soft rock covers from The Eagles, Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd and Jack Johnson, to name a few.Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
AMAZON IS A REAL WORLD COMPANY WORKING IN SECOND LIFE
You would have to have been there to have believed it. The Amazon Job Fair was in full flood when I arrived. There were up to 60 avatars there at any one time, sometimes peaking at over 70, and not one sign of lag. Everyone was rushing hither, thither.
Scattered amongst a throng of jobseekers, shouting “Where do I put my resume?”, “I'm interested in project and program management opportunities”, interspersed with “You can also email your resumes” was a group of Amazon employees fielding these question with patience and aplomb.
“I have been here since 5:15 AM.” said one. What?
I am standing in the empty arena where all this took place only 24 hours ago. It is silent and empty. I have time to collect my thoughts and think about what had just happened. Several hundred applicants had bombarded the Amazon staff for possibly 12 hours.
The area was laid out with a central meeting area surrounded by tents dedicated to particular skills and vacancies. Around this central areas, like 21st century Stonehenge, there was a ring of panels explaining what the event was all about, giving instructions to the very excited and determined applicants that flew, jumped and teleported in and out, doing a good impression of a swarm of giant mayflies. There were mailboxes strategically placed for those who had read the panels and were ready with their resumes. Others, not so well organised, rushed around bumping into each other trying to get the attention of the Amazon staff who were not already surrounded.
Suddenly in the middle of this milling crowd Philip Linden appeared, taking photographs. The senior representatives of Amazon greeted him and they all started to discuss the success of the day, so far. But even the presence of the avatar of the creator of Second Life did not stop the masses from harassing the Amazon staff.
Resume Mailbox whispers: “My inventory has changed and there are now 115 notecards inside.” Amazing! Despite the chaos, things were happening just as Amazon had planned. I was just a bystander, a witness, and I spent my time there in shock! I was being buffeted by 2 day old residents, still unable fly and walk properly, seeking high-level positions with Amazon, belying their stumbling steps in Second Life with a Real Life of years work experience at a very high level of expertise.
Like two sides of a football game, Amazon staff and the hundreds of applicants were battling it out for what was a truly common goal, the filling of vacancies in a shared and flexible and workable environment.
By Kim Trefusis
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Copper Robot
This past weekend I had the pleasure of being invited to speaking event hosted by the Copper Robot( Mitch Wagner) in Second Life.
I discovered that Copper Robot which is hosted every other sunday at 6pm in world which covers a host of topics from Sci-Fi, Pop culture etc, yet held in a lively,open and frank discussion format.
Wagner is Excutive Editor for Informationweek.com and has been a journalist the past 15 plus years.
Tut: The Treasures at Heritage Key
Finally I was able to continue my voyage to the unknown and to land at the Valley of the kings!
After a few misses at the teleports, which are automatic when you enter the teleport circle in the Heritage Key, I reached the oasis where Howard Carter found the tomb of the young king Tutankhamen.
This king died at the age of nineteen so the hastily built tomb found by Howard Carter in 1922 is simple.
You can observe the burial chamber and will find an auditory history at each stop at the tomb. Outside are myriad other tombs you cannot enter but which add to the site itself.
Offices and sleeping tents with artifacts litter the area making it appear as it may have been in those years of discovery.
It is fun to roam looking at the K tombs you wish you could enter.
I spied another teleport entry and after I finished examining the area I walked into the circle (teleport) and was whisked to the Gallery of artifacts.
What an amazing place!
Many of the antiquities discovered in the tomb are displayed in an elegant setting.
The antiquities can be enlarged to see the detail. One can spend a lot of time looking at these elegant artifacts.
The next teleport turned out to be the most delightful.
Cosmic!
Landing at the site of the mask is a treat not to be missed. Then you can opt to wander down a trail of stars to view more of lovely artifacts or just teleport to the end of the journey.
It does finally come to an end… you will teleport to the closing building, Life on the Nile. You may take a survey, decide it is the end or you may opt to begin again by going off to Home.
It was an amazing visit to another world. It makes one wonder how many more we can experience as sites begin to move from second life to …where ? It is never ending I begin to believe.
How many avatars will I have ? How many worlds will I see. I cannot wait to find out! http://heritage-key.com/virtual-experience
By Gemma Cleansate
Saturday, July 18, 2009
2009 SCHEDULE
Saturday, July 28, 2009 (All times are SLT)
Noon -
Opening Ceremonies
1pm - Survivor/Caregiver Lap
2pm - Team Spirit Lap - Team Shirts & Banners
3pm - One World - International Outfits Lap
4pm - One Hope - Rainbos Lap - The Hope of a New Day...The Promise
of Calm after the Storm. Wear all the colors of the rainbow and celebrate
One HOPE
5pm - Flower Power Hour Lap - 60's outfits
6pm - Tackle It - football, rugby or any sports clothing. Let's
tackle cancer together - united, we can beat this.
7pm - Western Theme Lap
8pm - Bald is Beautiful Lap (Fay, this one's for you)
9pm - Luminaria Ceremony (please no events during this time)
10pm - Magic Lap - Wizzards, Magicians, Fairies, etc.
11pm - Tacky Tourist Lap
Sunday, July 19, 2009
12am - Midnight Masquerade
1am - Health Matters - Maybe you are a banana, or an orange,
or a carrot. Live a healthy life - we can all make a small change that
improves our life.
2am - Crazy Shoes Lap
3am - Meet a New Friend Lap
4am - Silly Hats Lap
5am - Tinies, Furries, Tails & Wings
6am - Fight Back Ceremony
7am - Caring & Curing Lap - Dr., Nurse, Scientist - Working
together to beat cancer
8am - Coffee Curlers, Slippers & PJ's
9am - Here Comes the Sun - Dress for a day at the beach. Always
remember to protect yourself from the sun on land and sea, even on a
cloudy day.
10am - Formal Wear Lap
11am - Closing Ceremonies (Teams Lap to follow)
Below are listed the Activities available
for your enjoyment during the 24 hours of the 2009 Relay For Life event.
This is your opportunity to relax after 4 months of hard work in your
teams to raise the critically needed funds to support the American Cancer
Society this year as we continue to care for cancer victims, educate
society about cancer prevention, detection, and treatment, and support
the many families and caregivers of those with these diseases.
First and most importantly, walk, jog, skate, or otherwise traverse
the track as it wanders through the many sims that make up this year’s
Relay. Each lap from the starting lap for Survivors and Caregivers to
the Teams Lap at the end has a designated Theme. The theme changes each
hour. Check this website as well as the signs along the track to know
the theme for each hour. This year’s Theme Laps Coordinator is Arizona
Ballinger!
Next, while walking, jogging, or otherwise doing your laps, participate
in the SCAVENGER HUNT. Hidden in each sim along the track is a clue
with a question related to Cancer. Find the clue, answer the question
correctly, and get a prize! You may even learn a few things you didn’t
know about various cancers along the way. Each question has 4 responses
and you get 4 tries to answer it correctly, so keep trying till you
get it right. You will then receive clues about the location of the
next hidden question along the way. Scavenger Hunt Coordinators are
Empress May Rosebud and Dr Ren Stonecutter!
Last year’s winner of the most inventive campsite award, the vibrant
Sailing Community of Second Life invites you to come and sail with us.
Join us for a Marathon Sail for Life. Skippers needed, crew needed,
come make a difference on the water. All skill levels needed. Want to
learn to sail? Sailors will be there to help. Already an experienced
skipper? Hot Laps (awards in all classes of boats) are for you. A massive
Charity Auction will feature all things nautical , including one-of-a-kind
items. Don’t miss it! Coordinator and Team Captain for Sailing is
Nber Medici!
You know a diet healthy in fish is good for preventing cancer, so come
catch your virtual dinner. Design has set up a beautiful area for fishing
in our Water Sailing and Fishing sim. Visit the vendor on the dock,
buy the supplies you need and fish! You may even amaze yourself with
what you catch and the stories are good for a year about the one that
got away! All proceeds go towards the Relay total, and it’s FUN too!
This year’s Master Fisherman and activity coordinator is Sweegy Manilow!
Journey back in time to the Middle Ages and to a world of Myth and Legend.
Visit the RFL Activities Sim dedicated to the largest Fantasy Group
in SL, the Communities of the Elves! Visit a grassy grove surrounded
by age-old trees with a healing circle and fire in the center. Hear
the sounds of Nature or contribute your own sound to the mystical beat
of the Elven drums, or just sit quietly and meditate on the healing
power of the Universe. Participate in a Medieval archery tournament
and put an arrow into your favorite tumor! Prizes from the Empress Herself
for winners! Coordinators are Duchess Bee Blessed and Empress May Rosebud.
Visit the other half of the RFL Activities Sim and step back into America’s
past. Attend a Native American PowWow as you hear the music and see
the dance for healing from our Native American Brethren and Sisters
in SL! Attend an old-fashioned Rodeo and participate in a barrel race
or ride Black Bart the Bull (if you dare)! Make a donation to RFL at
the vendor and buy a horse that you can use in the barrel race or the
sod-bustin Horse Race for a neat prize to the winner! Check back with
this website for times of the races! Coordinators and a doctor to patch
you up are Bryan Damask and Dr Ren Stonecutter.
A NEW Activity this year, this bicycle tour will take you through an
entire RFL Activities Sim built to re-create the rolling French countryside,
a picturesque town, and a mountain road like those made famous by 7-time
international cyclist winner and CANCER SURVIVOR Lance Armstrong! Be
part of the Spirit of Relay and ride your way to Victory over Cancer!
Coordinators are the entire Activities Committee for RFLSL 2009!
Art Exhibit!
Another NEW Activity for this year, this exhibit features some of the
incredible art and artists who are creating unique pieces to honor and
memorialize the survivors, the caregivers, the victims, and the fight
against cancer itself. It is our intent to have these pieces scattered
in various sims along the track and in the campsites of those teams
that wish to participate in the exhibit. Coordinator for the Exhibit
and for the Memorial to Our Friends who lost their fight to this disease
is Mike Burleigh!
Mammography Demonstration!
For the first time ever in RFLSL we have a virtual mammography site
available for avatars to receive virtual mammograms from a real physician
in SL using equipment donated by the Ann Myers Medical Center. Come
see how it works and learn how simple, safe, and important it is to
have this test done regularly in real! Ride the roller coasters and
learn more about breast cancer too! Coordinator is Dr Vera Zhaoying.
Silent Auction!
Many wonderful items will be auctioned on Relay Day. View them and submit
your bids! If you have something you would like to see auctioned, contact
one of the coordinators or any member of the Activities Committee. Remember
that all proceeds go to this year’s Relay for Life! Coordinators are
Webgoddess Mars and Glenna Lane.
2009 MUSIC
http://slurl.com/secondlife/
http://slurl.com/secondlife/
Time Western
Blues
Contemporary
DJ
2 pm slt
Quinton Whitman
Johnny99 Gumshoe Nad Gough
Miranda Milestone
Maxx Sabretooth
Phoe Nix Didier Soyuz
Otawan Fouquet
ELiz Watanabe
L0riZ Whitfield Charles Coleman
Shayla Juran
Scarlettla Roux
Grateful Stryker Greg Colossus Dusk Griswold
Shannon Oherlihy Tone Uriza
Damian Carbenell Dena McMahon
Vincent Merricks Kim
Seifert
Steely Decosta
Danton Thirroul
BartAlan Barbasz Buckley Moonwall
Love Kawaguichi
Summer Deadlight
11 pm sltSplash Kidd
Sun July 19Time Western
Blues
Contemporary
DJ
Lizabeth Demonia
7 am sltDominick Manatiso
Dann Numbers
Remington Thursday
8 am slt
Tommy Cult Vlad Dyszel
Soundcircel Flanagan Maximus Blankes
Mike00 Carnell
Wren Hartunian
Pilgrim75 Swashbuckle Xanthia Lisle
Mason Thorne
Taunter Goodnight Zachariah Loon Andre Tolsen
2009 THEME LAPS
Saturday, July 18,2009 (All times are SLT)
Noon - Opening Ceremonies
1pm - Survivor / Caregiver Lap (pre-registration recommended)2pm - Team Spirit Lap - Team Shirts & Banners
3pm - One World - International Outfits Lap4pm - One Hope - Rainbow Lap
- The Hope of a New Day.. The Promise of Calm after the Storm. Wear
all the Colors of the Rainbow and Celebrate One Hope
6pm - Tackle It - football, rugby
or any sports clothing. Let's tackle cancer together - united
we can beat this.
8pm - Bald Is Beautiful Lap
9pm - Luminaria Ceremony(done in silence; sims are darkened for reflection and remembrance of those and their loved ones who have lost their battles to cancer or are still battling it; all are invited to participate)
10pm - Magic Lap - Wizzards, Magicians,
Fairies - Make A Wish and Day we will beat cancer.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
12pm - Midnight Masquerade
1am - Heatlh Matters -Maybe you are a banana, or an orange, or a carrot. Live
A healthy life - we can all make a small change that improves our life.
2am - Crazy Shoes Lap
3am - Meet A New Friend Lap
4am - Silly Hats Lap
5am - Tinies, Furies, Tails & Wings
6am -Fight Back Ceremony
7am - Caring & Curing Lap - Dr, Nurse, Scientist - Working together
to beat cancer.
8am - Coffee Curlers, Slipers & PJ's
9am - Here Comes The Sun - Dress
for a day at the beach. Always remember to protect yourself from
the sun on land and sea even on a cloudy day
10am - Formal Wear Lap
11am - Closing Ceremonies (Teams Lap to follow)
Friday, July 17, 2009
Relay this weekend!
Relay For Life of Second Life is holding its annual event this July 18-19. Relay For Life is an event that raises money to help the American Cancer Society reach its goal of a world without cancer.
This year the theme of Relay for Life of Second Life is 'One World One Hope'. As you tp into the Starting Area you will see flags from participating countries, and information about Relay for Life in different languages. In real life, Relay for Life takes place in 21 countries and here in Second Life we expect participants from at least 20 different countries around the world. With one important difference: They all walk the same track, together!
The many avatars that participate do this so that those who face cancer will be supported, that those who have lost their battle will not be forgotten, and so that one day cancer will be eliminated.
On July 18th & 19th they will do just that and everyone is invited to attend, participate and help support our fight in eliminating cancer throughout the world.
For more information you can go to the website at: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09RFLorg?sid=1003&type=fr_informational&pg=informational&fr_id=19490
Mysteries of Life:
Life is full of mysteries, The Marie Celeste, found abandoned on the high seas, with food on the table ready for eating yet no-one onboard the vessel. The wondrous patterns formed on the earth that can only be seen from thousands of feet in the air, yet made by ancient mankind. Lord Lucan, the peer that vanished after a horrible murder. The last one unsolved despite the many so called sightings of the man.
We at the SLN offices also have our own mystery, one that was supposedly a straight forward suicide of a colleague and friend last year. Distraught with grief and anger, many believed he jumped from his island home, into the sea and drowned as a broken man. Indeed a note found on the beach stated he could no longer continue.
There are rumours, however, that sightings of a man very similar in appearance to our ‘late’ friend have been reported. Odd glimpses at strange times of the night. Imagination perhaps of minds remembering a man, wishful thinking on the part of people hoping to put a close to the odd events of last year? Maybe, who knows?
An envelope was found on the reception desk, no note enclosed, just a pair of photographs that pertain to be of our journalist friend.
This reporter will endeavour to trace all those who may have seen, or thought they have seen Baron DeSantis and will place what he is told in print, to let you, the readers make up your own minds.
Is the Baron really gone from this realm or is there some substance to these strange reports?
Watch this space…….
Thursday, July 16, 2009
The Rabbicorn
I was in the audience at an event when a friend told me about something in the IBM 3 sim that she told me was must-see, “I don’t usually recommend places, but this ... “ So I decided to check it out.
I teleported over, and found myself in a room that looked like it was surrounded by television static, with a couple pages explaining how to get about. But with no portal to the exhibit, the only way to go was down a road, my vision around me obscured by the visual equivalent of white noise. Eventually, it cleared on the road itself, and I soon noticed a room through the static that was brighter than the rest and had some color. I could also make out some people inside. So I went inside.
And there was Bryn Oh, the artist behind the exhibit in her gray, ghostlike avatar. She was looking at some notes on the floor with someone. The room itself had a dark steampunkish feel to it with a phonograph in one corner and some sparking equipment around. Two others came into the room to congratulate Bryn on her exhibit. After that, Byrn turned to me, and after greetings she explained the area, “This is a story that is told in stages, through poems. It is about the character behind me.” She turned to a bronze mechanical form behind her on a table lit by a spotlight, part rabbit part unicorn, “The Rabbicorn.”
Bryn went on, “This is the first part (of the story) here. In the hand of the creator is a poem.” She told me I could zoom in on the poems, or “you can click on it to see it on screen. It’s easier that way. When you have looked at the scene, there is a teleport to the next one.” The teleports looked like black magnifying glasses with white sparkles around them. “Oh, one more thing, there is a machinima ... on top of a tower, there will be a TV there. Click on it. That tells more of the story.”
And so clicking on the first teleport took me to the first part of the story, the place showing a tinkerer having just built the Rabbicorn, and having to make a decision about the creation. Further teleports lead one further into the story, each place a work of art, and soft music in the background adding to the beautifully surreal atmosphere. At one point, the teleports lead to a climb up a debris-filled tower. Although one could just fly up with a flight feather, it’s better to try to walk and jump your way up as much as you can. It is around here one finds a link to the machinima Bryn mentioned. Watching it isn't necessary for the story, but does help add to it. It is not much longer when one gets to the end and the fate of the Rabbicorn.
Taking a look at Bryn’s blog, the exhibit opened on Friday July 10. She also stated that it was originally planned that no more than 6 avatars would be allowed in the sim at one time, feeling lag would ruin the experience. It was not an easy decision, as she worried some might get the impression that the small numbers meant their fellow residents had little interest in the finer arts in Second Life, “So if I can't limit the sim to 6 or so, and you find yourself in a laggy mass of people then please come at another time when it is empty. It really is meant to be seen this way. It has a mood brought on by the story, ambient sounds and being alone brings out the quiet mood of the story.”
An exhibit that is well worth the time to go see.
“The Rabbicorn” is at IBM 3 (56, 50, 23). To read more about this exhibit and other projects by Bryn Oh, click here for her blog.
Bixyl Shuftan
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Spotlight On...Deadeye Foggarty and Mash Rhode
By Shellie Sands
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Tut!! Where are you?
About three months ago I took a landmark from a friend to go see the King Tut Exhibit in SL.
I did go and looked around at the lovely site with all the diggings and displays and was going to write about it but got distracted and never did do the story. Last week I received an e-mail from the Rezzable group notifying me that the whole exhibit had been moved to a whole new world. Wow! That means I have to be a whole new person in an unknown land. 
OK. I decided that if I can have a second life I can have a third one too. Why not. I searched the website and found that
Heritage VE looks very interesting. It was scary to enter a third life but I did.
The first day was not very good because I spent a while trying to get in the front door but finally made it. If you go you will find a very nice home which becomes boring after a while when you keep entering there to the same help area with the tutorial you already know if you are an sl avatar.
As you look at your avatar you will say “OH MY GOD” Help! Well, just wander off down the corridor to the welcome area to pick up some hair, clothes, skin, just do not look too closely ) You know the routine. They have really nice tutorials there to help newbies, but we can go on because we have the skills to exist from second life.
You see a revolving entryway and you enter you will very nicely teleport to the museum entrance where you can also get a nice outfit for exploring . Now, there ahead is another revolving entry !
Off you go to a new location for a quick tp to the COMPASS! ! 
From the compass you will take a balloon ride off to the Valley of the Kings The balloon ride is really wonderful as you begin rising above the map of Egypt headed for the Valley.
You can look over the map of the old Egypt as you go but hang on.
My first attempt was met with several crashes and I had to begin the process again from the home base. After some help from Heritage I downloaded a more recent viewer and finally made it to the Valley of the Kings to enjoy the whole experience!
I will show you the site in my next story. http://heritage-key.com/
Monday, July 13, 2009
Hair Fair 2009
On Sunday July 5, I heard about an event in Second Life that was just coming to a close: Hair Fair 2009. It’s a charity to raise cash for “Locks of Love,” an organization that gives free kid-sized wigs to children who have lost their hair to cancer and other illnesses, whose families cannot afford hairpieces to help the youths cope. It had been scheduled from June 20 to July 4th, but the buildings were still up some days after.
The fair covered four sims, the whole place looking like a candyland, which was the theme for the year. The landscape was dotted with both images of candies and chocolates, as well as having numerous prim ones around, with lollipops, cupcakes, and candycanes. Individual stores looked like gingerbread houses, pie slices, ice cream sundaes, etc. Sponsor Beta Technologies’ website stated more than 15,000 attended the charity over the two weeks it was officially open, visitors were kept track of by a metrics system, and had the goal of raising $12,000. Washu Zebrastripe and Mikayla Kohl were in charge of the fair with Sasy Scarborough as charity coordinator and Kia Goodliffe as designer liaison.
There was a wide variety of hairpieces, in various colors and styles, from simple long blonde hair to neon-pink mohawks to huge buns that would be impossible to wear in real life, and almost as difficult to describe. But there was more than just hair. There were also some other items, such as top hats.
A worthy cause with some sweet results.
For more info on Locks of Love, go Here.
Bixyl Shuftan
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Filthy Fluno’s exhibit at the Artis Gallery
Event date: Sunday July 12th at 12 pm SLT
http://slurl.com/secondlife/
Patrick Cournoyer’s Artis group and gallery
are dedicated to discovering and promoting talented SL artists. After a few months’ interruption, they are back, with an impressive new gallery built by Oldoak Merlin and Elko Schufang, to continue this tradition. We are honoured to have SL art personality Filthy Fluno as one of our first exhibits.
Filthy Fluno (Jeffrey Lipsky, by his real name) is a prominent artist on the SL art scene and has been featured in the NY Times and the Boston Globe newspapers as well as in many online publications.
He uses pastels and charcoals drawings, oil or acrylic paintings, using a spontaneous approach to make abstract narrative artworks. “I create symbols, textures, imagery, text and composition that merge into something cohesive enough to tell a story”, he says. Most of his recent work expresses how we live in troubled and fragmented times, but this is only to put the accent on the good times, which he believes, we must forever cling to. That is why, even in his more colourful pieces, there will always be some elements that promote a darker interpretation.
Fluno finds inspiration in the people, places and cultures he discovers through Second Life, often using graffiti to commemorate specific virtual locations, events and avatar names or imagery and symbols representing “the grid”, the network of computers needed to create an online community. But even in virtual worlds inspired artworks, he will sometimes include imagery symbolizing current RL events happening around him. The inverse is also true, as he does real life inspired work, he will implement in them elements representing virtual worlds happenings. This is done to make art that blurs the gap between both worlds.
He is influenced by artist such as Kandinski, Dove, Bacon, Klein and Matisse.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Play “Hypatia of Alexandria” Opens in Second Life
By Nazz Lane
The play written by second life resident Skylar Smythe makes its debut in second life on July 11th, the first of four schedule performances at 7 pm PDT/SLT. Hypatia of Alexandria was a Grecian scholar born in the 4th century of the Common Era, who is considered notable as being the first woman in mathematics as well as a teacher of philosophy and astronomy. The play is the first written by Ms Smythe who also stars as the lead and directs the production. The play is based on the life and works of the teacher, mathematician and philosopher who was brutally murdered in a method hideous even by ancient standards, a tragic ending to the life of this remarkable woman.
I arrived at the theatre which had been specially built for the performance and was greeted by both Skylar and her partner Josue Habana. We waited for the site to rezz and then proceeded up the stair way leading to the theater.
“This is the landing point for the beginning of the play. Where the audience comes in … I want them to have the experience of stepping into a museum. What we are going to do is have the museum be the queue for the play let everyone mill about. Then I will step in here, and get everyone’s attentions … welcoming them to step back in time with me, to the School of Athens ... the year 415 AD.” Skylar said as we entered the lobby.
“Why do you feel it’s important for the patrons to have the experience of stepping into a museum?” I asked.
“Because, Hypatia was deprived of her rightful place in history ... There is so little is known about her, and that was deliberately done. It angers me that so many people have no clue who she was.” She replied.
“I saw this quote from an interview you’d done previously,""While studying the painting ‘The School of Athens’ (Raphael), I came across a haunting figure in the piece, a woman who stared stoic from the painting, and straight into my soul ", Was that your first introduction to Hypatia and where did you see the painting?” I asked.
“My Nonno (Grandpa) was an Italian poet. He was published once. He had shown me the painting in a picture book. I described it to my friend, Explorer Dastardley (aka Helen Starr - Holocaust Lecturer). She knew EXACTLY the painting I meant. She gave me a print for my SL house... and we began to discuss why I thought the painting was so memorable. As I looked up the various philosophers in the painting, my eyes kept going back to her. Hypatia grabbed me. I looked her up... was intrigued since I knew nothing about her. And then ... it all began ... my affiliating with her character ... Being inspired by her dedication to making her society a better place, even forsaking the comforts of sex and love and marriage ... children. True altruism and they killed her for it … and the great conspiracy to wipe her from the history books ... label her a heretic? As a Christian and a woman... that offended me. So I decided I would tell her story from a woman’s perspective. I wanted people TO KNOW her … and I wanted women to feel empowered ... and outraged. ” She replied.
“When did you start writing the play?”
“I started in January, writing one sonnet at a time and showing my friends. I had never written Shakespearean Sonnets before … and I did not find that dialogue, in the past, had been my strong point as a writer. It was a challenge, and a great stretch, skills wise. But I found the sonnets ... just came to me so easily. The whole story did.” She responded to my question and then added, “The cast features a combination of seasoned and new actors. I felt this was important, and it was a goal from the beginning. Some theatre in SL is very ‘establishment’. I wanted to give new talent an opportunity to shine … and they are amazing, the entire group of them.”
“The actors will be performing their lines in voice chat?” I asked
“Yes ... There are challenges with that, but we will be doing it live and in voice.”
“When I spoke briefly with Josue the other day, he had mentioned there is some outside of SL interest in the play ... would you like to see it performed in real life?”
“That would be a dream come true … and a promise come true to my late Grandfather. “Skylar said in reply
We spoke for several more minutes and she shared with me the plans and scene for the plays end. I promised not to share them in the article, but suffice it to say patrons will be surprised. After, I asked her if she any closing thoughts for my readers and she replied.
“Yes … I hope this will be the first in a series of women in history. I have about two books of notes on Jezebel.” She replied and then added, “After being inspired by the academic and all around saint ... I thought it would be fun to embrace a biblical bad girl.”
Editors note: Full details in the EXTRA EXTRA section
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