Perri Prinz Talks About Her Livejournal Troubles, Facebook Suspension

Times have not been easy lately for Perri Prinz, one of the members of the Sunweaver community where the Newser makes it's home. She is best known as a writer, and one of the things a writer fears is having access to one's audience cut off. First Livejournal, the hosting service of her Spectral Shadows serialized science-fiction novel, demanded a huge amount of money from her to keep the illustrations on. Her response was to put her fiction writing on hold, and instead use her pen to non-fiction, writing commentaries about the Furry Fandom and society at large. But a few people didn't like what she had to say, and one day she found Facebook, where most of her audience was getting her stories, had shut down her account. The Newser recently met up with Perri, to talk about this de-facto censorship, and she had a few things to say about it. As it turns out, she may be writing soon again.

Read the story in People.

Is Second Life Experiencing an "Oldbie" Resurgence?

On the Second Life section of Reddit, a "Neuromancer72" posted on Wednesday September 20 that after dropping out from the Grid around 2010, he had returned last year, and come across "many people" who had done the same. Which left him wondering, how many residents who had dropped out were coming back?

Mine is a familiar story - very active in SL from 2006 to maybe 2009-10, then dropped off for years only to return in the last year or so. I've met many people since my return who followed a similar route - left years ago and have now come back. Posts to this sub show others doing the same. I can't help but wonder if this is really a widespread thing, or if I've just been more aware of it because of similarities to my own history. If it is a thing, any ideas what might be driving people to give SL another go?

There were several responses, including one by "Jadziyah":

I think a majority of residents take long 'breaks' at one point. Why we all come back is harder to nail down. Linden Labs has actually had several positive changes lately such as land prim increases and the addition of bento bones, so those generated a lot of excitement. And there will always be the social aspect.

Hamlet Au thought that this very well could be the case, suggesting "if a few thousand oldbies are jumping onto the grid more regularly, it might not show up in the data, but still be significant." He felt there were two reasons for such a probable resurgence, One was social media, as many Second Life residents use Facebook and former residents would continue to keep their former virtual neighbors and friends on their friend list and continue to communicate with them, and hear about new content and goings on. He also felt the talk about Sansar would get former residents wondering "Whatever happened with Second Life" and come back to see what's been going on here.

So what do you the readers think? Have you seen numbers of former residents returning? Or perhaps you are someone who left and returned? What's getting people to come back?

Bixyl Shuftan

Press Release: "Homes Four Our Troops" Bennefit at Veterans Isle This Sunday

Frets Nirvana and US Military Veterans Group announce the 2017 September benefit for Homes For Our Troops in Second Life! 

Frets Nirvana, the premier guitar artist in the virtual world Second Life and the US Military Veterans Group announce the 2017 September benefit on September 24, 2017 in Second Life for the Veterans Support Organization  Home For Our Troops . 

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 suffered severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).  As of January 2017 they have built 229 homes for severly wounded Veterans and have another 85 projects underway.  Since its inception in 2004, over 90 cents of every dollar spent by Homes for Our Troop has gone to directly support Veterans. ”

Home for Our Troops benefit concerts feature premier Second Life talent monthly at Veteran’s Isle.  The concert onSeptember 24, 2017 is scheduled from 4-9 PM PST.  Featured artists will be DJ Waya Snowpaw, Senjata Witt, suzen joel, Soulvision, and hogan Baily .

ABOUT HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS  - HFOT builds homes as a departure point for Veterans to rebuild their lives, and once again become highly productive members of society. Despite their life-altering injuries, many Veterans have embarked on new careers, completed their college degrees, or started families. Empowered by the freedom a mortgage-free and specially adapted home brings, these Veterans can now focus on their recovery and return to their life’s work of serving others. Many have embraced their roles as motivational speakers, sharing their messages of persevering through tragedy with groups and classrooms around the country; others take to a national platform to promote awareness of veteran suicide, homelessness and PTSD. Their incredible stories are the driving force for the work for HFOT. To learn more about the Homes For Our Troops visit https://www.hfotusa.org

Announcement: This Week at the Science Circle

Saturday 23th 10 AM PDT

“Virtual Reality in Science!” by William Schmachtenberg, Ph. D (Dae Miami in SL)

Abstract: VR in Education. There has been a lot of hype about Virtual Reality in the Media, but what is actually involved in using VR in education? How much does it cost, what hardware do you need, how do you set it up, and how good is the software that is available? For the most part, VR in schools has meant Google Cardboard, but other forms of VR are getting cheaper such as Gear VR and even Oculus Rift.

I have been conducting hands-on research with Google Cardboard,  Gear VR and Oculus Rift setups and will be sharing those results in this presentation, but I hope you will come and share your information on VR as well. I will also include reviews of current VR software.
         
More information about Dae's presentation at https://sciencecircle.org/upcoming-saturday/

The Science Circle (61/126/32)

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Sunday 24th 10 AM PDT

“Horse-hunting Crocodiles and Tiny Alligators: Crocodilian Evolution after the Age of the Dinosaurs” by Alex Hastings, Ph. D                                       

Crocodiles have had an impressively long evolutionary history. During the Age of the Dinosaurs they reached massive size and diversified into a wide array of forms, but their lineage did not die with the mass extinction that ended that era. After the massive ecological shifts that occurred, crocodilians adapted to new circumstances and have been enormously successful.

Dr. Hastings will present some of his research on this fascinating group of animals in the millions of years that have followed since the extinction including running crocodiles and dwarf alligators.


More information about Hasting's presentation at https://sciencecircle.org/upcoming-sunday/

The Science Circle (61/126/32)

Firestorm's Seventh Anniversary Gift Fire Mule

It was September 3, 2010 that Team Phoenix, later renamed Team Firestorm, was formed. They had come about as the result of the "Emeraldgate" controversy, which soon led to the removal of the Emerald Viewer. On Saturday September 9, Team Firestorm had their anniversary party. Besides two live music performers, there was also a gift available: a rideable pet mule, in Firestorm's colors.

As with nearly every major event we hold we try to arrange a gift for all Second Life residents and this year will be no exception! ABC – AWESOME BREED CREATIONS have very generously created an exclusive collectible pet mule with an amazing one of a kind coat and eye! I like to think the Mule represents our strength and perhaps our stubbornness! WOW it’s gorgeous! Thank you so much ABC!

I headed to Firestorm Dow Forest (224/232/3902), and found the avatar giver in the size and shape of the mule. I clicked on it to get the package, went to the Ivory Tower to rezz it, and got a box. Opening it, I got the mule and was able to rezz it on the ground and ride it. I was able to name it, and my friend with me was able to click to get saddle and reins.The mule was listed at 143 days old, and was perfectly rideable. It didn't need food or water, but it was not breedable,

Unfortunately, Chilly the firekitty at the Newser office has no mule companion. By accident, I tried rezzing him in a spot where only the landowner could, and not only did the horse fail to rezz, it failed to appear in my inventory. When going back to the mule rezzer, it wouldn't give me another. So be careful where you take the mule from you inventory.

It is unclear how long the anniversary gift will be available. So go get a mule while you can.

Update: I later found the mule in my inventory after logging back on.

Bixyl Shuftan

Cartoon of the Day: Happy "Talk Like a Pirate Day"

ShadowRene Ivanova and me in my "Pie rat" look at Luskwood. The mouse may soon be in for quite a hug.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Ari's Park in Cape Heron

Ari (Arisia Vita) is one of Deaflegacy's favorite people to write about. She didn't expect to be writing about him again so soon, but he was recently honored in Cape Heron with a park for him by an anonymous donor where he can play music. So once again, she picked up her pen to get the story.

Read Deaflegacy's article in Places.

Edited 12:20PM

Linden Lab Announces New Game in Second Life: "Tyrah and the Curse of the Magical Glytches"

In late June, and more recently in late August, Linden Lab was talking about a "grid-wide gaming experience" coming "soon." On Monday September 18, they announced it had arrived: "Tyrah and the Curse of the Magical Glytches."

The plot of the game is that Tyrah, the girl in danger in the Horizons game, has been rescued. But somehow Magellan Linden has apparently died. While Tyrah and the Moles are still talking about who will help protect the Grid, a new threat emerges: Ruth. Furious at being all but forgotten, she takes advantage of Magellan's departure to unleash magical creatures called "Glytches" on the Grid to wreck havoc. Not sure what to do, Magellan's robot sidekick Punkee decides on using the tactic of his former boss: get the residents to help out.






(Click here if the video fails to play)

To play the game, head to Portal Park and head to the portal to the new area, called Hartyshire, and pick up the HUD and beginning weapon at the Gem Apothecary. The HUD will take you to the places you need to go to catch the Glytches. For those who got the SL14B avatar and it's egg this summer, there's a place at the Apothecary you can hatch it.

We'll have some more details soon on how to play the game and the prizes you can get. But if you're in a hurry to start, head to Portal Park at (175/118/52).

Read the announcement in full here. You can read more information about it here.

Bixyl Shuftan

"Talk Like A Pirate Day" Celebrated at the Happy Vixen

Yesterday, September 19, was "Talk Like a Pirate Day." Usually on the day the Newser celebrates with a chuckle. But we delayed making a deal out of it for a day out of respect to Breezes Babii. The Sunweaver community celebrated it at the Happy Vixen with a pirate party, with the high-energy DJ Tantari spinning the tunes. The 250 Linden prize was split between Tantari Kim, Amaya Hotshot, and Gnawtooth Greymoon.

Feel free to check our Pirate Speak and pirate-themed locations articles from earlier.

Bixyl Shuftan

Tombstone Says Goodbye to Breezes Babii

On Sunday September 17, the Tombstone community gave it's goodbye to one of it's noted members: Breezes Babii. In the Old West roleplay community, she didn't have an especially prestigious position such as town mayor, ranch owner, or sharpshooter. But she won the hearts of both the other characters and their players alike, as well as having many friends on the outside, such as the Relay for Life and the Second Life Newser. People from all three and more would get together to give their farewells to their beloved friend.

Read the story in Events.

Events This Week at the Sunweaver and Furry Fashion Clubs

It's a week full of events, including our tribute to "Talk Like a Pirate Day" today, at the Sunweaver and Angel clubs and the Furry Fashion Lounge.

Club Cutlass: Best in 'Q' and 'R," TBA, TBA

The Happy Vixen: Mythology, Pirates, Leather and Lace, Ponies, Mardi Gras Tribute, Naughty, CAYA

Club Zero Gravity: Pokemon, Orange and Brown, Featherx, Maniac Music Mix

Furry Fashion Lounge: Vaporware, Animation, Monsters, Video Games, 80s and 90s, LBGTQ Pride, Metal, Slumber

See the schedules at SL Clubbin'.

Jayra Magic and JFC Bikes

By Wesley Regenbogen

About Jayra Magic

Jayra Magic is the owner and creator of the JFC Bikes and the store. She’s a bike builder and has a bike store. Making bikes in Second Life is her passion and she’s good at her job. Her bikes are awesome bikes, because she puts her passion into making them.

I met Jayra Magic at the place where she makes her bikes, after she teleported me over.

I first asked how she was doing and she told me “I’m doing fine” and she asked how I was doing and I told her I was doing very well.

I asked how she got started in Second Life and how she got started as a bike creator. She told me that a friend of her told her about Second Life and that it didn’t take too long before she met people that liked bikes as she did.

Next, I asked her how bikes are made and what processes that it goes through to get into the final product and ready to be sold. She told me that there are multiple ways to get a bike made : she buys bike parts and puts them together until it looks like a bike, or she buys bike-kits and puts her own scripts into it and also adds her own textures.

Creating a bike can take weeks, she also told me. So, making bikes is time consuming. It takes so long because she has her own vision on how it needs to look and sometimes she can't find the right bike parts. So, that's why she makes her own bike parts too. She wants every bike to have their own character and not only a look. So fine tuning it can also take a few days work.

Then I asked her if she has a collaboration with other bike creators or she only works solo. She told me that she always likes to learn from other bike creators and that Lexei Glas (LG Bikes) teached her the important things about Second Life bikes. She has a special collaboration with Moppi Riddler, the bike outfit creator called MRSTYLE, they have been friends for over 9 years. Her shop is located next to the JFC bike store.

When I asked her where she gets the inspiration for creating bikes in Second Life, she told me that gets many ideas from customers and also from real life role models and also her own fantasies and ideas that she has.

Then I asked her if she has lots of customers from MCs, or motorcycle clubs, around Second Life. She told me that she has many people from MC’s in Second Life, but also non MC related people that want to buy a bike. There are many people that are in a MC in Second Life that ride bikes from JFC. She is proud that people ride her bikes in Second Life.

I asked her what if a customer wants a custom made bike. She told me that if it doesn’t cost her more to make it, she sells it at the regular price, but she currently is unable to make custom bikes. She doesn’t make bikes for 1 person, but she wants to make bikes for everybody out there. She wants to share her creations ( the bikes ) with everyone.

The last question I asked was what plans that she has for the future. She told me that she hopes to keep on selling bikes and that her shops continues to grow and that her store runs for a couple of years at least. And she hopes that she never runs out of ideas to make bikes. She also hopes that she can spend more time exploring biker sims and also join in on parties/concerts and also doing some sailing in Second Life.

I thanked her for taking the time for doing the interview and wished her luck in the future.

Wesley Regenbogen

Building Begins For Burn2 Radical Ritual in October

Besides Halloween, October in Second Life is also known for the main Burn2 festival. Although the "Burners" as they're called have spinoff events around the year, October has always been the time of the original of the yearly events, based on the real-life Burning Man festival in Black Rock Nevada and originally called Burning Life, that have taken place in Second Life from it's first year. Klaus Bereznyak had a look at the preparations for the "Octoburn" from the scene of the event as the people behind it get ready. This year's theme: "Radical Ritual."

Read more in Design.

Bay City, "Hot Bay City Nights," And Other Events

Bay City is not only Second Life's largest urban area, but also one of it's more noted communities and the scene of many events. It's most recent major event was the "Hot Bay City Nights" classic auto show, which included the Miss Bay City Nights contest. While this event is over and done with, Marianne McCann still had a few things to say about it, and other events the community and area has every year, including the Oktoberfest later this month.

Read Deaflegacy's article in Extra.

Leading Youtube to Music File Conversion Website Shut Down By Music Industry

In a development that's clearly of interest to music lovers, youtube-mp3.org, once the top website for converting Youtube videos into MP3 files, was shut down earlier this month following an out of court settlement between the site's owner and the Recording Industry Association of America, or RIAA. The website www.youtube-mp3.org had been one of the most visited websites on the Internet according to an article in Torrent Freak magazine. But checking the location only shows a dead link, the site having been taken down.

About a year ago, Philip Matesanz of Germany and PMD Technologies UG, the owners of the website had been sued by a number of record companies, charging that the "Defendants are depriving Plaintiffs and their recording artists of the fruits of their labor," while raking in money from advertising. In the agreement between Matesanz and the companies, the domain had been handed over to RIAA and it's owner making a payment of an undisclosed cash settlement,  the recording labels agreed to halt further prosecution, and the defendant accepts the blame of the charges against him.

While this is the end of www.youtube-mp3.org, these music companies feel the problem of "stream ripping" shouldn't have gotten so far to begin with, complaining that Youtube needs to take more responsibility in trying to stop them.  As it turns out, Youtube did threaten legal action against the website, as well as the video downloader TubeNinja.

For those whom had been depending on youtube-mp3.org for their music, such as possibly some Second Life DJs, they will now have to find another way to get new music.

Sources: The Next Web, Torrent Freak

Bixyl Shuftan

Open House at Sunlight Bay

Yesterday at Sunlight Bay, Cynthia Farshore had an "Open House" party at the newly remodeled Goblin Cave. The party was a small one to celebrate the sim being officially open for business.

It was a little more than a month ago that Cynthia and Nydia Tungsten agreed to switch their ownerships of the sims Sunlight Bay and Pacific Waters. Although the renovations are not yet complete, the Farshore Field airfield is ready for use, the shop at the northeast corner of the sim is ready for business, and the Goblin Cave where Farshore Radio makes it's home is ready for events.

At Pacific Waters, Nydia now has a manor where her friends can hang out, a "float-in" theater on the water, and and office building for White Vixen Enterprises, which controls the Angel community sims and the Happy Vixen and Zero Gravity clubs.

Cynthia Farshore is planning a larger celebration in a couple weeks, a birthday party for Dusk Griswold. In the meantime, her shop has a number of goods, including some outfits from Zan's Clothing.

Bixyl Shuftan

SL Video: Giant Snail Races: "Anything Goes Race - Pirates!"

(Click here if the video fails to play)

From RacerX Gullwing yesterday, Sept 15. :What are the Giant Snail Races without the giant snails? The "Anything Goes" races. These have been going on since at least August.

FionaFei Resident, in a tiny avatar, was the winner of this race. Although the number of participants in this race was small, there are usually more runners.

SL Video: "Fox Shooting Stars"

(Click here if the video fails to play)

From Furry Andy on Aug 13