The Luskwood Tribute Party

On Thursday November 29, The Happy Vixen club held a tribute to the Luskwood community. For those who don't know, Luskwood was the original furry community in Second Life, and probably the oldest one still active. They're also the people who came up with the first company to make and sell furry avatars instead of each one being custom-made, also called Luskwood.

The exact date in fall 2003 of it's founding is unclear, but it had always been celebrated every October, their LW10B being a particularly big event. The last few anniversary events have been combined with the Trotsdale community of which the two share ties, the last one being the LW14B/TD6B celebration. But this year, a series of events in real life took up the time of the founders and others that would have otherwise organized another anniversary celebration. So after about a month of waiting, the people of the Sunweaver/Angel community decided to take matters into their own hands with a "Luskwood Tribute" party.

On the day before the Luskwood party, Wednesday November 28, Trotsdale was given it's own event with a "Trotsdale Tribute." The Vixen's own pony DJ Applebloom played the music. While the beach club had pony parties before, this one had more four-footed residents than usual, "All these little ponies! I think I'm gonna die from a massive overdose of cute."

The chat went from pony sims, to the music, to food, "I know Kirins don't have cutie marks but I really do love Cheesecake a lot." "Good cause I want everyone to know how much I like Homemade NY style cheesecake with cherries (smile)." "You're making me hungry for that, silly pony!"

There was a "Best in Pony" contest, of which the board had two pages of entries. Crim Mip and Six String (Roleplayismylife Resident) split the prize, "had a good crowd of ponies in here."

On Thursday at 8PM SL time, the Luskwood Tribute began. The club set out a couple signs with the community's symbol on it. And besides the regulars from the Sunweaver/Angel community, such as chieftess Rita Mariner and Nydia Tungsten, a number from Luskwood dropped by as well. "As the Queeen of Hearts said!  'Off With Her Head!' " "But Rita, we already have the Lusk head logo (grin)."

It was fifteen years ago that Second Life's first furry community (and oldest still around), and the makers of the first furry avatars, came to be: Luskwood. So tonight, we're holding a tribute event for them. Dress up in any furry avatar, Luskwood or otherwise. Our furry bunny DJ Snowbuns plays the tunes.

One of the four founders of Luskwood, Michi Lumin, was there. Michi was thankful for the tribute event, "Sorry guys I just been -completely- slammed lately, that's the only reason we haven't done LW15B yet... (I say yet because I still intend to do it late, but we just haven't had time 'because life')."

Michi is known for her skunk avatar (and steampunkish top hat), and there were a few other black and white avatars around."Beware of the Skunk ..." "We're gonna need more air fresheners." "This is turning into a stinker of a party it seems..." "It's the Fetid Inner Core (grin)."

For the first time ever at the Happy Vixen, a Linden showed up at an event: April Linden. Needless to say, the reactions from most were positive, "A cute purple bunny," though one guy reacted, "OMG, a Lusk Avatar older than mine!" April just giggled, "Hehe, yeah."

DJ Snowbuns (Skylark Lefavre) played the music for the event. Nikkita (Aubrytia Resident) did hostess duty, "If everyone's having a rockin good time, Let's make some NOISE for our Rockin Dj....The One....The Only....The Lovely....The Awsome, Dj SnowBuns!!! as she rocks the club with her tunes for you here at, The Happy Vixen Beach Club!!!"

There were a number of tunes playing, such as "Numa numa." April reacted, "Ooh I haven't heard this song in forever." Someone else went, "This song is jsut as old as SL."

Cynthia Farshore and Shockwave yareach, the latter in a Luskwood Jogauni, which that comes with a quest to find a staff, "I'm wearing a CLASSIC Luskwood avatar."

April Linden soon moved from the edge of the party to in it. DJ Skylark Lefavre ended up with one of April's bunny bears. As more people came by, they commented on April, "You are the first Linden that I've seen and met." Michi remarked, "Heh, I've seen so much, in so long, that to me, Lindens are just more folks, now, with jobs to do.... and I know jobs to do x_x ." April responded, "Luskwood has always had a special place in my heart. (smile) " <3 br="">
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As time went on, there were more than a few jokes, "If SL years are like dog years, we should turn this place into a nursing home." Michi responded, "Eh, people remind me that I'm old (grin)." Rita commented, "You're in nice shape for old."

There was some talk about the early years of Second Life and Luskwood, which Mich described in her 2012 interview. At the party, Michi commented, "Heh I remember standing looking at the map when they were about to add 22 new sims. I think at the time there were like,  9.  And we were standing there thinking all about the future like, 'I wonder what the world will look like with 31 sims. wow.'"

Cynthia commented, "You know if you think about it, it is the furries who made SL happen." Michi responded, "Yeah kind of, most of the people really doing the early work in the community, a lot of them were furries. To the point where it annoyed some people (big grin)." Snowy suggested, "I think the proof in all of this lies outside of SL. The other Grids where there were no furries showed little promise of good content." A fourth added, "I think furries have more reason to be interested in virtual worlds than other people. Gives us a chance to be furry without having to get a fursuit (grin)."

The party would go on for two hours. The contest prize would be won my Cynthia Farshore.

Before leaving, Michi did tell that the Luskwood anniversary wasn't canceled, only postponed. They would have it later on when things settled down in real life for the planners.

With about thirty-five people at the place at one point, it was the most successful event at the beach club in a while, and the first time a Linden dropped by. It was a party that no doubt the Sunweaver/Angels will remember for a while.

Bixyl Shuftan

Bay City's Tree Lighting Party

By Bixyl Shuftan

On Saturday December 3, Bay City held it's annual Tree Lighting party. The event ran from 1 to 4PM SL time in the Bay City Fairgrounds in the North Channel sim. For locals and visitors alike, it was a chance to have a little Christmas fun, and perhaps donate a little to charity.

For the first hour, the music was provided by DJ Gospeed Racer. About the time I arrived was when Christov Kohnke was singing while playing his guitar. Third was Zachh Cale, who did his singing while his fingers went across his electronic keyboard. Next to the stage where they played were a bunch of Christmas presents, whixh prompted someone to joke,"Are all those presents on the stage for ME?"

While some people just danced where they stood or with a partner, "Joining in with the cool guy dance." "(laughter) or the sad dad dance," most went into the circular conga line, which has been a part of most Bay City parties in the Fairgrounds, going around and around. Even April Linden, whom has been dropping by Bay City events for a while, got into the act. "Christmas is my favorite time of year in SL each year," the furry Linden told everyone. Someone was dancing while having their pet sheep still at their side. "Why wouldn't there be a bunch of sheep in the conga line?" April mused when others brought it up. Other personalities showing up included Kenny Luckless and Pygar Bu.

There also a newcomer to Second Life in the audience, "This is my friend Foomf," Kain Scalia (Maus Merryjest) told me, "I finally corrupted hi-er, convinced him to join Second Life today." Foomf commented, "Yes, it's all Mausie's fault." Kain retorted, "It is *always my fault*." Not everyone was dancing. One upright chimpanzee dressed in a Christmas outfit had a tree over his shoulder, "I'm really impressed you've been able to carry that tree around for the last couple of hours," he was told.

There were a couple kiosks on stage to dontate to the Child's Play charity, "Please take the time to donate to the kiosks either side of the stage - Bay City is raising funds for Child's Play - a charity who provide toys and games to children in hospitals and shelters - a wonderful charity indeed." When Zachh was playing, a friend of his pointed out to the crowd, "You may notice too that Zachh does NOT have a tip board out - he has asked that you donate to the charity please."

Besides the party, there was also a "silent auction," with a number of items up for bid. (www.childsplaycharity.org). "I think Anthony is just shocked by the bidding on the train," Marianne Mccann, mused. One guy responded, "I like the train.  I like trains in general." The auction was already over 49,000 Lindens when I arrived.

Eventually, it was time for the main event, Marianne McCann announcing, "Who's ready to see the tree light up?" And a number of people answered yes. And so the lights on the tree as well as the star lit up, with a few fireworks going off. Besides the lights, there were a number of ornaments on it, Marianne saying, "(the) ornaments were all donated by Bay City residents." One resident mused, "I somehow expected a fire." Someone else joked back, "That's Burning Man Christmas you are thinking about."

When the event ended at 4PM, so did the Silent Auction, which raised thousands. Among the items was a "Singularity of Kumiko arcade game" sold to Artistik Oluja with a final bid of 10,000L. Marianne announced that the Childs' Play kiosks would be staying up for further donations.

And so, the Bay City Tree Lighting was over. But it won't be much longer until the next big party here. On New Years Eve, Bay City has their annual "Prim Drop," when a giant prim goes down a pole at one minute to Midnight.

Bixyl Shuftan

Lindens at the Cake Stage

By Bixyl Shuftan

There's been a lot going on at the Second Life Birthday celebrations, and so little time to write it. One of the more interesting events was when a number of Lindens dropped by at a costume party on Monday June 20. Officially, it was called "The Roleplay Mashup Meetup." But to most of us, it was simply Lindens at the Cake Stage.

My part in the event started about five minutes beforehand, when I dropped by the Cake Stage at 9:55 AM SL time just after logging in. "Hi Bixyl welcome to the cake stage!" Grease Coakes, whom had recently come back to the Newser to do an advertorial, told me as he was DJing there. I had gotten a message from him which I had read that he had filled in an empty slot at 10AM. As it turned out, Grease had started at 9AM, and his set was set to end at 10AM. Instead of early, I'd been late to his impromptu performance.

Among others there were Mikati Slade, the builder of the Cake Stage. She complemented Grease on his DJing. One lady would tell her, "I have to say...this stage definitely takes the cake."

A few of my neighbors were also there: Skylark Lefavre, the manager of the Happy Vixen beach club in Purrfection, Felina Fermi, and Tigerclaw Apps. Daniel Voyager, who does a popular Second Life blog, also came in, though for what was about to happen next.

We soon saw a certain visitor, in a mesh "TV head" avatar. "Welcome Governance Linden! Its so nice to see you!"

Then there was the popular Xiola Linden, whom is often seen at events when residents meet up with Lindens

Then came April and Alexa Linden, "This place is crawling with Lindens, yay!"

And there was Whitney Linden.

Derrick Linden flew in from above as a small dragon.

"There are Lindens here I've never seen before." "Linden Time!!! Linden Time!!! OMG It's Linden Time!!!"

Natty Linden, dancing in bare feet.

Besides the Lindens, there were a number of other avatars around.

"OMG a MONKEY of Sunflower!" "Ok! STOP monkeying around!" "Ok! waht is all this MONKEY business?"

Loki Elliot, a noted builder, was there as a chimney sweep. "Anyone got a chimney they need cleaning?"

Jo Yardley, the owner of the 1920s Berlin area, as well as a blogger and one of the interviewers at the "Meet the Lindens" events was there. "No setting people on fire, health & safety wont allow it," she told someone. When someone else told her, " Well Jo, if you use an older laptop at the Cake Stage , you might be," she answered, "Hahaha I'm on a 2015 Macbook! ... If only apple would make a gamers laptop, we wouldn't have to buy other computers on the side."

"Hahaha! Xiola you need more to live for! I'm not that good a dancer. I dance the Charleston to everything, seems to work, most of the time." Of the costume contest, "I've come dressed as a 1920s grumpy old drunk smoking barmaid from Berlin." When people rasberried her self-put-down, she responded, "Yes! I am not a a 1920s grumpy old drunk smoking barmaid from Berlin in real-life! In real-life I'm a 1930s grumpy old drunk smoking barmaid from Amsterdam. I was thinking of wearing my Brunhilde Shieldmaiden outfit, but then I'd be roleplaying a 1920s barmaid going to a 1920s costume party and it would take 24 hours to get into that corset."

When the DJ started playing "We're Not Gonna Take It," Jo commented, "This song is asking for a riot. ... We should have all brought a head banging animation gesture."

She ended up dancing with Loki, "Loki i have a city full of chimneys that need cleaning." Loki Mused, "Linden Lab has a lot of brick in their factory, perhaps they have a chimney." Jo countered, "Just go door to door and make yourself useful." "I actually have a theory that Ex Lindens have a great fear of exposed Brick." "Poor Linden Lab, can't afford wallpaper (grin)."

Their talk went on, Jo asking, "Loki did you have a birly wurly? or whatever that portable organ thingy is called?" A nearby vixen in a pilot's uniform asked, "Hudgy-gurdy, Jo?" "THAT is the word, ja! I want a hurdy-gurdy." Loki commented, "I will repay you by cleaning any chimneys you may have." Jo commented, "Skylar is a great chimney cleaner as well. He only fell off the roof a few times. He's a great chap. He now has two secret headquarters in Berlin."

"One day I'll come to your dance Loki, but I'll need to find someone to take over my shift at the bar."

"Foxes can dance wherever they damn well please!"

The winner of the contest was Deshar Au, whom won 5000 Lindens. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending the roleplay mashup meetup!"

Madori Linden, whom was presumably busy with some duties elsewhere, was late for the dance and couldn't make it. She would later contact me, saying she was interested in the history of Second Life before her signing up with Linden Lab, and was happy to see records of it such as in the Second Life Newser archives.

And so, the Linden-filled costume party event came to a close. There would be much more going on at the Second Life Thirteenth Birthday celebrations, but this was the biggest interaction between the residents and Lindens.

Bixyl Shuftan