A Roman Holiday, a Rezzday, and Partying 'Till You're Purple

Last weekend in Second Life, Saturday February 21 to Sunday February 22, had quite a number of events. From the Roman Lupercalia, to the Second Life Science Fiction Convention, to the opening event of "Paint Second Life Purple, to Marianne McCann's Rezzday party, to the Veterans Isle fundraiser, there was plenty to see and do.

Saturday morning in the Roma community had the first day of their Lupercalia festival. A holiday of ancient Roman times, it has been loosely compered to Valentines Day, which later in history would fall around the same time of year.

In celebration of this most ancient of festivals we will be performing a Roman ritual for Faunus Lupercus, the God of Wild Things and Lupa, the she-wolf who nourished the founding fathers Romulus and Remus. After the rite, we will have the Running of The Luperci - half-naked youths and maidens who bless the people of the ROMA. The spectators will run ahead of the Luperci, who will lightly flog them with the goatskin floggers in hopes of fertility (both of mind and body). Following the ritual, we will have our traditional Lupercalia Feast - and clothing is optional!

I arrived a bit late to see the opening ritual and the Running of the Lupercalia itself, so sorry, no pictures of women (and men) getting flogged with goatskins soaked in milk. But I did come across the dance afterwards. There were some topless ladies, but not everyone was truly naked, as there were a few fig leafs and thin strips of cloth around. Someone commented this was the most dressed she'd seen the people at the festival. Still, it was amusing to see the one furred resident wearing more clothes than most of the bunch, until she put her toga aside, though was still wearing a bikini-like outfit.

There were two other events that day, a lecture on love and sexuality in Roman times, and a "Wolf Hunt" in which the participants would tag wolves around the area. But in this place in which lady furs were among the Romans, friends I talked to about the event had a few jokes about whom might be hunting whom. Sunday would have a Grand Feast and a game of Harpastum, a kind of Roman football.

That afternoon would be the opening party for "Paint Second Life Purple" event. This was the opening kickoff of the two week long Relay for Life spinoff event, which will end just as the official Relay season begins.

The official Paint SL Kickoff party will be held ...  on American Cancer Society Island from 4pm - 9pm. DJ Dee Wolfe will kick off the party at 4 pm SL time, followed by Special Guest’s Satin & Erin. DJ Dianne Wycliffe will close the part out from 7pm to 9 pm SL time.

The event was held on a platform high above the American Cancer Society sim, lined with purple buildings, had a floor littered with purple footprints leading away from purple paint cans. "Paint SL Purple" kits were available for pickup. The partiers themselves were dressed in purple outfits, had skins (or fur coats) dyed purple, or both. There were a number of Relay notables there, such as DJ Madonna, Trader Whiplash, and others.

It was enough to make one ... blue in the face. The party went on into the evening, lasting past it's planned closing time.

Besides the Purple event, the Second Life Cheerleading Squad RFL team would hold it's own event, a Mardi Gras party that lasted from 9AM to 9PM, with a mix of DJs and live musicians such as 10-11 Harmonia Trefoil.

Sunday would have it's own events. One took place at Bay City. It was the Rezzday of one of it's more noted locals and one of Second Life's most known child avatars: Marianne McCann.

The party was attended by a large number of residents from and outside the community, from Kenny Luckless, noted comedian Lauren Weyland, Uccello Poultry (Miss Bay CIty 2015), Torley Linden (via an alt), GoSpeed Racer who provided the music, Draxtor Despress of the "Drax Files," SL Nerwser's own DrFran Babcock, and many others.

 There were no shortage of jokes from, "Hippies are dropping in." "They'll let anyone in. Next it'll be mimes." "My only regret is not more watermelon." "You can't get more watermelon than Torley." "No nibbling on the Torley." "I never want a Rez party, I want to be a newbie for the rest of my life."

Marianne commented, "My rez age has finally surpassed my (roleplay) age." One resident responded, "Hehe, Mari, you have Simpsons Syndrome! You never age! *winks*" After some snickers, Uccie quipped, "Quick! paint her yellow!" After more chuckled, Marianne commented, "Heck, I still wear the same glasses I bought on February 22nd 2006." Of her beginings, she joked she " 'failed' orientation island, and had a friend tp me off after I stumbled into yet another river."

Uccello told the group, "I met Mari at SL6B (I think it was 6) when she did a space ship theme for her exhibit. It was really great, but of course I griped about something. We've kept in touch since! She's made my Second Life all the more special!"

Justin Esparaza commented, "I was looking through Salazar Jack’s computer and found some old photos of Marianne with Osprey Therian and Salazar. One of the three of them exploring Magellan Linden's Squall campsite and one where Mari and Sal were investigating Bodega going offline. I have to say they made nice rezday presents for Marianne." Marianne told him, "I deeply appreciate them, Justin."

Torley himself would say to the rezzday girl, "You are a true uber-explorer, Mari. I continue to enjoy the stories in your photos so much. Thanks for all your discoveries and sharing over the years, so much community spirit."

The party would continue on for a while, eventually everyone going their separate ways.

There were other goings on that day. The Second Life Science-Fiction Convention had opened Friday and people were continuing to see it's exhibits. That evening was the "Homes For Our Troops" fundraiser at Veterans Isle, featuring musicians such as Frets Nirvana. It would raise over 180,000 Lindens.

It was quite a weekend.

Bixyl Shuftan

Two Mardi Gras Events

By Bixyl Shuftan

Mardi Gras, also known as "Fat Tuesday" or "Carnival," is an old holiday. For Catholics and some other denominations of Christianity, it's the last day before the season of Lent, and the last chance to eat rich food before one has to give up eating it for the forty day period. Celebrated in countries with large Cathonlic populations, some cities have become known for their celebrations this time of year, in America New Orleans having by far the best well known.

In Second Life, many residents love a good party. So there were some Mardi-Gras themed parties across the Grid. One place that has them is New Toulouse, a roleplay and residential sim that has the atmosphere of 1920s New Orleans. On Monday February 16, a day before the real life Mardi Gras New Orleans celebrations, New Toulouse held their "Samedi Gras" parade at 6PM SL time.

There were numerous participants in the celebration, both as dancers in the streets and the numerous revelers on the parade floats. Among them were the "Crewe de Bast," which was feline-themed, and one by Baron Wulfenbach of the Steamlands which had a couple of his Jagers on it. It's unclear just how long the parade lasted, though the following day on the real life "Fat Tuesday," some of the floats remained at the town square, one on fire, as reminders of the revelry the night before. But for New Toulouse itself, the party was basically over. Fortunetly Natascha Randt had recorded the event for others who couldn't make it to watch.



(Click here if the video fails to play)

So where else to go? Gemma Cleanslate found out about another celebration in another New Orleans themed area. This one was high above the Snackpack sim. Unlike New Toulouse, this one was taking place throughout the day, and instead of twisting around streetcorners, this one went down one straight street. A rezzer at the store on the far end of the street would automatically rezz different floats, which would slowly go down the street, people invited to sit or dance on them. Among the floats were Wonder Woman, Xena, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Spongebob Squarepants, and more.

There were also a number of false avatars around to help give the impression of a packed parade, even late at night. But both earlier on in the day and later at night, there were a number of people around. Laura Liberty, the owner of the Elizabeth Town sim, which currently housed the seasonal town of Valentine Town, was among those having fun at the Snackpack parade. Elizabeth Town had a New Orleans themed block next to Valentine Town.

On the day after Mardi Gras, the parade floats were still going, though there were only a handful of people around, presumably either people who couldn't see it the day before, or people whom truly loved Mardi Gras, and wanted to look at the parade one more time.

Besides these two parades, a number of clubs held Mardi Gras themed parties, or at least held events with the same kind of spirit. Gemma went to one such club event. The classic rock club "The Vinyl," near the SL Newser office held a "Wild and Crazy" party on Mardi Gras night.

And so "Fat Tuesday" came and went for another year. But even for those whom have to give things up for Lent, Easter is just a little more than a month away.

Pictures from Natascha Randt and Gemma Cleanslate

Bixyl Shuftan

Scenes From One Billion Rising

On Saturday February 14, Valentines Day, the One Billion Rising women's rights event took place across the world. For the third year in a row, Second Life was the scene of it's own "Rising."

 In four sims, OBR Change, OBR Drun, OBR Dance, OBR Rise, volunteers both greeted visitors dropping in, such as the Newser's own Gemma Cleanslate, as well as hosting various events such as dance parties.

"One Billion Rising" was backed by a number of sponsors, which had banners up on the walkways to the main stage.

There were also various artists exhibitions across the sims. "Breakthrough," near where Gemma greeted visitors, was symbolic of the "Break the Chain" video.

 Inside the "dreamer's" head, shown above.

This exhibit had a number of planets in orbit.

This exhibit was the scene of a smaller event, separate from the ones at the main stage.

There were a few freebies available, such as this pink gown. Unfortunately for guys, it was non-transferable, so it couldn't be used as a Valentines Day present.

At the center stage, DJs performed every hour. White "Sim Crossing" signs marked the border between the sims.

Vic Mornington (Victor1st Mornington), noted for his performances in the Relay for Life, was one of the DJs later in the evening, enthusiastically playing the tunes.

Avatars of all kinds danced to the music, from furs, to nekos, to dark unicorns and ferals, to this ferret floating up in the air thanks to a few balloons, swinging to the music.

Gemma would pass onto the Newser this video from "MySecretRage" of the exhibits at the "Rising."



(Click here if the video fails to show)

The event was officially over after a day. The exhibits should still be up for a few days.

Bixyl Shuftan.

Scenes from Mole Day 2015

By Bixyl Shuftan

Monday February 2 might have been Groundhog Day in real life, but in Bay City Second Life, it was Mole Day. This was the day set aside to honor the "Moles," the members of the Linden Department of Public Works. This was the fifth Mole Day celebration.

Initially honored in 2010 by Residents of Bay City, Mole Day is set aside to show appreciation for The Moles and their many contributions to Bay City and the rest of the Second Life™ Grid. ... The LDPW is a program focused on improvements related to the experience of living on, or visiting the Linden Mainland. The LDPW organizes teams of Resident builders, artists, and scripters (the Moles!) to create new content on Linden Lab's behalf and to the benefit of all. These Residents have the last name “Mole.”

The party began about 5PM SL time with DJ Gospeed Racer playing a set of tunes to the crowd.

At 6, Gospeed stepped down, and guitarist Marky Helstein stepped up and strummed his strings as he sung for the crowd.

On occasion, the conga line would start up, get longer, and continue for a while.

 Besides the moles, there were a number of Lindens present, such as Michael Linden, sporting a molish look, "Did we find out if Michel saw his shadow when he woke up this morning? I trust him much more than that groundhog."

There was Shaman Linden, who was looking like a pirate.

Dee Linden appeared in this unusual fairy avatar, which looked like it was half skeleton.

Uccello Poultry reminded everyone, "Remember that many Moles and Lindens also lead private citizen avatars and circulate with other residents. You never know when you are talking to someone who can go to the office the next day and smite your virtual butt." Shaman Linden responded, "Gosh, we never smite people. I smite bugs, though... " Marianne McCann commented, "clearly you've not seen Governance in action."

At one point, the party was interrupted by a herd of buffalo stampeding through. Someone shouted, "Oh em gee! Stax Wand Buffaloes!"

There was quite a bit of talk, including some discussion of Second Life's earlier days, and a number of mole jokes, "If a mosquito bites a mole, does it get molaria?" "no mole-o-toff cocktails?"

Eventually the party wound down and people went their seperate ways. But everyone left in good spirits.

"Happy Mole Day."

Bixyl Shuftan

ArtFest 4

By Gemma Cleanslate

I went over to Eclectic Diversity to visit my friend Huntress Catteneo, one of the sponsors of ArtFest 4. Attica Bekkers is the other who opens this event to the artists of Second Life.  The installation of art exhibits has begun and the artists are working on their pieces. 

For those that don't know and those that need a reminder, ArtFest is a CHARITY art competition to raise funds for disaster relief.  100% of the $L raised with ArtFest is converted to real-life money, and donated to the Red Cross/Crescent (Via their Everyday Heroes program).  The Red Cross was chosen, as it is an organization that helps around the globe without discrimination (http://www.redcross.org.au/principles.aspx).” according to Huntress.

 

I roamed around and took a bunny ride so I could see the land from above. Catch the bunny ride near the water at the entrance if you like. I saw that the  little carnival area is all set up with some fun games and rides  already. 

 

I cant wait to see the finished products. Last year there were some  very lovely pieces there. When the pieces are all finished you are invited to vote for your favorites. There is a great diversity, from 2D art, 3D art, sculpture, performance, poetry and more. There is still room for applicants . If you wish to participate you can contact Huntress. She told me that there will be an underwater art exhibit too. You are invited to visit at any time now while the building is going on. Later there will be parties and shows.  

 

Huntress says to those interested in applying for a spot,  “Artists/builders may enter as many different categories as you like.  This event is designed to attract people back to the Sim again and again. And to this end, you are asked to please build on the sim, if you can rather than elsewhere, and to build slowly in stages.  The constant change provides more interest for people to keep returning.  This event is not set up as a gallery, it is a landscape you walk around to explore what new thing is around each bend, in each new environment (plains, mounts, cave, under water, little isle).”  There will be a bazaar also so the artists may offer their wares and part of the sale will go to the Red Cross / Crescent also.  The entrance is here . Enjoy!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Eclectic%20Diversity/136/176/22

 

Gemma Cleanslate

Trixie's Magic Show

By Bixyl Shuftan

I was recently informed that a magic show in the pony sim of Thessalia would soon be having it's last one for a while. So wondering what the show was about, I headed over to the LM provided in the announcement. The location was a clearing in some woods with a number of pillows for seating with a cartoony-looking wagon in front. On the cushions were an audience of about a dozen and a half, mostly ponies but there were a few others. Over the next few minutes, a few more arrived, bringing the number to about two dozen.

Finally the wagon snapped open into a stage, a few pyrotechnics went off, and a blue pony in a purple star-speckled cape appeared. "Come one, come all!" she called out, "It's time once again to witness, the AMAZING show-stopping ability,  of the Mare of Magic! Presenting the most magical unicorn in Equestria! The one! The only! The Great and Powerful TRIXIE!!" There was applause from the ponies, "Yay Trixie!" The magician continued, "That's right, ponies, The Great and Powerful Trixie is finally back to astound and amaze you all! Trixie will ask for volunteers later, to come on stage with Trixie, like a true fan! Decide now if you will help and be ready! Prepare for an experience never before experienced by pony eyes! It's time to get started!"

Trixie started things off with a card trick, showing a set of cards inviting the audience to make a mental note of one, then with a flash, there was one less card in the set, "And ... your card is gone!" After another illusion trick, she called out, "Trixie now wants to present the most dramatic stunt, discovered in another land! Trixie presents the amazing..." and a large wooden crate appeared on stage, "...SCARY BOX 5000!!" There were a couple gasps from the audience, "Oh my." The magician continued, "Trixie will need a volunteer from the audience... some pony brave. Who will help Trixie?" One of the ponies trotted onto the stage. The magician had her hop on top of the crate, "Now, stay there no matter what. Trixie will now lower you into the box... Good, now just stay very still. Trixie now presents the SCARY part!! Give Trixie a little room here..." 

Then a number of saw blades appeared, and there were more gasps from the audience, "ooooohh!" "Yikes!" Trixie continued, "Trixie will just step out of the way now.. excuse Trixie... Nopony spoil the surprise for our friend in the box, now! Now, Trixie learned a story to go along with this trick.... It goes like this: In a world before time, 10 saws faced one crate in eternal battle! And the great Queen Neighfertiti decreed... Oh, ponyfeathers. Trixie isn't going to tell the whole silly story. Let's just give our friend a push, shall we? Keep your eyes on the box!" And the box was moved into the spinning sawblades, cutting through it right in front of the audience of ponies, "Holy celestia!" Then the walls of the box collapsed, and there was nothing inside. The voulenteer then trotted out from behind the stage and the audience cheered and claps, "Best yet!" The magician took a bow, "Another amazing trick by the Great and Powerful Trixie!"

The show continued with the next act involving a tale of pony lore, Trixie acting with her usual boastful bravado. Then came the stage transforming into a castle for a few minutes, until the crystal shattered into a thousand sparkles, leaving behind just the stage. Not having watched the cartoon, yours truly wondered if this was part of a roleplay in the spirit of the show. Those donating into the tip jar got an autographed picture of the magician.

Eventually, the show came to a close, the magician saying. "Thank you all! Trixie hopes you have enjoyed the last show of her comeback tour!" And the audience cheered, "That was incredible." "This made my new year a lot better. (grin)" One lady broke the proverbial fourth wall with her comment, "(My) daughter watched on my screen, she says thank you too Trixie." "You did spectacular, and Im happy I saw the whole show." The pony took a bow, "Trixie wishes you all a fantastic 2015, and hopes all the best for you in the new year. May it be as Magical as I am!"

The magician thanked the following people for technical help, "Trixie would like to thank Marjan Tomba for technical and pyrotechnical assistance! Trixie would also like to thank Wandy and Lady Silvermane for mixing advice and support, and Sheruka for animation support! Thank you also to Rina-Chan for giving Trixie voice, and to Kiteless Dragon for the introduction voice over! Most of all, Trixie thanks all of you for still being loyal fans after so much time! Trixie hopes to meet each and every one of you at her next show!"

But her next show might not be for a while. I later met up with Crim Nip, who told me that most likely there wouldn't be another of Trixie's performances for a year and a half due to the person behind the avatar's increasingly busy real-life. It might actually be the last show.

Bixyl Shuftan

The Crhistmas Truce Exhibit

By Bixyl Shuftan

Over the Holidays, there was an exhibit in the WW2 Combat RP area that covered an event not of the Second World War, but of the first. It was a hundred years ago in which Europe was locked in what was then called "The Great War." After the initial German march into France was stopped, both sides dug in and the Western Front was locked in the stalemate of trench warfare, with no end in sight.

Although there were truces in the fighting so both sides could tend to their dead and wounded, in December 1914, something very different took place. The "Christmas Truce" was unique in that so many soldiers took part and that there was not only a lack of fighting but soldiers from opposing sides often meeting up to chat or even exchange items. Although there had been calls from the Pope for a truce, and some officers and generals wanted at least a break in the fighting, what happened came about through the spontaneous combined actions of the infantrymen. For a short time in this war marked by so much death destruction and misery, there was peace.

A hundred years later in Second Life, the New Bastogne region had an exhibit about the Christmas Truce, "(Many visitors have) already seen the Christmas Truce Exhibit on Ardennes sim. On the exhibit you will find period time photos, press and the most important, the individual histories of who lived it. Don't miss this great exhibit."

At Homely Isle,there were a number of photographs and descriptions up for display, describing scenes of how the Christmas Truce came to be.

We were in the front line, we were about 300 yards from the Germans. And we had, I think on Christmas Eve, we'd been singing carols and this that and the other, and the Germans had been doing the same. And we'd been shouting to each other, sometimes rude remarks more often just joking remarks.

Anyway, eventually a German said, "Tomorrow you no shoot, we no shoot." And the morning came and we didn't shoot and they didn't shoot. So then we began to pop our heads over the side and jump down quickly in case they shot but they didn't shoot. And then we saw a German standing up, waving his arms and we didn't shoot and so on, and so it gradually grew.

More than a hundred thousand soldiers would take part in the truce. While it was often just simply leaving one another alone, there were numerous examples of the soldiers getting out into No-Mans-Land and chatting with one another, exchanging items such as tobacco with one another, even exchanging Christmas gifts, often alcoholic drinks. There were even soccer matches set up between the two sides.

A Scottish soldier appeared with a football, which seemed to come from nowhere, and a few minutes later a real football match got underway. The Scots marked their goal with their strange caps, and we did the same with ours. It was far from easy to play on the frozen ground, but we continued, keeping rigorously to the rules, despite that it only lasted an hour, and that we had no referee. A great many of the passes went wide, but all the amateaur footballers, although they must have been very tired, played with huge enthusiasm.

One might think after weeks of stalemate someone among the leadership might have suggested making the truce official and give the governments a chance to negotiate, especially with the Germans whom were fighting a two front war. But it was not to be. Eventually the generals on both sides grew more irritated with the truce, and began ordering the fighting to resume under threat of punishment. The following year, soldiers were warned they faced court-martial, even execution, if they fraternized with the enemy. Some smaller truces still came about in that year and the next, but there would never again be another Christmas Truce like 1914 had seen.

The Christmas Truce Exhibit remained up after New Years, and will be taken down tomorrow on January 10.

Homely Isle (98/135/31)

Bixyl Shuftan