The Strange Jounreys "Jail and Bail" And Other Relay Events

 The last weekend of March 2015 had a number of Relay events. On Saturday, there was a 50s "Sock Hop" that brought in some Relayers to dance to some older tunes.

We are hosting a multi team event, BYOK for a Sock Hop!! We are hoping in our delorian time machine and heading back to the 50's for a Sock Hop. Put on those bobby socks, saddle shoes, poodle skirts, slick back your hair boys. Wear your white tshirt and best denim jeans. We are going to twist and sway to the music of DJ Scorpion while his Hostess Anna welcomes you to our 50's diner serving up all the classics.

One couple decided to get a little odd ... the cheerleader seems a bit small in the "pom-pomps."

One event I checked out on Sunday was the "Mer Party" at "Muckers" In Kingdom Island.

1pm to 3pm slt! Muckers Music is proud to present their mermaid / merman party in support of Relay For Life of Second Life.  We will be under the club so come as a mer or wear scuba gear!  Water related rock tunes are the order of the day and both single and couples mer-dances will be available.

 Lots of mermaids and mermen showed up, as well as a few normal humans in scuba gear and an anthro shark. Gemma Cleansate and myself were among those there.

We had a "shell" of a time.

 Later that day was the "Jail and Bail" by team Strange Journeys, done with the Gorean team.

 Team Strange Journeys and The Goreans in Relay for Life are hosting a Jail and Bail on Sunday March 29th beginning at 3pm.   It's a Bring your own kiosk event and we invite any team that wants to come and participate.  Won't you join us to beat Cancer? 

 There were a number of antics, such as a dalek in one of the cells, Cuddly Waffle painting the walls in her cell pink. And then yours truly gets thrown in the slammer for making "evily cute" remarks about Team Strange Journey. I'd been accused of my puns being criminal before, but ...

And Cuddly decided to rub things in by posting this to the Relay group.

So I sent a message to my fellow Sunbeamers, "Whatever happened to "Freedom of the Press?" I go to cover a Relay event, and I end up in the slammer. Something about my puns being criminal. 4600 left to donate to Team Sunbeamer before I'm out. "

Saffra Nitely dontated a few hundred to bailing me out. Rita Mariner came by and took care of the rest, which had the side benefit of sending the Sunbeamer Team halfway to silver.

The antics continued for a while. One guy whom had put his dignity on the line in a "Bid Me" event by wearing a poodle skirt after a certain amount was raised had to undergo further treatment after the fashion police donated to have him arrested.

Lots of fun took place that weekend, and a good close to the first month of the 2015 Relay season.

Bixyl Shuftan

Scenes from the Burnal Equinox

From Friday March 27 to late Sunday March 29, the art and music festival "Burnal Equinox" took place at the Burning Life-Deep Hole sim. This yearly event is a spinoff of the Burn2 festival taking place for over a week in October, run by the same people, often nicknamed "Burners."

At the site of the SURL and Landmark passed around, greeters welcomed visitors with a "Welcome home," offering a few freebies.

There were a few mutant vehicles to get around, such as this huge rubber ducky on wheels.

And these cutsie flying bunnies.

Or one could just ride a bike.

 There were a number of artists' exhibits at the event. 

 The theme of the event was "Balance," and the exhibits were supposed to represent it in some way.

 The base of the Burning Equinox Balance Tower, created by P1anoman Resident.

 

One can find a list of the names and exhibits at: http://www.burn2.org/BE2015-artistbuilds

There were also DJs performing music at the event, here at the dance floor.

At 10AM Saturday, Newser writer Grease Coakes was the DJ at the Burnal for an hour.

One might say his tunes were "hot."

 For the hour, he played for friends and others at the dance stage.

Everyone had fun, even if some just "horsed around."

Sunday evening had the final events of the Burnal. At 8PM came the Tower Burn, when the Balance Tower would be burned.

 There was some delay, but after some time,  the tower was set ablaze.

Someone stood on top ot the structure as it burned.

 Fireworks went off around the build as it slowly burned, rings of flame rising from the bottom.

 Soon it began to char as it burned to a crisp.

 Viewing the burning tower from below.

 Eventually, it burned to the point it collapsed into a pile of blocks.

 The Burners climbed onto the embers, lighting themselves with fire effects.

At 9PM, the Lamplighters led the closing event at the dance area.

 The Burners danced away, in avatars large ...

 ... and small.

Finally as the hour drew near, the lamplighters began marching in procession, away from the dance floor, the final act of the festival.

And so, the Burnal Equinox came to a close. But the fans took comfort that the main event, Burn2, would be just six months away.

Bixyl Shuftan

The 500 Word Snatch

By Grease Coakes

I was upset that the micro writing event at Book Island was gone when Jackson Arthur left Second Life. I always wrote things about my characters or made random nonsense in 100 words or so. However I lucked out as I found another writing event. In Second Life you can find a writing event here or there. Looking at my notices one day, I happened to see a writing event. I warped in and found out about a writing area at http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Milk%20Wood/77/64/22

The event I found on Saturday afternoon happened to be helping authors with their writing and plot and story. I remember helping a lady with her story about a woman who committed suicide and the police who were looking to solve her murder. I offered a suggestion that a janitor good be the POV or point of view she needed.

But what the host told me was that the 500 word snatch was held Monday through Friday 6am and 6pm SLT hosted by different hosts and hostesses throughout the week. In 15 minutes or so you have to write 500 words or so with a word in mind. I cheated and didn’t use peel for the time I stopped by but the other writers such as Artemis Danube enjoyed my short story nonetheless. I explained it was a backstory for one my characters and why he did nefarious things. Here’s part of Ranger’s backstory.

“You deserve it! But somehow deep in my heart I know there’s a way to get the money and to give you a second chance. I saw an email from my friend that maybe be able to save you. That is if the casino agrees.”

The Casino boss a black wolf in an Italian suit nodded. “We’d much rather have the money back instead of ending his life. Much better business that way. Tell you what Ranger right?” Ranger nodded yes. “We’ll spare Jimmy’s life and instead you owe us the money. You’re right no way Jimmy will get $100,000. But be warned if you don’t get the money now your life is in jeopardy. Since you’re putting the life on the line for your brother I’ll give you extra time. If today is August 22nd you have until October 22nd.”

Gwen’s story was fantasy in a woodland setting where the character Abigail strolled through a forest every night.

His strides were easily half again as long as her own; Reynardine had no trouble catching up with Abigail. He took her arm. “My lovely Abigail,” he said. “I’ve brought you a gift.”

“Oh?” Abigail stopped in one of the many small clearings ahead of the meadow. “What kind of gift?” 
 

The Hunter reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a red apple. “Shall I peel it for you?”

Abigail shook her head. “No— and why on earth did you bring me an apple?"

Another story by Deva was about a pirate close to death.

The Surgeon placed his hands on the edge of the table, exhausted. The Captain was a very unhealthy colour and he had no idea if he would survive. Blood seemed to be everywhere, the table, the floor and even himself. He let his eyes wander to the severed leg on the floor and he managed to find his voice to order one of the men “Throw that overboard! He will not want to see it.”

For readers who use twitter you can follow the writing events at @virtualwriters and learn more about the various events that happen at the small writing area by visiting this website

http://virtualwritersworld.virtualwritersinc.com/

Even if you’re not a writer and just want to hang out and read other stories feel free to stop by. Perhaps it may inspire your inner writer for you to create characters and to write short stories or the like. Stop by the 500 word snatch and give it a shot. It couldn’t hurt and it’s doubtful you’ll run into a bad situation like Ranger, The Pirate Captain or Abigail. The writers I hung out with were pretty nice but they were pretty malicious towards their characters.

Grease Coakes

Club Cutlass' Grand Re-Opening

By Bixyl Shuftan

Almost since it's beginning, the main club for the Sunweaver community has been Club Cutlass. Starting out as a pirate-themed club, since then the popular hangout has seen four transformations, most having an open-air dance floor with no ceiling. These included a Meso-American pyramid style and a steampunish/pirate themed round design, labeled "The Donut," that saw regular performances three times a week every week from February 2012 to it's final performance last week on March 14, 2015.

But just as the "Donut" was being taken down, a new club, Cutlass Six, was being readied for action. Larger than the previous club, this one is a steam-powered airship with four levels, the service deck with engine room, the hangar, the activity deck, and the bridge.

The club was built by Cynthia Farshore and Shockwave Yareach. A number of details were worked in, such as flickering fires for the boilers, an elevator that could take people (or planes) back and forth from the hangar and service deck.

In front of the dance area is a sitting room for a more relaxed social gathering. It's also where there are several Relay for Life kiosks for "Bid Me" and other events.

On Wednesday March 18 at 6PM SL time, the new club was finally ready for it's first official event. The LM and SURL were given out in group notices and group instant-messages respectively. The theme: steampunk.

OK. HERE WE ARE. IT'S THE BIG GRAND OPENING OF THE NEW CLUB CUTLASS, AND FOR OUR FIRST EVENT, WE HAVE DJ CYNTHIA AND OUR 'STEAMPUNK' PARTY. SO GET DRESSED IN PROPER ATTIRE, JOIN OUR CONTEST, AND LETS LAUNCH THIS NEW SHIP!

Cynthia addressed the crowd, "Well ladies and gentlemen it has been a grand effort to bring this ship from dream to reality. Tonight we launch and even though the ship is underway there will be much left to do. In the coming days months even year improvements and additions will be made . It was a labor of love and tears. Much was learned during the build along with my partner Shockwave Yareach we brought this together. So now Shocky you have anything to say?"

Shockwave's response was, "Through the trials and the pain, we have brought this into being from nothing.  Long may this ship serve its crew and their friends!" Hearing the music, he grinned, "And we're launchign to a Genesis song too."

Cynthia then asked Sunweaver chief Rita Mariner to do the honorary breaking of the champagne bottle, "Rita Mariner captain of the airship Cutlass please christen your ship." Rita wryly commented, "If Gil was here, she would pee all over it." Then swung the bottle, where it shattered against the DJ stand, "I broke it!?!, Sweepers, man your brooms!"

And with that, the party began. Cynthia spun her tunes while the crowd danced away on the floor, or a few people on the dance poles.

The party went on past the end of the contest at 8PM to a bit past 9 (Midnight EST).

The 1000L prizes that night went to Crim Mip for the men and for the ladies Sheila Lapine.

And so, a new chapter has begun for the main club of the Sunweaver Estates. It will have regular events on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 6PM to 8PM, sometimes going on for an hour more or longer.

Sunweaver Bay (115, 107, 157)

Some pictures from Cynthia Farshore.

Bixyl Shuftan