Space stations are not the first thing one thinks of when it comes to poetry. But reporter Grey Lupindo found the Orb Space Station hosting the works of fifty poets for the Author Convention and Exhibition. Those interested in hearing some poetry readings will find them here this weekend.
Raglan Shire is noted for being a “tiny” community. But this month, it’s hosting an art show for residents of all sizes. So art lovers big and small are invited over to see “art on the hedge.”
It began as a dream among a few people, a place where people could live not just as virtual neighbors, but a community. Since then, Chilbo has grown not just in area and numbers, but has attracted and continued to attract a number of artists and musicians, while continuing to help newcomers to Second Life. Today, Second Life takes a look at the Chilbo region and community.
The RP takes place in 1776. Russia is ruled by Ekaterina II, better known as Catherine the Great, as well as the Russian nobility. In St. Petersburg, court intrigue abounds. In the southern part of the Empire, a rebellion is brewing. Between them and the capital, the army marches to meet them. And everywhere, the peasants somehow manage to eke out a living despite everything against them.
The region was described as having it’s own economy, with it’s own RP currency technically apart from the Linden, players able to buy period clothing and personal weapons at shops. But some effort (and presumably Lindens) are needed to maintain one’s rank in the RP.
There is no official roleplaying going on for now. The region is still under construction. Some places are largely finished, others are still being worked on. Thomas explained among those working on the builds were Second Life residents living in Russian in real life. He went on to say there would be some activity soon.
Woodlin was a great place to hang out and live in Second Life, with great friends and great scenery. Sadly, our home came to an end. But it didn't mean we had to stop being neighbors.
I heard about a Lupercalia festival at the Roma area in Second Life, and headed over on Sunday February 21. It was a bit late in the celebration, but arrived just in time to see the big party: the Lupercalia Grand Feast. There was a table full of foods from the era, such as the stuffed quail, the oysters as an aphrodisiac food, and more. But the real action was on the dance floor. Some were dressed in togas. Others were in costumed for the party theme: famous couples. One couple tried both, going as Marc Anthony and Cleopatra. For those who couldn’t find a date, the contest rules allowed people to “enter as one half of a couple.”
The festival had other events earlier and the previous day. On Saturday February 20th was a love poetry reading, a wolf hunt with a 1000 Linden prize, and the main event. The start of the festival was marked by the recreation of the Roman ritual for Faunua Lupercus, the Roman god of wild things, and Lupa, the female wolf that according to legend nursed Rome’s founding fathers, Romulas and Remus. After the ritual was the Running of the Luperci “half-naked youths who bless the young ladies of the city” by flogging them (lightly) with goatskins soaked in milk, in the belief the women would be blessed with fertility in both body and spirit.
Torin commented Roma was not really a roleplay sim, although some roleplaying does take place there, “We're mainly a social sim. ROMA has a great Citizenry. Both of people who rent land here in our residential land, and others who are regulars. We have a lot of social groups people join. And the festivals like this one give us all an excuse to come together and socialize around the events.” According to Torin, Roma has been doing the Lupercalia since 2007. Their other big holidays, are, “Saturnalia definitely, (in) December, and the festivals around October, which (has) both our anniversary festivals (we opened ROMA in October 2006) and Halloween.”
Many residents in Second Life have memories of a special place where they made good friends and had great fun. For one reporter in SL Newspaper, one place stands out: Woodlin.
The Community is comprised of four areas: Eos, Helios, Pyxis, and Selene. It is a covenant community, with a general nature theme, spiced with a touch of the Ancient and the whimsical. Elric Anatine, manager of landscaping and common grounds, continually beautifies the public areas and changes the seasons. Currently Syzygy is a winter wonderland, with skating spots, a hot tub, gardens, and other interesting sites located through the sim. There are many small nooks and seating areas for quiet visits, romantic dancing, or simply as a break from the hustle of SL. Syzygy is open to the public, and visitors are welcome. 
Late Saturday night on January 9th at the Tiatopia sim, after a week or poetry readings, art contests, live music events, and a lot of fun, the “Autism Awareness Project” came to a close. With a climatic performance, singer Ichie Kamachi wowed the crowd and brought donations over the top. The final total, not counting last-minute donations, was a total of 226,290 Lindens raised, or $874 US dollars.
In a previous article, I had discussed Book Island and the fact that the owner had seemingly disappeared and Book Island seemed to be dying out. I spoke recently with Selina Greene, sim owner, who has set the record straight. I had previously been unable to reach her for comment when I wrote the first article. 
In 2010, Selina, together with Arton Tripsa, are planning many things, including a redesign of the public areas, as well as multiple events. A google calendar has been installed in the main square for "Events on the Beach." The addition of the calendar will provide residents with the opportunity to plan and scheduled their own events. To date, 3 events are planned, including a Book Island party with DJ Grizzly Silversmith, one of the residents. 
Four Bridges Project sim is a collaboration of Amnesty International-E, PeaceTrain, and many other activist groups (a few logos are pictured). Four Bridges groups have organized numerous gridwide events, week-long Woodstock-like affairs, like Peace Fest, Earth Week SL, SL Human Rights Festival, Second Pride Festival, and Imagine Festival. These folks are very spontaneous and thoroughly knowledgeable about RL activist issues and how to utilize SL for action and creating awareness! You can meet a lot of high powered activists through their community and get involved in world rocking projects. The Four Bridges team works effectively across group lines gridwide to bring together terrific art, music, talent, ideas, and energy. 
So here I ended up writing an article in the newspaper
a linden dollar looks like this:- 
With Halloween approaching, there has been another vampire bat sighting. This time in the Outerland Archipelago, a large collection of sims in the southeast portion of the metaverse, near the Mexico sims.
While looking the sim over, I ran into a lady: LaraCroft Akula, “I live very close to this square in real life, and almost every day pass through it. The fun part is that sometimes I feel like I am in Second Life while being there in real life.” She owned and built the sim, running it with the help of a team of volunteers, “This project had started as my personal idea, and with a very precise goal.” She had built the sim to both inform others about the city, “it can be considered a non-conventional country branding project,” and to serve as a meeting place for Second Life’s Romanian residents.
To the north was the Athene Palace hotel, “Now a Hilton hotel. This hotel was a very important place during the World Wars. ... here was the general place for journalists. They were gathering here and sending news about the war, in the so called ‘English bar.’ ... Now it is renovated - it's a Hilton Hotel and still has a very eclectic style. Inside there is still the English Bar. ... What we did in Second Life was to preserve the exterior and the look and feel of the buildings, but to use the internal spaces in such a way they would be relevant for the SL user. Therefore, the hotel in real life has restaurants and bars, we turned it into a shopping gallery in Second Life. ... restaurants and bars are not so much fun for the SL user.”
To the west is the National Museum of Art, “It was formerly The Royal Palace and turned into a museum some time after the Second World War.” Lara explained that the Museum’s virtual counterpart showed some of the more noteworthy paintings of Romanian artists, “and we are planning to feature also some Romanian artists that do various things in Second Life.” She went on to say they contacted the real museum and suggested some joint projects, “they refused, saying something like, ‘ we are not interested in such kind of promotion.’ They didn’t understand Second Life. ... they simply can't understand what we are doing here. I showed them pics and simulations.” Lara told me that the person she was talking to was hired for “Internet stuff,” which might not have been a good sign. The museum did have a variety of paintings from artists such as Ioan Andreescu and Stefan Luchian.
One was thrilled since this was her third try during the past week and she made it.. There are already some impressive builds in some of the sims.
On 9-18-2009 there is an effort to improve Brain Cancer awareness and as my RL cousin has brain cancer and has been fighting it for over 10 years and is now losing his battle, this is something very near and dear to my heart so I am setting out a plain gray tee shirt in the hopes that you all can also help me by wearing gray on September 18, 2009 and raise awareness for brain cancer.
I have the good fortune to rent an office on Vio. What is Vio? Vio is two things. It is a place and a concept.The place is set on two island sims, Vio and Vio II.
The centrepiece on Vio is a circular auditorium called The Crucible, with seating for over 70 people. Facing it is a giant whiteboard which can be used for any of several purposes. In front of the whiteboard is seating for the speakers. The auditorium is the middle of a five-part layout. The four outer squares house sweeping arches which support a huge exhibition hall, over 20 metres up in the air, with more than 20 exhibition stands. A wide corridor takes you round the hall which is spaced in such a way that you do not feel crowded, a welcome difference to many exhibitions I have attended in the past.
Separating the four outer squares and running under the auditorium are waterways flowing out to the sea. This is a business centre with a beautiful heart. Three of the outer squares are open spaces to enjoy. The fourth is grassed over and is surrounded by information panels, telling you all you need to know about Vio, the place and the concept. Surrounded by these, is the “Cool Wall” a bank of panels dedicated to each Vio resident, telling all about them, each panel gives out information created by the residents themselves.
Through the trees that surround the whole of the centre, you can glimpse several superbly designed single-storey buildings. These are the offices of Vio. There are more on Vio II.
On Vio, there are twelve complexes, as each building is known, and they all back on to the sea. How wonderful to be able to take a break from the day’s work and take in such a view! Each one has the facility to offer up to four different layouts. Depending on your needs, you can have a quarter of the building, separated from the rest for L$ 700 with 150 prims a week. Next up is a half at L$1400 a week with 300 prims. If you want more, this can be negotiated with the estate manager, Esvee Fallen or the owner Xander Newman.
On Vio II, there are four areas separated by water ways, running to the sea. In the centre is a beautiful water feature. There are large, two storey offices available at L$1900 a week offering 360 prims as well as the one storey buildings. The whole aspect of Vio II is more mixed than that of Vio, which is the hub of the island group. It is beautifully landscaped and has a serene atmosphere to it, enabling you to make those important decisions in tranquil surroundings. An interesting touch is the lighthouse, in one corner.
If that’s not secluded enough for you, may I present the Skyboxes? There are eight single storey buildings and four two storey buildings, over 500 metres in the sky. Standing on one of the balconies, I can see the others suspended in a bright blue sky. Majestic!
Vio offers a wide range of office facilities, from 200 sqms to 1660 sqms, from 150 prims to 450. And the rest… The rest? Conference facilities, networking as part of the business culture, the use of the Crucible for discussion, seminars and meet & greet. There are secure meeting facilities available to hire and so on. There is definitely more to Vio than meets the eye.
“But, Kim, you mentioned two things”, you ask. Yes I certainly did.
The concept. Vio is much more than a group of offices, however well designed and however beautiful the surroundings. It is a community.
Take a look at the information panels and you will see what I mean. Seriously, after you have read this article go to Vio, 145, 146, 27. Or look in Search for Vio and that will take you there.
You will find yourself at the heart of the Vio central hub. Go straight to your left and read the panels from 1 to 20 and be prepared to be amazed. I’ve worked on business parks in RL and SL. But this is different. Based in Second life, Vio brings you the best of both worlds.
You can have your own private office, where you can work in peace and privacy, you can reach out to two worlds with your message from here. People will come to you in their numbers to hear what you have to say and to see what you have to offer.
I work from home in RL (Real Life) but I have access to the whole world because of what Vio and Second Life offer me. I can do this because I am not alone. There is the Vio community.
Ask a question in the Vio Business Group window and the answers are there, not immediately, not every time (I don’t want to paint a false picture of perfection. Perfection doesn’t exist, but Vio does a good approximation!).
Then there’s the website http://www.getvio.com/ , full of information and a calendar of events. It has the business directory, to which you would be added, if you became a Vio networker. There are links to sources of information and help.
To use their own words, I will answer the title question and introduce you to their concept, which makes Vio so very, very different.
“What is VIO?
VIO (VIRTUAL INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITIES)
VIO is a collaborative business incubator bringing together virtual world and real world companies to work together to accomplish their goals. VIO is also the name of the SIM or island in the virtual world of Second Life developed to serve as a resource for the RL and SL business community.”
Here are the contact details again: Estate Manager, Esvee Fallen, owner Xander Newman. Website: http://www.getvio.com/ , Landmark; Vio (146, 147, 27).
Come and join us, this could be the beginning of something big!
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,Noon - Opening Ceremonies
1pm - Survivor / Caregiver Lap (pre-registration recommended)2pm - Team Spirit Lap - Team Shirts & Banners
3pm - One World - International Outfits 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 CeremonyFairies - Make A Wish and Day we will beat cancer.
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)
