Ciaran Laval pointed me towards the Romea Country, Rock and Folk Festival which will be taking place on the Meva store home region over the course of Saturday, August 29th and Sunday, August 30th, 2015 (although I’m admittedly a little late in getting this post written and out).
Organised by the Meva team of Rock (TheRock Guardrian) and Mea Carnell, who together form Romea and own the Meva brand (although the Festival is part of their Romea Musics activities), the event will take place in a very country-ish environment and across times that suit audiences on both side of the Atlantic.
The full schedule is is follows, and my thanks to Mea for passing the information over to me. Note that in keeping with Mea’s format, times are given in SLT, with their UK and European equivalents in brackets.
Across four days between Thursday September 4th and Sunday September 7th in 2014, musicians and DJs from across Second Life and around the world came together under the banner SL Music Races for a Cure in order to raise money for Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C).
The brainchild of key organiser Still Braveheart, SL Music Races for a Cure was an outstanding success: L$ 1.5 million raised over the course of the four days of the event, with donations continuing after core activities had finished. All of the money was donated to SU2C’s work in accelerating the pace of cancer research and the development of effective treatments.
This year, Second Life Stands Up to Cancer is back, with an even bigger, bolder vision, and with Still once again helming the organising efforts.
2015 will see more than 150 performers, DJs and tribute bands performing at over 40 venues across Second Life between Saturday, September 12th and Sunday, September 27th, 2015, all with the aim of raising funds for Stan Up to Cancer’s international activities.
Obviously, with so many performers and venues participating, listing them in a blog like this is impossible – so do please keep a track of the SU2C in SL event schedule on Google, and via Stills’ own blog, which will have daily events, times and LMs to venues as things get under-way, as well as all the very latest news.
Founded in the United States in 2008 as a non-profit organisation run under the auspices of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, Stand Up to Cancer was specifically established to raise funds to accelerate the pace of ground-breaking translational cancer research that can get new cancer therapies to patients quickly.
The organisation takes an innovative approach to ending cancer by focusing on forming “dream teams” of doctors and researchers who are directly involved in leading-edge cancer research and treatment, and then undertaking aggressive research programmes (see the video at the end of this article for more on this). 100% of all donations made through SU2C goes directly into funding cancer research and treatment and paying for these teams; none is lost to “administrative costs” or put aside for CEO or executive salaries, etc.
Such is the success of this approach that as of 2014, and in the USA alone, SU2C has raised over $261 million in seven years. This money has all be used in directly supporting 141 clinical trials of possible cancer treatments, involving 750 scientists and 5,000 cancer patients, and which have spanned 112 US institutions.
Lemmonrock Cafe, another of the 40+ venues supporting 2015’s SL SU2C events
Since its inception, SU2C has gained international support as well, with other countries establishing their own SU2C movements. Both Canada and the United Kingdom, for example, are fully engaged in SU2C’s work, with other countries also offering support and promotion.
In recognition of SU2C’s international scale and the direct involvement of Canada, the UK and the USA in spearheading efforts, all monies raised during the Second Life Stands Up to Cancer events will be evenly split between SU2C’s work in these three countries.
Also, in what is quite possibly a first for Second Life, all of the SU2C venues will have special kiosks available which will allow Canadian, UK and US SL residents to make donations directly to the SU2C work in their own country, via links to the SL SU2C Team web pages (UK and US) and the main SU2C Canada website.
What’s more, because the direct donations to SU2C UK and SU2C USA are going through the SL SU2C Team pages, the amounts donated this way can be added to the total amount raised through in-world donations, presenting a clearer picture of how much was raised for SU2C through the activities and generosity of Second Life residents.
Second Life Stands Up to Cancer is shaping-up to be another extraordinary event, one that I hope to be bringing further news and updates about as the dates approach, as well as looking forward to catching at least some of the performers and shows. So, mark September 12th through 27th in your diary and calendar, and get ready to Stand Up to Cancer, because this is where the end of cancer begins.
Art in Hats will be returning to Second Life in November 2015, this year supporting the inaugural Team Diabetes of Second Life season in support of the American Diabetes Association.
Founded in 2013 by Quan Lavender, the initial event offered a means for SL couture designers and artists to present images of hats as statement of art, each with a story to tell.
In 2014, the event saw over 100 hats and their paired images displayed by designers and photographers, with donations made during the event (including a silent auction) going to support the work of Feed A Smile.
For 2015, the Art In Hats even will take place between November 4th and 14th, 2015 inclusive, with Emma Portilo taking on the lead as Top Hat Coordinator, supported by Chloe Seljan as Events Coordinator (particularly for European time zone events), and designer Kimmera Madison a Coordinator and builder, and Johannes1977 Resident as a Coordinator and managing entertainments which meet US time zones.
Art in Hats 2013
Applications to be a part of this year’s Art in Hats event are now open, and the team are looking for designers, artists, creators, bloggers, photographers and entertainers, as the official announcement notes:
If you are an artist, designer or creator of some sort and want to express yourself through hats, headpieces, attachments to the head of some sort (LOL) then this is certainly the event for you! Art in Hats marries art to fashion and brings about new amazing works! Enter now by using the Sign Me Up! link and completing an application!
Not a creator type? Do you blog or are you a great photographer? We’re also looking for you! Use the Sign Me Up! link to complete the appropriate application!
Art in Hats 2014
Do be aware that places are limited, so if you are interested in participating in, or supporting, this year’s event, you might be best served by applying sooner rather than later.
For further information and updates on the event, be sure to track the Art in Hats website.
It’s time to kick-off another week of fabulous story-telling in voice, brought to our virtual lives by the staff and volunteers at the Seanchai Library. As always, all times SLT, and events are held at the Library’s Second Life home at Bradley University, unless otherwise indicated.
Sunday, August 16th 13:30: Tea-time at Baker Street
Caledonia Skytower, Kaydon Oconnell and Corwyn Allen continue reading The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, originally published in 1894, and which brings together twelve (or eleven in US editions of the volume) adventures featuring Holmes and Watson, as originally published in The Strand Magazine. This week: The Final Problem, first published in 1893.
Holmes and Moriarty by Sidney Paget, 1893
It is with a heavy heart that I take up my pen to write these the last words in which I shall ever record the singular gifts by which my friend Mr. Sherlock Holmes was distinguished. In an incoherent and, as I deeply feel, an entirely inadequate fashion, I have endeavoured to give some account of my strange experiences in his company from the chance which first brought us together at the period of the “Study in Scarlet,” up to the time of his interference in the matter of the “Naval Treaty” — and interference which had the unquestionable effect of preventing a serious international complication. It was my intention to have stopped there, and to have said nothing of that event which has created a void in my life which the lapse of two years has done little to fill. My hand has been forced, however, by the recent letters in which Colonel James Moriarty defends the memory of his brother, and I have no choice but to lay the facts before the public exactly as they occurred. I alone know the absolute truth of the matter, and I am satisfied that the time has come when on good purpose is to be served by its suppression.
With these words, John Watson sets out to record for all posterity the events that led to the apparent death of Sherlock Holmes, locked in mortal combat with his most deadly of adversaries, the Napoleon of Crime, (a phrase,, incidentally, applied to a real criminal mastermind at the time), Professor James Moriarty.
Monday August 17th, 19:00: The Wizard of Karres
Gyro Muggins returns to the universe created by James H. Schmitz and given form through his 1949 novel, The Witches of Karres, as he continues reading the 2004 sequel, The Wizard of Karres, penned by Mercedes Lackey, Eric Flint, and Dave Freer. So why not join Gyro as he once more traces the adventures of Captain Pausert and his companions, Goth and the Leewit, the Witches of Karres.
Tuesday August 18th, Not That It Matters
AA Milne by Howard Coster, 1926
Corwyn Allen opens the covers of AA Milne’s 1919 collection of humorous essays. Best known for his tales of Wnnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin and the 100 acre Wood, Milne in fact wrote widely in bother fiction and non-fiction.
Here he passes observation on wide range of topics, starting with a reflection upon his own writing, “Sometimes when the printer is waiting for an article which really should have been sent to him the day before, I sit at my desk and wonder if there is any possible subject in the whole world upon which I can possibly find anything to say.”
With considerations ranging from why a gentleman’s collar might squeak, or the fact that Isaiah most certainly didn’t carry a notebook, with assorted thoughts on goldfish and daffodils along the way, this is a book of essays wide-range in topic and content. Some of it may, nigh-on a century since the essays first appeared in this book, appear dated and as solidly dated and trapped forever in the opening decades of the 20th century. Other are perhaps as relevant today in their insights and commentary as they were when freshly written. All of them come with Milne’s familiar humour and jovial observations.
Wednesday August 19th, 19:00: Miss Trolley’s Kitchen
Food lit with Trolley Trollop – there’ll be recipes! Bring yours to share!
Thursday August 20th
19:00: Celtic Women in Myth
With Shandon Loring.
21:00: Seanchai Late Night
With Finn Zeddmore.
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Please check with the Seanchai Library SL’s blog for updates and for additions or changes to the week’s schedule. The featured charity for August / September is Water for People, “When one person or one family has clean, accessible water, their lives are changed. But when entire regions and countries have water, the world is changed.”
Who knows what you might find wandering the streets of LoveFest …
Now under way, and running through until Sunday, August 23rd, is LoveFest, the annual H. P Lovecraft Festival. Timed to coincide with the 125th anniversary of Lovecraft’s birth (August 20th), the festival has been organised by the HP Lovecraft Roleplay (and more) Group of Second Life (HPL RPG), and once again features the Autism National Committee (AutCom) of the United States as its charity.
2015 marks the 4th year for the Festival – which I took time out to visit in 2014, including having a go at the interactive adventure which had been set-up for that event. 2015 sees the Festival host another adventure – but this time it’s in the form of a grid-wide hunt, and the official website explains:
Presiding Presence: HP Lovecraft watches over the LoveFest proceedings
This year’s Lovecraft Festival is thrilled to present our multi-sim Lovecraftian Story Quest adventure ‘The Heart of Llhao”
You find yourself at the renowned Miskatonic University of Arkham, Massachusetts, where a recently discovered American Indian artefact, “The Heart of Llhao,” was scheduled to be unveiled to the public. Tragically, the item has been stolen, and the university has become a crime scene investigation.
Inspect the area, gather clues and items of interest, and follow the trail to find and recover this mysterious relic of tribal legend!
This event is designed as an interactive “who-dun-it” with a decidedly Lovecraft-inspired edge.
…and, of course, a guaranteed finale to truly honour the spirit of H.P. Lovecraft’s eerie, often horrific, endings!
The Festival region sits as a suitably atmospheric town with a very definite Lovecraftian feel to it. While the centre spaces offer plenty for the shopaholic, further out one can find event venues like the Cabaret Sybarite, and other points of interest, such as the carnival and the asylum.
Not everything is on the ground, of course. Touch the doors of the Cabaret Sybarite, for example, and you’ll be teleported up to the Cabaret hall. Find your way back to the doors to return “outside”.
Entertainment will be on offer throughout the event – check the Festival’s event calendar for details, or take a look at the event board at the landing point. First up will be the Grand Opening Dark Cabaret and Electro-Swing, featuring DJ Fitch Lekvoda. Of particular notes during the week is the special KittyCats Benefit Auction, which will see the Festival organisers team-up with KittyCats between 14:00 and 18:00 SLT on Wednesday, August 19th, to raise additional funds for AutCom.
On this note, it should be recognised that LoveFest is recognised by AutCom, with a member of their board actively involved in running the Festival, and that to date, all of the festival’s vendor fees, as well on-site donations at the festival, have gone straight to AutCom’s coffers, helping them in their campaign to increase awareness and education concerning Autism Spectrum conditions.
For those who like their Lovecraft live, Virginia will be hosting dramatic readings on Monday August 17th (12:00 noon-14:00 SLT) and on Wednesday 19th (18:00-20:00). Karaoke, cabaret sets, dancing, and even seven seas fishing, will all be taking place through the week. The official programme of activities will sign-off between 20:00 and 23:00 on Saturday, August 22nd, bringing things full circle as DJ Fitch Lekvoda spins the tunes once more at the Cabaret Sybarite.
So, if you fancy a bit of a spooky time or wish to immerse yourself in an atmosphere filled with Lovecraft or are simply feeling a little Cthulhu deprived, why not hop on over? Just remember, the great man will be watching everything that goes on…
Strange things can happen in pawn shops – as you’ll find out, should you opt to complete The Collection
MadPea recently launched their latest interactive, grid-wide game in Second Life. I actually had the opportunity to preview it ahead of the launch, but things in the physical world were a little higgledy-piggledy, and I had to bail-out after just 15 or so minutes – once again, apologies to Kess and Kiana. So here, somewhat belatedly, is a look at the game and a peek at one of the prizes.
The Collection, which runs through until September 30th, 2015, continues MadPea’s tradition of interactive point-and-click adventures (note this isn’t a hunt in the usual sense), and, as ever, there are some fabulous prizes on offer for those who follow the clues and uncover the mystery.
To describe the game, I’ll simply borrow from MadPea’s own press on The Collection:
Just as you were about to start your well deserved summer vacation, you receive a Notification of Death letter. Your distant grandfather has sadly passed away and he made YOU as his sole heir. As you arrive to the town of Parkchester to collect your inheritance, you realise that your grandfather was a man of many secrets.
All of grandfather’s belongings will be yours, he only has one wish: you need to finish his Collection.
Suddenly you find yourself in the middle of an unsolved old Victorian mystery. Following the footsteps of a Polish maid you embark on a journey, completing grandfather’s Collection, that piece by piece brings you closer to finding out the horrific truth.
As is usual for MadPea, the game is HUD-based, and there are comprehensive instructions on how to play available on the MadPea blog, complete with rules and other notes – so please be sure to read-up there before joining the game.
Like UNIA, MadPea’s richly immersive game (see my review here), those joining The Collection have the choice of purchasing one of three passes to enter the game. All three – Bronze (L$100), Silver (L$300) and gold (L$800) offer the same standard HUD and game play, but the Silver pass offers 12 additional prizes not available to Bronze pass members, while the Gold pass offers a special game play outfit, an alternative ending to the story, the Silver prizes and 14 phenomenal Gold prizes, including the MadPea Bandit designed by Analyse Dean (shown under full sail below). You can also see more prizes listed on the MadPea blog.
The MadPea Bandit (shown here with a weathered look), designed and built by Analyse Dean, is one of the special Gold prizes on offer in The Collection (image by: Analyse Dean; post-processed by: Inara Pey)
The Collection is Experience Key driven, so once you have purchased and attached a HUD, it is essential you grant it the permissions it requests to offer you a seamless game-play, and in order for you to actually participate in the game. Removing the HUD will store your progress and revoke all permissions granted.
Unfortunately, some locations you’ll visit as a part of your adventure have not allowed the Experience to run on their lands. In these instances, you’ll be asked to allow attachments via the usual dialogue box(es) – do make sure you accept.
While things start off innocently enough – a visit to your late Grandfather’s flat – the adventure starts to take a turn once you’ve reached his pawn shop. It is here that you find out more about the mysterious collection, which has a decidedly musical flavour, and also experience the first indications that everything isn’t quite as it might seem.
Parkchester: home to your late grandfather and his pawn shop – and the start of your adventure as you strive to complete The Collection
I’m not about to discuss where you go from here, partly because it would spoil the fun, but mostly because I, um, haven’t actually had time to play The Collection myself! However, it is important to remember that this is a point-and-click adventure. Clues will direct you to places, but it’s up to you to investigate, locate, and use / collect whatever you’re being directed towards. Also keep an eye on local chat – there may well be clues appearing there from time-to-time.
Be aware that The Collection is in keeping with many of MadPea’s games, and features activities and situations which some may find disturbing; so again, do please read the information on MadPea’s blog ahead of joining. And if you do encounter particular issues with game play, help can be sought through the MadPea group chat – just please don’t give out answers to clues or SLurls, etc!
Down in the basement of grandfather’s shop. What clues await …?
Don’t forget, as well, that pictures you take as a part of your involvement in The Collection can be uploaded to the MadPea Flickr pool, where they might win you a L$500 MadPea gift card if one is selected at the MadPea picture of the week.
So if it’s not too late, and you’re already half-way through The Collection, happy clue-solving!
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 