Running now through until January 1sts 2019 is the 2019 Survivors of Suicide Christmas Fair, an event that serves as a both fund-raiser for the group, and to mark its anniversary.
Founded in December 2008, Survivors of Suicide (SOS) is the longest running support group of its kind in Second Life. A a peer to peer support group, it is dedicated to helping those who have been impacted by depression, thoughts of suicide, or who have attempted suicide or have lost someone to suicide. The group offers support and a safe platform for Second Life residents through weekly activities at their in-world headquarters, one to one support, mentorship, and via group chat.
The 2019 Christmas Fair features:
40+ merchants and designers, each offering at least one item with 100% of sales proceeds going to Survivors of Suicide.
A photo contest with prizes by The Bearded Guy and Paper Sparrow.
Raffles.
Live entertainment and DJs.
Donation kiosks.
Survivors of Suicide 2019 Christmas Fair – the meeting place (l), two of the photo contest boards and the entertainment stage and dance area
The schedule of entertainment for the event can be found at the Survivors of Suicide Information Kiosk in the event’s shopping area, and also via the group’s event calendar. The information kiosk also provides details on the photo contest, as do the photo contest boards located around the entertainment area.
As Christmas can be an especially stressful period for many, the Christmas Fair includes an Information Gazebo, located between the shopping and entertainments areas of the event. This provides self-help guides to those who many want to take advantage of them. For those who may want more direct help, Survivors of Suicide mentors will be available at the Fair, and there is a special meeting area with chairs and an open-air fire for those who would like to meet and talk, while the Survivors of Suicide headquarters will be open throughout the holiday.
The holiday period commences at the weekend, and to mark the end of the 2019 working year, Linden Lab has once again issued a challenge to Second Life users to join them in the Winter Wonderland for a snowball fight that will take place on Friday, December 20th.
Get your warm clothes and throwing arms ready – it’s time for a Lindens and Residents snowball fight! This Snowball Showdown means you’re free to pelt your fellow Second Life Residents and Lindens with a bevy of sparkling snowballs- launched fresh from the snow-arsenal available at the arena.
This year there will be two fight sessions, the first between 10:00 and 11:00 SLT, and the second between 14:00 and 15:00.
As with previous years, the challenge will be played out in the two regions of the snowball fight arena in the Winter Wonderland. Weapons can be obtained at the entrances to the Snowball Arena, one of which I’ve linked to in the above SLurl. Just touch the weapons vendor for a HUD. By default, users have a choice of a Snow Pistol or Snow Rifle. However, Premium members can claim their 2019 Winter Premium Gift and get a Token to obtain a SnowZooka.
Collect your weapons at the vendors in the Snowball Arena.
For those who may not have previously visited the Winter Wonderland, the location also includes a winter snow track for snowboard and snow mobile racing, a skating ring, a Ferris wheel, and spaces to walk as well as the snowball arena and the village – so lots to enjoy.
The Dickens Project 2019: the Museum of Dickens Projects Past, the Dickens Library and the Listening Room
It’s time to highlight another week of storytelling in Voice by the staff and volunteers at the Seanchai Library. As always, all times SLT, and this week’s events are all held at The Dickens Project, where Monday through Friday form Carol Week, in which the entire tale of A Christmas Carol is told over successive days at times suitable for most audiences.. What’s more, this year presents a special additional presentation of two parts of the tale featuring a very special guest!
Sunday, December 15th
11:30 – Wald Schridde, Live from Dickens Square: Wald plays a selection of folks songs and music from the British Isles that could have been familiar to those in Dickens’ time.
13:00 – Tea-time with Charles Dickens in Dickens Square: VT Torvalar, Da5id Abbot, and Caledonia Skytower present selections from Little Dorrit, Oliver Twist and the short story The Poor Relation.
14:00-16:00 Fantasy Faire Radio Presents Rock from Dickens Square: DJ Elrik Merlin spins classic rock-n-roll from both sides of the Atlantic.
Carol Week, December 16th-20th
Monday, December 16th – Stave One: Marley’s Ghost:
14:00: VT Torvalar, Da5id Abbot, and Caledonia Skytower.
19:00: Aoife Lorefield, Corwyn Allen, and Kayden Oconnell.
Tuesday, December 17th –Stave Two – The First of Three Spirits:
14:00: Dubhna Rhiadra, Corwyn Allen, and Faerie Maven-Pralou.
19:00: Corwyn Allen, Gloriana Maertens, and Caledonia Skytower.
Wednesday, December 18th: Stave Three – The Second of Three Spirits:
14:00: Aoife Lorefield, Da5id Abbot, and Dubhna Rhiadra.
19:00: Kayden Oconnell, Gloriana Maertens, and Caledonia Skytower.
Thursday, December 19th: Staves Four & Five – The Last of the Spirits & The End of It:
14:00: Aoife Lorefield, Da5id Abbot, and Dubhna Rhiadra.
15:00: Kayden Oconnell, Gloriana Maertens, and Caledonia Skytower.
Friday, December 20th: Special Encore of The Last of the Spirits & The End of It:
12:45: the WOOTMAS cheer of the Raglan Shire Carollers.
13:00: Aoife Lorefield, Caledonia Skytower, and special guest Patch Linden.
18:30: Misfit Dance & Performance Arts SL present A Very Misfit Christmas.
Saturday, December 21st
10:00: The Community Virtual Library hosts a Resource Centre tour for The Science Circle.
11:00: Misfit Dance & Performance Arts SL present A Very Misfit Christmas.
13:45: The WOOTMAS cheer of the Raglan Shire Carollers at the Opera House.
14:00-16:00: Fezziwig’s Ball at the Opera House with DJ Dano Bookmite.
Sunday, December 22nd
11:00: Wald Schridde Live at The Dickens Project.
12:00-15:30 – THE BIG READ – all five staves of A Christmas Carol in a single sitting!
Please check with the Seanchai Library’s blog for updates and for additions or changes to the week’s schedule.
The end-of-year Shop and Hop event, organised by Linden Lab, opened it doors on Friday, December 13th, 2019 at 09:00 SLT.
This year sees 120 content creators participating in the event, offering a minimum 20% discount on items and a free, non-group gift on offer to all shoppers (look for the Shop and Hop gift box). In addition, some merchants are offering additional gifts and freebies of their own.
Unsurprisingly, avatar fashion, accessories and wearables (hair, skins, make-up, hats, etc), dominate the event, while scattered throughout are indoor and outdoor furnishings, buildings and skyboxes,
For 2019, stores are spread across six regions – one up from 2019, comprising: Aurelian, Gilded, Gleaming, Golden, Halycon, and Tinseled. All of the shopping regions are bordered north and south by “overspill” regions. Should the region you’re attempting to reach be full, you may be redirected to one of the two landing areas for that region, where you’ll be greeted by the message:
Sorry, but you are in an overflow region. Feel free to cam around and window shop while you wait for a space to be available.
Shop and Hop will remain open through until Monday, January 6th, 2020, so shoppers will hopefully have time to explore, by their gifts (or treat themselves!).
The 2019 Team Diabetes of Second Life Winter Showcase event is currently open through until Saturday, December 14th. As with previous years, the event includes live performers, DJs, concerts, tribute acts, hunts, ice skating, and, of course the Winter Showcase and the Kultivate Winter Art show. All of which is to raise money for the American Diabetes Association (ADA), through Team Diabetes of Second Life, ADA’s official and authorised in-world fund-raising team.
As is traditional for the event, it occupies one half of the Kultivate Magazine home region, with the Showcase shops for merchants and artists boutique style galleries built around the central events and activities area.
The merchants participating in the event comprise: Kiliki Bikini, !!Firelight!!, chiffon,Christmas Delights, Couture Chapeau, Epicine, GalleryOne, HJM Designs, ikr, Jyst imagine by Vita Theas, Kalani’s Designs, Kitty Creations, Kittycat’s Creations, LC Fashion, Lissa’s Licks, Lunar Seasonal Designs, Mahlberg Tailors, Mara’s Mysteries,MMP – Muircastle Motors & Parts, Park Place Home, Potomac Signature Homes, Sassy Brats, Shylas Creation, Simply Shelby, trawberry Gashes, SynCo, Team Diabetes Shop, TORN, TYLAR’S TREASURES, and Xplicit Designs.
Merchants are each offering at least one item among their displays with 100% of proceeds from sales going directly to Team Diabetes of Second Life.
Team Diabetes 2019 Winter Showcase
The full shopping guide can be found on the Team Diabetes of Second Life website.
The artists participating in the art show are: Anders Franizzi, DreamMakerXDreamBreaker Resident, ettalaineteichmano Resident, Eucalyptus Carroll, Hadiya Draper, ilyra chardin, IsarValdetaro Resident, Isis Desmoulins, Jamee Sandalwood, johannes1977 Resident, Judilynn India, lena kopiak, Moora McMillan, MTH63 Resident, Myra Wildmist, paineful, Sheba Blitz, Teresa Firelight, Veruca Tammas, & wintergeist.
All artists are also offering at least one item of art for sale with 100% of preoceeds going to Team Diabetes of Second Life.
In addition to the shopping and art, the event features two hunts with prizes to be claimed:
2019 Reindeer Hunt Information: this is an open hunt with tiny reindeer scattered throughout the 2019 Winter Showcase, in stores and in art displays. Find each reindeer and pay L$10 to receive a prize. 100% proceeds of the hunt goes to Team Diabetes of Second Life.
Santa Quest: purchase a HUD for L$250 from the kiosk near the landing point and help put Santa together again! Find the pieces, put things together and claim 16 prizes.
There is also daily entertainment through the event, with the remain days comprising:
Tuesday, December 10, 2019, 16:00-17:00: the Ugly Sweater Party with DJ John & L$1000 Gift Card Giveaway.
Wednesday, December 11, 2019, 16:00-17:00: DJ Vee & Ice Skating Party with L$1000 Gift Card Giveaway.
Established in 1940, the American Diabetes Association is working to both prevent and cure diabetes in all it forms, and to help improve the lives of all those affected by diabetes. It does this by providing objective and credible information and resources about diabetes to communities, and funding research into ways and means of both managing and curing the illness. In addition, the Association gives voice to those denied their rights as a consequence of being affected by diabetes.
About Team Diabetes of Second life
Team Diabetes of Second Life is an official and authorised fund-raiser for the American Diabetes Association in Second Life. Established with the aim of raising funds in support of diabetes treatment and to raise awareness of the disease in SL, Team Diabetes of Second Life was founded by Jessi2009 Warrhol and John Brianna (Johannes1977 Resident), who serve on the Advisory Board along with Eleseren Brianna, Veruca Tammas, Rob Fenwitch, and Dawnbeam Dreamscape.
It’s time to highlight another week of storytelling in Voice by the staff and volunteers at the Seanchai Library. As always, all times SLT, and events are held at the Library’s home, unless otherwise indicated.
Monday, December 9th 19:00: Grey from The Wizard of London
Gyro Muggin’s reads an extract from Mercedes Lackey’s The Wizard of London, the 4th volume in the Elemental Masters series.
Set in a Victorian London where magic is real and Elemental Masters control the powers of Fire, Water, Air, and Earth, the novel follows Lord Alderscroft, Master of the British Elemental Masters Council-the most powerful Fire Master ever to lead the Council. Loosely based on The Snow Queen, The Wizard of London delves into Lord Alderscroft’s youth, when he was bespelled by an evil Elemental Master who hoped to use him for political gain.
In Grey, Sarah Jane is sent from her home in Africa to school in London because her parents felt it would be better for her health. But given the conditions in London, however, she might have been safer in the African jungle.
Kayden Oconnell returns to the tales of sheriff Walt Longmire, reading the ninth volume of Craig Johnson’s tales about his laconic US Marine-turned-lawman protagonist.
It’s Christmas Eve, and Longmire is reading A Christmas Carol in his office when he is visited by a ghost of Christmas past: a young woman with a scar across her forehead. He doesn’t recognise her, but she clearly knows him and his predecessor, sheriff Lucian Connally, under whom Longmire started his career as a deputy sheriff in 1972.
His interest aroused, Longmire takes the the young woman to see Connally, now a resident at an Assisted Living Home. But Connally, a former US Army Air Force pilot who flew B-25 Mitchell bombers in the Second World War, fails to recognise her. This is in some ways hardly surprising, given Connally’s frequently inebriated state.
Disappointed at the two men’s reaction, the young woman whispers a single word, “Steamboat”. In doing so, she embarks on a tale that tales Longmire and Connally back to Christmas Eve 1988, when Longmire had been a deputy sheriff just two months. The holiday season had brought with it a record-breaking blizzard – and a road accident that left Longmire and the (again inebriated) Connally with no choice but to pull a B-25 out of mothballs and make a dangerous flight through the blizzard to Denver, Colorado, in order to save a life.
12:00 noon: Tea Dance (Roleplay) at the Opera House.
15:00: Pony Class – Handling Merrylegs.
19:00: Rock Crystal
Seemingly the simplest of stories—a passing anecdote of village life— Adalbert Stifter’s Rock Crystal opens up into a tale of almost unendurable suspense.
Young Conrad and his little sister, Sanna set out from their village high up in the Alps to visit their grandparents in the neighbouring valley. It is the day before Christmas but the weather is mild, though of course night falls early in December and the children are warned not to linger.
The grandparents welcome the children with presents and pack them off with kisses. Then snow begins to fall, ever more thickly and steadily. Undaunted, the children press on, only to take a wrong turn. The snow rises higher and higher, time passes: it is deep night when the sky clears and Conrad and Sanna discover themselves out on a glacier, terrifying and beautiful, the heart of the void…
With Shandon Loring, and also presented in Kitely (grid.kitely.com:8002:SEANCHAI).
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 