Bay City Post, December 2015

WELCOME to the Fifty-First issue of the Bay City Post! - Keeping you updated on the best city on the grid.



TIS THE SEASON

It's that merry and bright time of year, when Bay City holds its annual tree lighting and silent auction, as well as the lighted boat parade and skate party, the prim drop, and so much more!

The tree lighting will be on Sunday, the 13th of December from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. SLT, as the Bay City Fairgrounds in the North Channel region. We'll have music from DJ GoSpeed Racer (she'll also DJ at the skate party), Christov Kohnke, and Grace McDunnough.

We'll also be doing fundraising for Child's Play again. As you likely already know, they're a 501c3 non profit organization offers online communities such as ours an opportunity to help seriously ill children around the globe during their hospital stays with the purchase of games and gaming equipment.  We've provided a lot for them over time, even donating US$1,675.00 to them over the last year.

We'll have the silent auction again, of course, Many have already donated goodies for the event, and I hope folks will come out and be a part! Even if you can't make it, there will be donation bins at the fairgrounds for the month -- and some at the bay City Activity Center too: read about that in Dakota's column this month!

However you choose to celebrate, have a great holiday!

Sunny Salutations   \o/

Marianne McCann, Interim Editor

All that, and yet moar!      


Important





Please be careful with fire around your Christmas trees!




Special thanks to Toxic Taco for this important demonstration!

   

Bay City Post - November 2015

WELCOME to the Fiftieth issue of the Bay City Post! - Keeping you updated on the best city on the grid.

THE BIG FIVE-OH

Wow! Issue 50! Who'd have ever seen THAT happening?

It's at last Autumn, even if my television wants to push me into Christmas already! Go away, retailers, you bother me!

Second Life, too, seems to move into the holidays in high gear, but me, I'll enjoy the crisp air and the crunch of autumn leaves.

And I hope you enjoy the November issue of the Post!

Sunny Salutations   \o/

Marianne McCann, Interim Editor

~*~

IN THIS ISSUE


All that... and... some other stuff, I think.      

*****

BREAKING BREAKING BREAKING


Toxic Taco might have ordered just a bit too much hot sauce this time...







(Thanx to Pygar Bu for the pix!)

*****    

Page 2 Editorial: "On The Move"


As mentioned last month, ADudeNamed Anthony has an automated street sweeper plying the streets of Bay City. Since last issue he has added a taxi and a mail truck to the automated vehicles on our roads. He is also working on a vintage bus to add to the fleet.





Automated vehicles has a long history in Second Life, from the Kissling Telehopper and the Great Second Life Railway, the Lost Lakes balloon tour, and even the LDPW-made conveyances in Bay City.

Over the last few years, too, another member had created an innovative but often disliked system of vehicles that created their own path on the grid. That user has apparently recently left Second Life as well.

I personally am delighted by the addition of Anthony's vehicles to the roads. They definitely add some color and movement to our streets. That might surprise some folks, given I was not a fan of that other members -- but I never disliked those for being cars on roads (though some of the vehicles left much to be desired) -- but for the vehicles being user unfriendly.

What makes Anthony's different from those (and more in line with the Bay City LDPW one or others named above) is that they use a set path to make their way around, rather than trying to create their own paths along Linden Roads. That can cause vehicles to get stuck, to weave, and otherwise cause troubles. Anthony's are also full phantom, meaning you will not get struck by any of them -- and therefore no insurance claims!

If you're lucky, too, you can catch a ride in these. Give them a try.





*****

WEATHER REPORT:


The weather was in the mid 80s on October 21st. The Mid-1980s that is. We all went back... TO THE FUTURE!




*****


Bay City Post - October 2015

WELCOME to the Forty-ninth issue of the Bay City Post! - Keeping you updated on the best city on the grid.

Scary Stuff!

It's October, and here's the post!

Bay City is one of the few places to have spooky sights year round. Check out the Asylum in South Channel, or the Falmouth Hotel in Falmouth, for wall-to-wall spooks on Hallowe'en or any day!

Also, check out the hay maze for some more general rated spooks: the hay maze may not have a lot of blood and gore like some other places, but it's still got plenty of spooks and things that go bump in the night for those who enjoy their scares without it being a Grand Guignol presentation.

Anyway, enough chatter... it's the POST!

Sunny Salutations   \o/

Marianne McCann, Interim Editor

~*~

IN THIS ISSUE



All that... and... MOAR.      

*****

BREAKING BREAKING BREAKING


UFOs spotted over the westside! Attempts to communicate unsuccessful.



"Klaatu Barada... necktie" received no response.

*****


BAY CITY BECOMES "HAY CITY"

Annual autumnal hay maze offers fun, spooks.



Bay City is hosting its fifth annual Hallowe'en Hay Maze in the Bay City Fairgrounds in the North Channel Region. The space will welcome people from all over the grid to explore a traditional autumn hay maze filled with critters and spooky effects.

The Hay Maze was built by Marianne McCann, with landscaping by Pygar Bu and assistance from Kriss Lehmann of Botanical and the Linden Department of Public works, Enjoy a fun, spooky trek through the maze, and avoid the ghosts, rats, and giant spiders along the way!

After completing the maze, Bay City also welcome you to check out a couple of our permanent locations with a scary flair: the Channel Island Asylum and the Falmouth Hotel. You'll find signs pointing the way after you exit the maze.


*****

HOT BAY CITY NIGHTS A SUCCESS!

Event includes the crowning of new Miss Bay City, Belle Mistwallow



Bay City's Annual Hot Bay City night event concluded with L$60,000 raised for charity, a new Miss Bay City, and a great weeklong event. The latest person to be crowned was Belle Mistwallow. Runners up were Ayame Kintsugi (Zombiegal Resident), Micha (MichaMoz Resident), Cinder Roxley, and Wellington Beam

The event was initially delayed due to health issues and other concerns, but this did not stop the show from going on. Stepping up to build the venue this time out was ADudeNamed Anthony, who did a stellar job with the area. He also was one of the car vendors, and provided a brand-new mesh 1961 2Zoetic Panther to our new Miss Bay City.





A big thank you to all who played a part in the event, including Priscilla Cox and Rachel Seelowe for organizing car washes, Pygar Bu for Emceeing the Miss Bay City event, and ADudeNamed Anthony, Kinnaird (Resident), Marianne McCann, and Evola Courtois for judging contestants.

*****    

Page 2 Editorial: "Resurgance"



I've been around Bay City since the first auctions. As a result, I've seen the city through a lot of ups and downs. The days when people were making horrific, bloody, physical grief-ish displays on their parcels in order to force sales of land, for example.

We've faced painful losses and other maladies that have at times shook our city to the core. We have also experienced great highs here. Some of my happiest SL moments were a direct result of Bay City.

Indeed, the city has its ebbs and flows, and I am pleased to say that we're in the midst of the former. While we are not without some issues -- the amount of open land on the westside, or whatever has been going on in Bay City - Sconset, for example -- the city is thriving.

Our city, in the last few months, has gained some great new residents, who are making this city even greater. Take for example, Bay City - Truro, even stretching now into Bay City - Barnstable. What was once empty and unattractive is now home to some great, places to RP and enjoy led by Bay City Residents new and old. Or consider Bay City - Falconmoon and the new hedge maze located there by Belle Mistwallow.

As they create great things, they potentially  inspire neighbors to do the same, and encourage other great folks to join Bay City.

It's great to see the city thrive and reach new heights, and wonderful to see new friends enter the fold!


*****

WEATHER REPORT:


Local dopper radar spots flurries of Tacos outside Toxic Taco in Bay City - Sandwich. 



Somehow the scene lacks explosives.



That's more like it!



*****


Bay City Post - August 2015

WELCOME to the Forty-eighth issue of the Bay City Post! - Keeping you updated on the best city on the grid.


Where have you been?

Well, so I intended a June issue. Oh yes, and July. And August was going to be a lot closer to the first too. But then things happened.

What things?

We had the big Bay City anniversary event, which was a blast. Some amazing performers, some cool art, and a ton of fun at the parade and live music event was had by all. 

Then of course SL12B, the big birthday event for Second Life. I was co-lead on that. It was a lot of time and work. Oh yes, and Bay City had a super pavilion built by myself, ADudeNamed Anthony and Pygar Bu. Amongst other things.

There was also Camp HardKnock, which was kinda a getaway for me. So that was good.

Oh, and I did things like manage the chat for the June round of the Arcade (the September one is coming too!), assisted on set up for Collabor88 (I do this every month on the 6th), did sets, props, and extra-wrangling for Draxtor Despres on The Drax Files: World Makers, and had more than a few other things.

Then first life stuff, including a ton of stuff with my family.

Where was I? Oh yes. The Bay City Post. So... I ran behind. I apologize, and will try to do better! That's gonna be why some of the stuff in this issue might feel a bit past-due -- but I hope you enjoy it none the less!

Sunny Salutations   \o/

Marianne McCann, Interim Editor

~*~

IN THIS ISSUE



All that... and... MOAR.      

*****

BREAKING BREAKING BREAKING


Dinosaur escapes from Paleo Quest, gets into the "Jurassic Tapas" plate at Toxic Taco



Watch for "Dino droppings" in the area!    

*****    

Page 2 Editorial: "Setting Land 'not for sale'


Since Bay City's earliest days, land in the city has commanded a premium. Triple digit prices are a commonplace occurance here, with people attracted to the theme, the double prim allotment, the prestige of the area, or just our humble community.

This has made Bay City popular with land barons and flippers since the very first auction, with parcels then going from L$100,000 to upwards of L$300,000 in just a couple days. The downside of this rampant speculation led the market to quickly our-price anyone but land speculators, leaving Bay City empty but for "For Sell" signs.

This is still the situation in Bay City today, particularly in the westside. There are a great number of parcels with hefty price tags. These same parcels are for sale for days, weeks, and months -- with no buyers.

In First Life, the notion of supply and demand takes cane of this in no time. If you can't sell something for a high price, you drop your price until it does. 

The same market forces don't seem to be in effect in Bay City, where people will just keep parcels at high prices regardless of the market. Meanwhile, people who might otherwise come to Bay City and make something great are left out, priced out by purchase prices well beyond many's means.

Tome, this means that the land is really set "not for sale.' It's not how you attract a buyer and get out from under the land.     

*****

BREAKING NEWS


The Supreme Court of Second Life ruling hands down landmark decision!



Same-Sex Mole-age now legal in Second Life   

*****    

How have things been at Toxic Taco?




Their "Sinko De Mayo" celebration did not quite go off as expected




Also, they faced a bit of shrapnel from the demolition of the SL12B cake


*****



Bay City Post - May 2015

WELCOME to the Forty-Seventh issue of the Bay City Post! - Keeping you updated on the best city on the grid.

May Day! May Day!

Spring has sprung, and it's time for the Post!

We've through off the shackles of old man Winter, and the flowers are in bloom -- and here in Bay City, we're getting ready for the big event, our anniversary! Read more about that just below!

Here's to a great time, and I hope you have fun reading the paper!

Sunny Salutations   \o/

Marianne McCann, Interim Editor


~*~

IN THIS ISSUE


All that... and... well, pretty much that.

     *****

BAY CITY CELEBRATES 7TH ANNIVERSARY

Mainland Community Celebrates with Parade, Live Music



Bay City, the first project of the "Linden Department of Public Works," is entering it's 7th year as part of Second Life. To Celebrate, Residents and friends of the popular mainland community will host their annual parade as well as a live music event.

Anniversary participants are asked to gather at noon SLT/PDT on Sunday, the 17th of May, to lineup for the parade at the bandshell in Bay City - Harwich. The parade will make its way down Route 66 beginning at 12:30 p.m. SLT/PDT, concluding at the Bay City Fairgrounds in the North Channel region.

A live concert will kick off at 1:30 p.m. SLT/PDT at the Bay City Fairgrounds, featuring a trio of live acts as well as DJ Marx Dudek providing music leading into the event. 

All Residents of the Second Life grid are welcomed to participate. Celebration goods are available at the Bay City Community Center, in the Daley Bay region, for those who wish to be a part of the parade, and ample viewing area is provided. The music event is also open to all who desire to attend -- not only Residents of Bay City



     *****

Page 2 Editorial: The Second Life Seasons

Seasons are always funny things in Second Life. Aside from us being part of a global community where all sorts of weather is being experienced outside of our world, there are some truisms about the Second Life seasons that tell more about humans than about the weather.

So while May might be when Spring is kicking into high gear for many on the grid (or Autumnal weather for our down-under Residents), Spring in Second Life started sometime in January as people decided they'd had quite enough of the winter weather.

Indeed, it's largely already Summer in SL, and will likely remain so until around mid-August, when it becomes Autumn. No, actually it becomes Hallowe'en season. 

That'll last until, oh, the 20th of October or so (You'd think the 31st, but no). At that point, it becomes Christmas season, and we start 'round once again.

I'm not complaining about this, as much as it might sound like I am. If anything, I find it funny how we shape the seasons in a world where we're allowed such power. 

     *****

BREAKING BREAKING BREAKING

Things are getting downright nuclear at Toxic Taco!


I knew this "ghost pepper" craze would lead to bad things!

     *****

Bay City Post - April 2015

WELCOME to the Forty-Sixth issue of the Bay City Post! - Keeping you updated on the best city on the grid.

No Foolin'

Welcome to the April issue of The Bay City Post!

As I write this, we've recently had a day of celebrations in the memory and in honor of the founder of this here paper, Ever Dreamscape. I think it was cathartic for many of us.

And yes, it is apt that her birthday was the 1st of April, aka April Fool's Day. 

I personally got  a bit hot and cold on April Fool's. Like I like a good jest, and always marvel at the fun Google doo-dads or Think Geek products that come out on the first -- but I also cringe at the pranks and meanspirited jests.

If it were up to me, I'd see April Fool's become a day where we make fun of ourselves, where we don't take ourselves nearly as serious as the other 364 days of the year., rather than it be a day where we all claim to be wittier than normal, at the sake of those we turn into fools. Make yourself the victim, as it were!

Anyway, this ain't the editorial page -- enjoy this issue, okay?

Sunny Salutations   \o/


Marianne McCann, Interim Editor


~*~

IN THIS ISSUE





All that... and maybe a couple other things.


     *****

BREAKING BREAKING BREAKING


Toxic Taco faces a drive by Clowning!









I always heard the food tasted funny, but this is ridiculous!


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Page 2 Editorial: Memory


A friend of mine recently toured Bay City, and write about a few of her experiences on the SL feeds, commenting about the sense of place to be had in our Fair City. One thing in particular stuck me when she talked about the memorials she found in Bay City, including that to Hyper Mole in Hairy Hippo Fun Land. We also have a memorial to BlueGin Yifu and to Ever Dreamscape, as well as other personal and public memorials of real and fantastical residents (Sir Mole, anyone?)

The inclusion of such things sends a big message, though. This isn't just a preprogrammed game world we inhabit, but a place where -- much like out first lives -- we create experiences.

The most obvious way we do that is with our buildings and other virtual builds -- but it is more than that. We share our times here, we experience the world together. We see the highs and lows, and take part in those moments we hold dear.

Sometimes one of our friends passes on, and that voice is lost. It is in these moments we see the true strength of a community, as it shares in its grief, supports those left behind, and continues to grow in spite of the pain. 

In Bay City, we erect monuments to those we've lost in this virtual space -- and I think that's a good thing. It shows that, underneath our mesh and textures, we are human after all. 


     *****

NEW POST BOXES





New Bay City Post newspaper boxes are now available. They're meshy, they're less LI, they fit our theme era, and they're free!


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Bay City Post - March 2015

March 2015                                                Issue #45


***************************************************


WELCOME to the Forty-Fifth issue of the Bay City Post! - Keeping you updated on the best city on the grid.

Marching On


I like March. This is when you start to see Winter’s icy grip recede at last, and Spring being to once again take hold. It’s a time, for me, of promise and hope. 
It’s when we start our Spring Cleaning, and in the virtual, the same hold true. Some are still snowbound, and Second Life is where they are getting some extra time to attend to their lands – or for some, this has been time to sort inventory in the wake of the Arcade gacha onslaught. As I live in a warm clime in first life, I’ll let you guess which of those two camps is mine.
Our Fair City has recently seen a certain amount of undesired drama, which I will let Kinnaird talk about below. She’s got a Guest Editorial down below. While I think some of the issues have subsided -- for now -- this is still some good reading.
The Big News this month? Uccie has a big interview with the Head Moletivator himself, Michael Linden. Learn a bit of Bay City history, and find out what he’s enjoying lately in our world!
Oh, and one last thing: my humble thanks to all who put together and came out for my 9th rez day recently. It meant a lot to me, and you have my thanks!

Sunny Salutations   \o/


Marianne McCann, Interim Editor


~*~

IN THIS ISSUE




All that... and the best fish wrap available this side of the Ahern Welcome Area!


     *****


BREAKING BREAKING BREAKING

Sylvia Tamalyn's Rez Day got a bit out of hand, leading to an explosive situation at the Toxic Taco!




...just how many candles is it this time?


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Page 2 Editorial: Guest Editorial by Kinnaird

(Originally planned for the blotter page, but presented here instead!)


For a week or so now, in preparation for writing my police and fire blotter for The Post, I’ve gone through my normal routine of checking the feed for madness and mayhem, going through Bay City chat excerpts, adding in tidbits that people IM me throughout the month. But the recent issues surrounding police role-play (RP) in our fair city have been weighing on my mind. So, rather than my usual reporting of things like Cupid being arrested just prior to Valentine’s Day, or watching paint dry on the pumping station, or newlyweds joy-riding on the lollercoaster before ending up in the Bay, I’ll tell you what’s been on my mind regarding police RP.

Almost exactly a year ago, I put up a police station in Edgartown. Ever Dreamscape and I had hatched some ideas about Etv episodes, and in an offhand remark, I mentioned that we needed somewhere to stage some arrests. Pygar Bu designed and built the station for me, based on one from 1950’s Chicago, the era of Bay City. He even added in a secret passageway to the trolley so Ever could break out of jail. A few weeks later, she was gone, before she’d ever had the chance to stage her great escape on camera.

Soon after that, several individuals started role-playing police with regularity in the city, and in the fall, there was a Bay City Alliance meeting at my station to discuss the history of police RP in Bay City in light of some current issues. There was a lot of dissent, mostly regarding staying within the vintage era of the City, and in the end, what we came away with was “except on private parcels, no police RP for now.” Despite that, more stations cropped up over time, and the frequency of the RP citywide increased. Then, this past week, there were reports of Gridwide Airways dropping service to Hau Koda based on alleged harassment by one of our RP officers. 

Bay City is not Harrison, or any other similar urban region set up for RP. It is not a private region where anyone who enters it does so knowing that it is strictly a RP region, and you either agree to RP throughout, or must wear an Out of Character tag while visiting. There is a huge difference between staging scenes on your own property and patrolling around Bay City in a vehicle that marks you as representing the city in some official capacity. Even if you don’t interact while on patrol, the simple act of driving around in what looks like official capacity forces your RP on people who did not consent to it. 

When I visit a sim set up for role-play, whether it is urban, or sci-fi, or Harry Potter for that matter, I expect two things: one - that I need to either be in character or make it clear with a tag that I’m not, and two -that I need to respect the theme. Merely by entering the sim, I am consenting to RP. That type of consent is not what is happening in Bay City at the moment, because the majority of those who own or rent here did not do so with the foreknowledge that they would be “policed.” 

IRL, I have police officers in my immediate family and close circle of friends. I respect those who have chosen that profession, and the work that they do in their communities. I know most of the avatars who RP that profession in Bay City as well, and think that they are good people who love our City. I can even overlook the non-vintage police buildings and vehicles that they use. *wink* What I can’t overlook is the fact that people are being pulled into police RP without their consent. It’s enough when there have been complaints within the city about the RP, but this has now gone beyond the city limits. RP on private parcels, with consent of all involved? I’m all for it, and will even offer to fly in the Etv helicopter to film it. But for citywide patrols and policing, that consent has not been given. We need to respect all of our citizens, including the vast majority who have not been given the option to “opt out”.  There IS no officially sanctioned police force in Bay City, in any configuration. And that’s the bottom, thin blue, line.


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THIS JUST IN




Beatniks leave mess at The Pen!

Wait, that's not news. 

Beatniks *clean up* mess at The Pen.

That's more like it!

     *****


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