Epilogue

This concludes the end of this edition.

I expect the articles have captured your interest and have provided you with live changing information.

The staff, reporters and photographers of this newspaper are severely underpaid! Show your appreciation by placing (positive) comments under each article! (posting delayed and moderated)

I want to thank the reporters T.J., Qie and Dakota for their work and articles. When I asked them, they were instantly available. A big thanks to all the freelance photographers.
Without you guys this newspaper would not be here in the news-stands.

I also want to thank Roc for providing us with a place to write and throw coffee cups around. We also appreciate the free beer you gave us. Sorry about the locks and the broken typewriter. Mari did it.

Oh, before I sign off, a small information request.

I have seen someone scruffy walking around the city. He walks stately and is wearing a hat with feathers. There are no reports of him doing anything bad but I'd like to know more. Let me know. Thank you!

Reporter Vick Forcella

190406

The area around Iridium has been evacuated. The risk of a tsunami is deemed extreme due to the expected connection of the SSP regions with Sansara and Jeogeot. The distance between the SSP regions and Jeogeot is expected to be far enough not to pose any risk.

You are advised to stay away from the Iridium regions and be on the alert when visiting Jeojeot.

Profiles and Google plus

With the end of Google plus the related profiles are no longer visible. That includes some profiles, of posters, on this blog.
I can not fix this.

You can take it personally but not against me.

Reporter Vick Forcella

190404

Stay calm and act normal

Many citizens of Bay City look in fear at the map. We can see a new continent emerge between Sansara and Jeoget. With that there will be a direct connection between the two continents. Officials have stated that there is no reason to worry or to take precautionary measures. There is no threat coming from Jeogeot and the chances of something bad happening is extremely low.

North =Sansara, South = Jeogeot

As a purely precautionary measure the Sansara home guard has deployed defensive measures at the borders between Sansara and the new continent, and between Sansara and Bay City. Besides that, unknown defences are deployed at various places but officials did not reveal what those are and where.

When Bay City became a successful city, with factories and infrastructure many citizens were living in poverty. Going from day to day without a regular income squatting in sandboxes, parks and sewers.

When Jeogeot was discovered there was a program to relocate the poor and the occasional criminal to colonise Jeogeot. The people were elated with that opportunity and they went there with high hopes.

They unfortunately discovered that the lands were poor, agriculture was nearly impossible. There was no capital and economy to sustain any manufacturing. Jeogeot remained a poor continent for many years.

Occasional visits from Jeogeot colonials did not always go well. There were raids of colonials on the East side of Bay City. The civil defences of Bay City were always able to push them back and the colonials were send back to Jeogeot.

It is suggested that there is active smuggling between Jeogeot and the wealthier parts of the world. Also some claim that criminal activities in Bay City are orchestrated by the colonials.

The Jeogeot gulf harbours an immense naval force and there are plenty of combat airfields around the gulf. Jeogeot colonials like to fight with each other and are well trained in combat.

There is no evidence that Jeogeot colonials pose any direct threat to our Fair City and our way of life. Our culture would be enriched, the workforce is much needed in our factories.

In the near future a direct passage will be possible. Trade opportunities would increase and wealth could improve. Tourism could boom.

Time will tell if the Jeogeot colonials pose any thread to our way of living. We can rely on our defences to protect us if needed. New raids from the Jeogeot colonials are unlikely in these modern times. A good and peaceful passage is in both our interests.

Sansara Defences at Becalmed

There is no need to prepare for the worst. Stockpile bread and milk, cans of beans and corned beef. Clean up our life shelter, fill the water tanks with fresh water.

Bay City is far away enough not to get hit by a tsunami when the new continent is connected.

So please stay calm and act normal.

Reporter Vick Forcella

Images T.J.Hooker, Vick Forcella

190329

Warning, Ever Night!

This is a warning that in the evening/night of April the first it will be Ever Night.

Some citizens of our Fair City take this opportunity to be silly. They run around with scissors, light up explosives and do silly things.

The origin of this odd behaviour is still unknown.

Rumours talk about a crazy woman that started this tradition to celebrate her birthday, that happens to coincide with April Fools Day. Makes no sense to me, but I am just a reporter reporting as it is.

In the past several many years houses have been blown to smithereens, hospitals had to cure invasive scissors and there were fires just about everywhere.

Despite their best efforts the fire brigade wasn't able to cope with the overload of reports. Most of the buildings were a total loss and had to be rebuild.

Last year, the switchboard operator pulled out all cords and let the phones ringing. The police, just as the year before, were drinking beer. Though some have reported that officer T.J. had a case filled with explosives and joined the fools. All rumours of course. It was never proven.

If you happen to see the Ever fools, avoid any contact, stay indoors and barricade the doors. Keep a water-hose, or a fire-extinguisher, and a first-aid-kit ready.

Bolt down anything outside, benches, cat, dogs, cows, chickens, garden chairs and anything that can be moved or can take fire.

Do not join the Ever fools and do NOT (!!) set fire to your house on April the first.

Perhaps this is a good moment to give attention to our sponsor.

Be safe and don't be a Ever fool.

Reporter Vick Forcella

190327

Service announcement notice

This notice is to give notice that parts of this blog are going to be reworked.

At a time when new cities appear on the map it is important that we defend our fine city with the strongest defences possible.
For that this newspaper will adapt to the changes to become more flexible, more empowering.

I have laid down my broomstick and have got me a stack of newspaper paper that I found in the cellar. A giant jar of ink is ready to merge with the paper to become again what this newspaper has to be and always was.

The number one source of information about Bay City and it's surrounding areas. (explosions and fires included)

The current layout works good, but in time it stacks up to a hard to maintain heap of information that becomes harder and harder to update.
I will repost the side-pages as blog posts and add labels to them. When there is time I will also add labels to older posts. With that the newspaper can be read from the blog posts, category labels and author labels.

That reposting will look weird, sorry for that.

There is a good risk that comments will fall away during this process. Sorry.

New articles will be published as posts with added labels, each post one author, one category. Posts will be deferred until the editor (me, the man with the broomstick) posts them all together for one period with an editorial that binds them together as one publication.

The intention is, lower maintenance, flexibility, less dependant.

So, give me some time. When I'm done we will publish new real articles soon.

Questions etc, try my profile feed or twitter.

Thank you for noticing this notice, you noticing has been noticed.

 Vick Forcella (editor)

190325

Bay City Post - October

Halloween in Bay City!

It's October in our fair city, and that means ghosts, goblins, candy, parties!...and the always wonderful annual Hay Maze in the Fairgrounds.  Each year it seems to get bigger, better, and scarier! Stop on down and explore...but bring some friends to keep you safe!

Residents looking for other scares in Bay City can check out the two following classics, plus a brand new find:

1. Channel Island Asylum - Spooky all year long, the asylum is great old-school fun, with poses and photo-ops galore.

2. Falmouth Hotel - When you land at the hotel, you get this message, which means it is a location to find Glytches!:
"Look at the upper right corner of your screen now. If you see boxes for Glytches that you just caught, please accept them now. Don't wait! If you would like to play Tyrah and the Curse of the Magical Glytches on this parcel (and many others) you need to be wearing a HUD and a weapon for collecting Glytches. You can read more about the game Tyrah and the Curse of the Magical Glytches at this URL: https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Linden_Lab_Official:TCMG."

3. Cafe Sheree in Harwich - Zombies and giant spiders and some very...seasonal food. Check out Cafe Sheree! Then again, judging by some of the current customers, your wait for food may be a bit long...

Enjoy the fun, and make sure to check out all of the columns to the left, to see what our roving reporters have been up to this month!

X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X

BREAKING BREAKING BREAKING

Maybe it's best to skip Taco Tuesday this time...

...and maybe toxic Taco should call an exterminator!

X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X

September

September 8th, Moloch - The Bay City Police Department was called to a residential neighborhood in Moloch for a report of Grand Theft Lawn. The land owner reported several grass textured prims were taken from the property. Neighbors report seeing a moving truck driving away from the neighborhood shortly before the theft was noticed.

September 14th, Docklands - The Bay City Fire Department responded to a new resident who had stuck his head through an iron fence. Several attempts were made to remove the avatar's head from the fence, but were not successful. A conversation was overheard between the responding paramedic and the Chief of Police where the Paramedic suggested using his trade-craft to solve the problem and promising to use small stitches when re-attaching the head. The Chief responded by reminding the Paramedic that this wasn't the Shades and different methods need to be used here. Eventually, the fence was de-rendered in order to save the resident.

September 21st, Handa - Reports of a prowler in the neighborhood caused the Bay City Police Department to send several cars into the area. Officers flushed the suspect out of the derelict building nearby. After investigating, the suspect was found to simply be a week old resident who became lost in Bay City after a sim crash resulted in them being sent to the Moose Beach Infohub.

September 28th, New Port - A routine traffic stop along Route 66 turned into a car chase after the suspects refused to pull over. The chase led to the Bay City Marina at New Port, where the suspects drove down the boat ramp and crashed into the water. Officers jumped into the water and rescued the suspects. One of the officers asked the driver as they were being pulled from the water "What did you think you were driving, a Platypus?"

Reporter Thomas Hooker

repost 190325

original 170901

Uccie Interviews The Cat

There are times when you walk through Bay City at night and see some movement out of the corner of your eye, up along the rooftops. Bats, flocking after insects? Moles, working overtime? Or The Cat, prowling rooftops and robbing the rich?

You've heard of The Cat in a few police reports and maybe on my blog (http://bit.ly/2ka9xrJ). I was on the roof of the Post building and she dropped by ...

Uccie Poultry-Seale: What brought you to Second Life?

The Cat: Cat burglaring in Real Life just doesn't pay anymore. Security is tighter and many assets are digital now, so why not visit a digital world?

UP-S: What brought you to Bay City?

TC: With the prices of real estate here I figured there would be plenty to steal. Other than one bank that was ridiculously easy to knock over, it's been slim pickings.

UP-S: Everyone in Bay City seems to have a job or favorite activity. What is yours in Our Fair City?

TC: With there being very little to steal, I've had to get a day job, but you'll understand if I'm reluctant to reveal it. Let's just say that I have to get up very early, but I'm sort of rolling in dough.

UP-S: Do you spend much time outside Bay City?

TC: Oh, yes. Nova Albion, Midian City, Shermerville. Lots of nice roofs in Shermerville. The Blake Sea has some wonderful mansions on private islands.

UP-S: What advice would you give to someone looking to move to Bay City?

TC: Rent. Or the most affordable way to live in the city is to simply find an empty house and log out/in there. That's what I do. Mind you, that might be considered trespassing.

UP-S: Bay City is not like typical Mainland, of course, but what do you think of the "wild frontier" outside Bay City?

TC:  Too irregular. You case a joint one day and it is gone the next. I don't even keep landmarks any more. Car thieves are in paradise, though. It's hard to find a road without at least one car dealership.

UP-S: Do you consider your Second Life persona a "character" or a representation of who you are in Real Life?

TC: I've been told I'm quite the character, but my SL self is much younger than my RL self. The old leathers and latex just don't fit like they do in SL.

UP-S: Do you have a philosophy for Second Life?

TC: To each their own, unless I want it. Remember, cats own everything.

UP-S: What ONE thing should anyone not looking in your Profile know about you?

TC: What profile? Not even the Bay City Police have a file on me. I know. I stole it.

UP-S: Any last thoughts you'd like to add?

TC: Ban Lines are your best defense, except against The Cat. Keep your gachas in your Inventory unless you don't want them for long.

It was pure luck to talk to The Cat and now this reporter is out of luck. Do you want to be interviewed for The Post? Know someone who should be? They don't have to be criminals. Contact Uccello Poultry (Display Name varies) or Kinnaird.

Reporter Uccie Blue Galway

repost 190325

original 171210

Not-So-Big Reveals

 

Devoted avatar aficionados may know all about "Auto Alpha" (aka "auto-hide") features of many mesh bodies, but this feature is relatively new, not universal, and was added without fanfare to some models, so it's possible you could be using the feature now without realizing it, as I discovered myself.

The underlying problem addressed by Auto Alpha is the need to hide parts of the a body mesh so it won't protrude in front of surfaces such as mesh clothing. This happens with the classic avatar too, of course, and it's easily addressed with "alpha masks" that can be worn with the clothing, but mesh bodies must instead make transparent discrete swatches of surface area -- a very common use of their scripted HUDs.

Very common.

Annoyingly common.

To reduce this annoyance, the "caveman" approach -- the equivalent of bashing it with a rock -- is to make a separate copy of the mesh body (and usually the HUD, too) for each and every outfit, so the body's alpha settings can be tailored to the outfit. This requires incredible discipline, lest one ever "Save As" a new outfit based on changes to one's current outfit that include any adjustment to the body alpha.

Auto Alpha in its simplest form puts a separate attachment into the outfit, where that attachment retains all the alpha information for the outfit. Then a change of outfit changes the attachment, which fixes the alpha settings accordingly. That still encodes a full outfit's alpha settings in one attachment, but at least it's not the whole mesh avatar. So still "caveman" but with a smaller, sharper rock.

Better, though, for clothing to instruct the body mesh what to hide -- and that's possible when mesh clothing is distributed with modify permissions, so one can add the Auto Alpha script directly to the clothing. The most glorious part is that this means you can add and remove individual items of apparel again, hiding and revealing just the correct bits of skin because the mesh body just does what's right. (Well, *mostly*, because "what's right" isn't always simple, as when multiple clothing items overlap the same parts of the body.)

Some clothing comes with one or more version of these scripts, but they're instantly obsolete for customers with new mesh body brands, so it's infinitely better to have Modify permissions on the clothing, future-proofing it in case you ever replace your mesh avatar. If you find yourself with no-mod clothing, by all means contact the creator, explaining how that misfeature makes their product so worthless to the current mesh avatar market.

Ideally, the mesh avatar itself would recognize the clothing being worn and adjust itself accordingly, based on what it automatically "learns" about what parts the user hides when wearing that clothing. That's do-able but I'm not aware of any products with that functionality.

Reporter Qie Niangao

repost 190325

original 171210

October

I was out for a drive through town recently and kept experiencing difficulties. A flat tire here, ran out of gas there ... and how did that light pole jump out in front of me? Anyway, at each unexpected stop I looked around and found something interesting.

--------------------

1 - Bay City Municipal Aeroport
Hau Koda

On September 19, Linden Lab announced a grid-wide experience entitled "Tyrah and the Curse of the Magical Glytches."

In a nutshell the game has you traveling from place to place, capturing little creatures before they can cast a hilarious magical spell against you. The rewards include the accumulating of gems for redemption towards prizes or more specific activities within the game.

In our fair Bay City I know of two locations that are currently active for this experience: the airport at Hau Koda and the hotel in Falmouth.

http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Linden_Lab_Official:TCMG

--------------------

2 - Dunkin' Donuts Coffee Shop & Donut Shop
Bay City - Harwich

Last month I stumbled upon a location involved in the Life2 role-play system. Well ... I found another one: "Come hang out @ Dunkin' Donuts, your top choice destination to meet new friends & chill with old ones!! Coffee & Pastries galore!"

--------------------

3 - Einwohnermeldeamt (Registration Office)
Bay City - Argos

Some of our German residents have this canal-adjacent land dedicated to the headquarters of their "PGA group." Prominently displayed is a ferris wheel. There can also be found gacha machines, various items set for sale, and a map of their other Bay City locations.

--------------------

4 - W-Zero
Bay City - Imaginario

In this active Japanese-themed store can be found mesh clothing and costumes, along with appropriate accessories. And don't forget the gacha machines (those are so popular!).

--------------------

Until next time, happy motoring!

Reporter Deadline Dakota Schwade

repost 190325

original 171001