Star Trek Museum to Close

I am sorry to announce that unless things drastically change (like my winning the lottery) I will be closing the Star Trek Museum as of July 31, and will be giving up these islands. Its been a great nearly 4-year run, but it is time to move on. I hope you will continue to visit until then.

For a long time our house sales and donations have been inadequate to pay the huge Linden Labs bills. On top of that, Linden Labs has made it more difficult to attract people to the museum. We cannot be in the Showcase because we use copyrighted material. Our events, which brought hundreds of new visitors a week, and donations, have been disallowed, while yard sales, nude beaches, penis stores and fake contests are allowed to flourish) and it is especially difficult to sell homes with all the limitations and expense of advertising.

Without visitor donations and house sales, it is impossible to pay the bills. I have hung on as long as possible to try to save the museum, all the hard work by the staff and volunteers, and all the homes.

Besides the monetary cost of running this place, taking care of the museum, fixing and finding things, helping visitors and residents, advertising, bookkeeping, all require a huge amount of time and energy, and I cannot afford the expense or the many hours per day any longer. To be honest, I am really looking forward to having more time for my real life ;-)

To all of you who have been helpful around the museum, supported the museum with your tiers and rents, and generous with donations, you know who you are and how appreciative I am. I sincerely thank you again. To others, my only advice is to donate to the places you love in SL, or they may disappear too, as so many have.

With our home-world gone, Tsora and I will most likely be retiring to our little corner of the universe, the Vulcan colony in Eridani, and do look forward to your visits.

P.S. Although the museum per se is not for sale (we could not bear to see it taken over and changed by others), if anyone knows somebody looking to purchase a used island, either empty or including the homes, scuba, and non-museum things, please give them my name. I will pay 10% finders fee on sale of a sim. Tsora Enoch indicates she will entertain offers regarding her creations. I would just like to recoup a little of my investment.

Live Long and Prosper!
Wabisabi Matahari

The Star Trek Museum is at the TovaDok sim at (24, 212, 34)

"Second star to the right and straight on till morning..."

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Second Life Science Fiction Convention 2

From Friday January 8 to Sunday January 10, the Second Life Science Fiction Convention 2 took place. Sci-fi buffs from across Second Life to spend a little time in the four-sim event, with money raised going to the American Cancer Society. Although not quite as busy as the first Convention, there were still things to do and exhibits to see. From Star Trek to Battlestar Galactica to Doctor Who, the con drew a variety of fans.

Story continued in Community.

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Science Fiction Convention Returning to Second Life

Get your lightsabers and Vulcan ears. The SecondLife Science Fiction Convention 2 is coming to the Metaverse this weekend. And it will be raising Lindens for the American Cancer Society. So get ready to “beam” on over.

For more, go to Community.

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Shuttle Launch Broadcast in Second Life

On 8:59 PM SL time (11:59 EST) on Friday August 28, the space shuttle Discovery launched into space from Florida.Here in Second Life, the launch was broadcast live via NASA TV from the Imzadi Dry Dock in the Star Trek Museum region. A crowd of about a couple dozen gathered to watch, including Museum Director Wabisabi Matahari. With the liftoff occurring at night, the blastoff was a particularly striking view. One woman was in such a hurry to get over, She had forgotten to dress properly, and it seemed to take forever for her blouse to rez.

The Discovery is on a 13 day mission to the International Space Station. Among the supplies delivered, the C.O.L.B.E.R.T. treadmill named after a noted comedian. This is mission 128 for the space shuttle program with six more shuttle flights before the entire fleet is retired.

Bixyl Shuftan

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Second Life Sci-Fi Convention 2009

From Friday July 31st at Noon to Sunday Aug 2nd at a minute to Midnight, Second Life was the scene of a science-fiction convention. The notecard sent out advertised, “Various science-fiction based groups will be on hand or have information available to those who wish to get involved in the SL science fiction community. Some will be holding free side events. There will be science fiction-based vendors, an assortment of media, and freebies.”

The Expo as it was also called, was sponsored by Linden Labs, Spacial Audio, Duck Radio, and the IFT Alliance. Proceeds from donations and ticket sales to the special event went to the American Cancer Society. Among the people there was Ron Roddenberry, the son of late Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry.

The convention covered four sims, Platinum, Iridium, Rhodium, and Palladium. Around the walkways were various displays. Star Trek was the most represented science fiction theme, with numerous RPs and sims represented and a few Trek items on sale, including a “redshirt” uniform with numerous burn holes. But they were not the only ones. Battlestar Galactica had a booth there, as did the Firefly sim & RP. One display had the Winnabego from “Spaceballs.” One spot had a few freebies, including a “Trekopoly” game.

There were also things to do, such as a Borg combbat arena in which the infamous Trek villains would spawn and you had to shoot them with a ready weapon. There was also a much larger arena in the middle of the Expo with free weapons that could be picked up, as well as a Trek space fighter rezzer, which you could fly and fire within the confines of the space. Not everything went as planned. Occasionally, someone on the bumper cars would lag, and the car would spin out of control and barrel in a random direction out of the ride and into someone’s booth. Fortunately this being SL, no one got hurt.

There were also timed events, various lectures and discussions on Star Trek and other sci-fi, but there was also a “Search for Spock” scavenger hunt, a ship building contest, and others. There was also a special event which one needed to buy a ticket to see.

The display that was the most visually stunning was that of Digital Dynamix. The glowing color on black of the objects and the color and gray on the staff’s avatars clearly reminded one of the movie Tron. But due to Disney being touchy over copyrights and the desire for their own plotline, “We are, officially, a VR Themed Combat and Arena sim.” Jera Saphir explained, “We are not Tron, different storyline.” I was shown around the place, and was invited to get a demo disk weapon. Jera talked a little more, mentioning they got the attention of a certain celebrity, “Rod Roddenberry jumped out of the motorcade for our booth ... ‘ Cool, Tron! ‘ .”

Chatting with Wabisabi Matahari of the Trek Museum after the event, she had a few things to say. Of Ron Roddenberry’s appearance, “It was his first time here. He seemed to really enjoy it. He did not know you could build so many great things.” She told that he planned to return.

As Sunday came to a close, booth owners were asked to take down their display, and at 11PM SL time were the closing ceremonies.

“Humans are capable of so much more than we yet understand. We’re really something. Star Trek fans believe that, and so do I. For us, no limits.” - Gene Roddenberry

Bixyl Shuftan

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The USS Defiant

Recently, I was informed by the Trek Museum about a ship that was recently built, getting a Landmark to the location, and an invitation to look around. The ship in question, the USS Defiant. For those less familiar with Star Trek, the Defiant was the starship frequently used on missions in the “Deep Space Nine” series. It was smaller than the Enterprise, but was heavily armed. In Second Life, this Defiant will be the location of a Trek Roleplay.

Getting aboard and looking around, I was soon met by one lady in a gold Trek uniform and a silver collar: Donnaj Firehawk. She greeted me, and offered me a tour of the ship, starting with the transporter room, and going to the ready room, and then the room most think of with Trek ships, “This is our main Bridge. It has a changeable screen behind you, and in the front, and also an alert system.” And just after taking a picture, the ship began flashing Red Alert, “Ooops, are cameras considered a security hazard?” I asked in jest. Donnaj giggled, “We are still in the finishing touches. The Captain is anyway.” She explained the ship hadn’t been up for very long.

Donnaj showed me the Captain’s Office. The desk being neat and tidy, there wasn’t much to distinguish it, except for a small fishtank with a half-globe display set in the wall with a lionfish swimming inside. “This is Trigger,” she explained. She then showed me the brig, with a room with not much more than a bunk at one end, “Our holding cell.” With a weak field up, moving into and out was no problem. But after Donnaj strengthened it, “Now try to walk through the force field.” And indeed there was no simply walking in or out.

Going along, I noticed several pictures of avatars on the wall, some in uniform some not. I asked about them, and Donnaj told me those were of the upcoming crew, which was still incomplete. The trip went past the upper cargo room with a few containers, and led to a place familiar to Trekkers, “This is the top view of Engineering,” she pointed to a group of four columns lit up in pulsating blue light, ”with working warpcore.” When she turned it off, the ship announced in the loudspeaker, “Warp Core is offline, Condition Yellow.” Donnja explained, “Also, it’s connected to the alert system.” She turned it back on, the computer then announced, “Warp Core is online, Condition Green.”

The trip then went to the rear Crew Quarters. The ship being smaller than the Enterprise, most of the crew were assigned not individual rooms, but bunks, “There are four bunks here.” The trip then went past the datacore, the heart of the ship’s computer. We then came to the front Crew Quarters, “There are six bunks here.” We then headed to a room with some tables with chairs and control panels with shelves underneath on one side, and a larger than normal door with another panel on the other. “This is the Mess Hall andHolodeck,” Donnaj explained, “Click the replicators. Those meals are copyable; three different meals.” Turning to the other side of the room, “Of theHolodeck , the Captain is currently working on making it workable.” This would probably be the last part of the ship that would be finished.

Heading out of there, we went to Sick Bay, which stood out from it’s several beds with panels with X-rays and graphs behind each one, “This is our Medical Facility. If you’re have a lay on a bed, I’ll activate it.” I did, and an arch went over my avatar, the computer going, “BioBed closing, please stand clear.” After a few seconds, “BioBed opening, please stand clear.” Donnaj remarked, “Scan complete, you’re in good health.” Unlike McCoy with Spock, there were no jokes about the differences between human and non-human physiology.

We then went to another large room, “This is our Main Cargo Bay.” She then pointed to something not normally seen on a Federation ship, “Also Borg Regeneration Chambers.” Asked if there was this kind of character in the RP, “We do have a Borg on board, yes.” The cargo bay door was open, but a force field was up for keeping in the air. We walked on, and came to the last large room, with a two-man ship sitting inside, “This is the Shuttle Bay. The shuttle does fly. If you like, I can take you down.” I agreed, and we both walked inside, “Have a seat.” After we did, the computer announced, “Pilot Donnaj Firehawk. Say ‘start’ to begin flying.” She did, and the ship floated up a few inches, and she slowly backed the ship out of the shuttle bay and the Defiant.

Donnaj took the shuttle towards the ground, telling me that another ship was being worked on, “The Captain is currently working on a Borg Cube.” Which for someone familiar with Trek suggests a few rough and tumble adventures ahead. Getting closer to the buildings of the Trek Museum grounds, Donnaj pointed out a few places, though she was soon having some trouble steering as the ship was closer to more and more prims, “Our shuttle seems to be having a mind of it’s own. It’s not letting me turn the direction I want to go.” She eventually decided to land it a little short of where she wanted, “I will have to have my Captain take a look at it.”

The USS Defiant is at the Saint Clara Island sim, at (72, 201, ***)

Bixyl Shuftan

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RFL Star Trek Party for Charity

By Bixyl Shuftan

On Sunday May 24 at 11 AM SL time, a Star Trek themed party was held for charity. The event was held by the Relay for Life group Relay Wizards, with all Lindens raised going to cancer research. Around the place were various things to do. One could watch a movie (“Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home”). One could grab a free uniform and Klingon translator. Trek uniforms were not requested attire, but the majority wore them anyway.

One could look at an exhibit of an “original series” starship bridge, with some various Trek foods on a counter. One could dance to the music provided by DJs, Natasiaa Nightfire from 11 AM to 1:30 PM SL time, and Jameslarken Supply after 1:30 PM.

But the most visible attraction, and the most fun for the majority of visitors, were the kissing booths. They were manned by various Second Life celebrities, getting the name “SLeberty Kissing Booths.”

Among the noted people at the booths were Hamlet Au, Pooky Amsterdam, and SecondLie Scribe. And numerous people, human and otherwise, went up to give the brave redshirts and science officers smooches for charity. One booth had a Klingon guy, “Can you human females survive a kiss from a Klingon?” And there was no shortage of ladies trying, even if he did forget to gargle with mouthwash after his lunch of raw meat.

And yes, a certain reporter got into the act. Guess the ladies just love a “foxy guy.” ;-)

The party was organized by Amber DeCuir, Haley Saloman, and Shawna Montgomery., and was held at the Chatrez sim at (96, 31, 24) in the Tiny Empires Kingdom of Avalon.

Bixyl Shuftan

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Memorial Service Held for Majel Barrett in Second Life

On Sunday January 4 at 10:00 AM SL time, a memorial service was held for Majel Barret, the wife of Star Trek’s creator Gene Roddenberry. She had passed away two weeks ago on December 18 2008. Hosted by the Galaxy Fleet Command group, it was held in the Constellation sim.At the door, there were ceremonial dress uniforms for GFC group members, as well as black armbands for anyone. Near the entrance was a memorial book freely available. The service was attended by people from a number of Trek groups, as well as some outside them.

Continued in EVENTS.

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