Interview With Arizona Ballinger-Whiplash At The Relaystock

By Bixyl Shuftan

Last weekend was the Relaystock, one of the more popular of the events in the middle of the Relay for Life season. Although organized by the Relay Rockers, they opened the event to multiple teams where some make thousands of Linden dollars more. I recently talked to the woman who organized the event: Arizona Ballinger-Whiplash (Arizona Ballinger). Although sometimes overshadowed by her noted partner, Trader Whiplash, Arizona can and has gotten much done in her own right.

Asking her how she found out about Second Life, her answer was, "Wow...that was a long time ago.   I happened to see an article in old online publication about virtual worlds, I forget the name of the publication now, but they mentioned Second Life.  I thought I would give it a try."

I then asked Arizona how her first days inworld went. She answered, "Probably like most (laughter). Stumbling around, walking into walls. One shoe on, one off, hair drawn down in my face (cause there was no attached hair then) and thinking I was the best looking avatar!  I shudder at that thought now  .. ha ha!

And how did she find out about the Relay for Life? Her answer was, "I found out about Relay when I wandered into LEGENDS Classic Rock club one day and met Trader.   The Relay Rockers were holding a dance event I think it was.  I have been on the Rockers since and have not looked back. That was ten years ago."

How had the Relay Rockers team and the Relay as a whole changed over the past ten years? Arizona answered, "Both have grown a lot.  Each year Relay has something new and exciting.  Each year there is more news about research findings.   It is so great to know what we do makes a difference."

Arizona had to take a short break to care of something, but was soon back. After I asked when she started helping to plan events for her team, she told me, "I started helping with event planning for the Rockers right away, and I was team captain  in 2008 and 2009, and again this year 2017." Was it a difficult job? Arizona answered, "You know, (laughter), it really isn't.   We work as a well oiled machine.  Our five or six coremembers know what it takes and how to do it. They are dedicated, efficient, and so amazing.  You ask and they say 'Yes.'  They come up with their own events and run with it.  Always something new each year.. When we go to new communities to bring Relay to them, we help them organize, but they run the event. They know their people the best.  And the next year they are more self sufficient in organizing the event for the team."

With this weekend's event being the Relaystock, I asked Arizona how it began.  She answered, "It started in 2014.  The Relay Rockers were still doing their CelebrateRemember Fight Back (CRFB) Top DJ Competition. The previous year we had held our finals at Halfway There event.  In 2014, the Halfway There event was a bit different and we wanted to do the CRFB Finals in a large team atmosphere.   We tossed around ideas and RelayStock was born.  Although the CRFB DJ Competition is no longer active, RelayStock continues to grow each year. We wanted to find a way to thank teams for all their support of Relay Rocker events, so we kept RelayStock going and are now finishing the 4th year."

I then asked her this being a Woodstock tribute, were there baby boomers looking back with fond memories and some younger people getting something of a music history lesson?" Arizona's answer was "Oh most definitely....and some enjoying the tunes they grew up listening to because their parents played it all the time (laughter)."

My next question concerned the clothes the avatars were wearing. Was there a difference between older and younger residents? She told me, "I think the older residents go more for the authentic bo-ho style that wasprevalent at Woodstock, where as younger residents wear the tye-dye.  But everyone has their own style to bring to RelayStock and it all works."

And what did she think stood out of any particular outfits, or impromptu events, at any of the Relaystocks? Airzona had to think on that, "Oh gosh... that is a tough one.  I think Santa dancing in the mud in 2015 was pretty funny.  As always Fuzz and 'The Hair' taking part. Cars and bikes going around before it opens is exciting, always some funthings happening.  I love the opening and am sad at the closing. Otter (Rowena Dubrovna) mud dancing is good for a laugh. He sinks to his little otter waist (laughter)."

After the Relaystock, there was still weeks until the Relay Walk. What events was she looking forward to in the time in between? Her answer was,  "For the Relay Rockers, we have a big Bid Me Bald May 17 with BioBreeds creator, Ozzie Drucker, he does one every year for us. Coming in June we have our HardCore For The Cure at various heavy metal and alternative music clubs, and we have the Twisted Hunts Summer Faire running for the month in support of the Rockers.   The Home and Garden Expo is one event I look forward to every year as well as the Medieval Faire by Unmasking A Cure, and the Inspired Dreamwalkers have a fun grid wide event Destination Hunt coming up that sounds like a lot of fun!   There are many on the Event Boards that I look forward to attending as well."

Getting close to the end, I asked what she foresaw for the future of the Relay for Life in Second Life? Would there will be a Relay for Life in Sansar? Arizona told me, "I think the Relay in Second Life is still going strong and will be around for a few years yet to come.   With Sansar, I can't really answer that.  It is very different than Second Life. Sansar's focus is  on the Creator and the virtual spaces are self contained. But I am sure if the American Cancer Society sees it as a viable platform, then they will have a presence in there."

Arizona concluded the interview, "When communities across Second Life come together for one common cause, something wonderful happens.  That something wonderful is Relay!"

Arizona, and her partner Trader, will continue to be a force in the Relay for Life for quite some time.

Bixyl Shuftan

Relay For Life "Skunk Aid"

By Bixyl Shuftan

On Sunday March 17th, there were a number of Relay For Life events. There was the Fashion For Life, for one. But another event was the "Skunk Aid" party. The event was held for  the Relay Rockers, led by Captain Nuala Maracas, which had been targeted by someone in the Relay's "Stinky the Skunk" campaign. The "Moonstar Mavericks," led by Amanda Darbyshire, were also involved. The event was from 5 to 7PM at Arinultra Cay.

 OK You Allllll...  You Skunked the Rockers, so now its time to celebrate with the first EVER Skunk Aid..  its a Black and White 60s Party   coming up at 5pm in Arinultra Cay.   Music by Yours Truly.  Come let Stinky know we love him, but Just Like Cancer.. its time to Move On!


No reporter was there at the scene, though details could be read in Relay chat, "STINKY!!!!!! … Moonstar Mavericks also got a visit from Stinky. … Stinky is a cute skunk, too." "I'm a doctor, not a skunk herder." "STINKY!! He's not visiting the Rockers. He LIVES with you." "As  a Noob this year, Im wondering who Relay Rockers tiffed off to have us Skunked so many Times!!?? "Well, you know what they say. Old homes are sturdy homes. And, Stinky decided he wanted to move into the sturdiest home in Relay." "Hahahaa, I first read that as 'old homes are stinky homes.'" "Hell I don't know, all I know is we have been skunked until Summer!!!" "I think they wanted him...maybe even paid him to stay…*winks* " The Relay Rockers had been given more than the standard five day skunking.

Trader commented, "Yep!  When Life gives you Lemons you make Lemonade.When Relay Gives you Skunks you make .... T-shirts and hold a Skunk Aid Party! … Rockers and Mavericks  come get your shirts and hats!  Cancer Stinks!!!" For a 50L donation, one would get a  "Cancer Stinks" T-shirt. There were also skunk caps one could get for free just for showing up.

The comments continued, "The two team captains are dressed as skunks....lol.. too funny!" "Yep.. Stinky Maracas. And Stinky Darbyshire." Trader sent me a few pictures which showed some of the funnery. Nuala had donned a fursuit over her avatar. Amanda had changed from human to furry with a Luskwood skunkgirl avatar, sporting green hair as it was St. Patricks Day.

Later on, I chatted with Trader about the event. "(We) raised about 8g and got Amanda unskunked," he told me, "We are using nothing but skunk kiosks. We had a good time (laughter). … We had people popping in and out. Lots of teams were represented.  It was a cooperative event between Relay's oldest and of its newest teams to rid ourselves of Stinky.  It showed true One Team spirit!"

"The jokes were bad," he added, "the usual road kill jokes, 'what color does SkunkAde come in?: Purple of Course.' (laughter) And I played 60s songs like 'White Rabbit,' 'Black Is Black,' 'Whiter Shade of Pale,' 'Paint it Black,' (and) wrapped with 'Ebony & Ivory.'" Trader commented he might have added songs like "That Smell," "but it was a 60s show." So what was the craziest moment? "Well, Nuala Maracas in a Skunk gut doing 'Gangnam Style' was interesting (laughter). I am glad no one took a picture of me in my Family tartan kilt , a grey 'Cancer Stinks' Shirt, and a Stinky Baseball cap."

"It was a fun event. It shows the special quality of Relay For Life of Second Life...  Regardless of your team, regardless of where on the globe we are all one team, sharing the same dream: a world without cancer! Stinky is a fun addition to Relay! Now that doesn't mean we want him to be a permanent tenant at Arinultra Cay, we don't mind him staying for a visit!"

Checking the Relay Rockers team page, someone had put up more cash to have the team skunked until April 5th. But more donations came, so by the time of this article's publishing the date had been moved back to March 30th. The fundraising boosts have raised the Relay Rockers' total to over $139,000 Lindens raised, or over $550 US dollars. The Moonstar Mavericks aren't far behind with over $129,000 L raised. Both are Silver-ranked teams. At over 51,000 Lindens raised, the Steelhead Salmons are halfway to Silver.

There were other events that day, such as a bumper car rally. One of the leading teams, Harmony of Hope, was issued a challenge when one fox resident offered to go pink if the 200,000 Linden mark was crossed. It was, and he did. 

For more information, check the RFL in SL website. 

"Cancer Stinks!"

Bixyl Shuftan

Pictures from Trader1 Whiplash