Interview with Trader Whiplash At The RelayStock

By Deaflegacy

Trader Whiplash-Ballinger and I met at the Relaystock.  There was an event happening so we went to the back.  I also got a chance to meet with Arizona Ballinger-Whiplash, Trader's partner.

My first question was how Trader got involved with the Relay. He answered, "I am a survivor.. In 2005 I was in Second Life and heard about a new charity event forming in world.  Relay For Life.   Nuala Maracas, this years RFL Event Chair, Alliez Mysterio and I decided we wanted to take part in it.  We formed a small team and fundraised at our club, La Vie En Rose in Rue dAlliez." said Trader.

My second question. one which made Trader laugh, was where the idea of "Bid Me Bald" come from. "I have leukemia," he answered, "In 2007 I went through six months of chemotherapy to treat it.  I would spend my nights here in Second Life with Nuala, Arizona and a group of friends.  Two of them, the late Catt Gable and Madelyn Majestic, said they would go bald if I lost my hair.  I said 'Wait, before you do that let's find a way to make it an event.' We tossed the idea around and came up with the idea of asking volunteers to sacrifice their hair in return for donations.   We decided $20 a day - L$5000 was a good amount.  We started it in the 2008 Season as a team event.  This is the 10th Anniversary of the event."

I asked him how he describes the T-1 Radio and his DJ style. He thought about his answer a little, "Let me start.  When I first came to Second Life, the music scene was primarily Electro Club music.  Everywhere you went.  I was given an opportunity to DJ on Radio dAlliez and decided to do Classic Rock as a fresh sound here. I love music. I grew up when 60s music was brand new.  I play guitar and studied music when I was younger.  I like to blend my sets.  Many DJs just play music.  From a hard rocking acid group, to a ballad, to a slow blues song, to pop.  There is no cohesiveness, no transitions or segues.  I like to find songs that segue from one to the other, even if the tempo or style changes. I want it smooth. If a song ends with a piano in  I look for the next song to compliment it.  Maybe fade in in a complimentary key or similar beat."

"He is a fantastic DJ." said Arizona with a smile.

Trader hates it when the DJ drops them off a cliff between songs.  He spends an hour or more queing songs as he builds a set list.  Trader also like to share facts about the music or artist, saying, "I want T1 to be like a terrestrial station.  I grew up with the legendary DJs from WMCA, WABC ad WNEW-FM and i want our station to live up to that legacy."

Trader has many favorite moments.  But he can remember the anticipation of Relay weekend.  "Every year is special," said Trader, "watching the community get so excited.  My highlights though, I guess 2014 when we relayed in Alliez's memory and took Purple Level, again in 2014 seeing us raise $415,000."

Trader remembers the closing ceremony in 2013 when they broke convio as they passed 2 million dollars. "Of course being inducted into the Relay hall of honor with Nuala and T1Radio was a humbling moment I will never forget," said Trader, "And of course walking the track during the Survivor Lap with Nuala and Arizona."

I asked Trader about the challenges. "We all face challenges.  Teams big and small are faced with challenges. How do we move to the next level? How do we avoid fatiguing our donors?  Trying to keep our teammates and community from burning out.  But its no different than the challenges we all face in life.  As a survivor the challenge of living with leukemia taught me a lot about facing challenges." said Trader. "But when it gets tough I have Nuala, I have Arizona and I have the Relay comnmunity to lean on."

On that note, I took a picture of Trader in the front of RelayStock.  I have a feeling that I have a lot to learn when it comes to Relay.

Deaflegacy

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