Points of Interest: Emvee Cuba

Perhaps one of my favourite places to visit on the grid; particularly in the dead of winter. This build by Metaversatility is really quite fabulous. The textures are second to none and truly make you feel the tropical heat of an afternoon in Cuba.

There are places where you can tango with your sweetheart as well as other scenic pose locations in which to have some fun.

I shot this set while listening to some great Cuban music which totally put me into the mood!

I highly recommend Emvee Cuba as a destination; the beauty and authenticity are quite incredible.

Emvee Cuba can be found by visiting http://slurl.com/secondlife/Metaversatility/116/119/25.

Quest for the Golden Prim Podcast: Number 3

Welcome to a behind the scenes look at The Quest for the Golden Prim! Gabrielle Riel invites listeners to join her and discover the mysteries of the making of the web comic, as she interviews the creators, writers, producers and cast of The Quest for the Golden Prim. The time for secrets...is at an end!

The third Quest for the Golden Prim Podcast, hosted by Gabrielle Riel features Otenth Paderborn and Martini Discovolante, as well as myself.

You can listen to The Quest for the Golden Prim Podcast by this Direct link to the show on Archive.org. You can listen to it as a stream or download the audio file directly. It is also available through iTunes.

Thanks to Gabrielle Riel and Radio Riel for conducting and recording this continuing podcast on the Quest for the Golden Prim.

Shanghaied!

Sunday saw the Aether Salon hit the road and head to Steelhead Shanghai and the Dragonlands Hotel for a presentation by TotalLunar Eclipse, Elegia Underwood and Riven Homewood. A good crowd was on hand for a very interesting presentation. The Dragonlands Hotel provided a beautiful and exotic locale for this month's salon.

From the Aether Salon site:

You awaken in the dark. The smell of the sea fills your nose. Where are you? Wait - there was the night out with friends... and then the - oh dear, and after that the... hmm. You can't remember much more. But you are absolutely not where you had been. You're on a ship - headed - where, exactly? You've been shanghaied!

This month, the Aether Salon will take a field trip to the exotic and beautiful Steelhead Shanghai. Once there, hosts TotalLunar Eclipse, Riven Homewood, and Elegia Underwood will regale us with tales of the region.

I was on hand to photograph the event; they can be viewed by visiting Flickr.

For more information on the Aether Salon, visit their blog at http://aethersalon.blogspot.com/.

Miss Viv Trafalgar, Miss Serafina Puchkina and Miss Jed Dagger put together interesting salons featuring informative, educational and interesting speakers each month.

Primgraph Issue 9 Now on Newstands

It is with great excitement that issue 9 of The Primgraph is now available - and this Christmas issue is probably the most exciting yet! I am pleased to have provided the cover image for this issue along with a number of additional photographs to accompany some of the fabulous articles throughout.

Perhaps more importantly, at least to me, is the publication of episode 4 of the Quest for the Golden Prim! We continue our epic story in comic book form as we are introduced to new characters and learn more about those we have already met.

Thanks to everyone on the Primgraph team, in particular Miss Terry Lightfoot for her incredible and masterful job laying out this great issue. Thanks also to Miss Saffia Widdershins, Miss Ceejay Writer, and Miss Elegia Underwood for their hard work on this issue.

This issue of the Primgraph is available by visiting http://en.calameo.com/books/0000042345d7b215db355.

Shanghaied! December Aether Salon in Steelhead Shanghai

This month, the Aether Salon will take a field trip to the exotic and beautiful Steelhead Shanghai. Once there, hosts TotalLunar Eclipse, Riven Homewood, and Elegia Underwood will regale us with tales of the region.

Sunday, December 20 at 2 pm slt
Steelhead Shanghai
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Steelhead%20Shanghai/124/39/48

For more information about the Aether Salon, visit their official aetheric weblog at http://aethersalon.blogspot.com/.

Quest for the Golden Prim Podcast

Welcome to a behind the scenes look at The Quest for the Golden Prim! Radio Riel's Gabrielle Riel, discovers the mysteries of the making of the web comic, as she interview the creators, writers, producers and cast of The Quest for the Golden Prim. The time for secrets...is at an end!

Radio Riel's second Quest podcast featured Miss Aisling Sinclair, Mr. Blackhawk60 Sikorsky and PJ Trenton in discussion about the Quest. Miss Sinclair plays the role of Miss Annabelle Scott and Mister Sikorsky plays the role of Mordecai Watson. I, of course am the photographer and designer of the Quest.

The second podcast can be found by visiting http://www.archive.org/details/TheQuestForTheGoldenPrimPodcast-Episode2PjTrentonAislingSinclair.

Find out more about the Quest by visiting the official blog at http://goldenprim.blogspot.com/.

The Quest for the Golden Prim is presented by Primgraph Magazine.

Concert of Sacred Christmas Music (December 20, 2009)

Lady Eva Bellambi is pleased to invite you to the ballroom of her home, Caisteal Teanacadh, on December 20, 2009 (7 - 9 pm slt) to listen to a concert* of sacred choral Christmas music by Miss Ariesse Heart - or rather, her human.

Miss Heart's guiding spirit began piano and theory lessons at the age of five, and wrote her first song at the age of twelve. Her first octavo was published twenty years later. In 1992, she became a full-time composer and arranger and now has over 1,500 published works. Over twelve million copies of her songs have been purchased in their various venues, and she has been a recipient of the ASCAP Special Award for the last 19 years.

In addition to her choral music for church and school choirs, her songs appear on thirty albums (four of which have been Dove Award Finalists) and numerous children's videos, including sixteen songs on four gold videos, and four songs on one multi-platinum video.

Her songs have also appeared on such diverse television shows as "The 700 Club" and HBO's acclaimed series "The Sopranos."

Lady Bellambi feels so fortunate that Miss Heart has agreed to spend time with us in the Isle of Skye, Winterfell Anodyne [slurl], Second Life, sharing her music. Attendees will all have a chance to chat with Miss Heart during the concert as well as after the music has ended. Unlike RL composer/conductor educational moments, which must take place either before or after the music, the platform of a virtual world gives us all the opportunity to use text to ask and answer questions while the music plays all around us.

Please join Lady Bellambi for this special holiday time together. She looks forward to the opportunity to introduce you to Miss Heart, and for you to learn more about the brilliant and lovely woman behind the avatar.

*pre-recorded

Art in SL: mushROOM by Scottius Polke

One of the most interesting and creative art installations that I have been to in Second Life is Scottius Polke's mushROOM. Scottius, affectionately known by many simply as The Otter is one of my greatest friends in SL and one of the most talented artists to boot!

mushROOM is a graphic, 3-dimensional art installation, by Scottius Polke who created special artwork for the exhibit, and hand-illustrated all the textures. Althought the setting is a simple bedroom with typical furnishings, the room is inhabited by the artist's subconscious - which manifests itself in life forms such as mushrooms, molds, amoebas, and other unclassifiable organisms.

Dance with amoebas, jump on the bed, kick the crumpled paper around, and discover the surprises this room holds. Lots of interaction so I recommend you go and see it as soon as you can!

mushROOM is currently installed at Project Z in Cetus (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cetus/128/128/11).

Book Review: The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

And now for something completely different...a book review! I finished reading Andrew Davidson's first novel, The Gargoyle in the past couple of days and I thought that I would share my thoughts.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book and the coworker who lent it to me was a little unsure about whether I would be interested in it or not. She enjoyed it, so I decided...why not?

I have to say that I enjoyed this novel immensely. That being said, be forewarned that it is a very intense read; certainly not light by any stretch of the imagination. The trials and tribulations of the main characters was certainly very extreme and laid out in some case in rather graphic detail. Ultimately, though, it was one of those novels that did a masterful job of weaving a number of historical narratives in with the present day.

A mixture of religious symbolism brought together in a very readable story spanning the ages. Some may find the details of certain aspects rather unpleasant and distasteful but in the end they pull the story together rather well imho.

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson
Check out more about this title at Amazon.com.

Points of Interest: Ciudad de Mexico

As an avid Second Life photographer, I am always on the look out for interesting places on the grid to shoot. One such place that I recently wandered to was Ciudad de Mexico.

Currently featured in Second Life's Showcase, the sim is defined as an urban combat role playing sim is set in an alternate version of Mexico City that covers various timespans, including pre-Hispanic, colonial, present day, and the future.

Visitors arrive at ground level; a bright, futuristic looking skyline of highrise towers and brightly glowing objects rotating around the sky. There are also a few shops which mostly sell clothing, although nothing particularly specialized from what I could see.

Below the surface is an underground city of older, more traditional structures, statues and shops. Certainly an interesting place to visit. Unlike other role play sims, particularly combat-based ones, I was unable to locate an information kiosk or visitor tag generator. There were very few people in the sim at the time I was there so I'm not exactly sure what you will encounter in the way of "hostile" individuals.

Additional photos of my short trek around Ciudad de Mexico can be found on Flickr.

You can visit the sim in world by going to http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ciudad%20de%20Mexico/186/80/65.

Prim Perfect Issue 22 on Newstands

The December 2009 issue of Prim Perfect magazine is now available. The Christmas issue takes a trip to a region that specialises in Winter – winter sports, winter fun, winter celebrations! This is Wolf Mountain (http://slurl.com/secondlife/PeachTree%20Resort/53/44/33), where skiing, skating, and a host of other fun activities can be enjoyed all year round. A fearless team of reporters and photographers pulled on their winter jerseys, their snow boots and their woolly hats to explore….

I was fortunate to be able to contribute various photographs throughout the magazine. Thanks to Scotti Lyle, Viv Trafalgar and Qwis Greenwood who's wonderful articles allowed me to showcase what I saw and photographed at Wolf Mountain.

Congratulations to Perry Applemoor for her stunning design and layout of the magazine and to Saffia Widdershins and Ceejay Writer for their hard work in pulling together yet another stunning issue of Prim Perfect.

You can find the full issue online by visiting http://en.calameo.com/read/000004234f22d41f3c524 or find out more on the Prim Perfect web site at http://www.primperfect.net/.

Izabela Jawororer Live at the Labyrinth Theatre

I am very excited about tonight's event in Avalon...a recital by the fabulous violinist Izabela Jaworower at the Labyrinth Theatre (http://slurl.com/secondlife/The%20Labyrinth/127/104/34). The event will be from 7 - 8 pm SLT.


Izabela Jaworower - Winter violin recital program
================================
W. A. Mozart - Sonata for violin and piano E Minor, KV 304 ( in 2 mvts)
J.S. Bach - Concerto E Major for violin and orchestra, ( in 3 mvts)
J.S. Bach - "Air on G String"
F. Kreisler - "Rondino"
F. Kreisler - "Shon Rosmarin"
H. Wieniawski - Polonaise Brillante" A Major, Op. 21
A. Vivaldi - "Winter" from the " Four Seasons"
================================

Violinist Izabela Spiewak started her international musical career as a winner of the Wieniawski/Lipinski International Young Violinists' Competition at the age of 17, in Lublin, Poland.

Born in Eastern Poland, she is a graduate of the State Music School for gifted children which she joined at the age of 8 and was a part of for 12 years on a full scholarship. Subequently she completed the Performing Artists' Degree and graduated with honors from the acclaimed Warsaw Music Conservatory, Poland.

She studied with the leading Eastern European pedagogues, including Mr. Oskar Ruppel, a pupil of a legendary virtuoso Eugene Ysaye.

Still as a student, Ms. Spiewak recorded classical and popular music for the Polish Radio and TV and was a part of the Polish Radio and TV Orchestra.

Under the auspices of the Polish Performing Artists' Management, Ms. Spiewak relocated to Central America and toured all over the world with the Mexico City Philharmonic.

Upon arrrival to the United States, Ms. Spiewak was offered a full scholarship to the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute under the direction of Leonard Bernstein and Michael Tilson Thomas.

She studied chamber music and performed under the guidance of such distinguished masters as Menahem Pressler, Martha Argerich, Lynn Harel, and Pinchas Zuckerman. She recorded albums with celebrities such as Leonard Bernstein, Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, YoYo Ma and Yehudi Menuhin, and pop stars, such as Michael Jackson, Lisa Minelli, Michael Crawford, Gloria Estefan, Julio Iglesias, Sarah Brighton. In addition, she was priviledged to play for Presidents George Bush Senior and Bill Clinton, also the Pope John Paul The 2nd. She is an active recitalist, a recipient of the North Carolina Regional Artist Grant and a Touring Artist for the State of North Carolina, a leader of the Arcangelo Piano Quartet (since 1997) and a violinist of the DUO APPASSIONATO. She toured the US, Europe, South America and China.

In addition to her busy performing career, she keeps a prominent teaching studio where she shares her expertise with talented young violinists.

(Bio and program courtesy of Izabela Jaworower)

Points of Interest: World War I Poetry Digital Archive

I finally got a chance to watch the recent Designing Worlds episode featuring Frideswide, a recreation of a portion of the Western Front in WWI using the materials of Oxford University's First World War Poetry Digital Archive. This is without doubt, one of the best installations I have ever come across in Second Life and an illustration at how this virtual world can be utilized to its potential.



Csteph Submariner and his team of designers have done a magnificent job of not only designing the sim, but of incorporating the materials from their archive to its fullest potential. It is evocative, it is moving, it is thought-provoking and it is superb.

I strongly encourage everyone to visit this location on the grid and explore every aspect of it. There is so few left to tell the story of the Great War and their sacrifices and efforts should never be forgotten.

You can visit the sim in world by going here http://slurl.com/secondlife/Frideswide/219/199/646/.

You can also visit their Second Life-related web page for more information http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ww1lit/secondlife.

I have taken photographs at the installation which you can visit on my Flickr page. View their YouTube video machinima or visit their Flickr group.

Points of Interest: Frank Lloyd Wright Virtual Museum

One of the most interesting places that I have recently explored is the Frank Lloyd Wright Virtual Museum. Second Life offers a unique and perfect venue for learning more about one of the world's most iconic figures in architecture.

I ventured forth to the Museum on assignment for Designing Worlds who taped their most recent episode from the Museum. Saffia and Elrik met with CEO Frey Bravin, Assistant Director Rosalie Oldrich, and Education Director Barbara Collazo.



I encourage you to visit the Museum in Usonia (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Usonia/6/4/22) and give yourself plenty of time to explore every square meter.

For more information on the Museum, visit their web site at http://franklloydwrightvirtualmuseum.ning.com/.

I have added the set of photographs that I took for the show to Flickr.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

This week I had the honour of welcoming the hosts of the Designing Worlds television show to a special dinner party at my home on the Avalon Estate. Saffia Widdershins and Elrik Merlin joined myself and La Galleria's Pamela Galli, Table Service's Mavromichali Szondi and Prim Perfect's Aisling Sinclair for a special dinner party in honour of American Thanksgiving.



My recently acquired home designed by SkyeRyder Varriale is a beautiful Italianate villa which offers a fabulous environment in which to display my ever expanding collection of Second Life art. This was a perfect opportunity to have people over to share a meal during a very important week in holiday calendar.

It was also a wonderful opportunity to showcase some of the great artists in Second Life including Fuschia Nightfire, Rik Zwiers, Tricia Aferdita, Gracie Kendal, AM Radio, Konrad Jansma, and Terry Woodward.

Designing Worlds, formerly Meta Makeover, is the live weekly show covering design and designers in the virtual worlds, brought to you by Treet TV and the people behind Prim Perfect magazine. From its roots as a makeover show, the programme has now branched out into a magazine format adding interviews and visits to some of the most impressive builds and locations in Second Life and beyond.

I hope you enjoy the show as much as I did playing host to one of the metaverse's great television productions.

Thanks to Saffia, Elrik, Texas, Truman, Mr. Mimms and the entire Treet production crew for a fabulous time.

Designing Worlds in Babbage!

Here was a totally fun production that I was fortunate enough to be asked to participate in. In the lead up to Halloween, Designing Worlds visited the steampunk region of New Babbage for a special show based on a short story by Aeolus Cleanslate. The full story is available in the October issue of Primgraph magazine.



The show was tremendously fun as I assumed the role of Mr. Biggins, the Babbage sand hog and foreman of the tunnel project. Great performances by Aeolus Cleanslate, and Ceejay Writer not to mention the hosts of the show Saffia and Elrik.

The tunnel build by Aeolus Cleanslate and Rip Wirefly are really amazing in detail as you will see during the show.

Hats off to the people at Treet TV who put in alot of work to make the final version of the episode which you see above. It is really an incredible production.

Step Up! Day - November 5, 2009

In the wake of the wholesale theft of sims and content over the weekend, like many people we wanted to do something about it – and also about all the other content theft that we have been fighting for so long – in the Content Creators Association and in magazines and on TV shows.

Since then we’ve talked – and have come up with the idea of the Step Up! campaign, a campaign centred on a special day of action that everyone can become involved with, and that can empower and inform people.

Thursday, November 5, 2009 is Step Up! Day...a day to help focus attention on the issue of content theft. A wide range of parties and events are scheduled. Check the party news page for more details on who is performing where.

You can also obtain a free Step Up! Party Material on xStreet.

Designing Worlds Visits New Babbage

Saffia & Elrik visit the steam lands of New Babbage and meet some of the residents. Starring Saffia Widdershins, Elrik Merlin, Aeolus Cleanslate, Ceejay Writer and PJ Trenton.

Designing Worlds is the hit weekly virtual worlds design show from Treet TV, the leading TV network in today's virtual environments, and is brought to you by Prim Perfect productions, the people behind Prim Perfect magazine and the Prim Perfect blog. From its roots as a makeover show, the programme has developed into a magazine format adding interviews and visits to some of the most impressive locations in Second Life - and now we are moving into other grids as wel as SL. The show goes out every Tuesday at 2pm SLT/PDT.

Designing Worlds is presented by Saffia Widdershins, the Editor of Prim Perfect Magazine, and Elrik Merlin of Radio Riel.

Treet TV, and Treet Archives are brought to you by the people that created SLCN, the world's first virtual television network.

Started by Wiz Nordberg in 1997, SLCN became a virtual entertainment conduit of Second Life programming. It was a professional video network designed to expand the in-world audience as well as deliver virtual entertainment to the real-world.

All the video clips found on this website are archives of live events as they happened in a virtual world, mostly Second Life. Typically, the live video is seen on screens at various locations in a virtual environment as well as streamed to the web.

I was fortunate enough to be asked to play the role of Mr. Biggins in this special production of Designing Worlds.

Mainly Men Fashion Show at Shengri La

PJ jumps to the other side of the camera today and joins 11 other gentlemen at Shengri Law for the Mainly Men Corporate Fashion show.

Mainly Men showcases the corporate clothing of Debutante, the Fashion Research Institute’s lab line, which anchors the Shengri La Marketplace. Mainly Men will be held Saturday, October 24th, at 4 pm/SLT/7 pm Eastern in the Shengri La Hope (slurl) region. The region is locked for an hour beforehand, starting at 3, and opens promptly at 4 pm.

Naturally, what is a fashion installation without swag? Tiny pinecones full of great dude swag are tucked here and there in the set – find them to collect the full set of men’s accessories ranging from aviator-style sunglasses and hats to briefcases and shoulder bags. And of course, all of our fashion installations are interactive – chat with the models, and in some cases, you can even join in with them fishing or telling tall tales around a crackling campfire. There’s even a 7Seas server with extra special prizes, so join the fun with us.

Darke Carnival in Arkham! (October 22-24)

The Miskatonic Valley presents a darke carnival from October 22 to 24, 2009 in Arkham. Join them for their big Halloween event! Events on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday including the infamous Doktor Benelli's House of the Supernatural. This is an event not to be missed, so please come by!

The carnival is at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Arkham/129/245/23.

Learn more about Arkham and the Miskatonic Valley by visiting their blog at http://miskatonicvalley.blogspot.com/. They are the featured sim of the month in the current issue of Prim Perfect magazine.

Prim Perfect 21 Now Published

The latest, spooky issue of Prim Perfect magazine is now out; just in time for Halloween. Visit dark and scary places including Arkham, the sim of the month as well as the wonderful and creepy creations of Miss Cutea Benelli.

The cover features Mr. Mako Kungfu and Miss Rach Borkotron who posed for me in the sim of the month. My thanks to them for agreeing to join me for this fun and spooky cover!

Visit the Prim Perfect blog for more details and for access to the online version of the October issue of Prim Perfect. Access the issue here http://primperfectblog.wordpress.com/2009/10/20/get-ready-for-a-spooky-halloween-with-the-new-prim-perfect/.

Quest for the Golden Prim Podcast

The second Quest for the Golden Prim Podcast featuring Gabrielle Riel chatting with PJ Trenton, Aisling Sinclair and BlackHawk Sikorsky is now availble online.

You can listen to The Quest for the Golden Prim Podcast via any of the following methods:

• Direct link to the show on Archive.org, where you can listen to it as a stream or download the audio file directly
• Subscribe on iTunes
  
• Subscribe using our RSS feed
  

Thanks to Gabrielle Riel and Radio Riel for these fabulous additions to the Quest for the Golden Prim!

Steampunk Exhibit in Oxford, UK

For those of you able to travel to Oxford, you may be interested to learn about an exhibit at the Museum of the History of Science (http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/steampunk/). There is also a podcast from October 13, 2009 that you can listen to about the steampunk genre through the BBC web site at http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/pods/. This broadcast features interviews with the editor of Steampunk Magazine (http://www.steampunkmagazine.com/) and Rafael Fabre from the Second Life community of New Babbage.

Imagine Peace Tower in Second Life

October 9, 2009 saw the unveiling of the Imagine Peace Tower in Second Life by Yoko Ono. Coinciding with the birthdate of John Lennon, the actual tower is an outdoor work of art conceived by Yoko Ono to the memory of John. The Second Life installation can be found in world by visiting http://slurl.com/secondlife/Imagine%20Peace%20Tower/128/128/2.

The tower is an inspiring tribute to both John Lennon and the hope that someday the world will in fact be a more peaceful place. To watch it firing up, one light at a time until all the beams are fully illuminated is quite something to behold and one of the most moving things I have seen in Second Life. It is perhaps made even more special simply by the fact that it isn't just on all the time...but actually illuminates and extinguishes itself on a sunset to sunrise pattern.

LIGHTING UP TIMES
After the opening ceremony, the Second Life IMAGINE PEACE TOWER will begin its cycle of illumination approximately 15 minutes after sunset on every Second Life day and will remain illuminated until dawn. The days are much shorter in Second Life than in the real world. Sunset happens in Second Life every day at the following times, both am and pm:

• 01.30, 05.30, 09.30: Chicago, Baghdad, Bangkok, Vladivostok
• 02.30, 06.30, 10.30: Anchorage, Montreal, Toronto, Reykjavik, Moscow, Shanghai, Suva
• 03.30, 07.30, 11.30: Los Angeles, Rio de Janiero, Liverpool, London, Karachi, Tokyo, Auckland
• 04.30, 08.30, 12.30: Guatemala, Europe, Dhaka, Sydney, Kiritimati

For more information on the Imagine Peace Tower in Second Life, visit http://imaginepeace.com/news/archives/8263.

The Rape of Europa

I have had the documentary, The Rape of Europa, on hold at the library for quite some time. It finally came in and I have now had an opportunity to watch this incredible, amazing, troubling and thought-provoking story of another aspect of one of the most tragic periods of human history;World War II.

There are the obvious images and accounts of death and destruction one frequently sees in books and documentaries; The Rape of Europa documents and details another aspect of the evil that epitomized this dark period in our history.

There are, however, amazing and uplifting stories in this story.

I highly recommend this documentary!

Learn more and watch a trailer at http://www.rapeofeuropa.com.

Boobie-Thon Limerick Joust

I was extremely honoured to be asked to participate in the Limerick Joust as part of fundraising for the 8th Annual Blogger Boobie-thon (http://www.boobiethon.com/). Joust participants included VelesJaeger Munster, Hotspur O'Toole and yours truly. Unfortunately Mister Iason Hassanov was unable to join us.

Eva Bellambi and Serra Anansi did a fabulous job organizing events in Second Life for the second consecutive year. Their efforts translated into $2,010.oo USD to the Susan G Komen Foundation (http://ww5.komen.org/default.aspx). Congratulations to them and thank you to everyone who attended the events and made contributions to the cause.

The limerick joust was a blast. We were given three themes to create limericks from and then presented them to the audience and judges. Veles carried the day, being judged the winner of the event. Combined, I would estimate that the three of us raised approximately $33,000L.

I thought I would share my three limericks...

Second Life

While some say that this world is a game
To say so is simply a shame
Far more than just sex
It’s a place quite complex
Where generosity burns like a flame

Two Ladies from Winterfell (Eva and Serra)

In Winterfell dwelled quite a pair
Who went topless to show that they care
Saying fondle a tit
Making sure it is fit
So donate to the cause don’t just stare

Breasts

There is something that I must confess
I have something to get off my chest
I don’t mean to stare
But it’s hard not to care|So I offer to feel up your breast

The final limerick got quite the response. It looks like I'll be conducting breast exams for the forseeable future. ;-)

Look at Me! Avatar Portraits by Callipygian Christensen

Join us on Wednesday, October 7th from 7 to 9 pm SLT for the opening of Callipygian Christensen's new exhibit Look at Me! Avatar Portraits at Exposure Art Gallery in Avalon Town. Calli is a long time resident who has been shooting images in Second Life for 3 years; her work has become widely known throughout the art community.

This exhibit captures her fascination with how people present themselves in Second Life, how she feels all avatars are created with some element of " Look at me!" Stop by and meet the artist and enjoy the Jazz tunes of DJ SexyJade Echegaray.

Join us at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Tabula%20rasa/141/40/27.

We hope to see you then!

Meet Lady Copperhead of the Quest

The band of female airship pirates known collectively as the "Black Rose" has forged a reputation across the skies of the Steamlands as successful smugglers and brutally efficient opponents. They may be pretty and have warm smiles, but behind those cold eyes beat the hearts of cuttthroats. These venomous beauties are not to be trifled with or taken lightly - especially not their leader.

Known in many criminal circles as Lady Copperhead, Mackenzie Duquesne has risen through the ranks of the Steamlands underworld by the use of deception, guile and lethal force to become one of the top air pirates and smugglers. Her exact background is still unclear, but it is known that she was born in the Carolina Lowcountry and has claimed her current position as captain of "The Black Rose" by replacing the former captain under mysterious circumstances.

Lady Copperhead is played by Miss Jedburgh Dagger of New Babbage, heroine of the Kidnapping of Clockwinder Tenk, a force to be reckoned with at Iron Melee nights, where she holds the rank of commodore of the Naval Militia, and director of Aether Salon security. Miss Dagger is also a member of the New Babbage Ladies Fire Brigade, runs her own detective agency, and was involved in the resistance movement during the recent takeover of the city, culminating in the rescue at sea of the Clockwinder.


http://ladycopperhead.blogspot.com/

macduquesne@gmail.com

http://www.plurk.com/LadyCopperhead

Primgraph Issue 8 on Newstands

Issue 8 of The Primgraph is now available and indulges are indulging our tastes for ghoulies and ghosties and things that go bump in the night to celebrate Halloween! The featured region in this issue is the fabulous Winterfell!

I am particularly excited about this issue which contains my first published article! Having been fortunate enough to contribute photographs to the Primgraph since issue 5, I am extremely pleased at being able to take up the quill and contribute in a much different way.

I know you will enjoy this issue of the Primgraph. Our latest episode in the Quest for the Golden Prim is contained in this issue. I'm extremely proud of how it has come together!

Other splendid contributions include a ghost story from the distinguished pen of Mr Aeolus Cleanslate; the redoubtable Frau Annechen Lowey continues her exploration of the Etiquette of the Steamlands; and the talented Miss Ceejay Writer tackles the Victorian Supernatural in Literature

My specific article is Spirit Quest in the Steamlands where I venture forth to find paranormal and mysterious places in the steamlands.

Issue 8 can be found by visiting http://en.calameo.com/books/000004234f5ea2ac2faa5.

Pink for October!

The Pink for October campaign is about blog and website owners showing their support for breast cancer awareness by turning our sites pink for the month of October.

Please show your support for this important cause in whatever way you can. Visit http://pinkforoctober.org/for more details!

Never underestimate the submersiveness of Muppets

So I have been having alot of fun this morning with my Plurk buddies (http://www.plurk.com/PJTrenton) after sharing a YouTube link to the silly Muppet Show skit featuring the song Mah Na Mah Na. I'm not sure why I get such a kick out of this particular song/skit...but I do. Although, I get a kick out of alot of Muppet Show schtuff...that show rocks I tell ya!

So the little did I know part was shared by a fellow plurker that the song according to Wikipedia:

"Mah Nà Mah Nà debuted as part of Umiliani's soundtrack for the Italian mondo film Svezia, inferno e paradiso (Sweden: Heaven and Hell) (1968), a pseudo-documentary about wild sexual activity and other behavior in Sweden. The song accompanied a scene in the film set in a sauna. The lead part was sung by Italian singer/composer Alessandro Alessandroni. The song also appeared on the 1968 soundtrack album released for the film."

As best noted by another fellow plurker..."never underestimate how subversive the muppets really were." Perhaps this goes a long way in explaining why I like the muppets so much!

This led to another funny muppet-related post...Abandoned Muppet Film Projects.

And now...

AM Radio at IDIA Laboratories

One of my favourite artists and creators in Second Life is without question, AM Radio. Well known across the grid for his installations featuring wheatfields and in support of Heifer International.

The first AM Radio installation that I ever visited in world was The Far Away (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dreamworld%20North/220/130/22). It was my first exposure to the wheatfield with all the highly detailed objects and hidden treasures to be found when clicking the correct places. The installation had an incredible horizon and sky that made it feel very realistic and certainly ungridlike.

Since the Far Away, there have been a number of subsequent installations and exhibits...The Space Between the Trees (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Welsh%20Lakes/167/71/23); Husk (http://slurl.com/secondlife/IDIA%20Laboratories/19/157/21); The Space Between These Trees (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Welsh%20Lakes/167/71/23); Beneath the Tree that Died (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Welsh%20Lakes/94/131/1028); The Radio (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Welsh%20Lakes/137/119/516); and The Red and the Wild (http://slurl.com/secondlife/IDIA%20Laboratories/94/160/545).

Flickr groups abound and alot of AM Radio-related images can be found there. Each installation typically has a Flickr group dedicated specifically to it. I have a set of AM Radio images on Flickr which can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/pj_trenton/sets/72157617149336779/.

His latest installation is an interactive exhibit where visitors can tag train cars. You create your graffiti works on an interactive web site and they appear in world on one of the 5 train cars in world. It is being hosted on the Institute for DIgitial Intermedia Arts (IDIA) at Ball State University. AM Radio is their inaugural artist-in-residence.

I highly recommend taking a run through the various AM Radio installations. They offer up some incredibly detailed content creation and a great place to lose yourself on the grid.

Even King Kong Needs a Vacation

Imagine my surprise to have run across King Kong while dropping in to one of my favourite Second Life destinations, Las Islas - Las Rocas (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Las%20Rocas/203/152/21). This is a region of beautiful tropical islands with a real Caribbean feel...white sand beaches...beautifully ocean vistas.

Las Rocas has changed a bit since I first discovered it, but still a very nice place to come and relax.

For more photos of King Kong on vacation, have a look at the small set I created on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/pj_trenton/sets/72157622359675413/. This is certainly one very cool avatar...previously spotted in the Victorian region of Caledon; see the Primgraph Aetheric Log at http://primgraph.blogspot.com/2009/09/caledon-oxbridge-terrorized.html.

PJ Fundraises for the 2009 Boobie-Thon!

2009 marks the 8th Annual Blogger Boobie-Thon. Bloggers from all over the globe send in photos of their boobies (covered and uncovered) to help raise money for Breast Cancer Research. In the past seven years they have raised over $50,000.00 for Breast Cancer Research and are back to do it all again this October !

Serra Anansi and Eva Bellambi have organized a series of events in Second Life to raise money for this cause. One of those events is the Limerick Contest will be held on October 7th (the last day of the Boobie-Thon) at 6:30pm SLT.

There will be 4-5 people in the main event, including yours truly. The event consists of three rounds with each having a different theme or topic which must somehow be incorporated into the limerick.

The judging of the limerick contest be by a group of individuals who have bid the highest in order to have the right to judge. In addition to bidding for the right to judge, we are also looking for individuals to contribute to our donation kiosks at the event.

I am calling upon everyone to help support this very important cause by bidding on the right to judge the limerick contest and or making a donation to my kiosk.

After the main event, there will be the opportunity for all others to share in the fun - A Limerick Melee! Popular vote will determine this winner.

The Boobie-Thon’s mission is to create a fun and lighthearted event that created awareness and raises money for breast cancer research.

For more information, please visit http://www.boobiethon.com/ and thank you in advance for your support!

Crottin de Chavignol of the Quest for the Golden Prim

Over the next number of months, readers of the Quest for the Golden Prim will be introduced to the various characters that make up the story.

Crottin "Crotty" de Chavignol, a native of Aquitaine Coeur, attended boarding school on the mainland. A red wine connoisseur, he lives on an allowance of family money, stretched by teaching French at Caledon Oxbridge. When his late-night society activities allow, he enjoys flying with his friend Ralph Montcalm, who has been unsuccessful in urging him to join the RCAF.

Crotty is played by His Serenity, Otenth Paderborn, Jarl of Orcadia, Duke of Murdann, Viscount Ormsby of Little West Sniggery and
Giggleford, Thegn of Aa.

http://crottindechavignol.blogspot.com/

Step Up! Make Your Voice Heard Over Content Theft.

In the wake of the wholesale theft of sims and content over the past weekend, it has become clear that many people wanted (and need) to do something about it – and also about all the other content theft that has been fought for so long – in the Content Creators Association and in magazines and on TV shows.

Through those discussions, people have come up with the idea of the Step Up! campaign; a campaign centered on a special day of action that everyone can become involved with, and that can empower and inform people.

Find out more at http://step-up-sl.ning.com/ or at http://stepupsl.wordpress.com.

Paddle to the Sea

I watched a rather depressing documentary on the Great Lakes last night entitled Waterlife. Narrated by Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie, this documentary took a look at the state of the Great Lakes and the impact that we have had on this vital system of lakes.

One of the additional features on the DVD was the classic Canadian short Paddle to the Sea by the National Film Board of Canada. Based on Holling C. Holling's book of the same name, Paddle to the Sea is Bill Mason's film adaptation of the classic tale of an Indian boy who sets out to carve a man and a canoe. Calling the man "Paddle to the Sea," he sets his carving down on a frozen stream to await spring’s arrival. The film follows the adventures that befall the canoe on its long odyssey from Lake Superior to the sea.

Filmed in 1966, it has been years since I saw it. I was glad of the opportunity to view it again...bringing back fond memories from childhood of a classic of Canadiana.

There is an official web site for this short film where you can watch it online. Visit http://www.onf-nfb.gc.ca/eng/collection/film/?id=10584.

Emily Lockhart from the Quest for the Golden Prim

Over the next number of months, readers of the Quest for the Golden Prim will be introduced to the various characters that make up the story.

Emily is blessed, or some would say, cursed with boundless curiosity. She is continually poking about and challenging the status quo. Earning her degree in English Literature at Caledon Oxbridge was much easier than finding a job, Emily discovered. An independent woman with a degree who models herself after Nelly Bly was not an attractive prospect to most employers, but Emily has found a sympathetic editor at the Primgraph willing to take a chance on her. Her mother does not approve.

Her eagerness to prove herself a newspaperwoman and a modern woman causes her to ask the uncomfortable questions and
seize whatever opportunity she can to get the story.

Emily Lockhart is played by Serafina Puchkina who in her wider Second Life is a resident of New Babbage and Caledon. In New Babbage, Serafina is co-host of the Aether Salon, head librarian of the R.F.Burton Library, and proud Fire Mistress. She maintains several blogs relating to her activities in SL and if you are good, she will share them with you.

Prim Perfect Issue 20 On Virtual Newstands

A very special issue of Prim Perfect for Fall (or Autumn – for the Europeans among us!) features an exciting and vivid region for Sim of the Month – and we also have our first ever article on an Open Grid development – our Reader’s Home of the Month – an amazing creation on the Science Sim!

In the Northern hemisphere, the days are drawing in – longer nights and colder weather. Trees are beginning to take on rich autumnal shades as the “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness” is with us once more. And at Prim Perfect, we’ve decided to explore a region that draws its inspiration from an area that is, for many people, synonymous with the beauties of – as they would say – Fall: the Islands of New England.

You may find the latest issue of Prim Perfect by visiting
http://en.calameo.com/books/000004234bdd9fd51cfeb.

Autumn Evening by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Last night was another great poetry night at the Speakers Circle in Avalon Town. In honour of the changing seasons, I decided to read the following poem by Canadian writer Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942).

Autumn Evening
Dark hills against a hollow crocus sky
Scarfed with its crimson pennons, and below
The dome of sunset long, hushed valleys lie
Cradling the twilight, where the lone winds blow
And wake among the harps of leafless trees
Fantastic runes and mournful melodies.

The chilly purple air is threaded through
With silver from the rising moon afar,
And from a gulf of clear, unfathomed blue
In the southwest glimmers a great gold star
Above the darkening druid glens of fir
Where beckoning boughs and elfin voices stir.

And so I wander through the shadows still,
And look and listen with a rapt delight,
Pausing again and yet again at will
To drink the elusive beauty of the night,
Until my soul is filled, as some deep cup,
That with divine enchantment is brimmed up.

Library of Congress on Flickr

As a huge photography enthusiast and history buff, I was very excited to learn today that the Library of Congress (the national library of the United States) has a photostream on Flickr. I have had a cursory glance at what they have up so far which seems to be a rather significant collection of very cool, historically and geographically significant images. I look forward to spending lots of time perusing their collection...and hope you do too!

A fabulous addition to Flickr! Their photostream can be found at http://www.flickr.com/people/library_of_congress/.

Boobiethon 2009

Boobies. Cuhuangas. Breasts. TaTas. Bazooms.

They are called many things and although they come in all shapes and sizes (large, small, saggy and perky), they have one thing in common: The ability to develop cancer.

Even though there is no cure yet, Serra Anansi and Eva Bellambi are joining the annual Blogger Boobie-Thon (www.boobiethon.com) to do our part part to make breast cancer a thing of the past.

Come join us as we host the 2ND ANNUAL SECOND LIFE BOOBIETHON.

This year we will have a week of events from the kick off Boobie Ball in the Winterfell Community Center on October 2nd to the ending ceremonies held at the Isle of Skye (Winterfell Anodyne) on October 7th! All funds collected in Second Life will be matched in part by Serra and Eva and then donated to the Susan G. Koman Foundation via the Blogger Boobie-Thon.

Please contact Serra Anansi or Eva Bellambi if you are interested in hosting an unique event to help up raise awareness and funds to bring Breast Cancer to an end.

Event Details as of September 13, 2009

• Opening Night on October 2nd @ 6:30pm SLT BoobieBall. Winterfell Community Center.
• October 3rd @ noon SLT BoobieBall. Winterfell Community Center. Wear Pink to the Balls if you'd like - or come topless if you dare!!
• October 5th @ 4:00pm SLT Innertube Obstacle Course and Race. Entry Fee L250
• October 7th @ 6:30pm SLT Limerick Contest*. In the sky on Isle of Skye, Winterfell Anodyne (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Winterfell%20Anodyne/210/222/2501)

* A little detail on the Limerick Contest. This particular event will focus on education related to men with breast cancer. The main event will showcase the limerick talent of 5 gentlemen in SL in three themed rounds. Those who wish to be judges for this contest need to send Eva Bellambi a notecard with a bid (donation) of at least L500. The top three bidders will be chosen. After the Main Event, there will be a limerick melee. Anyone desiring to enter will notify Eva Bellambi in world during the event. The winner will be determined by popular vote (Linden's donated on his/her behalf). I am proud to be participating in the limerick contest and hope you will support this worthwhile endeavour!

And please, look up the group called "Saving Second Base" and join to keep up with the events and updates!!! All funds raised from the 100L join fee will be added to the over all pot of funds raised!

***HISTORY OF THE BOOBIETHON ONLINE***
Founded in 2002 by Florida blogger Robyn Pollman (www.shutterblog.com) the Boobie-Thon has grown into a well-known event, raising tens of thousands for breast cancer and blogger-charity causes, with over 1500 people contributing pictures. The Susan G. Koman Foundation has, in the past, been the largest recipient of the funds. Both founders and participants are hoping to generate exposure and donations for a worthy cause. Males and females can submit pictures of their breasts. The covered boobies are featured on the free area of the site. The price of viewing the bare breasts is $50. www.boobiethon.com

Hortensia Primm of the Quest for the Golden Prim

Over the next number of months, readers of the Quest for the Golden Prim will be introduced to the various characters that make up the story.

Our first featured character is Miss Hortensia Primm (played by Frau Annechen Lowey) is governess and tutor to Annabella, and a graduate of Oxbridge University. Once a protege of Professor Sophronia Haddington-Scott, she now oversees the studies of her mentor's daughter, Annabella, while continuing to study the professor's notes that led them on their ill-fated journey.

A new episode of The Quest for the Golden Prim is published in each issue of Primgraph Magazine.

I am pleased to be the photograph and designer of this adventure and thank all of those involved for their cooperation, collaboration and sense of fun as we tell this exciting story to our faithful readers.

Primgraph Issue 7 on Newstands...

Issue 7 of The Primgraph is now available. This issue features seaside Caledon and the second Episode of the Quest for the Golden Prim. I contributed photographs for a handful of articles and the cover of the magazine.

You can read this issue of the The Primgraph online by visiting http://www.calameo.com/books/00000423407faa11b4d8e.

Also be sure to visit the Primgraph aetheric log (blog) found at http://primgraph.blogspot.com/ for notes, articles, announcements and postings about Second Life's vintage and steampunk communities.

New SL Art Calendar ning!

Utilizing the social networking strengths of the ning, Tricia Aferdita has created a new social network to help artists and gallery owners in Second Life to promote their work and their shows in one central location.

SL Art Calendar is a public forum for posting and finding art-related events in Second Life. It can be found at http://slartcalendar.ning.com/.

I encourage everyone who is interested in the vibrant SL arts scene to join the ning and keep up to date on artists, galleries and arts-related events across the grid.

Based in Palo Alto, Calif., Ning offers an easy-to-use technology platform enabling you to create and join Ning Networks for your interests and passions. With over 1.3 million Ning social networks created and more than 30 million registered members, millions of people every day are coming together across Ning to explore and express their interests, discover new passions, and meet new people around shared pursuits.

Art of C.J. Ross (aka Winter Nightfire)

Winter Nightfire aka C.J Ross is a self-taught painter from San Francisco, California. Her exposure to Abstract Expressionism began at age 16 in the North Beach neighborhood at Caffe Trieste, where she befriended her mentors, the noted Beat artists Jack Hirschman and George Long.

She displayed her first painting at a group show with her mentors in 2001 at age 24, and has been showing solo at venues across San Francisco ever since.

Winter recently teamed up with Filthy Fluno (Jeffrey Lipski) at the Second Life Community Convention (SLCC) in San Francisco for Artathon. These two amazing, fun and provocative artists took SLCC by storm...armed with paints, pastels and assorted canvases to capture the essence of the convention...in art! Sponsored by Avalon Art District and CounterpART Gallery, the pair created a wide-range of abstract art inspired by the event. The works were auctioned off at the end of the convention; raising $1,000 US for the non-profit organization Virtual Ability!

You can support fabulous artists like Winter by purchasing their wonderful and creative works in real life. You can view works currently for sale and acquire your own by visiting http://counterpartgallery.art.officelive.com/winternighfire.aspx.

The Vernian Deep by Viv Trafalgar

I present to you this fabulous video of the Vernian Deep in New Babbage created by the ever talented Viv Trafalgar. This video is just amazing...great work Viv!



Or visit YouTube to watch and rate it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ITE3HTWvSw!

Nude Studies by Scottius Polke at Exposure Art Gallery

PJ Trenton is pleased to welcome the most talented and artistic otter on the grid to Exposure Art Gallery (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Tabula%20rasa/142/39/27) for an exhibit of nude studies in pastel and ink. The otterly incredible Scottius Polke opens his exhibit at Exposure on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 from 7 to 8 pm slt.

Join us for a fabulous opening event with Radio Riel's own Gabrielle Riel as she brings us some of the best grooves for shaking your pixels!

Scottius brings you a collection of beautifully rendered nude studies, several of which have never been seen in Second Life before.

We look forward to seeing you at the opening of this amazing exhibit.

Quest for the Golden Prim Podcast

Welcome to a behind the scenes look at The Quest for the Golden Prim! Join Gabrielle Riel, as she discovers the mysteries of the making of the web comic, through interviews with the creators, writers, producers and cast of The Quest for the Golden Prim. The time for secrets...is at an end!

In the first episode, Gabrielle Riel speaks with Saffia Widdershins and PJ Trenton about some of the inspirations that created The Quest!

The podcast is available by visiting the Golden Prim blog at http://goldenprim.blogspot.com/2009/08/quest-for-golden-prim-podcast-episode-1.html.

Grand Opening of the Au Cafe and Gallery (August 29)

What is the Au Cafe?
The cafe is a place where Alchemy unplugged displays their bizarreness. Whether it is an hour long practice session full of philosophy and madness, or low prim furniture they have created or extraordinary creations that their associates have produced, it's all there, at the Au Cafe (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Vindoskygger/238/40/26).

I am honoured to have been asked to exhibit new Second Life photographic works at Au. I hope you will be able to drop by and see these brand new works which are available for sale.

Events schedule:
11 AM: Au live @ the cafe (there is no better way to kick off a grand opening than with the live music of Alchemy unplugged: aka: Au - Natil has one of the best voices in SL! You just HAVE to have a listen!)
12pm : DJ Lynda @ the cafe (She's hot, she's stylish and she has plenty of good tunes to make you dance)
1pm : DJ Penny @ the cafe (sixties psychedelic, punk, celtic rock and a DJ with mega intelligence... and a quirky sense of humour)
2:30 pm : Au live @ the cafe w/Natil and Daren lookalikes contest with 2700 lindens in prizes (Au madness - what the hell was I thinking?)
3:30 pm : DJ Paulina @ the gallery (Eighties, dance, classic rock - she's half-sweet and half-acid and always READY TO RUMBLE!)
5pm : Au Live @ the gallery (Au smoothness - yaaaaaaaaa)
6pm : DJ Lynda @ the gallery (Groove/Jazz/soul/rock/electro)

Throughout the day : amateur art contest. Submit one piece to either Lynda Ultsch or Natil Flanagan. SL or RL photography, photoshop, paintings, sculptures (low-prim). Prize : 1000 Lindens, plus a wall to expose and sell your creations in the gallery for two months.

Natil's trivia, between 12pm and 2:30pm, where she will hand out various prizes from our sponsors.

Khet tournament, Au blade of your choice to the winner (compliments of Kanto Edges). (if you don't know Khet, it's a board game, very strategic, and rather easy to learn. A board is up in the gallery lobby for those who want to practise. -needs two players-)

Oh! Don't forget to take a stroll through the seasons at the Sound Tree... there are more free gifts there than you can shake a stick at... er, or a branch for that matter.

Voting in the Caledon Rose Growing Competition Now Open

As you may have seen, The Primgraph is sponsoring The Caledon Rose-Growing Competition. To celebrate the launch of our summer issue, we are holding the competition on the grounds of The Primgraph Press in Caledon Glengarry (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Glengarry/53/143/124)

This competition (we hope the first of an annual event) is being staged in order to find the best roses in the Steamlands and beyond - and we have some superb entrants!

There are two categories:

• Single Roses (no more than 35 prims per rose)
• Rosebushes (no more than 15 prims per bush)

The roses in competition are on display in the courtyard at The Primgraph Press in Caledon Glengarry - four rose bushes and six individual roses.

Now it is your turn! There are voting boards above the either side of the gate. To vote for your favourite rose on display, click on the name of the entrant. The PINK board is for the single rose competition; the BLUE board is for the rosebush competition.

Voting is now open, and will conclude at 2pm on Saturday 29th August!

Vacuum by Kimba Sideways

So I present below the second of Miss Kimba's poems that I read at our recent open poetry night in Avalon Town.

Vacuum
by Kimba Sideways

I woke into a dream, woke up screaming
I was blinded by an ultra-violet beaming
I'm in a cold sweat, shivers running down my spine
I got soaking wet by constant decline

I was haunted by a monster ape
with its constantly changing shape
there was millions of them big and small
leaving no way to escape at all

I'm in a space without room
I'm running down a vacuum
there ain't no easy way out
of the enclosing continuum

I can't speak my mind - there are freaks within me
who are shouting with double intensity
I go to bed, I get attacked
by the friends and foes I never met yet,

yet a true confession is the fear of the fearless
the replacement of the dream of the dreamless
I 'm in a cold sweat, shivers down my spine
I am running faster all the time

I was sitting on a raft made of deadwood
that immediately sank just like lead would
I got a feeling inside that gave me an outside chill
the fish like chew on my spongy mesophyll

this is a true confession of a passionate one
this is the fear of the dreamless
it's the replacement of what has hardly begun
it's the dream of the fearless

Artathon Artworks Opening ~ August 30, 2009 @ 2pm SLT

Two of Second Life's most recognizable and creative artists invite you to the opening of Artathon Artworks in the Avalon Art District (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ars%20Lunga/15/172/28) on Sunday, August 30th at 2 pm! Artathon is the result of an incredible philanthropic adventure conceived by Filthy Fluno and Winter Nightfire for the Second Life Community Convention (SLCC) in San Francisco earlier this month.

These two amazing, fun and provocative artists took SLCC by storm...armed with paints, pastels and assorted canvases to capture the essence of the convention...in art! Sponsored by Avalon Art District and CounterpART Gallery, the pair created a wide-range of abstract art inspired by the event. The works were auctioned off at the end of the convention; raising $1,000 US for the non-profit organization Virtual Ability!

Virtual Ability works to help people with assistive hardware like voice recognition, special styluses and specialized typing determine the best way to access their virtual environment. They provide community members with support and encouragement, training, virtual field trips and more. You can learn more about Virtual Ability at www.virtualability.org.

Please join us in Avalon on the 30th and meet this two fabulous and generous artists and see the amazing works created at the convention!