Designing Worlds Visits Winterfell!

Take a tour of the dark and mysterious lands of Winterfell with owner Serra Anansi and captain Wildstar Beaumont. Your hosts Saffia Widdershins and Elrik Merlin discover the beauty and dangers of this Second Life region.

Toast to the Lassies

I was tremendously honoured to be invited by Lady Eva Bellambi to give the Toast to the Lassies at this year's Burns Supper and Ceilidh in Winterfell Anodyne. Lady Bellambi holds this virtual event in honour of Scotland's "National Poet".

Burns Suppers are held all over the world. A chance to gather and share in the life and writing of Robert Burns. For more on Robert Burns, visit www.robertburns.org/.

I am pleased to share with you my toast from last night...

Ladies and Gentlemen it is with great honour that I stand before you today to offer a toast to the lassies on the auspicious occasion of Robert Burns Night. To be asked by our charming hostess, the Lady of Skye, to not only attend this dinner, but to have the opportunity to toast those of the fairer sex is a very special privilege.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lady Eva Bellambi for organizing and hosting this wonderful evening in honour of Robert Burns. Thank you for welcoming us into your beautiful home. Thanks also to Miss Rowan Derryth for her work helping to organize this event and for what I am sure will be a charming and delightful response to my toast.

It is wonderful to see everyone here, and in particular, all of you divine lassies...although around this intriguing virtual world, one always has to wonder if in fact the lassies you see are in fact lassies at all.

Robert Burns. Rabbie Burns. The Ploughman Poet. Robden of Solway Firth. The Bard of Ayrshire. Scotland's favourite son. The Bard. Widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and perhaps Scotland’s Minister of Population Development.

He of course had a legendary eye and obviously a little more (or perhaps a lot more) for the ladies. With a total of twelve children by four women, one can surmise that if he were in our virtual world today, he would hold a customer rewards card for the local prim baby store. Imagine the talking tummies following in his wake...and whether you would be able to understand a word they uttered in open chat. Certainly not the traditional stuffed stomach...

In our virtual world, I am certainly privileged to know so many talented, professional, educated, intelligent, creative and caring women. Women who make both the virtual AND the physical worlds a much better place.

In honour of these most important women to myself and to all of us, I thought it appropriate to share with you the lyrics of a song written by Robert Burns in honour of a woman particularly dear to him...Agnes McLehose. I give to you, 'Ae Fond Kiss'.

Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;
Ae fareweel, and then for ever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.
Who shall say that Fortune grieves him,
While the star of hope she leaves him?
Me, nae cheerful twinkle lights me;
Dark despair around benights me.

I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy,
Naething could resist my Nancy:
But to see her was to love her;
Love but her, and love for ever.
Had we never lov'd sae kindly,
Had we never lov'd sae blindly,
Never met-or never parted,
We had ne'er been broken-hearted.

Fare-thee-weel, thou first and fairest!
Fare-thee-weel, thou best and dearest!
Thine be ilka joy and treasure,
Peace, Enjoyment, Love and Pleasure!
Ae fond kiss, and then we sever!
Ae fareweel alas, for ever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.

Please join me in raising your glasses to the women who play such an important role in our lives…to the lassies!

Miss Rowan Derryth came back with a fabulous toast to the lads!

For more about this event in Second Life, visit Eva's blog at http://redroseofcaledon.blogspot.com/2011/01/celebrating-burns-night-on-isle-of-skye.html.

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.

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!

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