SecondLife's Got Talent - 2014

I was talking with my dear friend Garth Raleigh, the former Lead of Gay Archipelago and now an esteemed statesman, when he sent me this press release for "GA's Got Talent". It takes place on December 20th 2014 and is one of the events of this years GA WinterFest.

Garth has assured me that the contest is open to all residents of SecondLife (whether or not you live in the Gay Archipelago), hence my choice of title for this post.

GA's Got Talent - The official rules for all contestants

1. This event is for contestants to get experience with performing and of course to have FUN. And for the audience to see a great show and watch the talented contestants.
2. Drama and 'cat fights' are not allowed. All contestants are equal and we expect them to play fair (this includes ALL 'People's Choice' audience voting' issues. no exceptions)
3. Contest management reserves the right to eliminate any contestant(s) not following contest regulations properly at all times

The Application

• Make a choice what act you want to do at stage. It can be a SOLO or a DUO. Because we expect a big crowd, the second performer can be a duo singer, a dancer or assist with a magical act. 

• For the background of the stage we need a texture or snapshot (landscape format), NOT low pixels. else it looks blurry. 

• Some objects can be rezzed on stage if you are not a pixel size queen. We ask that you avoid heavily-scripted items completely (note - Contest managers will monitor prim usage and take appropriate actions to ensure stable prim counts & scripting behavior during the contest, including immediate return of unauthorized items or heavily scripted items) 

• Please choose a 'stage name' for this performance. Your 'Stage name' can be the artist name or be related to the kind of act you do. 

• Music can be the song you like to perform OR the background music of a magical act. Your music choice should be in MP3 format and will be given to our host DJ to assemble the show stream.

• Your performance/act should be no longer in time than 5 minutes and 50 seconds

• There is no theme... so you can be opera singer, rapper, dancer Rudolf Nureyev or Houdini. 

• This contest bears a 'Mature' rating, as does the GA Coronal Estate in general. Contest management reserves the rights to reject any submitted applications for performance that are deemed in poor taste (see "Community Standards' guidelines in Second Life should you have questions. 

• You will need to schedule rehearsal times for your performance well in advance of the final performance. This will be done through the Contest managers so as to allow normal stage operations, maintain fairness of competition and quality of the overall show.

• COMPLETE AND RETURN the application provided below BEFORE NOVEMBER 20TH, 2014 to Othon Weiland 

The prizes

The winner can win L$5000, the first runner up can win L$2500 and the second runner up can win L$1000.

If two or more contestants get the same votes they have to share the money (for instance: 1 and 2 get each 3750 (5000 + 2500).  

The prize money is donated by the GA community. The hosting estate will supply the technical equipment.

The voting

A contest board will be rezzed for the people's choice. This will be 1/5 of the total votes.

Four judges with knowledge of fashion/costumes, animations/dancing, performing will watch the show and send their votes to Othon Weiland.

The show

GA's Got Talent will take place on December 20, 2014, as part of the Gay Archipelago WinterFest. 

At the start and also at end of the show, when the judges are sending Othon Weiland their ranking, performers of Theater on the Hill will perform. These performers are permitted to take part in the contest.

Othon Weiland

The event is sponsored by the Gay Archipelago and the GA Coronal Estate.

---

Contestant Application
Create a notecard named "GA's Got Talent (Your name here)" containing the following information.Name Contestant:
Stage Name (artist):
Song :
File music:
Background set :Set object(s):

Send your application to Othon Weiland at the latest on November 20th, 2014.

Fantasy Gay Pride Starts Today!

I received this press release through my friend Garth Raleigh, my reliable liaison in Gay Archipelago.

The Fantasy Gay Pride starts at 1 PM SLT today Friday and continues throughout the week.

Your transport to the event! (SLurl)

From the press release:

"We have the most big and beautiful Mer Area you have ever seen! Take a look at the names and photos below!  There is all this and a lot more!

There will be an amazing sim wide Hunt with stunning prizes!

We are, as ever, raising awareness of and encouraging tolerance and acceptance of all sexualities worldwide and this year having even more fun as the theme is "Erotic Fae"! Fantasy Gay Pride will be officially opened by Wolfgang Glinka reading his poem written specially for the festival called "Fae".  

There are many Dances and Parties, live music and a special live performance of the Fairy Show - "The Fascination of Cemanos"."  

Cemanos & Fireann

Asstastic Gallery

1001 Nights - Ali Baba

Mer Area

Goldifrocks & the 3 Bears

Phalis in Wonderland

Miss Fantasy Gay Pride

Sweet BDSM Island

The Purple Penis Palace

Vistas & Blossoms 2014

Today I received this wonderful invitation through my dear friend Garth Raleigh.

VISTAS & BLOSSOMS 2014

~A GA multi-sim, juried Landscape, Garden & Destination Exhibition

A GA 7-Year Anniversary Event

In conjunction with the GA SummerFest 2014

JULY 11 - JULY 20, 2014

WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT: The concept is to feature multiple GA properties of varying LANDSCAPES, GARDEN SPOTS and UNIQUE DESTINATIONS throughout the Gay Archipelago. In effect......a 'multi-sim' event! This one-of-a-kind event will officially open grid-wide on July 11th and will run thru July 20TH. The regions are linked to all other sim/estate entries via an LM-GIVER BILLBOARD - allowing touring guests to jump from location to location (23 diverse regions to explore this year!) to enjoy all the Exhibition has to offer.

Touch a picture tile on one of the billboards located at each region entered and you will receive an LM to tour that estate. You will also receive a note-card that each participant has prepared describing the areas interest and varied attractions that VISTAS & BLOSSOMS tourists will be experiencing. In their own words, they will tell you about what they have created; sometimes their approach to creating the landscape/garden areas; their philosophy on presenting their creations to sim/estate residents and visitors, etc.

The featured entries need NOT be professionally landscaped, nor gardened - only a presentation from a sim/estate owner/manager who is proud of the work that has been done to terraform, landscape and garden in order to beautify and add interest to the property. Displays do NOT have to be huge and awesome....merely inviting and complimentary to the surroundings.

Our Top Three Winners from 2013 will be acting as the judging panel and will be awarding L$34,000 in cash prizes at an Awards Gala on July 20th in the following arenas: 

Best in Show: L$15,000
1st Place: L$7,500
2nd Place: L$2,500

Best use of water feature: L$1,000
Best urban setting design: L$1,000
Best rural setting design: L$1,000
Best 'Themed' design: L$1,000
Best use of a dedicated structure: L$1,000
Best 'Commercial' setting design $L1,000
Best 'Residential' setting design $L1,000
*New: BEST use of wildlife/animals $L1,000

PEOPLES' CHOICE AWARD: $L1,000

AFTER you have toured the regions exhibiting, we invite you to VOTE (free) for your favorite overall region at the voting board on GA Coronal Estate.

Vistas & Blossoms 2014: People's  Choice Voting (SLurl).

During the 10 day exhibition, these regions will be visited by people from all over Second Life! This event is listed with Second Life - Linden Lab - as a 'Featured Event' in the Destination Guide! 

Vistas & Blossoms 2014 is presented to you by the Estates of the Gay Archipelago and is a friendly competition amongst neighbors. We welcome you to this event of exploration and discovery through July 20th!

Begin your Vistas & Blossoms Tour here (SLurl)

Enjoy your tour! 
Garth Raleigh & Othon Weiland 
Vistas & Blossoms 2014 Coordinators

Random Thoughts

"Hands-To-Hold" by Tomais Ashdene

I started my four week long, glorious and wonderful vacation at 12.00 PM local time today. Well I didn't get away from work until a bit later, but who cares. It's going to be wonderful, just to relax and recuperate and enjoy my two lives. I am also going to try to use this opportunity to get back into a proper blogger mode, I have been slacking in my happiness of being married to Tomais.

The vacation was planned to coincide with the celebration of Second Pride Festival, which starts on Friday, because I so want to enjoy the festivities this year. The board of Second Pride made it despite all the many obstacles we have had along the way. I must confess that there were times I actually didn't believe we would have a festival.

The opening of the festival also coincides with the Swedish celebration of Midsummer. On Midsummer's Eve tomorrow I am taking my old parents to one of my nieces homes to meet the rest of the immediate family to celebrate in the traditional manner, loads of pickled herring, fresh strawberries and snaps. It will be great for them to get out of the house and meet their grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The other day, I was upset when i learned that a ghoul from the past has showed it's ugly head again. One would think that almost a full year would be enough to get over losing an election and move on with ones life, especially since the ghoul himself once told me personally "that he really didn't have time for all this with his important first life studies and the rest of his busy life". But nonetheless, here he is back spewing his ugliness and viciousness on the Internet again. I have decided I do not wish to waste time or energy on him and his small army of supporters anymore.

I have been thinking about the two largest gay organisations in SecondLife, Second Pride and the Gay Archipelago. Mostly I have been wondering about the strange armed peace there seems to be between them. I know the history of course, but so many years have passed by now that there really should be openings for some mutual support and collaboration. I have noted and welcomed the news that Gay Gor, which is a part of the Gay Archipelago, will participate in the festival again this year. (It will be so fun to see them in action again! I really loved it at the last festival.) I have also noted that Petr made a peace gesture by attending the send-off party for Garth Raleigh, the former lead of Gay Archipelago. Other than that I haven't seen any tangible progress in the dealings between the organisations.

"The Dark Knight" by Tomais Ashdene

Yesterday I learned that that The Dark Knight (a.k.a. Batman for those of you who aren't well-versed in Superheroes) has actually had two Robins? The first one left to become "Nightwind" (never heard off) and was replaced by another young man. (Today I was told that there have actually been s-e-v-e-r-a-l Robins, oh my!) That's what you learn from being married to a man like my hubby. That man makes me so happy and calm and safe. Who would have thought that a year ago?

I don't like the fact that my doctor has sent me to get a CT scan to check on my pneumonia. Once the doctors start looking closely, who knows what absolutely unrelated things they may find with their high-tech instruments.

About the Gay Archipelago again, I was saddened to note not long ago that this venerable club of sim-owners seem to have drastically lowered the standards of whom to allow within their circle. The venerable club must believe it can control any damage that could be caused to their reputation from that recruitment by their meetings being completely secret and having none of their dealings exposed to public scrutiny. Let's hope they are not in for a surprise.

Chandra Deed @ The Oval - Today 2 PM SLT

My dear friend Garth Raleigh, the former Lead of Gay Archipelago, is busier than ever since he retired from office. As a part of the celebrations of Saint Patrick he invites us all to a concert with the celebrated singer Chandra Deed today.

Click the heels of your emerald shoes together as you hit this link and say aloud "There is no place like The Oval!"

Venice by Night @ The Oval

This press release came to me from my special contact within The Gay Archipelago, my friend Garth Raleigh, the former lead who is now retired, but as busy as ever before.

"The Carnival of Venice (Italian: Carnevale di Venezia) is an annual festival, held in Venice, Italy. The Carnival ends with the Christian celebration of Lent, forty days before Easter on Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras), the day before Ash Wednesday. The festival is famed for its elaborate masks.

You've still got time to do some shopping for the perfect mask and outfit to take home the title of Carnival King! (Hmm…what to wear, what to wear?)

Sunday, March 2, 2pm-4pm, the Oval Concert Hall on the GA Coronal Region invites YOU to attend the masquerade of the season! Join DJ Rascal as he spins the tunes and the extravagant guests whirl on the dancefloor of the beautifully-decorated Oval. Host Miguel will be there to make everyone feel….well, extravagant!

Here's your diamond-studded and heavily-feathered gondola to the Oval! (SLurl)"

Out With the Old Leads, In With the New

Together with Tomais and Guyke I payed a visit yesterday to the Gay Archipelago bash to say thanks and good bye to their outgoing Lead Garth Raleigh and PR Lead Othon Weiland and welcoming in the new Lead ricogenu Resident and Parvin (Xcept Atlas).

I, my hubby and Avacar Bluestar

Petr Hastings Vanbeeck, Chairman of Second Pride

Rico, the new lead of GA

Othon, Garth, Parvin and Mitch (Garth's husband)

Guyke at the side of solid and hot DJ Rocky Constantine

When we started feeling cramped and sweaty in our suits Tomais and I decided to go let our balls hang loose  for a while in the constantly balmy breezes at Boystown's Sunday Beach Party with Ryder Yowman and host Lee McKay. The view was exquisite!

The GA Retirement & Induction Party

I have, almost since I first rezzed into SecondLife, been a member and supporter of the Second Pride group. As such I admit to once having viewed the formation of The Gay Archipelago as a new LGBT community in-world with much scepticism and even suspicion, "Why would we want or need two or more groups with such a relatively small LGBT community?". 

Over the years - through my friendly relations with first Fabrice Snook (the founder of the GA-group) and later with also with Garth Raleigh and Othon Weiland (the outgoing Leads) - and having seen all the good work that has been done in the Gay Archipelago over the years I have completely revised my position on this matter. Today I (as a Swedish saying goes) stand "with one foot in each camp", although perhaps still leaning a little towards Second Pride. I now view the two groups as necessary and complementary and I also understand that both are working for the LGBT community in SecondLife as a whole. My only hope is that we may in the future see some more collaborative efforts and unified activities. 

The following message comes to us via a press release from The Gay Archipelago, kindly supplied to me by the outgoing GA-Lead Garth. (I really must have a talk with Rico and Xcept (formerly also known as Parvin) soon, so that this excellent service and tradition is continued under the new leadership, it is sometimes difficult for a poor blogger to keep up with everything that goes on in two lives without a few kind prods.)

I hope to see you all at the retirement and induction party at Gay Fun World tonight!

"In 2007, The Gay Archipelago was founded to be a place where the LGBT community could live, create, and share dreams together.  A diverse group of visionaries, leaders, and their assistants committed themselves to the idea that we are stronger together.  In those seven years we have grown and labored to become what we are today, an international community of over 100 member estates and well in excess of two thousand Second Life residents. This progress did not happen overnight, nor did it happen without embracing change. 

Today marks another change for our Community, one in leadership. Garth Raleigh and Othon Weiland have retired from their positions, but not from their active lives in the GA.  They will take their well earned places in history as one of the most successful teams of leaders our community has ever seen. They have set the standard upon which we, the incoming leadership team, will be measured. The bar has been set high.

Ricogenu, your new GA Lead, and Xcept Atlas, your new PR Lead, stand at the ready to continue to provide service to you, our member regions, and your residents. We are committed to listening to your feedback, answering your questions, identifying and fixing any challenges we encounter, and sharing our skill sets, so that we may continue to meet the needs of our community.

We also want you to know that during this time of change, we greatly value you and the significant work you do every day to sustain the Gay Archipelago's position as a leader of Second Life's LGBT Community - a place of welcome, orientation, community and help. 

Finally, we thank you for the opportunity to lead this great association. Together we will grow our future, and plan for the years ahead. 

We invite you to join us in celebration on Sunday, February 16th at 1pm SLT at Gay Fun World (SLurl) for Garth's and Othon's retirement party and the induction of Ricogenu and Xcept. Like yesterday, today, and tomorrow, Our Journey Continues Together. 

Sincerely,Ricogenu Resident and Xcept Atlas"

EXCLUSIVE: Interviews with Outgoing and Incoming Leads of Gay Archipelago

Yesterday, while I was taking it easy and dancing bareassed with my husband - and several other hotties - at the Boystown Beach Party with DJ Ryder Bowman, all hell broke loose as the Gay SecondLife metaverse reverberated with the news that Gay Archipelago, or "the other organisation" as it was once upon a time referred to at Second Pride meetings, had gotten a new lead.

Ricogenu Resident (right) with his partner Avacar Bluestar at the
GA Estate Owners Meeting yesterday prior to the announcement

ricogenu Resident had just been named by the GA Discovery Committee to succeed in the position as lead of Gay Archipelago being vacated by Garth Raleigh-Underby next week.

What is an avatar blogger supposed to do when he is thus caught by surprise without any pants? As your intrepid reporter I called my two friends in Instant Message to get exclusive interviews with them both. (I did most certainly not inform either of them that I was conducting the interviews in the buff.)

First off I called Garth Raleigh-Underby, the outgoing lead
Bock: Hello my dear friend! What is this news I just got?
Garth: Hi, Bock dear! :)
Bock: Have you stepped down as lead for GA?
Garth Raleigh: Actually, I did that about a month ago when I informed the Owners group that I was retiring. A Discovery Team was created to vett and interview prospective candidates prior to my official last day (February 13th). Today was the announcement at the GA Owners Gathering. Now I work with the incoming Lead, Rico (ricogenu) on transitional issues and continue to advise him.
Bock: He is a nice guy too, although I do not know him as well as I know you.
Garth You will have many chances to know him better as he wades into the deep end of the pool, so to speak. lol
Bock: LOL
Garth: As for me... I have already started taking classes on Firestorm viewer issues and am slated to begin classes on building/creating with sculpties and mesh. Things I have not had time to do for myself. And I can spend more time with friends and with Mitch. It is our 1 year anniversary today, btw. :)
Bock: OMG congratulations!
Garth: Also, Othon retired as PR/Publicity lead for the GA. The new PR/Publicity Lead is Parvin (xcept.atlas).
Bock: Big changes on important positions
Garth: Change... is essential. Without change groups like the GA become stagnant and unable to move ahead. I wanted to make sure the organization remains vital and full of fresh new ideas and ways of doing things. Now I move out of the spotlight, it was getting a bit toasty under there. LOL

Bock: I am happy for you though
Garth: This means I can come pester YOU more. LOLOL
Bock: YAY! I hope you and Mitch have saved March 8th for me and Tomais
Garth: 8th... Right, saw that on your blog, dear.
Bock: Excellent! Now you can relax and say and do whatever and tell everyone to go screw themselves - although I know you would never express it quite like that...

Next I called on Rico Resident, who according to what his partner Avacar jokingly told me was attempting to "bury a hole". 

Bock: Congratulations buddy! Best of luck with your important mission

ricogenu: Thanks Bock

Bock: I assume you are busy so I will not pester you, just wanted to tell you I you I think you will be an excellent lead for GA

ricogenu: No I am good and Bock you are never a pest

Bock: Hugs mate and *fingers crossed* KICK ASS!

ricogenu: OK I will do my utmost best at it!

This is Rico’s acceptance speech at the GA Owner's meeting transcribed (quoted from the GA WeBlog:

“Hello and I thank you very much for turning up today for this announcement. I stand before you as a very humble man, ready for the challenge that awaits me, a gracious representative to the Second Life lgbt community as a whole.

Each of you play a very important part of the Gay Archipelago mission and I look forward to serving all of you both individually and collectively.

Many of you have worked with my partner in the GA over the last 3 years, and his experience along with mine are to be explored in the very near future on the GA blog.

I appreciate the diligence that the Discovery committee carried out in evaluating my qualifications to take the reins of the GA leadership and I hope to both meet & exceed your many expectations as we move forward this year.

Please bear with me as I become familiar with each estate owner and its superlatives as I hope to learn the many great talents of our overall team.

Your participation is vital to our success and along with many excellent and acclaimed accomplishments for the GA under Garth and his team, we aim to carry that same momentum into all future endeavors that benefit our membership.

Thanks again for your commitment and dedication to the Gay Archipelago.
Sincerely yours, Ricogenu.”

Gay Archipelago Winter Festival - December 6 through 15, 2013

From a Gay Archipelago press release

♫ Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but Second Life's  delightful...♫

The Gay Archipelago in Second Life is proud to announce the opening of the LGBT Winter Festival, 2013

  

'GA Winter Dreams'

December 6th through December 15th, 2013

Your Sleigh to the Winter Festival (SLurl)

After months of preparation, the GA Festival Team invites everyone on the grid to visit this Second Life Destination Guide 'Featured Event'- with our snow-covered vistas; the amazing Grande MarketFair hosting your favorite merchants - all offering great gifts for you and shopping opportunities to help with your holiday list; Sleigh Rides; ice-skating; Multiple Exhibits; Music & Dance parties throughout the GA member regions (all with super prize-boards); Contests of all sorts and.....oh, yes - be sure to stop in and vote for one of the 12 extremely hot guys hoping to be MR. GAY, 2014.  Gah.......can't keep up with all the creative Team has planned!

The entire dedicated sim is open to ALL 24/7 during this 10-day festival with something to satisfy every taste!  Come experience the LGBT Winter Festival and be elevated into the beauty and joy of the season! 

BY YOU AND FOR YOU, the LGBT Community in Second Life.

You can find our very full full calendar (and more) at our secure website http://www.ga-weblog.com

ENJOY!

Garth Raleigh, Lead Gay Archipelago

& The GA Festival Team

An Invitation From The Gay Archipelago

Hello! My name is Garth Raleigh and I am the Lead of the Gay Archipelago in Second Life (fondly referred to as the GA). I'm writing to you today to extend an invitation to YOU to JOIN in the planning and operation of the upcoming LGBT Winter Festival in Second life!

The GA is widely considered to be the leader in the LGBT Community in this virtual platform and, as in past years we're getting set to present the SL Community with a major festival which will be enjoyed by thousands of people - from all over the real world and all over Second Life!

There'll be fun and entertainment for each and every taste; music, shopping; exhibits - and well......whatever YOUR ideas are can become reality. This IS Second Life, after all. ㋡

Like people? Like to make new friends? Enjoy learning new skills? Community-minded? Have talents that you would like to lend to the LGBT Community in Second Life? OR.......Not sure, but you like to be involved somehow?

✩ THIS INVITATION IS FOR YOU!! ✩

I will be hosting an informal 'organizational' gathering this weekend (SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2013 - 12:00pm NOON) at the GA Clubhouse on the GA Coronal Region.

I'm inviting you to come and join the Festival Team Group in one of several areas. Here's a brief summary for you to consider where we have openings:

    ◆  PUBLICITY/PUBLIC RELATIONS & PROMOTION

        ◆  EVENTS PLANNING / MANAGEMENT

            ◆  BUILDINGS & GROUNDS

                ◆  MARKETFAIR MANAGEMENT/OPERATIONS

                    ◆  FESTIVAL SPONSORSHIP COORDINATION

                    

                        ◆  FESTIVAL SIM MANAGEMENT/SECURITY

HOW DO YOU GET INVOLVED? Contact me (or Othon Weiland, GA Publicity Lead) directly with an IM or a notecard and let us know you wish to join in with the creation of this wonderful & traditional event for the LGBT Community - the largest and ONLY LGBT Celebration of its kind in SL.

After we hear from you, we'll make sure you have a nice chair to relax in while we talk, laugh and brainstorm together as a group (we'll pass you the LM too).

Can't make the meeting planned? No worries - there will be more. You are always welcome. Stay in touch!

Be safe. Be Proud!

Garth Raleigh
Lead, Gay Archipelago

Othon Weiland
GA Publicity Lead

Fantasy Gay Pride 2013, September 27-October 6

From a press release kindly supplied by Garth Raleigh, the lead of Gay Archipelago

Fantasy Gay Pride opens on Friday September 27 and ends on Sunday October 6

Your ride to the Fantasy Gay Pride (SLurl)

Every year a small group of creators get together to create a weeklong celebration of everything LGBT. Their aim is to promote acceptance of all positive sexual orientations and of all genders. All sexualities are very welcome to the festival to raise awareness of these issues worldwide - all on a unique, one time only island, created for this event.

Find your inner Fae! A fantastic and intriguing land with creations and magic never seen before from our very talented fantasy and fae designers.

Come and immerse yourselves in legend and wonder, ancient Archetypes we all hold deep in our psyches... the curious... the strange... the challenging... Our fae nature resonates to these strong and subtle primal earth energies. These ancient powers.

We fight for global LGBT rights - there are still countries where gays are attacked and tortured and being gay is punishable by imprisonment or death. But we are glad the movement for marriage equality is growing and going from strength to strength, as more and more countries embrace and champion it. We will get there, LGBT people will be accepted everywhere - we will demand it as a fundamental human right and have a great deal of fun doing it!

The program of events

*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*
Friday September 27

• 1PM Sim Opening With Wolfgang Glinka - Gay Poet & Novelist 
• 2PM-4PM Celebration Dance at the Castle - DJ Dance with DJ Shay Sunnyside- Princes and Princesses
• HUNT! ongoing Sept 27- Oct 6

*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*
Saturday September 28

• 12PM (noon) Hammerfla Magic
• 1PM "The Fairy Who Loses His Wings" Fairy Show by Whinge & Pluckett (Karalia Halostar & Greville Oh)
• 2pm to 4pm - DJ DANCE (Shay Sunnyside or Starhawk Starostin)

*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*
Sunday September 29

• 12PM (noon) Brendan Shoreland
• 2PM-4PM - DJ DANCE - DJ Lysana Celtic Myths and Legends

*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*
Monday September 30 

• 8AM Wedding of Gog Nirvana and Rian OHanlan
• [no performances]

*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*
Tuesday October 1

• 1PM Wolfgang Glinka - Poetry
• 5 PM Anek Fuchs

*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*
Wednesday October 2

• 7PM "The Fairy Who Loses His Wings" Fairy Show by Whinge & Pluckett (Karalia Halostar & Greville Oh)

*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*
Thursday October 3

• 4PM Anek Fuchs

*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*
Friday October 4

• [no performances]

*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*
Saturday October 5

• 12PM (noon) Hammerfla Magic
• 1PM Key Drammond
• 2PM-4PM - DJ DANCE (Shay Sunnyside or Starhawk Starostin)

*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*
Sunday October 6

• 10AM  Max Kleene
• 11AM Keeba Tammas
• 12PM (noon) Brendan Shoreland
• 2PM-4PM - DJ DANCE- Astoria Luminos "Fairy Tales"

My SecondLife Ankles - The Conclusion

Following a suggestion from Drey Messmer, one of my brother in-laws, I increased my foot size to 50. As you can see it may have helped a little. However - to your relief and my own also - I can safely say that this will be the last post ever concerning my ankles.

Yesterday I received a gift of elven-crafted prim feet from my friend Garth Raleigh, quite possibly to effectively shut me up on this tedious and self obsessed subject. Nonetheless I am extremely grateful to him for this considerate gift and thank him from my ankles all the way up to the top of my head.

I am going to try them out first thing today and use them whenever I can. However, if you should see me in my allegedly hideous socktops in the future you now know the reason why. Who knows, perhaps socktops will be fashionable again in which case you may refer to me as "trendsetter" or "fashionista extraordinaire".

To the bore that reported my earlier picture to Facebook, "Dear Madam/Sir, please note that I am actually wearing a swimsuit and am not flaunting a hard-on."

"Duelling Divas"

When I logged into my second life yesterday I was in a rather foul mood. Nothing important at all, I was just feeling sort of generally annoyed with a few - temporary - bastards at work.

Garth Raleigh must either be really intuitive or knows me well enough to ascertain my current mood from reading my posts. Well, almost as soon as I had logged in he contacted me and suggested two great mood enhancers, 1) shopping and 2) a bit of light entertainment.

I was very grateful for both tips and jumped right into shopping, where I managed to get my son Guyke and my friend Butch to accompany me on the shopping trip. (The two are actually co-founders of SecondLife Shopaholics Anonymous). When I after a while of shopping suggested that they come with me to a show the two uncouth philistines flatly refused and called me pretentious. Moi pretentious, is that fair I ask you?

Well anyway, I left them at The 24 still shopping away like crazy and teleported to the Theater on the Hill all set to enjoy the company's production of "Duelling Divas". The show starred Oliver Elton and Juve Wheelwright, with Othon Weiland as a lesser diva and a whole lot of cute child avatars as supporting acts.

The enthusiastic audience were treated to a string of songs and show tunes - including but not limited to - "The Winner Takes It All", "Performance of My Life", "Gracias a la Vida", "Someone Like You", "This Is My Life", "Out Here On My Own", "Il n'y a pas d'amour heureux" and "You'll Never Walk Alone".

Juve Wheelwright

Oliver Elton

Juve

Oliver

Juve

Oliver

The kids

The finale with Othon center stage

I had an excellent time and was in completely different mood when I logged out than when I logged in. Thank you Garth, Guyke, Butch, Othon, Oliver and Juve for salvaging my Monday!

Happy 6th Anniversary Gay Archipelago!

The founder Fabrice Snook (February 9, 2007 - November 23, 2011)

History

In 2007, Fabrice Snook founded the initial sims of the Gay Archipelago seeing a need for a place in Second Life where the LGBT community could live, create and share dreams together. The following years brought growth of the Archipelago by leaps and bounds and strengthened the LGBT presence in Second Life.

In 2010, Linden Labs recognized the need for LGBT residents in Second Life to be together and bonded with each other to create a feeling of community to further the Second Life experience. Thus the area currently known as the 'GA Prime' cluster was established so that LGBT sims and estates could live, work and play in close proximity as neighbors and friends on the SL Grid.

In 2011, Linden Labs recognized the needs of LGBT sims to be able to grow, expand and reorganize in a more 'Protected' and 'organized' area to further strengthen the LGBT community in SL. Thus the second SL Grid area known today as the 'GA Reserve' cluster was established and settled.

Today, the GA boasts some of the most active and popular LGBT clubs in SL as well as numerous galleries, performance halls, theaters, thriving commercial districts, prime LGBT residential areas, resorts, multiple tourist-attractions and amazing events which draw residents from all over the SL grid.

The GA Organization has grown as a strong LGBT Community and regularly welcomes new friends and regions from all over Second Life!

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Membership

The Gay Archipelago proudly welcomes LGBT and LGBT-friendly regions from all over the Second Life Grid to join in friendship, fun, unity and creation of all our dreams together. If you are interested in joining the GA, please contact current GA Lead, Garth Raleigh for an application for your adventure to begin!

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Celebration

To celebrate the anniversary there will be a three hour party today (10 AM - 1 PM SLT) at Gay Fun World

For additional information about the party please visit Gay Archipelago