Z Returns To The Aviary

The renowned SecondLife singer Z Sorbet (formerly known as ZDiva) is returning to The Aviary to reprise her fabulous concert in May 2015.

Saturday, April 18th, 2020, at 2 PM SLT, Z will - by popular demand and the laird's command - be performing at The Aviary at Southern Charm (SLurl). Clear your calendars, you will be sorry if you miss this event. (Wear clothes, any clothes)

Preparations For Influx of Refugees

"As residents of SecondLife, we must prepare ourselves for an influx of refugees from First Life due to the constraints on living conditions and mobility brought on by the raging pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus. The new arrivals must be taken care of, housed, fed and clothed, and be made to feel welcome amongst us. However, we should also be aware they may have been living in difficult circumstances and may suffer from some post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Suitable security measures are therefore advisable.", says The Much Honored Bock McMillan, laird of Southern Charm etc., etc., who has already set aside the building named "The Aviary" on his large estate

 as temporary housing for some of the refugees. (See picture above). 

When the blog was visiting, all - or at least fourscore - little princes and princesses in his realm were busy cleaning, furnishing and putting the place in excellent order. Fresh linen on 14 beds, and lots of flowers and candle lights. 

Although the building has no privy of its own some will be prepared in an adjacent outhouse. The building is located between a large lake and the sea, which can be used for hygenic purposes.

Wookey Project Corp. Buys Sansar

Linden Lab announced today that the virtual world of Sansar has been sold to The Wookey Project Corporation.

In their online statement about themselves Wookey says:

PUTTING ONLINE POWER BACK INTO YOUR HANDS 

Wookey started from our own experience. Just like you, we saw the limitations of flat, one-dimensional internet interaction. With each experience, the frustration grew. It’s evident that algorithms are telling me what it wants, not hearing what I need.

What if we could create online experiences that were unbiased and arranged by relevance to us, not by advertisers or bias of company? We realized, with the right team and the right investors, we can.

Wookey was born. We endeavor to create a new generation of online AR/VR experiences that allows users the power of collaborative interaction through knowledge immersion.

That sounds rather exciting, doesn't it? Perhaps I should not give up my Sansar account yet.

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P.S. This might be a good time to rebut all the many rumors that The BMcM Corporation had any interest in acquiring Sansar. (The fact that it was the only shareholder of the company who was disseminating the rumors did not help either, but how does one tell a laird to STFU?)

Self-Quarantine

When the news broke that Prince Albert II of Monaco had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, The Much Honored Bock McMillan, Laird of Southern Charm, immediately went into a voluntary self-quarantine.

"Bock in Quarantine" by JJ GoodmaNZ

The laird and the prince had been cavorting in Paris during the weekend, so the measure was taken out of an abundance of safety. Neither the laird, nor his Prince Consort, are - as yet - displaying any symptoms of Covid-19.

P.S. No alas I am not singing to entertain my neighbors, my consort will not allow me...

The Laird's Lament

Commoners don't always fully appreciate what a burdensome undertaking it is to be a Prince of the Realm. 

Not only have I inherited two castles, three manors, 15 villas, and uncountable other domiciles, all over the world, but the upkeep and maintenance alone also takes a sizeable portion of my income. However, it falls on me as the head of clan McMillan to keep the lazy princes and princess, the staff and all the other greedy buggers who hang around with roof over their heads.

Bock with Tiara, by JJ Goodman
(The lower part of this wonderful picture has been edited out for Facebook's,
Blogger's & Twitter's modesty's sake. You can see the full-sized photo here)

In this beautiful picture of when I am taking my morning bath, by my beloved brother Prince George (aka JJ), I seem to be alone and in a pensive mood. Not true!

Truth be told we were surrounded by at least twenty courtiers and even more servants. There was The Sergeant at Arms, The Carrier of The Royal Chamberpot, The Royal Fluffer, The Royal Towel Maiden, etc. etc. Although I am only wearing the simple and unassuming Brandenburg Tiara in platinum with gigantic drop-shaped pearls, the crown is an essential attribute.

Sometimes being a laird is simply no fun at all.

Brexit Day

At 12 AM (midnight) CET tonight, January 31^st, 2020, the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.

In commemoration of this solemn occasion Bock MacMillan, the Much Honored Laird of Southern Charm, prince of Cascade Falls, etc, etc, has issued the following statement.

"A slim majority of Britons voted to leave the European Union in a referendum in 2016 (51,89%) and again in the general election 2019, which was to a great extent focused on the Brexit issue. The Conservative party (who supported Brexit), won 365 of the 650 seats in the Parliament, thus a very comfortable majority. 

In my opinion, it is a sad occasion which I believe the Brits will come to regret. To me, the EU has always mainly stood for a peace project. An effort to bring together "the usual suspects" (i.e. Germany, France United Kingdom, and Italy) and the smaller European countries to work on joint projects and solutions of common issues with the goal of peaceful coexistence in the longterm. 

It is unfortunate that the UK now leaves the community due to a resurgence of nationalism, populism, and isolationism. The question of whether the Brits have been misinformed or lead astray is now moot. We must accept the results of their will as it has been clearly expressed. 

I wish the Brits all the best for the future."

Lucky

Someone lucked-out in the partnering processes in SecondLife.

This is the laird's spouse "au naturelle", and what a pleasant sight it is.

"Oceana" by Tomais Ashdene

As my dear man has taken up the mischief of disallowing downloads from his Flickr account this is a snipped picture, to see a better quality photo, please click his name in the caption.

Flying With Tomais

As I have told you all several times before the laird's spouse is an avid collector of transportation vessels of all kinds, but predominantly airplanes and sailboats. He never ever seems to have enough.

Besides collecting them he likes to use them, and it is a good way of relaxing for both him and the laird. Yesterday he was experimenting with a new flight HUD.

Laird In Cameo Appearance

The SL Destination Guide has published a short video on YouTube depicting the Second Pride Region and the ongoing Pride festival.

In this beautiful short video, made by famous director Draxtor Despres on commission from Linden Lab, The Much Honored Bock McMillan, laird of Southern Charm and prince of Cascade Falls etc. etc., makes a cameo appearance as himself purchasing donuts together with friend Wee William Wylie, owner of Dim Sum Garden.

That the laird chooses to make this surprising appearance in a movie, after publicly declaring he had left the movie industry for good, shows his strong support for Second Pride and trust in the director, however lacking the man's fashion sense may be.



Please remember to like, comment and share!

When the Laird Was Snubbed by Catherine the Great

Yesterday The Much Honored Bock McMillan, laird of Southern Charm, prince of Cascade Falls, Sovereign Ruler of the Commonwealth of Southern Enchantment with the Region of Monfort l'Amaury (self-governing) and Outer Territories, UN-appointed Protector of the Mount Whitney Region in SecondLife and, finally, pretender to the throne of Macedonia in first life, chose to attend a concert and ball at his dear cousins Ophiel's and Nathanael's palace to enjoy a Russian role play.

The laird much appreciated his cousin's having informed the doorman about his full titulature so he was correctly announced when entering the ballroom. He did however not appreciate the Tsarina did not, as would have been seemly, greet him at the door when he arrived.

The foolish woman remained seated on the balcony of the ballroom, displaying her total ignorance to the world.

It does happen from time to time that even those who should know better do not recognize the Lairds exalted status within the royal and noble ranks. The Laird could indeed have had the little tsarina stripped, flogged and thrown prostrate at his feet, but he was in a benevolent mood and as always patient.

Instead, the laird enjoyed the concert that had been arranged and danced the whole night afterward with the charming and witty Mademoiselle Florentine Rau-Offcourse.

Are Centaurs Extinct? (Updated Landmark to New Store)

The answer to the question in the title is, of course, a resounding "Hell no!".

Despite what you may have been taught, centaurs are not creatures of fable or mythology. Neither did the race die out entirely when their mares left them to wander off and die lonely deaths on the plains of Central Asia.

The story of how the species was saved and survived to this day through heroic efforts by the first laird and his wife is a living legend within clan McMillan.

The first laird Callum and his spouse the goddess-witch Minerva came across the last three living centaurs during their travels in Asia Minor. They were in a pitiful state after a long life of ribaldry, whoring and worse.

With the skilled ministrations of Minerva, the centaurs were brought back to health and were offered a safe haven in the laird's clan, who at the time lived in the Scottish Highlands. 

Over time there was intermarriage between the species and the McMillan clan became the renowned shapeshifters they are today. (Clan McMillan and their distant relations the Ashdene family are among the last remaining shapeshifters still among us.) To this day they choose at will in which manner they wish to present themselves.

Notes:

Centaur body (Bento) and skin from Jinx. https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/52351 (right now only sold at We ♥ Roleplay (SLurl)) UPDATE: Landmark to the New Jinx Store (SLurl)

The armor is my Valentine's Day gift from my husband Tomais.

Float With The Tiny Community

The Much Honored Bock McMillan, the laird of Southern Charm etc.etc., is showing his support for the tiny community's struggles in SecondLife.

"We all want to be grounded", the laird says, "the struggle of the tinies is Ours."

And here is some good news on the matter shared by Inara Pey on Twitter

The Lab have actually found the root cause of the problem and have a fix, which is  currently with the Lab's QA team for testing. See Hover Height / Vertical Positioning Issue at: https://t.co/azFOkDQfcQ .

— Inara Pey (@InaraPey) January 14, 2019

If you would like a set of stilts, please send me a message inworld and I will supply you with a pair. They are made for an offset of 0.4

Glory Be!

The word spread fast around Southern Charm this morning, for nothing travels faster than good news.

"Glory be, for the Laird has arisen from his (almost) deathbed and is well on his way to full recovery"

No one fully understands - and I don't mean to be a drama queen about this - but when I get sick, I really feel awfully sick. It doesn't help one bit that I'm a hypochondriac either... Sometimes I can laugh at myself, but that is only afterward not while it lasts.

Oh poor me, but thank the Babylonians, it's over for this time. 

It's A Party...And You're All Welcome!

Please join us in celebrating Life, Love and the grand opening of Static Frenzy's exhibition at the Northmead Gallery, Southern Charm, SecondLife on Saturday, October 20th, 2018, at 12 PM (noon) SLT.

Music will be provided by the amazing Lee McKay. (By special dispensation, music by ABBA will be permitted - for the first and only time ever - on Southern Charm.)

SecondLife photographer Static Frenzy, as many already know, is renowned and loved for his vision of what it means to be an LGBT-man in a virtual reality with scenes from his everyday life, budding romances, and hot sexual encounters.

The Northmead Gallery also has its permanent galleries showing the works of JJ Goodman, Wayne Allan, and Tomais Ashdene besides parts of the Laird of Southern Charm's vast collection of  SecondLife artwork.

Wear whatever you feel like, but wear something. (The only one permitted to be completely nude is Mr. Apmel Goosson Esq., should he wish to attend.)

Remember, all the best parties should have at least one sim crash.

Here is your limousine waiting to transport you to The Northmead Gallery at Southern Charm (SLurl).

Chez Nathanael & Ophiel

The Much Honored Bock McMillan, laird of Southern Charm, prince of Cascade Falls, Sovereign Ruler of the Commonwealth of the Southern Enchantment Realm and Outer Territories and finally UN-appointed Protector of the Mount Whitney sim in SecondLife (that's me), yesterday made an official visit with mes chers cousins Nathanael Sommerfeld and Ophiel Er'el, Marquis of Montfort l'Amaury.

The official reason for the visit was that Monfort l'Amaury has recently received a complete redecoration into an 18th-century roleplay sim and is now going to open its doors to the general public, or the hoi polloi as we entitled people prefer to say.

Official photography of the meeting by JJ Goodman.
From left to right, my consort Tomais Ashdene, the Duke of Erat and a prince of the realm,
my brother JJ Goodman, a prince of the realm, the Laird (i.e. me), Ophiel Er'el, Marquis of
Monfort l'Amaury, and his consort Graf Simon Hieronymus Casimir zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
(Nathanael Sommerfeld) and finally Holter Rez., a prince of the realm. 
Missing from the picture is Wayne Allen, a prince of the realm.

The real reason, however, was to bring the diplomatic negotiations concerning the incorporation of Monfort l'Amaury (as a self-governing region) into the Commonwealth of the Southern Enchantment Realm to a successful close.

Welcome to my world dear cousins. You are hereby both granted the title of "Prince of the Realm". May our friendship last and may our cooperation be successful.

Going For Shock Value

Imagine, the most fashion-forward person in your life, yup that's I, doing something of a never-heard-of-before magnitude to disturb your peace of mind and complacency.

Here you see the Much Honored Bock McMillan in the "Hiking Sandals" from Lenox. (Whoever heard of hiking sandals before?) Yes, I am  (for once) wearing socks with sandals.

Well, I look good and my legs look totes adorbs and lickable, wouldn't you agree?

On the Brink of A Global Trade War

Mr. Donald J. Trump, Esq.
president of the U.S.A.

The president of the United States of America, Donald J Trump, this morning announced that the European Union (amongst them the Kingdom of Southern Charm), Canada and Mexico would no longer be exempt from tariffs on imported steel (25%) and aluminum (10%).

The European Union, Canada and Mexico have retaliated with raising duties on imported American products. We are now at the brink of a trade war that can potentially have massive effects on the world's economy and could - if it continues to escalate - lead to a global financial crisis. 

Similar protectionist measures led to The Great Depression in the 1930's.

The Much Honored Bock McMillan,
laird of Southern Charm

The Much Honored Bock McMillan, laird of Southern Charm, prince of Cascade Falls, Sovereign Ruler of the Commonwealth of the Southern Enchantment Region and Outer Territories and finally UN appointed Protector of the Mount Whitney sim in SecondLife, in an attempt to calm the worried princes and princesses of the nation, announced that he was working tirelessly with other world leaders to prevent the crisis from deteriorating further.

There's A New Superhero Team InWorld

A new superhero team premiered last night in SecondLife. It's the Amazingly Patient and Never Cranky Bock McMillan and his cute sidekick Tomais.

"I'm Starsky, he's Hutch" by Tomais Ashdene

It is rumored that Bock is a gay nobleman who steals from the rich to give to the poor and fights crime, injustice and for the Scandinavian way of life diligently as he goes along. 

Most of Bock's superpowers haven't been revealed yet but it is known that he can fly, teleport and charm the pants of anyone with his dazzling smile.

Scandal: Ex-Minister Gropes Guests & Shows Dick

Anders Borg, Sweden’s former finance minister (2006-2014), has resigned as deputy chairman of technology investment group Kinnevik after a scandal over his drunken behavior at a party recently in the Stockholm archipelago.

Fifty of Sweden's highest, mightiest and finest industrialists were among the guests. The guest list did, however, not include either HRM King Carl Gustaf or HRM Queen Silvia of Sweden or Bock McMillan, the Much Honored laird of Southern Charm.

At the party Mr Borg became totally wasted by consuming too much alcohol. Borg's behavior at a party deteriorated rapidly. He started calling several of the women present "whores", "sluts" and "bitches". He also whipped out his penis, grabbed other male guests in the crotch and urged them to take out their penises so they could compare sizes.

Oh, how the mighty do fall... 

Laird: "Prachtig Nederland!" (Updated)

The Much Honored Bock McMillan, laird of Southern Charm, prince of Cascade Falls etc., etc., today commented on the results of the Dutch elections.

"The people of the world, and especially Europe, should thank the Dutch voters for putting a stop to the growth of the Islamophobic and anti-EU populists. 

Hopefully the results of this election will break the onslaught of the growing populism in Europe, I even dare to wish that it may set a trend for the upcoming national elections in Germany and France. 

The Dutch example gives us all hope and shows the political leaders of Europe that it is possible to quell the rise of populism, even after Brexit and the American presidential election. Prachtig gedaan, Nederland!"

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Update
I found this quote by Jesse Klaver, leader of the GreenLeft party, that I cannot withhold from you. On polling day he said that the left’s answer to the far right’s rise in Europe was to stand up for its ideals. “What I would say to all my left wing friends in Europe: don’t try to fake the populace. Stand for your principles. Be straight. Be pro-refugee. Be pro-European. We’re gaining momentum in the polls. And I think that’s the message we have to send to Europe. You can stop populism.”