Ramzan Kadyrov - The Dictator of Chechnya

Ramzan Kadyrov is the dictator of the republic of Chechnya, which is a federal subject republic of Russia.

As you can see from the picture below, Ramzan really, really, really - and I mean really - likes Vladimir "Little Father" Putin, the president of the Russian Federation.

Ramzan's cuddling up to Vlad has very good reasons. Firstly, it was Putin who put Ramzan in power after the previous dictator of Chechnya was (who was little Ramzan's father) killed. Putin also funnels over a whole lot of money (some say 80% of Chechnya's budget) to keep Ramzan in power with the main objective to keep the Islamic separatists in check and the country calm.

Despite his cuddling up with Putin, Ramzan really, really, really - and I mean really - doesn't like homosexuals. In fact he emphatically denies there are any Chechen homosexuals, and if there are he recently said that he would bugger them for badmouthing him and his wonderful republic with spreading rumors about state orchestrated persecution, torture and murder.

Putin, and his regime, just smile and deny any atrocities.

Superfruit - Imaginary Party

"Imaginary Parties” is the first single from a forthcoming EP from Scott Hoying and Mitch Grassi, the two gay Pentatonix members who make up the pop duo Superfruit.

Lesley Gore - You Don't Own Me

I heard a snippet of this song today, and since then I cannot get it out of my head. It's wonderful and haunting in its defiance, and being made in 1963 it must have been one of the earliest expressions of the women's liberation movement.

LL Launches Preview of Sansar This Summer (Update)

Linden Lab has announced that it is going to let skilled content creators to be among the first to preview and work in Sansar. The preview version is - after some delay - to be launched during the summer of 2017.

Sansar is supposedly an improved and much more advanced version of SecondLife and is said to be based on a completely new and powerful platform.

For more information please visit: www.sansar.com.

Those of us that aren't skilled content creators can meanwhile enjoy the official preview video from YouTube.


Update
This is a comment from Lee McKay on Google+. I think it is very informative and would like to share it with you.

A couple things to note about Sansar:
1) There is no connected world like with Second Life. It's all separate "experiences". You can only log into one "experience" at a time. So for example, you want to go to a club or community, you log into that specific thing. If you want to go somewhere else, you log out and back into the other place, or at least back to a menu. Don't look for "world map" or teleporting from place to place. It's not there.
2) Experiences can be instanced. So you might go to your favorite club, but be in a different "instance" of that club than your friends, and therefore you won't even see them there. You wouldn't even see the DJ or staff if they aren't in the same instance as you. Certainly this gets around the user limits, but spoils much of the reason for being there in the first place.
3) Sansar is "usable" on a computer and monitor, but is aimed at VR gear and headsets. Most of us SL'ers will probably never have the stuff to use it properly.
Even by Linden's own admission, it isn't mean to be Second Life 2.0. It's something else entirely, aimed more at the younger generation of gamers. It operates more like the things they are used to.

Update 2

Lee McKay+Bock McMillan And not meant to be negative in any way. I'm sure Sansar will be a fun experience for those that it will appeal to. I'm just not sure that will be us old time SL'ers. :)

Bock McMillan Not to worry, +Lee McKay it didn't come off as negative at all, just constructive information

My Bro JJ, The Demigod

This little video reminds me of my sweet brother JJ's responses lately, when you praise him for his looks, acts, works or talents. He simply says, "You're welcome!" with the most conceited tone he can muster.



He picked up the habit somewhere during the last two weeks and is repeating it whenever he can. The only way you know for certain he is not that conceited is that he breaks down in giggles every time he does it...

It's A Good News Day

Today a dear friend got the wonderful news that he is a survivor of the scary Big C. I'm sure it is been a terrible and awful time living with the sword of Damocles hanging threateningly over his life. But it's time to leave that behind and rejoice, rejoice and rejoice!

Oh what a glorious and joyous day! Happy, happy day!

WOW! Pentatonix - Bohemian Rhapsody

(via J.M.G.)

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I'm shivering all over my body and get a stiffy listening to this. Totally awesome!

Subway Grind - Fashion Blog

My husband Tomais has lately been busy creating a decayed urban townscape around The Northmead Gallery, up on a platform above the sim. The town has a lot of nooks and crannies and should hopefully lend itself well to photographic ventures.

One of the last additions is a subway station, it was added the day before yesterday and yesterday our friend WayneNZ released the fashion blog in this post on YouTube.

Yes, thank you very much, I have already gotten the amazing dance and will subject my lover to those moves until he or I break our backs. Still thinking about the jeans though, I mean, who really needs another pair? But what the heck, I'll most likely get them too...

Amazing Giraffes

My friend Kahvy Smith just shared this amazing video by Nicholas Deveaux on Facebook.

I totally adore this beautiful video and had to share it with ya'll! This is the kind of crazy imagination I love.

"Miss You" - Friends of Linger

This music video is famous for having been allowed to be shown on Indian television by an appeals tribunal despite it's depiction of a gay love story. The video was first banned from television in India by the censors for the ten second scene in which the two men appear on a bed dressed only in shorts.

Music by Adhir Ghosh, Smiti Malik, Sharif Rangnekar
Lyrics and song by Sharif Rangnekar

"Life" and "Life 2" by WayneNZ

My mate Wayne has been producing a couple of films in SecondLife, in the latest one my Tomais was given a starring role and my brother JJ and I were supporting actors.

I am proud to share Wayne's two short films "Life" and "Life 2" with you all. Remember to subscribe and like!


Producer, director and starring: Wayne NZ


Producer, director and starring: Wayne NZ
Introducing in the starring roles of "Boy playing with toy plane" and "The pilot": Tomais Ashdene
Supporting actors: JJ Goodman and Bock McMillan

Push Push

Description
Published on Jan 12, 2017
Love burns in this Baywatch-parody featuring a loud Sailor boy and sweaty LA lifeguards. Choreography: Christopher Bergström.

Thank You, George!

George Michael, singer, gay icon and pop music's reigning star during the 1980s and ´90s, was found dead on Christmas Day at his home in England. He was only 53.

A police statement said that the death is being treated "as unexplained but not suspicious". while Michael Lippman, George Michael's manager, said that George Michael died of heart failure "in bed, lying peacefully".

Rest in peace, George.

White Christmas

I just finished a long and wonderful talk with both my brothers, Dej and JJ. Love the guys! And then I found this sweet cartoon Christmas card in the comment section of J.M.G, so I had to share it with you my loyal readers.


Sung by The Drifters. Cartoon by Joshua Held. Featuring Bill Pinkney on lead bass and Clyde McPhatter on tenor. An animated Christmas Card, and a homage to a great song, a great band, and a great Holiday.

Happy Holidays everyone, hugs and kisses!

We Will Survive!

I stayed up all night yesterday, following the elections in the USA. I was engulfed in a weird unreal feeling as time passed by. This couldn't be happening, it wasn't supposed to happen...

Well, it did happen and we must accept the results, however devastated or petrified we feel about them at this moment for the future of the American people or the world. An isolationist America is not what the world needs and we cannot let America slip into the grasp of the Russian bears warm and welcoming hug.

The election revealed an extremely divided America. Whites against people of color, men against women, old against young, uneducated against educated, straight against LGBT. Even the winners, the Republicans are severely divided. There is much that has been gained over the last 25 years that is at risk of being lost, universal health care (whatever deficiencies that still remain to be  corrected), same-sex marriages, a woman's right to decide what happens with her body, family planning etc., etc.

But I still remain hopeful and believe and hope that my American friends and family - after the first initial shock and devastation has ebbed out - will cooperate and form alliances to fight back at every turn and every step of the way.

The rest of us must encourage them and give them whatever support we can. The dinosaurs and the macho white supremacists will not prevail.

At the risk of being perceived as extremely cheesy...

Prim Limit Increase!

Clip description - Published on Nov 3, 2016
In this special edition of Designing Worlds, we present a special announcement from Linden Lab that will change your Second Life for the better. Watch the show to learn more!

This episode of Designing Worlds with Saffia Widdershins features Patch Linden - talking more in-depth about this new perk.

You can also read all about this in Inara Pey's insightful article: Living in a Modemworld - Second Life Mainland LI / prim allowance increase

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Did I ever tell you that I love my friends at Linden Lab? Well, if you haven't seen it before, here goes

Bock ❤ My Friends@Linden Lab

Believe

Taylor Swift - Shake It Off

(Video suggested by a dear friend. He knows who he is!)

It's time to shake off the excitement of the last days and move on. There is no better way to do it than with Taylor Swift.

Powerful

(via J.M.G.)

Published on Sep 21, 2016

Ever felt pressure to “be a man?” American Male, a short film from MTV’s Look Different Creator Competition, is a gritty look at how gender norms make it hard for us to be who we really are. Head to privilege.lookdifferent.org for more on the issue and how to take action.

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WOW! This short film by Michael Rohrbaugh on gender norms is really powerful and hard hitting. It punches you right in the solar plexus.

Pentatonix & Dolly Parton - Jolene

Suggested by my son Le Prince du Nord Pook, Crown Prince of Southern Charm.