Sweet Memories - UPDATED

YMCA-dance 2007 (Jerrod 1st from left, Drizz 3rd, me 4th, the female DJ 5th and Andrey 6th)

Today I read an interview with Jerrod Rodenberger which was published on the Gay Archipelago Blogs yesterday. You can read the full interview here: VIP Interview Jerrod Rodenberger by Hunter.

Jerrod is an old friend from my earliest days in SecondLife. We met on the friendly and caring Boots Gay Beach which was a safe haven and school for everyone, but gay noobs in particular.

At Boots Beach we partied, but we were also thought the basics of how SecondLife works and all the do´s and dont´s; What settings to use to get a more beautiful life. Where to shop for anything you needed. How to build. How to fit clothes and hair. How to script (advanced classes which I did not take I am sorry to admit today) and yes a few also got lessons in good manners and etiquette if it was needed. In short we got a run through everything that is needed for any fashion conscious gay man or boy in-world. I should think the closest comparison to what Boots Beach did for us would be to say it was like a Swiss Finishing School for young women.

Jerrod Rodenberger

In the interview Jerrod reminds me of a wonderful and funny evening we shared once when we were following Ars around the gay clubs of SecondLife.

That was way back in the days when people still talked in local chat, so suddenly someone commented on that a few of us looked like different characters in the Village People. Then someone said we should do the YMCA-dance and handed out the dance animation. I do not remember who the female DJ was but she started playing the song for us over and over again until we finally gave a reasonably synced rendition (it was my fault of course that it took awhile, but they were all very patient with me).

I laughed so hard my stomach ached and we all had a wonderful time. It was one of those truly magical moments in SecondLife when everything sort of connects, everyone is included and love of mankind reigns supreme.

Sadly I could not find the pictures when I did a quick search of my Inventory, but I have probably just not labeled them correctly.

Thanks for reminding me, Jerrod, and thanks so much for that great picture, I will treasure it!

Shit happens

Ohh the terrible tricks that SecondLife plays with it´s residents sometimes! This is how I saw one of my bosom buddies at Ewa Aska´s party yesterday...

A cute ass and great boobs that any woman would be proud of huh? The only thing is that Apmel is a hunky "heterosexually challenged" man.

The absolutely worst thing about being "ruthed" is that one usually doesn't see it oneself - but everyone else does.

I Am Going To a Monastery

Well only for a party and only for tonight... the theme is RED I am told.

Landmark to the nunnery at Alvastra.

Will The Last Elves Emigrate?

I leave SecondLife for real life a few days and it seems like all hell breaks loose.

The big story is of course the decision of ElvenMyst, presumably the last Elf clan in SecondLife with over 2 000 members, to leave for a lesser virtual world.

I was really sorry to read that news. I have never had any dealings with the elves of SecondLife - not that I know of - but my Ars always spoke with great admiration of their talent, creativity and skillfulness. As I understand it there were many elves in the earliest days of SecondLife, but they had for some reason or other moved on to other worlds in the course of time.

This last emigration seems to have been brought on by a hiccup in the Linden Lab billing system, which started when one of the Eldars of The ElvenMyst clan got an automatic e-mail from the billing system about being late in paying tier, which he then actually tried to do several times but the system did not accept the payments. The Eldar then filed a ticket with customer support, when it did not get an immediate response or solution the four Eldars decided to pull up stakes and move to InWorldz (of all ghastly places).

Although they have now, according to the clans blog, - a day after the ticket was filed and after direct involvement by Rod Humble (the cute new CEO of Linden Lab, a k a Rodvik Linden) - already been given an both an excuse and a very generous offer of compensation although the Eldars want more.

As I understand it the Eldars are now in communication with the membership to find out what they wish to do in the present situation.

I must say I would be very sad to see the last elves leave, but I cannot help thinking that the decision to leave was an overreaction which was too hastily made. We cannot presume that the people working at customer service know who we are and our standing in-world. Most of those working there probably only visit in-world for work purposes and are not involved in any of the communities.

In my own experience the people at Linden Labs customer service are mostly benevolent and helpful, even if they are not always able to solve your problem fast but then again neither technical nor legal problems can usually be solved by snapping one´s fingers, no matter how huge the customers business is.

I am hoping the elves choose to stay in heaven!

Manly Art

Well now, isn't this a wonderful idea! A thermochromic urinal like this should get every mans creative juices flowing.

I must add that I am thoroughly disappointed by the unimaginative work created by these two models/artists. Any man with self respect could - and indeed would - do better. Perhaps the presence of the photographer made them shy?

...but this one is totally off-putting.

I was lead to both these creative urinals by links on copyranter (from an awful "wall of vaginas" that made me go totally limp but it may thrill some of my "homosexually challenged" readers)

Baby Boom

Every female avatar in SecondLife - except Millimina and Diana - seem to be expecting at the moment if we choose to believe certain Swedish blogs.

What´s even more amazing is that the grapevine is now going haywire with rumors alleging that the Much Honored Bock McMillan, laird of Southern Charm, is also "in the family way". It is not yet known who the father is if the rumors are true.

Asked for a comment on the rumors Mr. Wild Zepp, the McMillan household spokesman, merely responded with; "Pffffffffft!".

"Anything is possible in SecondLife" as the official slogan goes. Our paparazzi´s are on the job to secure evidence.

Finally

This morning I was woken by a telephone call from my mother, "It´s time to wake up, Bock", she said insistently and without catching her breathe she continued, "Did you hear the news yet? Osama bin Laden is dead, he was killed tonight by the Americans. Finally!"

"Finally" was my first thought also when I heard this news and my thoughts drifted back to that terrible day in September 2001 when Osama´s name and al-Qaeda became known to the whole world. I also thought of the close to 3 000 people who died as a result of that spectacularly heinous attack on the World Trade Center in New York.

During the day I have thought about my immediate reaction to the news again and again. The event has been the main subject of conversation at work.

Osama was of course only a symbol, his death is also symbolic. Terrorism unfortunately did not die with Osama.

I believe that wars should be avoided at almost any cost, except when our fundamental human rights and liberties are at risk. The terrorists however do hold a gun to the heads of all democracies therefore I do believe that the "war on terror" is legitimate, although I do not always agree with the methods.

In wars the leaders and generals of the enemy are legitimate tactical targets as their passing can reduce or destroy the enemy's ability to sustain combat operations. Even if I personally would have preferred if Osama had been brought to justice, I can understand and sympathize with the necessity of killing him.

Still I have an inner conflict about this, as a person who does not believe the death penalty has any redeeming excuses in a democracy or civilized society. I know I am rationalizing, but I still stick to my initial reaction to the news. "Finally!" 

My thoughts go to the families of the victims at World Trade Center.