My Contribution

Please click the image to embiggen

Petr Hastings-Vanbeeck, my friend and the organizer of the It Gets Better Project in SecondLife, has been asking for new contributions to the worthwhile project.

Here you go , Petr, this is my contribution! I am sorry it has to be large, but I didn't want wanted to shorten the poem, which is a masterpiece. If you send me an email at lundamats@gmail.com I will be happy to send it to you that way as I think uploading it to SecondLife and dropping it on your profile may screw up the proportions.

Trailer for Pride - #8 Beautiful Thing (1996)

Director Hettie MacDonald, Writer Jonathan Harvey. Starring: Glen Barry (Jamie) and Scott Neal (Ste)

My Fastest Kiss

I was sitting with Lee McKay today, trying to see the fashion show. When the show was over a man came over and said hi to Lee and then gave him a hug, which I thought was pretty sweet. The man was Cody Bolero.

Cody then said "Hi! handsome" to me and told me he wanted to give me a hug for coming to the show. I answered that he was still blurry and grey to me, but that I was guessing he looked gorgeous. I also told him I would gladly hug him. (As those who know me well are aware, I never ever turn down a hug.) So I got on my feet and accepted the animation he sent me.

To my big surprise the animation turned out to be a deep kiss, which almost knocked me off my feet and out of my socks. This was the fastest kissing session I have ever had with a stranger.

Cody laughed at me and told me "That was so worth it!", I laughed back a bit shyly and told him he had taken me so off guard that I hadn't even thought of taking a picture. (I think I may have said this in the hope that he would offer to repeat it...)

Cody then went on to invite me to the Boystown Party. I hadn't planned on going, as it was held rather late in my timezone, but how could I turn this guy down so I told him I would come. The man came into my life as a tornado, within 45 seconds of meeting we had kissed and become friends.

I must say that I was relieved to see in his profile (which I of course immediately checked) that he was partnered), otherwise I do not know what would or could have happened.

When I saw Cody later at the party he finally rezzed to me and this is what I saw. Terribly cute isn't he?

Cody Bolero

We didn't have much of a chance to talk at the party as Cody seemed to be hosting it. But that was no problem for me because there were lots of others I knew at the party. Carl says on his blog, Naked Carl, Second Pride The Boystown Party, that there at one point were over 100 avatars at the party. No wonder we all saw grey people.

It was lucky for me that Cody was one of the few that rezzed completely for me, otherwise I would still have been wondering what he looked like, which would have given me a sleepless night.

Lee McKay dancing among grey people

I and the handsome Baz Ceawlin  (Second Pride IT director)

The Boys

I dropped in to the fashion show at Second Pride this evening, alas I was too late and had immense problems trying to rez. I am trying again tomorrow noon-1 PM when the fashion show is redone. 

This is the only decent picture I got at the event today, it shown my boys enjoying the fashion show.

Guyke & Ziggy

Tinies, Furries, Goreans, Romans and More (Correction)

DJ Shadow at the Tinies Dance

A thing I like very much about this years Second Pride is the fact that the board has managed to bring in many of the gay subgroups in SecondLife, with the possible exception of the lesbians who sadly still seem to be preferring a sort of "splendid isolation". Correction, They are here!  Prætor tells me he saw a ton of them here last evening!

In this years Pride celebration the tinies, the furries, the Goreans and the Romans are taking part in a highly visible way with their own presence in exhibitions and events. I thoroughly and completely love it and am grateful to the board for doing this!

Alas I came to the tinies dance just as it was about to end but I am still happy I got there.

Next I went to the jousting arena to see another event between the warriors of Gor and the Roman gladiators. I realize all do not appreciate it, but I sure do like watching the hunky men there and join in the unexpectedly cordial banter going on. The Goreans and Romans seem to be a fun group of people I must say.

I am more than pleased to be able to inform you that I got a promise from Parvin, who seems to be one of the head-honcho's of the Goreans, that next year they will implement a "thongs only" rule for the attire usd during the jousting, thus giving the gloating spectators an eyeful.

 When I got to the furries party I sadly did not set the lighting properly so most of my pictures turned out too dark, except for the one beneath. But that on the other hand is a real beaut!

The furries also seemed like a good natured and kind lot, especially the DJ Skan who humoristically referred to me as "meat" in the most charming manner.

Today was also the day for an inspirational speech by 20 y/o Jordan Maxwell Anderson. The young man shared his wisdom with those of us who were there to listen. What the young man may have lacked in experience he made up in youthful enthusiasm. It was actually more inspiring than I had expected.

The beautiful Lee McKay was there to listen

The Best Legs of the Day - SPF Day 7

Hugho Aeon

Swedish Snus Is Saved!

Snus, is a moist powder tobacco product originating from a variant of dry snuff in the early 19th century in Sweden. It is consumed by placing it under the upper lip for extended periods of time. The precursor of snus, the dry form of snuff inhaled through the nose, was introduced in Europe much earlier. Snus is not fermented and contains no added sugar. Although used in a manner similar to American dipping tobacco, snus does not typically result in the need for spitting and is different from naswar in that snus is steam-pasteurized. (Wikipedia)

Snus is widely consumed in Sweden by a large portion of the Swedish male population and some of the women too. It is considered a healthier way to consume nicotine and has the added benefit of not provoking spiteful comments or hateful glances like the ones smokers get for "polluting the environment".

Snus' sale is illegal in Turkmenistan and the European Union, but due to special exemptions, it is still manufactured and consumed primarily in Sweden and Norway.

The Swedish snus recently came under threat as the EU Commission in its proposed tobacco direktive wanted to regulate the flavors that could be used in snus. It was also suggesting a prohibition to add sodium carbonate, E 500, which is used in all Swedish snus to facilitate nicotine absorption. This prohibition would, according to the manufacturer Swedish Match, ultimately mean "the end of Swedish snus".

Todays meeting of the responsible EU ministers has in Swedish press been described as "a fateful day" for Swedish snus. However, the EU ministers today took Sweden's side, thereby leaving it up to Sweden to continue to determine the flavor and content of Swedish snus.

"I feel very happy", said Minister for Children and the Elderly Maria Larsson, to the waiting journalists on location in Luxembourg. "The joy is for the fact that the tobacco directive has been approved, but in particular the Swedish "victory" on snus. We actually saved the snuff to be free to decide on content, product marketing, ingredients, distinctive flavors and also sodium carbonate and the pouches can maintain their moisture."
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How's that for some first life drama?