DJ Butch's Final Set - For Now...

Yesterday my sweet friend Butch Diavolo informed all of us that he, for personal reasons, had decided to go on an indefinite hiatus from SecondLife.

Butch's s final set before the break was at Q Lounge yesterday and many of his fans and friends came there to thank him and to say "au revoir", all of us adamantly refusing to say goodbye to a beloved friend and DJ.

Butch characteristically without shoes

Ziggy Starsmith

I have always found it extremely difficult to say farewell to someone who has meant much to me, someone who is close and that I care deeply about. Especially in SecondLife, where "taking a break" often enough seems to lead to quitting the virtual world altogether.

Of course I do not question Butch's decision. He is the only one fit to make it and I am sure that he has thought it through before coming to this conclusion, but I will miss him. Butch has always been extremely helpful, kind, caring, loving towards me, although I have gotten my fair share of his ever flowing sarcastic humor.

For now I am content with the reassurance that Butch is doing what he believes he must do and his promise to me that he will in fact attend The Elopement Party that I and Tomais are throwing on March 8th.

Ik vind je zeer veel en zal je missen, mijn vriend! Kom terug naar ons straks weer, wanneer je voelt dat je de energie. (Google Translated, so if it says I want your hot body pressed to mine, it is accurate!)

Garrett's & Houston's Wedding

Tomais and I had the pleasure of being invited to the wedding of Messrs. Garrett Smith and Houston Di Armani yesterday. It was a moving (What wedding isn't, with all the love and honest declarations of commitment filling the air?) and wonderful experience.

Following the old adage "a picture says more than a thousand word", here are a few of my snaps from the ceremony and the reception afterwards.

Ms. BM Oh, the no doubt sexiest and most daring officiant in any
world, in a  stunning gown that revealed more skin than it covered.

The benches in the hall were packed with a selection of the hottest men and women to be found in SecondLife.

Ms. Helene Dragoone, fetching as always

Mr. Kahvy Sands, one of the groomsmen and the DJ at the reception

The wedding party assembled at the dais

Messrs. Houston Di Armani and Garrett Smith, the two grooms

Ms BM Oh is escorted out by her trusted companion Mr. Kahvy Sands

Wedding guests eagerly awaiting for the dancing to commence

Thank you for a wonderful wedding and reception, Messrs. Di Armanis, my best wishes go to you both for a long lasting and happy marriage!

Ziggy Is Back!

It was only a few months ago that Ziggy Starsmith, to the dismay of his loyal and loving readers (of which I am one), tiredly declared that he was going to stop blogging full time.

The beautiful picture that Ziggy left us with in October, 2013

Since then we have only gotten a few bread crumbs tossed at us from time to time by the irate and erratic blogger, just enough to keep us from feeling totally abandoned and dying from mental and emotional starvation.

Knowing and loving Ziggy I, however, kept my hopes up and never removed his blog from my blogroll. Lo and behold, yesterday he came back to us - full force - with no less than five posts!

The blog has been slightly renamed to "Ziggy Starsmith On The Edge Of Second Life... And Beyond" with the declared promise of "brutally honest commentary of the virtual 3D world of Second Life".

Welcome back, buddy, I have missed your forthright views on the worlds as we know them!

Picture of the Day - 7

"Star Wars"
Photography by Danne Chrome/Danne Danne/Danne Guardian

When the Games End

The 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, are coming to an end tomorrow. I am proud to say that I have been able to avoid it almost completely, the exception being listening to my co-workers discussions at lunches.

The reason for my personal boycott of these games are the state sanctioned heinous treatment of the LGBT community in Russia and the homophobic so called "Gay Propaganda" laws that the country has adopted with the full support of President Vladimir "Little Father" Putin.

"Stop the Hate" Photography by Tomais Ashdene

The eyes of the world have been focused on Russia during the months leading up to and during the games, which may very well have put a lid on some of the violence and outrages that would otherwise have occurred. Once the games have ended things may very well change to the worse. I am extremely worried for my LGBT brothers and sisters in Russia and for what may come in the near future.

Russia has a sad tradition of state sanctioned persecution against marginalized groups throughout it's history with pogroms, bullying and violence against Jews, Cossacks, Chechens to mention a few. Now the LGBT community is being used in the same way, to deflect anger and unrest in the population from rising against the regime and instead supplying the malcontents with an easy scapegoat to persecute without legal sanctions.

Of course I am aware that Russia is by no means the worst of the countries that are persecuting it's LGBT citizens, but I (wrongly) had higher expectations of Russia than for Uganda, Saudi Arabia and some other nations.

Climax - A 12 Hour Celebration

"Reach your climax as we celebrate out athletes and victories within the LGBT community from 12pm to 10pm SLT on February 22nd. We'll have plenty of music and dancing as we honor LGBT athletes who have overcome all odds and wowed us with their athletic talents.

Schedule:
DJ Jynxx 10am – 12pm
DJ Regi Yifu 12pm – 2pm
DJ LLedge 2pm – 4pm
DJ Gingersnap 4pm – 6pm
DJ Hotboy 6pm – 8pm
DJ Abi Bracken 8pm – 10pm

We look forward to seeing you at the Second Pride sim for this exciting event."

Picture of the Day - 6

Photography by Calypso Applewhyte

If you would like to see more pictured og Calypso Applewhyte please visit her Flickr page here.