Bock in SecondLife

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Picture of the Day - 23

"- Play Cool.." Photography by Tiiago Ribeiro

If you would like to see more of Tiiago's photography, please visit his Flickr photostream here.

Last Saturday my Tomais and I had the pleasure of having you, our families and friends, over to celebrate our elopement and share our happiness with us at The Elopement Party. To those of you who couldn't be there we say, we missed you dearly and hope that you can be with us next time.

"Selfies" Photography by Tomais Ashdene

You came in droves in a way that completely surprised us and made us feel more loved than ever before. You actually came in such quantities and simultaneously that the sim couldn't take it and crashed under us, but as I have always maintained "Every good party needs at least one crash!"

With the kind help and speedy assistance of TJ Linden the sim was soon up again and - as it seemed - moved to a much better server, because after the crash there was no lag at all even when most of you came back and we were joined by even more friends and friends of friends. Someone told me later that we at some point peaked at 64 avatars present at the sim.

Ryder Yowman and Rylan Sirnah, the Masters of Music for the evening, with their awesome tunes insured that we would all have a wonderful time.

You came in the most fabulous outfits or outrageous costumes and in excellent moods for a party, it was indeed a pleasure having you all there. Even the performance artist SaveMe Oh turned up to see what was happening and "improve the artistic qualities" of the party. Alas I was forced to kick her off the sim when she started large flocks of sheep on the dance floor, despite this unfortunate incident we are still friends and SaveMe could be freed up to get kicked off a couple of more sims before her evening was over.

We requested that you did not give us gift but that you instead share your generosity with two charities and you were indeed overwhelmingly generous!

Chaz Longfall, our liaison with ACT (The AIDS Committee of Toronto) informed us after the party that you had donated L$27.600 to that cause, while I myself have calculated that you donated a few dollars shy of L$21.000 to Second Pride. We would both like to thank you for your kind generosity to these worthy causes.

All in all Tom and I both had a wonderful time, seeing all of you there and enjoying ourselves, although we were drowning in IM's, teleport requests, problems and handling local chat most of the evening. We were also both much too busy to take pictures so we are grateful to those of our friends who took pictures and shared them with us on their blogs or on Facebook.

Party pictures by Apmel Goosson

More pictures by Apmel Goosson can be found on his blog My Avatar's Name is Apmel "En krash direkt vid ankomsten"

Party pictures by Eddi Haskell

More pictures can be found on Eddi & Ryce's Second Life Event Photography: Bock McMillan's and Tomais Ashdene's Elopement Party Earlier this Evening and Events: Benja and Ryce (as Tom Cruise) at Bock's and Tomais Elopement Party on Saturday Night

Party pictures by Helene Dragoone

Party pictures by Kahvy Sands

Party pictures by Kimly Crystal

Friday, March 14, 2014

Picture of the Day - 22

"We were happy" Photography by Rayne Morgan

If you would like to see more of Rayne's photography, please visit her Flickr photostream here.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Second Pride Responds to Defamation on Facebook

Marge Beaumont, the Second Pride Treasurer, has today responded to recent defamation against inworld organizations and charities - among other Second Pride - occurring on Facebook.

I choose to post the full response here.

Letter from the Second Pride Treasurer in response to Facebook (url to the post)
There has been some malicious and unconscionable posts made on Facebook that unfortunately need to be addressed.
“The Second Pride Board uses its funds to supplement the “parties or fundraisers.”” the individual points to the 6/30/2013 link.
In actuality Second Pride donated 533,500 Lindens (2,000USD) to IGLHRC on 8/8/2013.
In addition after the membership voted to purchase a Second Life sim, Second Pride provided rent free space for charities involved with our community.
Events for 2013 cost 1745 Lindens 0.07% of the Second Pride expenditures.
The other expenditures for 2013 as for previous years was sim rental for our fest. As any board would do, Lindens were set aside to pay for sim tier the next year.
There is nothing covered here – it is all transparent.
This year the Second Pride Board has spent 0 Lindens for any fundraiser we have supported or endorsed.
When the sim was stripped of all buildings and landscape, Second Pride Board members and some members, floated that coast through their own donations. To stop an further stripping of the sim – everything belongs to the Second Pride Avatar,
Specific donations for rebuilding or other things are listed as bound donations.
Yes Board members without cost to our finances have donated a lot to Second Pride – a tradition that previous boards have followed.
Before accusing or suggesting that the lindens are going to promote our fundraisers, I suggest you go back yo your puppet master and get new instructions
Our funds are collected, reported along with complete transparency on this website bi weekly.

“I am not going to work with Second Pride if person X or Person Y is working with the Board."

Get over itSecond Pride will work with anyone that outs the mission of Second Pride over their own personal importance or ego.
If you do not “like” someone I am sorry to hear that. However that will not stop the participation of anyone.
This is not a high school or middle school election. Second Pride is an organization that is dedicated to the LGBT community in Second Life. It is not a place for personal egos or fiefdoms.
Last year someone went after a Board member on purpose. They tried to drag her through HELL on facebook. She ignored it for the good of Second Pride and did the job she was elected to do. It is a pity that the megalomaniac that pursued her now turns their venom toward Second Pride.
I have news for that individual. Second Pride is better then that. We do not wrestle in the mud nor throw the type of mud that they do. Frankly you should roll up your virtual sleeves, join us and get some work done for the good of the COMMUNITY!!

Respectfully submitted,
Marge Beaumont

Edit 3/15/2014

I have edited the title of the post by substituting the previously used word "slander" with "defamation". I did so after it had been pointed out to me on Facebook that my choice of word was incorrect. My only excuses are that I am a foreigner and that English is not my first language. I thank you for your indulgence and please feel free to inform me if and when I misuse your language.

What is the difference between libel and slander?

Libel and slander are both forms of defamation. The distinction between slander and libel comes in the form of the publication.

Slander involves the oral "publication" of a defamatory remark that is heard by another, which injures the subject's reputation or character. Slander can occur through the use of a hand gesture or verbal communication that is not recorded. Libel, on the other hand, is the written "publication" of a defamatory remark that has the tendency to injure another's reputation or character. Libel also includes a publication on radio, audio or video. Even though this would be considered oral, or verbal, communication to someone it is actually considered to be libel because it is published in a transfixed form.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Ars In Memoriam 2014

Photography by Kent Hutchinson of KH Photo

Joseph Douglas Wilson Jr. a.k.a

Ars Northmead

★ April 21, 1953 (first life)
★ October 25, 2006 (SecondLife)
† March 12, 2010

On this day four years ago my beloved husband Ars passed away after a short illness.

Ars' brothers Dejerrity Mycron and Jeb Nicholls arranged a Memorial Service at Calas Galadhon where Truck Meredith and Tymus Tenk kindly let us use the homestead sim Mirromere for a week before, and their main sim for the big Memorial Service on March 20, 2010. Bora Rossini had created a beautiful setting for the memorial.

All of Ars' family and friends in SecondLife gathered there as well as Doug's parents, one of his sisters, his brothers and and even some of his nephews, nieces and cousins, who joined us in front of a computer screen using an avatar they had created.

I have asked for pictures from that memorial service earlier and this year I was happy to receive two from our friend elis Eun.

Photography by elis Eun

Although I never at the time thought that I would find love and true joy again, as it turns out life can work miracles and today I am happily married to my darling Tomais. I know that Ars would have wished this for me.

Monday, March 10, 2014

Fashion Pride Opening Today

"As you know, HIV and AIDS still impacts the lives of millions throughout the world today. Its impact in urban areas is often understated publicly, but the effect it has on those it touches is profound, transforming lives, destroying health, and devastating families.

Second Pride, the organization that creates Second Life's largest pride celebration, is holding a fundraiser for AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT), to raise funds to increase awareness of the disease, assist those living with HIV, and service the community, while researching its impact on various segments of society.

Fashion Pride is an exciting shopping event that will take place from March 10th through March 17th 2014. It will include fabulous shopping, fashion shows, entertainment events, and a final art auction to raise funds for both the Second Pride main festival in June and ACT.

Marcus Lefevre has generously donated the use of one sim for the Fashion Pride event. We are grateful for his generosity."