Monday 20 July 2009

The Lovers


Christine and I posed for Miss Steamweaver's exhibition of Tarot Cards as The Lovers. After trying several spots we ended up settling at the Da Vinci Gardens. I did manage to snap a couple of surreptitious pictures of my own during the photo shoot (some of which are not going on public display) this one is close to the one chosen for the card.

Sunday 19 July 2009

Relay for life survived again.

It's that time of year when people start to breath a sigh of relief that SLRFL is over for another 6 months. I'd say "year" but by February there will be people starting on about the 2010 event and kiosks and vendors and the rest of it will begin to appear again.

The guilt tripping has eased in recent times, or possibly my avoidance of most things RFL means I've not been around if it has happened.

Relay For Life is franchised to local cancer organisations around the world (yes they have to pay for the privilege to have an event with that name) but SLRFL (or Relay For Life in Second Life) is run under the banner of the American Cancer Society. Last year I upset a few people with my views on how SLRFL was being handled. Doing some reading on the ACS itself means I'm due to do it again. Tax reports for 2006 and 2007 say ACS CEO John R. Seffrin was paid over $1.1 million for his annual compensation package (of which over $500,000 was his salary). Not bad for a "not for profit" organisation. Especially when the US President is on a salary of $400K. There's also serious questions on how much of the money raised goes into cancer services. In 1992 The Wall Street Journal reported that some ACS chapters barely more than 10% of total revenue on actual cancer services.

For me though SLRFL is really a time for talented builders to indulge in some fantastical building bringing together a community spirit in putting on a display. The creativity and skill continues to blow me away each year. I was even convinced to help out with the New Babbage team's build despite my reservations about RFL in general.

The New Babbage Exhibition site.







The Port St. Christopher or "Babbage Mars" sim.









The Moon sim (There was a lot of moon influences this year)





Inside the domes

The art deco Metropolis build



Her Lyonesse's influence could be clearly seen




An impressive deco train.


Spinner's For Life giant Speaker is a multilevel dance club.


The Steelhead build


The American Frontier


Animated Dragon at the Armada Build


Giant sculpted hands


Camping anyone?


Best of SL Team build


Caledon Build


The machine working on a cure.

The RFL Wonders sim held a great collection of ancient monuments

Colossus of Rhodes


Lighthouse of Alexandria


The Acropolis


Hanging Gardens of Babylon with a pyramid in the background.


Tree of Life


The Angkor Wat temple perhaps?


A rather interesting Egyptian scheme


Purple Battlemechs.


I don't understand the significance of this build. I originally thought that the Twin Towers and the Tower Bridge may have been symbolic of two cities that had been the victim of suicide bombers...


...but the stones of Stonehenge at the foot of the Towers throw that theory out. I have no idea what all three landmarks have in common.


Memorial to the 40th anniversary of the first Lunar Landing.


The New York World's Fair inspired build.


A magnificent train at the Fort Wrangler build


Another Acropolis build.


The home of the Justice League


The Titan Tower.

RFL The Shire held one of my favourite builds.

Bag End




The floor plan owes more to Karen Wynn Fonstad than to Peter Jackson. Very nicely done.

Monday 13 July 2009

Breakfast in Babbage Aftermath

Saturday morning saw the arrival of a regular event for me. Breakfast in Babbage went off quite well and the music seemed to be mostly well received. Though playing Leonard Nimoy was frowned on my many :-)


Yours truly in bunny slippers and smoking jacket. For that comfy feel.


The gathered throng.

The music ranged from the familiar to the new. Corky and the Juicepigs' Only Gay Eskimo raised some eyebrows, A few people had not experienced Max Raabe before and the Buck Rogers theme got a few people all nostalgic.

I'll be back next month.

Happy Birthday Big Ben



The Great Bell in the tower of Westminster Parliament, commonly known as Big Ben, celebrates its 150th birthday this week.

And the Westminster Quarters are possibly one of the most recognised chimes in the world.

Friday 10 July 2009

Breakfast in Babbage



1st in a semi-regular event schedule of fun and Mayhem.

Join me at The Clarendon for novelty, fun, silly and weird. Yes Pixie there will definitely be Weird.

Saturday 4 July 2009

Tiny Dogfights in Steelhead

For a bit of fun this week Miss Eladrienne and the usual suspects from the RCAF and Timeforce 10 arranged for some tiny dogfights in Steelhead Port Harbour. One for 1pm SLT (which was a little early for me) and another at 7pm.


After a long absence the Krimson Koala takes to the skies again.

Sadly someone in Steelhead still has a grudge against Mr. Trenton and myself so I had to be careful not to fly too close to the banline or I got summarily booted.

Great fun watching people not used to flying take to the sky.


Lunar tried for the Kamikaze approach and succeeded in taking me out.


Changing planes after my first one got shot down I took to the Fokker.


Tensai opted for the more unusual flying gear. Though water bombs seemed to be very effective against it.


Tiny Air Aces all.