Sunday 28 March 2010

An Inspiring Memorial

While going through the "recommended" entries on my Google Reader I was showing this post on the Memorial to James Gordon Bennett in New York, the former publisher of the New York Herald.



The memorial (locally also known the Bellringers Monument) is made up from statuary that used to adorn the former New York Herald prior to its demolition in 1921. The statue of Minerva and the two bellringers was created by French sculptor Jean Antonin Carles. The bellringers themselves have been nicknamed “Stuff and Guff” or “Gog and Magog”.

But the best bit is the clock at the top.



The eyes of the owls on either side glow green at the striking of the hours.


Love it!

Wednesday 24 March 2010

Victoriana closes its Doors

It is with great sadness that I discovered that LittleBlackDuck Lindsay, the Mayor of Victoriana, will be closing down the sims very soon. After a glitch left his account without the ability to edit objects belonging to him (which is 90% of the infrastructure of Victoriana) and LL being unwilling or unable to fix the problem, LBD has decided to stop banging his head against the wall and pack up shop.

While I've only officially had a shop there for some three weeks, I've watched the sims grow and have stood in awe of the texturing finesse LBD displayed on his buildings. From his Caledopoly creation to his Golden Harp Pub the details were always done so that they looked like real buildings.


The main station at Victoriana Square.


Victoriana Town Hall


The Golden Acorn Pub - recreated from the Golden Harp.


The Interior of one of the Victoriana Trains. Each platform had a train announcement in English, German and French. And they run on time!


Victoriana Pavilion. Modelled after the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney the same as my own considerably prim-starved version in Babbage Square.


Mountain rail cars for the unfinished Victoriana Alpine sim


Pavilion Station


Based on Fort Denison in Sydney Harbour


The Pearl - possibly the longest running bawdyhouse on the grid.


The waterfront on Victoriana Harbour.


Victoriana Carnivale


The Salty Squirrel in Victoriana Lakeside.

I know several friends who have homes in Victoriana who will be much disappointed by this turn of events. Apart from being one of the best builds in SL, a community had developed that included tinies (the slightly less manic ones), and lovers of Victorian style. Victoriana was unusual in that it was probably one of the few 19th century sims that did not have steampunk or vampires wandering the streets. Floating castles were strictly forbidden and the sims were much nicer for it.

I wish LBD all the best on whatever future endeavours he attempts and hope that he may find a way to recreate this idea in some other form.

You'll be missed sir.

Tuesday 23 March 2010

The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec

Luc Besson, the man responsible for The Fifth Element, joins the bandwagon with a movie based on a comic book series.

Finally there's a trailer out with English subtitles.



Looks spectacular!!

Monday 22 March 2010

A New Home



After many weeks and a large number of carts, crates and tea chests, not to mention some amazing feats of engineering, Primbroke Manor has been relocated to New Babbage.

My announcement that we were now officially based in Babbage came a surprise to a few. Some already thought I had a home base here. I supposed I've grown into the community.

The grounds will take some time to get into order but I'm happy to have a Mooring Tower again installed in the house. It's nice to have a home base.

Tuesday 9 March 2010

Bedlam in Babbage



Join Edward Pearse at The Clarendon for the last Bedlam in Babbage before Daylight Savings throws things a'kilter again.

Corky & The Juice Pigs, The Doug Anthony Allstars, Billy Connolly, Jonathan Coulton, They Might Be Giants, Tom Lehrer, The Arrogant Worms, Shirley Bassey, Deuce, Pink, The Clash and of course Weird Al Yankovic are just some of the artists lined up for the playlist this month.

Join us for a few hours fun, frivolity, inappropriate subject matter and rockin' revelry.

Wednesday 3 March 2010

The End of an Era

Shortly after I arrived in Second Life in 2006 I reserved a corner plot on the upcoming sim of Caledon Victoria City.

It held my first home, my first shop, a subterranean house when I expanded the shop in its second incarnation, and then tunnels linked to the sewer system when the shop hit it's third incarnation.

Sadly, like so many others, I'm finding that things need to be consolidated and I've made the reluctant decision to part with the plot.



Pearse'd & Cut is relocating to Caledon SouthEnd but I cannot help but feel sad at passing with a spot that holds many memories.