Good Things Come To Those That Wait!

Join us on Wednesday December 5 at the beautiful Gayhaven Parish to celebrate the holiday issue of Blithe Magazine. Our friends Kent and Jorge Hutchinson, whose Gay Parish sims are featured in the upcoming issue, have created a cool winter environment where we'll be launching the issue with the hot tunes of DJ Zach Kelberry. Come on by at 6pm SLT to kick off the holidays in a Blithe way. 

Though complications in Case and Merrick's RLs have conspired to delay the release of the December issue of Blithe, it will be worth the wait! We have a packed issue of stunning style, gorgeous places and the fascinating personalities behind many of our community's well-known names, all in a newly rebranded magazine with a fresh new appearance. 

Blithe magazine December issue launch party, Wednesday December 5, 6pm SLT

Wrapping Paper: Hedo's Giordan

Gay men haven't earned the reputation of being fashionable by hiding in the safe shadows of any closet. As we've come out, we've brought the fab with us, using scarves, bags, and accessories to add flair to our outfits, rather than sticking to the safe and expected three-piece suit. In Second Life, however, gay men sometimes forget to seek out the individuality offered by a forum where we can wear wings and actually fly. Instead, we seek out a "three-piece suit" of a different type (and with just one piece): the jock strap.

I'm not saying that jock straps aren't sexy. They certainly are, which is why they've all but become the uniform of club-going gay men in SL. What I am saying is that clothing is like the wrapping paper that keeps our presents covered so that anticipation can build until that sweet day when we can rip the covering off and see what sweet gifts have been concealed inside. Revealing that gift is incredibly exciting when you've spent some time wondering about the specifics of its shape, size, and power. It's the joy of this anticipation that we want to bring to you with our Wrapping Paper series. Join us as we show you how adding clothing instead of taking it off to the bare jock strap minimum can make you sexier and more desirable than you ever imagined.

Our first installment of Wrapping Paper focuses on the sexy Hedo Fashion design, Giordan:

Don't blend in, stand out with straps, buckles, leather and feathers.

These are a few of my favourite things

There’s lots to love about SL, and I love lots about it. But some of the things I love best are small things or silly things or run-of-the-mill things that don’t really seem fantastic on the surface. This is the first of a semi-regular series on Case’s Random Likes.

1. The crate at Hubs’

If there’s not a dent in this crate the shape of my pixel ass, well, there ought to be. I’ve spent hours in this spot, in IMs with friends who are off doing what they’re doing, organizing my inventory, or just reading the profiles of others as they drop in at the landing point in front of me. It’s the perfect location in a cruisey place: within chat range of the action on the pier, but not quite involved in it, near enough to seem approachable without being too obviously interested, and right across from the landing point so you see everyone as they arrive. I’ve met some of the best men in my SL seated in this very spot, interesting, intelligent people who charmed and challenged and impressed me. Places come and go quickly in SL; your favourite spot could be there one day and gone the next, with no forwarding address. Maybe it’s that precariousness that makes them, and the memories they hold, so special. 

Best seat in the house.

Free Speech or Hate Speech?

"Censored" sign outside the Fort Des Moines Church of Christ

As a writer and a member of the Second Life press, I value freedom of speech. Censorship limits our personal growth, as we absorb a variety of ideas and opinions and sort through them to form our own. As an agnostic, I value freedom of religion. The ability to choose from a variety of faiths affords the opportunity to find one's own truth and enhances the chance of finding comfort in specific religious beliefs. However, when I see signs with messages posted like the one outside Fort Des Moines Church of Christ, I find myself torn between my belief that a person's freedoms should not be hindered and the activist in me that can only see hate in the message that gay is not okay.

This sign became newsworthy after a Fort Des Moines, Iowa resident took a photo of it and posted it on Facebook. Outrage over the message led to a barrage of angry comments to Reverend Michael Demastus and to the church's Facebook page. Gay rights advocates have chosen to protest tomorrow's service at the church.

Mr. Demastus has changed the sign to say "Adultery is Not Okay," although he is continuing with his anti-gay sermon. According to one source, Demastus changed the sign after recieving a message with his home address saying, "I hope you feel safe at home." I feel for him. I really do. I, too, have been forced to keep my sign changed in real life so that I can feel safe at home. I, too, have known the fear that someone may bring harm to my family if my sign speaks my truth. The sad thing is, my sign speaks only love where Demastus's sign supports hatred. The irony is bittersweet.

So, as I consider when free speech crosses the line, I feel that it crosses the line when it promotes hatred from either point of view. The lesson I see here is that, when we present ourselves with a message of hate, we open ourselves up to the same hate. Mr. Demastus would like to ensure that we all live in the closet that I know so well, and by presenting that argument to the world, he faced a backlash from those who refuse the claustrophobia. Might I suggest to Mr. Demastus that, next Sunday, he read through the actual words of Christ (many Bibles highlight Jesus's words in red, and as Jesus so famously said about homosexuality, "_________________________".) and put up a sign that may be more appropriate to the true message he should be preaching:

Mardi Gras at Myst and Necklace Sale

The Mardi Gras party at Myst Beach Club is sure to be a perfect end to your Super Bowl Sunday. Join DJ Colton and dancers Donnie and Chaz as the Mardi Gras hits the beach. Be sure to dress in your Fat Tuesday best, because a prize of L$1k will go to the costume contest winner. The party starts at 8pm SLT. Don't miss it!

And for those who are looking for a great deal on a beautiful accessory, I picked up this beautiful necklace at A:S:S, priced at just L$50 for Lazy Sundays.

This gorgeous necklace comes with both female and male versions in the package. Resize and texture change functions are controlled by an easy to use HUD, which includes six lovely texture options. The textures coordinate wonderfully with many of the items in the store, so be sure to check out the other items for sale. You might just find several items you can't live without.

Boots Beach Wiener Party and a SALE!

Blithe SL Magazine will be covering the return of Boots Beach in our first issue, due out April 1st, but I wanted to take this opportunity to let those who may not know about the rebirth that Boots Beach is back. This post will also serve to remind those who may have forgotten that, while sex isn't a Boots Beach thing (and never has been), dancing in the nude is perfectly acceptable. 

This morning, I logged in to DJ Spike Clemenceau's Wiener Party halftime notice. Worried that I'd missed the entire event, I checked the map and was thrilled to see several green dots at the beach. While I arrived late in the event, the party was still full of fun, conversation and partial to complete nudity. 

Attendees included DJ Spike Clemenceau; his partner, Onyx Baily; Boots Beach owner, Markus Csak; Misha Hellershanks; Imagine Portland; Carlos Bernstein; Lakpr Freck and more.

Boots Beach has many impromptu parties with a variety of DJs, so if you'd like to be notified of events, join the Boots Beach group or IM me for an invite.  

Before I forget, here's some unsolicited promotion for my favorite store in SL, Gabriel. As part of the Gabriel Winter Sale, you can expect to see 50-70% off several amazing items in the store. Gabriel has beautiful, high-quality clothing that will be sure to make you look fabulous, regardless of where your day takes you. Grab some Lindens and head over for a shopping spree. Gabriel is also in the Jack or Jill hunt (see sign in the left of the above photo) so be sure to look for the prize and grab the fantastic group gifts, too.

Written by Merrick Genesis