The New Champagne Rooms moves to Seraph City!

After 2 years of entertaining crowds on the Jersey Island sim, the New Champagne Rooms is proud to announce the Grand Opening celebration of their new home on Seraph City. At 3pm SLT, the Grand Opening Gala will include vintage burlesque from the lovely Champagne Ladies, fire eating talent of fellow Seraph City residents, Fire for Thought, and the remarkable DJ, Miss Gabrielle Riel of Radio Riel.

The New Champagne Rooms is famous for being a traditional 20’s-40’s vintage burlesque theater that features lovely ladies putting on a cool, sophisticated performance in a chic, classy environment. These signature performances will fit beautifully in Seraph City, a retro-futuristic themed sim and set in the timeframe between the World Wars. For any questions or further information, please contact Miss Ahnyanka Delphin.

Tonight @ Piermont Landing 6pm slt It's The 2nd Annual Evolutionary Ball

Piermont Landing is Proud to Present

The 2nd Annual Evolutionary Ball
Saturday April 24th
6pm to 9pm SLT
Fish Spawing Build Contest
first prize 1500L
second prize 1000L
third prize 500L
Music By The Amazing DJ Bats
Sponsored By
House of RFyre
BlakOpal Designs
Curious Seamstress
Hatpins
All are Welcome to The Ball @ 6pmslt

At last it can be shown! Designing Worlds and Murder at the New Babbage Burlesque!

It's taken a little while in the editing, but all the more enjoyable now that it's finally here!Our Babbage special - Murder at the Burllesque - and beautifully edited by Treet TV - is now available.

See what happens when Elrik and Saffia investigate the Burlesque. As they say in New Babbage - "What could possibly go wrong?"

Watch this special episode - and find out!



The Cast was as follows:

Miss Saffia Widdershins - herself
Mr Elrik Merlin - himself
Miss Ceejay Writer - herself
Mr Victor Mornington - himself
Miss Finette de la Roux - Rowan Derryth
Mr Biggins - Raven Haalan

Other parts played by members of the crew and citizens of New Babbage

Now the Expo is finishing … come to the Faire!

The Fantasy Faire 2010, that is, running from April 19 - 25th.

Again, this is a Relay for Life event, proudly brought to you Proudly brought to you by the Friends Fighting Cancer Team - who last year produced a spectacular fantasy campsite at Relay for Life, and also designed the wonderful Anatomica sim, with its opportunity to travel into the bloodstream and zap cancer cells at source (as we showed on Designing Worlds last year).

And now Friends Fighting Cancer are making wishes come true!

Friends Fighting Cancer (FFC) have transformed nine sims of Second Life into a fantasy wonderland: the Fantasy Faire 2010 to benefit Relay for Life of Second Life (RFL of SL), and from Monday April 19th to Sunday 25th 2010, Second Life residents and creators will be able to come together to support the American Cancer Society's vision of a world without cancer.

The Fantasy Faire 2010 is the largest gathering of fantasy designers, enthusiasts, roleplayers and performers in the virtual world. Friends Fighting Cancer are planning a week of commerce, special events, live music concerts, exclusive items auctions, RFL ribbon hunts and fundraising to benefit Relay for Life and the fight against cancer. Avatars, clothing, furnishings, gadgets, goodies and exclusive items are available from top SL Fantasy Creators including Fantavatar and Moonstruck, Evie's Closet, Fallen Gods, Mer Betta, Sassy Kitty, and many, many more!

This nine sim event is bringing together such fantasy genres as Fairy, Elven, Magic, Mermaid, Goth, Demon, Vamp, Neko, Tiny, Sci-Fi and more! FFC's goal in 2010 is to raise $15,000 USD for RFL of SL. The Fantasy Faire 2010 will also offer visitors an opportunity to celebrate the survivors of cancer, remember and honor loved ones lost, and to fight back with the American Cancer Society.

To visit the Fair this year, just search for "Fantasy Faire Central" on the map - open to the public 19th - 25th April, 2010.

As with all events this size, there will be lag. The Organisers have done their best to keep it as low as we can but they are also asking for your help. Be considerate of your fellow shoppers … keep prims and bling in your pocket … turn off your AOs and other scripted HUDs. You will find the going easier for yourself. Low prim clothes are available at each teleport point so that you can show your support for The Relay for Life and help everything run smoother PLUS the secret LowLag Fairy will be dropping FABULOUS prizes on people with really low Avatar Render Cost and Scripts for doing such a great job at keeping the lag down!

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The Fantasy Faire 2010 is produced by Friends Fighting Cancer, one of the Featured Designer Teams at last year's Relay for Life of Second Life. FFC is an international team of people who have been involved with the RFL of SL for the past three years and is committed to helping the American Cancer Society reach this year’s goal of $300,000 USD.

Since its inception in 2005, the RFL of SL has grown in both attendance and fundraising. With almost $275,000 USD raised last year RFL of SL has become the largest fundraising event in the virtual world.

The Fantasy Faire 2010 is made possible by the generous support of Sim and Event Sponsors Fondazione Connell Project, Evie's Closet, Fairy Unique Designs (FUD), Fallen Gods Inc., Mer Betta, Moonstruck, Sassi Kitty Designs, The Arcanum and Media Sponsor, Treet TV.

For more information please contact:
Captain Ember Farina or Co-Captain Zander Greene in SL
or email FantasyFaireSL@gmail.com

The official FFC Fantasy Faire 2010 website - http://www.fantasyfaire2010.wordpress.com is updated regularly with news of the Fantasy Faire Sponsors, Featured Creators, limited availability auction items, competition & event details.

The Fantasy Faire in SL Flickr group will soon be showing limited release items available in the Fantasy Faire vendors or auction and also giving details of great competitions.

For more information about Relay for Life in Second Life see: www.relayforlife.org/secondlife or see the special micr0-site that Prim Perfect has created.

Where Next for The Primgraph?

We had a wonderful party at Jabberwock today - with Primgraph staff and fans - and stars of The Quest for the Golden Prim - mingling and enjoying flagons of rum with the pirates of Jabberwock.

We also decided to announce what the theme for the next issue of The Primgraph would be. Last issue, some readers expressed disappointment that they had not known the theme in advance as they would have liked to contribute or have been more involved. So we decided that we would announce in advance what we are planning to cover, and tonight that announcement was made!

Next issue, we will be visiting the region of Steeltopia ... and our over-arching theme will be Airship Pirates!

If readers and/or advertisers are interested in discussing how they could be involved in this issue, they are asked to contact Saffia Widdershins or Ceejay Writer before May 1st.

There are two key ways of making sure you have a place in The Primgraph magazine:
1) Do something newsworthy - and make sure you send a press release with pictures to The Primgraph, or ask us to send a reporter to cover the event.

2) Buy an advertisement. The continuation of The Primgraph - and our ability to deliver high quality articles and stunning photographs - depends entirely on the level of advertisement we attract. And buying an advertisement will place you at the heart of the magazine - even a standard priced ad will place you amongst the content that the Steamlands and vintage sims read and discuss.

3) Even better - do both of the above!

There will also be a few opportunities for working on joint projects with this issue of The Primgraph which will be produced in time for World Steam Expo in Michigan, USA. If you are interested in this, contact Saffia Widdershins or Ceejay Writer before May 1st.

Important Announcement at the Primgraph Party!

There'll be an important announcement tonight at The Primgraph Party in Jabberwock!

We'll be celebrating our current issue - and looking to the future too!

So join us on Friday 16th April from 2 - 4pm SLT as we dance to tunes piratical selected by the incomparable Elrik Merlin!

You'll have a chance to meet some of The Primgraph team - and some of the pirates who have peppered the pages of our most recent issue.

So get out your pirate togs and swashbuckle your way into the action at Jabberwock!

Location: Jabberwock Tavern - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Jabberwock/28/125/22
Time: 2 - 4pm SLT, Friday 16th April
Dress: You need to ask? Pirate, of course!

Celebrate the Pirate Primgraph with a Party!

Avast me hearties!

The Primgraph is setting sail for the high seas ... or actually for a tavern in Jabberwock - to celebrate the publication of our recent issue of The Primgraph!

Join us on Friday 16th April from 2 - 4pm SLT as we dance to tunes piratical selected by the incomparable Elrik Merlin!

You'll have a chance to meet some of The Primgraph team - and some of the pirates who have peppered the pages of our most recent issue.

So get out your pirate togs and swashbuckle your way into the action at Jabberwock!

Location: Jabberwock Tavern - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Jabberwock/28/125/22
Time: 2 - 4pm SLT, Friday 16th April.

A Sense of History at the Expo!

That is, of course, the 2010 Homes, Garden and Patio Expo for Relay for Life – the amazing exhibition located across eight sims. If you would like to visit, you can start at the Prim Perfect Pavilion on Expo 8,or maybe you would prefer to jump down right in the centre of the sims and start exploring from there by using the awesomely long teleport boards you’ll find (and maybe take in some music, or even play bingo!).

Throughout the site, there are vendors where you can buy some fantastic objects, ranging from crazy umbrellas, to candles, to entire houses … and all the money raised from these sales goes directly to Relay for Life!

One thing to look out for are the displays by builder who are creating in a variety of historical traditions. Victorian and Steampunk are both very popular – and I have been delighted to see so many here – in addition to Fatima Ur of Antique Artistry, who we showed in a post on the Prim Perfect blog (and interviewed on yesterday’s Designing Worlds show).

Canolli Capalini's Gothic Greenhouse, photographed by PJ Trenton

One fascinating building has been supplied by the very talented Canolli Capalini of Capalini Fine Furnishings, located in Home Expo 1. A Gothic Greenhouse, this contains elements that actually talk to you if you walk too close to them. And the messages they convey are decidedly Gothic!

It’s actually based on a real life house, the fascinating Winchester Mansion in California, as Miss Capalini explains in a blog post, and is conceived as being the greenhouse that should be there … and isn’t!

From the Julia Collection, photographed by PJ Trenton

Another designer, this time operating more in the steampunk style, is Julez Odigaunt of the Julia Collection located in Home Expo 5. I’ve been appreciting her textures – rich to the point of decadence! – for some time now, so I was delighted to see her here at the Expo too – and offering a wide range of her wares. Look for the wonderful hot air balloon on her roof!

Wunderbar at the Expo, photographed by PJ Trenton

Last (for this post) but definitely not least is a wonderful building by Poppet McGimsie of Wunderbar, located on Home Expo 7. She has created an impressive Crystal Palace Conservatory – and all sorts of goodies are hidden away inside it!

Saturday's revue at the Marzipan Teahouse

The Marzipan Sweeties have long been entertaining guests at the Marzipan Teahouse in Magellan Kinvara. These young ladies have been entrusted to Miss Elspeth Woolley by their discerning parents. Miss Woolley sees to their proper formation and presents them in a monthly themed dance performance.

The theme for the April 10 performance was "Woodland Fairy" with music by Her Grace, Lady Gabrielle Riel, and featuring the dancing talents of Eve Compton, Petronella Piers, Finella Flanagan, Tehanu Marenwolf, and Briana Sirbu. As the curtain drew back, it was breathtaking to see the Sweeties dressed in richly coloured fairy gowns with wings to match. Their dance was mesmerizing, twirling and floating on air, but their line seemed incomplete. These suspicions were confirmed when the last dancer emerged from the wings. Withholding her name for the sake of her parents and the other Sweeties, this Soiled Dove was dishevelled and bruised, her costume torn and a bottle clutched in her hand. She claimed to have been kidnapped by pirates who poured a bottle of rum down her throat. Although we must take her word for it, one must wonder if her tale could have been influenced by the latest issue of the Primgraph.

Needless to say, the appearance caused quite a scene. Many, if not all, in attendance were shocked. The dancers attempted to carry on with the performance as best they could, but it was too much for Miss Woolley. Several times she was overcome with emotion. Smelling salts were passed around, though many of us wished that someone with medical experience was in attendance. Throughout the chaos, Lady Gabrielle Riel was a complete professional, continuing her narration and inspiring music.

When asked for a quote, the Soiled Dove stated, "Miss Woolley is the dearest and sweetest Chaperone in the world and she would never send me off to the convent no matter what happened." Many Sweeties seem in fear of Miss Woolley, but perhaps her firm hand is necessary with these ladies.

When the curtains drew closed at the end of the performance, Miss Woolley quickly ushered the young ladies backstage, saying that she had to meet with them all. Being a long time supporter of the Teahouse, one hopes that the problems with these ladies will be short-lived, and we look forward to them returning for another wonderful performance in May.

Team Caledon RFL 2010 Events

Team Caledon RFL 2010 April Events

April 10, 2010

Our Lady of Hope Hospital and Vendor Garden Open House in Caledon Caer Firnas

Come walk through Our Lady of Hope Hospital and Vendor Garden. In the Our Lady of Hope Hospital you will learn many things and see this marvelous build by Vivito Volare and Fogwoman Gray.And just outside the hospital you will find the Vendor Garden this years shopping center for team Caledon RFL 2010. All residents of Caledon are welcome to place a vendor with an item for sale with all proceeds be given to the Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society for cancer research.

The Open House will be an all day event. Come wander at your leisure through the Our Lady of Hope Hospital and enjoy some shopping in the Vendor Garden outside along the purple brick road.

April 17 - 18, 2010

Steam SkyCity's 3rd Annual Spring Egg Hunt

Steam SkyCity's 3rd Annual Spring Egg Hunt. Join us in Steam SkyCity as her resident Misunderstood Geniuses and Mad Scientists attempt to take your sanity. Eggs containing Fabulous Prizes will be hidden throughout the Sim. The "Hints that Don't Help" will be provided again this year as well.

April 24, 2010 at 3pm-5pm

Mediterranean Beach Party for RFL

Come join in for a Mediterranean Beach Party on the coast of Numantia a region within the Realm of the Roses off the west coast of Caledon. A beautiful sim by Stonehedg Magic and Wordsmith Jarvinen will host this day in the sun for RFL. Come in your best Victorian beach wear.

Note: If you would like to offer an item for sale in an RFL Vendor please contact Lucien Brentano, Captain for Team Caledon 2010.
Please note that anyone can offer an item for sale in the RFL Vendors. We encourage shopkeepers to place items in dual locations such as their shops and the Vendor Garden to give the best coverage possible in offering items for donations.
If youre not a shopkeeper and are in doubt about offering your creation please contact Lucien Brentano in-world to discuss your item. He will be happy to speak to you about your concerns. Also, the Vendor Garden is the perfect location for everyone to place vendors with items including those new to SL.

Set Sail for Pirate Lands with the new issue of The Primgraph!

Avast there, me hearties and join us on a fearsome voyage as we take to the seas in quest of the secret treasure that’s Issue 11 of The Primgraph—where we’ll hoist the main sail and set our course for regions where we’ll be encountering… pirates!

There. I have done the pirate thing, and now I can inform you most soberly and properly of the contents of this issue.

Miss Ceejay Writer set off for some of the wilder reaches in the Antiquity region, while Mr Aeneas Beaumont took an exciting voyage through the islands that make up the amazing area of Jabberwock—and both report back with their findings!


Rowan Derryth bravely set off to mingle with pirates and interview them about their… ah… lifestyles—she’s made it back to The Primgraph offices, but I’m not wholly convinced by her claims to have discovered an excellent new perfume—the bottle seems a little large, and the aroma seems more than a little reminiscent of rum.

And some of the songs that she, Miss Writer and Mr Beaumont (ably assisted by our photographers, Mr PJ Trenton and Miss Twisted Lemon) have taken to singing in the journalists’ hostelry, The Red Dragon (opposite The Primgraph offices), seem to me to be decidedly risqué… I was also a little alarmed to discover that several bottles of something marked “grog” have found their way into the sherry cupboard in The Primgraph staff common room.

Clearly, I should make a point of insisting that they spend some time with Frau Annechen Lowey who, as ever, gives us the lead as to the correct etiquette needed when encountering pirates.


But if you should be seduced instead by the account of life with the pirates, Miss Ceejay Writer offers advice on how to… ah… blend with the crowd (and a recipe to impress any pirate crew, by Chef Gregoe). And Miss Jedburgh Dagger has written on the systems that underlie the sea battles that seem to form a regrettable (for us landlubbers, at least) part of the pirate way of life. I must confess, though, that after reading Miss Dagger’s stirring piece, I did find myself posing before a looking glass with a red scarf tied rather becomingly over my blonde curls, and a shawl twisted about my waist wondering what it would be like…

And I must further admit, I did then scan rather eagerly the pages of our fashion articles this month. For Her Grace the Duchess of Caledon Carntaigh has written a fascinating piece of some of the lovely fashions that may be obtained across the grid to ensure that you make a splendid dash in your piratical outfit. And Miss Kembri Tomsen has provided a revealing insight into the garb favoured by the real pirates of the Caribbean!

And if you want more information about real life pirates, then I can refer you to the excellent and fascinating articles written by Miss Jedburgh Dagger (on the pirates that infested the Caribbean) and Miss Riven Homewood, who tells us all about the fabled pirates of the Barbary Coast.

I paid a visit myself, not to a pirate area, but to Steamfish, a special area developed on its own grid by Rezzable, the company behind the Heritage Key and also many remarkably beautiful places on the Second Life grid (many of which they have or will migrate to their own grid now). Steamfish shows how the technology can be used to develop games and immersive educational experiences. I enjoyed it hugely—as my report shows—and also brought back a great deal of information about scurvy which might come in handy if I should… erm…


No matter! There’s another Lost Chapter for you to enjoy by Mr Mako Kungfu whose diligent researches have uncovered What Really Happened upon the Cobb in Lyme Regis in Miss Austen’s Persuasion—and we believe you will be not a little surprised.

And if you are still thirsting for more pirates, this issue of our wonderful web comic, The Quest for the Golden Prim, reveals the dreadful fate of Minnie Rowbottom, who was kidnapped by dastardly pirates in the last issue. Meanwhile the expedition has taken to the skies and is sailing serenely onwards… or is it? There are tensions beneath the surface… and Nan learns of the Experiment that went Horribly Wrong for Dr Wirefly.

And our Library of the Month is the wonderful West of Ireland library which opened a splendid new extension on March 21st. Mr Onyx Plutonian was there to tell us all about it!

We have more of our classic serial, “The Mysteries of London”, and a further extract from London Labour and the London Poor—this month telling us of the London Watermen, Lightermen, and Steamboat-Men—as well as News from around the Steamlands and other vintage sims.

So, with no shortage of fascinating articles and beautiful illustrations supplied by our brilliantly talented team, we welcome you to this eleventh issue of The Primgraph.

And as for me, I am about to undertake a short and most decorous sea voyage. With a yo ho ho and a bottle of… now how does that song go again?

Miss Saffia Widdershins

PS: Our thanks to the Pirates of the Caledonian (on Ice!) who supplied their glorious vessels for our cover picture: Captain Wildstar Beaumont, Miss Fogwoman Gray, Mr Vivito Volare, Miss Darlingmonster Ember, Mr Bram Hallison and Miss Aevalle Galicia.

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How do I get my copy of The Primgraph?

Well, there are various ways to get The Primgraph!

Best of all, you can join our Subscribe-o-Matic group, which will deliever the magazine to you automatically when it is published. The Subscribe-o-Matic kiosks are located in historical and steampunk sims across Second Life (for example, you’ll find ones at all the Caledon infohubs). And if you can’t find one in your favourite sim, why not ask the owner to install one?

You will also find them at the Prim Perfect offices in Oliveto.

For a short time, it will be available through XStreet (just search on the site for Prim Perfect). This will deliver you a copy in the form of a Thinc book that you can rez and read inworld. However, we will shortly be closing our XStreet Store and moving to another internet based porovider, as we are not prepared, for a magazine that is free at point of delivery, to pay the listing charge being asked of us by Linden Lab.

But if you prefer to read the magazine online but not inworld, there are choices too. Firstly, there’s the wonderful Calaméo system, which allows you to moves smoothly through the pages, giving you the feeling of reading a real magazine. You’ll find Issue 11 here – and please do leave a comment!

But, if you like to download your magazines to read as you commute to work, or in the bath, or wherever, you can also obtain a standard pdf for downloading and printing.

So, really, you have no excuse for not reading The Pimgraph. In fact, why aren’t you reading it now?

Pirates of the Caledonian ... on Ice!

Yaaaarrrr! It be that time again – a time for raidin’ and piratin’ and this time we be on ice!

Everythin' be better on ice...

Be grabbin’ thar skates and a goodly bottle o’ rum and join Pirate Queen Gabrielle Riel, Cap’n Fuschia Begonia and Cabinboy Alfonso Avalanche on the 3rd o' April, 12-3pm SLT for an on ice spectacular in Caledon Wellesian.

So lets be skatin’, dancin', dinkin' and fillin’ them thar SLRFL coffers…

...on ice!

The New Babbage Oiling Festival

The 2nd Annual Oiling Festival was held in New Babbage March 19th through the 27th. To quote the mayor, Clockwinder Mosseveno Tenk, "The Oiling Festival is a steampunk answer to spring cleaning, when we halt the factories to clean out the grit and grime of the previous year and perform annual maintenance. All good citizens and visitors are encouraged to roll up their sleeves and participate! The original Oiling Festival was held to add needed items to the city inventory and invite the greater steamlands to experience the Babbage way of life for a week."

This year was no exception, as several contests were held in conjunction with the festival. The results, as posted by Mayor Tenk:

BEST OILER. 16 entries. [Best portrait of someone performing their maintenance work]
1st: Nat Merit - chimney sweeping
2nd: Skusting Dagger - Breezy Carver in Nemo's Workshop @ Nemo
3rd: Beq Janus - in the bowels of the Hippocampus
Honorable Mention: Verlia Balavio
Mayor's Choice : Arconis Arkright, a heroic mechanic if ever there was one!

EXPORTS. 11 entries. [Creation of objects of export to decorate the docks]
1st: Aeolus Cleanslate for spectacularly sculpted crates of Zombie Pale Ale.
2nd: Skusting Dagger for a collction of air kraken products. The oil has both culinary and industrial uses, who knew?
3rd: Alaex Aeon for crates of Aeon's Bottled Elixir. Builder only knows what it really does to you.
Honorable Mention: Aeolus Cleanslate for drama, neatly packaged for export.
Mayor's Choice: Maggie Lynwood for the barrel of Srizzle Snake Jelly. The judges noted the crate of smog could have been better executed with particle effects.
And an official mystified shake of the head to Tepic Harlequin for his pallet of Salted Vole Butter.

HONKING BIG MACHINE. 12 entries. [Self-explanatory, I should think]
1st: Rip Wirefly - Portable Steam Drill. It's portable. It has wheels.

2nd: Kimika Ying - Death Rays For Peace: Industrial Use of Martian Heatray Demo. Cleverly referenced a chapter of city history. The notecard was very informative.

3rd: Fire Broono - Honkin Big Espresso Machine. It might have broke out of the pack if it actually gave you a cup of capo.
3rd: Greg Merryman - Big Honkin Steam Engine A few flaws in construction, but lovely to look at.

Honorable Mention: Cyan Rayna - Honkin Big Dynamo Powered Cake Machine. Very clever entry. Father Moonwall is going to be asking you some pointed questions about trying to attract that angel back here, young cheetah.
Honorable Mention: Thaiis Thei - Urchin Powered Diabolical Door Opener. Environementally friendly, urchins do grow faster than trees or coal. Do find and urchin to feed to the furnace to watch the animation.

The rest of the group, in no particular order:
DreddPirateBob Streeter - Posh and Stupid. And it honks. Notably annoying. A symphonic collection of industrial noise.
Cuerdas Ishelwood - Giant Alchohol-fired Automatic Swizzle Stick. Very soothing.
Victor1st Mornington - Dynamo Powered Orrery (accurate planet rotations!)
Aeolus Cleanslate - New Babbage Drama Factory - amazing. pull the lever and watch it work. disqualified for overprimmage.

MONUMENT. 9 entries from 7 contributors. [Monuments to decorate the median on Academy Downs, outside of Victory Hall]
1st - Rip WIrefly, for those who gave their lived to industry
2nd - Edward Pearse, for Titus O'Drum, the clockmaker. Can't go wrong with clocks in this town.
3rd - Stargirl MacBain, for the Great Fire bowl.
Honorable - Victor1st Mornington, for I. K. Brunel
Mayor's Choice - Edward Pearse, for Nicholas Bombard, defender of the city.

SEA GATE. 4 entries. [Designs for a gate on the canal entrance to the sea]
1st: Beq Janus: Stunning! The judges now want locking mechanisms on everything.
2nd: Rip Wirefly: elegant and functional. Judges complained about the LOD on the sculpt.
3rd: Ianthe Farshore: very solid!
Honoarable Mention: Victor1st Morningston. An excellent sound, but the judges complained it wasn't grimy enough.

URCHIN LAUNCHER. 2 entries. [Who needs a reason? It's fun!]
1st: Vernden Jervil - the urchins get washed so they won't gum up the machine. Very thoughtful!
2nd: Rip Wirefly - a giant spring loaded boxing glove baited with ice cream cone. non-functional due to oil shortage, alas.

The contests for the Imperial Couriers sketches and the Travel Posters were extended for one week. The contest for lace design was cancelled due to lack of entries.

The Oiling Festival culminated with the 2nd Annual Steamfitters Ball on March 27th. Attendees glittered in their gold-colored attire, and danced the night away. This ball was also the kick-off event for New Babbage's RFL season.

However, not all went smoothly during the Festival. Soon after the Festival began, people began noticing a strange lack of oil, whether in their machinery, or in something as simple as a home lamp. Though some suspicions rested on the urchins, shortages quickly became widespread, too much so for simple urchin thievery, especially as small holes were discovered punched in one oil can. Machines and constructs alike began suffering from the lack, and folks began searching for new supplies.



Around the same time, people began noticing bees hovering around sources of oil. Their presence became more widespread, causing a great deal of speculation. A member of the New Babbage Militia, Miss Bookworm Hienrichs, tracked the bees' flight paths, and discovered that they led to Dr. Obolensky's observatory in the Vernian Sea. After her attempt to catch one of the bees failed, she entered Dr. Obolensky's observatory in search of conclusive proof. She found the needed proof that the bees, mechanical in nature, were stealing the oil and storing it under the observatory, but she was captured by the doctor, and only the heroic actions of Mr. MichaelD Mannonen, another member of the Militia, saved her from an oily demise.



With proof of Dr. Obolensky's perfidy obtained, talk turned to how to recover the oil. Before anything could be done, however, fire swept through the observatory, heavily damaging it and burning off the stolen oil. The fate of Dr. Obolensky is, at this time, unknown, nor is it known how many of the mechanical bees managed to escape. However, it appears that the height of the oil crisis is past, and the citizens of New Babbage can once again run and maintain their machinery, though with, perhaps, a wary eye to the sky.