Seraph City: Local PI Busted for Bar Brawl

8/31/12  at 4:44 AM
by Herb Franklin

Altercation at the Java Jive, Seraph City
  Seraph City Police Department  officers last night arrested two men following a violent altercation at the Java Jive that resulted in extensive damage to the popular night club.

  Peter Sanderson remains hospitalized from injuries sustained in a fight  with local Private Investigator Harland Quinn. 

It remains unclear who threw the first punch
  Witnesses report that the two were arguing loudly moments before but it remains unclear who threw the first punch. 

   SCPD Sergeant Norman Hawke said both men would be charged with assault and disturbing the peace.  Doctors say Sanderson is likely to make a near-full recovery.

Quinn in custody
   It isn't the first time a fight has broken out at the Java Jive. Despite the damage, owner Ceejay Writer said residents could be sure that the Jive is "open as usual, with all the fine service and music they've come to expect... The club's sturdy as an ox and built to take whatever comes."

   Miss Writer had no kind words about either of the men arrested. "I've just about had it with replacing vases.  That was real china! From China! And you can tell Quinn - never mind. I'll tell him myself, soon enough."
8/29/12  at 7:13 AM
American Precisionists

EXHIBITION: AUGUST 28 THROUGH NOVEMBER 1
An Exhibition curated by Gstone Turas
Gstone Turas
Artists Charles Demuth and Charles Sheeler share much more than a first name and birth year.  Contemporaries, both were born in Pennsylvania; the center of  American steel production in the 19th and 20th centuries.  It was Pennsylvania steel that built the Empire State Building, the gates of the Panama Canal,  railroads, and heavy machinery of this dynamic era.
 
The works in this exhibition are reminders of a time when America took pride in and celebrated its accomplishments as the builder of the modern age. Mass production was the engine of progress.
 
 
This exhibition is purely for FAIR USE EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.
DONATIONS ARE WELCOME
 
ABOUT FIRST BANK BUILDING GALLERY IN SERAPH CITY
First Bank Gallery in Seraph City is devoted to American Art from the first 1/2 of the 20th Century. In addition to First Bank Gallery, many Second Life residents and visitors have enjoyed the other art exhibits curated by Gstone Turas in the 1920s Berlin Project Sim at her Galerie Glitzern und Schicksal, and Swing Street Gallery in Swing Times Sim.
 
Gstone's mission is to use historical art as an opportunity to not just entertain, but to educate people about  world history during the period 1920 to 1950.  "It's a way to foster understanding across international borders using virtual world tools", she says.

One of Our Biggins is Missing

8/23/12  at 12:02 PM
Entering the popular New Babbage establishment known as The Gangplank, your glance around would show you two Babbage sandhogs sharing some pints off in the corner. Were you able to get close enough to listen to their conversation--unlikely, as sandhogs are a notoriously taciturn lot--you would hear this:

"Ya hear about ol' Biggins?"

"No! Wot's 'e got 'imself into this time?"

"No one knows! Clean disappeared, 'e 'as."

"Pah--not like 'e 'asn't done that afore."

"True. But even when 'e were taken by the dark mer for a time, 'e were able to send messages to 'is old mum. You know 'ow 'e doesn't like 'er to worry. But now? Not a sightin', not a word."

"Huh."

"An' wot's more... afore 'e disappeared, 'e were seen wit' a right smart-lookin' young woman."

"Prob'ly that Ms. Widdershins. You know 'ow she gets 'im in trouble alla time."

"No, no--no one knew who this one was. No one'd seen 'er afore. Some think 'e's left Babbage completely."

"Huh. Well, I'll keep an eye out for 'im. But if 'e 'as actually left Babbage, I 'ope 'e ends up someplace as is less trouble for 'im."

"Aye. Well, I've finished me pint. Must be off."

"See ya tomorrow, then."

And if you had heard such, you would, hopefully, resolve to keep an eye out yourself for Mr. Biggins--whether in New Babbage or around the Aethernet--so you could alleviate the worries of his dear old mum.

Coming soon – a taste of Fun Noir

8/16/12  at 12:00 PM
Harland Quinn - Private Investigator
Harland Quinn - Private Investigator
Coming soon ... a new show from treet.tv - and a new type of interactive entertainment that spans virtual worlds and social media - which draws on the genres of film noir, steampunk with an added dash of classic Lovecraftian horror.  

The Blackened Mirror is an online series of short episodes, following the adventures of a cynical private investigator, Harland Quinn, who has a broken down office in a Depression-era city. Until one day a mysterious woman walks through his office door with her odd companion ... and then things get progressively stranger.

The mysterious visitors
The mysterious visitors

You'll be able to watch the show as part of the Happy Hunting! TV show. And after it's been aired there, it will be available on its own YouTube channel, or you'll be able to download it from the iTunes store. Or, of course, you'll be able to watch it here on this website.

But that's only the start of The Blackened Mirror, because it's is more than just a virtual world TV show; you'll be able to find more information and win prizes by following a series of games and puzzles within the virtual world of Second Life or through a variety of social media across the internet.

Perhaps you can see why we're calling it Fun Noir ...


The adventure begins ...
The adventure begins ...
 You'll find clues on related web-sites, or on social media streams (so maybe you'll want to follow Dolores' Twitter stream, for example, or Millie's Live Journal). These clues will lead you to more information about the characters and the plot ... and if you are following the game within Second Life, it will also lead to prizes to keep, too!

In short, The Blackened Mirror is a media experience like no other.

Check out the web-site (there will be clues here too) - and watch out for the trailer to the show - coming shortly on this week's Happy Hunting! show (shown on Friday 17th August at 3pm on treet.tv)- and this website shortly after!

The Blackened Mirror
The Blackened Mirror

New Babbage's Air Kraken Festival

8/9/12  at 6:03 AM

-Festival Merchandise Cart: An open air market cart at the Port Babbage docks filled with festival themed wares, food and games for festival goers to take and purchase. 

-Air Kraken Exhibit:  An exciting and intriguing natural history exhibit by Kimika Ying focusing on air kraken at Melnik Air Park behind Portside Books in Port Babbage.  

-Air Kraken Target Practice:  Located on the docks of Port Babbage.  Come safely test your shooting skills against the miniature-airship towed air kraken drones.  

-Iron Bay Chef:  We know that New Babbage has its share of mad scientists cooking away in their labs, but what are they cooking in their kitchens?  Get ready for a special event that promises to reveal who is hungry for power and who is just hungry!
Start digging through your recipe books, Babbagers, for that extra tasty dish. You know the one - just the thought of it makes your mouth water, but it is probably only considered edible in our part of the world. The catch is this: it must incorporate a secret ingredient, to be revealed below.
Submit your recipes to Blackberry Harvey and Junie Ginsburg inword by notecard so they can prepare your dish in their test kitchens and then confer about the results.  After all recipes have been prepared, all dishes have been tasted (by some lucky volunteers) and critiques have been written, these judges will determine WHO WILL BE OUR NEXT IRON BAY CHEF!
Your secret ingredient is... AIR KRAKEN!
This event will be executed as part of the Second Annual Air Kraken Festival, running from August 11 through the 25th.  Submit your recipe by noon on the 24th so that winners can be announced during the festival closing event. (We cook very quickly.)
Ready?  Get crackin'!

The winning dishes will go on the menus at The Cocoajava and The Gangplank.
(PRIZES:  L$1000, L$750, L$500)

-SuperVillain Try Outs:  Now is the time for those of you with a maniacal laugh, tyrannical motives and an aptitude for making minions to step into the spotlight.  The contest is going to be held entirely on the BAR ( http://cityofnewbabbage.com/
reader/ ).

There will be three posts/events for hopefuls to compete in:
1-Monologuing:  Take this opportunity to toot your own horn.  Tell us what makes you deserve the SuperVillain title.  What are your plans for taking over?  Why should we all bow and accept your greatness?

2-Fashion Show: Presentation is key.  Show others who is in charge by how you dress.  Submit at least one picture of your attire, accessories, and any other finery you wish to use to display your power.  (Maximum number of pictures per participant is three.)

3-How to Get One's Way (Dealing with Hecklers/Bribery):  There will be hecklers in the life of a SuperVillain.  There will also be all of the weak-minded fools who you will bend to your will through bribery (possibly the contest judges, one may never know).  Explain in detail how you intend to inspire the masses and deal with naysayers (including your competition).

There will likely be cash prizes involved, but the grand prize is the title of this year's SuperVillain! Mwahahahaha! *cough*

-Black Ink and Bold Tales Writing Contest:  At the core of each Air Kraken is a well of deepest blackest ink. Pick up your quill, dip into the source and pen your poem or tale of adventure.  All creative writings about these legendary beasts of the skies are welcome.  

No minimum word-count, but please, no longer than 1,500 words.  Submissions will be accepted the entire two weeks of the Air Kraken Festival, either by notecard to Ceejay Writer, or email to ceejay@cocoajava.com. After the festival, a panel of judges will choose the winners in these categories:   Truly Terrifying Tale (horror), You're Kraken Me Up (humor), Surprise from the Skies (cleverest) and Misunderstood Monsters (Pro-Kraken viewpoints), as well as one overall winner, the Tantamount Tall Tentacle Tale. 

Plans are afoot to publish all entries in some form of anthology for everyone's enjoyment afterwards. Submission of your entry shall indicate your agreement to this project.

One Time Events:

-H.G. Wells/ Air Kraken Festival Opening Party:  Please join us Saturday, August 11th 6:30-9:00pm SLT at The Gangplank as we celebrate the opening of the 2nd Annual Air Kraken Festival, in honor of H.G. Wells.  All attire is welcome, but please feel free to break out your air kraken hunting gear or best Wellsian finery!  Victor Mornington will be our DJ.

-Closing Party:  Come celebrate the close of the festival on Saturday, August 25th at 7-9pm SLT on the roof of Portside Books in Port Babbage.  Dress in your best air pirate/air kraken fighting attire/festival attire.  Dance, drink and be merry as Blackberry Harvey spins tunes.

-Please contact Sky Melnik if you have any questions or ideas concerning the festival.