Holiday Greetings in the Primgraph - Great Fun for a Great Cause!

Victorian era personal ads are fascinating little glimpses of life. For some stellar examples, take a look at the gems blogged at "Advertising for Love: Funny, strange and poignant personal ads from the 19th century". Now, thanks to Modern Ways meshed with Vintage Concepts, you can place a personal ad of your own in The Primgraph - the first magazine in virtual worlds for vintage and steampunk culture.

Keep in mind these ads will appear in our Christmas Holiday issue. In the spirit of the season, we encourage you to publish holiday greetings to those nearest and dearest to you! Further, we will donate 50% of the revenues from any holiday greeting classified ad to Virtual Ability.

"Virtual Ability, Inc. is a non-profit corporation based in Colorado, USA. Our mission is to enable people with a wide range of disabilities by providing a supporting environment for them to enter and thrive in online virtual worlds like Second Life®."

Simply click here, and fill out a simple form to place your ad. Besides holiday greetings, classified are always an inexpensive and effective way to sell your wares, invite folk to your event, announce your romantic intent or perhaps cunningly place a clue to further a roleplay plot.

The deadline to place your advertisement order is 20th November.

Writing For The Primgraph

Sitting in my factory in the Academy of Industry in New Babbage, hard at work writing for the next issue of the Primgraph magazine. (http://primgraph.blogspot.com/). My floating steam writing desk hovers off the floor and was created by Vian Magic. My 'SteamBook Pro' was created by Trilobyte Zanzibar. My animated writing chair (which allows me to really type) is by Lexa Rivera. My custom Seraph uniform is by BlakOpal Designs. Immersed in the music of Steampunk Radio Riel, reasonably safe in New Babbage, what could possibly go wrong?

Primgraph Release Party - Winterfell!

On Saturday, October 17th, please join the cast of the Quest for the Golden Prim in a quest for fun. It all starts at 1pm slt with a Quest for the Golden Prim Podcast, which will be recorded by Radio Riel. Immediately after, at 2pm slt, The Primgraph's Winterfell Issue Party commences. Mingle and dance with your favorite stars of the Quest as Elrik Merlin sets the mood with music. The party runs till 3:30 pm slt.

If you haven't yet read Issue 8 of the Primgraph, do let me entice you. This is our spookiest issue ever! We explore the Dark Victorian sims of Winterfell, the perfect setting for the season. You'll also find heaps of news about the steampunk sims, a fantastic ghost story set in New Babbage and written by the city's maceholder, the newest installment of The Quest for the Golden Prim, and so very, very much more!

Here is the SLurl for all the festivities in Winterfell Absinthe.

Issue 7 of the Primgraph out now!

Issue 7 of The Primgraph is now available - and this time we are celebrating the summer by taking a trip to the sea-side!And there has been no shortage of exciting events in the vintage and steampunk sims recently ... We bring you news of the late Upheaval in New Babbage (the full tale of which we covered on our new aethernet weblog . We also have information about the Grand Tour for Relay For Life and Steampunk Builds at Second Life Sixth Birthday - as well as coverage of the Tinies' Dogfight that formed a component of the Summer of Flight.

And very dear to our own hearts has been the opening of the new Primgraph offices, which will be celebrated officially after the publication of the magazine!


But the excitement seems to attend The Primgraph staff (especially our gallant photographer-in-chief, Mr PJ Trenton). Indeed, when Mr Trenton and I went to the delightful region of Caledon on Sea for no more hazardous an undertaking than a simple photoshoot, bombs suddenly started raining down all around us ... Later we learned that this was fall-out from the explosion of a full tank on an island in the Firth. Nevertheless, it heightened our conviction that we are front-line reporters and photographers at The Primgraph - and that bringing you all the latest news can be a hazardous occupation!

In this issue, we're visiting the seaside region of Caledon south of the Firth, a collection of four rather different areas, linked by a common seafront. From the bustle of Port Caledon, we move to look at the decidedly more dramatic coastal landscape of Caledon Highlands, and then on to the elegancies of Caledon Cay, before encountering the traditional Victorian seaside features of Caledon on Sea. Miss Viv Trafalgar reviews the different areas for our delectation, while Miss Ceejay Writer presents a view of the traditional Victorian seaside holiday. Frau Annechen Lowey surveys seaside fashions for the bold as the Jaegers take to water sports, and fashions for the ladies are considered by Miss Kembri Tomsen. Miss Alesia Markstein presents a history of steamships, while Mr Jvstin Tomorrow visits one of the best-loved buildings in Caledon Cay, the Botanical House, and looks into the history of glasshouses and botanical gardens.

And we have Episode 2 of our exciting new web comic - The Quest for the Golden Prim. In this episode we will meet further characters - and discover some of those whom the Librarian, the Keeper of Secrets himself, has summoned to a dark and secret meeting ... but why?

There are other articles too: Miss Naergilien Wunderlich presents a history of corsetry, while Sir JJ Drinkwater supplies information about the Caledon Libraries. Frau Annechen Lowey is once more on hand to advise on ettiquette in the Steamlands, this month tackling the knotty question of titles. Meanwhile, our Lady of Propriety offers advice on the delicate question of photographic modeling (such as that being undertaken by young ladies whose likenesses are appearing in The Quest for the Golden Prim).

We have more of our classic serial, The Mysteries of London, and details of new acquisitions from the library, as well as another extract from that fascinating documentary record: Henry Mayhew's London Labour and the London Poor, building up a detailed picture of Victorian life in a great city....

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


How do I get my copy of The Primgraph?
Well, there are various ways to get The Primgraph!

You could buy a copy from xStreetSL to be delivered to you inworld.

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.

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 7 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?

The Primgraph is looking for a graphic designer!

The Primgraph is looking for a Graphic Designer to join an amazing team!

This is a rare opportunity to work with one of the most highly regarded and fastest growing media groups within Second Life. Prim Perfect Publications consists of three distinct productions: The Primgraph (Second Life vintage and steampunk magazine), Prim Perfect magazine (Second Life's premier home and gardens magazine), and Designing Worlds (the Treet TV show for design and designers in virtual worlds).

We wish to hire an energetic, enthusiastic, and proactive individual who can be part of the team responsible for designing and laying out The Primgraph to create new editions of this stunning magazine, which is scheduled to appear every six weeks.

The successful candidate will have attitude, aptitude, and appetite. A proven ability to meet deadlines is essential.

You will be a creative person with a flair for magazine design. You will have the flexibility to work with different writers and photographers, and the organisation skills to work to a set schedule.

You will work both independently and with the various production and editorial teams, so good communication skills are a must.

Job responsibilities include: laying out the magazine using an high-end DTP package*; assigning photographers to stories; taking the odd photograph yourself when needed; assigning different level of advertising space throughout the magazine and integrating it within the layout.

* we would strongly prefer the successful candidate to use Adobe InDesign.

Knowledge of DTP and Photoshop are essentials, as is experience in RL print and/or online rich content design. Knowledge of steampunk and Victorian design would be an advantage.

Applicants should have at least six months experience in Second Life. Applicants should have real life experience of the design process and key issues affecting designers.

Payment will be on a profit share basis.

Applicants should apply in writing to primperfect@gmail.com, giving:

Avatar Name:
Rezz Date:
Employment experience in Second Life:
Any real life experience you believe may be relevant:
Why you believe you are a suitable candidate for this position:
The names and contact details of two SL referees:

CLOSING DATE: August 31st. Successful applicants will be asked to complete a design task and to attend an interview.

For more information about Prime Perfect Publications and The Primgraph see:
http://www.primperfect.net/ and http://www.primgraph.com/

Mysteries of the Vernian Deep

There have been an increasing number of reports of strange sightings in the Vernian Sea around Babbage in recent weeks. Unusual beings, things going missing. In a particularly intersting occurence it seems that one of the metallic guards that stood over Babbage during the occupancy has been found by Miss Wolf Copperfield, on the ocean floor. No one seems to be able to account for its presence, nor the increasing pile of detritus that is gathering about it.

In the public interest I have decided to undertake a detailed investigation of this area. Over the coming days, I will report back on the exciting mysteries of the Vernian Deep

your faithful correspondent

Beq Janus

(( Link to Wolf's discovery))

Farewell, Drottningholm Palace

(Photographs for this article by Mr PJ Trenton. More may be seen here)

Today, in very sad news, we learned of the disappearance of Drottningholm Palace, one of the most beautiful of the 18th century sims.


Set in 1778 in one of the most beautiful of the Swedish royal palaces (now, in real life, a UNESCO Heritage Site), it was a gloriously finished sim. It is featured, exuberantly, on the login page as one of the positive highlights of Second Life, and was our Region of the Month in Issue 5 of The Primgraph.


When we visited, we had a delightful reception, and certainly found it to be one of the most welcoming of the 18th century sims. There was a great deal of lively roleplay to be found there, and a willingness to share with newcomers that gave us great hope for the future. So too did the extension into a new sim, Drottningholm Old Town, which offered the chance of residential accommodation.


However, over the last few weeks, Drottningholm seems to have been struggling. There were several high profile departures by well-established characters, and suggestions of a rift between the owners and managers of the two different sims. This culminated in today's announcement that the Palace sim has been deleted by its owner, who has decided to leave Second Life.


The future of Drottningholm Old Town also seems in some doubt. The town was always intended to act as a residential area to support the Palace, and now that has been lost, a time for reappraisal of its aims may be needed. We have already heard talk of the sim being incorporated into a new area which will be based around the Republic of Venice in its 18th century heyday as Las Serenissima. But, obviiously, there will need to be a time for reflection and consultation first.


What is certain is that the closure of the Palace happened with great suddeness for the majority of people involved and has caused considerable disappointment and distress from people who felt that they had made a considerable investment of time and energy there. The owners, of course, had the right to remove their creation at any point, as they have done, but one thinks with respect of New Babbage which had such a civilised handover (and involved its citizens in a great roleplay of the election of the new Mayor). It seems the greatest of shames that some arrangement proved impossible for Drottningholm Palace.

Armada Burning

Armada before the Catastrophe: Photo by Mr PJ Trenton

Alarming Reports have reached us of a Catastrophe that has claimed the stunningly beautiful region of Armada Breakaway, the city built on ships. We have received the attached film from Miss Koshari Mahana and a report from Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander, of the Consulate of Europa Wulfenbach.

Film Supplied by Miss Koshari Mahana

It had been reported that a storm was approaching Armada. Despite this, citizens of the Steamlands were invited to participate in a social event ... (the editor must remark, in passing, how often, in the face of disaster, the inhabitants of the Steamlands choose to dance ... ).

Dancing Before the Disaster
Photo by Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander

Let the Baron take up the story:

The Vice Consul (Frau Annechen Lowey) and I arrived around 1pm that afternoon to help with possible storm damage. It was as powerful a hurricane as I'd ever seen, but the eye was both curiously stable and stationary -- we never even saw rain.

Armada before the Catastrophe:The Eye of the Storm
Photo by Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander

After some time, this mysterious trio of storm dragons appeared from the waters below the city.

The Dragons Attack
Photo by Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander

The fires they set were too extensive and too fast-spreading for the few of us to fight efficiently.

The Dragons Attack
Photo by Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander

The only equipment to hand were some fire extinguishers, as all the water-pumps and even larger bilge pumps had been salvaged away from possible storm loss.

Fire Extinguishers Utilised Against the Conflagration
Photo by Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander

Even some of our more reality-fluid companions, who were able to shapeshift into dragons themselves, were not able to hamper the flames using ice-breath.

A Draconic Attempt at Defence

Photo by Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander

One of the most touching views as the buildings collapsed around our floating platform was spying through a glass the New Babbage Embassy, little flag still waving proudly as the decking collapsed beneath it. Somehow it remained balanced on unseen supports until the very end.

The Gallant New Babbage Embassy
Photo by Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander

After some time of watching the destruction around us, it became almost numbing to watch one hull after another disintegrate and sink beneath the waves.

Armada Burning
Photo by Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander

Fraulein Okeanos Magic, a relative of some of my staff, braved the debris field at the bottom of the sea to see the remains first-hand.

Flames beneath the Waves
Photo by Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander

The spirits of the survivors remained surprisingly high all during the collapse of Armada - they danced in the face of disaster.

Dawn brings a More Beneficent Dragon
Photo by Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander

Finally, the storm dissolved around us as dawn broke over a clear and very bare ocean.The Aftermath

Photo by Herr Baron KlausWulfenbach Outlander

I commend the Thursdays, Herr Weka, Herr Icthus, the missing Herr Streeter and of course Fraulein Trafalgar for not only creating a fascinating place initially, but for bravery in the face of disaster and courageous leadership through storm and flame alike.

Overthrow!! A Webcomic

Overthrow is the Webcomic of the recent adventures in New Babbage, featuring the overthrow of the evil tyrant Obolensky, the summoning of the Allied Fleets of Five Nations, the Great Naval Battle and destruction of his forces, and the tyrants eventual demise (?) at the hands of the captains of the Five Fleets.

The Overthrow!

Publish at Calaméo or browse others.

The Pride and the Passion: Counter Revolution in the state formerly known as New Babbage

Since the start of the Recent Unpleasantness in New Babbage (now known as Obolenskidonia, our correspondent, Beq Janus, has been sending dispatches from the front line. In addition, Miss Saffia Widdershins has managed to obtain interviews with an individual known only as T, a leading member of the Resistance, and with the de facto ruler, Doctor Obolenski himself. Photographs by PJ Trenton

Part 1: The Resistance Fighter
We had communicated for several days through obscure means before our arrangement meeting took place. I wore white pearl ear-rings had we had agreed, and T unerringly made his way through the cafe towards me. A relative newcomer to the former state of New Babbage, T has nevertheless made the city his home, and the cause his own.


It was clear that he had been living hand to mouth. We both ordered coffees - and I added a tray of delicious pastries. While I nibbled delicately at a slice of Battenberg, he fell on the sticky buns and cupcakes like a starving man. His clothes were stained with soot and blood - something that is, perhaps, less worthy of comment in the industrial streets of the region fomerly known as New Babbage than elsewhere, but even by Babbage standards it was apparent that something had Gone Wrong.

There had recently been an encounter, it seemed, with some of the metallic robots in the likeness of Doctor Obolenski in the commercial streets, and popularly (or perhaps notoriously) known as 'smashitrons'. According to T, they had been engaged in an attack on a leading citizen, one which had not only failed, but had led to the destruction of some five or six of the coonstructs who had literally lost their heads.

"I imagine it will be discussed as a malfunction," T told me. "I do not (believe it) ... for they fought with too much intensity ... but I will maintain the ruse ... if nothing more to allow Dr. O to maintain a low level of respect for us citizens."

T went on to speak with some passion of a disrupted and angry citizenry, children enlisted as spies, streets filled with grotesque iron images of the new leader, commerce endangered ... but was concerned that there seemed to be little done to save the city.

"I am new to the city," he explained, "just a couple of weeks under the stewardship of this clockwinder....a fine fellow as I can tell....with an odd taste in drink - frequently seen laying accross that very hearth behind you ... quite lost in his sour milk dreams. Then the announcement ... that he had been spirited away ... and the dark curtain of oppression falling upon the city."

T may be a newcomer to the city, but vehemently denies the charge that he is acting as the agent of a foreign power. He is proud of the democracy that the old New Babbage formerly embraced, for he believes that the people are the state, not the leaders alone (a view that might occasion a raised eyebrow from the Doctor).

He took me to see the devastation in Loner's Lane, where the attack that he had spoken of had happened. There, while T faded unobtrusively into the background lest his secret identity be suspected, I was able to speak with some of the cituzens and see for myself the outrageous assaults on the citzenry that are apparently taking place without restraint, with young (and irresponsible) children being armed with dangerous weapons which they have not hesitated to use.

I was able to speak with one citizen who had, to her great distress, been shot by a young girl. The girl seemed to feel no remorse and - indeed - revelled in her status as one of Doctor Obolensky's Youth Movement.

What will happen in Babbage? Will Doctor Obolenski succeed in his plans for his new city state? Perhaps it was time for find out just what his plans are.

Read Part 2 tomorrow.

Life in Obolenskidonia

This correspondent has spent some time assessing the impact upon the lives of the residents. Many of the social leaders have been removed or have gone into hiding, there are no official numbers being given for civilian/militia casualties with the regime showing scant regard for those who rebel against them.

"We didn't count anything... just dumped what we could in the canal... and yes Obolenskidonia is holding strong.", claimed General Kuroe when questioned about the attack on the HQ of the militia.

Yet in many quarters life is carrying on, the urchins are still at large, they are a constant thorn in the side of any authority democratically elected or otherwise so for them it is business as usual, however, this correspondent fears that the cost to those who push their luck too far may be somewhat higher than a spell in the school house and a clip round the ear.

There are still social gatherings, and the bars and coffee shops are still busy though suspicions are rife and the hushed tone of whispers is more common now than the raucous laughter familiar to those who have lived here for some time. The regular popular balls held by Miss Breezy Carver are still taking place despite the occupation and the difficulties that that imposes, some guests it is said were deliberately becostumed in order to conceal their true identity.

Industry however has been diverted. A look out upon the docks sees a fleet not of mercantile clippers and trading ships but of threatening ironclad war vessels. Indeed the port, in the past a ribald and lively part of the city, is all but deserted. In a recent open letter to the citizens of Obolenskidonia, The overlord announced that productivity in the factories was up by 7%. No information as to what was being produced and how this increase was achieved is available. The Primgraph can reveal however that the new regime has plans however with an ambitious scheme to create a pioneering new factory producing scones, on the site of the old town hall. A more ominous prospect, the Primgraph can exclusively reveal is the secretive "Aether" project,
which will apparently expand the borders of Obolenskidonia.

I will report more on the trials and tribulations of life in Obolenskidonia in coming days but for now this correspondent is gonig to return to a bar, for research purposes.

your faithful correspondent
Beq