Tonight, Tuesday June 30 at 6:30pm SLT, Acuminous Watanabe will facilitate a discussion of the feelings aroused by reliving the past. Acuminous is a skilled counsellor and director of the long-running SL/RL Relationships discussion group, and provides an inviting arena for conversation.
The discussion will take place at Safe Haven Landing, after a one-time guided tour by Tamsin Barzane of the experience at Saminaka, followed immediately by Indea Vaher at Safe Haven Landing, which begins at 5:30 pm SLT. Invite your friends to participate, then join us for the discussion.
Thank you again for being a part of this remembrance of the Middle Passage. Future Experiences coming later this summer will include The Return (about 19th c. returnees from Brazil, Africa and the U.S. to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria, and Benin Republic) and To the Sea (about 19th c. Nupe and Yoruba wars and enslavement within Nigeria).
5:30 pm SLT Tues June 30--Guided tour of Middle Passage Experience, beginning here at Saminaka: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Saminaka/66/90/32
6:30 pm SLT--Discussion of the Experience at Safe Haven Landing http://slurl.com/secondlife/Isla%20del%20Estrella/233/37/26 on the ship's deck

Ethnic Avatar Packages at Kiko Life

Kiko Life offers some new complete ethnic avatar packages that are one of the best values for your Lindens in Second Life. In any package purchased you get a shape, a set of eyes, a pair of eyelashes and a collection of manicure/pedicure options and the package also includes a voucher so that you can choose the exact makeup you want in your favorite tone. Kiko Mileno and Osuntomi Melendez' s store also offers tons of choices, with 180+ skin options in gorgeous tan and ebony tones, including Butterscotch, Caramel, Cafe au Lait, Toffee, Tea and Cocoa, and 30 Complete Avatar packages, including Aziza, Nyoka and Meria. Demos are always free, and you can come into any store and try one or all of them out! Kiko and Tomi are also working on new releases of styled shapes for both men and women, and new makeups for the ladies. Now is always a great time to send Kiko and Tomi feedback. Is there something you'd like to see in particular, such as particular colors, eye options, or other default options with the skins? Do you have requests for custom work on skins? Kiko Life offers a wide range of custom makeup options, as well as piercings, tattoos, bikini lines, freckles, wet/sweat options, braces, wounds and more. Please drop a notecard in the main store at the specially provided drop box with your requests. They want you to help them make even better skins. Kiko Life has stores at Kiko http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kiko/194/30/28/, University City http://slurl.com/secondlife/University%20City/51/171/21/, Nederpoont, Sankt Marx http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sankt%20Marx/162/139/21/, Tranquility Island http://slurl.com/secondlife/Tranquility%20Island/230/89/22/, and they are participating in the main store in the Discovery and the Bedtime Stories Grid-wide Hunts going on until the end of June. That means, how many days are left?

Because We Support President Obama

We support Saturday's National Day of Service and Volunteerism, and I'm sharing with you a press release I recently received announcing Helen Keller Day in Second Life. The 24-hour event PDT will be held all day Saturday, June 27 at the four The Ye, Olde, Supporte, and Faire sims. ((http://slurl.com/secondlife/Faire/20/222/38), and it is a community event exploring how and why to employ, educate, entertain, and engage through virtual worlds like SL.
Check out the details on the Wiki @ https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Helen_Keller_Day
Linden Lab is collaborating with and assisting Virtual Helping Hands and a coalition of community volunteers who are proud to announce Helen Keller Day in Second Life. Helen Keller Day is a community-event exploring how and why to employ, educate, entertain, and engage everyone through virtual worlds. Helen Keller Day is a day that is set aside for information acquisition, education, exploration of employment opportunities, social engagement, and enjoyment of arts and entertainment. There will be vendors, employers, presentations, and pure, unbridled fun. It’s a day dedicated to raising our level of awareness for our fellow Second Life residents who cope with disabilities. At some time in our lives, we’ve all felt what it feels like not to be able to participate, not to be included. Knowing how to include someone with a disability, and make them feel welcome, is an important social skill, and a small but significant kindness that we can all benefit from and feel good about.
Participants will meet people, learn things, get freebies, and be entertained for their efforts.
You will hear keynote speakers Keller Johnson Thompson, the great grandniece of Helen herself, and Linden Labs Education and Healthcare Developer, John Lester, aka Pathfinder Linden. You will hear from experts in the fields of virtual education, employment, social engagement and entertainment. There will be building contests featuring skilled builders doing accessible builds before our virtual eyes. There will be a world premier “movie” featuring “Max,” the virtual guide dog developed in Second Life for SL users who are blind or sight impaired. Also featured will be an exhibition of Max's abilities, a fashion show, chess, a Braille chat display, dancing, singing quests and storytelling, and even a virtual goldmine!
There will be experiences designed to spark the imagination and “see” and “hear” the world with all the senses in new and thought provoking ways. Join the pioneers in virtual worlds who are inspired by the spirit of Helen Keller to explore ways in which everyone can participate and create a world that is richer for all.
Please come and learn, connect, explore, be entertained, and pick up freebies while sharing this positive and uplifting experience with us. Contests including Vision QuestPoster, Building, Scripting, Flickr, 3D Wiki categories and more are open now; some close on the 24th. Get involved now! More information about contests, contacts and other forms of support and participation, including a schedule of performers, are available on the wiki, or contact Saxet Uralia.

Rhythm & Rhyme Lounge

Jewel Reyes, owner and manager of the Rhythm and Rhyme Lounge http://slurl.com/secondlife/Phoenix%20Determined/32/232/21/ invites aspiring and experienced poets to come out for future spoken word events at her place, and asks us all to get ready for some old, some new, all exciting poetry! R&R is growing, folks, and thanks to all of the support the lounge has received, Jewel is doing more and she wants to see all of you at these events! (If you haven't already, join the mailing list and get in on the Profile Picks Rewards!) Jewel offers a special thanks to sponsors WD Designs, Samahi Couture, and H&H Property Inc., whose support makes it possible for R&R to hold these contests on a regular basis. If you are a live artist, whether poet, spoken word artist, rapper or singer, the Rhythm & Rhyme Lounge is looking for you! IM Jewel Reyes for more info or simply pick up an application at the Lounge to participate in the contest on Sundays at 3pm SLT for the best Rhythm and Rhyme Artist, hosted by Jewel Reyes. Come share your creativity and compete! Sponsoring business WD Designs (the designer and creator of the TJA mall where Rhythm & Rhyme is located), also makes skins, shapes, textures, furniture, plants, custom builds and designs....Let's not talk about how they pimped out Jewel's Pro Promotions and completely redesigned the Rhythm & Rhyme Lounge a couple of weeks ago...If you want proof of how awesome they are go check it out, or come to the lounge and see their handiwork. http://slurl.com/secondlife/Phoenix%20Determined/123/237/32/
1st Place: $500 WD Designs Gift Card & 100L
3rd Place:$250 WD Designs Gift Card and 100L
I don't know about you but that could buy a lot of outfits, animations, gestures, and stuff we all want (but don't really need)! So dust off those notebooks, get inspired, write and come on down to the Rhythm & Rhyme Lounge to show off your talents! On Wednesdays from 7pm-9pm SLT, the Rhythm & Rhyme Lounge presents the CIRCLE OF EROS CONTEST, sponsored by NXT LVL Magazine, covering SL fashion, nightlife, sex, entertainment and culture so you can take your business, your shopping, and your partying to the NXT LVL! Each Wednesday evening will begin by watching a relationship-themed Spoken Word video, a review, and on to the sharing. Get your relationship-themed material together and compete for the prize -- winner take all! 1st Place: 1000L On Thursdays from 11am-1pm SLT (for all you early birds), there is a midday poetry session hosted by Gangus Nubalo. Jewel invites participants to show her newest host some love as he leads a discussion about poetry that is read. So come with your pieces or someone else's pieces and share with us the inspiration, your perception and overall thoughts! The week wraps up with yet another poetry event on Fridays from 7pm-9pm SLT -- put this in your book--a 2500L SLAM CONTEST, sponsored by Wethaman Winkler. Get your best angry, heartfelt, assertive pieces together and mark this date on your calendar. Pieces should accurately reflect strong feelings about any subject. 2500L just for speaking your mind? Where do I sign up? Spice up your weekend on Saturday evenings for our CHILL NITE as R&R plays Mob Mentality XXX-- the hottest adult game in SL! Don't miss your chance to win Ls by answering sexy questions with the MOB getting the final word. Become one with the mob *lol* and join us for some fun! ***NEW!! Word Blender & Bee Keeper. The lounge is now the perfect spot for the A.D.D. ! The more people who play, the bigger the pot, so TP those friends in and let's get the weekend started off right! (Oh, and yes, there will be poetry and spoken word, too. Reserve your spot, observe, or share! Just be there...http://slurl.com/secondlife/Phoenix%20Determined/32/232/21/
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Need more information? Want to guarantee your spot? IM Jewel Reyes.

Reppin' 4 the Cure

Kemijah Renegade invites SL residents and friends to participate in a fundraising event, "Reppin 4 The Cure" w/DJ Barack on Sunday, June 21, from 2 to 4PM @ Diamond City's Nia Greene Memorial Park. Join DJ Barack (aka Barack Clowes) and WJAY 106.9 The Experience at Diamond City to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Celebrate Father's Day and bring your family, your clique, your sorority or fraternity and/or your club as we raise money in hopes of a cure for juvenile diabetes. All are welcome to attend!
Make a pledge of 1,000 Ls or more & you can participate in the contest for a chance to be crowned the hardest reppin group in SL. The hardest reppin group will walk away with prizes from our sponsors Aalionna Destiny of Millions Media and Zelly Zadoq of BLANG!
Slurl:http://slurl.com/secondlife/Style%20and%20Elegance/60/85/22
If you can't be there, listen in on the stream: http://gold.neostreams.info:12254/

Cozy Cafe Expo and Car Show

The owners and managers of Cozy Cafe invite you to participate in their custom car show and couples' dance contest to be held this Saturday, June 27. If you are interested in entering a car for the show, you should fill out a notecard with the following information to serve as your registration: include your name and the number of prims in your car, and return the registration form to SIEDAH GRAVES OR PHYSTEE SLADE. Each car owner will be allowed to put out their own tip jar, and each entrant will be allowed to display only one car (or motorcycle) per person, and a panel of judges will select the winner. If you are interested in entering the dance contest, register by sending a notecard listing your name and your partner's name to Siedah or Phystee. The dance contest will be held during the final hour of the expo, from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. SLT, and each pair of contestants in the dance contest will have a five-minute time limit in which to show their stuff. Competitors in the dance contest will also be allowed to set out a tip jar, and a panel of judges will decide the winners based on originality and appearance. Siedah and Phystee also encourage everyone to come out and have some fun on Saturday, starting at 10 a.m. SLT. http://slurl.com/secondlife/DeLuca/111/184/22/

Join the Treasure Hunt at Saminaka!

My friend Tamsin has been very busy adding new amusements and displays at Saminaka, Nigeria in SL. To celebrate the creation of an interactive exhibit on animal life in Nigeria, a Treasure Hunt started yesterday. This is one hunt that has its own unique and culturally appropriate touch, because she had a scripter make calabashes the participants wear on their heads to show they are participating in the hunt. As you make your way around the sim (balancing your calabash carefully, of course), bright, juicy oranges holding a variety of prizes accumulate in the calabash as you find the 20 markers which are set out in and around the new exhibit. Clues are contained in the slideshow exhibit itself; come by and get yours! And before you even begin the hunt, Tamsin has some generous gifts waiting for you in the hut right at the landing point at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Saminaka/79/61/30 to make all visitors feel right at home. When your calabash is towering full of oranges, you should return to the starting point to collect a grand prize! I learned how much the flora, fauna and geography of Nigeria resembles some of what I grew up with around the Gulf Coast, so I did feel right at home. More importantly, contrary to all those Tarzan and other fake Hollywood movies, THERE ARE NO TIGERS IN AFRICA! In addition, today Tamsin is launching The Saminaka Compass, a virtual weekly newspaper for the Diasporic community in SL. If you go to http://saminaka.blogspot.com/, you can catch up on all the events at Saminaka, and also learn even more about RL Nigerian culture, with direct links to YouTube videos about Nigeria, news stories from the Web about Nigeria, and some photos (that I expect will become a slideshow over time). And to top it all off, this coming weekend, on June 13, Tamsin has planned a Remembrance for the Ancestors ceremony. She invites everyone to participate in the experience honoring those who were forced to take the Middle Passage. From Saminaka, take on the role of an African from the past who survived that painful journey from the continent, losing your people, identity and culture; as you arrive at the beach, you will reach America, the New World, the place where a new life, a new identity and culture has been forged. That new life of creativity and struggle will be symbolized by a live ceremony of drumming, libation and prayer to be held at Sunrise Mansion 12 SLT, also beginnining on June 13. Go to Safe Haven Landing, Isla del Estrella (219, 15, 21),( http://slurl.com/secondlife/Saminaka/94/69/30 ). Tamsin suggests to all participants that if they wish to immerse themselves in the whole experience, they should arrive at Saminaka at 11:15, going directly to the Remembrance NIGERIA IN AFRICA starting point, Saminaka (50, 90, 28), ( http://slurl.com/secondlife/Saminaka/94/69/30 ). I'm looking forward to this event, and I hope everyone will come out to be a part of the African Diaspora in SL!

Virtual Harlem is Growing

Virtual Harlem is an educational sim representing Harlem, NY as it existed during the Jazz Age of the 1920s and early 30s. This environment is designed to encourage interaction between students, business owners specializing in items related to the period, educators and researchers working on a team to add educational and experiential content to the environment, developers working to make the environment more efficient while offering the widest set of possibilities, entertainers interested in exposing an audience interested in early 20th century Jazz Culture, who are all interested in working within a representation of American, African American and Parisian Jazz culture.
Virtual Harlem has expanded to a second sim! Come by and visit this historical recreation of the site of the Harlem Renaissance, and see the streets of the Manhattan neighborhood where artists and writers like Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Countee Cullen, and James Weldon Johnson walked and worked and partied. There are lovely brownstones available for rental, equipped with fireplaces and charming hardwood floors, and commercial spaces as well, perfect for galleries or designers of vintage clothing and antique furniture. Enjoy the educational displays on all facets of this important and vibrant African American cultural movement--the literary and visual arts, performance in dance, jazz, blues, dramatic plays, musicals and early independent motion pictures--and the people whose commercial and creative talents helped make the Jazz Age possible. Slip into your best flapper dress or vintage tuxedo, and stop by the Apollo Theater for poetry slams and other live performances; celebrate in more sacred ways at the Abyssinian Baptist Church where Adam Clayton Powell once preached. This space serves as a welcome center for Virtual Harlem 2 http://slurl.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Harlem%202/177/189/30/
The National Black Programming Consortium/Black Public Media.Org has exhibit space here, and live music performances are also staged at the Cotton Club. The Cotton Club has a very elegant retro vibe perfect for making visitors feel like they are experiencing the best that SL has to offer; a dance floor is well-equipped with couple dances, and a HUD is available for teleporting across the Harlem sims, as well as the planned addition, Montmartre. This new addition represents the close connections between Harlem's political and artistic elites with those in France, students, musicians, and writers, both American expatriates and French colonial citizens pushing for independence, who would go on to create a movement of their own, Negritude. Right on Seventh Avenue across the street from the Cotton Club, my friend Eladrienne Laval pays tribute to her grandparents in her store atELier, featuring her beautiful designs for dresses perfect for stepping out when stepping back in time! I am looking forward to seeing what the manager here, Candace McMillan, will be adding next, and if you are interested in having an event here or renting commercial or residential space, contact her by IM or notecard. Upcoming events include an in-world class on African American culture on June 22 at 0800 SLT and a Second Salon book club discussion on June 28 at 1230 SLT. Look for historic characters who reside in Virtual Harlem: W.E.B Dubois, Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen and Charles S. Johnson; the Virtual Harlem Trolley Tour is ongoing... just sit on the trolley in order to take the tour around Harlem. See the Lafayette Theater, the Savoy Ballroom, and the Schomburg Library, all places rich with history!
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Harlem/204/78/30/