THE PHOENIX RISES! There has a new VOICE

Have you heard? Oh, I am sure you have by now. There was a shocking, serious crime committed last week! Yes, my friends, The Caldera Sun-Times, about to celebrate its very first There happy anniversary was found dead on Thursday morning. The paper was summarily shut down in its prime by its once and future publisher after its staff, its reputable life support, decided to leave choosing to simply report drama not create and  be a part of it. Not to worry, though, vultures were seen circling the carcass soon after rigor mortis set in and one actually swooped down and swallowed the rotting empty framework of the paper whole. The CST will now be preserved for all Thereians like a mummy, all surface and no content. Maybe the home office will move to Egypt. I think that would be most appropriate.

 

The Caldera Sun Times was one of There’s most dependable and vociferous voices. Well, you might think that that mellow, mellifluous voice has been silenced (oh, yes, the name will go on). It hasn’t. You all know about the phoenix (Harry Potter told you, remember?). Well, that old bird is rising, yet again, from the ashes of Nene! Welcome to The Voice (of There, to be precise). Most if not all of the former writing staff of CST have followed its goddess Geea’s sad and hasty retreat and joined to bring you all the news that’s fit to print (and some that’s not) about the goings on in There.

 

I guess after living through the nervous days that followed Black Friday it seems right that There be given a new start and a new Voice. The new beginning for all is set to happen this Thursday, August 26. Thereians are about to receive a new gift from the gods of Nene, a new Client (who’d have thought it possible?).

 

After May 21, we all thought the world, as we knew it, had come to an end, or, at least, the plug would really be pulled after the ominous portentous prediction of 90 days of grace had reached its end. Michael Wilson, the gods’ messenger, in his inimitable fashion and thanks to his insensitivity and possible lack of understanding the Gospel of Nada, caused an exodus of biblical proportion, one that would have made Moses blush. His ill-timed and thoughtless words decimated the There population over night sending insecure Thereians off to populate the Web planets of Second Life, Lineage et al. The remaining steadfast Thereians were told that the world would continue on a contingent basis and our lives would hang in limbo for 90 days. There would be no Beta, no new Clients, limited customer service and what existed as problematic would remain as is. It was up to the High Priests of MAB us and to make the world work. Like the Trojans, Thereians learned to beware of Geeks bearing gifts!

 

It seems that all the makeshift alters erected to the Goddess Nada had their effect. Thereians prayed as never before and their prayers were answered. In June the Gods of Nene sent down the prophet Brett and suddenly the choppy waters of the archipelago were calmed. Brett brought soothing words of comfort and an interpretation of the Gospel previously denied to us. We were indeed in Beta, a new client was imminent, previous bug plagues were being addressed, there would be customer service and in his own prophetic words “Read my lips! There was not closing!”

 

Hope is in the air, a hope that the plagued, decaying servers, left unattended (or improperly attended) would rise again like our new Voice and the great, gnawing post Black Friday pestilences would be finally abated if not completely cured once and for all with the impending new Client.

 

Lo and behold, 90 days have come and gone! Yes, we are still here and now our friends that emigrated from are immigrating to There. There was no killer mushroom cloud over this past weekend, only the usual parties, spades games (and yard sales and yard sales and yard sales…).

 

Friday night the QE4/KTHR Becca Boobenheim Museum of There Art in Inlet Cove on Motu Motu introduced its newest exhibit devoted exclusively to the wonderful, contemporary original pastel art of Kaya. The museum is open 24/7 and if you have a moment or two to browse stop by and be enthralled by some of the most delightful paintings available (from the artist) in There.

 

Saturday was party day extraordinaire! QE4 hosted a retrospective of Meldoinkle Designs in Zone QE4 featuring the fantastic buggies of Melody_Copeland and GShpudoinkle. The event was also a fundraiser for TABR and we happily raised 39K TBux to seed the prize kitty (no not Kitteee). Look for an upcoming yard sale planned by TABR! There will be a lot of fine and desirable transportation toys available for everyone to purchase.

 

Oh, and Meldoinkle Designs introduced Melody_Copeland’s Lifeflavor series just in time for their retrospective. The orange and cherry flavored buggies, the first of a planned limited series of five,  are so sweet.

 

ZMW hosted a late night party celebrating the 90 days come and gone of Black Friday at the ZMW Buggy Museum.

 

Dreamweaver hosted an all day event at Gondor aptly named Celebration of Life dedicated to showing all the wonderful art available in world.

 

Here are two bits of news that may have gotten lost in the CST shuffle last week:

 

Queer Eye for the There Guy is pleased to announce the winners of its QE4 Summer Choice Awards; for Fashion Design: Geea, for Transportation Design:  ZachC, for Home Design: Ashy. Congratulations to you and your incredible fellow nominees. The true winners here are the Thereians whose daily existence is enhanced by your amazing talent and imagination.

 

The award presentation will take place at our QE4 Summer Choice Awards Gala at summer’s end on September 18 from 10 PM to midnight EDT in Zone QE4. The evening will be dedicated to the spirit and resilience of New York City. Zone QE4 will be redesigned to resemble NYC’s own Central Park with the Metropolitan Museum of Art at center stage hosting the first exhibit of western themed art inspired by the upcoming Wild West mega event looming large in October. Lady Liberty will raise her golden lamp in Pirate Cove off the coast of Zone QE4. We plan to end the evening showering our beloved symbol of freedom with a grand fireworks spectacular by TheChaz. There will also be our traditional silent auction benefiting both NMSS and QE4. The true stars of the silent auction promise to be the buggies ZMW designed especially for this event. You have heard me ramble on about these magnificent NYC buggies ad nausea. Now to whet your appetite here they are in print for the first time.

 

Take note, the Fall QE4 Choice Designer Gala will take place in December in Zone QE4. Nominees will be announced in early November.

 

More exciting news! Welcome to the University of There or UOT! Her Royal Tikiness Hula continues to amaze us with her caring, philanthropic ways. With the generous mandate of There she has created the UOT.  In her own inspired words the UOT was established “to coordinate and facilitate the offering of experimental options that embrace, educate and empower fellow members in an entertaining venue within the There community. (The) UOT instructors have organized their knowledge, skill set experience and passion in order to author and instruct a variety of class events that the entire There community can benefit from and enjoy. On behalf of There, UOT and our entire voluntary staff of wonderful instructors I invite you to experience the richness and vibrancy of There.”  Oddly enough, I was recruited to instruct a class in shopping Shopping 101.

 

Anyone can take UOT classes and experience the fun through learning, sharing, and discussions in There. You can also look up the schedule at the calendar posted at http://www.thereevents.com/

 

In these times of change QE4 has moved forward. Thursday we added a racetrack to our club holdings, the Team QE4 Raceway to be managed by our team’s champion driver Jake_Summers. All I can say is TABR watch our dust! Our beloved paint ball zone was sold to the lovely triumvirate of FaunaRose, LadyMisty and Mahree. The PBZ could not be in better hands and our best wishes go to its new, inspired owners.

 

It may be premature to say but a wonderful new community is rising in the ashes (literally) off the coast of Zone QE4. The old and very historic Nacho Island is being reclaimed and restored to its former glory. In these lazy, last days, at summer's end, the once ghostly town of Pirate Cove is taking on new life as Thereians flock to build and restore the once flourishing pioneer, pirate community.  The quaint wharf town of Pirate Cove was the obvious inspiration for Cannery Wharf up the coast on Motu Motu. The shoreline is dotted with wonderful two-storied merchant mansions and the highlight is the jewel of a governor’s mansion, reportedly inspired by the great post Renaissance Palladian architect Judan, in Queerzonia Park at the island’s heart. Savory, the great Thereian benefactress, has done a loving, detailed restoration of the once famous Queerzonia Hot Springs. Her Celebration of Life exhibit is now ensconced in the museum wing of the Governor’s Mansion. The exhibit is open 124/7 so you do yourself a great disservice if you don’t hover on over to Nacho Island to see it. Imposing Rumbelly’s Fortress, at the head of the island, is currently not open to the public but island military historian (and TUV aficionado) Sarn has high hopes to have it up and running soon.

 

Itching to spend those TBux? It’s time to let you know what is about in auctions. First off, have you seen Tempertantrum’s Elegance in Black collection? I saw it in her clubhouse and had to have it immediately. My beloved Cliff House is now all gothy and grand. The new collection includes ceiling, paneling, walls (with their own artwork already on the walls, mind you…gotta save those drops) and wallpaper.

 

B-C Designs has added some great items to adorn your Tyr homes. There is a fabulous round seating group in two colors, a fountain and a most spectacular round fireplace for those larger helmet homes. Both Bootay and CarCus continue to amaze with their endless, exciting output. Keep it coming guys!

 

Tablatonix has just introduced a beautiful add-a-deck and an awesome BBoy Alumina Midnight Blood buggy. Well, speaking of our fun toys, Meret has just given us our first sets of ski bike. The skis are currently available in red, blue and pink. Ready for the snow patch?

 

Rex2 is into his Nazcar series and the resulting buggies are among the best I have seen lately.

 

 

ZMW simply will never rest on its prestigious laurels. This week ZachC introduced his awesome military series saluting the Navy, Coast Guard, Marines, Army and Air Force. These new buggies are a must have! Attention! They are limited and will go quickly (like all ZMW limited selections); no standing at ease here! ZMW has just coined its Buffalo Nickel buggy too. In the coming weeks look for more collectible coins in this new series, as always, in mint condition!

 

Need to know what is about in There?  Always depend on the QE4 Web Site for fun and fine facts to help you enjoy your There day. Web Master (and mine) Hazzy is relentless in his updates. Look at www.qe4inthere.com and you will know what I am talking about.

 

Welcome to the dawn of a new There and a new Voice!

 

MAY THE PAZ BE WITH YOU!

The views expressed in this column are solely that of the writer and not representative of the views of The Voice of There and it's staff.