Swing Times Community Affairs

Words by Lulu Castiglione

Weekly Community Events Meetings

               The weekly Swing Time Community meetings is a weekly meeting held for community members and friends to discuss the events they would like to see in the community. All are welcome and are expected to be respectful and share ideas they have for the Swing Times Community.

               In April, there were several meetings held at the home of Miss Lulu, the Community Events Director. The children of the community colored Easter Eggs for the Annual Easter Parade. Posters and signs were drawn for the Bumper Car Soccer Event. Ideas that have been discussed are Fishing events, Picnic at the Drive-In, Carnival, Fair and many more. Each event is successful when all participate and bring their enthusiasm. If anyone has any ideas they would like to present to the community...please join us on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm SLT or speak to Lulu Castiglione.

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Greedy Game

Each Monday night, the Swing Times Community and Friends gather to play Greedy at Club Jinx located on Arsenal Avenue. The game begins at 6:00 pm SLT and play as long as they wish. Theme nights have become the norm for the Greedy players. Over the last month we have seen Baseball, Alice in Wonderland, Red Carpet Glamour and Camping. In the Month of May we will see Surfing, Fishing, School Days and a Patriotic picnic for Memorial Day! A commemorative photo is taken after the first game. As Captain Creighton conveys, we are her for the company...not the competition! We hope to see more of you at these games.

Swing Times Easter Parade

Words and Photography by Lulu Castiglione

On Monday, April 1st the denizens of Swing Times gathered on the Green for their Second Annual Easter Parade. The Green was paid a visit by early spring and the flowers were in bloom. Brightly colored tulips and daffodils dotted the parade route. The Easter Bonnets were as stylish and impressive as those on Fifth Avenue. With Captain Paul T. Creighton leading the way, the parade was on its way. The Captain lead the festive group around the Green and down the streets of Swing Times and back to the Green for an evening of dancing and the great Easter egg hunt.

While the Captain treated the group to tunes by Irving Berlin, the children (and a few adults) were given empty Easter Baskets to collect eggs hidden around the Green. Over 100 colorful eggs were colored by the children of Swing Times at the weekly community meetings held in town each Wednesday. The winners of the Easter egg hunt were Master Jimmy Branagh and Miss Claire DeAir. Each were sent sent Edible Easter Baskets from the Swing Times Community Board. Items in the baskets were provided by the Victory Cafe and Market.

Stage & Screen: Gone With The Wind

Words and Photography by Anouk Lefavre

Once a month, Captain Paul Creighton hosts the Stage & Screen event dedicated to several classic movies and plays we have learn to love and appreciate. On April 13th, the Captain invited all Swing Timers for a visit to Tara where we met Miss Scarlett and Mr. Rhett Butler as well as sweet Ms. Melanie Hamilton and Mr. Ashley Wilkes.

Gone With The Wind, a 1939 film, is often considered the most beloved, enduring and popular film of all time. Sidney Howard's script was derived from Margaret Mitchell's first and only published, best-selling Civil War and Reconstruction Period novel.

The famous film, shot in three-strip Technicolor, is cinema's greatest, star-studded, historical epic film of the Old South during wartime that boasts an immortal cast in a timeless, classic tale of a love-hate romance. The indomitable heroine, Scarlett O'Hara, struggles to find love during the chaotic Civil War years and afterwards, and ultimately must seek refuge for herself and her family back at the beloved plantation Tara. There, she takes charge, defends it against Union soldiers, carpetbaggers, and starvation itself. She finally marries her worldly admirer Rhett Butler, but her apathy toward him in their marriage dooms their battling relationship, and she again returns to Tara to find consolation - indomitable.

Authenticity is enhanced by the costuming, sets, and variations on Stephen Foster songs and other excerpts from Civil War martial airs. Its opening, only a few months after WWII began in Europe, helped American audiences to identify with the war story and its theme of survival.

The Gone With The Wind setting in Swing Times Studios Backlot was beautifully done – a perfect replica of Tara, and the music selection was exquisite, based on the original soundtrack of the epic movie.

«I'll think of it tomorrow, at Tara. I can stand it then. Tomorrow, I'll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day.»

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Sources:

- Wikipedia.com

- Wikiquote.com

- Goodreads.com

Wonderland Party: Miss Gigi's First Birthday

Words and photography by Lulu Castiglione

“Alice came to a fork in the road. 'Which road do I take?' she asked.
'Where do you want to go?' responded the Cheshire Cat.
'I don't know,' Alice answered.
'Then,' said the Cat, 'it doesn't matter.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

On Sunday April 14, the road taken was the one that lead to Miss Gigi's First Unbirthday Party. Family and friend attended the celebration with a day in Wonderland dressed as their favorite characters from Lewis Carroll's infamous tale.

Guests were transported to the magical wonderland where they could ride a carousel of teacups, paint the Queen's red roses and pose at the tea party table. Treats such as candied and caramel apples, cotton candy, elaborate cakes and pies were the fare.

Birthday girl Gigi and sister Lu were dressed as the two versions of Alice both big and small. Victory Cafe and market owner, Mr. Sed Southpaw darned the Mad Hatter while mother of the girls, Lulu Castiglione was the White Rabbit. Other costumed guests were Mrs. Alesha Hax-Creighton as the Queen of Hearts, Master Gerry Jurassic, Miss Hailey as The Queens soldiers and Mr. Logan Taov as The Knight.

As the music played and the guests danced for several hours and a good time was had by all, no one was late for this most important date!

SpotLight: Calixus Voom

The SpotLight Column introduces the most interesting, famous and exquisite Citizens of Swing Times. The questionnaire is almost the same and what makes each interview unique is the subject’s answers and reactions. This week, Mr. Calixus Voom, owner of The Hammerwielder - Poster & Art Gallery, is under the Spotlight.

*SL Name: Calixus Voom

*Rez day:  February 15th, 2007

*Best moment in SL: Actually, spawning for the first time in SL was great and it all got better by each moment.

ST: What brought you to Swing Times?

CV: Foremost memories. I took a long vacation overseas and on returning and looking for a place to settle, I remembered the first place l, I did set shop in SL, which was quite similar to Swing Times and equally atmospheric.

ST: Tell us a bit about your background.

CV: Being a fairly baroque person from old Europe, I used to travel quite a bit until I came to a rest here. After a fair military career, I studied this and that, worked as a gallerist, an entertainer, a builder and then took some long vacation, which some would call "to get a real life". After that, I decided to turn back to the gallerist in me and help to make the world a brighter place.

ST: I know you are always incredibly busy, but fill us in on your daily tasks.

CV: Well, after the daily necessities, I usually turn to a cup of coffee and some toast, while studying the newspapers.

After that, I stroll down to the gallery and review, which posters my correspondent sent to me and which might be interesting enough to be on display. I fancy, framing those, dusting the exhibits and tending to customers is not a terribly busy task, but it fills the day, while you get a chance to view artistic work everywhere around you and meet nice people.

ST: What do you like to do in the spare time you find?

CV: I adore discovering new things, so I normally travel a lot. If i stumble above some piece of artwork I like, I buy it to have it in the gallery and make the artist happy. Besides that, I spend my time conversing with mostly interesting people, go out dancing and scratching plans for buildings on my drawing board.

ST: What was your proudest moment in regards to Swing Times?

CV: To stand on the roof of my newly built gallery and overlook the skyline.

ST: If you were offered one million dollars or the ability to have one superpower for the rest of your life, what would you choose and why?

Definitely the power to beam from one place to another and burning calories by sheer force of mind… We lose so much lifetime on transportation... on the other hand with hopping around on a whim, we would get fat by not moving our limbs, I guess, so burning calories would have to be the other side of the medal...

ST: What or who is your favourite and why…

*Animal? Cat. It offers beauty, character and if it had thumbs to open tuna-cans, it would not need anyone.

*Superhero? The Shadow… mostly because of the dapper hat...

*Place to vacation? The Town of Doolin, on the Irish west-coast. Brilliant stout, loads of traditional Irish music and a weather as changing as haute couture in Paris.

*Season of the year? Fall. I adore the colours and the feeling of longing for the coming cold.

*Hobby? I normally cannot decide between stamp collecting or bull riding. But then I settle for the more exciting and turn to the stamps.

*Movie? "Dead Men Wear No Plaid" with Steve Martin. Brilliant parody on noir films.

*Book? "Moscow-Petushki", also published as "Moscow to the End of the Line" by Venedikt Yerofeyev. The story follows an alcoholic intellectual, Venya, as he travels by a suburban train to see his girl and is the most hilarious description of being under the influence, I did read since Joyces "Ulysses".

*Celebrity? Buster Keaton, for saying all without a word or even a smile.

*Place to live? Somewhere I can watch life without being spotted and being harassed by it.

The Past is Prologue: Australian Hospital Ship Centaur (AHS 47)

An Historical Column by Captain Paul Creighton

                Centaur began as a commercial vessel designed to simultaneously carry passengers, livestock, and cargo. Laid down in November 1923, she was launched the following that year and took up an irregular passenger and cargo route between Fremantle in Western Australia, Java, and Singapore. Fully loaded, she could accomodate 72 passengers along with 450 cattle. Due to the extreme tides in her intended area of operation in Western Australia, she was designed with a reinforced, flat bottom hull to allow her to settle on the exposed mud flats that many of her harbors became at low tide. Although Centaur was powered by a diesel engine, she sported a single large smoke stack, a hold over design from coal-fired steam-powered vessels. Centaur continued her commercial service to the outbreak of World War Two in 1939, when she unwent a minor refit to add defensive weapons and counter-mine measures. After the refit, she returned to her pre-war route.

                After her career as a commercial vessel, Centaur was brought into service as a hospital ship to meet the anticipated needs of the coming hostilities. In early 1943, she was refitted as a hospital ship, with all weapons removed, but retained anti-mine equipment. She recieved the requisite hull markings to designate her as a hospital ship, including the proper hull number and inside and outside lighting to illuminate her markings. The necessary paperwork was filed with the International Red Cross, including her features such as her smoke stack and masts. The filing was promptly forwarded to all interested parties, including the Japanese.

                Centaur undertook a few test runs along the coast of Australia to determine her fitness as a vessel and to provide the necessary hospital service. She was equipped with an operating room, dental surgery, dispensary, and two full hospital wards with a capacity of over 250 beds along with berths for her 75 crew and 65 medical staff. After her test runs she sailed for Port Moresby, New Guinea with medical personnel and returned with wounded Allied personnel and a small number of wounded Japanese prisoners of war.
                Centaur arrived at Sydney on 8 May 1943 to take on supplies along with personnel. Centaur now had a number of Army personnel, 12 nurses, and the men and materiel from the 2/12th Field Ambulance, “2/12th Pioneers.” The 2/12th had earned its nickname during training in the Northern Territory. The 2/12th served the 23rd Brigade where they assisted with the construction of five army field hospitals as well as assisting sapper and pioneer assault units. The 2/12th caused some confusion during boarding as the crew was uncertain if the presence of their weapons and ammunition would violate the Hague Convention's definition of a non-combatant hospital ship. After a time, the ship's master was officially informed that the rifles and ammunition being brought on board were allowed under Article 8 of the Hague Convention as they allowed “for the maintenance of order and the defence of the wounded.”

                Centaur left Sydney on 12 May, bound for Cairn, Queensland and then on to Port Moresby. Just off the coast from Brisbane, around 4:10am local time on the morning of 14 May, Centaur was struck by a torpedo which wracked the ship and set fire to her fuel tanks. Centaur began to flood and she rolled to port before she began to sink bow first. Many on board were immediately killed by the concussion of the torpedo and the exploding fuel tank. Many more burned to death before the vessel sank in three minutes. Most of the personnel were asleep in their bunks when the vessel was struck and many did not make it to the upper decks before she went down. None of the ship's lifeboats were launched however two broke free along with several liferafts.

               Roughly 200 people managed to escape the sinking ship, but in the following hours the number of survivors dwindled. The combination of wounds from shrapnel and burns, along with the lack of lifeboats contributed to the loss of life. On the morning of 15 May, USS Mugford, an American destroyer left Brisbane escorting the freighter Sussex. Mugford spotted the first signs of the wreckage of Centaur at around 2pm. Mugford ordered Sussex to continue on to their destination while Mugford conducted rescue operations. Within a litte more than an hour, Mugford had brought the survivors on board. Mugford remained in the area until late into the evening, continuing to look for survivors. During the night and the following day, planes and boats searched the area but no other survivors were ever found. All told, of the 332 people on board Centaur, only 64 survived the ordeal to be rescued by Mugford, including only 14 of the 192 originally embarked from the 2/12th Field Ambulance.

                Among the survivors, one tale of heroism rose above the others, that of the one surviving nurse, Sister Ellen Savage. She aided the wounded during their 36 hours adrift. During that time she boosted morale and showed such great personal courage that she was awarded the George Medal.

                “Although suffering from severe injuries received a a result of the explosion, and subsequent immersion in the sea, she displayed great herosim during the period whilst she and some male member of the ship's staff were floating ona raft, to which they clung for some, thirty-four hour before being rescued by an American destroyer. 

               “She rendered conspicuous service whilst on the raft in attending to wounds and burns sustained by other survivors. 

               “Sister Savage's example of high courage and fortitude did much to maintain the morale of her companions during their ordeal.”

               The incident served to galvanize the war effort in Austalian. Unlike other attacks on merchant and troop ships, the attack of a hospital ship was seen as particularly barbaric. Some could not believe that the Japanese would resort to such treachery and rumors began to circulate that Centaur was carrying commandos and military supplies. No doubt, the incident with the 2/12th and their rifles fueled the rumor mill. In the end, the vast majority of Australians as well as the government, used the Centaur as a rallying cry. Images of the sinking Centaur were used on posters to encourage Australians to increase war production, buy war bonds, and enlist in the armed forces.

                Because the ship was so clearly marked and was running with lights during hours of darkness, the Australian Department of Defense removed the markings and lights from another hospital ship, AHS Manuda. She was even armed and run under escort while blacked out. Eventually, the changes were undone, at a cost of over £12,000 and more than three months. Policy changed also, preventing some personnel from boarding, including repatriation teams. Ambulance drivers were transferred from the regular Army to the Medical Corps before boarding, although their unloaded weapons and ammunition were still permitted on board.

               The attacker, at the time, was unknown. Based on reports that later surfaced, we know that three

different Japanese submarines were in the area at the time. According to the official Japanese history, I-177 reported sinking a ship in the area at the time when Centaur was sunk. In command of I-177 at that time was Lieutenant Commander Hajime Nakagawa. There is no mention of the sinking of a hospital ship in any report made by the submarine's crew and a subsequent commanding officer of the same submarine is on public record stating that he believes the crew did not know they had attacked a hospital ship. Nakagawa was later tried and convicted to four years in prison as a Class B war criminal for ordering the shooting of civilian survivors of British merchant vessels sunk by his submarine.

                No one was ever tried for the war crime of sinking Centaur, partially because the record was so sparse and the determination that I-177 was most likely responsible came rather late. Additionally, there is no evidence that Nakagawa determined that his target enjoyed protected status as a hospital ship. The ship was running with all lights on except the two bow lights, but the full moon may have washed out the effects of the exterior lights at the standard attack range of 1500m. Many naval officers were not able to correctly identify vessels from their markings and profiles in those exact conditions. If Nakagawa knew Centaur was a hospital ship, it seems almost certain that he did not inform his crew.
                The loss of Centaur was not crucial to the war effort. She was a smaller type of hospital ship and could be relatively easily replaced. The loss of life, while a high percentage of those on board, was still relatively light in absolute numbers. The Allied response was actually the most damaging result of this incident, with wasted time and resources on the modifications and then back again of AHS Manuda. The Centaur did serve as an effective rallying cry for Australians and is best remembered as such.

Fashion Tales: «Spring is here, I hear…»

Photography and Styling by Anouk Lefavre

«Spring is here, why doesn't my heart go dancing?

Spring is here, why isn't the waltz entrancing?

No desire, no ambition leads me

Maybe it's because nobody needs me?

Spring is here, why doesn't the breeze delight me?

Stars appear, why doesn't the night invite me?

Maybe it's because nobody loves me

Spring is here, I hear

Maybe it's because nobody loves me

Spring is here, I hear»

Lorenz Hart & Richard Rodgers

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Styling Details:

First Photograph

- Dress: *ICING*

- Shoes: [e] elikatira

- Necklace: Donna Flora

Second Photograph

- Dress: Apple May Designs

- Jewellery: FINESMITH

Third Photograph

- Dress & Hat: Vita Bella

- Shoes: [IHS]

- Jewellery: Alienbear Designs

Fourth Photograph

- Dress: Valentina E.

- Jewellery: .:Purple Moon:.

Decorum Forum - Etiquette for Second Life

Words by Captain Paul Creighton


DEAR CAPTAIN: My friend instant messaged me in the middle of a dance we were both attending to tell me that I should not have disagreed with another guest's comment. I thought it was an open conversation and I could share my opinion. Who is right? -OBDERATE IN ANTIQUITY

DEAR OB: Your friend is quite correct. The art of conversation is to add to what the other person is saying, not to detract from it. You should be able to find clever ways of adding or redirecting the conversation even if you disagree with what has been said. The need not cause the conversation to be bland or less than spirited, but it will always ensure that the conversation is polite.
                For example, let us say that someone in the room has expressed their delight with London as a place to visit. Your preference may be for Paris. Rather than disagreeing by pointing out the negatives of London, you may simply say, “Yes, London is lovely, and one must simply see Paris, as well.” You've expressed your preference, opened up the conversation to discuss the merits of Paris, and still left the conversation open to someone agreeing with a preference for either city without having to disagree with either. 

               Avoid superlatives, like calling something the best or the finest. Unless, of course, it is for your host or hostess or for the event you are currently attending. It is perfectly acceptable to highly praise your current location. Just don't single out an specific previous host or event for comparison. “Your parties are the best,” is acceptable, “This party is so much better than the one I attended yesterday,” is not acceptable. Likewise, don't make a comment that so-and-so is the best dressed person at the event as it is a slight against every other person at the event. Such comments are fine in private but not made out in the open where they may cause hurt feelings.
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DEAR CAPTAIN: I don't have a lot of money and can't afford a new outfit for every event. I've taken to apologizing for not having the proper attire because of my financial situation. I try my best but I cannot keep up. What is a lady to do? -BANKRUPT IN BERLIN

DEAR BAN: If you are doing your best, then there is no need to mention it at all. If you are not doing your best, then begin immediately or simply decline the invitations you are receiving. If possible, obtain a black tie formal gown appropriate to the current season and whatever period you enjoy the most. That should be suitable for all formal and and semi-formal events. Such gowns are often gifts or prizes around the grid, so take some time to look around to find one that suits you. Once you have that gown, do the same for a party dress for the current season and your era. This will be suitable for casual parties and other meetings. Once you have that outfit, then look for something for the most formal occasions. You'll need to have outfits for all seasons, so this may take you some time, but work on the current season first.
                If you are trying your best, everyone will see this as time progresses. So, there is no need to point out that you are not quite there yet. Polite people will assume that everyone is trying their best, including you. Most importantly, enjoy yourself. The host or hostess who would prefer a well-dressed crowd to a polite one has not yet surfaced.
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CONFIDENTIAL TO NERO IN NEW TALOUSE: Morning attire is only suitable for events that take place during the day. A man wearing white gloves at an event that is semi-formal will look like a waiter. Don't be offended. Next time, remain silent and just pass the hors d’œuvre.

Captain Paul Creighton celebrates one year of Swing Times in Second Life

Swing Times is celebrating its First Anniversary this weekend! Today marks one year of the glitz and glamour brought to Second Life by Captain Paul Creighton. He was kind enough to give a few minutes of his busy schedule to grant us an interview on such a special occasion.

Allows us to take a moment to say another heartfelt thank you to Captain Paul Creighton for his kindness and consideration towards each and every resident in Swing Times.

Happy Anniversary Swing Times!

ST: What inspired you to create Swing Times?

PC: I have been a fan of the period, the 30s and 40s, my whole life. I really like the potential for community that Second Life provides. So, it was just a natural progression to want to work on a Sim that combined both. The result of that progression is Swing Times.

ST: It has been a year since you have opened Swing Times to the general public, in Second Life. Where and how do you see the future of Swing Times?

PC: The future of Swing Times is in the hands of our residents.  The secret to our success is no secret.  Everyone in Swing Times gets to say where we are heading and directly influences where we arrive.  Our events submission process is completely transparent, and it allows any resident to offer a fully promoted event that is the focus of the entire community.  As soon as someone begins being a resident here, they are greeted with open arms and have a complete support network to help them realize their vision within Swing Times.

Staying true to that basic philosophy is the challenge for the future, but is also the reason why Swing Times exists and what has gotten us to this point.

ST: I know we have previously asked you this but it makes more sense today than ever… What was your proudest moment in regards to Swing Times so far?

PC: I still have to point to the first Easter Parade: Monday, April 9 at 7pm SLT.  Looking back, I am more proud of that today than ever before.  Within one month of opening to the public, we had a community present in Swing Times that wanted to move forward together as a community.  Seeing it for the first time at that moment was wonderful, as it forecast all the incredible things we've seen in Swing Times since that moment.  It shows that at our core, we really do want to work together as a community to create the place that we all call home.

ST: If you had one wish for Swing Times… What would it be?

PC: I would really like to see the community triple or quadruple in size but still retain the tight knit community feeling we currently have without any cliquishness.  We have been blessed with a steady grow of residents and have still remained welcoming to new arrivals.  If we can keep that up, I would be very happy with it.