Calendar Guys

 Another year, another calendar, this year "Men of Opensim"... no, no nudes, you can get them anywhere with depressingly banal results, instead here the focus is on guys going places, or well not exactly going but staying places and making stuff that you can visit. Of course, the number of interesting people in Opensim is uncountable, but these  just represent some of the goings on in the virtual.

You can get the calendar for free at the HG Safari clubhouse, and it's a gift offered in the Notices if you belong to the HG Safari group on OSGrid. The calendar part is a MOAP or media on a prim, linking to the Safari's Google Calendar, which will show you our upcoming seasons of events, plus the grid birthdays of many places on the Hyperverse.

So, who's in the calendar?

January's pinup is Kith Whitehawk - renowned DJ and all round fabulous person - the heart of the lovely Wyldwood Bayou grid. Known for its commitment to fantasy-medieval roleplay, Wyldwood Bayou also has popular party venues like Big Daddy's, with all the ingredients of a sultry Louisiana summer night, all year round. The jewel in the crown, in my opinion, is their New Orleans build, which Safari visited back in Carnival season of '22. Something about the colors, the layout, the freebie shops and the pure spirit of this lovely band of brigands makes it feel so authentic, virtually speaking.

Nyx Breen manfully straddles the real and virtual art worlds with a dazzling array of talent, and a love of giant abstract art installations. Photographer, curator, builder and king of the EEPs, frequently featured in Art events all over opensim but especially in the ongoing Pangea Art and Culture Festival, here he is representing February on sim Immersive, on Pangea grid, one of a collection of VARs with art stretching up into the upper atmosphere, a positive poem of color, form, and cheeky design. The Safari has visited many of his builds, let's give a particular shoutout to Suenos de nuertos a magnificent cultural build, because it always reminds me of Nyx's partner, the late Veritas McMaster.

During the month of March, many events will be happening on the gigantic Opensim World's Fair region on Wolf Territories grid. This event is organized by Koshari Mahana, Kimm Starr and as you see in this picture, the very dapper and completely charming Cooper Swizzle. HG Safari went over to take a look at their progress in October and were amazed by their progress - it's all so beautiful!  Coop's unfailing enthusiasm and kindness are hallmarks of his inworld influence, as this trio brave the challenges of putting together OSWF,  a huge event in terms of time and participants. No doubt his experience as a trainer of leaders and communicators is standing him in good stead!

The French-language grid Ignis Fatuus (the name is Latin for 'foolish fire' - a phenomenon also called in English will-o-the-wisp )  has been a fixture in Opensim for many years, and is always a popular destination for Safari trips. This sim, Phaedra, is my personal favorite; our group visited in 2022. Organized in the form of a tower that you must explore to find the paths and occasionally teleports to take you to the upper levels, it's an absolute joy to visit and a masterclass in creativity and visitor-friendly effects.  Max Well, who shares this grid with his wife Nadir Rae, has always been the most gracious and helpful host, as well as an amazing creator and curator of some of opensim's most significant art sims.

May's all about Spax Orion, owner and creator of the most magical place in the world... if you don't mind danger and the occasional insult ! Dismayland is the wittiest, wickedest amusement park ever, combining all the elements of the funfare with some deadly scripting and ingenious NPC work. Spax has taken 'Dismaland', Banksy's short-lived parody of the famous theme park, and has expanded and evolved the concept in a way not possible in real life, much to the joy of everyone in Opensim. This genius build has a few rules - be sure to read them here before enjoying one of the best days out possible in the virtual.

Snowbody Cortes represents June, here he is on sim Mumble, on HG Safari grid. Snowbody is currently working on a range of tools for our virtual life, including an immersive and independent Voice service, something so many of us are looking forward to as the era of Vivox comes to an end in Opensim. The region Mumble is set up as a park that you can visit to learn more about Bianconiglio, the 'white rabbit' app which will include Mumble. There will be more information about this project on this blog in the coming weeks.

An OSgrid stalwart for well over a decade, and known for his swordsmanship, his shipbuilding skills, his rentals, and his famous Tuesday music venue with Azi Az, The Almost Islands, Danger Lytton is master and commander of many fabulous regions, including this one. Often cited as the Safari's best ever boat trip, many will remember our tour of the Dew Drop Islands - so much fun! This region, Sailboat Raceway, is the perfect showcase of his skills. Featured in the background is Danger's latest creation, a replica of a real sailboat, the Tally Ho. Here, attention to realistic detail, efficient building and canny scripting come together to provide hours of competitive and relaxing entertainment under a Caribbean sky. 

For the past ten years, Royale Mobian has been owner of Mobius grid, developing this unique and forward thinking grid with ever more features that bring it closer to Second Life than most other grids can claim, thanks in great part to Ruby, the grid's resident code genius.  Representing August in our calendar, this Sonic the Hedgehog themed grid has lots of variety in the way of sims, beyond the arrival point on Green Hill Zone. in the photo is another game location, Twilight Town. Safari most recently visited in June 2024 to test the new Cyclone planes, testament to the continuing quest for high quality toys that make this grid a gamer's paradise.

September is represented by three familiar figures on the Pangea scene, grid owner Marlon Wayne, composer Reyno Parx and Mr Scripter himself, Karsten Runningbear, famous for a recent HG Safari tour to see his seaplane and other vehicles, but also sims by celebrated creators Tutz Zabelin, and Bink Draconia among others. Four years old, Pangea grid has a carnival parade in the spring, which every grid is invited to present a float, and dozens of art shows, organized by Lampithaler Artist.  You will also often find the Pangea crowd on other grids, supporting the events and parties being held elsewhere, because for our community to work, you have to be willing to get out there and support it! This sim Waterworld is a sailor's paradise of ocean and islands, which you can visit by rezzing various different watercraft.

Halloween brings out all the ghoulish creativity of Opensim, and here to represent October is Dan Banner, of OSGrid. Dan has been president of OSGrid since 2016, volunteering his time to deal with all the complexities that the role involves, alongside the other grid admins. We see Dan in this picture  lurking on LBSA Plaza, named after Stefan Andersson (irc handle lbsa71), one of the original developers of Opensimulator who took an interest in the project way back in the day... late 2006/early 2007. Positively primeval. If Osgrid is 'the crossroads of the metaverse', then LBSA Plaza may be considered the crossroads of OSGrid, where people drop in to ask questions, and say hello, and sometimes get the replies they were hoping for. As you will have noticed, while Dan's appearance may be forbidding at first glance, he's a kitty cat at heart. 

He's really a biker in his bones, but SoA BAD (yes, that SoA) - if you ask him nicely - is also a magnificent Viking. He kind of has a Philip Linden vibe going on, don't you think? Here he is in the temple that stands above the incredibly detailed and texture-rich Viking village on the region CCI Senja, a place Safari visited in 2023. BAD shares his fabulous grid, CCI, with the lovely Norwegian SIWAS S, and both of them are skilled and imaginative builders with a flair for realism that will take your breath away when it comes to Scandinavian scenery, like their recreation of the beer and bears and landmarks of Tromso, or Bikerworld, the brilliant multi level biking track.

Brazil's best loved Norwegian Elf, Jimmy Olsen is an Opensim hero for so many or us. His four freebie regions, including Flora, a go-to source for all kinds of plants and climate effects, are renowned across the hyperverse, as are Jimmy's often explosive gifts. The Safari went to his sci fi extravaganza Europa on WTG in April of 2024, a build which has since become even more elaborate and interesting, as the restless creativity of the man leads to new ideas and modifications. Here you can see his private region Tromso on Alternate Metaverse Grid, it's a place for him to get away and enjoy weather that is scripted to behave just like the real weather in that part of the world - when it's misty or snowing in RL Tromso, it's doing the same thing in Jimmy's version of the place.

And finally, for the cover picture, Unadecal Masala, looking very Mission Impossible. Unadecal sets up, rents and maintains independent grids and regions on OSGrid, including the HG Safari grid, you've probably heard of Masala Estates. Without fanfare, Unadecal has donated many regions to good causes and art exhibitions over the years - Exupery on OSGrid is one of those, it came into being as a Little Prince installation and these days is best known as the main home of Inworld Review. We thank him for his endless hard work and kindness as we look forward to a happy and entertaining new year!