Farewell to Boo & Fi | Events & Announcements | New Locations
02/25/2023
FAREWELL TO BOO & FI
The Bellisseria Bureau of Bureaucracy (BBB) is an-all volunteer organisation that exists to foster community and create fun things for SL residents to do. It was originally created to serve Bellisseria, but soon expanded to serve all of Second Life®. The BBB is best known for its passports and passport stamp system. This allows people get their own personalised passport then run around to all sorts of interesting places to collect stamps for it. The BBB also issues driving licences and car registration plates. It also provides a postal service, a listing of beautifully decorated homes open for guests to tour (the Parade of Homes), a regular weekly publication known as The Gazette, embassies to promote connections between Mainland and Bellisserian residents, fun activities and other assorted goodies.
The BBB is the vision and “brain-child” of Boo Rojyo. He got caught up in the excitement of the new release of Linden Homes in early 2020. Boo and his RL wife, Fiona Jogiches, both loved Linden Lab’s vision to create a community. They wanted to be a part of promoting that – and thus the BBB was born. It started small, but rapidly grew.
Three years later, the BBB is well established and Boo and Fiona’s RL has changed. After some soul searching, they decided it was time to retire, step away from the BBB and focus more on some RL things. Their official “last day” at the BBB is Feb 28, 2023.
I caught Boo before he could slip away and he granted me an interview. So here it is:
When did you first start the Bellisseria Bureau of Bureaucracy (BBB)?
It began in a very small way back in January 2020
How did this come about? Or what gave you the idea?
I can't recall exactly. Bellisseria was very new and I got caught up with the buzz of community it seemed to encourage, so wanted to do something. I love travel in both RL and SL, so passports seemed a fun idea. That is the first thing that BBB started with. It grew from there into many other things.
What made you choose the name “Bureau of Bureaucracy?”
I chose it because it sounded grand and silly at the same time. However, over the last three years, I've probably lost tendons in my fingers repeatedly typing ‘Bellisseria Bureau of Bureaucracy.’”
I know the BBB has done many projects… some short term, such as events, and others long term ongoing projects. Please share one or two of your favourite projects, and why you liked them?
The BBB 2nd Anniversary celebration event was great. I remember hanging around the Fairground and just taking in the sense of community. I'm also very proud of the collaboration with the Drivers of SL and our BBB rally. The navigation HUD for that is still available to try at the BBB HQ. You said two and it's now three, but The Gazette is another great accomplishment that I just have to mention. This one is all the better because it is not of my making [Aww shucks, Ed.].
If you had to choose one BBB accomplishment that you are most most proud of or pleased with, what would it be?
The BBB is going to survive my departure, as there are some great people determined to make it succeed. I believe that creating something that outlives my personal input is my greatest accomplishment.
Other than your RL wife Fiona, who were the first BBB staff members you recruited to help you with the project? And how did you go about doing that?
We're going back in the mists of time now. Roughly simultaneously, quite a few people got involved. Pru (Prudenceanton) and Gingir Ghoststar showed instant support and publicity. Bel (Jezebel Bailey) and Sun (Dark Sunflower) were keen contributors, as was North Crannock. I really don't think the BBB would have developed like it has without any of those being involved.
Speaking of your wife and long time BBB staff member Fi., how did you two meet?
We met in RL shortly after the dinosaurs exited the earth. We both stumbled on Second Life® in 2006, and with some time on our hands we quickly grew to love it.
You and Fiona are long time Bellisseria residents. So pls share what your favorite house style is and why?
I'm definitely a Houseboat fan. Fiona loves quite a few styles, but she is very fond of the Victorians.
Is there anything you would like to say to the BBB staff as you step away for a well-deserved retirement?
I'd like to name you all if I could -- those that are here now, and also those that have come and gone. My memory over three years isn't perfect so I dread missing somebody out. So you all know who you are, and I'm constantly humbled you take the trouble to contribute to the BBB project. Pretty much everyone who becomes involved with the BBB leaves their mark; and I'd like to think the BBB leaves a mark (a good one) on each of them too.
Likewise, is there anything you would like to say to the Bellisseria community?
I'd like to say thanks for playing along with our pseudo bureaucracy, I hope you have had fun. Please continue to support the guys who've taken the trouble to keep the BBB going. I'm not leaving SL, so you can still talk to me. I imagine that I will be seen lurking around the occasional BBB event in the future, like the Ghost of Christmas Past.
Article & Photographs by Teresa Firelight.
EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
| If you have one of our stamp terminals at your place and you're having an event there or would like to make any other announcement, just let us know and we'll be happy to feature it here. Please drop a notecard on the Editor Dave (Lord.Junibalya) in-world or use the Email the Editor link in the sidebar to send us your information, posters or photos. |
ARTSVILLE FEATURES IN LINDEN LAB MOVIE
One of our passport stamp-issuing locations is the café at Artsville, a wonderful art gallery location co-owned by (full disclosure) a close friend of your editor.
As well as featuring it in Second Life® Destinations this week, Linden Lab has made a wonderful little movie about Artsville, which we hope will encourage you (if you haven’t already) to visit and take in the art shows before getting your passport stamped at the café.
Builds like this are what makes SL special to artists and art aficionados. Enjoy!
NEW LOCATIONS
We have a new nature location this week. Calland Countryside is a rustic and peaceful rural area on a private estate. You can shop, go fishing, hang out by the lighthouse or visit the mountain cabin. Our second new location is a fire station on the continent of Nautilus: Legion Fire & Rescue. If you want to get involved in SL fire-fighting, the application forms are right outside.
Dealing with a different kind of emergency, the SL Environmental Corps is a wing of the SL Coast Guard (SLCG) with a mission to enhance environmental awareness. The Codfather has a jollier connection to the sea than the SLCG. It's a beach pub and music venue on Brehana's (Bre's) Ocean Bre's parcel (get it? We love a good parcel name pun!)
We also have a new airport in our transport network this week. There's no more appropriate place to get your passport stamped than Second Life International Airport, also in Nautilus. Finally our old friends at the Viking settlement of Rungardvik are now issuing a passport stamp from their fascinating (and very modern) museum of the Viking way of life. We think you'll enjoy your visit.
| Calland Countryside PE | |
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| Legion Fire & Rescue at Avery Hills NA | ||
| SLEC Training Greenhouse SN | ||
| The Codfather NA | ||
| SL International Airport NA | ||
| Rungardvik Viking Museum PE |
