School Is In Session!

Schoolmarm Robobby McMillan rang the GFC school bell and the little boys and girls came running. It was party time!!

Schoolmarm Robadob boogies

Skuky-doo - Puppy Power!

Kid Kendra skips and jumps

There was meetings, music, dancing, gesture spamming, conversation, and sexy schoolgirl outfits -- something for everyone!  :-)

Cadet Hoshi chills at the snack bar

Roof party!

With almost 20 people in attendance, the Back to School Party was a big success. Thanks everyone!

A Burning Building

The date: August 1^st, 2014.

The time: 7 AM SLT.

The place: Aeon sim.

It was a day like many others. There were some people building in the sandbox, several guests were shooting at each other in the weapons sandbox, and otherwise everything was quiet. But it wouldn't be for long. All of a sudden, the monorail station and the base of the Aeon tower caught fire! What had happened? Had there been explosions? And... was that Sophie, now trapped behind the flames?

It quickly turned out to be part of an OTS: Final Class scenario. Lt.jg T'Lara Ek'Tal, our (acting) Academy Commandant, wanted to once again experience a Final Class, first-hand. So, she asked me (Commodore RoBobby McMillan) to give such a class.

That meant, of course, that this scenario was big. Very big. But people could have expected that, since previous Final Classes hosted by myself, included the collapse of the immense Jenga tower, the crash of the MRU, and much, much more.

 

I'm pleased to say Lieutenant Ek'Tal passed with flying colours. Well done! Of course, no-one had expected anything differently.

There will be another OTS: Final Class this saturday, august 2^nd, at 11 AM SLT. Feel free to attend, for once again, I have something big in mind. For that, we'll need people. Lots and lots of people... Hope to see you there!

RoB

(PS: oh, don't worry: the fires were quickly put out, and security had been informed of the class. A big 'thank you' to everyone who participated!)

Academy Impromptu Teacher Boards arrives

A few months back research division proposed a concept of boards showing available people from different divisions and when they were available to man their post so those who needed their assistance would know they are there. This isn't anything particularly new, security and duty boards have been available for some time, but those divisions aren't really required that much by new members, what the difference is here is it would focus on divisions where people actual require assistance a lot.

To test this we have had specially made boards up in DS19 for sometime, you'd see them if you go to the Ferengi like quarks bar. members can simply click the board and providing we have a picture of them in the server, not only would their picture appear on the boards in and outside the bar but also on a large board down in the sandbox

What was important was to make the system as simple as possible to use. to do this we incorporated a non notecard policy for the board, access lists wouldn't be created the conventional  way. We made the decision that the persons picture would be the access list itself. when a picture is submitted its required to be named in a certain way like this <Secondlife name>@<uuid> , so a picture could be named something like "job blogs@a822ff2b-ff02-491d-b45d-dcr10a2de0s2". Your uuid code can easily be found by just checking your profile and looking for the key info and copying the string of numbers next to it.

With that information its easy to check the right person signed in, a message is set directly to them when someone clicks their picture and the system knows when they are offline so they can be automatically signed out. This way, your not constantly editing access lists, drop the picture in with he correct naming and UUID code is all you need.

The initial idea for the boards were for the Academy since impromptu classes have been shown to be the most effective overall means of teaching classes. This is due to secondlife's nature people pop in and out at peculiar times and its not always easy for them to attend scheduled classes. What boards like these do, when new members appear in world they can instantly see if those who can assist them are available.

Versions of the board for CDO and Personnel are also being looked at.  The idea is to make it easier for members and potential members to contact those most likely to be able to assist them, something we have found in researching this is that a lot of people we noticed may need help but are too intimidated to ask for it even though there are members online available to help.


The boards also comes in a neat hud version which can be placed on your screen. attach and click the board edge to re sync when your in one of the GFC sims.

Also if your wearing one of the latest versions of the TPHUD which you can pick up from medical. They already have voice commands which can sign you in and out of any of these boards which are available. So for instance if I wanted to sign into the academy board but wasn't in range of one of the boards and I had the tphud on i could just say in chat "sign academy". will toggle signing in and out of that board. If i was associated with more than one board like the academy and research board, then by typing "sign in" would sign me into all boards automatically as saying "sign out" will do the reverse. This script can be easily added to other devices.

This can also be seen as one of the early starts of new systems being put in place which will make access to member and information more freely accessible. So, watch this space.

Library exhibitions opening!

What do bathtubs and classes have in common? That's right, they're both featured in an exhibition at the Library! Both the 'GFC Book of Records' exhibition by former member Ensign Six of Nine, and the Academy divisional exhibition by Academy Vice Commandant Angelis Bourne, were opened today.

The Book of Records exhibition had been a special Library project Ensign Six of Nine had been working on. And what a great job she did! A bathtub race, a treasure hunt, and much, much more. They're all featured in the Book of Records exhibition in the Library. Six, thank you very much for your great work!

The Academy divisional exhibition is the first one of its kind. It shows just what the Academy is all about. A while back, all the Leads in GFC have received a notecard from me, giving them the opportunity to create an exhibition which will be featured in the Library. The Academy jumped at the chance, and thus they're the first to show their exhibition. Hopefully, this will be the first of many!

Both exhibitions will be in the Library for the next couple of weeks... so go to the Library and have a look! And if you've got an exhibition of your own that you'd like to show to GFC, feel free to contact me: Captain RoBobby McMillan.

See you in the Library!

Academy photos

There's two reactions you get when your asked to come down and have photos taken in real life, its either "Hell yes, the camera loves me" or "Over my dead lifeless corpse like body".

In second life though its different, because the moment angelis bourn sent a message over chat channel for volunteers the reaction was a casual "yeah, of course we'd come down and support... Erm...For whatever it is we're doing".

The whatever it was they were doing  happened to be a photo shoot for the academy. We didn't ask the what's and whys but all scrambled down there in which ever means was applicable to us.

When I arrived the red classroom was already filled with medium to high ranking officers, all decked out in recruits outfit for the shoot. I was as game as any one and was given and outfit. Now, as you know in SL there are many ways to attach a uniform. I chose the most immediate which was to throw the whole directory on to me.

There was only one small problem with that....whoever gave me that particular outfit forgot to add trousers....and....lets just say the bottom part of my uniform didn't so much not rezz, it was simply missing leave me standing cold in the wind. I making a swift escape out of the academy doors to a height above the building so I could negotiate a pair of pants. After someone throw me a pair of regulation trousers I was able to return to the shoot, fully dress, slightly embarrassed, but ready to go.

The first set of pictures required us to all find a seat to one side of the red class room and the second set was us sitting where the table and chairs were outside the building. Fadm Bixby also joined us in these pictures, so if your seen pictures of the Fadm in a grey jumpsuit (whistles and looks up at the sky) nothing to do with me, but hear there are selling well on the black market :)

Later in the day some of us academy staff where asked to take individual photo's, so expect scary pictures of us scattered around the sim very soon.

Academy Class Pull Down Menu

Over the next few day there will be changes in how we list certain items on this site. We want to incorporate pull down menus and the first screaming victim has been the Academy Classes list, you'll find it on the left sidebar under the translator for now, just click the downward arrow on the box and choose the time zone that is or closest to your country.

As you can see with the event calendars, we think its very important for people to be able to look at timed information in their own time zones and give the people who the data is based upon access to the documents so they can update it themselves. No better way of keeping information as up to date as possible

Remember to tell us what you think and ways of improving it and we'll see what we can do.

Back to school, for Debbydo

Nobody ever said that you are too old to get an education.

Don't forget that you too can head down to the Academy for a class to brush up on your Medical Skills perhaps. Or maybe you want to learn a little bit about engineering? Communications? Security?

Head down to the Academy today and begin your new ... knowledgeable future.

For the Academy Schedule:

https://docs.google.com/View?docID=dg4j957h_216gvdqhhd2&revision=_latest&hgd=1

Jimmy Vehrous.

Jimmy Vehrous - Shuttle 101

Apology to you all.

I can't seem to get any of the colours to work this morning.

I can't seem to get any of the pictures to be in any other position other than centralised.

Sorry Guys.

Greeting all,I completed the Shuttle 101 course yesterday which was an adventure and alot of fun. I thought that I'd post you a report seeing as snapper Desade was kind enough to take loads of pictures.

I applied to join the Academy Air Corps a few days ago however I was told that I would need to be a certified shuttle pilot before I could do so. Anyway luckily for me Kaori Juliesse (K) was around and free to offer it to me as an impromptu class.

We made out way up to the USS Paris, because apparently, this is a good area to try flying manoeuvres *shudders*. I had a little chat with K, she explained to me all the different types of flight, from Hover to Advanced Flight Mode (Physical Flight). I couldn't wait to jump in and get going!

I jumped into the training shuttle that Gokyu Ugajin (G) had kindly provided for me. It was time to test my metal against the harsh aspects of space. Of course I would be safe as I'm only flying around the Paris, however it was a big step for me.

Apparently it is procedure for another vessel to follow close behind the training shuttle. Probably so that I don't kill Lieutenant K during my lesson; accident of course. We did a few more loops around the Paris before heading back into the hanger bay. I hadn't noticed before but a few people had come to offer me support.

Anyway you'll all be glad to know that I passed Shuttle 101 and now can "legally" fly around the GFC Sims. I hope to see you guys flying around Sim with me.

Jimmy Vehrous.

For More Pictures: CLICK HERE

Graduation - 12th June 2011

Greetings,

This is Recruit Jimmy Vehrous reporting for GFC News.

The Academy building in Galaxy.

Today, as promised was the GFC graduation ceremony took place; were recruits and cadets from all over GFC gather to proceed into the next stages of the GFC journey. Today there were a total of four recruits attending; including me.

Recruits from Left to Right:

Alexis Munro,

Ash Warbaum,

Cristina Pratini,

And

Jimmy Vehrous.

The ceremony was situated in the academy building that we all knew so well because we had spent so much time there working towards this great day. It was lovely to see that a few other GFC members had turned up to wish us luck for our journey into GFC.

For Support:

Cobramax Mechanique, Eric Silvercloud, Malic Skytower, Snapper Desade and Debbydo.

Things began with Taurik Xaris giving thanks to those who have contributed to the success of GFC. Of course there are many people who have helped make the academy what is is today.

• The Founders of GFC
• Academy Commandants

- Solomon Flax (Former)

- Ethan Muldoon (Former)

- RoBobby McMillan (Former)

- Etta Teichmann (Former)

- Dave Fearguis (Current)

• The Academy Staff
• And the members of GFC.

The ceremony continued with the graduation of Alexis Munro followed by myself Jimmy Vehrous, Ash Warbaum and finally Cristina Pratini. One by one we would have to get up and make our way to the podium in the middle of the room; graduation time. There are several things that we have received due to our hard work at the academy including a diploma certificate proving that we have completed the Basic Training School and several uniforms that we would need to soon change into once we had been assigned a division.

BTS Diploma Certificate.

We all thought it was over when Admiral Cobramax Mechanique stood up to give a few words to us new recruits.

"This take me back a few years, I ran the Cadet to Ensign class. It was about half and hour lecture and then 12 questions. If you passed with a Grade C or above . . . BAM! You were an Ensign. We have come along way, we have a full fledged academy; great staff. You have made your way through it, which is a journey, starting your new career in GFC. You are now part of legend, galactic history, tales of which ill be told around campfires for ages to come. So, go bravely forth, let your names be forever stamped in this time as you make a difference. I salute you.

Admiral Cobramax Mechanique

After that inspiration speech from the Admiral we were dismissed and the graduation ceremony had ended. We all exchanged words about which division we will be joining. Personally I have joined GFC Research, GFC Strategic Operations and will be joining GFC Academy Air Corps, The other recruits had interests in GFC Security, GFC Communications and GFC Medical.

I hope to see you around the SIMs and I look forward to working with you closely in the divisions that I have chosen and also working with those who are in different divisions. I am glad that I am now officially part of the team.

More pictures CLICK HERE

This is (Now) Crewman Jimmy Vehrous, signing off.

Thanks for your time.