AOHARU for Men and Women

Written by: Gigi Bing

While much of the world looks to Europe as the hub of fashion, one should not turn their eye away from the East where exotic and unconventional ideas make powerful statements in apparel. By fusing eastern and western concepts, Japanese fashion is youthful, fun, and playful in its contemporary styles while it is stately and noble in its traditional forms.

The influence of Japanese fashion culture is now no longer debated. It is assumed. We see it featured in fashion magazines, in music video, on catwalks. The unique, new fashion sense of Japanese youth caused a revolution in fashion, music and retail in Japan. That influence has now reached Second Life.

Asymmetrical clothes with bold cuts and exotic accessories are the latest trends in Japanese fashion. SL fashion designer Machang Pichot has captured Japan's fashion trends in her Aoharu traditional and modern clothing lines. Her store is stocked with Japanese-influenced women’s and men’s apparel consisting of beautiful vibrant color combinations that demand your attention, to bold and trendy colored shoes, to innovative and sophisticated hair styles, to exotic flawless skins.

inVogue: How did you become interested in fashion design? Describe your background and explain how you ended up creating the Aoharu line.
Machang Pichot: The very first shop I opened in Second Life was a Kimono shop. Because I am Japanese and I thought creating and introducing Japanese traditional things would be nice. Since I love fashion in real life, soon I started to feel the desire to design mode/casual clothing too. In February 2008, the birth of AOHARU Sim, and that was when I started to design casual clothes. For me the clothing is a bridge; it helps me to communicate with variety of people. In Real Life, I am an illustrator working for TV programs and such. I love how the lines make shapes. In the AOHARU LINE, I put emphasis on beautiful form. Beautifully formed dresses make people happy, don't they? I will try my hardest to keep making even more beautiful clothing.

inVogue: Describe the Aoharu style, like a good friend of yours would describe it.
Machang Pichot: I'd describe the characteristic of AOHARU as its form and colors. Because of my RL profession, which is an illustrator, I always try to design clothes in beautiful form and colors.

inVogue: What is your most favorite item from your fashion line.
Machang Pichot: I'd pick AOHARU Chiffon Flower Dress. I had this inspiration to make a dress that you can feel flowers when I had a walk in a flower garden when I was on vacation. I designed it as the flowers wrapping around your body and chose some pale colors as they were in for the season.

inVogue: Where do you find your inspiration to design your beautiful garments, shoes, and skins?
Machang Pichot: I love fairy tales such as Alice in Wonderland. My creations are a nice mixture of trend and imagination. For my skins, I make what I'd like to look like, as in skin tones and makeup patterns and such.

inVogue: Do you spend a lot of time researching your collections or is it a whim or a fancy like you walk around and see something and it just grabs you?
Machang Pichot: I don't spend much time on researching. You see a lot of girls in different fashion in Harajuku, Tokyo, and that's where I hang out in a lot. Maybe that's where and when I get to research for my creations as I walk around. The very first thing I do is let my imagination work, remembering the things that I got inspirations from, and put them on the paper, and then I design my clothes from the sketches I make.

inVogue: When you see people either wearing your clothes, skins, etc. How does that make you feel?
Machang Pichot: That makes me very, very happy. That may be the happiest moment in Second Life to meet people wearing my creations, because it proves that they are pleased with my creativity.

inVogue: Can you describe an evolution in your work from your first creation to the present day?
Machang Pichot: In the beginning, I was making Kimonos, then on to casual clothing. My earlier clothes are not so realistic in shading. My customers told me that my creations remind them of Anime. On the other hand my recent creations, I make them as realistic as they can be, and have more shading as well. I love making clothes that has cuteness and beauty as well as a Japanese touch.

inVogue: How would you define what is and what isn't a trend in fashion?
Machang Pichot: Generally speaking, a trend is something that the majority of people would like to wear for the season. I believe everyone has their own favorites, and that would make them their trend, so what I like would make it my trend.

inVogue: Describe the current state of Japanese fashion and where do you believe it is heading?
Machang Pichot: Japanese fashion is hybrid. It is a blend of the trends of fashionistas from abroad with our own trend then changed it to fit our small figures. There are a lot of girls who refer to petite fashionistas such as Nicole Richie. I believe that there will be more original and unique styles in our trend.

inVogue: How do the people of Japan view fashion compared to other countries?
Machang Pichot: We have loads of fashion brands from abroad here in Japan, so as you walk through the city you'll see both of our own fashion trend and that from abroad. There's also a variety of fashion magazines here and we love reading them. And of course from the movies we see a lot of different fashion styles.

inVogue: Where do you see AOHARU heading to in the future?
Machang Pichot: I love making clothes that make others happy, and will continue to do so. I will try my best to make clothes with cute forms and textures for AOHARU.


Machang has proven herself to be a designer that is not afraid to push the envelope within her collection. She has taken a culture and poured that into her AOHARU collection. A look which can be defined as contemporary, futuristic and appealing to the global SL fashionistas.

AOHARU
http://slurl.com/secondlife/AOHARU/119/124/24

SL Your Way - A Few Tips

We are all newbies at one point or another and learning the SL client is not the easiest task. While many of us know the tweaks like the back of our prim hands, the tips and tricks that follow are a few key settings that just might help enhance the experience of someone less familiar with the client.

Many settings require that you enable the Advanced menu. To do so, simply click the control key (ctrl), the alt key and D simultaneously.

1. I have many friends who like the typing animation and the clicking keys. But there are certain places like clubs and concerts where it might not be so appropriate. To turn off the typing animation, select Advanced > Debug Settings... This will open the Debut Settings window. In the text field enter "playTypingAnim". (You will only need to type the first few characters.) Then change the drop down menu in the bottom of the window from TRUE to FALSE.

2. The SL client by default tests your character for inactivity and sets you as Away when you are idle. To turn off this test, select Advanced > Character > Character Tests and then select Go Away / AFK When Idle to deselect it.

3. Not everyone has the fastest computer and SL for many can be a hard lesson in lag if not crashing when in areas of high-traffic or watching videos. One solution is to turn off rendering of certain things. This would mean that you may not be able to see everything around you but will in most instances reduce the lag and can prevent crashing. To turn off rendering, select Advanced > Rendering > Types and select any number of elements; generally from Sky down. Be aware that turning off character will stop the rendering of avatars, but in clubs this can be immensely helpful. Be aware that turning when watching a video you cannot turn off Simple rendering as this will stop rendering the prim necessary to view the video.

4. Want to use your camera more extensively and ability to select prims farther away from you? This can be helpful when identifying the owner or creator of a distant object. Under the Advanced menu, make sure that there is no 'x' beside Limit Select Distance. Also place an 'x' by Disable Camera Constraints by selecting it. This can be extremely helpful for photography. But remember to please respect the privacy of others. Nobody likes a Peeping Tom.

The Preferences window can be a mystery to many people. One tip that can increase your SL experience, especially when watching videos, is to increase your disk cache and bandwidth. In the Preferences window on the Network tab, increase the bandwidth to 1500 kbps and the disk cache to 1000 MB. For many, this can also increase the performance of SL. SL also has provided extensive help available by clicking the Help button.

An excellent video that describes the Graphics settings in the Preferences window is available on the Second Life Support site. Just go to the Second Life website and click Support. In the menu on the left, select Knowledge Base and then the Second Life for Beginners link. From the list select the "Graphics preferences guide - Video Tutorial" link. This video is a must-see for any beginner.

Most important to remember is never hesitate to ask. People typically enjoy lending a hand and sharing their experience. And for you old-timers, never forget we were all newb at some point. Share the knowledge.

Attention: Wallstreet, Politicians & now SL

BB Menu

Required 100K a month membership to enter the private BB Blog and see what it's all about.

Visits at minimum are 25k
Additional Signed Second Life Autographed Picture 15k
Additional Signed Real Life Autographed Picture 30k
Additional Web Cam 25k
Additional Signed Dirty Undies Shipped Overnight 50k
Additional 5000 USD + Travel Expenses for a Night of Talking Only in Real Life

And if your not into women, no problem. Her boyfriend just joined the business, adding a masculine dimension. He offers the same menu but with an additional dirty condom option shipped overnight by mail.

According to many, this woman & man can make you cum with no touch on either side. She has been in business for almost two years and her black book is thicker than a New York phone book. To enjoy the tantalizing services of this duo, you have to be asked or referred by a current member who has been a client for no less than 6 months and strict confidentiality is what makes BB the place to get off. I find it intriguing that Second Life goes deeper and more hardcore than what we see or ever talk about. It makes me wonder what else is out there. I bet your wondering what BB stands for.

Welcome to the New Generation: Miami Mania!

Welcome to the New Generation!
Miami Mania Press Release:

A brand new club opens this weekend boasting an exciting lineup of DJs and a live concert! Miami Mania on Diamond Pride sim opens its doors on Saturday, December 6 at 2pm sl time with the return of DJ Jason Feingold. He’ll spin some of the hottest new exciting club, dance and trance tunes to kickstart the party. He’ll be followed by DJ Shaun Foxtrot 2 hours later to take you partying through the night. The brand new exciting club is aimed at gay clubbers, but a mixed crowd is welcome providing everybody’s gay friendly. The club features a super cool looking glowing dance floor and the best state of the arts club lighting.

The fun doesn’t stop on Saturday, because the club will be open again on Sunday, December 7th for a huge tribute to Queen Concert. See Freddie Mercury, Brian May, live stage, pyro and fireworks! Join DJ Ricken Flow beforehand at 2pm sl time as he pumps you up and gets you fired up for the huge concert! Get ready for SL’s hottest new and most exciting gay dance club, Miami Mania – Welcome to the New Generation! You can check out the club right now at the following link: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Diamond%20Pride/83/170/24

* * * LADIES & GENTLEMEN * * *

* * * LADIES & GENTLEMEN * * *
A N D
* * * CHILDREN OF ALL AGES * * *

PREMIER EVOLUTION presents to you!!!!

Britney Sprears ***** CIRCUS!!!!

Please join us on Tuesday, December 2nd from 2-4pm SLT & 6-8pm SLT for the Britney Spears CD Relase Party of her new CD ** Circus!!

DJ Gregster will be spinning from 2-4pm Brit's new CD as well as Britney Classics & DJ Mirah will spin it all again from 6-8pm

There will be a $500 prize for best Circus theme costume for each party!

So join us on Tuesday for the GREATEST SHOW ON .... THE GRID!!!

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Provincetown%20East/128/61/495

It’s not often that one finds a “perennial” in Second Life, but it’s been my pleasure to have the opportunity to interview one of the long-time favorites of SL, a DJ and now, a new club owner, DJ Queen Edman.

Queen’s venue at the long-lasting “Ironworks” club has been one of my favorite late-night haunts for the entire year of my SL existence, and always seems to draw me back, to dance among the awesome, warm, and sexy “bears” who make that place their Second Life “home club”, for the most part. I got to know Queen in the very early weeks of my Second Life, and found his warmth and accepting personality to be attractive, housed in a burly, fuzzy bear of an avatar, and blessed with a smooth and “folksy” vocal accompaniment to his awesome list of thumping dance beats, which drew me into “club life” in SL, recalling the hyper days I enjoyed in RL, during the late 70’s and early 80’s. Queen's contributions to PRIDE 2008 and the Treatment Action Campaign for AIDS/HIV in South Africa, and his general participatory and community-minded attitude speak well of the character of this most attractive of Second Life residents and workers. And believe me, Queen Edman works hard! (I've seen just "how" hard, too... a feast for the cam! hee hee!)

Now, Queen has opened a new club, called “Shampoo”, and soon after the grand opening, moved it, due to the open sim price increased, to its present location in the Animations Rising sims. Recently married to Colt Parx, owner/operator of the “RAW ART GALLERY & SCULPTURES” business, Queen Edman is now pursuing a new avocation in the arts, as well… and doing quite a good job of it!

The foyer of Club Shampoo is graced by works from both Queen and Colt, and these are stunning art pieces, likely to lift the ambience of any fine home, store, or club, some of them animated, and all beautifully detailed, expressively rendered, and revealing of the hearts and creative minds behind the work… this is a Second Life couple with lots of inner beauty, expressed in their works for all of us to enjoy.

Queen’s ambitious recent efforts also include a new store, with three locations, where his “Cumfy Living” line of products includes a pretty awesome new accessory for the boudoir. A scripted bed-cover or quilt, with multiple textures, and which, at a click, rolls up or down the bed to snuggle one’s avatar (or, presumably, and happy pair of same), beneath the warm covers, the perfect accessory for these cold, winter nights!

Club Shampoo, itself, is reflective of that talent and creativity, with a beautiful, open design, marvelous dance floor with subtle fog effects which soften the harsh graphics of the lighting and avatars as they dance, and lending a rather delightful ambience to the “midnight” view of the place, as one dances and chats with friends, lovers, or soon-to-be either.

Queen’s down-to-earth, easy-going style as a DJ contributes to a delightful experience dancing there, and he can also still be found working his usual shifts at Ironworks, to include the “afterhours” parties so attractive to the “night owl” set, who often find themselves still full of caffeine and ready to dance, when most other clubs have closed out for the evening. Don’t miss these late night possibilities, if you’re sleepless in Second Life!

I recently interviewed Queen about the opening of Shampoo, and present those questions and responses for all our InVogue readers, here…

mtd: How did you arrive at the name, Club Shampoo?

Q: Well I was always a club-goer in RL and there was this club in Philadelphia where everyone was welcome. Gay, straight, bi even transgendered called the “Milk Bard”. It changed hands and was renamed Club Shampoo, and it was a huge circuit club, kind of like the clubs in the movie “Party Monster”. The name really stuck in my mind and it just seemed fitting to bring that sort of atmosphere to Second Life.


mtd: You've been a beloved DJ and host from my own earliest days in SL, and always associated, in my mind, with Ironworks and the "Bears" segment of the gay community. How will Club Shampoo differ in this aspect, or will it?

Q: It won't differ! If you want great music from great DJs then Club Shampoo is where you want to be… we don't discriminate, everyone is welcome!


mtd: I noted that Jason Feingold was prominent at the Grand Opening event; is Club Shampoo affiliated with the "Tainted Boys" business group, or any other, or is this entirely your own endeavor?

Q: No, Club Shampoo has been in the back of my mind way before I ever heard of Tainted Boys and Club High Energy, in fact it wasn't until after the DJ contest I was entered in and won that it was known that the two companies had merged.


mtd: For the DJ Jason fans out there, I just gotta ask... will he be a regular on your upcoming scheduled events?

Q: No, not at this time he won't be a permanent DJ at Shampoo, but that’s not saying I wouldn't want him to spin there in the near future, he is a very good DJ, as well as the other 4 I hand-selected. I knew what sort of program I wanted there for the opening so I requested 5 of the greatest DJs, with a different style for each hour.


mtd: An recent event was billed as "No Nudity", yet I've always enjoyed the "after hours" crowd at Ironworks, where you've presided for a long time. Does this prohibition of nudity reflect a move to a "classier" milieu, for your new club?

Q: LOL, no, the reason i billed the Friday party as no nudity was only because the DJ spinning that night was female and I wasn’t sure she would be comfortable with a room full of naked gay men. I want people to feel comfortable in this club, that’s why i avoided the huge pictures of naked or semi naked men plastered on the walls, if you read the events for that Friday and Saturday it stated nudity allowed but not encouraged.


mtd: Your Grand Opening of Club Shampoo was an obviously great success, and word reached me that your attendance numbers topped the charts for that Sunday night in Second Life. What plans do you have to keep those numbers high, and continue to attract traffic at Club Shampoo, and can you share some of those future plans with me and the InVogue readership?

Q: Well, I have to admit going into this was scary for me! I didn't know what I was doing… its a learning process for me. My partner Colt Parx who owns RAW Art Gallery, part of Animations Rising is very good at advertising so I listen to what he suggests and we work together. Keeping the numbers high. Well, good advertising, great DJs and hosts, that’s what keeps the numbers high. If you’re not moving foward and making the place as hot as you can you die out and I've worked too hard to die out now! The future of Club Shampoo, no one knows. It’s one step at a time and hosting events, and staying in the public eye that makes a club work in SL. I do have future plans, there, but nothing’s set so don't want to say something that won't happen. Just to be on the look out, because Club Shampoo is growing bigger and hotter!


mtd: It's my opinion and feeling that a lot of the success of Shampoo's Grand Opening has to do with you, Queen Edman, and your public persona in Second Life, your friendly and "folksy" DJ style, and your excellent choice of dancing music for your patrons. Will you be DJ'ing still, and carrying on the long-term style and presence so many of us enjoy, or does the success of Club Shampoo spell the end of an era, and your movement into the club ownership realm, (a real loss to the club crawlers, among us, IMHO)?

Q: No, DJ Queen’s rocking styles will continue at Ironworks and Arsenal as well as Club Shampoo. All you club crawlers need not worry, the Queen is not going anywhere!


Originally slated for earlier publication, this article has been slightly revised to include the new developments in Queen Edman’s efforts, his affiliation now with the Animations Rising group, and the relocation of the Club to its present location, here: Animations Rising (207, 62, 21).

If you’ve not dropped into Shampoo just yet, or are looking for a new and delightful clubbing experience, this is a “must visit” on your Second Life club-crawling agenda, for sure!

It was my sheer pleasure to visit with Queen and Colt, and to take the accompanying snapshots of their venue, art works, and store, and I encourage our InVogue readership to visit and take in what can’t be encompassed in two dimensions… you’ll be glad you did!

Oh, and one last little matter... HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM MTD1952 TIMELESS... don't let your snowman near the liquor cabinet! XD Hugs!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving

Hi! I'm Grandad Turkey and I'm pleased to be asked for a small commentary on this national holiday. I firmly support that Thanksgiving Day is a time for all of us to take a step back, relax, appreciate and be thankful for all we have. This year, as always, I'm extremely grateful for having escaped the possibility of being a bigger part of this feast and I hope to escape that for many more years! Even in these very tough times with a failing economy and a world that is not as safe as it once was, we can still remember the great times we had and look forward to great times in the future.
I brought a few pictures from our vacation in sunny Florida last Thanksgiving. We spent two weeks with our old neighbors, the Egrets (Ed and Martha), who have retired there to a lovely condo on South Beach.


We spent a few hours every day just sunning ourselves on the beach ....



Of course, we kept up on the latest news from home, including that rather racy picture of the outgoing president and that intern turkey durring a circle-gobble. My gosh I hope we won't see more of his tricks in his remaining weeks!



The only bad thing that happened on our vacation was that cookout at the community center the day before we left. Granny and I had never seen a cross-dressing turkey so you can imagine our surprise! It was not only very sad to see a fallen comrade, but this was just wrong on so many levels!



After seeing that, Granny and I were happy to be flying north and we were anxious to get back to our quiet little farm. It was great seeing Ed and Martha, and they will be enjoying Christmas at our place this year (unless I end up being part of someone else's dinner). Ah ... the life of the freelance turkey. Hope my luck holds out and if so, I'll write again. Have a safe and healthy holiday! And, may I suggest that you consider serving lamb at your home this season? If you cook it right, it's really not all that ba-a-a-ad, After all these years, isn't it time for a change?

Post by: Larz Beresford

First one to IM Ammon Pera inworld wins 1k

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Animations%20Rising/208/63/22

Step Into Fall, Step into Stiletto Moody with our continued Fall '08 releases.

Press Release/preview from Silletto Moody




Plaids and tartan are just so of the moment. Demure until juxtaposed with a high spike heel - they can be soooo sexy. I couldn't’t resist a little twist on the pinup. So just for you - I am excited to slip this cute little release into our fall lineup. The first of a few '08 fall additions , our favourite high toe pump has a hidden platform and beautiful deeded curve heel. Sensual, elegant, powerful - the cleanest Moody shoe is offered in a hot red tartan with sexy little bow and is available and black or red base atop its dangerous stiletto spike

STILETTO MOODY PINUP SPIKE (RED TARTAN - BLACK)
STILETTO MOODY PINUP SPIKE (RED TARTAN - RED)


Both styles offer the Stiletto Moody menu with sexy walk, heel click sounds, bling, brightness controls and now in SMG2 (Stiletto Moody Generation 2) - you can remove the chain entirely, or select either gold or silver for the metal heel spike on both styles.

As previewed on the October cover of Avenue magazine


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We didn't stop there, we made 5 fresh yummy "warm" new colors
They have a beautiful patent bow on the toe, and cute little naughty bow on the back of the heel

So Tres chic - so cute
.. and since they all have my Stiletto Moody Generation 2 menus - you decide - go out with bows or with just the front or back
..your shoe, your party, your choice. So play with the menu to change the chain from gold to silver, or remove it entirely, or combine it with just a front bow or back bow.

The five 5 new colors -, A deeper darker Black, Chocolate Brown and Light Brown, Burgundy, and Bottle Green are also offered in a value color set with all 5 colors in just one shoe and just a click of the menu to change them -but much cheaper to buy of course.

Have fun girls - there are more fall releases - and next one is real fun
Xox Stiletto xox
Impossibly high heels | Impossibly high stocking seams

Stiletto Moody Pinup ( Fall '08 patent colors) and Stiletto Moody Pinup Spike (Red Tartan)
are now available

PS Yes its got our "BADSEED RED" under sole and embedded Stiletto Moody heart logo. Accept no copies - don't miss a step. Towering heels. Moody’s on you.

HOW DO MY FRIENDS JOIN THE "Stiletto Moody Shoes" group for discounts and announcements:
Search for it in world, or simply pop in to the boutique and click on "Join Group" sign.

HOW DO I GET TO STILETTO MOODY SHOES:
Just click here

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Stiletto%20Moody/43/44/35


Credits for Avenue Magazine cover: Creative Director : Rusch Raymaker Photographer : Sapphire Coakes Stylist : Joy Laperriere

Mouse World/Where SL dreams come true

Mouse World is the perfect place to spend a fun filled day with friends and family. Your imagination will run free and take you back to your childhood days. This is one place you are free to be a kid again.

Upon arriving at Mouse World, you will want to get your free pair of mouse ears. A fashion statement to say the least! You will then find yourself on Main Street. A charming entrance to this wonderous world, where you can shop until your heart is content.

In Cinderella's Castle you will find that there is a quaint spot to get wedding information. Yes,YOU can get married in Mouse World. Check out Dreams Come True Weddings.

You won't have to worry about wearing comfortable shoes and all that walking. There are teleports to take you right to where you want to be!

Tomorrowland
Adventureland
Club Mouse
Main Street

One of my favorite attractions is the Haunted Mansion. It is a MUST! Don't forget to get the HUD for this ride. It's fantastic!



There are so many magical things at Mouse World. So, put those ears on and get ready for you inner child to be set free! See you there!!

Article & Pics By: Kiki DeVinna
The winner& congatulations goes too: Hanz Waydelich


http://slurl.com/secondlife/Mouse%20World/147/5/28

Coming up DJ night

NEW RELEASES @ Kal Rau

Kalrau Black Jeans belt closed
Kalrau Plaid shirt

http://slurl.com/secondlife/La%20Fortuna%202/88/156/23

Happy Shopping

"Happy" VETERANS' DAY, USA!

In 1971, a young Californian, just 18 years of age, had just come through one of the most exciting times in American history, the “hippie era”. The birth of the Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, jimi Hendrix, The Grateful Dead, and all of the anti-war and anti-establishment thinking of this period of American history had colored his perceptions and influenced his life in ways which would stay with him through long years of living and loving and working and playing as a citizen of what, he believed, was the greatest nation on the face of the earth.

And in spite of all that free thinking, his heritage called to him, and when faced with a new young wife, and a son of his own on the way, his thinking changed a bit, and his sense of overwhelming responsibility and altruism settled upon him, along with an urgent need for gainful employment and something to do, besides riding his motorcycle, playing his guitar, and building picture frames, his occupation at the time. There was a war in Viet Nam, in Southeast Asia, going on at that time, and there was a draft, which conscripted young men of 18 years for military service, often in the sodden rice paddies and jungles of a strange land, far away, and this young man knew his number was low on that draft list, and that if conscripted, he’d probably serve, just as his father and grandfather had done.

So, this young American heeded the call of his nation, and enlisted in the United States Army, as the war in Viet Nam was winding down, and would hopefully soon end, and further, he chose to enter the US Army Medical Corps, in the hopes that he could contribute to the only positive aspect of war… the healing and care for those injured by it. For, you see, this young American was deep in a personal “closet”, a secretly gay man, already, and his love for other men was undeniable, but confusing, frightening, and disturbing, at that time in his existence.

Off he went, to “basic training”, at a place called Fort Lewis, Washington, where he learned his own limits of endurance, his own surprising abilities and strengths and physical prowess, and he was filled with pride and grew handsome and “buff” and powerful and fearless with all the training and propaganda and sense of unity singing in his heart and mind. After basic training, he was off to San Antonio, Texas, for medical training, where he learned the tools and techniques for dealing with the tragedies of war, the injuries and damages sustained by human minds and bodies when exposed to explosives and bullets and toxic gases and horrendous radiation and poisons and malice and hate.

After this training, it was back to Fort Lewis, Washington, to a place called Madigan General Hospital, MGH, a large medical facility where the young man was assigned to an orthopedic ward, to care for those returning from the Republic of Viet Nam, with broken bones and shattered spines and missing limbs and all the wonderful consequences of political differences approached at the point of a gun.

And there, this young man met another… a man named “Richard Garcia”, a third-generation Mexican American boy, just 19 years old, same as himself. But Richard had one rather startling difference happening in his life. Richard, it seems, had driven over an explosive device, in a flimsy jeep, on a dirt road in that far-away land of Viet Nam, and Richard was missing all four of his limbs, and most of his lower torso, including his sexual organs. Richard, you see, was one of those Veterans the U.S. Government never, ever wants you to see, and was consigned to a bed in an Army hospital, cared for by other young Americans soon to be Veterans, themselves, and Richard was the stark and foreboding TRUTH about war, that is never shown on a television newsreel, or even shown in public, at all.

Our young American, soon to be a Veteran himself, cannot, to this day, forget Richard Garcia, or all the other “Richards” that now come to us from places like Iraq and Afghanistan, cannot forget his screams in the night as he was beset by “phantom pain” in limbs that no longer existed on his body. Cannot forget the tears on Richard’s face, as he begged for the mercy of death, rather than face a lifetime lying in his own urine, unable to scratch an itch, turn himself over, or do anything, much, but stare at whatever visual field was before him. Begged to leave this world, rather than face life with no mobility, and with the shattering knowledge that even that very organ which declared him a “man” was gone from him, blown away by the explosives which rendered him a tortured mind attached to an immobile lump of flesh.

Today, we “celebrate” Veterans’ Day, in the United States of America. Let us remember, this day, what war and hate, and politics at the end of a gun are really about… they are about the Richards they produce. Not heroes, not flag-waving, puffed and proudly marching handsome young soldiers in uniform, or wrinkled and opinionated medal-sporting old men in Lodges and Veterans’ gathering places around our nation… no, they’re about those Richards, hidden in the back rooms of Veterans’ Hospitals, or lying, dazed and broken beneath freeway bridges, mumbling in shattered mental illness to themselves, as they try to absorb what war has taught them, but cannot, and so resort to alcohol and drug abuse and the refuge of insanity, to stop the horrid images in their damaged brains.

The young American who cared for Richard, as his first “assigned patient”, as a young Army medic… that was me. I cannot forget, I will not look away, and I beg all Americans, everywhere, to lower your mental flags to half-staff this day, and remember, and know that being a Veteran is a proud thing, but a thing of shame, as well. Reach out to the damaged and broken who walk among us this day, as yet another political war brings home more “Richards”, to live their sorry existence hidden among us. Lower your eyes and pray to whatever Gods you worship, that someday soon, the reality of war will exist no more upon this earth, and there will be NO “Veterans’ Days” for a future generation to ponder these harsh realities and sad, sad, consequences. Time for change is NOW.

SF Design is going High Society

SF Design/Swaffette Firefly(owner & creator)is proud to announce the opening of her new formal wear store - High Society. After 4 years she thinks SF design formalwear deserves its own building with all the tuxedos , morning suits and gowns arlready associated with SF Design plus some brand new releases , accessories, and separates such as vests, shirts and gloves. She has endeavoured to bring together all that you will need to create your fairytale formal evening with matching gowns and tuxedos for you and your partner to wear. SF Design offers accessible customer service and are happy to gift items for you although all items will be available transfer. To celebrate she will be hosting an opening party at the new High Society store on November 15th 2008 starting at 2pmslt with swing singer Guy Goodman.

**All new releases will be half price 15th (from 2pm) and 16th of November only**


http://slurl.com/secondlife/Penryn/98/156/33

Explore the Great Wall

The great wall

I stand on history
On top of unknown stories
Feeling years of sweat and reverence among every stone brick
I stand on the past
Where great warriors and philosophers once stood
Overlooking solitude
I stand on the great wall


With all the hustle and networking of Second Life, It is great sometimes to find a place of solitude. The MAO Island, Great Wall of China is such a place. It is a replica of the actual wall in China minus the crumbling details. Second Life can be a place of wonder to behold places we will never see in real life. As i stood on the wall looking at the expanse of open grasslands on one side of the wall and the beautiful ocean setting on the other side, I wrote the above poem. When you TP into the sim you arrive at a small store front that actually sales everything you need to create your own great wall. You cross a small bridge on your journey into Chinese History.

The real wall except for the touristy areas and is in disrepair. According to http://www.greatwall-of-china.com

Suddenly people realize that the Great Wall of China needs defending itself," he said.

And he believes he knows why it is deteriorating.

"In the last 50, 60 years, it's people going up to the wall and using the material as a quarry - the bricks especially," he said.

"Most serious in the last few years in the Beijing area has been unmanaged and unauthorised tourism development."

Some parts of the Great Wall have become crowded with tourists and souvenir sellers, as poor local farmers try to convert their piece of wall into the next tourist hot-spot.

The car fumes, the shops and the sheer visitor numbers have all taken their toll on the wall, and in some places the wall has been blasted open to make way for roads.

One of the great parts of Second Life is the creativity of building and now it can preserve history for students and history buffs.

Who needs the History Channel when you can visit the actual buildings here in Second Life.

The Island was created by Amiryu Hosoi and his Hosoi Ichiba Design group. They also designed the surrounding islands in different Chinese village styles.

If you ever wanted to visit China or the Great Wall of China you can now visit the Virtual Replicas

Article by: Ricken Flow
Photos by: Jade Collins
http://hosoi-ichiba.blogspot.com/search/label/machinima

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Mao/241/131/24

Grampian Estates

Grampian Estate is more than a land business. We are a vibrant community and every landowner and resident is part of a happy family. The estate owner Ian Bartfeld is passionate about the beauty, security and safety of his estate. Each individual parcel has been designed and landscaped beautifully, providing waterfalls, flowing streams, tree and plant arrangements. Ian along with his management team are on hand everyday to provide our landowners with help and assistance whenever it is required. Finally and most importantly we are a SECURE Estate. Our goal is not the number of sims we have, and how quickly we can expand. We will expand, but will remain happily in the slow lane. Our goal is you; and ensuring your stay in Grampian is a happy, safe and long stay. If you don't beleive us, ask any of our landowners how happy they are! Please find below details of an island available for just a monthly fee. No initial purchase.
Grampian Pride Land (W1 Bay) 4048sqm, 926prims, 4000L$, 32USD Tier.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Grampian%20Pride%20Land/14/67/22


Centred on the West coast of our tropical residential sim, this parcel has a waterfall and flowing stream. The stream itself beginning from the top of the mountain and separating this parcel from your neighbour. 2 Lilith Heart Palm arrangements and a bougainvillea tree decorate this parcel and are transferable on purchase of the land. Finally this parcel connects to our 'homestead' sim and sailing is permitted.

*** Mention INV Blog and get the purchase fee back on payment of 1st tier. ***



Grampian Isles, 900 Prims, 40USD per month rental


For those of you who prefer the luxury of an island, you will not be disappointed in this. To protect its natural features this island is a rental, and situated in our homestead sim. The island is surrounded by smaller topical islands, containing palm trees, plants and waterfalls to enhance your privacy and beauty. Once you have set-up your home, and even a small harbour for your sailing boat, we will provide any further landscaping, and decoration as you require. This is a beautifully featured island.

Contact Ian Bartfeld in world.
href="http://slurl.com/secondlife/Grampian%20Isles/151/180/21">

Animations Rising has a new face lift!

** EVENT GRAND OPENING TODAY 6-8pm SL LOTS OF PRIZES**
**BEST IN PIRATE CONTEST***

Do you like Old Villages/Pirates! Then come visit the ALL NEW Animations Rising!

We have also included a BRAND NEW ClUB HOUSE just for MEMBERS! Take the Teleport upon TP in to CLUB HOUSE..
There you will find a nice hang out spot as well as vendors that will offer discounts on some of our products! You must be member of group to get discounts! Just touch the sign ! :)
NEW to Animations Rising is our NEW SILK LINE! These silks are not just your normal silks! They change color, gem color change, leather color change, chain color change!
As well as Robes to match! Watch for even more to come with this line.. ie arm bands, necklace, etc.!
The areas are broken down as stated:

Animations Rising
Rising Village
Animations Rising Club House
Merchant Shops

PLease drop in and visit our new SIM! :) ( rebuild)

Ty,

Island Projects & Miro Collas


Intrested in a shop here? We hold natural traffic of 10k or better! ( down at the moment because we were closed for 2 days for rebuild)
Contact Island Projects for any sim issues or rental info.
Product info: Island or Miro

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Animations%20Rising/54/161/23

Club Shampoo Makes its Mark!

Club Shampoo Makes its Mark!
by: Jason Feingold

Last Night, Club Shampoo opened its doors for the very first time and made an indelible positive impression in the club scene. The club was setup by the very popular DJ Queen Edman. I’ve known Queen for a very long time now and I’ve had the pleasure of working with him on a number of occasions including at Gay Pride earlier this year. I’ve seen him rise as a DJ Superstar and grow more confident over the past year and anybody who has ever hired Queen to DJ will tell you that he is one of the most professional and reliable DJs out there. So, it was my absolute pleasure and delight to be asked by Queen to DJ on his Launch Party alongside 5 other of the absolute very best and most notable DJ’s out there. It was great to see Queen’s dream and vision of owning and running his own club come to life yesterday after what can only described as a hugely successful opening night.

Club Shampoo kicked off with DJ Insyx Paranha for the first hour and he soon got everybody into full party mode with his popular gay pride hits. By the time I arrived at the party ready for my shift for hour number 2, the Club was already packed and the sim was at full capacity. Many of my DJ Jason group members were IMming me saying that they couldn’t get to the party because the sim was full. The crowd was pumped, energetic and were clearly having a blast from start to finish. Anybody who knows me is only too aware at how I love DJing at the bigger crowds. Some DJ’s prefer to play to smaller crowds with the more personal approach, which that brings while others thrive on playing at the bigger crowded parties. I am admittedly in the latter camp. The event was sponsored by Animations Rising and Colt Parx was on hand to assist Club Owner Queen Edman and Club Host, Revan Contepomi ensure everybody had a great time.

The Club was on fire from start to finish. Lots of old faces showed up that I hadn’t seen in a while, but it was clear that so many people wanted to come out in full force and support Queen Edman and Club Shampoo. It was absolutely awesome to see such an electric atmosphere and be a part of it. I played lots of new high energy dance and trance hits and DJ Vortmax Mumfuzz took over the decks after me and altered the tempo stepping it up with some of his favourite rock tracks. DJ Sasch Petrov (owner of DJ World) from Germany added a Euro pop twist to the decks and then the King of DJ,s Wesley Spengler turned the place upside down. The Main Event, was the club owner himself, Queen Edman who kept the crowd partying through the night in what was one of the biggest and most successful Club Launches seen in months. Last night, Club Shampoo proved it’s here to stay and has reinvigorated the gay club scene.

The gay club scene has been crying out for more clubs like this in the past month or so and Club Shampoo is a shining example of a highly recharged club scene and has now set a new standard bearer for others to follow. I chatted to Queen Edman before my set and he made me laugh remarking “I don't know how the hell u ran a club, I'm going nuts – LOL!” That totally cracked me up. I know only too well how pressurized it can be running a club and one that has attracted huge crowds on the night that demand your full attention and all the problems on the night that can arise in ensuring everything runs smoothly. However, last night Queen Edman handled it within his stride and made the gay community proud in Second Life. I wish Queen and Club Shampoo the very best of luck and I can’t wait to spin the decks again there very soon.

The club will open its doors again this week on Thursday for a Hard Rock Night with DJ Lillandra Lancaster. Queen Edman takes to the decks on Friday night for a foam party and there'll also be an exciting Fusion Party on Saturday Night with the very best trance and rave music. Check out Club Shampoo this week and show your support for SL's hottest new gay dance club.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bear%20Mountains/55/84/29

AVENUE MODELS ACADEMY GRADUATION SHOW!!!

Come on down to Heaven's AVENUE, Sunday November 2nd at 12 noon Slt, to be wowed by AVENUE Models Academy's latest model trainees to hit the stage. They will strut down the catwalk and show off the skills they have acquired from attending the prestigious AVENUE Academy. You don't want to miss this. The model trainees will be wearing Sascha's Designs and Mmmm Designs. This will definitely be something that you want to attend. Mark your calendar with the time for tomorrow and we will definitely love to see you all there. Please come out to support the model trainees and give them a taste of how it is to be part of an AVENUE Models show!

Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Royal%20Properties/183/202/224

WORKING WORLDS/GAX TECHNOLOGIES: The International Career Fair

Working Worlds/GAx Technologies

1 NOVEMBER 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PR Contact: Annette Wilder, Wilder Public Relations Inc., for Working Worlds/GAX Technologies

Re: The International Career Fair
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Join us November 27, Thursday, for the third recruiting job fair event for GAX Technologies. This time Working Worlds will have some of the biggest employers in Europe present and they will be interviewing candidates in their virtual offices. GAX Technologies has made its mark in Second Life with their hugely successful in-world Career Fairs. Every six months the Working Worlds/ GAX Technologies Career Fair is held and each fair has been larger than it's predecessor, thus making the sky the limit for the Working Worlds Career Fairs. To help job hunters learn more about the fair and how it will benefit them there will be conferences and e-learning sessions at the Working Worlds location in-world. Working Worlds offers everything possible to help ensure the success of the job seekers.

This months career fair is off to an exciting start with 3,500 candidates from all over Europe who have submitted their CVs online. In order to participate as a career seeker go to the Working Worlds' website www.working-worlds.com and register your CV it's a very easy process and gets you well on your way to finding not just another job but to finding a career in the field of your dreams. The fair that was held May 2008 brought 2,900 visitors, 2,767 candidates who filed their CVs and 600 official interviews that took place. The previous one before that brought 2,000 visitors, 1,500 candidates who registered their CVs and 300 interviews that took place. As you can see the difference in the numbers between the first and second events were astounding. The amount of candidates grew immensely and the amount of interviews doubled.

Cornelia den Hartog, Managing Director of 'GAX Technologies' and organizer of the Career Fairs is entirely convinced; 'The need for companies to attract new profiles from beyond the territorial limits is becoming more and more important. 'The 'Working Worlds' Career Fairs are in itself the most efficient solutions currently available to these companies without having to deploy significant resources. Our partners will be directly in touch with candidates who will not have to travel, but who may meet their future employer "Live" on Second Life'.

The Working Worlds sim gives a career seeker the opportunity to do something they cannot do outside of a virtual world. One can get up out of bed, walk over to the computer, and be interviewed without having to change clothing or pay travel expenses to interview with recruiters from prestigious companies for a job that he/she is qualified for. Having such a recruitment tool like a career fair in Second Life definitely makes the impossible seem possible and places the world of opportunities at a career seeker's fingertips. As we have stated before, it really does not get any easier than this and the results can be just as rewarding for both the employer and the job seeking employee. Come down and discover a creative, fulfilling, and exciting world of opportunities. There is opportunity for everyone, you are invited to come and find that career you have always wanted it is just a teleport away. You have had jobs now come find your career!

Date: 27 November 2008 (Thursday)
Time: 1am-12noon SLT
Venue: Grand Ducale 128,96,22
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Grand%20Ducale/129/97/22

For more information regarding Working Worlds, please contact Gaxdirector Weston (Managing Director) of Gax Technologies and organizer of the Career Fair, or Annette Wilder (CEO) of Wilder Public Relations Firm.

Working Worlds Website:
http://www.working-worlds.com

To contact Wilder PR by email:
wilderprinc@gmail.com

To learn more about Wilder PR visit our website:


http://www.wilderpublicrelationsfirminc.com/index.htm



© A WILDER PR INC. PRESS RELEASE NOVEMBER 2008

Lindens Lay the Smackdown on Openspace Sim Owners!

Lindens Lay the Smackdown on Openspace Sim Owners!
Guest Editorial: Jason Feingold

Earlier this year, Linden Labs repackaged their low prim sims as "openspace sims" offering sims with 3750 prims. These were only offered to owners of the main normal full prim sim owners. So existing owners of the normal full prim sims were offered smaller prim sims for $250 upfront and $75 monthly tier fees. These "openspace" sims were snapped up by existing sim owners. They were supposed to be for low usage although the exact definition of low usage was never specifically defined. So existing sim owners started renting and selling off their openspace sims to renters who wanted the luxury of a full sim, but with lower prims at more affordable costs. Openspace sims were also more readily available to setup and were easier to do so at a much more rapid rate. So, before you knew it, more and more openspace sims were cropping up everywhere, all over the place.

However, in true Linden fashion, an announcement was made earlier today that effective from January, the tier fees for openspace sims were being increased by 66% at a time where the RL economic climate is very difficult and many of the leading Western World's economies are on the brink of a recession. Furthermore, the Lindens have hinted that they intend to clamp down on those openspace sims that they deem as absuing what they say should be "low usage." So those openspace sims that currently run clubs and those that have stepped up the number of scripts and other related activities that increases server pressure will now face the prospect of being shut down by Linden Labs at the start of 2009. The Lindens take the view that openspace sims should be "ultra low activity" such as a few boats passing on water and a couple of people just taking usage on.

Many of the forums are already inundated with irate Second Life residents who own multiple openspace sims who all now face the prospect of 66% hikes in their tier fees in exactly two months from now. I'e spoken to several key prominent openspace sim owners who have all expressed that they will have no other alternative other than to let their opespace sims go and simply abandon them. Many other residents who are of more limited means will also face the same consequence of having to abandon their openspace sims. This means, many more failed businesses, lost money and disappointed and angry Second Life residents. It almost appears that once again, Second Life is imitating real life. Just as the Second Life economy and property prices are in decline, so are those in real life. Today's policy made by Linden Labs conveys that they are insensitive to the fact that people are losing their jobs and homes in RL and that many countries with the world's leading economies are all on the brink of recession.

This has been a decision made by the Lindens at a time when the RL global economy is in crisis. The ramifications of this will be felt by so many Second Life residents, sim owners and budding entreprenuers. It almost feels like we're facing increased taxes in the face of a recession. Sales are down in Second Life businesses just as they are in Real Life. Property Prices are down in Second Life just as they are in Real Life. Businesses are collapsing in Second Life just as they are in Real Life. People are facing losing their Second Life homes just as they are in Second Life. Yet this is a pre-determined action that has been made suddenly by the Lindens, which could have been avoided at a very difficult time for people not only in Real Life and Second Life. The Second Life Community is balking at the Linden Labs decision on Openspace sims, but this time around the Lindens may be unable to avoid the adverse effect on their reputation, failure to react to residents strong resentment and mean spiritedness unlike how they were able to escape the copybot fiasco in 2006.

Have you been affected or will you be affected by the Openspace sim 66% fee hike in January 2009? Will it make a miserable start for the New Year for you as an openspace sim owner? If so, be sure to leave a comment and let us know how it personally affects you. Or simply let us know what you think of Linden Labs sudden decision to hike fees for openspace sims? Is it unfair or a necessary evil? Let us know!

https://jira.secondlife.com/browse/MISC-1776">

InVogue's Space Party Rocks the Grid!

It was my pleasure to attend the InVogue VIP "Space Party" on Saturday, October 25th, and to participate in one of the hottest and hippest events to happen in quite awhile. Staged in a build by Shorne Destiny and tunes Meness, the venue featured a "white room" entry point where attendees gathered for light cocktails and conversation, with beautiful musical accompaniment from Kristinahelene Teardrop, formerly known by the name Therese Nightfire, a stunning vocalist with all the tone and texture of a crystal bell, in her delightful renditions of popular ballads and old-style jazz tunes. Dress requirements were "black", and the room sizzled with avatars from all over Second Life, attired in everything from luscious formal wear to BDSM leathers, lending an eye-popping beauty to the arrangement of people against the stark, white background of the venue and its furnishings.

At the conclusion of her set, and as the sim was opened to all comers, the party moved to the "space" venue, an incredible alpha-layered rendition in black and white, made all the more interesting and fun by tunes Meness' outrageous "anti-gravity" scripted objects, worn by all participants, and triggered intermittently to float us all in mid-air, in a fun and frolicsome imitation of a gravity-free environment. This was just plain fun, and lent yet another layer of interest and variation to this already awesome party plan. DJ Wesley Springer served up his usual butt-bouncing beats, so well loved in dance venues all over Second Life, and things got to seriously rocking, as the dancing avatars gyrated in a syncopated array, intermittently rising into the ether to rock aloft, or fly about and explore the spacious and artistically fantastic build around them.

The party was sponsored by 2Xtreme, who market a varietal line of virtual pets, animated creatures of every sort and description, particularly marine life in marvelous variety and spectacular rendition, along with furnishings, scripted and amazing living accommodations such as their new "Space Station" skybox home, and water features, such as their amazing beach-in-a-box build, which is probably the most original and feature-rich pre-fab beach available anywhere. I don't think I've ever seen better "aquaria", and a visit to 2Xtreme's stores is a must-see, whether shopping for home accoutrements, or just browsing for fun stuff to decorate your Second Life.

All in all, this was one fabulous party, typical of InVogue's promotional and just plain fun gatherings, and I'd advise any Second Life resident to stay tuned to the pages of InVogue Magazine and the InVDaily blog, here, for more amazing entertainment and reviews to come... the Holiday Season is upon us, now, and there are surprises and delights galore... hope I can bring you advance notice of some of the very best that Second Life has to offer!
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Live long, love well, and HAVE FUN!

A Star is Born... and the Club Scene just got HOTTER!

Greets, fellow Club-Crawlers!

It's my pleasure to post this little review of what promises to be one HOT night spot, now looming on our collective horizon... SODOM, the brainchild of James Hoorenbeek, and operated by James, Random Jarvinen, Club Manager Equinox Donner, and other team members, for our collective dancing and night-clubbing pleasure.

The club features 3 dance venues, including a rooftop party area, third-floor indoor dance club, and a "dungeon"... let your imagination wrap around those concepts, just a bit, along with the name, lol!

Also featured will be shopping, beach/boardwalk, and apartment rentals, all stylishly appointed and beautifully designed and executed, to provide a stunning venue for SL's vibrant gay community, (and, of course, all are welcome!).

It's my pleasure to have been chosen as one of the first Dancers for the club, along with Aiddyn McCullough, Kaine Singer, and Tanner Burnstein, and and I can tell you from two brief "pre-party" events that this is going to be one great place to hang, dance, and socialize... and the hot attendees will definitely be worth a passing perv-cam or two, hee hee!

Already featured have been DJ Dafydd Sodwind and DJ Muhu Janus, spinning their awesome collections of stunning club beats for our listening and dancing pleasure, and if my instincts prove right, the list will only grow and improve as this new venue takes off.

Look for the Grand Opening Event, called "Hotter than HELL", on Friday, October 31st at 8PM SLT, (to midnight and perhaps beyond?), with DJ Dafydd doing a 4-hour live mix, promotion courtesy of Total Trauma™, and a grand prize of $25000L (yes, that's right 25K!) for best costume!

Your Dancers will be adorned in "Slave Boy" silks, courtesy of Miro Callas, and psst! come closer... clicking on them may prove rather, erm, "entertaining", lol!

I do hope, with all the parties occurring around the Hallowe'en holiday, that you'll put aside some time to drop in and participate in what promises to be a truly stunning Grand Opening of a very promising and "drama free" dancing and night-clubbing venue... explore the SIM, and take in the beautiful facilities, and always, always, HAVE FUN!!!

My Pretty Pony - not quite!

If the mention of Pony Boys has you thinking of "pretty-in-pink" children's toys, you're trotting down the wrong path. The new generation of pony play to hit SL is strictly for adults... especially those with a fetish for leather harnesses and horse whips.

Yes, it's true, women have been involved in pony play for some time, but now more men are getting in on the fun. Pony Boys don't fall into the furry category. Their closest SL cousin might be the nekos, since these hot-looking hooved beasts walk upright in a human shape accented with with horse tackle -- from mouth bit to horseshoe. However, unlike the sexy cats, Pony Boys are typically collared, submitting to their owners.

Don't let the feathered headdress fool you. These ponies are ready for work. They can pull carriages, be saddled for a ride in the country, or be your sexual slave. Some of these gorgous creatures even undergo training for competition in jumping steeple chase and the English riding style of dressage.

While the number of Pony Boys out there now is relatively low, their herd increases every day. Appropriate gear can be purchased at a number of places that sell more traditional BDSM equipment. A good AO will greatly enhance the role play, allowing your pony to stomp, whinny, wiggle his cute tail and toss his head among other options. And if you don't have room to keep him at home, there are a few stables that will board your Pony Boy for a small fee.

For those interested in learning more about becoming a sexy Pony Boy -- or owning one -- search for "pony play" both in Places and in Groups. Give your imagination free rein!

article by Kyler Collas

A Fond Farewell

After an amazing time with inV, I've made the difficult decision to pursue other opportunities. I want to thank everyone for the great times we've had. Working so closely with Ammon, Cole and Adian has made them family to me and I will always feel that way about them. I'd better still be invited to those staff meetings *cough* Greedy games *cough* (I know I said the big inV secret was safe with me, but--well--the people deserve to know).

I know that inV has great plans for the future and I hope to be back from time to time to guest write. Change is difficult, but I've learned that it is necessary for continued growth and happiness. It never means that we have to forget the connections we've made or the memories we've shared.

Good luck everyone. I'm sure I'll still see you, but I'll miss having this forum for interaction. Stay safe and keep SL fun.

Dem

Therese Nightfire re-emerges as KristinaHelene Teardrop

After a short break, live musician Therese Nightfire has returned with a new av using her real life name. KristinaHelene Teardrop maintains Therese's beautiful, unique look, but crosses the RL/SL divide. The link to her real world persona is a strong move for the talented singer. She is now able to overcome speculation about who she really is and focus on using Second Life as a valuable tool for her career.

Fans are drawn to KristinaHelene's voice and style and are thrilled by her comeback. Be sure to check her out. To keep informed of her in-world schedule, join her group, THERESE.

Castle Valeriya, A gallery worth seeing

Article by: Ricken Flow
Photos by: Cienega Soon

Taking Second Life photography from snapshots to true art, Cienega Soon has made a name for herself in-world. Her pieces are intense and display the many possibilities of Second Life shots. Her gallery, Castle Valeriya, offers the perfect atmosphere to display her works. Cienega took a moment away from her work to discuss her work and her gallery.

inVd: You have become quite and accomplished photographer! How did you get your start in Second Life?

Cienega: As soon as I discovered the snapshot button at the bottom of the screen I started collecting SLphotos. I am an avid photographer in RL so this was a fun new medium to add to my creative expressions. After I spent a few months as a virtual real estate consultant I bought my first 512 plot and made a small gallery of my SL photos. 6 months later I aquired my first photoshop program, omg that was scary. All I could do was crop and add my name. Then I discovered the filters tab. My first photoshoped photo is still the first one on my Flickr. Shortly after I learned how to fix the edges of SL’s screenshots I would just make profile photos for newbies as surprises and just send them to them with a “hope you like this." I still love doing that. Then it was Fantasy Images gallery owner Bella Liadis, who asked me if I would please exhibit in her gallery. I was so nervous. The comments of that opening day gave me the courage to just ignore those that said SL screenshots is NOT photography and Photoshop on screenshots is NOT art.

__
inVd: Art is often said to be an imitation of life. How does your photography/art represent your Second Life?

Cienega: My SLphoto Artistry is exactly that. I have fun creating moods and moments. I guess it’s really just an extension of what I get to do in a virtual world. I really can’t take this virtual life to serious unless I can bring my creativity with me. Creativity is a human trait I relate to very well, no matter what the medium is.

__
inVd: What excites you the most finding a great subject to photograph in SL or making the picture your own in photoshop?


Cienega: The shot is most important to me. Subjects change with angles so once I see something I like then I’m using ctrl alt and zooming all over it. I really never know what it will be in the end. Each shot is handled on its own merits. I do have many that are not post-processed in any way. But for me the tools photoshop puts in my hand is my expression for depth and emotion. Every texture in Second Life is a product of a paint program of some kind. All skins, walls, streets, buildings, furniture, hair, clothing and so on are someone’s artwork. My artwork is what I do with my SL screenshot/photo. I get very excited when I dig into the colors and depth of what I do to a shot. And of course the layers of detail, all this is not much different than my RL mixes of stained-glass, wood and grinded-metal. Just creating, is what I do, and I can’t be stopped. And there isn’t a need for a plasma cutter in SL, so I will just snap and PS my work whilst sipping some tea.

__
inVd: We have seen you take your showings beyond a normal gallery incorporated different builds with your artworks such as your exhibit Oil Pigs for burning life and your Darkness exhibit for second life’s 5th birthday. Do you create your own builds as well or do you collaborate with builders and what is your inspiration behind the exhibits?

Cienega: The Darkness build for SL5B was my first attempt to express myself beyond just a flat photo. I did that build alone. Light was invited to play on the edges of Darkness. Second Life makes it easy to bring out the darker side of my art. I enjoyed it so much I’ve added a bit of it to my Castle Valeriya Artist Gallery grounds. The pillars, bridges and stones feels welcoming to me.

Oil Pigs was collaboration between Gigmonger Stine and myself. We both had been talking of the gas prices and this build just evolved. We built some parts of an iron man. Then the Pig was my first real object build beyond a sculpty pillar. The man, the pigs and the oil became a message that needed to be expressed beyond a simple picture.

These builds awakened my virtual sculpting to a reality that I want to do more of it. I will be involved in many more creative expressions of my art here in SL. Building is now something I crave and it will be mixed with my artwork more and more.

I just tilt my head a little to the right and my mind goes into overdrive. Sometimes the screen is not big enough for what I see. But one day …. Castle Valeriya Artist Gallery will be an island of exciting realized visions of my tilted head … just you wait and see!



Castle Valeriya

Cienega Soon's CASTLE VALERIYA ARTIST GALLERY, A WILDER PR INC. PRESS RELEASE OCTOBER 2008

Cienega Soon's CASTLE VALERIYA ARTIST GALLERY

20 October 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PR Contact: Annette Wilder, Wilder Public Relations Firm Inc. for Castle Valeriya Artist Gallery

Re: Cienega Soon's "CASTLE VALERIYA ARTIST GALLERY" GRAND REOPENING and the Opening of Fog Terrace Dark Psy Trance Club featuring a 24 hour Masquerade Party for the opening
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Come join us for the highly anticipated Grand ReOpening of Cienega Soon's Castle Valeriya Artist Gallery. The gallery will officially reopen October 24th and will be a sight to behold. Cienega is well known for her vivid and lively art which brings fourth various emotions while being viewed. Cienega's art captures the attention of the viewer and draws them in making them want to know or learn more about each piece of art they are viewing. Her art has an edge and an appeal which reaches out to both the art connoisseur and to those that simply enjoy visually appealing art. This will also be the opening for Fog Terrace which will feature guest DJ's that will play Dark Psy Trance Music. The Fog Terrace is sure to quickly become a hit to those who love Dark Psy Trance and are looking for an awesome atmosphere to enjoy that in. A 24 hr Masquerade Party will begin at 6pm SLT, this will feature 12 Dj's who will fill the Fog Terrace with Psy, Goa, and Trance mixes for a solid 24 hours.

Cienega's Second Life® awards and accomplishments include: being a guest judge for the "Photomania Contest" held at the City of The Arts on Hyacinth Island, speaking at the Photo Institute which is Second Life's premier school for studying photography, winning both the Koinup® Exotic Contest and the Slartist IDOL contest. She was an exhibiting artist for SL5B. Cienega also placed as top 20 finalist out of 400 entries in the Stiletto Moody "Picture Your Moods" photo contest. For the opening of The ARTist's Park Cienega had a piece of original art that was displayed. In 2006 Avatrait presented Cienega Soon for the month of December and she is now one of their galleried Artists in their real life gallery just outside of Chicago, Illinois.

Cienega is not just a talented artist in Second Life® she is also an artist in real life. Cienega's real life artwork uses many mediums such as oils, acrylics, sculpting with metal and wood, soft leather and feather mixed with glass and her stained glass work. Cienega has only displayed a few of her real life artworks in Second Life® because she believes that the beauty of Second Life® should be celebrated in its environment without real life artworks being present and hanging around in an unnatural view. Cienega Soon has been selected as one of the artists for the real life exhibition Rinascimento Virtuale (Virtual Renaissance) which will open at the Museum of Natural History of Florence, Italy. October 21, 2008-January 7, 2009.

Her artistic talents are just as original as her name and anyone who knows of her gifted skill will tell you of her innate abilities. Some would say art like this is not something that one can learn, this is a talent that you must be born with in order to do it this well. Cienega has been called a "photographic lyricist" and she feels that art is alive everywhere she creates it and there is a need for her to sing with her hand and eyes. She states," I sit and paint my version of my photo, my hand interprets what my eye sees deep inside the shot. To me THIS is my ART and my HEART turned inside out, capturing the beauty of what has been created in this Virtual 3D World by its many talented gods ‘Their Creation’. What a wonderful talent Second Life® has assembled. It truly is worth capturing & hanging on a wall.”


For more information regarding the Grand Reopening of Cienega Soon's Artists Gallery and Fog Terrace contact Cienega Soon (Owner of CASTLE VALERIYA ARTIST GALLERY) or Annette Wilder (CEO of Wilder Public Relations Firm Inc). Media wanting an interview regarding Cienega's artwork can contact Cienega Soon directly to setup an appointment. If this release is published on your site please contact us and let us know.

Date : October 24, 2008 (Friday)
Time : 5pm SLT
SLURL : http://slurl.com/secondlife/Valeriya/31/245/102
Venue : 􀀁

To contact Cienega Soon by e-mail:
cienegasoon@gmail.com

Visit Cienega Soon's website at:
http://www.cienegasoon.com/

For Custom Art Prints, Canvas, Cards:
http://CienegaSoon.imagekind.com/

To contact Wilder PR by email:
wilderprinc@gmail.com

website:
http://www.wilderpublicrelationsfirminc.com/index.htm


© A WILDER PR INC. PRESS RELEASE OCTOBER 2008

LOVE, WAR & LOVE again

photo left to right: Demerick Creeley (inVd Editor in Chief), Trace17 Junkers (Tainted Boys owner), Adonis Lubitsch (Tainted Boys owner), Andreaus Beck and Jason Feingold (CHE Owner) & Ammon Pera (inV/inVd Editor and Chief).

LOVE, WAR & LOVE again

Over the past several weeks, you will have been aware of deep divisions between two of Second Life's biggest gay clubs. Just days after the biggest Club Merger in history, Club High Energy & Tainted Boys came to blows. Sometimes, mergers are not always the answer.

INV Daily is pleased to announce however, that the division is now finally over and from this point there will be unity. Adonis Lubitsch, Trace17 Junkers, Andreaus Beck and Jason Feingold all sat down together and agreed to make a truce and put any past animosity behind them. I might have had alittle to do with this and am very happy. inVd (Demerick and I) always remained neutral and we knew we would all come together eventually.

In a jointly agreed statement, the three released the following: "In the past we have allowed divisions to come between us and this has not been good for the gay community or its club scene. It's time to bring the gay community together for the benefit of everybody and to unify in one shared vision and goal and that is to make the gay club scene a happy and fun place for everybody. Never again, will we allow division or hostility to take over as it has done in the past. We are all on the same page, friends and respectful to one another. It's also our shared aim to make the gay club scene and gay community a unified and positive one"

INV Daily will continue to be the most fun on the fly blog that we have always been. Putting you first, fashion and fun is what we're about. Also be sure to check out Tainted Boys - at its new nightclub and mall. Tainted Boys is the place to be! and inVd is the place to be seen and read.