GeekSpeak – Will there always be war? Saturday October 15th 12pm SLT

Why are we always at war somewhere on Earth?  Is it something in human nature that cannot be changed?  Will we always see wars, however much our world changes?  If we colonize other planets will those planets go to war?  Are there powers on Earth that profit from war and will always make sure that there is perpetual war?

Or do you think that global peace is in our future?  Could peace develop gradually until no one can imagine a world where there are wars?  What would a world without any war look like?

Everyone thinks that war is madness.  But how can we stop war?  Is there anything we can do?  Or do you think the drawbacks of global peace would be greater than the costs of war?

Bring your peace pipes to the discussion at GeekSpeak.  IM Kathen Ohtobide if you need a teleport.

 http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/141/128/51

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REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR THE 2016 STRIDES WALK!

It’s time to break out those walking shoes and join us as we Make Strides during the 2016 Strides Walk!
This year, the walk will be 10 am to 6pm slt on Saturday October 29th

Please register here:
http://tinyurl.com/j3kwbzk

Everyone is welcome!  One lap or as many as you can, Sign up! Help us take Strides Against Breast Cancer in SL!

We would like the walkers to reach out to their friends in SL and if you like real life to get sponsors for your walk.   The sponsors would agree that for every lap you walk they will pay a certain amount  to you as a donation. An example of how to request sponsorships will be given to each registered walker.

The more sponsors you have the more you can raise for MSABC!! Special awards will be given to top fundraisers.

After the walk we will send you a notecard with all your sponsors and how much they sponsored you for and what they owe.  You can set up a kiosk at your home and tp each to pay or you can go to them and rezz a kiosk for them to pay.   For your personal protection we ask that you post besides each of their names their payment to the kiosk from your transaction history.   Once you have collected all your funds we ask you return a copy of your card to Leala Spire or Sandie Loxingly by Nov. 4th

Awards will then be given out at Wrap up on Nov. 5th.

If you have any questions, please contact Leala or Sandie.

About Making Strides Against Breast Cancer:
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer or MSABC is the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the nation, uniting more than 300 communities to finish the fight. Every breast cancer walk and event is an incredible and inspiring opportunity to honor those who have battled breast cancer, raise awareness about what we can do to reduce our breast cancer risk, and race money to help the American Cancer Society fight the disease with research, information, services, and access to mammograms for women who need them.

About The American Cancer Society:
For more than 100 years, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has worked relentlessly to save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Together with millions of our supporters worldwide, we help people stay well, help people get well, find cures, and fight back against cancer.

For more information please visit the sites below:
https://makingstridessecondlife.org/
http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/
http://www.cancer.org/

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SCALA™ PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS FREAKSHOW – CARNIVALE 2016

SHOPPING EVENT:  OCTOBER 28 TO NOVEMBER 13, 2016

FASHION SHOW:   OCTOBER 30, 2016 at 2:00PM SLT

ENTERTAINMENT: NOVEMBER 5, 2016 from 12:00PM – 6:00PM SLT

FREAKSHOW – Carnivale is an immersive full-sim shopping experience set in an abandoned, desert town where a creepy freak show has set up shop.  The two-week shopping event will include a Halloween fashion show extravaganza on Sunday, October 30, 2016 at 2:00PM SLT; as well as a six-hour block of entertainment, Saturday, November 5, 2016 from 12:00PM to 6:00PM SLT.  Entertainment will include a costume party dancing to the tunes of popular Second Life®   DJ’s; Calrek Nansen, Seashell Dench, Iozi Wasp, Lichi Moonwall, and Freakshow Zsun; and a dazzling live circus performance by the ChangHigh Trinity Sisters.

Media sponsors for this event are Avatar Social Network, BloggingSL, BRM Radio, DesigningSL, Eclipse Magazine, Moolto, and VersuS Magazine.  Brand sponsors are B E N D E R, Chop Zuey, Meva, RAPTURE™, Wicca’s Wardrobe, and Zibska.  With a total of 60 brands participating, shoppers and costumed party-goers can also expect to see the following brands:  22769, 7 Deadly Skins, Adoness, Aleutia, Alpha Tribe, Athena Couture, Bauhaus Movement, Baxe, Beyond Persuasion, Black Haus, by Nacht, Carrie’s Lingerie, Chaotic Creative, Chimeric Arts & Fashions, Dark Passions, Deluxe Body Factory, Diamante, E-Mesh, Essences, Ghee, Glitter, Glitzz, Hollyweird, Indulge Temptation, JUMO, KAYLiTHiUM, KiX, La Boheme, Legendaire, Les Sucreries de Fairy, Lilith’s Den, LiViD, Lushish Catz, Lyrical Bizarre, Madrid Solo, Me Sew Sexy, Medieval Fantasy, Naminoke, Nephilim, Pastiche, PICHI, PINUP, Pose It, Prey, Prism, Slackgirl, Supernatural, Vero Modero, Virtual Diva, Virtual Textures, Whitecity, Zanze, Zickenkiste, and Zyn.  

About SCALA™:  Twice award-winning modeling Agency and Academy,  SCALA™ brings together the best and most experienced team of professionals on the Second Life® fashion scene.  SCALA™ Productions organizes fashion events on two-sims, complete with music production and voice over, and one of our main goals is to offer paid employment opportunities to Second Life® event planners and event producers while showcasing new talents in content creation.

SCALA™ Models Academy course has been designed to help aspiring models build their careers by covering all major aspects of professional modeling.  We stay on top of best runway practices and current trends, relaying that knowledge to our students who typically become some of the most professional models in the industry after graduating from SCALA™.

SCALA™ was founded on January 6th 2014 by Seashell Dench - award-winning professional model with one of the longest careers in SL, and Kryptonia Paperdoll - the most experienced runway instructor in SL since 2006, when she created her first modeling academy.

More Information:  (#scalafreakshow)

http://www.scala-sl.com/freakshow-carnivale

https://www.twitter.com/ScalaAgency         https://www.facebook.com/SCALA.SL

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SOD 3 

The 3rd annual Swarm of Decor Hunt opened with a bang of creativity.  SOD3 has twenty designers offering 20+ gifts in Home & Garden for only $7L. Swarm of Décor 3 will run until 12 midnight slt, October 24.  Come out & grab some great wares and do not forget to vote on the best hunt gift. Below is the full hunt listing with hints to hidden treasures. For pictures visit https://4stores2behunted.wordpress.com/

1. Whimsical Happenings (2 gifts)

Hint: Find me under a tree

Hint: Singing..Then we’ll be happy in that land where no cabins fall

2. StoraxTree

Hint: Look near the hunt poster

3. Blade & Rain

Hint: Don’t sit on me!

4. Dragon Magick Wares

Hint: Got enough clutter there?

5. Harambee Gwassi-Kenya Charity Shop

Hint: I’m easy to find between the group’s gifts!

6. De Baza

Hint: Please use hint giver by store landing

7. Elysium

Hint: I am from Africa – raaawwwrrrrr

8. Myth

Hint: Twinkle twinkle little star….

9. PS! Perfect Seduction

Hint: There are always so many sales during the Holidays!

10. Hatter ‘n Hell (5 gifts)

Hint: Trying to hide out in black & white

(same hint for all gift locations)

11. Fairey Angel Creations

Hint: I can be found lion around

12. Tantalum Jewelry

Hint: I killed your plant so I’m not afraid to kill you!

13. The Artist Shed

Hint: Hunting makes me tired, I’m going to nap in this pillow pile

14. Palette

Hint: Watch out for spilled paint

15. Laynieland

Hint: In the lowest yard, look all around, Or your prize will not be found. Goblins,Ghouls and Ghastly Ghosts

16. Purple Moon Seasonal Decorations

Hint: Did you saw the Green kittens?

17. Halloween Delights

Hint: Where did I put my hat?

18. Sour Pickles

Hint: Check Hint Giver

19. [QE] Designs

Hint: Kick back and take a seat amongst the stars

20. Loordes of London

Hint: By the bargains

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Suicide Dollz

What's Your Fetish? Check out Suicide Dollz from 1PM SLT Oct 9 - 1PM SLT Oct 21

Check out the Suicide Dollz event's newest round from 1PM SLT October 9th until 1PM SLT October 21st.

As Second Life's longest running alternative themed, bi-weekly shopping event, established in 2013, we continuously strive to bring you the best products by some of the grid's most recognized designers. To check out our full, uncensored shopping guide for the current round, please visit https://suicidedollzsl.wordpress.com/. The current round will run for two weeks before closing on Friday October 21st at 1PMSLT. For any questions, please send a NC in-world to Selene Starflare or email to selenestarflare@gmail.com. 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Raven%20Wood/55/213/2504

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A throwback to your childhood - You Know For Kids - Allen Eppenberger Reporting...

In my travels in Bay City, I’ve found many cafes and clothiers. And while clubs and activities abound, I was fortunate enough to stumble across a gem of a toy store called You Know For Kids. Located on a rather unassuming corner, it’s neighbors are an auto dealership and a home furnishings store.

I happened to enter through the back door to the store. At first I had assumed it to be a type of restaurant. Then my thinking went to ice cream parlor. But upon actually approaching the counter, I discovered a rich selection of absolutely vintage toys from the 1950s to the 1970s! Of course, had I come through the front entrance, I would have been greeted by a classic ice cream chest filled with primsicles. I had hoped for sherbet push-ups, but alas, I’ll need to continue ny search.

This is a store that has an old time feel to it, from the black and green linoleum tile to the yellow and white striped walls. And you must browse through in every aisle. It has a wonderful selection which delighted and surprised me.

I imagine I spent a good part of an hour here reliving many happy memories of equally wasted time browsing the aisles of the local neighborhood toy shop, before such things as malls and Toys R Us took them all away from me.

Most astounding was the find of “almost” licenced brand name toys like Easy Bake Ovens, peg light boards, and glow worm flashlights. And of course the classic 1950s faire of little red wagons and rifles that would nowadays be frowned upon in some circles.

As I rounded a corner, there were dolls and even tea sets. And along the side there were the wonderful old American versions of the Gatcha machines. I threw many a quarter in those when I was growing up, trust me!

I found prim ads from the old candy necklaces and bracelets we nibbled on in school as kids.

And I was even surprised to find a toy blimp emblazoned with Bay City.

You Know For Kids is owned by Our Sweet Home, located in Bay City - Imaginario (51,246,25). If you want a slice of life the way it used to be for kids, then I encourage you to make a visit there. Its well worth your time!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bay%20City%20-%20Imaginario/51/246/25

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Interview with SL Photographer Dixmix Souce -Seersha Heart Reporting...

Becoming a resident of Second Life in November of 2006, Dixmix Souce has been active in the SL photography scene for almost ten years.  In 2012, he was one of the artists who provided tours for the Virtual Ability Tour group and in that same year was part of GIFT [GA International Fine Arts Tour].  This year he has curated Escape In Landscapes in July and has recently opened Dixmix Gallery.  Dixmix Gallery is a new venue for 2D and 3D artists in world.

 Let’s get personal with Dixmix.

Saoirse Heart:  Welcome Dixmix and thank you so much for talking to me today.  I thought I would start off with a basic curiosity question, tell me how you got into Second Life.

Dixmix:  When I rezzed I thought SL was a chat room.  It took me one week to jump over the wall around the house where I was!  Then I met someone who taught me the basics of Second Life.  It did not take me long to discover the camera and take my first pictures.  My first house was a NY loft and of course it was also my first gallery.  I got into the photography scene and got brand new friends.  Some of those friends are still here and have not disappeared.  Others sadly died or maybe they just TP to heaven.

Saoirse Heart:  You have collaborated a lot with well resident Megan Prumier.  She built the new gallery.  She is the creator of the darkly enjoyable builds Crimarizon and Deadpool.  How did you meet her?

Dixmix:  It was in September 2011 at the Blacksilk academy, she went there with a mutual friend for some kind of fun or maybe just to see my exhibition.  Later Megan asked me if I would like to be the curator of the gallery she was building in a strange jungle sim called Crimarizon.  I accepted the job even though I already own my gallery.  Within a few months she had rebuilt it wonderfully.  Since then we have done a lot together and have a strong friendship. We both are Capricorn maybe it helps us to understand each other.

Saoirse Heart:  Let me ask you about something another artist said to me.  He said that "chicks dig artists'.  Do you find that to be a true statement?

Dixmix:  To be an sl artist, and it’s the same in rl too, you need to be alone. In my solitude is where I find my inspiration and my time to shoot.  Yes you can be surrounded by some cute AVI, who is smart and funny but when you’re starting a photo session you don’t have much time to talk.  You have to set the light, select the poses, have a look on every detail of the outfit.  Usually I tell them, sort your messy inventory or get ready for the next outfit.  Otherwise I have close friends, close enough to know the name of our children, talk about life, bitching about the weather, like many others I believe have in world.

Saoirse Heart:  On Saveme Oh’s blog she posted dialog from the one of your gallery openings in September 2016.  You were gracious and polite, yet her behavior earned her an ejection.  What is the most outrageous thing someone has done for your attention?

Dixmix:  I will not talk about about Saveme oh.  For me nothing is outrageous, I respect every kind of second life choices; you can be human, elf, hobbit, monkey, wear strange clothes or even a fashion addict. We are all pixel, but if you talk to me for 10 minutes, you will understand I'm real I'm not role playing as an artist or as a curator. I'm always talking to the person in front the screen.  I save my RP for some places where I always keep my clothes on.

Saoirse Heart:  Many artists and builders use ALTs as part of their creative process.  Do you use an ALT for creating or other purposes?

Dixmix;  Not really.  I’ve an Alt but he’s my banker.  Some years ago, someone stole my money by a script when I didn’t have much L$.  So I have him saving my money, no friend no group no sl just an account. But I know some have for different reasons, last week I spoke with someone who said ‘I’m the alt of my alt’.  I don’t really need to hide myself under another AVI.  I like the light and the darkness I can mix both in one SL.

Saoirse Heart:  Brings me to my next question, what do you do in second life besides your art?

Dixmix:  I wander a lot, shops, galleries, nice sims, thematic lands.  I chat with friends online and discovering new people.  My friends are not only photographers. Some are builders, sculptors, designers, DJs, dancers, Bloggers, famous models even some weak submissives owned by some kind of pixels master.  It’s a network but I’m very busy with photography and curating the gallery. 

Saoirse Heart:  It has been said that 'everyone is an artist in second life' do you believe this to be a true statement?  What do you think of this statement?

Dixmix:  Everything in SL has been created by someone.  Yes everyone is an artist there some are amazing and while some suck.

Saoirse Heart:  Some artists and builders work on multiple platforms.  Have you ventured onto other grids/platforms to create such as the O/S grid or High Fidelity?

Dixmix:  Not yet, I’ve enough with SL.  You know maybe one day SL will be out of date or will get stronger after the next metaverse revolution. 

The Dixmix gallery is a realistic gallery now playing host to SL’s Art, Photography, Sculpture and Music.  Built by Megan Prumier, it celebrates five years of collaboration between she and Dixmix.  Artists now on display are Ariel Brearly [entrance], Grazia Horwitz [first SL exhibition, black and white in Black Gallery], Ziki Quest [Grey Gallery], Megan Premier [pink images behind the Atom] and Dixmix photography [3 shades of monochrome, a selection of B&W].  A great place to hang around and see works from talented artists.

SLURL:  secondlife://BAY%20PORT/45/235/22

URL: https://www.flickr.com/photos/10mix/29670812672/

And https://www.flickr.com/groups/dixmixgallery/

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End of Summer madness at GizzA - Lottie Knotted Shirt & Jody Denim Shorts hits the main store.

Summer in SL isn't  quite over til we say it is!

The tied up knotted shirts and buttoned open shorts are breezy and dare to defy the summer temperatures. The options to mix and match colors and patterns are plenty!

Both GizzA - Lottie Knotted Shirts (6 color packs) as well as GizzA - Jody Denim Shorts (4 color packs) hold 2 color options each pack and all are available in standard SL mesh sizes, Slink Physique and Hourglass and Maitreya sizes/

Main-store: 

http://slurl.com/secondlife/GizzA%20Creations/128/129/72

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An in depth interview with Elite Management - Dean Lawson reporting

*Elite Equestrian*, the leading purveyer of all things equine and equestrian, is an enterprise that offers shopping and role play for Second Life horses and riders. I had the good fortune to chat with Elite Management to learn more about their original sim and their new Elite Riding Academy. 

Dean :  Could you give me a brief overview of the history Elite Equestrian?

Elite Management : Elite Equestrian was formed this year as a spin-off to my parent brand, ~Ladies' Pleasure~, which was founded in November 2012. EE is a maker of the RealHorse horse breed avatars, tack and accessories for our 12 breeds of horses.  We have two regions, one is our main store location at Cherry Island, where we do most of our work and have our stores laid out conveniently for horses to shop.  Our original sim is where all of our demo models may be seen in action, and in some cases, even ridden!  Our second region is our roleplay sim in Tamarillo Island. We launched our roleplay sim, the Elite Riding Academy, in August of this year.  Other than being horse-centric, the two regions are very different. Cherry Island is our display sim; ERA is open to the public and to registered roleplayers, and while there is a small mall at our landing point, that is not the point of the region,

ERA was inspired by one of our customers, who said that she was unable to find a sim where she could RP with her RealHorse. We thought that was an opportunity for our team and so we asked our customers for input about what they'd like to see in an equine roleplay.  After talking to them for a week and collating their responses, we put the sim together in about 3 days and opened it that same week. One of my business partners, Cherry Lastchance, is responsible for the design and the decoration of our sims, and she has done a beautiful job.  

Dean : How would you describe the roleplay at Elite Equestrian?

Elite Management : I think it's important to make clear we have two different sims. Our store sim is not a roleplay sim. Horses talk, shop, run around, do their thing, but it's totally not a RP place.  the Elite Riding Academy, however, is a full on RP sim, with horses and humans expect to engage in roleplay.  Our sim differs from other animal sims in several ways. First of all, we are focused on having an experience as close to a RL equine industry trainin facility as we can. Many of our RPers currently own/train/ride horses and quite a few have been horse owners/riders/trainers in the past, so there is a strong body of knowledge about the horse in our roleplay community.  We offer narrative roleplay, where roleplay is storyline driven, and again, in a way that would be logical in a high-end, American-based horse training facility.  Thirdly, we require all horses who are roleplaying at ERA to have an open RLV relay set to our group, so that the human RPers can bring them out, ride them, and otherwise RP with them as if they were RL horses.  That's another thing that makes our RP move more smoothly.  Human RPers aren't left dangling about 'how do I RP with this barn full of hostile horse avatars?' They know that if a horse is at the ERA, and in a stall or the turnout paddock, they are up for RP and they will respond to the human like a horse would.

We have formal RP times, when horses are introduced into the RP narrative through something we call 'Barn Walk'. Barn Walk takes 1 1/2-2 hours and we try to RP with as many horses as show up.

We also have competitions, clinic and other events, including performances off the sim.

Dean : Are the horse avatars in your stores created exclusively for Elite Equestrian?

Elite Management : Elite Equestrian is the spin-off company from ~Ladies' Pleasure~.  We are the maker of the *E* RealHorse, which we made because we wanted a horse avatar that was as close to RL as we could get. We now have 12 breeds, each in 2 genders, so a total of 24 horse avatars, with more breeds coming soon.  We spend much of our time working on our horses and the tack, hair, skins and accessories they wear.

Dean : Are all the horses avatars or can riders "wear" the horse they ride?

Elite Management : All of our horses are avatars. Some of our customers get the best of both worlds, by purchasing a horse to put on an alt that they register as a bot.

Dean :  With Halloween approaching are there any events that you will be hosting or that involve equestrian events?

Elite Management : yes, many in fact! We currently have a leaf chase going on, with random leaves appearing in the sim for the horses to chase to win 1 of 48 prizes. We have an upcoming Cross Country competition at Equine Island, which is currently decorated in their best Halloween spookiness.  We will also be participating in [ Free Bird ]'s 'Live Trick or Treat' at the end of the month, where our Percherons will be providing hay rides to our visitors.  (Our 'treat' will be a very cute limited edition 'Tiny Tails' horse avatar, in 6 different halloween patterns).  We've been invited to provide horses for hayrides at several events and of course, we have our special Costume Show on the 30th, with both ridden and driven dressage in costume.

Dean : Do you have any advice for anyone who is interested in roleplay but is new to SL RP?

Elite Management : Well, gosh. I myself am not what I'd call an epic RPer.  There are tons of places to go learn about RP, but I guess my best advice is to rememebr that IC actions usually bring IC responses, and if you don't like the IC response, maybe you need to stop your IC actions that generated it! Also, IC is not the same as OOC, and if you visit RP sims be respectful of the owners and mods, many of whom are doing what they do as a passion, not a job.  Respect their rules if you visit; usually it's not that hard to do and most places do list their rules pretty prominently.  There are tons of groups you can join to help connect you to a good community, as well. Search is a great tool, just type in 'Roleplay' into the groups tab and a lot of options will pop up.

Dean : Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about Elite Equestrian?

Elite Management : We have built what we feel is the best horse avatar in SL, and we encourage anyone with an interest in going equine or riding to come try them out at our Cherry Island store or visit the Elite Riding Academy.  Horsing around in SL has been a lot of fun and I still find riding my personal horses a total blast, whether we're jumping, driving, or riding dressage.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cherry%20Island/153/31/25

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