I am loving the outfit released by Zaara for Collabor88 this month. The February C88 showcased folk designs and how appropriate that Zaara release something representative of her country’s traditional, and still current, fashions.
Henny Youngman once said, “If you’re going to do something tonight that you’ll be sorry for tomorrow morning, sleep late.” It makes me sort of want to see one of his routines. I kind of think this little romper might lead to doing things tonight…so I will sleep late. You can find your own in Birdy’s gacha at The Arcade. Be sure to sleep late.
Our imagination is the only true freedom we have. Before you decide that is depressing and melodramatic, consider this. What really impinges on our freedom more than anything? Is it the government or is it the mores and expectations of friends, family, and community? What stops us from pursuing our dreams, the police or our fears? There are many things that hold us back, health, financial limitations, even time, but for those of us who live in a relatively free society, we are the ones who limit our freedom. One way to overcome financial limitations is by investing wisely, including options like buying cryptocurrency in the UK. By taking control of our financial futures, we can unlock greater possibilities and experiences.
As a white woman in the United States, I am relatively free of governmental repression. Of course, there are many cultural limits on women’s freedom and if some get their way, there will be governmental restrictions as well. But given the continuum of freedom in the world, I am comfortably situated on the relatively free section.
I have been arrested a few times for my political activities and always released with an apology. For people who are not white, police encounters are more dangerous. In fact, over-policing and police impunity are repressive, a form of unofficially sanctioned terrorism to set the limits on the movements and aspirations of people of color. Nonetheless compared to many places in the world, we continue to enjoy a relatively high degree of political freedom–for the moment. That may change, as some states are trying to criminalize protest and political activity.
The idea that our imagination is our only true freedom makes me think of Mahatma Gandhi who said, “You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.” This is real freedom. That is why we are the ones who keep us unfree and we are the only ones who can liberate us.
Epictetus said we had the freedom of choice whether we stand at the podium or in a prison. I think of Epictetus when I think about Donald Trump. He may be the “leader of the free world” but he is one of the least free beings I can think of. He is a prisoner of his desperate need for approval and praise. He is a prisoner of rage, it clouds his judgment and incapacitates his reason. He will never be content, not to mention happy, because he is a prisoner of fear. No matter how many podia he speaks from, he will never be free.
Real freedom is in peace of mind, in being able to make your choices without fear or anger. Real freedom is when your mind is free of emotional traps, societal limitations and cultural prisons. So, yes, our imagination is the only true freedom we have…if we dare to grasp it.
Dang, there is just too much great art from Second Life® folks on Flickr®. This is just from a few days and doesn’t even capture a quarter of the pictures I like.
And the stars were blue by Erika Xaron
Erika Xaron’s And the Stars Were Blue is successful on many levels. It creates a mood of introspection and solitude. Note that the horizon is placed according to the Rule of Thirds, but that the subject is not, placed instead on the fifth line. Often a picture will be more dynamic if you mix a third with a fifth rather than both on a third. The fifth is the outside limit for placing the subject in most circumstances unless you’re cropping part of the subject out of the picture. The other great compositional choice is the color overlay. Yellow and blue are opposites on the color wheel so work together beautifully. Continue reading
Amona Savira was one of Second Life’s great artists, exploring the potential of SL photography for many years. I have featured her work in my old What I Like columns at Shopping Cart Disco. She has died and many people have responded to her death with art work honoring her memory. This is the last picture she uploaded, that the heavens are weeping seems shockingly appropriate. Grief cannot be critiqued, so I am just going to highlight some of the remembrance photos without comment. Continue reading
So, when I saw ALT by TRUTH was releasing an item called Paddington, I was expecting a coat. Who wouldn’t? Thinking about it, though, a classic crew neck sweater and button down shirt is what Jonathan and Judy would have worn. They were very proper and tucked in their shirts, but who cares about that when such a gorgeous and versatile sweater, an investment set, is released. I really appreciate it when the creator notes what items work well under their mesh pieces. There is a color change hud that allows you to choose eleventy million (24) colors for the sweater and the shirt, plus a dozen prints and even three button colors.
So, I wanted to wear a pencil skirt and tried on a few. I chose this one from Emery because the fabric is exactly right for this outfit.
I love this photo from Taleah McMahon. It’s title is “Love Can Go to Hell in a Broken-hearted Minute” and doesn’t it perfectly convey that mixture of anger, betrayal, and a breaking heart all in a chaotic blend of emotion? Continue reading
I always like to bust up sets and mix and match because it shows that the clothing people make in Second Life is more versatile than we think. For that reason, even though the Irina cropped sweater I am wearing from The Secret Store comes with a beautiful skirt that coordinates with it, I chose to wear a different skirt to show it can be done. Of course, you know and I know it can be done, but a reminder is useful. Continue reading
Without making promises about frequency or regularity, WHAT I LIKE is back.
Gothic Queen by Mononoke
I like this head shot by Tarja Haven called Gothic Queen. It’s a great use of shadow and darkness to create a mood and highlight her face. The angle she holds her head makes the shot more intriguing and the way the sunglasses fade into the shadow adds mystery and intrigue. Continue reading
