Today finds me sending you back to the same blog as last time, but how could I not, the photo is so special. The rest if great fashion or lifestyle blog posts and one post with guidance on pronunciation.

1. A Midsummer Nights Dream: Wise Sandalwood had half of Plurk agog yesterday wondering how she did this. I assume she used a mix of different texture layers and brushes in Photoshop. Part of the magic is not telling. The other part is recognizing how perfectly the Doll Coco Avatar is for creating illustrations.
2. Loneliness: Wicca Merlin  does a stunning exploration of hard and soft textures and moods in styling her Gizza-centric outfit yesterday. The pieces she pulled together should have been disjointed, but somehow they work together.
3. The FIC Is Back! (Or It Never Left) – This is a few days old as I hesitated to include this post from Prokofy Neva whose infinite capacity for argument is well-known. However, I have been mispronouncing FIC all this time. It rhymes with BIKE, not SICK. That is one of the things covered in this op-ed full of speculation that is debunked in the Update at the end.
4. Soleil: Eve Kazan has a beautiful travel/fashion post featuring the arid FAS sim and her finds at the local market, the spice, the pottery, the flowers…
5. 229: Nati Williams did a post featuring her garden. I want to live there.

It’s Income Tax Day in the US. Also my birthday. So, for my set tonight at The Velvet I am playing some of my favorite songs. Not all of them. That would take s day or more, but a few of them. Lots of that old-fashioned rock and roll. I hope you can come. I DJ from 5 to 7 PM SLT.

1. SL10B Applications are open: SL’s 10th birthday is coming and applications for performers, exhibitors and volunteers are open. The theme is Second Life – Looking Forward, Looking Back. I cannot wait to see what folks come up with.
2. On the Hunt: Wise Sandalwood has the most amazing photo, one that seems more like an illustration done in real life, not in Second Life®. I love her work all the time, but this is one of her best ever.
3. Nobody Knows the Troobles I’ve Seen: Tymmerie Thorne shows off the new SL® gift via Amazon, the Troobles. Like me, she has no answer to the mystery of the Troobles, but she always writes with wit and humor and is not going to, as she said, “look a gift Trooble in the mouth.”
4. Just Know You’re Not Alone. Cause I’m Going to Make This Place Your Home. Rockstaroo Gossipgirl has a fun post highlighting the enchanting little food truck from What Next for The Garden.
5. Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Inaugural Address. While I was preparing this, bombs went off in Boston casting the shadow of fear across our country. At this moment, we have no idea who is involved or even whether it is all over or if there are more bombs yet to explode. Uncertainty adds to our collective anxiety. On this horrible afternoon, I think it is worthwhile to read the incredibly wise words of President Roosevelt who assumed the presidency during the Great Depression, an economic nadir far more extensive than our own Great Recession and in a world threatened by imperial fascism and communism across the globe. Those threats were far more existential than what we face today and we persevered and triumphed in large part because we did not let ourselves be paralyzed by fear. So on this terrible day, I am suggesting you take a moment to read this inspirational speech and find comfort and strength in its wisdom.

Today is going to seem all about me, me, me! But I can’t help it. It’s just my lucky day.   However, there are posts about other things, too. One is a Flickr PhotoSteam that every SL explorer should follow – for fabulous landscape photos and ideas for places to shoot.

1. Connecting 365 SL Lives – Cajsa Lilliehook: Today was my turn to write an entry for Katya Valeska’s blog sharing the stories and experiences of folks in SL. There are still openings, so if you want to participate, please click on the To Connect tab and apply. 
2. Playing With Projectors: I have been playing with projectors for a while now and on a whim put one on sale on Marketplace. Strawberry Singh kindly blogged all about it and I was thrilled to see my projector in use. And besides, there’s a beautiful picture! If you’re at work, though, there is tasteful nudity.  Continue reading →

April 10th! Three of my hometown friends share this birthday, so I spent the morning catching up. I guess I have known them since birth since they were still in the hospital when I was born on the 15th – not that I remember! Anyway, that is why I am off to a late start on this today.

1. The Fashionista – A Second Life Role-Play Archetype. When Gidge, Hybie and I started brainstorming ideas for the Fashionista Achievement Awards series, our goal was humor. However, Estelle Pienaar is deadly serious in suggesting that we are, in fact, role-playing and should recognize that fact. It’s an interesting article that unpacks  some of our assumptions about Second Life. I think of SL as a social media community, but confess that yes, there are role-playing elements. What do you think?
   
2. Mesh Deformer in Action: Nalates Urriah shares a YouTube video from David Turenne of the newest iteration of the Mesh Deformer.  I point to her post instead of the video because she adds valuable context and commentary. Frankly, her blog is full of news today, with a link to a good tutorial on materials, info on the new viewer and much more. She’s been busy.
3. Thanks, LL, Now the Nineties Are Back: Aemeth Lysette is excited about the new Materials texturing but recognizes it has potential for abuse. Could materials be the new bling? Check out her funny post and see what you think?
4. Memoirs: LisSska Sl has a gorgeous photo and a beautiful blog. However, you know how blogspot says there may be mature content and click to continue? Well that question comes up in Russian, so don’t be worried. It’s just cyrillic and not some phishing scheme or anything.
5. Lion:  Rayne Morgan’s post featuring Lelutka’s Jolie hair has two pictures, one of which has been photoshopped into a glorious study of the hair with fabulous lighting. Very beautiful.

What a day! We get to meet a new survivor from Gallifrey. That does not happen often. There’s a crazy, fun sim highlighted and SL textures may be changing dramatically in the future.

1. The Time Lord’s Idiot Cousin: Whovians rejoice! There is another Time Lord in town, but he’s a bit on the sad side as his Tardis has no door. If you love the Doctor, you should check out Caduceus Lorakeet’s fun and clever new post.  And alert the BBC.
2. Summer Vacation Time: Jackson Redstar features an incredibly whimsical sim that makes me want to log in right now and not even finish this post. The sacrifices I make for you readers!  Continue reading →