Today the Hula Hoop is 50 years old. More accurately, the patented Hula Hoop is 50 years old. Something tells me that people may have put hoops around their waists and held them suspended by swiveling their hips before there was ever a patent office. I also have five great posts for you to check out .

1. Valena Vacano: Valena Vacano chronicles her long, frustrating, but ultimately successful struggle to find her niche in Second Life for the Connecting: 365 Lives project. She brings honesty and rigor to her story. 
2. Sliding, But Not Dead – Inara Pey provides a broad and reasonable assessment of Second Life’s overall health. There’s no declarations of doom, but neither any starry-eyed optimism.
3. Sugar’s Style & Grasp, Amacci – Sugar Planer put together an adorable casual outfit that makes me want to run out and tap some sugar maples, collect the sap and set it to simmering away on the wood stove.
4. Owlfit #183 – Goizane Serenity tickles my funny bone with her photo for this post. It’s cheeky and fun and I love how well she did finding a setting that suited her outfit and her idea for the post.
5. Mount Rush Moose: Today’s edition of Where’s Dim Sum just made me laugh and laugh. I love that blog!

 March 4th is not just a date, it’s an imperative. So please do march forth and check out these excellent posts that I discovered today.

1. The Heroic Imagination Project. GreenLantern Excelsior challenges people to write about their heroes in Second Life, to share stories of people helping people in SL and share. The writer explains the bystander effect which can allow people to stand by and do nothing, but can also urge and encourage people to act. Excelsior seems to hope sharing examples will elicit more heroic and helping behavior. 
2. Fantasy Faire 2013 Kickoff Announcement: Inara Pey shares the initial announcement and information for stores and creators who wish to be be involved in this huge event and RFL fundraiser.
3. 514 Words. Whiskey Monday has a thought-provoking photo that leaves the viewer filled with questions – as art should.
4. 435 – Kyrie Source always shoots such powerful photos and this is one of her most striking. Her styling often juxtaposes elements that should clash, but don’t. It’s simply wonderful to see what she can do.
5. Deathwish – This is a fabulous post from Petra Messioptra who never fails to shoot amazing photos.

 Today there are lots of fabulous photos and outfits, an interview with my ex (not by me) and  a link to a collection of some the best tutorials of the past month.

1. I  Am the Abstract – Vaki Zenovka reminds us how bold and exciting Second Life fashion can be. She takes an avant garde outfit and shoots it the with bravado it deserves.
2. DJ Exclusive: Interview with Maht Wuyts: Piedmont Cartauld interviews one of my oldest and closest friends in SL (also my ex). It’s part of a series spotlighting SL DJs that should be interesting to follow.
3. Take Courage – the Fashion For Life posts are starting and I love this one from LisaMun Aronowitz. There is something haunting and otherworldly about this photo from the pose to the styling. A feeling of stillness.
4. This is place where I don’t feel alon, This is a place where I feel at home. Neva Crystall does her usual stunning job of creating a setting that makes me want to be there. She creates such homey and lived in settings, she’s kind of the Kathy Ireland of Second Life.
5. Best of Tuts in February 2013 – While not associated with Second Life, many SL bloggers and creators are tutorial collectors and this is my favorite place to go prospecting. 

 Today I am going to take advantage of this space to direct you to an article I wrote elsewhere, but since the point of the Fast Five is to highlight the cool, interesting, amazing and important posts of other people, I will make it a Fast Six for today.

1. What I Like #90 is my article at Shopping Cart Disco. Normally this column focuses on a few select pictures that caught my eye recently and which I think illustrate great composition. This column, though, is full of suggestions for Second Life’s staff on how they could diversity their front page. 
2. The Drax Files – World Makers. Strawberry Singh does a great introduction to a new video series about Second Life that highlights the creators of our world. If you don’t smile when you hear why he began making trees, you haven’t an ounce of romance in your soul.
3. Ashasekayi Ra – This offering from Ashasekayi Ra for the Connecting: 365 Lives project really speaks to me about what matters in Second Life, the community of people and the care, support and friendship we offer each other.
4. Challenge Gallery 29: Almost. This week’s edition of Single Frame Stories is up with a dozen interpretations inspired by the word Almost.
5. My Little Walrus from Jill Narstrom is so sweet it will make your teeth hurt. I will definitely be buying that jacket.
6. Learning to Walk Again from Jolene McAndrews is great for two reasons. I think the hi-top shoes are adorable and according to the post, you can customize them six ways to Sunday. However, what I love most is the clever way McAndrews found to show off the shoes. Kudos for creativity.