we've tried the goodbye so many days

I...I can't even.



First line on her profile?

I am a redeemed child of the one and only living God and driven by my Christian faith.

I just can't.

From another random profile:

- I started putting in the same effort reaching out to you that you have to me. This is why we don't talk anymore.

That's fair in a lot of cases. I know people who unfriend when those friends stop initiating contact. For me, there are scores of people on my friendslist that are there because I used to talk to them. I'm the one not good at reaching out in many cases.

- Always beware of the fox being in charge of the hen house.

I get what they mean, but in a lot of ways, this is needlessly obscure. Just state it outright.

- If your presence can't add value to my life, your absence will make no difference.

See first point.

- When someone shows interest and passion for you and it suddenly disappears, they've already moved to their next victim.

A reference to the fox again.

- Someone's true colors will come out when you need them most and have nothing to offer in return.

Oh, always. A very old bumper from MTV once said, "If you truly want to know someone, and you don't have a lot of time, throw a glass of milk in their face." Because by doing that, you'll figure out how they deal with anger, hurt and shock all at once. It's valuable information in under a minute, if you really need it.

- Someone who has to be owned and controlled by another will never be loved.

Again, I know what they mean, but...obviously, I don't always agree. On the other hand, it's my choice to be owned. I know the parameters of that ownership. I accept the good--and the bad--within those parameters. And if I ever choose to walk away, I can do that too.

Not that I'd want to, but I am still an adult with choices. Choices I take responsibility for, choices I share responsibility for with another person. D/s, in this sense, is very symbiotic--both partners in the arrangement supporting each other.

Or at least, it should be. If one is owned in this sense, and it's only one way, that's not chosen, that's not submission under domination, that's just abuse.

- Love always takes time. You can't learn about somoene in an hour.

"Someone", and of course we can't. Second Life at large, though, falls into this trap quite often. I've told people in the past that SL is life in the spin cycle. People fall in love in an hour, marry over a weekend, divorce after two weeks. Every experience is more intense, more emotionally vital, and more emotionally devastating when it ends.

And I don't think, largely, that will change, because I see the same patterns of behavior in people who've been on the grid for a decade, that I see in people that just joined the grid. It's easy to be attracted to someone. It's easy to experience that first rush of infatuation. So of course it's as easy to get married, move in together, and, when something occurs that explodes that perceived level of connection and understanding, to storm off, unpartner, and move out.



In other news, running the advents again, I came across this lass. And I swear, when I first saw her, all I could think of was The Handmaid's Tale. I thought it was a scarily bold move to walk around in that particular attire. What a statement she was making.


That's when I realized no, it's just a holiday-red cloak and a white bonnet. Oh. I thought it made a bigger impact when I viewed it as political protest, but there you go. It's just fashion.

if this is what we are, then I gotta move on

Ah, the days of yore, back when we had wood-burning cats, spindle-wheeled carriages were still popular, and Lolas Tangos were the newest Big Thing:

[11:13] Cxxx Mxxxxxx: I am looking through some old inventory and I am seeing things called "Lola" appliers. Does anyone remeber what they go with?
[11:14] Rxxxxxxxx Rxxxx: with Lola Tango boobs
[11:14] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Those were bewb addons, in the days before mesh bods

Back in the annals of tiiiiime...

[11:14] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yeh lol
[11:15] Cxxx Mxxxxxx: how did they work? Should I keep them?

Weirdly, I still have my Tangos, even though I've thrown out all the clothing I saved to wear over them, and routinely toss out the Tango layers in new items of clothing. I should just throw them away, too.

[11:15] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: old mesh boobs
[11:15] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: huge lol
[11:15] wxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: thank goodness for them too. System boobs are an abomination
[11:15] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: lol
[11:16] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: they can work with mesh bodies can't they?

Yeah, and people still make appliers and clothing for them.

[11:16] Cxxx Mxxxxxx: can they?
[11:17] hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Remember, let's not denigrate others' decisions on their avatars, please.

I don't think anyone was, specifically? But of course, you know best, you're a mod of the increasingly restrictive group this chat arises from.

[11:18] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i'm not sure, i seem to recall something about how they can work with mesh bodies
[11:19] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Can they? Yes, technically, because they are just another mesh addon. Not sure if they're even sold anymore. But if you put them on you'd have to alpha out the chest section of your mesh bod. The lines would be very visible
[11:20] Cxxx Mxxxxxx: hmmmm. Could they be covered with clothes so the seams don't show?
[11:21] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Probably? But I'm not sure why someone would want to use both.

Me, neither, because most mesh bodies "expand", if that's what's desired, far better than any applier system ever did.

[11:21] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: actually, i have some breast 'deformers' that i use to make lara more natural, but they can be sized to where the old lola's look like flat chested lol
[11:22] Jxxx Gxxxxxxx: Ummm, I have some that i don't use anymore, but, I did put them on, and I didn't need to alpha out the chest...maybe bcuz I'm BoM now
[11:22] Cxxx Mxxxxxx: so I should probably delete them?

Entirely up to you. As I said, some people still make Lolas layers for outfits.

[11:23] txxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Thank you all for all the info on mesh bodies. i have been at a loss of even where to start. that helped alot.
[11:23] Cxxx Mxxxxxx: I am always at a loss. Welcome to the club, [Txxxxxxx] ;)
[11:24] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Not the appliers [Jxxx], the bewbs themselves
[11:25] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: The meshbodyaddicts blog is no more, but the group is still around and very active. A good place for comparison questions

True. Plus, running a search for Lolas Tangos and Second Life would probably turn up some articles.

[11:26] dxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: eh I hear they have gotten infiltrated and are no longer unbiased as a source.

Infiltrated by whom?

[11:27] Pxxxxxxxxx Exxxxxx: There are also videos on YouTube comparing various bodies. I think Strawberry Singh /Linden has some

She does, as well as a very informative blog.

[11:28] dxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I tend to see the omega using bodies as the best options unless you want a specialty body. so the omega blog is useful. though demoing and asking around and such can be useful and there are likely random blog posts you can dig up about the mesh bodies.
[11:29] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: sl forums are always a good place to skim through for current thinking as well
[11:30] yxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i seen once addons called cherrybombs... they are giant...

Not as big as the Overfilleds. With some lasses wearing Overfilleds, they couldn't see their knees, let alone their feet. Or the ground. Or their arms around each massive breast...

[11:31] yxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I wonder it isn't possible wear mesh clothing with those accessories?

Asked and answered.

[11:31] Vxxxxxxx Mxxxxxxxxx: remember, all designers are created equal in the eyes of God, even though some are major banking than others

There is no need to bring religion into this, thanks.

[11:32] yxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: this side of the plane, please ...

Exactly.

[11:32] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: all designers may be created equal, but talent is certainly not distributed evenly
[11:33] yxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: but we don't complain about ti here... specially if they are generously giving away gifts.
[11:35] Jxxx Gxxxxxxx: You would need appliers for those, I'm pretty sure

And then the conversation drifted away, and likely a good thing. The upshot remains the same: any implant system won't look as good as mesh bodies do now, but it is possible to still use them.

we set fire to the snow

Second up on the Sinners' Hunt tour, Sinfully Seddy's Medusa tank top, and Slither layered shirt for men. Here goes.



So first up, the "Envy Me" shirt without implants. Pretty standard tank, cut a little high for me, but pretty perfect for being on trend for the rest of SL.



There's a tiny bit of jag on the sides of this (it's system layer, not mesh), but that may well be in the template/shirt style used.



The wrinkles and folds both on the side, and most especially the back, are beautifully done.



And shown with Lolas Tangos, wherein we see that a centered design motif really needs some hefty adjustment to be seen properly both on and below the ample bosom.



Next up--and try not to laugh too much--this is what happens when I realize I no longer have any male accoutrements in my inventory. (Not because I lost them, but because I threw them away over a year ago, when I decided that whatever benefit was gained from walking around looking more androgynous, and thus less molestable, is invalidated because my name's Emilly, and I always feel weird walking around as Emilly Male, y'know?

So pretty much everything was acquired on the Marketplace, for...I think three Linden, overall? I had a unisex hairstyle from Truth, worked pretty well, and I did a minor amount of work on the shape, but everything else was pretty much just unpacked and put on.

But this is the "Slither" layered shirt, which is mesh, and seems pretty well done, though not exceptionally shaded.



Dear gods, this boy is pouty. So, I kind of forgot this was a mesh shirt, not because it was bad, but because it moved so much like it was just standard--id est, waking around, sitting, laying down, running, it moved with the avatar really well.



And while there's not much for shading, being pretty much just straight black and straight green, there are a good amount of lived-in wrinkles along the mesh template, which adds to that whole "I am comfortable wearing this" feeling. That's a good thing.

The Sinners' Hunt: Envy should be open now. You can find more information on the Sinners' Hunt blog. It runs until November 31st.

(Other stuph used in the shots:)
Sim: Various places around Mallory Cove on the Harmony Garden sim.

(For the Envy Me female shirt: Skin: #Uniquity from Uniquity Body Shop (acquired in October of 2015, though I can't remember if I was in-store to do so or used their Marketplace).
Hair: Genesis in Black from Besom (group gift).
Eyes: Dolly Red freebie eyes from !!X Factor!!, acquired back in 2011; they might be available at the Marketplace link, but unsure.
Makeup: Because the lips were very red-orange on the skin, used the Mythic Neutralizer, then the Prarocana Masque makeover layer, both from [mock].
Pants: Istanbul Latex pants in Green from SN@TCH.
Panties (shown in the back shot, mostly): Lacey Days in Black from Lumae (gift from 2014's Cleavage event)
Shoes (not shown): Eartha boots, also from SN@TCH.

(For the Slither male layered shirt:
Skin: Patrick Gift Vampire Skin, available as a dollarbie on the Marketplace. Comes with painted-on black boxers.
Shape: The Damien shape dollarbie available on the Marketplace.
Hair: Gabriel in Raven from Truth.
Eyes: Liquid Light mesh eyes in Olive from Mayfly.
Makeup: Guyliner 2K from [mock] (group gift).
Pants: Jeans from the Casa Eros dollarbie outfit on the Marketplace.
Shoes (not shown): Standard stompy boots from this link on the Marketplace, which is credited to Nebukadnedzar Zane on the Marketplace, to Titus Yoshikawa in the box, and labeled as a Ronjas boot originally. (And I'm pretty sure Ronjas, at least as a business, is no longer around).

never let a bad day be enough to go and talk you into giving up

Started in the middle of something, as per usual...

[18:50] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: what is the point of boobs and asses as big as people wear them
[18:50] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I just dont even get it

Can we say, "here we go again"?

[18:50] bxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Maybe they like them
[18:50] bxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: or maybe they look that way in real life
[18:50] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: lol
[18:50] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: DOUBTFUL
[18:51] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: not that many
[18:51] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: maybe a few MIGHT

I'll go on record as saying I don't like Miss T, here. She's allowed to hold the opinion, I know I've said similar things, but for the most part I say it about people wandering around Caledon, or on PG shopping sims wearing below the bare minimum. Still, because of where this goes, I thought I'd post it, because this is not just a case of 'how can they wear that', but a judgement on an entirely presumed lifestyle.

[18:51] Lxxxx Sxxxxxx: [Txxxx], you are not alone in that puzzlement. lol
[18:51] Bxxxxx Mxxxxxxxx: a lot of people think that's what is sexy lol
[18:51] cxxxx Kxxxxx: don't let people bully you

Everyone's entitled to their opinion. But the flip side of that is everyone is also entitled to react to that opinion. And if people don't like your opinions, they're allowed to say that too. (I'd offer my own blog up as a prime example of that; I've made more enemies than friends, because I have made, and likely will continue to make in the future, harsh judgments of attire, texture, and shape.)

[18:51] jxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: different folks different stroke I am sure plenty of people in SL wouldn't understand why at times I run around as a femboi
[18:51] Dxxxxx Sxxxx: I think some of the extremes of SL are like my SL extremes... womething I wish I could do without repercussions that I do not desire to have any part of
[18:51] Ixxxxxxx Jxxxxxxxxx: to each their own...i like me, but others may not...it's what makes YOU happy
[18:51] bxxxxx Cxxxxxx: well it's your SL you are entitled to do what you please

Well, within limits, there are rules of behavior after all...but those are for the most part tailored to RL criminal acts which are not allowed.

[18:51] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: its freakish.. and im no architect but ankles that small? Im sorry ... structurally unsound
[18:52] bxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Um freakish?

And here the judgment starts in full effect. All right, I've done this too, I own it, I take responsibility for it--I firmly believe that if you're going to have prim feet and/or shoes, for the love of all gods please match the skin tone, and please adjust the ankle to the same width as the leg itself. Because otherwise it looks like one is trying to walk on artificially severed appendages, and...that's just disturbing.

But that's not what she means here, is it? The ankles are an afterthought. What she's saying is that very large breasts, whether or not they have "natural" sag or bounce, are of themselves a freakish addition, like having eight legs or a parasitic twin. And saying things are "freaky" or "freakish" is still common parlance, but at one time it meant something very specific: extra limbs, extra heads, extra fingers and toes. Things beyond the normal experience, people who were not "as us"--or at least, as the typical country or city folk the freakshows played to.

Traveling carnivals also had rides, food stands, games of chance, dancers, sword swallowers, magicians--but there were many people in the US and abroad for whom being a full-time "freak" was their occupation. Now it's 2015, and we've been told over and over, these are just 'extras', these are just genetic "mistakes", maybe, it happens when cells divide...but now large breasts are lumped in with the other traditional "freaks" of the sideshows?

[18:52] Dxxxxx Sxxxx: example: I have wanted full body tattoo coverage since I was a SMALL child, something that is VERY unlikely to happen in my RL but happens often in my SL

Yeah, I have one perpetual sigattachment I wear, a winged back tattoo--I've had it since my first few months in SL. In fact, when tattoo layers came around, I contacted the maker to see if she'd be interested in converting it over to a tattoo layer for me. Will I ever get that back tattoo in RL? I won't deny I've been tempted, but I probably won't, just for cost alone.

[18:52] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yeah
[18:52] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: a bit
[18:52] bxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: That's very harsh
[18:52] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ~shrugs~
[18:52] bxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: And not very nice

It is harsh, and it isn't nice. I do think "nice" as a concept is rather overused, and occasionally trite as a concept, but is it just more politically correct to say their 'whatever' could be smaller, when we're talking about peoples' personal parts? Whether those parts are virtual or not? Or should we just accept that that's how they want to look? Where's the correct protocol with inflatable bits, anyway?

[18:52] bxxxxx Cxxxxxx: that's the awesome thing about SL is you are able to be as creative as you want to be :)
[18:52] rxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I would think SL is a place to express an inner desire / want you can't have IRL xD
[18:52] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: srry but seeing it so much i just dont get it
[18:53] bxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Well get over it
[18:53] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: im guessing there is a reason
[18:53] bxxxxx Cxxxxxx: exactly [Rxxx]
[18:53] Lxxxx Sxxxxxx: While everyone is jumping at the chance to tell [Txxxx] that everyone has the right to do as they please, you are forgetting that [Txxxx] has the right to her own opinions. You don't have to agree with her.

No, we don't, obviously, but as I said earlier, she has the chance to air her voice; we have the chance to react.

[18:53] bxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Yes but I don't really like people calling my friends "freaks"
[18:53] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: indeed
[18:53] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i didnt say stop
[18:53] Axxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i seen someone who looked like niki minaj in here did i say rude things did i chuckle to myself yes
[18:53] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i just asked WHY?

Well, and I suppose that's fair. And at least she voiced her opinion of these "freaks" in a group that's for general freebies and gifts, not implants and mesh bodies. I...guess that's a good thing? Sort of?

[18:54] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: lol
[18:54] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: you have to
[18:53] bxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I don't think that's very nice
[18:54] Bxxxxx Mxxxxxxxx: And back to our regularly scheduled programming...
[18:54] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: men talk too
[18:54] Axxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: but i didn't say anything
[18:54] Lxxxx Sxxxxxx: [Bxxxx], did she NAME your friends? If not then that is a strawman argument and you are bashing her while griping about her allegedly (but not really) bashing your 'friends'

Eh, I think that's six of one, half a dozen of the other, really. What the one lass is objecting to is women with large breasts being called freaks. She has friends who wear implants. Thus, according to Miss T, they'd be freaks. She objects to Miss T's labeling them such.

That's not a strawman argument, that's a pretty straight-forward reaction.

[18:54] jxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: [Lxxxx] I don't think anyone said she doesn't did they? I know I didn't I just expressed my own opinion which happens to conflict with hers.
[18:54] bxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Men like it too
[18:54] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: no
[18:54] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: not as many as yall think
[18:54] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: lol

So...not only is Miss T saying that all wearers of implants and mesh bodies are "freaks", but now she's stating that most men despise women who wear mesh breasts and mesh butts? Really?

I think we're out of rope to hand you, you might just have to hang yourself on what you have, Miss.

[18:54] bxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Oh So I could come in here and say all skinny bitches are freaks
[18:54] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: they talk about it
[18:54] bxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: And it's fine?????
[18:54] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: but also say most them do it to get .. well.. and they know they are easy

So, all women who wear mesh breasts and mesh busts are sluts, you say. On top of everything else. Go on.

[18:54] bxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I don't think so
[18:55] bxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: OMG
[18:55] Lxxxx Sxxxxxx: And [Bxxxx], if people CHOOSE to look like freaks, they are hardly in a position to gripe if someone calls them that.

Don't help.

[18:55] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yes you could
[18:55] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: im not skinny
[18:55] bxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: YEA all big girls are whores [Txxxx]
[18:55] bxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: that's right
[18:55] Lxxxx Sxxxxxx: If you rob banks are we not allowed to call you a bank roober because it's politically incorrect or might offend you?

"Robber", but now we're getting into specious arguments. You're basically making her point.

[18:55] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: but i am thinking yes you could say that
[18:55] Ixxxxxxx Jxxxxxxxxx: lol i am skinny...and to a point a freak lol
[18:55] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: no
[18:55] Lxxxx Sxxxxxx: If you don't want to be called a bank robber, don't rob banks.

Are you on Miss T's side? Wait, this is also you:

[18:51] Lxxxx Sxxxxxx: [Txxxx], you are not alone in that puzzlement. lol

You ARE!

[18:55] Bxxxxx Mxxxxxxxx: Okay, this is a no win subject ATM
[18:55] bxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: No, if you rob a bank you're a bank robber
[18:55] bxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Lawd
[18:55] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i said that many men see them as doing it to put out the message
[18:55] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i mean draw attention there for what
[18:56] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: to say UHH no touch?
[18:56] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: lol
[18:56] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yeah

Yeah. We get it. You're a prude. Move on.

[18:56] bxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Because you have a large ass you're a whore?
[18:56] cxxxxx Txxxxx: blinks
[18:56] lxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Wooooah guys.... come on now. Let's chillax and get back to shopping okay?
[18:56] bxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Do you tell people in real life that?
[18:57] bxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Cause I think you're about to get in some real trouble if you do

Seriously. This is NOT something you just walk up to people and say out loud in that tone. Plus, this is EXACTLY the sort of victim-blaming our culture seems trapped in. "She had on a sexy dress, that's why she was raped." "She was out late, that's why she was assaulted." "She had large breasts, of course she was sexually harassed." This kind of thinking blames the woman for being in front of the man's eyes, and not the man for doing something criminal and morally reprehensible.

Even in SL, this is something we should try to curtail.

[18:57] Bxxxxx Mxxxxxxxx: Can we please change topics?
[18:57] dxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: People shouldn't worry so much about what others think and live your life the way you see fit. You are never going to please everyone and will only make yourself miserable and those around you as well if you try.
[18:57] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I do

I find that very, very difficult to believe. Or, if that is true, then she gets yelled at a lot by women who aren't prostitutes and don't like being called one to their faces.

[18:57] Vxxxxx Kxxxx: stop it before the chat closes again
[18:57] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and no i dont get in RL trouble
[18:57] Mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i tell them GYM its 2015

Yeah, depending on the neighborhood she lives in, I really don't believe this. She'd be flipped attitude at the least, or outright slapped in the face for her presumption. 'Get your fat ass to a gym'? Seriously?

[18:57] Lxxxx Sxxxxxx: If my RL friends and family members dressed and behaved like many folks in SL do, you bet I'd tell them they were whorish.
[18:57] Rxxxxx Sxxxxxxxxxx: [Bxxxxx] and [Txxxx] if want to continue this conversation i think the proper place is a im not in here
[18:57] bxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I'm over it
[18:58] bxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: :X
[18:59] Ixxxxxxx Jxxxxxxxxx: :P likes being freakish lol

Well, and sometimes I do too. Today, for instance, I was very prim and proper, in a floor-length gown with long sleeves, hair in a precise bun, and fawn brocade boots, because I was hunting roses across Caledon. When I arrived back at the current crypt home, I exchanged that for a charcoal hoody, torn black jeans, studded platform boots, and a miniskirt.

To that end, though, it's obvious where Miss T's thought processes are going here. Have a large ass, have bigger boobs, you're a streetwalker. In her mind, you're good for only one thing, and that means you don't respect yourself, men don't respect you, and other women are going to treat you like the dirt you so clearly--to her--are.

And, granted, there are a lot of extremes in SL, throughout all our communities. There are places I don't want to go with my avatar in any mode of dress. There are shapes and styles of avatars I won't purchase, or wear. But to me, that's personal preference.

I've complained about a lot of things. I complain about avatar appearance. I've openly despised the whole pouty fish-lips, wide-saddle form of female we seem stricken with currently, and I doubt that's going to change. But that's not because I think they look like prostitutes, or think the women in those shapes are inherently easy to sleep with. It's because I think that shape and style makes them look desperately unhappy, just a soul-deep, cynical misery that pervades outward from the skin. And I do not believe everyone who wears that shape or those specifically designed skins are that desperately unhappy, that riddled with hatred and bile. I think they're deliberately making themselves unattractive--to themselves if no one else--but my standards are not theirs, obviously, and that's pretty much the end of the assumption line.

Miss T took it farther. To her, Ms. Charms



is exactly the same as Ms. Fuller



and both are exactly the same as this unidentified street prostitute?



Why? For that matter, why link the three in the first place? And why such utter loathing for all three?

(Photo credits: I cannot track down the photographer for the Chelsie Charms shot; but I will link her website [should you feel compelled to dig further, be warned it is VERY NSFW]. Ms. Fuller's photographer has been lost to the ages, as far as I know, but I originally found her cabinet card on the Cvltnation site. And John Mac took the unidentified shot of the prostitute in 2005, for this photo forum.)

how come they're all living in places with too much snow or too much sand?

The Funny Puppet Fair opened May 11th, and I missed a great deal of it, but once I remembered, I had to go see what it was like. The first thing I noticed--and really, really liked--was that outside of the individual stores, everything's the same set of textures. I'd even take it one farther and say that everything on the parcel is the same texture, just retinted, so even though practically everything's mesh, it loads quite speedily. I had more problems getting individual vendors to load inside the stores than I had loading in the ground, the walls, the roofs, and the swooping fences. It also gave the entire grounds a charmingly cartoonish feel, without being overly precious or cute to the point of toxicity.

So, a few things about this fair. First, there's a free set of little mesh sorta-puppet avatars at the beam-in point--one's ostensibly "male" (as in, plain, no details, nice texturing, simple construction), and the other's ostensibly "female" (same body shape, but the torso's tinted pink and there's blushing on the cheeks). I'm not sure why they felt the girl version had to be blushing, but hey, their call.

The entire fair's separated into four swooping sections, with separate half-circles scattered throughout for small cart stands, and gacha stations (while some stores have their own gachas, most of the makers put their gacha machines in one central area per section). There's a L$1 hunt through the grounds, too, but the main problem I had with that is I've come to expect (for events and mall hunts, both) signs notifying which stores have prizes, and which don't. The problem with this hunt is that half the stores didn't have the sign up, and had prizes anyway. Plus, some of the carts had prizes, too. Probably the gacha areas have prizes.

I ended up (after today's trip through) with forty of the prizes; I'm fairly sure there are more. So take that under advisement. (Also keep in mind that many of the teeny stars really are teeny--like, the size of my avatar's thumb teensy. Not even kidding, some designers really sized them down. It's not Twisted hunt-hard--nothing is--but it's not easy.)

(from the events album; the crop tops from Spoiled/Rotten at the Funny Puppet Fair.)

Also, there's some disparity on what qualifies items for the "funny puppet" aspect. SL being SL, there seems to be a pretty even split between quasi-legitimately young girls' concerns (Lolita shoes, frills, lace, cutesy furniture items, holdable plushies) and adult women playing fetishized little girls. (Y'know, this versus this, say. And don't worry, both pictures are SFW.) In that case, there's a lot of pastel pink or teal or pale peach fabrics imprinted with cute foodstuffs, dessert items, or adorable baby animals, but everything's either cleavage to the waist or a miniskirt that hits the upper thighs.

The crop tops shown above are from Spoiled/Rotten, and they're found in section A. These retail for L$100 each, and come in four varieties: Panda (pink), Lamb (grey), Friendly Sushi (Teal), and Kitty (Tan Leopard on White).

(from the events album; the shorts from NS at the Funny Puppet Fair.)

Case in point, these are the shorts being sold on the left, and the full-body "modeled" shot featuring the shorts, and a top that is likely found in the main store, but not available in the event store, on the right. And for me, it's the top that pushes this outfit over the edge.

While they're a little lower than hip-huggers--okay, a staggering lot lower than hip-huggers--that's not exactly my issue. The mesh template is good, the texturing looks sound and well-shaded. As far as it goes, even the top looks well-made, but....well, let's just say the design does not exactly suggest melting ice cream to me, y'unnerstan? Especially as it's equipped with Lolas Tango appliers.

The "Cool Summer Shorts" from NS, found in section B. They retail for L$100 individually, or you can buy the HUD version which packs in all seven patterns in one pair of shorts for L$250.

(from the events album; the Dolly Doll avatars from Duck or Swan at the Funny Puppet Fair.)

Changing directions in a whip-snapping way, how about these anime-inspired Dolly Doll avatars? From head and hair to boots, with the mesh body in between, this is one of the better avatar deals you're going to find. It comes in four different variations (I think the boots are also sold separately, but I'm not entirely sure they'll fit anything other than this avatar), these are sweet and cute and largely innocent compared to half of everything they're surrounded by. I'm extremely tempted, not just because they actually do look like young girls, without looking like the wet-dream pouty-teenager version of 'young' we've grown accustomed to seeing on the grid--but because they look so much like adorable little dolls we can walk around in.

The Dolly Doll avatars from Duck or Swan can be found in section C. These retail for $350 per avatar (boots, hair, hairbow, dress, body and head included).

(from the events album; the Kawaii Candy t-shirt dress from RD Style at the Funny Puppet Fair.)

And we whiplash back for the last one I wanted to show off--the "Kawaii Candy" t-shirt mesh dress from RD Style. This is more of what I meant by the Fair splitting into two pretty clear camps: this is an outfit that plainly couldn't exist off the grid. There is zero way, zero way that dress would be held up at all with that plunging a neckline. But of course it's festooned with cutesy little candy motifs, because it's that fetishized little-girl thing again. Which would be sort of understandable, ish, save for the 19th-century-style gartered stockings. The hair (which is gorgeous--is it from Ploom or somewhere else?) can be worn by a young girl or an adult woman; the stockings might be able to be worn by an upper-ages teenager or an adult woman; but that dress can only be worn by an adult woman, because young girls just do not have that cleavage, and, frankly, shouldn't.

The Kawaii Candy outfit from RD Style in section D. This retails for L$120 and includes low-cut t-shirt dress, stockings with garters (including SLink appliers) and two "kawaii" tattoos. (Some outfits also include shoes for an equivalent price; this one does not.)

Overall, I liked the Funny Puppet Fair; I'd like to go back before it closes on the 25th and buy some things, because I like most of the offerings, too. It's pretty well organized and efficiently laid out, and I was able to cover everything at a nice, even stroll in about ninety minutes--and that included backtracking and picture-taking time. I just think we need to be careful that we don't oversexualize events that are supposed to have children in attendance (even if those children are only ones by SL standards).

You can find out more about the Funny Puppet Fair (including much better pictures than mine) on these blogs:

• Be Happy in SL
• Bitacora Viajera (some really excellent shots of the grounds, and an overhead full view)
• Cally's Closet
• Cheryl Blossoms
• chocolate Atelier's notebook
• Daring Girl
• Diary of ines Lauria (see also this entry and this entry, also)
• Done wiv a Twist (see also this entry
• FabFree (archive list)
• Fashion-Kawaii-Colors (see also this entry)
• Funny Puppet Fair on Facebook
• Gacha Goodies (see also this entry, this entry, and this entry)
• Goth1co
• Hanaya
• JesyDream's Flickr (this image pertaining to the Fair)
• Kittywitchin' (archive list)
• Livin' SL
• My Sweet Life
• Nimue Style (archive list)
• Ninja Girl's Style
• Pink Acid SL (see also this entry)
• Pixel Barbie (archive list)
• Poison Girls (see also this entry, this entry and this entry)
• Punk Is Fashion
• Reh Dragovar (RD Styles' blog)
• Second Social
• SL Breedables
• SL Fashion Addict (see also this entry, this entry, and this entry)
• SL Fashion Directory (archive list)
• SL Fashion Stylez
• SL Frees & Offers (also see her coverage of the ArisAris offering)
• SL Style Academy
• SL Top Fashion (archive list)
• Someone Like You
• Terra do Nunca SL
• The Wandering Faun
• Threads and Tuneage
• The Thrifty Bondmaid
• Ticklemetummy
• Unisex Fashions SL
• Urban Street
• Veronique's View of SL Fashion

...and, goodness, that's now page 8 on Google search, I think that's plenty! You get the idea, anyway.

There's also a Youtube video on the fair, but...again, it's predominantly pitched to children, I think. Someone's missing the point...or ignoring it.

Still, that's hardly new to the doll community at large, is it? We have always been a widely diverse group of individuals. Young dolls, rag dolls, wooden dolls, cyborgs, gynoids, sexbots, porcelain dolls, littles, fetish dolls...and somehow, some way, we all manage to keep staggering together in a semi-united fashion. It takes a village...well, maybe if our village contains Bedlam. Still, it all works out.

In its own way, this does too. Check it out.

walking by myself down avenues that reek of time to kill

The capability of 3D printing has taken another leap forward, this time into low-cost, home brain scans. Through a combination of software from GitHub, the controller board and 3D headset rig from OpenBCI, with possible additions from the Arduino system for power and interfacing, the entire thing (assuming you have a 3D printer already) will set you back between anywhere between three and six hundred, depending on whatever you already have for home electronics design. Which is a vast reduction from the tens of thousands for a commercially-available brain-scan set-up.

In other brain-hacking news, DARPA wants to develop a "black-box" implant for soldiers who've suffered brain damage, that can be remotely triggered to stimulate memories. On that link, it's being described as a helpful way to keep soldiers with brain damage awake and aware, which sounds laudable. And the potential commercial and medical uses of such adaptive technology could be very good for brain injury cases. But I'm paranoid enough to be suspicious of potential alternate motives...like, remote-controlled soldiers, systemically fed overriding signals directly into the brain to do...well, whatever DARPA and the Pentagon wants, one would assume.

Do the potential medical uses outweigh the potential mind-control ones? I don't know. Morality gets iffy on the edge.

Paired with this, the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (apparently that's a thing) released a paper earlier this year detailing ways to create and manage "warfighters", or chemically and physiologically enhanced supersoldiers. Obvious comparisons to Captain America and the supersoldier program from the comics come to mind, and admittedly, between the Avengers movie and the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. show, supersoldiers would be in the forefront of at least some think tanks' research lines.

But there's a difference between theory and application, and it's important to remember that the IHMC works with DARPA, for many of their projects. Within a decade, we could have active "warfighters" on the battlefield. Is this a good thing?

Keep in mind, also, that both the US Navy and DARPA researchers have requested grant funds to finish developing tracking tattoos for soldiers. Prototypes of such devices already exist, that will track stress levels, skin responses, and the like, but most of these are wearable items--armbands, wristbands, et cetera. These would be a fine network of implanted electronic sensors under the skin, with tattooed coding or design atop that could be scanned for further information. Let me say this again, because it's vaguely important--this isn't theory; they're seeking completion funds. This will be happening at some point.

From Laughing Squid comes some literary horror--in this instance, artist Andrea Mastrovito's diorama paper installations. Why is this horrifying? Because, even though we have extraordinarily detailed, photorealistic color printers, she still destroyed over two thousand books to make her art.

Two thousand. My soul shudders.

And Vihart has an absolutely excellent eleven-minute video on the state of net neutrality in the US at present. If you're in the US, follow the links given underneath the video to air your concerns to the FCC. It's very important to do this calmly, responsibly, but clearly, in the hopes that public input will sway them to change commercial ISP definitions from information carriers to common carriers.

If you're not in the US, there's still a ton of tasty information below the video--everything from term definitions to other videos on current net neutrality concerns, plus links to a lot of court case rulings for the growing monopoly that is cable in the US.

That's all. You can return to your day, already in progress.

with thankful heart and joyful mind

There's a very random grouping of gifts at the Snowville Winter Fair in Boutou; all are free, but they're everything from really nice mesh minis to holiday trees to scarves to furry skating skirts. Still, check it out if you're interested, and follow the beacon if you're dropped off at the ballroom, not Santa's workshop.

There are also a few holiday gifts out at OhLaLa--some on the front desk, more under the tree. Again a mixed bag, but interestingly so, at least.

ModaMia also has some gifts out under their tree--they seem to be mostly womenswear separates, holiday corsets and tank tops, with some accessories and I think one stuffed animal? Not sure if it's a teddy bear with a hat, or just a teddy bear package, frankly.

And for the enhanced crowd, there's another grouping of holiday gifts under the S.L.A.D. tree (in Maple Valley, an Adult sim). They're all free, and barring the purely mesh items, they all have Phat Azz appliers, Lolas Tangos appliers, or both. (I noticed at least two skins and a henna tattoo in the mix, as well.)

But what I really want to talk about is fawns.


Specifically, this one. The Fawn of Shiallia.



The Fawn of Shiallia is a magical young creature who gleams with a radiant green glow, sprouts flowers anywhere it walks, adds a regeneration effect to those near it, and heals adventurers with which it travels. It's also the single most expensive pet to acquire during the Winter Festival on Neverwinter.


It's...not always graceful. But more to the point is how the community has taken to this fawn, in...well, very unusual ways. To wit:

[Zone] Delinquent@salvatus69: The Fawn Strikes Back
[Zone] MrGIANT@flashburn99: I-fawn
[Zone] emmy@shivakid: Califawnia girls
[Zone] Delirium Mortis@deliriummortis: The Good the Bad and the Fawnly
[Zone] MrGIANT@flashburn99: Cell-fawns
[Zone] Zanlamar Odea@theflingueur: Some people just wanna watch the world fawn

Getting the idea? It went on like this:

[Zone] Bilbo Baggins@qwikshot16nd: All Fawns Go To Heaven
[Zone] Aelar Darksbane@honyokill: for a few fawns more
[Zone] Korom@Noctar0: what the fawn
[Zone] Quimizael Halaudra@k3ll0: Call of Fawnez
[Zone] Dark Loki@killergilnyc1: fawntastic four
[Zone] SnEaKy-HoBBiT@jibby015: this is keeping things fawn while fishing lol
[Zone] Shae Ruzhan@rhonesardan: Fawndingo
[Zone] Loriel@xxultima: Fawnophobia..
[Zone] Zero Angelbane@rhtb4theeyeblnk: grumpy old fawn
[Zone] Jeronor@mjjolnor: Stop me before I fawn again!!!
[Zone] Bilbo Baggins@qwikshot16nd: Fawnablanca
[Zone] Beiro Silentread@vendicius: Austin Powers: The Fawn who Shagged Me
[Zone] MrGIANT@flashburn99: Fawnoccio
[Zone] Tricksterwind@tricksterwind: Fawntiful Creatures
[Zone] Erisell@JuliaShade: Fawn Sawyer and Buckleberry Fin
[Zone] Stasi Swiftarrow@skywoulf: Fawntasia
[Zone] Grimmace@exiledyoshi: Fawnty and the Beast
[Zone] Miri Woodsheart@oceanocean: Genghis Fawn
[Zone] Arayia Moonshadow@lali313: The Maltese Fawncon
[Zone] Canagan Brooke@igiveup2: The Legend of Boggy Fawn
[Zone] Delirium Mortis@deliriummortis: Sonic the Hedgefawn

Yeah, I don't think this particular fawn is that fast...

[Zone] Dark Loki@killergilnyc1: The Fawntom of the Opera
[Zone] Leinad@darthvala: The Arctic Fawns
[Zone] Bilbo Baggins@qwikshot16nd: Romeo and Fawniette
[Zone] Raul Blackband@floingis: FAWNNY AND CLYDE
[Zone] Delirium Mortis@deliriummortis: The Fawnth of July
[Zone] Arcane Vices@borghandler: Dr. Strangefawn
[Zone] Zenobia@scorpio666corpse: Live Fawn or die!
[Zone] Bear@dan67: May the Fawn be with you
[Zone] ThunderWolf@thunderwolf567: Fawnward Scissorhands
[Zone] Aelar Darksbane@honyokill: Fawning in the Rain
[Zone] Dark Loki@killergilnyc1: Mrs. Doubtfawn

Now I'm seeing a plumply padded fawn in a housedress with a mock English accent. Eep.

[Zone] Morthos Vicelord@aoblue32: the cold light of fawn
[Zone] Bilbo Baggins@qwikshot16nd: Fawn Wars
[Zone] Delirium Mortis@deliriummortis: Uncle Fawn needs YOU!
[Zone] hvy smoker@haladale: can i fawn you later
[Zone] Mary Jane Toker@imnotnothigh: Fawn of the Dead
[Zone] Adinimys@awittyhalfwit: Honey I Shrunk the Fawn
[Zone] SnEaKy-HoBBiT@jibby015: Clash of the Fawntans
[Zone] MamaJo@angelbear31: Don't make fawn of ME
[Zone] Elizia The Devoted@b100d31f: ALL YOUR FAWN ARE BELONG TO US
[Zone] Walker Bohl@romsebastian: Star Trek: Fawnesis
[Zone] Dark Loki@killergilnyc1: FAWNKENSTEIN
[Zone] Lucius Van Helsing@Lourdie: The Dark Fawn Rises

Dark faun? I can get behind that...

[Zone] Canagan Brooke@igiveup2: SOMEONE SET US UP THE FAWN
[Zone] Adinimys@awittyhalfwit: Monty Python and the Holy Fawn
[Zone] xSimox@truesevenfold: The Fawn Identity, Fawn Supremacy and The Fawn Ultimatium
[Zone] Delirium Mortis@deliriummortis: Shut the Fawn door
[Zone] MamaJo@angelbear31: Stop Or My Fawn Will Shoot
[Zone] Elanthis Silverkin@elanthis2: Fawns of the Carribean
[Zone] raven darkblade@restuss: and she had fawn, fawn, fawn 'til her daddy took her unicorn away...
[Zone] Bilbo Baggins@qwikshot16nd: The Hunchback of Notre Fawn
[Zone] Dronin@mixmasterflex: fawn'wwww [Zone] Arayia Moonshadow@lali313: Sherlock Holmes and Fawn Watson

Personally, I might have gone with "Forelock Holmes" for that one...

[Zone] Jeronor@mjjolnor: The Holy Hand-Grenade of Anti-Fawn
[Zone] V.V@Fasinfil: Fawnadu
[Zone] Garrick Swift@zannkind: Fawntastic Four
[Zone] Dark Loki@killergilnyc1: The Real Fawnwives of Atlanta
[Zone] emmy@shivakid: Fawnyuns
[Zone] Aelar Darksbane@honyokill: don't use the fawn's name in vain
[Zone] Elrilion@Elrilion: Anybody seen Pulp Fawntion?
[Zone] Hanalesia Bonaduce@matteo273: Enter the Fawn
[Zone] Quimizael Halaudra@k3ll0: Fawn's Labyrinth
[Zone] Stasi Swiftarrow@skywoulf: "To Fawn or Not To Fawn, that is the question....."
[Zone] SnEaKy-HoBBiT@jibby015: Fawn Almighty
[Zone] Eudaimon@Mereologist: That's all fawn with me.
[Zone] Quimizael Halaudra@k3ll0: A Fawn Too Far
[Zone] Paulzz@paullzz: One does not simply fawn into Mordor
[Zone] Hanalesia Bonaduce@matteo273: Im fawning asleep
[Zone] Canagan Brooke@igiveup2: Dances with Fawns
[Zone] ThunderWolf@thunderwolf567: Transformers: Revenge of the Fawn

That...doesn't sound like the best idea, actually...

[Zone] Garrick Swift@zannkind: It's a Fawnderful Life
[Zone] Elrilion@Elrilion: Silence of the Fawns?
[Zone] Dark Loki@killergilnyc1: How I Met Your Fawn
[Zone] Arya Ellenwell@ellellellelle: transfawners
[Zone] kingkush@masterdebater666: black fawn down
[Zone] Crim Legion@qryraen: Lord of the Fawns: The Fellowship of the Fawn
[Zone] Eudaimon@Mereologist: Breaking Fawn.
[Zone] Tricksterwind@tricksterwind: Ghostfawnsters
[Zone] Lytheh@nivacs31: Fawning Nemo
[Zone] Jeronor@mjjolnor: Jane Doe: The Fawn Society
[Zone] Majorana@TauLept0n: Quadrofawnia
[Zone] Quimizael Halaudra@k3ll0: Bohemian Fawnsody
[Zone] WTB PVP CONTENT@concubines: Neverwinter Fawnline

And three hours in, they were still going strong. And the next few hours. And later that night. And the next afternoon...And it's still occasionally popping up and taking over chat in the strangest ways.

[Zone] Xeen@mojoslackman: I wanted to type in bold but they don't support that fawnt
[Zone] Kayang@tofumengy: did you say hotel califawnia?

And yes, at this point, even the repeats are repeating. I'm thinking it's becoming pandemic.

Or at least fawndemic.

After all, the first rule of Fawn Club is...never mind.

after them she shot, down down down

[20:08] pxxxx Cxxxxx shouts: WHY DO YOU GUYS HAVE DUCKS ON YOUR HEAD

Some days, people worry me more than others.

In and amongst preparations for Sunday's Aether Salon, more reflections on shopping naked.

Because it's still confusing.

Take this lovely fur, f'rinstance:

(from the shopping album; apparently furs shop naked, too.)

I won't lie; she was dead cute. The bow, the spots, the poses in her AO...she was just adorably winsome, start to finish. But she wore a bandeau top and gloves, the bow, and...nothing else.

And see, here's my thing with furs: yes, I know animals don't wear clothes. Even some anthropomorphic animals don't wear clothes. But there's a vast difference between "not wearing clothes because I'm covered in fur", and "not wearing clothes even though my fur is so short you can see genitalia". Am I the only one who perceives the definite difference between those two states?

I don't even feel I can link directly on this blog the set of shots I took and animated, just to show you the pose variation, because barring this one (rather perfectly) figleafed image, ALL of the rest I'd have to edit!

Or how about...her:

(from the shopping album. Some things you cannot unsee.)

I...don't even know where to begin. Her proportions are off, and I'm not just talking about her implants. Her color coordination sense is...deeply impaired.

(from the shopping album. Please don't do that again.)

And keep in mind, I'm not even talking about the implants here. Some women want tits the size of planetoids; okay, whatever. That's your thing, that's your thing, it's not about to change.

I'm more talking the distortion of the system avatar.

Like...the fact that she doesn't have curves, here, she has ANGLES.

Just to enhance the point:

(from the shopping album. Yeah.)

This is a crop of the above image, so you can see exactly what I mean. Even if you want a large rear--or large anything--you want to do your best to ensure that it fits the concept. Because human beings are not angular, we're rounded. This? This is not rounded. This is pushing the system mesh until there's literally nowhere else to go. This is forcing an avatar to be as large as it can be with zero care how that looks to anyone else.

(from the shopping album. Yeah.)

It's like she doesn't even notice--or worse, doesn't even care--how much she's distorted the underlying shape.

(from the shopping album. It's just not getting better.)

Maybe she finally realized how little her boots go with the rest of her? Your guess is as good as mine, unfortunately.