Way back in the day, some fore-fathers sat around in a non-air-conditioned room feeling the cloying oppressive rule of another country lording over them. They felt so strong about it they put together a declaration to separate its citizens from government suppression. Do you know the document? It goes something like this: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” So what? Well “liberty” is freedom from arbitrary government control and interference, “pursuit of happiness” pretty much grants you the right to be happy without government control and interference. Why? Because it’s time to evolve, that’s why.

We all need to evolve at times, whether it’s by learning a new way of viewing the world, defining our relationship within the world or by accepting the inevitable things we may not like and living with them peacefully. Of late there has been a great deal of talk about gay marriage in the news, and being a thinker and a watcher I’ve noticed, unlike past trials and events, there has been almost no discussion about whether homosexuality is deserving of the public’s moral condemnation. With that rhetoric and moral discomfort gone, I can’t help but think the children of homosexual parents will finally have their voices heard. Is this good or bad? Depends on what “side of the fence” you stand on. But personally, (and this is, of course, just my thoughts) I think for the sake of these voiceless children, it just may be the right thing to do and the right time to do it.

Take from? Mark Twain wrote much more eloquent than I ever could when he penned, “Loyalty to petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul.” I Stand4Love because it’s the right thing to do and the right time to do it. The government has no compelling interest in denying its citizens their right to pursue happiness by marrying the person of their choice. But, well, that’s just my take on it.

Hair: Boon
Dress: *LpD*
Watch: [Mandala]
Hat: Miamai
Pose: Pics N Poses
Bring Me to Life

I know we have all have heard the saying, “what comes around goes around” and it really does, it’s called karma. Recently a model and a designer became embroiled in a bitter argument and as is the way in Second Life, the forces began to take sides. There is something about virtuality that seems to take the smallest of matters and blows them up to epic proportions. Think about it this way, if this had happened in the real world, would we even have heard about the matter? Probably not. In fact, I, myself had a “run-in” with this designer but because it was handled differently, it wasn’t as much of a big deal. In a way, we create exactly the publicity we want from the events imparted on us. But what I wonder is, does it make sense to sabotage the person for a mistake they made? Sure, he acted with a little less than class but perhaps at the time he felt he was 100% correct in his assumptions. And we all know what happens when we assume. (it “makes an ass of u and me”, if you didn’t know). I think he’s learned an important life lesson, but shouldn’t we as well?

What comes around goes around. We so often say someone is going to “get what they deserve” when they act badly. But the truth is it works with kindness too. Did you know research shows when you are kind to others, even if it’s just to acknowledge them with a “hallo,” it’s been shown to not only increase their happiness, but yours as well. More importantly though, kindness is contagious, so the person you were kind to is more likely to “pay it forward” to the next guy and so on and so forth. You plant a seed of kindness, the roots take hold, the limbs spread out further and further, along the way new trees of kindness are formed. Just imagine how wonderful the world would be if we lived in a forest shaded by comfort and kindness. Besides, as I said, it’s free and it makes you feel good, it’s a kind of a cheap high, if you need such a thing. Personally, I’ll admit some days I do need a cheap high because when my focal point is out towards others, I am not wasting time obsessing with my own insecurities. And most of you know how awkward I can be at times.

The take from? I think so. We were all born to reflect kindness, but often we toss it aside because anger and angst is so much easier. But all those two emotions bring you is a hollow bitterness. So as humans, we now have a choice, we can jump on the band wagon and “hate” this designer, or we can do the thing that will make us feel good, we can forgive him his error in judgment. Personally, if what comes around goes around, I want the good karma paid back to me, not the bad. English author Ashleigh Brilliant once said, “Be kind to unkind people- they need it the most.” Somehow, I just know in my heart this is true. Just some random thoughts I thought I’d throw out here, take it for what its worth to you, even if its nothing a’tall.

Outfit:
Hair/Ribbon: D!va, Mimi **Collabor88**
Collar: .Shi, Lacet Collar
Shirt/sleeves/Corset: *LpD* MyStar dress
Skirt: *LpD* Balloon
Stockings: Erratic, Ripped Stockings
Boots: Tulip. , suede Buckled Boot
Pose: Del May

I am going to keep it pretty low gravity today. I had too much weekend. Besides, I have two things to mention Second Life related. Both are contests so YAY! The first is in process and will be officially announced at the end of the week, but to get you started thinking, *SoliDea FoliEs* is having a contest for find five new bloggers for our store. There will be a prize as well, so stay tuned in and I will give the details in a few days! The second is a wonderful contest from one of the best animations creators in Second Life. Vista Animations. Here is the information and I wish you all wonderful luck! xo

Vista Animations: Summer of Love Photo Contest

Runs: Friday 21st June to Sunday 21st July 2013 at Midnight SLT

The long hot days of summer are here, so kick off your shoes, dance on the sand and pose with a friend or loved one as part of a new summer themed photograph contest from Vista Animations!

Vista Animations has been bringing you high quality animations and AO’s since 2007 and to celebrate our work in Second Life ™ we are holding our first ever photography contest where you can win some huge prizes.

This contest is open to all SL residents and will run for one month, so you can use your imagination, have fun and maybe even be one of our winners too!

The Prizes!

There will be a total of six prizes overall which includes cash prizes of Linden Dollars transferred direct to the winners and also a choice of products from Vista Animations.

1st winner: Will receive 40,000L$ and 4 VA products of their choice

2nd winner: Will receive 20,000L$ and 2 VA products of their choice

3rd winner: Will receive 10,000L$ and 1 VA product of their choice

Three other runners up will all receive: 1,000L$ and 1 VA product of their choice.

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How to enter:

1: The theme of the contest is ‘Summer of Love’ and this can mean love between friends or couples, romantic love or the love of close friends; it’s up to you to decide how to capture this on film, but all photographs must be PG and non-offensive.

2: Use an animation from the Vista Animations ‘Couples HUD’ to take your photograph. You can use animations from either the basic or extended versions. If you don’t own the HUD it can be purchased from our main store here:

􀀁

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Vista%20Animations/149/128/26

3: Think of a summer theme and setting for your photo and then find a friend or loved one to pose with you.

4: When you have your photo or photos, please upload to the Vista Animations Flickr group here:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/2243944@N21/pool/

5: In the photo description box, please add:

*Your full SL name

*The name of the animation you used to capture the photograph (from the Vista Animations Couples HUD)

*The inspiration for the photograph

*The title of each photograph uploaded

All winning entries will be announced in the Vista Animations group in Second Life ™. You can join the group here:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Vista%20Animations/149/128/26

Winners will be announced in this group and at a special member’s party at the end of this contest.

Good luck and have fun!

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Contest Rules:

1: You can enter as many photographs as you wish during the duration of this contest.

2: PLEASE keep photographs PG and non-offensive to any of the cultures that exist within both real and Second Life.

3: No nudity is allowed

4: Post processing using software such as Photoshop IS allowed.

5: Please use the Vista Animations ‘Couples HUD’ as part of your photograph (basic or extended version) and list which animation you used in your photo description.

6: Please join the Vista Animations group in SL:

7: The photographs will be judged by Vista Animations staff in real and Second Life plus guest judges. Their decision is final.

8: Last date for posting entries in the VA Flickr group is Sunday July 21st at midnight SLT.

9: By submitting photographs to this contest, you are agreeing to allow Vista Animations to use your images as part of the ‘wall of fame’ exhibit based in the main store at the close of this contest.

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Further Information:

Contest and media contact: Persia Bravin

Vista Animations social media:

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/2243944@N21/pool/

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vista-Animations/262643928194

Twitter: @VistaAnimations

You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/user/VistaAnimations

Website: http://www.vistanimations.com/NEW/

To live is rarest of things in the World. Most People exist, that is all. ~ Oscar Wilde

I’ve a quite erudite blog friend who, in his insightfulness, is teaching me how to find the meaning of the little hidden nooks and crannies of my soul. You know those spots? They are like little hidden treasures of memory we have chosen to either discard forgotten, or ignore due to the garishness in our nature they represent. Today is Father’s Day in the United States so I wanted to blog with a little meaning today, not my usual flippant candor. I often write, mostly in gest, about the little absurdities of my life, I am a Cao there is much fodder to choose from after all. But to me Father’s Day warrants a little more wholehearted discourse because face it, good or bad, dads? We all have them. I have digressed, I was poking and prodding among the hallowed grounds of my friends blog and came across the above quote from Oscar Wilde. I love Oscar Wilde, I’ve even blogged of him before and somehow the quote just “fit” for the lofty goal of describing an ideal father.

I was lucky, though my father demanded structure, he allowed each of his children their unconventionalities hoping we would grow to prosper and make a mark in this vast world. Though we would often disappoint him, I think sometimes I still do, he allowed us to listen to our hearts, to wander away to hear the “music from another room.” He knew intuitively that forcing his children to wander a straight and narrow path would limit our growth and though by doing this we would fit within the conventions of mainstream acceptance, we would probably not be very happy nor cast a very large shadow in life. He didn’t want us to exist in this vast world, he wanted us to live in it. My father, though cast into dementia at this moment in life, fathered a doctor, a piano virtuoso, a writer, a deep sea fisherman, democrats, republicans, independents, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, agnostic, college educated, military educated children. All four of us are happy for the most part, following our own footsteps in life, but never too far in heart from the father who did the most charitable thing a father could do. He let us live.

Take from? Well of course, even today. You have but one birth father, for better for worse, whether he embraced you or rejected you, he taught you something about life. Even if it was the lesson of how not to treat your child when you grow up. Today, I am thankful for my father and your fathers, because without them I wouldn’t be able to write this silly little blog, but also, I wouldn’t have you. All of my readers, friends, frienemies, supporters, wrong link readers and virtual family. Because each of you, in some way, are the building blocks who have helped me to learn to live.

Outfit:

Hat/hair: Miamai, Gatsby *L’Accessoires* **GOING ON NOW****
Hands: Slink
Makeup: Mons, Again, just buy it all! <3
Jacket: Leezu! Victoria Blouse **NEW**
Shorts: Leezu! Victoria Pants **New**
Shirt: Leezu! Lulu Blouse
Earrings: Donna Flora, Brenda
Necklace: Donna Flora, Vivian
Bracelet: Donna Flora, Alma
Pose: Behavior Body

Every once in a while you have to suck it in and spend time with the family. I know, I’ve had an overdose lately what with the sister from three states away AND the sister from out West here to help me downsize my mom and dad’s living arrangement. They seem to be settling in, and I had one of those aha moments when we were knee deep in. I think maybe that’s the purpose of families and I was thinking, my moms right, I need to get started really soon! Want me to explain? Well of course, I’d be happy to. My parents bought this house some time in the 1970′s and have lived there ever since. They raised all four of us children in the house and over the decades accumulated a ton of, well, crapola really great stuff. No seriously, tons! All of it just so great! So as you age, you decide to downsize from your huge house and your mountain of crapola really great stuff. You pack up your wife and the few things of crapola really great stuff you will need at the new place, turn on the electric, the air conditioner (afterall it’s about 100 degrees in Florida right now) and make sure the cable is on and just start living the good life. The mountains of crapola really great stuff? Well that’s what you had four children for, let them figure it out, they are all adults now.

The take from? If your going to be a hoarder, don’t forget to have enough children that you exhaust each of them just enough that they don’t resent you. As for me? Well, I was kidding, I don’t need to have a pack of kids for when I get old. I started out with the retirement downsized home from the beginning. Just a thought for a relaxed Saturday. I hope your weekend is fun!

Outfit:
Necklace, Zibska, Vova in Smoke **L’Accessoires** OPEN NOW so RUNNNNNNNN!
Makeup: Mons, just go buy all of it, I love it all
Hairs: Madesigns, Male hair, Seneca
Pants: Maitreya, Couture Leggins
Top: Drift, Oblivion Latex Top <3
Poses: Del May
Location: ChouChou