Lounging with Ms Lucretia

When I was dancing naked at The Sunday Tea Party at Steamworkz with DJ Lee McKay and host Garrett, I happened to get a teleport and mistakenly - before I got dressed - clicked it.

The first thing I heard when I landed in my friend Ms Lucy's backyard was her shouting "Put your clothes on!", or something to that effect. 

Ms Lucy has a very commanding presence indeed, although she claims to be of very humble, meek and mild Quaker origin who just happens to take great pleasure in pinching men's luscious butts.

As I have a God given bouncy and delightful butt, that I made myself, I am eternally assaulted when I least suspect it. I accuse her of being a spoiled, pampered and willful Jewish princess instead. She doesn't like that one bit, but do I care, really?

No, I most certainly don't. Not when she calls me "her Swedish Meatball".

Ms Lucy has a homestead together with her first life friend Nikolai Warden. They have apparently known each other since they were both in diapers and Ms Lucy used to defend him against kindergarten bullies.

The two have really created a wonderful home together on the homestead.

I also got to see Ms Lucy's updated look. To me it looks like a breathtakingly stunning African-American-Oriental blend. Her first life brother says, she looks like a famous heterosexual female porn-star named Skye Diamond, never heard of her or seen any of her work so I cannot say if it's true or not.

As it was rather late already when I got the teleport, we had a leisurely talk about non-important things, before it was time for me to logoff.

Urgent Appeal

This is an appeal from All Out that I choose to share with you and ask you to support!

"In 5 days the United Nations is set to elect Russia to the most powerful human rights body in the world. That's right – in Russia, lesbian, gay, bi and trans people are being arrested... shot... humiliated...and now Russian leaders will be in charge of global human rights?!

All Out members aren't going to let that happen without a fight. Russia's expecting to breeze through the vote and they haven't planned for anyone opposing this sham process.

But, if we can get to 500,000 signatures by Monday, we'll deliver our petition straight to the UN offices of every member country so they'll know the whole world is watching this vote. We're already over 385,346, so we know we can get there fast. Tell world leaders that they can't quietly let Russia get away with the anti-gay crackdown AND lead on human rights. Sign now:

https://www.allout.org/russia-attacks

Before running for the Human Rights Council, Russia published a pledge that claims they ban "any form of restriction on the rights of citizens on social, racial, gender, ethnic, linguistic, religious or any other grounds." But those words don't match what's actually happening in the country – Russian authorities are failing to protect people from discrimination and violence and to take action even in the most blatant cases. Check it out:"

FIRED for coming out at work

ATTACKED by thugs this week at a meeting of LGBT activists

BULLIED by an extremist hate group who has claimed hundreds of victims

TORTURED for being gay

BEATEN at a Pride parade

Straight and DETAINED for standing up for LGBT rights...

Fiscal Conservatism

Quoted from ©2011 Peter Dunlap-Shohl | Frozengrin.blogspot.com

I'm always stunned with amazement when I hear or read about this or that group in the world voting against their own individual and social interests because they claim to prefer a particular politician or political party for being "fiscally conservative".

I simply cannot get into my head how it can be more important for anyone to have lower taxes, a balanced budgets or less government spending etc., than to receive full and equal human rights, the full protection of the law from harassment and bullying in the workplace and other walks of life, the right to marry the one you love or even the right to negotiate your wages the way you want or through whatever group you choose.

Cartoon by Drew Sheneman-Tribune Media Services

Taxation is not an evil in itself, not if you by taxation can ensure that your population gets decent healthcare, decent schooling, decent housing and decent social care, a decent police force, a decent defense and anything else we need from our government to feel good about ourselves as a society.

This rant was brought on today by the news that 34% of the trade unionists in Wisconsin, United States of America, yesterday voted for governor Scott Walker in the recall election. The same governor Walker who last year pushed through legislation that effectively ended collective bargaining for public employees and teachers in Wisconsin. However, I have been mulling over this to me bewildering phenomenon for some years now at different occasions, usually when I notice gay individuals or groups supporting bigoted and homophobic politicians and political parties that will not allow them full and equal human rights.

Focus on the Real Things

When I was up awhile during the night I logged into my SecondLife and went to Mirromere for a visit and talk with my Ars.

I still love that place so much and it holds so many treasured memories for me. Although I have a memorial site for Ars on Southern Charm, this is the place I return to when I want to feel really close to him or when I need to think things through. Strange maybe, but nonetheless true.

When I am there, I connect with Ars and can think through stuff that has happened or that I have experienced and do not fully understand or simply don´t know how to handle. From time to time, I get a thought that has a "timbre" of Ars or simply hear him laughing.

Before I went to the party I had had a quick talk with my sister Millimina, she was logging off as I came in-world. There are many similarities between Ars and Millimina and many disparities too. The most striking similarities are their solid and grounded personalities, their wisdom and their care and love for me. I could/can always depend on them telling me the truth. After the conversation with Millimina I already had her input on a few of the things that were troubling me, but I still needed to digest them.

What was at the top of my mind was my worries for a friend who is possibly facing some bad news. There are no definite results yet and the verdict is not in, which is the biggest problem right now.

The waiting is always the worst part, and if it drags out we sort of end up in a state of limbo not knowing what to do or say. We just feel helpless and prepare our-self for the - inevitable - blow. Once we get "the news" we can rave, rant, cry and go on to handle the situation or pick up our pieces again with a sigh of relief that we have a minor ailment to take care of.

What we as friends and family can do is try to be there as much as we can and are allowed, listen more than we speak and sometimes try to remind our friends not to take the bad news for granted in advance. However, we have all been in more or less similar situations sometime and know that that is easier said than done...

The other situation was a trifle compared to the first one.

I have not been proud of my own demeanor during the past days. It is a situation I often find myself in somehow, where I take the bait that is thrown at me and revert to childish behavior. Since childhood and youth I have been thought not to let people trample over me and to stand up to bullies. "Hell, if I don´t do it, who will?" is the thought that strikes me and I run off on a rampage.

Try as I may, to follow the kind advice I get from friends and family to me and whose advice I value highly, I revert to this immature childlike behavior and find myself laying on the floor of the department store kicking, screaming and yelling to no avail. What I must realize and  come to terms with is that in taking their bait I accept the game they are playing.

Instead of doing that, I must remember the things I know to be true about myself and act accordingly.

I am not and have never been a bully, neither do I use suppression or domination techniques against anyone, especially not women. I must also remember what actually happened from my perspective and hold on to that however someone else tries to distort the events. I am not responsible for their version and have no obligation to rectify or clarify anything they say, it is a futile struggle anyway and will only entrench their position.

Only if and when I see somebody else get hurt do I have an obligation to act. The rest is nonsense and other people role-playing. I should stick to what matters, real things and real people.

"It´s time to grow up, Bock babe, now focus on what matters!" *deep roaring laughter*

"It Could Happen To You"

Thomas Lee Bridegroom (1982-2011) was an American film and commercial actor, television host and photographer.

Tom died on May 7, 2011, after a fall from a rooftop during a photo session. In May 2012, a year after his death, his partner for six years Shane Bitney Crone released this clip in which he tells us his story in order to speak out in favor of rights for same-sex couples.

...

Please follow Shane´s sound advice, "Whatever your sexual orientation, I plead with you to take the necessary steps to protect yourself and the ones you love.". That advice applies in both your first and your second lives.

I first saw this clip about a week ago on Joe.My.God. and was deeply moved by it, but still I hesitated to re-post it here for reasons of my own. After speaking with my friend Kahvy Ewing-Sands in SecondLife about it last evening I decided to post it anyway. The video is worth all the attention it can get.

I am indebted to Kahvy for convincing me this was the right thing to do!

A Night In White For Life

The Outreach for Life in cooperation with Tadd´s and DaMix Club present "A Night In White For Life" in support of teens and youngsters that are at risk due to bullying and taunting.

When: Saturday May 12 and Sunday May 13, 2012 (see the poster above for times)
Where: Tadd´s

This is a must do, guys and girls, I hope to see you there! Don´t forget, dress code is W H I T E!

Need a white outfit? Pick up this beautiful gown for free at ZE Designs. As I see it, it works for both women and really bold men!

Annoying SLebrity Takes A Stand

The famous - or perhaps even infamous - SecondLife performance artist and machinima creator extraordinaire SaveMe Oh today takes a stand against bullying on her weblog, "Stay With Your Filthy Hands Off Of My Swedish Friends".

I should think that SaveMe considers her whole SecondLife existence as an act of performing art because she usually creates uproar wherever she goes - usually somewhere in the SecondLife art community - by being as an agent provocateur. By her own admission she has been banned at more than 100 sims.

Admittedly SaveMe often annoys me but today she became my heroine and made my day by confronting one of the five leading Swedish bullies head on.

According to the opponents blog. she considers the conversation to be "threatening" and has now supposedly made an abuse report to Linden Lab, which shouldn't ´t lead to anything except a waste of valuable time.

From Second Life Wiki

Disclosing private Second Life conversations: Sharing or posting a conversation inworld or in the Second Life forums without consent of all involved Residents is a violation of the Terms of Service.

NOTE: This does not include posting of chat to social media sites or other websites. Posting such logs on web pages, emailing them, or printing them out and posting them on utility poles in the "real world" -- are all actions beyond the scope of the Second Life Terms of Service.; while that might be illegal, but those laws must be enforced by the proper law enforcement agencies."Conversation" means text that originally came from Second Life chat or Second Life instant messages. If it's totally unattributed, then it isn't considered disclosure. Additionally, Residents are not punished for sharing or posting a comment such as "Bob Resident said, 'You're the greatest!'" (My underlinings)

Blog Shut Down By Bullying

Yesterday we were reached by the sad news that PetGirl Bergman, a.k.a Tina Dahl, has decided to shut down her blog "Tinas universum" ("Tina´s Universe").

"Tina´s Universe" has been the largest Swedish SecondLife blog almost since it´s start. It has been a mighty source of information and education on all things to do with SecondLife for all Swedish noobs in-world since it´s start.

As one of the oldest Swedish avatars in SecondLife PetGirl has acted as an ambassador between the Swedish community in SecondLife and Linden Lab. She has been able to help many Swedish avatars through the red-tape at the Lab. Tina has also worked hard on establishing excellent contacts with the Swedish Institute and has  acted as a well known and highly respected ambassador to the Swedish authorities and the real life world.

Tina Dahl has always maintained a high profile in the Swedish community though her blog. through the in-world group "Swedish People in Second Life" (which she created) and through her strong and charismatic personality. Tina was without a doubt the inspiring, organizing and driving force behind many of the large events and activities that have occurred in the in-world Swedish community.

Her unrivaled position as the unofficial leader evoked much envy among smaller souls who would have preferred to have that position themselves.

During the last three years Tina has been under unrelenting pressure by a handful of Scandinavian avatars and their hangarounds who have focused an unrelenting and hateful campaign against her, on their blogs, in comments on other blogs and in-world.

It is - in my mind - not strange at all that Tina finally succumbed to this pressure and lost her inspiration to continue blogging, many of us would not have lasted as long.

I will maintain my hopes that this shut down is only temporary and therefore refuse to take leave of "Tina´s Universe" but instead will hope to wish her welcome back when she has found her strength and inspiration again. 

Doc Spad: Be A Warrior

My friend Doc Spad, USMC, today calls upon us all to stand up against bullying on his blog Doc Spad...a few thoughts. Read the post "Be A Warrior"

We must never ever let the bullies succeed in their efforts, fight them at every instance. Don´t let them think they are getting away with what they are doing unnoticed, call them out for what they are.

Apart from being a friend of mine, Doc is also the Chairman of the board for Second Pride 2011.

Bullying IS Violence

(via Joe.My.God.)

...if you feel this message is directed at you, it most likely is!

Poor Wretches

After more than a year and a half of harassment, bullying and threats Tina Dahl, a.k.a. PetGirl Bergman, recently announced that she had decided to hand over the most read Swedish/Scandinavian blog on SecondLife - "Tinas universum" - to 5 unnamed persons.

Mind you, I am not saying that PetGirl has been totally without fault in this matter, but in no way has she gone to the extremes of her opponents.

This decision of PetGirls has led to a wealth of unfounded speculations among her bullies that is both disturbing and on occasion amusing to follow.

I guess it most be extremely traumatic for bullies to suddenly lose their whipping dog.

Stand Up to Bullying

International STAND UP to Bullying Day is a special bi-annual event in which participants sign and wear a pink “pledge shirt” to take a visible, public stance against bullying. The event takes place in schools, workplaces, and organizations in 25 countries across the globe on the third Friday of November to coincide with Anti-bullying week, and then again on the last Friday of February.

Great initiative, much needed in SecondLife also. I am wearing pink today, are you?