Bara & Free @ Bounce Bar For Relay For Life

The Swedish singer and songwriter Bara Jonson and Free Balan will be performing live tonight at 1PM SLT at the Bounce Bar on the Yadkin sim. The event is a benefit performance for Relay For Life, bring hard cash - and loads of it!

Your teleport to the Bounce Bar

An Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww-Moment

(via J.M.G.)

About this video:
Dustin arrived at the Home Depot in Salt Lake City thinking he was there to help his roommate pick out some lighting for a party. When he was taken to the lumber aisle, what he found waiting for him was a mob of friends and family as his marriage proposal unfolded to the song, "Somebody Loves You" by Betty Who.
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Hell no, its not tears in my eyes... I must have a damn allergy...

"The Black Hole of the 80's" - The Movie

Picture of Ms X removed at her request

It turns out that Ms X, whom I met at the 80's party and referred to as "The Black Hole of the 80's" in my post The 80's@"Q"-Lounge made a video of the party and has now posted it on YouTube.

Arcangelo "Dj Arcy" Hellman was the DJ and its of course good old Madge singing "Like A Virgin"

Enjoy!

Picture and video removed at the request of Ms X.

I Am Leaving Facebook - Again (Updated)

This is just to inform you all that I have decided to drop out of Facebook again. It will most likely happen during the coming weekend.

If I remember correctly from the last time I left, my account will remain on Facebook for two weeks after I have deactivated it  before it is removed.

I rejoined Facebook as a favor to my friend NE0 Timeless and stayed on much longer than I had originally intended, but now I am completely fed up with being easily accessible for certain people there even though I love most of you.

The thing I will miss the most is probably "poking".

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Update
OK after posting this I have received a lot of feedback from friends and people I did not know before. Three things have been said that have made me reconsider my decision to leave Facebook.

1. "If you leave, they win"
2. "Noli illegitimi carborundum" (Mock-Latin for "Don't let the bastards wear you down") and
3. "Block them, its easy".

I am now thinking about it and will let you know as soon as I am done.

"Fallen Leaves" - A Spectacular Show

The Spirit Light Dance Company performs its latest dance drama "Fallen Leaves" every Sunday in September, at 1PM SLT. I caught the first performance last Sunday and was, like the rest of the audience, completely enraptured by the show. I recommend everyone to see it.

The story itself is rather insipid. It's the traditional tale of youthful romance that clashes with traditional ways but in the end works itself out - in this case with the encouraging interference of fairies - to a happy end, where each boy and girl gets the girl and boy they love, the families consent and everyone is happy. 

But who ever goes to an opera or a dance recital for the depth and meaningfulness of the libretto or the storyline?  We in the audience were instead treated to a spectacular dance show, with beautiful sets and set changes, beautifully performed and wonderful dances in solos, duets and groups, that were all well synchronized. It was all received favorably by the enthusiastic audience who remained spellbound for the whole ninety minutes.

For more information on the schedule, times and for a SLurl to the theater, please visit my post "Fallen Leaves" - A Dance Drama

Remembering 9-11

This drawing was made by a child during the week following the attacks of September 11, 2001. It was rescued from being destroyed by rain from the front wall of a Chelsea elementary school by blogger +Joe Jervis, Joe.My.God., on September 18, 2001.

"The Hugging Towers"

Please read Joe's touching original post about how he found the picture, J.M.G.: "One Week Later" (reposting September 18, 2006).

Joe has donated the painting to the museum which now resides on the site of the former World Trade Center.

World Suicide Prevention Day 2013

This is a guest post by Krissy Sinclair who has run the Survivors of Suicide-Depression Project in SecondLife for five years.

The Survivors of Suicide Group in SecondLife has over 400 members and is free to join. The goal of the group is to help people in SecondLife find real life help near them. The group offers 24/7 peer to peer support inworld and also offers education on how to prevent suicide and deal with depression. The group does not offer therapy as that should be done in first life with a trained and licensed professional. 

Krissy Sinclair is a social worker in first life, so this is a issue close to her heart.

Survivors of Suicide-Depression Support Project in Second Life

Suicide can be prevented through education and public awareness.

Suicide Facts

• Suicide takes the lives of nearly 30,000 Americans every year. Many who attempt suicide never seek professional care.
• Suicide rates in the United States are highest in the spring.
• Over half of all suicides are completed with a firearm.
• Over half of all suicides occur in adult men, ages 25-65. For young people 15-24 years old, suicide is the third leading cause of death. Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-old Americans. (CDC)
• Suicide rates among the elderly are highest for those who are divorced or widowed. The highest suicide rate is among men over 85 years old.
• There are an estimated 8 to 25 attempted suicides to 1 completion.
• The highest suicide rate is among men over 85 years old.
• The strongest risk factor for suicide is depression. Substance abuse is a risk factor for suicide.
• By 2010, depression will be the #1 disability in the world. (World Health Organization)
• In 2004, 32,439 people died by suicide. (CDC). Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S. (homicide is 15th). (CDC)
• An average of one person dies by suicide every 16.2 minutes. (CDC, AAS)
• There are four male suicides for every female suicide. (CDC, AAS). There are three female suicide attempts for each male attempt. (CDC, AAS)
• According to the Violent Death Reporting System, in 2004 73% of suicides also tested positive for at least one substance (alcohol, cocaine, heroin or marijuana).

The Good News

Research has shown medications and therapy to be effective suicide prevention. 80% of people that seek treatment for depression are treated successfully. It is estimated that there are at least 4.5 million survivors in this country. (AAS)

What we can do in Second Life

We can band together and offer education and support to everyone. We can try and touch as many lives positively as possible as a group.

The Survivors of Suicide-Depression Support Project in SecondLife is such a group. We offer:

• Daily positive living and healing articles
• 24/7 Peer support via the groups chat
• Join a community that understands what you are going through, as they are also
• Education about depression and depression related issues
• Referrals to real life resources
• Don't be alone

Who can join us

Anyone! We are open to anyone who needs support, has needed support, has lost a loved one to suicide, who has depression, who wants to help in the fight against depression and suicide.

Look us up inworld at: Survivors of Suicide-Depression Support Project in Second Life (SLurl)

Join the Survivors of Suicide Group inworld! 

If you have any questions feel free to contact: Krissy Sinclair

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I would like to thank Krissy for sharing this important information. Although it mainly focuses on facts from the United States, the conditions do not differ much around the world except possibly concerning the means used to commit suicide.

For more International information please visit The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP).