Support the Open Internet

European Regulators are about to decide whether to give big telecoms corporations the power to influence what we can (and can’t) do online. Europe urgently needs clear net neutrality guidelines to protect our freedoms and rights online. We have until July to help Europe protect the open Internet.

Join the movement, take action now!

http://www.savetheinternet.eu

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Transcript of the video:

Corporations don't control the Internet. Yet.

You can visit Google, or Facebook, but they're not the Internet. Amazingly, these giant corporations exist right alongside smaller independent websites. Like those by Startups and activists, that are working to lessen their power and create something independent that allows more freedom and is less intrusive than the big corporations.

But now, that's changing. The telecom companies we use to access the internet are giving corporate giants like Facebook special treatment.

Sometimes it's a marketing trick. Other times it’s for profit: they sell special treatment to them.

Either way, the result is the same: A terrible new future where old Telecom giants and new Internet giants conspire to remain in control. Forever. A future where videos on corporate sites work. But on small sites, they break. A future where expensive phone calls work. But free calls over the Internet break.

A future where giant corporate sites are subsidized to appear free. But independent sites are so expensive or slow to access, that no one visits them. This future may be coming to Europe.

By August, EU regulators will make their final decision: They will either prohibit special treatment with strong net neutrality rules, or hand the Internet's future to the corporate giants of telecom and tech.

In the United States, Brazil, and India, net neutrality activists and small startups have been winning, with millions of messages to regulators, and protests in the streets.This summer, it's Europe's turn. And it depends on you.

Click here to send your message to European regulators, share this video, and find a protest near you.

Picture of the Day - 463

"Tinny art" by R. Crap Mariner

If you wish to see more of Crap's photography, please visit his Flickr photostream by clicking the name under the picture.

Picture of the Day - 462

"[ #Photography No.122 ]" by John Aitor Cordeaux

If you wish to see more of John's photography, please visit his Flickr photostream by clicking the name under the picture.

Depth of Field, New Try

After my last post about using the Depth of Field (DoF) in the Phototools in the Firestorm viewer, I got a few tips from husband Tomais and Skip Staheli, both renowned SecondLife photographers.

Skip told me to play with the settings and Tomais showed me a few of the settings he uses in Phototools and also told me to Alt+Click on the part that I wanted to be sharp. 

So I have given it a new go.

There may be some improvement in the first snapshot, but the second and third ones are much better. My conclusion is possibly that the DoF feature works best if you are closer to the subject you wish tp photograph.

The Boys of Summer 2016

From the press-release:

"The Boys of Summer is a Depraved Nation Fair centered around men's appearance, fashion, accessories and this year we will welcome furniture/decor!

This fair will have a very basic summer theme, and of course, be centered around men. Participating brands will be given a shop space to display their store content in, all content must be related to or designed for the Male Avatar. 

Here are the event details:
¤ Event will run from July 16 – 31, 2016
¤ Participation in this event will require one NEW release that will remain EXCLUSIVE to the event until the event ends.
¤ Only men's items will be allowed to be displayed at this event. That may include skins, hair, clothing, accessories, or anything that will alter or enhance the avatar's appearance or furniture / decor."

Take this teleport: to the Boys of Summer event

Depth of Field

So while my hubby Tomais had hustled off to work yesterday, I tried to use the "depth of field" in the photography tools of the Firestorm viewer while taking a few snapshots.

I must have done something wrong, because to me the whole picture looks blurry, not only the background. 

Hair Fair 2016

The Hair Fair 2016 starts today and goes on through July 31st. As always this long awaited (Well, since last years fair closed...) event is in benefit of Wigs for Kids.

You can read all about the event - and do some window shopping too - at the events website Hair Fair │July 16th - 31st. (The website also provides SLurls to each of the stores participating, for easy access.) There are also additional sims for cam shopping.

Judging by the website there actually seems to be a fair amount of hairs for men, not the usual 1,5-2% hidden away somewhere undetectable.

Happy hunting!