And still another

I had the fortune of spending time with Sabein Streeter and Toko Voom of Vain Magazine this evening. And Kermit Rutkowski. Lovely quiet Kermit in his freebie tux.

Put a Caption on This Photo

Another one...

This is a photo of the adorable Douglas Story and me when he was completing the Dynafleur and I was modeling the new-at-the-time RFyre Wanderer for women. We were quite the pair.

Put a Caption on This Photo

New Feature on the Bizarre

I was sitting with Fleet tonight, discussing Berlin and stuff, and I was in one of Maxwell Graf's wonderful Cafe du Blonde lounges from Rustica, (shameless plug here) while Fleet was sitting in another chair, and he said, "I look like your therapist."

Well, I couldn't resist. So I decided that I needed a new feature on the Bizarre, similar to the one on the back page of the New Yorker. This is called:

Put a Caption on This Photo

I think it's kind of self-explanatory. Tell me in comments what your caption would be.

Provocation in Art

Time to be serious here. Again about art. And gosh, the image has nothing to do with blowing people up. It is totally coincidental.

Well, I have been provoked by art--most amazingly, I might add. I saw this piece at the new Hotel Dare & Muschi Lounge build by Gattina Dumpling and Kasabian Beck with some work from Four Yip. Kasabian had this piece up on one of the buildings:


I have a sneaking hunch this isn't art generated by an SL artist. Can anyone tell me? And if it is, please accept my apologies.

That being said, Wow!

This art provoked, but in a manner that was most delicious and amazing. There is an amazing juxtaposition of the corporate logo (which I have blurred, but you know who it is) and that incredible Pulitzer prize-winning photograph of one man executing another.

And it resonates with me on several levels. First, there is the level of the corporation-executing-someone thing. Then there is the actual REAL fear I felt for the creator and for myself in using this corporate logo (this is why I have blurred it myself--I am scared).

Then there is the wonder I feel about people of different ages and nationalities viewing this on SL. Everyone certainly knows the logo, but do they know the historical importance and resonance of this photo? Do they know the origin? For my generation, it has huge resonance, but someone younger than me.. does it?

I get really bent about the reference to "provocation," as I have written in another blog. When people use tired, used, cliched images in tired and cliched ways, I am not provoked--I just feel manipulated. Don't offer me another crucifix, pile of TVs, casket, swastika, or puddle of blood. I have seen it. And I am too young for it to mean something to me.

I haven't seen this one before. I won't get the same frisson when I see something like this again. But it provoked--the way Braques meant "provocation."

Stephen Venkman accepts candy from strangers

I met Stephen at the press conference for the opening of Codebastard Redgrave's new sim, Rouge. He seemed a nice enough guy, so I said hi and offered him a piece of candy, right under the big uh.. cigarette.. that comes out of Codie's mouth on her new sim.


Stephen, Stephen, Stephen.. hasn't anyone ever told you not to accept candy from strangers?


I am not sure if what I smelled burning came off that cigarette or off Stephen... hmm...

Anyway, come to the Grand Opening tomorrow, starting at 2 p.m. Best to IM Codebastard Redgrave for addition to the group--they say it will be packed.

Support Ability Commons!

My friend Pecos Kidd, who endured being blown up, sent me a little note and asked me to publish it. I asked him who I could blow up in exchange.


Something wonderful is happening and with one small action you can be part of it. Our friends in the Health Support Coalition have a chance to win 300,000 Lindens from the Annenberg School to create a SL home for a wide range of peer support groups.

"Ability Commons" is the work of Gentle Heron, Carolina Keats and many of the 41 members of the Health Support Coalition, including MDSLA, Crohn's and Colitis Support, Open Gates Peer Support, and Agoraphobia Support Group.

We need your help, right now. Please take 20 seconds to go to this website and vote for "Ability Commons." Rank them "1) Favored" and do your part to help us create an incubator for small and emerging groups.

Your vote will allow more people with disabilities and health issues to share our pleasure and purposefulness in Second Life.

Will you do more? Please forward this note to your friends - voting is open until June 30, and your help will make all the difference.

Thank you!

Find out all about their proposal and Annenberg/USC.

That being said, Pecos worked on another project that is being assessed for this same program. It's kind of cool: you click a big red button and it alternates between two kitchen scenes: one is a normal home with high countertops, etc.--the other is an accessible kitchen for disabled people. To toggle them you click a BIG RED BUTTON.

I complimented Pecos.

[11:42] Pecos Kidd: I think it demos the concept fairly well
[11:42] Harper Beresford: yes
[11:42] Harper Beresford: very well
[11:42] Pecos Kidd: And everyone likes to push big red buttons :)


This is what he wrote:

Please consider voting for "Independence House", which will create an interactive SL house to demonstrate various modifications that can be made to RL houses to improve access or usability for people with disabilities. Being able to visualize the impact of lowering the height of countertops, using ramps instead of stairs, adding handrails around bathroom fixtures, or even just rearranging a kitchen will help people with RL impairments understand what is possible, as well as better plan these types of modifications prior to construction.

Please take just a minute of your time and vote for "Independence House."

Your vote for "Independence House" by June 30 will help us win the 300,000 Linden prize, and create this important tool to help people with RL disabilities take practial steps to improve the quality of their lives.

Thank you - and please contact Kathee Gibbs in SL if you have any questions!

Evil land baron blown up!

Dirk Talamasca is an evil land baron. Everyone agrees. Scope agrees. Raven agrees. I agree.

He needed a little incendiary reminder that he is not immune to the power of humbugs.


He said it was "minty fresh" right before his head blew off.