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My friend told me a story he hadn’t told anyone for years. When he used to tell it years ago people would laugh and say, ‘Who’d believe that? How can that be true? That’s daft.’ So he didn’t tell it again for ages. But for some reason, last night, he knew it would be just the kind of story I would love.   When he was a kid, he said, they didn’t use the word autism, they just said ‘shy’, or ‘isn’t very good at being around strangers or lots of people.’ But that’s what he was, and is, and he doesn’t mind telling anyone. It’s just a matter of fact with him, and sometimes it makes him sound a little and act different, but that’s okay.   Anyway, when he was a kid it was the middle of the 1980s and they were still saying ‘shy’ or ‘withdrawn’ rather than ‘autistic’. He went to London with his mother to see a special screening of a new film he really loved. He must have won a competition or something, I think. Some of the details he can’t quite remember, but he thinks it must have been London they went to, and the film…! Well, the film is one of my all-time favourites, too. It’s a dark, mysterious fantasy movie. Every single frame is crammed with puppets and goblins. There are silly songs and a goblin king who wears clingy silver tights and who kidnaps a baby and this is what kickstarts the whole adventure.   It was ‘Labyrinth’, of course, and the star was David Bowie, and he was there to meet the children who had come to see this special screening.   ‘I met David Bowie once,’ was the thing that my friend said, that caught my attention.   ‘You did? When was this?’ I was amazed, and surprised, too, at the casual way he brought this revelation out. Almost anyone else I know would have told the tale a million times already.   He seemed surprised I would want to know, and he told me the whole thing, all out of order, and I eked the details out of him.   He told the story as if it was he’d been on an adventure back then, and he wasn’t quite allowed to tell the story. Like there was a pact, or a magic spell surrounding it. As if something profound and peculiar would occur if he broke the confidence.   It was thirty years ago and all us kids who’d loved Labyrinth then, and who still love it now, are all middle-aged. Saddest of all, the Goblin King is dead. Does the magic still exist?   I asked him what happened on his adventure.   ‘I was withdrawn, more withdrawn than the other kids. We all got a signed poster. Because I was so shy, they put me in a separate room, to one side, and so I got to meet him alone. He’d heard I was shy and it was his idea. He spent thirty minutes with me.   ‘He gave me this mask. This one. Look.   ‘He said: ‘This is an invisible mask, you see?   ‘He took it off his own face and looked around like he was scared and uncomfortable all of a sudden. He passed me his invisible mask. ‘Put it on,’ he told me. ‘It’s magic.’   ‘And so I did.   ‘Then he told me, ‘I always feel afraid, just the same as you. But I wear this mask every single day. And it doesn’t take the fear away, but it makes it feel a bit better. I feel brave enough then to face the whole world and all the people. And now you will, too.   ‘I sat there in his magic mask, looking through the eyes at David Bowie and it was true, I did feel better.   ‘Then I watched as he made another magic mask. He spun it out of thin air, out of nothing at all. He finished it and smiled and then he put it on. And he looked so relieved and pleased. He smiled at me.   ‘'Now we’ve both got invisible masks. We can both see through them perfectly well and no one would know we’re even wearing them,’ he said.   ‘So, I felt incredibly comfortable. It was the first time I felt safe in my whole life.   ‘It was magic. He was a wizard. He was a goblin king, grinning at me.   ‘I still keep the mask, of course. This is it, now. Look.’   I kept asking my friend questions, amazed by his story. I loved it and wanted all the details. How many other kids? Did they have puppets from the film there, as well? What was David Bowie wearing? I imagined him in his lilac suit from Live Aid. Or maybe he was dressed as the Goblin King in lacy ruffles and cobwebs and glitter.   What was the last thing he said to you, when you had to say goodbye?   ‘David Bowie said, ‘I’m always afraid as well. But this is how you can feel brave in the world.’ And then it was over. I’ve never forgotten it. And years later I cried when I heard he had passed.’   My friend was surprised I was delighted by this tale.   ‘The normal reaction is: that’s just a stupid story. Fancy believing in an invisible mask.’   But I do. I really believe in it.   And it’s the best story I’ve heard all year.

Paul Magrs (via yourfluffiestnightmare)

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Come over and party with us! :D

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nouveaux/104/152/30

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OXIDE Treasure Chest March - Teaser by OXIDE Via Flickr: //TEASER!// 

Can't show you what the item actually is til Chest distribution day (March 15th). But here are some hints: 

It will be texture change - as per usual 

C/M/NT - as per usual 

Unrigged 

You should know how to swim. Otherwise, this will just be weird. 

Very useful to assert your authoriteh when ruling the Seven Seas - or however many Seas your Universe contains. 

Pixel waterproof :P 

This item will not be available outside of Treasure Chest for one year, so please don't forget to sign up to Treasure Chest before 15th March! 

//What is Treasure Chest?// 

Treasure Chest is Second Life's first roleplay oriented Subscription Box event with a Fantasy, Steampunk, Post Apocalyptic and Sci-fi theme! Every month a selection of the grids best designers will be bringing you new, completely exclusive, original creations only ever available through the Chest. 

 More info: www.treasurechestsl.com/faq/ 

 This round's creators: 

Abstract Soul 

Adoness 

Austris 

Casa del Shai 

Cubic Cherry 

ERSCH 

Faida 

Fallen Gods Inc. 

The Half Moon Market 

OXIDE 

Roawenwood 

~*Souzou Eien*~ 

Stitched 

Unrepentant

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OXIDE Emilia Colordipped Set by OXIDE Via Flickr: Now @ SaNaRae ♥ [TP] 

Necklace and earrings 

Texture change for 9 'dipped' colors - with HUD 

Copy/Mod 

The actual mesh is on display at the event, you can view the colors yourself by clicking on it to see if you like it. ♥

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B's Exhibition @ The Shire Art Gallery by Zee Via Flickr: So proud of my twin! \o/ 

Her exhibition @ The Shire Art Gallery, we sweeten the pot by offering every pic purchased comes with an original mesh, texture change frame. 1st Dec-31st Dec. 

//Different paths that always leads to home// 

One of the first friend I made in SL - we started about the same time. Over the course of 3 years, our SL journey went a different path, but we've always been together. 

 The sentence doesn't make even sense, but I feel it does to me. :D

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//Naberius// by Zee Via Flickr: Risked my SLife to take this pic without crashing. Raw! 

Party is still happening, for another 15 mins! (ends 5pm today, 19th Nov) 

 //Naberius// grand opening party with DJ Max : [TP to the Party!] 

Or if the sim is still full, listen in to DJ Max mixing live on Twitch. 

 //Naberius// group join is free for the duration of the party, so come shake your booteh.

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Gustavo, who moved here from Colombia with his parents almost 20 years ago, is currently enrolled at Columbia University as a beneficiary of the DREAM Act. He and his parents are undocumented. You can watch a short documentary about him in Refinery29′s immigration series, Behind the Headlines.

Perhaps no community is as affected by Donald Trump’s election like the community of undocumented immigrants living in the United States. Gustavo has generously agreed to answer your questions about life as an undocumented immigrant tomorrow, November 10th at 11AM EST/8AM PST. 

Submit questions to Gustavo here.

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Maybe Man Cave: An Attempt to List Male-Centric Resources in SL   Long time no see! 

Sorta long blog post @ the main blog: Isn't it difficult to be a male avi in SL? 

In which I ramble about the difficulty on dressing up my malt. 

 In it, I listed men-specific resources that I can find in SL: 

Stores with suitable items for decking out your own Mancave

Men subscription boxes

Men publication/feeds

Active male bloggers

Men Flickr Groups 

None are particularly new info, but attempting to put it in one place. Hope it’ll be helpful!

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Isn't it difficult to be a male avi in SL?

Isn’t it difficult to be a male avi in SL?

Build: ✤Loft///Skybox – Dubu Left City Walk Linocut Prints – Dark – DIGS || ✤Table – Long (gacha, ‘Boys Night In’ series) – Kalopsia || Old Box (Red) – Kalopsia Middle, wall/ceiling Toronto Study – Art (part of Toronto Set) – Bazar || T-Read Bookshelf – Wall Version – Consignment || Framed Fossils (sold separately) – Consignment @ Collabor88 || Jar Chandelier – Trompe Loeil || ✤Industrial Floor…

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Quiet Contemplation by Zee Via Flickr: "My life, - How much more of it remains? The night is brief." Masaoka Shiki

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Of Seeds and Windows by Zee 

♥ Follow me on Flickr  ♥

CREDITS (Find SLurls here)

 - Sadie's Stools White & Black - Kalopsia @ Kustom9 

- My little plant - Tokusa Red (from "My little pond and plants" set) - Maru Kado 

- lab vase tall- [ keke ] 

- summer bottle - silence - [ keke ] 

 - Lightbulb Terrarium - Apple Fall 

- summer jar - hare - [ keke ]

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Country Nook by Zee

Blog post and credits

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OXIDE Nishi Set by OXIDE Via Flickr: After making gachas back to back, I figured it's time to make gifts. :D 

I'm also on a 'head accessories' fever lately. 

Get it here 

//Details// 

Full Nishi Set (Kanzashi + Marks) for VIP group members (not free to join)

Nishi Marks for Subscribers (subscribo free to join)

Once again, awesome pic by B - check out her flickr here. 

 Enjoy!

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The fantasy store ERSCH is looking for bloggers. :D

https://www.flickr.com/photos/amzersh/26162374565/

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Floating Dreams by Zee

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The Gathering Gacha 2016 is Now Open! The Gathering Gacha 2016 is now open! 40 Fantasy Original Creators gathered together to bring you a collection of FUNtastical gacha! Catalog: Flickr Group: TP! :

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Happy Valentine's Day! - XOXO Hunt by Zee It's Valentine's Day, let's have a hunt! 

 ♥♥ View the Catalog here ♥♥ 

 ♥♥ Get the HUD inworld here. ♥♥ 

 ♥♥ Get the HUD on MP here ♥♥ 

Note: You don't need the HUD to play the game. It just makes previewing and TPing much easier \o/ 

  How it works: 

From 14th Feb-21st Feb, TP to participating stores and locate their easel + loveletter. say XOXO in local chat - if you're lucky, it will give you the item for free! If you fail, you need to practice your envelope-kissing more...and come back again in 24 hours. 

Or if you're impatient, you can buy the item for only 50L.

Have fun! \o/