The Pixels in Pink ladies are at it again! They've designed their campsite, appropriately named PiP Film Noir, to be a brilliant mix of greyscale and ... pink! The ladies, Torrid Midnight, Zyrra Falcone, Hosequeen McLean, Pukk Abel, Rose Farina, Stella Costello, Fallingwater Cellardoor, Nephilaine Protagonist, and several others, have created an element of mystery and awe that just calls to you.

A very tired, overworked Stella Costello mentioned that she was making a Machinima this morning and I'm sharing it with you! As you can see from the film, there are auctions, vendors, flowers, dancing, a theater, and even PIE! Please stop by and donate or purchase items if you can, as all proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.

Just as a reminder, Relay For Life officially starts at 2pm SLT/PDT today, but the sims are open now to explore.

At this time last year, Torrid and Mistress Midnight were releasing their Spring Flowers set of dresses that included a purse, sandals, and a bracelet. For some reason, it wasn't very well received. If I had to speculate, it would be the puffiness of the skirt. I'm not a fan of the poofy look of skirts myself, but I know that it can be changed with the slider.

Imagine my surprise when Tete a Pied decided to give the Spring look a try with their fourth monthly entry, avril, which is French for April. With a new month comes a new skin and outfit, which I greedily got my hands on as soon as it arrived. The dress itself comes with a flower-patterned poofy skirt and top, plus a shrug. Two colors, peony and hyacinth, are available for this month's offering.

The skin is the real treat here, though. Shown to the right in the Bronzage Medium tone, it features light pink lips with just a hint of shimmer and delicately lined eyes with smoldering purple shadow. According to Roslin Petion, they did something different with the lips, which really shows. I've been getting loads of compliments!

The dresses (mod/copy) sell for 200L each and the skin sells for 1000L. You can get both dresses and the skin for 1200L, though. They are available on the Nouveau sim.

Trust betrayed. How could this happen?

I logged out to head to the store and get groceries. I come back, check my messages, see yet more press about the First Life website, and log back on to Second Life ... Only to catch my avatar in the act! There she was, logged into First Life!

File this under the category 'Longevity Tips'. I routinely come across resident-written blogs featuring declarations that the magic has left them, that things feel routine, that nothing new is being said or done. I completely understand. Some months ago, I felt the same sort of malaise and world-weariness ... almost a weltschmerz. I tried everything I could think of to shake it: explored the world, inserted myself into new communities, tried new activities -- all to no avail. I decided to end it all. I left SL.

I came back a few months later, recharged by my time away. Most of my friends were still there, seemingly newer for having had things happen to them in my absence. New creations had appeared. New toys, new animations, new activities -- a lot had happened during my time away, which I might not actually have noticed if I had remained. Part of that is my fault that I was no great explorer to begin with, but preferred to remain in the Shelter, where I knew I would get the interaction I craved. The other part of it is simply being unable to see the forest for the trees. To solve the problem, you need to remove yourself from the problem and gain perspective.

This has worked very well for me, and for at least one other resident I can think of: Torrid Midnight. We've written many things about the controversy Torrid experienced, and her subsequent leavetaking of SL. She's back now, however, with a new perspective. I'm sure her SL experience is significantly different, and that she's wiser and happier for having taken the time off that she had.

So, for all of you, I wish the same clarity of mind when you need it. Go on sabbatical. Venture out into the Big Blue Room for a spell and take notes. Come back to SL with a fresh look at life. You'll be glad you did, and we'll all benefit.

I planned to blog about the surprise return to SecondCast of Torrid Midnight, who went off a couple of weeks ago, saying it made no sense to podcast about Second Life when she wasn't planning to be there. For those who want to reprise the whole drama, you can find my colleague Aimee's report here, and there is a vast quantity of pixellated reportage all over the web about it from varying angles. Somewhere in the archives of SecondCast ooh, a whole two or three weeks ago, you can catch her exit too. And the rest of the guys quietly stabbing her in the back the moment she went. Actually that episode is worth listening to just for that. They are supportive and sweet for the first part, in which she participates, and then lose no time whatsoever in making it clear that they would never have done what she did, and that they think she is too fragile to succeed in the big bad world of business if the comments she has had have made her give SL up. It's breathtaking, and tells us far more than they want us to know about what sort of support they are to a friend in trouble.

There's a new podcast in town, and it's all about SL: the aptly-named www.slpodcast.com. Hosted by Jeremy Flagstaff, the site was once a simple SL-related blog, but has now grown to inlcude an actual audio podcast.

Jeremy has two 'casts up so far: The first, interviewing Mark Barrett (of SLBuzz.com and SLStats.com); the second interviewing Eric Rice (of EricRice.com). Jeremy also mentions his interest in producing an additional (I had to stop myself from writing 'second second life podcast') podcast, interviewing actual coders in SL.

I feel that any 'cast that helps spread the word about SL is a good thing, and this is no exception. Secondcast is always entertaining to listen to, if a little chaotic at times, and now that Torrid Midnight's on hiatus, the future of The Goods is in doubt. SLPodcast has the potential to be a worthy addition to the SLogosphere (heaven help me for using that term). Welcome, Jeremy!

I shouldn't have to be writing this. It was my erroneous presumption that we are all adults in SL. Yet after reading Aimee's article about Torrid Midnight's recent ordeal, I realize that there's a long way to go for some people before they can claim the right to use the term 'adult' to refer to themselves.

First of all, let's take a step back and look at the originating incident. I'm not about to take sides on the issue of alleged texture theft, or how it may or may not affect business in the realm of Fashion. That's not my bailiwick, and I'm happy to claim ignorance, if this is the sort of horrendous turmoil that invariably manifests. I'd like merely to point out that the levels of vituperation displayed are completely unjustified for anything other than a life-threatening attack on one's person or family. There is no defense for anyone claiming otherwise. Unless you, sir or madam, have been physically threatened with death, disfigurement, and/or sexual assault, you need to step up and become an enlightened being and choose to resolve your issues peacebly.

Let's reiterate that point: Your behavior is a choice. No matter how angry or remorseful you may have been, ultimately it's not your emotions that govern your behavior, it's your will. The instant you decide to attack someone with the intention of hurting them in any way, you've relinquished your rights to be accorded equitable treatment. There is always another way, and the path to justice is not through wrath.

More after the jump.

I'll admit it; I have a crush on Torrid Midnight. Well, more specifically, on Torrid's voice, of which I became aware while listening to the Secondcast podcast, as posted previously. Fortunately for me, I can get my Torrid fix by listening to The Goods, Torrid's new podcast, which covers fashion and clothing making issues in SL.

Normally, I'm not much of a fashion hound; when you run around as a big, white, fuzzy werewolf, you're pretty well covered in the area of modesty (no pun intended). But I do admit that I find the whole area of clothing fascinating. The major portion of the podcast involves interviews and candid talk with leading (and up-and-coming) designers in SL, with a section near the end of the podcast devoted to the casters' picks for favorite clothes, stores, or related products and services. It's fun to isten to the guests talk about their likes, dislikes, influences, and problems in getting their designs out and worn. If you're at all interested in making and wearing clothing in SL, please give this podcast a listen. *sigh* Torrid's dreamy...

Podcasting is the new Black. There is a metric tonne of podcasts out there, dealing with the gamut of topics from Aliens to Zebras. Naturally, it was only a matter of time before Second Life had its own. Developed and hosted by Johnny Ming, Secondcast is a wonderful example of the breed. Commenting on all issues relating to SL, Johnny heads up this podcast alongside usual suspects Walker Spaight of 3pointD.com, Torrid Midnight of TorridWear and Midnight City, Lordfly Digeridoo of Digeridoo Designs, and Cristiano Midnight of Snapzilla and SL Universe.

Covering a wide range of subjects, these outspoken members of the SL community bring a show filled with insight, sarcasm, and a heaping helping of hilarity (Damn my predilection for alliteration!). Frequently featuring a guest speaker (past episodes have brought Elex Dusk, Mistress Midnight, and our own Aimee Weber, as well as RL guests such as Philip Linden and Randy Moss of the American Cancer Society), the show continues to educate and entertain. It's well worth your time to dive into the archives, and hear how the show has developed over time to grow more accomplished and professional. Now, if they'd only consent to interview werewolves...