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Maniera Magazine - Men of Style
Second Life's Maniera Magazine - Men of Style August 2009.
Men of Style Edition August 2009 MEEt thE MAniErA MEn of StylE look your best: Sartoria fashion Moolto.com KM ADD Enterprises: Social networking for Avatars Establishing an Empire Described as the ideal land surrounded by water. Few are the real traces about the disappeared continent, yet so much interest aroused over the centuries. I decided to recreate it with the most beautiful creations of the best creators of things and "dreams" in Second Life. Many the difficulties from just a few meters owned in Desdemona up to a vast land. Step by step, watching Atlantis rise from the water. Atlantis, a dream. T h e c o n s t r u c t i on of a dream, m y dream. Built upon the foundations lain by Louiz Hartshon-McBride, Harald Zimer and Albi Taurog, I sought builds to compliment my dream. It became my priority to have respect for the different competences and for the developers focused on a single plan. In real life, I am an antique dealer, and I know the value of restorers, gilders, craftsmen. No attempt to break a "chain" that is both fair and human: working and giving jobs. T h e d r e a m becomes reality. T H e AT L A n T I D e G A L L e r y, A FASHIon MALL, FurnITure cenTer AnD ArT GALLery. Thank you. With all my heart, thank you. JuLIeT PeTLyAkov HTTP://SLurL.coM/SeconDLIFe/DeSDeMonA/129/18/36 credits topaz Joubert MAniErA CEo Managing Staff Mandyleigh Sweetwater MAnAging EDitor nox Deigan CrEAtivE DirECtor Quincee twine fAShion EDitor Sami Kutanaga hEAD MoDEl W r i t E r S : : : : BlackBarbie Bravin Writer Chloie Sweetwater Columnist Sami Kutanaga Writer Sherrie Shepherd Writer taryn gartner Writer Photo gr A PhEr S: : : : AtomicSparkle Skytower Photographer Spartin Parx Photographer D E S i g n t E A M : : : : Nox Deigan Design Editor Elissiana Caproni Designer M A niEr A A D DESign:::: Nox Deigan Concept / Designer ContributorS:::: Mrohs baxton Photographer All opinions and interpretations by columnists are the columnist's opinion, and in no way represent the opinion of Maniera Magazine or Maniera, inc and its subsidiaries. 4 (c) AuGuST 2009 Maniera Design - Sara Lovelace Maniera Magazine is a production of Maniera, inc. We are located at Pacific Estates: 222, 41, 21. letter from the Editor Hello Dear reaDers: There are days when you have to stop and say, "God, do I love my job." Well this is one of those days. We are releasing our 7th issue, and this one is a very special issue and one of my favorite topics: MeN! We came about the idea to do a special issue for the men of second life due to the popularity of our May issue, "extraordinary Women of the Digital Grid." This issue we feature 3 outstanding men of fashion, business and entertainment. MaDDox DupoNT - the second life fashion legend and the epitome of style and sophistication, THuMper BoucHer - rl recording artist and one of the coolest people I have ever met and Maxes looN - ceo of one of the fastest growing business in sl: Moolto.com, the sl avatar social network. Photo by Spartin Parx We also hosted our first Maniera Men of style contest. The contest was inspired from a carrie Bradshaw moment. Due to a series of sl friends experiencing make ups and breakups, one thing I would hear from a few of my dearest friends is "I'm done with men in sl".. I had to question myself "are there any good single men in sl?" I did not have one doubt in my mind so the search began. out of all the entries, five stood out: charlie absent, Vortimer ethaniel, Mikey Batriani, ricoracer Flux and Finlandich Flanagan. each embody the three `s's: style, substance and sex appeal. so ladies (and men) sit back, have a sip of wine and enjoy our Maniera Men of style. Yours faithfully, Topaz Joubert Maniera ceo Content: AuguSt Men of Style Edition Social networking for Avatars 28 go Moolto! 12 getting rEAl with Chloie We hit it off. What happen? | I left him. now, I miss him. | newbie Mentoring Maxes Loon on Moolto and social networking for the Second Life community. 34 Maddox Dupont: 20 Q-tips: An Earful of fashion Looking for male fashion? Look no further, and hit these places hard. . . and a surprising secret for the male community when it comes to fashion accessorizing. KMADD Creative Entrepreneur 44 Maniera Men of Style Maniera had a contest to find 5 guys that exhibit the 3 `S's: Substance, Style and Sex Appeal. Wh a t 's i n s t o r e f o r k M A D D ent e r p r i s e s , one of Second Life's largest business empires? Find out now. 16 Secret Diary of a 1 contest. a panel of judges. 5 men. hopeless romantic Heartbreak strikes. Will our Hopeless romantic be as `heart on her sleeve' as before? 58 S a rt o r i a fa s h i o n 74 Sound off:: PHoToSHooT. The fashions of Sartoria. What do you find sexy? 5 suits to make any man look like a million bucks. "Men oF STyLe" 1ST roW: vortimer ethaniel charlie Absent ricoracer Flux 2nd row: Mikey Batriani Finlandich Flanagan SArTorIA'S GALA SuIT $700L Photographer: AtomicSparkle Skytower 70 thumper bo u c he r PLuS! TWo neW reLeASeS PenDInG! Second life Musician. real live Profession Musician hits the Second Life Sound barrier with concerts while being a real musician and a father. 24 What M e n Wa n t the Dress, Pant or nothing at All? Maniera's Head Model talks to men on what they find attractive. 8 oh, chloie, please give me some e n c o u r a g e m e n t . I met a gorgeous man over a week ago. We were at a friend's club and really seemed to hit it off. He befriended me and I really expected to hear from him. Well, it's been over a week now and I've seen him online c o n s i s t e n t l y , but have not heard a word from him. I'm very disappointed. I really liked him. However, I don't want to bother him. Do you think he's still interested in me? Doesn't seem like it. slightly sad Gee sad, well, I wouldn't give up just yet, but honestly it doesn't seem too promising. usually, if a man is really interested then you'll hear from him immediately or at least within a few days. I'm really digging the fact that you are choosing not to contact him. a lot of women would d o t h a t , b u t I 'm o f t h e o p i n i o n that the man should take the first step. I would just hold tight if I were you and see what happens. one thing you could do, if you don't hear from him soon, is drop in at your friend's club again. perhaps you'll bump into him there. In that environment, it would be perfectly fine to say, "Hi" and see where it goes from there. Maybe your friend can give you a heads up if he shows up at the club and you can make an appearance. If there is no contact in the next couple of weeks just be prepared to accept that, "He's just not that into you". Hey chloie, I just broke up with my partner after spending an awesome year with him. While I've been totally faithful to him, I've suspected for awhile that he's had someone else and have even done some spying, which I'm not proud of but has confirmed some things for me. I miss him terribly, but feel I made the right decision to let him be free for his sake and for mine. I was feeling too jealous and that alone was ruining our relationship. I d o n't t h i n k I w a n t a n o t h e r v i r t u a l r e l a t i o n s h i p. The feelings are too real and I don't want to hurt any more. What do you recommend that I do? alone by choice Dear alone, I have to agree with you when you say that your jealousy was ruining your relationship. Jealousy does destroy relationships. They don't refer to it as the "green-eyed monster" for nothing. a good friend of mine who has had a cHloIe sWeeTWaTer coluMNIsT GETTING REAL WITH CHLOIE 12 very long term virtual relationship over several years had some words o f w i s d o m on that issue. she said that, "it's extremely important to put jealousy on a back burner. If you are always jealous of one another, it will never work." I'm sure you did the right thing and I trust your intuition (or the evidence of your spying) that something was going on. You may as well have cut him loose and let him enjoy his sl. However, you must do the same. There's so much more than relationships here. There are countless opportunities for exploring, having fun, joining interesting groups and just chilling with friends. I'd just go with that for awhile and if you meet someone special during the course of things, all well and good. If not, no worries, there's still much to enjoy and I know you'll be just fine. Grrrrrr cholie! I just don't have patience for newbs anymore. I try to be helpful when I meet them and did a lot of m e n t o r i n g for awhile, but I'm very busy with my friendships and my sl jobs these days. I feel a little guilty about it and don't want to be mean. can you suggest a way for me to handle them when I encounter them? Mean Mentor sure Me a n y, I c a n m a k e s ome sugge s t i o n s, but please don't feel too guilty. I did a lot of mentoring myself for quite some time. I even took it upon myself to beautify sl, one avie at a time, by taking them to get their shapes and skins and giving them clothing. I even lent them lindens and occasionally treated them in order to help them pull their avies together. I was cured of that by an ungrateful avie from the uK... but we won't go there. lol. also, my partner just didn't appreciate me spending time with newbs... especially male newbs. He didn't quite understand that it was totally platonic and a community service. Here's what I would recommend, simply suggest that they return to Help Island and seek out a mentor there or direct them to the New citizens Incorporated (NcI), http://slurl.com/secondlife/ Kuula/57/164/29, a n awesome o r g a n i z a t i o n where mentors are also available in addition to classes, events, freebies, and other free services for newbs are plentiful. If they don't say "thank you" and move on, you can always revert to muting them, however, I hope it doesn't come to that. Do You WaNT aDVIce FroM cHloIe? ask your favorite second life columnist for advice. FullY coNFIDeNTIal. No quesTIoNs asKeD. oNlY aNsWereD. put your question on a notecard and label it "Getting real With chloie." once finished, hand it over to chloie sweetwater in world. cHloIe Is NoW oN Ta l K D I r e c T lY W I T H Yo u r FaVo r I T e s l c o lu M N I s T. T h e S e c r e hi, i'm hopeless romantic. i believe in saying `i love you' right out loud when you feel it. i believe true love is eternal, but i also believe we need to know when to let go, and like gloria gaynor: `..i will survive...' this is my diary about the many facets and incarnations of love and romance in Sl that i experience and hear about from my friends :-) O f a H o p e l e It must be `sl relationship evalu Month' this past month. Two of my friends had sl relationships ended. friend's had her's falter but get bac track, and another got married. Me having to let a good thing go before even begun. This process of `letting go' was trig by Mr Got-It-right's (see last issue) fore of what would happen to us if relationship went further : my rl w hinder our freedom of being tog whenever he wanted, and he'd up resenting me and things woul end well... He'd been there before, an didn't want things to end that way with I can understand his desire for preservation... and thus my journe self preservation begins, and it starts me pondering his question: can we s friends? Well... In rl, I've never managed to re friends with an ex... That's not to say is anything bitter between us, or th never keep in contact, but we don't out anymore... I would feel awkward uncomfortable, so I'd avoid being ar them... In sl, I've had 2 major relationship first was my sl first love (Mr. Firstl and the second was Mr. HeartBreake past issues). I haven't said much a Mr. Firstlove, but my experience with helps me define my plan for self preserv I met Mr. Firstlove soon after ou days, and we kinda grew outta the n phase together. We'd hang out in a big g of friends, and would verbally spar t D i a r y O f one another. He was witty, and his sense of humour was dry, yet he made me feel like a princess. We were together 5 months until his wife found out he was playing on sl, and she'd seen we'd been to lunch together... in rl... our lives were in turmoil, and he was forced to choose between sl and his family... and as hard as it was to let go, I had to, because he chose his family. of course I was heartbroken, but I understood he had to do what he felt was right for him. He left a big gap in my sl since we decided to make a clean break - no emails, no texting, nothing... He logged on after many months about a week ago, and he IM'd me, just saying hi, and chatting, friendly, and tp'd me over to where we first met... a few old friends were there, and it was like at the beginning, good conversation, some playful teasing, so I should have been ok - only I wasn't. I couldn't help feel this uneasiness, sadness. I apologized to him in IM, and said I didn't want to get sucked into the emotion of us again only to be hurt once more... He was sweet and understanding, and I tp'd away - proud of my strength, what being a hopeless romantic and all. so what would be so different about Mr. Got-it-right and I? according to MY foresight there are 2 ways it could go: a) I'd feel uneasy and sad that things didn't work out like I'd wanted them to, and hiding that disappointment while trying to being friendly would feel insincere. I don't do insincere... b) I manage to hide my disappointment, but being a hopeless romantic, the more I'd hang out with him, the more I'd fall for him, and I'm not into denying or suppressing how I feel so he'd just have to let me down again... Therefore, using his rationale of self preservation, my logic points to the fact that I can't be just friends... I care about him immensely, and having cried for a whole day, I realise I like him more than I knew. and my heart doesn't want to let go - I just can't imagine not talking to him everyday, or hanging out with him, or making virtual love with him... Yet, I can't imagine having to suppress how I feel with him. What I loved most about being with him, was I could totally be myself. I had an open and honest relationship with him, and it wouldn't be that if I couldn't declare how I was feeling or express it openly. I respect his guts for being so open and honest with me, and for not suppressing how he felt... one of my friends said I was being too accepting of the situation by not fighting for what I want... But I'm not fighting or pleading for it, because I'm not in a position to rearrange my rl to suit his needs right now... and ideally, I want him to want me regardless of my situation, but he doesn't... so I'd be fighting for a scenario that doesn't exist... Bleh, I'll just cry a little more, and notice my heart (usually on my sleeve) fell off again. This time I'll dust it off, give it a squeeze, and instead of replacing it on my sleeve, I'll keep a hold of it in my hands for a while... uation good one ck on e? I'm it has ggered esight f our would gether d end ld not nd he h us... r self ey for s with still be emain there hat we hang d and round ps, the love), er (see about h him vation. ur rezz noobie group r with e s s R o m a n t i c 17 E Pr u io v y Sl S S fA l h n io q-TIps : an earful of Fashion Goodness Q - Tips: An Earf ul of Fashion 20 fashion Editor Quincee twine The I mpor tance of Being Masculine There is something tantalizing about a well sculpted and meticulously yet stylishly dressed male avatar. From chiseled jaw-lines to broad shoulders and rock-hard abs, there are some men that could cause an electrical orgasm upon rezzing. since November of 2007, I have been a personal stylist for several male models, and while at times it has been quite a daunting task, I have found much reward in my finished products. unfortunately, when it comes to Male Fashion in sl - the abundance of quality designers are in miniscule numbers. For this reason among others, I have created a list that's on lock and key of helpful tips to help my male clients reach their full fashion potential. and because I love you all so much ~ I'm delivering you a sneak peek at just a few of these tips in celebration of the sl Man! 1. KMADD should alWaYs be your starting point. at this all-male shopping sIM offering the best in male shapes, clothing and accessories, you can't go wrong in upgrading your style. Maddox Dupont and his partner know male fashion inside and out if you're looking for clothing or shapes that will truly make your avatar shine. 2. Great women designers are also great men's designers. The true testament to a good designer is if they can create quality woman's clothing then they are just as good at creating quality men's clothing. From high-end fashion such as "Paper Couture" and "Bliss Couture" to trendy punk/casual at "Armidi" and "Emery," these designers all have men's lines that exceed expectations. 3. When all else fails buy female. are you looking for that perfect scarf or pair of gloves that you can't seem to find anywhere, look no further as often times female fashion can easily be modified to fit the male. This tip will not work in all cases, but it is definitely something to consider. 4. Buy jeans with sculpted legs. a problem I've found with many men's jeans is that they often cut too short to truly be appreciated. For this reason I highly suggest men buy jeans with sculpted prim legs. The prim legs are often modifiable, and will fit to males of all shapes and sizes. check out alphamale for some great outfits ;-). 5. and last but certainly not least, fashion is about creating yourself. With women it is much easier to do one stop shopping for all your fashion needs. one store can often contain countless possibilities. unfortunately, with male designers being so limited, men often need to get creative in their outfits. But that's the fun part. Don't be afraid to mix and match outfits from several different stores. Trust me � it makes things much more interesting in the end. 21 last month we talked about what women wear in sl and how different it is from rl at times. If your butt looks big in that dress, just change to a skirt shape and don't worry about that extra cr�me Brule last night. If you have one too many Frappucinos, all you have to do is go into appearance and edit. We can look hot as we want or demure as we want, but who spends time and money to be hot? I was on a recent shopping excursion with a couple rl girlfriends, and we wandered into Victoria's secret Back-to-school sale (check their website if you don't believe me). Why don't we have Back-to-school sales in sl? one girlfriend tried on a sexy red cami and panty set that I couldn't admit that I was going to come back for later. I joked that her fianc� was going to have eyes pop out, and she shrugged her shoulders and said, "like it will be on for more than two minutes. I'm only getting this to make you two jealous." as we talked, we noted that we only wear a thong to avoid panty lines, and men only noticed our bra if they can grab a glimpse down our shirts. I had to ask myself then, what do men want women to wear? When back in sl, I asked several of my female friends what men wanted us to wear, and they gave me the same answer: not much to nothing at all. This simply can't be true of these handsome creatures that we keep around for arm candy, but I needed to know for sure and decided to ask a couple of the hottest men in sl what they wanted women to wear. The first was allenclive Beaumont, well-known male model. I started with the general stuff, but it set a tone for what both men told me. Would he rather see women dressed in a dress, pants or nothing at all? a quick answer was dress. He did point out that most women overdress in sl, but that he loves the digital creations and textures that can be found in second life. I asked him to play Barbie Doll and dress a date for the night and got a surprisingly pleasing answer: a mid-length dress, stockings, W h at M e the Dress, Pant or article and photos by sami Ku the W the Short-Sk 24 MaNIera DesIGN eDITor replIes: s stiletto Moody's and a hat. I went to my inventor y and found that the sales were good to me and met his expectations. He then informed me with a laugh, "But I'm very conservative. The avatar must be out of range hawtness and pure cuteness... but first of all, great personality." "chose quality designs," Beaumont advises. His favorites include alatiel, annubis, Bliss couture, leelutka, Muism, and for jewelry, JcNY. cazzo Decosta, another male model, was my next stop. My first thought was to ask him if women dress to impress him. "Think a lot of that as very clich�," Decosta commented. "but oddly...there is no particular way of thinking about it, rl or sl. I feel a woman should dress in the same way she's thinking for feeling at the moment. What's truly sexy in sl is when a woman lets her individuality pull through her persona in game." Getting all this ladies? Now you can plan your shopping trips because I asked what he would want to see on a first date. "I can't remember my last sl date so I'll shoot from an rl perspective," Decosta replied. "I'm not shy to say: big hair, a French manicure, loop earrings and a bit of pink lip-gloss has never seemed to bother me. Throw in a pair of louboutin heels. My attention is yours." I pose the same pant/skirt question to him and informed me that short skirts are a must, and a woman should show her legs. Note to self: make skirt shape main shape. so what do men want? I'm still not sure but I do know that the style may vary from man to man. I did come to a one conclusion: men may not know exactly what they want us to wear, but they know they want us to look like. Whether it's in a simple knee length skirt or out on the town dresses by a fashion maven, they want us to be feminine and the girl of their dreams. e n Wa n t: r nothing At All? utanaga, Maniera Head Model Winner: kirted Dress slINKY IN prIVaTe. FeMMe IN puBlIc. 25 Go MoolTo! socIal NeTWorKING For aVaTars Article by Sherrie Shepherd 28 Maxes looN, aloNG WITH HIs BusINess parTNer YusuF xue, has pioneered the launch of the first social network exclusively for residents of second life (sl). The website, known as Moolto (www.moolto.com), boasts similar features as Facebook. after only three short months, Moolto has approximately 3,000 members with the numbers growing by 30 to 40 new members per day. 29 Photo by Spartin Parx The name Moolto comes from the Italian word, "molto", and translates to, "a lot". The emphasis in loon's own interpretation, "moolto" takes it further to mean "a whole lot". a whole lot is exactly what you get with Moolto. Features include those found on Facebook such as the creation of personal pages, the sharing of photos, videos and the ability to recount the musings of the day-in- the-life of your avatar. loon goes further to say that Moolto provides the vehicle to stay connected with your sl friends when access to sl is not feasible, for example, due to restrictions in the rl work place or when away on vacation. Without the necessity of accessing sl, Moolto members can leave or receive messages from their network of sl friends and engage in real-time chat in either public or private rooms. loon continues, "utilizing your personal blog you will now have the space to share your sensibility, creativity, and your experiences with your friends of the virtual world. You can also use Moolto's forum to conduct job searches. No other social network has been designed exclusively for avatars so Moolto has come along at the perfect time to fill the void and a needed niche in the virtual environment of social networking." along with the conventional services provided by Moolto, loon shares the excitement of an upcoming event. planning has been completed for a first time sl Dating event , beginning with the selection of prospective candidates, to a virtual face-to-face meeting in a speed- Dating- like environment. once narrowed down to a dating couple, they will embark on a series of dates, which while conducted Another day at the office for loon 30 p r i v a t e l y, w i l l b e r e c o u n t e d after ward on Moolto for all m e m b e r s to follow a l o n g w i t h the progress of the relationship. This quasi-reality show format will include an appearance on an sl Talk show. after a specified period of time, the couple may decide to become engaged and marry in sl. If they decide to marry, Moolto will pick up the tab for the wedding. loon also plans other types of events on a regular basis as well. While loon has a talented team behind him, he personally lives and breathes Moolto and is dedicated to making sure that every member enjoys their social networking experience. He's also committed to keeping Moolto robust and exciting Photo by Spartin Parx so that the membership continues to be as active as it is today. loon did not join sl with the intention of launching a social network. In early 2007, he first read about sl in a rl Italian scientific magazine called "Focus." During that period, he also observed coverage in newspapers and other magazines where the business aspect of sl was discussed. He joined out of curiosity, but recognized the business potential of this powerful platform. an early sl business endeavor was a 6 island project called "la cITTaDella" and a 4 island project called "paNTellerIa", which was a reproduction of a rl island south of sicily. unfortunately, the endeavor did not reach the full potential of drawing rl businesses to sl for marketing and advertising due to the limited exposure sl had in Italy at that time. However, once he and xue developed the concept for Moolto, they knew it was 31 Photo by Spartin Parx Maxes loon, Moolto Creator destined for success. In fact, loon was is a perfect platform to showcase your pleased and honored when that same brand and services to a new host of Italian scientific magazine where loon potential consumers or clients. I'm open first read about sl, "Focus", decided to to any kind of proposal or partnership, just establish an official group on Moolto. contact me. In addition, other services are Taking the opportunity to directly provided in terms of dating, and perhaps address the sl community, loon says: "If meeting your soul-mate. Maniera advice you are a business owner or a real estate columnist chloie sweetwater will soon broker, Moolto offers you visibility to launch a blog to be of service to Moolto advertise your island, your group, your members." In one final closing remark shopping area, your events, even your loon emphasizes, "Want to experience available employment opportunities. This More? Go Moolto!" MaDDox DupoNT: creaTIVe eNTrepreNeur Article by Sherrie Shepherd KMaDD Maddox Dupont is the epitome of a second life success story as an owner and the founder of KMaDD enterprise which is comprised of several businesses: KMaDD city, KMaDD enterprise (185, 196, 26), the one stop Boutique style shopping mecca for the second life male a v a t a r, MaDesigns providing the most extensive inventory of male and female shapes in second life numbering over 600, MaD Image Fashion consultants providing second lifers with the right look for any purpose, and the MaD agency managing and staging fashion shows for second life designers. Dupont did not join second life with a business venture in mind. Instead he was fascinated by the concept that second life, as a game, was created entirely by its residents, and he felt this promised a lot of creative opportunities. He joined second life to explore this new world, meet people, and try his hand at creating. He realized he could earn money from selling items, learning this from a T V p r o g r a m that first introduced him to second life. However, he didn't appreciate the ability to earn much since most merchandise offered for sale was so inexpensive. In addition, he was initially overwhelmed with the possibilities and how much there was to learn. at that time, he questioned whether his skills would be good enough to market his creations and make it worthwhile. His only concern upon joining second life was to take advantage of the first land offered by linden lab so he'd have a place to have friends over, to build and to dress. He built his own home and then spent three months learning the game, shopping and just having fun. lEft: Mad Agency Costa rica fashion Show When he realized he was spending a good bit of real money in second life, he decided it was time to support himself. His first venture was the purchase of a photography studio. Having a passion for photography in rl, he felt that was a good place to start. He started to style his clients in order to produce better photos, the goal being to have a portfolio of attractive models. Dupont explains what happened next, "one day this guy drops in, tells me he heard about me and offers me 10,000l to buy my shape and to take him shopping. It just snowballed from there. I had done hundreds of makeovers before I finally started to sell shapes." The clients visiting MaD studio were not simply getting photos but full make-overs giving the feel of going to a spa, leaving with an improved appearance and pleasant memories of the experience. It was at this time that he embarked on another aspect of his business, packaging a few male shapes and offering them for sale in his studio. over time, the demand for MaDesigns shapes grew and so did his collection of awesome shapes. Giving due credit to his partner, Kirk claymore, Dupont says, "one of the main reasons that MaDesigns shapes grew, from the tiny store on the mainland to full a blown fashion enterprise was because of Kirk. Before I met Kirk, I was always in my store, talking to clients and helping them put their look together in between doing photos and making new shapes. This kept me so busy that production of new products was very slow. But when I met Kirk, we began hanging with each other a lot and when it got busy in my store he would naturally lend me a hand without me having to ask him. It's because Kirk Photo by Mrohs baxton cared for my business like it was his and had the same values as me that we also became business partners. Kirk is the owner of the International Men collection of shapes which celebrated the diversity of second life. While I initially showed Kirk how to make shapes, the style and concept for this collection is completely his own. The most valuable contribution that Kirk has made to our business was in marketing and networking, which made our business more visible, polished and professional. Kirk was also responsible for the initial set up and design of KMaDD city & MaD agency. He brought all of K M a D D c i t y 's o r i g i n a l d e s i g n e r s , m a n a g e d the building of KMaDD and ensured that we were well promoted. KMaDD city now hosts over 100 top fashion brands for men and as a project took over two years to complete. although Kirk does not have much time for second life at the moment, I can always count on him to be there for me for support as advisor and as my life partner. " When asked what his inspiration in developing his businesses has been he responds, "I always say, when someone asks me this question, that I wanted to date beautiful men, and that's why I started MaDDesigns." However, there is more to his rationale, that being his concern that men always seem to end up with `the short end of the stick' in rl and second life. He feels the reason for is, "... the simple fact that women shop more, therefore, to make money, designers always had to focus on female fashion." While Dupont wanted to earn money in second life, his true motivation has never been the money. He elaborates, "My motivation in second life, of course, has never been money. I understood early in the game that looking good meant feeling good. When you look good, you have better relationship prospects as well as business opportunities. To look good in second life, you need to have good base � shape and individual style � clothing. lEft to right: KirK ClAyMorE AnD MADDo But with hundreds of malls and only a few main stores, it was clothing that was often a problem for men at that time. Kirk and I started to make men more aware of their appearance by encouraging them to experiment with their looks through our shapes. We showed men how to dress 36 by promoting other content creators and helping them locate what was available since men never had the patience to search. This meant that men began to shop more and eventually designers saw the great opportunity that this market had. The demand was created and there was far less competition in the men's arena. Today ox DuPont men actually look after themselves � they show personal style, are more selective abo u t t h e i r p u rc h a s e s a n d d emand qua l i t y � e v e r y t h i n g t h a t we set o u t t o a c h i e ve w h e n we star ted KM aD D." When asked what sets MaDesigns apart from other similar businesses, Dupont responds, "With the recent collaboration with signature skin labs, MaDesigns is the only second life store where you can purchase the avatar complete with shape, skin, hair and eyes for one low price. our MaDesigns premium shape offering consists of over 600 male and female shapes which are styled to perfection. anyone that is new to second life, or is looking to improve their appearance, has all the hard work done for them and can achieve transformation within minutes. Because KMaDD city offers nearly 100 top fashion brands just for men in one convenient location, most items used in styling can now be purchased without leaving our sim. This, when coupled with personalized customer service and community spirit that can only be found at KMaDD, provides you with a shopping experience like no other. " Dupont talked about the fashion shows conducted by MaD agency, "although Kirk and I are owners of MaD agency, my role is actually one of art Director. risa Bright manages designer and model liaison, show choreography and commentary, while Kirk does show invitations. as an art Director, I am responsible for the design and building of all MaD agency sets, unless we do a show for the costa rica Designer showcase, in which case the build is provided and approved by me. I also take care of music, which is carefully selected for each one of our shows since it plays an important part in creating atmosphere and reinforcing the theme of the show. In second life our senses are limited, so it is important to make full use of all the elements that make a f a s h i o n s h o w. T h i s i n c l u d e s Photo SubMittED by MADDox DuPont 37 t h e s e t / e n v i r o n m e n t , music, and also light, styling, choreography, wording of commentary, as well as the way each host is dressed. " Maniera Magazine attended the recent costa rica Designer showcase fashion s h ow m a n a g e d b y M a D a g e n c y. c l e v e r l y, the show was split into two sessions, avoiding excessive lag. When asked about their strategy in doing this, Dupont offered, "We actually came up with an idea of splitting shows in two when we did lelutka spring fashion show this year. MaD agency shows are extremely popular. If we were to set the number to 80 people on the sim, which we once did and almost crashed the sim, we are sure to fill the sim up. The lelutka show, however, was presented in two consecutive sessions to groups of selected VIps and b e c a u s e it was not open to public, it m e a n t t h a t o u r s i m w a s n ot full. We u s u a l l y a l l ow 6 0 p e o p l e on the sim f o r e a c h s h ow. T h e l elutka show, due to second life performance on that day, was capped to 40. We then realized that shows would run smoother with less people on the sim and is less stressful to models since clothing is easier changed and it's easier to walk naturally, and let's not forget the audience. It was definitely a more pleasurable viewing experience for the audience. Thankfully, we are blessed with a great group of models. once we presented the idea to them and everyone had a go, it was easy to adopt it as our permanent show format in spite of increased investment of their time." While hosting a fashion show, Dupont is a chameleon, changing his appearance to match the theme of each show. The fashions of the costa rica Designers took the audience back in time to the glamour of the forties and fifties. Dupont assumed the persona and the fashion of a dapper older gentleman of the period. He tells of some interesting looks he donned to be in theme at other shows, "as a host that always opens the show, I definitely put a lot of thought into each one of my outfits. I am the first person that audience sees so it is important to not only look good but to set the tone for a show. For example, one of our shows had a theme "paris by night" and for this I dressed like a street artist. While greeting guests, upon arrival, I juggled on my unicycle and performed pantomime. For another show the theme was very abstract and mysterious. It was a square white stage with a huge white tree in the middle set in a black box scattered with stars and low set white fog. I came out dressed like an androgynous Faun to this crazy soundtrack with an ao that made me look like I was telling a fairy tale instead of narrating the opening of the show." Dupont is quick to recognize the team behind him that has contributed to the amazing success of KMaDD, "KMaDD would only have been an idea, a dream and a possibility, if it were not for people that nourish and keep alive each aspect of our business. MaD agency would have closed if it was not for one ambitious MaD agency model who decided to step up and take the organizational aspects of the agency into her own hands. We are truly blessed to have risa Bright working with us, who holds the position o f M a D a g e n c y D i re c t o r a n d l e a d Mo d e l . Due to the amount of work i n v o l v e d , w i t h o u t risa, we simply would not have been able to manage the 38 a g e n c y o n o u r ow n . r i s a's commitment, passion and professionalism have made MaD agency one of the leading fashion agencies in second life. The quality of her leadership shows in the retention of our models, size of our client base and their satisfaction with as well as the popularity of our shows." one need only read the testimonials from their clients on their website to understand the level of professionalism that goes into every show. risa Bright shares her thoughts on working for Dupont, "It is a huge gift to be able to work with and near Maddox Dupont. He has a creative genius and a vision that are unparalleled and my job with MaD agency is the best job in all of second life because of both Kirk and Maddox." speaking of the MaD agency Models, Dupont said, "of course, no agency is complete without its models. our core model group consists of about fifty models that have been with us for nearly two years. our models possess not only flexibility and professionalism, which are essential to be employed by MaD agency, but also team work and sense of community which has created a company culture that is unlike any other." Dupont talked of the other aspects of the KMaDD enterprise, "KMaDD enterprise also consists of MaD Image blog and MaD studio, which are important parts of our business as they represent different aspects of our product. uP: Maddox DuPont and risa bright, MAD Agency Director and lead Model at the Costa rica fashion Show. Photo by Mrohs baxton. DoWn: Maddox DuPont as "old gentleman" at the Costa rica fashion Show. Photo by Mrohs baxton. 39 MaD Image is a male and female fashion blog (www.madimage.wordpress.com) - a place where we share tips, inspire readers with style ideas and keep the customers up to date with our new releases and events. MaD Image is a virtual shopping guide for men and women of style and would not be complete without the talented and stylish Thalia Jie, emi Bade, Tact arida and Volcom praga. While we might b e t o o occupied these days with MaDesigns Hair releases to dedicate our time to our photography clients, we ensured that our customers are still able to get in touch with the awe inspiring talents of eve patlyakov, Kallisto Destiny, Boe cortes and Tur chaffe." When asked to what he attributed the success of KMaDD enterprise, Dupont offered, "passion... I simply love what I do and when you believe in the relevance of your work, others do too. It is this quality that draws them to you initially. of course, quality product must be the key to success of any business - knowing how to present this product to your customers, promote it and keep it current will ensure its longevity and success. other aspects like team work which means using each other's strengths to achieve shared outcomes and focus on excellent customer service are also very important, without these any store would vanish into obscurity." He then focused on what he felt was the most important thing, "one more thing, however, that Kirk and I have always been focused on, and which I think is the most important part of KMaDD, is community. Kirk and I do not employ customer service staff which means we are always in the front line dealing with customers. This might seem like a lot of work but it is not. What it does do is encourage customer loyalty and interaction through which we are able to find out how our customers experience our products. By making ourselves visible and accessible t o o u r c u s t o m e r s, w e a p p e a r m o re a p p r o a c h a b l e and the customer feels safe to interact and buy from us. Before c the KMaDD enterprise group reached 11,000 members (rendering our group chat completely useless) we used to have frequent interactions with our members. We now rely on KMaDD events to provide a more relaxed setting for us to play and communicate with the friends of KMaDD. I believe that once you forget why your business was successful in the first place (your customers), you may be forgotten as well." looking to the future, Dupont talked about the new product line, "I am currently focused on creating hair � short men's hair predominantly and female couture styles. shapes took me almost three years to master and be happy with so I think hair is here to stay as a main focus of my business for quite some time. The plan is to continue to build on the collection of hair, shapes, eyes and poses over the next twelve months. We are also looking forward to redesigning KMaDD city, and possibly adding another sim just for MaDesigns." The customers of KMaDD enterprise are most important to Dupont and their satisfaction is his goal. Therefore, seeing the following entry from a customer on their blog is what drives him forward, "KMaDD city is more than just a sim: It is an epic series of fashion a d v e n t u re s. MaDesigns offers m e n a d i z z y i n g array of shapes to build upon, and the surrounding shops provide one with all the tools needed to become a perfect vision of masculinity. The regular events make it not just an unparalleled shopping scene, but a community made up of skilled designers and gentlemen of style. It is my premier destination for personal transformation." Dupont would like to invite the second life community to "visit KMaDD enterprise and explore what we have to offer, maybe attend our fashion show or KMaDD event or ask us for a personal tour � either way you will feel welcomed and truly inspired." For more information about KMADD Enterprise, contact Maddox DuPont and/or visit their website: www.kmaddcity.com Their blog: www.madimage.wordpress.com or Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kmadd/. 1 Contest. A Panel of Judges. 5 Men M e n of S t y l e Presents e n. Photo by Spartin Parx riCoracer flux "The time I spend with my loved one is the most cherished gift I could ask for." -rIcoracer Flux couNTrY: usa WHY Is He a MaNIera MaN oF sTYle: sensitivity, masculinity, boyish charm and sex appeal. Have you seen those abs? rico instantly puts you at ease with his impeccable manners, kind heart and a natural spirit. What is so appealing about rico is he doesn't realize how much sex appeal he has. This just makes him even more appealing. and once again. Have you seen those abs? You know when you just meet some people, and they put you at your ease - rico is one of those people! Well mannered, well spoken, and so much fun, he made the shoot feel like it wasn't work at all, and that we were just hanging out. lEft: ricoracer flux / "little Kitten" tonya Coppola 47 vortimer ethaniel "as his mouth found her lips he fiercely bit her, marking her, and tasted the blood he had drawn. "remember me," he spoke with a low rumble and released her so suddenly she dropped into the snow. He grinned and looked down at her. "look pretty there," he winked and casually trailed off. He would see her again, and she knew it." - pulled from VorTIMer eTHaNIel's picks couNTrY: HollaND WHY Is He a MaNIera MaN oF sTYle? In the process of setting up the photo shoots I wanted to meet with Vortimer personally to get a sense of how we should set up the shoots. When you first lay eyes on Vort the first thing you realize is that you can't take your eyes off him. Not only is he one amazing specimen of raw sexual masculinity, but also of profound intelligence, professionalism and a wicked sense of humor. an avid role player and writer, one is completely captivated by his gift of the written word. "oh Vort... I'd heard about this mysterious man from my colleagues who shot with him earlier, and I knew we were going to have fun when he arrived at my studio in full role play gear - ellaborate silks, and belts and intricate boots... Hubba hubba he caught the attention of Maniera staff - and I think he succeeded in stealing a few hearts..." - atomicsparkle skytower, sartoria Fashion photoshoot 48 right: vortimer ethaniel / Maniera Model candio contepomi Photo by Spartin Parx Photo by Spartin Parx Charlie Absent ". . . Then I would give her a gentle kiss on her cheek and thank her for a great time and take her back to her home leaving her with only a great time and a notecard that had a surprise picture of us while we were having the time of our lives." - cHarlIe aBseNT couNTrY: usa WHY Is He a MaNIera MaN oF sTYle? charming, stylish and a true dedicated professional. Has a self confidence without a trace of arrogance. When meeting charlie he instantly reminded me of a mixture of the rat pack area with a mixture of anacrombie and Finch. Model good looks, dashing personality, and self confidence make charlie one irresistible temptation. clearly he's a fun and outgoing guy. polite to a fault, he went out of his way to make sure we got the shots we needed on the day of the shoot, despite some rl issues he was having. such a sweetie, he made us smile and melt a little. lEft: Charlie Absent / Maniera Model Sky Silvansky 51 Mikey batriani "My idea of the perfect date does not necessarily involve expensive surroundings. It would involved getting to know the person and discovering as many facets of that person as I can. although, good food and wine and parisian city lights are always romantic :)." - MIKeY BaTrIaNI couNTrY: ausTralIa WHY Is He a MaNIera MaN oF sTYle: The consummate gentleman with a mixture of intelligence, charm and confidence and extraordinary good looks makes him hard to resist. Mikey is a down to earth true romantic and we wanted to show that side of him. The type of man that makes you feel comfortable, safe and desired.. Well if manners maketh the man Mikey is THe MaN! Down to earth aussie guy with a great attitude to working in second life. Fun, kind, respectful and ready to learn and enjoy sl to the fullest, he was a ray of sunshine! 52 right: Mikey batriani / Maniera Model blackbarbie bravin Photo by Spartin Parx Photo by Eira Juliesse finlandich flanagan ". . . Finally I love to end up on a beach under a lit moon and enjoy each other's company." - FINlaNDIcH FlaNaGaN couNrY: usa WHY Is He a MaNIera MaN oF sTYle: rugged good looks, respectful, unassuming , Finnegan is the type of man that not only can make you laugh but one you find yourself talking to for hours. a man that listens (and ladies, men Do listen) and one you can rely on. What more can I girl ask for? a kind guy, down to earth and a great sport at our photo shoot. He was just as comfortable in front of the camera as he is behind it... or at least if he wasn't, he didn't show it! He made us all smile and want to give him big hugs! lEft: finlandich flanagan / Maniera Model glitter bolissima 55 S a r t o r i a FaShion PhotoShoot by a tomicSParkle Sky tower F a S h i o n S riCorACEr flux || S00 02 blACK Suit || $750l vort i m e r E t h a nie l | | S 0 2 1 SilK Suit blACK || $500l Charlie Absent || ChArCoal Suit t || **nEW rElEASE** Price Pending M i K E y b At r i A n i | | 0 1 b l A C K S u i t || **nEW rElEASE** Price Pending finlandich flanagan || S001-grEy Suit || $750l Thumper Boucher: second life Musician. real World profession. Article by blackbarbie bravin Fire resonates from his thick dreadlocks, flames explode from his fingertips, and his feet seemingly never touch the ground. everything about Thumper Boucher is a blaze. Thumpers sl persona is not his real life alter ego. It is the life he lives. as a multi instrumentalist, live musician, and visual artist in real life, Thumper explains that he had played almost every mainstream style of music there is before becoming a solo artist. His band DirtyWormz has a "hard-core/hip hop/heavy metal" sound that transcends musical categories. He explains that because of his versatile cutting edge style, his solo music is quite different from that of DirtyWorrmz. "smakola is the rapper, Jax is the guitarist, DJ crash is on the tables, swift is on the drums, the guy in the afro wig and gas mask is DoK, and my name is Dirty D." They have performed before crowds with more than ten-thousand in attendance and in the last two months have opened for Naughty by Nature, skindred, Ice cube, Mike Jones, and on august 20th will open for Bone, Thugs and Harmony. If you can catch Thumper in concert here in second life be prepared for a "real" concert! Not only is his caliber of music incredible, but the stage show is also amazing. The vibrations, lights, flashes, and effects take you to another place as the sounds force you to bounce your head and raise your arms. Thumper is a true musician who performs at various venues in second life during the day and in real life during the night. Impressed by his stage show and inquiring about this stage props he let me in on a little known the Man behind the Avatar fact that he is also a sculptor and Photo submitted by thumper boucher thumper boucher, the Avatar Photo by Mrohs baxton builder. His store, The "cosmic cube", offers a unique array of items unlike any found such as amazing scripted electric, color changing hairstyles that include dreadlocks. Thumpers versatile music style shows in his work through the uniqueness that goes into each item. looking around his shop you can feast your eyes on avatars, superpowers, fire, lightening, as well as spaceships. The range of colors flashing from different directions is random and ever changing. You can even complete forms and purchase music in store. Whatever you do, don't leave the store without first seeing Ms. Machine! Dirty D, known in second life as Thumper, explained that "Thumper" was a nick-name from high school that stuck with him. He even let on that there is a video out there from his first major band when he lived in Dallas, Texas, and was known as Dr. Promo image for DirtyWormz. Tongue. His drummer at the time went Photo submitted by thumper boucher on to play for pearl Jam, even accepting a Grammy on pearl Jam's behalf. In addition to purchasing his music at his shop in second life you may also do so via www.myspace.com/dirtywormz. Thumper has two solo records. The albums named, average american Dad and Digital Dinosaurs were written, performed, mixed, mastered, and produced by Thumper. The largest crowd he has ever performed for was thirty-thousand at the Texas Motor speedway. Thumper explained that it was a huge Woodstock like, all day festival in the 90's with performances by No Doubt and counting crows, as well as others. a powerhouse on-stage he explained that off-stage his other love was being an average full time father. There is nothing remotely average about Thumper, which is why it is ironic as his humor shows through when he named his album, "average american Dad". "I do all the things they (fathers) do, but then I put on a mask and go raise hell and live the music scene!" 72 http://www.myspace.com/dirtywormz "Strong women that know who they are..and a nice pair of panties.. no butt floss:+)" - THuMPer BoucHer, rL /SL Performer; owner of cosmic cube What do I find sexy? As a man, of cours that shows confidence in herself. She has her. That is someone that I find myself w more than just what she wears, but who could be sexier? What do you Quotes compiled by I find smart women sexy. A woman who knows what she wants and gets it and flirting is sexy as hell too! - AL PenuccA, club Patron MGr, Feverlast LW Boxer The sexiest thing for me is seeing a woman in an outfit without revealing too much leave it to the imagination as tha any of us know. - DAMIen TATHAM, Model/DJ; co "Facial features, eye, l se I have an admiration of ladies and their looks. But a lady s a great attitude and it just seems to draw those in around wanting to get to know in some degree. For me... sexy is she is. Classy, playful, goofy. and free to be herself. What - HAWk PerenTI, Photographer of "Hawk's Photography" What I find Sexy is confidence. Being confident in yourself, your occupation and what you wear and feel is very sexy! - cHArLIe ABSenT, Gems and kisses Manager; Top Model, Maniera Man of Style u find sexy? y topaz Joubert that is tastefully revealing at can be the sexiest thing I find attractive women with nice legs who wear mini skirts and dresses with high heels very sexy. I also think women look sexy with tattoos if not over done. - MArTy7 MILeS, SL helicopter pilot o-owner in Blue Hawaii Fishing lips and cheek lines." - LAWrence PeTTy, Larry's Lithographs


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Tablet. Hotels for Global Nomads
Travel Better.
Tablet Plus
Hôtel Keppler
10 Rue Kepler, Paris, France
Neighborhood: 16th Arr. (Trocadéro)
Check availability as rates may vary for dates. Best rate guaranteed.
In Paris we're always on the lookout for something that shows a little restraint, whether that means understated style, unimposing atmosphere, or reasonably affordable rates. It's rare to find all three at once, but that's more or less what the Hôtel Keppler offers: a sensible amount of luxury, a surprising degree of quiet (for a hotel just off the Champs-Élysées), and interiors that manage to avoid excess in either direction, whether antique or avant-garde.
This style demonstrates the difficulty of grading hotel design along a single dimension, from ancient to modern. Here Pierre-Yves Rochon wraps classic elements in modern clean lines, creating interior spaces that are at once eye-catchingly contemporary and full of historical character. At a glance they're definitively Parisian, but also definitively 21st-century.
Though at thirty-nine rooms it's intimate enough, the Keppler quietly features a few bigger luxuries — there's no restaurant, but there is a sauna, a steam room, and a small gym, all of which might come in handy after a long day pounding the Parisian cobblestones. Better suited to a romantic getaway or a shopping expedition than a business trip perhaps, but executives lucky enough to have business in central Paris will likely have few complaints.
- Complimentary upgrade upon hotel check-in, based upon availability
- Guaranteed 4pm check-out
- One complimentary glass of champagne or one cocktail, per guest, upon arrival (a value of about €11 per guest, depending on the drink)
- Complimentary Buffet breakfast per guest (max two guests; a value of €22 per person per day)
- *As a small boutique hotel, Hôtel Keppler has only a limited number of rooms available for upgrades.
- 39 Rooms
- Style: Contemporary Classic
- Atmosphere: Lively
- 76 Guest Reviews
- Hôtel Keppler
- 10 Rue Kepler
- Paris, France
- Neighborhood: 16th Arr. (Trocadéro)
Hotel amenities and services
- 24 hour concierge
- 24 hour front desk
- 24 hour gym
- Babysitting (on request)
- Bar
- Bicycle rentals nearby
- Business center
- Central air conditioning
- Free wi-fi
- Golf nearby
- Lounge
- Multi-lingual staff
- Pet Friendly
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Sauna
- Self service parking (charges apply)
- Spa treatments (on request)
- Steam rooms
- Wake-up service
Other Paris hotels
76 Guest Reviews
All reviews are from Tablet guests with verified stays.
- Leslie
- Stayed June 2012
- Rating: Excellent
What I liked:
The location was very central, yet the hotel is located on a quiet street. My room was clean with a good amount of storage and most importantly very quiet.
What the hotel could do better:
Nothing, had a wonderful stay!
- Craig
- Stayed May 2012
- Rating: Excellent
What I liked:
The already incredible photos of the hotel did not do it justice. Much lovelier and cozier and comfortable that you'd have to experience to believe. Breakfast was wonderful and the room view spectacular of the Eiffel Tower.
What the hotel could do better:
Nothing, had a wonderful stay!
- Margaret
- Stayed June 2012
- Rating: Good
What I liked:
I was attending a meeting at the Palais des Congres and this hotel was a pleasant walk away (or a 3-stop metro ride) so it was conveniently located for me. It also didn't hurt that it was midway between the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. Everyone who worked there was friendly and accommodating. The breakfast was generous and served in a cheerful room. My room was quiet, clean, well-appointed, and had a comfortable bed.
What the hotel could do better:
Nothing, had a wonderful stay!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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Charlotte - Tiger Woods sent drives on the 17th and 18th holes into the water and was seven shots behind the early leaders midway through the opening round at the Quail Hollow Championship on Thursday.
Following a five-month hiatus and ensuing sex scandal, Woods is playing his second US PGA Tour event this season and hoped to build on a tie for fourth at the Masters three weeks ago.
Things looked promising when Woods, off a rousing welcome from a chilly, early morning crowd, hit a near perfect tee shot on the 10th and birdied his opening hole.
Then Woods could barely keep anything straight.
A drive into the left rough on the 12th led to a bogey. He saved par from near a holly tree on the 15th.
Woods' water world began on the picturesque, challenging par 3, 17th hole. Woods' ball sailed into the water, his second try stuck to the green but he could not make the 30-footer left to save par.
Woods' problems continued on the par-4 closing hole when his drive ended up in a creek along the left side. He came up short of the green after the penalty stroke, then chipped to three feet for a bogey that dropped him to 3-over par at the turn.
That was well back of morning leaders Anthony Kim and Bo Van Pelt at 4-under par.
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text:
Aplastic Anemia
by Monica Bearden, RD
Anemia is a low level of healthy red blood cells (RBC). RBCs carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. When RBCs are low, the body does not get enough oxygen.
Aplastic anemia is a type of anemia caused by problems with bone marrow. It can range from mild to severe.
Causes TOP
Aplastic anemia is believed to be caused by the patient's immune system attacking the bone marrow. It slows down the production of blood cells. In some cases, aplastic anemia is a temporary side effect of a medication. It can be reversed if exposure to the cause is stopped.
Risk Factors TOP
Factors that may increase your chances of having aplastic anemia include:
The cause of aplastic anemia is sometimes unknown.
Symptoms TOP
Symptoms of aplastic anemia include:
Diagnosis TOP
You will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done.
Your bodily fluids may be tested. This can be done with:
After you are diagnosed with aplastic anemia, you may need additional tests to determine the cause.
You will be referred to a blood disorder specialist, a hematologist, or a special treatment center for further evaluation.
Treatment TOP
Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment for aplastic anemia varies according to severity and cause.
Blood Transfusions
Blood transfusions provide your body with the blood cells that your bone marrow has stopped producing. This is not a cure. It helps relieve symptoms.
Immune Suppressing Medication
These medications change or slow your immune system to keep it from damaging your bone marrow cells. This gives your bone marrow time to recover and begin producing blood cells again. These medications are sometimes used along with steroids to reduce side effects. This treatment often requires a short stay in the hospital.
Bone Marrow Transplantation TOP
The replacement of diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow is the best treatment option for some with severe aplastic anemia. You will need a donor whose bone marrow matches your own as closely as possible.
Other Treatments TOP
Your aplastic anemia may be mild to moderate. It may also be caused by exposure to radiation, chemicals, or medications. Your doctor may choose to monitor your condition if the cause of the aplastic anemia is stopped. This approach can be enough to restore normal bone marrow function.
Prevention TOP
Most cases of aplastic anemia cannot be prevented. Limiting exposure to certain environmental toxins can reduce your risk of developing the disease. Environmental toxins include those found in gasoline, paint, oil and coal emissions, and industrial solvents.
Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Aplastic Anemia and Myelodysplasia Association of Canada
The College of Family Physicians of Canada
Ahn M, Choi J, Lee Y, et al. Outcome of adult severe or very severe aplastic anemia treated with immunosuppressive therapy compared with bone marrow transplantation: Multicenter trial. Int J Hematol. 2003;78:133-138.
Aplastic anemia. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Updated June 6, 2014. Accessed August 21, 2014.
Dokal I. Inherited aplastic anemia. Hematol J. 2003; 4:3-9.
Locasciulli A. Acquired aplastic anemia in children: incidence, prognosis, and treatment options. Paediatr Drugs. 2002;4:761-766.
Loughran T Jr, Storb R. Treatment of aplastic anemia. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 1990;4:559-575.
Young NS. Acquired aplastic anemia. Ann Intern Med. 2002;136:534-546.
Last reviewed August 2014 by Marcin Chwistek, MD
Last Updated: 8/21/2014


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The liquefied natural gas export project being pushed by the Parnell administration would be one of the biggest in the world at a cost that could exceed $65 billion and would bring vast amounts of Alaska's North Slope gas to commercial markets -- fulfilling a 40-year quest of state leaders.
But even top officials admit the progress touted this week doesn't amount to a commitment, the work left to do is immense and the project may never materialize.
Gov. Sean Parnell late Wednesday released a letter, project work plan and proposed schedule sent to him by executives with the North Slope's three major oil producers and a pipeline company addressing a goal from his January state-of-the-state speech to show progress and identify a project timeline by Sept. 30.
"There are always bumps in the road. And certainly no guarantees. There's no guarantees now," Natural Resources Commissioner Dan Sullivan told reporters Thursday. "But we've already traveled a good distance in a short amount of time since that state of the state, and our intent is to keep that pedal to the metal working with all key stakeholders and to try to realize this very significant opportunity."
Already, Exxon Mobil, Conoco Phillips, BP, and pipeline company TransCanada Corp. say they have a team of more than 200 people working on the Alaska LNG project. BP has the lead role on the commercial side, with Exxon the technical lead.
Among the key issues:
• Project cost. Executives with the oil companies and TransCanada Corp. told Parnell the project could cost $45 billion to $65 billion or more. The figure doesn't include inflation.
Larry Persily, federal coordinator for Alaska natural gas projects, joked that people will try to figure which is higher: the LNG project or "the New York Yankees payroll."
Two years ago, TransCanada told potential natural gas customers an 803-mile pipeline to Valdez, plus a treatment plant to extract water and impurities from the gas, would cost $20 billion to $26 billion. The main difference is that the new proposal includes the cost of a natural gas liquefaction plant, according to Tony Palmer, TransCanada vice president.
At a plant, methane would be super-chilled to about minus 260 degrees, the temperature at which it is transformed into a liquid form for shipping. Sullivan told reporters the new figure "includes the entire project." But it doesn't include the cost of 15 to 20 tankers, BP spokeswoman Dawn Patience said.
"That range wasn't terribly surprising but we're focused on keeping it on the lower portion of that broad range," Sullivan said.
So far, the Parnell administration supports private financing of the pipeline, with the state in a regulatory role, said Kurt Gibson, director of the state gas pipeline office.
• Timing. Sullivan said the state has a sense of urgency and is pushing for accelerated work. For instance, development of North Slope gas was held up for years by litigation over the huge, remote Point Thomson oil and gas field, operated by Exxon Mobil.
Settlement of that dispute earlier this year included an incentive for a pipeline investment decision by mid-2016, which fits the new timetable, Sullivan said.
But that still puts off a decision on whether to build the pipeline for four years. Construction would be five or six years from now, under the timeline. And in the meantime, competing LNG projects around the world are moving ahead.
• Export terminal and LNG plant. The oil companies and TransCanada say they are evaluating 22 possible sites in Southcentral Alaska for an LNG plant, including locations in Cook Inlet, Prince William Sound, and others.
The community of Valdez has long pitched itself as the best site for an Alaska export terminal; backers hosted an LNG conference there just last month. But other communities will also be in contention to claim a portion of the 1,000 permanent jobs the LNG project is expected to bring. The first, and still only, LNG export plant operating in the United States is in Nikiski, home to House Speaker Mike Chenault.
The first decision point would come in about a year, according to the new timetable.
"There's nothing substantial to get excited about. It's a preliminary review," said Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka and the co-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee as well as a member of the Resources Committee. "It's just good they are going forward, so don't misinterpret what I'm saying. But they are not even to the first point of a decision on whether they should go to the next gate or not."
The LNG project will likely be used to renew the heated, and sometimes tortured, debate in the Legislature over whether to cut oil taxes. Parnell, who has said big tax cuts are needed to spur new development and stop declining oil production, pushed legislation this year that would have cost the state up to $2 billion a year in oil revenue. Senators said the cuts failed to guarantee new investment and balked at his bill.
"A development of this scope and magnitude must be accompanied with a stable, healthy oil business underpinned by competitive gas fiscal terms," Exxon spokesman David Eglinton said in an email Thursday. BP and Conoco also want new "fiscal terms."
The Parnell administration is still discussing what tax changes to propose in 2013, officials said.
Stedman noted that Alaska's current tax structure may actually mean less revenue for the state if natural gas is produced in large quantities. Oil and gas are now joined in the same tax scheme, and at times of low gas prices and high oil prices, oil companies may see their taxes drop even with no change in rate.
Under the gas pipeline being proposed -- big enough to transport 3 to 3.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day -- "I would expect that number to be a billion to $1.5 billion, negative," Stedman said, estimating the loss to the treasury under current oil and gas prices.
But state and oil company officials say other factors would come into play if there's a way to get gas to market, including more exploration which could lead to more oil production.
TransCanada, which holds an exclusive state license for a pipeline project and can be reimbursed up to $500 million from the state for its work, last month tested the market for interest in gas from an Alaska LNG project or a pipeline from Alaska through Canada to the Lower 48. Palmer said he cannot divulge specifics of the non-binding solicitation, but said there was substantial interest "in becoming a future customer of the project."
The potential customers were "in a broad range of industry sectors located in both North America and Asia," Palmer said.
A separate project for a smaller, in-state pipeline is continuing as well, in case the big pipeline never happens. Parnell had directed the Alaska Gasline Development Corp. and the TransCanada project to see if they could consolidate. But both projects are still needed, in case the big pipeline never happens, said Gibson, the state official whose office oversees the big gas pipeline project.
So far, TransCanada has been reimbursed about $200 million from the state. The Alaska Gasline Development Corp. has a budget of $21 million for this year.
Reach Lisa Demer at firstname.lastname@example.com or 257-4390.
By LISA DEMER


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George Karl
George Karl Definitely Wants 'One More Shot' At Coaching In NBA
Former Denver Nuggets coach George Karl was a candidate for the Golden State coaching job, which seemed like a great fit, but the Warriors went with Steve Kerr instead.
Nuggets Guard Lawson's Goal Is To Reach Elite Status
It wasn't long ago that the Denver Nuggets were a perennial playoff team. For the team to get back to that level, one key may be point guard Ty Lawson elevating his game.
Nuggets Staying Home For First Time In Decade
The Denver Nuggets aren't accustomed to cleaning out their lockers in April.
Nuggets Find Themselves In Playoff Peril
Unless the nose-diving Denver Nuggets can turn things around, they'll miss the playoffs for the first time since 2003, when they got Carmelo Anthony after a 17-65 season.
McGee Out Indefinitely With Fractured Tibia
Nuggets starting center JaVale McGee is out indefinitely with a stress fracture in his lower left leg
Shaw's System Steadily Sinking In For Nuggets
By the time January rolls around Brian Shaw envisions his team fully embracing his system, one that hinges on half-court sets, a powerful presence in the paint and smothering defense.
Brian Shaw Ready To Bring New Style To Nuggets
Obviously, Denver Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly was only kidding and not trying to put this kind of pressure on his new coach.
Former Nuggets Coach George Karl Joins ESPN As Analyst
George Karl, who won the NBA Coach of the Year award last season but then lost his job in Denver, is joining ESPN as a studio analyst.
Nuggets Resign Backup Center Mozgov
The Denver Nuggets have resigned backup center Timofey Mozgov to a three-year, $14 million contract.
Nuggets Trade Koufos, Draft Green
The Denver Nuggets dealt Kosta Koufos to the Memphis Grizzlies, the Nuggets also traded their first-round pick in Thursday night's draft to the Utah Jazz.


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Obamacare aims to shift how doctors and hospitals are paid — they'll be rewarded for taking care of the whole patient, not just for every test or visit. But this is an idea that some practices have already embraced, with success. Two practices in Virginia and California have been working like this for years, and have seen their overall costs decline and patient health improve.
Source: NPR
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|Blog Posts
Introduction: Most all of you have a sense of who Kiva is from her emotive and illustrative writings, her personality and perspectives… but she's not always been all that she seems, nor all that she truly is and can be, and some of us recognized – even before she did – the precious vulnerability and resilient innocence alternately frolicking and hiding beneath her confident Bear-like posture. From the time she was a hurt young child, she has been trying to both understand and heal her self through the process of writing. In a way, she has been attempting for over two decades to write the following piece, in her most authentic voice, and now it is done. And now she is able to be wholly and openly her true self for the very first time! This two-part post calls upon us neither to pity her for any suffering, nor exalt her for her arduous recovery of her true nature, but to find in her example the inspiration to be as honest in our own self explorations, as courageous about embodying and sharing who we really are, and as determined to fulfill a role that makes use of all the crap and magic, hurt and healing to help others.
-Jesse Wolf Hardin Cacomixtle: A Chimera's Story of Transformation, Rebirth, and Becoming Whole by Kiva Rose ("Ringtail"!) Hardin
Part I "I will tell you something about stories. They aren't just entertainment. They are all we have to fight off illness and death. You don't have anything if you don't have stories."
- Leslie Marmon Silko
In the quiet of late evening, the red spotted toads trill their mating songs by the river while the Poor-Wills pick up the chorus, and several species of Owls call down into the canyon from their treetop perches. Hooves can be heard clattering against the stones as Mule Deer make their way down from the mountains looking for sweeter grass under the waning moon. And in the canopy of Evergreen Oak growing from the canyon wall, a smaller creature may be seen running head-first down a tall tree trunk. On silent paws, she moves through the understory of Cholla cactus and Redroot with her large fox-like ears twitching, taking in the sounds of her home. Up the rock face she leaps, purposefully sniffing out favorite berries and the occasional scorpion for a snack on her way. Once to her favorite spot on the cliff, she spreads herself out on her belly, a long black and white banded tail waving behind her as she rests on the cool stone. With a single wild gooseberry between her white paws, she sings out to the night, plaintive barks interspersed with small chirps that could easily evoke a bird if you didn't catch site of the little animal that lays on the cliff singing to the crescent moon. Even if you did catch a glimpse, you might still wonder just what she was – perhaps a desert chimera made up of fox, cat, coon, squirrel, and mink.
Desert Chimera: The Medicine of Wholeness
"The truth about the world, he said, is that anything is possible. Had you not seen it all from birth and thereby bled it of its strangeness it would appear to you for what it is… a medicine show, a fevered dream, a trance bepopulate with chimeras having neither analogue nor precedent…"
Nestled high in the arms of a Juniper tree – its shreddy bark warm under my bare feet as I lean back against the branch, gazing out into the canyon's brilliant azul sky through the blue-green foliage – I feel more at home than almost anywhere else. The red and black basalt of the steep arroyo glitter with inset quartz below me, and I can smell the butterscotch sweet scent of the Ponderosas Pines around me. Errant breezes bring the fragrance of the sacred sage, Estafiate, from the base of the mountains. The occasional blue-bellied lizard scurries past me on the branch, and chipmunks chide me from neighboring trees.
From here, I can watch the sinuous movement of the river in the canyon bottom, and a herd of Rocky Mountain Elk wanders down from the ridges to drink alongside a small band of White-Nosed Coatis that are nosing around near Prickly Pear growing from a stony outcrop. I continue watching them over my shoulder as I shimmy down the tree trunk and run the rock ledge to get a closer look at this gathering of critters by the water. Always, even at my most withdrawn and fearful, my curiosity has overwhelmed all my reservations to bring me closer to whatever holds my interest. While I would have denied it in favor of seeming more detached for many years, my foundational nature has always been defined by my curiosity and love of the close-up. I like nothing better than being a little girl in the top of the tree, examining the colorful lichens and tiny mushrooms growing from the bark.
I've known since I first arrived in the canyon that this place, in all its brilliant diversity and ancient beauty, was a huge part of myself and my identity that had been missing before I found my long way home. Arriving here, even with the difficulty and sometimes painful transformation it entailed for me, was a revelation of self-discovery. To realize so much of my spirit was tied to these red rocks, soft silver clay, and sharp-edged obsidian, was to finally see myself in the matrix, the context, I so needed to make any sense of myself.
Even now, when my work leaves me drained, confused, and sometimes hurt, I find my solace and source in the open arms of the land. Not everyone sees these Cholla spines and Lycium thorns as welcoming, but their fierceness and sharp edges have taught me how to better open to the intense and often challenging nature of this place. The opening has been slow for me, incremental steps toward my own tender inner self that I've spent most of my life trying to shut down and shut out in order to be less vulnerable. Shutting down in order to avoid being hurt by other people was in itself a questionable success, and also served to shut down my senses in many other ways, denying me intimacy with place, as well as people.
The canyon has a particular ability to wake me up, to poke at me gently until I pay attention. For nearly a decade, I've spent each day slowly becoming ever more myself, each dusky rose and blood orange colored sunset seeing me stripped just a little further down to the raw core at the center of me. Each layer lost changes the image in the mirror a little bit more, brings my face into slightly better focus. A more comfortable place would have likely allowed me to slip into a comfortable complacency instead of prodding me into continuous growth.
By the time I reach the water, scrambling over boulders and jumping down the small drop-off near the water, the elk have moved on and the Coatis have wandered further downriver in search of more insects and berries. I watch the Crawdads gliding below the surface of the water and lean over to get a closer look at a certain sparkly fish flitting in the current. And then I see my own face. I'm taken by surprise to see the laughing, child-like expression with wide, wondering eyes reflected back at me rather than the wary, contained woman I've been since my early teens. Instead of the swiping paw and intimidating largeness of the bear I've embraced for the last decade, I see the mischievous grin and small form of a Ringtail Cat.
As soon as I could admit this transformation to myself, Ringtails started showing up – literally – at my door. More than once on recent nights, we've heard the distinctly Ringtail barks and chatterings just outside the cabin. And one night while walking to the outdoor tub, a Ringtail ran along the roof of the water tank next to me, chittering until I shined the flashlight toward it to get a better look, which was greeted with indignant hissing until I shut the light back off. Then one of our resident helpers brought back a small skull from a walk that Wolf and I immediately recognized as a Ringtail with its Procyonid teeth pattern and distinct carnassial teeth, far more developed in a Ringtail than its Coati and Coon cousins, who are less carnivorous than the Ringtail. The skull still had bits of skin and hair clinging to it, and despite its somewhat gamey smell, I couldn't help but hug it. While Ringtails have certainly been in the canyon all along, their sudden overt presence helped drive home this transition as I shift from self-protection to self-expression.
Nocturnal and shy, Ringtails are often mistaken for something else entirely during one of their rare sightings. With their black and white banded Raccoonish tails, fox-like faces, flexible bodies reminiscent of minks and cats, and sometimes multisyllabic bird-like chirps, it's no wonder folks can get confused by this elusive little tree-loving creature. Ringtails have often been mistaken for other animals, and even named according to the confusion. Their Aztec-derived name, Cacomixtle, means "Half Mountain Lion" and their scientific name in Latin, Bassariscus astutus, can be translated to "cunning little fox" and even the common name, Ringtail Cat, infers another animal entirely. They're also sometimes called Miner's Cats and California Minks, also adding to the general mystery surrounding their origins and nature. Ringtails actually belong to the Procyonidae, along with Raccoons, Kinkajous, Olingos, and Coatis, with the whole family being native to the Americas.
As the pieces of me come together into a whole, I am careful to be unfailingly conscious in the commitments I make and the roles I take on. To be as authentic as possible in how I present myself, the medicine I give, and the stories I tell. This tale is my own, itself a chimera created from what was once lost or broken, grown into the creature I am: storyteller, medicine woman, blazing fire.I've often felt similarly, frequently misnamed or misread by those around me, and even by myself, described as bits of pieces rather than any recognizable whole. So many years of not recognizing who I really am have taught me the danger of wearing the mantle or mask of what I am not. While some illusions have purposes, to protect us when we're vulnerable to help us move through a difficult situation, they also have a tendency to seep into our skin until we can no longer see where we end and they begin. Losing ourselves to any role, whether something as positive as being a caregiver or as blatantly negative as getting stuck in a victim stereotype, can not only limit us, but trap us behind walls of our own making or allowing.
Sparrow in Flight: The Fracturing
"There are parts of me he'll never know, my wild horses and my river beds,
Many is the time as a kid, that I took refuge atop the red shingled roof of a three-story, abandoned house in Kansas City, watching the neighborhood below in the failing light, listening as playing children were called indoors. I felt safe there, squeezed between the gable and a tree branch growing against the house. I hugged myself with shaking arms, and told myself a story about a girl who could turn into a sparrow and fly away… above the city, and the dirty snake of the Missouri river, above the prairie and into the wild mountains far beyond where the tree spirits would teach her how to weave baskets from willow and gather food from the forest floor.
If there was one term used to describe me most frequently as a child, it was "oversensitive," with "impatient" and "too curious" as close seconds. There's no doubt I was thin-skinned and easily hurt, painfully aware of every vocal nuance and veiled look. This oversensitivity often translated into shyness, but not always, as I was more than once found dancing for strangers in the grocery store. Often enough though, it meant that I was fascinated by people and friendly until the moment I felt rejected or pressured, which was the point at which I would collapse into tears and hide under the nearest piece of furniture or up in a tree if possible. No doubt my propensity to take everything to heart endlessly frustrated those around me. It also allowed me to be broken by a world I didn't understand, and by those who – wounded themselves – did so much harm to me instead of caring for me."Only do not forget, if I wake up crying
it's only because in my dream I'm a lost child
hunting through the leaves of the night for your hands…."
-Pablo Neruda
It was clear early on, that I'd been born in a place and at a time where my innately dreamy and tender ways would cost me dearly. From the beginning, I saw how sensitivity could result in you being hurt, and how dreaminess could get you labeled as lazy and useless, while incessant activity and ambitions were praised as admirable. A good mind was a useful mind, not like mine… filled to the brim with fairy stories and elaborate fantasy worlds, Pablo Neruda poetry and an endless recitation of fanciful flower names. I wanted to be a dancer, an artist, a poet who knew the language of animals and stones, a wild creature racing from one treetop to the next, a flame flickering with all of the passion of the living world. And I wanted to really feel like I belonged someplace, but my dreams and desires all seemed impossible, festering in a radically conservative and terrifically dysfunctional family in the South, manipulated, controlled and physically abused by a bible spouting, paranoid preacher father, unprotected by a mother living in a constant state of delusion and denial. I don't remember a second of feeling truly secure as a child, never felt safe being my real self or sharing my inner life, and I came to see my natural ways of being as an endangering weakness and serious liability.
My response to the combination of puritanical moralizing and immoral treatment, was to curl up tightly in a private place within myself. The only way I was able to release my pent up emotions through the vehicle of poetry, carefully crafting my poems in a coded language of symbols that only I could understand in order to protect my most vulnerable feelings from my parents' prying eyes. I listened to forbidden secular musicians like Tori Amos, letting myself be carried away by the unrestrained emotionality. And I continued my childhood habit of sneaking out my bedroom window at night.
While these respites probably saved me in many ways, I was not whole. I was fractured. I was not myself.
Mask of Roots and Water: A Confession
"Deeply I go down into myself. My god is dark and like a webbing made of a hundred roots that drink in silence."
By 17, I'd escaped my family but was homeless and exposed. Instead of the red roof of my childhood, I hid out high in trees of the city park instead, my face pressing against the rough bark, taking comfort in the arboreal company as well as in the fact that I was ensconced in the one place that neither the thugs nor the cops would think to look for me! Even with my purple hair and typical all-in-black goth getup, I felt camouflaged enough there to relax, to run my fingers over the self-inflicted wounds that lined my forearms, to breathe slowly and deeply instead of my usual panicked gulps.
Living on the streets, experiencing repeated rapes, ridicule, humiliation, and the kind of captivity no living creature should ever suffer, I felt like a living embodiment of an open wound, barely able to contain the infection of pain and fear that welled beneath my skin. Yet I would survive, even if it meant that I had to deny my born nature, wear a mask of toughness and worldliness and grow a hard veneer around me. I learned to talk fast and hard, to stare down men seeking to intimidate me with a convincing enough fury to back most of them down. To swagger with enough false confidence to keep the women from picking on me. To wear long-sleeved shirts so as not to show the bruises, the cutting, the burn marks. To wear enough makeup that finally all the tear tracks were covered.
The poetry I wrote at that time was rife with imagery of broken glass, an endless torrent of blood and the search for a way through – if not out of – the tangle that my life had become. Woven within were the strands of myth and story I told myself over and over again:
Breathe into me
stir the ashes
and raise me up
Lazarus with
Magdalena's face
I am the Phoenix, a raging
and winged thing
wearing a necklace
of the white skulls
of my murdered child
of all my lovers long dead
of heroin, alcohol, and despair
Losing friends to drugs, suicide, and gang shootings shut me ever more surely into myself. I spent my days cranked on uppers and my evenings in a whiskey bottle, medicating my feelings into brittle submission. The amphetamines made my temper short and my fear less. I had enough energy and could work hard enough that no one would ever call me lazy or dreamy or spacey again. Complete emotional withdrawal followed my being pushed face first down a flight of icy steps and the violent miscarriage that resulted. I told myself I could survive anything, that no man could break me, that I would be okay, if I could just build the walls thick enough, make my facade convincing enough.
"So my steps were slow and my swagger deliberate
And if ever my heart grieved now my body must not confess it
No, she will not fail me, for she expresses the very line –
I'm steady on, eyes dead set on – my hips move left to right"
-Rykarda Parasol, Night on Red River
The masks I hid behind were made to show the world the story of a woman secure in her body and self, spelled against the disease of anorexia, anxiety, and self-hatred that ate at me just beneath the surface. Most of all, I crafted them so as to keep the sensitive little girl both hidden and protected. I figured what I needed least in my life was vulnerability, another way to be hurt, another avenue through which to be betrayed. I was adept at making my masks convincing, playing the jaded sex worker and cynical woman-child well enough to make money at it. I wore these disguises, these prosthetic personalities so often and so deeply, that they affixed to my being and began to grow of their own accord.
Solace, I found only in nature and in the fairy tales I'd clung to since early childhood. I liked to read about the street kids and abuse victims in Charles de Lint's stories and the ways they stumbled into magic and beauty, and I held the hope in my heart that I could be one of those characters that could turn trauma into powerful art, or at least a wondrously haunting song. I clung to the idea that maybe there was something beautiful and magical in me, too. Such a tiny tendril of story kept me searching through the years for a wild place, for a home, and for a sense of self beyond victimhood.Part II will be posted later this week.
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Watson Adventures' Dancing Nudes Murder Mystery Scavenger Hunt at Metropolitan Museum of Art
8779464868 watsonadventures.com Ages: Adult $34.50-$44.50 (includes museum admission)
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Join Watson Adventures on a murder mystery scavenger hunt for adults at the Met Museum! An eminent cryptographer has been found shot dead in her office, alongside the body of an unidentified foreigner. The scholar's husband was also critically wounded. The police have charged him with murder, but he swears that he's innocent, and that the foreigner was threatening his wife. How? By sending her two messages that contained only a strange image of "dancing nudes," which left her terrified. But she refused to say anything about them. Is the husband lying? Who is the foreigner? What is the secret of the dancing nudes? The police need your help to solve the mystery that centers on works of art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. See if your team of sleuths can figure out whodunnit in this mystery based on a Sherlock Holmes story. Price includes museum admission. Advance purchase is required. Questions? Call 877-9GO-HUNT.
Venue Description: Sun.-Thurs., 10am-5:30pm; Fri.-Sat., 10am-9pm. Recommended admission: $25.
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