Don’t play with me
I’m not your toy
Oh can’t you see
I am not your Gameboy
Freezepop, ♫I’m Not Your Gameboy♫
One of the things I’ve been passionate about for as long as I can remember is video games. In a recent discussion, I had with a friend I rattled off just about every gaming system I’ve owned since I was small. That all started with the Atari and even though games back then were nothing like they are now, they still offered hours of enjoyment to not only myself but to my family members.
As time went on things improved from the graphics and sound but to the way they were played. Until the late 80’s everything had to be played connected to a television and while that is still very much the case now, gamers would get a taste of something different: Handheld Gaming Systems. The Gameboy was like one of the single greatest things of its time when it was released and as one of those kids that owned one. I was in cloud nine.
One of my favorite games that I enjoyed playing more than anything was Tetris, which as far as puzzle games go, is still one of my all-time favorites. This was before Jewel Quest and Candy Crush which for anyone that is a fan of those games should find some version of Tetris and give it a try. I would stay up trying to beat whatever high score that was previously made the time before and on school nights I would have to be sneaky with a flashlight. Maybe that is where I started to become a night owl?
Lock&Tuft has released a virtual version of the original Gameboy and have called it, POCKETGIRL. It comes with a small handful of poses and a HUD with a dozen or so colors that allow you to personalize it in a way that best fits you. I chose the OG style because that’s what I most relate to and am fond of.
This release can be found at their in-world store so for game buffs or just someone that is into nostalgia or pop culture. I encourage you to go and take a look because it can make picture-taking become a lot more fun.
I don’t have Spy Hunter
Galaga or Burger Time
Don’t look here for Frogger
Dig-dug ain’t no friend of mine
Don’t ask me, you’ll cross the line
Down the black hole
Hope is shallow
Tell me where were you?
Time can be so
Cold and hollow
Tell me where were you?
Flight Paths, ♫Shallow♫
Greetings! It’s been a while since my last entry and I hope everyone out there is doing well and staying safe in whatever part of the world they are at. I’ve finally found some inspiration with the newest release from Cold-Ash. The BLAISE Tee is at this current round of The Men’s Department. Be sure to also check its companion release, the LARKHAM Jeans.
I’ve also included a fun prop from lock&tuft: a nifty walkie talkie that has several hand/arm positions to choose from. I really like things like this (always have) because it helps makes scenes come together.
Another day fades out of time
Into nothing, pay you no mind
In outer space so paralyzed
It’s not too late
Open your eye
I just want to freeze
I can give you more than what you are
Now I see you standing all alone
I never thought the world would turn to stone
Yungblud (feat. Halsey), ♫11 Minutes♫
Today is the last day of Skin Fair and if you haven’t been there then I don’t know what you’re waiting for. I thought that it would be fun to give you one more look of the LeLUTKA “Skyler” head. I definitely have had to get used to the way this is set up because it’s predominantly BOM based which I’m still not quite versed on. The HUD is also something that I’m sure many are still getting used to and all of the functions that it contains. There is nothing wrong with playing with things until you get everything the way you want it so just keep at it.
Stray Dog has released three new skins for the event. I am wearing Lorenzo in Tone 02 which the wear options include BOM layers and a LeLUTKA applier HUD. Options include brow and no brows, freckles and also frown brows with and without freckles. Plenty of ways to create your look with this face so enjoy playing around with it!
You’re eleven minutes away and I have missed you all day
You’re eleven minutes away, so why aren’t you here?
HAIR: Dura – U97 HEAD: LeLUTKA – Skyler v1.1 @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW SKIN: Stray Dog – Lorenzo (Tone 02) @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW BODY: Signature – Gianni v5.0
SHIRT: Spill The Tee – Alcohol Collection – May Contain @ Men Only Monthly ✦ NEW
There’s blood on the gun
That’s in your hand
And the murder in front of you
Send out the wolves
The King is dead
Little pills taking over
Cold, ♫Wicked World♫
I couldn’t resist blogging the Finer Threads “Romeo” skin that is currently at the Skin Fair. It reminds me of a certain boy king *cough* Joffrey *cough* and the world rejoiced when he finally got what was coming to him. I sorta created my own vision for that which I think turned out well and was extremely fun to do. I also thought the Barinnn bruises from “Ladybird” fit with an old item from Clemmm (that is now retired sadly). Being inspired by shows tend to make my photos work a lot better so I may do more of that in the future.
Living in a wicked world
We’re living in a wicked world
There’s no way you will escape
No one ever gets away
HAIR: Stealthic – Atlas HEAD: LeLUTKA – Guy 3.4 SKIN: Finer Threads – Romeo (001) @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW BRUISES: Ladybird – Barinn @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW NOSEBLEED: Clemmm – Nosebleed Prototype ✦ No Longer Available BODY: Signature – Gianni v5.0
Maybe
A 100 bad days made
A 100 good stories
A 100 good stories make me
Interesting at parties
AJR, ♫100 Bad Days♫
Even after Pose Fair and Skin Fair end (there are only a few days left for each through the end of today) I will still have a lot of material to work with for posts in the foreseeable future. There’s just so much to dive into that it can easily make your head spin. Looking from the viewpoint of a consumer going to these two particular events (or any events really) it makes me think of the gif (or meme) where Fry has a handful of cash and the caption says “Shut up and take my money!” That’s what comes to mind because there are so many wonderful things to explore not just for the bloggers or Second Life photographers but also just every day things (such as building a new look for your avatar).
Boo’d Up has several different pose offerings for Pose Fair but I took a liking to the Aesthete pose pack. It contains five different bento static poses (which this cross-legged one is by far my favorite). Inside the pack there is also single poseballs for each pose if you choose not to use it in your own stand or you have rezz rights to the location you are taking photos at.
I’ve been wearing a lot of short hair styles in pictures lately so I thought it might be time to switch it up. Lock&Tuft released the “Ackerman” hair a while back but I finally found a way to put it to use in a look. This style also comes with a hat (the name of the type escapes me as I’m writing this) which you can wear as part of the hair or solo without the hair if desired. There is a HUD to accompany the hat with 6 different texture styles and the HUD for the hair itself boasts 66 different colors (from solids to hombres).
For my skin I am wearing the Richard skin from Lure. It’s made for CATWA brand heads and is suggested to be worn with Victor for the best look. Bakes On Mesh layers as well as an applier HUD are the ways you can wear this but keep in mind that the body appliers/BOM layers are sold separately. When I first put this on I felt like the face reminded me of someone. Perhaps a video game character at first but then I started to think about it more and thought it reminded me more of the vocalist from Shinedown, Brent Smith. The face has very distinguishing features and has a more mature look which those who are fans of this type will really clamor for it.
It also felt appropriate that I used the Vice X #Adored Sleep Depo Shadows. They give a great example of a tired look which seems fitting for the look of the skin that I have on too. This set of 9 color variants (in two styles) are Bakes On Mesh layers only and optimized for CATWA branded heads. It’s possible that they may work with other BOM capable heads but I haven’t tried them so it would be something to try at your own risk.
When all is going wrong
And you’re scared as hell
Watcha gonna do
Who you gonna tell
Stay with me
I hear them call the tide
Take me in
I see the last divide
Hopelessly, I leave this all behind
And I am paralyzed
Breaking Benjamin (feat. Scooter Ward), ♫Far Away♫
Pose Fair and Skin Fair have been really fun this year and even though they kind of happened at the same time it’s been a really awesome experience. It’s allowed me to start to unlock my creative potential again. Not all of it has been as awesome as I wanted but the fact that it is starting to come back is enough for me. Being able to find ways to combine them in posts has been helpful too so that I don’t get too far behind at least. Though putting things together with the situations going on in the world has been slightly difficult but nothing too hindering.
It makes me super happy that Session Skins is a part of Skin Fair again this year and with three different skins (2 female faces for Catwa and one male for LeLUTKA). Roman is the one that I am wearing for LeLUTKA with the Guy head. I did a test with the new Skyler head but the shape that comes included just did not work for him. It’s an excellent skin with a lot of options and is available in two different tones (02 and 03). Some of the options include with brows, with beard, no brows and no brows with beard. The brow and body shaper are included but the body skins are for sale at the main store and are separate.
To fit the theme of this post I just had to use the Fire Collection eyes by Gloom. They are nicely detailed and come in 6 different iris colors and two different pupil sizes (small and medium). They can be bought in a single pack option or in a FATPACK with all 6 colors and as far as what they work for? You can get them as BOM layers, CATWA, Genus Project, LeLUTKA brand heads as well as anything using Omega. Don’t forget classic mesh eyeballs as well.
It’s been quite a while since I’ve worn any tattoos and for a while I was wearing them quite a bit. The phase for me just slowly faded away but I am glad to be wearing the Endless Pain Tattoos “Ash” full sleeve. It comes in only one opacity which I would say is a combination of worn/faded. Ways to wear this are of course BOM layers and also have HUDs for Belleza, CATWA, Maitreya, Omega compatible mesh, Signature and SLink Physique bodies.
For the Pose Fair side of things I am featuring a store that I’ve seen around but they are essentially new to me. This is the very reason I love this event because it gets me acquainted with some of the pose creators and their stores that I might not have known before. Kuddlemuddle has several pose packs up for sale but I took interest in the “Fifties Series: Gentleman Style” pose pack which has 5 different poses that work well with any kind of wardrobe you could put together. I think that this would definitely go great with wearing a suit (which gives me ideas for another time). There are several versions in the pack with different priorities so you can play around with that if you so desire.
When the broken fall alive
Let the light take me too
When the waters turn to fire
Heaven, please let me through
Far away, far away
Sorrow has left me here
Far away, far away
Let the light take me in
I’m so sick of me, wake up and hate to breathe
And I pride myself in that, so dramatic, I’ll admit
I’m so typical, my life ain’t difficult
But I’m so caught up in it, just a lowlife, I’ll admit
I’m self-critical, a try-hard original
Oh, I pride myself on that, such a loser, I’ll admit
Yungblud (feat. Dan Reynolds), ♫Original Me♫
I‘ve been having a lot of fun playing around with different looks and things (both male and female) for the Skin Fair. I think that this event really brings out some of my happier blogging moments so I cannot say enough that it means a lot to me to be a part of the team. I’m not going to go into a long drawn out dialog about what’s going on in the world (because that is all you see anywhere). I will just say that since just about everywhere now has been advised to keep social distance that hopefully I’ll find a little extra time to belt out a few more posts because I have a lot of looks that I’m hoping to share.
We’ve been encouraged to have two different items as a part of our looks and I’ve gone one better and have used three. This is probably one of the only time during the course of the event that I’ll be doing this unless there may be another shape that suits the look I’m going for. Most of the time though I just throw things together and if they work I’ll snap the photo and if it doesn’t then I’ll mess around until I do find something that is to my liking (and I try not to use the same combinations that I might see in someone else’s work if it can be helped.
Vendetta Skins has three different offerings at Skin Fair and in this post I am showcasing the David skin for LeLutka, best used on the “Guy” head (which is what I personally think it looks best on). The skin comes in 4 different tones (1-4 of which I have on Tone 02) with brow and browless face types. It comes in both Bakes on Mesh tattoo layers as well as an applier HUD. The body skins are sold separately if you don’t already have other faces by Vendetta.
Lush has a face tattoo for sale that I happened to find intriguing. This is not something I would do in real life but I know more and more it’s become a trend (especially in the rap genre of music). It reminds me of Lil Peep’s face tattoos in a way and it could be what inspired this tattoo into existence. I can also tell you that this tattoo is unisex and comes packaged with BOM layers and applier HUDs for both CATWA and Omega Enabled mesh heads. Honestly it helped to complete my skater look more than I could have anticipated.
Shapes are one of the hardest things to really review (personally speaking). I do, however, like how that “Jedden” shape by The Natives works with the Vendetta skin and the LeLutka head. One other bonus is that the store went above and beyond by making a distinct frame for not only the Belleza (Jake) body but also both (Geralt and Gianni) by Signature. As much as I wish that other shape stores would do that to differentiate from the types these bodies have but it is something that gets a little extra thumbs up from me.
Skateboarding is not something I ever managed to take up in the real world as a younger man (I was a walking accident waiting to happen). At least through virtual photography I can pretend any time I wish that I am zipping through the streets or on the sidewalks of whatever sim I am on with the help of the “Pro Skater Pack 1” by Space Cadet. I have found that while the store tends to create for female avatars there is enough wiggle room that poses can be used by the guys as well. This set includes 5 different poses each with an attachable mesh skateboard (one for every pose).
The Pose Fair and Skin Fair events will be both ending by the end of next week so this is a kind reminder that you have time still to get all of the items that I’ve already posted about and all of the ones that I’ll be featuring in upcoming posts this week. Do yourself a favor and if you have the time to come by and look around and pick up something from either or both, you’ll be more than glad you did.
And I ask myself, when my time will come
Will I run away, will I run away?
POSE: Space Cadet – Pro Skater 1 @ Pose Fair ✦ NEW
HAIR: Yuth – Jason (Blk) HEAD: LeLUTKA – Guy v3.4 FACE: Vendetta – David (Tone 02) @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW TATTOO: Lush – Nightbreed @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW BODY: Signature – Geralt v1.5 SHAPE: The Natives – Jedden @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW
Baby be the class clown
I’ll be the beauty queen in tears
It’s a new art form showing people how little we care
We’re so happy, even when we’re smilin’ out of fear
Let’s go down to the tennis court, and talk it up like yeah
Lorde, ♫Tennis Court♫
For a time (probably in my teens) I had this thing for Tennis. It was like this fascination I had with it even though it can be really boring for some people to watch. It was something that at least inspired me to get out and get fresh air and get exercise even when I wasn’t completely good at it. I would watch all the Grand Slam events on television and cheer for my favorites like Andre Agassi and jeer my least favorites like Pete Sampras. It was all in part to the influence my brother had on me and the things he liked were kind of an impression on me.
I find it really funny in a way that many years later I am like super excited to see well made tennis poses. OsTentatoN has three tennis themed sets out right now at the Pose Fair that I think for photographers and bloggers will really enjoy creating fun looks and be reminded that warm weather (at least for us in the US) is coming soon.
TennisCouple is a set of poses 4 can be purchased as single packs but there is an advantage of getting the FatPack because it includes one extra pose that you cannot get unless you do. Each set comes with a supplied mesh racket for both men and women (except in the pose I’m using which only the female one is needed). The great thing about it is that it comes with it’s own court backdrop (which is a clay court). It’s really well done and the textures on it are details but if I could have made one suggestion is that the court could have had a texture changer for those who prefer grass or hard courts as well. Clay was never my favorite to watch but it was amusing to see the tennis players white uniforms get destroyed with the orange of the clay that seemed to always get on them.
This set is available right now exclusively at Pose Fairs 10th Anniversary Round and it runs through the end of the month. Take a look at this pack and some of the other fun works by OsTentatioN while you are there!
Tennis belongs to the individualistic past – a hero, or at most a pair of friends or lovers, against the world.
Jaques Barzun
POSE: OsTentatioN – TennisCouple @ Pose Fair ✦ NEW
Don’t leave here with hope
Don’t leave here alone
Don’t be like you were
Don’t be like you are now
The Dangerous Summer, ♫Where Were You When The Sky Opened Up♫
Skin Fair 2020 is now officially open and is brought to us all by Pale Girl Productions and Taox Tattoo. Sponsors for the event include such stores as: Signature Body, CATWA, LeLUTKA, LOGO, Akeruka and Genus Project. It boasts the best in all things bento heads, body shapes, makeup and accessories, tattoos but most importantly SKINS! I am going to be bringing a lot of diverse poses from this event for the next two weeks so I hope that all of you enjoy this ride with me and that after visiting you are inspired to take a trip to shop.
There are two sims packed full of goods that you can choose from that house some of the best stores on the grid. You will find names like Stray Dog, Clef de Peau, The Skinnery, Deetalez and many more. If you are feeling like your avatar needs a little tweak or a major overhaul this is the place to fill that need.
One of the most sought after items at the event are the new LeLUTKA heads (Skyler and Lake) and today I’m featuring the Skyler head with its base skin which works with the body appliers from Clef de Peau. The new “Evolution” heads have been designed to be used mainly as a Bakes On Mesh product but keep in mind you can still use appliers (so there’s no freaking out involved). Unlike previous incarnations of LeLUTKA heads these new versions have materials add on layers that help your avatar look younger or older or even have tear stained or rain covered faces. There are a lot of animations right out of the gate on the HUD and different ways to manipulate expressions. I think that it is one of the most innovative setups that I have seen out of a head and it’s possible to say that for the male version of me this handsome devil will be sticking around as my more permanent look for the foreseeable future.
Also available now is the EY19B Full Moon Eyes pack for the Ultimate Eyes by GA.EG. This 9 color iris pack is materials enabled and once you install it into the Ultimate Eyes HUD you can choose whether or not they animate. It’s a really cool thing if you’ve never experienced this product. Eyes tend to be hard to capture in main shots so I’ve made sure to give you a good look at them and also a closer look at the Skyler head as well.
Let’s also not forget that Pose Fair is still going strong in it’s first full week of being open. The pose back I’m using is also a breathing animation one by SINCHI called “Norman”. The thing I find with breathing poses is that they are very subtle and without really being able to take a gif or video it is hard to show. Though it is pretty easy go imagine that it looks a lot like simulated breathing. Inside the pack there are 4 different poses to use and are usable in tons of different pose situations so don’t let the fact they have breathing animations deter you. You can also plop them into an AO as well for those non spastic stands.
Before I wrap this all up, I want to leave for you the location of both the North and South sims of Skin Fair along with a map to help guide you to find the stores that you want to shop quickly without having to wander around aimlessly in such a big space. It’s easy to get lost as I did a quick walk through and didn’t use the map and I was turned around pretty quickly. This tells you not to be like me! Have fun and if you don’t get in right on the first or second day just keep trying because it’s always the busiest when it first opens.
Where were you when the sky opened up?
Is that when we died?
Is that when we learned to survive?
Watch me as I cut through my relationships
I hold onto love
Then I leave on my own again
POSE: SINCHI – Norman Breathing Pack @ Pose Fair ✦ NEW
HAIR: Stealthic – Atlas HEAD: LeLutka – Skyler @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW EYES: GA.EG – EY19B Full Moon Pack @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW BODY: Signature – Gianni v5.0
So much like a man I just had to say,
“Son, I’m proud of you. Can you sit for a while?”
He shook his head, and he said with a smile,
“What I’d really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys.
See you later. Can I have them please?”
Cats In The Cradle, ♫Ugly Kid Joe♫
My journey through the Pose Fair has been a fun one so far and we’re almost a full week in with all of the wonderful things you can get at the event. For this post I’ve selected two of the packs from a relatively new (to me) store named Beras. I’ve seen their poses in different weekend sales and things and really liked the looks of them so when the opportunity presented itself to blog them I did. Keep in mind that these poses have breathing animations so they are not 100% static poses. At this time I don’t have the capability to show the breathing part to you but these are not only good for picture taking but you can put them in a standing AO and give off the appearance of being a living, breathing human.
Both the Trevor and Bob Breathing Pose Packs contain 4 poses each (Trevor has an alternate pose in his pack). I really like these poses and sometimes breathing ones are a challenge to capture well but I think in this instance it worked out great.
For one of the looks I am wearing items from Skin Fair but I’m going to go into a more detailed blog for that later on today. There’s a lot of photo taking and writing going on which is definitely keeping me very busy. If some of my entries are a little short it works out for me writing less and for you the reader to read less haha!
The absent are never without fault, nor the present without excuse.
Benjamin Franklin
POSE: Beras – Trevor Breathing AO Pose Pack @ Pose Fair ✦ NEW POSE: Beras – Bob Breathing AO Pose Pack @ Pose Fair ✦ NEW
These Conversations Kill 