Adult Hub teaches Avatar Skills

I'm hostnig the class in this photo. We're building rez day cupcakes for beginners. Learning about the edit menu and how to create our own script in the object. At the Adult Hub on the Freedom Continent.

The ACES Network Community Info Area

Aces Provides public information about the Network.

When visiting the ACES headquarters. Enter the building and you will see an area just like this photo. Touch the logo's of each sim/group involved in the network. Receive a landmark, a notecard of information and/or rules of that sim and group as well as a description of the network affiliate.

Dom/me Nation Meeting at Solace of Submission

Miss Paine is hostessing the meeting on 2.29.12 at Solace of Submission.

Academy of Empowerment ~ Communication

Kaddan Yue's Discussion at the Academy of Empowerment with screen display of tools revolving around effective communication.

Imagine That Everyone Is Enlightened Except You

This strategy gives you a chance to practice something that is probably completely unacceptable to you. However, if you give it a try, you might find that it's one of the most helpful exercises in self-improvement.

As the title suggest, the idea is to imagine that everyone you know and everyone you meet is perfectly enlightened. That is, everyone except you! The people you meet are all here to teach you something. Perhaps the obnoxious driver or disrespectful teenager is here to teach you about patience, the punk rocker might be here to teach you to be less judgmental.

Your job is to try to determine what the people in your life are trying to teach you. You'll find that if you do this, you'll be far less annoyed, bothered, and frustrated by the actions and imperfections of other people. you can actually get yourself in the habit of approaching life in this manner and, if you do, you'll be glad you did. Often, once you discover what someone is trying to teach you, it's easy to let go of your frustration. For example, suppose you're in the post office and the postal clerk appears to be intentionally moving slowly. Rather than feeling frustrated, ask yourself this question, "What is he trying to teach me?" Maybe you need to learn about compassion - how hard it would be to have a job that you don't like. Or perhaps you could learn a little more about being patient. Standing in line is an excellent opportunity to break your habit of feeling impatient.

You may be surprised at how fun and easy this is. All you're really doing is changing your perception from "Why are they doing this?" to "What are they trying to teach me?" Take a look around today at all the enlightened people.

From Don't Sweat The Small Stuff by Richard Carlson

Light for the world

Yesterday one of the greatest singer voices of modern times was found dead in a hotel room. Whitney Houston. Not long ago I was given the opportunity to see her live in concert, her performance showing the effects of drug abuse and other things that have been overshadowing her life while her voice once was so bright, a true spirited light to the people listening to her songs.
This tragic event made me think ... made me think of talents, the light that we have. It is what we show of it that will persist and survive the event of our life's end. It is what carries a meaning by the meaning it has for the heart and life of other people. Let's dare to stand in the light and shine to our potential.

Listen to "One Moment in Time", sung by Whitney Houston at the Grammy Awards:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYFHAvULvJ0

Know The Difference

The following is from The National Leather International Association Domestic Violence Project online flyer. I have included the link to the original at the end of this post which includes phone numbers for the NLA-I, their main web site, as well as other resources. A.C.E.S. in-world also has a notecard that contains resources as well. Just ask an A.C.E.S. Facilitator or contact JeZeBeLe Dagger, Rory Glenwalker, Jovial Denimore, or our Ombusmen for this information.

"Know The Difference"

Since there is very little education or support in mainstream society about the BDSM lifestyle it may be hard for some individuals to define the line between what is domestic violence and what is not. Many individuals still have a tendency to label our activities, lifestyle, and BDSM practices as insane or abusive no matter how highly skilled we become or how long we have studied the techniques to master specific “crafts.” Domestic violence is when one person harms or misuses another, with the intent to control in nonconsensual ways. Domestic violence can occur between any two or more intimates. Many people believe domestic violence can only happen to submissives or novices. THIS IS NOT TRUE. Domestic violence can happen to anyone regardless of their race, gender, or role in the BDSM lifestyle. Non-consensual dominance and control, also known as “domestic violence”, may come in many forms: physical abuse, threats of physical abuse, emotional abuse, threatening phone calls, disturbances at a place of employment, and stalking.

Healthy BDSM is when two or more consenting adults consent to exchange energy, power, sensations, or experiences (however extreme) in ways that fuel their mutual happiness and increase self esteem. In a healthy BDSM relationship all parties involved are actively invested in the well-being of each other and themselves. Many individuals use “safewords” as a way to distinguish their level of agreement. However, there are a number of other healthy BDSM practitioners who do not. The use of safewords is NOT the only way to distinguish consent.

If you are having lingering feelings that “this isn’t right” or that “something is wrong with this picture” then there is a cause for further consideration. It may not be abuse, but it is important to listen to your internal alarms and explore any areas that you are concerned with. An unhealthy BDSM relationship will have one (or more) partners acting in ways that create harm to someone. This harm can be physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, sexual, social, or economic. In an abusive relationship you may notice the following:

• Abuser may coerce or force a victim into agreements without their full informed consent, especially longterm contracts with newcomers.

• Abuser may manipulate a victim into financial or emotional dependence without taking precautions should conflict occur or the need to leave arise.

• Abuser may exert non-consensual control, dominance or abuse of a partners children or make demands that go against maternal or paternal responsibilities. (I.E. Restricting access to children as punishment.)

• Abuser may use threats of abandonment or loss of current contract if new demands are not met.

• Abuser may force victim to do things alone, together, or with others in ways that violate or compromise previous negotiations.

• Abuser may use name calling, mind games, denial of human necessities like food, water, shelter as needed, health care and so forth, especially in ways that reduce a victim’s self-esteem.

• Abuser may threaten to expose victim or your lifestyle to “vanilla” co-workers, family members, or children.

• Abuser may initiate Inappropriate or harmful punishments or withhold appreciation or affection as punishment.

• Abuser may deny a behavior is abusive and/or may minimize abuse. The abuser may also accuse you of making abuse up, not being submissive/Dominant enough, and so forth.

Link to complete flyer for the National Leather Association Domestic Violence Project

http://www.nlaidvproject.us/pdfs/KnowTheDifference.pdf