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Wednesday, September 30, 2009

NCS2 Rebooted

Letter to the Naruto SL Community from the Creators of NCS

We are well aware of rival combat systems attempting to label NCS2 as “dead.” I can assure you, we are most certainly not! We are in the midst of performing some major restructuring, to address all of the issues the community has had with thus far. We have had great success in this regard.

Any attacks from rival system should be seen as desperation. They want NCS2 out of the way. We will not comply with them. You deserve better.

The incident of some NCS development team leaving, and as a result the removal of Iwakgaure, can be summarized as this: some members of the team did not agree with some of the clans being added, and those members threatened to leave if they didn’t get their way. NCS does not run like that. As a result, those particularly disgruntled members left and took what they could and did whatever they could to hinder future development of NCS.

The rest of the development team feel the community should be informed about the subject, as there have been many rumors and mentionings of what actually happened.

* * * * *

Down but not out. Despite a setback, Naruto Combat System version 2’s development is still on track, and the sim will soon be open for both business, combat, and roleplay. “People think we are dead,” Bioblaze Payne told SL Newspaper, “I just wanted to set the record straight.” A look at the NCS Official Mall District showed a shopping area constructed with some of the stores filled and the team looking for more. “I just opened up the sim,” Bioblaze explained.

Bioblaze went on to say his goal was to bring both elements of “massive multiplayer online” and “first-person shooter” to NCS2, “Everyone can make a prim fire from another prim. We are trying to bring meaning to it, melding both role-playing, with constant action, to combine a seamless yet, interesting form of playing that has yet to be named, on Second Life that is.”

Bioblaze showed a picture of the new HUD display, which was different from the previous version, “We are debating if to use countries or villages. We have yet to decide. We will be including a TOS (notecard) on creation of your character along, with a full database, to show your stats to your friends, and even look them up online, giving people not only control over their character, but actual Information on what they have purchased and objects they have won from tournaments, as well as other things.”

“Going along with this System, we are adding several styles of taijutsu along with almost fifteen Clans. We are sporting clans that are in the anime, not sticking ourselves to just the normal clans, but the clans that are within the anime and manga itself, branching off to where other Naruto combat Systems have yet to tread. By doing this, we are hoping to have a very in-depth system. People will no longer have 15 HUDs with 15 characters. They will have one HUD with one character, and may buy additional slots to store new character data.”

“We are not only implementing a new HUD, but we are also doing a Team-Based System and a Role-Playing Tool. You and your friends can attach a special HUD which will be very very low cost, and none of you will be able to damage each other on Role Playing Missions and SL Grid Wide Missions, allowing you to communicate off the radar. If you are familiar with Naruto, they have a Squad based system. With the Team HUD you will be able to make your own Squad so several team members can gain experience, as well as Different objects/items/stats from various missions/battles/tournaments. At the top you will be able to place your own Team name which will auto fill once you have all agreed on the Squad name. The Squads will have a one-time fee, and will be identified throughout Second Life by their name and picture. We will work on haven this also shows on the webpage, given a list of all the squads for every single village.” The HUD itself will still be free, “Never going to charge for it.”

Of the sim, Bioblaze explained everything should be up and running within a week, two weeks at most, “period.” He and his teammates, such as texture artist Syhon Hoxley, lead builder MeetThe Engineer, and Bioblaze’s partner Dark Broome were busy setting things up, “We’re currently working on a few juitsus.”

Bioblaze explained the HUD version in development could not be shown, “Too many people want to try and copy us. ... but the basic style of the artwork hasn’t changed. A basic idea of what’s to com. ... People want to be the best, and NCS2 is the best Naruto system combat-wise. We pull all the stops to get things done.”

Bixyl Shuftan

New Music - Mikey Wax - Change Again



Mikey Wax is another artist I manage to run into on my time on the internet - indeed, I bet I spend too much time here. So I check out his music, and turns out I like it very much. Mikey is an independent singer/songwriter, and released his first CD Change Again to some great reviews. The Long Island-based Wax has been touring all over the country, gaining fans with each and every stop. One reason is the great songs, like his first video release, In Case I Go Again. Sure, he might be a Str8 boy, but I do believe they need love too. Especially if they are cute!



I downloaded the CD at CD Baby, and the 13-song effort charmed me on the first listen. Change Again opened up with Slow Motion, a mid-tempo song piano-driven song with just amazing lyrics. The song is about the end of relationship and letting go, and include these lines: "In a moment she will say these words, I can hear them just before she talks, By the way we stare I know it's going to hurt, And before she can explain, We share the pain." Wow.



That is followed by In Case I Go Again, the video above. I really love that song. Hourglass (Time Will Find A Way) is an excellent up-tempo song, and Change Your Mind is just sweet as a soft ballad. Actually, I really like all the songs, and find he really has a great way with his lyrics. And those lyrics are perfect for his emotive voice.



The music of Mikey Wax is available on iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby. He also has several concert videos on YouTube found here.You can find more information about Mikey on his website, found here. On his website, I found a couple of free downloads, one of which is an incredible cover of La Vie En Rose, the Edith Piaf song. I find it breathtaking, so will end with the video.

New Music - SIRPAUL - Where The Wild Things Are

SIRPAUL
SIRPAUL

I really like SIRPAUL, and not just because he is so freakin' hot. I really like his music, even though it seems to go on a constant path of evolution. Listening to him involves twists and turns, and I am kinda likin' that. Anyway, in a quick one, this afternoon SIRPAUL posted a YouTube video with a new song, Where The Wild Things Are. The video is a slide show of some hot shots of SIRPAUL, doing there thing while the song plays. It is an electro-funk/dance song. And it was a great excuse to go through his pictures again, and make me a little warm...



You can find out more about SIRPAUL at his official website here.

Great TV - In The Life October



I think In The Life is a great television series, one that remains under-rated and under-viewed. It is a valuable source for the history and current issues facing the gay community. It runs on PBS, and you can check your local listings for the air dates for the current episode.



For the October episode, the have the following description:
40 years after the Stonewall uprising, the LGBT movement is more visible than ever. But many queer people who do not conform to the image of gender, race and class most pervasive in the media, remain largely invisible—even to the movement. This month, we look at how LGBT people living on the economic margins of our society are organizing themselves to find housing, improve their professional skills, and obtain employment and health care.



You can watch episodes online here. To find out when it will be broadcast in your area, click here. Please support this great show.

Worth Another Listen - The Guess Who



The Guess Who are a Canadian group perhaps best known for their song American Woman. Through the years, the roster of the bands changed often and quickly, but the particular section that interests me is the late 60s and late 70s. It was at that time Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman were leading the charge, writing together and Burton's voice so crystal clear and Bachman's guitar work so strong and driving.



I am the 5th out of 6 kids, so while I might be a bit young, I was listening to my sister's music, so feel some of that music was also mine. And The Guess Who are one of them. I listened to them in my preteen years, and still have a fondness. Burton Cummings went on to a solo career, his big hit being Stand Tall. Randy Bachman went on to form the Bachamn-Turner Overdrive or BTO, and had the hits You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet and Takin' Care of Business, both staples of rock radio.



Both have returned from time to time to the band, but never for a long haul. The Guess Who is still touring today, although without Bachman and Cummings.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Cartoon of the Day



(Man) "Miss, it's closing time, so you'll have to go. Can you go grab a cab?"

(Macro) "How about if I just grab YOU?!"

New Video - Angela Leo - You'd Be Here

angela leo

Angela Leo is an up and coming folk artist based out of Hollywood, California, and is starting out with quite a bang. Her first video, You'd Be Here, steps up and tells much about Angela as an artist. She is beautiful, strong, talented and bold. You'd Be Here is a song about longing for lover, yet doesn't succumb to the maudlin or morose.



Instead, it celebrates that love. And it just so happens in this case, the love is for another woman. Yep, Angela is a hot and out lesbian. She has a CD out, entitled Cognitive Dissonance, and I am liking it great deal. Listening to the CD, she reminds me of a cross between Melissa Etheridge and Joan Baez, with her strong folk roots and connection to her music.

angela leo angela leo

Her music and lyrics have an organic feel, very tied to natural sources. Trying, the fourth cut on the album, is an uptempo song about growth and self-realization. It is a great song. Spring is another hot one, a ballad celebrating life with the passage of the seasons. 'Spring comes down like sunny rain. Doesn't it feel so good to be alive.' Waves of the Tide returns to the uptempo, again finding love to be a source of so much good. The One sings of a great love, with an almost tropical bossa nova beat.

angela leo angela leo

You can find out more about Angela at her official website here, or can check out her MySpace page here.

Great TV - GLEE - Rhodes Not Taken promo




Pictures posted on FaceBook by the GLEE Team.

Kristin Chenoweth guest stars tomorrow night on GLEE, joining the glee club. I am so excited, I can't say! Kristin sings Maybe This Time from Cabaret. And she is gorgeous! The LA Times had this backstage video. Enjoy.

 

GLEE is on your Fox station, Wednesday evening 9PM/8PM Central.

New Video - Noisettes - Wild Young Hearts




The Noisettes are a London-based trio preforming what has been described as indie rock, garage-punk, rock, pop-rock, and everything in between. Guitarist Dan Smith, singer/bassist Shingai Shoniwa, and drummer Jamie Morrison were quite the sensation in the UK, and recently made the trip across the ocean to start their own British Invasion. They have been hard at work, touring with TV on the Radio, Bloc Party, Muse, and Lady Gaga. They have also logged performances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Wendy Williams Show, and The Late Show with David Letterman.

Wild Young Hearts (New Version)


Just last week, Noisettes released their latest album, Wild Young Hearts. I received a email about a promotion that makes it possible to buy the 10-song cd for just $5.00! Amazon is responsible, and you can download it by clicking here. Once I give it a couple of listens, I will visit Noisettes again with the review. So far, I can tell you I really love song and video for the title cut, Wild Young Hearts.



I would be remiss if I didn't point out lead singer/bassist Shingai is beautiful, and the boys adorable. Their sound is kinda Blondie meets the GoGos for the 21st Century, with infectious rhythms layered with lots of joy. You can find out more about Noisettes by checking them out on MySpace here.

New Release - Barbra Streisand - Love Is The Answer



Yeah, like there was a shot in hell I wasn't going to be writing about this today. Barbra Streisand releases her latest album today, Love Is The Answer. It is her 63rd, and is produced by Diana Krall, a noted singer of jazz standards, and also the wife of the amazing Elvis Costello. It is a collection of love songs, standards really. Reportedly, it has been in the recording process for the past year, starting in 2008. To celebrate the release, Streisand played a date at Village Vanguard in New York City, the club she debuted at some 48 years previously, in 1961.



I saw two Tweets from Andy Cohen (@BravoAndy), in which he discussed the guests and the performance.



Well, I have been waiting for this album for some time now. Yes, I am damn near giddy. I guess that earns me back my card, right? So, I will be buying my copy today, but because I am an impatient person, I went online and found a copy, and have been listening. All I can say is that it is immaculate! The album is 12 songs, with a bonus track available. There is also a Deluxe set available, with is a second disc with the same songs, only performed with a quartet, not a phalanx of studio musicians. One of the songs is Make Someone Happy, and you can see a performance Streisand did recently.



For me, that proves she still has it. She might be 67 years old, but the voice is strong, and the interpretation flawless. Andy was right in heaping the praise. After listening to the recording, perhaps he didn't heap enough. There is such an intimacy, such softness to Love Is The Answer. It is part going to the corner bar to see your favorite singer in a smoke-filled room, just a piano and a microphone singing jazz tunes, and part tribute to an amazing talent. Chances are good you won't be catching any of the songs on Top 40 radio - maybe on adult contemporary stations at best - but it will be playing on my iPod, leaving me wistful and wanting a fireplace and a drink, as well as someone to cuddle up with.



Some early favorites so far are Where Do You Start?, a song I have loved since I heard it on a CD by Michael Feinstein. There is also If You Go Away (Ne Me Quitte Pas), a song by the amazing Jaques Brel. And Comden, Green and Jules Styne classic, Make Someone Happy. And the wonderful Jerome Kern song, Smoke Get's In Your Eyes.


Barbra with son Jason, at a recent concert, and in the early 60s.

Barbra is the mother of a gay son, Jason Gould [pictured above]. When asked about it by The Advocate, she replied, 'I would never wish for my son to be anything but what he is. He is bright, kind, sensitive, caring, and a very conscientious and good person. He is a very gifted actor and filmmaker. What more could a parent ask for in their child? I have been truly blessed. Most parents feel that their child is particularly special, and I am no different. I have a wonderful son. My only wish for my son, Jason, is that he continues to experience a rich life of love, happiness, joy, and fulfillment, both creatively and personally.' She supports marriage equality.

I have long believed that The Way We Were album was just perfect. There is not a single thing wrong with it. It also contains one of my favorites, What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life?



Love Is The Answer is available on iTunes, Amazon.com, and at retailers. You can find more information at the official website, found here.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Dark Monday - Mikail Baryshnikov



Russian born Mikail Baryshnikov is considered by many to be one of the greatest ballet dancers ever, and was certainly someone who was great for dance. He headlined for Russia's premiere ballet company, the Kirov, astounding audiences the world over with his grace, good looks, and amazing athletic ability. His leaps were legendary, as were the tales of his womanizing. In 1974, while the Kirov was touring Canada, Baryshnikov, known as Misha to his friends, controlled the headlines throughout the world by defecting to Canada.




Once he had severed his ties to Mother Russia, he set out to make a name for himself, and fully embrace the freedoms and opportunities commercialism had to offer. He danced wherever he wanted, whatever style he wanted. He became a known figure in NYC nightlife, often seen in the company of Liza Minelli and Bianca Jagger at places like Studio 54. He appeared in movies, including a brilliant turn as a former Russian ballet dancer in The Turning Point, as well in the movie White Nights.



Misha has been nominated for an Oscar, a Tony, and has won 3 Emmy Awards. One of those for a 1980 TV special, Baryshinkov on Broadway, co-starring good friend and party buddy, Liza Minnelli. The show had them performing together - dancing, playing the piano and singing - to many of the great Broadway show numbers of all times. This includes Too Darn Hot from the Cole Porter show, Kiss Me Kate.



Deciding he needs to have a big finale for the show, he finally decides on the most logical show for a dancer, A Chorus Line, and is joined by the Broadway cast of the show in the big number, One.



I think that I, like every other gay boy in the world at the time, had a massive crush [ie lust] for Baryshnikov, with his beautiful body and striking looks. But he boy was stridently str8, having a child with the gorgeous and talented Jessica Lange, and three more with former ballerina and current girlfriend Lisa Rinehart. In one of his latest acting roles, he played Aleksandr Petrovsky, the older love interest of Sarah Jessica Parker, in the series Sex and the City.

“Step Up!” to Content Theft

In the wake of the wholesale theft of sims and content over the weekend, like many people we wanted to do something about it – and also about all the other content theft that we have been fighting for so long – in the Content Creators Association and in magazines and on TV shows.

Since then we’ve talked – and have come up with the idea of the Step UP! campaign, a campaign centred on a special day of action that everyone can become involved with, and that can empower and inform people.

We are aiming for a day that draws together action, education and celebration. We want a focus that empowers people – and rather than dictates to people, allows them to express their own creativity in a variety of ways. It also draws attention to the strength of feeling that there is here on the grid.

2) We need to make people feel empowered by what they do. And, because we are hardly the most time-free people on the grid – we need something that they can largely organise themselves!

So these are our thoughts:

We are nominating a day as Step UP! Day – which will be November 5th – Guy Fawkes Day or Bonfire Night in the UK.

Action:
a) On this day – no-one uploads textures to the grid. This should show the economic power of people acting together, without harming content creators. We want Linden Lab to see the power of the feeling about the problem of content theft – and to discuss urgently strategies for tackling it.

b) As many people as possible wear an orange ribbon as a sign of support for creators. And creators can design these – they can be lapel ribbons, they can be arm bands, they can be tee-shirts … the idea is to make the orange ribbon the theme of the day. And everyone who gets a free orange ribbon gets an information sheet – explaining what content theft is, what they can do about it etc. And they also get an information pack that they can give to their friends (which also contains an orange ribbon for their friends).

Why orange? It’s been used before, but has no overwhelming association (unlike pink or red ribbons). It’s a bright, noticeable colour. It suggests explosions and colour …

And it’s an opportunity for stores and content creators to become involved too.

Celebration:
The day ends with parties. Bonfire parties. That means that all around the grid, people have parties.

We’re not going to be trying to stage Big Events that maybe only 60 or 70 people can cram into. Instead we encourage every club to hold a Step Up! party. We encourage every musician to play Step UP! events. Everyone on the grid has a part to play. Everyone can take part.

Education:
This is going to come in several forms.

1) Info pack
These will be given out with orange ribbons in stores and at parties.

2) Media
Audio and Visual service ads. The Press. The Blogsphere – everyone can play there part in getting out the message that we have had enough, and we have chosen to Step UP! against content theft.

3) Video
Short informational films – tutorials about content theft.

On the Designing Worlds shows we’ve talked again and again about the need for a social shift – so that people see content theft as socially and morally unacceptable. So … let’s go for it!

Watch this space for more details on how you can become involved, and how you can share with us your plans for Step UP! Day.

The concept originates with a small group – Angie Mornington, Gabrielle Riel, Gwen Carillon and Saffia Widdershins. But more and more people are now becoming involved. And you can too.


From the “Step Up!” website at http://stepupsl.wordpress.com/

Chapter 6

Ah, Ethan couldn't be more of a Roland if he tried! All the time he spends in the garden tending to it gets him in the mood to run through the sprinkler every once in awhile. Ethan's LTW is to have the perfect garden and I will do everything I can to make that happen, so what if he's not the heir this generation.
As anyone who reads through my legacy thread on boolprop knows, Calista has been picked as heir this generation. Fellow readers seemed to like her and I knew she'd keep things interesting after her LTW options popped up . Lets not forget Jaedon though. He will stay in the legacy house for now until he reaches his LTW of maxing out the painting and guitar skills.
I didn't really have a favorite from this generation but Juliet would have been a close second to Calista for me. I just like that she's insane. Austin and her are still only friends, but hopefully that'll change soon since she'll be moving out when she becomes a young adult.
Valarie's cute and all, but she's a bit boring. All she wants to do is jog around the neighborhood or go swimming. Calista will totally change things up a bit.
Dmitri is the sole owner of three different businesses downtown. Once a week, he goes out and collects money from each of them. Who knew it could be so easy to run a business!
Calista and Adam had been friends since childhood but she never thought he was boyfriend material. That all changed the minute her goodie-two-shoes sister, Valarie, expressed an interest in him. There was no way she was going to let her have him, so before Valarie even had a chance Calista put the moves on Adam. Ever since then, he's been like a lost puppy dog that can't be without her.
One relationship that's pure and true is Ethan and Stephanie's. They have been dating for many years and are very happy together. Their future hasn't been decided yet but they can't see one without the other one in it. Ethan just has to finish his LTW first.
Calista: "Adam, I know we've been getting pretty close lately, more then I would have ever dreamed, so maybe we should make it official."
Adam: "You mean like boyfriend and girlfriend?"
Calista: "Yeah, that way my sister knows you're off limits."
Adam: "I would be honored to be your boyfriend, but you have nothing to worry about as far as your sister is concerned. She's sweet and all but you have my heart."
Jaedon is progressing quite nicely with his painting skills. He wanted to make sure to paint his parents portraits before they became elders. Dmitri's was started just in the nick of time while Katie's was completed a couple days early.
With all her kids teenagers or older, Katie can finally focus on her career. For years she had been stuck in the same old position but she's recently made several advances and is moving up quickly. At least twice a week she makes rounds to her friends homes to get the latest scoop from them on the neighborhood crime and write reports on them.
She's getting older and things aren't so easy anymore. Her body isn't as limber as it once was and her memory keeps playing tricks on her. Hopefully, it won't effect her career too much. She still really wants to become an International Super Spy.
Ethan went out to collect some seeds but got a bit distracted when he found some beautiful butterflies fluttering around. He just had to check them out.
It may not be the right time to start playing the guitar in front of city hall, but Jaedon doesn't seem to mind. If he's lucky, the protesters will remember his music and come back to tip him when they aren't ranting and raving.
Yay! It's about darn time. These two have been friends for way too long. I'm glad to see they finally crossed over that line. For awhile there I thought Austin might not be interested since Juliet's not totally with it all the time.
Dmitri has a lot of spare time on his hands these days. Katie is working hard on her career and all his kids are usually out and about doing something. His job in the business field keeps him busy most days but he needed a hobby to keep him busy at night. Stargazing is filling that void very well. He's already discovered a couple of stars.
What is this? Catherine, who writes the DeCasims legacy, would be so disappointed. It almost looks like Dmitri in the background is over seeing that they all finish their homework before school. He looks so professional in his business suit.
After Adam rejected Valarie for a kiss, she'd promptly written him off. He was in too close with her evil sister and if he couldn't see how awful she was then forget him! In time, he'd get what was coming to him anyway. There weren't really any other boys her age that appealed to her so any romance potential would have to wait until she became a young adult. Valarie was determined to stay in great shape until then.
Do any of you know what this is? I certainly didn't but figured I'd check it out anyways. It's the death flower and I found it growing in the cemetery. Of course, I had Ethan pick it and replant it at home. I have no idea what it does, but I'm guessing it's either real bad or real good.
Ethan's garden is coming along nicely. He's got a couple perfect plants growing and has taken up talking to them in hopes it'll make them better quality. I've started disposing of low quality plants and replanting them with their higher quality picked produce. This is helping increase the quality rather quickly. Calista didn't even flinch when she saw how hurt Valarie was when Adam rejected her attempt at a kiss with him. In fact, she felt a sick sense of satisfaction from it. Adam may be her oldest friend but he really doesn't make her heart flutter at the mere sight of him like she'd hope. Once Valarie was clearly out of the picture, she'd have to break things off with him.
Another hobby Dmitri has taken up or rather picked up again, was upgrading the appliances around the legacy house. Here he is improving the quality of food that can be cooked in the oven. I don't know how banging on the stove accomplishes that but okay.
It's birthday time and the girls got cake because Ethan lured one out on his daily fishing trip. He bought two more on his way home so they'd each have their own candles to blow out. First up was Valarie. She ended up going to school late on her final day because she got glitched and finished school with a B so I couldn't pick her final trait. She was assigned lucky. That sucks since this trait is suppose to be the family trait. Oh well...not like she's the heiress anyways. Her LTW is to become a Superstar.
Juliet was up next. I kept randomizing the last trait until one of Eddie's original trait's showed up. This is actually how I'm improvising instead of using a die to roll. It totally works. Juliet added inappropriate to her list of traits which won't effect her much since she's insane and already wears clothes that don't make much sense. Her LTW is the same as Jaedon's, max out painting and the guitar skills.
I saved the best for last. Calista added commitment issues to her traits and the LTW Heartbreaker popped up. Up until this point, I figured she'd become Empress of Evil but after her reaction to Valarie's interest in Adam I couldn't not chose Heartbreaker for her. If hrootbeer's second legacy, Succubus, premise could be based on this LTW then I could certainly survive one generation of it.
For once, our fair Juliet didn't waste a second taking her relationship with Austin to the next level. She called him up the day after her birthday and asked if he'd like to get married. Of course, he said yes. They wed immediately and are living in a nice cozy house together that I made just for them.
Calista was anxious to get a start on her LTW so she headed over to the neighbors. She had not met them before but knew there were two males and only one female living there. Theodore greeted her at the door and invited her in. Mere seconds past before Calista asked if he was involved with someone. It turns out he's a happily married man.
The other male in the house, Lawrence, was holding a baby in his hands. That didn't look very promising. As it turns out though, Theodore is the baby's father and Lawrence is 100% single. He will so be boyfriend #2 once Adam becomes a young adult and Calista breaks it off with him.
Like her sisters, Valarie was preparing for her future too. She took a job at the local stadium as a rabid fan in the hopes she would quickly move up the career ladder there.
Valarie was also finally making some real progress in romance. Juliet had been telling Valarie about Austin's older brother, Brad, for months but Valarie wasn't old enough to date him until now. After introducing the two at the park, Juliet left them alone to chat.
On a side note: my lot has to be glitched! I'm fairly certain ghosts are only suppose to come out at night but not the Rolands...they come out whenever they feel like it and apparently magically pull newspapers and books out of their pockets. The newspaper delivery boy is always complaining about how many newspapers are laying around. Stupid ghosts!
Dmitri: "Oh Calista, you should so totally become a scientist! That would be the coolest thing ever."
Calista: "What? Why?"
Dmitri: "After raising your siblings and you, it's the next largest wish of mine."
Calista: "But scientists wear horrible clothes!"
Dmitri: "C'mon, just think of all the evil experiments you could do."
Calista: "Hmm...what a good idea. You may have convinced me."
While all sorts of evil thoughts were racing through Calista's mind, nothing but sweet and enduring thoughts were running through Ethan's. He knew he had to achieve his LTW before he could tie the knot with Stephanie but he wanted to make sure she'd be waiting for him when he was ready. She accepted his proposal under the condition that he wouldn't make her wait until she was an elder for them to wed. He really hoped it wouldn't take that long to get his perfect garden.
Calista was eager to get Lawrence wrapped around her little finger. Everything was going according to plan so far.
Calista wasn't the only one getting some action. Brad found Valarie very smart and attractive and Valarie thought Brad was a big, sweet teddy bear. Valarie was maybe a little too eager to finally have a boyfriend though.
When he's not busy painting, Jaedon can usually be found playing the guitar in front of the bistro. City Hall seems to draw a much larger crowd when he plays there so he may be setting up camp there next time. The lady in this picture is his biggest fan yet!
Katie looks almost like a mad scientist from TS2 but with rubber gloves. Don't be fooled though she's a special agent in the police force. This is merely her disguise.
City Hall is definitely a better place to play then the bistro. Jaedon's only been there for about an hour and he already has three listeners. His tips are getting bigger too!
Calista was ready to be done with Adam and his sad puppy dog eyes he always gave her. It appeared Valarie would no longer pose a threat to her friendship with him so she broke off their relationship as gently as she could. He did not take the news very well, but he promised he'd try to stay friends with her.
Who knew playing the guitar at City Hall could snagged Jaedon a woman. Miley had spent the day dancing to his tunes. When he was ready to call it quits for the evening Miley struck up a conversation with him. Well, maybe there was more flirting then talking but Jaedon didn't really mind.
Valarie: "Oh no, are you pregnant too?"
Calista: "Yeah, it's not that terrible of a thing."
Valarie: "What are you talking about? Yes, it is! You're not married and neither am I. This is horrible!"
Calista: "Oh, please. We aren't living in the dark ages anymore. Sims woohoo with each other when they aren't married and get knocked up all the time."
Valarie: "Well, are you going to marry the babies father?"
Calista: "No way!"
Valarie: "Are you mad? Don't you want to do right by your child?"
Calista: "My child will be just fine. Their dad doesn't even like children so they'll probably be better off without him."
Valarie: "I'm going to make sure I'm married before my baby is born and I'd advise you to do the same."
Calista: "Whatever! Get out of my face!"

Valarie moved in with Brad and his parents shortly after this.
Needless to say, Lawrence was not too pleased to learn Calista was pregnant with his baby. At Calista's request he agreed to go steady with her for the baby's sake. Neither was ready to start talking about marriage though.
Boyfriend or no boyfriend, pregnant or not pregnant, nothing was going to stop Calista from pursuing her LTW. Calista met Logan right outside City Hall where Jaedon was playing his guitar. She figured most men weren't interested in pregnant woman so for the time being she just wanted to build their friendship. When the time was right she'd make sure they'd become more then that.
Apparently, ghosts like to keep in shape. I don't really get it. It's not like they could have a heart attack from not taking care of themselves and end up dying or anything crazy like that. Geesh!
Early the next morning Calista went into labor. Lawrence showed up about half way through the delivery. Afterwards, he made sure Calista and Keegan made it home okay. Keegan is brave and easily impressed.
If anyone ever doubted who the father of Calista's baby was, Keegan's fair skin should convince you it's Keegan and not Adam. Calista never actually woohoo'd with Adam so that's virtually impossible anyways.
Calista: "So, uh look, I know I wanted to be your girlfriend while I was pregnant but I think that was the hormones speaking. I'm not ready to be tied down yet."
Lawrence: "Phew! I thought you were going to give me the marriage speech. This was so much better."
Calista: "Don't let that stop you from visiting Keegan whenever you want though."
Lawrence: "Oh, maybe when he's a teenager. I can't stand kids!"