Scylla Rhiadra

Bowen: Why some Palestinians aren't convinced by Starmer's promise Some say Britain's decision is an important first step – while others worry it won't make a real difference.

One of the better stories by the BBC on the plight of the Palestinians, especially in the West Bank.

www.bbc.com/news/article...

A woman in a sundress stands in an art gallery looking at a large mounted image of the Eiffel Tower.

This past Sunday, I was able to attend the opening of a new exhibition of landscapes by @inarapey.secondlife.bio at the IMAGO Gallery. They're lovely. I bought this one.

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/A...

Almost a third of people in Gaza 'not eating for days,' UN warns Israel faces increasing pressure from Western allies to lift restrictions into the flow of aid into Gaza.

"In my entire career, I have never witnessed the level of brutality and use of indiscriminate and unnecessary force against a civilian population until I was in Gaza at the hands of the IDF and US contractors."

Almost 1/3 of Gazans are going days without food.

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Canada says ‘the war in Gaza must end now’ alongside 24 other countries - National | Globalnews.ca The foreign ministers are calling on Israel to lift all restrictions on aid delivery and to enable the United Nations and humanitarian groups to do their work safely.

#Canada is a signatory to the new international statement issued condemning Israel's choking of aid to Gaza.

Yet the #CBC has buried this news near the end of another story on Gaza. #CTV and @globalnews.ca at least devote (short) separate news items to it.

globalnews.ca/news/1129669...

Israeli forces kill 67 Palestinians seeking aid in northern Gaza, Hamas-run ministry says The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had "fired warning shots" and disputed the number of reported deaths.

"There have been almost daily reports of Palestinians being killed while seeking food since late May. On Saturday at least 32 people were killed by Israeli gunfire near two aid distribution points in southern Gaza, according to the ministry."

www.bbc.com/news/article...

#GazalsStarving

USAID officially closes, attracting condemnation from Obama and Bush As the US agency officially winds down foreign aid operations, former presidents hit out at Donald Trump.

Because, yes, the cruelty is the point.

"These aid cuts could cause more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, according to a warning published by researchers in the Lancet medical journal."

www.bbc.com/news/article...

‘They just see you as an Arab’: Israel’s Palestinian citizens given cursory protection from attack Deaths of four family members sheltering in supposed ‘safe rooms’ in Tamra highlight racial inequality of Israel’s defence of its citizens

"In common with most Palestinian-majority towns, Tamra does not have a single underground shelter. Like much else in Israel, there is nothing equal about the way death comes from the sky."

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Thousands of New Yorkers march in lower Manhattan calling for ICE out of New York.

Starting at Foley Square and organized by PSL, the masses have flooded the streets and are moving west. This demo is permitted but even if it wasn’t, it would be far too large for NYPD to contain.

Thousands join anti-austerity march in London to protest against Labour’s cuts The demonstration, organised by the People’s Assembly, called on Keir Starmer’s government to tax the rich to pay for services

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Be inspired! Thousands join anti-austerity march in #London to protest against cuts by Toryish Labour government.

Alt: Rows of protesters carrying signs such as “Stop the Cuts.”

The Manitoba legislature has passed Bill 43, adding gender expression to the provincial human rights code.

In this doom and gloom climate, it's important to mark victories like this, to remember that despite the rise of the far right, we can still organize and win for 🏳️‍🌈 people.

Next to a path in a park, a woman with rainbow-coloured hair sits in front of a vendor for Second Pride in Second Life.

I've installed a Second Pride kiosk at SLLU Unity Station! Drop by for up-to-date info on Second Pride, a group joiner, a LM to the events, and an opportunity to make a donation to Second Pride that will be donated to the RL charity "It Gets Better."

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/O...

And it was so lovely to see you, and chat!!! I'm just glad I was able to get past the Securikitty!

Hitch a ride to Unity Station Second Life Left Unity. This kiosk has been confirmed by your friendly securikitty. Raising L$ for Second Pride. LGBTQ+2. #SecondLife

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/O...

Gaza now worse than hell on earth, humanitarian chief tells BBC The situation in Gaza surpasses "any acceptable, legal, moral, and humane standard", the ICRC tells BBC's Jeremy Bowen.

"In the last few days, the ICRC surgical teams at their field hospital in Rafah near the GHF zone have been overwhelmed at least twice by the volume of casualties in the turmoil of the food operation."

It's almost as though the GHF were part of the problem, no?

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Dozens reported killed as Israel acknowledges troops opened fire near Gaza food point For the third time in as many days, Palestinians in Gaza have been shot while trying to get food. Israel has acknowledged that its soldiers opened fire on people who were approaching them.

For the third time in as many days, Palestinians in Gaza have been shot while trying to get food. Israel has acknowledged that its soldiers opened fire on people who were approaching them.

CARTOON OF THE DAY😕 🇺🇸

(From @billbramhall.bsky.social )

Three women in bathing suits stand hesitantly at the edge of a large public pool, their backs to the camera. One leans down. Black and white.

"Mermaids"

An image on display at my show "Water" at the Petite Industrial Gallery.

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/G...

Although not very "dramatic" perhaps, I'm especially fond of this one because I find it so evocative of my own memories.

#DigitalArt #VirtualPhotography #SecondLife

This "threat" just increases the incentive.

This.

“It’s a lot easier to destroy a thing than to build a thing.”

A woman in a dark Edwardian dress stands in a shady room with her back to the viewer. Light from a window behind her illuminates a wall, upon which can be seen a painting of two Edwardian women walking along a beach by the sea; the woman in the image is gazing at this painting. Beneath the window is a small table with lace tablecloth, and a pot and cup of tea.

"A Walk on the Beach"

A work on display for my exhibit "Water," currently at the Petite Industrial Gallery.

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/G...

(The painting in this image is Joaquín Sorolla's "Strolling along the Seashore," 1909)

#DigitalArt #VirtualPhotography #SecondLife

A black and white image of a woman in a short white dress standing, her back to the camera and at some distance, in flat, misty, and fairly barren landscape. In the foreground is a pool of water catching her reflection.

The Pool Between Worlds

An image on display at my show "Water," now open at the Petite Industrial Gallery.

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/G...

#DigitalArt #VirtualPhotography #SecondLife

Israel-Gaza live updates: UN says aid yet to reach Gazans as pressure grows on Israel Israeli officials said 93 trucks entered Gaza on Tuesday, but the UN said no aid has been distributed so far.

"Two million people are facing starvation in Gaza. All eyes have been on the spot where the trucks are supposed to be taking or getting the food to the people. That is not happening."

Are we allowed to call this a fucking genocide yet?

www.bbc.com/news/live/cj...

UN says no aid distributed so far in Gaza today, as UK suspends Israel trade talks - live updates It comes after UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy warns that Israel's war in Gaza is entering a

The UN reports that 14,000 children are at risk of dying of starvation within the next 48 hours.

Meanwhile, the trickle of aid that Israel is permitting into Gaza is being delayed by the IDF. No aid has been distributed today.

www.bbc.com/news/live/cq...

Canada, Britain, France threaten action if Israel does not stop military offensive and lift aid restrictions | CBC News Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel would control the whole of Gaza despite mounting international pressure that forced it to lift a blockade on aid supplies that has lef...

Now . . . will they back it up with action? Because this isn't going to stop Netanyahu.

Or is this just a PR bluff?

www.cbc.ca/news/world/i...

Blank and white picture showing an overhead view of a naked woman curled into a fetal position beneath the water of a white bathtub.

"Return"

Another of the images on display at my show "Water," opening on Sunday at 12 Noon SLT at the Petite Industrial Gallery's "Spring Expo."

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/G...

You're doing a great line in What-Aboutism today.

Maybe! But some people certainly stood up to be counted.

And on the subject of safeguards for consumers, protections for the vulnerable, and a more ethical platform, you sure spoke loud and clear, didn't you?

You voted for The Man. Well done?

If nothing else, it's been an enlightening exercise.

No.

Are you saying that there should be no consumer protections in place against commercial manipulation, fraud, and scams?

LL isn't requiring that merchants post odds on their machines, nor even regulating them to ensure that the machines aren't rigged. As some in the past have been.

I don't think that "LL is sh*tty, but the industry is even sh*ttier, so LL should get a pass on being sh*ttier too" is quite the winning argument you think it is, Crush.

Read the room.