Buam & Madln

I am often asked by my fellow Second Lifers that I must be excited about Oktoberfest and since I am German I must love beer. I can tell you already the answer is no for both of those questions.

Oktoberfest originated in Munich in the State of Bavaria. (I come from Hesse=Hessen) Just like the United States, Germany has several States and regions and each has its own traditions and festivals. Since many German immigrants brought some of these traditions to the USA, they of course brought the Oktoberfest with them. 

The Festival has become more popular in other regions of Germany as well, because who would turn down a chance to celebrate some Gemütlichkeit (a German word I use most often because I feel it applies to Oktoberfest more than any other word or phrase. Gemütlichkeit is the general feeling of coziness; the happy feeling you get when you’re surrounded by friends and loved ones, with a massive beer in your hand, shaking your booty to some sweet polka jams.) 

Second Life loves the Oktoberfest as well and many places decorate and wear the traditional Lederhosen for the Buam (boys=men)  and the Dirndl for the Madln (girls=women).

Here is another fun German word: A Zechpreller is someone who patrons a restaurant and/or bar, consumes food and/or drink, and leaves without paying. In America we call that person a… well, just use your imagination here. Regardless, you probably have a name for such behavior where you live as well because, as it turns out, jerks are universal. Now I better never, EVER hear of you being a Zechpreller at Oktoberfest, ya dig? 

And if you witness this kind of behavior yourself, be sure to call him/her out using the proper German term.

Oans, zwoa, g’suffa! Oh, I forgot I do not even drink beer, but that does not mean you cannot enjoy it. Just ask Draxter Depres for some of those Bavarian Traditions, he has some hands-on knowledge. I doubt he likes beer, because of not all German drink beer or alcohol. I do like Eierlikör, but that is for another holiday.

We are not like you old people in Second Life

 

So I had this conversation with Alfred after he brought a bunch of his friends to the Basement Club. Some were brand new others may have been here for a while and had some experience. I asked him how his friends liked it and he assured me they had a great time. I continued to ask him why none of them were dancing and he replied: " We are not like you old people who dance in Second Life." WHAT???

That can't be right now, that only old people dance here in SL. Then what is considered old in the first place? Alfred and his friends are in their early 20s, which makes them part of Generation Z.

Baby boomers are the biggest consumers of traditional media like television, radio, magazines, and newspaper. Despite being so traditional, 90% of baby boomers have a Facebook account. This generation has begun to adopt more technology in order to stay in touch with family members and reconnect with old friends. They are here in Second Life and most of them have been here the longest because of the value of real friendships.

Gen X (Millennials) still reads newspapers, magazines, listens to the radio, and watches TV (about 165 hours' worth of TV a month). However, they are also digitally savvy, and they spend the most time here in Second Life. 

The average Gen Zer received their first mobile phone at age 10.3 years. Many of them grew up playing with their parents' mobile phones or tablets. They have grown up in a hyper-connected world and the smartphone is their preferred method of communication. On average, they spend 3 hours a day on their mobile device. They do not spend much time here in Second Life, because as they tell me there is nothing to do other than Clubs and walk around. LOL....NOT!!!

Gen Zer needs instant results, they can't sit around and wait. They are hungry, they call Uber-Eats. They want something they let Amazon deliver and most have a boomer or Millenial pay for those things.

These friends of Alfred wanted "FREE" stuff to make them look better, they did not understand that the avatar they got free comes with the standard outfit. You want free clothes and stuff you have to change the body and head first and that costs a few lindens. They do not have that, because these youngins live at home.

Here is my advice: Might as well dance here like us old people in Second Life. Slow down and maybe you can get a job here and earn some Lindens.

..Nelipot.. (HAPPY FALL)

 

Nelipot is an enchanting place where autumn is in full swing. Hear the birds tweet and smell the fresh autumn air. The colors of orange, red and yellow will delight you with joy.

Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;
Lengthen night and shorten day;
Every leaf speaks bliss to me
Fluttering from the autumn tree.  ~ Emily Brontë

It is absolutely my favorite time of year. I love the colors and the cooler days and nights and as nature prepares herself for the long winter sleep.

This place is such a lovely place for photography and nature lovers. Very peaceful and quiet.

"Autumn Leaves" is a popular song and jazz standard composed by Joseph Kosma in 1945 with original lyrics by Jacques Prévert in French (original French title: "Les Feuilles Mortes"), and later by Johnny Mercer in English. An instrumental version by pianist Roger Williams was a number one best-seller in the US Billboard charts of 1955. My favorite version of the song I once used in a Second Life Video. Go check it out, it was one of my first creations way back. 

Autumn Leaves ~ Coldcut.

Autumn leaves fall and are swept out of sight
The words that you said have come true
Autumn leaves fall and are swept out of sight
So is the memory of love that we knew
The wind of forgetfulness blows them
Into the night of regret
The song we so often did sing
Is echoing echoing yet
The falling leaves
Drift by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips
The summer kisses
The sunburned hands I used to hold

Since you went away, the days grow long
And soon I'll hear cold winter song
But I miss you most of all, my darling
When autumn leaves start to fall
When autumn leaves start to fall
Autumn leaves
Autumn leaves start to fall
Start to fall

My name is "Jack"

When you think of Halloween, you automatically visualize the Jack-O-Lantern or witches and ghosts. Now, you might have a few questions. For example, why does the term jack-o’-lantern have a man’s name -- “Jack?” 

At that time, people living in England reportedly called a man they did not know “Jack.” So, an unknown man carrying a lantern was sometimes called "Jack with the lantern" or "Jack of the lantern."

On all Hallow’s Eve, the Irish hollowed out Turnips, rutabagas, gourds, potatoes and beets. They placed a light in them to ward off evil spirits and keep Stingy Jack away. These were the original Jack O’Lanterns. In the 1800s waves of Irish immigrants came to America. The Irish immigrants quickly discovered that pumpkins were bigger and easier to carve out. So they used pumpkins for Jack O’Lanterns.

I love these old folklore stories and how those traditions have become an everyday thing here in the United States of America. There is no way you could think of Halloween without Jack-o-Lanterns.

As I am getting ready for the big "the pirates of Monte Likka" hunt, you will find many pumpkins here at the Retreat. Make sure you turn your windlight to night to get the full effect and listen to all the eerie sounds.

Upon one wild and windy night
Woo-oo, woo-oo, Woo-oo, woo-oo-
We, Jacks, our lanterns all did light-
The Wind it surely knew FOR


Whistle and whistle and whist! Now, list!
Woo-oo, woo-oo, Woo-oo, woo-oo-
Whirling and twirling, with turn and twist,
The wind it softly blew.

Qualify me for this dream

📺 Watch the Trailer of "The Pirates of Monte Likka" 📺

It is beginning to look like Autumn all over the Retreat, and don't forget to watch the trailer for the upcoming hunt of the Prates of Monte Likka.

And all the things that I have seen qualify me for a part in your dreams. And though I'd like to tell you exactly how I feel. Somehow the music hides it and conceals it. Some say I got devil, some say I'm an angel. I am just someone in trouble, I don't think I'm in danger. As autumn leaves fall to the ground, so will the memories fly in the wind and the rain will hide the tears. These tears are not for you, they never were, they are for me.

I love autumn and all the colors. It is my favorite time of the year and yes the Retreat is ready to qualify for this dream. The annual hunt will start on October 1 and it will be very cool in my opinion. I hope you come on over and check it out. It is all best viewed in "night" mode windlight. Turn your sounds up so you can hear all the eery noises.

20 years later ( 9/11 )

The story about "John" comes up every 9/11 anniversary, it still haunts me today and makes me wonder what happened and where he is. John would absolutely love Second Life where he could explore and fly into space. Even then the Virtual World was part of my life then and how it is now.

About 10 years ago I wrote this story, which was based on real-life, about what I remember on the day the World Trade Center came down and the events before and after it. I was really honored when it was published on Yahoo in their Yahoo contributors section about 9/11.

People like us who are in Second life are somewhat geeks of technology and before Second Life even happened I was part of this world.

The story about John started when around 2000 a community of people played on the platform Gamespy, I was part of Starfleet Command a very popular game based on Startrek. People who played this game formed a fleet and I happened to be a fleet commander. Being one of the girls who played this game was a kind of rarity because most guys did not want to have the fleet commander be a girl and be told what to do. We met online daily just like you did here in Second Life and conducted meetings and then flew our battles against other fleets. Nobody knew each other's names in real life. We revealed little about each other and only a few details, maybe where we lived or an email address to get updates for fleet meetings.

One night John revealed to us how happy and excited he was to get a job at the World Trade Center. He worked in finances and this was his dream job that finally came true. He would tell us how beautiful the view from up there was and how cool it would be to maybe one day have a reunion of all of us meet at the World Trade Center Windows of the World. You could tell how much he wanted that and we all thought how very cool this would be if we all could meet there.

Then it happened, 9/11 and suddenly the World Trade Center was gone. That night we met in our group on GameSpy and talked about the horrors and shock we all experienced. John wasn't there. We figured since he lived there he may not have power or internet services and to give him a day or two. One of the guys who lived in New Jersey across from Manhattan would tell us how he could see the smoke go on for days. 

We heard nothing from John.
It deeply hurt many of us, because we never knew to this day what happened to John. All we knew, he worked there and now he was gone. All I hope for if he did perish is that he is fighting for the Federations along with Mr. Spock and the others. Live long and Prosper, John!!!

Music makes the world go round

Music affects us in so many ways. It can make us happy and sad, it can bring so many emotions. A study conducted at Heriot-Watt University suggests the following description of personalities according to the music genres. Not sure if that is correct, because some of those genres describe me as someone with low esteem and not hard-working...see which one you are in? Not sure if I agree to any of these, but do not let it discourage you to listen to what you love. They forgot Underground 80s and Synth-Pop which you know is one of the best. ( my Opinion of course, lol)

Blues fans have high self-esteem, are creative, outgoing, gentle, and at ease
Jazz fans have high self-esteem, are creative, outgoing, and at ease
Classical music fans have high self-esteem, are creative, introverted, and at ease
Rap fans have high self-esteem and are outgoing
Opera fans have high self-esteem, are creative and gentle
Country and western fans are hardworking and outgoing
Reggae fans have high self-esteem, are creative, not hardworking, outgoing, gentle, and at ease
Dance fans are creative and outgoing but not gentle
Indie fans have low self-esteem, are creative, not hard-working, and not gentle
Bollywood fans are creative and outgoing
Rock/heavy metal fans have low self-esteem, are creative, not hard-working, not outgoing, gentle, and at ease
Chart pop fans have high self-esteem, are hardworking, outgoing, and gentle, but are not creative and not at ease
Soul fans have high self-esteem, are creative, outgoing, gentle, and at ease.

Whatever music you like be happy, enjoy it, and love what it means in your life. The great part of Second Life is that there are all kinds of music for you to enjoy. Pick your favorite or come and listen to a different one each night.

The Basement Club has music M-F with live DJs, anything from Underground 80s, Indie, a variety of rock and eclectic styles.

The Voodoo Doll

 

Voodoo, more properly spelled Vodou, is a real religion—not a cult—practiced in Haiti and other places in the Caribbean. Vodou practitioners do make dolls, but they use them for completely different purposes than revenge. Vodou dolls are used to help people with healing and as a way to communicate with deceased loved ones. 

Most voodoo dolls sold in shops in the real world are just for souvenirs, they are not real and it is mainly Hollywood that portrays the dolls as a tool to get revenge. As much as we want to stick pins into the voodoo doll imagining that it is your enemy or maybe the boss or the ex, can help release some of the negative stress they may have caused you. Just remember whatever energy you put out there you are going to get back, meaning – if you are going to use these steps to create a legion of evil minions you are going to be saddled with a whole heap of negative energy that is going to make life more than slightly unpleasant.

Oh shucks!!! And I had a list of people too.

The manipulative narcissist online

You might stereotype a narcissist’s behavior online as simply vain or self-absorbed. Yet the image of the selfie-taking narcissist does not cut it when it comes to how a narcissist truly behaves online. People share pictures of themselves online for various reasons; special occasions, meeting a new fitness goal or capturing a confident moment. Real narcissists aren’t the ones taking selfies – they are often the ones bullying, harassing, and stalking others in cyberspace.

For a narcissist online or in real life, it’s all about micromanaging and controlling others. Policing what others post, however innocuous those posts may be, and shaming them for it is one popular way narcissists get their sadistic “fix” online. Then there are the trolls who enjoy bullying and harassing, but there are also those who you think are great people and then turn out to be complete bullies. Those are the ones you have to watch out for. A NARC is charming in many ways, he will say what you want to hear. He will do what you like to see.

Once they have your trust and you shared fears and dreams with them, they will use that against you when they are ready to strike. For them, it is all a joke and they will shame you into believing that you are just over sensitive or can't take a joke.

Narcissists also don’t take “no” for an answer – to them, boundaries do not exist and do not need to be honored. They believe exploitation is a reasonable way to get their needs met. It is all a game to them and when they are done playing with you because you suddenly see the light at the end of the tunnel, they move on to the next victim. There are plenty of women who will listen to these fools and think they can fix them. Trust me, ladies, you will not change a person like that. They will play with you and when they have enough or find a better toy you will be thrown out just like the rest of us who have tried.

And yes, it is not always men who are the bullies, there are plenty of women out there who manipulate and stalk men. 

Manipulative narcissists are covert-aggressors. They use various, subtle tactics to charm, disarm, and otherwise take advantage.

They play on your emotions. Moreover, many find the game of getting the better of you amusing and satisfying. In short, they enjoy toying with you. Manipulative narcissists lack empathy. They don't care how you feel or how you're impacted by their behavior. All they care about is having their way with you. It feeds their already inflated ego to do so. To them, successfully manipulating you attests to their superiority.

Be strong and look carefully at the ingredients of the people you meet online and in real life, just like you would look at a menu...find out what is in it before you indulge.

10 years

 

Hard to believe that 10 years of my life I spent in Second Life. Many hours of exploring, chatting, creating, and discovering. 10 years is a decade of time one never thought of have spent in a virtual world, but yet here I am. It is not a loss of really anything.

The art of losing isn’t hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

People have come and go, some good, some maybe not as good. Some brought joy and some brought heartache. I always try to remember that even the virtual world brings the pain and sorrow we experience in real life because it is all connected.

What have I learned in 10 years being here? 

I find that the majority of people here, including myself have something missing in their real life, and in this virtual world, we can fill that void for a little bit. That is ok because as humans we mostly recognize that something is missing or something is not right. We look for ways to fill that emptiness or sorrow with something. Purposefulness and having a role that matters in our communities validate our existence and gives us feedback that we are important and have value. Acceptance in Second Life often is easier than in real life, so people stay and come back.

Engaging even on just a small scale, short-term activities that temporarily take your focus away from your problems gives your brain a rest from feeling the weight of confusion and frustration you’ve been drowning in.

It is normal to feel lost and confused at some point in your life. What matters is how you face challenges along the way. Whether it is to explore the virtual world of Second Life or some other creative way to fill in that void, by all means, do it, even if you spend 10 years on it.