Do we live in a simulated universe?

 

A common answer is that we live in an infinite multiverse of universes, so we shouldn't be surprised that at least one universe has turned out as ours. But another is that our universe is a computer simulation, with someone (perhaps an advanced alien species) fine-tuning the conditions.Perhaps it is Second Life that is a simulated universe. I don't know. I once read that people invent a computer and within the computer they build a simulated world and within there they will build a simulated world. We don’t need the intelligence to be conscious, and we don’t need it to even be very complex, because the evidence we are looking for is “experienced” by all computer programs, simple or complex, running on all machines, slow or fast.

After all they call it virtual reality, so it is real just virtual powered by computers and us behind the wheel.

I keep a digital diary sort to speak of my travels in that universe and it is there for anyone who wants to read it. My avatar lives through me, so it is real, because I am real.

A sim = Simulator is part of the virtual world, even in games such as the Sims or other PC games you become the charactor that steers the direction you are going.

I have used Second Life to display art, talk to people about PTSD, learn about music, be part of something bigger. I have gone to conventions and events in Second Life and see Professors from respected universes teach students in this environment.

“Is it real or is it Memorex?” was a popular advertising slogan from the early 80s for cassette recording tapes that Millennials may not recognize or identify with, but Baby Boomers likely remember this. The brand of audio recording tapes known as Memorex claimed to offer such an authentic capture, representation, and playback experience that the listener would not be able to tell if they were listening to the actual conversation or performance or it was simply being played back for them on audio tape.

We are living in a fast pace world and as things advance even faster and bigger, sit back and relax at least in Second Life you can fly.

All Hallows at Moochi

Established in 2016, All Hallows returns for its eighth year. Throughout the witching season, visit All Hallows for haunted meanderings, autumnal hoodoo, darkly roaming, and Halloween encapsulated. Be strange, but don't be a stranger, and remember, if the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely and always looking for company. Halloween has arrived!

At "All Hallows at Moochi" you will find lots of pumpkins here and beautiful spots to sit and photograph. I really loved all the fall colors here. It is a must see for sure.

Don't forget to pick up the free postcards you can send to all your SL friends. Since I love sending psotcards in real life, this really made me smile. Great idea. The postcards are very pretty too and have some fun sayings..

Take your time here and look aroound and better yet bring some friends or maybe just one friend.So many cute places to relax and enjoy, even on your own. I really enjoyed myself here.

Which Witch? ( dedicated to my real life great grandma)

Twinkum, twankum, twirlum and twitch
My great grandam - She was a Witch.
Mouse in wainscot, Saint in niche -
My great grandam - She was a Witch;
Deadly nightshade flowers in a ditch -

~dedicated to my Real life Great Grandmother

My great grandam - She was a Witch;
Long though the shroud it grows stitch by stitch -
My great grandam - She was a Witch;
Wean your weakling before you breech -
My great grandam - She was a Witch;
The fattest pig's but a double flitch -
My great grandam - She was a Witch;
Nightjars rattle, owls scritch -
My great grandam - She was a Witch.

   

In Second Life you can be anything you like, even a witch :)

 Pretty and small,
    A mere nothing at all,
    Pinned up sharp in the ghost of a shawl,
    She'd straddle her down to the kirkyard wall,
    And mutter and whisper and call; and call -
    And - call.

Red blood out and black blood in,
My Nannie says I'm a child of sin -
How did I choose me my witchcraft kin!
Know I as soon as dark's dreams begin
Snared is my heart in a nightmare's gin;
Never from terror I out may win;
So dawn and dusk I pine, peak, thin,
Scarcely beknowing t'other from which -
My great grandam - She was a Witch. ~BY WALTER DE LA MARE (1873 - 1956)

My great-grandmother lived in Belgium and was an undertaker and was known to have that magickal touch.

friggatriskaidekaphobia (the fear of Friday the 13th)

It's magick

 If Friday the 13th scares you, why not come into Second Life? Very little is known about the origins of the day's notoriety. Some historians believe that the superstitions surrounding it arose in the late 19th century. The fear of this day is real, so real that one scientific name wasn't enough. The fear of Friday the 13th is also called friggatriskaidekaphobia.Now say that 10 times really fast!

For a month to have a Friday the 13th, the month must begin on a Sunday. Don't believe it? Check it out on your Calendars and test it for yourself.

Me and my friend

“Don’t worry, Friday the 13th is just another opportunity for incredible luck and hilarious stories!”

I always try to count my blessing even the very small ones, so how I can I be unlucky...we need to learn to appreciate everything because it may not be here tomorrow and that may be unlucky.

This month we are celebrating "it's a dead man's party" at the Retreat. Everything is decorated a little spooky but still safe for even those of you are a little scared. If you are lucky you can find the extra gift that is hidden here. (Find the clue at the entrance of the Retreat.) 

I encourage you to take lots of pictures here, because if you are like me I love looking back years from now how things looked way back then. Second Life is like Real Life it changes, so keep those memories alive. Of course the Retreat is just one of many places you can visit, from mild to really scary, all depends on what you prefer.

Monday through Friday we have live DJs here playing some fantastic music, how lucky is that? Music brings us all together. I am wishing you love and peace this Halloween Season and especially today on Friday the 13th. Keep the magick going :)

An ye harm none, do what ye will

All life is majickal and sacred.

 

There are do and don't about witches and many times they are associated with evil especially around Halloween, but most of these stories are not true at all. 

The pentacle, or five-pointed star in a circle, is a symbol of universal wisdom. Witches wear it as an amulet of protection and place it upon their altars to represent the element of earth. A spell is a thought, projection, prayer, or manifestation. Other religions use prayer, meditation, ritual, and even the “law of attraction” to get results.  Spells do not imply harm.

My favorite costume in Second Life is that of a witch. I feel magickal when I wear it. Even in Real Life I often worn a witches outfit during Halloween and it was never meant to be evil (well maybe to scare some greedy teenagers who have come to my door begging for Candy).

Witches come from every socio-economic and ethnic background. Many Witches hold professional positions of responsibility. They are doctors, nurses, politicians, lawyers, and teachers. (I am a retired teacher and I have done a magickal job educating those Kindergarteners for years.) Witches know that doing evil and harm is against universal law. Witchcraft tells us, “An ye harm none, do what ye will.” You have heard that before "what goes around, comes around."

 Keep that in mind when you are wandering around in Second Life, that witches are real in many ways so if you roleplay that character, then do it right. Spread some love and peace around both worlds.

Double, double toil and trouble

All month in October for any of the sets here at the Basement Club you can wear your costumes. You know you have so many in your inventory you wore once. Now is the time to get them out and show them off.

Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn and caldron bubble.

Fillet of a fenny snake,

In the caldron boil and bake;

Eye of newt and toe of frog,

Wool of bat and tongue of dog,

Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,

Lizard's leg and howlet's wing,

For a charm of powerful trouble,

Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn and caldron bubble.

Cool it with a baboon's blood,

Then the charm is firm and good. ~William Shakespeare

 You will find a variety of music here from Indie, alternative and punk and even some oldies. The Basement Club is always different and always unique and we have live DJs M-F starting at 6PM SLT.

The Basement Club is part of the Retreat and Retreat Gallery which is part of SL's most haunted places. Come check out the dead man's party throught out and hunt for some gifts.

Ghouls and Goblins

It is that time again when all the ghouls and goblins come out. What is a ghoul?

A ghoul is a monster from ancient Arabian folklore. Ghouls live in burial grounds and other uninhabited places. The English word comes from the Arabic name for the creature: الغول ghūl, which literally means "demon". The ghul is a devilish type of jinn believed to be sired by Iblis.
The female form is "ghouleh" in Muhawi and Kanaana (see ref below). The plural is "ghilan".
Ghoul is also a shapeshifting demon that lives in the desert. The demon can take the form of an animal, especially a hyena. It lures unwary travelers into the desert.

It's not something I would want to run into.

A goblin on the other hand is more of a troll that can be mischievous and evil.

As we start October you can go and visit all the haunted places in Second Life, with plenty of ghouls and goblins and who knows what else. This year the Retreat is taking part in Second Life's most haunted places. You will find the poster at the entry. It will give you notecards to all the many places to visit. Trust me there are many on the list. I am sure there is something for everybody.
Each location will also have a little prize for your efforts, just look for the hints.

So if you like Halloween and all the spookiness that goes with it, this is your month and Second Life can fulfill your dreams on this. Oh, and no need to be frightened all these creatures are made of pixels.
Happy hunting or is it haunting?