reminiscing other times of life

We grieve for everything we lose. In the end, our memories can become treasured bits of knowledge gained, experiences which we are grateful to have had, in spite of the cost.

That doesn't make it hurt any less at times.

Do you really like bacon? Do you have more money than you know how to spend? Do you like scarves? Are you in Europe?

If the answer to these four questions is yes, then go look at the bacon scarf by artist Natalie Luder. It's 100% silk crèpe de Chine, is digitally printed with a black border (which is then hand-hemmed by the artist), and retails for around $170 (US; local currency conversion might be necessary). There's a list of shops still carrying it at the bottom of the article.

Libraries are important. Libraries are also losing funding. At least one six-year-old thinks keeping libraries open is more important than her allowance fund. I know $11 seems like a tiny amount, but seriously--she just donated her entire savings to the Seattle Library.

Seen in that light, that's huge.

And there's a crafting blog out there that's come out with one of the most disturbing culture/craft mash-ups ever: Barbie the Weeping Angel. I am stunned at how good that looks, and also not entirely sure I could make my own version and leave her out anywhere visible.

[14:25] jxxxx Jxxxxxxxx: Get 2500$L Just Pass 1 Survey [phishing link removed] Click, Login And Get 2500$L !!!
[14:25] Exxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: NO NO No.
[14:25] Cxxxxx Dxxxx: let me jump right on that....
[14:26] Axxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: This is getting onto every group
[14:26] Dxxxxxx Mxxxxxx: people like you [Jxxxx] account user is why I hate people
[14:26] Exxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i know. i see at least three now
[14:26] Emilly Orr: Welcome to my mute list.

These days, I seriously don't have the patience. Where it practically took personal threats of harm a few years back to make me mute someone, I no longer have the energy to invest. I'd rather just block them and move on.

[14:26] ⒾⒸⒺ (4xxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx): scammmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well...yes. There are gentles on the grid who see an offer like this and don't immediately think it's a scam?

[14:27] fxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx : go away just click close chat ! click close and leave it realy works! :D
[14:28] Emma Krokus: if you have clicked and logged in, change your password right now

Though, on the off-chance that someone WAS foolish enough to click the link, this is always good advice. If it seems at all suspicious, and you've done something boneheaded like click on a phishing link and enter your SL info...pull up the main SL site and CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD IMMEDIATELY.

[14:28] Jxxxx Jxxxxx: Didn't I read somewhere that websites with a .tk are usually hacking websites?

Well...sort of. The basic problem in a nutshell: there is a small island chain off the coast of New Zealand called Tokelau. It's home to 1,400 people...and a free domain registration site. It's not, per se, that this domain service sets out to defraud. But, because of the sheer tonnage of criminals that use the service--because of the free domain name service--it's gotten a bad reputation that it doesn't seem likely to lose any time soon.

Add to this the fact that they run an URL reduction service side by side with domain registration, and the .tk extension pretty much drops into toxic web terrain. Some of their users are legitimate; but since the vast majority aren't, this leads to image problems. This particular avatar was decanted in 2008, so they really should know better. But more than that, the profile is confusing. From the bio:

Louis Henri was born at Versailles, the eldest son of Louis de Bourbon and Louise Françoise de Bourbon, the eldest legitimised daughter of King Louis XIV and his favourite, Madame de Montespan.

He was the great-grandson of Louis de Bourbon, le Grand Condé, who died in 1686, and was addressed to as Monsieur le Duc, this style applying specifically the head of the House of Bourbon-Condé.

He was Louis XV's Prime Minister (Premier Ministre) from 1723 to 1726.

And from their RL bio:

The House of Bourbon is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty. Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma.

They're also a member of the Caledon land group, which could indicate either land holdings in Caledon, or land holdings in an allied nation.

So seriously, what gives? Was their account hacked? Was this someone else discovering this account was open to claim? Was a friend over at their house who decided it would be fun to rook people? I don't think anyone knows.

Also:

[14:31] Dxxxxxx Mxxxxxx: why should anyone have to mute an individual account prolly hijacked by this piece of crap anyway, when LL does nothing to take care of cleaning up this mess?

It's a good question, but an inaccurate one. The problem is that Linden Lab is not responsible for chat in world--that's even in the ToS officially. While they can--and do, frequently--act on complaints of griefing and harassment, all they really can do officially is boot the avatars they discover directly, and otherwise leave warnings on their blog about hacking/phishing attempts.

Which they've done more than once.

[14:37] Mxxxxx Yxxxxxxx: scammers are busy this week... must be trying to get money for the holidays, lol
[14:37] cxxxx Nxxxxxxx: ?
[14:38] Emilly Orr: There's at least one spammer hitting all the groups they're in, and likely more than one. It's been irritating.
[14:38] Mxxxxx Yxxxxxxx: that russian one and now there's one that looks like it might be from Turkey

And now this one, who seems to be either part of a Versailles roleplay group, or just interested in French history. Confusing.

All I can say is to reiterate: if it seems like an absurd sum of money, it's a scam. Don't click the link, just drive on by.