Someone explain this to me. The Linden designers invented mesh, and brought it onto the grid, intending it only to be used for avatar parts (hair, eyes) and objects (homes, furnishings, landscaping), but never for clothing?

I guess this is equivalent to the Lindens developing Second Life in the first place and never once contemplating there would be a burgeoning sex industry growing in the game, right? Because that seems a sort of willful blindness, or at the least thumping obliviousness, after everything else the Lindens have seen happen.

So where are we on mesh clothing, after the death of Qarl's mesh deformer? Well, now we have fit bones, which designers are slowly starting to integrate. The down side to the new fit system is that it requires far more work and manipulation to properly align all the new fit points for mesh clothing and avatar items now. But the up side--and it's a significant up side--is that post-fitting extension, it's a lot easier for the end user to find mesh items that fit well and don't clip.

So...that's good, right?

Whatz has moved to a new mainstore, and in the process of hunting them down, I discovered they have a couple gifts under their holiday tree--or at least a random snow-covered pine, for all I know. (I haven't yet tracked them down, this is a SLUrl to a location near the tree, basically.)

(HAH! And I tracked the actual Whatz store down, for anyone who's curious. There you go.)

Now, a bit of RL intruding into our normal grid experience. I've been relatively absent for a while, but anyone who's still paying attention might have noticed I haven't thanked anyone who's sent holiday greetings my way, nor has anyone received any. I'm trying to make time to do at least a quick texture upload, and send it off to friends, but RL has me rather massively distracted at present. Namely: we have an ailing cat.

Our Siamese blend, normally a spitfire who can literally bounce up six feet from a standing stop, is now mostly huddled on a soft chair in the living room, wrapped in various towels. Up until very recently, she'd lost the ability to walk, we were feeding her syringes of turkey broth and dilute amounts of baby food (various pureed meats), and preparing ourselves for her passing.

My cousin's husband, a lovely man in general, but in specific a former vet tech, brought us two tubes of supplements. One's "yummy" (I highly doubt the "yummy", but it's what the tube says) chicken-flavored high-calorie gel, and the other one's a heavy multivitamin and mineral gel. We pry her jaws open about six times a day (she hates this) and pour a dollop of both onto her tongue, so she can lick it off and thus ingest some nutrients so she doesn't starve on us.

We've been doing this for three days. This morning, we woke up to a kitten we had to shower, because she had managed to walk to the litterbox on her unsteady pins, actually use the litterbox, and return (trailing, unfortunately, bits of litter stuck to her fur) to the chair, hopping back into it on her own.

To go from not able to walk under her own power, and suffering incontinence due to loss of muscle control and general weakness (to the point where we were pondering getting some preemie diapers and cutting holes in them for her tail), to walking--even if unsteadily--to the litterbox and back...well, frankly, this is something of a holiday miracle. And even if we still lose her, we're hoping to do so after we've helped her put on a little more weight, and regain some muscle stiffness.

But all of this has distracted our family from many things--sending out holiday cards (RL and SL), interacting with friends both local and long-distance...we barely managed a Yule celebration and most of it was frankly spent ensuring Storm-kitten was warm and clean.

So if you don't hear from me until after the holidays, thank you for the cards, thank you for the gifts, thank you for the art, and I'll ponder something to do in return. But my priority--our entire family's priority right now--is our cat, because she's bluntly the closest thing we're going to have to children, and we'd miss her deeply if she went.

I'll leave you with this instead, and update when I can, and Merry Everything to those of you who celebrate, and happy feasting and bright lights to those of you who don't!

There are a bunch of holiday-themed poses for free under the tree at Picture This! Some of the packages are left-click purchase, others are standard right-click to buy, but there's several of them. Who knows, you might find something for that last-minute photo urge!

In technology news, the first bioprosthetic heart has been implanted in a living patient. The patient is--at least as of that report--conscious and functional, but of course the medical team is watching closely to be sure. Still, it's one more step in the advance to ensure that everyone who is in need for heart replacement finds a way to keep functioning.

Genre, for December, is hosting a "Victorian Christmas" themed event. I don't know if it's lasting until the end of the month; what I do know is that there are several lovely L$10 items offered in the mix, and, for a wonder, most of the event's offerings actually are reasonably Victorian in nature. Woo!

There's a lady on Tumblr who's been, for the past year at least, compiling historical research on medieval instances of people of color being described. In fact, that's the name of her Tumblr: medievalpoc. She's been a fascinating source of historical documentation, and this week, she pulled together a post chronicling her most popular posts of 2013, featuring not just largely historical women of color, but nobility, warriors and ambassadors to other cultures.

Among the many links featured--many with historical images--there are several that were among my favorites, too, from the previous year.

Khutulun the Wrestler Princess

Khutulun, first introduced to me as Aiyurug, was born sometime around 1260, in a time when the Mongols ruled from relative positions of luxury and excess. In opposition to her more famous cousin, Aiyurug wished to return to the old ways of the Khans--feats of strength and war, nomadic travel, and physical prowess over sedentary indolence. To gain followers for her cause, she competed in all areas of Mongol sportsmanship: horse racing, archery, war games, and wrestling. She was a large woman, muscled, powerfully proportioned, and she was never beaten. In fact, a common wager was horse against horse, hers against her opponents. In time, she had a herd of trained warhorses ten thousand strong.

Etruscan Warrior "Prince" really a Princess, analysis finds

There's a certain amount of condescension in this article, but based on what little is known of this culture at the time, my theory is that the "Princess" named in the article lived life as a warrior and a man, or at least in a position of higher social status. I'm attributing this not only to the skeletal remains found with a warrior's lance, but the fact that the body next to the first is partially burned--a practice more common to Asian cultures, but also potentially possible for spouses in the Etruscan culture, as well. Add this to the fact that the spouse's body--identified as that of a male--was buried with traditional bridal jewelry, and I think it's fairly clear this is a case where the 'wife' had the privileges of the warrior, and the 'husband' lived a traditionally female existence.

Xiang Fei, the "Fragrant Concubine"

Xiang Fei's story is a fascinating one. Born into the Uighur Muslims, when Manchu general Zhahui returned from "gloriously" conquering the Uighurs in 1959, in addition to the treasures of the culture looted and removed, he brought with him Xiang Fei. Several reports make much of her natural scent, which is how she was named the Fragrant Concubine.

But she wasn't just chattel for the court--not only was Zhahui head over heels for her, but she resisted many of his advances, to the point of concealing small knives in her sleeves to protect herself when he neared. Though it's not clear what (if anything) eventually thawed her, two things are known: she apparently bore a daughter to Zhahui (willingly or not), and he built her a Muslim enclave with a tall tower that overlooked mosques built farther away from the palace. While he did not trust her beyond his walls to worship her faith, he did make it possible for her to worship in her own tower--a concession that many warlords of the time would not have undertaken.

She died in 1760.

Dido Elizabeth Belle, scholar and Scottish aristocrat

Dido Elizabeth Belle was the illegitimate daughter of Admiral Sir John Lindsay, and an enslaved African woman known only as Belle. How'ver, this is where the story becomes interesting. She was raised alongside Lindsay's own children, educated with them, and remained a favorite child of both the Earl of Mansfield (her half-uncle) and her father well into adulthood.

More surprising, part of her household duties included supervising Lindsay's personal correspondence, a position generally reserved for, and given to, educated men. She received an allowance until marriage of thirty pounds per year, equivalent to Lindsay's main heir, and more than any illegitimate daughter of the time received in comparable household situations.

Going one step further, upon Lord Mansfield's death in 1788, a lump sum of five hundred pounds was granted her, and her status as a free woman was carefully, legally documented, so that none could deprive her of her wealth or status.

In other news, the makers of Echo Bazaar now have a new game called the Sunless Sea. It appears to be similar in nature to Fallen London, but in reading through back entries in the blog, I am teased and enchanted by one facet in particular:

"Fallen London's drawn attention (mostly favourable) for the way it treats gender – we allow players to be a lady, a gentleman, or neither. We've been saying we'll take the same approach in Sunless Sea, but actually, we're going to go a little bit beyond that. We're not going to specify gender at all.

That doesn't mean you won’t be able to pick an avatar that looks like a lady or a gentleman or remains teasingly androgynous. Or shaded by a deep-brimmed hat. Certainly you can. But when you're looking through portraits, you won't be limited to the ones for 'male/female/other'. Perhaps you did run away to sea dressed as a boy. Perhaps you don't fit into the usual binary. Perhaps you just want to look through avatars and decide which one you like before you pick male or female."

Fascinating.

There's a very random grouping of gifts at the Snowville Winter Fair in Boutou; all are free, but they're everything from really nice mesh minis to holiday trees to scarves to furry skating skirts. Still, check it out if you're interested, and follow the beacon if you're dropped off at the ballroom, not Santa's workshop.

There are also a few holiday gifts out at OhLaLa--some on the front desk, more under the tree. Again a mixed bag, but interestingly so, at least.

ModaMia also has some gifts out under their tree--they seem to be mostly womenswear separates, holiday corsets and tank tops, with some accessories and I think one stuffed animal? Not sure if it's a teddy bear with a hat, or just a teddy bear package, frankly.

And for the enhanced crowd, there's another grouping of holiday gifts under the S.L.A.D. tree (in Maple Valley, an Adult sim). They're all free, and barring the purely mesh items, they all have Phat Azz appliers, Lolas Tangos appliers, or both. (I noticed at least two skins and a henna tattoo in the mix, as well.)

But what I really want to talk about is fawns.

Specifically, this one. The Fawn of Shiallia.



The Fawn of Shiallia is a magical young creature who gleams with a radiant green glow, sprouts flowers anywhere it walks, adds a regeneration effect to those near it, and heals adventurers with which it travels. It's also the single most expensive pet to acquire during the Winter Festival on Neverwinter.


It's...not always graceful. But more to the point is how the community has taken to this fawn, in...well, very unusual ways. To wit:

[Zone] Delinquent@salvatus69: The Fawn Strikes Back
[Zone] MrGIANT@flashburn99: I-fawn
[Zone] emmy@shivakid: Califawnia girls
[Zone] Delirium Mortis@deliriummortis: The Good the Bad and the Fawnly
[Zone] MrGIANT@flashburn99: Cell-fawns
[Zone] Zanlamar Odea@theflingueur: Some people just wanna watch the world fawn

Getting the idea? It went on like this:

[Zone] Bilbo Baggins@qwikshot16nd: All Fawns Go To Heaven
[Zone] Aelar Darksbane@honyokill: for a few fawns more
[Zone] Korom@Noctar0: what the fawn
[Zone] Quimizael Halaudra@k3ll0: Call of Fawnez
[Zone] Dark Loki@killergilnyc1: fawntastic four
[Zone] SnEaKy-HoBBiT@jibby015: this is keeping things fawn while fishing lol
[Zone] Shae Ruzhan@rhonesardan: Fawndingo
[Zone] Loriel@xxultima: Fawnophobia..
[Zone] Zero Angelbane@rhtb4theeyeblnk: grumpy old fawn
[Zone] Jeronor@mjjolnor: Stop me before I fawn again!!!
[Zone] Bilbo Baggins@qwikshot16nd: Fawnablanca
[Zone] Beiro Silentread@vendicius: Austin Powers: The Fawn who Shagged Me
[Zone] MrGIANT@flashburn99: Fawnoccio
[Zone] Tricksterwind@tricksterwind: Fawntiful Creatures
[Zone] Erisell@JuliaShade: Fawn Sawyer and Buckleberry Fin
[Zone] Stasi Swiftarrow@skywoulf: Fawntasia
[Zone] Grimmace@exiledyoshi: Fawnty and the Beast
[Zone] Miri Woodsheart@oceanocean: Genghis Fawn
[Zone] Arayia Moonshadow@lali313: The Maltese Fawncon
[Zone] Canagan Brooke@igiveup2: The Legend of Boggy Fawn
[Zone] Delirium Mortis@deliriummortis: Sonic the Hedgefawn

Yeah, I don't think this particular fawn is that fast...

[Zone] Dark Loki@killergilnyc1: The Fawntom of the Opera
[Zone] Leinad@darthvala: The Arctic Fawns
[Zone] Bilbo Baggins@qwikshot16nd: Romeo and Fawniette
[Zone] Raul Blackband@floingis: FAWNNY AND CLYDE
[Zone] Delirium Mortis@deliriummortis: The Fawnth of July
[Zone] Arcane Vices@borghandler: Dr. Strangefawn
[Zone] Zenobia@scorpio666corpse: Live Fawn or die!
[Zone] Bear@dan67: May the Fawn be with you
[Zone] ThunderWolf@thunderwolf567: Fawnward Scissorhands
[Zone] Aelar Darksbane@honyokill: Fawning in the Rain
[Zone] Dark Loki@killergilnyc1: Mrs. Doubtfawn

Now I'm seeing a plumply padded fawn in a housedress with a mock English accent. Eep.

[Zone] Morthos Vicelord@aoblue32: the cold light of fawn
[Zone] Bilbo Baggins@qwikshot16nd: Fawn Wars
[Zone] Delirium Mortis@deliriummortis: Uncle Fawn needs YOU!
[Zone] hvy smoker@haladale: can i fawn you later
[Zone] Mary Jane Toker@imnotnothigh: Fawn of the Dead
[Zone] Adinimys@awittyhalfwit: Honey I Shrunk the Fawn
[Zone] SnEaKy-HoBBiT@jibby015: Clash of the Fawntans
[Zone] MamaJo@angelbear31: Don't make fawn of ME
[Zone] Elizia The Devoted@b100d31f: ALL YOUR FAWN ARE BELONG TO US
[Zone] Walker Bohl@romsebastian: Star Trek: Fawnesis
[Zone] Dark Loki@killergilnyc1: FAWNKENSTEIN
[Zone] Lucius Van Helsing@Lourdie: The Dark Fawn Rises

Dark faun? I can get behind that...

[Zone] Canagan Brooke@igiveup2: SOMEONE SET US UP THE FAWN
[Zone] Adinimys@awittyhalfwit: Monty Python and the Holy Fawn
[Zone] xSimox@truesevenfold: The Fawn Identity, Fawn Supremacy and The Fawn Ultimatium
[Zone] Delirium Mortis@deliriummortis: Shut the Fawn door
[Zone] MamaJo@angelbear31: Stop Or My Fawn Will Shoot
[Zone] Elanthis Silverkin@elanthis2: Fawns of the Carribean
[Zone] raven darkblade@restuss: and she had fawn, fawn, fawn 'til her daddy took her unicorn away...
[Zone] Bilbo Baggins@qwikshot16nd: The Hunchback of Notre Fawn
[Zone] Dronin@mixmasterflex: fawn'wwww [Zone] Arayia Moonshadow@lali313: Sherlock Holmes and Fawn Watson

Personally, I might have gone with "Forelock Holmes" for that one...

[Zone] Jeronor@mjjolnor: The Holy Hand-Grenade of Anti-Fawn
[Zone] V.V@Fasinfil: Fawnadu
[Zone] Garrick Swift@zannkind: Fawntastic Four
[Zone] Dark Loki@killergilnyc1: The Real Fawnwives of Atlanta
[Zone] emmy@shivakid: Fawnyuns
[Zone] Aelar Darksbane@honyokill: don't use the fawn's name in vain
[Zone] Elrilion@Elrilion: Anybody seen Pulp Fawntion?
[Zone] Hanalesia Bonaduce@matteo273: Enter the Fawn
[Zone] Quimizael Halaudra@k3ll0: Fawn's Labyrinth
[Zone] Stasi Swiftarrow@skywoulf: "To Fawn or Not To Fawn, that is the question....."
[Zone] SnEaKy-HoBBiT@jibby015: Fawn Almighty
[Zone] Eudaimon@Mereologist: That's all fawn with me.
[Zone] Quimizael Halaudra@k3ll0: A Fawn Too Far
[Zone] Paulzz@paullzz: One does not simply fawn into Mordor
[Zone] Hanalesia Bonaduce@matteo273: Im fawning asleep
[Zone] Canagan Brooke@igiveup2: Dances with Fawns
[Zone] ThunderWolf@thunderwolf567: Transformers: Revenge of the Fawn

That...doesn't sound like the best idea, actually...

[Zone] Garrick Swift@zannkind: It's a Fawnderful Life
[Zone] Elrilion@Elrilion: Silence of the Fawns?
[Zone] Dark Loki@killergilnyc1: How I Met Your Fawn
[Zone] Arya Ellenwell@ellellellelle: transfawners
[Zone] kingkush@masterdebater666: black fawn down
[Zone] Crim Legion@qryraen: Lord of the Fawns: The Fellowship of the Fawn
[Zone] Eudaimon@Mereologist: Breaking Fawn.
[Zone] Tricksterwind@tricksterwind: Ghostfawnsters
[Zone] Lytheh@nivacs31: Fawning Nemo
[Zone] Jeronor@mjjolnor: Jane Doe: The Fawn Society
[Zone] Majorana@TauLept0n: Quadrofawnia
[Zone] Quimizael Halaudra@k3ll0: Bohemian Fawnsody
[Zone] WTB PVP CONTENT@concubines: Neverwinter Fawnline

And three hours in, they were still going strong. And the next few hours. And later that night. And the next afternoon...And it's still occasionally popping up and taking over chat in the strangest ways.

[Zone] Xeen@mojoslackman: I wanted to type in bold but they don't support that fawnt
[Zone] Kayang@tofumengy: did you say hotel califawnia?

And yes, at this point, even the repeats are repeating. I'm thinking it's becoming pandemic.

Or at least fawndemic.

After all, the first rule of Fawn Club is...never mind.

For the holidays, the Zero store has the Makronome free on the Marketplace. What are this? I'm not entirely sure, but...it plays holiday music.

And possibly runs on blood.

Moving on, Meli Imako's December free gift is an absolutely amazing lace and fur trim winter coat, which I for one am nabbing with glee. Not sure what I'm going to do with it, because I still feel like I'm the Cro-Magnon in the corner putting ochre handprints on the cave walls when it comes to working with mesh. Still, it's very pretty, and very seasonal.

Old Time Prims is offering a simple black umbrella freebie; it states it comes with the hold pose, but does it fold and snap open? That, I do not know.

You want an antlered hoodie in a holiday print? Sure, why not?

By the way, a more efficient thermoelectric generator has been invented, that converts both solar energy and heat to electricity. They're running tests on the prototype now,

I can't believe I forgot to check Isis Boutique for Advent gifts! She does have one up this year. If you haven't been a participant in previous years, then everything's going to be new to you, but it seems to be a mix of the past couple years' Advents, to be honest. Still, there's a tasty holiday blend of warm socks, ballet shoes, and seasonal flats, so if you want that, hop on by. All previous gifts on the tree are also available.

And have a very twitchy kitten. Happy holidays.

Hey, new Advent noted! It's over at the KittyCatS winter sim, and all previous gifts are still available!

Also, you should check out the FabFree list of holiday advents; and a tip o' the hat to Miss Deoridhe for letting me know. Thank you so much!

Meanwhile, over at haruxharu, there are three holiday boxes out for free--one containing a cute retro sweater dress, one containing the matching sweater boots in white with red covers, and one containing a headband in two options to go with everything. (The headband is a set of glowy, jeweled cat ears. It comes in two options, "White"--which is white with lots of glow--and "Grid"--which is, well, white with lots of glow, far as I can tell. They're both adorable, though.)

The Magic store has what they're calling an Advent Courtyard--basically, find the box for the day, click it, get the landmark, go to that store, and find the gift. Only question is, will the earlier boxes lead us to stores that still have gifts out? I don't know, I haven't checked (yet).

And if anyone out there has deep aspirations to be a...um...sardine-maid? I can help with that. And it's free on the Marketplace, so...yay?

Have some haunted houses in real life, famous authors in costume, and, if you like suspense but not gore, twenty-five of the most suspenseful films ever made.

Because Halloween never lasts long enough, frankly.

Every now and again, I still hear words from on high...

turning radius: Hey, whats up?
turning radius: You on?
turning radius: Are you still sleeping never?

So, interesting story with that...kind of yes, kind of no? It's odd. But in the main, my apologies, Lord--I was on, but I was killing spiders, skeletons, and werewolves in Neverwinter. Sorry?

Words of wisdom from a mountain? I've got that.

In the meantime, if you'd seen or heard of the latest Miss Universe pageant's...unusual...take on national costumes, I've dug up part of the full country line-up. You can find a few more here, and here, if you're really interested. For me personally, I'm not sure I'd honestly be able to pick out more than five--maybe five--that are even tenuously related to the national costumes of their countries, and top of that limited list is Miss Japan (Yukimi Matsuo) and Miss Korea (Yumi Kim). And even those aren't exact.

The SLebrity Sim is currently hosting the SLebrity City Holiday Fair. What's so unique about this is that all the things you'll find there are transferable as gifts. Now, that's a neat holiday concept.

[18:46] Santi Knight (vxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx): booo
[18:46] Santi Knight (vxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx): i need your blood
[18:58] Emilly Orr wanders back to the keys and scoffs.
[18:58] Emilly Orr: You're kidding, right? No biting. Go 'way now.
[18:59] Santi Knight (vxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx): jajja ok

Some days people irritate me. Days like this, though, I just loathe them all in general.

The best prosthetics on the planet are made by Sophie de Oliveira Barata. If you want to know why, read the article. It has pretty, pretty pictures.

So why are the volunteer Reddit moderators banning actual news sources, but keeping blogs that quote their work? That seems...inconsistent, at best and disingenuous at worst.

[Zone] Evangalyne@kayteeann: where do you go for companions?
[Zone] Jermama Zafati@jasonf247: a nice bar, or perhaps a coffee shop
[Zone] Evangalyne@kayteeann: Thanks Jermama

Perhaps not the answer Evangalyne was seeking, but amusing nonetheless.

And there's a new "men only" game:



I'm fairly sure this is the same company behind the others, and to add insult to injury, they've appropriated Clyde Caldwell's art to do it. In specific, a very well-known piece called "The Sea Fox".

In researching more about the topic, too, I found this. It's a short enough article, and relevant, but what really interested me is in the comments. R2 Games is not only gleefully defying the ESRB (and really, who's surprised?), but is pulling from an insanely vast image pool of images for other games--including other Chinese MMORPGs, which has got to be a potential nightmare for them.

Or maybe Chinese gaming companies really don't care, figuring "if it's on the net, it's free"...like a lot of other netizens.

And, while I normally try to avoid politics on this blog, if you live in the US, this is a necessary article to read.

So I gave up on major aesthetic changes for the blog, and just went back to brown. But it's brown with a slight holiday theme! And it's more readable now! That counts, right? ...Right?

Bah. And likely humbug. In the meantime, more Advents!

FallnAngel Designs has their Advent Countdown Tree up! They also have a Lucky Advent board (click the board, it'll give you the day's letter; if it's not yours, check back the next day or find someone whose name starts with that letter and test your luck) and a Lucky Santa (it's like any lucky chair, only you sit on Santa's lap), as well as (and this is my personal favorite) a Lucky Holiday Gift Tree. Now, the only downside to standing next to a tree with six different presents to watch is that they're all set on sixty minutes per box. But with friends helping, or even asking (politely) in the Falln group, you might end up with all six quicker than you think!

The Cookie Jar store--or Aileen's Shabby Chic, I keep forgetting which it is, but it's the same place nonetheless--has an Advent out this year. No hunting or finding the right day--just touch the calendar, get that day's gift. Simple!

The "Artistry by 'E'" store also has an Advent tree; click the front present if you're not in the group, click the front present and the Advent calendar board if you are.

And more when I find them!

What is dark energy?

Also, it's picture-heavy, and doesn't include all of the ideas, but have a taste of a hundred ideas that changed architecture.

Also II, remember all those scenes in SF movies where physical objects rose up out of virtual tables, and could be touched and interacted with? Meet the beginnings of that technology in real life.

Also III, Bride of Also, ribbon particles in SL? Yes, ribbon particles in SL.

And it's that time of the year again, where Em decides to muck about with changing her blog template. Yes, she understands it's kind of unreadable now. Bear with her, it (hopefully) will improve.

More Advents found!

LK & Beach Street have put together a selection of stuffies, household decor, and accessories, free to all. Also free: all the previous gifts.

One returning from last year is VampRealm, which is a little tricky to click, but all the previous gifts are also still available. Yay.

There's also the Weinachtsmarkt, or the "Mrs. Santa Christmas Market"--this is an odd one, but kind of fun. Basically, it's a cart market, full of vendors with holiday items on special, and most of the stalls also have an Advent gift. Find the gift for that day, click, and it's yours. (No previous gifts available, but if you're lucky, you might run into Santa on the sim!)

Mieville also has a holiday market going, and at the end of it they have an Advent calendar, but the hazard is not the calendar itself, it's the scarily repetitive loops of holiday songs. Flee the holiday songs! Or at least turn your volume down before going in.

Needful Pixels has an Advent calendar that needs a lot of time to rez in. It's also set to GMT, so if you're in the US, both this one and Mieville's (also set to change on GM time, not SL time) will hit you as being on one day ahead of what they're "supposed" to be.

Beyond the Mists in Artanis is having an "Advent hunt"; basically, wander the snowy area until you find the present with the date. WARNING: Artanis is an ADULT SIM. So if you're not age-verified, you won't make it in for this one.

By Jove may be the rara avis on the list; won't know 'til I unpack, but as they seem to specialize in menswear, they might be offering menswear under the tree! Check them out if you're interested.

Timeless Textures has an Advent this year; if you like their textures (and I do), go check it out.

And Fairy Unique Designs has opened up their former group-only Advent to be a come-one-come all affair, which personally, I think is a grand thing. So go click them, too!

More when I track them down.

(Oh, and the title of this post comes from Steam Powered Giraffe's latest single from their new album, MK III: "Mecto Amore":



(So...yeah. Enjoy that. Tasty stuph.)

Do you like holiday cookie noms? Do you have a muzzle most of the time in SL? This could be right up your alley, then. Comes in iced tree, iced bell, and iced stocking variants. At a stab, I'd say they're either gingerbread or molasses-cookie based, considering the color of the dough. And they're utterly free, so go nab 'em!

Yesssss, I haven't updated for a while. I also haven't been in SL for a while! Life and been utterly hectic in so very many ways of late. In the meantime, this means...a clip entry!

Because seriously, I don't have energy for anything else.

No one has yet given me a full link list to the Advent calendars going on, plus I started three days late, so bother. I checked my landmarks, but Kouse's Sanctum is now gone, and all the FallnAngel links go to sims that aren't attached to the store anymore, as Azriel's downsized (along with oh, so many other merchants on the grid). This is all I could find on a quick earlier run before daily life tackled me and threw me to the floor again:

Alice Project: hair advent at their main store, though apparently the boxes (one for VIP clients, one for everyone) will show up at the Mint Tulip branch a few days after to help out with sim traffic.
Kinzart Kreetures also has an Advent going. I don't know whether it will just be plushies, or will include skins/ears/tails or full avatars; we'll have to wait and see as it unfolds.
And Abranimations has their usual animated-pose things on Advent offer this year.

I'll post more as I discover them.

Apparently--scientifically, even--the best time to drink coffee has been determined, and it's not a time when I'm ever awake--unless I have to be. Guess I'll have to finally invent that espresso IV drip, after all.

[02:54] kxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: friend give me home but when i walk it be liek invisibel

I'm actually terrified of what they're trying to say. When they walk inside the home, it becomes invisible, or when they walk when they're attached to the home? Because I've seen that happen.

More to come.

Etienne Meneau has released a wine carafe shaped like oversized blood vessels. I'm impressed that each one holds a full-sized (750mL) bottle.

Wonder how it looks with rosé...

Oh, and Desert Bus for Hope 7 has launched! If you don't know anything about the craziness that is Desert Bus, here's a brief explanation: the cast of Loading Ready Run, in cooperation with the Child's Play charity, gets together members and friends to stay up as much as they can while playing the worst video game in existence. (There's no question on this; Desert Bus is universally acknowledged as the worst game to play, ever, mostly because it takes place in real time--to drive the bus for an hour of game time means you're driving the bus for one hour real time. And to gain one point, you have to drive to Tuscon from Las Vegas and back. Which takes twenty-four hours.) They also do skits, sing songs, and try to keep each other awake, and they broadcast all of this live. People watching can chime in with comments on live chat, suggestions of what to do, and make challenges--where they offer payment towards Child's Play if their challenge is completed on the air.

How'ver, I want to talk a bit about the LoveFest, the LoveCraft Festival, which this year benefits autism awareness. I will freely and openly acknowledge that I signed up to help with a build, and with the festival itself, and then got sick and basically flaked for two weeks prior to opening.


In fact, I was thinking seriously of just apologizing to the organizers, and withdrawing, but a random impulse saw me on the reserved plot, and once there, well, I had to do what I could.


While I don't normally identify people by name anymore, I have to give my great and humble thanks to Felice Nightfire, Sphynx Soleil, and mbeatrix, who helped me decorate, sink the land underneath the build for the basement level, and generally kept me going until it was done.


Without your help, gentle souls, trust me--the Shunned House build would not have seen the light of day.

And with that, I should tell you tomorrow is the last day of the festival, so hurry down!

It's an amazing set of builds, and a great group of vendors, and it benefits a wonderful charity.

Help if you can but do try to wander at least, because...it's very much in the spirit of Lovecraft.

Spell Block Tango, anyone? Watch it. It's awesome.

So, I got a better landmark, and I guess the big spooky mansion is the Tiny Ride of Terror this year. I just...as yet...see no ride.

(from the haunts album; I get stairs this trip!)

But look! Stairs! Whee!

(from the haunts album; teeny tiny haunted outfits)

And upstairs...oh. Just vendors. Don't get me wrong, innovative Tiny wear for very reasonable prices? Always a good thing! But there must be more to this...

(from the haunts album; why does this keep happening?)

Eep! Blood from the walls is NEVER a good thing!

(from the haunts album; home medical lab? Ew.)

Why is it always medical labs??

(from the haunts album; the haunted theatre.)

And also upstairs, they have a full haunted theatre!

(from the haunts album; the haunted basement.)

Finally, I felt I'd explored everything, no sign of a Tiny ride anywhere to be found...so I turned to the basement. On my first trip through, there was some sort of event either in the basement, or near the house, and I couldn't move for the lag. On my second trip, I made it upstairs, and then crashed. On this trip, I made it to the basement...and was frozen in place for forty minutes while my browser pondered whether or not it was going to crash.

(from the haunts album; the haunted basement.)

I'm going to say the problem well could have been me, and my 130,000+ level of inventory, but on the other hand...Raglan Shire has nearly eight thousand active scripts, so that may share some wee part of the blame.

(from the haunts album; the haunted basement.)

So is it worth going? Well, there's a good level of innovation, and L$75 Tiny costumes cannot be passed up, but...it's no Tiny Ride of Terror, that's for sure. Which is sad; I wanted to check that out this year. Guess they went in a different direction.

Think outside the box.

Also, PrimBay is on its way. As of now the categories are publically viewable; if you see anything that desperately needs to be there, IM Casper Warden or Sphynx Soliel (honestly, Sphynx is generally easier to get ahold of, but seriously, either one will do) and chime in. This is Casper's attempt at making a functional, basic Marketplace that actually works and tracks sales for merchants...as opposed to the Marketplace we have now, that doesn't.

Three days to go before the veils thin to translucency, and this year, instead of feeling the pull of the wild winds, I just want to stay indoors, and pile blankets on my head, and cuddle with soft things that can't hurt me. (Which, technically, is an impossibility in my abode, because seriously, the amount of sewing needles and straight pins I've put into stuffed animals "just for now" and found later inadvertently...it's psychotically high, is what I'm saying. Anyway.)

Normally, the beginning of October rolls around and I start collating songs on a theme. One year it was classic spooky songs, one year it was harvest songs--that was a hard year; two years ago, I think, it was songs that got under my skin and dug into viscera, and okay, fine, never doing that again. This year...well, who's surprised, really?

(from the dolly album, because where else would I put it?)

My theme seemed to be broken dolls.



So let's talk about ∆AIMON, which is a name that may not translate well to all browsers. The "∆" before the A is apparently deliberate; they have a long and interesting explanation as to why they chose that spelling, and what it means to them, but mainly, I found this song while wandering the darker reaches of YouTube searching for something else entirely. I actually found this video first, which uses images from Twin Peaks, an obsession of the band, to illustrate its major themes:

into the night
I cry out
I cry out your name...
into the night
I search out
I search out the light...

Apparently, ∆AIMON is part of a new (to me) musical style called "witch house", which I'm not entirely sure--even after reading that Wiki article--actually exists. Especially as it seems to trade heavily on one thing I absolutely, absolutely loathe to my core in SL--namely, the use of Unicode symbols in words.

Which is why I cringe at recommending ∆AIMON, because, look at the name...but I really, really like this song.

You can find them on Facebook and Soundcloud.

From there I started finding a lot of tinkly, broken-music-box pieces, and I'm going to link a few of them here.



Nox Arcana is a darkambient, gothic band headed by gothic fantasy artist Joseph Vargo. He and fellow musician William Piotrowski have been quietly putting albums out since 2003, and at this point, they've gained equal acclaim in several areas to become a name alongside Midnight Syndicate (and personally, I think they're better).



This one was hard to track down, because a friend sent it to me under the title "Unknown (Kouri_Sen)". In actuality, this is Kouri Kuchiniwa's "Furui Ningyou", or "Old Puppet" piece, written for the horror game Ib. It's a haunting little broken-notes piece, and it fits stunningly well with everything else.



This is Kanon Wakeshima's "Still Doll (Music Box Version)", which was the first version I heard when searching for similar-sounding pieces a couple weeks back. Turns out it's actually an actual song with lyrics:

What kind of dreams
Hi, Miss Alice, do you see
with your eyes of glass?
do they fascinate you?

again, my heart is torn
and bleeding
I mend it but
my memories pierce the openings

Kanon began learning cello at the age of three, and by fifteen, was performing in her high school's baroque quartet. Initially discovered and produced by Mana (if you don't know, Mana is the one in blue in the photograph), she's since transited to a successful career as a recording artist. This particular song was used as the ending theme for the first season of Vampire Knight, which is not where I first heard it, but it does make me tempted to watch the anime.

You can find her on Facebook and MySpace.



And I'm going to end the music-box section of things with Philip Glass, and the piece he wrote for "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candyman_(film)", simply titlted "Music Box".



Crystal Castles is a strange band. Formed almost by accident--or accidentally via subterfuge--in 2005, the first "officially" released single was released without the permission, or even the knowledge, of the lead singer of the band. And while most of their music is intensely chaotic, driven, and deafening, this particular song is reflective, ethereal, and haunting.

mercy, we abstain
hope you're entertained
snow covers the stain...

foray forever
foray forever
foray forever
foray forever...

taught them with solace
they know a soft caress
to lower their defense

hide all that you could
done for the greater good
it's later understood...

You can find them on Facebook, Tumblr, and their own site.



This is actually not an officially released song; Fisher wanted to record and release this song, using their music and vocals but taken from a Sylvia Plath poem called "Mad Girl's Love Song". Unfortunately, they couldn't get permission from the Plath estate; finally, they used the music they'd written for this piece and composed different lyrics for it; it's on the Lovely Years CD.

I close my eyes and all the world drops dead
I lift my lids and all is born again
The stars go waltzing out in blue and red
as all my darkness gathers in

I close my eyes, the world drops dead
I think I made you up inside my head
Inside my head...

You can find out more about them on their website.



Finally, this isn't techincally a Halloween song, but it has power, and it speaks to some of what I'm going through (from a different direction) right now, so it's in the mix with the rest. It has a rather odd not-quite-backstory, too, which is worth explaining (at the first link below).

it sucks when for a little kid living means lying
and the only place you feel safe is pretending you're flying
and you'd rather be caught dead than be caught crying
will you hold my hand?

This video, a live performance from Santa Cruz, California, in 2009, has more of the background behind the song--while it was written long before the events she speaks of, she still sings this song in tribute of these children. Plus, Ms. Dawson was raised partially in the social service system, and knows well its flaws and failures first-hand.

As of this date, I can't find any information newer than 2009 but there is a blog dated 2008 that has a whole bunch of contact info for both Oregon and Virginia, if you want to find out more directly what's happening from the participants involved.

Happy Halloween.

Nuclear fusion in our lifetime? Maybe. It wasn't a sustained reaction, but it was an observable one. It's quite exciting.

Also, did you know there are folks attempting to build the Enterprise? So where's the IP rights argument in that? I mean, if they build a physical object that's (loosely) based on a Paramount property, obviously it's not going to be used for copyright infringement for another series, but for space travel. Still, it's interesting that they're openly using the design, and calling it the Enterprise.

So, several weeks ago, I had several ideas for blog posts, including several haunted house posts from folks in the community I've covered before.

(from the haunts album; am I in the right place?)

...Obviously, that didn't happen. For a multitude of reasons which I won't go into, however...I stand in Raglan Shire now, waiting for the stairs to rez in.

Well, technically, I don't need them, but...it's the principle of the thing.

(from the haunts album; I'm still not sure this is the right place...)

I guess they're not coming. Bother. And it's raining out. So I'm going in.

(from the haunts album; two translucent twin Tinies. Uh...hello, there.)

It occurs to me, this may not be the Tiny Ride of Terror. This may simply be a Tiny haunted house...

(from the haunts album; that is one terrifying baby doll.)

Looks like someone's been on the Twisted hunt...

(from the haunts album; okay, we're fine, we'll just carefully walk by the little voudou dolls...)

Eeek! Surrounded by Tiny little dolls!

I must run to the next room!

(from the haunts album; ow. OW ow ow ow. OW.)

Oh, good, I've found the kitch--OW!

(from the haunts album. Great, well-fed rats.)

Oh, joy. They have rats. Well, at least he has a nibble.

(from the haunts album. Great, well-fed rats.)

Nothing in the fridge worth the risk, and the chef seems...iffy. Onward!

Or...not, because at this point, I completely lagged out, and my little behatted bunny could not, at all, move to any other rooms.

There is an upstairs and a downstairs; with any luck, I'll be able to check it out again before it closes, but I still don't know if I was in the right place! Bother!

(Also, just as an aside, mid-way through the matting portion of this entry, Gimp decided nothing needed to be transparent, whether I saved as a .jpg or as a .png. So...sorry? Because if I wait to see if I can fix it, it's going to be November before this is posted, and I have more haunts to cover! Augh!)

Keloid. Look into it. To say anything, I think, will take away from the impact of the short film, but I will say this: if you are unnerved by mannequins, you might not want to see it. (But if you like big faceless mechs, you definitely need to.)

Meanwhile, from before the last Twisted hunt ended...

[19:06] axxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: In store number three been looking for hours is there another hint?
[19:07] Axxxxx Bxxxxxxx: There is only one official hint. That cube and the hint that goes with it also changes frequently.
[19:09] dxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx: tp me if you want help

So far, so good. Mr. axxxxxxx wanted more help; Ms. Rxxxxxx wanted to help him. Seems innocuous enough.

[19:12] Lokii Violet: Pro tip - escorting people directly to the box will make me move it really fucking fast.
[19:12] Lokii Violet: I suggest not doing it that way. Carry on.

Warnings for language from here on out; I'm leaving her name because it was her store, but also, Lokii Violet is the store owner of Malfean Visions, the two mentioned above were in Malfean Visions, and Lokii was watching them. These are important things to remember.

[19:12] Cxxxxxx Mxxx: o.O
[19:12] Emilly Orr: Plzplzplz don't make her move it, it was nearly IMPOSSIBLE to find the second time!!!

I mentioned that only because some store owners, as the hunt wore on, had the habit of adding new things to the box. I didn't know if Lokii had plans to do that, and I'd already picked the wrong box up once, thinking it was the only one I needed to find.

[19:13] Pxxx Oxxxxxxx: What store is talking about moving things? xD
[19:13] Lokii Violet: #3.
[19:13] Wxxxx Sxxxxx: Oh yes please, give Lokii a reason to move the box. Please. I wanna see what she does next 'cause she's a freakin' genius at hiding it :D

There were a few changes this year from previous years. First, this was the tenth anniversary hunt, so folks tried to go all out. But second, this was the tenth anniversary hunt, and merchants this year were tired of babysitting anyone who'd been on previous hunts.

So in a few stores, people (and by "people", I mean "store owners") were armed. And they shot people being dumb in their store. And by "dumb", I generally mean really dumb--standing at the port-in point after being warned in local chat and IM; telling people where the boxes were in local chat; hassling other hunt participants--that level of dumb.

Very, very few people in the hunt group protested this, by the way. Except...the really dumb ones who got shot.

[19:13] Lokii Violet: (And yes I'm watching. I suggest not doing it.)
[19:13] Exxxxxx Dxxxxxxx: You grumpy yet, Lokii?
[19:13] Emilly Orr: And for the folks *IN* Malfean Visions, if you're the one she's talking to, please stop being dumb. Thank you, the rest of us.
[19:14] Cxxxxxx Mxxx: Lokii will you be kind enough to share the name with other store owners?
[19:14] jxxxx Wxxx: yes please Lokii please share
[19:14] Exxxxxx Dxxxxxxx: Sharing the names of stupid people?
[19:14] Lokii Violet: Too late.

And there it was. Around 19:10 Mr. axxxxxxx and Ms. Rxxxxxx were both in the shop; only four minutes later Lokii had had enough and picked up the box to hide it again.

Lokii is not a perfect being--which of us is? But to irritate someone enough to make her physically pick up a hunt item to hide it again...during a high-traffic hunt...that takes special, extra-stupid skills.

[19:14] Rxxxx Mxxxxx: I'm sure she'll share it with the merchants in the hunt.
[19:14] Lokii Violet: Warned you.
[19:14] Lokii Violet: It gets moved now.
[19:14] pxxx Oxxxxxxx: Does that mean it's been moved?
[19:15] Exxxxxxx Dxxxxxxx: Lokii, Are you yelling at them in chat too?
[19:15] Emilly Orr: DAMN it!
[19:15] Cxxxxxx Mxxx: means it is getting moved
[19:15] Emilly Orr: Stupid, stupid hunters, not playing by the rules...
[19:15] Lokii Violet: Nope. Taking my time relocating it.
[19:16] Pimm (pimm.olivieri): Does that mean it's not on the map anymore?

*facepalm*

[19:16] Lokii Violet: ...it means I'm moving the *box*
[19:16] Emilly Orr: Nope. "it is getting moved" means she picked it up and is wandering around looking for a better spot.
[19:16] Axxxxx Bxxxxxxx: Beginners Hunt tip: If you do anything that someone might consider cheating, do not announce doing so in local or in group chat.
[19:16] dxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx: theres a shooter at gwen
[19:17] dxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx: flagship store

Let me make note of this, again--Ms. Rxxxxxx was obviously following chat; had obviously picked up the part about Lokii moving the box; and then had the temerity to complain that Ms. Mxxxxx, a store employee who was armed by will and fiat of the store owner, was shooting infractors. This is getting pretty high up in the stupidsphere.

[19:17] Cxxxxxx Mxxx: Lokii when you have a moment please toss me the name of said person?
[19:17] Lokii Violet: I don't have the time. K? Busy.

Also, if Ms. Mxxx had been reading along in the chat as well, both participants in this ill-advised escapade were mentioned, several times.

[19:17] Rxxxx Ixxxxxx: uh oh who pissed Lokii off?
[19:17] Rxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: some idiot
[19:17] Emilly Orr: Also angry. Also understandably.
[19:17] Rxxxx Mxxxxx: Like I said, I'm sure she'll share it with MERCHANTS WHO ARE IN THE HUNT
[19:17] Rxxxx Mxxxxx: And [Exxxxxxx], I shot you just cause ♥

Also important to note: Mr. Dxxxxxxx, mentioned above, is a friend of both Ms. Mxxxxx and Lokii Violet. Moreover, he's used to getting shot in the store. However, this was also mentioned openly in chat, so again: Ms. Rxxxxxx was reading chat; she was in the store under discussion; and she now knew (if she didn't before) who was firing. Nothing's being hidden here.

[19:18] Nxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: Alright you pissed Lokii the god of mischief off? Did we not watch The Avengers? LOL
[19:18] Axxxxx Bxxxxxxx: Beginners Hunt Hint # 2: Merchants reserve the right to eject, ban and shoot people they consider to be cheating or rude.

Also true. It's in the rules.

[19:18] Sxxxxx Zxxxxx: Why is it that this year is horrible for people and the hunt?
[19:18] dxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx: i was helping a man ..lol didnt say a word
[19:19] dxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx: he asked for help in chat
[19:19] Lokii Violet: That doesn't mean walk right to the bloody box and into the wall where it was perched at.

It's a good point.

[19:19] dxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx: i was standing still is all
[19:19] Lokii Violet: ...directly under it.
[19:20] Sxxxxx Zxxxxx: Thats pretty much rude...
[19:20] Emilly Orr: Yeah, [dxxxx], that'd get you banned, blocked, or shot.
[19:20] dxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx: yes so he could find he said he was ther for hours
[19:20] Rxxxx SMxxxxx: Look. Lemme be perfectly blunt. You're being a cunt and eliminating the need to HUNT FOR A FUCKING ITEM. Enjoy your bullet sammiches.
[19:20] Emilly Orr: That's what IMs are for, [dxxxx].
[19:20] Oxxxx Txxxxx: Also, it's a Bad Move to brag about derendering in local, in Twisted chat, and to Twisted Assistants in IM.
[19:20] dxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx: i was in im
[19:21] Cxxxxxx Mxxx: *facepalms*

Yeah, really. Ms. Rxxxxxx just didn't seem to get it, at all. It wasn't just misunderstanding of the basic problem; it was like she was deliberately denying she did anything wrong even with visual sightings of her and her actions to back the store owners (and employees) up.

[19:21] dxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx: i dont know i didnt do anything wrong i grabbed the box
[19:21] Wxxxx Sxxxxx just joins Cxxxxxx in facepalming
[19:21] dxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx: stood there thats all
[19:21] Oxxxx Txxxxx: If you're going to park idle, don't do it in front of the target.
[19:21] dxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx: i was there for less then a min ..so sorry it bothered you
[19:21] dxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx: ask the man
[19:21] dxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx: [axxxxxxx]

Cue greater facepalming. So: not only was Ms. Rxxxxxx standing directly under the hunt item (presumedly, so Mr. axxxxxxx could manage to find it), but also, she was openly talking about how difficult it was and how she had to derender things to find it to a store employee in IM?!?

This isn't just stupidity, it might actually be organic damage.

[19:21] Rxxxx Mxxxxx: btw.. I'm the shooter. :3

Again: asked and identified. How Ms. Rxxxxxx continued not to know who banned her and shot her "friend" is beyond me.

Five minutes later...

[19:26] Lokii Violet: Relocated. Hidden. Hint updated. *throws fingers, goes back to her movie*
[19:26] Emilly Orr: That took less time to hide than the last time this happened. Should we be worried? [19:26] Lokii Violet: Yes. You should.

And as it turned out, we were right to be. (Though that has nothing to do with this escapade.)

[19:26] dxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx:

19:25] dxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx: i didnt do anything wrong rydia ..i had finished the hunt and was just helping a man who was there for hours...is your perogative to ban me ...i dont cheat..i dont have huds ...anyway goodluck to you
[19:25] Rxxxx Mxxxxx: You're an idiot. You took someone RIGHT TO THE BOX. That is cheating. But you go on with your delusional self!
[19:26] dxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx: sighs whatever
[19:26] dxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx: take a pill
[19:26] dxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx: relax its sl
[19:26] Rxxxx Mxxxxx: And you're a douche 8D
[19:26] dxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx: i have purchased at your store you lost a costomer
[19:26] Rxxxx Mxxxxx: aww muffin

[19:27] Sxxxxx Fxxxxxxx: And now she breaks the TOS. Real piece of work, this one.
[19:27] Lokii-ikthya (lokii.violet): ...well, I wasn't going to ban, now I am.
[19:27] Lokii-ikthya (lokii.violet): Real smart there muffin.
[19:27] Emilly Orr: Y'know, every time someone says "Relax it's just SL", I lower them several points on the intelligence scale.
[19:27] Mal Martynov: good job daisy, posting ims within sl are against the ToS

Seriously, who doesn't know this by now?

[19:28] Oxxxx Txxxxx: Moo's guide to surviving MV:

1) Move away from the landing point.2) Actually hunt (or shop)3) do NOT tell locations here, or in local. (What you do in IM or on Skype is your business)4) Do not stare/idle at the right cube(s)5) Do not tp or walk folks right to it either6) Or simply: Don't be a stupid git.

Pretty much. And, for the record, those are good rules for any hunt, not just Twisted.

[19:28] Rxxxx Mxxxxx boops and nuzzles Moo
[19:28] Emilly Orr: Yeah, there's a lot of Wheaton's Law in Twisted hunting.
[[19:28] Oxxxx Txxxxx moos.

Upshot of all this is: don't be a jerk while hunting, because bad things can and will happen. Some of the Twisted shop owners go armed, and know how to fire. Others simply ban, either temporarily, or permanently. Mr. Demain from FallnAngel Designs, during his hunts, has been known not only to ban people who pull stupid things on hunts, but now puts out a detailed set of rules to follow--which, if not followed to the letter, can and has resulted in him moving all the hunt objects, which is beyond annoying for the rest of us.



I'll leave you with Wheaton himself explaining the origin's of Wheaton's Law. And as he said, as a legacy, it's not a bad one. And more people on SL need to follow it.

From an anonymous spammer on a very old entry on the blog:

At the least 8-10 candidates were killed from the function-about the political election, and there are others acquired every day loss of life dangers.

Comply with a comfortable diet program that consist even more of proteins and dietary fibre and fewer acrylic, carbohydrates and starchy foods.

The spanish language is usually a gorgeous language to equally converse and take note of and is particularly viewed as by a lot of to get one of the easier dialects to find out.

part similar to the point here [link redacted]

Well. These are surely words of wisdom. I know I will particularly heed the instruction to get less acrylic in my diet. Because I'm sure that's very important.

This next one's a bit more gruesome, but it is that time of year--an urban explorer has discovered the decaying remains of a former veterinary school in Brussels, with what looks like dozens, if not hundreds, of teaching samples simply left behind to rot. The pictures are fascinating but two questions keep springing to mind:

1. Why were all the samples left behind? And
2. Why were most of the samples left uncovered?

I can't figure those two things out, and it bothers me.

Moving to the lands of cute things, how about Hello Kitty eyewear? And by 'eyewear', I mean costume contact lenses.

They seem to be simply tinted violet along the outer ring--where the Hello Kitty heads are printed--so the base color of the eye shines through, but...to walk around with teensy little kawaii kittens on your eyes, do you really care?

And this may be the cutest thing that ever cuted this week. An anime Japanese spirit dances with the animated shoes of Gene Kelly, before he takes her to a showing of Singing in the Rain. It's touching, beautiful, and--as stated--very, very cute.

I've been having some trouble sleeping, of late, so these past few days have seen far too many very early mornings. Apparently, people don't think clearly early in the morning...

It started here:

[09:50] Txxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: THE POTION DEPOT
All Potions = 35L
Shubbie Food = 35L
10-PACKS only 299L!!! ㋡
[09:50] Axxx Zxxxxxxxx: How goes it hunters/fishers? been a while.
[09:51] Txxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: waves
[09:52] Kxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: [actual Marketplace link redacted]
[09:52] Gxxxx Hxxxx: [[Group moderator issues a warning for Kxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx]]

So, this particular group, something like this happens every day. It's one of a few hunt/fish/find groups I'm in, currently, all of which exchange either time or treasure for Lindens (or at least, bits of Lindens), that once one reaches at least one full Linden, one can then cash out. They're all pretty much based on various models of sim traffic generation, and I'm happy to help them refine their techniques for small amounts of personal gain.

At least until I find a job I think I can a) do well, and b) trust enough to be loyal to, after my checkerboard past employment history.

In this particular group, there are pretty strict policies. No advertising unless it's from a merchant in the group, and related to this group's products/goals, no drama (or at little as possible), no cursing, keep things friendly and polite.

So the Potion Depot, being both a registered fishing spot, and an occasional coin-hunting spot, qualifies on both levels for this group, and has permission to send out text ads on occasion. Mr. K, he of the wholly non-related "come buy my clothing that looks like a lot of other mainland clothing shops' lines" store, was not allowed to send out advertising.

[09:53] Kxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ok

And Mr. K even agreed afterwards. Sent, warned, done, right? ...Well, not exactly.

[09:54] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: WHY IS THERE A WARNIGN FOR Kxxxxx?
[09:55] Txxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: he is posting links to MP in here we dont allow advertising.

Also, it's spelled "warning". And you managed to misspell Mr. K's name, there. It's only five letters, come on now.

But demonstrating her total lack of understanding...

[09:55] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: [09:50:27] Txxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: THE POTION DEPOT
All Potions = 35L
Shubbie Food = 35L
10-PACKS only 299L!!! ㋡
[09:55] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: ISNT THAT ADVERTISE?
[09:55] Txxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: that is advertising OUR products
[09:55] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: OOOHHHH
[09:55] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: OK
[09:56] Cxxxxxxxxxxxx Axxxxxxxxx: [Kxxxxxx], is your caps lock stuck?

I thought it was a pretty reasonable question. Many of us were thinking it, after all.

[09:56] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: NO [09:56] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: I TYPE IN CAPS ALOT

"A lot". And why?

[09:56] Cxxxxxxxxxxxx Axxxxxxxxx: oh ok
[09:56] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: CUZ EVERYONE ELSE TYPES IN LOWER CASE
[09:56] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: SO I LIKE TO BE DIFFERENT
[09:56] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: BLAHAHAHA

..."Blahaha"?? Also, "because". But "blahaha" is still getting me.

[09:57] Hxxxxx Rxxxxxxxx: so you need attention ? well most people will simply mute you
[09:57] Axxx Zxxxxxxxx: [Kxxxxx] I THINK YA LANDED THE DIFFERENT ROLE WITHOUT THE CAPS PRETTY EASILY...JUST SAYING IS ALL.
[09:57] Axxx Zxxxxxxxx: ACK
[09:57] Axxx Zxxxxxxxx: it's contagious!!!

That's when [Axxx] noticed his caps lock actually was on.

Ms. [Kxxxxx] hadn't caught on, how'ver.

[09:57] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: HUH
[09:57] Mxxxx Lxxxxxxx: caps is classed as shouting

And also generally considered rude.

[09:57] Emilly Orr admits to struggling with the temptation to mute [Kxxxxx] just for the all-caps thing.
[09:57] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: NO ITS NOT
[09:58] Mxxxx Lxxxxxxx: yes it is
[09:57] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: CAPS DOESNT MEAN SHOUTING
[09:58] Emilly Orr: Yes, yes it does. It always has.
[09:58] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: NOW

Now what?

[09:58] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: NO

Oh. ...Wait, now she can't spell two-letter words without mangling them? Really?

[09:58] Txxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: pretty much yes unless you have a disability.
[09:58] ixxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx ~stuffs [Kxxxxx's] mouth with marshmellows~ shhhh... shhhhh
[09:58] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: A "!"
[09:58] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: THATS SHOUT

So...it's only shouting at someone else if exclamation points are involved? That makes no sense.

[09:58] Mxxxx Lxxxxxxx: yep
[09:58] Emilly Orr: That temptation is becoming stronger.
[09:58] Cxxxxxxxxxxxx Axxxxxxxxx: [Txxxx], im going deaf in here :)
[09:58] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: CAPS IS FOR GRAPPIGN ATTENTION

"Grabbing".

[09:58] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: I WOULD KNOW

Apparently not, because she was still yelling at everyone.

[09:58] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: OR PERSON EXPERSSION

"Expression".

[09:58] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: I STUDIED IT IN COLLEGE

You went to college, Ms. [Kxxxxx]?

[09:58] Uxxxxx Nxxxxx: Thank god for muting

I was beginning to feel strongly the same way. But I had an ethical dilemma--she wasn't using racially insensitive words, she wasn't cursing a blue streak, she just wasn't as bright as she thought she was. I'd be the worst sort of elitist--and I tend that way anyway, which is something I'm trying to correct--if I muted everyone who couldn't type on the grid.

[09:58] Txxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: you can type on caps here ........ but if it goes into drama causing behaviour then it will be handled .
[09:59] Emilly Orr: I think you mean "expression", there, Kxxxxx.
[09:59] Axxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: coming from someone with a disability, I agree with terry.
[09:59] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: NOT ME
[09:59] Emilly Orr: Also "grabbing".
[09:59] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: WELL THEY DECIDED TO COMMENT ON IT
[09:59] Emilly Orr: Because you're yelling at everyone!

I think that's fair, isn't it? She's blaming the rest of the chat for her poor behavior, as if everything would have been perfectly fine had we not said a word on her shouting at the group.

[09:59] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: UM NO
[09:59] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL

Oh, gods, on top of everything else...She's a lolperson. Gyaaaah.

[09:59] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: WELL BOLD MEAN SHOUTING AS WELL THEN

It can, yes, though it's far more difficult to add emphasis in SL text, due to the lack of emphasis text. What we can use, and frequently do use, are conventions like *this*, or _this_, or ~this~. There are others, but all of them are fairly standard ways to indicate text that should be read as italicized, or bolded, or even as a direct emote/descriptive line.

We can even use ALL UPPER CASE to indicate bold text, but...then the problem becomes, since any emphasizing text is just that, for use to emphasize the non- emphasized text...then how are we properly supposed to read text from an avatar who NEVER HAS NON-EMPHASIZED TEXT?

Answer, virtually anywhere on the grid or on the net: as shouting. The fact of which seemed to mystifyingly elude her comprehension utterly.

[09:59] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: HAVE A GREAT DAY
[09:59] Axxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx rubs her temples, sighing.
[10:00] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: BLAHAHA
[10:00] Cxxxxxxxxxxxx Axxxxxxxxx shakes his head
[10:00] Emilly Orr pulls [Kxxxxx's] profile and is honestly not surprised by the all-caps nature of almost everything there, too.
[10:00] Axxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: It's funny that I have Aspergers yet I'm more polite then someone without it.
[10:01] Gxxxx Hxxxx: 6.5 - Group chat is a place for friends to enjoy mature and amicable conversation. It is not a hotbed for drama. Instigators of drama in group will not be tolerated. Personal, highly political or emotive issues should also be sorted out on a personal basis and not in group.
[10:03] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: NO WHERE IN THAT DOES IT SAY I CANT TYPE IN CAPS
[10:03] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: DDUUUUUUHHHH

Maybe not, but I do believe her actions led to group drama, which is discouraged. Also, I believe being rude to a moderator of the chat is never a good idea.

[10:03] Emilly Orr rolls her eyes.
[10:03] Axxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx facepalms.
[10:04] Cxxxxxxxxxxxx Axxxxxxxxx: oh good lord [Kxxxxx] still here
[10:04] Axxx Zxxxxxxxx .../facepalm
[10:04] Axxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Are you five.
[10:04] Emilly Orr: Still fighting against that temptation to mute.
[10:04] Axxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: [Kxxxxx] how old are you.
[10:04] Txxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: lets move on

And we all tried to, because [Txxxxxxxxxx] is another mod in the group.

Unfortunately, it wasn't the end of things for me, because...for some reason known only to her spinning neurons, she IMed me.

[10:05] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: BLAHAA
[10:05] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: I JUST ADD ALL MY ALTS
[10:05] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL

And I would care...why, exactly?

[10:05] Emilly Orr: Not talking to you if you're going to scream at me.
[10:05] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:05] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: DONT
[10:05] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:05] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: Y NOT JUST EJECT ME
[10:05] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL

Now I was really confused. Did she know she was just talking to me, and not to an actual group moderator? Had one of the mods written her with a warning, and she wrote me back by mistake? I was baffled.

Also, that would be "why not just eject me", [Kxxxxx]. Just so you know.

[10:05] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: U WANT THE NUMBERS
[10:05] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: BLAHAHA
[10:06] Emilly Orr: Because I'm not a moderator or an owner of the group, you nitwit.
[10:07] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:07] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: SO STOP TALKING TO ME

Let me get this straight. Ms. [Kxxxxx] wanted to send me a personal message, so she could tell me not to talk to her, when I had no interest in talking to her in the first place!

I began to wonder if she was either on drugs, drunk, or off her meds somehow.

[10:07] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: BLAHAHA
[10:07] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: DUMB ASS
[10:07] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:07] Emilly Orr: Nah, I'm just seeing where this goes for later publication.

I was, too. I'd started taking notes while this was going on, for two reasons: one, this entire interchange never ceased to be baffling, and two, it was a somewhat refreshing break from pixel-aligning the new build.

[10:07] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:07] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: DOESNT MATTER
[10:07] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: STOP TALKIGN TO ME
[10:07] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:08] Emilly Orr: "Talking".
[10:08] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:08] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: ITS CALLED A TYPO
[10:08] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: DUMMY

Oh, just savor the irony. The woman who can't spell is calling me dumb for correcting her spelling mistakes. That very nearly made me smile.

[10:08] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:08] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: NOW
[10:08] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: STOP TALKIGNT OT ME
[10:08] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:08] Emilly Orr: "Talking". Also "to".

I know, past a certain point it's more like poking a baby in a crib, not an honest intellectual challenge...but she was irritating, and I'm far too easy to irritate most days.

[10:08] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:08] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LET SEE IF U CAN FIGURE THIS ONE OUT
[10:08] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: BIWTCH
[10:08] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:08] Emilly Orr: Seriously?

And I just have to wonder...was she trying to mispell that word, or did she mangle it further in her attempt to be "cool" or "amusing" or...whatever it was she thought she was actually doing here.

[10:09] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: STOP TALKING TO ME
[10:09] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: HAHAHA
[10:09] Emilly Orr: You started this.
[10:10] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: OL
[10:10] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: NO
[10:10] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: I HAVE MY OWN RIGHT TO TYPE

As I keep correcting people on the grid, no one has the right to free speech there, because it's not a public holding, it's a software company. Linden Lab is the sum total decisionary on who says what, when, about what, and for how long. That anyone, including our bubble-headed screamer here, thinks they have a "right" to say anything is so beyond laughable, it swings around into tragically sad.

[10:10] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: I DIDNT
[10:10] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: AND IM
[10:10] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: YOU DID
[10:10] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: IF YOU DIDNT WANT ME TALKING TO YOU YOU SHOULD HAVE SAID SO ;
[10:10] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LIKE I JUST DID

I admit, I'm failing utterly to grasp whatever logic point she's trying to make, here. It eludes me.

[10:10] Emilly Orr: No, actually, *you* IMed *me*.
[10:10] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: BUT YOU CONTINUE TO TYPE
[10:10] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: SO THAT MEANS YOU REALLY DONT UNDERSTAND
[10:10] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: WHICH MEAN EVEN IF YOU DO DECIDE TO REPORT ME
[10:11] Emilly Orr: Who said anything about reporting you?

Seriously, who mentioned reporting? If I say I'm going to report someone, I usually say I'm going to abuse-report them. Most of the time, I go ahead and AR them, then tell them they've been ARed. I don't bother to warn anyone in advance.

If I--and again, this is a largeish "if"--tell someone I'm considering their words for publication, that means here, or on one of my other blogs. Because I do have a few, chiefest of which is actually linked on the web section of my SL profile. It's hardly a secret.

[10:11] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: MY RESPOND TO LL IS THAT I PLAINLY ASKED YOU SEVERAL TIMES O STOP TALKING TO ME
[10:11] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: AND YOU REFUSED
[10:11] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: AND I CAN REPORT YOU
[10:11] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: BLAHAHA

For...what, exactly? Holding a conversation? In which I say very, very little beyond correcting her spelling? Yeah, that's going to go a long way.

[10:11] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: JUST LETTIGN U KNOW UR CHOICES SWEETY THATS ALL
[10:11] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: BLAHAHA
[10:11] Emilly Orr rolls her eyes and goes back to building.

I did, too. I'd had it with her nonsense. Everything past this point came in after I'd closed the window.

[10:11] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: AND FOR SOMEONE THAT DONT WANT TO TALK YOU SURE ARE RESPONDING
[10:12] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:12] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: GO BACK TO BUILDING
[10:12] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: AND PLEASE DONT TALK TO ME
[10:12] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL

I have no intention to, but I do feel sorry for her friends, and--assuming it's actually happened--any loves she might have. Those poor, sainted souls putting up with Ms. [Kxxxxx] screaming at them at all hours. They're very brave.