Last night was the Thursday social at Bellefleurs. And...this...was seen.



What...in all the planes, by all the gods...is...this thing? And why, moreover is it at Bellefleurs dancing?

In person it was worse. It had dripping intestines. It had flies. It was one day old. We have only the word of another random visitor that it was a she, because she--or it--never said word one to anyone. Just...danced...and...dripped...and...stank.

Why?



Seriously. Crowd shot in the ballroom. What stands out? Three guesses and the first two don't count.

Dear gods, I can't even. What in all the hells, I do not understand.

The Newcomers' Ball this year--both sessions--was enchantingly photographed by Ms. Andrea Jones, and if any Caledonian readers have interest and haven't perused it yet, here you go. Some lovely shots of new residents to our independent states, and established ones.

In the meantime, I guess it's time once more for a public service announcement.



Meet today's living, breathing (I would assume) example. (I'll explain that in a bit.)

Listen. We all know changing just to go shopping is a pain. I get that. And some of us have the additional disadvantage of having tattoo layers, or wedding rings, or collars, or whatever we don't want to take off. Believe me, I understand that too. But this? This is ridiculous.

[11:49] Emilly Orr: So, things are a tad bit odd, as I'd just opened Gimp, and if I close it, I'm going to crash. So I'm hoping just ignoring it for a while won't cause problems.
[11:50] Mxxxxxxx Wxxxxxxxxx: smiles * doing a bit of work?
[11:51] Emilly Orr: Well, hadn't put out a blog entry for a bit, and came across someone baffling at an event, so figured I'd edit a couple of shots and give another lesson on why it's a good idea NOT to wear every prim and scripted thing you own to high-traffic events.
[11:53] Mxxxxxxx Wxxxxxxxxx: dare I ask?
[11:55] Emilly Orr: Full-on demon. Stood near her for ten minutes trying to figure out her head, because it was missing. Ten minutes later I gave up and just took a picture of the elaborate horns, the TWO wigs, the neck stump, and the rest of her--which was mostly poky jewelry with spikes, and something that was either leather or fur, hard to tell, because all I could see was a slash of color across one hip, and a slash diagonally across her spine--nothing else rezzed in.
[11:55] Emilly Orr: In ten minutes of standing in place.
[11:55] Emilly Orr: 120K+. AT AN EVENT.
[11:56] Mxxxxxxx Wxxxxxxxxx: blinks
[11:56] Mxxxxxxx Wxxxxxxxxx: then blinks again

Yeah. That color, admittedly, being black, but still.



Let me reinforce, the reason I was standing stock-still for ten entire minutes was just see what she looked like. Still no clue, her head never rezzed in.



What really kills me is the level of multiple-prim attachments she had on. Chains. Chain veils. Spikes. Spiked chains. Chained spikes. WTF?

And this doesn't just apply at Tannenbaum, it applies to all shopping events. Or, let me put things more plainly: IF YOU DO THIS YOU ARE WRONG. DO NOT DO THIS.

Okay? Okay. It costs us nothing to dress down for shopping events.Take off any huds we don't need. Put on less primmy shoes, a less elaborate outfit. Dump the attachments we can while we're going to be shopping at that event. Choose one wig to wear. While we're at it, maybe throw off the jewelry just for going to that one sim.

You can put everything on later, after you're back.

This is not hard, and believe me, it really does help down the line, both for the stability of the shopping sim, and the stability and ability to rez things in for other shoppers. It's just basic courtesy to others.

Searching for something else entirely brought me a note I'd sent in 2009, to a love long lost. I don't know why I'm copying it here. Nostalgia, perhaps.

He sits with me and sips tea on the couch. I've sat on this couch, curled up on it, lain full-length upon it, and never once seen it. Is it chintz? Brocade? Leather? Glossy, or has the gloss rubbed off over a thousand scuffs of virtual hands, and feet, and other parts?

I don't know. But it's in the back of my mind when I talk to him.

We've sat and eaten cookies on it. We've shared tea--I always assume mine is Earl Grey or Darjeeling, something that wreathes my head in fragrant steam, but who knows, really? We've looked out upon a distance, so I assume, in this virtual space, there's at least one window.

We have cuddled on it. He has held me down while I writhed underneath him, in the grip of sweeping ecstasy. He has held me tightly in his arms, unwilling to let me go; and these nights, I am equally unwilling to leave. He has held me, face hidden, shuddering, stroking my hair as I cry in his lap, weeping from some pain or slight.

It is a comfort to me, this place that is no place. This couch, this virtual structure of...what? Wood? Bone? Metal?

Why does what it's made of--when it's just a mental construct, a 'place' to share experience--why does it matter? But my mind worries at it.

In the end, it's just a place, familiar, known, even if I don't know the specifics. It's that place between us, what we've made, him and I, the midpoint in our walk towards each other. Important, in its own way, but--just a place.

Plaid? Vinyl? Chinois bamboo and leaves? What is it made of? Why do I care?

Maybe it's just the trivia of it all. I can worry at this, where I can't worry about anything else. Maybe that's okay, too. The small thing, the thread in the weave I can puzzle over.

Likely, he'd just hand me a cup of tea and smile. "Deal with it."

So I will. Feet tucked under me, sipping Earl Grey, looking out at lights on water. Hey, if it's partially my virtual space, then I have a say in what I see, don't I?

Save for the couch is his. So I still don't know what it's made of.

That was where it ended. I'm not going to comment much on it past that. Surprisingly, it causes very little pain, just a very distant ache. At this point, perhaps that's all that's left, and all that will be.

US Thanksgiving is coming up, and the Smithsonian published an fascinating article on the three-day autumn feasting at Plymouth, which seems to have consisted of roasted or boiled fowl, fish and eels, along with cracked-corn pottage and (possibly) an early form of corn mash. So overall, very meat-heavy. It certainly was not called Thanksgiving then, nor for many decades after. In fact, that name wasn't really popularized until the 1850s at the very earliest, and wasn't ratified as a national holiday until 1863.

So how did we get from passenger pidgeons, eels, shellfish, cracked Indian corn, swans, wild turkeys, and corn mash to what we consider now? Thank Godey's Lady's Book for that. They began collating recipes from the time the holiday was ratified, until they ceased publication, and largely, what they suggested became what we expect to see on our tables. Here's a selection of those recipes (lightly corrected for modern cooking techniques).

(The last two are entirely modern, but I felt the variations on traditional oyster stuffing were worth including.)

Oyster Soup

Put two quarts of shelled oysters, liquor and all, into a pan, and set them on the stove to heat (do not let them boil). Drain all the liquor into a soup kettle, add a pint of water and two quarts of new milk, half a pound of good butter, an a little whole allspice and black pepper.
Keep the oysters in a warm place or oven on low heat. Salt the soup to taste just before serving, then ladle in the warm oysters.

Oyster Sauce

Separate the oysters from the juice, setting the oysters in one bowl, and pouring the juice into another. If there is not sufficient juice for the quantity of sauce required, put one-third the amount of oysters of water into the bowl. Set where it will boil, with two blades of mace and salt and pepper to taste. Mix a little flour with a bit of milk until it is smoothly blended, and slowly pour in to thicken the sauce.

When it has boiled several minutes, to each pint put half a pint of oysters. As soon as they are scalded through, take the sauce from the fire, and add a piece of butter about the size of a hen’s egg, and serve immediately. Reserve the oysters for other use.

Dried Pea Soup

Soak the peas over night, using a quart of water to each quart of peas, and putting in about a teaspoonful of soda to soften them. Rinse the peas the next morning, and put them in new water in the same proportions. Boil until tender with a pound and a half of salt pork or preserved beef; lift the peas out and mash through a colander, returning the paste to the cooking fluid without the skins. Salt and pepper well, and bring to a boil until done.

Basic Puff Pastry

To make puff pastry satisfactorily, allow one pound of slightly softened butter to mix with a pound of flour. Break a quarter of a pound of butter into little bits, and rub well into the flour, in which a little salt and baking powder has been put. Mix to a paste with water and lay it on a well floured board. Roll it out once lightly, placing bits of butter at short spaces all over the surface. Sprinkle with flour, fold in four quarters and roll out lightly again

Repeat this process four times, dotting more bits of butter over the pastry, and the resulting pastry should be very light.

Chicken Pie

Joint a young chicken and boil the pieces until nearly tender in just enough water to cover the pieces, laid into a pot. Take the chicken pieces out of the cooking fluid and lay them in a pudding dish lined with pie crust, and to each layer of chicken pieces, put three or four thin slices of pork, or a couple of ounces of butter cut into small bits. Season each layer well with pepper and salt, and dredge flour over the top, and then carefully pour in the cooking liquid until it just nearly covers the top of the meat pieces. Cover the pie with a lid of pie crust, and bake in a medium oven for an hour.

Forcemeat Balls

Chop lean veal or beef very fine, together with a little raw salt pork. Season the mixture with salt, pepper and ground cloves. Mix well, and make into round balls the size of half an egg. Boil half of the meat balls in soup for fifteen minutes, and fry the other half in hot fat or good butter. Serve those on a separate dish, the first half being served within the soup.

Boned Turkey

Remove the flesh from the bone with a sharp knife, scraping it downwards and away, being careful to keep the bird whole and not chop it into pieces. Begin at the wings and try not to tear or slice through the skin. Loosen the flesh from the breast, back and thighs.

Draw the skeleton by the neck from the flesh, then stuff with the same dressing as a roast turkey, or alternatively, stuff with fresh herbs and halved wild onions. If there are any broken places lace them shut with stalks of herb or twine. Bake about three hours, allow to cool, and serve cold.

Mincemeat

Chop one and a half pounds (when chopped) of nice roast beef, beef suet, tart green apples, and Malaga raisins picked clean of stems. Add the same quantity of fresh or dried currants. Add one pound of good brown sugar and half of one pound of mixed orange, lemon and citron candied peel, shredded small. Put in the juice and grated rind of a lemon, a coffee-cup of sugar, powdered spices to taste, and half a teaspoonful of salt. Mix with a quart of sweet cider reduced to a pint by boiling with maple syrup. Add a glass of raspberry or other favored jelly, and more of the cider if the mince meat is too dry. This can be served as a compote or reserved for pie.

Sweet Potato Pudding or Pie

Take one pound of sweet potatoes, peeled or not as desired, and boil them until tender. Mash fine in a bowl, and mix in six well-beaten eggs. When mixed in, add three-quarters of a pound of sugar, three-quarters of a pound of butter, a grated lemon rind, half a whole cracked nutmeg, a wine glass of brandy or milk (or a wine glass of half milk and half brandy).

Line a pudding dish with pastry, fill with this mixture, and bake until set. Sprinkle with crushed sugar before serving.

Alternatively, take a pudding dish and butter it well with good butter, and fill with the mixture, and bake until set as sweet potato pudding.

Lemon Pie

Dissolve one tablespoonful of corn starch in a little water, and pour on it a cup of boiling water, put it on the fire, and when it boils up pour it on one cup of sugar, and a tablespoonful of butter. Let cool, and when cool, add one egg and the yolk of another well beaten, and the peel and juice of a lemon. Put in a pie plate lined with pastry and bake until pastry is golden brown. When done, spread over the top the white of one egg beaten up with sugar, and let stand in the oven (the oven turned off), for a few minutes to brown up.

Orange Pie

Take one tablespoonful of butter, rub to a cream in a bowl, then add one cup of sugar. Beat well together. Grate the rind of one large sweet orange, also one lemon; squeeze the juice, two eggs beaten separately, the whites to a stiff froth. Add to the sugar and butter, first the yolks, afterward the juice and rind of the lemon and orange, lastly the whites. Beat quickly. Have ready an open shell of paste into which turn the mixture and bake. This makes one pie and can be doubled as required.

Pumpkin Pie

Take off the rind and scrape out the seeds of a small stew pumpkin. Cut the rest into small pieces and stew over a moderate fire with just enough water to keep from burning at the bottom of the pot. When stewed soft, turn off the water and steam over a slow fire for fifteen or twenty minutes, taking care not to scorch. Then remove from the fire and strain through a colander when cool. If the pies are to be very rich, to a quart of strained pumpkin put two quarts of milk and ten eggs; if plain use only a quart of milk to one of pumpkin and three or four eggs. Add sugar, salt and ginger to taste. Mace and the grated rind of lemon can also be added if wished. Pumpkin pies require a very hot oven and long baking unless there are many eggs in them. Heat the mixture before filling into the pastry, or the crust will bake too hard before the pumpkin is done.

West Indian Dessert

Cut four to six bananas into very thin slices. Peel and slice three oranges. Open and drain a can of pineapple slices. Lay them alternately in a deep glass dish, with the orange and pineapple slices quartered, and sprinkle between each layer grated coconut and sugar. Bake until done.

White Almond Cake

1 cup blanched and chopped almonds
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
3 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup milk
6 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
confectionary sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar. Add flour and baking power to creamed butter and sugar, alternating with milk. Add chopped almonds and mix well.

Beat egg whites until stiff and fold into the batter. Stir in vanilla extract. Pour into greased and floured Bundt pan.

Bake for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. When cool, sift confectionary sugar over top. A basic white frosting sprinkled with almonds was also popular.

Washington-era Turkey

Take one pound wheat bread, 3 ounces beef suet, 3 eggs, a little sweet thyme, some sweet majoram, pepper and salt, and add a gill [a quarter of a pint] of wine; mix thoroughly. Fill the bird therewith and sew up, hang down to a steady solid fire, basting frequently with butter and water and roast until steam emits from the breast

Put one third of a pound of butter into the gravy, dust flour over the bird and baste with gravy; serve up with boiled onions, cranberry sauce, mangoes, pickles or celery.

Theodore Roosevelt's Vegetable Turkey

Boil one pound chestnuts until tender, remove the shells, add a teaspoon of salt and a pinch of thyme, and mix thoroughly. Boil together a large turnip, one carrot, two potatoes, two stalks celery, three whole or cracked peppercorns, and two cloves. When the vegetables are tender, press through a colander. Add the tender chestnuts and mash all together, adding two Tablespoons each of butter and cream. Salt to taste, place in a buttered mould, in a hot oven; heat thoroughly and serve on a meat platter, garnished with slices of lemon and sprigs of parsley.

Benjamin Harrison's Succotash

Take one pint green Lima beans, one-half dozen ears of corn (grated), one-half pound salt pork, freshened a little with salt rubbed into the surface. Place the salt pork and the beans in a pot and cook together until tender. About one-half hour before serving put in corn. Use no more water than is necessary.

Grover Cleveland's Cape Cod Style String Beans

Snap the ends and tips off one pound of string beans, then snap or cut them in half. Place the beans in a cast iron pan. Cover just the bottom of the pan with a bit of warm water. Take a half pound of salt pork, sliced into smallish chunks. Add the salt pork to the pan. Cook for half an hour to an hour, depending on desired doneness. After they have cooked for half the time, put in a half pound of fresh green peas, add a bit more water, and return to cooking. Right before serving, stir in half a cup of cream, and salt and pepper to taste.

Chester Arthur's Cranberry Pie

Wash and chop (not very fine) one and a half cups whole cranberries, adding one to two cups of seeded raisins and one cup sugar. Sprinkle on a little flour and some spices, along with the juice of one orange and one teaspoon of orange zest. Line a pie plate with one crust and parbake it for ten minutes in a moderate oven. Fill the crust with the warm cranberry mixture, lay on the top crust, pierced with a fork or a knife, and bake in a moderate oven three-quarters of an hour to one hour and thirty minutes, depending.

Southern-style Cornbread

15 ounces (3 cups) stone-ground cornmeal
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3 teaspoons sugar (optional)
2 1/2 cups buttermilk
3 eggs
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, melted, divided

Place a well-seasoned 12-inch cast iron skillet on the center rack of the oven and preheat oven to 375°F. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk cornmeal with salt, baking powder, baking soda, and sugar (if using). In a separate bowl, whisk buttermilk with eggs until homogenous. Whisking constantly, drizzle in all but 1 tablespoon melted butter. Whisk liquid ingredients into dry ingredients just until thoroughly mixed; avoid over-mixing.

Pour remaining 1 tablespoon melted butter into preheated skillet and carefully swirl to coat bottom and sides. Scrape batter into prepared skillet, smoothing the top gently with a rubber spatula. Bake until cornbread is lightly browned on top and a skewer inserted into center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Let cool for about 15 minutes in skillet, then serve warm. (Cornbread does not keep well and will lose its texture as it cools, so it's best to eat it while it's still fresh.)

Cornbread Dressing With Oysters and Sausage

1 recipe Southern-Style Unsweetened Cornbread (about 2 1/2 pounds; 1 1/4 kilograms), cut into 3/4-inch dice
1 stick unsalted butter (113 grams), plus more for greasing dish
1 pound (500 grams) sweet Italian sausage, removed from casing
1 large onion, finely chopped (about 2 cups; 300 grams)
2 large stalks celery, finely chopped (about 1 cup; 200 grams)
1/2 medium fennel bulb, finely chopped (about 1 cup; 200 grams)
2 medium cloves garlic, minced (about 2 teaspoons; 10 grams)
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves
3 cups homemade chicken stock or low-sodium broth (700 milliliters), divided
4 large eggs
2 tablespoons minced fresh tarragon leaves
1/4 cup minced flat-leaf parsley leaves (about 1/4 ounce; 8 grams), divided
2 cups raw oysters and their liquor (470 milliliters; about 32 medium oysters), oysters chopped (see note)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Adjust oven racks to lower-middle and upper-middle positions. Preheat oven to 425°F. Spread cornbread evenly over 2 rimmed baking sheets. Stagger sheets on oven racks and bake until lightly toasted, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool. In a large Dutch oven, melt butter over medium-high heat until foaming subsides, about 2 minutes, without allowing butter to brown. Add sausage and mash with stiff whisk or potato masher to break up into fine pieces (largest pieces should be no bigger than 1/4 inch). Cook, stirring frequently, until only a few bits of pink remain, about 8 minutes. Add onion, celery, fennel, garlic, and thyme and cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are softened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add half of chicken stock. Whisk remaining chicken stock, eggs, tarragon, and 3 tablespoons parsley in a medium bowl until homogeneous. Stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, slowly pour egg mixture into sausage mixture. Add cornbread cubes, oysters, and oyster liquor and fold gently until evenly mixed. Season lightly with salt and pepper.

Transfer dressing to a buttered 9- by 13-inch rectangular baking dish or 10- by 14-inch oval dish. The dressing can be covered with aluminum foil and refrigerated for up to 2 days at this point (the flavor will improve as it sits). When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375°F. Uncover dressing and bake until an instant-read thermometer reads 150°F when inserted into center of dish and dressing is crisped on top, about 45 minutes. Remove from oven, let cool for 5 minutes, sprinkle with remaining parsley, and serve.

(Note: You can shuck your own fresh oysters (see the video above for instructions), ask your fishmonger to do it, or buy containers of raw shucked oysters. Our tests showed that the stuffing tastes just as good with pre-shucked oysters as with freshly shucked. The easiest way to chop the oysters is to snip them in a container using kitchen shears; that way you don't lose their juices to the cutting board.)

Oyster Stuffing With Fennel, Tarragon, and Sausage

2 pounds (1 kilogram; about 2 loaves) high-quality sandwich bread or soft Italian or French bread, cut into 3/4-inch dice, about 5 quarts
1 stick unsalted butter (113 grams), plus more for greasing dish
1 pound (500 grams) sweet Italian sausage, removed from casing
1 large onion, finely chopped (about 2 cups; 300 grams)
2 large stalks celery, finely chopped (about 1 cup; 200 grams)
1/2 medium fennel bulb, finely chopped (about 1 cup; 200 grams)
2 medium cloves garlic, minced (about 2 teaspoons; 10 grams)
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves
3 cups homemade chicken stock or low-sodium broth (700 milliliters), divided
3 large eggs
2 tablespoons minced fresh tarragon leaves
1/4 cup minced flat-leaf parsley leaves (about 1/4 ounce; 8 grams), divided
2 cups raw oysters and their liquor (470 milliliters; about 32 medium oysters), oysters chopped (see note)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Adjust oven racks to lower-middle and upper-middle positions. Preheat oven to 275°F. Spread bread evenly over 2 rimmed baking sheets. Stagger sheets on oven racks and bake until bread is completely dried, about 50 minutes total, rotating sheets and stirring bread cubes several times during baking. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Increase oven temperature to 350°F. In a large Dutch oven, melt butter over medium-high heat until foaming subsides, without allowing butter to brown, about 2 minutes. Add sausage and mash with stiff whisk or potato masher to break up into fine pieces (largest pieces should be no bigger than 1/4 inch). Cook, stirring frequently, until only a few bits of pink remain, about 8 minutes. Add onion, celery, fennel, garlic, and thyme and cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are softened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add half of chicken stock.

Whisk remaining chicken stock, eggs, tarragon, and 3 tablespoons parsley in a medium bowl until homogeneous. Stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, slowly pour egg mixture into sausage mixture. Add bread cubes, oysters, and oyster liquor and fold gently until evenly mixed. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Transfer stuffing to a buttered 9- by 13-inch rectangular baking dish (or 10- by 14-inch oval dish) and bake until browned on top and an instant read-thermometer reads 150°F when inserted into center of dish, about 45 minutes. Remove from oven, let cool for 5 minutes, sprinkle with remaining parsley, and serve.

(Note: You can shuck your own fresh oysters (see the video above for instructions), ask your fishmonger to do it, or buy containers of raw shucked oysters. Our tests showed that the stuffing tastes just as good with pre-shucked oysters as with freshly shucked. The easiest way to chop the oysters is to snip them in a container using kitchen shears; that way you don't lose their juices to the cutting board.)

Sources: Thanksgiving Recipes from Godey's Lady's Book, Thanksgiving As We Know It Was Dreamt Up By a Womens' Magazine, Lincoln Home Museum's article on Mary Lincoln, The Best Presidential Thanksgiving Recipes, How to Make Oyster Stuffing for Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Day and Dinner Through the Years (for the history, though there are recipes linked), and Pilgrim Hall Museum's Thanksgiving By the Cookbook (.pdf file) (again, mainly for the history, though more recipes are listed therein).

So, it's been something of a morning. A friend wanted to go do something fun, so we went to a blues club we both like. We turned up in a meadow with a wooden stage. I thought I was in the wrong place at first.

[11:43] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: [cxxxxxxx] hello
[11:43] Cxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: Heylo! :)
[11:44] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Hi There [Txxx] welcome

Owner of the place.

[11:44] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: hello emilly
[11:44] Cxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx waits for teh rezzinks

Then the club owner started to sing...gospel tunes. Now listen. I don't mind gospel as music. I mind landing in the middle of a revival church meeting when I'm expecting a dance club.

[11:44] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: When darkness tries to roll over my bones
When sorrow comes to steal the joy I own
When brokenness and pain is all I know
Oh, I won't be shaken, no, I won't be shaken
[11:44] Txxxxx Txxxx: hiya [Bxxx]
[11:44] kxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ϟ♪ϟ♪ϟ♪ ĄѾЄﻜОМЄ ƬՄՌЄ❢ ϟ♪ϟ♪ϟ♪

Oh, brother. I cannot stand people who think characters from alternate alphabets makes their names or their words more interesting.

[11:44] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Hi Emilly! welcome to Gospel in th4e meadow

Is that what this is?

[11:44] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: 'Cause my fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love!

I'm...happy for you?

[11:44] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Welcome [Axxx]!!
[11:44] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: hello [axxx]
[11:44] Emilly Orr: Oh, good, I thought I was in the wrong place for a moment--I remember [the club] having an actual building.
[11:44] Txxxxx Txxxx: hiya [ixx] hiya [Jxxxx]
[11:45] Txxxxx Txxxx: hiya [Txxxx]
[11:45] Txxxxx Txxxx: hiya [Zxx]
[11:45] axxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: hi [bxxx]
[11:45] Txxxxx Txxxx: hiya [Sxxx]
[11:45] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Oh, shame no longer has a place to hide
And I am not a captive to the lies
Oh, I'm not afraid to leave my past behind
Oh, I won't be shaken, no, I won't be shaken!

This is so not my scene, but I suspect take this crowd, and dump them in the middle of a heathen ritual praising the Aesir, and there'd be as many problems with dissonance.

[11:45] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yes, on sunday normally here in the meadow

Got it. Avoid this place until the evening, check.

[11:45] Txxxxx Txxxx: hiya Emily
[11:45] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love!

I guess it would give one confidence, but...doesn't this go directly against the Biblical injunction against proselytizing?

[11:45] Txxxxx Txxxx: hiya [Cxxxxxxx]
[11:46] Txxxxx Txxxx: hey [Axxx]
[11:46] Txxxxx Txxxx: hiya [Bxxx]
[11:46] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: And there's power that can break off every chain

And there she goes again.

[11:46] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx:There's power that can empty out a grave
There's resurrection power that can save
There's power in Your name, there's power in Your name
There's power that can break off every chain
There's power that can empty out a grave
There's resurrection power that can save
There's power in Your name, power in Your name!

Yes, it's called necromancy.
It was true--we both sat down, and he stopped moving.

[11:55] Emilly Orr: True, he hasn't moved since we both sat down.
[11:55] jxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: what do u want to do?
[11:55] Emilly Orr: "You", and what do you mean?

Yes, I was feeling snarky at this point.

[11:56] jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx chuckles under breath
[11:57] Cxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: Oh yes, I'm very interested in what [Jxxx] wants to do.
[11:57] Emilly Orr pulls the profile, and sighs.

One day old. ONE DAY OLD. Great.

[11:57] Emilly Orr: All right, I do apologize for assuming you're an adult. Okay, welcome to SL, and rules for your first day--bumping into people without an apology is generally considered rude.
[11:58] Emilly Orr: Sometimes it is unavoidable--you hit a busy sim, you rez before anyone else does, you don't honestly know besides the little sound cue that you have bumped into people.
[11:59] Mxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i'm new here too.
[11:59] Emilly Orr: Which is why the apology works.
[11:59] Emilly Orr: Welcome, then, [Mxx].
[11:59] Mxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: thanks for telling that
[11:59] Emilly Orr: Of course.

She was also one day old. The hell.

[12:00] Emilly Orr: Saying "yes" when someone remarks that you bumped into them--twice--makes it sound like you did it deliberately. That makes sense, right, [Jxxx]?

Then Mr. J tried to get me to answer a voice call. Dark gods, why? And in trying to close it, I accidentally hit one of my favorites landmarks, and poofed off. While I was gone, he moved close to my friend, and asked if she wanted to be his girlfriend. Cue eye-rolling from both of us.

[12:04] Emilly Orr: OKAY, second tip, John--it's considered rude as well to just randomly call people.
[12:04] Emilly Orr: I was trying to close that option, and accidentally hit another landmark on my favorites bar.
[12:04] Emilly Orr: Thanks for taking my seat, too.

One of the bar's bouncers at that point asked if I was being harassed, and I said I wasn't sure, but he had sent my friend an invite to be his girlfriend. I don't know if he was given a talking-to, but he poofed at that point.

[12:05] Cxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: Awww, he ran away
[12:06] Emilly Orr: That's maybe a good thing? Normally, I like it here, though I admit, I don't pass by often.
[12:06] Cxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: Bummer. "Bait the fake Newb" is one of my favorite games. ;)
[12:06] Emilly Orr grins
[12:06] Emilly Orr: Well, he could be a genuine newbie.
[12:07] Emilly Orr: And this place is still listed in Destinations, so I assume it's a big draw for randoms.
[12:07] Cxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: Doubt it. He was too well dressed. ;)
[12:07] Emilly Orr: I don't know, starter avatars have upped their game recently.

Things evened out after that--apparently my friend used to work at this particular bar, and the conversation was merry past that point. But what an uneven start to things.

Bright and early of a (late) morning, this happened.

[11:08] rxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: hey is there any Penis with HUD in free ?

Meet our protagonist, Mr. R, a completely clueless hack. You'll see why.

[11:09] Axxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: preciso de cabeça mesh sou nova

Translation: "I need a mesh head. I'm new." Okay.

[11:09] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ..
[11:10] rxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: oi [axxxxxx] olha tem uma terra que oferece um corpo mesh basico

This one didn't translate as perfectly. "hi [axxxxxx] looks have a land that offers a basic mesh body". I don't know if she meant Looks is a store with a basic mesh body, or what, but she wasn't asking about a mesh body anyway, just the head.

[11:10] pxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: HI
[11:10] rxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: tell
[11:10] rxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: hey is there any Penis with HUD in free ?

Just stop, Mr. R. Just...stop.

[11:10] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: can you stop please is a pg group D:
[11:10] Sxxx Mxxxxxxx: seriously??

Seriously, this is another shopping/sales/freebies group that is rated General Content. So no cursing, no sexual innuendo, no vamping for pets to abuse, none of that.

[11:11] rxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: é brasil sl voluntários, algo assim. posso te ajudar mas agora estou no telemóvel, manda IM que mais logo te ajudo [axxxxxx]

This translated as " It's Brazil, volunteers, something like that. I can help you but now I'm on the phone, send IM that I'll help you later, [axxxxxx". Okay, good offer from a member of the group.

[11:11] rxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: PG group ?
[11:11] rxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: it's [name of freebies/gift group] group
[11:11] rxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: lol....
[11:11] jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yes no adult stuff
[11:11] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: means dont say taht stuff!!!!!
[11:12] jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: read the group charter/description.
[11:12] rxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: well if so thn sorry

You're not sorry.

[11:12] sxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: oh penis is not a natural part of a human body?

Don't be a jerk.

[11:12] sxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Look on marketplace is all i will say lol...
[11:12] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ....
[11:12] rxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: but 1 confusion
[11:13] Sxxx Mxxxxxxx blocks the conversation and thinks the topic should change
[11:13] jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: in there under the "NOT ALLOWED in chat:" you can find, "Most Adult sims/items"
[11:13] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: muted all yucky things sorry not sorry
[11:13] sxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: nipples? [axx]? breats? vaginas?

It's "breasts", and you were asked to stop.

[11:13] sxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: you ppl never know about them, also in rl?
[11:13] sxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: shame

I take it back, you're not a jerk, you're a troll.

[11:14] Bxxxxx Wxxxxxx: he asked the same thing last night
[11:14] rxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: support to [sxxx]

No support to [sxxx]. And if he asked the same question in chat last night, then he's not sorry.

[11:14] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: hope a mod catches ya :D
[11:14] mxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: *chitters cutely at [Mxxxxxxxx]*
[11:15] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: snuggles her [mxxxx]
[11:15] sxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: sshhh sex emotions are forbidden in this group

You're just entirely useless as a human, aren't you?

[11:15] jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: if you read what I put in quotation marks I pulled straight from the group description and not out of context. just cut out the items not relevant to the topic.
[11:16] Cxxx Lxxxxxxxx: wait.. what's a sex emotion? Is that like "I really love your butt?"
[11:16] jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: can read it yourself if you don't believe me.

I've said this before in older entries, but this is, verbatim, the group bio of restrictions and rules:

• NOT ALLOWED in chat:
• Store ads/spam/self-promotion
• 3 lines MAX posts
• MP and most outside links
• Drama/rudeness
• Criticizing stores/gifts
• Malls-Franchises
• Disco/Club/DJ ads
• Breedables
• Land rental/sale
• Most Adult sims/items
• Gambling
• Car/motor-AO/Anims-Pay MM/LBs
• RP: OOC only
• Pls don't link your blog in chat

So there is it, the official rules, which are clearly obvious in the group's description, AS WELL as being linked by mods at least once a week.

[11:16] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i muted them they goton my nerves before
[11:16] jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I am hoping for a mod to catch this chat.
[11:16] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: same

Some people just don't learn unless they're hit with the clue-by-four, or bounced by a mod. I figure they'll both get there eventually.

Hoo boy, this one's going to be..."fun".

[11:54] Bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: That event ended at midnight and the guy returned all my stuff at 6 am
[11:54] Bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: like... wtf... no time to go put it away in an orderly way

So, to explain that a bit, this is one of the designers from the Infinity event. The only reason I knew it existed at all is because she told me. What shows up in SL search when I type in the name is the event's group; no other way to port there, to look it over, no land, nothing. Pulling Asilva Resident's profile only lists the event in picks, the SL bio on his profile just mentions how to apply to be in the event, again.

And none of the fashion blogs--Fabfree, Second Life Fashion Addict, Nessmarket, SeraphimSL, Fashionista in SL, Classy, Trashy n' Free, Knight Fashion, SL Fashion News, iHeartSL, SL Freebie Addiction, SL Fashion Feed, IT Girls, any of them--that I peruse mentioned it in any way. Yet Asilva Resident, the group owner, told all the designers he advertised "extensively". Really? Where?

[11:55] Emilly Orr blinks
[11:55] Emilly Orr: Wow, he is such a jerk
[11:55] Bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and people are bitching in group notices since there is no way to talk in group
[11:55] Bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: apparently everyone is angry and calling it a scam

That's interesting, though I would have said, before hearing what comes next, that it was just a badly managed start to an event. Everyone's entitled to one flaming mess and then they get better, right? Save for...

[11:55] Bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yeah look what ppl sent out
[11:55] Bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx:

scam
Thu, Nov 15 2018 7:01:38 AM PST

this event is a scam. even if I think that my message is useless and that people who are intelligent have seen it for themselves. the only way the event organizer uses to bring "guests" is "happy hour 1 ls" people come and go. the people who come are only for clothes free to 1 linden they do not care about our items or our booth.
I ask since the beginning of the event (two weeks) a link just a blog link or to see what we propose to the event.
I am still waiting for the link of the blogger for whom we have

[11:56] Bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx:

kindly made boxes. How successful are you at seeing a blog? me no . You find yourself thrown out of the group when you have the honesty to tell the owner that he does not advertise and that he does not deal with the customers. the longest conversation and the only help I received from this event and the day I paid for my stand. look in the research with the third of what we all pay he was not even able to pay for the place to be displayed in the search! and the traffic is just over what my store did a few

[11:56] Bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: he sent this at 3:38 am SLT
[11:56] Bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx:

Hello, the Event ends today.
rental available, I'll return things at 6 AM second life

[11:56] Bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: like w
[11:56] Bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: t
[11:56] Bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: f
[11:56] Bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: 2 hrs 22 minutes
[11:56] Bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i was getting ready for school at 6:38 am
[11:57] Bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and just got back from class and a meeting
[11:57] Emilly Orr: Huh. I don't have a lot of information, but I can start from there. Who sent that?
[11:57] Bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i'm SOOOOOOOOOOOO upset
[11:57] Emilly Orr: I can imagine!
[11:57] Bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: The first set was from a designer
[11:57] Bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: the 2nd part was from the Owner of the Event
[11:57] Bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Asilva
[11:57] Emilly Orr nods

This does sound pretty chaotic, and again, badly-managed start to finish.

[11:59] Bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: then he sent this out
[11:59] Bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx:

I come through this apology!
A designer came the notice group complain about the event, about her clothes on the blog, all the shopkeepers are announced by the blogs, there is a person who separates and distributes so that everyone can have their items disclosed!
How to support whenever they look for me with doubts if I'm not online, I'll respond as soon as I get back!
We all have the right not to be satisfied with something or a purchased product, we have the right to complain, but in a direct way, that it does not involve other people who have nothing to see!
Once again I apologize to you, I am here to receive criticism, because they are always constructive, any problem look for me that I will try as soon as possible to solve!
Thank you
Asilva

[11:59]Bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i think i am the "there is a person who separates and distributes so that everyone can have their items disclosed" maybe? bc i only gave my items to the bloggers?

Maybe, but it sounds like a lot of the designers are upset with Asilva's treatment of them.

So, not entirely sure about this, but based on what I saw going to the event, what I didn't see in terms of advertising for this event, anywhere--and I did tip Ms. B about SeraphimSL, she contacted them, and they said they are happy to list anything with notice, but they never heard one word from Asilva about his event--I'd say if it's not actively a scam, it still may be an event to avoid, at least initially. Because again, if it's not actively just seeking Lindens with no concern for up-and-coming designers, then at best Asilva has no idea how to run an event, nor who to advertise with to get the word out. And these are lessons he desperately needs to learn, especially if he plans to do this again.

[13:57] Yxxxxx Oxxxxx: hmm... whatever happened to [sYs]?

That's a really good question. I remember liking them.

[14:00] gxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: it's no longer in the LM...

I checked after hearing this. Nope, the landmark no longer can be ported to, seems both the store and the sim it was on are both vapor.

[14:02] Yxxxxx Oxxxxx: it seems they poofed off the grid and noone knows where to, and why
[14:03] Emilly Orr: That's so strange
[14:03] Emilly Orr: She was talented

She was. She had a fairly unique vision.

[14:04] Yxxxxx Oxxxxx: they could at least *properly* close - and remove the malware from their website

I don't know about their website, but, if it was a case of a sudden ban, for whatever reason, then Syane Cisse cannot make changes to her profile, because she cannot log in to either SL proper, or SL's associated websites, to make those changes.

[14:04] oxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: their MP is still on, I don't know about in-world
[14:04] oxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/48318
[14:04] Yxxxxx Oxxxxx: inworld's gone, last post on their twitter 2 years ago, last update on their own website even longer ago

Did they poof that long ago and I just never noticed? I could have sworn she had a booth in one of the October events, though it's perfectly possible I could be wrong.

[14:04] Yxxxxx Oxxxxx: f*ck the MP, LL does not close a store on the MP
[14:05] Yxxxxx Oxxxxx: not even permabanned griefers have their MP store closed - i wonder where the L$ goes if someone buys from someone who actually closed their account
[14:05] Yxxxxx Oxxxxx: "their MP is still on" means *nothing*.
[14:05] oxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: WELL, you can take that attitude and shove it up your [f*cking c*nt]
[14:06] oxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I was offering a solution to shopping there - just because a store closed doens't give oyu any right be be a rube [b*tch] like you're being
[14:06] Emilly Orr: WHOA, language

Yeah, that was out of NOWHERE. Zero to merchant marine in less than a minute.

[14:06] nxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: take it to tells thats disgusting
[14:07] Emilly Orr: G-rated group, [Nxxx].

I checked, yes. The group this was in is rated General Content.

[14:07] axxxxxxxx Axxxx: woo hooo afternoon drama llamas.....I didn't know this was the talk like a drunk sailor chat room

I know, right?

[14:07] Kxxxxx Rxxxxxx: I know someone who has passed away with a MP store :(

Truth. Unless that person has the presence of mind to declare an executor of estate, and SL is petitioned to recognize that person, no one else can take down that store.

[14:07] Vxxxxxxxx Txxxxx: how about we all act like adults and if you dont like what someone says hit the X on top of the viewer and go to rl!
[14:08] Vxxxxxxxx Txxxxx: honestly so childish
[14:11] axxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: amen.. wow.. There's no need for disrespectful language in a group that is here to shop for sale items..
[14:12] Emilly Orr: Pretty much.

Conversation turned at this point; I was happy to let it go, and wander off to the kitchen to reheat a nibble. When I came back to the keys, how'ver:

[14:34] fxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: At the risk of being called a c__t [sYs] is fully functional on Marketplace, and their facebook is active until April of 2018. I ordered on MP and got the items recently. I have to say [group this happened in] not a friendly spot to visit, I deleted the group but rejoined a few weeks ago.

I won't comment about the group; my experience of being in it is it's usually professional and well-moderated. But experience varies.

[14:36] lxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: OMG you are such a CaT

Are you kidding?

[14:37] lxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i bet your feline the burn now

You're not kidding.

[14:37] lxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: whats the matter, cat got your tongue

Okay, you're just a jerk.

[14:38] axxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ?
[14:38] fxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: double ??

That was my response. But that was the end of it, save for the unanswered question: why did [sYs] disappear? Did Syane Cisse get banned? Doess anyone know why? That will remain the question set, unfortunately, until and unless I find out more.

Out of the blue from a store group that really never has a lot of cross-chatter:

[14:19] nxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ◥◣◥◣◥◣◥◣◥◣◥◣◥◣◥◣◥◣◥◣◥◣◥◣
ОСТОРОЖНО!!!! КИДАЛЫ!!!
[Fxxxx Bxxxxxxx]
ЭТИ ЛЮДИ, МАЛО ТОГО, ЧТО НАРУШАЮТ ПРАВИЛА СЛ, ПЕРЕПРОДАВАЯ ЛИНДЕНЫ НЕЗАКОННЫМ ПУТЕМ, ЕЩЕ И КИДАЮТ НА ОБМЕНЕ ДОВЕРЧИВЫХ ЛЮДЕЙ!!
ГОВОРИТЬ ОБ ИХ КУЛЬТУРЕ И ТАКТЕ ВООБЩЕ НЕ УМЕСТНО!
БУДТЕ БДИТЕЛЬНЫ!
◥◣◥◣◥◣◥◣◥◣◥◣◥◣◥◣◥◣◥◣◥◣◥◣
[14:20] dxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Translation of above message.. CAUTION!!!! KIDALY !!!
[Fxxxx Bxxxxxxx]
THESE PEOPLE HAVE A LITTLE WHAT THEIR RULES VIOLATE THE RULES, RE-SELLING THE LINDEN BY ILLEGAL WAY, STILL GOT ON THE EXCHANGE OF TRUSTING PEOPLE !!
TALKING ABOUT THEIR CULTURE AND TAKE AT ALL DOES NOT NEED!
BE ALERT!
[14:21] Mysteriah Wichtlein (xxdarktemptressxx): mmmmmmmkay
[14:21] Bella Valoris (lizbethbloodthorn): didnt make much sense translated

Really didn't. They said they used Google Translate later in this small chat, so I pulled another service up and took a stab at it:

Careful!!!! SCAMMERS!!!
[Fxxxx Bxxxxxxx]
THESE PEOPLE, MOREOVER, THAT BREAK THE RULES OF SL, LINDEN RESELLING ILLEGALLY, AND EVEN THROW ON THE EXCHANGE OF GULLIBLE PEOPLE!!
TO TALK ABOUT THEIR CULTURE AND TACT GENERALLY IS NOT APPROPRIATE!
BEWARE!

Russian is idiomatic, no translator will work perfectly. Also, usually, I leave spammers' names clear, but...we just have this one person's word for it, and if it's all so hyperbolic, IN-ALL-CAPS communication, I am never sure if it's a genuine warning, or someone being vindictive. But my basic takeaway from this is "there's this spammer and they're being unethical". They're a spammer, so duh, but also, the all-caps means that most of us are going to either roll our eyes or ignore it. It never works.

[14:21] Emilly Orr: Can we not have spam messages that have nothing to do with this group? Kthx
[14:21] Mxxxxxxxxx Nxxx: umm
[14:21] Mxxxxxxxxx Nxxx: did you ask for permission to post this here?
[14:21] Emilly Orr: Probably not
[14:22] Txxxx Lxxxxxxxx: ..youre asking spammers not to spam? :P
[14:22] Txxxx Lxxxxxxxx: thatll go over well :D
[14:22] Mxxxxxxxxx Nxxx: lol
[14:22] Emilly Orr: Were it normal spam, yeah, it would be like throwing Jell-O at a wall--completely useless.
[14:22] Emilly Orr: But, sometimes, the 'just passing on advice' people can be convinced not to do that.
[14:22] lxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: well it makes the day a touch less dull when you try to figure out what the heck sometimes
[14:22] dxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I believe that the person that initially posted is warning us of a scam. Possibly a hacked account ladies.
[14:23] Emilly Orr: Exactly.
[14:23] Mxxxxxxxxx Nxxx: well why translate spam? I'd think Sintiklia would let us know if it's important?
[14:24] dxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Why not? Not everyone speaks Russian.
[14:24] Mxxxxxxxxx Nxxx: well I used Google translate
[14:24] Mxxxxxxxxx Nxxx: =D
[14:24] dxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Perfect.
[14:25] Emilly Orr: For what it's worth, [Fxxxx] is 8 years old, and there's not a lot of other info on her profile. She is not a member of this group.
[14:25] lxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: hmm so hopping to groups to spam then hop off? dosent sound very productive
[14:25] dxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Hence..a possible hacked account since she isn't online.
[14:25] Emilly Orr: No, no, [Fxxxx] didn't post that. [Exxxxxxx] was warning folks about [Fxxxx] for some reason.
[14:26] dxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: [nxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx] made the post. I translated it.

To be fair, I missed that, I attributed everything to Ms. E.

[14:27] lxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: mabye they didnt like a deal they got on a gacha resell XD
[14:27] Emilly Orr: So, they are a member of this group, the "[nxxxxxxx]" person
[14:28] dxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Anything is possible. However, I was attempting to be helpful. Everyone have an awesome day/evening/afternoon.
[14:28] lxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: thankyou for translating at least we knew what the randomness was
[14:29] dxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: You are most welcomed.

So, tips for being helpful. Even if the original is in all caps, if you're going to repost a warning, take it OUT of all caps.

Another good tip to keep in mind: don't just blindly repost. Verify first. Ask friends. Ask the person who posted the original warning and ask why. If all else fails, take the words of the warning and paste them into Google search, see what shows up. Always remember the warning you're seeing for the first time may have been seen by the rest of the grid for a solid year, and it was a false alarm to begin with.

And we get so tired of false alarms.

So, the usual rules apply: I will anonymize all but the terrible spammer, but it is from a fashion group I'm in. I say that because I mention it, so it's going to be obvious. Here we go, starting with a tiny snippet from yesterday:

[2018/11/09 22:22] cxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: N.V.I.D.O.L.Z.N.R.

Now, this happens a lot in this group. Some people allow letters to be called in their group, some don't. This one does, so we see letters constantly. This is not an issue in the least. But the very next thing that was said:

[2018/11/10 23:06] CristinaOhio Resident: .
[2018/11/10 23:06] CristinaOhio Resident: That's
it
!

I'm leaving her name intact, for reasons that will become abundantly clear later. But that is all she said. Why? What did it mean? Nothing else was said in the group for hours, so...I let it go.

But today, came this:

[11:32] CristinaOhio Resident: .
[11:32] CristinaOhio Resident: That's
it
!

That is the exact same thing she said yesterday. And unlike yesterday, that was how chat opened, so I have zero idea what spawned that response.

{Roleplay post}

We're going to be changing the bio sections on the Sakura house blog, so I thought I'd grab mine, because I'll likely be revising it.

She sat in her tiny mountain cabin, snow falling softly on the roof, and looked out the frosted window. She remembered when the Queen of the Unseelie plucked a little Phouka out of the woods and made her a court noble; and she did everything she could to represent the Sídhe to the best of her ability, and the Winter Court's core values of passion, instinct, and change. She was changeable by nature, shifting easily through various forms, but when the Court fled the realm, she was not allowed to follow, and wandered into the human lands for the first time.

She found a temporary home in Steelhead in the 1800s, turning catgirl to better adapt to the citizenry there. When she moved on, she moved to Caledon, and shifted freely between fox maids, bunnies, and cats, in addition to fanged humans (on rarer occasion). Another shift in place (and time) took her to Winterfell, where magic saturated her bones again, and she was able to hold to her fae form for the first time in decades.

But she found she'd grown tired with none of the Sídhe around her, and slowly, slowly, she withdrew, building her small cabin high in the mountains, far from friends and faces she knew. The snow fell, and she slept by the fire with her cats, and rarely left her refuge.

With all of these musing thoughts filling her head, she nearly missed the glimpse of a human through the snow-covered trees. She had reddish-blonde hair, a narrow, attractive face, and wore a heavy fur cloak in tones of gold and red, with rich fur lining the hood. *Who was this,* she thought, *who would fight the storms up the mountain to come here?* There was nothing here but trees, and snow, and her cabin...

She blinked, and as if the woman had seen her through the window, she nodded, turning and moving through the trees. Without another thought, Emilly left her cabin and followed, catching brief glimpses as they both moved down the mountainous terrain through the trees. Just as she reached the base of the mountain, the elusive woman disappeared, but a paper fluttered to the ground that Emilly bent to pick up. *House Sakura,* it said, *currently residing at Bellefleurs*...

She went to an information hub, and tracked down the address of Bellefleurs, scheduling a transport, for time had advanced while she'd been pinioned in the snow. She appeared in the courtyard by a fountain, and a lovely Egyptian woman with Nilotic eyes behind oval glasses came out of the house to greet her.

"We're having our annual ball for Sakura," the woman said, smiling. "Would you like to attend?"

She thought for a moment before nodding.

"Yes," she said softly, her lips curving in an answering smile. "I'd like that."

And when she'd attired herself, she hoped properly, in human garb and human guise, she saw the elusive woman again. At the end of the ball, the woman approached her.

"I'm Duchess Canning," she said. "But you can call me Indy. Would you like to know more about House Sakura?"

She smiled, looking around. She already loved the place, and it had felt like an alternate home from the moment she'd walked through the doors. She looked back at the Duchess, waiting patiently.

"Yes," she said. "Yes, Indy, I would."

The Duchess merely smiled, leading her by the arm back to the lovely Egyptian woman she'd met earlier.

"Let me introduce you to Lynn," she said. "She'll help you fit in. I think you can learn a great deal here."

She smiled at Lynn, and then at Indy. Yes, she thought. She would learn more about the humans, It could be a grand adventure, indeed...

The story won't end, I'll just be revising that bio. Probably making it a lot shorter, I was in heavy roleplay mode when I wrote it!

But the Duchess was right, I have learned a great deal, and I'm thoroughly enjoying myself at Sakura. It's a good place to work.

This is going to be anonymized, as per usual, but because it's openly from Caledon chat, curious sorts may be able to add up the X's and come to correct conclusions. I can't help that, I thought it was more of value to post it.

[13:03] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: May i ask a question of you. When we were looking for rentals in Caledon we just went from sim to sim. Is there an actual rental office?

Near as I know, from my years of involvement, there has never been a rental office with the actual plots for rent. To be fair, such a thing is a common practice on other estates; I went to the sim's rental office both to scan plots available and to rent on behalf of Gearhaven when I rented a parcel in New Babbage, and when dealing with both mainland and island estates elsewhere, there have been actual offices with parcels or plots for rent.

But, to Des' credit, in Rosehaven-once-Winterfell, I rented two conjoined parcels, then later the Duke of Gearhaven rented a third across the river from the first two, that were all 'found' via discussion with the Princess. And when it was still Winterfell, I rented, in turn, three separate parcels, one after another, from the Empress, so...not every sim that offers resident rentals operates with the rental office model.

[13:03] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: no, but talk to [Jxxxx]

Keeping with my usual practice of bolding moderators in chat groups, and, in this case, estate managers or owners of sims.

[13:03] Pxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: No, there is no rental office. However, you may want to contact [Mxxx Mxxxxxxx], who takes care of it for Desmond Shang. [Jxxxx] is not available at the moment.
[13:04] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: we found a place. and we have spoken to [Jxxxx]. He sorted out our land for us. Took a lot to figure out who to ask though. Is a bit secret society lol
[13:05] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: more laid back than secret

I would agree, but to be fair, I understand Ms. B's point, too. It's not as easy as finding a box, paying the box, and clicking a group invite board, to get land in Caledon. There used to be long waiting lists. Even now, when there is less demand, it is far from an instantaneous process. It can take up to 72 real-time hours in a good week to go from desiring a parcel, to getting it set in one's name and ready for building. And that's always been the way Caledon operates.

[13:05] PPxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Des used to do a lot of this himself, but he changed jobs and is working very long hours, so he delegated a little.
[13:05] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: if we are a secret society, no one has told me
[13:06] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: gathered that. Perhaps in the info offices there could be information on who to contact for rental issues, land deeding etc. Just a suggestion

This is not a terrible idea she's proposing. I honestly don't know how it would work, as Des or an EM must be on site to transfer parcels, so they are bound to officers with specific clearances. Changing that system to something that could be managed by rental boxes would be...problematic at best, and violently chaotic at worst.

[13:07] Emilly Orr: It is less secretive than just...things slip through the cracks. There was someone who was handling rentals full-time, I think RL claimed her back for a bit; then [Jxxxx]; [Mxxx]'s likely been doing land management and contacts for some time, but first I heard of it was today, so I am out of the loop.
[13:08] Jxxxxx Zxxx: The secret instructions are posted on the wall, in the Lecture Hall.

This may or may not be in jest, but to be fair, I'd have to go look to make sure. If they are, in fact, posted in the Lecture Hall, then that means the instructions on how to rent in Caledon, as well as the text of the full Caledon covenant (which I know is somewhere in Oxbridge, I have seen it in person), as well as other information on individual sims, are all available somewhere in Oxbridge Village. So it's far from secret and arcane.

[13:08] Pxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx needs to see if they are updated
[13:08] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: And perhaps a group joiner when you rent. That would be helpful. Just my 2 cents for what it is worth

Again, Caledon is not an open group, and I truly think this is not going to change. Would it be easier to make Caledon an open group, not bound to an invite system? Sure. But with it bound to invites only, this ensures that the only people in the Independent States of Caledon group have some level of investment in Caledon. That makes sense, doesn't it?

[13:08] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx hums... the words of the prophet were written on the subway wall...
[13:09] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx rechecks his spectacles to look at the secrets.
[13:09] Pxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: We used to have a class on What to Do in Caledon that ended with everyone in the class becoming Caledonian if they wanted, but the professor who taught that has left SL.

That might be a good class to restart.

[13:09] Dxxxx Wxxxxx hums... and tenement halls...
[13:10] Emilly Orr: You know, that is a good point. Des offered me group membership before I ever rented, because I'd shown up at several dances. I never thought to ask.
[13:10] Dxxxxxxxxxxxxx Exxxx: Hey how hard would it be to include a rental reference in the covenant of each sim?

Probably fairly easy, once it was in print, as t'were. But now? Each listing would have to be updated by hand, that would be a crushing amount of work.

[13:10] Pxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Since then, any peer of Caledon can offer you membership

Admittedly, I did not know this. Good to know.

[13:10] Dxxxx Wxxxxx: you need the magic monacle, I think, Mr. [Sxxxxxxx]
[13:10] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx still likes to original Simon and Garfunkel
[13:10] Dxxxx Wxxxxx checks her covenant
[13:10] Pxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: If anyone who has rented would like to become part of Independent State of Caledon, please say so and I will send an invitation.

Of course, she's asking in a group which is invite-only, about members who are not currently in the invite-only group, but...thanks for the offer?

[13:11] Dxxxx Wxxxxx: Please see Caledon's covenant in the region: "Caledon Oxbridge"
[13:11] Dxxxxxxxxxxxxx Exxxx: me, me, I would!!
[13:11] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: exactly [Dxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
[13:11] Dxxxx Wxxxxx: that's what Kitti says
[13:11] Pxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: [DME], you've been here longer than I have.
[13:11] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Well, this is the ISC group...
[13:11] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Yes [Pxxxxxx]. but you have to be able to know who those peers are
[13:11] Dxxxx Wxxxxx: can't put anything past you, Mr. [Sxxxxxxx]
[13:12] Dxxxxxxxxxxxxx Exxxx: darn, I'm so old the trees are new
[13:12] Dxxxx Wxxxxx: :-)
[13:12] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: just as an outsider I see a couple of things that in my opnion could be better

I think the phrase you're searching for, Ms. B, is "more efficient". It would definitely be more efficient, and even easier, but would it be "better"? I'm not sure. I'm offering the suggestion only to a wider audience.
True, but maybe that's also part of the culture of Caledon. Some things are acquired directly--land, titles, group membership. Other things are more gathered by osmosis--the history, the running jokes, the forms of address, the ways in which information is exchanged, taught, debated, understood. Again, much of this is not instantaneous, and I don't think it should be.

[13:21] sxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Mr. [Sxxxxxx] used to be one..
[13:21] sxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I have no idea if he still is though.
[13:22] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: look do not get me wrong as we love it here at Caledon. Finally found the part of SL I have been looking for. I hate those beach sims etc
[13:22] Wxxxxxxxx Jxxxxxxx: He is an EM for part of Caledon.
[13:22] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: [Jxxxx] is Regent, he has the same access as Des... but he is not around right now
[13:22] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: but I just think some newcomer friendly stuff would help
[13:22] sxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I agree [Txxxx]. Hes always been quick at getting back to me with land info though
[13:22] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: can we accept that we have not done as well as we could here, and that the Powers that Be in Caledon have heard, or will be told shortly?
[13:23] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: we do seem to be going over the same stuff again and again
[13:23] sxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx nods.
[13:23] sxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I never disagreed.
[13:24] Wxxxxxxxx Jxxxxxxx: And, Oxbridge is not Caledon itself. It is run independently and pays its own tier.
[13:24] sxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: was trying to point out people who may be able to assist Mrs. [Bxxxxx] quicker
[13:24] Dxxxx Wxxxxx: I can accept that the issue has been raised, [Txxxx]
[13:24] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ty
[13:24] Wxxxxxxxx Jxxxxxxx: [Mxxx] was a good suggestion.
[13:24] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: not trying to stir trouble. Just looking in from the outside
[13:24] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: perhaps a list of people at each info point?
[13:25] Wxxxxxxxx Jxxxxxxx: Info point?

She's either talking rental offices again, or a central, controlled port-in point--which, to be fair, some sims have, and information on larger Caledon events have been posted there. She's saying perhaps another board with a list of current EMs to contact in case of questions or issues, and I suppose that could work, but again, it's taking up prim space on what is usually very small, usually round parcels of community land.

[13:25] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: on a a couple of the sims I have found what looks like an info office
[13:26] Wxxxxxxxx Jxxxxxxx: More a landing point, I believe.
[13:26] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: or cake sales point
[13:26] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: cake sale? nice
[13:27] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: we believe in freedom and cake, I think... some other stuff too
[13:28] sxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Mrs. [Bxxxxx], did you need a list or is everything all good?
[13:29] Pxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: The older sims are hubbed -- landing points. Not all have them.

This is true.

[13:29] Wxxxxxxxx Jxxxxxxx: The is no list of EMs for each sim, because not all EMs want to be publicly known and a few are unlikely to even be in SL these days. Any effort in that direction is not encouraged.

This is also true. And it is their right to remain anonymous to the populace at large. Des honors that choice.

[13:29] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: we know how to contact [Jxxxx]. So that will be ok. All we need now is someone to deed land
[13:29] sxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ah.
[13:30] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Des, [Jxxxx] and [Mxxx], best bet is [Mxxx] right now
[13:30] sxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx nods.
[13:30] Wxxxxxxxx Jxxxxxxx: Which would likely be [Jxxxx] when here (but not right now), [Mxxx Mxxxxxxx], or [Kxxxxxx Hxxxxxxx].
[13:30] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ok thanks. making note of the names
[13:30] Dxxxx Wxxxxx: I just yell in ISC when I need assistance - there is almost always someone there to help.
[13:30] sxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: [Kxxxxxx] was the other one I was thinking of.
[13:31] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Perhaps instead of trying to ask to be added to the Caldeon group it could just have a joiner button?

No, because it's invite-only, and quite likely to remain so.

[13:31] Wxxxxxxxx Jxxxxxxx: [Jxxxx] is on travel and not likely to be in this week.
[13:31] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: that would be easier
[13:31] Jxxxxx Zxxx: Like the on on the wall behind me?

If there is a group join board for ISC at Oxbridge, that's news to me. I thought it was still invite-only.

[13:32] Wxxxxxxxx Jxxxxxxx: It also would make it harder to control. No joiner button is likely.
[13:32] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: that would be the Caledon Oxbridge University Group, but actually a good pace to ask

Ah, okay, makes more sense. The Caledon Oxbridge group is open-join.

[13:32] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: seems i have stirred debate
[13:32] sxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx giggles.
[13:32] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: or perhaps food for thought
[13:33] Pxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Caledon has its own culture, and for that reason was set up to allow time for people to see if they are comfortable here before becoming members.
[13:33] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: as a lot of the 3000 members are also in ISC
[13:33] sxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Nothing better on a rainy and cool afternoon than a debate, Mrs. [Bxxxx] :)
[13:33] Dxxxx Wxxxxx: ... while sipping tea
[13:33] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx smiles... very rainy in Wales, but then it always is

There began a short diversion into global weather, which I chose to excise, as this is already going to be long enough on its own.

[13:36] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: oh and for the record I speak only for myself. My Sl partners opinions are his own. As are mine

More commentary on rain that I'm deleting for length.

[13:56] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Anyways thanks to you all. Have a lovely evening

Conversation returned to ISC "normal" at that point, which is to say, all over the place...but Ms. B does have several points, and good ones. It's not a way Caledon has ever behaved, and there have been reasonable and historic reasons why, but I do wonder if it would somehow benefit Caledon as a whole to behave--at least a little--like other sims on the grid.

On the heels of that, just a bit of random weirdness from another rental announcement:

[14:01] jxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i have a small announcement... more like a tease.... for some that may be interested... although im not giving out any details as of yet
[14:02] Jxxx Sxxxxxxxx: Then house is that an announcement or tease!
[14:02] Mxxxx Sxxxxxxx puts the flame thrower down, "Go on...."
[14:02] Jxxx Sxxxxxxxx: Something is coming!
[14:02] jxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Rentals are coming
[14:02] Fxxx Jxxxxx: 'I am Ironman!'
[14:02] Emilly Orr blinks. "Rentals?"
[14:02] Jxxx Sxxxxxxxx flails
[14:03] Emilly Orr: Rentals with tentacles!
[14:03] Mxxxx Sxxxxxxx: Oooo
[14:03] Jxxx Sxxxxxxxx: Tentarentals?
[14:03] Pxxxxxx Exxxx: wat
[14:03] Jxxx Sxxxxxxxx: Rentacles?
[14:03] Emilly Orr: Rentacles!
[14:03] Emilly Orr cackles

I just had to, yes. It amused me.