smoke 'em if you got 'em, 'cause it's going down

Another day, another attempt to get to the tower at White Veil. All right, you rock bastards, let's go.



So, same thing, start at the beginning, agree to the experience if you've never been there before, and start out. "Simple"...



Found out what the squares do. So this is pre-their effect (on my second attempt running up the side of the course), but they attach with a variety of squeaking sounds, before bouncing you up in the air. I don't know if it's an always thing, but at least they didn't dump me back into center track. Always off the track entirely, crashing into trees or penguins.



Oh, what's this? A little bridge out to...a TV? Why?



A TV that's just showing a still image, even. Hmm. But that did remind me, I meant to watch the video the artists released of the exhibit. And there are a few clues in there for how best to access the track.



Finally made it to the tower! I felt accomplished! And I was almost immediately sent back to the beginning because...the winding ramp up has little discs SHOOTING PUSHING ORBS AT CLIMBERS??? Bryn, WHYYYYY?



Made it to the winding ramp again on the third try, and dodged the little shooting discs, and...RIGHT INTO A MAGNET I COULDN'T ESCAPE FROM ARE YOU KIDDING ME.

Which held me until the big rock was released down the ramp, and rolled right over my face. And I got sent BACK to the start for the third time.

I have a certain point I always reach with restart games, that started when the organizers behind the Twisted hunts decided it was more fun laughing at tortured souls than actually giving them a reasonable challenge. Three's about it, and I'm at my frustration limit. Which may be the point, I don't know, but I do know it's going to be at least another week before I try again.

I still don't know what's at the top of the tower.

come here, say it, spit it out. what is it exactly?

It begins again:

[15:02] sxxxxxxxxx Sxxx: Hi sexy

What?



Just...out of the blue, bald, like that? Really?

[15:03] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): And...you are?
[15:03] sxxxxxxxxx Sxxx: Hi sexy
[15:03] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Right, so...you are?

He sent me another one.

[15:05] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Okay, again with this. Who ARE you??

Because I still had no clue.

Enough time passed, I thought he'd given up, then...



No, really, please, keep sending me these things.

[15:37] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I'm not going to accept friending you until you tell me how you got my name, or where you know me from.

I really thought we were done, again, then...



Would be nice if he'd actually say anything else.

[15:38] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Right...do you not...speak English? I tend not to friend people blindly.

So I pulled the profile. His total SL bio:

♛ Слава БОГУ (Thank God) ♛
♛ ♕ ♚ ♔ LOVE GOD ♔ ♚ ♕ ♛
亗 ℓσνє кιηg 亗 Love True ♛
☦️ Херувимская (Cherubic) ☦️ песнь (song) ☦️
♛ KING BEST WORLD DESIGNER IS GOD ♛
亗 . RIGHT HAND ♛ 亗 . OF DEAR GOD 亗 .
♛ Свети Архистартег (Holy Architect) 亗 Архнагел Михајло је Архистартег Свих Ар ♛
(Archangel Michael thе Architect With All)

Oh. This idiot. I've run across him before. Yeah, I can just ignore him from here.

At that point, the event ended, I moved on, spent a lovely bit of time with someone very dear, and after he had to leave, I was asked to spend some time with someone else. And that was going quite well, until...



Why. Just...why.

[17:23] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): And...you are?
[17:23] jxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i am a fan
[17:23] jxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i want [f*ck] you later

SERIOUSLY?? THAT'S your lead-in??? My gods, dude. You cannot be serious.

[17:23] jxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: :D

Oh, don't even. I find nothing amusing about this.

[17:25] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I...see
[17:25] jxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ok

Great. Night of the Living Doofuses.

I pulled his profile. Portuguese, I think, this one:

Não espere demais das pessoas,pois assim quando te derem algo será sempre mais do que vc imagina, e quando te decepcionarem não fará diferença!! (Don't expect too much from people, because when they give you something it will always be more than you think, and when they let you down it won't make a difference !!)

Riiight...

At that point, I was actually looking forward to logging off, which happens vanishingly rarely. Why me? What the hell do I do that attracts these morons?

and sooner or later, it's over, I just don't wanna miss you tonight

This is not the usual conversation on the dance floor, let me make that plain. But it's also not rare, or at least, not rare for me. Still, I thought it was worthy of capture.

We're also coming in near the middle, because...well, that's when I arrived.

[16:22] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: well the brain plasticity is tremendous in the first five years, but the same happens during adolescence. And plasticity research shows how much the brain is capable of rewiring itself. So keep learning - it'll keep moving
[16:24] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Isn't that amazing [Sxx]
[16:24] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: it really is. A lot of research into older brains came from recovery from severe brain damage

True. Learning how brains recover from severe trauma helped us learn how to help brains slipping into Alzheimer's, and other age-related degradations, process information in better, or at least different, ways. We still have a long way to go, but we're learning good things.

[16:25] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: it just rewires around the damage
[16:25] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: a part could be completely non existent, but yet, its functions cuold be taken up by a different part of the brain not normally associated with those functions
[16:26] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: it's why stuff like 'left-brained/right-brained' distinctions are complete [bullsh*t]

The biggest revelation of brain pathway research is that the human brain is not two lobes that process independently, but more...holographic. There is the mind/brain split, which is as much philosophical as biological, but as far as left and right brain workings, she's correct. It's all one thing.

[16:27] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: That fits in some situations maybe ...but not the full picture
[16:27] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: tell someone they are right brain dominant and what that means - taht's what'll happen
[16:27] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: I learned of a new one recently - linear vs fractal thinkers
[16:28] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: pfffft

To be fair, I do like that one.

[16:28] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I was told by my psych teacher that both sides of my brain worked together...I hope that is good
[16:28] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: you can learn to be either, but that's not how you are always wired unless you want it to be
[16:28] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: or trained to be
[16:29] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: I would hope so [Jxxxx]!
[16:29] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: using both sides works for me...I can do art and scripting
[16:30] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: it's a ridiculous idea that you shouldn't be able to do both
[16:30] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: ok, shut me up

We are trained to say things like this, btw. That's female training 101--get us to apologize for having opinions and our own thoughts.

[16:30] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: agreed [sxx]
[16:30] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: my father taught me to use my brain like that
[16:30] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Nah, why? You're right
[16:31] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: love how actual conversations and information flow occurs at the wandering Star

I admit, that's something I love, too. Never can predict the topic, but it's always interesting.

[16:31] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i like chatting with [Sxx]
[16:31] Dxxxxx Axxxx: i'm swapping fashion tips with [Txxx] :)
[16:31] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yes Q...it is the best
[16:33] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: collaboration is the best thing about the internet
[16:33] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): That...doesn't happen at other places?
[16:33] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: depends on the group

So, maybe I just have different perceptions on what makes a good club? Or maybe I just hang out at fun places.

[16:33] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: okk so I left the keyboard to shut myself up, but I have one thing to add. Corpus Collusum - why have it if the two halves weren't meant to communicate, support and aid the other!
[16:34] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): So you can give them really tiny spears and gladiator skirts?
[16:34] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yayyy [Sxx] is back
[16:35] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: some of us use our brains more than others of us
[16:35] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Also true
[16:35] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: You've just reminded me of an article I read once about how an athlete healed themselves of really bad injury through learning about the damage so well they could visualise it
[16:35] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: then
[16:35] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: they visualised tiny bow and arrows being shot across the fibres
[16:36] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Oh, I like that
[16:36] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: came back top class athlete
[16:36] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: wow that is powerful
[16:36] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: written off as 'lucky to be able to walk again'
[16:37] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: mind is an amazing thing
[16:37] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: brains are PLASTIC... they will change as needed and you are what you think you are
[16:37] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): There have actually been several studies on how running quad- and paraplegics through walking or exercise simulation games actually gives them measurable muscle differences and better resting pulse rates
[16:37] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: interesting

I think it's fascinating. And it's an EXCELLENT reason to take up running in SL, riding, swimming, whatever--because if we keep our virtual bodies active, some of that does carry over to our physical bodies.

[16:37] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: our consciousness is an emergent property of our physical brain (biological and electrochemical)
[16:38] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: so makes sense that both consciousness and the physical matter can effect each other
[16:38] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: emergent property of all our physicality
[16:38] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: nods
[16:39] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: brain/body distinction set psychology back ages
[16:39] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: and we are as much a conglomerate of bacteria/viruses as we are meat and bone and orgnas
[16:39] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: we are an ecosystem :)
[16:39] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: you have more bactertial entities than human cells
[16:39] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: within you
[16:39] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: which is kind of mind blowing

We are large, we contain multitudes.

[16:40] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: when I was fencing and I thought of it as physical chess I started winning
[16:41] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: how do the bacteria think I wonder
[16:41] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: funny, but I think I used to win karate competitions knowing the opponent wasn't as clever as me.
[16:41] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Bacteria don't think, they just react to stimulus
[16:41] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: they are a group mind (or at leats they use chemical signaling to do stuff together)
[16:42] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) nods
[16:42] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: but then thought is not a process it is an emergent property....
[16:42] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: it just IS
[16:42] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: because something else IS

Yeah, it's conceptually tricky to evaluate thought, because we're using thought to break down how we think. It gets very meta.

[16:42] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Right.
[16:42] Vxxxxxxx Hxxxxxxx scratches his antlers.
[16:42] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): In that sense, all thoughts are reactions as well
[16:43] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: nods
[16:43] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Just to different forms of stimuli
[16:43] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: we live a good few ms behind reality

And that is the bit that tangles me up the most. We don't actually see anything when it happens--we just get impressions after and fill in the blanks. So much of what we experience is supposition.

[16:43] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: so we have entities in us that do chemical signaling
[16:43] Vxxxxxx Hxxxxxxx eats popcorn slowly....
[16:43] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: our perception is slow
[16:43] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: hmmmm actually..... we make a decision ms before we consciously are aware of it.
[16:44] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) nods
[16:44] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: when we are on auto pilot

No, pretty much constantly, that's our state of being. We make decisions and then tell ourselves we've made a decision, and that's when we think we've decided. So much is chemical.

[16:44] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: yeah - one has to be careful what terms one uses lol
[16:44] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: no - not when on autopilot
[16:44] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: like if I said - choose a dot
[16:44] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: out of 20
[16:44] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): one of my favorite quotes was paraphrased from Chuck Wendig: "You are a ghost, driving a meat covered skeleton, while riding a rock floating through space. Fear nothing."
[16:45] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: i liek that emily °͜°
[16:45] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: whoa
[16:45] Vxxxxxx Hxxxxxxx: you forgot the speed! that's the scariest part!
[16:45] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Yes! True!
[16:45] Vxxxxxx Hxxxxxxx: lol
[16:45] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: you will have decided which one before you can in anyway consciously manifest which one you've chosen, even as a thought

There's a really great heist film, Now You See Me, that actually deals a bit with this. The closer you look at what a magician is doing, the less you see. The best ones use our own perceptions against us, and we're happy and amazed, instead of angry and hurt, that we've been completely taken in.

[16:45] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: the rock is not floating
[16:45] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): No, it's more hurtling, or slowly spinning, depending on your perception of speed
[16:45] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: it is falling tworads the gravity well of the sun at a nasty high accelleration
[16:46] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Which is the "Everything dies, baby" end of the argument
[16:46] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: but has enough momentum that it keeps not quite falling inwards
[16:46] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: we all fall towards the earth (our nearest largest gravity well) at 9.8m/s
[16:47] Vxxxxxx Hxxxxxxx: Gravity is coool.
[16:47] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: no wonder I have no idea I get bruises I can't explain
[16:47] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: so Laurie Anderson was right when she said we are walking but we are falling and catching our selves from falling
[16:47] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: but as long as we have the magnetic core we won't lose our atmosphere

Which probably won't happen, regardless of how much I adore the innate stupidity of The Core.

[16:47] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: true
[16:47] Vxxxxxx Hxxxxxxx: Newton broke all kinds of laws when he invented gravity
[16:48] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Which is a good thing for us, we kind of need that
[16:48] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: and it also drives teh tectonic plate actrivity
[16:48] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: lol Emilly
[16:48] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: walking and falling
[16:48] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: magnetic core also gives us the radiation shielding
[16:49] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: such a delicate balance here
[16:49] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Yep. Otherwise poof, no life.
[16:49] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: yep
[16:49] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: we are the end result of some pretty amazing set of coincidences

We are indeed. And that is a wonder and an astonishment every day.

[16:49] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) nods
[16:49] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: well not quite end result
[16:49] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Middle? Only it's not even really the middle, either
[16:50] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: and heer we are doing our very best to destroy teh balance on which our existence rests
[16:50] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): That's humanity for you in a nutshell
[16:50] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: 'we'?
[16:50] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: we are just starting to understand the machine
[16:50] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: yes all of us are at fault somewhere along teh line for some infinitesimal part
[16:51] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: I think a few really who've bound us into it.

Also true, but humanity is very, very good at both fouling our nest, and blaming someone else for doing it.

Still. Fun conversation all around. It was a good day on the dance floor.

go and find another adventure, c'mon let's go

The new art exhibit by Bryn Oh and Cica Ghost is called White Veil, and I'm not sure if it's completely open yet? But Bryn had been asking interesting parties to test the mechanics, so that's what I'm here to do.



So let's begin here, with the single biggest hazard of the exhibit, both literally and by size. The first obstacle to understanding is an obstacle--or, more importantly, a set of obstacles that roll down the hill. Several round balls in white, of varying sizes...and this big boy.



When they hit the avatar, the avatar goes *poof* back to the beginning of the course, base of the mountain. This is INCREDIBLY frustrating. This entry, in fact, features shots from my third attempt up the hill. But there is a slim, a very narrow, up side: these little blue discs. Step on one, the avatar is "protected"...but it's a very restricted protection.



In short: each disc offers about ten seconds or so of being trapped in a bubble in which we can't move, can't roll to the side, can't roll off the disc--but which can be struck by the orbs rolling downhill, and knocked around, popped into the air, whatever. Which...is also incredibly frustrating, because sometimes, they decide to *poof* when we're right in front of that big boulder. And *whomp*, back to the beginning.

And then...several days went by during which I didn't return, though I planned to, because I still want to see the rest of it. But, sometime during the planning-and-not-doing, I got invited to the actual opening of the installation.



Meet random person I saw there. This outfit was incredible--in person, it shimmered, glistened, and it was also far more sheer standing next to her. She was stunning. Wish I knew who she was.



We had all gathered for the second part of the opening events, having started with a live musical concert. That's Rosedrop Rust on the big chair in this shot--he was one of the spoken-word poets that performed during the second half. I am so glad I was able to go, and listen to poems of tentative hope and light, and slow renewal, because this event I'm talking about, for the last two images? That was January 21st.

But...walking the exhibit itself? That is still unfinished. I have not made it to the tower. I do not know what lies at the top. I will return, though I have no idea when this exhibit closes. So there will be at least one more entry covering White Veil.

the way I'm drinkin' you down, like I wanna drown, like I wanna end me

We're going to pick up in the middle of this, because I logged in in the middle of it:

[20:09] Rxxxxx Bxxxxxxxx: why
[20:10] Rxxxxx Bxxxxxxxx: what rule does it break
[20:10] Axxxxxxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: You can list the mainstore where the mainstore is located
[20:10] Rxxxxx Bxxxxxxxx: [Qxxxxx] is not resale

You don't have to be strictly resale to be considered a mall in SL.

[20:10] Axxxxxxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: Creqatos of Mainstores rent spaces in the [Qxxxxx] Mall. And by definistion that is a mall. Rentals are not allowed

I think she meant 'Creators'?

[20:10] Rxxxxx Bxxxxxxxx: i don't understand what you mean by mainstore. Most of those are the mainstore
[20:11] Axxxxxxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: no they are not. They are smaller versions of the mainstore. They are Franchse stores
[20:11] Mxxxx Kxxxxx: o-o
[20:11] Rxxxxx Bxxxxxxxx: for example [Kxxxx] has lots of stores

Okay, that's actually a great example. So the store she's referring to makes textures. They have a lot of branches in addition to the mainstore. Say they put out a freebie box of textures, or put up an MM. If those were in the mainstore, they could be posted. But their branch that's in the couple of texture malls I know they're in--some of the same places Timeless Textures is in, and at least one that features Timeless, Kushi, USC and Vita, if I recall correctly--they couldn't list the things, because being in a mall would preclude that.

[20:11] Mxxxx Kxxxxx: you ok there [axxxx]...? it looks like slurs...

I think those are just typos, honestly.

[20:11] Rxxxxx Bxxxxxxxx: why can't you list it
[20:12] Rxxxxx Bxxxxxxxx: it seems like you are trying to protect some competition you favor is what it looks like
[20:12] Mxxxx Kxxxxx: oof
[20:12] Axxxxxxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: Definistion of a Mall: a large building or series of connected buildings containing a variety of retail stores and typically also restaurants.
[20:12] Mxxxx Kxxxxx: DEFINITION
[20:13] Mxxxx Kxxxxx: -.-
[20:13] Mxxxx Kxxxxx closes this chat
[20:13] Axxxxxxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: Keep it up [Rxxxxx] and you wll be banned for arguing with a mod
[20:13] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Any store, even the main store a business has, if they rent space in a group of other stores, is considered a mall and is disallowed by this group.
[20:13] Rxxxxx Bxxxxxxxx: lol.. yeah.. ask [dxxxxx] about that

Oh, babycakes, no. Do not try to use one mod to intimidate another mod. One, they actually talk to each other, and two, mods in this group have a wide variety of powers. There are no 'junior mods' that can just warn in text. If you're a mod for this group, you can bounce people, no questions asked, and the only way another mod is going to be surprised by that is if the first mod that did the ban had to suddenly leave and the other mod logged on. Otherwise, they'll leave an IM or a notecard. These are NOT uninformed people.

[20:13] Rxxxxx Bxxxxxxxx: Im simply asking questions

But they're really, really, STUPID questions, Ms. R.

[20:13] Jxxxxx Dxxxxx runs and hides
[20:13l lxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxxx: not only is it a mall, it has the word "Mall" in the name lmao

Well, if the mod decision didn't do it for you, that would. Give it up, Ms. R. You're fighting a battle that's already been lost.

[20:13] Exxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: yeah it does have the word Mall in the name
[20:14] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Timeless is a great case in point--they were allowed here, they're not now, because when she rebuilt, she invited her friends in, so it's now her store that anchors about six total, which qualifies as a mall.

And, when that happened, I fought Dragon tooth and nail over her decision to disallow Timeless to post in this group, because she'd been such a standby before. In fact, Timeless' owner had put the entire business into a large skybox above the ground level, so that even though the sim was rated Adult, there was absolutely zero Adult action in any of the stores in the sky.

But note that "any of the stores". When Timeless restructured, she became the main store, and all the little wings of her old store that were run by different people (thereby, making it a group business, not a solo effort, but NOT a mall) were given their own, separate buildings to develop. So now it's her and four or six outbuildings, all connected by cobblestone paths.

Which means that by this group's definition, she was now a mall, and was no longer allowed to be posted.

[20:14] Axxxxxxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: [Rxxxxx]. [Dxxxxx] is the one who put [Qxxxxx] on our sm/store ban list
[20:15] lxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: it's a freaking mall and it's not allowed according to group rules. You don't like the rules, leave group and make your own group with your own rules XD
[20:15] Rxxxxx Bxxxxxxxx: well, im talking about banning me for asking questions
[20:15] Rxxxxx Bxxxxxxxx: that's what I meant about asking [dxxxxx]
[20:16] Axxxxxxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: I'm talking about Banning you for argung onw hat a mall is and is not and does not want to listen to me when I say it is not allowed and the reason I gave. and you want to continue to argue with me about it.

Yeah, at this point, Ms. R doesn't seem to realize she's going to be bounced for being confrontational and combative. It's not about "asking questions".

[20:16] Axxxxxxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: and don't worry [Dxxxxx] knows all aobut it. In fact, I'm the one who trained on when she first became a mod.
[20:16] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Because you keep questioning when the mods gave you the reason why the malls aren't allowed
[20:16] Axxxxxxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: One of the main ones
[20:16] Rxxxxx Bxxxxxxxx: she doens't know that you threatened me

Well, that won't last for long, she'll be told. And 99% chance she'll support Ms. A's call here, because this group's mods trust each others' judgement.

[20:16] lxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yup, that is not asking questions, that is trolling
[20:16] Rxxxxx Bxxxxxxxx: when i am constantly providing free things to this group

So, hold up. You're "constantly providing free things" to the group, and you don't know the group's rules? Did you recently suffer a head injury?

[20:18] dxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: th thing i think is Hilarious? Events In a MALL are allowed in here but a place with 6 shops isnt? Not Sure how that one works exactly,, but mkkay.

Um, Ms. D., are you paying attention? Events/MM boards/gifts/cheap offers in a mall are NOT allowed, and a place with six connected stores--hence, A MALL--are NOT allowed. You're not making sense.

[20:18] Xxxxx Mxxxx: O_O
[20:18] Xxxxx Mxxxx: simply accept rules, and stop
[20:18] Xxxxx Mxxxx: goodness
[20:18] Axxxxxxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: Time to move on everyone. It's been taken care of

Which means Ms. R has been bounced for being an idiot. Okay.

[20:19] dxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: They make thier oen "rules" and circumvent them whenever its vonmvienient for them? lol

No, actually, they don't. What groups are you thinking of? Because that doesn't happen here. Their rules ARE frequently overly restrictive and irritating, but they don't haphazardly violate them on a whim.

[20:19] mxxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxx: gues what! they can do that! its their group

Sure, but they don't.

[20:19] Xxxxx Mxxxx: its their group, their rules, and now thats it for me, buy everyone
[20:19] dxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yeah, Its Called hypocrisy
[20:19] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) sits back with popcorn.
[20:20] mxxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxx: no its called their rights

What? Whose rights, the group owners/mods or the people in the group? I don't understand.

[20:20] dxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: If rhey make Rules even THEM hould follow them or why have them at all
[20:20] Exxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: i smell an alt
[20:20] mxxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxx: you dont have to join
[20:20] dxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I'm Not an Alt. and ive wintnessed thia behavior for YEARS

Really? Because I've been in this group for a solid six, seven years now. And I can guarantee you, they don't blindly break their own rules. Disagree with those rules all you want, but if you see people breaking the rules in the group chat, it's not the mods.

[20:20] mxxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxx: no one is forcing youi to be here
[20:21] Exxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: if it disturbs you, why stay in the group?
[20:21] mxxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxx: but if you want to be here theres code of conduct
[20:21] mxxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxx: you signed up for it
[20:21] Jxxxxx Dxxxxx shakes her head
[20:22] dxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yes but there is Nothing saying i cannoit voice an Opinion if i think things are Being overly enforced and taken advantage of.

Well, yes and no. You can always raise a POLITE query, and see if you can get a better answer as to why a mod is doing a given thing, and this can be done in main chat or in IM. I've done both. But once you get an answer, it's generally a good idea to move on. If you harp on the point and blather about how unfair it is, the mods will just bounce you.

[20:22] ixxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: one can still always say what they think. And complain if they consider that they have to.
[20:23] mxxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxx: i think it says no weenie whinning
[20:23] dxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Yep. and what i said was an Observation, If people find it offending then thats on them ?

Well, I'd say again that's up to interpretation. If a mod takes it the wrong way, gods help you.

[20:24] mxxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxx:

[Group name] is an international shopping group for daily notices about news, sales and nice gifts!
Our blog: [their blog]
Our flickr: [their Flickr]

NOT ALLOWED in chat:
Store ads/spam/self-promotion
post more than 3 lines
MP and most outside links
Drama/rudeness
Criticizing stores/gifts
Malls-Franchises
Disco/Club/DJ ads
Breedables
Rental/sale
Most Adult sims/items
Gambling
Pay MM/LBs/gifts
RP: OOC only
AO with adult anim
Vehicles
Question? contact [someone who's no longer in SL, but is still listed in the group description] or [someone else who's never in SL these days, but is still listed]

[20:24] mxxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxx: drama / rudeness = weenie whining
[20:25] Sxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxx: weenie whining? ... get that often? .. most try to make it be bigger than it really is ....
[20:25] ixxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I mean, I'm late to the party, but you're all being rude with her
[20:25] mxxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxx: so stop it

Which her, though? The idiot R, who's going to get bounced out on her pointy little head any moment, or the mod the idiot R is being rude to?

[20:25] ixxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: "no talk, just leave"

Ah, so you mean the idiot R, then.

[20:25] Axxxxxxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: This is SL and gorups in SL does not have to be Democratic. We have rules. I warned about keeping up with arguing with a mod about what a mall is and is not, would not stop. She got what was comng. Now, it's time for everyone to drop it.
[20:25] mxxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxx: amen
[20:25] Axxxxxxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: If you don't like the rules and how mods and owners runa group, you do not have to stay.
[20:26] ixxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: DEMOCRATIC? WOW
[20:26] mxxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxx: amen
[20:26] ixxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: NOW ITS POLITCAL
[20:26] Exxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: democratic is a general term

Yeah, so, there are a few definitions for democratic. One is political, true. The others are all some variety pertaining to equality and level playing fields more or less.

[20:26] Exxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: as it was used by [Axxxx]
[20:26] mxxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxx: it is not political in this form of the meanning
[20:27] mxxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxx: context

Which should have been enough, but...

[20:27] ixxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: which is basic human rights in here and everywhere

Yeah, you're wrong here.

[20:27] Exxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: small d not big D
[20:27] Exxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: noooo democracy is a form of government created by humans, it's not a divinely bestowed thing

Now you're really wrong.

[20:28] hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Sorry in private clubs and groups WE make the rules.
[20:28] lxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: omg you talk so much yet you know so little, go educate yourself [Txxxx]
[20:28] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Someone completely misunderstands democracy. And politics.
[20:28] hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Only the government can be accused of violating your rights.

Again, not true.

[20:28] ixxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: You sure bout that

Pretty sure, yeah.

[20:28] mxxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxx: when youi signwed up you read the rules and agred to it
[20:28] qxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: eeeeeeeeek hands out cheese coated chill pills, lots of groups in sl, some to suit everyone
[20:28] ixxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: It is a bit ridiculous come on everyone
[20:29] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Hey, not the group's fault if you didn't read the rules when you joined. Or the about once a week when they're reposted.
[20:29] ixxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Lol.
[20:29] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: we be sliding haha
[20:29] Axxxxxxxxx Lxxxxxxxx closes the window for a while until everyone might have calmed down or eaten some of [Mxxxxx]'s chill pills...laters guys 'sighs'
[20:30] mxxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxx: its not. i see these people log in and bless us with kindness constantly and then folks pit in their eyes for doing their job which is to enforce the rules

Well, not constantly, but I will say I've posted more Scenes from Chats where it's this group, than any other group I'm in.

[20:30] qxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: anyone badmouthes [Dxxxxx] is getting raisin toast from a mouse, and heres a clue...theres no raisins
[20:30] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: also closes chat and enjoys her home
[20:30] mxxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxx: so no not ridiculous
[20:31] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): For the record, I'm not upset, I'm just amused.
[20:32] sxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Did I miss drama? I just logged in.
[20:32] ixxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I mean how you're handling it, but ok. Still, nobody is perfect.
[20:33] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Mass drama, [Rxxxxx], but it's probably for the best. It's 50/50 going to calm down, or going to get out of hand.
[20:34] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Maybe 60/40 going to calm down.
[20:34] sxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Okay. I'll keep my eyes open while I'm on then. Try to keep things from going bad.
[20:35] Exxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: something nasty crawled into my ims but it's gone now

I love this reference to the person bounced whining in IMs.

[20:35] Exxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: be careful out there, lovelies :)
[20:35] sxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Okay.
[20:35] Exxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: time to write some notices! LOL
[20:36] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) snerks at 'something nasty'. She suspects the something has now been bounced from the group.
[20:36] lxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: it crawled into mine too, twice, even though I didn't even reply
[20:36] Jxxx Mxxxxxxxx: Send complete information, bail money, and disavow all knowledge of this conversation, and all will be taken care of.
[20:36] sxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Wow

From here, the conversation turned normal, and I was very glad for it, but damn. Talk about entitlement. "Why can't I do whatever I want in someone else's group, this is undemocratic and a violation of my rights!" Dream on, chicklet. It's so not.

Though I will list one more comment, of mine:

[20:37] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): They could've crawled into mine, I can tell them *exactly* how effective arguing with [Dxxxxx] is. :D

and all I can taste is this moment, and all I can breathe is your life

(Roleplay, somewhat more intense than some.)



The day had come. Instinct was driving her, step by weary step, and she made her way to the small place in the castle she'd created. She could not reach the Duke; she'd left a few messages in the likeliest places, scattered through eras he was most often in. She'd sent another message to Justine, in the form of a cortex send to Haven. It was the best she could manage, before she had to make her way to the birthing hut.

She had changed into something that would not interfere with the birthing, but halfway across the chill castle stones, she had to pause, curling her arms carefully around the precious treasures within. Gods, everything was starting to hurt. Getting shot with iron-tipped arrows was the only thing she could remember having hurt worse.



She collapsed after toeing the door nearly closed, panting, trying to catch her breath. There was no time. No Duke, no help, nothing if things went wrong...just her. She sternly lectured herself that women had done this for thousands of years and been just fine...but she never had. In all her years, in all her various forms...she'd never gotten pregnant before.



Finally, she felt she'd recovered enough to get settled in place. She staggered upright, foot tangling in one of the purple velvet pillows padding the floor, and felt a warm gush of fluid down her legs, the temperature of blood. For a moment she panicked, thinking that's what it was, but she looked down and realized. This...was part of the process. She'd read up on this. This was normal, right?

Right?

Right. Olive pillows it was. She crawled to the other side of the little room, collapsing when she was clear of the small pool soaking into the rug.



She had no idea what to do. She had no idea how to breathe. She tried not to make noise, because she was in the castle, and there were still...things...creeping through the portals they had not managed to close. But at some point even that failed, and she bore down screaming.

With a sense of profound dread, she watched the door silently creak open...and Justine peered around the ancient wood. She collapsed back against the pillow, nearly in tears, and Justine moved to her side, moved behind her, holding her in place. Soft kisses of encouragement to the top of her head. Good. Good. She was not alone.



The first kitten born was a male, and some small, primal part of her was happy she'd provided a true heir to the line. He was golden-furred, as his father had been when she'd caught in the first place. But she wasn't done. She bore down, pushing, pushing, to birth the second kitten.



The second kitten born was a little girl, but she was only golden--and a leopard--as long as it took to shake some of her fur clean of fluids, and then she shifted. Her round little head, definitely not leopard in proportions, tucked under a weak, unresisting arm, and she felt her lips twitch into an almost-smile at the tiny kitten purr she heard.

No spots on the second one, though, after the first moment of existence. Would she be able to get them back? She had no idea. But she laid back, satisfied, tired, and then...felt something kick inside. Not...just two? But...she'd thought it was just two. There were still...

She did sob, now, when the realization sunk in to her pain-slowed mind. She wasn't done.



She bore down with all the energy she had left, no energy remaining even to scream, and finally, panting, sheened in sweat, she collapsed against Justine, spent. The only reason she was still upright is that Justine's arms--and legs, at this point--were wrapped around her, holding her steady.

The unexpected third kitten had done the same thing as the second--another little girl, the third one, that came out spotted and golden, and turned dappled grey with grey-brownish, uneven spots.



She used the last of her energy to look around the small enclosed space. The golden-spotted boy was laying beside her, starting to drift off. The grey-dappled girl was staring at either her foot, or Justine's, in utter bemusement. And the pale-furred girl...

The pale-furred girl sat with her little head against her knee. She almost wept again. Sentimental idiot, she thought, but...it was done.

Her eyes drifted closed, and the last thing she heard was Justine activating the comm. She made out "priest of Naamah", and "Mont Nuit", murmured into the receiver, but...she was tired. Her babies needed fed, and she would do that, she could stay awake long enough for that, surely. In just...another...mommmm...

In the firelit room, surrounded by old stone and older energies, and the strength of Justine's arms around her, she did what she was later sure many new mothers had done after giving birth: she passed out cold.

unimagined gifts are waiting

(Mostly roleplay.)

From another forum site:

[8:33 PM] Lxxxxxx: I have increased my penis compensation device.

Well, I mean, you gotta do what you gotta do...

In other news, something new has been added to Tannhauser Station:



Fairly sure the Duke's brought in a floating repair dock. Just in time to pull the ship with the malfunctioning FTL drive into a bay!



It looks like we can easily bring up the repair bots, too, because I'm fairly sure those are floating recharge stations along the sides.



Yes, I think this could be very worthwhile indeed.

And underneath--not the floating dock, but one of the pods nearby...I found this:



I'm used to reactor cores, but...what is this? If I didn't know better, I'd say it was some sort of tonally-based communications center, but...that can't be what it is, if it's embedded in the bottom of a pod, with power lines leading away to the rest of the station. Can it?

and here now comes the sweet corrupting reality

(I guess this is a roleplay entry? It's at the least a roleplay meme.)



Just sayin'.

He's flying around the castle. We feed him the occasional griefer and he's happy.

fire one more torpedo, baby, watch the kitchen sink

(Roleplay entry, a'course.)

It had been a normal day of checking in at Haven, unpacking some lab equipment in the new orbital lab above the moon, and I'd just flown down to the main town to check in with the store. And then...



What the HELL?!?

I didn't even know anything until Justine shrieked, because she'd heard something pound, HARD, against the back wall of the store. We checked the security feeds and found one of the snow snakes battering its head against the back wall to get in to us.



Which is when we both realized we didn't have our Anti-Arc ankle bracelets on. Apparently they are that voracious.



The only plus side? I think it got its head wedged between the corner of the transport crate and the back wall of the store.



And this is when I learned, again, that my little Derringer-strength palm pistol is USELESS because I'm still a crap shot.



In utter frustration, I pulled open the Preferences menu and pored over everything with a fine-tooth comb, and finally, I found something that might help--under the Mouselook sub-menu, there was a little tick box to allow crosshairs to be shown. Well...hell, that wasn't on already, I'd known that, I just hadn't known where to look before!



I ticked the box and crept closer, terrified, while the snake flailed in frustration trying to get free, and went into mouselook again. Missed with the first shot but the second shot--BANG!

I'd done it! I'd killed a snek!

I need gin.

you kinda scare me and I wanna let you

(Roleplay entry. We're back on the little desert moon of Haven!)

You ever have one of those conversations where you know it's going to go downhill from the second word?

[21:26] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): hi
[21:26] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): so i activated the singularity portal
[21:26] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): because

Oh, I'm not sure I want to know...

[21:26] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): well
[21:26] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): you'll see
[21:26] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Oh dear
[21:27] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): we shipped the wrong crate from Tannhauser
[21:27] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I can see that

Oh, this is the LAST thing we need, the UAP breathing down our necks because we brought new alien life to the little moon without a permit--

[21:27] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): so we need to get this out of here
[21:28] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): or shouuld we box it up
[21:28] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): and not say anything
[21:28] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): We do, yes. How?
[21:28] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): drop it off in one of the mines and run....
[21:28] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Hiro!
[21:29] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): We don't even know what this lifeform would DO if it escaped containment!

We really don't! We just barely got it in containment the first time, and lab staff is STILL trying to figure out if it was a result of the attempts to reach Carcosa, or pulling Tannhauser out of time to its current location.

[21:29] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): well i think it would be a lot like Innsmouth
[21:29] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Yeah....
[21:30] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): no one comes out here much right?
[21:30] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): : )
[21:30] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Apart from Crissi? And the Romulan??
[21:30] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): And the MINERS??

You know, Duke, the miners. Like me!

[21:31] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): oh the romulan
[21:31] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): forgot abouut him
[21:31] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I thought we liked him.
[21:31] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): we do...
[21:32] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): more than chrissy
[21:32] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): wait
[21:32] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) nods
[21:32] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): i know

And the LAST thing we need is more trouble with Crissi...

[21:32] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) peers at one of the readouts
[21:32] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): ok
[21:33] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): it is buried under her ship
[21:33] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): What is?
[21:33] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): the thing
[21:33] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): points
[21:34] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): That's...that could still get you in trouble
[21:34] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): yeah
[21:34] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): i should get it back on the ship
[21:35] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Probably best
[21:36] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): let me shut down the containment
[21:36] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Is that wise?
[21:37] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): smiles

It always worries me when he smiles like that.

[21:37] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): ok...
[21:37] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): need to leave a note to Justine and Deebs to not open this crate...

Oh, because THAT'S going to work...

[21:37] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) nods.
[21:37] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Yes.
[21:37] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): smiles

You fill me with dread, sir. What will you do NEXT??

every sailor trades comfort for glory, every lover trades hope for betrayal

Roleplay entry. Everything was fine until the FTL drive went offline...



I should probably explain something. When we're just hopping from the cold desert moon of Haven to one of the outlying mining colonies, even my little one-seater scout skiff can make it into space and back. It's hardly a long trip.



But this...the FTL drive isn't even necessary for short jumps like this, but something about it going out unbalanced the gyros. We're going to have to pull the whole thing into dock and go over it in sections. In the meantime, we had to get to the mining colony safely.



And we kept spinning and dipping in very uncomfortable ways.



I swear I left my stomach behind more than once.



And then we saw mountains through the screen...and they were approaching at speed.



And then we crashed.

It wasn't a destructive crash--it was more listing to the side, off the landing gear, crumpling one of the fins, and considering we were planning to pull it into dock anyway and go over it, straightening a fin is the least of our concerns!

now, if you'd take a look around, you could see the sights and all the sounds

Sometimes I find myself at loose ends, and tonight, I didn't feel like sorting inventory, so...I went wandering.



Snoweeta is interesting. They actually have an ice wall.



I have always hated these type of trees RL, they always seem like they're wounded, with the cut-backs of new branches and the overgrowth of bark. And now someone's brought them into SL. Why?



Then there's Old Town Winterland. They have two skating rinks. This is the smaller of the two, which is also the port-in point.



This is the bigger one, still with traces of both Christmas and New Year's events.



How about 'Tis the Season? The port-in-point is by a train, and...that seems familiar...



Lots of fun cuddle spots, plus, I now realize this is Moochie, the former sim of Hello Dave nails, so it's good to know she's still kicking around. In decorative sim form, at least.



Next up: the Ville de Coeur in Borgogne Hospice. There is a lot going on here.



Oh, hey, it's a horse-riding sim? I may have to come back with one of my horses!



Last, I hit Peaceful Dreams, and realized I'd taken too many pictures, which is why everything's a smaller size than usual.



But it turned out to be a very peaceful walk, lots of neat places to pause and take pictures. So that's not terrible.