Thanksgiving in Second Life

So many friends came over today. Lisa made the spread and we all celebrated.

Thanksgiving 2008

There is so much to be thankful for today and at the head of that list is YOU for stopping by and reading my blog. You have added meaning to my life, my day, my breath. And though many of you I know and some I've not met; you are all my family.

I love Thanksgiving because it's a day of celebration. It is not about receiving but about giving. Giving thanks. I am going to share with you the true story of Thanksgiving below and hope it gives meaning to the word American because it's an American holiday and not a Pilgrim celebration.

May your day be blessed. No matter how hard or easy, stop and think about the reason for the first celebration. For those of you from other countries we stand together bound by our humanity not our nationality. We all share this wonderful planet and are living during a great time of global conversation and understanding. SecondLife is a celebration of how far we have come.

'A Day of Thanksgiving'

The national holiday actually began at a dark hour during our war for independence. Here's the story.

By IRA STOLL (Wall Street Journal)

When was the first Thanksgiving? Most of us think of the Pilgrims at Plymouth in 1621. But if the question is about the first national Thanksgiving holiday, the answer is that the tradition began at a lesser-known moment in 1777 in York, Pa.

In July 1776, the American colonists declared independence from Britain. The months that followed were so bleak that there was not much to give thanks for. The Journals of the Continental Congress record no Thanksgiving in that year, only two days of "solemn fasting" and prayer.

For much of 1777, the situation was not much better. British troops controlled New York City. The Americans lost the strategic stronghold of Fort Ticonderoga, in upstate New York, to the British in July. In Delaware, on Sept. 11, troops led by Gen. George Washington lost the Battle of Brandywine, in which 200 Americans were killed, 500 wounded and 400 captured. In Pennsylvania, early in the morning of Sept. 21, another 300 American soldiers were killed or wounded and 100 captured in a British surprise attack that became known as the Paoli Massacre.

Philadelphia, America's largest city, fell on Sept. 26. Congress, which had been meeting there, fled briefly to Lancaster, Pa., and then to York, a hundred miles west of Philadelphia. One delegate to Congress, John Adams of Massachusetts, wrote in his diary, "The prospect is chilling, on every Side: Gloomy, dark, melancholy, and dispiriting."

His cousin, Samuel Adams, gave the other delegates -- their number had dwindled to a mere 20 from the 56 who had signed the Declaration of Independence -- a talk of encouragement. He predicted, "Good tidings will soon arrive. We shall never be abandoned by Heaven while we act worthy of its aid and protection."

He turned out to have been correct, at least about the good tidings. On Oct. 31, a messenger arrived with news of the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga. The American general, Horatio Gates, had accepted the surrender of 5,800 British soldiers, and with them 27 pieces of artillery and thousands of pieces of small arms and ammunition.

Saratoga turned the tide of the war -- news of the victory was decisive in bringing France into a full alliance with America. Congress responded to the event by appointing a committee of three that included Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia and Daniel Roberdeau of Pennsylvania, to draft a report and resolution. The report, adopted Nov. 1, declared Thursday, Dec. 18, as "a day of Thanksgiving" to God, so that "with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts, and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor."

It was the first of many Thanksgivings ordered up by Samuel Adams. Though the holidays were almost always in November or December, the exact dates varied. (Congress didn't fix Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November until 1941.)

In 1778, a Thanksgiving resolution drafted by Adams was approved by Congress on Nov. 3, setting aside Wednesday, Dec. 30, as a day of public thanksgiving and praise, "It having pleased Almighty God through the Course of the present year, to bestow great and manifold Mercies on the People of these United States."

After the Revolution, Adams, who was eventually elected governor of Massachusetts, maintained the practice of declaring these holidays. In October of 1795, the 73-year-old governor proclaimed Thursday, Nov. 19, as "a day of Public Thanksgiving to God," recommending that prayer be offered that God "would graciously be pleased to put an end to all Tyranny and Usurpation, that the People who are under the Yoke of Oppression, may be made free; and that the Nations who are contending for freedom may still be secured by His Almighty Aid."

A year later, Gov. Adams offered a similar Thanksgiving proclamation, declaring Thursday, Dec. 15, 1796, as "a Day of Public Thanksgiving and Praise to Our Divine Benefactor." He recommended "earnest Supplication to God" that "every Nation and Society of Men may be inspired with the knowledge and feeling of their natural and just rights" and "That Tyranny and Usurpation may everywhere come to an end."

These statements were greeted with cynicism and derision by some of Adams's younger political opponents, who saw them as archaic. One of them, Christopher Gore, wrote a friend that it would be an occasion for a real day of thanksgiving when Adams finally retired.

It turned out, though, that the ideas of thanking God for America's blessings -- and of praying for the spread of freedom everywhere -- would long outlast Adams's career. The concepts still meet with skepticism from time to time. But they are reason enough to pause during tomorrow's football game or family feast and raise a glass to the Founding Father who began our Thanksgiving tradition.

Mr. Stoll, formerly the managing editor of the New York Sun, is author of "Samuel Adams: A Life," published this month by Free Press. (this is copyright and can only be used for personal use. This blog does not extend any right to use otherwise)

FirstLife's Broken Mommy!

OK, please stop complaining about SecondLife, the Metaverse, lag, log-ins, inventory, boyfriends girlfriends, furrys gone wrong, hugs poses gone Parkinson's.

FirstLife's Broken Mommy!

No more, my screen has gone psychedelic. I hate no transfer. I can't modify it. Teleports aren't working. The Grid is down.

FirstLife's Broken Mommy!

Don't tell me, when I'm building, my prims don't match, my alpha sucks, my textures are poor. Forget about complaining the hot chocolate isn't hot, the coffee isn't Starbucks.

FirstLife's Broken Mommy!

So, you need a new graphics card. We all do. Just think of it as a cornea replacement. Your headset doesn't work get your ears fixed. 

FirstLife's Broken Mommy!

My inventory's a wreck....hey...look at your closet. My hair won't rez....hey look in the mirror. My prim skirt won't fit ....hey have you looked at what you're wearing?

FirstLife's Broken Mommy!

Don't complain of a lack of Lindens instead look at what you thought was your retirement funding. Stop crying because the stream isn't working...have you seen how much it costs to go to a concert in firstlife?

FirstLife's Broken Mommy!

Ha...not another word about your toes. So Zyngo is gone. The griefers are still here. Your friend has better skin. Your dress is out of date. I don't care.

FirstLife's Broken Mommy!

So, you fell in love, you fell out of love, you partnered, departnered. Had Xcite with your best friends wife. Sent an IM to the wrong person. Received an IM that you shouldn't have and you were shocked to see. Who cares!

FirstLife's Broken Mommy!

She's taller. She's smaller. He's bigger. He's longer. They're richer. They're poorer. It's Secondlife...so what

FirstLife's Broken Mommy!

Yes.....take a look FirstLife is broken and you have something most don't have in FirstLife. You have SecondLife. Smile, climb into your avie and start to fly. Soon you'll soar and be exhilerated.

FirstLife's Broken Mommy! But, SecondLife is running just fine!

November 21st SL Horoscopes

Scorpio (23 October-21 November) - Hey, you don’t have to go into appearance and make anything larger then it currently is. He/She will love you for your mind not your body this week.

Sagittarius (22 November-21 December) - This Thanksgiving you should make sure your prim turkey is fully rezzed. Give him or her that object marked champagne and then pull out some cuddle balls and tryptophan out

Capricorn (22 December-20 January) - Life is great, you just got a new snow emitter and a pair of ice skates but beware, the stars say you could slip this week and be partnered by next.

Aquarius (21 January-19 February) Girls - don’t forget it’s time for some new boots from Phoenix and guys you could go get some nice chest hair.

Pisces (20 February-20 March) Do you remember that cage and other items you picked up at that BDSM. Rez them. copy to inventory. Get an escort. Put on some good music and get naked. Because the stars say today is perfect for a great orgasm

Aries (21 March-20 April) this is a great time of year for you to go shopping. You stars will lead you to bargains and keep you from buying prim skirts that don’t fit.

Taurus (21 April-21 May) -This is a great time of year for both sexes. There are snow angels in Secondlife who could stop your firstlife heart and bring you to Thirdlife with your eyes wide shut.

Gemini (22 May-21 June) Well, you know you are twins so go over to Sarah Nerd and get yourself the new two headed prim baby. Make Gestation twice the fun.

Cancer (22 June-22 July) Have you slept with furrys? Have wild sex with dragon? Or are you still waiting for something special and unusual?

Leo (23 July-22 August) Everything is aligned for you today. Your jewelry will fit. You won’t have to worry about walking around with just one earring on and whether your prim skirt will fit. Now, if only you could find Mr. Right. But he always turns into Mr. Wrong.

Virgo (23 August-21 September) Guys, this is the right time for you to be completely honest with her. Tell her the truth. You just want to try out your new Xcite parts and you don’t want to drag it into some emotional nightmare. She’ll understand but then again she may orbit you too.

Libra (22 September-22 October) - Don’t worry how you smell tonight. Don’t worry about your breath. Don’t worry about sticky, gooey stuff...because this is your Secondlife where you can get a new life as quick as you can say, “ALT”

For Girls Eyes Only

A recent scientific study found that women find different male faces attractive depending on where they are in their menstrual cycle.

For example, when a woman is ovulating she will prefer a man with rugged, masculine features.

However when she is menstruating, she prefers a man doused in gas and set on fire, with scissors stuck in his eyes and a baseball bat shoved up his ass

Just remember that Bond, James Bond

SecondLife Horoscope

Your SL Horoscope for week of November 9th -November 16th

Scorpio (23 October-21 November) - Your stars are in the zodiac of Love. Before Christmas you will fall in love with dark handsome furry and will live in a forest sim happy and sexually particled.

Sagittarius (22 November-21 December) - This is your lucky week find an old Zyngo machine, enter dance contests. You will find Lindens filling your pockets just like you probably found tons of Lindens on the money trees when you first logged on.

Capricorn (22 December-20 January) - the stars looks a misty for you. You will meet an old lover as his/her alt, a noobie, be careful for twice burned is a script too hot for you.

Aquarius (21 January-19 February) beware of tp’s, especially at night, this is the time of the month when you could lose your hair or even find a shoe up your butt.

Pisces (20 February-20 March) Yes, he/she does think about you. And that special man or woman does talk about you in IM with his/her friends. You should visit Xcite soon and get a SexGen bed too.

Aries (21 March-20 April) this is a great time of year for you to go shopping. For you ladies, your stars will lead you to bargains and keep you from buying prim skirts that don’t fit. For the gents, perhaps you can find a new skin to turn the girls on with.

Taurus (21 April-21 May) -ah....you stars seem to be pointing towards a little bit of weight loss is in order. Go into appearance and slide bar left.

Gemini (22 May-21 June) remember last year, because your sign repeats this year, and you could once again leave your talk button on while talking on the phone with your boyfriend/girlfriend about last night’s sexual escapade as your SL partner sits nearby listening.

Cancer (22 June-22 July) this is not the time for you to go to unknown sims since you will be banned and ejected without your knowing why.

Leo (23 July-22 August) how many times do the stars need to remind you that you need a new shape, a new skin and new animations or you will remain lonely in SL.

Virgo (23 August-21 September) pick up some dance animations, buy a new ball gown, go to that romantic dance place you’ve wanted to go but didn’t because you feel awkward going alone. Don’t forget to wear your Stiletto Moody’s and a smile because love is in the air and he will be there. And guys, you may find her later with her Stiletto's pointing up to the stars.

Libra (22 September-22 October) - Yes, your particles will be exciting and he/she will delight in them so make sure you’ve cleared your cache before you go out tonight

Across The Metaverse

I took a ride across the Metaverse last week and many thoughts, issues and joys occurred. This trip was only to OpenLifeGrid. Upon arriving in this tiny new space I stood RUTHED. I was a noobie again and a smile of memory and reality combined. Of course my name is still Lauren Weyland there (I began humming the tune with the lyrics 'another you' in them. Can't remember the name but I can hum for you).

And although I didn't have any of my inventory although I found in less than 10 minutes in this brave new world, I had the compulsion and therefore recreated my shape. Many feelings washed through my avatar brain. A remembrance of my first days in SecondLife when the overwhelming joy I felt upon entering the SL metaverse (even thought I walked funny, had trashy clothes and no voice). That moment when my multi-persona first life found a life for one of those persona. There was freedom again. I was an avatar virgin. Hymen intact. This metaverse is very small with much land either barely built on or some unattractive. But despite this I still felt like this metaverse was my home.

And, what do I mean by "felt like my home?" I mean I live in the metaverse. I realized I did not only belong to SecondLife but I, Lauren, would belong to the entire Metaverse forever and this raised an interesting dilemma.

All the clothes, animations, objects, gestures etc that I had bought (paid for with the hard earned money of a working girl) could not follow me through to this metaverse. I could never travel with my luggage from one metaland to another. And, I do mean MY LUGGAGE. I don't know the difficulties of allowing one to copy inventory to hard drives and/or if possible to do such with items that were bought with without 'full permissions'. I don't even know the legal implications nor do I care.

Laws can be changed. Technology changes too. What I do know is this. (And the concept of licensing my clothes to be worn a certain way only, as one blog stated, doesn't sit right in my blond brain.) stealing is wrong (I never do) but I feel when I buy a dress I should be able to wear it on any avatar of mine in any metaverse. (I only have one avatar btw).

I do comedy which means I tell things that make people laugh. I am sure many laugh at things I've said later, after a show, maybe even weeks later. I don't expect to be paid for that. I think creators should be able to sell an item I can wear in any metaverse (of course I know it prob can't be done without creating a rip off by some. I am just saying what I feel i should be able to do.)

Many creators are friends of mine. I understand their point of view. But, I would simply like to know my point of view is right too. Because, if so, we will have the technology to do such, someday.

Back to this Open Space. (And would someone explain to me the legality of using a SL viewer to enter such a non-SL metavers?) I so recommend everyone take an excursion. Not to leave SecondLife but instead to understand the Metaverse will be forever whereas some of the specific metalands will one day close due to either economic failure or lack of desire. If you are a true Metaversian then you will need to know you will exist despite changes and you will laugh at being a noobie again or if my dream of inventory does occur you'll find that even if you are a 'Stranger in a Strange Land' you will not submit to the fear of that unknown but instead bring all the joy of who you've become since you entered the Metaverse.

BTW, it was nice to travel in that Metaverse without a single IM. I wouldn't want that to be always the case but I did enjoy it. I now understand why some create another avatar to 'get away.' But I won't because I can't leave myself, "Lauren" buried in a digital Mausoleum as I manipulated some other avatar.

Question, "Do you think of yourself, as your avatar, when you are in the Primeverse?" (that is the Metaverse your corporeal self resides.)