Celestiall Nightfire

Conall DeCuir wrote: I wonder what would happen would i appear in a Ku Klux Klan Outfit .... Could be classic humor... ; )

Conall DeCuir wrote: History will repeat always as people forget so easily No, history doesn't always repeat, that's the point. Conall DeCuir wrote: BUT, there is a difference in trying to educate people or to just strutt around while wearing stuff which is really bad history. It doesn't matter if the person is trying to educate or not. The opportunity for learning was there. The opportunity for educating was there. Most of our knowledge doesn't happen in a formal setting, but through everyday life. The unexpected can be a fabulous eye-opening experience. Conall DeCuir wrote: I wonder what would happen would i appear in a Ku Klux Klan Outfit at some event .. of course without a symbol but still recognisable. I am sure that would not went well, for a reason. If the KKK outfit was for a costume party that depicted late 19th to 20th century US, which included bad-guys, I think it's fine. One could also include Mafia Dons, police, various religious figures, and more. All of which could be in bad taste, and symbolize evil entities. A KKK outfit is history, and many state RL history museum have full KKK regalia in their inventories.

Conall DeCuir wrote: For me, wearing something nazi like its either bad taste, total ignorance or the wish to rile up. Germany declared war on the US in December 1941, right after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. "Nazi first appeared in Master Comics #21 (December 1941), in opposition to both Captain Marvel and Bulletman" Captain Nazi is an historic bad-guy character. What an excellent opportunity for people learn about that time period.

Sheleaf wrote: dont you really know what the nazis did to the jews ? Nazi's are a part of history. Hiding anything Nazi related is how people will not know the answer to your question. "Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it."

CheriColette wrote: when I think 'skulls' I think The Phantom Yup. Another good one : )

Roche Runo wrote: in my club owning days i held a comic book character event. Some one came in wearing a costume of a dc comics villian named Capt Natzi........ ...... I actually verified that the character was legitimate. http://www.comicvine.com/captain-nazi/4005-24925/ I look forward to seeing how other people would handle this situation You held a comic book character event, and someone showed up as a vintage villain, and not just any villain, but a perennial one! That's awesome! I would have explained to the woman complaining, that since there wasn't anything visually offensive or *against the TOS, and that since I personally love vintage comics and the characters, but more importantly, as it's my club...I make the decision. If she persisted on trying to manage my place by badgering me, I'd have booted her. *You stated that there was no actual swastika, but a red cross. Kinda terrible to bastardize the character that way...but eh, keeps the "net nannies at bay. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Nazi#/media/File:Master_Comics_21_Cover_1941.jpg Could have been worse, the cap and uniform might have had skulls on it..... ; )

T3chHyster1a wrote: Just wondering on what I should do. Honestly for me, it's a pain getting any sort of stream up, I mean, I have this stream that I started, but I dunno. The thing that annoys me is just all the people spamming gestures the WHOLE time the DJ is donig their thing. Yeah I get that you have to interact with people and everything, but for god sakes, the gestures spam the whole place, making it hard for anyone to have any sort of conversation. It's just one thing that irks me about the whole DJ thing. Hosts too can be annoying. I dunno, I've given it some thought, and I'm still undecided if I want to make the plunge or not. I know DJs don't have to talk also, just play music, which would be ideal for me as I'm not a big talker if I were to actually commit to it. I dunno. I'm on a lot and hang out at quite a few SL clubs..some of the things I see just turn me off to being a DJ here. If a DJ past/present could relate, then feel free to reply, I'm also open to any opportunities should someone offer Instead of focusing on places that are full of gesture spamming, go out and find places that don't have that. Then familiarized yourself with the staff and clientele. See if they need new or substitute DJ's (people that fill in when needed). This will give you a chance to check it out, and see if the place is where you want to be. Not all places uses "hosts", and not all DJ's use them either. I've never had a host, and some DJ's always have one. You can handle it how you like. A lot of places want a DJ to talk on the stream, so if you're not wanting to do this, it will limit your options. Also, I can't help but notice, that you don't sound very enthusiastic about DJing. If it's not something you *enjoy, then don't bother. A DJ and the listeners have a symbiotic relationship, and the interaction creates the atmosphere.

An opportunity to support a SL resident who's a musician & singer. If she gets the top vote spot, she'll win money, this will help her record professionally. All you need to do is vote. (may have to link to facebook or twitter or something, so if that's not your thing, skip it) I can't give her SL name here, as against TOS to do that. But, she gives performances inworld, and some of you may have heard her. https://artistsignal.com/terrylynnmelody

Bondage Discussion! ~ With Otto Turbo! @ Pleasure Bound! Come join us for our great Monday Night Discussion group! We're welcoming and friendly. We use both SL voice, and local chat. 7 - 8 PM SLT! Click here: ----> http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Pleasure%20Bound/111/129/24

Madelaine McMasters wrote: Celestiall Nightfire wrote: You have free will. Use it. I'm one who thinks we probably have the illusion of free will. Still, it's a pretty useful illusion. So yes... use it! ;-). I'm going to start charging. Nothing free in my world! ; )

Muletta wrote: Celestiall Nightfire wrote: Why the hell are you on a call with someone that's boring? No one forces you to accept a call. If you're the one making the calls, then sheesh...stop doing it. You have free will. Use it. (Psttt....the OP has told us a couple of posts above yours, that he just has solved the problem :matte-motes-wink: ) Ok. I didn't read the thread. But, good news is, my comment stands good for ALL kinds of problems! *laughing*

Just sent you an IM inworld. If you can use SL voice, I can talk you through how to setup Mixxx. Local chat would work too. (I'm normally not this nice, but ...eh..I have my weak moments ; )

Velk Kerang wrote: So I am sitting with her on skype and I am expected to lead the conversatiion. She hardly says anything unless I ask direct questions. Why the hell are you on a call with someone that's boring? No one forces you to accept a call. If you're the one making the calls, then sheesh...stop doing it. You have free will. Use it.

Mitchell Indigo wrote: Hello DJ's. I am a DJ in training. Not sure what "in training" means. I use Mixxx. It does everything that you've asked about here, and it's free. Mixxx has a user manual. Read it. All the information that you've asked about here, is readily available info, if you know how to use Google.

Madelaine McMasters wrote: That graph doesn't go to the present. If it did, it would show that, unlike in the previous two recessions, income hasn't recovered (yet). It's not hard to see why there's doom and gloom here. According to that report, "Americans place an especially strong emphasis on the value of hard work – 73% think it is very important to work hard in order to get ahead in life, compared with a global median of 50%." That doesn't jibe with the entitlement mentality that's claimed to be such a problem in the US. Yes, the recovery's been hard in some areas. As to the work ethic VS entitlement, I suspect it's due to the difference in how people may respond to a survey VS how they see their own life. Overall, people know that hard work gets people ahead. But, on an individual basis, many people will (rather loudly) request entitlements. Human nature, I think, for some to try and get what they think they can. Madelaine McMasters wrote: The report also mentions the rising trend amongst the young in developing countries to think that they're better off staying home than going to other countries? That makes sense if your economy is doing well and the other ones aren't (or don't appear so in the news). And that reminds me of this... http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2009/03/19_foreign.shtml Yes, exactly. As the tech revolution expands, opportunities in rising economies will make it so there's less incentive to come to places like the US. Add to that how we're over regulated, and the US has placed it self into the position of having less regulated economies be better places for entrepreneurs. (add our recession to the mix, and yeah, home is looking better ) But, in the long run, it's good for the global economy. Here in the US, I've been telling people, "You're no longer competing for a job with the guy down the street, you're competing for a job with a million other people, who will work for less then you" Bad temporarily for the US, (and other western nations, as we're used to having a cush life, and buying cheap foreign goods) but, good for poor and rising nations, as they will partake of exchange, capitalism, and rise up out of poverty. (real poverty, not our affluent western world view) Madelaine McMasters wrote: And another curious item in the report... "People in developing and emerging markets (medians of 56%) are somewhat more likely to believe their fate is out of their hands than those in advanced economies (51%)." You'd think people would have greater faith in futures they could control. We are all above average, aren't we? I've got to ponder this. People everywhere think the income gap is a big problem, but the developing economies don't think taxing the gap shut is a good idea. That should make you smile! It may be cultural. Historic knowledge of their own culture. Many of the emerging markets are in places where historically there wasn't much freedom, so less likely to see that one can control own destiny. I think that in developing countries the changes are happening so fast, that people can see their relatives, neighbors, and friends gaining monetarily, much better than those of us in affluent countries. The contrast is greater. Thus, the realization that it can happen is stronger. So, if one views the possibility of gaining monetarily as a viable prospect, then no, taxing to close the gap isn't going to be supported.

irihapeti wrote: governments are necessary they are able to do stuff which no other organisation can Odd, we seem to be having two different conversations. (I'm a minarchist, and favor limited government.) irihapeti wrote: subsidies, ect. No. The US government doesn't need to subsidize agriculture. I live in an agriculture state, and am surrounded by the reality. irihapeti wrote: another massive distortion was the bailout of the automotive industry in the USA. From a purist capitalist market pov then it would have been better for those companies to go to the wall and the capital tied up in their resources, patents, etc released to go into more productive areas. Same the billions the State poured into them But again is a national interest question this. How important is automotive science to the national interest over the longterm? Very important was the decision The bailouts were wrong, and should never have happened. Both Chrysler and GM should have folded. It wasn't of national interest, that's a crock. It was lining the pockets of business people, and padding the coffers of the politicians so they have money to fund their campaign. It's called "cronyism" or "crony capitalism". A terrible blight on society. It doesn't matter that only the state can do these things. The constant meddling by the gov (state) in these matters isn't needed

Deltango Vale wrote: Hot off the press: http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/may/12/how-virtual-world-edge-of-apocalypse-and-back-again Good read. Trivia: Nasa’s Charles White is also in SL. ; )

Theresa Tennyson wrote: Pamela Galli wrote: Deltango Vale wrote: You are right that the technical infrastructure of SL is not up to the task, but the concept and functionality of SL is revolutionary (just like the Model-T). The key point I want to make is that the focus must shift from 'engineering' to 'economics'. Form follows function. The Model-T was created to serve a social purpose. It was not created as a gadget in the hope that people might like to play with it. Second Life began as a gadget, which Philip soon realized also served a social purpose. He knew he'd stumbled ass-backwards into something big, but he was an engineer by training and couldn't marshal his realization into a commercial strategy. He lacked the experience and intellectual power to convince the Board and VCs of SL's true potential. Now Linden Lab wants to build a new virtual world. Great, but the company still hasn't learned the lessons of SL. Virtual worlds are not gadgets or games. They are full-blown political economies sitting atop a new social geography. The mechanics - the technical infrastructure - the form - needs to follow that function. BUT to understand that function requires knowledge of human nature and great wisdom - both in short supply at Linden Lab. This is one of the most insightful and thought provoking posts about SL I have read. I only see my one corner of the economy, so I like to hear from people with a wider perspective. It seems to me that virtual worlds in the style of SL are so unique and so compelling, especially for creative thinkers, it seems reasonable to assume it can find a much larger audience than it has. It is another way of expressing what we keep saying about SL, which is that it is not a game, but a world or platform. And IMO LL needs treat it as what it is and step up the level of governance/service. 2) If Second Life is a "world" instead of a "gadget", why should Linden Lab be the one to govern it, rather than the users themselves? However, if the users do govern it, how many of them will be willing to take on the level of accountability necessary to do the governing? One of the basic problems of thinking of virtual worlds being separate from the real world is that they become optional, as opposed to the real world, which isn't. If the virtual world is considered as a part or augmentation of the real world that changes the dynamic; however, much of the chattering class of Second Life is adamantly opposed to mixing the real and virtual worlds. So it's very possible that a "successful" virtual world would be exactly what they don't want. First, I love this conversation. Good points from all! Theresa brings up something important in her #2. "2) If Second Life is a "world" instead of a "gadget", why should Linden Lab be the one to govern it, rather than the users themselves? However, if the users do govern it, how many of them will be willing to take on the level of accountability necessary to do the governing?" LL uses SL as a money generating machine. They don't care that SL is a world or an economy, other than the money they can give their investors. Which is fine, they provided the venture capital, and they want a return. But, how can those of us in SL break free of the LL run system, and still have the virtual world we want, still have the economy, etc? How can we run it ourselves, with the same benefits, and without the LL mismanagement and bleed-off? That's the crux. I've been out in open sim for a while, and there are some grids out there that could, with the coding expertise, rival SL. The problem then becomes the economic factor. How, and who, would oversee an economic exchange that would allow the virtual world economy to thrive? We'd need an independent system that could be trusted. I propose Bitcoin as an option. This would allow for an economic exchange system, outside of the virtual world management team. I'm part of a user run grid in OS, and will mention this option in our next monthly meeting. As we don't have a currency, and as the grid is user run, it would not be practical to invest that level of trust in a core of volunteers, regardless of how well intentioned they may be. But, an outside virtual monetary exchange system could allow for an economy.

irihapeti wrote: Celestiall Nightfire wrote: Perhaps, those who believe the government fairy will provide, don't see the opportunities. Maybe it's a personality thing. We live in the best of times! With unprecedented opportunity to break away from the gatekeepers of old, with entrepreneurship possible for anyone with a web connection. Kids are doing startups, people in rural African villages developing apps, etc. But, if people see the world in the old way, that of "haves" and "have nots", and do not realize that they have the ability to control their own destiny, then they will be left behind. It's that simple. the number of USA people incorporated self-employed (own company) and unincorporated self-employed (trading on own account) has fallen from 9.6% of the total workforce in 1967 to 7.0% today this have nothing to do with fairies, or the government. Is the market in action was projected in 2010 by US Dept of Labor that there will be a 14% growth in available US business opportunities between 2010 and 2020. That this growth will be largely driven by the healthcare industry. The internets will grow for sure but is only the 4th equal growth area with construction. Projections which seems to be borne out a aging population (them with savings to spend on healthcare) are the No.1 customer for the next decade or so. Am not sure how many of them are going to be buying phone apps, when deciding which healthcare provider/service they actually do need to, and will, spend their money on this is the market in action also if anybody young is reading this then dont bother with a computer degree. Want to make money in the USA then get a healtcare degree. Like doctor or nurse. All them old people are going to need you way more by their bedside than some person overseas or wherever making apps and virtual stuffs for 50L a pop Official "Incorporated" companies aren't a true indicator of the self-employed. People don't have to declare themselves a company or incorporated. Most of these aren't going to be reflected in incorporated stats. But, at least you understand the market. (the fairies I mentioned are the mythos that government is the cause, and engine that drives things, even individual situations. Many think that their personal situation is a direct result of the "government", and not their own choices. Gov being the father, mother, and all powerful entity to provide & protect...but when it doesn't...."string 'em up". It's this false worship of the gov as the provider in their lives, which then leaves people unhappy that their lives aren't what they wished for. Much like "god", the gov becomes a answer for thier problems. But, when the gov fails to provide, instead of curtailing it's power, they want to give it more power. Then the cycle repeats) Err, I never mentioned a "computer degree" LOL. That has little to do with people's ability to use the internet for business. I do happen to work in healthcare. ; ) But, I also run a family business, and yes we use the internet. No, we're not "incorporated". (just to add an anecdotal story ; )

Here's interesting data. It's what people all over the world think about the future, wealth, the "gap", and their own opportunities. What's telling is that in rich industrial nations (and yes, the UK is one of those) the people are gloomy and can't see the opportunities. But, in emerging economies, the people can see opportunities. http://www.pewglobal.org/2014/10/09/emerging-and-developing-economies-much-more-optimistic-than-rich-countries-about-the-future/ Here in the US we have immigrants that within one generation own businesses, have acquired wealth, and have children out performing the local's children in the schools. Why do you think this happens? It's because the immigrants see opportunity, and are willing to make sacrifices, that our native born US population can't see, and aren't willing to do. This trend happens ALL over the US. Yes, even during our recession, this same trend was ongoing. Perhaps, those who believe the government fairy will provide, don't see the opportunities. Maybe it's a personality thing. We live in the best of times! With unprecedented opportunity to break away from the gatekeepers of old, with entrepreneurship possible for anyone with a web connection. Kids are doing startups, people in rural African villages developing apps, etc. But, if people see the world in the old way, that of "haves" and "have nots", and do not realize that they have the ability to control their own destiny, then they will be left behind. It's that simple.

Hoshi Kenin wrote: Wow. Golly gosh. In effect, cutting through your cloud cuckoo land waffle, you are stating you are managing to cope with the grim realities, and furthermore...your particular grim realities are much worse than anyone elses...ergo...Marigold et al are whiners, and need to jus' roll the old sleeves up and git on, like you have - magically - seemed to do. Do you have a reading comprehension problem? Because, I never said anything about my reality being worse than other people's, nor that other people are whiners. BTW, Marigold is the person who started with the "grim reality" nonsense. (I was just giving back to Marigold what she started, as she felt it necessary to lay out her woes) She also wants to blame an individual, that has nothing to do with her personal situation, (wishes them could be killed), instead of just, ...you know..."life happens". As for me, I know **bleep** happens, and I deal with it. Hoshi Kenin wrote: Either you are a wizard floating on cloud 9 oblivious to the suffering the financial terrorism of western governments are causing or simply clueless. Yes. You guessed. I'm a wizard. ; ) Hoshi Kenin wrote: First, people 'having' certainly does affect the the have nots. Particularly with the current system in the USA and UK, which rewards the people who caused a recession far bigger and longer than the great depression of the early 20th century, whilst making the poor pay and suffer for it. If you cannot see that fundamental fact, you are in trouble. Nope. One person "having" doesn't take away from another. As for the "people" who caused the recession, that's such a diffuse category, that it can't be named by individuals. Also, the "poor" don't pay for it, as they're already poor. If anything those who "have" pay, as they're the one's with the money. If you cannot see that fact, then you're in trouble. Hoshi Kenin wrote: If I have food and you are starving, no matter your remarkable powers of enjoying life to the full with a smile and a wink, trust me...you will still be starving at the end of the day. When the wealth of the already obscenely rich 5% doubles under the government for the corporate elite, whilst the poor are left with decreasing standards of living, you can rest assured the now staggering gap is a very dangerous thing Oh, please. Here in the US people aren't starving. Hell, our poor people are FAT. We have a generous welfare system that gives "food stamps" that let people buy more food in a week than I've ever bought. The UK welfare system is more pervasive then the US's, so if anything...again, people aren't starving. A gap is meaningless. Person A getting wealthier, had nothing to do with Person B. As for decreasing standards of living, that's just not true. Health and wealth is increasing world wide. In all countries. We now have the highest standard of living in the history of the world, for more people than in any time before. This trend will continue. Hoshi Kenin wrote: Two, governments are supposed to have the answer. Indeed, that is what they tell us, day after day, and promise us prior to election. They are certainly not there to look after the top 5% as Camer-goon and his henchmen have already done, whilst preparing to take with undisguised relish the last crust of bread from the 'lazy' poor, who they tell us via the BBC and the corporate controlled tabloids are living lives of luxury in their sink estates around this miserable country that I now hate with a vengeance. If you're gullible enough to believe that government will have the answer, then I can see your problem. Such drama and jealousy in your post! Good grief, does the average UK person wallow in this classism BS all the time? Look: Government isn't the answer. I'd think you've have figured that out by now. If people erroneously believe that not saving money for a rainy day (as the generous government will take care of them), and when the rainy day arrives...they're without an umbrella....then that's their wake up call. Also, just because some other people already have an umbrella, isn't relevant. Hoshi Kenin wrote: Finally, the BBC is a state broadcaster that warrants comparison with any cold war soviet broadcaster. Consider this, living as you do in a republic; according to the BBC, anyone living outside the UK would think the whole population adores the largest benefit scroungers on the planet aka the royal family. Indeed, during the sickening 'celebrations' of dear old Liz and her inbred brood living for her 60 years of freeloading, one would think not a single republican lived in the UK. The BBC bias and propaganda is beyond belief. Whilst small media news outlets and blogs reported the riots in London and Cardiff after the elction, there was nothing on the BBC. Not to mention the fact most people in the UK have to pay for the BBC to simply watch television or face prosecution for not paying the stasi-like enforced tv tax, which the BBC calls a 'tv licence'. Watch RT...The Keiser Report. It's available on youtube. That we are at the point where a russian media outlet, despite the fact it isn't perfect, gives better all-round coverage of world events than the mainstream western media says everything. I don't watch BBC, as I don't own a TV. I do read...a lot! I only posted the BBC link, as I was debating someone from the UK. But, I can post data sources from all over. Basically, the UK has weathered the recession well, and come out strong, and inflation is down in the UK, (housing prices falling, etc), unemployment is down, the pound is strong. If you're not aware of these facts, then you've either not being paying attention, or choose to cherry pick your information.

Marigold Devin wrote: And its still not an intelligent enough answer. Sorry Celestiall. :catfrustrated: Hmm, emotional isn't necessarily unintelligent. I live in the rust belt here in the US. We have dreadfully high unemployment, and in the town where I am *currently, there are murders, armed robbery, drug rings, ...and a bit further south in my state an AIDS epidemic that warranted the CDC coming in. How bad things are....it's a bit like time. It's relative. *I'm here as my mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in Feb 2014, and I had to come and help my father care for her. She had been his caretaker, as he had cancer in 2012, now has an ileostomy, he's elderly, and unable to do much of what he used to be able to do. My mother died in Oct 2014, so I'm still here, at their house, in a former children's bedroom upstairs, my days divided between sorting out legal papers, doing physical care, house care, yard care, and attempting to fill the huge hole left by my mother, who was a force of nature and kept the extended family and beyond going. But, I don't fear, as that's not my nature. Nor, do I look to government for the answer, as again, that's not my nature.

Marigold Devin wrote: But Celestiall, if I do find something more intelligent or intelligible to say, I will seek you out I'm always up for a good chat inworld, and I even use voice without cursing! (and proper English, albeit .American ; )

Marigold Devin wrote: Crime figures are definitely up (which has affected my family personally), as a knock-on effect. Oh, there is this: Rapes up 29%. (overall crime down though) Suspected due to victims reporting more often. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-29642455 Ah, shucks, it's BBC. Nevermind! ; )

Marigold Devin wrote: In brief, budget cuts to welfare spending to pay for the country to look wealthy to other countries (and all the blah certainly does look good on paper), the ever-widening divide between the haves and have nots. But really, my family's personal circumstances are not up for discussion. Suffice to say, when I was working in the civil service in the early-1980s, earning shedloads of money for doing very little (and not with a clear conscience, which is why I moved out of that workplace), and while all members of my family were working full-time plus, paying into a system that was meant to protect us should we ever have an hour of need (and obviously, all of us think we are invincible, so we never expected to actually have to need to use our welfare rights), I never would have believed that standard of living could have dropped so significantly as it has done these past few years. The country that the BBC talk about is not one that I and my brother, and people in our current locality actually recognise. Edited to add: There are people actually relying on food banks in this country for the first time ever, zero-hours contracts are the latest way employers have of manipulating employees, and the government give not one sh1t, because it makes it look like there are fewer people out of work in this country, hence another sign we are out of recession. Crime figures are definitely up (which has affected my family personally), as a knock-on effect. I see. How does one person "having", take away from another? A gap is irrelevant. You brought up your family, I just followed up with a question. (I don't blame you for not wanting to discuss your family, btw) In brief, you made shedloads of money...but now, you're not happy. And, of course, the BBC reports about a fictional country. (Unless, you happened to agree with it, then it's spot on?) Information on food banks, and the reason why they're not a bad sign: http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/8946991/why-its-wrong-to-be-ashamed-of-our-food-banks/ In the US, very few people have work "contracts". I personally have never had one. Also, I spend less on food per week, then most everyone I know. (I'm frugal) I've consistently spent less per week, even when raising my two sons, then the people going to a food banks. From this 2014 article: http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/apr/24/crime-rate-england-wales-falls-lowest-level-33-years "The crime rate in England and Wales has fallen by an unexpected 15% to an estimated 7.5m offences, its lowest level since the official survey began 33 years ago." So, Marigold, I think that reality is a matter of interpretation. BTW, to be clear, I like you. Please don't view this as a fight waiting to happen. I'm responding to your post, as it caught my attention.