Dillon Levenque

There has been a great deal of thoughtful commentary here. To those who have pointed out that 'winners' write the history books: that is certainly true. But so do losers. All one can do is try to keep one's mind open; our ideas of history should evolve as we continue to learn. My father was fond of quoting Napoleon: "History is agreed-upon fiction". I've since seen that Napoleon probably stole that from Voltaire and that Voltaire got it from an obscure Greek philosopher whose name I can't recall. Of course, I learned all that from a book of history so who knows? One does have to remember that those who wrote histories of things in which they played a part tend to have just a bit of bias in their favor. I don't really think Winston Churchill was solely responsible for the defeat of the Axis, but reading his history of the Second World War certainly does give that impression (I exaggerate slightly). Thucydides is somewhat famous for NOT overstating his part in his history of the Peloponnesian War. I think the key to getting it 'right' or as close to right as possible is to try to read from both sides of issues and to try to find 'detached' sources. To the OP: The idea of a simulation that tries to recreate the era of the 1940's and WWII could hardly avoid containiing swastikas and references to the Nazis. Yes, it would probably be objectionable to a lot of people. I can't see how it could be against the TOS, though. The creator would just have to decide if the harrassment (and I don't doubt there would be some) is worth the effort. And last: I have read all the posts up to this point and I have found not a single instance of flirting. Not ONE. I find that very disappointing and I certainly hope that never happens again.

Mags Indigo wrote: OHHH - it's great Aunt Mable - I always wondered what happened to her after that party - would never have guessed she was an alien... ...then again... Was that the one that got into a kind of wobbly orbit? The one with Thor and Trillian? That was such an awesome party.

Suella Ember wrote: This, on the other hand, very clearly is artificial and is 100% proof that aliens once populated Mars: Thank you. Laughing out loud for real. I need to save that image for future discussions on the subject :-D.

Melita Magic wrote: Cool! thanks for the info. What did you think of that (apparently) man made structure found by some hobbyist, on Mars? I hadn't heard; just googled it and looked at some pictures and rather a lot of IMO wildly speculative commentary. Could the thing be articficial? Yeah, I suppose. Could it be natural? Yes, clearly. This could be a once carefully constructed object that has eroded into the roughened shape we think we see now. It could also be a completely natural object. I always go with the explanation that seems most likely. In the so far complete absence of anything else that can be considered artificial, natural seems most likely to me. I hope that last comment doesn't draw the 'Face on Mars' and Canal fans out of the woodwork.

Suella Ember wrote: Mags Indigo wrote: Erm... what is there to talk about then... ??? Cheese FIFY (my first, by the way) I had just gotten on the the PC and thus the Forums for the first time today; saw there were some new posts here. Was Reading Mags' comment, then your non-controversial response, then the rest of the interchange (while thinking if we followed your suggestions that would pretty much spell the end of the Forums, among other things). Then Mags asked the question, and since hers was the last on the page I had to click to find your answer. It was perfect. I like this place. Get here, look around, and five minutes later I'm laughing.

LOL. You've just totally derailed my thread and I don't care, because those images were so great! I personally with my very own eyes have seen the rings of Saturn. I have a telescope with a 90 mm objective (I just realized that someone who is not a current Forurm poster could not only rain all over my measly 90 millimeters but probably post pictures to prove it) but that was enough to let me get a view. The whole assembly was in my 'scope a gold color, planet and rings both. It looked to me like a construct. It was difficult to believe that it was a naturally occuring object and not man-made. Thanks :-)

Nuclear Slingshot wrote: Yeah, it's totally cool. It's amazing to think that many of the people who worked on this are probably retired by now...talk about a long-term project. I suspect, unfortunately, that projects of this kind won't be persued much in the future -- it's hard to get congressional budgetary approval for things like this in this day and age...too bad, really. Retired or gone. I hope the ones still with us know their work is an inspiration. As for congress, yeah. I always loved that argument against funding NASA—"We could do better spending that money right here on Earth!". Where the F did they think the money was going? Mars? Damn now I'm being all cynical. Shame on you, Nuke, for mentioning the problems. I shall return to the positive side. About 34 years ago a whole bunch of people watched the news to see if the thing they'd worked on, or written code for, or designed parts for, or conceived, or thought about, made it into space. It did. It's stll there.

@ Jacki and Kolby and LoveAngeL—I'm glad you were as impressed with that accomplishment as I was. I have worked in manufacturing; I can NOT imagine being responsible for manufacturing something that would outlive me, and maybe my descendants. It is awesome.

Drongle McMahon wrote: What I find mind-boggling is that they can still communicate with them over ten billion miles. Still that is only 1/600 of the distance to the neartest star. Well, it does take 16 hours for a message to or from to get through. Most people would not wait on hold for that length of time :smileyhappy:

Mags Indigo wrote: 34 years, 9 billion miles - 'tis the stuff of fantasy, and it's real - awesome. Mags, that was what struck me the most about the article. It really is the stuff of fantasy. I called Voyager V'ger because of that Star Trek movie, but now I'm not so sure that movie's premise was all that far-fetched. If the craft can survive this long and go this far, who knows where the limit is? Maybe there really is some yet to be born Captain Kirk to wait out there in the future for our old-fashioned girl.

Because the situation demanded all our resources I requested that Miss Caxton be pressed into service to help in the defense of the City. M was not at all pleased (nor was I, for that matter, but I felt I had no choice). Surprisingly, Caxton not only didn't hesitate when asked but actually seemed to find the idea of going in harm's way appealing. Her eyes gleamed. Caxton was assigned to work with Nightfall on placing explosives around the City; her knowledge of the City's infrastructure is probably greater than all of us, saving M. To help minimize the risk to Caxton I arrange to meet her on a deserted road far from the City center. On my way to our destination a very odd-looking blue vehicle speeds past me. As it crosses the bridge just ahead of me it clips an abutment and swerves wildly across the road, then back, spins completely around, runs into the rocks on the shoulder and comes to a smoking halt on its side. The driver climbs up and out of the car, which does not, thankfully, appear to be on the verge of bursting into flames. Just at that instant Caxton arrives from the other direction. We both stop and get out to offer assistance. That idea vanishes as I recognize the driver to be that damned reporter. She claims she was just out for a drive but clearly she's got an inside source. The reporter calls Triple Z and soon enough the big lavender towtruck arrives. While the reporter is fliritng shamelessly with the driver Caxton slips me a folded paper; a map of the explosive deployments across the City. Caxton climbs back in her car and drives on. I wonder if M would consider allowing Miss Caxton to become an operative. Probably not, given that two years and 21 hires went by before M got someone who could stand her.

Happy Rez Day, Charo! Hugs!

Saw an article on Voyagers 1 and 2, both of which are still functional and still sending data to Earth. Launched in 1977, the two are approaching the edge of the heliosphere. That was defined in the article as the volume of space containing particles thrown off by the Sun. Once beyond that area the Voyagers will truly be in interstellar space. After 34 years and a journey of 14 billion kilometres (9 billion miles for those of us who still measure the old-fashioned way) both devices still work. I know a lot of us have connections to technology of one form or another in our real life occupations. I thought this would be a good time to reflect on just how good those people that built the Voyagers were. That's pretty good stuff, I think. Raise a toast to V'ger today. Live long and prosper. The article can be found here if you're interested. Voyager

sebthesecond wrote: Thanks to the fabulous Melita I entered today looking like a middle aged dweeb and ended it with a fabulous body, funky hair, a marvellous swagger and great clothes :-) Thanks! Perfect! Ain't slife grand? I'd have to say from the way you asked and answered here and from Melita's comments that you will enjoy yourself because others are going to enjoy communicating with you. Welcome to SL.

Melita Magic wrote: Dropped him off at a club after some shopping. He looks sharp. He's very easygoing person. You should enjoy taking him round the shops if more shopping is required, folks. Welcome to SL seb Oh sure. Get the poor guy all spruced up and then ditch him. Probably broke his heart! :matte-motes-big-grin-wink:

Congratulations, Irene. That is an incredible contribution. Multiply that number times the number of people who read the posts and that's a whole lot of learning and a whole lot of smiles.

...do something to distract them, but what? Then it hit me...The Chicken Dance! I quickly started the ani and just as I'd hoped, everyone looked away—it's that awful. Fast as I could I dug through my LM's looking for someplace..

NO! Not here! Anywhere but here! Frantically I type new coordinates into the teleport keyboard.

valerie Inshan wrote: Thank you Lia! Yes, the weather should be great where I am going, in Provence, south of France! Wow. Gorgeous. Have a perfectly lovely time. Alternatively, Wow. Have a perfectly lovely time, gorgeous. :smileyhappy: I like phrases that can be mixed to suit.

I think I've been twice since St. Patrick's Day. Of course, that was a party for the ages, but no reason to stop having them. Summer Solstice is coming up. Maybe that could be a theme. Edited for spelling

Hockey? That's the one with the ice, right?

Deltango Vale wrote: Ha, you mean Linden Lab just doesn't get SL. You and Mags are free to quote me for your signature lines if you wish. If I were not using my signature for advertising, it would be: "If there's a new way, I'll be the first in line, but it better work this time." - Dave Mustaine LOL, you remembered! Actually I think the exact quote was, "Sometimes I think LL just doesn't get SL", and it was while we were talking about something during the start of this version of the forums. There were threads like Scylla's "Unqueering" and such. It looked as though one of most wonderful things about SL—the tolerance among most residents for lifestyles they didn't understand—was to be swept away. I'd have to say based on the evidence so far that we were both wrong, but it was such a beautifully funny line. I'm hanging on to it in any case.

Void Singer wrote: cheese snacks in the green room, and Bass Ale, heck, Tulamore Dew if you want it... of course I'll need full access... to make sure the stars are well taken care of Well, that seems reasonable. I thought for a few terrible moments that Tulamore Dew was a brew I'd not heard of; I see that it is whisky, not beer.

Suella Ember wrote: Void Singer wrote: you two should do a road show... I'd sell tickets I have a number of demands for the rider. Mostly cheese snacks. I'll let you handle the negotiations, then. Don't forget the Bass Ale.

Mags Indigo wrote: Deltango Vale wrote: I'm so glad you posted this. It is the key to understanding the true value of virtual worlds: the power of metaphor. Second Life is 90% percent reality at 10% the price. I want that quote - I love that quote... and it's true too :smileyhappy: Deltango does that a lot; I've thought for some time she should open a side business creating Forum signatures (I already have mine that I got for free before I suggested reimbursement and I'll use it eventually). I somehow missed that article but I agree it's quite interesting. And I'm not at all surprised. It is certainly true that when I do something in SL that works out well, or makes other people happy or me happy—hopefully simultaneously—my RL self feels better for it. Our virtual selves mean something to our actual selves. ETA that what Jaylin said about the reinforcement of working with a group is probably also a big part; and yes, why not in SL?