Paradise Artist International Community

This is a small article written by Ahmad Hosho in 2009

This sim looks like a paradise, and it is about love and community in harmony with nature. If you are looking for intelligent conversation, good company, an eco-village in paradise, sustainability, social justice, relationship-building and being stimulated, You got to visit it. Another thing is, they have now a sculpture building contest there.. will end at the end of January and yes i submitted my untitled sculpture.

Welcome to a Perfect Paradise

Article WRITTEN by Michelle pitman

WEDNESDAY, JULY 02, 2008

Welcome to a Perfect Paradise

In Second Life, I have become involved in a tiny movement, of sorts, about socio-bio-political change through the concept of an Intentional Community.

I wrote just the other day on the notion of being "intentional" in our thinking and behaviours but I honestly wasn't thinking, specifically, at the time, about the Intentional Community as I wrote that post.

The Second Life Intentional Community at Perfect Paradise is a virtual experiment as a prelude to the establishment of a real world IC where people choose to come together to live, work, and play with very few "rules", as simply and with as little impact on the planet as possible.

Dave Pollard in How to Save the World, and Steve Hinton of Inventing for the sustainable planet(see links to both blogs below), are both involved in this experiment. Both men are passionate and devoted supporters of the need to develop new strategies and thinking that defy and move outside of current, standardised thought and behavioural processes, such as those espoused by government oligopolies and other fundamentalist organisations.

It is however very difficult to extrapolate most of the intentional characteristics of a real world Intentional Community into one in Second Life.

For one thing, Second Life by its very design makes such notions as physical living spaces, green design, ethical treatment of animals and the environment all moot. These things can only be talked about as theoretical ideas in discussions and conversations within the metaverse itself. The strength of Second Life is though, that people can converge in one place and DISCUSS all these ideas and develop a Community through Conversation.

Second Life offers all of us a glimpse into the possible systems of RELATIONSHIP THROUGH CONSENSUS that would perhaps define and would make (or break) a real world Intentional Community. It is in our very different individual temperaments, thoughts, beliefs, understanding, knowledge and experience that each of us will bring to the group through our relationships and conversations, ways in which extraordinary people can learn to live, work, play and re-design our lives with the whole planet in mind.

The other gift of Second Life is that people can come from entirely divergent real world cultures and locations bringing with them inherent customs and ways of relating that for most of us would be impossible to experience even in a physical commune arrangement.

For the likes of Dave and Steve, who are adamant that our current North World concepts of economy and consumerism - these being the traditional idealogical wellspring of individual wealth, prosperity and happiness - are coming to an abrupt end and that we need to totally rethink and rework these old philosophies so that we do things, not just smarter, but also more ethically for alllife on the planet.

The INTENTION is to build small self-sustaining, emergent and loving communities that are not reliant on multi-national, despotic, consumer conglomerates for their daily bread!

And if that sounds completely idealistic and pie-in-the-sky...who knows? It either is or it isn't! It does not mean it's not worth a try eh? The whole truth and nothing but the truth is always a bit murky around the indefinable edges on very BIG ideas such as these. Cynical types will probably suggest we are all tree-hugging greenies who want everyone to move back into the caves and eat nuts and fruits! Well...it worked for a good number of people for a very long time so I guess its quite probable that some would suggest we would be better off doing that kind of lifestyle! But even then, I personally think we'd find ways of keeping the internet and the fridge!

The concept of IC isn't about trying to defeat technology as such...its about using it with as minimal effect as is possible on the planet. Yes! It's a line ball call sometimes, I agree, but the intentions are honorable in that they're about human survival for the generations to come - not just our own skins.

The point to all this though, is that there are people in the world, myself included, who DO understand that the way we are living currently, might be rather easy and comfortable but it is also a lifestyle that is coming at a rather exacting price - one we rarely see or calculate accurately. We all need to understand the nature of that price we are each paying for our pursuit of The Good Life - as we've come to understand that ideal so far.

It is men like Dave and Steve who are proposing theoretical and ideological dreams for what CAN be possible if we learn how to work together collaboratively in very different ways to what we have always known and taken for granted.

So, I invite those reading who are interested in building a virtual world community of very diverse people from around the real world globe, who are trying through concrete intention, to make it better for everyone, to come along to Perfect Paradise and enjoy good companionship, conversation and all the learning possibilities we've only just begun to consider.

Walk a little more

bone ache in my heart
i've lost the candor of my youth
emotional resonance is difficult
I just want

to

walk a little more

thin down mortal flesh
fatten bank accounts
and lose the blackened fog
I just want

to

walk a little more

break down mental barrier
create a finer future aging
love ignores inspired invisibility
I just want

to

walk a little more

Mikele Ihnen

The Skye and Girish Story... 5

Skye arrived on Perfect Paradise in the middle of a group meeting discussing the Second Generation proposal. Girish was trying to steer away from the proposal, but did not want a direct confrontation…
Skye Thurston: I hate her and I hate her sneaky little ways.
Girish Navarathna: I love you.
Skye Thurston: what rock did she crawl out from under? I love you.
Girish Navarathna: Thank you.
Skye Thurston: This is pissing me off more every minute.
Girish Navarathna: Skye, nothing matters to me beyond that you and I love each other ...
Skye Thurston: well you better back off this experiment then if you mean it because I am upset. And last night I actually thought ..We need to talk and not in a good way first time ever. Actually my thought was you need to listen. I am not playing her game. I did not come to SL for this drama. My beach is looking better and better when in reality her project is only to get closer to you. I have eyes and can read between the lines. What we’ve done is not good enough for her obviously and as it is she can not lure Girish..But Paradise, well that’s a separate identity.
Girish Navarathna: Yes... I understand. In fact that’s the conclusion I reached too after thinking over the conversation.
Skye Thurston: She admitted she was flirting in your conversation.
Girish Navarathna: Yes... I found that disturbing.
Skye Thurston: Disturbing. I found it infuriating. I want to kill and eat her, roast her over a slow fire. Do you like me feeling this way? It isn’t very pretty, is it?
Girish Navarathna: It only shows me the intensity of what you feel for me and I feel gratitude.
Skye Thurston: well last night everyone went on about how you are in love with me. What they don’t realise is that though I don’t whine ..I miss you terrible and I am in love with you too. It is not one sided…
Skye Thurston: ok Girish I am leaving. I can’t listen any longer.
Girish Navarathna: Skye, if we want to prevent the experiment from going on, leaving is not the solution.
Skye Thurston: Well this meeting's minutes may go down in history if I don’t. lmfao
Girish Navarathna: Well.. Please don’t leave... unless RL is calling of course... I need you, my power...my shakti.
Skye Thurston: The shakti is in a rage. if I had a third eye I would be using it.
Girish Navarathna: Mira is with us on this..
Skye Thurston: I told Mira what I feel and she saw the flirting too. if the plan is to go polygamy in second gen to make it ok well I am out.
Girish Navarathna: There will be no second generation so no question.
Skye Thurston: We’ve just spent one and a half hours discussing this bitch’s proposal. I won’t do shit now. Count me out of everything….I will be packing my things and leaving PP today. I am not happy.
Girish Navarathna: If you are not happy it means nothing to me even though I would hate to abandon Mira.
Skye Thurston: Well this is ridiculous. She comes in all about sustainability and now tries to find a way to be with you. I am going home so you can forget about me and XXX being friends.
Girish Navarathna: Yes I can see that.
Skye Thurston: As smart as you are I would think you could see through her.. yet you are so enamoured by her you can’t.
Girish Navarathna: I m not enamoured. Skye, you know that is not true.. You are upset and angry. I have always taken people at face value and don’t like to be confrontational. it has its disadvantages, but that is me.
Skye Thurston: Oh bull you’ve talked and talked about XXX ...
Girish Navarathna: Yes I have. not ABOUT her. I have talked about her ideas and thoughts on a subject that happens to be my interest and there aren’t many who have much to say about it.
Skye Thurston: Yes, and is it just her way of getting close to you? Yes. And if you wanted someone to share it with why wasn’t it me? it is not that I am not interested.
Girish Navarathna: I didn’t start any of the discussions, Skye. XXX asked me questions and I answered.
Skye Thurston: She’s playing you, telling you what you want to hear, and trying to lead you.
Girish Navarathna: I have total faith in your wisdom.
Skye Thurston: Yet not once did you voice that it is already causing problems and it hasn’t even started yet. My article this month will be my farewell to PP.
Girish Navarathna: Skye, don’t do this please.
Skye Thurston: You don’t seem to understand how mad I am. Though I have voiced it very loudly.
Girish Navarathna: I know how mad you are. What do you want me to do?
Skye Thurston: I am not one to tell you what to do. I only tell you how I feel and what I am doing. I am not your boss.
Girish Navarathna: Skye, please try to understand I am thinking on my feet here.. in a situation that I have never faced before and I m assuming that you hate drama. my only attempt therefore is to remove the threat without causing dramatics.
Skye Thurston: You want drama? Because I can tp right back and lay it out for anyone who can hear my shouts.
Girish Navarathna: I don’t either. That is the only reason why I didn’t want to confront but rather deviate away from the proposal. Skye, darling... we have both put in so much into PP. Almost breathed life into it when it was near collapse. Do we just abandon it all?
Skye Thurston: Well let the second generation handle it now.
Girish Navarathna: Can’t you see that it is not going to happen?
Girish’s reasoning was that to roleplay on what a second generation (of people born on the island and having no knowledge of the rest of the world, except what the first generation handed down to them) would do on Perfect Paradise, it was first necessary to brainstorm over what the first generation (people from the modern world shipwrecked on the island with no modern resources) would do. Therefore a couple of weeks should be spend where everyone tries to imagine and put to others what they would do if they were stranded in a ‘shipwrecked’ situation. So that a proper story of Perfect Paradise builds up. He believed that either it will show that people are only interested in talking occasionally, rather than doing anything, or the discussions will evolve into more interesting projects for the first generation to do. In either case, he felt the second generation would end up being shelved. The other active members were not too keen on the roleplay either. He tried to explain this to Skye, but she was too angry to listen…
Girish Navarathna: … All said and done we are in SL to relieve stress primarily, everything else is secondary.
Skye Thurston: Not working for me.
Girish Navarathna: That is why I feel that the first outcome is most likely and the whole thing will fizzle out. I will be honest with you Skye. I don’t want to give up on PP because of one person. But my commitment to you is more to me than my commitment to PP. If you leave, I will leave, although a part of me will die in the process... I m willing to take that risk for us.
Skye Thurston: I do not intend to kill any part of you.
Girish Navarathna: I know you don’t intend to and please believe me that I don’t want to be a cause of stress or pain to you.. ever.
Skye Thurston: Well how about anger? It causes stress and I am seething. I need a trip to the gym to kill a punching bag.
Girish Navarathna: Now I do regret that I never spend any effort on trying to learn building and scripting in SL. I would convert myself in a punching bag... to relieve your stress.
Skye Thurston: lol
Girish Navarathna: Are you really smiling?! I am not joking if that is what you think. I m a serious guy.... but you know that already... I am also a remarkably dumb guy in some respects... which may be you knew but I didn’t till now.
Skye Thurston: Well ...you see the good only it seems and not the hidden but not well hidden end to her means… I am in IM with Mira. she is also trying to calm me with not much luck… Mira knows I am close to leaving PP .. She knows we left the island to talk. She understands all to well. She also saw the hint of a crush, the possessive and praising remarks.
Girish Navarathna: Well... I have already said that I understand I have been dumb and I agree with you. I don’t need corroborating evidence for that.
Skye Thurston: Well Mira will not let me kill her so I am not going back. I asked nicely to rid the pest of the island. You are free to return, but without me.
Girish Navarathna: Skye... all right… You know I will not. I choose not to be free.
Skye Thurston: Well I am not going back. Mira said I was turning over my territory to XXX, but I said my man does not go with the territory…. You should have stopped this before it got this far. You knew I was upset before the experiment and had the question of second generation mates and already it’s a fucking problem.
Girish Navarathna: I have failed.
Skye Thurston: I was happy being Skye Thurston first gen PP. Now I am happy being Skye Thurston, wild woman of Penobscot and other sims. LOL
Girish Navarathna: I have just one request. I m a man of commitment. I would like to continue with sending my slides about sustainability facts till I finish with the project.
Skye Thurston: I am not asking you to quit PP, love.
Girish Navarathna: It’s not paradise for me unless I share it with you.
Skye Thurston: Well it’s not paradise to me anymore… I am still mad so now is not the time to decide. But I was mad last night, was mad in my sleep, I was mad when I woke up, I’ve been mad for three hours now. I do not like being upset. It is not my personality. This is me pushed to the edge. I am a nice person and caring, but I also have claws to defend myself. And if this was rl that bitch would be bleeding all over that sand.
Girish Navarathna: yes, wild woman... :)
Skye Thurston: And her head would be on a totem ploe – shrunk to fit her personality.
Girish Navarathna: I love you.
Skye Thurston: lol Why? My anger excites you? I would fight anyone for you, lover. I love you. maybe you don’t know it, but I do.
Girish Navarathna: :) I know you would.
Skye Thurston: I am not good company right now, I know that. this is not fun.
Girish Navarathna: Please don’t go… not mad like this.
Skye Thurston: Then I will never be able to leave...because I can’t shake it. I am mad as hell, mad as hell. I mean fucking pissed off. I can’t remember the last time I was so pissed in sl or rl.
Girish Navarathna: You are working yourself up... Stop and look at us. We are together, we have talked, we have not shaken one inch… Look at us.
Skye Thurston: I am :-))
Girish Navarathna: I m looking into your stormy blue eyes... and I see beyond the flashes of anger.
Skye Thurston: Good lol
Girish Navarathna: I see your love and I see my paradise.
Skye Thurston: I love you.
Girish Navarathna: I love you too… and with all my faults... you are stuck with me.
Skye Thurston: Don’t worry, lover. There is one thing that will not change and that is that I love you.
Girish Navarathna: hmm :) madly in love?
Skye Thurston: hahaha obviously I have gone mad lol
Girish Navarathna: yes you have :)
Skye Thurston: and yes I am madly in love with you… I will see you tonight. I love you, sweetheart.
Girish Navarathna: I love you, Skye.. precious blue diamond… my soul mate.
Skye Thurston: mmmm good night babe.. many kisses till tonight.
Girish Navarathna: good day..kisses.
Girish Navarathna (offline IM to Skye): I m watching the fire near the steps... and thinking of you... logging off now.... but my heart will stay here.. waiting for you... near the fire....
When Skye came online her night, Girish’s morning, that evening Girish was supposed to leave on a trip in RL to watch a total solar eclipse with some friends.
Girish Navarathna: Are you just going to watch me? I am where we had our very first conversation or approximately in the area..
Skye Thurston: Hey there. How are you babe?
Girish Navarathna: I m ok ... didn’t sleep much though...
Skye Thurston: I am sorry to hear that, sweetie.
Girish Navarathna: And I haven’t even thought about packing yet... lol
Skye Thurston: lol you’re kidding? you better get it done, lover. Going with no supplies lol?
Girish Navarathna: Almost thinking about not going, but haven’t been able to think of any plausible excuse. I don’t want to go watch a solar eclipse when my soul mate's heart seems to be under eclipse. Anyway… I want to ask you something.
Skye Thurston: Go ahead.
Girish Navarathna: Why are you allowing that blasted dolphin to come between us?
Skye Thurston: Because it’s cool watching it swim under me.
Girish Navarathna: Can’t you move this thing closer? ok... that’s better.
Skye Thurston: lol Good. I am glad you are happy :-) splashes water at you.
Girish Navarathna: mmm... :) I saw Mira just before she logged off.
Skye Thurston: Yes I talked to her earlier.
Girish Navarathna: She wants me to drag you to the altar.. lol I said I would happily do that... but not for that reason.
Skye Thurston: Oh she blamed this on us not being partnered, I know. I said bullshit, Girish has no trouble telling how he feels about me and XXX very well knows what I am to you and you to me.
Girish Navarathna: It’s all over my profile too... even if I don’t utter a word :)
Skye Thurston: I have no doubt you told her.
Girish Navarathna: Yes... the very first time we talked. The hut is very useful in bringing you up in any first conversation with any visitor.
Skye Thurston: She just thought she might find a way around it ..with a second generation. You can’t tell me she wasn’t aware of the problems it would cause
Girish Navarathna: I don’t want to tell you anything, Skye. but I feel that you lost trust in me on this one... and that saddens me.
Skye Thurston: Lost trust? you didn’t even see it coming, Girish. That doesn’t mean I lost trust.
Girish Navarathna: But when I did, I started dealing with it. But you don’t believe that.
Skye Thurston: Not really, you sidestepped around it.
Girish Navarathna: Oh? And running away is facing the issue? Skye, listen to me for a bit.
Skye Thurston: Don’t lecture me, Girish. Mira already tried the you are running away shit. her words too.
Girish Navarathna: I didn’t know that. But that is not what I was going to say anyway. it just came out because you said I was sidestepping the issue. have you ever thought that if I didn’t just sidestep and watch the interest spend itself every time women tried to 'get' me ... you would have ended with an island full of women simply hating our guts?
Skye Thurston: Oh it was ok for them to hate me but not possibly hate you.. hmm
Girish Navarathna: You think they hate you?
Skye Thurston: Some of them do, I am sure to some degree, you don’t?
Girish Navarathna: Yes I know. But whenever they have got a chance to know you better that has changed. That is why I have always been extremely happy to see you on the island without me, being a lively member of the community. allowing people to see you as you truly are... and not just as someone that I love beyond distraction… you crazy wild woman... I love you.
Skye Thurston: Oh now I am crazy?
Girish Navarathna: Aren’t you?
Skye Thurston: No...getting mad isn’t crazy. I love you.
Girish Navarathna: About me?
Skye Thurston: lol… Well about you, a little off. haha
Girish Navarathna: mmm
Skye Thurston: Nothing some herbs wont cure. lmao jk
Girish Navarathna: hmm
Girish Navarathna: You want to be cured of me now, huh?
Skye Thurston: No lol of being crazy.
Girish Navarathna: hmm
Skye Thurston: Stop hmmming please.
Girish Navarathna: Skye, I just have one thing to say... before my soul mate and much more beyond that... you have been my friend, my guide in SL.. But I do feel that you have allowed your judgement to be clouded in this situation. I will not say more. I trust in your working it out. you are a wise woman.
Skye Thurston: Wiser than you are giving me credit for actually. So I will say good night and enjoy your trip. Perhaps one of us will change our minds about this after you return.
Girish Navarathna: About what?
Skye Thurston: Whose judgement is clouded.
Girish Navarathna: I see. I have told Mira to hold my article for the August issue.
Skye Thurston: well great. Like that never happened. Right, ok. good idea. I see.
Girish Navarathna: I had hoped to be able to celebrate one year with you on PP with that article... if we are not there, the article is just a mockery of what we had, and I don’t want anyone mocking you. I love you and I am with you. I mean every word of the vow that I mentioned in that article.
Skye Thurston: I love you too and it hurts that we are fighting over this.
Girish Navarathna: PP means a lot to me too... and I will be dishonest if I said I can give it up easily. It is going to take me time.
Skye Thurston: You think I’ve over reacted, I think you under. Then you’re really not with me. You think I am wrong. That is not being with me.
Girish Navarathna: Skye, I m with you and that is why I feel it important to share everything I feel with you. And yes I do think it’s wrong to give up our life that we build together due to one unsavoury incident, but we are a team.
Skye Thurston: I love you.. well I am not going back to PP. That is how I feel right now. Our love does not live on paradise. You don’t think we would have fallen in love anywhere else?
Girish Navarathna: That is not what I m saying and that is not what I think. In any case... we fell in love here and in that cave with the crazy foot rub that wouldn’t work.
Skye Thurston: You just didn’t want to rub my dirty feet. LOL
Girish Navarathna: You were wearing high heels.
Skye Thurston: lol I know hahaha You hated them.
Girish Navarathna: I have always hated them.
Skye Thurston: I actually wore shoes today on sl. Yep I love shoes! They make me feel sexy :-) And on sl they don’t hurt.
Girish Navarathna: :)

Girish Navarathna: How about a shower? Or are you sleepy?
Skye Thurston: No. Don’t you need to pack?
Girish Navarathna: It’s ok. I will manage… Most probably the eclipse will not be visible due to clouds. The message came yesterday. It has started raining there. That danger was always there.. it being July but rains had got delayed.
As they relaxed under a shower, Girish told Skye something from RL that had been weighing on his mind for a few days… about getting invitation for his ex girlfriend’s wedding engagement ceremony.
Skye Thurston: are you going to go?
Girish Navarathna: no I can’t.
Skye Thurston: I hear that.
Girish Navarathna: I m sidestepping that issue too :) Will send a present.
Skye Thurston: Well you don’t have to watch. That would be miserable. Yes, a present and a best wish.
Girish Navarathna: I have been trying very hard to focus away from it...
Girish just went on talking about how his ex girlfriend had always struggled against parental pressure, and won over each time… while he always stood on the sidelines, ready to step in if needed… but never had to…
Girish Navarathna: I m sorry.. I am talking too much... and totally absurd.. lol.
Skye Thurston: It’s ok love ...I understand. And me and my small sl problem are trivial. You are going through a lot in rl right now. You really don’t need this.
Girish Navarathna: You are my world, and its not just your problem.
Skye Thurston: I know I have been selfish again.
Girish Navarathna: Claiming property rights over a problem? lol Yes.. that’s very selfish!
Skye Thurston: No. My leaving PP, without a thought to your having to feel like you have to leave or how you need your peace and harmony.
Girish Navarathna: I will get over PP. It will take time, that’s all.. I am pulling you close... holding you tight... I want to live in your eyes :)
Skye snuggled closer to Girish… wrapped her arms around his neck kissing him deeply...
Leaving it to the reader’s imagination what happened at this point… :D. Later…
Girish Navarathna: Ok darling... go to bed. I will log off too.
Skye Thurston: I don’t want to.. lol I love you.
Girish Navarathna: I love you.... I can’t find my clothes!
Skye Thurston: lol Do you need them? hehe
Girish Navarathna: Fishing out the swimming trunks... just grabbed from the seal's teeth!
Skye Thurston: haha That’s a beaver.
Girish Navarathna: I don’t need clothes?
Skye Thurston: Well maybe :-) but just part of the time :-) When I am not in your pants, you can be.
Girish Navarathna: I love you... I love you ... I love you.
Skye Thurston: lol What did I do?
Girish Navarathna: I love you bossing over me ;)
Skye Thurston: lol Do you? We’ll get back to PP, then I am off to bed.
Girish Navarathna: mmm? Back? I m not going alone.
Skye Thurston: Can you not read? I am bossing you… Well.. drag me there kicking and screaming then!
Girish Navarathna: Skye...
Skye Thurston: I am not taking you away from PP ...I will deal with "the problem". Let’s go. It is not fair to you, so lets go… I am waiting for a tp, darling.
Girish Navarathna: I am speechless... totally no words at all...
Skye Thurston: mmm Well I am not completely selfish. I love you and want you to be happy.
Girish Navarathna: You are my shakti.
Skye Thurston: mmm Yes and you are my shiva.
Girish Navarathna: We will deal with the problem together... and we will win.
Skye Thurston: We already have, darling. Because we are here together :-)
Girish Navarathna: I love you... my precious...
Skye Thurston: I love you equally lol. Now are you going or not? to the eclipse?
Girish Navarathna: I know now... it will not rain on Wednesday :) I need to pack!!
Skye Thurston: yes the sky will be clear, lover. Yes, go pack. I love you.
Girish Navarathna: I love you I love you I love you.
Skye Thurston: kisses and kisses and more kisses.

Girish and Skye celebrated their first anniversary in August 2009. Not many couples in SL last as long as a year. They had not only lasted, but the romance seemed as fresh and exciting as on the day they first kissed each other!
Their respective RLs were very busy when they celebrated their anniversary. Things would be easing up a bit in September. So they decided to spend some time just with each other… take a month off from other things in SL, and be just with each other – as if on a honeymoon. But the honeymoon never happened. They both had no control over the terrible events that just kept on unfolding one after the other…
To be continued....

Girish Navarathna

Você É. Maravilhoso ser! :-D

http://jsz.deviantart.com/art/f-r-a-g-i-l-e-168613195

The Keys to Happiness (part 3)

A nice little trick I learned during my NLP training is something that is called 'reframing'. All it means is that every time I have an unhappy thought, either through something that has just happened, or through a memory of something unpleasant, I TURN IT AROUND to something happy. I don't give into my unhappiness and go 'down the hill', apparently helplessly, but I flip it over.
Look at the situation from all sides until you find something positive about it. Use your imagination, make it up if you must, it doesn't matter. Let me give you some examples of what happens to me sometimes and what I choose to think about it:
 It's raining outside: The garden will be thankful/ people living in places with drought, would  so appreciate this.:-). My friend is not online: Good, I have more time for XYZ project :-). I feel unwell: That sure makes me appreciate how well I feel most the time :-). You get the drift.
 Some people, if they find themselves thinking a negative comment, will say to themselves: STOP!....RETHINK!In the beginning this might seem awkward or silly, but after a while it will become automatic and with time, it will come automatic and WITH it will come an automatic good feeling . Things aren't 'good' or 'bad', they just 'are' and we choose how we want to think and feel about them, so I choose 'happy'.
One other, almost obvious thing to do that helps me feel better is to help someone else, who is seemingly in an even worse situation than myself. If I think, I'm unwell, poor, ill treated, lonely or whatever it may be, that has spoilt my mood,  it never fails to make me feel better if I take my mind off of my own misery and help another person, who in some way is less fortunate than myself. If you cannot actually help someone else then and there just comparing yourself to them, can make you realise, how fortunate you really are.
My book recommendation for the month is 'The Power' by Rhonda Byrne
Part 4 to follow next month
With Love

Miracle Masala

What would you say...

What would you say is the one, most important, thing that stands in the way of humans living peacefully on planet earth?

PralineBarjowski Ghost: The most ancient thing which lives in humans and that we trace since the dawn of humanity seems to be fear.

The ancient people had erected altars to honour the fear.

Fear pervades all our senses to the point of feeding a literature background and phrases that seem inexhaustible.

Fear of the dark, fear inside the memory, fear in the skin, fear of the unknown, fear of others, fear of love, fear of death ....

Fear is solitary or collective, fear takes subtle forms, becomes a phobia, stage fright, terror, fright, fear kills the hope, fear kills all peaceful possible future ...

Fear breeds rivalry, mistrust and which according to Thomas Hobbes, what are the three main causes of human quarrels.

Rivalry leads humans to the offensive for them benefit, mistrust for their security and pride for their reputation.

Constantly the fear falsifies our relationship with life.

Studying deeply the fear could liberate us.

I consider that fear, no including in-depth understanding, as the first cause of our inability to live in peace

N.B Thomas Hobbes (5 April 1588 – 4 December 1679), in some older texts Thomas Hobbs of Malmsbury,was an English philosopher, remembered today for his work on political philosophy. His 1651 book Leviathan established the foundation for most of Western political philosophy from the perspective of social contract theory.

The Evening Star

In times when fairy tales begin,
In times with magic laden,   (1)
There lived, of high and noble kin,
A most enchanting maiden.

She was the only child they raised,
Of wits and virtues many, (2)
As is the Virgin midst the praised
And midst the stars Selene.

Beneath a dark, majestic vault
She walks, her steps abating   (3)
Close to the window where, in alt,
The Evening Star's awaiting.

She gazes at his distant rays
That glow and light the ocean, (4)
While on the rolling water ways
Black galleys set in motion.

She sees him now, she sees him then,
Thus ripens her desire; (5)
From watching over and again,
His love for her grows higher.

When on her elbows her head leans,
Sweet reveries prolonging, (6)
Her heart and soul can find no means
To quieten their longing.

And so alive his light cascades
Whenever dusk gets nearer,   (7)
Around the murky castle's shades
As he's about to see her...

***

He trails her footsteps as she leaves
Towards her night's retire,   (8)
And with his icy sparkles weaves
A web of flashing fire.

And when she lies in bed to rest,
A sleepy child so candid, (9)
He strokes her arms set on her chest,
He closes her sweet eyelid;

And from the mirror's depth his glare
Reflects upon her body,   (10)
Upon her eyes shut unaware,
Upon her face leaned mildly.

Seeing her lips from smiling sweep,
He shivers in the mirror,   (11)
As he pursues her in her sleep
To hold her spirit dearer.

And then she speaks to him in dreams
And sighs within a sad plea: (12)
“Oh, sweet lord, who my night redeems,
Why don't you come? Come by me!

Descend, my stellar prince so kind,
Along a soft ray gliding,   (13)
Pervade the castle and my mind,
Light to my life providing!”

He listens eagerly to her,
Resplendent and reviving, (14)
Then suddenly becomes a blur,
Into the dark sea diving.

The water around where he falls
Spawns rings of growing sizes, (15)
While he from unknown deepness crawls
And as a young man rises.

Walking as smoothly as on sand
Through open window spaces, (16)
He holds a sceptre in his hand
Enfolded in reed laces.

He looks just like a youthful king
With silky, golden tresses; (17)
A bluish shroud tied in a ring
His naked shoulders dresses.

But then his livid face disguise
Exudes a waxen glimmer   (18)
A handsome ghost with lively eyes
That only outwards shimmer.

“Out of my realm I came, your call
To follow with devotion; (19)
My father is the heavens tall,
My mother is the ocean.

To reach the place that is your home,
To get to see you closer, (20)
I had to leave the sky's fair dome
And be reborn of water.

Oh, come, my holy treasured love,
Give up your world forever! (21)
I am the Evening Star above,
You be my true bride ever!

Down there, in palaces of pearls,
We'll live for many ages, (22)
And everywhere the sea unfurls
Its souls shall be your pages.”


“Oh, you're as handsome as in dreams
An angel would be showing, (23)
But on the path lit by your beams
I'll never think of going;

A stranger in both tongue and wear,
A dead glow you deliver, (24)
For I'm alive, while you're a glare,
And your eye makes me shiver.”

* * *

A day goes by, and two more, then,
As night the heavens closes,   (25)
The Evening Star comes up again
And his bright rays exposes.

Inevitably in her dreams
His image keeps returning (26)
And thus the lord of wavy streams
Refills her heart with yearning:

“Descend, my stellar prince so kind,
Along a soft ray gliding,   (27)
Pervade the castle and my mind,
Light to my life providing!”

From up there, when he hears her pray,
In sorrow he retires, (28)
And soon the sky begins to sway
Around where he expires;

The air fills up with purple flame
That through the whole world surges, (29)
And from the chaos vales sublime
A graceful face emerges.

On long black curls like tendrils smooth
His crown seems to be burning, (30)
He comes surrounded by pure truth
Into a sun's blaze turning.

Amidst the folds of his black shroud
Two marble arms are shaping, (31)
His face is like a somber cloud
Beneath the gloomy draping;

And yet his large and splendid eyes
Shine deeply with desire,   (32)
Like two voracious passion cries
That through the dark transpire.

“Out of my realm I strived and came,
Your call again to follow; (33)
My father is the sun aflame,
My mother the night hollow;

Oh, come, my holy treasured love,
Give up your world forever! (34)
I am the Evening Star above,
You be my true bride ever!

Oh, come, and in your golden hair
Let me twine starry laces,   (35)
And on my heavens be my pair,
Most lovely of all faces.”

“Oh, you're as handsome as in dreams
A demon would be showing, (36)
But on the path lit by your beams
I'll never think of going!

Your cruel love is inhumane
And hurts my feelings deeply, (37)
My large eyes are in heavy pain,
Your fiery gazing burns me.”

“But how could I descend to you?
Do you not see the reason,   (38)
That my time never will be through,
While yours is just a season?”

“I know not where to seek an end,
Nor how to be beginning – (39)
Although your words I understand,
I cannot see their meaning;

But if you truly wish my heart
To love you like no other, (40)
Then from the heavens you depart,
Become a mortal, rather.”

“You ask me my immortal glow
To give up for your kisses, (41)
So I in turn wish you to know
How deep my love for you is;

Indeed, I shall be born in sin,
By novel law abiding; (42)
To the eternity I'm kin,
From it I'll be dividing.”

And he keeps going… out of sight.
For love of a young maiden (43)
He vanishes from heaven's height,
For days remaining hidden.

* *

But in the meantime Catalin,
Slick boy in servant jackets, (44)
In charge of pouring beverage in
Men's goblets at the banquets,

A page who carries all around
The empress's long dresses, (45)
A bastard child, abandoned found,
Yet not shy with his glances,

With rosy cheeks fresh like the sprout
Of spring – cute little sinner, (46)
Quietly sneaks, spying about
And eyeing Catalina.

Just look how lovely is her sight,
And gorgeous… oh, God bless her! (47)
Yes, Catalin, the time is right
To try your luck, no lesser.

He steals a hold of her within
A path on the yard's borders. (48)
“What now, you wicked Catalin?
Go 'way and mind your orders!”

“What now? I wish to see you slip
Away from thoughts so lonely,   (49)
And rather laugh, and give my lip
A little buss, one only.”

“But I don't know what you speak of –
Leave me alone, go yonder! (50)
Oh, for the Evening Star above
I have an aching wonder.”

“If you don't know, I'd show you round
Love's yard, petal by petal, (51)
Only unwind and do not frown,
But bear with me a little.

As when a hunter lays a noose
For songbirds young and charmful, (52)
When I unfold my left arm loose
Embrace me in an armful;

And stare your eyes with still amaze
Into my eyes intently…   (53)
When your slim waist I try to raise,
Upon your toes rise gently;

When I look downwards, to my face
Keep your face straight up further,   (54)
So we can gaze with endless grace
And sweetness at each other;

And such that everything is said
Between ourselves, my lover, (55)
When kissing you I bow my head,
Kiss me over and over.”

She listens to the naughty boy
Astonished and distracted,   (56)
And playfully, and rather coy,
Now snubbing, now attracted,

She says to him: “Since I was small
I learned to know you closely; (57)
So chatty and no good at all,
You would quite suit me, mostly…

Alas, a stellar prince arose
From a forgotten kindness,   (58)
And to unbound horizon glows
Above the ocean's blindness;

And secretly my eyelids seize,
For they are drowned by weeping (59)
Whenever waves upon the seas
Towards him journey sweeping;

He shines with everlasting love,
My pain away beseeches, (60)
And yet ascends so high above
To be beyond my reaches.

His sad and frosty light rays spill
Across two worlds departed… (61)
Forever I will love him, still
Forever we'll be parted…

And for this reason my days are
As empty as the prairies, (62)
While nights are filled with holy charm,
Mysterious like fairies.”

“You are but childish, hence so frail…
Let's run afar forever,   (63)
And hope that they will lose our trail
So none will know us ever.

For in our hearts we shall be twin,
We shall have joy and wellness,   (64)
And you'll no longer miss your kin
Or dream of stellar highness.”

*  *  *

The Evening Star departs. The sky
With growing wings he beckons,   (65)
And thousand-year-long flights go by
In just as many seconds.

A flood of stars unfolds below,
Above – more stars that twinkle; (66)
He seems to be a lightning flow
Astray amidst their sprinkle.

Out of the chaos vales sublime
Surrounding him and surging, (67)
He sees, beyond the dawn of time,
The streaming lights emerging.

As they emerge and spill around
Like giant seas amassing, (68)
He flies, his yearning mind unbound,
Until all turns to nothing.

For where he lands there's no domain
Nor eye that can discover, (69)
And time itself struggles in vain
From bareness to recover.

It's but a void, yet he does find
A thirst that draws him over, (70)
A deep abyss resembling blind
The failure to remember.

“Of harsh and dark eternity
Relieve me, please, my Father,   (71)
And blessed thy name forever be
By all the world together.

Oh, ask, my Lord, for any charge,
But make my fate another, (72)
For while your source puts lives at large
As well their deaths you gather.

My immortality recall,
Extinguish my eyes' fire, (73)
And give me, in exchange of all,
One hour of desire.

From chaos, Lord, I rose, and yearn
To be returned to chaos…   (74)
Out of the utmost stillness born
I have a thirst for stillness.”

“Hyperion, you who from naught
Appeared, a world reclaiming, (75)
Ask not for signs or marvels that
Have neither face nor naming.

Become a man – is this your goal,
Their likeness to acquire?   (76)
But were mankind to perish whole,
Others would still aspire.

They only build, yet cannot save,
Ideals all too shallow – (77)
As waves are marching to their grave
More waves arise and follow.

They have but lucky stars to chase
While haunted by misfortunes, (78)
We live outside of time and space
With no death in our fortunes.

Out of eternal yesterday
Today's living expire; (79)
Were an old sun to fade away,
New suns would burst afire.

Seemingly parted from the void
By void they are predated,   (80)
For all are born to be destroyed
And die to be created.

Still you, Hyperion, shall last
Even beyond your twilight… (81)
Ask for the prime word of my past –
Shall I gift you with insight?

Your voice at singing shall I ease,
Adorn it with emotions (82)
That could charm mountains and their trees
And islands of the oceans?

Perhaps in deed you wish to show
Your righteousness and power? (83)
I'd have the Earth sliced row by row
For you, to rule all over.

I'll give you fleets lined side by side
And legions you could spread through (84)
The lands afar and oceans wide,
But death I cannot grant you…

And dying for – who's really worth?
Just turn around and travel   (85)
Back to that ever-drifting Earth
And watch your fate unravel.”

  *  *  *

His place, where he was meant to stay,
Hyperion regaining, (86)
Like visions from a former day
His rays, again, start raining.

For twilight's hour is about
And night will be her daughter; (87)
The quiet moon is coming out
Trembling from under water

And fills up with her magic glow
The trails in forests hidden. (88)
By lovely linden trees, below,
Two youngsters lay down even.

“Upon your bosom let my head,
Beloved, to surrender   (89)
Beneath the glitter your eyes spread
So sweet no words can render;

With their enchantingly cold light
Stroll out through my compassion, (90)
And pour perpetual delight
Along my night of passion.

And always over me remain
To ease my aching sadness,   (91)
For you are my first loving pain
And my last dream of madness.”

Hyperion sees from above
The wonder on their faces;   (92)
He barely touched her neck with love,
When she his waist embraces…

The silver flowers' perfume spreads,
Their bloom is gently snowing (93)
Upon the two young children's heads
With long and fair curls flowing.

Then she, from love in spirits high,
Raises her eyes and glimpses (94)
The Evening Star. Yet only shy
Entrusts him with her wishes:

“Descend, my stellar prince so kind,
Along a soft ray gliding,   (95)
Pervade the forest and my mind,
Light to my fate providing!”

He shivers like the other days
Above the hills and valleys, (96)
While guiding on their lonesome ways
The rolling water alleys;

But unlike then, he does not fold
Into the sea from farther:   (97)
“What do you care, you earthly mold,
Whether it's I or other?

Enclosed within your narrow ring
Good-fortuned lives you're spending,   (98)
Whilst I to my own heavens cling,
Immortal and unbending.”

(by Mihai Eminescu)

from Selma Paolino

Why Waste Water?

Just over year ago we had a very smelly problem.  Our septic system (we live on acerage and we're not connected to a reticulated sewerage system) had decided to 'pack it in'. So, after much research (and being confirmed greenies) we decided to bite the bullet and instal a REEDBED WASTEWATER SYSTEM.

What is that I hear you ask? 

Reedbeds/wetlands are on-site wastewater (black and grey) treatment systems that mimic natural wetlands.

How does it work?

Treatment is by physical filtration, precipitation and biological (microbial) reduction of potential pollutants including pathogens.

Primary treatment is in a collection (septic/greywater) tank. (A composting toilet may be part of primary treatment.)

Secondary treatment is in contained polyethlene or concrete reedbeds (also known as sub-surface wetlands). The treatment substrate is gravel. Reeds are planted to help biological (microbial) and physical filtering. Solids and pathogens are reduced considerably. Nutrients are reduced and converted to useful forms.

- Physical filtration by gravel and plant roots, also settling occurs.

- Biological filtration by microbes and algae (aerobic and anerobic bacteria).

- Nutrient reduction. Plants are basically grown hydroponically in gravel (feeding on nutrients in water).

- Nutrients are convented to usable and manageable forms.

- Naturally occuring organisms feed in system, (including worms that live in top section of reedbed).

- Worms also help reduce any sludge build-up in the system (self cleaning).

Tertiary treatment occurs when the wastewater (by this stage clear) is pumped underground to our orchard.

What are the benefits?

OK, it wasn't the cheapest solution we could find but it was the best long term sustainable solution. The system has a small pump which comes on about once a day for 10-20 minutes which delivers clean water up to our orchard.  It is perfectly safe to grow anything which fruits above ground so now we have organic oranges, figs, berries, apples, nectarines, cherries and more which never need watering. Also, its low maintenance, has virtually no on-going costs, is a natural process and, unlike me, improves with age! It looks great, is environmentally friendly and is re-cycling our most precious resorce - water.

Best of all, there's NO smell!

n2witive Destiny

A real man

A real man is a woman’s best friend. He will never stand her up and never let her down. He will reassure her when she feels insecure and comfort her after a bad day.  He will inspire her to do things she never thought she could do; to live without fear and forget regret. He will enable her to express her deepest emotions and give in to her most intimate desires. He will make sure she always feels as though she’s the most beautiful woman in the room. His actions will reinforce the fact that she is the most confident, sexy, seductive, and invincible ….

No … wait … sorry … I’m thinking of wine. It’s the wine that does all that.

Never mind.

from Rayah Slade

The Skye and Girish Story... 4

Unexpected things were happening in Girish’s life in RL. He had landed an assignment that required him to be out of India for more than a month. There were also suddenly other trips abroad lined up. It was going to be a busy 6 months ahead, with a trip abroad almost every month. 

But all this cast a gloom of uncertainty over his heart. He would not have net access when he traveled. He would not be able to log into SL for weeks. Will Skye wait for him? Or will some other nice guy fall on her head and sweep her off her feet, while he was gone? He did not doubt her attachment. But after all both he and Skye came into SL to feel good, to relieve the stress of RL. Surely, she would rather move on and find happiness, than keep pining for him and getting bored and more stressed! Why would she wait? Why should she? Sure, he was a nice guy and they liked each other, and were lovers. But it was all a fantasy. Reality is always more important. Fantasies can go stale, and change, even in RL…

When he told Skye about his travel plans, she was disappointed, but took it all rather philosophically. “Of course I will miss you, but you are not gone yet.” That was her response. Her attitude relieved him and disappointed him at the same time!

He had specifically requested for hotels with net connectivity for his 45 day trip, but it didn’t quite work out everywhere. Most of the time he was away from the net, and spend sleepless nights – frightened, insecure, dreading the pain of loss to be suffered all over again. And Skye had not wanted email or any other RL contact. He hadn’t pressed the issue because he also wanted the relationship to be strictly SL, and saw the wisdom of her decision. In many places that he traveled to he had net access and could have emailed, but the speed was not good enough for logging into SL. He did send her messages via emails to his elder sister in SL – Cre8tiveFemme. Sometimes he did manage to log into SL, only to crash repeatedly or lag horribly. Also, the timing was not always right for meeting Skye online. He fumed and fidgeted. He imagined her forgetting him and going on with her SL life as she had before he entered her life. He tried hard to focus on his work, but it was difficult. 

Finally the tour was over… He logged onto SL, the first thing on reaching home… and she was there, waiting for him, eager to jump into his arms, kiss him, drag him into the cave, make passionate love to him… she was there, she had valued him enough to wait for him… 

A few months ago, a separation had drifted his RL mate away from him. Now, this separation brought Girish and Skye closer. They felt their bond strengthen. And so Girish proposed to Skye. He wanted to make it official in SL. But she refused. There was logic to what she said. They were together, all their friends already knew they were together. They were in fact the most romantic couple on the Perfect Paradise Island. The lovebirds of paradise! What would making it official achieve? It would only show that they were partnered in each other’s profile. That is all. Everything else would still be the same. Besides there was another reason why she didn’t want to officially partner in SL. One of her former partners had given her the shock of her SL. After a wonderful evening spend together, one day she came online only to get a brutal message from SL informing her that the partnership had been ended by the other party. No reason, no explanation, no discussion from him. He later told her that he had started falling for her in RL, and that had frightened him. But the shock of getting that brutal message had really got to her. She was determined never to partner again in SL. 

Girish understood and agreed. He wanted her to be happy, that was his only desire. 

Skye’s birthday was coming up, and he wanted to buy her a present. He had not done much shopping in SL, and was quite nervous about it. But his recently acquired new SL sister Kalea helped him with the shopping. He bought a diamond necklace for Skye. His heart was hammering when he gave it to her – suddenly he was filled with doubts – she will not like it… But she loved it. Her present to him when his birthday came up in a few days, was an Indian skin and shape. Something that made him feel himself and also made him devilishly handsome! The Christmas of 2008 turned out to be very special… filled with romance, love, and ever heightening sexual delight as Girish shed his newbie persona and became a man in SL, thanks to Skye. 

Over the last few months, Girish had also got more and more involved in Perfect Paradise Island and its community. From being a nomadic pauper he had suddenly become one of the leaders… a wise man whom everyone looked up to. Both Mira and Harps, owners of the sim and the originators of the community concept, appreciated his contribution, and considered his inputs valuable. 

Girish was always willing to welcome visitors, show them around, talk to them about the philosophy of the community, try to make them see how they can be a part of the social experiment… He was committed to wooing new members for the community, and tried his best to walk the line between remaining friendly and spurning the female visitors’ attempt to woo HIM instead! Having the Prize Winning Hut on the island was a huge help to him in this context. He always included the Hut in his tour of the island for any visitor, and made it a point to inform them how it was a symbol of his and Skye’s love and devotion to each other! Normally, this resulted into two outcomes with female visitors. Either they continued with the tour (which meant they were interested in the community concept and wanted to know more) or they suddenly remembered some other task elsewhere and left! (which meant that they were listening and taking the tour only because they were interested in the tour guide!). He always tried to see the funny side of each such interaction and shared each experience with Skye. Most of the times she too saw the funny side of it, but sometimes some girl’s remarks really infuriated her. For example once Girish told her how a casual visitor had called him ‘Skye’s toy boy’ in jest… well, suffice it to say, if that girl had been around, she would have got charred and vaporized by the fire from Skye! It was as if his calm and pleasant Goddess Gauri, suddenly transformed into the angry and violent Goddess Kali! Girish absolutely loved this fiery side of hers too!

But none of these encounters ever caused any misunderstandings between them. Girish was always honest and open – telling Skye about all such crazy and silly encounters that he had. And she always had enough confidence in herself to not allow any such little things rattle her too much. Girish had formed some great friendships too through his interactions with existing members, and visitors. Over the time he was also realizing that Skye is good at ‘reading’ people and he was developing a lot of trust in her judgment. Due to her SL time being rather restricted, she was not as ‘visible’ on the island as he was. But many of the ideas and thoughts that he expressed, actions that he initiated in the community were actually outcomes of the two of them having already brainstormed over the ideas. He was the front, but his activities were almost always a result of their teamwork, which the casual observers did not realise. 

And then came a new member in the community. She was brimming with enthusiasm and new ideas. She was also brimming with psychological issues… which started coming to fore only as people got to know her more. She was a complexity – excellent ideas and yet a twisted mind… Right at the beginning Skye warned Girish about the mischief this person could cause, and he did acknowledge it. But no person is really perfect and one of the aspects of the social experiment that they were participating in was to accept a person for what he/she is and to work to make him/her a part of the community, without pressurizing him/her to change. So he tried his best to keep connecting with the intellectual and logical side of this person as a friend and colleague, and largely leaving her alone to deal with her other issues. 

But there were inconsistencies cropping up here and there… one day she assured Girish that she intended to keep other more dramatic and gory aspects of her second life away from Perfect Paradise, and within hours she was deeply involved in personal dramas with other members of the community. Red flags were rising from several people about this person. And yet her promise of potential intellectual contributions kept her deeply involved in the community's activities, with support and encouragement from Mira, Harps, Girish, and a few others. 

And then this new member came up with a role play based project concept – Skye did not like it much, but Girish didn’t take her apprehensions seriously… 

The island community is based on the premise that we are all a diverse group of people coming from different backgrounds, cultures, belief systems… all part of this isolated island community as a result of a shipwreck. The new project idea was to create new AVs to roleplay the next generation – of people BORN on the island. 

There was already one such ‘island child’ at the time. Paradise Scribe had been created more for administrative purposes than any role play, but he was the first AV born on Perfect Paradise. There were several people who could have used him, but it was Girish who often did at the time. So, to try out how it might go, Girish took on the persona of Paradise Scribe, and the new member brought on a AV of her own – and they tried to have a dialog as two persons who do not know anything beyond the island. However, the conversation took a strange turn – the girl seemed to seduce Paradise. Girish’s attempt to get out of the situation without causing drama actually gave Paradise Scribe a personality! 

If you see Paradise wandering around on the island, please remember that he is a wild maverick, whose parents abandoned him on the island when he was young (actually he was created by two members, who later left the community). The first time Girish had used him was to set up fishing on the island for Skye. So when the girl started pushing Paradise he told her the first thing that came to his mind - that he had lost his heart to Skye and hated Girish’s guts! For your information, Paradise still has a soft spot for Skye, but he has overcome his hatred for Girish now and has accepted that Skye can never be his! :D

Girish did manage to extricate himself from this strange encounter, and told Skye all about it when they met later. Skye had till then lived with a lot of jealousy, snide and vicious remarks, veiled insults… and not allowed anything much to shake her tranquility. Several times Skye had tried to point out to Girish that this woman was gunning for his attention in various subtle ways, and he had just laughed her off mostly.  But this devilry in the garb of a serious community project was sort of like the last straw that broke the camel’s back. 

Skye had already been displeased by this relatively new member being given a lot of authority on the basis of only plans and promises. This incident clearly indicated to misuse of authority and trust to Skye. To think that the community was allowing an experiment with so much potential for manipulation and mischief and that this woman was actually trying to trick Girish into intimacy caused a bit of an explosion in her. She stormed off the island, vowing never to return. 

This was the first ever challenge in Girish’s relatively young SL life. He loved Skye with utter devotion and intensity. The thought of being at a place that she had vowed not to enter was totally unbearable to him. But he also had a lot of intellectual and emotional investment in Perfect Paradise… Of course it was not really a question of choosing – love is always supreme over everything else, anything else. The community was close to his heart, but Skye was his life. He had no doubt in his mind as to what he should do - if Skye was leaving the island, so would he...

To be continued....

Girish Navarathna

Une boule d'espérance / Les feuilles d'automne

Do not make snowmen!
They are so sad and unhappy!
Maybe they think those of last year
Who lived only a few days.
Maybe they are afraid of the sun or light.
Perhaps they suffer from dying too quickly
Before you know what life is, what love.
Maybe they want to have a heart.
If you can give them
Fashion them carefully
And do not forget to put in their chest
A Ball of Hope!!

I would be wind.
I can wander at ease.
I dance with the strands of hair and skirts girls
I hiss of anger,
Or that I whisper in the foliage.
I caress fatigue and sad faces,
I sing with raindrops,
I abandoned farm gates
I castigates consciences charged
I sleep in the newly mown hay,
But above all, I meet
All autumn leaves together
So they do not die alone ....

by Smara Senizen

The Keys to Happiness (part two)

Dear friends,

before I share Reviews some of the tips and tricks I learned That helped me to feel good MOST of the time, I would like to tell you about what I blelieve is THE Most Important reason for being happy.

I used to think, that 'IF I be, and do-have this, that or the other, THEN I will be happy, goal I Had to learn That this is not so, as this way, happiness WAS Firmly planted in the future. I believe now, that 'if I am happy now, no matter what the Circumstances, Then, well, I am happy, lol, AND happy things will come my way in the future too.

As scientists are Confirming now, everything is made up of energy and vibrations on the subatomic level, and it makes sense to me to lavish That good things, we need to be in HARMONY Those with energy vibrations Abebooks web want to invite into our lives. I believe the Abebooks web are NOW Creating our lives, a moment at the time. If we are unhappy now, our future created cannot be much different, goal if we are happy now, so are our creative vibrations That make up our future. 

The first step to happiness is to-have an attitude of gratitude. So what if you think, your life is utterly miserable and there is nothing to be thankful for? I'm always chuckling when i think of the answer Joe Vitale (made famous throught 'The Secret') Gave, When He Heard this for the first time. He Was homeless and living at the time ouf of his car, feeling depressed and hopeless about His future. The only thing he Could feel thankful for, Was this pencil That He Had, lol. Goal he says, think again: you can be thankful for your eyes, that 'Enabling you are to read this, your clothes keep you warm That, the last meal you HAD, the smile of a stranger, the sunshine, the internet, the lack of war Where you live, the colors of flowers, and and and. The trick is, to LOOK for things to be thankful for and when to you are looking for and expecting em, magic happens: More and more wonderful things show up (or Were They aim there you did not see 'em?) Gradually your gloomy thoughts Are Being mittal and your mood begins to lift. To get you started on this new habit, I Suggest you keep a little 'gratitude diary' and just before you go to sleep, think over your day and remember all the good things, write them down and relive em in your memory. Your sleep Will Be sweet!

 Part 3 to follow next time :-)

With love

Miracle Masala

What would you say...

What would you say is the one, important thing That stands in the way of humans living on planet earth peacefully most?


Girish Navarathna: Ego


n2witive Destiny: Population Explosion http://bit.ly/cKJuIK


Rayah Slade: Human selfish need. If we simply Were selfless and care for others only the world Would Have peace.


Phlebas Afterthought: Resources. We feel the need to provide That Which we feel Will sustain us, and in a world without enough to sustain all, we fight.


Miracle Masala : The illusion Abebooks web are separate from each other 'and from god - that there is a difference Between you and me.


Fael Innovia : "It must be the way I say it must be" or "It must be the way I think it must be"


Bertram Jacobus: i agree with the buddha, Have you Explained - It Would be greed!


Zoebug Agrawal: The union between - The Capitalistic Establishment & Megacorporations (supported by rightwing loonies Some esp in the USA) V anyone Who Does not fit into Their World and dares to stand up against it.


Nicholas Inventor: Greed or fear, so nameless Some combination of the two.


Darcon Xue: That the idea, someone or other, POSSESS, any, one or any thing.


Miralee Munro: I Firmly believe That people are distracted from Knowing That the Lack of Love in Their life and ego (thirst for power) Means That we can not live in peace together.

 jamkey Cherry: I see the EGO'S of the world, and the GREED in the world are the biggest problems and the extreme Elements in the world Faning keep the flames.

Letter to the editor

Dear Editor
I have an Enormous collection of jokes, all of All which are at the expense of a section of the community, or of people from this country or That. A cousin Sends me a steady stream of 'em. In the collection are blond jokes, ageist jokes, anti-this country jokes, anti-that country jokes, anti-gay jokes, anti-disabled jokes, jokes against men, jokes against women etc.. Do they offend me? Not really. Generally I just delete 'em and keep' em sitting there Amongst the uncleared deleted items. Nirmal's piece Free 'Women, Countries and Geography' in the September edition of the Paradise Echo Would fit very nicely'm his collection under the 'ageist' category. I have the Following comments about it.
First, altho there are loads of ageist jokes around I was surprised to find this one in the Echo, a newspaper Which Usually Does not-have anything 'anti' in it, quite the opposite in fact.
SECONDLY, it Would not be nice to have a series of 'attacking' piece in the Echo. I Could Provide material That Would Appropriately 'hit back', How Would That goal help us, or the world?
And lastly, I value Perfect Paradise as a place Where people tend to be thoughtful and respectful of others on the Basis of Their fellow-humanity, Regardless of gender or race. I want the Paradise Echo to Reflect That. Second Life Has Many room for the opinions, attitudes and jokes That separate, purpose please, in Paradise, let us just be people together.

Alula Beck

Editorial Policy of Paradise Echo

We are Committed to printing Everything that the members of Perfect Paradise Island group submit or recommend.
The scope of our work is limited to:
1. We sometimes ok / modify parts of a write up from the grammatical point of view, if the 'errors' are taking away from the meaning of the write up. Sometimes grammatical 'errors' are hand of the author's style. We do not touch these.
2. We also sometimes add pictures to the write ups to Enhance the message of the write up.
3. We decided the order and layout and presentation of the materials.
We are Committed to Ensure That is Paradise Echo year term of all members icts. We urge members to use it to freely express Themselves, Openly, and without fear of censorship. We also urge members to share Their views on the contents of previous issues, and suggestions for upcoming issues aussi.
Thank you!

The legend of Vlad

The history of Vlad Dracula is surrounded by myth and legend I had a really tough time sorting out the facts from the legends, the truth is That nobody is too sure what is what. We do Know That He Was the character That Was the inspiration for Bram Stokers Novel "Dracula" being the very famous Count Dracula. Then Brought the book about the vampires very well known That are to this day and made Vlad the Impaler a famous character from history.

Vlad the Impaler-Tepes (pronounced tzse-pesh) Was Born in the town of Sighisoara in Transylvania (now known as northern Romania) in 1431 and later Ruled the area of ​​Southern Romania known as Wallachia. His father WAS Vlad Dracul Who Was a knight in the Order of the Dragon Which Was a union of Central and Eastern European rulers Who Were a tad worried about the rising Ottoman Empire.

The Order of the Dragon's coat of arms Was a dragon (the Ottomans) and a cross (Christianity). Vlad Dracul bore this coat of arms on everything, flags, wedges, and his seal. Attracted it the nickname of "Dracul" I believe coming from the story of the evil dragon in St. George and the Dragon, Dracul meaning Devil in Romanian.

The second his soon WAS born to Vlad Dracul - that Being Vlad II - therefore the name Developed an "a" Representing the son of Dracul - "DRACULA", the son of the Devil.

The word "Tepes" in Romanian means "impaler" and was so named Vlad Because of His cruel and gruesome habit of impaling humans and leaving 'em to rot in the sun as a means clustering of punishing His enemies. 

In fact, Vlad WAS called Expired Tepes (the Impaler) only Effective His death in 1476. Impalement WAS Considered a PARTICULARLY gruesome form of execution, the victim WAS stuck on a sharp stake Usually the width of a big burly man's arm (ohhh that's gotta hurt !). Said to Vlad WAS Especially enjoyed mass executions, Where Were impaled several victims at once, and Their stakes hoisted upright. As They hung suspended above the ground, the weight of Their bodies Would slowly drag em downwards, Causing the sharpened end of the stake to pierce Their internal organs Causing a slow painful death. In order to better enjoy thesis mass spectacles, Vlad Routinely ordered a banquet table set up in front of His victims, and enjoy a leisurely Would supper amid the pitiful sights and sounds of the dying. That I'm glad I was not around in Those Days to be Invited to one of Vlad's dinner parties.

It is Estimated That killed Vlad Some 20,000 men, women and children - the Amount of people he killed varies from anywhere Between 20,000 to 500,000. He Showed no mercy and His Enemies Often tortured before killing 'em.

At the same time That Became notorious Vlad For His sadism, He Was Respected by His subjects aussi Because of His fierce Campaigns against the Turks. He Was a Respected as a warrior and a stern ruler Have you tolerated no crime against His people, and His reign Erected falling on several monasteries. He Was a hero That Was Both Feared and worshiped by His people. 

Purpose maybe there WAS a bit more to Vlad's murderous bloodthirsty clothes than we first thought. In 1985 an Idaho physician Dr. Thomas McDevitt Suggested That he Suffered from May-have a weird allergic reaction to blood. He Claimed That In Some allergic reactions to a substance Given, Sufferers Developed aussi year addiction to That Same substance, and if Deprived of it Could They react in a highly strange and deranged Manner. Could Vlad of just throwing a tantrum beens every time he craved blood? Portraits of the prince depict him with dark circles beneath His eyes, puffy cheeks and a sallow complexion pallid - classic characteristics of Some Types of allergy victim.

There are various descriptions of the death of Dracula. Review: The most popular Being That He Was killed in battle against the Turks near Bucharest in December 1476. Aussi It was Said That He Was disloyal Wallachian boyars murdered by just as He Was about to Overcome the Turks and send 'em packing. Other stories describe the Impaler falling in defeat, surrounded by rotting bodies of His loyal Moldavian troops. There Is Another account of Vlad accidently Being struck down at the moment of victory by one of His own men (now that's a nasty accident).

Whatever happened to Vlad's body? Well that's surrounded by plenty of legends as well, none can be confirmed:

The general thought Vlad Amongst historians and experts Is That the body of Vlad the Impaler WAS entombed near the alter in a Snagov Monastery Located on an Island in the middle of a lake accessed only by boat. It is well Documented That His head was taken and put on display in Constantinople for all to see That the terrible reign of this man WAS truly over.

In 1931-1932, archaeologist Dinu Rosetti, under orders from the Romanian Academy, visited the Snagov Monastery in hope of discovering the body of Vlad Dracula.

What he Discovered WAS looted grave inside the monastery, local legend Told of how the body of Vlad Dracula lay in one step from the doorway of the monastery. Not believing this legend He Went to the worn out and hammered tombstone in front of the alter. Rosetti found beneath the grave empty. He Continued to dig and pre-christian altar, with bones of sacrificial animals.

He Decided to give the legend a go - he Researched the floor in front of the entranceway. He soon found an unmarked grave That Was a looted and Appeared to Be That of a nobleman. He Took photographs of all the inventory of the tomb. The clothes of the body pointed to a rich man. A ring WAS later Identified as a tournament ring of the kind Given at Nuremberg. The skeleton HOWEVER, still had it's head. As before MENTIONED It is well Documented That WAS Vlad's head decapitated and feel to Constantinople.

Dinu Rosetti Went forth and Announced That He Had uncovered the remains of Vlad Tepes Dracula purpose the leading historian of the time, Constantin Gurescu Dismissed thesis claims. Dinu Rosetti's claim is not reconnu as a true one.

Its true at Snagov Monastery That Suffers great humidity and MOST of the remnants of bodies and skeletons located in. the monastery decomposed extremely Quickly and much WAS That has-been found beyond recognition, if the body of Vlad Were There it probably decomposed and rotted into the ground Could before anyone ever see it for Themselves. 

Selma Paolino