That’s the message from my Night Flight today.

Hopefully, I will give Mirelle more time to be socially active in SL next time.

I have just been to one of the SL-lessons at Babel School. A German class with an American and a CostaRican.

Finally, I have seen what it looks like – in the end I am also one of the teachers! :) And I have to say: we need more structure. More stucture and more utilities, like tables, pictures, etc. Much time is needed to type things.

But on the other hand, in general, this is indeed a wonderful possibility of interaction, which is not yet seen by many SL residents. “Learning through playing” if you want.  We can be flexible, in both  meanings: change the subject or a study plan, and also the place, or ourselves.  But there can be so much more!

I wonder what it will be like, as soon as we have audio here. That will be really crazy.

Temple Beit Israel (“beit” – meaning “home”, as far as my little Hebrew tells me) was grounded in August 2006 by Beth Brown, whose SL name is Beth Odets. The place is world-oriented and welcomes everyone who wants to meet Jewish culture, experince religion in some liberal sense or just meet people and just talk tacheles. The members light candles on Shabbat for people from different parts of the world, depending on their time zone: for Israel friends at 7 am SL time, for Europeans – 10 am, 3 pm for East Coast, 7 pm – West Coast and 5 pm “in Between”.

I find it a friendly place and also a wonderful deed of Ms Odets to have created another religious (spiritual) and cultural spot in SL.

Your M.

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Greetings

Your Mirelle

It’s the absence of advertising!

Yes! I mean, we are all used to this ubiquitous phenomenon. It surrounds us, it tortures us, and at the same time it is so normal that we sometimes manage to ignore it. But it is THERE! Always! Billboards, stickers, labels, TV, DVD, PC, pop-ups (I hate them most!), mail, email, radio, newspapers, even books! The list is never-ending.

And here, in SL, apart from some political platforms and some major companies, who are actually present only on their land, there is a real ad-free paradise! Sure, from time to time you can see some “walking-billboards” announcing some events, which is not bad at all. But that’s all. PARADISE!

The next question that comes to my mind is – how long?

I am hanging… In some weird place I don’t know how I got to last time… I want to move to another place, to Dogglounge, where I always come to when I don’t have any special destination. The TP doesn’t work. I try again. Nothing. I try other spot. Nothing. Again. No!

Like in some SL spots, there is NO “fly” button on my screen… Nice place, Mirelle! “You will stay here forever!”- says my inner voice. “No!” – I answer. “I will WALK! Like people always did, many centuries ago! :P They gathered their things, the most necessary things, took utensils to make their way more successful, like hat, boots, stock (not lock, stock and barrel! though weapons could be useful I think) and hit the road leading to… Rome, Mecca, Kiev, Goa, San Fransisco…”

I was firm and resolute… I walked…

And then… Suddenly I could fly again! Like I used to! I  flew! Wonder! Life is beautiful! Wind whizzing in my ears… Dreaming of the blue seas, amazing skies, green fields around me… It was beautiful! And then I struck. Struck into the beautiful X-ray fence! Bang!!! Thank you-u-u! The whole romance of the flying…

Getting up at 4:50 am… arriving at the train station while it’s still dark… running behind the train, being afraid to miss it… waiting for a conductor to bring along a cup of coffee, as it’d been too early to buy it in the street or to drink at home… All these things wouldn’t happen in SL. I don’t have to get up early to get somewhere! I can do it anytime! And if! Then I can change darkness into sunrise or noon! I don’t have to run after a train, ’cause, first, there ARE NO trains!

I mean – there are trains in SL, but who needs them to move from A to B, when we have TP! And coffee. Well… Coffee…

I was showing a friend an orthodox church in SL, which is close to other temples and shrines. Before arriving there, we have been to a Torah School where you can see a white sign of the Star of David on the school wall. This white mesmerizing sign of no material right on the wooden wall makes a great impression on you, when you come back from some funky virtual islands with their glittering metal, glimmering lights and surreal perfect trees and flowers. You have to stop for a moment and think… just think, maybe of nothing at all. But that would mean – meditate. Then we sat down at a table and talked. Talked about religion and things beyond.
Coming to the orthodox church of St Nikolas, we first stood for a moment in the front yard listening to the orthodox choral psalms… Every time I hear it – it enchants me… My companion was a little hesitant. I first didn’t notice it. Then he asked if it was alright if he entered like that, in the clothing he had on. It struck me so much. I mean, yes, he knows, in RL I am orthodox ( not any religious feelings, but baptized). Alright. But this is SL! My God! People do here what they want, don’t they?! This sign of respect was like a lightning to me.

So, the striking idea was – we still behave here like in RL – and! – things can impress us sometimes just as much as in RL, and sometimes maybe even more. If you don’t agree – please, feel free to refute this.

My tip for now: go to some abandoned place on the map, where there are no people, no trees, no nothing and listen to some calm classical music.

Goodnight and good luck!