Ego-merry christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone! And scince this is an ego-blog.... well here you go, a bunch of pictures of ME! (in my new fabulous skin from Street Dermatology!)

Refurnishing and making christmas at home.

OK, there has happened quite a few things on my little land since last time I showed you. Winter has come to the sim, and I have taken all the summer trees away for the moment. There are wintery trees everywhere, and a big christmas tree and snowmen and.... well even a house!

And today I have been remodelling in the house, refurnishing. Take a look!

Outdoors

First I needed to get some ironing done, so I could change into something... well, else....

Then I sat down in my comfy old couch that I got from my grandma and pondered over how the heck I should furnish the place!

As usual I came to theconclusion that some shopping wouldn't hurt, so I went out and got a comfy chair to match the couch and some other nessecary things. I furnished and refurnished and changed it again and again. Finally I made a big mess out of it and I felt right at home. I was tired so I collapsed on the couch...

I'll show you more pictures eventually :) Or just come and join me!!

Hihihihi!!

For those of you that speak swedish:
http://tinasuniversum.blogspot.com/2009/11/intervju-i-svenska-second-life-puff.html

about yours truely :))

(yeah I know I'm some kind of freakish exhibitionist...)


EDIT:
(or, as Tina sais herself in comments: "Tina Dahl said...
For you that dont use google translator:-) http://translate.google.com/ /Tina")

Ok, here's the "improved" version of the google translate :))

Thursday, November 26th, 2009
interview in Swedish Second Life: Puff Klang

I do not know Puff Klang so well, but yet I do, because she is one of those who shares of themselves by writing in her blog, and participate in group chat in the "Swedish people in SL".
That's what I think that Second Life should be. Sharing.

And now Puff does that by answering my simple questions - for which I thank especially for, but am not surprised by. Puff shares!

interview in Swedish Second Life: Puff Klang

1 - How did you discover / find Second Life?

I was so tired of watching TV by myself and because I'm a small kids parent, I can not just go out at night and thought I would find some fun games. "What if there is a game like WOW, only that you could just ran around and be goofy!" I thought. Then I remembered that my dear father had mentioned Second Life, and that on a conference held at his work had been taught how to make an avatar and so on. At that time, I didn't listen so much because I did not know what he was talking about (and also, how can something that DAD talks about be so interesting ...), but this day, I remebered it and thought I might as well try. Imagine my surprise when I eventually discovered that it WAS like WOW, only that you could just run around and be goofy...

2 - How did you get your Second Life first name?

An old nickname from RL ... I say no more, ;o)

3 - Lots of people only stay in Second Life for a day, a week or a month after they created his Ava. What made you stay and what motivates you to still be in Second Life?

Curiosity. It is one of my absolute most typical personality traits. In the beginning I didn't understand anything, but curiosity led me to continue. Eventually, it was also the social contact I got here. I love my friends, dearly, and it's fun to find new friends. In the beginning it was not so, but now I can also appreciate the artistic part. I love to change my ava and to decorate in a way I never give priority to in RL. But I don't build though. If I ca't do it good enough I'd rather not;)) There are so many talented builders / skin makers / clothes makers and so on. Better to support them;)

4 - What do you do in Second Life? Tell us your story (short or long it is your choice!) Example of: what do you do when you're in Second Life or what have you created / creates?

I hang out. It is my primary objective. And, as previously told, I like to make me look nice, ;p. I always want everyone to be happy, it's also something that can be both positive and negative ...

5 - Have you found anything special to make, develop or improve any skill you have IRL, thanks to your Second Life?

Absolutely. My social skills have been ... developed. The question is whether it is for the better, but I am at least much less shy in social settings and dare to connect with people in a completely different way than before. My RL friends looking on in terror ....
Moreover, my language skills have become much better. I was good at English when I was younger and went to school, but when you do not use it so much it disappears. Now, I must say that I feel completely comfortable with the English language ... except maybe when I go to clubs where a lot of "african-american" slang(hose in english?) is used .... My non-existent French have also been developed for some strange reason ...

6 - Do you have an extra fun and enjoyable experience that happened to you in your Second Life that you want (and can) tell us?

I love that I have friends from all over the world. I really feel that I have been challenged, my prejudices and my naive preconceptions about other cultures. And I have learned so much! You become humble (I know it might not show...)

7 - What would you like to change or improve in Second Life?

Search function, I find that strange. It should be more detailed.

8 - Do you want to share your current and / or future projects? (If you have one). Here you can take the opportunity to seek a partner to make it with!
I have a place in New Sweden where everyone is welcome. It is not a "home" but just a place to meet, for those who want. I miss the "benches" of Second Sweden.

9 - Have you ever had any problems in Second Life? If yes, how did you do ", did you report it - and what was the feedback from Linden Lab or eg land lord?

No, not really. I am not so sensitive. I've heard some "shit-talk" etc., but it is-quite frankly-not my problem. I know who I am and that I am one of "the good guys" and I think most people see that it shines through.

10 - Do you have a home in Second Life? Or take off and leave you was that?
Yep, the New Sweden (SLurl) - Puff's place in New Sweden "- Welcome anytime. Even when I'm not at home!

11 - Imagine you are faced with a newbie who asks for your help. What to do? What would you tell her / him?

I always help newbies. Usually it is people who need help finding a shape and skin and then I usually help them both to look sometimes, but also financially, if they are nice. Usually newbies have no money. Then I usually take them with me around and show what can be done. But y'all knows that? Hehe I usually dump them on "rajraj" (a swedish party place I might add for you who don't know) eventually;))

12 - What do you miss the Swedish collective / What would you like / What would you like to help with?

I of course will help with my small place. Actually, I think Swedish community has just about everything.

13 - Looking for something special in Second Life?

Friends, social contacts ... knowledge about the world and its inhabitants.

14 - How would you describe yourself in one word?

Frisky ....

Name of Second Life: Puff Klang .... etc...

Born / came into Second Life: 5/12/2008

Blog: 'Puff Klangs own blog "

SLurls ".. home Puffs place in New Sweden "

Thank you Puff for wanting to contribute and talk about your exciting Second Life. I liked the parts about your development very much - well aware of that - things evolve - yes, even though some experiences are not always the most fun, the nice one wins!

To help is another thing that is important in Second Life (yes also IRL) ... one thing that is wonderful too.
/ Tina

Need a new home?

As y'all know, I moved in on a beautiful sim called New Sweden.

This is what my landlord sent me in a group notice:

If you tell your friends that you live on the best sim in Second life and they say "yeah right", then show them the picture in this notice. Its kinda good
Damn, i also wanna live on NS :D

Ofcourse I will be happy to comply :)

And here you go, my own pictures too, of my own parcel there. You've seen them before I'm sure ;) Will you be my new neighbour? I love ppl in general and my parcel is open to anyone, even if I'm not there. Welcome! http://slurl.com/secondlife/New%20Sweden/164/110/22

Light heart

I am blessed. I am blessed with good friends. Friends that help me when I'm down, and laughs with me when I'm... well, the way I usually am, lol.

Friends are important! Never forget that!

HUGS to all my friends!

And btw.. I'm up now ;))

Concert at Roslagen

I went to this concert yesterday, not expecting much. But as the picky critic I am, I was really surprized by the quality of these performers! Tamra Sands was singing and what a voice! I loved the reportoar too. I am a sucker for power ballads and musicals as you may know...

There were more people on the sim than the performers had ever seen before. At one time there was about 89 avatars!! Wich sais quite a lot about the swedish community accually. We stick together for some reason.... As you can see it was really hard to take pictures.... (btw, look at my new strict look! I'm very platonic these days ^^)


At First there was only Tamra singing with some background music (did she play the guitarr her self?) But after a while Xander Nichting came through from the other side of the pond and they streamed together -her on voice and him on voilin. Amazing. Wonderful. Astonishing. I'm out of words in english.... Fantastiskt! Underbart! Rörande! Känslosamt!


I crashed a lot during the evening. But after a reboot of my PC I could accually see something. That's when I started to take these pictures. The best one dissapeared in yet another crash though -the one that showed the singer herself.


After she was done, Xander played some himself and then he was joined by a pianist who was really great too. Zachh Cale. Unfortunately I didn't stay long after this because bed was calling, but I stayed long enough to get impressed. Again!

read more (in swedish) here: http://tinasuniversum.blogspot.com/2009/11/det-ar-alltid-lite-extra-mycket.html

New: Bailarin sent me some more pictures:

Working!

I wish I had time.... or... I wish I had a laptop and a mobile internet that could support SL. Then I could be with y'all all night long :)). But I don't, so I won't be online much for a couple of days. Sorry. Really.

The Beauty of Second Life

Never forget the thing that makes Second life so good. Every day is an opportunity to meet a new friend. A friend from the other side of the world or the other side of the street. A friend you will never see face to face, but still have a fulfilling friendship with, or a friend that you will incorporate into your first life as a neighbour or a new "I invite you for family dinner"-friend.

The thing is; every day is a new day in second life. You are never "stuck" with the same old friends from highschool or your old worn out relatives. You can just go out there, check some place where there seem to be a gathering of avatars and start chatting. You can shout from a rooftop "I want a new friend today!!!!" or sneak up on someone and wisper "I need a friend".

Some friends will last a life time, some friends fulfill a temporary need you have, some friends come and go and then come back again. In Second life you can't have too high demands on people; you never know how their first life is. And lets face it; second life is accually second. It has to stand back when needed. For example when the body needs some food ;))

Just a thaught I've had in my mind for a few days. So get out there, make new friends!!

Time out

I am dealing with issues in my first life. That's why I am not online as much anymore. And when I am online, I don't wanna deal with anymore drama or anything else than light hearted socialization and detached gossip.

So I appologise if i seem shallow and ignore deep conversations. I just can't handle that right now. And I really don't wanna get into my 1stlife issues either.

That's all I am gonna say about it.

my new home

I'm hardly ever there, but my new home is open to everyone. And when i am there I want company, so just scootch on over, will ya? I'm way too tired to write anything more, i let the pictures talk for themselves.

OH, btw, there are sleeping bags for those who want to spend the night!

curious

I'm very curious about my followers list.... there are new ppl in it that I don't think I've met before! So cool! I thank all that are reading my wierd little blog, I am surprized, and honoured :)

I surprised myself...!

OK, this is what happened: I started working irl more and more and more. I didn't have much time for SL. I told myself: there is no reason for me to pay for my land anymore, I'm never there anyway.

So, I payed next moths rent, and notified the sim owner I was leaving. A sigh of relief came over my lips, allthough I do have great memories from there. It is a great place and if you are looking for a place where you can have some privacy, yet beautiful scenery, IM me online and I'll hook you up with the sim owner. She's very good and helps out a lot.

Anyway. Only a day after that was done, I came across this place called New Sweden, and fell in love!! I don't know how it happened, I think I blacked out, because now, all of a sudden, I'm a tenant! Only for a few weeks to start with, we'll see what happens...

What I love with the place is that it is very swedish, and feels comfortable for me, and also there are a lot of swedes around. I miss that from the old "second sweden" and now I really want to get ppl come hang out with me. This place will not be private, but a hangout place if you will. I even built two hideous benches we can sit on!

I think we all have been looking for a swedish meetingplace since second sweden died on us. There has been a few places that has competed about the honour to be that place. Many good ones, but it hasn't really happened... not that I noticed anyway. Maybe we just wasn't ready for it. This place though, has this feeling to it, cant discribe it, but it really has "IT". I think this is the place! These three sims will fill the gap. I think so. Don't you?

AND,I have pic-nic-baskets with coffe and cookies for these who prefer that!

I really miss being social with you guys! Come hang out with me..... if I'm ever online, LOL. And btw, you can hang there even if I'm not ^^ Non-sweds are welcome too, ofcourse!

http://slurl.com/secondlife/New%20Sweden/146/111/22 <--- my parcel ;)

More pictures from yesterday

jammin

SaveMe Oh wanted to party with her african friends. Or "old african Hippies" as she said, haha!

Allen Kayor high on music.

Artemisia going incognito.

And this... golden chambre of the heart.... at paulettes place.

A story found under the baobab tree at Africa Live!

" Why the Turtle Has its shell in pieces?

Legend of Burkina Fasso

Listen!

For a million years, the turtle had a shell smooth like the skin of a drum.

One day the king of the clouds invited all the animals of the savannah. Gossip turtle was invited. The Day, all animals jostled.

"How do we get to the kingdom of the king of clouds.?"

Leo the giraffe said: "I am clever, I ask my friend the bird to take me there."

The turtle is joined in the discussion: "Me, the turtle, I'll jump to the kingdom." The giraffe and the lion was mocking him and said: "We'll see if you can!"

At the festival, each animal rode on the neck of a bird to fly to the clouds in the heaven. Compeer turtle took a moment and jumped. It went very high, but after a while it fell on its back and cracked its shell. That's why turtles have their shells in pieces! I put the story where I found it. "

Imagining in the clouds of africa

For those of you who missed Szavannahs speach, here you go.... you can almost pretend you were there ;)


OpenCafe Talk

SLIDE 1. OpenCafe Intro

***************************

Greetings all - I am Szavanna - ( or just Sza :)I am going to tell you about a small African project called the Opencafe. I built a small cafe here - to give you an idea what I am going to talk about so please look around here in our OpenCafe – the info on the walls and everything else in the cafe will explain about the projects we have been busy with.

I will will also show you slides to my right – please read them as we go along.

The cafe started back in 2001 and since then we have taken part in many different open source and open content initiatives ( both offline and online) and we also experimented with all types of fun projects along the way.

Just to give you a quick idea : the cafe runs on Ubuntu Linux, the open source operating system, you can also get your own copy of Ubuntu at the cafe. We have taken part in science projects, art initiatives, we have taught computer skills to help manage local NGOs, we have also built a solar oven, did some jamming and firedancing too ...
and since the beginning of 2008 the OpenCafe is around in Second Life as well ...
- mainly as the building school called OpenBuilding - that provides free building classes and building materials to all those new to building.

I will tell you more about this school later on.

Just like Junivers's lyrics and John Lennon's Imagine suggests - the Imagine festival is about awareness, about freedom to grow and learn new things, create the type of world we want live in.

The OpenCafe has been such a project - it helped me learn new things and grow in many ways - and I will try to explain what I mean by this exactly.

*********END IF INTRO**************************


SLIDE 2 - BUILDING OPEN COMMUNITIES

Looking back after having done various online and offline projects - I find that the word "open" in the name OpenCafe has meant so many different things ) those that have been using these open technologies will probably know exactly what I am trying to say:
- opensource software - open source project culture- open content – content that is open for all to use, modify and share ( tutorials, lesson plans, poetry, music, videos, and more published under open licenses )-innovation-improvisation- cultural fusion - be open to share about your culture and ready to get to know others- as in jazz - freely evolving and accepting change as a natural part of the projects

*************************************************************

SLIDE 3 - UBUNTU

> Meaning of Ubuntu
Ubuntu is an important word in the cafe - not only because we are using Ubuntu Linux to run the internet cafe but also because we try to base all that we do - on the African concept of Ubuntu.

Talking about Ubuntu ( both the operating system or the African concept ) I feel is not the real thing – better do it :)
- but I will try to explain a bit what the concept means to many here in Africa.
Some words that people mention when talking about Ubuntu :

> Sharing

> Respect

> Helpfulness

> Care

> Trust

> Unselfishness

> Community

The short definition many mention is : “I am because we are”.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu's definition of Ubuntu is :

“A person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed. “

I am going to ask you to watch a short 2 minute video in which Nelson Mandela explains about Ubuntu. This video is included in all copies of Ubuntu Linux – that is how I discovered it.

The link to the video is :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODQ4WiDsEBQ

I will type his words here – since the video is not very good quality – please read if you have problems understanding his words :

" In the old days, a traveler who stopped at a village, he didn't have to ask for food or for water. Once he stopped - The people gave him food and entertained him.That is one aspect of Ubuntu - but it would have various aspects.

Ubuntu doesn't mean that people should not enrich themselves, the question therefore is - are you going to do so in order to enable the community around you to be able to improve.
These are the important things in life and if we have done this - we have done something very important which will be appreciated."
Did you all manage to see the video?

*************************************

SLIDE 4 - WHAT IS THE OPENCAFE

> A small open source internet cafe> A small neighborhood project> Experimental place for testing open tools> A place for discussions> A way of life> Online and Offline
Project culture.Through setting up and running the cafe we learned about the process open source projects are run by and started using those ideas in everything else we did.
This meant that we shared most materials we worked with -with everyone else, it meant that we often created an online space for the project as well – and started working with others around the world on ideas.

It also became part of the process to regularly review results and looked at everything as a work in progress – there is always room for improvement.
Let's have a look at some of the projects we have been involved in so that you can get a better idea about the type of projects we like to work on.

*************************************

SLIDE 5 - PROJECT 1 - FREEDOM TOASTER

The OpenCafe was one of the first 5 locations that received a toaster in South Africa in 2005 - from the Shuttleworth Foundation.
Freedom Toasters are conveniently located, self-contained, computer-based, 'Bring 'n Burn' facilities.

Like vending machines, Freedom Toasters are preloaded to dispense free digital products, including software, photography, music and literature.
The Freedom Toaster project began as a means of overcoming the difficulty in getting Linux and Open Source software - since connections in Africa are many times poor quality and most still have no Internet access at all.

The cafe was a good location for the toaster
- since it is also important to have someone nearby to explain a bit about the software and other material available through the toaster
- and in the cafe people could also test Linux before they made their own copies.

**********************************

SLIDE 6 - PROJECT 2 - SUPPORTING ARTISTS
The cafe has been supporting local artist for a few years - this support includes any help the artist needs while he/she is busy using computers, or the NET to make their art works digitally available.
Support might range from just scanning in paintings to setting up a blog or site or even help publish a book.
We have also worked with a few artists from different African countries and from the US.

************************************

SLIDE 7 - PROJECT 3 - BEAUTIFUL AFRICA BLOG

The Beautiful Africa blog carnival project was running for a year with the help of 3 bloggers living in Africa - Esther in Niger, Loomnie in Nigeria and me - we searched the NET for interesting posts about Africa and once a month we posted a collection that included stories, poetry, music - it's a nice blog to visit - and is still available at :
http://belleafrique.blogspot.com/.

I am going to tell you about this fun project a little later.

These are just a few of the many things the cafe was involved in - at the moment in RL we are working with a group of local singers - and teach them how to use Facebook, Myspace and create their own website to market themselves.

SLIDE 8 - OpenCafe in SL***************************

Second Life seemed very interesting from the beginning from the "opencafe point of view :)
and I decided to see how I could make it part of the OpenCafe's projects.
I was given free space at the Non Profit Commons to introduce my little initiative and so the cafe's second life has started in early 2008.

I have realised that SL is a great community to experiment with these open concepts
- so after spending some time learning teaching - I was able to open the OpenBuilding school on Illinois State University's Geo Island - where we have free classes - all training materials are free as well.

The school is firstly there to teach basic building skills.

Apart from this - we also focus on introducing builders to African traditions - since our classbuilds are often inspired by African topics- and during class - we spend time telling students about the story behind each build.

You can buy some of these step by step tutorials for 0L - they are right next to me here in the festival's OpenCafe build.

THE END******************************************

Pirate Party at Fride Club and Lounge... and Pirate Ship!

I went to a pirate party.... as usual i couldnt decide what to wear so I changed during the night.

Couldn't beat Zigadena though, she was undesputibly the pirate queen....

Then i found this old photography lying around of Apmel in his glory days..... I guess he just stepped out from the filming of "Love Boat" or a casting for Village People.

I manipulated the photo to easier see what was on it, here's the result: