About St. Patrick's Day- Debby Sharma Reporting...

credit: Google search

Saint Patrick's Day  (Feast of Saint Patrick or the Day of the Festival of Patrick), is a religious festival celebrated on March 17th; on the date of the death of Saint Patrick who was considered to be the foremost patron Saint of Ireland. The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland.

It is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat. St. Patrick’s day is also widely celebrated in the United States, Great Britain, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand.

In 17th century, this day was made an official Christian feast day by the Catholic Church. Celebrations include public parades, festivals, and the wearing of green, shamrocks and a whole lot of drinking! The celebration became popular after the Lenten restrictions on eating and consumption of alcohol was lifted.

According to the Declaration, believed to be allegedly written by Patrick, the Saint was a 5th-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. It is believed that he was born in Roman Britain in the fourth century, into a wealthy family.

His father was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest in the Christian church. At the age of sixteen, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Gaelic Ireland. Spending six years there and working as a shepherd, according to the Declaration that during this time he "found God". And that God told him to flee to the coast, where a ship would be waiting to take him home.

After making his way home, Patrick went on to become a priest to convert the pagan Irish to Christianity.

During this period, for many centuries many legends grew up around Patrick and he became Ireland’s foremost Saint. These days efforts are made to use the Irish language, especially in Ireland as this week is The week of St. Patrick’s day.

Customarily, on this day, people either wear green clothing or wear shamrocks. St Patrick is said to have used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish pagan.

Photo Credits: https://www.stthomasaquinaschurch.org

The colour has been associated with Ireland since at least the 1640s. It has been associated  when the green harp flag was used by the Irish Catholic Confederation. Green ribbons and shamrocks have been worn on St Patrick's Day since at least the 1680’s.

During the 1790s, green had become associated with Irish nationalism, due to its use by the United Irishmen (was a republican organisation led mostly by Protestants and with many Catholic members  who launched a rebellion in 1798 against British rule). The phrase "wearing of the green" comes from a song of the same name (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wearing_of_the_Green), which laments United Irishmen supporters being persecuted for wearing green. Ever since then, throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the colour and its association grew in popularity.

Photography Credits: wikipedia.org

The wearing of the 'St Patrick's Day Cross' was also a popular custom in Ireland until the early 20th century. These were a Celtic Christian cross made of paper that was "covered with silk or ribbon of different colours, and a bunch or rosette of green silk in the centre.

The week of Saint Patrick’s day in Second Life is celebrated with lot of enthusiasm. We all love to dress and make our own fashion statement. Designer’s across the grid make outfits and accessories to suit this occasion. Parties and contests are held in various clubs, cafes and other public areas.

This year’s designer items to celebrate the day:

Photography Credits: Marketplace

Luxe Paris http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Magnum%20Spirit/73/90/27 and in http://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/115804

Photography Credits: Marketplace

Posh Pixels https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/128092

Photography Credits: Marketplace

Sweet Tots https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/44708

Other designer items that can be bought at the market place. If one searches at the market place with the keywords St. Patrick’s day, one could find a series of new items sold for women, children and men. Here is the link. https://marketplace.secondlife.com/products/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search%5Blayout%5D=gallery&search%5Bcategory_id%5D=3&search%5Bsort%5D=created_at_desc&search%5Bper_page%5D=96&search%5Bkeywords%5D=St.+Patrick&search%5Bprice_low%5D=&search%5Bprice_high%5D=&search%5Bprim_count_low%5D=&search%5Bprim_count_high%5D=&search%5Bcopy_permission%5D=0&search%5Bmodify_permission%5D=0&search%5Btransfer_permission%5D=0

Party materials for this special day can be bought at:

Fair Play designs http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Joiner/244/41/33?title=Fairplay

ASD Holiday Market http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/ASD%20Studios/244/65/27

Landmarks to parties and contests are as follows:

Party with DJ Lad Bloom at the Lousy Dragon at 12 noon http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Chief/81/196/106?title=St%20Patrick%27s%20Day%20Celabration,%20Party%20with%20DJ%20Lad%20Bloom

Russel Epponym live at Chateau ce Soir at 2:00pm

Moshang Zhao at 7:00pm at Chateau ce Soir http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Ce%20Soir/164/137/32?title=RUSSELL%20EPONYM%20-%2090%20Minutes%20LIVE%20on%20St.%20Patrick%27s%20Day%20at%20Chateau%20Ce%20Soir%20-%202%20PM%20SLT

DJ Zanne at Dusty Wanderer Pub at 6:00pm with L$500 for split in contest board. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Dusty%20Heights/140/116/2021?title=500L%20SPLIT%20ST.%20PAT%27S%20PARTY%20W/%20DJ%20ZANNE%20@%20DUSTY%20WANDERER%20PUB

BBalls Irish Xtravaganza at Greased Lightning for Relay for Life of Second Life at 3:00pm

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Greased%20Lightning/58/176/22?title=BBalls%20Irish%20Xtravaganza@%20Greased%20Lightning%20for%20RFL%20of%20SecondLife

Credits: Google images

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Avie Poll: Which Prim Baby is Popular and Why?- Debby Sharma Reporting...

Photography Credits: 4m my Eyes

Lisa Weeden said, “Being a family means you are part of something wonderful. It means you will love and be loved for the rest of your life”.  

Virtual families are no less, less bonded. VR families have parents, grand parents, god parents, uncles and aunts; an array of sometimes annoying cousins and next to kin like brothers and sisters who share a bond, not by blood but by sheer love. Love is bond that makes them stronger than any other bond; which am sure you sure you will agree too. Families can either be made up of members who are real people behind avatars, roleplaying to be child, toddler, baby, teenager or even an adult; or prim babies created by residents to make the family roleplaying more realistic and fun.

There are a number of prim babies ranging from interactive babies, wandering babies to non-interactive babies. The following are a few examples under each category:(*Note:The prices mentioned are only for the babies. The nursery items are not included. It also excludes the things that baby needs like the diaper bag, bottles, diapers, baby bath, etc.)

Interactive babies:

• Zoobys = L$ 5000
• Lyuboff =  L$ 699 (new born) L$1999 (age 8 to 36 months)
• Funsies = L$ 2500
• Baby Tatu = L$ 3000 (previous version) L$ 900 (Lite version)
• PooterBilt = L$ 1000
• Sexy Mamas = L$ 3000
• Latin Babies = L$5000

Non-Interactive babies:

• Prim baby = L$ 300 (this is the hospital charges only)
• Kitten Krescendo = Free
• Googoo Babies = L$ 1599
• Sexy Mamas = L$ 700

Wandering babies:

• Spumelogy Studio

A few adoption centers have their own prim babies like Baby mania (https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/71359). The adoption centers may choose the kind of baby they deliver, however, the parent/s may switch the baby they would like to have before delivery.

The next big question is which to adapt or have. This decision purely rests on you. But if you are going to decide by which is the most popular, here are a few opinion polls. The questions asked were:

1. Which is their most favorite prim baby or which prim baby according to them is the most popular and why?Do they have it?
2. Would they prefer a baby avatar (an actual person role playing behind the avatar as a  kid) or a prim baby (the one made of mesh or prim)?
3. At what age do you think, one should adopt a baby avatar for a complete family roleplay experience?

Photography Credits: Facebook

Joycieselphie Larimore: I think it's the Zooby's because for me it looks more realistic. I can feel like a parent and it looks cute too. Yes, I have one. I would like a prim baby because I don't like an adult person portraying a baby. In Zooby', I love their script as they can grow and it is always available when I want them to be with me. I want to take care of them and see them grow. I don't need a baby who can talk. Prim babies are more realistic for me if I can see them just crawling and play with blocks. As of now, I don't see any prim baby that are much better than Zooby'. Maybe if I find one then why not try it too.

Photography Credits: Facebook

Radiance Snowpaw: Oh goodness, I honestly have no clue with that one. I think Toodoodle is a prim baby right? I'm not up to date with the SL prim/mesh babies. I don't, I think I had one like 4 or 5 years ago but I honestly don't remember where I got it from. I've just recently come back to SL on a full time basis so prim and/or avi babies will be in my future. I think you should be at least a year into SL before you even think about starting a SL family. I think that's enough time to really get to know what SL is about and get a feel for the people you're hanging with.

Photography Credits: Facebook

Shalanie Tann: I like the Zooby's and I think it is the most popular because it is the most realistic baby in roleplaying experience. Zooby babies work with a large variety of babies also. For me, I want baby avataria because I want to interact with the baby; talk, play, feel the love that he or she can give to me. It is fun and more real. The toddler is a cute age to adapt. In my other alt account, my live-in partner already had a prim baby before we met.

Photography Credits: Facebook

Srikandi Lennier: I think on-duty is popular among prim babies because it's cheap. I would prefer a baby avatar cause we can interact and it would feel more real. Among prim babies, I like the Zooby, others I don't know. I only have 2 on-duty and zooby babies. I think the right age to adapt is from first born. It is wonderful.

Photography Credits: TheGridWorld Resident

TheGridWorld: My favorite among prim babies are the Zooby and the Lyuboff. Although, I think, I like Zooby better as I think they are cute. I do not have a baby yet but in future I think I will like to have a Zooby newborn. The age to have a baby avatar would be when the Zooby has reached it’s maximum age and I would like the baby to grow, talk and move on with life and have a family of her own. I guess, I like to have son-in-laws and daughter-in-laws too.

Among, the number of babies that have been developed over the years by awesome creators, Zooby by far has won almost every heart. In the words of Carrie Tatsu, the creator, from an interview I had taken for my blog, 4m my Eyes (http://4m-my-eyes.blogspot.in/2014/09/behind-scenes-success-story-of-zoobys.html), she said, "I think our success was due to the babies functionality and its development over time. We never forced anyone to pay to grow their baby, but if they cared for their baby, it would grow and learn and earn tokens for free toys. So the incentive was if the owner did these things then a reward was provided." Not only among the customers/ end users for its interactivity, Zooby' have grabbed the market of the sellers selling clothing, furniture and accessories for zooby babies. As Carrie Tatsu, points out, that it is impossible for a single creator-cum-seller to meet the increasing demands in the market. This is where the residents who are also the sellers come in selling and providing wide range of options for clothing, furniture and accessories for the end users. Eventually, it all sums up and helps it in making it popular.

Irrespective, of people selecting, prim babies or baby avatar, one thing is constant, the look and the interactivity between them and the baby is very crucial to everyone. It is that, that makes virtual living and experience with a baby, more real and close to the heart for families across the grid.

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Meditation vs Anxiety and Depression- Interview with Linda Lauren- Debby Sharma Reporting…

Image borrowed from placeofpersistence.com

Love- betrayal, work- stress, need- want and others like, anger, depression, loneliness etc. have tied us today to a bond when happiness seems scarce, peace is rare, love is a miracle and we are all haunted by fear of the unknown.

Anxiety is a “feeling of worry, nervousness or unease about something with an uncertain outcome”. Depression is “feelings of severe despondency and rejection”.

People feel anxiety or depression when they lost a loved one, got fired from a job, divorced or experienced other major life changing issues. This is a natural human reaction. But some people feel depression or anxiety almost every day of their life for no apparent reason, leaving them with difficulty to carry out day to day activities of a normal life.

A phase in life when a person feels hopeless, sad, unmotivated etc; But if this phase continues more than 2 weeks affecting their daily lives, it is a major depression, but a treatable illness.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, “At any point in time, 3% to 5% of people suffer from major depression, the lifetime risk is about 17% ” Depression and anxiety disorders are not the same. However, people with depression disorder may show symptoms of anxiety disorders like nervousness, irritability, problems sleeping and concentration. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, “Many people who develop depression have a history of an anxiety disorder earlier in life. There is no evidence one disorder causes the other, but there is clear evidence that many people suffer from both disorders.”

Meditation is a state of deep peace with oneself; a mind aware of their surroundings and peace within itself; a state free from agitation; It is difficult and very rarely possible to not think anything at any point of time. Hence, a time when you are listening to the sounds of nature and listening to your soul, you are at peace.

Like a computer system which needs to be shut down after processes, so does our mind. This article on how meditation affects your brain is scientifically proven. 

Resource: https://blog.bufferapp.com/how-meditation-affects-your-brain

Resource: https://outwittrade.com/meditation-benefits-and-stories

Using the MRI scans, scientists are able to understand the activities of the brain before and after meditation. The Beta waves  show reduced frequencies after meditation of 20 minutes.

Photography Credits: Linda Lauren

Linda Lauren, is a 4th Generation Psychic Medium who owns and operates Linda Lauren’s Embracing The Universe in Mountainside, NJ. She has been a professional psychic since consulting with law enforcement in a murder investigation dating back to 1978. She is also a Color and Energy Consultant. She has been featured in various journals, magazines, TV shows like Buzzfeed.com, CNN, ABC-TV Nightline, Fox and Friends, Vice.com, The Nightly News with Chuck Scarborough on NBC New York, HuffPost Live, Better TV, WPIX, Open House NYC, in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, New York Post, People Pets, A&U magazine, The Daily News, Hamptons magazine, The Star Ledger, and the Chicago Tribune. It was a privilege to know her and ask her a few questions. Here are her answers to the secrets of meditation.

Debby Sharma: What is meditation? How and why is it done? Does meditation mean to concentrate on one object (focused attention), or not to think at all or to let the emotions flow?

Linda Lauren: Meditation refers to a variety of practices that includes techniques to promote relaxation and healing so that one can deal with life and unhealthy stress.  It allows us to respond with reason, rather than react with emotion. Meditation is the simple act of slowly breathing in and out with your own body rhythm. People meditate for the purpose of quieting the mind so that one can think more clearly from a relaxed place. There are two types of meditation: active and passive.  In active you are listening to a certain sound or focusing on an issue or an object. In passive meditation you are allowing things to just come to you while you sit and breathe in silence.

Debby Sharma: What are the common problems that people come to you in Second Life for help or for counseling? Are these much different from the real life? Could you please share the percentage of people coming to you for help in anxiety or depression?

Linda Lauren: Many people come for a session with me in Second Life because they have lost a loved one and are trying to deal with life without that person.  Grief is the number one issue that I help people with in SL and that is not much different than in real life. I would say that perhaps 55% come for anxiety or depression.

Debby Sharma: What do you think causes such problems?

Linda Lauren: The everyday stress of life, such as work, relationships, world news, etc. may cause depression and anxiety.

Debby Sharma: What are the other problems that can be cured via meditation other than anxiety and depression?

Linda Lauren: There are a host of other issues that meditation can assist with and these are just a few: it lowers blood pressure, add more hours to your day, increase your attention, control anger, reduces aging and can help you get a good night’s sleep.

Debby Sharma: What is the difference between meditation and self-hypnotism? Is there any possibility that one may move from meditation to self-hypnotism? If that happens, how can one keep oneself under check?

Linda Lauren: Meditation is used to quiet the mind. Hypnosis is used to program the mind. Both meditation and hypnosis use similar relaxation techniques to achieve the relaxation response.  Self-hypnosis is not necessarily done without a hypnotherapist’s assistance, even though a person is going to practice it eventually alone.  There should always be a guide to assist in hypnotherapy.  Meditation, the guidance is more universal and can be taught and guided but then you can continue on your own.  In many ways, meditation is done more via the self than hypnotherapy.

Photography Credits: Linda Lauren

Debby Sharma: Can relaxing and exploring in Second Life or other virtual worlds help people in almost the same manner as meditation?

Linda Lauren: At this time, I do not promote other worlds, only the virtual world of Second Life. There is nothing out there that is better in terms of community.  That said, yes, relaxing and exploring in Second life does help.

Debby Sharma: What do you think was the reason for the development of the process of mediation ages ago? How much importance do you think does it play today? In our busy life, when we all are running for the Golden cup, how do you suggest one must try to be stress free?

Linda Lauren: These questions would require too much of an in-depth answer to be able to shorten it.  So I will say this: Meditation is the key to a happy, productive, relaxed life that helps us to enjoy our relationships, our work and our day to day travels.  I would suggest that if you are serious about those things, then meditate to open your day and meditate to close it.  Twenty minutes in the morning and twenty minutes at night is all you need to sustain a well-balanced persona of spirit. 

About Linda Lauren:

WEB SITE: http://LindaLauren.com

FB PAGES:
https://www.facebook.com/EmbracingTheMetaverse/
http://www.facebook.com/LindaLauren

SECOND LIFE URL FOR ETU ABBRRACCIARE – Landmark: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Etu%20Abbracciare/121/96/43

Reference links:

Anxiety and Depression Association of America: http://www.adaa.org/

https://blog.bufferapp.com/how-meditation-affects-your-brain

Please Note:

*The information expressed in this article are opinions only and not professional medical advice. If you think you are suffering from depression or anxiety there are resources available that can help you. Speak to your doctor or reach out to your local church for available resources in your area. You are not alone.

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2015 Thanksgiving in Second Life- Debby Sharma Reporting...

Thanksgiving Day is a day to give thanks for the blessing of the harvest and the preceding year.

It is a National Holiday in Canada and the United States. In Canada it is celebrated on the second Monday of October, while in the United States, it is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. Apart from Canada and the United States, it is observed in Liberia [1^st Thursday in November], Grenada, Saint Lucia [1st Monday in October], Norfolk Island (Australia) [Last Wednesday in November], Puerto Rico, Leiden, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany [early October as Erntedankfest] and Japan [November 23^rd as Labor Thanksgiving Day]. Being a secular festival, it is also celebrated by a few who follow Judaism.

The origin of the festival in the United States has been debated upon for decades. The debate is often confused between the Thanksgiving Service and Thanksgiving Holiday Celebration. Some claim that the Thanksgiving religious service was celebrated by the Spanish on September 8th, 1565 in Saint Augustine, Florida- which was codified in the founding charter of Berkeley Hundred in Charles City County, Virginia in 1619. 

Others believe that the true origin came from England, when the Pilgrims and Puritans emigrated in 1620s and 1630s who followed a tradition of Days of Fasting and Thanksgiving for the providence. However, later in December 26^th, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a joint resolution of Congress changing the national Thanksgiving Day from Last Thursday in November to the Fourth Thursday.

In United Kingdom, the harvest festival of Thanksgiving does not have an official date. It is observed on or near the Sunday of the harvest moon that occurs closest to the autumnal equinox.

This secular festival is celebrated with singing, praying and decorating baskets of food and fruit to celebrate a successful harvest. The collections of food are usually held which are later given to local charities to help the homeless and needy.  Harvest Dinners and parades are common in Germany. In some places family dinners are common.

In Second Life, residents celebrate Thanksgiving either by partying at clubs, participating in hunts,  dressing up like a turkey, gifting each other and participating in an interactive parade among other things. Here are a few landmarks and events you would not like to miss on Thanksgiving Day.

Gifts

Photography Credits: Official Facebook page of Chez Moi

By Chez Moi – Win L$ and Gift cards for 3 lucky winners chosen in random order.  Click the link to like their page and the post. Don’t forget to comment your legacy name. https://www.facebook.com/chezmoifurnituressl/photos/a.420834604641549.96576.399377730120570/978775052180832/?type=3&fref=nf

Hunts

Source: Second Life Destination Guide

The Jerky Turkey Hunt already made it to the Destination Guide. One is required to find the feathers of the Turkey. The hunt items range from Thanks giving to Fall items. Landmark: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Brewery/126/192/21

Thanksgiving Turkey Hunt at The Magnificent Cat. There are 10 turkeys to look for at the store and skybox. Some give thank giving hunt items and others give L$. Landmark: http://secondlife:///app/region/Shocking%20Blue/17/161/22

Marketplace

Source: Second Life Market Place.

There are many items for sale especially for Thanksgiving like home décor, clothing, shoulder pets etc. Here is the link to browse the products. https://marketplace.secondlife.com/products/search?search%5Bcategory_id%5D=301&utm_source=Marketplace&utm_medium=Banner&utm_campaign=ThanksgivingFeast_2015

Parade

Macy’ Famous Thanks giving Parade will be held at Rockefeller Plaza New York City Skating Rink. It is an interactive parade which means people are invited to bring floats with animations where audience can sit or animate themselves on each float giving them a photography opportunity. It is a one and half hour event with 95 floats which started on 15^th November and run through till 26^th November, 2015. Landmark: http://secondlife:///app/region/Tombstone%20Winslow/215/205/2042

Club Events

All evening celebrations with music and dancing starting at 5:00 pm; one can dress in formal or casual at Foxxies Romantic Jazz Club Dancing, Elegant Ballroom and Gardens on Foxxies. Landmark: http://secondlife:///app/region/Foxxies/218/132/22 

Club Carnage will host a 12 hours Thanksgiving party for family and friends. Landmark: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Young/194/218/40?title=CarnageThanksgiving%20@%20Club%20Carnage. There will also be a dinner party starting at 7:00pm. Everyone is invited to join in their formals as the turkey is served. Landmark: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Flagg/179/147/1002  

Party at Mamaroos from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on 26^th November, 2015 will be celebrating thanksgiving with friends and fans of the club. Landmark: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Temptation%20dAlliez/161/193/23

Insatiable [A] will have a party from 6:00pm for an hour to celebrate Thanksgiving and honour Black Friday. Landmark: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Carrabella/219/212/23

The Dusty Wanderer Put at Dusty Heights will have a contest starting at 6:00 pm for 2 hours with 1000L$ on the board {Split}. Landmark: http://secondlife:///app/region/Dusty%20Heights/141/116/2021

Open Mic

Open Mic for 4 hours at The Sound District starting at 7:00 pm. It is requested to come dressed in attire appropriate for a Thanksgiving Dinner. Landmark: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Moonfall%20Secrets/233/222/22

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