2010.10.06 07:00 - Building Communities of Friendliness

The Guardian for this meeting was Bruce Mowbray. The comments are by Bruce Mowbray.  Present were Arch, Bertram, Alfred, and druth (as a white walrus).

Bruce Mowbray: Good morning, Arch.
Bruce Mowbray: and Koya.
Archmage Atlantis: Good morning, Bruce & Blub :)
Archmage Atlantis: Losing my faster connection has really slowed SL down for me
Bruce Mowbray: How did you lose it, Arch?
Alfred Kelberry: oi :)
Bruce Mowbray: Oi, Alfred.
Alfred Kelberry: i hope you'll find whatever you lost, archy :)
Archmage Atlantis: Fell asleep, woke up and knocked over laptop stand and shattered the U
Alfred Kelberry: Bruce?! what happened?
Archmage Atlantis: USB connection
Alfred Kelberry: where did your NY shirt go?!
Archmage Atlantis: Hi, Bruce
Archmage Atlantis: I mean, Hi, Alfred
Alfred Kelberry: :)
Bruce Mowbray: Gosh.
Archmage Atlantis: Slow neurons
Bruce Mowbray: I've changed my shirt a few times, Al.
Alfred Kelberry: ok, just checking :)
Bruce Mowbray: I've found that several things influence my speed in SL --
Bruce Mowbray: using a computer with a faster graphics card, whether I'm using wi-fi (in town) or satellite (on the farm), etc.
Alfred Kelberry: IMs? :)
Bruce Mowbray: even the weather.

Alfred Kelberry: oh, must be nice on a farm
Bruce Mowbray: and how much coffee I've drunk that day.
Archmage Atlantis: Me too Bruce, but this was immediate change once the part was broken.....
Archmage Atlantis: It was an N, and the built-in is a G
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, like taking a hammer to the thing. . . so, it would be a big expense to have it replaced, then?
Archmage Atlantis: Not in the past, no, about $60, but now every penney counts
Bruce Mowbray: Indeed, I DO understand that. . . (!)
Bruce Mowbray: Good morning, Edwnly.
Alfred Kelberry: 60 to replace USB connector?
Alfred Kelberry: oi, edwn
Archmage Atlantis: I forget the part name.....it's a USB wireless connection
Bruce Mowbray: I used to use one of those -- through Sprint -- caught the signals from cell phone towers. . .    
Alfred Kelberry: ah, a wi-fi USB adapter?
Bruce Mowbray: yes, and I really did like it - but it had limited gig quota per month -- WAY too small, so I switched to satellite.
Archmage Atlantis: Yes, that's it Alfred
Alfred Kelberry: Bruce, limited... always a bummer
Archmage Atlantis: Supposedly Google is working on streaming 1000s of TV channels, so maybe they'll have something that helps

--BELL–

Alfred Kelberry: *looks at bruce's shirt*
Archmage Atlantis: I thought the cost would be down for the N adapter by now.....probably can get an off brand for less
Archmage Atlantis: Hi, druth
druth Vlodovic: hi guys
Alfred Kelberry: funny triangle, Bruce
Alfred Kelberry: oi, druth
Alfred Kelberry: um, a seal? :)
druth Vlodovic: big teeth?
Alfred Kelberry: i think you'll be comfy in the pond :)
druth Vlodovic: lol, supposed to be a walrus
Alfred Kelberry: goo goo a joo
Bruce Mowbray: Hello, Druth and Bert.
Bertram Jacobus: hi everybody
Alfred Kelberry: oi, berty
druth Vlodovic: hi bert
Alfred Kelberry: here comes Beatles again
Archmage Atlantis: Hi, Bert :)
Bertram Jacobus: :-)
Bruce Mowbray: @ Alfred -- I've been experimenting with various mandalas . . . making t-shirts of the ones I like best.
Alfred Kelberry: ah, home-made tshirt - nice :)
Alfred Kelberry: oh, wait! i'm supposed to be on a kira team meeting
Alfred Kelberry: sorry folks
druth Vlodovic: bye alfred
Bertram Jacobus: np alfred ! :-)
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, I can make t-shirts for any of you - if you give me the design, wording, and colors that you'd like.   free, of course).
Bruce Mowbray: Bye, Al!
Archmage Atlantis: Bye Alfie
Bertram Jacobus: nice idea Bruce ! ... :-)
Bertram Jacobus: you wanted to know something about the project which will happen perhaps here in Germany, dealing with - how can i call it ? ethics and age perhaps ? ;-)
Bruce Mowbray: yes, please say more, Bert.
Archmage Atlantis: How do you attach the mandala to the tee shirt, Bruce? My friend who does designs for tee shirts has to do them as a jacket layer.

(In an IM to Arch, I explained how I make t-shirts - using the standard Linden t-shirt template.)

druth Vlodovic: "ethics and age" what sort of project?
Bertram Jacobus: it looks like it will become more concrete now - but still with a quite strong aspect of Buddhism - i hope, that will become more open quickly ...
Bertram Jacobus: there shall be developed a kind of center for studies but / and also people who begin to settle down there around and build a community ...
Bertram Jacobus: ethics - sry arch ;-)
Bruce Mowbray: Is this a center for older folks, Bert?
Bertram Jacobus: not specifically
Archmage Atlantis: Then it will be in RL, Bert?
Bertram Jacobus: yes arch

--BELL–

Bertram Jacobus: but as we experience it now Bruce, there is a lack for the late part of life so to say for people who are interested in - in German we call it "spirituality" and that does not necessarily mean mystics (!) ... - There is a search how to spend and handle that period of life. and older people already signaled that some of them would be ready to move to that region or even village ...
Bertram Jacobus: oops. sry
Archmage Atlantis: Then "age" is related to the community in what way?.....Ethics I can easily understand.
Bertram Jacobus: i mean the time of retirement for example ...
Archmage Atlantis: Ok that answered the question, Bert.
Archmage Atlantis: One of my long term thoughts has been to create a community dedicated to intellectual and spiritual thought here
druth Vlodovic: it's a good time of life for it I guess, not much to do but think

(As one already retired several years, I'm sometimes so busy that I wonder how I used to find time for a full-time job.  Yet, now there is always plenty of time to do whatever I choose to do.)

Archmage Atlantis: With maybe an artists' sustainable farm with an energy component
Archmage Atlantis: Just not sure how to get going
Bertram Jacobus: i think, that would be fitting to the idea i have too, arch - and maybe we will be able to install such a place here in Germany now - would be great
Archmage Atlantis: Good point, druth.......maybe that is why humans are designed the way we are, or evolved this way
Archmage Atlantis: With a grandparent component so to speak
Bertram Jacobus: many hope so i think. and a big advantage we may have is that we have a reliable leader - who does not want to be a lonely ruling chief ...
Archmage Atlantis: That is very good start, Bert
Bertram Jacobus: yes. that helps a lot. he inspires and attracts people - really helpful, even essential may be, especially in a beginning
Archmage Atlantis: agree
Archmage Atlantis: There was an article in the news yesterday about a similar community that has been started in South America by a group, mostly from the US
Archmage Atlantis: All self-contained.....solar and hydo power produced only by the community
Archmage Atlantis: They live in tree houses "chuckle"
Bruce Mowbray: So then. if I understand, Bert is saying that a community will be established in Germany -- one that already has an inspiring leader, and that will have openings for older folks, and will be centered on ethics and spiritual work, and is ecologically sustainable...
Bertram Jacobus: yes. that's right, Bruce. we try to build such a thing ...
Bruce Mowbray: sounds great -- I'll begin studying German at once!
Archmage Atlantis: ")
Bertram Jacobus: and I'm still searcing for a fitting term : when i say in German "spiritually" - it's not a problem, at least when i explain : that means being interested in ethics, non-material values , even in religion maybe - many variations . how could one express such in English words or even in one?  Is there something?  What is it, what brings us together here?  How could i describe, name that? (!)
Bruce Mowbray: "a longing for like-minded, like-hearted community," perhaps?

--BELL–

Archmage Atlantis: A spirtual commuinity.......I understand there is no word for "spirit" in German, only body and mind......is that correct?
Bertram Jacobus: ah - i have an idea : perhaps i could simply say : Friendliness ? :-)
Bertram Jacobus: yes. in a way arch. a bit different : the word for mind and spirit is the same (!) : geist ...
Archmage Atlantis: Oh yes, I remember now.....and is there a distinction in pronounciation, or useage, to clarify which useage is meant
Bertram Jacobus: not so intense : mostly it's the context which must make that clear
Bertram Jacobus: and i have a nice idea ... may be i will be able to tell the participants of the upcoming retreat about the project. it's even not very far from there and i will go there afterwards for one or two days (!) ... ;-)
Bruce Mowbray: Great idea, Bert.
Archmage Atlantis: friendliness would not convey the distinction in English......I am friendly with the cashier at the store....but don't carry that past a pleasant greeting
Bruce Mowbray: Folks at the retreat could get a feet-on-the-ground feel for the idea and the place.
Archmage Atlantis: I like that idea also, Bert
Bruce Mowbray knows no German but wonders about "mensch-geist"
Bertram Jacobus: but when we look at that very sharp arch : isn't that so, that at that special moment you are freindly and then not anymore ? and isn't also friendliness the thing which connects us all ? ...
Bertram Jacobus: mensch - geist would be perhaps human - mind or human - spirit (?) ...
Bertram Jacobus: from where do you take that expression bruce plz ?
Bertram Jacobus: where did you get it from ?
Bruce Mowbray: I just made it up -- using the only two words I "know" in German.  ;-) !
Bertram Jacobus: ah yes okay ! :-)
Archmage Atlantis: A vital community of character
Bruce Mowbray: In English we have words like "brotherhood" "fraternity" "commaradery" "group spirit". . . . [even "empathy" and "loving-kindness" ]
Bertram Jacobus: that's all existing in german too : bruderschaft, brüderlichkeit, kameradschaft, gruppengeist ;-)
Bruce Mowbray loves "gruppengeist"!
Bertram Jacobus: :-))
Archmage Atlantis: Eine vitale Gemeinde mit Charakter
Bertram Jacobus: ja ! :-)
Bertram Jacobus: very nice - let's hope we can develop that ! ...
Bertram Jacobus: without clinging on it :-)

--BELL–

Archmage Atlantis: It translates back into English (using Google translate) as - "A vibrant community with character"
Bertram Jacobus: hehe. yes. was and is perfect German and above that a really nice expression :-)
Archmage Atlantis: Anyway, good translation of ideas is an art form in itself - especially in shorter expression
Archmage Atlantis: Well, maybe it will generate some ideas then :)
Bertram Jacobus: oh yes. and chat helps very much with that i find - especially the shortening - sometimes astonishing what is possible that way ! never knew that before ...
Archmage Atlantis: :)
Bertram Jacobus: and for sure that will be a process, as everything ...
Archmage Atlantis: Yes. it's easy to forget how long creation takes, and how quickly destruction can be done
Archmage Atlantis: Anyway, time for morning chores :)
Bertram Jacobus: "absolutely" ! *agree*
Bruce Mowbray: Thanks, Arch and Bert.
Bertram Jacobus: but i should leave now for a group foto of a sl group - they are calling intensely ... ;-)
Archmage Atlantis: Later, Bert....See ya Bruce
Archmage Atlantis: Bye
Bruce Mowbray: May you both have a geist-filled day.
Bertram Jacobus: fits ! bye bruce - you want to see the group? for a foto, arch? but they are German ... lol :o)
Bertram Jacobus: - you wanna see them ? :o)
Bruce Mowbray: Do I want to see your German group, Bert?
Bruce Mowbray: sure!
Bertram Jacobus: i don't know - it's quite profane i think ... *warning* :o)
Bruce Mowbray: That's all right!
Bruce Mowbray: np for me with that.

(Bert and Bruce fly off to Bert's German group - to pose for group photos.)