2010.08.28 13:00 - All's Mellow at PaB's Fountain of Youth

The Guardian for this meeting was Bruce Mowbray. The comments are by Bruce Mowbray.  Present were Adoro, Liza, Stevenaia, and Bertram.

Bruce Mowbray: Good afternoon, adoro.
adoro Rhapsody: hi bruce
Bruce Mowbray: Sorry, I should have said, ‘Good evening.'
adoro Rhapsody: right
adoro Rhapsody: u know my time experience
adoro Rhapsody: so i may wish u good afternoon ?
Bruce Mowbray: ;-) Is it a good night in Holland?
Bruce Mowbray: yes, it is afternoon here in Ohio.
adoro Rhapsody: here good night u may say
adoro Rhapsody: its 22.10 here
Bruce Mowbray: Ahh ... you have your voice connected today -- and I hear, perhaps, your wife?
adoro Rhapsody: ok
adoro Rhapsody: i am not aware of it
Bruce Mowbray: Yep. . . There were also some green waves over your head.
adoro Rhapsody: ok
adoro Rhapsody: i am not experienced with that
Bruce Mowbray: Hello, Stevenaia.
adoro Rhapsody: my wife just passed me a glass of wine
Bruce Mowbray: Great!
stevenaia Michinaga: hello Bruce and Adoro
adoro Rhapsody: hi stevenaia

--BELL–

Bruce Mowbray: Any topics weighing heavily on your minds tonight, folks?
Bruce Mowbray: I mean, that you'd care to talk about here, of course.
stevenaia Michinaga: it's just a beautiful afternoon here and I'm waiting for the laundry to go through its process
Bruce Mowbray: ahhhh! In order for me to do laundry, I have to drive to the nearest town -- several miles away.
Bruce Mowbray: Hello, Johny.
stevenaia Michinaga: hello Johny, care to join us?
Bruce Mowbray: We've just started this session, Johny. May I ask, have you been here before?
Bruce Mowbray: Poof! Goodbye, Johny.
stevenaia Michinaga: so to answer your question.... no, just relaxing
Bruce Mowbray: Me too, steve. Took a nice long hike with my dog and am just mellowing out now.
adoro Rhapsody: me too
stevenaia Michinaga: smiles

Adoro's birthday

adoro Rhapsody: had some visitors today for my birthday and resting out a bit
stevenaia Michinaga: awww, Happy Birthday
Bruce Mowbray: Ahh! Happy Birthday, adoro!
adoro Rhapsody: thnx
adoro Rhapsody: actually i am on 31th August
stevenaia Michinaga: (don't forget to add one year to your profile ) :)
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
adoro Rhapsody: but i celebrate it this weekend
Bruce Mowbray: great!
stevenaia Michinaga: must not misrepresent yourself here, giggles
adoro Rhapsody: ok
stevenaia Michinaga: gender is one thing, but age... never
Bruce Mowbray: In Holland, do folks celebrate birthdays with cake and candles?
adoro Rhapsody: sure
adoro Rhapsody: and high tea
adoro Rhapsody: and pizzas
stevenaia Michinaga: and wishes
adoro Rhapsody: and presents
Bruce Mowbray: That's nice.
adoro Rhapsody: my grandson had a biking card for me

[Bruce gives adoro the "Rave" particle animation - from last year's Burning Life in SL.]

Bruce Mowbray: There's a birthday present for you -- if you don't already have it.
Bruce Mowbray: What is a biking card?
stevenaia Michinaga: wonders when the birthday years began to be counted
adoro Rhapsody: a map with routes for biking
adoro Rhapsody: in the surroundings of my town
stevenaia Michinaga: nice
Bruce Mowbray: Oh, I understand. Good.
Bruce Mowbray: There you go!   [adoro has activated the Rave animation.]
Bruce Mowbray: VERY impressive, adoro!
adoro Rhapsody: wow bruce
adoro Rhapsody: we look like hallucinating
Bruce Mowbray: (Too much wine?)
adoro Rhapsody: that's a great birthday present
Bruce Mowbray: There's another present for you...  [Bruce gives adoro the Bus Throwing animation.]
Bruce Mowbray: Be careful where you throw the bus, though.
adoro Rhapsody: yes i have had that before
Bruce Mowbray: ok.
adoro Rhapsody: and i saw it explode with another participant
adoro Rhapsody: so i will not use it now
Bruce Mowbray: Good idea, probably.
adoro Rhapsody: nice hat u have all       [Steve and Bruce are wearing party hats for adoro's birthday.]
stevenaia Michinaga: there is one to your right, see if you can pick it up

--BELL–

adoro Rhapsody: i think it may be onigokko time
stevenaia Michinaga: onigokko
stevenaia Michinaga: stop
adoro Rhapsody: ok thanks
stevenaia Michinaga: can never have too many
adoro Rhapsody: bruce, i don't know how to give u onigokko effect
Bruce Mowbray: I have it but for some reason it didn't activate.
stevenaia Michinaga: I gave it to him, but he has to wear it
adoro Rhapsody: ok
Bruce Mowbray: I'm wearing mine now.
stevenaia Michinaga: onigokko
Bruce Mowbray: onigokko
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
adoro Rhapsody: wow
Bruce Mowbray: stop
Bruce Mowbray: stop
stevenaia Michinaga: stop
adoro Rhapsody: stop
Bruce Mowbray: Help!
adoro Rhapsody: things don't work as they use to work ?
Bruce Mowbray: Well. . . THAT was interesting.
adoro Rhapsody: well i enjoyed the spectacle
stevenaia Michinaga: you can always use "Stop animating you Avatars from the menus
adoro Rhapsody: ok
adoro Rhapsody: well i have nothing to offer yet
Bruce Mowbray: Oh I see what it is: ... Steve's onigokko is a different one from the one I was wearing.
adoro Rhapsody: i don't have tea or coffee or wine or cake to offer
stevenaia Michinaga: I actually have one warn w/o the tail, but I don't remember who gave it to me and it isn't sharable
adoro Rhapsody: because i don't know how to get and give it
Bruce Mowbray: Wow! I have three different onigokkos! -- all worn on different parts of the avi.
adoro Rhapsody: once i took a cup of tea with haiku
Bruce Mowbray listens.
stevenaia Michinaga: just drag it from your inventory to the person or their profile
Bruce Mowbray: Ahhh! Thanks, adoro.
adoro Rhapsody: you both are welcome
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, thanks, my favorite RL tea
Bruce Mowbray: Looks like steve is getting high on tea.    [Steve is floating above his cushion.]
Bruce Mowbray dies from laughing....
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
stevenaia Michinaga: third cup today
Liza Deischer: hi :)
stevenaia Michinaga: hello Liza
Bruce Mowbray: I just noticed that I'm wearing a tiny tail -- and I have no idea where it came from.
stevenaia Michinaga: that's "onigokko"
Bruce Mowbray: Hello, Liza!
Liza Deischer: you also have invisible onigokko's
adoro Rhapsody: maybe coffee will make u fine
stevenaia Michinaga: brb, laundry
Liza Deischer: :)
Bruce Mowbray: Oh -- I've acquired a tail - which is the onigokko.... Now I understand.
Bruce Mowbray: How are you today, Liza?
adoro Rhapsody: hi liza
Liza Deischer: I'm pretty well, thanks
Liza Deischer: hi
Bruce Mowbray: Adoro is celebrating his birthday today -- even though it's not until the 31st.
Liza Deischer: which is a really good thing to me
Liza Deischer: ah
Liza Deischer: gefeliciteerd :)
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
adoro Rhapsody: dank je wel Liza
adoro Rhapsody: its real Dutch in virtual sl
Liza Deischer: sometimes :)
Liza Deischer: are you at an age that you are happy, sad or you don't mind? :)
adoro Rhapsody: i am 58 and i don't mind
Liza Deischer: great :)
adoro Rhapsody: i feel young here in sl and in rl
adoro Rhapsody: and this pab helps me with that
Liza Deischer: yes, somehow when we were young we looked at people at our age (46) like they are really old
Liza Deischer: but when you get there, you still feel young
adoro Rhapsody: because i can share my ideas with you people that really listen
Bruce Mowbray: Yep! I will be 68 next month, and I feel younger than I did when ... well, when I was younger!
adoro Rhapsody: and i learn to listen respectfully to others

--BELL–

Liza Deischer: :) Bruce
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, adoro -- I agree entirely.
adoro Rhapsody: it gives me new energy
adoro Rhapsody: so i don't have to think all those issues of my own
adoro Rhapsody: but can throw it into the group
adoro Rhapsody: and it makes a lot of fun
Bertram Jacobus: hy folks :-)
Bruce Mowbray: Hello, Bert!
adoro Rhapsody: hi bert
adoro Rhapsody: ram
Liza Deischer: hi Bert
adoro Rhapsody: it seems that stevenaia is lost
Bertram Jacobus: what may 'ram' mean? - besides the technical meaning  :-)
Bruce Mowbray: Steve is away doing his laundry now.
Liza Deischer: he had some laundry to do
adoro Rhapsody: ok
Liza Deischer: yes :)
adoro Rhapsody: ramadan
adoro Rhapsody: maybe
adoro Rhapsody: but i only split your name in two
adoro Rhapsody: 'bert' and 'ram'
Bertram Jacobus: i thought more about ram das ... ;-)
adoro Rhapsody: ramm a bamm
Bertram Jacobus: lol oke :o)
adoro Rhapsody: but why u choose that name? Bertram ?
Bertram Jacobus: it's my real name
stevenaia Michinaga: back
Liza Deischer: what a weird question?
Liza Deischer: wb
Bertram Jacobus: hey steve ! :-)
Bruce Mowbray: wb, steve.
Bertram Jacobus: weird ? don't find that ... hm ... ;-)
stevenaia Michinaga: another load
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
Bertram Jacobus: it can be a simple, normal and interested question, no ? ;-)
Liza Deischer: well, sometimes people have strange names and then you wonder
Bruce Mowbray: Yeah --- Folks have asked me about "Bruce" too.
Bruce Mowbray: It is not my RL name, though.
Bruce Mowbray: There is a philosopher named Adoro, you know?
Bertram Jacobus: strange ... yes - but can be also a sign of real interest, such a question
Bruce Mowbray: I think he was an exponent of phenomenology.
Bertram Jacobus: i only know adorno (philosopher)
adoro Rhapsody: yes a philosopher called Bruce i know
Bruce Mowbray: Oops, I misspelled his name - Adorno - That's the one.  ;-)
Bruce Mowbray dies from laughing....
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
Liza Deischer: quick death :)
Bruce Mowbray: Quick and relatively painless.
adoro Rhapsody: he began his third life
Liza Deischer: :)
adoro Rhapsody: in sl
Bruce Mowbray thinks: At least three, so far.
Liza Deischer: maybe so, Bert
Liza Deischer: we'll keep counting :)
Liza Deischer: so you can have at least a few more :)
Bruce Mowbray: Hey adoro, I go to New York City every year to celebrate my birthday.
adoro Rhapsody: wow
Bruce Mowbray: I'll be back there again the last week in September.
adoro Rhapsody: that sounds great
Liza Deischer: that is when you're birthday is :)
Bruce Mowbray: This time I will be taking along a neighbor of mine - from the farm road where I live.
Bruce Mowbray: He's never been to New York ---
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, Sept. 30th.
Bruce Mowbray: Exactly nine months after New Years Eve.
Liza Deischer: I hope I remember it by then
adoro Rhapsody: i go to Barcelona the third week of September
Liza Deischer: ah :)
Bruce Mowbray: Wonderful!
adoro Rhapsody: great city
Liza Deischer: that's great too
adoro Rhapsody: great atmosphere
Bertram Jacobus: sry - i'll leave again - have a nice time, cu, namasté ...
Bruce Mowbray: I've been all over Europe, but never to Spain or Portugal.
Bruce Mowbray: Bye, Bert!
Liza Deischer: bye Bert :)

--BELL–

adoro Rhapsody: bye bert
stevenaia Michinaga: bye Bert
adoro Rhapsody: well i go with Bert
Liza Deischer: ok
Liza Deischer: see you
Bruce Mowbray: OK- adoro
Bruce Mowbray: Bye for now!
stevenaia Michinaga: wb
adoro Rhapsody: oh bert was really gone
Bruce Mowbray: welcome back, adoro!
Liza Deischer: ah
Liza Deischer: wb

Spiritual diversity and religious tolerance

adoro Rhapsody: i thought he would go to his temple
adoro Rhapsody: in this area
adoro Rhapsody: and then we could pray a bit together
adoro Rhapsody: he has a great temple
adoro Rhapsody: but we can pray anywhere
adoro Rhapsody: location does not matter
Liza Deischer: you have a particular faith Ad?
adoro Rhapsody: no
adoro Rhapsody: i am searching
adoro Rhapsody: between Catholicism to Taoism
Liza Deischer: hmmmm, there is a lot in between :)
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
adoro Rhapsody: tomorrow i will get the Tao Te Ching for my birthday
Liza Deischer: ah, great :)
stevenaia Michinaga: I hope you wear it comfortably
adoro Rhapsody: i think so
adoro Rhapsody: i have read book of Lao Tse and Liezi
adoro Rhapsody: they are wonderful
adoro Rhapsody: but there are some texts the same as in bible
Liza Deischer: a lot of wisdoms are universal
adoro Rhapsody: and that's intriguing me
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, similar both to Ecclesiastes and to the teachings of Jesus.
adoro Rhapsody: originated in different parts of the world
adoro Rhapsody: in different times
adoro Rhapsody: maybe
Liza Deischer: yes
adoro Rhapsody: and i saw there are no west and east since the world is round
Liza Deischer: so Judaism, Christianity and Muslimism are connected
Liza Deischer: so are Hinduism and Buddhism
adoro Rhapsody: that's why i like your museum of sacred arts
Bruce Mowbray agrees - about the museum.
adoro Rhapsody: and the nies vd rohe pavilion in Barcelona
Liza Deischer: I don't know about Taoism
stevenaia Michinaga: they all have "places" to pray
adoro Rhapsody: sure
adoro Rhapsody: that must be a human need
Bruce Mowbray: As a pantheist, I embrace all spiritual traditions that have a reverence for Nature.
adoro Rhapsody: ok
adoro Rhapsody: i also read Spinoza
Liza Deischer: such as Bruce ?
adoro Rhapsody: he was a pantheist too
stevenaia Michinaga: are there many in Ohio, Bruce?
Bruce Mowbray: Oh, Spinoza was a fine pantheist, to be sure -- and also a Dutchman!
Liza Deischer: yes he was
adoro Rhapsody: yes i cant help it
Bruce Mowbray: I don't know of any other pantheists in Ohio, except me.
Bruce Mowbray: But maybe they are pantheists and just don't know it yet!
Liza Deischer: can you tell some more about it
Bruce Mowbray: about pantheism?
Liza Deischer: don't have a real idea about what a pantheist is
Liza Deischer: yes
stevenaia Michinaga: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baruch_Spinoza
adoro Rhapsody: sure
adoro Rhapsody: Jewish name was Baruch
Bruce Mowbray: A pantheist is someone who feels that Nature is the ultimate context for his spirituality.    stevenaia Michinaga: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheism
adoro Rhapsody: Christian name was Benedicto
Bruce Mowbray: I've read a biography of Spinoza -- and he seems to have been well liked in Holland.
adoro Rhapsody: sure
Liza Deischer: thanks Steve
Liza Deischer: is an interesting concept
adoro Rhapsody: and after Spinoza i wanted to do Chinese philosophy
Bruce Mowbray: http://www.pantheist.net/
adoro Rhapsody: because Confucius and Lao Tse also have a good belief in nature

--BELL–

Bruce Mowbray: Here is the Pantheist website in Dutch:
Bruce Mowbray: http://www.pantheist.net/nederlands/
adoro Rhapsody: and what are your beliefs Liza and stevenaia ?
Liza Deischer: thanks
adoro Rhapsody: thanks Bruce
Liza Deischer: I'm a Buddhist
adoro Rhapsody: that's great    
adoro Rhapsody: they also believe in the self-healing power of the body and mind
Liza Deischer: yes
stevenaia Michinaga: raised Jewish, more a cultural environment than religious, but things seem to change with time
adoro Rhapsody: ok i see
Bruce Mowbray wonders how he would answer Adoro's question.
adoro Rhapsody: or i understand
stevenaia Michinaga: coming to appreciate Taoism as I age
Liza Deischer: there is still a great tradition going on in Judaism
adoro Rhapsody: yes Stevenaia, maybe a belief can change according to your phase of life
adoro Rhapsody: that Taoism is very reactivating
adoro Rhapsody: and i like that now
Liza Deischer: yes
adoro Rhapsody: maybe because of my age
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
stevenaia Michinaga: things go deeper with age in nice way
adoro Rhapsody: sure
Liza Deischer: yes, so true
adoro Rhapsody: even when you feel young
Bruce Mowbray: I sit with Quakers in RL every Sunday.... and I consider myself a Pantheist. . . and I use Buddhist meditation methods.... and I revere the Tao.
Liza Deischer: ;)
stevenaia Michinaga: nods
adoro Rhapsody: nods
Liza Deischer: :)
Liza Deischer: that was indeed not easy to answer :)
adoro Rhapsody: so we have a diversity of beliefs to choose from
Liza Deischer: nowadays yes
Liza Deischer: we are so lucky
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, and we sit comfortably with each other
Liza Deischer: :)
adoro Rhapsody: and can talk about it
adoro Rhapsody: and share our feelings
adoro Rhapsody: that's unique
adoro Rhapsody: each in another time and place in sl

The proposed new mosque in New York

Bruce Mowbray: Right now in New York, there's a big uproar over a new mosque to be built near the 9/11 site.
Liza Deischer: yes, I heard
Bruce Mowbray: I am sad that the controversy seems to be dividing people.
Liza Deischer: even the president got involved in the discussion
Bruce Mowbray: yes, on the side of religious tolerance and freedom of religion -- and I agree with Obama.
Liza Deischer: yes
adoro Rhapsody: yes and here was uproar about Wilders who wanna speak on 11/9
adoro Rhapsody: but Dutch government said he better watch out what he said
Liza Deischer: I agree with Obama too
Liza Deischer: sadly, if I have understand well, he has withdrawn himself a bit
adoro Rhapsody: yes
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, I'm afraid that he has. . . but the Mayor of New York is also in favor of building the new mosque.
Liza Deischer: it would be such a great symbol
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, I agree, Liza.
adoro Rhapsody: sure
adoro Rhapsody: a symbol of what ?
adoro Rhapsody: forgiveness ?
Bruce Mowbray: And if two blocks from the site is "too close," then what would be far away enough? -- California?
Liza Deischer: of religions getting along, respecting each other
adoro Rhapsody: ok
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, and a symbol of what America is supposed to stand for: Freedom of Belief and religious tolerance.
adoro Rhapsody: sure
Liza Deischer: terrorists say they act in the name of God, but in my opinion it has got nothing to do with any God
Liza Deischer: right Bruce
Bruce Mowbray: also, freedom of NON-belief, if that's what an individual chooses.
Liza Deischer: sure
adoro Rhapsody: but u can see that every ppl makes his own God to believe in
Bruce Mowbray: This will probably sound weird, but I think that most of the folks in my Quaker group are atheists.
stevenaia Michinaga: and for others to accept that
Liza Deischer: that is a weird statement, yes Bruce
adoro Rhapsody: i learned u can also be a agnostic or no ?
adoro Rhapsody: that u don't know you can prove that there is a god
Bruce Mowbray: but it's true. We all share a reference for "Truth" however that "fits" for each person.

--BELL–

Liza Deischer: ah, that way
adoro Rhapsody: but also cannot prove there is no God
adoro Rhapsody: that's more subtle than an atheist
Liza Deischer: well, there is a new group of atheists that approach it this way
Liza Deischer: and I think that there is something going for it
Liza Deischer: because when it is individual
Liza Deischer: then who is God?
adoro Rhapsody: ok
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, I think of them as a-theists ----- not persons who do not believe in God, but persons who do not consider theism to be their main concern.
Liza Deischer: right
adoro Rhapsody: u may have a point there, Liza
Bruce Mowbray: They revere "The Light" and "Truth," however that appears to each individual.
Liza Deischer: yes            
Bruce Mowbray: They do not build walls between persons on the basis of differing belief systems.
stevenaia Michinaga: seems that the need to "hold on to" your own belief so hard that you must harm others who don't agree is a sign of the lack of strength of that belief
Bruce Mowbray agrees completely with steve on that.
Liza Deischer: I agree too
adoro Rhapsody: well or that it is an excuse for your need to power over other people
stevenaia Michinaga: or insecurity
adoro Rhapsody: and that is the opposite of love
Bruce Mowbray: I sort of moved in with the Quakers because I am also a pacifist -- and they are peace-loving people.
Liza Deischer: yes, they are
adoro Rhapsody: ok
Bruce Mowbray: yes, fear and love seem to be opposites.
Liza Deischer: from what I know of the Quackers
Bruce Mowbray: the "Quackers" -- I LOVE that!!! ;-)
adoro Rhapsody: sorry i only know Quaker Oats
Liza Deischer: it is always a negative emotion to cling on to a belief in a destructive way
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
Liza Deischer: sorry ;))
Bruce Mowbray: Folks, this has been delightful, but I must go now.
Liza Deischer: only now see what I wrote :)
Liza Deischer: bye Bruce
Bruce Mowbray: So -- here I go into my fourth life.....!
adoro Rhapsody: the pleasure was mine
Bruce Mowbray dies from laughing....
stevenaia Michinaga: bye Bruce
adoro Rhapsody: what a spectacular way of leaving !
adoro Rhapsody: it's a great act
Liza Deischer: :)
Liza Deischer: I'm going too
adoro Rhapsody: me too
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, laundry calls me once more
adoro Rhapsody: bye all
adoro Rhapsody: ladies
Liza Deischer: see you folks :)
stevenaia Michinaga: bye all, see you soon
adoro Rhapsody: have a good day