In the long distant past, my commentary on current events would be published by the local papers. In the somewhat more recent past, I would have posted this on Google Plus, where I had 10,000+ followers (most of them were, admittedly, fake Russian accounts). I don’t have quite the reach now on the few social media accounts I use. So I’m posting here, among mostly friends, while I decide how and where-else to post this on-line. Feel free to pass this along in whatever fashion you like.

The Execution of Alex Jeffrey Pretti 

The man fatally shot by Border Patrol agents in the morning of Saturday, January 24th in Minneapolis was Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a U.S. citizen with no criminal record. Mr. Pretti, who was 37, was a registered nurse who worked in the intensive-care unit at the Veterans Affairs hospital. According to friends, he wanted to be a ‘force of good in the world.’ He was, but can be no longer. He was not just shot by Border Patrol agents. He was executed.

Almost immediately after agents shot Mr. Pretti, federal officials claimed that he had endangered agents with a gun he was carrying, and some later accused him of “domestic terrorism.” But videos on social media that were verified by The New York Times appear to contradict portions of the Department of Homeland Security’s account of the shooting. But let’s not, for the moment, debate about why the shooting happened. It happened. And what happened after is what made this not just a shooting. It was an execution.

Border Patrol agents threw Mr. Pretti to the ground and, within seconds, four or five agents started shooting him. Ten shots were fired. Afterwards, when agents could have been rendering first aid, they appeared to be inspecting the body, counting the number of bullet wounds. Like you might count the number of hits on a target at the shooting range.

There were five or more bullet wounds, three of them to his back.

A doctor on the scene told an agent that they were a physician and asked to check Mr. Pretti. He was initially refused, but eventually allowed to go to Mr. Pretti after being patted down. “Normally, I would not have been so persistent,” the doctor said in their statement, “but as a physician, I felt a professional and moral obligation to help this man, especially since none of the agents were helping him.”

Law enforcement officers are generally expected to render first aid after a shooting once the scene is safe and the threat has been neutralized. This expectation is rooted in federal policies, state laws, and professional standards. Once a person is incapacitated or arrested, they are considered to be in the officer's care, making the officer responsible for their safety and treatment. But the agents were not rendering first aid. And when the doctor asked if Mr. Pretti had a pulse, the agents allegedly stated they did not know.

The agents did not take Mr. Pretti’s pulse. They hadn’t applied first aid. Rendering first aid is what you do after a shooting. It’s not what you do after an execution.

This mirrors a similar shooting on January 7, 2026, involving Renée Good, where a doctor was recorded asking to check the victim's pulse. The doctor was initially told "No." The agent said "I don't care."

We do care. We should care. We should do something to stop the shootings and the deliberate indifference of federal agents.

We should do something to stop the executions.  

🌿 FairyTale – Ein Quest-Abenteuer 🌿

[DE]

Tritt ein in eine stille, märchenhafte Welt voller Magie, alter Pfade und verborgener Orte.
In FairyTale folgst du leuchtenden Runen durch Wälder, Ruinen und Höhlen, löst Rätsel und entdeckst eine zusammenhängende Geschichte – Schritt für Schritt, in deinem eigenen Tempo.

Kein Zeitdruck. Kein Wettlauf.
Viele Aufgaben sind ruhige Such- und Entdeckungsquests, die Aufmerksamkeit und Neugier belohnen.

✨ Besonderheit: Ein intelligentes Quest-HUD (DE/EN) speichert deinen Fortschritt automatisch.
Du kannst jederzeit pausieren und später genau dort weitermachen, wo du aufgehört hast.

Nur du, der Weg – und die Magie dazwischen.
📍 Teleport: hg.lifehaven.ch:8002:FairyTale

🌿 FairyTale – A Quest Adventure 🌿

[EN]

Step into a quiet, fairy-tale world filled with magic, ancient paths, and hidden places.
In FairyTale, you follow glowing runes through forests, ruins, and caves, solve riddles, and uncover a continuous story — at your own pace.

No time pressure. No competition.
Many tasks are designed as gentle exploration and hunt quests that reward observation and curiosity.

✨ Special feature: A smart bilingual quest HUD (DE/EN) saves your progress automatically.
Pause anytime and return later to continue right where you left off.

Just you, the path — and the magic in between.
📍 Teleport: hg.lifehaven.ch:8002:FairyTale

Yes, it's party time again at Cube!!!
On Wednesday the 14th, 2026 at 12:00pm Grid Time,
ChiChi will be blasting some Psy Trance tunes!!!
Lets be Crazy, freaky, louder, harder,with fun party people...
YES, we can and do it better!!!
So don't miss it and come to the Cube Dance Club Today!!!

Überarbeitete Sound Vendoren in der "Sound Machine"

Nachdem die Original Sound Vendoren, die ich vor ein paar Jahren von einem Freund geschenkt bekommen habe, die dumme Angewohnheit hatten, die Scriptengine zu triggern, mit dem Ergebnis, dass die Skripte regelmäßig versagt haben, habe ich mich endlich dran gemacht, die Vendoren auszutauschen.
Sie sind vielleicht nicht mehr so schick wie die alten, dafür laufen die Skripte jetzt aber ohne Gemecker...
Und wo ich gleich am Überarbeiten war, habe ich gleich noch einige neue Sounds dazu gepackt... :)
* * * * *
Revised sound vendors in the “Sound Machine”

After the original sound vendors, which I received from a friend a few years ago, had the annoying habit of triggering the script engine, resulting in the scripts regularly failing, I finally got around to replacing the vendors.
They may not be as fancy as the old ones, but now the scripts run without any problems...
And while I was revising them, I added a few new sounds... :)

Happy New Year 2026 to our community, our friends and all hypergrid travelers of BloodMoon Grid!

May this new year bring you light in the darkness,
unforgettable adventures, meaningful encounters
and great moments shared in our virtual world.

Thank you for being part of BloodMoon
and for helping us build a unique grid
driven by creativity, freedom and passion.

May 2026 be magical, festive and full of amazing surprises.

BloodMoon Grid Team

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
From everyone here on the GENESIS ROLEPLAY GRID to everyone in OPENSIM, may you know the blessings of God's love and the joy of His Salvation now and throughout the coming year!
MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Done deal! Luna's star has been ordered! Just awaiting the coordinates, but maybe we wont know until Luna's rl family has been shipped the rl materials. Thank you to all who donated! i will be ending the fundraiser now, more details will follow.

Die Tage werden kürzer und das Jahr neigt sich dem Ende zu. Wir wünschen Euch eine friedliche Weihnachtszeit im Kreise Eurer Lieben. Mögt ihr Momente der Ruhe finden, um neue Energie zu tanken und sich auf das kommende Jahr vorzubereiten.
As the days grow shorter and the year comes to a close, we wish you a peaceful holiday season surrounded by your loved ones. May you find moments of stillness to recharge and prepare for the year ahead."

The Cube Dance Club is open the Doors and .....
we're partying again for 2 hours!!! This time in the NEW CUBE DANCE CLUB!!! We're presenting something completely different this time... Oriental Melodic Techno House music!!! So don't miss it!! We're looking forward to seeing you!
12:30pm Grid Time Warm Up [21:30Uhr]
01:00pm Grid Time Official Start [22:00Uhr]

(reposting this for as long as necessary until goal is achieved. hoping to announce success asap so that we can have it concluded and move on to a happy and festive christmas/holiday for all) :)

Our dear Luna Lunaria has passed. Rather than only mourn her, which we all do in our own ways, let us band together and show Luna's real life family...just how much she meant to us.

To some, perhaps Luna was a character from one of her rl human creator's stories. To most of us, she was much, much more. It is with a heavy heart that I have shouldered the responsibility as one of her many friends, to setup a GoFundMe for an idea i had: to name an actual star (or multiple stars different names from her stories or rl family), depending on how well this goes. If you like this idea, please find it in your heart to contribute to a worthy cause! https://gofund.me/60f7d925d

Not one thin penny will go to anything not Luna related, with the main goal being at least an "ultimate" star package from the international star registry. All pertinent information is listed in the interest of transparency. If we exceed the $200 goal, additional items or a bigger package may be purchased. I will be working with Lone Wolf on this, and any real life items to be mailed, will be sent discreetly and privately to Luna's real life family, pending their approval. For now, let's just get this ball rolling and see how much this OpenSim community loves and embraces her. She inspired us and gave us so much. Let us give back. Seriously, if you can spare only a buck, 1 dollar of your native currency, 25 cents, whatever it may be, it all comes from the heart. You are not required for your real name or any info to be publicly disclosed if you donate, so keep that in mind, friends. Any questions please contact Leonitas Lionheart or Remmy Ravenhurst of Homelandz Grid, Star Ravenhurst of Tenth Dimension Grid, or Lone Wolf of Wolf Territories grid.

In wenigen Stunden ist es soweit und auf Eternal Ice öffnet der 10. (und letzte) Adventskalender sein erstes Türchen!
Alle Geschenke bleiben bis Anfang Januar 2026 erhältlich, danach wir die Region Eternal Ice nicht länger auf OSW gelistet. Danach gehen die Teleports nur noch über die Karte ( pangeagrid.de:8002:Eternal Ice ) oder eine bestehende Landmarke.

Frohe Vorweihnachtszeit!

* * * * *

In just a few hours, the 10th (and final) Advent calendar will open its first door on Eternal Ice!
All gifts will remain available until early January 2026, after which the Eternal Ice region will no longer be listed on OSW. After that, teleports will only be possible via the map (pangeagrid.de:8002:Eternal Ice) or an existing landmark.

Happy holidays!

Good morning and have a great weekend everyone!
I want to sincerely thank everyone for the fantastic turnout at our first party at CCC yesterday. It was absolutely amazing, and I'll definitely be throwing more parties in the future. A huge thank you also goes to the Dope Club team for their amazing support.
♥♥♥ Thank you all so much, you're simply the best! Hugs ♥♥♥

***Party Preview for 11/28/25***
yes i do it !!!! here is our first Party @CCC and The Weed Shack Hang out!!!
Friday 28, Nov. At 12:00 PM Grid Time
(9:00 PM European Time)

I'll be blasting some epic dark techno sounds at you, lol.

Hope to see you there and join us!

Okay, you win! After being asked about Athena Petite clothes so often, I've made them available again. However, there will still only be very, very few new items, as it's becoming increasingly difficult to find Athena Petite clothes. But as soon as I see something, I'll get it ;-)
oh the TP is outside in front of the Landing Office

✨ New Release @ Sciattisi Grid! ✨
Hairstyle: Lisbon 💋

Immerse yourself in Lisbon's natural charm, a flowing and sensual hairstyle perfect for any occasion.

Available in various sizes (XS, S, M, L – with and without boobs options) to perfectly fit your avatar.

💫 Package Contents:

1 Color & Water HUD → changes hair color and activates/deactivates water drops (Water ON / Water OFF).

1 Styler HUD → changes hair style or direction.

💖 Simple, elegant, and irresistible — Lisbon will accompany you in style through every season.

📍 Available now on the Sciattisi grid!
hop://sciattisigrid.it:8002/SciattiShopClothes/161/72/22

Just completely retextured the interior of the Meditation Temple at Luxor. A beautiful song by Lisa Gerrard plays there and I added meditation stools for those who wish to come and experience some time alone in peace in a beautiful space.

Luxor is my home so nothing is for sale here. The region rewards the patient explorer with hidden grottoes and quiet songs playing at various locations. You can hear them if your sounds are on and you wait for a minute or so for them to load. Luxor is best viewed using a PBR viewer with Shared Environment activated to complete your experience in this place of peace. All are welcome.

***Happy Weekend***

And here they are again: Cutey's cute weekend gifts!!!
Today we have...

- Mischy the little cuddly monster

- Baby Monster Handbag

With that in mind, have a relaxing weekend everyone ♥

Working on a V3 (VERSION 3) of the Weather Online System. A friend once reminded me "-What about cities you find on many places with same name?". I was a valid question: V2 script would take one randomly. Now, one can either specify on dialog menu "Springfield, IL,US (Illinois, United States) or insert the latitude/longitude coordinates. Also I made all, I said ALL countries codes available on script so if one select a city, it will show on open chat the full name in English of the country. Still need do some tweaks and test before releasing it.

***OUT NOW***

12 NEW Legacy f & Legacy Perky Outfits available

12 NEUE Legacy f & Legacy Perky Klamotten verfügbar

NOTE:
Please note the new location CCC2. If someone lands on the old one, there will be a board with the new landmark there.THX

Alina Custom Vehicles.
Open now at AMV a new store better than before easy access around the region bringing you unusual and unseen vehicles in Opensim.
Classic vehicles, Nascar race cars, Huge Hotrod range, Monster Trucks, Heavy Commercial Vehicles, Agriculture Vehicles, Huge Dinkie Vehicle section , Pick up trucks, just about something for everyone.
There are just a few vehicles from the living legend Victor DeAngelo, a truly kind person.
In region tp to make it easier .
Many vehicles lost because of OS grid previous issues but in all a great start to a new store.
Complete sim full of vehicles, it costs nothing to look, so take home something great.
All vehicles can be altered or modified should you need, adjustments or additions happily done on request..
Hope to see you soon.
hop://alternatemetaverse.com:8002/luna/126/128/22
Alina.

Of all the venues I've made, this is the one I see most often in photos from around the hypergrid. It's also my oldest venue, which means it is far overdue for a rebuild with better mesh and PBR. There is an overhaul of all the venues planned for the near future. Currently I'm preparing for an upcoming exhibition I'm excited to be part of, after that I'll have to work the venues in between game development, writing, and other projects some of you have been asking for. We'll get there.

🩷 X-Petite by BK-Mode – Klein? Vielleicht. Wirkung? Gigantisch.

Vier Looks, vier Provokationen – jedes Outfit ein Widerspruch auf zwei Beinen. Hier wird nicht kombiniert. Hier wird kuratiert.

🔸 Crop & Clash: Pinker Tiefschnitt trifft schwarze Powerpants – ein Outfit wie ein Konter.

🔸 Jogger Riot: Sportlich? Ja. Bequem? Auch. Aber mit Jacke, die aussieht wie ein Farbgewitter auf Speed.

🔸 Rainbow Raw: Pant und Top in Regenbogenoptik – nicht für den Strand, sondern für Statements ohne Worte.

🔸 Iridescent Impact: Glitzerndes Minikleid, das nicht funkelt, sondern flimmert – wie ein Gedanke, der nicht zu greifen ist.

🎯 X-Petite ist kein Stil. Es ist ein Störsignal. Für Avatare, die nicht gefallen wollen – sondern auffallen. Für Körper, die nicht viel Raum brauchen, um alles zu sagen.

Hey guys, I cleaned up my inventory and packed all the drug items into boxes and put them on display at Needful Things. They're waiting for you in the back room of the coffee shop. These are just decorative items, the stuff doesn't really pack a punch. There are also things at the front of the coffee shop that will definitely make your avatar stagger... Have fun with them!
* * * * *
Hallo Leute, ich habe mal mein Inventar aufgeräumt und sämtliche Drogenartikel in Boxen gepackt und auf Needful Things ausgestellt. Sie warten auf euch im Hinterzimmer des Coffeeshops. Es handelt sich dabei nur um Dekoware, das Zeug knallt nicht wirklich rein. Es gibt vorn im Coffeshop auch Sachen, die euren Avatar durchaus zum Wanken bringen... Viel Spaß damit!

✨ BK Mode präsentiert: ATHENA – Vier Facetten der modernen Göttin ✨

Tauche ein in die Welt von Athena – kraftvoll, wandelbar und immer stilvoll. BK Mode bringt vier ikonische Looks, die den Puls der Fashionistas höherschlagen lassen:

🖤 Urban Rebel Athena zeigt Kante: Mit schwarzem Graphic-Top, glänzender Lederhose und auffälligen Gürtel-Details wird sie zur Streetstyle-Ikone. Ein Look, der Stärke ausstrahlt und Individualität feiert – kompromisslos und cool.

👗 Preppy Chic Beige trifft auf Karomuster – dieser Look kombiniert verspielte Eleganz mit einem Hauch College-Flair. Die Minirock-Silhouette und die selbstbewusste Pose sagen: „Ich weiß, was ich will.“

💎 Futuristic Glow Transparenz trifft auf Türkis: Ein Outfit wie flüssiges Licht, das Athenas Silhouette umschmeichelt. Für alle, die sich trauen, anders zu sein – und dabei umwerfend aussehen.

🌸 Glam Pop Lavendel-Minirock, schwarzes Top, ein Hauch von Glanz: Dieser Look ist ein Statement für alle, die Mode als Ausdruck ihrer Persönlichkeit sehen. Verspielt, sexy, selbstbewusst.

💫 BK Mode – Für alle, die Mode nicht nur tragen, sondern leben.

Update!! I just placed the Fairy for you!

A special thank you to Fred for creating this beautiful Dryad Fairy. She brings the forest to life in ways that feel both magical and timeless. If you’d like to see her in person, come visit and experience the wonder for yourself. three.hills.grid.outworldz.net:8002/FairyDemesne/128/128/23 I am loving all this magic :) Thank you @FerdFrederix !! 🌳🧚🏽