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.  

Miss Munk will be spinning her wheels of steel at 1 pm grid time, at The Piazza!
Bring your headphones and get on down here and listen to nonstop beat matching and full spectrum sound!
Plug the link into your map and we'll see you there.
http://bridgemere.outworldz.net:8002:Paradise Lagoon

Heute
Ölt die Zahnräder, poliert die Goggles und schnallt euer Korsetts fest – am 25.01.2026 ab 20:00 Uhr wird nicht nur Dampf gemacht, sondern richtig aufgedreht.
DJ Kai wirbelt die Ventilatoren an,
Plattenschubse Marina schmeißt die Scheiben wie glühende Kohlen ins Getriebe.
Erwartet einen Abend voller Funkensprühen, schräger Erfindungen und tanzender Maschinenwesen.
Komm im Steampunk-Look oder so, wie du die Zeitmaschine gerade ausspuckt – Hauptsache bereit für Chaos mit Stil.

Monster dump of 900GB in size:
IMPORTING A HUGE MYSQL/MARIADB DUMP FROM WINDOWS TO DEBIAN

This guide describes a proven and stable way to import a very large
MySQL/MariaDB dump (hundreds of GB to ~1 TB) from a Windows server into
MariaDB on a Debian server.

The procedure avoids double disk usage, survives network disconnects,
and prevents common errors like “server has gone away”.

----------------------------------------------------------
PREREQUISITES
----------------------------------------------------------
- Windows Server with dump.sql (e.g. D:.sql) - Debian
Server with enough free disk space - MariaDB installed and
running - Root access to MariaDB - Network access between
Windows and Debian

----------------------------------------------------------

1. WINDOWS: SHARE THE DUMP DIRECTORY

- The dump file is located on drive D:
- Share the drive (or directory) via Windows file sharing (SMB)
- Example: Share name: d Path: D:
- Grant read permissions to the Administrator account

----------------------------------------------------------
2. DEBIAN: MOUNT WINDOWS SHARE (CIFS/SMB)
----------------------------------------------------------
Install required tools: apt install -y cifs-utils screen

Create mount point: mkdir -p /mnt/windowsdump

Mount the Windows share: mount -t cifs //WINDOWS_IP/d
/mnt/windowsdump -o username=Administrator,vers=3.0

Verify: ls -lh /mnt/windowsdump You should see dump.sql.
----------------------------------------------------------

3. PREPARE MARIADB FOR LARGE IMPORTS

Create the target database: mysql -u root -p CREATE DATABASE griddb;
EXIT;

Create configuration file: nano
/etc/mysql/mariadb.conf.d/99-bigimport.cnf

Content: [mysqld] max_allowed_packet=1G net_read_timeout=600
net_write_timeout=600 wait_timeout=28800 interactive_timeout=28800

Restart MariaDB: systemctl restart mariadb

Verify setting: mysql -u root -p -e “SHOW VARIABLES LIKE
‘max_allowed_packet’;”

----------------------------------------------------------
4. START THE IMPORT SAFELY USING SCREEN
----------------------------------------------------------
Start a screen session: screen -S sqlimport

Run the import: mysql –max_allowed_packet=1G -u root -p
griddb < /mnt/windowsdump/dump.sql

Detach screen (import keeps running): CTRL + A, then D
----------------------------------------------------------

5. MONITORING

Check if import is running: ps aux | grep mysql

You should see: mysql –max_allowed_packet=1G -u root -p griddb

CPU and disk usage are expected to be high.

----------------------------------------------------------
6. COMPLETION
----------------------------------------------------------
The import is finished when the mysql process disappears.

Unmount the Windows share: umount /mnt/windowsdump
----------------------------------------------------------

COMMON ERRORS AND SOLUTIONS

ERROR 2006 (server has gone away): - Increase max_allowed_packet -
Increase net_read_timeout / net_write_timeout

Packet bigger than max_allowed_packet: - Ensure both server and client
use 1G packet size

Import aborted due to network loss: - Always run the import inside
screen

-------
NOTES
-------

- Imports of this size may take 12–36 hours
- Silence during import is normal
- Do not interrupt the process

DJane Dragon at the Coffin Club
8 to 10 AM Gridtime (AMV) TODAY (17-19 UHR MEZ)
playing you industrial and EBM.

The Coffin Club is a gothic club in a church surrounded by a cemetry, furnished with coffins, music is gothic, rock, metal, EBM and Industrial.

Take your friends and come over.
Waiting for you
Dragon

Listen: http://dragon.radioamv.com
hop://alternatemetaverse.com:8002/Carpe%20Noctem/87/170/22
Join us on AMV: https://alternatemetaverse.com/

🕊️ The Circle of Healing — A Ceremonial Gathering on Samsara

Guided by Yana Dakota • AMV Grid
Within the quiet lands of Samsara, a sacred hour of stillness and presence will be held.
All are invited to step into a circle of breath, awareness, and gentle community.

Arrival: 10:15 AM grid time
Opening of the Circle: 10:30 AM
Closing: 11:30 AM

This gathering includes a period of noble silence, held with care and supported by music chosen to deepen awareness and rest.

Those who carry burdens of the body, heart, or spirit.
and those who walk beside someone who suffers,
are warmly welcome to join this hour of healing presence.

Come as you are.
Sit as you are.
Breathe as you are.
The circle will hold you.

hop://alternatemetaverse.com:8002/Samsara/1096/470/40

🌟 DJ TYLER’S BREAKFAST BOOGIE — 6–8 AM! @ ALTERNATE METAVERSE🌟
Start your morning with a blast of 1970s disco energy. Slide into two hours of great vibes, great people, and nonstop feel‑good tunes. Lace up those dancing shoes and jump into the disco line — the groove train is leaving the station!
Hop: hop://alternatemetaverse.com:8002/Alternate%20Metaverse/30...

Skinny Dip Beach Party & DJ YANA
Sunday, Jan 25th | 2:00 AM to 4:00 AM
Location: Alternate MetaVerse Grid

Taxi; hop://alternatemetaverse.com:8002/Skinny%20Dip%20Beach/157...
Get ready to strip down and turn up.
Live DEEJAY' s will take you on a two-hour ride of high-energy beats.
Bikinis, bare skin, and beats that don’t quit.

This is the night to break loose, own your freedom, and dance like nothing’s off-limits.
Be there, or hear about it later.

I don't believe in goals that you set like pieces of furniture.
I believe in images that appear before you know what they mean.
I believe that desires are not weaknesses, but clues.
That dreams are not escapes, but designs.
That imagination is not a luxury, but a compass.
I reject the notion that you have to be "ready" to begin.
Readiness arises in action.
Clarity follows movement, not the other way around.
A vision board is not a wish list.
It is not a success plan.
It is a quiet place where the unspoken finds expression.
I don't work against resistance;
I listen to it.
Often, it knows more than the will.
I don't believe in creative and uncreative people.
I believe in experienced and discouraged people.
And in the right to practice again.
The process is more important than the product.
Not because the result is irrelevant,
but because otherwise it remains empty.
I trust slow insights.
I distrust quick promises.
I take inner images seriously, even if they don't yet have a language.

Global Opensim Search is back online after an auto updater broke my run time engine. Grid, Events, regions, parcels and almost 6,000 free items.

https://outworldz.com/search/SearchParcel.htm

It's probably going to take a few hours to crawl the grids as there's about 5,000 in the database.

TONIGHT! 11/24/2026 !! 8PM PDT (GRID TIME).
Littlefield Grid's Winter Dance Party at Kitzbuhel Ski Resort!
COME JOIN US AT OUR WINTER DANCE PARTY
AT THE BEAUTIFUL KITZBUHEL SKI RESORT!!
SKIING, SNOWMOBILES, ICE SKATING,
HORSE CARRIAGE RIDES, WINTER OUTFITS!!
LIVE DJ WALTER BALAZIC SPINNING ALL YOUR FAVORITES
FROM THE 60'S TO TODAY'S HITS!!

lfgrid.com:8002:Kitzbuhel

Hi everyone,

Great workshop today at Cool School! We were so glad to see those “aha!” moments happening throughout the session. We missed a few of our regulars who couldn’t make it, whether feeling under the weather or helping out family members, but no worries!

We’ve put together a two-part video recap that walks through exactly what we covered today. It’s always great to join a workshop live, but these videos are a perfect way to catch up (and you don’t even have to take notes!).

Thanks again for your participation and enthusiasm. We really appreciate it!

Part 1 - 15 minutes https://youtu.be/5MUkXm1NDsg?si=NoR3yWGw9WOsMvdK
Part 2 - 15 minutes https://youtu.be/_KWoGDkwitw?si=9Rl4kV17BkKA2Kqz

The moment you step into Fantasia, the air itself feels alive—thick with shimmer and old magic, like the land is breathing alongside you.
Behind you lie the sunlit meadows where fairies darted like living sparks, their laughter chiming as softly as windbells. You remember the elves, tall and watchful among silver-barked trees, their eyes holding centuries of knowing. You remember the unicorns standing still and showing majesty.
But Fantasia is never only gentle.
Ahead of you, the land sinks.
The colors drain away as if swallowed. The ground grows soft beneath your boots, and a low fog crawls along the earth, curling around your ankles like curious fingers. You’ve reached the swamp.
Cold presses in immediately. Not the sharp cold of winter, but a damp, bone-seeping chill that slides under your cloak and settles into your spine. The light dims, smothered by towering, twisted trees whose branches claw at the sky. Long vines hang down, swaying slowly, as though the swamp itself is breathing… watching… waiting.
Every step makes a sound—squelch, suck, sigh—and each one feels far too loud.
Then it happens.
You freeze.
Right in front of your face, no more than a breath away, something moves.
A snake, its body looped over a branch above, dangles down like a living rope. Its scales gleam wetly in the faint light, eyes unblinking, ancient and patient. You can almost feel its cold presence measuring you. Time stretches. Your heart hammers. Slowly—so slowly—you lean back, easing past it. The snake doesn’t strike… but you feel its gaze follow you long after you’ve gone.
You force yourself onward.
The swamp deepens. Water pools around your calves now, black and opaque. The silence grows heavier, broken only by distant croaks and the low hum of unseen insects. Then—
SPLASH.
The water erupts beside you.
An alligator surges from the muck, jaws snapping shut where your leg had been a heartbeat before. Mud and water explode into the air. You stumble back, slipping, barely keeping your footing as the beast thrashes, its armored body rippling with raw, prehistoric power. Yellow eyes lock onto yours—hungry, calculating.
You don’t wait.
You run.
Branches whip at your face. Vines tear at your clothes. Your breath burns in your chest as you burst through the reeds and into a clearing—only to stop dead.
Because you are not alone.
They rise from the shadows like the swamp’s final judgment.
Trolls.
Huge, hunched shapes with skin like moss-covered stone, eyes glowing faintly beneath heavy brows. Their bodies are scarred, ancient, as if they were carved from the swamp itself and given cruel life. One grips a massive club studded with bones. Another snarls, revealing jagged teeth stained dark with old victories.
Their laughter rumbles low and ugly, shaking the air.
“You’ve wandered far, little traveler,” one growls, its voice like rocks grinding together.
The cold, the darkness, the weight of Fantasia’s trials all press down on you in that moment. Behind you: the snake, the alligator, the endless swamp. Ahead of you: the trolls and whatever fate they decide.
And yet…
Somewhere deep inside, the magic you felt at the beginning—the fairies’ light, the unicorn’s calm, the elves’ quiet strength—flares again.
Fantasia has tested you.
Now it waits to see who you truly are.

Cool School launches today at 2:00 PM!

It’s SVG day, and we’re getting hands-on with PhotoPea, Blender, and Copilot to turn ideas into clean, powerful graphics.

Learning just leveled up. 🎨🧠And a reminder, these workshops are for intermediate creators.

yeah it`s Saturday and what happens?
DJ Emmy Lou comes and says...
come one Let's just have a spontaneous party...
She will spinning some Electro Tunes for you and rocking the Cube!!
So come all, Emmy will start at 12pm grid time!!

Sonntag:
Ölt die Zahnräder, poliert die Goggles und schnallt euer Korsetts fest – am 25.01.2026 ab 20:00 Uhr wird nicht nur Dampf gemacht, sondern richtig aufgedreht.
DJ Kai wirbelt die Ventilatoren an,
Plattenschubse Marina schmeißt die Scheiben wie glühende Kohlen ins Getriebe.
Erwartet einen Abend voller Funkensprühen, schräger Erfindungen und tanzender Maschinenwesen.
Komm im Steampunk-Look oder so, wie du die Zeitmaschine gerade ausspuckt – Hauptsache bereit für Chaos mit Stil.

A Scottish Tradition on the SevenSeas
Everyone is Welcome to Celebrate Burns Night on the Aurora II Cruise Ship as Clan Escotia presents Robbie Burns Night.

Including A Burns supper which is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns.
Traditional spirits, entertainment and dinner will be served.
Alternatives to the traditional Scottish haggis will be available for the faint of heart.

Held at the Aurora II Celebration Hall on January 24th from 10:00am (Grid time).
Enjoy a traditional Burns Supper, honoring the life and poetry of Scotland’s beloved poet Robert Burns, surrounded by authentic Scottish atmosphere.

What to Expect:
Traditional spirits
Live entertainment
A full Burns Night dinner

Alternatives to traditional Scottish haggis for the faint of heart

Location: Aurora II – Ballroom, SevenSeas
Date: January 24th
Time: From 10:00 AM (Grid Time)

Come celebrate poetry, heritage, and community on the open seas — everyone is welcome!

hop://alternatemetaverse.com:8002/SevenSeas/1023/1187/105

▁ ▂ ▃ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ CLUB ZEPHRA Party ▇ ▆ ▅ ▄ ▃ ▂ ▁

▶▷▶ PARTY - NIGHT
Saturday/Samstag 24.Jan. 2026
◕ starts 11:00 OS grid time – startet ab 20:00 Uhr EU
DJ NICK Greeklife
DJ CRAZY Onasis
DJ TOMI Balboa
▶▷▶ good mood , good tunes , ☊ Gute Laune gute Sounds
Where the night comes alive, live the rhythm of the night
Wo die Nacht lebendig wird, lebe den Rhythmus der Nacht

Taxi: hg.osgrid.org:80:CCClub
░░▒▓◙█◙█◙ CC – CLUB – ZEPHRA ◙█◙█◙▓▒░░

Unity, energy and global rhythm
“One Love, One World”, “Feel the Beat, Live the Moment” and “Unleash Your Inner Rhythm”

"Music brings us people together. It allows us to experience the same emotions. People everywhere are the same in heart and spirit. No matter what language we speak, what color we are, the form of our politics, or the expression of our love and our faith, music proves: We are the same."

Einheit, Energie und globaler Rhythmus
„Eine Liebe, eine Welt“, „Spüre den Beat,lebe den Moment“ und „entfessle deinen inneren Rhythmus“

„Musik verbindet uns Menschen. Sie ermöglicht es uns, dieselben Emotionen zu erleben. Im Herzen und im Geiste sind alle Menschen gleich. Egal welche Sprache wir sprechen, welche Hautfarbe wir haben, welche politischen Ansichten wir vertreten oder wie wir unsere Liebe und unseren Glauben ausdrücken, die Musik beweist: Wir sind alle gleich.“

♪ Set sail for a morning of Celtic magic and pirate spirit as Arvi performs live at ARV Music Club. ♪
♪♪ Expect enchanting vocals inspired by Blackmore’s Night, Celtic Woman, Loreena McKennitt, and other timeless fantasy favorites. ♪♪

♪When: 8 AM SLT
♪Where: hop://neverworldgrid.com:8002/ARV%20Music%20Club/128/127/2...
♪Attire: Casual or Fantasy — pirates, elves, and dreamers welcome

♪ Hoist the sails, gather your crew, and join us for a magical live performance!

H-Blockx - Die Geburt einer Crossover-Legende

In den frühen 1990er Jahren, als Deutschland noch die Nachwirkungen der Wiedervereinigung verdaute und die Musikszene von neuen Energien pulsierte, entstand in der westfälischen Stadt Münster eine Band, die die Grenzen zwischen Genres sprengen sollte.

Zum ganzen Artikel auf Xenopolias hier lang > https://wp.me/pfapSM-258

All articles on Xenopolias are available in all common languages.

🌿 Spring’s Promise 🌿
A symbol of renewal, hope, and timeless beauty.

Crafted with graceful intertwining gold, Spring’s Promise cradles a deep emerald like new life rising from winter’s hush. The solitaire setting evokes delicate vines awakening in sunlight, wrapping gently around the heart of the season. Elegant and full of meaning, this ring is a celebration of fresh beginnings, quiet strength, and the eternal promise of spring. Think Spring🌹 - On the little table in the foyer. three.hills.grid.outworldz.net:8002:Monentes Jewelry

Everyone is invited to join in A Scottish Tradition on the SevenSeas

Celebrate Burns Night on the Aurora II Cruise Ship as Clan Escotia presents Robbie Burns Night.

Starting 10:00am Grid Time today

hop://alternatemetaverse.com:8002/SevenSeas/128/128/2

AMVs Birthday Shows Premier Showing@Aurora II~Sevenseas - Starting at 10:00am

Join us at the Aurora II Cinema and enjoy with many others at the Viewing from the AMV Birthday and the Aurora II 2025 Birthday Videos.

hop://alternatemetaverse.com:8002/SevenSeas/128/128/2

Everyone is invited to join in A Scottish Tradition on the SevenSeas

Celebrate Burns Night on the Aurora II Cruise Ship as Clan Escotia presents Robbie Burns Night.

Including A Burns supper which is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns. Traditional spirits, entertainment and dinner will be served.
Alternatives to the traditional Scottish haggis will be available for the faint of heart.

Held at the Aurora II Ballroom Deck Today (January 24th)
Starting from 10:00am (Grid time) with DJ Cliff warming up the Bag Pipes following at 11am - Clan and the Clan Band

DJ TYLER - Moonlight Show 2am - 4am grid
Put on your dancing shoes and come on down to Alternate Metaverse!
We are looking forward to seeing you all here :)
Party Stage
Alternate Metaverse is the new landing point, come and make new friends
hop://alternatemetaverse.com:8002/Alternate%20Metaverse/35...

NEW UPDATES!

it turns out Lotek is still around! She has given me permission to share the last update she did to the collars. All collars in the store have been updated. The AO on the right on the wall has been updated too. Soon more stuff will be added to the store that she has done with the udpates.

PS. 8.3 is still coming, this will be a sperate store. a few things that need fixing are being looked into. once that is done then i can finish the store.

I will like to give a big shoutout to LOTEK!

Unleashed another monster viewer today
Fixed the following
1) got rid of the STUPID repetive popups about gltf and what not when one first uses the veiwer. Someone say AMEN
2) Set the default bandwidth to 1500 they say that is safer
3) Put Mirrors on their own thread so that they don't impact the main threads ability to keep up frame rate and rendering. I noticed that when mirrors was on frame rates seemed to get cut in half.
https://maze.bz/mazebzviewer.zip
Happy:-)
any bugs continue to let me know.

Our latest set - Green Screen Studio - where video magic happens! Sometimes you need to shoot that epic video and make the magic happen during post-edit, the Green Screen Studio was born for just this need!

Each month, we will provide a nature-inspired gift for you to display in your home. Whether it is a unique bird, butterfly, or an item related to wildlife or floral scents, we carefully curate a special gift for you every month. We invite you to visit Fourtheme, a serene space thoughtfully created by our resident, Riley. It is an ideal environment for meditation and relaxation.

DJ AMOSIS - Grand Opening of Disco Mundo Latino in Out Of This World in hop://outofthisworld.opensim.fun:36002/Mundo Latino/571/180/22
Come have fun with us with the best live music.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DJ AMOSIS - Gran Inauguración de Disco Mundo Latino en Out Of This World en hop://outofthisworld.opensim.fun:36002/Mundo Latino/571/180/22
Ven a divertirte con nosotros con la mejor música en vivo.

Join us at the Piazza at 3 pm grid time, for a couple of hours of fun and music while Rockin' Robert spins the tunes for us via his live radio station Wax Radio.
The Piazza, where good friends and great music always come together.
bridgemere.outworldz.net:8002:Paradise Lagoon

Hello and Welcome Party People.....

Today we do a instrumental journey....

Today we are entering.....

a different dimension.......

Today I'm taking you on a journey

into a fusion of orchestral and electronic instruments

with rock and pop influences....

by DJ ChiChi 11:00am Grid Time @The Cube

Sylvia `s wilder Ritt durch die Platten.Kiste – Wo selbst die Djane kopfüber den besten Sound findet!
(Warnung: Betreten auf eigene Gefahr. Es besteht die Möglichkeit, von einem aus der Kiste fliegenden Albumcover getroffen zu werden. Aber es lohnt sich!)
Sylvia's wild ride through the record box – where even the DJ finds the best sound headfirst!
(Warning: Enter at your own risk. There is a chance of being hit by an album cover flying out of the box. But it's worth it!)

Freitag 23.1.2026
Rock-House
mit DJ Anachron

Beginn 20:00 Uhr

What Jazz?

Ende ca. 22:00 Uhr.
Hypergrid : dorenas-world.de:8002:Nihilon
Friday 23.1.2026
Rock House
with DJ Anachron

Starts at 8:00 PM

What Jazz?

Ends around 10:00 PM.
Hypergrid: dorenas-world.de:8002:Nihilon

Wake up on the FUNSIDE of the BED with DEEJAY Sofee this Morning!!!

Wake Up with DeeJay Sofee! this Morning.

It’s time for that Breakfast Vibe - today from 6AM to 8AM grid time at the Alternate Metaverse Main Landing Point!

It's time to Bounce out of your Bed and grab your coffee mug, and teleport over to the Main Landing Point.

Let DeeJay Sofee wake your Friday morning up with a BIG BANG to start your day. (It's not going to be a quiet Morning)

Today’s Genre: Sofees Morning Style (TUNES)!!!.

Come on over and Wake up the Sofee Way and celebrate being alive this beautiful Friday morning!

Location:
hop://alternatemetaverse.com:8002/Alternate%20Metaverse/34...

Everyone is Welcome, See you there! :-))