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Showing posts with label WW2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WW2. Show all posts

Monday, December 26, 2022

Here's To You Jessicabelle Dayafter

 
 By Bixyl Shuftan

When I began hanging out at the Woodlin community in Summer 2008, among those I ran into was Jessicabelle Dayafter. A number of the people there stood out in their own way. Jessicabelle as a skunkgirl naturally did so with her distinctive black and white pattern, though for the first few years I knew her, her coat was the reverse of what one would usually see on a skunk. 
 
Jessicabelle was normally quieter than the other skunk in Woodlin: community leader, Dax Loon who could be manic-happy (and sadly, depressed at times) and was one of the DJs there. But she had a love for military history and firepower, and occasionally a "boom" could be heard as she fired off the cannon at her place. Once she and her friend Megatheron went around blasting their bazookas. They were harmless as this wasn't a combat sim, but they made for a lot of fireworks. I called them the "boom-boom girls" for a while after that. At the time, she was partnered with Salem De White (Selene Spellhunter), who was part of the Giant Snail Races.

Sadly these good times did not last forever, and Woodlin fell apart in late Winter/early Spring 2010. At the time Jessicabelle was taking a break, following paying for her spot six months in advance, and was shocked to return to a random area and finding her LM home no longer worked, "What the hell happened?" I think she got a place at the Foxworth community where many of us went, but also spent much time away from the quiet community, either flying or somewhere at a place she could fire her guns. Jessica's happy times with her partner would also end, the two parting ways.

In Fall 2010, she would show me the New Bastogne WW2 Combat Roleplay area, and invite me to take part. Some of the groups didn't allow furry avatars, or would restrict them to lower-level positions. But the German Air Group, led by Vickster Kuhn, didn't mind if you had a tail or not as long as you could fit into the cockpit. So for a little while I was her wingman in the Luftwaffe. 
 
To those who might raise an eyebrow at this, I recalled pilots in "Top Gun" playing the part of Soviet planes as the OpFor (opposition force) in training exercises. Plus in my Star Wars roleplaying campaigns, one of my friends would occasionally play the part of an Imperial, the extraordinary circumstances in which the players met giving her reason to play nice with "Rebel scum." As one video game character in Wreck-It-Ralph" would put it, "Just because you're the bad guy doesn't mean you're a, bad guy,"
 
Jessicabelle wasn't always wearing a gray uniform, though. She would sometimes be in other uniforms, such as the 100th Anniversary of Anzac Day in which she was in a British pilot's outfit.

Eventually I would leave the combat RP as a regular, but would occasionally drop by to support Jessicabelle, sometimes as the gunner in her dive bomber. I would also cover events such as the tank race and the "World of Tanks" tribute. But these were not all happy times. The Waffen SS group had given me bad vibes, and eventually these feelings were confirmed when one tried to arrest one of the furs in the Luftwaffe for being "out of uniform" - her having on a necklace from a close friend. Jessicabelle, who was there, angrily told him to leave. Eventually Vickster would get involved, and the guy trying to make the arrest was disciplined by being knocked down a rank, vindicating Jessicabelle. 
 
Eventually Vickster would step down as head of the Germain air team, and appoint Jessicabelle as the new commander. She would lead it for two years. She would also go on to develop her own line of combat aircraft, such as a Stuka made to fight tanks, which were lighter in prims and scripts then some others. They were criticized by some in the combat RP as unrealistic, "UFOs" they were called. But I found them easy to fly and less prone to lag. There would also be a "Dayfter Areonautics" plane rezzer at Farshore field for a while.

Through me she met up with Nydia, and they quickly became friends, Jessica becoming one of Nydia's Angels. She would help Nydia by appearing in calendars and videos. Although a lesbian, she didn't mind showing off for guys, and would post some pictures and art of herself on her Furaffinity page, both well-dressed and revealing. Probably the video she was best known for was Nydia's tribute to Jessica Rabbit's "Why Don't You Do Right." We would also have numerous fun times such as one rezzday party we threw for her.

 
I saw her somewhat less as time when on, but we never did lose touch. There were times she was feeling down, but she would always bounce back. I would last hear from her in August 2021 when she posted in Nydia's channel that she had tested positive for Covid. I and others were optimistic for her recovery. Sadly that was not to be. Nydia was contacted by someone who told us she knew Jessicabelle in real-life, and she had passed away, and the funeral had already taken place. She had joined the hundreds of thousands who died in the Pandemic.

No more airplane flights, no more builds, no more posing for pictures and video shoots. Jessicabelle Dayafter was gone.

Not long after, Jessicabelle would have a memorial service in her honor at New Bastogne. Vickster called her a team player who was always respectful for others. Nydia described her as a passionate model and actress, "In a world where so many try to blend in, it's people like Jessica that choses to stand out, and by that action alone she will be remembered in all she did, Fair skies my high flying Angel, until we meet again."

Jessicabelle would get a lasting memorial at the Sunweaver Memorial Garden, a flame burining constantly in her memory. It will be there for as long as the community lands are.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunweaver%20Eclipse/66/248/21

Jessicabelle was many things in the time I knew her, model, video actress, combat RP pilot, builder, and most of all, friend. She was anything but boring, and perhaps others will see her as an example one can be more than just a pretty face in this virtual world. You can be pretty and skillful, and make friends along the way who will remember you always.

Here's to you, Jessicabelle Dayafter.

Image source: Jessicabelle's Furaffinity page
 
Bixyl Shuftan
 

Friday, March 27, 2015

Holocaust Survivor Speaks at the VWBPE Conference


By Bixyl Shuftan



On March 21, The Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conference had an unusual guest speaker: FannyStarr Hilltop. In real life Fanny Starr is a survivor of the Nazi Holocaust of  WW2, in which they murdered a total of eleven million civillians, the majority in concentration camps. Explorer Dastardly, FannyStarr's real life daughter (Helen Starr), was there with her near the podium as she spoke. LoriVonne Lustre typed what she spoke via voice and posted it through announcement chat.

Under the Nazi regieme, about 20,000 concentration camps, ghettos, and similar locations were set up, used for various purposes from slave labor, temporary way stations for transit, and extermination camps built for mass murder. The places FannyStar had been stationed at were the Lodz Ghetto, where people faced starvation and disease, Auschwitz where those imprisoned faced the gas chamber and crematorium, Mauthausen which killed by working people to death, Ravensbruck, which had women only, which provided slave labor for Siemens Electric Co., and Bergen Belsen which also killed through diseases and starvation.

FannyStarr described her experiences to the audience. She had been born in the city of Lodz Poland, home to Europe's largest Jewish community, and lived an ordinary life until September 1939, when Hitler ordered German forces to invade the country, which was overrun in less than a month, "In 1939, The Nazi’s came and took control of the Jewish population, 230,000 Jews, and established, the Litzmannstadt (Litzman’s City) or the Lodz Ghetto and locked-up all the Jews. I was made to work in a tailor shop, making uniforms. I did not know how to sew.  We did not know, we were youngsters."

Life in the ghetto was brutal as the Nazis crowded large numbers of people in tiny sections of town, with the threat of death if they tried to leave. For food and medicine, they had to rely on smuggling and what were essentially starvation rations provided by the Germans. These combined with the breakdown of sanitation led to thousands dying from starvation and disease. Explorer Dastardly spoke, "There was no food or a place to grow food. People started to die and the bodies started to pile up." FannyStar added, "We did not have a hearse or a way to being bodies to the cemetery."

There were also acts of unbelievable cruelty, "In The Lodz Ghetto, my mom got sick with pneumonia, and we took her to the hospital. The Nazis did not have complete control of the hospital. We heard the Nazis where going to the hospital, and I ran with my sister to the hospital to get our mother. We heard loud noises in the corridors; the Nazis were shouting, 'get out,' and  they took all the patients out of the hospital.  The Nazis took the mothers who just gave birth to newborns and shot them dead. The Nazis went to the nursery, and took the babies. The Nazis laughed as they smashed the babies smashed into the walls. They took the legs of the babies, and tore them into two pieces. We rescued our Mom, somehow." She paused, "This is so hard to talk about, even after 70 years. Why did this happen?"


Eventually, the Nazis made the decision to deport the Ghetto's Jews, Explorer saying, "When the ghetto was closed, everyone was sent to concetration camps." FannyStar spoke, "We did not know why we were being sent to one direction or the other. We were marched to a big hall and stripped, our heads were shaved. I was with my younger sister, we could not recognize each other. We were marched again, and sat there for 3 days, naked. When we got off the train, my Mom and my brother were thrown on a truck, sent straight to the gas chambers. That was the last time I saw them. My father was sent to Dachau. My sister died in Teblinka."

Explorer pointed to a certain image on the screen, "In this image you see the SS symbol, Irma Gresse." FannyStar commented through voice the symbol still made her shiver with fear after all those years, "Irma Gresse would go around and hurt people for no reason. My sister and I were picked to go to Ravensbruck. There was no food or water.  People died. I was lucky.  I cut myself and was told that I had a disease, so I had to go to the gas chamber. My sister came with me and she talked them into saving me. She is my lucky charm."

FannyStarr was asked, "What would you tell people who are Holocaust deniers?" She described once overhearing a priest saying that it was a good thing that the Holocaust had taken place, "Hitler did a good job." She was taken aback, especially since that it was someone from the clergy saying that, "I stood up and said 'you should be shamed,' and I walked away."

A chart placed on the display screen showed a survey (taken by ADL Global 100) in which about a third of those surveyed think either the numbers of civilians murdered in the Holocaust was either greatly exaggerated, or never even happened. In the United States, it is the Klu Klux Klan and other extremist groups with anti-Jewish attitudes that are responsible for the holocaust denial movement. Around the world, over a billion harbor anti-Semitic attitudes.

Why the resurgence of anti-semitism and Holocaust deniers? Explorer Dastardly felt, "The Internet has brought out the deniers and empowered anti-semitic movements through radical extremism. Web 2.0 empowers bullying and hatred by encouraging sometimes anonymous acts of violence to promote their beliefs. In Italy last year, there was a group of neo-nazis who published all the personal information about Jews in Italy." But technology could also help stop the anti-semites, "but also, the Internet and this technology allows us to speak and educate as well. People need to know and the more they will prevent such things happening again."

Both Fanny Starr and her late spouse began to educate people about the holocaust, "My husband and I talked to schools and colleges, but we were not invited to speak to our synagogue. This is such a shame that Jewish children do not know." Someone asked how could these kinds of atrocities be prevented. Explorer answered, "Not prevented, but fighting back through education is a powerful tool. Education through awareness, and that awareness includes Holocaust education. We learned the power of one young girl Malala Yousafzai who defied hate, and anti-Education by speaking-up for her human rights as a woman. Malala, won the Nobel Peace Prize, for education, read her story. Nobel Peace Price - Malala Yousafzai. What an incredible role model. We can not prevent natural disasters, but we can help through awareness to stand up to governments and other groups, like Malala -- the youngest ever to win a Nobel Peace Prize. Last week they celebrated this in Afghanistan -- 'you cannot take away my education.'

Explorer then spoke, "What we can learn from Holocaust education? Holocaust education engages the mind to think about: Discrimination, Genocide, Hate, Racisms, Religious Oppressions, Survival. To preserve the truths we must listen the last speaking survivors. Once the survivors are gone the Holocaust becomes a myth, and people will ask, Did the Holocaust ever happen? What about education the whole world?  Are we doing a good job in letting people know that they can survive?"

FannyStarr commented, "We were all tortured and murdered without mercy. We fought for thousands of years to have our country. Thank God we got our country back. Halleuah we got our country back! I do not know WHY? Why were we cursed? AFter the war I became an atheist, asking God why I lived to see what was done. I would like to know if any one in the audience has answer?" The answer was moments of silence, followed by someone saying, "There IS such a thing as evil, and it hates the people that bear the name of G_d."

FannyStarr spoke, "When we  started going to the schools, we were often asked why don't you change your denomination? No I said, I was born a Jew and I will die a Jew." Someone asked why she was an atheist for a time. She answered, "Because initially I could not cope.  We were the chosen people. ... When I had children, we decided we needed to show them what it is to be a Jew. It is important to go on with your lives and tell the stories so others know."

Someone asked how they felt about the Germans today. FannyStarr answered, "The chancellor made them provide the information in schools." Explorer added, "In  Europe it is mandatory to teach about the Holocaust. In the US we try to teach it, and ask that this become mandatory. It is taught in a limited way in some schools / states."

There were questions about Nazis who fled to Argentina, and the current government in Greece bringing up German actions in the country during World War 2. Could Genocide happen again? FannyStar thought it was possible, "Yes. Why can it happen? People are being praised for attacking Jews."

Explorer told the crowd, "If you can't teach in one way, you can teach in other ways. Think about how we are using this platform to talk to Fanny, the survivors." When asked about if they came across any non-Jewish survivors the of Holocaust, Explorer answered, "Many do not want to talk.  They are shamed.  They are still in shock because the could not stop what happened to them. One of my mothers friends was orphaned, and she felt shamed."

FannyStarr mentioned, "One thing my husband and I felt was important.  As we knew what hunger was, we feed homeless people. We deliver food the homeless and the mentally ill, sandwiches and water that we distribute downtown." Someone asked how she felt about laws in some states making feeding the homeless illegal. She answered, "I feel good when I can feed a homeless person.  The government is against it.  A policeman told me it was against the law.  I told him, I am a holocaust survivor.  He left me alone."

Someone asked "Why didn't everyone run?" FannyStarr answered, "Why? How could you? we were too scared." Someone asked if they had any hint as to what was about to happen. FannyStar answered, "No, we had no idea. In the ghetto, we were told by Romkowski that we were going to a paradise. It was bitter herbs, not paradise. I still remember when the Nazis took my father and interrogated him. He was beaten so badly and thrown on our steps. Mom tried to bandage his poor head. There are so many stories about the brutality of the Nazis.  They were despicable. When there was the trial, they all denied. How could they kill young people like my brother.... he was a beautiful singer. He could have had a wonderful career."

Someone was asked how they felt about the issue of an independent Palestinian state. FannyStar answered, "If this will bring peace, I am not against it.  But people need to work together to have this." Explorer remarked, "we want a state but Hamas has to go. We all saw what Bibi said about not supporting the Palestinian state.  however, he has backtracked.  He acknowledges that there must be peace with all Israel's neighbours. We all agree that Hamas has to go.  They have ties to ISIS."

Someone asked, "My family were Polish Jews, and no one spoke about it. We must have had family members who died.  How do we find their stories?" Explorer answered, "I would recommend going to the list of sources on the slides I shared.  There is a lineage site, genealogist and family historians. Yad Vashem - http://www.yadvashem.org Write to them and give them all the information that you can, and they will help you."

Someone asked if they came across non-Jewish in the camps. FannyStarr answered, "No, were were restricted." Explorer explained, "Jews were separated. The way that the Nazis treated the Jews was like they were a disease, like the plague." Another asked, "How did the Nazis keep the ghettos and the Holocaust a secret?  I would notice if my Jewish neighbour disappeared." Explorer answered, "The towns were asked, did you not notice the smell from the concentration camps? They did not have an answer." Another asked, "The movie 'Schindler's List' was horrific.  Was it understated?" FannyStarr answered, "It is understated.  It does not even begin to show the horror we experienced. I met Mr. Spielberg.  Perhaps it was because we were ahead of him in telling these stories." Explorer commented, "My movie that I recommend is 'The Odessa File.' "

Another asked, "Auschwitz is recently being restored.  There is a proposal to make this space a home for indigents, rather than preserving it as is for future generations." FannyStarr hadn't heard about it. Explorer thought, "This should be brought up to the Jewish community."

Someone asked, "What would people be willing to do to make peace with Palestine?" FannyStarr answered, "I don't know.  It is up to the people." Explorer added, "I think it would take recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, that the Jews are  a people.  If we can get past that, we can have peace."

Explorer spoke, "We can never forget that the Holocaust happened. Stop blaming the Jews. Wat is funny about burning a person alive?  Nothing. Keep sharing, and thank you." FannyStarr concluded, "It is a different perspective when you see the faces in the screen than in person. Believe that such a thing happened.  History repeats.  We must stop it."

The crowd reacted positively to FannyStarr and Explorer, "I want to apologize personally to this lady, I am sorry, I didn't realize you went through so much." "You and my mother lived so that you can tell your stories." "You sound like a great lady, and a wonderful lady to talk to." "We Love Mommy Fanny." "She stepped into her past for 1 and 1/2 hours - impressive. She needs to know how brave and courageous she is." "FannyStarr I want to tell you that you are great person and I am really sorry for what you experienced in your life. It's really sad." "Thank you Fanny for your words, it means a LOT to ME." "Remember all the victims of genocide and pray for peace." "We love you Fanny." "Thank you for sharing your experience."

Explorer Dastardly is in a number of art groups, plus a Volunteer for the Relay for Life. Fanny Starr has been speaking about the Holocaust for 30 years.

*Addition* Later on Explorer had a video of the event uploaded.

Genocide Survivor Fanny Starr Speaks March, 2015 from Petlove on Vimeo.

(click here if the video fails to play)

Sources: ADL Global 100BBC Holocaust Deniers, Jewish Virtual Library, The Malala Organization, Nobel Peace Prize - Malala Yousafzai, Pew Research Center - Hostilities in Europe, USC - Shoah Foundation, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Yad Vashem  

Bixyl Shuftan

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

The Oct. 12 Battle for Bastogne

The events in the WW2 RP area have gone on, and not just the fighting. The leading officer of the combined German groups recently retired, having to leave Second Life, after a long period of service. But new faces came in, such as Sky Pydeau whom made ace status faster than previous pilots. There was recently a fencing match, of whom the Imperial Japanese Naval forces had someone playing for a friend whom couldn’t make the match. And there was the ball in which a cease-fire was declared and members of both sides were invited to attend. Once it was over, the skirmishes and battles resumed.

Most times when I stop by the New Bastogne sim in the WW2 RP area, it is firmly in the hands of the German teams. Occasionally there may be some Allied in Fallout to the south. A few about are often left alone, but if someone’s eager for a match or if a large number arrives, the results usually a fight, with planes, tanks, and numbers of infantry shooting, shelling, and bombing. Usually these matches are resolved within an hour or two, usually.

On Monday October 12, yours truly logged onto Second Life to hear there was a particularly lengthy brawl going on. It had been going on for hours, and neither side was giving in. I ported over for a closer look. The Allies had taken up defensive positions in Fallout, but an anti-aircraft gun was making it tough for the JG-2 “Richthofens” air group. Indeed that anti-aircraft gun was just near-indestructible. There was a little chuckling from a few of the opposition that this was an “anti-camping gun,” a new model that was brought onto the field before testing was complete. But after a while, they agreed to make it easier to beat, and the scripts were changed for lower hitpoints.

And with that, the Richthofen skunkgirl whom has been getting a reputation for being a topnotch bomber, went up in a Junkers Ju88 medium bomber to deal with that and other ground targets. Unfortunately, she was soon met by a Spitfire, which kept after her tail. Taking evasive action she was able to avoid much damage, while a Me109F4 flew up from the air base, caught up to them, lined up the Spitfire in his sights and open fire. The Spitfire turned and a dogfight ensued, but the Me109 was able to turn tighter and “lead” the Spitfire into his line of fire. Eventually, the Spitfire took too much damage and took a dive, leaving a smoking trail.

After a few minutes, Another Spitfire came south across the Channel. It and the Me109 engaged each other in another dogfight. This one lasted longer than the first, and the German plane was damaged a little. But as before, the Me109 was able to outmanuver the Spitfire enough to finally shoot it down, and send it plumeting into a hedgerow. Another victory for the Richthofens.

Looking around after that, I noticed a number of personnel at a bridge connecting Fallout to New Bastogne. To my surprise, it was the officers of the Allied teams sitting on the rail and breaking out the fishing poles. I was then IMed that a cease-fire had been declared, and the Germans were to leave the Allies alone as they fished. With the fight over, I didn’t stick around muhch longer. The pilot of the Me109 joked that his opponent wasn’t the first man to get in trouble for fixating on a girl’s rear end.

I later chatted with Duarte Koray, whom had spent some time earlier in the battle. He couldn’t remember much, “I participate in many missions, difficult to remember all. (grin) ... I just remember the time I went by plane, I took down three aircraft, returned to base, and then afterwards, ... I think I went fishing.” With a truce declared, he had gone to fish with the American and British teams.

Both teams duking it out for hours on end, and then declaring a halt to the fighting and sitting down to fish. Some fishermen might consider this a perfect ending to a pitched match.


Bixyl Shuftan

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Interview with WW2 RP JG 2 Commander Vickster “Baroness” Kuhn

Vickster Kuhn is the Commander of the Luftwaffe group in the World War 2 RP area . Besides leading JG 2, the “Richthofens,” she has titles in several other groups, and her profile states she’s considered an ace in five flight groups on the Grid. Recently, she agreed to an interview with Second Life Newspaper.

Vickster Kuhn: Have a seat. This is one of the hangars I keep in Second Life. This one is dedicated to the Richthofen Squadron.

Bixyl Shuftan: Thank you. So Vickster, when did you first come across flying in Second Life?

Vickster Kuhn: Well I (first) flew helicopters, because I couldn't handle planes. But I had a good friend. She was into WW2. She had these great planes, and I wanted to do it too. So I started hanging around Wilders. I joined the RCAF and started flying regularly. Tthat was more than two years ago.

Bixyl Shuftan: When did you first hear of the RP at New Bastogne?

Vickster Kuhn: Well, I own New Bastogne.

Bixyl Shuftan: Oops, excuse me. How did the World War Two Roleplay get started?

Vickster Kuhn: Well it started a long time ago, at least a long time ago in Second Life (laugh). It all really started in a sim called Sanctuary. It’s gone now. But they made this sim for Vice combat, WW2. Mostly flying. That is where most of the WW2 sims we have now were inspired. It was sort of the first inception of the Bastogne project, where we tried to integrate Vice combat and RP.

Vice combat was unique in SL because you can mix personal combat and vehicular combat with different weapons and everything. Before Vice no systems did that. Now there are several, but that's another story (laughter). VICE will ever be part of the history of SL combat, especially for aviation. But the best part is the mixture of ground and air elements.

Bixyl Shuftan: the bombs and anti-aircraft guns?

Vickster Kuhn: Sure, and personal weapons, tanks, ships, everything.

Bixyl Shuftan: when did the Bastogne project begin?

Vickster Kuhn: About Bastogne (smile), After Sanctuary closed, as sims do, they made a partnership with the Flying Tigers, that’s the SL group, and opened two sims, Legends of WW2 and Fallout. Later they opened a third sim, called Bastogne. All three for WW2 Vice combat and RP. Saffron Giano owned Fallout and Bastogne and G of the Flying Tigers owned Legends. That was what I like to call the golden age of WWII RP in Second Life.

Bixyl Shuftan: Sounds like there was quite a bit of activity.

Vickster Kuhn: There was so much activity i still have a hard time processing it all in my own mind. I really came of age as an aviator in those days, and leaned how to organize. I was the Axis coordinator of Bastogne. And I successfully repelled the D-Day invasion of Normandy, which is one of my proudest moments in SL.

Bixyl Shuftan: Sounds like you made a number of kills that day.

Vickster Kuhn: Actually, I was in charge of the air defense, but I planned the defense of the beach to the letter, with the leaders of the ground forces, and it was planning that won the day. But it's ancient history now.

Bixyl Shuftan: What are some more recent accomplishments?

Vickster Kuhn: I’ve been very lucky in Second Life. My area of interest is combat aviation with an emphasis on WWII, and I have had a pretty successful career. I'm lucky to enjoy a good reputation as a flyer. And I ave extended this with my squadron JG 2 'Richthofen.' But my fame really comes from my career as a Flying Tiger. I’m not saying I’m famous, but a lot of people do seem to know me.

Bixyl Shuftan: Any future plans for the RP?

Vickster Kuhn: We are experimenting with a new combat system. For my sim we want to add more RP opportunities for civilians and medical people, and support people, and make more engaging contests. RP is the part that is the most wide open, because you can roleplay anything.

In real-life, I'm an office girl. In Second Life, I'm one of the most feared pilots (around). (laughter) You can see why I'm an SL junky. Bastogne is my gift to my friends. I missed old Bastogne so much. We had air and ground. And when it closed it was so terrible, that is why I did New Bastogne. It’s not like the old sime. My helpers and I redid it completely. We keep changing things. You have to in Second Life.

And we have had many hard times. Not just in Bastogne but in Second Life. People like us who make sims, it’s hard, because it takes a lot of people. Anybody can open a sim. But people like G, they are my inspiration. Not just land, but people and groups. We don't get many chances like this to play in Second Life. And they are fewer than they were in the old days. It's hard to coordinate and the least thing can ruin it.

Bixyl Shuftan: I heard something about membership in the RP climbing back to over 400.

Vickster Kuhn: We have a strong base group that's nearly two years old. That was the base group of old Bastogne.

Bixyl Shuftan: Anything else that you'd like to mention?

Vickster Kuhn: I would like to say that I have two loves in Second Life: the Flying Tigers and The Richtofen Squadron. And that I plan to have Bastogne for a very long time. And that I thank all my fellow WW2 RPers for all the great times and memories. (smile)

And with that, the interview was over. Before leaving, she did tell me of a Youtube she had done for the group. Having seen it, it makes for a fitting close.



Bixyl Shuftan