Second Life

What would you do if you could create for yourself, a brandnew existence within a virtual environment? Would this make-believe life mirror your real life exactly or would you play with the wildest possible version of something you would never dare become in the flesh? That is more or less what Second Life is all about and if you are a Second Lifer, looking to share information, or would like to just explore a little before you get involved, then take a closer look at this group. A popular topic on the discussion board is 'What is your SL name?', while a related topic 'SL name and small description' allows you to share a few more details about your avatar. There are plenty requests for information from students doing projects or people conducting surveys. Other threads include 'Why do you play Second Life?', 'Looking for work in SL', 'L$', 'How does your avatar look and why?', 'Is there something in SL that bugs you ?' and 'YOUR SL PARTNER' which includes two posts from Second Lifers who married their SL partners in real life. The gallery showcases various screen shots of member avatars.

What's great about this group: It's a great place to learn more about Second Life.

Click here to go directly to 'Second Life'.

Lenore, The Cute Little Dead Girl

She has enormous bulging eyes and scull-shaped slides in her blond hair. The living often meet with some fatal misfortune, when they come into her vicinity. Her best friend, Raggamuffin, looks like a ragdoll, but is really a vampire under a curse. The humor of her stories is very, very back, but that is what makes this creation of Roman Dirge so irresistible. Threads in the discussion board include 'Who is you favourite Lenore character?', 'How many times has Mr.Gosh been killed by Lenore?', 'What's your favorite episode?' and 'favorite lenore quote???' The gallery features over 200 images, which include beautiful Lenore art, Lenore comic pages, Lenore tattoos and other functional art with Lenore on it.

What's great about this group: Lenore IS cute, in a creepy sort of way.

A word of caution: If you don't appreciate dark humor, you probably won't like Lenore very much.

Click here to go directly to 'Lenore, The Cute Little Dead Girl'.

Enchanted Doll

Toys, they most definitely are not, but these dolls are indisputably works of art. The gallery of this group contains some of the most amazing images of the creations of the Russian born porcelain doll artist Marina Bychkova. Ball jointed and anatomically correct, and with features that could include nose-rings, freckles and scarification, to name but a few, the dolls are about as far removed from Barbies as Courtney Love is from a nun . Male and female dolls, artistically tattooed dolls and costumed dolls, are photographed in posed settings, which showcase their incredible possibilities. No threads on the discussion board and not that many wall posts either, but I believe strongly that beauty should be shared and that is why I am sharing this.

What's great about this group: It celebrates the art of a very talented young woman.

A word of caution: If your concept of a doll, is that of plastic, but safe image of a mass-produced Barbie, avoid this group.

Click here to go directly to 'Enchanted Doll'.

You know you've worked in hotels when....

Spare a thought for those who work in the hospitality industry, specifically the hard-working employees of hotels, who work long hours to contribute to what we call our holiday memories. In this group, these workers get the opportunity to share the fun and frustration of their profession. A thread called 'The best complaint EVER!!!!!!!' pretty much says it all, you might find related content in 'The stupid things they say?', 'Stupid things people do in Hotel rooms' and 'Dumbest question ever'. If you are looking for celebrity gossip, check out 'What famous people have you served and were they as you expected to find them or totally different?' and 'most famous person stayed at ur hotel'. Specific hotel groups are dealt with in 'Hilton International', 'Marriott International' and 'Intercontinental/ Holiday Inn/Crowne Plaza/ HI Express/ Staybridge Suites ect...' Other topics of interest include 'Best Guest Names of All Time', 'HAUNTED hotels?' and 'Funniest fcuk ups!!'

What's great about this group: It offers an insider's glimpse of the hospitality industry.

Click here to go directly to 'You know you've worked in hotels when....'

Am I the only alien on this planet?

I like the name of this group. I've felt like that at times. Looking at the discussion board, most attention seems to be focused on spiritual matters. Some of the topics covered include 'alien abduction/past lives', 'enlightenment', 'Multidimensional consciousness', 'world healing', 'spiritual practices', 'meeting soul mates' and 'Spontaneous Human/Paranormal Combustion'. There is more. You can ''Add your inspirational quotes and stuff for everyone here!', share your views on 'What type of music inspires you?', 'how do you interpret spirit messages?', 'do you believe in angels, fairies and magic?', 'How do you feel about psychics and mediums?', 'had any paranormal or just plain freaky experiences?' and 'Common lightbody symptoms occurring as part of the Earth/Human changes'. Links to other resources on the internet can be found in wall posts and also in responses to some of the topics.

What's great about this group: Like I said, I love the name.

Update (25 October 2023)

This Facebook group does not seem to exist anymore. 

The Best Photos of Serbia

How essential is command of language to the enjoyment of beauty? It plays absolutely no role at all, I discovered as I wondered through the stunning images uploaded to this group, which is dedicated to displaying the visual splendor of Serbia. Among the things I saw, were sunsets, raspberry brandy, castles, churches, statues, stained glass windows, snowy landscapes, horse-drawn sleighs, lakes, sunflowers, woodpeckers, swans, railroad tracks, waterfalls, forests, fireworks, bridges chilli ristras and toadstools. There were people too, beautiful people and people with character. Instead of stimulating your intellect with discussion, rest your soul and feast your eyes with beauty. It's a good cure for Monday blues.

What's great about this group: The beautiful and striking images, of course. There are over 3,800 of them.

Click here to go directly to 'The Best Photos of Serbia'.

Acoustic Guitar Players

What musical instrument can be compared to the acoustic guitar? You can play it indoors or outdoors, carry it with you wherever you go, and it can be as good as your own backing group. Whether you are a raw amateur or a virtuoso, you might find something of interest in this group. Topics on the discussion board range from those dealing with equiptment, such as 'how do you look after your guitars?', 'What kind of guitar do you have???', 'The oldest guitar owned by anyone one this board' and 'Strings', to the general subject of technique, which is covered by ' Pick or Fingers?', 'Fingerpicking with the pinky' and 'Which Chord did you or do you still find the hardest to play', to name but a few. For discussing better known guitarists, look at the threads 'whos ur guitar god??', 'best "acoustic" guitarists' and 'Who is the best FEMALE guitarist in the world..?' There are over 600 images in the gallery, many of guitar collections, but also a few humorous ones.

What's great about this group: It's good inspiration for anyone who wants to brush up on their acoustic guitar playing.

Click here to go directly to 'Acoustic Guitar Players'.

Stuff White People Like

I like people who embrace the true meaning of open-mindedness. I especially like people who possess the gift (and it is truly a gift) of poking fun at themselves. Which brings me to this group with their potentially provocative name, because I've found that I like them very much too. The group, which currently has more than 23,000 members, is dedicated to the popular blog written by Christian Lander, who is also its creator. Is the blog racist? Well, that is but one topic tackled on the discussion board. The threads 'How are you guilty?' and 'How do YOU exemplify the stereotype?' lets you assess how closely you conform, whereas 'What should be on the list?' adds more stuff that white people like. It is also clear that the group and the blog have a number of devoted black and Asian fans, as revealed in 'Non-White Yet Read Stuff White People Like?' and 'how many non-white people are in this group?'

What's great about this group: If you have a sense of humor, it will make you smile broadly.

Update (25 October 2023)

This Facebook Group still exists, but does not seem terribly active. Go here to visit or join. 

Stephen King

We are more than halfway into NaNoWriMo, and I am not writing a novel. Some authors, of course, need no calendar occasions to get them to write and the subject of this group must serve as one of the most stirling examples. The information section lists his incredibly prolific output. The discussion board is fairly active, ranging from threads dealing with favorites such as 'What book got you hooked?', 'whats your favourite stephen king film?' and 'Scariest Stephen King story you've read?' to threads that discuss specific books such as 'CELL: Poor or Good', 'It vs Misery', 'The Tommyknockers', 'Is Lisey's Story Good?' and 'Best short story in Just After Sunset'. There is plenty of topics dealing with characters and aspects of Stephen King's work in general as well, such as 'Saddest Deaths in a Stephen King Story?', 'best child character?', 'Favorite Character In Any story', 'most annoying character?' and 'Worst real life scare due to a Stephen King book/story'. The gallery includes images of artwork and tattoos derived from Stephen King stories.

What's great about this group: When it comes to horror, Stephen King is the best.

Click here to go directly to 'Stephen King'.

harry potter

There are various facebook groups dedicated to the Harry Potter phenomenon, like for instance 'Harry Potter and the Bad Pickup Lines', '"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!" : Mrs. Weasley Appreciation Group' and 'Fred Weasley -- We Salute You'. That's not even touching on the great many simply called Harry Potter, of which today's featured group seems to be one of the biggies, weighing in at over 52,000 members. Threads on the discussion board include 'What pet do you want from Harry Potter?', 'Who is your Favorite Character and Why?', 'dialougue from the movies', 'You know you're addicted to Harry Potter when...', 'The Greatest Spell Ever?' and 'Favourite Character who Died..' Two particularly popular topics are 'Twilight VS Harry Potter' and 'who said ( dialougue from the movies)'. Draco Malfoy and Albus Dumbeldore both have threads of their own, while 'Mistakes of Harry Potter' tackles continuity errors.

What's great about this group: It's a home base for Harry Potter's many fans.

Click here to go directly to 'harry potter'.

Largest Native Facebook Group

The cover picture of this group, showing a quartet of Native American braves with the caption 'Homeland Security - Fighting terrorism since 1492' was the first thing that got my attention about this group. 'The Prophecy of the Seven Fires', told in the information section, is equally thought-provoking. There is also a strong anti-spam warning, a very good thing, since many potentially interesting groups can get ruined very quickly by a flood of advertisers. While the group welcomes any native people who can claim First Nation status, the majority of posts seem to focus on the affairs of Native Americans of the USA and Canada. Threads in the discussion board include 'WHERE U FROM, WHAT'S YOUR NATION???', 'Why a mixed race person is still Native American', 'Do you wear moccasins?', 'what makes native people happy?' and 'Christianity and Native American Traditions' to name but a few, as a large variety of topics are touched upon, ranging from news items concerning Native Americans and other internet resources for Native Americans, to political opinions and regional cultural events.

What's great about this group: It provides a great networking resource for promoting the interests of native peoples.

Click here to go directly to 'Largest Native Facebook Group'.

Top 10 reasons to date an ENGINEER

They are the somewhat eccentric thinkers responsible for much of the technology that characterizes our lives. Mostly when they open their mouths to talk about what they do for a living, the rest of us mere mortals tend to wilt in bewildered awe. This group promotes the idea that being an engineer should not necessarily count against a person's ability to attract members of the opposite sex. Threads include 'what is the most common thing among engineers??', 'Are there any female engineers?', 'Which engineering is the best? Why?', 'Which Engineers are the sexiest', 'Toughest engineering subject' and 'Why people hate Engineers'. There is even a thread for jokes. The information section obviously lists the top ten reasons for dating an engineer and in the gallery, you will find over 500 images showing plenty of jokes as well as photographs of works in progress.

What's great about this group: Love an engineer. They probably deserve it.

Click here to go directly to 'Top 10 reasons to date an ENGINEER'.

333

We are fast approaching that time of the year. Christmas? No, not just yet. In three weeks time, on the 29th of November, the sun will rise to the 333rd day of 2009. A day like any other? Not according to the members of this group, no. As they are quick to point out, since 333 is half-way towards 666, the infamous number of the Beast, the number should represent the interests of those who count themselves among the semi-evil. The idea is original and thought-provoking, but to date they have only managed to attract 373 members. According to the discussion board, there was a little excitement when the ' 333rd member of the group...' joined, although, that particular person has yet to be identified. Other topics, and there are not that many, include 'Encounters with 333' and '333 Telepathy'. The group hosts an event, International Day of Semi-Evilness, which is of course celebrated on the 333rd day of any year.

What's great about this group: The idea is original and makes a statement.

Click here to go directly to '333'.

Terry Pratchett and Discworld Addicts

Since the publication of 'The Colour of Magic', the first Discworld novel in 1983, the elephant carried flatland of Terry Pratchett's imagination has gained many fans and some 22,000 of them are members of this group on Facebook. There are many fun threads here to explore. In 'Vs...' any discworld character is pitted against anyone else, real or fictional. You can speculate about 'If the Discworld somehow got mixed with other fictional worlds, what would happen?', 'What would you like to see in the next book?' or 'If you were to add a brand new charactor to the disc, who would you base it on and why?' Test your knowledge in 'Trivia game!' or just share your own enjoyment in 'What was the first Discworld book you read?' and 'What's your favorite Discworld quote?' There is even a thread dealing with 'Inconsistencies in the series?'

What's great about this group: Share your enjoyment of this best selling fantasy author's work.

Click here to go directly to 'Terry Pratchett and Discworld Addicts'.

Free Food Events

If you love food and get excited at the idea of saving money, then this group is definitely worth investigating. Ranging from offers of free chicken and free sandwiches to free Chai tea and soft drinks, there are plenty of foodie offers look at around the world. There are also links to websites and to blogs that chronicle and highlight free food offers. There is no discussion board. Most of the action happens in the wall posts. There are over 200 links related to givaways and 23 past events highlighting specific promotions involving free food.

What's great about this group: We all want something for nothing.

Click here to go directly to 'Free Food Events'.

Automatic Doors Make Me Feel Like A Jedi

The world of science fiction and the imagination of young boys and girls got a huge boost when the first Star Wars movie opened in 1977. While those kids (and a great many who came after) grew up to battle mortgages and recession layoffs, rather than an evil empire, the dream of being an intergallactic hero still rears its head once in a while. This fun group celebrates the way we sometimes kid ourselves to believe that our lives and our actions have far greater reach than they probably do in reality. On the discussion board, you can 'Create your own Jedi/Sith Character', reveal 'Your Jedi/Sith Name?', share suggestions for staging 'Public lightsaber battles' and speculate on your affiliation in 'You know you've passed over to the dark side when....' If you want to talk about the real Star Wars, look at 'The most pointless character in Star Wars' and 'Star Wars Q n A'. There are also threads that cover 'Other situations that make you feel like a Jedi', 'more inventions that make you feel like a jedi ...' and 'What's the most Jedi-like thing you have done?'

What's great about this group: It's fun to dream only a truly grand scale.

A word of caution: If you don't like SciFi, avoid.

Update (29 October 2023)

There is no Facebook group with this name, but there is a Facebook page with the same name. It has 52 followers and can be found here. 

Addicted to quotes

What is it about the human condition and quotes? On the discussion board of this group, you can find threads offering 'Quotes About Women by Women', 'Movie Quotes', 'Birthday Quotes', 'Anti-bullying quotes?', 'hip hop quotables', 'Music Quotes', 'friendship quotes' and 'Inspiring quotes'. One topic poses the question 'If You Could Give Someone Just One Piece Of Advice, What Would You Say? About Life/Confidence/Love/Anything...' There are over 800 images with quotes incorporated in the gallery and many members merely post their quotes on the wall.
If you join the group, they promise to send you a 'Quote of the Day' and they also appeal to members to submit quotes to be featured in this service.

What's great about this group: Once you get started, quotes are irresistable.

Click here to go directly to 'Addicted to quotes'.

Stupid things pet owners say to vets and vet nurses

We are often unaware of the hardships and humor medical professionals endure on a daily basis in the line of work, and although the members of this group care for our furry friends, rather than us, they still deserve our respect, our grattitude and above all our understanding. As some of the posters point out, it is often not so much the pets that annoy, but the behaviour and insensitivity of the owners. Some threads such as 'The thermometer reaction.' and 'Wierd names for neutering' deal with those things pet owners cannot bring themselves to say, while others such as 'Most annoying things to happen in a consultation', 'Know it all's' and 'I Can't Pay You Any Money This Week Because .........' deal with the sort of things vets would love to introduce into conversations, if only their good manners would let them. Other topics include 'Funniest thing that has happened in practice...', 'Worst surgical surprise', 'Christmas disasters' and 'Quirky things that pets do'.

What's great about this group: Learn more about the trials and tribulations of your vet.

A word of caution: You might not want to know some of the grosser, more graphic details of a vet's work.

Click here to go directly to 'Stupid things pet owners say to vets and vet nurses'

I'm a Mother of Twins...You Don't Scare Me

While I am not the parent of twins, I can imagine the challenge involved. Several threads deal with disparities 'The Good One and The Bad One! How do you Deal?' and 'Twins born at diffrent weights does the small one catch up?' are examples of this, while 'First grade in seperate class' discusses the pros and cons of splitting twins to allow their personalities to assert themselves separately. 'Fun Tips and Tricks of the Trade' offers a few lifesaver distractions, when things get too hectic. Several threads deal with the terrible twos or the complications of dealing with boy/girl twins, while moms can share and compare in 'How old were you?' and 'smart answers to the "dumb" questions people ask about twins (just for fun)'. There are even a few calls by film companies and casting agents for identical twin babies. If you like seeing double, there are over 3,000 images in this group's gallery.

What's great about this group: It is probably a very necessary resource for mothers of twins.

Click here to go directly to 'I'm a Mother of Twins...You Don't Scare Me'.

25 FUN Things To Do In An Elevator

The stoic enforced politeness of elevators can get to you. Especially, if you use them on a daily basis. Whether the 14,000 plus members of this group actually engage in any of the 25 suggested activities in the group's description, is a matter of debate, but merely thinking about them, is guarenteed to lighten your mood the next time you step into one. There isn't much activity on the discussion board, but two topics are worth examining. The thread 'truth or dare [without the dare]' challenges you to answer a question posed by the person above you, elevator
related, of course. 'More?' is where you will find suggestions of other fun things (besides the 25 in the group description) to do in an elevator, and one single post lists a top 40 of those.

What's great about this group: It appeals to your inner brat.

Click here to go directly to '25 FUN Things To Do In An Elevator'.

You know you've worked too long in a lab when

Although half the gems in this group are probably wasted on uninformed outsiders like myself, it still makes fascinating reading and, it is sort of a relief that there is a virtual place out there where scientists can let their white coats down and share some fun facts and experiences only fellow scientists can truly appreciate. Threads include 'Best lab smell', 'worst smelling substance', 'Scariest chemical', 'Best colo(u)rs in the lab', 'Scariest Item of Lab Equipment?' and 'worst lab specimen (OR..things that make you go BLARP!)'. When it comes to fellow lab workers, there are discussions on 'What's your pet peeve in the lab?', 'It's easy to spot someone whos new in the lab
because......' and 'What bugs you the most about patients who are having blood drawn?' Wall posts offer possible answers to the question posed in the group name.

What's great about this group: It shows the fun side of science.

Click here to go directly to 'You know you've worked too long in a lab when'

Carlos Castaneda

Although he died 1998, the legend and enigma of new Age author Carlos Castaneda endures, sparking much of the discussion on various topics, but perhaps most specifically regarding how his writings should be interpreted. Probably the most burning questions left unanswered, deal with the exact nature and authenticity of Don Juan, which is tackled to some degree in the thread ' did he or did he not existed, carlos castañeda?'. There are references to a documentary in 'A documentary film about Carlos Castaneda: Enigma of a Sorcerer (2004)' and also 'How do we reconcile the contradiction between Castaneda's writings and his life?' Other topics 'Playing with the Spirit', 'the Art of Seeking' and 'Losing Self Importance' deal with self-development, as do many of the wall posts. In the gallery, you will find some highly intriguing but startlingly beautiful images.

What's great about this group: It pays homage to the legacy of Carlos Castaneda.

Click here to go directly to 'Carlos Castaneda'.