I just finished reading the fascinating study "The Unbearable Likeness of Being Digital: The Persistence of Nonverbal Social Norms in Online Virtual Environments" led by Nick Yee of Stanford University, with Jeremy N. Bailenson, Mark Urbanek, Francis Chang, and Dan Merget. Yee et al. were interested in examining if norms about social space in the…
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The Millennium Development Games
I got an interesting email the other day from Amil Husain of the UN Millennium Campaign regarding a new series of educational games they wish to produce to run on Negroponte’s $100 laptop: My agency at the United Nations is entering into a partnership with the NGO, One Laptop Per Child who have produced a…
Second Life Protest against US intervention in Iran
Just popped into SL to catch a possibly spontaneous protest against any US military action against Iran. There are twenty-some avatars gathered at the Capitol Hill sim holding signs and shouting slogans at each other. Apparently this protest was a reaction to Iran’s defiance of the Security Council resolution calling on them to stop their…
Video tour of Roma (ancient Roman Second Life sim)
In January, I posted some comments about and pictures of the impressive "Roma" ancient Rome build created by Torin Golding (teleport SLURL). Since then, I've received a request to create a video showing the historic sim for those who aren't in Second Life. I threw this video together over the weekend. (The video might take…
The 13 most beautiful avatars and Einstein’s critique
Last night I dropped by the opening of the 13 Most Beautiful Avatars exhibition at The Postmasters Gallery in Manhattan. It was the typical hip arty crowd standing around with plastic cups of white wine. It was worth venturing out on an ass cold winter’s night just to chat with Mark Wallace (who tipped me…
Frankie & Dawn: Last day!
Today Frankie and Dawn went back to the pet adoption center. Hopefully they go off to a good permanent home shortly. Here’s some of my last pics of the cute lil buggers.
The THON: the Dance Marathon to end all marathons
The kids at Penn State every year throw an amazing dance marathon called simply "The THON" to benefit pediatric cancer care at at the Penn State Children’s Hospital. They have raised $41 million over the past 31 years! This year, the benefit has gone virtual, with a host of in-world concerts to raise funds taking…
Cute overload: Frankie and Dawn Day 6
Here’s some friday morning cuteness from kitties Frankie and Dawn. The two pictures on the left are Frankie, the more sedate and sociable one, and the two on the right are Dawn, who always seems to be yelling about something. No resemblance to actual people or their character is implied! Enjoy.
James Turrell: Quaker artist who paints with light
I had the distinct pleasure of being at an inspiring lecture this evening by the artist James Turrell, speaking at a peace event put on by the Friends Seminary on 15th Street. Turrell is a Quaker who has spent his whole artistic career depicting light as physical entity with shape and texture and thickness. He…
Legendary swing dancer Frankie Manning’s autobiography hits the shelves in April!
I've had the honor and privilege of studying under the legendary swing dancer Frankie Manning, the octogenarian ambassador for Lindy Hop. I'm super-excited to announce that Frankie Manning's long awaited autobiography is finally hitting the shelves in April. Entitled Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop, the book chronicles the life and times of this…