The refurbished Virtual Aloft hotel in Second Life re-opened today. I stopped by and checked it out this afternoon. It’s really nicely done in pleasing greys and pastels, just like I remembered it a few months ago when I first did my quasi-illicit visit. I frankly can’t see much of a big change from the…
Category: Virtual Worlds
Avatars fly to end multiple sclerosis June 11-17
Just got news that the National MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Society is partnering with Scion and MovieTickets.com on a cool-sounding fundraiser to support the millions who suffer from the debilitating disease of MS. Scheduled from June 11-17, the "MS FLY" is the virtual equivalent of the annual "MS WALK" that takes place all around the United…
Teens create Second Life PSAs on obesity, piracy, intolerance
Youth non-profit Global Kids announces that five teams of teenagers has completed 30-second Public Service Announcements created in Second Life. The PSAs cover a range of issues including obesity, media literacy, piracy, discrimination and safe surfing on the net. Okay, these videos aren’t going to win any Mackies for machinima excellence, but it’s great seeing…
InWorld Cinema showing feature films in SL starting Friday
As folks who read my blog know, I’m keen on the idea of virtual movie watching. So I was pleased to get this press release from Dire Lobo announcing the opening of InWorld Cinemas, a place in Second Life where for a modest ticket price you can see full-length feature films for L$260 (about one…
SLProfiles offers virtual ribbons to support the Relay for Life
Yo Brewster sent this to me awhile ago, but I’m just getting around to posting now. His excellent SL social networking site SLProfiles.com is supporting the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life initiative by selling virtual ribbons and passing on 100% of the proceeds directly to the ACS. As a nice little social incentive, every…
Code Pink SL presents “Impeach on the Beach” this Sunday
Ana Herzog sends me info about a fun progressive political action in SL, "Impeach on the Beach." The feminist activist group Code Pink invites avatars to gather at Mikianna Island in Second Life to help spell out the word "IMPEACH" lying head-to-toe on the beach. The event is this Sunday, May 6, starting at noon…
Reporters without Borders comes to the world without borders
The Paris-based press freedom Rapporteurs sans Frontieres (Reporters without Borders) has opened a new Second Life headquarters to draw attention to their work in support of persecuted and imprisoned journalists around the world. You can find a "hall of shame" showing prominent persecutors of the press around the world, news feeds from their work around…
Obama reclaims his myspace page: the limits of viral grassroots organizing
PoliticsOnline.com reports that the Barack Obama campaign has "taken control of the volunteer created MySpace page listed under his name." Apparently 29-year-old Joe Anthony created the MySpace page a few years ago after hearing Obama speak at the Democratic National Convention. Since then, it has unofficially hosted news and information about Obama and his campaign,…
“Don’t Stand So Close to Me”: NPR video on Nick Yee’s virtual proximity study
NPR has a new blog called "Bryant Park" that features today a fun video on Nick Yee’s research on social proximity in Second Life. Entitled "Don’t Stand So Close to Me," journalist Win Rosenfeld amusingly explores how our real world social norms about physical space translate to the virtual realm. Check it out! (I shot…
“Plain Dress” and simplicity in virtual living
Quakers have as one of our core values the testimony of "Simplicity." This applies to everything from the way we spend our money to the kind of cars we drive. In particular though, this simplicity has been most manifested by the traditional form of dress associated with Quakers, i.e. "The Quaker Oats Man." Historically, Quakers…