I got an opportunity to speak about Global Kids's approach to youth development and the kinds of services we offer other institutions at "Nonprofit Week" on Orange Island in Second Life today. It was neat being among the 150 or so avatars who rezzed in for the talks today by my friends Coughran Mayo and…
The first trial at the International Criminal Court begins!
Yesterday, January 26, 2009, the long-delayed trial of Thomas Lubanga finally began at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The first trial of the ICC, Lubanga is accused of having committed war crimes consisting of conscripting child soldiers into his militia, the "Forces patriotiques pour la libération du Congo" in the Democratic Republic of…
YouTube as a research tool: all the knowledge of humanity in 3 minute chunks
The New York Times has an interesting article from a few days ago about how young people are using YouTube as their primary search engine for finding information on the internet. Entitled "At First, Funny Videos. Now, a Reference Tool," the report describes how kids are increasingly seeking all sorts of knowledge on this extremely…
Should Linden Lab integrate the Teen and Adult Second Life Grids?
There's been a flurry of debates going on within the Second Life blogosphere, in-world, and elsewhere about the possibility of Linden Lab integrating the Teen and Adults-only spaces in the virtual world of Second Life. This all erupted after Philip Linden, founder and chairman of Linden Lab, revealled in a recent Metanomics show that a…
Dancing alone, dancing in community
Several people at Quaker Meeting today wanted me to share this message I spoke at Meeting for Worship this morning. So here’s the gist of it: Last night I attended two dances. I ended the evening at a soul party in Fort Greene. There was a certain kind of joy in the room, with a …
The Mighty Hannibal at the Five Spot in Brooklyn tonight (video)
I just got home from "Dig Deeper", a monthly soul jam at the Five Spot in Fort Greene. Tonight the featured performer was the Mighty Hannibal, a 69-year old soul artist from Atlanta, backed by the Sweet Divines. Hannibal is still a powerful performer, despite losing his eyesight a few years ago. I love…
Global Kids at Education Faire, Metanomics, Orange Island this week
Global Kids is all over the Second Life grid this coming week, with appearances at three high-profile events. Come by if you want to find out what we've been up to, our views on Teen / Main Grid integration, and how you can support youth development using virtual worlds. Here's the breakdown: Second Life Education…
What to wear to my Time Out: New York photo shoot?
I am apparently appearing in the annual "Singles" issue of Time Out New York , which is pretty exciting. Every year, they profile 100 eligible people in their magazine and on the web (i.e. this profile.) I was selected because they needed to fill that all important Quaker/b-boy/Pacific Islander demographic. I have a photo shoot…
Legendary lindy hopper Norma Miller on TODAY show talking about Obama and swing as a unifying force
Here's a neat clip of pioneering lindy hopper Ms. Norma Miller on the TODAY show on NBC from a couple of days ago. Norma talks about how historic Barack Obama's presidency is and how swing has always brought people of different races together in harmony. Norma at 90 years young continues to perform and appear…
Witnessing history with 2 million Americans in the National Mall
At 4am on Tuesday, some obnoxious chiming noise woke me with a start. For a minute or so I was completely disoriented: Where am I? Why am I up this early? Whose bed is this? Then it all came in like a jolt: it’s Inauguration Day! I leapt out of bed and started getting ready…