The "social media site for adults" Gather.com announces that they are launching a search for six bloggers to be their "People’s Press Corps" to cover the 2008 US elections. The winning bloggers (2 Dems, 2 Reps, and 2 Independents) will report on the 2008 presidential election, receiving "exclusive access to candidates, experts, and events." The…
To prove the Islamic fundamentalist wrong, we must agree on what matters: bacon
Salman Rushdie, Step Across the Line, 2002: The fundamentalist seeks to bring down a great deal more than buildings. Such people are against, to offer just a brief list, freedom of speech, a multi-party political system, universal adult sufferage, accountable government, Jews, homosexuals, women’s rights, pluralism, secularism, short skirts, dancing, beardlessness, evolution theory, sex… The…
Are there “best practices” for non-profits in the virtual world?
As I have blogged about previously, I am working on a report for the youth technology group Global Kids on "best practices" for non-profits in Second Life. Having spoken with dozens of non-profit organizers and activists and read through several panels, reports, and web discussions on the subject, I am slowly starting to suspect that…
Ben Barber slams Second Life, Brazilian Minister Gilberto Gil argues that it connects diasporas
I caught just the tail end of a mixed-reality panel discussion today on "From Global to Local: Virtual Worlds, Immigration, and Linguistic Diaspora," taking place both at USC Annenberg Island in Second Life (teleport SLURL) and the Tecnológico de Monterrey Campus Santa Fe, in Mexico City. The panel was to discuss how "the interdependence of…
“Doonesbury” strip features philanthropic use of Second Life!
I got a tip from a comment on New World Notes by Neptune Rebel that the recent Sunday "Doonesbury" comic strip featured a reference to Second Life. A character talks about how he has been fundraising for a charity using his "private foundation on Second Life," his avatar raising "nearly $600." Great to see some…
SL World Trade Center memorial today (pictures)
This morning, I returned to the World Trade Center sim (teleport SLURL) to gather with other 20-some other avatars for a 9/11 commemorative event. Many avatars wore black suits and dresses, appropriate to the occasion. Lots of hugs and greetings all around. I ran into most of the principal organizers of the sim, including Liam…
The World Trade Center Sim: a profound demonstration of why virtual worlds matter
Aleister Kronos Mark Wallace at 3pointD blogs eloquently about a new World Trade Center sim in Second Life that I just finished visiting this evening (teleport SLURL). Unlike previous memorials, which have sought to create virtual versions of the actual towers, this memorial simply and powerful records the names of all the victims of the…
Looking for Non-profit “Best Practices” in Second Life
The awesome youth technology group Global Kids has asked me to prepare a report on "best practices" for non-profits in Second Life that will be submitted to a major foundation. I know many groups from around the world are already doing great work in SL and have learned some valuable lessons that others could benefit…
Regina at Astor Place Hair
Astor Place Hair is one of those New York institutions that you take for granted until rising rents force them out of business. Open since 1945, Astor Place Hair over the last 10 years has begun to be penned in by Starbucks, the Gap, Barnes and Nobles and other corporate franchises. And yet it soldiers…
Saturday morning machinima: “Morning Run Amok”
Online Videos by Veoh.com Master machinimator Phil Rice (aka Overman) invited me to a fabulous online event last night, the unveiling of the new machinima website http://machiniplex.com. The featured new machinima film was the hilarious "Morning Run Amok" by FlingFilms which was the perfect way to start a Saturday morning. If you like the trailer,…