I just got this call for contributions for a mixed reality Second Life / real life benefit for cancer research called "Pink for Life." The European cancer research Gustave Roussy Institute is throwing a fashion exhibit and auction on the Champs Elysee in Paris from October 9-10 to raise funds and awareness towards breast cancer…
Rik’s weight loss secret: eat more, exercise more
Over the past three months, I’ve lost somewhere around 10-15 pounds. My doctor is very proud of me, and my girlfriend of five years said the other night that I’ve never looked better. Here’s the Rikomatic two-step plan for getting healthy and losing weight: Eat More Food Exercise More There really isn’t much more to…
The Media Research Hub: cutting edge tools for media justice, scholarship and policy
My program on Media and Democracy at the Social Science Research Council has publicly launched the Media Research Hub, a new online resource for researchers, advocates, practitioners, and policymakers working for a more democratic and participatory public sphere. Through the Hub, activists and researchers can find out about funding opportunities for research work, get access…
NORML launching virtual headshop, I mean, headquarters on September 6
On September 6, at HIGH NOON (get it!) PST, the Second Life headquarters of the marijuana reform group NORML will be publicly launched at Lorax Island Resort (teleport SLURL). From their announcement: Experience the freedom of marijuana law reform at the grand opening celebration of NORML’s Second Life Office. The National Organization for the Reform…
More details about Brazilian “City of Knowledge” conference today in Second Life
Gilson Schwartz send me more details on the "Cidade do Conhecimento" / "City of Knowledge" conference happening in Brazil today, which I had blogged about earlier: The City of Knowledge is a research group at the Dept. of Film, Radio and TV of the University of São Paulo, Brazil. We´ve been into web-related research since…
TVP, LLC recreates “Bourne Ultimatum” trailer in Second Life
I read in the Metaverse Messenger that Virtual consulting firm TVP LLC had recreated the "Bourne Ultimatum" movie trailer completely within Second Life. The machinima was an entry in a contest sponsored by Machinima.com challenging contestants to create a movie trailer of the action film using machinima technology. The winner gets $500. Having seen and…
Global Voices gallery of national blockpages
Blog aggregator and blogger defender Global Voices recently summarized the bagillion things that they do to fight for the rights of freedom of expression for bloggers around the world. I was tickled by their new "Gallery of National Blockpages" that they have launched with the help of Citizen Lab’s technical research director, Nart Villeneuve. What…
SLCC Day 2: So Long and Thanks for All the Swag!
The Second Life Community Convention finished this afternoon at 5pm. I’m headed home with a bad full of tee-shirts, mugs, various Second Life publications, a compass, screen cleaner, porn, and lots of fond memories. Today I continued my coverage of the non-profit / philanthropy thread, which continued conversations that were begun in several panels yesterday. …
SLCC Day 1: “Second Life has the killer app, which is community”
What a crazy, whirlwind first day of the Second Life Community Convention. It’s been great just being with 800 other SL fanatics all doing interesting things in-world, and connecting with people I have only known through their avatars. I’ve been impressed so far with how friendly people are. If you sit down next to a…
Swag at SLCC 2007
Here’s some of the swag you can get at SLCC this year. Oh yeah, and a really cool compass / carbiner from Involve Media. Ok, not as good as SouthbySouthwest, but pretty decent for Second Life.