The Center for Media Research reports on recent numbers from the web statistics site Hitwise, which indicate that search engines are still the primary drivers of shopping traffic, but that social networking sites are catching up. Google of course is still the leader in online retail visits, at 14% of all shopping traffic. But Myspace…
Addicted to virtual worlds? No really, I can quit any time
Are you addicted to Everquest (i.e. Evercrack), Warcraft, Second Life, There, and/or Ultima? You won’t be alone, says a new survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. Pew surveyed 742 "internet leaders, activists, builders and commentators," asking them about the effect of the internet on social, political and economic life in the year…
Playing with Alt-Zoom’s tracking camera
I read on New World Notes about the free Alt-Zoom camera being promoted by machinimaniac Moo Money. Moo posted a cool video on YouTube that consisely and clearly demonstrates how to use this in-world video camera. I decided to give it a spin tonight, and finally got it to take a very basic tracking shot…
Mole the Mouser
My cat Mole Negro just turned one year old. He’s a wonderful companion, friendly, playful and well behaved with strangers. One of my main motivations for getting him was to deal with our little mouse problem. Mole is a terrific mouser, patrolling the kitchen and front door, where the little vermin tend to enter and…
Second Life travel guide in WIRED mag
The october issue of WIRED Magazine has a pretty sweet spread on Second Life, including a brief history of the virtual world, its economy, where to shop, how to have sex, what games you can play, and even some profiles on some of the criminal element that have been banned from SL. I like the…
Uncovering an old 9/11 online discussion
During 9/11, many people turned to their families and friends for comfort and security in those frightening first hours and days after the attacks. And many many people turned to the internet. On the swing dance website I moderate called Yehoodi.com, many people in the swing community gathered in our discussion boards to share what…
Knight Foundation announces $5 million grant for “community journalism in cyberspace”
The Knight Foundation recently announced that they are launching a new $5 million fund for innovative community journalism in cyberspace called the ‘Knight Brothers 21st Century News Challenge.’ The grant program will provide funding for "new ideas, prototypes, products and leadership initiatives that use innovative news methods to help citizens better connect within their communities."…
Slider hair is for dorks
Just got a new ‘do, to replace my super-newb "slider hair" that I’ve been sporting for way too long. I’ve always wanted white hair actually, although perhaps not with enormous antennae. More exciting self-portraiture after the jump…
On TV, the Old Boy’s Club is alive and well
Derek Turner of the media reform group Free Press has just released a study that shows that the television industry is still largely dominated by white men, even as other industries in the country diversify their ownership demographics. Entitled "Out of the Picture," the report cites a number alarming statistics on television station ownership: Women…
Star Wars Transformers!?!? What fresh hell is this?
I would have liked to have been at this brainstorming session at Hasbro: Okay, what do kids like? They like Star Wars toys! But we’ve thrown at them every possible Boba Fett plush pillow and Luke Skywalker cereal product we can think of. The whole Star Wars schtick has needed a boost of energy for…