I was honored to be invited to a one day strategic discussion today on a new human rights video hub being created by the non-profit WITNESS. Started at the initiative of Peter Gabriel, in 1992, WITNESS uses the power of video to open the eyes of the world to human rights abuses. Traditionally their work…
The Second Life Theme Song!
My pal Frankyboy, aka Ill Bixby of Ill Clan Productions, tells me that his crew have gone back to the mixing board and uploaded the unofficial Second Life Theme Song for your listening pleasure. This little ditty was originally recorded as background to episode eight of their machinima talk show "Trash Talk" that was filmed…
Down with reactionary bloggers!
For the 40th anniversary of the Chinese Cultural Revolution Ah Q Weekly’s chinese blog re-designed an old poster from the Cultural Revolution to comment on Chinese government censorship of the internet, and bloggers in particular. According to Oi wan Lam of Global Voices, "The original poster depicts a worker using Mao’s tiny red book to…
Convenient simulation of an Inconvenient Truth?
Just checked out the Second Life island of Svarga, lovingly designed by Laukosargas Svarog with its own virtual ecosystem. Laukosargas not only created virtual flowers and trees that grow, she also populated the island with bees that pollinate the flowers, clouds that bring rain, and sun-lit and shady areas with different growth patterns. It’s the…
Quaint name Ann Street
I got a call this morning from the Citibank fraud prevention unit about some odd charges to my Mastercard. I cleared that up in short order with one of their telephone reps, assuring me that my identity was not being stolen. Been there, done that, got the bad credit report to show for it. As…
Piña colada ices and really really tiny buildings
Cindy and I spent a lovely May day recently hanging out in Queens. First stop was Columbian food in Corona. Colombian tamales are filled with a little bit of everything — beef, chicken, pork, vegetables, the works. Really a meal wrapped in banana leaves. Then we headed to the Queens Museum of Art, where we…
Fight for irrepressible voices worldwide
Amnesty International launched today a new campaign called www.irrepressible.info to call public attention and pressure on governments that censor their citizens online and the companies that develop the surveillance software. To support the campaign, you can add censored content to your website or blog and sign their petition. Already 7,000 + people have done just…
Pics from Tech & Mech Fashion Show
Just got back from a sweet "tech and mech" fashion show in Second Life. Organized by Adri Saarinen and sponsored by Emerald Gardens Fashion Center, the runway show featured cyberpunk, steampunk, and futuristic tech created by B. Cyberpunk, Quixotic Trance, C-Tech, Szentasha Fashions, Dead Punk, YadNi Monde, and Goblin Industries. Click here to see my…
Mole at eight months
My baby Mole Netro is becoming quite the huge cat. Here he is stalking pigeons from my bedroom window:
Hanging with Paul/Hiro in Second Life and Real Life
Tonight I managed to catch most of a special Future Salon discussion and machinima movie viewing in Second Life featuring Paul Marino, head of the Academy of Machinima Arts & Sciences, founder of Ill Clan Productions and most importantly my roommate. In typical SL mind-bending fashion, I was sitting in the living room of our…