Web Playgrounds of the Very Young – New York Times LOS ANGELES — Forget Second Life. The real virtual world gold rush centers on the grammar-school set. Trying to duplicate the success of blockbuster Web sites like Club Penguin and Webkinz, children’s entertainment companies are greatly accelerating efforts to build virtual worlds for children. Media conglomerates in particular think these sites — part online role-playing game and part social scene — can deliver quick growth, help keep movie franchises alive and instill brand loyalty in a generation of new customers. One of my nieces is really into Webkinz. She breathlessly…
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Two weeks ago, I stopped watching television, doing chores around the house, and sleeping. My husband David and Riley the Cat haven’t been getting as much attention from me as they deserve, because I’ve been virtually MIA all that time. Literally. I’ve been living a virtual Second Life, and have become a little obsessed with the experience of being completely immersed in a not-real world both like and unlike anything you would expect or imagine.
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Yes, I’ve been remiss. Yes, I’ve been up late a lot. The steep learning curve has been leveling off, though, and I may even watch television tonight (tomorrow for sure, because Torchwood is on). Some things going on in my life that don’t require logging on: Last week at Holy Moly, we celebrated All Saints with great music, and a moving and joyful (and very wet) baptism. St Nicholas has a font that’s more like a wading pool, it looks like this when not actually in use: This is from last year’s Bishop’s Visitation with Bp. Victor Scantlebury, the assistant…
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Ruthed adj. A conditional identity one may encounter while traveling between realms in Second Life usually resulting in auburn dome hair, abnormal ugliness, sexual androgeny, and an overall confused sense of self. A little earlier tonight (on the 3rd of November), I attended the gallery show and dance at the closing of the Ruthed! photo exhibition, which was of images of people who had messed themselves up horribly. And here I did it to myself later that same night, because I tried logging in via Movable Life, which removes all the textures and clothes and things. At least I’ve got…