Metaverse Live: 12-5-11

Looks like we made it to out fourth broadcast without too much trauma. Our special guest this week is the inimitable Frolic Mills who promotes the Miss Virtual World 2012 event and much more! Among the bevy of Supermodels, the non-model team talk about Linden Lab's new Realms game, the Red Cross's call to introduce the Geneva Convention to virtual worlds, and virtual reputation management.

Metaverse Live #4 From The Patch Thibaud Auditorium from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

Metaverse Live: 11-21-11

It's Round 3 for Metaverse Live and the team are beginning to get settled in with their new roles. I say "new" only in so far as we're adapting to the "one-take" feature of production. With the old MBC News show, we had the luxury of "do it again" whereas now you simply have to live with your mistakes.

This week, we have JayJay Zifanwe from the University of Western Australia who talks about his project, the UWA Machinema Challenge; and arts event that has garnered hundreds of entries of both pictures and movies. The Grand Final judging panel reads more like a list of a few football teams but includes our very own Malburns Writer!

Also under discussion were Facebook (always popular), virtual life, and holodecks.

Metaverse Live #3 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

Metaverse Live: 11-14-11

It's the second edition of the new Metaverse Live show and this week we're taking a trip through the Looking Glass with our guests, Kayden O'Connell and Corwyn Allen of the Avatar Repertory Theater. I've worked with Kayden before when he was the voice of Life On Line, created by another MBC alumni, Angelico Babii - real life Steve Cropper.

This week we talk about art and performance, with the Looking Glass project highlighted, and also take a look at Second Life's Viewer 3, and Zynga.

Metaverse Live #2 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

Take a look at the offerings from the Avatar Repertory Theater.

Metaverse Live: 11-7-11

After a few weeks hiatus, the news team are resurrected as... well, the news team but in a different format! The script is looser, the discussions are deeper, and the broadcast is liver. Yes, the whole thing goes out live, warts and all, with all the crashes, mistakes, bloopers, griefers, and anything else that can happen in a 60-minute slot. Kind of exciting, eh?

In this, the first ever Metaverse Live broadcast, Dousa Dragonash brings together News regulars Sigmund Leominster and Malburns Writer with guests, Toxxic Rhiannyr of AlterEgo and Jinnywitha Cleanslate of BBW, talking about marketing and diversity in virtual worlds.

Metaverse Live #1 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

MBC News: 9-22-11

I wasn't there for the first MBC News so it's probably no great tragedy that I missed the last one. Which is this one. On the upside, y'all got to see the lovely Lisa Hermano instead of me, so that can't be a bad thing! Although there was the option to replace me - again - by a bear.

Mustn't complain though because I was out in Austria playing with brain control interfaces, and although I didn't get to think my way around Second Life, I did learn an awful lot about the current state of BCI research.

MBC News September 22nd, 2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

So that's it for the News as it was. I wonder if we'll get a "That Was The News That Was" special at Christmas? You listening Dousa and Robustus???

MBC News: 9-13-11

My last appearance on MBC News in this format, and, as you see, due to "technical difficulties" I have a box on my head. In fact, it could be another avatar pretending to me! But let's not go there with some long philosophical discussion about reality and truth, just trust me - it IS me and there IS a box.

MBC News September 13th, 2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

Hopefully I can get my head back as soon as possible. Hopefully.

MBC News: 8-25-11

With me back in full color, but Dousa now in gray, and Edi missing in action, Libya's Ghadafi is also missing. Harry Potter may be virtually real sooner than we think, with speculation that "Pottermore" may become more than just books and sales of Potterabilia. Google dips into its cash back pocket and stumps up $12.5 million to buy Motorola's Mobility division. Hewlett Packard step out of the tablet market while making huge sales of their now defunct device!

MBC News August 25th, 2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

The Concise Oxford add words like "w00t" and "cyberbully" to the latest edition of the dictionary. Mal talks about TV that watches YOU, and Blue Mars introduces a "Blue Mars" lite that uses Google street view.

MBC News: 8-18-11

Apologies for looking so gray but the interweb was playing up and I after several attempts to rez, this was the best we could get to in the time we had. So, the wonderful gray look is NOT a fashion statement but a wonderful example of how Second Life can be less than perfect. And be sure to watch PAST the end of the news for Rob's little "easter egg!"



Syria is still in turmoil whereas Morocco is about to go to the polls. Launch magazine suggests Linden Lab makes $100 million per year. eMarketer suggests virtual goods sales could reach $653 million this year. Rovio, the makers of Angry Birds, may increase its value to $1.2 billion following talks with an unnamed investor.

Mal and the team talk about the SLCC 2011 conference and Edi dishes out the details on what's happening in Second Life.

MBC News: 8-9-11

As Mal and Dousa lock the doors to keep out the London rioters, Siggy reports on LinkedIn's quarterly figures, Mal picks up on Limewire's multi-million settlement for copyright infringement, and Dousa reveals that women spend more money on virtual goods than men do.

MBC News August 9th, 2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

It's been such a busy week that I didn't even have time to change my sweater!

MBC News: 8-2-11

US default crisis nears the end, Samsung stops sales of its Galaxy Tab in Europe, "all-you-can-eat" data use on mobile phones is on the way out, India clamps down on internet shops, and much more.

MBC News August 2nd, 2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

It's summer so I'm back in blond.

MBC News: 7-29-11

Siggy is on the road but has been replaced by a Linden bear! Some say that this is, in fact, a step up for journalism.

Tragedy in Norway is followed by news about RIM's staff-cutting exercise; Google close labs to focus on Google Plus and other new ventures; Mal talks about 3D web, SL mesh testing, and computer language learning.

MBC News July 29th, 2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

Edi provides updates on "What's On" in SL and what's coming up on MBC TV.

Siggy on the road...

It's that time of year, when the weather is good and the lure of the real life motorcycle outweighs the lure of Second Life. Add to this that I'm doing some traveling in both the US and UK so unable to spend time in world.

Nevertheless, I will be back with more MBC News reports in August.

MBC News: 7-12-11

The News of the World closes and the Murdochs arrive in the UK to eat crow. Google Plus opens though SL folks get the boot; Monoclegate at "Eve Online"; LulzSec disbands. There's still money for virtual worlds, which is why $2 million went to Roblox; and is LL thinking of a new name for Second Life?

MBC News July 12th, 2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

SLCC is still looking for business presentations - hurry up!

Mal talks about rare earth, London Fashion Week, Intel partners with OpenSim, and more. Dousa drolls over the Mr. Virtual World competition.

MBC News: 6-16-11

Second Life's "Amaretto Breedables" donates $22,000 to a therapeutic riding center; InWorld Solutions develops an online therapy program; and Tennessee makes it illegal to posts anything that can make someone upset!

Mal reports on Intel's release of source code to help the development of OpenSimulator; Kitely announces a new plug-in; and OnLine releases an iPad app.

MBC News June 16th, 2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

Edi's updates include MMIF information, London Fashion Week, and SL8B.

MBC News: 6-7-11

Virtual dieting can work; the Pentagon talks about cyber-weapons;Facebook creates a 1,500 person party; RIM loses market share, and Adobe sues Wowzer. Edi updates us all on What's On in SL.

MBC News June 7th, 2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

This week's outfit is a pinstripe suit from Cattiva y Cattivo. Next week, I think the sun may bleach me back to being blond.

MBC News 5-25-11

Morgue McMillan tells us about International Missing Children's Day, and JayJayZifanwe and Tutsy Navaratha tell us about the UWA Machinema III Journeys. SL Capital Exchange gets a new owner and Canadian IT Company, Avanade, reveal they have saved $20,000 in a year by using Second Life training. UK chef Jamie Oliver takes a turn at Facebook's Restaurant City while Philip Rosedale sets up a new company, Coffeeandpower.com.

MBC News May 25th, 2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

Linden Lab is working on making local payments a reality. Not there yet, though.

MBC News 5-20-11

Hewy-thighed contributors, Amnesty International gets Nobel Prize, Monkey Quest gets going, UK's Birmingham Opera want to perform online to test our souls, and Ray Kurzweil's singularity gets a mention. Mal covers the Tech World and Primgraph magazine closes down. The US Navy invites online gamers to help them determine real world responses to real world actions.

MBC News 5-20-2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

Xavier Ruska becomes the Sports News commentator and Edi Clarity keeps us up to date with what's going on in Second Life. Oh, and if you want to buy an SL football team, you can!

MBC News: 5-12-11

LinkedIn offers shares, Sony offers apologies; the US says "Do Not Track," University of Hawaii says "Welcome back"; Webbys set for Facebook, Second Life set for birthday. The lovely Lisa is missing in action!

MBC News May 12th, 2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

Check out the Metaverse Tribune for links to all these stories, and more.

MBC News: 5-4-11

No Siggy but the world goes on.Osama Bin Laden killed by US forces in Pakistan, Royal Wedding watched by billions, Utherverse has a parallel wedding, Free Realms turns 2-years-old, new report finds kids spend 25% of their waking hours on electronic devices, and more on mesh and bouncing boobs... and a wet Rod!

MBC News May 4th, 2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

Edi invites contestants for Miss Virtual World 2011.

MBC News: 4-19-11

Wal-Mart buys social media firm Kosmix; Stanford University research suggests virtual behavior changes real-life action; "BabyCenter" study says moms are major buyers of smartphones; China looking to ban time travel; 3D map of Japan being created in Second Life; Blue Mars announces new CEO; and Edi Clarity tells us what's coming up in Second Life.

MBC News April 19th, 2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

This week, I'm sporting a shirt and tie from SF Designs - that's Swaffette Firefly for those who need to know!

Metaverse Tribune Gets a New Look

There's a whole new look for the Metaverse Tribune, designed to be more visually appealing and easier to navigate. Go to http://metaversetribune.com/to check it out.

MBC News: 4-14-11

Winklevoss twins forced to accept Facebook settlement; virtual world "Small Worlds" surpassed 6.5 million users; Linden Lab introduce "soft physics" for wobbly bits; online gaming worth $3 billion; Pandora sniffs for information on your smartphone; net neutrality rules rejected, and much more...

MBC News April 14th, 2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

This week, I have a pink dot-pattern shirt and tie from Redgrave, Gushu Ipress Thin glasses, "Bernard" hair from MADesigns.

Metaverse Tribune article: Joaquin Gustav at Metaverse Island

Check out my latest article for the Metaverse Tribune. Joaquin Gustav is an Argentinian guitarist who performs regularly in Second Life and is well worth going to hear.

Joaquin Gustav at Metaverse Island

MBC News: 4-5-11

Planet Calypso bought for 6 million dollars; Blue Mars raise $4.2 million in venture capital; Pharmatopia teaches pharmacy skills in Second Life; price of tablet devices to fall by 2015; Facebook sued for alleged support of violence against Jews; and I read a bedtime story...

MBC News April 5th, 2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

This week, I am wearing a Redgrave sweater, Gudshu Ipcress glasses, 2010 black suit pants from Styles of Edo, Sebastian red shoes, and "Bernard" hair from MADesigns.

MBC News: 3-29-11

A new day for recording the news, Monday, and a new time, 4:00 SLT. Japan and Syria are still in difficulties, teens are in potential trouble online, money launderers are under investigation, and I interview Lucy Eberhardt about the upcoming series, The Desperate Housewives of Beaver Ridge.


Lisa talks with Claus Uriza of Pop Art Lab, Mal covers Kitely and other Tech News while Eddy keeps everyone up to date on what's happening in the virtual world.

MBC News: 3-25-11

Back from my trip and sporting a new hair-do. Lisa Hermano reports on the Relay For Life and talks with Norman Maroon, Mal reports on the latest Second Life viewer, Eddy reports on What's On, and Dousa and I fill in with the rest of the news.

MBC News March 25th, 2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

And it's birthday week for Lisa and Dousa, so make sure you watch right to the very, very end of the news to see Robustus Hax's special tribute.

MBC News: 3-9-11

Siggy and the gang all in dresses? Ah, it's International Women's Day.

MBC News March 9th, 2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

Reign Congrejo joins us in the studio to talk about the up-coming Miss Ebony International.

It's not about the story, it's about the discussion

Follwoing my recent article in the Alphaville Herald about the Hippiestock event last January, a number of accusations have been made about my failure to mention a Second Life resident, Suspiria Finucane. In a thread on the SL Offworld Forum, Suspiria took me to task for omitting her contribution to the event, implying that I had intentionally done so because I was "biased" - presumably against her?

As I read through the comments, what was interesting was that a consensus was beginning to develop regarding my motivations, and people were using what I had said on the article to support their hypothesis - that I was involved in some sort of conspiracy of silence against Ms. Finucane.

Fascinatingly, the "proof" of my bias was based on what I didn't say, a classic example of using the rhetorical device called "argumentum ad ignorantiam" - or "arguing from ignorance." And no, the word "ignorance" in this context does not mean "stupid" - it simply means "being without facts." It's similar to the "Area 51" devotees who argue that because the government cannot prove there are NO aliens, then they must exist!

It's worth looking at the discussion because there are lots of little examples of how one can use anything to support a position if you want to. But ultimately, the truth is that I didn't mention Suspiria because I also didn't mention other people. I was also trying not to fill the article with names because I wanted to avoid spotlighting some folks over others, especially since the organizer, Hippie Bowman, had said that he felt this was a community event and not a one-person show.

There is also another spin-off post at Prokovy Neva's blog - which I haven't read because I'm too busy with Real Life things to do it - that took the discussion alog even further. So the post in the Herald had unintended consequences and crossed to a forum and a blog. And that's ignoring Suspiria's riposte, which you can read here;

Suspiria Finucane's riposte to "Hippiestock."

Although something of a storm in a teacup, it is instructive as far as the basic premise of the actual article went. What I was trying to talk about was the dual nature of Second Life folks who can go from being full of love for each other at a festival to using spite and hatred as a mode of rhetoric - yet still manage to avoid any cognitive dissonance. A new book, Virtually You by psychoanalyst Elias Aboujaoude is an excellent introduction to the subject of how the real and virtual selves can be different, but also how one can have an effect on the other.

No doubt this may rumble on for a little while and I am curious to see how people are affected by it. Pixeleen Mistral, the editrix of the Herald, once told me that the power of the Herald is not in its articles per se but in the discussions those articles generate. A successful article is one that creates debate and interaction. On that basis, I consider this article a success - even if I have to endure some abuse, or should I say, even if Sigmund Leominster has to take some abuse. After all, "I" am not just "Sigmund Leominster" but a real person, and somewhat different from dear Siggy!

MBC News: 3-2-11

UN and Gaddhafi; London School of Journalism leaving SL; Redzone in the Endzone?; Virtual Tahrir square opens in SL; Georgia Tech sets up SL sim for students with disabilities; Julian Assange to be extradited. Mal does his Tech Spot and Editorial Clarity covers the public announcements. Oh, and breast milk may be more dangerous that horse semen...


Oh, and stay until AFTER the credits to see the "easter egg" - what happens after the cameras stop rolling!

MBC News: 2-22-11

Unrest continues in Egypt; Redzone worries in Second Life; Avination joins in currency exchange mechanism; Facebook lets in "stalker app; SL Forums and blogs go incognito; and horse semen appears in drinks!

MBC News 2-22-2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

MBC News: 2-17-11

Italian PM in trouble, Hypergrid suspended to protect IP, US Army uses SL for support and training, and Romania Witches facing fines for inaccuracies. Sigmund appears to have just come back from a black-tie affair but in truth, that was last weekend. And no, he didn't get a Valentine. Clearly the sex appeal is waning.

MBC News 2-17-2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

Mal turns out the Tech Spot and Editorial Clarity updates us on the happenings in SL.

MBC News: 2-9-11

AOL buys The Huffington Post, Apple comes under criticism from parents, SL's Rod Humble meets Mal Burns, the BBC is set to launch an international version of its iPlayer, and Editorial Clarity runs down the in-world events.

MBC News 2-9-2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

MBC News: 2-2-11

Egypt in turmoil, Amazon in the black, and social networks are unsociable. An immigration officer abuses his power, an Indonesian rock star abuses himself, and Malburns Writer abuses no-one. Tessa Harrington and Jessica Lyons talk about a new partnership at SpotOn3D

MBC News 2-2-2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

MBC News: 1-18-11

New Second Life CEO Rod Humble has his first day at work on the heels of Blue Mars announcing its refocus toward the mobile app market. NBC and Comcast given the go-ahead for a merger. Philip Rosedale cited as a "next tech-geek billionaire." Linden Lab blocks search in the old 1.0 viewer. And a cat is called for jury duty in Boston causing the team to smile...

MBC News 1-18-2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

MBC News: 1-12-11

Back with a new haircut and a new voice - about an octave lower due to the lingering cold ;)

The iPhone is heading for the Verizon network, tablets abound at CES 2011, WikiLeaks saga drips on with Twitter and Facebook in the fall-out, and more.

MBC News 1-12-2011 from Metaverse TV on Vimeo.

No News from a sick Siggy

Having a stinking cold with a hacking cough and a raging sore throat doesn't exactly make for a good news reading performance. Sure, my voice has dropped an octave and is gravelly enough to get a job doing movie voice overs ("In a world where machines have taken over...") but I'm tired and achy and a great believer in herbal remedies. For a cold, read "whiskey, hot water, and sugar."

So rather than being bedecked in my new Edo Tone suit with blue shirt and dimpled tie, bottomed out with a pair of black Oxfords from Cattivo e Cattiva, I'm stuck in real life in a real lie bed hugging a real life duvet and sniffling into a box of tissues, occasionally stumbling out to grab a hot lemon or to suck a Fisherman's Friend.

Tomorrow I will go to work doped up with whatever over-the-counter meds I can funnel down my throat, and maybe slip a hip flask into my bag so I can have a wee dram while the office door is closed.

Don't yah just hate having a cold?