WEEKEND OPEN FORUM (Updated)

So, got an SL-based topic you want to talk about, grassroots events and projects you want to promote, gripes you'd like to air, praise you wish to publicize?   Post any and all here; I'll point out highlight Comments and discussions in a front page update.

Update, April 9th:

- Torley wants to know how live musicians plan to use Linden's spatialized voice software-- tell him!
- PlanetThoughts Raymaker announces Earth Day in Second Life-- read about it.
- Mackenzie McAardle invites new members to Cooperation Française, with over 2500 members, the largest French-speaking support group-- A bientôt !

Comments

[Torley]

Coming off of some thots I expressed yesterday, I'd like to learn more about how live musicians in Second Life intend to use the Voice Client's new features.

One of the key things I noticed is that with it, you can spatialize sound, which isn't possible with the default streaming parcel URL. (Obviously has pros/cons right now, which is why further discussion is in order.)

I for one welcome our new CYBER-BUSKER (TM) overlords!

[PlanetThoughts Raymaker]

Earth Day to be Observed in Second Life
with information, demonstrations, and music

April 9, 2007 -- The Environmental Council of Second Life and the Luna Bliss company announce the first mainstream Earth Day celebrated in Second Life! Since mid-February, the Environmental Council has been putting together this year’s events, which will culminate on April 22 with Earth Day observance. There will be talks by environment experts, live concerts, guided and self-guided walk-through exhibits, treasure hunt (if we can find treasures to use), and more. A list of organizations participating can be seen at the PlanetThoughts.org Web site, and a detailed schedule of events will follow in the next week.

The Environmental Council is happy to announce that Bliss Garden Center will be the hub location for Earth Day in Second Life. Elaine Thompson ("Luna Bliss") of the Luna Bliss company observes, "We are pleased to host a space for the Earth Day activities in Second Life, an observance that aligns well with our goals as an organization. Hopefully many fruitful connections can be made, for as art imitates life, and life imitates art, the potential for virtual realities to help our real planet are of great significance."

David Alexander ("PlanetThoughts Raymaker"), founder of the Environmental Council, states that "This observance will add to the dimensions offered by Second Life, and it is a vital activity due to the seriousness of global warming, peak oil, and resource pressures which are coming to a head in the 21st century. Our goal this month is to provide that information, and an appreciation of all that nature provides for us."

*******************************************************
The Environmental Council of Second Life is an organization started in Second Life in order to better combine the efforts of diverse scientists, policy experts, environment leaders, and media members focused on environmental issues. Our first project has been to initiate annual Earth Day celebrations that will be durable over the years and that will be presented with high standards of quality in environmental knowledge and inspiration. The mission of the Environmental Council of Second Life is to use the virtual environmental world of SL in order to create knowledge and action in the real world.

The Luna Bliss company is dedicated to providing quality nature islands for individuals and companies within Second Life, has a garden store with a large selection of virtual plants and structures so that residents of Second Life can create their own gardens (Bliss Garden Center), a popular concert area and meeting areas, and features some of the most acclaimed nature and apartment rental areas in Second Life, in Gardens Of Bliss island and the neighboring islands.

[Mackenzie McArdle]

Hi,
The Cooperation Française (french cooperation), founded in May 2006, welcomes and informs new french netizens, and provides them with the best free and french speaking places in SL.
Its non profit team of volunteer guides is always pleased to answer all the questions about the complex world of SL.
Today (April 2007), the Cooperation Francaise is the biggest french speaking group in Second Life. Don't hesitate to join us now and share your experience and questions with more than 2500 members.
Cooperation Francaise Headquarters on Kerunix Flan's Area 51 : http://slurl.com/secondlife/area%2051/169/223/27
See you soon !

Bonjour,
La Coopération Francaise,fondée en Mai 2006, accueille et informe les nouveaux joueurs francophones de Second Life, et leur propose les meilleurs endroits francophones gratuits à visiter.
Son équipe bénévole de guides volontaires sont toujours disposés à répondre à toutes les questions sur le monde complexe de Second Life.
Aujourd'hui (Avril 2007), la Coopération Française est le plus gros groupe francophone de second life. N'hésitez pas à nous rejoindre et à partager votre expérience avec plus de 2500 membres.
Le Q.G de la Coopération Française, dans l'Area 51 de Kerunix Flan : http://slurl.com/secondlife/area%2051/169/223/27
A bientôt !

[Ron Kiernan]

I suspect very limited use by established musicians that play in venues within Second Life. The stability of the stream cannot be matched and if their client crashes, they can still focus on the performance.

At the same time, I can see a great entry point for musicians who want to play on "street corners" for example, in regions that have the voice capabilities available. Throw your guitar case on the ground, make a few Linden from the passersby? Definitely adds to the environment... at least until some dude runs up to you and starts screaming.

[Robbie D]

RE: New Audio Feature and Musician Use...

Will be nice to see the appearance of solo buskers in SL, but more interestingly perhaps is the possibility for group jamming (of course timing issues will still present problems with certain types of music, but still, ambient/texture styles might be interesting) - An added feature I would love to see however, would be controlled buffering and release of the audio, a bit like how NINJAM (www.ninjam.com) copes with lag to allow for musicians in SL to collaborate in real time - that would be cool...