New World Notes

What Are the Largest Second-Themed Flickr Groups?

I'm compiling a list! On a basic Flickr search, the top three groups are:

• *Second Life Glamour* (Fashion is Art) with 8,101 Members now (depicted above)
• Second Life Residents with 7,667 Members now
• Second Life® - Look Of The Day with 7,191 Members now

However, I don't trust raw Flickr searches, since they're likely to miss groups with poor SEO titles. Also, the last time I looked into this 6-7 years ago, there were several SL-themed groups with members in the five figures. So which groups are larger?

New World Notes' Weekend Open Forum: Say Anything About VR & VWs

Time to say something related to VR, SL, HF, Sansar, Sinespace and so on? Post here, with links and such where available! And yes, grotesque self-promotion is not only allowed, but encouraged.

Pictured: Razor Cure's "Leap of Faith"

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Open Forum: Ask Leslie Jamison About "The Digital Ruins of a Forgotten Future", Her Acclaimed Atlantic Monthly Feature on Second Life

I'm thrilled to welcome Leslie Jamison, celebrated author and journalist, to this New World Notes open forum to discuss her provocative, much-discussed Atlantic Monthly feature article, "The Digital Ruins of a Forgotten Future". If you have questions for Leslie (one at a time, please!), post them in Comments below, and throughout the day, she'll reply to as many as possible, time permitting. To help prime the pump, I've included some key excerpts from her article below.

And with that, I turn this post over to Leslie and NWN readers. See you in the Comments section!

An SL Machinima to Watch This Weekend - And an Open Forum!

Some icy and moody SL machinima from 2010 by a man named BobE Schism, based on a true story recounted by author Paul Auster in The Locked Room, almost entirely shot using in-world physical effects.

And after watching that, here's an open comment thread to say or promote anything about VR and virtual worlds, from machinima to beyond:

New World Notes' Weekend Open Forum: Say Anything About VR & VWs

Time to say something related to VR, SL, HF, Sansar, Sinespace and so on? Post here, with links and such where available!

Pictured: "Wrong Way" by Kristine Blackadder.

Open Forum: What Are the Best Mesh-Based Vehicles in Second Life?

I'm doing some research into Second Life's virtual economy and would love to include as much reader feedback as possible. First category: What are the best mesh-based vehicles in SL? And by "best" I mean quality of design, and the vehicle's drivability. This impressive Mad Max-y car above, V.M. Rat Road from Vix Motors, is the current best seller in the SL Marketplace. What others should go on a best in class list?

Open Forum: What's the Most You Ever Paid for a Virtual Item in Second Life (Besides Land)?

Would you pay $20 to have this head? (via Mavi Beck)

Was just reading a fun discussion thread on social media, asking SLers to name the most they ever paid for a virtual item. Some candidates that came up: 

• An avatar head by Lelutka (above) for L$5000 -- about USD $20
• A haunted house for L$9000 -- about USD $36
• A coterie of virtual pets for L$15,000 - about USD $60
• A swank mansion for L$35,000 -- about USD $142

 How about you, reading this right now? As a bonus, explain the reason for buying it, and whether you got your money's worth.

New World Notes' Weekend Open Forum: Say Anything About VR & VWs

Something to say or promote that's related to VR, SL, HF, Sansar, Sinespace and so on? Post here, with links and such where available!

Hurricane Irma Help & Safety Check-In for New World Notes Readers!

Full detail on Strawberry Singh's Flickr

Hurricane Irma is currently hurtling towards Florida with brutal, deadly force, so it's time to stop talking about virtual worlds awhile and put out a message for virtual world blog readers:

If you're reading this post and are impacted by Hurricane Irma, please let us know you're safe, or if there's any way we can help you.

I know there's lots of NWN readers based in Florida and other impacted regions. Among them is SL blogger/YouTuber supreme Strawberry Singh, a Floridian who just posted this message on Plurk with the defiant, can-do spirit like the red blooded American she is:

Weekend Open Forum: Say Anything About VR & Virtual Worlds

Usually I say "self-promotion is encouraged" but to mix things up, let's say promotion of friends' VR/VW projects is highly encouraged.