Where does that link come from? I pondered. Obviously, the last part is some sort of asset ID, like each avatar has the equivalent of a texture’s database ID. I poked around URLs at world.secondlife.com many of which return XML data, and my hunch is the search engine that you use in world is XML based.

So I went in to Second Life, poked around my profile, all of the bizarre advanced settings looking for this magical string that might identify CDB Barkley via URL.

I found it! If you use the general search tool in the Second Life client for your avatar, you get a list of results:

Clicking the second link, yields a screen that looks pretty much like the web link for Debbie’s profile:

But how do you get its URL? I went back to the search results, and could find no right/ctrl combination that a web browser yields to copy the URL for a link. Then I went back to me in world profile display, and way at the bottom is “Link to this page: http://world.secondlife.com/resident/fef1d79b-4162-476d-b8e2-45ab8662d3e8″

That’s it!

But what a minute. No amount of mouse selection, keyboard commands allows me to copy that long URL! WTF??

The only way I could get the URL for my profile was to write it down on a piece of paper! That is not even Web 1.0, that is Web -1.0!

But anyhow, I found my profile and hand hacked the URL:
http://world.secondlife.com/resident/fef1d79b-4162-476d-b8e2-45ab8662d3e8

Does the SL client need help or what? Gawd, it should not be that hard.

The LAST-EVER presentations of this unique, groundbreaking and immensely popular SL show will be this week; Friday August 22 and Sunday August 24, both shows at at 2:00 PM SLT/PDT. Access to the venue is via:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/NMC%20Campus%20West/127/47/612/

Interest is high, so please arrive early! Arriving early will also allow the Texture Pre-Loaders to send all the data to your cache before the show starts. This is a live artistic performance by a team of SL/RL artists, using the very best and sophisticated of SL’s technology to bring you a unique interpretation and vision of Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’.

The CARP Wall Team:

• Creative Director: Debbie Trilling (UK)
• Producer: Velazquez Bonetto (Germany)
• Wall Design: Elfod Nemeth (UK)
• Animated Puppets: Duggy Bing (US)
• Animations: Caravaggio Bonetto (Austria)
• Original Music: Junivers Stockholm (Sweden) & Josina Burgess (Holland)
• Stills Photography: Adec Alexandria (UK)
• Dancing & Joyfulness: Klute Copploa (France), Southern Riptide (US)

with valuable contributions from:

• Scio Kamanchi (US)
• Gypsy Paz (US)
• Lyddyn Tzara (US)
• Celeste Moonlight (US)
• DJ Jenns (UK)
• George W Bush (US, yes that George Bush!)

and, of course, Pink Floyd’s incredible album ‘The Wall’.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
Please note that facelights and all other prim lighting are strictly prohibited from the venue. Please detach all such prim lighting systems before arriving. If you are unsure, please use ‘Advanced | Rendering | Info Displays | Light’ to check. This will cause all sources of prim lighting in your vicinity to be surrounded by a yellow bounding box. Please be aware that facelights and other sources of prim lighting will not only ruin the show for the wearer, but also for everybody else within up to 20 meters of the wearer.

Please enable ‘Nearby Local Lights’, particles to a minimum of 4096 (but preferably to 8192), sun to midnight, turn volume to HIGH!

For press release photographs or any further information, please IM Debbie Trilling

Useful links:
Selection of performance photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7759984@N05/
Cybernetic Art Research Project: http://diabolus.ning.com/
Recent CARP ventures: http://www.gallery-diabolus.com/CARP/carp-04.pdf
Debbie Trilling wiki: http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/User:Debbie_Trilling
Debbie Trilling SL profile: http://world.secondlife.com/resident/4e07f6d1-4598-4351-84fa-826ccb723ea8
Velazquez Bonetto SL profile: http://world.secondlife.com/resident/e762560e-0314-4388-b8bf-02610283cc16

I was in San Francisco this past weekend for WordCamp and for a Sunday stroll just wandered aimlessly along the Embarcadero and then back down Battery Street. I passed this almost non-descript brick building and almost missed the familiar hand logo, rather strange to see it on a real building.

No one was around, the lights were off, but yes, here is the real Linden Lab. The have real real estate!

• When: Monday, July 28 at 12:00pm PST (check local time)
• Where: Amphitheater on Outreach (87, 125, 34) (no group membership is required to teleport)

Join Metanomics at Noon on Monday, July 28th, to learn about how K-12 teachers are using the Virtual Chalkboard. Hear superstar educator Kathy Schrock of “Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators”, Teen Grid pioneer Peggy Sheehy, and Linden’s Boston Operations Director (and academic evangelist) Pathfinder Linden. But first, we put the grid-spanning group ISTE “On the Spot” to talk about the Second Life activities of the International Society for Technology in Education.

For more details on this wek’s show, bios of the guests, and reference links, see http://www.metanomics.net/archive072808

You’ll be able to communicate directly with other audience members across the metanomics locations using their ChatBridge technology. Or as an option you can view the feed directly (and also be in the same chat) via the Metanomics web site at http://www.metanomics.net/WatchNow.

For past events, see the Metanomics video archive from SLCN.tv.

full size version of poster 1.4 Mb PNG

You can also watch the eclipse live in Second Life at Exploratorium Island (86, 141, 32) where there will be a viewing party, complete with interactive exhibits and music. The live video stream will also be available at other locations in Second Life, including the SciLands Skyditorium, the Pi Day Theater at the Sploland sim, the Science School sim, and the Spindrift sim. For teleport links, see http://www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse/2008/secondlife.html

Okay now for the bad news for those in the USA… the time of the totality of eclipse is 4:09 AM Pacific time! Stay up late or set your alarm clocks!

You can catch this show twice a week, either Friday or Sunday at 2:00PM PST at NMC Campus West (127, 47, 612). This will continue through the summer as long as the audiences keep coming!

Each performance features the rich music of Pink Floyd interpreted by the dance, effects, and audio affects as implemented by the CARP team.

According to Creative Director Debbie Trilling, CARP has continued to improve the show with the most significant change a re-design of the Wall itself to the actual design and construction of the Berlin Wall - including Guard Towers and authentic graffiti. It looks amazing under the colored spotlights lights.

I am always excited with the large spinning ball moves out, questioning the sense of identity, it picks up the profile pictures of people in the audience (see the dog!).

Then there are the smoke and fire effects as the intensity of the performance reaches the high note

And the suggestiveness of the large imposing figures of Judge and Teacher…

See more photos

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Be sure to stick around and participate when the performers invite you on stage. Show your appreciation for this amazing performance. again it is playing every Friday and Sunday at 2:00 PM at NMC Campus West.

The NMC Virtual Learning Prize is envisioned as a way to surface and realize creative ideas for how to make optimal use of a virtual setting, using a process that provides recognition, financial incentives, professional development services, and a return for education as a whole.

The first-round awardees are:

Tim Bell
University of Canterbury
"Computer Science Unplugged in a virtual world"

Natasha Boskic
University of British Columbia
"Collaborative creative writing in predesigned space"

Eric Hackathorn
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
"Exploring Weather and Climate Change Through a Climate Time Line"

Lisa Ortiz
Metropolitan State College of Denver
"Experience Virtual Disabilities"

Heidi Trotta
Seton Hall University
"Endangered Ecosystems - The Virtual Salt Water Marsh (Part 2 - A Case-Based Learning Scenario)"

Ruth Tringham
University of California, Berkeley
"Student-Designed Virtual Archaeology Class"

Thomas Waters
University of Pittsburgh
"Measuring Heart Rate and How Medications Affect Heart Rate"

Michael Zerbe
Stark State College of Technology
"First World Economics in Second Life"

Nearly 75 applications were received in the initial round of this highly competitive program. Each awardee will receive US$5,000 — a cash incentive paid to the awardee of $500 as well as $4,500 in expert development assistance from the NMC Virtual Worlds team to create their proposed learning experience.

As many as 20 awards will be distributed during the 2008-9 award year – since all 20 were not awarded in the first round, the process remains open, and proposals will continue to be accepted until all funds have been expended.

For further information, or to download a proposal submission form, please see the Virtual Learning Prize website. Questions related to the criteria or the submission of an application should be directed to virtual-learning@nmc.org.

Opening Friday, June 27, is an epic production by the Cybernetic Art Research Project (CARP) — The Wall V-2.

On July 21 1990, nine months after the dismantlement of the Berlin Wall, Roger Waters and an all-star cast performed “The Wall” at the Potzdamer Platz in Berlin. The performance was watched by a live audience of 250,000 and an estimated half-billion people on television…

And now, an international team of artists working with the Cybernetic Art Research Project (CARP) bring a unique vision and live performance of “The Wall” to Second Life ™.

The original CARP version of “The Wall” was performed in SL fourteen times to 1260 attendees. Each performance filling sims and to rave reviews.

The NMC is delighted to bring you “THE WALL V-2″! The CARP Team have especially updated and re-scripted near every element of the show for NMC, as well as adding entirely new effects and surprises. “The Wall V-2″ is now even bigger, more colorful and more visually stunning than ever before!

What They Say…

“Amazing. Not so much viewed as it is experienced” ~ Metaverse Messenger
“All I can say is WOW. GREAT show” ~ Second Arts
“Nothing short of spectacular. A complete immersion” ~ Looking Glass

Starting this friday and for the next few weeks, “The Wall V-2″ will be performed at twice-weekly at NMC Campus West:

• EVERY FRIDAY 2pm PST
• EVERY SUNDAY 2pm PST

You can watch the show at NMC Campus West (127, 47, 612)

Interest is expected to be high, so please arrive early! Arriving early will also allow the Texture Pre-Loaders to send all the data to your cache before the show starts. Both shows will start promptly at 2PM PST.

This is a live artistic performance by a team of experienced SL/RL artists, using the very best and sophisticated of SL’s technology to bring you a unique interpretation and vision of Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’. It should not be confused or compared with other SL “Pink Floyd” performances, where avatars simply use pose balls and stand on a stage whilst a stream brings in music.

The CARP Wall Team

• Creative Director: Debbie Trilling (UK)
• Producer: Velazquez Bonetto (Germany)
• Wall Design: Elfod Nemeth (UK)
• Animated Puppets: Duggy Bing (US)
• Animations: Caravaggio Bonetto (Austria)
• Original Music: Junivers Stockholm (Sweden) & Josina Burgess (Holland)
• Stills Photography: Adec Alexandria (UK)
• Dancing & Joyfulness: Klute Copploa (France), Southern Riptide (US)

with valuable contributions from:

• Scio Kamanchi (US)
• Gypsy Paz (US)
• Lyddyn Tzara (US)
• Celeste Moonlight (US)
• DJ Jenns (UK)
• George W Bush (US) Yes, that George Bush!

and, of course, Pink Floyd’s incredible album ‘The Wall’

Important Notes

Please note that facelights and all other prim lighting are strictly prohibited from the venue. Please detach all such prim lighting systems before arriving. If you are unsure, please use ‘Advanced | Rendering | Info Displays | Light’ to check. This will cause all sources of prim lighting in your vicinity to be surrounded by a yellow bounding box. Please be aware that facelights and other sources of prim lighting will not only ruin the show for the wearer, but also for everybody else within up to 20 meters of the wearer.

Please enable ‘Nearby Local Lights’, particles to a minimum of 4096 (but preferably to 8192), sun to midnight, turn volume to HIGH!

Reviews

• “A massive, magical hit. An unforgettable, enchanting triumph, “THE WALL” dazzles the senses and touches the heart.”
• “Packed with shocks, sorcery, special effects and incredible costumes, “THE WALL” is an SL sensation.”
• “A great big luscious SL musical extravaganza. “THE WALL” has taken SL by surprise and will be a hit musical. Powerful and subversive. It’s a fabulous production.”
• “An incredible technical feat to have achieved all this within SL”
• “The best live performance ever to be staged in SL”
• “Sets a new benchmark for live performances in SL”

More Info…

For press release photographs or any further information, please IM Debbie Trilling

• Selection of performance photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7759984@N05/
• Cybernetic Art Research Project: http://diabolus.ning.com/
• Recent CARP ventures: http://www.gallery-diabolus.com/CARP/carp-04.pdf
• Debbie Trilling wiki: http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/User:Debbie_Trilling
• Debbie Trilling SL profile: http://world.secondlife.com/resident/4e07f6d1-4598-4351-84fa-826ccb723ea8
• Velazquez Bonetto SL profile: http://world.secondlife.com/resident/e762560e-0314-4388-b8bf-02610283cc16

Special Notes

All facelights and other vanity lighting systems are strictly prohibited from the venue. Please see article “How to Ruin an Artists Work Using Facelights & Prim Lighting” for more information.

Don’t miss this stunning performance!

The theme is “Monopoly: Playing the Innovation Game”.

Join the Center for Intellectual Property for its annual symposium exploring the relationship between the U.S. copyright monopoly, technological innovation and higher education institutions.

Although the default rules in U.S. copyright law encourage exclusive ownership and create a limited monopoly, today’s technological and cultural landscape encourages sharing and collaboration. The result is a high-stakes conflict between copyright law and culture. Where do higher education interests reside?

We will discuss these issues in the context of:

* The Development of User Generated Content
* Mass Digitization Projects
* The Transformation of “Authorship”
* Use of Wikis, Blogs and other Technologies in the Development of Scholarship

All of the sessions from Maryland will be video streamed live into Second Life, and the breakout discussions will take place here as well with summaries shared across locations.

If you are interested in attending, see the online registration and the specific information on the Second Life Simulcast. Oops, regular registration ends May 23!

As many as 20 NMC Virtual Learning Prizes will be awarded in 2008. Each of the US$5,000 awards will provide a cash incentive paid to the awardee of $500 as well as $4,500 in expert development assistance from the NMC Virtual Worlds team to create the learning experience. The range of inworld services available to awardees to actualize the proposed ideas includes professional building, scripting, design, animation, avatar design, and/or related services.

The NMC is committed to pushing the boundaries of how we collectively view teaching and learning in virtual space. The NMC Virtual Learning Prize is envisioned as a way to surface and realize creative ideas for how to make optimal use of a virtual setting, using a process that provides recognition, financial incentives, professional development services, and a return for education as a whole.

"Projects funded under the NMC Virtual Learning Prize program will be those that make learning fresh or novel, or that illustrate concepts that are usually very difficult to teach," explains Dr. Larry Johnson, NMC's CEO and director of NMC Virtual Worlds. "We are seeking immersive learning experiences in particular, as well as tools that support the craft of teaching. We hope to see a number of proposals with broad applicability across disciplines as that will allow us to maximize the reach of the shared resources that are to be developed under this program."

As a requirement of funding, all materials and content produced as part of the program will be licensed for broad use under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. Proposal authors will retain full copyright to finished products, and all funded materials will be made available to educators and educational institutions at no cost via either the NMC's Educational Resource Center on Learning in Second Life or via the NMC's website, as applicable.

For the 2008-9 award year, funded ideas will be limited to those that can be implemented in the virtual worlds of Second Life or Project Wonderland. In future years, the program may be expanded to other virtual world platforms.

Review of proposals will begin on June 16, 2008, and proposals will continue to be accepted until all funds have been expended.

For further information, or to download a proposal submission form, please see the Virtual Learning Prize website. Questions related to the criteria or the submission of an application should be directed to virtual-learning@nmc.org.