Really Google, Really...?

"In an announcement that was sent out to bloggers who use the company's blogging website, Google said people will no longer be able to "publicly share images and video that are sexually explicit or show graphic nudity" on Blogger as of March 23. Google said those Blogger sites that continue to host pornography after March 23 will be made "private." That means the content will be allowed to remain up, but it will only be accessible to the site's owner and the people who the user directly shared the blog with. 

Google noted that it isn't completely banning nudity from being shown publicly on Blogger. The site will allow nudity "if the content offers a substantial public benefit, for example in artistic, educational, documentary, or scientific contexts." But it also puts Google in the position of deciding what is art and what is pornography -- a decision that Instagram and other sites have struggled with. Blogger previously allowed adult content on its sites, but it required users to mark their blogs as "adult." Those Blogger sites came with an "adult content" warning that would appear before a visitor could enter the site."

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Read more about this wide-reaching censorship by Google here: ZDNet: Google bans 'explicit' adult content from Blogger blogs (Link tipped by Tomais Ashdene)

In the last months we have also seen how Blogger/Google in a very disturbing way has forced an adult rating on some of the blogs that do not carry adult rated material or nudity, for example my dear friend Eddi Haskell's blog "Eddi & Ryce's Second Life".

I am starting to think it is best to move the blog to another blog provider and to stop using my Google Crome browser, my Gmail and my Google+ accounts altogether. I  should have seen this coming earlier...

Tomorrow I am going to start checking on my alternatives concerning blog, browser and web-mail.

Celebration of Avacar Bluestar's Life

A celebration of Avacar Bluestar's life event to be held Saturday at the Rose Garden at Greymyst Estates II beginning at 1:00 PM SLT.

Avacar's and his widower Rico's Second Life family are looking forward to seeing you at the event.

My friend Eddi Haskell has promised to post a landmark to the event on his blog Eddi & Ryce's Second Life later today (Thursday February 5).

Memorial Concert for Avacar with Phemie Alcott

On the afternoon of Saturday, February 7, 2015, Second Life celebrity singer Phemie Alcott will be performing at a memorial concert for Avacar Bluestar, who passed away in November.

Read more about this event on Eddi & Ryce's Second Life; Hold the Date: Phemie Alcott To Sing at A Memorial Concert for Avacar Bluestar on Saturday, February 7

Ryce Is #FeelingNuts

Sensational news! Ryce grabs his crotch for the fight against testicular cancer, read all about it Eddi & Ryce's Second Life: #feelingnuts.

A Special Message from Rico Bluestar

"Dear Friends and Family of Avacar,

I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you for your support and kind words over the past two weeks since Avacar passed away. It has been a hard time for myself, as I am sure it must have been for many of you.

I want you all to know how much your sympathy and support, and hearing your fond thoughts about Avacar, have meant to me as Avacar’s partner. Knowing that Avacar touched and was loved by so many of you has been of enormous comfort to myself and Avacar’s immediate Second Life family. They have helped all of us get through a very difficult time.

I especially want to thank Evan and Izzy Greymist, Parvin, MissBigRed, Phoebe, Ryce, Ralphy, Joe and Asharr for helping to plan and speaking at Avacar’s truly incomparable memorial service last Saturday. I was so pleased that well over 100 of you attended the event, and that those who could not come followed coverage on blogs and on websites.

About the memorial service itself, it has come to my attention that a few rumors are floating around about who was or was not invited to the event, and the conduct of certain people at the event. Nothing can be further from the truth. Everyone who knew Avacar was invited, and your comments at the event were wonderful.

I know Avacar is smiling knowing that so many cared about him and that he will be missed dearly.

Thank you once again for being such good friends, and please have a great holiday season,

My best Regards,
Rico"

This post is a reblogg of Eddi & Ryce's Second Life: A Special Message From Rico to All Of Avacar Bluestar's Friends and Family

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I must add that I am greatly saddened by the fact that someone, who claims to be a friend of Avacar's, would use this sorrowful occasion to spread lies, rumors and hateful drama. 

Manhattanhenge

I hadn't even thought about the phenomenon of "Manhattanhenge", until I read my friend and mentor Eddi Haskell's post on his blog today, saw the amazing pictures and the explanatory video where Neil deGrasse Tyson, who coined the word, informs us about it.

© 2012 Steve Kelley

Watch and get educated by reading Eddi & Ryce's Second Life;
Manhattanhenge Occurs at Sunset in New York City.

This spectacular occurrence happens twice a year (May 28th and July 11th) during which the setting sun aligns with the east–west streets of the main street grid of Manhattan.

I also particularly loved the way Neil, to explain how this phenomenon might be explained in the  future, effortlessly applied the present day archeologists work method of coming up with highly imaginative (mostly religious or cult related) explanations to why our forefathers had created something or other in bygone days.

Blogs With Great Second Pride Coverage

I highly recommend these four excellent blogs to complete your knowledge of what is happening at Second Pride this year. (Listed in alphabetical order.)

 Eddi & Ryce's Second Life

 Jeff Ellsworth Witnessing A Second Life: Second Pride 2014 Live And Lively

NakedCarl's Blog

Ziggy Starsmith On The Edge Of A Second Life

A Brave New Virtual World Is Underway

"Moment" Photography by Tomais Ashdene
(Totally unrelated to the subject of the post, but I couldn't find any suitable illustration)

The most sensational news yesterday - for those of us with a presence in virtual worlds - was undoubtedly Ebbe Altberg (a.k.a. Ebbe Linden in-world),  CEO of Linden Lab, confirmation that the lab is investing heavily in creating a new SecondLife.

The project is expected to take several years to accomplish. The new virtual world will not be constrained by the limitations that the existing SecondLife and "backward compatibility. Although there are some hopes for some levels of migration, given the new platform may well be revolutionary, rather than evolutionary, whether this will be possible , and at what level cannot at this time be determined." (Quote from "Living in a Modemworld")

There are already  many excellent summaries on this development on other blogs, so I will refer you to them.

New World Notes:
BREAKING: Linden Lab Confirms It's Building New Virtual World "Far Beyond What is Possible with Second Life" (Updated with Official Statement)

Living in a Modemworld: 
a) Ebbe confirms: “we’re working on a ‘next generation’ platform” (with audio) with an interview with Ebbe Linden
b) Lab: “We’re not giving up on Second Life”

Jo Yardley's Second Life: 
a) Linden Lab working on new virtual world
b) Linden Lab officially responds to the new virtual world story

Eddi & Ryce's Second Life:
Hear Ebbe Linden Make the Announcement of Linden Lab's New Virtual World Over at Inara Pey's Blog

Mona Eberhardt │ Living Virtualy:
Linden Lab working on Second Life’s successor?