Google and its Integration

I finally did it. I finally figured out how to be my real self and how to be my avatar, Raftwet Jewell. Google integration was a tough one for me.

In real life, I started my social media career with Yahoo many moons ago. At that time, there was nothing but a bunch of people communicating online in chat rooms and/or pseudo social media such as Yahoo's Geocities.

Remember Geocities? That was a place where I spent many hours writing and posting about my real life company. So many of my email addresses were written down in so many vanity books. There was Yahoo, of course. Google, Blogger, Twitter, Flickr, Ning, Squidoo, and so many others, that I have no memory of being in them except for the notation in those little vanity books.

When Google decided to protect us from unscrupulous bloggers, posters, and that ilk, I just was not properly prepared, even though I knew integration was coming! I had to gather a few years of user names, passwords, secret questions and locations. Trying to integrate the real world company and the virtual world avatar, was a nightmare.

So I walked away from all of the techno muck for a couple of years.  

My mind was a blur of words, photos, updates, and BS. The world has definitely changed both in virtual and real. The internet has become such a spooky boogyman. The "Monster" knows everything about us. Being fully integrated is kinda worrisome as it means that a hack can literally destroy everything.

What all of us created was a syncopated world of blogging/posting platforms. Majority of the 'stuff' is so not important to anyone. Just words and pics floating like flotsam in the wind with everyone sharing them. And, that's the real reason why social media is important. The act of sharing them.

When you share with your next door neighbor, an overwhelming feeling of comfort may envelope you. Why? You connected with a person soley with a plate of cookies. That person may share that plate of food with another person close by. Then, that other person may tell their baker down the street how awesome your cookies were to eat. And voila! That baker contacted you about a special event where he wanted someone to make cookies!

What I hope is that this simply created avatar, my precious jewel, can continue her virtual life peacefully with grace and dignity. So many great new things, like mesh,  have happened on the grid. I am also definitely looking forward to being able to access the grid with my cell phone.

2014 will go down in my memory book as the year that I took care of my avie, and all the other loose ends on the net.

Spring is coming... time to go shopping for my avatar!


Making my way through social media... again!

Posted by raftwet jewell
Photo by raftwet jewell

2014 ... Wha' Happened to 2013?

Yes, indeed, 2014. What happened to 2013?

2013 had bad numbers for me. Oh, yes, I am superstituous. Very wary of numbers and places. I over analyzed everything. For what? For nothing, really, except watching an age old battle between major groups in virtual and also in real life, too.

I just did not want to post much of anything. All I did last year was to try and figure out what the entire networking meant for "Networks." The networks came out in droves... proud of who they were. No more hiding behind the OZ curtain. There was Sony, Google, Apple, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, etc, etc and many more, including small regional sites. And everything, including the internet became more expensive.

Let's face it. Everyone is in a lifestyle group. EVERYONE. Why? Because everything we do is in someone's lifestyle. Weddings? that's a lifestyle. Travel? that's a lifestyle. Entertainment? that's a lifestyle. Food? that's a lifestyle. What is NOT a lifestyle??? Nuttin' honey.

Group synergy was weird everywhere. Groups were vying for top positions, top events, and top roles. Why? I am not sure, but I do believe that people are definitely swayed by titles and positions... just like in real world.

The battle on the internet now is between the Networks, while the rest of us just move to the next "big thing" or try to ride someone else's traffic.

What I had hoped for, I guess, is an impossible dream. Imagine. (kudos to John Lennon...) Imagine all the people...











Imagine
Lyrics by John Lennon
...
 No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You, you may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you will join us
And the world will live as one

I still believe this.

Thanks to John Lennon
Thanks to MetroLyrics for the lines

EMI Music Publishing for lyrics
Thanks to Google for images!
Thanks to me, raftwet jewell for the photo of WETLands

Xavier and Raftwet in Second Life at PeKashee

When Xavier came back into Second Life tonight, I was overjoyed! Oh yes, Miss Raftwet was thrilled to have her partner back again. The two avatars got dressed-up and headed over for a nice chill evening over at PeKashee for dj Bodenhall. DJ was playing a very nice set of Rhythm and Blues, Jazz and Lounge... so relaxing (except I was posting pics, blogs and FB stuff... lol!).







We took a nice long break from the SL grid and now we are back! Refreshed and ready to work hard again for the grid and our groups, we can only promise we will do our very best!











All photos and content created by raftwet jewell for this blog!

rafee pictures and photos in second life

photos by raftwet jewell on flickr.com


rafee art photo, originally uploaded by rafeejewell.


















2011 is here and the parties continue.


2010 is now officially gone.


art, music and fashion are at the forefront of all the artists, musicians and creators for this new year.


stay tuned for more!
the lifestyles of THE A LIST!

Raftwet Jewell in Virtual Metaverse
raftwet jewell in blogger
raftwet jewell in facebook
raftwet jewell in twitter
the a list! in second life

second life : digital future

raftwet jewell on riverland : sky waterfall


raftwet jewell : wet builders on riverland, originally uploaded by rafeejewell.












I just saw  TRON (both movies). I see where the minds melded here in Second Life. The influence is everywhere! From the grid itself to the builds, the creators here have definitely taken notes from the original movie. When, I saw the originally movie just a few days ago, I was taken back by the references. They were talking about us. They were talking about Second Life.









The new movie is excellent. I don't want to talk about the film, because I want you all to see it. They honored the original, and the new movie made me cry. The reverence in the movie for this grid is spiritual, and it is the feeling I get when I am here. This is a very special place. Second Life is not just a game; as Kevin Flynn, the creator says, "the grid is a place of infinite possibilities... more beautiful than I ever dreamed... and more dangerous than I could have ever imagined."

 



All of us are very privileged to be here... to be a part of a grand experiment of the future of the internet. I do see the internet morphing into the concept of "The Grid." It is inevitable.  I see Kevin Flynn, the visionary in the souls of Phil Linden, Sergey Brin, Larry Page, Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg. (Yes, I am aware of the researchers at Carnegie, MIT, etc... but their research was project-based. I am not sure they saw their results in the hands of every man, woman and child in the world as these visionaries I have listed.) These are the people who have changed our lives. They are the ones who endured long hours and obstacles that we can never imagine just to bring us their dreams. I honor them today with grace and humility.



And my favorite part of the movie? ... the reverence for water and the grid.

Please visit my little contribution on my regions: (be kind, I am building out of love.)

• WETLands
• RiverLands

Raftwet Jewell in Virtual Metaverse
raftwet jewell in blogger
raftwet jewell in facebook
raftwet jewell in twitter
the a list! in second life

burn2 : burning man

BURN2 : Burning Man 2010

burn2 : burning man, originally uploaded by rafeejewell.

Logged into the BURN2 with my alt so that I could just manuever and teleport into the massive event. (You should have been to the real Burning Man as dust was the enemy there!)

I got there an hour early and the place was already packed and lag-o-licious. Fireworks in the sky and all kinds of beautiful particles were exploding everywhere on the four sims.

I knew I had to upload the pre-burn pictures now before I went crashola. It was inevitable as I had several windows open on my desktop trying to take pictures, blogging, uploading and blah blah blah!

I came to experience the whole thing again. Last year was incredible and I didn't want to miss this one. I'll try to load up the burn pictures as soon as I can, but I have a feeling the lag will get pretty bad once it starts!

Wish me luck!
Peace out!
rafee


Thanks Debbie for the Machinima info to share with our group!
[01:30] Debbie Trilling: Machinima. Best in 720p HD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI87bIopgjM


Here it is embedded: BURN2 - The Man 2010







UPDATE:::: next burn coming up!
Schedule: Oct 24, 4am
The Temple - Oct 24, noon and 8pm - Oct 25, 4am
Skin Burn - Oct 30, 12:45pm

All photos by raftwet jewell for rafee jewell flickr for this blog.
Machinima by Debbie Trilling for Burning Man.

Raftwet Jewell in Virtual Metaverse
raftwet jewell in blogger
raftwet jewell in wordpress
raftwet jewell in facebook
raftwet jewell in twitter
the a list! in second life

Third Red Scare : McCarthyism Rears its Ugly Head

I just posted a missive over on raftwet jewell's myspace blog. I am angry. Not the kind of blind anger over some silly slight or  group dynamics or business shenanigans in Second Life. No, this is a measured anger about another blogger's claim. (I won't link that blog... let that post fade away in the nonsense it was written..)



A wordpress blogger has posted a Blacklist of names from Second Life. The blogger has claimed that these names represent traitors and terrorists. No evidence is written, just a claim. The list is incredible. I saw so many people I knew there. That blacklist probably has the most well-known and visible avatars in the virtual world of Second Life. The list is astonishing with names of players who are sanctioned by Linden Labs.

The names I recognize are mostly artists, creators, musicians, writers, event planners and promoters in world. My blood is boiling. The art community or art politics is the first to be hit by any entity trying to silence a political or business stronghold. In the days of McCarthyism, the art community was nearly silenced due to the threats of prison. Yes, the United States of America jailed people for their political beliefs or artistic endeavors. This was one of the most shameful chapters in US History.



We as US Citizens learn about this Second Red Scare in our history books in school. We are taught to never bow down to that kind of pressure. We learned that our country, and our US Constitution protects the art community by allowing us to speak or create our beliefs or passion. Our writers are allowed to write what they want even when it is inflammatory or political incorrect.

The avatar who sent me the links to the Blacklist was upset and wanted to move forward as a group to initiate a lawsuit against the writer. I have to allow this writer for his right to print what he wants. But, I want to let all of you know that there are solutions in combatting his blacklist of untruths. In my country, we have legal recourse : slander, defamation of character. In other countries, the action of this writer may bring him/her prison time. For the rest of us, I suggest another recourse.

Contact the network where the blog resides and demand that this writer be exposed by his/her real name. We need to know who is accusing us behind that post. Otherwise, it means nothing. Ignore it. Don't link it and do not give it any other attention.

As for the art community or political art, do not let this list silence you. Create your art and know that SL community appreciates your work. As far as the inflammatory blog, we should applaud that this will bring us together to fight the accusations that he/she has written.





And for me, I continue to be an environmentalist. I continue to lean left. I continue to fight passionately for the conservation of our planet's water, streams, rivers, waterways and oceans. No blacklist will stop my words.