Well, the erstwhile binary elves of Netroots Nation in Second Life have kicked it into overdrive to make sure that Netroots Island, home of most of the venues for the in-world component of Netroots Nation, is properly gussied up for the impending festivities.
And I'm here to report that their efforts have paid off, in spades. The place looks absolutely fantastic.
They don't have Lower Foldistan in Second Life...yet. So let's go there together now....
If you're like me, and love the idea of Netroots Nation but can't swing a trip to Austin just now, NNSL is a godsend. It's free, there's no travel except by virtual teleport, and it is, to say the very least, a notably creative way to still participate.
If it all sounds a bit fantastical and flamboyant, that's a good thing.
While most of us in Second Life look fairly human (or at least, fairly humanoid), most of you will soon get used to the fact that the person who just made a particularly cogent comment about economic policy or FISA or the housing crisis has clockwork wings and a wind-up key coming out of her back. Or that the person who just helped you find your way to the Netroots Arena is sporting a fluffy red fox's tail, ears, and nose, or that the person you're dancing next to is an enormous, 14-foot-tall Space Llama.
Yes, I said "Space Llama." You should be so lucky that the Space Llama should show up.
Even if you're still wondering just what to do with your First Life, let alone a second one, if you join us at NNSL, you'll be able to see video streams from NN in Austin of keynote addresses by Howard Dean and Lawrence Lessig, panel members that include Paul Krugman, Markos, and Digby, and NNSL-only panels featuring the likes of the estimable General JC Christian and Jimbo Hoyer (whom you may know better as JayAckroyd). And nobody will turn around and shush you if you comment on the proceedings to your neighbor!
And then there's the dancing. Have I mentioned the dancing? Where else can you dance in mid-air?
To get started, go to the Second Life website to sign up for SL and download the client application. For some useful NNSL-geared information on SL, click here. And finally, use this handy SLURL (that's a Second Life URL) to join us on Netroots Island. Our wonderful cadre of NNSL elves will help you outfit your "avatar" (your 3D Second Life "self") in much more styling duds (including different hair and skin, if you like) than the usual newbie, and are eager to answer any questions you have about getting around and interacting in-world. I daresay we enjoy helping out people who are new to our 3D world.
Tonight's big event, a horseback ride on Commonwealth Island, starts shortly. Now, I've never gone ahorseback in SL, and the last time I did in RL, my horse veered off from the line and started munching on bushes. These horses might be better behaved.
We're spiffing up the joint, and putting on our best suits and tails. (No, really--tails! Big fluffy ones!) Please join us!