happy holidays everyone

"... the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead or lame,

and on each end of the rifle we're the same... "

May the blessings of a forgiving universe embrace us all, now and always.

Tai Chi Moving To A New Time

Tai Chi on the Beach is a success, but way too early for those of us on SL time and not good for those on the East Coast. Some of our EU folks have asked for evening classes. So, we're changing our Tai Chi class to 11am SLT beginning 6 Jan 2012.

While our New York friends will grumble it allows folks in Hawaii to join us, too. Hey East Coasters give me a time and day that's best for ya.

The Etopian - News & Environmental Notes

We've launched our newspaper; The Etopian (http://http://paper.li/go4victory/1323019181).

Read about the news items and commentaries about environmental and sustainability issues. Be sure to IM me or send me an email... or comment here... about what you think.

Virtual Worlds and Real Life Impact for Fitness & Weight Loss

You read it right ... Research is showing that joining a virtual gym increases your success at continuing with real world workouts. Their research also showed that those participating in a peer support group on weight loss lost just as much weight as those who only dieted in real life. No wonder the weight watchers website is so successful!

Second Life was featured in a series of articles on virtual weightloss. Links for articles from the BBC News, Forbes, and others are posted on the Second Life website (http://secondlife.com/news/). Scroll down to June 2011 for some of the articles or google it (second life and weight loss).

What does this mean for Etopia? We already have food information available at the Farmer's market and we'll continue to add more resources. We're building a food cooperative demo at Etopia Plaza that will showcase good eating and food choices as well as info about food cooperatives.

To celebrate the continued bridging of SL and RL we're launching Tai Chi on the Beach. Tai Chi on the Beach will begin December 2nd and run every Friday morning at 7:30am SLT. This is our opportunity to support each other through conversation and sharing of experiences. We'll also share detailed information about tai chi and tips to maintaining well-being. You can also come down to the beach on your own and learn a little more about the benefits of fitness.

I can feel the sand between my toes already!

Snooter-doots - an eco-sustainable gift of choice

Good business is not only profitable, it's fun. I recently ran across a great website that creates art-dolls keeping the environment in mind and the prices reasonable. There's a lesson here...

DIrect from their website, "Snooter-doots™ are whimsical, handcrafted, art-dolls inspired by nature, featuring vegetables, bugs, fish, birds, fantasy creatures, and edibles. We are earth-friendly and sustainable! Snooter-doots are knit by hand from renewable wool and other animal fiber yarns before they are felted."

I couldn't believe I found such a great gift! Who could resist the idea that a handcrafted doll was not only unique in appearance and composition, but has it's own personality (the website says so) and it's own name and birthday. AND you can adopt one by visiting the Snooter-doot website (http://www.snooter-doots.com). It's worth visiting this website even if it's just to read the Snooter-doots story.

They even make a geoduck named Georgie. Cuter than his real-life model for sure.

 

Super Sim Music All Weekend

If you missed last night's concert at the Drumming Circle featuring Mark Humbridge, Kevin M Thomas, Edward Lowell, Bat Masters, & MRMulti Writer you missed a bang-up line-up.

BUT! You have another chance to party across Etopia today. Both Etopia Island and Etopia Prime will be filled with the sounds of music from our favorite artists at 2:30pm SLT. BUT! Before then be sure to join us at Tsidel's at 1pm SLT ...

1pm SLT - Eric Steffensen at Tsidel's Cafe
(http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Etopia%20Prime/174/13/22)

2:30pm SLT - Super Sim Music Event! This event will stream across both sims. Start at the Farmer's Market (http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Etopia%20Prime/94/237/23) for the main stage and wander Etopia with the Super Sounds of Max Kleene, Kevin M Thomas, Edward Lowell, and Bat Masters.

time is limited don't waste it

"Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become." (Steve Jobs)

a liter of light

A very cool project is bringing light to thousands in the slums of Manila. This project is about providing solar light by sticking plastic bottles filled with water and bleach into the roof. Here's the website; http://isanglitrongliwanag.org/

Sunday Night Concert Series ROCKS OUT

Tonight at Etopia 7pm the amazing Onehempcat Oldrich takes the stage with his amazing style and joining him will be KevinMThomas Carpool in a dual stream event.  Together Onehempcat & Kevin are the MMFKMT Project and they are amazing rockers!  Join us tonight as we Rock our socks off to awesome music and great people.

Loss of Big Predators Means Big Trouble for Us

"These predators and processes ultimately protect humans. This isn't just about them, it's about us," said William Ripple, a professor of forestry at Oregon State University and co-author of the report in the journal Science.

The planet is currently in the midst of the sixth mass extinction, said the study by scientists from 22 different institutions in six countries.

But this one differs from previous ones because it is entirely driven by human activity -- through changes in land use, climate, pollution, hunting, fishing and poaching -- and is focused on large, or apex, predators.

Read more about it here... Human-Caused Loss of Big Predators Disrupts Earth Ecosystem: Study.

Sunday Music Series

Coming up this Sunday at Etopia we have the one and only Chleelis Darkwatch!  Chleelis (pronounced Cha Lay Less) is a singer songwriter and brings her amazing one of a kind personality to the stage with her awesome style all acoustic and awesome!  Please plan on joining us at 7pm Pacific Time 10pm Eastern Time for an hour of great tunes, great people and awesome surroundings.

SPECIAL DUAL STREAM LIVE CONCERT

Join us tonight at Etopia at 7pm Pacific Time as Gregg Huet and Kevin M.Thomas take the stage to thrill and delight.  From heartfelt originals that take you on a journey through life, love and much more to cover songs you know and love Gregg's show will definitely ease you into your work week and adding Kevin to the mix will totally rock your socks off!  See you there

Sunday Night Music Series Continues June 12

Come out and join us on June 12 as the Etopia Sunday Night Music Series continues with the amazing Yamis Jewell.  Gentle on the keyboard performing some great tunes you know and love as well as others you may not know and of course her own original music.  We kick off at 7pm PDT and would love to see you there.  Save the time and join us for fun, dancing, music and so much more.  See you there!

what happened to the mall?

Curiosity is growing among residents and visitors alike. The question on everyone's mind is "what's happening to the beach?"

The mall that occupied the southeast corner of Etopia Prime was aged and heavy on prim. Our initial idea was to upgrade the mall, but soon found it difficult and counterproductive so we scrapped that idea and began work on designs for a mixed use community that was fun with a touch of coastal romance, and of course reflective of the vision and mission of Etopia.

The land is terraformed to rise from what will be a landing point for Etopia Prime to the ridge overlooking the waterfall. Along the banks will be shops, homes, cafes, plazas, and cart vendors. At least we hope we'll have the room for all of it.

So, check it out and IM Namaara your thoughts. Or post your comments here. Ciao

A Short Introduction

Hello.  My name is Tara Lopes and in Second Life I am Throughthesewalls Moody.  In both lives I am the owner and president of MUSIC NOT POLITICS, Inc. a music management and promotion company.  Together with Etopia we hope to bring good times, great music and awareness to the Etopia concept and so much more.  We will have shows every Sunday night at 7pm with a variety of artists passing through.  We have a special event on August 14th starting at Noon SLT and running through 8pm SLT with all live music, a barbeque, perhaps a campfire and lots of fun.  Stay tuned for more posts and much more excitement as we head into an amazing summer!  See you all on Sunday!

Earth Day, Birthday, Kebba Tammas tonight!

Keeba's relaxed wit and charm come through with each performance, drawing the listeners into the show and her open request format is a real crowd pleaser. Her love of music and performing come over during her gigs, creating a lively and fun atmosphere. Other performers often remark that Keeba is one of their favorites to listen to. Don't miss this celebration of music and Etopia at the Farmer's Market on Etopia Prime

Etopia's Sunday Music Series Presents- Phemie Alcott

Phemie Alcott has been writing and performing songs since she was 18 and gives her whole heart to performances. Her music can be described as indie/folk/pop and does covers by the Cranberries, Tori Amos, Nelly Frutado etc. She is always striving to write great songs and never forgets that it's her fans that keep her music alive. She is heavily influenced by artists such as Joni Mitchell, PJ Harvey, U2, Tori Amos, Sarah Machlachlan and others. Come and see her share her love of singing and music!
Sunday Evening 6:00 PM SLT @ Etopia's Poetry Corner. Follow the slurl below.
See you there.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Etopia%20Eco%20Village-Poetry%20Corner/187/71/22/?title=Etopia%20Eco%20Village-Poetry%20Corner&msg=Sunday%20Music%20Series%20Event%20Location

Etopia's Sunday Music Series Presents- Eric Steffensen Mistwalker

Join us this Sunday in Etopia @ Tsidel's Cafe for yet another amazing SL performing. Eric Steffensen Mistwalker takes the stage @ 6 pm SLT to dazzle and enthrall us with his musical talents.
Eric is a singer/songwriter performing live from Salt Lake. His voice and acoustic guitar captivate as his lyrics shoot you through a range of emotions. From his comical and laugh out loud songs to his serious heartfelt songs he has been compared to the likes of Cat Stevens, Blues Traveler and Phil Collins. Combining rock, folk, blues and classical Eric creates a sound that is familiar yet unique.

Eric’s lyrical themes provoke listeners to contemplate their own spirituality, self-improvement and mental awareness. Based on Eric’s personal values and philosophies developed while he read tarot in coffee shops his sharply crafted lyrics act as a catalyst between performer and listener. So visual are his lyrics that listeners are compelled to stop and ponder the world from a new perspective.

Eric pours his heart, mind, body, spirit and soul into each of his live performances hoping his audience can take something away from each show to help through their day. Please join us for an opportunity to hear Eric for yourself. Check him out online at http://ericsteffensen.com

Etopia's Sunday Music Series Presents-Kitzie Lane

Join us this Sunday 3/13 @ 6 pm SLT in Etopia @ Tsidel's for another phenomenal performer! Kitzie Lane takes the stage to dazzle you with her artistry of music.
Kitzie Lane has been singing all her life and in RL, plays the guitar and piano. Kitzie has been performing regularly in SL since December, 2007, accompanying herself on acoustic guitar. She has a sweet, clear voice that lends itself perfectly for her choice of song styles. Her unique picking style is a delight to listen to.
Kitzie plays a wide range of songs - primarily folk songs from the likes of Dylan, the Dead, Donovan, Leonard Cohen, John Prine, Joni Mitchell, Tom Paxton, and many others! But the mix doesn't stop there - you may hear the Beatles, Jason Mraz, CCR, Tears for Fears, Johnny Cash, or Neil Diamond and more! Her sets are always an eclectic experience!
See you there!

Etopia's Sunday Music Series Presents-Mack Humbridge

Join us this Sunday 3/6/11 in Etopia Island @ Tsidel's 6 p.m. SLT for our Sunday Music Series. This weeks fantastic performer is Mack Humbridge.
Mack Humbridge comes to us from the Central USA using several different guitars both acoustic and electric to perform a live blend of classic, modern and bluesy rock. Mack performs instrumentals that sing to your soul. His own originals are energizing, uplifting and amazingly well written. Mack's shows are full of guitar rock that will get your feet tapping, your body moving and your blood pumping.
So whether you are looking to dance, listen to some really great music or visit with friends.....this is the place you want to be.

Etopia's Sunday Music Series Presents-Nonge Shipman

Join us on Sunday 2/27 @ 6 pm @ the Etopia Band-shell for another fantastic music experience featuring Nonge Shipman. Nonge is from the East Coast of US and has been playing and singing for 18 years in various real life bands, and now he brings his acoustic rock style to Second Life! If you like a solid acoustic rock sound, with rhythmic driven music, catchy vocal lines, and heartfelt lyrics, you'll love this artist. You don't want to miss this amazing performer!

Follow this SLurl...................See you in Etopia!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Etopia%20Prime/166/64/31

Etopia's Sunday Music Series Presents-Rock Doghouse

Etopia is proud to present our Sunday Music Series. Every Sunday Etopia presents live music entertainment from the best artists in SL. This week's artist is Rock Doghouse. Rock Doghouse is an award winning songwriter, and lifelong career musician and performer both Real World and in Virtual Worlds.

WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT ROCK DOGHOUSE...

"All that refinement aside, Rock shines in his live shows. Hmm…well, perhaps not ‘shines’–that’s the wrong word. There is no ‘bling’ about this man or his music. He’s a musician’s musician. Performing live, he is…organic."

Join us this Sunday 6 pm @ Tsidel's for a night to remember!

Etopia's Sunday Music Series Presents-Nonge Shipman

Join us tonight 6 pm @ Tsidel's for another fantastic music experience featuring Nonge Shipman.
Nonge is from the East Coast of US and has been playing and singing for 18 years in various real life bands, and now he brings his acoustic rock style to Second Life! With a unique childhood and life story, he has developed an interesting outlook on life, which shows through his music, attitude, and since of humor. If you like a solid acoustic rock sound, with rhythmic driven music, catchy vocal lines, and heartfelt lyrics, you'll love this artist.You don't want to miss this amazing performer!

Etopia's Sunday Music Series Presents-OneHempCat Oldrich

Sunday Music Series in Etopia is proud to invite back Onehempcat Oldrich. Join us this Sunday 2/6 @ 6 p.m. @ Tsidel's to party, dance, and lose yourself in the wonderful music of Onehempcat.

Onehempcat is a seasoned SL musician with over 300 shows under his belt. After a break from SL to work on his RL music career One is back to shake things up! You may be familiar with his acoustic guitar stylings and some may even remember his heavy metal electric stuff; well as he returns to SL now he is bringing more more more - acoustic jams, electric jams, rockin full production jams - but you wont hear vocals because his music speaks volumes on its own! His mastery of music becomes crystal clear as he takes you on a journey through your own self with his amazingly crafted music. This is one performer you don't want to miss. Come on out and feel what music is meant to do - move your soul!

Etopia's Sunday Music Series Presents-KevinMThomas Carpool

This Sunday 1/30 @ 6 p.m. Etopia presents our Sunday Music Series. Join us at the Band Shell as we welcome back KevinMThomas Carpool.
If you have not seen Kevin perform you will not want to miss it.
His music has been featured in 2 MTV/Spike TV Productions entitled, "Tripped Out" and "10 Things Every Guy Should Experience". His music reached international audiences in the popular British television series, "Distant Shores" and the Brazilian made for television movie "Studio 54" and many more!
You are sure to have a great time no matter what your in the mood for. Whether you are looking to dance, relax, laugh, or just hang out with friends, Kevin puts on one of the best live performances in SL.
Just follow the SLURL below and join us in Etopia. We look forward to seeing you.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Etopia%20Prime/173/67/21

Etopia's Sunday Music Series Presents- Rapture Damone

Etopia presents our Sunday Music Series where we feature the best SL has to offer in musical performers.
Join us in Etopia as we showcase Rapture Damone in our Sunday Music Series on January 23, 2011. One woman and six strings equals pure pleasure. Rapture delivers an eclectic mix of covers that provide pleasure regardless of your music of choice! She pulls out new material constantly and delivers it with talent and enthusiasm.. always interacting with her audience to deliver what they ask for! You don't want to miss this raw and authentic musician!!

Here is just a taste of future performers we have lined up:

Jan 30 - KevinMThomas Carpool
Feb 6 - Onehempcat Oldrich
Feb 13 - TonewoodFrank Unplugged
Feb 20 - Matthew Perreault
Feb 27 - Nonge Shipman
Mar 6 - Mack Humbridge
Mar 13 - Kitzie Lane
Mar 20 - Evamoon Ember
Mar 27 - Eric Steffensen Mistwalker

Continue to watch this blog and SL events for more information on all performers and happenings in Etopia.

just a hint ... GoGreen!

We already know Etopia is a favorite SL spot for knowledgable in-worlders, but when the outside world pays attention to us it's a big deal. We're working with a special group of folks to raise awareness of environmental issues and how we use Etopia to support our real world work. Who are we working with? What's the project? Who's in it? hehe....

Stay tuned ... here and in world.

setting a green stage for kids

For many years I worked with underserved youth in arts and technology. I've preached that if you want audiences tomorrow engage kids today. The Alliance for Climate Education is working the high school scene educating and engaging students on issues of global warming. They hold free multimedia assemblies in schools across the country. This 3 minute video gives you a great idea of what this is all about; http://bit.ly/fkWS5a.

I'm not saying book a presentation. I'm asking everyone to share their environmental, community, and sustainable work, ideas, and builds to Etopia. Let's use Etopia to further our reach, shout out our message. Then let's head over to Tsi's for coffee and music or the forest for a night of drumming with Daneah, Windy, and the trees.

New to this blog or Etopia? Visit us at Etopia by following this teleport map. Not familiar with Second Life? Visit our website for details on how to join

vision for a new economy

David Korten is one of my favorite visionaries. He posted a direct call to action piece on his blog yesterday. In it he says we have yet to have a much needed conversation about the 2008 Wall Street debacle. He calls for a meaningful conversation that goes beyond finger-pointing. Here's part of what he said.

"We have yet to engage in a much-needed national conversation that addresses essential, yet unasked, questions. For example:

• Do Wall Street institutions do anything so vital for the national interest as to justify opening the national purse strings and showering them with trillions of dollars in order to save them from the consequences of their own excess?
• Is it possible that the whole Wall Street edifice is built on an illusion that has no substance yet carries deadly economic, social, and environmental consequences for the larger society?
• Might there be other ways to provide necessary and beneficial financial services with greater effectiveness and at less cost?"

To read the entire article go to Yes! Magazine and begin following his series on "Agenda for a New Economy."