Consumer Rights... How Can We Protect Them?

DEALING WITH UNETHICAL BUSINESS BEHAVIOR
What would you do if you bought a product, only used it once, and was then banned from using the product further because the creator didn’t like a group that you belonged to? Based on what is being reported by Aine Flanagan, that’s exactly what happened to her and others recently in Second Life. She had purchased an in-world mesh creation tool for L$3995. After the creator shut down his own group forum and seemed less than helpful, she joined an independent group so that she and other buyers would have a way to discuss the product and provide each other with support. After she had used it a single time, she says that the creator shut down her ability to continue using the product. Apparently the same thing happened to others who had purchased it and were a part of the discussion group. Now she says they are all being accused of violating TOS and are being threatened with retribution for nothing more than belonging to a group that the creator did not approve of, and while there will most likely be no consequences for the purchasers if the story is true, the fact is that it may be difficult for any of them to recover any money already paid in. You can read more about this bizarre story at http://macmoraghsmuse.blogspot.com/2012/01/lumberjack-experience-in-paranoia-and.html.
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What a mess. Regardless of whether the seller or the consumer is at fault, situations like this only stifle creativity and cause problems for everyone involved.

OUR DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS
This is exactly why SpotON3D created the community-driven resolution panel, where volunteers are called out whenever there is a dispute. The company picks 3 to 5 out of the available volunteers to hear the complaint, making sure they are not the same people over and over and that they are not all from one group or another of the community. The volunteers are charged with listening, reading and viewing all matters of the details of the complaint/dispute and coming up with a reasonable solution.

The volunteers have access to a lawyer to ensure their solution has real legal legs, because if either party doesn't like the solution they can take it to a real world online arbitration service, http://virtualcourthouse.com, a community of retired and active judges and lawyers whose services start at just $150 USD. Of course, if you ask for a one-on-one meeting with the retired/active judge or lawyer or want to present additional documents as evidence, then the costs go up for that person.

All parties named in the disputes are bound by the SpotON3D Terms of Service to participate. Virtual Courthouse uses all the information gathered through the resolution panel process to review the solution, and either say it is a valid legal response or come up with their own judgment that is legally recognized in over 150 countries.

In other words, the fact that a business person is using a character-driven persona to represent their real identity, whether in business or in play, does not provide them with the perfect cover to defraud, harass, violate the SpotON3D TOS and the many other things we have seen go down in the past. It doesn't always have to involve digital retail content to add up to a dispute either. We've all seen that truth in not only Second Life, but in many other platforms that provide the means to replicate real world interactions and business actions in an online web space.

The bottom line though is this. It is illegal, unethical and in bad faith to take all the profit of a product offering, and deny any of the responsibility for its outcome and security. That's why many creators are choosing to make SpotON3D the place through which they create and sell their products. Even sales to Second Life avatars are covered by this if they are made through SpotONSynergy's Double Dutch Delivery (DDD) system. DDD makes it possible for users to shop through a web-based marketplace that can deliver any DDD item they buy to their SpotON3D avatar AND to their Second Life avatar simultaneously at the point of purchase, This means their inventory is being legally replicated at the purchase point FOR FREE. Every sale is bound to the SpotON3D community resolution/arbitration system, both for the creator's and the consumer's protection.

EXPAND TO SPOTON3D
We have said this before, but it is worth repeating. It’s not about LEAVING ... it’s about EXPANDING, and creating a Metaverse connection that is not only fun and community spirited, but that values everyone's reasonable needs. We must get beyond the gilded cage without sacrificing the careers of so many talented folks. It is possible, and is being built right now. If you believe in the 3D Web and these ideals and are serious about wanting real value for your time and efforts, then maybe it’s time for you to expand your horizons. Drop in to SpotON3D and check it out!

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RESIDENT PROFILES: 10 & Marc Goosson

A big part of what makes SpotON3D such a great place to be is the great people who make it up. And I am absolutely thrilled that we have two really wonderful people who have become key members of the SpotON3D family... a lovely and very talented Dutch couple, 10 Goosson and Marcthur Goosson.

10 and Marc are the owners of M&M Creations, where you will find some of the most amazing sculpted products you have ever seen. They are a team in every sense of the word, and their abilities complement each other well. Marc is adept at the use of graphics programs to create original 3D Models (meshes and sculpties) that are suitable for uploading into the online world. 10 is focused on a variety of activities in world, including texturing, mall design, landscaping and creating new items and builds with Marc's 3D models and her graphic skills. She also conducts building classes so that she can share her knowledge about Web World building, and handles issues related to Public Relations. And 10 and Marc always take great pride in providing the very best in customer support.

10 and Marc began their online careers in Second Life in January 2007, after hearing about it through a Dutch business magazine. They learned how to adapt their skills to creating products in that environment, and opened a successful business that has supported them well in real life. They are still in Second Life because of this fact, but they also feel that it has grown too big and impersonal, motivating them to branch out and discover what other digital worlds have to offer. In 2010 they began setting up accounts in other Web Worlds, beginning with InWorldz and Avination, but quickly discovered how difficult the transition could be. “We discovered it isn't peanuts to copy/move an entire mall to another grid,“ 10 tells me. They still have businesses there, but the most disappointing aspects have been the lack of support, vision, and community spirit in these worlds.

They had already set up accounts on SpotON3D around the same time as the others, but did not follow up with it immediately, since trying to move had already proven to be a huge undertaking. Then in 2011, at the urgings of our COO Tessa Harrington, they began to set up shop here, and were very pleased with what they found. “SpotON3D was willing to help us, service was great, costs for land were reasonable, low even compared to other virtual worlds and the whole concept of SO was stunning and touching real life. That gave us the trust not only to move our mall, but to start working on things the Web Worlds of SpotON3D really need, and feel part of a serious platform which is worth putting time, investments and energy into.” They were also happy to see that SpotON3D maintains a steady and reasonably realistic currency. “The SO Bucks [our unit of currency] are easy,” 10 says with a smile.

Here at SpotON3D, 10 and Marc have been creating things such as landscaping items, homes, and full sim builds for HotSwap Scenes. They want to focus on products that are needed here, not just flood the market with more of the same thing, so they constantly try to sense what the community is looking for. 10 wants to be able to help out other creators by offering classes at our Creators Cafe, once it is launched. She wants to continue taking part in community events and supporting important organizations such as Fearless Nation. And they both look forward to the day when their business in SpotON3D grows to the point that they can afford to leave Second Life, and can devote all of their time to this world.

10 describes herself and Marc as “a hard working couple that believes in the identity and the foundation of this Webworlds Platform.” She has not been able to find this level of “having fun in my work” like she has in SpotON3D. This has helped them to better focus on their creations. “The support & feedback of the Staff is amazing,” 10 tells me, “and we are relieved we can act as adults amongst other adults. This is a Virtual World linked to the real world, it really is appealing.”

10 and Marc graciously allowed their region to be used as part of Raven Hunt, our very first world-wide hunt game held in SpotON3D. And as previously mentioned, 10 has been actively creating beautiful full sim builds that can be sold as HotSwap Scenes on our marketplace. Come check out her Winter HotSwap Scene at Spirit Venture, while it is still on display (it’s scheduled to be up through the end of January).

Visit 10 and Marc's region, DoubleMCreations, today at http://3Durl.com/map/spoton3d/ DoubleMCreations/129/129/36.

Thank you 10 and Marc, we are so glad that you are a part of our community and appreciate you believing in SpotON3D!

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To follow all of our blog postings, please be sure to subscribe by clicking the "Join this site" button, or by submitting an email address in the "Follow by Email" box along the right margin. And if you see something that particularly interests you, be sure to share it on your Facebook, Twitter, or other social media pages using the icons provided.

You can sign up for an account with SpotON3D by going to https://spoton3d.com/register/, or through your Facebook page at https://apps.facebook.com/webworlds/.

Spotlight on Technology - A Pill That Mimics Exercise??

Here’s an interesting story out of Harvard Medical School and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Researchers have discovered a natural hormone called Irisin that can speed up the transformation of body fat in a way similar to what happens during physical exercise. The hormone is already present in the body but at very low levels, and these levels increase with exercise. Once they accumulate in the blood, they help to transform white fat (which accumulates calories) into brown fat (which produces heat and burns calories).

The researchers conducted studies in which they artificially boosted the Irisin levels in mice. This caused the mice to burn more calories and lose weight within the first ten days. They found that it also was able to regular blood sugar levels effectively, meaning that the treatment could potentially be useful in controlling diabetes.

Researchers caution that these are preliminary findings. It is still uncertain whether humans would experience the same benefits from boosting the level of Irisin, and it may be a challenge converting the hormone into a drug that could be easily administered. But the potential for something like this is fascinating.

Should this product become available to the public, I don’t believe that it should ever be viewed as a substitute for regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle. We too often look for a quick fix or an easy way out. However, for those who are morbidly obesity or who are having trouble controlling their diabetes, I can see how something like this may become a valuable tool when used in conjunction with exercise. It may also be helpful for those who are limited in the amount of physical activity they can perform due to a disability. If you want to read more about this research, you can check out the article at http://www.gizmag.com/hormone-mimics-exercise/21150/.

To follow all of our blog postings, please be sure to subscribe by clicking the "Join this site" button, or by submitting an email address in the "Follow by Email" box along the right margin. And if you see something that particularly interests you, be sure to share it on your Facebook, Twitter, or other social media pages using the icons provided.

You can sign up for an account with SpotON3D/WorldWorks by going to https://spoton3d.com/register/, or through your Facebook page at https://apps.facebook.com/webworlds/.

The SpotON3D/WorldWorks Stand on SOPA and PIPA

Two pieces of US Legislation, H.R. 3261 or SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and Senate Bill 968, or PIPA (Protect IP Act), have caused a storm of controversy lately. These have prompted many prominent sites to rise in protest by either blacking out service for a day (as Wikipedia did), or to place a black bar across their front page. The bills would basically make web sites legally responsible for everything that they contain or reference, and would give law enforcement the ability to shut down or to have access blocked to sites that do not comply. Proponents say that the measures are needed to protect intellectual property and to bolster enforcement of copyright laws. Opponents say that they threaten free speech and would place an unrealistic burden on legitimate sites, in many cases forcing them to shut down.

While we at SpotON3D are a strong advocate of intellectual property rights, we see SOPA and PIPA as threats to the world voice we have achieved with the rise of the Internet. Our world leaders saw the power of the world's voice with the Middle Eastern uprising, and how it was impossible to gag their freedom of speech through technology. We believe that this terrified them, because now that we can communicate with each other from across the world, we see better what our governments are doing to us, and to others around the world.

Here in the United States, our political leaders from all parties no longer have the moral or ethical fiber to lead in our favor. The day of the U.S. imposing its will on other countries needs to end. Our leaders are bought and controlled by big businesses and their lobbyists, and we are so easily persuaded to ignore what they are doing. This is facilitated by the fact that our news organizations are owned and controlled by major corporations. The advent of raw new footage is essential as a defender against this. If we surrender these rights to our governments, they could use this same law to stifle video, blogs and writings from around the world that are currently used to expose corruption and illegal acts against people of the world. We as a world people need to stand up for our rights for the Internet we have all grown to rely on so heavily. One voice... one Worlds... one People.

Having said that, we think we DO need to do something about copyright infringement, but are adamant that SOPA and PIPA are NOT the ways to do it. We see them as a thinly veiled excuse for our government and others to set a legal precedent -- to have the legal rights needed to shut down any web site at will without due legal representation. THIS MUST BE OPPOSED AT ALL COST. It will only perpetuate the ineffective DMCA system we currently have that requires no proof of copyright to ensure DMCAs are not used/abused to disrupt the business of a competitor and clog up our legal system with he-said/she-said type debates over ownership and rights. The solution for that is to require anyone who files a DMCA to submit a legitimate copyright registration per their country’s standards.

We and others are working on establishing a worldwide clearing house for digital goods, where the content images and copyrights can be registered and official outlets for purchase can be found by the users to ensure their purchases are made through legitimate vendors. If you, as a creator, are interested in helping us as we push forward on this ambitious project, please email us at contact@spoton3d.com. Let's solve this ourselves as a world population, and send a clear message to our governments that our Internet is not be to controlled in this way and that we are mature and responsible enough as a people to find real solutions that make sense.

Keep in mind that these bills are a two-prong attack on our freedoms. If one fails, the other may not and still pass. Please raise your voice and be heard!

A special thanks to Tessa Harrington, for graciously allowing the use of material from her own blog to create this article.

Frets Nirvana Performs at the Blue Shanty - Friday, Jan. 27, 2012

Total Guitar! That's what you hear when you listen to Frets Nirvana. Using acoustic, resonator and electric guitars, Fret's pallette of sound is quite varied and always interesting! Frets Nirvana grew up in the rock and roll city of Cleveland, Ohio and in his good old band days could be seen hanging out and playing in clubs with the likes of Joe Walsh and the James Gang and Phil Keaggy and Glass Harp. Adding vocals to his wide music variety of tonal colors, a performance by Frets Nirvana always offers interesting music for the listener.

Frets always rocks the stage when he comes here. If you haven't yet experienced one of his performances, then you SERIOUSLY need to be here this Friday! Frets pours his heart and soul into what he does, and it definitely comes through on stage. If you like great guitar playing, then check Frets out in in SpotON3D! You are guaranteed an enjoyable music experience!


Come on down and listen to Frets Nirvana perform an hour of fine rock/blues/jazz this Friday, January 27, from 1pm-2pm MVT/Pacific, at the Blue Shanty stage in Shanty Town. The stage is in SpotON3D at:
http://3Durl.com/map/spoton3d/ Shanty%20Town/65/58/35.

We at the Blue Shanty strive to bring you the best in entertainment. These are the real deal folks, not pre-recorded performers, or stand in artists. We search and scour the metaverse every day to enrich your Web World experience!

If you don't already have your FREE SpotON3D/WorldWorks account, get one now at https://spoton3d.com/users/register, or thru Facebook at https://apps.facebook.com/webworlds.

Spotlight on Technology: Testing Children's Vision

Here at SpotON3D/WorldWorks, we believe that it is important to keep abreast of new technological developments, even if we cannot immediately see ways that they might be applied to Web Worlds. We pride ourselves in thinking outside the box, and appreciate seeing others who are willing to take their dreams to the next level.

In a series of technology spotlights, we will be taking a look at some exciting breakthroughs that are happening around us. Today’s focus is on a comprehensive new vision treatment developed by researchers at the University of Tennessee Space Institute in Tullahoma.. one that is inexpensive, easy to administer, and shows promise in helping to identify vision problems in young people at an early age, before those problems can become irreversible.

According to their report, 85% of children’s learning is related to vision in one way or another. However, 80% of all children in the US have not had their vision tested before kindergarten, and the ones who have are generally given tests that can only detect a couple of different disorders.

The newly developed testing device is called the Dynamic Ocular Evaluation System (DOES), and was invented by Ying-Ling Ann Chen, a research assistant professor in physics, assisted by research associate Lei Shi and physics professor Jim Lewis. It is reportedly very kid-friendly and easy to learn.

With this system, the child just sits and watches a short cartoon or plays a computer game while looking through a binocular-type device mounted in front of the screen. As they do this, an infra-red light checks the child for a wide variety of vision disorders, ranging from neural disorders to lazy eye. The plan is to continue adding tests to the device that can help identify mental disorders such as ADHD, PTSD, autism, and dyslexia. Data gathered is recorded and can be sent to specialists if required.

For the full story on this amazing device, see http://www.gizmag.com/does-vision-testing-for-children/21170/.

New Resident Profile: Ricki Riggles

Hey everyone, please join me in welcoming Ricki Riggles to the SpotON3D family!

Ricki still considers herself a newbie to this world, but not to online worlds in general. She was introduced to Second Life in May 2007, when an old friend from the heyday of IRC (Internet Relay Chat) brought her in world to meet someone she referred to as 'her Swede'. Well, the Swede has left Second Life, but Ricki continued to hang around. At first, she looked upon this new online world as nothing more than a particularly fancy chat room... but she was quickly disabused of that notion. Ricki discovered that she could walk.. run.. and FLY! Everything that she saw amazed her... and she quickly became hooked! As soon as her avatar was old enough to add funds, she paid an absolutely ridiculous amount of money for a 512 plot on an island estate and began to make herself a home.

Ricki never considered herself a creative person, so she spent the next four years or so just SHOPPING. She couldn't imagine ever being able to make anything nearly as nice as what she saw, so she never even tried. She has been a lily of the field.. no work and all play!

Ricki enjoys dancing, particularly couples dances, and is a total animation freak. If it makes your avatar move, she has to have it! One of Ricki’s hobbies has been making over “n00bs”... beautifying the world one avatar at a time. “I took a break from that when I realized I was leaving a string of - if not clones, then at least brothers - in my wake. Please forgive me in advance if I try to 'fix' your avatar.. it's a hard habit to break!”

After a while, Ricki found that her early sense of wonder with Second Life had turned to weariness and dissatisfaction, and she was getting extremely critical of everything. Eventually, she felt that it was time to take a breather from Second Life, and so she backed away from it for a while. She visited IMVU briefly, but didn't enjoy it. Besides having what she describes as rather “freaky” looking avatars, not being able to walk annoyed her a lot.

One night, she decided that it was time to check back in, so she stopped in at Frank’s Elite Jazz Club, where she met Point Adamski. As it turned out, this was truly a chance meeting. Ricki had been involved with Gor in Second Life in many different roles, serving as House Physician in a great slave House and as Chief Physician of a small city...but she did not realize at the time that Point was a chief figure in the Gor community. They had quite an interesting chat, including discussing what she would do if she were in charge of Gor. She laughed at the idea, until she realized.. he really MEANT it... he WAS in charge of Gor, here in SpotON3D! Of course, she HAD to come and look.

When Ricki came to SpotON3D, what she found reminded her of the early days in SL (with a few exceptions... “my shoes and hair never attached to my butt on TP!”) Ricki feels that SpotON3D is in many ways a frontier, and she really likes that aspect of it. Granted, there isn't as much 'stuff' here yet, so she has actually started learning how to make (or at least to modify) her own things. She has gained a whole new appreciation for content creators, and wants to thank all of those who have so generously shared their work here.

What she plans to do here in SpotON3D is still a bit up in the air. She treated herself to a sim for Christmas, and is enjoying being able to play with the terrain and textures like she never could in Second Life. She says that the fun has come back into virtual reality for her. She would like to learn more here than she did in SL, and help to make this third life a good one.

Ricki is still in Second Life, usually under the same name. She doubts that she will ever completely leave...she has too much good no-transfer stuff there that she doesn’t want to abandon! In real life, Ricki is retired and lives in a suburb of Vancouver, BC. She loves to chat, so if you see her online, don’t hesitate to send her an IM :)

"Avatarzan: Lord Gray Bloke" -- Sunday, Jan. 22 at 1pm MVT

Come to SpotON3D this Wednesday for 40 minutes of fun and laughter! Enjoy the buffoonery as we do an encore performance of our very first original play: AVATARZAN, LORD GREY BLOKE, written, produced and directed by Ixmal Supermarine!

The performance is on SUNDAY, 22 JANUARY 2012 AT 1:00PM MVT (Pacific time), in the World of SpotON3D. The location will be the island of Fearless Nation, located at http://tinyurl.com/75rvmsc. Once you arrive, just follow the signs to the marked audience area. There you will have a good view of the "stage", which is the large tree and surrounding area in front of you.

AVATARZAN, LORD GRAY BLOKE is a comedy spoof that will be performed using VOICE (yes, we have in-world voice, so please make sure you have speakers or a headset). The show should last about 40 minutes. And the best part is... it's FREE!

To attend the performance, you will first need to set up an account on SpotON3D. If you don't already have your FREE account, get one now at https://spoton3d.com/users/register, or thru Facebook at https://apps.facebook.com/webworlds !

Freebie of the Day: An Oval Wooden Table

Stop by the SpotON3D Freebie Store or VeeSome Freebie Store to pick up today's freebie, an Oval Wooden Table. Find more free stuff at our online Synergy marketplace.

New Resident Profile: Ashota Alchemi

Please give a warm welcome to one of our new residents, Ashota Alchemi... someone who definitely was born to roleplay!

As someone who is NOT accustomed to the protocols of roleplaying, I have to admit that I was a little taken aback when I first met Ashota earlier this month. When I greeted him, his first response to me was:

Ashota Alchemi grins and nods.. "Hi yourself.. Hows it going? Busy, with the new year?"

The rest of the conversation that day continued in pretty much the same way. He was very friendly and cordial, but insisted on speaking to me in the third person, as if he were narrating a story... and throwing in cues about things such as laughing and nodding his head.

Before I could entertain thoughts of slowly backing away and calling in the men in the white coats, our own Varda Silver (an avid roleplayer herself) assured me that this was quite typical for those who are immersed in the roleplay experience, and thus it becomes a natural part of their speech. I guess that I really should get out more. At any rate, I have found that Ashota is one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet.

Ashota tells me that he has been playing a furry for many years now. His first experience was in FurryMuck, a text-based freeform online roleplaying world that came about when the world of furries was just getting started. It allowed him to grow and to develop his characters over time. Ashota is still a member of FurryMuck and has been in other online worlds, including City of Heroes. He has been involved in the furry community since about 1987, going to conventions, doing roleplaying games, and collecting art.

Ashota joined Second Life in 2005, where he currently rents a section of an Asian-themed sim run by Ukro Ashdene, another of our new residents. Ashota takes part in a regular roleplaying game on the weekends, and runs a Friday night D&D game. He says that he suffers from what he calls "Alt-aholism", playing wildly different characters and creating new ones for the fun of it. In spite of this, the character that he generally goes by is Boojum the brown bunny, and he runs a forum that hosts online play-by-post roleplaying games at http://www.boojumbunny.com.

On SpotON3D, Ashota wants to create a sim where furries can come and play, relax, and feel welcome. He also wants to help build up the Asian-themed universe that Ukro Ashdene is currently recreating on his own sim here in SpotON3D. One of Ashota’s sims will be a wilderness land of mist and shadows where the Yokai rule, and it is located right next to Ukyo's sim. The two of them plan to work together on setting up cross-sim events and fun.

Most of Ashota’s regions will become a part of the adult community, due to the fact that he does not wish to have his land encumbered by the restrictions that are imposed on our public Web Worlds. The adult community is run by Point Adamski of Homestone3D, and has its own pricing structure and signup procedures. But in spite of this, Ashota is also a member of SpotON3D and is considered as much a part of our community as anyone else.

Among his other interests, Ashota enjoys creating 3D art and animations using Poser Pro, Vue, and Carrara. 3D art is his second big love after roleplaying, which he got started in by creating pictures of his characters. He also does nature photography, combined with hiking when he can manage it. He enjoys cooking and trying to smoke meat at least once a month... although lately, he says that he’s been working more on side dishes and desserts.

Please join me in welcoming Ashota Alchemi to the SpotON3D/WorldWorks family!

Reminder to Vendors: ALWAYS Use an Unpacking Script!

When you list your products on SpotONSynergy, please remember to place an unpacking script into the box. This will allow the purchaser to wear the item, and then touch it to copy the contents to a folder in their inventory. We want you to do this because we do not want customers to be forced to find a rez area just to unpack their box. This is especially true for Free4Ever accounts, whose only option would be to teleport to a sandbox.

The current version of the unpacking script is named “SpotON3D Unpacking Script 1.2”. You can obtain a copy of it, along with sample boxes containing the script, from the SpotON3D Merchant Essentials box, available at the SO3D Resource Center at http://3Durl.com/map/veesome/SO3D%20Resource%20Center/132/139/24. On the Resource Wall, find the yellow “Scripting Resources Information” display, and click the blue “Merchant” ball near the top right. The script will also be provided as part of the Merchant Starter Kit, available for free from SpotONSynergy by clicking the link “Get The Merchant Startup Kit”.

After you have boxed your items, drop the SpotON3D Unpacking Script inside along with the other contents. This will do two things:

• It will add the phrase “(Wear Me)” to the end of the object name. We want to do this because it is simpler for purchasers to wear the box and unpack it that way, rather than to be forced to go to a rezzing area. Also, rezzing boxes encourages littering :)


• It will create floating text for the box, with the name of the box and the phrase “Touch to unpack” added to the end.

When the purchaser touches the box, it will copy everything (except for the script itself) into a folder in their inventory. The folder name will be the same as that of the box. And, after the contents are unpacked, the box will automatically detach itself from the avatar’s body (if you are using the current version of the script).

If you are using an older version of the script (without the 1.2 at the end of the name), then please be sure to manually add the phrase "(Wear Me)" to the end of the box name before placing it into your Merchant box.

Providing an unpacking script in the box for each listing gives the purchaser a simple and consistent way to receive merchandise. Please keep this in mind as you list items on our Marketplace.

Grid Wrap, featuring Kitteh Noir - Sat., Jan. 21 from 11am-12pm MVT/ Pacific

Come join us on Saturday for Grid Wrap, a bi-weekly program hosted by Varda Silver. This week on Grid Wrap, we have the privilege of an in-depth interview with the multi-world traveler and digital artist Kitteh Noir. She is well known on several different worlds; for example, she has been on IMVU since 2006 as blackrosewhiteheart, the elegant Geisha designer, and DreamingofDeath, the gothic clothing afficionado. She ventured into Second Life in 2008 as Kyoto Ying, working at a well known Okiya where she would hone a lot of her skills.

Suffice it to say, wherever Kitteh Noir went her talents were quickly recognized. Then one day, upon the request of a fan, she stumbled upon SpotON3D.

Yet again she stood out from the crowd, and has become one of the most prominent and important behind-the-scenes faces on SpotON3D. Please join us January 21th at 11AM MVT/Pacific time for an hour-long interview, after which the audience will have their chance to ask questions and meet this famous multi-world traveler. And the live audience will be treated to a special musical guest -- Sturmritter from IMVU!

The GridWrap Studios are located on SpotON3D/WorldWorks at
http://3Durl.com/map/spoton3d/GridWrap%20Studios/127/134/23. If you are unable to make it to the show, you can access the broadcast on the Web at www.livestream.com/spoton3dcom.

If you don't already have your Free4Ever account, you can get one at https://spoton3d.com/users/register, or through your Facebook page at https://apps.facebook.com/webworlds.

Freebie of the Day: A Computer Desk & Chair

Stop by the SpotON3D Freebie Store or VeeSome Freebie Store to pick up today's freebie, a Computer Desk & Chair. Find more free stuff at our online Synergy marketplace

New Resident Profiles: Doctor Schwartz & Autumn Beaver

SpotON3D/WorldWorks is extremely pleased to welcome Doctor Schwartz and Autumn Beaver into our family. They have been working together recently to develop the Newpoint Academy sim, a place where young people can come and learn through interactive displays, while having fun at the same time.

Doctor Schwartz (Dr. Dave Schwartz in RL) is an instructor at the Newpoint Academy charter school in Panama City, Florida, and has been actively working to incorporate technology into the classroom, especially through the use of digital worlds such as SpotON3D. After discovering Second Life in 2007, he immediately recognized how it could be used for learning. “I … was immediately attracted to the potential for recreating historical events and places. I also liked the potential for virtual worlds to create new and shared experiences... new potential for artistic expression... the ability to create interdiscisplinary exhibits and educational material.”

Doctor Schwartz moved to SpotON3D because he had become disillusioned with the cost of SL, and with the lack of true collaboration and cooperation among the residents. His new job of teaching sixth grade history in a charter school that focuses on technology has allowed him to get back into digital worlds, and his goal at SpotON3D is to create a unique campus that all of the Newpoint schools can take advantage of, develop, and share in order to give the students new and unique opportunities for learning, and above all for using their imaginations.


Autumn Beaver is a friend and colleague of Doctor Schwartz from Second Life. She has been involved in digital worlds for many years now; besides Second Life, she has worked in ReactionGrid, IMVU, There, and many others. She is an accomplished builder who has been working closely with Doctor Schwartz to develop the Newpoint Academy sim. Autumn has been able to take Doctor’s ideas and turn them into a reality inside of SpotON3D.

Autumn was introduced to digital worlds by a friend, and loves their social and creative possibilities. She says that digital world creation is her full time work in real life, and that she loves doing it. She also loves the research, experimenting, and learning that has gone into the work she is doing for Newpoint Academy.


These photos show some of what Autumn has accomplished so far on the Newpoint Academy sim. One fascinating area is the literature garden, when you can walk through a series of exhibits that bring some of the great literary works to life -- everything from the Legend of Sleepy Hollow to Tom Sawyer. You will also see recreations of the Pyramids and the Sphinx, as well as other wonders of the world.

With Doctor Schwartz’ vision and Autumn’s creating skills, we’re sure that the Newpoint Academy will become a place that will inspire the imagination of students for years to come!

Freebie of the Day: A Sculptie Tent

Stop by the SpotON3D Freebie Store or VeeSome Freebie Store to pick up today's freebie, a Sculptie Tent. Find more free stuff at our online Synergy marketplace

Freebie of the Day: A Sculptie Dining Set

Stop by the SpotON3D Freebie Store or VeeSome Freebie Store to pick up today's freebie, a Sculptie Dining Set. Find more free stuff at our online Synergy marketplace

Grid Wrap, featuring Kitteh Noir - Sat., Jan. 14 from 1pm-2pm MVT/Pacific

Come join us tomorrow for Grid Wrap, a bi-weekly program hosted by Varda Silver. This week on Grid Wrap, we have the privilege of an in-depth interview with the multi-world traveler and digital artist Kitteh Noir. She is well known on several different worlds; for example, she has been on IMVU since 2006 as blackrosewhiteheart, the elegant Geisha designer, and DreamingofDeath, the gothic clothing afficionado. She ventured into Second Life in 2008 as Kyoto Ying, working at a well known Okiya where she would hone a lot of her skills.

Suffice it to say, wherever Kitteh Noir went her talents were quickly recognized. Then one day, upon the request of a fan, she stumbled upon SpotON3D.

Yet again she stood out from the crowd, and has become one of the most prominent and important behind-the-scenes faces on SpotON3D. Please join us January 14th at 1PM MVT/Pacific time for an hour-long interview, after which the audience will have their chance to ask questions and meet this famous multi-world traveler. And the live audience will be treated to a special musical guest -- Sturmritter from IMVU!

The GridWrap Studios are located on SpotON3D/WorldWorks at
http://3Durl.com/map/spoton3d/GridWrap%20Studios/127/134/23. If you are unable to make it to the show, you can listen in at www.livestream.com/spoton3dcom.

If you don't already have your Free4Ever account, you can get one at https://spoton3d.com/users/register, or through your Facebook page at https://apps.facebook.com/webworlds.

Freebie of the Day: An Outdoor Grill

Stop by the SpotON3D Freebie Store or VeeSome Freebie Store to pick up today's freebie, an Outdoor Grill. Find more free stuff at our online Synergy marketplace

NOTICE: SERVER RESTARTS Tonight Starting at 12am MVT

Beginning at 12am MVT/Pacific tonight, we will be performing a complete shutdown and restart of our servers. This is a process that usually takes around 3 hours to complete, and you will not be able to log into SpotON3D during this time. If everything goes according to schedule, you should be able to sign back on sometimes after 3am MVT on 1/12.

Frets Nirvana Performs at the Blue Shanty - Friday, Jan. 13, 2012

Total Guitar! That's what you hear when you listen to Frets Nirvana. Using acoustic, resonator and electric guitars, Fret's pallette of sound is quite varied and always interesting!

Frets Nirvana grew up in the rock and roll city of Cleveland, Ohio and in his good old band days could be seen hanging out and playing in clubs with the likes of Joe Walsh and the James Gang and Phil Keaggy and Glass Harp. Adding vocals to his wide music variety of tonal colors, a performance by Frets Nirvana always offers interesting music for the listener. If you like great guitar playing then check Frets out in in SpotON3D! You are guaranteed an enjoyable music experience!



Listen to Frets Nirvana perform an hour of fine rock/blues/jazz at the Blue Shanty stage in Shanty Town this Friday, January 13, from 1pm-2pm MVT/Pacific. The stage is located in SpotON3D at:
http://3Durl.com/map/spoton3d/ Shanty%20Town/65/58/35.

We at the Blue Shanty strive to bring you the best in entertainment. These are the real deal folks, not pre-recorded performers, or stand in artists. We search and scour the metaverse every day to enrich your Web World experience!

If you don't already have your FREE SpotON3D account, get one now at https://spoton3d.com/users/register, or thru Facebook at https://apps.facebook.com/webworlds.

Come on down to the Blue Shanty this Friday, and let's keep the New Year's celebration going!

Snowybrook Winter Resort: SpotON3D’s First Pod Pad Community

We at SpotON3D/World Works are proud to announce that we are preparing to launch our very first Pod Pad community, Snowybrook Winter Resort. This is the first of several communities being developed to give new residents a place where they can settle in immediately and have a starter home here, without the need to make a large investment. We want to reach out especially to those in other digital worlds, to show them that they now have an alternative to what is being offered elsewhere.

Each parcel within Snowybrook covers a 20x36 meter area with 182 available prims, and comes with a beautiful snow-covered cabin that includes basic furnishings. The community has three residential regions, each with a selection of homes and a skate park. There is also a fourth region devoted solely to recreation, with fun activities like skiing, snowboarding, and snowball fighting. To make it much easier for everyone to move around within the community, all four regions have been combined into a megaregion, which means that there will be no perceptible sim boundary crossings.

A copy of Snowybrook Winter Resort will be provided in each of our content rated areas -- Good4Everyone, Good4Grownups, and Good4Adults. This will give everyone an opportunity to have a home in the community, while remaining a part of their chosen Web World.


Release Date
The start-up for Snowybrook Winter Resort has been scheduled for the weekend of January 14-15. Due to the amount of work remaining, it is possible that this date may be need to be adjusted. If that becomes necessary, we will send out a follow-up announcement to let everyone know the new schedule.

Terms of Use
Individuals will be able to use their Pod Pad cabin free for a total of 7 days. At the end of that time, they will be able to purchase a monthly subscription for $5.99, which will let them continue to use the cabin and will also include a premium membership. Note that this is an EARLY BIRD price, which after 60 days from the launch will be increased to $9.99/month, but those renting now will have the $5.99/month price grandfathered for as long as they keep their rental active. They will continue to have an allowance of 182 prims available to use on their parcel, but they cannot edit the builds that are already in place.

If a resident decides that they want more space and/or prims to use, they can purchase one of our 40x40 parcels with 732 available prims for $14.99 USD/month, and can even purchase an editable copy of the Pod Pad cabin from our Marketplace to place on their parcel. Or, as always, they can choose to upgrade to a larger parcel or even to a region.

Opportunities For Content Creators!
Each one of these Pod Pad regions will have a marketplace area where content creators can showcase and sell their content. We want as many to participate in this as possible, to give residents immediate access to new furniture, clothing, shoes, etc. This will also provide content creators with valuable exposure and name recognition.

Community $$$ Rewards!
Finally...a place that you can brag about to your friends and family! So shout out about it and help your community grow! We feel that it’s important to reward those who take the time to pass on the word that Snowybrook is a great place to live. Because of this, we are offering you one month of free rental within Snowybrook Winter Resort if you will do the following:

• Purchase a one month’s Pod Pad rental at the normal rate of $5.99 USD/month;


• Provide positive comments about Snowybrook Resort to at least three (3) of the following forums at least once a week, for a three week period:
• 
  
  • Your personal Facebook account;
  
  
  • Your personal Google Plus account;
  
  
  • Your personal Twitter account;
  
  
  • The SO3D Like Bytes page on Facebook, which you must also LIKE (http://www.facebook.com/TessasLIKEBytes?sk=wall&filter=1);
  
  
  • This blog article.

Comments posted must be about Snowybrook Winter Resort, and must be of a positive nature. If you will do this on any 3 of these forums once a week for 3 weeks, you will be reimbursed for your first month’s rental at the end of the month. This offer only applies to your first month’s rent. And please note that the personal Facebook, Google Plus and Twitter accounts must be your individual accounts, not ones belonging to someone else.

To receive your free month’s rental, you must email us the links to all of your postings so that we can verify them, as well as the name of your avatar so that we can credit it properly. You can send this to us each time you post, or save them up and send them all at once. Please email the information about your postings to socialmedia@spoton3d.com, with the subject line "Postings for the Snowybrook Campaign".

Acknowledgments
We would like to send out a special thanks to Michael Somerset of Ball Mart Animations for providing the animations for the winter activities, and to Kitteh Noir for her tireless efforts at building a community that everyone can enjoy. And thanks to everyone else who has done their part to help this project come together so well.

Freebie of the Day: A Scultptie Swan

Stop by the SpotON3D Freebie Store or VeeSome Freebie Store to pick up today's freebie, a Sculptie Swan. Find more free stuff at our online Synergy marketplace

I Believe In the 3D Web... and So Should You!

The Power of the 3D Web
We at SpotON3D have been helping to develop the 3D Web for over three years now, and we think that it is a pretty revolutionary concept. But what exactly IS the 3D Web?

The 3D Web has the potential to bring us all together. It lets participants interact in a way that closely resembles real life, giving them the feeling of really "being there". In the digital environment, or Web Spaces, people create experiences that bring a real connection to their audience, whether they are artists, businesses, educators, or non-profits. People grow closer through working and learning together, while having fun in the process.

SpotON3D's "I Believe In the 3D Web" Video
We want to get YOU as excited about the possibilities of the 3D Web as we are! We have put together a short video that we submitted to RocketHub, a site that gives organizations exposure and helps them promote a grass roots movement. To see the video, please go to http://www.rockethub.com/submissions/4996-a-place-to-go-rather-than-a-page-to-read#section-conversations and click on the Play button. Then, please leave a comment by clicking the "Recent Conversations" tab, scrolling to the bottom, and clicking the link "Sign in to post a comment". (If you do not have a free account with RocketHub, you can create one there as well.)

COMMUNITY $$$ REWARDS!
Because of the importance of getting this message out to the community, we feel that it is important to reward those who take the time to spread the message. Over the next week (through January 15, 2012), we will credit your avatar's account with SO Bucks (our in-world currency) for postings that you do on different social media forums. Each posting must convey the message "I Believe in the 3D Web," either by saying that directly or by relating what it personally means to you. We encourage you to go through the video several times to keep yourself focused on what the message is.

Starting today (January 6) and running through January 15, we'll credit your account with 10 SO Bucks per day for a single posting that you do on EACH of the following social media forums, OR a total of 100 SO Bucks for ALL SIX in a single day:

• Your individual Facebook account;


• Your individual Google Plus account;


• Your individual Twitter account;


• The SO3D Like Bytes page on Facebook (you must also LIKE this page) (http://www.facebook.com/TessasLIKEBytes?sk=wall&filter=1);


• The RocketHub conversation page (http://www.rockethub.com/submissions/4996-a-place-to-go-rather-than-a-page-to-read#section-conversations);


• The YouTube page where the video was originally posted (http://tinyurl.com/spoton3d-com-Video).

For your individual accounts (Facebook, Twitter and Google+), you must include the above graphic along with your posting. Just right-click on the image and choose the option to save it to your hard drive. For your convenience, you can use one of the icons at the bottom of this posting to get to your individual account.

Once per day, you will receive 10 SO Bucks for a single posting on each of the forums (we don't give extra for additional postings to the same forum in a single day, although you're more than welcome to do that!). AS AN ADDED INCENTIVE, if you post to all SIX social media forums in a single day, we will give your account a total of 100 SO Bucks for that day.

To make it clear: The Facebook, Google Plus and Twitter accounts that you post to must each be your own individual account. We will not give extra for postings to multiple accounts that you own, or to other people's accounts.

To receive your rewards, you must email us the links to all of your postings so that we can verify them, as well as the name of your avatar so that we can credit it properly. You can send this to us each day, or save them up and send them all at once. Please email the information about your postings to socialmedia@spoton3d.com, with the subject line "Postings for the 3D Web Campaign".

Just by doing your part to get the word out about the 3D Web, you can make up to 1000 SO bucks that you can spend however you want, including cashing it out and applying it towards a rental.

NOW, GO FORTH AND POST! :)
Take advantage of this offer... learn more about the 3D Web, and let everyone know that you believe in it! And while you're at it, if you haven't visited SpotON3D yet, sign up for your FREE4EVER account at https://spoton3d.com/users/register. Or sign up directly from your Facebook account at https://apps.facebook.com/webworlds/!

Freebie of the Day: A Computer Desk

Stop by the SpotON3D Freebie Store or VeeSome Freebie Store to pick up today's freebie, an Timber Computer Desk . Find more free stuff at our online Synergy marketplace

Please Help Us SQUASH Our TP BUG!

If you're like me. you've experienced a few more crashes than usual lately while teleporting. This is because we've got a teleport (TP) bug that we need to nip in the bud, and we need YOU to help us fix it!


!! BEFORE YOU RELOG or RESTART !!
PLEASE GATHER INFORMATION & THE VIEWER LOG FILES TO SEND TO US
Anytime that you experience a crash after teleporting, please write down the following information:

• The avatar name you were using;


• The date and approximate time of the crash (if it is your local time, then be sure to include which time zone you are in);


• The Start and Destination regions for the teleport;


• The Viewer you are using (Standard, Plug-In, or Phoenix-SpotON);


• Your Computer's Operating System (e.g. Win7, MacOS 7.1, etc.)

ALSO, before you relog or restart your viewer again, please capture your viewer’s LOG FILES. These are files that are stored in a special system folder on your local computer. The log files can be found in one of the following locations:

• Win XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<(your Windowsuser name)>\Application Data\SpotON3D\logs


• Vista or Win 7: C:\Users\<(your Windowsuser name)>\AppData\Roaming\SpotON3D\logs

• $HOME/Library/Application Support/SpotON3D/logs
  (may be tricky to find for 10.7 users)

• $HOME/.spoton3d/logs

HOW TO REPORT YOUR NASTY BUG:
Once you have this information, we need for you to post it on our Mantis bug tracking system. We’ve created an issue there that you can use to report these TP-related crashes as they happen.

IMPORTANT: Before you can add your comments to this issue, you will first need to create a Mantis account by clicking the “Signup for a new account” link at the top left. Full instructions for how to create your own Mantis account are at https://wiki.spoton3d.com/faq/bugreporting.

The issue can be found at the following URL:
https://mantis.spoton3d.com/view.php?id=271.
Scroll down to the "Add Note" section at the bottom, and include all of the information that you wrote down earlier. If you were able to capture and zip up your log files, then include that as an attachment to your comment.


CASH REWARD!!
For every TP crash that you report over the next five days (through 1/10/2012), we will put SO$10 into your avatar's account! To receive the reward, you must provide all of the requested information, including attaching the log files.

With your help, we can stomp out this nasty glitch and make the Web Worlds a better place to move around in!

Freebie of the Day: Sculptie Digging Tools

Stop by the SpotON3D Freebie Store or VeeSome Freebie Store to pick up today's freebie, Sculptie Digging Tools. Find more free stuff at our online Synergy marketplace