Lately I've been keeping an eye on Second Life's "Popular Places" list (press CTRL + F) and the perilous ascent of Abbotts Aerodrome to dizzying new heights of popularity. Why just yesterday, I looked at the list and there it was in the number-one spot: "Abbotts Aerodrome".

Wow! In my enthusiasm, I sent out the message to everyone in the Aerodrome group: "Congratulations! We're now the most popular spot in Second Life!" This drew cheers and w00ts, until Apotheus pointed out that it was the most popular, not including the "mature" spots.

Um... I looked at the list again. "Include places in Mature sims" said the checkbox. I checked it, and we dropped to seventh place behind several strip clubs. We're only the most popular "PG" spot in Second Life.

Doh!!

So what do we have to do to bring in more people? Nude skydiving? Aircraft made in suggestive shapes?

I've been neglecting this blog. I rarely post, and I even missed its second blogiversary.

As the renewal date for cubicledweller.ca approaches, I'll need to make a decision. Keep the domain for another year, or let it expire?

Hmm.

In a tragic accident tonight, Wagner James Au (aka "Hamlet Linden"), author of New World Notes, fell from a skydiving plane at an altitude of 1000 meters, and plummeted to his death when his parachute failed to open. His lifeless avatar was found in the shallows of the lake in Brilliant.



Shortly after his death, Hamlet vanished, then returned to take photos. Hamlet is the fourth Linden to attempt skydiving, following Char, Exposition, and Philip.

Internet Explorer isn't the only thing from Microsoft that makes your computer unsafe. Your operating system, Windows, often seems to be so full of security holes that you'd think that it's putting out the welcome mat for malicious software.

Link: PCWorld.com: "Zombie PCs: Silent, Growing Threat"

You need to make your operating system safe. Do this:

• Get the latest Windows security patches from Microsoft. Open Internet Explorer, and go to the Windows Update website (windowsupdate.microsoft.com) and download the "critical" updates. Not surprisingly, Microsoft makes sure you can only view this page in Internet Explorer. (Can you say "monopoly"?) Check this once a week if your computer doesn't do this for you, or more if you're paranoid. Paranoia helps when it comes to securing your computer.
  
  
• Get a firewall, anti-virus software, and spyware/adware scanner. Although you can get some security software for free, such as the free ZoneAlarm firewall, I've been happy with the McAfee Internet Security Suite, which includes Virus Scan, Personal Firewall Plus, and assorted other tools. It costs about $70 US, but it seems worth it to me to get tools that work well with each other.
  
  What will this stuff do for you? A firewall will block unauthorized access, which is vital. Anti-virus will block viruses, trojans, and worms, and will help find and remove the ones that may already be on your computer. A spyware scanner will remove spyware/adware that may invade your privacy and/or interfere with the proper functioning of your computer (like constantly spamming you with popups, regardless of what you're doing).
  
  
• Update your anti-virus software daily. Having a virus scanner is great, but it doesn't do any good if it doesn't know about the new viruses out there. New viruses come out all the time. Either set up your software (like McAfee Virus Scan) to check for updates daily, or check for yourself.
  
  
• Scan for and remove spyware and adware. I can pretty much guarantee you that you have spyware on your computer right now. This stuff can sneak in when you install legitimate software or install itself when you simply browse the web or open an e-mail. It will at best collect information about you and forward it to a marketing company or, at worst, use a portion of your computer's processing resources or hard drive for something nefarious. If you see advertising popup messages all the time regardless of what you're doing, you have adware on your computer.
  
  Clean the adware and spyware from your computer. I mentioned McAfee. You can also get the free Lavasoft AdAware. Like the anti-virus software, this stuff needs to be updated regularly for it to be effective.
  
  
• Stop using Internet Explorer. Use Mozilla or Firefox.

It sounds complicated, but it's not really. You just have to get this stuff set up and update it regularly. The price of not doing it is a crippled computer. It's up to you.

Lately, it seems like every week someone discovers another dangerous security hole in Internet Explorer. So listen up, people. Stop using Internet Explorer. You don't need it. If you do use it, you're exposing your computer to viruses and malicious automated attacks. No, they're not targeting you, specifically -- these things look for random unsecure computers and take control of them for their own evil, slimy, nasty purposes.

What can you do to surf in safety? Use a good browser instead of Internet Explorer.

So here's what you're going to do. Go here: www.Mozilla.org. Download and install either Firefox or Mozilla. After it's installed and you run it for the first time, it will ask you if you want to make it your default browser. Say Yes.

Done.

An explanation for the dearth of bloggings at CubicleDweller.ca: Wired.com: Bloggers Suffer Burnout

(Link via Penmachine)

Want a song stuck in your head for days? Click here (requires Flash).

The new upgrades to the Lodestar are being put to good use. Al Bravo, newbie extraordinaire, has built a skydiving kit, which includes a parachute, altimeter, helmet, and cold smoke. In an event in the later part of the afternoon, we took several avatars up to 1000 meters in the Lodestar and dropped them over the target. Only one splatted on the ground.

Rumour has it that Al will hold another session tomorrow.

On this holiday weekend, I upgraded the L-18 Lodestar with a new feature -- skydiving. Using chat commands, the pilot can open the door and drop passengers. Hopefully they'll have a parachute.



I've also added an altimeter (in feet) and speed indicator (in knots) to all models.

The basic model is on display on Level 1 at the Aerodrome. Contact me if you'd like the tan camouflage or "stars and stripes" paint scheme.

For months, I've wanted to make a catalog of every vehicle that I've made, but for all the wonder and complexity of the Second Life metaverse, there is so far no elegant way to serve information from a central source in-world. Second Life has no equivalent of the World Wide Web.

Rather than just wait until we can store attractive and usable catalogs in-world, I built this -- CubeyTerra.com. I hope you enjoy browsing the categories -- aircraft, hovercraft, watercraft, and accessories. If you have any questions about this website or any of the vehicles, please don't hesitate to send me an instant message in Second Life or send and e-mail to cubeyterra@cubeyterra.com.