No matter how many times you save the world, it always manages to get back in jeopardy again. Sometimes I just want it to stay saved! You know, for a little bit? I feel like the maid; I just cleaned up this mess! Can we keep it clean for... for ten minutes?"
This is the second in a series of articles with some simple but important tips on how you can keep safe on the internet.
By Staff Editor, PK
Welcome back! I hope you enjoyed my first article on Password Security; I also hope you went through and updated all of your passwords to something reasonably complex. Today we’ll take a look at Phishing Scams; many people have heard of phishing scams and know that the Nigerian Prince who’s contacting you via e-mail is full of bologna. By the way, my email spam folder is so full of Canadian Viagra advertisements that it should be able to stand at attention and salute, well ok, maybe not the best mental imagery, but you understand.
Phishing is an internet term, which means that someone is fishing for a sucker, and they’re hoping you’re the fish/sucker that takes the bait.
DC Entertainment’s Justice League Teams Up to Fight Real World Hunger in Africa
Krypton Radio Newswire
(Press Release – New York, NY) DC Entertainment, home of the world’s greatest super heroes, today unveiled an unprecedented giving campaign to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa. This multi-million-dollar commitment over the next two years will be supported across all Warner Bros. Entertainment’s and Time Warner’s businesses and feature DC Entertainment’s iconic Justice League characters, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg, issuing the call to action, “We Can Be Heroes.” The announcements were made at a press conference today in New York by Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros.; Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group; and Diane Nelson, President, DC Entertainment.
Toronto Museum Finds Creative Ways to Entice Children to Visit
Krypton Radio Newswire
Anything for the Superkids Yo.
The Toronto based Scarborough Museum in Scarborough-Ontario, have found very creative ways to grab the attention of young children with innovative workshops and programs. One such program is their Saturday Adventures Club, which features alternating monthly themes and with each Saturday building upon the previous one on what the children learned. This month is for wannabe heroes with The Superhero School, running from January 7th, to the 28th of this year. The museum looked for ways to help the community and it’s younger members (with admittedly a benefit of bringing in more visitors to the museum), and initiated the special programs back in 2010.
The Superhero School allows kids 5-12 Years of Age to build emblems, masks and other Superhero attire, as they work on building their super-powered alter-egos. One of the wonderful aspects of the programs, is the level of participation by the children, being allowed to have a voice in upcoming programs; such as February’s Mad ScientistWorkshop starting on Saturday February 4 and running until February 25.
Upcoming Workshops:
Mad Scientists
Saturday February 4 to 25
5-12 yrs. $60 / 4 Workshops
Course Code: 1884288
Saturday Adventurers welcome to the lab! See what crazy concoctions can be created. Strange science each and every week!
March Mix-up Mania
Saturday March 10 to 31
5-12 yrs. $60 / 4 Workshops
Course Code: 1884289
Get into crafts, cooking and creative play. Mini adventures each week. Something new to taste, try and see!
March Break Pioneer Adventure Day Camp - Ages 5 to 12
Monday March 12 to Friday March 19, 2012, 9 to 4 p.m.
Course Code: 1884378
Have a March Break you will always remember! Experience the life of an early settler. Cook food over the open hearth and in the wood stove, make early settler toys, play camp games, create a variety of fun historic crafts. Take nature hikes and enjoy the woods in beautiful Thomson Memorial Park, so dress for the outdoors! Pre-register online at www.toronto.ca/torontofun or call 416-338-4FUN. For more information call the museum at 416-338-8807. $152. Extended care available for an additional fee.
Do you have what it takes to be our On Air Fan Talent?
Krypton Media Group™ aka Krypton Universe™ / Krypton Radio™, is looking for original Fan Talent to host a morning show on Krypton Radio! We’re looking for individuals, or even a small group that is willing and able to produce its’ own show to be aired on Krypton Radio, with a minimum of three new episodes per calender week.
What is Fan Talent? Fan talent is like what you see on YouTube, people or groups using their talents to produce low-budget, yet high quality shows or series, in lieu of the millions of dollars some big budget studios pay to produce something of the same quality. We admit it, we’re not a huge station with 10 Million listeners, but we’re rising fast and looking for someone to jump on at the ground floor with us and ride to the top.
How We Can Help You
Let’s face it, everybody and his pet rock has a podcast these days. Google is full to overflowing with them. Therein lies the problem, though – how to you get heard in this tidal wave of downloadable content? When everybody has a podcast and a blog, how do you get noticed? Getting your show heard depends on having a high traffic web site to start with, developing a strong fan base and online community and having contacts with whom you can cross-promote it all. Krypton Radio has all this and wants to share it with you in exchange for being able to air your creative content on our radio station. We have literally thousands of listeners a month, in 109 countries all around the world. You can take the next three years and develop your presence on the web from scratch, or you can join ours and skip the hard part.
ROMA Greets Its Five Year Anniversary on the Grid October 15-16
by Melanippe of Thymascyra
Lumeralia Festival in Roma, Second Life
Imagine you are making your way along a narrow, yet sunny alleyway. Carts and boxes crowd the open spaces, causing your sandal-shod steps to be taken carefully. Finally, after ducking under one last awning, the alley empties out into a fountained square, where a snow leopard in a purple-striped toga (not unlike the one draped around yourself), a Legionary in full armour and a woman in a bright peplos hold a lively conversation. At that same moment, an announcement rings out about a ‘Magical Mercury Tour’ while Apollo supplants his twin sister in watching over the large sundial next to the fountain.
Welcome to ROMA in Second Life.
During this month of October, a special anniversary will take place — ROMA will celebrate its fifth anniversary as a community. Not only is it the oldest Classical-period sim on the grid, five years is an extraordinary age for any themed community at all.
The visitor’s Roma experience begins in the heart of the city itself, arriving at the Customs House, where they may acquire a set of the Twelves Tables (the local rules) as well as some free clothing if they wish to dress in appropriate style. Roma’s theme is optional for visitors, but most find it fun to buy their first toga and explore in sandals rather than jeans and high heels. Uphill are the Capitoline Hill which includes the Temple of Jupiter, and the Imperator’s gardens, all open to view.
To the east is Subura, the residential neighbourhood. Although the homes are private, there is a public latrina and laundry, temples which may be visited, and gardens to enjoy.
North of the city proper is Transtiberim, which starts with the River Tiber, the Street of the Dead and is home to the rural settlement of Ostia. Ostia is the home of the Legio XIII Gemina, the Collegia Religio Romana, the Ludus for the gladiator school and the port, from which both pleasure vessels and naval forces sail. Transtiberim also has several special educational displays – an interactive archeological dig, authentically-constructed baths, and a burial site. The more adventurous explorers will find the Sybil’s seat, the hot springs (free towels!), the Medusa’s mirror and the Lupercal Cave.
Maritima is also north, connecting Subura and Ostia by means of a sea. Small islands are scattered through the waters, which also lap the private homestead of Diania (owned by one of the ‘gens’, or great Roman families) further east, and the business sim of Insula, home of Ars Avete/Ars Toga, forming a northern shore.
One of the most striking features of Roma as a whole are the two newest additions – Vicus and Vinovium. Sponsored by Stanford University and Durham University, these two sims exist as a living reproduction of ongoing archeological work at Binchester in northern England. The Roman fort and town are being recreated in Second Life as pieces and structures are uncovered, bit by bit, by the excavators.
Torin Golding, the Prefect (and owner) of Roma, has a PhD in Classical Archaeology, which is what inspired him to create Roma in the form it has. Roma exists not just as a vital themed community, but also as an educational tool, seeking to enlighten and inform by entertainment. Roma’s buildings are not necessarily exact copies of historial sites, but evoke the building style of the period and allow interactivity with the sites in a way not possible short of visiting a First Life location. With the addition of the various citizen groups – the senators and curia members, the roleplayers, the military, the priesthood, the families – Roma’s vitality brings a sense of the Imperial city to life.
Roma’s Fifth Anniversary and the festivals of Armilustrium and Lemuralia will be celebrated on the 15th and 16th of October, along with Roma’s annual Halloween party. Please see the calendar linked to the Roma Citizens blog for a detailled schedule of events.
On August 9, 2011 – Cubey Terra, famed Second Life aircraft enthusiast and co-founder of the legendary Abbotts Aerodrome, announced that he would be closing the iconic airport on September 1st. However there is hope, as shortly after the announcement, long time SL resident Cheshyr Pontchartrain owner and proprietor of Novatech, stepped up to keep the region alive for the continued enjoyment of all of Second Life, but he needs your help!
Abbotts which was founded in 2004, is the second oldest virtual airfield in Second Life.
Standing at the edge of the runway in Abbotts, I can hear the waves shushing against the supports underneath. A short ways away in the trees, a bird whistles a song that is suddenly overwhelmed by the roar of a 737 taking off. In the distance, a steady beat of helicopter blades rides the cool morning air. These are the sounds of Abbotts Aerodrome. I made this.
About seven and a half years ago, Apotheus Silverman and I closed our short-lived Zoe Airfield and bought up the majority of parcels in a new southern region called Abbotts.
We built a floating airport with an art deco theme, called it Abbotts Aerodrome, and welcomed pilots and aircraft makers.
In subsequent years, we expanded, I tore it down, rebuilt, tore it down again, and finally realized the structure that you see today — literally from a dream.
We held small aircraft building contests, huge exhibitions, and design competitions. We fought off attacks from sandbox griefers and two-bit newbies with cage guns. We’ve had Aerodrome members join our ranks, and others who faded away and left.
All of it was great fun. But as they say, all good things must come to an end. It’s the end for Abbotts Aerodrome, Second Life’s second oldest airport.
On September 1, 2011, we are closing the doors and grounding the aircraft for the last time. The lights will turn out and the aerodrome will go silent.
On that day, I’ll retreat to a corner of Abbotts to build a little cabin, where I’ll take up fishing and learn to make primfish sushi.
In an interview with Mr Pontchartrain, he stated that through donations he had raised at least L$176,000 and needed to raise an additional L$114,000; donations can be made at the Novatech main store on Gallifrey. Per the wishes of Cubey Terra, Abbotts will be renamed to reflect the change in ownership, but the airfield will stay at its current location which as Cheshyr says is still perfect for flying and boating. Additional details were not available at this time, as much is in transition for Abbotts, however with your generous help this famous landmark in Second Life will be around for a very long time to come.
To help fund the preservation, all Novatech items are on sale for 25% off. Due to the way CasperVend works, you’ll have to pay full price, and the vendor will refund your 25%. This sale is good for all Novatech stores and affiliates.
You can visit Gallifrey to make donations, or purchase any item from a Novatech vendor.
Welcome to another happy go-lucky Monday edition of Weekly Artist Spotlight! And today we feature a guy that you more than likely have heard on the majority of comedy videos done by SpiffWorld, and yes we’re talking about legendary and uber geeky singer-songwriter Jonathon Coulton. Following up the lighthearted music of Jonathon, we delve into the world of real life Superheroes; taking fiction and making it reality as people really do wear costumes and go forth to help their fellow citizens!
Jonathon Coulton
Jonathon’s song The Big Boom as featured in the SpiffWorld video by Mike Spiff Booth.
From his Facebook page:
Jonathan Coulton (born December 1, 1970) is an Americansinger-songwriter, known for his songs about geek culture and his use of the Internet to draw fans. Among his most popular songs are “Code Monkey”, “Re: Your Brains” and “Still Alive“.
A former computer programmer and self-described geek, Coulton tends to write quirky, witty lyrics about science fiction and technology: a man who thinks in simian terms, a mad scientist who falls in love with one of his captives, and the dangers of bacteria. Rare topical songs include 2005′s “W’s Duty”, which sampled President George W. Bush, and 2006′s “Tom Cruise Crazy”. Most of Coulton’s recordings feature his singing over guitar, bass, and drums; some also feature the various other instruments Coulton plays, including accordion, harmonica, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, and glockenspiel.
Coulton graduated in 1993 from Yale, where he was a member of the Yale Whiffenpoofs and the Yale Spizzwinks(?). He is now the Contributing Troubadour at Popular Science magazine, whose September 2005 issue was accompanied by a five-song set by him called Our Bodies, Ourselves, Our Cybernetic Arms. He was also the Musical Director for The Little Gray Book Lectures.
You may think they’re crazy or deluded, you may laugh and criticize them. But it wont stop them from doing what they do best, and that’s helping people. The Real Life Super Hero Project is the visual documentation of the efforts of the many people and groups, who put on costumes and go out into their respective communities to help real people. As you’ll see on their website, these very real people who may not be able to punch through walls, or leap tall buildings in a single bound – instead, they use the most powerful of superhero abilities, and that is to spread Hope.
Weekly Artist Spotlight, is Krypton Radio’s bi-weekly feature, to help raise awareness of the artists who you may not have heard about through mainstream media. All content used in Weekly Artist Spotlight, is used from publicly available sources, and is used solely to promote the artists we spotlight.
We know how disappointed you all were not to be able to go to ComicCon this year – it’s far away, it’s expensive, and you have to sign up practically a freaking year in advance just to get a parking space, never mind a hotel room – and it’s happening RIGHT NOW.
(For those of you who got to go anyway, woohoo!!)
But for those who couldn’t make it out to the convention this time, we’re just jumping up and down ecstatic to have Fanboy Comics broadcasting through us directly to you from the San Diego Comic Con – stay tuned to Krypton Radio for the ComicCon convention reports from The Fanboy Scoop – Week in Review, each day at 10AM, 5PM and 9PM through the end of the week, and this weekend we’re going to feature a special Fanboy Comics show with all the minisodes in one go. It’ll be almost like being there! Except, you know, for actually being able to see stuff. I mean, it is radio.
You’ve probably been watching the news feed in the side bar there on the left for weeks – and it’s finally showtime!
We’d love to say “Excelsior!” But we can’t. Somebody else has the trademark on that one.
UPDATE: It’s Sunday! Listen in for all the episodes in order:
Preview First Night Impression
Thursday Marvel Booth
Captain America Review
Ringer Panel Discussion
Batman: Year One Group Review
Hunger Games Novel and Cosplay
Listen in at 10AM, 5PM and 9PM and hear all the episodes in their original broadcast order!
Special Alert: We may be getting even more episodes tonight when the Fanboys finally get home from San Diego, and if that happens, we’ll be rebroadcasting all these episodes again tomorrow (Monday) at the same times as today, but with the new additions. Keep watching this space for updates!
And now, a moment of hope and sheer cuteness all in one: this little boy lost his dad at the ComicCon, and saw the Flash and Wonder Woman – and because he felt he knew the Flash, asked him for help.
At Comic Con a little boy had lost his dad in the crowd, and was scared until he saw the Flash and Wonder Woman. He went up to the Flash to ask for help, because he knew him.
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