Haha! Made you look! But as long as you're here, give me three minutes of your time. It'll be worth it, I swear.
As I'm sure you're either blissfully or painfully aware, next week is the fourth annual Netroots Nation convention. Lollapalooza for liberals, Woodstock for online activists, the Warped Tour for bloggers...it's gonna be great. But maybe you can't be there. Maybe it's too much money. Maybe Pittsburgh's too far by plane, train or automobile. Maybe your mother is ailing and needs you. S'okay. I've got your back. You can still get in on a good portion of the Netroots Nation action from right where you are right now: your own computer chair! Best part? It's absolutely FREE.
It's called Netroots Nation in Second Life, and below the fold you'll find all the info you need to participate, including the OFFICIAL SCHEDULE.
Netroots Nation in Second Life in 30 Seconds:
Netroots Nation in Second Life takes advantage of Second Life's ability to stream multimedia content from anywhere in the world to anywhere in the world, combines it with Second Life's ability to let anybody from anywhere in the world to anyone anywhere in the world, adds in much of the awesome content from Netroots Nation, stirs it up with a bunch of exclusive content, and then makes it extra fabulous by dressing you in fabulous clothes.
To participate you'll need to join Second Life. Visit SecondLife.com and register, then download the software. Log in, then click on this link to take you to the NNSL welcome area. If you're so inclined you can go through the amazing tutorial our New Residents staff put together (I highly recommend it as it will teach you how to move around and interact in the Second Life environment), and then follow the signs to the Netroots Nation Arena where the screening will take place. If you're the kind of person who wants step by step instructions for how to make the most of the NNSL experience, I highly recommend Moody Loner's great series called "How to Second Life". Click here and then go through posts 1 through 5 for highly detailed instructions on how it all works.
Uh...okay. So what can I see?
Drumroll please...! It's the OFFICIAL NETROOTS NATION IN SECOND LIFE SCHEDULE! Please note that Second Life runs on one official time zone called Second Life time, which just so happens to coincide with Pacific Daylight Time. All times on the schedule are PDT. All events marked with a * are EXCLUSIVE to Netroots Nation in Second Life and WILL NOT be seen at the real-life convention in Pittsburgh.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 13
9:15AM*: Exclusive screening of Silent Partners, a documentary about the same-sex partners of soldiers forced to live in complete silence under the cloud of Don't Ask/Don't Tell. Following the screening will be a discussion and Q&A with the filmmker, Richard Ray Perez.
10:45AM*: "First They Ignore You." NNSL Programming Director Zathras Afarensis in a conversation with SL/RL peace activists Siri Vita, millay Freschi and Cotton Thorne about the challenges and rewards of online and in-world activism in support of human rights on a nonviolent resistance model, particularly in the context of events in Iran since this year's presidential election there.
3:00PM: Opening keynote address streamed live from Netroots Nation in Pittsburgh.
6:45PM: Jay Ackroyd of Virtually Speaking sits down with Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas for a discussion of his book Taking On the System.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 14
6:00AM: "Rx for Reform: Health Care Town Hall with Dr. Howard Dean." Streamed live from Netroots Nation in Pittsburgh.
8:00AM: "Pennsylvania Leadership Forum." Q&A with Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter and Rep. Joe Sestak, moderated by Susie Madrak and Ari Melber. Streamed live from Netroots Nation
10:30AM: "Mixtapes to Myspace: How Hip Hop Builds Movements". Discussion of the interplay between the hip hop music world and the progressive community, and how the two communities can work together. Panelists include Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., Davey D, Paradise Gray, Kimberly "Dr. Goddess" Ellis, and Jasiri X. Streamed live from Pittsburgh.
12:00PM: "After Sotomayor: How Progressives Reshape the Debate Over Our Constitution and the Supreme Court." Discussion of issues surrounding the Supreme Court and the Constitution, how these issues may play out during the Obama Administration, and what the Netroots can do to engage the Administration in an effort to restore our claim to the text and history of the Constitution. Panelists include Nan Aron, Doug Kendall, Christy Hardin Smith, Rep. Jerry Nadler, Thomas Saenz. Streamed live from Pittsburgh.
1:30PM: "Organizing in Second Life and Other Virtual Environments." Within five years, some say 3D internet will be as important as the web is today. Virtual environments are a viable and effective platform for community building. How can virtual worlds connect rural, urban, red state and blue state activists to the greater progressive community? Virtual worlds like Second Life provide opportunities for interactive and not-possible-in-real-life displays and offer an enhanced sense of presence for social networking and expansion of progressive alliances. Panelists include General J.C. Christian of Jesus' General and members of the Netroots Nation in Second Life team. This event takes place both in Pittsburgh and in Second Life.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15
6:00AM: "A Conversation with Valerie Jarrett." Stand-up comic and blogger Baratunde Thurston of Jack & Jill Politics sits down for an exclusive conversation with one of President Obama's most trusted advisors, Valerie Jarrett. Streamed live from Pittsburgh.
9:00AM: "Building a 21st Century Economy." New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, Change to Win Chair Anna Burger and economist Dean Baker will join us in Pittsburgh for a discussion about the economy and how it affects working Americans. The panel will be moderated by Kevin Drum of Mother Jones. Streamed live from Pittsburgh.
12:00PM: "Outside Getting In: Tying the Progressive Movement to Congress for Policymaking" This panel will discuss how the Netroots and progressive movement can have a greater impact on Congress. We’ll also discuss current Congressional processes and some of the innovations being pursued by the Progressive Caucus. Panelists include Joan McCarter, Darcy Burner, David Waldman, Jane Hamsher, and Shaunna Thomas. Streamed live from Pittsburgh.
4:00PM*: "Mountain Top Removal: A Documentary by Michael O'Connell." Netroots Nation in Second Life is proud to present Machael O'Connell's 2006 documentary about the coal industry in Appalachia, Mountain Top Removal, followed by a conversation with the film maker.
So there you have it. Three days packed with a lot of the great action from Pittsburgh, plus exclusive events centered around Iran, mountaintop removal and Don't Ask/Don't Tell. Sure, you could sit home and mope about not being in Pittsburgh...or you could mosey on over to SecondLife.com, download the free software, then spend the week feeding your mind with all sorts of goodies, absolutely FREE. But please, keep your clothes on.