Barbie Girls is a place for girls to connect with each other online in the Barbie Girls Virtual World. They can stimulate their fashion senses by styling their own Avatar, decorate their Virtual Room, and earn “B Bucks” for playing various games. Barbie Girls also allows you to walk around with your avatar and meet other members and chat with other girls in a controlled environment.

The site can be a bit slow to load, but the different areas are colorful and imaginative. The games are standard fare and girls can view videos featuring their favorite Barbie™ movies. She can also enjoy an enhanced Barbie Girls® experience with a V.I.P. membership, which would grant her access to exclusive areas, allow her to adopt virtual pets, “spend” B Bucks®, and play a number of great members-only games.

Did someone say fashion and boys all the same sentence? Two of the hottest subjects of most girls, so this Virtual World just may have some kind of special appeal to those girls between the ages of 8 – 15.

Cost: Free for basic membership, $5.99/month for VIP (multi-month discounts available)

As always, our kids safety is top priority. Please always remember to visit a site with your child to decide if it’s the best site for your family rules and values. Although the best of safety measures have been incorporat

How do I feel about Facebook? I will happily admit that I find it a wondrous thing to touch upon the glimpses of my family and friends whenever I wish; to bring their worlds a bit closer to mine, as I journey through time on this beautiful planet. I think it is pretty cool to touch base with people whom I would otherwise only see upon occasion, as they live so far away. I feel it brings us all that much closer, visiting in the virtual realms.

Surely there is simply not enough time each day to catch up on everything, yet it truly does not matter. Just a little peek here and there is enough… and more than enough most days! This is just how it is with Social Networks of this type. Especially if one is divided between business and pleasure.

The only downfall that I can see at this time, is that other people can find back doors into our private lives, wall posts, and even our pictures if we do not look through every aspect of the privacy settings. Not sure why, but Facebook makes it pretty tricky for those who are unaware of how to set everything within their account to keep their privacy within each of our own personal bounds. I would suggest looking through account settings very carefully to be certain that you are very clear on which information you wish to be seen, and by whom. It is not simply cut and dry, so do not be fooled into a false sense of security. Either pay close attention, or be very careful about the information you put forth to be viewed by others on the internet. It is nearly impossible to retrieve that which may become viral, in a short amount of time.

With that said, I am still happy to visit my peeps as often as time permits. Life is simply too short, and it is really nice to catch up with friends and family, giving us less separation and more of a sense of being part of the bigger world. Speaking of which, I would like to take a few moments to hop on over to my own Facebook and see how everyone is doing today.. Enjoy!

I would like to make special mention of someone whose life and achievements crossed my mind recently. Richard Garriott has lived quite an adventurous life, as to bring about in a soul such as mine, just a bit of envy. Born in Cambridge, England, as the son of astronaut Owen Garriott, Richard, also known as “Lord British”, seems destined to carry a legacy of incredible experiences, on and off planet. Although Richard can accredit his claim to fame to his unprecedented success in creating the still popular game Ultima, he appears to be seeking new adventures in the realms of space, following in his father’s footsteps.

While my son probably played Ultima until his fingerprints wore off, I learned more about Richard Garriott after encountering a totally fun game called Tabula Rasa. Unfortunately for me the game got scrapped due to an overabundance of projects on the table, yet it gave me a glimpse into the fascinating life of Richard Garriott. Now, I know I have an oversized imagination, which seems to kick in, like every second of my life! Yet I believe Mr. Garriott surpasses even my own unlimited zeal for the extraordinary. A man after my own heart, I must say, and I would love to explore as much as this man has been privedged to delve into. In a world where we seem to set our own limitations, I am happy to see someone willing to take a chance and step outside of the bounds of conformity.

Besides being a video game mogul, Richard has also maintained a thirst for adventure and exploration. Not only is he active in the adventure sports of scuba diving, hang gliding, sky diving, caving, and rappelling in addition to other water and winter sports, but Richard also enjoys taking his love of adventure to the next level. He has participated in two expeditions in search of meteorites on the continent of Antarctica during which he was able to witness spectacular views of the continent he still describes as the most beautiful place on earth.

Tracking mountain gorillas in Rwanda and dug out canoeing down the Amazon both seem tame in comparison to his deep ocean hydrothermal vent expeditions in order to study extremophile bacteria and his involvement in one of the first non-salvage dives to the Titanic. Richard also took part in the 2001 Atlantic Sands expedition which discovered and performed salvage operations on the world’s deepest wooden shipwreck which is believed to have sunk in a storm sometime around the year 1810.

Richard is an active member of the Explorer’s Club. And in support of the traditions of the Explorer’s Club, Richard plans on taking the club flag with him on his mission to space.

Well then, aside from wishing I could jump into Richard’s shoes and visit the atmosphere around this planet, I would like to thank Richard for the hours of roleplaying enjoyment he has brought to myself and the world. If anyone is interested in tracking Richard in his imaginative endeavors, please take a few moments to visit Richard Garriott’s Space Mission to see what new adventure this amazing man has in store. And seriously, this mans home alone is as intriguing as his journeys. Richard is an avid collector of some pretty extaordinary objects and art. Did I mention I was fascinated with this man??

Yep, it is about time I stepped out of a Virtual Reality that was dragging me down. This Life is as virtual as realities can be, and we can create a journey of our choice, whether we know it or not. I have decided not to let circumstances cloud my focus, so I may place my feet on the best Path to move forward in a positive way. I have been totally distracted, and therefor my forward progress came nearly to a complete stop. I know how to turn this around, so that I do not become my own worst enemy.

Does this make sense? If you have ever found yourself so far off base from where you thought you would be in this time of your Life on this planet, then you know what I am talking about. And we all know how Life can knock us for a loop when we least expect it. I simply refuse to stay down, or get turned around, no matter how messed up some things appear to be in any given moment.

My blogs have suffered, and therefor my creative nature has been curbed to the point where I am ready to burst free, and let go of the things that are holding me back. Change my way of thinking, and my world will evolve accordingly. I have been doing this all my Life, so I am no novice when it comes to placing a positive spin on any situation. I have always been given what I need to survive and thrive in this World.

Sometimes I just slip a little and forget how to find my way. I remember again, so I am ready to give this Journey all I’ve got, and bring my best self forward.

Virtual Realities and Worlds provide a way for people to interact in a social aspect, without having to travel too far to meet new people. I do love the outdoors, and am quite active, yet I also love to meet others through virtual avenues.

My daughter is so very close to entering the Teen Scene, that I really need to pay attention to the latest trends in technologies concerning the social spheres. In comes Teen Second Life – a 3D virtual world created by you and for you – where you can join Teens from all over the globe. Create, learn new skills, start a business, meet new people… it’s your world, your imagination.

What is Teen Second Life?

Teen Second Life is an international gathering place for teens 13-17 to make friends and to play, learn and create. In Second Life, teens can create and customize a digital self called an “avatar,” fly through an ever-changing 3D landscape, chat and socialize with other teens from all over the world, and build anything from skyscrapers to virtual vehicles. It’s more than a videogame and much more than an Internet chat program – it’s a boundless world of surprise and adventure that encourages teens to work together and use their imaginations.

Who is Teen Second Life for?

As stated above, be a part of a Global Community of teens aged 13-17. Only teens between the ages of 13 and 17 are allowed in (there is a separate version of Second Life for adults) so other than Linden Lab’s staff, Linden Liaisons, who are there to make Teen Second Life a safe and pleasant place to be, teens will interact with other teens their own age. Occasionally we may bring in teachers for special educational projects as well. When that happens we will always let residents know who they are and what type of project they’re working on.

Features

Build what you like, explore as you prefer, communicate across platforms with who you choose, fashion a persona to your exact specifications. All Teen Second Life features are designed to offer its users the most open-ended, customizable experience of any online world on the market. No restrictions or arbitrary guidelines imposed by the developers—only the tools and resources to build your own vision of a better world.

Who makes Second Life?

Second Life is developed by Linden Lab, a company founded in 1999 and based in San Francisco. You can read all about us at www.lindenlab.com. Linden Lab provides the technology but the Second Life residents themselves are the ones who really help shape the world and make it unique.

Get Involved!

I know, kids really hate it when we stick our noses into their business, but it is our job, right? It is up to us to pay attention and stay involved, to a certain point, and make sure our teens are socializing with safety in mind. We don’t need to go too far, and take away their fun, but we do need to stay aware and be certain they keep their wits about them as well. Also, this shows we truly care about them, without taking away all of their independence. If we are open with our interest and concerns from the start, they are less likely to venture off into parts unknown that may carry hidden dangers, whilst hiding their activities from us.

My daughter knows to trust my advice, as I treat her with respect, and offer her the benefit of the doubt in her own judgement. I have taught her well, and when faced with a tough decision or possible dangerous situation, she trusts me to help her out. This kind of open communication keeps her safe, and gives me the peace of mind to allow her the space to learn and grow, while socializing with the wider world.

It really does make sense to see the FBI in action throughout the virtual realms of online social media. What better way to get the word out on the most wanted than through Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, just to name a few. These social medias present a powerful force when it comes to hearing about breaking news as it happens (Twitterers know all about this one), and getting the word out when danger rears it’s ugly head.

“To reach out to the public, we need to be where people are—and we know tens of millions of people spend their time in social media sites,” says John Miller, head of FBI Public Affairs. “Adding our fugitives, missing kids, threat and scam warnings, and other information into these sites is an extension of what we’ve done for decades—enlisting the help and support of concerned citizens around the globe to keep communities safer.”

Here are a few places in which we can follow the presence of the FBI in the Social Media’s…

• Facebook, where you can follow our news, check out our photos and videos, and become a “fan” of the FBI;
• YouTube, where you can watch our videos and connect back to our main website for job postings and other content; and
• Twitter, where you can receive our tweets on breaking news and other useful information.

The FBI is exploring a presence on SecondLife. Jonathan Cox—along with graphic artist Scott Carmine—designed the FBI’s first virtual billboards for sites like Second Life and sees them as the wave of the future. “Unlike 10 years ago, almost everyone today has had an experience connecting online through virtual media, whether through a gaming console or popular sites like Second Life,” Cox said. “The ease at which information can be transferred, ideas can be exposed, and technology can be shared in virtual worlds will hopefully lead to the arrest of a fugitive or the location of a missing child in the near future.”

You can learn more by visiting The FBI in the Virtual Realms of Social Media to get the whole scoop and more news. Modern technology sure does add a whole new realm of possibilities when it comes to connecting with the people around the world.

I have always enjoyed my journey of keeping my body fit and healthy. I would much rather have fun while getting or staying in shape, so when I discovered the Wii Fit, I was totally overjoyed at the prospect of trying this out! What an amazing concept in technology which allows us to play a video game that actually works more than our hands and our brains!! Of course, this is not the only game that gets our blood pumping, yet it is one game in which adds to my fitness arsenal while satisfying my competitive nature and keeping score! Talk about setting goals with style.

Wii Fit Features

* Wii Fit comes with the Wii Balance Board and requires a Wii console to play. Wii console sold separately.

* Wii Fit combines fitness with fun and is designed for everyone, young and old. Wii Fit players work towards personal fitness goals and they block soccer balls, swivel hips to power hoop twirls, and go big on ski jumps to get themselves there.

* Check your daily progress, set goals, check your Wii Fit Age, and even enter exercise time you’ve done outside of Wii Fit.

* Wii Fit Age is measured by factoring the user’s BMI reading, testing the user’s center of gravity and conducting quick balance tests.

* Training is at the core of Wii Fit. You can spend as much (or as little) time as you want trying out all of the 40+ activities Wii Fit offers.

The Wii Fit Balance Board

The primary tenet of Wii Fit is balance. Your center of balance, the point between your left and right sides when you stand upright, has a lot to do with your health. Those without an even center of balance will be unnaturally compensating for this imbalance, which causes their posture to become misaligned, increasing the possibility of putting unnecessary strain on their bodies. This is where the Wii Balance Board comes in.

Similar in appearance to a step aerobics board, the Wii Balance Board is much, much more. Easily capable of supporting weights up to a maximum of 300 pounds, it is sturdy and precise, able to measure weight and register pressure accurately when placed on a variety of flat surfaces. This advanced level of sensitivity allows for both the wide range of activities found in the Wii Fit software as well as the board’s amazing ability recognize individual players by their weight alone.

Final Thoughts

Maybe, just maybe, this game would hold my interest long enough to challenge my already very shapely body. And perhaps I might even learn a thing or two, which is always a plus in any fitness program we dedicate ourselves to.

Strength, Yoga, Aerobics, and Balance are all great aspects of personal training, and since I already practice Qigong on a daily basis, this just might possibly hold my attention long enough to make me stronger, faster, and so much more beautiful from the inside out!

Okay, I can understand merging servers if named servers have too low of a population to enable the best gaming experience. BUT… why is it taking so long to find my way to the new server???? Message says…

“This server had a very low population and has been merged with a higher population server. All of your characters and guilds now exist on the destination server. If the server select window shows that you have characters on this server then the process has not completed. Please visit the account management page for more information.”

Well then, I did visit the page and must be blind! I cannot find my destination server, and it has been two weeks since I first tried. I just want to play Warhammer. And I want to play on my Rank 12+ characters that I worked so hard to get lots of cool gear and level friendly ranks for!! I love to roleplay, and this was a roleplaying server. I do know it was not highly populated (which suited me just fine), yet I would like to see my characters transfered to a suitable server soon, so I can get my moneys worth.

Now that I ranted just the tiniest bit, I suppose I will have to contact support to get some answers to my dilemna asap. I figure I have been patient long enough. If I am missing something here, then I will just have to backtrack and correct this problem on my own… and it will be my bad. Otherwise, I hope to very soon be running around pretending to be a dwarf or a lovely elf on a mission!

Hmmmm… mayhaps I shall just have to play around with the dark side of my nature for a while until they clear up this mess. A dark elf just may be what I need to vent my feelings of abandonment… muahaha!

Just what is a Kindle? Well, it is the latest in electronic technology for book lovers like me! We can actually upload our favourite books, magazines, newspapers, blogs, and more, into a super light gadget designed to carry loads of information right at our fingertips. Our personal libraries just got lighter, brighter, and totally loaded with adventure if that is what floats your boat! Personally, I love to escape this percieved reality upon occasion, and what better way than to carry such an amazing device that can fit right into my purse or backpack! And just knowing that there is a huge selection of uploadable books available make this little reader an even sweeter deal.

Just imagine the time and space saver this nifty little device truly is. Not only can we eliminate the clutter, we can also have our favourite read handy for those moments we need to fill the time waiting at appointments, or just when we need to take a break.

Holds Over 1,500 Books

The ultimate travel companion, Kindle weighs 10.2 ounces and holds more than 1,500 books. No longer pick and choose which books fit in your carry-on. Now you can always have your entire library with you.

Automatic Library Backup: Download Your Books Anytime for Free

A copy of every book you purchased is backed up online at Amazon.com in case you ever need to download it again. You can wirelessly re-download books for free anytime. This allows you to make room for new titles on your Kindle, knowing that Amazon is storing your personal library. We even back up your last page read and annotations, so you’ll never lose those, either. Think of it as a bookshelf in your attic–even though you don’t see it, you know your books are there.

Overview of New Features of Kindle 2

Slim: Just over 1/3 of an inch, as thin as most magazines

Lightweight: At 10.2 ounces, lighter than a typical paperback

Wireless: 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle, anytime, anywhere; no monthly fees, service plans, or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots

Books in Under 60 Seconds: Get books delivered in less than 60 seconds; no PC required

Improved Display: Reads like real paper; now boasts 16 shades of gray for clear text and even crisper images

Longer Battery Life: 25% longer battery life; read for days without recharging

More Storage: Take your library with you; holds over 1,500 books

Faster Page Turns: 20% faster page turns

Read-to-Me: With the new text-to-speech feature, Kindle can read every newspaper, magazine, blog, and book out loud to you, unless the book is disabled by the rights holder

Large Selection: Over 260,000 books plus U.S. and international newspapers, magazines, and blogs available

Low Book Prices: New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise

For more Information and Detailed Features

I am really suprised I have not already gotten one of these totally cool Kindles. I am placing this item on the very top of my wish list, and sending out some pretty strong hints for Mother’s Day! If you love to read even half as much as I do, perhaps you would like to visit this link –> Kindle 2: Amazon’s New Wireless Reading Device (Latest Generation) to view the amazing features this futuristic little gadget has to offer. I am pretty certain you will be just as impressed as I am! If you already have experience with this sweet little reader, please feel free to share your comments.