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When Kimberly Rufer-Bach’s new book, “The Second Life Grid: The Official Guide to Communication, Collaboration, and Community Engagement,” appeared on my desk this week, my curiosity was piqued. Even from a brief skim of the table of contents, it’s clear that this book is a great Second Life resource that spans business basics to ‘best practice’ discussions about what enterprises, educational institutions, non-profits and others are doing in Second Life. Whether you’re an enterprise decision-maker who’s interested in working inworld or you’re a seasoned Second Life content creator who wants to pick up additional development tips and tricks, then this is a must read. And, if you’re a Solution Provider, then this would make a great give-away for your clients.

So, who is Kimberly Rufer-Bach, you ask? She’s the founder of The Magicians, one of the oldest and most innovative content-development companies in Second Life. This book developed in cooperation with Linden Lab and is packed with cool case studies from Kim’s work with NASA, British Council, University of California Davis Medical Center, and Wiley Publishing.

The book helps answer some tough questions that organizations considering Second Life, or already in Second Life, are faced with everyday. The detailed guide helps readers understand the infrastructure of the Second Life Grid and decide if they should go it alone or work with a Solution Provider. It covers many Second Life features including taking advantage of Resident-created tools, running well-attended events, launching effective marketing campaigns, and managing virtual space, staff, and inventory. Readers will also:

Understand the Second Life Grid: Explore the platform your organization will inhabit
Study what educators are doing: Try remote learning, lectures, simulations, and collaboration
Learn from NASA and other government agencies: See new ways to inform, educate, and get feedback from the public
Get virtual business sense: Find out how nonprofit and for-profit organizations conduct real business in SL
Market in the virtual world: See what works and what doesn’t
Take control of events: Set up and publicize successful in-world events

I have the book tucked into my bag as we speak.

Happy reading!

Green Chic: Saving the the Earth in Style is a chatty book from Christie Matheson that dispels the myth that going green and staying fashion forward don’t go hand in hand.

Unlike other books that tell you how to buy your way to be green, Matcheson intead shares ways to shift your mindset and attitude by helping you understand “why” certain green choices are so much better.

Tips on wash and care of all your pretty things to five ways to green your beauty routine. Some of the info is more of a reminder, but the book is packed full of online resources and info on “why” to make eco-choices.

And if that wasn’t enough – Green Chic is printed on 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper, and 50% of all royalties Christie Matheson earns will go to environmental organizations. So you can learn and give with Green Chic…

Go on live green, live gorgeous!!

“Ooh, look, the NFL playoffs are today. I bet we’ll have no trouble parking at the crafts fair!” No, it’s not your wildest fantasy — It’s Porn for Women, compiled by the ladies at the Cambridge Women’s Pornography Cooperation. These smart, sassy pages are loaded with strapping young men performing household chores, serving dinner, and not laughing at flatulence. Leave it lying around the house to give your man some helpful insight into what really gets you hot.

Jesus, we’re either addicted to or exhausted by shopping, but the ups and downs can ease up slightly with The Lucky Shopping Manual. It’s no surprise, coming from Lucky that this text lays it all out on the table: what to wear, how to buy, where and when to spend. Not only does this book provide the most pragmatic wardrobe tips, including how to preserve the clothes you know and love, it has over 1,000 full-color photos and illustrations, and its ribbon marker and flexible cover is meant to go shopping with us.