Another batch of cities hit Google Earth and the SketchUp 3D Warehouse (http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/)

Of note:  :These cities have models made by techniques Google has yet to share: but is at least a semi-automated method which includes aerial photography for photo-realistic textures on the models.”

Via: (http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2009/06/new_3d_cities_in_google_earth_warsa.html)

Via: (http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2009/06/new_3d_cities_in_google_earth_warsa.html)

[Bob Ketner]

Hi,
Lots of interesting sessions on telepresence, LAN, Internet of Things and more, much of it can be attended virtually and free.
Combination virtual conference using screen-based and Second Life.
The Second Life sessions are:
(1) June 30 at 2:45pm The Virtual University and
(2) July 1 at 2:45pm Sensor Networks.

Virtual Conference URL is: https://www.ciscolivevirtual.com
Second Life location: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cisco%20Systems%204/65/35/22/

Complete schedule at: http://www.cisco-live.com/attendees/virtual/events
I’ll be at http://twitter.com/mro or Orange Montagne in Second Life
Twitter:  #clsf   #ciscolive

All times listed are Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).

Complete schedule at: http://www.cisco-live.com/attendees/virtual/events

Photo via:  (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2006-12/26/content_767613.htm)

China says no more “virtual” currency for “real” goods & services

Via: xinhuanet.com “China bars use of virtual money for trading in real goods ”
(http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/27/content_11610478.htm)

Could this be due to the coverage of virtual currencies in articles like these:
Shacknews: “Virtual Currency Threatens Chinese Economy”   (http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=901)
or
ChinaDaily: “Virtual money poses a real threat”  from 2006 !
(http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2006-12/26/content_767613.htm)

More at (http://www.virtualgoodsnews.com/2009/06/china-makes-first-move-to-regulate-virtual-currency.html)
Wikipedia: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tencent_QQ)

Thus, as we read in the Metaverse Manifesto:
All the powers of commerce have entered into a holy alliance to control this spectre: namely, corporations and “governments”.

Via: (http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2009/06/24/ibm_lotus_offers_online_virtual_office_world_with_sametime_3d/)

“A lot has changed in the way people are interacting at home,’’ said Bob Picciano, general manager, IBM Lotus Software. “We want to bring that into work.’’

“IBM has been very aggressive in seeing these opportunities and going for them,’’ said Larry Hawes, lead analyst for Collaboration & Enterprise Social Software with the Gilbane Group in Cambridge, speaking from the Enterprise 2.0 show floor. “A lot of kids who are just entering the workforce don’t really use e-mail, for example. They are going to have a different way of working. These new products get IBM ahead of that.’’

Via: (http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2009/06/24/ibm_lotus_offers_online_virtual_office_world_with_sametime_3d/)

More at: (http://www.virtualworldsnews.com/2009/06/ibm-releases-virtual-collaboration-for-lotus-sametime.html)