The other day I was in a class, and in the wrap up at the end I was asked to say what I thought the differences between working for an educational institution and a commercial one were in SL. It's a situation I'm fairly well positioned on, I've worked with a range of both types of organisations. One group I haven't worked with is the "city council" or similar who try to sell their city and build it anew.

I came up, at short notice with a few differences. I've had a think and refined them a bit, and thought I'd share them and ask for your input and thoughts. You never know, it might be a good tool for one group or the other to learn (I'd suggest commercial to learn from educational - education seems to be booming in SL, although there are some corporate good practise elements from the commercial end too).

1. Build type:
• Educators are more likely (say 50%+) to eschew a "corporate build" - the administration office block or similar. Of those that do have such a thing a high proportion are likely to subvert it somehow elsewhere in their build.
• Corporate types are much more likely to go for "the office block" - I'd say 95%. They clearly identify their office as their corporation.
2. Build nature
• Educators tend to focus on the results. That's both in terms of meeting the educational needs, and being relatively happy if nothing happens, nothing happens, then a finished build appears.
• Corporate types tend to want regular reports, plans, milestones etc.

So, they're my thoughts. What do you think? Just Askin'

It's always handy to have another way to search for things. At secondlifetree.com, you can peruse a well-organized group of categories, ranging from Arts & Culture, to XXX Adult Entertainment, and everything in-between.

Each category is further subdivided, and the information provided include an SLurl, a short summary, and a Teleport Now button. You couldn't ask for a simpler site. You can suggest links as well, so please go visit this site and let's grow the tree -- for the sake of the children.

In the 15^th century, Chinese immigrants fanned out into surrounding regions (Singapore, Malacca, Penang, and Java, among them), and settled. They not only exported their culture, but assimilated elements of the new cultures in which they found themselves, forming unique cultural identities and subcultural groups. Peranakan is the word used for their descendants, who also include mixed Indian and Eastern European groups.

Peranakan Corner in Hyperborea is an ornate Peranakan home turned into a Peranakan photo-museum (complete with gift shop), where you can experience the unique stylings of the culture, in a mix of 3D and photographs (both black-and-white and color), and learn a little about their story.

Every year around this time, Saint Lucia arrives to herald the Christmas season. This year, she made it all the way to Second Life.

The Lucia Celebration features traditional Swedish songs, with a woman, representing Saint Lucia, dressed in white robes, with a headdress of candles to simulate a halo. On December 13th, event goers were treated to a virtual Lucia, complete with entourage of singers, for 2 hours of traditional celebrations. Phreak Radio helped put this event on, where over 200 residents attended over the course of the evening, learning about travel to Sweden and listening to the lovely music.

I'd love to see more events like this: cultural rituals that many who are outside of the region may never get to experience. SL is global after all!

(Thanks, Tina!)