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Wagner James Au

@slhamlet.bsky.social
1.1K followers 1K following 518 posts

Author, "Making a Metaverse That Matters" (Wiley). Covering & creating metaverse culture since 2003. Bylines: WSJ, Atlantic, FastCo. Join my Patreon blog for early/exclusive virtual amazingness! patreon.com/user?u=4843285 Los Angeles/Kailua

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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 8h
Hi there! May I feature this video in a blog post about the AI controversy?
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Hi there! This is very interesting, may I interview you about it for a blog post? Follow me to DM or connect with me on Discord at wja_hamlet!
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Having first watched and commented on mute, I just received word the post should have read: What if Tom Cruise, but beetle-ly?
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PressAudit @pressaudit.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Interested in prediction markets, but hate the real money gambling aspects? In PressAudit's Call It quiz game, guess the outcome of a live news question — yes or no — then see how your pick stands against the market's odds. Play here: pressaudit.org/callit
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
What if Indiana Jones but beetle-ly?
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Thanks so much, JM!
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
With @awkwardsilencegames.itch.io's upcoming indie game O EMPIRE! WARD OFF THY ROT getting buzz, here's my interview with him about his last game, Things We Lost in the Flood, which I call a massively multiplayer LONELINESS simulator. 👇(With a new update!) www.patreon.com/u4843285/pos...
patreon.com
Things We Lost in the Flood: A Massively Multiplayer Loneliness Simulator -- NWN Classic With 2026 Update | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Originally published in 2019, this story is newly relevant with the coming launch of Dean Moynihan's O EMPIRE! WARD OFF THY ROT, his follow-
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PressAudit @pressaudit.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Happy Tuesday and hello new followers! Here's a quick glance of what we do at PressAudit and what we offer reporters and avid news consumers 👇
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
My latest profile of a new-ish Second Life brand is free to read! This time featuring Mythic, cultivated by a whole team of SLers. Two went full-time into SL after some real world job woes. Read it here 👇 , including a SLurl to their new mainstore opening today! www.patreon.com/u4843285/pos...
patreon.com
New-ish Second Life Brand Spotlight: Mythic, Which Just Launched a New Mainstore! | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Brand/Marketplace page: {Mythic} Forge Your Legend! Elevator pitch: "From a pile of treasure hidden in a forgotten tomb, to a legendary weap
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PressAudit @pressaudit.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Happy Thursday! Here's our latest scan of Artificial Intelligence-related stories, including links to the best free articles! 👇 pressaudit.org/f/categories...
pressaudit.org
AI
AI stories across major news outlets, compared side by side on PressAudit.
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Super important, heavily referenced, jaw droppingly weird thread. We're not fully understanding this because it's so bizarre, it seems to be from a Pynchon novel. But yes, the global economy may implode because an apocalyptic sex cult wants to build an AI god to avoid being tortured for eternity.
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Dare Obasanjo @carnage4life.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
I’m increasingly of the mind that whatever productivity gains I’m getting from using AI are being eaten up by dealing with other people’s AI slop. Then there’s the increasing lack of trust that people actually understand the work because they either didn’t read or write the material.
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
NEW: Thrilled to help launch Press Audit, a non-profit site that uses open source LLMs to break through our media filters, categorizng 1000s of articles daily by party lean, public interest & much more. Please check it out below and share your feedback -- good/bad/other! 👇 pressaudit.org/home
pressaudit.org
PressAudit
real-time news observability.
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
I went into the VRChat world and the fly wasn't there!
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Thrilled to feature this guest post by MattDaly, the very kind of story that New World Notes was created to tell. Matt writes about how playing @househouse.com's Big Walk with his autistic son helped the boy better bond with his family. 👇 www.patreon.com/u4843285/pos...
patreon.com
How Big Walk Helps My Autistic Son Better Bond With His Family (Guest Post by Matt Daly) | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Matt Daly is an Austin-based product, business & marketing whisperer in Games & Emerging Tech. He grows partnerships at SciPlay, one of the
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
The sky above the port was the color of television tuned to Sam Altman saying the stupidest bullshit imaginable.
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
The sky above the port was the color of television tuned to Sam Altman saying the stupidest bullshit imaginable.
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Altman's flimflam is so painfully transparent
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Terence Tao @teorth.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
A group of 25 Fields Medalists, including myself, have made a joint declaration on Math and AI: mathandai.org . We welcome additional signatories. See also this article in the Economist announcing the declaration: www.economist.com/science-and-...
mathandai.org
Declaration — Math and AI
Read the declaration and add your name.
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Now free to read: I talk with the founder of WhyAlien, a new site that use alien bots drifting across the grid of Second Life to find active & popular sims / events throughout the virtual world. But will the community embrace it? Read about it here: www.patreon.com/u4843285/pos...
patreon.com
Will the SL Community Welcome Alien Scouts in Search of Real Avatars, Active Locations? | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Will the SL Community Welcome Alien Scouts in Search of Real Avatars, Active Locations? by Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon. Join Wagner James Au / New World Notes's community for exclusiv...
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PressAudit @pressaudit.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Welcome to the Bluesky account for Press Audit, a non-partisan news observability site for reporters, researchers & readers who want to better understand the whole scope of news & what we’re all missing due to our media filters! Here's what we do and how we operate: 👇 pressaudit.org/how-it-works
pressaudit.org
PressAudit
real-time news observability.
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Nanci Barthelmess @nancisnaughties.secondlife.bio · 08/09/2026
This looks incredible. I hope one day a Linux version is released so I an play with t.
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
I've met people at Anthropic & other AI companies who quite literally believe they've *already* created AGI. Even though none of them can explain how an LLM extrudes human-like intelligence. Still tend to suspect SF tech is poisoned with the Eliza Effect. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELIZA_e...
en.wikipedia.org
ELIZA effect - Wikipedia
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Stephen Totilo @stephentotilo.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
From Game File, @slhamlet.bsky.social, a pioneering reporter in Linden Lab's virtual world Second Life 20 years ago, is joining the company He says: "Second Life was too early during its hype wave in 2005-2010, but it now feels right for a new wave of interest" www.gamefile.news/i/213915977/...
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
New: legendary third party viewer dev Kirsten previews her complete revamp of Second Life that runs on Vulkan, leading to much faster framerate, high-end graphics, even Steam Deck compatibility. Free to read for all New World Notes Patreon members: www.patreon.com/u4843285/pos...
patreon.com
Kirsten Returns: Legendary 3rd Party Viewer Dev Now Fully Reinventing Second Life Graphics for the Modern Era | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Kirsten Returns: Legendary 3rd Party Viewer Dev Now Fully Reinventing Second Life Graphics for the Modern Era by Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon. Join Wagner James Au / New World Notes's ...
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Rather than keep grousing about how utterly mid the Grand Theft Auto VI preview is, please watch this early mission scene from Cyberpunk 2077 and tell me how *anything* in it comes close to this level of immersiveness, story richness, and voice acting. Dare you! youtu.be/tOu5VVglNpw?...
youtu.be
The Pickup - Cyberpunk 2077
YouTube video by Your Pal Al Gaming
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
I am told the Eve Dolly Parton thingie did not actually happen, seems like!
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Amazing! Did you get a screencapture of the memorial / ganking?
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George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
A great loss for us all. A light in our darkness, a talent like none other. Rest in song and mirth, Dolly. The heavens have a new star among them.
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
New SL marketplace survey about the new automated monthly review process, which delists MP items from merchants who haven't logged in for a year. How much will this improve the overall Marketplace shopping experience -- some, a lot, or not at all? 👇 www.patreon.com/u4843285/pos...
patreon.com
SL Survey: How Much Will Automated Marketplace Review Improve Overall Online Shopping for Customers & Merchants? | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
SL Survey: How Much Will Automated Marketplace Review Improve Overall Online Shopping for Customers & Merchants? by Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon. Join Wagner James Au / New World Notes...
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Dan of the Year @downwithdan.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
"this edible ain't shit" two hours later:
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Annalee Newitz @annaleen.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
A perfect conceit for the 20s: the world's biggest bookstore has become a destroyer of books
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Pretty big: A real life skin care company just partnered with Second Life avatar-based K-Pop group. "They are super interested in exploring where the digital space fits into the the future of beauty," Xquad's Ryan tells me. Read on my New World Notes' Patreon! 👇 www.patreon.com/u4843285/pos...
patreon.com
Real Life Skin Care Company Partners With Second Life-Based K-Pop Group | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Real Life Skin Care Company Partners With Second Life-Based K-Pop Group by Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon. Join Wagner James Au / New World Notes's community for exclusive content and up...
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Pretty big: A real life skin care company just partnered with Second Life avatar-based K-Pop group. "They are super interested in exploring where the digital space fits into the the future of beauty," Xquad's Ryan tells me. Read on my New World Notes' Patreon! 👇 www.patreon.com/u4843285/pos...
patreon.com
Real Life Skin Care Company Partners With Second Life-Based K-Pop Group | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Real Life Skin Care Company Partners With Second Life-Based K-Pop Group by Wagner James Au / New World Notes on Patreon. Join Wagner James Au / New World Notes's community for exclusive content and up...
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
"Civil War" < "Slaveholder's Rebellion": "Conventions shifted only decades after the war, when white Southerners and their reps in Congress collaborated to rewrite the history... '“Civil War' became a compromise solution, mollifying Confederate nostalgics." www.nytimes.com/2026/08/02/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | The ‘Civil War’ Is a Lie. Let’s Call It the ‘Slaveholders’ Rebellion’ Again. (Gift Article)
To face our history, we must be honest about it.
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Great and hilarious obliteration of LLM hype and flimflam by @doctorow.pluralistic.net on @weeklyshowpodcast.bsky.social that surely needs to be widely shared before a clutch of hype dweebs trying to birth God from a next letter predictor crash the global economy. www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dAI...
youtube.com
AI and the Enshittification Era w/ Cory Doctorow | The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
YouTube video by The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Great and hilarious obliteration of LLM hype and flimflam by @doctorow.pluralistic.net on @weeklyshowpodcast.bsky.social that surely needs to be widely shared before a clutch of hype dweebs trying to birth God from a next letter predictor crash the global economy. www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dAI...
youtube.com
AI and the Enshittification Era w/ Cory Doctorow | The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
YouTube video by The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
static.klipy.com
Cyberpunktime Red: Man Removes Sunglasses
ALT: Cyberpunktime Red: Man Removes Sunglasses
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Background on my Patreon. "More publicity for smaller brands" was one of the biggest needs SL merchants expressed. www.patreon.com/u4843285/pos...
patreon.com
Survey: What new-ish Second Life brands deserves more publicity? | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
In my 2026 SL merchant survey, one request/complaint came up frequently: Make more effort to promote smaller and newer SL merchants. Chal
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
What new-ish @secondlife.bsky.social brands (launched 2020 or later) deserve more publicity? Because I want to feature them in an upcoming "Second Life's Hot New Brands" column! Suggest your favorites in my anonymous Google Form below. 👇 Please include MP links! docs.google.com/forms/d/1JEP...
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Kill Tim Faust 💀 @tbone.malware-virus.biz · 24/07/2026
I’m fucking dying
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Patreon supporter shout-out to @jason.themetamovie.com of @themetamovie.com, creating a new live role-playing adventure in @resonite.com. 15 players. 10 live actors. One Mission. Secrets of Gara. Coming 2027! Watch the teaser below, follow on YouTube for updates! www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeNF...
youtube.com
MetaMovie Update: Building Secrets of Gara, June 2026
YouTube video by TheMetaMovie
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Excited for today's early access launch of @seedgame.bsky.social, in development for nearly 10 years & easily one of the most ambitious MMOs ever launched. Single-shard, fully persistent, sorta multiplayer Civilization meets The Sims, I talk with the lead dev here: www.patreon.com/u4843285/pos...
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Excited for today's early access launch of @seedgame.bsky.social, in development for nearly 10 years & easily one of the most ambitious MMOs ever launched. Single-shard, fully persistent, sorta multiplayer Civilization meets The Sims, I talk with the lead dev here: www.patreon.com/u4843285/pos...
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Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Note the date
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
In memory of a briefly honorable soul that was lost long ago: youtu.be/kLMYW8jFPHg?...
youtu.be
Lindsey Graham Chokes Up Talking About Joe Biden
YouTube video by HuffPost
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
LOL I love this. "Backrooms" is so huge it inspired a creepy shopping hunt in @secondlife.bsky.social: www.patreon.com/u4843285/pos...
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Not that I'm complaining, but holy shit. And I feel like there's still at least 50 more hours of nerdery left to go.
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Similar story with Dr. Nettrice Gaskins, who's been creating genuinely beautiful portraits of Black artists incorporating Deep Dream AI algorithms years before Midjourney etc. existed. 👇 Ironically, Gen AI has utterly undermined legit uses of AI as an art medium. www.patreon.com/u4843285/pos...
patreon.com
Years Before Gen AI, Afrofuturist Nettrice Gasksins Artist Created These Stunning Portraits With Deep Dream AI Algorithms -- 2019 New World Notes Classic With 2026 Update! | Wagner James Au / New Worl...
Since the launch of Midjourney and other LLM-based driven image generation platforms in 2023, there's been a passionate debate on whether "G
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Wagner James Au @slhamlet.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
The frustrating thing is Anandol has been experimenting with AI as a medium long before Gen AI existed. I wrote about this (genuinely cool!) project he did with the LA Phil in 2018 👇 www.patreon.com/u4843285/pos...
patreon.com
Watch: A.I. Based Music / Visuals Created by Robert Thomas & Refik Anadol for LA Phil -- New World Notes Classic from 2018 | Wagner James Au / New World Notes
Since 60 Minutes just broadcast this story on the clash between artists and Gen AI platforms featuring an interview with Refik Anadol, here'
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