Introducing Marc Strassman & Etopia News™

Written By Sita Writer






Marc Strassman, is a multifaceted man with extraordinary vision and interests that range the gamut from real life politics to virtual world etiquette. Strassman , who is a Los Angeles native that studied Social Relations at Harvard™ university is a true professional that is always in search of a good story ,Strassman admits, “ Mostly I use Secondlife™ to chat with avatars from around the world about their First Lives and, when they feel like it, about the political situation in their own countries. Second Life provides me with information that I can use in my real life profession of video interviewing guests about politics and related subjects, by giving me a clearer understanding of the actual political situation and attitudes in different states and countries.”


Technology has certainly made the world a smaller and more manageable place and Strassman’s research and subsequent interviews are perfect examples of this.

Picture of Etopia News' Marc Strassman

Strassman ,bilingual in English and Spanish is a self-proclaimed “internet reporter”.  “I use the Internet as the platform for conducting my interviews and as a means of distributing them, as well as in the sense of someone that covers new developments of the Internet itself.”


In 2003, Strassman started Etopia News™. 
The origin of the name is interesting because Etopia is a place where most public and private communications take place using electronic platforms, especially the Internet. 
Strassman tells OI that, “The name comes from a book by the late MIT professor William J. Mitchell called e-topia, available from Amazon (click hyperlink) .  When I started Etopia News, I often had to explain the origins of the name to people, but by 2013, most people realize that we are living in Etopia, even if they don’t recognize the name as such.”


Strassman started Etopia as a platform for coverage of important news that wasn’t getting adequate coverage in the mainstream or even online media.  He is reminiscent of Utne Magazine™; a subcultural watchdog that ferrets out important stories that really need to be told.  Strassman’s goal is to tell those stories via Etopia.


Over the years, Etopia has grown and evolved.  Currently there are thousands of articles and 200 plus YouTube videos to peruse created by the always-prolific Strassman.


As technology has advanced along with Strassman’s skills, Etopia News evolved from a text news operation that included links to audio and video coverage of people, subjects, and events to one that mainly features video interviews on Etopia Youtube™ channel and occasional text posts on the Etopia News blog, that also features embedded versions of the videos as they appear on YouTube. 


Not leaving a social media tool unused, Etopia News video interviews are also available on Pinterest™.  In addition, some Etopia News interviews are also syndicated as blog posts on AOL’s Menlo ParkAtherton™ Patch site. Strassman also promotes his interviews via Twitter™.


Many articles and interviews that were produced before Strassman started to use  Google+ Hangouts™ On Air to produce them (he previously used SightSpeed™ and Skype™)are archived on the Etopia News Now channel of blip tv ™. 


For the sake of convenience, a player streams the blip.tv interviews and is embedded on the home page.
The most recent interviews are streamed live and archived on the Etopia News YouTube.


In terms of getting the word out about Etopia, Strassman uses Facebook™ as his primary promotional tool.  “I usually post links to new interviews on the Etopia News page on Facebook to generate traffic to the page.  “On FB ,I define Etopia’s mission as a source that features in-depth, remotely-recorded video interviews with elected officials, academics, authors, business people, and others, covering current topics in politics, technology, medicine, business, and culture @ www.etopianews.com”) and on my own home page.   I’ve also recently created a FB page featuring 27 Etopia News videos dealing with cannabis regulation, called “The Path to Cannabis Legalization."


Strassman hopes to expand the quality and quantity of guests that appear on his show and to reach a larger audience utilizing the latest online technology for production, distribution and promotion of his shows.  “As for future guests, I hope to interview Tom Boellstorf, author of Coming of Age in Second Life, and Tom Ammiano, a California Assembly member and author of AB 473, which would reform the regulation of medical cannabis in California. I’m satisfied that Etopia News is getting its work out to a select group of viewers, but I’d like to build its viewership to enable it to reach more people and have a bigger effect on the news cycle.”


As an up and coming alternative news source, and as new stories emerge and slip under the radar, it is good to know that Etopia News will be there getting the word out and creating more conversation to a growing online community.


Thank you for reading my article on Etopia News and its founder, Marc Strassman. My name is Sita Writer, reporting for OI Magazine.

Myanmar Travel : "Yangon, A City of Reticent Hope"

Her 2013 real life trip to Myanmar ,exclusively for OI Magazine written by

Sita Writer.
Camera pictures provided by and are property of Sita Writer.

"It is all Kipling’s fault…. I wanted to go to Burma… now called Myanmar because of Kipling’s’ romantic descriptions. To me, Kipling immortalized this country in his famous quote from “Letters from the East”, “This is Burma and it is unlike any land you know about.” A tall order in this day and age where the world has gotten smaller with the ease of international accessibility and the Internet.

Burma, a country that has been sleeping for 50 years… a 50 -year nightmare is finally waking up --- but waking up to what and for how long? For now things seem to be going in the right direction but that could change at any time. After all Burma or Myanmar is, after North Korea, probably one of the most obscure and obscured countries in the 21^st century. In fact, it is an anomaly, and one I explored in March.

Pic 1 : Street scenes, man with fruit stands

When I think of Burma it conjures up magical visions of great golden temples nestled in tropical landscapes, verdant rice fields and mighty rivers, beautiful women adorned with rubies and jade, poppy fields and puppet performances inspired by myths and legends that go on into the wee hours of the night. Myanmar’s very name Suvanabhomi means the Golden Land and I wondered if it would live up to my imagination and expectations.

Pic 2: Street scenes 2, Burmese woman and food

Pic 3 : Street scenes 3, Burmese woman and flowers

Myanmar is usually described as a product of times past – it has an endearing, leisurely charm and innocence that was said to be pervasive throughout S.E. Asia fifty years ago. Unlike the rest of Asia, until recently, Myanmar remained reclusive. The first five things I noticed upon arrival was that you will see few Burmese dressed in Western garb, there are no Western commercial aspects (yet), no cookie cutter chain hotels, restaurants or atms, no skyscrapers, and although they drive on the right (a rather recent government mandate) all the steering wheels in cars are on the left making taxi rides very interesting experiences.

I traveled to Myanmar to experience a sense of the “real” and authentic Southeast Asian culture and from the very moment I stepped foot in Myanmar, I had to agree with Kipling; I knew I was in for a truly remarkable experience.

"My journey began in the former capital of Myanmar, Yangon, founded in the 11^th century by the Mon and located in the Ayeyarwady Delta area. The British seized Yangon after the Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852 and it soon became a great commercial center. Typically, the Raj built colonial styled houses, public buildings, spacious parks and gardens amidst traditional wooden Burmese structures and golden temples.

Pic 1: Colonial building

Pic 2 : Another colonial building with the Burmese flag

In many ways, Yangon is stuck in a time warp – it has no skyscrapers, and only a few high- rise buildings some commercial others apartments no more than ten stories or so high. Today, downtown Yangon is known for its leafy avenues and fin-de-siècle architecture and has the highest number of colonial buildings in Asia. Sadly, many of the colonial buildings are in a state of disrepair and one wonders if they will be torn down because they are symbolic of foreign subjugation or if they will restore to their former glory.

"My first stop in Yangon was the famous Sule Pagoda in the heart of downtown. Sule has played an important part in Burmese politics; it served as a rallying point in the 1988 Revolution and the 2007 Saffron Revolution. The name the Saffron Revolution that connects monks’ protests against the military dictatorship is a bit misleading because the monks of Myanmar wear claret colored robes unlike the saffron colored monk’s robes of neighboring Thailand.

Pic 1 : The Sule Pagoda

The history of Sule Pagoda is bound up in the mythical prehistory of Myanmar. Two monks traveling from India established it because it contained a hair relic of Buddha. The actual name Sule can be linked to the Sule Nat, the guardian spirit of Singuttara Hill. Sule, an octagonal, zedi or stupa as it is known in the west, is shaped like a bell and inverted bowl; this architectural style originated in India. It sits in the middle of an intersection like a great golden traffic circle. Inside the pagoda’s shrines and images are four colorful Buddha’s with neon halos behind their heads.

Pic 2 : Zoomed out on the Sule Pagoda

Wandering around the Sule Pagoda area I was amazed at the striking examples of colorful architecture, shops, markets and parks. Strolling through the markets and outdoor teashops gives you a feeling of how little life has really changed here. In the crowd I saw many smiling and curious faces. I would like to think faces full of hope.

Pic 3 : Interior of the Sule Pagoda

Pic 4 : Zoomed interior Sule Pagoda

"The next temple I visited was Botataung… it was exquisite. An Allied bomb destroyed the original temple in 1943. During the clean up and rebuilding of the temple, a golden casket in the shape of a stupa was miraculously recovered and was found to contain a hair and two other relics of the Buddha. I was excited to visit this temple because this 140 -foot (40 meter) bell shaped golden stupa is unusual. The stupa is hollow and you can actually walk around the inside of it. It was a surreal experience to walk around floor to ceiling golden walls all intricately inscribed with whimsical looking Burmese script embellished by beautiful floral offerings placed throughout the sanctuary. Outside the temple are thousands of turtles swimming and sunning themselves in pools of water. I bought some turtle food from a nearby stand and feed them in hopes of acquiring merit for a future existence.

Pic 1: The Botataung temple

Pic 2 : The Botataung, another angle with offerings

Pic 3 : Close up of the Botataung temple offerings

Although I did not stay in the best hotel in Yangon, which is a toss up between the historic Strand Hotel and the elegant Governors Residence, the hotel I choose had an excellent view of the Shwedagon Pagoda not only from my room but also from the restaurant.

Pic 1 : The Shwedagon Pagoda Temple

"I like temples and Shwedagon simply put, took my breath away. “Shwe” is the Burmese word for gold and “dagon” means three hills. The temple is situated on Singuttara Hill and is considered to be the holiest of the countries pagodas. Shwedagon was built over the shrine that contains the relics of the Buddha. Countless smaller pagodas made of gold leaf and lacquer, silver, marble; tin, teak, iron and brick, built one after another through the centuries are to be found here.

I will never forget taking off my shoes and socks as is customary in Myanmar and climbing a seemingly endless gold gilded covered staircase barefoot to the high marble terrace of the Pagoda for the first time; what I saw when I reached the summit was like a golden ray of hope glistening in the darkest of nights.

Pic 2 : The Shwedagon Pagoda temple and crowd

Pic 3 : Architecture close up of the Shwedagon Pagoda

The Shwedagon Pagoda is an architectural masterpiece -- it is a golden fantasy forest of gilded stupas, serene Buddha’s mythical beasts, planetary posts, glittering glass mosaic alcoves, and grand pavilions in every architectural style all of which is a backdrop for meditation, prayer, renewal, pilgrimage and merit.

Pic 4 : Rooftops of the Shwedagon Pagoda temple

"The Pagoda is said to be 2500 years old and to have more gold on it than gold in the vaults of the Bank of England. The main stupa soars nearly 330 feet (100 meters) above the hilltop and is a treasure trove inside and out. Inside it is said to house eight hairs of the Buddha as well as three other relics. On the outside, the stupa is plated with 8,688 solid gold slabs; the tip of the stupa is set with 5,448 diamonds and 2,317 rubies, along with sapphires and topaz. As if this was not enough, a huge emerald sits in the middle of the main stupa’s spire to catch the first and last rays of the sun. All this is mounted on and above a 33- foot umbrella built on seven gold plated bars and decorated with 1,485 bells, 1,065 are gold, 420 are silver. Surrounding the main stupa are more than 100 stupas, buildings, pavilions, halls and administrative buildings.

Pic 5 : The Bell of Shwedagon Pagoda temple

For me, Shwedagon is an ultimate example of the timelessness of faith and hope. There isn’t a time of day that Shwedagon isn’t beautiful or for that matter crowded with families, monks, and pilgrims paying homage here – although it is so large, it never really seemed crowded. To say it is opulent is an understatement; it is also much more because it exudes spiritual serenity and energy reminiscent of the all -knowing eternal smiles of ancient Egyptian gods and kings.

I saw hope in Yangon - a reticent hope to trust that change will continue and things will proceed in the right direction. Quick political transformation here is unlikely as there are still many places off limits to foreigners as well as things the government definitely does not want the outside world to see. Change in tourism will also come slowly – the infrastructure is sadly lacking not only in terms of world-class hotels but also in terms of rail, air and auto travel. Is Myanmar in transition? I would have to say absolutely but what course the changes take depends on the complexities of the people themselves, the government and Myanmar’s strategic location and wealth in natural resources and, most importantly, how Myanmar will interact – or not with the world.

"In my next installment… I will take you to the mythical city of Mandalay and to enigmatic Began.

Thank you for reading my first installment about my recent trip in 2013 to Myanmar (Burma) , my name is Sita Writer, OI Magazine journalist."

Soaring In Salisbury Connecticut

By
Sita Writer

This exclusive article dates back to the pre-Olympic Games in 2012.It describes Sita Writer's real life traveling experience during that time to Connecticut also provided with her own camera pictures.




Connecticut is the third smallest state in America and one of the original thirteen colonies that revolted against British rule in the
American Revolution. It is known for its compact and varied
landscape that runs the gamut from hills and river valleys to the
serene shoreline of Long Island Sound. Known as the nutmeg
state because Yankee peddlers use to sell carved wooden nutmegs
to unsuspecting housewives. Connecticut was also influential in
the development of the federal government and is known as the
Constitution State for this reason. As “the land of steady habits”
Connecticut features the highest per capita income and median
household income in America.

Winter snapshot of Connecticut by Sita Writer

In a recent article in National Geographic, Martha Stewart called
the Litchfield Hills located in the northwest corner of the state
bordering New York and Massachusetts the “real Connecticut”
because of its unspoiled bucolic countryside, large gracious
colonial homes, picture perfect village greens and charming
villages that are not sullied by the ever persuasive mega chain
stores and eateries that make so many cities in America cookie
cutter samples of one another.
There are many activities for visitors to enjoy in this southern
New England state from down hill and cross country skiing to ice
fishing, skating and even meandering on a winter wine trail or
simply relaxing by a fire at a cozy country inn.

Ski jump shot taken by Sita

One exciting winter event that takes place every January in the
quintessential village of Salisbury, located in the gently rolling
Litchfield Hills is the U.S. Ski Jumping Championship. The
village has hosted this internationally recognized ski event ever
since the day back in the roaring Twenties when a pair of Salisbury
youngsters strapped on their skis and sailed off the roof of a snow-
covered barn. That, at least, is how the locals recount the story.
Whether the tale is true or just an example of good old-fashioned
Yankee yarn spinning, “Salisburyites” have over the years grown
delightfully dippy about their annual ski get-together.  

When, for example, the U.S. Weather Service fails to cooperate and the hills
lie bare and brown, the determined and resourceful villagers import
the fluffy white stuff from wherever Mother Nature has been more
generous, spreading a blanket of flakes on the jumping ramp and
the landing area with a wheezing, gasping corn blower. Only a
few times has the event had to be canceled, much to the chagrin
of the snow-loving Salisburyites. In 1991, some snowmaking
equipment was finally acquired and the days of shovels and
strained backs are over for good.

morales pic used by permission

This year marks the 87th year for the main event, the Eastern
U.S. Ski Jumping Championships that often have forecasted future Olympic competitors. Ski jumpers will be showing off the
tremendous coordination, skill and grace it takes to soar 64 meters--over 200 feet--with a happy landing on the ski jump that rises like some wooden prehistoric creature on Satre Hill.  

Another camera shot by Sita

The tower at the John Satre Memorial Hill, just off route 44 in Salisbury, has hosted many world -class skiers including members of the American
Olympic ski-team. Foreign participants have come from as far
away as Austria, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia and
the Ukraine.
Some of the best junior jumpers in the East are expected for this
annual event that is often a warm-up for Olympic hopefuls. The
activities begin Friday night, February 8, with a chili cook-off at
6:30 p.m., followed by the human dogsled race and jumping warm-
ups under the lights. Saturday events kick off at 9 a.m. with the
kids Nordic 20 and 30 meter jumping competition, followed by the
Salisbury Invitational Competition for ski jumpers from 1 to 3 p.m.
The big event, the 87th Eastern Ski Jumping Competition, will start
at 1 p.m. on Sunday; everyone will be hoping to beat the Salisbury
record, an impressive 231-foot jump.


Traditionally, the enthusiastic crowd cheers skiers on by jingling
cowbells as the jumpers soar. This year, between 7,000 and 8,000
ski enthusiasts are expected to arrive, more than three times the
number of villagers. There is a folksy, down-home feel to the event
-- competitors must huff and puff their way up hundreds of steps
to reach the launching platform; down below spectators can crowd
to the very edges of the landing area for a close-up view of the
excitement. For further information, see www.jumpfest.org.

The Litchfield Hills is renowned for its comfortable country
inns and bed and breakfasts so if you plan on making a weekend
sojourn to this winter wonderland there are many options to choose
from.

ragamont hotel

ragamont blue room suite

ragamont living room

The Ragamont House Bed and Breakfast, an award winning
Landmark property located in the heart of scenic Salisbury offers
elegance and comfort in a stately Greek Revival Landmark
Mansion. Expansive gardens, canopied beds, cathedral ceilings,
fireplaces and cozy sitting areas are combined with up-to-date
modern conveniences and three lovely suites that you will happily
call home. The Blue Room has a rustic cathedral ceiling with two
double Shaker inspired canopied beds that have been designed by
local cabinetmaker Ian Ingersoll of Cornwall Bridge Connecticut.
This room offers a cozy sitting area with a working fireplace that
is a perfect place to warm up after a day at the ski jumps. http://
www.ragamont.com.

Rock Hall fireplace

rock hall room chamber 1

rock hall chamber 2

Rock Hall Luxe Lodging located in nearby Colebrook is a
romantic and refined boutique lodging experience on a spacious
private estate designed by renowned architect Addison Mizner in
1912. Originally the house was built as a residence for Jerome
Alexandre, an heir to the Alexandre Steam Ship fortune and his
wife Violet Adelaide Oakley. Mizner known as “The Architect of
Palm Beach,” designed and built their 10,000 square foot manor
house in his signature Spanish Mediterranean Revival style.
Today, Rock Hall is the only surviving Mizner residence north of
the Mason Dixon Line.

Rock Hall, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
features graceful gardens, orchards, walking trails and meadows;
billiard and fitness rooms, and a seasonal tennis court, swimming
pool and jacuzzi. Choose from five distinctive guest suites
including Chamber 3 with its’ hand blocked pastel printed
wallpaper from Italy, Juliet Gray queen size bed with gilt bed
tables, chaise and wood burning fireplace --the room is an
expression of romance at its best. http://www.19rockhallroad.com.

interlaken inn living room

interlaken inn townhouse image

 For a resort like accommodations, try the Interlaken Inn known
as New England’s Country Resort located in nearby Lakeville.
This resort is located between two lakes and offers all the modern
conveniences of a world-class hotel with the added benefit of being
located in a setting of great natural beauty.
Here you have a choice of lodging options from a room in a romantic Victorian Mansion
to a townhouse conveniently equipped with a full kitchen and loft.
http://www.interlakeninn.com.

Thank you for reading my article about my experience in Connecticut, my name is Sita Writer reporting for www.oimagazine.com , welcome to leave comments as always!

In A New York Minute

Elspeth Humphreys' real life New York City trip, exclusively for OI Magazine,
interviewed by Sita Writer.
Pictures provided by Elspeth Humphreys. 

New York – the city that never sleeps – where everything changes and yet nothing does. You can never catch a cab in the rain but you can always get a good bagel with schmear! In the maze of Manhattan restaurants come and go in the blink of an eye, and neighborhoods are revitalized from rustic to high- end sanctuaries for high-heeled fashionistas. Vibrant with a cast of characters – visitors and residents, and a variety of superlative dining experiences, neighborhoods and attractions New York City is like no other city in the world. Locals call it “the city” because there is no other city that quite measures up to the New York experience. 




Fast paced, offering an opportunity for a new life, stylish, and glitzy with a dash of East Coast pragmatism or is that cynicism “the city” attracts people from all walks of life.



Elspeth Humphreys, the name of her avatar in SL, just returned from her first visit to New York City in real life back in September of 2012.

Fashion in a NYC store captured on Els' camera lens

 “Fashion drew me to New York City initially. I am from a fashion capital of the world and I have grown up with a passion for couture. I thought it would be amazing to visit and experience what another fashion forward capital had to offer and was interested to see what the fashion trends were".



Elspeth was not disappointed or surprised in her initial New York reception. “ To be honest I had been told that New Yorkers where rather rude and upfront so I was expecting that; and in fact, I got that ha-ha. I love the raw blunt edge of New Yorkers, there is no messing around and you always know where you stand,” Elspeth tells OI. 

Els' camera lens captures Anthony Hamilton singing

Of Elspeth’s most memorable experiences she recalls the Anthony Hamilton concert at the Beacon Theatre and watching an Alicia Keys interview at The Y center. “ The food, ITS CRAZY, and overwhelmed me and the people of New York where a breath of fresh air compared to what I am used to; adding the men are-- well, Gorgeous!” 




Els also enjoyed The Whitney Museum and in particular The Yayoi Kasuma exhibition, which is, breathtaking. 

The Manhattan skyline ,taken by Ms Humphreys

Second skyline picture, beautifully done

 She also admired the famous Manhattan skyline, Central Park and the ubiquitous yellow cabs!! A special treat for Elspeth was hooking up with some of her SL friends in RL.

NYC more than met Els’ expectations, “I felt like I was on one big film set every day. I really enjoyed the culture of the city the vibe was fantastic. The one thing I didn’t like was that I had a hard time getting directions when I was lost.”

Els' breathtaking views of the city from Top of the Rock

Elspeth stayed on the elegant Upper East Side, one of the most affluent neighborhoods in the city between Central Park and the East River. The Upper East Side is located close to the Museum Mile and restaurant row on Second Ave. between east 79 and 76^{th Streets}. 



Els didn’t do a lot of touristy attractions, as she was interested in exploring and experiencing the culture of the city. “The few touristy things I did do and that I enjoyed included the Top of the Rock because of the view, the Empire State Building because she stands so regally watching over her city and Time Square – it is completely over the top and overloads ones senses.”

Watch where you walk 'cause the sidewalks talk, uhm Crosswalk in this case

Els' photography of Ripley's Believe or Not, Famous Dave & Buster's

Some random New York minute shots from Els

Her pic of the East River

Els posing for a picture of herself in NYC (Uhm, she's QUITE attractive, wouldn't you agree?)

Els hopes to return to “the city” next year. “ Unlike other vacations I have taken, New York felt oddly like home even though I knew it wasn’t-- I felt like I just slotted into place.”

Hotlanta Blues—You’re Damn Right I Got the Blues!

-by Sita Writer

When you think of the blues, you think about misfortune, betrayal, and regret. You lose your job? You get the blues. You don’t get that promotion? You get the blues. Your partner cheats on you? You get the blues. You can’t log onto the grid? You get the blues.
  
Blues lyrics frequently deal with personal dramas, and often, the words go way beyond self-pity; sometimes, they are about overcoming hard luck or just having fun. The best blues are visceral, cathartic, and exposed raw and primitive emotions.

There are many theories about where the “cradle of the blues” resides, but most clues lead back to the African continent and then to the Mississippi Delta. A precursor of modern blues originates from work songs sung by black laborers and the influence of religious songs on the genre from the nineteenth century. Today, there are many subgenres of the blues, ranging from Country to Delta, acoustic to electric, Piedmont, boogie-woogie, Jump, and Chicago, to name a few.

If you are in search of an authentic blues club in SL, you need look no further than Hotlanta Blues owned by DonPaul Cale. This club exemplifies all aspects of the blues: It is gritty and soulful, sensual with a dash melancholy joy; this club offers a true urban haven. DonPaul, a genuine blues aficionado, found out about Second Life from a songwriters chat group and decided to explore the possibilities of live music on the grid. “I built my blues club to reflect an old city, one that is somewhat used and abused, but still alive and thriving in spite of all its been through,” says DonPaul.

Now in it’s fourth year of operation, Hotlanta Blues offers a palette of blues that is always a treat. When asked, DonPaul reveals that his favorite type of blues is, “slow and soulful, led by electric-guitar; the kind that makes you want to close your eyes and listen while you move to the music.” As for a favorite, DonPaul notes that there are so many blues musicians both old and new that he admires. “If I had to choose one I might pick Albert King. I love the feeling he puts into his guitar work.”

The best thing about Hotlanta Blues is that the DJs who entertain you here really know and appreciate the blues. “We have live DJs every day starting at 3 or 4 p.m. SLT... sometimes a little earlier... and they go into the wee hours of the morning, depending on the crowd. Twice a month we have Saint Skytower perform live and once in a while we have other live musicians. I'd like to have more live musicians more often, but that gets expensive and our primary goal is to keep the club solvent so we can keep it open and keep playing the blues,” DonPaul says.

 
As for owning a club, “I built Hotlanta Blues to be a club I would enjoy going to. I want people to come and have a good time and enjoy the DJ’s and Hostesses and the other people there. In my opinion, SL is not a game... it's a virtual social environment where you can interact with people from all over the world while you enjoy doing things together. There are things in SL that simply annoy me and interfere with that enjoyment... lots of flashing lights, overly irritating gestures, talking pregnant tummies, etc. You won't find those at Hotlanta. What you will find is the blues being played 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” says DonPaul.

 Hotlanta Blues is always rockin'! It is small, some may call it a hole-in-the-wall, but that is what the best blues bars are. The sound is sweet, and the crowd is hopping. You won’t have the blues if you check it out!