While the past security breach and the looming IRS taxation might be keeping people away from Second Life, it has been, as they all say, business as usual. News agency Reuters just opened its cyber branch, and Toyota and Adidas are already there. And in case you're wondering where and when the parties are at, you might want to mark October 19 on your cyber calendars because Ben Folds is coming.

Yup, the real-life artist is venturing deep into virtual reality to promote his forthcoming album, "supersunnyspeedgraphic, the LP!" At 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, Second Lifers can join Ben for a live chat and album preview on Sony-BMG's Media Island. Also, A Vision of W Hotels has recently announced the grand opening of an aloft hotel in Second Life. With that, they will be throwing a launch party from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern and at around 8:40 p.m., Ben will once again appear and give partygoers a chance to be the first to hear new tracks from the new album.

Interested parties should register in advance by sending an email to frontdesk@virtualaloft.com using their avatar name. Then all you have to do is wait for their email reply that will contain details on how to get to both events. Ben Folds is mostly known for their melancholic single, "Brick."