Murder, mysteries, fiddles and ballads

It’s time to kick-off another week of fabulous story-telling in voice, brought to Second Life and Kitely by the staff and volunteers at the Seanchai Library.

As always, all times SLT / PDT, and unless otherwise stated, events will be held on the Seanchai Library’s home on Imagination Island, or at their Kitely Homeworld.

Sunday, February 15th

13:30: Tea-time at Baker Street – the Boscombe Valley Mystery

Watson and Homes en route by train to Boscombe Valley (Sidney Paget, The Strand Magazine, 1891)

In 1889, Holmes receives a summons from chief Inspector Lestrade, requesting he travel to Herefordshire to lean assistance in a murder investigation that is perhaps more convoluted than it may initially appear.

On the surface, it appears to be an open and shut case. Charles McCarthy, an Australian expatriate was out walking his dog when, after apparently being stalked by his son, armed with a gun, he is murdered. With two witness who saw McCarthy’s son – James – both following him and then have a heated exchange with him, it seems obvious who is responsible for McCarthy senior’s death.

However, James McCarthy insists that while he and his father did argue, their paths crossed by chance, as he was out hunting, and he certainly didn’t kill his father. The cause of their argument turns out to be Alice Turner, daughter of one John Turner, a good friend to Charles McCarthy.

As Holmes and Watson investigate and interview, so things become more involved, with requests for marriage, secret weddings, mysterious references to a rat, past crimes and secrets pasts. All of which eventually lead to blackmail and murder…

Join Caledonia Skytower, Kayden Oconnell and Corwyn Allen as they read this curious case.

18:00: A Pooh Bear Valentine’s Pajama Party!

join Caledonia Skytower for a Winnie-the-Pooh themed time at Magicland Park!

Monday February 16th

06:00: The Emerald Atlas

emerald atlasCata Charisma continues his reading of John Stephens’ The emerald Atlas, the first volume in his fantasy trilogy for young adults, The Books of Beginning.

Having been passed from pillar to post through orphanages, three siblings, Kate, Emma, and Michael, find themselves lodged at the home of one Dr. Stanislaus Pym. Kate, the eldest of the three is driven by a promise made by her mother, that if Kate protects her younger sister and brother, then their family will be one day reunited.

But in their explorations of Dr. Pym’s house the three of them find their way into the basement, where they come across a mysterious door and a equally mysterious emerald-covered booth, entirely without text. When an old photograph touches the blank pages of the book, however, the three are immediately transported to the time and place depicted in the photograph. Her they find themselves in a realm populated by witches, henchmen, giants, dwarves and more – and one Dr. Stanislaus Pym, a good deal younger than when they last saw him in his house…

19:00 The Future Ain’t What It Used to Be

Gyro Muggins concludes Fredrick Pohl’s The Age of the Pussyfoot.

(Trident 1971 hardcover)
(Trident 1971 hardcover)

First published in serial form in1966, they republished as a novel in its own right in 1969, The Age of the Pussyfoot sees us transported to the 26th century along with one Charles Forrester, who has been in a state of cryogenic sleep for some 500 years, after being killed in a fire. His time in suspended animation, together with his revival – now that technology has developed to a point where revival is possible – has been paid for through his insurance, which (presumably through the act of compound interest down the centuries, his on-going medical expenses notwithstanding) has also left him comparatively well-off.

Forrester find the 26th century a place of delight; his spectre-like computer terminal, the Joymaker, puts almost everything – including drugs – at his fingertips. He’s able to take an apartment, still enjoy the delights of 20th century food and enter into a lifestyle of parties and fun, the money from his insurance making him rather wealthy.

Then things start to go a little sideways. First, there is Adne, who appears to be out to trap him into providing for her children; there’s also the mysterious Club, who also seem to be more interested in Forrester’s wealth than him. Add to the list the man from Mars who has taken out a hunting licence allowing him and his friends to track down and even kill Forrester – so long as his revival is paid for – and the future suddenly isn’t so bright a playground. And when his money starts running out, and he’s forced to take a job, he’s also forced to reassess who he can trust and who he can’t, and just what role he is actually to play in humanity’s future…

Tuesday February 17th, 19:00: Two Nights with Neil

Continues with Caedmon Sharkfin.

Wednesday February 18th

12:15: Kitely: Explore The Great Gatsby

Explore the Great Gatsby - Gatsby's mansion:  "The one on my right was a colossal affair by any standard—it was a factual imitation of some Hôtel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool, and more than forty acres of lawn and garden."
Explore the Great Gatsby – Gatsby’s mansion: “The one on my right was a colossal affair by any standard—it was a factual imitation of some Hôtel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool, and more than forty acres of lawn and garden.”

Join a Hypergrid Safari outing to Explore The Great Gatsby Online at Kitely, and join Caledonia Skytower. See many of the locations in which this classic American story unfold: the Buchanan’s mansion, Nick caraway’s cottage, the great Gothic edifice of Jay Gatsby’s mansion and, of course, the Valley of Ashes. Discover more about the novel and the recent Tacoma Little Theatre’s production of Simon Levy’s adaptation of the novel for the stage.

All this and more at: grid.kitely.com:8002/EXPLORESeanchai.

19:00: Poetry Out Loud

With Caledonia Skytower.

Thursday February 19th

19:00: The Fiddler of Bayou Teche

Shandon Loring opens the pages of Delia Sherman’s tale of a trickster fiddler in the deep south bayou.

Cadence lives with her adoptive mother, a medicine woman and fiddler in a small loup-garou community. She raises Cadence on tales old and new, many warning her against tricksters and their ways. But after her mother passes away, Cadence finds herself in trouble and facing one of the very tricksters she was warned about. But are the tales she remembers, and the warnings they contain, enough to protect her and provide for her survival?

21:00 Seanchai Late Night

More late-night science-fiction with Finn Zeddmore.

Saturday February 21st, Seanchai Kitely, 09:00 PDT: The Ballad of Tam Lin

With Shandon Loring.

—–

Please check with the Seanchai Library SL’s blog for updates and for additions or changes to the week’s schedule. The featured charity for January / February is Project Children, teaching and building peace in Northern Ireland, one child at a time.

Related Links

One Billion Rising: drum, dance, rise – change

The main stage at OBR in SL 2015
The main stage at OBR in SL 2015

At midnight SLT on the 13th/14th February, 2015, One Billion Rising in Second Life will commence 24 hours of music, performance and art is support of the global One Billion Rising campaign.

Now in its third year in both the physical world and the virtual, the campaign uses music and dance to draw attention to the domestic and societal violence so many woman face in their every day lives, and to provide a platform from which action can be taken in changing our attitudes towards gender-based violence.

As with previous years, Victor1st Mornington has again brought together a stunning 4-part stage for the main events, which straddles the four OBR regions of OBR Drum, OBR Dance, OBR Rise and OBR Change.  modelled on a huge turn table, complete with stylus and record, the stage is marvellously in keeping with the overall themes of music and dance.

"No surrender" by Secret Rage
“No surrender” by Secret Rage

Around this central stage, visitors can follow the path past this year’s art installation and also to the additional poetry and performance stage located in OBR Dance, with the picture Gallery alongside it on OBR Rise, both of which face the Sculpture Garden (on OBR Change) and the 2Lei installation (on OBR Drum) across the main stage.

Full details of the events taking place over the 24 hours of the event can be found on the official website’s event schedule.

2Lei installation at OBR 2015
2Lei installation at OBR 2015

A critique sometimes levelled at OBR / OBR in SL is that the issues it raises cannot be solved by dance. Well, that’s absolutely true, just as marching through the streets carrying placards and banners is unlikely to have a lasting impact on whatever it is people might be marching about.

BUT like marches and protests, dance and music does serve to draw attention to matters; it provides a means by which people are encouraged to stop and think, and through which information and ideas can be disseminated. And it does so in a manner which is a lot less confrontational and antagonistic than a march or protest might be seen, particularly in some parts of the world where the right to protest, even peacefully, isn’t always a given. And that’s an important point to remember.

About One Billion Rising

One Billion Rising was the biggest mass action in human history. The campaign, launched on Valentine’s Day 2012, began as a call to action based on the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than one billion women and girls.

On 14 February 2013, people across the world came together to express their outrage, strike, dance, and RISE in defiance of the injustices women suffer, demanding an end at last to violence against women. On 14 February 2014 OBR called on women and men everywhere to harness their power and imagination to rise for justice. In 2015, OBR are calling for a revolution for change.

Related Links

RFL of SL: 2015 team registrations open

banner-1Wednesday, February 11, 2015 marked the official opening of team registrations for the 2015 RFL of SL season. In a change from previous years, all teams registering to participate in the 2015 are required to have both a Captain and a Co-captain. An e-mail address is also required in order to complete registrations.

Team Captains who successfully register their team prior to March 7th, 2015, will receive a special “Early Bird” Registration Trophy and Plaque.

Should anyone need assistance in completing their registration should contact the RFL of SL 2015 Teams Ambassador, Veruca Tammas, in-world.

Note that a separate Convio registration is also required, details of which, I believe, will be made available in due course.

About Relay For Life of Second Life

Relay For Life of Second Life is an annual activity that takes place in Second Life in July each year. Volunteers form or join teams to have fun while fundraising and raising awareness from mid-March through mid-July. In July teams build campsites and walk a track, just like a Real World Relay. Since 2005, Relay For Life of Second Life has raised over $2.25 million USD for the American Cancer Society. In 2013, Relay For Life of Second Life has raised over $390,000 for the American Cancer Society. Relay For Life has become an international movement in RL and SL. In 2011 participants from over 80 countries took part in Relay For Life of Second Life.

About the American Cancer Society

For more than 100 years, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has worked relentlessly to save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Together with millions of  supporters worldwide, ACS helps people stay well, helps people get well, find cures, and deal with their journey against cancer.

Related Links

OBR 2015: the regions rise

Saturday, February 14th not only marks Valentine’s Day, but it is also the day on which the 2015 One Billion Rising (OBR) event will take place in both the physical and world worlds.

With the final days to the event counting down, the four regions for OBR in Second Life have been delivered, and the artists and stage hands are all hard at work, and installations and stages are rising.

As with previous years, the four regions, called Drum, Rise, Dance and Change, are arranged in a square, the central area divided into four stage areas. As well as the stage areas, each of the regions provides a landing point and information area which will provide guidance on organisations where victims of domestic and societal abuse and repression can find help  – and those wishing to give support to such organisations can do so.

Then, ranged around the outer edge of the square of regions are the art displays. Over 20 artists are participating in this year’s event, and they’ve been asked to create installations that are inspired by the region names, themselves evocative of core elements of OBR’s physical activities.

Within these art installations will be an area devoted to artists representing 2Lei, the arts-led project also aimed at raising awareness of the plight of women who face violence in their lives, and which takes place in Second Life as part of the global International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which takes place on November 25th each year.

In addition to the main main 2D and 3D art installations from the participating artists, OBR 2015 will also feature a sculpture garden, a picture gallery, and a poetry and performance stage. The full schedule of events can be found on the official OBR in SL website, but be aware that at the time this article was written, it was still subject to update.

Related Links

Tragic trips, magical journeys, and wonders from invisible worlds

It’s time to kick-off another week of fabulous story-telling in voice, brought to Second Life and Kitely by the staff and volunteers at the Seanchai Library.

As always, all times SLT / PDT, and unless otherwise stated, events will be held on the Seanchai Library’s home on Imagination Island, or at their Kitely Homeworld.

Sunday, February 8th

11:00 PST Kitely: The Great Gatsby Concludes

Great GatsbyCorwyn Allen brings a reading of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s magnificent 1925 novel to its tragic conclusion at Explore The Great Gatsby in Kitely.

In 1922, Nick Carraway arrives in New York to learn about the bond business. He rents a small cottage in West Egg, home of the newly-rich, only to discover the owner of the huge Gothic mansion next door, the deeply mysterious Jay Gatsby, is prone to throwing lavish parties every weekend, to which in seems everyone comes. Everyone it seems, except Nick’s cousin Daisy, who is married to Tom Buchanan. Together they live across the bay in the more fashion East Egg, where the “old money” resides.

As the days turn, so Nick finds himself caught between tales of love and lust and the divisions of new and old money. On the one side, there is the old money of Tom Buchanan, a man secure in his marriage to Daisy, but not above keeping a mistress in the Valley of Ashes, an industrial area lying between the Eggs and New York city. On the other, there is the mysterious and enigmatic Jay Gatsby, Nick’s new money neighbour, prone to lavish parties and a long-standing love for Daisy Buchanan. So it is that Nick finds himself something of a willing pawn in a complex game of love and deceit, all the time drawn towards Daisy’s friend Jordan Baker.

But as the summer temperatures soar, a trip to New York city with the Buchanans, Jordan, and Gatsby, undertaken within a brittle shell of false bonhomie, evaporates into tragedy.

Note that Explore the Great Gatsby in Kitely will remain open through until March 1st.

13:30 Second Life: Tea-time at Baker Street – A Case of Identity

Sidney Paget's drawing of Miss Sutherland for The Strand Magazine, 1890
Sidney Paget’s drawing of Miss Sutherland for The Strand Magazine, 1891

It is October 1890 and Holmes is engaged by Miss Mary Sutherland, a woman of substantial independent means, thanks to a trust fund established for her some years past. She wishes Holmes to locate her fiancé, one Hosmer Angel, who has vanished from her life quite unexpectedly.

Theirs, it seems, had been a most unusual courtship. Miss Sutherland knows almost nothing about her intended husband, other than he works in a office in the City, that he will only meet with her when her disapproving (and somewhat young) stepfather is absent on business, and that he will only write to her using a typewriter, and will not even sign his name.

Listening to the story, Holmes finds his deductive powers less than tried; it takes him to obtain but one typewritten note to confirm his suspicions on what has happened – and thereby leave him with a further dilemma.

Join Caledonia Skytower, Kayden Oconnell and Corwyn Allen as they read this curious case.

Monday February 9th

06:00: The Emerald Atlas

emerald atlasCata Charisma launches a new session at Seanchai Library, Second Life, as she starts reading from John Stephens’ The emerald Atlas, the first volume in his fantasy trilogy for young adults, The Books of Beginning.

Having been passed from pillar to post through orphanages, three siblings, Kate, Emma, and Michael, find themselves lodged at the home of one Dr. Stanislaus Pym. Kate, the eldest of the three is driven by a promise made by her mother, that if Kate protects her younger sister and brother, then their family will be one day reunited.

But in their explorations of Dr. Pym’s house the three of them find their way into the basement, where they come across a mysterious door and a equally mysterious emerald-covered booth, entirely without text. When an old photograph touches the blank pages of the book, however, the three are immediately transported to the time and place depicted in the photograph. Her they find themselves in a realm populated by witches, henchmen, giants, dwarves and more – and one Dr. Stanislaus Pym, a good deal younger than when they last saw him in his house…

19:00 The Future Ain’t What It Used to Be

Gyro Muggins continues reading from Fredrick Pohl’s The Age of the Pussyfoot.

(Trident 1971 hardcover)
(Trident 1971 hardcover)

First published in serial form in1966, they republished as a novel in its own right in 1969, The Age of the Pussyfoot sees us transported to the 26th century along with one Charles Forrester, who has been in a state of cryogenic sleep for some 500 years, after being killed in a fire. His time in suspended animation, together with his revival – now that technology has developed to a point where revival is possible – has been paid for through his insurance, which (presumably through the act of compound interest down the centuries, his on-going medical expenses notwithstanding) has also left him comparatively well-off.

Forrester find the 26th century a place of delight; his spectre-like computer terminal, the Joymaker, puts almost everything – including drugs – at his fingertips. He’s able to take an apartment, still enjoy the delights of 20th century food and enter into a lifestyle of parties and fun, the money from his insurance making him rather wealthy.

Then things start to go a little sideways. First, there is Adne, who appears to be out to trap him into providing for her children; there’s also the mysterious Club, who also seem to be more interested in Forrester’s wealth than him. Add to the list the man from Mars who has taken out a hunting licence allowing him and his friends to track down and even kill Forrester – so long as his revival is paid for – and the future suddenly isn’t so bright a playground. And when his money starts running out, and he’s forced to take a job, he’s also forced to reassess who he can trust and who he can’t, and just what role he is actually to play in humanity’s future…

Tuesday February 10th, 19:00: Two Nights with Neil

With Caedmon Sharkfin.

Wednesday February 11th,19:00: Beggars Day Book Two: The Caged King

Beggars Day 2Caledonia Skytower continues reading MJ McGalliard’s second novel, and the sequel to Beggar’s Day Book One: The Beggar Prince.

The Kingdom of Galaway has a law that every ruler must work a year and a day as a commoner; thus were readers introduced, through the first volume, to the kingdom and some of its notable inhabitants, including King Willy, Prince Larry, the scheming Percy, desperate to see himself on the throne, and the chicken-stealing crone Cruith.

Now, in the second volume, Vikings, hidden illnesses, ancient family squabbles and unplanned pregnancy are but a few of the changes in Galaway. Cruith is part of a conspiracy, Willy invents a new wagon, apples seem to be in the mix, while everything seems to revolve around a baby horse. And I haven’t even mentioned King Monaghan.

Intrigued? Then why not hop over to Seanchai library to hear this entertaining tale which, incidentally, is illustrated by one Judith Cullen – aka Caledonia Skytower!

Thursday February 12th: Wonders of the Invisible World

wondersShandon Loring opens the pages of Patricia A. McKillip’s opulent collection of stories deeply rooted in fairy tale and mythology – and yet with something of a nod towards real historical events in places.

Through these pages one can meet princesses enamoured of dead suitors, a knight who falls in love with an official of exotic lineage, a wizard seduced in his youth by the Faerie Queen, and fortune’s fool, who steals into the present instead of the future.

And the nod towards the real world? That comes in the form of a – dare I say it – bewitching tale of a time-travelling angel who, arriving in the late 1600s, is forbidden from intervening in Reverend Cotton Mather’s religious ravings which were to play such an influential role in the Salem witch trials (and which, incidentally, gave rise to his own book of the same name, written in 1693).

Bewitching, bittersweet, and deeply intoxicating, this collection draws elements from the fables of history and re-creates them in startlingly magical ways.  – Publisher.

Saturday February 14th, Seanchai Kitely, 09:00 PDT: Avatar: a love story

With Shandon Loring.

—–

Please check with the Seanchai Library SL’s blog for updates and for additions or changes to the week’s schedule. The featured charity for January / February is Project Children, teaching and building peace in Northern Ireland, one child at a time.

Related Links

Snowballs in a Winter Wonderland

2015 snowball fight, Winter Wonderland;; Inara Pey, February 2015, on Flickr2015 snowball fight, Winter Wonderland: a shot as things start to wind-down after 90 minutes of mayhem!  (Flickr) – click any image for full size

The Challenge was met with gusto: the first residents / Lab snowball fight in a fair while saw the Snowball Warzone at Winter Wonderland packed to the gills even before the event was due to start, with more than fifty people packed into it with 20 minutes still to go before launch.

By the time I arrived, there was a fair queue at the weapons vendors; such was the demand that the poor things were conking out under the strain. Enter Vitae Linden, with virtual hammer (well, as the Royal Engineers apparently say, “if it looks complicated, you’ll need a bigger hammer”), and a few swift blows / kicks and we we running up the hill to get started on the fun.

2015 snowball fight, Winter Wonderland;; Inara Pey, February 2015, on Flickr2015 snowball fight, Winter Wonderland: after a skilled use of mis-direction, Guy Linden makes a run past Ziki Questi and Sniper Siemens! (Flickr) – click any image for full size

Once everyone was suitably armed, the strategy for the game quickly became apparent: every avatar for themselves!

While attempts were made to stalk Lindens (and vice-versa), there were simply too many targets of opportunity – friends, acquaintances, names of note (I’m pretty sure Gibson got me around a dozen or more times!) – and mayhem quickly ensued (sorry, Ziki – that was me who got you under the arch of the snow castle. And up on the parapet. Twice 🙂 ).

The Lindens did, in all honesty, seem to be outnumbered just a little bit. Fortunately Xiola, Keira, Vitae, Dan and Guy (who was bravely throwing snowballs rather than relying on any high-tech gizmos) were soon reinforced by Shaman, Torley, Pete, Dee, April, Kelly, members of the Governance Team, and probably others I’ve missed.

2015 snowball fight, Winter Wonderland;; Inara Pey, February 2015, on Flickr2015 snowball fight, Winter Wonderland: Strawberry Singh swings into action, demonstrating her skill with a snowball rifle in a one-handed, from-the-hip snap shot at a moving target! (Flickr) – click any image for full size

Within around 15 minutes of things really getting underway, numbers seemed to have swelled considerably, which slowed the rate of fire with weapons and tended to make everyone impersonate Steve Austin / Jamie Sommers when running, but the fun continued unabated, and not even the vendors continuing to hiccup could dampen enthusiasm.

Lindens in action: Torley Linden takes airborne aim; and a (possibly paranoid?) android from the Governance Team
Lindens in action: Torley Linden takes airborne aim; and a (possibly paranoid?) android from the Governance Team

Some certainly appeared to be enjoying the opportunity to wreak a little havoc, as I (and several others) recovered from a tiny hail of snowballs which pelted us into the air, I spied a tiny Dee Linden sprinting by, accompanied by a little voice raised in triumph:

[10:50] Dee Linden shouts: MINE MINE MINE!

There was vengeance to be had elsewhere, however, as Torley found out, in the midst of a hail of snowballs:

[10:51] Clockwork Puppet (Fenix Eldritch) shouts: I think my trigger is stuck 😀

[10:51] ƬσяƖєу (Torley Linden) shouts: That was intentional <.<

It couldn’t last, however, and shortly thereafter came the forlorn cry:

[10:54] Uccie Galway (Uccello Poultry) shouts: CLOCKWORK DOWN!

All told, a lot of fun was had. What’s more, now we have the Winter Wonderland, there’s no excuse for more fun like this is the future – is there? Even if some of us did have to pause half-way through for a bit of a sit-down to catch our breath :).

2015 snowball fight, Winter Wonderland;; Inara Pey, February 2015, on Flickr2015 snowball fight, Winter Wonderland: Ed Merryman and I decide we’re just getting too darned *old* for all this running around mullarky, and needed a bit of a sit-down! (Flickr) – click any image for full size

If you were at the snowball fight, and you grabbed some pictures, remember you can share them on the official Second Life Flickr group.