Relay Rockers have announced details on some of the events they will will organising and hosting as a part of the 2015 Relay for Life of SL season.
First up is the 4th annual Celebrate Remember Fight Back (CRFB) Top DJ Competition, challenging on-line DJs to raise the most donations for the American Cancer Society during a series of 1 and 2 hour sets.
Since it’s inception in 2012, nearly 50 DJs from across Second Life have participated in the competition, raising over L$6,000,000 to support the Relay For Life of Second Life.
On-line registrations for the 2015 competition, which will run from late March through May, will open during the first week of February 2015, and will be available for up to 16 competitors.
In addition, the Rockers will again be inviting SL music venues to be partners in support of the competition, hosting preliminary rounds in the premises. Also, and in response to suggestions, the Rockers will be providing for the use Dual Team Kiosks during the preliminary rounds for competitors who are registered members of another Relay For Life team. Further information on the competition can be obtained from Ariel Stormcrow via e-mail to: ariel@relayrockers.t1radio.com)
In their announcement, the Rockers further confirmed their continuing partnership with their premier sponsor dAlliez Estates to once again provide Relay d’Alliez as a venue for teams to host fund-raising events during the 2015 RFL of SL season.
Teams will be able to reserve the region, either in parcels or its entirety, from the RFL of SL kick-off week right through until the Relay Weekend in July 2015. Information on how to place a reservation will be announced in early February through the Relay For Life Volunteers group and on T1Radio. In the meantime, requests for information about Relay dAlliez should be forwarded via e-mail to: relaydalliez@relayrockers.t1radio.com.
Finally, in a year which see the Rockers enter their 11th consecutive season of RFL of SL support, the press release announced their intention to continue with their signature event, Bid Me Bald. This time it will be team co-founders Trader Whiplash and Nuala Maracas sitting as the initial ‘Victimteers’, and the barbershop kiosks will be open on March 11th and 18th respectively, which shearing to take place one week from those dates.
The Barbershop Kiosks will be set up on March 11th and 18th, respectively with their shearing to occur one week hence. The Rockers also plan to hold RelayStock ‘15 as a multi team event and invite all teams to begin planning to attend.
Questions and general enquires about the Relay Rockers may be emailed to:
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.
Now Open: Explore the Great Gatsby Online at Kitely
“But above the grey land and the spasms of bleak dust which drift endlessly over it, you perceive, after a moment, the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg” (The Great Gatsby, Chapter 2)- The “Valley of Ashes”, an iconic part of the novel and home to the tragic Wilsons (that’s their garage you can see being built in the background), forms one of Explore The Great Gatsby locations
Coinciding with Tacoma Little Theatre’s production of The Great Gatsby, adapted for the stage by Simon Levy and directed by Dale Westgaard, Seanchai library Kitely is offering theatre goers attending the play, lover of the works of f. Scott Fitzgerald and users of virtual worlds an unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the World of Nick Carraway, Jay Gatsby, and Daisy and Tom Buchanan. Visit the Buchanan’s mansion and explore a reproduction of the Tacoma Little Theatre, walk the Valley of Ashes under the all-seeing eyes of T.J. Eckleburg, spend time in Nick Carraway’s rented summer cottage and peruse the Fitzgerald Gallery.
With readings from the novel before and during the play’s run, and further attractions to be added, Explore the Great Gatsby is the perfect means to discover one of America’s greatest novelists and explore Seanchai library’s extensive offerings on Kitely. Simply log-in to the Seanchai Library’s homeworld on Kitely, and follow the portals!
Corwyn Allen continues a reading of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s magnificent 1925 novel 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.
Following a visit with them, Nick is slowly drawn into their world, both discovering Tom Buchanan has a mistress who lives in the Valley of Ashes, an industrial area lying between the Eggs and New York city, and finding himself increasingly attracted to the Buchanan’s friend, the beautiful, if cynically minded, Jordan Baker.
Then, one Saturday, Nick finds himself invited to one of Jay Gatsby’s great parties, and is thus drawn into an increasingly deep well of infatuation, lust, and tragedy, witnessing first hand a darker side of the so-called American Dream.
Follow the teleport portal to Explore The Great Gatsby for this unfolding tale.
Gyro Muggins continues reading Roger Zelazny’s 1971 novel which mixes science-fiction and fantasy, the title of which is an homage to Jack Vance.
The story takes place on a tidally locked planet – that is, one whose rotation about its axis precisely matches its orbit around its parent body, thus the same face is always presented to the the parent body (just like our own Moon always presents the same face towards Earth). Given that that parent object in this case is the planet’s Sun, it means that one side of the planet exists in perpetual daylight – and is the seat of science; while the other lingers in perpetual night – and has become the seat of magic.
It is from the latter that the protagonist of the story – Shadowjack – comes. Even among his own kind, he is unusual, for the manner in which he draws upon his power; something which can, in the right circumstances make him exceptionally potent. However, when placed in either complete light or complete darkness, he is almost powerless. Jack’s only friend, Morningstar is doomed to what is effectively eternal punishment unless Jack can cross between the two realms of light and dark, combining his abilities with the power of science. Thus Jack must risk being lost in total light or total darkness in order to to rescue Morningstar. And if he fails, who might rescue him?
Tuesday January 20th, 19:00: A Walk in the Woods
By his own admission, Bill Bryson isn’t the world’s greatest adventurer. This being the case, you’d think he’d have serious misgivings about undertaking this particular “walk in the woods”, as he disarmingly calls it: taking the 3,500 kilometre (2,200 mile) Appalachian Trail – a journey which would take five months to complete.
Travelling with his good friend “Stephen Katz”, the book is both a humorous guide to the trail and a set of serious and insightful comments / discussion on the trail’s history as it winds its way from Georgia (where Bryson was living at the time the book was written in 1998), to Maine. These discussions cover a broad range of subject including the sociology, ecology, trees, plants, animals and people of the states through which the trail passes (Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine).
Join Kayden Oconnell as he continues in Bryson’s footsteps through the pages of this classic.
Wednesday January 21st,19:00: Beggars Day Book Two: The Caged King
Caledonia Skytower continues reading of 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 January 22nd
19:00: Poe’s Children
The legacy of Edgar Allen Poe takes to the stage as Shandon Loring reads from this anthology of horror stories edited by Peter Straub, which brings together tales by some twenty-five of the world’s most talented writers in the genre today.
Poe’s Children showcases stories by the likes of Neil Gaiman and Jonathan Carroll, Elizabeth Hand, Dan Chaon, Melanie and Steve Rasnic Tem, Stephen King and Straub himself, all of which has been selected by Straub to represent what he thinks is the most interesting development in our literature during the last two decades, and which stands as a modern tribute to the Master in its style and narrative while avoiding the formulaic approach so often found within the populist end of the genre.
Join Shandon Loring in a special celebration featuring the works of the Master of the Macabre, Edgar Allan Poe to mark the 206th anniversary of his birth.
12:00: The Great Gatsby, Part 3
Shandon Loring takes up the tale as he continues reading of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic story.
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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.
“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer. ” (The Great Gatsby, Chapter 1) – Nick Caraway’s summer cottage, Explore the Great Gatsby
In December 2014, I wrote about a new venture in educational outreach and public engagement through the use of virtual worlds when I took an early peek at Seanchai Library’s upcoming Explore: The Great Gatsby, the first instalment in their new Explore the Stories Behind the Art series.
Coinciding with a production of Simon Levy’s stage adaptation of The Great Gatsby, which will be in performance from January 23rd through February 8th at the Tacoma Little Theatre (TLT), Tacoma Washington State, Explore the Great Gatsby is a collaborative project undertaken by TLT and Seanchai Library, and forms a part of the latter’s extensive facilities in the virtual world of Kitely.
Officially opened on Thursday, January 15th at 12:00 midday, Explore: The Great Gatsby allows visitors the opportunity to visit key locations from the novel and play, and by doing so learn more about the era in which the story is set, explore Fitzgerald’s life and writings, and discover more about the theatre in which the play is being performed. It is open to users of virtual worlds and, as a part of the collaborative nature of the project will be presented to audiences attending performances at TLT as a place they can visit.
“But above the grey land and the spasms of bleak dust which drift endlessly over it, you perceive, after a moment, the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg” (The Great Gatsby, Chapter 2)- The “Valley of Ashes”, an iconic part of the novel and home to the tragic Wilsons, forms one of Explore: The Great Gatsby locations
“We have information available in our programme and via our website,” TLT’s Managing Artistic Director Chris Serface said in reply to my question about how audience will be made aware of the project. “I will also mention it in my curtain speeches that I give each night, and in addition local media outlets have been alerted about the project and we will hopefully get some coverage in that respect.”
Chris and Explore: The Great Gatsby’s creative director and powerhouse behind the partnership, Caledonia Skytower, had kindly offered to allow me a preview tour of the in-world facilities ahead of the opening, and while construction was very much still under way. “We’re also producing a short video on Explore,” Cale added, “TLT will be able to show that looped on their lobby screen.”
To assist those unfamiliar with using virtual worlds, the TLT website links to a special Explore website created by Seanchai Library, which provides basic guidance to visitor on downloading and installing a viewer, and a guide to using an avatar.
Seanchai Library’s Explore website is supported by the Explore: The Great Gatsby welcome centre, where users new to virtual worlds can receive guidance on the basic mechanics of in-world activities: walking / navigation, interacting with objects, using media and voice, and so on. The Welcome Centre also acts as a social hub for the Explore experience
As well as providing the opportunity to explore the locations of the novel and learn more about Fitzgerald and his writings on their own, Explore:The Great Gatsby will feature a range of events both before and during the play’s run at Tacoma Little Theatre.
The first of these will launch on Friday, January 16th at 19:00 SLT / PST with the opening reading from the novel, which will take place in a small park specifically created for such readings. Part two will then follow at noon SLT / PST on Saturday January 17th, with the developing schedule of events available at the Explore website.
To encourage repeat visits to the installation, elements will be rolled-out over the course of the the next few weeks, such as the arrival of Jay Gatsby’s mansion. This is likely to initially appear in full party regalia representative of Nick Carraway’s first major encounter with Gatsby; later the mansion will be redressed, again to encourage further re-visits.
The Fitzgerald Gallery, located close to the façade of the Buchanan’s mansion (seen just on the left edge of this sketch. and which houses a replica of the Tacoma Little Theatre), provides information to visitors on F Scott Fitzgerald’s life and times and his writings
As a part of its service to the community in Tacoma, TLT present daytime performances of the plays they stage for local schools to attend. Thus, through the Explore: The Great Gatsby partnership with Seanchai Library TLT is presented with a dramatic – no pun intended – new way to engage with teachers, educators and school children in an immersive manner which links the performance of the play directly with classroom learning opportunities. In preparation for this, Chris Serface has been meeting with local teachers and explaining the environment to them – and has been getting very positive feedback.
Explore: The Great Gatsby is the ideal début for Seanchai Library’s Explore series, being something of a labour of love for Caledonia Skytower, who has been closely involved with the Tacoma Little Theatre both professionally and artistically for a number of years.
A look inside Explore the Great Gatsby’s Welcome Centre
Residents of virtual worlds can visit Explore: The Great Gatsby at any time simply by logging-in to the Seanchai Library homeworld on Kitely, or teleporting / hypergriding to it. Anyone with a love of The Great Gatsby and / or Fitzgerald’s work, or indeed, interested in learning about one of the oldest community theatres in the United States, and the oldest on the U.S. west coast, with a rich heritage going back to 1918, is warmly encouraged to pay Explore the Great Gatsby at least one visit.
The 2015 SL Sci-Fi will be lifting-off on Friday, February 20th and will remain in orbit with hailing (and transporter) frequencies open through until Sunday, March 1st 2015, inclusive.
Now in it eighth year, this annual event in support of Relay for Life of Second Life, will be offering “six sims of imagination” for visitors to explore and enjoy, whether or not they are science-fiction fans.
The theme for this year’s event is “sci-fi resorts”, which will see the ground level of the six regions landscaped to provide a range of resort-style environments from a coastal lagoon to high mountains.
And for the first time, there will even be facilities in space, as vendors are given the opportunity to use booth areas placed at between 1000 metres and 1200 metres as well, or can have orbital skyboxes at 2000 metres. “A convention supplied Transport shuttle will fly around the participating exhibits, & convention amenities and décor will make it rival the ground for fun!” The organisers note.
2015 Convention Map with some of the builder’s influences and ideas for our exhibitors (via the SL Sci-Fi convention website)
In the spirit of the theme, the organisers have drawn-up a short-list of potential names for each of the six regions for the convention, drawing on locations from a range of science-fiction films, series, comics and books (such as Pern Sound, from Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders books, Sihnon from Firefly, Wrigley’s Pleasure Planet, from the original Star Trek TV series, Fhloston Paradise from the %th element, and more – see the complete list for all of the names, and those interested are being asked to vote for the name they’d like to see used on each of the six regions.
Vendor / merchant registrations are also open, and there are a variety of booths and package options available. If you’re interested in being a vendor, please visit the Booth Information Page.
As well as vendors and merchants, the convention well feature a range of activities and entertainments across the 10 days it is open, including a scavenger hunt, an amusement park, live music, theatrical presentations and more.
To keep up-to-date with planning for the conventions and key announcements, keep an eye on the SL Sci-Fi Convention website.
I recently reported that One Billion Rising will be taking place again this year, on Saturday, February 14th, and will this year carry the theme of revolution.
As with recent years, the event will be marked in Second Life, with music and dancing, information on the OBR movement, and more.
However, in order for the event to run smoothly, the organisers are seeking organised, enthusiastic and dependable volunteers to fill a range of roles, including: Stage Managers, Greeters, Press Liaison, and people to collate information for the OBR in-world kiosks.
If you would like to volunteer your time, whether for just a couple of hours or for longer, please complete the application for below.
The 2015 Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education (VWBPE) conference will take place in Second Life and OpenSim between Wednesday, March 18th and Saturday, March 21st inclusive.
VWBPE is a global grass-roots community event focusing on education in immersive virtual environments which attracts 2200-3500 educational professionals from around the world each year.
In the context of the conference, a “virtual world” is an on-line community through which users can interact with one another and use and create ideas irrespective of time and space. As such, typical examples include Second Life, OpenSimulator, Unity, World of Warcraft, Eve Online, and so on, as well as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest or any virtual environments characterised by an open social presence and in which the direction of the platform’s evolution is manifest in the community.
As well as keynote speakers, activities include presentations and workshops which span all of education from primary through to post-graduate levels. 2015 marks the eighth year in which the conference has been held.
The theme for this years event is Crossroads, and the event’s opening speaker, as many already know, will be Ebbe Altberg, Linden Lab’s CEO.
Ebbe Altberg: opening VWBPE 2015
VWBPE 2014 marked one of Ebbe’s earliest public appearances before users in an open forum. Over a period of 90 minutes, he demonstrated his willingness to engage directly with people when he took an unscripted questions-and-answers session (full transcript) with the 200 people in attendance or watching the livestream. Since that time, and throughout 2014, he continued to meet with a wide range of groups and communities – including representatives of the education sector.
With the Lab now engaged on both enhancing Second Life to the best of its abilities and in developing a new virtual world(s) platform, there is liable to be a lot of interest in what is said during his presentation.
Final Call for Proposals – Reminder
The VWBPE attracts a wide range of speakers from the education sector, non-profit organisations, the arts, and so on. As noted in the original announcement that Ebbe would be opening the event, there is an open invitation to anyone who would like to make a presentation or run a workshop. However, the clock is now counting down.
If you are intending on submitting a proposal for a presentation or activity at this year’s event, please remember that the closing deadline for proposals is Wednesday, January 14th, 2015 (extended from December 14th, 2014). Proposals should be submitted on-line via the VWBPE Conference Central site (registration required), and guidelines are also available.
Sponsorship
As a volunteer-based event, VWBPE depends upon sponsor support, and 100% of all sponsorship goes directly to funding each year’s conference to cover expenses such as the provisioning of information systems, development of video and machinima (and associated archives), live video streaming, social activities, professional building (mesh object) design and construction for virtual venues, graphics design and swag bags for attendees. No-one involved in the organisation of the conference receives a salary or stipend.
Several levels of cash sponsorship packages (US dollar value) are available for those interested in supporting the conference. Details of these, and the benefits of sponsorship, can be found on the conference sponsorship page.
Relay Rockers have announced details on some of the events they will will organising and hosting as a part of the 2015 Relay for Life of SL season.
I recently reported that One Billion Rising will be taking place again this year, on Saturday, February 14th, and will this year carry the theme of revolution.
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 