Category: Events

Of bards, shipwrecks, shadows, hikes and the wealthy

Posted on by Inara Pey

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 January 11th

12:00-14:00: An Afternoon of Shakespeare

Guaranteed to bring a little warmth to a winter afternoon, a presentation of pieces by William Shaespeare.

Join Corwyn Allen, Aoife Lorefield,  Derry McMahon, Kayden Oconnell, Dubhna Rhiadra, Bear Silvershade, and Caledonia Skytower for a special presentation of scenes from some of the bard’s plays and readings of his sonnets.

18:00: Magicland Storytime: In Search of the Castaways

castawaysTeenager Mary Grant, sets out with her younger brother, Robert, and chaperoned by Captain Jacques Paganel and led by the comically intrepid Lord Glenarvan (and his crushingly handsome son!), to secure the rescue of her shipwrecked father. Adventure, intrigue, romance and betrayal are all to be encountered before Captain Grant’s children succeed in their task.

In Search of the Castaways was a 1962 film by Walt Diney studios starring Hayley Mills, Wilfred Hyde-White, George Sanders and Maurice Chevalier as Captain Jaques Paganel. It was based on Jules Verne’s 1868 novel, Captain Grant’s Children, which was in turn re-issued following the film, but itself retitled In Search of the Castaways.

Join Caledonia Skytower in Magicland Park, she she brings this engaging tale to life.

Monday January 12th, 19:00 Jack of Shadows

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.

jack-of-shadowsThe 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 13th, 19:00: A Walk in the Woods

walk-in-woodsBy 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 dons his walking boots, takes up his hiking staff and opens the cover of this Bryson classic.

Wednesday January 14th,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 January 15th

Explore: The Great Gatsby Preview, Kitely

Explore TGGDrop in to the Seanchai library’s homeworld on Kitely and from there pay a visit to the first presentation in the Library’s new EXPLORE the Stories Behind the Art series. Here you can explore the world of the Great Jay Gatsby, central figure in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s acclaimed 1925 novel.

Explore the Great Gatsby Online is a unique collaboration between Seanchai Library and the Tacoma Little Theatre (TLT), Tacoma, Washington state. TLT will be presenting Simon Levy’s stage adaptation of The Great Gatsby, directed by Dale Westgaard, to live audiences from January 25th through February 8th. In conjunction with this, as I recently previewed, the Kitely facility will present a range of in-world activities focused around the novel, providing the opportunity for both those seeing the play and virtual world travellers to further explore Gatsby’s world.

This preview offers virtual world users the opportunity to do the same, ahead of a season of official events. I’ll also be providing a special overview of Explore the Great Gatsby ahead of the preview as well.

19:00 Winter Dreams, Second Life 

Join Shandon Loring for an evening of themed tales.

Friday January 16th, 19:00: Explore the Great Gatsby, Kitely

Join the staff of Seanchai Library as they present the first reading from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s magnificent novel.

Saturday January 17th, Seanchai Kitely

09:00: More Winter Dreams

Shandon Loring continues his journey through tales themed for the time of year.

13:00 Explore the Great Gatsby

If you missed the début reading here’s a further chance to join the staff of Seanchai Library as they read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s magnificent novel.

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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.

Related Links

Revolution: One Billion Rising in Second Life 2015

Posted on by Inara Pey

The press release for One Billion Rising in SL 2015 has been posted to the One Billion Rising in Second Life blog,  announcing the event will take place on Saturday, February 14th, 2015, and will carry the theme of revolution.

The release reads in full:

On 14 February 2013, one billion people in 207 countries rose and danced to demand an end to violence against women and girls.

On 14 February 2014, we escalated our efforts, calling on women and men everywhere to Rise, Release, Dance, and demand Justice!

Now, on February 14th 2015, we are calling for a revolution for change.

Change can happen if grassroots movements and marginalized communities are in the lead.

Change can happen if we demand accountability – making sure our justice calls last year are realized. We are going to continue to demand justice, and will continue to highlight the issues surrounding the social injustices inflicted on women, and to keep highlighting where these issues connect. We will continue to challenge institutions, governments, policies, laws – and make these systems, which are responsible for creating situations of poverty and violence, accountable.

Change can happen if we harness our creativity and energy. We will highlight, create and envision new, brave and radical artistic initiatives to bring in the new revolutionary world of equality, dignity and freedom for all women and girls. There is nothing more powerful than art as a tool for transformation.

Change can happen if…WE ACT NOW. AND WE ACT TOGETHER.

In Second Life, we will be marking the occasion (as we did last year) with a twenty-four hour one day event that will allow women and men to gather. There will be music, there will be art installations and exhibitions, there will be poetry sessions, there will be storytelling events, there will be live dramatic performances, there will be dancing – and there will be information kiosks that will share information about organisations devoted to promoting justice for women across the globe, and stories of events that will be happening around the world.

The Second Life event will feature a four-region stage where 200 people can dance together, surrounded by an area of art installations and informational exhibits. A variety of performers will play over the 24-hour period, enabling people all over the world to attend this virtual event no matter their timezone. The regions will have a General maturity rating to allow all residents an opportunity to participate. Pictures are welcome on the event’s Flickr group.

This is not an event to raise money – although you will find information about organisations that need funding. But our primary goals are to draw people together and to raise awareness.

What can you do?
You can attend the event!

You can send us information about groups known to you that we can add to the informational kiosks. How can you do this? You can write to 1billionrisinginsecondlife@gmail.com or post on our Facebook page.

You can spread the word about One Billion Rising in Second Life amongst your friends, your communities and through social media.

You can volunteer to help us organise the event – by completing this form. We need greeters, security, stage managers, media liaison and information processors, who will help build the information that will go into our displays.

You can add your reasons for rising to our special Why I’m Rising page.

If you would like to be a sponsor for the event, contact Samantha Ohrberg.

If you would like to be part of our special Press Day, you can complete this form.

We look forward to seeing you all in 2015!

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.

Last year, on 14 February 2014, One Billion Rising for Justice focused on the issue of justice for all survivors of gender violence, and highlighted the impunity that lives at the intersection of poverty, racism, war, the plunder of the environment, capitalism, imperialism, and patriarchy. Events took place in 200 countries, where women, men, and youth came together to Rise, Release, and Dance outside of court houses, police stations, government offices, school administration buildings, work places, sites of environmental injustice, military courts, embassies, places of worship, homes, or simply public gathering places where women deserve to feel safe but too often do not. The campaign was covered widely by media in all corners of world including The New York Times, The Guardian, NPR, and many more.

Visit www.onebillionrising.org to learn more.

Of shadows, cages, madness and ghosts

Posted on by Inara Pey

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.

Monday January 5th, 19:00 Jack of Shadows

Gyro Muggins opens the pages pages of Roger Zelazny’s 1971 novel which mixes science-fiction and fantasy, the title of which is an homage to Jack Vance.

jack-of-shadowsThe 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 6th,19:00: Beggars Day Book Two: The Caged King

Beggars Day 2Caledonia Skytower embarks on a 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!

Wednesday January 7th

Please check the Seanchai blog for details.

Thursday January 8th

19:00 Mad as a Hatter

mad as a hatterShandon Loring delves into Catherine Stovall’s collection of short stories on the subject of madness. Not unkindly referred to as “commuter stories”, these short pieces are artfully crafted and presented – yet of sufficient length to engage and entertain the reader for the length of a typical commuter journey.

The stories presented within the book cover a broad canvas of topics, and present you with rich and diverse characters. Thus you might find yourself in the company of Lady Death as she walks among the gently falling snow searching out for the next soul to collect. Or perhaps you might find yourself sitting in Room Number Four, while your over-ripe imagination rides wild with an edge of the paranormal to it. Or might it be you’ll witness the Forever Kiss, as a wife finds herself widowed and bereft, torn between the loneliness of life,  and the possible loneliness of death. And there’s more …

So why not settle down with Shandon, and see where the stories take you.

21:00 Seanchai Late Night

Please check the Seanchai blog for details.

Stories at Seanchai Kitely

Friday January 9th, 18:00: Christmas Ghosts

A Collection of Spooky Tales for a Winter’s Eve with Shandon Loring

Saturday January 10th, 09:00: The Fairy Reel

Tales from the twilight realm, with Shandon Loring.

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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.

Related Links

Bay City New Year prim drop

Posted on by Inara Pey

December 31st, 2014 will once again see a great Second Life tradition take place with the Bay City “prim drop” set to mark the start of a new year.

Festivities will be kicking-off a 23:30 SLT on Wednesday, December 31st, at the Bay City Fairgrounds in North Channel. Marianne McCann will be providing the music and fireworks, and food and drink will be provided.

The theme for the event is a wintertime soirée, and black tie attire is recommended, and all SL residents are invited to attend.

This will also be the final opportunity for 2014 to donate to Child’s Play Charity,  a US 501c3 non profit organization offers on-line communities such as Second Life an opportunity to help seriously ill children around the globe during their hospital stays with the purchase of games and gaming equipment. As of December 24th, 2014, Bay City had raised an amazing L$355,273 for Child’s Play through their annual silent auction and tree lighting concert, a Christmas tree sale, and other events. Hopefully, the Prim Drop will see this figure increase still further!

About Bay City and the Bay City Alliance

Bay City is a mainland community, developed by Linden Lab® and home to the Bay City Alliance. The Bay City Alliance was founded in 2008 to promote the Bay City regions of Second Life and provide a venue for Bay City Residents and other interested parties to socialize and network. It is now the largest group for Residents of Bay City.

 

Elevators, chants, Dublin streets and new tales

Posted on by Inara Pey

It’s time to kick-off the final week of story-telling in voice for 2014, as  brought to Second Life by the staff and volunteers at the Seanchai Library.

As this is the week sandwiched between Christmas and New Year, activities are slightly different to the usual schedule, with the Library being dark on News Year’s Eve and New Year’s day, so staff can spend time with their families. Things will get of to an early start in 2015 with a special session on Friday, January 2nd.

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

Monday December 29th, 19:00: Magic and Other Strange Things

Join Gyro Muggins as he reads from two short stories from the 1960s: Gordon Dickson Rehabilitated and R.A. Lafferty’s Narrow Valley. 

In Rehabilitated, Jack Heimelmann is a high school drop-out with something of a drinking problem and a mediocre life on the road to nowhere. Then Peer Ambrose takes Jack under he wing, assigning him to “the Mission”, operating an elevator and seeing the on-site psychologist to rid him of his drinking problem. The He’s asked to emigrate off-planet…

Narrow Valley sees a native American Indian use a shamanic incantation to cast a spell over his 160 acres of land to discourage tax collectors and other interlopers from coming to bother him or lay claim to it. All goes well for him and his son until the Rampart family arrive, determined to lay claim to the land …

Tuesday December 30th,19:00: Return to Chestnut Street

chestnut streetMaeve Binchy, journalist, columnist, playwright and author, began her writing career by accident, thanks to her father sending the letters she wrote to him while on a kibbutz in Israel during the 1960s to a local paper in Ireland, which subsequently published them. This in turn led to her being offered a job with The Irish Times on her return home, thus starting her on the road to becoming one of Ireland’s most successful and internationally recognised writers.

Through her career, she would often jot down short stories about an imaginary street in Dublin, where people would constantly come and go and experience the most diverse of times and situations. Once written, these stories would be put away for “the future”. That imaginary street was called Chestnut Street, located not far from the setting of her 2010 bestseller Minding Frankie. In 2014, these tales of the folk who live along, or visit that street were gathered together in a single volume and published posthumously under the title Chestnut Street.

A popular Seanchai Library choice earlier in 2014, Chestnut Street sees Caledonia Skytower make one more return before the year ends, bringing further tales of living there.

Friday, January 2nd 2015, 19:00: Cale’s Scribblings

Join Caledonia Skytower as she reads from her two December 2014 releases, Coffee Shop Talk and A Trio of Travelling Tales.

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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 November – December is Heifer International, which is working with communities to end world hunger and poverty and to care for the Earth.

Related Links

Enjoy a little Egnog this Christmas with Loki!

Posted on by Inara Pey
Your quest: help the Winter Engineer recover his magic crystals
Your quest: help the Winter Engineer recover his magic crystals

Back when my island was called ‘Goony Island’ it would get to these winter months and Christmas would slowly take over Second Life. But rather than celebrate a coca cola deity, we decided to create a character only available in Second Life that all countries could meet.

Thus opens a blog post from the Chief Digital Mischief Maker (all in the best possible fun, of course!) Loki Eliot.

The post introduces Loki’s latest experiment with the Lab’s new Experience Tools / Keys, which in turn offers people a little light-hearted fun over the holiday break. It’s called Egnog the Winter Troll.

As an Experience Tools game, the quest makes use of a single scripted attachment - a HUD - to help you progress through the game and record the crystals you've found (in the watch itself)
As an Experience Tools game, the quest makes use of a single scripted attachment – a HUD – to help you progress through the game and record the crystals you’ve found (in the watch itself)

As Trolls go, Egnog isn’t that awful. During the festive season, for those who come to his winter grotto via the magic portal, he’s prone to giving gifts.

And this is where you come in. The portal must be opened each year by the Winter Engineer, using a magical fob watch. Unfortunately, the four crystals that power the watch have been taken and hidden around the island, each one with a clue to the whereabouts of the next, and the first clue left with the Winter Engineer. All you have to do, is riddle the clues and find the crystals. When you have all four, the portal will be open, and Egnog will reward your efforts. Or quite possibly dine on you (yes, that’s on not with – he is a troll, remember!), depending on his mood!

No, neither of these guys are Egnog. But they might help you find him...
No, neither of these guys are Egnog., and that’s not the portal they’re guarding, but they might help you find him…

As already noted, this is a light-hearted quest, so don’t expect anything too heavy or convoluted, just a little bit of gentle fun to while away 10 minutes while you let your Christmas dinner settle. Game play is simple enough. Find the Winter Engineer and touch him; by return you’ll receive a HUD that will explain the game, track how many crystals you’ve recovered, provide you with each clue in turn and, ultimately, take you to Egnog.

Because the quest uses Experience Tools commands, the HUD will control everything (other than you actually locating the crystals). No permissions are requested (such as to transport you to Egnog on finding the last crystal), because you gave permission when you joined; thus everything is seamless. However, should you detach the HUD or leave the region, all permissions are revoked and the HUD will detach. If that happens before you complete the quest, nothing is saved, and you’ll have to start over with the Winter Engineer.

And as to your rewards from Egnog? They’re actually quite spiffy; one in particular comes in  handy on snowy days  – and also makes a passably good jet ski (as I found out when I totally missed the bridge on a region crossing in Second Norway!).

Hacing fun with one of Loki's presents to successful questers!
Having fun on the Egnog Snowmobile, one of Loki’s presents to successful questers (helmet and goggles not a part of the gift)

Egnog the Winter Troll will be open through to the New Year, so if you have 10 minutes to spare, why not give it a go. If you do, be sure to enjoy the rest of Escapades in it’s winter wonder – there’s a lot to do (including another Experience Tools game). And please do show a little Yuletide spirit and offer a donation to help keep the island open!

Related Links