Together for Sway, the event put together by friends of Sway Dench, and which I reported upon on December 17th, has raised an amazing L$1,551,825 in just two weeks, funding which will go a very long way in helping Sway through a difficult period.
Sway Dench
Sway, whose major source of income is Second Life, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in late 2012. While benign and non-life threatening, the tumour nevertheless needs to be removed, and Sway has been scheduled for surgery in the near future. However, she is liable to be convalescing for up to six months, making it difficult for her to manage her SL business and generate an income from it.
To help her cope with things, a group of friends and content creators have rallied to her support and organised Together for Sway, which featured a special vendor area, complete with donation boxes, offering a range of goods an items for sale with all proceeds going directly to assisting Sway Dench. Additionally, special entertainments, such as a concert hosted by Rebel Yell Concerts which featured Nickelback, were also organised to raise money to help Sway meet her needs.
The last two days before Christmas are upon us, and as The Dickens Project enters its final week, Caledonia Skytower will be presenting a reading of the entire novel in two parts, commencing at 15:00 SLT each day on the 23rd and 24th December, 2012.
The reading, as well as forming a part of The Dickens Project celebrations, is very much a part of SL Christmas tradition for Cale, as she explains:
Everyone has their holiday traditions. Mine used to be about baking cookies and how much of the contents of my decoration boxes I could get out and up in the house. Several years ago I was asked by then King Marik Zarco of the Bloodlines SL Clan of Blood Evolution to read A Christmas Carol out loud in their Kingdom. That became an annual tradition which, in many ways, fed the kernel of an idea that eventually lead to The Dickens Project.
Be sure to join Caledonia as she brings us the first 90-minute reading of the novella at The Dickens Project stage at 15:00 Sunday 23rd December, and second, 120-minute reading, same time, same place, on Monday 24th December.
The Dickens Project for the Week
Celebrations at The Dickens Project will continue after the Christmas Day break, with presentations taking place on the 26th and 27th December, as follows:
The Dickens Project (image courtesy of Storyfests SL)
Seanchai Library Readings
The Seanchai Library will be presenting suitably themed stories during the week as well, so why not join them at their home on Imagination Island?
Wednesday 26th December 19:00 – The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus
Join Caledonia Skytower at Magicland as she reads from the 1902 classic L. Frank Baum children’s story, The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. Join her as she recounts how Ak: Master Woodsman of the World discovers the baby Claus in the forest and passes him into the care of the lioness Shiegra, only for Necile, a wood nymph, to take the babe as her own and persuade Ak that she should – thus earning the child the name “Neclaus” (which in our modern times of course, as the author tells us, we mis-spell as “Nicolas”). As he grows, so Neclaus is encouraged to see the world of mortals – of which he is a part – and so his adventures begin and, eventually, the legend of Santa Claus is born!
Thursday 27th December 19:00 – Pajama Party!
Favorite Bedtime Stories with Derry McMahon, Kayden Oconnell, Faerie Maven-Pralou, and Caledonia Skytower.
Update January 3rd, 2012:Together for Sway raised L$1,551,825 in just two weeks.
Sway Dench has been a resident of Second Life for over five years, and is possibly most famous for her Cookie Bears.
Sway Dench
Sway was recently diagnosed with a tumour in her brain. While benign and non-life threatening, the tumour nevertheless needs to be removed, and Sway has been scheduled for surgery in some 6-8 weeks time, after which she is liable to be convalescing for up to six months.
As Sway’s SL business is her major source of income, and is liable to be impacted by both the surgery and the period of convalescence, a group of friends and content creators have rallied to her support and organised Together for Sway, which runs from now until the end of December 2012.
Together for Sway
Together for Sway features a special vendor area, complete with donation boxes, offering a range of goods an items for sale with all proceeds going directly to assisting Sway Dench. Entertainments will also be provided during the time Together for Sway is running, and details on these are liable to appear on the Together for Sway blog.
In addition, on Friday 21st December, commencing at 17:00 SLT, Rebel Yell Concerts will be hosting a Nickelback concert for Sway, where donations can also be given.
The Seanchai Library will be presenting another round of stories and readings in Voice this coming week, as they continue with tales of a distinctly seasonal flavour, while the first full week of The Dickens Project continues.
As always, all times SLT, and unless otherwise stated, events will be held on the Seanchai Library’s home on Imagination Island.
Monday December 17th, 19:00: The Cat Who Came for Christmas
Join Kayden Oconnell for selection from Cleveland Armory’s endearing book.
It is fitting that the founder and head of the Fund for Animals personally rescues and takes in strays, and one incident proved to have a profound effect on him. On a snowy Christmas Eve, Amory helped capture a scrawny cat and took it to his apartment. How does a new cat-keeper train a creature accustomed to fending for itself in Manhattan’s alleys? Slowly, with patience and respect.
Tuesday December 18th, 19:00: A Sprinkling of Christmas Classic
Brought to us piping hot and ready to enjoy by Derry McMahon and Bear Silvershade, who are joined by Aoife Lorefield.
Wednesday December 19th, 19:00: A Christmas Story a Year
Well all know Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in 1843. What many may not know is that he went on to write a further four Christmas tales: The Chimes in 1844, The Cricket on the Hearth in 1845, The Battle of Life in 1846 and The Haunted in 1848. Join Caledonia Skytower as the bicentenary of Charles Dickens’ birth draws to a close, as she presents us with A Christmas Story a Year.
Thursday December 20, 19:00 Dave Cooks the Turkey (and more)
Dave owns the world’s smallest record store, where the motto is “We may not be big but we’re small.” Dave is frequently neurotic and prone to small accidents and mishaps – but he’s not the only one in his family, or his neighbourhood.
Bear Silvershade concludes Dave Cooks the Turkey and he and Derry bring us more from the pen of Stuart McLean for his CBC Radio show, The Vinyl Cafe.
Sunday December 22nd, 13:00: A Raglan Shire Christmas Carol
Join Derry McMahon and Bear Silvershade at Raglan Shire as they present a special adaptation of Dickens’ classic tale of penny-pinching redemption and ghosts past, presents and future especially for Tinies (Biggies welcome as well).
All donations toward the real world charity Witness.
The Dickens Project Continues
The Dickens Project: The story starts on Monday 17th December at noon SLT with Marley’s Ghost, and continues through the week
All this week, The Dickens Project continues with a special nightly presentation of A Christmas Carol to mark the bicentennial of the birth of Charles Dickens. Each presentation is held in voice at Info Island, the home of the Community Virtual Library.
Monday December 17th –Stave One ~ Marley’s Ghost
12:00 noon – Ixmal Supermarine
16:00 – Corwyn Allen
Tuesday, December 18th – Stave Two ~ The First of Three Spirits
12:00 noon – Dubhna Rhiadra
17:00 – Brokali
Wednesday, December 19th – Stave Three ~ The Second of Three Spirits
12:00 noon – Ixmal Supermarine
17:00 – Kayden Oconnell
Thursday, December 20th – Stave Four ~The Last of The Spirits
Unhinged, subtitled A Festival for Eku’s Head a special, month-long series of events aimed at raising money to assist SL resident Eku Zhong, draws to a close today.
Over the last several years, Eku has suffered with MS and then thyroid cancer prior to being stricken with bone cancer. Throughout this she has undergone extensive treatment from radiation therapy through to both bone marrow transplants and bone replacements, all of which have taken their toll, and left Eku with a fragile skull. The area where her zygotic arch meets the temporal bone is severely compromised, leaving her with a risk that her zygotic arch could lift off the temporal arch and push the temporal bone into her brain. Actions as simple as chewing hard food or yawning the wrong way could cause this.
To prevent this, Eku needed to have a further surgery to fit her with a prosthesis to replace the damaged bone. Unhinged was put together by Eku’s friends, lead by Nephilaine Protagonist, in order to help her meet the cost of the surgery and the prosthesis.
Over the course of the last month, Unhinged has been taking place on two regions, with a large, open-area vendor area on Port Seraphine, with content creators who are supporting the event displaying their wares – some of which have been exclusively for Unhinged. The vendor area is simple, low-lag and highly effective for an event of this sort. It leads up to the party / stage area, which is just “over the border” in the region of WaterWorks and is very much in keeping with the overall theme for the event, as it features a large skull in which DJs are artists perform.
During the course of the month, which has seen donations both in-world and via an Indiegogo fundraiser page, enough had been raised which could be added to the money Eku herself has put together for her to undergo the surgery. As a result, Eku is once more at home, recovering. She is also hoping to attend the remaining Unhinged events through the day as and when she can.
As a result, a series of special events are being put together – and while the schedule is somewhat fluid, everyone is invited to join in and welcome Eku home.
The Dickens Project – gates open on the 14th December
Friday 14th December will see the The Dickens Project open its gates for a two-week long celebration of Charles Dickens and his work as a part of the festivities which have been taking place around the world to mark the 200th anniversary of his birth.
The Dickens Project is being organised by Storyfests SL and will taken place on land donated to the project by the Community Virtual Library at their home region of Info Island. It will comprise daily presentations (in Voice) of Dickens’ seasonal classic, A Christmas Carol and encompass some of his other works in an inateractive, immersive setting.
The schedule, as it stood on Thursday December 13th is as follows – but please make sure you check for the latest details on the Storyfests blog.
The Dickens Project
Friday December 14th, 14:00
Caledonia Skytower presents The Opening Story!
Saturday December 15th, 17:00
Avatar Repertory Theatre presentation, adapted by Ada Radius (with Singing!)
Sunday December 16th – TBA
Monday December 17th –Stave One ~ Marley’s Ghost
12:00 noon – Ixmal Supermarine
16:00 – Corwyn Allen
Tuesday, December 18th – Stave Two ~ The First of Three Spirits
12:00 noon – Dubhna Rhiadra
17:00 – Brokali
Wednesday, December 19th – Stave Three ~ The Second of Three Spirits
12:00 noon – Ixmal Supermarine
17:00 – Kayden Oconnell
Thursday, December 20th – Stave Four ~The Last of The Spirits
12:00 noon – Dubhna Rhiadra
17:00 – Caledonia Skytower
Friday December 21st – Stave Five ~ The End of It
12:00 noon – Elrik Merlin
19:00 – Shandon Loring & Caledonia Skytower
Saturday December 22nd – OTHER DICKENS! TBA
Sunday December 23rd and Monday December 24th
15:00 – Caledonia Skytower reads the novella in two 90-minute sittings
Tuesday December 25th –CHRISTMAS DAY
Wednesday December 26th – OTHER DICKENS!
12:00 noon – Klannex Northmead with a selection from Little Dorrit
15:00 – Caledonia Skytower with a selection from Great Expectations
Thursday December 27th – Closing Day and “Alternate Versions Presentations”
The Dickens Project – presentation stage
That’s not all! There’s more!
As mentioned above, The Dickens Project site also features places to explore as part of the celebration. These allow you to:
Visit Scrooge & Marley’s, and the Poulterer’s Shop (“You mean the one as big as me?”)
Enjoy roasted chestnuts on the street, or an apple or a candy stick from the Grocer’s Shop
Get the texts of the Staves of A Christmas Carol from the Bookseller and follow along with the readings
Enjoy three “Gardens” celebrating visual artists inspired by Dickens Christmas Classic: Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come
Explore the second level and enjoy the Galleries: Notable Scrooge’s, Dicken’s London, and of course The Works of Charles Dickens. Don’t forget to click! There’s links a plenty in the galleries, which is accessible through the Bookseller’s Shop or on either side of Scrooge & Marley’s
Ever wonder what inspired the creation of the character Ebenezer Scrooge? Ever wonder why Dicken’s wrote “A Christmas Carol” and then followed it up with a Christmas novella a year for the next five years? You can discover all these things at The Dickens Project!
The Dickens Project stands as a remarkable, immersive collaborative project, bringing to life the world of Srouge, Bob Cratchit and all in word and in all three dimensions. So come one, come all and enjoy a festive treat and celebrate the life and works of Charles Dickens and the power of great literature.
The Dickens Project
All gratuities received during the event will be donated to the Community Virtual Library in SL.
Join Caledonia Skytower at 
Unhinged, subtitled A Festival for Eku’s Head a special, month-long series of events aimed at raising money to assist SL resident Eku Zhong, draws to a close today.
