Science Fiction and music in Second Life

Seanchai Library

It’s time to highlight another week of storytelling in Voice by the staff and volunteers at the Seanchai Library. As always, all times SLT, and events are held at the Library’s home in Nowhereville, unless otherwise indicated. Note that the schedule below may be subject to change during the week, please refer to the Seanchai Library website for the latest information through the week.

January 24th, 19:00: A World Out of Time

After being cryogenically frozen in the 1970s to await a cure for his (then) incurable cancer, Jaybee Corbell awakes after more than 200 years – to find his own body destroyed and his mind and memories transferred into the “mindwiped” body of a criminal. And that’s is not all that has changed: the Earth is now overseen by an oppressive, totalitarian global government called “The State”, and Corbell’s existence is to be determined by a “checker”; if he is found wanting, he will be discarded.

However, Peerssa, the checker, recommends Corbell as ideal fodder in The State’s attempts to seek out exoplanets suitable for terraforming – whether he wants to join the programme or not. Disgusted by his treatment, Corbell works out a way to take control of his one-person ship on its otherwise one-way mission, and heads toward the galactic core. Entering suspended animation, he is unaware his vessel skims close enough to the super-massive black hole at the centre of the galaxy to experience time dilation.

Emerging from his suspended state, and believing only 150 years have passed, Corbell returns to the solar system to find it again vastly changed: more than three million years have passed, and the Sun has become a bloated red giant, and Earth – well, Earth appears to have been relocated to an orbit around Jupiter, whilst humanity itself had endured extensive changes; and Corbell must face an entirely new set of challenges if he is to survive.

Join Gyro Muggins as he reads the 1976 novel (and originally a short story) by Larry Niven.

Tuesday, January 25th

12:00 Noon: Russell Eponym

With music, and poetry in Ceiluradh Glen.

19:00: Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat

Klawde had everything. Sharp claws. Fine fur. And, being the High Commander of the planet Lyttyrboks (think about it if you need to!), an entire world of warlike cats at his command. But then he is stripped of his feline throne and sentenced to the worst possible punishment: exile to a small green-blue planet that is, as they say, “far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the galaxy”, known to its dominant bipedal race as “Earth”.

On that planet, Raj is a young man who had everything: a cool apartment in Brooklyn New York, his three best friends living in the same apartment block and comics and pizza always within easy reach. Then, courtesy of his mother taking a job on the other side of the country, he finds himself exiled to the community of Elba, Oregon.

These two lost souls, one seeking friendship (and, hopefully, pizza and comics) but forced to join a nature camp, the other a cunning, brilliant feline emperor, both exiled and seemingly lost, are destined to meet. And when they do – whether Klawde likes it or not – the emperor cat will find his plans for revenge on those who would oust him from his empire running somewhat secondary to becoming Raj’s new Best Friend as the two of them become bound by a series of new and hilarious adventures.

With Caledonia Skytower.

Wednesday, January 26th: Dark

No readings for this week.

Thursday, January 27th 19:00: Thursday Night Sci-Fi

With Finn Zeddmore.

2022 SL Home and Garden Expo applications

via slhomeandgardenexpo.com

The 2022 Home and Garden Expo (HGE) in support of Relay for Life of Second Life and the American Cancer Society, will take place this year from Saturday, February 26th through until Sunday, March 20th, 2022, inclusive, and applications are  open for those who wish to participate.

The largest and longest running event of its kind in Second Life. the primary goal of the event is supporting Relay For Life of Second Life and the American Cancer Society through its fundraising efforts. Already this year, H&G has raised L$4,481,904 (US $17,927.62), and the Expo will hopefully add to that total considerably. As with previous years, the event will feature multiple Full regions focusing on home design and décor, landscaping, and furniture, and which will include entertainment, a home decorating contest, the Wall of Hope a Finale Auction and more!

Currently, the organisers are seeking applications from both exhibitors willing to participate in the event, and from bloggers wish to cover the event and have advanced access to the event regions.

Creators, etc., interested in participating in the event as exhibitors should follow the links below:

Home and Garden Expo 2021 – main stage

Bloggers wishing to cover the event should follow these links:

In addition, those with questions or enquiries should first refer to the Expo’s FAQ page.

Core Dates for the Event

  • Exhibitor access and set-up: Saturday, February 20th through Wednesday, February 23rd
  • Blogger preview access: Thursday, 24th February.
  • “Soft” opening for specific group access (e.g. Seraphim): Friday, February 24th.
  • Official opening: Saturday, February 26th.
  • Closing: Sunday, March 20th.

Further general information can be found at the Home and Garden Expo website.

2022 ALS Awareness Week: a call to artists

Music stage, Harvey Memorial ALS Awareness Week, 2021

Every year the Italian community in Second Life comes together to host the Harvey Memorial Ensemble ALS Awareness Week, a festival of music and art dedicated to raising funds for AISLA, the Associazone Italiana Sclerosi Laterale Amiotrofica for research into, and treatment of, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), in memory of Second Life resident Harvey22 Albatros, who passed away from the disease.

First held in 2015, the festival has raised over L$2.8 million (roughly €9,000 / US $10,267), and this year it will take place from 13:00 SLT on Sunday, February 20th and run through until 17:00 SLT Sunday February 27th, 2022.

A 2D artist display area for The Harvey Memorial Festival 2022. Credit: Sniper Siemens

As noted above, the Festival offers a mix of music entertainment and art, and this year, event organisers, Sniper Siemens and the Supporto Italiano group, want to expand the latter by presenting an art auction / exhibition. To this end, they’ve  asked me to help spread the word.

In short, they are seeking donations of art for the auction / exhibition from both 2D and 3D artists in Second Life, with the requirements summarised below:

  • 3D artists:
    • Artists will have a 10m x 10m area in which to place their art.
    • Each artist can use a maximum of 300 LI for their art.
    • A maximum of 8 display spaces are available.
  • 2D artists:
    • Artists can donate up to 3 pieces of art.
    • Art should be suitable for display on an easel (see example image)
    • Easel can be supplied, if required.
    • 1024 resolution recommended for submissions.
    • 8 display spaces are currently available.

In addition:

  • Art must be submitted to Sniper Siemens no later than 3 days prior to the festival’s opening, and will be placed on display by the organisers.
  • All art will be displayed through the week of the festival in a display area directly adjacent to and surrounding three sides of the main music and entertainment area, where it can be easily viewed by those attending the event.
  • Bidding will open on February 20th, and close on the afternoon of February 27th, when the highest bidder for each piece of art will be charged for, and receive, the art.

All questions / enquires about the art auction should be directed to Sniper Siemens.

3D art from the Harvey Memorial ALS Awareness Week, 2020 (Solkide Auer (l) and Cica Ghost (r)) 

About ALS

Sometimes also referred to as motor neurone disease (MND) or by the synonyms Lou Gehrig’s disease and Charcot disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a specific disorder that involves the death of neurons that control voluntary muscles. For about 90-95% of all diagnosed cases, the precise cause of the disease is unknown; for the remaining 5-10% of diagnosed cases, it is inherited from the sufferer’s parents. There is no known cure, and symptoms generally first become apparent around the age of 60 (or 50 in inherited cases). The average survival from onset to death is three to four years. In Europe and the United States, the disease affects about 2 people per 100,000 per year.

About AISLA

AISLA Onlus was founded in 1983 with the aim of becoming the Italian national reference centre for the protection, assistance and treatment of ALS patients, promoting information on the disease and stimulating the competent structures to take adequate and qualified care of the sick.

Headquartered in both Rome and Milan, the Association is recognised by the Italian Ministry of Health, and currently operates 64 centres in 19 regions across Italy working with the support for local doctors, psychologists, physiatrists and consultants to provide support for ALS victims and their families (medical support, information, and general assistance). In addition, the Association supports research into the causes of ALS, and provides training in helping and caring for victims of the disease.

Lost in time, emperor cats and a story of Poe in Second Life

Seanchai Library

It’s time to highlight another week of storytelling in Voice by the staff and volunteers at the Seanchai Library. As always, all times SLT, and events are held at the Library’s home in Nowhereville, unless otherwise indicated. Note that the schedule below may be subject to change during the week, please refer to the Seanchai Library website for the latest information through the week.

January 17th, 19:00: A World Out of Time

After being cryogenically frozen in the 1970s to await a cure for his (then) incurable cancer, Jaybee Corbell awakes after more than 200 years – to find his own body destroyed and his mind and memories transferred into the “mindwiped” body of a criminal. And that’s is not all that has changed: the Earth is now overseen by an oppressive, totalitarian global government called “The State”, and Corbell’s existence is to be determined by a “checker”; if he is found wanting, he will be discarded.

However, Peerssa, the checker, recommends Corbell as ideal fodder in The State’s attempts to seek out exoplanets suitable for terraforming – whether he wants to join the programme or not. Disgusted by his treatment, Corbell works out a way to take control of his one-person ship on its otherwise one-way mission, and heads toward the galactic core. Entering suspended animation, he is unaware his vessel skims close enough to the super-massive black hole at the centre of the galaxy to experience time dilation.

Emerging from his suspended state, and believing only 150 years have passed, Corbell returns to the solar system to find it again vastly changed: more than three million years have passed, and the Sun has become a bloated red giant, and Earth – well, Earth appears to have been relocated to an orbit around Jupiter, whilst humanity itself had endured extensive changes; and Corbell must face an entirely new set of challenges if he is to survive.

Join Gyro Muggins as he reads the 1976 novel (and originally a short story) by Larry Niven.

Tuesday, January 18th

12:00 Noon: Russell Eponym

With music, and poetry in Ceiluradh Glen.

19:00: Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat

Klawde had everything. Sharp claws. Fine fur. And, being the High Commander of the planet Lyttyrboks (think about it if you need to!), an entire world of warlike cats at his command. But then he is stripped of his feline throne and sentenced to the worst possible punishment: exile to a small green-blue planet that is, as they say, “far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the galaxy”, known to its dominant bipedal race as “Earth”.

On that planet, Raj is a young man who had everything: a cool apartment in Brooklyn New York, his three best friends living in the same apartment block and comics and pizza always within easy reach. Then, courtesy of his mother taking a job on the other side of the country, he finds himself exiled to the community of Elba, Oregon.

These two lost souls, one seeking friendship (and, hopefully, pizza and comics) but forced to join a nature camp, the other a cunning, brilliant feline emperor, both exiled and seemingly lost, are destined to meet. And when they do – whether Klawde likes it or not – the emperor cat will find his plans for revenge on those who would oust him from his empire running somewhat secondary to becoming Raj’s new Best Friend as the two of them become bound by a series of new and hilarious adventures.

With Caledonia Skytower.

Wednesday, January 19th: Poe Special

The Library opens for a special to mark the anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s birth on January 19th, 1809 – by presenting a story about the time shortly before his death.

On October 3rd, 1849, Poe was found delirious on the streets of Baltimore, “in great distress, and… in need of immediate assistance”. He was taken to the Washington Medical College, where he died in the early hours of the morning of Sunday, October 7th, 1849. Throughout his time at the hospital Poe remained too incoherent to explain how he came to be in his dire condition and wearing clothes that were not his own, although he was said to have repeatedly called out the name “Reynolds” on the night before his death. But to whom he may have been referring remains unknown.

In Beyond Porch and Portal E. Catherine Tobler, offers an unusual but interesting explanation of why Poe was found, and what had led him to that point of distress. Join Shandon Loring to find out more!

Thursday, December 20th 19:00: The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones

Join Shandon Loring as he recounts the early adventures of a young Henry Walton Jones, Jr., who would one day become the famous Indiana Jones.

A New Year and new stories from Seanchai Library

Seanchai Library

It’s time to highlight another week of storytelling in Voice by the staff and volunteers at the Seanchai Library. As always, all times SLT, and events are held at the Library’s home in Nowhereville, unless otherwise indicated. Note that the schedule below may be subject to change during the week, please refer to the Seanchai Library website for the latest information through the week.

January 10th, 19:00: A World Out of Time

After being cryogenically frozen in the 1970s to await a cure for his (then) incurable cancer, Jaybee Corbell awakes after more than 200 years – to find his own body destroyed and his mind and memories transferred into the “mindwiped” body of a criminal. And this is not all that has changed: the Earth is now overseen by an oppressive, totalitarian global government called “The State”, and Corbell’s existence is to be determined by a “checker”; if he is found wanting, he will be discarded.

However, Peerssa, the checker, recommends Corbell as ideal fodder in The State’s attempts to seek out exoplanets suitable for terraforming. Disgusted by his treatment, Corbell works out a way to take control of his one-person ship on its otherwise one-way mission, and heads toward the galactic core. Entering suspended animation, he is unaware his vessel skims close enough to the super-massive black hole at the centre of the galaxy to experience time dilation.

Emerging from his suspended state, and believing only 150 years have passed, Corbell returns to the solar system to find it vastly changed: more than three million years have passed, and the Sun has become a bloated red giant, and Earth … well, Earth appears to have been relocated to an orbit around Jupiter, whilst humanity itself had endured extensive changes – and Corbell must face an entirely new set of challenges if he is to survive.

Join Gyro Muggins as he reads the 1976 novel (and originally a short story) by Larry Niven.

Tuesday, January 11th

12:00 Noon: Russell Eponym

With music, and poetry in Ceiluradh Glen.

19:00: Character Development

An original tale of an actor, a dragon, and a profound need for a new direction – presented by Ktadhn Vesuvino

Wednesday, January 12th

The Library will be mostly closed to Wednesday readings through January 2022.

Thursday, December 13th:

19:00: The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones

Join Shandon Loring as he recounts the early adventures of a young Henry Walton Jones, Jr., who would one day become the famous Indiana Jones.

21:00: Seanchai Late Night

Contemporary sci-fi with Finn Zeddmore.

VWBPE 2022: call for volunteers + Thinkerer Award nominations

via VWBPE

The 2022 Virtual Worlds Best Practice in Education (VWBPE) conference will be taking place between March 31st and April 2nd inclusive, and both a call for proposals and a call for volunteers to help run things has been issued.

VWBPE is a global grass-roots community event focusing on education in immersive virtual environments which attracts over 2,000  educational professionals from around the world each year, who participate in 150-200 online presentations including theoretical research, application of best practices, virtual world tours, hands-on workshops, discussion panels, machinima presentations, and poster exhibits. For the purposes of the conference, “virtual world” refers to any on-line community through which users can interact with one another and use and create ideas irrespective of time and space, whether 3D in presentation or as characterised through platforms such as Meta, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc., in which the direction of the platform’s evolution is manifest in the community. The conference itself is hosted within Second Life.

Volunteers are required for the following roles:

  • Hosts: usually located at the Gateway landing area, but can also be at the Exhibits and Social Events to help participants, hosts are the first people that conference participants meet. and should be familiar with VWBPE areas in Second Life and VWBPE Conference events. A minimum time commitment: 1 hour training is required, with 1-hour blocks of time commitment (we appreciate multiple time sign ups, please do this at your convenience).
  • Mentors: pre-conference coaches and one-on-one support people for presenters attending the conference (presenters are matched to mentors). Minimum time commitment: 1-hour training is required (this includes training in the presentation tolls in their assigned venues). Time per presenter varies from 1 to 3 hours, depending on the presenter’s experience level.
  • Technical Support; experts in providing support across the conference and in liaising with Estate Managers when issues arise on the parcels. Minimum time commitment: 1 hour training prior to conference, 4-hour blocks.
  • Quadrivium Assistants: assist Quadrivium Facilitators in leading a Quadrivium Discussion. Minimum time commitment: 1 hour + .5 hours (Quadrivium + Prep + Assistance with Report).
  • Stream Team: provides video capture and streaming for each presentation at the conference. Members may need to be available for training up to 2 months prior to the conference.

Full details of all roles can be found on the VWBPE volunteers page; if additional information is required these can be relayed to the conference organisers via e-mail.

Those wishing to volunteer can do so via the VWBPE 2022 volunteers form.

Thinkerer Awards

The Thinkerer Award is presented annually to an individual whose deeds and actions have shown consistent selfless service towards the promotion of learning, community, and educational practices, and who exemplifies the spirit of cooperative development within immersive environments. It was first awarded in 2014 to Selby Evans (Thinkerer Melville) for whom it is named. Since then, the committee conducts the selection process based on public input. If you know someone who deserves to be recognized by this life-time award, please complete the 2022 nomination form below.

For further details, including nomination criteria, please refer to the VWBPE 2022 Thinkerer Award nomination page.

VWBPE Important Dates

Additional Links