SLA in Virtual Worlds

Federal Consortium for Virtual Worlds Conference

The Federal Consortium for Virtual Worlds is a newly formed group of federal government employees and contractors interested in exploring the use of virtual worlds in government, sharing best practices and policies, creating shared repositories, and networking

The third FCVW confernce will be held at the National Defense University in Washington, DC, April 23-24.   Preconference demos on April 22 include the following virtual worlds:  Forterra, 3DXplorer, Activeworlds, Nexus, Protosphere, Quag, MIrrorworld, Wonderland, PowerU, Second Life, web.life, e3DMe, and Vastpark.

Learn about what the Department of State, Department of Defense, the Army, several Canadian agencies, Navy, Smithsonian, NOAA, National Guard, NASA, Nuclear Regulatory Commission and othe federal and state organizations are doing.

 

Second Life Invitation: Mellon Seminar in Digital Humanities: March 9th 2-5 pm SLT/PST

From an email posted by Esther Grassian, dated Feb 25, 2009

We are happy to announce the 6th of 9 Mellon Seminars in Digital
Humanities taking place at UCLA in real life (RL), and streamed via
live video feed into the Digital Library Federation's (DLF) http://www.diglib.org/
SL island, Entropia. The RL participants will also see the SL
audience, projected on a screen in the RL room at UCLA.

These Seminars, organized and co-taught by Jeffrey Schnapp (Visiting
Professor of Digital Humanities, UCLA, and Professor of Comparative
Literature, Stanford University; Founder of the Stanford Humanities
Laboratory) and Todd Presner ((Associate Professor of Germanic
Languages and Comparative Literature, UCLA), take place at intervals
during the 2008/2009 academic year. To find out more about this series
of Seminars: www.digitalhumanities.ucla.edu

Please note that the time for each Seminar is U.S. Pacific Time.

TOPIC: " Border Crossings: Mobility, Immobility, and Trans-media
Storytelling”

DATE & TIME: Monday, March 9, 2009, 2 pm - 5 pm SLT/PST

SPEAKERS:
•       Scott Ruston, Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in Digital Humanities and
Media Studies, University of California at Los Angeles, received his
PhD in critical studies from the School of Cinematic Arts at the
University of Southern California in 2008. Through a combination of
theory and practice, his research has explored how the cinematic
legacy of the telephone and the unique characteristics of mobile media
combine to create immersive and interactive narrative entertainment.
Topic: “Mobile Media:  Intersecting Space/Place, Narrative/Database,
Physical/Virtual”

•       Amy Sara Carroll, assistant professor of Latina/o Studies (jointly
appointed in English and American Culture, affiliate of the Center for
World Performance Studies and Latin American and Caribbean Studies) at
the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, received a Ph.D. in Literature
from Duke University (2004), an MFA in Creative Writing (Poetry) from
Cornell University, and an MA in Anthropology from the University of
Chicago. Her research, teaching, and writing interests include Latin/o
American contemporary cultural production (performance, art, video,
and literature), feminist, queer, and postcolonial theory, cultural
studies, inter-American studies, border studies, and critical creative
writing. Her critical essays and poetry have appeared in various
journals and anthologies.

•       Ricardo Dominguez is a co-founder of The Electronic Disturbance
Theater (EDT), who developed Virtual-Sit-In technologies in solidarity
with the Zapatista communities in Chiapas, Mexico. His recent
Electronic Disturbance Theater project with Brett Stabaum, Micha
Cardenas and Amy Sara Carroll the *Transborder Immigrant Tool* (a GPS
cellphone safety net tool for crossing the Mexico/U.S border was the
winner of "Transnational Communities Award"). He is an assistant
professor at UCSD in the Visual Arts Department and Principal/
Principle Investigator at CALIT2 (bang.calit2.net).Ricardo is also co-
founder of *particle group* (pitmm.net) with artists Diane Ludin, Nina
Waisman, Amy Sara Carroll - the project is focused on the themes of
nanotechnology and nanotoxicology.

DESCRIPTONS OF PRESENTATIONS + LINKS TO READINGS: http://tinyurl.com/c2k7f4

RL LOCATION: Visualization Portal, 5628 Math Science Building—enter on
the ground floor (5th
level) and follow the signs to the portal

SL LOCATION: Digital Library Federation's SL island, Entropia

Anyone interested is welcome to attend at UCLA. The SL audience is
limited to 50.

IMPORTANT: SL attendees only:  Please RSVP to Esther Grassian
<estherg@library.ucla.edu> or IM her SL avatar, Alexandria Knight, to
reserve a space on Entropia, and for instructions on viewing the live
feed and adjusting the audio in SL.

You can teleport directly to Entropia by using the following Second
Life url (SLurl), but you must have an SL account in order to do so:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Entropia/110/117/21/

Basic SL accounts are free: http://secondlife.com/

Please let us know if you have any questions or would like any
additional information.

Best,
           Esther Grassian (UCLA) & Deni Wicklund (Stanford)
           Co-Managers, DLF's Entropia

SL Shakespeare Company - Twelfth Night, Act 1: The Open-Ended Run

PRESS RELEASE
February 23, 2009
Contact: Lora Constantine

SL Shakespeare Company's Twelfth Night, Act 1: The Open-Ended Run

Shakespeare, Second Life: The virtual worlds performance of Twelfth Night, Act 1 unabridged, live and direct from the first folio returns and will play on indefinitely—as you will it! The SL Shakespeare Company's long-awaited open-ended run premiers Sunday, March 1 at 1 PM PST, and will continue indefinitely every Sunday at 1 PM PST and every Tuesday at 6 PM PST at the SL Globe Theatre.

Artistic Director Ina Centaur is directing this play with a new cast and a rare vision in Shakespearean productions, "This production attempts to be as true and pure to the play as possible… This is the only one of the Bard's plays that is not under suspicion from various bad quartos editions, so there might be some insights to be divined if we try to dramatize it based on a close reading—independent of the shackles of any era interpretation."

Although the play is rich with references to Elizabethan England, Centaur has chosen to let more intrinsic elements define the visuals, "Avoiding the extraneous notions of modernity, the play looks like it's from the 'generic past'… The visual elements aren't bound to a particular era or interpretation—but serve to help embellish the intrinsic elements of the play."

Starting in April, the troupe will be trying several possible "Variations," including an all-female production, a switched-genders production, and several more. Artistic Director Ina Centaur explains that despite the changes, the "Variations" will be related by a certain "unmoving pivot," "Twelfth Night, Act 1 is about the formation of love triangles… There's a salient love triangle that evolves through the act, connecting Viola, Olivia and Orsino, and a subtle relationship triangle that forms between Maria, Andrew and Toby in Scene 3. That's like the unmoving pivot that connects the 'Variations.' Our goal is to be able to vibrantly convey these archetypal relationships in both our main 'traditional' production as well as our 'Variations.'"

When asked why the troupe is performing just a single act, Centaur asserts, "We're doing it in obsessive detail step-by-step, since we plan to perform the play unabridged in a way that's not only worth your time to see, but may also delight and even enlighten you. It's a bite-sized chunk of goodness each time. Come see Act 1 to get a glimpse of the SL Shakespeare Company magic before we move onto Act 2 this summer!"

The play stars Caliban Jigsaw, Ixmal Supermarine, Kerry Takashi, KeyKey Underwood, Mokey Mokusei, and Sensuality Cordeaux.

Premiering March 1, the performances will be held Sundays at 1 PM SLT (GMT-8) and Tuesdays at 6 PM SLT (GMT-8) at the SL Globe Theatre, in the virtual world of Second Life, accessible anywhere in the world with an Internet-ready computer. http://visit.SLshakespeare.com

Subtitles will be provided in English, French, German, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese.

About Twelfth Night, Act 1

Shakespeare's Twelfth Night is the story of a shipwrecked girl named Viola, who chooses to go incognito as a boy eunuch. Act 1 establishes the love triangle that Viola, Duke Orsino, and Olivia become entangled in, and also introduces some of Shakespeare's most memorable characters—Malvolio and Feste. Unlike the Bard's other plays, Twelfth Night exists only in the folio editions.

About the SL Shakespeare Company

Set in the virtual world of Second Life (SL), the SL Shakespeare Company (SLSC) is the flagship project of sLiterary's Virtual Reality Shakespeare Initiative (VRSI). SLSC is a resident-funded and resident-supported professional theatre company that embraces the best of what Second Life (SL) has to offer. While it is primarily known to provide quality live Shakespearean theatre available to anyone in any location, SLSC is also the curator of Second Life's most historically accurate theatres and architecture relating to William Shakespeare.

About sLiterary

sLiterary, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering literary and artistic endeavors in Second Life and other virtual worlds.

About Second Life

Second Life is a free online virtual world imagined and created by its residents.

Neither the SL Shakespeare Company nor sLiterary is affiliated with Linden Lab. Second Life is a trademark of Linden Lab. No infringement is intended.

For Visuals, please see:
 http://playbills.SLshakespeare.com for our 2009 playbills (and http://playbills2008.SLshakespeare.com for our 2008 playbills) 
 http://programmes.SLshakespeare.com
 http://blog.SLshakespeare.com

ACRL is having a Virtual Conference too

The Virtual Conference registration is now available.  The Annual  Conference is March 12-15 in Seattle.

From the website, " Since 2005, ACRL has offered a Virtual Conference as a complement to the biennial National Conference. Past Virtual Conferences have provided access to discussion groups, presentation materials, and webcasts of selected ACRL programs, both in order to enhance the conference experience for those on site, and to provide an important professional development opportunity to those unable to travel to the conference site. " 

Social networking opporunities include Social Networking, Blogs from the real conference, podcasts, live webcasts, and Second Life.  "Another first for 2009 - Join us in Second Life the Friday and Saturday afternoons of the conference! The Virtual Conference will include Second Life orientations and in-world tours of four unique libraries and institutions. These events will take place immediately after the live Webcasts."

Call for Proposals NMC Symposium on the New Media and Learning

Call for Proposals
NMC Symposium on New Media and Learning
March 24-26, 2009, in Second Life

Proposals for presentations for the NMC Symposium on New Media and Learning, a special 2-day, live virtual event to be held March 24-26, 2009, are being solicited through Monday, March 9, 2009.

The event will be held in the virtual world of Second Life.  See http://www.nmc.org/2009-nml-symposium for full details.

Registration is also open! 
To register for the conference, or for more information including the preliminary schedule of events, please see http://www.nmc.org/2009-nml-symposium/register

About the Symposium
The 2009 NMC Symposium on New Media and Learning, the thirteenth in the NMC's Series of Virtual Symposia, will explore the impact of new media on teaching, learning, research, and creative expression, especially in higher education. New media, for this event, is interpreted broadly as anything from creative uses of digital media and new forms of communication to alternative publishing methods and media-rich tools. The Symposium seeks to explore new media in the context of a current social phenomenon and not simply as a means of content delivery.

This Symposium is the first in what is to be a yearly discussion on the topic of new media and learning. Growing out of the NMC's New Media and Learning Initiative (http://www.nmc.org/initiatives/new-media-learning) and earlier conferences such as the 2006 Symposium on the Impact of Digital Media (http://sl.nmc.org/wiki/Impact_of_Digital_Media_Symposium), the Symposium on New Media and Learning will provide a forum for exploring key issues that NMC members are thinking about on a daily basis. Each year, Symposium attendees will be encouraged to investigate emerging forms and uses of new media, present the results of pilot projects and research, reflect on ongoing practice, and engage in dialog about new media as a trend affecting the way we teach, learn, and communicate.

The annual Symposium on New Media and Learning is itself designed to allow exploration of new platforms and new technologies, and each time it is offered, the symposium venue will be adapted to use current and emerging online communication tools. As in previous years, these tools will include technologies such as the 3D virtual world of Second Life, the Second-Life-to-website communication tool Chat Bridge, and other technologies both established and experimental.

Submitting a Proposal
Proposals are encouraged on any of the following themes, but this list is not exhaustive and selections will not be limited to these categories:

   * digital gaming in education
   * new forms of multimedia production and delivery
   * social media, social networking and global connections
   * new media and mobile devices
   * data visualization
   * media-rich communication tools
   * new literacies
   * any technology or practice that shows promise for engaging students and supporting teaching and learning using new media

Sessions should describe new approaches, illustrate case studies, or address the implications for learning and teaching of themes like those above.

Proposals may be submitted online at http://www.nmc.org/2009-nml-symposium/call

Presenters will be notified by Monday, March 16. 

NOTE:  Because of the unique nature of the speaker tools and the evolving nature of online virtual environment that will be used, presenters will be asked to attend one or more mandatory speaker orientations to be during held the week of March 16-20 as a precondition of presenting at the symposium.

This event is the thirteenth in the ongoing series of specially focused online gatherings that explore new ideas and issues related to technology and learning.  The NMC Series of Virtual Symposia is itself an exploration of emerging forms of collaboration and tools.

Additional information about the Symposium can be found at http://www.nmc.org/2009-nml-symposium

Please circulate this announcement to any and all areas on campus that may be interested in participating.

Getting Your Organization into Second Life: A Practical Guide

Please join us on February 23rd at 3pm SLT (PST) for a workshop placing your organization or library into Second Life. This is a practical how-to for people in the early stages of deciding to engage patrons and expand your user base using Second Life.  Topics covered include:  selecting a parcel size and location to meet your mission and user needs, examples of content to offer, virtual reference, and examples of successful organizations already established in Second Life. Workshop will be in voice and chat and your list of questions welcomed.  For more information, please IM Sonja Morgwain or email pimelibrarian@gmail.com. 

 

Held in Cybrary City at the auditorium, http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cybrary%20City/68/158/25 

Sonja Plummer-Morgan (Morgwain in SL)

Group met at the SLA site in SL to brainstorm the future of SLA in SL

 

John Lowery/SL Roderick Lorefield called a meeting this afternoon to discuss the possible uses of Click-U in Second LIfe. Approximately 12 avatars attended the lively meeting, at the SLA firepit.  Discussions included the types of programs that might be viable in Second Life and could make use SL's interactive capabilities.  Several avatars mentioned the need to make the timing and focus of the potential Click-U sessions more international in scope. The possibility of partnering with other library groups already doing programs within Second LIfe was mentiioned so that SLA "didn't need to reinvent the wheel."   There seemed to be general agreement that this first meeting was more a brainstorming session.  More specific ideas and plans could be developed from this session later, including the development of an In-world Click-U classroom.  (More comprehensive notes from the meeting will be available within the next few weeks.)

Roderick also  mentioned that the Board had approved the creation of the Virtual Worlds Advisory Council and "the Committe on Governance has drafted a charge that the Board will approve" tomorrow.  Then President Zamora will make the Council appointments.  John/Roderick will be the staff liaison on the Council.

11 Virtual World Technologies that Will Change How We Work

Clever Zebra blog has identified 11 virtual world techologies that will change the way we do business. The technologies are divided into 3 areas: business ready, on the rada,and up and coming.  The blog article examines several virtual worlds including Qway, Oive, Active World and of course, Second Life.

February is Romance Month on the Info Archipelago

If you are looking for something to do this mont in Second LIfe--check these out

February is Romance Month on Info Island
 
Exhibits by Cindy Elkhart
 
Feb. 13 - 6 - 8 PM SLT Mr. & Mrs. AVL Contest and Fund Raiser
Here is your chance to win the title of Mr. or Mrs. AVL!  This event is a fund raiser for Alliance Virtual Library and will require an entry fee of 300L.  Contestants will model swimsuit, formal, and costume of choice.  There will be an interview segment of the contest with one question asked to each contestant.  Contestants can reply through text or voice.  Voting is through donations and Rolig Loon will have donation boxes set up to measure votes.  We will announce and crown the winners at the conclusion of the contest and take photos.  We hope that you will join this fun fund raiser by entering or by participating in voting!  Please contact Rolig Loon to enter.
 
Feb 14 - 2 PM - Joaquin Gustav in Concert on Info Island - Marimar Berchot hosts this romantic concert at Info Island's auditorium.  If you have never heard Joaquin, please be sure to come! It will be a perfect start to your Valentine's evening. 
 
Feb 14 - 6 - 8 PM SLT Cylindrian Rutabaga at the Jazz Cat - One of our favorite SL/RL musical artists will play at the Jazz Cat on Valentine's Day!  Please join us to listen and dance to the lovely music of Cylindrian!
            
Feb. 15 - Romance Author Talk - 2:00 PM SLT - Diana Allendale (Diana Hunter) author of "Promise for Now," "Submission Revealed" and numerous other works will speak to us on Feb. 15th.  She became interested in writing stories with bondage and D/s themes when she found a dearth of them on the web. Nothing she read seemed to have the romantic element she knew was possible in such relationships. Challenged by a friend to write a better one, she wrote her first full-length novel, "Secret Submission."
 
Feb 21 - Romance Poetry Slam - 10 AM SLT - Teofila Matova hosts AVL's 2nd poetry slam.  Participants will read 3-5 poems of their own creation or by favorite poets.  Afterwards there will be an open mic session for audience participation. Please contact Teo if you want to be featured at the poetry slam.
 
Feb. 22 - Stonewall Book Discussion - 6 PM SLT - "Brokeback Mountain" hosted by Katt Tomsen at Info Island Auditorium.

Abe's 200th Birthday Celebration
Historic musical performance, Poetry and Storytelling
Backintyme Performances will treat us to the songs of Abe's time, plus
some of the stories behind them. Valibrarian Gregg will share some of
Abe in Poetry, followed by Abe Stories done by Daisyblue Hefferman.
Wednesday, February 11
5pm-7pm slt
Land of Lincoln White House
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Land%20of%20Lincoln/128/128/22
Contact: Daisyblue Hefferman
 
Take Heart: A workshop for caregivers
Saturday, February 14th
10-11:30 a.m., SLT
Facilitators:  Avalon Birke and Carolina Keats
Location: Healthinfo Island
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/102/190/24
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Take some time on Valentine's Day to care for yourself!  Join
counselor Avalon Birke and consumer health librarian Carolina Keats on
Healthinfo Island for a workshop on a topic of concern to many:
care giving.

Avalon will be talking about coping methods for caregivers, then
Carolina provides an overview of good resources, including legal,
financial, and health information. You'll leave with a listing of
top-quality links that can help you get the help you need. If you
cannot attend, the handout is available to all.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Please note: If this topic interests you but the date or time won't
work – let me know. I am happy to conduct another workshop on the same
topic. I am also delighted to tailor workshops or classes on the
following topics, or will build a class around a health information
topic your group would like to know more about!

Carolina Keats
Consumer Health Librarian

Supported by funding from the National Library of Medicine
Administered through the Alliance Library System
 
Alliance Virtual Library, Alliance Library System, and TAP Information Services will host RAYdio Bradbury Book programs, which will be broadcast on the Internet at http://music.radioriel.org and in the virtual world of Second Life on the Bradburyville Island at the Palladium Theater.  Leading the discussions are Dr. Loren Logsdon professor of English at Eureka College and Bradbury scholar and Tom Peters, CEO of TAP Information Services.
 
Programs are scheduled at 6 pm SLT, 8 PM central, 9 PM Eastern on the second Thursday of each month:  February 12, March 12, April 9, and May 14.   Books for discussion are October Country, The Martian Chronicles, Something Wicked This Way Comes, and I Sing the Body Electric.  Radio Riel will broadcast each program on the Internet.  Programs are free and everyone is welcome to attend!  For more information, please contact Lori Bell at the Alliance Library System at 309-694-9200 ext. 2128 or at lbell@alliancelibrarysystem.com.
 
More information on the books for discussion is listed below.
The October Country, according to Bradbury, is his purest work of fantasy. Halloween is his favorite time of the year, and the stories in this book take place in a country defined by its psychological state rather than its geography.
 
The Martian Chronicles was not immediately popular when it was first printed, but with the passing of time it gained Bradbury an audience in Russia and, later, an audience in America because of Sputnik. On the cover of the 1967 edition of The Martian Chronicles Bradbury was advertised as "The world's greatest living science fiction writer."
 
Something Wicked This Way Comes is the result of Bradbury's fascination with carnivals. The arrival of a carnival at the wrong time of the year provides the setting for a suspenseful tale of good and evil. Bradbury said in an interview that after he had published this novel he realized that the father in the book was his own father, "a man who tried to save the world with his love."
 
I Sing the Body Electric is a collection of short stories. The title of the book comes from a poem by Walt Whitman. Bradbury has long been critical of machines, but this book tells us how machines can be used in positive ways. Some of the stories address the idea of progress, the conflicts of the old and the new. Another interesting idea to pursue is the use of the imagination, and my favorite story in that vein is "Any Friend of Nicholas Nickelby's Is a Friend of Mine."
 
We encourage you to visit Bradburyville Island in Second Life, but if you want to use these for a class, we can provide you with the broadcast information so that you can broadcast anywhere in Second Life.  For more information, contact Lori Bell or Lorelei Junot in world.
 
Alexandrian Free Library: Caledon, Winterfell, Steelhead, New Toulouse, New Babbage, Amatsu Shima, West of Ireland & Steeltopia Library Events for February 10-17, 2009
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Book Discussion -  The Picture  of Dorian Grey (1890) by Oscar Wilde
        The Sense of Self in 19th century literature - a discussion series led by Kghia Gherardi
        Tuesday February 10  6-7 pm SLT
        Caledon Library & Welcome Centre, Caledon Victoria City
        http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Victoria%20City/160/117/23

        As exploration, industrialization and colonization expanded during the nineteenth century, the way the individual viewed his and her role within this world also altered. This literature series will look at how the individual defines himself or herself, how societies react to these changes, and how the evolving sense of self succeeds and fails.

 In The Picture  of Dorian Grey" (1890) Oscar Wilde explores the union, and the disjunction, of the social, or worldly, self, and the private self...and gives us a portrait of vanity and hypocrisy that lingers in the mind long after the last page is turned.
        -------------------------------------------------------
        WOI – Scheherazade's Final Tale with Derry McMahon & Elder Priestman
        Tuesday February 10 @ 6:30-7:30pm
        West of Ireland Library & Cultural Center, West of Ireland
        http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/157/29

        We'll be telling the  Thousand-And-Second Tale Of Scheherazade,  wherein Edgar Allen Poe relates his idea of what happened that last night between the lovely lady and her evil husband.  The story offers lots of adventures, and is altogether alternative-Poe.
      -------------------------------------------------------
        WOI – Neil Gaiman's Stardust with Aoife Lorefield

        Wednesday February 11 th  7-8pm slt
        West of Ireland Library & Cultural Center, West of Ireland
        http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/157/29
    Stardust, Chapter 6 & 7: The threads of our story come together as Tristran and his star, the Witch Queen, and the heirs of Stormhold meet at a lonely Inn ... but who will survive the night?
        -------------------------------------------------------
       Winterfell Library - Aianna's Fireside Tales
        Wednesday February 11th   6-7pm SLT
        Bard's Bonfire, Winterfell Taur en Lore
        http://slurl.com/secondlife/Winterfell/21/221/22

        A weekly reading of short stories by fantasy authors including some short stories of Aianna's own. Come relax in the beautiful Gothic setting of the Winterfell heartland and listen to tales told around a crackling fire. This week continues with stories by Charles de Lint
        -------------------------------------------------------
        Steelhead Public Library - Shalmendo Glineux reads The Call of the Wild
        Thursday February 12th 4-5pm SLT
        Steelhead Hotel Ballroom, Steelhead
        http://slurl.com/secondlife/Steelhead/75/156/26

        Please join us as Shalmendo the literate gargoyle brings Jack London's Call of the Wild  to life at the Steelhead Grand Hotel. AND, you don't even have to be at the hotel or logged into SL! You can listen to Shalmendo on the Gargoyle Wireless station!  http://slan13.ipr365.com:10212
        -------------------------------------------------------
        WOI – Tales from Darby O'Gill w Shandon Loring
        Thursday February 12th 6:30-7:30pm slt
        West of Ireland Library & Cultural Center, West of Ireland
        http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/157/29
        Tales from Darby O'Gill - Old as Ireland these whimsical Irish folktales
        bring you the jumble and tumble of men and magical creatures who walk the lanes of the Emerald Isle by day and wander its fields by night.

        Tonight, from the conclusion of The Banshee's Comb - "...was ever such a dangerous purdicament! Here he was, with ghosts in the trees above him an' in the hedges, all of them searchin; for the bit of enchanted comb that was in his own pocket!"
        -------------------------------------------------------
        Weekly radio play broadcast from Radio Riel
        Thursday February 12th 7- 8pm  SLT
        Radio Riel HQ, Edison Hypatia
        http://slurl.com/secondlife/Edison%20Hypatia/95/116/30
    
    Or tune in at http://music.radioriel.org

        Join Alexandrian Free Library collaborator Radio Riel for another thrilling hour of Radio Drama, Sir Edward Pearse, Lord Primbroke, presiding.
        This week we will hear episode 6 of the BBC production of JRR Tolkein's epic fantasy trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The Breaking of the Fellowship. With death of Boromir the fellowship is irretrievably broken: Frodo and Sam set off on their own to Mordor, but take an unlikely guide - Gollum. Pippin and Merry follow Treebeard, and the rest of the company are led by Gandalf who has found his way back from the darkness of Moria.
        -------------------------------------------------------
        Caledon Library - Wind in the Willows Listening Parties
        Chapter 2: The Open Road
        Saturday, Feb 14th 10am-11am SLT
        Tinyville Library, Caledon Tanglewood
        http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Tanglewood/23/214/23/

        Come as a character from Kenneth Grahame's novel,  The Wind in the Willows, and join us as we listen to, and discuss, a new chapter each month of the adventures of the shy but loyal Mole, the poetical Water Rat, the brave Otter, the gruff but kindly Mr. Badger, the vainglorious Toad, and all the other creatures of wood, stream, and field who populate this much-loved story.
        This month, the story continues as Mole and Rat pay a visit to Mr. Toad, of Toad Hall...and a journey is undertaken, wherein a most portentous encounter occurs.
        Big People may join us in Tinyville, or repose in comfort at the Oxbridge Library in Caledon Oxbridge
        http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Oxbridge/196/96/24

        Those who can't be with us in-world are invited to tune in at http://music.radioriel.org
        ---------------------------------------------------------------
        WOI – Diaries of Adam and Eve by Mark Twain
        Saturday February 14 2-3pm slt
        West of Ireland Library & Cultural Center, West of Ireland
        http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/157/29

        Adam (Elder Priestman) and Eve (Derry McMahon) read from Mark Twain's Diaries of Adam and Eve – Twain gives us his humorous version of interpersonal relationship issues, much of it still true today.   Guests are requested to wear more than a fig leaf, the WOI Library is very drafty.
       ----------------------------------------------------------------
        WOI-Meet the Romance Writers - Melissa Mayhue & Lynda Hilburn
        Saturday, Feb 14th  4-5pm SLT
        West of Ireland Library & Cultural Center, West of Ireland
        http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/157/29

        Join us as 2 RL authors read excerpts from their books and lead a discussion on Vampire and Highland romances!
        Lynda Hilburn - Dark Harvest
        Denver psychologist Kismet Knight counsels vampires. Her life changed forever when she discovered a preternatural underworld, became involved with gorgeous, eight-centuries old Devereaux, the powerful leader of the vampire coven, and was forced to rethink her notions about reality.  Now there's a new problem. Lyren Hallow, Vampire Hunter Extraordinaire, has come to harvest a local bloodsucker.  And he has disturbing plans for Kismet as well.
        Melissa Mayhue - A Highlander of Her Own
        Ellie Denton's world has spiraled out of control; with a strange new birthmark, animals talking to her, and her mother's ex-husband laying claim to the family ranch.  But Ellie doesn't know the birthmark's connection to her Fae ancestors.  Only their magic can determine whether Ellie will find a Highlander of her own when she is magically transported back to Scotland, 1304.
        -------------------------------------------------
        R.F. Burton Library of New Babbage - Amour!
        Sunday February 15, 2pm slt
        Aether Salon,  Babbage Palisades
        http://slurl.com/secondlife/Babbage%20Palisade/97/59/105

Ah, February! The month of friendship and romance. What better time to discuss undergarments?

At this month's salon, Captain Redgirl Llewellyn  will give an informative and lively presentation on corsets, corsetry, and female body modification as a reflection of status and fashion (with an emphasis on the Victorian era).

Following the discussion, there will be a live charity auction of Babbage-and-beyond's brightest, wittiest, and most creative... all to benefit roomtoread.org and the Aether Salon.   For more information about who has stepped up to help, and what they're offering, please visit http://aethersalon.blogspot.org.
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        Winterfell Library - Sunday Afternoon Poetry at The Green Fairy
        Sunday February 15th 2:30-3:30 pm slt
        The Green Fairy, Port Absinthe, Winterfell
        http://slurl.com/secondlife/Winterfell%20Absinthe/36/128/23
        Presented by Eiden Ember and Star Fairymeadow

         Spend an hour or so on a Sunday afternoon, enjoying beautiful Winterfell Absinthe and listening to a selection of poetry. Ember. Eiden will be heading off with a piece or two of well known poetry and then asking for contributions for those gathered. A chance to simply listen or if you wish, to contribute, be it a favorite piece or something of your own, modern or traditional, or perhaps a piece of song?  You are not expected to participate if you prefer to just listen, but the more chip in, the more interest the event holds.

        We will be using the voice channel so please arrive with voice set up to make the most of the event. For further information please contact Eiden Ember.
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   Winterfell Library - Lyric Tales with Hesiod Falta
    Monday  Feb 16th 5-6pm SLT
    Bards Island, Winterfell Taure En Lor
    http://slurl.com/secondlife/winterfell/22/222/22

    Hesiod Falta will read lyric poems and the works of Mykyl Nordwind over the live music stream in Winterfell. This week, Hesiod begins a series of Monday readings of Sir Walter Scott's "The Lady of the Lake"
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    WOI - The Borrowers with Caledonia Skytower

    Monday  Feb 16th 7-8pm SLT
    West of Ireland Library & Cultural Center, West of Ireland
    http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/157/29\

 Join Caledonia Skytower for THE BORROWERS: the first book in author Mary Norton's much loved series featuring the wee people living amongst us.  "There are not so many Borrowers left, as the rush of modern life does not suit them.  They like to likve in quiet, out-of-the-way country houses where things move in an orderly, well-established pattern and there is little chance for surprise.  So live Pod, and Homily, and their daughter Arrietty –the Clock family, so called because the entrance to their apartment was under a grandfather clock that had not been moved in two hundred years."  Well, not moved till now . . .   Stories read in Voice, and repeated Tuesday nights at 7pm at Magicland Park in Bracket.
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    WOI The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate, told by Derry McMahon
    Tues Feb 17th 6:30-7:30 pm SLT
    West of Ireland Library & Cultural Center, West of Ireland
    http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/157/29

    Hmmm so, if time travel were possible, would you go forward or backward?  Join Derry McMahon for Ted Chiang's tale of time travel, romance, greed, and much more.  Story in voice, Arabian dress encouraged but not required.

SLA Board of Directors voted to create a Virtual Worlds Advisory Council

Stephen Abram, SLA's immediate past president, has reported that at the Leadership Summit in January, the SLA Board of Directors voted to create the Virtual Worlds Advisory Council.  After the vote, it was referred to the Governance Committee to work on a formal charge and make it official.  A final vote will likely occur during one on the monthly Board conference calls.  This is wonderful news!

On other fronts, Click U will be working this year to establish a training facility in Second Life and offer workshops there.  John Lowery will be holding a preliminary conversation with current Second Life Workgroup members on the idea later this month.