Info Islands and second life libraries this week

HEALTHINFO ISLAND
Discover what’s new in consumer health in SL and beyond on the
Healthinfo Island blog (http://tinyurl.com/2978ev). This week it’s
Google’s personal health portal, which is very much a beta-stage
application (in testing with the Cleveland Clinic!), as well as a link
to a new report on the top 50 hospitals in the US.

“There are those that have significant disabilities in First Life who
present themselves without disability in Second Life, yet must deal
with interface issues as they navigate and communicate,” says Jondan
Lundquist, one of the panelists from a recent event at Healthinfo
Island. The full transcript and slides from this groundbreaking panel
discussion between Atsuko Watanabe and Jondan Lundquist about
universal design in a virtual world are available at the blog,
http://tinyurl.com/3ypzh7.

We’ve also posted the transcript from Namav Abramovic’s motivational
presentation on Grassroots Activism for those with disabilities
(http://tinyurl.com/3×4vqr). Namav (Nick Dupree) is co-founder of the
Open Gates Peer Support Network, which provides a 24/7 chat and
private support channel to people with disabilities. The transcript is
a chronicle of his experiences fighting Medical limits for home care -
and how he won.

A new display, ‘Beyond Web Accessibility: Barriers to ICT for Disabled
People,’ located in front of the Accessibility Center showcases
findings from a recent UK study, concluding
“…with the dramatic increase in computer usage since the 1980s,
disabled people are vulnerable to becoming further excluded from full
participation in society.” The display is accompanied with links to
the full report, as well as a listing of resources on the topic. For
more information, contact Carolina Keats.

Caledon Library Exhibits and Events, through March 10th

New Exhibit at the Caledon Library
Beauty in the Beasts: Medieval and Modern Bestiaries
Featuring the Bestiary of Guillame Apollinaire & Raoul Duffy
Curated by Dame Kghia Gerardi
March 1 - June 1, 2008
Whitehorn Library, VictoriaCity
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20VictoriaCity/47/206/23

Medieval bestiaries combined art, science and moral lessons to reflect
the thought, philosophies and values of the period. Over the
centuries, artists and writers have continued to explore this form.
Works such as Le bestiaire ou le cortège d’Orphée (The Bestiary, or
The Parade of Orpheus) by Guillaume Apollinaire and Raoul Dufy reflect
a modern sensibility and style within the ancient frameworks. In all
eras, these works both explored the world, and helped define the human
by depicting the non-human. The curators invite Caledon to come and be
diverted and edified by the lore of Fin, Fur, and Scale.

NOTE: The teleport takes you to a hub in Caledon VictoriaCity…
Just follow the red arrow/beacon north through the Reading Room to the
Whitehorn building, or use the red and gold Library Transport Device
located at the telehub.

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Mark Twain Cussing Championships
Sun, March 9, 1 - 5pm
Deadwood 1876
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Phoenix%20Pass/215/131/651

The Library of Caledon has joined forces with several other august
bodies to sponsor this literary event of the highest merit, suitable
for persons of refined sensibilities, from all parts of the 19th
century and literary grid: a contest in the art of expression, to
wit, unburdening oneself of an excess of sentiment with high-flown
phrase and well-aimed epithet, in the manner of a character out of the
works penned by Mr. Samuel Clemens, more familiarly Mark Twain.

Contestants will be matched against one another in a series of
cuss-offs, working with a series of challenges including (but not
limited to) commentary upon the following themes: the intelligence of
your opponent; mainstream organized religion; the American electoral
process; the morals of your opponent; Old Europe; the intelligence and
morals of the wealthy; drunkards; etc.

Judging will be conducted by Mr. JJ Drinkwater and Mrs. Diogenes Kuhr.

Contestants’ efforts will be judged on the basis of creativity,
authenticity, verbal ornamentation, and sheer entertainment value.
Neither modernisms nor actual obscene language may be employed.

All are welcome! To apply to be a contestant and win fabulous prizes
(of a sort), kindly contact JJ Drinkwater or Diogenes Kuhr.

Sponsored by Saloon No. 10 in Deadwood City, the Caledon and Steelhead
Libraries, and the Alexandrian Free Library

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Story Session at the Falling Anvil Public House
Thereby hangs a Tail, Critter Stories
Mon, March 10, 5 – 8pm
The Falling Anvil, Caledon Tamrannoch
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Tamrannoch/230/108/22

We live with them, love them, dress them up in silly outfits, trust
them - sometimes with our lives, idealize them, and draw endless
inspiration from contemplating their ways. Every culture tells stories
of our four-footed friends (as well as the two-clawed, and no-footed
slithery ones) and what they can teach us. All tale-tellers, bards,
mages, sages, and inspired liars are invited to join us with tales of
the Winged, Clawed, Pelted, Scaled, and Feathered denizens of the
globe and of our imaginations, as our those who merely love a good
story. And all are invited to turn out in their Furry best for the
occasion!

Stories will be collected for publication as part of the Caledon
Library’s “Tale from the Falling Anvil” Series, with the tellers’
permission. .

Sponsored by the Clan of Seafarers and Storytellers, the Storytelling
Guild of SL, and the Caledon Libraries