Second Life Library Project

Investing InfoIsland in Investor Business Daily

Lorelei — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:42:49 +0000

There is an article on web 2.0 tools, social networking and investment information. Second Life and our project on Investing InfoIsland are highlighted.

the story:

http://www.investors.com/editorial/IBDArticles.asp?artsec=43&issue=20081114

The section it ran in – note the art…(and picture of Maxito Ricardo)

http://www.investors.com/editorial/InvestmentTools.asp

College Fair 2008

BlueWings — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:51:05 +0000

The first college fair on InfoIsland today was a great event! Thanks to Alice Burgess, Abbey Zenith, speakers (Stone Semyorka, Robby Kowalski, Sage Duncan, Vic Michalak, and Pathfinder Linden), colleges, attendees, and especially for the use of Info Island that made this all a great success.

There was a lot of great networking and I learned some great tips on selling the idea of using Second Life to administrators including that we’re actually saving them money!! (thanks Sage!) Presentations also included information on taking the leap of signing up for a course being taught in SL and what the benefits are (interaction, meeting people from all over the world, trying a different medium for collaboration and presentation, etc.).

Pathfinder graciously attended and spoke about several initiatives Linden Lab is doing to help support educators.
-features such as ‘admin accounts’
-more reliable regAPI
-’behind the firewall’ solutions from M Linden’s talk at a previous conference

Thank you Pathfinder, Claudia, and other Lindens! Presentation here: pathfinder-presentation.

Watch this site for further posts on the fair including machinima! Check out Flickr with the tag “infoislandcollegefair2008″ for photos.

New Colorado Association of Libraries Second Life interest group

Lorelei — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:17:37 +0000

From Victoria Peterson
We are proud to announce the formation of a new Colorado Association of Libraries (CAL) Interest Group, the Second Life Interest Group (SLIG).

SLIG was formed by unanimous vote at the November CAL Board meeting. The purpose of the group is to:

Explore new ways of doing digital outreach, networking and public relations in order to promote Colorado and its libraries (including but not limited to academic, public, special, and school) on the virtual world of Second Life

Build a Colorado Association of Libraries presence on Second Life through a new virtual library that will represent the combined efforts of the aforementioned Colorado libraries and their library staff.

This new library, “the Sustainable Living Library” on the sim Emerald City, will represent best practices for living an ecologically conscious life. Through virtual workshops, conferences, and links to “green websites”, the community of Second Life as well as real life patrons will learn more about their environment and how to save it.

The “Sustainable Living Library” will make available to the community of Second Life the online public access catalogs of Colorado libraries associated with this new library and any programs or activities that promote Colorado, its libraries, or CAL.

The Mission Statement of the Sustainable Living Library:

The Sustainable Living Library of Second Life is committed to creating better and healthier lives for ourselves and our children through sustainable living practices. By developing workshops, exhibits and other resources, we strive to educate our visitors about green practices and other ways to sustain healthy lives and a healthy planet.

SLIG will be meeting soon in the virtual world of Second Life. Interest group members and all others are encouraged to attend this virtual meeting. In the meantime, if you’d like help opening a Second Life account and/or have any other related questions, please contact:

Victoria A. Petersen: petersen.victoria@gmail.com
Eileen Dumas: edumas8@gmail.com

Already In-World? Visit Emerald City and see its current development! http://slurl.com/secondlife/Emerald%20City/123/62/26

RezLibris launches first SL Library magazine

Lorelei — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:10:14 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Clark Abismo

DATE: November 7, 2008 EMAIL: rezlibris@gmail.com

RezLibris launches first SL library Magazine

The staff of RezLibris Magazine is proud to announce the launch of the first publication
devoted to librarians and information professionals in Second Life.

Featuring articles and columns written by and about librarians and those in related fields, RezLibris aims to provide news, entertainment, and events coverage of the library community and Information Archipelago. Monthly issues will be available for viewing at http://www.rezlibris.com and quarterly in-world print editions will be distributed commencing in March, 2008.

Starting with its November 2008 online issue, updated articles will be posted the first Sunday of each month. Many interactive features will be included in the website edition including machinima and slide shows.

Regular columns will consist of articles on the various types of libraries: public, academic, special, and world libraries; up-to-date news happenings for Info Island; coverage of library institutions and organizations such as ALA, SLA, and Alliance Library Systems; an Arts and Entertainment section with reviews of art exhibits, museums, film/theater, music, fashion, and books; an immersion section featuring role-playing sims and genre-specific libraries, i.e. Mystery Manor and Sci Fi Portal; real life stories and profiles; a teen section; and an Ask the Librarian column.

Submissions and suggestions are always welcome. RezLibris is currently supported solely by volunteer work and donations. For information on advertising in the online or print editions, contact Sifriya Devin, Ad Manager, by IM or at sifriya.devin@gmail.com.

RezLibris Magazine
http://www.rezlibris.com
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cybrary%20City/146/152/24/?title=RezLibris%20Magazine
Email: rezlibris@gmail.com
Join our SL group: RezLibris Readers

Clark Abismo, Publisher
Dulcie Mills, Associate Publisher

College fair next weekend!

Lorelei — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 14:52:00 +0000

College Fair at Alliance Virtual Library!

Representatives from colleges and universities will gather on Info Island, Sunday November 16th between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM SLT to speak with Second Life residents about attending college. Explore colleges and universities you may not have a chance to visit by taking this opportunity to talk to a wide range of postsecondary institutions to discuss course offerings, admission and financial aid requirements, college life and other information that will aid in the college selection process.

Scheduled Speakers for the event are listed at the following URL:
http://infoisland.org/college-fair-participants/

Please join us Sunday, November 16, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM SLT
Alliance Virtual Library
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/128/128/2

Libraries in Second Life this week

Lorelei — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:24:39 +0000

Book Discussion On Only Yesterday
The book discussion series on Only Yesterday turns to Zora Neale
Hurston’s classic novel, “Their Eyes Were Watching God” on Tuesday
evening, November 11, at 6:00 p.m. SLT. The story, set in the American
deep South in the 1930s, tells the story of a young African American
woman in search of love and her place in life. Librarian TAMU Oh
leads the discussion in the Reading Room (second floor of the island’s
bookstore), on the plaza at Only Yesterday. As always, please come and
participate, even if you have not yet had a chance to read the novel
….. and bring a friend!

West of Ireland Library
Please join us in the West of Ireland Library for these great events!

Sunday 9 November @ 11am - Stories saluting veterans with Aoife Lorefield.
Monday 10 November @ 7pm - Peter Pan with Caledonia Skytower.
Tuesday 11 November @ 7pm - The Maidens of the Grael with Derry McMahon.
Wednesday 12 November @ 7pm - Poems of Seamus Heaney with Aoife Lorefield.
Thursday 13 November @ 6.30 - The Secret of Roan Inish with Shandon Loring.
Friday 14 November @ 5pm - A salute to veterans (and please stay for the USO show!)
Saturday 15 November @ 1pm - Washington Irving stories with Elder Priestman & Derry McMahon.
Sunday 16 November @ Noon - Myths and Legends with the WOI Storytellers.
Monday 17 November @ 7pm - Peter Pan with Caledonia Skytower.

Please IM Derry McMahon for more info or with any questions! http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/51/152/26

Investing InfoIsland
Next Wed. Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. SLT we will begin a series of brief introductions to the seven stations of investing information contained on Investing InfoIsland. Next Wed. we’ll begin with Station 1, which provides information on planning to invest.

Here’s the entire schedule for the series. Hypatia Dejavu or Maxito Ricardo will facilitate each session, which will be brief (approx. 30 mins., with plenty of time for Q&A and discussion. Always on Wednesdays, always at 7 pm SLT, always on Investing InfoIsland.

Station 1: Planning to Invest: Nov. 12
Station 2: Selecting Investments: Nov. 19
Station 3: Social Security: Dec. 3
Station 4: Investment Strategy: Dec. 10
Station 5: Frauds and Scams: Dec. 17
Station 6: Farther Down the Road (Insurance and Wills): Jan. 7
Station 7: Final Preparations (Estates, Trusts, Funerals, Probate): Jan. 14

Next Thurs. Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. SLT at the central lodge on Investing InfoIsland there will be an informal book discussion of the fascinating book, The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable, by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. Everyone is welcome to attend, even if you haven’t read the book! No pop quiz. For more information, contact Maxito Ricardo.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Portal on Info Island
Portal monthly meetings - November 12th, Wednesday–1 pm and 6:30 pm. We won’t be using the fourth week of either November or December because of various national and religious holidays which occur during those weeks. For more information on Portal activities, please contact Franja Russell.

Alexandrian Free Library: Caledon, Winterfell, Steelhead, New Babbage & New Toulouse Library events Nov 11-18
Steelhead Public Library Announces a New Series!Readings by Shalmendo
Thursday afternoons at 4-5pm slt
Steelhead Hotel Ballroom - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Steelhead/75/156/26

The Steelhead Public Library is pleased to sponsor Mr. Shalmendo
Glineux as he brings Alice In Wonderland to the Steelhead Grand Hotel
in a series of readings on Thursday afternoons at 4 o’clock pm SL
time. Starting on November 6, and lasting approximately one hour each
week, Mr. Glineux will take us down the rabbit hole and help us solve
the mystery of who actually stole the tarts. 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

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Weekly radio play broadcast from Radio RielThursday Nov 13 7 – 8pm
Radio Riel HQ, Caledon Penzance
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Penzance/224/100/24
Or tune in at http://music.radioriel.org

Join Caledon Library Collaborator Radio Riel for another thrilling hour of….
SPACE 1889 - THE STEPPES OF THOTHIn Syrtis Major’s corridors of power, a threat to the British Empire’s
dominion over Mars is close to discovery, and Governor-General Sir Henry
Routledge faces ruin if it ever comes to light.
In the wilderness of the Thoth Steppes, enemy powers, savage tribesmen and
even nature herself bar the way to the wreckage of a lost Ether Flyer, and
the secrets it hides.
For Captain Roger St. John Ffolkes, it is a mission he cannot refuse; for
the adventuress Georgina Golightly, a journey that will risk all - and for
Mars, it is the chance to save a world…or ignite a war.

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New Babbage Aether Salon and the New Babbage Library present:
Weapons! , A lecture by Miss Ordinal MalapropSunday, November 16, 2-3 pm SLT
New Babbage Aether Salon
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Babbage%20Palisade/97/59/105

Given the minimum of destruction wreaked by the first event, we are pleased to announce the second Aether Salon.
All are welcome to join us at the Aether Salon in Babbage Palisade (located across the street from Her Dark Materials, & conveniently near the train station) for tea and a spirited discussion of weapons with a dangerous, perilous, stunning craft to follow.
We are thrilled to announce that our guest speaker will be Miss Ordinal Malaprop.
Known for her fine production methods, exceptional scripts, attention to detail, and ability to keep danger at bay with a variety of weapons and tools, Miss Malaprop will be well armed to address the current state of weaponry in our times. We’ve seen her armory and plan to be most attentive and polite.
Please bring your manners, keep your wits about you, and check your own fine examples of might and mayhem at the door.

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Common Ground, Story Session at the Falling Anvil Public House
Monday, November 17th, 5-8 p.m. SLT
The Falling Anvil, Caledon Tamrannoch
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Tamrannoch/230/108/22

“Now be thankful for good things….”

As fall gives way to winter, and the wild winds tear the leaves from the trees, our thoughts turn to gathering at warm firesides, renewing our ties to friends, family, clan, & tribe. This month’s theme is Common Ground: in the spirit of thanksgiving, we welcome your tales of connection & reconciliation, or different people finding what they share, plus tales of changes, rites of passage, & all the ordinary and extraordinary transitions that make up our lives. Those without a tale to tell are always welcome to come share in the good cheer!

Sponsored by the Caledon Library & the Clan of Seafarers and Storytellers, and hosted by master storyteller Aldo Stern

Alliance Library System announces changes in Second Life

Lorelei — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:00:08 +0000

Alliance Library System Announces Changes in Second Life
Alliance Library System announces changes in the operation of the Info Island Archipelago in the virtual world of Second Life. “Our goal was to open up the door and shine a light on virtual librarianship,” stated Kitty Pope, Executive Director of the Alliance Library System. “Now it is time for others to take the lead in the library community of Second Life. We have a great group of folks working in Second Life, so I am confident this is an opportunity for virtual librarianship to grow and new leaders to have an opportunity to shape the future.”
She continued, “There will be no additional lands or islands purchased unless they are funded by grant s or partnerships. When we started renting to libraries and educators two years ago, there were only a couple of other places for educators to rent and work together. Now there are a lot of choices and options for libraries and educators.”
“There are two key groups representing librarians and educators in Second Life which will be working on these changes,” Pope stated, “the Alliance Virtual Library Board and a new group which will lead in the development of project islands, grants, and exploration. These two groups have the vision and ability to move the library community to the next level of growth and development.”
1. The five core library islands of Info Island, Info International, Infotainment, Imagination and Illumination will be merged into 3 islands. This merge will take place January-June 2009 and will be lead by Abbey Zenith and the Alliance Virtual Library Advisory Board.
2. Only Yesterday, Renaissance, Cybrary City 1 and 2, Eduisland 3 and 4 will not be renewed by Alliance in 2009. Only Yesterday renews in June 2009; Renaissance in February 2009, Cybrary City 1 in October 2009, Cybrary City 2, December 2009, Eduisland 3 in June 2009 and Eduisland 4 in June 2009. If your agency is interested in taking over the management and payment for any of these islands, please contact Lori Bell at Alliance.
3. Projects and islands funded by grant dollars will remain including Health Info Island, Karuna, and Investing Info Island, and Land of Lincoln.
4. When the annual renewal for the open space islands owned and maintained by ALS is reached, materials will be moved to other islands, not maintained, or funded with grant dollars. This includes Emerald City – up for renewal in September 2009, Bradburyville, up for renewal in September 2009, and Health Eduisland, up for renewal in September 2009.
5. Open spaces rented to other groups will not be renewed. These have been paid for one year, and renters have been given notice. This includes Machinima Institute up for renewal in June 2009; Cinque Terre, up for renewal in June 2009; Cybrary Square up for renewal in September 2009; Circumference, up for renewal in October 2009; and Museums Isles I-V up for renewal in August 2009.
6. Eduislands 1, 2, 5, and 6 run and managed by Fleet Goldenberg will be maintained for one more year. These agreements will be retained until 2009-2010 depending on when renewals are up.
7. Cleveland Public, UMCG, and Talis Cybary Island will be responsible for renewal when leases expire – Cleveland Public in June 2009, UMCG in June 2009, and Talis Cybrary Island in January 2010.
In announcing these changes, Executive Director Pope, further states, “I appreciate these are big changes for the virtual library community but I am confident that the strong partnerships that have developed in the last 2.5 years will continue and thrive in this brave new world.”

Reader’s garden

Lorelei — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 19:14:43 +0000

Reader’s Garden book discussion and poetry reading

Keith Ainsworth, esq. (aka Poet Thriek Wilkinson in SL), leads a discussion & poetry reading in the Reader’s Garden on Info Island http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/100/162/33, Thursday, November 6th at 2:45 SLT on the book, Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution — and How It Can Renew America.
For more information, please see the Reader’s Garden blog http://readersgardensl.blogspot.com/ or IM Sonja Morgwain.

Libraries in Second Life this week

Lorelei — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:49:46 +0000

ALA SLymposium on Libraries in Virtual Worlsd
The American Library Association Virtual Communities and Libraries Membership Interest Group are pleased to announce its first ALA SLymposium to be held in the virtual world of Second Life on ALA Island on Saturday November 8. There is no charge for the event. The fall SLymposium will offer a look at what all types of library-related organizations are doing in Second Life. A companion symposium for spring will explore what all types of library-related organizations are doing in other virtual environments.

The keynote speaker for the SLymposium is Tom Peters, CEO of TAP Information Services, and author of the recently released “Libraries and Virtual Worlds,” an ALA TechSource publication. Peters is also one of the conveners of the VCL MIG. Other speakers include Sonja Morgan-Plummer, Tina Coleman from ALA, Carrie Pennell from Harvard University, FT Takacs from University of South Carolina, Carol Perryman from University of North Carolina SLIS, Kelly Czarnecki from Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, and Sue Bergren, a graduate student from the University of Illinois.

To register for this event, go to http://tinyurl.com/5eypww

For more information on the event, please contact Tom Peters at tapinformation@yahoo.com, Lori Bell at lbell927@gmail.com , or Sonja Morgan at sonjamorgwain@yahoo.com

International Distance Learning Day in the virtual world of Second Life ®: the French Connection
The US Distance Learning Association (USDLA) is sponsoring National Distance Learning Week (NDLW) held on November 10-14, 2008 and seeks to promote and celebrate the tremendous growth and accomplishments currently taking place in distance learning programs offered by schools, business, and governmental departments.

In support of this initiative, and highlighting the global reach of virtual environments, several organizations are collaborating to present and celebrate the tremendous potential of the virtual world of Second Life for distance learning. On November 10th, a full-day conference is scheduled that will include presentations from within Second Life and in real life at the University of Paris IV-Sorbonne. Those attending in Second Life should go to Selmo Park: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Selmo%20Park/67/174/26

Presentations will begin November 10 at 12:30 am SLT and run through 8:00 am SLT
“We hope that you will join us by logging in to Second Life and teleporting to Selmo Park to attend the presentations virtually,” said Bryan Carter, Conference Coordinator. “The live presentations will be broadcast into Second Life. There is no charge to attend the event at Selmo Park in Second Life.”

Those attending in Second Life need to have a Second Life account, audio capability, and the latest version of Quick Time to view events being streamed into Second Life from the real world. To register for a Second Life account, go to the event location online
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Selmo%20Park/67/174/26 and go to the signup button.
The first presentation will be at 9:30 am Paris time/12:30 am SLT students of the L’Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs de Paris “Eden of the Lost Animal.”
Other featured speakers include Bryan Carter, University of Central Missouri; Ed Lamoureaux, Bradley University; Jeremy Kemp, San Jose State University; Claudia L’Amoreaux from Linden Lab; AJ Kelton from Montclair State University; Tim Linder Meramec Art Department; Beth Ritter-Gluth, Literature Alive, and more

Collaborating organizations include: University of Central Missouri, the Alliance Virtual Library in Second Life, the Bibliotheque Francophone, and the L’Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts Decoratifs de Paris. For more information about this exciting day, please contact Bryan Carter at bc7@mac.com.

Orientations for those new to Second Life will be held inworld at Selmo Park on Sunday November 9.

12 pm noon SLT – Georgette Whitfield will do an orientation in English and French.
1 pm SLT – Daisyblue Hefferman will do an orientation in English.
People are welcome to attend either one.
Second Life location slurl:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Selmo%20Park/67/174/26
Monday, November 3rd at 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM SLT

Jazz Cat
Infotainment Island

We’re kicking off a regular series of hosted events at the Jazz Cat on Infotainment Island with Blues Mondays. Please join us to relax and dance away the Monday blues!

The Jazz Cat is a beautiful dance club over a lake with private dancing areas along the lake, in the clouds, or up high under the stars! Formal attire required.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Infotainment%20Island/219/120/33

Tuesday, November 4th 4:00 PM - 9:30 PM SLT

US Election Night Party!
Info Island

Join us on Info Island to dance in celebration or to dance away a loss! We will have Radio Riel playing music to keep us partying and bringing the election return news into SL. Drop by and join us!

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/122/99/33

Wednesday, November 5, 2008, 6:00 PM SLT

Hot Topics Discussion -
Hot Topics - Church and faith: Give me that on-line religion?
Info Island

Join us for another lively discussion with selected panelists about religion in virtual worlds. The audience is encouraged to express opinions and add to the discussion.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/106/106/33

Friday, November 7, 2008 5:00 PM SLT - 6:30 PM SLT
Infotainment Island

Smooth Jazz at the Jazz Cat

The second of our new weekly series of events at the Jazz Cat. Relax after a hard week with friendly people and smooth jazz.
The Jazz Cat is a beautiful dance club over a lake with private dancing areas along the lake, in the clouds, or up high under the stars! Formal attire required.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Infotainment%20Island/219/120/33

November 7-9 2008

HUGE GROUP YARD SALE!

Please come to Info Island to shop for bargains in clothes, furnishings, and other items! Our volunteers have donated many items from their inventory and we are selling them to benefit the Alliance Virtual Library! There will be a silent auction to auction off some really great special items and several vendors will be selling new merchandise and donating the money to the library. Come by often, we’ll be replacing items as they are sold, so there will be new things to buy each day!

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/156/105/33
Alexandrian Free Library: Caledon, Winterfell, Steelhead, New Babbage & New Toulouse Library events Nov 4 - 13

Radio Theatre
SPACE 1889 - RED DEVILS
Thu, November 6, 7pm – 8pm
Radio Riel HQ, Caledon Penzance
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Penzance
(Or tune in at http://music.radioriel.org )

“Are we or they Lords of the World?
And how are all things made for Man?”

Destination Mars!
In 1889, the ether ship Perbindesh approaches the red planet, her passengers
an assembly of the great and the good. Skerrun, a Martian princeling,
returning from a sojourn on Earth; Sir Henry Routledge, the new governor of
the British colony. Professor Golightly, a renowned authority on the red
planet. But everyone has a secret. The Perbindesh carries a cargo of
conspiracy and intrigue. And not all aboard will live to see Mars…

The game’s afoot, and it is the greatest game of all!

CAST
Ivor Danvers as Sir Henry Routledge
Simon Williams as Captain St John Ffolkes
Ian Brooker as Professor Golightly
Jo Castleton as Miss Georgina Golightly
Toby Longworth as Sergeant Carstairs
Kevin Murphy as Doherty
Katarina Olsson as Miss Charlotte Wong
Rupert Wickham as Lieutenant Williams
Tam Williams as Prince Skerrun
Anthony Daniels as Captain Carter
Other parts are played by the members of the cast.

——————————
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Weapons! Miss Ordinal Malaprop speaker
Sunday, November 9, 2-3 pm slt
New Babbage Aether Salon and the New Babbage Library
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Babbage%20Palisade/97/59/105

Given the minimum of destruction wreaked by the first event, we are pleased to announce the second Aether Salon. All are welcome to join us at the Aether Salon in Babbage Palisade for tea and a spirited discussion of weapons with a dangerous, perilous, stunning craft to follow.

We are thrilled to announce that our guest speaker will be Miss Ordinal Malaprop.
Known for her fine production methods, exceptional scripts, attention to detail, and ability to keep danger at bay with a variety of weapons and tools, Miss Malaprop will be well armed to address the current state of weaponry in our times. We’ve seen her armory and plan to be most attentive and polite. Please bring your manners, keep your wits about you, and check your own fine examples of might and mayhem at the door.

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Caledon Library Book of the Month Discussion and Listening Party - La Boheme
Book: Scenes from the Life of Bohemia by Henri Murger (English translation of Scènes de la vie de bohème)
Opera: La Bohème by Puccini
Sun, November 9, 1pm – 3pm
HG Wells Memorial Library, Caledon Wellsian
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Wellsian/235/239/31

Take the Caledon Train, or use the handy Teleport from the Wellsian Hub
Or tune in at http://music.radioriel.org

“Who am I? I am a poet.
What do I do here? I Write.
And how do I live? I live
in my contented poverty,
as if a grand lord, I squander
odes and hymns of love.
In my dreams and reveries,
I build castles in the air,
where in spirit I am a millionaire.”
(Act I of the opera, Rudolfo to Mimi on the occasion of their first meeting.)

A generation of young people who defied all social, political, and cultural boundaries – they embraced poverty; wore outrageous, colorful clothes; seemingly lived by the motto ‘love the one you’re with’; and generally left their parents scratching their heads and wondering where they went wrong. But this wasn’t the hippie generation of the 1960’s – it was the generation memorialized in Henry Murger’s “Scènes de la Vie de Bohème.” The book was based the world he inhabited, that of the Bohemians of the 1840’s and 1850’s. More than any other, Murger influenced the youth of his generation to adopt the Bohemian lifestyle — freedom, art, and pleasure, unrestricted by the societal conventions of the bourgeoisie.
While Murger’s book, a compilation of his newspaper articles, achieved some success and in fact developed something of a cult following, it was Puccini’s “La Bohème” –- an opera loosely based on that book — that cemented Murger’s place in history. The opera, castigated by the critics of the day as too light-hearted and sentimental, has come to be regarded as a masterpiece and is surely Puccini’s best-known work.

Come join us at the HG Wells Memorial Library in Caledon Wellsian, to listen to the opera (streamed for us by our friends at Radio Riel) while we discuss both works, and their remarkable conjunction.

Copies of the book (in the original and in two English translations) may be had at the library, or found online at:

Scènes de la vie de bohème par Henry Murger
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/18446
Bohemians of the Latin Quarter by Henri Murger
http://home.swbell.net/worchel/contents.htm
Scenes from the Life of Bohemia by Henri Murger
http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=OeIOAAAAIAAJ

This event is sponsored by the Caledon Library, and produced by Radio Riel

Be sure to join us afterwards for a Palm Court Tea at The Bashful Peacock, just across the Way

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The Sense of Self in 19th c Literature Series: “Self-Reliance” and “Circles” (1841) - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Tuesday, November 11, 6pm – 7pm
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. The readings will include essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson, poetry by Walt Whitman, and fiction by Robert Louis Stevenson, Oscar Wilde, and Kate Chopin.

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Radio Theatre
SPACE 1889 - THE STEPPES OF THOTH
Thursday, November 13,
7pm – 8pm
Radio Riel HQ, Caledon Penzance
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Penzance/224/100/24
(Or tune in at http://music.radioriel.org )

In Syrtis Major’s corridors of power, a threat to the British Empire’s
dominion over Mars is close to discovery, and Governor-General Sir Henry
Routledge faces ruin if it ever comes to light. In the wilderness of the Thoth Steppes, enemy powers, savage tribesmen and even nature herself bar the way to the wreckage of a lost Ether Flyer, and the secrets it hides.For Captain Roger St. John Ffolkes, it is a mission he cannot refuse; for the adventuress Georgina Golightly, a journey that will risk all - and for Mars, it is the chance to save a world…or ignite a war.
CAST:
Simon Williams as Captain St John Ffolkes
Ivor Danvers as Sir Henry Routledge
Ian Brooker as Professor Golightly
Jo Castleton as Miss Georgina Golightly
Sam Peter Jackson as Hauptmann Werner Lenz
Toby Longworth as Sergeant Carstairs
Jon Weinberg as Mr Lucas Tyler
Tam Williams as Prince Skerrun
Other parts are played by the members of the cast.

International Distance Learning Day in the virtual world of Second Life: The French Connection

Lorelei — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:39:14 +0000

For Immediate Release
October 31, 2008
Contact: Bryan Carter, Conference Coordinator, bc7@mac.com

International Distance Learning Day in the virtual world of Second Life®: The French Connection

The US Distance Learning Association (USDLA) is sponsoring National Distance Learning Week (NDLW) held on November 10-14, 2008 and seeks to promote and celebrate the tremendous growth and accomplishments currently taking place in distance learning programs offered by schools, business, and governmental departments.

In support of this initiative, and highlighting the global reach of virtual environments, several organizations are collaborating to present and celebrate the tremendous potential of the virtual world of Second Life for distance learning. On November 10th, a full-day conference is scheduled that will include presentations from within Second Life and in real life at the University of Paris IV-Sorbonne.
Those attending in Second Life should go to Selmo Park:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Selmo%20Park/67/174/26
Presentations will begin November 10 at 12:30 am SLT and run through 8:00 am SLT

“We hope that you will join us by logging in to Second Life and teleporting to Selmo Park to attend the presentations virtually,” said Bryan Carter, Conference Coordinator. “The live presentations will be broadcast into Second Life. There is no charge to attend the event at Selmo Park in Second Life.”

The first presentation will be at 9:30 am Paris time/12:30 am SLT students of the L’Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs de Paris “Eden of the Lost Animal.”

Other featured speakers include Bryan Carter, University of Central Missouri; Ed Lamoureaux, Bradley University; Jeremy Kemp, San Jose State University; Claudia L’Amoreaux from Linden Lab; AJ Kelton from Montclair State University; Tim Linder Meramec Art Department; Beth Ritter-Gluth, Literature Alive, and more

Orientations for those new to Second Life will be held inworld at Selmo Park on Sunday November 9.
12 pm noon SLT – Georgette Whitfield will do an orientation in English and French.
1 pm SLT – Daisyblue Hefferman will do an orientation in English.
People are welcome to attend either one.
Second Life location slurl:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Selmo%20Park/67/174/26