Merry Christmas

Xmas celebrated: 1 (good)

My first Christmas, during which my Second Life is somewhat rationed, although with the weeks of crunchy snow, revolving coloured Xmas trees, open fires, twinkly lights and freebie clothes (lots) already enjoyed this does not seem like such a loss.

Here is a pic of me wearing antlers which are just one of the things you get from free Christmas stocking (as clutched in arms in pic) from Schadenfreude, the shop which is just round the corner from mine. Also wearing Demon hair (in purple) which was gift harvested from tree in last pic, I believe.

In second pic you see Ishbel (right) and me enjoying contents of Divivty (not free) Christmas crackers i.e. in particular Hats, which unfortunately completely replaced Hair, but I suppose that is just one of the merry penalties of Xmas fun.

Benefit of SL crackers is that you can pull them as many times as you like and they still go Pop. We are also holding jolly Xmas lollipops from crackers, sitting in the snowy platform after Ishbel had done her Discussion


Final pic is one characteristic of Xmas season, namely scrabbling to harvest gift from tree in Mau's (home of nice Undine hair also). Since most of time recently has been spent sim-hopping in search of Xmas booty it is hard to remember where particular booty came from. Hey ho, now have enough seasonal earrings (snowmen, xmas trees etc.) to wear different one each day of week.

Anyway, Christmas cheer to all from Sheila Yoshikawa

Party?

No of pics of CILR launch featured on news site: 1 (strange)

Today Ishbel pointed out that one of the pics she took of the opening of the Centre for Information Literacy Research on Eduserv Island in July was reproduced on a news website with the following legend:
"A virtual party is held in the online world of Second Life, where real people can immerse themselves and socialize, own property and even wed."
Hmmm. Event pictured is Art Fossett being presented with a gift for hiring us the office. Suppose it could loosely be termed party, insofar as socialisation took place and virtual alcohol imbibed and even had the requisit slumped avatars. Accompanying article is about SL marriage and title says it all:
Newser. (2007) "Man Treats Virtual Wife Better Than Real One." Newser, 11 August. http://www.newser.com/story/5652.html
Photo: copyright Ishbel Hartmann.

Meetings happening

RL presentations given about SL: 2 (good); People accusing me of being creepy: zero (v. good); Questions asked about point of SL: 1 (no problem)

About 10 days ago gave talk at Strathclyde University on inquiry based learning (IBL) and SL, and today gave talk more centrally about SL but also a bit of IBL since talk was for CILASS IBL cafe. At first one had a student rep, some lecturers, educational developers & technologists etc. and today had 2 student reps plus same sort of mix except fewer of them. However lecturers included my own Head of Dept who is always worth several of other lecturers for obvious reasons.

Have uploaded talks to slideshare here and here. At first presentation one person asked what was point of doing anything at all in SL, but felt had answer to this, which will not bore you with since feel it is unlikely that someone who thinks SL pointless will be reading this blog. At least no-one said SL creepy. Person from our computer centre was at 2nd talk and unfortunately still looks like access to SL on students' computers is distant dream although possibility they may go the lending laptop route. Is all very well but does not take account of need for simultaneous computer access in labs for induction or other exercises. Hey ho.

Maggie Kohime was there in RL to talk a little about her perceptions and Ishbel in SL, where we got eventually (see first pic with Pancake and Violette as well as me and Ishbel) since as usual ppt bit took a little longer than intended. Looks like there is interest from our Institute for Lifelong Learning which is nice. 2nd pic is random cute photo of campfire site under snow.

Meetings not happening

Meetings scheduled in SL: 2 (good); Meetings taking place in SL: approx 0.6 (bad)

Should currently be doing tidying up activities (updating notecard, preparing chat for upload, sweeping up toast etc) after successful discussion led by Ishbel "Impressions of the London Online exhibition/conference". However as any devoted SL resident will know, SL grid only notable by absence this afternoon and evening (UK time).

Was usual sorry tale of "will be up in an hour" "grid is now online!" "oops gosh it fell over" "we'll be up in an hour" "um, make that 3 hours". Meanwhile screen as pictured here told sad tale of zero avatars inworld.

For some time looked like grid would come back up at noon SL time ie official discussion start time - but then was postponed 2 hours so Ishbel and I (via email, thanks heavens for old technology) decided to postpone talk too, to Monday.

Had omitted to mention that between successful discussion on SL interviewing and this discussion had been social event scheduled on the skating rink. In a nutshell was bit of a mistake, think need to employ social secretary as am good enough at organising festivities (extra skating animations, Gluhwein etc.) but not good at publicising event in sparky manner. Was grateful therefore to Adelaide and Jocelyn who graciously stayed for while and tried out spins, couple skating etc.

Meeting, toast

Meetings organised in SL: 1 (good); Experiences of toast throwing: 1 (good)

Am holding another discussion tomorrow so must hurry up and write about last one, held nearly 2 weeks ago. Was on interviewing for research in SL. Am particularly interested because students are doing research interviews in SL and so have been thinking about differences between RL f2f interviews, SL interviews, other online interviews. The transcript for the meeting is at http://sleeds.org/chatlog/?c=188. Will aim to do entry about this on the IBL blog.

Fairly small group but interesting discussion, with more questions than answers, but I picked up a few tips and also led to suggestion for next research-focused discussion (on sampling). Crashed out half way through and when logged back in people were discussing what people do when someone crashes out i.e. that just take it as normal, except when suspect that person hasn't REALLY crashed out but it using that as convenient excuse.

At end of meeting one participant asked would liketo have toast thrown at me. Not invitation I get every day, so agreed readily. Had to Edit Land, to turn on scripts and object entry for all residents. However was worth it when gratifying flurry of toast flew through air. A dodgy moment when wondered whether would have to clear up toast from floor, but in fact it was self-clearing toast which disappeared magically. If only messy food in RL acted like that.

Mitsy, Squirrel, Cockatoo: 3 kinds of animal noise

Cats moved to new office: 1 (v. good); Squirrels moved to snowy forum: 1 (cute); Shop displays mounted: 1 (v. good); Cockatoos purchased for new shop display: 1 (noisy)

Regular readers of this blog may have been asking "Where is Mitsy? Has she gone to join her spooky dismembered clones in the sea?" (see previous post)

In fact Mitsy has been safe in Inventory ("Animals" folder). Was bit hesitant to introduce her to new home, as cats well known for disliking change. However, when introduced her to office in Sakura House she settled in straight away, pacing, mewling and pushing people around as per normal.

In fact Mitsy seem to prefer new home since even with Set Cat Range Very Small, this was not small enough for Eduserv office, thus her frequent plunges out of the side of the office to a watery doom.

Can see in these pics that looks v. content, making herself at home on her Mitsy Mat and on Dimitrova's skirt (no errant cat hairs in SL). Am looking forward to next meeting in lower room enlivened by her friendly howls from upstairs (note to self: may have to explain this, do not wish visiting educators to think Unmentionable Activities going on).

Elsewhere on the animals front, have moved squirrel from under oak tree to snowy forum where is disporting itself under Frosty Willow (XL) on Crunchy Snow. Since squirrel miraculously generates own acorns does not seem cruel. As can be seen here is perky enough and merry chirping may be welcome distraction if meetings in Snowy Forum prove dull.

Also put in new exhibition in shop, featuring RL Australian pics. Have put in pic which is all blue sky plus 2 v. small cormorants as background on 3 walls, water on floor, plus driftwood, deckchair, tropical-type tree, pina colada and sulphur crested cockatoo.

Put up some Aussie photos for sale, with no great hopes of income. In fact have RL pic of RL sulphur cockatoo in Sydney botanic gardens, so should put that up sometime, thus further confirming RL globetrotting credentials. This however is SL cockatoo. Makes almighty squwawk noise which unable to Modify out, am afraid neighbours may complain.

Hair

Hair bought: 6 (good)

Decided to branch out a bit as regards hair. Started with the Magika hairs (one called Poofy and one called - something less memorable) which observant readers may have noticed in previous pics. Poofy is actually quite suave and features hair Up. Goes with boho floaty type gear. The other one has a long ponytail and a sort of comb thingy protruding from head and was wearing it when being interviewed by Madrilena.

New hair as follows:
1) Purple version of normal hair (Ryuuzaki). Must say that really like this style, and so nice to have alternative to go with purple outfits. Looks much the same as normal hair so have not pictured that.

2) and 3) Purple and blue versions of Mika hair by same designer (Kin) - sort of long, flowing and lumpy. Gives rather foxy look to face. Rather liked this to start with but has been overtaken by Undine hair (see below) which is more flattering + you get oodles of colours in the one pack and more hair, basically. This hair is in first pic., with me sitting on edge of fairy teacup, evidently plotting to poison someone with fairy tea.

4) and 5) Aiko and Miaka from Inspired. These are anime hair. Obviously tried demos and thought was going to like Aiko, but frankly just TOO anime. Maiko is better in that looks cute IMHO rather than pervy. Nevertheless, a couple of nights ago when had got on skating outfit with Miaka hair decided in end that was TOO cute. Have pictured it here in cutie overload with Hello Kitty doll.

6) Undine hair from MAU's & MEJ's,. This was bargain as in one pack get several colours inc. purple, blue and green. Dread to think how many prims must be in it, but v. pretty and swooshes around as walk.
Have worn blue version Out a couple of times and green (shown in pic) and purple. Also have also played Ophelia floating in hot tub (see last pic). All v. picturesque and even more pre-raphaelite/gypsy, so am keeping this well to fore in inventory for when want to go Long in SL.

Not sure if have mentioned before that in RL have v. straight long hair (brown, with white patches) which do not dye or curl or do anything to except have it trimmed a few inches now and then. Have not even been tempted to experiment in RL as if didn't like it would take about 4 years to grow back in normal colour and actually rather like it how it is. In fact nightmare is having hairdresser slicing too much off so only go to cheap hairdressers unlikely to get grandious restyling notions.

Catching up (again)

Weeks since last blogged: 2 (bad); Anniversaries celebrated in RL : 1 (good)
Have been v. busy over last 2 weeks, too preoccupied to blog. Am reminded of when was teenager with v. quiet life and kept diary regularly with long entries reporting on weather, food consumed, whether X was still chums with Y, nature of homework etc. Would be excellent reading matter for insomniacs. However as soon as things started actually happening in Life then diary-writing stopped.

Anyhow will attempt summary of key events in series of entries. No, actually won't try that as it v. dull and would probably never catch up.

As a start, here is Harumi with the anniversary display that I made at Cove. Cake supplied slice on plate, though without eating animation.