Gone cats; on Comments; too much stuff

Comments on fashion blog: 2 (bad); Cats disappearing into Lost and Found: 7 (very very bad); Amount of cute stuff that can be bought at SL events: limitless (so bad, it becomes good again)
My Blueness fashion blog is attracting comments, but alas not from what one might call discerning punters. Indeed a sceptical reader might think people were spamming the blog to advertise some tawdry search engine optimisation services. First comment reads "Its such as you read my thoughts! You appear to understand so much approximately this, like you wrote the e book in it or something. I believe that you can do with some percent to drive the message home a little bit, however instead of that, that is magnificent blog. A fantastic read. I’ll definitely be back."

This so barely hangs together as English that it almost becomes poetry (really awful poetry, obviously). Quality of the prose is probably explained by next comment

"I read a lot of interesting posts here. Probably you spend a lot of time writing, i know how to save you a lot of time, there is an online tool that creates high quality, SEO friendly articles in minutes, just search in google – laranitas free content source". Is evident that author A must have been using services being peddled by author B and in my view should ask for their money back, though the phrase "like you wrote the e book in it or something" has a certain ring to it.
Makes me nostalgic for the early days of spam where either messages were lovingly handcrafted by spamming maestros, or consisted of random chunks of text welded together with no regard for sentence structure, punctuation or meaning.

Moving on, had been looking at fashion blog because just posted new outfit (see above) presenting just a few of the many items hoovered up at recent SL events. The Arcade! Kustom 9! We Love Roleplay! Jewelery Fair! The Chapter Four! Basically, there is just too much cute stuff to be had, and my inventory is stuffed to the limit (i.e. 71,000 items) with things so delightful have never even opened the box let alone worn them.

Could have disquisition on moral decay of Western Society here (what kind of world is it where spend money on virtual hat consisting of giant butterfly, when should be doing marking?) however will move on swiftly to Case of The Disappearing Kitties. Was going quietly about normal business in SL, setting up a picture shot of me carving pumpkins amongst autumnal trees and grass (see first pic), when realised that item which had just rezzed was more than the prim count that I had left on the land. Strange.
Turned out that this was because SL had decided to send into Lost and Found
- 7 assorted kittycats
- 1 folding chair
- 1 set of washing, on a line.
Items are all scripted, but then so are oodles of other things. To cut long story short, kitties are returned to their homes, but still seems to be some kind of aftermath in which when "holding" a kitty animation does not work, so get unfortunate effect as pictured here with Marl.

Perhaps  is revenge of the spammers for sending their comments straight to spam.

Princess practice; Octopus kimono; Bubbles

Crowns acquired: 3 (free); Hair acquired: 3, inc. 1 sparkly (good); Bubble-emitting windmills acquired: 1 (v.v. cut)

New "practice" project makes blogging into work so am feeling not at all guilty that am recording various acts of SL consumption instead of
- finishing peer review of article that is now mega urgent
- writing article about rhetorics of play in SL
- putting finishing touches to ppt for talk next week
- emailing students to arrange meetings
etc. etc. etc. and those are just some of the more attractive alternatives. However yesterday was a VWER meeting so is obviously v. important that capture Thoughts and Feeling re that, foremost of which is that spent some time perfecting princess outfit before attending. Hair Fair just started and had already:
- looked at set of hair fair pictures on Seraphimsl
- scrutinised pics on fave blogs such as Chic's
- sent Dimitrova in to browse a few shops and pick up freebies.
Therefore when finally managed to get into sim targeted xPlosion where picked up hair which has lightening streaks running through it. They flash and flicker! as you wear the hair! So who can resist, frankly, plus a percentage of the dosh goes to the charity Wigs for Kids, so is practically duty to spend money. Also acquired v. pretty updo from Ink (they didn't do it in blue, but you can tint it), and this frizzy hair from Analog Dog. This has v. nice HUD where you can tint the highlights, v. cool. Crowns were freebie in ISON store, gold, silver and iron.

Dress was got at the latest round of Kustom9, and is by Junbug. Junbug specialises in satiny long dresses but thought this especially pretty example of her art. Then chiffon shawl was something had in mind to buy for a while, and it so goes with the dress so popped to Lika Ruby store to get it. Main issue was - what colour, but decided to match dress rather than contrast.

So as can see, spent long time preparing for VWER meeting but not exactly in terms of deeply considering topic for discussion that week i.e. virtual worlds and digital health. Nevertheless may be useful to identify Information Practice in acquiring stunning outfit.

First thing is Monitoring i.e. keep lookout for shopping events coming up. In fact difficult to miss Hair Fair if you are looking at the feeds i.e. in my case Iheartsl blog aggregator feed, as increasingly filled with bloggers teasing with upcoming hairstyles to be released at Hair Fair. Then look at Chic Aeon's blog and the Itsonlyfashion blog more or less every day and they always get previews plus Cajsa on Itsonlyfashion always plugs charitable events like this. She is even doing little slideshows of her fave styles. So then is only matter of waiting for event to OPEN and for industrious bloggers of SeraphimSL to put up a gallery of special releases.So is worth noting that this is all to do with SL fashionistas sharing pics, comments and links about SL fashion.

When eventually went in, searched for Hair Fair in SL search and then kept trying to TP until finally managed it (as sims were v.v. full couldn't get in first try, always the same with popular events: in fact made no attempt to get in til event had been on a few days as knew would be hopeless). Once arrive everything takes ages to rez, matter of greyish blobs slowly emerged and turning into whatever it is they are) so usually just leave self floating and go off and do something else (not in SL) until enough has rezzed to know where you're going. Simples.

After this suppose is matter of knowing how to:
1) Establish whether hair available in blue (as otherwise pointless going further)
2) Buy demo hair
3) Wear demo hair
4) Buy proper hair, if demo proves hair worth buying.

Have already said which 3 hairs bought, still need to go back to buy Hair with Birds see e.g. here ZOMG it is so cute etc. As regards shawl had seen it when doing some window shopping months ago, Lika Ruby doesn't bring stuff out v. often but is usually good stuff when does. So was a matter of searching for shop and TPing in.

Anyway when got to VWER at least one person noticed fab outfit as Beth said /me curtseys to Queen Sheila and jested in reply that was practising my princess skills. Anyway must say that during meeting was taking even more pics than usual as ZOMG I Look So Cute. Mind you there were others looking cute as well inc. one person as large green object, not exactly sure what. Apart from this, might be invidious to pick out faves.

Today was tempted to go into SL because saw a notice which one of my SL groups had sent out (redirected to email), viz:

Group Notice From: *NAMINOKE* UPDATE GRUPE, taiko McCaw

Hi!

Kimonoichi started!
I made octopus yukatas, so plz get notecard for more info!

Have good summer < 333  

Octopus yukatas! Who can resist. So went inworld, got attached notecard and TPed into event. SL is all about Learning New Cultures and Kimonoichi seems to mean Kimono Festival, anyway they happen in Winter and Summer and event was certainly packed with stalls selling kimono. Again took ages for things to rez, but when did, stumbled onto Naminoke stand. Did in end resist temptation of yukata (light summer kimono) with picture of octopus on but invested 35 Linden (a snip) in gatcha to get hand-held windmill that emits bubbles. Got supercute rare one with transparent sweeps. Therefore remainder of time in SL spent taking pics of self holding windmill in arty poses. One shown is so arty you can't actually see windmill, just bubbles.

So, not much reflection on role of VWs in digital health, but giant win as regards cuteness.

Note re pics: 1st is me posing moodily on picturesque sim; 2nd is pic of me posing in same sim, was aiming for look you get in some fashion shoots where model is placed in unlikely environment with picturesque or indigenous set of animals/people and assume are meant to think gosh how cool/edgey/on-trend/ethically-sound/cosmopolitan is THIS brand, must rush out and get the look NOW; 3rd is overhead view of VWER meeting, note my skirt is so poufy it eats the table; 4th is Naminoke's booth at kimonoichi, middle gacha is the windmill one; 5th is arty bubble shot

Colours

Colours: 52 (challenging)
As usual when doing oodles in SL have had no time to blog same. However can be noted that do appear to have enough time for fashion blog posts here, here and here. These are part of the 52 Weeks of Colour bloggers challenge, started by Luna Jubilee. Each week she announces a new colour and then bloggers fall over themselves to dress up in it, blog and post the pics to Flickr. Or some people signal coolness by declaring how dreadful one would look if one DID dress entirely in said colour, and blog something which is meant to amusingly hint at the colour, in an artful way. However, as can be seen on right, own approach is simply to drape self in variations in colour, in hopes that at least one of the colours is the right one.
Main challenge seems to me in finding 52 different real colours, but even by 3rd week emerges that unreal colours will also feature i.e. this week was goldenrod week. Now, goldenrod is a real plant and is sort of mustardly colour, fading to grungy kind of brown (at least stuff you get in bargain bouquets at Tesco's is). However, colour as set by Luna is sort of pleasant pale honey. Anyway, main benefit is that may discourage spending on new clothes in SL, since have set self a sub-challenge, which is to try and only use existing inventory. Not very difficult, actually, so far grey, blue and goldenrod have been a case of Spoilt For Choice. As you can see, even managed to find golden nail polish.
This is all rather in the line of fiddling whilst Rome burns, as good SL sims are renounced, LL introduces bizarre and unsettling things like display names (so, "sheila.yoshikawa" is now just my username??? but it's my NAME!), and various aspects of the UK public sector teeter on brinks.
But one has to get ones priorities right. And colour-matched nails surely must come pretty high up on anyone's priority list.

A wasted evening or a pleasant evening?

Hours spent in SL last night: [mumbles shiftily] (bad? or good?)
Spent rather a lot of time in SL last night. Have been ruminating on whether this is Good Thing or Bad Thing. Peer pressure pushes one to latter view, but had reasonable amount of fun, so surely must be Good ...
Have been toying with idea of doing autoethnographic study and was thinking (whilst walking to work this morning in RL in pouring rain) about how might put together chatlog and pics and other people's pics to make a rich narrative of what went on. Was thinking could present this in SL, in fact ideal might be if you could be sent on the SAME JOURNEY (which implies some kind of HUD). However, believe that starting point (Relay For Life sims) are gone already. Therefore installations somewhere else in SL with giant posters and perhaps sound might do it, or COULD use one of the tour vehicles with one's commentary going on in text chat as you were flown round.
You may be thinking "surely autoethnography is some sort of cheat research" (unless you yourself are an authoethnographer, obviously). However, you can get published or even a PhD by doing it. This simple fact can be proved by googling "autoethnography aims" (as did but a short while ago).

The basics of autoethnography involve writing about yourself, but have to be illuminating some kind of reserarch problem, obviously, and also have to convince people that you are a sufficiently interesting case that you will give insights to others. Was thinking that perhaps if started by analysing a bit of data then might start refining questons. However, also realise that have just had annual Staff Review session with Head of Dept without word autoethnography passing lips, so perhaps thsi is one of those projects that will talk about for years and then lose interest in.
Anyway last night:
1) Visited Relay for Life sims, flying round the builds in a rather touristic fashion, pausing to try out any particularly cool animation e.g. shovelling coal or playing the church organ. There is big road, with donation points all along it.
2) Followed up on some items, found, notably, a v. pretty blue tree (which was Relay For Life charity item) and some goats. Bought tree but not goats. Sim with goats mostly sells wearable horses and hought horse demo which the tried out on Noyo after planting new tree.
3) Stalked visitor on my land who was outside one of my oriental houses, wearing sort of ronin outfit, in order to take pics.
4) This is point when might have gone home, but Brielle IMed me to ask if liked Scottish piping and next thing was doing a sword dance whilst the live pipes skirled away impressively. Stopped for a dram, then did some more dancing.
5) Looked at iheartsl fashion feed and saw an embedded video of this week's Fabulous Fashion which featured interview with creator of Swansong and Atomic Bambi. Watched it.
6) Remembered had Swansong dress in inventory that had never actually worn. Changed into it and saw it was good. Decided to base a look around it.
7) Tried on shoes, tights, wraps, necklaces, hair etc etc for some considerable time. Decided needed different shoes, went to G. Field where bought shoes AND tights. Also bought hair butterflies from Atomic Bambi.
8) Photographed self in rose garden in G. Field
9) Photoshopped and uploaded to Flickr, and then blogged outfit here.
10) Visited a sim. What? Why? Who knows, it was v. late by then, but think was in pursuit of some cute item. Anyway, ended up in Evans Cafe and at that point crashed out.

So, ever do analysis of the v. interesting night of 21st July, will be in good position to do so..

Lost

Blogs deactivated: 1 (bad); Blog posts vanished: 63 (v.v. bad)

Have mentioned that do some SL fashion blogging at iheartsl.com, which is a blog on Wordpress. This is/was a huge blog, with a lot of people directing in feeds from other fashion blogs. Some people, like me, just posted there directly. When I posted yesterday, there were over 16,000 postings. This is the post, on the right (just managed to catch it before it vanished off the fashionplanet.worldofsl.com aggregator). Now, you might think that the world is better off without such bizarre postings, and indeed if I don't fashion blog any more that will be, um, XXX hours per year saved to do more meaningful things. However, had thought that it was harmless fun.
Anyway, when logged in today, found that was unable to access iheartsl blog, or any of my blog posts on it. Instead was notice that blog had been deactivated for breaching Terms of Service.

To cut long story short (since should currently ber finishing off teaching for tomorrow, not maundering over lost fashion blog posts) the blog contravened TOS in that took paid advertising. Gogo (also my landlady in SL, for my shop on Juicy), who runs iheartsl, claims that they had been in communication with someone who was not her, which is why she didn't give anyone any notice, see http://juicybomb.typepad.com/blog/2009/10/why-i-moved-iheartsl.html

She has set up another site, but basically for people who feed in stuff from other blogs, and she doesn't say anything about people like me who are apparently waving bye-bye to their old posts.

Have sent report to Wordpress asking for access to posts back (as certainly don't want whole 16.000 iheartsl.com posts to sift through for my 60!) and will also notecard Gogo, but is is rather depressing.

Lessons learned:

- remember that when use free blogging services, can all vanish overnight

- beware services where you are not the admin

- back stuff up (sigh) (of course I hadn't)

If really want to, can probably retrieve entries searching on Google and then clicking on "Cached" for each (just checked, yes I can) and probably should do it soon before they aren't cached any more. However will take time, which at present, don't really have. O bother.

Worst thing is that was going to use some of these entries in Serious Presentation giving on 12th October as a contribution to a seminar in an ESRC Research Seminar series. Am going to use autoethnographic approach to chart my personal journey. So not just frivolous nonsense. Honestly.

Lessons in fashion marketing: 2

No. of free items obtained through DNS: 10 (good); No. of useful free items obtained through DNS: 7 (even better)
On Thursday had interesting meeting about possibility of having information literacy week and will blog that when have gone through usual tedious business of putting chatlog online, editing pictures, putting up link to chat inworld, announcing that same is available, plus this time intend to put out notice encouraging people to contribute ideas and possibly set up dedicated social networking site. Feel tired just thinking about it.
In meantime have joined the Designers Showcase Network as Consumer. This is something that had been at edge of radar, with fashion bloggers mentioning items from "DSN", but finally sprang into action when noticed that Chic Aeon blogged an intriguing tree from October Rust. Am a sucker for SL trees (hmm, almost an unintentional pun there). So followed v. useful explanation of how it works [which can't find atthe moment, but can use the DSN link above] and then popped inworld to sign up for a few channels, namely Female Fashion, Jewelry, Tools, Home & Garden and Poses.
Idea is that each designer contributes a free item. Each day a randomly selected sample of people get that item. No person gets more than 1 item per channel per day. No one gets more than 1 item ever per channel from the same designer.
Gain from designers point of view is that for a mere 250 Linden and cost of designing item get possible access to new markets, or reminding existing customers that they exist. Obviously the hope is that you say "Wow, really great [insert name of item] must buy more!" and tp over to store to buy.Benefit to Consumer is that you get free stuff. This is definitely a plus (see below) and adds excitement of "what will I get free when I log on today!"
Down side is that you want to log in to see what free stuff you got today, so addiction factor of SL goes up notch. Also adds IMs, thus meaning some useful IMs may get capped. Also is matter of inventory bloat, but at 25,000 items, what are another few? Or so I say to myself.
I am pictured with some of the best items above. Am rather picky about fashion things, so neitherof 2 outfits were my thing, and only one of the jewelry items, so outfit is Model's Own, as they say. However, am using one of the free poses, from Reel Expression. Also can see cute piano stool from Kunstkammer (today) and Bed from Lyla (yesterday, see 2nd pic showing it in my bedroom), plus 2 tools. Translation one is a board where you drop in notecards in different languages (should you be able to translate into all those languages) and then people click on relevant flag to get them. Designer sells translation services, so obvious where THEY see money coming from. This COULD be used to dispanse notecards about Information Literacy in different languages, is my thought on this - even just "what is 'info literacy' in ..."
Other tool appears to be full permissions, and when you click it, asks for you to type something in (you would drop in a texture saying what you wanted e.g. "type in your idea for information literacy week") and then it dispenses whatever object you put in, as a gift. Am thinking of commissioning some jewelry with the info literacy international logo, that would be IMHO cool.
Crunch point is: have I spent money with any of these people? At this stage answer is: no. However, will certainly visit new-to-me Lyla and (whoever it was designed the full perms tool, am not inworld at present), also it reminded me that Dark Mouse (cute bangle) and Kunstkammer are good designers. So think this is good marketing idea.
Research perspective: one of my key interests used to be the pricing of electronic information, so marketing is topic know something about; promotional strategies for virtual goods ....
Final pic has nothing to do with all this and advertises Infolit iSchool June festival. Bring your friends.

Gowns

Gowns bought: 3 (good); No. of events where can wear gowns: 0 (bad)

Have bought some extravagent gowns recently, namely:

1) Blue shimmery gown from Evie's Closet (shown right and centre). There is marginal justification for this since intend to use it for Babylon 5 role play (Centauri Society Woman). Or perhaps that doesn't actually count as an excuse?

2) Black gown bought in sale of Annah Couture for only 100 Linden. Was not sure about this at first as seemed a bit transparent, but fine with glitch pants from another dress underneath and skirt is very frothy. Has definite princess feel to it.

3) Purple dress from Digit Darkes, which snapped up as soon as it hit the feeds, and shown here worn with purple wooly cardi. Although as not as prim-heavy as their tulle skirts, skirt still clocks in at 61 prims.

Sad thing is that any would be ideal to go swirling about at dances (like one attended tonight, see pic), or showing off at conferences, but such is their prim count that this would simply be deemed anti social. Is strange paradox. Plus, have noticed increasing sad tendency of people to wear same stuff as in RL at conferences. What is the point if cannot swoosh about in pixelated costumes unfeasible in RL (I ask).

I am on the feeds

No. of blog feeds I am added to: 2 (v. good); No. of hours wasted crafting entry for fashion blog: 2 (bad)

New feeds for Fashion and Life have been created. Have been wondering in aimless fashion how to get onto main SL fashion blog feed, so signed up with new feeds asap. Was v. excited to find yesterday that Dimitrova's blog had been added to fashion stream (http://fashion.iheartsl.com/) so immediately spent considerable time selecting outfit, posing, photoshopping, checking clothing details etc etc. all of which time should have been spent marking, writing peer reviewed papers, collecting data for annual review of learning and teaching and so forth.

Have now added Yoshikawa blog to lifestyle feed (http://grid.iheartsl.com/) so suppose this will be first post to show up there. First pic shows screenshot of Dimitrova's blog in fashion feed, yay.

Am now determined to spend today doing proper work. However:

a) am actually giving RL talk in London tomorrow about "uses of SL", so every excuse to dip into SL;

b) have meeting with Maggie and Ishbel this pm in SL about our SL workshop at a RL conf. in March and

c) this evening is the regular educator's meeting in the Black Library (Hyperboria) - how could I miss that. (answer= easily)

Hmm. 2nd pic shows me and Ishbel in a pre-meeting last night i.e. she IMed me "are you busy" and I said "No".

Fabrics

Leather trousers purchased: 1 pair (good); No. of time term "leather trousers" used in this post: 4 (or 5 including this one)
This post prompted by way in which found self describing clothes worn yesterday, namely "leather trousers". Suddenly realised that am so much beyond idea of avatar clothes as mere prims and pixels that in case of this garment actually went searching for "leather trousers" (specifically, searching blog of fashionista Michami with said terms) and after purchase felt satisfied that was now in possession of "leather trousers".

Is common for designers to launch new line in terms such as following "This classic gown has a full skirt of finest moire silk, speckled with glittering sequins, and a generous ruffle at the hem, the bodice is in toning silk velvet with chiffon garlanding the neckline and the deep sleeves are also ruffled with delicate lace."

On reading this, response would tend to be "Whoa, way too many ruffles!" or "Why isn't she doing this with a scripted skirt" or "I want it! Now!" rather than, say, "Silk? Velvet? Chiffon? What is this, it's all pixels!".

Is this wrong? (Discuss)

Am here depicted (in Fleur sim) wearing shimmering raw silk skirt with delicate golden coins sewn into the hemline. This is complemented by a lycra and silk-cotton top, and a necklace crafted from gold and a real peacock feather. Yay.

Flaunting purchases

Wedding dresses flounced about in SL: 1 (good); New hair bought: 1 (good); Handbags bought in SL: 2 (bad)

This post is merely to show off arty pics of some of yesterday's purchases, namely one of the wedding dresses and the Ginny jacket.

Back view of wedding dress shows graceful train: am wearing the Magika Poufy hair, which is more elegant than name implies. This is in my new home (yet another one) which am preparing before selling up old land, since even I realise must consolidate purchases.

The other pic shows the Ginny jacket, worn with some new hair from Armidi, whence also came one of the new handbags. Had resisted bags up til now except for things like cute free ones in shape of fluffy kittens. Well, except for that briefcase, and the blue clutch bag, and .... at any rate have far fewer bags than do dresses. Problem with bags is that they disappear into one as soon as one sits down or otherwise animate oneself. Also are utterly pointless, but then what is point of new jacket or indeed clothes at all in SL. For who do see a point the necklace is from Yummy and the dress from Nyte'n'Day and am in Creators Pavilion sim which has Japanese shops and flats.

They're having a sale

Unsuccessful attempts to teleport to Dazzle sim: 15 (bad); Successful tp to Dazzle: 1 (good); No. of outfits bought at Last Call sale in Dazzle: 10 (good, or bad, depending how you look on it)
Is closing down sale at Last Call, based on Dazzle sim, all v. sad as one of the RL people behind Last Call died in RL, however up side for consumers was everything in shop going for $L100. Whenever looked at Map of Dazzle could see green dots (=avatars) piled high in that and surrounding sim, and attempts to teleport ended with long silence followed by sad pinging sound indicating failure.
However eventually got into next door sim and pressed or rather oozed towards road separating it from Dazzle. Have been numerous fashion blog posts elsewhere advising people to take off all additional prims to reduce laginess, so had removed skirt, hair and animation override. I am bald purple avatar in these pics, which show generally lumpy grey nature of laggy world in Dazzle and neighbourhood.

Were red No Entry signs (which you cannot see in photo) along road, but know from experience that red lines do not go all the way up (thought most people knew this, but evidently not) so flew upwards until reached top and then over onto roof of Last Call shop. Hurrah. Was not sure how would then get INTO shop but in fact as was moving at tortuously slow place across roof somehow fell in.

Then was a matter of moving camera around, waiting for things to rez into visibility and then deciding whether or not this was the item I would forever regret not snapping up now. Of course as in RL when have made so much effort is strong temptation to see all items as essential and desirable which is how I ended up with lots more skirts, tops and glitch pants, not to mention 2 complete wedding gowns. If called upon suddenly to wed in SL will not be short of appropriate garb as already had about 3.

Once had collected booty went home and started trying them on and the rest of the pics show some of the outfits. Ah, vanity.
Title of this blog entry is reference to one of my favourite adverts ever, which saw in Australia. Cast consisted of First Man and John, who I think were RL salespeople.
First Man (entering cheap office set) "We're having a sale, John!"
John: (looking up, bemused) "Why?"
First Man (triumphantly) "Why not!!"
There followed alot of shouting about the wonderful bargains on offer - possibly lounge furniture.

Written down like that can see why it would not appear immediately enthralling but was one of those adverts that is so awful that you find yourself lingering around to see if it will come up again during the break. Or perhaps you never do that.

Discussion on search and shopping

Meetings in CILR office = 1 (good)

Realise with embarrassment that after Centre for Information Literacy Research discussion in SL on Tuesday, about Useful information sources and strategies for learning about how & where to shop:
1) Uploaded chat transcript to dinky Leeds met application
2) Updated notecards in office
3) Changed hover script of next meeting to 25 September
4) IMed the IL Group and Academic Avatars group with info on location of transcript
5) Tidied up pics of session
but failed to blog it. Oops. V. bad.

Anyway, after anxious start when thought no-one but me and Ishbel would be there (see 2nd pic) some more people turned up including repeat visitors. Had given "everyday information seeking" spin to talk, so feared that had put of fashionistas whilst serious folks would think shopping beneath them.

Anyhow, interesting talk ensued, exploring inadequacies of SL search once more. Talked about some "work round" strategies, and also how people used blogs and other web sources - on the whole more than asking advice of other people. Ended with sharing thoughts on challenges of shopping esp. for slightly scarey things like skins.

Transcript is at http://sleeds.org/chatlog/?c=129

Earthtones sale

Bracelet sets bought: 1 (good); Money saved in sale: lots (good); Necklaces bought: 4 (bad, but in a good way)

Earthtones is favourite jewellry store, so must mention that there is sale on, lots of items lined up outside store with 50% off. Had gone there to pick up necklace to match new clothes that had made (will save that for later post) and discovered sale.

Of course this is invitation to consume madly so clicked happily until inventory weighed down with 2 Maya necklace/ earring sets, matching bracelets for one Maya necklace, multicoloured crescent necklace & more modest jewel pendant with changing colour stones. Wheee!

First pic shows me wearing one of Maya necklaces with granny shrug plus dress from ICING. Second pic shows me in Boho wooden necklace unfortunately not in sale, had bought this on previous visit. Am also wearing earrings in both pictures but earrings mostly waste of money with my new hair since it covers them up. Earthtones sale is on til 23rd August, http://earthtonesboutique.blogspot.com/ coordinates in SL Bushido Bay (76, 236, 24).

PS am not being given any free stuff for this advert.

Unfortunately.

You start to worry when...

1. Browsing for clothes in RL you think "that would look good on me in Second Life"

2. Shopping in Marks & Spencers, you have the urge to right click on a dress and select BUY

3. You have to remind yourself that in RL putting that dress in your shopping cart is not going to cost you $400 Linden dollars, but rather £50 i.e. $25,000 Linden dollars

4. You suddenly realise that you have probably spent $25,000 Linden dollars on stuff in SL in only 2 months. Mostly on clothes.

Like those in the picture. Isn't the outfit cute? And the crochet top was so cheap! Only $50 Linden. I think it tones really nicely with the skirt (and so on, and so on)

Fixing things; Visit; Fashion

Guided visits: 1 (good); Items fixed in Centre for Information Literacy Research Office: 2 (good, but could do better); Outfits bought: 1 (unless you count the leggings and shrugs in which case it's about 20)

After orgy of SL activity leading up to CILR office launch have tried to spend less time in SL and more in catching up with RL work backlog plus enjoying fact that this seems to be week in which North of England has its summer.

Was some essential SL work, namely fixing copyable bear that noone could copy and suggestions box in which noone could leave suggestions. Main prob. was issue of Permissions which appear complex and not entirely satisfactory even when know what you are doing, to judge by various posting and tutorials found.

In terms of bear have enabled people to Buy it for zero Linden Dollars which appears to work. In terms of box, have replaced Potlatch Box with simple 1 prim box in which people can drop notecards if members of Information Literacy Group. Aim is to collect suggestions on future events in Centre and MK has already suggested 2 ideas, hurrah.

Do not point out in box's instructions that can obviously join IL Group briefly in order to drop suggestion and then unjoin from IL Group once suggestion dropped. Hopefully people with constructive suggestions will work this out and spammers won't. Suppose it is rule of Life that if anything will be other way round i.e. people wanting to cause trouble will do so.

Other big SL activity since last writing was visit to meeting space (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Wasp/74/31/86/) of Australian educators, with guided tour from Jokay Wollongong and Sean McDunnough. Jokay and Sean have excellent Second Life in Education wiki at http://sleducation.wikispaces.com/. AF was there too, always nice to have someone you know turn up at these events. Was amusing incident with broom in hairdressing salon, also whilst everyone sitting professionally in conference forum think outsider intruded to perform dance on stage and fart but everyone ignored politely and continued listening to Sean talking about educational approaches. Believe this behaviour called Griefing.

Event useful for learning movement and conversation skills as well as learning about education. Shown various info boards, conference hall & also sim of hairdressing salon for use by hairdressing students to learn communication skills etc. (see second photo) There are some more pics of this event by Jokay on flickr e.g. this one (that's me with the blue hair and long black skirt)

Finally could not get through last days without usual shopping excursions have found good place to buy leggings and shrugs, staples in any wardrobe, from Frustrated Inc. Discovered this place through Closet Crisis, v. good blog at http://www.closetcrisis.com/

Last photos shows self in consumption mode.

Freebies 2

Helicopters found in gift bag: 1 (v.good); Fireplaces found in gift bag: 1 (OK); Friendship bears found in gift bag: 1 (v. useful); Fig trees found in gift bag: 1 (v.good) (and so it goes on)

Main part of this entry will highlight some of the more unusual gifts found in a SL educator's gift bag. First, however, will mention 1st pic which features dress free from Vicious (SL nightclub) exhibition stand at Blogher. The photo was taken in quaintly picturesque Amacitia.

It is worn with burgandy mesh jacket from another suit, and a recent purchase, namely smart briefcase. Latter is of course completely and utterly pointless since all items actually carried in Inventory, but decided that makes the short skirt look businesslike rather than come-hither. In this photo that endeavour undermined somewhat by glimpse of stocking top, so have now removed those leaving only more sedate footless tights.

So on to the mega-freebie giftbag that picked up at the CHSS Instructor Resource Center. Was evidently given out at SL Best practices in Education conference and am seen standing next to it in 2nd pic. There is also some more free stuff including copies of the Jack and Jill boxes that have clothes etc. of use to newbies. As am bona fide educator and intend educating in SL feel that legitimate in picking up bag, through truth to tell has no. of things v. useful to others e.g.
White marble fireplace with flickering fire
Bookcase
Fig tree
Bluebells
Assortment of shirts and trousers
Balloons
Large picture of Shakespeare with embedded sonnet (every home should have one)
Lots of things the use of which have not yet worked out

Most immediately exciting was working helicopter . Got in and zoom off we go at rather alarming rate in that controls work (perhaps) in helicopter like way and am hopeless at straightening up. Before know it am lost in vast horizon and takes while to spot Home and set course back.

So now have helicopter in inventory. Cool.

BTW you will notice broadness and emptyness of horizon. This is because lively Imagination Island which was next door has DIASAPPEARED. Was puzzled abou this until read Art Fossett's blog in which he complains about noise and disruption and had put in request to LL to get Eduserv Island moved somewhere quieter. If only RL were that simple.

Sheila Yoshikawa's shopping tips

People have been asking me about good places to shop (well, actually ONE person has asked, but any excuse). So here are three top tips for shopping delight.

1) Miriel's jewellry. When I visited last night there were 3 nice collections on free offer: in the pic I'm wearing a gold choker from one of them (Photo 1: as usual, click on the thumbnail to see a bigger photo). I've been very happy with the geisha hair ornaments and necklace I'd bought previously. Also I think the store is quite stylish. http://slurl.com/secondlife/
nouveau/112/205/23/?title=Miriel

2) Vindi Vindaloo. There are some very good items on a table "free" (actually costing $1, but that's almost free) in the women's shop. In particular the Diamond trouser Suit is excellent (Photo 2) and the overskirt from the Diamond gown is the really flouncy black thing that has featured in several previous photos. I found the overskirt combined well with black underskirts from other outfits.

In fact I've found the 2 outfits I BOUGHT less satisfying e.g. the Douceur Rouge is very striking, but the red underskirt makes my bottom enormous, and the Overskirt skirt (seen in 3rd pic) droops down when I sit (whereas the Diamond Day skirt fluffs up prettily). There is less free stuff in the men's shop: shirt and ties and a white tuxedo. http://slurl.com/secondlife/
plush%20kappa/47/48/22/?title=Vindi%20Vindaloo

3) White Lily designs. I have found the collection of cashmere cardigans great value (I'm wearing the black one in the first photo and the red one in the third one) and they also have good collections of other basic items (e.g. the white everyday trousers in the third photo, worn under the red skirt so it looks less indecent when I sit down). There is als a free dress near the entrance to the shop. http://slurl.com/secondlife/
MIA/230/30/29/?title=White%20Lily