Tuesday, 20 May 2008

Using SL with first years

Discussions held: 2 (good)
There is a transcript of the session on Using SL in a first year undergraduate module held on 15 May 2008 on Infolit iSchool in Second Life (the virtual world) online at http://sleeds.org/chatlog/?c=291
In this session Maggie, Ishbel and I talked about the class aims, the nature of the intervention etc. and our thoughts about its impact. Good lot of discussion. You can see were a good number of people there, in fact were even a few not in that pic e.g. Pancha, who was wearing a cool alien costume just out of shot. Am writing up a case study about it, and will do a post here when is online.


Today discussion was more informal but still a few people turned up. Had a chat about some of the usual things e.g. learners' attitudes to SL. Ab Marvin came along for the first time in a while. He and Ishbel were 2 people at very first Info Literacy group meeting. Turns out has been teaching in SL too at Abo Akademi. Interesting. After some chat toured the island including where have put up posters presented by Information Management students. have blogged that elsewhere.


By the end of tour was just Robin, Cas and me, but we celebrated with ice creams at the Shore Thing.

The minaret reappears

Minarets mysteriously reappearing: 1 (good) (But baffling)

I know some people will have been worrying about this. The middle part of the minaret that vanished has returned, from who knows where. If they could only speak, eh?

The boat "Demo", however, is still moored just outside my waters. Here I am trying to persuade myself that it doesn't spoil the view. But it's no good, it does. Wonder if I should write to Governor Linden (owner of that chunk of sea, at least that is what it says when you Edit Land) about it.

Monday, 19 May 2008

Farewell and Hello

Babylon 5 quarters abandoned: 1 (bad); Babylon 5 quarters rented: 1 (good); Babylon 5 stations decommisioned: 1 (bad); New Babylon 5 stations constructed: 1 (good)

Who can forget bit in Sleeping in Light when Sinclair [I mean Sheridan!]visits almost deserted B5 just before B5 gets blown to smithereens and Sinclair [ditto] goes to some vague but well lit Beyond. Well, obviously, anyone who isn't B5 fan, and any such can stop reading now since will be doing more fannish burbling in this post.

Excellent people who seem to devote lives to recreating B5 in SL have upgraded B5 experience as have moved to bigger and better B5 simulation. This entailed moving out of old B5 so was ejected from quarters and went to pack up and say farewell. Now this was probably like scene where Lyta is told by Zack that she has to vacate nice spacious unit with proper shower and downgrade to small pokey unit.
In fact (as will emerge) am not having to downgrade to pokey unit, although new quarters will not have shower unless put one in, but, for those who know, this indicates general air of quiet melancholy. Am pictured saying farewell to Babcom unit which, readers may remember, is what clinched it as far as renting went.

Yesterday the new sim, Epsilon 3, opened and tp-ed in eagerly. Was welcomed by one of creators, Dollwife, and then explored it in own time. Is startlingly spacious, and was particularly impressed by:
a) Garden - ah those scenes with Delenn and Sinclair [I think I meant Sheridan again - but there were scenes with Sinclair too]! Delenn and Kosh! Londo and (etc etc etc). Can also see garden through strategically placed windows.

b) Outside of B5 - can stand in C&C and then zoom out and is just like being Ivanova at the start of the show!!

c) Corridors - all long and spooky!

d) Everything else.

Quarters are still for rent. At first thought would opt for quarters near garden, but then discovered Ambassadorial suites, so of course had to have the Centauri ambassador's rooms. Only 25 prims extra allowed for furnishing so will have to choose wisely. Here I am contemplating the purple drapes and hoping that Londo hasn't left any decaying spoo in the cupboards.
P.S. The Minbari ambassador's room has a proper sloping Minbari bed! Was almost swayed by this coolness, but remain loyal to Londo, the rogue.

Sunday, 18 May 2008

Where is the minaret?

Parts of building disappearing: 1 (bad); Boats appearing offshore: 1 (bad)

Checked Moorish house part of property for first time for a while and discovered that there is problem, namely, middle part of minaret appear to have gone. V. strange. Has someone hacked in and deleted it - if so - why that bit? Has earth shifted downward, leaving top part of minaret stranded? Is it simply Linden Lab glitch? Was I so tired one evening that fell into trance and went around doing random deletions? In fact is not aesthetically displeasing and leaves pleasant view in gap where middle of minaret should be but that is not the point. Wonder whether will reappear just as mysteriously.

On other hand, a boat apparently called "Demo" has appeared offshore. Is not actually in my parcel, in fact is in open sea belonging to Eric Linden, so cannot get rid of it. Quite decorative in a way, but whole point of that land is uninterrupted view of sea. Hrumph.

Missed and attended

No. of education events missed due to foolish mistake re time: 1 (bad); No of castle warming parties attended: 1 (good); No of 20s parties attended: 1 (good)
Yesterday was due to be busy day in SL since had planned to a) attend castle warming party at noon SL time and b) attend interesting education session on team working at 1.30 SL time. However, when entered SL around noon (ie 8pm in RL here) realised awful truth namely that was too late for education session by 12 hours as it started at 01.30 (9.30 am RL time). Oops. Should really have realised as person facilitating it lives in Hong Kong in RL. V. foolish and will have to apologise since was limited attendance event and might have been waiting list.


Somewhat chastened changed into party gear. Invitation was really to Ishbel as is her neighbour with castle, but she had been told could bring friends so she asked me and Pancha. In fact am almost neighbour as is just in nextdoor sim to my home. Dress code was "historical" so had rooted through huge inventory and found Barerose "First Princess" outfit with natty crown, and paired this with poofy skirt and boots. Not sure was strictly historical, but in fact when teleported in turned out that most women were wearing vaguely low cut gowns so fitted in. Hosts are writing historical novel set in French chateau on which castle is based. Ishbel kept crashing out so withdrew early.
When got home again took some pictures of self lounging around in princess outfit, then followed up general invite to 1920s party celebrating - something or other to do with the 1920s I presume. Found a 1920s dress in inventory too. Have decided that will view this as validation of shopping policy (i.e. ready for any situation) rather than signal to stop buying NOW.

Student work

Haggis companions purchased: 1 (good); Free Scotland strips received: 1 (good); Races lost because SOMEONE distracted me with a notecard in middle of race: 1 (bad)

Visited work of students at University of West of Scotland on Thursday. Enjoyable. Consisted of Museum of inventors, model of Hampden but without presence of fans or indeed footballers, and wildlife park including Loch Ness monster. Was also a monorail but didn't work out how to use it. Inventors' exhibition on 2 floors v. informative with links to wiki. Green feet things indicated path round exhibition (first pic.).


Wildlife park also included notecard posts giving (as you might expect) notecards about various fauna. My urge for consumption was satisfied as could purchase Haggis companion for only a few Linden (strange badger like creature that follows you when you rez it, reminded me of days when Phil the Phoenix was my constant companion). Could also purchase rather large squirrel but did not think existing squirrels on Infolit iSchool would approve. As can see in this pic there was also Weather, as often experienced in Scotland.

The final exhibit was of Hampden, looking forward to Commonwealth Games in 2014 which (as any visitor to Glasgow cannot escape knowing) are taking place in Glasgow. Here there was a quiz about Commonwealth games, which I didn't exactly pass, but I was nevertheless kindly given a Scotland shirt.
This was possibly to compensate for the fact that I was completely rubbish at a game where you had to keep clicking a coloured dome to get your ball to zoom round faster than anyone else's. On my 2nd attempt was actually doing OK when someone else in room dropped a notecard on me thus preventing clicking for some crucial seconds and resulting in humiliating defeat. Not that I'm blaming anyone but me, of course.

Saturday, 10 May 2008

Textures, book

Help given with applying textures: 1 session (good); Book about myself created: 1 (v. bad); Hours spent on book when should have been doing a ppt for a conference: would rather not say (v.v. bad)

Useful thing that did yesterday was to help advise on how to put textures on a prim (see first pic.). Bad thing that did yesterday was to spend considerable time on a New Work, namely Adventures of Yoshikawa: the Book (vol 1). This is all the fault of Ishbel (note to Ishbel: not really, I'm just trying to find someone to blame). Her RL version is an ace photographer and contributed pics to a book created by her local photographic society on an evil, time wasting application called blurb.com.
Within minutes of discovering this fatal site had downloaded software and was busily uploading pics and arranging text. Believe this is called Vanity Publishing, and indeed is vanity since is mostly filled with pictures of Me. Have got up to p22 of 40 (40 being limit for lowest cost book). You buy hard copy version (i.e. this is how Blurb makes money) and can offer them for sale in Blurb shop. Whheee!

Reach out


Reach out
Originally uploaded by Sheila Webber
Cheesy motivational posters created: 1 (bad)
Whilst procrastinating tonight I picked up a link to the Automotivator site where can create American-style "motivational" posters. Proves horribly easy to do and worst of it is,am now thinking "Hmmm, perhaps this poster isn't so bad after all". Also wasted further time in learning how to upload photos straight from Flickr to this blog. No end to the useless web 2.0 skills am acquiring.

Thursday, 8 May 2008

Variation

Presentations held: 1 (good); Peak no. in audience: 4 (OK); No. in audience at end: 1 (bad, but obviously better than zero); No. of slides in Angrybeth whiteboard: 28 (too many)

Today gave presentation on Using Variation Theory to develop a module on information literacy: abstract contained troublesome words like "phenomenography" so had not expected big turnout and was relieved that was not just me and Mitsy the cat.

Spent all day putting together ppt. This is for presentation in Sweden at SIG Phenomenography conference where will be god-fathers and -mothers of phenomenography e.g. Ference Marton. Therefore am concerned that presentation hangs together since would not like to warble on and then have Marton say that after all it is Not Variation Theory, with me then wishing to sink through floor to avoid contempt in eyes of assembled phenomenographers.

Thus had idea of doing pilot runs in SL and also (tomorrow) in RL. Am still in draft stage since although have handle on phenomenography through project we did, have not thus far grappled extensively with variation theory. When previously tried to explain what I want to do with Variation Theory in this module, people I'm talking too have glazed over and evidently lost will to live.

Anyway four people who heard bits of presentation were v. polite and person left at end was v. kind so feel was worthwhile.

This was first time have used Angrybeth whiteboard. Seemed straightforward though for some people took even longer for each slide to rez than on own challenged computer. Coincidentally immediately after presentation some other educator dropped by and recommended another presentation tool so will investigate.

Am not putting up chatlog since is basically me talking about slides, with copious spelling errors as per usual. However, am leaving presentation up on island for a bit, near Sakura House (see pics) so if anyone is interested in learning mysteries of phenomenography they can drop in.

After this decided to change display in shop. Uploaded pics of cherry blossom and dressed shop with assorted blossom related items. Discovered that vendors in shop had been incorrectly loaded so would have given people wrong pictures. Have had no complaints so perhaps no one bought any, or perhaps people were happier with surprise pics of roses rather than expected pics of daffodils. Think have got it right now. Here I am sitting outside shop. Is all rather pink but with cherry blossom theme what do you expect, eh.

Sunday, 4 May 2008

Is SL useful for web searching

Chatlogs posted: 1 (good); Questions resolved: none (inevitable)

Have posted the transcript of the discussion held on 1st May (last Thursday) on Infolit iSchool. Subject of this was whether Second Life was any use to help teach students how to search the web. Had asked people to bring along objects etc. that they had created to do this, but in fact no-one brought anything, though one person mentioned plans for an Information maze.
Chat log is at http://sleeds.org/chatlog/?c=288
In the pic I have used the Mystihud tool to rez a table with chairs - a new chair is added as soon as someone sits down. Crowding resulted from me losing nerve and adding several chairs just in case it didn't work automatically, which it did.

Another trip


No. of free kimonos sought: 4 (good); No. of free kimonos found: 0 (bad); No of free sushi meals acquired: 1 (good); No. of leeks acquired: 0 (bad)
Saw on blog feeds that Tenjin region had free kimonos, so teleported over. However, most of blog entry was in Japanese, and doubtless this disclosed detailed instructions of where could actually find free kimono since hunted round vainly trying to spot them.

However, in course of travels ended up with free sushi tray, also colourful globular creature (see pic top right), also strange bats to play some sort of game, also Fortune told at temple which seemed to be saying that my RL was going to go better than my SL and that I should avoid camping. Did not end up with leek (negi in Japanese, I know this because of the series Negima where leading child, allegedly from Wales, is called Negi) as it merely gave system error when tried to vend it to me. My inventory is lacking in edible green veg. so will have to go back to retry that and the spinach next to it. Yum.

Saturday, 3 May 2008

Rez Day


Parties attended: 1 (good); Lag encountered: lots (v. bad); Trips to Japanese schools: 1 (good)

Had some enjoyable Rez Day times despite Sl having "database issues" (vague yet menacing). Above shows party in Babylon 5 to celebrate 6 months of the Zocalo. Initially teleported in wearing centauri costume, but them seemed like most people not in costume, so hastily tp-ed out again and changed into something party-ish yet not too primmy i.e. silver trousers with favourite cardigan and latest heels which seem to look good with most things.
Next compilation shows me and Harumi in Banesse sim where have reproduction of Japanese school.

Sim is called Benesse which sounds like "Vanessa" as in one of heroines in Madlax, but seems to be some sort of education company in Japan. As can see has numerous features. Frustrating lack of seats that can actually sit on, also it needs a pose to lean against railing on roof while saying "Doste" to ones best friend or working up courage to confess to object of affection. Poses in fact rather odd, though not in nasty way, e.g. see those in swimming pool. Harumi was holding his sculptie cat btw.
However many pleasing details and was enjoyable visit, so should not be churlish.

Happy Rez Day to Me

Years in SL: 1 (good)

Have not blogged this week as have been zipping round at conferences and doing presentations and so forth. However today is my REZ DAY so will be celebrating by blogging, consuming, taking pics and photoshopping and so forth. Had planned to have party but in end too busy, also have fear that if organise social thing will end up being me, Mitsy and Goggles. Have arranged to visit Japanese sim with Harumi later which should be fun. Also plan to attend Babylon 5 party later on.

Seems to be convention to also have at least 1 blog entry musing on what 1 year in SL means, so will have to fit that in somewhere. In the meantime here is a cute picture of me.

Thursday, 24 April 2008

And yet more

Discussion session held in SL: 1 (good); Student events attended in SL: 2 (good); UK academics' fashion show missed: 1 (bad)

Today's discussion on Infolit iSchool featured Testy Outlander talking about her research, which was investigating the info habits of 5 SL residents. Quite a good no. of people again, in fact I even had to augment the seating with some further Nice Brown Chairs. Testy's research blog is at http://librariandreamer.wordpress.com/. The transcript or chatlog of the session is online at http://sleeds.org/chatlog/?c=286

Am wondering about having a shopping event (i.e. lets go do free shopping together) after next session - see what response is). Should actually be finishing up notecard on a future conference track that need to consult with various avatars about - but now that am officially a blue-haired babe (see previous post) feel should be jutified in haunting boutiques of SL.
After discussion session, oozed over to the Emerge sim where had been Avatar Identity event involving catwalk display of volunteers. Only discovered this was on today, or would have tried to avoid clash. Could not actually try out catwalk as 2 creators were still there enjoying the disco beat. So looked round sim (some nice features - and great view from the bar).

Had had limited access to SL (and will do again for next few days) so trying to pack a lot in. Yesterday evening went to Ulster University to presentation by student Kerri about her work in virtual classrooms (there were 2, one is pictured) and to Texas Women's University to look at students work. Bumped into North Lamar so could exchange trenchant comments in IM.

Wednesday, 23 April 2008

And yet more sitting and flying around

Discussions about SL librarians: 1 (good); Rash promises given about date of submitting conference paper: 1 (bad); Tours of island given: 1 (good); Persons suffering from travel sickness on tour: none (good, my touring skills have improved)

Last Thursday's Infolit iSchool discussion led by Pam Ribble on Pitfalls for librarians in SL. Pam also gave some good links etc for libraries in SL.
Good turnout, inc. someone from Konstanz (Tarwin) who had been chasing me to submit an overdue conference paper in RL. (Finally cornered in SL, LOL as they say.) Chatlog for the "Pitfalls" discussion is at http://sleeds.org/chatlog/?c=285 and it also included discussion of opportunities ;-)
As wasn't lead person was able to do admin-y things like drop people notecards and look out for lost people.

After discussion over I offered a quick tour of island in Follow Chairs amd had a number of takers. Zipped round quite quickly without too many bumps (I think).
Afterwards had talks with Tarwin and also French researcher who hope to see in RL when I do a keynote at a conference in France in October. All v. international.

Tuesday, 22 April 2008

I am designated a "blue-haired babe" by the Guardian


No. of articles referring to self as "blue-haired babe" in major national newspaper: 1 (v.v, good); No. of paragraphs before any other person mentioned: 2 (good, though suppose is v. base to think this); No. of pictures of self featured in newspaper: 0 (missed opportunity)

Have been featured in supplement to the Guardian (leading UK newspaper). Not only mentioned but in fact comprise 1st sentence of supplement's lead article!!! Had talked to journalist over phone but wasn't sure what outcome would be. Only flaw is that are no pictures in newspaper to confirm babeness. Frankly would have been more pictureque than those of RL people, but readers are given web address of this blog so can judge babe level for themselves. Have included extra large pic above to enable this. Of course am not showing off in any way. Oh dear no.

Sunday, 20 April 2008

Classrooms

Visits to virtual classrooms: 2 (good); Virtual lunches consumed: 1 (good); Crashes on flying carpets: 1 (bad)

2 visits to classrooms of different types. On one hand was v. excited when discovered sim (Benesse possibly, must check name) which has faithful reproduction of Japanese school, as least is faithful reproduction of how schools appear in Japanese anime. Resisted ideas of changing into Japanese schoolgirl oufit (for moment anyway) as possibly seeming pervy and took various pics including this one consuming Japanese lunch in classroom. Can pick up lunch as freebie. V. cool. Was someone else exploring sim, in his case using "Negi" (magician schoolboy teacher from anime Negima!) avatar but didn't take pic of him.

2nd classroom different in that is virtual ideal classroom project in Jokaydia sim where educator is creating same under environmentally sustainable principles so is including virtual wormeries and the like. V. interesting and am popping in from time to time to see progress. On this occasion found that Jokay herself, plus educator doing project plus Heyjude were there. Pottered around looking at new additions including seating and said wormery.
Joined in flying carpet ride, always fun, but in this case got stuck on sim boundary and crashed so thus ended the visit.

Wednesday, 16 April 2008

Some more dull pictures of people sitting around

Discussions attended: 2 (thrilling); No of times "what are advantages of SL for education" gets raised as discussion topic per month: approx. 3 thousand (again, thrilling, ahem)

Attended usual educational discussion in Black Library on Monday and the Tuesday one at Montclair. Subject of latter was how would justify Second Life being greater priority than Blackboard. In both cases was good amount of discussion but have decided that should do more listening. Can remember making this resolution before. Oh well.
Will mention that for me SL is a learning space, so not really an alternative to a virtual learning environment like Blackboard, but each has its place e.g. SL pretty useless for storing textual material and lots of 2D pics at present. On other hand SL has possibilities of 3D work, greater sense of personality, and animated squirrels.

After Montclair discussion went back to Infolit iSchool with North Lamar for nice chat in Hobbiton house (as in 2nd pic). He was talking about improvements to latest run of his virtual worlds class, all good stuff e.g. more practice of building as a group before tackling real group project, more emphasis on getting together a project "pitch" for clients.

Each educational discussion results in yet more pics of people sitting in chairs (or bobbins, in case of Hobbiton House). For me each of course is fascinatingly different, not least for fact that am wearing different outfit every time, but may possibly be breaching boredom threshold of honoured readers.

Tuesday, 15 April 2008

Information literacy, Web 2.0, LILAC

Chatlogs posted: 1 (eventually)

Have posted the transcript of the discussion on Web 2.0 and information literacy that took place on Infolit iSchool on 10th April, at http://sleeds.org/chatlog/?c=281. Discussion was led by me and coincided with release of the new book Information Literacy meets library 2.0 (ed by Peter Godwin and Jo Parker, published by Facet Publications, in which I wrote a chapter). There was an accompanying notecard with the links etc which are in this blog entry: http://information-literacy.blogspot.com/2008/04/web-20-and-information-literacy.html
Took several goes to post chatlog, using thingy at Leeds Metropolitan University that makes chat look more aesthetically pleasing. Was relieved when became evident that application had not died, since this is where all chatlogs are stored, suppose should have a backup somewhere.

Think that forgot to mention here when previous chatlog was posted, so here it is: http://sleeds.org/chatlog/?c=270 This is the chatlog of discussion led by Ishbel and me on Infolit iSchool on 27 March 2008, presenting some of our highlights from the 2008 LILAC conference. Pam Ribble who helped us with the LILAC conference session was there, and this is a pic of her and her pet dragon afterwards, think they look v. cute.

Reflections

Favourite jewellery designer disappearing: 1 (bad); Blessings counted: 1 (good); Plays on double meaning of word "reflections": 1 (poor)
Was shocked to find from SL fashion blog feed that the Second Mirage shop is suddenly no more as designer is leaving SL. Immediately teleported to the Second Mirage sim but all had disappeared - shop and all its jewels. Whilst standing gawping at empty landscape someone came up who said she lived there and was now being ousted, sad as it was her first home. Thus forced to reflect on advantage of being on mainland (as with my own home) since although may suddenly find self with giant plank or nightclub for neighbour at least don't get made homeless on an owner's whim.

Think that people in fashion world must know why the designer suddenly left as has been zero comment on the feeds. Am now cursing that didn't ask SM resident what the reason was. Anyway, have got several favourite pieces from Second Mirage and now cursing even more that didn't pour a few more lindens into snapping up earrings, necklaces etc. while had chance.

2nd type of "reflection" is what you get with windlight on water and can see it especially in pic of me standing in sea at Bossa Nova. Have to stress this taken with husband's high end computer, as mentioned in previous post, as with own inferior animal just get the odd sparkle, although sky definitely improved.

Saturday, 12 April 2008

Education, education, education


Education-related meetings attended: 4 (good); Bitching sessions about new browser: 1 (good); Floating head problems solved: 1 (v.v. good)

Having busy time in SL, somewhat interrupted by quirks of new SL browser. First encountered this browser on RL husband's PC which is superior beast and spent lots of time oohing an aahing over pretty light and water effects and taking pics. However, when got back to work and installed on my crummy laptop was firstly confronted by grey landscape due to graphics level being set to low. When upped it found was even SLOWER moving around than normal, things take even longer to rez etc etc and worst of all people who weren't right next to me only appeared as heads and boots, with nothing in between. Spooky! And slightly indecent somehow. Took several days before got the hint to UNTICK box "avatar imposters" in preferences settings. What is that about?? Oh well.

First set of pics taken before this, indeed one with tags still in taken specifically to show that in some cases have name tag with apparently no avatar underneath or only his/her head. Big one was of discussion at Montclair State Uni (regular Tues eveneing discussions) in which we were all moaning about the browser. One bottom right is of regular monday discussion in Black Library at Hyperborea (again, spot ye missing bodies). Last 2 are of video stream of lecture by Charles Messon of Harvard Buisness School. Key message was that playing poker is good was to teach ... I forget what - business, law or perhaps just Life.


Above pics were taken in Edinburgh Uni sim, Vue, with Pancha Enzyme, Ishbel and Pancha's colleague Lulu. Pancha has asked us to help out with a SL session at the SCONUL conference in June so of course said yes. Cool.

Thursday, 10 April 2008

Cats


Cats encountered in sims: various (good); Cats appearing out of thin air when sit on bench: 1 (good); Cats carried: 1 (v. good); Cats needing feeding: 0 (good); Cats needing litter tray: 0 (v. good); Cats resulting in vet's bills: 0 (v.v. good)
This posting is celebration of SL cats. Have already posted multiple times about Mitsy and more recently Goggles (seen in main pic). Also often encounter cats round and about and in right hand pic am shown conversing (one-sidedly) with cat in pleasant area of a shopping sim, with a cat that (like Goggles) was born at Zooby's.
Have also bought magic pillow which appears just a pillow but, when you SIT on it, cat appears on lap and one's hand starts making vague stroking motion, sometimes disappearing into cat and also cat has strange globular appearance, but still. Pillow can be copied infinite no. of times and placed anywhere so could have (e.g.) discussion session where everyone found themselves stroking identical cats.
Hmmm, perhaps will try that.

Sunday, 6 April 2008

Tourism


Days without access to SL: 4 (bad); Talks given about SL: 1 (good); Homeless guys met in SL: 1 (dubious)

Am having restricted access to SL whilst away, except whilst giving demo to students at Strathclyde Uni in Glasgow where used to teach before moved to Sheffield. Seemed to go quite well and if students thought it creepy then kept it to selves. Afterwards when continuing demo to Strathclyde colleagues encountered someone claiming to be homeless in RL and SL. Not sure about this. If is really homeless and is e.g. using SL from local public library is heartening story. But homeless not exactly real concept in SL since home not essential since don't need to eat, sleep, bathe etc and can change clothes anywhere.

Anyway, have used some time to put together pics of SL tourism. So, first is compilation of pics from wander round Japanese sim. Have been there couple of times, and in first visit peeked with camera inside what appeared to be real SL geisha house with geisha avatars dancing, serving saki etc. to client. Pic shows me peering through bars on door to house. Also have shots in Machinima studio lot on Tennoz Isle and cute bar where can earn Linden through Camping.


Second lot of photos are from tour on opening day of Al Andalus Alhambra sim, where were live concerts etc. I am one in pink dress and blue cardigan. Decided not to include shots where people looked like lumpy grey clay because of no. of avatars in one sim.

The blog of Sheila Yoshikawa on her adventures in Second Life. This may be very thrilling. Or possibly not.