Kimono, Kitten, Creation, Meeting

Kittens bought: 1 (v. good); Kimono bought: 1 (good); Meetings: 1 (good); Poster created: 1 (v.v.good)

A busy evening. Decide this is night for Creation. Find sandbox, Build, Create, and Edit. Create cone and delete. Then manage to reshape cube into flat sheet. Had previously created ppt slide which says Centre for Information Literacy Research, made into jpg and imported into SL. Now add this as Texture and hey presto, have cool poster. Am v. proud.

Unfortunately cannot yet put in office as can't Create there. Therefore travel to University of Southern Queensland and to take pic (see above).

Whilst back in SL office, contemplating purple wall, IH IMs to say has found kittens for sale. Hurrah again! Teleport over to shop and purchase tabby. Comes with pillow, toy and instructions. Still cannot Create in Eduserv office so off to Abo Akademi to play.

SL Kitten has certain disadvantages e.g. is not soft and furry, and goes strange colours if viewed from too far away. On other hand obeys commands, can be stashed in inventory, unlikely to be run over by car and will not develop picky taste in catfood.

Have not yet named it. Was tempted to name after RL (ex) cat, but seems disrespectful (i.e. to RL cat). Or would it be tribute?

Celebrate return to SL further by purchasing yet another kimono. When get back to office realise that kimono is same colour as carpet.

Oh well. At least isn't same colour as wall.

Have discovered can sit on top of window whenever like. Do so.

Finally, accept kind invitation to meet with IH and CH in Second Nature. Other 2 look v. cool. Really must find way to edit own appearance.

After chatting stand up and discover am balancing on glass table. V. amusing.

Back to SL

Visits to SL: 1 (hurrah!); New members of Information Literacy Group: 2 (good); Invitations to join German techie Group: 1 (tempting) ; Updates to SL whilst away: 1 (bad); Creation rights in Eduserv: 0 (v. bad)

Still celebrating return to SL! Phil the Phoenix seems strangely phlegmatic re. absence. Go straight to Vassar, as recommended by IH. Experiment with flexible seating (see 1st pic) can alter benches at a touch to seat different number of students. If only RL seating could be moved so easily, sure have damaged back hauling round chairs and tables before seminars to get right setup.

Visit Vassar's virtual rooms. Can choose scene from display rather like postcard rack see pic 2. Pretty, but computer's poor graphics card (I assume) sometimes gives strange effect (see pic 3). However, take various artful pics.

Go to office on Eduserv island. Water feature and chairs still in place. Decide to buy message board so people can leave messages (e.g. "Good luck to the Centre for Information Literacy Research"or "Why have you got a water feature on your roof"?)

Search on "message board" finds only what appears to be German techie outfit. Wander round but ultimately fruitless. Realise have searched under "place" rather than "all". Searching all finds more options. Visit a few office supply shops but message boards elude me.

Get distracted by plants and buy one of those instead. Return to office with plant but, curses, dreaded blue box pops up and says cannot place plant as have no creation rights on land. Was sure had been given them by AF. Hmmm. Perhaps have already placed too many prims?

Attempt to sit to mull over problem and end up on top of wall. Am sure will never be able to do this deliberately so take several pics. Say temporary farewell to Phil and logoff.

Next day in RL email get invitation to join SL Group, namely "Testlab: Die Testlab-Gruppe der PC Professionell in Second Life informiert Sie uber neue Testberichte aus unserem Testlab am Perlenstrand (135, 38, 24) und bietet Ihnen eine Plattform, um neue Produkte zu diskutieren". Wish to demonstrate cool European cosmopolitan nature by belonging to German group, so Accept.

Uni of Hertfordshire in SL

Visits to SL uni: 1 (good, in an odd way)

Hurrah! Following visit to RL University of Hertfordshire, revisit SL version again to take companion pics. As can see if compare these ones with RL versions below:


1) SL car park notable for absence of cars, whereas RL car park packed with them. Surely Hertfordshire could run to a few SL vehicles? Cheapskates!


2) RL campus greener, though fact that have been experiencing wettest June for X hundred years could have some bearing here.

3) Cannot arrange self becomingly in foreground of RL photo without great deal of effort. Fear that RL self would not look as fetching anyway. Have not made SL self thin as wand, but even so RL self has more along horizontal axis.

4) In RL if went around with orange merchandise clamped to elbow would soon be taken aside and offered therapy.

RL replica, vicarious wedding experience

Visits to SL: 0 (bad, v.bad); Visits to RL location previously only visited in SL: 1 (oddly exciting); Weddings attended by SL Friend: 1 (good)

[Added 6 Aug: as can see from comment from someone at the LRC, in fact SL campus is replica of different part of Herfordshire Uni; feel v. embarrassed about this. They do look quite similar, though, ahem]
Today attended RL conference at the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield. Have previously held up their SL replica of their RL Learning Resources Centre as epitome of dull pointlessness (see end of entry here, but will also upload pic of SL building when have access to SL again). Am therefore unnerved to find self in state of strange excitement when bus approaches campus and realise that am about to enter this dull building in RL.

Indeed, find self racing off bus to discover whether is in fact replica or whether are subtle differences. Seems to be the latter in that car park does indeed front the building, but does not appear to be same dull staircase leading up. These pics show RL building including said car park.
In fact RL building (as perhaps would hope) is more interesting, not least in that has RL people and RL resources inside, not to mention RL networked computers which am now using to blog.

Other excitement somewhat vicarious, in that IH has attended wedding and taken lots of nice pics and indeed provides transcript of whole event. These can be found on her (Ishbel Hartmann's) flickr site at http://www.flickr.com/photos/
ishbelhartmann/sets/72157600465746461/

Absence

Trips into SL: 0 (bad); Photos uploaded to flickr: 0 (bad)

Currently in Scotland giving talks etc. in RL, all very well but reduced to blogging in internet cafes where cannot even upload stuff from memory stick let alone venture in SL. V. frustrating. Bit like early days of internet before internet cafes widespread and few people had networked desktops. Now problem is in fact that hotels assume everyone has wifi enabled laptop which for me is not case. Thus stuck in basic internet cafe with loud music not of personal choice. Colleagues here also not SL-enabled and indeed give one strange looks for asking. Oh well. Perhaps will be opportunity at conference next week. Hope Phil the Phoenix is managing without me. Meanwhile Friend IH is attending wedding tomorrow which sounds v. exciting. Perhaps can link to her pics to make up for lack of activity here.

Two chairs and a water feature

Chairs purchased: 2 (good and bad); Water feature purchased: 1 (good); Groups joined: 1 (good); Ducks animated: 0 (bad)

Receive IM "PhilThePhoenix Philbin: (Saved Mon Jun 18 05:56:42 2007) hello", presumably in response to my IM responding to his. However this is somewhat enigmatic response, leaving many vital questions unanswered.

Examine Phil's SL profile, which reveal that he has no Picks, Interests or 1st Life, nor does he belong to any groups or have a Partner. Not promising in social gaiety dept. Was born on 19 Feb 2007, thus presumably counts as Older Avatar (I was born last month). Could be maniac masquerading as friendly Phil the Phoenix, though as born in Feb at least can't be created specifically to exploit documented attachment to virtual wearable Phil. Decide that IM best unanswered.

MK has agreed to become my Friend. What is more she has joined the Information Literacy Group, bringing total to 6 people. Hurrah! Small, but select. Think Group will probably expand if publicise it better, but will leave that til after RL trip coming up.

Other news is that have accepted invitation to join Eduserv Office Owners Group. This currently an even more exclusive Group, since the only members are AF (owner) and self. It says "Membership of this group enables building anywhere with the Office Space area. However, please limit your building to your chosen office. PLease also limit yourself to 150 prims per office." Keeping to 150 prims currently no problem in that have not yet learnt Creation. On other hand, if (e.g.) buy cat for office, how will I know how many prims it consists of???

Go in search of cat. Search for cats problematic as many SL groups etc. for furry avatars in search of exotic activities with like minded people, ahem, rather than people wanting honest reproductions of felines that move round a bit and purr. End up with water feature and problematic duck. Install water feature on roof of new office (see first pic). Have always had soft spot for water features. Feature includes one duck (immobile but quacking). Also buy extra duck (only $10 linden!) but it remains balanced on beak in vertical position and am unable to follow instructions to get it in more convincing pose.

Get inspired to do more shopping. See second pic for further reject potential pets. Furniture shops in SL prove as dull as in RL & as in RL furniture mostly hideous and overpriced. However can try out furniture, even walk on it, without assistants rushing up and asking to assist. Find reasonably OK goods and try out all chairs (see 3rd pic) and buy 2 "conference chairs" with inbuilt animation. Cool.

Tranport to office and place chairs. 4th pic illustrates problem i.e. both chairs face in same direction and if possible to turn chair round don't know how. If had more of them could play buses or trains. In end give up and put them side by side.

Phil the Phoenix and I are agreed: That purple wall has got to go.

A social evening

IM received from Phil the Pheonix: 1 (bit spooky); Updates to SL: 1 (yet another! version 1.17.0 (12)); Offices chosen: 1 (good); Encounters with Friends: 2 (good)

Receive message "My name is PhilThePhoenix Philbin. I was reading your blog and thought you might like to meet the full size version of Phil." I reply " hi Phil, how would I do that?". Fortunately Phil currently offline.

Not sure about this. Have already been too upfront about relationship with Phil, all very well when one is talking of virtual wearable object, but this becomes rather tangible. Am I being IMed by the actual orange plush Phil the Phoenix, available via mail order for AUS$16? Common sense says no. Is there a life size Phil the Phoenix avatar? Of course may be offering me free trip to Oz to meet Phil on the Southern Queensland campus, but somehow one doubts it.

Offer friendship to MC who is librarian here in RL. Then notice IH is online and say hi. IH says hello back (this is exciting). IH has started photo stream on flickr. We IM each other only to discover are both on Eduserv Island & spend some time failing to find each other, circling round Eduserv office block & falling through transparent bridge. Have a nice chat. Forgot to take pic (bother), IH currently has interesting red hair. Am offered friendship by IH's friend CH. Am acquiring healthy lengthening list of Friends.

Now AF is online! A profitable evening. AF has offered us office space on Eduserv Island and am able to show him which office would like (see top photo). Finish the evening by posing with Phil over soon-to-be office (2nd photo).

Note to self: Is there something sad in spending time tinkering with photographs of SL in Adobe Photoshop? I think I know the answer. And I'm calling them photos. Oh dear.

Tour, Link

Guided tour to SL given: 1 (good); Objects returned: 1 (bad)

Receive message "Your object 'Phil the Phoenix' has been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by DM from parcel 'Terra Incognita'."

Embarrassment. Must be initial "Phil the phoenix" which had Touched but thought hadn't actually Bought. Too many Objects are having to be returned by unknown benefactors. Feel like baby who keeps dropping furry animals and odd shoes from pram. Dilemma: what to do with 2nd Phil? If delete him will old Phil also disappear? Would be v. traumatic now have formed Meaningful Relationship with him. On other hand, inventory clogged with useless stuff already.

Give tour to RL colleague NF who hope to lure into SL, for purely reasons of research and teaching hasten to add, since Phil the Phoenix occupies Meaningful Relationship niche. Give usual tour, and encounter Artificial Intelligence avatar called Anne, who attempts to engage in game of SL Weakest Link. About to make excuses and leave when computer freezes, all for best really.

PHOTO: TOP - whilst demonstrating to NF how to SIT encountered poorly animated rustic seat which tried to eat me. Phil is attempting resue. BELOW: A quiet moment with Phil the Phoenix atop a column in Eduserv Island, where I returned later in the evening, safe in the knowledge that AI Anne is unable to Fly.

Relationship, haori problem

Coursework marked in RL: 0 (v. bad); Kimono, Haori and fans bought in SL: 1 of each (mixed); Clothing bought in RL: 0 (good); Merchandise worn: 1 (odd)

Searched for Queensland re: RL friends at Queensland University of Technology. QUT not there but University of Southern Queensland is, so teleport and USQ (aka "Terra Incognita") proves Bedfordia type of uni i.e. parrots, tropical plants, lounge chairs etc. Presence of shop showing Aussie entrepreneurship but also free stuff, so get popcorn, coke and strange orange merchandise "Phil the Phoenix". Phil has own group on flickr as is USQ challenge to photograph plush Phil in locations round world. Resist urge to spend RL Aus$ on same but take free Phil and Wear him, thus acquiring floating orange pet.

Immediate urge to take pics of self and Phil in various venues. Begin with seminar area on Terra Incognita (see first pic) which overdoes marbling somewhat but has v. good ocean views. Then transport to Cool Sushi Bar (second pic) though disappointment that cannot animate food. Have they not heard of Jumping Sushi (true fact, is sushi so fresh that said to jump with muscular spasm of just-dead fish). Finally hang out on new (I think) transparent bridge on Eduserv Island with fashionable cyclamen coloured seats, would almost match a RL swishy skirt.

Examining pics, Phil and I appear to have Meaningful relationship. Bit disturbing. First relationship in SL with floating orange merchandise. Hmmm.

However, leads to natural urge to get new clothes to show off in Phil pics. Purchase kimono, haori (kimono jacket) and new fan. Transport self to Abo and unpack excitedly. After much faffing about decide must be missing parts to haori, namely top and front (see flying pic) as new flowered kimono shows through. In end remove Back, leaving RGT and LFT sleeves.

Additional fan problem. When WEAR fan, attaches to right hand. Right hand immobile and left hand does rather creepy fumbling. Evidently is putting fan in right hand but animating left. In end ATTACH fan to left hand, which still animates, but fan sort of upside down. Oh well.

Doubtless should Take Them Back and Complain. However in RL am v.v. hopeless at that sort of thing, and am no better in SL. Feel would be marked out as suspicious whiner. On other hand, whole caboodle cost about half the price of cappacino consumed this morning in excellent RL cafe Remos.

Like pink kimono more, but will wear flowery one for a while.

Noted photo

Have discovered Notes feature on Flickr. Wheeeee! Here is the photo from Thursday's ILG meeting, with notes added: http://www.flickr.com/photos/
23396182@N00/535753402/in/photostream/

Meeting in Abo Akademi in SL

Meetings in SL: 1 (good); Coursework marked in RL: 5 and a half (it's a start)

Arrive yesterday in SL for inaugural Meeting of Information Literacy group feeling Nervous. Loiter under cherry tree. See AM at transfer point and dash up. Say "Hi, I'm Sheila ;-)", somewhat superfluous when one has
B5 fan
Sheila Yoshikawa
written over one, as noted before, but introduction seems only polite. However AM stands unresponsive. Dash back to cherry trees. Is time wrong? Is AM in fact not member of group? Can now see AM chatting Finnish to friend, so evidently not dead.

Note that IH is now online. Search function is "down" in SL. Will IH know coordinates? Offer IM Friendship so can IM privately. IH accepts (quickest Friendship bond yet). AM has in meantime solved problem by sending landmark to IH (are they already Friends? Feel left out). Hurrah, IH arrives, an awkward moment, then take initiative and suggest sitting in coloured chairs, namely ones in which am pictured in white skirt in Profile photo at top of blog.

Here we are in above photo (left to right: IH, me, AM) looking v. cool in SL. As this blog has become learning blog, will Reflect on Learning.

Lessons learned about communication:
1) Good to speak in short lines, need not even be complete sentences, but keeps people's attention and also signals you have more to say. Can tell people are typing because avatar makes keyboard gestures (thought at first this was failed clapping), but if avatar waves hands for long time with no output temptation to ignore, however ...

2) ... be patient, as if everyone types simultaneously all time, chaos ensues. Actually quite like this waiting business. Soothing to watch other people's avatars waving arms while think what to say next. Also we felt that disjointed chat had liberating aspect.

3) V. useful to record chat and read through afterwards. Realise now were still interesting things said that missed because was typing. Also can connect up lines of thought that were separated because people started new thread before contribution on old thread had appeared.

4) If want privacy go somewhere private. In RL if someone chatting at next table in restaurant voices normally quieter and can tune out. In SL all chat is equal e.g.
"Me: AF is in Eduserv [was showing off Friend at this point]
"II [random interloper]: See ya!
"DB [2nd random interloper]: see ya
"IH: [referring to next IL Group meeting] That might be an idea then
"DB: [not talking to us. I think] do u know some cool places to visit"

Am now in quandry. Have v. interesting points re education, libraries and information literacy, but should I make them on Serious Information Literacy blog or here? OK, here, but people interested in kimono and waterslides may tune out now. Well, except if (like me) interested in kimono, waterslides and all of above.

1) Not much point in going into SL to use web tools better used direct (IH "At the moment, for example, I can see no earthly reason why I would want to search PubMed from within SL")

2) Is SL useful for developing traditional kinds of RL searching (journals, databases) type of skills? Not sure about that.

3) Interesting issues of how establish reliability & trustworthiness of information & people in SL; identity important (e.g. AM was chatting with someone "who said that he/she would never trust someone who does not have payment info on file")

4) Was discussion of Virtual Learning Environments, clunkiness of WebCT, IH mentioned custom VLE, which was integrated into curriculum and worked better, at her place.

5) Pressure to communicate with students wherever whenever. IH quoted speaker at conference who said "we have to be ready to meet them on their terms or we will lose them [students]". Agreed that this all very well but in particular librarians spread v. thin already. Also [frankly] is student choice to come to uni and need to make effort to learn. Though of course in RL job am thinking of getting facebook for next cohort of customers, sorry, students ;-((

5) Visual stimulus of SL. IH mentioned looking at art more in SL. I'm interested in importance of visual clues in interpreting information in SL.

6) AM mentioned information encountering and I got v. excited.

Agreed next meeting will be at Eduserv Island if AF agrees OK. Must IM him. Date and time to be arranged. Also will have theme, will gather ideas for themes or topics to discuss. Anticipate IH and AM will add own comments if disagree/ remember things left out etc. etc.

All v. exciting. Hope does not become too like work, though.

PHOTO: After meeting, visited nearby Danish Biblioteksvagten and went on the walking machine. Hmmm. In RL consume oodles of calories and never do fitness training. In SL consume nil calories and go on walking machine & slide down watershutes. Something not right there.

Will write up SL meeting when have done more marking, meanwhile...

Whilst marking coursework (good) and following up references, start doing search on SL (bad). See that voice communication is coming to SL. Immediately align with Old Timers and find this v. bad idea. Clunky disconnected typing has faded charm. Next news story suggests "Collecting friends is the new philately" (Keegan, 2007), which seems true.

Further search on Lexis-Nexis reveals journalists' new way of creating quick and cheap copy is to cut and paste chat sessions from SL (Adams, 2007). Article has v.v. short intro paragraph and then transcript of mindless avatar conversation. Unless is making whole thing up? In which case is even more pointless. Must look out for Adams ("KENNY KESEY") and remind him about intellectual property rights, vis, random and poorly spelled chat by me is MINE.

On other hand, have already reproduced other people's conversation on blog. Justify this to self by thinking that

a) quotes were v. short and

b) no-one is paying me for writing this.

Adams, T. (2007) "Together in virtual sin: Dawkins cant escape the wrath of God, even online." Observer (Review), 3 June, 3.

Keegan, V. (2007) "Collecting friends is the new philately" The Guardian (Technology supplement), 7 June, 4.

PHOTO: Air balloon in Danish area, visited after meeting today

Excitements, Reboot

Items marked in RL: 0 (v. bad); Instant Messages sent: 2 (good); Crashes whilst in SL: 1 (bad; Blogger's automatic save v. helpful, otherwise would have been v. v. bad)

4 Exciting things
1) BBC Radio 4 book of week Tim Guest's "Second lives", allegedly "revelatory journey through the electronic looking glass of alternative life online." Hmmm: extract this a.m. sounded v. Radio 4, SL evidently no longer cutting edge. Expect next thing will be Tom and Brenda selling Tom Archer Sausages in SL, & Jolene and Sid operating virtual pub/casino. (Archers is v. good radio soap, I am addict in RL, actually Archers in SL would be exciting too)

2) IM-ed members of Information Literacy Group to say that meeting at 11am UK time. Forgot to say what day (tomorrow), oops, so had to send 2nd IM. Have arranged to meet in Abo Akademi under cherry trees. This is really because kimono looks good under cherry trees, but don't say this in IM.

4) Visit Kansas State Library and adjoining Readers Garden. Recline and watch self doing strange hypnotic page turning gestures (see pic). Resist urge to sign up for book discussion. Actually not hard as don't want to discuss any books on list.

3) There is a Sculpted Prim contest. Enough said.

Notice that AF is online. Should I attempt meeting? Not sure. In RL AF has not answered latest email, BUT has offered friendship on Facebook. This all gets v. complicated. Decide will sneak away, but anyway decision taken out of hands as at this point computer freezes and have to Reboot.

Roskilde

Items of clothing bought in RL: 2 (bad); Items of clothing bought in SL: 1 (good); New members in Information Literacy Group: 0 (disappointing)

Decided to visit at least 1 new place per day. Today is Roskilde Library Hangout. Since Danish skills nil, missed out on full experience, however seems quite cool, globular watery objects, cushions, butterflies etc.

PHOTO: Me, listening to Danish sound work by Simon Glinvad.

5 good things about SL

Trips into SL: 0 (good or bad? Not sure)

Am away from SL computer* for a few days, no chance to buy kimono or generate nice SL pic. Use time to ponder benefits of SL over RL.
1) Not only no need for handbag, but can transport entire wardrobe invisibly all the time. No more "I forgot to bring the right shoes" crises!
2) Instant transportation! Goodbye to overpacked rail carriages, trying to enjoy weak cappucino from overpriced Pumpkin cafe & delays from leaves on the line.** ***
3) No queues for ladies toilets, indeed no need for facilities at all.
4) Can fly. V. cool.
5) Price of kimono less than that of M&S prawn sandwich.

*Do use computer for other things too.
** In RL don't drive.
*** or delays caused by Planned Engineering Works, Signal Failure, Mechanical Failure, Points Failure or Person on the Line.

Waterslides

Computer crashes: 2 (bad); Emails received from Group Members: 4 (good); trips down waterslide: 2 (good).

Log into Gmail account and find 3 Group members have replied to IM. Am v. pleased, as 4th Group member (HD) had replied to RL email albeit somewhat cryptically, not surprisingly since HD still in limbo on Orientation Island and RL version of HD cannot access SL until techies come to connect new cool Mac Powerbook. Meeting with 2 members of group next week looks possibility. All getting rather serious.

Celebrate with trip to waterslide in Bedfordia, admire effect of new kimono wooshing into water, also pose beside Bird of Pardise flowers, v. colourful yet cool (see pic). Have spent longer than intended since one of the earlier computer crashes appears to have locked self out of University server where all files are stored. This means cannot finish urgent and important tasks before morrow, should benefit by claiming early night, but instead drawn into more procrastinating in SL.

Decide to visit Cybrary Island where had unfortunate grey lumpy naked avatar experience when meeting PB. All now normal as v. few people about. Visit UCD library, watch Sky News (same nonsense as on RL news), fill in questionnaire. Am asked when visit SL. Does not have option "Whenever require displacement activity to avoid difficult and boring tasks" (i.e. v. often), so click "ignore question". Also visit Special Libraries House, a little sparsely furnished. Find grander building and pose in armchair (see pic)

Found

Items returned: 2 (bad). Notices created: 1 (good) Fans bought: 1 (good, eventually).

Receive emails:
1) "Your object 'AS Kimono Crane copy' has been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by Desideria Stockton from parcel 'Eduisland II' at Eduisland II 156.437, 197.137 due to parcel owner return."
2) "Your object 'Object' has been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by Jeremy Kabumpo from parcel 'SJSU's School of Library & Information Sciences' at SJSU SLIS 106.139, 122.063 due to parcel owner return"

Worrying. Did not even think had dropped objects. Is there hole in my inventory? And what is object "Object"? Opens up disturbing philosophical debate, platonic ideal of Objectness. Or perhaps it is the One Object that joins them all and in the darkness binds them. Think am suffering from object overload, so boot into SL to make sure kimonos are all present and correct.

Hurrah, kimonos still in inventory. Celebrate by buying matching fan. Have to visit 3 locations before can unpack it. Baffling. Waste 40 mins taking photos, inc. rebooting twice after crashes (see pic, have swapped usual Bunny Hat for headband so fan can be seen to full advantage beneath cherry blossom). Work out that object "Object" may be result of half-hearted attempt to Create. Got as far as seeing strange multicoloured grid and paniced. Memo to self: be more careful where attempt Creation.

Check groups. Decide to send Notice to Group, namely "Hi! There are now a few members of the Information Literacy Group. Would it be possible to have a meeting sometime in SL? Is there a good time of day, for example on the 6th or 7th of June? Please specifiy which RL time zone you are in. You can email me at sheila.yoshikawa@gmail.com" Hope this is not too forward, as not really sure what function of Notices is. Perhaps would be better setting up group for Kimono and Cat lovers.

People start Grouping

Upgrades of SL: 1 (bad); People joining Group: 3 (good! I think); Calories consumed in SL: 0 (good); Calories consumed in RL over holiday period: More than care to mention (v. bad)

Am away for only 4 days and return to find that SL already has another upgrade, namely 1.16.0(6). Evidently in intervening 4 days have missed upgrades 1.16.0(2) - 1.16.0(5), frankly just as well. If had normal PC at work (where would have no Admin rights) rather than docked laptop (where can download what rubbish I like*) would spend more time asking technical support to upgrade SL than would spend in SL.

Check Information Literacy Group and find 3 unknown people have joined it. Cripes! Immediately feel responsibility as Group Owner to start organising virtual events. Perhaps a picnic in Bedfordia could be a start.

PHOTO: I hover above a pet shop. When I have somewhere to keep it I will get a cat.

* Rubbish which is within the University's Acceptable Use Guidelines, I hasten to add.

A meeting in SL

Updates to SL: 1 (worrying); Conversations: 2 (good)

Obliged to download new version of SL interface (v. 1.16.0) Appear to have new version about once every couple of weeks, which won't suit university computing people I fear. New version has many exciting improvement e.g

- Improved muting of particle systems

- No-copy objects that fail to rez now reappear in inventory

- Sculpted Prims

Sculpted prims sound v. alarming. Obviously still have v. large amount to learn about SL. However feel superior as spot typo in information panel, vis

- "Fixed sitting avatar standing up when close are dragged onto the avatar"

think "close" should read "clothes". Does not compensate for vast sea of ignorance revealed, though.

Go in world to discover AF and MB (my Friends) are both online. Have felt bit guilty that after anxiety about AF friendship offer made no attempt to contact AF once Friendship Accepted. Can remedy this now!

[15 minutes later] Exciting times. AF whizzed over to Secret Cave on Eduserv Island and had conversation (see pic). AF agreed can probably launch new RL Research centre on Island, v. cool. Reminded me about educators' conference in/on SL tomorrow which alas will miss as on RL holiday. Also complimented on new kimono, as did RL friend via RL blog (this gets complicated) Bonus was that while waiting for AF to fly over did quick IM session with MB. Was able to tell him that RL friend (now HD in SL) had admired Bedfordia.

New friend, new kimono

RL friends registered with SL: 1 (hurrah); Members added to Group: 1 (hurrah again); New kimonos bought: 1 (nice); Emails received: 1 (good)

New avatar registration opened again, so RL friend signed up as HD. Immediately tried to make HD member of "Information Literacy Group." Discovered that I had failed to Open Access to "Information Literacy Group" so no-one could have signed up even if wanted to. Oops. Logged off HD, logged on self, opened up Group to members, logged off self, logged on HD and signed up to Group. Result! At some point will let HD control own life, obviously.

Meanwhile discover that Sheila Yoshikawa (me) has received email, via email address listed in profile for this blog. Email says "Just had to send my first ever email to a second life person. Wondering which is the year of the pig". Replied that this is year of pig (i.e. my birth year as Sheila Yoshikawa). Looking up Wikipedia, note that "The Pig type is usually an honest, straightforward and patient person. They are a modest, shy character who prefers to work quietly behind the scenes." Hmmm.

Have bought new kimono. Photo shows me being modest and shy above San Jose Sate University campus.