2009.06.04 13:00 - A new institute

The guardian for this session was Storm Nordwind. The comments are Storm's.

There are just eight cushions and no pool.

Storm Nordwind: Storm settles down at five to the hour. All is quiet and peaceful...
Storm Nordwind: Good evening Wester
Wester Kiranov: good evening storm
Storm Nordwind: Was it election day for you too?
Wester Kiranov: yup
Storm Nordwind: It was very peaceful in my polling station. Almost no one there. Almost as peaceful as sitting here! :)
Wester Kiranov: I couldn't find my passport this morning, so I sent my husband to vote for me instead. So I haven't actually seen my polling station, but I do suppose it was quiet
Storm Nordwind smiles

Adams and Eliza arrive.

Storm Nordwind: Welcome Adams
Wester Kiranov: hi adams
Adams Rubble: Hello Storm and Wester :)
Storm Nordwind: A spectacular frock Adams :)
Adams Rubble: thank you Storm :)
Adams Rubble: Hello Eliza :)
Storm Nordwind: Hi Eliza
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Adams! Hi Storm, Hi Wester :)
Wester Kiranov: hi eliza
Eliza Madrigal: Cozy :)
Storm Nordwind: Yes. All done by magic words. :) How is your guardian plot coming along?
Adams Rubble: cozy and our clothes are steam cleaned every 15 minutes :)
Wester Kiranov: :-D
Eliza Madrigal: Not too much has changed since you last saw, except that I think I buried the cello
Storm Nordwind: You can hang in the gallery if you prefer Adams! :)
Eliza Madrigal: hehe Adams
Storm Nordwind: I'll show you how to retrieve it Eliza :)
Eliza Madrigal: Thanks :)
Adams Rubble: Eliza has done a beautiful job with her plot
Adams Rubble: and it is a beautiful site as well
Eliza Madrigal: :) Adams is a great realtor :)...jaqueline of all trades
Storm Nordwind: It was ambitious for a beginner - to have a slope - but you've pulled it off effortlessly
Eliza Madrigal: Thanks kind. Thank you :)
Eliza Madrigal: Oh...tech call...brb
Adams Rubble: so many places to enjoy the view :)
Storm Nordwind: Yes indeed. Always trying to keep it that way

Adams is in reflective and complimentary mood about the past year.

Adams Rubble: so Storm, who would have thought I'd be here a years later :)
Adams Rubble: You started me off well :)
Storm Nordwind: You keep saying that!
Storm Nordwind blushes
Adams Rubble: can't help myself :)
Storm Nordwind: I was just myself. And something in you responded. I'm so pleased you're here :))
Storm Nordwind: I suspect we all are!
Adams Rubble: :)
Wester Kiranov: :)

I joke about having an "endurance award"!

Storm Nordwind: So perhaps I should make you a pin to wear
Adams Rubble: hehe
Storm Nordwind: Or a special floating tag
Adams Rubble: first year pin
Storm Nordwind: "I survived a year of PaB! (And I'm still sane;)"
Adams Rubble: well, that part is debatable. hehe
Adams Rubble: Hello Sophia :)
Storm Nordwind: I meant relative to how you started of course! ;)
Adams Rubble gigglees
Wester Kiranov: hi sophia
sophia Placebo: hi adams :) storm eliza
sophia Placebo: hi wester
Adams Rubble: yes, an improvement to that Storm
Storm Nordwind: Hello sophia
Storm Nordwind: Someone else using the north entrance. I though it was only the Nordwind that blew in from the north
Adams Rubble: Hello Mick :)
Storm Nordwind: Good evening Mick
sophia Placebo: hello mick
Wester Kiranov: hey mickey
Mickorod Renard: Hiyaa,,how are you all?

Play as Being 15 minute bell: Conversations here are recorded when ON AIR. Please see http://playasbeing.wik.is/
Play as Being 15 minute bell: Please observe 90 seconds of silence.
Play as Being 15 minute bell: Thank you.

Storm Nordwind: I'm good - and we're celebrating Adams's first year in PaB. Thinking about some way to institutionally embarrass her - like giving her the bumps or something ;)
Eliza Madrigal throws confetti
Eliza Madrigal: :D
Eliza Madrigal: (back obviously-forgive me)
Storm Nordwind: hehe
Adams Rubble: :)
Adams Rubble: Hello Ara :)
sophia Placebo: hello ara
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Sophia , Mick, Ara

arabella dive bombs Mick.

Wester Kiranov: hi ara - now that's what i call dropping in
Mickorod Renard: hi Ara
arabella Ella: hiya Soph Eliza Adams Wester, he he
Storm Nordwind: Hi ara
arabella Ella: like a bombshell u mean Wester?
Storm Nordwind: Adams, would you like to mark your year in any way? Or is that too artificial?
Mickorod Renard: hey yea,,congrats Adams
Adams Rubble: Thanks Mick :)
Adams Rubble: I summed up my year a bit with Eliza this morning :)
Adams Rubble: in the morning session
Mickorod Renard: yes,,very compassionate and loving,,he he
Eliza Madrigal: :) Adams is
arabella Ella: your year Adams?
Adams Rubble: It has been a good year
Adams Rubble: yes Ara
Mickorod Renard: I am gonna do the scribe so I have read the log
arabella Ella: rez date?
Adams Rubble: I am ready for another :)
sophia Placebo: i should read that chat log
arabella Ella: congrats!
Storm Nordwind: And the chat log is already posted - woohoo :))
Eliza Madrigal: hehe
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Adams Rubble: Eliza was very quick :)
Storm Nordwind: Very impressive. Thank you!
Mickorod Renard: and as scribe,,i am on the ball too
Adams Rubble: :)
Adams Rubble: yes
Mickorod Renard: but I would like to say that i feel alot of similarities with what you were talking about too
Adams Rubble: :)

People muse about the surroundings and how suitable they find them for Play as Being.

Eliza Madrigal: A year seems like ages in PaB
Adams Rubble: yes and no :)
Eliza Madrigal: :) and no time at all?
Adams Rubble: the place has changed twice :)
Adams Rubble: love these comfortabel cushions and the wonderful setting
arabella Ella: :)
Adams Rubble: somebody with a great sense of design built this :)
Eliza Madrigal nods
Storm Nordwind stares at his knees
Adams Rubble pokes Storms
arabella Ella: yes it is so lovely i enjoy the birds chirping too
sophia Placebo: :) agrees
Wester Kiranov: agrees too
Storm Nordwind: Somehow we manage to be open and cosy at the same time. Very much in the spirit of Play as Being
sophia Placebo: hi kenji
Storm Nordwind: Hello kenji
Adams Rubble: Hello kenji :)
kenji Pookes: Hi. Things seem...smaller.
Eliza Madrigal: Ah, that's true
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Kenjii
Wester Kiranov: hello kenji
arabella Ella: yes i thought it was only me ... hiya ken
kenji Pookes: hi all
arabella Ella: cosier :)
Storm Nordwind can say the magic words to make things bigger again kenji

Any guardian reading this who needs to know these magic words, please just contact me!

Mickorod Renard: Hi ken
Eliza Madrigal: cosy AND open
arabella Ella: abra cadabra?
Storm Nordwind: Like a well adjusted familiy
kenji Pookes: open sesame?
Storm Nordwind: Not even "say friend and enter"
Wester Kiranov: i think a steam cleaning was quite enough :)
Adams Rubble: :)
Storm Nordwind: You get another in 3 minutes
Adams Rubble looks for the soap
Eliza Madrigal: hehe
Wester Kiranov: giggles
Storm Nordwind: Someone was talking a few weeks ago about how people's names may affect what they do
Storm Nordwind: Perhaps places also affect people then?
Wester Kiranov: i remember that
Wester Kiranov: (the names)
Mickorod Renard: me too
Eliza Madrigal: I'm sure places must also.
Adams Rubble: I think places do

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Play as Being 15 minute bell: Please observe 90 seconds of silence.

Wester Kiranov: i cannot imagine places do not

Play as Being 15 minute bell: Thank you.

Storm Nordwind: But virtual places affecting people is interesting. They are sitting in front of their computer in perhaps a very different atmosphere to what they see in-world. But which wins out in affecting the way they feel, and why?
Adams Rubble: When I stare at my screen, this one :)
Wester Kiranov: isn't that the same with names?
arabella Ella: depends on where tipping point is ... like at the cinema
Adams Rubble: yes
sophia Placebo: whatever track more attention me thinks
Storm Nordwind: Tipping point ara?
Adams Rubble: someone interrupting :)
arabella Ella: yes ... depends where attention is drawn to most
arabella Ella: like weights
arabella Ella: or balance
Storm Nordwind: So is that a factor of the design, or the medium, or a human trait, or your particular talent for doing it?
Eliza Madrigal: Some can read in a crowded place and some cannot
Wester Kiranov: all of the above
arabella Ella nods
Adams Rubble: In some ways this is like having you all over to chat in my living room
Storm Nordwind smiles
Storm Nordwind: yes I find that too Adams
sophia Placebo: particular talent , wondrs what that could be like
arabella Ella: yes and i love the way this place is all open not constrained indoors
Eliza Madrigal nods...it is like that because the environment is soothing
arabella Ella loves the serenity that the outdoors offers
Eliza Madrigal: if there were distractions in the screen periphery that might be more distracting than ones at home
kenji Pookes: Except that if you listen, you begin to notice that the bird calls repeat.
arabella Ella: all we need are the fragrances of the flowers and trees and grass
Adams Rubble: :)
kenji Pookes: I find that somewhat disconcerting.
Storm Nordwind: The blackbird outside my window also repeats!

I shall miss its song in Colorado.

Wester Kiranov: and the feel of our butts on the cushions
Eliza Madrigal: Attention fades in and out also
sophia Placebo: i like to sit on the roof with the black bird above :) my best spot
kenji Pookes: But there is more randomness to the real blackbird.
Eliza Madrigal: :) Sophia
kenji Pookes: Watch for dropping objects...Sophia
Eliza Madrigal smiles
sophia Placebo: hehe
Storm Nordwind: I could make more randomness for you kenji
Storm Nordwind: A few more sound clips
kenji Pookes: That's ok, it is a sim and I approach it that way.
Storm Nordwind: I like the birds on Corvi's shack. Have you seen them?
kenji Pookes: No, I haven't.
Adams Rubble: yes :)
Wester Kiranov: no
sophia Placebo: no
Storm Nordwind: If you walk on her roof towards them, they get agitated!
Adams Rubble: I discovered them by accident when I missed my landing and ended on the roof :)
Eliza Madrigal: hah
Eliza Madrigal: Oh that's great

kenji has a major compliment to deliver.

kenji Pookes: Actually, I think this is probably the best spot I've been to in SL.
kenji Pookes: I've been working on my own parcel and found it interesting to think about how to organize the space.
Storm Nordwind: I'm flattered kenji
kenji Pookes: Oh, and I like the Japanese wind bell here. I've spent quite a bit of time in the city where those are made in Japan.
Storm Nordwind: But it depends what you want from your plot I guess
kenji Pookes: I mean the real ones.
Adams Rubble: Hello fef :)
Storm Nordwind: Will be an artistic expression

Fefonz arrives and there is no place for him to sit. The magic words are uttered and 24 more cushions appear!

Eliza Madrigal: Hi Fef Cloud
sophia Placebo: hello fef
kenji Pookes: Hi fef
Wester Kiranov: hi fef
arabella Ella: hiya Fef you are still a cloud :)
Fefonz Quan: Hi all :)
Storm Nordwind: At least he is a cloud with a place to sit now!
kenji Pookes: When I created my parcel, I decided to have a regular building to use as an office where my students can meet me in SL, but I also created an outisde area.
Wester Kiranov: i hope he doesn't get an identity crisis when the steam comes
Storm Nordwind laughs
Eliza Madrigal: hahahah!!
sophia Placebo: hehe :)
Mickorod Renard: Hi Fef
Adams Rubble: hehe

kenji announces a fascinating project of his.

kenji Pookes: If any of you are interested, I will behaving regular meetings to discuss the expression of religion and ritual in SL. The location is called the Institute for the Study of Religion in virtual Worlds. Aftter I have it more organized, I will create a time for meetings. There is also a group of the same name.
Adams Rubble: internal steam cleaning :)
Adams Rubble: thanks kenji
Storm Nordwind: Fascinating kenji
Wester Kiranov: sounds interesting
Storm Nordwind: Is this a mirror of what you're doing in RL?
Mickorod Renard: Ken,,are you into theology?
arabella Ella: sounds interesting ken please keep me posted ... and would appreciate if they dont clash with PaB timings ... and also that they are Euro friendly too :)

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Play as Being 15 minute bell: Please observe 90 seconds of silence.

kenji Pookes: not really a mirror. What I'm doing in RL is studying SL. Mick, I am not into theology at all.
arabella Ella: so many demands ... apologies
Mickorod Renard: ok cool,,thanks

Play as Being 15 minute bell: Thank you.

I mention that Play as Being has grown up in a contemplative neighbourhood. And we supply kenji with sources of contacts.

Storm Nordwind: Have you wandered around the two sims to the west of here? One of the oldest religious buildings in SL is there. And many others (including my own).
kenji Pookes: I'm an anthropologist, so I'm interested in function and meaning of religious and ritual activity.
arabella Ella: intruiging
kenji Pookes: Not really. What are the locations called?
arabella Ella: and how they play out on SL u mean?
Storm Nordwind: The sim immediately to the west is called Mieum. The old place is the Orthodox Church. It's featured in some book IIRC
kenji Pookes: Yes, Arabella, I'm interested in how religion is being used in SL. Right now, I'm interested in evangilism, but also in sites for meditation--there are quite a few Buddhist meditation sites.
kenji Pookes: I'll chech that out, thanks.
arabella Ella nods
kenji Pookes: Right now, I am organizing a research group to develop a project on this.
Storm Nordwind: I recommend you also talk with Beth Odets who has done a huge amount of organising with the Jewish community - I think she still has ties to Mieum too
Adams Rubble: Our exhibition called "Sacred Art in a Virtual World" is a good index to many religious sites
kenji Pookes: Thanks.
arabella Ella: well ken if u need any volunteers it would interest me if timings are ok for me
Storm Nordwind: are you SLT+9 or 10 ara?
arabella Ella: +9
arabella Ella: CET
kenji Pookes: Right now, I'm at the stage of putting together an IRB proposal. Then the fun begins. Arabella, I may take you up on that. Sometime perhaps we can chat more specifically.
kenji Pookes: I have no idea what that meant Storm.
Storm Nordwind: SLT = Second Life Time
Storm Nordwind: = California
arabella Ella: ok great as I was involved a year ago with putting together something similar with a Uni in Ireland
Storm Nordwind: arabella is on a small island in the Mediterranean
arabella Ella: CET = Central European Time - now it is 22.51
Storm Nordwind: and her time zone is 9 hours ahead of SLT

Teachers' talk.

kenji Pookes: Do you do research on religion Arabella?
arabella Ella: my background is philosophy but i work on innovation now mainly
arabella Ella: but my interests are quite broad - research interests i mean
kenji Pookes: Mine are, too. I have a very short attention span.
kenji Pookes: Probably why I became an anthropologist.
arabella Ella: he he
arabella Ella: i have met quite a few antropologists on SL
arabella Ella: and if i may ask
arabella Ella: how do you feel about bringing students to meet you on SL
arabella Ella: cos that is something i still feel a bit reluctant about
kenji Pookes: I haven't tried that yet. That's going to begin in the fall. I won't use it to replace regular office hours, just to augment them.
arabella Ella: yes i see
arabella Ella: i speak to my students openly about SL but something holds me back from introducing them to this
kenji Pookes: I work at a very large research university where students are not exactly the priority, so I think this may be quite good for them to find a way to contact the professor outside of coming to office hours.
arabella Ella nods
kenji Pookes: I may set my SL hours in the evening as a way to provide greater access.
kenji Pookes: Arabella, do you teach philosophy?
arabella Ella: great idea ... but u have not yet started this have you?
arabella Ella: i teach some philosophy yes ... but not as my main topic
kenji Pookes: I will start doing this in the fall, most likely.
arabella Ella: ok
kenji Pookes: What is your primary area?
arabella Ella: innovation management
kenji Pookes: I see. BTW, I have a question.
kenji Pookes: What does "artifical mind" mean?
arabella Ella: it is just a tag i like

arabella mentions a future topic of artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, it's time to get ready for Stim's workshop and I also need to enlist some help with a test at the Kira Dome...

Storm Nordwind: Quick question for people. Is anyone going to Stim's workshop next?
kenji Pookes: But it must have some meaning.
arabella Ella: as i am interested in artificial intelligence too
Eliza Madrigal: I am going
arabella Ella: altho as a group seems like it is not active
kenji Pookes: I've always thought that all intelligence is artificail.
arabella Ella: yes i hope to go to Stim's too
Mickorod Renard: bye Eliza
Adams Rubble: I have to leave at 2:00
sophia Placebo: i may if i didnt fell asleep
Wester Kiranov: I'm going to stims too
Fefonz Quan: better Yes to storm
kenji Pookes: What's stims?
Storm Nordwind: Could I ask anyone who going to go to the Dome briefly first
arabella Ella: hey that would be a great topic to discuss - is all intelligence artificial?
Eliza Madrigal: Thanks for reminding of the time, Storm
Storm Nordwind: Just so I can test the sensor/reporter
Mickorod Renard: whats at the dome Storm?
arabella Ella: the dome?
Adams Rubble: bye all who are leaving :)
Mickorod Renard: I see
Storm Nordwind: There's a landmark in the globe
Fefonz Quan: (in the globe?)
Storm Nordwind: And it's a 30 second walk back to the Cafe
Mickorod Renard: how do u get to the dome?
Storm Nordwind: The green dome in front of me
Mickorod Renard: ok,,I think I know it
kenji Pookes: I've got to run to make dinner. See you all later.
Storm Nordwind: Click on the the green thing here
sophia Placebo: bye kenji
Eliza Madrigal: Adams, Congratulations on your Year at PaB. Thank you for everything :)
Adams Rubble: Thanks Storm :)
Adams Rubble: Thank you Eliza :)
Wester Kiranov: see you all later - or in a moment
arabella Ella: bye ken
Mickorod Renard: ok,,then i will see u all at Stims

Play as Being 15 minute bell: Conversations here are recorded when ON AIR. Please see http://playasbeing.wik.is/
Play as Being 15 minute bell: Please observe 90 seconds of silence.

Mickorod Renard: bye Ken
Adams Rubble: bye eeveryone :)
Fefonz Quan: OK, see you all soon :)
arabella Ella: bye adams and everyone who is leaving