Cartoon of The Day: When The Devil Is In The Details

 

 Taken at the Dickens Project. Not sure why someone wanted to look like a demon at an Xmas event, though maybe the spirits with her knew the Ghosts of Christmas.

 

By Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Cartoon of The Day: Penguin Paddles

 

 Taken at the Dickens Project. While at an event, I saw this little penguin waddling around, carrying a couple paddles. Was he or she trying to signal a plane to land, or something else.

 

By Bixyl Shuftan 

 

At The Dickens Project

 

Having a few minutes to spare yesterday, I dropped by The Dickens Project, an inworld tribute to the classic tale "A Christmas Carol" and the world it took place in. I arrived in time to see a live musician, Wald Schrride play some gentle tunes, followed by Caledona Skytower reading some ghost stories. 

For more information on the Dickens Project, visit http://irelandslstory.blogspot.com/ or join the group.

 

The main entrance to the Dickens Project is at The Dickens Project (129/128/1401).

 

The Dickens Project Art Show

 

The Dickens Project is a yearly event held by the Seanchai Library, celebrating the story "A Christmas Carol," with numerous activities, smaller events, and experiences. Among these is the Dickens Project Art Show. Open until January 5, there are a number of pictures on display. Netera Landar went over, and had a few words with the coordinator, Stevie Morane Basevi.

 

Read Netera's article in Design.  

Announcement: The DIckens Project

 

THE DICKENS PROJECT; featuring "A Christmas Carol"

Produced by Seanchai Library

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Dickens%20Project/129/128/1401

 

The Dickens Project opens to the SL public December 4th, celebrating the work of British author Charles Dickens, and featuring his classic novella "A Christmas Carol". 

Walk in the steps of Ebenezer Scrooge on his Christmas journey to redemption.

Events and activities at the 2025 The Dickens Project include:

      ~ Interactive Experience-Based Map to aid in your exploration
     
     ~ Audio HUD (so you can listen to your favorite ghost: past, present, or yet to come
    ~ Plenty of Performances and Presentations by performing  groups and artists of all kinds
     
     ~ Open Art Show, featuring the work of SL Visual artists
     
     ~ "Scrooge's Story" group dance adventure presented by **CATALYST**
     
     ~ Themed Dance Parties presented by eClipse Club & Resort
     
     ~ Fezziwig's Ball presented by Flygearz
     
     ~ Story presentations from the works of Charles Dickens, including a Story Tour (Full Text) of "A Christmas Carol."
         
     ~ Information on the author at The Dickens Library
     
     ~ Plenty of photo ops and things to explore (clickie!)
     
     ~ and more (really . . . we mean that)


All venue tips from events will be donated to Reading is Fundamental.
More information available soon at https://irelandslstory.blogspot.com/

 

Announcement - THE DICKENS PROJECT: The 2023 Edition, Coming Soon

 

 December 7 - January 7

In a nutshell, The Dickens Project is:a themed experience featuring Dickens' A Christmas Carol, and the world of the story:
   ~ Two scenic regions to explore and enjoy.
   ~ Live music, DJ sets, spoken word, dance events and performances.
   ~ Dozens of performers, presenters.
   ~ Both Invitational and Open Art Shows
   ~ Educational and interpretive content featuring different aspects of Victorian life.
   ~ Horse rambler tour, a hot air balloon ride, and more entertainments.
   
Learn more at www.seanchailibrary.com
https://irelandslstory.blogspot.com/p/the-dickens-project-sl.html

NOTE: this landmark will not work until December 7th

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Dickens%20Project/129/128/1401

Announcement: Final Dickens Project Events

 

 ** Saturday, December 31st @ Noon-2PM: CAROLS & DANCES
Think we are done with "A Christmas Carol"? Not quite yet. DJ Cale has a tall stack of music that has been written for various versions of Dickens' immortal Christmas tale, and she'll be playing it along with some dance tunes that would have set even Old Fezziwig a whirl!

** Sunday, January 1st @ 2-4PM: A HAPPY NEW YEARS' SKATE!
DJ Dano Bookmite, long time friend of The Dickens Project, will be taking the stream and the ice for this final event of the 2022 Edition of The Dickens Project, celebrating another year complete and the possibilities in a fresh, new one.

 

Victorian wear suggested, but not required

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Dickens%20Project/122/181/22

 

A Tour of The Dickens Project

 

 On this Christmas Eve, the Newser still has one more story to tell before Santa makes his rounds (okay, for those in East Asia and Australia, he's making them now). Gemma Cleanslate took a tour of The Dickens Project, an informative and educational exhibit of life of early Victorian England in the time of Charles Dickens.

Read Gemma's story in Events. 

Press Release: The Dickens Project Returns for 2022

 

Seanchai Library is proud to announce the opening of The Dickens Project 2022 Edition. This Second Life winter holiday tradition invites guests to walk in the steps of Ebenezer Scrooge in an environment inspired, in part, by Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella “A Christmas Carol.” An invited community of Second Life groups and organizations will present a variety of music events, dance performances, as well as story presentations. Other Project features include skating, sledding, a balloon ride, a horse cart tour, and plenty of photo opportunities. The Dickens Project regions will open on Thursday, December 8th, and close at the end of the day on Tuesday, January 3rd.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The 2022 Edition features an Experience-based teleport system. Please accept the “Caledonian Studios” Experience in the Welcome Area to fully explore The Project. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Dickens%20Project/129/128/1401

"This year we challenged a lot of assumptions about how we configured the land to tell the  story," said Caledonia Skytower of Seanchai Library. "So what Dickens Project fans will discover is a layout that is very different from past Projects, but still has narrative sense. It feels like a lot ‘more’, somehow, and yet will still have the friendly familiarity that many will expect."  The Dickens Project is intentionally designed to follow, as much as possible, the narrative of Dickens’ 1843 work, allowing guests to walk through the Christmas past, present, and future of the story.

The Dickens Project also seeks to promote community - a community of Second Life individuals and organizations which come together for this annual celebration. After a hiatus in 2021, this community includes Virtual Community Radio, Innsmouth in SL. The Community Virtual Library will again provide research and information on Victorian life in the time of Dickens’ works.

Four different dance companies will present unique performances including Idle Rogue Productions, TerpsiCorps Dance, Misfit Dance and Performance Art SL, and Virtuoso Dance. Eclipse Club and Resort will contribute music sets in addition to a variety of independent Djs and musicians.  SL Hawks Aerobatic Team will return for a single performance of their popular “Ghost Flights of Christmas” air show in the skies above Dickens Harbour, this season with wing walkers. These are all in addition to the live story reading programs which Seanchai Library is known for. 

The popular "Carol Week" returns in a revised format this year. The week will begin with The Big Read on Sunday, December 18th at Noon. The relay-style presentation involves a chorus of  voices in a continuous reading of "A Christmas Carol" from the beginning to end. The week will continue December 19 - 22nd with a section of Dickens' novella presented live each day in a "Story Tour" presentation to the sites on the region inspired by the story.

Seanchai Library offers its thanks to Linden Labs and Patch Linden, our 2022 Region Sponsors.

There will be information available on the Seanchai Library Website, and at the Welcome Area at The Dickens Project. 

Announcement: No 2021 Dickens Project

 

We regret to announce that, after careful consideration, we have decided to give Charlie a year off. A variety of First Life imperatives and other factors brought us to the realization that we could not provide our community with the Project that they have come to expect, for 2021.  

This is not a long-term decision. We fully intend to come back refreshed and ready for guests and friends in 2022. In the meantime, Seanchai Library will be offering a wide range of story experiences for the season beyond the works of Mr Dickens, including a special Sunday series from classic holiday radio shows, and the annual Big Read of "A Christmas Carol" on Sunday, December 19th (just as if there had been regions filled with Dickensian doings).

Thank you for your support & enthusiasm!

~ Slainte'
 

Events This Weekend

 

Quite a bit happened this weekend. The Christmas Expo started on Friday, as did the Dickens Project. On Saturday, the Confederation of Democratic Simulators had it's Inagural Ball. Bay City held it's tree-trimming party on Sunday (above). GoSpeed Racer had a discussion of her new published novel on Sunday as well. 

Stay tuned for more from the Newser

Press Release: The Dickens Project 2020

 
**The Dickens Project presents the New
and the Familiar, beginning December 4**

Second Life – The Seanchai Library is proud to announce the opening of The Dickens Project 2020 Edition. The Project began as a special seasonal presentation of Seanchai Library in 2008.  It transformed into an interactive environment in 2012, then to a full region experience in 2017. This year's two regions are inspired by the Victorian world of A Christmas Carol and other beloved tales, offering a broad spectrum of opportunities to explore, discover, and participate.

The Dickens Project presented over 80 hours of events during the month of December 2019, and this year's schedule is just as ambitious. Information is available on Seanchai's website in addition to other information that will be released during opening week. This year's two-region creation opens to the Second Life community on Friday, December 4th and will remain open through Sunday, January 3rd.
 
http://irelandslstory.blogspot.com/p/the-dickens-project-sl.html

"Every year The Dickens Project intentionally blends the familiar features of previous years with new things waiting to be discovered," said Caledonia Skytower of Seanchai Library. "It helps our loyal visitors feel like they are coming home, gets them excited about what's new, and encourages them to share the experience with their friends. That's our goal. Each year the Dickens Project is just a little different. This year, with a second region, there is a lot that is fresh and new."  
 
The Dickens Project is also about a community of Second Life individuals and organizations that come together for this month long celebration. That community will again include Radio Riel, and Innsmouth SL. The Community Virtual Library will feature aspects of Victorian life from clothing, workers conditions, Dickens in Spanish, to The London Exhibition in a dedicated information district. Idle Rogue Productions will return with a new edition of their "Midnight Dinner" show, and Misfit Dance & Performance Art returns with "A Very Misfit Christmas" filled with seasonal joy. These are in addition to the live story reading programs which are Seanchai Library's hallmark.  
 
Virtuoso Performing Arts joins the community this year, presenting their new "Tales of Beatrix Potter" show New Year's weekend; and the SL Hawks Aerobatic Team will present their "Ghost Flights of Christmas" air show in performances in the skies above Dickens Harbour. That's right: an air show based on A Christmas Carol.
 
For inquiring minds, there is "The Horse in Victorian London", and "The Mine" interactive experiences. The later experience includes a ride through a mine with Sultan the pit pony and his coal carts. "Sultan" is a tribute to the name of one of the last pit ponies in Wales. Like their predecessor, the Urchin Experience (on hiatus this year), these experiences seek to balance the view of Dickens' world. "It's not all plum puddings and prize turkeys," says Skytower, "not for children, the working poor, women, or for animals."
 
The popular "Carol Week" returns with a section of Dickens' novella presented live each day in a "Story Tour" to the sites on the region inspired by the story. Saturday, December 19th features Fezziwig's Ball in the Opera House. The week culminates in The Big Read on Sunday, December 20th at Noon in Dickens Square. The Big Read is a relay-style presentation involving 9-12 voices in a continuous reading of "A Christmas Carol" from the beginning to the end of it.

"And this is just the tip of the iceberg," added Skytower, "We have art shows this year for the first time, and wearable horses and carriages that you can drive around on each region, and so much more. It's not a cliche'. It's really impossible to concisely summarize everything you can do, see, or experience at this year's Project. You just have to come and check it out for yourself."
 
Seanchai Library offers its thanks to Linden Labs and Patch Linden, our 2020 Region Sponsors.


About the Seanchai Library
Seanchai Library (pronounced Shawn-a-kee, which means "Storyteller" in Irish Gaelic.) was founded in March of 2008 in Second Life. The program remains dedicated to promoting the power of stories to transform and inspire through live voice presentations: "We bring stories of all kinds to life, in Second Life and other virtual worlds."  http://irelandslstory.blogspot.com/


All times listed are SLT/ Pacific.

Announcement: This Saturday at The Science Circle - "Charles Dickens Project"

Saturday December 21
10 AM to 11 AM

Put on your Victorian attire (optional) and join us at the Dickens Project for a holiday tour. We will discuss research in virtual worlds for historical simulation and see examples.

Marie Vans

Read more (here)

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Dickens%20Project/233/68/21

Press Release: The Dickens Project Returns to Second Life, December 1

Second Life – The Dickens Project has become a winter holiday tradition for a growing number of Second Life residents since it began as a special seasonal presentation by Seanchai Library in 2008.  It transformed into an interactive environment in 2012, then to a full region experience for 2017 and 2018. Seanchai Library is proud to announce that they will be opening the doors of The Dickens Project 2019 Edition beginning December 1.

The Dickens Project celebrates the work of English author Charles Dickens (1812-1870) featuring his seminal work "A Christmas Carol." This year's edition presents a full month of exploration, storytelling, music, dance, roleplay opportunities, and the return of the "Urchins in Dickens’ London" experience.

"The Dickens Project is not one single thing," said Caledonia Skytower of Seanchai Library. "It began as purely a story event, but has evolved to be much more. Our goal is to bring residents together around this important literary work and its themes. Whether their interest is historical, educational, artistic, social, recreational, active, reflective - we work to provide opportunities to engage that are fun and meaningful."  It is the scope of the project and the breadth of its reach into the Second Life community that recommended it to Patch Linden and Linden Labs, the region sponsor of the 2019 Edition.

In a nutshell, The Dickens Project includes:
    ~ A full region themed around Dickens' A Christmas Carol, and the world of the story.
    ~ Over 40 hours of live music, spoken word, dance events and performances.
    ~ Self-selectable interactive elements, including the "Urchins in Dickens’ London" roleplay/game/experience, and opportunities for both RP and Non-RP guests.
    ~ Dozens of performers, presenters, and special guests including Patch Linden himself.
    ~ Educational and interpretive content to encourage questions like "What was Tiny Tim suffering from anyway?"

More information on performances, events, schedules, and features will be released later in November through the Seanchai Library website, and to interested media. There will be special Press/Blogger Previews on November 29th and 30th for the virtual media to get a closer look at The Project before  it officially opens.

About the Seanchai Library
Seanchai Library (pronounced Shawn-a-kee, which means "Storyteller" in Irish Gaelic.) was founded in March of 2008 in Second Life. The program remains dedicated to promoting the power of stories to transform and inspire through live voice presentations: "We bring stories of all kinds to life, in Second Life and other virtual worlds."  http://irelandslstory.blogspot.com/

Contact Caledonia Skytower for any questions.

"A Christmas Carol" by Seanchai Library's Dickens Project

There are many Christmas stories. But one of the most well-known is "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. Set in Victorian England, the tale of an elderly miser being taught a number of lessons about the meaning of Christmas has been told time and time again. In Second Life, The Seanchi Library's "Dickens Project" in LEA7 is once again depicting the story. One addition from last year is "The Urchin Experience," which helps show participants how challenging life could be for poor children in early 19th Century England. But the big attraction remains the iconic story by Dickens. Gemma Cleanslate was there, and wrote about what she saw.

Read the story in Events.

Press Release: The Dickens Project 2018 Edition Returns to LEA 7

Second Life – The Dickens Project celebrates its sixth year in Second Life with a return to Linden Endowment for the Arts Region 7, where the annual celebration of Charles Dickens' seminal work first was realized in full region form a year ago.  Offering four weeks of exploration, storytelling, music, dance, a new "Urchins in Dickens London" experience, this Second Life holiday tradition will be open to residents November 30th, through December 30th.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA7/129/127/22

"What's new this year? There is no short answer to that," said Caledonia Skytower, "In almost every conceivable way, the Project has flourished in the full region format. This year was a team effort - our first real foray into collaborative build creation.  We learned a lot, and we are confident people will enjoy the results."  Skytower, along with long time Dickens creator Aoife Lorefield, Gloriana Maertens, and Dagmar Kohime worked together to transform prims and textures in a regionscape that evokes the spirit of Dickens' beloved work.          

Most evident to Dickens Project fans will be the new "Urchins in Dickens London" experience.  Created by Lorefield, the Urchins Experience invites residents to explore what life was like for a poor child in Victorian England. It's a game that combines elements of an SL hunt, free form (and optional) role play, and an invitation to create (and share) stories that the experience inspires.

"Charles Dickens was ever a champion of children, writing stories about those who were poor and unprotected," says Lorefield, "His child characters are often triumphant, finding ways to build lives of purpose and sometimes even happiness in a difficult time." Residents of all ages are welcome to participate, and will find information and the Urchins HUD near the main landing point in Dickens Square.  Inquiries should be directed to Ms. Lorefield. Additional information can be found on a special webpage http://irelandslstory.blogspot.com/p/urchins-in-dickens-london.html .

To experience another new aspect of this Edition, just by turn on "sounds" in your Second Life Viewer.  A soundscape created by Dagmar Kohime will enhance the immersion of the region-exploring experience. Sounds of all kinds can be heard all over the region: a fiddler plays at Fezziwig's warehouse, the sounds of Nephew Fred's party guests wafts into the street near his home, and the Merchants Alley rings with sound of urchin laughter. The soundscape includes a special "Voices of the Story Path" hud that visitors can wear to hear short selections from "A Christmas Carol" in locations which corresponds to that selection from the story.

The 2018 Edition will include the customary presentations of A Christmas Carol in a variety of adaptations, in sections and in its entirety, and at different times to make the live readings accessible to residents from different parts of the globe.

Other works from within the author’s vast canon are featured in the weeks leading up to "Carol Week" (December 17-23), which climaxes in a marathon “Big Read” presentation of A Christmas Carol performed by a relay team of Seanchai staff and storytelling friends, scheduled for Sunday, December 23rd. 

Performances by Idle Rogue Productions, Misfit Dance and Performance Art, Russell Eponym, Wald Schridde and a host of other performers will add up to over 40 hours of events on LEA 7. In addition to these, communities participating in The Dickens Project 2018 Edition include: Ce Soir Arts, The Community Virtual Library, Elite Equestrian, Innsmouth - H.P. Lovecraft Inspired, Octoberville, and Radio Riel

"And we're not even done scheduling yet," Skytower points out.  Non-Dickens ghost stories, the Urchin Extravaganza, and a DJ Challenge will round out the days between Christmas and December 30th The schedule in-progress will be available weekly on the Seanchai Library website http://irelandslstory.blogspot.com/p/the-dickens-project-sl.html. The daily schedule, information on all aspects of the Project, and calendar links will also be available on information kiosks at the main landing point.

In 1843 Charles Dickens prefaced his classic tale with these words: “I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it.”  He began the novella in October, completed it in less than six weeks. It went on to become the most successful book of the season, selling six thousand copies by Christmas and continuing to be popular into the new year. It is a book which has never been out of print.

The Dickens Project is produced by Seanchai Library (Shawn-a-kee, which means "Storyteller" in Irish), which was founded in March of 2008 in Second Life. Thousands of stories, and hundreds of authors later, the program remains dedicated to promoting the power of stories to transform and inspire through live voice presentations: "We bring stories of all kinds to life, in Second Life."

Announcement: Dickens Project's Last Day Today

The Dickens Project 2017 Edition in Second Life is about to fade into the past.  Join us for Closing Day on Linden Endowment for the Arts (LEA) Region 7, - Saturday, December 30th.  The future is uncertain, explore now.

Check out the final "Stave Video" of this year's Project, featuring Saturday's Finale Events
https://youtu.be/zL85Esmkc6s

The Dickens Project 2017 - LEA7 (118, 148, 21) - Moderate

The Dickens Project in Second Life is produced by Seanchai Library
http://irelandslstory.blogspot.com/

Hong Kong's "A Christmas Carol" and The Dickens Project

Most of us are familiar with the classic tale by Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" in which a miserly old man is shown the error of his ways and gets a chance to change. Gemma Cleanslate in her explorations of Christmas places found a couple locations about this story. One is Hong Kong University Education Island, using a number of builds to tell the tale. The other is at LEA7, "The Dickens Project," done by the Seanchai Library in which you get to learn more about the writer and the times he lived in.

Read Gemma's story in Design.