Caledon Oxbridge Q&A for 2017-01-15

15:04 Wordsmith Jarvinen Welcome to the Oxbridge Deans' Q&A. This is an meeting open to all.
15:05 Wordsmith Jarvinen We seem to be low and deans today, but you've got two and a half of us (can't completely escape that easily, Larky)
15:06 Badass Fae (larkylouz) LOL
15:06 Wordsmith Jarvinen Phryne, let's start with your report.
15:06 Phrynne Gladly!
15:06 Phrynne The 2017 COU Faculty Information Kit -- a year in the making! -- has been distributed through the COU Notices -- I've also sent a few to newer tutors who may not remember to check the notices.
15:07 Phrynne This contains everything you need to help people at Oxbridge -- internal information, things to give to newcomers and others, and information on foreign-language help regions.
15:08 Phrynne If you have not gotten one yet, please do! If you have trouble getting one, contact me or Tasha.
15:08 Badass Fae (larkylouz) Thank you for all the work of putting that together, Phrynne!
15:08 Agatha Macbeth ?me cheers
15:08 Agatha Macbeth cheers too
15:08 Nikki (nikkivorsoisson) (hiccups)
15:08 Phrynne I want to credit Larky and Tasha with a great deal of work in getting this ready along with me -- there are many more notecards than there were in the 2015 kit
15:09 Wordsmith Jarvinen Does this one have the latest Portugues help center update, Phrynne?
15:09 Phrynne As far as I know, it does -- I put that in at 3 a.m. my time Friday.
15:10 Phrynne However -- there will be updates. Johann is rechecking some notecards written in Spanish (which we can hand out to Spanish speakers) to update them with the most recent locations for help areas and social areas. I expect to be able to send these out next week.
15:10 Wordsmith Jarvinen Great!
15:10 Phrynne And they will be sent out as attachments to the COU Notices, so, staff, please check the Notices!
15:10 Phrynne And then update your faculty kits with the newer notecards, please!
15:11 Phrynne I am very glad to have that done, and have it available to everyone. If there are any questions about notecards, please contact me -- or whoever wrote it.
15:11 Phrynne (I did not write everything.)
15:11 Wordsmith Jarvinen And just to clarify, COU is the faculty group. COUG is the scholars' group.
15:12 Phrynne Yes. This will not be distributed on the scholars' group.
15:12 Phrynne And that's all I have for today.
15:13 Holly Gaavin (hollydeni) keeps an eye on Andrea
15:14 Wordsmith Jarvinen Thanks, Phrynne. (would you send me a distributalble copy, please)
15:15 Phrynne You have it now.
15:16 Wordsmith Jarvinen I haven't had any complaints on the translators related to the portal cutover., so I think that's done.
15:18 Badass Fae (larkylouz) Great work, Wordsmith. thank you.
15:18 Wordsmith Jarvinen I have run into one minor bug and one potential improvement; the first using the force command when no foreign languages speakers are in the vicinity, and the second on being able to add ignores languages sequential rather than in a comma delimited list all at once.
15:19 Badass Fae (larkylouz) Yooo hooo. Wordsmith! English, please!
15:19 Wordsmith Jarvinen I'm putting that as a to do after scheduling via a new interface that Tali did a good while back and a total visitor counter.
15:20 Wordsmith Jarvinen There are options in the README file to force what you say in chat to be translated to other languages, even if a speaker of such language isn't around.
15:20 Badass Fae (larkylouz) right
15:21 Wordsmith Jarvinen There's also an option to ignore a language if a person is being too chatty with someone else or if someone is registered for nonenglish but speaks english.
15:22 Badass Fae (larkylouz) okay
15:22 Wordsmith Jarvinen Those can be useful, but don't effect most usage.
15:23 Wordsmith Jarvinen So, for now, they get low priority.
15:24 Wordsmith Jarvinen Other than that, I'm open to proposals for classes.
15:25 Holly Gaavin (hollydeni) suggestions for classes?
15:25 Gronk Seriman Did the Second Life DJ-ing class ever get off the fround?
15:25 Wordsmith Jarvinen Oh, and Larky, Phrynne -- someone else will have to run and get a transcript next week. I'll be in Seattle for a meteorology conference.
15:25 Gronk Seriman *ground?
15:25 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) I take it nobody wants to restart the vehicle class....
15:25 Badass Fae (larkylouz) Sorry, Gronk, it was grounded. Or do I mean frounded?
15:25 Badass Fae (larkylouz) ;^)
15:26 Badass Fae (larkylouz) I'll put transcript getting on my calendar
15:26 Agatha Macbeth Lost and fround
15:26 Holly Gaavin (hollydeni) we REALLY ned and "invetory Class"
15:26 Holly Gaavin (hollydeni) inventory
15:26 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) But nobody dares to ask Josain...
15:26 Holly Gaavin (hollydeni) I have
15:26 Holly Gaavin (hollydeni) we need st sweet talk him all of us
15:27 Wordsmith Jarvinen Yes, Holly suggestions for classes and if you know of someone able to teach them ....
15:27 Holly Gaavin (hollydeni) oh k
15:27 Holly Gaavin (hollydeni) I will ask Josain again
15:28 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) Judging from questions of newcomers, some more building classes might be welcome..
15:28 Wordsmith Jarvinen My requirements are simply that a person is knowledgeable about what they are teaching, can organize information so others can understand and learn from it, and that they understand that teaching is not marketing.
15:28 Phrynne Holly and all, it is not a matter of sweet-talking Josain. He has a dying computer, and can be online only until it overheats.
15:28 Holly Gaavin (hollydeni) ohhhh
15:29 Phrynne That is generally 10 minutes at most.
15:29 Badass Fae (larkylouz) I'm available to read proposals and make suggestions for writing lessons and teaching skills, if wanted
15:29 Holly Gaavin (hollydeni) so sad'
15:30 Wordsmith Jarvinen Looks at Larky..... Editor?
15:31 Wordsmith Jarvinen (We have Wordpress installed on our website, but have been in need of and editor for a long while -- I'd love to stretch to that but already have more pies than fingers).
15:32 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) Oh Yeah, Tasha alreayd suggested groupfunding for Josain's computer...
15:32 Wordsmith Jarvinen That's it from me for today. Open for questions.
15:32 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) raises hand.
15:33 Badass Fae (larkylouz) We can talk about it, Word. I don't know Wordpress, but do have HTML experience, that is long forgotten, but possibly retrievable.
15:33 Wordsmith Jarvinen Andrea?
15:33 Badass Fae (larkylouz) Groupfunding is a good idea.
15:33 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) Several questions, Where are we on COu funding? Possible staff additions? and the Patron program?
15:34 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) If we need more patrons. Do we as individuals need to help the search?
15:34 Wordsmith Jarvinen I asked Carl about patrons last week and haven't heard back from him.
15:35 Wordsmith Jarvinen I did mention that, if needed, I'd coordinate that (grows another finger or two)
15:37 Wordsmith Jarvinen I paid tier into April with about 250k $L in the account afterward and some backlog on paying instructors I need to catch up on (had some crashes on the class monitor script that make that some manual work).
15:37 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) Anything on the possibility of adding staff?
15:37 Phrynne We are always talking to likely candidates about becoming tutors; that's ongoing.
15:38 Wordsmith Jarvinen And tutors are one source of instructors and both can grow into helping to run the place, given skills and desire.
15:40 Agatha Macbeth Hello Aylaria LTNS
15:40 Wordsmith Jarvinen So, I'm always listening to Tasha and Phrynne, and I believe both are keeping eyes/ears open for staffing opportunities.
15:40 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) nods
15:41 Phrynne And I send to Word anyone who mentions a possible class to me
15:41 Phrynne (or stand behind and nudge them in his direction)
15:42 Wordsmith Jarvinen There are areas such as building and choosing and managing mesh clothing and clothing combinations in which I'd love to add instructors.
15:43 Wordsmith Jarvinen And scripting too, for that matter.
15:43 Wordsmith Jarvinen But it takes both the technical knowledge and the information and people skills.
15:43 Wordsmith Jarvinen (furry skills, tiny skills?)
15:44 Aylaria (emberell) And the time
15:44 Badass Fae (larkylouz) Now that many clothing makers are starting to only offer clothing for mesh bodies, we really need to up our game on that one.
15:44 Wordsmith Jarvinen And the time.
15:44 Badass Fae (larkylouz) Hey Ayla!
15:44 Aylaria (emberell) waves a wing!
15:44 Phrynne waves at Ayla!
15:44 Aylaria (emberell) /waves up at PHrynne, too
15:45 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) announcements?
15:45 Wordsmith Jarvinen Go for it!
15:46 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) Everyone is invited to the Delta Blues Juke Joint this coming Tues night the 12th at 6 PM SL time.
So put on your favorite blues outfit. I recommend something light and airy. As it gets hot and humid in the Mississippi Delta.
DJ Patty Poppy will be our DJ for the evening spinning us a great set of blues and blues related tunes I am sure you will enjoy.
Burgers, barbecue, and hot dogs available along with your favorite beverages.

So join us for a great night of blues music, dancing, and conversation.
The band equipment is animated for your use if you want to play along with the music.

Here is your pickup truck to the event Caledon SouthEnd (111,36,578)
15:46 Holly Gaavin (hollydeni) whoo hooo juke joint
15:46 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) :-)
15:47 Badass Fae (larkylouz) Sounds like fun!
15:47 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) Writers' Meetings are still going on....
15:47 Wordsmith Jarvinen The 12th?, Andrea.
15:47 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) ops the 17th
15:47 Wordsmith Jarvinen Thanks, Elfbiter. Thursdays, 11am for the writers' meetings.
15:48 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) A small group of Residents of Caledon have created a little neighborhood with the Caledon 2016 Christmas Advent Gifts.

We would like to invite you to come visit and see gifts on display:
Caledon SouthEnd (130,31,23)
15:48 Agatha Macbeth :)
15:48 Phrynne It's a really fun little village!
15:48 Wordsmith Jarvinen So, time machines are not required to go to the blues ball.
15:48 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) I'll have to fix the date
15:48 Holly Gaavin (hollydeni) Star worked very hard on that
15:49 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) yes she did
15:49 Phrynne I hope everyone will go and get ideas for how you, too, can make something fascinating from the gifts.
15:49 Phrynne because it is brilliant!
15:50 Phrynne Any other announcements?
15:50 Wordsmith Jarvinen Also, sounds like one can see what was in the boxes without having to rez all of them.
15:50 Wordsmith Jarvinen Or questions, or ......
15:51 Phrynne If you get inspired and you missed the Calendar somehow, all the 'home' gifts are in a largish blue box in the Railroad Station freebies.
15:53 Wordsmith Jarvinen Any suggested themes for next year, Phrynne?
15:54 Phrynne Not yet. I am hoping that the yet-unnamed Assistant Dean of Commons for Special Projects/Calendar will have some ideas.
15:54 Wordsmith Jarvinen (a special staff position, there)
15:55 Phrynne Yes, the only duties would be organizing the Advent Calendar, with my support.
15:55 Phrynne And undoubtedly with the support of many other people who have contributed in the past.
15:56 Wordsmith Jarvinen Any other questions, announcements, what nots?
15:56 Holly Gaavin (hollydeni) seems to me that would only require rezzing skills
15:56 Phrynne No, it requires people skills -- talking to potential donors, organizing when things will be done, quite a bit of other things.
15:56 Wordsmith Jarvinen Packaging skills, contribution seeking skills, nagging skills, ....
15:56 RainyDayRecess :D
15:57 Holly Gaavin (hollydeni) ohhhhh
15:57 Phrynne Being willing to tell a donor who offers something entirely unsuitable, "Thank you, but I'm sorry, this just won't work..."
15:57 Wordsmith Jarvinen Permissions changing skills.
15:57 Nikki (nikkivorsoisson) plans to practice her nagging.
15:57 Holly Gaavin (hollydeni) well its good to know what is involved
15:58 Wordsmith Jarvinen We get offers of unsuitable things? (eyes wide)
15:58 Holly Gaavin (hollydeni) lol
15:58 Phrynne Actually, yes.
15:58 Aylaria (emberell) A good deal of the offerings are, in fact, not suits
15:58 Wordsmith Jarvinen Suits aren't much helpful to a dragon.
15:58 Phrynne We do not include advertising -- and some potential donors refused to allow the gifts to be giving unless they could put restrictions on them and add advertising.
15:58 Aylaria (emberell) Completely unsuitable
15:58 Aylaria (emberell) nods
15:58 Phrynne And I saind no.
15:58 Phrynne *said
15:59 Holly Gaavin (hollydeni) oh wow
15:59 Phrynne Also, the gifts *must* be General rated. That removes a few other possibilities.
15:59 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) Could these things be used for a fund raiser?
15:59 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) or some of them
15:59 Phrynne And nongendered -- or if gendered, must be available for male and female.
15:59 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) ?
16:00 Phrynne The ones I refused, I no longer have.
16:00 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) Do yo ustillhave the contact info for the donors?
16:00 Phrynne Andrea, that's a discussion for another time.
16:00 Wordsmith Jarvinen Or if experimental, must also be available in theoretical (relates to a physics jokeJ).
16:01 Wordsmith Jarvinen So, time to adjourn. Thank you all for coming.
16:01 RainyDayRecess Thank you Deans :)
16:01 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) Bedtime for me.
16:01 Gronk Seriman Thank you, Deans!
16:01 Phrynne good night, Mr. Elfbiter
16:01 Holly Gaavin (hollydeni) claps for th Deans
16:01 Aylaria (emberell) Thanks, as always, for your time!
16:01 RainyDayRecess 'Night Elfbiter :)
16:02 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) Be seeing you
16:02 Badass Fae (larkylouz) Thank you for coming and contributing, everyone.