pep talk

Maybe you’ve heard or read about a virtual web community called “Second Life?” I first caught wind of “SL” a few months ago; since then, there have been stories in everything from the Daily News to Southwest Airline’s in-flight magazine, to Newsweek. I was surprised to learn some version of the web-based virtual reality/social networking application has been around since about 2004.

I put in a proposal for a small grant today to hopefully work with Galveston.com and some partners on campus to develop a presence for UTMB in Second Life, a virtual welcome center for staff, students, prospects, patients and others to come and find out a little about us. Second Life could present an interesting new venue for collaboration, training, distance learning, new media studies, patient education, outreach, science and marketing. Or it could be the latest web buzz, hot today and doomed tomorrow to fade, a digital version of the hula hoop, beanie babies or pet rocks.

I and some of the people I work alongside have already created avatars and been exploring in Second Life. If this proposal gets funded, it may be a case of “be careful what you ask for…you may get it.” One day soon you may be able to visit a 3D Old Red online, not so exciting if the real thing is sitting outside your window, but pretty cool if you’re in a classroom or conference room in Thailand and collaborating with people here. While you can’t visit Old Red in SL yet, you can visit http://secondlife.com.

Texans lay claim to fame on a lot of stuff. As a Lone Star transplant, I take it all with a grain of salt. One exception, however, is beyond dispute: barbecue. People in Texas know how to cook meat on a fire, and the best barbecue I’ve ever had has been grilled, smoked and smothered here. So when a flyer from a UTMB student group hits my desk talking about a benefit barbecue cookoff, it got my attention. Here are the details:
The Pharmacology and Toxicology Student Organization is hosting a BBQ cookoff benefiting kids suffering from Angelman Syndrome. (Angelman Syndrome is a genetic disorder that manifests itself through developmental delays, speech impediments and bouts of frequent laughter; it strikes one in 150,000 kids. One of those kids is a member of our extended UTMB family.)

The cookoff is June 2 at Lindale Park, rain or shine. There are categories for brisket, pork ribs and chicken; the per team registration fee is $25 before May 25, or $35 after. Meats must be “checked in” Friday night. Get details or sign up by contacting Tod Harper at taharper@utmb.edu.

For the past five years, Information Service’s Carl Dolezal has organized the UTMB effort supporting Beach Cleanup, which most recently fell on the Saturday morning after our campus Earth Day celebration this past April. My 7-year-old son and I donned rubber gloves and sturdy shoes to wrestle beer cans, burst ballons and fishing line from the rocks along Boddeker Drive, on the eastern tip of the island. We had a great time, and my kid’s enthusiasm made me very happy. The UTMB cleanup crew was huge this year, with more than 50 participants (a few of them are pictured above). It looks like everyone was having a good time. (Carl is looking for his Beach Cleanup successor for next year, if anyone would like to take his post at helm of this worthwhile effort.)

 On the topic of Earth Day and all good green things, my colleague Heidi Lutz posted a slide show with images from the UTMB Earth Day celebration. If you went, you probably saw a very outstanding cardboard castle built by the guys in facilities. They were rightfully proud; it was a labor-intensive work of art they created on their own time, for others to enjoy. It was enjoyed by young and old alike. Enjoy the photos…see anyone you know?