Popular genealogist and blogger, DearMYRTLE is starting a three-part series for BEGINNING genealogists tonight on the Second Life social networking platform. Second Life is a virtual world that offers text and voice chatting services for free. For information on how to join Second Life and become part of the growing genealogy community, read my step-by-step instruction page: http://www.liveroots.com/zone/welcome.html Step #6 involves adding my Second Life avatar as a friend, and when you complete this, I'll guide you to tonite's chat location. Group chats are occurring regularly in Second Life. It's like a virtual genealogical society, great for anyone who doesn't have a local society to participate in. I'm personally amazed at how many brickwalls have been smashed through online collaboration in Second Life these past few months. - illya Illya J. D'Addezio, Owner Genealogy Today LLC