Since there is as much as a 12-hour clock-time spread between those in this course who are most far-flung from one another, I am scheduling three introductory chat sessions this week at times that are most convenient for all concerned. 

If past experience is a reliable guide, these introductory chats will consist mostly of getting to know one another and becoming familiar with the chat-room’s “technology.” 

Subsequent chat sessions (two or three weekly) will be scheduled on the basis of what works best in actual practice for our introductory chats. I can most readily determine the best times to regularly schedule chats hereafter as soon as each of you has let me know which days and times will NOT work for you. 

PLEASE NOTE that the suggested times for the introductory chats listed below are Pacific Daylight Savings Time (PDST).  To assist you in checking their corresponding times in your time zone, see httpwww.timeanddate.com .
May 14, 10 p.m. PDST
May 15, 630 a.m. PDST
May 16, 12 noon PDST

Unless it turns out that an overwhelming majority cannot accommodate the May 14, 10 p.m. PDST chat session, please consider it a go.   

It is not necessary for everyone to attend each chat session, which is why multiple sessions are being offered.  Some if not all chat sessions will be subsequently posted to the “Chat Sessions” discussion thread.