SLanguages 2008 Conference

"The SLanguages 2008 Conference brings together practitioners and researchers in the field of language education in Second Life for a 24-hour event to celebrate languages and cultures within the 3D virtual world."

And it did. At the closing Q&A session, major domo for the event, Gavin Dudeney - a.k.a. SL Dudeney Ge - revealed that over the 24-hour period, 347 different avatars had visited, that the open plenary session hosted 83 people, and that there were 28 sessions completed in total. Not bad for only the second conference! Despite the appearance just prior to the conference of Release Candidate Viewer 1.2 RC8, the event as a whole appeared to be relatively glitch free. From my own observations, the majority of problems came from human error - the new Second Lifers who had yet to work out how to use TP, Notecards, Voice, and stylish clothing. I added the later gratuitously because I spend so much time with designers and SL Glitterati that seeing so many newbies in need of a fashion makeover was a minor shock to the system.

For a more comprehensive overview of the conference, check out my report at SLentrepreneur. Alternatively, you could take a look at the report from my new colleague, Yelena Etzel, who writes for The Looking Glass magazine. Apart from Yelena, I didn't bump into any other members of the SL Fourth Estate, but you might want to check out both of our reports to see who does the better. ;)

Something of a Declaration

If you've enjoyed the free album, Soundtrackz in Search of Moviez, then you may like to take a look at my latest YouTube offering. OK, so it's also my first YouTube offering, but we all have to start somewhere. It is, without doubt, hopelessly romantic and I assume some 99% of guys will laugh and call me a tragic case. But if you're a woman, then I have to believe YOU understand what it's all about. At least ONE will ;)

The Way You Look Tonight

10 Ulysses

The last track of the Soundtrackz in Search of Moviez album. Make sure you have all the others from the previous nine posts to get the full effect! Now feel free to share the music with your friends and Hollywood producers. I await the call.

***

A historical drama set in the Middle Ages, where great sailing ships and brave adventurers would cross unknown oceans in search of new lands. As the credits role at the end of the film, you hear the stirring choral music against the rolling waves.

Click here to download "Ulysses"

9 The Border Tale

Stephanie Coleridge, a British psychotherapist, wakes up naked in a Mexican hotel room. All she has is a suitcase containing 3 millions dollars, a Walther PPK, and a notebook of hieroglyphics. From Mexico through Arizona and back to London, Stephanie searches for her identity and the secret of the hieroglyphs.

***

Stephanie heard a loud crash as the door burst open. Without thinking, soe found herself rolling off the bed as the spit of a silencer coincided with a burst of dust from the mattress. As she fell to the floor, she reached out and grabbed the Walther on the cabinet. In one fluid motion, she flipped her whole body sideways, took hold of the gun with both hands and shot six rounds, fanning through the space from where she'd heard the shots.

With a sharp groan, a man collapsed backwards, hitting a lamp and crashing into a table. She tumbled back behind the bed, lining herself parallel with it and pointing the gun straight up into the air.

Silence.

She felt her heart thumping and the sweat beginning to drip from her naked body. Her arms relaxed and she turned back on her stomach and slid to the corner of the bed. Looking up, she could see the man's inert body reflected in the TV screen. Slowly, she stood up and walked over to the door to ensure no-one was in the corridor. Pushing the door to, she looked at the dead man and began to shake. Tossing the gun on the bed, she could feel tears beginning to form.

Sweet Jesus, she thought, what the hell just happened!

As her shaking increased, she steadied herself against the wall. Fighting off dizziness, she began scanning the room, noticing first the bullet holes in the bed.

If I hadn't moved, she thought, I'd have been dead. Then it hit her. But how did I know what to do? She looked from the bed to the body and it came to her that she'd acted out of instinct, not only escaping death but taking out her would-be assassin too.

Where the fuck did I learn to do THAT?

 Click here to download "The Border Tale"

8 Haiku

A trio of men from Japan find their paths cross and go in search of their destinies, cross the sea to America.

"Three men journey West,
Looking for meaning in the
City of Angels"

***

A man from a farm,
One born of Nobility
And one an old priest

None seeking a change
But all find a mystery
That they have to solve

They all leave the East
By land, by sea, and by air
To Angel City

Each on his own road
They find a common crossing
Destinies revealed

Where are the answers
Inside the head or the heart?
Perhaps they will know

 Click to download "Haiku"

7 Truth, Lies, and not enough Money

Between Uptown Manhattan and Downtown Harlem are many worlds. Sometimes the people from one find their paths cross with those of the other. The movie is tells the violent tale of a tragic love affair that was always doomed to failure from the opening reel.

***

The heavy rain in Times Square had done little to stem the flow of human beings shuffling around from street to street, heads turning every which way but loose to absorb the American icon.

Tourists, he thought. They might as well wear T-shirts with "I'm not a local" on the front and back just to make it more obvious. In contrast to the masses, Russell had his eyes firmly turned toward his objective; Starbucks. The only antidote to teeming rain is steaming coffee.

Once inside, the aroma of coffee and wet people was thick enough to be almost tangible. It took him almost 10 minutes to get to the counter.

"Tall double skim latte please."

Latte. Drink of the Wuss. Despite heavy pressure from his friends to turn to espresso, "a real man's drink," he'd stuck to his choice and joined the ranks of the weak.

He took the coffee, slipped it into a java jacket and found a seat just by the window. Just a few yard away he could make out a clutch of soaked teenagers outside the MTV studios, presumably hoping to catch a glimpse of some 'flavor-of-the-day' performer who, in a couple of years time, would be selling miracle products at 3.30 in the morning on cable TV. Taking a sip of his coffee, he took out his PDA to check his e-mail.

The case was going slow. Too slow. His client had expected some evidence by now of his wife's infidelity, but Russ had been unable to find anything of substance. Despite three weeks of direct observation work, nothing had happened. In fact, she was so limited in her social interactions with either sex he was beginning to wonder who was the one with the problem. Maybe he should switch to the 'Paranoid Husband' hypothesis, call it quits and take on a new client.

Unfortunately, not only was the case slow, but his business in general was going at the same pace. Three e-mails for Viagra, two for sex sites, and eight "hot investment tips you can't afford to miss,'"but no real prospects. He took another sip and wondered how many more lattes he could buy before he was reduced to the 50 cent fast-food "special blend." If he didn't come up with a hint of scandal in the next three days, he was back in the hole. Again.

 Click to download "Truth, Lies, and not enough Money"

6 Spy Tales

A spy movie with lots of fast cars, beautiful women, sharp-dressing sleuths and unmistakably evil bad guys. Set in a multitude of locations around the world, no expense is spared in producing an exciting and exotic movie that demands the most intense suspension of disbelief!

***

Barrington Wainwright III sipped his brandy, keeping an eye on the couple in the corner of the room. Rachel maintained focus on her Creme Bruhlee, each mouthful gently measured to maintain a delicate appearance of pose and grace. She noticed Chesterton's vigil. Pausing with the fork in her hand, she furrowed her brow and looked puzzled.

"Barrington, why are you so preoccupied with the woman on that table? Am I lacking something you need?"

Wainwright smiled. Rachel had been a model for most of her young life and spent most of her time fighting off admirers. As far as physical attraction went, she was in the big leagues. Still, he thought, it's interesting that she has some little insecurities.

"Strange as this might seem my dear girl, I am much more interested in the gentleman."

Rachel lifted an eyebrow.

"Well Barry, I'm afraid I can't compete on that level!"

He laughed and leaned over in her direction.

"Rest assured that I have not renounced my heterosexual proclivities. However, I believe he's the link between Senator Bunting here in Washington and our good friends in Iraq."

"And how do you work that out?" she asked.

"Well, we know that the contact man is English, even though he has a passable American accent. Take a look at how the man in the corner is eating. Observe the silverware."

Rachel turned slightly to watch the man eat a piece of steak. Unsure of what she was supposed to see, she asked Wainwright to explain.

"He holds the fork in his right hand, cuts with the left, then pops the food into his mouth with the fork still in his right. And he's been doing that all night. Typical Brit."

"You call that evidence of his nationality?" said Rachel incredulously.

"Well, that and his tie."

"His tie?"

"Yes. Look at the stripes. The point downwards from his left shoulder to his right side. That's a British tie. American stripes go the opposite direction because tie-makers here start with the cloth facing up whereas British couturiers start pattern-down. Put the two together and you have your man."

Rachel flopped back in her chair and shook her head in amazement.

"Is this always how Secret Agents work?" she asked.

"No," said Wainwright with a well-earned smirk, "Only the best ones!"

Click to download "Spy Tales"