Creative Fiction: Second Life’s TV Commercial

Suppose the management at Linden Labs had a TV commercial done for Second Life. What would it look like? Would it appeal to a niche market? Would it say they offer something for everyone? Or would it take a different tack? Here's a story showing a possible scenario.

To read the story, go to Extra-Extra.

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Burning Ember - Something Unemotionally Poignant This Way Comes

A column by FoxM Ember

Like many of us, I live one of my real-life vocational fantasies vicariously through the second life “me.” Fox writes speculative fiction for SL-Newspaper. John is a healthcare company executive (please don’t hate me because I wear a suit) who wishes he could spend all day writing speculative fiction in his tee shirt and boxer shorts (instead of the aforementioned suit) for a living. John and Fox are the same in more ways than they are different, so I am always in large part Fox in my real life, and always in large part John in my second......................

Continued in the EXTRA EXTRA section

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Where Avatars Fear to Tread

A Column by FoxM Ember

She was stunning. A true natural beauty that stopped hearts and traffic everywhere she went. He still had trouble accepting the fact that she had spent the entire day with him. They sailed the lake, her hair shimmering in the dusk coated sunlight, flowing in the breeze like a scene from every romantic movie he’d ever seen. She was laughing now, at something witty he had just said. He loved being able to make her laugh like that. It made him feel…invincible..................

Continued in EXTRA EXTRA

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SL In-World Transactions to be Taxed

As a result of the worsening financial condition of the world’s largest economy, a new tax is set to take effect April 1^st, 2009. The little known details of this new tax, now included in the high profile U.S. Stimulus Package, will be applied to all web-based commerce conducted through servers housed in the U.S. This reporter has now confirmed that, because in-world currency is transferable and convertible, SL is among several simulations whose in-world transactions will be affected.
President Obama’s $879 billion dollar stimulus plan, recently passed by both houses of the U.S. Congress, contains a number of tax increases found in the low-profile “Proposed Stimulus Funding Mechanisms” section of the bill. Included among these tax increases is a 16.75% sales tax on all transactions conducted in-world beginning April 1^st, 2009. The provision, proposed by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Electronic Industry and Security, has garnered little attention to date, as these taxes amount to less than one-half of one percent of the total funding provisions in the package.
A representative of the administration, speaking on condition of anonymity has confirmed that in-world transaction will be affected and were purposefully targeted given large amount of SL transactions and the obvious revenue potential for the U.S. government.

“Given the fact that sims such as yours, are totally recreational and so can be construed as a ‘luxury’ purchase by those fortunate enough to have disposable income, it was reasonable to target these transactions. This is completely in keeping with President Obama’s stated mission of wealth redistribution.”

“The disparity in our world today between those that have the financial means to participate in online recreational games such as SL, and those who are less fortunate due to no fault of their own is glaring and shameful,” the source continued.

In addition to generating an additional and as yet untapped funding source for this package, this initiative also changes the strategy of the current U.S. administration’s position from creating an environment of encouraging economic fairness, to legislating it. However, reactions from SL residents who have been interviewed have been noticeably sanguine. Here are some comments from SL residents:

“I think it’s time for this kind of thing, I mean I’m not really rich in my mind, but I suppose for someone who’s unemployed and got 8 kids to feed and buy stuff for and only gets welfare, I probably am rich to them. It’s not really their fault, and I can afford it, so I suppose that’s fair.”

“I don’t really like it – but if it means more people will be able to live more comfortably and maybe even be able to buy a computer to enjoy what we do in here, then I’m OK with that.”

“I don’t live in the U.S., but I support it because it’s not fair that so many Americans have so much and can afford to buy stuff here in SL, while others don’t even have a nice house or flat screen television of their own. The rich have too much and if you have the money to buy stuff in here for fun, then in my book, you’re rich. Maybe 17% isn’t enough!”

Judging by the handful of reactions so far, it appears that SL residents will be willing participants in the U.S. administrations new initiative to achieve economic parity through the redistribution of wealth, be it real or virtual.

"Would that he had been able to endure prosperity with greater self-control and adversity with more fortitude!" C. Asinius Pollio

Submitted by FoxM Ember

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No Limits 3

Read on in the PEOPLE section

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Burning Ember - THE PODIUM

He hated public speaking, even here, in SL.

He was late, making last minute edits to the speech. He had decided to rez directly onto the stage. Bad idea…he froze. Paralyzed from the waist up, he felt his avatar’s knees weaken and legs soften like overcooked rotini soaking in a bowl of rich creamy Alfredo sauce. Each passing nanosecond ticked by tortuously, washing him with unrelenting waves of disorientation; he knew he was either totally and completely disconnected from reality – or irretrievably immersed in it, losing all sense of time, space and memory. He wasn’t sure. He couldn’t think..........

Continued in EXTRA EXTRA
Welcome back FoxM

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'Ruination' on sale NOW!

Panama Trick is the pen name of Ruin Quan. He is a 58 year old grandfather living in the magic land of Florida in the USA.
He has created a world which can appeal to us all young and old, strong and weak. Join him in his personal quest for the things that make the world worth living.
Honor, bravery, chivalry and romance
these are all part of his world and he welcomes you into it!

'Ruination' is a tale of good vs evil, redemption, heroes and dark enemies that takes place in a hidden kingdom high in the Himalayas. A stranger was found wandering years ago dazed, confused, beaten and with little knowledge of who he was and how he had come to this place. Adopted by the fighting monks of the Questors, he became the Paladin and eventual ruler of the valley.
In this time the ancient enemy called Ruination would not be satisfied with the small kingdom it would merely be a stepping stone to eventual darkness over the world. The Questor sets forth on a Quest, to find the darkness, to discover its strength and weaknesses and to eventually destroy it. Little did he know that he would be swept into the power of the darkness.
So begins part 1 of 'Ruination'
Published by 10's Publishing at DoubleMM part one is on sale now!
Check out Nazz Lanes interview with the author in MACE

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WALK INTO THE WATER

He walked toward their beach house, the one he and Deborah had worked so hard to get. It was still hard to believe, after all the years of work, of saving and planning that they had finally made their dream a reality. The house on the beach, the 42 foot schooner moored to the dock, everything was perfect. Deborah, his true love and wife of 19 years, by his side, fulfilling everything he could have ever desired in a partner. He had never before been this content with his life. “Surfing,” he though to himself, “I think I’ll go surfing today.”..........................

Continued in EXTRA EXTRA

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Introducing Burning Ember

I would like to introduce a new column in SL-newspaper. FoxM Ember has joined us with a new spin on secondlife, that of speculative fiction. You will find his column in the EXTRA EXTRA section it is called fiction but it could so easily be true that we have given it the title of speculative fiction........

Singular-City
Stepping into the teleport beam, you’re immediately struck by the speed at which you are swept into this simulation; the word truly inadequate in describing this environment. Rezzing into the proverbial heart of New York City’s Times Square, you’re taken aback by your inability to distinguish between real and virtual life............... (MORE)

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Tales of Samarkand

This Tale is titled The Good Thief read the full story in EXTRA EXTRA

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Tales Of Samarkand

Anoosheh was old and she was ill – again. She had survived a very bad disease many years ago and had tried to help others, who had this disease as well. She had been granted to be an honorary healer, which rarely happened.............

Continue reading in EXTRA EXTRA

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Introducing................

Today we are honoured to publish the first in a series of stories from the ancient Secondlife roleplaying community of Samarkand.

These stories are written by Anjali Shilova and we hope to show you some of the history of this vibrant community through her stories.

The first is a sad tale of a poor girl and is called The Broken Vase you can find it in the EXTRA EXTRA section. . . .

Nazilla was a quiet and inconspicuous young woman.

She was also very thin and looked like she was ill. One day when she walked through the market, she became faint and lost consciousness. A man, who was just passing by her, reacted and caught her up before she fell on the ground..................

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A Panthers Prayer

Home at last, still in a fair amount of shock at how easily I had escaped what could have ended very differently. As I riffled threw the store room in the camp all thoughts of my captor, the one known as Thorn were far from my mind, I redressed my body in scraps of fur and skins. I knew now I had to train with my bow and become strong.
Over time I spent a lot of time alone, hunting bosk for meat and learning to fish in the waters close to the camp, days would go and I wouldn't see another sole, occasionally in the distance I would see a tall male, one with hair as fair as gold, which in these parts was rare to see in the men, he was always fast and swift on his feet. I was always tempted to shoot at him, but something always stopped me, I was not get confident enough, so I would stick to just mere survival.
As the days and went by, for no reason I can explain, other women started to come and go by the camp; each time they would stay longer and for some reason unbeknown to me they would call me En.
It seemed that they looked upon me as thier leader, so with the pressures of a tribe on my shoulders I had to push the thoughts of my former Master from my mind, I could never show them any weakness.
When i could be alone, I travelled from land to land, telling my sisters I was searching for food or supplies but in all reality I was merely searching for him, still in my heart I could never believe he was dead, every ship i sailed on; all the faces I would scrutinize. I would sneak into cities we had travelled together in the past, asking questions of old friends in a somewhat desperate and pathetic attempt to be re-united with my Master.
Every time I returned to the tribe a little more of my soul had died, but for my sisters I stayed strong.
Though unfortunately it seemed, the pirate Thorn had not forgotten my promise, every time it seemed I came back to the camp, the girls would tell stories of different pirates attacking and leaving messages for me in regards to the promise I had not kept, when questioned on this i would merely shrug it off, but in my eyes the fear was always evident.
There were other repetitive occurrences that became part of my life, the male who had originally given me the bow, he would appear on almost a daily basis never with a mere greeting but to shoot and attack me and my sisters, but the most he would do was slap my ass and laugh before running off back to where he had come from, it infuriated me, I would get so mad, but no matter how hard I tried I never could seem to win.
Still I would see the blonde one from a distance and now more confident my arrogance growing I would shoot a few arrows in his direction but never anything more, occasionally we would meet at the docks or trading posts, he was an attractive man, something about him always brought about a strange calm with in me, though again, I was becoming somewhat of an actress and would merely sneer at his greetings and spit at his feet........... but that I believe was to be the beginning of my downfall.................

By Kerri Spitteler

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The invention of Television Time Travel (3T)

The Steamshed X4D10's inside is more like a club or restaurant... to give people the feeling that they are on their holiday destinations already..............

What will happen to the 5 youngsters on their dangerous journey? Continue reading in the EXTRA EXTRA section

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