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.

moreless

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

moreless

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

moreless

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

moreless

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

moreless

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)

moreless