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It is a tragedy.?With a heavy heart, I am writing?that Meltsinyourmouth Steed, real name Stephanie Waller,?has passed away. I had previously blogged about?Melts's marriage to Malora, and from a wedding to a funeral, it is a sad and mournful day. A memorial service in her honor was recently held. Madiera Westerburg, who had officiated for them, posted this?info on the forums. It is extremely important to realize that while certain aspects of Second Life are "games", even behind the "masks" of avatars, there is reality. There is the overarching human connection that binds us all together, interactively, and that we do make a difference. Just as Melts made a difference in the lives of her loved ones; now it is important to let them know this.

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I have previously said that First Life is so short, so what does that make Second Life? In a paradoxical sort of way, the inverse could be said as well. Every happy moment, every happy memory counts. Sometimes I wonder if I took too many photographs while inworld — it's a silly thing to think about, isn't it? Well, in hindsight, I realize I didn't take enough. I have moments in this virtual world I wish I could get back, but never will. When I was a kid, I really didn't understand the need to take photos. I feel I'm beginning to.

It's one jumbled ball of emotions: remembering the good times, trying to let go of the bad times, and all the confuzzled shades and nuances in between. Not easy to deal with — that's Life.

One dreams of rainbows when all one sees is rain.

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The subtitle of this section does have relevance to what I'm going to say, but it's not overt. Nor is it as subtle as snow in a snowstorm.

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1. First off, it was my first time actually shouting out "BINGO!" and getting it right. Yay! This game was hosted by Bill Stirling at the Miru Airport. Sitting next to me is the admirable Lisse Livingston, and on our shoulders are her "torus buddies" — made entirely out of toruses, or torii — which caused some goths in the Welcome Area to freak out in the best of ways. Whatja think it was… TAPEWORM!??

2. Next up, we have Richard Roentgen of Hammerhead fame, sleeping on the job. Well, not really. It's actually something cool he's working on. And no, not a way to sleep on the job. Although he's done that too.

3. Speaking of Hammerhead, here I am in my fave aerialsub, cruising the warm skies with none other than Xyni Platini, who doesn't read this blog but should.

4. Stormy Roentgen's portfolio housething is a fun place to visit. I like her work like I like Starax's. There is a connection, of course. In the housething, there's a rezzer which automatically cycles through a selection of Stormy's artistry, including this jail which I got trapped in. All ye who enter here, abandon… hope?

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Bedazzle makes teh kewl shiznit. I've been chatting to Foxy Xevious aka "bubblegum hair"?and Jimmy Thomson aka "flaming hair"?of the team, and they're the overseers responsible for Sim Horror, the Gravity space club where I had my picture taken, Field of Dreams cropmaker?system, etc. They've got an exciting upcoming project I'm personally thrilled about. Formerly known to me as "untitled Bedazzle first-person shooter", it now has a name: Unreal SL. Yes, the name evokes certain connections. I don't really get into computer games a whole lot, but seeing this within the communal framework of SL, and being created by such a dedicated core team, is something I watch for. Oh, and they're nice people.

On a related note, some of you have asked me about the flamethrower I was wielding at the Town Hall meeting. Jimmy did the texturing?for it, Neil Protagonist did the flames! eegads!, and Francis Chung is responsible for the so-called mesh and scriptorama — oh, and the cute little blue flame which makes my heart?go breakbeat.?IT IS IMPORTANT TO STATE THAT THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS: TEH FINAL WILL R0X0R UR S0X0R 3V3N HARD3R!!1 So . . . lookout for Unreal SL.

I'm mapping out a list right now of my future explorations tonight. Ah, what a joy it is to be live and direct. Tonight, I've gotta check out Lisse's home which is new and old AT THE SAME TIME. That just blows my mind. I'm also wanting to chat up Milo Bukowski about his Mambo Kalista cars. They're affordable, cute, and it seems they may corner nicely too, which is an odd rarity in SL vehicles (I'm generalizing). What I'm after is something in my fave neon watermelon colors, and although the "Obnoxious Green" scheme comes close, it's like jam without tha peanut butter. We'll see.

What's swimming around in my mind's eye right now? There are several Adam Zaius projects I'm curious about… Lensey Roark's Rodeo Drive is developing (gotta wuv the stars next to the stores and the big, slanted?HOLLYWOOD sign)… while hanging with?some furries,?I spotted newcomer?Roland Xavier –?a warm welcome to Second Life! –?putting on a new Luskwood Bat av, lookin' good (Michi, CGA DRAGONS!!!)… Bozo the Clown sighted with floppy shoes in the Welcome Area… waiting for the next big party at the Punany Club… and oh, I'm interested this Event for tomorrow:

Thinkers - "Spasticus Autisticus" @ 2 PM Lindentime (aka PST)

Is the name of a song by Ian Dury and the Blockheads, not an attempt to be insulting.

SL allows people to interact irrespective of their disabilities. You can't tell if the person at the other end of the conversation is deaf, mute in a wheelchair etc. You might pick up the dyslexics or someone with autism if you know the signs. Is this a good thing? Will things like VoIP wreck SL for the deaf/mute people? Does SL with its reliance on reading and writing discriminate against people with certain types of disability?

As for the rest, it's up in the air. I'll take it as it comes…