Making a Virtual Connection

Tweetup Turns into Virtual World Salon

Direct2Dell — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 20:44:09 GMT

I've never thought I fit neatly into any particular one of Malcom Gladwell's Tipping Point categories

re: Making a Virtual Connection

Herb — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 20:37:58 GMT

Dale - great story. I have one about laptop durability that's not nearly as heroic as yours but I think it's pretty good. In May '06 I was in a nasty motorcycle accident. I had my helmet, jeans and boots on but no gloves or jacket. I was wearing my Dell laptop in a sweet dell backpack and I had my Blackberry on my hip. I received a bad laceration to one of my legs, got a bad cut in my shoulder and lots of road-rash; my Roadstar Warrior was totalled. I was able to call 911 on my blackberry and took my backpack with me in the ambulance. When I woke up after surgery, I pulled my Inspiron out and was pleased to be able to watch DVDs while I recovered... Too bad my bike wasn't a Dell...

re: Making a Virtual Connection

MSG Dale Buck (US Army ret.) — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 16:39:46 GMT

I should have sent this story to you much earlier, but I forgot at every turn.

I was in Iraq 2003 thru 2004, and on one specific day as I was driving my HMMWV down Main Supply Route "Tampa" I was hit by an IED blowing the back half of the truck off and it all caught on fire. At a moment of sluggish thought due to the concussion of the blast, I remembered my Dell lap top computer the Army issued me. I reched through, what used to be the rear passenger compartment, and pulled the lap top out of the flames, and of course, it was very hot. After I got my collective thoughts together and time passed with help arriving, I thought I better assess the damage to the computer. As I opened it up, the screen and keys were in-tact, and when I hit the start button, the thing actually functioned as if nothing had occurred! Amazed, I continued to use this scared, nasty looking laptop for the duration of the tour and turned it in on my last day. It was such a mess that the officer they were going to issue it to refused it so it went to another Sergeant on the line some place. I hope it had brought him luck as it did me! A truely marvelous machine that took and extreme beating and continued to function, as did I, as I was not injured in the blast.

re: Making a Virtual Connection

Linda Zimmer — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 21:34:58 GMT

Hi, Laura! I agree connecting with people-as-avatars is the best part of Second Life - and I'm delighted you found the meeting with Munich interesting.

Your upcoming plans sound intriguing. I look forward to the news! Best of luck with them!