If I were a pagan, this would be the first day of the new year. Although it's not a description I'd use, I've known more than enough over the years, and sometimes that feeling of looking forward now (in relative sobriety) rather at the more normal new year (which is also a RL friends birthday and rarely sober if I'm healthy) feels right.

Somehow I think this year to come will be a year of massive changes. Looking back, a year ago I wasn't writing, now I find things to write about in SL most days as well as the "boring numbers" column - although a lot of people read the boring numbers too, and find them useful.

A year ago I was trying to make a living from SL. Now, I still am - having meningitis and recovering from it slowed me down, but I'm close to the point of making a comfortable living now, and writing for SLI helps with that massively. Over 125,000 words so far, and more to come, whatever the future might hold for us all - at least unless LL shut the door!

There have been things of a personal nature that have changed my life massively and that haven't made it into press, but journalism of this sort agrees with me equally massively. Hope you'll follow through whatever changes the next year brings and enjoy what you read.

If you're not sure who Stephen Fry is, can I direct your attention to his blog and his wikipedia page. He's a quite famous comedic and serious actor, appearing in Blackadder amongst other famous shows, and he's also famous for his erudition as the host of QI.

I've been a fan of his blog, which is relatively new, and his "blessays" and "blisertations" - his blog is not something to skim quickly, but is clever, fun, and interesting as well as blogging his life as an early adopter of technology - something dear to the hearts of many of us.

I have the thinnest of excuses for posting this. In his latest entry (also printed in the Guardian on Saturday) he admits to having a private existence in SL too. I'm not going to try to expose him further than this, but to say a public hello to him.

This is the 18th in a series of largely demographic interviews that are conducted with established residents, to find out more about them and their involvement with Second Life, and to contrast the differences between their views and experiences and those of the newer residents. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

I've known Psyra pretty much as long as I've been in Second Life. Always a welcome sight and quite often a visually impressive one. His custom bird creations and avatars are well... extraordinary.

This is the 18th in a series of interviews that are being conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

I bumped into Footsy Furse at NCI South in Hamnida. She was willing to talk in detail about her early experiences and was able to articulate them clearly and distinctly.

This is the 17th in a series of largely demographic interviews that are conducted with established residents, to find out more about them and their involvement with Second Life, and to contrast the differences between their views and experiences and those of the newer residents. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

Laetizia's a forthright, outspoken and interesting Second Life blogger, whom I have been running into increasingly of late in various venues. You can trust Laetizia to speak her mind - so I decided to contact her to let her do just that.

This is the 17th in a series of interviews that are being conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

I bumped into Lilla at the Shelter, where she was dancing with some other residents, both old and new. Being Danish, she wasn't sure that her English would be good enough, but it was more than good enough for her to communicate.

This is the 16th in a series of largely demographic interviews that are conducted with established residents, to find out more about them and their involvement with Second Life, and to contrast the differences between their views and experiences and those of the newer residents. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

I bumped into Olmia while I was doing some photography at the ABC Island sandbox tower. She was fun to talk to, and I was able to talk her into telling us a bit more about herself.

This is the 16th in a series of interviews that are being conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

I ran into Glitch at the Ross Infohub, an excellent build by the talented Jessica Ornitz. He didn't run away when I tried to ask him questions, like the previous three I'd approached.

This is the 15th in a series of largely demographic interviews that are conducted with established residents, to find out more about them and their involvement with Second Life, and to contrast the differences between their views and experiences and those of the newer residents. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

Otenth's typist came into Second Life out of boredom but was totally charmed by the creative potential. Otenth founded the First Friends Church of Second Life (Quakers) and owns the residential sim Wyre.

This is the 15th in a series of interviews that are being conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

I ran into Audrey at the Hanja Welcome Area, on the Southern Continent. The place is a clone of the big Welcome Area at Ahern. Audrey was happy to answer my questions.

This is the 14th in a series of largely demographic interviews that are conducted with established residents, to find out more about them and their involvement with Second Life, and to contrast the differences between their views and experiences and those of the newer residents. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

Pavig Lok is a charming individual with a fascinating turn of phrase.

This is the 14th in a series of interviews that are being conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

I ran into TaraKiss completely by accident in the Dublin Sim. She came looking for fun in Second Life, and with the expectation of it copupled with this attitude she has succeeded in finding it.

This is the 13th in a series of largely demographic interviews that are conducted with established residents, to find out more about them and their involvement with Second Life, and to contrast the differences between their views and experiences and those of the newer residents. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

I find Marianne McCann to pretty much be an average child. She has "my mommy and my daddy, my sister Robin (Howe) and my brother Pygar, I also have a nana, and aunties and uncles, too."

This is the 13th in a series of interviews that are being conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

Jiwagirl Jie has come to Second Life for reasons other than those mentioned by other new residents: she comes to explore, but hopes to find forests, parks and nature reserves instead of the urban crush of buildings that is the norm for Second Life.

The counter-thrusts to the media backlash are continuing. The LA Times might write bad headlines, but the NY Times is pretty positive. (If you don't want to subscribe, choosing the "print" option will let you see the words but not the pictures for the whole article by the way.)

They focus, almost exclusively on a single sim (Jalisco) and some of its resident, discussing in fairly accurate terms buying land, renting it, building styles, and with side mentions about sex and the like in SL, as well as some good human interest bits - a nice look at an SL couple where she's married IRL and her RL husband's reactions to it.

I'm sure the rabid folks over at Wired will sneer, and it's hardly incisive investigative journalism - it's in the home and garden section mind! - but it's another piece to think about adding to your portfolio of pro-SL pieces.