Jardin des Milles Fleures

In preparation for the Virtual Journalism Summit on Monday, where DIP will premiere the Virtual Newsroom project, Eureka Dejavu visits the venue (twice!) and wonders what to wear. Eshi Otawara's Jardin des Milles Fleures gown costs L40,000, $150 in USD. And what kind of message does it send to a real world audience with little or no knowledge of Second Life? With no knowledge of the context of Eshi Otawara's spectacular work or awareness of the story of her life, it might just appear to be too glam or too much of a costume instead of an exquisitely shimmery work of art. Shown with the inimitable Hamlet Au, who will be conducting the interview in SL, and Schmilsson Nilsson.

Eureka Dejavu and Christa Linden, who work together on case studies for Linden Lab, checking out Eshi's Jardin des Milles Fleures and discussing Eshi's incredible real-life story.

"The world is facing an unprecedented crisis and you want to buy that dress?" Diandra typed incredulously in the chat window of Skype. "What are you trying to do, relaunch the economy?"

For those of you who are hearing about Diandra Louarn for the first time, she is DIP's new Project Manager. She's a young woman from France, a brilliant student of journalism. She is taking classes an NYU, and she tells me everything she's learning. As the debate about the future of journalism continues to frighten the industry, she is a shining example of how the curious, passionate and talented young journalists of the world (coupled with the experienced professionals who have been struggling for years to inform the public of serious and complicated issues) will not let us down.

Diandra came to us through the Council on International Exchange (CIEE). DIP would like to thank CIEE for smoothly facilitating the process of working with Diandra. The cheery inspector from CIEE came on a rainy day, and I will never forget her shaking off her umbrella, taking a look around at the paintings, glowing globe, stained glass and mirrored curtain. "This is the first time I've ever seen an office like this," she said. "First. Time. Ever."

"Even during tough economic times," the organization's literature states, "companies see the value of of being involved in the CIEE Intern/Trainee program...Having people from different cultures and backgrounds creates a more dynamic office environment that fosters new ideas and new ways of doing business."

Diandra's presence at DIP has given the process of cultural and economic transformation a face. Her family business--call centers across Europe and Africa--has been jeopardized by the changing economic climate and new technology. Rather than succumb to the fear that threatens their home and livelihood, we have seen this family bond together over Skype on a daily basis.

I can't decipher Diandra's feverish, melodious French (yet!) but I know that they are planning a collective strategy for evolving together into the new economy--one in which their expertise in communications can be maximized within a digital infrastructure. I have listened to them laugh as her father takes his first steps in Second Life, and I've waved hello to Diandra's incredulous grandmother as she looks for the first time into a web cam. I greatly admire these people; not just because they send gifts of wine, foie gras and delectable little chocolates from France, but because they are working together to overcome adversity and smiling while they're doing it. In the meantime, we have benefited greatly from the sophisticated graphic design work of Diandra's sister Anne-Alexia Louarn, who both executes beautifully on my designs and creates her own (see below...enlarge for more detail...)



A Skype call with Diandra, left, and Zuhal Danyildiz, right, a New Leader at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, where I am a Senior Fellow.

Diandra has become a daily inspiration to prove to people in their twenties that they aren't inheriting a massive steaming pile of destruction with no channel for their considerable strength, talent and good humor. Something new is being born from the rubble of broken systems. Each generation is a midwife responsible for facilitating the birth of new awareness despite not being present for the conception.

Each generation has a collective ethos but is nevertheless composed of individuals, each of whom happened to be born at a certain place at a certain time but, increasingly, can also take part in the vibrant global digital culture that gives us, each day, new opportunities to be creative, to change, and to become smarter through what John Hodgman brilliantly calls HIVE MIND.

Stayed tuned for more on the magnificent Christa Linden and the launch of the Virtual Newsroom project on Monday.