Scala is a relatively new programming language for the Java Virtual Machine that interoperates nicely with Java libraries. Scala is staticly typed so the resulting applications are fast and reliable. Scala is more powerful than Java while offering a simpler conceptual model. Many of Scala's features come from the functional programming paradigm. This talk will cover some of the features that make Scala so attractive. This will not be a comprehensive coverage of Scala, rather the coverage will be selective. This talk will not assume any Scala knowledge.