1. Looking forward to this event. Here's my take on the different efforts to hook Amazon into SL.

Posted at 1:41PM on Sep 5th 2006 by Rik Riel

2. oops, no linkee in previous comment:

http://www.rikomatic.com/blog/2006/08/amazon_in_virtu.html

Posted at 1:59PM on Sep 5th 2006 by Rik Riel

3. >The Kuurian Expedition is part of the Synthetic Worlds Initiative coming out of the University of Indiana

I want to take this opportunity to ask here, as I've asked on Terra Nova and other forums, and as I've asked of Linden Lab personnel, with only resounding silence, so far:

Why isn't Edward Castronova in Second Life? More to the point, why does he never write about, or speak about, Second Life in his travels?

You would think that the author of "Synthetic Worlds" and the pioneer in studying virtual economies would have a front-row seat in the leading monetarizing-your-time-online platform. But if he does, it's invisible.

Is it because it's not a game?

Or is he, in fact, there, in this group, but incognito, on an alt? That may make sense, because he may not wish to be bombarded with fanboyz and/or griefers. Yet, if that's the case, why never a comment from him about anything (like the GOMing of the GOM, or the decision to print and sell Lindens on the LindEx).

And...really...he's a grown-up, and judging from his website, he is able to put off even the big networks to like, Tuesdays only from the hours of 1-3 pm or whatever.

So...could we get an answer on this question? Does he care? Does he bother? Is it outside his purview? Is this study group called the Kuurian Expedition under his direction (it's not clear from reading their website). Does he check into it and read their papers? And who funds the expenditions?

Thanks in advance for considering, and more to the point, answering these questions publicly!

Posted at 2:49PM on Sep 5th 2006 by Prokofy Neva