I’m not sure what you mean by having “skin” — I carry a range of SL magazines (some are fashion, maybe that’s where you saw the skin, as I don’t carry porn), links to new RL books I think are interesting (with “display” copies for people’s SL homes), and various links and displays about RL & SL books by SL authors.

The purpose of my bookstore is not to make money, but since I’m a PT rare book seller in RL, I wanted to experiment with how bookselling or book marketing might translate to a 3D platform, and at the same time support the SL literary & journalism community. I’ve met a lot of people interested in books & writing, and there is a small but growing network of bookstores that feature both RL & SL books, as well as locations (such as Verum’s Place) that host author readings, book discussion, etc.

In particular SL seems to be a good way for independent publishers and writers to showcase their work. I’m not terribly interested in book clubs myself, just how SL might support people in finding & sharing information on books that is different from what they can get on the Internet, whether SL can create a better “experience” in this regard. And I look forward to seeing whether some of the new SL technologies might push the concept of “reading” in entirely new directions, whether it be HUDs like Penguin’s for Snow Crash, podiobooks, or being able to combine a holodeck with an audio book for an all-around experience.

I suppose this will change in time, but then there will be more pressure on the Lindens to stop artificially controlling the economy and keeping wages artificially low.

The biggest obstacle we’ve encountered so far in bringing real life sales to Second Life is the fact that most Second Lifers are accustomed to paying relatively small amounts of Lindens for items in-world. One of our store owners was once offered the US Dollar equivalent of about thirty-five cents in Lindens for a pair of her lovingly prepared used panties. Obviously, this doesn’t even begin to cover the postage for having the item delivered to the buyer’s door step in real life or the cost of the actual item. We’ve installed signs in our sales area alerting people to the fact that in most cases they are purchasing real life items at Panty Hog. Overall, most people “get it” once they take a few moments to read what we are all about.

As for the question regarding the annual Golden Panty Awards, if someone is genuinely interested in knowing more about them there is much information available on our web site. Unfortunately, we hadn’t opened yet in Second Life when the awards were planned for this year. We certainly do plan to expand the awards with a Second Life component for future years.

That is, it will be great if Soros or Bill Gates or somebody pays for all this broadband and such, but then we’d have to see — would these kleptocratic governments charge a bunch for access to it? Would they control it politically? What if every kid got that $100 laptop that Ben Linden and Scoble and other Cali dreamers are talking about these days as if it is the Salvation of Humankind? I mean, I won’t even go into how some people would rather just have clean water or AIDS medications, there’s no need to set up artificial appositions here, but I do want to know: what is this kid going to DO with this laptop? Seriously. Could we hear from the real people involved instead of their northern handlers and benefactors?