I'm often critical of those that jump on the bandwagon to criticise SL without evidence, as are Tateru and Akela. But, in the course of my day I read dozens of blogs about SL, as well as news feeds and the like, and there are several who are often well balanced who are saying different critical things, and things that ought to be thought about.

Lillie Yifu writes for 2nd Sex - a blog about her experiences as an escort as well as her thoughts on SL in general. As you might guess some of the topics aren't safe for work, but her article Triangle of Fire is work safe, and talks about the triangles in SL - user, content creator (clothes, anims etc.), builder being the "triangle of fire" and "scammer, spammer, parasite/noob" being the unholy one that is killing SL. She also questions why LL seem to chase the latter at the expense of the former (as well as some other holy cows of SL activity). She's quite angry in tone, and not always comfortable to read, but she's certainly thought provoking. Her conclusion sent chills up my spine - she pretty clearly describes the "SL Killer" App - if you want to run the new "future of the internet" here's your recipe: 'LL's time is measured in how long it takes someone to come out with a VR that people can make their own content, or get good free content, and invites them over under some generous set of terms similar to these: "here have a free sim! Just put your SL land for sale to us at 0L, and we will give you better land in a better VR! And look, more stability and better building tools!"'

Shortly after that I was reading VtoR where Caliandris Pendragon has written about her depression at on-going infringements of IP rights that LL does nothing about, and a piece in the Second Life Herald where Cory Edo was locked out of SL automatically for, apparently, stress testing a legitimate piece of code, and Ektan Gully is finding LL rather unwilling to support her IP rights under DCMA, despite following the process correctly!

SL is still far from dead. It might still be the "future of the internet" but when old hands, industry leaders, people with legitimate grievances are feeling like this ... and when I read a description of something that really would make me jump ship that's that succinct it makes me wonder if I'm moving from believing SL will survive to simply taking it on faith. Not a comfortable place for me, how about you?

Cory Edo will be known to many of you. If she isn't her work surely is. As a member of the MDC Electric Sheep Company, Cory has worked on many public projects, and has also been interviewed on Secondcast. Even though she was officially on vacation, she generously gave me a little of her time to answer some burning questions. More after the jump!

How did you come to be with [ESC]?

Cory Edo: Well Makaio and I had our own development company back at the end of '05 called Tiny Seadog. We did mostly inworld stuff but a few RL projects as well. When ESC approached us about joining up, it was just getting to that put up or shut up point where I'd have to set up a business license, taxes, all that stuff, which I dreaded doing. So this seemed like a good way to be able to just concentrate on building and texturing and letting someone else handle the administrative aspects ... plus tracking down the jobs.

Cory Edo of the Electric Sheep Company posted a fun tutorial on how to create ice textures. These textures are the perfect way to put those finishing touches on that holiday build you have been slaving over. I spent a lot of time in recent years living in the Midwest where scenes with ice and snow were a general mainstay and also a road hazard. I didn't think I would miss it when moving to Florida, but it is nice to get away in Second Life to see the snow covered plains and iced over lakes. While of course relaxing by the pool under a palm tree.

It is also nice to see companies like the Electric Sheep Company always giving a little something to the community. Actually building the texture is relatively simple if you have Photoshop. So, I don't want to spoil it here, but head on over to Cory's I work with Sheep and Pixels blog and check it out for yourself.

The Electric Sheep Company have launched the Nissan Sentra car, along with four sims for driving in, and it is a triumph. Thought, time, effort, organization have gone into this project, and it shows.

If you are in the Counting Sheep group for Electric Sheep events, you will have received a copy of the car to try. If you are not, you simply have to IM Toast Alicious for a key, which will enable you to go to the vendor on the Nissan sims to get your own. The cars are customizable through a menu system, and so you can change the colour by clicking on the car.

There are four sims to try your driving skills at, with different terrains, with a linking bridge on one to help keep the speed up even when your draw distance is high. I know that vehicles have the reputation for being difficult to control and not much fun in SL, but these are different. Believe me!