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Two items of interest for those of you who collect Really Stupid Things People Say About Technology.

The BBC indulged Newsnight reporter Paul Mason long enough for him to float this thought our way -

We've tended to see heavy internet use as a kind of addiction, or even psychosis. But may be all those people are living richer and somehow more human lives than old those sad people who've never killed an online dragon.

Apart from the obligatory picture of what someone with a richer and more human life than you or me looks like -

- we'll leave the punchline to you, dear readers, so send your thoughts along here [mailto].

You can find the 11-minute video here (click on 'THE PEARLY GATES OF CYBERSPACE') and a two-part article based on the video here (Pt.1) and here (Pt.2).

[ WARNING: the video contains footage of a "MetaVerse Evangelist" with very bad acne. ]

Meanwhile, another landmark. We've heard what we think is the first plea for corporate welfare from a Sadville serf.

Over at The Guardian, leader writer Vic Keegan confesses that he's spent £100 on making his Sadville garden look like his real garden, and wonders if "such worlds could evolve into major economies providing employment for thousands, if not millions, of people."

A note of caution creeps in at the end.

"There is of course a danger that the company behind SL (or the others) could crash, causing hundreds of thousands to lose money and thereby generating a political furore," writes Vic.

"But I'm sure Gordon Brown has a contingency plan for that."

Over at Vulture Central, we also think Gordon Brown should compensate unlucky entrepreneurs of the equestrian arts.

We put a wedge down on the 1.20 at Kempton on a hot tip at 33/1 - and the bleeding nag hobbled in last!

Come on Gordon - pay up. ®

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