Linden Lab

I intended to sleep in late today, but I woke up at my normal time — 5:30am, which was 7:30am here. I called to see what time the printed copies of the paper would be delivered, and Dottie at Paradise Post said the truck had already left, meaning that the papers should be there in about 2 hours.

So I tried to call Linden Lab (where I had arranged to have the papers delivered), and got no reply. After several more attempts, we decided just to head over there. Linden Lab doesn’t look like I thought it it would. It’s a rather squat building, neither modern nor old-fashioned enough to be attractive.

We went to the door, and it was locked. We peered into the glass door, hoping to see someone who would kindly let us in. We spotted a stack a M2 papers sitting on a table. From a distance, they looked great.

Bub finally came to let us in, and told us that 8,000 copies of the paper were there at the office, while the others were at the convention center. He left us there, and I Hstarted browsing through the paper, admiring it.

A man walked past, and said, “Take as many as you like. We have 8,000 of them.” I grinned and replied, “I know. They’re mine.”

“You’re Katt?” he asked incredulously. When I nodded, he said, “I’m Pathfinder!” and wrapped me in a big bear hug. He offered to give Norinn and I a tour. He showed us two HUGE dry erase boards where people had signed their names, and offered to let us do the same. I drew a circle with a “M2″ inside of it, then wrote my name.

He took us around the whole building, and one thing that I saw that I found interesting where print outs of the SL world map on the wall. Sticky notes were all over the wall under, on top of and beside the maps. Linden Lab employees write notes and post them there, saying what they like or dislike about the map system.

I asked Pathfinder if anyone who works there is allowed to write a note. He said yes, and that proves to me that LL is really a team… not a dictatorship.

He also showed us a rec room with all kinds of games, a Zen room where employees are allowed to relax, and a kitchen with enough food in it to feed a small nation.

He introduced to me Frank, Harmony, Robin and Catherine. I also met Vektor Linden.

Tonight is the “official” start of the convention, with live music and DJs. I’m really looking forward to meeting more resis and Linden.

Pictures coming soon!