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If the barrage of IMs I've received recently is any indication, readers are well aware that the WSE website is down.

What does it mean? I have no idea. I will leave it to you all to speculate.

My primary concern has never been that 'Luke will run,' but that the WSE will, through the implementation of a Facebook application, introduce the virtual exchange to a new audience of hapless investors that are not aware of his questionable actions of the last five months and beyond. The routine deletion of all announcements conveying a 'negative WSE attitude' is the basis and support for my concern. And though it remains, a look to the WSE group on Facebook assures me there are people out there working to prevent this unfortunate possibility. I should note that a Facebook search yielded a listing of 2 World Stock Exchange applications - neither available when the applications section was clicked. It's only a matter of time.

Recently, Jasper Tizzy graced Y2P with his presence in order to comment on one of my recent articles. At the time of publishing this article, the dialogue resulting from his reemergence has the tone of "I'm sorry, how do I make it better?" I will go on the record here and now to say I am 100% not buying it. But our own Ash Wade has taken up the task of considering Tizzy's comments for a positive outcome. I wish him well, as I want no part of it. If history shows me to have been wrong, we can add it to the list of things 'Konner McDonnell has been wrong about.' Anyone keeping track?

This turn of events begs the question: What if LukeConnell Vandeverre came to Y2P and said: "I'm sorry." What if he returned the money of every delisted company or issued a dividend from WTF that was so massive it virtually replaced the lost assets? Would investors suddenly trust again?

In real life, I am a humanist. I believe that people do bad things with good intentions. But I am not one to let people exact the same trangressions upon me twice. "Fool me once" they say. It is an interesting question for a moral philosopher - Does one supremely bad act negate all the good a person does? While I would hasten to say 'no' I'm not exactly in favor of giving people the power to do the same wrong twice. Whether it is questionable intent, a character flaw, or simply weakness, I prefer the maxim of not leading those with a displayed inability to live up to their promises into temptation. Actually, the maxim is 'lead us not into temptation' or in the US Army, 'keep your buddy honest.'

In the end, whether to trust again is not my decision to make. Having withdrawn from the open exchanges, I would have no investment to make that would be symbolic of a 'second chance.' And while the question itself is not easily answered, I fully believe that the events following WSE 4.0's launch will tell us a few things about how investors feel, one way or the other.

Meanwhile, it is time for me cut back where Y2P is concerned. One of the hardest lessons for me to learn in life is that of limits. I am, as has been pointed out, a hard-charger. Even a young idealist must create boundaries and keep things in context. I've been asked more than once: "What're your plans for your SL future." I have plenty of ideas and lots of projects I'd like to pursue, but to fully consider them, I can't be spending as much time as I have been wading through current events in finance. Perhaps I should be creating some of those events/ Outside of SL, I'm enjoying my first vacation in five years. I should spend more of that time horseback riding and swimming and a bit less time engaged in hobbies that closely parallels what I do the other 9 months out of the year. Limits.

While I am an eager young man, I have my flaws. Just as I am willing to point them out in SL finance, I am quick to admit my own. Keeps others from doing it first ;)

Ciaran has assured me that she'll keep tabs on the WSE for emerging developments in case I miss them due to my diminished presence.

I'm not sure if posting updates regarding my personal status where Y2P is concerned conveys dedication to readers or unseemly vanity. I'll let you judge that.

Best wishes to you all.