If you haven’t noticed this, perhaps you will now.

Last week, Comscore released its first public report on online usage in Singapore, revealing that locals spend Half of Online Time on Social and Entertainment Sites.  The report bore out what I’ve observed amongst family and friends, and even peers in the industry.

Take my own nucleus family for instance.  Our media consumption habit is a mirror of that survey, but I would have differentiated between the younger generation (below 18) and the working adults. The younger generation is readily exposed to such media and sites from a far younger age than previous generations.

If you haven’t heard yet, the news just broke 2 days ago, but it came as no surprise to me. Shelfari has been acquired by Amazon.

There are definitely areas where the two sites could have synergies in terms of their objective of community building amongst book lovers. From an online marketing perspective, I think Shelfari complements what Amazon already offers. As a fan and user of both Amazon and Shelfari, it means I can have the best of both worlds. 

Josh sent an email to Shelfari members assuring “that Shelfari will live on and only get better. We’ve got some big plans ahead. In the meantime, you’ll continue to enjoy the great community features you’ve always known and used on the site.” And that “Shelfari and Amazon will work hand in hand to create innovative new ways to enjoy the books you love.”

So, what do you think of this latest partnership? I don’t know about you but I’m already looking forward to what they will unveil in the months to come.

Sit tight … 

Inspired by a Washington Post article describing a Darfur refugee’s longing for books, Lorraine and Logan Kleinwaks started a nonprofit, Book Wish Foundation, to provide reading relief for people in crisis. “Reading relief,” to this group of volunteers, goes beyond providing books. It encompasses all of the aid that makes reading possible.

This non-profit organisation’s first project focuses on three Darfur refugee camps in Eastern Chad (more than 60,000 residents, 20,000 of them students) and 18 nearby villages (with more than 19,000 people enrolled in literacy, primary school, or pre-school programs).

While trying to recoup from all that travel, I popped by Amazon for a little visit, also in the interest of work.  We’re benchmarking shopping carts this week, you see.

Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised by the new look that this superstore has unveiled. And it looks rather festive too.

So, of course I logged in to have a little tour, and update my wishlist and recommendations.  Must say that the remodelled Amazon looks slicker and much improved. I promised myself I’ll be back for more.

I’m late with this news but I hope it’s still of interest cos now the interview is readily accessible. This was another interesting email which showed up in my comment box …

MURDER TAKES SECOND LIFE BY STORM WHEN CSI: NEW YORK, NUMBER ONE NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLING AUTHOR LISA JACKSON, AND “COMPELLING”* MYSTERY NOVELIST NANCY BUSH, ALL BRING CRIME TO SLCN.TV THIS WEEK

Lisa Jackson and Nancy Bush was interviewed on Authors in Your Pocket on Second Life Cable Network on Sunday, October 28th, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time. If you missed the ‘live’ interview, you can still catch up. The program is available to non-members now at SLCN.TV.

Jackson shares insights into the success of her recent novel, ALMOST DEAD, and comment upon the direction she’s taking with LOST SOULS, a March 2008 hardcover. Bush, who was noted in the Chicago Sun-Times for her character’s “smooth narrative voice and penchant for cynical wisecracks,” talks about the inspiration for the protagonists of her Jane Kelly mystery novels, including ULTRAVIOLET, just released in hardcover, and the recently published reprint of ELECTRIC BLUE.