Life (part deux) online?

Okay, I didn't know about this, I guess I'm just not very tech savy or savy at all (although cannibals might think I was savory?) but I just learned about an online web world called SECOND LIFE.

I'm all for the SIM's, but this goes a bit farther than I imagined it would.

I learned about this world just yesterday when I received an e-mail from my Deparment Head who had received news that they were looking for French Teachers to teach at their virtual acadamy. It would consist of creating an Avatar, logging into the Virtual university, going up virtual stairs into a virtual classroom, and teaching the Virtual students who were attending said University. Apparently people are paying for that kind of thing, which used to be called Distance Learning, and used Real People with Webcams.

But why use real live images when you can teach people who are dressed as death angels, dogs, nude sunbathers, etc?

I guess I just don't get it.

The part that bothers me the most is that people are willing to purchase and continue paying for large islands of space (16 virtual acres) upon which they can do whatever they wish. The cost for an island? $1695. That's US dollars. Plus a monthly $250 upkeep fee. Huh? For a virtual island? For virtual rent?

That's what I want to do on the first of the month. Wake up and think, "Oh dang, I need to pay my virtual rent today or I'll get virtually evicted."

SIM's took it far enough when they invented the concept of having to go to work, WITHIN THE GAME. Only there was no real money involved. Here, people are spending upwards of $1 million a month in transactions and trades, and there's NOTHING THERE! It's PIXELS people!

I'm going to go calm down now... I need to chill out, because this place is just virtual anyway. I just can think of a few places (Asia's Hope) that could use money more than a virtual castle in the virtual Mediterranian Sea.

A+

Early Christmas Present!

Okay... I've got a question for all of you. Ready? K!

What's small, squishy, and pokes out ever so invitingly from the abdominal wall?

Now get your minds out of the gutter. That wasn't the answer I was expecting, certainly not from YOU! Filthy, absolutely filthy!

The real answer is... well... we're not entirely sure yet, although it's 95 percent certain that I have developed a ventral/umbilical hernia! How fun and how timely is that? How would I not know if this is a hernia? Well, let me take you back to the doctor visit on Tuesday.

Me: So I, um, have this weird poppy thing on my stomach that moves when I cough, and not the way my stomach normally moves when I cough, because I wouldn't be here otherwise.

Doc: Hmm... (pokes about with his hands) Why don't you give me a cough.

Me: Cough

Doc: Mmm... interesting. Please lie down.

Interesting? That's what you really don't want to hear at the doctor's office. It's akin to hearing a dentist say "Wow" when he looks into your mouth. And the tone my doctor used when he was pronouncing his words of wisdom? Let's have a translation via Andy's Mind-O-Phone

Me: Cough

Doc: Wow, there's an alien coming out of your navel! I'll call the Weekly World News!

So... on a not entirely cynical and ironic note, this is in fact a timely diagnosis. I have Christmas Break coming up in two weeks, and then I won't have anything to do until the 2nd of January. Which means that if I do indeed need a surgical procedure, this would be the best possible time for me to have one, because I will miss neither work, nor class, and I will also have plenty of time to get reading done.

In other news, Thanksgiving was AMAZING. Amanda once again outdid herself, making EVERY DISH KNOWN TO EXIST in the span of three days. The relatives were duly impressed (not mine, although had they been here they would have been very impressed) and everyone was full and happy by the end of the evening, even the rabbit who got the veggie trimmings and leaves. Thanks was given, and will continue to be given as health is being enjoyed by all (even me, I'm not that uncomfortable and it could be something MUCH more serious than this little bump, I'm thankful I still have excellent heath) none of our family is starving or fighting, and Amanda and I have been married for over two years.

Life is still excellent!

A bientot

Andy

Stolen from Erica!

I saw this and had to play along as well...

1. YOUR NAME: Andrew Woodruff Anderson
2. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & street you grew up on) Joyful West Main
3. YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME:(first initial of first name, first three letters of your middle name) A-Woo (this friggin rocks!)
4. YOUR DETECTIVE CODE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) Blue Platypus
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) Woodruff Columbus
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (first 3 letters of last name, first 2 letters of first name, first 3 letters of mom's maiden name) Andansch
7. SUPERHERO NAME: ("The", your favorite color, favorite drink) The Blue Dr Pepper
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first name of your grandfather) Arnold or Claire (yes, that was his name)
9.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother & father's middle name ) Jean Wallace (sounds French and Scottish, I like!)

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