‘VIRTUAL REALITY ‘ IS THE NEW ‘REALITY‘

I’ve been a bit put off lately by all the ‘hype’ surrounding MySpace (the new blog-like interactive site).  I mean, is this the dummied-down version of a personal “blog” or are people just starting to figure this shit out?  I have prolonged getting MyownSpace for a while but I just can’t help it any longer… I have friends there.  I’ve caved and made my own page - but only a profile mind you… so I can surf and visit my friends free pages around the world. While your surfing your normal MySpace’s on the web be sure to log in to my profile and ‘be my friend’…  that sounds so lame.  While your around check out my brother Adam’s MySpace and listen to his PodCast Radio Show on Graphic Design while you’re there: http://www.myspace.com/rookiedesigner

Click here to check out mine  –> 

Amazingly enough, for those of you that know me well I love to keep in touch with old friends and recently I was reunited - via online- with an friend from junior high school.  Shawn Marie was someone I really remembered growing up in Texas, and although we both ended up moving (her to Florida, me to Cali) and losing touch we have recently been emailing.  I saw a picture of her daughter on her MySpace yesterday and she is 17 years old, she looks just like her Mother did back then.  Anywho… the whole thing just reminds me over and over that I have friends who are my age and has a 17-year old!  I really need to get started on this baby thing, eh? On that note… get off my back, I’m working on it!

LAINEY ON “ADDICTIONS”

Addictions are funny things, we all have something we’re addicted to… chocolate, booze, food, smokes, love, complaining, another person (oh wait, that’s called stalking). I seriously think I have some of those addictions, minus the latter, but my number one addiction is computers. I can’t go for a day without being online.  I remember when there were no computers for gawd sakes. When I joined the Navy in 1988 and was given my first desk in the office, I had one of those big giant, electric, buzzing Selectric Typewriters at one corner of my desk… at the other corner, an ashtray.  Aw, those were the days. We didn’t even have computers in my high school to use as students so I took Typing 101 as an elective my freshman year.  Oh have the times changed. I think completing my MBA online has really switched me on to the whole “online society” and communication via the Internet that is so viable these days. My friends with no chat programs and no video cam - well, they are just losing touch with reality.  Reality?  I mean virtual reality.  Virtual reality is the new reality you know. I’m wondering what I will do next, I’m coming up on graduation and it’s either: get my PhD or get a life?  It’s a hard decision.  If I get a life, I’ll let you know.

WHAT’S NEW DOWNUNDER?

With the passing of Steve Irwin, people have stopped to think around the world. “Yeah, he was annoying… but damn was he good”. It really makes you reflect when you lose someone that is important to you. Quickly reflecting on my friend Josh who recently passed away - I think it’s easy to take friendships and important people in your life for granite.  We so easily forget “here today, gone tomorrow”.  My friend Tee recently lost his Mother, I lost a friend, lost my Father about eight years ago… I think about these things everyday and I only hope it makes me stronger. Don’t take your relationships for granite.  Steve Irwin did a lot of great things for Australia, he put Australian wildlife on the “MAP” and created one of the very best Zoo’s in all of Australia.  He will be missed by so many.

We had an earthquake here in Melbourne about a week ago. I thought, being from California, I maybe was the only one that felt it.  I’m quite sure when it happened I actually said out loud to myself (because sometimes I do that), “oh, that felt like a little quake”. It wasn’t until about four days later it was announced 2.5 on the Richter scale!  It’s been in all the papers, it’s really just so abnormal here it has been quite a shake up…

Melbourne hit by minor earthquake

Darren Wilsher * October 23, 2006 * THE AUSTRALIAN - THE NATION

A 2.5 magnitude earthquake struck Melbourne on Sunday night only eight kilometres south east of the city’s CBD - the latest in a series of quakes to hit Australia.

Residents of Wyangala, in between Bathurst and Young in central west NSW, were hit by a 4.6 magnitude quake on Saturday, while Boolarra in South Victoria registered a 2.8 quake Sunday evening and a 6.1 magnitude tremor was recorded off the West Australia coast on Sunday night.

Geoscience Australia, the national geoscience agency, was flooded with calls from residents of Melbourne suburbs, but say no reports of significant damage were received from the quake, which would have been felt up to 50km away.

“It’s very unusual that so many felt earthquakes have occurred in such a short time,” said Geoscience Australia senior seismologist Dr Phil Cummins.

“We had very many people reporting shaking, it would have sounded like a big truck rumbling past or like thunder.”

“There have been no reports of damage except for one report of cracked tiles in Melbourne,” he added.

Jeremy Gronow, a resident of Glenhuntly, close to the epicenter of the Melbourne quake, said he heard the quake but didn’t feel any shaking.

“It sounded like a big truck going past crunching it’s gears,” he said. “I actually thought that it might have been my dishwasher breaking down.”

“I didn’t feel it but my son did,” said Sue Dixon in Bathurst, the deputy unit controller for the State Emergency Service.

“We had one old lady who rang up concerned about the quake but no damage to report.

“We’ve had five quakes (on land) in the last few days,” said Dr Cummins.

“The quake in NSW and a small aftershock, the Melbourne quake with an aftershock of magnitude 1.5, and one near Boolarra which registered at 2.8.”

Dr Cummins said that there was no evidence to suggest the quakes were connected, or that earthquakes were increasing in frequency.

SUMMER NEARS… CHRISTMAS TIME AGAIN!

I know that sounds so wrong.  I can feel the warm Christmas cheer right around the corner now.  When I say warm I mean it.  100 degree days are in the forecast this Christmas. I’ve been looking around for a traditional ‘Santa’ Christmas cards to send home this year. The Australian St. Nick has full bathers on, flip-flops (thongs) and a drink in hand - usually sitting on the beach.  It’s a hilarious picture really, but they do have Christmas during the warm season here so it kinda makes sense.

IMMIGRATION IN OZ

Things are finally coming to a close. Before getting my approval, Immigration has required me to go through an array of medical tests and checks to ensure that I will not cost the health care system money in the future. We’re still awaiting final word but all the paperwork is filed and now it’s just the waiting game.  Luckily I have such a great Immigration caseworker. We were so happy to find that SOMEONE at immigration has a heart; especially after all we went through getting here, with the marriage, and gaining employment. I’m hoping to announce the good news here on the blog within the week. Stay tuned.

NEW BLOG ITEMS AND NEWS

There are constantly new items on the blog, if you haven’t had the time to check out the photo albums located to the right some of the best new ones are of the Honeymoon and Wedding pictures… oh! and the recent Halloween party.  There are book reviews and also check out my favourite blogs!

New to 2007: the blog will be moving when I come back from holidays in the States.  I’ll update you more on the move as it happens.  I’m looking to bigger and better things in 2007 as the blog makes it’s move to an independent site.