Internet At Home.

I now have Internet access at home and another computer to replace the one which I left in San Francisco so I returned here to see whether this account was still here. 

I really want to find other blogs written by people with the same interests.

I remember a character in a movie saying that she really felt that co-workers filled the role that family once did.  She had a motive for saying so since she had no family to introduce her fiance to.  Yet we now spend more of our waking hours with our co-workers than we do with our families because we can go for months and years without seeing those who share our genes, even while we and they are alive.

I Wish I Had More Internet Time.

I feel a little strange admitting this since I prefer to deal with people face to face, but I am starting to wish that I had more time to be on the Internet.  It appears that the only way to learn about in-person meetups is on the Internet. 

I do not have Internet at home and have not since giving away a computer before moving from San Francisco to Orlando.  Well, it was an older computer, but one I would have gladly kept had we not been moving across the country.  It was not cost-effective to ship it due to how heavy it was compared to the little things that are the norm today.

I am old enough that a computer took up an entire room when I was a little girl.

Bowling Alone

I am not sure how to find like-minded people since a search of blogs did not show an immediate connection, but I am determined to do so.  I just have to find the right key words.

I remember reading a book called "Bowling Alone" about the loss of civic participation in this country so I am not the only one who has noticed it.  That book got a lot of media coverage as I recall. 

Theme Parks As Downtowns Inc.

I work in a theme park and, while I do find it a little disconcerting that hospitality is an industry instead of something which we show to our friends, I am wondering if the theme parks don't serve a certain desire for the Main-Street-style community that I am sure I am not alone in longing for.  Has anyone else gotten this sense, or would talking about this with me just give you a headache?

Universal Studios and Sea World etc. don't have the Main Street Disney feel to them, but people still pay dearly to enter them instead of going to a public park.  Public parks were a good idea, but most are too large with too much isolation.  I sure wish that we could have more urban parks that allowed people to be seen by passersby whom were going about their normal business.  I suspect that a majority percentage of all large urban parks go completely unused by a fearful public. 

Hostess For Hospitality.

I attended an open house for prospective students at the Rosen College of Hospitality last week.  I really enjoyed it and believe that I would enjoy attending the school.  However, I was a little saddened as well.  I find it rather sad that hospitality is an industry instead of something we show our friends.

Do Automobiles Destroy Community?

I have been reading a book by James Kunstler entitled "The Geography of Nowhere," in which he says that cars destroy community.  Even though I have a driver's license and used to have a car, I am inclined to agree.  I notice that people who live in the most pedestrian-friendly communities know each other the best.  I sure would like to know how many people agree with James's view.