Take Advantage of Your "First" Life

I've recently read a few articles and listened to podcasts regarding a Website called Second Life, which is basically a virtual world where you can direct the life of a virtual person, or avatar. The virtual world is so complex that it even has a monetary system where U.S. Dollars can be exchanged for a virtual currency and visa versa.

Some people are reportedly making enough money by setting up virtual businesses in Second Life to quit their real jobs. But most people are attracted to the site because it provides a form of escapism and a life some say is better than their real life. That is unsettling.

It's unclear what these virtual worlds will become, but people should realize that the things they do virtually have an affect on themselves in real life. Perhaps this will evolve into something good, but I think there's too much good to be done in the world to spend your time living a second life and trying to "virtually" gratify yourself.

Stop Recording and Start Helping

We live in a fascinating time when almost everyone has a video camera of one sort or another. Now everyone can have their own T.V. show, what once took a huge investment to begin and run can now be done relatively cheaply and very well. Even individuals can quickly make their videos available to the entire world through YouTube. Even CNN now offers a service where anyone can upload a video.

While this explosion in information is great in many ways, we amatuers must be careful not to adopt the MSM habit of standing by recording, when we should be helping. Let me explain. The other day I saw a news story about a major highway buckling because of the heat. The cameraman filmed as car after car hit the buckling portion of the road, some almost losing control. I had to wonder why the cameraman didn't do something to warn the drivers instead of just standing there filming.

Just last year a group of hikers in New Jersey filmed a bear attacking a sleeping camper for a full 30 seconds before coming to his aid.

While I think it's great that blogs, video and other media are beginning to keep media honest, let's hope that those who report on their own blog don't adopt the same kind of omissive behavior the media does when covering stories.