Gosh, I'm at a loss; it's been so long since I had the floor and now that it's my turn, I have nothing to say. Maybe I should've put some thoughts on a list.

Oh yeah, I'm a list maker; I wonder how many others are out there....? I not only make lists, I make lists of lists. I have my household chores list, my computer tasks list, the inevitable grocery list, contacts and Christmas card lists, and many others too numerous to mention. I spread them out on my desk, or stuck 'em on my monitor, shoved 'em in a drawer...no matter where I looked, I had lists.

One would think, in this digital age, that the need for all these pieces of paper would be outdated, well, not so. I tried to make lists on my pc. You know, the kind you store on your desktop. Didn't like that; it cluttered up the desktop and I couldn't see the nice wallpaper I had searched all over netdom for. Not only that, after having them stuck in my face all day, I no longer saw them.

I wonder if anyone really uses the audio lists they record on their Palm Pilot or Blackberry. Once they record them, do they just listen to them or do they, like me, have to transfer them to paper and organize them? Geez, it's a vicious circle for sure; we're back to paper pieces of my mind. No wonder I feel like I am losing it.....my mind, I mean.

Once a list maker, always a list maker; I should give it up, it's a lost cause.

New topic for ya....chatrooms. I haven't seen this subject tackled anywhere and God knows it should be. Hordes of newbies are signing up and signing on without a clue what they are getting into. There's no course that I know of, or lessons on the whys & wherefores of what goes on in the chatrooms. I don't know what people expect when they jump into these hotbeds of controversy but, that's pretty much what they are...hotbeds of controversy.

In the past there has always been something called a FAQ, or "Frequently Asked Questions" which was supposed to outline what the rules, if any, were for that topic group. One would have to ask several times if not forever for someone to post a copy of this illusive document and in the interim, commit numerous faux pas and risk banishment forever.

Typically, the chatrooms are full of hormonal youngsters all looking for that special date (or more accurately, they want to get laid...tonight even) and lacking that, they want to trade something for something (insert movie or music here) or if they are feeling especially feisty, turn on the web cam and...well, never mind.

It's a flurry of slang and typing shortcuts and the lines of text whirl by at a dizzying rate. There is always one "snert" (that's what we used to call them, I am clueless what the current term might be), who is the room PIA ("pain in the ass"), and who signs on with the specific purpose of causing havoc & mayhem while everyone is trying to type their message. These are the guys, or gals as the case may be, who do the "flaming" or in general insult and bully whoever is the target du jour; they type the equivalent of spam into the screen until the moderator ("mod") throws their ass out (banishes them) so the regulars ("regs") can enjoy themselves. A little hint from one who knows, you never never draw attention to yourself or you know who will be the next target du jour. 

The chat rooms, or channels, depending on who you talk to and where on the internet they chat...have evolved somewhat in the past decade and now include more mature people, even seniors. I have to confess I belong to this group and since I'm in the confessional I will also state that I've been there and done that; I was even given a virtual award for my  participation. So, that makes me feel somewhat qualified to bring you up to speed.

The good, the bad and the ugly

Chatting can be fun. It's the most fun I have ever had socializing in my entire life. It was an adventure just to find the channels and get in; it's party time 24/7. I never laughed so hard and so much before. The downside is that it's addictive. I also never let my housework go for so long, burned so many dinners or missed so many appointments. Sleep? Who can sleep with all that going on?

It was and is a pleasure to meet people without all the prep work usually required before appearing in public. The guys don't have to bathe, shave or wear underwear and they can fart, belch & scratch without people giving them dirty looks or leaving the room. Trust me, this is a tremendous plus for them and come to think of it, for the rest of us as well. The gals have the same privileges and enjoy being "beautiful" and very slim with legs to die for every day and it's real easy to believe this when staring into a computer monitor instead of a mirror. It's no longer necessary to hang out in a bar to meet people and spend lots of money on food & drink not to mention the clothes to lift one's confidence. We can all be young again, abandon any worries or troubles and play. Downside? It's escapism. It's not real. We are just kidding ourselves and ignoring that which needs tending to. Problems don't get solved, they get shelved. Hello? We all might as well take drugs, the results are the same.

Through this technology the internet population enjoys total anonymity. The unscrupulous abuse this and the sociopath sits at his computer next to the local minister. The people one meets are the people of the world....and the percentage of good and evil are the same. We get to see the good sides of people, with morals that restore our faith because they are kind and generous when no one is looking. We also see the worst sides, when people do what they would never do in person without fear of repercussion.

I find it difficult to understand the shock and horror some express when they come across people who are rude and nasty or how easily they feel hurt and put out.  Chat rooms are breeding grounds for misunderstandings. Without the benefit of body language, eye contact, tone of voice and facial expression, whatever one types on their keyboard can be misunderstood or taken out of context a million ways come Sunday. The resulting drama could be next weeks soap opera episode. There have been confrontations in the chatrooms the likes of which I never knew could exist without personal contact (and lucky for the lack of it to be sure). I have also experienced unparalleled kindness that came from most unexpected sources.

I think it naive to expect the internet to be anything other than a reflection of our collective humanity. It's a more compact view of the world coming to us from a box with a window and it isn't for the faint of heart or thin skinned.
See you there!
 

This might come in handy...GRANDMA'S CURES

Did You Know that drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately-- without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional "pain relievers."

Did you know that Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns.

Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose.

Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 Tablespoon of horseradish in 1 cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil, for instant relief for aching muscles.

Sore throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.

Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer. Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly-- even though the product was never been advertised for this use.

Honey remedy for skin blemishes . Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a Band-Aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing. Works overnight.

Listerine therapy for toenail fungus. Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.

Easy eyeglass protection... To prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear nail polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them.

Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer ... If menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409. Insects drop to the ground instantly.

Smart splinter remover .just pour a drop of Elmer's Glue-All over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.

Hunt's tomato paste boil cure ..cover the boil with Hunt's tomato paste as a compress. The acids from the tomatoes soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head.

Balm for broken blisters... To disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine ...a powerful antiseptic.

Vinegar to heal bruises . Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.

Kills fleas instantly...Dawn dish washing liquid does the trick. Add a few drops to your dog's bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly. Rinse well to avoid skin irritations. Good-bye fleas.

Rainy day cure for dog odor .Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal
with Bounce or any dryer sheet, instantly making your dog smell springtime fresh.

Eliminate ear mites ...All it takes is a few drops of Wesson corn oil in your cat's ear...Massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3 days. The oil soothes the cat's skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates healing.

Quaker Oats for fast pain relief... It's not for breakfast any more! Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.
 

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