Connecting Across the Globe

Unbelievable! I just stopped by my website before going to bed and saw the "Who is Here" map LIT UP. There were people from all over the globe, from India to Singapore, Australia, Russia, US and Japan logged on, all at the same time. I wanted to reach across the screen and shout Namasté!, Hello!, Konnichiwa!, Privet!, G'Day!

I was so inspired, I quickly put together this little video. The video is a screen capture from the site, no tricks.

Yes, this is exactly what the Internet and global media are, and I am still in awe of it. My website, which has been up for just days and is only partly built, is already connecting people all across the world.

Next step - let us talk to each other. (I've been looking for a plugin. Any recommendations?)

I made a top 10!

With 34,000 applicants who have poured their digital souls out on screen, there have been quite a few communities that sprung up around the net. I've now been completely sucked up into the world of facebook, tweeting, ninging, messaging, and you name it what else. In the now 10 days since I entered the contest, I received at least a hundred emails, been followed by dozens people, and am simply amazed at the different parts of the world that have been brought together through this experience. It is truly amazing and humbling at the same time.

One man who has been really active around the net is Raymos, from the Philippines. He goes by the nickname of DigitalEnvironmentalist. He's spent countless hours researching and watching at least a thousand videos and has put together a couple of top lists of his own. I was really honored (and pleasantly surprised) to find myself on his top ten. With just a few days to go, finding myself on a top 10 list, any list really, is a great honor and stress relief!

Take a look: Top 10 List from digitalenvironmentalist (Mine is the 2nd video)

Snow, beach and palm trees - gotta love LA!

Driving to work today, I look in the rear view mirror and see a beautiful blue sky above the ocean. Ahead of me, through the palm trees lining both sides of the street, are snow-covered mountains under a fresh blanket of snow. What a great diversity.

There was a huge storm this weekend, and while I was biking by the beach in my t-shirt, just one hour north the freeways were being closed due to snow. This reminds me of a time last winter, when I went skiing for the day with my friends. We spent a beautiful day in the snow, then came down the mountain and watched the sunset on the beach, with our toes in the sand. Going sailing the next day just sealed the deal for me. Gotta love LA!

Adventure is in my blood

The adventurous streak runs in my family. My parents were Alpinists (kinda like a Russian version of Sherpas), leading expeditions through Urals and other mountains of the USSR. That's them up there on the left. That's how they met, btw, my Dad was leading a group and my Mom "forgot" her plate ;). Isn't that convenient? :) They'd be gone for weeks or more, out in insanely treacherous terrain that I can only imagine from the pictures. Those are some amazing adventures.

I think this is where I get my sense of adventure and exploration from. While some people think I'm insane for wanting to get this job in Australia (what, you want to move to Australia? Hell yeah!), my parents are behind me all the way!