On Saturday, while doing whatever around the house, I got to hear the entire day's broadcast of the Chili Bowl in Tulsa Oklahoma. What's the Chili Bowl, you ask? It's the biggest race event in Midget cars of the year! 280 drivers, including NASCAR's Tony Stewart (who won), Kasey Kahen, Jason Leffler and JJ Yeley, World of Outlaw's Danny Lasoski, and my cousins Wally and Randi Pankratz, all competed for a chance to win a trophy they call the Driller, and a handful of prize money.
But that's beside the point. I listened to the broadcast thanks to Racinboys.com and talked to folks around the country who were also listening, thanks to their forum. At one point I was in a chat room with their webmaster, who was sitting in the press booth at the race, and someone from Danny Lasoski's crew in Missouri, where the crew was hoping to catch their boss winning the race.
As the web guy kept me filled in on where my drivers were during heats when they were far enough back to not get the announcer's attention, I thought, "How cool is this?"
Over the years, I have caught live broadcasts of various NASCAR races when I didn't have cable TV and would have missed them. I have heard other series's races, too, as well as some live Arsenal matches from England. I have participated in world-wide quilting events, web parties or mystery quilt sew-ins where we sew a bit and chat a bit and share photos as we go.
One New Year's Day, I got to hang out in a 24-hour party where my quilting friends welcomed in the new year from all around the world.
When I stumbled belatedly across a gab session here on Gather, it struck me just how much I take for granted my Internet access. My world is endless and non-stop. I never have to be alone when watching the world change on TV or listening to it over internet radio. With a little searching, I can connect to others enjoying the same thing.
What events have you joined online? How has the Internet broadened your community?
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Comments: 27
I'm afraid Gathering is about all I do on the web - my friends here make me stick to Gather.
Kathleen, I met the owner of my dog's litter mate online, and connected with his breeder, too. I had to filter out the dog groups when I got more into the quilting, though. Funny how we each chose!
Magi, Gathering can take plenty of time, if you let it!
The first real use for a computer I had was to retrieve information on an electronic part I wanted to include in a new design. Before the internet, obtaining 'data sheets' was a creative process in itself. Different companies offered data in different ways and sources (fax was the fastest and the most difficult way.) Usually things had to be mailed or hand delivered by an inquisitive rep.
The internet ROCKS!!!!
For me, the BIG internet wonder was when I first got online in 1994.
I started hunting for friends that I attended high scool with, while a dependent in Bangkok, Thailand.
I found one girl who runs a cosmetics shop in northern Thailand. We e-mailed back and forth, and eventually reached someone from school who worked at the school. This girl had leads on other students' e-mails, and it then bloomed into a full scale reunion for our shool..the first ever reunion! This was 30 years after we had graduated!
It occured in 2000...sadly I could not afford to attend, but it was just so cool, knowing I was involved in opening our school up to something new...reunions which brought people from all over the world!
Our school is an International School, which catered to diplomatic emissaries and military dependents. OUr learning not only came from teachers from all over the world, but from the students as well!
We do a lot of international comparisons on what the media tells us from all angles, and we share what each of their countries see America portrayed as.
The internet, used for proactive purposes hads educated me in ways I had no time for...like getting to the library!
the true origin of all that is good and holy in modern media . . .
Chick Hearn, The Father of Virtual Reality. The Speaker of Trooth.)
Rob, since moving to CA, the only Craftsman Truck races I can catch are through the internet. Who'd have thought TV would be the harder thing to have available?
Oh I love the internet - I've connected with family members in other countries, found my first penpal from Japan, found my ggggrandfathers will! All kinds of things - no clubs but I did have a chance to be on public radio - oh yea several more things - bbl - I'm working outside and just running in and out! Come back and visit me again. This was a good article. Salud.
I love the idea of an online New Years eve party!!!