Now I’m trying to get a real life college degree in Web Graphic design at a real life university called DeVry. Because it is very expensive both financial and time wise, I’m sitting at my computer taking two “online classes”. At this time, the only way I could help get a real life degree is to go to “virtual school”.

Virtual school is a much different experience than real life school. I can go and learn whenever I want, and I don’t have to put much expense trying to learn the same content as if I were to pull up a website at home. But there is practically no contact with my instructors or (granted they’re not on the real world campus). My lectures consist of handout-like text that was probably recycled ad-nauseum over the past 3 or so years. And conversations consist of mid 1990s based threaded forum posts which are very difficult to sift through.

Other than the quizzes and assignments, online school is very lonely. The ease of speaking out your input on what goes on in class has been replaced by typing words that first must be thought out in detail. Also it’s difficult when there are 20 others in class with blobs of text. If it were spoken word, you’ll have to listen to them or at least try to tone them out. With threaded discussions, it’s a matter of “should I put my time into this?” Same with lectures. I have to do 40 or so pages of textbook reading. Sometimes It’s great to use the other senses to bring in information. Microsoft Mary doesn’t do the job well either.

In this day of higher technology, can we make use of video? I can listen to my teacher, and I could speak to my classmates as if it were a real classroom. I mean, that’s how news reporters communicate; through two way video feeds.

I went to the Web 2.0 Expo and this particular exhibit caught my attention. Check it at http://www.mindtouch.com/

I took this list from the this Facebook group, who took it from a chain Email.

You used to be scared to drive by Lake Herman Rd.near Blue RockSprings when you were younger, because of the Zodiac Killer.

You thought Hogan vs. Vallejo game was bigger then the Superbowl to you.

You remember when Marine World only had cargo nets and a giant whale to play in, and had TONS of animals.

You love Lumpia and Pancit

You watched your first movie @ Cinema 3 on Tennesee St.
(What about the Empress Downton baby $1 movies…)

You returned coke bottles to the recycling plant run by “Special people.”

While walking in Target you are reminded of when it was Gemco.

You were dumb enough to drive all the way up past Blue Rock Springs and stop your car in the middle of nowhere just to see if “Gravity Hill” really worked and pulled you!

You went to Children’s wonderland for parties and tumbled in the “Barrells” or played in the Teapot.

You rented you movies at George’s Video on Springs Road.

You think the best burritos are from Taco Jalisco.

You think the best hot dogs are from Sac’s.

You think the best burgers are from Bud’s Burger.

You ate pizza and baked potatoes at Gold Rush Pizza while watching Popeye on the big screen.

You hated Benicia people, because they wer snobby.

You wore hella baggy sweats.

If you ever went to Loma Vista’s Farm.

If you remember Chuck the homeless guy who wandered Springs Rd pushing the shopping cart, and called him the “Sun Man”

If you always watched your 4th of July fireworks on the water front (before Marine World)

You don’t count the new home on Acsot Way as Somerset Highlands.

You remember the “Cottonwood Clique.” or Lockwood Hoes

If you family roots go hella far back to Floyd Terrace/ Chabot Terrace/ Federal Terrace. etc.

You’ve been to the Elks Lodge at least twice.

You can give Mr. Foster Hicks some dap.

You were taught to drice or coached by Mr. Stephenson (Hogan High)

You ever went to Kentwig to bowl.

If you remember when the Harley Davison (downtown) on Sonoma Blvd, was a Grey Hound Station.

You had off campus lunch in Junior High

You drove down Tuolumne to check out the street when every house is decorated with lights thru Christmas!

Don Ray Cable was you first cable company!!

You pronunce it Va-lay-O

You knew someone in “The Hillside” who had horses

You remember going to AMC theatres on the grand opening to get popcorn for a penny and a drink for ten cents.

You would go to “The Cow” drive through to get a missile bar, ice cream, soda, etc.

You remember Wild 107, and Mancow their morning show host and his assistant Chewy Gomez and remember he got fired for clogging the Bay Bridge with a prank.

Remember when Wild 107 was KSOL.

You remember the exactly where you were during the ‘89 earthquake.

You played on or against the Vallejo Dons, and your home games were at St. Pats

You remember that little dip right pass the bridge on I-680 going to the Concord mall…Where you would always hit the gas right before you hit the dip, and then it would dip down and feel like a roller coaster…

You hate sharing high school athletic fields.

You have NOT been to Alcatraz.

You got excited when you see an E-40 video on BET or MTV.

You remember “The Hills and The Crest” annual brawl at Hogan High. when they would fight all week then be cool until the next brawl the next semester.

You went to the Wonder bread factory for cheap ass snacks.

You took swimming lessons at the Plunge/ or Cunningham pool, and you snuck into Richardson pool to swim when it was closed.(through the hole in the fence)

You thought Costco was the best thing and every thing at you house was now in bulk.

You got shitted on by seagulls at school.

You bought big ass cookies wrapped in plastic for 50 cents at school.

You shopped at Millers Outpost to get Levi’s 501.

You ate donuts at Royal Jelly Donuts

You shopped at the Canned Foods Store across from Wells Fargo.

You knew someone who got locked up for robbing a bank or store etc.

You know what siggin’ is.

Your parent(s) worked for M.I.N.S.Y. (Mare Island Naval Ship Yard) or an Oil Refinery for Timec.

Had you life threatened for no reason.

You’ve been asked, “what you claim?”… Refering to The Crest/The North or The South etc. and you don’t live in either. lol

The houses had bars on the windows.

You’ve listened to Randy on Deez Nutz (The underground Vallejo Radio Station)

You snuck into the fair through the Sage St. entrance

You were in Tanner/ Atkins Project and got fussed out by Mrs. Atkins.

You bought music from The Warehouse Music at Vallejo Plaza

You remember Rainbow Records

You bought a pizza or a pretzel from Costco.

You swim in the pool at Dan Foley. (That’s for the 30 and over crew) There was always hella people in that pool, wonder how I never got sick after being in it.

You remember when Wilson park was 450 ft to deep center field and the plaque and flag pole was in the field of play, or the sand box playground across the parking lot. old skool

You remember when Marine World was a Golf Course.

You bought candy and pop sickles from Grant Store.

You remember when South Vallejo smelled like shit over by the rock quary.

You ate at Smorger Bob after Church on Sunday and snuck food out in you mother’s/ aunts purse.

When you could you to parkway liquors at 15 and you could by alcohol!!!