Poll | 01/02/2009 12:00 am

How do you spend most of your online time?

Read more about: Career, Gossip, Jobs, Media, Online, Relationships, Shopping

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On the net I shop and keep in touch with friends and, of course wowOwow. It was a real help to me when I needed a favor of someone who uses the net. I needed to get in touch with someone who didn’t use the net but couldn’t call because I have total laryngitis. I was able to contact one friend to call the other. The computer is more than just a means of enjoyment. It allows me to shop and keep up on the news and helped me in an emergency. Thank goodness I know how to type. One thing I wish for everyone this year is good health.

By Judy K. on 01/02/2009 12:27 am

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Are you actually suggesting that there is anything else ON the computer besides WOW? Checking on everyone has become not only a pleasure but an addiction … and I know - I just know - I speak for quite a few others when I make that admission!!!! But what a GREAT crowd to hang around with!! Serious writing? When writing articles I only use WORD, researching as I go along without running to the library as was the case years ago. And that saves time. . . which I need to keep up with my constant stream of long-time correspondents on e-mail. (But what I DO miss still is opening REAL letters on that heavy paper with pen and ink that still denote a feeling of loving care and has often almost cried out “Save me forever” which I have. Those remain the visual portions of my long-term personal memories when people took pen to paper. In my attic reside boxes of letters within envelopes of old love letters that were too good to be true, still giving me pleasure just knowing they reside there. (But let’s keep that OUR secret, shall we?) There are just so much free time in a day so I am wondering if there are others - like me - who find that their TV viewing time is the major thing that has been cut? It all comes down to choices, doesn’t it, and touching base with people is so much more satisfying than sitting on a sofa staring at a screen (with a few exceptions I would say). To the friends on WOW though, it is you who light up my life in ways like no other — so I thank you all (and you know who you are!!!)

By joan larsen on 01/02/2009 2:26 am

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Joan, for serious writing, try Google Documents. I have found it to be a brilliant system, especially since I collaborate with people on the other side of the world. They can review and comment on my work while I am asleep and vice versa. Moreover, my writings are accessible to me, via Google Documents, wherever I am in the world. The system has all the bells and whistles of an excellent word-processing program and you don’t need to back up your work since it is all stored in the ether. Other advantages are that you can return to earlier versions of a text if you are dissatisfied with the direction that revisions are taking. It’s changed my life :)

By Sam Mirando on 01/02/2009 7:42 am

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Sam, Thanks much for the Google Documents tip. Am running out the door and will check it out more fully later. Is there a PDF so can load a book and write-protect, plus put a password on it? Am trying to figure out how to put a e-book on my site easily and with Paypal etc. Google Docs can really help me as intend in new year to get writers off Guru.com to do my wine writing projects to my outline…and then could easily bid the jobs and track work changes. Brilliant. Thank you so much.

By Ann Coulter Crazy, Souless, Evil B*tch on 01/02/2009 10:58 am

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Sam — while we have been ships that have passed in the wind for lo! these many months, I am going to finally have the opportunity to finally tell you of how much your writings - writings on a multitude of subjects and always straight on, honest when you have had to be. Like you, I tend to tell it like it is but the two of us put a very positive slant on life and the living of it at every opportunity. More than a few times I have thought: “Wow, Sam beat me to it BUT that is just what I would have said — and darn it, said it better!” You think very quickly, write even more rapidly - with authority. On top of it all, I happen to love your writing style — say it well and completely to obviously make us think, and then get off. Now that your head is probably THAT big, I want to thank you to putting my husband and I onto Google Documents. Just got in and haven’t had a chance to pull it up - but will - and already seem assured that this will put us light years ahead of our present mode of operation. Can I dare to ask what types of articles you do write, and how you got started, etc. etc.? None of my business, of course, but have a feeling you are very successful and could be very inspirational. Please use every opportunity to drop “bread crumbs” into your posts, for there are a number of us obviously who realize you are often steps ahead . . . but know that most of us have a fast “pick up” and will never want to stop learning and growing. Again, thanks for what looks to be excellent advice here!!! Joan

By joan larsen on 01/02/2009 9:25 pm

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Joan, than you so much for your kind and complimentary post. Everything you said about me is so flattering and generous. It would, thus, be ungenerous not to respond to your request for information about what I do so here goes. I trained as a molecular biologist (got my Ph.D. at an Ivy League school), did medical research (mostly on melanoma), hit the glass ceiling and started my own business as an editor of scientific manuscripts written in bad English by Japanese (mostly) and European scientists some 25 years ago. Since then, I’ve published three books for young scientists in Japan (with a Japanese translator), with one selling worldwide in English. I’m in the process of writing a fourth one. I’ve also translated books from French that have been published in English. I’m deeply involved in politics and was on my Town council for six years; now I’m on the Planning and Zoning Commission. My greatest success is manifested in my grown children (who write books too) and grandchildren (who probably will). My dear and wonderful friend Phyllis Doyle Pepe told me about WOWOWOW and I chose my alias to tease her (she didn’t figure out who “Sam” was until I told her). Does that satisfy your curiosity?

By Sam Mirando on 01/04/2009 9:59 am

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Sam: Did that satisfy my curiosity? You don’t know me for YOU have just whet my appetite to be honest. To think that lovely Phyllis is fortunate enough to KNOW you — as frankly, I find that over the years there are fewer and fewer people who pique my interest as you have. It was a teaser . . . and I am such a good audience for someone who really has something to say. You understand I am sure. You obviously were brilliant from an early age … and moved onward and upward on the fast track. It probably could have been me: out of high school at just 14, Quiz Kid era earlier, college in 3 years, and out in the world - but married with my last child at 22. That was life for most of us then. Once the children were out - before I was 40 - my own world and life began and has never stopped. I too have been heavily involved in politics even before that time. After being elected very early in life, I remember being asked to speak to the Republican Women of Illinois at their conference, encouraging them and teaching them on how to get going. Pretty heady for almost a kid. Once hooked - well, I still get the highest vote count each time I run … and I am a firecracker kind of person that always is 10 steps ahead of everyone. Once I fade, I will know it first and stop. But why stop a winning streak — I am always learning. And yes, for many years I too served on the Plan Commission, a vast learning experience (and I am sure you agree) until the village government decided the statutes did not apply to them. All done. I keep far far away from the officials now as I make sure I am not tainted by them. This is too long I know to be writing on site, but I must tell you of another coincidence of sorts. My husband had melanoma, discovered by me and recognized by me though he was unable to see the back of his ear. You know the rest. He survived, but with 7 hours of plastic surgery - and a story I will not repeat publicly. But the celebration on the 5th anniversary of the surgery was very big at our home. He was one of the lucky ones — and to have me see and recognize it when we were still quite young was a miracle. Meant to be I say. And so we probably have more than a few things in common. I will stop, thanking you for a most enjoyable read … and a plea to stay around for us. As you saw, I recognized “greatness” — and I am so happy I asked. Joan

By joan larsen on 01/04/2009 12:19 pm

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Oh, Sam — take a look, as I topped the letters in today’s New York Times Sunday Magazine (January 4) to show you I do not let any (ANY) grass grow under my feet!!

By joan larsen on 01/04/2009 2:11 pm

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Joan, I am sorry that I only gave you an appetite for more information but to reveal more would be to destroy my alias :) I have had an astonishingly interesting life and have been very fortunate in so many ways. Much of my great good fortune has been the friends that I have made along the way, and I have been close friends with Phyllis and her wonderful husband for more than thirty years. We cherish our friendship. You can imagine all the wonderful conversations that we have had together over the decades. I learned a lot about bringing up children from Phyllis. She taught me never to say to my children, “I am so proud of you” but, rather, to say, “You must be so proud of what you have achieved.” Now, her lesson has become a joke between me and my children so that, when one of them does something terrific, I say, “Phyllis would be proud of you.” My son thinks that Phyllis walks on water and my daughter corresponds with her (wise woman!). I wasn’t brilliant - just the child of penniless refugees from Nazi persecution who were given safe haven in England, where I was born and educated. Education was viewed as a priceless commodity and my family’s main preoccupation was studying and more studying. It paid off. You were and are probably, innately, much smarter than I am. But how could a smart woman such as yourself be a Republican (only teasing!)? I admire you, too, for recognizing your husband’s melanoma (Ladies: if you see, on anyone you care about, any change in a wart or a mole; any red, white or bluish skin lesion that looks unusual; or any brown or blackish lesion with an irregular outline, send him or her to a dermatologist straight away. Melanoma is curable but the deeper the tumor, the worse the prognosis. Early detection is essential!!) I’ll be sticking around WOWOWOW, Joan, but “greatness” is too great a compliment.

By Sam Mirando on 01/04/2009 4:19 pm

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I forgot to add that I actually read your letter in the NY Times Magazine this morning! Bravo, you! When I read it, I had no idea that I “knew” you.

By Sam Mirando on 01/04/2009 4:20 pm

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(see comment below my first comment)

By joan larsen on 01/04/2009 2:34 pm

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-My business is all online. [Except last three days have completely goofed off on wOw.] -Research everything online, trips/reservations/purchases/market, medical, maps, etc. -Banking all online. -Communicate w/family/friends/clients mostly online. -News—mostly HuffPo/NYTimes. -Magazines-Vanity Fair, Forbes, Wired, etc. -Social—FaceBook/online wine/book/Web 2.0 groups. -Subscribe to online newspapers…for instance the “Carmel Pinecone” Rec’d Friday’s addition tonight along with news of latest mountain lion sightings in downtown Carmel at San Carlos and 2nd, and around the Mission. Ugh. Love seeing the deer and marine animals and birds…do not want to encounter a mountain lion in person….always a little nervous as walk through forested areas in Pebble Beach, etc. Here’s the Pinecone and a picture someone snapped of the mountain lion on page 10A. http://www.pineconearchive.com/downloads090102.htm Ten years ago when lived here before had a bear come into downtown.

By Ann Coulter Crazy, Souless, Evil B*tch on 01/02/2009 2:56 am

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That is a lovely kitty. I wonder if Doris Day still lives there then he probably would be welcomed in her place. Aside from that I would try and stay away from this lovely.

By Jeannot Kensinger on 01/02/2009 7:09 am

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Hi Jeannot, Yes Doris Day still lives here and has a wonderful/popular downtown hotel & cocktail lounge and is still very activist in animal rescue/rights. A vid with her hotel is here: http://www.carmelcalifornia.com/ Forgot to mention that a mountain lion chased a cat into a woman’s bedroom in Big Sur and under her bed!!! Ugh!!!

By Ann Coulter Crazy, Souless, Evil B*tch on 01/02/2009 10:40 am

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Lovely site. My Bijou would love it there too. I love animals but something like that is not inviting. I had a possum in my laundry room and that was bad enough.

By Jeannot Kensinger on 01/02/2009 1:12 pm