Virtual Millionaire => Real Millionaire ??

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/the-world-s-most-expensive-island-online/1389891

A 27-year-old grad student from Australia paid over $26,000 for an island in the game Entropia. It sounds crazy, but by cashing in the money he makes from taxing game users who visit his island, he claims to make over $100,000 a year in real money. This is the ultimate realization of my childhood dream of cashing in my Monopoly money, but it was only realized through what must have been thousands of other game players so engrained in this virtual reality that they are willing to pay real money to use his virtual island. Who knows what it will take for people like this to realize they are wasting away their life. Perhaps one day when their avatar gets so addicted to some video game that he does nothing but stare at a screen all day they will wake up and realize that it's just a game.

Internet education

The Internet, and the computer in general, is something that almost everyone uses in their daily life. While most have the basic knowledge essential to using these great resources of our time, few have the knowledge needed to ensure the security they so desperately want when using them. There is the idea that this security can only be achieved through the loss of privacy, but I disagree. I think this idea is dangerous; if we are to give up our privacy, we are in fact giving away a small part of our freedom. To avoid this loss of privacy that many are rightfully reluctant of, education about this magical web needs to be acquired.

On the other side of the coin, there are many who find the mystery of the Internet as a wall they can hide behind. Assuming a virtual identity on the internet, their morals change from those that they had in "real life." A person who would not steal in real life has no problem stealing music or some type of software that is otherwise expensive, and those who would shy away from making an offensive comment in real life have no problem doing so on the Internet. Education on the Internet would not only allow more security for all that use it, it could very well improve the integrity of those that use it inappropriately. Once they realize that they are the same person in private as they are in public and that the Internet is real life, perhaps their sense of right and wrong will return and the Internet can be safer for everyone.

Legends in their Own Right

We all have been blessed with unique talents and abilities, and the opportunities to use those blessings are all around us. One of the most significant ways is in our careers. I see a special opportunity to do this in my chosen field of computer science. While I am getting a job with the priority of providing for my future family, I hope that I might also look to use my profession to make a positive influence in the life of others. May we all look to do the same, whatever our specific talents.