Observing The International Neighborhood

Having encamped on Blogspot, TO set out to survey the neighborhood with a series of clicks on the "Next Blog" link, and was interested there to encounter a number of families (particularly with young children), several photographers, and a store or two, and to observe the diverse range of languages in use. TO recalls from childhood the thrill of tuning a shortwave receiver and listening to a broadcast from a near-antipodal source, then a rare achievement. The implications of geographic distance have narrowed dramatically in the interim, and it's fascinating to be able to see shared slices of worldwide life offered at a click. Not so many years ago, it was a mark of recognized distinction to be "known internationally", which now seems archaic. TO appreciates the fact that communities can now develop based on interests rather than physical borders.