Maria?s New Lifestyle: Short Story About The Benefits Shopping On The Net Has Given

I've got this strange friend; her name is Maria. Maria's always been a little weird but now things have gotten unworldly altogether. You see, Maria's an artist; she's into sculpture in particular, of which she specializes in the manipulation of Perspex with a blowtorch. Lately I haven't seen too much of her as she's hooked up the Internet. Actually not many people at all have seen her recently; she says she's working on a big project.

Now that she's got the Internet she reckons she can focus a lot more on her work without distractions. She doesn't 'waste' time doing grocery shopping anymore. Now she orders all her food and household items. She says if she's extremely busy, her weekly list is saved into the computer, and she just clicks on 'order' and the usual stuff is delivered to her door every week. No more driving, parking, searching for stuff, standing in line, dealing with bored and under slept cashiers. I'm starting to think it's not such a bad idea. Maria is pretty proud. She's now organizing for a local greengrocer to deliver her fruit and vegetables too.

Maria has always had a 'thing' for Donald Duck. On the Net she's found all these rare collectable dealers like Ebay. When she's not warping Perspex into postmodern configurations representing the need for a more spiritual existence, she's thriving in the consumerist world of finding and bidding for Donald Duck comic books from the 1950's. Last I heard a friend said she's actually starting to look like a duck herself!

All this Internet shopping is pretty new to me, it sounds like it really could help a lot of people out. However for recluse artists it could be the final straw for friends and family who may never see their buddies again! Nah, its cool-I just hope Maria's new project isn't a giant Perspex Donald Duck. I don't think the world needs any more Donald Ducks!

I just got back from Maria's place. You're not going to believe what I saw. She was actually having a party, and I wasn't invited. Maybe she thinks I'm boring compared to her new friends. She says she met them on the Internet, a whole bunch of people into Donald Duck! One guy was actually dressed up like Yosemite Sam-gun belt and all! It seems I'm the odd one out.

Before I left her place she showed me her new sculpture. I underestimated her newfound love. It's a giant computer; inside it is filled with the heads of all her friends (me included). Of course none of us had human mouths, smiling duck beaks adorned all the heads, a definite sign of the Internet's powerful influence, and of the collective warping of today's society!

About The Author

Jesse S. Somer is a human hoping to show his fellow Earth citizens the beautiful opportunities the Internet is making available for all our lives.

M6.Net http://www.m6.net

priyankaa@m6.net

In The News:
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table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4953X520081006cid=1254813192ei=CTTqSJLHB4yQ6wP_29ScBgusg=AFQjCNEDuh1MYIaNHqIIQji0nmVy29QNIwimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=-BJumPXqEw0Jimgurl=www.reuters.com/resources/r/%3Fm%3D02%26d%3D20081006%26t%3D2%26i%3D6265198%26w%3D192%26r%3D2008-10-06T133103Z_01_BTRE4950ZYF00_RTROPTP_0_USA width=80 height=53 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Reuters/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4953X520081006cid=1254813192ei=CTTqSJLHB4yQ6wP_29ScBgusg=AFQjCNEDuh1MYIaNHqIIQji0nmVy29QNIwFed to boost bauctions/b, pay interest on reserves/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fReutersnbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;The Federal Reserve is substantially increasing the size of the Term bAuction/b Facility (TAF) bauctions/b,quot; the central bank said in a statement. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news%3Fpid%3D20601087%26sid%3Da0JXpRxlaAb8%26refer%3Dhomecid=1254813192ei=CTTqSJLHB4yQ6wP_29ScBgusg=AFQjCNEzIcI2lbA9YcS2T9rxhlYXsTJMowOvernight Commercial Paper Rates Rise as Bank Bailouts Spread/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrBloomberg/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://norris.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/06/the-government-as-a-business-lender/cid=1254813192ei=CTTqSJLHB4yQ6wP_29ScBgusg=AFQjCNFQCfXWZ3DRfOlqj0EkX0Y43tYP8QThe Government as a Business Lender/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrNew York Times/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp%3Fid%3D7328%26icid%3D1%26d_str%3D20081006cid=1254813192ei=CTTqSJLHB4yQ6wP_29ScBgusg=AFQjCNEck0B8HxYK_y2Ogaar-kmqjhJ1eAFed boosts cash bauctions/b to US$900b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe Standard/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://ftadviser.com/FTAdviser/Regulation/Regulators/News/article/20081006/364d87fc-93ad-11dd-8351-00144f2af8e8/Federal-Reserve-takes-steps-to-tackle-financial-turmoil.jspcid=1254813192ei=CTTqSJLHB4yQ6wP_29ScBgusg=AFQjCNEwJ-GInslLDtFT378ufhkmOELUDgnobrFT Adviser/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.huliq.com/1/70010/fed-paying-interest-reserves-increasing-taf-jumping-through-hoopscid=1254813192ei=CTTqSJLHB4yQ6wP_29ScBgusg=AFQjCNFEO0N3MdG5EB4YhqNgRLSZcEJ1bwnobrHULIQ (press release)/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1254813192hl=ennobrall 438 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jReApcuPs-GHtGPyVjnLSgmsNfjgD93L0E9O0cid=0ei=CTTqSJLHB4yQ6wP_29ScBgusg=AFQjCNG6oodWorOdUp86-DKWZVH17AfpMgTreasury announces plan to boost debt bauctions/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fThe Associated Pressnbsp;-/font nobr3 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department said Monday it will increase its debt bauctions/b to handle the $700 billion rescue program for the country#39;s b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.rgemonitor.com/econo-monitor/253898/several_auctions_in_october_how_does_a_cds_settlement_workcid=1254823422ei=CTTqSJLHB4yQ6wP_29ScBgusg=AFQjCNGTeRx3UHXGDqzOxQbjRvSUT7iiMQimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=yb8tJrmuoFIJimgurl=media.rgemonitor.com/images/blogs/bios/144-bio.jpg width=64 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2RGE Monitor/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.rgemonitor.com/econo-monitor/253898/several_auctions_in_october_how_does_a_cds_settlement_workcid=1254823422ei=CTTqSJLHB4yQ6wP_29ScBgusg=AFQjCNGTeRx3UHXGDqzOxQbjRvSUT7iiMQSeveral bAuctions/b in October: How Does A CDS Settlement Work?/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fRGE Monitor,nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr36 minutes ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Satyajit Das: In a cash settlement the bond recovery value is established through bauction/b of defaulted bonds. The protection buyer has a claim of insured b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/oct/06/na-government-auctions-are-just-a-click-away/cid=1254689383ei=CTTqSJLHB4yQ6wP_29ScBgusg=AFQjCNGslwqJ1JD6Z_TZTymXxKtu3zir7wGovernment bAuctions/b Are Just A Click Away/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fTampa Tribune,nbsp;FLnbsp;-/font nobr11 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Working with online bauction/b house GovDeals.com, the city is reaching out to a larger pool of potential buyers to sell surplus vehicles and equipment. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://in.sys-con.com/node/699660cid=1254772456ei=CTTqSJLHB4yQ6wP_29ScBgusg=AFQjCNGQ3adINPFCgs9u_Gj_CtdED2_gAwRitchie Bros. attracts thousands of on-site and online bidders to b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSYS-CON Media,nbsp;NJnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;The great lineup of well-maintained used equipment in this bauction/b and our commitment to transparent unreserved bauctions/b attracted bidders from around the b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/06/business/06bonds.html%3Fref%3Dbusinesscid=0ei=CTTqSJLHB4yQ6wP_29ScBgusg=AFQjCNGoJNuFGH7cOuf6_ERC1MwU4IZDPgTreasury bAuctions/b Set for This Week/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fNew York Times,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobr14 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The Treasury’s schedule of financing this week included Monday’s regular weekly bauction/b of new three- and six-month bills and an bauction/b of four-week bills b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/trouble-ahead-massive-credit-default/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B9F86B14D-12F4-46DD-8C9E-FB4610D8817F%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1254093001ei=CTTqSJLHB4yQ6wP_29ScBgusg=AFQjCNFfnljlEqXOd56P52pE2d_ler3oqgTrouble Ahead: Massive Credit Default Swap Payments Come Due/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr22 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Three bauctions/b to be held next week will determine the amount of settlement payments required to be made under credit default swaps with Fannie Mae, b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN0335610020081003cid=1254093001ei=CTTqSJLHB4yQ6wP_29ScBgusg=AFQjCNHwkteisMNkvEr-qBg32gkdxkQwUwFACTBOX-Fannie, Freddie CDS bauction/b timeline/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrReuters/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2008/10/06/16662/credit-market-to-price-500bn-in-bad-deals/cid=1254093001ei=CTTqSJLHB4yQ6wP_29ScBgusg=AFQjCNGvIDkBvdGmBfhVGAv5vyjmPyIcdACredit market to price $500bn in bad deals/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrFT Alphaville/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/moment-of-truth-for-default-derivatives-949823.htmlcid=1254093001ei=CTTqSJLHB4yQ6wP_29ScBgusg=AFQjCNFVXkbHRyMycPk0C-wHL4pWz42BXgMoment of truth for default derivatives/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrIndependent/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.beursduivel.be/forum.php%3Fpage%3Dtopic%26id%3D11688%26name%3DCDS:%2520BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!%26laatste%3Dtruecid=1254093001ei=CTTqSJLHB4yQ6wP_29ScBgusg=AFQjCNHCakwjxGZWfU6JOi1vHfD0OGfsCQnobrBeursduivel/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122291081371496791.html%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsjcid=1254093001ei=CTTqSJLHB4yQ6wP_29ScBgusg=AFQjCNHL4SBQ16zcC2qcR4tr7O2DYX5EwgnobrWall Street Journal/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1254093001hl=ennobrall 20 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://pr-canada.net/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26task%3Dview%26id%3D51590%26Itemid%3D61cid=0ei=CTTqSJLHB4yQ6wP_29ScBgusg=AFQjCNHXIxkA7UvWhRASsZ8bsf3if2PAiAConcierge bAuctions/b Pleased With Results of Luxury Real Estate bAuction/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPR-CANADA.net (press release),nbsp;Montenegronbsp;-/font nobr1 hour ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Today Concierge bAuctions/b hosted a luxury real estate sale of two bay front estates on Siesta Key, Florida. The bauction/b was located at the Sarasota b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.offplanpropertyexchange.com/news/2008/10/americans-turn-to-real-estate-auctions/330cid=0ei=CTTqSJLHB4yQ6wP_29ScBgusg=AFQjCNFAR_LIo01dFwwIieKETXov0XYbLgAmericans turn to real estate bauctions/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fOff Plan Property Exchange,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr48 minutes ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1More and more American families are turning to bauctions/b as a means of marketing houses for sale, according to one specialist. Abal bAuction/b Real Estate said b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
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