ah, it's ok. Some alt.universe me took the course.
   [alt.fictional.universe that is tongue emoticon ] and that's
   good enough. Another one of them went theoretical physics, which
   was my original plan. All of them finished it tongue emoticon
   But I like the path I'm on best of all. == My brother does that.
   I do the business side, which is
   paperwork-type/running-the-business type stuff. Being an "out of
   character" role (I'm in several out of character roles at
   present) which were very stretching for me. They identify my
   nots, which shows me better my "ams", and I express them online
   primarily. But I've always expressed my 'self' online. What I am
   in the 3D world? Eh, I never expect that to match up. But, even
   n the 3D world, I find ways to put the "me" in every situation,
   and I relish the challenge. == I suppose I am too, but I take
   the positive spin. Coping skills. Even people who _do_ 'follow
   their dreams' and find textbook success have aspects of their
   careers that "aren't them" and they suffer through. I doubt
   there's a soul that has an easy ride when riding their rainbows.
   Besides, I can't complain. I shouldn't exist at all, yet I'm
   here. Born at this time in history which is amazing. Wish it was
   500 yrs from now but, oh well, I get to live through a period of
   history instead. == Their problem. I could go 1000 yrs, but 500
   is reasonable enough to see a significant enough culture shift
   for me to be just as confused there as I am in this world, just
   as if I was plopped in 1615 or 1015 for that matter. = Hm, I
   don't think so. Enough of the old world will remain. 1916 would
   be livable. Would 1816 be livable to someone in 1916? Likely.
   Very different worlds but enough similarities. Between 1816 and
   1716? Might be trickier depending WHERE you live. But
   technology-wise wouldn't be much different but there were a lot
   of cultural shifts in that time frame. Still though, I think
   100-120 is about the extent of the "stretch" people would be
   capable of, with a period of adjustment of course. Even the
   Starbucks selfie takers could manage in 1916 given a little time
   to catch their bearings. == Stuff people are predicting now,
   some of it will come true, some of won't. People who are adverse
   to science fiction futurism *might* have a somewhat harder time
   of it, but anybody with the slightest bit of scifi or fantasy
   would manage fine. After all, what's fueling the technologies of
   the future? The dreams of today. What fueled the technologies of
   today? The dreams of the past. == Consider how many POTENTIAL
   futures have already been explored via science fiction?
   Apocalyptic to utopian? THOSE fictions, especially those
   absorbed by the engineers/scientists/politicians/whoever when
   they were children, are some of the things they're working on
   NOW. Their childhood fantasies are things they're working to
   make fact today. Someday, they may come true. We won't be
   totally off guard for those things == 1854. That's: 162 years
   ago. Publicized in newspapers, followed by science and tech fans
   then just like today... would they be ENTIRELY surprised by the
   Internet? I don't think they would, just as I wouldn't be
   surprised by brain implants which allow thought to control a
   virtual reality world more vibrant than our own, or imagining
   batteries that charge via pressure differentials between
   electron charges of whatever ions are hanging around the area ==