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Sunday, December 14, 2008

Communications Changed Our Ways

The holiday season is near and although I don't have as much enthusiasm for it as I used to, many thoughts come and go. I think how happy a time it is for a lot of people, especially when you see the excitement in kids as they patiently wait for the magic day. The happiness in so many involved in family get together's and planning the ultimate Christmas party.

But even more importantly I think of those that are not able to be together for Christmas and New Year celebrations. People in the armed forces that are away doing the important jobs so we ourselves are able to live as we do. There are many reasons why people have to be apart. And as I sit here and look at a fibre optics angel, it is even more difficult when you realize a family member is missing forever, even though they themselves have become a real angel.

One of the good things for those that are forced to be apart is that new technology has changed many things so that even though not together, people are able to talk to each other and even see each other. Some of the many ways include text messaging, social sites like Facebook, MSN Messenger and Skype to name only a few.

There are many others on this fabulous thing we call the internet. It's the porn sites, the spam, and numerous other less than ideal things that get all the media attention. Very seldom do you read about good things that the internet can provide because it grabs less attention for a headline.

Good things are there, and we now take them for granted. The newest forms of communications even make email look old. My favourite is Skype. It has been around for awhile, and no I don't work for Skype or get anything from them other than good service, and for that reason I promote it all the time. Skype allows you to talk to your friends with digital clear audio far superior to a telephone. It provides a chat service like most other messenger type applications. One thing that Skype beats all others with hands down is their video. You can talk to people voice and see them in high definition video at the same time. Did you get that? High definition video. You no longer have to squint at a little inch and a half picture. With Skype you can have a comfortable half screen HD video picture of the person you are talking to, or even full screen if you like. And best of all is the price. From computer to computer it is free.

If you care to spend a few dollars a year for a subscription, and I mean a few, you can make calls to ordinary land line phones and cell phones. Their rates are very economical.

Some of us take all this for granted, but I am old enough to think back to times when the holidays were over by the time you heard from someone, and that was often a scribbled note in a late delivered Christmas card once a year.

Communications changed our ways.

-=One Day At A Time=-