July 23, 2011

Ready or not, here it comes!

Whether high tech changes are good or bad depends in part on how we adapt to them. But, ready or not, here they come.

I personally can’t imagine the world without the Post Office but I surely see it coming soon. They are so deeply in financial trouble that there is probably no way to sustain it long term. E-mail, Fed Ex, and UPS have just about wiped out the minimum revenue needed to keep the post office alive. Most of us pay our bills online these days and the mailbox is just filled with junk mail.

The end of reading most Newspapers is coming. I now read mine online. It was just a thing to do after retirement and trying to cut back on expenses. But I have noticed that the younger generation simply doesn't read the newspaper. I do feel bad that so many people will be unemployed because of our new high tech way of life. I still miss the “Milk Man”.

I no longer purchase Magazines either.

No, I have not given up the physical book yet for the “Kindle”. I still love going to my local library to select a few books to read.

I’m considering dropping my landline and just keep my cell phone but I get a little uncomfortable of letting go of it just yet. All the cell phone companies will let you call customers using the same cell provider for no charge against your minutes but then again not everyone is on the same provider!

I’m upset that my CD player stopped working. I had the 6 CD changer which I loved. I have invested a great deal of money on CDs to enjoy my personal selection of music. Try and find a CD player today………….I truly don’t want to buy an IPOD.

But I do miss my music especially when I’m doing my housework or cooking.  There is the option for the very expensive "Bose" but who can afford it and it is quite pricey should it breakdown leaving you still searching for a CD player?????

I’m very much aware that most of my prize possessions I own today may not even be around in the future. Today my computer stores my photos, music, graphics, blogs and documents.

We live in a virtual cyberspace world, you can access your music or your books, or your whatever from any laptop or handheld device. You can purchase just about anything you want or need via the computer or your fancy phone. That's the good news.

But, will you actually have any of this "stuff" if it disappears at any moment in a big "Poof?" Will most of the things in our lives be disposable? It makes you want a backup system and pull out that photo album, grab a book from the shelf, or open up a CD case and pull out the insert.

We no longer have privacy…that is gone. It's been gone for a long time. There are cameras on the street, in most of the buildings, and even built into your computer and cell phone. But you can be sure that 24/7, "They" know who you are and where you are, right down to the GPS. We are constantly being put in a position to keep buying the same concept but in a different package over and over again.

As much as I love my computer, the “simple” life was comforting and certainly less expensive. We are left with the memories!