Skype

It sure is amazing the technology that is available free for use with high speed internet connections.  The picture above is of Kian and Niall "Skyping" with their friend Meagan in Lynchburg last night which for the uninitiated among you is essentially a Star Trek video conference via the internet and a free program called Skype.  All you need is either a laptop with a built in camera and mic (almost all laptops have these now) and be talking with someone else who has the same rig and you can talk and see the other person in real time which is just short of fantastic.  I think web cams are available as plug and play devices with desktop computers to do the same thing that way.

Unfortunately not everyone we know has Skype but they're starting to explore it.  I remember being in Europe in the mid 70s and it was regular mail only or I had to go to the German Post Office on the airbase I was stationed at and pay inordinate amounts of money to make phone calls back to the states.  We've come so far so fast it's just amazing.  Did I mention this is free?

For some reason the wireless signal in our apartment is not as strong as it is in the living/dining room so Kian and Niall use my computer to talk with Meagan.  I think Meagan finally got through to the twins at 10 PM last night our time or 4 PM her time.  The picture was clear and they had a great talk with her and her mom.

The internet truly has made the world a smaller place and has leveled the playing field as far as global communication is concerned.  We're in Paris but still very much connected to everyone we left behind in Virgina and other places.  I Skype with my old friend Christine in Senegal.  Pretty amazing stuff.  The days are slowly warming here and me and the guys are going to buy our last 2 fans for the apartment which isn't air conditioned.  Should be an interesting summer.

Love to all everywhere......

A bientot,

Sid