During my period of volunteering here in Florida, I like to listen to NPR most of the time. However, I’m in an area that would be best described as ‘fringe’. FM radio works fine for screaming rock, shouting religious evangelists and country and western music. Not even close to what I want to listen to. NPR is intermittant at best.

At home I have the radio tuned to WEVO from Concord or Nashua. Now that I’m 1200 miles from home, I also have the option of their streaming audio programming over the internet. I’m using Verizon’s Broadband adapter as my connection to the world. It works very well all up and down the east coast, allowing me to check email and favorite blogs (Granite Geek at the top) anywhere on the road and while I’m parked at the Life Enrichment Center here in Fruitland Park, FL.

What a wonder we have in modern technology. Growing up, we listened to two AM radio stations with WBZ coming in sometimes when the weather was right. When we were able to receive three television stations, we thought that it couldn’t get any better than that. The technology kept getting better with more choices as Maine joined the rest of the country. I remember the first international TV broadcasts leading to live images from the moon!

We take so much for granted. I think we need people like myself who remember how it was but still have our wits intact to convey a sense of wonder not only to our present level of technology but live in anticipation to what is to come. Live broadcasting from any station in the country or world is just a slight indication of possibilities. Using Skype, I can talk to friends anywhere and watch their video as they show off their homes and kids. Is that cool or what?

Being a technotwit from way back, I sort of know how it all works. That doesn’t take away the sense of magic I feel when I poke my head up and look around at what is going on all around us.

Color me happy!

Earle Rich     On the Road