I Love Living In The Future, The past Was Great Too Part 2

So now we live in the future. Records and tapes have turned into cd's. Albums are making a slow comeback but they are not as big back in the day. The cd's are now turning into all digital. You can't record from the radio but you can buy single songs for a buck (and some just steal the songs :/ ). You can carry your songs anywhere on an ipod (which are now becoming extinct) or just on your phone (phone stuff will come later). You used to be able to buy blank cd's to put pictures, music etc on but that too is going away. The parts I like: I can buy songs buy themselves for a buck and carry around a small device to listen to them. Cd's are way better than tapes. You can find almost any song to buy on the web, even rare and old ones. I hate; blank cd's are going away (I still use them for my photos and music I buy). I still want that physical copy especially if something happens to the devices, I still have the copy.

Video games have come a long way. I love that you can save your progress, there are story lines and the graphics are amazing. I wish they would re-boot the classics but make it to where you can save your progress. But then yet, that is part of the fun of the classics. The newer video games also let you have multi players even if the other players are in another country. How freakin' cool is that!

Cable tv has come a long way. There are so many channels that it's a little too much and there is still nothing good on. There are multiple movie channels which is great but at the same time, who needs that many? I love having remotes, that you can have 1 remote for both the tv and cable and we can record tv shows and even pause live tv. No more bulky video tapes but then you can't keep certain tv programs forever. There are tv shows on dvd's which is awesome especially the classic shows. 

One thing I don't like about the children's shows and channels, they are not as good as they used to be. The Disney channel used to be full over Disney cartoon both new and classics with a little mix of other stuff. I miss that. The different Mtv's and VH1's no longer show music videos except maybe real late at night and it's not even good ones. I miss the video channels.

Getting information is so much easier and quicker and looking to see if the library has a book is so much faster. I love being able to find out about practically anything just by punching a few key strokes. Some stuff might be wrong but the fact you can look up anything in seconds is amazing. Watching an old tv show and want to know what happened to them? Ask Google. Need to know the nearest location of your favorite store, eatery etc, look it up on the net. So much better than flipping through a phone book, trying to read the small words.

This brings me to the home computer and the Internet. There is so much good that has come out of a home computer, I don't even know where to start. You can watch movies and tv shows on-line, connect to your favorite star through twitter, facebook etc, talk to someone on the other side of the planet in real time, hell even do a video chat with someone so you can see them. Send messages/letters right away through email and have that person get it within seconds. Send and share photos with loved ones. The outlet to be creative is so big. You can post stories, poems, blogs, make videos. Film makers can make their stuff and put it on youtube. You can watch just about any music on youtube. I can go on about how great the Internet is but it's endless.

Of course there is a downside to the web that wouldn't be available if we lived like yesterday. On-line bullying, the deep web, scammers, easier to steal someone's info, endless child predators have more access and can share with each other. The web makes it easier for us to be assholes to each other.

The other good thing about the net, songs etc, there are more ways to get help with depression, suicide, to reach out to others when you are in pain, for strangers to be nice to one another in time of need, easier to donate money. There are more hot lines to call and a lot more songs about how one is special, strong and good. Famous people can reach out to their fans and even be there if a fan is going through something bad. There was none of that when I was growing up. I wish there was more positive out there when I was a kid, it could of helped me get through things.

Cameras today are so much better. You can take hundreds of photos before running out of space. You can see your photos right there to see if it came out and re-take it if it didn't. You can edit your photos on your computer and even add some cool effects. No more dealing with bulky flash bulbs (unless you are a pro but that doesn't count in this). No more dealing with the pesky rolls of film. No more worrying if the photo lab is going to lose or fuck up your photos.

Phones, oh my God have they come a long way. Just as little as 10-15 years ago phones have become more advance. You can carry one with you, take photos with it, get on-line with it and now you can even take a photo of your check to deposit it in the bank. At some stores (like Sam's club), you can scan your items as you put them in the cart, pay for it from your phone and walk out with a receipt on your phone. No waiting in long as lines. You can also have a device attached to your phone to swipe someone's credit/debit card if they are buying something from you. How freaking cool is that! 

The past was pretty cool and in someways better but the future is pretty awesome. So much can happen that couldn't be done before. There is the bad but bad will always come with the good. Can't wait to see what is in the near and distance future (also kinda scared of some of it). As things get better and easier, it comes with a price where we also have to do more to protect ourselves. 

Sometimes things happen when I am out and about in the world and I just sit there and go, "damn, I love living in the future."