It's the most common text I get. It comes from my youngest daughter on a daily basis. Sometimes she is in her room and I am in the kitchen when I get the text, because it would be too much trouble to actually walk into the kitchen and ask me in person. She would actually have to put her phone down and take her headphones out in order to hear my answer anyway. What a hassle.
You know how since texting began everything is so great? You know how since texting began, communication between family members has improved and teens have become more socially active?
Yeah, me neither. Texting has not only destroyed communication. It's become so addicting it's commonly considered a hazard.
Twenty years ago this week, texting reinvented communication. The first text message was sent by Neil Papworth. He sent the message from a computer terminal at an office Christmas party to a friend's cell phone. It read simply, "Merry Christmas." That's nice since he was at the party and could have walked up to the friend to say it. But the texting thing was way cooler and, you know, got his name remembered as the first texter. Good for him.
A fellow named Matti Makkonen holds the title of "father of SMS." He is the one who developed the technology he first conceived in 1984. He says he thought it would be useful for quick business communications.
By the way, Makkonen doesn't really like the attention and rarely gives interviews. I can't say that I blame him considering the way the whole thing has evolved, although he claims he's happy about how it all progressed. Now we can all say, "Merry Christmas," without actually talking to anyone. Good for him as well.
To me it's ironic that the first text message was a message that is commonly one of hope and happiness. Now we're stuck with something that looks more like "mry xmas;" because who has time to type it out, let alone walk up to someone and say it in person?
Most people now have smart phones that can perform a multitude of technological miracles. They can give you directions, play thousands of songs, shoot video complete with special effects, and play endless games. You can use them as a calendar, a calculator, and to check the weather, sports scores, and stock market. You can watch "Jersey Shore" if you missed the last episode, which would be a tragedy. You can also strap on a blue tooth and walk around looking like a moron talking to yourself. This is apparently handy for those trips to Walmart where it would be too cumbersome to use a phone while grabbing boxes of Hostess products that may soon be gone forever; another tragedy.
But most importantly you can text. No need to talk to people at all, just send them a message.
Personally, I hope I do not get any messages that say "mry xmas" this year. I do however, hope that I will hear it; spoken by a human voice in a face-to-face situation.
I hope I hear it a lot.
- Rebecca Todd is a freelance writer and the author of the book "What's the Point?" available at booklocker.com.
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Someone had to take the fall for President Barack Obama thoughtlessly drawing a “red line” threatening serious consequences if Syria used chemical weapons. It turns out that it is the president himself.
There were other issues that had potentially greater financial impact or will leave a more resolute imprint on people’s lives, such as Medicaid expansion and Common Core.
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It’s a bleak scenario. A massive earthquake along the New Madrid fault kills or injures 60,000 people in Tennessee. A quarter of a million people are homeless.
Commentary
Discussion
The text heard 'round the world'
By Rebecca Todd CNHI
"What's for dinner?"
It's the most common text I get. It comes from my youngest daughter on a daily basis. Sometimes she is in her room and I am in the kitchen when I get the text, because it would be too much trouble to actually walk into the kitchen and ask me in person. She would actually have to put her phone down and take her headphones out in order to hear my answer anyway. What a hassle.
You know how since texting began everything is so great? You know how since texting began, communication between family members has improved and teens have become more socially active?
Yeah, me neither. Texting has not only destroyed communication. It's become so addicting it's commonly considered a hazard.
Twenty years ago this week, texting reinvented communication. The first text message was sent by Neil Papworth. He sent the message from a computer terminal at an office Christmas party to a friend's cell phone. It read simply, "Merry Christmas." That's nice since he was at the party and could have walked up to the friend to say it. But the texting thing was way cooler and, you know, got his name remembered as the first texter. Good for him.
A fellow named Matti Makkonen holds the title of "father of SMS." He is the one who developed the technology he first conceived in 1984. He says he thought it would be useful for quick business communications.
By the way, Makkonen doesn't really like the attention and rarely gives interviews. I can't say that I blame him considering the way the whole thing has evolved, although he claims he's happy about how it all progressed. Now we can all say, "Merry Christmas," without actually talking to anyone. Good for him as well.
To me it's ironic that the first text message was a message that is commonly one of hope and happiness. Now we're stuck with something that looks more like "mry xmas;" because who has time to type it out, let alone walk up to someone and say it in person?
Most people now have smart phones that can perform a multitude of technological miracles. They can give you directions, play thousands of songs, shoot video complete with special effects, and play endless games. You can use them as a calendar, a calculator, and to check the weather, sports scores, and stock market. You can watch "Jersey Shore" if you missed the last episode, which would be a tragedy. You can also strap on a blue tooth and walk around looking like a moron talking to yourself. This is apparently handy for those trips to Walmart where it would be too cumbersome to use a phone while grabbing boxes of Hostess products that may soon be gone forever; another tragedy.
But most importantly you can text. No need to talk to people at all, just send them a message.
Personally, I hope I do not get any messages that say "mry xmas" this year. I do however, hope that I will hear it; spoken by a human voice in a face-to-face situation.
I hope I hear it a lot.
- Rebecca Todd is a freelance writer and the author of the book "What's the Point?" available at booklocker.com.
I’ve not kept it a secret that I find people who dress their dogs in clothes to be, to put it nicely, somewhat more than just eccentric. And many friendly, helpful readers out there have not kept it a secret that they really wish I would not express my views about dogs dressed as humans.
May 17, 2013
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
May 17, 2013
The federal government recently announced new regulations for buying fast food.
May 17, 2013
It sounds like the plot from a dystopian libertarian novel. The word “patriot” and the phrase “educating on the Constitution and Bill of Rights” triggered heightened scrutiny from the most intrusive agency in the federal government.
May 17, 2013
The action at the bird feeder has been spectacular lately: Cardinals, finches, songbirds in impressive variety crowding around all day long in search of sustenance. It is truly gratifying …
For my neighbor.
That’s what it’s like at his feeder.
May 14, 2013
On April 27, Dr. Jeff Butts demonstrated a rare form of servant leadership as he participated in the Go Love Indy westside service project.
May 13, 2013
Everyone presumes that Sen. Chuck Schumer, the media-hungry Democrat from New York, wants to be the next Senate majority leader. His performance in the negotiations over the Gang of Eight immigration plan should bolster his case for an eventual promotion.
May 13, 2013
Someone had to take the fall for President Barack Obama thoughtlessly drawing a “red line” threatening serious consequences if Syria used chemical weapons. It turns out that it is the president himself.
May 13, 2013
There were other issues that had potentially greater financial impact or will leave a more resolute imprint on people’s lives, such as Medicaid expansion and Common Core.
May 13, 2013
It happens every year at this time; I make a little dandelion whine. So here goes.
May 10, 2013
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Part III: Lessons Learned | Part IV: Warning Signs
Part V: The Big One
A massive tornado touched down Monday afternoon in Moore, Okla., just south of Oklahoma City. Follow live coverage of the aftermath of the storm.
May 20, 2013 1 Photo
It’s a bleak scenario. A massive earthquake along the New Madrid fault kills or injures 60,000 people in Tennessee. A quarter of a million people are homeless.
May 19, 2013 3 Photos 3 Stories
Complete Report:
Part I: Are We Prepared? | Part II: Disaster Dollars
Part III: Lessons Learned | Part IV: Warning Signs
Part V: The Big One
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