How I suffered

It wasn't too long ago as the whole world celebrated the crossing from 1900s to 2000s. 2000 was not even the new millennium as most people thought. Year 2001 was officially the new millennium since the calendar did not start with year zero. But the number 2000 seems too important to ignore. No longer do we refer to the year starting with nineteen anymore. It was a huge celebration televised live as the clock struck twelve from country to country . I remember witnessing it on telly as the earth rotates.

That was year 2000. Now with a blink of the eyes, I found myself in year 2009! The earth sure rotates very fast. Yes do you know if you are on the equator like me, you'll be rotating at about 1000 miles per hour? With such dizzying speed, no wonder technology has come a long way. I can still remember a few dead lifestyle changing ways since as early as 30 years ago. Top of mind:

Pen Pal
Chat messaging and emails do effectively change how we make friends around the world. In my younger days, we have pen pals. For those who have no idea about what pen pal is, its a term we used when we befriend someone far away by communicating with postal mails. Yes in order to 'chat' we literally drop the envelope that contains our handwritten messages on some fancy paper into the mail box at the post office. It will take a week or so before my friend from UK gets my message. If I am lucky, I will get his reply in about a month if he is not too busy. You have no idea about the joy of receiving a pen pal's mail posted personally to you. Its like receiving birthday presents from afar. You would read them over and over again, scutinized it, smell it, you name it. Now who needs pen pals when we have chat messengers. Instant communication wherever you are in the world. Just logon and you are there expressing yourself without having to lick any stamps. How I suffered through those snail mail ages.

Audio Cassettes
Before audio CDs, we had audio cassettes. That wasn't too long ago. Upon recalling, the first thing that came to mind are those hissing noise when one listen to music. Then the next thing is to buy a better cassette deck with all those fancy buttons with fancy technology just to cut down the hiss. Then as if not enough, the audio cassette gods, offers a range of cassette tapes catering to different types of hiss reduction levels. They also come in all sorts of fancy names. Like chrome tapes or metal tapes just to get you to think it will give you a better high fidelity. I spent more time trying to find ways to reduce the noise than to actually sit down and enjoy the music. Give me CDs anytime. But hold on to your iPods fellas. The digital downloads are taking the world by storm as I write. How I suffered through those hissing years.

Video Tapes
Being able to watch a movie at your own time on telly was made such a big deal when video tape was invented. However if you want to look for a particular scene in a movie, press forward and go pee. Because by the time you return, the tape will most likely be speeding forward still. If you have a better video tape player, they will stop on track for you. But it will still take time. Want to watch the movie again. Press rewind and wait till kingdom come. Don't even get me started on the picture quality. Not to mention the money I wasted on all the bulky tapes thats collecting dust in my old house. DVD is a big leap forward. With Blue-Ray at the helm, there is definitely no rewinding back to those VHS days. How I suffered through those dark years.

Telephone
Almost everybody owns a mobile phone these days. Just dial..eh..I mean key in a number and you can reach anyone anywhere. 30 years ago, I have to rush back home just to wait for an important call. And while I am on the line, I have to make sure I can only walk around from as far as the telephone cord allows. I was also born in the era where you actually dial a number. Yes, no push buttons but stick your finger in any of the ten holes of corresponding numbers and turn the dial clockwise. its oh so analog. Now I don't even push buttons. I push glass. Yes, the iPhone glass panel that display the image of a phone pad. Not only can I make calls with it but I can also watch movies on my phone. Oh, have I also mention that I can walk anywhere while I am on the line? Cordless! Its unimaginable at that time. How I suffered through those analog years.

Camera Film Roll
Anyone remember film roll? No? I can't blame you. Our photos are all totally digitized now. In my jurassic years, in order to view what I have taken in my camera, I remembered I have to rewind the negative film back to its small casing and carefully remove it from the camera. Because if its not fully wound back, the negative film will be exposed to the light and all that was shot will be gone forever. With the film roll intact, I would send it to a photography shop for developing. Meaning, going a professional process that I cannot do at home just to get the images from the film to photo paper. It will take about 7 days during the primitive years. But later years, about a day before we can get to marvel at all the photos taken. There is also no guarantee what was taken can be satisfying enough since there is no check back like in the digital camera. That was only about 15 years ago. I am still amazed that there are still film rolls around for sale. I wonder who buys them. How I suffered through those negative years.

If you are reading this, be thankful.