Writing Discussion 7

I was glad to see the clip of Gumbel and Couric discussing the internet. I saw it days ago and have pondered it off and on since seeing it. I agree with the first article we read. If you think it is funny that anyone could have this lack of knowledge of the interent, then you may not realize the rate at which the times are a'changin'.
I was born in 1984 and so I remember being cognizant of the first murmurings of the internet on a popular scale. I remember when we finally got it at our house, in 1994. I remember when its use gained in popularity in schools. I am fortunate to have witnessed all of this. I remember the first major shift from "snail mail" to email. I am not surprised when I see Katie and Bryant scrambling to understand the internet, I remember seeing people do it everyday.
As I grew up through the ranks of elementary schools, I remember doing things which are not as popular today in our educational system. I remember taking field trips to the county library, where we all had to check out a book. I remember being taught the Dewey decimal system. Do any kids who are 12 know how to do that today? I don't spend much time in elementary schools or around families who have kids near that age, but I doubt that these are educational points still considered to be necessary.
I received a Kindle for Christmas, two years ago. I still have not opened it. I have seen the market forces trying to influence consumers to use a digital form of reading. Not for me. I like to turn the pages. I like to have a measure of my hobby and academic endeavors. I like my "old school" books. They are ones I can read by candlelight when the power goes out. I like the way they smell. What a contrived value a Kindle has! The only value that I am concerned with is MY Kindle's ebay value.
Like the second writer said, revolutions do not happen in a day. Printed books will go out of popular use. This is my prophesy. I can see things a' comin' from a long ways away. Until that time, I will read books......Nineties Style!