3 "Big Darn Deals"

Chapter 8--The 3 "Big Darn Deals" I found interesting in this chapter are the following:

Geocaching for Hidden Treasures--I enjoyed learning about Geocaching. It was fun to do the Internet Geocache assignment. According to the article on page 321 in our text book, the first cache with GPS was documented in 2000. Geocache is similar to a treasure hunt, you try to find hidden objects by using longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates. I don't use or have a GPS, but I would search the Internet for Geocaches that would use a map, directions, and landmarks. I think this make a fun family vacation. A person could plan their trip and then add a little treasure hunt along the way.

Will Widespread Wireless Broadband Connections Kill Print Media--I found this article interesting. It talks about the possibility of the improving wireless access smothering the newspaper and magazine industry. I do believe we will loose a lot of magazines and small town newspapers, but they won't be all wiped out. We have so many magazines that cover the same topics or interest levels that it is just a matter of who is better at selling their magazine. Many small town newspapers will have to collaborate with each other in order to survive, but that is okay. So many people are involved with more than one community. I, myself, enjoy reading the local newspaper.

How Many Households Are Using Cell Phones As Their Primary Telephone--
I know many households that have gone strictly cell phones within their homes. I, unfortunately, am unable to do this. I live in a very rural area where sometimes you have cell phone access and other times you don't. My children stay home by themselves until the bus comes in the morning or during the summer months need access to a reliable phone. According to this article 20% of households use cell phones for their primary phone. It would be nice to save the money I spend on the land line, but it is nice to know that I have a reliable phone at home. I only have the minimum amount of minutes for our plan, so my plan isn't too expensive.