Whitecaps on the pool...

I was about to write a post that said that at the height of the storm we had white caps on the pool and that the surf was up, but alas, the winds never got quite that high.

A wind/weather gauge has never been in my tool set so I have to rely on what others tell me to some degree. I did hear that we had wind gusts in the 80+ mph range. Whatever they were, they were brutal.

But as compared to Charley I haven't heard any sirens, and most of my neighbors seem to have power, although we have had a couple of hiccups when the lights have flickered.

The idea that I will bother to reset digital clocks, etc. is on the someday/maybe list right now.

I invited some friends without power over for potluck, i.e. you bring the food that you are worried about spoiling and I will supply the power.

I am amazed at how many people have been reading my blog. Somewhere North of 500 today. One guy just wrote me from the East coast of Australia. Also, the Miami Herald is pointing to me which has been fun.

Earlier this afternoon I was on Skype with my friend HowardG in NJ. I pointed Howard to the great piece by Jim Fallows on Skype. Howard has been using SkypeOut, which is the technology by which you buy say a E. 10 card, and then can all out anywhere in the world at pennies a minute. Howard and I were chatting on SkypeOut, and then went back to Skype. Howard+'s observation which was dead on, is that using Skype as compared to using a phone line is like listening to FM as compared to AM.

The idea that I can use my cell phone headset, my Ety-Com, plus a $3.99 plug from Radio Shack, plus Skype which is free, and talk to people all over the world just blows me away. The idea that I can now pay pennies a minute, by pass the phone guys, and use the same technology, albeit with slightly less fidelity is equally dazzling.

Now the winds are howling again, not sure when this will end!

Perhaps I spoke too soon!

Comments

[Dave Hyndman]

Hi Buzz:

I like the look of the Ety-Com. Before I buy, though, I'd like to give Skype a try with my current cell headset (an old Jabra). Re: the Radio Shack adapter, I assume you mean something that plugs into PC's mic and headphone jack and combines them into one "headset" jack. I can't find such a thing. Don't suppose yours has a part number on it?

Thanks, DAVE