video chat

Really, I love technology.
This evening I had my first video chat with my sister, Mary. It wasn't the greatest picture - Mary looked like she was a living flip book.... and she was pixilated, but the sound was good, and we could see each others' general expressions.

I also loathe technology.
Especially the type that lures you in and then makes you want to part with your money. As in, here is a free sample - with ads... if you want an ad-free version, pay money. Well, I am cheap. However, I have a five year old who believes that all ads are personally directed to him. If a Burger King ad comes on and says, "come to BK today to get soaked with your own Super Soaker" then he is going to pester me to go to BK TODAY, Not tomorrow, or next week, or sometime in the distant future. It has to be today! The advertising people have studied him carefully.

Mathblaster is the lastest conflict of this nature. It is a math based learning video game. Fun, cool graphics. Free. Until you want to play a game more than once on any given day. And then you have to become a member. Mark is busy asking Paul how he will put the money into the computer..... Paul is perplexed. I will only laugh until Paul tries to feed a silver dollar into the CD reader.

I think Paul realizes it will require a credit card, but he doesn't understand the value of what he is asking for.

How do I teach him not to be a gimmie gimmie gimmie sort of kid?

Well, I'd best run, I need to be awake for some more video chats tomorrow - hopefully with my cousin from Japan, or perhaps Sandra in Italy.... the possibilities are endless.

:)

S