two funny words
Separately, these words don’t induce even a chuckle; understandably, though, because separately they mean nothing in particular. However, when they are combined and used in a phrase I’m always stifling laughter. Ready for them? I will warn you that you might want to sit down, in case your hysteria takes you off your feet. Ok, here we go…
Dial. Up.
You may ask yourself, “That actually still exists?!” Indeed, it does, and I share your surprise. Allison has commented to me that despite only having DSL for a few months, she’s already fully forgotten how dial-up provided her with usable internet. I understand her sentiments; my first experience with T3 at Virginia Tech has left me wanting a substitute during my absence.
Even today, when someone tells me their email address and end with “A-O-L-dot-com” I make note of it to not contact them. Paying $23.90 per month for “unlimited dial-up” is disgusting and attracts people who know no better. DSL in our area is $30 per month, and is 500^10 times faster. I feel shame for the businessman or businesswoman who proudly has “genericbusiness@aol.com” listed on their business card.
In a world where cars don’t come with cassette decks anymore; in a world where bovine are twice the size of their ancestors of the early 20th century; in a world where television series from the 70s are made available on DVD; there is no place for dial-up internet service.
May 30th, 2005 at 9:18 pm
Yeah, maybe you can talk to my parents about this; they still have dial-up. And, it’s all in the name of supporting a friend, which I suppose is sweet. Though, my parents also claim that they can’t get high-speed internet out there. Yeah, they still have dial-up and my vacations are longer there because of it.
May 30th, 2005 at 10:43 pm
Preach on! Dial up is SO last millennium. I can’t believe some people still have it. Here in Texas around where I live, Verizon is actually running FIBER to the home. Can you believe that?! Fiber in your home. Talk about blazingly fast.
May 30th, 2005 at 11:06 pm
Ryan,
I have dial up myself, and have since I first got internet access not too long after I graduated from highschool in 2001. Personally, I can’t afford broadband yet, and I’m not sure of any VA providers that could spice me up online. Opine!
May 31st, 2005 at 12:31 am
I should be glad that you still choose to contact me, even though my email address ends with “@aol.com”
May 31st, 2005 at 7:22 am
Rianna - Notice I always use your Gmail now
May 31st, 2005 at 5:25 pm
Ryan,
If you feel like opining… then do so!
I value your opinion on this dial up thing.
May 31st, 2005 at 11:39 pm
My parents still have dial-up AOL too, but it’s actually an improvement on the webTV they used to have before that. :-0
I think there probably are some places out in rural America that don’t have cable lines running through them yet, which means no cable TV or broadband, in most cases.
I’ll tell you another thing that time has certainly passed by: the pay phone. It’s rare to even see one anymore; at my school, they got removed from the wall, and the gaping holes they left behind were bricked over. If they ever did a Superman remake, where in the world would he change costumes?
June 1st, 2005 at 3:25 pm
Wow! I was mentioned in a blog when I didn’t even go anywhere with you!