Technology......This is something that I cannot get enough of. I find it so fascinating how technology is changing at an ever faster pace. Today, one of my students showed me the portable computer that he bought yesterday. I almost fainted from surprise when I felt how light the thing was! It is about twice as heavy as my electronic dictionary. The $50 fee that he pays monthly allows him to stay on line in almost all parts of Japan. He is in some remote part of Nagano prefecture, lost in the mountains......voom! In seconds he can visit Le Monde's website and get the latest news from France. He is on a bullet train rocketing through Nagoya. Voom! He can visit ABC's website and watch on line the latest episode of Jericho. .... Recently I have been using the internet to rapidly expand my knowledge of Arab pop music. Thanks to the Last.Fm The Social Music Revolution, an on line radio station, I have discovered zillions of new musicians. Before I knew about many Algerian Rai singers such as Cheb Mami, Faudel, Taha etc.. After entering the name of a Rai giant, this site introduced me to the music of Maya Nasri, Najwa Karam, Nancy Ajram, Salib Fuadi etc. etc.... Long live technology! Long live the new!