Look at what the morning brought us! Actually it started snowing around 9:00PM last night and lasted (between snow & freezing rain) until 2:00AM this morning. Chloe the wonder dog was less then pleased when she could not find her 'special place' in the park!
When I was up in New England two week age I was killing some TV time watching CNN and catching up on the current election news. I normally do not watch CNN but I could not find Fox News on the local cable system. One of the featured stories I was watching had to do with current technological toys you can buy for your computer. They were featuring a device called ‘magicJack’ and everything they were talking about sounded like an info-commercial for ‘magicJack’ and far too good to be true.
So, what is ‘magicJack’ and why am I writing an article about it? ‘magicJack’ is a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) device you plug into your computer’s USB port, plug a standard telephone into the device and make all of the local and long distance phone calls you wish for a very, very small annual fee. After doing quite a lot of research on this device, I did not read one bad review or negative comment about ‘magicJack’. Based on the initial purchase cost of $39.95 plus shipping and handling I thought I’d give it a try. Going to their web site (www.magicjack.com) I made the purchase, selected to receive their first year’s free service, typed in my credit card info and clicked…SEND! Shortly thereafter I received an email with an invoice along with a shipment tracking number. Four day later this package was delivered to my street mailbox and within five minutes I was making my first phone call using my PC and cable internet service.
Every phone call I made through ‘magicJack’ (local and long distance) was as crystal clear as my home or cell phone. In addition, every call I received through ‘magicJack’ was as easy as picking up the phone and saying…HELLO! Unlike other VoIP services I’ve had (Packet8) there was no echo or voice bounce back and the system is in full duplex (meaning two or more voices can talk at one time). Having spent most of the afternoon making and receiving calls I was convinced that this little device was well worth every asking penny.
The financial breakdown goes like this;
Purchase Price: $39.95 + SH
First Years Service Fee: FREE
Annual Fee thereafter: $19.95
The biggest draw back with ‘magicJack’ is the lack of available area codes to choose from. In total there is only about 14 area codes you can select from and fewer local prefixes to choose from. With our son Scott living in Austin, TX, I selected that area code and prefix so he would be able to call us as if it was a local call for him. One of the biggest advantages of ‘magicJack’ is the ability to use this device on any PC that is connected to the internet (WiFi or better connection) anywhere in the world. Way too cool!
If you have ever wanted an affordable VoIP (digital phone service) with high voice quality and loaded with tons of additional free services (free voice mail, three way calling, caller ID, call forwarding, etc) I would strongly suggest you consider ‘magicJack’. This is one of those devices that works and works well, right out of the box!
hile up in New Hampshire for my Dad’s funeral, I had the chance to visit my oldest, dearest and closest friend, Dan and his most lovely wife Robin. Our time together was far too short since our last get together almost 18 years ago (summer of 1990) at a high school reunion. There are no words I can either make up or contrive to express my feelings about this visit. It was like a fairy tale or a long reoccurring dream that came true. It was so real and so beautiful and a little emotionally overwhelming given the separation of time between visits and our newest bond…both our fathers had passed on within months of one another.
Dan and I lived across the street from each other for most of our adolescent lives. We did things that best friends do and then some, and then some, and then some. During this time there was not a sunrise to sunset passing that did not see us together scamming up our next great adventure for the days to come. We never looked much past a few days because time was irreverent and the future was something only our elders had to deal with. It was a good pack that both parties excelled at. We did everything possible during these days and nights to cause our families great concern if we were to have a next week let along a future. Nothing was untouchable or un-challengeable…NOTHING!
To now sit across the table laughing up our past and getting caught up through the missing years was the best time I’ve had with my best friend or maybe will ever have. We both have found our life mates in our wives and our one son each being our universe center. We no longer live across the street from one another nor are we physically together through thick or thin but we are and will always be ‘best friends’ and that’s good enough for this mortal being.
Samuel Tilton Hathaway, “Mr. Fix-it”, 77, of Hooksett, NH, died January 27th, 2008, after a six-week battle with cancer.
He was born in Rye, NH, on May 27, 1930, the son of Albert and Margaret (MacDonald) Hathaway. Before moving to the Hooksett area 38 years ago, he was educated and spent many years in Rye.
He served in the NH National Guard and was a member of the American Legion Post #37 in Hooksett. Prior to retirement, he had been employed in the auto industry for much of his career.
He was an avid outdoorsman with many interests including motorcycling and snowmobiling. He was a founding member of the Southern New Hampshire Slickers who loved to travel and was an expert at small engine repair. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Family members include his wife of 45 years, Mary (King) Hathaway of Hooksett; five sons, Michael of Kansas, Edwin of North Carolina, Randall of New York, Brian and David, both of New Hampshire; one daughter, Katheryn of Florida; ten grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one brother, Calvin Hathaway of Rye.
Calling hours at Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory, 1799 Elm St, corner of North St, Manchester, will be Wednesday from 3 to 7 pm, with a funeral service to be conducted in the funeral home chapel at 6 pm. Burial will be at a later date at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105.
