"Back To The Future"

 I think it was the 'tree' I saw
while driving that gave me the
idea for today's commentary.
 It was just off Route 209 not
far from Lehighton. It caught
my attention because of the ultra
straight trunk and the thick, yet
uniform, branches scattered near
it's top.
  When you got close enough you
realized it wasn't a tree at
all. It was a cell phone tower
disguised to look like a tree!
What a great idea! Today's
technology dressed up to
reflect the natural beauty of
the area.
  The more I looked the more
I saw examples of the old and
the new working together in
harmony.
   My car's radio speakers
cranked out the oldies one
after another. But the
music was coming from
outer space by way of my
XM Satellite Radio!
 Same songs. But a big
difference from my old AM
radio which mixed the music
with static from distant
thunderstorms!
  Our destination was a large
shopping outlet proud to call
itself a "General Store."
  Like the "General Stores" of
old it's merchandise included
a little bit of everything. It
was designed to look like the
kind of place where you might
gather around the stove and
trade gossip after filling
your order for supplies.
 Of course the old General
Store probably would have had
an out house for the
convenience of  customers.
 Here's where new age
technology has leaped into
the future. The commode
flushes itself. You've got to
wonder exactly how it knows
you're ready!
 The soap dispenser automatically
releases the perfect quantity
of liquid on your hands which
you then hold under a faucet
that somehow knows you're there
and ready for water!
 As if that wasn't enough
there's the new high tech
hand dryer!
 These electric hot air
blowers were initially
installed to cut down on
the use of paper towels.
 But where both were
offered customers usually
favored the paper products
over an air flow that took
two to three minutes to do
the job.
 The new hand dryers seem
to have been modeled after a
NASA wind tunnel! Their thrust
is similar to a blast off at
Cape Kennedy!
 But with dry hands you can
again decide whether you like
the old or the new at the
check out counter. They'll
happily swipe the electronic
strip on your credit or debit
card.
 But I haven't seen anybody
yet willing to turn down some
old fashion cash!
 Hope you get back to the future
and that all your NEWS is good!