Dickeson--Warm Fuzzies vs. Cold Pricklies

Nothing is new in what I'm saying. It's the degree of intensity and pervasiveness that has increased. As the Internet technology increases with e-commerce and B2B commerce, warmth in remaining person-to-person points of contact is increasing in direct proportion.

One recent industry newsletter reported that there were 40 new print brokerage startups on the Internet. A recent technology newsletter had an item on a breakthrough technology by a firm named TeraBeam: "wireless multigigabit optics." DSL is here now on phone lines. Cable is now connecting. Fiber optic cables are crossing oceans and continents. Wireless satellite transmission is available immed-iately. And now wireless laser optics. Toner and ink-jet printing are encroaching daily on traditional ink-to-paper, with forecasts reaching as high as 48 percent of traditional printing. Booksellers are beginning installation of print-on-demand book equipment. These initiatives are all happening at mind-boggling speeds. All those digits flying around!