The Old School Z

Z is for Zoinks.

I know, I know. Zoinks is gibberish.

Gibberish is what we got when text messaging came out. We used to write complete sentences, correct spellings, and use correct punctuation. Right now, after the internet and computer boom, we see a lot of these:

Text Message #1: Wassup bro!? Watcha doin? U gona C me l8r @ 9?
Text Message #2: Yo! Im chillin bro. C ya @ 9!

I know that a lot of you would say, "Well, there's only this much characters allowed, especially on Twitter..." Seriously? I got an email with "text message lingo." It's crazy! Just because they emailed through their phone, they got used to the text message spelling.

I do hope school teachers don't pass those essays with that kind of writing. I mean, come on.

I admit, at first, I tried it, but I felt I damaged the whole English structure. I'm looking at my fellow Filipinos and shake my head when I see them shortening their Tagalog words with weird syllable replacements. Here's an example:

Me (english) = Ako (Tagalog) = Aq (gibberish) = ZOINKS!

See what I mean? I hope that the complete English structure won't be obsolete.

The Old School Y

Y is for Yellow Pages.

Our good old business finder. The big bulky Yellow Pages book. When you need plumbing services, or electrical services (any type of service or business for that matter), just open up your big Yellow Pages book. All businesses are alphabetically arranged for easy browsing. Those were the olden days before Google. Nowadays, you go to Google's site (or any other search engine that you use), type what you need and voila! A long list of answers right in front of your screen. This means, you can also search through your data-connected phone, tablet, and computers, anywhere, anytime. So easy, no flipping pages, and definitely no killing trees.

The Old School X

X is for Xerox and X-Rated.

Before you scroll down to the last topic, do read Xerox first. *laughs* The word Xerox is what I'm referring to. When Xerox came out, it became easy for us to have multiple copies of documents. I know that this is way before the internet and computers, and Xerox is a brand name not a verb, but somehow, the word Xerox itself became popular that people used it as the official word meaning "to copy." For example:

Boss: Miss Smith, please xerox these legal documents and mail them out.
Secretary: Yes, Mr. Williams.

When the internet and computers came out, the word xerox slowly diminished and the correct word "copy" took place. At least, that's how I've observed it. I do know that it's not obsolete. Some still use it to order copies of documents, but at this age and time, the word "copy" is a better verb. Right?

Okay, so here we arrive at the topic X for X-Rated Paid Porn. Yes, before the internet and computers, x-rated porn were paid through renting or buying copies at video stores or sex-toy stores. (Don't ask me where! LOL) Now that the internet is all out in full force, there are a whole bunch of free porn accessible through the world wide web. *cringe* (Don't ask me for the URL Links!) So, for parents out there, beware. Full length movies of x-rated porn are all out the internet. Guard your computers well.

The Old School W

W is for Walkman and Wrist Watches.

Not everybody today has seen the first Walkman sets. But for those who have, I'm sure you rocked yourself out with it back in the days. If you don't know what it is, a Walkman is a Sony brand portable audio cassette player that comes with U-shaped headphones. Old school!

The first sets actually introduced a big change in people's music-listening habits. People were able to carry music with them anywhere they go.

Walkman is still a Sony brand, but it is now used for better improved gadgets. With the MP3s, phones, and tablets out, I don't think a portable audio cassette player can be seen around nowadays. Inside antique stores, probably.

Let's talk about wrist watches. They're definitely not obsolete. You'd still see a lot of people wearing expensive wrist watches. However, they might not be as big of a number as in the past prior to cellphones. I'm one of those who don't wear wrist watches anymore. My phone tells me time all the time. I always have my phone with me, so I don't need to wear a wrist watch. Plus, the computers always have time on the lower right corner of the screens. Who needs a wrist watch? I guess, if I'm attending a formal dinner of some sort, maybe I'd consider it as a fashion jewelry, but not as a necessity anymore.

Do you still wear a wrist watch?

The Old School V

V is for VCR, VHS and Vinyl Records.

VCR stands for Video Cassette Recorder. I believe this is definitely obsolete since we now have Digital Recorders and Tivo. No rewinders. It's easy and convenient. That's the important thing about technology.

VHS stands for Video Home System. It is a consumer level analog recording videotape-based cassette standard. With the convenience of Compact Discs, VHS is on the edge of goodbye. However, there are still a lot of VHS users out there. Their number is slowly decreasing, though.

Vinyl Records became obsolete when compact discs and MP3s came out. However, I recently read online that there are vinyl records sold in stores. Antique turntables are polished and used. I prefer vinyl, if only I own my own turntable, seriously.

I forgot another important T. Toll takers or personnel. With the growth of Fastrak, people taking toll payments are now jobless. The Golden Gate bridge is on Fastrak mode all around. No more toll takers. Technology takes human jobs away.

What do you think?

The Old School U

U is for Unlimited Privacy.

It's not a brand name nor an obsolete gadget. It is your privacy. Ever since social media came out, your hidden world is now exposed. Well, that's if you are the type who lingers around computers and creates public profiles in popular social media sites. Just like me, always on my phone, my tablet and my laptop. Nowadays, not having those is sort of considered creepy (who said that?). I read it from an online article, that's what. Even criminals have Twitter and Facebook accounts, that's why. Is this the new type of reverse psychology? Who knows?

Seriously, is our privacy getting obsolete? I remember in the past, when someone is loud and all over the place, we consider that person strange and a bad influence. Right now, however, if someone is hidden and not socializing, that person is the strange one. Really? Wheels of change have turned.

What do you think?

The Old School T

T is for Typewriter machines and Turntables.

I miss my Typing Class in college, especially the antique typewriter machines. I loved hitting the keys so hard that it seemed like a great spilling ground for violence. *laughs* Seriously speaking, if you didn't hit the typewriter keys hard, you'd likely get no carbon print on your work. Hit it hard! Unless you're Clark Kent, then don't. You'll destroy it! *wink wink* I loved typewriters because it projected discipline from the typist. There were certain rules to follow. If not, the whole project would be a failure, particulary when we typed that trees poem by Joyce Kilmer. It was difficult at first, but after getting the hang of it, everything became easy. The whole poem looked like a tree! Just imagine how hard it was to be a writer in the past. You'd have to use a typewriter! Ha!

I don't think Turntables are obsolete. In fact, I think they're having a come-back appearance. There are music records that are getting sold in vinyl form as of late. That only means turntables are still around to play them. Turntables have this very distinctive crisp sound when you mount the vinyl on and let the needle ride with it. I must have my favorite Frank Sinatra songs and a foxtrot dance step... I'd be all set!

Do you miss those things?

The Old School S

Before I start with S, let me say that I totally forgot about one important R. The Rotary Phone. It's so obsolete for me, that's why. *laughs* Everything about the non-rotary phones means push buttons. Rotary dial is just vintage art nowadays. I was kidding. I have seen some that are still rotary, but it makes me not want to touch it. It's that feeling when you're in front of an antique object. You're afraid to break it. *giggles*

Okay, so here we go with the S. It's all about Snail Mailing. Without the internet, especially emailing and texting messages, snail mailing was the only form of communication (silent communication, that is, so don't consider the phone). You do know how important communication is, especially between long distance admirers, lovers or friends. One has to put up a good impression, even on paper. Different kinds of stationery pads, pens, pencils, stickers, envelopes--even scented ones--and stamps were in full trade. People had to write legibly and exercise their hands through their different ink strokes. And then, one waits for replies. Wait, wait, and wait. Unlike the internet's speedy delivery, the post office delivery takes a while.

I love receiving snail mail. This is not obsolete, and that's my personal experience. I'm still a member of International Pen Friends Club, and there are still a whole lot of people who write letters and send them via air mail or regular local post. We just can't allow the post offices to close!

Writing letters is a very nice thing. It's more personal, intimate, and passionate. Special time and attention are given in order to create one letter. I know that one also gives time and attention when you type an email or even do a typewritten-printed letter, but Times New Roman, Arial and Garamond, even Comic Sans, are not your handwriting. Your penmanship is unique. That makes it more special.

I love my numerous international and local penfriends! Their letters inspire me to write, and replying to them helps me become a better writer.

Do you want to exchange snail mail letters? *grins*

The Old School R

There's a lot of old school Rs.

I'm quite sure that you are all familiar with business cards. We exchange them with other professionals whom we do business transactions with. Or, we just give them to those who need our contact information. The cards that we get are normally inserted in card holders or mounted on a Rolodex. It's a brand of card holder with different styles. With the boom of the cellphone industry, we now throw away business cards after recording phone numbers and other contact information on our phones. Why keep recyclables on Rolodex, right?

When it comes to recorders, we use tapes in the past. Big ones and small ones. They get recorded on, rewinded, erased, and recorded on again. Nowadays, digital recorders are what we use. Non-bulky, easy to use, no more winding and rewinding. Tapes are obsolete when it comes to recording data. It's definitely something I really like.

With hi-technology in place and improved, reporting news or data sharing is now instant. Unlike in the past when every footage gets recorded and gets transported before getting aired and viewed. Not every news van had live feed capabilities. In fact, with cellphones having video recorders, even non-journalists have the ability to record news data and transport to TV stations. I would like to mention here the Boston Marathon Bombings as an example. Without the help of non-journalists' input of data (specifically random photos and videos), the suspects wouldn't have been caught. Thanks to all who contributed their photos and videos. Thanks to all of Boston's finest--cops--SWAT, FBI, military and all authorities, too. United we stand! Now, this is what I call great technology. Don't you agree?

The Old School Q

Q is for Queues and Queries.

I'm referring to queues inside grocery stores. Have you noticed that we now have self-check out? I know that lines won't die down ever. It won't get obsolete. However, we've improved technology and taken out some of the cashiers out. Bad for employment, but is it really convenient for shoppers? Queues may be old school when self-check out is around, but how fast can one check out? I see a long line behind the self-check out stands, really.

When it comes to queries, it is so easy to find answers nowadays. Google or Bing, everything's online and on your phone. Unlike before, it is so difficult to do research. It's all hands-on. You have to go to big libraries or big institutions in order to find data. Today, with the convenience of the internet, everything is a few typing of letters away. Perhaps the next level of improvement is to discover telekinetic powers. Bring items to you! Oh well, I'm dreaming...