The sneaky Internet

Tech tips - When it comes to choosing column topics, they are usually influenced by what is happening in IT that week. Usually ideas come from an e-mail I have received or some story that is making headlines.

My columns are usually about something that has impressed me this week. I usually don't get too personal with my columns. It is just not my style.

However, as I sit in a hotel room in Corner Brook at 10 p.m., reading about a new website from Symantec called Norton Online Family Beta -more than impressive enough to be a column topic, but not exactly what I want to talk about. Maybe next week!

Tonight, what is really impressing me is the way the Internet has sneaked into my life.

Well, I was driving across the island today. Checked the weather websites the night before and I knew I would be facing rain, wind, then freezing and flurries as I made my way from St. John's. I didn't expect anything that you don't normally face in a winter's day of driving in Newfoundland.

From St. John's to Gander was mostly wind and driving rain. Horrible! Somewhere around Badger I heard a weather warning on the radio about the road conditions between Corner Brook and Stephen-ville. A quick call and we had someone checking www.roads.gov.nl.ca for winter driving conditions.

Sure enough, listed under Western were the words closed for the Blue Pond Park and Georges Lake areas. The advisory went on to mention that a few accidents had occurred in these areas because of the poor visibility.

Another advisory, Deer Lake Spillway area, closed, zero visibility, detour through Deer Lake. A couple of hours later, we were at Deer Lake and sure enough, the flashing lights of the DOT workers and detour signs led you off the Trans Canada.

Over an hour later, we arrive in Corner Brook. Still feeling a little dubious about the info on the web site, I pulled into the Irving Gas Station near the exit out of the city hoping to get a bit more info about the highway conditions. Maybe it is just because of my age, but winter traveling information used to come by word of mouth and the radio.

Sure enough, the word at the gas station was stay off the highway. I even had the opportunity to talk to the DRL driver who was convincing in his description of the conditions.

One more quick call home. Please check the website again. Yep, road closed in areas. Advisories that some areas are too stormy for snow clearing equipment to be on the road overnight. That seals it. Can't leave Corner Brook tonight! That's why, because of the Internet and the roads website I am in a hotel room, chatting with a few people online. Not talking on the phone, but typing back and forth!

Oh yea, second question at front desk after "do you have rooms available?" is "how's the wireless here?"

Sneaky isn't it?

toddmusseau@gmail.com