{"id":83647,"date":"2020-04-20T14:33:24","date_gmt":"2020-04-20T14:33:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandbox.web.rcn.net\/rcntv\/?p=83647"},"modified":"2020-04-20T14:33:58","modified_gmt":"2020-04-20T14:33:58","slug":"83647-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/83647-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Tele-something"},"content":{"rendered":"

The views expressed in this blog are<\/em> those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

BEHIND THE MIC:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

I do not need to tell anyone that life is far from normal.\u00a0 We work from home, we stay at home, we cook every meal at home, and we try to take a walk every day not far from home \u2013 home, home, and home.<\/p>\n

This past week, we tried to expand that environment technologically.\u00a0 Our first goal was a family one \u2013 we wanted to try and celebrate Easter dinner \u201ctogether\u201d.\u00a0 The logistics seemed to be a challenge: my oldest daughter and her husband were in Salisbury Township; our second daughter and family were in Northampton; our grandson was in Bethlehem Township; and our one granddaughter was in upstate New York. We were in Palmer Township.<\/p>\n

And I, of course, was the technical novice (nicer word than idiot).\u00a0 We were going to use something called \u201cHangouts\u201d which was promoted by my son-in-law and grandson.\u00a0 Easter Saturday became the day for \u201cremote learning\u201d, a term very familiar to the students who are no longer in school.\u00a0 My son-in-law needed to call and text.\u00a0 Let the learning begin.\u00a0 It only<\/u> took an hour and a half to set it up to the point where I felt comfortable using the app.<\/p>\n

My wife and I thought that having Easter dinner together actually meant having Easter dinner together.\u00a0 Well, when 6:00pm rolled around and we all got on our computers, the only ones who had not already eaten were my wife and I.\u00a0 So, we ate and they talked and talked.\u00a0 It certainly was not the same as gathering around our dining room table, but we saw everyone, knew that all were safe, and coping pretty well.\u00a0 However, I\u2019m sure everyone missed my wife\u2019s Ukrainian Easter traditional dishes.\u00a0 Easter was a special time for my in-laws and that tradition has carried over to my family as well.\u00a0 But, the bottom line was that we did communicate with one another.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, it was decided that we would try to do a SportsTalk<\/a> show from our homes, via, you guessed it, teleconferencing.\u00a0 Only this time the format would be ZOOM.\u00a0 A new learning lesson was required.\u00a0 I tested my system on Tuesday and found ZOOM to be very simple. \u00a0I was either getting smarter or the process was easier.\u00a0 I expect you all are assuming the latter.<\/p>\n

Luckily, before the SportsTalk taping, I was also asked to attend an RCN staff meeting using ZOOM technology.\u00a0 I was finally able to see some of my fellow workers for the first time in over a month.\u00a0 There were about 15 of us.\u00a0 It immediately became apparent that the camera angle was important \u2013 for many, looking up their nose was somewhat unpleasant.\u00a0 I also became very aware of good posture (and its absence).\u00a0 Some chose electronic artificial backgrounds.\u00a0 One looked like the person was in a casino, probably not a good message during a staff meeting.\u00a0 Nor, I would guess, was one where someone appeared to be on a Caribbean beach.\u00a0 The good news is that we had a rather normal meeting in a very abnormal setting.<\/p>\n

It was on to SportsTalk, which you can watch on Video on Demand if you wish.\u00a0 Chris Michael and Keith Groller had invited John Leone and me to participate.\u00a0 I think it was John Leone, but his full beard threw me a bit.\u00a0 Here was a man losing hair on top, but growing plenty of hair below.\u00a0 Chris was in the studio and the three of us were in our homes.<\/p>\n

I began to feel like Sanjay Gupta, who is in my home more than you can possibly imagine.\u00a0 Much like his reports from home, we were doing something similar and equally \u201cimportant\u201d (I\u2019ll wait for the disdain to pass).\u00a0 The show went well.\u00a0 Each of the three of us had our own little box and, much like in the studio, we were able to have a somewhat lucid conversation.<\/p>\n

It all worked.\u00a0 And, amazingly, it worked for me (the technological idiot).\u00a0 So, bring on Hangouts, ZOOM, Facetime,<\/strong> and anything else you want to throw my way.\u00a0 I am ready!<\/p>\n

Now what\u2019s my ZOOM password?\u00a0 I\u2019m sure I wrote it down somewhere.<\/p>\n

Stay safe.<\/p>\n

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. You can expect LSU<\/a> quarterback Joe Burrow and Ohio State\u2019s<\/a> defensive end Chase Young to go 1-2 in the draft this week. The Cincinnati Bengals<\/a> will pick #1 (probably Burrow) and the Washington Redskins<\/a> #2 (that means Young).\u00a0 It begins Thursday.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. If you are a college football fan, you know the name (but probably can\u2019t pronounce it) Tua Tagovailoa. He is the quarterback from Alabama<\/a> who will be a high draft choice this year, projected to be taken by Miami<\/a>.\u00a0 He is left-handed.\u00a0 I bring this up because out of the 73 QBs who actually played in an NFL<\/a> game last year, not one was left-handed.\u00a0 Two played in five games in 2017 and the last left-handed QB to start and win a playoff game in the NFL was Tim Tebow.\u00a0 Tua is fighting plenty of history.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. I am beginning to believe we might have some MLB<\/a> baseball in some form. I am also beginning to believe you will only be able to see it on TV.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \n
        1. The high school football season is approaching. I think we can practice social distancing in the stands, but what about the young men playing on the field?\u00a0 There are some very tough decisions to be made in the next month or so.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
            \n
          1. Isn\u2019t golf an \u201cessential\u201d pastime? The guys I play with are usually hundreds of yards apart after they hit their drives.\u00a0 We can call it \u201csocial distancing\u201d if you want instead of, \u201cThat was a terrible drive\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company. 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