50 Million Years Old

Amber

VILNIUS, LITHUANIA Just about everywhere in Vilnius you can find Baltic amber jewelry. I learned something about this precious stone at a small museum around the corner from my hotel. Amber is a 50 million year old fossilized resin that comes in a variety forms representing the manner and place in which it originated. However, look out, it’s impossible to tell the fossilized stone from plastic. One test is to place the amber in a bowl of 10% salt water. If it floats, it's amber. If not, it's probably plastic. Or you can vigorously rub the stone on your shirt or pants. It’s the real McCoy if it smells like resin. Unfortunately, I’m not sure how one would actually do these tests when buying small pieces too small to smell and no salt water in sight. They say you can check the seller’s certificate of authentication, but who's to say if the certificate is authentic.

The one thing that has impressed me about the Baltic countries is their total embrace of the internet. Wherever I went I was able to find an open wifi connection, with what AT&T charges for roaming, this is a huge bonus. Last night in the comfort of my hotel room, I could Skype with Debra and Rachel. The sound and picture were outstanding and all for free - amazing! Also I've had excellent telephone reception, which makes texting an easy and inexpensive way of staying in touch. Isn't it odd that in our own backyard where these technologies were spawn, we have yet to realize their full benefit. SF, which promotes itself as a tourist Mecca and home to thousands of immigrants, would do well to adopt an open wifi system. In fact, if Obama wants to help the impoverished and stimulate the economy, I can think of no better way than to give the poor notebook computers and free wifi access. Imagine the boom in communication, education, and entrepreneurship. The panhandler on the street would have the same access to the world around him as the taxpaying rich. So who’s standing in the way: hotels, telephone, and cable companies? They all have their profit margins to protect but at the expense, I submit, of a smarter, healthier, more productive, and engaged society.