‘THE FOLLOWING is the first install-
ment of a two-part Changes column:

“HO, HO, ho as they say. ‘Tis the |.

“ season. once’ again and time to.
think about’ those ‘gifts you ‘are:

going:to. lavish on family: and,

friends.”
Naturally, ' the idea of writing a a.
. :techno-gifts column came to. mind.
= But, so it has to many: other writers.
. Let's -: look at ;: technology © and

‘Christmas; Give us your ideas and .

‘comments over the next two weeks. |
‘Finding. the “right. techno-gift- is

akin, to“a -single‘ man shopping for .

personal gifts for a woman he barely
al of - You can set something gener.

watch her’ ‘open it?

There was sat time when more of us

what; the person you are giving it to

doesn’t even’ need it, It's s the thought, :

that counts.:

Make a “card by hand and mail it’.

so it gets there on time. No, why not
just, ,telephone on Christmas day? I

already ; have “ny ‘first card. It, was ©

handmade: by, my, friend ‘who is.a:

ae “designer ‘and. was: delivered
vA“bit ‘old-fashioned, | but

Itis wonderful and truly”:

rmy, j friend, and I’ on penne of
how ‘one, paicila department store

inet that as a kid, I would get on: :
this “ceiling : mounted’ monorail ‘and

ride: around the toy, depaitment look- **
ing down at all. the toys there were to -

hoose from: Well, as we' got off the.

‘escalator’ on’ the top floor, we found
before us a ‘complete, winter wonder-
and with moving mechanical inhabi

ants: His «jaw: “dropped. “Then: we |

“entered the! ‘toy department and sure .

enough, just as I'explained it-was the‘.

‘ride’ just as. it had been when 1 was a

All this is not exactly high tech-
“nology. It is Hollywood that seems to
do the best at‘exploiting it. ‘Tis the

! “season. ‘for.block buster movies for ,

them. One-upping last-year’s techno-"
dazzle films isthe goal. ‘Sometimes

~ CHANGES

"they even manage to insert one with

Christmas :, techno- dazzle. ° ‘Is: this”

-,OK, so you find a movie released
‘on. video ‘cassette you would like ‘to

‘give to someone. What if you have to.

give them the VCR first? As'I see it,
you have two choices if you want to
give- high-tech gifts. You. can: give
~ something that’ contains content or
you can give a device,

My hunch is that you are likely to

have more success if you:stick’ with

the content. I mean videos, CDs and:

the like. Compact discs have replaced
the’ old LP. recordings nd are also’

vai used : for’ computer products. *

there are'so many features to Sra:

from on the devicés, you would have

to study-up to become aware of what -
is out there, and because | you cannot +:

“be -sure , what. the ‘recipient really

= would like unless you involve them i in.

the “decision - Process.”
Christmas? a
OK; let’s® unwrap “the situation;

_» There are ‘scores and scores of per-"..
‘sonal electronics and home electron-..-
ics to: select’ from. The. technology:

“changes everyday. Once you make a”

purchase, it is out of date as you pay”
"for it. It becomes a personal and rele":

vant deal. The user of the device must
‘know that this is the time to jump in

"and purchase certain technology such -
. aS a computer and be ‘satisfied ‘with.

what can be bought for the cost at that
“time. :

Contact: Changes do Michael
: Becker at The' North Shore News or
by phone: (604) 985- 215 1 Fax: (604)

InfoLink

985-2104

‘E-mail: . EdgeWays!

(FirstClass) 984-2777 or by Internet:

changes @ edgeways.vancouverbe.ca

Bob Grahame is president of Edge:

Systems Inc.

RENEE
nen y

: cay Stopping
Experiences
: >. Clamshell Gift Shop

‘at the Vancouver Aquarium.
* Make a splash ‘this ns season witha

“Walid until December 24, 1994, }
y Wa. 6panin Stanley Park, phone: 685-5911

club pack™, fresh bone-in,
double loin, centre, cut

pork Tench ps

649kg Ib.

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|. fresh, 3lb bag

onions

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bakeshop, 8”

mincemeat pie

136721

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Imperial 1. 36 Kg, a's

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