Intermittent Internet connectivity is just another reminder how vulnerable technology and communications can be. One major hardware failure in the wrong place could quickly throw our entire society all the way back to 1994.

Technology has really managed to infiltrate our lives in the past five years. 1994 doesn't sound that far away, but it's really only been since then that we've gotten used to high speed convenient communications. From digital cellphones to email, everyone is connected virtually all of the time.

The problem with being constantly connected, of course, is when that connection drops out. We've gotten so used to having clear crisp conversations on our cellular phones, that when we can't get a signal, we can sometimes feel stressed and frustrated. When our Internet connection goes on the fritz and we can't access our email or websites, we can feel lost or helpless.

However helpful technology becomes, there will always be that possibility of failure in the system. That threat of failure, however slight it may be, is also a perfect excuse to remain in touch with the physical world. And with this perfect Fall weather we've been experiencing, there's no better time of the year than right now.

Right now, we're about a week away from prime foliage viewing in our neck of the woods. Over the past weekend, we managed to get out with the dogs a few times, and in the hills west of town, the forests have begun to lose their greenery. Here and there, trees have begun to catch fire with color. It's still sparse, but it's happening.

Foliage aside, we've been having absolutely beautiful weather. With highs in the 50s and frosty overnight lows, I'm beginning to actually believe that Fall is here. It's been a beautiful season for taking pictures.

Now if only I can communicate that through my broken Internet connection.