e*

Since the web was introduced, we have seen a proliferation of eterms. This has occurred beyond reasonableness, to the point where this has become an alternative universe, practically anyway. There truly does seem to be some level of infinity involved, a world without end, minus the amen.

It all started with email, which actually predated the internet. Through your email you have the option to send eGreetiings or to purchase something you can't live without from ebay or dump your former partner for a new one on eHarmony or update your iPod with eMusic or determine the necessary treatment for your bug on eMedicine or set up a pen pal (so to speak) on ePals or virtually learn about wildlife through eNature (why would you want to go outside and see it for real after all) or get caught up on your computer news on eWeek or figure out how to finally fix the carburetor in your car on eHow or buy the car needing the new carburetor with an application on eLoan or send a document to someone who doesn't have email through eFax or avoid the line at the post office on April 15th by using eFile with the IRS or buy some really cheap stock on eTrade or learn something new each day through eLibrary or refer your recent college grad friend to eArchitect to find a job opportunity or learn the difference between a kangaroo and a human skeleton on eSkeletons or read what's happening in the business world of India in eJournals or locate a ham radio operator around the world on eHam (why you wouldn't do this on your radio I don't know) or learn how to be better at most anything with an eTutor or apply for an unclaimed pot of money through eGrants or tell the British prime minister all about your woes on ePetitions or find the most obscure book you can on eBooks or lastly take a virtual (and much cheaper and more healthy) vacation on eMexico.



Ten or fifteen years ago, people would have looked cross-eyed at me if I had used just one of these terms. Now, the use of "e" before a word has become so commonplace no one even blinks when they hear it.

Well enough about that, it's time for me to take an eBreak.