In the post-9/11 universe, I should be accustomed to how the Internet changes news and reporting.
Even so, it stuns me to be able to read at Yahoo! News that, thirteen minutes ago, a plume of smoke began uncoiling from the top of the Eiffel Tower … and to be able to watch that same tower, via ABC’s webcam, seconds later.
Against the blue sky of a Parisian summer evening, I can clearly see the patches of black smoke. Occasionally, the cam moves to the base of the tower. There, I can see the ticket line where I stood just seven months ago. The area is deserted; authorities must have cleared people away. In addition, I can make out a cluster of red trucks — emergency vehicles? — pulling into place.
It’s one o’clock here; it’s seven o’clock in Paris. I sit here, staring at the computer, fascinated by a tiny color image from half a world away.
Almost as quickly, the Internet brings me the final story: no terrorism, no loss of life. Happily, the fire involved only a few telecommunications cables. Local fire officials put out the small blaze within forty minutes of receiving the call.
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