Droning Along

 The military flying drone is called, by those who love acronyms, an UCAV or unmanned combat aerial vehicle. On the field, it's usually just a UAV. There are other names as well. Most of us have known about this tiny craft for a long time and when it came on the scene, no one made a big deal of it. It rather just sneaked in. It's unlike the cell phone which costs a lot more in both dollars and wasted time.  The drone made a perfect toy for brats and big brats who like to snoop into their neighbours property, assess a real estate deal, hassle someone, spy and other nasty matters that shall remain what they are. But the good side of this equipment is its good side that doesn't include invading someone's privacy or dropping explosives. The real drone most of us thought of first when we heard the name, before the machine one came along, is a male insect who lives in a hive and does nothing much but visit the queen bee. This kind of drone, doesn't  work and doesn't have a stinger in case an enemy comes around. Some rude folk are pressed to  use the word drone in describing certain males whom they consider earn the title. But of course, that's their business and furthermore, name-calling went out long ago. The mechanical drone that I heard one day on my sun deck looks a lot like a toy helicopter and does pretty much the same things only more. If you have a good imagination you can fly without touching the ground once and get a view akin to its big cousin, the helicopter. The one I saw appeared as if from a great distance but was rather near by. Uncomfortably so. Any of my sun lovers may want to think twice about sunbathing in the altogether on their city sun decks. In fact, I know someone whose  grandson he gifted with one, learned rather quickly that it can be misused. The boy became quickly very unpopular in the neighbourhood.  It is discomforting to look up and see a drone looking down. These tiny fliers use their "eyes"  for  their owners, and some can produce excellent photography and adequate sound as well.  Film makers don't need gurneys and long poles now. They have the UAV. Fortunately, there are laws preventing issues concerning safety and security in the use of these things, especially anywhere that has airplanes, small and large in the air. Adults who, like my grandpa friend who gave it for Christmas one year, need to think about how it's going to be used. If the child can't be controlled with these "toys", it's not a good idea to give one. What I love about drones is the photography. When watching television, fiction or not, we feel we are flying. Truly. It is an irresistible desire to fly, one that almost all of us but aviophobians, harbour. Some of the nature photography of coast lines and overland scapes, involving historical or natural sites that we may not be able to go to ourselves, allows  us to enjoy views from far above. Scientists are overjoyed to use them in their research. The drone came in rather quietly for all that it does and affords us, to treasure. Watching African herds crossing, scanning Alpine peaks and following animals from on high for a few, is very exciting. I worry about some of the other other personal electronics that we spend far too much time on, but it can't compare to the overhead world out there that is now ours.