It’s amazing how far communications technology has come in the year since Barack Obama took office.

When George W. Bush would vacation in Crawford, Tex., the news was filled with stories of how, not being in Washington, he was out of touch with the pressing business of the republic. But, with Obama on vacation in Hawaii, the media is stressing how easy it is for him to stay abreast of the various crises in the nation and the world.

Such progress.