Yes, even during the Thanksgiving holidays, our cell phones ring, our faxes machines keep churning out paper, and the never-ending stream of e-mails continues unabated. While it is true that the pace of life has accelerated along with advances in information technology, and at times it feels like we have hardly a moment to our true selves, I, for one, am thankful for the benefits provided by information technology.

So often we hear about, and indeed I write about, the problems associated with life on the information highway (spam, privacy violations, etc.). But now, in the afterglow of Thanksgiving, is a time to pay homage to some of the benefits of information technology.

I do not miss waiting days to receive regular mail. I certainly do not miss trying to find a pay phone when away from home or the office. And I truly do not miss being tied to my desk to receive communications.

I like the fact that at any time and practically in any location, by the simple use of one hand-held device the size of a deck of cards, I can engage in telephone calls, I can send and receive emails, I have Web access, I can remotely work with my calendar, address book, calculator, and task list, not to mention the games I can play.

Sure, if not used properly, such information technology can be a ball-and-chain, as a user can become a "crack-berry" addict, always plugged into the hand-held device, and ignoring the outside real world.

But if used well, this technology is a liberator, not an enslaver. Rather than being stuck in the office, a user, for example, can actually show up for his or her kids' events, while not forsaking work altogether, as the work can be handled remotely on the edges when appropriate.

Plus, there always is the on-off button. To ward off enslavement and addiction to information technology, and to make sure that you are not reachable 24/7, I recommend that you simply turn your hand-held off when you need to be free from information bombardment.

It is true, that the all-pervasiveness of information technology has its down-sides, and certainly presents true legal risks and liabilities, but right now, for a brief moment, let's be happy we are not back in the dark days of the past.

Eric Sinrod is a partner in the San Francisco office of Duane Morris (www.duanemorris.com), where he focuses on litigation matters of various types, including information technology disputes. His column appears Wednesdays at USATODAY.com. His Web site is www.sinrodlaw.com, and he can be reached at . To receive a weekly e-mail link to Mr. Sinrod's columns, please send an e-mail with the word Subscribe in the Subject line to .

Reprinted here with permission from USAToday.com.