On Technophobia

Too often I hear people say to me that they refuse to make use of a particular piece of technology, because it will interfere with their lifestyle. They don't want a cellphone because it will mean that they are always contactable. They don't want a TV because there's nothing to watch on there, and they'll end up wasting too much time watching it. They don't want to join an online social-network such as Facebook, again citing the reason that it will waste too much of their time. They don't want to play computer games because they are convinced that they will become addicted.

Heck, people are free to do what they want - doesn't bother me if they don't want to join Facebook or get a cellphone. What intrigues and concerns me is that people are reluctant to invest in such technology because they fear "it may take over". They see such innovations as all-enveloping black-holes from which, once entered into there is no escaping. By all means choose not to make use of an inovation or invention which is widely accepted to be useful and beneficial to the improving of your quality of life - for example. But if at all possible, see if you can come up with some other reason for your choice other than that it would use too much of your time. You have the freedom to choose whether to use a thing, or not.

There's no law that says you have to keep your cellphone turned on, and within reach at all times. You can put it on silent, turn it off, or drop it in the toilet. You can set your Facebook profile to private and change some settings and only look at it when you have time - it doesn't have to control you. And heck, you can always rip the TV tuner out of your TV and just use it to play your DVDs - or not. Some people enjoy watching the 6:00 news so that they can be assured of always being up to date with the latest news, confident in the knowledge that "it's the news, they're not going to lie, are they."

Basically, if you find something useful, just go for it. If you find it annoying, switch it off or ignore it, or simply destroy it. But don't crusade round the place telling us all why you don't use it, and why you think we shouldn't use it!

Right, got that off my shoulders ;)

Life

Head resting on my hand, I sit with my back to the night-store heater and attempt to navigate through the clunky interface of Windows Media Player 10. I've just found the playlist from my 21st party on Mum's laptop, and am trying to set it to shuffle... Blue ink from a poor-quality Parker pen is on my K finger. Aerosmith comes on with "I don't wanna miss a thing", and the heater is getting really hot, searing through my jersey that Thomas gave me. The tea must be good now...

Brewed for a good five minutes, the tea releases an incredible aroma. Dripping off the teabag and then deftly pouring just the right amount of green milk, the milk blends with the tea and she's all good to go. Admittedly a bit cold - but I don't think I'll microwave it - Brent at work reckons that microwaving drinks waters them down - even water, he maintains. Ahhh, work. Today I enjoyed driving the cherry-picker around the warehouse for a bit, as high up as it would go. It definitely feels different navigating with your wheels so far under you, and on a wobbly platform. Lunch at work was great today. Yesterday's buns with slices of processed cheese, a good cup of coffee in one hand, and a bag of mandarins down on the concrete by my feet as I sat outside the roller-door of the warehouse, facing the quiet street, my feet up on another plastic chair.

Sigh, it's 12:03am, I should really head off to bed - planning on heading out tomorrow with some others to collect signatures for the Anti-Smacking Law petition. Hmmm, that's nice, Bridge over Troubled Water is playing, Simon and Garfunkel almost at their best. Heheh, work's funny, the day I started (replacing an old guy who threw in the towel), Brent asked me which radio station I would prefer. "Anything but Radio Rhema", he said as he gestured towards the decrepit looking alarm-clock/radio. Later I learned that for the last two years, the radio had been tuned to play More FM. After five days of Classic Hits, and having heard the same, few - tired old "hits of the 80's, 90's and today" for five days in a row, I gently hinted that we could change radio stations. The subtle suggestion was lost on my workmate - changing the radio station was a big deal, carrying an almost religious gravity with it.

Mad World by Gary Jules just played, such a nice song. My music video for it is here. Day-dreaming while supposedly critiquing a mate's speech earlier today, I had entertained myself with making a ring for my little finger out of the wrapper from a pack of chewing-gum. It is a good ring, and has withstood two hand-washings. The barcode features as the gem-stone, if you will - and I had an interesting but not unexpected comment about it - won't get into that now though.

;) I'm kind of apologetic about this little rave about nothing much in particular, but I was feeling mixed up and needed to write some things down... Have a good one!

Blues no match for Crusaders Steel

What an excellent game. The Crusaders fought hard against the rowdy Blues, and defeated them! I think I've lost my voice for a day or two, we'll see. Lyd told me I was getting pretty loud - but I couldn't really hear myself. CAN...A...BRYYYYYY!!!. Oh, good times.

The Blues were no match for the Crusaders!

In memory of the brave New Zealand and Australian Soldiers at Gallipoli, a lone soldier played the Last Post as we all stood. No words were said; the silence spoke. I was disgusted at the impudence of a few animals who shouted out the name of their team, as the trumpeter paused during his performance. And no, it didn't seem right to clap at the end, it's a solemn thing. We don't have to defile everything with clapping do we?

Argh, and then the half-time "entertainment", how utterly degrading and repulsive. Couples were asked to start kissing if they saw themselves on the big screen. Not just a peck, we're talking serious snogging here. The thing was rigged, I'm sure of it. They filmed three "couples". First two women, then two men, then a man and a woman. I couldn't care less what they do in the privacy of their own homes, but to have it played on a massive screen when you're at the rugby game is too much. What's the six-year-old girl in front of me, or the four-year-old boy to my right supposed to think. "Mum, what are those two guys doing?". Of course, pretty much everyone was laughing "it's just a bit of harmless fun" they say. Oh yeah?

I feel like ripping into the Paul Kelly Motor Company Dancers, but maybe I should leave that for another time. Apart from all the rubbish, it was a darn good game of Rugby, and...

We Are The Champions, My Friends!!!

Goodnight Moon

I just downloaded Picasa. It seems pretty smart. Heck, I just installed it 10 minutes ago, and it has already found every single image on my computer. 8,765 images in 1,467 folders on 2 hard-drives. Here's one photo I found, it can't be that old. I remember the shirt but I don't remember the photo being taken.

captions anyone?

I remember the face but I can't recall the name, now I wonder how whatsername has been - Greenday.

Anyway, it's 12:44am. I've just been watching the first 45 minutes of The Good Shepherd, and it's pretty good so far. I think I'll fold the Church bulletins tomorrow, my fingers are well, you know, I can't think of a decent adjective.

Goodnight moon.

ahhh, what fond memories.

:)