Low Tech Girl In A High Tech World

You may be surprised to learn that I think computers are sneaky. Well, their programming is. Sneaky is a word that is normally ascribed to thinking individuals who are capable of underhanded action. So, labeling an artificial intelligence source as having human characteristics may be surprising to many people. But it shouldn't be. We have been anthropomorphizing animals for years, why not computers? Today, I turned on my laptop and was given the option of updating Java. Automatic updating is wonderful for people like me who tend to forget that changes to programming become available on a fairly regular basis. So, when the option came up, I was all for updating. But then, a new message came up. It was quite simple... another installation message. But, tucked into it was the option to install the Yahoo toolbar. In fact, conveniently, the option to do so was already checked so that should I simply click "next" I would be on my way to installing both of them. I have made this...

I work from home. I had a conventional office job (albeit in a creative and interesting environment) and, for reasons that need not be mentioned here, I opted to give it up, drop out of an external paycheck-granting office environment, and work from home. I was ready for many of the usual challenges. Dealing directly with clients for payment, finding said clients in the first place and earning enough money to make it worthwhile and contribute to my family's financial success. For the most part it is going quite well. But there are days when all of a sudden it is noon and then three and I have not been able to finish all of the things that need doing. Today has been a very productive day. I have set up several assignments, answered all of my work related emails and prioritized according to due dates and deadlines. The article writing machine in my head churned out many articles and my output has been quite good. And all before noon. Which is the reason why I have been able to justif...

Today, I have to do a very frightening thing. No, not restock the Tassimo stash. I know, I know, that's probably what you were thinking first but no. I have been quite good and, apart from lacking green tea discs (actually, if I'm going out anyway....) I have been quite good. No. What I need is a printer cartridge. And I know how much it's going to cost me and I am oh so displeased. But I am out of ink. Not just low, OUT. My printer has been bleeping piteously at me for several days and every document is a gamble. But now, alas, there is no more blood in the stone and as I have printing to do, out I go. I am interested in knowing exactly WHAT in that small plastic doohickey (that's technospeak, that is) that is worth forty dollars. Forty. Dollars. Of my hard earned money. And, as some may tell you... that's getting off easy. Years ago, I went shopping for a new printer. Not this one, a predecessor. I walked into a store and asked for an inexpensive printer that woul...

Are you familiar with the saying "be careful what you wish for"? Believe me, I have recently discovered just how true that can be. I wished for, and got, a Tassimo for Christmas. And, I have found out just how addicting single serving hot beverages can be. If you aren't familiar with the Tassimo, let me praise its worth. From tea to coffee, the Tassimo allows you to brew a hot beverage in a very short period of time. You can even make hot chocolate. All it takes is a T-disc which is filled with the dried materials to brew the beverage of your choice. You pop it in the machine and, with the press of a button, it whirs into life and, only a moment later it seems, you are in hot beverage heaven. "Oh," I said to my loving husband, "I just want one. Friends of ours have one and I like the drinks it makes. Not that I think I'll use it a lot. I like plain tea. But it's Christmas and this is the time for frivolous things you can't justify the rest of t...

I originally intended to keep this blog fairly upbeat and positive when first I began to write it. I still do for the most part, but I wanted to take a moment to address an issue which many writers are facing. The issue of getting paid a wage that we can survive on. The written word is an important thing. It could arguably be considered one of the enduring signs of civilization and has helped elevate us out of the general squalor of day-to-day living. Writing, in general, has allowed us to record our history. It permits us to find out what is going on in other parts of the world and keep in touch with our friends and family. It even allows us to escape from the general squalor of day-to-day living by providing us with fictional universes where we can spend a little time now and again. I graduated from college with a diploma in print journalism and, while I have not pursued a career at a newspaper or magazine, I have been keeping an eye on what is happening to the careers of the people ...

It has been some time since last I posted. I have always meant to try and keep this blog up on a regular basis. Okay, a semi-regular basis. But, as many people can understand, life often got in the way. Luckily for my bank account, often I was working and did not have time to update the blog. Other times I had plans and projects on the go which prevented my sitting at the computer to get a post together. But, it is a new year. And, as many people are wont to do at this time of year, I have decided to make some changes. I hesitate to call them "resolutions" since I think that that term automatically leads to apathy and failure come March. I like to think of them as goals. One is to become more organized. The other is to not procrastinate quite as much as I have been. I think they tend to go hand in hand, really. If I am more organized, I will not be able to procrastinate as easily. And that bodes well for many parts of my life from writing to parenting to *ahem* housework. I h...