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Friday, August 17, 2012

I'm a Luddite

and proud of it.

Luddite: 



  1. A member of any of the bands of English workers who destroyed machinery, esp. in cotton and woolen mills, that they believed was threatening their jobs (1811–16)

    • A person opposed to increased industrialization or new technology


    definition here

    Neo - Luddite:
    Someone who believes that the use of technology has serious ethical, moral, and social ramifications. Operating under this belief, Neo-Luddites are critical of technology and cautious to promote its early adoption. While they are not necessarily opposed to technology, they would prefer to see a more serious discussion of the role of technology in society. Some Neo-Luddites actually dislike technology, opting for a life of "voluntary simplicity," but this is not always the case.
    definition here

    I guess I do fit in to both definitions, in a way, as I'm (in so many words) "against" modern technology. Or, all these fandangled contraptions that are being spit out now for kids to grasp, as opposed to machinery of yonder. Example: I'm perfectly content writing on a typewriter. I love the looks of the old Corona, Remington and Royal models. I've used them previously, and if I could find another one, I would. Although some people may just tell me to get into the later 20th century by purchasing an IBM, Brother or the electric Smith Corona, but honestly, I'd take them all. 

    I've had so many problems with my current laptop, I tell you, I am |this| close to actually hunting down a typewriter and using that for my writing needs. I just got my third hard drive installed on this two year old Dell, and it's the second hard drive in 9 months. That means I am on my second "fresh" install of Windows 7. I am not looking forward to when this personal computer completely kicks the bucket and I need to upgrade to Windows 8. 

    I've heard (and seen) too many reviews on how the new operating system is great on tablets, but fails immensely on computers, yet, the makers are pushing on, and want people to upgrade once the OS becomes available. Computer stores are offering a $15 upgrade right now, if you buy a new computer. That's right, for an additional 15 dollars, once W8 comes out, you will have the software delivered to your inbox. 

    Great, just what I need. 

    I guess the whole reason I'm writing this, is the simple fact that Windows 8 is coming. Microsoft is pushing for this system, and slowly letting the reigns go on 7. It's like when they left XP to eat dust- 7 is starting to clean up so it too can vanish in the wind.

    Case in point: as the aforementioned "I've a fresh install", I had gadgets on my desktop. I went to download one right before I made this post. I happen to like the digital clock one, where I can set it to various countries, so I know when I'm able to talk to my friends overseas. 

    So... I go to the gadget site and receive this message:


    Link here




    "Because we want to focus on the exciting possibilities of the newest version of Windows, the  Windows  website no longer hosts the gadget gallery."


    What the hell?! At least still offer something! I mean, seriously, it's bad enough the program for my integrated webcam is no longer available on the Dell support site (long story short: a partial driver is found, but not the whole driver or the webcam central. I've got to use video conferencing programs to use my cam),  now I can't download a gadget?   

    Are we, as a general populous, getting that addicted or that in need of wham bam, thank you ma'am technology, that you can't sneeze without having to upgrade your system? Come on... the OS isn't even out yet, and we're being detoured to something else! This world ain't right. 

    Seriously, where is the typewriter when you need it?

    Cheers,

    Sunday, August 5, 2012

    Nobody was alive then!

    Okay, maybe people were, and maybe I just knicked a piece of a routine from Eddie Izzard.

    But...

    50 years ago, August fifth, 1962, Marilyn Monroe died. Do you know where you were when you heard the news? Probably, if you're like Me, you weren't alive. I know a couple of Massholes that were only 5 and 2 months old, respectively. Other people were at least in their late teens to early twenties. I guess I hang around alot of older people....

    Any way, yeah, the blonde bombshell that wasn't a true blonde allegedly died of a barbiturate overdose in her Brentwood bedroom. So many tales have been rumoured about her death, that although I don't know what to believe, the Kennedy conspiracy sounds plausible. Yes, the "I know some conspiracies and general information about JFK and his clan" kid admits to seeing Marilyn Monroe's death as a murder by the Massachusetts politicos. I'm sure there's a guy I know that would dispute it though. If you're reading this, you know who you are.

    I'm not delving into what I *truly* think, as it's 5:38 in the morning, and I've just been viewing celebrity death photos as I write this. My head isn't in the right spot to give the conspiracy theorem or true stories a spin, although I don't think I would be able to later in the day. There are just some things you want to believe, and some things you don't. I'm the Fox Mulder of thoughts sometimes.

    At any rate, Ms. Monroe has left a very interesting impact on the world's culture, that's for sure. Good, bad, or indifferent, she is a great loss to Hollywood... as troubled as she was. Here's hoping someone can latch on to what really happened...

    Cheers