H.I.T.S.
It’s been an interesting week for people who use technology in their daily lives. If you’ve been watching the news, you’ll have obviously seen all the uproar in Iran over the elections there. Most of it is blurry footage that people have managed to take, using cell phone cameras. The Iranian government has been blocking text messaging and various Web sites so that the world cannot get a view of what’s going on there — or, at least that’s what they thought. But with all the technology that the average consumer has access to nowadays, it’s amazing what you can capture. Mrs. Schulze, Basil and I recently toddled off to Connellsville to walk along the Yough River Trail, of which my wife had sung praises many times. She and my mother-in-law, Mary, walk it several times a week, and she always gushes about how beautiful it is there. She was correct.
We walked about a mile along the trail and back and I took some pictures and video with my Blackberry Curve. I was pleased to see that I had excellent phone reception there, unlike at Ohiopyle, where for some reason I have zero.
As nice as it was to walk, it became obvious that it would be even nicer on two wheels. After sending a few people some nice pics of our walk via the phone, we went home to start our latest project, looking online for where to buy not only two reasonable bikes, but also a little two-wheeled trailer to put Basil in so that he can languish in comfort while I pedal. While on the trail, we saw another little dog being transported like this by his owner.
Essentially, what I’m trying to detail here is how the Internet and technology can seamlessly integrate into your daily life. Without it, we’d be driving all over town, trying to locate one of these little trailers. We found them online at two local big chain stores.
By the way, we also use Google to find menus from local restaurant chains as well. All of the ones in our area are online. So, ignore the misconception that technology is only for geeks, because it’s not. In fact, it’s a valuable, time saving tool. I, for one, would hate to be without it!
It’s only days now before Doren can rush off and buy the latest iPhone and load it up with more applications and things to use in his daily life.
I come into contact with more iPhone users and all of them love the phone. Sorry, but it’s still a bit too pricey for service, for my taste.
We’ve also finally made the transition from analog to digital TV service, although, according to the news, almost three million viewers can no longer receive a TV signal — all despite the many commercials that have been on TV for over a year, warning people and telling them where to get vouchers to help with the cost.
My friend, Lou, who takes guitar lessons with me, told me about how disgusted with the whole thing his sister is. Even after getting a digital converter box, they still receive no signal because of where they live.
Lou uses a lot of technology in his daily life as well. As a truck driver who takes heavy loads around the country, he uses GPS via his laptop to make sure he never gets lost. Someone that I recently spoke to told me a horror story about a friend who lives out of this area losing their way while using GPS and having to phone them to get directions. My own few dealings with GPS have left me frustrated and annoyed, but Lou told me that he’s never had any trouble and he uses a wireless laptop card for his signal. He’s on vacation this week, but we still keep in touch via texting, as I do with lots of people.
I still don’t understand the reluctance of many mature people to use this function, including Mrs. Schulze, who can type like a demon — but hates texting. She always remarks with an eye roll, “That’s what phones are FOR, Eric — to talk on!”
She recently had to grudgingly admit that I was right about something. She was getting errors while trying to print shipping labels for her online business with a new printer she had bought.
I remarked drolly that she never updates the system software in her computers. After downloading the latest software update on her Apple, she fixed her problem.
Days later, she quickly glossed over my victory by throwing into a conversation, “Ooh, by the way, I hate to admit it, but you were right” So everyone out there, remember to keep your computer software as up to date as possible.
For any Mac users out there reading this, remember that after you install updates, go into “applications” and then “utilities.” You’ll then want to click on “disc utility,” highlight your HD and click “repair disc permissions.” All this takes about five minutes to complete, but you should always do this after installing updates on a Mac.
Finally, in September, we Maccies can update to Snow Leopard (dumb name, eh?), the latest version of the Apple operating system, for $29. Doren always gets ecstatic over these kinds of things.
Until next time, if you’re on the Yough bike trail and see a strange couple pedaling a barking Yorkie around in something that looks like a screened-in rickshaw, be sure to say hi.
Happy surfing.