Sometimes I feel we are living the ancient Chinese curse: may you live in interesting times.
I know I'm slowing down while the world around me is speeding up. Everything is either faster or instant and I'm not in a hurry. The newspapers dote on the latest advances in personal technology and half the time I don't understand the need for all this “instantness.”
At the same time, I read that advertisers are finally realizing that older people (to them anyone over 55 is “older”) have more money to spend than the normally targeted younger people. Hello! I've been saying that for years, but who listens to an “older” person when it's the young ones making the ad buys.
The rationale for the change in direction is supposed to be because many younger people have lost their jobs. More likely it's because the baby boomers are now entering their “older” years and can spend some of the loot they collected during their salad days.
Who knows? I just find it entertaining reading about the latest gizmos that do this and that and who might be interested in buying them. Some may be successful and others not.
As you know, I stay away from commenting on Geo-and-national political events, leaving that to other bloggers.
I usually find enough to muddle through in these interesting times.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Not Buying
A few days ago I posted a Blog about whether or not we should buy a condo somewhere along the Jersey Shore.
I'm sure you will all breathe a sigh of relief when I report we decided not to buy. I spoke to a realtor from the agency that handled a sale for a my son's friend. The salesman was very cooperative and emailed us a group of available listings in the price range I gave him.
We were able to view the rooms, including all furniture and appliances and the overall facilities and I thought, Wow, this internet stuff is really cool. Look at all the details they provide on each listing. And therein lay the deciding factors.
We looked at the taxes, the maintenance charges and estimated mortgage payments and then slept on it overnight before making a decision. For my wife the decision was easy. Since she handles our finances she decided she did not need any more paperwork.
We went through a similar process some years ago when we spent some time in Arizona during the winter. We also thought about buying into that attractive setting then concluded we could rent for years for far less than it would cost us to buy. And we wouldn't have the hassle of ownership and all that entails.
So I thanked the New Jersey realtor for providing us food for thought and rather than risk indigestion, we left the table.
I'm sure you will all breathe a sigh of relief when I report we decided not to buy. I spoke to a realtor from the agency that handled a sale for a my son's friend. The salesman was very cooperative and emailed us a group of available listings in the price range I gave him.
We were able to view the rooms, including all furniture and appliances and the overall facilities and I thought, Wow, this internet stuff is really cool. Look at all the details they provide on each listing. And therein lay the deciding factors.
We looked at the taxes, the maintenance charges and estimated mortgage payments and then slept on it overnight before making a decision. For my wife the decision was easy. Since she handles our finances she decided she did not need any more paperwork.
We went through a similar process some years ago when we spent some time in Arizona during the winter. We also thought about buying into that attractive setting then concluded we could rent for years for far less than it would cost us to buy. And we wouldn't have the hassle of ownership and all that entails.
So I thanked the New Jersey realtor for providing us food for thought and rather than risk indigestion, we left the table.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Outlook Local
I've been having trouble lately accessing my email through Outlook Express. I have to double click the icon several times before it opens.
This is annoying and I don't know what to do about it. Yes, my PC is about 10 years old but I've had it serviced within the last year, added memory and still have lots of hard drive space left.
But it's downright annoying to have to keep closing and opening and closing and opening before it actually opens. Outlook Express is obviously running on the local tracks. And when it does open the Inbox is filled with all sorts of solicitations I instantly delete.
Quite often I received emails from well-meaning friends who insist I read something and immediately pass it on to everyone I know who has a computer. Not only do I not pass them on, I rarely read them.
I'm aware the internet is full of bad guys who want to hack into PC's and destroy hard drives. And I don't think I'm immune to that. I just don't want to innocently open the floodgates to trouble by opening an email when I can't verify the source.
I've told this to my well-meaning friends many times but yet they persist in sending me emails and attachments that must be read and immediately forwarded to my entire address book.
Don't ask. Don't send.
(This Blog delayed one day by Blogger's own maintenance problems.)
This is annoying and I don't know what to do about it. Yes, my PC is about 10 years old but I've had it serviced within the last year, added memory and still have lots of hard drive space left.
But it's downright annoying to have to keep closing and opening and closing and opening before it actually opens. Outlook Express is obviously running on the local tracks. And when it does open the Inbox is filled with all sorts of solicitations I instantly delete.
Quite often I received emails from well-meaning friends who insist I read something and immediately pass it on to everyone I know who has a computer. Not only do I not pass them on, I rarely read them.
I'm aware the internet is full of bad guys who want to hack into PC's and destroy hard drives. And I don't think I'm immune to that. I just don't want to innocently open the floodgates to trouble by opening an email when I can't verify the source.
I've told this to my well-meaning friends many times but yet they persist in sending me emails and attachments that must be read and immediately forwarded to my entire address book.
Don't ask. Don't send.
(This Blog delayed one day by Blogger's own maintenance problems.)
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Beware the Update
It looked so inviting I couldn't resist downloading Google 6, a new (to me) program with all kinds of cool features.
Naturally I “accepted” all the conditions without bothering to read them. Who does? The next thing I know I've got a colorful new home page displaying all those new features. So I start playing with them to see what they'll do and whether I really can use them.
When I had enough experimenting I was ready to write my nightly Blog, which I access through my “Favorites” column. But wait – where was my “Favorites” column? It wasn't there. What happened to it? Did I panic? You bet.
I had no idea what had happened to the column but I did know that nothing ever completely disappears from a PC. It had to be in there somewhere. But how to find it?
Think, Marv, think. Aha, I says. I'll click on “All Programs” and find Internet Explorer, my default browser. Click on IE and lo and behold my original home page returns, including my “Favorites” column.
Crisis averted. Home page restored. Blog written. Lesson learned.
Beware of updates.
Naturally I “accepted” all the conditions without bothering to read them. Who does? The next thing I know I've got a colorful new home page displaying all those new features. So I start playing with them to see what they'll do and whether I really can use them.
When I had enough experimenting I was ready to write my nightly Blog, which I access through my “Favorites” column. But wait – where was my “Favorites” column? It wasn't there. What happened to it? Did I panic? You bet.
I had no idea what had happened to the column but I did know that nothing ever completely disappears from a PC. It had to be in there somewhere. But how to find it?
Think, Marv, think. Aha, I says. I'll click on “All Programs” and find Internet Explorer, my default browser. Click on IE and lo and behold my original home page returns, including my “Favorites” column.
Crisis averted. Home page restored. Blog written. Lesson learned.
Beware of updates.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
It Takes Two
The mind wanders from time to time when you reach a certain age. If you're fortunate to have a partner to keep you on track it is truly a blessing.
Sometimes it's the silly things that drive home the point. This morning, for instance, we were driving to the polling place to vote in our municipal election. Now we've voted in this same spot for years so I knew where we had to go.
I was in the correct lane to make a right turn to the polls but for some reason my mind said turn in up the road a piece. Wrong! Turn here, my wife said just in time and sure enough I realized where I had to go and went there.
No big deal in the scheme of things but it was a stark reminder to be grateful for a heady co-pilot in the passenger seat. The trick is to listen to her, or him, to avoid more serious transgressions.
Whether you're in a car, around the house or anywhere else I suspect we've all had enough momentary lapses to appreciate it really helps to have two to get through the day.
She says “you got that right.”
Sometimes it's the silly things that drive home the point. This morning, for instance, we were driving to the polling place to vote in our municipal election. Now we've voted in this same spot for years so I knew where we had to go.
I was in the correct lane to make a right turn to the polls but for some reason my mind said turn in up the road a piece. Wrong! Turn here, my wife said just in time and sure enough I realized where I had to go and went there.
No big deal in the scheme of things but it was a stark reminder to be grateful for a heady co-pilot in the passenger seat. The trick is to listen to her, or him, to avoid more serious transgressions.
Whether you're in a car, around the house or anywhere else I suspect we've all had enough momentary lapses to appreciate it really helps to have two to get through the day.
She says “you got that right.”
Monday, May 9, 2011
Overkill
I'm very happy so far with the new all-in-one printer I bought from HP. I'm not so happy with the onslaught of emails I'm now getting from HP offering me all sorts of products including coupons for grocery items.
That's what happens when you “register” your new purchase and give them your email address. I wonder why I do that.
So I'm asking myself what in the world is HP doing in the grocery coupon business? Then it hits me. They're not really in the grocery coupon business. They just want you to print out the coupons on your printer so you run out of ink sooner. Aha!
Manufacturers practically give their printers away but make all their money selling you their ink. I admit they have me there. I like to print things, particularly pictures of the grand-children and now the great grand-children. It's fun and gives us instant gratification. We don't have to wait for on-line photo services to upload, download or whatever.
And printers are transferable. I recently gave my grandson my old printer and wish him luck with it. It's got new ink cartridges in it but he better start saving his pennies for refills when he starts using it in the next college semester.
I'm going to print this draft now for my Decider to review before posting.
That's what happens when you “register” your new purchase and give them your email address. I wonder why I do that.
So I'm asking myself what in the world is HP doing in the grocery coupon business? Then it hits me. They're not really in the grocery coupon business. They just want you to print out the coupons on your printer so you run out of ink sooner. Aha!
Manufacturers practically give their printers away but make all their money selling you their ink. I admit they have me there. I like to print things, particularly pictures of the grand-children and now the great grand-children. It's fun and gives us instant gratification. We don't have to wait for on-line photo services to upload, download or whatever.
And printers are transferable. I recently gave my grandson my old printer and wish him luck with it. It's got new ink cartridges in it but he better start saving his pennies for refills when he starts using it in the next college semester.
I'm going to print this draft now for my Decider to review before posting.
To Buy Or Not to Buy
That is the question. Whether 'tis nobler to pay an outrageous fortune for a beach area condo or forget the whole thing and take a two-week vacation instead.
Sorry, we saw a silly play last night called “I Hate Hamlet” and today we asked my son's reaction to the idea of us buying a condo somewhere along the Jersey Shore. And my son, bless him, emailed us tonight a real estate ad for a four-bedroom, two bath facility in a desirable location. Unfortunately the price was undesirable.
Hence the mangled soliloquy.
We might continue looking around for something smaller and more affordable if only as an exercise. We don't need to buy anything but real estate might be a better bet than the market these days. So we're interested in what Shore properties are going for.
It'll be fun.
Sorry, we saw a silly play last night called “I Hate Hamlet” and today we asked my son's reaction to the idea of us buying a condo somewhere along the Jersey Shore. And my son, bless him, emailed us tonight a real estate ad for a four-bedroom, two bath facility in a desirable location. Unfortunately the price was undesirable.
Hence the mangled soliloquy.
We might continue looking around for something smaller and more affordable if only as an exercise. We don't need to buy anything but real estate might be a better bet than the market these days. So we're interested in what Shore properties are going for.
It'll be fun.
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