Saturday, January 22, 2011

You Had to be There

So after a strenuous hour of tennis these four guys of a certain age are sipping their coffee and munching on their donuts and the talk turns to, what else, computers.


I swear it's the blind-leading-the-blind. One guy just bought a new PC but has to call in a TV consultant to transfer his old stuff to the new device. Then he wants to know how to print pictures on his new printer, which he got as part of the PC package.

So I tell him how I do it and the blank expression on his face is worth a picture in itself. I'm sure he'll figure it out eventually.

Guess what comes up next? Blue tooth, but we don't go there. What he really meant was -- you got it -- Blu-ray. What's that, he says. So I try to explain what it is and why I might invest in it but I'm getting another blank expression.

He does like the idea of reading a book on a Kindle-like device. I'm not sure he's running right out to buy one, though.

I think we deserve some credit, however. After all, we're trying to get with the new technology. But for people who still remember dial telephones it's not always easy to understand the need for all the I-this and I-that and all the social networks.

It's kind of nice just talking over coffee and donuts.

Friday, January 21, 2011

To Be Fair

Last night I was a little caustic about Verizon's ability to deliver two new batteries for our cell phones. I apologize. They arrived this afternoon via FedEx but I have not had time to install them. Tomorrow, as Scarlett said, is another day.

Meanwhile, we were trapped in the house by last night's snowstorm until our snow removal service arrived about 2:30 this afternoon. Not that we had anywhere to go, but I always feel a little antsy about not shovelling some of it away myself.

Thing is, the spouse-in-chief frowns on my exerting myself in that manner. And while I understand her concern, the machismo runs high until I lie down and let it pass.

Eventually we get plowed out. Did you hear we're expecting another snowstorm next week?

Enough already!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

G Whiz

People of a certain age will remember when GGG or Three Gs meant a good suit of clothes. Now, of course, it means something so technical I couldn't begin to explain it.

But I can't help noticing all the advertising extolling a 4G network over a 3G network. With 4Gs you get two pair of pants? Or a vest?

We have very simple cell phones. They take and make calls and occasionally I text. No exotic apps, no missed or dropped calls. Only problem is the batteries don't last very long. We seem to be charging them quite often.

I complained to Verizon Wireless and they said they'd send us new batteries. I'm waiting. I hope they haven't dropped the mail.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Let The Games Begin

NY Times headline (or is it an e-line if it comes via the internet?):

"House Votes to Repeal Health Care Law"

The Senate won't act on it, effectively scuttling the measure, says The Times. So now let's see what alternatives the ragin' Repubs have to offer. I'm guessing none.

On the Blu-ray front, I talked with my friend JB, the techie, and I'm somewhat encouraged that I can pull it off if I can convince the consumer in chief that it's worth the expenditure.

But not right now. We are getting ready for a trip to Israel to visit our family there, mainly the grand-children and great-grandchildren with no intent to slight my son and daughter-in-law. They know the score.

So, if we Blu-ray at all, it will have to be after we return.

I'm sure you're on the edge of your seats pending the outcome of the saga of Muddling Marv inching into the modern world.

Patience, friends.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Did I Hear Right?

How many times have you turned to your companion while listening to news on the radio and asked: "What did he (or she) say?"

A lot, I'll bet. Particularly if you're my age and its hard enough to understand what the person next to you is saying. No less understand it.

Getting to the point: I was listening to the news in the car today and there was a report about the House efforts to repeal (they use the word "kill") the Obama health care reforms. Regardless of the fact that their bill will not pass the Senate, it must make them feel powerful to be able to pass such a bill. OK. But, what about offering an alternative version to improve our system of health care?

Well, for the first time that I can recall I actually heard (or thought I heard) someone suggest opponents of  health care reform propose an alternative rather than simply kill the reforms. I did not catch the man's name but I believe he was identified as a member of a business organization. I haven't heard a Republican response yet but I sure would like to.

Is it too much to ask those who oppose to offer alternatives rather than "just say no."

Monday, January 17, 2011

Decisions, Decisions

A few days ago I said I was looking into getting a Blu-ray player. So today I looked and came close to buying. 

BUT...just as I was about to take the plunge I noticed the pool was empty. In other words, they were all out of the player I thought might work for me. Naturally, the good salesperson offered to let me pay for it today and then return to the store to pick it up when it next appeared on the shelves.

I didn't think so. Reluctantly, yet somewhat relieved, I let the whole thing go for another time. Maybe.

I'm still not sure whether my wi-fi router will stream movies from my PC in one room to my TV in another room.

And, of course, the larger question -- which my wife keeps asking -- is: "DO WE REALLY NEED THIS?"

We'll sleep on it.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Time Out, or, Out of Time

I read today's Public Editor in the NY Times and it was about an egregious mistake the Times made in its initial on-line reporting of the shooting in Tuscon. To wit, they initially reported that Rep. Giffords was killed when she was not.

They blamed the mistake on a variety of circumstances all of which boiled down to the fact that they felt they had to get the story out FAST.  Time pressures in what they now call the 1440/7 news cycle. The 1440 being the number of minutes in a day.

Well, I question this need for speed in today's "all fear all the time" news environment. What's the hurry? Who are you competing against? The next blogger? The next on-line news report?

In the old days, a "scoop" meant you got the story to the newsstand first. Then, time was definitely a factor -- facts, not so. "Dewey Beats Truman" anyone?

Remember the agonizing delay before it was factually reported that President Kennedy was, indeed, killed by a gunman in Texas. So, NY Times, why the rush to judgement this time?

The point I'm trying to make here is: take a breath fellas. In on-line publishing you are competing only against yourself.